The group sat for a while, recuperating, and checking their gear and each other. Joe passed his flask around as Kier cast a handful of healing spells on the others. Joe was elated but not truly surprised to see that absorbing the soul had healed not only him, but Bixby as well. They talked for a short time and Bixby relayed a version of what Joe had felt when the swords had pulled Gharial’s soul out. We are truly bound huh buddy? Joe thought.
Joe went through his discarded notifications, closing the ones that told of damage taken and recovered then focused on the few that really mattered.
Congratulations! You have now defeated at least five foes more than fifty levels higher than your own while below a Heroic Grade Class level. Exp earned, 100,000 (Banked).
Achievement Unlocked! Monster Slayer! Kill five or more creatures at least fifty levels above your own. Rewards Unlocked! You and your companion gain +2 Constitution, and +2 Willpower. Exp earned, 15,000 (Banked). Gold earned 5,000.
Title Unlocked! Destroyer of Titans! Defeat five or more monsters at least fifty levels or more above your own. Rewards Unlocked! You and your companion gain +4 Strength, +4 Constitution, +4 Agility and +10% Damage Resistance vs Monsters. Exp earned, 50,000 (Banked). Gold earned 30,000.
Joe shook his head and idly scratched his beard. He took a deep breath, let it out then looked to Bixby. He was expecting the dog to be on guard, but it seemed that he too was looking at his notifications or perhaps his Status screen. Joe could only guess what Bixby was seeing or even understanding. It’s been a month and I still have no real idea what’s happening. I’ve been reacting to everything with no way to really be proactive. We really need to get a town established so I can access a Shoppe. Patting Bixby, he went back to his notices.
Congratulations! Your Soulbound weapons have absorbed a soul. Exp earned, 20,000 (Banked).
Achievement Unlocked! Soul Render! You are the first person on your world to absorb a soul. Use it wisely. Rewards Unlocked! You and your companion gain +1 Constitution, +1 Perception, and +1 Willpower. Exp earned, 10,000 (Banked). Gold earned 5,000.
Use it wisely? Joe pondered the words from the achievement. Okay, so I absorbed a soul. Apparently, I can use it somehow? Joe scratched his head and looked at his sword’s description, but nothing about how to use the absorbed soul was evident. Well, add another thing to look up in the Shoppe. With a sigh, he closed those screens and opened the loot pool. “Whoa!” He said out loud.
“You a’right laddie?” Rory asked.
“Just looking at the loot.” Joe raised an eyebrow at what he was reading.
“Oh aye.” Grinned Rory. “Quite the haul, but nae anything that I can use. Have at.”
Joe saw that there were two items and two spells. Kier and Iona both could not use the spells but Kier did claim one item.
Hourglass of Truths
This ornate hourglass was once used by the Paladin Hargreer in her pursuit of justice. Filled with the purest of white sand, when activated, if a lie is spoken within thirty feet of the running hourglass, the sands passing through the neck will turn pure black. The larger the lie, the larger the amount of sand will blacken. The sands detect deception, so if the speaker believes that they are speaking the truth, the sand will not react. If, however, a falsehood is spoken, the sand will turn black. This effect will last for one hour and may only be used once per day. The ability will reset twenty-four hours after use.
Joe watched as Kier claimed the hourglass into his personal inventory. He then looked at what remained.
Spell Tome: Obscuring Sand
The spellcaster may target a single creature within range of the spell. Once cast, the target is surrounded by a spinning cloud of sand, causing blindness if the creature relies on sight. The cloud moves with the target until the spell duration ends. Mana cost per casting is 50 Mana. Range is 60 feet from caster. Area of affect is a single creature. Duration is one minute. The caster may add an additional minute for every additional 50 mana.
Spell Tome: Corrosive Claws
This spell creates a corrosive effect upon the caster’s fingertips, emulating the claws of a beast. Corrosive Claws adds 10% to damage and causes 10 points of Corrosive damage per second for five seconds. Corrosive Claws will gain an extra 5% to damage and add 5 points of Corrosive damage every five levels. Maximum damage bonus 50%. Maximum Corrosive damage 50 points per second for five seconds. Additionally, any armor, item or clothing damaged by Corrosive Claws will be damaged and not repairable by a Mend spell.
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Joe’s eyes widened at the spells and the Corrosive Claws spell in specific. Then he looked at the last item. It looked precisely like the gigantic khopesh that Gharial carried.
Great Khopesh of the Scirocco
This two-handed khopesh was once wielded by the powerful Talqut Warrior Prince Nef al-Cahar. The blade was etched with mighty runes that ensure that the edge never dulls and the blade never rusts. Inset into the hilt is an ensorcelled ruby that allows the wielder to cast the spell, Cloak of Shaitan. When cast, the spell creates a swirling cloak of sand and dust that extends ten feet in all directions from the caster which moves with the caster and lasts for the duration of the spell. While the spell is active opponents receive a -20% to hit the caster with any directed attacks. Additionally, any opponents that move within the radius of the cloak of sand are buffeted by sand and dust and are blinded until they leave the cloaks radius. While Cloak of Shaitan is active, the caster cannot be blinded.
Joe let out a whistle. “No one wants the giant lizard’s sword?”
Iona answered, “Nae a one of us has the skill for it.”
“Fair enough. Maybe we can sell it.” Joe went back to the spells. “You all mind if I take the spells?”
Kier looked up from his screens, “None are in our ability to learn, but mayhaps Bella could?”
Joe nodded at that and said, “Well, since I killed it, I’m claiming the Corrosive Claws spell. If Bella can use the other one, she’s welcome to it, if not, I’ll claim that one too. Fair?” There were nods all around, so Joe pulled the tome out and opened it. The strangely moving script continued to astound him as the book disappeared and the knowledge of the spell filled his mind. Joe patted Bixby, “That one was for you buddy.” Bixby gave Joe a lick and a slight woof. Joe laughed, “You’re welcome.” Ignoring the notifications for gained experience and gold, Joe stood and moved to a protruding tree root and sat. It felt much better than remaining kneeling in the water.
Joe looked around at his companions and clapped his hands on his thighs, “So!” he said bit louder than was really necessary, but it got everyone’s attention. “Are we going to talk about the elephant in the room?”
“Eh what?” Rory queried.
The baffled stares from the others made Joe realize his problem with the expression. “Sorry, it’s a human expression, it means…” Shaking his head, he continued, “You know what? Never mind.” He made sure he had made eye contact with the three dwarves before continuing. “Are we going to discuss what happened with this guy here suddenly jumping to level eighty?” He casually pointed at Gharial’s body, which had begun to draw flies and other insects to it.
“I figured it’s because of whatever is watching over you.” Commented Kier dryly. “Truly, since we’ve met you, we’ve seen a sight of odd happenings from the System what I’ve naer heard of before.” He placed his helm back on his head, pushing a stray lock of red hair out of his eyes, “And truth to tell, until today I was concerned, but seeing this, now I’m afraid.”
Joe nodded in acknowledgement of Kier’s words. He was feeling much the same. He idly wiped his hands on his thighs but only managed to smudge the mud and blood already there. “So far, the glitches seem to be targeted at me and Bixby. Like loot. Spells changed and this mysterious person giving me gifts. Even the integration glitch seemed to only affect me. But this time, technically the glitch affected all of you as well instead of being just targeted at me still.” Joe looked at his friends with an expression that was almost begging for an explanation.
“Who’s to say it weren’t still aimed at you lad?” Rory asked.
“What? What do you mean?”
“Well, I ken that you’re fighting the lizard and something changed it mid fight. Who’s to say it still weren’t targeting you. The rest of us were just bystanders caught in whatever’s picking on you.” Kier and Iona looked a bit dumbfounded at Rory’s explanation. He got an angry look on his face, “What’re you idjits looking at? Just cause I smash shite donnae mean I ain’t smart.”
Joe’s eyebrows went up as he thought about it. “Okay, I can see your point, but up until now all of these glitches have been beneficial to me. They may not have all been exactly pleasant, but I gained from it somehow. This time, though, this thing got way tougher and could have killed me. That seems the exact opposite of having a patron or whatever has been helping me.”
Iona, cleaning blood from her helmet said, “Who’s to say tis the same entity what’s been looking out for you?” She scanned everyone’s faces before continuing her cleaning. “What if tis another what had a hand in bumping this boggin up?” Kier and Rory both nodded their heads in agreement.
“Wait. What like a second person is involved?” Joe’s shoulders slumped. “I don’t know.” He shrugged, “At this point it’s all speculation until someone or something comes forward to explain it all.” He stood up and stretched, “I suppose, until that happens, we just need to be extra careful and keep our eyes open for the unexpected.”
Rory snorted, “So you mean keep going like we have been?” He smiled and tossed a large chunk of jerky to Bixby who snatched it out of the air and barely chewed it before swallowing it.
Joe smiled, “Yeah, pretty much.” He took a swig from his flask and then put it away. “If everyone is ready to go, I think we need to go collect Bella, Kelly and the kids and meet the survivors.”
The group made their way back through the swamp, stepping out onto Ocean Street almost directly across from the County Building. They encountered no more saurians, but they did see small squads of humans making their way through the dead and looting them. As Joe, Bixby and the dwarves all stepped from the tree line, a shout went up and every human turned towards the group. Someone shouted, “Defensive line! Mages stand ready!” Immediately the groups began forming up defensively.
Joe held up his hands, “Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Take it easy! We’re the good guys!” Joe could hear many voices asking questions among themselves. The entire group became even more tense when Bixby stepped out of the trees and stood next to Joe, his hackles raised.
Finally, a voice among the group called out, deep and commanding, “Who or what are you and what do you want?”
Next to Joe, Iona spoke quietly, “Mayhaps they think you’re a monster?”
Rory chuckled, giving Joe an appraising look, “They’re nae far off.”
Understanding finally dawned on Joe and he swapped out his Umbral armor for his dwarven tunic. He took a small step forward, “My name is Joe Sherman and I’d really like a hot bath!”