Luther scrambled to his feet with a burst of adrenaline as his muscles screamed for rest. A waraxe cleaved towards him as an Orc roared with pure rage. His ears rung as he returned his vision to the Orc through the dust that blurred his vision. It was a battle of endurance as both parties waited for the other to display a hint of hesitation.

‘Shit.... This has been going for too long… Fuck…’

Luther distanced himself from the monster as he took time to catch his breath. Even with his Vitality attribute, it was going to be hard for him against this monstrous behemoth. It was about 3 metres tall as it proceeded to continue with a deadly barrage of attacks. It’s long reach and great strength allowing it to just barely miss Luther by the thin of a hair. He dodged back and forth with great focus as he seemed to dance between the strikes of the Orc. It’s undying rage prominent unlike the strands of life his brethren now held.

Luther had slaughtered two Orcs by himself before the battle. However he was too slow as a small party of 4 Orcs spotted him afterwards. He had dashed away as he dealt with the Orcs through dirty methods. He threw them into oncoming monsters as they fought, stealing the kill as they continued on this treacherous path until there was but one left. Luther unbelievably was cornered as he stood backed against a wall, fending for the life he held so dearly.

‘What to do… What to d-’

Luther watched the Orc as it cleaved it’s axe back and forth. Missing him by the thin of a hair, but he had noticed something the Orc hadn’t. A stalactite that towered above him just a metre away. His mouth curved into a slight crescent as he proceeded to move past the Orc’s reach into his personal space. Causing the Orc to back away as it back stepped war axe in hand. It raised it in an attempt of blowing Luther out of the midst of this world. However, as Luther had planned, it smashed into the stalactite as it split it away from the ceiling. Piercing itself into the depths of the Orc’s shoulder. The stalactite however didn’t leave Luther unharmed as a fragment sped towards him.

He realised his mistake as he tried to dodge the stalactite, but was moment’s too late as it shredded through the muscle of his left arm. It left him with a great tear through part of his bicep as strands of muscle barely held the joints together. He released a slight scream as he endured the pain through gritted teeth.

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‘Well great fuckin’ job! FUCK!’

Luther distanced himself once more as he calmed himself for battle. Mistakes happened, and he wouldn’t let this one end him. He lunged towards the Orc as he slashed with a greater ignited rage. Ripping through it’s forearm with the dagger in his free hand as it blocked the blow. Luther followed through with a quick kick to the back of the Orc’s calf. It fell to the ground knees first as it grunted in dismay, it roared as it tried to lift itself, but this was the final move. Luther’s blade surfed through the air as if water as it came into contact with the cranium of the Orc’s head. It pierced through as blood and viscera bursted out with a quick pull and twist from the dagger. The Orc collapsed to the ground as Luther followed, holding his chest with his free hand as he rested on the ground. Perhaps due to the blood loss or sight, his face began to pale as he looked back to his left hand. It hang together by a few various strands of flesh and muscle. Violet like blood poured out as if a slow fountain as it slid along his glossy skin. He swore internally as he opened the shop in search for some aid. If he lost his arm, he would die within a matter of days. Either by a monster, an infection, or the inevitable blood loss, he didn’t have many options.

‘Fuck man…. Fuck- Come on, not yet, not yet!’

He scrolled through with great fervor as he searched for a type of skill that allowed him to heal himself. He had around 540 mana from the troubles he had gone through. Anything would help, he didn’t care if he got a shit class. He just wanted a way to survive, to live in this barren cave thriving with monsters! He just needed something…

Skill: Lesser Healing (active)

Description: Heals minor wounds.

Mana required for use: 65

Mana required for purchase: 500

Requirements: 13 Intelligence

‘Shit! Nevermind Luther, it’ll work out, come on come on!’

He bought two points of intelligence as he purchased the skill. He was bathed in a radiant golden light as he moved his palm aimed towards his left arm.

‘Heal! Heal! Heal! Please!’

Light flashed forth numerously as it bathed his arm. It spread across as muscle began to barely form between the empty space. Luther managed to cast it 2 times before his vision began to fade. Strength left him as he began to lose feeling once more from his body. He cried out before he entered the dark abyss. Dropped into its cold and lifeless grasp. He didn’t want to die again he thought. He wanted to live a life with no regrets, with a purpose and will of his own. He didn’t want to die, but he wasn’t sure if he was going to make it out of this ordeal as a whole either. He whispered a name silently beneath the muffled sound of his breathing as he fell deep into this sleep. He reminisced over times similar to this as he found one person he could always look to. Someone he could believe in and trust.

“Damon…”