After sitting around for a more than 30 minutes enjoying the sun Victor asked solemnly “What will happen to them if we don’t save them?”
“They’ll either be sold into slavery or used by the bandits for” she took a long pause. “Entertainment.” She scratched at her arm and began breathing harder.
“I have been running the math in my head. Neither of you are wrong. What I am trying to do is impossible. Based on ideal circumstances given that I’ll get less experience from each skeleton as we level up, even if we kill the skeletal mage it is likely every monster funneling out and letting me kill it in a single spell still would not give me 5, 6, or 7 more levels.” Victor slumped his shoulders.
“I wasn’t trying to be discouraging.” Serena put a hand on his shoulder. “You’ll do so much good for other people acting the way you act.”
“That doesn’t help them. No one is coming for them, just like no one was coming for you.” Victor continued beating himself up.
Cawthorn peeked over his head and once again went eye to eye with him. “FOOLISH HUMAN DO NOT TURN AWAY FROM THE FEAST!”
“Don’t worry Cawthorn we’re still going in.” Victor added.
“Why? We can gain strength on our own schedule if you want to be stronger next time.” Serena pleaded.
“Because next time could be tonight, tomorrow, or next week.” Victor smiled at himself thinking of his past life. ‘In my past life I’d always have said tomorrow is another day, but if today is my last day that isn’t true. Perhaps I didn’t really know the value of my own life, perhaps I didn’t care enough to value it. . I never wanted to live. I just didn’t want to suffer, and I failed to even achieve that.’ He stood up. “I have 9 mana we should try going in. I’m ready enough. If we have to come back out here that is fine. We can reenter and leave as many times as it takes.”
Luzuzal Approves
‘Really? That makes you happy?’ Victor sighed. “If not today when?”
“Tomorrow! We can always come back later and still do this. It’s not like anyone else is coming to this place today.” Serena insisted.
Victor shook his head. “Tomorrow is a world away.” He took a step forward.
“Caw caw hah. You are a fascinating human.” Cawthorn pointed forward on his head. “LISTEN WELL WE WILL DRAW THEM OUT! DO NOT ENTER A SINGLE ROOM! FOR FEWER THAN 4 SKELETONS YOUR FUTURE WIFE WILL ELIMINATE THEM! SPEND NO MANA ON THEM!”
“He says we will lure them out as we just did but that I am not to fire off a spell if there aren’t at least 4 of them.” Victor explained.
“It might be possible for me to defeat 3 at the same time…” She scratched her cheek. “They are really slow. It might be possible.”
“Is there anything I can do without mana?” Victor asked.
“Not unless you are good with a sword and shield.” She looked down at the broken skeletons and some old weapons. One of them had a metal shield clean and shiny the rest rusted halfway across.
Victor bent down and picked up both. “Well there’s no time like the present to learn.”
“No! You’re a mage and your strength, stamina, and agility are terrible.” Serena protested.
Cawthorn stared at him. “She says I’d suck with a sword and shield.”
“HE SHALL FOLLOW MY INSTRUCTION AND SHALL DEFEAT ANY THAT REACH HIM!” Cawthorn screeched at her.
“He says with his instruction I’d defeat any of them that make it to me.” Victor answered.
“I will NOT trust your life to a crow.” Serena pushed down his hand.
“We can do what we did before. If too many come out I’ll kill a few with jolts. I am just going to hold this shield up to protect my chest.” Victor smiled at her. “I think it will be fine.”
Serena groaned. “You’re lucky you’re doing this for a good cause.” She moved to the door mace in hand ready to smash in their skulls.
“I’m ready Cawthorn.” Victor looked up and approached the open door. He took one step in.
Cawthorn screeched as loud as possible. “COME AND GET US FLESHLESS FOOLS!” Victor backed up and the three of them waited, and waited. Nothing came out. “PERFECTION THE ENTRANCE IS CLEAR!” Cawthorn declared. “NEXT WE TO THE FIRST DOOR!” Victor walked into the small fort and looked around the hallway filled with the same black rocks. To the left and right the hallway extended to the corners of the building. Two doors at either end of the opening and several doors along the center hall stood silent for the moment. The center hall had a set of black stone stairs and a torn portrait of someone in a uniform without an upper body. “Select a door pound on it and run to the entrance.”
Victor approached the first door, rotten wood filthy smell, and a rusty handle disgusted him. He slammed his fist on the door. “COME AND GET ME!” He turned and ran without looking back. Serena waited and Victor held his shield up with just his eyes peeking over it. Nothing came yet again. He waited and waited. “I don’t think there is anything in that room.” He walked in and approached the next closest door repeating the process however this time there was definitely movement. He ran at full speed toward the exit as two skeletons emerged. As they walked out Serena waited and smashed the second one in the head. The other skeleton hobbled toward Victor lunging at him. The shield easily blocked its lunge but knocked Victor to the ground. Serena quickly caved in the creature’s skull as it fell to the ground.
Skeleton 3: Experience Increase: 1.7%
Skeleton 3: Experience Increase: 1.6%
Current Exp to Level 6 29.1%
Victor could already see a problem and watched his mana tick up to 10. He wasn’t going to get much experience doing this. He sighed, it would still be good for Serena hopefully she would level up enough. So again he went in and slammed on a door in the center hall nearest the exit. Movement once more and he made his way outside quickly raising the shield. “DODGE!” Cawthorn screeched taking off from his head. Victor tried moving to the side as an arrow raced toward him. The arrow reached the edge of his shield passing straight through it hitting his side. Two skeletal bowmen began marching out of the dark into the light and aimed toward him. Serena didn’t have time to kill both with a single strike. She hit their ribs cracking them and knocking them into each other with such force they dropped their weapons. Several extreme and furious strikes later Serena ran over to Victor and Cawthorn landed near them.
“No, no, no, no!” Serena looked at the wound.
Skeleton 3: Experience Increase: 6.9%
Skeleton 3: Experience Increase: 2.0%
Current Exp to Level 6 38.0%
-30 health
Profuse Bleeding: 1 minutes, 15 damage for each minute of movement. 7 damage every 10 seconds.
-7 health
Victor laid there in shock from the arrow. He could feel the warm blood flowing over his gut. He coughed up blood and started panting. Pain like this is something he hadn’t felt often in his life. The burning of an open wound, the soreness all faded as Serena ripped the arrow out and once again forced open his mouth and forced a potion down his throat. She then did so again.
Regenerated 5 health
Regenerated 5 health
Regenerated 5 health
Regenerated 5 health
Regeneration has removed bleeding.
Regenerated 5 health
Regenerated 5 health
Regenerated 5 health
Regenerated 5 health
Health has been restored to full.
“You have got to be able to drink potions faster after you get hit.” Serena insisted. “If you can’t next time you get wounded we leave here. No arguments.” Serena insisted.
“My arm was pinned through the shield.” He made an excuse for his shock.
“If you get hurt again and can’t drink a potion I will physically drag you away from here. If you want to stay at that point you’ll need to kill me.” She said filled with an almost irritated determination to keep him alive.
“Why would you say that? I couldn’t do that.” Victor shook his head.
“I figure I owe you my life. If you have to collect that debt to stay alive so be it.” Serena looked straight into his eyes determined.
Cawthorn apologized uncharacteristically. “I am sorry. I had not considered that some may have bows, BUT YOU COULD HAVE DODGED QUICKER!”
“Have you ever been in a real fight before yesterday?” Serena asked.
“I’ve never been in a real fight before I rescued you, and I hadn’t really trained before that.” Victor answered.
“PREPOSTEROUS YOUR AIM IS INCREDIBLE! UNBELIEVABLE LIES WILL NOT SERVE YOU HE OF HIDDEN SKILLS!” Cawthorn screeched.
“He says that my aim is too good to believe I hadn’t trained before.” Victor clarified for her.
“I don’t believe it either. That feels like a lie brought on by your curse. Can you not talk about your past?” Serena asked.
“Uhhhh” Victor stuttered.
“Yeah that makes sense, being cursed probably restricts what information you can share and reduces the trust people have in you. I wonder if it was meant to isolate you so people wouldn’t ask for your help. That would cause more pain and suffering. The specialties of evil devils and some demons are pain and suffering.” Serena explained. “Or it might be affecting your memory.”
‘Yeah… let’s just go with that.’ Victor thought before adding. “I got more experience from the skeleton that hit me with an arrow.”
“If you get hit by another one to gain experience I swear to all that exists I will drag you away from here.” Serena grabbed his collar and pulled him down to her eye level. “Do you understand? Your life is more important than your level!”
“Okay, I have most of my mana back I’m at 12 out of my 13 right now. I can blast the next room no matter what.” Victor explained.
“Fine but I mean what I said.” Serena insisted.
Victor approached another door in the long central hallway and tapped the door with a fair bit less vigor than previously. He began making his way to the entrance not looking back as Cawthorn shouted. “FLEE! FLEE FOR YOUR PITIFUL HUMAN LIFE” Victor glanced over his shoulder as a creature towering nearly 9 or 10 feet tall practically crawled through the door. A skeleton with a head as big as his shield clattered toward the entrance with four arms filled with swords. The clattering increased in speed.
“Barrier Shield!” Victor cast behind him as he ran. One of the four blades spun toward him at high speeds. “Speed boost.” He ducked out of the way and let his speed boost expire after that moment. “It’s huge!”
“STAND AND FLEE!” Cawthorn screeched again. “YOU MUST GET TO THE TREES!” Victor scrambled toward the trees as it emerged into the light. Fear crossed Serena’s face as the creature stood twice her size. It hadn’t spotted her and went for its blade sticking out of the ground. It ripped its blade out of the ground sending dirt flying and turned to Victor behind a tree. “THIS IS NOT SUFFICIENT OPEN FIRE!” Cawthorn squawked.
“JOLT!” It hit square between the creature’s eyes seeming to do no damage but it did cause it to stutter step stopping for the briefest moment. “Oh shit.” He cast it again and it barely stuttered but Serena did not waste the moment. She cracked it’s leg as hard as she could sending a small fracture up the bone. It turned toward her. “Jolt!” Once again it landed true only slightly staggering it as it turned toward Serena.
She rolled away as it brought down all four blades. Another Jolt to the head staggered the creature just in time. Serena got hit by two of them one on her leg and one on her shoulder with a pair of narrow misses around her gut. “SUPPORT YOUR FUTURE WIFE!” Still on the ground trying to stand up the beast brought his blades up to strike her again.
“JOLT!” Victor stepped forward. “JOLT!” Victor could only think ‘We are both going to die. I can’t even hurt it. Wait am I going about this the wrong way?’ Victor aimed another bolt at the crack as Serena darted away and drank a potion. “Jolt!” His aim hit the crack perfectly and its leg shattered. This was a mistake that saved Serena’s life. The beast turned to him and dropped two swords. It crawled at him quickly with murderous intent.
Serena turned around “DOUBLE TIME DASH!” Serena accelerated targeting its other leg so fast Victor couldn’t turn to see what happened as the creature once again collapsed on the ground.” Serena hadn’t stopped at the creature but not only passed it she passed Victor and with her mace still at the end of her swing in front of her she fell to one knee. She panted. “I… can’t move. I’m exhausted.”
“WHAT DO I DO?!” Victor screamed.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
“ESCAPE YOU FOOLISH HUMAN YOUR FUTURE WIFE IS GOING TO DIE FOR YOU.” Cawthorn shouted.
“Run Victor, save someone else someday.” She smiled as the creature dropped its remaining swords and slowly set itself upright. “I’m glad I at least got a taste of freedom before I died.” With a warm smile about to be erased she looked straight at him “Thanks, and for the record I really like you too.” Brown leaves blew by her face briefly obscuring her smile.
The skeleton charged leapt at her. As its arms closed in, it blotted out the sun ready to finish her off, Victor finally fired off a final “JOLT!” completely ineffective the creature didn’t even slow down. “SERENA!” He outstretched his hand completely helpless. Serena collapsed to the ground as a whirling blade decapitated the creature, and the tree behind it flying into the fortress. The axe planted itself straight into the black rock. A massive axe far larger than any of the weapons they had in their possession. Serena remained kneeling as someone approached. The short girl kneeling came perfectly to eye level.
“Well how are you folks doing? My name is Gargrim Grimholt.” The dwarf had shoulders so broad the two of them could sit on top of them and still have space left over. His metal helmet and plate armor so well made and inscribed with runes he seems out of place. His massive black beard reached his stomach and nearly covered his mouth.
Skeleton 9: Experience Increase: 20.2%
Current Exp to Level 6 58.2%
He stretched out his hand. To Serena who answered. “I’m exhausted. I won’t be able to move for a while.” She slumped down to the ground sitting on her feet.
“Fair enough.” Gargrim started walking toward the wall and ripped his axe out of the wall pulling two large blocks out with him. He came back over to them and picked up the four swords placing 3 stacked on his back and bringing the other over to them. “This might be a difficult task for you two young adventures but I’m here for a specific item. If you want everything else here I don’t mind you tagging along.”
As soon as victor broke out of his confusion and astonishment he rushed to Serena dropped to his knees and hugged her. Victor started to tear up. “I’m too weak. I’m sorry.”
Gargrim laughed. “I didn’t expect to find allies on this long road, and to be blunt I don’t need you.”
“Thank you for saving me.” Serena nodded.
“You’re really strong right? What level are you?” Victor asked.
“Why would I tell you that?” Gargrim answered.
“He wants to know if you could defeat a bunch of bandits.” Serena cut to the chase. Victor looked like he had just been ratted out by Swordie immensely embarrassed Serena just told him outright.
“What do you know about them?” Gargrim asked.
“They have a tier 2 leader probably around level 11 to 12 and kidnapped a bunch of women and children to sell into slavery.” Victor explained.
“Well I strongly dislike slavers, bandits, and raider’s all rather unsavory folk. What’s in it for me?” Gargrim asked.
“They stole all the gold the adventurers’ guild takes for quests and they likely have payment for those slaves. I’d be shocked if they didn’t have 300 gold at least.” Serena answered.
Gargrim’s eyes lit up. “That is a pretty impressive payday. Do you know where they are?” Serena gave him the location. “After I finish up here you can escort me there.”
“Can we recover? I am out of mana and she’s-” Victor was immediately cut off.
“I’m a dwarf in a hurry, not something you often see but I am.” Gargrim laughed. “Don’t worry about it. I will handle it.”
“You can’t! We can’t fail to rescue them.” Victor insisted.
“What is your name?” Gargrim asked.
“I’m Victor Vance Vogal this is Serena Brooks and that is Cawthorn” He pointed to each of them.
Gargrim looked for a moment funnily at Cawthorn before asking. “Did someone you know get kidnapped?”
“No.” Victor answered honestly.
Gargrim sighed and turned away. “Shame you couldn’t be honest.”
“He’s not lying.” Serena facing away from them slowly breathed in and out. “He doesn’t even know a single one of them.”
He turned over his shoulder. “Serena was it? You seem like the more put together of the two of you. Why should I believe what you say?” She unbuttoned her shirt. “That is definitely not going to work on a dwarf no matter how short you are.”
“What? No.” She traced her chest still red from earlier in the morning. “I was a slave until earlier today. He freed me yesterday and followed through learning the Magic Writing skill this morning just to remove my slave mark. Victor is a good man.”
Gargrim walked up clank after clank to look at the kneeling Victor directly in the eyes. He stared at him unyielding for at least a full minute neither of them so much as blinking. “Prove to me you have the magic writing skill.”
Victor scrambled to open Swordie and said “Status sheet.”
Race Human: Victor Vance Vogal
Class : Mage
Level : 5
Base Health : 90
Stamina : 10
Mana : 0/13
Vitality : 9
Speed : 6
Strength : 5
Prowess : 13
Endurance : 5
Rigor : 2
Willpower : 13
Flow : 13 (+50%)
Luck : -100
Resistance : None
Skills: Speed Reading Rank 2, Academic Rank 2
Hidden Skills: Memory Retention , Luzuzal’s Delusion Rank 1 , Luzuzal’s Devout Rank 1, Luzuzal’s Promise Rank 6,
Spells: Barrier shield Rank 1, Jolt Rank 1, Speed Boost Rank 1, Magic Writing Rank 1
Current Exp to Level 58.2%
Victor scrambled to show him the book. “See right there.” He pointed.
“Son did you just open an artifact to show me your status sheet.” Gargrim looked at him as though he realized what Victor really was.
“What is an artifact?” Victor asked causing Gargrim to slap his helmet.
“Apparently it used to mean extremely powerful items of legendary or higher rarity but now most people consider rare or higher rarity items to be artifacts. The original definition was tied to smithing and what smiths could create. The vast majority of smiths worldwide can’t make rare items anymore meaning old items at that rarity are now far more valuable.” Serena explained.
“Are you an Artifact Hunter?” Gargrim asked.
“No, but I was a slave to one years ago.” Serena kept panting barely able to breathe.
“Are you exhausted from Double Dash?” Gargrim continued questioning her.
“Yes.” Serena answered.
“You were definitely forced to learn it weren’t you? That skill sucks.” Gargrim started to realize they definitely were telling the truth and relaxed.
“They wanted to use it for them if they were in trouble.” She answered. Victor brought up the skill.
Double Dash Rank 1
Rarity: Common
Requirements: 15 Stamina, Cost 3 stat points
Instant skill
Duration: 3 seconds
Stamina Cost: 4x maximum stamina
Increase your speed by 4 times your current stamina. Always causes full duration exhaustion unless you are immune.
“It’s for a last ditch effort.” Victor noted.
“If you are getting use of it then your life has already gone horribly wrong.” Serena explained.
‘I guess since this isn’t a game a skill you only use on the verge of death would be generally considered bad.’ He considered for a moment before speaking again. “I’m-”
“I’m going to save them. It’s fine.” He patted Victor on the head. “I will liberate both their coin and their slaves.”
“Don’t you need help? How can you possibly-” Victor once again got cut off.
“The answer to your question is I am level 23. I am also a Heavy Fighter focusing only on basics. I have few skills but my stats are very high.” He answered. Victor pulled up the heavy fighter in his book.
Heavy Fighter - No skills available
Stats - +36 Strength, +36 Vitality, +36 Stamina, greatly increased stats per level but cannot purchase skills until all 20 levels of this specialization are completed
“That’s incredible!” Victor shouted.
“Yes, there are plenty of heavy fighters in this world but most of them only have the most basic skills. I didn’t waste my early levels on stats and have a diverse but basic set of skills. I’m confident I can cleave tier 1 and 2 enemies in half with little effort, so calm down son.” Gargrim patted him on the head. “I’m an experienced Artifact Hunter some low level bandits don’t stand a chance against me. Now for my question, what is that book?”
“I can’t tell you.” Victor explained.
“I hate secrets, especially betrayal related secrets, doors, especially wooden doors, and immortals, especially elves.” He narrowed his eyes.
“I mean literally I cannot tell you. I’m cursed.” Victor explained. He turned of English in his HUD and said “See”. The horrible static caused both to wince he then turned it back on.
“That sound was horrible.” He replied. “I will say I don’t consider that a secret. Son, you told me about it upfront and clearly don’t have any intention to deceive me. It’s more like a mystery.” He patted Victors shoulder. “I do enjoy a good mystery. Now if you’d allow me I have to go collect what I came for. Stay out here with your girlfriend and familiar.”
“She’s not my girlfriend.” Victor protested.
“Yet, I’m not his girlfriend yet.” Serena corrected Gargrim.
The dwarf let out a hearty laugh. “Keep pursuing your knight in shining armor girl, not every day you get rescued by a strapping young lad.”
“What?” Victor asked confused.
“Honestly just kiss him to get it through to his dull brain.” Gargrim added. Serena kissed him on the cheek and collapsed into his lap falling asleep. “That ought to do it. It’s always best to be direct. I hope you reciprocate when she wakes up.”
“I’ve never kissed a girl before.” Victor explained.
“Well then you’re in for a treat when she wakes up. You saved her life. Do you like her?” Gargrim asked.
“She is really badass and she’s smart too. I just don’t know if I should take advantage of having rescued her. It almost feels like I did a good deed and am expecting her as a reward.” Victor hung his head.
“So you are afraid a good deed had a good reward?” Gargrim asked truly shocked at the naiveté of Victor.
“I guess that’s one way to say it.” Victor started to realize how dumb he had been.
“Son, when I finish getting this artifact and saving those villages I am going to sit you down and have a long chat, and I won’t hear any arguments about that.” Gargrim gently tapped him on the head with the flat of his axe. Victor nodded as Gargrim turned around and walked into the black fort. “Give me 20 minutes.” In the distance Victor could hear a dozen crashes each p r oceeded by the scream “FUCKING DOORS!” The sounds of the crashes moved to the second floor windows quickly. A wall around a window broke apart as another four armed skeleton flew headless to the ground outside.
Above the scream of a terrible voice rasping could be heard. “NO YOU CANT!” followed by a quick “AHHG!” ended the sounds from inside. Gargrim shortly emerged from the first floor without a scratch on him, save for some wooden shards on his boot.
“WE FEAST!” Cawthorn flew off and hundreds of crows descended into the keep.
“Alright I guess I can do lunch while she sleeps.” Gargrim walked up to him with a green orb in hand and sat down.