With one man from the group down and.....well.....chewed up, the remaining six were staring at me and my gunk covered staff.

"Is everyone alright, besides that guy." I point at the remains of the guy who didn't make it. "I was watching from the overpass back on Vine Street and saw the beetles chasing the SUV"

The gal steps forward, lowering her 9mm. "John, Rick you guys ok? I'm in charge, three of us are from the local Reserve, the rest are volunteers who signed up to help." She looks down at the remains of the man "I don't understand, who was in the SUV? How did this happen?"

The guy to the far left speaks up "What Joan is trying to say is thank you, our rounds didn't seem to do anything to those....beetles?

Shaking my head I respond "They were level two and three, level two makes them enhanced, level three seems to give then an ability, and being a beetle I bet their carapace acts as armor and is resistant to normal ammunition"

Joan says "He is not the first we lost, whatever happened is getting worse, four of us disappeared right after we were returned." Two of the group began bagging up the dead man, there was a clatter of something hitting the pavement. Hearing the noise I point at the items "Grab his system gear, it drops out when someone dies"

A voice from the group says "is that what those are, each time we lost someone a few things just kind of appeared, we gathered them up but it was mostly just stuff."

Looking at the Items on the ground I read the description of each one. Sharing the results with the group.

(sys) Book / Guide to Magic / Increases Mana Sense +1 when properly studied

(sys)Wand / Spell - Flame Whip / Store or recharge between uses

(sys) Ring / Ring of Illusion / Unlocks Illusion Magic / Wisdom +1

Troy, the guy in the hat, picks up the three items listening as I describe each item. "Looks like he wanted to be a magician or something." Pointing at the wand I add "Someone should definitely be using that and if any of you have items similar to that or even system weapons or items they should do more damage to things."

Joan looks around "Should we be ready for more?" Looking over at the two trucks that I thought had mounted weapons, I notice that they are just full of random stuff, I thought they had something heavier than pistols and rifles.

One of the men steps forward, holding out a hand to shake, "My name is Stephen, I have to ask, I emptied my clip into one of those insects and all I got were ricochets. How did you make it look so easy, and what's with that bird?"

Holding out my arm The Raven swoops in and perches there, staring at the group. "The simple answer is.....Magic or whatever this system stuff is. The bird is level 4 and has been following me since downtown, as far as damage, high attack power, decent attributes, and a system weapon seems to work wonders." Holding my staff up I cause it to shrink into its short form and then send it to inventory. "And the inventory we all have now cleans it up and recharges it if needed." Recalling the staff to my hand I extend the ends "all nice and clean and ready for smackin"

The silent guy in the park ranger uniform looks at the bird...looks at the staff...and shakes his head "I'm not sure I understand"

The two guys moving the body are back and everyone is standing there....confused "the short version is the world didn't end, some sort of magic system arrived, gave all or most of us 'classes' like a video game, attributes and skills help us do whatever, you should have items you bought, the animals insects and other stuff have levels now, and everything non human I've encountered is trying to kill us."

Only one person seems to understand what I'm saying, and all she is doing is nodding up and down. Looking at their glazed faces I say to them "try this.....say Menu out loud and think of your Attributes" From six people I hear 'Menu" and then they are all trying to touch the screen in front of them like copies of each other. I say out loud "Stop that, the options are controlled by what you think or say, think of what you want to happen, it is your intent that matters" The motions slow down but I can see their eyes move as they read various things. "Did any of you pay attention during the Integration thing?"

Joan speaks first "I told them all when we returned to focus on our area here and pay attention, We helped clear the interstate with the other groups then we were told to stay here and assist as needed, This is an emergency! We have been on duty"

"Well I'd say the rules have changed, but lets do two more things while I'm here, picture the menu and screen sliding to your left or right, and move it out of your vision. This way you can see forward and use the menu system." As their eyes move either right or left Claire and Troy fall over but they all eventually get there. I continue feeding some of the new cores to The Raven.....maybe I should call him Quoth The Raven...haha or Craig the Bird....The Crow...

Noticing they were ready for more information "Next say 'Spatial Storage' and you can see your inventories and the system stuff you bought, It should open in front of you and you can grab the items with your hands or summon them out. Sub vocalizing the commands works as well and if you can find the settings it is easy to change just about everything."

Rick is now holding a Baton that has a Mana Energy glow to it, Troy has Boxing Gloves on, and Joan is equipped with a Pool Cue......."I suggest going through all the items and using them for your next fight, System store Items don't need identification spells to figure out, just concentrate on them and you'll get a basic description" adding "I need to move on, I'm hoping to get out of town tonight."

"You won't stay and help?" I can hear the worry in her voice. "No, I can't I also suggest you not staying here with your headlights on, It is not getting better anywhere I've been and once level four beasts or higher start wandering around it's going to be bad. I recommend finding the easiest things to kill and leveling up fast, I killed a slew of mosquitoes and other insects, reptiles, and rodents for my first levels, It's night time maybe find some moths or something"

Thinking about anything I could add to help them "I figured out where my Mana Energy was by using my inventory a few times and each time I removed or put an item back it used some Mana Energy, following that I discovered my core which then allowed me to send my energy into my weapon. With a little practice you can kick some ass!"

Before they realize it I'm disappearing into the darkness and I leave the small group behind. They seemed nice but unlikely to survive anything that happens upon them and with their headlights blazing all around they will get a visit by something.

Jogging down Interstate 80 I keep my eyes open for a truck or a motorcycle or something to 'borrow'.

Premonition and Mana Sense both warn me a minute later, slowing down, I fade into the shadows the moonlight creates along the line of vehicles. twenty yards ahead...is that fifty or sixty feet, give or take a bit, I can just make out a rope or a line stretched across the road. Not quite glowing in the darkness, more like radiating a dark gray smokey luminescence, it stretches across the three left lanes of open road on this side of the main divider then disappears into the far right lane amongst the cars and trucks pushed out of the way onto the right lane, shoulder, and gravel embankment.

Studying the area with Mana Sense I can make out a gathering of creatures....spiders...but big ones, there is a tangle of.....webbing rope? now connecting all of the cars into a nest or warren for the arachnids. Using my Map feature it opens on my right side and, luckily not bright white and blinding, It has Night Mode, yippeee.

Keeping my eyes and Mana Sense on the area ahead I watch the map with my system eyes? as it fills in with data. First the Interstate.....then the line up of cars along the side of the road.....the cable of webbing is highlighted in a dim grey......then a network of inter connected webs like walls holding the pile together....red dots of enemies appear as my Perception and Mana Sense identifies the moving bugs.....two green dots are mixed in amongst the red.....maybe some type of digging spiders or something similar as it appears they have carved into the embankment....8....make that 9 enemies. More details appear as I watch. Above me I hear "Kraaaaa?" Translated into We Attack, yes?

Reflecting on my classes I might as well try out my ranged fighter class.

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Basic Class - Warrior/Ranged

Attributes Strength +1, Agility +1, Perception +1

-Class Skill - Increased Accuracy and Speed. When attacking with a ranged weapon your speed and accuracy are increased.

-Luck and Perception allow for increased one shot kills and critical and disabling hits.

-Class Item: Generic System Mana Rifle

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Signing 'wait for me' to the raven with arm movements, I move to the other side of the dividing barrier in hopes of a better defensive position, then switch to my Ranged Warrior Class. hoping the barricade will keep me hidden while I figure out the rifle. I open up my Inventory and watch as it spirals open, Highlighted in a crate labeled 'Ranged Warrior - Rifle' are the items I purchased with this class choice

(sys) Pistol / .357 Colt Python Smith and Wesson revolver - Belt and Shoulder Rig / Moderate damage before ammunition modifier

(sys) x5 Quick Loaders - Enhanced / .357 Colt Python Equipment / Quantity - 5 / Adds Enhancement - Variable

(sys) Ammunition / 120 rounds enhanced .357 ammunition / Adds Force Damage / Reclaimed rounds will reload in System Storage

Class Item: Generic System Mana Rifle / Shape determined by Class and Wielder / 22 shots - Moderate to Extreme Damage / Semi Automatic / Reloads in System Storage or with Mana Energy / Fires enhanced rounds using Perception, Luck, and Dexterity as multipliers

Removing the Python and equipping the rigging for a belt holster, I set up each quick loader in the holders. In my hand the pistol feels just like the one waiting for me at my safe house, ignoring one of the rules of gun handling (always test fire a new gun before using it) not one of the 12 rules but an important one none the less.

Next I remove the Class Item Mana Rifle, It resembles a Smith and Wesson M&P 15 sport model I've fired before. Same weight and size, the barrel might be a touch longer, blackened so there is no reflection, and instead of a removable magazine there is a second grip for better control I guess. Doing a quick check to familiarize myself with the rifle I take a position up a little closer to the nest and check out the map now that it is now ready.

To far for Identify to work but the map shows 9 enemies light to medium red.....level 2s maybe 3s.....I take that to mean low danger. Also highlighted are now 3 green dots close together inside of an open semi trailer with the 2 darkest red spiders nearby. Safety off I take aim at the closest creature and plot my action to switch to the next two nearby. breathing and releasing I take the first shot, rapidly followed by two more at the target. Expecting a recoil and a loud sound I'm instead surprised by what sounds like a mans cough and no muzzle flash with minimal recoil. The target is struck three times with a pattern about the size of my torso, shredding carapace and sending pieces flying. Each round causing massive damage the sound of spider chunks hitting cars is louder than the rifle firing.

CRITICAL HIT / ARACHNID / GRIPPING UMMIDIA STRIKER / LEVEL 3

Switching to the next spider I am able to send three shots before they realize somethings targeting them.

CRITICAL HIT / ARACHNID / PIERCING UMMIDIA WEBWEAVER / LEVEL 3

My next grouping of shots is a bit more on target, I can feel the class skill assisting with my aim and my Luck is kicking in helping me hit critical areas. My Perception seems to highlights where flaws or delicate areas are located, I've hit the two most exposed spiders now I am aiming through an open window of a mid sized van at the third one. The spiders....they look like gigantic trap door spiders about the size of an over sized large dog but with shiny black or gray compact legs evenly dispersed around their body, two of the legs are in front more like arms shaped like spears.

CRITICAL HIT / ARACHNID / FRENZIED UMMIDIA BERSERKER / LEVEL 3

The third one is down now, checking the notifications I confirm the three kills in about 25 seconds, I've been spotted now and I can see the remaining group clustering up near the semi trailer.

With a screeching "KRAAAAAAA!" The Raven dive bombs into the group and grabs the smallest one quickly winging back into the sky with it's prey. Four down, no way that one survives.

Without a direct line of site I wait for a target to appear and watch my map. Five enemies left and as I watch the red dots become four then three. Do they have a stealth mode? Moving closer I keep my senses alert moving forward along the divider. Now there are just the two dark red dots near the green dots, I hold still trying to detect them. Pieces of the spider The Raven grabbed start to fall down onto the road, making a clatter of sound.

Where the largest chunk of spider lands the cement caves in and the three spiders that disappeared on my map spear the spider chunk and quickly wrap it up, I get an Identify on two of them.

Insect / Tunneling Arachnid / Level 2 / Dexterity - Agility / Tunneling - Stealth

Insect / Tunneling Venomous Ummedia / Level 3 / Dexterity - Agility - Vitality / Tunneling - Stealth - Venomous Stab

Taking aim I take finish off the closest two and with a flash the third one is grabbed by The Raven and disappears up into the night sky. Closing in on the corpses I grab the two cores that appeared, a quick search of the remains and I find a web like sac and a claw tip that glowed with my Mana Sense, sending my loot to inventory I walk towards the webbed den in the semi trailer, rifle at the ready.

Concentrating on my weapon I send my Mana Energy into the gun, a steady draw on my power and a hefty chunk of Mana Energy but I can tell that the rifle is reloaded and ready to fire. Leaving my Mana Energy linked to the Rifle I envision my next shots being empowered hopefully increasing damage or adding damage.

The two red dots haven't moved from their spot in the semi trailer but I notice one of the green dots is gone leaving only two. Moving into the webbed area I can see each strand clearly, It resembles heavily braided rope but with fine hairs about a half inch long reaching out from its surface. With Mana Sense I can see a dark energy pulsing through its length. The web isn't moving but it feels alive almost like it's watching me or sensing me. Stepping over the web I brush one of the tendrils and the reaction is immediate, the tendril hardens and contracts towards the web allowing the other nearby filaments to attach to my boot which causes the entire section to coil around my foot like a monkeys tail.

I stand motionless trying not to add to the problem, Movement on my map alerts me to one of the red dots inching forward towards me. Webbing is strung or attached all around the area, several pieces are moving like a starfish along the ground, the tiny filaments acting as legs, not very fast but there are at least six ends orienting towards me.

The Raven lands near the first three I killed and proceeds to steal their cores, When the third one is swallowed up The Raven puffs up again with a burst of Mana Energy growing bigger, darker, and more shadowy. The Damn Bird is still leveling faster than me. I think that is level five already.

Bird / Swift Shadow Raven / Level 5 / Agility - Speed - Vitality / Specialty - Shadow Strike / Keen Eye Sight - Blend with the dark - Fatal Slash - Shadow Bite - Grasp and Tear

"Core Thief" I mutter "be careful of the strands, they are sticky"

Pulling out the folding sword I found earlier I send my Mana Energy into the blade thinking I need a two foot long short sword wreathed in dark energy. Similar to my staff the blade flips out and extends, the hilt grows to the size of my hand and the blade reaches two feet as shadowy flame emanates from the cutting edge. With a quick slash I'm free of the web and for good measure I cut each piece close to me, The dark flames crawl along the rope-like surface burning and cauterizing the ends. Just a hint of sizzle and the smell of burnt fabric.

Holding the Mana-Rifle in one hand and the blade in my other, I move towards the semi-trailer, the back of the open cargo area has webbing tendrils hanging down like a freezer door and I can just make out a huge spidery shape through the strands.

Insect / Dark Arachnid Lurker / Level 4 / Strength - Intelligence / Specialty - Illusionary Stab / Pounce - Shadow Hide - Quick Retreat - Venom Spray

No thank you, I don't hate spiders in general but this guy looks to be at least four feet off the ground, jet black, and I can barley see it as it is constantly blending into the darkness, even though it's right there on the other side of the webbing. It's stalking me I think, acting like I can't see it, trying to draw it out I bend over opening up my side for an attack all the while lifting the gun into position aimed in its direction. With a flash of skill use the Arachnid Lurker leaps through the web wall all front four legs extended towards me, its front two forelegs covered in a dark energy.

I open fire, The low recoil helps me aim correctly and my class skill sends six shots powered up with my Mana Energy fired out like tracer rounds, each shot lights up the night and the rounds puncture through its face and travel the length of its body, the force of each hit causes the body to jerk and convulse, in one case a leg goes flying sideways.

I feel a hit in my mid section, I didn't count on it's specialty attack, one of it's legs was covered by an illusion and was longer than I accounted for, the spiders forward motion carried the leg with a piercing tip into my stomach, right through my shirt and skin. Luck or maybe timing but the puncture only causes normal damage and ruins my clean shirt. Using my sword I slice the leg off where it meets the body and with a quick grab send it and the level 4 core into my inventory. Examining the body with Mana Sense I carve off the top of its carapace and add it to my other loot.

LEVEL UP

-1 CLASS POINT

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

-CLASS ADVANCEMENT AVAILABLE

And that makes me level 4. Hell Ya!