[The integration of the Skill [Horsekick Gambit] has reached 100%.]

[Upgrade to Level 2 possible.]

One of my skills, [Horsekick Gambit] had just reached 100% integration yesterday, and it's now eligible for an upgrade. My Hellish Fireball as well is just a single point away from the required value.

But how?

How do I upgrade them?

"Yes." Flaze replied when I neighed the question to her.

What do you mean "Yes?"

Yes what?

It's not... It's not a yes or no question!

L E V E L 2 S K I L L

I went through the trouble of writing it in blood, just to get her to understand.

She gave me a disbelieving look, "What's up with the blood? Didn't you just use your fire to write yesterday?"

Ah, well... It's cooler. I huffed.

"Whatever. Edgy shit." Flaze sighed, before her expression contorted to one of smug. "I'll tell you how to get the level 2 skills, since you took this long to get it."

I rolled my eyes. Shut up.

"Oh. Well, if you wish for me to shut up, then you're on your own I guess. Good luck."

What? No! You're not even supposed to understand what meant! I protested with erratic neighs.

Flaze only nodded, in approval. "So you were saying 'shut up.' Good to know."

She made a gesture, as if zipping her mouth.

I growled, posing like a predator ready to pounce. Flaze kept her mouth shut, her cheeks contorting in contained laughter.

She guffawed. "Okay, okay. I'll tell you. You'll figure it out on your own anyway."

Flaze ran to a nearby bedroom, before putting on some glasses on her face. To look smarter.

Idiot. I hate that she actually got a chuckle out of me with an attempt at humor that stupid. Takes one to know one, I guess.

Her next sentence was short, concise, and exceedingly simple, even as she pushed up her glasses with great emphasis. "I just kept on using the skill, and then it leveled up automatically."

Oh. Well, then, that's easy.

[Horsekick Gambit]!

[Horsekick Gambit]!

[Horsekick Gambit]!

I went to a nearby wall and started using the skill on it over and over. The smooth rock burned, it was bathed in light. Dust billowed around the room along with the cracks webbing across the concrete. My feet remained unbroken, but the hard walls in turmoil.

Flaze just stared at me as she had orc for breakfast, a monster that was likely once a human.

It only took a meager five kicks before the wall gave out, dust and rubble spilling out into the hallways beyond

[The Skill, [Horsekick Gambit], has reached level 2!]

I was panting a little, when I finally got the notification I was waiting for.

Fuck yes!

I quickly shuffled through my Status Menu to find out what my new level does. There are supposedly new skill augments and effects for every level past 1.

_____________

[Horsekick Gambit] (Level 2 / Integration 100%)

Kick an opponent and deliver 1 of 2 effects. Power is based both on strength and magic.

--Hellburn: Hellish Fire spreads out upon your kick, dealing damage and causing debuffs. (Hellish Fire is not true Hellfire)

--Bright Flash: A bright flash of light that disrupts all of your target's senses. Effect is carried over to nearby designated enemies.

Level 2: The power this Skill is enhanced based on chance and your current velocity.

_____________

Oho? This is already a very efficient ability in terms of cost-to-effect. Now it's even better!

I'm a horse. I run. I also kick. That's just what I do.

I'm now rewarded for only my most natural of impulses.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Nice.

I made a happy whinny, getting the attention of Flaze.

"I'm guessing it worked?" she smiled, putting down her plate. I nodded.

"Wanna test it out?" She asked, both her and her clone getting up. The latter scouted out the outside to ensure that there is no monster nor person lying in wait, for us to tire ourselves out.

She gave the go ahead, and I nodded even more eagerly.

We began our test, first turning my abuse onto the nearby walls left standing. It was a vibrant light show of red and white, an experiment to see just how much the second level of my Skill helped.

It was a few kicks in, when I frowned.

The difference in power was hardly noticeable, to the point that it might even just be my imagination, or the natural disorder common to any and all phenomena. A coincidence.

Perhaps it just varies every so slightly, naturally.

There's no way my new Skill Level does nothing...

Flaze Clone cupped a hand to her chin, seeing my disappointment.

"Try it while running this time," she suggested.

I sighed, feeling dejected, but complied regardless. There is little else that I can do.

So I galloped. I ran around the room in circles, slowly building speed and knocking aside furniture and memorabilia. I felt the chilly yet stale air against my hairs, and finally I decided that I had enough velocity.

[Horsekick Gambit]!

Hooves met wall, a wave of power released. Fires snaked out from the point of impact, I felt it through my legs, the burning plasma noticeably hotter. I glanced back, and saw the blooming flames spread further than they ever have before, spilling even to the floor behind me, my surroundings dyed in a sharp glint, the color of blood.

I neighed, triumphant. Flaze clapped in a genuine gesture. I jumped at her and we hugged and danced, lost in the moment, the feeling of new power coursing through my body.

I repeated the move again, with no further thought given than to 'do it again!'

Flaze too said those exact words.

It was almost like a disco, a party. One held right in the middle of a collapsing space, pieces of rubble flying everywhere along with a shower of vivid bright lights of varying intensity, the power further randomized the faster I'm going.

I went past the apartment we were at as Flaze followed, spreading the wanton destruction everywhere we go.

"STOP!" she eventually said, so the flames can be put out, and we don't end up burning down the entire building. Not to mention the collapsed walls that might cause a critical structural failure.

It'd also have been her fault.

We quieted down for a while, cleaning up what we could of our mess. And I heard a clang, my head swiveled to the side to look a my friend.

Flaze Clone had hit her shield, with the metal of her own sword. She took a stance, a posture denoting a challenge.

I smiled. One last test.

I ran around the room, circling, passing by the hole I'd made in the walls many times over. That was me, that was my doing, is it actually possible to jeopardize the entire building's structure by doing this?

I didn't let such negative thoughts distract me. Instead I reached my top speed sans Longstrider, just before I turned towards Flaze's Clone. I reached the doppelganger, twisted around, placed my rear in front of her, and then I kicked.

[Horsekick Gambit]!

A bright flash of red light shot out, and Flaze Clone was thrown away, landing on her butt. Her shield was dented, its entire frame set alight, along with the person holding it on the other side.

The flames traveled up her armor, covering much of her body. The metal glowed red under the heat of hell, fires visibly turning back to orange. She was being cooked alive inside the metal, the smell of burning flesh filled the air even though she was but an apparition, a clone to the original.

I staggered forward in worry, my eyes darting towards the real Flaze. I noticed a slight shaking in her hands as she watched on, the metal of her gauntlets clanking, near inaudible, but she otherwise showed no further reaction.

Flaze unsummoned her clone a moment after before she turned towards me and beamed. "That was really strong Jackal! Good job! Good horsie horsie!"

I neighed, feeling her hand patting me on the head. I was too taken aback to even react to her usual needling.

I was really worried there, for a second.

There was no way Flaze would have been so calm, had she felt the pain of burning alive, back before the apocalypse. I've seen react this way many times now, but it's just so surreal, knowing that I was the cause of it this time, only for her to be laughs and smiles, not a single shred of malice.

I am certain that if this happened back then, she would have been... Flazed.

"Ahahahahaha." Flaze and her clone fake-laughed when they saw me smirking to myself.

And yet now she stands, unbothered by such a small thing as a little bit of roasting. A way to die so painful and symbolic, that it is has been a very historic choice for public executions.

I know I've become a horse, but has she not changed more than I have?

When... If I manage to meet up with the rest of my friends, would I even be able to recognize them? Or are they just as unrecognizable as I who's turned into a horse?

"That's it?" She asked after the silence has passed, a completely straight face. "I thought you were a horse, not a whores. I've seen a dominatrix kick harder than you, chickenshit."

Flaze couldn't hold her laughter from her own joke, and I joined her as well.

Despite the changes, she's still the friend I know and love.

~~~

We passed by Steven's room when we went out for another day of exploring. But we decided not to greet him, nor his family of goblins. Instead, we went straight for the stairwell towards the next level.

Today, we reach the seventeenth floor. And today, Darkvoid shall be rescued should he be there.

If not, then we'll bitch about it to him once we finally meet up later.

The hallways were immediately filled with monsters once we made our way up, so I was forced to do a little bit of murder.

[Hellish Fireball]!

[Hellish Fireball]!

[Hellish Fireball]!

Bats fell from the ceiling, and dogs whimpered as they caught on fire. I used the Skill liberally as it was already at 99%, so close to a level advancement.

A gremlin jumped out from underneath a pile of rubble, pouncing on Flaze's clone. It was the third one today, and it burned just like all those that came prior.

The difference is that this sniveling gremlin gave me something its counterparts never did.

And for that, I am thankful.

Rest well, in monster heaven.

[You have defeated a Level 30 rouge!]

[The Skill, [Hellish Fireball], has reached level 2!]

_____________

[Hellish Fireball] (Level 2 / Integration 100%)

Hellfire is a terrifying flame that burns through body and soul alike. It clings to its targets like a curse and rips apart their very minds, causing unbearable pain that would make them wish for death.

This skill is not of that flame. Only a mere imitation of it.

Create a fireball that takes on a few of Hellfire's properties, making it harder to extinguish and put out. Causes fear and intimidation on your target that may very slightly lower stats.

Level 2: Your fireballs may now explode, pushing back foes, and spreading your hellish flames further.

____________

I quickly read over the skill's new description, just as I felt a slight shaking of the ground.

A pile of moving rocks soon came into view, large boulders stitched together into a vaguely humanoid shape.

Large, blocky, and slow. It glowed a dim blue light, from the symbols etched into the bare rock surface. They were like tattoos, what I'm assuming to be enchantments.

A golem.

I grinned, showing my herbivorous horse teeth.

No better guinea pig for my two newly enhanced Skills.