Darian crouched behind the tree, listening with his enhanced perception. Despite his new abilities, Fria still stalked through the forest silently. Within moments of her leaving he could no longer hear her footsteps, and he and Zan were left to hold their positions as she scouted ahead. My Dexterity is higher than hers, but I can’t hold a candle to her stealth. It seemed, much like his skill with a sword, training and real-life experience still trumped raw stats to a point. Still. He clenched his fist, his muscles exploding with increased strength. I can’t wait to test my new power.
With nothing to do and his excitement starting to build, Darian decided to check his quest log.
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Quest: Enemy of the Grave God
Objective: Destroy all three Nether Gates
* Reward: +100 class XP
* Reward: +25 Race XP
* Reward: Unique class unlocked [Blood Squire]
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Quest: Companionship
Objective: Form a party of three
* Reward: (Minor) XP Crystal
* Reward: Scroll of Cure Minor Wounds
* Reward: Scroll of Cure Major Wounds
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Quest: The Vengeful Hand
Objective: Kill the Warg Gershank
Bonus Objective: Allow Fria Von Rostcliff the final blow
* Reward: Triumph unlocked – [The Avenger]
* Reward: Greater XP Crystal
* Bonus Reward: +5 Companion level cap
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Darian looked over his available quests, his eyes drawn the Greater XP Crystal reward. Oh yeah, Gershank gave me one of those. With everything that had happened the last two nights, it had slipped his mind. But when he opened his inventory, he was greeted with two new items. And I got a Blood Vial and magic ring from completing those other quests. He grumbled to himself. Even in a new body and in a new world, he still sucked at managing his items.
The first thing he inspected was the ring.
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Ring of - Summon Minor Undead
* Spawns a random Level one to Level three undead minion within (5) feet of the caster. The ring can be used (2) times per day.
* Uses remaining: 2
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An undead minion? The idea of summoning his own skeleton did appeal to him. And with his constitution increased by at least eight, he could equip a new magical item without worrying about any kind of negative effect. Even though I still don’t know what that effect actually does. He slipped the ring on, his mind linking to it. All he would need to do in order to summon his new undead friend was will the power from the ring. Now I just have to remember to actually use it. He inspected the Blood Vial next.
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Blood Vial
* Holds the blood of (1) person or creature and keeps that blood permanently fresh. Blood may be automatically added to the blood vial each time you feed, provided there is no blood currently inside it.
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He pulled the vial out of his inventory. It appeared to be a thin length of glass, purple arcane runes flashing along its side. It had no cork, but Darian somehow knew blood couldn’t spill from the vial unless he wanted it to. Curiously, the vial was already filled with dark red blood. But the amount of blood in here wouldn’t even qualify as a snack. And this was a quest reward? He was about to dismiss the item when he realized.
It's the exact amount of blood I have to drink in order to activate a buff. He reached out with his mind, asking the vial whose blood it contained.
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Contents: Paladin Blood (Lv.7)
* Temporary + 25% Holy resistance
* Temporary skill unlocked: [Major Heal]
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So this is Jorg’s blood. Up to this point, the buffs he got for draining small animals were hardly noticeable and the buff went away with each meal. But since this vial preserved blood for him, he could save more powerful blood until he needed to use it. A healing spell could come in handy. He drank the blood, new power coursing through him. Now if anyone gets hurt, I have a two-use spell to heal them back up. The only thing left for him to inspect was the XP crystal.
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Greater XP Crystal
* +100 Class XP
* +50 Race XP
* Time until evolution into - Opulent XP Crystal – (1) month
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He stared at the numbers. That’s more than enough to reach my next Class Level and nearly enough to reach my third Race Level. He held the dark blue crystal in his hand, somehow knowing all he needed to do was crush it. He considered for a moment waiting until it evolved, but he needed the level now. So he pressed his hands together, the crystal cracking apart before a wave of energy filled Darian’s body.
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+100 Class XP
+50 Race XP
Class Lv. 4 Reached
Progress to Class Lv. 5 (86/130)
Progress to Race Lv. 3 (59/75)
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He quickly opened the class selection screen and selected Warrior. With it leveled up, he had finally reached the requirements for the advanced class Spellblade.
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Warrior Lv. 2
* Strength: +2
* Dexterity: +1
* Constitution: +3
* Skills: [Dash Strike]
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Dash Strike
* This skill propels the user forward (up to fifteen feet) and empowers their attack with an additional (1/4thStrength) modification. This skill can be used five times per day plus the user’s total martial class levels (current total uses: 7).
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While there hadn’t been much difficulty so far closing the distance on his foes, his new skill could at least be useful in taking out archers. Can’t wait to test this out.
“Darian.” The sound of his voice being whispered so close nearly made him jump.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“Did you need to sneak up on me?” Darian asked Fria, the woman sitting in the moon cast shadow of a nearby tree.
“Not my fault you were distracted.” She pointed a thumb over her shoulder. “I think I found something. There’s a cave back in the woods surrounded by shamblers. Looks like they’re busy fortifying it and building a road. It might lead into the fort.”
“Sounds worth checking out, but why do you look so worried?”
“There’s a Bone Knight guarding the entrance.”
***
Darian crouched in the tall grass, Zan flattened beside him. He could see the skeletons shuffling about, chopping at trees or hauling small stones to a path cut through the forest. Others were busy sharpening sticks and making wooden barricades. It looked like they were trying to fortify the cave mouth. And they wouldn’t be doing that if there wasn’t something inside. He counted at least twenty of the weaker variety of skeleton, but there were three standouts. The first was the Bone Knight who stood with greatshield and axe beside the entrance to the cave. Then there were two black robed skeletons marching along and observing the others. They looked almost like supervisors. But I still figure the main problem is the Bone Knight. Darian reached up and touched his chest. His last encounter with one nearly killed him. But I’m much stronger now. Though he knew a straight up fight wouldn’t go their way. That’s why he had to put his faith in Fria.
He burst from the grass and rushed a patrolling skeleton. Darian still had no weapon, and he eyed the monster’s blade. He caught it by surprise, both his arms grabbing its wrist. Normally he would have killed it with [Shocking Grasp] but he needed to be more conservative with his skills. There was no telling how big this cave and fort really were, and he needed to save his powers for when he truly needed them.
With a jerk, he tried to wrench the sword from the skeleton’s grip, surprised when its entire arm popped free instead. With it still in his hand, Darian decided to use the improvised weapon to beat the skeleton to death. It crumbled, the arm he held falling away. He snatched up the sword and ducked, an arrow speeding past him. That was Zan’s cue, and the beast howled.
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Buff Applied: Pack Leader's Howl
* +8 Temporary Strength
* +8 Temporary Dexterity
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Darian knocked an arrow from the air, his own speed and precision surprising him. But two axe wielding shamblers came at him at once and he was forced on the back foot. He knocked one blow wide and then smashed the other’s skull in with his sword. As it crumbled, he kicked the remaining skeleton in the chest, knocking it prone. It burst apart as he rained blows down upon it.
Something ice cold smashed into Darian’s arm and he spun, one of the robed skeletons charging up some kind of spell. But he wasn’t about to give it the chance. He rushed forward then used his new skill [Dash Strike]. The burst of speed was immense, and Darian crashed into the skeleton, his sword cracking down on its skull. But it wasn’t finished, arcane frost still pooling in its hands. Darian grabbed its face and used a combination of [Shocking Grasp] and another quick strike to finish it.
The Bone Knight finally lumbered forth, many of the smaller skeletons flocking to it. It’s about to buff them. Even though he was stronger, Darian didn’t like the odds of fighting a small army of buffed up monsters. C’mon Fria, where are you? But then, just as the Bone Knight raised its arms for the buff, she appeared.
Her arrow lit the night, the multicolored shaft speeding through the air and colliding with the Bone Knight’s back. It fell forward, back smoking from Fria’s unique skill [Omni Element]. Zan rushed from the shadows and fell upon the remaining skeletal wizard, his jaws clamped around its head. The Bone Knight turned to face the new threat, exposing its backside to Darian. He charged forward and with the aid of [Determined Strike], he jammed his blade into the back of the monster’s knee.
It stumbled, Darian twisting the blade free. His palm pressed into the back of its armored plate, electricity flowing from his hand. The beast bellowed, the smaller skeletons all rushing Darian. But it was too late. Another jab to the opposite knee and the Bone Knight was on the ground. It dropped its weapon and shield, falling to all fours. Zan was on it then, his claws tearing free its massive iron helmet. Then a flaming arrow sped from the woods, the impact shattering the Bone Knight's head in a shower of sparks.
Darian hacked a skeleton down, his fist smashing into the skull of another. He snatched a sword off the ground with his left hand and set to using both blades to carve through the horde. One after another they fell, his blows thunderous and bone shattering. Even if they resisted bladed weapons, the strength in Darian more than made up for it. Zan soon joined him, the wolf’s massive body sending the monsters scattering. Before long the entire area outside the cave was covered in bones, the last of the skeletons falling to an arrow through the spine.
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Enemies Defeated
[Skeleton Lv. 1] x11
[Skeleton Lv. 2] x2
[Skeleton Lv. 4]
Companion Contribution: 15 XP
Class XP Gained: 89
[Class Level Five Reached]
Progress to Class Lv. 6 (45/175)
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“That’s all of them,” Fria said as she approached.
Darian stored his extra sword in his inventory, doing the same to a few other scattered blades as Fria took a breath.
“I gained another level,” he said, turning to see Fria had an Enemies Defeated screen floating beside her head.
“I did too, apparently.” She clicked through menus, adding a level to [Arcane Archer] without a second thought. “Though I apparently share a fourth of my XP earnings with you.”
Guess that’s what companion contribution is. “Sorry for the tax, but I do think I deserved something for helping take down the Bone Knight.” He nudged its rusted armor with his boot. “Glad that attack of yours did so much damage.”
“It’s the unique ability of my bloodline. Most nobles have something similar.” She checked the arrows remaining in her quiver. “I can only use it one more time tonight, so don’t start relying on it.”
“I would never,” Darian said, taking a seat atop the Bone Knights corpse. Its armor made a surprisingly nice chair.
He opened up Class Selection and with a jolt of excitement, clicked on the Spellblade advanced class.
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Spellblade Lv. 1
* Dexterity: + 3
* Arcane: +4
* Constitution: +2
* Skills: [Arcane Blade] and [Corrosive Touch]
* Proficiencies: One-handed blades
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Arcane Blade
* Range: Self
This skill imbues the user’s next weapon attack with the power of a (touch) spell. The attack does the spell and weapons normal damage (plus modifications) but also infuses the blow with an additional (1/4th Arcane) damage modification. This ability can be used three times per day plus the users total Magic class levels (Current total uses: 6) Note: using this ability also consumes a use of the targeted touch spell.
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Corrosive Touch
Range: Touch
* Damage: 20
* Damage type: Magical/Corrosive
* This skill emits a burst of acid from the user’s fingers that can be used twice per day plus half the user’s total Fortitude attribute (current total uses: 12). The skill receives (1/4thArcane) damage modification. This skill has a cooldown of (2) seconds. This attack cannot be dodged.
* Evolve Skill: Skill will evolve into [Melting Touch] when user reaches Magic Class level 5. (Currently 3).
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“All done?” Fria asked.
Darian dismissed the screens, excited to give [Arcane Blade] a try in particular. “I am.”
They stood before the yawning cave mouth, the path within narrow and dark.
“Zan,” Fria said, giving the wolf a scratch between the ears. “You should stay here.” The wolf drew back and whimpered. “I know, but that path looks too narrow for all three of us. Plus, we need someone to stay out here and warn us if more skeletons show up. Can you do that, boy? Give us a bark if someone tries sneaking up on us?” Zan barked, his tail wagging.
“You sure about leaving him behind?” Darian asked.
“I am. Fighting in a cave will be hard enough for me without him getting in front of my arrows. Plus, Zan doesn’t do well in tight spaces to begin with. Best to let him guard our backs.”
“Well, if you’re sure.” Darian stepped into the cave, the air within damp and smelling of decay. “Guess let’s do this.”
And so they descended, Darian in front and Fria a step behind, both ready to face whatever the darkness was hiding.