A coward like me made it to the final eight. 

Of course, I was no longer afraid towards the end, well not as much as before. The trials and adversity had surely tempered my spirit and brought out a small stubborn flame.

The eight of us hailed from various lands. 

The leader was a tall, handsome man who wielded a sword and dagger combination. He had a swagger and an easy going smile. 

This contrasted with Turin, a warrior that was as mysterious as his fighting style. He fought with two mighty spiked gauntlets. His speed, power and prowess was a touch above everyone else’s. He was the real core of the party and overruled the decisions of Garek from time to time. 

There was Misha and Flodrian, siblings from the east. Both brilliant far range specialists, except one used magic while the other used a bow. 

Dunmer held the front. He was the bulwark that stemmed the endless tide of death that assailed us from all fronts. His special ability allowed him to split into multiple copies, allowing him to provide support in multiple places. 

Jaina was a real princess. She came from the capital city of the Empire. She joined us after the fall of her city. She had vengeance on her mind. I heard that she was a fun and chatty person in the past but now, she is cold and distant. Her beauty was transcendental but no one ever got close to her. Despite her coldness, she brought along a warm healing power that never failed to lift up those on the brink of death. She had saved our lives more than once. 

If you asked me who the craziest person was, I would say it was Elana in a heartbeat. Everytime you asked her about her past, she would tell you a different story each time. She knew much so we inferred that she must have traveled a lot in her time. She had a few screws loose but made up for it in sheer destructiveness. Under her shadow laid the blood and bodies of countless enemies. 

Finally, I made up the last member of the party. I come from the south, from the small village of Dellings. The main reason I was invited to join the party was because of my special ability - Enhance. With my ability, I could bring about improvements in just about anything. See those gloves that Turino was using? Well it wouldnt have the additional mystical claws attached to it if it werent for me. How about the healing that Jaina does? Well each spell has been upgraded by me multiple times. 

I myself carried many abilities and spells. I could shoot from a distance with my crossbow. Fire magical missiles from my wand. Or even heal my allies if it was needed. I was proud to say that I could do anything and everything…except for fighting in the front lines. Dont get me wrong, I do have a sword I can use but I just cant seem to get over the butchering that happens when you engage in melee. The smell, blood and sounds…it all just overwhelms me. 

I remember being so proud of myself when the group recruited me. This was the strongest party and they made me a member of it. The camaraderie was heart-warming and with each battle we fought, we got better and better. 

Except it all turned out to be a lie.

It was the final battle. Our lands were ravaged beyond recognition. Our people were decimated with only small pockets left scattered far and wide, hiding like vermin in caves and mountaintops. All other adventurer groups lay dead. We were literally the only resistance left. 

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We pushed on towards the epicenter, a place where evil reigned. It was deep in the depths of the Hell Portal. 

The last demon King died as his head was lopped off by Garek. Misha burned the body whilst Jaina scattered its soul - preventing reanimation. 

As I rested with my hands on my legs the unthinkable happened. I felt a sharp pain enter into my back, piercing my intestines. I screamed in agony. ‘Did we miss an enemy? How did it get past our enhanced senses?’

I was scared but I put my trust in my teammates. As long as I did not suffer an unlivable condition such as getting my head chopped off or my body blown to bits, Jaina can heal me. It might cost her a lot of energy and mana but we had a few more mana potions to help. 

Yet as I fell, I saw the face of my aggressor…black cold eyes, two long braids that hung at the side of his head, a grim countenance, the strongest in our party…Turin. In his hand was some sort of ceremonial dagger…its information flashed into my thoughts on its own. 

[Souldrinker…High attack, low durability, Special ability…life essence absorption, ability absorption. Rank: Legendary]

I felt it then, my stats started to drop and my abilities started to disappear one after another. 

I looked at the faces of my other companions, most of them had shock written all over their face…except one…her cold blue eyes looked at me in undisguised disgust. 

What followed was decimation. 

Dunmer died as he was stabbed in his head. 

Misha died by disembowelment.

Garek died by a stab in his heart.

Flodrian died as he tried to run, first hamstrung and then with a stab to his side. 

Finally, Elana first tried to run, but then she exploded in power. Blazing trails of power flew around her. She felt stronger than the old Turin but not the Turin who had already absorbed the powers of 5 others. Elana threw everything she had at him, but Turino either brushed it aside or dodged it. It was only a matter of time before the dagger plunged into the heart of Elana. 

“Thorwin is still alive”, Jaina said with a detached emotionless voice. 

“Leave him…he will die soon,” came the cold reply. 

I was in a world of pain. Waves upon waves of agony assaulted me. I struggled to stay conscious. “Why? Why??!” I managed to croak out my question. 

Turin wiped his blade and looked at me with dead eyes before replying “I need the power.” 

The two of them then walked out of the room and into the final chamber. 

I heard and felt more than saw their fight against the Great Demon Emperor. 

But all of that didnt matter to me for I was dying. 

I suddenly remembered something. Around my neck was a little crystal given to me by my daughter. She died 8 years ago…so this necklace was something I never took off. I remembered her clear brown eyes and little smile. She told me this was something to protect and help me. 

I broke the crystal. 

[You have learned Minor heal]

I felt my spirit rise…this was hope! I then used my ability on it - [Enhance]

[Minor heal has been upgraded to Greater heal]

It was still not enough, I was bleeding internally and a greater heal would only prolong my suffering, not stabilize me. 

[Enhance Greater Heal…Error…ability on cooldown]

[Enhance Greater Heal…Error…ability on cooldown]...’COME ON’

‘Shit…I am really going to die now’ I felt coldness creeping into my soul. A tiredness enveloping me. 

[Enpower Enchance ability through sacrifice?] A prompt suddenly showed up. ‘YES’ I answered. 

I threw all my mana but it still wasnt enough. I then threw in whatever abilities the dagger did not steal from me. Useless stuff like [Cleaning], [Armor Expertise] and the like. 

Yet it still wasn't enough. 

Desperate, I threw in my experience points. I watched as my level rapidly dwindled. From 120 to 100 to 50 to 1 and unexpectedly it to 0. 

The ability suddenly shone with a bright golden light. 

The ability [Enhance] changed into [Destiny]

I quickly used it, knowing I did not have long left.

[Do you want to change your destiny? Note this ability can only be used once.]

I selected the button without hesitation

A bright light swallowed me.