Victoria stood in the crypt’s central chamber, panic, fear, and anger swirling within her. She touched the gem embedded within her flesh, old memories of flame and destruction whipping at her thoughts. Lora, Pasitus, and Nalmar stood beside her. Despite being nothing but bones, Victoria could sense their anxiety. They shuffled in place, their hands fidgeting. They’d lost their home once already, and now they would do so again.
But she would not let them fall.
She pulled the Soul of Damnation from her chest, the purple crystal whispering at the edge of her mind.
“Here,” she said, passing the stone off to Lora.
“Mistress, I must continue to voice my displeasure.”
“This is an order.” Victoria could force them to obey if she wanted. Her divine skill [Grave Lord] could dominate their will. But she would only do so as a last resort.
Nalmar shuffled forward, his bony feet echoing in the silence. “We followed you to that prison and we followed you here. Why abandon us now?”
“I would never do such a thing.” Victoria grabbed his hand and forced the gem into it, curling his knuckles around it. “But I will not have you die with me.”
“We only exist to serve,” Pasitus said. “Throwing us out into the world…where will we even go?”
As much as it hurt her, there was only one option that would keep them safe. “Go west and then north through the Blackheart Forest. There is a keep there. Your bodies should naturally be drawn to the negative energy inside it.”
“And what awaits us at this keep?” Nalmar asked.
“The Lich Cult.” Victoria’s shoulders sagged. She didn’t trust them, or even like them, but she knew of no other group who would welcome displaced undead.
“They would make slaves of us,” Pasitus said.
“I know Arch Lich Calhaven. He will treat you fairly, so long as you prove useful. That, and I’m delivering him a very precious gift.”
Victoria looked at Nalmar’s closed hand. She could still hear the haunted voices within. The Soul of Damnation was a powerful artifact, but one she hadn’t fully mastered. An ancient lich like Calhaven could use its power to the fullest. Even if she hated him, he would bring untold death and destruction to Lonelen and their Justicars.
“Leave with us,” Lora said, gripping Victoria’s arm. “There is no sense in staying.”
“I’m tired of running,” Victoria replied. “And I will join you, but only once the intruders are slain.”
“If you have such confidence, then why not let us stay?”
Victoria turned to Pasitus. “Each of you is too weak to make a difference. Those who destroyed the gate and killed Adenion and Valmier are surely on their way here. No. Only Oliver and I will stay.” She nodded at the two Death Knights in the corner. “These will guard you on the way.”
“If this is what you truly want,” Lora said.
Victoria’s heart was gripped by an icy claw. These people were the closet thing she had to family in this world. Telling them to leave dug at her soul, but if she died in the coming battle, surely they would be killed soon after.
They had helped her when she first arrived in this world. Without them, she would have died long ago. Sending them away was the last thing she wanted, but it was the only way they could survive.
“Deliver the Soul of Damnation to Calhaven and he will welcome you with open arms,” Victoria looked each of her old friends in their blazing eyes. Then she backed away, her death knights pressing past her.
“They would better serve you here, mistress,” Lora said, gesturing at the knights. “And Hyalm already leads a squad to protect us.”
“I will have Oliver and my summons. I can afford to ensure your safety.”
The far door opened, Oliver entering with a trio of skeletons behind him. They carried chests and bags, Oliver only carrying his rapier.
“I see everyone has gathered,” Oliver said. Then he squinted at the group. “Where is old Hyalm?”
“He is waiting outside the tunnel,” Victoria answered. “The others will soon join him.”
“Others?” He grinned. “Are we not all leaving?”
Victoria narrowed her eyes. “You and I are staying to face the Aspirant. Everyone else will head north. We’ll join them once the battle is over.”
Oliver’s smile vanished. “You can’t be serious?” He eyed the others. “Stay? My skills haven’t even refreshed.”
“Then you will have to rely on your rapier.” She stepped closer, Oliver sliding back. “I believe the pale one you fought is the Aspirant Darian, the one my quest wants me to kill. If you nearly bested him, then surely the two of us can kill him without much trouble.”
“But he won’t be alone,” Oliver argued. “Some of my old…friends could be with him. They are a tricky sort. Fighting them should be a last resort.”
“Are you afraid?” Victoria said, darkness spilling from her body. “We will face them here. You have no choice in the matter.”
His lips curled into a frown. “Fine.” He glared at the others. “Well, what are you lot waiting for? Get on with it.”
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Lora, Nalmar, and Pasitus all bowed to Victoria.
“Be safe,” she said, placing a palm on Lora's and Pasitus’ shoulder. Then she turned and commanded the knights to protect them.
The trio left through a door at the opposite end of the room without comment. Once the death knights passed behind them, Victoria sealed the door from her side. There would be no turning back.
“Well,” Oliver said. “What’s the plan? Wait here and wait for them?”
Victoria thought about sending Oliver out on his own. His skills at assassination could prove useful, but the man was a coward. If he left the room now, he would surely slip away.
“We will both remain here. I’ve sent some of my undead to slow their advance and inflict injury. The rest on their way here.”
I will run no longer. And it couldn’t be a coincidence another Aspirant was coming to kill her. The system itself seemed to pit them against each other. If she ran, then surely fate would only bring them together once more. The Gods of this world were the Aspirants of old, that much she knew. But the Demon God hadn’t told her much more than that. It was he who told her about this forest, yet nothing had gone right since she arrived. Perhaps he drew pleasure from her misfortune.
Either way, she had a battle to prepare for.
***
Darian checked his new skills as they made their way down the road.
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Summon Giant Bat
Uses: 2 (Daily)
* This skill summons a Giant Bat (Lv. 10). The bat will appear up to ten feet from the caster and has two skills [Draining Bite] and [Sonic Blast]. These skills can be used either at the summons’s discretion or by the order of the summoner. [Draining Bite] drains health from the Bat’s target and restores an equal amount to the summon. [Sonic Blast] is a short ranged attack that cannot be blocked or reduced by armor and has a chance to stun the target. The summon lasts for up to thirty minutes.
* Skill will evolve into [Giant Bat Swarm] at Race Lv. 4.
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Summon Wolf Pack
Uses: 4 (Daily)
* This skill summons a group of three (Lv.5) wolves up to ten feet from the caster. The summons last for up to thirty minutes.
* Skill will evolve into [Dire Wolf Pack] at Race Lv. 4.
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Talon of the Night
Uses: 4 (Daily)
* Victims of this skill will witness visions of their greatest fears, driving them into temporary insanity. Those killed while under the effects of [Talon of the Night] will be immediately raised as vampiric undead under the control of the caster. [Talon of the Night] will affect the victim for up to (10) minutes, the duration reduced by the victim’s Fortitude attribute. Undead created by this skill will crumble after thirty minutes. Those who are at a higher total level than the skill user have a very high chance of resisting the skill.
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Interesting. Darian glanced at the others. Though the screen floated there for all to see, none had a reaction to it. He moved on to investigating this so called “Divine Skill” next.
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Blood Lord
[Blood Lord] is a multilayered skill and is the first step on your road to godhood. This skill will evolve for every ten total levels you gain. Your current level cap is (20). To raise this cap, the (8) remaining Aspirants must die. Your cap will increase by (10) for each Aspirant that is slain.
[Vampire’s Kiss] your Divine Skill now allows you to turn others into Lesser Vampires. Lesser Vampires you create will only be able to reach Race Lv. 3, where they too unlock the ability to create Lesser Vampires. To do this, simply bite and nearly drain the creature to death. Then allow the creature to drink your blood. They will transform within (24) hours.
[Undead Affinity] As a vampire, you have some connection to and some control over the undead. Any undead you summon or create will now have all of their attributes and damage increased by (3) for each Race Level you have obtained.
[Beast Affinity] As a vampire, you have a connection to the predators of the night. Any beast you summon or create will have all of their attributes and damage increased by (3) for each Race Level you have obtained.
[Blood Knowledge] Your Divine skill gives you dominion over blood. By touching the blood of a living creature, you will know their Age/Class/Level and if they suffer from any illnesses or diseases. Additionally, you may now store up to two different attribute bonuses or temporary skills from drinking blood, rather than one.
[Bleed Resistant] You are now 75% resistant to bleeding.
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Godhood? Darian stared at the different abilities his divine skill allowed him. He could make other people into vampires now. Meaning, I wouldn’t be the only one. But he didn’t have time to consider this, as a dark structure loomed ahead.
Not having much time, Darian opened his Class Selection menu. He had gained a class level when he destroyed the gate, and he eyed his new unique class [Blood Squire]. Looking over the abilities, he noticed it would unlock the advanced unique class of [Blood Knight] after five levels. Darian quickly invested his new level into the class, the attribute bonuses higher than any other class level up to this point.
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Blood Squire Lv. 1
* Dexterity: +7
* Perception: +5
* Arcane: +3
* Skills: [Blood Strike]
* [Blood Mist]
* Basic shield proficiency
* Repair proficiency
* Horse riding proficiency
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Blood Strike (Basic)
Uses: 5 (Daily)
* This skill sacrifices the user’s HP to empower an attack. The amount of HP given will determine the strength of the skill (up to a maximum of 15% HP). This skill receives (1/4th) Arcane damage modification.
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Blood Mist
Uses: Infinite
* This skill creates a thick mist from blood. This can be the skill user’s blood or the blood of their victims. This blood does not cause damage.
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Darian looked over his new skills, divine, racial, and class based. It was going to be a lot to remember, but he felt power surging in his veins.
“Looks like some of the dead have come to face us,” Jorg said, halting the group.
A derelict mansion stood ahead, its moss-covered walls and roof crumbling. Darian pushed past the rest, his ears picking up the footfalls of the undead.
He raised his sword. It seemed he’d have the opportunity to test his new powers sooner than he thought.