The first thing Darian did after waking was check his wounds. Surprisingly, the holes torn in his body by the giant mosquitoes were fully healed. His HP however, had not fully recovered. I guess because they sucked out my blood and I haven’t filled back up? His near-death experience in the swamp sent a mental shiver down his spine. I need to be extra careful around creatures who can drain me like that. He padded out into the starlight and remembered he leveled up. In his mad dash to escape, he had hardly registered the notification.
He was still trying to reach the Spellblade advanced class and needed one additional level in Mage and Warrior to reach it. Both new levels would increase his stats a bit and give him a new skill. Mage gave him [Shocking Grasp], a short ranged lighting spell with a chance to stun. Warrior provided [Dash Strike], a gap closing attack with an equipped weapon. After thinking about it for a bit, Darian decided to level mage for now to give him more magical damage options.
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Mage Lv. 2
* Fortitude: + 3
* Arcane: +3
* Skills: Shocking Grasp
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Shocking Grasp
Range: Touch
* Damage: 12
* Damage type: Magical/lightning
* This skill emits a burst of electricity from the user’s fingers that can be used twice per day plus half the user’s total Fortitude attribute (current total: 11). The skill receives (1/4thArcane) damage modification (Total: 3). This skill has a cooldown of (2) seconds. This attack cannot be dodged.
* Evolve Skill: Skill will evolve into [Bolting Grasp] when user reaches magic class level 5. (Currently 2)
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Quest Completed: In Search of Power
* Reward: Belt of Minor Constitution
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Darian blinked at the quest reward. I forgot I even had that quest. Like with his clothes, the belt was placed in his inventory after he dismissed the reward screen. He wasted no time equipping it.
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Item obtained: Belt of Minor Constitution
Belt of Minor Constitution
* Effect: +1 Damage resistance
* Effect: + 4 Constitution
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After the item was wrapped around his waist, a new notification appeared. It hovered above the belt warning Darian he’d reached his limit on magical items. It didn’t say exactly what would happen if he equipped more, so he figured he’d cross that bridge when he got there. Not like I have any other ones to put on. His Constitution determined how many magical items he could equip, with a new slot unlocking after every eight points of Constitution he had. Another reason to level up Warrior, I guess. But enough thinking about levels and looking at screens. He was hungry.
He was about to wander into the forest in search of a meal when something moved in the underbrush. After a moment, a dark shape lurched into view, big but walking on all fours. It padded out into the open, stopping at the other end of the pond. Another wolf. The beast sat and stared at Darian, its fur dark but parted here and there by silvery scars. They regarded each other, the wolf clearly wary. Darian’s sword was at his side, ready for when the beast attacked.
It never did.
After it was clear no fighting would be happening, the wolf drank from the pond. It never took its eyes off Darian, who watched it in kind. This one seems strong. Far stronger than the one I killed in the cave. There was something old in the amber eyed creatures gaze, something fierce too. The muscles on its legs tensed as it lifted its head from the pond, ears twitching. A distant howl rang out, and the wolf sped into the dark embrace of the forest.
Darian relaxed and retrieved his cloak. I guess I should expect animals to come here from time to time. It is a source of water, after all. He stopped as he realized something. I haven’t had to drink any water this whole time. Guess blood satisfies both my hunger and my thirst. He shrugged. At least it made his meals convenient.
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He quickly ran across a few unfortunate animals deep inside the forest. Draining them, he let these bodies stay where they were. There wasn’t a need to bury them so far out and he was sure some scavenger would come by and clean it up anyway. Circle of life and all that. When he was getting ready to head back for some spell accuracy training, he heard a noise.
It was faint, a small whimper on the breeze. He followed it down a short slope and across shallow stream. In the dark shadow of an overturned tree was a red fox. It was biting at its ankle, the smell of blood in the air. But Darian was full and the smell did little to distract him.
“What’s wrong little buddy?” he said, starting to feel like the days alone were making him insane. It wasn’t until he got right up to the fox that he realized its leg was caught in some kind of snare, one the fox had nearly chewed through.
“That one’s mine, stranger,” A low voice said from Darian’s back. “Now, why don’t you turn around slowly.”
Darian looked about, thinking of fleeing. But there was a person behind him. Someone to talk to. And someone to ask questions. Then he remembered the previous night and the girl who screamed at him, how he barely managed to tear himself away from the man’s corpse. No, he had to get away. But how?
“I said turn around,” the man commanded, the sound of a tightening bowstring following soon after.
Running would only earn him an arrow in the back, and so he slowly turned. Standing atop the small hill was the same man Darian had seen the previous day. His bow was in his hands, an arrow pulled back. The cut on his cheek was an angry shade of red, but the flesh had been stitched. He regarded Darian with confusion, his brow drawing down.
“Who are you and where did you come from?” He asked, string tightening a little more.
“I’m Darian,” he said waving his hand halfheartedly. “Hi?”
The man cocked his head to the side, his sandy beard and dirt smeared face making him look much older than he really was. “I do not know of this Hi place. Is it from beyond the Alendar mountains?”
“It’s a greeting,” Darian said, waving his hand again. “I’m a friend.” Am I though? Despite being full, the wound on the ranger’s cheek smelt delicious.
“I see. Forgive me, I have seldom left these lands. Still,” he slowly lowered his bow. “What is a half-naked man doing in these woods?”
Darian really didn’t know how to answer that. He’d also forgotten how weird he must look. He was shirtless with just a thin cloak covering his upper half. Judging by how cold the air was, someone without his cold resistance would probably be freezing to death.
“I’m…lost.” Close enough to the truth.
The ranger finally lowered his bow. “You’ve picked a bad time to get lost, friend. There’s a war going on in these woods.”
“A war?”
“Yes. One between the living and the dead.” He looked over his shoulder, a nervous twitch to his movements. “They come to my village each night. I went with a band of Justicars from Ulsfel to stop them, but we’ve been separated for days. They’re powerful, but they come from a place of stone and waves, not root and bark. I fear they will be picked off if I do not find and guide them to safety.”
I guess the man and the girl from last night were part of his group? “Where is your village?”
“A few days north, toward the mountains. But I can’t guide you there, I’m sorry. I have to find them.” His shoulders slumped. “There was another guide from my village with us, Carn. I found signs of him and his daughter yesterday, but the trail ran cold. Have you seen anyone in these woods? Heard anything?”
What do I tell him? Carn is probably that guy I found last night. But I don’t want to go back there. The blood…the gore. Mind still swirling, the man drew his bow string and settled into a crouch. “They are coming,” he said, ear turned up. “Twelve shamblers, one with armor. A Bone Knight perhaps.” He nodded at Darian. “Do you have a camp? A place to hide?”
I do. But should he really take this guy back to the only safe place in this cursed forest? He could lead him to the temple, but it would be clear no one had been staying there.
“They are nearly upon us.” The ranger whispered something and the tip of his arrow suddenly gleamed red. “Can you fight?”
“I can,” Darian said, glancing over his shoulder. I could run now, slip away before he realizes it.
“I can pick some off at range, but I am no frontline fighter. I see you carry a blade. If you can keep them off me, we stand a chance.”
This was his opportunity. The ranger was fully turned around, his attention on the approaching threat. Darian could sprint away and be gone before the ranger even had a chance to turn around. But what will happen to him if I flee? Darian never had the chance to help anyone in his previous life. In fact, he spent nearly all of it being helped by others. Doctors, nurses, his parents—an infinite line of people extending their support. Maybe then it’s time to return the favor. Darian drew his blade and marched up the hill and past the ranger.
“My name is Carver, by the way,” he said after Darian passed.
Darian glanced over his shoulder to find the young ranger smiling. Then he turned and set his stance. “Now then, let’s try and make it out of this alive.” With his right hand holding his sword and his left crackling with electricity, Darian prepared for his hardest battle yet.