Isabelle took a deep breath as her eyes darted around the room at the guards and Ozian Sect warriors surrounding her party. Combat mode had already kicked in, and she could feel her mind working overtime to assess how to handle the situation despite any natural anxiety. It was amazing how quickly she could piece out where all the enemies were. Combat mode had its perks.
[Ego Blindness debuff deactivated]
Ah. Isabelle had been wondering about how much longer that debuff would stay active. She felt so embarassed and stupid to have fallen into this trap. She’d put herself and her entire party in a whole hell of a lot of danger, and she probably wouldn’t have made such a mistake if she hadn’t been so damned proud. But Isabelle could muse over that mistake later, she needed to act. Isabelle opened her inventory, ready to try out one of her new weapons.
Inventory: Isabelle
Carrying capacity: 144.5/174
Item
Traits
Young Red Dragon Dagger x2
+2 fire damage, +5 damage, +3 stm, +1 dx, +2 carry weight
Young Red Dragon Rapier
+3 fire damage, +6 damage, +1 str, +5 carry weight
Young Red Dragon Glaive
+2 fire damage, +7 damage, +2 str, +6 carry weight
Young Red Dragon Bow
+3 fire damage, +2 damage, +3 dx, +3 carry weight
Young Red Dragon Helmet
+7 str, +5 char, +3 speechcraft, +3 carry weight
Abbreviated list based on prior use. Focus to see more items…
Shit! Isabelle had forgotten about her young red dragon helmet. Good thing the system remembered.
[Young Red Dragon Helmet equipped]
[+7 str]
[+5 char]
[+3 speechcraft]
As far as weapons, Isabelle decided on the glaive, as it seemed like the best weapon for hitting a bunch of people.
[Young Red Dragon Glaive equipped]
[+2 fire damage]
[+7 damage]
[+2 str]
Now that was a long weapon. The dragon scales covering it and the dragon bone of the glaive’s long handle looked decidedly epic. Isabelle was ready to fight, and it was just as well, because a guard was charging right at her. Isabelle dodged out of the way of the guard and then slashed her glaive down over his head.
[Critical Hit]
[856 damage dealt]
[33 fire damage dealt]
[Stamina 96%]
The guard screamed as he erupted in flames. A couple surrounding guards jumped back a little. Damn, that was awesome. And it used so little stamina! Isabelle swung her glaive again, this time throwing some more force into it. This time, she hit two guards!
[Critical Hit]
[985 damage dealt]
[45 fire damage dealt]
[Critical Hit]
[1005 damage dealt]
[46 fire damage dealt]
[‘Cloud Reach Guard’ is dead]
[Stamina 88%]
Isabelle was feeling quite good about herself. The fight had barely begun and she had already killed a guard, and the other one she’d hit was also screaming and on fire. She noticed the guards were opting to attack her party members and, worse still, her horses over herself. Isabelle wouldn’t let those beautiful horses die, though. She leapt to action, swinging her glaive wildly.
[762 damage dealt]
[31 fire damage dealt]
[895 damage dealt]
[43 fire damage dealt]
[678 damage dealt]
[42 fire damage dealt]
[Stamina 71%]
“Agh! Oh gods, the pain, the horrible pain!” said an Ozian Sect Warrior as he tried and failed to put out the fire on him by stopping, dropping, and rolling.
Isabelle took this opportunity to run him through the back with her glaive.
[Critical Hit]
[1005 damage dealt]
[46 fire damage dealt]
[‘Ozian Sect Warrior’ is dead]
[Armed combat increased to 8]
[Stamina 64%]
Isabelle smiled and yanked her glaive out of the guard’s back. His body fell limp, flames still radiating from it.
[-5 hp]
A guard had come up behind Isabelle and stabbed her in the back, but she was so strong from her armor that it barely felt like anything. She turned around as swung her glaive towards his neck.
[Critical Hit]
The guard’s head popped straight off, flying through the air and slamming into a wall right next to the kobold Duke, who’d been watching the fight from his balcony and smoking a cigarette through a bedazzled holder. He jumped and squealed as the guard’s head landed right beside him, and spilled his martini glass as a result. A spurting fountain of blood erupted from the dead guard’s neck, covering the palace in speckles of its stinging, dark red hue.
[1231 damage dealt]
[52 fire damage dealt]
[‘Cloud Reach Guard’ is dead]
[Stamina 55%]
“Nice kill, Isabelle,” said Tahsi as he jumped on top of a guard and beat him to death with a piece of his stale bread. After enough hits Tahsi succeeded in blowing the guard’s head open, which sent chunks of brains flying into his face.
“Thanks, Tahsi,” said Isabelle. A guard charged towards her and stabbed her in the chest.
[-9 hp]
Isabelle rolled her eyes and pulled the sword out of her chest.
“What the fuck?” said the guard that had attacked her. “How in the hell are you barely hurt?”
Isabelle cracked her neck and raised her glaive.
“It’s because she’s the player!” said the kobold Duke, lighting another cigarette.
The Duke was right. Isabelle was the player. She swung her glaive at the guard and dispatched him in two short strikes.
[1422 damage dealt]
[57 fire damage dealt]
[‘Cloud Reach Guard’ is dead]
[Stamina 47%]
Isabelle watched as the guard fell to his knees as flames engulfed him. He crumbled on the floor, face first. Pitiful.
Isabelle looked around. There were only about three guards left, and they were looking haggard. She charged forward and sliced and slashed at them, lighting them all on fire.
[845 damage dealt]
[22 fire damage dealt]
[776 damage dealt]
[18 fire damage dealt]
[858 damage dealt]
[26 fire damage dealt]
[Stamina 38%]
Isabelle was upset none of them died immediately, but it looked like the fire damage was doing her work for her.
[21 fire damage dealt]
[45 fire damage dealt]
[37 fire damage dealt]
[‘Cloud Reach Guard’ is dead]
[26 fire damage dealt]
[‘Ozian Sect Warrior’ is dead]
[42 fire damage dealt]
[‘Cloud Reach Guard’ is dead]
It was satisfying to watch the guards burn to death, in its own way.
[Stamina 25%]
[Armed combat increased to level 9]
[Combat mode deactivated]
[Notice: You’re ready to level up]
The Duke giggled and clapped.
“Lovely show, lovely show. A tad frightening, I will admit, but still quite lovely,” the Duke said. He puffed his cigarette. “Surely you are a Dragon Slayer, as surely you are also the player!”
Isabelle decided at that moment that this kobold Duke was annoying as hell, and that she wanted him dead.
[Notice: You’re ready to level up]
Hmm. The Duke looked about ready to launch into an obnoxious monologue. Now was probably a perfect time to level up. So, Isabelle shrugged.
[Notice: You’ve reached level 17!]
[hp restored to 49]
[Notice: You have attribute and skill points to spend]
[Would you like to spend your points now?]
[Y/N]
Isabelle thought yes.
Attribute Points to Spend: 11
Hp:
49
H-Regen:
3/50sec
Mana:
42
M-Regen:
2/45sec
Stm:
37
S-Regen:
0.5/sec
Hey, eleven points this time! Awesome. But Isabelle wanted to hurry up and get her leveling over with so that she could pay attention in case this annoying kobold Duke said anything important. She decided she’d throw five points to her h-regen, one point to her hp, two points to her mana and two to her stm.
Skill Points to Spend: 11
Str:
25
Int:
30
Dx:
24
Wis:
23
Const:
27
Char:
24
Okay. Time to act fast. Isabelle threw four to dx, four to wis, and three to str.
[Congratulations, you’ve finished leveling up!]
Character Status
Name:
Isabelle
Gender:
Female
Level:
17
Class:
Undefined
Race:
Human
Alignment:
Neutral-Neutral
Attributes
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
Hp:
50
H-Regen:
3/35sec
Mana:
44
M-Regen:
2/45sec
Stm:
39
S-Regen:
0.5/sec
Skill Points
Str:
28
Int:
30
Dx:
28
Wis:
27
Const:
27
Char:
24
Magic Ability Levels
Enchant:
0
Summon:
0
Heal:
0
Destroy:
6
Transmute:
0
Confuse:
0
Normal Ability Levels
Crafting:
7
Sneak:
6
Archery:
7
Lockpick:
0
Armed Combat:
9
Melee Combat:
4
Speechcraft:
7
Sleight Of Hand:
3
Very nice. Isabelle looked up to the kobold Duke. Sure enough, he was flapping his lips.
“Yes, yes, that’s right, I work for the Overlord. Hell, he’s even agreed that I’m putting Thres on the map enough to qualify as a member of his party if I keep up the good work!” said the Duke.
Stelas’ severed head cackled with laughter from inside his burlap sack, which still dangled off the side of Stefano the horse.
“Not sure which one of you laughed… seeing as none of your lips moved… but, whatever,” said the Duke. “What you need to understand is that, whether you like it or not, I am prepared to hand all three of you over to the Overlord for a hefty finder’s fee. And, once I’ve done that, he will no doubt strip you all of any and all powers you have. Oh, what marvelous fun.” The kobold sucked on his cigarette holder with glee and whipped out a pocket watch, checking it lackadasically. “Well, dinner’s about to start. Of course, you won’t be eating any of it, but you’re welcome to watch. If you can stay alive, that is.” The Duke whipped out a small silver bell and shook it. “It’s time! Send them in!”
Isabelle was going to kill this bastard, and do it quick. She opened her inventory.
Inventory: Isabelle
Carrying capacity: 144.5/224
Item
Traits
Young Red Dragon Bow
+3 fire damage, +2 damage, +3 dx, +3 carry weight
Arrows of Chills x30 (enchanted)
+2 frost damage, +1 damage
Abbreviated list based on prior use. Focus to see more items…
[Young Red Dragon Bow equipped]
[+3 fire damage]
[+2 damage]
[+3 dx]
[Arrows of Chills x30 (enchanted) equipped]
[+2 frost damage]
[+1 damage]
[Combat mode activated]
Isabelle smiled and loaded an arrow in the bow. She aimed it right at the irksome kobold Duke’s neck. Assured of her shot, she fired.
[Attack blocked]
[Stamina 99%]
[Combat mode deactivated]
The arrow shot right through the air towards its target, but inches away it shattered to bits as a translucent blue circle illuminated around the kobold.
“Nice try!” giggled the Duke. “But, unfortunately for you and your friends, I’m shielded by magic! Did you really think I’d let myself be this close to a Dragon Slayer without some form of protection? How incredibly foolish. I pity you, honestly.”
Rich people were gathering in the gated-off banquet hall. Isabelle could smell fresh appetizers as attendants whisked them into the gated-off room.
“Oh my gods,” said Tahsi. “You know, I really love my bread, but that food smells so good!”
“Well, enjoy all the smells you can get!” said the Duke. “Because these will be your last!” The Duke turned to a nearby open door and called out to someone in the far room. “Send in the gargoyles!”
“Gargoyles?” asked Isabelle.
The Duke giggled and sauntered down a hallway, calling to someone about getting him a spritzer.
“I really, really don’t like that guy,” said Isabelle. She was grinding her teeth.
“Yea, I fucking hate him too, Isabelle,” said Sir Jingles. “Even if his fashion sense is fairly immaculate, and honestly something I’m fairly envious of.”
“Yea, what a dick,” said Tahsi. He took a big bite of bread. “I’ve never not wanted to eat my own bread, but looking at all that food over there kind of makes me wish I had something else in my mouth.”
Isabelle held back a smirk at hearing Tahsi talking about things in his mouth. But this brief moment of joy didn’t last long. She heard a terrible creaking and a cracking. It was then that Isabelle noticed for the first time the three large, stone statues that stood before the gate to the banquet hall. The statues were about half as tall as the ceiling, that is to say many heads above Isabelle’s own height. They were glowing, and slowly but surely moving. Yes, moving. Like they were coming to life.
“I’m getting a bad feeling about this,” said Sir Jingles.
“Yea, me too, Isabelle,” said Tahsi.
Isabelle rolled her eyes. “How bad could this really be? Don’t you two remember how we literally just slayed a fucking dragon? A fucking dragon! What are some moving statues to a dragon?!” she asked.
“That a was young red dragon, Isabelle!” said Tahsi. “Emphasis on the young! Do you really think all dragons would be that weak and easy to kill? If they were, the dragons being back this soon wouldn’t even be a big deal!”
Ouch. Another huge hit to Isabelle’s ego. She still loved her dragon armor and weaponry, though.
The statues’ eyes rolled around in their sockets, and started glowing red. The closest statue leapt off its bronze platform and slammed into the marble palace floor. The two other statues followed suit, almost like practiced warriors. The first statue reached for a sword sheathed by its side and pulled it out. It was an enormous, brilliant blade, and sparks of electricity danced from it malignantly. The two other statues did the same, though the one of the right had a blade that danced with flames and the other a blade that dripped with green poison.
[Combat mode activated]
Isabelle was ready to fight, but she had to admit to herself that seeing these statues in fighting stances with their giant swords drawn was quite intimidating.
“I’ll take the one on the right!” said Isabelle, dashing towards the statue with the giant flaming blade.
“Aw, I wanted to fight him!” said Tahsi, who equipped a greatsword he’d taken from a nearby dead guard and charged towards the statue with the electricity sword.
“I just wish I hadn’t used up my mega puma ability already today,” said Sir Jingles.
“Um, Sir Jingles, isn’t it midnight?” asked Isabelle as she dodged out of the way of the statue’s flaming blade.
[Stamina 95%]
“Oh shit, you’re right!” said Sir Jingles. His fur bristled and his skin shifted and bulged as he started his transformation.
Isabelle stared up at the statue looming over her. It raised its flaming blade and slashed downward towards her, but Isabelle leapt out of the way. The palace shook, but nothing broke, not even the marble floor. Isabelle raised her glaive and slashed at the statue’s feet and ankles.
[103 damage dealt]
[‘Gargoyle Statue’ resisted fire damage]
[Stamina 95%]
Well, shit. Isabelle had picked this statue to fight because her armor made her resistant to its flame attacks, but apparently it was resistant to hers as well. She should’ve figured. Before Isabelle could react, the statue stomped on her with a cold, hard foot.
[-5 hp]
[You resisted fire damage]
Isabelle had to find some more weapons to use. Some that weren’t fire-based, unfortunately.
Inventory: Isabelle
Carrying capacity: 144.5/224
Item
Traits
Arrows of Chills x27 (enchanted)
+2 frost damage, +1 damage
Necromancer Robes
+10 mana, +3 confuse, +3 enchant, +1 destroy, +4 carry weight
Ring of Improved Destroy
+3 destroy
Staff of the Undead
+5 mana, +2 carry weight
Amulet of Lesser Confusion
+3 confuse
Ring of Increased Mana
+5 mana
Poisoning Dagger x2
+1 poison, +6 damage, +1 sneak level, +1 carry weight
Orcish Longbow
+5 damage, +1 dx, +1.5 carry weight
Abbreviated list based on prior use. Focus to see more items…
Isabelle had options, but the best she saw was the orcish longbow with the arrows of chills. Usually, she’d found, creatures that were resistant to fire were weak to ice attacks. That probably meant Isabelle could also try some destroy magic, but she didn’t want to give up her fire resistance from the dragon armor to equip all the items that improved her mana and destroy ability.
[Orcish Longbow equipped]
[+5 damage}
[+1 dx]
[Arrows of Chills x27 (enchanted) equipped]
[+2 frost damage]
Isabelle leapt out of the way of the statue as it swiped and slashed at her. She drew an arrow and tried to aim at its head, though the statue kept moving inconveniently.
[Notice: use stamina for extra battle focus?]
[Y/N]
Perfect timing. Isabelle thought yes.
[Extra focus activated]
[Stamina 95%]
Time was moving slowly now, and thought the lumbering statue was obviously trying to refocus its position and prepare another attack, Isabelle could tell it wouldn’t be able to outpace her. She drew an arrow and aimed it right at the animated statue’s head.
[Critical hit]
[1054 damage dealt]
[855 frost damage dealt]
[Stamina 85%]
Isabelle watched with satisfaction as time resumed its normal speed and crackles of ice exploded over the statue’s head, covering it in chills. It didn’t freeze, but it did glow a light blue as it took the frost damage, and it looked noticeably weaker almost immediately. She was starting to feel like this fight wouldn’t be too bad, after all.
The statue bellowed an awful roar and charged towards Isabelle, raising his blade and fists and slashing at her. Then, before she could react again, it used its gargantuan left fist to pummel her to the ground.
[-10 hp]
[You resisted fire damage]
[-20 hp]
[You resisted fire damage]
Fuck’s sake. That thing had done an ungodly amount of damage to Isabelle, and quickly. She drew another arrow and fired right at its chest.
[Critical hit]
[1022 damage dealt]
[702 frost damage dealt]
[Stamina 87%]
The statue stumbled backward, almost falling on its back. Maybe that last bit of damage had been its death knell. Its body seemed to be shaking and quivering, and it wasn’t even attacking her any more. Isabelle took the opportunity, drawing and firing another arrow at the statue’s head.
[Critical hit]
This was the one. The statue split to pieces, raining parts of statue across the palace room.
[1304 damage dealt]
[814 frost damage dealt]
[Stamina 86%]
[Archery increased to level 8]
Isabelle noticed that Tahsi and Jingles were each at similar spots with their own chosen statue to fight, and soon all of the foes were scattered to bits on the floor.
[Combat mode deactivated]
[Notice: You’re ready to level up]
“Whew, that’s a relief,” said Sir Jingles. “Guess I’ll go ahead and change out of my mega puma form, then.”
Isabelle didn’t feel good about that idea. “Wait a second, will you, Jingles? I feel like something bad’s about to happen?”
“You know, Isabelle—” said Tahsi, “—when I feel like that, I always like to equip a piece of bread and take a big bite. Speaking of which, want any bread?”
“I’ll stick to a health potion this time, Tahsi,” said Isabelle. She noted the disappointment in her party member’s eyes. “Thanks, though.”
[Potion of Greater Health drunken]
[+20 hp]
[Notice: You’re ready to level up]
Isabelle felt much better. Maybe now she’d go ahead and level up. Maybe she ought to have done that before drinking the potion in the first place.
[Combat mode activated]
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” said Isabelle. “I was just about to level up!”
Isabelle and her party watched in horror as the bits of statue began to rattle with life. Quickly they shot together, congealing into a large, swirling mass at the center of the room. Each of the three powered-up swords swung through the air and surrounded the mass of statue bits in a circle, each blade held by an amalgamation of bits of statue. A deep, guttural growl echoed from this monstrous entity as it spun the swords around threateningly. It creeped forward, advancing towards the party.
“Ah, shit,” said Sir Jingles. “Guess it’s a good thing I didn’t change out of my puma form after all.”
“No fucking kidding,” said Isabelle. She watched as the monstrous statue entity floated closer, its three blades spinning ever faster in a murderous rage. No fucking kidding indeed.