Jules pulled up the description of the skill once again.
After the fight with the wolf he had rested for three days, to allow his wounds to heal. Once that was done he had set back off stalking through the forest. That was four days ago, he had now stopped in a small valley that ran through a dense patch of spruce. Whilst the new skill had certainly taken up the majority of his attention, it wasn't the only notification he had received.
+10 all stats
The sheer number of stat points that he had received was more than any he had heard of anyone receiving at one time causing him to have to take a break to get used to his new capabilities. Still at disbelief at his new class, Jules quickly pulled up the class description.
A carrier of Ashen Blood, your very being is a vessel for strength and change. Able to specialise in any field the Ashen Blood Carrier is the perfect all-rounder
+10 to all stats per level up
The shear number of stat points was unheard of, especially in a small sect such as his. He quickly pushed himself to his feet, pushing into the soil beneath him, leaving behind small divots. Striding gracefully thanks to his 19 dexterity, he moved back under the deep emerald canopy. The spindly branches brushed against him as he moved creating a rustle as he moved onward. A tweet in the trees brought him reeling back from the half dream like state that the endless march had brought him into. As he spun, he grabbed a stick from the forest floor. The slightly sharp stick launched through the air with a flick of Jules' wrist- the bird was pierced straight through before it tumbled to the ground. Jules strode towards his kill- grabbing the bird by the neck, he lifted it and attached it to his belt. he had now sorted food for that night. Twisting on his heel, Jules continued to walk into the darkening forest. Continued to walk toward some unsavoury people.
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Noah had lived with his family for his whole life. They had owned a small farm a couple miles outside Iluminois so whilst they weren't rich they had had enough money to become a target for the bandits. They had come like unholy spectres of the night, dressed in leather and steel armour the had easily rushed into the farm. His aging parents had tried to fight back, but against the level 5 bandit captain, they had been downed in one slash of her sword. The red flames that had burned through everything he had ever know would haunt his nightmares for years (or as long as they kept him alive). Rather than grant him the mercy of death they had instead taken him as slave and prisoner.
The words that the bandit captain had said to him still rang through his head, "Now who do we have here? Not much magic, but he certainly has the looks." the captain had turned to the others at this point and barked an order at them, "Put him in the cart with the others. I'll have my fun later." The rough hands of the bandits had lifted him up and thrown him into the back of a cart filled with young adults and children (some as young as ten). He had been trapped in the cart for ten days by now, unable to see the outside except when the bandits chucked the scraps of food that were left for the prisoners to feast upon.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
However this day something new happened. The alarm was raised of someone stumbling upon the clearing the bandits were staying in. The sounds of the bandits getting in position to attack was all Noah could hear. But rather than the sound of the new arrival been torn to shreds, he heard a sharp laughter from the captain. Confused at the stranger reaction, Noah barley focused as the sound of the bandits partying outside, yet even unfocused, Noah didn't miss the shrill scream of pain or the many curses shouted by the bandits. The joyful music was quickly replaced by the sound of steel on steel and screams of death and bloodlust. Finally, the captains voice could be heard screaming the name of her most powerful skill: "FALLING DESTRUCTION." With one final clash of steel and the slick sound of blade piercing flesh, the outside fell silent apart from slow heavy footfalls leading towards the cart. His heart beat fell into the rhythm of the footsteps, his sweaty hand held onto the pummel of the small farming knife he had stowed away. The steps stopped. The door opened. Light streamed in. Noah lunged.
And the man covered in blood of red and grey grabbed his hand from out the air, twisting it abruptly and sharply, causing him to drop the knife. Noah couldn't move, the plan he had to escape had failed, he had failed and now the bandit before him would kill him. Instead of drawing his blade and killing Noah were he stood, he let him go and turning to the others and ordered sharply, "Out!" The prisoners were quick to oblige, dashing out of the cart and towards the road they had road along. Noah turned to do the same until the man spoke again, "No. Not you. You stay. You could be useful. In fact, you could be very useful." Noah wanted to scream, to cry. He had been given a glimpse of freedom, but rather than being given it he had just passed from one person to another.
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The sent of blood hung thick in the air. Jules had smelt it wafting through the trees, exuding from a clearing not to far from his path. Branches crunching underneath his boots, Jules strode towards the epicentre of the scent. He didn't try to hide his presence, didn't mask his sent or cover himself in mud, nor did ne use any of the techniques his sect had taught him to hide from the small beasts that might attack him as he picked herbs in the woods. No, he just walked forward.
An alarm was instantly raised as soon as Jules stepped out from the cover of the canopy, branches and trunks. Jules watched as the startled warriors stumbled into a half-formed formation. "Looking at their armour they're probably bandits. Well trained as well based on that formation, although not as well trained as the guard of Iluminous," Jules absently thought. He tilted his head at one of the bandits, triggering [Identify].
[Bandit (3)]
"Same level as the Iron wolf..." muttered Jules, "Yet they feel so weak." Stepping around the bandits at the front of the formation, a women cloaked in mismatching leather armour stared him down.
[Bandit captain (5)]
The leader dashed forward towards Jules, drawing her sword as she ran. She slashed down, aiming for Jules' neck. Stepping to the side, the blade slashed by the side of his head. Twisting his body, Jules punched into the bandits stomach. The bandit leader spun on the ball of her foot, once again aiming for his neck. Jules dropped to his chest, dodging bellow the blade. He reached out and grabbed the leg of the leader. The leader toppled with a grunt, dropping her sword as she fell. Jules scrambled to his feet, grapping the blade and turning on the bandit. Stepping forward, Jules placed the cold steel to her neck. Rather than tremble in fear at the prospect of her death, the leader instead laughed. "Interesting, your only level two yet you have this much power. Impressive," The bandit leader said, "The name's Nicole, and I think you and I could have a very good partnership."
"In what way?" Jules calmly replied, still holding the blade.
"The kind where you and I make a lot of money." A smile begun to grow on the leaders face.
"I'm listening." Jules lowered the blade slowly until it rested by his side.
"Well then," Nicole started, gesturing with her hands. "Let me show you around."
Jules handed Nicole her back as they walked forward together into the bandit camp. However, whilst Nicole was smiling at another successfully acquired opportunity, Jules began to get mad. Why? Because he had found the source of the scent of blood. It was coming from a cart near the centre of the camp. And it wasn't animal blood either, no, it was the same scent that had been burnt into his brain back at the remains of his village. It was the scent of human blood.