Once again, Derek was lost in his bloodlust. He slaughtered his way through hundreds of monsters. He didn’t even pay attention to where he was anymore. Battle continued when monsters were present. When they weren’t, he used his air horn to attract them, only for the cycle to repeat.
“Halt!” a voice shouted over an intercom. “Take one more step and we open fire.”
The sudden command cut through his bloodlust like a knife, snapping his attention to the present. He realized he was at the gate of the military base. Derek looked at the young man on top of a Humvee with a 50 caliber rifle. Slowly, Derek raised his hands, using magic to send the blood and gore to the ground.
Raising his voice, Derek declared, “I’m human, believe it or not.”
Unconvinced, a squad of soldiers approached him, rifles raised. One of the grunts stepped forward, his voice rough and threatening. “Move and I’ll fucking smoke you, whatever the fuck you are.”
“Look, man, I’m just out here killing monsters. I’m an American citizen,” Derek replied, waving his arms to emphasize his armor-covered body.
The soldier barked, “Name?”
Derek smirked, a hint of sarcasm in his tone as he replied, “Derek, somewhat human, 34 years old, resident of Anchorage, Alaska, and frequent visitor of your mom. Her cookies are fantastic.”
“If he fucking twitches, smoke him.” The same man ordered his men.
He reached up to his ear and pressed a button. “Dispatch, I got a demon looking human thing.. Says he a human… No, I didn’t ask.”
“Do you got any identification?” the soldier asked, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.
“Yep.” Derek answered.
The soldier waited for a moment as if he were expecting something. “Well, you gonna give it to me?”
Derek shook his head. “No. I’m not particularly fond of you government types. You created the IRS. How can I trust you corrupted goat fuckers?”
The soldier pressed his earpiece, relaying the information to dispatch. “Dispatch, no go on the ID. I think he’s an idiot. Says he can’t trust us because we created the IRS and called us corrupted goat fuckers…” He turned back to Derek. “Do you got a last name?”
“Yeah, it’s called fuck off, soldier boy,” Derek answered.
“Dispatch, he’s also an asshole refusing to mention a last name… Wilco, command… Alright, Derek. Either you are the world’s best or worst body snatcher or you are who you claim you are with some… modifications. You are to come with us.”
“No.” Derek replied.
“What?” the soldier asked, stupefied.
“I’m too busy for you and whatever this is. I only complied because you’re pointing that 50 cal at my face, which I’m kinda attached to. If it’s alright, I’m just going to back away from all of you very slowly and leave.”
“Your not going anywhere.” The soldier said, lifting his rifle, prompting the others to do the same.
“Look soldier boy,” Derek said. “I have monsters to kill, a baby to save, and I don’t have time for whatever the fuck this is. I didn’t trust our government before this shit started, and I sure as hell don’t trust you now.”
The soldier sent a message to command, instead of dispatch, in a whisper, but Derek could hear it.
“Command, I have a problem. The individual does not wish to enter the base and requests to leave… Wilco, Command.” Soldier boy responded, then looked back at Derek. “Command will meet you here, if you are willing to wait ten minutes.”
Derek nodded. “I’ll hang around, as long as you keep all your .50 cals away from my face.”
Soldier boy nodded and repeated Derek’s instructions to dispatch.
Derek added, “No missiles, grenades, or other high-powered bullshit, either. Feel free to keep your pea shooters pointed at me if that makes you feel better.”
Derek pulled a camp chair from his ring. Pulled it from its sleeve and sat. It was one of those collapsable ultra-lightweight chairs and it creaked alarmingly under his weight, but held. His zero gravity chair from the house was much more comfortable. The soldiers watched him like a hawk and reported everything strange to dispatch.
After a tense wait of seven minutes, another Humvee pulled up behind the first as part of a small convoy. Soldiers filed out, forming an arc around Derek to in a trained maneuver to prevent any friendly fire. Derek didn’t really care. He could erect a barrier of earth before they could even do anything. A man, flanked by a small entourage, stepped forward to speak with Derek.
“Mr. Irisson.” The man said, but Derek interrupted him.
“Call me Derek, Mr. Government Goon.”
“My name is Lieut…”
“I don’t care if you are the fucking president. If you work for the government, you’re a damn jackbooted thug and I’m going to call you a goon until I feel like it’s worth remembering your name. Gods damned government paid terrorist.”
“You’re a damn nutjob.” the goon said.
“Your not wrong.” Derek answered with a smile.
“Alright Mr. Nutjob. You mind answering a few questions?”
“Maybe, but first I’ll give you a document if you shake my hand, Mr. Goon.” Derek said.
The goon walked over and held out his hand. Derek passed the document to Goon’s interface.
“This is a document from my wife. It should help you. Now, it’s getting dark and I don’t want to be anywhere near you trigger happy, jack-booted thugs after dark. If you need more information than that, you can fuck off to your little land of corrupt pedophiles and leave me alone. If I see you in my area, well… anyway, get fucked.” Derek said, backing away.
The official tried to interject, “Wait!”
But Derek was already moving, shouting over his shoulder, “Nope, my wife said not to talk to strangers, they might chloroform me and put me in their rape dungeon.” He bolted, leaving the soldiers stunned. “ANARCHY!”
The soldiers stood there looking at each other as he shot away faster than they could track.
Derek kept running, even plowing through a troll and pasting it against the wall of a cinder block building. Only when he reached the south side of the river did he slow down, his mind racing with thoughts. He wasn’t sure if they were still in communication with their satellites, but he didn’t want to find out the hard way that their tracking system could follow him home. Then it dawned on him: if the government wanted to know where he lived, they probably already had his face from their recognition software.
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The day had officially gone to shit, and Derek intended to vent his frustration on some monsters. However, when he glanced at the sky, he realized it was nearing the time he’d agreed to be home. John needed his help with the construction.
Congratulations:
Over the course of sixty-nine battles: You have killed 452 goblins, 12 goblin warriors, 1 goblin shaman, 2 goblin mages, 1 goblin leader, 375 orcs, 33 orc warriors, 2 orc shamans, 1 orc mage, 52 hobgoblins, 21 hobgoblin warriors, 185 trolls, 1 troll warrior, 2 troll shamans, 62 minotaur, and 1 minotaur warrior.
Rewards:
96,944 experience
84,795 credits
Congratulations:
You have gained 3 levels and reached level 30.
+3 stat points
+1 milestone points
Derek allocated three points to his magical capacity and one milestone point to his physical ability. The changes rolled through his body as his mind could see mana with slightly more clarity.
Milestone Ability
Draconic Body:
Harnessing the power of your Divine Dragon lineage, you gain significant physical enhancements. Your body has heightened resistance to environmental extremes (heat, cold, toxins) and a passive regenerative ability that heals wounds quickly. Additionally, your skin is tougher and more durable, providing enhanced defense against physical attacks. These effects are passive and always active.
Derek nearly stumbled as his body changed. His skin felt like it hardened and his aches soothed.
Derek Irisson
Level:
30
Titles:
Goblin Slayer (rank 5)
Hobgoblin Slayer (rank 1)
Orc Slayer (rank 4)
Troll Slayer (rank 2)
Minotaur Slayer (rank 1)
Ogre Slayer (rank 1)
Race:
Echo of the Divine Dragons
Classes:
Elemental Berserker
Physical Ability:
67
Mental Ability:
18
Emotional Capacity:
12
Magical Capacity:
50
Passive Abilities:
Elemental Awareness
Draconic Body
Abilities:
Ravager’s Fury
Divine Dragon’s Celestial Mantle
Draconic Reflex
Elemental Rage
Aura: Bloodlust
Elemental Infusion
Elemental Impact
Experience:
8,745 / 42,297 XP
Stat Points
0
Milestone Points
0
Active Quests
Path of Evolution (Divine Dragon)
Prodigal Child of Legend
After reviewing and applying all the changes, a new window appeared, as he was about to close everything.
Congratulations:
You have reached level 30.
Though the path to greatness is endless, you have taken your first step.
Reward:
+10 all stat points
All monsters five levels lower than you now give 50% less experience.
All monsters five levels above than you give 50% more experience.
Milestone points can now be used to intentionally upgrade existing abilities, in addition to gaining new abilities.
Select one of the following:
+5 all stat points
+1 milestone point
Magic Item (soulbound)
Storage Bracelet Enhancement Token (soulbound)
50,000 credits
Race Evolution Quest Item (soulbound)
“Woah,” Derek muttered as he walked down the highway.
Derek wasn’t sure what to select. He hadn’t even used any credits thus far and looked at his account balance.
Account Status:
Credits: 641,739
Debts: 0
He wasn’t sure if his credits were a lot or not, but he didn’t need them now, so he crossed that option off the list. The Magic Item and Storage Bracelet Enhancement Token were tempting, but as he considered, it was apparent that they wouldn’t enhance his survival. His focus shifted to his Race evolution quest.
Quest: Path of Evolution (Divine Dragon)
Congratulations, you have taken your first step on the path of evolution. But this is not the end, unless you allow it.
To advance to the next stage of your evolution, you must gather the following items.
Core of an Elemental
Heart of a Dragon
Tears of an Angel
Whisper of the Abyss
Ice from an Ancient World
Fire from the Forge of the Gods
Reward:
2nd Evolution
+10 to all stats
Quest Status: In Progress
He hadn’t even gathered a single item from the list. Getting a random item probably would be that beneficial. Which left the ability tokens. Should he get the stat points or the milestone point? So far, he was far beyond anything he fought now, but his progress would slow down due to the changes in experience points. He didn’t think he had actually fought with anything at his level since the first golem encounter. Even that fight was more nonsense than actual combat.
Making his decision, he then considered what to do next. His biggest weakness in combat was his durability and magic. He could spend the point on his magic, but he thought his major problem with his magic was himself. He wasn’t efficient with it and tossed it around like it were beads at Marti Gras. Durability remained his biggest issue. Investing the milestone point in physical ability might not yield the protective skill he needed. However, his latest ability, Draconic Body, showed promise in addressing this weakness.
Derek used the milestone point on Draconic Body and saw a new window appear.
Milestone Ability Upgraded:
Body of the Divine Dragon:
The lineage of the Divine Dragon runs strong within you. Your physical body is further enhanced, increasing strength, agility, stamina, and toughness. Your skin is resilient to weaponry, and your scales can break them. Only extreme environments can cause harm, as you resist heat, cold, pressure, and toxins. Your passive regeneration can even regrow limbs and organs with enough time and energy. These effects are always active.
+10 Physical Ability
Derek stumbled and fell as his body warped, feeling as though it was being torn apart by the transformation, being rebuilt from the inside out. This was more than a simple stat increase; it was a reformation. His body spasmed uncontrollably, muscles roiled and twisting in growth, his skin itching fiercely as its resilience increased. After several agonizing minutes, the transformation ceased. Derek climbed to his feet, feeling a new, raw strength coursing through him. Climbing to his feet, he felt a new strength coursing through his body. And an overwhelming hunger.