~~~Jake~~~
Jake was in a knock-down drag-out fight with a ridiculously massive snake that had just head-butted him straight up into the sky.
He loved it.
The rattlesnake was the best fight he'd had this whole time, and it wasn't even close to over. The bastard was tough, and each shot only damaged the scales a bit. He needed to land repeated hits on exactly the same spot if he wanted to get past its defense.
Before his impromptu flight, he'd seen Lee running around like a lunatic down there. The enchanter had mentioned recharging his enchants before... or his runes, as he'd let slip earlier. Maybe that was why he'd run into a fight that was just as likely to get him killed?
To be fair, Lee wasn't dead yet, despite the snake's aggressive focus on the building throughout the fight. A focus that Jake suspected had to do with its one ruined eye. Someone had gotten a lucky shot in, and not that rock thrower who got eaten. The snake only deviated briefly to chase Jake when he got an extra good shot in, but it kept going back to bang its head against the wall.
Which was apparently something Lee could sense from down the hill...
Jake didn't really care about Lee's secrets. He didn't even care if the building went down. It wasn't his house. If the people living there didn't like that, then they should get strong enough to protect it. Or just run away. Speaking of which...
Alejandro had also run into the danger. It was doubtful the man could contribute meaningfully to this fight. His shield was damn good, but it was a very small obstacle to a very large snake. He'd probably just get eaten like that other poor bastard.
Then Jake reached the apex of his flight and started back toward the earth. He'd been skydiving before, and it was... okay. But now, skydiving without a parachute, after being launched into said sky by a snake that could swallow him without choking on the pointy bits, that was fun!
He wasn't too worried about the landing. A well timed exploding arrow would cancel out enough momentum, and his body could handle much more than anyone pre-system. His legs were definitely feeling the headbutt from a moment ago, but nothing had broken. He wouldn't die from hitting the ground, he was sure of that, but better to avoid any more injuries while the fight was still ongoing.
That was an issue for future Jake, though. Right now, he had time to get another shot in. In fact, he'd been charging the arrow since the flight started.
He was only waiting to stabilize his descent, and the old skydiving training gave him just the extra nudge he needed to line it up... Boom, bitch!
The snake was good. It seemed to have an innate sense for incoming attacks because it once again tilted its head just enough that he missed a direct hit into the hole he'd dug with the blades moments before. Didn't matter. The damage was accumulating and he would win this. It was only a matter of time now.
In the spirit of that, he stowed the bow and drew his blades, both enchanted by Lee. The only downside with them was that they weren't long enough to get the job done in one strike. But that wasn't a big deal... It was more fun this way. Though it looked like the snake was still ignoring him, and going after Lee... No problem. He'd hate to end the fight too fast.
It was a thrilling battle, more so when the damn reptile actually fought him and not the building. It was fun... right until he felt death loom before him.
It wasn't an unfamiliar sensation. His whole life he'd had feelings... that warned him of things he couldn't know, and it had saved his life more than once. The feelings had strengthened exponentially since the system arrived, and Jake never hesitated to trust his gut.
That gut instinct guided his actions in this fight. He'd already dodged death and serious injury repeatedly. Only it never felt like this... The feeling screaming through him now didn't warn of deadly injury. It didn't warn him of an incoming strike.
It promised annihilation.
Jake dumped his mana early. All of it. He sent it into the smaller knife the same way he did with the arrows. Or rather, he tried to. He knew it wouldn't work. Something about Lee's runes didn't let his mana saturate the item like it did the arrows. Jake was counting on that.
His skill didn't like the lack of a usable target, but Jake forced the mana out before it could finish protesting. Which it did shortly after, by exploding violently in every direction. Some of that force sent the knife down ahead of him like a bullet, while most was wasted in other directions, and finally, just enough pushed back against Jake.
He stopped rather explosively in mid-air, and not a moment too soon.
The blue fire that roared mere inches below his feet was what he imagined a dragon's breath would look like. Pure destructive power that screamed with the fury of an atom bomb as it tore a hole through the sky.
Then, in less time than it took to blink, and with a thunderclap of inrushing air, it was gone.
Jake resumed falling.
It felt too quiet in the aftermath... an unnatural hush as everyone and everything cowered in fear of absolute obliteration.
Then the headless snake flopped to the ground with a crash of breaking masonry, and people started screaming.
Humans. Why did people love screaming so much? It accomplished literally nothing, and would most likely draw even more danger onto their heads.
Jake landed atop the thrashing body of the snake and had to jump a few times to get clear of its death throes. Its head was gone. Not decapitated. Not burned or torn up. Gone. He knew Lee'd been hiding something, and hadn't cared... but this was on a whole other level. The guy wasn't even F-grade yet...
Where the snake's neck ended... Did snakes have necks? Or was it the torso? Whatever it was, it ended in a clean, cauterized line. He could actually see right down its throat... where he spotted a pair of shoes just inside.
No way... Jake timed the thrashing body and leaped forward. He retreated while dragging a man from the snake's gullet. A man that was still miraculously clinging to life. You lucky son of a bitch.
He was alive, but not in a good way. Just dragging him free had peeled some skin from the man's ankles... honestly, he looked even worse than Lee had after crawling out of the damn frog. Unfortunately, Jake had to carry him further or the poor bastard might get smashed by the spasming snake. Since the building was looking and sounding extremely unstable at the moment, he took him outside, yelling the whole way. "Saira!"
No one responded. Sure, if they were smart, they would have run far and fast away from what happened here, but he was loud. Jake nudged the unbreathing man a few times in the chest as he kept shouting; he didn't want to crush the ungraded man with normal cpr.
The guy finally started breathing shallowly, and still no one showed.
Jake jumped to the first-floor balcony railing, leaped again and caught the second floor rail, then threw himself to the third. He hopped easily into Alejandro's apartment as he yelled for the man. Two small faces watched him wide-eyed from a closet... then the front door burst open and Maria appeared in his face.
Her butter knife sparked off his own blade as Jake parried her thrust and then had to catch her arm before she lost a few fingers when his knife slid up her weapon.
Maria didn't like that at all, and he could see murder in her eyes... and fear. She hadn't expected him to block that strike... just how many people had she killed with that little trick?
Jake didn't take her attempted murder to heart. Why should he? It was like a puppy chewing on his fingers. "Man outside," Jake said, jerking a thumb over his shoulder. "Got swallowed by the snake. Can you heal him?"
Maria stood frozen, staring back at him as something behind those eyes worked furiously.
She'd lashed out at him in what Jake was pretty sure was an instinctual reaction. Apparently, she hadn't seen him as a threat before... but she did now. Oh, yeah. He could see it in her eyes. She was trying to figure out how to kill him.
Jake smiled at her. He'd seen something in her before, but hadn't realized what it was until now. She was a killer. Not a psycho or anything like that, but she'd killed before. It was there in her eyes, plain as day. She had killed and would again if necessary, and without hesitation, as she'd clearly just shown. Jake respected that. She would do well in the new world.
He let go of her wrist and stepped back. She was only trying to protect what was hers.
Maria glanced at the children, both watching them... and nodded. "Si..."
Alejandro had pushed the door open again, and Jake left Maria alone to push past him. "What the hell happened to him?"
Lee was lying on the balcony outside, and he was glowing. Not all around glowing, but it looked like all the veins in his body were lit up with a blue glow from the inside. It was strongest in a line from his chest and down his right arm, shining right through his shirt. He was also... unconscious? His eyes were open, and glowing with that same blue light, but Jake had the distinct feeling that no one was home.
Jake looked out at the semicircle missing from the top of the building across the courtyard. "What did you do, Lee?" If anyone had been in the apartment over there... well, they weren't anymore.
Lee would probably be fine, given what he'd seen him survive so far, and Jake turned to Alejandro. "Where's Saira?"
"She was just down the street when..."
"You left her out there!?" Jake yelled at him in disbelief. One of the most valuable people in this place, one Alejandro had promised to protect, and he'd abandoned her.
"Larry and Sandra..."
Jake didn't hear the rest of his excuse. He was already back through the apartment and sailing to the ground below as he set off to find the rest of the group.
It wasn't specifically Saira that he was worried about. Sure, she had a very useful class, but he cared more about Sandra... or Sandy, as he'd always called her.
They'd been an item before all this. Almost six months ago now. It hadn't lasted, as such things tended not to, but it had ended well enough. They'd stayed friends, and Sandy was one of the few people Jake even gave a shit about in this whole complex!
And Alejandro left them!
It didn't take long to find them... or what was left of them.
Sandy... Jake dropped to his knees, uncaring of the blood soaking his pants. What did they do to you?
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
She'd been gutted, and Larry was in pieces a few feet away.
"They're going to die for this, Sandy. I'll find..."
She wheezed. It was so faint he would have missed it if not for his improved senses. Jake touched her neck as gently as he could, feeling for a pulse... and found it, but it was so weak.
Saira wasn't here. A quick scan of the scene didn't tell Jake enough about what had happened. Some of it was clear, like the fact that Sandy and Larry had both spilled blood before going down. It helped that there were two dead strangers in the street.
One had a stab wound on his back, a small one from a knife rather than a machete or staff. Most likely Mar's handiwork, if her dismembered arm lying in the street was any indication. But the fate of Saira was less sure. Maybe they'd figured out she was a healer and taken her alive? There was a patch of dead grass on the side of the road...
Jake didn't have time to go looking. Sandy was dying, and dying fast. His only option to save her now was Maria... but carrying her back might be the last straw.
He ran faster than he'd ever tried to go before and found Maria crouched over the partially digested man. Jake didn't give her a chance to object before snatching her up and carrying her away. Oh, she tried to stab him once. But Jake took her knife away and then dropped her in front of Sandy a few moments later. "Save her!"
Maria was even more wary of him than before, and he didn't blame her. She still knelt and sent her magic into the dying woman. Jake didn't see the miraculous turn around he'd been hoping for, not like Saira's magic. Her expression when she looked back up at him was not reassuring.
"Keep her alive, Maria. Keep her alive and I'll owe you!" He didn't need to ask if she understood. She did. Jake was speaking her language now. Not Spanish, but the language of life and death.
It meant save her, and I will kill your enemies for you. Let her die... and... well, he left that to the imagination.
Maria nodded, and her hands were already moving as she sent pulses of magic into the woman with one hand, while a finger traced over and sealed up the myriad gaping wounds.
Jake left her there. He needed Saira. If the woman was still alive... which, something told him she was.
He scoured the ground for clues, his eyes picking up the indentations in the grass next to the road, flecks of blood leading away from the scene... Jake ran.
Unfortunately, the trail ended on the next street over. No blood. No footprints. They must have gone up the street rather than cut across. He even ran a couple of blocks in both directions, but still found nothing.
Maria was standing when he got back. "Take back. Will live for now."
Jake saw no duplicity in her expression, and he scooped Sandy gently into his arms.
Maria sprinted ahead of him on the way back, but only because he took extra care of his burden. He still wasn't far behind and caught up in time to find her crouched next to the skinless man she'd left in the street, who, to be fair, Jake had forced her to leave there.
She abruptly blurred away, almost straight up into the air, and Jake blinked up at the porch where she now stood with Alejandro. Along with the wounded man at their feet. That was a neat trick indeed.
He took the long way around by way of the stairs, whereupon Alejandro opened the door for him. Jake stared daggers at the man until he averted his gaze. "You fucked up," Jake said.
"I'm sorry..."
"You abandoned them. If you'd been there, then Larry would be alive. Sandy wouldn't be dying, and god knows what happened to Saira and Mar."
Alejandro visibly shrank with every word while Jake settled Sandy on the couch. Lee was laid out on the floor where Alejandro had dragged him in, his eyes closed now.
Jake cursed out loud when he remembered Lee's enchanted weapons, and the tidbit he'd forgotten about how he could feel them. He cursed louder when he tried to wake Lee and realized the guy had decided to rank up. "Really!? Fucking now?"
Maria was glaring at him, then said something in Spanish, and Alejandro translated without looking up. "She says they will live. It will just take time to heal."
Jake didn't punch the other man in the face. No one forced Sandy to go out with them. She knew the risks when they left. He wouldn't disrespect her choice to risk her life. What he would do, was kill everyone involved in doing that to her.
Unfortunately, the trail was cold. Jake scoured the surrounding blocks for as long as he expected Lee to take and still found nothing. Then he went back to wake their resident enchanter from his beauty sleep.
~~~Lee~~~
The darkness behind his eyes changed, but Lee didn't care about that.
The pain was gone!
As a Human you are [Adaptable] and you now have the chance to alter your destiny. Choose wisely.
Multiple evolution options are available.
He reveled in the sensation for a while, or rather, the lack of it. Then he focused on the weird orbs floating in the darkness with him.
[Human](F-grade Human)
You began life as a Human but have strayed from your origins. This does not have to define your future, and you may return to that path as you ascend to the next stage.
This will increase your future evolution options.
Traits: [Adaptable](100%)
Lee didn't like this one off the bat. It just felt wrong. Getting rid of the trait that had carried him this far seemed like the dumbest choice he could make.
[Energetic](F-grade Human)
You have stepped onto a new path before F-Grade. Stay the course and stick with the choices that defined you as you ascend to the next stage.
This will not change your future evolution options.
Traits: [Adaptable](75%) [Energetic Resilience]
That one felt much better, but he kept looking.
[Rune Warden](F-grade Human)
You have embraced the Rune magic of your class. I am Runic.
You have created runes of sword and shield. I will fight.
You have repeatedly placed yourself or your magic between your allies and the dangers that would threaten them. I will protect.
Take up the mantle of the warden and continue to protect what you care about as you ascend.
This will reduce your future evolution options.
Traits: [Adaptable](70%) [Energetic Resilience] [Warden]
It was interesting, and sure looked like he gained this option based on things he'd done previously. He focused on the new trait.
[Warden]
Increases the strength of your runes that relate to blocking damage or sharpening weapons. All such runes are 50% more effective.
+50% Effective Vitality
+25% Effective Strength
That was... definitely an option. Something that made him harder to kill. It would also make his building-wide enchant more durable from the sound of it. Very good option. Aside from the fact that he wouldn't be able to make any runes for a month...
Obviously, he still kept looking. There might be something even better if the trend of his choices continued.
[Mana Conduit](F-grade Human)
You have embraced Liquid Mana in all of its volatile fury. I am Mana.
You have created your own skill using Liquid Mana. I will wield Mana.
You killed a Reptile King using only your Liquid Mana. None shall stand in my way.
You have stepped onto the path of the Conduit. Embrace this path and revel in the tumultuous flow of your mana as it burns away your enemies.
This will reduce your future evolution options.
Traits: [Adaptable(70%)] [Energetic Resilience] [Conduit]
Reptile King... that had to be the snake. Which meant it was indeed dead. That was a relief. That it was dead, not the reptile king part, that part was terrible. It was day one, and they already had monsters like that... What was the world going to look like in a week?
As for the evolution option... Lee wasn't feeling it. He still checked the trait for more info.
[Conduit]
Liquid Mana flows through you like the blood in your veins.
-50% Mana Burn
+100% Liquid Mana Capacity
+100% Liquid Mana Channel Capacity
That... was suddenly more of an option. Sure, it didn't make him tougher or harder to kill, but that mana burn reduction... Would it reduce his debuff? He'd been half hoping and half praying that getting to F-grade alone would help, but this was now a possibility. If it stacked with energetic resilience, it might remove the debuff altogether... or just halve it? Maybe only change the duration? He just didn't know.
It also didn't benefit his fighting. Unless he had to kill another reptile king... or if he had to use that blast again...
Jake was the strongest person Lee had seen yet, and while he'd been doing some damage, everyone else in the snake's path would have died before he brought it down. At least one did die, and probably more that Lee just hadn't witnessed personally.
His new skill was a serious trump card, but one with some equally serious downsides. This evolution might diminish the cost... it also wouldn't hurt his runes. In fact, it would probably make it easier to enchant the building again once his debuff was over. Maybe make it better...
The Rune Warden choice would make a lot of his runes better. Including if he re-enchanted the building. But if he could use that extra channel capacity to make stronger runes anyway...
Lee was glancing back and forth between his choices when he caught sight of another orb he hadn't noticed because it blended so well into the darkness.
[Beast Lord](F-Grade Beastkin)
You have been Soul-Bonded to a powerful Beast Lord. I am the Beast.
Let go of your grip on humanity. Embrace the Beast Lord within and Lead your Pack. I am the Beast Lord.
While still partially human, you can start down a new path. Find out where it leads as you ascend to the next stage.
This will greatly reduce your future evolution options.
Traits: [Beast-kin Lord] [Adaptable](25%) [Energetic Resilience]
What the hell!? Soul-Bonded? To who... or what?
Lee studied the orb for long moments as he tried to make sense of this choice. He did not know what it was talking about, and had no way to check his status for clues; he tried more than once to do just that before he remembered something from what felt like a lifetime ago.
Twin-Soul has been Soul-Bonded by Caff Caffeine.
The message had popped up right after accepting his class... but he'd forgotten with everything that followed. Especially since it never showed in his status. But that would mean Caffeine was the powerful Beast Lord in question. Which was just... hard to wrap his head around.
Aside from that, it also meant the choice might actually be an option. If he couldn't use mana... then becoming some kind of beast... creature might let him fight better. He had the regeneration... and maybe eating monsters would taste better if he was a beast?
Oh, it was tempting. But it was... unknown. What did Soul-Bonded even mean, and why wasn't it on his status? Was lord better than a king? Would it make him as strong as that snake? It had to be weaker. Stanley wouldn't be almost dying if Caffeine was with him and stronger than the snake.
In the end, Lee couldn't do it. It was a massive change, and it looked like it might force him down a completely different path. He couldn't have ended up here with the Mana Well just to become a beast, could he?
No. He wouldn't take this option. If he could find a way to communicate with Stanley, could confirm that it was a good choice... then maybe. Otherwise, he had to take a different path for now.
That left him with two choices. Warden or Conduit.
His runes were good, great even. The mana was... powerful. He could pick the conduit and still have his runes. Choosing the warden might be better in the long run, but it wouldn't matter if he died because he had neither mana nor runes from the debuff.
Lee made his choice.
Evolution to [Mana Conduit](F-Grade Human) has begun.
Ungraded Attribute Fortification:
Strength: 1 +1% Effective Strength
Vitality: 2 +2% Effective Vitality
Dexterity 0
Wisdom 5 +5% Effective Wisdom
Intelligence 2 +2% Effective Intelligence
Willpower 1 +1% Effective Willpower
The pain returned. Only this time, it brought friends.
The violent shaking someone was giving Lee did not help in the slightest with the pain he was feeling. Calling his name didn't help either. His muscles were all locked up and he couldn't speak if he wanted to.
They stopped, eventually.
It made little difference. All he could do was hold on and ride it out as a searing energy seemed to emanate from his core. It wasn't coming from where his mana was; Lee had studied enough of his core to know that, but it was somewhere close by... maybe even right outside.
Despite the pain, Lee was feeling hopeful. Mostly because he could actually feel the burning lines of his mana channels behind the rest of it, and they were feeling better by the moment.
Or all the other pain was just dulling his senses...
Lee didn't know how long he stayed in that place, and when it abruptly ended, he had all of a single second to enjoy the moment.