Kelford strolled through the dark passage and was already luxuriating in his new class’s power.

“ This is amazing,” Kelford almost laughed as he looked around, seeing details in the familiar passage he hadn’t gotten to see before. The darkness held no secrets to his eyes unlike all the other times he could see.

The passage was gray stone marked with thick layers of dust, its uninteresting landscape did nothing to douse Kelford's cheerful mood. He had grown used to the near sightlessness of the earlier floors but with this he wouldn’t have to suffer the oppressive gloom nearly as much. T.U.I disappeared and he immediately focused up as he prepared for the first floor. It would be easy but it would be a good way of practicing his new skills. In his excitement he had skipped the usual hours of practice to try and familiarize himself with his new class. These beginning gnoblars would have to do.

The light of the campfire soon became clear as Kelford crossed the bend in the passage. The gnoblars were once again nowhere to be seen aside from their lone brother until Kelford did a cursory glance into the room they inhabited. Two held knives in the back while Kelford assumed the other two were along the walls he couldn’t see. Rolling his shoulders Kelford considered how he would approach this fight.

“ Might as well test out Darkness just to see if I’m affected by it ” Kelford said as he pulled on the shadow essence around him. Tendrils of the essence poured into his hand creating an orb of compact power. He released it, energy flaring out into the dark walls around him.

Darkness

The gnoblars screamed as a haze of shadow covered the space ,swallowing the radiance of the fire. True darkness descended and Kelford waited to see what would happen. Kelford felt a slight pressure on his eyes as soon everything began to illuminate in a soft purple light. He grinned as he dashed forward , sword already swinging at the wailing gnoblars.

Empowered Strike

Roiling mists of shadow essence covered everything as Kelford rushed forward and cut through one gnoblar without pause . His new Weapon Proficiency guided his strikes with cold precision. Once , twice , three times he swung his blade. The gnoblars died easily and only one remained. Kelford made to kill it before he felt his spell begin to fade. The fire's radiance began to pierce through the gloom and Kelford could see the roiling mist of essence begin to break apart.

“ So Darkness only lasts for a minute or so” Kelford spoke aloud as he strolled towards the last gnoblar.The spell was useful but its limited duration would definitely hold it back.

“ Especially considering just how much essence I had to pour into it. If I had to use my own stores I wouldn’t be able to cast it more than three times. Less if I was in the middle of a fight.”

At this point the gnoblar could see him, the spell so broken it was effectively useless. Still there was something Kelford could use the remaining essence for. His will reached out and grabbed at the pockets of disintegrating Darkness and pulled it to his sword . The gnoblar screamed as it quavered in fear as Kelford’s sword erupted into purple light. He felt more essence enforce parts of his body as he killed the gnoblar with a clean downward stroke.

Empowered Strike

Purple essence flared around the body as it cut through flesh and Kelford released the skill with almost no backlash. The fire returned to its natural radiance and Kelford stood alone surrounded by bodies. A relic orb coalesced near the exit and T.U.I appeared soon after.

“ Congratulations Kelford, that was masterfully done” Her voice was positive as always, completely ignoring the dead bodies strewn across the cave.

“ It was only the first room T.U.I “ Kelford said , “ I haven’t put my new class through its paces yet.”

Despite his words, Kelford was grinning.The feeling of his enhanced strength mixed with his shadow essence skills left him exhilarated even as he practiced. Within the darkness of the cave shadow essence congregated in almost limitless quantities. While he was making his way to the fourth floor he definitely didn’t need to worry about his essence usage. Kelford’s will pulled on the essence flowing around him, darkening the cave as he basked in the sensation. He was strong. This was the power he had been waiting for. His gaze turned towards the Relic Orb that waited by the exit. He had more power to gather.

Mask of Whispers

Uncommon

Description:

A Mask that weakens the mental defenses of all who gaze upon it by 20%

Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

Amulet of Storing

Uncommon

Description:

A amulet that stores a moderate amount of essence attuned to the climber

Scythe of Silence

Uncommon

Description:

A blade enchanted with the essence of shadow

Blows have a small chance of silencing an enemy

With a quick look over the options Kelford chose the Amulet of Storing. To many of his abilities were dependent on essence and he couldn’t guarantee he’d get an option like this again before leaving the early floors. The scythe was a solid choice but he would have no issues harming the gnoblars for now. Besides, he didn’t really know how useful the silence component would be. The Mask of Whispers was useful if he needed the boost to fear his opponents.Which with gnoblars was a bit overkill. Yes, the Amulet of Storing would be a better item overall. The Relic Orb flashed before an amulet with a clear gem materialized from the light. As Kelford grasped it the gem darkened to pure black, a slight connection formed and Kelford saw a slight haze from around the amulet. He pulled around his neck, not bothered at all.

“ Are you ready to proceed now Kelford?” T.U.I floated to his side, “ While the next room will most likely not threaten your life, continuing practicing your skills will assist in learning your class.”

“ Took the words right out of my mouth” Kelford replied, pulling his sword into his Inventory as he began walking towards the next room. The darkness even in this tunnel was easily pierced by Kelfords eyes but much of the mystique had already fallen away. His gaze lingered upwards as he went over the abilities of his class.

“ Darkness and Boon of the Black Sun synergize well with each other, adding in Empowered Strike made cleaning the gnoblars a piece of cake. That makes me wonder…. T.U.I would I be able to see through Darkness normally? ”

“ If you had not cast the spell yourself you would be as blind as any trapped within the spell area. With you being the caster there is a resistance to your own spells effects.This effect can be augmented depending on the casters skills and class.Without Boon of the Black Sun, It would be hard to see into Darkness rather than being completely debilitating.” T.U.I said, “ Essentially,diving into your own spell effect would have been reckless and made you vulnerable.”

Kelford detected a slight bit of judgment in her tone but brushed it off. Everything had worked out in the end and he preferred to focus on the more interesting aspect of T.U.I’s explanation. “ Okay, that means there are probably other skills that give sight into the movement of essence and resisting my own spells. More skills to look out for.”

“ To have a skill that helps with both is powerful Kelford, your hard work has paid off!”

Kelford nodded at T.U.I’s words as he slowed to a stop. He stood roughly half the distance from the next floor, his enhanced eyes now able to see the opening further away. T.U.I floated nearby as Kelford considered the coming room.

“ I think this time I’ll test out Radiance of the Black Sun and how it interacts with Furs of the Warlord. I think there’s a synergy there but I’m not entirely sure.” Kelford felt at the connection of the skill. It was always on in a way, humming in the back of his mind. Unlike his enhanced skills this one seemed to have an active component that he became more interested in trying out. With a step, Kelford stalked forward T.U.I disappearing behind him. His new amulet had been filling with essence but Kelford pulled on the shadow essence in the area and held it within himself.He held the essence as tightly as he could but it was like holding water in a leaky balloon. Small tendrils of purple began to waive off of him but Kelford didn’t mind the waste. Here in the dark tunnels, there was essence to spare.

The gnoblars were already waiting for him. shives gleamed in the firelight as they filled the dirty cave with defiant growls. Kelford’s eyes roamed the room, now able to see it clearly with the shadows no longer a problem. Dirty and dingy, with old bones and blood stains in the corners. Kelford’s lip twisted with disgust as brought his attention back to the gnoblars. He hadn’t crossed the threshold yet, leaving the creatures impotent to harm him yet. A quirk of the Tower Kelford had realized after his many runs. The creatures couldn’t harm him if he didn’t cross the threshold. Fortunately, that didn’t extend to him. The essence he gathered funneled into his skill and to top it off he poured what essence his new amulet was able to gather. Purple essence turned black as he charged into the room. The gnoblars roared in rage as they made to meet his charge.

Radiance of the Black Sun

Kelford's feet erupted with racing shadows darker than his surroundings. The gnoblar front runners missed a step as their hearts froze in their chests. Squawks of surprise and confusion blunted the charge as they tripped over each other. Kelfords blade cut through them like wheat. Bloody harvest covered the cavern walls as the shadows terrorized the gnoblars. Kelford cut a way to the gnoblar positioned in the farthest corner, one with a sling. So focused on killing he didn’t even notice the dim red that now suffused his armor. The gnoblars panicked scream fell on deaf ears as he closed the distance.

Aura of the Warlord

The Gnoblar Hurler screamed as it released its missile, too close for Kelford to dodge. He took the stone to the chest and felt… nothing? A laugh escaped Kelford’s throat as his sword spelled the end for the terrified creature. Its body sank to the ground as Kelford turned back to the survivors. They huddled in the corners of their dirty cave all eyes wide and staring. The bloody ground where their less fortunate brethren lay acting as a weak barrier between them and the monster in their midst. The Radiance of the Black Sun had returned to its normal potency, the power Kelford had poured into it spent in only a few moments. The skill of Furs of the Warlord was still active. As he considered the gnoblars Kelford went over what he had learned.

The difference between demoralization and fear must mean something different to the Tower than he had thought. The weak will of the gnoblars and the potency of his radiance having a stronger effect then Kelford expected. Was there more debuffs than just those two? Terror? Panic? Were these all different classifications or the same? Perhaps a connection that Kelford just didn’t know about. The Tower has so many more secrets and powers to discover. He hadn’t even scratched the surface.

A shiv sailed through the air cutting across his cheek. Kelford’s eyes widened as he put a hand to the stinging cut. A shallow wound closer to a paper cut than from any real weapon met his fingers. His attention fixed on the cowering gnoblars. He’d lost focus in the middle of a fight. How embarrassing, what if he had died from that hit? Kelford shook the thoughts aside and buried his speculations.

“ I’ll ask T.U.I about all that later,” Kelford refocused on the cowering creatures, “ After I pass the room”

The gnoblars screamed as some threw more makeshift weapons to keep him at bay. Others tried to climb the walls, minds devoted to fleeing no matter the futility. All of them cowered as Kelford stepped over the bodies of the fallen with contemptuous ease. He came to kill them and there was nothing the gnoblars could do to stop him.