"What are we looking at, professor?"
"A slight rise in the local terrain."
"A slight… What? Oh, I don't mean right this second." Alex pinched the bridge of his nose. "The real professor would've said the same thing. What is happening at the settlement?"
"I have no idea. I have seen old satellite imagery from over 12 hours ago, there were more Spine variants in the local area that you have fought since the Initiation."
"In one area? That's worrying. Other than this axe, is there anything else you'd suggest I use as a weapon."
"The Heavy Hatchet. It is the only item left that would survive the strength you now possess. Would you like it now?"
"Hold onto it, when the axe breaks I'll ask, but until then I don't want to have to worry about dropping it."
"You have your own inventory."
"True… hold onto it though. Now, what will you need to do when we get to the settlement."
"Activate the grid, and scan the area. Once that's done I'll be able to locate anything of note."
"Right, you do that and I'll clear out the squatters. Ready?"
"To do the task I'm actually programmed to perform?"
"Yes…?"
"Yes Till. The Archaeology AI is ready to perform an archaeological task.
"I've missed you, Professor."
With that Alex was moving quickly up the rise, after cresting the top he froze and all the air rushed out of his lungs like he'd been punched in the gut.
"Jesus…"
Vicious Terrorspine (Level 19) x80
Tyrannical Feverspine (Level 21) x4
Manic Sensorspine (Level 16) x15 - This Porcupine has evolved to walk on its hind legs, as the name suggests it acts in a very manic fashion. It is limited to biting attacks, The spines have evolved to act as a sensor detection network allowing it to sense changes in ambient temperature, wind speed and feel tremors in the ground. In addition, its sense of hearing is far superior to other Spine variants. It communicates telepathically with the Tyrannical Feverspines. Susceptible to all forms of damage.
"That's a lot of Spine variants."
“99.”
“Thanks. That's more than I expected.”
“I’ve activated the sensor grid and I’m scanning the site. There are some irregularities that I’ll need to look into. Are you ready?”
“Yes… move fast, stay low. Move fast, stay low. Move fast, stay low.”
“Does repeating that help?”
“Yes. Well I think so.”
“Activate grid, scan site. Activate grid, scan site. Activate grid, scan site.”
"Helping?"
"Not at all."
Every Spine variant looked up at the rise and saw Alex, the Sensorspine’s started… Alex didn’t actually know.
“Are they… what are they doing?”
The AI didn’t answer straight away.
“I think they’re running their spines on other variants and hissing. That is very unusual.”
“Yea, unusual, that’s what I was going to call it.”
Alex gripped the axe handle even harder, then nearly dropped it as he felt the solid steel conform to his grip.
“50 strength is no joke,” he said to himself.
Then he was running, his axe moved like it was possessed, he circled around the outer ring of spines so the sun was behind him then realised there was no point, the Sensorspines could feel his every step. With that he dove straight into the largest group, swinging up from the bottom right to the top left, before being spun and then reversing back to its original position. He continued through the creatures, leaving none alive and revelling in the absolute carnage he was reaping. Three Terrorspines converged on him, chittering and waving their sharp claws as they approached, Alex slid before springing up, landing on the shoulders of the first and stamping down, reducing the first creature’s head to a red paste, then he jumped to the ground and swung his axe in an arc, slicing through the second's chest and watching as the upper half of it’s body fell to the ground.
The third started backing away so Alex hefted his axe and threw it as hard as he could, it burst through the chest of the cowardly former attacker and kept going, he took off after it, glad to be covered in blood and other fluids as his face burned. Throwing his weapon had seemed like a good idea and now it was embedded in the side of a large boulder. With a tug it came free, tearing a portion of the stone away. Looking around he saw more spine variants approaching. Picking up the broken piece of rock he hefted it in his hand, then threw it at a group of spines, watching as it took two by surprise, smashing into their pelvises with a sickening crunch. Their heads made a similar noise as he ended their torment. Taking a breath he looked around, spine variants littered the ground behind him and their blood and spinal fluids coated both him and the bushes in his wake. Some smoked in the small fires littered around the site. He could see notifications pinging in his HUD but after the first couple, he told the System to hide kill notifications until he was out of combat. He did notice that the border of his HUD did shift to a red hue. Coming across the first Sensorspines he nearly missed a step, they really were unusual, two of them had their backs pressed together and they were interlocking their spines.
Unlike the other variants, the Sensorspine’s had spines that resembled semi-rigid tentacles. Some dragged across the ground and others waved about in the air while yet more coiled lazily around the spines of other variants. His axe tore through the chests of both of them, their bodies fell away and even in death, their spines continued to move.
“How many are left? He yelled into the noises of death and carnage.
“17 variants remaining.”
“What? Really?”
“I don’t lie.”
Weapon Experience
D-Grade Fire Axe (One-Piece Tool Steel) | Expert
Damage increased, Durability increased to 15%
D-Grade Fire Axe (One-Piece Tool Steel)
Weapon Stats:
Damage: Extreme (to Spine Variants)
Attack Speed: Average
Durability: 15%
Weight: Medium
Bonus: Inflicts both Crushing and Slicing Damage.
Inflicts Fear in Spine Variants
Kills - 104
Laughing maniacally Alex reentered the battle, dripping in gore, each swing of his axe sending blood and brain matter into the eyes of the closest variants, inflicting fear and ensuring that his speed and strength meant that he had taken no damage. In addition, his skin was strong enough that the teeth and claws of his enemies scraped harmlessly against him. Another 13 variants fell before him, fuelling his aggression and pushing him to greater heights of savagery. The roars of four Tyrannical Feverspine’s stopped his mad charge. The five combatants faced each other, one dripping with gore, the other four watching with killing intent.
Alex looked down at his axe and grimaced.
Durability: 2%
"This is going to be brutal isn't it?" He asked the 4 Spine variants.
They just stared at him. Looking down he saw a small fire that the variants had been using before he arrived. Extending his right arm he casually held the head of his axe in the fire and just watched the variants.
D-Grade Fire Axe (One-Piece Tool Steel)
Weapon Stats:
Damage: Extreme (to Spine Variants)
Attack Speed: Average
Durability: 2%
Weight: Medium
Bonus: Inflicts both Crushing and Slicing Damage.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
Searing Strike: Unleashes a scorching blow, inflicting additional fire damage over time to the target.
Kills - 117
The Fear Bonus had been removed, presumably by burning the blood, guts and brain matter off the axe's blade, but he'd returned to his roots, or at least the bonus skill from the battles in the tent, Searing Strike. Taking a moment to catch his breath he looked over the notifications he hadn’t checked, all the while keeping an eye on the four Feverspines.
Level Up
Experience gain increased by 20% due to proximity to Profession Site
Level Up
Skill Learned: Primal Fury: After being drenched in the blood of their foes a Warrior can enter a state of enhanced ferocity, increasing Strength by 10, Agility by 10 but reducing Constitution by 20.
Experience gained is increased by 10%
Level Up
Level Up
Level Up
Alex Till
Progression Experience | 73%
Primal Fury Buff fades
Level: 19
Attributes:
Strength: 60
Constitution: 40
Agility: 11
Intelligence: 7
Wisdom: 7
Charisma: 6
Available Stat Points - 15
Alex pushed 9 points into Agility and 6 in Strength.
Strength: 66
Constitution: 40
Agility: 20
Available Stat Points - 0
"I was wrong, this is going to be fun. Activate Primal Fury!"
He screamed out a war cry and charged at the largest Feverspine. He felt his strength increase and his reflexes quicken, while at the same time the Stamina bar at the top left of his vision instantly halved in size. He took the first Feverspine’s left arm and right leg off and decapitated the second before it had a chance to react. Both toppled over with blood pouring from wounds neither could ever rise from. With the shock of his attack having passed and his Fear Bonus being removed the other two reacted, instantly scoring two hits with their poisoned spines.
Feverspine Venom - Resistance to poisons reduced. Poison damage received increased. Stamina reduced. 12 damage per minute.
"That could be a problem…"
He scored a devastating reversed upper swing into the base of the third Feverspines skull, then with a bestial roar he kicked the twitching creature off his axe. With a metallic shriek, half of his weapon went with it, still embedded in the creature's throat.
"Professor," the last Feverspine was rapidly moving away, it had turned its back, presenting the poisoned spines that he knew his current health wouldn't let him contend with, "got that Hatchet?"
"Of course."
He started running, quickly picking up speed.
"Good, I'm going to need it in a second."
Alex jumped, using every scrap of Agility and strength to flip himself up and over the creature, just as he was above it he extended his right hand and the Hatchet appeared, he swung with all his might, burying it just above the initial line of spines, then his momentum carried him over the creature. With his strength, he held onto the handle of his new weapon but threw the Feverspine into the side of a large rock. With all of its spines broken and blood pouring from its eyes and mouth Alex settled into a crouch, breathing hard and fast.
"That was harder than I-
Level Up
Name: Alex Till
Race: Human (Earth 0)
Class: Warrior
Title: Planetary Forerunner 100
Level: 20
Attributes:
Strength: 71
Constitution: 41
Agility: 20
Intelligence: 7
Wisdom: 7
Charisma: 6
Available Stat Points - 0
"I know I was close to another level but still, that went very quickly."
"Till, You just fought and killed 99 Spine variants, it took you over an hour. Plus you had a 30% experience bonus. It wasn't that quick."
Quest - Reach Level 20
Quest Complete
Quest Rewards
Title Earned - Multiverse Frontrunner
One of the first twenty on Earth 0 to reach Level 20
Each stat is increased by 5
Class Change Unlocked
Class Upgrade Available
Bonus Quest Unlocked
Quest - Clear Spine Variants From Earth 0 | Incan Settlement Archaeology Site
Quest Complete
Quest Rewards
100 C-Grade Credits
50 B-Grade Credits
Multiverse Token
Dungeon Key
Bonus Quest Unlocked
Quest - Earth 0 | Incan Settlement Archaeology Site
Find all of Historical Significance at the Site
"That's a lot to unpack. Professor did you bring my-"
"Thinking Chair? Yes."
"Perfect."
Alex sank into the surprisingly comfortable camp chair and reviewed his changes.
"That stat increase is big. I think I'll leave stats until I've reviewed Classes. Thoughts?"
"Is it archaeology?"
"No…"
The Professor didn't respond.
"System, Class Screen."
Earth 0 Class List
Filtered by All
317 Class Options
"This again? System, filter by Available."
Earth 0 Class List
Filtered by Available
3 Class Options
1 Class Upgrade
"System, show Class Upgrade."
Earth 0 Class List
Filtered by Class Upgrade
1 Class Upgrade
Warrior
Cost: 1 Class Upgrade Token
Activate?
Yes/No
"Yes."
Initiating
Upgrade Complete
Class: Fire Warrior (D-Grade)
Fire Warriors are fearless melee combatants that combine the mastery of close-quarters combat with the destructive force of fire. Wielding flaming weapons and imbuing their strikes with scorching flames, they unleash devastating melee attacks that engulf enemies in searing infernos. With devastating blows, strong defence, and inspiring leadership, they dominate the battlefield, protecting allies and striking fear into enemies. Embrace the fiery path and leave a trail of smouldering wreckage in your wake. Bonus: Flame increases the durability of weapons, prolonging their use.
+3 to Strength per level
+2 to Constitution per level
+2 to Intelligence per level
Name: Alex Till
Race: Human (Earth 0)
Class: Fire Warrior
Title: Planetary Frontrunner 100, Multiverse Forerunner
Level: 20
Attributes:
Strength: 76
Constitution: 46
Agility: 25
Intelligence: 12
Wisdom: 12
Charisma: 11
Available Stat Points - 7
Alex pushed all 7 available stats into Intelligence.
Intelligence: 19
"What now?"
"... Archaeology?"
"Fair enough, what do you have for us professor?"
19 C-Grade Vicious Terrorspine Skins [Perfect]
7 B-Grade Vicious Terrorspine Skins [Perfect]
1 B-Grade Tyrannical Feverspine Skin [Perfect]
370 Terrorspine Spines
89 Feverspine Spines
53 vials of Feverspine Venom
Multiverse Token
Multiverse Dungeon Key
1221 C | 394 B | 0 A | 0 S
“System, access Planetary Leaderboard”
Accessing
Planetary Leaderboard
1 - Everett Calhain
2 - Brigette O’Driscoll
3 - Gareth O’Driscoll
4 - Jamerson Dean
5 - R34P3R
6 - Angel 92
7 - Darth
8 - Liu Zheng
9 - Choose a Name for Leaderboard
10 - Li Yingchao
11 - Kaneko Kiyoshi
12 - Icandps
13 - Gina Kritsotakis
14 - Dave
15 -
16 -
17 -
18 -
19 -
20 -
9 - Choose a Name for the leaderboard.
“System. Name choice… Jäger.”
Confirm Jäger as Planetary Leaderboard name. Warning, once chosen this cannot be changed
“Confirmed.”
Planetary Leaderboard name selected.
“Full credit to the guy who just went with ‘Dave’.”
“Instead of choosing the surname of an anime character?”
“You remember?”
“You forced all of us to watch the first season on that last dig.”
“No, I mean, how do you remember that?”
“I remember everything the professor knew when she finished my programming.”
"That was quite a while after that dig finished. I can't really remove what happened after we all went our separate ways. Did she keep watching?"
"Of course not. Now let's finish processing this site."
Alex laughed and stood up.
"I knew she liked it."
"No comment. Till, you should know, she never forgave herself for what happened to you. Or Ben and Maddy."
"It wasn't her fault, there was nothing she could've done."
"You were our… her responsibility."
Alex reached up and ran a finger down the old burn on his jaw.
"Let's leave it in the past. Nothing can be done now, professor."
"Understood."