Darian dove behind an overturned table, knuckles whitening around his sword. He crouched and waited. Rattling feet shuffled outside, and Darian peeked around the corner. A skeleton appeared, leather buckler held loosely at its side, iron blade catching a shaft of moonlight. Its fleshless face betrayed no hint of emotion, but its movements were jerking, frantic.
“Search.” It said, voice like the crackling of an ice felled tree. “Find.” Its skull swiveled, facing Darian. “Kill.”
Darian burst forward, the table crashing to the ground. His sword caught the creature on the ribs, but the blade bounced off like it was repelled by an invisible shield. Only a small scratch along the bone let Darian know his attack had even landed.
“Enemy.” The green fire blazing in the creature’s skull flared, its longsword striking out.
The attack was slow, and Darian shuffled a half step back. He hacked at it again, scoring one hit along its arm and one on its shoulder. Its buckler came around and it marched forward. A shadow darkened the doorway, another skeleton blocking Darian’s escape.
Darian opened his palm and cast [Flare]. The skeleton caught the ball of flame on its buckler and pressed on, sword stabbing at Darian’s exposed stomach. Darian jumped back and kicked a chair at his attacker. It caught the skeleton along the knee, stumbling it. He cast [Flare] followed by enhancing his next attack with [Determined Strike]. The tip of his sword cracked against the monster’s skull, its chest blackened by flame. Another blast from [Flare] hit it in the face, and his blade tore a chunk of rib bone free with his next swipe.
The skeleton occupying the doorway rattled forward, sword held high. Darian swerved, putting his first attacker in front of his second. He fired off two more spells, one blocked and one striking true. How many more can I use? To answer his internal question, a small screen hovered near his face.
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Flare: Uses remaining (9)
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He cast [Shard] next. The pointed chunk of ice smashed into the skeleton’s shoulder but seemed to do less damage than [Flare]. Ice resistant? I figured, but it was worth a try. But some damage was better than none. He cast Shard again as he pressed forward. The skeleton blocked his spell but a [Determined Strike] to its ribs saw the creature burst apart. But Darian’s sword came away dented, the rusted blade ruined.
The monster’s bones flew in every direction as it died, scattering like bowling pins after a perfect roll. Darian squatted down and snatched up the fallen skeleton’s sword.
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Item Obtained: Iron Longsword
* Weight: 3
* Damage: 16 + (1/4) Strength Modification
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He brought his new weapon up just in time to block an overhand swing from his new opponent.
“Kill.” It smacked Darian in the chest with its buckler, and the tip of its sword came back too fast to block.
Darian stepped back, but the blade cut him across his chest, ripping his shirt and leaving a nasty gash. He came back with a two-handed swing that cracked the skeleton across the shoulder, splintering the bone. Stepping back, he cast [Flare]. If it goes for the block, I’ll hack out its legs. Instead of blocking, the monster charged forward, letting the spell crash across its chest. Darian blocked the first strike, but the second left a red line along his thigh.
Almost backed into the corner, Darian grit his teeth and set his stance. He swung with all his strength, adding [Determined Strike] to the blow. His blade met buckler, but the force tore the skeleton off its feet. Darian hacked at it, the bony figure writhing on the floor. After a set of thudding attacks, the bones burst free of their sockets, scattering across the floor.
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Enemies Defeated
[Skeleton Lv.1]
[Skeleton Lv.1]
Class XP Gained: 8
Progress to Class Lv. 3 (8/50)
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Darian quickly checked his health.
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HP (60/80)
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Hopefully that will be enough. He was cut across his chest and leg, but his chest wound was the only serious blow he suffered. Blood leaked out from the ragged slash, red streaks working their way down Darian’s stomach. He ignored the stinging pain. There was one last opponent to fight.
The hooded skeleton stood in the clearing, its dual blades shimmering with a bluish light.
Its head cocked to the side when it saw Darian. “You are not who we expected.” Its shoulders rolled and a grating sound filled the air. Darian realized after a moment the monster was laughing, “But plans never go as they should. Tell me, did you kill the occupants of this cabin?”
Darian thought about not answering, about making a run for it. But this monster was different. Moving at all under its gaze felt impossible, and Darian was sure that he would be cut down the moment he tried to flee. “I didn’t. It was empty when I got here.”
The skeleton made a sound, something like a sigh, then its head snapped up, blazing eyes narrowing. “Who are you? You are not of the village. Where do you come from?”
“I…” How should I answer this? “Come from beyond the forest.”
It regarded him for a moment. “Did The Society send you?”
Who!? “They…did not.” Darian’s shoulder’s tensed, eyes scanning for a way out.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“Interesting.” Its knuckles popped as its grip tightened around its curved swords. “My master will want to see you. You shall come with me.” It glanced at the mountain where the sky was just starting to lighten. “We will stay here for the night. The sun does not…agree with me.”
Darian’s foot slid back, mind racing for a way out. “Your master?” I don’t like where this is going.
“You are a trespasser,” it said, striding forward. “As all are who enter this forest without my master’s approval.” It gestured at the cabin. “But you are a curiosity. I can sense that your heart beats, but the stench of undeath surrounds you. My master will want to see you for herself, but…” The blades in its hands erupted with blue, arcing energy. The clearing filled with a humming sound, the air tense with anticipation, as if a summer storm were forming on the horizon. “I can take you to her in pieces if I must.”
Darian had never been threatened before. He was pulled out of school when he was eleven, his health on a steady decline. No bullies ever pestered him, no one on the internet had sent him any serious hate. So the rage filling his gut was a first, and he couldn’t help but bring up his blade in a show of defiance.
But fighting would be foolish. There was no doubt this creature was far too powerful to take on. Running was an option, but despite its skeletal form, there was a fencer’s grace in its movements. That meant he could either go with it or try something risky. Something that might not even work. But I’m not going anywhere with this thing. My previous life was already out of my control. I won’t lose my new freedom to anyone. I would rather die first.
Darian shouted a battle cry, shot off [Flare] and made like he was about to charge. The skeleton dropped back into a fighting stance and slashed the ball of flame from the air. While it readied for another attack, Darian turned around and grabbed the cabin door. He pulled it behind him, slamming it shut in a frantic hurry. Tossing his sword aside, he reached up and pulled the metal bolt down to lock the door. Blue light flashed outside as something slammed into the wood. The door creaked, but it held fast. Darian slid the next latch down and stepped back, blade at the ready.
It was a long shot, but this creature didn’t seem to like the sun either. There was a chance it was like him and would burn if it came into contact with the light, but it could also be weakened by it. Even weakened, it might still be too strong for Darian to kill, but it was the only thing he could think of besides running. And it doesn’t seem to know what I am. If it doesn’t know the sun will burn me to a crisp, it might retreat if it thinks I’m going to fight it outside. But all his ideas were just theories. What if the sun just slightly bothers it or something? What then?
The door shuddered, blows slamming into it again and again. It started to crack along the middle, and Darian dropped his sword, forcing his weight against the bulging wood.
“Foolish creature,” the skeleton said, pausing his assault. “This entire forest belongs to my master. And soon the village will fall before her. You can never escape.”
“We’ll just have to see about that!” Darian shouted back, temper flaring.
Another set of strikes smashed against the door, but then a heavy silence settled in. Darian put his ear to the wood, but he couldn’t make out anything except the rustling of branches. Did he leave? Something burst from the wall nearby. Darian spun, eyes wide in panic. The window!
A skeletal hand reached through and gripped the wall. Darian snatched up his sword and hacked at the exposed knuckles, but his strikes had almost no effect. A head appeared, skeletal teeth somehow bending to form a sinister grin. A palm flashed up, then solid darkness sprang forth. It circled Darian and stabbed at him, his whole body stinging like it was covered in biting thorns. Through the haze, he saw the monster begin to pull itself through. With panic surging, he drove the tip of his sword into the monster’s chest, a [Determined Strike] adding more of his strength to the blow. Though it didn’t seem to inflict much damage, the force knocked the skeleton loose from the window. The darkness swirling around Darian dissipated, his body covered in tiny, bleeding scratches.
The skeleton landed on its back but sprang up with surprising agility. Darian had to jump back from the window as a shard of ice from its palm nearly took his eye out.
“You have made a powerful enemy this day,” it rasped. “My master will make great use of your corpse.” The skeleton plucked his blades from the dirt. The sun was just starting to blanket the forest in grey light, and the hooded creature regarded it warily. It hesitated for a moment, head turning from the cabin to the approaching light and back again. Eventually it stiffened, then turned to face the window. “Until we meet again,” it said with a bow before striding into the forest. When light fully engulfed the clearing, Darian stepped back from the window.
He dropped his sword and fell against the wall. His whole body was screaming, each of the tiny cuts the darkness inflicted stinging far more than they should. Both his shirt and pants were torn from the attack, with his shirt in particular reduced to tatters. But I survived. He smiled, then grunted when a new wave of pain spread from the wound on his chest. For now. He opened his inventory and removed the dead rat he stuffed in there from earlier. Its blood was nearly stale. Guess time moves in my inventory. He drank its blood and the pain lessened, but only slightly.
Darian flopped down on the bed in the corner. A deep fatigue leeched his strength away, as it always did when the sun rose. He fought to keep his eyes open. He couldn’t be sure the skeleton wouldn’t return. But despite his best efforts, darkness claimed him.
***
Valmier strode through the forest, dappled sunlight burning away most of his strength. A cold fire raged inside him. To be forced to retreat from such a weak opponent. The indignity! But he would be back when the sun fell. His master would have the pale man’s corpse.
The bushes ahead rustled and a massive, looming mass of fur and muscle appeared. Valmier stopped and shook his skeletal head. “Gershank, you are beyond late.”
Gershank’s lips peeled back, revealing thick rows of razor-sharp teeth that glinted in the sunlight. “Valmier!” the Warg’s voice sounded like his chest was full of gravel. “What are you doing out so late?” His red eyes scanned the forest. “And alone.” A low growl escaped the beast’s throat, and Valmier prepared to strike.
But Gershank just sat on his haunches, his bulk casting a long shadow across the ground. Valmier relaxed. His master still held the beast’s leash. “Searching for the intruders. A task you, or more specifically your nose, were supposed to assist with. Where have you been?”
Gershank turned his head one way, then the other. “Can’t seem to remember.”
Valmier sprung forward and pressed the sharp edge of his blade to Gershank’s throat. He would be no match for the beast in the sunlight, they both knew that, but they both also knew what would happen if the Warg defied their master. “Listen to me, beast.” Gershank growled but did not move. “There is a man locked inside the hunter’s cabin. His heart beats, but he does not breathe. I have never encountered such a creature. Master will want him.”
“And why is he there while you are here?” Gershank’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, I see. Locked himself inside. Want me to drag him out?”
Valmier thought about it for a moment. It wouldn’t be easy, but Gershank would get inside eventually. In terms of level, the monster was his master’s second strongest servant. Even stronger than Valmier himself, at least currently. But this man had insulted him. Valmier would carve him apart himself. “No. Simply watch him. He is not from the village, nor is he one of the Justicars. But he must come from somewhere. Perhaps even from those lost fools in The Society. There might be others with him. Learn where they hide.”
Something like a smile spread across Gershank’s scarred face. “Understood, boss. I’ll watch. It’s what I’m good at.”
Valmier removed the blade from Gershank’s throat and strode past the putrid monster. “Go now and do not fail me. Do not fail our master.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it!” The sound of Gershank’s steps faded behind Valmier, his thoughts consumed by one thing.
I will kill that man. I will cut his body to pieces and present them before my master. Maybe then she will permit me to put down our rabid dog. He laughed, a dry cackling that consumed everything. Sooner or later, he would have his vengeance.