CHAPTER TWELVE

Did I cheat death or am I in for something even worse?

~

Achievement: Peering into the Abyss

Congratulations Sky, but this is quite a strange event

You’ve appraised Twigs stats, but we’re not quite sure where they went

As you’ve looked into something that even gods can’t see

I’ll make sure to boost your mana quite regularly

Sky was so confused she felt like she herself may fall

But it seemed her new guardian wasn’t bad at all

But could she ever see stats that even a god can’t see

Could mana be raised for such a purpose easily

Achievement: Testing Godly Limits

Indeed, us deities must seem all powerful to you

But even we all limited in the magic we do

We can only gently touch the world you occupy

If we interfered to much then you would quickly die

As she looked upon Twig’s injured body, Sky felt lost

But she needed to know more about her magic’s cost

“How come you can give me power not possessed by you?

If you can’t see his stats, how could I ever hope to?”

Achievement: Embarrassing Your Deity

Like I said, there’s things that we can’t do, don’t rub it in

But we can unlock amazing powers found within

I can slowly raise your mana until you can see

I can’t buff my own but I can edit yours freely

Sky wanted more answers but for now she had a task

She needed to know if Twig was fine, but couldn’t ask

While she sat there frozen by grief, Todd swept up the boy

“Come on kids, there’ll be a party later to enjoy”

The four of them, plus Twig in Todd’s arms, started to head back

Still in shock and too tired to discuss the bug attack

After they’d killed almost all the bugs, the portal closed

But a strange and dark destiny had just been exposed

~ Name: Leaf ~

Title: Wind Walker

Class: Scout [lv2⇨ 3]

HP

[9⇨ 10]

MANA

[7⇨ 10]

ATK

[11⇨ 13]

INT

[13⇨ 17]

DEF

[5⇨ 8]

SPD

[22⇨ 35]

You did well assisting everyone on this last quest

You put both your speed and strong character to the test

Something strange is happening so please be on your guard

I feel an evil god has yet to play his final card

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

~ Name: Pebble ~

Title: Protector

Class: Tank [lv3⇨ 4]

HP

[15⇨ 18]

MANA

[9⇨ 12]

ATK

[13⇨ 21]

INT

[7⇨ 9]

DEF

[56⇨ 64]

SPD

[8⇨ 10]

Good job in defending those friends who you hold most dear

You stood before your enemies without any fear

Something weird is happening with Twig, so be careful

Leave the thinking to your friend Sky, she’s quite wonderful

~ Name: Sky ~

Title: Avenger

Class: Berserker [lv2]

HP

[37]

MANA

[70⇨ 73]

ATK

[84]

INT

[6]

DEF

[8]

SPD

[27]

Until you can see the truth behind Twig’s status screen

You must push your limits until the answers are seen

None of the gods here in my realm understand at all

You must answer this mysterious adventure’s call

~ Name: Todd ~

Title: Hero

Class: Farmer [lv63⇨ 64]

HP

[115⇨ 119]

MANA

[54⇨ 61]

ATK

[87⇨ 91]

INT

[37⇨ 38]

DEF

[195⇨ 201]

SPD

[113⇨ 116]

It’s been years since you had to go all out like that eh

Who’d have thunk you still had it in you to fight that way

Keep an eye on Twig but be wary around that boy

Something feels off about him, like he’s a broken toy

When they reached the town everyone was in a panic

Many people also saw screens that made them feel sick

Every god was nervous about what had just happened

And the more they read, the more the mystery deepened

Todd brought Twig up to the healer who dwelled in their town

Pushing the door off its hinges then laying him down

The healer had been waiting since he’d just received a quest

And when he saw Twig himself, the healer looked distressed

~ Name: Michael ~

Title: Town Healer

Class: Priest [lv57⇨ 58]

HP

[119]

MANA

[263⇨ 319]

ATK

[24]

INT

[95]

DEF

[67]

SPD

[18]

Michael, as you’ve heard by now, this boy is quite unwell

You may need assistance with your own appraisal spell

Brace yourself, I’ll boost your mana as much as I can

This might hurt but this was never a part of fate’s plan

Michael reeled in pain as mana filled his heart right up

It felt like hot magma poured into a small tea cup

After he regained composure, he could cast a spell

But he was astounded by what Twig’s status would tell

~ xxmx: Txxx ~

xxxxx: xxxxxxxx

xxxxx: Pxxxxxx

xxxx

[x]

xxxxx

[0]

xxxxx

[x]

xxxxx

[x]

xxx

[0]

xxxx

[x]

xxxxx

[x]

xxxx

[0]

Xxx xxxxx xxx xxxxxx xxxx xx xxxxx xxxx xxxxx xxxxxx

Xxxxxxx xxx xxxxxxxxxx xx xxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxx

Xxxxxx xxxx xxx x xxxxx xxxx xx xxx xxxx xxx xxxxxx

Xx xxx xxxx xxx Gxx ox Txmx, xxx’xx xxxx x xxxxxx xx xxxx

Through sheer will he managed to decipher some of it

But he was stunned that would he revealed was only a bit

What’s more, the format of his status screen was all wrong

The place where six numbers should be was two numbers too long

In the end he could only unlock a few pieces

It would take him ten lifetime’s worth of stat increases

Could there be a mage somewhere who could make sense of this?

Either way it remained clear that something was amiss

“I don’t know what curse could do this, or if this is right

Nothing known to history could help shed any light

We can only treat his wounds and wait for him to heal

Maybe there’s some other knowledge Twig can help reveal”