Caspian slowed his run as he watched the wagon of his supposed rescuers vanish over the next hill. He wasn't completely sure everything they had told him was true nor whether they held things back. They had seemed trustworthy and amicable enough but after the realization that though a Chaos subclass was certainly the thing of woe it appeared to be a scary story about what happened to empires that had fallen to ruin not a courageous tale of heroes in bygone eras. Caspian had never exactly been the courageous hero type so he wasn't too worried but perhaps relying on his more bestial aspects in his kit was smart when in public. Also, clearly, he had a lot of power in certain places and lacked it elsewhere and all that jazz.

Pausing at the top of a grassy hill Caspian made a very necessary stop to take stock of things. He was not naked anymore but now he only had a robe on. A robe he had not actually inspected. He focused on it and was a bit surprised.

Robe of The Dark Cultist

* Increased energy absorption

* Increased resistance to Mind Magic

* Minimal resistance to slashing damage

* You have chosen to walk the path of The Dark Ones and shall be rewarded just don't lose your way

Alright thought Caspian well that makes some sense after all it did say some runes were symbiotic to his Essence of Chaos makes sense they would be on a robe meant for a dark cultist. Interesting that man had been one but nothing he could judge after all it seemed he was on a similar path himself.

On to the next piece of business hadn’t he gotten a new skill after absorbing the runes cause he sure hadn’t seen the description before the giant slime guy sent him into a somersault. Opening his status window he found the skill.

Skill: Body Art of Chaos Lvl 2

* You have affixed a rune of power and Chaos to your body either permanently or temporarily and now know the power contained

* Allows the ascendent to apply runes to the body by searing them into their skin with Chaos energy for increased effectiveness or various other means for a reduced effect

Runes:

* Absorption:

* Allows the Ascendent to absorb energy from a target via physical contact refueling energy reserves based on the target's resistance to the effects of entropy

* Take what belongs to the cycle for you are the hand that guides its revolution

* Tribute:

* Causes targets killed by the Ascendent to be automatically gifted as an offering to the relevant Patron this effect does not extend to items above the average rarity of the armor equipped by the Ascendant

* Return what was lost and keep that which is given

* Protection:

* * Allows Ascendants to limit perception of their nature and status

* * Heros look to humble themselves, thieves look to remain unseen, whatever your path you look to remain a mystery from prying eyes

* Either for art or for the art of glory you know power is something that can be painted upon you by your own hand and with that power turn the cycle yourself

Sitting down on the grass Caspian entered his meditation skill, then attempted to use his new form of body art. In his mind, he saw a 3D representation of his body complete with what looked like arteries and veins throughout his form but more simplified leading to more of a 5-pointed star with one loop in each arm and leg and one thicker one up into his head. If he tried to use his Stalwart Legs he saw the loops in his legs grow more solid and thicken. He began pushing energy towards the Runic Body Art skill mentally and saw faint runes appear across his imagined form. There was a bent circle he could tell was the absorption rune, one that looked like 2 overlapping V shapes that represented Tribute, and what looked remarkably like a half-closed eye for Protection. Each rune seemed to only like certain pathways of the body though. He could put them anywhere on his imagined body but they became dim in some places and bright elsewhere almost seeming to pull his mind to place them in specific spots. The protection rune wanted nothing more than to be placed on the small of his back, Absorption wanted to be on the back of his hands, and Tribute to the center of his forehead. Caspian let his will pull back and the runes simply go where they wanted. Once they had shifted to their desired positions he pushed energy into them and came to a quick realization.

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

This hurt a lot and maybe doing all 3 at the same time was a bad idea. No going back now though. After the runes burned themselves into his skin dim growing green light moved from both hands up Caspian's arms then across his shoulders combining into a line running his spine to the rune of Protection. A thin line extended out of both sides of the tribute rune on his head creating a slight halo wrapping the crest of his skull like a circlet.

Alright, it was fighting time now no more sitting and meditating. Caspian punched the ground to stand up and immediately tripped.

Ding

You have killed Earth Worm (Easy)!

You have gained xp

Bonus xp for defeating an enemy solo

Bonus xp due to Path

Caspian felt a tickle rise up his arms and through his spine.

Earth Worm was automatically gifted as a tribute to Earth Mother

You have gained favor with Earth Mother

Alright, so the tribute rune was definitely worth it. Odd that there weren't the usual skill levels, that was a bit of a drag but hey favor might mean he could get a blessing or something that based on what those adventurers had said was a pretty sweet deal. Also good to know there were beasts in the ground as well wouldn't wanna come across a giant earthworm or something out of a sci-fi desert story.

Picking himself back up Caspian continued his way down the hill heading for the farms and open pastures beyond in hopes of those elk.

As he ran Caspian could feel the slightest bit of energy enter him not through his hands but his feet. He put this newfound energy source into keeping his scent and hands going constantly if Dark Vision leveled by using it these would too. Almost immediately he could feel more energy pour in. His scent was making it easier to pull energy from his surroundings which he could then put right back into pushing more energy into scent. Looking down, however, showed the downside. With each step he took he left footprints of dead grass. He pulled back his scent from around his feet and felt both the amount of energy absorbed decrease and saw the dead grass effect disappear. Good to know.

Continuing he was greeted by a farmhouse with clothes out on the line and a low stone wall keeping in chickens. The house seemed modest and well taken care of but empty of anyone at the moment. Deciding that his flasher in a cultist trenchcoat look needed to change Caspian stole a linen shirt and brown leather pants from the clothesline quickly slipping them on and tossing a second pair into his ring for the next time he destroyed his clothes. Heading for the wide pastures past the farms he could see Caspian spotted the telltale antlers of an elk. Wasting no time he began his approach.

It became clear he was not as fast as an elk, however. That said the grasses were tall and he was more patient. He got low and felt his senses heighten slightly as he imagined himself stalking forward through the grasses. Gotta love bestial instincts when it comes to hunting. It took some time and many missed attempts but eventually, he was able to sneak up on one of the elk. Leaping from his hiding spot he came in low and fast driving his fist up into the belly of the elk. The elk was flung into the air slightly before it landed a few feet away reorienting onto him. It lowered its head and proceeded to charge the short distance. Sending energy to his legs and hands Caspian stood his ground and caught the antlers. He felt the antlers crack slightly in his grip whether due to strength or more likely his Hands of Chaos. Stepping to the side he let the elk ram past him before realizing his mistake as it turned catching him in the side.

“Oh, so that's how we're gonna play it” muttered Caspian as he pushed energy to heal the gash in his side.

“I just got this shirt ya know”

The elk seemed to not care much for his wardrobe and charged again. This time Caspian wound up his arm solidifying his stance as he delivered a punch into the elk's forehead between the antlers. With an audible crack, he felt its skull collapse slightly as the animal went limp.

Ding

You have killed Field Elk (Medium)!

You have gained xp

Bonus xp for defeating an enemy solo

Bonus xp due to Path

Spirit Elk was automatically gifted as a tribute to Earth Mother

You have gained favor with Earth Mother

You have received an Achievement

New Achievement: Servant of Nature

* Increased speed while in contact with a natural area

* Increased favor gained from Offerings to Earth Mother and Children of Nature

* Not many still honor the Old Ones having forgotten their existence during their slumber but you know their glory is everlasting, let no root disturb your step young ascendant for you herald the Earth Mother’s return and The Children of Nature wish it to be so

Caspian could see the usefulness of the tribute rune for sure now. Also as he began to walk he could feel the grass around him bent and shrouded him while creating a path in whichever direction he moved. If he stood up and ran it wrapped his legs as if carrying him slightly in the direction he wished to go. It didn't actually lift him just made him feel lighter and more agile and oh boy was this going to make hunting elk more fun.