6.

Moments passed as Erak retreated away from the intersection. Lieutenant Nevia’s platoon moved up to secure it without alerting the Infernal Soldiers down the street. Julius stuck to Erak’s side like his shadow, the two men going to where the bonespitter lay in a deflated sack. Rutledge was kneeling on the hard stone, her wrinkled hands prying at the monster’s leathery skin.

“Professor Rutledge, Erak hasn’t used any of his level gains!” Julius spoke quickly, eagerness and desire for praise evident. The old woman looked up, eyes sharp as she rose smoothly to her feet.

“I wonder. Tell me what the screens reveal.” Rutledge walked to put her back to a building and watched as Erak struggled for a moment, hands swiping the air before Julius helped him.

“Sir Bloodsworn, it’s activated with thought. The soldiers struggled at first as well.”

Erak lowered his hands and thought of the screen that had so often impeded his vision. It burst forth and filled his eyesight and for the first time Erak actually read what it had to say.

Essence has been Detected and the System has been Deployed.

Welcome to the

Erak scrolled through paragraphs of explanations of what was happening. He cared not for any of that. Let the academics pour over the words of this System and see what truths they could discern. Erak needed strength. He got to the end of the introductory essay and skimmed it.

The System will help you Properly Allocate Essence to grow Stronger and Master New Abilities. Choose Wisely, Not all Paths are Suitable for You.

Erak

Bloodsworn lvl. 6

Physical Attributes

Strength: 14

Vigor: 15

Durability: 14

Perception: 11

Processing: 9

Essence Command

Channeling: 1

Potency: 1

Core: 1

“You have no command of Essence at all?”

“You’re how strong?” Julius and Rutledge’s voice overrode one another as Erak signed to them what the array of numbers were.

“Giant’s blood perhaps. Even in the old texts, giants wielded little in the way of magiks.” Rutledge was looking off to the distance even as the last of the standing Adjudicators spread out around them, forming a wall of flesh around the old professor.

“The highest strength I’ve been able to record so far is from Sergeant Harvath, and he was only an eight!”

Erak shrugged. He had always been the strongest human passing person he had met. He didn’t need floating numbers to tell him that.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“How many attribute points do you have available? From what we’ve seen, the points differentiate with what your title is.” Julius was finally seeming to come out of his shell, his spine straightening as a fever infected his eyes. They glinted with something besides fear and doubt for the first time all afternoon. Curiosity.

Bloodsworn

Bound by oaths etched into your very blood.

Genetic Modification and previous vows interfere with Essence casting.

Physical Attributes are Recommended.

Aura Skills are Recommended.

Five Free Physical Attribute Points per Level

Or

Three Essence Command Points

One Skill Every Five Levels

Erak

Bloodsworn lvl. 6

Strength: 25

Vigor: 20

Durability: 18

Perception: 15

Processing: 15

Erak ignored all the Essence Command attributes as he felt his body shift. The fire that had been burning in his veins since he killed the first of the hellspawn burst forth in an inferno of agony, scorching him as he Changed.

Muscles tightened and grew denser, flooded with power as a mangled groan escaped his helm. Sounds once dull became clear and distinct, the taste of ash and blood in the air thick. The outer edges of exhaustion that had begun to tug at his limbs burned away as he was filled with energy. Minutes or hours, he knew not, but the agony ended as he was left panting, mind rattled from the experience.

“What happened? How many points did you affix? Professor, have you ever seen a reaction that extreme?”

“No. The soldiers have been using their attribute points immediately, nothing extreme has happened like this. Interesting.”

Erak waved his hand, shooing them back as he looked at the last thing of interest on his screen. It had said a skill with every five and he wondered exactly what a skill was.

Skill Point Available: 1

(Aura Skills Advised)

Aura of Bloodlust: 1

Aura of Steadfast: 1

Aura of Implacable: 1

Spear Thrust: 1

Shield Bash: 1

Erak looked over the list and then to the professors before telling them what was happening. Both of them frowned and leaned towards each other, whispering quickly.

“The soldiers are on a balanced path while Erak is being foisted toward purely physical. I wonder if it’s the giant’s blood or his temperament. We need a larger sample size,” Rutledge said.

“I think Steadfast would be best. He can already thrust a spear and bash people with the shield. The soldiers need to hold steady, their confidence in themselves and the Empire is waning.”

“More scions will be needed. Lord Kalgaris arrived five days ago to pledge fealty with the new Queen. He will have brought warlords with him. They will have the information I need.”

“Erak, I believe you should take Steadfast.”

Erak had already taken Bloodlust while the two had conversed with each other and him.

Aura of Bloodlust

As you kill your enemies begin to fear and your allies grow stronger. Bathe in the blood of war and you shall feel invincible.

Erak looked down at the professors and read the titles that hung over their heads for the first time. Julius was as he expected. Rutledge was different, wisdom had suffused her to the point she was not just a plain Academic.

Imperial Sage

Lvl. 3

Erak shrugged and headed back toward the front of the street. His brief interest in the titles long gone as he felt a tug in his guts as his oaths urged him forward. Nevia met his eyes and hurriedly barked out orders. Erak felt the Adjudicators behind him, hiding in his shadow as they clutched at their weak batons. A storm gathered around him, potential and wrath as he turned the corner to stare down the three Infernal Soldiers.

A hundred meters down the abandoned boulevard, the three spun to meet him as Erak broke into a trot, his body more responsive than he could ever remember. Each strike of his foot propelled him further, the weight of the armor negligible as he lifted the shield to right below the visor.

Lean and mean, dressed in blood red leathers, studded with black iron, the three Infernal Soldiers were similar in appearance to the hellspawn. They lacked the wings and their frames were thicker than the emaciated creatures that plagued the skies. White elongated skulls, hairless and bare with sulfur yellow eyes and black sclera. Two held long spears, slender and crafted of oily, black, wood with a violet spear tip that sucked in the light.

The third, and most powerful, carried a slender blade styled like a rapier. Composed of the same purple metal as the spear tips. The soldier led with the tip dancing, making lazy circles in the air as they rushed at each other, Erak’s eyes drawn toward the needle thin point.

Gold red heat seared by him, splashing harmlessly around the leathers. Thin conical teeth showed in a flash of a smile as the soldier’s caster fire rained harmlessly off the three demons. Erak smiled in return as the strange trance was broken and he lifted his spear and roared as the four of them collided.