Combat Report
You have slain:
Dire Badger x3
Wild Wolf x2
Rewards:
Experience earned
Your class has leveled up: Mage – Level 10
You have gained Attribute Points
Class upgrade available
Your skills have leveled up:
Earth Magic – Level 9
Staff Mastery – Level 7
Enchantment Magic – Level 10
Skill upgrade available
Wyatt was sitting on the couch in the tower looking over the latest combat report. He had spent the last several days traversing the dungeon, facing a multitude of enemies in the form of badgers and wolves, even facing a monstrously large bear in one of the rooms. Twice his health had dropped dangerously low, and after almost every battle he found himself making the increasingly long trek back to the safety of the tower to regenerate health.
Wyatt did everything he could to keep himself busy. Between writing in his study, training in the floor below, or traversing the dungeon itself, Wyatt never slowed down long enough for his mind to wander.
Dark thoughts lingered at the edge of his consciousness, waiting to take shape in his mind.
His progress was slow, but he never wavered. He was becoming stronger, having already reached level ten in his enchantment magic skill and his class, both of which earned him an upgrade of some sort. Several other skills had increased by a level or two during the last few days, and he reveled in the improvement to his combat effectiveness as they did.
Wyatt looked at the available upgrades to his enchantment magic. It stood to reason that every ten levels in a skill allowed him to gain one of several available upgrades, with another such upgrade available every ten levels in his class. If this were the case, then he would be gaining more upgrades to several of his other skills, as they were close to reaching this milestone.
Of the available choices, two stood out. The first was an upgrade that increased his resistance to enchantment-based abilities. This seemed like it would be useful to the mage, as having his mind controlled by an enemy was something he never wanted, and he knew first-hand the danger that posed. Wyatt also assumed that this particular upgrade would be available for his other magic based skills, increasing resistance to their related abilities.
The second upgrade that stood out to Wyatt was an ability called Rampage. This would allow him to cause a target to enter a magic fueled rage, increasing their physical stats, but potentially causing them to attack anything nearby
This could work in two ways, Wyatt realized. He could cast this on an enemy, making it attack its allies and thinning out the enemies Wyatt would have to face. He could also cast this on himself, increasing his physical combat abilities for a short duration. Since Wyatt was fighting alone in this dungeon, he had no risk of harming anyone he didn’t want to. The only drawback to casting this on himself was the loss of control that would come with it. He doubted he would be able to focus enough to use any magic while this effect was active and would most likely rely on brute strength.
Still, Rampage would be a useful ability, and he had yet to see anyone or anything else that could affect his mind. He also had what he assumed was a high willpower for his level, which he guessed would affect his ability to resist such affects.
In the end, Wyatt went with the Rampage ability.
Ability:
Rampage
Cost:
50 MP
Skill:
Enchantment Magic
Cast Time:
5s
Duration:
20s
Description:
Causes the target to enter a magic fueled rage, attacking anything within range. Increases physical stats of the target depending on Enchantment Magic. Duration is dependent on Enchantment Magic. The intelligence of the target creature is based on user's willpower.
With the ability came an influx of knowledge in how to cast it. True to the other enchantment-based spells, there was no verbal component, but he needed to move his hands in intricate signs before use. With a five second cast time, he would need to make this an opening move. Additionally, this gave Wyatt a new way to learn new spells and abilities, which made him grin with anticipation, as he turned his attention to the class upgrade.
Here again were several upgrades with varying usefulness. There was more than were available for the skill upgrade, and they seemed to be related to something he had spent the last ten levels doing. The skill that stood out was called Rune Magic, which seemed to be magic he could cast by drawing runes and was most likely related to his calligraphy skill. With this, he assumed he could create magic-based traps triggered by the presence of an enemy. He also assumed he could use this to upgrade anything he drew the runes on.
Looking at the other choices – some useful and some even based on martial combat – he decided rune magic would be the most useful in the long run.
Skill:
Rune Magic
Level:
1
Attribute:
Intelligence
Description:
Magic infused runes can be used for a multitude of purposes and become stronger as more runes are used in unison. Effectiveness of runes is based on the level of Rune Magic and intelligence.
A small part of him was also giddy at the possibilities in this field, as it sounded like it would allow him to use magic in schools that he didn’t have a skill in, so long as he knew the corresponding runes.
With that thought, Wyatt frowned. How do I learn runes anyway? But this thought was interrupted with the system implanted knowledge appearing in his head.
Two runes, which he knew instinctively as arcana and light crossed his mind, along with the runes for each of his magic skills: space, control, stone, air and time. Wyatt realized that the arcana and light runes were the same ones he saw on the magical lights that lined the tower.
Not wasting any time, Wyatt went to the study, and used the magic quill to write light onto a page, pushing his mana into the act as he always did, though it appeared more mana was required than normal. As soon as the rune was completed it lit up, followed by the entire paper.
Wyatt was thrilled. This will be useful.
He experimented with each of the runes he knew, making paper turn into various forms of magic. Most of it was useless on the pages, and they each quickly faded from the paper, leaving it pristine and ready for use again.
Having an idea, Wyatt withdrew his staff and drew the rune for arcana onto it. As soon as he was done, the staff began to glow a faint blue, and he swung it in the air. A blue trail was left in its wake, and he could feel the power behind every swing. The amount wasn’t much, but he knew it would get better as his skills improved.
Your skill has leveled up:
Rune Magic – Level 2
Wyatt swung his staff for several more minutes, wondering how long the effect would last. When he went into the training area in the floor below him, he attacked a training dummy. The effect of the rune was obvious, as he was able to crack the wood of the dummy in a single strike.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
Unfortunately, a single strike was all he had, as the aura around the staff disappeared with the rune immediately after.
I’m glad I tested that in a controlled environment. I would hate to have figured that out mid-fight.
Wyatt tried to draw the rune on the staff twice, hoping it would either double the power or double the uses, but as he drew the second rune the first faded as it had when he expended its use.
I’ll need to figure out how to string multiple runes together.
Satisfied with the new skills for now, Wyatt turned for the stairs.
The next room in the never-ending dungeon was filled with several wolves, similar to the ones he had fought previously. Wyatt couldn’t see any of badgers in the room from his vantage point behind the door, which was a relief. The badgers were weaker, but the variation between enemies and how they fought had brought a new difficulty to combat he hadn’t yet faced.
Wyatt backed away from the room, trying to decide how best to prepare for this fight. He was glad for the way this dungeon was setup, creating a new challenge in each new room, which allowed him to prepare accordingly.
His opening move was Rampage, which sent the creatures into a frenzy as one of their own bit the neck of another. The ensuing commotion distracted the wolves as they began snapping and snarling at each other, allowing the mage to take up a strategic position. He entered the room with Haste cast on himself, and immediately moved to one of the wolves that was away from the others, hitting it with his staff before it could react to his presence. The arcana rune on the handle flared to life as a brilliant burst of blue light sent his target into the nearby wall. The rune immediately disappeared, but it had served its purpose well as the body of the wolf lay motionless.
Now that Wyatt could see the entire room, there were more wolves than he had previously seen. He backpedaled away from the main group, leaving them to fight amongst themselves as he sent a rock into the closest. His Rock Spike ability, powered by his intelligence and earth magic levels, was turning into a rather deadly attack, as the spike impaled the side of the wolf it struck.
Unfortunately, while the wolf died from the attack, Wyatt’s presence was revealed to the others, and they turned towards the mage. Three of them charged him, and Wyatt shot two more spikes toward the one in the lead. His first shot missed as it dodged to the side, but Wyatt had studied the movements of these creatures closely, and the second shot was placed right where the wolf dodged to, bringing it down.
Two on one battles were quickly becoming Wyatt’s forte, as he used his enemies’ attacks against them, turning the wolves on each other with his Subtle Manipulation. As they became wary of both friend and foe, their coordination died, and Wyatt used this to his advantage. He attacked with his staff, switching from defensive to offensive strikes as he dispatched the wolves.
With these two down, he turned back towards the rampaging enemy, and was faced with a flaw in his plan.
The magically enraged – and thus empowered – wolf was charging straight for him.
Wyatt barely had time to Shift away from where he was, narrowly dodging the attack. The wolf was fast, and Wyatt had to fight on the defensive to stay alive, trying to wait out the time on the ability affecting his enemy. His own strengths worked against him briefly, as his increased intelligence meant the spell’s duration was doubled.
Eventually, however, the spell faded, and the wolf backed away as it visibly took stock of what had happened. The confusion didn’t last long, and its anger redoubled when it looked at its dead comrades. This rage only spurred the beast to its death, as Wyatt attacked with a downward swing of his staff, swiftly bringing an end to the fight.
Combat Report
You have slain:
Wild Wolf x8
Rewards:
Experience earned
Your skill has leveled up:
Rune Magic – Level 3
Staff Mastery – Level 8
Taking a minute to catch his breath, Wyatt realized he hadn’t taken any damage during the fight. His mana and stamina were low, but they regenerated at a much higher rate than his health, and he wouldn’t have to go back to the tower this time.
As Wyatt was about to continue, something caught his eye above him. There, hanging from the ceiling by a rope, was a box, far too high to reach by jumping.
He stood there, trying to think of a way to cut the rope down. He tried once with his Rock Spike, but the projectile just wasn’t accurate enough. He tried using air magic to blow it down, but the rope was firm, and he only proved to send the box swinging, further complicating his ability to hit it.
When the box’s swinging slowed, Wyatt tried a different approach. He channeled his air magic, trying to focus it into a thin point. It took several tries, but eventually, he was able to send a blade of pure air toward the box. The blade cut clean through the rope, and the box fell, landing on the floor with a loud thud.
You have gained a new ability:
Wind Cutter
Ability:
Wind Cutter
Cost:
30 MP
Skill:
Air Magic
Cast Time:
Instant
Description:
Launch a blade of compressed air at the target.
Wyatt was elated to finally have another offensive ability. Given the size of the blade he just created, it was possible this ability could strike multiple enemies, giving him his first area-of-effect attack since coming to this world.
Opening the box, Wyatt saw a bow, lying on top of some clothing. The bow was magical in nature, increasing the damage of any arrow shot through it, and even had an advanced rarity level. However, Wyatt had no use for the weapon, and decided to store it in his cloak for now, making a mental note to store a barrel of arrows as well just in case he needed to use it later.
The clothing turned out to be a long dark coat that buttoned from the waist up, with extra cloth that hung down to the back of his knees but came up slightly towards the front.
Name:
Robes of the Mage [Advanced]
Durability:
Requirements:
75/75
Intelligence 20
Willpower 20
Description:
Enchanted robes.
Enchantment:
Increase Intelligence by 5%
Increase Willpower by 5%
Your skill has leveled up:
Analyze – Level 4
A five percent increase to both of his mental attributes was more than he could have hope for. For now, that meant only a few extra points, but over time that would start to add up. Not only that, but these robes were marked advanced, which he assumed as less than his legendary cloak, but much better than any of the basic gear he had.
Wyatt put the robes on over his basic shirt. They fit perfectly, as everything magical in this world seemed to, but he was nonetheless impressed.
Wyatt risked opening the next door. On the other side was yet another room without a floor, having a ledge on either side of a long bottomless pit. This time, however, there were multiple pillars reaching up from the darkness below him, and he knew instinctively that he would have to jump from one to the next until he reached the other side, where he could see a lever.
Great, an agility challenge.
Wyatt looked at his menu. Having only a twelve for his agility score, he wasn’t very confident in his ability to jump from platform to platform. The distance between each was several yards, minimum, and he wasn’t sure it was physically possible to make the jump even if he could get a running start, which wouldn’t be possible given the small size of each platform.
Closing his eyes, Wyatt thought of what to do. This was a different world, and a real party would no doubt have someone who specialized in agility, easily having as many points in the attribute as he had in willpower. With an agility score like that, this challenge would be easy.
As it stood, however, Wyatt’s party consisted of a singular mage. He opened his eyes and scanned the room. The walls were made of large flat bricks, similar to the rest of the dungeon, and the pillars each seemed to sprout up from nothing. The ledge he stood on was no more than four feet from edge to wall, and another six feet wide. The ledge on the opposite side of the room was about the same size.
Wyatt’s eyes moved from platform to platform as he planned out potential paths. He looked for pillars that were closer together, seeing if there was an easier, if longer route he could take while moving forward and backtracking.
In the end, there wasn’t any way for him to accomplish the challenge how it was meant to be. Wyatt was forced to improvise.
The mage built up his earth magic inside him, then unleashed it into the floor, causing it to shoot up and launch him into the air. He soared for several seconds, smiling as he did, before he realized he wasn’t going to reach the far ledge.
Panicking, Wyatt contorted midair, letting out a huge blast of air magic behind him, propelling himself the last few yards to the ledge.
Wyatt impacted the wall and fell, catching the edge of the platform. With his breath gone and his head spinning, he heaved himself up with all the power his five strength could muster. Finally managing to swing a leg onto the platform, he rolled to safety.
After several minutes of labored breathing, Wyatt stood and pulled the lever. Just like the first floor, a bridge descended from the ceiling, allowing him to easily traverse this room the next time he came through. At the same time, the door behind him slid upwards, allowing Wyatt to continue.
Turning, Wyatt walked through the door, into another of the large circular rooms, with a different mural decorating the length of the curved wall. He mentally prepared himself for what was to come, before looking more closely at the painting. Soon, he was lost in the swirling images.
The first scene that came to life was that of the elven race. Hundreds of armored elves stood in formation before a palace. At their front stood a solitary figure, clad in armor more ornate than any Wyatt had ever seen. In his hands, he held a crown.
The crown was simple, a band of gold devoid of any jewels or markings that would have been common on crowns in Earth’s past. The elven man stared at the crown but did not place it on his head as Wyatt believed he would.
Suddenly, ten lights appeared before him and slowly they coalesced into figures vaguely similar to the elves before them. The individual appearances of each seemed to change, never resting on any single face.
The elven leader faced the lights and dropped to his knee. His head bowed, he presented the crown to the lights, now in humanoid form.
The scene changed just as one reached for the crown, and Wyatt stood before another cave. He watched as a new race emerged from within. The humanoid had a long beard and stood roughly four feet tall. It was broad, and flanked by more of its kind, all similarly built. Wyatt recognized them instantly as dwarves.
The dwarves were greeted at the mouth of the cave by the same ten lights as the others, now changing form to match the dwarves, still with the faces that constantly shifted as you tried to see them.
Scene after scene of integrated races passed by the human as he floated between them. Each began with the new races coming from caves, sometimes multiple races, sometimes races Wyatt had never heard of, but each ending with the same scene: a crown being presented to a humanoid mote of light. Wyatt could only assume these lights were gods, and they seemed to guide the races into prosperity within the system.
The scene turned black as Wyatt counted the tenth crown. Just as he thought the scene was over, a flash of light blinded him. When he was able to open his eyes, he saw a battle unlike any he had seen before.
The gods were battling each other.
The power created by these beings was immense, as they hurled blasts of mana the size of mountains at one another. One swung a hammer that formed a canyon like the one he had started in, and it seemed to Wyatt that the gods had settled on appearances finally, instead of shifting constantly as they had before.
The entire world was caught up in the fighting, as cities burned all around him. The scene changed many times over, and Wyatt struggled to keep up. He saw gods fight beside one another, showing a clear division of warring factions.
But the human was unable to ever fully determine which gods fought for which side, as the scenes always changed to show allies turning to enemies as loyalties shifted, until the scene was left with nothing but utter chaos, and every god fought only for itself.
The gods faded, the fires turned to ash, and the world had grown quiet. The races of the world awoke for a second time to a world they did not know.
But this time there was no light to guide them.