🎵: Dash of the Daring, Rise of the Iron Will
"Hey, everyone!" I called out, unable to contain my enthusiasm. "I've got a chance to create a new song. What do you think we need most?"
As my companions gathered around, their faces a mix of curiosity and anticipation, we discussed our options.
Liam suggested, "What about something to boost all our abilities, like Rise of the Iron Will?"
Caius shifted. "That is great for you fighters, but it doesn't do much for my spellcasting."
Kira elbowed Caius. "Oh, come on, you big baby. Maybe you should start using that staff for more than just waving around dramatically."
After some good-natured banter, I proposed an idea. "What if I create a song that regenerates mana faster? We could use it after battles while we rest. It would help everyone but Kira, and Caius wouldn't have to hold back on his spells as much."
Caius's eyes lit up. "That... that could work. Potions are expensive, and I'm always worried about conserving mana for the next fight."
The choice met with unanimous approval. Kira gave me a thumbs-up, while Caius smiled with visible relief. With their encouragement, I focused on creating the new mana regeneration song, feeling the magical potential humming within me.
Mystic streams, unseen yet flowing,
Ancient power, ever growing.
From the depths of magic's core,
Rise again, and be restored.
Your spell-binding creativity just conjured a mana-ficcent melody named 'Wellspring of Arcana.'
New Song Opportunity: Wellspring of Arcana
[ADD] / [REPLACE EXISTING] / [DECLINE]
You have selected ADD
New Song Acquired: Wellspring of Arcana!
Name: Wellspring of Arcana
Musical Instrument: String
Effect: Mana regeneration rate: 2x normal
Target Type: Group
Casting time: 1 turn
Range: 10 meters
Cost: 1 mana/turn, 10 mana/minute
Requirements: None
Duration: As long as the song is performed
Description: "Wellspring of Arcana" is a soothing yet invigorating melody that taps into the mystical currents of mana that flow through the world. As the song is performed, listeners experience a gentle, warm sensation as it replenishes their magical essence. The lyrics speak of ancient powers, cosmic tides, and the renewal of magical energy, creating a meditative atmosphere that enhances the mana regeneration process. We advise users to resist the urge to tap dance during performances, as the combination of mystical mana currents and fancy footwork can cause spontaneous outbreaks of magical jazz hands. Additionally, mages have reported a curious side effect of tasting colours, with "blue" being described as "surprisingly minty."
"Alright, team, let me break down what my new song can do," I began, a mix of excitement and caution in my voice. "It'll boost our mana regeneration, but there's a slight snag. Right now, it costs me more mana to sing than I regenerate, because my mana pool is limited and the song is still at a lower level. I assume as the song levels up, its efficiency will improve, reducing the mana cost and making it more sustainable. My mana pool is a lot smaller than Caius's, so once Caius is full then I can stop playing and we would just need to wait a few minutes for my mana to top up.
Caius nodded, stroking his chin. "That's impressive, Brendan. We should look into getting you a mana regeneration item down the road. That could help offset the cost and let you keep the song going longer."
His suggestion sparked a glimmer of possibility in my mind. I grinned, feeling a fresh surge of confidence. "That's brilliant, Caius. We'll definitely keep an eye out for something like that. Now, what do you say we find some unsuspecting monsters to test our new strategy on? I'm itching to see how this extra edge plays out in a real fight."
Caius's expression turned serious. "We should, but tread carefully. Those kobolds we took down? Their friends are bound to be on high alert now. We'll need to be extra cautious in our approach."
A charged tension filled the air, a blend of eager anticipation and cautious resolve that seemed to vibrate between us. We were on the cusp of something new, a strategy that could change the way we fought. But as always, in this dangerous world, we needed to balance our enthusiasm with prudence.
The narrow path between ancient oaks created a natural funnel, perfect for our new ambush spot. Behind thick bushes to my left, Kira's blade gleamed with subdued menace, while Liam's bow disappeared into the foliage of his chosen perch. Caius lingered further back, hands already flickering with arcane potential. The forest held its breath, waiting. Now that they was my turn, as I headed off to their camp.
I looked down at the stones in my hand, remembering the earlier disastrous throwing practice and every embarrassing attempt before it. With a resigned sigh, I dropped them back to the ground.
"Hey! LIZARD-BRAINS!" I bellowed, stepping partially into view. "YOUR MOTHER WAS A SALAMANDER!"
Six of the creatures came scrambling after me, their crude weapons bristling in the filtered sunlight. At least my complete inability to throw hadn't ruined this part of the plan.
"YOU CALL THOSE WEAPONS? I'VE SEEN BETTER METALWORK IN A CHILD'S MUD PIE!" I added for measure as I backed toward our ambush point. Sometimes the direct approach was the best.
You sing Dash of the Daring!
The chase became a deadly performance. My song's magic lent wings to my feet as I weaved through the forest's obstacle course. Behind me, the kobolds stumbled and snarled, their coordination breaking down as they fought through roots and undergrowth.
Approaching our kill zone, I wove a sharp whistle into my song — our signal.
You stop singing Dash of the Daring!
You sing Rise of the Iron Will!
The battle erupted in a symphony of enhanced prowess. Kira emerged like a spirit of war, her blade describing lethal arcs through the air. Caius's spells blazed with unusual intensity, each casting drawing from his reserves, trusting in the promised restoration to come. A shimmering barrier of magical energy enveloped me just as the kobolds closed in, while Liam maintained his elevated position, ready to prevent any of us from being overwhelmed.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
One of them swung, but I ducked, my shortsword striking back with song-enhanced strength.
You killed a level 2 Kobold!
A kobold's spear glanced off Caius's shield, leaving a ripple of blue energy where it would have drawn blood. Behind it, another kobold's club struck hard, making the magical barrier flicker. The spear-wielding kobold froze, mesmerized by the shield's mystical glow - a moment's distraction that proved fatal as my blade found its mark with brutal efficiency.
You killed a level 2 Kobold!
But as I turned to face the third attacker, its crude weapon slammed into the already weakened shield. The protective magic shattered like glass, and the follow-up strike caught my arm, drawing a line of fire across my flesh.
Caius's voice rang out behind me, ancient words crackling with power. A bolt of arcane energy leaped from his hands, striking the kobold that had wounded me before jumping to its companion like a deadly spark of lightning. Both creatures fell, emitting wisps of smoke.
From his watchful position above, Liam's arrow found the last kobold, its impact echoing through the forest. We stood in the aftermath, breathing heavily but triumphantly. The scattered remains of our ambush told a clear tale–six kobolds lay still, their crude weapons now useless in lifeless claws.
Kira meticulously cleaned her blade while scanning the treeline, ever vigilant. Liam retrieved his salvageable arrows. Caius slumped against a tree, magical exhaustion evident in his posture but satisfaction clear in his eyes. My song faded to silence, leaving behind the sweet taste of another successful strategy."
Battle Summary
Kobold Killed: 6
EXP Gained (You): 90
Loot: crude spears x3, handmade bow x2, kobold rations x4, small pouch of copper coins x2, crude dagger x2
"That's two for two," Liam said, his grin fading as he noticed my injury. "But at a cost. You alright, Brendan?"
I nodded, wincing. "I'll be fine. Just a scratch."
Kira approached, concern in her eyes. "Let's get that looked at. Good work, everyone, but remember—we're not invincible. We need to watch each other's backs." We sat down and waited while my natural regeneration healed my health and mana fully.
You stop singing Rise of the Iron Will!
You sing Wellspring of Arcana!
The melody was different—softer, more soothing, yet with an underlying current of energy that seemed to resonate with the very air around us.
We all sat down to rest, except for Kira, who busied herself with looting and dealing with the fallen kobolds. As my song filled the air, threads of luminescent azure energy wove around us like gossamer strands in a cosmic loom. These ethereal ribbons pulsed in rhythm with the melody, creating intricate patterns that spiralled and danced before sinking into our bodies. The air itself seemed to shimmer with magical potential, tiny motes of light drifting upward like mystical fireflies before being drawn into the spinning array of magical energy.
Around each of us, a translucent dome of swirling magic formed, its surface rippling like the surface of a pool touched by rain. Within these protective cocoons, streams of pure mana energy flowed like liquid starlight, seeping into our bodies and replenishing our depleted reserves. The colour of each dome shifted to match its occupant's magical signature—Caius's glowed with deep sapphire undertones, while mine shimmered with hints of gold.
Caius's eyes widened as he felt the effects. A broad grin spread across his face, and he let out a contented sigh. "Now this," he said, stretching out his arms as the magical energy continued to swirl around him, "is more like it. I can feel my magical reserves filling up already!"
Liam chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "Look at you, suddenly all perky. And here I thought you enjoyed being our grumpy spell-slinger."
Caius's grin turned mischievous. "Oh, I still plan on being grumpy. But now I can be grumpy with a full tank of mana. You muscle-bound types may have your moment in the sun with Rise of the Iron Will, but this? This is where the real magic happens."
I couldn't help but laugh at Caius's newfound enthusiasm. "Glad you approve. How's the regeneration feeling?"
Caius closed his eyes, concentrating for a moment. "It's remarkable. I'd say my mana is replenishing at least twice as fast as normal." He opened one eye, peering at Liam and me. "You know what this means, don't you?"
Liam raised an eyebrow. "That you'll finally stop complaining about running out of mana mid-battle?"
Caius snorted. "Dream on. No, it means I can throw around bigger, flashier spells without worrying about being tapped out for the next fight. You two might have gotten stronger, but I just became a lot more dangerous."
As Kira rejoined us, wiping her blade clean, she looked puzzled at Caius's chipper demeanour. "What's got him so excited? Did he find a new spellbook while I wasn't looking?"
I explained the effects of the new song, and Kira nodded. "Nice work, Brendan. Though I hope you're prepared for Caius to become even more insufferable now that he can spam his spells."
Caius pretended to look offended. "I prefer the term 'tactically exuberant', thank you very much."
As we continued to rest and recover, I could feel the positive energy flowing through our group. The new song had brought a balance to our team dynamic, ensuring that everyone, even our non-mana using warrior, felt valued and supported.
With our strength increased by Rise of the Iron Will and our mana restored faster thanks to Wellspring of Arcana, I knew we were ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. The road might be dangerous, but with our combined abilities and these powerful melodies, we were becoming a force to be reckoned with.
My companions settled into their positions with practiced ease as we regrouped for another run.
You sing Dash of the Daring!
"HEY! YOUR SCALES ARE SO DULL, EVEN A ROCK TROLL WOULDN'T DATE YOU!" I bellowed at the top of my lungs. "AND THAT'S SAYING SOMETHING BECAUSE ROCK TROLLS WILL DATE ROCKS!"
Eight kobolds–more than expected–burst from the camp like angry hornets, weapons raised and pride wounded. Their collective snarls and the thunder of multiple feet forced a change in tactics. I pushed harder, my enchanted speed creating a widening gap between us until their frustrated screeches faded into the forest's ambient sounds.
Note to self: maybe tone down the dating advice next time.
You stop singing Dash of the Daring!
Catching my breath, I let my mana replenish as I navigated the sun-dappled woods. The peaceful chorus of birdsong belied the tension in my muscles as I remained alert for any threat. Fortune favoured us as I spotted three exhausted stragglers–the perfect opportunity to turn hunter once more.
You sing Dash of the Daring!
I circled wide, letting my song drift through the trees like a phantom breeze. The three kobolds jerked to attention, their scaled faces twisting with recognition as I revealed myself. With practiced confidence, I led them toward our waiting trap, my feet dancing across roots and fallen leaves in a familiar path.
You stop singing Dash of the Daring!
You sing Rise of the Iron Will!
The clearing erupted into deadly choreography. Liam's form seemed to grow larger as he drew his bow, power rippling through his frame. Kira's blade caught the filtered sunlight with an almost supernatural gleam, while Caius stood straighter, caught in the song's atmosphere despite its physical effects not touching his magic.
The first kobold fell, Liam's enhanced arrow punching through its armour like parchment. Kira's blade sang through the air, her strike cleaving through the second kobold with terrifying precision. The last creature faced me, its eyes reflecting primal fear as it sensed the unnatural power flowing through our group.
Its desperate attack came as expected–a clumsy lunge that my enhanced reflexes dodged. I stepped aside with fluid grace, my shortsword finding its mark with devastating force. The kobold crumpled without a sound, its fate sealed by a single precise strike.
You killed a level 2 Kobold!
As the last kobold fell, silence reclaimed the clearing. Three bodies lay still, testament to our growing efficiency. My song faded into the forest's natural rhythm as we shared glances of quiet amazement at the ease of our victory.
'That was... too easy,' Liam voiced our collective thoughts, studying his bow arm with newfound respect. The filtered sunlight played across the clearing, highlighting the results of our perfectly executed ambush while birds resumed their distant songs, nature already moving past our brief intrusion.
Battle Summary
Kobold Killed: 3
EXP Gained (You): 40
Loot: crude spear x2, small pouch of copper coins, kobold rations x2, shiny rock collection
Our rest was brief, as I was the only one low on mana. The others, their magical reserves barely touched thanks to our efficient teamwork, were ready to move on quickly. Caius, ever the pragmatist, moved among the fallen kobolds, his keen eyes searching for any valuable loot. His hands moved with practiced efficiency, gathering small trinkets, coins, and the occasional glint of something more interesting.
As we gathered our breath and collected what meager loot, the kobolds had carried, a sobering realization settled over our group. The camp would be on high alert now. Five of their scouts had returned after my last foray, likely bearing tales of our ambushes and my uncanny speed.
Liam's face grew serious as he surveyed our surroundings. "They'll be prepared for us now," he said, his voice low and measured. "No more easy pickings."
Kira nodded, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. "We've lost the element of surprise. They'll have fortified their position, set traps, maybe even called for reinforcements."
Caius's brow furrowed in concentration. "We need a new strategy. Our usual tactics won't work against a prepared enemy."
I felt a mix of excitement and trepidation course through me. This would be our greatest challenge yet—a genuine test of our abilities and teamwork. "We have my songs," I reminded them, trying to inject some optimism into the conversation. "That has to count for something, right?"
"It'll help," Kira agreed, "but we can't rely on it alone. We need a plan."
As we huddled together, discussing our options and planning strategies, I couldn't help but feel a thrill of anticipation. This was what being an adventurer was all about—facing insurmountable odds, using our wits and skills to overcome them.
The kobold camp loomed in our minds, its makeshift fortifications and flickering torchlight casting eerie shadows that hinted at traps and lurking sentries. The scent of smoke and the distant murmur of kobold voices added to its intimidating presence, a formidable obstacle we had yet to face. But as I looked at my companions—Liam's determined gaze, Kira's confident posture, Caius's calculating eyes—I knew we stood a chance. Since our first encounter with these creatures, we had experienced significant growth. We were no longer novices stumbling through the forest; we were a team, forged in battle and strengthened by each challenge we overcame.
As the sun set, casting long shadows through the trees, we completed our plan. Tomorrow would bring our greatest battle yet—an assault on a prepared and alerted enemy. The kobold camp awaited us, its occupants ready and waiting for our approach.
With a mix of nerves and excitement, we made camp for the night. As I lay down to rest, my mind raced with thoughts of the coming battle. Would our plan be enough? Could my songs turn the tide in our favour? Only time would tell.