Vulk swept away the wolves around Drevin, and Lan dashed past, stabbing at the giant wolf.
Like the others, the wolf turned and tried to bite him the moment he did. Giving Drevin the chance to grab the wolf’s head.
In a spectacular show of strength, the Guardian lifted his shield with the wolf still on it, then twisted, bringing the top of his shield down and onto the wolf’s neck.
‘Thanks for the assist.’ The Guardian smiled, seemingly surprised and pleased to see him, before lifting his shield off the wolf, ‘now let's get back to it.’
[New skill acquired: Spear wielding – Although the road is long, you at least know what end of the spear to point at enemies.]
The moment he got the skill, Lan felt a little more comfortable manoeuvring the spear.
For what felt like hours, Lan watched Locke’s teammates. He would shoot from behind Drevin’s shield when one looked in trouble. Stabbing and drawing the wolf's attention long enough for someone to kill it.
[New skill acquired: Evasion – Faster on your feet, making you slightly better at avoiding damage.]
Lan wasn’t sure if he was actively looking to hide behind the big man or if Drevin was looking out for him. But every time he managed to survive pissing off a wolf, Lan would find a place to catch his breath behind Drevin's shield.
In any other situation, Lan would have found this funny. Before he struck, he was invisible, able to move around unnoticed. And it wasn’t long until he fell back into step with the Party’s Guardian, the two moving to help different party members before returning to the formation.
For years, his level had been one of the biggest obstacles. Now it was practically his armour. It would have been funny. But in that moment, with men and women fighting for their lives. Monsters all around him that could kill him with a single hit.
It was only in that moment that everything made sense. The world made sense.
Dell, Eliza, his level and even what he would do after. All of it faded into the background as he threw himself at another wolf.
His anger, frustration, and pain were a candle to the fire racing through his veins now.
When was the last time he had felt this alive? Had he ever felt this alive? Was this why he had felt he needed to do this? Looking around, Lan thought he had gotten his answer.
How he hadn’t noticed it before, he wasn’t sure. But as he looked at them now, Lan could see the fire burning in the eyes of the adventurers around him.
Did they know how he felt, or was he just beginning to learn how they felt?
After some time, the sounds of fighting started to die down, and before he knew it, Lan was pulling his spear free from a wolf he had helped Locke kill. Lan looked at the wolf.
The almost noble-looking creature lay on the ground, a painting of a battle from a story, if not for the mud all around, made from the blood of wolves and men. It had not been killed by a Warrior from the stories either. Yet it would have killed many innocent people, just the same.
Feeling eyes on him, Lan turned and found Locke and his party looking at him.
‘What?’ Lan stepped back.
‘You know you only have one point of health left, right?’ Locke asked with a wry smile.
‘Well, everyone else was still fighting after getting hurt,’ Lan backed up some more, ‘And I could still help. Plus, you said I was dead anyway if I was still alive after everyone else's flames went out,’ Lan shrugged, unsure what else to say.
Really at first, he had helped them because they had helped him, then he did so because it felt right, and Lan realised he didn’t want even them to get hurt if he could stop it.
Locke just looked with bewilderment. While Vulk, Olivia and Sora, of all people, smiled at him.
‘You really are an idiot,’ Sora laughed, ‘why else would you attack a Razerwolf at your level and so close to death.’ He grinned and slapped Lan on the back. And Lan almost blacked out from the force before Drevin caught him.
‘Light, I think I just saw the Halls of Radiance.’ Lan breathed as Drevin frowned at the guilty-looking Rogue.
‘Well, I know one thing that can help with that.’ Locke said as traces of gold light lifted from each of the dead wolves and flowed towards them, splitting and filling the tags of those that had killed them.
Heat built up in Lan's chest as the first few strands reached him. And just when it started to feel like he would burn up in it. It burst and filled his body in a cyclone of golden fire. Driving the pain away and returning him to full health.
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[Maximum Experience gain: Level up!]
But it wasn't done as more strands found their way to him, and the feeling started to build again and again.
[Maximum Experience gain: Level up!]
[Maximum Experience gain: Level up!]
[Maximum Experience gain: Level up!]
When it was done, Lan was on his knees as vapours of golden lights rose from his body.
[You have reached a Soul Level of five. Congratulations]
As the voice of the world spoke, Lan opened his Tome and saw that it was true. More than that, he had attribute points next to his Cores. Forty attribute points; ten for each level.
A drop of rain hit his hand, and Lan looked up. The sky was clear. The sun hung high in the sky, but there wasn’t a single cloud. It was only then he noticed that he had tears in his eyes.
‘It’s a little overwhelming, right?’ Locke said, patting Lan on the shoulder, ‘especially gaining more than one level at once.’
That was an understatement.
For a moment, Lan felt like the gods had looked upon him. For those beats of a heart, Lan had felt whole in a way that he had not known. Lan wiped his eyes and stood with some help from Locke.
‘So how many levels was it?’ Sora asked.
‘What? Oh, uh, four.’ Lan said, checking again to be sure he hadn’t been seeing things and frowned, ‘but isn’t that a little much?’ Lan asked. Gaining so much experience seemed like a mistake for what he had done.
‘Focus on your tag.’ Locke said, and Lan did; his Tome appearing momentarily before turning to a new page.
This one showed the number of kills he had been credited for participating in, in a list. Exercising a thought, Lan Combined the ones that were the same.
[Kill Log]
Razerwolf x 54 – Level 10 = 2700 exp
Razerwolf x 14 – Level 15 = 2100 exp
Razerwolf Seeker x 4 – Level 20 = 1000 exp
[Razerwolf Titans x 2 – Level 25 = 1200 exp]
Lan blinked, ‘what portion of the experience was I getting?’ he thought to the voice.
[You gained 30% of each kill. However, even this small amount significantly impacts you because of the level disparity between you and the Razerwolves.]
‘Four levels, that’s all? You charged Razerwolves with little more than a toothpick without hesitation. If nothing else, you got the makings of an adventurer,’ Vulk joined, letting loose a booming laugh that made Lan think of rolling thunder.
Which started to draw attention to them.
‘I was sure you would wet yourself and run, which obviously would lead to one of them chasing you down and eating you, but hey, you didn’t.’ Sora grinned.
‘I owe you my thanks.’ The Mage said once again, moving a little too close to Lan. ‘I’m honoured that the first person you risked your life to save was I.’ she stepped closer. ‘I will have to repay you.’
‘Start by repaying everyone else you owe for saving you.’ the large man said. ‘Plus, I’m pretty sure he saved me first,’ he shrugged.
‘How dare you talk to me like that,’ Olivia pouted, ‘and he still had all of his health when he stopped the attack you let through. He risked his life to save me first,’ she turned and batted her eyelashes at him.
‘I don’t know why you all seem so happy to have to be saved.’ A new near monotone voice called over the others.
Lan turned to her voice and almost jumped. Instead of the platinum-haired woman dressed in silver and white, Lan was greeted by a crimson spectre in Cassandra's shape.
Since the last time he saw her, the splash of blood on her cheek had grown. So that she was covered from head to toe. Her hair had turned a deep scarlet, against which her rich golden eyes looked like burning suns.
Lan learned why she wore the odd suit and armour as she stood there, the blood coating it formed beads that rolled off it.
In her hand, she was carrying two giant white wolf heads.
‘I wasn’t able to find the one leading the horde, but I managed to get these two… and a few others,’ she said to Locke.
Locke nodded before looking in the Guild Master’s direction, ‘Yeah, Malik’s team got to it first.’
Lan guessed Malik was the tall, blonde man in silver armour, who, from the looks of it, was the leader of Leah’s team. The two of them and the rest of their team were standing next to a truly giant black wolf.
‘Well, that’s to be expected from the stars of the guild, Sora said with a yawn, ‘must be good being a high gold party.’
As Sora spoke, Leah looked over and, with a smile, waved at Lan. for some reason, she seemed utterly unsurprised to see he was still standing.
‘Well, I guess I should thank you too.’ Sora said, lightly punching Lan in the chest before looking over to Vasha.
All Lan could do was look at him, wondering where all the hostility had gone. Where it had gone in all of them.
‘Everyone!’ the Guild master called over all other voices, ‘the scouts can’t find any more, and Malik’s team got the alpha, so I am calling this guild job closed. Great job, everyone.’
A cheer went out before the Guild master spotted Lan, frowning before walking over, ‘You made it.’
‘Not for lack of trying,’ Locke added, making the Guild master raise an eyebrow, ‘he managed to annoy the wolves long enough for us to kill them and keep us from taking more damage than we would.
‘Really?’ he looked at Lan again, his eye colour changing momentarily before his second eyebrow joined the first, ‘level five, huh?... I would like you to think about what you will do next and give me your answer when we return.’
Lan frowned as the guild master walked away. After all this, was the guild master still going to kick him out? Even if Lan hadn’t done much, he had hoped to show he was serious.
Locke nudged him with his elbow,‘ come on, the sooner we can get back, the sooner I can buy you a drink,’
Still stuck in the last few moments, Lan followed for a moment before snapping out of it and stopping.
‘Something wrong?’ Locke asked as they stopped and looked back at him.
‘Sorry, it’s… it’s just that I am a little surprised,’ Lan found himself saying, unsure how to process the sudden change in their attitude. Not hating him was one thing after seeing that he was willing to help. But a complete turnaround like this was strange. Something that only got worse as they looked at each other and smiled.
‘Don’t worry. If you live long enough, you’ll understand,’ Locke shrugged, ‘for now, let's just say that you. You have done enough to have a drink with us. If you want.’
‘Like hell, if he wants,’ Sora shouted, ‘you don’t have a choice. You're going even if I have to drag you. Now, let's get going already!’
Lan blinked, ‘right,’ he smiled before allowing himself to be swept up in the wake of these strange people again.
[Name: Landrin Cross]
[Level: 5]
[Title: Not Assigned]
[Race: Human]
[Health: 10/10]
[Mana: None]
[Attributes:] [Pending points: 40]
[Strength: 5]
Body: 5
Will: 5
Dexterity: 5
Mind: 5
[Charisma: 5]
[Abilities:]
[Hidden: unranked]
Hidden: unranked
[Hidden: unranked]
[Skills]
[Bargaining – Level 9]
Speech – Level 10
Research – Level - 10
Pain tolerance - Level 8
Evasion – Level 1
[Spear wielding – level 1]