"Do you have a plan?"
"Get in close and get my hands on that armour."
The professor didn't respond.
Alex and the Chitinspine stood just out of reach of each other and stared. The Chitinspine lowered his weapon and began thumping it into the ground, the noise reverberated up through Alex's boots and into his legs. The thumping continued, with neither combatant making any move to attack.
"Is this part of the plan?"
"Honestly, I have no idea. This is the first variant that hasn't attacked me straight away. I'm kind of interested to see what it does."
The thumping stopped and the creature gripped its weapon and swung down. The head of the hammer crashed into the ground like a meteor from orbit. The entire arena shook and Alex flew backwards into the wall below the bleachers. With a groan, he pulled himself out.
"Did you notice this wall?"
"Before you hit it? Yes, you didn't?"
"Oddly enough, no. I was focused on the Lancers. Anything else I missed?"
"The entire arena is made up of the gate, this wall and the seating. It's empty except for one being that I can't scan."
"Someone is watching?"
"Someone or something."
"Is that odd?"
"No idea."
Alex stood in front of the hole he'd made in the wall and looked for the Chitinspine, it hadn't moved. In fact, it was standing in the same place thumping the haft of its hammer into the ground.
Alex walked back towards it, watching his Stamina tick back up from 82%.
They stood facing each other again, the Chitinspine continued thumping its weapon into the ground, then without warning it gripped the weapon again and with an even harder swing impacted the ground, only this time Alex had moved.
"Primal Fury!"
As soon as the creature gripped its weapon he spoke the Ability name aloud and sprinted. He watched the hammer lift and get pulled back and saw the chitinous plates flex and move as the hammer achieved its personal orbit before it began its descent to Earth. All this he saw as he sped past, he also saw the creature's eyes bulge as it registered that Alex was no longer in front of it. Just before the hammer's head impacted Alex reached out and gripped the creature's shoulder, pulled and swung himself on the large spine variant's back. Gripping with his thighs he dug his fingers into the plates that met above where a humans spine would be and employing his prodigious Strength-
Strength - 125*
He pulled with all of his might on the right-hand plate. He felt small pops like rubber bands snapping and continued to pull, the plate slowly separating from the creature's back. Then the hammer hit and the Earth shook again and the Chitinspine hissed in pain. With another tug, the plate covering the right side of its back came away with a fleshy tear exposing raw pink flesh. Extending his right hand Alex used his left to hang on tight as the increasingly frantic creature attempted to thrash and buck to force Alex off. The Heavy Hatchet appeared in his right hand and he swung it into the exposed skin, easily slicing into it. He hacked again and again, opening up a wound that gushed blood.
The Chitinspine continued to hiss and howl but seemed unsure of what to do next. Pulling the Hatchet out he threw it into the air and pulled his fist back and drove it into the hole he'd made, opening the same fist inside the creature's body he accessed his inventory and pulled out the trusty old Skillet Handle which appeared in his right fist, inside the Chitinspine. Blood bubbled from the creature's mouth as he stabbed at everything he could reach. The Chitinspine fell to its knees and dropped its hammer when Alex managed to force most of his arm inside the creature's back and rammed the Skillet Handle up and into its brain.
Critical Hit. Alex Till lands Killing Blow on Ravenous Chitinspine (Level 32).
623 experience gained.
A slow clapping could be heard from the bleachers.
Primal Fury fades
Level Up
Name: Alex Till
Race: Human (Earth 0)
Class: Fire Warrior
Title: Planetary Frontrunner 100, Multiverse Forerunner
Level: 28
Attributes:
Strength: 113
Constitution: 70
Agility: 39
Intelligence: 35
Wisdom: 12
Charisma: 11
Available Stat Points - 3
Alex pushed the 3 points into Agility.
Ability - 42
Available Stat Points - 0
A small gate inside the large one opened and a… human appeared, walking calmly with its hands jammed in the pockets of its lab coat.
"Is that the boss? Or was this guy?"
Alex pulled his hand out of the creature's back with a disgusting but very satisfying squelch and pop, which was then followed by a river of blood, guts and bits of Chitinspine insides.
"Well done Alex, that was impressive," said the diminutive man in the lab coat.
"Thanks?" Alex said, still looking at the creature at his feet, then looking at his blood-painted arm. He sent the Skillet Handle back to his inventory and tapped the Chitinspine with a foot.
Looting Interrupted
"You won't be able to loot anything until you speak with me."
"Are you the final boss?”
"Final boss?" The man replied with a laugh. "Do I look like a final… no Alex. I created these creatures for the System and after watching you take them apart in the short time since Earth 0 was Initiated into the System, I thought I'd meet you. Consider this a Product Recall after a fault was found."
"You created them? For the System?"
"In a way. In theory, everything you do now is for the System, but I created the Spine Variants for the military on my world, originally as a way to increase numbers, then as a way to train our forces."
"Your world? You're not from Earth?"
"Earth 0? No Alex. You really should Scan people when you meet them."
Name: Dr Cullen Vance
Race: Human (Earth 78)
Class: Redacted
Title: Evolutionist
Level: 129
"Level 129! What the hell?"
"Yes, that would be rather impressive to someone from a freshly Initiated world. However, my world was Initiated nearly a century ago and I achieved level 10 during our Initiation period. In comparison, you have nearly achieved level 30 in less than 36 of your hours. If you don't mind me interfering, you will soon be the first Earth 0 inhabitant to successfully complete a dungeon, you'll definitely be the first to complete a Multiverse Dungeon. The rewards for that should be impressive and will propel you deeper into the System. If I can give you any advice, don't compare yourself to Earth 0 Adventurers, compare yourself to the wider System. Push for level 100, not level 30."
"Why are you helping me? Haven't I killed a lot of your creations?"
"Field Testing. Remember I work with my world's military and by extension, the System. I'm constantly improving my designs and field testing is a big part of that. So I'll happily help you, as much as I am able, the System doesn't like a lot of help being provided to Adventurers still going through an Initiation."
"Makes sense."
"I'm nearly out of time, my last piece of advice, stay solo, it increases how quickly you advance. Oh! Don't ignore Intelligence, it'll be vital to your higher-level Abilities and Skills. That's it, good luck and hopefully we'll meet again!"
With that, the strange scientist from Earth 78 disappeared, seemingly pulled from the Dungeon."
Dungeon Complete
Experience Gained - 2180
Bonus Quest Complete - Survive the Dungeon
Quest Rewards
Experience Gained - 2260
Weapon Repair Token x3
Weapon Reforge Token x1
Skill Tome x1
Ability Tome x1
Attribute Token x 2
Bonus Quest Complete - Survive the Multiverse Dungeon
Quest Rewards
Experience Gained - 4170
Title Earned - Multiverse Dungeon Diver
Increase two Attributes, one by 10, one by 5
B-Grade Chitinspine Hammer
1000 C-Grade Credits
500 B-Grade Credits
200 A-Grade Credits
Multiverse Dungeon Activation Token x1
Level Up
Level Up
Level Up
Level Up
Level Up
Level Up
Name: Alex Till
Race: Human (Earth 0)
Class: Fire Warrior
Titles: Planetary Forerunner 100, Multiverse Forerunner, Multiverse Dungeon Diver
Level: 34
Attributes:
Strength: 142
Constitution: 87
Intelligence: 47
Agility: 39
Wisdom: 12
Charisma: 11
Available Stat Points - 18
Alex pushed eight points into Strength and ten into Intelligence.
Strength - 150
Intelligence - 57
Available Stat Points - 0*
Exiting Dungeon
5
4
3
2
1
Alex felt his body move as he transitioned back to Earth 0.
"That happened."
"Well done, Till. I didn't expect that."
"Neither did I. Vance was a little… different. Now let's check out this loot."
Alex withdrew all of the quest rewards he’d received from the dungeons.
“So that's, well the Multiverse Dungeon Activation Token is obvious, I can hop into another dungeon that’s a little too hard but totally achievable-”
“With help.”
“Yes professor, with help. Three Weapon Repair Tokens, a Skill Tome, an Ability Tome and two Attribute Tokens. Then we have that armoured blokes weapon.”
“Well, use them and let's keep moving.”
Alex looked down at the Repair Tokens.
Weapon Repair Token
Unranked
Increase the durability of any B-Grade and below damaged weapon
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
If weapon is below 50% durability
Restores 25%
If weapon is above 50% durability
Restores 15%
“Those will be useful.”
He looked at the Skill and Ability Tomes.
Skill Tome
Unranked
Grants an Adventurer access to a curated list of Skills
Select One Skill and Use the Tome to learn it permanently
Ability Tome
Unranked
Grants an Adventurer to a curated list of Abilities
Select One Ability and Use the Tome to learn it permanently
“Useful as well. Good haul so far.”
Attribute Token
C-Grade
Allows an Adventurer to add 5 permanent Attribute Points to any Attribute
“So that gives me a total of 10 Attribute Points.”
Alex pushed the 10 straight into Strength.
Strength - 160
Available Stat Points - 0
“Might as well use the Skill and Ability Tome’s now.”
Alex lifted the Skill Tome up to his face and… nothing happened.
“That’s how I activated the Multiverse Token.”
“Till… it’s a big book.”
Alex looked up at his companion then he flushed slightly and opened the Tome.
Skill Tome Activated
Select One Skill From The Following List
Fiery Strikes: Alex's weapon strikes are imbued with elemental fire, dealing additional damage over time
Fire Shield: Create a protective shield of fire around yourself, reducing incoming damage and reflecting a portion back to attackers
Flame Whirlwind: Spin rapidly, creating a whirlwind of fire that damages all nearby enemies over time. Increased damage to enemies afflicted by Smouldering Embers
Infernal Armour: Cloak yourself in fiery armour, granting increased defence and resistance to all elemental attacks
“Now that’s a list of superpowers. Any suggestions professor?”
“Do any help with archaeology?”
“No…”
“Then I have no suggestions.”
“Rude.”
Alex stared at the screen of Skills and frowned, they were all amazing.
“Till, all I can say is that any you don’t choose will still be available down the line, you aren’t deleting a Skill if you don’t select it now.”
“Ok, that helps a lot, thanks, professor.”
“System, Flame Whirlwind.”
Select Flame Whirlwind Skill? Once Selected this choice cannot be undone
Yes/No
“Yes.”
Initiating
Skill Selected
Skill Learned: Flame Whirlwind: Spin rapidly, creating a whirlwind of fire that damages all nearby enemies over time. Increased damage to enemies afflicted by Smouldering Embers
Requirements: Level 25, Melee weapon
“That was easy. On to the Ability Tome.”
Alex flicked the next Tome open.
Ability Tome Activated
Select One Ability From The Following List
Blazing Fury: Channel your Inner Fire, doubling your attack speed, Strength, Intelligence and fire damage output. Every attack creates a Flame Elemental which burns enemies within range for 30 seconds, extended to one minute within Smouldering Embers
Flame Manipulation: Manipulate and control fire, shape it into various forms for offensive and defensive purposes, more powerful if Smouldering Embers is active
Flame Torrent: Unleashes a torrent of fire, engulfing his enemies in a devastating wave of flames, causing massive area damage. Increased damage to enemies in the ring of fire caused by Smouldering Embers
Conflagration: Create a massive explosion of fire, incinerating everything within a specific area and leaving a burning aftermath causing Smouldering Embers and Activating chains on any enemies even if there are less than five present
Ember Form: Transform into a living embodiment of fire, granting increased speed, Strength, Intelligence and immunity to physical damage while active. Lasts 1 minute. Time extended to 2 minutes if Warrior is standing in the ring of fire caused by Smouldering Embers. Heals the Warrior by 20% if Warrior is under 50% health when transformation is complete. Cool Down - 24 hours
Interdimensional Flames: Manipulate fire to open rifts between dimensions, to briefly shift to alternate Earths. This ability grants access to unique knowledge, artefacts, or fragments of knowledge from alternate versions of the Warrior
"I was wrong, one is related, sort of, to archaeology."
"I can see all of them because of that. I don't know though, it looks like an evolution of your Ember Walk ability, but whether it would be useful at your current level, a lot of the alternate Earths have been part of the Multiverse for a long time. Dr Vance wasn't a great example, people on those Earths could be thousands of levels above you."
"As amazing as it would be to visit another Earth… I was leaning towards Ember Form or Blazing Fury."
"Why?"
"Ember Form should be obvious, I'd turn into fire… but it only lasts 1 minute. Blazing Fury sounds like it would add a huge amount to my damage, but the term 'Inner Fire', I don't know if that is another resource like Stamina. It could be what Vance was hinting at, how Intelligence will be vital."
"Sound logic, surprisingly. Both look impressive, I'm inclined to believe there will be a catch that isn't visible in the general description."
"That is my worry as well. I need to make a decision though. System, Blazing Fury.”
Select Blazing Fury Ability? Once Selected this choice cannot be undone
Yes/No
“Yes.”
Initiating
Ability Selected
Ability Learned: Blazing Fury: Channel your Inner Fire, doubling your attack speed, Strength, Intelligence and fire damage output. Every attack creates a Flame Elemental which burns enemies within range for 30 seconds, extended to one minute within Smouldering Embers
Resource Modified: Intelligence becomes Inner Fire
Inner Fire increased by 10
Requirements: Level 25, Melee Weapon, Inner Fire, Fire Warrior Class
Name: Alex Till
Race: Human (Earth 0)
Class: Fire Warrior
Titles: Planetary Forerunner 100, Multiverse Forerunner, Multiverse Dungeon Diver
Level: 34
Attributes:
Strength: 160
Constitution: 87
Inner Fire: 57
Agility: 39
Wisdom: 12
Charisma: 11
Available Stat Points - 0
Class: Fire Warrior (B-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 Inner Fire per level
Skills:
Primal Fury II: After being drenched in the blood of their foes a Warrior can enter a state of enhanced ferocity, increasing Strength by 15, Agility by 15 but reducing Constitution by 25.
The aggression of attacks generates heat to rival the Warriors Ferocity, gradually causing a ring of fire to build around the Warrior, burning enemies and slowing their movement speed. This AoE effect adds Smouldering Embers.
Flame Whirlwind: Spin rapidly, creating a whirlwind of fire that damages all nearby enemies over time. Increased damage to enemies afflicted by Smouldering Embers
Ember Walk: Like ash cast into the wind, the Warrior learns to move through flames unharmed, using them as a means of quick transportation or as a defence mechanism
Abilities:
Smouldering Embers: Reduces enemy resistance to fire damage and increases enemy damage taken by all attacks. The more enemies caught in this AoE increases the expansion of the ring of fire. If over 5 enemies are caught in this ring, chains of fire lock the enemies together slowly pulling them closer to the Warrior. Damage over time increased incrementally the longer an enemy stays in the ring while consistently sustaining damage from the Warrior.
Blazing Fury: Channel your Inner Fire, doubling your attack speed, Strength, Inner Fire and fire damage output. Every attack creates a Flame Elemental which burns enemies within range for 30 seconds, extended to one minute within Smouldering Embers
"Now, let's check out that weapon!"
Alex withdrew the hammer from his inventory.
Chitinspine Hammer
B-Grade War Hammer
Weapon Stats:
Damage: High
Attack Speed: Slow
Durability: 100%
Weight: Heavy
+20 Strength
+20 Constitution
+20 Inner Fire
Bonus: Durability penalty reduced by 50%
Inflicts Crushing Damage
Recover 2% Stamina from every Crushing Blow
Creates a Shockwave from Ground Pound Attacks
"Wow. That's… just wow."
"Till, you forgot one other loot item."
Alex looked back over the quest rewards.
"The Weapon Reforge Token, I was… saving that till last."
Alex pulled the small black gem out of his inventory.
Weapon Reforge Token
Allows the Adventurer to change a weapon's physical characteristics, reforging it into a new weapon
"Axe?"
"I should think so."
Alex placed the gem on the hammer with a shrug.
Reforge Weapon - Chitinspine Hammer?
Available configurations
War Axe
Claymore
Pike
Polearm
Configuration choice?
"System, reforge Chitinspine Hammer to War Axe."
Initiating
Reforge Complete
Chitinspine Hammer
B-Grade War Hammer
Weapon Stats:
Damage: High
Attack Speed: Slow
Durability: 100%
Weight: Heavy
+20 Strength
+20 Constitution
+20 Inner Fire
Bonus: Durability penalty reduced by 50%
Inflicts Crushing Damage
Recover 2% Stamina from every Crushing Blow
Creates a Shockwave from Ground Pound Attacks
Reforged To
Volcanic Axe
B-Grade War Axe
Weapon Stats:
Damage: High
Attack Speed: Medium
Durability: 100%
Weight: Heavy
+20 Strength
+20 Constitution
+20 Inner Fire
Bonus: Durability penalty reduced by 50%
Inflicts Slicing Damage
Every Strike Inflicts Searing Strike
Creates a Firestorm from Ground Pound Attacks
100 Kills fully restore durability
The Hammer had been constructed of a black porous rock, and the Volcanic Axe was constructed of the same material, but while the hammer had been dormant the axe contained a volcano. Fire coursed across the blade and small eruptions of flame sent flames coiling around the haft.
Volcanic Axe
Volcanic Retribution Set
(1 of 5 Collected)
5 of 5 Unlocks: Legendary Ability: Fire God
Alex's jaw dropped.
"Fire God? System, what is Fire God Ability?"
Error, Complete Volcanic Retribution Set For More Info
"Professor, I need those items."
"OK."
"That's it?"
"What do you want me to do? Call Amazon?"
"I… you… never mind. Look at this axe. It's amazing."
Alex ran a hand over the porous material, initially pulled back as the fire within the weapon coiled around his hand and up his arm.
“The fire looks like my Smouldering Embers chains.”
“As a Fire Warrior your control of fire would be increased, you should attempt to increase your skill with it.”
“How?”
“The accounts of Elemental Mastery I have records of just list meditating on your element and allowing it to enter your soul. Now that Intelligence has changed to Inner Fire I would suggest finding a natural source of fire and spending time close to it. Eventually, your goal should be to take no damage from the element.”
“System, location of Natural Fire nearby?”
Unable to process request. Access Map
“Map?”
A Map Screen popped up, initially centred on a pulsing dot before it zoomed out showing the local area. Several points of interest were highlighted with different symbols. Tapping on a skull a smaller box popped up.
Level 50 Elite Archer
Alex waved the smaller box aside and tapped on an exclamation mark.
Local Quest - Hunting (Level 30)
There were several quests scattered across the map with little to no information other than the level requirement. Alex kept looking until he found what he was looking for.
Fire Attunement Zone - C-Grade (Level 20)
Attunement - 0%
Fire Attunement Zone - C-Grade (Level 30)
Attunement - 0%
There were other Attunement Zones in the area as well, water, earth, electrical and beast. All of which he knew would be dangerous if he wandered in too deep.
"Thoughts?"
"On?"
"You can't see the map?"
"I can, but I'm trying to get you to be specific. Something I worked on with you for years but you seem to have reverted to old, bad habits since you left university."
"Fine, would you suggest an Attunement Zone, a quest, or an Elite?"
"Till, none of those activities relate to archaeology."
"True, but I'm sure they relate to some of the extensive knowledge you have access to from Multiverse records."
"That's… a convenient loophole. You're correct. However, the information I have isn't as extensive as you'd like. Attunement Zones get progressively more important as you increase your specific elemental abilities. However, they're always dangerous. Imagine… allowing a house to burn down around you because it's cold outside. As your internal attunement with fire increases the damage you take will decrease, however, you need to be entering higher-level zones to increase your progression. Quests are relatively simple, the System generates quests, usually to limit overpopulation or to stimulate power growth in an area. Kill the quest target and typically do something with the bodies. Then the Elite, reading between the lines… they're beasts or humans that have been through a dramatic increase in power, like a Dungeon boss they're powerful, at times they're more powerful than a final boss. There are records of Adventurers from other Earths falling through, or having an Ability to transfer between Earths and fostering chaos. In some records criminals from other Earths have managed to jump across to avoid capture, though Multiverse transfer Abilities and Skills are exceedingly rare."
"Like Interdimensional Flames, the Ability I didn't choose?"
"Yes and no. That Ability specified 'briefly', I would assume that as the Ability evolves the time limit would increase. In its infancy you would open a door, poke your head through into an Archaeology Zone and have time to find anything of Historical Significance, then you'd be pulled back to Earth 0. Or you'd meet yourself. Two Tills… terrifying."
"Which option would be more beneficial?"
"For long-term growth, Attunement Zones, for financial growth, quests, for danger and Levelling, Elites. Though all will level you, just in different amounts. Attunement Zones will provide the least experience, but, they'll increase your Fire Attunement which will increase the damage you do with fire abilities, which will mean your fights against higher level enemies, like Elites will be, if not easier, then less difficult."
"So, what you're saying is, attack the level 50 Elites?"
"What? No! That's the opposi-"
The professor stopped talking when Alex started laughing.
"Sorry professor, that was too easy. I'm thinking I'll run over to the Level 20 Attunement Zone, kill anything on my way and throw myself into a micro volcano, or whatever a natural fire zone is."
"Sounds like a far better plan, Till. Surely a Level 20 Zone won't be a volcano, surely it'll be a burning tree or a burning tar pit, or something a little less… intense."