Kass watched the lights as she moved through the tunnel. They flickered by in an instant, replaced by the next, and the next. The tunnel continued but the lights changed, becoming more starlike and twinkling.
She looked then towards the end of the tunnel, far in the distance. Blinding yellow light waited for her there, comforting, like a warm blanket on a cold winter day. This. This is it. Finally. She welcomed it, finally feeling at peace. Absent of pain.
The tunnel blurred for a split second suddenly, slightly fracturing. Her speed slowed, almost imperceptibly, then resumed its course. Another second later and it was forgotten, as if it never happened.
She was closer now and the golden light washed over her completely. She felt its cleansing powers and was lost in the bliss of it all. But then, a piece of the light broke away, revealing darkness below. To her right a star burst, imploding on itself, the destruction causing a chain reaction all around her.
Like glass the tunnel cracked. Large spider web fractures spreading across its surface. It held its shape for a moment longer and then shattered, falling into pieces.
Kass’ eyes shot open and she tried to suck in a breath of air but found that she couldn’t. She choked hard for nearly a minute, unable to move her body to turn over on her side. She finally hacked up a black clod of something nasty. It shot out from her throat and she breathed in the cool damp air in short, panicked breaths.
She thought she remembered most everything that had happened and was confused why she was still here. I...died. She focused on the resource bars in the corner of her vision and read through each of them.
Health
1/300
Stamina
1/390
Mana
82/320
One. Ha. She wheezed out a laugh and instantly decided not to do that again, her insides feeling like they were going to rupture if she moved them any more. As she lay there, Kass could make out another noise other than from herself within the cavern. She held her breath. Another monster?
Wet and ragged breaths came and went in a slow, but constant pattern. Must be the one I injured. Kass joined in the chorus with her own labored breathing. Looks like we both lost.
“Illuminate,” she spoke the word and light entered the cavern. She watched the ball float above for a short time but then dismissed it, not wanting to waste the mana. Can’t see anything anyways… She was stuck lying on her back, unable to move without causing a wave of nausea to overcome her. So she chose to do the only thing she could.
“Status.” The book appeared above her and slowly floated down, coming to a stop a comfortable distance from her. “Shit,” she muttered, not being able to move to open it. “Sure didn’t think this one through.”
She stared at the intricately carved and glowing runes that made up the cover, thinking of how she could pull this off. She wiggled a toe and found that she could move it a bit… Hmm… what if I….
Open. She commanded the book with a thought and was happy to see that it obliged. The book spread open and revealed the first page. With another thought the page turned and she found herself looking at the information of her Vagabond class. She scanned the contents.
Vagabond
+5 to Strength, Dexterity, and Endurance. +3 to Fortitude and Intelligence. +1 to Luck.
+20% Damage and Defense when fighting alone.
+50% Bonus to learn a technique or skill when studying alone.
Skills
Illuminate
Level 1
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Active - 2 mana per minute
Range: 20 yards
Create a small sphere of light.
Identify
Level 1
Active - No cost
Allows you to gain more information about identifiable objects.
Dash
Level 1
Active - 50 Mana per use
Range: 5 yards
When used, allows you to move quickly to a desired location.
Skill Available
Class Tree Now Available
“Skill available…guess I’ve got time now. Class tree too.” With another mental command new information appeared on the page, the old information fading away.
New Skills Available
Barrier - Level 1 - Absorbs a small amount of physical damage.
Obscure - Level 1 - Become harder to spot for a short duration.
Tribute - Level 1- Sacrifice health to heal others.
Select One
She sat there in thought, looking over her options. Seems rather...random…I mean what do any of these have to do with the Vagabond class? Or does it not work like that? Tribute sounds awful...what if I would have gotten stuck with a skill like that...ugh...can’t even imagi--
The book vanished suddenly and Kass was lifted quickly into the air. An explosion of light filled the cavern like rays from the sun, and Kass heard a grinding sound and looked down to see the bone her legs resetting, then her shoulder too. Power arced around her, visible and palpable. Energy rushed into her then, cleansing her mind and erasing any memory of pain. She felt like she’d gotten the best sleep in her life, no longer feeling hungry or even thirsty.
The light dimmed and Kass floated gently back down to the ground, so many emotions passing through her head all at once. Her toe touched the earth and she was released from whatever held her, gracefully landing on both feet. Both perfectly healed feet.
For a split second she stood there, unmoving, processing what just happened. “Illuminate,” she stuttered out, bringing the orb into existence once more. Golden light bloomed and Kass looked at her body that was now scratch free. She moved from foot to foot, testing her balance. She moved her once disabled arm, finding the movement unhindered. It was a glorious feeling.
Kass focused on her resource bars in the corner of her vision.
Health
300/300
Stamina
390/390
Mana
320/320
She burst into tears when she saw the numbers. The hot tears rolled down her face and she was soon sniffling and trying to calm down. It didn’t take long, her mind moving on to the other questions she had. “It was the level milestone...but...how though? Status.” The book reappeared and this time was already open, showing the information she was seeking.
*You have chosen the Vagabond Class
*New Skill available
*Class Tree now available
*You have successfully Identified ‘Torusinth Wraithling’
*You have successfully Identified ‘Jagursaw Wraithling’
*You have died.
End of Log
Error………………………………………………………...
*You have defeated Torusinth Wraithling level 88. Extra experience awarded.
*You have reached level 57. 15 stat points have been awarded.
*Vagabond has reached level 2. 1 Class point has been awarded.
*Level Milestone Achieved. Resources fully restored.
*Title Upgraded: Revenant 2 - Dying is never the pathway to become stronger. +40% Health Regeneration Rate.
The Torusinth...it must have finally bled out… Kass glanced up and looked at her surroundings for the first time since being healed. Don’t be stupid K...got lucky not to have been eaten already. She looked at the hulking body of the bull-like creature that lay crumpled in a giant puddle of its own blood. Its hide was cut and shredded in many areas, exposing the soft flesh beneath.
It was dead, she knew. Ultimately killed by the sword she could see sticking out from its neck. She moved over to the body, tiptoeing through the blood, until she reached the sword. “Hey Whisper, are you there?” she asked as she grabbed the bloody weapon and tore it free.
“Kassandra. I am sorry I failed you yet again. I am glad to see you are still alive.”
“Failed? What, no, you didn’t fail me. It’s because of you that I was able to kill this thing in the first place. I doubt any regular sword could have even touched it,” she spoke the last words and then pounded on the thick skin of the monster for emphasis.
“I wasn’t able to defeat the demon and I lost control completely. Something that has never happened before. The Primal is changing, ever since you found me. It grows more powerful and I could no longer match its strength. Not until you...we, killed that monster. Then something happened to me that I have never experienced. Power entered my very being and I became stronger, able to once more defeat the demon. It was from the blood I think, that of the Wraithling.”
“Doesn’t sound good that the demon is getting stronger, but if the blood helps you do you want me to put you back?”
“I do not believe that will do any more than it already has. If I must guess, I would say that I absorbed some sort of essence from the dark beast...though I can’t be certain.”
Kass looked at the blade for a moment and then decided to try something. She focused her gaze and inspecting it more closely, looking at each different detail she could see.
Identify Activated - Increased success due to Binding.
Whisper. The Silent Blade.
Rarity
Legendary
Damage
Tier 4
Sharpness
Tier 5
Durability
Tier 8
Affinity
Tier 3
Whisper: Sentient, Level 2
Upgrade Available