Chapter 23 Intervention
Jack's instincts screamed at him to intervene, to rescue the captive before it became the brutish creatures' dinner. He knew he had to act fast, but he also needed to be cautious. Taking on all three Feral Ramkin at once would be no easy feat.
Still, he found himself feeling strangely excited. He was a Warrior now and he wanted to see what he was really capable of. The first thing he did was activate Berserk.
Jack felt a surge of primal energy coursing through his veins, suffusing every fiber of his being with a potent sense of power. It began with a tingling sensation, like pins and needles dancing across his skin, followed by a gradual buildup of heat that seemed to emanate from deep within his core.
His muscles swelled with newfound strength, expanding and rippling beneath his skin as if they were eager to burst free from their confines. Each breath he took felt charged with raw energy, invigorating him with a sense of exhilaration and anticipation. It was as though he had tapped into a primal reservoir of power, awakening the dormant ferocity that lay dormant within him.
He also felt a hint of the reckless anger that was supposed to accompany the Skill, but it vanished after a second.
[Empathic Shielding has helped you to resist Rage]
Jack grinned. His suspicions had proven correct. Empathic shielding had protected him from the negative effects of Berserk.
Next, Jack tapped into his Water Magic, letting a stream of water cascade onto the ground on the other side of the Ramkins camp.
As the brutes looked in the other direction, he took the opportunity to cast Fluid Grace before bursting forth from the bushes he had been hiding in, his spear clutched in both hands.
He aimed straight for the Warrior, knowing he was the biggest threat. The Ramkin eveidently heard him coming because he began to turn around, raising his bone axe in one meaty hand. However, before he could fully complete the turn, Jack was in range and activated Piercing Flurry.
It was like an outside force had seized control of Jack's body, guiding his movements with lightning speed and precision. His spear became a blur as he unleashed a flurry of piercing strikes upon the Feral Ramkin, driving the weapon with relentless ferocity. Each strike aimed to exploit weak points in the enemy's defenses, piercing armor and inflicting damage with surgical precision.
The Feral Ramkin staggered back under the onslaught, his primitive armor proving no match for Jack's rapid strikes. Blood spurted from the wounds inflicted by the Piercing Flurry, staining the ground crimson as the Ramkin let out a guttural roar of pain and fury.
[You have struck Terahgo Ironhorn with Piercing Flurry x4]
[You have dealt 257 Piercing Damage to Terahgo Ironhorn]
[You have dealt 11 Freezing Damage to Terahgo Ironhorn]
Jack had dealt a massive amount of damage to the Warrior, but the Ramkin was far from finished . He raised his axe and activated his own Class Skill Cleaving Blow. A glowing red aura surrounded the blade of his weapon as it sliced through the air with deadly precision, cutting a wide arc as it descended upon Jack.
Thanks to Fluid Grace and his naturally high Agility stat Jack was able to dodge the blow. Or at least, he dodged the axe blade. Unfortunately, the red glow seemed to serve as a kind off extension of the blade because it cut right through Jack’s armor and into chest, causing a searing pain to shoot through his body.
[You have been struck by Cleaving Blow]
[You have taken 100 Slashing Damage]
[You are bleeding!]
[You will suffer 5 Bleed damage per second until the bleeding is stopped]
Jack gritted his teeth against the pain, refusing to let it overwhelm him. With adrenaline coursing through his veins, he pushed through the injury, focusing on the task at hand.
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In his normal state he would have already lost the majority of his health. With Berserk active he had an effective maximum health of 340. Hopefully, that would give him the time he needed.
As the Ramkin Warrior advanced on him Jack didn’t falter. Instead, he lunged forward with a battle cry aiming his weapon directly at his foe’s chest. Terahgo was taken off guard, having expected Jack to at least stumble or retreat after his grievous injury. His axe was just a hair too slow in coming up to defend and in that moment Jacks spear sunk deep into his chest with a sickening crunch.
[You have dealt a Critical Hit to Terahgo Ironhorn, Damage x3]
[You have dealt 208 Piercing damage to Terahgo Ironhorn]
[You have dealt 36 Freezing damage to Terahgo Ironhorn]
The Ramkin let out a strangled cry as Jack's spear impaled his heart, blood gushing from the mortal wound. With a final shudder, the creature collapsed to the ground, its life force fading away as its body went limp.
Jack wasted no time in pressing his advantage, turning his attention to the remaining Ramkin. Both of them were wielding bone clubs. The one on the left looked hesitant while the one on the right charged forward, his face suffused with bestial fury.
Jack had about ten seconds left on his Berserk Skill, and he intended to make the most of them. He cast Ice Dagger at the charging Ramkin who raised his weapon to intercept the projectile. The icy blade hit the creature’s bone club and shattered without so much as scratching it. However, it did cause the Ramkin’s vision to be obscured for a couple of seconds.
The moment Jack let his spell fly he charged forward, not even paying attention to where the blade landed. It was only meant to be a distraction and it served that function well.
The Ramkin lowered it’s club from in front of it’s face just as Jack’s spear came down in a powerful overhead strike, aimed at the creature's exposed head. The blow connected with a sickening thud, sending shockwaves of pain reverberating through the Ramkin's skull. It let out a guttural roar of agony, staggering back under the force of the impact.
[You have dealt 71 Piercing damage to Letheric Ironhorn]
[You have dealt 14 Frost damage to Letheric Ironhorn]
[You have inflicted Freezing status effect on Letheric Ironhorn. Movement speed reduced by 30% for 5 seconds]
The Ramkin (Letheric apparently) tried to bring his club to bear, but with his slowed movements due to the freezing effect, Jack easily sidestepped the attack. Taking advantage of Letheric's vulnerability, Jack followed up with another swift strike, aiming for the creature's legs. With a deft movement, Jack's spear sliced through the air, finding its mark as it struck Letheric's knee joint. The Ramkin let out a roar of pain as his leg buckled beneath him, sending him crashing to the ground with a heavy thud.
[You have dealt 69 Piercing damage to Letheric Ironhorn]
[You have dealt 15 Freezing damage to Letheric Ironhorn]
[You have crippled Letheric Ironhorn. Movement speed reduced by 50%]
Jack wasted no time as he closed in on his fallen opponent, delivering 2 more quick blows, ensuring it would pose no further threat.
[Congratulations! You have slain Ramkin x2]
[2500 Experience earned]
[Congratulations! Spear Mastery has gained a level]
[Congratulations! Water Magic has gained a level]
Jack looked up to see the last remaining Ramkin fleeing into the woods. A good thing too as that was the moment when Bereserk finally ran its course. Jacks health reverted back to it’s normal maximum and he was seconds away from bleeding out.
He frantically reached inside his pouch, withdrew a healing potion and gulped it down. It restored some of his health but didn’t stop the bleeding. Luckily the second potion he took did end the bleeding effect. It was an odd sensation, feeling his own life slipping away and then suddenly being pulled back from the brink. But Jack was grateful for the healing potions, knowing that without them, he might not have survived the encounter.
He cursed his own cockiness. He had nearly died in that fight. He had been too eager to prove himself, too quick to rush into battle without fully assessing the situation. It was a mistake he couldn't afford to make again, especially in this dangerous world where one wrong move could mean the difference between life and death.
Taking a moment to catch his breath and assess his injuries, Jack glanced around the clearing, ensuring that there were no more threats lurking in the shadows. Satisfied that they were alone, he turned his attention back to the child he had rescued.
Except it wasn’t a child. Before him, bound and gagged was a creature straight out of a fantasy book cover. Gray skin, pointed ears, and a slender build. The creature looked somewhat like a Scraeling, but different, with a build that was slightly more compact and eyes that were as black as squid ink. That and the skin marked it as something different.
[Name: Cael Y’ Grusalag
Race: Night Goblin
Level: 5
Health: 200/200
Mana: 100/100
Stamina: 250/250
Skills: Silent Steps, Alchemy, Dagger Mastery, Camouflage, Bypass Armor
Attunements: N/A
Abilities: Darkvision, Shadeblend
Description: Night Goblins are renowned for their stealth and cunning, lurking in the shadows and striking from the darkness with deadly precision. They possess keen senses and are adept at moving silently through the night, making them formidable adversaries in the realm of subterfuge. Night Goblins receive 2 free points per level, along with a +2 bonus to Agility and Intelligence. They are typically characterized by their gray, dark eyes, and lithe, nimble frames]
Great. I just risked my life to save a goblin. Now, what do I do?