~Run 7, Entrance, Floor 1, Sewers of Aerlyn~
I jolted awake, my hand flying to my nose to block out a stench so vile it made bile rise in my throat. The world had changed. The memory of roses and vibrant blue skies where Jamie and I had lunched seemed like a distant dream. Jamie? The image blurred, and I shook my head, trying to hold onto it. Ignoring the fading thoughts, I moved, trying to figure out where I was.
My feet squelched in the foul water, its icy, viscous touch crawling over my skin like slugs. The chill of the stone floor beneath seeped into my feet, making it feel like I was walking on ice. Memories flooded my brain as I fell to my knees in the muck. My companions were dead. My minion was gone for good. I shook my head, trying to clear the revival fog.
“Hey Crystal, what do you think we should do?” I asked, frustration edging my voice.
The crystal above my head pulsed with a soft red glow, flickering in time with her response. [About?] Her voice echoed in my mind, its resonance sending a faint vibration through the air.
“Everything?” I paused, annoyed at her unhelpfulness. Despite her earlier obstinance, I had hoped for more by now. My fingers tapped impatiently against the rough stone floor, sending small ripples through the stagnant water. It was nice lying down again. That run had beyond exhausted me.
[It's best that you buy an advanced class. I know you wanted to play mage again, but an advanced class will give us the power boost we need to clear the second floor.] Elizabeth’s light grew steadier, almost as if it were emphasizing her point.
“Okay, and that would cost me?” I stood up, the cold water sloshing around my ankles with a sickening squelch.
[One hundred Death Boons. You have well over a hundred and thirty, so you can still level up a few stats. How would you like to use them?] The crystal brightened momentarily, casting eerie reflections on the damp walls.
"Show me the stat boon list again, please." I raised my hand, and the crystal projected a shimmering holographic list in front of me.
Stat Boons
Boon
Cost
Current Stat
Potency
10
2 + 10
Insight
5
1 +10
Alacrity
5
1
Vitality
20
7
Finesse
5
1
Arcanum
5
1
Defense
10
2
Magic Defense
10
2
Precision
10
7
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Evasion
10
4
I scanned the list. “Alright, I have about 30 points before I need to buy the class. Let's get another point of vitality, insight, and alacrity. That should balance me out.” I made selections with a few quick taps, each choice causing a faint chiming sound.
[Of course, Rod. Now let me show you the advanced classes.] Elizabeth’s glow intensified, and another scroll appeared, this one detailing the advanced classes.
[Advanced classes: Each advanced class costs 100 Death Boons to unlock. After death, the class is unavailable for 3 runs. This affects basic and advanced forms of all classes.]
The chart for the advanced classes started to form, but I waved it away.
"Don’t even show me what's available. Just buy one of the advanced classes for me." I closed my eyes, not wanting to see the results.
Please be something good. Please be something good. The die rattled against the wall; the sound amplified in the small room
Even with my eyes closed, I sensed the best possible outcome. She flared brightly once again, and I felt a surge of energy coursing through me.
[You have unlocked the wizard class. The advanced version of the class: Mage.] The crystal’s light settled into a steady glow, signaling a successful upgrade.
Wizard
Starting Equipment: Sage Ring, Enchanted Mage Staff, Mana Robe.
Stats: Vitality: 6, Finesse: 4, Arcanum: 12, Insight: 8, Magic Defense: 5.
Penalty: Cannot equip physical weapons, cannot equip iron or steel armor.
Bonus: Starts with innate ability Malikaps ~`~`~`~~
There was something odd about the bonus ability, but I paid it no mind. A surge of adrenaline and joy rushed through me as a dream I never thought would come to fruition came true. I was going to be a wizard. This run, I knew, would be legendary now, regardless of if I beat the Djinn or not.
I took a deep breath and commanded, “Crystal, make me a wizard.”
As the energy enveloped me, memories of my Conjuror’s devastating spells flashed through my mind. If the Conjuror was powerful, the wizard would surely unleash even greater arcane might. The transformation rippled through me, yet my body remained unchanged in height and weight.
The new energy coursed through my veins, urging me forward. I stepped into the next room, anticipation prickling my skin. I felt invincible like nothing could stand in my way now.
The room revealed a lone rat perched on a chest, coins spinning through its tiny claws. I sighed, shaking my head.
This little rodent is the first test of my newfound power? Couldn’t even be two rats?
It seemed almost laughable. As time froze and the turn-based battle initiated, I smacked my forehead. “Really? Forgot to disable it,”
Whoops.
But then I smiled. I got two chances to kill every enemy I encountered before the battle even started. My mind raced with possibilities. I lifted my hand into the air, made a little gesture, and my first spell came out. The gesture wasn’t needed, but it felt cool.
The spell welled in my stomach just like the summoning spell did. I felt the fire building, burning away at something inside me before it surged up my veins and out of my hand. The fireball that formed was bigger than the rat and the chest, and I felt the heat radiate out, burning the hairs on my hands and fingers. A thrill of power coursed through me. This was it. This was what I had been longing for.
The fire was magical and crisp. It spun through the air on as direct a course as the aim spell always managed. Before I could do anything else, it utterly consumed the rat and the chest. The fire was a devouring maw, opened wide.
As soon as it hit the creature and treasure, like wood in a pile, burst forth in fire and flame. Both evaporated into a pile of smoking ash as the spell dissipated. The smell of burnt wood and singed fur filled the room.
My heart pounded with exhilaration. This was just the beginning. If a simple fireball could do this, what could I achieve with even more powerful spells? My mind buzzed with the possibilities. I couldn’t wait to see what lay ahead. The doubts and fears that had plagued me were gone, replaced by a fierce determination. This run would be legendary, and I would carve my name into the annals of this world.
[You have killed Giant Rat. You have dealt 137 damage. You have gained 5 Overkill boons.]
I blinked in disbelief. “Say that again?”
[You have gained 5 Overkill boons.]
“No, not that—the first part.”
[You have killed a Giant Rat.]
“Gahh! No, how much damage did I do?”
[You have dealt 137 damage. Now hurry; you can most definitely claim your first speedrun boons if you don’t dawdle.]
137 damage. That was more than I had ever dealt before, evens bones had barely approached that amount. The numbers danced in my mind. I felt like electricity ready to explode. Without hesitation, I dusted off my feet and rushed through the door into the next room, my mind racing with possibilities.
I had four spells to choose from, but the fire spell was the one that most readily came to mind. The thrill of casting it was still fresh. I wanted to experiment or keep spamming the OP fire spell, but the temptation was too great, so I asked Crystal to tell me how the other spells worked.
[The spells are as follows, each one magically entering my mind unbidden:
Fireball: A swirling ball of fire consumes all it touches. 10 mana, 5-15 damage per point of insight.
Winter's Breath: This is a close-range attack. Inhale air and exhale wintry ice to freeze any foes in range. 4-8 damage per point of insight. 25% Chance to freeze the target.15 mana.
Mana Drain: Siphons life force from foes and converts it to the mana. 10 mana, 2d10 + Int, converts half of the damage dealt into mana recovery.
But as Crystal got to the fourth spell, something weird happened. Her voice distorted, and the words on the scroll twisted into nonsensical scribbles.
Malikaps Shadow: ~~~``~```~~~~~~~`>]
Her voice was garbled, and the spell description was a jumble of gibberish. I stared at the scroll, my brow furrowing in confusion. If I was genuinely interested in using it, I would have to try the spell without knowing what it did. But for now, it was a mystery I didn't have time to solve, especially if I wanted the speed run death boon.
As I stepped into the next room, I saw three rats scurrying in the dim light. The room was clear of crates but dripping with a monotony of sewage. The sight was disgusting, but my mind was focused on one thing: testing my spells. Without hesitation, I lifted my hand, feeling the familiar surge of power as I cast my spells.
The fireball spell welled up inside me, a comforting warmth that quickly turned into a searing heat. I could feel the mana coursing through my veins, gathering in my palm before erupting in a blaze. The fireball shot out, bigger and brighter than before, consuming one rat instantly. The heat singed the air, leaving a trail of smoke and the acrid smell of burnt fur.
The other two rats somehow avoided the fireball, either getting a lucky roll and dodging, or being just out of range, and I decided to try Winter's Breath.