Benjamin – Gama Zone #23 Level 51 – 79
Is it even worth it anymore?
Was what was going through my head as the *HISS* of rushing air came from the moltenously oversized, lizards mouth.
Ever since Max died, it’s been one battle after the next.
Sure, I didn’t specifically need to fight bears for months…
But that’s entirely beside the point!
Anyway, it would have just been something fucking else…
As evidenced by exhibit fucking A!
The giant magma spewing lizard about to bleeding flambé me!
It’s almost finished charging it’s fiery ray of death as I start to feel like a potato roasting in its own skin, having been left in the microwave for longer than is edible.
Decision time is here and as much as I want to finally join Max, with the advent of this bloody system, I’m not sure there is even an afterlife to begin with.
Having won over my suicidal ideations a couple of years back, it feels like such a shame to put all that mental gaffer tape to waste, so I finally grow my testicles back and cast a maximum strength [Decrease Gravity] on the scaly bastard.
The thing mouth snaps shut in alarm as it notices the sudden change and I cast a maximum [Increase Gravity] on myself as my joints and muscles tense under the weight, while the feeling that has returned to my lower body begs insistently for me to stop with my brutal mistreatment already.
Ignoring the pain I cast max [Minor Field of Gravity Decrease] closely followed a max [Minor Attract], and as the lizard’s glowing eyes snap shut as it desperately scrabbles at the ground for purchase. With the scraping sound akin to metal on stone, the thing finally rips free of its earthly mooring and is dragged all the way out of its freshly made portal from lava’ry hell as it zips the short distance toward me.
When its snout is within about 5 meters I cancel my [Increase Gravity], and using an elbow and some half shredded leather elbow pad for leverage, cock my other arm while the thing closes the rest of the distance.
When it’s to within two arms lengths of me I cancel [Minor Field of Gravity Decrease] and it’s double eyelids snap open in surprise, whilst I cast a max [Minor Field of Gravity Increase].
Adding my fist to the downward force now being applied to the monster for good measure. A satisfying slapping thud is released, followed by a *Crack* as the beast’s body makes contact with the ground.
Despite the significant strain it’s now under, its head can’t help but bounce like shot-put on turf as its glowing eyes begin to start looking at nothing in particular in two completely different segments of the ominous sky.
My mana bar is down to about a third full when I register in alarm that I still haven’t gotten a kill notification.
Instinctively getting to a crouching position I realize my feet are doing what they are supposed to again, while my health bar is at eighty percent and steadily rising. Shoving aside thoughts of masquerading as a foul mouthed and masked superhero, I turn my full attention to the non-compos mentis and still smoldering lizard in front of me as I’m not sure I have enough mana to properly finish the sucker off.
Frantically I scan for my [Major Bag of Holding] that should still contain some more [Crude Giant Bear Claw Dagger]’s, as the one I had tucked in my belt seems to have been lost when my back got broke.
My sense of dread intensifies when I notice the strap of the bag protruding from one of the lizard’s immobile, viciously clawed feet.
The beast itself is yet to make a recovery and I tentatively stand, still unsure if my legs will hold me and double sure I want no part in arousing the monster prematurely.
Blessedly my sea legs have been found, but more importantly they have been found unobtrusively. Thus without further ado I impersonate a cartoon cat burglar on my way to the obstructionist and claw festooned, over large appendage.
When I get up close my alarm rekindles as I notice there is something terribly wrong with my [Major Bag of Holding]. Due to the fact that every couple of seconds the thing will vibrate strangely, like a glitch television screen, before resuming its flawless impression of a completely normal, non-magical bag.
Though I’m loathed to admit it, I don’t think my not quite done yet pimp bear coat is going to be retrievable at this point, as I’m sure as shit not sticking my hand in a malfunctioning multi-dimensional device no matter how fast it may or may not regenerate.
Given that it’s a write off, I try and think of how to capitalize on the situation and a nasty grin manifests on my face.
Making sure all my [Increase Gravity] is off cooldown and that [Minor Field of Gravity Increase] is still in effect. Casting [Metabolic Overdrive], my body goes extra swole by way of enlarging to twice my size while the remnants of my [Elevant’s Essential Gear] rip in protest. Ignoring my magical wardrobe malfunction, I hastily grip two non-claw’y bits of the beasts motionless foot.
Straining against the giant lizards increased weight, I slowly but surely dead-lift two of the middle digits as I attempt to also firmly insist to my loins that I’m not a paraplegic any more.
Trembling when I get my arms to full extension while holding the scythe tipped foot aloft I ever so carefully use my foot to drag the jittery bag by its strap, out from where I plan to let it fall again. Once its free and clear, I push up with all my might while *Crack*ing sounds emanate from my feet below, before I dive away while the clawed limb thuds back down.
Things had been going as makeshift planned up until then and I breathed a sigh of relief, only to be cured of the spreading sense of reprieve when I hear a low rumbling coming from the once motionless giant monster.
In renewed panic I turn wide eyed to meet Lizard Mc Lizard Face’s narrow stilted gaze as it opens its smoking mouth to share with me its extra spicy opinion.
Feeling the temperature rapidly rising from Sunday roast to ‘so that’s what its like not to have an ozone layer’, I pick up and peg the bag into the heat shimmer obscured aperture it has for a mouth.
When the bag that is not a bag disappears inside I cast maximum [Increase Gravity] on the cold blooded son of bitch, and throw a medium [Decrease Gravity] on myself before propelling myself at a sharp angle from what I hope is something truly painful for reptile kind.
Not wanting to miss whatever I caused, I ill-advisedly turn my head in midair to look, whilst I streak away from mr magma breath, and I’m not too ashamed to admit that what I witness exceeds my malicious hopes and dreams by a long shot.
Reality judders around the giant lizard’s throat where it once again lays prone on the ground as it begins to emit a horrendous keening, despite its lock jawed state.
The next second there is an implosion that seems to suck not just the top of the lizard but also a good portion the ground underneath it with a *THWAP*ing sound.
As I stated to most certainly not giggle while sailing through the air, my budding mania is curtailed by a hot sensation in my chest accompanied with a bombardment of notifications:
You have slain a Lesser Large Salamander level 76, bonus experience awarded.
You have acquired the title of Forerunner V (Unique) for slaying an entity level 50 or above, whilst alone and 10 levels below its level.
You have acquired the title of Forerunner VI (Unique) for slaying an entity level 60 or above, whilst alone and 10 levels below its level.
You have acquired the title of Forerunner VII (Unique) for slaying an entity level 70 or above, whilst alone and 10 levels below its level.
Truncating and upgrading titles with Forerunner VII (Unique).
You have acquired the Twin Minds passive skill.
You have acquired the Mind Vault passive skill.
You have acquired the Quick As A Flash active skill.
You have leveled up + 1 to intelligence + 1 wisdom.
...
You have leveled up + 1 to intelligence + 1 wisdom.
....
You have leveled up + 1 to intelligence + 1 wisdom.
.....
Further Experience deferred pending class evolution.
You have reached level 50 thus primary class evolution's are now possible.
Classes available for selection:
>Initiate Dragon Knight (Rare)
>Initiate Bear Berserker (Rare)
>Initiate Gravity Mage (Rare)
>Initiate Magma Mage (Rare)
>Initiate Dimensional Mage (Rare)
>Initiate Bone Mage (Rare)
...Selection time remaining 4 minutes 59 seconds…
Feeling like my mind has been split in twain and now wanted to go its separate ways, my body began to oscillate between feeling like it was filled with molten lava followed by the center of an extremely large fucking iceberg.
To complicate matters further, the sounds from around me assault my ears like I’d just been stuck next to a speaker with an ASMR track blaring at full volume. All the while the ever present stench of sulfur climbs into my nose and invited all its sulfurous friends for brunch.
Unsure what to make of my unresponsive muscles and sensory overload, I began to have twice as many conflicting thoughts than was usual.
Not wanting to go with any unknown’s midflight and still doubly not comprehending just what exactly the fuck has just happened to, well all of me, I quelled my internal dissensions and selected the only known quantity available:
Class chosen:
>Initiate Gravity Mage + 1 to Intelligence per level + 1 to Wisdom per level<
Your primary class has evolved into Initiate Gravity Mage.
The skill Minor Attract has evolved to Lesser Attract
The skill Minor Repulse has evolved to Lesser Repulse
The skill Minor Field of Gravity Increase and the skill Minor Field of Gravity Decrease have evolved into Lesser Field of Gravity Manipulation.
You have acquired the skill Lesser Gravidic Focal Point.
You have reached level 50 thus Secondary class selection now available.
Classes available for selection:
>Apprentice Dragon Knight (Rare)
>Apprentice Bear Berserker (Rare)
>Apprentice Tempest Mage (Rare)
>Apprentice Magma Mage (Rare)
>Apprentice Dimensional Mage (Rare)
>Apprentice Bone Mage (Rare)
...Selection time remaining: 4 Minutes and 59 seconds...
You have leveled up + 1 to intelligence + 1 wisdom.
...
You have leveled up + 1 to intelligence + 1 wisdom.
....
You have leveled up + 1 to intelligence + 1 wisdom.
Blinking in surprise at the screen demanding my attention, heat spreads through my body while I take in its contents. I had been wondering when or even if a second class would show itself, but now its here I can’t help but cry out with glee.
“FUCK YE-“
Annnd then I hit the ground.
When I say hit, it was more of a matter my [Decrease Gravity] spell running out and leaving me to take abrupt swan dive at it. Swearing at myself for my lack of awareness, I inspect the potential damage my erstwhile landing might have caused.
Despite my abrupt engagement with terra firma and my burnt and tattered clothing, everything seems to be in working order for which I’m more than a little thankful.
Yet there are bigger things I should worry about right now, like the 3 minutes and 39 seconds left on my secondary class selection.
Going over the short list, I try and fail to pretend to know what I’m choosing. But as I think back to what just happened, I can’t help but go with the one that can potentially make half a giant lizard just up and fucking disappear:
Class chosen:
>Apprentice Dimensional Mage + 1 to Intelligence per level + 1 to Wisdom per level<
Dimensional Sense passive acquired.
After using part of my brain to placate my senses incessant demands for attention, I let my other brain deal with the rest of the here and now.
Feeling a little underwhelmed at the lack of fanfare for my new class, I remember where I am and furtively make sure that I’m not about to be sucker punched by rocky again.
Finding the area apparently free of rock dudes, the part of my brain dealing with confirms it will remain alert for things trying to igniously sucker punch me.
Lack of situational awareness somewhat curtailed I mentally intone ‘status’ in the hope of getting a handle on the new me:
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
STATUS
Name: Benjamin
Age: 29
Titles: Forerunner VII, Survivor I
Class 1: Initiate Gravity Mage Level: 66 +1 Intelligence per level +1 Wisdom per level
Class 2: Apprentice Dimensional Mage Level: 1 +1 Intelligence per level +1 Wisdom per level
Profession: Basic Gathering
HP: 1283/1534 MP: 251/1364
Status Effects: Metabolic Overdrive Withdrawal (-25% Strength)
Vitality: 600 x 1.05 (630)
Strength: 548 x 0.75 (411) Dexterity: 470
Intelligence: 547 Wisdom: 541
Charisma: 3 Luck: 1
Undistributed Attribute points: 125
Passives –
Human: + 5 attribute points per level
Lingua System: Able to communicate verbally with any system integrated entity and be understood
Parasitic Mutator: Ability to absorb a prevalent trait of a recently killed entity by the host. Must be within 1 meter of target, maximum 3 traits at any one time. Current traits.
1) Lesser Bestial Roar: Let out an intimidating roar of your inner beast to potentially stun your nearby opponents.
2) Heart of a Lesser Dragon: 250% increase in health and mana regeneration rate.
3) Lesser Insectile Musculature: Your muscles have increased strength of 150% at the cost of increased metabolic energy.
Loner: +15% all damage dealt when fighting alone, -10% all damage taken when fighting alone, -10% all damage dealt when fighting beside others, +15% all damage taken when fighting in a group.
Forerunner VII: + 7 to all core attributes per level
Survivor: Vitality increased by 5%
Instant Renewal: Regenerate 25% of maximum life when below 5% of life once a day
Metabolic Overdrive: Double all physical damage and physical size for 1 minute after which you will suffer a 25% strength penalty for 5 minutes, useable once a day (Reusable in 23hrs 54mins 42secs)
Twin Minds: You possess two independent cognitive centers
Mind Vault: Once a memory has entered your mind, it may only leave it should you allow it to do so
Quick As A Flash: Move at double your maximum speed for 1 minute after which you will suffer 25% dexterity penalty for 5 minutes, usable once per day
Gravidic Sense: Sense gravity around you within a 20 meter radius
Dimensional Sense: Sense the dimensional fabric around you within a 20 meter radius
Skills – Initiate Gravity Mage
1) Decrease Gravity (LvL 10): Decrease a single targets gravity by up to 1000% for a duration of 100 seconds. Target must be within 25 meters for the skill to take effect (Range, duration and gravity multiplier scales with skill level). Cost: Variable, Cast time: 1 second, Cooldown: 45 seconds
2) Increase Gravity (LvL 10): Increase a single targets gravity by up to 1000% for a duration of 100 seconds. Target must be within 25 meters for the skill to take effect (Range, duration and gravity multiplier scales with skill level). Cost: Variable, Cast time: 1 second, Cooldown: 45 seconds
3) Lesser Repulse (LvL 1): With you as a fixed center of gravity, repulse a single target with a force of 150% of your current mass weighted against 75% of the targets current mass. Target must be within 4 meters for the skill to take effect (Range, mass multiplier and cooldown scales with skill level). Cost: 40 Mana, Cast time: 1 second, Cooldown: 30 seconds
4) Lesser Attract (LvL 1): With you as a fixed center of gravity, attract a single target with a force of 150% of your current mass weighted against 75% of the targets current mass. Target must be within 4 meters for the skill to take effect (Range, mass multiplier and cooldown scales with skill level). Cost: 40 Mana, Cast time: 1 second, Cooldown: 30 seconds
5) Lesser Field of Gravity Manipulation (LvL 1): Manipulate gravity within a radius of 2 meters around you with an increase or decrease of up to 125%, for a duration of 1 minute. You being the locus of the field are excluded from its effects (Range, gravity multiplier and mana cost scales with skill level). Cost: 200 Mana, Cast time: 1 second, Cooldown: 5 minutes
6) Lesser Gravidic Focal Point (LvL 1): Create a lesser gravidic focal point within 5 meters of yourself for a duration of 1 minute with an alterable gravidic value increase or decrease of 100% and a radius of effect of 20 meters. Given that you are the points creator you will be immune to its effects (Range, gravity multiplier and mana cost scales with skill level). Cost: 200 Mana , Cast time: 1 second, Cooldown: 10 minutes
Skills – Apprentice Dimensional Mage
1) Minor Dimensional Pocket (LvL 1): You have the ability to create and maintain a minor dimensional pocket adjacent to your current dimension, the proportions of which are linked to your wisdom attribute’s total value. The aperture radius to the pocket is 50 centimeters and you may only access this pocket 1 time in a 6 hour period for a duration of 1 minute (Aperture radius, frequency of access and mana cost scale with skill level).Cost: 1 Mana per second, Cast time: 1 second, Cooldown: 6 hours
2) N/A
3) N/A
4) N/A
5) N/A
6) N/A
“Mother of noodles...”
I whisper before trying to contain the laughter that starts out as snickering and quickly transitions into full blown cackling.
It takes me about half a minute for both of me to realize that I’m in the middle of hostile territory and unitedly laughing like a nutter.
As one of my minds finds nothing coming at me, my other mind fails to keep the burgeoning shit eating grin from gaining permanent residency on my face. Subsequently I break into a slightly more discrete, yet arguably more shameful, fit of girlish giggling.
Composure eventually found in both my minds I enter a more analytical state with one whilst putting the other back to keeping aware of my surrounds.
When I’ve gleaned that there doesn’t seem to be a 500 attribute distribution reward I get unreasonably annoyed, yet when balanced against my new abilities I hardly think it matters much.
Still on that front I’m at another build crossroads. Do I try and become un-killable by going all in on vitality or try and become an uber-mage?
Going over my encounters with beasts and such I have hardly been lacking in magical abilities, though when I think of how I almost just ran out of mana I almost reflexively dump it all into intelligence or wisdom.
Reigning in the reactionary impulse there is a common theme to my survival thus far. I simply have survived long enough to be able to cast my magic.
Would I be better dodging stuff before I get hit?
Sure!
But first I have to know what’s coming to dodge it and well let’s face it, although I may have game’d prolifically in my mentally ill hermitage, a traumatized nerd does not a super apocalypse soldier make.
Would I benefit from a training montage with a wise combat hardened sensei with a dark past?
Certainly!
So short of his noodle appendage granting me a real human bean and a real hero…who has not tried to trick, rob or murder me thus far, my options are my options.
Leaving me with only one build option to go with, that I shall dub ‘Frank The Tank!’
With this agreed upon by my recently acquired duality, I chuck my free 125 attributes into Vitality without any further pointless pontification, and am rewarded with a flood of warmth washing through me followed by a full body outbreak of pins and needles that’s accompanied by two new boxes:
You have acquired the Perpetual Regeneration passive skill.
The passive skill Instant Renewal has evolved into Improved Instant Renewal.
Well well well, it turns out the next stat threshold is seven fiddy.
Thank you Frank!
A mind pulls up the new skill and the upgraded ones details and my rekindled grin grin attempts to break orbital containment:
Perpetual Regeneration: Regenerate 1% of maximum life per second on top of existing life regeneration rate.
Improved Instant Renewal: Regenerate 25% of maximum life when below 5% of life once every 12 hours.
Doing some quick math based off how quickly the HP numbers on my ‘status’ screen go up, I’m roughly regenerating 47 health a second!
Both of me almost regress into another infantile state of glee when one of me points out I have new skills to test as well. Thinking about which one to tackle first I go for the dimensi-
From behind me a mind registers a faint scraping of rock form what sounds like a short distance away. I instantly turn to face it and lo and behold rocky is trying to sneak up on me again. One of me instinctively almost bursts into a run when my other mind belays the order and votes that it’s time for some payback instead.
Not being caught unawares this time round, both of me concur and open with a half strength [Lesser Attract], then as it starts to accelerate towards me I cast a max [lesser Repulse].
Rocky comes to an abrupt halt and clatters to the ground in a pile of rubble. Tilting my head, one of me wonders if it’ll be able to get its shit together and when it does just that, it’s body begins to roll and scrape into its familiar humanoid form.
Once he’s back up I hit him with a max increase [Lesser Field of Gravity Manipulation] which only slows its movement marginally while I decide it’s probably not ethical to torture magical creatures for skill levels no matter how much they might have cheap shotted you. It probably isn’t even the same one… but they all look the same… and hey is that rockist?
While I internally monologue with one mind, my other casts a maximum [Increase Gravity] on the already slightly shuddering silicon based life form and it implodes downwards, whilst cracking and displacing the ground where it once stood:
You have slain Lesser Rock Elemental level 61.
Your Secondary Class has leveled up, + 1 to intelligence + 1 wisdom.
...
Your Secondary Class has leveled up, + 1 to intelligence + 1 wisdom.
You have acquired the skill Minor Dimensional Instability.
Your Secondary Class has leveled up, + 1 to intelligence + 1 wisdom.
....
Your Secondary Class has leveled up, + 1 to intelligence + 1 wisdom.
You have acquired the skill Minor Dimensional Size Increase.
Your Secondary Class has leveled up, + 1 to intelligence + 1 wisdom.
.....
Your Secondary Class has leveled up, + 1 to intelligence + 1 wisdom.
You have acquired the skill Minor Dimensional Size Decrease.
Your Secondary Class has leveled up, + 1 to intelligence + 1 wisdom.
......
Your Secondary Class has leveled up, + 1 to intelligence + 1 wisdom.
You have acquired the skill Lesser Dimensional Portal.
Your Secondary Class has leveled up, + 1 to intelligence + 1 wisdom.
.......
Your Secondary Class has leveled up, + 1 to intelligence + 1 wisdom.
You have acquired the skill Lesser Dimensional Instability.
Your Secondary Class has leveled up, + 1 to intelligence + 1 wisdom.
........
Your Secondary Class has leveled up, + 1 to intelligence + 1 wisdom.
Skimming through the new slew of notifications, I open up my status again and scowl when I find that the secondary class doesn’t award free attributes per level. Yet all is not lost and I perk back up when I begin inspecting the new skills descriptions one by one as my other mind begins to sing Electric Avenue:
2) Minor Dimensional Instability (LvL 1): Create a minor dimensional instability within 10 meters of you that has a radius of 1 meter, the targeted area experiences the very fabric of your dimension shift in unpredictable ways for 10 seconds (Range, radius and duration scale with skill level). Cost: 10 Mana per second, Cast time: Channeled, Cooldown: 5 minutes
3) Minor Dimensional Size Increase (Lvl 1): Increase the total size of an inanimate object that is within 5 meters of you by up to 15% for a duration of 1 minute (Range, percentage increase and cooldown scale with skill level). Cost: 25 Mana, Cast time: 1 second, Cooldown: 2 minutes 30 seconds
4) Minor Dimensional Size Decrease (Lvl 1): Decrease the total size of an inanimate object that is within 5 meters of you by up to 15% for a duration of 1 minute (Range, percentage Decrease and cooldown scale with skill level). Cost: 25 Mana, Cast time: 1 second, Cooldown: 2 minutes 30 seconds
5) Lesser Dimensional Portal (LvL 1): Create a lesser dimensional tunnel which origin is within 2 meters of you, that connects with two known points. The tunnel bypasses physical space and has a 50 centimeter radius for its termini for a duration of 30 seconds. The distance between to termini is dictated by your Wisdom attribute 541 AU’s (Termini radius, duration and cooldown scale with skill level). Cost: 200 Mana, Cast time: 5 seconds, Cooldown: 2 minutes
6) Lesser Dimensional Absence (LvL 1): Create a lesser dimensional absence within 5 meters of you that has a radius of 5 centimeters, which nullifies all matter within the target location for a duration 5 seconds (Range, radius and duration scale with skill level). Cost: 250 Mana, Cast time: 1 second, Cooldown: 1 minute.
Even with my apparently monumental intelligence and wisdom I still take a good few seconds to get my minds around just what the spells actually do and most improtantly that last one seems like it might instagib…well… just about anything….
So skill testing time it is!
Focusing on a point I judge to be about five of my body lengths away from me I channel [Minor Dimensional Instability] and things start to take on a decidedly psychedelic theme.
The refraction of light that plays over the space is like a magic eye mixed with an oil slick exposed to a flamethrower, and as I grapple to make sense of what either of me is seeing there’s an abrupt change in the space.
The lighter colors of the instability are replaced by a black so dense that it seems to suck in all light that falls upon it. Straining my eyes I can swear I see movement within the nothingness and continue channeling to see what happens next.
With a blur of movement something black and not exactly there shoots toward me, and on instinct I roll to the side:
You have been Abyss Scarred.
Despite my super human reaction I feel something pass through my arm and whatever the fuck it is continues to flail whilst I cancel the notification as I dodge further away, its only then that one of me thinks to cancel the damned channeled skill..
There’s a sound like a mix between a record scratch and a zipper being done up before silence descends and the space returns to normality.
However the more I investigate around the space the deeper my concern grows as there is a noticeable and worrisome addition to the barren landscape that is my temporary home.
I can feel there is a length of…something… twitching on the ground close by and the more I look at the thing, the less I’m able to tell what exactly it bloody is.
After going through some rapid repetitions of ‘I shall not fuck with the dimensional fabric of my universe’ for a good half minute, whatever the thing is has decided to stop moving and play dead.
Having finished berating myselves for the moment, one of me endeavors to make sure the thing of wrongness is dead and casts a 110% [Decrease Gravity] on it.
It slowly but surely begins to drift upward, and much to the relief of my enhanced buttocks, they get to unclench whilst both of me think on what the fuck should be done with the unmoving thing of something.
Seeing no reason not to get back on the proverbial skill horse, yet with a little more caution and forethought applied this time, I cast [Minor Dimensional Pocket] and I can sense something akin to the size of a stadium expand into my perception.
However what my eyes see in from of me’s is a circular disk with lightly blue glowing edges and a void of nothing in its center, yet where the other whatever the fuck it was had a feeling of wrongness to it, I get a sense that this is like my favorite doony or comfortable jumper.
Needless to say the sense of familiarity and comfort coming from it is more than a little…weird…
Pushing the questions arising from the sensory oddities to the side for now, both of me witness that the thing that should not be, is at my navel height now. Skirting the portal and its rotating blue edge I get the thing between me and the portal and cast a Lesser Repulse on the it, and it wizzes straight at and through the portal without so much as a whisper.
A whole new awareness of the thing blooms into my minds, such as its weight, external dimensions and the fact that it’s a deceased part of something that does not belong in the pocket dimension. Noticing my blue bar’s not moving at all, I’m doubly relieved that whatever I store in there won’t suddenly disappear when I fall asleep or hopefully run out of mana.
One of me closes the skills opening before we go over to what’s left of the salamander and one of me touches it’s still warm and oozing corpse on a non-sticky bit to loot it:
6227 Manamotes acquired from Lesser Large Salamander.
Realizing I can’t store the body in my pocket for another 6 hours I begin to grumble abo-
*THUNK*
Something strikes me from behind and I stumble like how it used to start.
One of my minds is dragged back to when the PE teacher would knock off early.
It was when the fact that he would never return to the glory days of his laughably short rugby career had just started to sink in.
Before he’d gotten fired, he’d taken to absconding mid class to his station wagon where his booze was stashed.
So naturally his lack of oversight was seen as another education opportunity for my own personal instructors.
The jocks capitalized on his absence by using me as a medicine ball target until I was knocked over.
Afterwards when I was bruised and lacking enough energy to rise in resistance, back to my feet. My other class mates pointed and jeered as the smelly weirdo was dragged off to the showers to be force fed liquid soap through a witches hat.
Sufficiently full of cleaning fluid, they took it in turns to kick my stomach as I lay prone on the cold and slick tiles to ensure the dutiful washing of m-
While my other mind is busy reliving my hard earned educative accolades, an incensed me staggers and pivots to face whatever tried and failed to sucker punch my spine.
Finding that it’s another fucking sneaky Rock Elemental.
Reminding myself I’m no longer who I used to be, my anger at my current predicament gets blended with my past and I punch the slow moving rock monster square in his torso.
After the flash of my fist the thing promptly disintegrates into rock fragments as they explode every which way:
You have slain Lesser Rock Elemental level 66, experience awarded.
619 Manamotes acquired from Lesser Rock Elemental.
Your Secondary Class has leveled up, + 1 to intelligence + 1 wisdom.
...
Your Secondary Class has leveled up, + 1 to intelligence + 1 wisdom.
My other mind having rejoined me in the present shares my open eyed wonder at the ease with which I disintegrated the target, what’s more, we’re shocked to find my hand completely intact and unscathed. I’m about to start a serious bout of self-recrimination when I notice that this one also brought friends.
As they slowly start to shamble towards me my other mind seems to have rebounded out of its depressive funk in memory lane as it bursts into a karaoke style recital of eye of the tiger, whilst I grin at the prospect of the mindless rocky grind ahead of me.