Lorelai Lvl 2

Str - 7

Agi - 7

Will - 9

End - 6

Int- 12

Zakir: Lightning bolt shot out of two fingers for immense piercing capabilities.

Daylight- illuminates dark places, weakens undead, and dispels magical darkness below a certain level/tier

Lightning Clad: Cover limbs in lightning drastically enhancing unarmed strikes, small chance of paralysis effect. Paralysis duration 1s. i

Weight Manipulation (upgrade pending)- Alter the weight of yourself or target, concentration required. Drastic changes are available at a higher tier

Spatial Storage: Provides a pocket dimension to store non-living things in, the size of the space is dependent upon your INT stat.

Rapid thrusts - Give numerous quick thrusts, number of thrusts dependent upon AGI stat power of thrust dependent upon STR stat

Dash- rapidly increase movement speed for up to 2 meters cd 15 seconds. Speed of dash is dependent upon AGI stat, distance is dependent upon STR stat

Counterstrike- Parry and counter strike with a higher chance to critical. crit chance dependent upon WILL stat, damage dependent upon STR stat

This was Lorelai's status sheet before her first visit to the dungeon. She wanted to prep, but the next two days passed in a blur. Every waking moment was consumed by her thoughts on magic, training, and the strange sensation that had come with Varek's words. You must become it. The phrase echoed in her mind like the distant rumble of thunder, urging her to push further into herself, to uncover the hidden well of power buried beneath her surface.

Despite the excitement bubbling within her, there was a gnawing unease. Even if she had spent most of her life honing her skills, sword techniques, or magic she still didn't know if she would be ready for an actual live dungeon. The only common saying from any soul that returned from a dungeon was, "Greater the risk, the larger the reward."

Tomorrow, she would participate in her first dungeon delve. Her dormmate Aeryn, a vampire noble with plum-colored hair and bright sanguine eyes would be accompanying her as she was also a first year attendee. Aeryn did not much care to share much about her origins contrary to her friendly demeanor. Beautiful, popular, and possessed a natural charisma that others gravitated toward, Aeryn was nothing if not dangerous. The rumors surrounding the girl was that she also received a powerful hidden class that was whispered about in the academy, the Blood Witchblade. It's a class that combined the deadly precision of a blade with blood magic, and could even create flying swords out of the blood of her enemies. Aeryn’s ability to manipulate blood, using it as a weapon, was unsettling yet undeniably powerful. Lorelai hadn’t seen her in action much, but she had no doubt that Aeryn would be a formidable ally or a terrifying enemy.

That night, Lorelai sat on the edge of her bed, adjusting her gear and trying to calm her racing thoughts. She hadn’t fully processed the lessons from Varek yet, though she had officially been able to add Zakir to her status sheet, Animus lightning still eluded her. Varek was not kidding when he said that it was incredibly advanced magic. She was also concerned if she could control it in the chaos of battle?

"Ready for tomorrow?" Aeryn’s voice broke into her thoughts, her voice melodic. She was leaning casually against the doorframe of their shared dorm room, her pale skin nearly glowing in the moonlight. Her dark hair was braided neatly down her back in a single strand, and she wore a form-fitting black tunic with faint blood-red markings, an elegant but lethal look.

Lorelai blinked, standing up quickly, smoothing out the wrinkles in her armor. "I think so. It’s just… I don’t know what to expect."

Aeryn’s lips curved into a small, knowing smile. Her crimson eyes glimmered in the half-light. "Expect chaos. Expect danger. And expect that you will be pushed to your limits. That’s what the dungeon is for." Lorelai wonder if Aeryn had faced that very chaos herself, but the message she got was direct: be prepared for anything.

Aeryn's smile faded, and she gave a faint shrug, the tips of her hair brushing the sharp contours of her shoulders. "You’ll do fine. Lightning isn’t something to be taken lightly. Just don’t waste it on every goblin you see, plus we are delving together tomorrow." The playful glint in her eyes dimmed for a moment, and Lorelai swore she saw something more predatory lurking beneath it.

The next morning, Lorelai and Aeryn joined the rest of their group by the dungeon gates. The C-rank dungeon was notorious for its high volume of smaller, more numerous monsters, but its lower difficulty level meant it was ideal for a first excursion, if the adventurers were prepared. The air around the dungeon entrance had a damp, oppressive weight to it, and the faint hum of magic seemed to vibrate in the air.

Aeryn stood at the front of the group, her posture straight and controlled. She was already focused, her gaze sharp, as if mentally preparing herself for the inevitable bloodshed.

"You’ll be fine," Aeryn said, her voice low but reassuring. "Stick close. The first floor is filled with goblins—easy enough, but don’t underestimate them. They travel in packs, and they’re cunning."

Lorelai nodded, trying to calm her breathing. Goblins. Easy enough. But the tension still coiled in her chest. She had grown proficient with both her sword and spear tomes, but now it was either kill or be killed.

*******************************************************************************

The air inside the dungeon was damp and heavy, the scent of wet stone and earthy moss mingling with the faint coppery tang of blood. Lorelai’s heart was still pounding from the earlier training session with Varek, but now, as she stood before the yawning entrance of the C-ranked dungeon, it felt like the calm before a storm.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Beside her, Aeryn was already a picture of focus. The vampire noble was lean, her plum hair cascading down her back in a braid that swayed with her every movement. Her blood-red eyes gleamed with anticipation. Aeryn had not been here before, but Lorelai wasn’t sure what was more intimidating: the idea of facing the dungeon’s inhabitants or the sheer confidence that Aeryn exuded.

"Remember," Aeryn’s voice was quiet but firm, "this floor is crawling with goblins. They’ll be organized, and they’ll attack in numbers. Stay close and don’t hesitate."

Lorelai nodded, her fingers tightening around the hilt of her sword. The storm of lightning that hummed throughout her channels was both thrilling and terrifying, and she knew she couldn’t rely on it alone. She had other abilities, other tricks, and she would need every one of them if she was going to survive.

The dungeon was dark, the faint light of their torches casting long, flickering shadows on the walls. The path ahead was narrow, and the oppressive silence made Lorelai's skin tingle with anticipation. Goblins weren’t known for their stealth, but their numbers and speed could overwhelm the unprepared.

Suddenly, a rustle echoed from down the corridor. A shrill scream split the air, followed by the sound of scrabbling feet. Goblins. Lorelai felt the surge of adrenaline rush through her body, her senses sharpening.

"Stay sharp," Aeryn said again, her voice low. Aeryn dance through the enemies in a whirlwind of carnage. The blood provided her rapier more reach and significant power increase. She could shoot lines of blood off her sword that would nearly slice them in half.

Lorelai couldn’t suppress the thrill that coiled inside her. She had been waiting for this moment, the chance to test herself, to see if the magic and abilities she’d been cultivating could really make a difference in combat.

Then they appeared: five goblins, charging from the shadows with crude weapons in hand. Their yellow eyes gleamed with malice as they screeched and rushed forward.

Here we go, Lorelai thought, already moving before the command fully registered in her mind.

She activated [Lightning Clad].

Crackling energy surged through her limbs as arcs of crimson lightning crackled over her body. Her skin felt alive with the hum of power, and as her fist swung forward, the shockwaves from the lightning seemed to distort the air around her. The first goblin charged directly at her, spear raised.

Lorelai’s body blurred into motion. She dashed forward, a blur of speed, closing the distance between herself and the goblin in an instant. [Dash]. Her feet barely touched the ground as she sprinted, propelled by raw speed, and then, with a sudden twist of her body, she lashed out, sending a right hook straight into the goblin's chest.

The punch connected with a boom of thunder.

The goblin’s body jerked violently, and it staggered back, its spear falling from its hands as it collapsed, twitching and convulsing from the paralysis.

Lorelai didn’t pause to watch. Her next target was already in motion.

One of the remaining goblins swung its jagged sword at her, a crude, desperate strike. Lorelai’s eyes narrowed. She didn’t just dodge, with a swift motion she pulled her sword from her spatial storage, parrying and countering the goblin.

The goblin’s sword bounced off her blade, and Lorelai immediately spun with the motion, her sword flashing out to strike. The blow landed with precision, cutting across the goblin’s chest, scoring significant damage. It dropped like a ragdoll, blood spraying from the wound.

The third goblin snarled and lunged at her with its spear, but Lorelai was already shifting, flowing into another movement. She could feel the storm of lightning crackling inside her, the power singing in her veins. As the goblin drew closer Lorelai used Weight Manipulation.

The goblin’s spear slowed, its swing becoming sluggish as Lorelai manipulated its weight mid-strike. The heavy iron tip of the spear seemed to become unbearably dense, pulling the goblin off-balance as it struggled to carry the weight.

With an almost bored flick of her wrist, Lorelai unleashed her [Rapid Thrusts] skill, her movements a blur of precision and speed. Each strike, swift and controlled, punctured the goblin’s chest with brutal force. Five, six, seven—she lost count as she moved, each thrust powered by her strength, each thrust leaving a trail of lightning in its wake. The goblin fell to the ground with a strangled cry, its body twitching from the barrage of blows.

But they weren’t done yet. Two goblins remained, they turned to stare at Lorelai who grew disgusted. The goblins got visibly horny when they looked at her and they started to chatter wildly to themselves.

Just before Lorelai went to make a move against the two goblins, felt a shift in the air, a prickle of something dark. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a shadow darting toward her. The imp had been lurking, waiting for the right moment to reveal itself, and now it had arrived.

It was small, its bat-like wings fluttering in the air, a mischievous grin spread across its face. Lorelai’s heart skipped. The imp had come to claim the favor she owed.

"Ah, the lightning-wielding warrior," the imp cooed, his voice high-pitched and dripping with amusement. "You’ve been busy."

Lorelai’s fingers tightened around the hilt of her sword as the imp’s gaze locked onto her. Before she could react, one of the remaining goblins lunged at her, but Lorelai’s instincts kicked in. She barely even thought. She felt the storm inside her, and with a quick motion, she dashed forward, closing the distance in an instant.

The goblin swung its blade at her, but Lorelai’s [counterstrike] came first. She parried the blow effortlessly, her blade singing through the air, and in one smooth motion, her sword connected with the goblin’s throat.

It dropped, lifeless, in a heap.

The last goblin hesitated, eyes darting to the imp, then back to Lorelai. It was too late.

Lorelai’s body surged forward again. Lightning coursed through her limbs, Lightning Clad intensifying as she closed the gap between them. The goblin raised its weapon in desperation, but Lorelai was faster, too fast for it to react.

She didn’t need her sword.

With one powerful punch, her fist collided with the goblin’s face, the shock of electricity making its body jerk violently as it collapsed, charred and twitching.

The room went still.

Lorelai stood panting, blood pounding in her ears, as she took in the carnage around her. A notification she received she pushed to the side since er body thrummed with residual magic, the storm within her still restless and wild.

Aeryn stepped forward, her eyes narrowing as she surveyed the battlefield. "Not bad," she said, sounding genuinely impressed. Lorelai nodded, wiping sweat from her brow. She was winded, but something deeper inside her was awake, alive with the rawness of her abilities.

She felt the stirrings of power, untapped potential, and a growing desire to master it all. Before she could catch her breath, the imp fluttered forward, its tiny wings buzzing in the air.

“Well, well,” it purred, its glowing eyes gleaming mischievously. “I think its time to cash in on that favor.”

Lorelai’s stomach twisted. The imp was here to collect, and she wasn’t sure she was ready for whatever it had in store.