"Lock your doors and windows to no avail, Scream until your lungs bleed to not be heard, Pray but do not hold dear to hope, not even Gods can help you.
The skies will turn blood red and the earth will be pierced by fangs bigger than the greatest mountains, oceans will be drained down The Ender's throat, he will devour our world and everyone in it, his hunger never satisfied, his thirst never quenched. He is coming."
- Prophecy of The End of Times by Unknown
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While brandon was meditating trying to unlock the mysteries of Magic Jack was training with the spear and a thickly made tower shield he crafted a few days back.
They have discovered that just as Bosco, their Equipment also had Stats, for example Jack's Handcrafted Obsidian Spear and Handcrafted Tower shield
Handcrafted Obsidian Spear
Piercing Dmg: 75
Slashing Dmg: 30
Blunt Dmg: 5
Condition: New
Master Carpenter Bonus: +4 to all Stat modifiers
Handcrafter Tower Shield
Piercing Def: 50
Slashing Def: 45
Blunt Def: 45
Blunt Dmg: 40
Condition: New
Master Carpenter Bonus: +4 to all Stat Modifiers
They had yet to discover what "stat modifiers" implied but they had the suspicion that i had something to do with their Strength Dexterity and Agility, at least with the Melee weapons. i could mean a +4% efficiency or +40% for all they knew, but at this time the more advantages they could get the better.
The evening preceded undisturbed for the most part until they decided to go hunting some monsters, it was not a reason of food or territory but more of a hit to their pride since their Dog could probably kill them both without them realizing it. not only he matched some of their stats, he doubled others.
Jack tried to focus on his stance and kept trusting with his spear, using footwork from boxing he advanced and then circled around an invisible enemy. Each trust was directed towards the vitals of the shadow, he spin around and used his spear to trow a very wide slash before he lost footing and almost fell to the ground.
"FUCK!" Jack cursed out loud, the river's noise was messing with his mind making him remember the events that happened a few days past. after shaking his head and getting rid of the memories he ventured inside the woods without hesitation, he needed quiet. Bosco who was laying on the floor sleeping in between the two brothers rose his head and immediately followed him.
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Brandon was fully trapped in his inside world, with one hour training he managed to cast a flame not bigger than the one casted by a zippo lighter, he could move it around at will, but the faster and further away he tried to cast the flame the more it burned his magic, or at least its what his gut told him.
He was now trying to analyze what the process of creating this flame was. Somehow he expected it to not be explainable with the """terran""" scientific method, but their original planet and this world seemed to share basic science. He was now trying to find out how he was able to cast the flame. Energy is not lost it is transferred, and him creating a flame from thin air means that he must be burning some sort of fuel.
His mind wondered deeper and deeper focusing on the flame between his hands, it was warm and inviting almost a part of himself, like an extra invisible limb. He felt the air around the flame and concluded that he was steadily feeding the small fire tongue with mana.
If mana was the fuel that he used to create the flame then he could ideally create a process, a scripted series of commands programed to execute when certain conditions where meet. The same way a computer program worked. at least this is how it was in the table top games he played. Magic had more in common with computer science than with anything else and his major in college before he dropped out was in computer science.
With his basic knowledge of chemistry he tried to feed the Flame with oxygen, since he could not feel the air around him he tried to focus on the flame only taking a select part of the air around it, at the beginning he could not tell what the flame was consuming, it died down a few times when feeding on a certain air chemical he could not discern but at the end he found out what oxygen felt like, better said what it tasted like, an acidic taste that took over his taste buds reminding him of how lemons where took over his mouth while the flame roose higher and wider before it matched the bonfire in front of him. Increasing the size of the flame by feeding it Oxygen consumed very little mana compared to increasing its size with raw mana itself. This was a break thorough.
He channeled and tried to mod the fire stream to be projected from his palm, creaming a blow torch like fire stream, he twisted the flames in a spiral and soon he felt a "pop" indicating he finally managed to create his first magic spell.
Flamethrower
A steady stream of flame projected from any part of the Casters body dealing high Fire dmg to anyone hit by this spell.
Advanced literacy modifier: -5 to mana drain per second
Not only Advanced Literacy helped him daily it also affected the way his magic worked since he understood how fire worked in a chemical level. Brandon opened his eyes and smirked, this was going to be a fun Day.
Before returning to his experiments he pointed his palm at the river that was some 15 yards away and casted flamethrower, the acidic taste in his mouth from the oxygen was starting to become familiar. the flames where projected in a thin spiral, reminding him of footage of the exhaust of turbine engines, they twisted and ended kissing the surface of the water that traveled down stream. Brandon's predator smile grew wider.
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The sound of the River could not be heard any more, Jack leaned his spear and shield against a tree and sat next to it. he needed time to think.
His hand reached inside his shirt and took out the pendant on his neck, he looked down while holding it and asked himself if he was being irrational about the whole river mermaid ordeal.
Yes there where different species, yes he did not even knew if she had a vagina, and they might not really speak the same language, but on the other hand she was pretty. wars have been waged over women that not even looked half as good as her, that was certain.
Jack closed his fist and held tightly to the pendant while he closed his eyes. trying to focus on his thoughts. he knew that to unlock the "well of power" he had to reach some sort of enlightenment in his mind. His brother got it after he went in trance while playing music, he did not knew when or how Bosco unlocked his since the dog could not talk but it was certain, he probably also could do so.
They needed power to survive this land. They been spoiled by the dogs overprotective instincts, he probably drove away most dangers now that he was such high level, ether that or he killed any approaching threats, his titles where scary especially the Reaper one, he had a wild suspicion that critical strikes meant like hits to vital parts like the neck or the hearth, but for the dog to acquire such title he must have been kin to killing this past few weeks.
The wind brushed against the leaves of the canopy ever so slightly, the sound of crickets and birds surrounded him. Jack focused on his thoughts and tried to leave his mid blank, an image of his brother smiling flashed in his mind but quickly disappeared, the mermaid's eyes staring at him stook some time longer before he dismissed the memory. this process repeated until his mind reached the deeper and darker corners of his mind. memories of war from when he was in the Marines some good ten years ago.
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Darkness surrounded him. A distant echoing sound of water dripping could be heard resonating all around him as the darkness started to morph and soon he found himself in the middle of a place that he vaguely recalled, some village in Iraq.
Behind him there was a destroyed fountain that used to be the center of the town square, now reduced to rubble. Shots could be heard in the distance as he started to walk towards the conflict, he looked around him, the buildings where heavily damaged, he could not see what or who was inside the houses but occasionally he would find pairs of red dots observing him from the shadows.
It was dark all around him, like being in the middle of a incomplete memory, he guessed it was night after looking at the sky and seeing the milky way in all its might and power, but he could not place where he exactly was in the memory, he could not find himself and he did not really wanted to but something was driving him there.
He observed how two black hawks flew over him shooting their 50 cals and rockets towards their enemy, and the familiar sound of the M1 Abrahams firing in the distance could be singled out from between the distant rain of fire.
Like being dragged against his will he floated towards a street where the main conflict was happening, US soldiers where taking cover while receiving heavy fire, shouting orders and trying to retaliate from the ambush they been caught in.
Around a hundred yards away their enemies where barricaded inside a four stories apartment building, a jet could be heard flying over their heads, the A-10 opened fire on the building while doing multiple fly overs, the bullets sparked with each impact and the characterizing "BRTTTTTTTTTT!" like sound echoed through the streets while the soldiers ceased fire to cheer
"THE CHAVALARY IS HERE BABY!" screamed the men while laughing.
The M1 Abrahams fired a couple of times to where their enemies where hiding and the front half of the building collapsed leaving a big cloud of dust behind.
"I remember now, this is Karbala" said Jack while walking towards where him and his team where.
After walking though a wall like a ghost he found himself in a room, a native man tied down to a char while being """questioned""" surrounded by soldiers in face masks, he knew who each of the men in the room where, and he knew who he was.
"Where is Mohammed Ail Yesir?" asked one of the soldiers in some Arabic language while sparking some car clamps that where connected to a power source, he knew well how this is was going to end.
A human that seemed made out of shadows and smoke was standing next to him, was he there the whole time and he just noticed now? He looked like a store manikin, the being had no defined features except his bright red eyes that scanned the room.
"Who are you?" asked Jack the shadow who turned around and looked at him
"Its time to wake up" said the shadow with a deep resonating voice as if the being was being drowned before the steel door that lead to the room was blown off its hinges by a huge explosion.
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While recovering consciousness Jack could hear a sound in the distance, something was making a huge fuss around him.
A few seconds later he realized it was Bosco Barking at him.
Jack extended his arm and petted the Dog. Something caught his attention, his thick wood bark arm guards where starting to sprout, and small flexible vines crawled on top of his skin connecting them to the other pieces of armor, while something resembling black smoke seemed to pour out of his pores.
Jack checked his status immediately
Jack Callahan Age: 31 Race: Terran (Human variant) Status: Healthy Level: 4
Titles: Aprentice Scholar(+2 Int +2Wis)
This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Death Defier(+4 to Willpower)
Blood Sworn(+4 Willpower +2 Charisma)
Peace Finder(+2 Int, +6 Willpower)
Engaged (+2 Char with Fiancee, -2 Char all other members of the oposite sex)
Homonaturae
Stats Status modifier Strenght: 22(+7) +/- 0 Agility: 12 +/- 0 Constitution: 22(+9) +/- 0 Dexterity: 21(+10) +/- 0 Inteligence: 17(+8) +/- 0 Wisdom: 14(+6) +/- 0 Willpower: 22(+10) +/- 0 Perception: 19(+4) +/- 0 Charisma: 10(+4) +/- 0 Unasigned Status points 3 skills Master Carpentry : Level 5 (+8 Dex) Advanced Literacy: Level 2 (+4 Int, +4 Wis) Advanced Fitness: Level 4 (+4 Con, +4 Str) Intermediate Boxing: Level 7 (+3 Str, +5 Con) [+1 level] Intermediate Combat Sense: Level 3 (+2 Per, +2 Char) Intermediate Fishing: Level 5[+1 Level] (+2 Dex, +2 Per) Intermediate Flint Knapping: Level 5 (+2 Dex, +2 Per) [+3 Levels] Intermediate Woodsman: Level 1 Begginer Battle tactics: Level 7 Begginer Ambush Countermeasures: Level 9 Begginer Weapon Crafting: Level 7 Begginer Armor Crafting: Level 5 Begginer Spear Mastery: Level 8 [+5 levels] Begginer Hide Treating: Level 2 Begginer Clay Crafting: level 3 Begginer Well of Power Control: Level 4 [Skill aquired! +4 Levels] Begginer Shadow Element Control: Level 2 [Skill aquired! +2 Levels] Begginer Wood Simbiosis: Level 1 [Skill aquired!]
Jack did not liked that his new title had the word "homo" in it but he was not ignorant, he new that in latin it meant person or man. he smiled after reading what the effects of the title where.
Homonaturae
Trhough hardship and suffering in nature One also has found peace and happiness in nature.
[++Defense from wooden armor]
[++Dmg from wooden weapons]
[Wood items touching the person are connected to the nervous sistem, and apear to be part of the beares natural extensions of One's body(skill Wood Simbiosis) ]
Spoiler: Current Status
Brandon Callahan Age: 24 Race: Terran (Human variant) Status: Healthy Level: 4
Titles: Aprentice Scholar(+2 Int +2Wis)
Restless one(-2h of sleep neded each day to be fully rested)
Revenant(+2 Will, +2 Wis)
Dancing With Mermaids (Imroved Water Element Resistance)
Stats Status modifier Strenght: 12(+2) +/- 0 Agility: 9 +/- 0 Constitution: 11(+2) +/- 0 Dexterity: 17(+6) +/- 0 Inteligence: 24(+12) +/- 0 Wisdom: 24(+10) +/- 0 Willpower: 15(+5) +/- 0 Perception: 12(+4) +/- 0 Charisma: 11 (+2) +/- 0 Unasigned Status points 3 skills Advanced Literacy: Level 8 (+4 Int, +4 Wis) Advanced Carpentry : Level 5 (+4 Dex) Advanced Improvisation: level 8 (+4 Int, +4 Per) Intermediate Brawling: Level 3 (+2 Str, +2 Con) Intermediate Musician: Level 8 (+2 Dex)[+3 levels] Intermediate Wits: level 2 (+2 Int, +2 Wis) Intermediate Animal Training: Level 1 (+2 Char) Intermediate Meditation: Level 9 (+3 Will) Begginer Flint Knapping: Level 3 Begginer Weapon Crafting: Level 3 Begginer Spear Mastery: Level 1 Begginer Woodsman: Level 7 Begginer Interrogation: Level 1 Begginer Hide treating: Level 4 Begginer Bowsman: Level 6 Begginer Well of Power Control: Level 6 [+1 Level] Begginer Fire Element Control: Level 8 [+4 Level] Active Skills
Flamethrower
A steady stream of flame projected from any part of the Casters body dealing high Fire dmg to anyone hit by this spell.
Advanced literacy modifier: -5 to mana drain per second
Jack Callahan Age: 31 Race: Terran (Human variant) Status: Healthy Level: 4
Titles: Aprentice Scholar(+2 Int +2Wis)
Death Defier(+4 to Willpower)
Blood Sworn(+4 Willpower +2 Charisma)
Peace Finder(+2 Int, +6 Willpower)
Engaged (+2 Char with Fiancee, -2 Char all other members of the oposite sex)
Homonaturae
Stats Status modifier Strenght: 22(+7) +/- 0 Agility: 12 +/- 0 Constitution: 22(+9) +/- 0 Dexterity: 21(+10) +/- 0 Inteligence: 17(+8) +/- 0 Wisdom: 14(+6) +/- 0 Willpower: 22(+10) +/- 0 Perception: 19(+4) +/- 0 Charisma: 10(+4) +/- 0 Unasigned Status points 3 skills Master Carpentry : Level 5 (+8 Dex) Advanced Literacy: Level 2 (+4 Int, +4 Wis) Advanced Fitness: Level 4 (+4 Con, +4 Str) Intermediate Boxing: Level 7 (+3 Str, +5 Con)[+1 Level] Intermediate Combat Sense: Level 3 (+2 Per, +2 Char) Intermediate Fishing: Level 5[+1 Level] (+2 Dex, +2 Per) Intermediate Flint Knapping: Level 5 (+2 Dex, +2 Per) [+3 Levels] Intermediate Woodsman: Level 1 Begginer Battle tactics: Level 7 Begginer Ambush Countermeasures: Level 9 Begginer Weapon Crafting: Level 7 Begginer Armor Crafting: Level 5 Begginer Spear Mastery: Level 8 [+5 Levels] Begginer Hide Treating: Level 2 Begginer Clay Crafting: level 3 Begginer Well of Power Control: Level 4 [Skill aquired! +4 Levels] Begginer Shadow Element Control: Level 2 [Skill aquired! +2 Levels] Begginer Wood Simbiosis: Level 1 [Skill aquired!]
Bosco Age: 7 Race: Doberman (Dog variant) Status: Healthy Level: 18
Titles: One of a Kind (+5 to all Atributes)
Guard Dog (Increased Dmg when defending Claimed Land from Hostiles)
Reaper (Critical Strikes are doubled)
Fenrir Kin (All Bite attacks are subjected to a 1.5 Dmg multiplator) [+1 Unique Active Skill]
Stats Status modifier Strenght: 21(+11) +/- 0 Agility: 22(+10) +/- 0 Constitution: 28(+15) +/- 0 Dexterity: 12(+5) +/- 0 Inteligence: 12(+8) +/- 0 Wisdom: 17(+8) +/- 0 Willpower: 26(+11) +/- 0 Perception: 46(+26) +/- 0 Charisma: 19 (+5) +/- 0 Unasigned Status points 0 skills Master Guard: level 4(+6 Per +6Will) Master Dog Senses: Level 8(+8 Per) Advanced Bite: Level 8 (+3 Str, +3 Agi) Advanced Hunting: Level 6 (+3 Per, +3 Con) Advanced Commands: Level 2 (+3 Int, +3 Wis) Intermediate Fitness: Level 4 (+3 Str, +3 Con) Intermediate Sneak: Level 5 (+2 Agi, +2 Per) Intermediate Feasting: Level 4 (+4 Con) Intermediate Tracking: Level 2 (+2 Per) Begginer Well of Power Control: Level 9 Begginer Wind Element Control: Level 3 Active Skills
Fenrir's Bite
Magically Empowered Bite attack that can pierce even through stone.
Wind Step
Using the Wind as a Vessel the Caster can move extreamly quickly without making any sound for short distances.