Zalroth briskly rushed through the ore-abundant cave's tunnels with the roars of the hobgoblins bellowing from behind him as they charged after him. As he continued to run, he noticed a light at the end of the tunnel. Before he knew it he found himself in a ginormous cavern, littered with massive spikes and many naturally formed interconnected stone bridges suspended by sparse stone pillars.
"Seems the terrain is on my side," Zalroth remarked mentally as he ran across a stone bridge until reaching an intersection atop a stone pillar. He briefly stopped and glanced back at the approaching horde of hobgoblin warriors. Seeing the decent distance between himself and the hobgoblins, Zalroth took a breather and inspected his surroundings.
He looked at his two available paths and the already crumbled one. To his right was the undamaged path which stretched out far into the distance and eventually curved around a towering stone spire. He turned his gaze to the other path, one covered head to toe in cracks and fissures, leaving Zalroth to ponder on which path to choose. He placed a hand on his chin, concocting a plan in his mind as he crouched down to the ground and placed his hand on it.
[Activated Skill: Frostbite Armament(Level: 1)]
The tips of his fingers became encased in opaque ice before spreading out across the ground in a small circular area. For a moment, Zalroth was deep in thought before a wicked grin adorned his face as he placed his hand on the ground. He flexed his arms, digging his ice-covered fingers into the ground, and swung himself upwards into a handstand before a stone war axe swung down from behind him and slammed into the spot he dodged from.
"As Chronia would say, talk about a slowpoke," Zalroth remarked, mimicking Chronia's tone of voice as he cartwheeled to avoid another one of the hobgoblin's attacks. Zalroth landed on his feet, throwing up various hand signs to provoke the hobgoblins, and booked it down the damaged stone path.
As he ran across it, the stone bridge shook under Zalroth's steps, a faint rubble accompanying them with small rubble breaking off, and the shaking exponentially worsened as more and more hobgoblins rushed onto the bridge. The hobgoblins gave chase, unleashing illegible disgruntled shouts and a volley of small stone weapons at Zalroth, as Zalroth counted how many of them walked atop the bridge. After all the hobgoblins were on the crack-growing bridge, Zalroth flexed his legs and braced himself to run faster.
[Activated Skill: Accel Drive(Level: 2) x2]
With the activation of a level two Accel Drive, Zalroth rocketed down the bridge, leaving the hobgoblins in the dust as he made significant distance between them and himself until he reached the end of the cracked section. He swiftly slammed his foot into the ground, sliding across the bridge as he crawled to a stop, before turning on the spot to face the hobgoblins.
"Let's see what happens when I use a skill without any Hexa," Zalroth thought as he swung his fists down and slammed them against the bridge.
[Activated [Hidden Skill]: Ranged x5]
As they continued to charge, purple magic crests with the appearance of a purple crown made of spikes and viney thorns became etched onto the hobgoblins.
[Activated Skill: Frostbite Armament(Level: 2) x10]
Opaque ice erupted from beneath his hands, rushing across the stone bridge through the many exposed cracks and crevasses, and made the hobgoblins freeze their approach as the ice filled the cracks under them. With everyone remaining still, rapid creaks and cracks rattled from the stone bridges as more cracks shot out from the ice-filled ones. Zalroth, face covered in sweat, raised a Forstbite Armament-covered fist lethargically before pounding it into the ground, sending a chilling shattering sound through the cavern.
The section of the stone bridge below the hobgoblins shook, making the hobgoblins stagger and lose their footing as the bridge began to split and crumble apart. The hobgoblins tried to turn back the way they came, in a futile attempt to get away, but their hasty movement only went to hasten the degradation of the bridge before it gave out under them.
The bridge shattered apart with its pieces and the hobgoblin horde plummeted into the dark below, their screams getting fainter and fainter. A sweat-covered Zalroth smirked and swiped his forehead as he opened his Status.
[Zalroth Akikou][Level: 50]
[HP: 18/250][Hexa: 0/150]
"... better increase my Hexa," Zalroth uttered between heavy breaths as he pushed himself to his feet. A piercing sensation tore through Zalroth, causing his entire body to freeze up as he went numb and rag-dolled off the bridge.
As he fell, Zalroth's vision gradually darkened and darkened to the point he could only see a slit of his original vision. Try as he might, Zalroth could feel himself grow weaker, his being slipping further and further from him, and eventually closed his eyes.
[Zalroth's Level Increased]
[50 -> 73]
[Skill Aquired]
[Ability(s) Aquired]
Zalroth shot his eyes open, his vigour and vitality returning, and darted his head around. He swung his arms to the side and summoned two stone knives from his Inventory before coating them in Frostbite Armament. He swung the knives at the stone spire beside him, digging them into it, and sliding down the spire as his falling slowed. His falling eventually subsided, leaving him to dangle above a floor covered in spikes as red hexa particles floated from them.
Zalroth sighed in relief, mentally thanking the spikes for finishing off the hobgoblins, and glanced up to see how far he had fallen. Although he could still see where he fell from, Zalroth mentally grumbled at how much of a chore scaling the spire was going to be.
"Maybe one of your skills or abilities can make this task easier?" a small chirpy girl's voice said into Zalroth's ear. Zalroth glanced to his left and stared at the fae sitting on his shoulder.
(The fae is a figurine-sized cream-skinned humanoid female kid; she has shoulder-low extremely curly white hair with cherry red highlights, cherry red eyes, and is wearing a cherry red rabbit fur mini skirt and bra)
"And you are?" Zalroth asked.
"Ah, that's for you to decide, Ma-". Zalroth placed his pinky finger on the fae's mouth to stop her from talking.
"You will not be referring to me by that, got it?" Zalroth stated sternly. The fae frantically nodded, rubbing her face against Zalroth's finger, before Zalroth removed his hand and re-grabbed his walled knife.
"Ok, Mr Zalroth," the fae uttered as she fluttered off Zalroth's shoulder. She cleared her throat, expelling most of the nervousness from her body, before directing her attention back to Zalroth.
"As I mentioned before, I am a Fae of Fortune; a being created from the Hexa ability of the same name," the fae explained. Zalroth nodded as he opened his Skill Menu
[Skills]
[Fire Manipulation]
[Flame Blast]
[Level: 1][Cost: 15 Hexa]
-User fires a small wave of flames at their target that does 130% of the user's attack and 150% of intelligence-
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
[Level: 2][Cost: 45 Hexa]
-User fires a wave of flames at their target that does 220% of the user's attack and 250% of intelligence-
[Wind Manipulation]
[Gale Blade]
[Level: 1][Cost: 15 Hexa]
The user fires a small barrage of condensed wind blades at their target that does 130% of the user's attack and 150% of intelligence-
[Level: 2][Cost: 45 Hexa]
-User fires a barrage of condensed wind blades at their target that does 220% of the user's attack and 250% of intelligence-
[Electric Manipulation]
[Thunder Wave]
[Level: 1][Cost: 15 Hexa]
The user fires a small sphere of lightning at their target that explodes into a 5-meter AoE which does 130% of the user's attack and 150% of intelligence-
[Level: 2][Cost: 45 Hexa]
The user fires a small sphere of lightning at their target that explodes into a-10 meter AoE which does 220% of the user's attack and 250% of intelligence-
[Water Manipulation]
[None]
[Ice Manipulation]
[Frostbite Armament]
[Level: 1][Cost: 85 Hexa]
-The user can coat parts of their body/weapons in condensed transparent ice that increases the user's physical attack by 60% of user's attack and 50% of intelligence when using ice magic, and increases the user's defence by 80% along with making all the user's physical attacks of the ice element-
-Armor coating has 15% of the User's Max Hexa, and 80% of the user base defence-
[Level: 2][Cost: 145 Hexa]
-The user can coat parts of their body/weapons in condensed translucent ice that increases the user's physical attack by 120% of user's attack and 250% of intelligence when using ice magic, and increases the user's defence by 80% along with making all the user's physical attacks of the ice element-
-Armor coating has 30% of the user's Max Hexa, and 80% of the user base defence-
[Earth Manipulation]
[Gaiaful Thorn]
[Level: 1][Cost: 125 Hexa]
-The user creates a dark green spear with the tip of a spear 70% of the user's attack and 20% of speed, and increases the user's agility by 35% along with making all the user's physical attacks of the earth element-
[Non Elemental Magic]
[Accel Drive]
-increases the user's speed for a short burst and attack scales off the user's speed at attack-
[Level: 1][Cost: 25 Hexa]
-Increases speed by 20% and attack by 30%-
[Level: 2][cost: 45 Hexa]
-Increases speed by 30% and attack by 35%
[Detect(Materials)]
-the user's map displays all nearby materials on their map when the skill is active or gets a sense of nearby materials when the map isn't open-
[Level: 1]
-5 meters-
[Appraisal]
[Level: 1]
- Shows the status of anyone weaker than the user, or shows info about objects
[Level: 2]
-Shows the status of anyone weaker or around the user's level - chapter 1-
Sub-Skill: Quick Appraisal-only shows the target's Name, HP, and Hexa-
[Level: 3]
-Shows the status of anyone.
[Detect(Creature)]
-The user's map displays all nearby creatures on their map when the skill is active or gets a sense of nearby creatures when the map isn't open.
[Level: 1]
-5 meters -
[Level: 2]
-10 meters-
[Abilities]
[Modify Status]
-The user can hide and change the appearance stats, level, and class of their/others' status'-
[Weakening Howl]
-Applies the weakening effect to all targets who hear the howl created from activating the skill, it has a 6-minute cooldown-
[Atmospheric Hexa Absorbsion][Passive]
-Increases Hexa regen by 200%-
[Seraph Step]
-The user creates a transparent-colourless platform beneath the user's feet and will move to stay below the user-
[Fae of Fortune][Passive]
-The user creates a small female creature that can lead the user to nearby treasure, but the cost is either a part of the treasure to eat or something of the fae's choice-
"I see," Zalroth uttered before he glanced to his feet.
[Activated Ability: Seraph Step]
A transparent colourless platform formed below Zalroth and he returned his knives to his Inventory. He dropped down onto the Seraph Step platform, staring at it in amazement as he checked his mini status, seeing his Hexa remaining unchanged.
"So...?" the fae uttered, a sheepish and wobbly grin on her face as she fiddled with her hands.
"Aren't fae normally the ones to ask for names?" Chronia asked from above, a faint hint of jealousy lacing her voice. Zalroth opened his mouth to retort to Chronia's remark before he stopped himself as he processed Chronia's presence. Zalroth covered his eyes, shaking his head in defeat with a small amused grin on his face, before looking at the fae through his fingers.
"How does Zalina sound?" Zalroth asked as he saw the fae's expression brighten, her enthusiasm practically oozing from her as she struggled to contain it. Zalina excitedly bounced in the air, twirling around like a tornado, while saying it was an honour to share a similar name to Zalroth. Zalina's gleeful reaction made Zalroth briefly crack a smirk before he wiped it off his face and glanced to his right hand.
Zalroth glanced upward, mentally mapping out his course to the Chronia before parkouring between the stone spire and the constantly moving Seraph Step platform. He diactivated the ability as he landed on the stone spire with Chronia. Chronia smugly smirked and pressed her fists against her thighs.
"Seems my help wasn't needed," Chronia remarked, a happy demeanour in her step. Zalroth rolled his eyes and lightly placed his hand on her forehead in a chopping motion.
"What are you doing here?".
"Did you honestly think I'd let you go on an adventure without me?" Chronia asked smugly while wagging a finger and fake pouting at him. Zalroth sighed as he grabbed her by the collar, lifted her off the ground and placed her on his back.
"Yeah-yeah, I'll head back to camp," Zalroth stated before being stopped by Zalina.
"But what about the hobgoblin's treasure stash?!" Zalina asked worriedly, flailing her arms around to keep Zalroth's attention on her. Zalroth glanced at Chronia, a defeated sigh leaving his lips as he saw the blinding sparkles in her eyes at the mention of treasure.
"Lead the way...," Zalroth requested. Zalina nodded before fluttering back the way Zalroth came from with Zalroth following behind her using his Seraph Step ability.