The sun was rising on a cold fall morning, and many in the small town were beginning their day—farmers, miners, fishermen, and everyone in between. The town of Lockden sat on the edge of what's known as the Wild Lands, the last bit of civilization in the nation of Nefaria. In this tiny town on the edge of civilization lay an inn run by Levi Law, a tall, muscular man with brown and gray hair and a full beard, and his small yet growing family. The sun had just begun to color the room when Levi heard the whiny baby in the other room. Though he tried to ignore it in hopes she would fall back to sleep, she did not. Armorica, Levi's wife, was a stunning woman with long brown hair and red highlights. Armorica gave him a kick in his back. "Go get the baby," she mumbled in her sleep. "Ugh, this child," he thought. Rubbing his eyes and stretching, he made his way to his daughter's room. "Hey Char! How's my little girl doing?!" he excitedly yelled. Char, being so excited to see her dad, lit up with a smile that could melt the coldest of hearts. Char was one year old and had just enough light brown hair to make the cutest little ponytail. He went to stoke the fire in the main hall and began getting the inn ready for the day.

Levi once trained to be an adventurer and served in a militia. Having a rare class of Stormforged, he had massive potential, but his priorities were elsewhere at the time, and he focused on building a family and having a peaceful life. The training mentality never left him, however. As he stretched and did some light workouts followed by a run, he finished it off with a system meditation. As he sat there in meditation, system windows came into view—skills, spells, and stats appeared. What many refer to as "The System" came into being, along with skills, spells, and levels. Many aspects of the system are accessible without meditation. His status read as follows:

**Name:** Levi Law

**Age:** 33

**Level:** 20

**Rank:** Copper

**Class:** Stormforged

**Race:** Human

**Profession:** Innkeeper

**Health:** 3,100/3,100

**Mana:** 1,050/1,050

**Stamina:**

**Stats:**

- Strength: 310

- Vitality: 310

- Perception: 110

- Willpower: 210

- Intelligence: 210

**Race Skills**

- ??? : ???

**Humanity's Inspiration:** +10 to all stats

**Master Linguist:** Understand and speak all intelligent languages and forms of communication.

**Advanced Health Recovery:** Recover from damage much faster; wounds heal easier and poisons are less effective.

**Skills**

- Magic Manipulation

- Magic Infusion

**Spells**

- Chain Lightning

**Affinity**

- Lightning

On his return to the inn, he woke his oldest daughter, Savine. Savine was twelve with long brown hair with bangs and purple highlights. Knocking on her door lightly so as not to disturb the others, "Savine, time to get moving..." Nothing. Knocking harder, "Savine, it's time to go; there's a caravan coming by today..." Nothing. She always knew how to get under his skin. Now, with total disregard for disruption, he pounded on the door. "Savine, TIME TO GET UP!" From right beside him, a giggle erupted. "Savine!!!" Levi grabbed Savine in a headlock, messing up her hair and dragging her off to start her chores. Like this, most days started—early mornings of chores, meal prep, tending chickens, and smoking jerky for the many travelers that passed through. At night, the inn of Lockden was alive. It had a nice-sized bar in the main hall where many of the townsmen got together after a long day, and travelers passed through for a room and a meal. The Smoking Maul was a busy inn by all accounts. Lockden had many caravans and travelers because of its location to the Wild Lands, which were rich in crafting materials and monsters. The town was almost its own little kingdom, so removed from everything, it was a place to hide and reinvent oneself.

As morning gave way to the warm afternoon, Levi was talking with the town mayor, Reginald. "Regge, I can't see the skirmishes of Nefaria reaching out here," Levi said. "Levi, the scouts have yet to report in from last night. I came to see if they were still slumped at your bar. If they aren't here and haven't reported in, then it is beginning to set a chill I can't get rid of," Reginald said. Levi thought for a moment, then said, "Reggie, I'll put word out to my customers, and I think we should place the town militia on alert and send multiple patrols on short routes." Reginald nodded his head in agreement. "I'll make the arrangements." While Levi wasn't the mayor or in any position of power within the town, many valued his knowledge and insights. Levi returned to the inn to inform Armorica about the conversation with the mayor. "I can't believe we're putting the militia on alert," Armorica sighed. "It makes me worry—did we make the right decision coming here?" Levi hung his head low, sitting in his chair. "We didn't have many options. It was this or I leave for war. I don't want my daughters to grow up in this world without their father, my wife without her husband. This world is growing in malice; it won't be long until a rift opens again at this rate." A rift is a dimensional gateway to the world of demons and other high-level monsters. The last time there was a rift, it leveled a capital city before the adventurers' guild could close it. The rift feeds off the malicious mana in the world. When mana is used with malicious intent, it leaves behind trace amounts of mana that's been converted to malicious mana. The demons use this for their rift rituals. Armorica placed her hands on Levi and cast the spell Courageous Spirit. Courage, determination, and strength flooded into Levi, giving him the moral boost he needed to get through the day. Armorica had a rare class of healer that not only focused on healing but buffs as well, known as Benedicter. Armorica smiled at Levi, gave him a hug, and said, "We can weather anything, dear. As long as we keep the family together, everything will be okay." It calmed Levi and brought him back to where he needed to be.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

As nightfall came, the inn began to fill for dinner and drinks. The Smoking Maul was ablaze with laughter. Savine, though only twelve, was running around taking orders and serving meals and drinks. The fire was warm and roaring. A caravan that came through happened to have a bard with them who was happy to take out his lute for a bit of coin. In the town of Lockden, on the edge of the Wild Lands, amongst the turmoil of the world, for a moment everything was peaceful and merry. That was until, in an instant, all the torches in town went out, and the roaring fire in the main hall went silent. "What the fuck is going on?" "Who turned out the lights?" "Alert the militia!" people yelled. That's when a slow, deliberate knock at the door sounded. The smell of smoke filled the air, and the room began to fill with smoke from so many torches and the fireplace going out. Then it opened, and a tall, burly human man wearing dark leather armor with fur underneath cut through the smoke and into the main hall. He threw a bloody sack on a table in the hall, and out rolled the heads of the scouts that never reported in the night before. The hulking man in the hall was flanked by six other lesser-sized but equally bloodthirsty men. The hall of the Smoking Maul was in panic. Levi whispered urgently to Armorica, "Grab Savine and Char, take them to the cellar, and be ready to move. I'll do what I can and meet you there." Armorica swiftly obeyed. Levi always kept an uncommon heavy hammer under the bar for when things got a little wild. Levi slowly reached for the hammer, catching Reginald's eye. Reginald, a skilled fighter, nodded in understanding. Levi knew that when he made his move, it had to be fast, violent, and take the momentum. He began to infuse lightning mana into the hammer. It was heavy in his hand, but he kept infusing it until he felt the hammer push back a little, knowing any more would make it explode. The hammer began to crackle. Knowing it would give him away, he looked to Reginald and gave him a nod. With that, the two launched their attack. Levi raised his hand, aiming at the flanking men, and unleashed Chain Lightning, a highly effective spell perfect for the situation. (Chain Lightning: a lightning affinity spell able to strike up to five targets. Each time it jumps to a target, the damage lessens slightly, causing the target some paralysis.) Blue lightning wrapped and crackled around his hand and streamed out, hitting five of the six men. The first man hit was fried and dropped to his knees, dying; the other four were injured and surprised. Using this moment, he and Reginald lunged to strike the large man. Reginald fell to his back and slid, tackling the man's leg, making him fall to one knee. Levi took a large step, building as much torque and strength as he could, and swung the crackling hammer upward with all his might. The hammer struck the large man in the jaw. In that moment, a blinding flash followed by lightning bolts cracked through the hall. The hammer exploded on impact, sending shards everywhere. Blood began to pour from Levi's hand; it was broken and had shards of the hammer in it. For a moment, the hall of the Smoking Maul was silent as Levi received the notifications:

[You have killed level 50 human]

[You have killed level 35 human]

[You have gained a level]

Levi was breathing heavily. The warm blood dripped from his fingertips, and the hall began to smell of burnt hair and flesh. A miner looking out the window stumbled over to Reginald. "Reginald, the houses... they're burning them... the people are..." Reginald stopped him. "I know, lad. Levi, we need to move; that fight definitely drew attention to us." Levi then remembered Armorica! The town was ablaze, the screams of the townsfolk filled the air, but also laughter. Someone amidst all the chaos was...laughing?! Levi could almost hear the laughter in his mind as he pushed through the people in his way and found the stairs leading to the basement. With every step, he felt the air cool the sweat on him, making the blood dripping from his hand feel all the warmer. He made his way into the cellar, his heart pounding out of his chest when he frantically looked for Armorica. "Levi!?" she screamed. Levi snapped in the direction of the voice; it was Armorica with a spell charged and ready in her hand, glowing yellow and red, no doubt an attack spell of hers. Armorica leapt to her husband and embraced him. Savine, smart and fearless as ever, hugged his side, and Char, surprisingly, was asleep. Levi whispered, "Armorica, are you alright? Have you been hurt?" "No, we're fine. What's going on out there? It sounds... awful." Levi paused for a moment, the laughter still in his head. It was almost manic-sounding. "It looks like the worst-case scenario: a large force is raiding the town. They must have a high-level mage within their ranks; they're using some kind of widespread magic causing panic. Reginald is going to muster what militia he can and make a fighting retreat to the mountains west of here." Armorica let out a large sigh, knowing what would happen next. "I'll heal your hand and give you some buffs. Don't get too carried away. Deal with the mage and help Reginald retreat... remember, this is a fighting retreat, not just fighting." Levi nodded his head. Armorica's hands glowed with bright yellow light as she healed Levi's hand. Then she stood up, placing her hands on his chest and casting Courageous Spirit, Hero's Strength, and Mind's Eye. Levi's heart pounded heavily as a flood of warmth ran through his blood. It felt as if nothing could stand in his way. The cellar was cool and dark, with dancing lights from the fires burning outside sneaking down the stairway. Levi held Savine in a strong hug and whispered softly in her ear, "Your mother will protect you, but you are strong. She will protect you, and you will protect them both. Don't have any fear for the enemy; they are weak with a few strong. We will be okay." Savine hugged her father hard and nodded. Wrapping his family in a hug, he said, "I love you. Get to safety swiftly and silently." Levi gave Char a kiss and pressed his forehead to hers, eyes closed, holding this memory for a moment. Then he turned and made for the bedroom to retrieve some gear. Levi ran his hand over the chest that held his combat gear, a simple wooden chest just big enough to hold everything. Inside the chest was a full set of heavy steel armor of uncommon rarity, a very expensive set given their lifestyle and location. Next was a medium-sized steel shield, also uncommon, a tool belt, and a very expensive rare-rarity hammer:

[Armor's Bane] - Rare

+15 Strength

+15 Vitality

Deals bonus damage to enemies with armor.

Levi urgently ran to the courtyard in front of the inn and began to assess the situation. It quickly became clear this wasn't some random bandit attack. The air was heavy with smoke and the smell of blood, burning flesh, and the screams of people he once respected and relied on. It began to fill him with rage. "AHAHAHAHA" The voice was loud in Levi's head. He dropped to one knee, holding his head. Blood started dripping from his nose; it was a mental attack, most likely from that mage and his spell. Levi drew in a deep breath and could feel the smoke tickle his throat. He focused on his surroundings—the smell of the bodies burning, the sight of the lights from the fires flickering, the thought of his family. Levi calmed his mind; a calm mind is much harder to attack than an enraged or panicked one. Reginald and his militia were making their way to the Smoking Maul, knowing Levi would be nearby. "Levi? You old hoot, where are ya?" Reginald shouted. Levi came walking out of an alleyway with two dead bandits in hand. "Levi, I see you've been busy. Any idea what we're dealing with?" Reginald said. Levi threw the dead men to the side. "From what that guy said, they are bandits from the Wild Lands that made a pact with Crainwall. Their service will be rewarded for being essentially cannon fodder." "Oh shit... this is bad, Levi. Those Crainwall folks are lunatics," Reginald said. "Do we have the location of the mage casting this spell? To cast such a widespread spell for so long, he must be well into Bronze rank," Levi thought aloud. "We actually do have a location: town hall. They've set it up as a FOB." "We can buff up prior to the fight, sneak in close. Our scout indicates the mage stays inside the meeting hall. We can blast a hole in the southern wall using the element of surprise to get into close combat, where the mage should be weakest, and wrap this up. With their leadership dispatched, it should give us the time we need to retreat," Reginald explained. Levi agreed, and they moved into position.