《Runeblade》 Chapter 1 : The Fall Trees blurred as Kaius sprinted through the forest. He thought he heard crashing behind him. The bandits were on his tail. He''d easily had a league''s head start when he saw them on the top of a precarious ridge line. One of them had been pointing at him, a thick ropey scar on the man''s face. They''d closed the distance so fast. A root caught his foot, sending him stumbling. A thrown out arm caught his fall, the bark of the oak digging in painfully. He had to get to Father. They had a tracker. He knew it. Otherwise, he would have lost them. Even if they''d only just moved into this area of the forest, he''d lived in the Sea since he was a boy. He could cross it better than any village hunter he''d met. There, up ahead. It was the elm with the strange split in its trunk. He''d pointed it out to Father a few days ago. He was almost there. He pushed on, ignoring the way his heart slammed in his chest. How each breath felt like a knife blade on his throat. He just had to get to Father. Kaius came smashing through the underbrush, stumbling to a stop in front of their cooking fire. A pot of soup was bubbling away. His father looked up, green eyes wide in surprise. He wasn''t supposed to be back for another good hour or two. "Kaius!" Hastur said, jumping to his feet. "What''s wrong, boy? Are you alright?" he asked. Kaius bent over, panting, as he struggled to get the words out. "Bandits! Right behind! Think they have a tracker!" Hastur''s face went cold. He moved. Blurring into their tent. A moment later he was in front of him. Shoving his pack into his hands even as he shrugged on his armoured leather and chain jacket. "Go!" he shouted, pointing in the opposite direction that Kaius had come running from. "But-" Kaius tried to protest. "Now! Fool boy!" he all but screamed, shoving Kaius. "This is what we prepared for! You know our legacy, you can merge the rest of the skills yourself! Go!" Kaius felt the panic rising. He couldn''t leave. Father could handle them. He was only supposed to leave if there was no chance. They were only bandits. "I-" Hastur slapped him, the stinging mark bringing tears to his eyes. "Go! If I don''t find you, I''m already dead. Go!" Hastur shoved him again. Reality collapsed. His father''s words sinking in. He had to leave. Kaius shrugged his pack on as fast as he could. He took a second to double check he had properly secured his sword. A heavy hand slapped on his shoulder. "Fool boy." His father looked him dead in the eye. "I love you. Now go!" The rough shove sent Kaius stumbling. He went. Hastur drew Art In Motion, the longsword gleaming as it caught the light. It was a masterwork, a strange blade with a section of diamond cutouts through its centre. A blade that no longer fit him, not as reduced as he was. He''d always been wary of giving it up. He''d made the thing after all. It would serve him well today. They''d finally found him. Of course, it had to be today. A few short years and the boy would have been gone. Such was luck. The Lady had always had it out for him. For Unterstern. They arrived. Nearly thirty of them exited the underbrush, moving to surround the camp. He supposed he should feel flattered, sending that many for little old him. So he ran. Faster and harder than he ever had before. **Ding! Physical Conditioning has reached Level 13** Kaius ignored the notification, pumping his arms harder. His longsword thumped into his hip with every stride. He longed to draw it and turn on his pursuers. He was practically guaranteed to be the better swordsman: Warforged was his second combined skill. Even if it was low level, its method of creation was a secret for a reason. All the skill in the world would matter little against five full grown men, all of whom would be considerably stronger and faster than him. There was no way any one of them was under level fifty. As the trees whipped by him, arrows consistently flew close enough for him to know they could have hit him - if only the archer wanted them to. Kaius heard the growing roar of a river. "Shit," he swore. He had forgotten about that. Too strong and swift for him to pass safely, it may as well have been a solid wall. The bandits certainly hadn''t. They''d been herding him. He had no choice. He would hit the banks of the river soon. Already he could see the spray that was kicked off the rapids as it hit the light. He couldn''t go left, the river quickly looped backwards which would lead him back to the majority of the bandit group''s forces. He would have to go right. It might kill him, but that was better than the only other option available to him. Planting his foot firmly on a tree root he pushed off. Kaius heard the muffled curse of one of his pursuers. They hadn''t expected that. The roaring of the river grew louder, a cacophony that almost drowned out his pursuit. Sunlight streamed through the trees, revealing the edge of the forest line as it retreated from the banks of the river. Dipping and dodging Kaius wove through the trunks, arrows hitting home with a thwack as they landed around him. The bandits had given up their pretences and were trying to hit him with real seriousness. He burst onto the river bank and was confronted by a solid wall of mist and haze. Vision obscured, his only hint of his destination was a violent roar to his front. Ahead of him the land fell away, a sharp demarcation delineating earth and sky like the ground had been cut free. The river howled as it shot straight over the cliff''s edge. Kaius''s chest thumped as he grasped the enormity of what he was about to do. It was a steep drop. He and his father moved camp regularly; they''d only arrived in this area of the Arboreal Sea a few days ago. Neither of them had managed to find a path to the base of the falls yet. Even if it was free of rocks, the undertow created by a river of this size was more than enough to drown him. His jaw clenched as he stared at the slice of sky, sprinting straight for the edge. Just a few more long-strides and he would make it. "Job, take him down!" A line of white fire shot through his left leg. Bitter resistance surged through him, he only had one option. Kaius threw himself forward. Over the edge of the waterfall. The forest stretched out below him, an endless mat of green. Vanishing over the horizon as the glistening snake of a river coursed its way through the wild terrain. Then gravity reasserted itself. Kaius let out a scream of terror as he plunged towards the watery depths below. Chapter 2 : The Great Depths Bubbles swirled around him, colossal forces pulling him from every direction. Water surrounded him on all sides, stabbing with an icy chill. Weighing him down, soaking his travelling clothes. He tried to kick, to force his way upwards. Agonising heat shot through his leg, the limb flapping ineffectively. It was broken. He was going to drown. Fighting to move, he tried to discern which way was up even as he was thrown and twisted around by the currents. His vision started to tunnel; a deep burning ache settling into his lungs. I''m going to drown. Still he struggled, Rapid Adaptation fighting to keep the fear at bay. The faintest hint of a scintillating glow rose up from the depths, too blue to be the surface, growing brighter as he was forced down by the hammerblow of water from the falls. It was forgotten in his all-consuming need for air. The black closed in. Then...nothing. He was falling again. Back hit stone. Hard. His head smacked into the ground with a crack that he felt in his teeth. He heard water hit the ground with a splash, drenching his surroundings. The sharp pain rose him to full wakefulness - a cough and a splutter forced out the water in his lungs, leaving him retching. Pushing his sopping hair out of his eyes he looked around, shocked at his continued survival. Eyes adjusted to a soft light, far dimmer than the sun he was used to, though still more than enough to see by. He was in a damp cavern, the lighting immediately explained by a thin patchy coating of phosphorescent moss. Roots speared through the light intermittently, bursting through stone and moss alike. It smelled horrible. He pushed himself up into a sitting position, wincing at the pain in his leg. Ever the useful skill, Rapid Adaptation prevented the pain from paralysing him, but it did not remove it. Evidently it hadn''t been enough time for his Health to regenerate his wound. Looking over the cavern floor, Kaius spotted an impressive number of fish carcases in varying states of decomposition. "That explains the smell." Eyes widened as he realised he had no idea if his gear had been ripped off him in his fall. Training took over, his hands searching for the presence of his pack and longsword. Both had a variety of minor enchantments, so they would have been undamaged by the water. If they stayed attached to him in the violent turbulence of the waterfall. He breathed a sigh of relief as he felt both the hilt of his sword at his waist and the top of his pack peaking over his back. "Small miracle, that. More importantly though, where in the hells am I?" He looked to the ceiling where he must have fallen from, confused by the lack of water. Kaius quickly found his answer in the form of a dull circle of runes inscribed in the ceiling. He recognised them from his father''s lessons. He''d had it hammered into him that they were to be avoided at all costs, at least until he was ready. A portal to the Great Depths. One whose counterpart had ripped him across space to deposit him here. With impeccable timing the System thrust a notification in front of his face, **Welcome to the Great Depths.** Layer: 2 Biome: Overgrown Graves Kaius groaned as he read the message. "Fuck. Layer two though. It could be worse." Being on the second layer of the dungeon meant he would be facing monsters with an average level range of ten to twenty. Not the worst, certainly within his capabilities if he was slow, meticulous, and incredibly careful. It wasn''t that that worried him however. It was one of the reasons his father had impressed on him to avoid the Depths if he ever stumbled on an entrance. A tongue-lashing he had received after getting a little too curious about the glowing circles that dotted the forest above. Firstly that the entrances were one way - and once used would not be usable again for a period of time that could range from a few minutes to months. Once in, you had no way of knowing how long it would be until you could receive assistance. Which didn''t matter if the portal you fell through was at the base of a fucking waterfall! The lesson had only one other component. There was only one way out of the Depths. You had to slay one of the Guardians that defended a portal to the surface and a portal deeper. You could traverse laterally. Moving through biomes to find a favourable match up. But you had to kill a Guardian. Something no unclassed had survived. Ever. Not even on the first layer. Monstrous beyond compare, the Guardians had a far higher level than the layer average, with far more power per level than a common Depths-born. They even had access to class skills. His father said trying to face them was practically suicide unless you were with a full team of appropriate levelled Delvers. Kaius slumped backwards onto the damp stone. "No problem. I''ve just got to make history if I want to survive." He put his head in his hands. Still, he was breathing. He had his gear. His training. If he was careful, the danger of the Depths should aid him in acquiring and levelling the skills he needed to create the legacy skills he was aiming for. They were a significant force multiplier, and if he managed all ten before his class selection, he should get offered quite the selection of classes. With a class and a few levels under his belt, it might be enough. He would just have to survive the two years until his class selection. Alone. In the Depths. Fuck. "Okay, immediate plans. Set up a safe base of operations. Father said monsters wouldn''t come into entrance rooms, so I''m safe for now. It might take him a few weeks, but he will find this entrance when he deals with the bandits." Stuck in place for the foreseeable future, Kaius reverted to his training. His leg still ached from the fall and the arrow wound, but at the least it was no longer broken thanks to the regenerative properties of his Health. Step one would be assessing his status and how long his recovery would take. Realistically, a few hours at the most. Then, scouting and securing a lasting source of food and water. Based on the biome name he would most likely be facing a mix of undead types and beast types. Or undead beasts, which could cause an issue. Long term he would just have to sit tight, work on his training, and wait for his father. "If he even survives the bandits..." the thought came unbidden. Normally he would be steadily training both in controlled hunts with his father. Down here though, he more than expected that they would be seeing a lot of use. It was just his luck that the ambush had occurred now, before he could merge the Unusual legacy skill. Far greater than the sum of its parts, it was one of the broadest survival focused skills he had ever heard of. It would be invaluable for keeping him breathing in the world dungeon. He''d need to prioritise capping Sense Weakness and Physical Conditioning as fast as he could. After that he''d be able to work on his dynasty''s legacy defensive skill. That, the survival skill, and Rapid Adaptation and Warforged might just be enough to ensure his safety. He''d need that. He couldn''t only focus on just barely surviving. That would make it impossible for him to acquire and merge the component skills he needed for the rest of his legacy skills. Especially the sixth and seventh skills in his legacy. They were vital for the plans he had for his class. Without them, there was no chance he would be able to practise weaving and binding runic spell inscriptions to his flesh. Something that would let him cast without the channelling time and focus requirements of a normal mage. Without practice, it wouldn''t influence his class. Without that influence, he would need to pick a channelling class if he wanted access to magic. Which would mean the sway of his close combat legacy skills on his class selection would go to waste. No one used channelled magic in melee, it was suicide. He had one shot at a class that blended magic and blade. There was no way he was going to let being trapped in the Depths come between him and his goals. Besides, if he managed to complete the full set of his legacy skills and practise such a unique method of bodily imbuement, he was sure to be offered an Unusual - or maybe even Unique - class. That would give him just the edge he needed to slay the Guardian and escape. Not exploiting his legacy skills to the fullest extent possible would be a waste, and a stain on his family name. Even one merged from only three or four general skills was worth a noble''s ransom. The ones that were part of the limited few that were an open secret only slightly less so. A good general skill could change fates. Hell, an old hunter who had shared their fire once had boasted that the only reason he felt comfortable ranging so far into the Sea was that he had been lucky enough to unlock two Unusual skills. If only the man had known what his and his father''s skills looked like. Unusual was usually the lowest rarity for a legacy skill - though some more common merges of two to three skills were Rare. Yet, despite their power- their frankly insane value- almost no one actively hunted for combinations. You only had ten general skill slots, and you couldn''t remove skills. The chances of the skills not merging and leaving you with a motley collection of poorly optimised junk burning a hole in your status was astronomical. Even if by some small miracle you did have the right skills? If they were in the wrong order they wouldn''t merge. A favoured fable, that was. The noble scion who refused to listen closely to his parents, ending up with five Mastery skills instead of Master-at-Arms. Kaius shook his head. Some people might be willing to risk two, three, maybe even four of their general skills in order to attempt to discover a legacy skill. But more than that? All ten? Pure lunacy. He''d once heard from a Hiwiann caravan that some Greenseed duke had announced he had received a skill guide as loot from a Guardian. His father -Hastur- had said it was more likely to be political posturing. A convenient way to boost the renown of any future scions. Kaius thanked the gods that he had the favour to be born into a dynasty with such an insanely valuable hoard of knowledge. No one, not even the mighty dukes of Greenseed, openly flaunted a complete set of legacy skills. The shattering of the empire was said to have started over such a legacy. It was the stuff of legends. Ten skills merged into the first slot, nine into the second, and so on. He''d heard a bard once, telling the story of a lucky boy with such a set ascending to godhood the moment he got his class. Ridiculous of course, his father had the same set as him and was still very much human. But the benefits were very real, and the dangers of someone finding it out just as heavy. It almost frightened him. People would kill for even one of his skills. Hells, he''d literally overheard more than one disgruntled farmer mutter about kidnapping a noble to secure a legacy for their own sons. Bluster in the face of a noble''s might, but the intent was there. Let alone if they found out a full set would lead to a free evolution of your final general skill. He now understood why his father wouldn''t even let him out of their rented rooms when they had visited villages when he was a young child. Too afraid he would let the secret slip. Father had always been cagey with exactly how they came to possess such a bounty. Nor why they had no hold, clan, sect, or nobility - unlike any other dynasty he had heard of. Why, despite having a king''s foundation, they hid like rats in the woods. He had told Kaius that their dynasty was old. Far older than most. Still, that was the smallest and least difficult of the prerequisites in attaining such a legacy. Neither had his father explained the origins of his bizarre injuries. The ones that inhibited his abilities to use his active class skills. That caused him such agonising and debilitating flare ups. It wasn''t that hard to guess though. Someone had found out, and when they did his father had been forced to flee. To preserve their legacy. Much like Father had forced him to flee in turn. Kaius buried his worry for his father''s safety. In the end, as much as it burned him to think, it didn''t really matter. Father''s...condition... had been getting worse over time. His father had done everything he could to stoke his desire to become a Delver. To explore the world and grow strong. See sights unseen, and carry the Unterstern name to lofty heights once again. Promising that once they didn''t have to hide his training, he would settle down in one of the frontier villages and stop pushing himself in spite of his affliction. He''d just thought he''d have more time. Time enough to finish his foundation, and then later to obtain his class. Time to spend with his father. Days on hunt, evenings setting camp, nights sat around the fire. If those bandits had robbed him of that, there would be a blood debt. One he intended to repay with interest. He just had to get out of the damn Depths first. A figure lounged on a throne of rough hewn stone, one leg tossed contemptuously over the armrest. He looked like he was chiselled from granite. All rough angles and hard lines, striated muscle barely concealed from view by a thin robe far too fine to be made of mundane silk. The chair hovered in an endless black expanse. Vacuous space only broken by a thousand thousand dancing lights. Moving to some unheard tune. "Report." The figure spoke, words barely scraping free. Like he had nearly forgotten the delicate control it required. A light floated free of the swarm, drifting over to phase through his skull. The figure sat unmoving. Bored. **Integration - initiated 13,364 years, 9 months, 3 weeks, 1 day, 14 hours, 38 minutes, and 13 seconds ago** **Integration Stage 1 - completed 13,289 years, 3 months, 4 days, 19 hours, 8 minutes, and 42 seconds ago** **Integration Stage 2 - Pending ... ** "Useless." The words were forceful. Bitter. An ancient frustration sending the dancing lights into a swarm of anxious activity. "Summary since last report." Another light drifted free from the swarm, pulsing as it approached the figure. The light entered their mind. They blinked, a pensive expression crossing their face. A century of history parsed in an instant. "An unclassed in the depths? First time in a few decades. Probably no chance, just more dead meat." Thick fingers drummed against stone leaving hairline cracks in their wake. They didn''t have anything better to do. "Full historical analysis, Kaius Unterstern." Another light, another instant. The figure sat up with a start, leg crushing the stone hand rest in their haste. They frowned at the distraction. A look of intent and the stone was whole again. They turned back to the report, digesting what they learned. "Maybe... He might make it. "Observe the boy. Let me know of his progress." **Attempt forced Observation status?** "No!" The figure hurried. "But inform me if he meets the criteria." They leaned back, drumming their fingers into the stone again. Dust flying free with each impact. For the first time in millennia they felt impatient. "C''mon kid. You might be my ticket back to the fold. Give me an excuse to put my finger on the scale." Chapter 3 : Cloudy with a Chance of Swarms Kaius stood in the cavern, holding his longsword out in front of him in a ready grip. His eyes coasted over its length, taking in the flawless steel decorated with a strip of sigils down the centre. The sword had been a gift from Father. It had taken months of brutal sparring to merge Warforged, the second legacy skill in his dynasty''s collection. There were times when he almost thought his father hated him, with how mercilessly he had beat him on the training field. He came to understand that it had been necessary. A reality of the looming date of his class selection. Allegedly made from an alloy of deep essence, meteoric iron, and a miniscule amount of orichalcum, it had been forged by a master smith. Much like the rest of his fathers gifts, it had been personally inscribed with enhancing runes by Father while he worked with a commissioned master craftsman. Their sole trip to Deadacre was a fond memory of an overwhelming riot of people, sounds, and smells. His burning desire to get out and see the world had only grown after that. He''d watched Father use runes to make an arrow that had shot clean through a boulder once, shattering the stone like an egg shell. Yet the enchantments on his blade were comparatively minor. Thanks to its superior make and materials he could comfortably cut through leather and bone with ease. Durable, scalpel sharp, and perfectly balanced. Its enchantments only served to reinforce those points. Magics of an unbreaking and self repairing nature. A honed edge that would never dull. Resistance to the elements, and the passing of time. Father almost certainly could have enchanted the blade so the barest of nicks would have rent the life from his foes. At least, the sort of foes that he had any business facing in the first place. That would have defeated the entire purpose of the gift. It was a tool. Reliable and dependable, certainly. But not something that would remove all challenges he would face. Father had sat him down on the very first day he gained the ability to learn skills, explaining it to him. They grew through struggle and strife. The strength of your class offering influenced in much the same manner. There were no shortcuts. Even before he unlocked his access to skills and stats at fifteen, the entirety of Kaius''s life had been that of preparation. How to identify food and clean water, how to hunt and kill, two hours of running every morning, how to staunch an artery and more. All with practical examples - though in the case of an arterial bleed, it had been his father who had suppressed his healing and opened his brachial artery. Too dangerous for a boy without Health, his father had said. Not that that had made it any less traumatising. He still remembered the way Father''s face had gone slowly white, while he was coated up to the elbows in his father''s blood. It had been, and still was, the only way he would ever complete his skill evolutions and cap them at twenty in the measly five years between matriculation and class selection. With a good class he would have had a ticket out of the forest, one that his father had wholeheartedly supported him on. Promising that he had something lined up in Three Fields when that happened. That they wouldn''t need to hide when there was no chance of somebody spying on his training. He''d wanted to be a Delver. Now he had to be one before he was ready. There was no way he was going to let being trapped in the Depths come between him and that goal. Hell, given the way skill levelling responded to danger, it would probably even be a boon. He''d had a level up for Warforged in the works for weeks now, and a single level might just be the difference that would keep him alive. A little training wouldn''t hurt. Besides, there was no way he was going to explore the depths without his Health topped off. He raised his blade into a high guard, flowing smoothly through his stances. Weaving between imaginary enemies as his sword flashed out with blurring speed. A swift parry and riposte, twirling into an overhead strike that cleaved through an ''enemy'' attempting to sneak up behind him. On and on he moved, working out his feelings of frustration and uncertainty. Feeling the rhythms of his movements, and the slow burn of his muscles. Between his stamina and his Physical Conditioning he continued for a while, a familiar thrilling heat welling up within him. **Ding! Warforged has reached level 17!** Warforged: Level 17 Unique The pedigree of slaughter stretches far. From fist and rock, to bow and spear. The history of violence reaches to time primordial. You have steeped yourself in its arts. Skill that enhances technical mastery with all weapons and improves the lethality of strikes. Novel and exotic weapons require a period of familiarisation that reduces with level. Each level moderately increases proficiency with all weapons. Each level slightly increases speed, control, and power of strikes He shook his head to throw off his nerves, Depths-born spiders or no, it wasn''t like him to quake in his boots at the first sign of a fight. Crouching down Kaius scrounged up a few fist-sized chunks of stone, courtesy of the omnipresent tree roots cracking the surrounding tunnel walls. He would make them come to him. Taking a breath to steady himself he stepped out from behind the bend in the tunnel, before pelting the spider''s nest with the rocks. The stones sailed through the air, punching easily through the silk webbing. The trail of carnage was followed by an aggravated chittering. Kaius calmly drew his sword. "The silks are weak, that''s good. No risk of being caught up." A single spider crawled free of the ruined webbing, approaching his position quickly. Furious at the invader that had dared to violate its nest. Kaius ran forward, the spider raising its forelegs in response. Kaius thrust, his sword point piercing the creature''s thorax. The hardened steel punched through the bulbous sack of flesh, spilling grey-brown ichor freely across the floor as it clattered against the rock below with a clank. The spider screeched. Flailing, desperate to rid itself of the weapon embedded in its torso. Behind it, Kaius saw more racing towards him from further in the cave. Their numbers grew until they looked like a pulsating mat of black that seemed to bleed up the walls. Kaius didn''t stand on ceremony. He lifted his sword, spider still firmly impaled, and slammed it against the rock wall to his side. The spider all but exploded. **Ding! level 5 Lesser Cave Spider slain** Kaius frowned when he saw the notification, connecting the dots between the below-average level of the monster, and the steady flow of similar spiders that were still leaving the nest. "Of course it''s a bloody swarm." The next spider dashed at him. With a grunt Kaius stepped forwards, bringing his foot down to stomp on the creature with his full weight. **Ding! level 4 Lesser Cave Spider slain** He swallowed his disgust at the resulting crunch-then-squish, already swinging his sword into one of its brethren that had taken to crawling on the wall, wincing as the gush of fluid splattered against his chest. Still more spiders followed, Kaius fell into a gorge-rising routine of strikes and stomps that splattered both his surroundings and his body in ichor. The steady flow of spiders abated, leaving just over a handful remaining. His stamina remained high, but it didn''t do anything for the hammering of his heart, the burn in his arms, or the bellowing of his lungs. A weight hit him, scrabbling on his back. Kaius felt a searing pain in his shoulder, numb agony spreading through the muscle from two sharp points. With a cry he reached over and grabbed at something hard and fuzzy. Yelling in fury he ripped the spider off his back, its fangs tearing at his already healing flesh as the itch of expended Health coated the wound. He threw it to the ground. A rough stomp smushed the monster, its many legs flailing in an attempt to flee. **Ding! You have been afflicted by Lesser Cave Spider Venom** Kaius stared in horror at the notification. "Fuck." Chapter 4 : The Grove **Ding! You have been afflicted by Lesser Cave Spider Venom** Even as Kaius read the notification, he felt a burning inflamed heat growing from the wound. "Blasted depths, not now!" he muttered to himself. Numbness spread through his arm. He had to pick up the pace. A quick look satisfied him that no more spiders were coming to ambush him from the ceiling so he ran forward. Bringing the fight to the remaining handful of spiders. Without the element of surprise they fared as well as the rest of their brethren. Their sticky ichor coating his boots and the blade of his sword. Kaius threw his head around, looking all over the walls and ceiling for more of the creatures. Nothing. He could feel his heart thumping in his chest, failing to calm even as he leaned onto the soiled cave wall. Pain, thankfully easy to ignore, shot through his arm and back, radiating out from his wound in lockstep with his heartbeat. His Health was burning by the second, expended to stave off the violent effects of the venom. "Gotta get back to the entrance room..." The thoughts came slowly, impeded by the thick fog that had begun to cloud his mind. If he could get there he would be safe from attack, would have time for Rapid Adaptation to work its magic. With shaking hands Kaius managed to sheathe his sword, too preoccupied by the pain and weakness coursing through his body to bother dealing with the ichor that still coated its hilt. Leaning on the wall with his good arm he began to stumble towards safety, the venom spreading through his body by the second. He had to make it back. He would make it back. Step after arduous step. He would make it. He had to. The walls of the cave swayed precariously like a deep sea galleon under Kaius''s feet. Grasping for the roots that dotted the wall with a steadying hand did nothing to help with his vertigo. Stumbling slowly, he made his way through the tunnels. Often he had to stop, convinced he was getting turned around even though his hand never left the rightmost edge of the cave. How many steps was it supposed to be? He was sure it wasn''t this far. Wasn''t he supposed to be going left? It was only the radiating ache on his shoulder that kept him grounded. The writhing tendrils of expended Health had retreated from the surface of the wound. Concentrating around the deep well of venom left behind. Coursing through his veins with every heartbeat. Insistent. Heightening his pain with every throb. Drawing him back from the fog. He coughed, chest shuddering. A light splatter, his eyes drawn to the red blood. Kaius checked his Health. The interface flickered into his eyeline a second later, the heavy weight of the poison slowing his thoughts. He watched its value drip away. It might have been slow, but it was decreasing all the same. "Just need to survive long enough for Rapid Adaptation to do its thing..." It was a trickle. Slow enough he might make it. As long as there weren''t any more spiders - any more venom and his healing wouldn''t be able to keep up. The entrance room. That was where he was going. He had to get to the entrance room. With a groan, Kiaus forced himself to take another step as he leaned heavily on the cave wall. The final two skills he had to raise to their cap before he could merge Rapid Adaptation? Those had been truly hellish. Advanced elemental resistances. Exposure to the effects they defended from was normally enough to easily kill someone many times stronger than him. His father had had to use specialised devices to inflict him with the barest traces of the aspected mana. Irreplaceable artefacts. Strange bronze cylinders the size of a finger, covered in runic inscriptions denser and smaller than any other enchantment he had seen. Tipped with a fierce needle to be implanted deep into his flesh. First one. Later, dozens. A single misplacement could have killed him. Almost did, more than once. Shaking off the bad memories Kaius finished mopping his face. Taking a deep breath he leaned back, watching the glowing moss pulse. Shift through blues and subtly greens, the asynchronicity warping the shadows. A short walk through the tunnels brought Kaius back to the remnants of his battle with the spiders. Cracked chitin and sprays of ichor coated the floor of the cave. With a contemptuous sniff, Kaius stepped over the remains of his slain foes and continued on. Taking his scabbard off his back, Kaius cleared his way through the remaining dense webbing. Wadding itself thick. A few turns through the tunnels later and he spotted a slow brightening of the light. Emanating from around an upcoming corner. He dropped into a crouch, feeling his Sneak skill guide him into reducing his profile. Walking into the unknown was a risk that could get him killed. It was also his only option. Turning the corner, the roots that protruded from the cave wall grew dense and clustered. Leaving him with only a narrow path through a bramble-like mesh. The cave brightened ahead of him, shining through the gaps - though he had yet to see why. Kaius grunted in dissatisfaction. "Guess I''m moving up." With each step he tested his footing with the balls of his feet, unwilling to give himself away by accidentally disturbing the increasing number of loose stones that had been torn free by the roots. As he moved the roof of the cave slowly rose above him, the tunnel widening in much the same way. He pushed further through the snagging roots. A gap appeared ahead, light blinding him after the dimness of the cave. Rushing forwards Kaius yanked on one leg as a particularly ornery root snagged his pants. He burst through the opening. Kaius found himself gazing out over an expansive cavern from a vantage point partway up its wall. Far above, the familiar shifting pulse of glowing moss absolutely coated the ceiling. Providing far more light, though the cavern''s edges were hidden by a haze of gloom. A gentle, if treacherous, slope of scree fell away before him. Levelling out to meet the cavern floor. Kaius stopped transfixed, his attention drawn away from the space''s immense size to the dense blanket of foliage that obscured his view of the ground proper. The stout tree''s leaves glowed a dim green, though with less potency than the moss far above. A sea of green, stretching out further than he could see. A forgotten forest, potentially hundreds of long-strides beneath the surface. A shadow of its cousin above, drowned in a strange fae light. Straining his eyes in the half-light, Kaius drank in the sight. Was that..? It was. He could barely make out a dilapidated stone structure in a gap in the trees. Just close enough that it wasn''t hidden in the gloom. "I''d bet my sword that is where I will find some undead." Kaius narrowed his eyes. In the Depths an underground forest meant hazardous wildlife. There was a small chance that he was off base and the wildlife would be undead, but the distinctly living nature of the swarm of spiderlings suggested otherwise. With how long he was going to be trapped down here, that meant he had a food source. The undead themselves were probably the true hazard of this biome. They would be the grindstone he needed to push his skills just that little bit further. Delving was a dangerous profession. You either took every opportunity you could to eke out another iota of growth, or you died. He might have started a few years early, but he refused to fall into the second category. He dashed down the slope, anticipation urging him forward faster than was wise. Chapter 5 : Unnatural Encounters After leaving the tunnel, Kaius descended into the strange glowing forest that he had found so deep beneath the surface. He crept across a dense carpet of lichens, the fungus squelching underfoot as he pushed yet another dense bush out of the way. It glowed with soft illumination to match the canopy of the trees above, spores shimmering almost imperceptibly as they were kicked up with every step. The flat light draped the underbrush, the lack of shadows playing hell with his depth perception. He moved from tree to tree, making sure to hide behind their bulk as much as physically possible. As he moved his gaze roved over his surroundings, Kaius made use of his Tracking skill to survey the surrounding area. A scratched root here, disturbed undergrowth there, even the odd far-off grunt revealed the presence of beasts living amongst the trees. Kaius was determined to make it to the ruined structure he had seen. He couldn''t risk attracting the attention of whatever denizens lived in the grove without having a defensible location to fight from. He was confident in his skills. Just last week he had managed to clear a nest of boggarts. Without his father stepping in. High-level depths-born were something else entirely. He''d seen a delver once, muttering into his cup at the Stout Oak about a run gone bad. How they pursued intruders with dogged single-mindedness, free of fear. The undead would hopefully be a different story. At lower levels, they could be among the most dangerous. Wights that inflicted fatal contagion with but a touch. Incorporeal spirits immune to all wounds, yet still able to tear out your throat. Higher up, where he was, they were little more than empowered corpses, hamstrung by the slowing touch of the grave. With a little care and dexterity, he should be safe from their clumsy strength. He should be getting close to the church he had spied from above. Though it had only looked like a half-hour walk, the terrain had slowed him. He was eager to see what else he could find, the opening in the trees had been far too big for the single building he had seen poking over the canopy. The forest opened up, revealing a battered church that stood proud in a sea of gravestones. A low stone wall guarding the perimeter. While it might have once been grandiose, age had not been kind to it. Shattered tiles covered the roof, barely protecting it from the elements. Thin stone openings dotted its cracked walls. Glass long since shattered, only the rotten remnants of shutters remained to sway in the strange breeze that flowed through the cavern. Buildings were common enough in the Depths. Apparently, as you got deeper it was possible to find entire ruined fortresses, even cities. Rich in artefacts, forgotten language, and lost culture, it was almost impossible to believe that they were all creations of the dungeon. Did the Depths create it all whole cloth, the creation of some dreaming intelligence? Or was it simply watching, creating twisted inversions of the world above? Perhaps in some long-forgotten time this church had stood in some rich glade of the Greenseed Dukedoms, only to find itself reflected in the endless Depths long after it had turned to dust? Kaius moved on quickly from his musings, His eyes moving to the expansive graveyard that circled the church. There was no order to the graves. Flat planes of stone rising abruptly from the earth in a haphazard manner. So different from the orderly rows that lay on the outskirts of frontier villages. Wait. Was that? It was. A figure shambled out from behind a headstone, plodding its way through the graves. It paused. Waiting. It turned in place, seemingly scanning the field in front of it. It found nothing, moving off in what seemed to be a random direction. Kaius narrowed his eyes, scanning the graveyard. More jumped out to him, though to his relief they were few in number. Five in total and gaunt of frame, the figures shambled around in meaningless circles as they stumbled over hidden debris. They were scattered across the graveyard, each moving as if they were completely unaware of their compatriots. Their patrol was lilting, seemingly without any true vigilance. Like old, half-remembered, orders - a bodily habit followed blindly. Despite the distance, Kaius could still make out the presence of mouldering leather cuirasses and rusted iron helms, as well as a motley collection of pitted weapons held loosely in unresponsive fists. One stood out above the rest, draped in chainmail and a solid helm, holding a massive club in both hands. That one would be a tough nut to crack. The way they were spread out amongst the graves, and their seeming total lack of cooperation, could work in his favour. He liked his chances much better if he could force them to face him one at a time. Being undead, they lacked the regenerative vigour of Health. Even if they kept coming until he destroyed the core of their reanimating magics - usually the head- he could whittle them down with crippling blows. As long as he could stop them from swarming him, that is. Kaius bent down, rooting around for a stone. "If it worked once.." He found one, working it loose. "This should do nicely." He needed to get closer. "Now.. where do I want to do this." He got his feet under him, bracing his rear foot against the wall so he could bolt and reposition at the slightest sign he had been discovered. But... nothing. With a soft sigh of relief, he set down his sword, before unbuckling his pack and resting it gently down against the hard stone barrier. Picking up his sword with his off-hand he snatched the rock with his dominant. It would let him start the confrontation on his own terms. He rose. Eyes barely peeking over the chest-high wall. Taking in the undead. The closest one commanded his attention, his first target. Just close enough to be in range of his throwing arm. Gaunt and withered, it looked like a two-week-old corpse had been left out on a smoking rack. Decrepit, but dry. No leaking sludge or flesh-melting sores. No decay. Mouldering boiled leather clad its figure, while it clenched a pitted shortsword between almost skeletal fingers. Sense Weakness nudged him. Made his vision drift higher There, next to a shrivelled ear, was a spot where something had ravaged the creature deep before whatever animating magic had stalled off its effects. The bone of its temple was exposed, sunbleached and almost splintering. Kaius''s eyes narrowed. Locked on that point. In a single fluid motion, Kaius rose to his feet, drawing his arm back before hurling his fist-sized rock with practised accuracy. Breath caught in his throat. Kaius watched the stone hurtle through the air as he palmed his longsword back to his dominant hand. The stone connected. Splintered bone caved in. A crack rang out across the graves. The stone embedded deep in its watery grey matter. Its body crumpled. **Ding! level 12 Wretched Militiaman slain** **Ding! Sense Weakness has reached level 16!** Sense Weakness: Level 16 Rare Hearts, lungs, brains, arteries, eyes, mana cores, light, water, acid, or poison. Everything has a weakness. Everything. Increases awareness of exploitable vulnerabilities in foes. Each level slightly increases efficacy. Esoteric and magical vulnerabilities, and foes, are more resistant to this insight. The rhythmic shuffle of the undead stopped. The remaining four, spread out across the graves, turned towards the sound. As one they locked their gazes on him. Blackened orbs burning a hole in his own. His stomach dropped. Kaius had to fight to keep his grip suitably relaxed for swordplay. Steeling himself he took a few confident side steps. Holding his place in the opening of the wall, ready to make his stand. As soon as he moved, whatever spell held the undead enthralled broke. With a jerky lilting gait, they set off towards him. Ready and willing to rend the flesh from his bones Chapter 6 : Fight, or Die Kaius positioned himself with the gap in the wall to his front. The first one through the breach was draped in disintegrating mail, holding a hatchet high overhead. His eyes narrowed. Breathing kept even more through rote practice than true confidence. The undead lurched forwards. Stumbling as its lacking coordination failed to keep it steady on the uneven stones that littered the gap in the wall. Its jaw hung open. Almost like it was wailing, though he heard no sound. Behind it, Kaius could see its compatriots closing in on his position. Quickly. Fast steps closed the distance between them. The undead brought its hatchet down in a heavy chop toward Kaius''s head. Snapping into a hanging parry, Kaius caught the blow. His blade met the hatchet edge to edge. Binding the weapon even as his arms shuddered under the undead''s infernal power. He knew he would lose a contest of strength. He didn''t even try. A flick of his wrist moved the hatchet off-centre. His blade was a lever, the momentum of his foe used against them. Twisting to free his sword. A slight lunge and he had run the undead through its throat. A certain death. Or so he thought. The reality of what he was facing hit him with a punch. Pain exploded through his chest. Hot iron flooded his mouth as he stumbled backwards out of range. Ribs grated with the movement. Cracked. They were quickly enveloped with an itching fire as he steadied his footing, his Health beginning to slowly drain as it soothed bruised flesh and splintered bone. "Idiot! Mistakes like that are how you end up dead!" His father''s voice seemed to echo in his mind The other undead were quickly approaching the gap in the wall. If Kaius wanted any chance of maintaining the favourable choke point he had to put pressure on the one that had hit him. He brought his sword into a low guard. A flexible position to defend from. He ignored the sharp discomfort in his chest. The undead came into range, swinginging its hatchet. Kaius backstepped. Allowing the momentum of his foe''s swing to pull it off balance. He stepped forwards with a lunge, sword poised to lance the undead through its skull. It pivoted its hips. Eyes burning with glee as it returned its hatchet in a spiteful reverse strike. Kaius''s face blanched. He could abort his strike. Attempt to dodge the incoming blow. However, the only way he could do that would be to throw himself to the side. Leaving him unbalanced and the initiative firmly out of his hands. No time. He had to commit. He braced his core, twisting slightly to minimise his profile. The blunt edge of the hatchet slammed into his obliques, just missing his lowest rib. Air whistled past his clenched teeth. Winding him. His sword punched through the undead''s nose. Enchanted steel sliding through bone with ease. **Ding! level 11 Wretched Militiaman slain** Stepping out of the lunge, Kaius forced himself to ignore the radiating ache of his side. It was quickly joined by the crawling dull itch of his regeneration. He forced himself to take a deep breath, his diaphragm spasming. The rest of the undead had arrived. He brought his longsword up. Hilt pulled in tight to his armpit, floating point trained on the head of the leading militiaman that advanced on him. This one armed with a derelict straight sword and buckler. Right behind it, a companion encased in a pitted breastplate and wielding a spear. The final one trailed behind them. Still making its way across the graves. The one with the straight sword entered first, its reinforced buckler held out front to ward off blows. The one with the spear fell in behind it. Hovering and ready to attack from behind its vanguard. Kaius grit his teeth. "I''ve got this" He reassured himself. He stabbed forwards. The leading undead reacted instantly with a speed that contrasted its withered body. Its buckler knocked his sword away from its head, following through with a running stab towards his chest. Sense Weakness twinged. Muscle memory and Warforged enhanced skill capitalised on the burst of intuition. Kaius took a half step back, the dirty point of the militiaman''s straight sword coming within a hair''s breadth of his tunic. He pivoted his hands. Borrowing the force of the bucklers parry to twirl his sword overhead. He was too far back on his rear foot to cave in the undead''s brain pan, but... The point of his sword ripped through the undead''s ratty leather armour. Cutting clean through its leading bicep. Treacle-like blood welled up from the wound, spilling slowly free. Reanimating magics or no, the creature was still primarily of flesh and blood. It needed muscles to move. Its arm fell weakly to its side, sword held in a limp wristed grip. Immune to shock and pain, it did little to stop the undead. Stepping forwards it twisted with its hips, throwing its whole weight into a wild haymaker Neither did its spear-wielding companion give him a moment to breathe. Even as Kaius stepped back again to avoid the vanguard''s reckless attack, the rear undead thrust forward. Pressuring him with its spear. Fear shot through him. He shifted his head to the side to avoid the blow. A fire split his cheek, blood spilling free to wet his neck. The pitted blade had exposed his gums to the tepid air of the underground glade. He sucked in a breath. Air stung his open cheek, mouth filling with blood. He didn''t have a moment to think. Health would deal with it. He had a fight to finish. Swallowed blood coated his throat. He brought his sword back up, held over one shoulder. For the first time a great cry left his lips as he brought his sword down over his head in a furious cut. The undead brought its club up, catching his blade as its edge bit deeply into the wood. Muscle memory took over. He twisted his wrists slightly as he pushed forward, breaking the bind. His sword slid past the militiaman''s guard, impaling it in the throat. His point caught on the chain covering the creature''s neck. "Fucking! Mail!" He laboured through clenched teeth. Soundlessly the undead lashed out again. Kaius hissed in surprise.. He whipped his sword to block the blow, just barely managing to bind it as the reverb of the strike nearly lost him his grip on his blade. The undead hammered on his guard. Empowered strength and leverage working to its advantage. Kaius''s arms quivered, a deep ache shooting up his arms as his bones creaked from the strain. Without his stats he would already be dead. Even a fifth stronger and more durable than baseline, he was barely holding on. Panic began to claw at him, his breath coming in shallow gasps. The undead drew back, only to smash into his blade again. Kaius shook in his stance, knees nearly caving under the force of the blow. His eyes rolled in his sockets, closer to an animal''s than a man''s. He needed to do something. Now. The club rose again, and Kaius broke. Stepping back the undead struck the ground with a small explosion of dirt, before whipping its weapon towards Kaius once more. He just barely managed to parry it. His thoughts turned to Hastur. To his father. A memory flashed through his mind. He sat at the edge of a clearing, hot blood spewing down his face and staining his naked chest red. His practice blade lying in the dirt somewhere behind him. Hastur stood over him with a hand outstretched, its knuckles bloodied. He held his own blade in his dominant hand. Dark hair with soft curls failed to cover his fathers kind green eyes, smile lines standing out on the prolonged youth of his face. With a lurch he was pulled to his feet. "Remember son. We are not just swordsmen." Kaius panted, squaring his shoulders. The undead, soundless as always, brought its club down in another heavy blow. With a sharp cry Kaius brought his blade to meet it. Binding it once more. The impact shook him to his bones. Before his foe could leverage its strength Kaius pivoted his blade, turning his block into a parry. The undead, suddenly faced with a lack of resistance, swung its club away. Utilising the momentum of the exchange Kaius spun. His leg flicked out into a scything kick. The heel of his boot impacted the undead''s helmet with a clang. It stumbled, suddenly off balance. Kaius planted his feet. Pulling his sword in tight to his chest he shifted his weight onto his back foot. He lashed out with his leading leg into a push kick that unbalanced the militiaman.. The undead fell, helmet clanging loudly on a stray flagstone. Lunging forwards, breath and spittle flew out from between his painfully clenched teeth. His gloved hand slid up the blade of his sword, grabbing in a firm half sword stance. Kaius dove onto the decrepit body of his foe. It grabbed its club with both hands, pushing the weapon up to meet him.. The bar of reinforced wood took him in the ribs. Pain flared through his sternum. A sharp crack emanating his just barely healed ribs. Still weak from the punch he had taken earlier. Kaius coughed, watching a fine spray of red coat the undead''s wretched face. He didn''t falter. Kaius tossed his sword to the side. Too unwieldy in quarters this close. He ripped his hunting knife free of his belt. Aligning its point with the eye of the undead. Even now, trapped by leverage and the full weight on his body, it tried to snap at him. Rabid in its desire to end him. The point of his knife came down, brackish sludge erupting from its ruined eye. He felt the slight resistance of its socket. A cry of rage. A shift of his body weight. It was done. The undead fell blessedly limp. **Ding! level 18 Wretched Militia Captain slain** Kaius rolled off the captain''s body, bonelessly falling on his back as his chest heaved. Knife left standing proud in the undead''s socket. He winced as each breath caused the edges of his twice cracked ribs to grate against each other. **Ding! Physical Conditioning has reached level 14!** **Ding! Warforged has reached level 18!** Kaius couldn''t help it. He laughed, pain or no. There was something so singular about staring death in the face, succeeding, and being rewarded for it. It was the sweetest ambrosia, and the most decadent nectar. "You were right, father. As always." He smiled as we watched the softly glowing moss throw shifting shadows on the cavern ceiling. "I''ll be out as soon as I can, and then I''m coming for you." Chapter 7 : Basecamp Kaius slumped onto the wall of the ruined church, sliding down until he sat somewhat comfortably. His heart still pounded from the excitement of going toe to toe with a full party of undead. Beside him lay a pile of poor quality armour. Scavenged from the body of his slain foes, it had been gruelling and disgusting work. He did, however, have a need for them when he started working on his defensive legacy skill. So he had grit his teeth and done his best to ignore his slowly healing wounds as he had stripped the bodies. To his great relief, the small stonework building had been empty when he had peered in through a shattered window. Its only contents some tattered tapestries, a few splintering pews, a large empty hearth and an unadorned stone altar at the head of the church. With four thick stone walls, windows too narrow for most things to climb through, and a thick wooden door that seemed in relatively good shape, it was just about as good of a spot as he could hope for in the Depths. Plus, while individual rooms and regions did reset in a biome, it often took weeks or even months of no human presence at this shallow of a layer to happen. "Which means I will need to return here even if I go on extended explorations, since finding the exit from this layer, and being strong enough to handle its defender, will take far longer than that." Kaius sighed, ignoring the slight burn of his now simply bruised ribs. His health had unfortunately burned itself out before they were fully healed, and now he had to wait for the slow trickle of his regeneration to fix the rest. He closed his eyes, lightly thumping his head into the wall behind him. To call the enormity of the problem in front of him ''tough'' would be a grievous understatement. His dance with a single small group of undead militiamen had brought him close to the brink, and it was a near certainty that encounters of that nature would be common, if not more difficult. He had to come to terms with the fact that he was going to be stuck down here for a long, long time. That if he rushed, was careless, or simply unlucky, he might not make it out alive. He didn''t want to. But he had to. "Back to basics Kaius. You''re deep in some of the most hostile territory available. You need to make a plan." he thought to himself. If he was going to do this, he needed to be strict. Strict and smart. First step, securing a reliable source of food and water. He might have a few weeks worth of rations, but they were non-perishable and it would be far better if he could save them for emergencies and longer expeditions. They also weren''t exactly the most pleasant things, tooth-splitting hardtack and some hyper-nutritious pemmican that coated the mouth with cloying fat. He also needed to merge his next legacy skill, Explorer''s Toolkit, as soon as possible. There should, if his hearing was right, be beasts in the glade. Hunting them, truly hunting them, should both ensure his own safety and give him an opportunity to train Sense Weakness. The danger of stalking true beasts instead of mundane animals would more than likely super charge his growth. Plus the hearth that sat across the room from him seemed perfect to use as a smoker to start stockpiling jerky for longer term storage. From there, in his down time, he would work on Physical Conditioning the old fashioned way. Gruelling effort, sweat, and tears. If he devoted himself to the task, he might be able to finish them off in the next week. Then it would be time to start collecting more skills all over again. He eyed the loose pile of armour next to him. The skills they represented would give him some measure of security, and once he had Adamant Body he would finally feel a little more confident in truly delving the Depths. Kaius crouched on a sturdy tree branch, steadying himself on the trunk behind him with one hand. He was nestled in amongst the canopy, the long shadows cast by the soft lighting of the cave ceiling above cloaking his figure in darkness. He had left his pack behind at the church, preferring to travel light for a simple scouting expedition. He approached swiftly, a firm grip on his knife. Taking one of its spines on its neck in his hand, he drew his blade across the boar-thing''s neck, severing the carotids and its remnants of life. **Ding! level 14 Dire Boar slain** He took a moment to appreciate the creature''s sacrifice, its life spent to fuel his growth and its body to satiate him. The moment passed and a wide jubilant grin split his face. With this he had secured enough food to well and truly start stockpiling. Though, glancing at the lean musculature of the creature, he might need to find something with a bit more fat if he wanted to stave off protein starvation. Pemmican might have been mediocre, but it fuelled the body well. Pulling his sword free with a heave, he cleaned his blade before hauling the boar''s body up by its hind legs to help the meat bleed. After a few limb burning minutes Kaius gutted the carcass before hauling it onto his shoulders and setting off for home. After all, he didn''t want to stick around to wait for something else to come and investigate all the blood. Kaius tended to a small, but very smoky flame at the base of the hearth. Luckily for him, whatever real world place the church had been modelled after had had a massive grill spanning the upper third of the open hearth. He had already butchered the boar on the altar, it being the most convenient place to do so. The meat was as lean as he suspected it would have been, but in some ways that made for easier preservation. His fire started nicely, he quickly moved over to the altar and began hanging slices of meat off the rails in the grill, securing them in place with whittled wooden skewers. In time he would have himself some jerky. It wouldn''t last anywhere near as long as it would have if he had enough salt available to properly preserve it, but it should still last several weeks before going bad. As long as he kept it dry that is. Neither of his remaining skills really required him to actively hunt down opponents to progress, so unless he was ambushed or ran into undead he would need to be careful to avoid scouring this glade of its denizens. Large the glade may have been, it was still a creation of the Depths, and as such only a facsimile of an ecosystem. Once he had hunted the creatures it contained to the last, that was it. No more food. Kaius nodded to himself in satisfaction as he secured the last strip. In a few hours this batch would be preserved enough for him to switch it out for the next one. Moving over to his bag, he quickly untied his lightweight camping pan from where it was secured its front. The creature might have been lean, but it still had some fat. Most of it layered in its belly meat. He''d saved that for himself. After one of the most eventful days of his life, he was due for a hot meal. Besides, if he cooked it right, he should be able to render out some of the fat and save it in one of his spare containers. If he pounded out some of his jerky he might be able to make some pemican after all. Nestling his pan at the edge of the hearth''s lightly smouldering coals, Kaius waited for the pan to preheat before throwing on the slab of belly. A soft sizzle entered the room, and Kaius couldn''t help but close his eyes and salivate as the scent of cooking pork wafted over him. He needed to refuel. After that it was time for some hard training. He was determined to finish off Physical Conditioning as fast as he could. Chapter 8 : Light Weight! Kaius squatted for what felt like the thousandth time in front of the low heat of the hearth. Tightly held to his chest was a stray flagstone from the crumbling wall outside, large enough that its weight dug uncomfortably into his arms. Reaching the bottom of his descent, he felt his quads stretch with a deep burn that brought a grimace to his face. Another drop of sweat from his face baptised the stone, its surface turning ever more slick. Forcing him to hold the rock tighter, and aggravating his already exhausted arms. Pushing himself upwards he felt himself hit a wall, shaking as what felt like the weight of a giant pushed down on his trembling legs. Individual muscle fibres began to ping, his lower body consumed by a bone deep agony. A low roar left his throat. Kaius pushed, driving his heels into the ground. Scraping the bottom of the barrel. Finger-length by finger-length, his quaking figure rose. He had been at this for hours now, his Stamina long since drained. Without fail, he would hit the wall, and without fail, he would push a little further. Quickly he would reach his limit and collapse. A few moments spent bonelessly on the floor, giving liquid muscles a moment''s respite, and he would rise again to switch to a new grouping. Kaius squatted again, thick veins bulging in his neck. Again. Here he got stuck, straining upwards. A loud crack emanating from the back of his jaw. The pain of his broken tooth cutting through his exhausted fugue. Quickly taken over by the burning itch of regeneration. Still he strained upwards. Again. Again. Again. His legs refused, one shaking knee buckling inwards as his legs totally gave out. His mind blanked, his narrow cone of vision and the ringing in his ears subsuming all of senses for just a moment. The stone slipped from his limp hands. The jarring impact of hitting the cold stone floor brought him back. As did the crunching sensation and blaring pain as the rock landed squarely on his right foot. "Fuck!" Kaius swore. Pushing himself upright as fast as possible to roll the stone off. **Ding! Strength has reached level 20!* **Ding! Physical Conditioning has reached level 15!** Physical Conditioning: Level 15 Uncommon The thumping of a heart that outruns a predator. Blood fueling muscles that burn with the savage delight of the hunt. Lungs that bellow, gaseous transfusion bringing necessary vitality. Life. It lives and dies on the basis of exertion. Each level slightly increases peak physical fitness. Each level slightly decreases the deleterious effects of exertion Even clutching his stinging foot Kaius couldn''t help but let out a loud laugh He had done it. The unthinkable. Two levels in the same skill and a stat point in the same day. His breath still heaving, Kaius grabbed his water skin and drained it to the last with great, greedy gulps. The cool water, faintly tasting of must and leather, soothing his parched throat. Once it was done, he shook the neck of the skin over his face, encouraging the last few stray drips free. With an unsatisfied sigh he threw the skin to the side. It landed with a dull thwack. "Well, now that that''s done I guess it''s time to find a water source." He winced as he shifted his leg, wounded foot and thrashed muscles complaining loudly. "Maybe once I''ve recovered." Kaius then eyed the slowly smoking hearth, and the nearly complete batch of jerky hanging above it. "And maybe once I''ve tended to the fire and put on some more meat. Wouldn''t want to risk it going bad after all." He flopped onto his back, the cold support of the stone ground feeling like a prized feathered mattress to his overworked body. **Ding! Physical Conditioning has reached level 20!** Kaius lay on the floor, his naked chest heaving. Each ragged gasp he made scraped uncomfortably against his bone dry throat. Two days. Two bloody minded, gruelling days. He''d worked himself until he puked, and then he''d picked himself up to do it all over again. Every type of exercise he could manage with his body and a few torturously heavy stones, switching things up to avoid monotony. A supernatural effort. The human body simply wasn''t designed to push itself to true exhaustion even once, let alone consistently and repetitively. Sure, with the regenerative properties of Health and Stamina it was possible, but the mental strain alone to push through the pain and fatigue was a demon in its own right. Kaius was sure that without Rapid Adaptation and the resistance to pain that it brought, he would have had no chance. Certainly, the pain had been enough to push that skill up a level as well. Even then, even with his herculean effort, it should have been impossible. Kaius frowned. The leading two looked to be carrying heavy boar spears, while of the ones trailing further behind two were carrying hunting knives closer in size to daggers. The final undead that was lingering at the centre of their rough formation held what looked to be a timber axe. All, barring minor differences, were garbed in what amounted to simple clothing with a heavy leather vest. Kaius smiled at the sight of that, ratty leather would do little to stop his honed blade from cleaving through them. Still, flimsy armour and poor quality hunting instruments or no, the undead were still a threat. They were ungainly, but he knew from his previous fight that they were front loaded with Strength. A good blow could easily shatter an arm, leaving him at a severe disadvantage at best. He would have to leverage speed and flexibility to outmanoeuvre them, especially since this time there wouldn''t be a convenient natural choke point. Though, he should be able to use some of the dense underbrush to hamper them, but it would affect him too with the length of his sword. Taking out the knife-wielders as fast as possible should minimise their advantage on that front though. Kaius set his eyes on the rearmost undead, one of his first targets, still brainlessly wandering forwards. Taking a sharp breath to steady any lingering nerves, he ignored the way his tongue stuck to the roof of his bone dry mouth. Choosing instead to lean into the Bloodsong that bubbled away beneath the surface. With silent steps Kaius moved past the bush he had been hiding behind, his pace accelerating as fast as he could still remain silent. He brought his sword up into an inside guard, pommel pulled into his armpit as he pointed it directly towards the walking corpse he had set his eyes on. The ground flew beneath him, Kaius quickly closing the gap. Soon he could make out the thin, limp, hair that dotted the undead''s withered scalp. With each step it let out a dry rasping gasp. Forced to make a mockery of even the most basic of life''s functions. Somehow, some way, it sensed him, tensing once he was within a few scant long-strides of its back. It stopped. Beginning to turn as it let out a rattling gasp. A facsimile of a mind knowing that it should call out to its compatriots, but its expired flesh was unable to act on the half remembered instincts. The other undead continued on, unnoticing. It made an about face, Kaius locking gaze with its glassy and soulless eyes. It was too slow to do anything other than that. From his inside guard Kaius''s sword spun over his head, pivoting his lower body with the motion as he brought his sword down into an overhead swing. Magically honed steel cleaved through its brittle skull with a subtle crunch. Black blood and stinking grey matter coated his blade. **Ding! level 13 Undead Huntsman slain** He pulled his sword free, lurching into another run as he advanced on the next undead that held a knife. It was less than ten long-strides away, the gap closing fast. Behind him the slain body of the first undead hit the ground with the sharp crack of a splintering twig. Kaius winced at the sound. Almost as one the remaining group stopped dead, slowly turning to investigate the sound. The remaining knife-wielder saw him, a soft rattle of a war cry leaving its shrunken lips. It stepped towards him with its hunting knife held high. Kaius didn''t stop. It swung. He planted one foot solidly into the loamy soil, bringing himself up short. A sharp jolt of force shot up his leg, but the slight pain was quickly forgotten as the undead''s blade sailed past his chest in a narrow miss. The failed swing left it wide open. Kaius didn''t hesitate. He speared it through the nose, a cold spray of jellified fluid catching him in the face. **Ding! level 13 Undead Huntsman slain** The heat of battle washed over him, a manic grin growing on his face as blood boiled in his veins. Spinning on his lead foot, Kaius pivoted to face the rest of the undead. Slack jawed and expressionless, they had wasted no time thinking on the death of their allies. No moments of panic or shock slowed their responses. They simply advanced on him, led by the one wielding an axe. Kaius flicked his sword, rotten brain matter splattering on to a stray pile of leaf litter. The two undead holding boar spears had their points levelled at his chest, slowly advancing. The axe-wielder had no such compunctions, working itself up into a stiff legged run. Kaius settled into his stance, happy to let the undead build some distance from its allies. It reached him with the fury of a runaway bull, swinging its axe in a savage horizontal swipe. Kaius simply stepped back, letting the axe sail past him harmlessly. The momentum of the blow briefly pulled the undead off balance, before it righted itself and quickly lashed out with an overhead. Kaius parried the blow, a flick of his sword pulling the axe of centre. A swift riposte cut a furrow through its chest. They were so clumsy. Kaius struck for the head, eager to finish the fight quickly. The undead just barely managed to bring its axe up to block, its infernal might stopping his blow cold. Shoving back against his guard it broke the bind, shifting its hands to bring its axe down in a short chop. Openings screamed to him. Strength and a certain awkward speed it might have, but without control, without technique, it was useless. With a flick of his wrists Kaius brought his blade back around, binding the axe once more. A slight turn of the blade and a forward push, and he slipped through the undead''s guard. Impaling its head on his blade. **Ding! level 14 Undead Logger slain** **Ding! Sense Weakness has reached level 18!** The corpse dropped like a puppet with its string cut. Kaius''s chest rose with each deep inhale, the exertion of battle impossible to avoid. Still, the burn in his muscles felt good. Seeing the undead lie inanimate once more, shattered and broken, felt good. Knowing that each one he put down was another step closer to his goals made his blood sing. He understood it now. The Bloodsong. How it could drive people to such maddening heights. He levelled his gaze on the final two undead, still slowly approaching with their boar spears levelled. Only two left. Chapter 9 : Fervour & Fury Kaius stood on the wide trail beaten through the undergrowth of the subterranean glade, watching the two undead that slowly approached with spears levelled at his chest. Their weapons had the stout look of boar spears. Leaf shaped blades capped by lugs on a stout haft six strides in length. They were weighty, unwieldy things. More meant for planting firmly in the ground to arrest a boar''s charge than true weapons of war. They still held the reach advantage. If only barely Kaius grinned, the Bloodsong still running hot in his veins. Mere seconds previously he had slain their allies. They would be joining them soon. Feinting a step forward, Kaius watched the undead thrust toward him, warding off an assumed advance. Like the others they were strong and fast, but ungainly. Their bodies lacked the smooth flowing balance of a trained fighter, wooden fingers struggling to rearrange themselves as they adjusted their grip. Even the points of their spears wavered through the air, as if uncertain of where to strike. With each step they took forwards, Kaius took a calm one backwards, holding his sword at the ready. The left one cracked first. Suddenly lunging, it drove its spear towards him with its rear hand, thrusting towards him in a great extended stab. A snarl left his lips as he flicked his sword, pushing the spear away from him. He stutter-stepped forward, bringing himself inside the first spearman''s guard. He grabbed the spear haft, capitalising on the undead''s sluggish reactions to shove it upwards and knock away the second spear thrust that had been poised to take him in the chest. Yanking hard on the haft he held, he pulled its stumbling owner towards him. Kaius pivoted on his leading foot, scything his rear leg outwards. His shin met the side of the undead''s knee with a gruesome crack. Its leg gave out and its grip slipped from the spear as it tried to arrest its fall. Its companion was not idle, their own spear already descending in a sharp cut towards Kaius. His eyes widened. His kick had put him out of position, and with a sword in one hand and a spear held mid haft in the other, he had no way to block or parry. Instead he chose to give flesh to take bone. Twisting, Kaius felt the half blunted edge of the boar-spear cut a line of fire from nipple to hip, a wet stream soaking his tunic in moments, quickly followed by the rapid itch of his Health draining to heal the wound. It enraged him. He''d been overconfident again. A quick step took him out of reach of the downed undead that was even now grasping towards him, taking its spear with him. A few more took him out of the range of the still standing one. He took a moment to look down. His front was soaked, a deep red spilling across the dyed green fabrics and staining the hardened chestnut brown leather reinforcement of his hunting clothes. It would take hours for them to repair themselves. They had been a gift. Kaius narrowed his eyes at the standing undead, a vein on his neck bulging as he saw his blood drip off its spear point. Creating some more distance, he tossed his stolen boar-spear up in the air slightly and reversed his grip. He hauled the heavy spear over his shoulder, raising his sword with his other arm to aim at the undead that continued to stumble towards him. Twisting and engaging the muscles in his back, he heaved. The spear flew. The undead attempted to bat the projectile out of flight. Stamina - 174/200 (2/min) Mana - 120/120 (2/min) His health was still slowly dropping, but it was quickly levelling out as the cut on his torso finished healing. Half an hour to top himself off. Not bad. He could always keep his distance if he found anything noteworthy in the meantime. Afterall, the undead he had seen up until this point hadn''t exactly been the most perceptive things. He eyed one of the discarded boar spears, the one that had slashed him through the chest. It could come in handy, having something with a bit more reach. Even if it was in poor shape, its stout construction meant it should hold up fine. At least temporarily. The fact that it wasn''t covered in undead viscera like the one he had planted in its owner''s chest helped too. New spear in hand he set off following the trail. It ended up being much longer than Kaius had anticipated. Luckily his new armament acted as a half decent walking stick, even if it was a little cumbersome. Now Kaius watched the looming cavern wall draw closer and closer. Wherever the tracks led, it seemed to be positioned at the base of the cavern wall. As he continued on, he was relatively surprised to find that the tree growth failed to thin out. The portion of the cavern that he had originally entered had been relatively sparsely populated by plant life. Still enough to qualify as a sort of forest, but the trees were spaced wide apart. It had gotten denser as he had penetrated deeper into the thick of the glade, but he had thought that the lighter tree cover extended around the full circumference of the massive cavern. Apparently he was mistaken. He closed the remaining distance to the looming cavern wall, leaving the trail to pass through densely knotted trees and bushes. He wanted as much cover as possible, though he stayed close enough that the undead''s tracks were always in sight. Once he got within a hundred long-strides of the cavern wall he found a suitably memorable tree, another one of those rare fruit laden plants that he had seen in his travels. Scoring its bark with his hunting knife, he made sure the mark was clear and visible from the bush beaten tracks he had been following. Then, he stashed his pack. Spear held at the ready, he pushed his way through the undergrowth. The soft glow of the cave moss shone between the closely nestled trunks. He approached slowly, keeping his profile as minimised as possible as he used the ample foliage as cover. Once he got as close as was comfortable, Kaius put a thick tree trunk between his body and the edge of the trees. Peering around it, he saw that the trees abruptly stopped a good thirty or so strides before the cavern wall. The no man''s land covered in long grass and a few scraggly bushes. It was what he saw on the cave wall that drew his eye. Off to his right, in the direction of the tracks, was what looked to be a compound set into a great opening that had been worked into the stone, its jagged edges reminiscent of mining. Three stone structures standing proud in the shadow of the cave. They seemed to have a similar architecture to the church where he had made his home. The same tall slatted roofs, with thin slitted windows set high in each wall. Where the church was clearly a place of worship, this seemed to be some sort of hunting lodge. The main building, situated at the back of the shallow cave, was a wide and squat building. A veranda spanned its front face, collumned stone holding up its awning. Across its paved surface numerous drying racks were set up, ratty and hole ridden fur pegged in place. The other two buildings were smaller in scale. One was set close to the entrance, a large smoke stack jutting out slightly from the cave and rising above its lip. The most likely reason for its positioning, he supposed. If he was to guess, it had to be some sort of smoke house, though he was in no rush to see whatever meat stores were kept within. The final building was a small, but over engineered, building set just off to the side of the main lodge. From the little Kaius could make out through the dark shadows that drenched the cave, it had no windows, and it''s heavy set door was barred tight with several chains. The sight of that set Kaius''s heart thumping. It wasn''t just the Bloodsong and the wealth of experience available that sent so many into the Depths'' embrace. Monetary reward and otherwise unobtainable resources did that enough all on their own. Artefacts, rare materials, and strange alchemical ingredients could all be found here. Often they were tied to some Depths-born construction, from what he had heard. Just like a secure locked building attached to a hunting lodge built into the side of an impossibly sized cavern. ''There''s just one problem'' He thought to himself. The entire place was crawling with undead. Chapter 10 : Kiting From his vantage point Kaius was able to make out fifteen undead. They milled around the hunting compound that was recessed into the cave wall. Some drifted from building to building, patrolling the area in some mockery of a lively camp. Others just stood there, swaying in place. It was unnerving. The unnatural stillness with which they stood, unbroken by the micro-movements and twitches typical of the living. The way they burst into motion without warning, speed and power juxtaposed by a jerky and almost mechanical lack of grace. It set his teeth on edge. It looked wrong. Unnatural. He hated the undead. Fifteen would be the most amount of anything he had faced in single combat. He had skill and dexterity on his side, but it was still a lot of bodies. At the very least they all seemed about as well armed as the patrolling party he had faced an hour or so earlier. Half rotted leather hunting gear, not even true armour, and a smattering of hatchets, axes, spears and knives. Unnatural and disgusting they may be, the fact that they were undead would play in his favour. They would have nonexistent Endurance. No Health to regenerate wounds. His father had told him of great and terrible spirits of death who could heal with Mana. Not here though. Deep, far deeper than he would ever reach for years. Strong, indefatigable, and immune to blows that would mean the end of anything with a heart beat. They were also dim, clumsy, and had no Health. He could fight them defensively, utilising positioning, the environment, and superior coordination to whittle them down one by one. Fifteen was still a lot of bodies. He gulped. Kaius took a deep breath, quelling the nervous tension within him. Despite their numbers, he couldn''t deny that the prospect of facing off against such a large group was as exciting as it was anxiety inducing. Plus the dangling carrot of the store house was too great to ignore. There was something more than the promise of glory and loot that made the risk so enticing however. The pressure and push of facing so many foes at once would force him to the edge, he would have to capitalise on every single mistake the undead made. The urge to merge his next legacy skill had been a constant buzz in the back of his mind. Every one he completed would make him just a little safer, give him another powerful tool to work with as he tried to survive in an environment he had no right to be in. The battle ahead was sure to level Sense Weakness, in all likelihood more than once. He needed that. Needed the edge his next legacy skill would bring him. Needed to start on the next one after that, that would bring him some much needed survivability. Tightening his grip on his spear, his knuckles went white. Kaius launched himself forward, pushing off a root and shoving the trunk he was hiding behind to bring himself up to full speed in a burst of acceleration. The light brush standing between him and the end of the treeline whipped against his legs. Quickly forgetting the stinging mark of their passage as he bent his mind to the singular goal of closing the gap between himself and the closest of the wandering undead. He brought the point of his spear up and level, turning his run into a charge. Soft breeze covered his advance, the rustling of leaves enough to drown out his heavy breaths and the soft thumping of his feet on soil. He was almost there. Some of the undead, those who just so happened to be looking in his direction, had already noticed him. Ambling limbs readied glorified farm tools as they drew in his direction on stumbling. His target did not move. Too dim-witted to experience even vague curiosity at what had riled up its fellows. Kaius grinned, surging blood making his face grow hot. The large undead reached him, a stumbling chop swinging wide and leaving it over extended with a simple back step. Sense Weakness screamed at him. A smooth step forward. A simple thrust. Another spray of black blood. Another body crumpling where it stood. **Ding! level 16 Undead Logger slain** His compatriots quickly followed, mobbing him. Wild, uncontrolled swings were avoided with tight and efficient movements. Those he could not dodge, he pulled off centre with simple bats of his spear. The undead''s numbers quickly began to work to their detriment, ungainly strength and dim witted minds turning the rabble into an unreasoning pit of aggression more than any cooperative fighting force. None tried to force him into a corner. None tried to attack in unison, or create openings for a fellow. Kaius feinted, an undead with an axe taking a wild swing only to elbow a fellow undead holding a knife, sending it realing. A quick stab caught the flat footed undead, returning it to the embrace of true death. **Ding! level 14 Undead Huntsman slain** Kaius continued to back up, making use of the strip of open space that separated the vale from the edge of the cavern. "So mindlessly aggressive," he thought to himself as a spear-wielder''s botched swipe slapped an undead holding a machete, who had committed to a thrust at the wrong moment. Unfortunately the blunder didn''t leave either of them opening for a killing stroke. Too many of the mob still standing, a committed lunge would leave him far to open to a strike from their allies. It didn''t, however, mean he did nothing. A light thrust scoring a line across the offending undead''s forearm, hopefully deep enough to hamper its grip. His retreat from the mob was slow. Measured. All he had to do was wait. He had already seen so many openings. Sense Weakness remained silent, no more than a low level hum in the back of his mind. Too many opponents for him to capitalise on the failure of a single individual. Still, his time would come. He just had to be patient. Another avoided wild swing. The dance continued. An axe wielder struck, its terminal arc ending with a violent crunch in one of its allies'' knees as Kaius dodged the blow. The unfortunate undead pitched forward, mangled leg collapsing as it tried and failed to take another step. Sense Weakness twitched in the back of his mind. Kaius''s leaf-shaped spear point arrested its fall. **Ding! level 16 Undead Huntsman slain** He stepped back, back burning as he wrenched his spear free in order to keep pace with the thinning crowd. Looking to the tree line off to his right, he considered if it was worth it to dive into its embrace, before deciding against it. While his heart thumped, and his legs burned at his continual giving of ground, nothing had yet to turn against him. Kaius took his time, allowing the uncoordinated mass of limbs and flesh that pursued him to work to its own destruction. False openings were seen through, as he trusted in Sense Weakness to lead him right. It wasn''t perfect, he was sure if it was a higher level it might have been able to direct him to capitalise on more delicate openings instead of only the most obvious. It was still enough to stop him falling into a trap. Steadily he whittled away at the small horde of undead. A tangle of limbs here, a wild swing shoving another out of position there, at one point one enterprising undead even managed to bury its hatchet in one of its compatriots foreheads. It wasn''t easy, not by a long shot. A quick glance at his resources showed his stamina was getting uncomfortably low, closing in on half full. His legs burned something else, unused as he was to an extended jog backwards while fending off infernal corpses. The scavenged spear was also looking worse for wear, its once stout haft ragged with chips and deep scratches from warding off blows. Finally, when there were only three left, he received the first of the notifications he had been waiting for. **Ding! Sense Weakness has reached level 19!** "Took long enough!" He thought as a grin split his sweat streaked face. Chapter 11 : Unpleasant Surprises Kaius planted his feet. There were only three undead remaining from the small mob that he had stumbled upon at the hunters lodge and led on a merry chase. More than a low enough number for him to stop running. Of the three, the one front and centre held a pitted machete, same as the one on its left. Its companion to its right holding a hatchet. All three tried to swing as soon as Kaius stopped moving. He thrust, lancing the middle undead in the shoulder. Or at least, he tried to. The leftmost undead whacked his spear with its machete, shunting him off target. He swung his spear sideways, pivoting to a new target and carving a line through the rightmost undead''s face as he smacked away the hatchet it had raised. A spray of thick black blood coated the soft grass between them. Kaius took another steady breath, the smell rotting blood mixing with the earthy tones of disturbed loam. Any disgust at the scent washed away in his Bloodsong. A step back prevented his rabid foes from closing the distance, he feinted another strike at the centremost undead, before whipping his spear back into the hatchet-wielder. One of the boar-spears lugs impacted the undead''s skull with a savage crack, splintering the bone. The other undead tried to capitalise on his committed attack, lunging towards him with a swing and a stab. Kaius leapt back out of range, his heart keeping a steady rhythm even as his tunic clung uncomfortably to his chest due to the sweat of his extended exertion. In its fervour, one of the machete-wielders lunged after him, swinging its blade in an attempt to gut him where he stood. Kaius pulled his haft in tight and the undead''s machete swung past, leaving it flat footed. Experience and Sense Weakness drove him to action, a thrust puncturing deep into the underside of the undead''s jaw, and erupting from the crown of its head with a crunch of shattered bone. **Ding! level 15 Undead Huntsman slain** Kaius maintained his momentum, ripping his spear free to flow into a tight cut at the next closest undead. It brought its machete up in a block, catching the haft of his spear before it could cleave through its skull. Breaking the bind he pulled back, then thrust with a rapid flurry of stabs, alternating between targets. The undead did their best to ward him off, but decrepit nervous systems hampered their attempts. One, looking almost frustrated, tried to physically chop through his haft. Kaius grinned, stepping back to let the axe swing past and pull the undead off balance. The opening did not go unmissed. It fell with a weeping hole where its nose used to be. **Ding! level 16 Undead Huntsman slain** Sweat stung as it streamed down Kaius''s face and into his eyes. Not for a moment did he consider taking a hand from his weapon to wipe his face, nor scrunching his eyes to clear the salty irritant. He was too honed in. There was only one left. One. Left. Kaius let out a war cry, breaking the silence he had held since springing his ambush. The savage reverberations stabbed at his throat, heightening his aggression. He swept his spear up before slamming it down into the undead''s guard. It stumbled at the sudden force, before rallying itself to jump toward him in mindless fury. Switching his grip, he momentarily held his spear like a quarterstaff, before slamming its butt into the undead''s machete. Knocking the weapon away. A reverse strike drove his spear point through the creature''s neck, a torrent of black soaking its ratty leathers in moments. He carried through the strike with a push kick to the undead''s chest, sending it sprawling prone. Kaius planted his foot and smiled at the scrambling thing. "Fifteen doesn''t seem so bad anymore." He said, eyes cold despite his grin. He slammed his spear home, planting its leaf bladed point in the monster''s skull, and leaned his full body weight into the spear. Pulling it free, he walked away from the messy pile of blood and viscera before slouching over as he gasped. That had been rough. But so, so much fun. As the unnatural wind cooled the sweat on his brow, Kaius looked at the destruction he had left in his wake. A line of black, evidence of the dozens of wounds he had inflicted on the mob. A grisly trail leading to the hunters lodge far in the distance, interposed every so often by the limp corpse of a downed foe. "Gods damn them, that was tough" He panted, using his free hand to massage one of his calves. They still burned something fierce, strained from his hapdash retreat over uneven ground. He squinted, seeing an undead slowly shamble its way closer to him, shaded in the half light of the cavern. One of the crippled ones, hampered by its injured leg. It promptly stumbled, falling over face first. The absurdity of it jolted, a soft bark of a laugh escaping his lips. "Well, best not leave a job unfinished." He said with a shake of his head. Standing up straight, he planted his spear point first into soft soil below, allowing it to stand freely. He bounced lightly on the balls of his feet, shaking loose the accumulated tension in his arms, before bending over to stretch out his legs. A groan slipped out as the burning ache in his legs intensified behind his knees and the back of his thighs. "That''s a bit better." Kaius mumbled as he stood back up. With a stout tree at his back he wasn''t too worried, but it always paid to be careful. Kaius exited the trees, his stamina back to full after waiting for just over an hour. Spear in hand and sword on his hip he made his way towards the lodge compound. His first target was the smoke house. His reasoning was simple, it was a hell of a lot smaller than the lodge itself. Which meant if it was full of undead, it would most likely have less of them. The squat stone building seemed to loom over him, its tall chimney rising up just higher than the lip of the shallow cave that the compound was built into. He tried to peer through its thin slitted windows, but they were too high up for him to get a good look. Plus, it looked pretty dark in there. Circling the building, he found a door facing towards the centre of the compound. It was as stout and imposing as the building itself, built of rough hewn planks reinforced with iron, a simple wooden gravity latch holding it shut. He reached out, tense and ready to react as he gripped the wooden bar that held the door shut. He lifted the mechanism in a quick jerk, shoving the door open as he leapt backwards and levelled his spear at the now open entryway. It swung inwards, hitting the wall behind it with a clatter of wood and stone. Kaius furrowed his brow, peering into the dark interior of the building. Judging by the lack of sound, it was empty. He still didn''t trust it. Holding his spear at the ready, he stepped through the shadowy threshold. His mouth flattened into a tight line as he drank in the interior. Whatever strange intelligence formulated the biomes of the Depths certainly did have grim sensibilities. In the centre of the smoke house there was a burnt out fire pit, metal butchery hooks attached to the rafters above. Humanoid limbs hung suspended, desiccation unable to hide the grizzly evidence of consumption. He certainly didn''t miss that some were noticeably smaller than the others. Kaius spat on the floor, a hot rush of anger suffocating his disgust. He turned on his heel, marching out of the smoke house as he pulled shut the door behind him. He knew it was a set piece. It was common knowledge that while the Depths often contained some shattered mirror reflections of things that existed - or once did - it twisted them to fit whatever strange logic was behind its biomes. There were a dozen campfire stories of delvers coming across some truly twisted regions. It still didn''t sit right with him. He was no stranger to blood and guts, but it just wasn''t right. He shook his head to clear his thoughts. He still had another building to clear. If the smoke house was free of undead, the lodge sure as hell would have some. He approached the wide stone veranda, picking his way through the fur tanning racks that dotted its expanse. Not that the things stretched across the frame could ever be considered so valuable a good, what with the blatant strips of dried flesh and massive holes. A few of them he moved, clearing them away from the path to the door. He winced as their brittle frames clattered against the floor, waiting for some clamouring horde to fall on his head at the noise. Thankfully the cave and buildings within stayed blessedly silent. He approached the entrance, made of the same rough hewn and reinforced wood as the previous one. Though no less ready than the first building, his heart stayed steady as he grabbed the latch. A final steady breath centred his mind. He flung the door open. The interior was shadowy and dark. To his surprise the building was completely open on the inside. He entered cautiously, spear held at the ready. The moment his foot crossed the threshold ensconced torches flared to life, throwing the interior of the building into stark relief. Kaius''s eyes widened, momentarily blinded. Blood pulsed, throbbing in his neck as his heart rate accelerated. A soft grunt grabbed his attention. Whipping his head around, he focused on the source of the sound. There, at the head of the hall, sat a great monstrosity. Enthroned on a seat of rotting fur and splintered bone, its black eyes drilled into him. The grotesque sneer that split its face conveying a level of contempt that chilled his blood. Its muscle bound body had more draught than a draught horse, a complete lack of body fat revealing every single striation in its musculature, to the point it looked almost flayed. At least, the definition that wasn''t marred by its diseased and pockmarked skin. Its black unblinking eyes never left his own as it slowly reached down, grabbing a blood stained cleaver that must have been the size of his thigh. A slow and purposeful rise brought it to its full height, the overly thick leather apron that covered its front rustling with the movement. It towered over Kaius, easily a stride and a half taller than him - and he towered over the villagers he had met at a strapping six and a half strides tall. This was no mere mindless undead. It smiled, rotten teeth poking out from behind scarred lips. **Ding! You have challenged a Champion: The Hungry Butcher ** "Shit." Chapter 12 : The Butcher Kaius all but flew backwards out of the lodge, desperate to avoid a scenario where the giant undead could box him in and bring its obvious strength to bear. Dread shot through him as he took in the size of the undead. It made him look small, and he had no doubt that its monstrous cleaver would make short work of any sort of defence he could field against it. His only chance was to rely on mobility and positioning to see him through the fight. If he even could. He blanched at the thought of the casual contempt on its face as it rose from its throne. The damned thing had moved with decidedly more grace than the other undead he had fought. As his feet touched down on the dusty rock that made up the cave floor, Kaius heard great rattling thumps echo through and out of the hunting lodge. Seeming to almost shake the foundation of the building itself, each thundering reverberation reaching into his chest to set a cold grip on his heart. The Bloodsong was still there, keeping his blood roaring hot. But it was muted. Tempered by primal feelings that screamed out, urging retreat to a long forgotten canopy in the face of something long of teeth and strong of claw. Reaching the centre of the compound, Kaius took a long and slow breath, pushing the lances of ice that crept up his extremities to the back of his mind. Focusing on the battle ahead. There would be no room for mistakes. Not against a true monstrosity like this. He settled into his stance, legs slightly bent and his grip on his spear firm but loose. Great, grey fingers gripped the top of the lodge''s door frame, aged wood splintering as the sausage sized digits clenched. Kaius''s stomach dropped as the Champion stooped, bowing its head to fit through the building''s entrance. Its cleaver dragging along the floor with a terrible screech of tortured stone. It crossed the veranda, tanning wracks shattering like kindling in the passage of its inexorable bulk. Standing at the threshold, it stared at him again. Cold malevolence glimmering in its eyes as a rictus grin split its diseased face. Kaius took a sharp breath, stoking the forge of battle-lust that had been growing within him over every brush with death he''d had since getting trapped in the Depths. "Meat." It spoke. The words rumbled across the intervening space, a timbre of tortured metal rattling deep in Kaius''s chest. The champion lifted its oversized cleaver with a slow grace, slapping the sharpened slab of iron into its opposing palm with a great thwack. A wooden stair splintered as it kicked off the veranda, the Champion charging him with the unhindered momentum of a raging bull. Kaius kept his eyes locked on the undead, ready to react. Its great strides ate up the distance between them quickly. It was fast. Raising its cleaver high, the Champion chopped. Kaius danced to the side. The slab of iron bit deep into the cave floor, stone shards leaving stinging bites as chipped stone showered his face. He counterattacked instantly, lancing the undead in the arm with his boar-spear. Kaius tried to follow it up with a second stab to its exposed face, but was forced to dodge when the Butcher sliced at him with casual ease. He didn''t even try to parry the blow. With its obvious strength, his spear might as well have been a toothpick. The Champion lashed out again, air whistling as its cleaver blurred towards him. Dipping back, Kaius repositioned, trying to harry the undead with a flurry of quick strikes. It managed to ward off some with sweeping parries, but for all its strength and increased coordination nothing could make such a weighty weapon as deft as his spear. Small cuts and shallow stabs marred the chest and arms of the undead, small rivulets of thick running blood leaking from the wounds. Kaius watched the injuries intensely, relief washing through him when he saw that they didn''t heal. Thank the gods for that, it would be challenging enough to whittle down the creature without having to burn through a pool of restorative energy. Lunging, the Champion snatched toward him with a plate sized hand, trying to grab him with a fatal grip. A sharp slide back just barely brought Kaius out of its range. He quickly retaliated with a warding stab that ground against the bones in its palm. Roaring in frustration it slammed its cleaver into the stone floor at an angle, showering Kaius with stone shards and dust. His eyes welled up, forcing him to blink rapidly in an attempt to clear the sudden irritants. Loose flesh fell free, the undead''s cheek flopping open to reveal the blackened nubs of its teeth. Black blood flowed from the wound, staining its grey flesh and leather apron. Kaius looked in shock at the lacking result of his surprise attack and attempted to pull his spear back. With a swiftness belying its size the Butcher snatched up his spear, yanking Kaius towards it as its cleaver rose up for a killing stroke. Forced to let go in order to not be pulled into the creature''s reach, Kaius stumbled back, palming the hilt of his inscribed sword. He drew it free of its scabbard, silver and grey ripples catching the soft light. He watched as the undead tightened its grip on his borrowed boar spear, the wooden half creaking momentarily before it shattered. It was for the best anyway. He''d always been more comfortable with the sword his father had gifted him in hand, and the more he used it the more focused the influence Warforged would have on his class would be. Plus, nothing ever settled in his palms quite as well as his sword. The Champion stepped in, trying to catch Kaius with a diagonal slice. He dodged to the left, bringing his blade to bare, slicing the giant and scoring a deep cut across its shoulder and chest. While his sword might have lacked some of the reach of the boar-spear, its mana drenched alloy and supernaturally honed edge made short work of the creature''s toughened hide. Whipping back around, the Champion brought down its cleaver in an overhead strike. Kaius''s eyes widened. It had moved faster than it had before. He didn''t have time to avoid the blow. His sword came up in a parry, trying to push the slab of iron away. The oversized weapons'' sheer inertia shoved him back.. The cleaver skittered down his sword edge, refusing to bind. The Champion twisted its wrist, guiding its blade to skirt past his cross guard with ease. He tried to disengage, but was too slow to prevent the tip of the weapon from cutting deep into the flesh of his forearm. Blood welled from the wound, spilling free to land on the cold stone with a light splatter. Kaius and the Champion broke their engagement, stepping back to circle each other with calm steps. The undead''s easy grin was made all the more grotesque by the flap of its cheek hanging down past its jaw. It shook its free arm, now dripping and stained with the foetid blood that spilled forth from the wound on its shoulder. He didn''t miss the slight shudder as it tried to lift its hand to its front. He''d done some damage to the muscle. That was good. Nor did Kaius miss the growing itchy heat emanating from his wounded arm, so different from the burn of Health - already expending itself to seal the cut. No, it was the withering furnace of a fever. **Ding! You have been afflicted by Blood Rot: Profane Instruments** Another skill. That was bad. No less because he had no idea what blood rot actually did. He could only hope that Rapid Adaptation would see him through and keep him in fighting shape. At the very least he doubted the Butcher had anything else left up its sleeve. If it followed any normal sense of progression it would have to be over level forty to have another skill. He would already be dead if that was the case. Even as it stood, it was a lethal foe. Without his legacy skills he would be dead a dozen times over. Not for the first time he thanked the gods for the luck of his birth, even if it did mean he grew up in the wilderness, hiding from unknown enemies. He could feel Rapid Adaptation working, its bolstering energy flowing through his body to taste and sample the new threat. Devising the best way to adapt and neutralise the deleterious force. He just had to hold on long enough for it to get there. His arm hot and swollen, Kaius leapt towards the Butcher, stabbing towards its face. It raised its cleaver to slap away his thrust, only to roar in frustration as he twirled his blade and cut deep into its shoulder. Its blade arm, this time. Kaius stepped through with his blow, aiming to circle behind the Butcher and cut off its avenues of attack. The undead whirled on him, lashing out with a cut that ripped another line of hot fire through the thin layer of fat that covered his belly. **Ding! Affliction - Blood Rot: Profane Instruments strengthens!** An explosion of pain that radiated out from the cut, followed by a welting and sickly heat. His abdominals tensed uncontrollably, and Kaius felt his skill start to probe the new location. Continuing to taste the flavour of the energy, trying to take its measure. He could already feel the tendrils of rot seeping up his arm from the previous cut. Snake-like, using his veins as highways to ravage his body. He had to finish this. Fast. Chapter 13 : Victory or Death The Butcher''s cleaver followed its terminal arc, wounded arm unable to control the momentum of the monstrous weapon with as much ease as it had before. The wild swing left it open. Kaius was remiss to let the opportunity go to waste. Every second was another that his afflictions would continue to weaken him. Stepping forwards, he brought his sword down in a heavy overhead strike. The Butcher lashed out with its free hand, trying to ward off his strike. It was successful, partially at least. Knocked off centre, his blade bit deep into its clavicle with a spray of rotten black blood. The undead howled, infuriated by the injury. It lashed out with its fist. Trying to leverage its size and strength to crush him. Kaius flicked his sword, biting deep into the Butcher''s forearm as he turned the blow, grating against the bone. He didn''t fully escape unscathed, his wounded arm surging with agony from the force of the collision. A hiss escaping his throat, Kaius disengaged. His Health had already sealed his cuts, but whatever the undead''s skill-enhanced cleaver had inflicted him with was fighting against the purifying energy, forcing a constant expenditure to keep the wounds closed. Something he couldn''t afford, he barely had a pittance with the cap on his Endurance. Drawing in another great breath, the Champion released another fearsome roar. This time the ability washed over him as pure, hateful, noise. Rapid Adaptation working quickly to rebuke the power before it could get its hooks into him **Ding! You have resisted Fear: Call of Consumption** Kaius moved through the wall of sound, swiftly engaging the creature while it was enraptured in the execution of its natural magics. He needed to cripple the beast. Slow it down. He needed to go for its legs. Before it could snap its jaws shut, he lunged. The tip of his sword lanced straight the thick rope of muscle above its knee. He withdrew and disengaged, watching as its leg buckled slightly under its prodigious weight. The Champions roar petered out with a squeal of pain and anger. It lunged, trying to sever him at the waist. The blow was still fast, still backed up by monstrous strength, but it was slower. More manageable. He watched the heavy blade waver slightly as damaged muscles failed to work as they should. He saw an opening, his skill twinging. Side stepping the swing, he cut. His blade deepened the cut on the Butcher''s shoulder, parting flesh to grate against bone. He dragged the cut, stepping through to lengthen the incision and wrap it around the meat of the joint. **Ding! Sense Weakness has reached level 20!** Kaius ignored the notification, all his attention focused on the battle. The ruined remnants of its shoulder tore and the Butcher''s swing collapsed, arm slapping weakly against its chest before dropping to its side. The massive iron cleaver clattered against the ground, the Champion no longer able to lift its arm effectively despite keeping a firm grip on its weapon. With a howl of frustration it swung at him with its free arm, stumbling slightly on its wounded leg. Kaius turned the strike with the edge of his blade, allowing the undead''s own strength to carry through the cut. Biting deep into its forearm. He danced back to disengage, watching the Champion''s fingers on its grow lax. He must have severed the ligaments. Rapid Adaptation surged, finally stalling the creeping affliction in his veins. Getting its measure and stopping it dead. Slowly it pushed back, consuming and destroying the corruption hairsbreadth by hairsbreadth. Finally, Finally, the battle had turned in his favour Kaius turned his attention to his resources, more than aware that the corruption instilled by the Butcher''s contagion had wreaked havoc on his Health, forcing the energy to expend itself to ward off its deleterious effects. Resources: Health - 48/200 (2/min) Stamina - 109/200 (2/min) Mana - 120/120 (2/min) His eyes widened, shocked at how low it had gotten. It was well and truly a race now. With how quickly the Blood Rot had drained his pool of regenerative energy, it would wreak havoc on his body as soon as his Health ran out. He could only hope that Rapid Adaptation would be able to purge the disease before that happened. The Butcher scowled at him, thick hairless brows scrunching over its unnatural black eyes. "Gonna. Eat. You." It ground out, straining as if each word was a challenge. The Champion lurched towards him, decidedly slower on its wounded leg. Kaius slipped around a clumsy swing of its cleaver, the undead leaning into the momentum of its body to attack. He cut into the calf of its uninjured leg as he pressed an opening in its guard. More black blood joined the growing pool covering the stone floor. Kaius slumped back down with a sigh of relief, yelping as his jostling moved his still shattered leg. He looked at the twisted limb and winced. While he could just leave it to heal on its own, at least partially setting the break would drastically reduce the amount of Health required to recover. Eyes drifting past his ruined leg, his attention settled on the limp form of the champion. His sword was still stuck fast in its head. A growing pool of black blood seeped forth from the corpse. He needed his sword. Injured as he was, he was fucked if something came across him in this state and he had no way of defending himself. Kaius growled, staring at his weapon. "This is going to suck." He sighed. "Nothing for it, I suppose." Balling up the hem of his tunic with resignation, he pulled on the material until he could comfortably bite down on the wad of fabric and leather. A few sharp breaths to steady his nerves, and he shoved himself upright. A hoarse yell escaped him as the movement shifted his leg. Refusing to give up the momentum, he gasped and snatched the handle of his sword, falling back to the floor to pull the blade with him. It slipped free with a wet squelch, clattering loudly onto the stone floor beside him. "Just a little more, you can do this." He thought. He pulled himself up into a seated position and shuffled backwards, biting his wadded tunic so hard he half expected to hear the crack of a breaking tooth. Finger-length by agonising finger-length he hauled himself away from the growing puddle of blood that expanded from the Butcher''s corpse. Once he had made it a couple of long-strides away, Kaius collapsed back down with tears streaking down his cheeks. He let go of his sword, preparing himself for what he had to do next. He sat back up, staring at his twisted leg with dread. He reached out towards it, before freezing half way. A frustrated growl was dampened by the fabric in his mouth. "Last bit. Then you''re done." A sharp breath brought him focus and he lunged towards his foot, twisting it back into position. A half strangled scream sounded in his ears as if from a great distance, agony coursing up through his leg and shorting out his mind. Kaius collapsed back down with a whimper. He spat out his tunic. "Fuck. Me." He ground out, panting between words. Despite the agony, he couldn''t help the low rumbling chuckle that started from deep within his chest. Even if he did wince every time the movement jostled his slowly healing break. He had no right to have come out on top. The bastard even had a class! What the fuck was that!? He''d never heard of Champions in his life! He''d killed it. Killed something with a class, something that was supposed to be as close to impossible as you could get, the advantage of stats and skills too high to overcome. Oh sure, he knew that the Guardian he was eventually doomed to face would have one, and would be exponentially harder than this battle. However, he had only planned on that with all of his skills in place. Even then! Even then he had mostly planned on waiting until he had his own. Yet here he was. Broken. Bleeding. But well and truly alive. After facing something with a class. "Unbelievable." he whispered. The encounter had shown him something. That the Depths held hidden dangers far beyond what he was taught. For the first time in his life, Kaius felt dissatisfied with Father''s traditional methods. Sure, if all had gone as expected, he would have never in a million years stepped anywhere close to the Depths before his father had given him sufficient lessons on its hazards. Lessons that were supposed to happen in the final months before his class selection, with practical training following it. Yet here he was, nearly two years early. Of all people. Of all people! Father should have known to plan for the unexpected. Or was it a simple coincidence that they lived deep in the forest, weeks'' journey from the closest small frontier villages? While having a perfect set of legacy skills? Kaius snorted at the thought. Father had always been cagey, but he supposed the knowledge of exactly what had happened to their dynasty was another lesson that had been left until he was older. It hurt to think of his father''s failings, after all he had done for him, but it was just so frustrating to think how different his approach would have been if he had known that Champions existed. For one, he probably would have waited until he had merged his fourth skill. He might not have gotten so injured with Adamant Body. Kaius''s eyes widened suddenly. His skills! He''d levelled Sense Weakness! He was finally ready to merge the skills! A wide smile split his face. He couldn''t do it here of course. It required a centred mind and a period of meditation in his soul space to feel how all the pieces flowed together. Something he felt very little confidence in doing here. For one, it would be impossible to do while dealing with a broken leg. He was also a little worried about beasts coming to investigate the blood and noise. No, it would need to wait until he was in the relative safety of his base camp. He also had something a little more pressing on his mind, other than healing his leg. Kaius turned his head, twinkling eyes landing on the stout stone building that sat to the right of the lodge proper. "Loot." Chapter 14 : Rewards Kaius stood up from the cold stone floor of the hunting compound, wincing as his leg protested at the movement. After nearly an hour and a half of waiting, it had mostly healed, and hopefully it wouldn''t take more than another quarter hour or so until it was done. Still, he didn''t exactly plan on sitting on his ass if he could walk around fine now. He would just have to be a little gentle with it in the meantime. The offending limb still itched terribly, no matter the incredible benefits of the natural healing, it was a decidedly uncomfortable process. Especially when you could feel each individual shard of bone realigning and fusing. Shaking off the memories, he walked over to the cold corpse of the Butcher and nudged it with his foot, nodding in satisfaction as the limp meat stayed dead. Just in case. Wiping his sword on its ratty clothes, he sheathed it at his hip. Turning to face the store room that sat by the wall of the cave, he looked at its lock, wondering where the key would be. Probably the lodge proper, seeing as that had been where the Butcher had been enthroned. He''d heard stories of treasure being guarded by particularly strong denizens of the Depths, and if a classed up Champion didn''t count, he didn''t know what would. He limped towards the large stone and wood building where he had first encountered the massive undead, the torches inside filling its hall with an orange flickering light. As he crossed the threshold, he inspected the seat where the Butcher had sat. Up close it was even worse than the quick glance he had gotten earlier. Nearly as tall as he was, it was perhaps more accurately described as a throne than a chair. Though if it was to be a throne, its monarch had been a gruesome one indeed. Rotting uncured furs coated the seat, damp secretions leaving an imprint where the Butcher had lounged. The sight, and the images it brought to mind, made Kaius wince. Turning his attention away from the nauseating sight, Kaius explored the massive hearth behind the seat that stretched across the head of the hall. It was dusty, with low glimmering coals slumbering inside. He''d missed it entirely on his first look, captivated by the threat the Champion had presented to him. Above its mantle a great deer skull was mounted, larger than any of the many thousands he had seen in his years living in the forest. He looked at its rack in awe, it must have been a truly impressive specimen in life, if it had ever truly lived. Finally tearing his gaze away from the ornament, he scoured the mantle top, where a glint of firelight on metal caught his attention. A key. Overly large and crudely wrought. Hopefully it would be what he was looking for. Kaius snatched it up and hurried his way outside of the building as fast as he was able. Returning to the chained storehouse he grabbed at the thick padlock that held the door shut fast, interesting the key with a slight tremble. He jiggled it briefly as it got stuck. The lock clicked, the joyous sound sparking a short laugh of success as he popped it open. Chains rattled as he hurried to weave them out from the doors latch. He cast them aside, the links clattering as they hit the stone floor of the cave. Barely containing his excitement, Kaius worked the latch and threw open the door to reveal a dark room. The only light entered through the open doorway, drenching the interior in shadow. He took a furtive step forward. Hidden sconces burst into flame as he crossed the threshold. Their flickering light revealed a lone plinth at the back of the room, topped by what looked to be some sort of strange rectangular belt bag. Kaius approached quickly, snatching it up and turning it over in his hands to inspect it closely. Perhaps two handspans wide and half that deep, it was an interesting thing. Made of some sort of hardened leather that held firm in his hand. He wrapped it with one knuckle, a soft knock resonating through its interior. It was a dark burnt umber in colour, a lighter trim capping its edges. The bottom four corners were capped off in brass, while it was held closed by a sturdy buckle of the same material. Kaius turned it over, revealing a back with three loops along its top edge to thread it on to his belt. He furrowed his brow quizzically. All in all, Kaius was a little disappointed. A bag wasn''t exactly what you expected when you risked life and limb for a reward. He shrugged. In the end, at least it was something. He fumbled with the buckle for a moment, before pulling it open. A glitter of yellow and silver metal immediately caught his attention. There, to the left of the bag was five pieces of silver and a single yellow disk sat in a jumbled pile. Impossibly round, each face was embossed with an incredibly complex swirling pattern. He pulled them out, feeling the cold metal as he rolled them around his hands. He looked down to his pants, sighing as he saw the great rents where the beasts had latched on to his leg. The same one that the Butcher had shattered in its grip. "Had some bad luck today, haven''t you friend?" He sighed, shaking the offending limb. The tear in his clothes annoyed him, even if the leather reinforcement had helped to prevent worse wounds, having stray material flap around in the breeze was distracting and uncomfortable. Luckily both the tear on his trousers, and the cuts on his tunic should repair themselves by morning. Watching as the fire roared back to life Kaius took a seat in front of the hearth. He felt the radiating heat warm him, sinking into his bones. Slow, steady breaths resonated through him, his heart slowing to match the rate of his respiration. Slow inhale. Hold. Slow exhale. Hold. The meditative repetition of it continued as he lost himself in the reaches of his mind, his eyes closing as he dove into his soul-space. He was ready. Ready for his next step. His mind drifted to Tracking, its nodule in his centre emanating a thousand sights, uncountable impulses. Disturbed earth, a stray fibre, a scratched trunk. A million million ways to see a forgotten passing, to see trails left in time, waiting to be unearthed. Most were still inaccessible to him, the skill needing to grow further, but they were ready and waiting. He moved to the next nodule that orbited the fire of his soul. Sneak. Shadowed nights and hidden scents. Eyes passing by unawares. Of hiding. Of Stalking. Half foreign instincts washed over him as he tasted its depths. He reached out with his will, feeling both centres of power. They were easy to link, threading a thin line of comprehension and personal understanding between them. A glowing wire that he spun from the burning conflagration of his soul. The two shards seemed to resonate, a growing attraction trying to pull their energies together. He clamped down on the motion with the full weight of his mind, halting the merge in its tracks. He knew if he allowed it to continue they would create Stalking, a lesser and relatively well known merge. If that happened his goal would be permanently out of reach, his plans ruined. Kaius''s focus wavered for a moment, unused to flexing his mind in such a fashion. The two skills wavered, fighting back against him in an effort to move together. He grabbed at them like a vice, forcibly stabilising them again. It was the first time having to do such a thing, his first two mergers not having another valid outcome to contend with. He wasn''t worried. He''d spent months of practice in guided meditation with his father, as much as they could squeeze into their usual fireside rituals. Not just on the mental skill needed to hold the merge stable, but the understanding of the ultimate result. The mindset and comprehension needed to link so many disparate parts. This, at least, he''d had practice with. Once he threaded in another, he wouldn''t need to worry. He just had to get over this next hurdle. His metered breaths continued as he settled into the measured tension of holding the skills in place. Once he felt ready, he reached for the next one. As soon as he split his focus, Tracking and Sneak wavered again. Sweat beaded on his now furrowed brow. The third thin thread of power reaching out from his soul slowed, undirected without his focus to push it forward. He gritted his teeth, inching it forward as he tried his best to hold the first two skills steady. They rattled precipitously, screaming against his hold on them, professing their desire to merge into a new form. His soul touched the third skill. Chapter 15 : Insight and Growth Kaius just managed to prevent Tracking and Sneak from merging, the skills rattling against his control as his soul touched Trapfinding. Instantly the previous two skills settled down, no longer having an easy route to merge their energies through the conduit of his soul. Trapfinding tasted of tension and exploration. The joy of exploring new mechanisms, and the fear of the deadly payload they held. A thousand sights washed through his mind, most of them hidden deep within the Depths. But not all. Bank vaults, siege defences. Mechanisms, physical, magical and biological. How to identify likely placements. A suspicious mound of disturbed earth, or a flagstone not quite flush. A necessary skill for those who would delve where they were unwelcome. Those who sought to survive, and thrive where others dared not to tread. His soul threaded his comprehension into the previous two. However, the link felt incomplete. A kit with missing tools. Next he reached out to Orienteering. Something for one to feel at home in the depths, and the vast wilds that coated the world above it. The stars above, the way water flowed, distant scents carried on the air, and an ever growing mental map. So many things to be used to centre oneself in an expansive world, to always know the way forward, and the way home. It slotted into his growing picture, fitting like a glove. A way to find his path. Another thread of his soul reached out, connecting to Herbalism. It represented a wealth of resources to be found. Not just food, but restoratives, mending balms, and a million different ailes soothed. A way to keep the journey going, and a reward in addition to the simple beauty of the journey itself. The skill clicked into place. Kaius couldn''t help himself from sighing in relief, before returning to his measured meditation breathwork. "Just a few more." He thought to himself. The burning fire of his soul sent out its sixth flickering thread, connecting with Cooking. The smell of roasting meat over a campfire. Freshly baked bread steaming as it left the oven. The roaring cacophony of an overworked kitchen as hands blurred, layering a dish of exquisite beauty. Cooking was something universal, something that the poorest beggar and the richest king relied on every day of their life. It represented succour, a revitalisation. A way for a weary traveller to rest, recharge, and reflect on the last leg of their journey. It tasted of exotic spices, discovered in the furthest reaches. Of comfort, of experimentation. Something that brought a little bit of home with you on a long expedition. The skill snapped in place, flaring as it joined the growing chain of power. Sense Weakness felt different from the rest. A ruthless edge and undercurrent. A quality of violence. Eyes that sought the rhythmic pulse of an artery, that spotted the idle strap that left a gap in the armour. No journey was free of danger, Kaius thought. Stepping into the unknown required surety of your own capabilities, a mindset to strike fast, strike hard, and know that you would succeed against all odds. The Depths was the greatest frontier of them all, and any who delved its reaches without an awareness of what they faced was a fool. This skill brought that to the table. Afterall, everything has a weakness. A thrum resonated through the chain of skills, falling just short of a crescendo as the seven linked nodules of power flared with an internal light. Kaius couldn''t stop a grin from forming on his face. Just one more and he would be done. Kaius reached out a soul thread to Physical Conditioning, the link of power snapping directly to the skill as if magnetised. Impressions flooded through him. The burn of exerted muscles. A heart slamming in his chest as it pushed oxygenated blood through his veins, fuelling the vehicle of his power. An untiring body, unfailing through a lengthy journey. Never failing. Never stopping. Just step after measured step, taking him to the next horizon. A soft chime resonated through his soul space, all eight of his linked skills flaring with light. They pulsed in his internal mind''s eye, slowly sliding together. Their inexorable attraction was inevitable. Even if he wanted to, he was sure he didn''t have the mental control to stop their conglomeration. Individually they were useful tools. Together, they represented a breadth. Something that would support him through any journey or exploration he went on. Helping him find his way, like it had for his family for generations. It wasn''t as flashy, or as combat driven as many of his other skills would be. Instead it was dependable, something that would support him in the background for many years to come. An Explorers Toolkit. **Ding! Skill Merge Detected! Would you like to proceed?** Kaius''s eyes flashed open, his cheeks aching as his smile spread even wider. "Yes." he thought at the prompt, urging it to continue. He felt the skill nodules orbiting his soul draw ever closer together, flashes of energy buffeting his soul as they began to brush together. Some force outside of his control flooded through him, aiding the mixing of disparate forms as the balls of contained energy dispersed. Threads began to extrude from the vacuous gas that emanated from the site of his prior skills, weaving into a new, denser orb. It began to spin, slow at first, but quickly accelerating to rotate at a speed that caused his mind to ache when he attempted to comprehend it. With each revolution it drew in more from the remnants of his eight former skills. Threads of meaning and gaseous power flooded the new creation, a sudden flare causing it to burst into light. The shockwave buffeted him, hitting his mind like the spike of an ice pick. Slowly the new skill slowed, drifting down to join his other merged skills in orbit around his soul. **Ding! Skill Merged! Explorer''s Toolkit obtained!** Immediately he pulled up the description of his latest skill, eager to see it in person. His father had given him some rough descriptions, but apparently it was something of a tradition to keep the exact wording away from the youngest of the family. Explorer''s Toolkit: Level 1 Intelligence - 12 Willpower: - 20 Stat Points: 0 Class Skills (0/10): N/a General Skills (3/10): Rapid Adaptation (Heroic) - 13 Warforged (Unique) -18 Explorer''s Toolkit (Unusual) - 1 It was strange to see so many empty spaces in his general skill list, after so many months of it being cluttered with a random hodgepodge of survivalist skills. His next goal would be much more focused, something more immediately useful for his survival in this danger ridden hellhole people called the Depths. Something that would shore up his defences. Adamant Body He couldn''t wait to get started. But first, dinner. And then a nap. He was exhausted. Kaius peered out from behind a tree, watching two undead foot soldiers that ambled around a burnt out campfire. Surprisingly, it had taken him barely fifteen minutes of walking deeper towards the centre of the glade to stumble across them. Explorer''s Toolkit had started to show its value quickly, highlighting the sounds of clumsy movements over leaf litter against the constant background noise of the forest. The undead would serve his purposes well. Each was garbed in a chain hauberk and tabard, a crow eating carrion emblazoned on their chests. Thankfully both were free from any metal helms that would serve as true armour for the cursed creatures. They carried lightly rusted arming swords, something he was more than confident handling with the extended reach of his longsword. Before he burst from behind his hiding spot Kaius took a moment to centre himself. It had become something of a pre-battle ritual, falling into a mindset of focus and flow. Emptying his mind of distractions and limiting his world view to the single moment that was to come. One of flowing blood and whirling steel. He kicked off, launching away from the trunk. As always, he was unable to catch the undead flat footed. They simply turned towards him placidly, raising their swords as soon as they detected his approach. His own blade flew free of his scabbard as he brought it forward into a close guard, the hilt pulled in tight to his waist. The ground between him and the closest undead flew by. Raising its arming sword, the footman cut towards him, its blow fast but ungainly. Kaius brought his sword up, aligning his edge to catch the blade in a bind. Rather than try to turn the undead''s sword with a quick parry and riposte like he normally did he defended with a straight block, twisting his whole body into the action to brace against the collision. The arming sword crashed against his own, the dreadful sound of shearing metal hammering into his ears. The infernal strength of the undead ground against him. Before it could batter through his guard, Kaius stepped back and disengaged, whirling his sword into a heavy overhead that tore through the footman''s crown. **Ding! level 17 Undead Armsman slain** Kaius turned on the remaining soldier, blade flicking out to turn the blow that had been heading for his undefended flank. His parry created the opening that he needed to slay the undead, but he held himself back. That wasn''t what he was here for. He waited, settling comfortably into a mid guard. The undead corralled itself quickly, cutting towards him once more. Kaius blocked the strike, gritting his teeth as the impact stung his palms and rattled his shoulder. He lashed out, pushing the undead back with a front kick before settling back into his guard. Again, the undead swung, and Kaius blocked, the enhanced steel of his blade taking a chip out of the edge of the creature''s lesser weapon with a screech of fury. The footman pulled back, hammering his guard again. Kaius''s shoulder began to ache, tiring quickly from defending with matched force against a stronger opponent. "C''mon... It shouldn''t be long now. It''s only Common" He thought to himself, sweat streaming down his back as the thick ropes of muscle that lined his spine stood out in stark relief as he pushed back against the undead''s blade. The footman began to hammer his guard, giving up on trying to find a way around his ironclad defence in favour of simply smashing through it. Every blow struck his sword like a blacksmith''s hammer as it rang in defiance of the abuse. A final smash caused him to buckle at the knee, his guard slipping. The undead pulled back for a killing stroke. **Ding! General Skill Available! Would you like to learn: Block?** Chapter 16 : New Tools **Ding! General Skill Available! Would you like to learn: Block (Common)?** "Yes!" Kaius thought, accepting the notification instantly. With a grunt of fury he dug his feet into the ground, regaining his collapsing defence. He flicked his sword, catching the incoming blow of the undeads blade and turning it away in a textbook parry. The footman brought its arming sword once more, mouth hanging open to reveal blackened nubs and sore ridden gums as it swung at him in mindless fury. Kaius was ready, his blade moving smoothly to arrest the undead''s swing. A twist of his wrist sent the arming sword skitting down the spine of his sword, safely sailing past him. Getting frustrated at its impotent offence, the undead footman flew into a harried flurry of blows. As uncoordinated as it was, its bodily power lent a furious speed to its swings. It took all of Kaius''s skill to maintain his defensive stance, giving ground as the assault forced him back. His parries lost all ornamentation, all unnecessary flourishes falling beneath the simplicity of a simple economy of movement. The moment came when the undead tried to go for a decisive stab to his chest. Kaius transitioned from a mid-guard to a high one, the body of his blade catching the incoming assault and drawing it towards the canopy above. The clang of clashing swords was matched with an unmistakable ring that echoed through his mind. **Ding! General Skill Available! Would you like to learn: Parry (Common)?** Kaius accepted the offered skill without hesitation, pushing the undead back with a boot to its chest. He stepped back, creating distance from his opponent even as the undead tripped over the burnt logs of the fire that dominated the centre of the cleared camp. His sword drifted down into the fool''s guard, its point almost touching the ground. "This is where it starts to get a little dicey." He thought to himself in grim determination. The undead scrambled to its feet, hasty in its desire to see him dead. Turning back towards him, the footsoldier tightened its grip on its sword before racing at him with a charge. It stabbed toward him. Kaius left his sword unmoving, watching the point of his opponent''s blade with razor sharp focus. At the last moment, his leading foot twisted into the leaf litter with a slight crunch. He twisted at the hips allowing the attack to sail past him with less than a hand span to spear. The undead still came barreling towards him, unable to get its momentum under control. He stepped back, allowing the creature to trip over his outstretched leg. It went careening past, impacting a trunk with a glorious clatter. A guffaw escaped Kaius''s lips, unable to suppress his mirth as the sight. Backing towards the centre to ensure ample space to move, Kaius watched the undead right itself before it rushed once more towards him. It chopped, an easy side step all he needed to bring himself out of harm''s way. The footman''s failed blow transitioned into a wild unbalanced cut, one that Kaius avoided with a back step. He began to walk around their arena, focusing on minimising the movement required to avoid a blow. Despite the incensed savagery with which the withered undead pursued him, it still failed to make a sound. Its lack of expression irritated Kaius. Battle was supposed to be a hot-blooded thing. At this point he was basically fighting a doll. A light slide brought him out of the way of a stab. He retaliated with one of his own, stepping forward out of his fools guard to impale the undead through the chest. Nothing that would really injure the thing. He doubted it would even slow it down, but it was a necessary step. He pulled his sword free before the undead could run up its length, pivoting on his front foot to allow the footman to race past him as it prepared for another blow. A stutter step forward brought him back into range and the point of his sword cleanly pierced between the undead''s ribs. It whirled on him, widening the wound, black blood beginning to seep into the loamy floor. It lashed out with a savage chop. Kaius stepped into its guard, raising his fist to slam his pommel into its jaw. Bone shattered, and its expression grew even more feckless as its mouth hung free. Arms raised to wrap him into a fatal hug. Kaius danced back, escaping the attempted grapple. The footman quickly abandoned that tactic, lunging towards him with another thrust. Calm movements avoided the blow, carrying him forwards to deliver another heavy pommel strike to the creature''s skull. A chime resounded through his mind as he danced back out of reach **Ding! General Skill Available! Would you like to learn: Footwork (Uncommon)?** A wild grin split Kaius''s focused expression, and he took a moment to mop at the sweat that had been beading at his brow with his off hand. "Just one more now. Though probably the most dangerous." He was not looking forward to the wash he would need after this. Things were about to get messy. He let the undead charge towards him once more, watching the savage cut that scythed towards his midsection. Kaius turned with the blow, allowing the undead''s sword to part his flesh, cutting a line of leaking fire across his ribs. He hissed at the pain, an uncomfortable itch already spreading across the wound. His turn had saved him from true injury. Yet even minor flesh wounds still hurt. A stab was deflected with a warding forearm, the flat off the blade leaving a stinging welt as it smacked it with his exposed flesh. The undead brought its sword back around, swinging it over its head into a heavy chop. While he would never be envious of those who did not have the luck of birth to be born into the possession of a full set of merged skills, he did privately admit to himself that he could see the appeal of the freedom to pick and choose as one wished. Though, he supposed that almost everyone had to deal with pressures regarding their families expectation of skill selection, and very few had anything close to what he had to show for it. Shaking his head to clear his idle thoughts, Kaius pulled up the description for Block. Block: Level 1 Common The art of defence is as old as the art of war. With enough skill, might, and courage, even the most overwhelming onslaught can be endured. Skill that improves technical mastery of blocking, and aids in negating the physical forces of your opponent''s attack during a block. Each level slightly increases blocking proficiency. Each level minutely decreases forces opposing a block. He nodded as he read the skill. It was simple and direct, but that was what was expected from Common skills. Even Uncommon ones were still basic and straightforward, it was only when you got to rare -but mostly Unusual and above- that skills truly started to get interesting. Not that he had heard of anyone getting a skill higher than Unusual without a class. Even getting offered one was about as rare as having legacy skills, the well known ones at least. Still, that didn''t mean a Common skill was useless. Anything but. If he had had Block at a high enough level, he wouldn''t have had to be so reactive against the Butcher, if what he thought about the skill decreasing the force of collisions was correct. It would be a helpful tool, but he had more to explore. Parry Level 1 Common Why endure a strike when you can guide it? Control of the enemy''s weapon is control of the battlefield, and those who dictate, win. Skill that improves technical mastery of parrying, and aids in controlling the physical forces of your opponent''s attack during a parry. Each level slightly increases parrying proficiency. Each level minutely increases control over opponent momentum during a parry. Another straightforward inclusion to his skillset. It wouldn''t change anything about the way he approached fights, as it wasn''t truly transformative, but every level would make him slightly more effective in combat. Though capped to twenty the influence wouldn''t be all that much until he merged the skill. He brought up the next skill. Footwork: Level 1 Uncommon The difference between life and death can be thinner than a hair. The wrong twist, the slightest flinch, a leg slightly out of place, all can spell your doom. Watch your footing. Skill that improves reaction, bodily control, and speed when repositioning during combat. Each level slightly increases capabilities when tactically repositioning. A fine addition, Kaius thought. Already he could see the next piece of his inheritance coming together, and could picture the way each skill slotted into the overall picture. He knew it would most likely be at least a couple of months until he could merge them, even with the increased skill growth thanks to being in the Depths. He could probably grind it out in a few weeks if he had a sparring partner, but alas he did not. He only had one more skill, and then he could get to planning his next move. Chapter 17 : Snacks of the Unwise Kaius sat on his rather uncomfortable seat in front of the hearth, enjoying the radiating warmth that slowly dried him from his earlier clean. His skill list had been growing nicely, though he still had two more components to add to his list before he could relax. It was always impressed upon him that the first thing he should do after merging a skill was collect the requirements for his next one as fast as possible. Technically the system wouldn''t add a skill to your list without asking. However, in practice it was unfortunately possible to accept a skill that you didn''t want. Spending so much effort to not think about accepting an unwanted skill could potentially generate enough of a mental impulse for it to occur. That was not something he was interested in letting happen. Even if it was just a folk myth, there was no reason to risk it when all it cost to avoid was a slight inconvenience. With that in mind, once he had gone over the last of his recent gains, Kaius planned on getting Light, Medium, and Heavy Armour Mastery as soon as he could.. "Though maybe not by hunting through the centre of the glade." He thought to himself. He hadn''t missed that as soon as he had pressed towards the centre he had seen undead that were stronger than the others he had fought, and better equipped too. He was still a little nervous of running into something like the Butcher again, after all. Better to wait until he had all the pieces in place before he went off galavanting and taunting death directly to its face again. A circumnavigation of the glade would be better. Open sightlines would allow him to pass by any obvious encampments, thanks to the seemingly poor senses of the undead. Running into any stray beasts wouldn''t be an issue - if anything it might help with gaining his last few remaining skills he needed. Kaius nodded to himself, happy with his rough plan, and brought up the last of his most recent skills. Toughened Physique: Level 1 Rare Sometimes you are forced to take a hit. Those of weak will, flinch, allowing the attacker to land where they may. Others lean into the blow, a heart strike skittering across hardened ribs. Flesh is given, but death is avoided. Skill that increases the body''s resistance to injury, and increases speed and control when the user is unable to avoid injury, aiding them in receiving the injury to nonfatal locations. Each level slightly increases the chance to divert attacks to non-fatal areas. Each level minutely increases the effectiveness of Endurance to bodily integrity. Kaius grinned as he read the description of the skill. This was something that would make an immediate difference, even if a small one at first. The boost to endurance was significant, but would be of little utility until he was much higher level - at which point he would have merged this skill anyway. However, the instinct to divert unavoidable blows to turn them into minor wounds was huge. Especially because, if he was correct on the wording of the skill, it would still work while wearing armour. Standing with a smile Kaius stood up and retrieved his pack, as well as the slightly rusted chain shirt that he had scavenged from one of the undead guards that had originally surrounded the church. He returned to his seat, facing away from the fire to dry his still damp back. Fumbling with the buckle, he eventually opened his bag before pulling out his folded reinforced tunic and laying it out by the fire. He was going to put it back on shortly anyway, so he wouldn''t hold himself back from small creature comforts like pleasantly warmed clothes. He then moved to the chain shirt, folding it up as best he could. It was big enough to fit over his tunic, and he needed it for Medium Armour Mastery. He wouldn''t be able to wear it straight away. First he needed Light Armour Mastery, his jacket should be enough for that. Unfortunately the final skill he needed for Adamant Body was Heavy Armour Mastery. He''d scavenged a breast plate, but it would be too unwieldy to take with him. There was no way in hell he was going to wear the heavy chest armour on his trip either. Taking it off would be too slow, and if he was ambushed with it on he was likely to get offered the skill and be forced to turn it down. It''d make reacquiring it difficult, the system more unforgiving when you had already rejected its gifts once. Unfortunately, even just bringing the chainmail would be a challenge. It didn''t fold quite as easily as canvas and leather. Kaius cocked his eye at the sizable lump of metal. "Now how am I going to make you fit." he muttered. The weight wasn''t much of an issue, at most it would be a stone and a half. It was his pack that was the issue. It was a big bag, large enough for him to carry all he needed for an ongoing journey. He still needed to empty it a bit first. Kaius reached into the bag. The first thing he decided to leave behind was his bulky medical kit. While it was a vital resource, he ultimately still had his natural health regeneration. Plus, he thought that in a true bind he could always gamble on one of the potions he had gotten for defeating the Butcher. Next was a redundant waterskin. While he was definitely bringing it with him, he could always string it to his belt. "I hope this works..." **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has reached level 14!** **Ding! You have resisted Gladeplum Lethargy** Kaius groaned, rising to wakefulness with agonising slowness. His eyelids felt like they had been cast from lead, his whole body did really. Forced to squint, he blinked rapidly in an attempt to clear the indistinct blur that coated his vision. He lifted his head, straining against the weakness that held him stuck to the floor. Slowly, control of his body returned to him as his skill eliminated the last remnants of the poison that had incapacitated him. He shook his head to clear the drowsiness, clicking his tongue against the bone dry roof of his mouth. "Need water" the thought was basic, primal, but his remaining lethargy wasn''t exactly conducive to higher thought. A few minutes later he stood, empty water skin in hand, and rubbed at his eyes. "Well, it worked." He thought with a grin. It was a massive find. The biggest struggle with Rapid Adaptation was that most methods of levelling it by their very nature carried a deadly risk. Especially since most things capable of afflicting him also had a vested interest in turning him into a corpse through significantly more active efforts. It was far too dangerous to infect himself with unknown afflictions in combat. If the worst had come to pass, and he had still not capped the skill as his class selection closed in, he would have been forced to take drastic measures. He was no masochist, but pain would have served to level the skill in a controlled manner, as gruesome as it was. The plums represented another avenue, something that he thought he would never get access to in the depths. A poison that didn''t physically harm the body. That was the original plan, up in the forest below. If, in the months preceding his class, he hadn''t capped the skill naturally they had planned to travel to one of the larger frontier cities and enlist the skills of an alchemist. "Though, completely disabling myself for who knows how long is not exactly what I would consider ''safe''." Kaius thought, looking at the ageing barred door that secured the church. The plums were too useful, too plentiful, and too plain delicious to ignore, but next time he would have to make some preparations to ensure his safety. Quietly, with more than a little abashment, Kaius admitted he might have been a little hasty. In his defence he didn''t think that they would have quite so potent of an effect. Plus, he had been living off a diet of plain water and smoked meat for far too long. Fresh fruit was too much of a temptor. With a sigh Kaius adjusted the blanket he was using as a skirt, before unbarring the church door to check on his pants and boots that he had left outside to let his cleaning enchantments work their magic. Pulling the clothing off the headstone they were draped over, he inspected them before nodding in satisfaction at their reasonable level of cleanliness. A few minutes of getting changed and he was all suited up, pack rearranged to fit his scavenged chain shirt. He only had a few more skills to gain, and he still had more scouting to do. Pushing deeper into the glade was an option, but he hadn''t missed that as soon as he had made tracks for the centre he had quickly ran into stronger and better geared undead. If that was an indicator of growing danger, he wanted no part in it. At least, not yet. On the other hand, the thin clear strip that separated the glade from the cavern walls would give him good sight lines, allowing him to spot any more camps similar to the hunters lodge from a distance far enough to avoid significant danger. Scouting out the various exits tangling deeper into the biome was something he would need to do anyway, so a circumnavigation served as good a goal as any in his opinion. He decided to bring his empty water skins with him. It had been a few days since his last trek to the stream, and he was down to a single one, half empty at that. Rolled tight he managed to squeeze them under the flap of his pack. "May as well start where I came in. It''s close to home and as recognisable a spot as any." He mumbled, leaving the church and vaulting over the small stone wall that surrounded its boundaries. Kaius strode along the thin stretch of grass that existed between the glade proper and the walls of the immense cavern that held the glowing forest deep beneath the earth. He kept close to the tree line, happy to let the canopy and endless wall of trunks break up his figure as his feet ate up the distance beneath his feet. He''d been walking for some time now, moving counterclockwise from his start, and already he had passed a couple of exits from the immense space. Much like the tunnel he had entered from, these passageways were relatively small. Maybe big enough for three men to walk abreast, they were covered in rooty vines. Barely lit by the luminescent moss that was omnipresent in this biome of the Depths, they quickly turned off, barring him from deeper insights into their destination. He had simply noted them, and moved on. He''d already decided that he wasn''t going to leave the glade until he had at least acquired his next merged skill. It would shore up his defences nicely, and for all the glades danger it was still far better than ambush-ridden passageways that were no doubt covered in traps. Fighting was always more fraught in confined spaces, and he had no intention of taking unnecessary risks. Not when he still had another two years stuck with almost no chance of rescue. Somehow he doubted that some high level delving team would just so happen to take a swim at the bottom of a remote waterfall deep in the foothills of the mountains that sealed off his home from the rest of the Arboreal Sea. Soon he would come across the spring that breached the wall of the cavern, supplying the small stream that he had been using as a water source. He was pretty sure he could already see it, the distinct spray of water refracting the soft light of the cavern as it erupted from the stone. He hoped he would find something there to fight, if he didn''t before. His hunting clothes weren''t quite light armour, but they were pretty bloody close with all the leather reinforcement that covered the almost-jacket that was built over his tunic. It should be enough for his needs at least. The ground continued to fall away beneath the measured pace of his strides, the spray of spring water getting ever closer. The faintest hint of rustling undergrowth was the only warning Kaius got before a grey blur streaked towards him through the undergrowth Chapter 18 : Crouching Tiger Kaius reacted instantly to the sound of something crashing through the undergrowth. Explorer''s Toolkit screamed in his mind, but only an idiot needed a skill to tell them that unexpected movement in the Depths was dangerous. He backpedalled as fast as he could into the open grass as he ripped his sword free from his scabbard. A mottled grey feline figure blurred out of the undergrowth, launching itself towards him with outstretched claws. Kaius twisted, shifting to the side to avoid the pounce. One of the beasts paws scythed out to catch him, forcing him to pivot on his feet. He rolled his shoulder, preferring to take the blow on the thick leather that covered the joint. The claws skittered on the pseudo-pauldron, cutting a deep line into the thickened material but saving his flesh from a worse wound. The force of the impact knocked him back, forcing him to adjust his footing lest he get knocked prone. The beast landed softly. Quickly spinning as it hunched down, its muscles rippling under its fur as it readied itself for another confrontation. Kaius brought his longsword up into a mid guard, ready for the beast''s next charge as he quickly slung off his pack and tossed it to the side. He stared hard at the beast. It was far less twisted than he expected considering all the hellish seeming dire beasts he had seen so far. Roughly the size of a wolf, it was big enough to nearly reach his hips. A short mottled coat barely served to hide the thick muscle that stood out in stark relief under its skin. Almost like one of the mountain lions that he rarely saw in the forest above. The lion''s chops drew back, revealing sharpened canines as a deep threatening rumble echoed from deep in its chest. In an instant it went from motionless to a dead sprint, claws driving deep into the earth to launch itself towards him. It reared up once more, batting towards him with lethal intent. Kaius brought his sword up, blocking the first swing with the edge of his sword. A thin line of red trickled down his blade as it cut deep into the beast''s pad. Its other paw hit him with the weight of a fully laden cart. Its claws tore across the leather of his chest, biting into the material and drawing blood. Kaius gasped, forcing himself to inhale after the weight of the blow drove the air from his chest. Ignoring his aching ribs, he twisted into his block and carried his sword through to cut heavily into the beast''s shoulder. His blade bit deep, the lion hissing in fury as it jumped back. The creature eyed him warily, padding around him in a circle that forced him to keep turning to match its pace. The wound on the lion''s shoulder sealed shut, muscle and skin rippling as it forced itself back into position. He missed fighting undead. It was so much more convenient when your opponents couldn''t heal. Kaius lunged towards the beast, pressuring it with a false charge. It leapt back with nimble grace, before slowly approaching to circle him once more when he failed to commit to the attack. As soon as its wound was fully healed it rushed in, this time its jaw yawning open in an effort to sink its fangs into his flesh. Kaius sidestepped, returning the charge with a slash to the creatures'' flank, it''s dark grey fur staining a darkened red. Incensed, the lion hissed in fury before wheeling towards him once again. A claw ridden paw lashed out, Kaius turning the strike with a flick of his wrist. **Ding! Parry has reached level 2!** He was forced to abort his riposte, the first paw strike followed up as it tried to claw him with its other arm. Slamming his sword into the offending limb to block, Kaius was unable to react as its first paw returned to rake him across the thigh. **Ding! Block has reached level 2!** Claws scythed through the thickened leather that covered the front of his legs, digging through his fat to nick the surface of the muscle below. Hot blood flowed down his leg, quickly joined by the burn of Health as it started to seal the would. Kaius roared in frustration, forcing the lion back with a stab that nicked its cheek. The lion stepped back, hissing at him threateningly before it charged into the fray once more. He tried to manoeuvre around the beast''s approach, but it''s nimble agility allowed it to keep the pressure on him. Swinging his sword to meet muscle bound limbs, he tried his best to ward off the flurry of blows that sought to overwhelm his defence. He got a series of parallel cuts across his shoulder and chest for his troubles. The lion pounced at him, one leg batting away his sword as its jaws closed around his shoulder like a vice. Dagger like teeth sunk into the joint, and with a mighty crack it closed around his shoulder, the bone crunching like autumn leaves. **Ding! Toughened Physique has reached level 2!** A ragged scream left Kaius''s mouth. Stunned, his sword slipped through his fingers. With a heaving yank, it used all of the muscles in its neck and back to pull him to the ground. The sudden pressure and movement caused another explosion of pain through his shoulder, his rough impact driving the air from his lungs. **Ding! You have Imbibed a Tonic: Solar Revitalisation** He gasped, the welling energy immediately diverting to work on sealing the ravaged wound on his shoulder. With wide eyes, he brought up his resources. Resources: Health - 0/200 (2/min +15/min) Stamina - 163/200 (2/min +15/min) Mana - 120/120 (2/min) A brew of regeneration, not the best for his current situation, but a significant one. It might just be enough. He''d need to help it along though, and stem his bleeding that served the worst risk. He sat down heavily, scrambling at his buckled and laced boots with his single good arm. Ripping them free, he unbuckled his belt before tearing off his pants. Wadding up a section of exposed heavy duty canvas, he pressed it over his wound. The pressure brought starbursts to his eyes, tears welling up at the agony. He simply gritted his teeth and pushed harder. He had no idea how long the potion would last and he needed to stem the bleeding before it wore off. He sat there, huddled on the ground. Eyes scrunched up shut against the agony of his shoulder, feeling his flesh slowly writhe and undulate under the canvas of his pants. Hot blood soaking through the fabric, staining his hand red. For the first time in years he prayed. To Ellyntir, Goddess of the lost. That it was enough, that he had the luck needed to pass through this trial. He was a traveller, damn well lost, and most likely an orphan. It had to be enough for a little bit of luck. He pleaded that it was enough. He felt heavy. Far, far too heavy. A ragged gasp fell out of him, his body betraying him as he fought to keep down the rising panic. It would be enough, he reassured himself. He had survived a fight against a champion, he could survive a brawl with a glorified housecat. His breath started to steady. Kaius forced himself to breathe in deep through his nose, extending the inhalation over a number of seconds. He paused. After a slow breath out, he repeated the cycle, helping to pull himself together. Shit happened, he needed to get over it. The lion died, and he would most likely live now that he had consumed a tonic. It was a reminder that just because everything had gone in his favour so far, it didn''t mean it always would. He was in the Depths, he had to be bloody careful if he wanted to make it out of here. Literally everything down here would have a stat advantage on him, and so far he had only just barely been bridging the gap with his skills. That trend would continue, he would make it so. He had no other option. As he grew his skills, he would be safer, be able to push himself harder. But until that point? No more stupid mistakes. As his breathing slowed, and his panic slowly withdrew its claws from his chest, his heartbeat steadied to a measured pace. Slowing the pace of his bleed. After nearly ten minutes of quiet contemplation Kaius stopped feeling the slowly stemming stream of blood that had been leaking free of his wounded shoulder. His attention dipped inside of himself, quickly seeing the bolstering energy of the potion of solar revitalisation still burning away happily. That was good, hopefully it would have enough juice left to at least knit his shoulder back together, if not top up his health pool once it was done. He really should look at the wound. A sharp burst of air between pursed lips steadied him as lightning strikes of pain scattered through his shoulder as he withdrew his makeshift gauze. The blood had soaked deep into the fabric, helping the rough fibres to adhere to exposed innervated flesh. He stared dutifully ahead, placing his pants on the ground as he avoided looking at his shoulder. A slight turn of the head and a flick of his eyes let him know all he needed. His face blanched, flicking away from the wound. He''d somehow missed it in the struggle, but the lion hadn''t just crushed his shoulder, it had torn a chunk out. A thick mass of congealed blood was the only thing that stopped him from seeing the frayed muscle and broken bone that now made up the joint. Thick shards of white pierced the mass. He could even see his fat layer. Nauseating. The world seemed to sway once more, the tree line in front of him seeming to wave as if a mirage. He needed something to distract him from the wound. If he physically watched his flesh and bone writhe and reknit itself he was pretty sure he would throw up. He''d had some pretty bad wounds before, but never had his insides revealed to him in such depth. It was... confronting. He searched his mind for a distraction, quickly finding the system notification blaring in the background. "Well, at least I got something out of that." he muttered to himself. Chapter 19 : Armoured Kaius pulled up his new skill, eager to take his mind off the gory wound that dominated his peripheral vision. Light Armour Mastery: Level 1 Uncommon The best defence is never getting hit in the first place. Unfortunately, it is sometimes unavoidable. Would you prefer cloth, or reinforced leather, when that occurs? Skill that increases the defensive efficacy of worn light armour, and increases agility while wearing it. Each level slightly increases the integrity of worn light armour. Each level minutely increases ease of movement while wearing light armour. Kaius nodded as he read the description, careful to avoid jostling the grievous wound to his shoulder. Increasing the durability of his clothes would be valuable. Though they barely counted as light armour, and even if he capped it out he doubted it would have made much difference to the lion that had savaged his shoulder. Luckily, chain would, and as soon as his shoulder was healed up he planned on throwing the chain shirt he had scavenged on and never taking it off outside of the church. With nothing else pressing, he decided to simply wait until he was healed. His eyes drifted over to the lion, his sword still standing proudly where he had embedded it in the creature''s skull. "I should probably grab that. No point leaving myself undefended, even if I would be in pretty dire straits if something else turned up." He pushed himself to his feet slowly, relying on the muscles in his leg and his core to do most of the work. Despite the smooth rise, he had to stifle a pained scream as his shoulder protested at the shifting movement. He walked over to the lion with slow measured steps, taking care to avoid hurting his shoulder as much as possible. Grabbing hold of his sword, he pulled it free and groaned as agony tore through him. He stumbled towards the treeline where he would be less exposed. Death was tied closely to life, he knew that far more than most having grown up in the wilds. The Arboreal Sea was a wild place, more untamed than even the frontier. This was not his first brush with his own mortality, not by far. Even if it was the closest. He would be okay. He knew something like this would happen eventually. It happened to all delvers. Even if he had landed up in the Depths a few years too early, and far less prepared than he would like, it had always been his dream. Growing up in the forest had lit a fire in him. One that burned to see the sights his father regaled him with stories of. To forge his own stories. Both deep down below and in the wide world above. If he wanted that he would need to be strong, and with strength came danger. He needed to be prepared to live with his life on the line. Both if he wanted to escape the depths, and if when he eventually returned as a Delver in truth. Leaning his back against a tree trunk to take some of the weight of his feet, he settled in to wait for his shoulder to heal. **Ding! level 11 Wretched Militiaman slain** There were only three undead left now, including both of the ones who were wearing helmets. The focused his attention on the third undead, holding an ancient looking battle axe. Both of the helmeted undead stabbed towards him with their arming swords in a surprising display of unity. He parried the first thrust, but was forced to twist around the second blow, unable to bring his sword to bear in time. Its rust spotted edge crashed along his ribs, his chainmail saving him once again from suffering anything worse than a deep bruise. **Ding! Parry has reached level 3!** **Ding! Footwork has reached level 2!** "I fucking love armour." he thought to himself with a grin, spinning away from the advancing sword-wielding undead to engage the remaining monster. Already bringing its axe down in a savaged chop. Kaius'' back stepped out of range, allowing the weight of the swing to pull the undead out of position. With its head unguarded he slew it with ease. **Ding! level 11 Wretched Militiaman slain** He pulled his blade free of the creature''s skull to intercept a slash from one of the remaining militiamen, the sudden movement causing a spray of black blood to trail from his sword point. Pivoting into the movement he avoided yet another thrust from its compatriot. He lunged forwards, the failed stab having left the undead open. He took it through the eye, the open faced helmet doing nothing to protect it from a frontal lunge. **Ding! level 13 Wretched Militiaman slain** Kaius settled in. With only one undead remaining it was time for him to enact his plan. He had a skill to earn, and he intended to get it without another unnecessary brush with death. The last undead charged him, raising its sword before bringing it down towards his unguarded head. With a flick of his sword Kaius turned the blow. Instead of flowing smoothly into a riposte he simply reset his stance with a backstep, falling into a flexible mid guard. Reengaging him with a wild diagonal swing, the undead tried to cut him through the shoulder. Kaius''s pupils narrowed to points, still shaken from the previous injury he had taken to the joint. He clamped down on the rising feeling of concern, discarding the unhelpful panic. A smooth step took him into position and he shifted, allowing the sword through his guard. Its point skittered harmlessly across his mail. The strike still stung, small amounts of health syphoning away to heal the quickly forming contusion the arming sword left in its wake. **Ding! Footwork has reached level 3!** Another slash he allowed to glance off his shoulder, while the undead''s follow up thrust cut harmlessly against the chain that defended his ribs. It tried to go for his head again, but Kaius simply parried the blow with the extra reach and power a two handed sword gave him. Immediately the undead tried to follow up with another heavy overhand chop. Kaius decided to try something a little different. Afterall, he still needed to level his newest skills as often as he could. He stepped into the swing, bringing his sword up to catch the weak of the undead''s blade with his strong. The edge of his blade bit into the mundane metal of his opponents, binding their blades. The force of the collision caused Kaius to grunt, engaging the muscles in his legs and back to keep himself stable. His legs started to quiver, feet digging deep into the soft earth. Even holding a position of greatly favourable leverage, with two arms to the undead''s one, the creature''s infernal strength was undeniable. It pushed down harder, Kaius clenching his teeth as he fought to keep himself steady. He was at his limit. Chapter 20 : Temptation Kaius''s legs shook as the undead pressed down on his sword. Leverage or not, it was a bad match up. Even at such a relatively low level its strength clearly exceeded his own. Regardless if he needed to train his skills or not, there had to be a better way than going toe to toe with undead in an avenue where he held none of the advantages. A flick of his wrist disengaged their bind. Kaius pivoted his blade, sending the undead''s arming sword skittering down its length and away from his body. **Ding! Block has reached level 3!** "Still a bit too risky, I think." He thought to himself as he stepped back to create some distance from the undead. Still, he would need to do it at some point, and blocking higher level creatures with a significant strength advantage would do wonders for his skill growth. The undead charged back in, sword held ready to slash him. The dance continued unabated. He relied on his footwork, allowing a few more stinging glancing blows that failed to penetrate his chainmail. He was careful to avoid anything that looked like it would allow the undead to connect with the full might of its strength. A simple side step or parry took care of those. Even if the chain held up and protected him from being eviscerated, a full force blow would be enough to splinter bone. He''d had enough grievous injuries for one day. Finally, with a last glancing slash across his stomach, Kaius got the notification he had been waiting for. **Ding! General Skill Available! Would you like to learn: Medium Armour Mastery (Uncommon)?** A satisfied smile crossed his face as he saw that he had achieved his intended result from this unorthodox spar. The final militiaman tried to capitalise on his momentary distraction, sword lashing out in a heavy chop. Its last attempt. Kaius parried the blow, lunging forwards as his sword screeched up the length of his opponent''s blade. The tip of his sword took it cleanly through its face, joined by a wet crunch as it pierced the bone. **Ding! level 13 Wretched Militiaman slain** Kaius rose from his lunge, flicking his sword to clear off the worst of the excess viscera. He wiped it briefly on one of the undead''s shirts, before returning it to its sheath. As he walked back to his pack he pulled up his latest skills description Medium Armour Mastery: Level 1 Uncommon If you are too slow? Too encumbered? You will get surrounded. Overwhelmed. If you forgo all but the slightest defence? You cannot avoid a horde. You die. Find the balance, and you might just survive. Skill that increases the defensive efficacy and manoeuvrability of worn medium armour. Each level slightly increases the integrity of worn medium armour. Each level minutely decreases medium armour''s impact on range of motion. As Kaius came further around the gentle bend of the glade the clean line of the cavern wall was abruptly disturbed by a pile of rough boulders erupting from the stone, having previously been occluded from his view by the dense vegetation. Kaius slowed, dropping from a brisk walk to eventually stop as his eyes narrowed in on the disruption. He palmed the hilt of his sword, loosening it so that he could draw it at a moment''s notice. He was still a good way off, but he had learnt more than once that a moment of carelessness was all it took in the depths. Stepping deeper into the treeline, Kaius dropped into an easy stalk as he approached the disruption to the monotony of his surroundings. As he approached, the boulders parted to reveal a massive cave entrance, easily three times his height. He flexed his fingers, hand instinctively drifting closer to his sword as he stopped dead once more. There was only one other breach in the cavern that he had seen of a similar size, the hunters lodge on the other side of the glade. Where he had faced a Champion. Where he had almost died. Unlike the lodge, this opening seemed to penetrate far deeper as the passage shot away from the glade. A poor angle and shadowy interior prevented him from peering deep into its contents. His eyes scanned the boulders, their nooks and crannies providing a perfect spot for an ambush. He found nothing. Without any evidence of hostiles, and with Explorers Toolkit being notably silent, Kaius forced himself to approach. Ready for a horde to come barreling towards him at the slightest hint of movement. Dipping slightly deeper into the trees for greater cover, Kaius brought himself closer with agonising caution. Now positioned front and centre before the opening, he crouched behind a bush and peered deep into the side passage. Running deep into the rock, a sharp bend obscured its depths. Its interior was bare, only the rare stalagmite and stalactite breaking up the rough stone that formed its edges. Even in the cave proper he saw no sign of anything living or undead. There was one thing that jumped out at him. Muddied by the light of the omnipresent moss, a soft muted glow seemed to emanate from around the caves bend. The only reason he even noticed it in the first place was its soft yellow colour, standing out in contrast with the pale blue tint that he had grown so used to. Whatever it was, there was something down the cave. Still, with such a large opening, he doubted it was undefended. He''d be back, but for now he wanted to put a league or two behind him and make a better pace back to his camp. He readied himself to move on, still keeping himself hidden in the dense brush of the tree line in case something was watching. The wind changed. A soft warm gust washed over him from deep within the cave. It brought with it a scent of power, electrifying and filled with notes of growth, springtime, and the breaching of roots through fertile spring soil. The scent of magic, alchemy, and natural wonders. His skin puckered, hairs rising as a cascade of sparks ran up his spine. **Ding! Explorers Toolkit has reached level 3!** Explorers Toolkit screamed at him to investigate, the tantalising smell causing his skill to fire with mad abandon at the allure of the bait. His foot paused halfway through his next step as he stopped fast. It was bait, sure as a demon lives in the hells. Nothing that could set off a treasure sense skill with that much power would be undefended, let alone in the depths. "I really shouldn''t," He thought. He would have to be a moron to go in there. Even if there was something good, it wasn''t going anywhere. He could return, stronger and more prepared to face down whatever horrible creature waited to rip his throat out. On the other hand, a powerful reward could change everything, even the kinds that you would find on the second layer. "Fuck it." Kaius turned back to the cave. Chapter 21 : On the Nature of Curiosity and Death Kaius slowly approached the cave entrance, relying on Explorers Toolkit to aid his furtive movements as shadows subtly bent to hide his form. He had his sword drawn and ready, expecting something to jump out at him at any moment. He watched the boulders that crowded its entrance. Piled in a rough, haphazard manner, they presented plenty of nooks and crannies for any number of beasts to hide and make their dens in. Thankfully they seemed uninhabited, and provided a perfect spot for him to hide his pack as he pushed on with his reckless exploration. Kaius sniffed deeply as another gust emanated from the cave. It still carried with it the indescribable scent of magic, a wave bolstering growth washing over him. More than anything it was suffused with a sense of power. It set his heart racing, a frantic pulse that sent shooting currents of anticipation right to his finger tips. He adjusted his grip on his sword. His only other example of such blatant bait had ended up with him facing down a Champion. Conventionally, he knew a pattern of one was not enough to go on. The deep tension he felt down to his bones protested otherwise. "Whatever I find in here, I''m not getting it without a fight." He thought. As he approached the rear of the tunnel, it started to curve gently away from him. With his back to the soft radiance of the glade outside, a resplendent yellow glow washed over the far reaches of the cave. With each creeping step into the cavern, the scent of magic grew stronger, stoking the rising urge that emanated from his skill. The passage opened up before him, his eyes widening as he dropped deeper into his crouch and slunk closer to the cave wall. Peering around the edge, Kaius looked into a sizable cavern. Compared to the truly immense one that held the glade ''outside'', this one was admittedly tiny. Maybe one or two hundred strides in diameter, made up of craggly and jagged rock. Unlike most of the other tunnels and caves he had seen, this one was not lit up by the moss he had grown so used to. Instead, towering out of a small pool at the centre of the room, there was a towering oak glowing with an internal golden light. Breath held in wonder, Kaius''s eyes traced up its stoat trunk where shifting geometrics danced. At its crown, flat and broad leaves soaked the surrounding stone in a warm radiance. From a single branch, a gleaming fruit sat heavy, weighing the limb down until it was deeply bowed. Its glistening skin seemed to shimmer, colours shifting as it swirled between the brightest vermillion and the most resplendent yellow. As soon as he laid his eyes on the treasure his heart rate quickened, mouth drying as his focus sharpened. It was only the quiet insistence of Explorers Toolkit that stopped him from rushing out to snatch the fruit. Barely a moment later frigid fingers of ice shot up his nerves as he heard a slow, rumbling exhalation from inside the cavern. Revealing itself with the noise, Kaius''s gaze instantly trained on the occupant of the chamber. There, half hidden behind the bulk of the oak''s trunk, was a truly momentous bear. It was nestled on its stomach, resting by the small pond that held the tree. Every few seconds he watched its chest rise and fall, the hard stone catching and amplifying the sound of its breaths. Easily outweighing even the largest of mortal bears that he had seen, the creature was clearly a beast. For one, its large size was bolstered by an excessive degree of muscularity. One poorly hidden by its dense grey and gold-tipped fur. Kaius stopped fast, staring at the creature with an equal mixture of awe and trepidation. "That is a BIG boy.." He thought, palms growing slightly slick. Asleep or no, Kaius knew fighting a mundane bear with a longsword would be a struggle, let alone what was likely to be a system enhanced Champion. Even with the element of surprise in his favour, it would be a hard battle. For a moment he considered backing out, leaving the cave to return when he was better prepared. It would be the smart thing to do. The safe thing. He had more than enough challenge to satiate his growth in the glade proper. With a few more skills under his belt, and higher levels, he could return and slay the tree''s defender with far less risk to his person. His eyes drifted back to the shining fruit. He didn''t want to take the safe route. In all likelihood the fruit was simply some sort of alchemical reagent. There was, however, a slim chance it could be a natural treasure. They were vanishingly rare, more something whispered about over a flagon of ale as someone regalled stories about a friend of a friend of a friend, who had once shared a meal with someone who had caught a mere glimpse of the things. They were a unique reward of the Depths, and could be found nowhere else. Objects of empowerment that worked directly through the system, divvying out boosts to skills, improved constitutions, and stat points galore. If it was a natural treasure, something he was inclined to believe by the way Explorers Toolkit screamed at him to retrieve the fruit, it would be invaluable to him. At only the second layer, it would be a slight boost. At least it would if he was a normal delver. He was an unclassed, one stuck in a hostile environment. A couple of stat points could let him increase his health by a significant fraction of his total. "And for my class..." He thought, staringing longingly at the swirling fruit. He couldn''t even imagine what such a boost would do for his selection. He''d asked after them before. When he himself first heard of them whispered over a drink at the Stout Oak, on a trip to collect some extra supplies before winter. Father had thumped his way down the stairs, finished with storing their supplies for their journey back. "Should have stabbed it in the bloody back!" He thought as the creature wheeled towards him clumsily, still disoriented from its abrupt and violent awakening. Explorers Toolkit pounced on the weakness, highlighting its cloudy eyes and disoriented manner with razor sharp precision. He dived back into the fray, refusing to let such a vital moment pass uncapitalised. The bear batted towards him, a twisting side step letting him dance past the powerful blow. The rising dread of anticipation was gone. All that was left was the rush of battle that heated the blood. He brought his blade up in a rising strike, cutting a deep furrow across the Champion''s ribs. Razor sharp steel skittered across the surface of empowered bone, preventing access to the vulnerable organs in its chest. He followed through with the strike, pivoting into a heavy cut that severed more of the thick muscle that lined the creature''s spine. The bear howled in fury, incensed by his repeated strikes, rapidly coming to full wakefulness in the face of an intense assault. It spun towards him, snaking one massive limb out to smash him flat. Kaius was forced to jump back, skilful footwork forgotten in the face of overwhelming speed and power. The bear reared back, rising to its full height. Kaius punished the opening, a deep stab to its midsection only serving to infuriate the Champion further. Dropping towards him, it slammed its front feet down in an attempt to squash him flat. Kaius sidestepped, savaging its features and ruining one eye with a draw cut. Reacting to the pain of his strike instantly, a deep, bassy, growl echoed from deep in the Champions chest. The grey and gold bear lunged towards him. Its shoulder hit him like a falling log. His guard collapsed against his chest, the pommel of his sword rapping painfully against his sternum, chain and leather unable to fully blunt the brute force of the impact. Kaius stumbled back, unable to fight the primal strength of the bear. Only saved from greater injury by the creature''s lack of leverage. Kaius felt a small trickle of health flood towards his chest, tending to the fresh contusion. Steadying his feet beneath him, his eyes flicked to the bear''s injuries. He couldn''t find them, the only evidence of their existence an assortment of deep red stains that marred its otherwise flawless coat. He had to keep the pressure on. Prevent the creature from getting its bearings. With a growl of his own, Kaius launched back into the fray. His first attempt at a stab was batted away, nearly sending his blade flinging free of his grip. Moving with the momentum, he stepped into the collision, whirling his blade over head to hew into the bear''s shoulder. Kaius was forced back by a snap of the beast''s oversized jaws. As the beast lunged out to bite him, he felt his gaze drawn to the side of its face. There, where he had cut it earlier. While the wound had healed, a mess of blood and stuck fur covered its eye, marring its senses. **Ding! Explorers Toolkit has reached level 4!** A pivoting side step took him around the head, bringing him into its blindspot. He thrust, burying two strides of steel deep into the cavity between its neck and its shoulder. Without bone to guard its internals, Kaius''s sword sank halfway to the hilt. **Ding! Footwork has reached level 4!** A gargle left the bear''s throat, blood foaming from its mouth. Kaius pulled back, trying to put distance between himself and the already moving Champion. As he retreated the bear lashed out for him once more. Unable to escape in time, the bear''s claws skittered across the chain covering his torso, nearly sending him flying as its claws caught in the ringed joints of the armour. Righting his footing Kaius stepped back into the fray, punishing attack with a retaliatory cut. Frustration mounted within him. "It just keeps fucking healing!" He yelled in his mind. He''d laid half a dozen nearly mortal wounds into the beast, yet its seemingly inexhaustible Health had regenerated it from every strike he had landed. The beast wasn''t even slowed, just growing more and more enraged with each added wound. Gritting his teeth Kaius sidestepped another snap of its jaws to pressure it with a low flowing cut to its underside. Mid-swing the Champion smashed aside his attack with one paw. The claws on its other began to glow. Icy dread shot through Kaius''s spine. He tried to pull back, to retreat in the face of the obvious skill. He was too slow. So fast he only perceived it as a blur, the creature''s paw came sailing towards him. Glowing with amber light, the claws a trail of glistening embers in the air. The blow smashed into his side harder than a battering ram. Something crunched. Kaius''s feet left the ground as the Champion''s paw scooped him up and sent him sailing across the cavern. Chapter 22 : Champion’s Might The Champion''s paw lashed out with a skill enhanced swipe, smashing into Kaius''s side as its claws trailed floating embers of light. Far too fast for him to react to, whatever skill the champion had used seemed to magnetise its blow to the opening in his guard. A soft gasp left Kaius''s lips as the air was forced from his lungs, ejected in a great exhale. His elbow smashed into the side of his ribs, a shuddering crunch resonating through his bones. Before he had time to even process the pain of the collision he was ejected, the bear launching him to send him tumbling over the cold stone. Miraculously, more through beating-enforced repetition than any intention, he maintained his grip on his sword. He landed in a heap, head rapping painfully against the cold stone. A rapid-fire series of dings sounded in his dazed mind. He struggled to focus, a deep burning ache ratcheting through his torso as he tried and failed to get his lungs to take a breath in. Time seemed to hang. **Ding! Toughened Physique has reached level 4!** **Ding! Toughened Physique has reached level 5!** **Ding! Light Armour Mastery has reached level 2!** **Ding! Light Armour Mastery has reached level 3!** **Ding! Medium Armour Mastery has reached level 2!** **Ding! General Skill Available! Would you like to learn: Rooted Iron Stance (Unusual)?** A cold sweat broke out as he took in his final notification, adrenaline dumping to skyrocket his heart and bring him slamming straight back into the present. "No!" He all but screamed in his mind, rejecting the offered skill. He coughed, tasting blood. Health smouldered in his chest, the resource expending itself rapidly as it worked to heal broken ribs and bleeding organs. Kaius grit his teeth, the heat of battle and adrenaline filled veins allowing him to push the pain to the back of his mind. He rose to his feet. Across the cavern the Champion roared in victory, rising on its hind legs as its massive jaw hung open, a chest rattling roar pouring forth. Kaius settled back into his stance, wincing as his ribs ground together at the movement. With his free hand he dropped to his potion pouch. They were a valuable and limited resource, but if now wasn''t an appropriate time to use one, he didn''t know when was. The buckle opened smoothly, and in one motion he pulled free a tonic. Uncorking it with his teeth he poured it down his throat, the taste of sunshine forgotten in his locked focus on his opponent. **Ding! You have Imbibed a Tonic: Solar Revitalisation** Kaius discarded the bottle. The clattering sound of reinforced glass on stone drew the attention of the Champion, who tilted its great head to watch him intently. Kaius calmly rebuckled his potion pouch as the bear dropped to all fours. Dropping his hand back to his sword, he rose into a high guard. "Not dead yet, you bastard." He spat out, venom and aggression flowing easily into his voice. Already he could feel the tonic working. A bolstering reserve of energy that supplemented the natural welling of regeneration from his soul, stalling out the drain to his reserves caused by his ongoing healing. The Champion roared once more, settling into a loping gait as it charged him. Kaius held his ground, staring down the beast with a cold fury. Leaping towards him, the bear widened its arms to catch him in a fatal grab. Kaius sidestepped, ducking through his rotation to fly under its outstretched paw. He slashed, the bear''s own momentum and trajectory allowing him to deliver an agonising incision from shoulder to flank. **Ding! Footwork has reached level 5!** Kaius''s face whitened in agony as bracing against the collision caused his core muscles to contract around his injured ribs. He finished the cut with gritted teeth, pivoting on his front foot to face his opponent once more. The bear landed hard, howling in fury. Kaius brought his sword back around for a crushing chop, his blade glancing off the creature''s hip bone, cutting a jagged wound. Eyes drinking in everything he could from the bear''s posture, he quickly noticed the sagging cut he had left in its side was already beginning to wriggle, flesh tightening to seal the wound. Refusing to let something as mundane as stinging pain and numbing reverberation steal the moment to retaliate, Kaius pivoted in his slide. His blade slipped free from the bear''s paw, the deadly limb continuing its light show past his torso. A twist of his hips and he cut deep into the neck of his opponent, a great torrent of blood falling free to join the growing pools that littered the grey stone. The bear huffed in agony, attempting to ward off another strike by rearing up to slam, the gushing wound on its neck drenching the fur on its belly. Kaius rewarded the attempt with another probing stab to its undefended midsection. The thrust caused the Champion to abort its slam early, yelping in pain as it snapped at him. Kaius danced back, watching the wound on its neck. With a start he realised that its wound had stopped writhing, only managing to seal itself half shut. Its Health was depleted. "Wait...," Kaius thought, staring closer at the wound even as he stepped around another furious palm strike. The healing might have drastically slowed, but it had not stopped. His eyes widened. "The Vitality required alone.." He thought to himself in wonder. No... It must have been bolstered by a passive skill. To regenerate Health so fast at such a low level? Such an investment of stats would have left it weakened in all other areas, even for an empowered depths-born like a Champion. Something that was clearly not the case. The bear roared, voice coming through strong and pure as its voice box recovered. Whatever the reason, it meant he could not rely on his usual tactic of whittling down an otherwise stronger foe. Depleting their resources until they were bled dry. He needed to press the attack. To keep the pressure on the beast. A step forward and a twist took him inside the Champion''s guard, narrowly missing another savage bite that snapped at his arms. Now facing the beast, Kaius slashed his sword. He allowed its momentum to work against it, a savage draw cut parting the flesh of its side. Volume was important now, anything he could do to add to the burden that its monstrous regeneration was trying to heal. To his surprise, the bear kept running, creating distance as it tore off to the other side of the cavern. Before Kaius could start to chase, it wheeled back around and roared in fury. It dug its claws in and charged, impressive bulk heaving against the stone as it approached him at a barrelling pace. As it crossed the floor of the cavern, it left a streak of red blood that darkened under the yellow light. Kaius''s sword dropped behind him as he moved into a rear guard. He readied himself for another slash, hoping to go low and disable one of its legs. The bear drew close. Kaius sidestepped. The bear''s claws glowed. In an instant empowered keratin bit into stone, its limbs straining against its bulk to radically change its direction. Where he would have slipped past the charge, the Champion''s altered movement slamming into him, one shoulder driving heavily into his sternum. It knocked the wind from his chest, his ribs shuddering as they creaked ominously. Kaius fell back onto the stone, gasping mutely as his jaw worked ineffectively to draw breath. **Ding! Light Armour Mastery has reached level 4!** Leather padding or no, the blow hurt, phantom pains of his earlier injury flaring up like forgotten embers fed fresh wood. The bear reared up, slamming down towards his prone form. Kaius rolled, just barely avoiding the chest-caving stomp. He rolled again when it followed it up with a swipe, heart hammering away at the instinctive rush of adrenaline that came with being in such a compromised position. Mid roll he pushed against the ground, launching himself up. As soon as he got traction on the stone he kicked off, trying to create distance. Sweat drenched his brow. The bear was having none of it, roaring in triumph at finally having caught him off balance. A heavy swipe of claws raked across his chain coated back, tearing through the poorly wrought armour, and tracing dripping lines of white hot fire across his flesh. The blow sent him stumbling, a ragged cry slipping from his mouth as his feet raced under him to prevent another fall. **Ding! Medium Armour Mastery has reached level 4!** Kaius skidded to a halt, just barely getting control of his stumble. He turned to face his opponent, leaping to the side to narrowly avoid a crushing blow. "Shit." he thought, slipping under a follow up strike to leave a dripping cut on the bear''s front. If he''d been any closer, that last wound would have ended him, the Champion''s strength more than enough to snap his spine in two. Squaring off at each other once more, Kaius and the bear circled. Padding feet matched the heavy impacts of the bear''s paws, each trying to spot a weakness. Kaius could see that the bear was flagging. With each strike he landed, the bear''s intense regeneration grew more and more overwhelmed as it spread itself thin trying to heal the increasing systemic breakdown it suffered from. Its fur, once a luscious coat of granite and gold, now hung limp and ragged. Those few parts not drenched in its own vital fluids were slicked with sweat. Wounds crossed its body, revealing thin fat and split muscle. When he looked closely, he could see the growing tremble in its arms. The exhaustion of extended combat, the burden of its wounds, and its own body size working against it, draining it of its ability to fight. Kaius knew that this was it. Whatever came next, the Champion would be pulling out all the stops. The final confrontation. Chapter 23 : Slugging Match Kaius faced off against the Champion, eying its battered form with an intensity that only came from knowing that his continued life required it. The once regal creature was a sorry sight, its coat sodden with blood, great rents parting its flesh to reveal muscle and bone beneath. He couldn''t see it healing anymore, its regeneration too spread thin to have a noticeable impact on any one individual wound. It was a testament to both its physicality and its sheer bloody-minded spite that it kept fighting despite the state of its wounds. Kaius knew he wouldn''t have looked much better. He was utterly soaked in sweat. Despite his tonic being enough to keep his Stamina topped off, the resource did nothing to prevent the sheer exertion that a fight to the death brought. Every system within him was in tune, pumping nutrients and adrenaline ridden blood to his muscles. Soaking his skin to cool him down. Downregulating unnecessary organs. His back ached, the healing scratches and torn muscles in his back steadily reknitting as his bolstered Health burned to seal the injuries. It did nothing for the blood that had fountained down his back, soaking his clothes and gumming up the ringlets of his mail. The more it dried, the more uncomfortable and painful it became. Skin and fabric merging together into a singular monstrosity that pulled at his wounds with every movement. It held no sway over him, his entire mind bent with fanatic focus at the bear as they circled each other. With a roar, the bear broke first. Hauling itself forward, one paw scythed towards him. Its claws leaving a now familiar trail of glimmering light, Kaius reacted the moment it activated its skill - blade already moving into position. He dropped into a hanging guard, sword high in front of him as he met the incoming blow. Once again he levered off the power of the strike, capitalising on the bears flagging energy to divert the slashing claws just enough to send it sailing over his head. **Ding! Parry has reached level 6!** The system notification did little to distract him, he swept through the parry and landed a devastating chop against the bear''s shoulder. Savaging the joint to its core. Once again his blade glanced off the bone, the bear''s empowered body too reinforced for even runic steel to contend with. The bear moaned in agony, favouring its left leg as its wounded one fell limp, too injured to take its weight. Another torrent of vital fluids joined the growing collection of wounds that the Champion sported. Kaius eyed the beast, watching the way its chest rose and fell with heavy breaths. The way it shook, unexplainable by its latest wounds. He had noticed it earlier, the way it paused to collect itself after every use of its skill. Now, the difference was exaggerated. It looked... drained. "It must have emptied its Stamina with that last one. It''s fucked!" Kaius realised, his mouth twisting into a sinister grin at the turning fate of the bear. Advancing with a limping gait, the Champion approached him. Any mortal animal, or magical beast, would have long since fled by now. Only the omnipotent conditioning that constrained all depths-born monsters forced it onwards, ensuring it would fight till its last breath. Despite the ruined leg, it was still fast, closing the distance between them with a snarling snap of its jaws. A slide of his back foot had its teeth chomping at empty air, Kaius using the close distance to drive his sword home into its chest. He whirled away, the bear''s snarl quickly petering out into a wheeze as foamy blood frothed from its mouth. It forced its failing body towards him, unnatural rage giving it just enough energy to raise up and try to swipe him with its remaining paw. Kaius ducked under the blow, the bear''s arm shaking as it tried to control its momentum. It landed on the stone with a heavy thud, front leg buckling under its weight. Kaius darted in, landing another heavy cut on its arm. It collapsed. Bloodsong rising to a new height, he screamed his victory to the air. He rushed in, eager to finish off the opponent that had pushed him so hard. The ailing Champion tried to push itself to its feet. Its leg shook as its rose, a low and heavy rumble gargling from its throat as more blood welled from its mouth. It slipped, losing traction on the growing pool of blood that spread on the stone floor beneath it. Kaius drove his sword deep in between its ribs, sliding in behind its shoulder to stab deep towards its heart. The bear let out a final shudder, falling limp as a desperate gurgling gasp escaped its throat. **Ding! Warforged has reached level 19!** **Ding! You have slain a Champion: Sunborn Cave Bear - level 24 Verdant Defender! ** Kaius watched the still body of the slain champion, a thousand aches dragging at his attention. He ignored them, taking a moment to bow his head in solemn respect for the creature that had put up such a fight. The visceral glee of violent combat left slowly, his heart rate slowing. In its wake it left behind leaden limbs, a heavy exhaustion settling over him. Thankfully, the tonic he had consumed still boiled away inside of him, expending its energy to bolster his recovery. It did nothing for his fatigue, more rooted in the mental strain of his focus being stretched to its maximum for so long, rather than in any physical malady. Stumbling away from the corpse of the Champion, Kaius approached the pool that housed the glowing oak at the centre of the cavern. He couldn''t help but stare at it, soaring so high overhead. Scintillating geometrics shifted and pulsed over its bark, hanging over the scene of his battle like some ageless observer. Fourteen skill levels from a single fight. It was frankly ridiculous. If he made a habit of it he might need to reassess his time lines on how long it would take him to get his next skill. Months felt far too long now, and that figure was after factoring the strange boost to skill growth he had already seen in the Depths. Emptying his last boot, he got dressed quickly. The wet clothes were disgusting, but as he drew them close to his skin they rapidly warmed. Simple enchantments, but more than welcome at times like these. Thankfully they would be dry soon. He held up his chain shirt, shaking it out to eye the tear on its front edge and mid back. "Not exactly what I would call ideal..." he thought to himself. With no blacksmiths available, and no way of repairing the chain himself, he would have to make do with the way it was now until he could find a replacement. "The tear in the back, at least, I could thread together with some twine. Not that that would do much to stop a sword.." A swirl of colourful movement caught his eye, the reflection of the fruit that had dragged him into this cave in the first place. It pulled his attention away from his thoughts. He hastily threw on his chain, hopping slightly on the spot as he shrugged it over his head. Wriggling his arms through the sleeves, he looked up at the fruit hanging overhead with gleaming eyes. The silent nudging from Explorers Toolkit redoubled, waking from the recesses of his mind where it had lain dormant during his battle with the bear. It was time to collect his reward. Kaius stood with his hands on his hips, starting at the wide trunk of the oak tree that rose out of the pond. While a mundane oak would never be seen growing out of a pool of water, they also didn''t glow gold, and nor were they covered in a bark that roiled with shifting geometric patterns. No, he doubted that the Depths cared about such things. The tree was shaped like an oak, so it was close enough to be one in his opinion. A very large oak tree indeed. Currently, that was his issue. While its main arterial branches were more than thick and dense enough for him to easily climb, the lowest one was still out of his reach. That meant scaling its trunk, the same one that was hovering over an icy cold pool of water. Kaius threw his head back in defeat with a groan. Circling the tree a few times, he found a spot where the distance from pond-edge to trunk was slightly shorter, maybe ten strides at most. Backing up from the waters edge, he hopped up and down, shaking his limbs to loosen them. Setting his feet into a wide stance he kicked off, racing to the pond''s edge. Arms pumping, he planted his foot on the pool''s edge, driving his heel hard into the ground to send himself up and over. A yell of excitement slipped out as he wheeled his arms, trying to stay upright as he rushed over the water below. The trunk rushed to meet him. Kaius hit the tree chest first with a heavy exhale, air forced out of his lungs from the collision. Arms snapping around the trunk, he jammed his fingers into the wide crevices that snaked their way through its thick bark. His legs kicked as he scrambled for footing, the sound of splashing water echoing out as his booted foot traced the surface of the pond. He dug his toes in. Forcing himself upwards with a grunt, he shimmied his handhold a little higher. He squinted, this close to the tree the thin patterns that glowed on its surface were almost blinding. After a moment he gave up, closing them completely as their unpredictable shifting grew nauseating. Shifting his grip higher, he hauled himself up a little more. Stride by stride he ascended the tree, until one of its thick branches tapped him lightly on the top of his head. He forced himself to open his eyes, doing his best to ignore the way the room swayed in time with the morphing shapes on the trunk. He looped his hand over the branch, his back burning pleasantly as he hauled himself up onto the limb. From there it was simple for him to clamber from branch to branch, finally reaching the one that held what he hoped was a natural treasure. He crawled outwards, keeping himself low and centred. Kaius savoured the feel of the bark, Enjoying the slight crumbly give it had under his fingers. He''d always like climbing. Finally he reached it. A single thick stalk held it fast to the branch from where it hung. It was even more mesmerising up close. Glistening from internal radiance, the fruit was almost impossibly round- a dozen shades of reds and yellow swirling across its surface. This close it was impossible to block out its scent. The smell of spring growth was almost palpable. Even without Explorer''s Toolkit screaming in his mind he would have found it almost impossible to ignore the urge to snatch it up and claim it for his own. A wide grin split his face as he stared into its swirling form. "I can''t wait to see what it tastes like." Chapter 24 : Forgotten Mysteries Kaius sat on the branch of a massive oak tree. Yellow leaves adorned its reaching branches, nearly scraping the ceiling of the cavern in which it grew. All over its bark, shifting geometrics glowed with a pulsing light. Now that he found him so close he couldn''t help but squint through the distracting light. He leaned over the branch, peering down at the swirling red and yellow orb that held his attention so closely. This close, the waves of palpable magic that wafted from the fruit were almost overwhelming. He could smell it, the alchemical power. He''d first encountered the strange effect when he had been young, shortly after first acquiring Herbalism. Stumbling across a deep red toadstool deep in his forest home, he''d been attracted by its bizarre smell. That of a cliff crumbling with time. A tree ageing into deadfall as the years ground away at its prodigious vitality. Impossible smells, almost closer to dreams than sensory inputs. His curiosity, not for the first time, had nearly gotten him killed. Father had yanked him back, smacking him upside the head with a sharp rap that had made his eyes sting with tears. Magic, he had said, something that young boys shouldn''t trifle with. Grandchild''s Lament he had called it, storming away from the mushroom with a tense back and a too-firm grip on his arm. a reagent prized by certain alchemists for the poisonous tonics that it could be used to produce. After that little stunt Father had them pack up camp, dragging him on a hike that lasted weeks, refusing to pause no matter how much he felt like his legs were going to fall off. Each time they stopped, it was only to inspect another alchemical oddity, forcing Kaius to hone his understanding of their emanating magic until he could identify which ones were dangerous by scent alone. It was imperfect, but until he had an observational skill it was enough to stop him from killing himself. The fruit below him absolutely stank of new growth. Incomparable to anything he had seen before. If he was lucky it would be a natural treasure. That alone was enough to stoke his excitement to unbearable heights Kaius pushed himself up, scooting his legs underneath him to lie across the top of the branch. Leaning over the edge he stretched out to grab the fruit. His hands touched its skin, glossy and almost slick. The size of two of his fists and slightly slippery, he had to use both hands to secure it. A tingle shot through his palms, magical potency enough to send a charge racing up his limbs. The sudden jolt made him flinch, but he held his grip firm. He was not willing to damage the fruit by accidentally dropping it twice his height onto a cavern floor. He hauled himself up, grabbing the branch with his thighs to give himself leverage. Swirling in his hands, the fruit popped free with ease, its stalk disconnecting from the slight indentation at its top. The stem shook slightly as the thin branch it was connected to sprung back into position. Kaius eyed the fruit, before flicking back to the sheer trunk he had climbed. That wasn''t going to work. He looked over the branch to the hard rock below him. It was pretty far, but he should be alright. The worst that could happen is he would sprain his ankle. He shrugged to himself, swinging one leg over the branch to sit on it side-saddle. Slipping off with a hop, he fell, the edges of his tunic fluttering in the breeze. He hit the ground, Hard. A painful stab of shock shooting up his heels as he fell into a low crouch, thighs burning as they worked to bleed off his momentum. He winced, falling back onto his ass with a thud. He looked up at the branch he had jumped from. No broken legs, strange magical fruit secured, everything went perfect. Hugging the fruit under one arm, Kaius pushed himself to his feet. He headed to the back of the cavern, taking a seat against its rear wall so that the tree covered the entrance to the room, hopefully hiding his figure from any curious interlopers. He''d yet to have that happen, the creatures in the depths seemed unnaturally incurious from what he had experienced so far, but it never hurt to be careful. Especially if he was going to be eating unknown fruit from a magical tree. It might have been a risk, but it was a calculated one. He''d spent more than enough time around magically active ingredients to know that at the very least this one did not smell of danger. He didn''t stand on ceremony, bringing the fruit to his mouth and sinking his teeth into its shifting exterior. Thin skin parted beneath his bite, juice welling up to run down his chin. Its flavour exploded. Every facet of magic he had picked up from its scent was intensified, swirling around his mouth and down his throat. His entire attention zeroed in on his last notification. That was ... impossible. He thought back to some of the first lessons he''d had with his father. When he was still too young to travel regularly, when they broke camp only once or twice a season to avoid depleting their food supply. On one of their many evenings around a fire they had been laying on their backs, watching the distant stars. He had been young then, young enough that the only thing his system displayed was his name and time until he unlocked partial access to the full interface. Like all children, the magical construct that hovered at the back of his mind had been fascinating. Many an hour had been filled with the simple entertainment of making his status blink in and out of his vision with a thought, getting the hang of only using intention to bring it to the forefront. As they lay there, nestled behind a natural windbreak formed of loose boulders he had wandered at the strange magic. Wondered, and asked about its origin. Father chuckled at the innocent question, before he was cut off by a wracking cough. He thumped his chest a few times, before taking a deep breath and leaning back against the stone behind him. He stared up into the stars high above. "That''s a tricky question, that," he answered with a deep, gravelly tone. "Nobody truly knows, not really." "What, how? Wouldn''t someone remember?" Father smiled. "Not necessarily, It was a VERY long time ago. All we know is that mana density was far less stable. Smarter men than me have measured that. Whatever happened, it was enough that there are only a few scraps of shattered ruins left." Kaius rolled over on his bedroll to face his father, the fire warming his front. "Mana density? Like what keeps us safe from the monsters?" he asked. Father turned his head to face him, shooting him a smile that hid something else. "Yes, like that. Though there are some stories. More myths of myths than anything else..." Father raised an eyebrow in his direction. Excitement surged through Kaius, he loved stories. "Really! Would you tell me?" Father grinned, shuffling to lean closer to him, reaching out his hands to warm them by the fire. "Well! Alright then. Waaay back when, when everything was still all higgledy-piggledy, there used to be wanderers. Hero''s who travelled the land, finding secrets in the Great Depths that no one had ever seen before. It is said that one and all were Observed by the system, destined to do great things..." Kaius sat there, still staring at the notification. It had been one of his favourite stories. One he had gotten his father to retell many, many times. They had been simpler times. Before Father''s condition got worse. Before Father had asked to prepare him to take on the mantle of Unterstern. But it was just a children''s tale, wasn''t it? As far as he knew, no one really understood what had happened in those days, beyond the shifting tides of magic. Hells, he had asked again barely a few years ago and Father had told him that all scholars had was a best guess! That the shifting mana density had caused unpredictable waves of migrating monsters that had overwhelmed whatever civilisation existed at the time. Yet, despite his warring disbelief, he could not refute the evidence that was before his very eyes. The Observed were real. And he was one of them. Chapter 25 : Food? Kaius sat in shock, the jagged stone that dug uncomfortably into his back entirely forgotten. What did it mean that he was an Observed? That shouldn''t have been possible. It was a children''s tale! The evidence hung there, the notification staying stable in his vision as he tried to burn a hole through it with his gaze. He knew that he had a lot to learn about the Great Depths, after all, every time he tried to cajole his father for more information he''d just been fobbed off with more training. Yes, that was probably his fault. After he''d been caught reaching out to one of the glimmering runic circles that acted as portals to the Depths he hadn''t been able to sit right for a week. In his defence, what sort of teen wouldn''t be fascinated with the world dungeon after umpteen stories about how that was where the strongest were forged? He had thought that he would learn things that were mostly common knowledge! Like the existence of Champions. Not massive discoveries, like the fact that an ancient set of legends were secretly accurate, and society at large had simply forgotten how to trigger the attention of the system. The secret was dangerous. Many, many of his fireside talks with his father had been about how people would kill for an advantage. It was the whole bloody reason they lived in the Arboreal Sea, hells! A good hour of their conversation after his first brush with a Depths portal had been dedicated to exactly how pointless it would have been to dive in by himself. Father had hauled him back to camp, neck bulging in his rage. Throwing him down onto his bed roll, he had bellowed about how much of an idiot he had been. How a chaperoned unclassed in the Depths was all but completely neutered in their growth, and how its treasures would crumble to dust if passed into his hands. Mostly though, his father had ranted about how if he had had to dive in after them they would have ended up weeks or months behind schedule. Kaius had stopped listening then, even if he had agreed in private that it would have been a disastrous result. If people, especially those of means and power, learnt that not only could an unattended unclassed earn a natural treasure, but that by doing so they would be observed by the system? It would be a slaughter. Kaius could see it in his mind. Droves inexperienced scions, shunted towards almost certain death just for a simple chance at success. He had to keep this secret. Had to learn more. Learn what it meant. Push himself harder. If the system recognised him for earning a simple, albeit rare, reward... What would it do if he slew a Guardian without a class? He tore his eyes away from the notification, looking back to the aethereal tree that grew out of the pond. He had to spend his points. Get a move on and finish his trip around the glade. Rumination could wait until he was back behind closed doors. He was tempted to divvy them up optimally. He knew what he wanted from a class, and from there the kind of stats it would favour. Bumping up those values could help to influence the options he was offered. He had no way to know for sure though. He also knew he couldn''t afford to make that decision. There was really only one he had available. He''d come too close to death, too many times. He had to increase his Endurance. Chewing on his lip, Kaius hesitated for a moment before confirming his choice. He slammed the points through as quickly as he could. His body rippled, each muscle contracting at once. Lightning shot down his spine, branching to spread to every crevice and edge of his body. His head cranked back, smacking into the rock wall behind him with a loud crack. The pain of the impact was lost, overwhelmed in the swelling sensation of power surging through him. The well of power in his soul that held his Health rocketed out, the boundaries of the misty pool expanding by half again. Every cell of his body seemed to condense, the constituent parts that made up his being bolstered by the flow of foreign power. Making him just that little bit harder to injure. Slowly the wave receded, leaving him limp and panting on the floor. That had been .... Hellish. Overwhelming. Not exactly painful, but different. "Note to self... Don''t increase a stat by fifty percent all at once" He panted, pushing himself up off the floor with a still quaking limb. He slumped back against the wall, wincing as his bruised head bounced off its surface. He pulled up his Status to check on his gains. Status: Name: Kaius Dynasty: Unterstern Age: 18 Class Selection: 1 Year, 47 weeks, 2 days Race: Human (Dynastic) - +1 free stats per level Layer Reached: 2 Resources: He could afford to wait until he had his next skill, but after that? He would hunt them. Their rewards might give him the edge he needed to get out of the Depths alive. ... Kaius left the cavern with the radiant oak, making sure to collect the potion bottle he had discarded mid battle with the bear, and retrieved his pack. Setting off around the rim of the glade, Kaius made what he thought was good time. Without access to the sun and stars he had no reliable way to tell the time, but by his reckoning he had been walking for what felt like just under half a day. That is, if he considered his forced nap after consuming a gladeplum ''night''. The cavern which held the impressive underground woodland was roughly circular as far as he could tell, though it was hard to make any halfway accurate measurements with the just-brighter-than-twilight glow doing little to penetrate the fog of distance. He doubted that the glade was much bigger than a day''s walk, though if he was wrong he did have enough supplies to last a night. Climbing a tree to bed in safety from ground-bound predators was never fun, but he had done it often enough. Walking through the thin strip of borderland between the cavern wall and the treeline, he passed several more tunnels that wound their way into the rock. So far only one more had shown any differences like the passage with the watch house had been. The undead defenders had been a breeze to push through. These ones had been dressed as miners, clad in rough canvas and armed with picks. The clumsy weapons and lack of armour had left them too open, too easy to kill. After his monstrous growth in his fight against the bear he found himself a little disappointed that he hadn''t gained a single skill from the confrontation. Nor had he from the smattering of beasts that had charged him from the trees- most of them only slightly more dangerous than their counterparts in the forest above, at least to him. As the hours ate away, his legs began to ache, Health and Stamina not enough to soothe the mundane discomforts of long travel. Finally, his eyes widened as he saw a familiar sight far off in front of him. A yawning opening in the cavern wall, a squat building made from stacked stone poking out of its entrance. The Butchers lodge. He picked up his pace, glad to be back in familiar territory. He should be back safe and sound in a few hours now. Luckily he had been right on the money. By the time he arrived, it should be just about time for him to get some rest. He was exhausted. The lodge opened up to his right, the shadow-cloaked stone buildings, rotting furs and general disrepair of the place cooled his enthusiasm. He stared at the corpse of the Butcher, still laying where he had put it down in the centre of the space between the buildings. Its grey, boil-ridden flesh had decayed further, undead body quickly collapsing in the preceding days without its animating magics. An unidentifiable soup of liquid seemed to melt between its starkly white ribs, the sweet scent of rot rolling over him to raise the hair on his arms. His face blanched, saliva pooling in his mouth. Snapping his gaze back to his path, Kaius hurried onwards. Happy to leave the grizzly scene behind him as soon as possible. To his relief, the withered undead hunters seemed to have desiccated without the presence of puppeteering necromancy. The trail of their corpses looked years old, yet still oddly preserved. More a mummification, than active decomposition. He left the trail of bodies behind, putting distance between himself and the carnage he had previously wrought. ... Kaius restrained himself from slipping into a jog, smiling as he saw a slight rise appearing in the distance, the consistent flat land of the cavern slowly drifting up at a gentle curve. There was only one place he had seen that in his entire trip around the glade, the end of the scree slope where he had entered the cavern. He was close. While the dim and softly pulsing light of the moss was more than enough for him to see, it was gloomy lighting. It blurred vision at a distance, far off objects fading into shadow and mist. If he could see the slope, it wouldn''t take him much longer at all to reach it. He''d started his eventful walk right at the entrance of the cave he had entered from, and purely for the sake of completionism, he planned to finish it at exactly the same spot. Part of that was that there was a small chance of another tunnel somewhere on this side of the slope; he had seen a few of them surprisingly close together. Mostly though, it simply didn''t sit right with him to leave things unfinished. Father might have been a harsh taskmaster, but never once had he complained about Kaius''s work ethic. Hells, he remembered how surprised his father had been when he had been training for Warforged. Day after day, he had woken early - even earlier than his father. Going through his routine of stretches to limber himself up for a day of sparring. It had been a point of pride when Father had broken first, asking him if he wanted to take a day off to go swimming in a lake they had found. In hindsight, Father had probably been worried that he had taken some sort of mental damage from the process of acquiring Rapid Adaptation. The reality was much simpler. He had committed to gaining the skills of his dynasty before his class, and after his first skill? A little weapons training had practically felt like a holiday. Kaius hit the slope at pace, lengthy strides eating away at the gradually increasing slope. Eventually he hit the scree, forced to clamber up on all fours in order to keep traction. So far, no extra cave exit, just more dusty rubble and jagged rock walls. As he grew closer, the far off ceiling of the cavern came into greater relief. A thousand roots pierced through the solid rock of the roof, playing off the light of the pulsing moss to create shifting shadows. Tendrils grasping, undulating in the lightning-like the limbs of some massive beast. From the bottom of the slope it looked far different, a simple mat of light.. The tree roots confused him, like they did every time he saw them jutting out of a cave wall. He didn''t claim great knowledge of the Depths, it could be very literally underground. He hadn''t exactly ever gotten a shovel and dug to find it. Yet even if it was, trees didn''t lay down roots to bedrock, and they certainly didn''t burrow through it. Though, from what he had heard of other biomes, rocky caverns and glowing plants was by no means a universal feature. Maybe it was all just dressing? Like the church and the lodge. An idle curiosity, but one that kept grabbing at him. He would have to ask around when he got out, someone had to know. All of a sudden, slightly up the slope and off to his left, Kaius heard a roar of crashing water. Quickly followed by a squeak of panic. Kaius''s eyes snapped to the source of the sound. It had come from the cave that led to the entrance room. Chapter Interlude 1: Voyeur The figure paced over an endless void. Too-fine silk robes billowed in a non existent wind, pressing close to his body. With every step, a thin stone platform appeared beneath him. Vanishing as soon as his naked feet lost contact. Swirling lights surrounded him. Dancing through the air in a silent symphony of movement. They trailed after him like a cloud. He hadn''t felt this constrained in far too long. It was easy to languish in immobile solitude when there was nothing to hold his attention. It would still be tens of millennia until the safeguards kicked in and he was returned to the greater universe. It still infuriated him. It wasn''t supposed to be like this. The chances of a world stabilising after the first stage were vanishingly small. Even for a world that had already had magic like this one. The whole integration, the creation of the Depths, was supposed to incite a ravenous desire for growth. Supposed to push them. **Kaius Unterstern is under Observation.** A wide grin split his face, individual jaw muscles rippling under translucent-white skin. With a thought he returned to his throne, falling back into it with languishing ease. "Good. Let''s have a look then." His mind pierced through the space out of time, surveying all of Vaastivar in its gaze. Focus zeroing in on one small section of the Great Depths. "Oh? A natural treasure while unclassed? That''s a lucky criteria to meet for Observation. I had my bet on three champions solo." The figure said happily. It was a boon, something that would greatly assist the subject of his interest with his defeat of a Guardian. That was the key. He had to ensure it happened. It was a pity that the feat didn''t come with an Honour, but the fruit was reward enough in its own right. "I probably can''t swing you another one of those, but otherwise I''m sure I can ... load the dice, so to speak." He wouldn''t be able to influence the Guardian he was destined to face. Nor could he interfere with the depths-born. The construct had absolute control over its confines. A mere glorified supervisor such as himself had nowhere near the authority to influence the challenge of the trial. The rewards? Now that was something he could affect. He couldn''t exactly choose what the boy received, but he would be able to lean on the overseer-mind to be a little more favourable and generous. Even if it cost him a thousand years of Psi accumulation, it would be worth it. After all, if the boy failed he would have nothing but time to cultivate it once more. Chapter 26 : Attack Badger (Friendly?) The sound of crashing water echoed out across the cavern, petering off slowly as the residual noises slowly faded. Faint, but unmistakable, Kaius heard a squeak of panic, almost drowned out by the noise of water crashing against stone. His head snapped towards the source of the sound. It had come from up the slope, directly from the cave which led to the entrance portal that had teleported him into the depths. Whatever had triggered it definitely hadn''t been a person. Maybe some startled deer had gotten itself caught in the river''s currents, a lucky undertow from the waterfall pulling it into contact with the entrance. Deer meant venison. His stomach gurgled at the idea of something different to his poor attempt at boar jerky. He started salivating, imagining the gamey taste that he was so fond of. In the forest above it was a major staple, but even with its abundance he had never grown tired of it. He redoubled his pace, turning to scramble in the direction of the cave. The scree gave way under his overeager movement, sending him a half-step back for every stride he climbed. He growled in frustration. This close to a change in the menu, he wasn''t going to let a bloody scree hill beat him. Reaching the top, Kaius bent over and panted. His pace had been exhausting, the gravel fighting him every step of the way. Catching his breath, he mopped at his sweat streaked brow. Another panicked squeak drifted from the cave. Kaius''s eyes narrowed. It didn''t sound like a deer, not now that he was closer. He drew his sword, blade twinkling in the soft light, and stepped into the cave. He moved slowly, ears straining to catch any further hints of what might have found itself trapped in the entrance chamber. While he lived far from the frontier, the Arboreal Sea was enormous. The region that he and his father had staked a claim on was still thoroughly considered the outskirts, a region of lower mana and comparatively few truly magical creatures. Chances were it was something mundane. Perhaps a young bear. He couldn''t think of any beasts that lived in the outskirts that would squeak. Roots erupted from the cave''s edge, curling around him like the fingerbones of some covetous giant as he pushed deeper. There it was again! Definitely not a bear. At least, it wasn''t a noise that he had ever heard come from one. Too loud, too forceful for something small, and with a strange timbre that gave it an almost gravelly texture. Kaius passed where he had fought the swarm of spiders, gingerly stepping around the dried pools of ichor. Eyes staying dutifully ahead, avoiding looking at their cooking pot sized bodies, legs curled in close to their thorax. He wouldn''t say he was afraid of the creatures, but they definitely unnerved him. Bugs were not supposed to be hairy. Still, the sight of his battle meant he was close. Slowing his pace, Kaius started to roll the weight on his feet. Softening his steps to suppress any noise of his approach. He could hear it. Claws scrabbled at stone, raking across the surface again and again as the dull scratching sound rolled through the cave. It''s breathing, deep and heavy, hastened to the edge of a pant in the ways he had only heard from a snared meal. The entrance room came into view, an opening in the cave up to his right. He crept forwards, keeping his breathing low and even so as not to give away his position, despite his growing curiosity and excitement. Approaching with care, Kaius pressed himself close to the edge of the wall where it turned inwards into the portal room. He held his sword to his side in a sort of half fool''s-guard, out of sight but ready to be used in a moment''s notice. The sounds of panicked movement continued unabated. Craning his neck, Kaius poked his head around the cave wall. The portal room looked much like he had left it. A deluge had flowed through, stray water captured with the unwilling subject of the magical transportation. It had flooded the room with a thin film of water, pushing old fish carcases to the edge of the room. The object of his curiosity stood at the rear of the room. Wet and bedraggled, it faced away from him, rearing up on its hind legs to claw at jagged stone as its tapered snout reached for the now deactivated circle of runes a full body length above it on the ceiling. Shaped closest to a common badger, a little meles, it was stout of leg and long of tail. Standing on its hind legs as it was, it was easily as tall as him. A thick and dark red coat covered its hide, tapered in a gradient that deepend to a red so deep it looked black. Its brush with the falls far above had left the hair plastered to its body, revealing the rippling musculature that was normally hidden within. Kaius went to take another step. The meles barked, a concussive blast hitting him in an instant to ring his ears. He stopped, foot hovering over the stone. "Easy.. I don''t want to hurt you. I''ve been trapped here for weeks." His tone stayed even and calm, seeking to placate the creature''s fear with a soft smile. The meles hackles rose, a deep rumble starting in its chest. Something smacked into his mind, forcing aside innate defences, bringing with it a confusing jumble of images. He saw himself standing there, back lit by a sinister blue halo of pulsing light. His posture was all wrong. Hands outstretched, poised to grapple and tear. Teeth bared in an open threat. He loomed in the entrance way, speaking a predator''s lies that were only half understood as he tried to worm his way in for the kill. Shocked, Kaius snapped his mouth shut, pulling his arms down into his sides. He took a step back. "Woah. I''ll stay over here. I''m serious, I grew up in the forest. I would never hurt one of your kind." Dark amber eyes drilled into him, the meles responding to his statement with a snap. Another deluge of strange sensory information washed over him, to coloured by scent and sound to be parsed easily. An impression, clear and strong, ran over his strange connection with the meles. "Lies!" It seemed to say. Eyebrows furrowed, confused at the accusation. "Why would I lie?" Kaius said evenly, focusing on keeping his posture as still and neutral as he was able. Images flicked across in a rapid fire blast. Distant mountains. A warning to never cross their peaks, of poor hunting grounds and unsavoury persons. A burning curiosity silenced with a heavy paw. Setting off alone, a meles grown, to explore the strange place. A cacophony of scents, thin air almost absent of the ever present thrum of roiling mana. Of seeing figures, garbed in woven plant material and the skins of their kills, so similar to the elves he had seen a time or two. The hot bite of flying twigs. Burning cuts and leaking wounds. He saw himself corralled. Hunted for the first time in his life. Fleeing as fast as his paws could carry him. Throwing himself into the depths of the river, struggling to keep his head above the raging rapids that ripped him away from the shore. His gaze focused on the figures that skidded to a stop at the water''s edge, focusing on them with a dizzying clarity. The leading man was a lanky figure. Holding a naked sabre in one hand, he was garbed in leather amour, high quality but poorly maintained. A crooked nose, jagged from an old impact that had left a thick scar stretching from bridge to orbit. Kaius recoiled from the connection, his mind reeling back into the immediacy of the present. Fury roiled inside him as he recognised the face. It was the leader of the bandits. He''d never forget that scar. It took a special type of injury for Health to be unable to fully recover a wound. There were also less of them. Barely even a handful, compared to the numbers that had ambushed him and Father. His father had done some damage. But if they were still on the plateau... Kaius clenched his fist, futile frustration surging through him. A low growl from the meles snapped him back to the present. Taking a deep breath, he loosened his hand. Letting it fall to his side. "No. I am not with them. Nor are they representative of my kind. I lived on that plateau for years, and know far better than to hunt a greater meles," Kaius huffed, his shoulders slumping before looking back up to look back into amber eyes. "No, those men hunted me too. I was driven over the falls. Chased off lest I let them kill me. My father stayed behind... I''m not sure if he made it." His eyes drifted downwards, burning as he thought of the potential fate of his father. The hackles of the meles fell, its growl petering out. It was still tense. Still ready and willing to barrel towards him at the slightest provocation, but it had paused at his words. It''s mental connection reached back out, tentative as it brushed his mind. "Tell me." Chapter 27 : How to Win Friends and Influence People Kaius sat on the cavern floor, jagged rocks digging into his back. The natural stone made a poor backrest, but his chain vest saved him from the worst of discomfort. He''d moved over from the entrance to the portal room, shifting to the side so as to not block the meles from an exit. He was, after all, trying to convince it he was friendly. So far it had gone okay. The greater beast sat across the cavern from him. Thin pools of stagnant water and the corpses of fish in varying stages of decomposition layered the ground between them. Remnants from both of their entrances to the depths, and those of prior ones. Settled down on to its haunches, the meles eyed him with a quiet intensity as it rested its head on its front paws. As they had talked, the creature''s fur had begun to dry out. Returning to a dense fluffy halo of red tapering to black. It - he, Kaius reminded himself - looked so bloody soft. The flickering mental connection that the meles had forged between them pulsed as it transmitted more thoughts and sensations to him. As their chat had progressed, Kaius had been getting better at parsing the information into something resembling language. That, or the meles'' sharp mind had been able to pick up on how he structured communication, and was making it easy for him. "So they chased you from your hunting grounds, challenging your Patriarch without honour?" The almost words echoed with notes of indignation for the bandits'' offence. Kaius nodded emphatically. "Yeah, and now I - we - are trapped down here. At least until I am strong enough to deal with the Guardian. If I wait for my class that''s going to be about two years," He responded, frustration creeping into his tone as he thought of the yawning length of time ahead of him. "You are not yet grown? But you are larger than those ... vermin... that trapped us down here?" The meles words carried overtures of confusion, a biting venom suffusing its emotions as its mind had drifted over the bandits. Kaius laughed. One he quickly cut off as the meles jumped slightly at the sudden noise. "Sorry about that. It means I''m amused." Kaius gingerly scratched the back of his head. Snorting in acknowledgement, the meles settled back down. "Most peoples like my own, human or otherwise, are already full grown for a couple of years before we gain our class. Like I said, mine is two years off." He continued. With a chitter the meles ever so slightly cocked his head at him. "I see.. It is somewhat different for us beasts. A full connection to the ancestral power brings with it ... significant changes. I am a summer or two off from it myself." Pushing off with its back legs, the meles dipped into a deep leaning stretch before it fully rose to its feet. It took a sniff and sneezed, pawing at its nose. "The fish here are disgusting, take me to your den." It demanded, its imperious tone unable to hide the undercurrent of uncertainty in its emotions. Kaius shot back a warm smile, making sure to hide his teeth. He''d made sure the meles knew it was a friendly gesture, but it had yet to fully get over its discomfort at the sight of a grin. "I''d love to." Kaius stifled a chuckle as the meles huffed in frustration as its heavy body slowly skidded down the scree slope, a great cloak of dust billowing out behind it. He found it impossible to forget what the creature was, but he also couldn''t deny just how young the creature came across as. Even the size of a small bear, he didn''t miss that its paws seemed just a little too oversized, its demeanour flicking to anxiously scan the tree line just a little too often. He lengthened his steps, feet sinking deep into the loose gravel. Pulling up alongside the greater beast, he laid his hand on its shoulder. Fingers sunk deep into hyper dense fur as he gave it a pat. "It''s okay, I''ve already cleared out this area of the glade. Even if something has wandered back in, I have yet to find something I haven''t been able to handle myself. With the two of us, we would be more than okay - if we are careful." The meles huffed, but leaned back into his touch all the same. "I know that! It''s just... The Matriarchs warned me off this place, at least until I had reached the next stage of life." The meles light touch on his mind bringing with it the sight of a massive beast, easily towering over the younger creature. The image radiated with the familiar certainty of safety. Smelled of home. Kaius stiffened as the blare of a system notification dragged at his attention. **Ding! General Skill Available! Would you like to learn: Empathetic Communication (Uncommon)?** "No." He thought, quickly dismissing the prompt. Attention turned back to the meles as he scratched its shoulder, luxuriating in the softness of its coat as the individual fibres parted between his hands, bunching between his fingers with a feather light touch. He had the strange sense that he must be dreaming, who got to actually pet a greater meles? Dragging his focus back to their conversation, his fingers continued to twist through its fur absentmindedly. "Your mother?" He asked. "No," the meles snorted. "Matriarch, the oldest mothers of the den. Keepers of knowledge, and ruiners of all fun." They reached the bottom of the slope, quickly pushing into the trees that grew with density as they got further into the glade. "She said that the Guardians were too strong, that it was littered with obstacles designed for those who walked on two legs. Without the strength to simply overwhelm everything before you, you would simply get trapped, and eventually starve." The meles tried to hide it, but Kaius caught the undercurrent of fear that thrummed across the connection the creature had forged with him. "Ah, that. The Guardian is going to be a problem, but it is one that we do not need to rush into. They stay in their chambers, and we can wait until we have a surety of success before we challenge it." Kaius said reassuringly. "As for obstacles... I assume your Matriarch was talking about traps. I haven''t seen any yet, but if we come across them I have a skill to both detect and disarm them. We should be fine." "Thank you for your trust, Kaius." The meles communication was faltering, a sense of trepidation and uncertainty emanating from across the link. "You''re not used to names are you?" He said with a half-grin. The meles huffed. "It is not my fault! I am me, you are you. Names only make sense if you try to talk through air. Mind connection is so much easier!" Frustration bled through the link. His laugh belted out across the interior of the church, causing the meles to look up at him affronted. "Well, as someone who does have to speak through the air, I''m going to have to give you a name. I can''t keep calling you ''the meles'' in my head." He said. "Do as you wish." The meles said, settling back down. "Alright moody, may as well call you Porkchop if you care that little." He muttered, the words barely making it past his lips. The meles flicked its ears. "Heard that. Porkchop works, it will make people underestimate my might!" Porkchop said with a flash of enthusiasm. Kaius laughed. "Somehow I think it wont work quite as well as you would hope. But Porkchop it is." He thought back to what the meles had said earlier. "How on earth have you already merged nine full skills?" I already told you, us greater beasts gain access at birth, I have had them for years. Most of the time it took me was spent on deciding which ones I wanted. "Wait, you got to pick?!" His voice was incredulous, the idea of merged skills being in such abundance that choice was a valid concern was entirely foreign. "Of course, the den is old, and the Matriarchs often trade them like choice hunting grounds during meets. You did not?" Porkchop asked. Kaius spluttered. Shocked at Porkchop''s unknowing privilege. It took him several tries to eventually get across that, yes, he really did just have one set. And no, he really could not just trade his knowledge with others. According to Porkchop, trading skill knowledge was common amongst the greater meles. Every few springs, dens would meet in a great congregation. Apparently during these meets, the Matriarchs of the various dens liked to trade merged skills like they were housewives swapping recipes. The idea of that was as foreign to Kaius as the idea of kidnapping someone for their knowledge was to Porkchop. The meles simply could not wrap his head around the fact that without enough power to back you, there was nothing you could do to stop someone taking what they wanted by force. It just simply wasn''t done amongst his kind. "I still think that is ridiculous, you would all benefit so much more if the information was traded. It makes it much easier to find new ones when you have lots of points of comparison." Porkchop said, still struggling to accept his explanation. "Yeah, well, It is what it is. People don''t really think about how to make sure everyone benefits, just how to ensure they have more." Kaius sighed, putting his hands behind him to slump backwards "That''s sad." "Yeah, It is." Kaius agreed. Life certainly would have been easier without such a monumental secret hanging over his head. He would never feel guilty for making the most of his birth-right, but if he could, it would have been nice to share it with someone, and have something shared in turn. "Well, on the topic of skills. You might be able to help me with my next one." He said. Porkchop sat up quickly, ears flicking forwards to train on him. "Do tell." "I''m still working on a defensive skill, and if we were able to spar, I would be able to merge it a lot faster. I''m not really confident in properly exploring this biome until I do." His voice was calm, testing the waters. For all Porkchop''s friendliness, the meles was still a greater beast, and as he had found, had a far different culture than he was used to. He had no idea how the request would go down. Porkchop surged to his feet, ears flicking. "You want to wrestle!" Palpable joy bubbled across their connection, Porkchop visibly vibrating with excitement as he hopped up and down on its front feet. Kaius sighed in relief, smiling at the creature. "Yeah, I guess I do. Tomorrow though, I only just got back from walking around this entire glade. I should probably take a nap." Porkchop drooped. "Okay... I will watch while you rest," he said, his voice bordering on despondent. Thankful, Kaius reached over to his bag and retrieved the glade plums he had secured earlier. "Great, because once I eat these I will most likely not wake up until the poison has just worn off." Porkchop flicked his ears in acknowledgement, still sulking at the delay to their spar. Laying down his cloak and getting comfortable, Kaius scarfed down the fruits, enjoying their succulent sweetness. **Ding! You have been afflicted by Gladeplum Lethargy** The heavy weight of clawing sleep dragged him down quickly. Kaius didn''t even try to resist, not with how exhausted he was. As his eyes drifted closed, he distantly registered the sensation of something soft and warm saddling up close to him. Chapter 28 : Wrestling Standing in the graveyard in front of the church, Kaius held his sheath in both hands like a sword. It was just as well made and enchanted as the blade itself, so it could more than stand up to the abuse of a spar. Porkchop stood across from him, the massive badger-like creature almost bouncing from foot to foot with excitement. Together they had managed to clear a large section of headstones. Porkchop had used his digging claws to uproot the slabs of stone, while Kaius heaved them away on aching limbs. He''d managed to squeeze into the old breastplate he had scavenged from one of the undead guards of the church. Much like his chain, it didn''t fit well at all, pinching and scrapping at his chest. He wouldn''t want to use it in an actual fight, but he should be able to gain his skill fine in a spar. Ideally, he would cap off the skill quickly. Heavy armour had never been his style, far too constricting - it slowed him down. Judging by the deluge of playful energy that bled across their link, Kaius didn''t think that Porkchop would mind that all too much. "Wrestling!" His new companion barked. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Remember, the idea is for you to try to knock me here," Kaius rapped his knuckle against his breastplate. "While I try to defend myself with this thing here." He waved his scabbard at the meles. "Wrestling!!!" "Yeah, yeah. Alright buddy, I''m ready when you are." Kaius settled into a close-guard, pulling his mock blade into his armpit. He''d have to hold back a bit, no need to sour a budding friendship by bludgeoning Porkchop too hard. Porkchop hoofed in excitement, rising onto his rear legs to quickly slam back into the ground. Claws dug in. The meles blurred. Something hit him in the chest. Hard. His breastplate clanged, driving into his sternum with a winding force. Kaius sailed backwards, shoulder catching the dirt. Sending him into an uncontrolled rolling flail. His arm caught under him, wrenching at his shoulder terribly as his scabbard flew free of his grip. He skidded to a stop, lying flat on his back. Wondering what the fuck had just happened. "Kaius!" Panic flooded his connection with Porkchop, the creature bounding over to him. Pushing himself up with a wince, Kaius felt his Health flood out to heal a dozen scrapes and bruises. He held up a hand, waving off the meles concern. Porkchop ignored him, shoving his nose at him. Checking to make sure he wasn''t too injured. "I''m alright buddy." He said, patting the meles'' head. "What the hell was that though. I didn''t even see you!" Porkchop pulled back, expression impossible to read on its animal face. "..Wrestling?" The connection made the emotion clear. He was bloody embarrassed. Kaius couldn''t help but laugh. "That is what you call wrestling? Hells. I''m so screwed." "Do you want to stop?" Porkchop asked anxiously. "No," He shook his head. "I need this. Need to cap these skills as fast as I can. It''s for the best you can push me this hard. Though you should probably slow down enough that I can bloody react." Ears perking up, Porkchop bounced to his feet. The meles ran back to their starting area in the centre of the cleared headstones. "More wrestling! Gentle wrestling." Porkchop clarified after a moment. Kaius simply shook his head, walking over to retrieve his scabbard. "This is going to suck so much" He thought to himself. Kaius moved to stand across from Porkchop, dropping into his stance once more. "Alright. I''m ready." Porkchop chuffed in excitement. Thick claws bit deep into the earth, providing the necessary traction for the bear-sized greater beast to bring himself up to speed. A decided visible speed this time. Though still not slow. Not at all. Barreling towards him, Porkchop''s exposed teeth juxtaposed his bright eyes and easy expression. One claw swiped. Kaius moved to parry. The paw swished, diving under his guard. Another clang on his breastplate. He stumbled as Porkchop rapped him ''gently'' on the chest with his claws. Kaius tried to step back, pivoting on his front foot to slide around his new friend''s guard. Porkchop was too fast. Advancing on him to smack him in the ribs, a little harder than the last. Claws scrapped on metal with a squeal, sending him stumbling to the side. Frustration mounted. He should be able to do something. This was embarrassing! Lashing out with his scabbard, Kaius tried to smack him over the head. Porkchop reared up. One paw blurring to intercept his attack. He braced, ready for the collision. It didn''t help. Porkchop smacked his scabbard away with ease. The meles slashed towards his chest with his other paw. He brought his scabbard around, trying to block the swing. Well positioned defence wasn''t enough. Porkchop simply crushed his guard, sheath and claw crashing heavily into his chest together. The blow drove the air from his lungs, sending him reeling back. Kaius fell backwards, thick chest plate doing little to stop his head from smacking painfully into the ground. "You holding up okay?? Kaius squirmed under his gaze. It was a stupid idea. "Well, you mentioned that some delvers carry single use formations. Primed spell effects that were too niche for a dedicated skill, but would take too long to make with freeform channelling when they were needed? I was wondering if you could do something similar with tattoos," he answered. Father scratched his chin, falling silent as he pondered on the question. "Fascinating. I don''t see why not. It could solve the issue of anything more than a cantrip needing far too much power for a trinket. It would be ruinously complex though. An anchor to subordinate lengthy runic hymns. Hmm." Hastur started to mutter under his breath, talking his way through enchanting concepts that flew far over Kaius''s head. His heart skipped a beat. He hadn''t expected that it might actually be possible. Kaius kept walking with just a little more bounce to his step. The memory faded. Kaius turned to his friend with a smile. The theory was there, he just needed to put it into practice. "I want to cast and use swordplay. Channelling is usually too focus intensive to use from the front lines, but I have an idea. It should work, there is no reason it shouldn''t. I won''t know for sure until I have my fifth through seventh skills though.." "Experimentation is good! Especially when there are no Matriarchs watching..." Porkchop said. Pride flowed across the connection, but so did a hint of embarrassment. Kaius cocked an eyebrow at that. "Oh? And what did you do that got you yelled at, huh?" He asked, a smile tugging at his mouth. "Ahhh. I did well! Merged a higher order manipulation skill! Multiple sequential merges! By myself!" Porkchop replied "You got in trouble for merging a skill? I thought you basically got a free choice?" "Ah. That." Porkchop said, a little embarrassed. "I may have not asked the Matriarch, and we had already known how to merge crystal? I thought she might eat me." Kaius laughed, deep from his belly. "You didn''t think to ask?" He said in disbelief. "Hmm. No. In my defence I had already picked metal! And crystal is pretty close to metal, only one step higher!" "Reckless." Kaius said, shaking his head. Porkchop huffed, nudging him roughly enough that he had to stick his arm out to stop from toppling over. "You sound like the Matriarchs." Chuckling, Kaius pushed himself back up, playfully shoving Porkchop''s head off him before he asked what was on his mind. "And what of you? What do you wish from your class? Or whatever it is that you beasts get." Porkchop shook his head. "It''s a little different. We commune with the ancestral blood. Body changes, skills tied to new form. Not so flexible as a class, I will most likely always be a Forest King. The Voice will only give me options that would suit me. I am happy to just pick what looks best when it happens." He explained. Kaius leaned forwards in interest. It wasn''t every day that you got insight into how the system worked for greater beasts. "Sounds nice. More time with your general skills, no need to stress about influencing your class. Time to just enjoy life." Kaius said, envious. Porkchop snorted, shoving his cold nose into Kaius''s cheek. "No being grumpy. You can change. That is bigger than you know. Becoming more than a greater meles is almost impossible for me. Becoming more than just Kaius only requires work." Grunting in acknowledgment, Kaius batted his friend away. He knew that Porkchop was right. It still grated at him. He wanted to be done now, to slay the Guardian and escape. He''d already been down here for weeks. He had years left. Years. At the very least when he had finished this skill he would actually feel confident pushing deeper into the glade, and the Depths as a whole. The whole glowing trees thing lost its shine after the first few days. After that? It wouldn''t be too long until he could start his experimentation with magic. A familiar swell of excitement welled up in him, filling his limbs with a bubbling energy that made him want to hop on the spot. Magic. He couldn''t wait. "Hey Porkchop?" "Yeah?" "I''ve been avoiding pushing into the centre of this glade for a while now. I''ve been waiting until I have my next skill. Want to help me get it as fast as we can?" He asked, looking at Porkchop expectantly. His friend pounced to his feet, flying a full stride in the air. Porkchop landed with a heavy thud, every part of his body practically vibrating with excitement. "More wrestling?!" Kaius laughed, pushing up. "Yeah buddy. A lot more wrestling." Chapter 29 : Training A month. A whole bloody month. More than a month, in actuality. Kaius was sure that his bruises had bruises, Health or no. A whole damn month of being Porkchop''s chew toy. Tossed around the graveyard like a sack of flour. He never seemed to run out of energy. Never seemed to get tired of having the upper hand. Hells! Kaius was pretty sure that the fact he was so totally out outmatched made the whole thing more fun to Porkchop! He had gotten better at least. He didn''t get thrown around nearly as much in their most recent tussles. Kaius chose to simply ignore the fact that Porkchop was definitely moving a lot slower than he could. It was so worth it. His growth had been explosive. At first, he had been worried that without the mortal threat of true combat his skills would stall. That his timeline would be set back, no matter how much sense it made for his safety. The sheer physical superiority Porkchop had over him had reduced that drawback to almost nothing. The meles was seemingly a prodigy at controlling his strength. No matter what he did, the meles was just that much stronger and faster than him, pushing him to his absolute limit. As Kaius''s skills had grown, so had the pressure. Kaius improved his Parry and Footwork just enough to start avoiding blows? Porkchop sped up. His Armour and Block skills improved to let him hold his ground? Porkchop would hit harder, forcing him back. Now he only had a few more levels left before he was ready to merge his next legacy skill. He stood out in the opening they had created in the graveyard, Porkchop directly across from him. He''d discarded his breastplate in favour of chain. He''d fully capped Heavy Armour Mastery over a week ago, the process leaving the metal of the armour bent and dented. Almost entirely useless now. The field was torn to shreds, great gouts of earth ripped free from the ground from the way Porkchop dug his claws in to gain traction. Shattered cobblestones littered the edges of their impromptu area. They''d done their best to clear them, but he''d been thrown through more than one after an overzealous blow. "Last one, yeah?" Porkchop asked, anticipation flowing over their ever strengthening link. "Yeah. Just a level of Block and Medium Armour Mastery." Kaius called out, his own excitement visible in the smile on his face. "Ready?" Porkchop asked. "Ready." He nodded, settling into his stance. Porkchop dug his claws into the earth and tore another rent into the ground, stout claws kicking up a cloud of dirt. Accelerating to full speed in a single bound. Kaius held his trusty scabbard at the ready. No longer awkward in his grip after a month of full contact sparring. Reaching him in under a second, Porkchop feinted a tackle. Kaius pivoted to the side, stepping to avoid the charging hulk of muscle and fur. Dragging his claws on the ground, Porkchop used the leverage to bring himself up short. A heavy paw lashed out, coming down over Kaius''s head. He reacted, slamming out with his ''blade'' to block the strike, maximising his leverage by catching the blow close to his hands. Porkchop simply pushed down harder. The weight of the beast was overwhelming. Forcing Kaius''s guard back, his hands shaking. He was allowed to struggle for a bit, to strain into the block. Then Porkchop smacked him with his other paw, claws raking against his chainmail. He wasn''t gentle. Even when pulling his blows. Kaius stumbled back, gasping from the impact. Steadying his footing he dove back in, warding Porkchop off with a stab to the face. He reacted like it was a naked blade. Darting to the side before closing in to batter Kaius once again. Claws clattered on Kaius''s sheath. A hasty block that barely held. Porkchop gave him no quarter, slamming his other paw towards him. Kaius stepped back, catching the blow. He tried to carry through into a stab, aiming for his friend''s undefended chest. Porkchop dropped back down to all fours, drawing back and then throwing himself forwards into a heavy shoulder barge. Moving faster than Kaius could bring the point of his scabbard around to ward off the approach. A fluffy black and red shoulder hit him in the chest. Hard. Wind exploded from his chest. He gasped, stumbling to the ground. Porkchop dove forwards, massive jaws clamping over his shoulder. Gently. Well, gentle enough not to pierce the chain or crack his bones at least. Porkchop heaved. Throwing Kaius across the field with casual ease. A panicked yell left his throat as Kaius sailed through the air, dazed at the sudden rough treatment. He landed on a stray tombstone with a crash, stone cracking painfully against his spine. Heat flushed through his body as a trickle of health was consumed to recover from the impact. Porkchop was already approaching, charging him with manic glee. "Shit!" Kaius just barely managed to roll to the side before the oversized ball of fluffy murder pounced on his chest. He rolled to his feet, bringing his scabbard up just in time to block a heavy swipe of the meles claws. A clack echoed through the yard. The scabbard reverberating painfully in his hands, Kaius stepped back, thwacking Porkchop over the head as he disengaged from their bind. Huffing in annoyance, his friend redoubled his assault. Kaius gave ground. Shrugging himself out of the remnants of his armour, Kaius hauled himself to his feet and grabbed his scabbard from where it had been knocked free of his grip. "I''m gonna go inside and merge. You have fun." He said, a little tension creeping into his voice at the thought of how easily Porkchop could have ended him. "Okay, I''ll keep quiet." Porkchop said. If he picked up on his discomfort, he didn''t show it. Seemingly more than entertained with throwing a scrap of chain around than following him inside. Kaius huffed and walked toward the church. Kaius sat on the floor of the church, legs crossed with his arms held comfortably in his lap. The slow rush of his own breathing rang in his ears. Helping to drown out the sounds of the overly energetic Forest King tossing around scraps of metal outside. For the second time in less than two months, Kaius dived deep into his centre. The light of his soul became clear in his mind''s eye, looking as real and tangible as if it were hovering in front of him. It hung in an empty space, burning with multi hued golden vigour. Three pools of gas orbited his soul, equidistant. One blue, one green, and one red. Each was a different size. Blue, the smallest. Almost half the size of green. While red was half again as big as that. His resources. Watching silently, he could see faint gossamers of coloured energy fly free from the clouds. Falling inwards to join the fire. Excess regeneration vented to be safely discarded. Further out he could see his skills. Bundles of pure energy, orbits in sync as they rotated his inner fire without a care for sticking to a consistent plane. Three shone with platinum auras of vibrancy. All but one smaller than the remaining seven, but no less potent for their lacking size. One, a riotous mix of colours without end, endlessly contesting dominion over the orb. When one colour seemed like it might be victorious? It was suppressed viciously. Subsumed by another. One, the colour of steel and blood. Always warring, always shifting. The orb seemed to physically pulse. As if disdainful of being locked to a single shape. The final of the three was more peaceful. Shining greens and blues, calling out in the joy of freedom. Rapid Adaptation, Warforged and Explorer''s Toolkit. His three legacy skills. Another would be joining them shortly. His attention drifted to their less glamorous siblings. Honing in on the first one to require his touch. A thin tendril of energy stretched from his soul, looking like flowing golden amber. It quested, wavering around the empty space. Reaching for the first skill. It connected. Sensations slammed through him. A mighty blow aimed for the head, impossible to avoid. A shield interposed, reverberations stinging from the impact. A stream of magical energy, sent with intention to injure and kill. Absorbed and rebuffed. At first, the smallest force was almost impossible struggle to endure, before later earth shattering impacts were shaken off with ease. The surety and simplicity of a pure defence. Withstanding the mightiest of blows. Block. Simple, but powerful. Kaius felt the flavour of the skill. Submerging himself in its essence. It was a good tool, one that was a central skill of many soldiers. But it could be so much more. Another thread stretched from his soul. Impressions followed quickly. Almost a brother to block, so often used in tandem. So complementary. Where Block held fast, this skill diverted with fluid movement and guile. A shattering blow, firmly guided to safety. A gaping opening left behind in its wake. Less brute strength, more smooth action and control. Control of yourself, and of your opponent. Steel flashing, clanking together, guided on a merry dance that left you whole. Parry. The skills thrummed. Resonating as threads of soul-fire linked them to his centre. On to the next one. Another burning thread cutting through the void. Pure mastery of self. The simple joy and pleasure that you are always exactly where you meant to be. Just out of reach. Inside their guard. Slipping past a hasty thrust. Just in range to get access to their throat. Wherever you must. Where Block and Parry relied on furious confrontation, this skill was mastery over the terms of engagement. It was not about avoiding blows, nor about ensuring your own. It was about being the general of your own body. Of being the conductor of a tune that you and your opponents both danced to. Footwork. Kaius was starting to feel the strain of it now. A dull throb pulsing just a finger length behind his eyes. The intimate connection to the skills drained him. The act of splitting his attention, of absorbing the totality of a skills function before adding yet more to the load, slowly wearing away at his mental focus. His trio of already completed skills seemed to beat down on him. Sucking at his attention. Demanding that they too should be the object of his focus. He blocked them out, focusing on the task at hand. Their burden on the process would only grow as he added to their number. If he couldn''t push them out of his mind, he would fail. There was no way he was going to let that happen. He clenched his jaw, spinning a thread of gold from his soul towards Toughened Physique. The connection snapped into place. Skin thickening, like tough leather. Bones growing tough and dense like iron. Flesh hardening like wood. The rhythmic forging of bone and muscle under a thousand thousand repetitive blows. A body reborn under the fires of adversity, every wound more difficult to inflict than the last. The most basic tenant of a living body - adapting under pressure. Where Footwork was mastery of the external world and one''s place in it, Toughened Physique was the certainty that the only true cause of injury was lacking will and applied effort. Kaius gasped as he felt the weight of the fourth skill on his mind. His very soul vibrating under the strain of holding all four skills in hand, of finding the thread that linked them. He took a moment to just breathe, mopping at his brow. He exhaled. Slow and steady. Just three more. Chapter 30 : Adamant Body Kaius quaked where he sat, his skin growing increasingly clammy. The strain on his mind from holding four skills, from linking them with the light of his soul, was immense. It weighed heavily upon him. He had to fight to keep his awareness from drifting to the blaring light of his legacy skills. They beckoned to him, inviting him in to survey their potent depths. It was a trap. They wouldn''t synchronise, weren''t right for what he was trying to create. That didn''t stop them from calling him. With every skill he merged, the problem would grow worse. It didn''t matter that he would be merging fewer skills as he worked his way through the list. The collection of completed skills that orbited his centre would grow and grow, until the focus needed to merge his last would be almost too much to bear. That was a problem for his future. Now, he had a skill to finish. Straining, he stretched out his soul to the next skill. The thread of soul stuff quaked. Threatening to dissipate as its increasing length caused it to grow thin and unstable. The link snapped into place, conduit thickening with a flash of light and a thrum of power. Light Armour Mastery sang to him. Showing him sights of all it was capable of. Speed and agility. Dancing around blows that were too hard, too strong to resist. Everything stripped down. Honed to a point, unnecessary weight discarded. What could not be avoided only needed to be slowed to avoid death. Speed was defence, turning mortal wounds into glancing blows. Barely felt strikes that did little but mar boiled leather. A skill for those quick of blade and light of feet. Kaius tasted iron in his mouth. Just a couple more. Another tendril stretched from the conflagration at his centre. It was a wispy thing, liable to unspool at any moment. Straining towards the next skill, struggling against the growing demands of the shining trio that watched on in fury. Every finger-length was hard fought. A rumble grew in Kaius''s ears, his back aching against the illusory weight that pressed down on his brow. Snap. The tendril shot back into his soul, the force of the collision buffeting his centre. The fire flared, his remaining links to his skills shaking. Threatening to come apart at the seams. If he didn''t do something they would break. He would lose the merge and be hit by a backlash, unable to try again for weeks. Unacceptable. He bore down on his soul, pressuring it with the full weight of his mind. Something cracked. Pain was forgotten. His only thought was to stabilise the connections that he had forged in a tenuous balance. A stream of gaseous red flew free of the cloud of his health. Rushing past the boundaries of his centre to restore him. Slowly. Ever so slowly, the ripples eased. He could try again. This time he took his time. Reeling on the thread with excessive care. Accepting exhaustion as an easy price for his growth. The thread grew thinner and thinner. Barely spiders silk catching the light. It touched the skill. Power thrummed across the link, thickening it. Stabilising. Medium Armour Mastery felt similar to its predecessor, yet with marked differences. It acknowledged the necessity of agility. No armour was inviolable. There were always blows that anyone with sense sought to avoid. Yet to sacrifice protection on the altar of speed? Foolish. Defence was an art of balance. Wasting energy on avoiding a blow better dealt with with a thin layer of chain was as bad as layering on so much metal to leave one immobile. It was always about balance. Something was running from his eyes. Stinging them in his sockets. A thin stream of red fog still left his centre, revitalising his body. Unimportant. There was just one more. Kaius tore at his soul, gripping a flickering wire of amber with all of his mental might. It burned, searing his mind. He tugged it. Forced it outwards. Ignoring the yearning call of the trio of skills that ached for his attention. He could do this. The last one. The orb loomed, drawing close. Just a little bit more. It hovered there, a calm ball of hardened steel. Indomitable. The thread was thin now. Cutting him deep as he tried to unravel it further. Threatening to snap. He reached it. Light thrummed through his self spun web. Connections thicken, growing strong and stout. The pathway he had just forged whispered to him, implacable. It was a heavy thing. Steel and iron, layered thick. An impenetrable bulwark that stood fast, defending all with ease. It wasn''t a fast thing. It didn''t need to be. What use was avoiding a blow, when it stood no chance to harm. To be able to wade through an innumerable horde with full surety of safety was true defence. A carapace of steel. A true ward against death. Heavy Armour Mastery. The skills stabilised. Kaius slumped. Barely avoiding collapse at the sudden reduction of mental strain. His head rang like a bell, and he could still feel blood weeping from his eyes. He didn''t have the time to check himself over. Just one last step. He felt the resonation of his skills, the way they thrummed with unrealised potential. He stretched another stream of soul-fire, this time starting from Block. One by one, he connected his skills in a chain of power. Completing a loop. Each nexus that he linked caused a pulse of inner light to emit from the previous skills in the chain. Snapping the last link into place, Kaius felt his inner world sing. Inexorably, the skills slid together as they pulsed. They strained against their bonds, eager to join in a union. They represented safety. Control and surety in his own body. An inviolable testament in the face of would-be harm. **Ding! Skill Merge Detected! Would you like to proceed?** The skills touched. Scattering into ash and dust. Attractive force yanked the shreds of meaning left behind by the dissolution of his skills. Weaving the threads into a new form. Spinning them. Growing denser. A moment later it was done. **Ding! Skill Merged! Adamant Body obtained!** Kaius collapsed bonelessly to the floor, his chest heaving. He opened his eyes, finding himself having to blink rapidly through a stinging blur. He wiped at them, hands coming away red with blood. "Hells." He looked down, finding a fist sized stain on his tunic where the blood had fallen free. He grunted. Pushing himself to his heat, Kaius walked over to where his pack was stashed. He washed his face with a rag and a little water from his skin. Willpower: - 20 Stat Points: 0 Class Skills (0/10): N/a General Skills (4/10): Rapid Adaptation (Heroic) - 14 > 15 Warforged (Unique) - 19 > 20 Explorers Toolkit (Unusual) - 4 > 6 Adamant Body (Unique) - 0 > 1 Kaius smiled as he saw the change to his status. The simple pleasure of seeing Common and Uncommon skills subsumed by something far greater than the sum of its parts. Having so much of his recent skills be reliant on combat was hard. You had to risk mortal injury collecting barely helpful building blocks, before spending weeks training them to the cap. He would have far more freedom with collecting the skills needed for his next fusion. Though, for the next one he would need to find somewhere dark. Almost too dark to see by. Unfortunately, the dim flickering blue of the cavern was still far too bright. It might have been a half light, but you could still see with perfect clarity, albeit at a reduced distance. A sound scratched at the door, causing Kaius to jolt. Porkchop, done with his playing. Kaius hurried over to the door, undoing the latch. With his intelligence he sometimes forgot that his companion didn''t have thumbs. Whoops. As soon as it swung open, Porkchop shoved his head through, butting up against Kaius''s chest. "Done sulking yet?" "What?!" Kaius spluttered. "I wasn''t sulking!" "Yes you were." Porkchop said with amusement. "It''s okay. Sulking is completely normal when you lose to a better wrestler." Kaius stared at the meles with an open jaw, astounded at the audacity of the greater beast. The cheek of it! Though he accepted it for the olive branch it was. He wrapped his arms around Porkchop''s thick neck, grabbing him in a rough headlock and dragging him inside. "C''mere. I''ll show you the better wrestler." He said, ineffectively trying to shove his friend back. Porkchop chortled, hitting him with a light shoulder barge that nearly sent him flying over the edge of the thankfully dead hearth. "Told you. Better wrestler." Porkchop said with smug finality. Kaius sighed, accepting his defeat. Padding over, Porkchop nosed at his hand, encouraging Kaius to scratch his ears. "You ready to explore? I''m getting bored." Kaius grinned. Porkchop had a burning curiosity that matched his own. Despite his enthusiasm for their sparring, the greater beast had been growing restless. Unsatisfied with their only forays to the stream to gather water. "Yeah I am," Kaius responded. "After we check out the centre, I want to investigate some of the tunnels. Some of them looked like they might get dark enough for the first of my next skills." "Let''s go then!" Porkchop said, bounding out the door. Kaius chuckled, taking a moment to grab his pack and buckle his sword to his waist before following. Kaius pushed past a fern, feeling the way Explorers Toolkit adjusted his form. The undergrowth seemed to shift around him, plants subtly twisting to hide his form. Aiding his passage. The movement was subtle, almost undetectable. To an outside observer it would seem to be a thing of chance. He knew better. His skill had a soft touch, but it was constant. Padding along to his left, Porkchop was just as graceful as he moved through the trees. Not a single scrap of lichen crushed underfoot. At first it had surprised Kaius, after all he was as large as a bear and twice as mean. It made sense once he thought about it, his friend was a creature of the deep Sea. It was obvious he would be at home in the glade. "Stop." The message passed through their connection. "What?" Kaius called back, his voice low. "Smell them. Rot and death." Porkchop replied. When he''d first arrived in the glade he had been scared of the undead, now Kaius could only sense a dark anticipation through their link. It seemed like all their sparring hadn''t been good for only his skills. "Numbers?" he asked. "Not many. That way." Porkchop gestured up ahead with his nose. Kaius nodded. He crept forwards. Moving from tree to tree in eerie silence, lichen softening underfoot to muffle his steps. Always careful to use the cover to obscure his figure. He saw them. Another burnt out fire pit. Four this time. Three in chain and steel, another in strange dark robes. It would be his first battle alongside Porkchop. He couldn''t wait. Chapter 31 : Pushing Deeper Kaius poked his head out, watching the four undead carefully. Three were garbed in tabards and chain armour, half-helms capping their heads. On their chests was an emblem of a crow pecking at a corpse. They were almost identical to the two undead he had fought around a similar camp over a month ago. Swords in hand, they strutted around the camp in a mockery of discipline. Their remaining companion was different, standing eerily still as it hovered at the edge of the burnt out firepit that was at the centre of their camp, staring at the charcoal and ash. Garbed in a tatty black robe, it held a staff in its hand that was capped with the mouldering skull of a bird. A caster. He had no way to be sure, but the threat it represented if it was one was too great to ignore. They had no way of knowing its capabilities, beyond that as a common depths-born it would have no access to class skills. That didn''t stop it from channelling through raw manipulation or its staff if it was an implement. There was little he could do to defend against a mage. No way to block a bolt of necrotic energy, or parry a cloud of flesh melting acid. Their best bet was to take it out quickly. Turning to where Porkchop was hunkered down behind a large bush he jutted his chin at the robbed undead. Catching his eyes, he peeked out from around the bush to stare at the monster. "Mage?" Porkchop said silently across their link, one of the benefits of mental communication. Kaius shrugged back. "Mine. I''ve got magic resistance." His words were confident, unconcerned with the potential threat of the mage. Eyebrows raising, Kaius started at Porkchop in surprise. Magic resistance was a rare power, especially since it had to be a merged skill from what Porkchop had told him. He burned to look at his companions'' status, but it was the height of trust to share that with others. It would be rude to ask before it was offered. "Ready?" His friend asked. Nodding, Kaius slowly pulled his longsword free from his scabbard. "One." Porkchop tensed. Digging his claws into the ground. "Two." Kaius braced his foot against the tree. Ready to kick off. "Three!" Kaius sprinted out, raising his sword into an easy guard as he raced towards the closest of the foot soldiers. To his left, Porkchop roared. The sound echoed around the forest, leaving dead silence in its wake. His friend dug his claws in, launching himself towards the potential mage at a speed that Kaius found almost impossible to track. The undead turned to face the coming threat. Swords held high in their hands, the undead charged. Still standing by the fire, the robed one started to mouth a chant. A sickly green glow alighting the tip of its staff at its silent words. A mage after all. Kaius smashed into the first foot soldier, parrying its chop. Even at level one, Kaius could feel Adamant Body putting in the work. Giving him the power to finally contest the undead''s strength. To his left, his fluffy companion smashed into the undead who readied a spell, sending it to the ground. Hard. Its noxious magic discharged prematurely, showering Porkchop''s shoulder in a haze of riotous green, sizzling against his fur. Kaius looked to his friend in alarm even as he followed through with his parry, spinning into a riposte. His blade cut deep into the footsoldiers jaw. Not quite deep enough to kill. "Porkchop!" "I''m fine! Just kill the others!" he said with aggressive delight. Kaius turned his attention back to his opponent, already trying to gut him with a heavy slash. Behind it, its companions drew closer. Ripping his sword free, Kaius met the blow blade to blade. He locked the undead''s sword fast, grinning as he felt the lack of strain. A push kick shoved it back. Diving forward into a thrust, Kaius stabbed the foot soldier through the gap in its open faced helm. **Ding! level 16 Undead Armsman slain** He took the opportunity to check on Porkchop, who had sunk his teeth into the mages chest, whipping it through the air as he savaged it. The mage ineffectively battered him over the head with its staff. Failing spectacularly as Porkchop sent it sailing to hit a tree with a crunch. Kaius watched as his companion bound after the mage, intent on finishing the job. A swing of a sword ripped him back to his own engagement, the other two foot soldiers closing in on him. Catching the incoming blade with a blurring parry, a quick step back took him out of range. He slashed, cutting a line through the leftmost undead''s tabard. Revealing the chain underneath. It was enough to knock the undead back, giving him space. The rightmost footman lunged. Sword thrusting for his chest. Adamant Body or no, the skill was nowhere near high enough level for cloth and leather to protect from a sword thrust. It would be enough for active defence. He parried. Kaius nodded, stepping forwards onto the mossy flagstones to let his companion pass. Porkchop took point, leading them left down the trail they had found. Grumbling at the lacking light, Kaius scanned the area around them. Watching for threats. So far there had been nothing, but now that they were heading for a structure they were bound to run into obstacles. He hoped he could unlock Low Light Vision before then. There was only one problem. Putting in enough effort to get the System to offer you a skill without there being any threat or challenge was slow. That went double for skills that had no knowledge based requirements, and had no associated action. If he didn''t have Porkchop whose eyes could easily pierce the darkness, he would have turned back far earlier. If he didn''t get the skill soon, he was bound to get it in their first fight. The sheer pressure of having to fight while seeing so little would ensure it. Though, he was glad it wasn''t completely pitch black. He needed some light to get offered the right skill. "Kaius. Up ahead." His companion said, slowing down his pace. He snapped his attention to the front, peering through the murky shadow, trying to spot movement. "Enemies?" Kaius asked. "No," Porkchop said, flicking his ears. "The path, it splits." Kaius urged them onwards. After a short distance he saw what he meant. The section of path they had followed diverged. It shot off to the left and right, while their path forwards continued for a bare dozen strides before suddenly terminating in a tangled wall of vines and needle-like thorns the length of his finger. Explorer''s Toolkit started to tingle. Mouth pressing into a thin line, Kaius considered their options. He had suspicions. "Lets go right. It''s in the direction of the structure you saw." Porkchop grunted, setting off. Kaius followed close behind. Barely a minute later and they hit another split. "Right." A dead end. "Fuck." Kaius''s mind raced. He couldn''t be sure. Not yet. They back tracked, taking the other turn in the path. They hit more branching paths. "Direction?" Porkchop asked. Kaius shook his head. "Keep following this one." They hit another wall of the bramble. Explorer''s Toolkit was all but screaming to him. He was right. It was a maze. Kaius tapped Porkchop on the hip, gesturing for the meles to stop when he looked back. He shared the news, getting a low growl of frustration in response. "We could cut through? It''s only bushes." Porkchop said, staring at the thick hedges that lined the path. Kaius frowned, torn. His skill was far too active for this to be simple scenery. It was keeping him oriented, aware of the direction they were aiming for, even after constant turns. Yet it seemed like it was more than that. A constant low level warning. He should at least try. "Stay here." He walked a little down the path, making sure he stayed close enough that Porkchop was still in his vision. Turning to one of the bramble walls, he drew his sword back, slashing at the tangled thorns. His sword cut through the first branch. The hedge flailed. Thorn ridden vines unravelled, thrashing through the air like tentacles. Lashing in the direction of the biting steel. With a curse Kaius leapt back, eyes wide as he watched the living whips tear across where he had been standing. Some vines crept out, crawling along the path as they searched for the interlocutor. Kaius backed up, avoiding the questing limbs. After a few moments the writhing brambles slowed, retracting back into the hedge. Kaius stared at the spot, brow furrowed. "No way we are cutting through." He whispered. They were trapped in the maze. Chapter 32 : Labyrinth Kaius watched the brambles that lined the path of the maze with suspicion. Waiting to see if they would lash out in violence once again. He crept forward, getting closer to the spot where he had cut into the branches. Tense. Ready to leap back at the slightest sign of movement. Nothing, the bramble was as still as it had been the rest of their journey. Sighing in relief, Kaius looked back and found Porkchop staring at the patch of hedge with wide eyes. "Think we might have to stay on the path." Kaius said with grim resignation. "Agreed!" Porkchop replied, nerves evident across their connection. His friend pushed past him, taking the lead once more. They hit another crossroads. Kaius tapped his companion to signal a halt. He reached for Explorers Toolkit, seeing if the skill would give him any inclination of a direction to take. Despite spending minutes inspecting the various paths, it remained silent. No more than a low level hum that had been present since they had entered the maze. He had no doubt that given enough levels the skill would have done something, exploration and orientation was part of its domain after all. Yet whatever obstacle the Depths had created for him, it was far too large in scale for his skill to handle at its current level. They would have to do it the hard way. "We''ll follow the left wall. If we hit a dead end, just turn around and keep holding the left." Kaius spoke softly. "How will that help?" Porkchop asked, tilting his head at him in confusion. "It''ll take a while, but doing that will get us out. Even if we have to map the entire maze in the process." Kaius explained; Porkchop grumbled in response, unhappy with his answer. He kept left all the same, taking the next branching path. They continued, time blurring together in the strange monotony of the maze. The darkness grated on Kaius, every looming shadowy shape hiding a potential threat. Every minute his tension grew, a winding spring growing close to breaking point Suddenly Porkchop yelped, struggling against something in the darkness ahead. Kaius started, the noise shattering his dread like glass. "Porkchop!" He shot forwards, sword at the ready. Thorny vines lashed around his friend, twining themselves around his back as a section of the hedge loomed over him like a hungry beast. Kaius saw finger length barbs dig into his companions hide, staining his fur with blood. With every second, the plant wrapped itself tighter around Porkchop. He flailed, yanking back against the ensnaring grasp of the hedge. It only caused the thorns to work their way deeper. Kaius hacked at the plant. Despite their firm grip on his companion, the wood split easily under his blade. Slowly freeing the meles. "Back up! Get back down the path!" He called. The hedge didn''t take his interruption silently. More vines came spooling out of the tangle, lashing through the air to ward him off. They raked against him, cutting deep furrows through his chest. Porkchop roared, struggling against his confinement. Vines started to snap under the strain, his claws digging into the flagstones below. Doing his best to defend himself from the plant, Kaius continued to chop at the vines that held his friend stuck fast. Ignoring the searing lacerations he received in turn. With a heave, Porkchop finally broke free, spinning around to run back the way they had come. Kaius dove after him, pulling back from the flailing wooden tentacles that snapped through the air behind him. A look back showed the vines retreating back into the hedge, quickly vanishing to become indistinguishable from the rest of the maze. Porkchop slowed, before stopping with a moan. Quickly catching up, Kaius found him whining as he craned his head, trying to pull away broken vines that had been left behind. The thorns still embedded deep in his flesh. "Help?" he whimpered. "Yeah buddy, of course." Kaius said gently, sheathing his sword and hurrying forwards. It was grizzly work, but he quickly removed the rest of the vines, tossing them to the floor. Checking himself over, Kaius found his chest and arms covered in a layer of fine slashes, his reinforced jacket having prevented deeper wounds. Now that he had a moment to breathe, the cuts started to sting fiercely. They took a moment to recover, both standing tense. Watching the surrounding brambles with suspicion as they waited for their Health to seal their wounds. As the last of his cuts on his arms closed, Kaius pulled up his Resources to check the damage. Resources: Health - 247/300 (2/min) Stamina - 200/200 (2/min) Mana - 120/120 (2/min) "Not too bad." He thought to himself. Kaius looked over to find his companion licking his wounds, the flesh rippling as it sealed the last of the nasty punctures on its torso. "I''m down roughly fifty, are you okay or do we need to rest?" **Ding! Adamant Body has reached level 3!** Kaius yelled in pain, feeling the teeth grind against bone. He grabbed the monkey by the scruff of its neck, ripping it free. He tossed it to the ground before the others could capitalise on his injury. A follow up stomp smushed the monster''s rotting skull. **Ding! level 8 Dead Howler slain** Kaius took a single look at the level and knew what he was dealing with. Another swarm. Fantastic, just what they needed. Unphased by the death of their companion, the other howlers flung themselves into the fray once more. Lithe forms blended into the darkness, leaving Kaius struggling to track their positions. Only able to react once they had fully committed to an attack. Behind him, all Kaius could hear was vengeful growls and smashing limbs. He left Porkchop to it, trusting his friend to cover their rear. A leaping blur of scrambling limbs rushed him. Kaius cut. The howler was bisected, torso sliding free of its legs. It tried to keep crawling to him, teeth gnashing. He was forced to ignore the undead, its allies pressing the attack. His sword bit deep into another Howler, severing an arm. Another jumped close, swinging off his blade in a finger severing movement, launching itself at him in a fury. Kaius punched the approaching blur. The monkey dropped to the ground. Landing on its half severed companion. Kaius brought his sword down. It cleaved through the howler from crown to groin, cutting into the struggling torso below. **Ding! level 8 Dead Howler slain** **Ding! level 8 Dead Howler slain** Kaius''s eyes strained against the dark. If he could just see. **Ding! General Skill Available! Would you like to learn: Low Light Vision (Uncommon)?** "YES!" Kaius all but screamed at the system. The system acted. A pulse emanated from his centre, a new nexus of power joining the processional orbit around his soul. The darkness was pushed back, everything within a dozen long-strides of him being thrown into a strange monochromatic relief. His full faculties of sight returning- at least within the sphere of his skills influence- revealed the forms of four more of the swarming howlers. They lurked back near the edge of his vision, beyond where he could previously see. Kaius kept himself steady, trying not to give away that they had been exposed. Two of the undead beasts charged him. Alternating between short hops and long ambling swings on their too-long arms. Kaius paused. Turning his head back and forth like he was looking for them. They entered his range, throwing themselves airborne in an attempt to cling to him. A silver flash. He caught the first one through the ribs. Twirling his blade he stepped back out of range of the second monkey. Bringing his sword came back around in a heavy overhand chop. Shearing through the howler''s skull. **Ding! level 8 Dead Howler slain** Half crippled, the other howler dragged itself along the ground in an attempt to reach him. Its two remaining companions charged. Two quick cuts were all he needed. A final stab for the one on the ground. **Ding! level 8 Dead Howler slain** **Ding! level 8 Dead Howler slain** **Ding! level 8 Dead Howler slain** Whirling around, Kaius was treated to the sight of a massacre. The howlers had clearly identified Porkchop as the greater threat, easily fifteen crushed bodies littered the narrow strip of flagstones. Most were pulped, but a few still twitched, trying to claw themselves along the ground even if they were more mush than threat. Porkchop was still furiously engaged in battle. Two howlers had managed to latch themselves onto his back. Grimy fingers gripping his red and black fur as the undead sank rotting teeth deep into his friend''s flesh. Kaius cursed, running over to cut the final swarmlings off his friend with two deft flicks of his blade. **Ding! level 8 Dead Howler slain** **Ding! level 8 Dead Howler slain** Unrestrained by foes he couldn''t reach, Porkchop quickly finished off the rest of the swarm that still ineffectively swatted at him. Unable to get close enough to clamber up his back and out of reach. The pair walked through the carnage, finishing off the last twitching undead in grim silence. Finishing their black work, they stood there, chests heaving from the fading rush of battle. Kaius broke the silence. "Time for a break?" "Yes please." Chapter 33 : More Skills After dealing with the swarm of dead howlers, Kaius and Porkchop pushed further into the maze, more than happy to get away from the rotten blood and viscera they had left behind. They stopped, sitting down on the dark stone pathway to lick their wounds and rest. "You got the skill?" Porkchop asked. "Yeah," Kaius nodded, chewing on a piece of jerky. "I''m gonna check it out in a second. Next is Mental Visualisation, Then Appraise and Inspect. I should be able to pick those up quickly on the move. The rest will probably have to wait until we get some down time." "Go on then," Porkchop snorted. "Check it. Maybe then you''ll stop fidgeting." Kaius raised an eyebrow at his friend. He had not been fidgeting. "I just didn''t want to distract myself in case we got jumped by another swarm. My skill doesn''t reach far enough to see up there. Not yet at least." Chagrin flowed over his connection to Porkchop. "It was my mistake. A stupid one. I can see the canopy, just didn''t expect to get ambushed from there so I wasn''t paying attention. I''ll be more careful now." "Hey now," Kaius said, his eyes softening. "I didn''t expect it either." "Check," Porkchop replied, bumping him with his nose. "I''ll watch." Kaius nodded, pulling up his latest skill. Low Light Vision: Level 1 Uncommon Pierce the shadows with radiant clarity. Unlock the secrets cloaked in the warm embrace of darkness. Skill that enables perfect sight in low light levels. Ineffective against pitch-blackness and magical darkness. Each level slightly increases the range at which you can see in low light. A situationally useful skill, but one he had need of right now. It was often like that with new skills. The system seemed to use some arcane method of weighting practice, effort, and necessity. This skill wasn''t exactly one you could practise, so his sheer effort and need to pierce the gloom had aided him massively in its acquisition. Refined into something more potent, it would be a fantastic addition to his upcoming legacy skill.. The next component he needed to acquire was the first part of his plans for his class selection. With his ideas for runes, Mental Visualisation was going to be vital for holding their complex shapes firmly in his mind. Luckily, he had already been practising without the skill for years - much like he had with runes. Hastur had insisted. If this was the path he was going to go down, he was going to do it right. That meant having a firm grasp of the fundamentals before he acquired the needed skills and started experimenting with imprinting runic spell formations directly onto his flesh. Whenever his skill slots were full, Father had changed up their night time routines. With no risk of the system offering a skill prematurely, it was the perfect time. Alternating between lectures on runes, mental exercises, and practise in directing his mana throughout his body. With enough practice and effort, the need for necessity decreased. He figured if he tried to build a visual map of the maze in his mind as they explored, he would unlock the skill quickly. After that, the rest of the skills for his next merge would require him to start using his Mana actively. His father had made him spend hours practising moving the resource through his body. How to reach down into his centre to wrap the nebulous cloud of blue in a mental grip. It was similar to how he directed threads of soulfire during a skill merge. Except he had to direct the resource out of his centre, visualising the energy flowing through channels as he directed it through his body. His first few attempts had been slow. It was all he could do to stop it from dissipating the second it left the nexus of his control, with how difficult it was to hold the required image in mind. Now, he was competent. Not a master by any means, but he could direct mana through his body with a little effort. Appraise, and all that came after would require him to suffuse his eyes with the magical force. It would be the first time he had actively used it in skill acquisition. Tough, but also something he looked forward to. Finally starting his journey into magic. Even if he would only be dipping his toes in for now. Kaius bubbled with the anticipation of taking another step towards his class. Towards the power necessary to defeat the Guardian. It was something he could control. Could change with his own power. After getting separated from his father and being at the mercy of the fates, he finally felt like he was forging his own path. Though, thinking of his future, the notification he had received after eating the Natural Treasure still scratched at him. What did it mean to be Observed? Truly? Even when he escaped he would only be able to ask Father. If he was alive. Anyone else and he risked being branded as a mad man. Or worse, snatched up by someone too powerful to resist to be plumbed for what he knew. Even if he ignored the risk to his own safety, he didn''t want the news to get out. If people started shoving unclassed into the Depths in an attempt to find Natural Treasures... Hundreds would die, at best. No, better if he went to one of the larger cities and looked through their libraries on his own terms. Maybe Mystral? It was the home of the academies. If anyone had recorded anything concrete it would be there. Something to think about when he had escaped and found out Father''s fate. Although... His eyes flicked over to Porkchop. The meles were knowledgeable. Far more than he had expected for beasts. Their Matriarchs were something else. He might know something. On the other hand, he knew so little of what it meant. What if Porkchop thought it was something dangerous? Made him dangerous? He''d only known him for a few months. Maybe he should keep it to himself. At least, for now. Porkchop opened his eyes, noticing Kaius''s gaze. "Yes?" He pulled up the skill. Mental Visualisation: Level 1 Uncommon The mind makes the master. Skill that aids in holding complex mental images in the mind. Each level slightly improves memory, attention to detail, and complexity of mental visualisations. Reading the notification Kaius decided he may as well keep up his attempts at tracking their passage. It was an easy way for him to level the skill as they walked. Even if he was likely to cap the skill when he made the necessary runic formation for Sense Illusion, he wasn''t about to turn down some easy training. It wasn''t his way. Pondering his plan for his next skills, Kaius gestured to Porkchop that they should continue. The skills had to wait. Inspect would be easiest to acquire against a hostile depths-born, and until he had that he couldn''t move on to Appraise. He made a goal to acquire both before they left the centre of the glade. If they found a Champion like he suspected they would, the rewards they received would be perfect for working towards the second skill. They continued on, pace measured as they split the task of looking for more traps and swarms. ... **Ding! Mental Visualisation has reached level 2!** **Ding! Mental Visualisation has reached level 3!** ... The end of the maze was close, he could feel it. As they''d grown closer to the centre the bramble hedges had grown taller. Even standing on Porkchop''s shoulders he doubted he would be able to see over them. Still, Explorers Toolkit said they were near. He doubted there were more than a dozen lines of hedges between them and their goal. After walking for a couple of hours they had to be close. "Kaius..." Porkchop let out a low, warning rumble from behind him. "Another swarm." Turning back to his ally with a start, Kaius pulled his blade free of its sheath. Porkchop was growling up into the tree boroughs far above them. Outside the range of his Low Light Vision, the canopy was completely drenched in heavy shadow. Far too dark for him to make out the small figures of Dead Howlers. He just barely made out indistinct shapes dropping from the branches, falling to land on the path to their front. He readied his guard. They''d only been an issue last time because he couldn''t see. It was time for payback. He dashed forwards, Porkchop hot on his heels. A mass of the monkeys appeared at the edge of his bubble of sight, mangey skin and patchy fur making the undead beasts look closer to half drowned plague rats than anything else. He hit them like a wall of steel, sword flashing in wide arcs that severed limbs. Warforged and his enchanted blade were putting in work, the rotting flesh of the monsters barely slowing his vicious meatgrinder of an assault. **Ding! level 7 Dead Howler slain** **Ding! level 7 Dead Howler slain** **Ding! level 7 Dead Howler slain** Porkchop waded into the fray. heavy swatting strikes smashed multiple swarmlings flat with every blow. A few of the Howlers clambered onto the meles back, capitalising on its lack of reach to rip at fur and sink their teeth in deep. Kaius cut them down moments later. **Ding! level 7 Dead Howler slain** **Ding! level 7 Dead Howler slain** Before he could even work up the heat of the Bloodsong, the confrontation was done. Mashed and bisected Howlers still twitched, dragging themselves forward with undead perseverance. Porkchop still rumbled with fury, walking up to them one by one, crushing their skulls with a single well placed claw. One howler, severed from clavicle to opposing hip, was little more than a head and an arm. A shattered rib cage weighed it down, putrescent organs spilling behind it in a sickening trail. Porkchop moved to end it. "Wait. I need this one." Chapter 34 : Inspect Kaius stared at the dead howler that was pulling itself along the ground towards him. It gnashed its teeth, jaw clacking with each snap. A wretched thing, just a single arm, half a ribcage, and a head. No Health burned in an attempt to seal its injuries. Undead didn''t have any. They also didn''t need it. They just kept going until you destroyed whatever was the locus of their animating magics. In most cases, the head. It reached out with its arm, clawing itself just a little bit closer. Kaius cut it off. The howler switched to digging its fangs into the stone path, trying to haul itself forwards on the strength of its neck alone. It wasn''t getting anywhere fast. "Feels a little distasteful." Porkchop said, scrunching his nose at the creature. "Yeah, but it works." He replied. While he might not be the kind of person to take joy in leaving and enemy crippled, it was far safer than attempting to get Inspect in active combat. Besides, it was an undead depths-born, he doubted it felt anything. Kaius took a couple of steps back, locking his eyes on the writhing form of the howler. Taking in its details. The way clumpy blood dripped free of desiccated veins. Its greasy grey fur. Everything. He reached for his mana. The hazy energy was slippery, resistant to his manipulations. He clamped down on it with a will of iron, teasing out a thread. Compared to weaving soulfire during a skill merge, this was easy. Mana trickled free, spooling into his body. As it left his centre it tried to disperse, to vanish into his surrounding tissues and dissipate slowly to join the ambient power in the air around him. He refused. Guiding the mana to his eyes, he slackened his grip on the power that entered the organ. Letting it suffuse the orb, but no further. His eyes started to weep. The build up of magical charge stinging delicate flesh. Vision blurring, he gazed deep into the howlers form. Dissecting it. Analysing. A headache started to form, the mental toll of holding the volatile energy in stasis taking its due. This was nothing. He would have to endure far far more once he started working true magic. **Ding! Intelligence has reached level 13!* Refusing to let the distraction break his focus, Kaius funnelled more mana into his eyes. Saturating his vision. His control was a little finer, a little more deft, than it had been just moments before. He felt his grip pushed back, his eyes refusing to absorb more of the mystic energy. They were saturated. With a sigh of relief he dropped his hold on the thread of Mana that left his centre, the thin stream quickly dissipating. The power in his eyes he held steady. Seconds ticked over into minutes, Kaius observing the writing form of the Darkhowler. Something flickered in his vision. **Ding! General Skill Available! Would you like to learn: Inspect (Rare)?** "Yes." He thought, slumping as he released his grip on the infused mana in his eyes. He rubbed them, the organs irritated from an infusion of the raw power. Dark Howler - Level 7: Depths-born, Undead Beast, Swarmling "Kill it." He grumbled, trying to blink away the blurring tears that sprung from his eyes. He heard a grunt, then a squish. "Gross." Kaius opened his eyes to see Porkchop trying to scrape foul smelling mush from his paws. "Gross indeed, let''s get out of here," he suggested, suppressing a gag. He thought he''d had a strong stomach, but rotting corpses was a bit much, even for him. The pair set off. Kaius still thought they were getting close to the end of the maze, Explorer''s Toolkit had started to nudge at him something fierce. While they walked, Kaius pulled up the description of his latest skill, not wanting to take the moment of relative calm for granted. He doubted it would last any further than the exit. There was no way the Depths would put a nice little picnic spot at the centre of somewhere so blatantly ominous. Inspect: Level 1 Rare Gravebound Sentinel - Level ?: ???, ???, ??? Gravebound Sentinel - Level ?: ???, ???, ??? He caught the first undead unawares, the force of his charge enough for his enhanced blade to punch clean through its armour, taking it through the ribs. His sword slid deeper into rotten flesh. Kaius hit the side of the sentinel hard, knocking him back even as it went stumbling. Porkchop took advantage of the distraction. Batting the other undead''s blade away, he launched forwards to crush it downwards with a heavy overhand blow. With his own opponent reeling, Kaius was able to make short work of it. Slipping inside its hurried guard to plant his sword in its face. **Ding! level 18 Gravebound Sentinel slain** **Ding! Low Light Vision has reached level 5!** His vision extended a few more paces into the dark, revealing nothing more than graves and the odd squat stone mausoleum. Try as he might, he still couldn''t see anything other than vague shapes beyond the inky border of his skill. Not far enough for him to see their destination. "How much farther." Kaius said, ripping his sword free of the slain undead with a grunt. "Not much more. Few more undead between us." Kaius grunted. Supposedly the centre of the graves was dominated by a large stone tomb, if they were going to find a Champion, it would be there. "Do we clear out the graves first? They haven''t been too difficult with both of us working together." So far the darkness had been working in their favour. The lack of light hampered the undead''s already questionable senses. Porkchop had been guiding them into picking them off in small groups, never quite too much for them to handle. "It wouldn''t take us too long," Porkchop assented. "And it would stop them clawing our backs like weasels." Kaius nodded. He had thought the same thing. He assumed there was a Champion waiting for them in the centre. If it somehow pulled the depths-born in from the graves and they were surrounded, it would be the end of them. ... The pair prowled through the darkened headstones, mowing their way through isolated groups of undead. He knew that alone and without Low Light Vision, even a single one of the sentinels would have pushed him to the brink, let alone the groups of two to four they wandered in. Yet with his skill and Porkchop by his side they disrupted their formations before they could raise an effective defence, surprise and initiative on their sides. As they fought, Kaius''s skills slowly improved. Low Light Vision progressively expanded as he continually fought in darkness, lithe footwork and glancing light wounds worked to stress Adamant Body, continual usage grew Inspect, and a constant search for openings pushed Explorers Toolkit. **Ding! Low Light Vision has reached level 6!** **Ding! Low Light Vision has reached level 7!** **Ding! Adamant Body has reached level 4!** **Ding! Explorer''s Toolkit has reached level 8!** **Ding! Inspect has reached level 3!** ... **Ding! Inspect has reached level 5!** ... They arrived at the tomb. Dark stone filled with dense inscription shot upwards into the shadows above him, vanishing like a spectre. The engravings were black things. Scenes of slaughter and sacrifice, of cruel effigies made for uncaring gods. A yawning gate opened in the face of the tomb, unlit stairs leading the way deeper into its gullet. Stakes were driven into the ground leading up to the entrance, impaled skeletons wearing shattered armour adorning the cruel spikes. A fatal procession. A warning. Evil air drifted out from the tomb, causing Explorer''s Toolkit to flare. Whatever lay in its foul depths would not be cowed easily. Kaius snorted at the grisly sight. Any fear he might have felt at the defiled bodies and ill omens was muted by the fact that he knew they were a creation of the Depths. The Champion would be dangerous. The others had been too. Even if it nearly killed him, he would use the monster as fuel for his ascension. "Come," Kaius slapped Porkchop on the shoulder "Let us show them our mettle." Chapter 35 : Tomblord Kaius descended the wide blocky stairs that lead deeper into the mausoleum that had laid at the centre of the glade. Each step was just a little too tall, a little too wide, to walk down comfortably. Their faces were carved in deep reliefs. Yet more scenes of death and slaughter like those that were engraved on the exterior wall. Kaius itched to race down the stairs. The rewards that each Champion protected were another potential edge he would have in his inevitable confrontation with the Guardian. Plus, they pushed him. His fights with the bear and the Butcher had been some of the best he had ever had. Both in terms of skill growth, and in how it made his heart race. He could already feel his blood heating up at the thought of what lay at the bottom of this macabre descent into the earth. Porkchop padded alongside him, huffing as he eyed the endless rows of coffins recessed into the walls. Stacking high up to the ceiling. "This feels wrong." The words coloured with discomfort as they flowed across his connection with his friend. "Yeah." Kaius kept walking down the stairs, trying to make out what he could beyond the limited range of his Low Light Vision. "I don''t like it either. Whole place gives me the creeps." "No." Porkchop shook his head, having started to pick up on Kaius''s body language. "Not the building. The bodies. Shouldn''t be kept from the earth." "Oh?" Kaius looked over to Porkchop. "We mostly do that, only the rich are buried in something like this. You do know those stones outside had bodies buried under them, right?" Or at least they would if the Depths had put them there. He didn''t know how deep the recreation of environments went. Porkchop''s ears flicked back, stopping dead on the stairs. "Outside was a field of the dead?!" Porkchop asked, mortification spilling across their link. Kaius couldn''t help but snort at Porkchop''s surprise. It broke his tension, distracting him from his rising anticipation. He could tell from their link that Porkchop was more creeped out than offended. "Why didn''t you tell me!" Porkchop yelled, embarrassed as he ran after him. "I thought it was obvious! There were bloody walking corpses everywhere!" Kaius said back with a disbelieving shake of his head. He honestly forgot that Porkchop was a greater beast sometimes. That he didn''t have the cultural knowledge he often took for granted. "Wait. If those stones are where bodies are, then what about where we were wrestling? At the church?" Porkchop eyed him accusatory. "I thought you knew!" Kaius threw his hands up in defeat. "Come on. It''s not my fault this biome is creepy. We have a Champion to fight." Kaius picked up his pace. Porkchop grunted. "It''s still wrong!" he said, following after Kaius. ... They reached the bottom of the stairs. A massive iron door barred their passage further into the catacombs. On its front face, a raised engraving of a man being sacrificed on an altar. A cloaked figure loomed over the man, a withered hand plunging deep into his chest. Stopping in front of the door, Kaius inspected the engraving before slipping down to take in the heavy bar that held the door shut. "Alright," Kaius turned to Porkchop. "We need a plan. I''m confident that whatever we find in there we''ll be able to handle, but strolling in like we''re going to the spring fair is just stupid." He wanted to just throw open the door and hurl a challenge at the beast that no doubt waited within. But, Bloodsong or no, he wasn''t going to be reckless. "I''m thinking that I should put the pressure on whatever is in there, try to hold its attention." Kaius explained. "I''m a bit more mobile than you, and with a sword I can actually parry and block without getting cut up." "I''ll try to flank?" Porkchop asked enthusiastically, clearly getting excited for the battle ahead. He gave Porkchop one sharp nod. "What of your Crystal Manipulation? You''ve mentioned you have it, but I haven''t seen you use it?" "Maybe." Porkchop tilted his head. "Raw manipulation is slow, especially at a low level and without other skills to support it. Claws are usually better. If you distract them well enough it might work if a physical assault wont work." Kaius nodded again, chest expanding as he took a slow breath to ready himself for what was to come. Even if he did find clashing blades invigorating, nobody could completely get rid of all of their pre-battle jitters. It was a little...loose to be truly considered a plan, but at the very least it gave them clearly defined roles. Without knowing what they would face, it wasn''t as if they could strategize in depth. With a grunt, Kaius hauled the lockbar off the door, tossing it to the side to clatter to the ground. He dug in, yanking on the heavy iron gate that slowly creaked open. The open portal revealed a room too far for his Low Light Vision to pierce completely. Kaius stepped through, Porkchop close behind. Embedded sconces on the wall flashed to light, highlighting the room in a soft orange light. Skill or no, after so long in the dark the illumination was blinding. Kaius threw his hands up, shading his eyes. He heard Porkchop growling in frustration next to him. He must have been similarly affected. Eyes adjusting quickly, Kaius returned his hand back to his blade and took his first good look at the room. Wide and high ceilinged, it was easily large enough that it must have stretched under a good chunk of the graveyard above. A raised plinth dominated its centre, a large golden sarcophagus glimmered in the firelight on its top. Otherwise, the space was completely empty. It was where the Champion would be, it had to. "Let''s go." Kaius gestured to Porkchop, directing him to circle around. They spread out, slowly approaching the grave. As he drew near, Kaius could make out that the sarcophagus was clearly fashioned after the creature that had been set into the doors to the chamber. A heavy grind sound started to emanate from the coffin. "Shit." Kaius started to run. The lid of the sarcophagus slid open, defying gravity as it inched its way out over open air. A figure rose out of its confines. Flat as a board, the black garbed undead floated straight up. Kaius kept running, flicking off an Inspect. Tomblord Xerx - Level ?: Kaius grit his teeth against the violation of feeling his skin morph against his will. Rapid Adaptation reduced some of its influence, but it was nowhere near able to negate it entirely. He cut. Enchanted steel cut cleanly through the flowing tail of the Champion''s robe, but only managed to scrape the edge of its hip. Xerx stopped fast, spinning in place to rush towards him again. The energy spear flashed through the air. Kaius ducked under the blow, spinning to keep his eyes on his opponent. Past the floating form of the mage, he could see the cloud of shining dust above Porkchop had grown. Three times bigger than the meles himself, the glistening fog swirled above him. A moment later the particles stopped, hanging mid air. They started to drift inwards. Condensing. Nucleating. "Just a bit more!" His friend''s tone was strained. Kaius grit his teeth, committing himself to his path. He jumped inwards, assaulting the Tomblord with a slash. Dancing away through the air, Xerx retaliate by sending its energy spear streaking towards him. Trails of light tracing its path. Kaius blanched. He threw himself back, trying to avoid the spell. It hit the ground in front of him and detonated. Mutagenic energy erupted from the impact point, washing over his front. Kaius screamed. Foul sorcery clawed at him, sinking its teeth in to shift and change the outer layers of his flesh against his will. Boils erupted with fervour, popping to morph into sores. Only for another growth to occur a moment later. He snapped his jaw shut, feeling his teeth crack as he forced himself to open his eyes. Rapid Adaptation flooded his system, fighting the corruption even as it cordoned off his agony. And his fear. The first resistances, the first skills, he had ever gained. Pain wouldn''t stop him. Neither would the Tomblord. The damage from the spell was minor. The way it tore at him was excruciating, but only skin deep. His Health was already burning to fix the damage. He could still fight. **Ding! Rapid Adaption has reached level 17!** He locked his gaze on Xerx and felt hate. The mage hovered there, staring at him a few paces away, staring contemptuously. He dashed in. Sword flashing over and over. The undead glided around the strikes. Retaliating with casual swipes of his claw-like nails, gossamer threads of green trails behind. Forcing him into a frantic waltz of sword and sorcery. **Ding! Adamant Body has reached level 5!** Risking a glance towards his friend, Kaius looked past the Champion to see if Porkchop was ready. It was far past the point where they should put this corpse back where it belonged. Porkchop locked eyes with him, expression focused. Over his head a shard of clear crystal the size of Kaius''s leg span. Faster and faster. So quick it''s jagged edges seemed to melt together. "Ready!" Kaius pushed the Tomblord, unable to pin it down with his blade. Suddenly it darted back, surging across the room to create distance. For the fourth time it stopped fast, unmoving. Another pool of green began to spark in its palm. It was channelling. It couldn''t move while it was channelling! "Now, Porkchop!" Kaius was already sprinting for the undead, blade held at the ready. Porkchop roared in victory. There was a crack. A glistening blur shot across the room. Shards erupted from the far stone wall, crystal and masonry both. The Tomblord dropped, the lower half of its body falling in a different direction from its torso. Organs hit the ground with a splash. Kaius arrived. Tomblord Xerx lost their head. **Ding! You have slain a Champion: Tomblord Xerx - level 23 Vile Corruptor! ** Kaius threw his head back and let out a yell of victorious agony. Declaring himself the victor as Porkchops of deafening roar joining his own. Panting as the thrill of the fight slowly left him, Kaius winced as he felt his skin roiling as his Health restored the damage he had taken from the casters spell. Rapid thumps against stone slammed into the ground behind him. Kaius quickly sheathed his blade and turned, yelping in surprise as Porkchop bowled him over in a rush of furry enthusiasm. "Kaius! You okay?!" Porkchop licked at his face. "Yep!" Kaius scrunched his face, trying to push Porkchop''s bulk off him. "Stop that! We have loot to grab!" Porkchop hopped off him, backing up with a cocked head. "Loot?" "Yeah, loot." He said with a grin, hauling himself up. He stalked over to the centre of the room, eyeing the golden sarcophagus that lay open with undisguised avariciousness. "Let''s go see what we got." Chapter 36 : Loot, and Other Surprises Kaius stared at the sarcophagus. Its sculpted golden lid still hovered next to its open interior, displaying a robed figure identical to the Tomblord he had just slain with Porkchop. After his battle with the Champion he expected his just rewards. Considering the rest of the room was stark and empty, that left only one spot. He set off towards the grave, his friend padded alongside him, curious about what Kaius was so excited for. "What is loot?" Porkchop asked. "I''m not actually sure if it''s something you''d be interested in." Kaius scratched his head. "It''s like... gear. Clothes, weapons, tonics, and useful items. Though I''m not really sure how it works. For all I know the depths might spawn something for you." Porkchop huffed at Kaius''s explanation. "Bah. Tools. Two-legged things. Let me know if there is something to eat." Kaius grinned at the response, entirely unsurprised his friend was uninterested in things of that nature. He, on the other hand, could barely stop himself from skipping over. As soon as they reached the plinth that the sarcophagus sat on, Kaius enlisted Porkchop''s help in clambering up. Peering into the cavity within, Kaius''s mouth split into a wide grin. Its internals were lined with a silvery metal covered in a dense runic script - one he had not encountered before. That surprised him, considering the extensive tutoring his father had given him on the subject. It wasn''t the runes that drew his attention though. There, at the base of the grave, lay a small mound of items covered by a silvery sprawl of scaled metal. He''d struck gold. Not only did the grave hold his treasure, but it had far more of it than he had seen from the other two Champions he had battled. Though, he suspected in raw value it still didn''t hold a candle to the Natural Treasure the Sunborn Cave Bear had guarded. Reaching into the space, Kaius grabbed hold of the armour and pulled it up to hold out in both hands. The scales cascaded over each other with a series of rustling clinks. In the light, he could see that the gleaming silver of the armour was tinged by a subtle pearlescence. A set of scalemail. Long enough to reach his thigh , well tailored with larger overlapping plates covering his vitals, and with a reinforced gorget and pauldrons. It even had sleeves that cut off just below the elbow, rather than the cheaper variants that left the arms exposed. Every single one of its scales was etched with fine runes along the edges, a single large anchor rune at the centre. He felt the weight of it in his arms. Sturdy, but not so heavy it would weigh him down once distributed over his body. It was a fine addition to his arsenal, a perfect blend of defence and manoeuvrability. He''d always preferred the measured approach of medium armour. Grinning in satisfaction, he tossed it down to Porkchop. "See! Loot!" "Not like I can use it!" Porkchop grumbled. Kaius laughed, turning back to the interior of the sarcophagus. In his focus on his new set of armour, he had entirely missed what had been lying underneath. His joy only grew, the scalemail had been hiding plenty more. Two tonics sat on the silvery floor, liquid a roiling angry red that seemed to be at a constant boil. He''d gotten lucky. They were in bottles the exact same shape to his Solar Revitalisation tonics that sat in his potion pouch. Beside the tonics, a small handful of silver coins lay scattered around a strange spiky fruit. A pale green, it wasn''t actually covered in thorns, but the rind itself seemed to contort into devilish peaks. Kaius eyed the fruit with a cocked brow. He couldn''t smell any magic, so it wasn''t a reagent. He picked it up, holding it to get a closer look. Even as he turned it round in his hands, he got the sense from Explorer''s Toolkit that it was just a...fruit? Hearing a squeal from behind him, Kaius turned around to find Porkchop staring at him with an open mouth, drool streaming from his mouth. Landing precariously close to his brand new scale. "Woah buddy." Kaius waved at Porkchop to back up. "Away from the shiny armour please. I assume you know what this is?" He held the fruit up. "Kacha fruit! Very, very rare. Very, very tasty!" Porkchop replied, visibly salivating as he fixated on the fruit. "Alright," Kaius laughed. "Enjoy." He tossed his friend his share of the spoils, smiling as Porkchop leapt up to snatch it out of the air. A second later it was gone. "What? Not going to savour it?" Kaius teased. Porkchop simply moaned in bliss and rolled onto his back. With a shake of his head Kaius turned back to the rest of his spoils. Unbuckling his potion pouch, he slid his newest tonics home, adding the coins to the rearmost slot to join the rest. Another ten depths-silver to his name. Kaius hopped off the plinth, grunting as he bent his knees slightly to soften the shock of the chest height drop. Sitting down next to his new armour, he turned his head to Porkchop. **Ding! Appraise has reached level 2!** Kaius smiled. The notification held no new information for him, yet it was nice to see it confirmed that his father had seen it worthy to gift him a Common set of clothes. For all the description had mentioned fine silks, the cost of this set would have been far more than even a richly dyed and tailored formal suit, especially with the tricky Self Repair enchantment. His sword was next. Kaius had an inkling it was most likely common as well. The blade''s enchantments might have been minor, but there were several of them. Plus, with the materials and quality that it had been forged with, it was surely enough to push the weapon to the border of Uncommon. Using Appraise on his most prized possession, Kaius pulled up the status page of his sword. A Fathers Gift: Common - Tier I Forged in the dying days of Unterstern. Quenched in the fading light of prosperity. The final work of a master. Birthright of the last Scion. A two-handed longsword, forged from meteoric iron, orichalcum, and deep essence, this sword hides a sliver of morphic Craexia crystal in its hilt. If the right conditions are met, this shard of potential may bloom. The complex network of a binding ritual is hidden under its hilt wrap. Artisan-wrought Artefact Growth Item Bindable Longsword Honed I, Self Repair I, Durability I, Bloodline Veil V Kaius''s mouth fell open in shock, disbelieving of the simple facts in front of his eyes. His gaze tore away from the screen, falling back to the hilt of his sword. Pulling it free of his sheath, he laid it flat across his lap. Eyes tracing the ripples of darkened metal that wove their way through the blade''s edge, dancing in the soft light of the ensconced walls. A growth item. It was... hard to believe. There was no way his father had this forged on their trip to Deadacre. His clothes, sure. But not this sword. Father had been cagey about what they were there for, and he never actually received his gifts until they were well and truly back in the forest. At the time he had just thought that it was because his father had wanted the presents to be a surprise. He''d failed on that front, there was no way they would ever take a trip to an actual city unless something major was happening. Yet, he''d never seen where Father had gone off to whenever he was left alone to explore the markets and eateries with a pouch full of copper. No, a Growth item was a treasure, one that no smith in bloody Deadacre would have a hundredth of the skill or resources to forge. The description... It made it sound as if Father had forged it himself. But that was impossible, wasn''t it? His father had always implied he was an inscriptionist? Though, with his injuries preventing him from using his class skills, he''d never actually seen Father''s chosen profession. He well could have been a runesmith, it wouldn''t be close to the first thing he''d held to his chest. Father must have forged it when he was only a babe. Before he was crippled. Before whatever fate that had sundered the Unterstern dynasty had forced him to flee. But for him to be strong enough, skilled enough, to forge a Growth item? They were as rare as dragon teeth! Kaius had only heard of them as rare drops from deep within the Depths, with only a prized few being Artisan-Wrought. Magnum Opuses one and all, the culmination of a body of work for once in a century crafters. For Father to be among their number, he would have had to be far stronger than he had let on. At least late in the second tier, if not the third. Far stronger than Kaius had ever seen evidence of. He''d always assumed that Hastur had been roughly at the hundredth level , not triple, or quadruple that. Whatever affliction that had disabled him so thoroughly must have been potent indeed. He remembered the strange frustrated expressions that slipped out on the few occasions he had ever seen Father truly move. No, he doubted that whatever curse had been laid on him hadn''t solely affected his class. Father must have been hamstrung, cut off from the full effect of his stats. To be reduced so thoroughly must have eaten at him. Gratitude washed over Kaius. The sacrifices his father must have made in order ensure their safety would have been immense. Who gives a bloody growth item as a birth gift to their son? They were truly superlative items. Capable of being bound to a person''s status. The more they were used, the more resources, magic, and materials were funnelled into them, the better they got. It meant never having to replace the gear. Hastur had always told him, as one grew stronger and stronger, finding weapons that wouldn''t shatter at the first blow became almost impossible. Suitable drops were rare and dangerous to pursue, and powerful enough smiths had wait lists decades long. Let alone the cost. Such artisans were practically celebrities. Hell, even living in the Sea and only visiting isolated frontier villages a few times a year he had still heard of some. Yuriel the Black. Ironhand of Mount Dyrn. Kaius''s focus returned to the description of his sword, chewing on his lip. How could Father be amongst their number? If Father had been a grandmaster runesmith, why had he not heard the name of Unterstern whispered anywhere? To have such an artisan assaulted, his dynasty vanquished? There would have been an uproar. It would have been the subject of talk and speculation for decades. Yet, Kaius had not heard a peep. Too many questions. Not enough answers. Chapter 37 : Bound His hands ran over the blade. A Father''s Gift. A fitting name. A weapon that would be with him always, matching his pace step by step. A strangling wave of emotion surged up through him. Excitement. Gratitude. Grief. His throat quivered, eyelids scrunching shut as they threatened to spill over. "Kaius?" He heard Porkchop move. A second later a heavy weight settled on his shoulder. "You okay?" He turned, burying his face deep into the dense fluff of his friend''s neck. Letting his riot of emotions wash through him. "Yeah. The sword my father gifted to me just had a little bit more history to it than I thought." "It''s okay," Porkchop said, comforting him with a nuzzle. Kaius took a deep breath, swallowing down the hitch in his throat. It was a princely gift, one he did not intend to let go to waist. He leaned back to his sword. "Thank you." He scratched behind Porkchop''s ear, taking a breath. "I''ve got to bind this thing. It''s frankly idiotic that Father didn''t tell me earlier, walking around with this without that security was monumentally stupid. Even with Bloodline Veil." It was an interesting enchantment. One that blocked appraisal of an item unless the person in question was of an intended familial line. Normally, it required a sample of blood from the one an artefact was being made for. In this case, his father simply could have used his own. Binding the sword was imperative, he had to do it now. It would link it to his status, letting him know its location on an instinctual level. The connection to his soul would also bolster the enchantments. Not enough to raise them a grade, but each would be more effective. Hopefully enough to prevent the sword''s enchantments from ever being used against him. All else who picked up the sword would find it fighting against their every move, a poor weapon indeed. That protection only lasted until death. Without the powerful Appraise block that it held, he would never be able to carry it in public. Without powerful backers and or a clan at his back, any two bit crook would take a shot at him in an attempt to claim the reward of a lifetime. Binding it would also give him insight into the conditions needed to reach the next stage in its development. He reached for the tightly woven hilt of A Father''s Gift. As if reading his intentions, the small knots in the black supple leather at the hilts base came undone with ease. Falling away to reveal a glossy lacquered wooden hilt, deep nurls of swirling wood grain shining pleasingly in the light. The wooden hilt was inlaid in gold, the yellow lines wrapping and spiralling into one of the densest runic formations he had ever seen. He recognised the script. Vhaxanish. One of the handful of candidates for his experiments with body formations and imbuement. Complex, overly lengthy, and with an outright contradictory syntax filled with counter arguments and superseding clauses, it was a nightmare to use correctly. It was also amazing for complex, highly variable effects. Like a soulbinding formation. Or, to link binding sigils to runic hymns that used two different scripts. The binding keystone of the formation was a dense knot of twisting and interwoven lines of runes. To interface the blade and bind it to his soul he would need to direct his mana there. The process was relatively simple, but not easy. Much like how he had suffused his eyes with Mana in order to develop Appraise and Inspect, Kaius would need to spin a thread of mana from his centre. There were two complications, both of which would make it far more difficult than his earlier - easier - application of internal resource control. First, he would have to make the Mana cross the external barrier of his body to brush up directly against the sigil. Much like the barrier between his soul space and physical space, the jump up in control required was significant. If he had Mana Manipulation it would be much more straightforward. Alas, he did not, and waiting until he did would serve him no benefit. The other main difficulty would be in spinning out a thread of soulfire to infuse his Mana pool. Afterall, the sword needed to bind itself to his soul, not to his Mana. The resource would simply be acting as a conduit. Normally, there was no benefit to soul infusion. You only risked opening an easy path to your most vulnerable centre for no appreciable benefit. In this case, that easy path was exactly his goal. Kaius took a deep breath. His hand closed around the hilt of his sword, feeling the cool touch of the runic gold inlay standing out from the surrounding glossy wood. He closed his eyes, falling into his visualisation of his centre. Now that he had Mental Visualisation everything seemed sharper. Less aethereal. More concrete. He reached for his soul, fire writhing out with the lightest touch. It was easier. He hadn''t expected that. An unintended but very welcome side effect of his most recent skill. Pulling on the thread, Kaius encouraged it to connect to the nebulous blue cloud of his mana. It didn''t quite snap into place like it had with his skill. He had to focus to keep it flowing there, drifting in the blue gas like some wind caught streamer. He encouraged his soul to flare, a great outpouring of his very essence flowing through his conduit to colour the blue with a radiant ghostly tinge. Sweat dripped from his brow. Even with the assistance of Mental Visualisation it was far harder than he expected, the exertion of directly expending some of his soul weighing heavily on every aspect of his being. His head throbbed. Bones ached. Muscles wilted. He''d have to move quickly. He wasn''t quite sure if this was healthy. **Ding! Mental Visualisation has reached level 4!** His father hadn''t told him of any risks surrounding this niche skill, but he doubted the man had ever seen it used by someone so early. Every other use he knew of for soul infusion, hell even binding an artefact, was almost entirely the purview of the high levelled. Binding. Class evolution. Grand rituals. He knew there were more, but those were the only ones Father had deigned to teach him of. The only ones he was likely to make use of himself. Levelling strengthened the soul. Without that reinforcement, he might injure himself. Certainly he had never been told of it feeling like his very essence was being depleted. He had to hurry. Hearing a deep rumble from somewhere behind him, Kaius ignored the distraction and pushed on. Reaching for the mana next, he quickly yanked a thread past the outer barrier of his soul space. He traced it through his body, running parallel to nerves and vessels. **Ding! Mental Visualisation has reached level 5!** He felt so heavy. Kaius wasn''t sure if he had the mental focus to keep control of his mana outside of his body. A different tactic was required. Force. The resource flooded his hands. Grunting in strain he locked down his skin, forcing his Mana to flood the area. Saturating it like he had done to his eyes. Once full, he was forced to bear down on the barrier he had created, mana attempting to push its way free. He didn''t let it. The pressure built. Tingling grew in his hand, quickly rising to feel like stabbing needles in his skin. He bit down on his lip. Tasting iron. Just a bit more. He only needed a bit more. Health left his soul, rushing to heal his hand as tiny droplets of blood welled up from his pours. The mana was too much. Breaking down his flesh. His skin started to split, drenching the handle of his blade in a slick crimson wash. Kaius gave a slight smile at Porkchops concern. "Alright, though I have a few more things that I need to Appraise before we leave." "Right after you nearly cracked your soul?" Porkchop asked, flabbergasted. "That was just for the sword." he said with a shake of his head. "I won''t need to do that again for a long time." Porkchop watched him with suspicion, but settled down to wait. Kaius switched his attention to his potion pouch, Appraising the boxy bag. **Ding! Appraise has reached level 6!** Potion Pouch: Depths-wrought item A sturdy potion pouch made of treated beast leather affixed to rigid steel plates, designed to protect tonics from hard knocks. Contains space for eight standard sized tonics in squared bottles. To his disappointment, the bag was a simple item, not an artefact. It seemed not everything he received from the Champions was guaranteed to be enchanted. Oh well, it still served the purpose it had been made for admirably. He flicked the pouch open, turning to his two remaining Solar Revitalisation tonics, and his two new red ones. Deciding to appraise the ones he''d had for some time, Kaius pulled free one of the familiar radiant orange tonics. Solar Revitalization Tonic: Common - Tier I At the end of the line, there is only one source of energy. Growth, death, recovery, expenditure. All happens under the watchful warm embrace of the sun. A tonic that slightly stimulates the production of Health and Stamina in the soul. Depths-brewed potion Stamina regeneration I, Health regeneration I The description was exactly as he expected, though it was nice to confirm there were no hidden effects that he had missed. Unfortunately, he did confirm that he wasn''t able to reveal the direct numerical effects of his items. Something relegated for higher rarity appraisal skills, he guessed. Kaius slid the orange potion home, and pulled out one of the new roiling red ones. Psychopathic Assault Tonic: Common Some things just need killin'' A tonic that amplifies aggression, focus and mental resistance. Moderately boosts Strength, with no impact on Stamina. Depths-brewed Potion Psychokiller I, Strength Boost I Kaius eyed the tonic warily. A Moderate boost to Strength was no small gain. With his current cap of twenty, he was nearly half again as strong as he would be without the system''s assistance. Anything that allowed him to push that further was not something he should turn his nose at. And yet... increased aggression? That would be a double edged sword. Still, he was confused, it surely clashed with the increased mental resistance. Usually mental resistance was used to ward off the deleterious effects of berserker style boosts at the very least. He would have to be very, very careful whenever he tried it. It would no doubt be potent, but if he lost sight of his own sense of safety, it would be worse than useless. Slotting the potion back in his pouch, Kaius buckled it closed with a click. "Well my friend." Kaius turned to Porkchop. "I think I am done here." "Yay! Back home?" "Yeah." Kaius nodded. "Though only for a short while. Just long enough to get my next two skills. I''m gonna need to set up a formation for each of them. After that we can go look for some more Champions outside of this glade." "No." Porkchop said, flicking his ears. "Need to sleep. More adventure can wait till after a nap." "That it could." Kaius laughed, pushing himself to his feet. Some rest would be good. Taking a second to unbuckle his sword belt, Kaius picked up his new Serelian Scalemail. He slid it on, admiring the way it hugged him perfectly with nary a pinch or a pull. The pair set off, striding out of the underground catacomb to make the slow route home out of the lengthy maze above. Chapter 38 : Inscription Kaius crouched over a wide wooden board outside of the church. He''d broken down one of the splintered pews and made a small pile of the flattest and smoothest sections of wood.He had a need for them. The next two skills he planned to acquire, Sense Illusion and Sense Mana, were both tricky things. Father had had plans for how they could work on them. Kaius remembered their last trip to Elmhollow, another of the villages they visited on occasion. A caravan had been passing through, and his father had spotted that they had a minor artefact. A trinket really, more of a children''s toy than anything. The small metal orb would cover itself in an illusion of shifting colours. His father had snapped it up, and had kept it buried at the bottom of his bag for the last several months. Unfortunately, the orb had been left at their camp when he had been forced to flee, so he would have to make do with what he could himself. Thankfully, he''d more than progressed far enough in his lessons on runes to set up a simple formation that would fuel itself with a mana gathering array. Hence the boards. Tracing the sigils in the dirt would be nowhere near precise enough for his needs, and while stone would have held up to the rigours of magic better than scrap wood he had no chisels, nor the time, to engrave any of the headstones. A snort drew his attention. Kaius looked up and smiled. Porkchop was lying next to the outer wall of the church, twitching slightly in his sleep. It had taken them hours to work their way out of the maze, and on their journey back they''d been ambushed by a pair of direboars. Thankfully, between his growth, and his friends prodigious strength, they''d had them handled. One of them was currently roasting over the hearth inside now, the delicious scent of roasting meat and rendered fat wafting out of the churches open windows. As soon as they had returned, Porkchop had started mumbling about a nap and passed out in seconds. Bloody adorable. He might know that the meles was a terror when he wanted to be, and a nigh mythical creature besides, but he was so damn fluffy. Kaius shook his head, returning to his task at hand. He grabbed one of the pieces of charcoal he had scavenged from the hearth before he had started cooking, drawing out smooth swooping lines on one of the boards. He was going to use Gretchen''s Standard. One of the simpler scripts, more something used to train apprentices than something true practitioners employed in their craft. That was important. He had no doubt that without a full skill list he would be offered a mastery skill for the work. That meant he had to avoid using any of his five favoured scripts. They were the ones he had narrowed down with Father. Each offering a potential use for his plans for his class. They were also the scripts that he planned to use to forge his next legacy skill after True Sight. According to his father, many of his ancestors had gone the route of using runes. Their sixth skill was to thank for that. It was unique amongst legacy skills, at least those he had heard of, in that it could be merged from any five runic Mastery''s. Instead, the process of merging required a specific mental intent and image to be held in the mind, making it a far harder process than normal. It would be the lynch pin of his spellcasting formation, and had been for the classes of his father and many others in his dynasty. Among other benefits, it drastically eased the enmeshment of multiple differing runic scripts. Something that was normally hellishly difficult. The realm of masters, not the unclassed. Getting offered a mastery skill for one of the scripts he planned to use in that merge could be disastrous. It had the potential to make it too difficult for him to reacquire with the limited tools he had at his disposal. He''d have to pick another script, one he was far less familiar with, and one that was far less suited to his eventual intent. So he used Gretchen''s Standard. Kaius began to visualise the central sigil that he wanted in his mind, hoving over the board with charcoal in hand. While the script might have been designed for use by novices, it was by no means simple in isolation. The central binding rune would be a whorling knot of intersecting lines and angles. He traced the image in his mind, leaning heavily on mental visualisation. He double and triple checked the image that floated in his mind''s eye, making corrections as he saw an angle out of place, or a line slightly too thick. **Ding! Mental Visualisation has reached level 7!** A headache set in, Kaius struggling to hold the image stable. It snapped into place, finished. **Ding! Mental Visualisation has reached level 8!** With a steady hand borne from a lifetime of practice, he traced his charcoal over the wood, setting down the sigil into the centre of the plank. Next he moved to the emission arrays, three concentric circles connecting to equidistant lines that exited the central knot. **Ding! Mental Visualisation has reached level 9!** Inside the circles he inscribed lines of balance and unity. Linking chains came next. Jagged, angled things that would connect the emission arrays to the locus of the inscription, an equilateral triangle lined in a hymn of deceit and lies. Each rune of the hymn was dense, tight. Forcing him to shave his charcoal down to a point with every few lines. The minutes ticked by, stamina draining as it forced back strain induced tremors. **Ding! Mental Visualisation has reached level 10!** **Ding! Mental Visualisation has reached level 11!** More than once he smudged a line, wooden refuse and charcoal making poor materials for the deft work of runic inscription. Biting down frustration he simply reached for a rag, wetting the cloth and wiping away the whole rune. Restarting a line would have left minute discrepancies in thickness, something that would reduce the lifespan of the array. It was already a hack job. He''d be lucky if it lasted long enough for him to get his skill. It had to be as perfect as he could make it. **Ding! Mental Visualisation has reached level 12!** Kaius moved to the final set of runes he needed for the glyph. A shaping array to influence what his sigil actually did. He scribed another line of hymns, this time on the interior of the triangle that surrounded the formation. These would serve to hold the illusion mana in stasis. If he did it well enough, it should project an illusory orb a handspan above the binding rune. **Ding! Sense Illusion has reached level 3!* This was perfect. He was worried he was going to have to make a dozen of these arrays! If it managed to hold out for the rest of the hour, he just might be able to cap the skill. Kaius watched the slowly flickering orb like a hawk, discrepancies and tell tale giveaways growing by the minute. **Ding! Sense Illusion has reached level 11!* Smoke wafted up from the scrap piece of pew, the hovering illusion of the cream orb winking out of existence. The illusion array burnt itself out. Kaius sighed. In the end, it had lasted the full hour, but his estimation of how quickly Sense Illusion would grow had been off. He''d need to make some more formations to cap it off, then he could move on to Sense Mana. Thankfully the array he needed for that skill would be a little simpler. Just a mana condenser and emitter without any shaping formations. But first, he had some skills to look at. A shiver of anticipation crawled up his spine. It was always so exciting looking at new skills. He''d grown to crave it. Another slight benefit to his legacy skills, he got to see a whole lot more of them than most. He pulled up the description of Appraise. Appraise: Level 8 Rare Every object has a history, a use, and a story. Know these and their true purpose is revealed. Skill that enables slight insight into the status of items and artefacts. Higher rarity and more powerful items are more difficult to appraise. Enchantments and skills can block this insight Each level slightly increases the skills ability to overcome insight blocking effects. Kaius nodded to himself. He had known that higher rarities could resist appraisal, but it was good to see it all laid out for him. He was pleased with his growth. Both Appraise and Inspect were notoriously easy skills to level, as one could simply use them on any non living or living object that they passed by. As he and Porkchop had made their way back from the centre of the glade, he''d practically appraised every third flag stone. It was boring work, but important. Inspect had skyrocketed in comparison, having reached level sixteen thanks to his inspection of the many trees in the glade. It was something that would level in the background, but it was important he merged the skills as soon as possible so that he could acquire the last skill he needed for True Sight. He moved on to his most recent skill. Sense Illusion: Level 11 Rare Reality can be obscured. Facts can be hidden. Lies are prevalent. A proper seeker of wisdom observes not the falsity, but the cracks through which the truth shines through. Skill that aids the user in seeing the truth behind illusion and mirage effects. Level disparity, skill level, mana investment, and illusion quality can block this insight. Each level slightly increases the skills ability to overcome insight blocking effects. Kaius dismissed the notification. He was glad to finally have acquired it. Illusion effects grew more common as one descended the depths, and it was not unheard of for careless Delvers to fall prey to cloaked traps and camouflaged ambush predators. Looking back to the messy stack of wooden boards he had secured for himself, Kaius forced himself to suppress a groan. He didn''t want to wake Porkchop after all. He''d finish levelling Sense Illusion, work on Sense Mana, and then he could rest. Chapter 39 : Mistakes Were Made **Ding! Sense Illusion has reached level 20!* Kaius gasped in relief, rubbing his eyes. He''d been staring at floating illusions for hours. Long enough that Porkchop had woken from his nap and was now watching him curiously from the church. His friend had seemed fascinated with the process of scrawling runes and the resulting effects they produced. At least, he had the first few times. Kaius sent a contemptuous scowl to the charred pile of boards that had been collecting behind him. At first it had been enough to simply make more arrays to generate floating orbs. Eventually that stopped pressuring his skill, and he had to take far more time on the array. Making it, and by extension the illusion, as perfect as possible. On rough wood. With a stick of charcoal. It was enough to make him tear his hair out. If that wasn''t enough, eventually even a perfect floating orb wasn''t enough. Too simplistic. Too flat. He''d had to start adding complexity to the shaping arrays. Giving the orb variation in colour and texture. Making it respond superficially to touch and movement. Adding better light scattering. Tasks that Gretchen''s Standard was not well suited for. By the end he''d had to reinscribe his final array four times. Four! Times! Rising from his comfortable seat, Kaius lunged into a deep stretch, working out the kinks he had developed after sitting over hunched for so long. Walking over to Porkchop, he grabbed one of his water skins and slumped down. Leaning heavily into the warm softness of his friend''s side. "Going well?" Porkchop asked, chest rising in a series of quick chuffs. Bastard was laughing at him. He let out an unintelligible grumble. "The sooner I never have to think about that stupid script again the better. My hands hurt, my ears hurt, and my brain feels like it is melting out of my ears. So yes, it''s going well." Kaius ranted, before slipping out a grin. "I capped the skill." Porkchop simply rumbled, amusement still flowing across their link. "I should get back to it," Kaius sighed. "I''ve only got Sense Mana now. The inscriptions for that should be a lot simpler." Pulling himself up to his feet, Kaius wandered back to his waiting pile of wooden planks. He pulled one free, letting it fall to the ground with a clatter. Taking a seat in front of it he began tracing the lines of his next array. He''d told the truth when he''d mentioned to Porkchop that the array he needed was much simpler. It was also firmly in the wheelhouse of the simplistic arrays that Gretchen''s Standard was designed for. Flowing lines, geometric shapes, and whorling passages of runic hymns materialised in his mind''s eye. He held the image, searching for mistakes and imperfections. It was about half the size of the array he had used for Sense Illusion. He''d been able to completely rip out the shaping array, and most of the binding ones too - just the central sigil and some tertiary directing runes remained. Stripped down, it was really just a gathering array, a few conduits, an emitter, and the binding. **Ding! Mental Visualisation has reached level 18!** "Good," Kaius thought to himself. He should be able to finish the skill before he was done as well. He sharpened his charcoal with his hunting knife, placing the rudimentary writing implement down onto the wood and began to inscribe his array. Ten minutes, and a handful of corrections, later and he watched the array activate, sinking deep into the wood. Focus dived inwards, forcing mana to flood into his eyes. He reached saturation just as the formation activated. It was far quicker than his earlier illusion array. Only needing to condense the mana, rather than transform it into a different form. Thick hazy air rose up from the array, the mana dense enough to cause physical deformations. Ignoring his rising headache he peered at intently. Trying to reveal its secrets. To see the hidden world of magic that suffused and radiated through all of existence. Something sparked. A flash of colour? **Ding! General Skill Available! Would you like to learn: Sense Mana (Rare)?** Letting out a woop, Kaius relaxed his hold on the mana in his eyes and accepted the skill. Instantly the world was awash in a riot of colours. **Ding! Sense Mana has reached level 2!** A geyser of spiritual energies roared out of his array. **Ding! Sense Mana has reached level 3!** Blues, reds, and every other colour morphing and changing in a violent current that surged upwards, splashing out and down from the cavern ceiling. **Ding! Sense Mana has reached level 4!** So bright it was almost blinding. A primal force of nature. **Ding! Sense Mana has reached level 5!** His array vacuumed at the surrounding energies, syphoning great clouds. **Ding! Sense Mana has reached level 6!** He racked his brain, trying to figure out what the hells had happened. The formation shouldn''t have detonated like that. Even if there was a truly absurd amount of mana in the depths. even if he had made a mistake, at worst the board he had inscribed should have just caught on fire. There was no way it could have handled that much throughput! Wait. He''d blown up the church? "Porkchop. What happened to the church?" He asked frantically, trying to ignore a ghostly double of mana that seemed superimposed on Porkchop''s figure. Most of their gear and supplies had been inside. "It fell over!" Porkchop yelled, frustration and concern shining across their link. "What do you mean it fell over! How bloody big was that explosion!" "You tell me! You did it!" "I don''t know! That absolutely shouldn''t have happened! Fuck, we have to check it out. Most of my gear is still there." He groaned, pushing himself to his feet. Porkchop grumbled, spinning off to walk in what was presumably the directors of the remnants of their base. Kaius followed, stumbling as he struggled with his new found sight. As they walked through the trees Kaius pulled up the notification for his new skill. Sense Mana: Level 20 Rare Trace the hidden paths of magic, and reveal the unseen truths of the arcane. Skill that reveals the hidden mystic realm. High mana levels can prove blinding. Each level slightly increases acuity and tolerance to ambient mana. Blinding indeed. He did his best to get a handle on the new skill. Slowly, ever so slowly, the mana withdrew from prominence in his vision. Oh, it was still there, but far more muted. Only returning to blanket his sight in colour when he focused his attention on the new sense. Something that caused problems, as it was all too easy to catch a flash of mana out of the corner of his eye and focus his mind on the unexpected detail. Enough to bring the overwhelming wall of mystic fog back in full force. By the time they arrived at the church he had mostly gotten a handle on it, but he knew he still needed practice. It could prove fatal if it overwhelmed his sight in the middle of a battle. He had not expected the skill to be so impactful. Hell, his father had warned him that at early levels atmospheric mana was barely perceptible. Was the magic of the depths really that dense? It had to be, if it had so completely overwhelmed an array designed for a novice. There was no way he had made a mistake, not with bloody Gretchen''s Standard of all scripts. The pair exited the trees, the low wall that surrounded the church and graveyard coming into view. Looking past it Kaius was treated to a sight of total devastation. Where he had been working on his inscriptions, there was now a crater easily three strides deep and thrice as wide. Headstones close to the blast had been shattered, sending fist sized fragments of stone sailing clean across the yard. Those further away had been knocked flat, only those closest to the wall still standing strong. The church had gotten the worst of it. He''d only been a few long-strides from it after all. The blast had caved in the closest wall, large masonry stones kicked inwards with concussive force. Dust and gravel coated everything. To make matters worse, the already dilapidated roof had totally collapsed. Kaius let out a groan. That was a lot of digging they were going to have to do. He just hoped his new armour was alright. He''d left it on top of his pack. Thankfully, he had his sword on him. Even with how close he was to Porkchop, in the center of their claimed camp, he felt naked without it. It was the Depths after all. Who knew what could happen. Hells, you never knew when a runic array could explode your house. He scowled. "Gods dammit." He stalked forwards. "My bad Porkchop, we better get digging." "Idiot," Porkchop grunted. "Not forgetting this." Kaius grunted, pushing with his legs as he helped Porkchop roll away the last discarded piece of masonry that they needed to move to get access to their supplies. In all honesty, they''d gotten pretty lucky. The blast had utterly annihilated the dire boar they had been roasting over the fire, sending meat mush and hot coals throughout the building. It made for an interesting time picking their way through the building. Half his steps had sizzled the leather of his boots, and the others had squelched uncomfortably. Thankfully, when he had been preparing materials for his inscriptions, he had already carted the vast majority of the wooden furniture out of the building. Nothing had caught fire. His pack, his armour, and their emergency supplies of jerky had escaped intact. Mostly. One of his water skins had been ruptured. Shredded as a high speed stone shard tore straight through it. Thank god for his fathers insistence on backups. "Where next?" Porkchop asked as Kaius tightened the last of the buckles on his scalemail. "Leave the glade I guess. I don''t fancy camping without solid walls, too much risk of roaming beasts. We could try the hunters lodge, but there are a lot of undead bodies there. It smells foul." "Don''t blow up the house next time then." Porkchop teased him. "Yeah yeah. I think I''ve got an idea of where we should go though. One of the tunnels out of here looked pretty different. Some sort of mineshaft." "Good as any. Hopefully there will be more Champions. The Tomblord was fun." Porkchop said, shaking his body in excitement of a prospective fight. Kaius agreed, he''d spent enough time in this glade. As magical as it was, he''d taken out all of the Champions that could be found in it. It was time to go. He was tantalisingly close to unlocking his next legacy skill, and he had yet to find anything that was as good at helping him level his skills than a good fight. Plus, the powerful loot they offered was an edge too useful to ignore. And maybe, maybe, if he kept pushing himself he might be able to learn more about what it meant to be Observed. Chapter 40 : Learning More Kaius trudged through a cave of shattered rock and spearing roots, Porkchop following close behind. It was dark, far darker than the grove had been. The cave moss that had provided them comforting light had grown sparse as they pushed deeper into the tunnels, leaving just enough light for him to use Low Light Vision to see by. They''d left the grove weeks ago, pushing deep into the many twisting tunnels that had splintered off from the oversized cavern. The mineshaft that had caught Kaius''s attention turned out to be a dead end. All they''d found had been undead miners, rockfall traps, and a small pouch of depths-coin sitting on a plinth at the end. The gold coin had been nice, but it had been annoying to have to turn back so quickly. In their downtime, he''d spent some time trying to recreate the inadvertent bomb that had blown up their house. Unfortunately, much to his dismay, all he managed to do was create formations that burned themselves out. It seemed whatever had happened, it had been due to some distortion of his runes thanks to working with charcoal and wood. He''d been expecting that; even with the higher than expected mana density, it should have simply burnt itself out. In the end, his inability to recreate it was no great loss. He was leary of relying too heavily on environmental traps and fighting like a runewright. It could overly influence his class options, and prevent him from gaining recognition from the system for more direct forms of confrontation. Every now and again would be okay, but it wouldn''t be too long until he could work on his spell casting formation, he could be patient. The other tunnels they now explored were far more convoluted. They sprawled through the earth, intersecting and winding through each other in a confusing mess. Roots clawed free from rock walls, the monochromatic sight of his Low Light Vision making them seem closer to the petrified tentacles of some slumbering horror. Two or three times an hour, the light would return when a tunnel opened up into a small cavern. Graves dotted the spaces, overgrown with lichens and dense brush. They absolutely crawled with depths-born, always a coinflip if they would be nearly overrun by beasts or undead. Unlike the cavern that held the groves, these spaces in the earth were much smaller. Small enough that engaging one of the dungeon spawn was enough to pull the rest down on their heads. The beast caverns at least made for good campsites. Without the putrid smell of undead, and with the beasts providing a convenient food source, they were almost comfortable. His armour had already shown its worth, deflecting claw and blade alike with ease. It dramatically increased the risks he could take in combat, now he only had to worry about the slow attrition of his Health as it expended to heal cracked bone and bruised flesh. Not that he was reckless. Well. Not anymore. A careless brush with a shadewolf had left his arm shattered, his armour doing little to protect him from the raw power of its jaws. When they''d first entered the tunnels Kaius had been worried about straying too far from the glade, concerned about their supplies of water. Thankfully the caverns contained a source often enough that they hadn''t had to attempt a retreat for supplies. Whatever intelligence controlled the Great Depths, it seemed to disdain deaths as mundane as thirst and starvation. In the tunnels themselves traps had become ubiquitous. Blanketing carpets of poisonous puffballs, ambush predators, rockfall traps and more were scattered through the gloomy corridors. Most were natural hazards, but not all. They promised death to the unwary, slowing their exploration to a crawl. At the very least it had been fantastic for Kaius''s skill growth. Low Light Vision had capped itself a few hours ago, his range of vision increasing to a full fifty paces or more - not that he got the most use out of it in the tight confines. He had similarly managed to finish Inspect during one of their cavern skirmishes, now able to reliably identify all of the depths-born they came across. Appraise, Adamant Body, and Explorer''s Toolkit had all seen their own growth, with the first skill comfortably butting up against the cap. Kaius pulled up his Status to check the changes. Status: Name: Kaius Dynasty: Unterstern Age: 18 Class Selection: 1 Year, 37 weeks, 3 days Race: Human (Dynastic) - +1 free stats per level Layer Reached: 2 Resources: Health - 300/300 (2/min) Stamina - 200/200 (2/min) Mana - 140/140 (2/min) Stats: Endurance - 30 Vitality - 20 Strength - 20 Dexterity - 20 Intelligence - 12 > 14 Willpower: - 20 Stat Points: 0 That had been the start of his friend questioning the value of tradition. Oh, often Porkchop still saw the wisdom in it, as did he, but now Kaius could see him questioning. Evaluating if the purpose behind the rule actually served him. It made Kaius feel like he could finally ask his friend about being Observed. He had to know, and the Matriarchs seemed to share all sorts of knowledge with their burrows that wider society would consider a closely guarded secret. It still made him nervous. Chewing on his lip, Kaius fought to suppress the bubbling anxiety that lay heavily in the pit of his stomach. "Hey, Porkchop," Kaius said, shoving his uncertainty deep. "Yeah?" His friend called from behind him. "Did the Matriarchs ever tell you any stories about those Observed by the system?" "Oooh," Porkchop hummed. "Those are my favourite." Kaius resisted slumping his shoulders in relief. Barely. "Oh?" He asked, keeping his tone curious. "Did they say anything about what it means? How it happens?" "Mmm, a little." Porkchop said. "They are old stories. Though Grandfather was supposed to have been one." "Grandfather?!" Kaius blurted in surprise. His friend snorted at him. "Not like that," Porkchop chortled. " I told you that it''s hard for beasts to change what they are, but not impossible. Some rage against fate, throw themselves at death. If they live, some gain enough achievements to Evolve to a higher form. Grandfather was a lesser meles. Terrorised the forest for years, then became the first greater meles." Kaius nodded at his friend''s explanation. It was similar to how classes worked. Sure, you got a class evolution in every tier, but if you wanted to climb rarities - increasing the power of your class qualitatively- it took work. You had to push yourself, the demands on your feats and achievements growing with every rank. It didn''t explain everything though. "Wait, so all greater meles are descended from him? How does that work." "Not everyone," Porkchop explained. "He forged a great host of burrows. With him at the head, it was much less difficult for others to follow his path." "But you were saying he was an Observed?" Kaius asked. "Mm." Porkchop huffed from behind him. "Yes. Great achievement. To earn the notice of the system. Made the path a lot easier, lots of rewards." Kaius''s heart thumped. Rewards. He had been unsure if there would be any concrete benefits. He had to know more. It was now or never. "What if..." Kaius said, his voice shaky. "What if I was. Observed, I mean." Kaius stopped hearing Porkchops steady footsteps behind him. Turning around he found his friend had stopped dead. "What?" "Well." Kaius scratched his head. "Before you fell into the depths and I found you, I stumbled across a natural treasure and-" "What?!" Porkchop''s mental voice rose, causing Kaius to wince as his head throbbed. "-and I ate it. The system said that consuming one made me worthy of observation?" Kaius''s voice trailed off as his friend stared at him mutely. Porkchop suddenly lurched forwards. Kaius let out an oof as his friend''s heavy head drove into his stomach. "Idiot! Should have told me. We have to push harder!" "What? What do you mean? Aren''t we pushing ourselves plenty hard already?" "Nothing but old stories," Porkchop grumbled. "But being Observed only happens if you do something you shouldn''t be able to. Hard or unlikely, doesn''t matter. Do more, the system rewards you. Don''t know much more, the stories are always vague." Porkchop pushed past him, trotting off into the dark of the cavern. "Come! More Champions are our best bet!" Kaius smiled as he raced to catch up to his friend. Excitement or no, he couldn''t let Porkchop take the lead. No point letting him break a leg on a missed trap. He thanked the gods that being an Observed had gone down well. Any fear he felt of his friend treating him any differently had vanished in the sheer excitement Porkchop showed for him. He couldn''t help but feel the same. Learning that the system''s attention might come with rewards? It filled him with a fire. Every scrap of growth they could eek out before facing the Guardian was vital. They were meant to be faced with full teams of experienced Delvers. Ones who could cover each other''s backs, and weaknesses. Killing one as a freshly classed man and matured beast was a tall order. An idea began to percolate in Kaius''s mind. A reckless one. The height of stupidity if he was honest with himself. Yet the allure it held was undeniable. What if once he had all of his legacy skills, once he had grown his hoard of Champion defended artefacts, he was strong? If they did manage to earn whatever rewards the system deigned to give them, would it be enough? What if they could escape before he got his class? What would that do for the strength of his class? What sort of reward would the system give him for doing the impossible? Chapter 41 : Hanging Lanterns Yellow light spilled out from around a bend in the tunnel ahead. It was a welcome reprieve from the washed out drudgery that was Low Light Vision. It also meant a cavern, and he had yet to see one that hadn''t been swarming with depths-born. He placed his hand on A Father''s Gift, feeling the supple leather of its grip. "Something''s up ahead." Kaius called back to Porkchop. He got a growl of acknowledgement in response. He knew there was no way his friend had missed the light, but he was the vanguard. Calling out potential threats was his duty, and one that had stopped them from being caught flat footed more than once. They crept forward, alert and ready for hostile depths-born to bear down on them at any moment. Kaius rounded the bend, stopping fast. His sudden halt caused Porkchop to bump into his back. "What is it?" Porkchop asked, moving to his right to peer around him. "Another glade." Kaius said softly, staring at the sight before him. Though much smaller in scale than the one they had left in the prior weeks, it was still a breath taking sight to see so far beneath the earth. The cavern must have been an hour''s walk across, with a ceiling that soared high above. Strange, impossibly thick, vines snaked their way up the edges of the caverns, clawing their way up the almost impossibly tall walls. Great serpentine trunks spearing deep into the grass covered loam below. They wove their way through stalactites, arching over the roof like the streamers he draped over rafters during a solstice celebration. Long hanging tendrils hung from the great vines, their emerald lengths drifting in an unfelt breese. Each was tipped by a strange fluid filled sac. Almost like an overripe berry full of juice. The growths were the source of the soft yellow light that drenched the trees below. And the trees. They were so green. So blessedly green. Kaius didn''t realise how sick he had gotten of vegetation that glowed blue. Seeing the wash of normality splayed out in front of him brought it rushing back. Green was home. He''d spent his entire life in the Sea. Even when he and Father had gone to visit the outlying villages, the trees had always been there. A wall of green and brown barely a stone''s throw from the settlement''s borders. Comforting and secure. Before he had trapped himself down here in the depths, his three week trip to Deadacre had been the longest he had been separated from the forest. That had been radically uncomfortable. The rolling grass of the frontier left him feeling so exposed. It was so open. Gods, by the time they got back all he wanted to do was give the nearest trunk a damn hug. At least, down here in the depths, he hadn''t had to deal with the sheer openness of the frontier. Hells, the glade had done much to put him at ease. The boroughs and trunks had been familiar. At least, familiar enough to provide some semblance of conference. But it was blue. Blue wasn''t home. Green was. Sure, the trees were the wrong shape. Strange droopy things with too-large leaves. The Arboreal Sea also didn''t have vines thicker than a century oak with glowing fruits either. But it was green. There was also the matter of the absolutely massive trunk that dominated the large copse. The rest of the trees were easily the size of a full grown elm. The specimen at the centre? Easily four times that height, its tallest reaches brushing up against the ends of the glowing tendrils that hung from the roof. They''d have to investigate that later. If there was one thing he had come to expect for the depths was that it wasn''t exactly subtle about where the greatest dangers waited. Nor that they guarded the best rewards. Porkchop stood next to him, frozen at the sight. A moment later his friend burst into motion, sprinting out of the tunnel. He hit the soft earth and grass that coated the cavern floor, blurring claws kicking up clumps of sod. "Shit." Kaius thought. "Porkchop!" Kaius yelled, running after his friend. "Wait you idiot!" Porkchop leapt upwards, flying through the air like a heavy stone to hit the grass with a thud. Kaius came to a stop, watching as the exuberant greater beast rolled around on the grass, letting out happy chuffs every few seconds. "Grass! Green! I missed green!" Porkchop said, shoving his face and head into the ground. Kaius''s chest heaved from the exertion of the fight. Taking a moment to mop his brow, he cleaned his blade on the grass before returning it to its sheath. "Hells, that thing healed fast!" He exclaimed. He wouldn''t have been surprised if it had been a Champion. They at least had powerful abilities that would explain the increased regeneration. Maybe depths-born had something equivalent to general skills? With how shallow of a layer they are on it was hard to tell, he doubted whatever skills they had would be extraordinarily powerful. Although, it could just have easily been a natural trait of the beast. He''d seen some lizards regrow their tails, and they hadn''t even been connected to the system. "Still died easy." Porkchop snorted derisively. "Yeah, you''re right." He turned to look at his friend. "Though maybe next time we don''t sprint directly into caverns we haven''t had a chance to scout out? I know we haven''t seen grass in a while, but you''ve gotta admit that was stupid." Porkchop had the sensibility to look embarrassed, his ears drooping. He perked right back up after Kaius ruffled his head. "C''mon. Let''s go check out that tree in the middle. I bet we''ll find a Champion there, and I''ve been itching for a real fight." Kaius said, setting off for the trees Porkchop chuffed back at him, keeping pace. It was true, he had been getting a bit bored with the normal depths-born. With everything he had gained they no longer felt like the threat they had once been. Sure, he wasn''t any stronger or faster than he was when he first entered the depths, but his skills and equipment had improved by leaps and miles. Undead weren''t so scary when their rusted weapons couldn''t pierce his armour. The only trouble they''d had recently had been a sheer numbers issue. Even if they could handily trounce a handful of foes, some of the smaller caverns they passed through had a score or more milling about in a group. Fighting that many all at once was tough. It was also ... boring. More a factor of covering each other and working against getting surrounded than any true test of skills. Not like the Champions. They entered the trees. Thick in the trunk, they had soaring canopies made up of quickly thinning branches that drooped towards the ground, weighed down by flat leaves the size of Kaius''s chest. Thick roots snaked out from the base of the trees, dancing through the surface of the earth, their rough exteriors extending out to the edges of the canopy. It made for treacherous footing. The canopy shadowed them, yet enough of the light penetrated the thin leaves to give them more than enough to see by. It tinted the light into a pale green, the shifting foliage sending the occasion beam of brighter yellow scything through the glade floor. A quick inspect let him know that they were called verdantha trees, while the vines above were hanging lanterns. Their journey wasn''t exactly a peaceful afternoon stroll. It felt like every few minutes another Shambler called out a challenge, leaping out of the trees above to throw themselves towards them with outstretched claws. Thankfully, the beasts seemed to be solitary in nature. The one time two approached them at once they spent almost as much time hissing at each other as they did trying to tear them limb from limb. They cut through the obstructions easily. Soon they drew close to the central tree. Thanks to the wide canopies of the verdantha''s there was plenty of space between the trunks for them to see their approach. The massive tree that lorded over the grove was situated in the middle of a clearing, almost as if the other trees didn''t dare to intrude on its domain. A thick crown of leaves stretched just under the ceiling of the cavern, reaching the edges of the clearing. Amongst squirming roots Kaius spied a hulking figure. Though it was hard to tell from the distance, Kaius was almost certain that at the shoulder it was as tall as him. Covered in a thick matt of grey fur, its thick chest held a broad head with two wicked looking horns erupting out to curve upwards. Behind it, a long tail snaked out. Heavy and muscular, it was almost as long as the rest of the creature''s body. He inspected it. Grimclaw Dreadbeast - Level 27: Champion, Depths-born, Beast, Apex Predator Kaius let out a savage grin. They''d found their next target. Chapter 42 : Pitched Battle The Champion prowled around the base of the tree that stood sentinel over the surrounding woods. Despite its thick limbs and stocky chest, it leapt from root to root with lithe agility. Kaius and Porkchop watched the lethal depths-born from behind the relative safety of a bulging root, a little ways into the edge of the treeline. "This place is way too open," Kaius whispered. "No way we are going to get the drop on it." "You''re right. We will have to strike with fury and bravery in our hearts." "What, just run out and charge it?" Kaius grunted, watching the way the Grimclaw moved with sleek grace. "With how bloody big the bastard is, I don''t think my armour will matter all that much. One good hit and it''d just cave my chest in. I''m not so confident at dodging this one, Porkchop, it''s moving around like a chase predator." "I''ll do it." Porkchop said with finality. Images flitted across the bond, filling Kaius''s mind. Challenging a worthy opponent, the rare one able to match him in physicality. Winning, bloody, broken, and triumphant. A glorious final roar, shattered body of the challenger lying limp under paw. Porkchop was serious. Kaius looked at his friend with a cocked brow, then turned back to look at the distant Grimclaw. "Porkchop, look at the claws. You''ll get cut to ribbons." "You forget," Porkchop said with a threatening rumble. "That you are not the only one with a full set of legacy skills. My hide might not be as unbreaking as your new scales, but you will find that I am hard to kill. Wounds that would end you would just slow me down." Biting his lip, Kaius continued to watch the champion. It stalked the area of the massive tree, slinking through the shadows to patrol its demesne. Reacting to some unseen motion, the Grimclaw dug its claws into hard roots with buttery ease. Kaius''s breath hitched. Wheeling around with startling ease, it blurred across the clearing. Away from them. Gods damned it was fast. It snapped up ...something in its jaws, before slinking back to the tree trunk with easy grace. Kaius shook his head. He needed to get a grip. It was a big bastard, but he''d managed to take out two Champions alone. He''d grown significantly since then, and he had Porkchop as well. Things would be fine. He looked over to his friend. "You''re sure?" "Yes." "Alright." Kaius let out a steadying breath. He drew his sword, the blade glinting softly as a beam of yellow swept over them from the hanging lanterns above. "Let''s do this." Porkchop let out a low rumbling growl, thick digging claws sinking into the ground. "After I challenge it, go offside and follow once I have it distracted. You will know when I engage." Kaius nodded. He set off, leaving Porkchop behind to move through the trees. He leaned into the stealth aspects of Explorer''s Toolkit, shadows reaching out tenderly to wrap him in their embrace. Once he had gotten far enough, he moved closer to the clearing. Pressing himself close to the trunk at the very edge of the start of the canopy far overhead. With his path set, their approach decided, Kaius''s nerves dissipated. In their place a rising anticipation grew. The slow rustle of the surrounding foliage faded. His vision sharpened, heart pumped slow and heavy as a tingle started to grow in the tips of his fingers. The Grimclaw didn''t seem so imposing now. He hoped it would put up a good fight. A Father''s Gift rested in his hands, its comfortable weight reassuring him of his success. He had armour now, had grown his skills at an unimaginable pace. The Depths had thrown its best at him, and he had come up time and time again. Using the challenges as a stepping stone to higher heights. He was born for this. Trained for this. He was a warrior. A deafening roar echoed across the clearing, soft ambience of the glade shattered by the sheer rage of Porkchop''s battle cry. His friend charged into the open, sprinting over loose earth and twisting roots. His hackles were raised, massive teeth bared at the Grimclaw. **Ding! You have challenged a Champion: Grimclaw Dreadbeast ** Kaius watched the Champion turn to Porkchop in shock, whirling with a snarl of its own. It locked eyes on his friend, the very air seeming to hold its breath. Snorting its own challenge, the Grimclaw sprinted to engage. A cold calm descended over him. Not yet. He had to wait until the Champion had fully committed. If he tore in now it would see him, ruining any advantage of surprise. His grip tightened on his blade, muscles tensing in anticipation. The Grimclaw dropped its head at the last moment, trying to gore Porkchop in their collision. Porkchop went low. They collided with a crash, both beasts snarling as they snapped at each other. Wrapping his thick red and black arms around the Champion, Porkchop reared up. Despite easily being thrice Kaius''s size, Porkchop picked up the beast with ease, sending it sprawling backwards with a parting snap of his jaws. His friend slammed down, diving towards the Champion''s undefended belly. Porkchop had always told him that his thick dagger-like claws were for digging out burrows. They seemed to eviscerate flesh just as easily. The beast howled as Porkchop ripped open its midsection. It kicked out, using its powerful legs to rake Porkchop with its claws. He was forced back, thick lacerations on his chest weeping blood. It didn''t stop everything, even with the padding of his armoured jacket underneath the scalemail. The Champion''s blows were heavy, backed by enhanced strength and sheer weight. Kaius felt his bones creak under the assault. Each impact leaving sharp aches in their wake, his shoulders and chest bruising under the claws. **Ding! Adamant Body has reached level 10!** He had to do something. If he let the rain of slashes continue he would eventually collapse under the Champions fury. Behind the beast Kaius watched Porkchop surge to his feet with a slight stumble. "No!" He called, pivoting to deflect another claw. "I''ve got this! Keep healing." Porkchop growled in frustration before settling back down. That caught the Champion''s attention, its head snapping backwards to assess the potential threat of the opponent it had already wounded. Kaius''s eyes widened. Now was his chance. He stepped in. Aiming for the beast''s neck, he brought his sword down in a cleave. Flesh parted. His blade sank deep, cutting through the thick muscle that supported the Champion''s oversized head. Blood geysered from the wound, coating Kaius from head to toe in a sticky hot spray of vital fluid. A panicked gurgle left its throat. Snapping its head back to him, the beast hastily swatted him in the side. Kaius''s elbow dug painfully into his ribs as he was forced back. Rumbling a threat, the Champion crouched low, even as bright arterial blood continued to spurt from the wound on its neck with each beat of its heart. Watching him. Waiting. The spray slowed, eventually becoming a trickle. Kaius gasped, his chest heaving with the excretion of meeting a high levelled beast toe to toe in physical combat. The bleeding stopped. Drawing in a deep breath, the Grimclaw let out a soul rending cry. Mouth hanging open with finger length fangs on display. Kaius adjusted his grip on his blade, bringing it over his head into a high-guard. Behind the beast Porkchop surged to his feet, chest whole and hale once more. He met the Champions roar with one of his own, voices mingling in an ear ringing cacophony. The Grimclaw''s jaw snapped shut, quickly looking over its shoulder at Porkchop before flicking back towards Kaius. It growled in frustration, tail flicking. It was going to move now. It had to. Too much risk of being caught between them. A sharp breath stoked Kaius''s Bloodsong, battle fervour keeping him steady in the face of the Champion. Tensing, the Grimclaw made its decision. Scrabbling legs drove it towards Kaius, evidently taking him as the lesser threat. Porkchop surged forwards, chasing to take advantage of the Champions opening. Kaius charged forwards with a harsh cry. It threw itself to the side, digging claws in to spin its whole body away from him. Turning to face the approaching Porkchop. The Grimclaw''s large whip like tail snapped through the air. He shifted his blade, bringing it down to block the incoming blow. Instincts flared. He activated Mana Sense. The clearing was instantly enveloped in a billowing multi-hued fog of mana, obscuring his surroundings. But not the tail. That burned with inner light. "Fuck! It''s a skill!" Kaius tried to throw himself back. Out of range from the empowering ability. His insight into the attack may have only taken a moment. It was a moment too late. He didn''t have the time. The thick bony tail of the Grimclaw hit him with the force of a boulder in freefall. His arm cracked, blade swatted aside with contemptuous ease. The tail hit him in the chest. Without a rigid backing, his scale did nothing. Ribs collapsed inwards. Bones crunching like glass. Before he could even process the agony, the power of the tail whip lifted him off the ground., flinging him away. Hitting the ground with a thud, pain snapped into focus with a flash. Agony coursed through him, every finger span of his chest screaming for release. Rapid Adaptation compartmentalised the pain, shoving it into a corner of his mind. Scrambling backwards he pulled himself away from battling giants. Barely aware of the thundering cracks of Porkchop raging against the Champion. He had to breathe. He sucked in, getting nothing but a wet rattle for his efforts. Lungs filled with blood. Burning claws set into his chest. He needed air. As if from a distance, he heard something start to roar. Chapter 43 : Hate Kaius gasped. Trying and failing to force his shattered body to take in a breath. Every one sent shuddering spasms through the musculature of his trunk. Each one heightened his agony. Brushed muscles pulling on the shattered remnants of his sternum. He couldn''t breathe. Trying again, he found his gasp catching in his throat. Lungs refused to inflate. He had to clear the blood. Health burned. Flooding free from his soul space to suffuse his chest. Morphic fire settled into torn muscle and broken bone, forcing his shattered body to mould itself back together. He barely noticed the unsettling cracks of his ribs moving back into place. The candle light of its burn invisible in comparison to the all consuming desperation. To. Just. Breathe. It was too slow. He had to clear the blood. He rolled over, gurgling in raw pain as scale and leather pushed his chest unnaturally inwards. He forced himself up onto his knees, bending over in an attempt to let the blood run free from his throat. It trickled out with agonising slowness. Ribs continued snapping into place. He coughed, thick wads of blood splattering over the ground below. Filling his mouth with the rich taste of iron. Wracking spasms followed the action, agony flaring as his crushed chest rebelled against the pressure. Shoving the pain deep he took a deep, gasping, breath. Finally free of the all consuming desire for air. Holding his chest as still as possible, his eyes shot around the battlefield. He''d dropped his sword in the collision, the blade lying in the dust a few paces away. He crawled to it, wincing with every movement. Snatching it up with jealous haste he turned his attention back to the battle. Right as Porkchop let out another ground shaking below. His friend was giving as good as he got. Prior wounds forgotten as he laid into the Champion with heavy slashes of his claws. Each one sent the beast stumbling, weeping furrows of torn flesh left in their wake. The Grimclaw didn''t take the assault lying down. It danced around with hasty agility. Never staying still long enough for Porkchop to land a disabling or fatal wound. Porkchop wasn''t without his own wounds. Whenever the Grimclaw had the opportunity it would lunge in, nipping at his friend, needle teeth tearing out small chunks. Kaius hissed at the sight. He couldn''t waste his time waiting around to heal. He dropped inwards, seeing gaseous red flood free of his soul to suffuse ruined flesh. He dived into his soul and yanked at his health pool. Forcibly accelerating the flow of the resource. Icepicks of agony drove into his mind. It was delicate work, not suitable for brute force. Grace would take time. Force did not. The additional rush of the healing energy vastly accelerated his healing. His chest physically roiled under his armour, ribs snapping back into place with sickening cracks. It wasn''t a perfect process, haste and mental strain made his grip clumsy, a portion of the excess energy diffusing throughout his body to dissipate away. Wasted. He growled. Jerky hands flicked open his potion pouch. He slammed down an orange tonic, taste of sunshine and vital growth on his lips. **Ding! You have Imbibed a Tonic: Solar Revitalisation ** The magically charged fluid absorbed the moment it hit his stomach. Alchemical power flooded through his body, settling into his soul to forcefully increase his regeneration. It might be enough. Forcing his Health to surge from his pool, Kaius wished he had practised this technique more. It was a vital component of his final legacy skill, so he thought that he''d have plenty of time before he had to use it. Stupid. His sternum healed with a final grinding snap. Kaius dropped his focus, letting the flow of his health return to normal. His attention snapped back to reality as he lurched to his feet. Porkchop was soaked with blood, black and red fur plastered tight to his skin. Rents in his flesh glistening under the swaying lights of the lanterns far above. He stood firm in the face of the Champion''s assault. Unyielding. In contrast the Grimclaw looked battered. Chunks of its grey coat were missing, slickened with even more blood than the prodigious amount that Porkchop had spilled on the floor below. It moved with a limp, twisting and contorting to avoid blows where it could. Kaius sharpened his eyes, watching it like a hawk. Its wounds still healed, but with how heavy the creature''s wounds were the resource was stretched thin. Each additional cut slowed the regeneration, its health unable to keep up with the systemic damage. It''s body was failing it. They could win. Kaius sprinted into the fray, a cry leaving his lips. The grimclaw leapt back from Porkchop, head twisting to look back at him with surprised panic clear on its face. It had thought him dead. Finished from the use of its skill. A fatal mistake. Porkchop barged forwards, forcing the beast''s attention back to the fight. It leapt backwards, one leg dragging as it all but stumbled away from the blow. It looked back towards him once more, watching him as he slashed for its flank. Muzzle twisted into a snarl. The beast tensed. Kaius readied himself for a counter attack even as Porkchop pressed the distraction and reared up. He arrived. The Grimclaw clawed at him, aiming for his shoulder. Teeth bared at him as a feral growl shook its way free from its chest. Kaius analysed the incoming claws. They were going to hit him in the shoulder. He had heavy pauldrons. It would most likely break his joint. He could heal that. He didn''t need that arm to thrust. Acceptable. He dipped into a lunge. Point of his sword shot straight for the Champion''s chest. Its eyes started to widen at his reckless assault. Claws raked his armour. Bones splintered. Sword pierced chest. Blood ran free. He smiled. Health was corralled to his shattered shoulder. Soul pain ignored as he forced it to heal faster. Flooding the joint. Only the joint. No excess wasted. Too inefficient. The second mental process ripped control from the unguided resource. He''d had the anatomy lessons. He could do it himself. Barely a trickle spent. Bone reforged. Much better. The Champion lunged towards him, jaws open wide. He ripped his blade free. Explorer''s Toolkit twinged. He could finally see. Too clouded before. Too slow. An opening. Useful. He stepped back. Sword swung for the Grimclaws exposed face. It''d left itself defenceless. Overcommitted. That was silly. A Fathers Gift sliced through its eye. Clear jelly mixed with blood. Rolled down fur. Beautiful. It was a good sword. A killing gift. The best kind. It was trying to claw him again. Going to hit his leg. A necessary sacrifice. He would live. It would die. Handspan length claws ripped though his muscle. Blood fell. Snapped muscle fibres writhed. Snaking back to wholeness in moments. Fat and skin stayed torn. Inner workings revealed in exquisite detail. **Ding! Adamant Body has reached level 11!** **Ding! Mental Visualisation has reached level 20!** There was pain. It didn''t bother him. It was only a feeling. Wouldn''t stop him from killing. That was all that mattered. Sword came down. Cutting deep into the arm that just clawed him. The Grimclaw snarled. He saw bone. He smiled wider. When had he started smiling? Need to check resources again. Resources: Health - 32/300 (2/min +15/min) Stamina - 108/200 (2/min +15/min) Mana - 140/140 (2/min) Good. So much better than when left undirected. The beast was trying to claw him again. Predictable. Well positioned for a parry. Maybe he would get to see more bone? His sword came up. Catching the swing. Edge of his sword bit deep. He pushed the limb away from him. Stepping around the blow in a single fluid motion. A twist of his wrists. His blade slid along bone, turning into a smooth thrust. It sank deep. The Grimclaw gurgled. Blood foaming from its mouth. That was good. He''d stabbed its lung. Warmth started to trickle in. Unfortunate. He was having so much fun. Best to kill it now. If he died he wouldn''t get to have fun like this again. Sword came free. The wound didn''t move. Its Health was finished. That was good. More fun if it kept wriggling though. He parried another blow. Riposte slashed the beast''s neck. A fountain of blood. Pretty. The Grimclaw''s eyes were wide. Was it scared? Amusing. Wouldn''t save it. More warmth. Things were starting to slow down. Unfortunate. Stepping in, he sank his sword into the Champion''s shoulder. The blow severed something, the beast suddenly unable to support its weight. It roared at him, trying to ward him off with batting strikes. He moved. Slashing the passing limb. Just for fun. Another cut to the beasts neck, more blood joining the growing fountain. More warmth. Had to be a decisive blow. The Champion dug its back feet into the earth, lowering its head. It launched forwards into a goring charge. Perfect. Kaius stepped to the side and lined up his sword, bracing himself. A horn clipped his arm, tearing a divot. Secondary focus flooded the region with Health working to heal only the most vital elements. The point of his sword bit deep. The Grimclaw stiffened. Heart shot, nice. Its body still moved, bowling both of them over as its crushing weight landed on his chest. Kaius watched as the light faded from its eyes, body twitching in its final death throes. He tried to smile wider. He couldn''t. Chapter 44 : Success **Ding! You have slain a Champion: Grimclaw Dreadbeast - level 27 Prowling Displacer! ** Kaius gasped, pain flooding back with a vengeance as the last of the Psychopathic Assault tonic left his system. The dregs of his health flooded free, vanishing in moments as it worked to heal the rents in his exterior flesh. The Grimclaw was on top of him, pinning him to the ground. He stared at it with wide eyes. What the hells had that been? When he''d read the description of the potion he''d been expecting anger. Some sort of consuming rage that drove him into a fervour. There had been no anger. No burning heat of madness. No, the only thing that he had felt had been joy. The beauty of spilled blood, the ecstasy of pain, of destruction levered against those he hated. And how he hated. It had been overwhelming, the sheer disgust and contempt he had felt for the Champion. It had chilled him to his very soul. Freezing out all passions except those that brought ruin to the object of his fascination. Yet there had been no madness. No fugue. He''d known it was the tonic, known the entire time. That it was unnatural. Yet he hadn''t cared. Everything that couldn''t be leveraged into the total destruction of his opponent had been discarded. A whine shook him from his thoughts. Kaius strained against the heavy meat that pinned him, craning his head to see Porkchop limping towards him on quaking limbs. His friend seemed tense. Cautious. "Kaius!" Porkchop''s tone was frantic. "Are you okay? Has the bloodlust left you?" Kaius grunted, pushing against the body on top of him as he attempted to wriggle free. "Yeah. Yeah, I''m okay. The tonic wore off. Hells of a fucking tonic though, gods." He cursed. Porkchop slumped down to the floor next to him, grunting in pain. "I''m still too weak to pull it off you. Give me a few minutes." He spat out the last revitalisation tonic, the square glass bottle thunking into the earth. "I''ll be fine." Kaius heaved, wincing as the cuts on his body were yanked uncomfortably from the movement. A few moments of frantic shuffling and he managed to pull himself free. "See?" Moving to stand, Porkchop interrupted him with a growl. "Sit. Rest. Rage like that burns you, tires the mind even if your body is left untouched. It is an affliction of the meles. We can ... lose ourselves in the heat of battle. You feel it too. I know it. The rush. This was different. Too brutal. No passion, only hate and cold. You should be wary of that tonic Kaius." Kaius sighed at Porkchop words, but relented and returned to sitting. Swiping his tonic from the ground, he slotted it back safely into his potion pouch. Looking at the glassy eyes of the Grimclaw, and his sword that was sunken hilt deep into its chest, he knew his friend was right. Yet the power had saved their life. He would use it again if he had to.. "I didn''t lose myself, that''s the most disconcerting thing. I was still me. I just only cared about death." He muttered. "Just be careful." "I will." He thought back on the exchange. The sheer power, the control, that the tonic had given him. Never in his mind did he think he would be able to get that level of control over his Health until he had merged Lesser Regeneration. He dove inwards, waiting a few seconds for a burst of Health to spurt from his soul. He grabbed the scrap of the resource. Directing it to the cut in his thigh, urging it to knit skin back together and skin alone. It was slow, far slower and less efficient than he had been only minutes before. It still worked. Still restored flesh far faster than he could before. His mind was slower, weaker without the power of the draught. But the knowledge, the capability remained. What if it was repeatable? Dangerous indeed. Looking over to Porkchop he activated his Sense Mana. A blinding halo lit up. He dialled it back, reducing the impressions of latent mystic force until it returned to diffuse auras. A flick of mental will locked the skill in place. He gazed out at their surroundings in awe, the mana was everywhere. Blanketed everything. Trees wreathed in greens and browns. The lights above glistening in silver and gold. He looked left, towards the massive sentinel that dominated the clearing. It shone with a radiant inner light. The Depths had always had a savage grace to them, but this was true beauty. Regardless if the tonic had saved their life, it would have been worth it for just this sight alone. Porkchop had tried to help him with the skill. As a greater beast he could naturally see mana. Yet the fact that his friend had the power as a birth right meant that he''d never had to learn how to control it, nor was it quite as acute as his own. Porkchop''s advice had been about as helpful as if he had tried to explain how to make seeing in colour less overwhelming. "What''re you looking at?" Porkchop asked, cocking his head at him. "Sense Mana. Figured out how to use it properly thanks to the tonic. It''s everywhere." Kaius replied absentmindedly, fascinated with his surroundings. Porkchop snorted. "Of course it is, we are in the Depths. Even the inner Sea struggles to compare to the density. It is pretty though." The pair sat in companionable silence, waiting for their wounds to heal while they rested next to the corpse of their slain foe. Enjoying the moment of peace that followed a hard fought battle. Kaius rose first, his bolstered regeneration and comparatively few wounds allowing him to rise quickly. He grabbed his sword, yanking it free from the Champions chest. "Back in a moment, gonna go get my pack." Kaius trotted off, approaching the tree where he and Porkchop had originally planned their assault. Slinging his bag back on, he walked back to the site of their victory. "So, how''re we doing? Ready to go look for the loot?" Kaius asked with a wide grin. Digging through the pile, Kaius managed to find a ring on a discarded arm. The flesh on the finger had been left intact, but had desiccated. Perhaps from the same body as the helmet? Regardless of its origin, Kaius delicately pulled it free from the shrivelled digit. Tossing it towards his other prize, he returned to digging. "Nothing. That''s it." He picked up his spoils, wandering over to his friend. "Well, it smells gross here. I suggest we check out what these babies do outside. Maybe somewhere with a soft patch of leaf litter to sit on." "Agreed." They left the hollow, walking a short distance to get away from the sprawling roots that rose up above their heads at the base of the tree. Kaius plopped himself down, holding his new helmet up to get a better look at it. It was a hardy thing. Made of gleaming bronze metal, it had a ridge that ran along its top. Sweeping extrusions ran along where it would sit against his cheek and jaw, and a slip of metal shot down from the brow to protect the nose. Swirling embossed designs of knots covered the entire thing, and when Kaius looked closely he could make out dense lines of runic script etched into the decorative covering. He appraised it. Kallheim Helm: Common - Tier I The Cold Home is a ruthless place. Life is cheap, and death is cheaper. It breeds hard men, but even a hard man does not survive an axe to the skull. Made from a cold bronze and steel alloy, with a padded beast leather interior. Simple protection, but stout and reliable thanks to its make and materials. Depths-wrought Artefact. Medium Armour (Helmet) Durability I, Impact Negation I, Self Repair I He read the notification, turning the helm around in his hands. Nothing exciting, but like it said - you didn''t need something fancy if it still stopped your head getting caved in. He shrugged and slid it on. His shaggy hair immediately covered his eyes. Pulling it off with a huff, Kaius threw his head back to get his hair out of the way. He might need to go at it with his knife again soon. The helmet went back on, now keeping his hair out of his eyes. It fit perfectly, snug but not tight. "Nice." He thought to himself, doing up its clasp to secure it in place. A shake of his head confirmed it wasn''t going anywhere. "Looks a little silly. Different colour from your scale." Porkchop said, watching him from off to the side. Kaius rolled his eyes at his friend. "It will also save my life if someone hits me over the head. I can deal with a little clashing colours." He reached for the ring. "Now if you''ll excuse me, I have something else to look at" Plain and made with gleaming silver, it had a ring of runes around its inner edge, while an engraved closed fist graced its exterior. Ring of the Dedicated Brawler: Common Only a coward brings a sword to a fist fight. Made from shining argentium, this ring''s enchantments turn the wielder''s hands to iron, allowing them to turn blades and land heavier blows. Slightly enhances Strength. Depths-wrought Artefact. Accessory (Ring) Brawlers Gambit I, Resizing I, Self Repair I **Ding! Appraise has reached level 20!** Kaius grinned as he saw the notification that trailed shortly after the ring''s description, though he set the thought to the side for the moment. Holding the ring up, Kaius stared at its description pensively. It might work. May as well try. "Hey, Porkchop?" Chapter 45 : A Lesser Merge Kaius rolled the ring around in his hand, staring at the light that bounced off its polished exterior. Resizing.. It was a minor enchantment. Usually used so that artificers wouldn''t have to waste their precious time on measuring clients for non commissioned pieces. He honestly had no idea how far the enchantment could be pushed. If it was artisan made he wouldn''t even try, but items from the Depths tended to be a little stronger, and a lot more weird than those made by people. Only the best enchanters would be able to scribe runes as dense and small as the ones that lined the ring, and they certainly wouldn''t put that much effort into a Common item. His friend responded to his call, trotting over. "Yes?" "I think I might have found you some loot after all?" he said, holding up the shining ring with a grin. Porkchop looked at him quizzically. "That thing? What am I supposed to do, tie it to my fur?" "Just give your paw you dolt." Kaius said, gesturing impatiently with his hand. Porkchop chuffed, putting one of his front paws on Kaius''s knee. It was massive, easily half the size of his torso. "Oof. You''re a heavy bastard, aren''t you?" He got a throaty growl in response to his jibe. Laughing back at his friend, Kaius brought the ring closer to one of Porkchop''s thick claws. They were frightening things, as long as his hand and built like the curved tip of a pick. The ring expanded. Growing in his hands until it would fit loosely around two of his fingers. Kaius grinned, happy that he was right, and slid it down Porkchop''s middle digit. It would be more out of the way there. The ring shrunk, tightening to sit snug against the base of Porkchop''s digit. He yelped in surprise, the insignia of a closed fist flashing once. Once he got over his initial shock, Porkchop held his paw up curiously, eying the artefact. "What does it do? I feel a little jittery." He asked curiously. "The jitters might be from some Strength, though I don''t know the effect personally. It also does something else. Do you trust me?" "Of course." Porkchop responded without hesitation. "Give me your paw again." Porkchop placed his paw back on Kaius''s lap. To his friend''s credit, the furry lump only flinched a little when he drew his hunting knife. Bringing the edge of the blade to Porkchop''s pad, he dragged it across sharply. Porkchop let out a huff of surprise. The honed edge skittered across his friend''s paw, leaving no sign of a mark in its wake. Pulling his paw back, Porkchop stared at it with open fascination. "I doubt the enchantment is strong enough to deal a heavy blow from an enchanted axe or anything, but I thought maybe you would get less cut up if you could smack away swords without worrying about being cut to ribbons. I''d bet it makes your paws hit way harder too." Kaius explained, watching as his friend turned his paw back and forth. "I think we should start looking for the next Champion," Porkchop said. "It is very important we get more loot." Kaius let out a laugh from deep in his belly. "I knew I could get you to see it my way! I''ve just got a couple of things I want to do first. Checking those artefacts brought Appraise up to twenty, and I''d like to merge Identify and get my last skill before we go galavanting off." With everything else already capped for his next legacy skill, Kaius had been growing impatient. The level of Appraise couldn''t have come at a better time. "Watch over me?" he asked. Porkchop chuffed in acceptance, and Kaius closed his eyes - dropping into his soul space. The glowing bonfire of his soul shone in his mental sight, revealing the skill shards that orbited it. He quickly spotted Appraise and Inspect. He doubted he would have any difficulty with the merge, even with the escalating mental strain with each successive legacy skill. The skills were supremely compatible, and there were only two. He wove a rope of soul-fire, the strand coming away with ease. Connecting it to Inspect took moments. An encyclopaedia of sights washed through him. A catalogue of a thousand beasts, and a thousand classes. Similarities, simple categorisations. It wasn''t an indepth look, but even a short entry to a growing book of knowledge had value. The choir of his legacy skills screamed for his attention, but before they could get their avaricious hooks in him, he was already moving. He drew another thread of soul fire, sending it questing for Appraise. This skill was similar to its cousin, but avaricious. The merchant to the curious researcher before. Simple pottery through to the rarest of legendary blades. All were stripped back, quantified. Appraised. A third thread connected the skills. They all but smashed into each other, so eager was their desire for union. **Ding! Skill Merged! Identify obtained!** Kaius opened his eyes with a smile, bringing up the description of his latest skill. Each level moderately increases visual processing capacity. Each level slightly increases range and detail of sight. Kaius let out a sigh of relief, at the very least the burden would lessen as he increased the skills level. "Alright, I''m all done. Wanna go for a walk and see where all the exits are?" "Yes!" Porkchop said, tapping the ground rhythmically with his feet. "Maybe we will find more loot!" Kaius laughed. "Maybe. Though this place is a lot smaller than the blue grove, so don''t be disappointed if there is just the one Champion." He jumped to his feet, walking with Porkchop towards the tree line at the edge of the clearing. ... In the end, despite scouring the glade from top to bottom, they weren''t able to find another champion. Plenty of howlers to tussle with, another convenient spring, and half a dozen exits, but no more Champions. The howlers themselves quickly grew to be an annoyance. Despite their potent regeneration, they were no true threat. Yet they didn''t have the decency to fall quickly to their blades. More than content to exhaust them with a steady stream of rabid attacks. Quickly deciding to move on, Kaius and Porkchop pushed through another tunnel. Days passed as they wandered through jagged corridors of solid stone. Even with Low Light Vision Kaius found the darkness oppressive. Seeing in monochrome for so long gave everything a strange washed out quality to it, and he missed the simple vibrancy that colour brought to light. His unease was only worsened by the focus the tunnels demanded of him. Filled with traps and ambush predators, Kaius had to stay constantly alert. Sometimes, over an hour would go by without an encounter. Others, he was forced to disarm three traps in a row while a half rotten undead hauled itself out of a shallow grave and attempted to ambush him from behind. In that case, Porkchop had more than proved his worth as a rear guard. A single swipe with his newly enhanced paws had crushed the creature''s head. Thankfully, the long passages of dark were broken up every couple of hours by smaller caverns. It was a twisted respite, one that they were forced to wrest from the grip of hungry beasts and restless dead. Eventually though, something changed. They''d left the last cavern about an hour ago, having made camp there the night before. It had been a good rest spot. The only inhabitants were a couple of rams and a single undead sheppard. An unusually low number of enemies, but the cavern itself had been small. Barely forty paces from edge to edge. A single tree stood proud in the centre, glowing with a familiar blue that had made Kaius think of the glade where he had spent his first months in the depths. The sheppard had been disposed of quickly, and they had had a fantastic meal of roast mutton. There''d even been enough to restock their stores of jerky, even with Porkchop''s impressive appetite. Now though, they were back on foot, traversing more shadowed tunnels torn through with twisted roots. They turned a corner. The passage abruptly changed. Gone were the roots and raw natural cave walls. In their place was a tunnel that had been hacked through stone. Forcefully and brutal, whatever had created the passage had left carved scars etched into the walls. Haphazard logs were propped up as supports. Some were simple rough hewn logs, branches barely even trimmed. Others looked like the supports of more civilised folk, but ancient. Splintered and bowed. The line that delineated the two styles was stark. Almost razor thin, and perfectly straight. As if some god had hacked too different tunnels in half and transported them here to be pasted together with deific magic. "Stop." Kaius called at once. "What do you think it is? Haven''t seen anything like that in.... Well ever." Porkchop asked. "No idea. But let''s be careful. So far ''different'' may as well mean ''dangerous''" Kaius replied with a low voice, calmly pulling his sword free from his sheath. He crept forwards. "Agreed." Porkchop said, following close behind. Despite their tension, nothing happened as they approached the sudden change in the tunnels. Peering further, Kaius could see nothing that would warrant halting their approach. "Last chance. Want to go back and try a different tunnel?" Kaius asked, checking Porkchop for his response. "No way. ''Different'' is also interesting. I''m sick of these tunnels." Porkchop replied, urging him on. Kaius nodded. He stepped over the threshold. **Biome Entered: The Great Warren** Chapter 46 : New Environs Kaius stopped fast at the threshold between the root-bound cave and the carved tunnel, staring at the notification that told him he had entered The Great Warren. Porkchop stepped up next to him, also pausing with a low growl as he saw his own version of the notion. "Seems we have a decision to make." Kaius said after he had had a moment to digest the information. "Agreed." "Well." Kaius said, walking to the side of the cave. He rested his back against the wall, looking at Porkchop with his arms crossed. "Do we want to stay where we are? Keep looking for a Guardian?" "I''m ready for something new," Porkchop said. "There''s only so much of walking through the same bloody caves I can take for weeks on end." Kaius frowned. "You have a point. Though, I didn''t expect that it would take us so long to at least find one. Most stories I''ve heard from delvers say that they can usually clear a biome in a couple of weeks or so. Unless they are walking straight there I don''t see how that''s possible. We''ve spent so long just bloody wandering." "Known biomes would explain it. If they already know where the Guardian is it wouldn''t take anywhere near as long. We''re basically just exploring at random," Porkchop replied. "That would explain at least part of it." Kaius said, reaching up to rub his chin. "But lots of delvers explore passages in the wild. There must be some method." Porkchop snorted, mild amusement flowing across their link. "That might be so, but we don''t have any way of following their method. Especially not if it is some sort of two-legged artifice. We''re getting ahead of ourselves. Finding a Guardian can wait, you still have skills to merge, and we both still have a long time until our full induction into the system." "You''re right." Kaius sighed. "But we can do that, and probably find more Champions, here. The Overgrown Graves are a known quantity, and this next biome is a warren." "And?" Porkchop replied quizzically. "Oh. Right." Kaius said, feeling a little foolish. Of course Porkchop would have no reference for what the biome being a warren meant. He stood up off the wall, pacing slightly as he explained what he knew. "Father spent a lot of time discussing biome names with me. They can reveal a lot of what you can expect to find in that section of the Depths. For example Overgrown Graves suggested that there would be undead and probably beasts as well. Its no nowhere near perfect, there''s a lot of room for interpretation, and it gets a lot more complicated at lower levels." "So, a Warren would have things that normally live underground?" Porkchop asked, tilting his head at Kaius. Kaius nodded. "Most likely, but not just that. Things like ''warren'', ''infestation'', or ''siege'' suggest that it''s probably going to be horde enemies. Sort of like a swarm, but across the whole biome. Lots of enemies, but comparatively weaker even if they have similar levels to elsewhere. "Still better than here. I''m sick of fighting undead. They taste disgusting which means I have to avoid biting them. It''d be like fighting with one of your arms behind your back." Porkchop''s distaste was almost palpable, the faintest hint of vile rot slipping across their link. Kaius went a little green. "The Great Warren it is!" He readily agreed. "Let''s be careful though. We still don''t know what sort of depths-born we will find, and there will be new traps as well." They set off, Kaius taking the lead as they entered the new region of the dungeon. Kaius took the lead, sword in hand as he scanned their surroundings for any sign of traps. The tunnel was clearly manufactured, very unlike the natural caverns they had just left. Whatever had dug them was..inelegant. Like they had been excavated with picks alone, no concern for anything other than breaching further into the bedrock. The supports were haphazard. Uneven, and scattered at seemingly random intervals. Half had clearly been scavenged, and not treated well besides. The carved beams were splintered, and in some cases had been chopped to length in order to fit the tunnels uneven width. Hells, half of them looked like they would fall to pieces at the slightest touch. The other supports weren''t much better. Hacked tree trunks, with little to no time spent on curing the raw lumber. It was blatant they had been hammered to place while still fresh, and as soon as the logs had dried they''d shrunk. More than one of the amateur supports looked to have completely given out due to that very reason, though luckily the tunnel itself held stable. As they took turn after turn, passing through intersections, the oppressive darkness started to pull back. Whatever had inhabited these tunnels, or the Depths itself, had hung crude oil lanterns on every second or third support. It was weak lighting that draped the tunnels in deep shadow. Luckily, his Low Light Vision was unaffected. Nothing would be able to hide itself in a patch of darkness to ambush them when they passed. Ducking under a support beam that had slumped, falling down to his chest height, Kaius felt Explorer''s Toolkit twinge. "Wait. There''s a trap." He said, stopping fast. "Got it." Porkchop said, halting before he backed up to give Kaius room. They''d figured out that one the hard way. Kaius wasn''t always successful at disabling the traps, and there''d been one time he''d almost gotten impaled by a spear trap when Porkchop had accidentally body blocked him. Porkchop gave him a concerned look, but didn''t press the issue further. They moved on. After another quarter hour, and several more traps, the tunnel started to open up. It was a cavern. Just as rough hewn as the passage Kaius looked in from, several trunk-sized logs haphazardly held up the ceiling. Kaius ducked to the side of the tunnel, frantically gesturing at Porkchop to do the same. Inside he could see a good dozen or so creatures huddling around a small fire. They were squat green things, maybe as tall as his chest. Covered in rustic leather and spun clothes. Jagged dagger-like ears poked out from their heads, while cruel eyes were set deep into too-sharp features. Each and every one of them held a wicked looking blade. They were as foreign to Kaius as anything. He''d never seen anything like them. Identify helped with that. Goblin Outcast - Level 15: Depths-born, Low Race Kaius''s eyes widened at the notification. Goblins! That was unexpected. He turned to Porkchop, frantically waving for his friend to move back down the way he came. Porkchop assented in silence, padding away as Kaius followed close behind. Once they were at a safe enough distance to not be heard, Kaius called for them to halt. "Goblins! Never thought I would see one in my life. Well, not until I went north that is." He said, still excited at the chance to see the creatures. Even if they were notoriously vile things. "Goblins? You know what these things are?" Porkchop responded curiously. "Yeah, sort of like a northern boggart." He said. Porkchop made a noise of disgust. "And this pleases you? Boggarts are a plague." Kaius rolled his eyes. "No, I know that. So are goblins. It''s just cool to see them after having heard so many stories from my father about them. They were his favourite monster to use whenever I asked for a scary story as a kid. Apparently they live in the northern mountain ranges. Supposed to be a major problem for the Stonehold''s." "I can imagine that if they are like boggarts." "Apparently they are worse," Kaius said. "You know how boggarts inevitably flame out when a tribe gets too large?" Porkchop grunted and gave Kaius a short nod. "Yeah, goblins don''t. Imagine a boggart that was half as stupid, knew enough farming to just barely not starve, still bred like locusts, and had a tendency to fall under the banner of the biggest and meanest lump around." Kaius chittered, gesturing wildly with excitement. "Kaius. None of that is a good thing." "Uh, yeah." He scratched his head. "I know that. But it''s still cool to see them! It''s like seeing the Hiwiann bloodstones! Barely anyone travels to the Stoneholds, and if you don''t go there, you don''t see goblins." "Kaius. Focus. Do you know anything that will actually help us clear this biome? Or do you just know stories." "Hmm." Kaius took a moment to think. "Well, they''re not much for building. As you can probably tell by the state of these shafts we''ve been exploring. But they do have a tendency to make use of anything they find. Apparently whenever the dwarves lose one of their deep settlements it gets turned into..a..warren..." Kaius trailed off. "So. What you''re trying to tell me is that there might just be a city of these things down here." "....yes?" Kaius said after a moment. "Great. Still better than undead." Porkchop pushed past him, striding towards the goblin camp with intention. "Let''s go." Chapter 47 : A City, Lost The final goblin came at him with a feral squeal, swinging its rusted machete at him in a sloppy overhand blow. Kaius parried, A Father''s Gift knocking the short depths-born''s blade away with a clang. The goblin was left open. He followed through. The point of Kaius''s sword punched right through its face with a spray of green blood. **Ding! level 15 Goblin Outcast slain** He sneered in disgust as the creature went limp, sliding free from his sword with a wet schlick. It was the last one. The fight had been easy. Coming up to his chest, he had an immense reach advantage on the goblins, even before his longsword was factored in. Though thanks to the tyranny of stats, they were still stronger than him. Everything he had fought for months had been stronger than him. It didn''t matter all that much when the only way they had tried to leverage it was clumsy swings and wild swarm tactics. The goblins were about as good with their jagged machetes as he had expected after seeing their ramshackle weapons. Terrible. It had been all too easy to punish amateur swings with fatal repostes. Kaius turned to check on his friend, finding Porkchop licking one paw clean of blood. A pile of crushed corpses arrayed around him. "Gross." He said, squirming at the sight of his friend happily enjoying goblin blood. "What? It''s almost as good as jerky after all the undead." Kaius shook his head. "Definitely still gross." Porkchop huffed and went back to cleaning himself. Shaking his head, Kaius moved towards the cook fire that was at the mining caverns centre. The goblins had been roasting some sort of beast over it. A massive rodent, judging by the head and tail. Frankly, it smelled delicious, especially after months of unsalted jerky and hastily cooked kills. He''d had a growing suspicion that the Depths tried to make water and food readily available. Whatever the purpose of the arcane structure, its challenges weren''t meant to include death by starvation or dehydration. Even so, he would have to be an idiot to eat the meat without checking it first. He used Identify. Roast Rous: Depths-wrought Item A Rous that has been inexpertly roasted over an open fire. Partially scorched. At least it''s salted. **Ding! Identify has reached level 3!** Salt. He was already moving. Snatching one of the legs of the roasted beast, he twisted it free with an uncomfortable crack. The fire hissed as stray juice sizzled on the hot coals below. SInking his teeth into the leg, the meat scorched his mouth. He ignored the pain, moaning as salted meat practically melted in his mouth. Kaius laughed into his food as Porkchop bolted over at seeing his reaction. His friend ripped his own leg free from the carcass. Savaging it on the cavern floor. "It''s not gonna run away." "Why." The bone crunched between Porkchop''s jaws. "Is." A chuck of meat came free with a snarl. "This." He snapped it down. "So. GOOD." "Salt. Best thing ever discovered." He tore his eyes away from the vista in front of him, giving Porkchop a nod. Moving to the edge of the ledge he lay down on his stomach, facing the city. It was a sheer drop to the cavern floor. One he had no chance of surviving if he fell. With the vertigo he got from Eagle Eye, he didn''t want to risk it. Focusing on the city, he amped up his skill, wincing as everything in sight was thrown into sharp relief. Not enough. It was more detailed, but he could still barely make anything out. He pushed the skill to full power, groaning as ice-picks of pain hammered their way into the back of his orbits. Pushing through the pain, he swept his eyes over the city. **Ding! Eagle Eye has reached level 4!** Immediately he could see the flaws in the city. It was dirty. War-torn. Everything was smudged in a layer of grime. The desiccated bodies of slain armoured dwarves filled the streets, and the stone that wasn''t cracked was worn away. **Ding! Eagle Eye has reached level 5!** His eyes burned. Forcing him to blink so that he could continue to scout. The mental load was worse. His mind felt like an overstretched waterskin, every second forcing it closer and closer to bursting. From what he was seeing, it was worth it. Porkchop was right, the place was absolutely crawling with feral goblins. Though thanks to his skill he could tell that they were distributed in a decidedly unnatural way. **Ding! Eagle Eye has reached level 6!** While he had no way to see into the many buildings, from the squat green figures he could see wandering the streets and lounging on roofs, they seemed to be bunched together. Groups of thirty or so were milling about, going about their day, but there would be streets between them and the next. If they were careful, they should be able to deal with them section by section. Hopefully without causing enough of a ruckus to bring a whole horde down on their heads. **Ding! Eagle Eye has reached level 7!** Another notification dinged in his mind. With each one his eyes strained just a little less, his migraine slowly reducing. Barely. He still felt like he was getting smashed over the head with a hammer. Sweeping his eyes across the city, he looked for signs of Champions. At the end of the day that was what they were here for. He found the first likely candidate quickly. The bastard wasn''t even in the city, but in the fungal fields outside. Standing out like a sore thumb, a mounted warrior prowled amongst the spread out common goblins who wandered the rows of crops. Garbed in cruelly spiked leather armour, the goblin sat astride a massive wolf-like creature. It was a Champion, no two ways about it. **Ding! Eagle Eye has reached level 8!** The second one was near a massive set of stairs that lead up to the second tier of the city. Lording over some sort of mustering grounds, it stood head and shoulders above the rest of its kind. Of course, being head and shoulders above a goblin probably meant it was only as tall as he was, but the creature''s bare chest was laden with muscle. Halfway up the city there was some sort of open air temple. A square of free standing pillars surrounding a wide altar at the centre of a massive pavilion. A goblin stood tall on the raised stone, waving a staff through the air as it led its fellows through some sort of ceremony. **Ding! Eagle Eye has reached level 9!** He found nothing else until he reached the top of the pyramidal tiered city. A flat paved courtyard dominated the highest level, surrounded by a low wall with a statue depicting a stout warrior at its centre. Something massive stomped across its surface, dragging a club as big as he was behind it. Kaius blanched. Hulking and hideous, it was a fearsome sight to behold. There was no way that was a Champion. No, the massive circle of glowing runes carved into the courtyard''s surface gave away its true identity. They''d finally found a Guardian. Chapter 48 : Target Rich Environment Lying down on the ledge that overlooked the Depths'' recreation of a lost dwarven city, Kaius focused his gaze on the creature that lounged at its highest heights. He had to know more. Eagle Eye had more to give, but his eyes already felt like he was trying to look through vinegar. The less that was said about his headache, the better. It was a Guardian, he knew it. With how little success that they had had searching for the one in the Overgrown Caves it was most likely to be the one they were destined to face. Learning as much as he could about the beast was vital. Even if it would be agonising. He further released the grip he had held on Eagle Eye since he had received the skill. The Guardian slammed into full relief. The visual detail felt like a branding iron burning its way into his skull. Kaius choked back a scream, grinding his teeth together with a creak. **Ding! Eagle Eye has reached level 10!** The level up brought the faintest hint of relief, like a single one of the thousand blacksmiths who pounded on his temples had gotten bored and stopped. Previously he had only been able to tell the scale of the beast by comparing it to the pillars and statues that dotted the ritual plaza at the top of the city. In turn, they were roughly the same height as some of the smaller buildings situated on the previous tier of the city. **Ding! Eagle Eye has reached level 11!** The Guardian came up to roughly half of the column''s height. Considering that the ''small'' buildings in the richly ornate city quarter below were three stories tall, the Guardian must have been easily thrice Kaius''s height. **Ding! Eagle Eye has reached level 12!** An escalating stab of pain caused Kaius to scrunch his eyes closed with a groan. "Kaius..your eyes." Porkchop said. "Huh?" Kaius wiped at the tears that had been pooling. Pulling his hand back he saw they were streaked in red. He saw every line in his palm. The way the surface tension of his blood pulled it in narrow lines down the minute channels. Kaius frowned. "I should have noticed my Health draining.." he muttered through the fugue of the mental load of his skill. It had activated, he realised. Even now it was suffusing his eyes, fixing the damage his skill was doing. It was minute, a small enough trickle that he hadn''t noticed it through the tidal wave of visual information he was being inundated with. He shook his head, turning back to the Guardian. This was important. If the drain on his Health was this low it wasn''t doing any serious harm, it didn''t even come close to outstripping his regeneration. Pain was just free training for Rapid Adaptation anyway. "Maybe you should take a break." Porkchop said, looking at him with concern. "No." Kaius shook his head. "I''m fine, it''s good training. Give me another minute or two and I''ll tell you what I''ve learned." Turning back to the dwarven fortress city, Kaius refocused his gaze on the Guardian. Letting his skill ramp back up to full power. The immediate spike of pressure in his head drawing a wince from him. Bound in rippling muscle, the creature''s skin was thick and craggly. Not quite scaled, but it still looked like it would turn a blade as well as any leather armour. Now in full detail, the club it wielded was clearly a rough hewn tree trunk, slightly whittled down to a grip at one end. Crude spikes had been hammered in. It was a savage thing, something that would paste him in a single blow. He doubted even heavy-plate would do much. He''d seen it like before, but never so large. Some kind of troll or ogre. His only encounter had been from a distance. When a lesser cousin of the Guardian had wandered down from the mountains that cut off the deep Sea from the rest of the forest. Father had said it must have been starving, as they usually avoided areas of low mana. He still remembered the way his father had dismantled it. Carving it to pieces as it tried to squash him with a boulder that must have weighed as much as an ox. Bloody thing had taken hours to die, even after it had spent its Health. Kaius doubted the Guardian would be any different. **Ding! Eagle Eye has reached level 13!** Now that he was paying attention, he felt the drain on his Health ramping up with every second he kept his skill at full strength. It had dipped notably with his level up, as had the throbbing ache in his head, but it wasn''t enough to outstrip the damage he was accumulating. He needed to finish up his scouting fast. He focused on the Guardian, trying to Identify it. It took a force of will for him to get the skill to work. While the skills description didn''t mention a distance limit, it seemed to have one all the same. Spiking his agony as he stretched the skill. With a ding, a notification sprung into his face. "This is true." "Now!" Kaius clapped his hands. "The first Champion candidate is outside the city. There''s a bunch of fields of mushrooms down there, but most are pretty spread out. The one we''re looking for is riding on some sort of wolf thing. He''s got a spear, but he''s pretty lightly armoured. I think if we can kill the mount he should be pretty easy to deal with. What do you say? Time to get some more loot?" Porkchop shot to his feet. "Yes! Let''s go already." he said, rushing over to the wide stone steps that were carved into the side of the cavern. "Hey! Wait up! And be careful on those stairs, if you slip you''re toast." Kaius said, rushing after his friend. ... The walk down to the mushroom fields had been treacherous. While the stairs were wide and had more than enough space for both of them to walk abreast, they were glassy smooth. Without a railing to protect them from going over the edge, a single misstep would have been enough to do them in. Every time Kaius looked to the left over the yawning drop to the floor below his head swam. He''d never exactly been bad with heights, but walking next to an open drop that steep was enough to set anyone''s teeth on edge. Porkchop had it worse, his weight distribution getting the best of him. Fur covered paws got little traction on the polished stone, and every step threatened to send him tumbling to his death. Every long-stride was taken at a snail''s pace, slowing their descent to a crawl. As they walked every now and then Kaius would intensify Eagle Eye a little, scanning for the mounted goblin champion. It roamed around the mushroom fields, and a little headache and vertigo was more than worth keeping track of its movements. Eventually though, they reached the bottom. As soon as they hit the loamy soil, Porkchop dived forwards. Burying himself snout deep in the damp earth. "Ground. Sweet sweet ground." Porkchop all but moaned. Kaius himself wasn''t much better, taking a seat next to his friend. "I feel you." He muttered, giving Porkchop a scratch. "We should get moving though, the Champion is still relatively close. If we can help it, I would like to avoid fighting our way through a city''s worth of farmland." Huffing in acceptance, Porkchop took the opportunity to get one last roll in the dirt. Kaius shook his head at his friends'' antics. The pair set off, heading in the direction that Kaius had last seen the mounted goblin. The fungal crops were strange things. Set in neat rows were a dizzying array of mushrooms. Most were a motley collection of standard caps, ranging from ankle height all the way to coming up to his mid thigh. Their colours were just as diverse. Browns, greys, and tans were the most common colours, but others were a stark red, or brilliant blue. A rare few did not fit this mould. Strange clusters of ear-like growth, sending out plumes of glittering dust. Striking knots of twisted tendrils, writhing slowly as they passed. It was heaven for training Identify. Every third fungus seemed to be something new, pushing his skill to new heights. Unfortunately, eventually his growth tapered off as he ran into less and less unique specimens. Much to Kaius''s disappointment, none of the mushrooms were alchemical reagents. If they had, such a wealth of resources could have provided an extremely valuable source of renewable wealth if they were able to map a path back to the biome from the world above. At the very least, he could have used Explorers Toolkit to flesh out their supplies with some much needed poultices. Thankfully, neither were any of them toxic or poisonous. They were farms in truth, filled with a dizzying array of edible varieties. At the very least, they would be eating well while they cleared out the city. Despite what it looked like from above, the cavern floor wasn''t perfectly flat. As they traversed across the fields in search of the Champion, they walked up and down gentle rises and dips. It was after summiting one such rise, slightly taller than most, that they spotted their quarry. Maybe a few hundred strides away, the mounted goblin stalked through the fungal fields. Kaius put his hand up, gesturing for Porkchop to halt. After months of cooperation, his friend complied without hesitation, training his sight to where Kaius was looking. Kaius ratcheted up Eagle Eye, bringing the Champion into greater focus. The beast the goblin rode looked like it would come up to his chest. While he''d originally told Porkchop that it looked like a wolf, that was only true in the most twisted and nightmarish sense. Its head was blocky and thick, features twisted with a sick malevolence. Bulky muscle covered its thin frame, almost looking to painfully yank at its joints. The goblin wasn''t much better. Sitting high in its saddle, its eyes scythed over the fields. Looking at distant labouring goblins with a cruel sneer on its face. It was garbed in light studded leather and held a long barbed spear. One that looked better designed for maiming than it did striking true killing blows. He relayed what he saw to Porkchop, his friend growling low in his chest as he squared off against the far off Champion. Kaius felt it too. The familiar heat in his blood. The way his concerns and fears dampened. It was a rush like nothing else. Knowing that the only thing that stood between him and a gruesome end was his skill, timing, and ability. He couldn''t wait. Chapter 49 : Keikaku Means ‘Plan’ Kaius lay flat, the soft earth of the fungal farms dampening his clothes ever so slightly. Porkchop had hunkered down next to them. He peered over the peak of a soft rise in the fields, staring at the mounted goblin Champion that prowled a couple hundred long-strides away. Their walk here had been uneventful. Only the dizzying array of mushrooms, and the odd goblin labourer had interrupted their journey. Now he watched the Champion. Tried to learn as much as he could, before he dived head first into fraught confrontation once more. Up close, he got a much better look at the depths-born. Unlike some of the others that he saw in the city, this one was not much larger than the common labourers they had mowed through in the fields. Its spear looked just as mean as it had before, but it was also long. More of a pike or a lance than a weapon meant for duelling. Its mount, the cruel wolf looking creature, was smaller than he expected. Viciously muscled it may have been, the creature looked like it would match him shoulder to shoulder. By no means an easy fight, but far smaller than the Dreadclaw had been. Barely taller than Porkchop, though his friend almost certainly had more mass. It was garbed in thick leather barding, armouring its side, back, and chest. He used Identify, first on the goblin, and then on its mount. Goblin Outrider - Level 25: Champion, Depths-born, Cavalry, Low Race Warg - Level 22: Depths-born, Beast, Mount, Elite **Ding! Identify has reached level 16!** Kaius gave the skill notification a quick look. Inspecting the massive variety of mushrooms in the fields had been amazing for its growth. He shoved it to the back of his mind, turning his attention back to the Outrider. The Champion itself glowed in the sight of his Sense Mana, the aura giving away its empowered might. He''d started to get more comfortable with the skill, more used to the constant ghostly presence of the mystic world. He hoped that this time he would be able to make use of it in the fight. Capitalise on the information it provided much like he had under the influence of the Psychopathic Assault tonic. Kaius ducked back down, hiding behind the hill once more as he turned to Porkchop. "It''s a Champion alright," he whispered, shuffling away from the rise. "Only the goblin though. Its mount is something called a warg, level twenty-two. It''s a short thing, barely taller than the rest of the goblins. With how long its spear is I think it would be an easy fight if we can knock it from the saddle. Porkchop acknowledged him with a flick of his ears, crawling forward on his belly to get his own look at the mounted duo. He shimmied back a moment later. "I can take the warg, easy. Leather will not protect it from my new claws." Kaius nodded. His friend was right, while Porkchops new ring was most likely designed for a humanoid pugilist, its savagery was amplified in his friend''s hands. His long digging claws had hardened to the point they acted more like sharpened steel daggers, and they had been tearing through leather armoured goblins with ease. "Its biggest advantage is mobility, and its ability to use its lance. I think I should bait it into a charge while you lie in wait here, hidden behind the hill. Once it''s committed and summiting the peak, you pounce on the warg." Kaius said, tracing a loose diagram in the dirt. Porkchop looked at his drawing, flicking his ears in agreement. "I''m ready when you are." He said, backing up and bracing himself to charge at the slightest provocation. Kaius nodded, taking a moment to breathe, stoking the heat that bubbled just below the surface. His heart raced, blood rushing to his extremities. He was ready. Jumping to his feet, he drew his sword and stomped to the top of the hill. Stern eyes locked on the champion, boring into them. "Hey, short-stuff!" He yelled. "Get your ass over here." "Wait." Kaius held his hand up to stop his friend. "Stay behind the hill. We try again." "Kaius! It already knows what we''re trying to do!" "Doesn''t matter, it still needs to come off the saddle," he said, voice stony. "Best chance we have is if it can''t see you. It won''t know where you are waiting." Porkchop growled, but moved back out of sight of the Champion once more. Speeding up from a trot, the outrider began to race towards Kaius once more. His gaze sharpened on the rapidly approaching Champion, surrounding distractions forgotten. No fluctuations in its aura. It wasn''t using a skill this time. Yet. The goblin stared at him with undisguised aggression and hate, thin lips peeling back to reveal densely clustered needle-like teeth. It lowered its spear, training it on him. Kaius screwed his feet into the earth, finding his grip. Ready to dive at the last moment. He had to time it right. Last time he''d been a second too early. Given the goblin time to adjust. He couldn''t afford another hit. Now. He threw himself to the side, away from the encroaching barbed spear head that had been rushing towards his chest. The goblins aura pulsed, its spear flaring with light. With unnatural speed and grace the spear shifted, setting itself back on course. Kaius blanched. No way to dodge. Didn''t have the footing. Gritting his teeth he slammed his blade into the spear thrust. Just barely managing to shift it away from his chest. The barbed spearpoint bound his blade, ripping it free from his hands and sending it spinning into the dirt. Jagged metal raked the side of his ribs, catching the edge of his scales, tearing through the chain and soft flesh below. Kaius let out a scream at the mutilation. The mounted outrider cackled in glee, yanking on its reins. With preternatural agility the warg skidded to a halt, whirling towards Kaius. It pounced. Flying with outstretched claws and a low roar. Death approached. Kaius dove to the side, ignoring the hot blood that poured from his side. Porkchop slammed into the airborne warg, driving it onto the ground, prone. The goblin rider screamed in fury, tumbling free of its saddle. Porkchop laid into the warg in a whirlwind of snapping teeth and sharp claws. Kaius trusted his friend to do his part. He only had eyes for the grounded outrider. Already on its feet, it screamed at its mount. Tried to kick it to its feet, only to jump back hastily when Porkchop''s claws sailed within a finger length of its face. Backing up, it trained its hate on Kaius. Bringing its pike up to hold with both hands. It charged. Shoving the pain of his savage ribs into a box guarded by Rapid Adaptation, he lunged for his sword. Swiping it off the ground he swept out with a hasty parry, forcing away the goblin''s stab. He''d been right. On the ground the weapon was unwieldy. Hard for the diminutive goblin to control. "You''re mine now, you little shit." Kaius grinned at the goblin. It hissed back in response. "Drakk! Gruzka roknar, nukk vor Ghal!" The outrider spat. The words meant nothing to Kaius, save that their guttural, tortured syllables grated against his ears. Regardless of what the goblin said, it was filled with rage. Every word choked out, mangled by jaws designed more for the tearing of flesh than civilised speech. To his right, Kaius could see Porkchop savaging the warg with primal ferocity. Like they had anticipated, the mounts'' leather barding did little to protect it from the cutting fury of Porkchop''s claws. It still tried to give as good as it got, getting its feet under it to launch itself for Porkchop''s throat. Kaius slowly backed away from the fighting beasts, drawing the outrider with him. The goblin jabbed at him with its spear. They were slow strikes, the goblin poorly suited to controlling the weapon''s obscene length without the height and power of a charge behind it. Kaius smiled. Whatever benefit it had held from its weapons reach was long gone. It was on his turf now. He doubted it would be able to keep up. Chapter 50 : Duels Kaius circled the goblin champion at the summit of one of the slight hills that rolled over the fungal farms. Every few seconds it would test him, lunging forwards with a clumsy stab of its pike. Kaius would dance back, happy to take the time to let his ribs heal before he fully committed to an assault. Behind him he could hear Porkchop in full blown battle with the dismounted goblins warg. Their extended tussle had moved to the base of the hill, after a particularly successful tackle on Porkchop''s part had sent them rolling down its slope in a blur of claws and teeth. He knew his friend would come out on top. He already would have called for him if there was any true risk of something going awry. Kaius parried another of the Outriders'' thrusts. He felt the itching heat die down on his ribs as the flesh finished reknitting itself. He checked his resources. Resources: Health - 246/300 (2/min) Stamina - 184/200 (2/min) Mana - 140/140 (2/min) The drain had stopped. Though he was surprised at how little it had taken to heal the wound. It had felt like his entire side had been flayed. "Though, looking at that weapon, that''s no real surprise." He thought, staring at the bloodstained barbs that lined the spear points edges. Thrusting again, the outrider screamed in fury when Kaius parried its blow once more. "Vrakk! Grhuzkar ghul snar mi vhok!" Kaius shot the goblin a taunting grin. Whatever it tried to say was strangled in a furious cry. It launched forwards with a thrust. Smashing the stab aside, Kaius snapped out with his off hand, grabbing the weapon by the haft just below its stride long blade. Before the goblin could process the move, Kaius yanked. Sending it stumbling towards him. He returned the goblin''s aggression with a stab of his own. Enchanted steel was sharpened further by warforged, cleanly punching through the goblins studded leather armour to bury itself deep in the goblins chest. Green blood erupted from the Outriders mouth, spilling down to stain the front of its armour. Kaius pulled his sword free. The goblins aura pulsed. Its hand snaked for its back, ripping free a curved knife the length of Kaius''s forearm. It stabbed, glowing in the sight of Sense Mana. He tried to parry, still holding his sword with a single hand. The blade seemed to glide around his defence, somehow warping the path of his blade. No way to avoid it, not if he wanted to keep up the pressure. He leaned on Adamant Body, twisting at the last moment to protect his vitals. With unnatural luck the longknife found a gap in his armour, sinking into the side of his stomach. Pain flared, quickly locked away by Rapid Adaptation. Blood filled spilled free, staining gleaming scales red. **Ding! Adamant Body has reached level 12!** Roaring in fury, Kaius yanked on the goblin''s pike, pulling it forward. The knife shoved deeper into his stomach. He ignored it in favour of driving his knee deep into the Champion''s own. The goblin gasped, dropping its weapon. Kaius tossed the pike to the side, laying into the goblin''s jaw with a heavy haymaker. It stumbled, stunned by the shock of the swing. Kaius stepped back, the goblins knife still planted in his stomach. Gritting his teeth, he ripped it free. Tossing it behind him out of the goblins reach. He charged back in, swinging his sword in an upwards diagonal slice. Shaking itself free of its daze, the champion danced back. Avoiding its swing. It pulled free another knife from a sheath on its back, tossing it to his dominant hand with a hiss. Kaius refused to give the Outrider a moment to breathe, rushing in with a flurry of tight swings. Unburdened by its burdensome polearm, the goblin was an agile demon. It danced around his swings, cutting parries shunting his sword away. It wasn''t entirely successful. A growing number of cuts rent through its leather armour, wounds staining its torso a dark green. Even if it was nominally stronger than him, Kaius had the advantage of height and reach, and a knife was a poor match up for a longsword. A whine of despair came from behind him, followed by a savage crack and the sound of tearing flesh. He heard porkchop snarl his victory, announcing his domination of the warg. Kaius scowled. His friend had beat him. Unacceptable. No matter, his fun was drawing to a close. He stepped forwards, the goblin trying to ward him off with a messy slash of its knife. It''s body was failing it. Blood spilled free from a dozen deep rents in its flesh, and a myriad smaller cuts. A slab of its chest hung free. Revealing grizzly muscle and exposed ribs. Kaius had no doubt even if he left it, the Champion would expire of its wounds on its own. He would not be denied satisfaction. Another snarl of fury, Kaius heard his friend charging in from behind him. His hand flung out. "No! You had your fun. This one is mine," his voice was unyielding. Porkchop hissed. "Fine. Yours by right," his tone was clipped. Understanding, but in no way happy with withholding himself from more glorious battle. Kaius could feel it, rushing across the bond. The bloodlust. The desire to feel flesh give way beneath claw. For bones to crack underneath his teeth. It should have been maddening. It only heightened his lust. A savage cry tore at his throat. A scything cut coming in heavy. The outrider tried to block. Bracing against the blow with its whole body. His sword smashed into the tip of its knife. Overwhelming the point of poor leverage. A Father''s Gift rammed home. Cleaving flesh and bone alike. The goblin screamed. Right arm falling free with a spray of blood. Kaius pressed the assault. It might have felt agony. Might have known hate. It was still a depths-born. It did not flee. Did not beg. Even as it cried in horror of the approaching doom, it did its best to gut him. Shaky parries and dogged slips turned life ending blows into yet more mortal wounds. Moment by moment, it faltered. Nearly unable to stand. Joy flushed through Kaius''s blood. The satisfaction of a fight well fought. It had been a good opponent. Stronger, faster, with all of the advantages. It still crumbled before his might. It was over now. There was no honour, no song, to be had in toying with a finished opponent. He ended it. A cleave smashed its knife aside. Kaius whirled with the momentum. A follow up blow cleaved through the Outriders neck. Its malformed head flew free with a final gush of vital fluid, scowl frozen on its face forever more. **Ding! You have slain a Champion: Goblin Outrider - level 25 Ironlash Rider!** Kaius let out a scream of victory, channeling the crescendo of violent satisfaction that had been building the entire fight. Porkchop joined him, letting out a rumbling snarl. "Good fight!" "It was." Kaius panted, feeling the rush of battle lust slowly leave him. His exhaustion and aching wounds flooding back as his single minded focus ebbed. Staring at the ruined corpse of the Champion, he sheathed his blade. Spawn of the Depths and dwarven scourge it might have been, it had still given him a good fight. For that, he had a modicum of respect.. Turning to Porkchop, he was about to ask his friend about searching for their loot when another system notification stopped him fast. Rooting him to the spot. **Ding! Significant Feat of Strength performed under Observation. You have been awarded an Honour: Born for Slaughter** Chapter 51 : Honour, and Other Rewards **Ding! Significant Feat of Strength performed under Observation. You have been awarded an Honour: Born for Slaughter** Kaius stared at the notification, his pain and exhaustion completely forgotten. Shock paralysed him, he could feel another notification blaring in the corner of his mind. Demanding his attention. He left it there, too absorbed in the one that hung in his vision. This must have been what Porkchop was talking about. How the system rewarded those that pushed themselves when under its observations. But why now? The goblin was nowhere near the first Champion he had slain. "Kaius? What''s wrong? Are you injured?" Porkchop asked, coming forwards to examine him closely. Checking his wounds. Kaius shook his head, throwing off the shock. "..I think I found out how the Observed got so much stronger than everyone else." He said quietly. Porkchop''s eyes snapped up to meet Kaius''s own. "What?!" Kaius nodded, telling him about the notification he had received from killing the Champion. "What?! How? What does it give you?" Porkchop asked, the questions coming so fast they nearly blended into a single word. "I''m not sure yet, I haven''t checked it." Kaius said, shoving Porkchop away when was nearly bowled over in his friend''s excitement. "You haven''t checked it?! What the hells are you waiting for?" "Gimme a second! I was about to before you started asking questions," he huffed. Porkchop snorted in response, but waited patiently all the same. Kaius took a breath to calm his racing heart, and pulled up the final notification waiting for his attention. Like he expected, it was the Honour in question. Born for Slaughter: Honour Rules are made for a reason. Many are to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Some fools disregard those rules. Facing death due to need, want, hubris, and ignorance. Most are crushed under the weight of reality. Those that don''t are forged anew. Shining brighter than those that dared not. Awarded to those who slay three Champions unaided before class selection. Provides an Infinitesimal increase to skill levelling speed. +5 all stats. Bonus: For being the first in your cohort to achieve this honour skill the levelling bonus is increased to Minute, and the stat bonus is increased to +8 all stats. Kaius dropped like a marionette with his strings cut. Power surged through him. Shifting him, forcing him to change. He writhed as every facet of his being was reinforced, mind overwhelmed in totality. There was no pain. It was far far beyond that. He felt like he had been snatched up by a god. Broken. Prodded. Moulded into a more pure version of himself. Letting out a choked scream, he felt his body contort. Bones creaking under the force of his convulsions. White ice picks were driven into his mind. Forcible expanding his senses. Speeding up the rate in which he could process information. A slight amount, just under a fifth of his baseline capabilities. All at once it was immobilising. The moment seemed to crystallise into amber. Burning its way into his memory. Then it was over. He lay there panting, soaked in his sweat. He peered through bleary eyes to find porkchop staring at him. Barely a finger length from his face. "Ouch?" "Bugger off." Kaius said, pushing his friend away. "Hells that was awful. Even worse than the natural treasure." He shuddered. Was this what everyone went through? When they grew their class? "It gave you stats?" Porkchop guessed. Kaius pushed himself up. "Yeah. It did. How''d you know?" "Connecting to the ancestral blood stabilises you, eases the transition of growth. Gaining stats without it is supposed to be ... uncomfortable. At least the ones that aren''t natural growth. I assumed it was the same for Classes?" Porkchop asked. "Great. Another hole in my education." Kaius grumbled. Despite how much Father had taught him, it has become more and more clear how much had been sacrificed on the altar of preparing him for his legacy skills and class selection. Though, perhaps it was just another case of the meles'' oral histories remembering what people had forgotten. It was some sort of ...armour? That much was clear. Thick sections of leather reinforced by laminate plates of metal, held together by buckles and straps. There''s no way he could possibly wear it himself, it looked far too odd. He set it aside with a shrug, moving back to check the saddle bag. His hand hit the bottom, barely a stride in. He tore the bag open in horror, looking inside with desperation. His worst nightmare came to pass. It was empty, made of simple folded leather. A plain saddle bag. "No!" He cried in despair. "What''s wrong? No loot?" Porkchop said, galloping towards him. "Wait, it''s all here? What are you crying about then?" Kaius kneeled there, white faced. Mourning as his dreams of riches shattered like glass. A spatial artefact! It was right there. He stifled a sob, shoving his pain deep as he turned to shoot Porkchop a smile. "Nothing! Just hoped there would be a bit more." Porkchop cocked his head at him. "Liar. Also, weirdo." A moment later he pounced on the strange, too large armour that Kaius had pulled out of the saddlebag. "What''s this? Looks different." "Not sure yet. Give me a second." Kaius used Identify on the artefact. Deepbeast Light Barding: Common - Tier I Trained from birth, the dwarven beast-bound scouts are the eyes and ears of the Stoneholds. They prize their mounts higher than their own lives, and cost is no factor when it comes to keeping their companions safe in the dangerous conditions of the northern mountains of Vaastivar. Made from alchemically treated Ironox leather, reinforced with plates of doped titanium, this barding is designed to offer maximum protection to a variety of beasts without compromising mobility. Depths-wrought Artefact. Light Armour (Barding) Well Fitted I, Resizing I, Self Repair I Kaius smiled at the description. "It''s armour. That you can wear." Porkchop went stock still, ears flicking at the news. "I get armour?" "Yep!" Kaius said. Porkchop immediately went into a frenzy, bouncing back and forth in his excitement. Kaius laughed. "Easy, buddy. Calm down, and I''ll help you into it." With a clear effort of will, Porkchop went still. Kaius picked up the barding, unbuckling its straps before throwing it over Porkchop''s back. As he buckled it in place, straps seemed to shift to the perfect length, cinching snug, but leaving no excess weight. It fit Porkchop like a glove, conforming perfectly to his body. A massive reinforced section of leather draped over Porkchop''s back and shoulders, holding tight to wrap around his sides. His legs were left entirely free, apart from small free flowing sections that hung over his upper limbs. Short enough to stay out of the way while still providing some protection. A strange, almost-gorget, buckled around his neck, flowing into an armoured section that guarded the chest and top of Porkchop''s stomach. Metal plates were affixed all over the armour, adding additional protection to key vitals. It even had a couple of light weight saddle bags that rested on his hips. The barding provided almost complete coverage, and as soon as it was fully buckled in place Porkchop sprinted around like a mad man, diving and rolling around the ground. "It fits, and it doesn''t slow me down!" He said in wonder. Kaius smiled in satisfaction. It had always been a fear in the back of his mind. That Porkchop''s lack of protection would do him in some day. That some bastard with a sword would get in a lucky strike and gut his friend. The armour would help. Especially when he sat on the side-lines and had to watch Porkchop fight Champions alone. Bending down, Kaius picked up the strange bronze stylus he had pulled from the warg''s saddlebag. He slid it into his pocket. "C''mon. Let''s start heading towards the city. It''s a long walk and I want to make some headway before we have to stop to rest." Kaius said, setting off at a walk towards the far off settlements walls. Porkchop stopped his gallivanting to pull up next to him. "What about your loot?" "I''ll check it on the way." He said, tussling Porkchop''s fur. Chapter 52 : Tools Kaius sat on the side of a hill, nestled in amongst the rows of myriad fungus that made up the extensive farms surrounding the underground city. After a few hours of walking, they''d noticed the gargantuan crystal suspended from the ceiling had begun to dim. An artificial ''night'' had quickly set on. It was beautiful. A full quarter of the mushrooms in the farms lighting up with soft inner light. A riot of greens, blues, purples, and oranges. Taking another bite of a strange grey mushroom that he had picked from the fields, Kaius looked out over the softly pulsing lightshow. A snort made him jump, and he turned over to find Porkchop twitching in his sleep. He smiled. Taking the first watch had been his idea. He still felt absolutely wired from receiving his first Honour. No way he was going to be able to sleep now. He''d expected some kind of benefit for being observed by the system, yet nothing so drastic. It made sense though. The system was already set up to reward feats. He knew it kept track of people''s triumphs, tailoring offered classes and evolutions to what someone had achieved. He just hadn''t quite expected that something so massive had been forgotten. The other Observed, those from the stories, must have gotten at least a few of them. Even if it was far harder to gain them after class selection, it was the only way to explain the feats attributed to them. He fell backwards with a soft thunk, staring at the dark stone far far above. They were a tangible goal, something to work towards while he grew his skills. The stats alone would provide him with a notable edge. While not much in the grand scheme of things, the cap at twenty for an unclassed was punishing. Every boost would let him push just that little bit harder, getting him closer to achieving the next Honour. If he got enough of them... They might be able to take on the Guardian. Without a class. What sort of Honour would that give? They''d need more though, both of them. At least another Honour. He just wasn''t sure what feats the system would need to see for them to get it. There had to be one for defeating more Champions in a group, and maybe higher versions of the one he already had. Ten was likely, if they didn''t get one by then, he doubted it existed. The problem was time. Even if they aimed for getting Porkchop three solo kills, and ten as a group, that was far more than the three he had seen in the city. It was entirely possible that they would class up before finding enough. Whatever method Delvers used to explore a biome in weeks, they didn''t have access to it. Even finding this city had taken months, and that was with this being an unusually open biome. They wouldn''t get so lucky with others. Kaius took a deep breath, setting out a long sigh. There had to be other feats that the system would reward. He would have expected a capping a complete set of legacy skills to be one, but surely it couldn''t? There had to be others out there with a full set somewhere, right? His father would have told him. He would have. "I suppose that I''ll find out one way or the other." He thought to himself. The only others that even remotely made sense to him would be Honours for reaching a certain layer of the Depths, and killing something a certain number of levels above him. Both of those had jumped to mind as something that might have happened to the heroes in the stories, if they ever existed. Unfortunately, they were inaccessible. He was stuck with a layer maximum of twenty. Even the strongest Champions would be capped at thirty, and only the Guardian would be higher than that. Considering he wanted the Honours to fight the Guardian in the first place...They wouldn''t be much help to him even if they did exist. He couldn''t just chase after them mindlessly. Even the ones he was half confident in acquiring in time would press them for time. That, or they would be an idiotic risk. Sure, he could see the system rewarding him for surviving an Affliction that was all but guaranteed to kill an unclassed. Even with Rapid Adaptation he had no intention of killing himself on the off chance it might give him some sort of benefit. Let alone the fact that he was unlikely to find something with that sort of power on this layer. Even if it did, it was likely to be a Champion, something that wouldn''t exactly sit pretty while he tried to fight off an infection. Kaius groaned, quickly quieting when Porkchop shifted in his sleep. He''d finally felt like he was ahead of his deadline. His skill growth had been explosive, and he was certain he would be able to merge and cap all of his legacy skills before his looming class selection. Then this had to land in his lap. Not that he was complaining. Nor had he exactly planned on taking it easy, the Depths didn''t do easy. It was just another mystery on an already teetering pile. He had so much to do, both now and when he escaped. "Bah, nothing I can do about it now." He reached into his pocket, pulling out the bronze stylus that was curiously moulded to his grip. He hadn''t had the chance to Identify it on their walk through the fields. Too absorbed in keeping watch for goblins and mulling over his Honour. It''d make for a good distraction, he thought as he pulled up its description. Jurryrigger''s Inscription Stylus: Uncommon - Tier I Most see the runic arts as something to be relegated to the sterility of the laboratory, or held contained in the illusionary spaces of the mind. Environmental conditions, perfect mediums, and tightly controlled mana density are useful, but they are not the core of the art. A true master knows that quick and dirty always has its place. Made from mystic bronze, this stylus is shaped to provide smooth control over the long process of runic inscription. Enchantments allow mana to be channelled through the artefact, allowing clean and stable lines with low mana resistance to be inscribed on a multitude of mundane and poorly prepared surfaces. Less effective with mana dense and alchemically treated materials. Low flow rate. Depths-wrought Artefact. Auxiliary Equipment (Inscription stylus) Mana Conduit I, Multi-purpose Inscriber I, Self Repair I Kaius bolted upright like he''d been smacked. His head snapped back and forth, looking for something to test the stylus with. His eyes settled on a woody fungus growing just a few steps away. They were fairly common in the fields, and would suit his purposes. He crawled over, cutting off one of the growths with his knife. It was a few fingers thick, and shaped like an odd lopsided bowl. Identify said it was edible, but he hadn''t had the guts to try it yet. What with it being as hard as a rock and all. He placed the slab of fungus in his lap, holding his stylus like an over large pen. Despite the strange size and hefty weight, its shaped grips felt comfortable in his hand. Moulding to its contours. Stats: Endurance - 30 + 8 (38) Vitality - 20 + 8 (28) Strength - 20 + 8 (28) Dexterity - 20 + 8 (28) Intelligence - 14 + 8 (22) Willpower: - 20 + 8 (28) Stat Points: 0 Class Skills (0/10): N/a General Skills (10/10): Rapid Adaptation (Heroic) - 18 Warforged (Unique) - 20 Explorers Toolkit (Unusual) - 10 > 11 Adamant Body (Unique) - 8 > 12 Low Light Vision (Uncommon) - 20 Mental Visualisation (Uncommon) - 20 Sense Illusion (Rare) - 20 Sense Mana (Rare) - 20 Identify (Rare) - 0 > 16 Eagle Eye (Rare) - 0 > 14 Honours: Born for Slaughter Bound Artefacts: A Fathers Gift - Common Growth Longsword Growth Conditions- Gain a class (0/1) Acquire suitable materials (0/3) Forge a link (0/1) Chapter 53 : Pushing Into The City Muscle bound and draped in silk, a figure lounges over an austere stone throne, floating in a void only broken by dancing lights. He smiled. It was a jagged thing, like he had forgotten how congeniality worked. Like he had twisted boredom and frustration into a new shape. Forced them into a box that did not fit. "Finally." He savoured the words. Tasting each note on his tongue. The boy had done it. He''d found out about Honours. The bait had been set, and his hopes were being realised. With a click of his fingers a mote of light darted out of the swarm, slamming into his forehead. He checked the systems analysis for the thousandth time. The boy was perfect. An optimal mix of uncommon strength, stubborn will, revelrous aggression, and sheer avarice for power. He was now destined to face the Guardian while unclassed, the temptation of an Honour would be too strong. Especially as his desire grew with more rewards from the system. The figure had no doubt that Kaius would be getting at least one more Honour before his final confrontation. Anything more would require grit, ingenuity, and more than a little luck. And the Greater Meles! Unawoken bloodline too? He couldn''t have planned it better if he tried. What were the chances? As a pair they were all but assured success. Finally. Finally, he would be one step closer to freedom. .... Kaius peered up at the monolithic grey stone walls that towered over him. They''d broken camp a few hours before, rushing towards the city. Cutting their way through fungal fields and goblin labourers alike. The city''s fortifications were an imposing thing. He''d only seen one other city wall in person, Deadacre''s. That had been maybe thrice his height, and built from chunky blocks of stone held together by mortar. The dwarven city wall made it look positively ramshackle in comparison. Formed as it was from a single contiguous slab of stone. Matched with the abnormally smooth and perfectly proportioned cavern walls, it was like the entire settlement had been carved from bedrock, cave and all. Earth magic on a titanic scale, it had to be. He could wrap his head around the Depth''s working such grand thaumaturgy, but if this was modelled after a real place.. How in the hells had they managed it? What sort of level would you need to be to work on that scale? He struggled to imagine even a vaunted third tier classer managing it, even with a dedicated team. It wasn''t just the size, but the attention to detail as well. Kaius ran his hands over the wall, feeling the perfectly carved reliefs on its surface. He hadn''t been able to see them from a distance. He probably could''ve when he used Eagle Eye at full power, but he''d been focused on goblins and the Guardian then. Not the walls. They were so dense. Massive sprawling scenes of battles, forge workshops, and great feats of magic. Nothing was shown in titanic proportions, everything was to scale. At the very least it confirmed that it was a dwarven city, he thought, looking at the carved figure of a stout dwarf in full plate caving in the skull of some monstrosity. They walked in the shadow of the walls, circling the base of the tiered city. Heading towards a broken portcullis a good hour''s walk around the city''s edge from their starting point. Though there seemed to be few entrances into the interior, he''d only been able to see one gate on their approach - diminutive in comparison to the walls themselves. A city designed for war. "Do all people live in places like this?" Porkchop asked, staring at the monolithic stone in fascination. "No." Kaius shook his head. "Not really. I mean, there might be places of a similar size, and we do use stone, but nothing quite this impressive." "That''s so strange. To live all hidden in rock like this. So close together." "Surely you must have seen some elven demesnes in the Sea? You mentioned you had met some." Kaius asked. "A little. It''s not like this though. They grow their burrows from the trees, still connected to nature. More spread out, too." Porkchop answered. He used Identify. Decrepit Dwarven Heavy-plate: Depths-wrought item Originally made for Stonehold heavy shock troops, this armour has fared terribly with age, its inscriptions wasted and burnt. Thanks to superior alloys and master industry, the steel remains strong. **Ding! Identify has reached level 17!** Kaius scowled as he read the description. No doubt dwarven steel had a value all on its own, the frontier was about as far as you could get from the northern mountains while still staying in civilised lands. The rarity and curiosity alone would be sure to fatten his purse. Yet steel was heavy and even if they somehow found and brought a cart through the portal when they eventually left, there was no way they would be able to drag it through the wilds that were the Arboreal Sea. If it had been enchanted, he would have found a way to make it work. Without that magic, it may as well have been scrap. Taking a final look at the goblins, Kaius ducked back behind the shattered shard of steel that he was using as cover. No doubt there would be more of the depths-spawn that he hadn''t been able to spot, but he was confident that they would manage. He slunk back to the safety of the wall. "So? How''d it look?" "Good," Kaius said, his voice low. "There''s an open board walk after the gate, lots of buildings and narrow alleys. A few dozen goblins, with some archers on the roofs on the left hand side." "Archers? How are we supposed to deal with those?" Porkchop said, flicking his ears. "There''s stairs at the back of the buildings. The alleys are pretty sheltered. I think we push hard and fast for the roof. One of us holds the stairs to deal with any goblins who follow, the other goes after the bowmen." Kaius drew a rough diagram in the soil at the base of the wall, gesturing to a thin strip between buildings that lead to a way up to the tallest building. "What are you more comfortable with? Stairs?" Porkchop let out a low rumble. "Stairs." He confirmed. "With my paws and my armour, they will find much difficulty in their attempt." Kaius gave his friend a nod. He checked himself over, confirming his armour was properly tightened. Thanks to the fact that it has taken them a day to reach the city, his Serelian scale was already fully repaired. Happy with his preparations, he gave Porkchop a nod and drew his blade. "Then let''s do this. Full assault. No screaming until they see us." "No screaming?" Porkchop said, ears drooping in defeat. "No. Screaming." Kaius gave his friend a pointed look. "Fine." Porkchop pouted. They set off at a sprint, ready to take the fight to the goblins. Chapter 54 : Horde Kaius charged through the broken gate, rushing into the wide street that led into the military section of the dwarven city. Goblins let out guttural hisses from the alleys and roofs, reacting quickly to their presence. Porkchop responded in turn, letting out a roar right next to him that rang Kaius''s ear. Still sprinting, Kaius led them in the direction of the alley that wrapped around the back of the tallest building by the gates. Three stories tall, he could see an open air staircase on its rear face. The goblin archers at its top scurried to the edge, knocking arrows as they took aim at him. More goblins flooded from the alley, clubs and wicked blades in hand as they rushed to hold back their offence. The arrows loosed. Kaius spun to the side, the projectiles shattering as they hit the stone where he had just been standing. Another volley. One archer delayed its attack, fumbling as it knocked its arrow. The mistake was enough that it could correct for Kaius''s evasion. He swiped with his sword, parrying the shot. Porkchop let out a hiss of fury. Kaius snapped over to check on his friend, finding three shafts sticking out of his back. Shallow, turned aside by the thick leather of his friends barding. All they''d done is piss him off. They hit the coalescing goblins at the mouth of the alley like a hammer, shattering their ramshackle formation. One skirmisher tried to leap towards him, knives ready to gut him. Kaius booted the short creature in the chest, knocking it out of the air to barrel into its companions. A whole section of the line collapsed. Kaius waded in, A Father''s Gift reaping lives left and right. Caving in skulls and cleaving necks. **Ding! level 11 Goblin Skirmisher slain** **Ding! level 13 Goblin Skirmisher slain** **Ding! level 11 Goblin Bruiser slain** "Grashak kur''drel, zhak boro uk drash!" Kaius heard a goblin call from behind him. His head snapped back, seeing more of the hoard spilling from the opposing narrow lanes. They had to move. Fast. Or risk getting pinned. "Porkchop! Rush them! I''ll be right behind!" He screamed, gutting another goblin. **Ding! level 12 Goblin Scout slain** Porkchop let out a feral howl of fury, charging into the mass of bodies. The short and lithe goblins were tossed to the side as porkchop forced his way through the crush. Kaius fell in behind him, moving at a swift jog. Cutting tendons and leaving maiming wounds as he forced the goblins back. Stopping them from getting swarmed. Arrows rained down from above, the goblin arches focusing much of their fire on Porkchop. Most got lodged in leather, or glanced of metal plating. More missed entirely, maiming the archers'' allies as crooked shafts buried themselves in wiry green flesh. Not all, with every second, another arrow found its mark, cutting deep into his friend''s flesh. Kaius hissed at the sight, glaring in hatred at the archers above. He would be coming for them soon. Slashing out with his sword, he forced back the ranks of goblins that had closed around their rear. Now well and truly into the thick of the mob. More were joining them by the second, reinforcements from across the road. There were more than he''d initially seen. As much as double, he thought with a scowl. Yet they were falling like threshed wheat. He could feel his increased stats. Aiding him as he smashed aside amateur defences. As he cleaved through bone. He was faster, stronger. Better able to keep up with the frenetic pace of the battle. A goblin screamed, clutching its spurting stump as Kaius punished a rushed attack by hacking through its shoulder. A follow up slash removed its head. Silencing it forever. **Ding! level 14 Goblin Bruiser slain** They reached the shelter of the alleys, the volley of arrows stopping. Archers unable to get an angle through the various awnings that covered the narrow slit between buildings. With a final roar Porkchop smashed a goblin bruiser into the side of a building. It impacted with a sickening crunch, studded club slipping from its cooling fingers. Bursting free of the crush, Porkchop raced ahead. Kaius quick on his tail. "That way!" Kaius yelled, gesturing to the next turn to their right. "Let me up first when we get to the stairs!" "Got it!" Porkchop called. An unlucky skirmisher rounded the corner, going down as Porkchop snapped his jaws around the depths-born''s face. Without breaking stride he shook, snapping the creature''s neck with a crack. The stairs were right ahead. Porkchop slowed. Kaius passed him, planting his feet to run up three stairs at a time. It was a precarious thing, just barely wide enough for Porkchop to run up. Without a bannister, it would be hellish for a force to take the roof. Exactly what they needed. **Ding! level 14 Goblin Scout slain** Eventually the flood of goblins slowed to a trickle, Kaius dropping the last straggler with an arrow to its head as it clambered over the corpses that littered the stairs. Dropping his bow he stared at the devastation. Green blood had slickened the stone footholds, a trickling river of green that seeped out from dozens of corpses. Not all were from his arrows. Some of the goblins that Porkchop had knocked off the building had tried to clamber back up with shattered limbs and gushing wounds. "Kaius." Porkchop said, tearing his eyes away from the gruesome scene. "Get these fucking arrows out." "Right!" Kaius said, rushing over. His friend had started to look a bit like a hedgehog, crude feather shafts standing tall from his barding. Most hadn''t penetrated, but a few lucky strikes had sunk half a handspan into his friend''s flesh, blood weeping from the wounds as his Health was unable to remove the obstructions. Porkchop growled with every arrow he yanked out, snapping at the air. A few moments later and it was done, the punctures sealing quickly as his friend''s health went to work. "You said a few dozen." Porkchop said accusatory. "No." Kaius replied, a cheeky grin on his face. "I said I saw a dozen. There''s a difference." "Though." He continued, looking over the impressive pile of bodies. "I will admit that there were more of them than I expected." "You''re lucky they went down easy." Porkchop huffed, pushing past him to step onto the roof proper. Kaius gave his friend a reassuring pat on the hip. "We handled them fine. Now, this building looks to be one of the tallest in this area, I''m going to see If I can spot the Champion. If I remember correctly he should be somewhere that way." Kaius gestured in the rough direction of the next set of city walls. They rose higher than even the external battlements at the edge of the city. Built like a stacked cake, the entrance to the next district was via a truly massive set of stairs that cut their way up the next wall. Even without Eagle Eye ramped up to full power, he could make them out from here. Kaius walked to the far edge of the roof. Pulling on his skill, his eyes sharpened. Rows of squat and austere barracks and manufactoriums spilled out across the flat ground of the first district. They were blocky things, split by a warren of tight alleys and long and straight roads that all converged on the distant stairs. Every handful or so of blocks, Kaius easily made out milling groups of archers hanging out of the rooftops. Ignoring the growing ache in his mind, Kaius focused on drilling the location of the archers into his mind. **Ding! Eagle Eye has reached level 16!** He had no doubt that below them they would find more goblins. Thankfully, they were distant enough that whatever compulsion the Depths had laid on the creatures prevented them from reacting to his presence. That was good. With how dense the alleys were, they would be able to advance on the buildings under cover. Their current tactic had worked well, and he saw no reason not to repeat it. Using the main thoroughfares would certainly be much faster and less confusing, but they would have no cover, and would quickly get overwhelmed by goblins without a choke point to manage their numbers. Thankfully between Explorer''s Toolkit and Mental Visualisation, he was confident he would be able to plan and remember a route through the confusing mess. Turning his attention back to the open pavilion at the base of the entrance to the next district, Kaius ratcheted Eagle Eye up further, his headache growing into a splitting migraine. It looked to be some sort of mustering ground. Mounds of dwarven corpses littered the area, the high quality steel of their armour glistening in the false sunlight from above. He spotted it. Their target. It couldn''t be a goblin. Too muscular. Too...large. And yet, the shared features and common similarities meant it must have been. Easily as tall as he was, the shirtless Champion was absolutely strapped with muscle. Ritual scarification turning its chest into a swirling pattern of ropey raised flesh. It prowled the courtyard with curt stops, pacing back and forth, dragging a two handed axe that looked like it could cleave through even a troll''s thick neck, a string of skulls clacked against its waist with every step. **Ding! Eagle Eye has reached level 17!** Kaius grinned, ignoring the hot spikes of pain that drilled into the back of his eyes. He used Identify on their target, trying to clean what he could. Bloodtotem Hobgoblin Lieutenant - Level 26: Champion, Depths-born, Berserker, Low Race "Found you." Kaius said in a singsong voice. The bastard looked tough. He couldn''t wait. Chapter 55 : Sandwiches? After spending a few more minutes to engrave a route through the twisting alleys of the dwarven military district, Kaius reduced the power of his Eagle Eye skill until he no longer felt like a giant was rapping him over his skull. Rubbing at his eyes, he stepped back from the ledge. "What''d you see?" Porkchop asked, pushing into his side affectionately. Apparently he was feeling less grumpy now that the arrow holes in his back had healed. "Found our Champion, he''s way off by the entrance to the next tier of the city. Big bastard." Kaius said, scratching his friend behind the ears while he blinked to clear his eyes. "Plenty more goblins between here and there, looks like we''ll have to go through the alleys. I''ve memorised the route." He continued, tapping his temple. "Let me guess. More archers?" Porkchop grumbled. "That''s why we''re taking the alleys, more cover. You ready to go?" Kaius asked, itchy anticipation thrumming up his legs as he thought about the beefy goblin that was awaiting them by the next set of walls. "Not yet. Found something. Come look." Porkchop said, leaving his side to wander over to the other edge of the roof. "Oh?" Kaius asked curiously, hurrying after his friend. A wooden hatch was recessed into the building''s ceiling, a thick steel ring embedded in one side. A way in. He must have missed it, too focused on killing the archers. "Let''s take a look then." Kaius crouched down and heaved on the hatch. It was heavy, made of thick planks of hardwood, but it swung open smoothly on well oiled hinges. A set of stairs ran down into a hall. It was austere, though well lit from a number of embedded crystal light fixtures in the walls. Kaius took the lead, puffs of dust kicking up with every descending step. The building had lain undisturbed for quite some time, it seemed. Reaching the bottom, Kaius found the hall to be an awkwardly short height. Not enough for him to stoop, but low enough that he could comfortably reach it with an outstretched hand. Exploring the building, Kaius and Porkchop walked through bunk chambers, abandoned offices, and other common use areas. Each and everyone of them was in perfect condition, like they had been unoccupied and waiting for years. Bed covers were in perfect order, offices had neat stacks of paper on their desks, and common rooms were neatly arranged. It was an eerie experience, like their very presence was intruding. Quiet. Solemn. They drifted into a natural silence, unwilling to disturb the abandoned building more than they had to. Kaius knew it was most likely another oddity of the Depths, just another strange happenstance amongst innumerable others. Yet, he couldn''t shake the unease he felt. Why would the Depths go through the effort to make the streets seem so chaotic, strewn with dwarven corpses and battle scars, but then leave the building interiors in perfect -if abandoned- condition? He slowly pushed another door open, peering into the room cautiously. A long wooden bench stretched across the centre of the room. Shelved underneath was a massive and varied collection of pots, pans, and cooking implements. A metal wrack hung above the bench, utensils and knives hanging from hooks. Kaius stepped into the room, his unease at the building''s atmosphere forgotten. A row of half a dozen ward-stoves lined one wall opposite the bench, enough realestate to cook for a battalion. Which, if this was a barracks like Kaius assumed, made sense. "Kaius, over here." Porkchop said. Kaius looked over to find his friend pushing their nose into a wall to ceiling row of cupboards recessed into the stone, sniffing deeply. Kaius hurried over, pulling open one of the doors. "The Depths provides." He said in wonder. The cupboard was absolutely stacked with food. Dried meats, flour, trail rations, lard. Even perishables such as bread, eggs, fruit, and cheese. Impossibly, they all looked fresh. Untouched. Like they had just left the market yesterday, with nary a spot of decay or dust in sight. At the very least, the constant use of Eagle Eye for navigation had done wonders. Finally capping the skill at twenty half way through the second leg of their journey. Adamant Body had gotten a slight boost too, thanks to all the arrows he had been enduring. They''d arrived not too long after that, popping out from between two large workshops that lined the massive open square at the base of the next district''s walls. Those very same buildings had shadowed a line of short stone pillars that surrounded the open space from his early looks. He was hiding behind one now, scrawling a runic formation while Porkchop waited in the shadowed alley. It was a basic thing, maybe a few steps across. A binding formation, but a weak one. Kaius doubted it would manage to hold the Champion for more than a second or two, if that. However, if they were forced to flee, a second or two opening might be enough for them to turn the tides. Worth it for less than an hour''s work. It wasn''t like he was using his mana for anything else, anyway. As he worked on the next rune, Kaius thought on his next skill. True Sight. He was ready to merge it now, and it sat in the back of his mind like an itch he couldn''t scratch. He wanted to deal with the Champion first though. His next two skills were the kind he could train holed up in a dwarven house somewhere, whittling away at them over the course of weeks while he rested. There was little about them that could be pushed to grow through combat. Besides, if he had to sit around all day working on skills while knowing that a Champion was right there for the slaying, he might just go insane. Another swooping line, and the rune was done. Standing up, Kaius took a couple of steps back to admire the rune. He could see it pulling in mana from the atmosphere, channelling it through the lines he had carved into the stone. No way this one was going to blow up, he thought, giving it a nod of satisfaction. A wave brought Porkchop padding over. "All done. You sure you don''t want to take this one on yourself? It looks like a fairly straight forward physical fighter." Kaius asked. They''d talked about it when they had first arrived at the square, but Porkchop had been adamant they face it together. "No." Porkchop said, shaking his head. "Things with weapons are a poor match up, even with my skills and this armour. I would be much more comfortable waiting until we found some beasts. At least I have experience fighting them alone." "If you''re sure. If we can''t find any in time you might have to anyway." Kaius replied sceptically. "That''s fine, if that happens it''s likely we would have already gotten the Honour for slaying Champions in a group. I''d feel a lot more comfortable with that sort of power boost." Porkchop said, bending down to take a closer look at the inscription. Carefully staying outside of the runic circle. "You sure this will work?" Kaius nodded. "Not for long though, enough to give us an edge if we need it. Ready to do this?" Porkchop huffed. Having already stashed his pack, Kaius gave his gear a final once over to make sure nothing had come loose. Satisfied with his preparations, he stepped out from behind the pillar. Drawing A Father''s Gift in a smooth flash of gleaming steel. Ahead of them the Guardian prowled through a field of ancient slain dwarves. Waiting for a challenger. They managed to make it a dozen paces before it noticed them. The Hobgoblin stopped fast, hefting its weighty axe. It slapped it into its off hand and held it at the ready. Kaius felt his blood heating up as the hob stared at them, trembling in rage. They took another step. **Ding! You have challenged a Champion: Bloodtotem Hobgoblin Lieutenant** The Champion snapped, screaming in fury. It Charged. Kaius and Porkchop met the bellow with cries of their own. Sprinting into the square to meet it on the field of battle. Chapter 56 : A Song of Blood and Fire Kaius and Porkchop tore across the open square, dancing over the mummified bodies of armoured dwarves as they closed in on the hobgoblin Champion. Their target was quite literally foaming at the mouth, lost in a furor as it charged to meet them. Its axe held high. "Split!" Kaius called. Porkchop reacted instantly, peeling away from him to approach the Champion from a different angle. Watching as their foe started to flick its gaze between them, Kaius screamed a wordless warcry. The hob locked onto him, fanged jaw twisting into a snarl as it redoubled its pace. Now that they were closer, Kaius could see that it almost perfectly matched him in height. Unfortunately, it also looked to be double his weight in pure muscle. Ritual scarification covered its chest in a ropey network of twisting scars. The red whorls and loops standing out in stark relief against the monster''s dark green skin. The axe that it held so comfortably in its hands was positively massive. A thick and lacquered haft sprouted a double sided axe head easily the size of Kaius''s torso. It definitely had the reach advantage, that could be a problem. The battle started like a clap of thunder. Hurling its axe into a heavy overhand, the hob opened with a stone shattering blow. Kaius lurched to the side, getting showered with chips of flagstone as the axe cracked the ground. Despite the obvious power of the champion, Kaius felt in control. Ready for the battle ahead. Returning the assault with a cross cut, he cut deep into its arm and chest. He could feel the rush of battle building in his blood. Making his heart thump with a strong rhythm. Growing hot. A few more seconds and Porkchop would arrive. He only had to keep it occupied until then. Refusing to take its wound lying down, the hob yanked on its axe. Shifting its whole body into a fast horizontal swing that sailed uncomfortable close to his chest. Narrowly avoided with a hurried backstep. Momentum of the swing tugged the hob along with it, the Champion struggling to control the heft of its weapon. Kaius slipped in, marring its chest with another cut of his sword. The monster''s flesh was almost woody, resistant to the biting edge of his blade. It roared, thick spittle splattering on Kaius''s armour. Kicking out with a thick leg, the hob forced him back. Out of the corner of his eye, Kaius spotted Porkchop sprinting for the hob. Coming in from its left side. To his joy, the Champion hadn''t noticed yet. Too focused on the object of its rage. Kaius dove for the right, feinting an attack. The hob twisted, lashing out with its axe to ward him off. Leaving its flank undefended. Porkchop hit the Champion like a charging bull. Claws tore into its green back, renting great strips of flesh free. Unprepared for the collision it stumbled forwards. Its guard dropping. Explorers Toolkit twinged. Kaius lunged, thrusting his sword and running the Champion through its chest. Green blood erupted from its throat, splattering against the stone. Its eyes started to burn. Shifting its grip on its axe, it slammed the haft into kaius''s chest like it was a quarterstaff. **Ding! Explorers Toolkit has reached level 12!** Letting out a cough, Kaius felt the air driven from his lungs. His bones creaking as he was forced back, his blade slipped free from the Champion''s chest. Mana flashed, the head of the hobs axe shimmering red. "Porkchop!" Kaius tried to shout a warning, his words weak and breathy thanks to his winding. His friend didn''t hear, to focused on tearing into the hob from behind. It whirled, axe blurring in speed as it turned on Porkchop. Kaius blanched as his friend tried to doge. Too late. Too slow. The axe tore clear through the front of Porkchop''s shoulder, metal squealing as it sundered armoured plating. Now facing away from him, Kaius got a look at the damage his friend had done. Deep furrows had torn through the hob''s muscular back. Leaking greenish blood and revealing the bones of its ribs. Already the flesh was writhing. Growing to cover the lacerations. Fast too. Faster than he expected. Gritting his teeth at his friend''s plight, Kaius pressed the hob as his skill flared in his mind. The undefended back of the Champion too tempting of a target to ignore. Rising his sword into an aggressive high guard, Kaius threw himself back into the fray. If it had some sort of healing general skill they had only one option. Hurt it faster than it could recover. Porkchop grabbed the hob by the leg, yanking its feet out from under it. Mauling the limb. It slipped down, just barely keeping its grip on its axe. Neck exposed. Kaius brought his sword up. Letting out a roar of victory he brought his blade down on the Champion''s thick neck. Chipped or no, the edge of his blade was still razor sharp. It sliced through green flesh, a torrent of blood erupting from the wound. Biting into the monster''s spine, and completely failing to sever its spine. Kaius widened his eyes. The hobgoblin let out a rabid howl. It slammed its fist into Kaius''s stomach. Blood filled his mouth, agony surging through his stomach as something ruptured. He only just barely managed to keep his grip on his sword as he went flying back, the blade ripping free from the hob''s neck. Its blood flowed thick, splattering on the ground. Kicking out, it booted Porkchop in the face where he was savaging its other leg. Porkchop reeled, his nose leaking blood as delicate bone and cartilage was shattered. "Zhrashka morgul, thrak''nu drok!" the hobgoblin cried in fury. Its body suddenly rippled. The hob contorting as every muscle contracted at one. Vasculature swelled under its skin, pulsing a rapid staccato in time with its heart. Its head snapped up to bore its eyes into Kaius''s own. Burning with a vibrant blood red inner light. So different from the black-brown before. There was no surge of aura. No pulse of mysticism. No sign of magic at all. Kaius still knew that it was a skill, that he was certain of. One that relied on the might of its body alone. The Champion''s face grew focused. Intense. Where previously it had snarled at every second moment of battle, it was now stern. Driven. Only its largest tusks peeked out from thin lips where previously all had been on display. That was not to say the fight had left it. No, Kaius could tell it was the only thing left on its mind. It was like looking into a mirror of his experience with the Psychopathic Assault tonic. The hob had only one thing on its mind, all else had been abandoned. Their death and dismemberment. "Shit!" Kaius cried, the hob leaping to its feet with startling agility. Dashing towards him as it comfortably ripped its axe free with a single hand. "It''s a fucking rage skill!" The pace of the Champion''s assault doubled, forcing Kaius to devote his entire attention to simply staying alive. He couldn''t risk trying to deflect the Champion''s swings, not anymore. Not with the ease with which it tossed its monstrous weapon around like it was a piece of pine. Porkchop jumped in to help him. Tearing chunks from the Champions back with tooth and claw. Yet every time his friend started to do some true damage to the monster it would pulse its aura. Use its skill to spin into a wild storm of steel. Forcing Porkchop back The hob refocused on him, snatching at him with its off hand. Kaius was forced to jump away. Lest it get a fatal grip on him. Right into the path of its axe. Steel scales screamed as the heavy wedge shaped head of the weapon sundered his densely woven scales. Tearing open his chest. Scoring bone. Kaius let out a ragged cry, swinging in desperation. Scoring a deep cut on the hobs axe hand. He couldn''t keep up. It was too fast. Too strong. He knew that. Yet all he felt was joy. Exaltation at being pushed to the very edge. At a superior opponent drawing out every drop of his skill and talent. Twisting around another wild swing, Kaius punished the attempt on his life by sliding his blade between the hob''s ribs. He danced away, the Champion''s frantic follow up cutting a shallow line through his bicep. Just barely nicking him. He knew Porkchop must have felt the same. His friend was totally focused. Only broken by a constant low violent growl. A commitment to seeing this through. Conviction to live at the edge. They could do this. Chapter 57 : The Strength of Preparation Kaius watched the hobgoblin Champion. Evaluating it even as he was forced to slip around ever more furious swings of its axe. Since activating its body enhancement skill, the hob had grown cold. Focused. Whatever the skill was, it was broad, and powerful. It was now strong enough to use its axe one handed, despite the weapon carrying enough steel at its tip to make enough swords for a whole regiment. It was faster too, dashing in with a fury that forced him to focus almost entirely on defence. If that wasn''t enough, the Champion''s already prodigious rate of healing had sped up. Every thrust, every slash, left a wound that healed almost as fast as he could leave them. Even with Porkchop laying into the Champion''s undefended flank at every opportunity, the hob''s seemingly limitless vitality was able to keep up with ease. Yet the skill had some clear drawbacks to make up for its strengths. Weaknesses that Kaius planned on exploiting. Ones he picked apart further with every passing moment. Its furious offence may have grown all the more oppressive, but defence and strategy had been all but forgotten. Wild sweeping swings left openings by the dozens. The problem lay in actually capitalising on them. Even if Explorer''s Weakness screamed at him, highlighting dozens of vulnerable arteries, joints, and ligaments that would help to slow the monster. It was just too fast. Too strong. Without the stats to back up his capability, he had few opportunities to deal a decisive blow. He was going to have to bait it. That wasn''t all. The skill was clearly influencing the hobs mind. Gone was the fury, the rabid howls of bloodlust. All that was left was a single minded, cold, determination. One that was utterly focused on tearing him asunder. So focused, that its already poor capacity to split its attention between multiple attackers had deteriorated further. While he may have had few openings he could act on, Porkchop had dozens. Ripping and tearing into the exposed flank of the hobgoblin. Only forced back with the odd wild slash, more to stop his friend from hampering its attempts to flay him alive than any true focused assault. Kaius pivoted on his front foot, shifting out of the way of a heavy slash of his head. A little too slow, the strike glanced off the top of his helm. He stumbled, his vision blurring. Head ringing like a bell. Though, maybe that was just his helmet. A pulse of aura, clearly visible through his skill - impaired vision or no. The axe lit up in his eyes, a strange ethereal outline adding definition to his shaking natural sight. He dove, hitting the ground hard. Stone shrapnel doused him He heard a roar. Porkchop leaping to his defence. A dark red smudge tearing into smushed green. He shook his head. The daze left him as his head grew hot with expended Health. The hob was trying to drive Porkchop off. Desperate to reach him. His friend was having none of it. Tearing into the Champion with savage fury. Paying for it in blood. A massive split graced the sides of Porkchop''s barding. Blood poured forth, spilling onto the stone. It joined the existing green to make a multicoloured slick. A direct hit. How Porkchop hadn''t been cleaved in twain Kaius had no idea. Forcing himself to his feat, Kaius let out a battle cry, drawing the attention of the hob once more. Porkchop shot him a look. Giving him a once over. After sharing so many battles they were beyond words. His friend simply knew he was ready. Was better suited to bearing the brunt of the Champions fury. Much like Porkchop was their best bet to wear down its resources with his iron hard claws and greater might. Pouncing, the champion leapt at him once more. It had to be flagging. The skill didn''t make use of mana, otherwise he would be able to see it with his skill. It was running of Stamina, and a skill like that had to have a major cost. Even if the hob was heavily loaded on Strength, it was still only level twenty six. No way it had the resource pool to keep this up for long. Same with its Health. Porkchop had been absolutely tearing into it. Even if its skill stopped them from overwhelming its regeneration, it had to be getting low. Yet even with the enhanced acuity of Eagle Eye, Kaius could see no trace of exhaustion on its face. No evidence that its healing was slowing. Kaius spun around another swing, grunting as the heavy axe skimmed his heavy pauldrons. Dousing him in a shower of sparks. **Ding! Adamant Body has reached level 16!** He had to watch those. His chest still screamed in agony from where an earlier blow from the champion had scrapped against his ribs. Too much damage and his healing would slow. That would be the beginning of the end for him. Without the focus and fury of Psychopathic Assault, manually directing his health took far too much focus to use in battle. He felt confident though. They could do this. He didn''t need the potion. Far better to save it for when it was truly needed. The first had already saved him and Porkchop''s life both, and he only had one left. The hob spun on Porkchop again, lashing out as his friend sunk his claws into the Champion''s shoulders. Yanking it back. Giving him a moment to breathe. He dived on the opportunity. Cutting deep into the muscles, adding to the quickly healing wounds his friend had left behind. Just barely missing the entrapment formation he had carved into the stone floor. Skidding to a halt, Kaius spun. Placing the runic circle between him and the rapidly approaching hob. Porkchop ran forwards, ready to assist. It clipped the pillar with its shoulder, stone chips and dust flying free. Shaking itself free, it locked eyes with him. A smile graced its face. Clearly pleased with catching its fleeing prey. With a heft of its axe it stepped forwards. Right into the runic circle. Mana pulsed in his vision. Plumes of mystic energy rushing through runic pathways to explode out of emission runes. Shaped into hyper dense rope, the energy bound the Champion. Forcing it to freeze solid. Kaius let out a whoop of success, glad that their plan had worked. He moved. Already able to see the hob straining against its bond, he knew it wouldn''t be long before its prodigious strength completely sapped the stored well of mana inside of his formation. Porkchop reached the hob first, tearing great chunks from its thigh. Removing as much muscle as he could. Ensuring that even if it broke free, it would at the very least be left helpless until it could restore its leg. Kaius leapt forwards, thrusting his sword. With the hob completely undefended and standing stock still, it was simplicity itself to thread his sword between the Champion''s ribs and pierce its heart. Kaius sawed his blade back and forth, doing as much damage as he could. He was in no way confident that would be enough. The hob was starting to twitch, muscles straining against its bonds. The fact it could move at all meant that the formation was already failing. They had a few more seconds at most. He had to finish it now. Ripping A Father''s Gift from the Champion''s chest cavity, Kaius hacked at its throat. Blood torrenting as he sawed at the hardened musculature. Carving the flesh open. He hit bone, the Champion''s head almost entirely decapitated. Only held in place by its spine and the magic of his formation. Green viscera splashed over him in a wave of gore. Finger length by finger length the Champion started to raise its axe. Kaius tore his sword free of its neck, grabbing the blade with his offhand in a half-sword grip. He jammed its point into a gap in the hob''s exposed spine. Ramming himself forwards. Bone crunched, but held. Cursing in frustration, Kaius rammed his shoulder into his sword''s cross guard. Vertebrae cracked, the blade sinking a little deeper. "Porkchop!" His friend''s eyes snapped up, seeing what he was trying to do. Kaius leapt back as Porkchop lunged. Rearing up on his hind legs. With a hiss of fury Porkchop slammed the back of the blade. Driving it home The hobgoblin Champion went limp. Holding on until the last moment, the entrapment formation finally failed. A hiss of mystical fire surging through its circuits rendered it useless. The Champion was somehow still alive, the raging orange fire in its eyes burning bright as it dropped to the ground bonelessly. Impossible vitality sealing the wounds on its leg and neck. Kaius watched as its body failed to even twitch, the hob snapping at them ineffectively with its thick tusks. With his sword forcefully lodged in its spinal cord, even health did it no good. Unable to reconnect nerves with a steel barrier in the way. Stepping forwards, Kaius grabbed the hilt of his sword. And started to saw. .... **Ding! You have slain a Champion: Bloodtotem Hobgoblin Lieutenant - level 26 Blessed By Frenzied Spirits!** Chapter 58 : New Toys The hot rush of victory thrummed through him as the hobgoblins head fell to the ground with a wet thunk. Another Champion slain, another step closer to his goal. He turned to Porkchop with a grin, slapping his friend on the shoulder. "All according to plan." He said. Porkchop snorted. "Yes, we were definitely planning on you getting gutted." Kaius gave an exaggerated humph. "I''ll have you know that was definitely part of the plan. How else was I supposed to level Adamant Body?" Porkchop cocked one furry eyebrow at him, staring directly at the stride long rent in his enchanted scales. "Of course, how could I forget?" Kaius scowled at his friend''s look. "I never should have taught you that." Letting out a mirthful huff, Porkchop shoved him. Drawing a wince as his barely healed wounds twinged. "Come on then. I believe we have loot to check. Is its axe an artefact?" Kaius shrugged, using Identify on the oversized weapon. Thankfully, it was just a simple item, like all of the Champions gear had been so far. With how massive it is, Kaius doubted he could even pick it up. They would have had to lash it to Porkchops back, something that sounded like far more trouble than it was worth. "Maybe it''s hidden in one of the piles of dead dwarves? Like the tree burrow after the Grimclaw?" Kaius suggested. Porkchop let out a pensive grunt. "Hope not." Kaius couldn''t help but agree. The courtyard where they had fought the Hobgoblin was absolutely littered with them. Most of them were shock troops in ultra thick heavy plate. Even if they focused on checking the various squad sized groupings, there were still dozens of them. "Well. We better get started." Kaius sighed, staring at the ancient battlefield. They worked their way slowly through the mustering ground, shifting through piled bodies of dwarves. It was exhausting work, even with their enhanced strength. With their plate being half a finger''s length thick, every corpse weighed as much as an anvil. After finding nothing but burnt out enchanted plate in the first dozen piles Kaius had had enough. "This is ridiculous. We should have started in the middle." He grumbled. Stomping his way to where they had first spotted the hobgoblin. There were a few piles of dwarves there, arrayed in a circle around the hobgoblins'' place of vigil. They started shifting bodies. The first group had nothing, nor did the second. They spiralled further out. "...Is there no loot?" Porkchop asked, concerned. "Ridiculous! There has to be." Kaius grew frenetic. Hawling aside armoured bones with increasing haste. Hurrying between patches. They split up, covering more ground. Minutes ticked by, his anxious tension ratcheting up. Porkchop let out a hoot of joy. "Kaius! Over here, I found it!" His friend called, words blurring together into a smudge of meaning as his excitement bled powerfully across their mental link. Rushing without pause, Kaius hurried to see what Porkchop had found. He was standing over a larger than average pile of dwarves. All facing outwards like they had died to the last protecting...something. He got closer, seeing that Porkchop had hauled away the centremost bodies. Revealing a heavy steel chest embossed in gold. Foreign iconography covered its lid in a raised relief, depicting strange gods and their symbols. Palanquin handles jutted from the chest''s bottom, more than one dwarf still clutching tightly even in death. Kaius leapt forwards, grinning widely. "Good find." He said. Stepping past his friend to take a closer look. It was almost seamless, apart from the distinct evidence of a simple latch holding the lid closed. A lock held it closed, though it seemed time had been far less kind to the mechanism. Rusted and broken, it was barely held on by a hair thin patch of rust. Kaius ran his hands over the seams, checking for any traps. They hadn''t seen any yet, and Explorer''s Toolkit was silent, but it paid to be careful. Porkchop whined behind him, growing impatient. An amulet of fellspar crystal and silver forged by ritual fire under a full moon. Enchanted to store a reservoir of channelled mana. This mana source can be expended to charge forwards with greatly enhanced speed and momentum. While under this effect, the user is partially shielded from collision forces. Effectiveness is dependent on initial weight and speed at activation. Depths-wrought Artefact. Amulet Furious Advance I, Mana Conduit I, Self Repair I Kaius looked from the long chain of the amulet to Porkchop''s neck. It should be long enough. He stood, unclasping the chain and wrapping it around his friend''s neck. It fit perfectly, sliding comfortably under the raised lip of reinforced steel that surrounded the neck of Porkchop''s barding. Crouching down, he tucked the amulet away too, having just enough slack to nestle it safely behind the leather and steel plate that protected his chest. "There you go buddy. This should suit you well. You''ve got a manipulation skill right? Try funnelling some of your Mana into the amulet. I think you''ll find its effects quite entertaining." Manipulation skills were an interesting group. Each one aided the control of a specific type of aspected mana, though equally all allowed a lesser influence on unaspected mana as well. This included the pool of power that all integrated beings held within them. Allowing it to be shaped, transmuted, and wielded with far more skill than the clumsy fumblings he had been using to saturate his eyes. It was the basis of shapeless casting. Using raw power, a manipulation skill, and any number of additional modifying and influencing skills to shape mana into casting effects. By far the most flexible of the three standard spheres of magic. It was also painfully slow until someone had the skill levels, stats, and simple experience to shape raw magic at their whim. Even then, it was often still slower and less powerful that channelled spells, the second type of casting that utilised spells. Most mages relied on a combination of the two, with the runic arts being relegated to more of a craftsman profession. A manipulation skill also meant that filling the amulet with mana should be a simple task for Porkchop, one that required so little concentration that he should be able to do it in combat. Porkchop rolled his eyes at him. "You could just tell me." he murmured. Though he did narrow his brows in momentary concentration as he channelled his Mana into the amulet. "Done. I''m going to use it now." Porkchop said with excitement. Kaius blanched, throwing up his hands to stop his friend. "Wait!" Porkchop cocked his head at him. Kaius sighed in relief, disaster narrowly avoided. "Hells, Porkchop. You nearly pasted me. If you''re going to use it, go get a run up at one of those piles of corpses first." He said, waving his hand at a larger than normal pile of dwarven plate and bones a short distance away. Porkchop nodded, turning and moving into an easy run towards the pile of bodies as Kaius watched in anticipation. Half way there he suddenly surged forwards, accelerating from a jogging pace to something faster than Kaius could sprint. Oddly, Porkchop didn''t seem to actually have quickened his pace at all. His feet still moved at the same easy pace, but each step rocketed him forwards far more than it should have. His friend smashed into the pile of fallen soldiers with a cacophonous crash. Despite the sheer bulk of their heavy plate, the bodies of the dwarven soldiers were sent flying away. The collision was so violent that several limbs were knocked free. Kaius watched the violent eruption with a slackened jaw. He hadn''t expected it to be quite that effective. Porkchop came skidding to a halt, planting his feet in surprise. Kaius watched his friend turn, staring at the devastation. He paused for a moment, frowning in concentration before suddenly sprinting for another fallen squad. If the first collision had sounded like the crack of a gong, this one sounded like a giant''s smithy. Porkchop hitting the pile of thick steel armour with a tortured squeal of metal. Bodies clanged as they skittered across the stone ground, tumbling. Limbs ragdolling with enough force to bend plate and tear withered joints free. "Bloody hells, was that one cracked?" Kaius thought, staring at one chestplate that had borne the brunt of Porkchop''s charge. He almost felt sorry for the goblins now. Porkchop hooted in excitement, racing back to him. "That was so much fun!" He said, ears flicking. "Expensive though. That drained my mana pool." Kaius grinned. "The next Champion won''t even know what hit them." Kaius turned, scanning the interior of the reward chest a final time. Swiping up a single golden depths-coin that he had missed. He slipped it into his potion pouch with the rest. "Give me a moment to put these on." Kaius said, picking up one of his new vambraces. "Then let''s head up into the next district. I think I remember it looking more residential than this one. We''re going to be holed up for a while as I work on my next legacy skills. We may as well be comfortable as we do it." Porkchop nodded. A few minutes later and he was done, cinching the final strap on his left arm. Rising to his feet, Kaius strode towards the megalithic staircase at the end of the mustering ground. The entrance to the next layer of the dwarven city. Chapter 59 : Extravagance and Insight Porkchop charged, activating his amulet to crush through the final thrum of goblins that had packed themselves into the tight alley separating the two manors. Depths-born screamed as their bones cracked, the force of Porkchop''s charge crushing them underfoot. Sending them rocketing into allies and richly carved stone alike. Bursting through to the other side of the dense crowd, Porkchop turned and started to tear into the goblins'' flank. Kaius waded into the fray, the cracked blade of A Father''s Gift lopping off heads and caving in skulls. The goblins were disoriented. Off balance. It made it disgustingly easy. A bruiser leapt to its feet, crawling out from beneath the shattered body of one of its allies to charge at him. He caught the blow, parrying it. Spinning his blade into an overhand strike that cleaved into its head. Spraying him with blood as it dropped. Forced into a dense mob, tangled into a mosh of bodies and beset from both sides, the group of goblins descended into disordered mayhem. Kaius swept through their line like he was harvesting wheat. Each swing leaving more dead bodies in his wake. Some managed to muster a lacklustre defence, trying and failing to assault him with club and knife. They only served to charge his new vambraces as he deftly turned their attacks. Following through with perfectly timed fatal ripostes. Adding to the pile of bodies that littered the alleys. The clean up didn''t take much longer after that. Joining Porkchop on the street, Kaius stood panting. Staring out over the devastation they had just wrought. Dozens of short green bodies littered the wide and richly decorated street. The perfectly polished flagstones stained with dark green blood. They''d been set upon as soon as they had arrived in this newest section of the city. Barely making it a block before a horde had descended upon them. Thankfully, it seemed the dwarves were far more lavish with their living arrangements than the austere military and crafting compounds below had suggested. Each house had a high slanted roof, immaculately tiled in stone. Providing very little viable vantage points for the archers. They''d crushed them first, weak and undefended that they were when confined to the street level. It had taken them the better part of an hour to climb the gargantuan staircase that snaked its way up the outer wall of the next district. Long enough that the false sun above had once again begun to dim. Arriving at the top they had been greeted with yet another twisted and shattered metal door. Though it had been far more ornamented than the external gate, inlaid in gold and silver. On the other side, they had found the wide street that he now stood on, regular posts topped with wire wrapped crystals providing a soft even lighting to the surrounding opulent houses. They were impressive things. Kaius looked away from the alley, roaming his eyes over the immaculately carved gothic engravings of the manors. They were tall, narrow things. Sharing walls with their neighbours. Tight little alleys leading to streets deeper into the district every dozen or so houses. He was glad they had decided to make the climb before settling in to work on his next skills. Looking through wide, impossibly flat, glass windows, he could see each and every interior was decorated with plush furniture, art, and every type of fixture one could want in an abode. Much better than hanging out in a barracks for a month or two. Kaius wiped his sword, running his fingers over the chipped blade. Already they had started to shrink, filling out by a few hair''s breadths at most as the Self Repair enchantment went to work. Still, much like his scalemail it would most likely take at least a day to repair itself, if not more. Unfortunately, nowhere near as fast as his clothing. It was a simple fact that enhanced metal was harder to regenerate than cloth and leather - even the magically saturated kind. Porkchop padded over to him, daintily stepping around pools of blood despite his paws already being absolutely saturated. "Ready to check one out?" He scratched Porkchop on the head. "I''m dying to get this skill merged." "Lead the way, I want to lie on a bed again. I can''t believe how soft they are." Kaius laughed. Porkchop was in for a surprise. The thin barrack mattresses they had slept on the previous night barely even met the definition. He had no doubt that with how fancy everything else he could see in the windows of the various manors, the beds they would find would be massive feather stuffed things. Though he should probably help Porkchop wash his paws before he ruined a perfectly good bed, he thought, eying the state of his friend''s gore-ridden feat. He led them back the way they had come, wanting to pick a manor that didn''t have a pile of corpses right outside. He gave them a day at most before the next couple of streets started to reek, and he didn''t need that sort of distraction when working on his runes. T''was the mind of dreamers. Of artists, mathematicians, architects, generals, artisans, mages, explorers and more. A simulation as comfortable with rearranging furniture as it was displaying the impossible whorls of a grandmaster runesmiths sigils. It reeked of cold analysis, loving memories, and curious fascination. Mental Visualisation was a skill that contained multitudes, happy to reflect what he needed in perfect clarity. His web of meaning and self grew, another thread of his soul thrumming as it enmeshed with the central power of the skill. His other skills were screaming now. Demanding that he return to them, to their flawless beauty. He shut them out. He''d grown since his last merge. His willpower was stronger, the fire of his soul more fierce. Boosted by the stats he had earned with his Honour. His heart thumped with slow regularity as he turned his attention to the next part of True Sight. Sense Illusion was the cold pyre of righteous conviction. The unyielding steel of truth. To deny fact was delusion. To twist the definable into false reality was heresy. Corrupting what things are into what they could be, treason. Fanatical certainty bled through the aura of the skill. Burning with a light that cared only for what was. He coaxed another luminous thread from his soul, shutting out the wails of his legacy. Sense Illusion drank in the connection, suffusing with his Self. Next was a power that shone with the light of a scholar. The mind of mania. Of spirits and hidden things. A magical world revealed. The engine of power that lay beneath the cold life of the material. Amorphous, ever changing, and always waiting. Needing just the right hand to shape and guide. To open the gap and allow the mystical to tear control from the material. This was a skill uninterested in such works. Preferring the joy of a voyeur. One that did not wish to effect change, only to peep at a truth most were blind to. Sense Mana. More soulfire wove its way through his innermost conflagration. He could feel them now, clawing at his attention. The strain slowly hammering at his mind. It was still weak. Growing slow enough that he knew he could finish the merge without too much strain. But it was there. The mergers wouldn''t be so easy. Especially not once another voice joined the choir. His focus shifted, honing in on a pleading supplicant. It had no will, no power of its own. Only that which let it beg harder, beg louder to its lord. One that simply wished to know. It wasn''t asking much. No great secrets, no exploitable weaknesses. Nothing that its monarch would truly have to ponder. All it wanted was a taste. A mere glimpse of what its lord witnessed through its omnipresent vision. A simple description of the world. A name. A fragment from the book of all things. Please. Identify. The connection snapped in place. Only a single piece remained. Focus narrowed, the final skill filling his mind. The world was a beautiful thing, so full of details. An endlessly tessellated pattern that only grew into coherency through the obscuring haze of comfortable distance. A false coherency. The mountain on the horizon lied, hiding its rocks and bushes. The smooth consistency of a hares coat cackling in successful deceit, drowning the calls for justice of a thousand thousand individual hairs. Each in turn masking the plea''s of impossibly small building blocks. Clarity existed in accuracy. Truth, in precision. Without acuity, neither was possible. Eagle Eye. Kaius hauled on his soul. Spinning out soulfire as fast as he could. Hurriedly connecting the last skill to his web before the screams of his other legacy skills could shake his conviction. Moving with surety and purpose he forged his chain from skill to skill. Each nexus of power lighting up like a beacon as they joined a greater whole. Pulsing, howling with furore and anticipation. The last skill snapped into place. The web burned, a shock wave of meaning buffeting his soul. Sending ripples through his radiant soul. Buffeting his gaseous resources. Thrumming with power. **Ding! Skill Merge Detected! Would you like to proceed?** Kaius let go. Allowing the irresistible gravity of meaning to pull his skills into one. Dissolving them. Crushing their essence into a new liquid form. Crystalising into a higher truth. A flash of revealing light, and it was done. **Ding! Skill Merged! True Sight obtained!** Chapter 60 : Sharing is Caring **Ding! Skill Merged! True Sight obtained!** Kaius let out a whoop of joy as his latest legacy skill spun into existence. Crystallising into a new nexus of power that joined itself with his other merged skills to orbit his soul. A grunt from across the room made him snap open his eyes. His exclamation had roused Porkchop, his friend sitting up from the day bed he had been napping on to look at him with curiosity. "Sorry bud." Kaius grinned. "Just merged the skill." He explained. Porkchop grunted, stretching wide before rolling off the seat with a shake of his head. "What''s it do?" Porkchop asked, sitting down on the plush rug that sat in front of the central fireplace of the office. "Lemme check." Kaius said, pulling up the description of his latest skill. True Sight: Level 1 Unusual See to the heart of the matter, harness the burning light that reveals all. Skill that reveals the true nature of reality, including the energy that runs beneath it. Potent sources of mana and aura may be blinding. Each level reasonably increases mental processing of visual stimuli. Each level reasonably improves skills ability to overcome hampering effects. Each level moderately increases ability to see mana and aura. Each level moderately increases visual and mental acuity. Each level moderately increases ability to counteract and resist all natural and magical effects that hinder direct observation, including darkness, illusion, and blinding. Merged from: Low Light Vision, Mental Visualisation, Sense Illusion, Sense Mana, Identify, Eagle Eye Even without the description, he could tell it was much more integrated that his smattering collection of skills had been before. For one, it was far less intrusive and painful that Sense Mana and Eagle Eye had been. He could see the faint illusory wisps of atmospheric mana suffusing everything, yet it did not drag at his eye. Nor overpower his sight. It was just there. The wood of the desk across the room was brown, subtly textured with woodgrain, and had slightly higher than average densities of nature, earth, and plant mana. A new dimension to an existing sense, rather than a new one that vied with it for dominance. Same with his increased acuity. When he looked at Porkchop he could make out each and every individual hair on his friend''s face, but until he really focused it all just faded into the background. Filtered until it was needed. Porkchop''s seventh legacy skill was Ironbodied. It seemed a close pair to his own Adamant Body, though far more focused on improving physical resilience, including specific bonuses to resisting impact, and allowing his friend to survive and persist through the kinds of injuries that would otherwise prove fatal. That, he thought, was most likely what had kept his friend alive after the Grimclaw had mauled him so utterly. His sixth, Fortress of Pugilism was a straight shooting mastery skill, though this one focused entirely on improving and enhancing all forms of unarmed combat. Slightly different from his first, which was entirely focused on enhancement instead of mastery, but together they were a potent pair. Next his friend told him about his skill Spell Resistance. That had made Kaius perk up, yet another skill that was similar to one of his own. In this case Rapid Adaptation. Though this time it was Porkchop''s skill that was the lesser of the two. It aided him in resisting arcane influence across the board. Primarily physical spells, such as being hit by a conjured stone, would still injure him just as easily. Even though Kaius had a long way to go until he acquired resistance to things such as crushing or bleeding, he would get there eventually. Evidently his own skill was unknown to the meles, because Porkchop completely froze when he told him. "What!" Porkchop barked. "That is ridiculous! If I had known of that skill I would have picked it instantly! It''ll make you practically unkillable once you get the skill high enough!" Kaius pushed his hair behind his ear, unable to help but feel a little awkward at his friend''s unabashed jealousy. "It is pretty good. Not quite that good though." "Still!" "Let''s just move on." Kaius asked. He was already having difficulty with sharing something he had been sworn to secrecy on, so Porkchops blatant fascination with the skill made him a little uncomfortable. Though, in his friend''s defence, despite his fascination he didn''t even hint at Kaius to tell him how it could be acquired. For that, he was grateful. Porkchop looked like he was about to burst from the effort of restraining himself from asking more, but he acquiesced all the same. Changing the subject to share the rest of his skills with Kaius. Crystal Manipulation, which gave him the ability to manually shape crystal mana, or use that mana to gain control of crystals themselves. Like all aspected manipulation skills, Kaius knew it still allowed control of unaspected mana, but to a lesser degree. It was a mirror to his own upcoming legacy skill Mana Manipulation, though his was far more generalised. It would let him manipulate unaspected mana with ease, and gave a far lesser degree of influence over the other aspects. His friend also shared his final two legacy skills. Primal Senses, which provided a broad boost to his friends sensory capabilities, and Natural Celerity, which empowered his bodily control, surety of footing, and other various forms of agility. When it was Kaius''s turn, he explained the final skills he was working towards. Runic Lexicon, which empowered his learning and application of runecraft, especially in regards to the scripts he used to merge the skill, and Mana Manipulation. They were to be the focus of his coming months, and he refused to move on until he had acquired them. With both he would finally be able to work on his body formations, and hopefully practise his casting. He wanted to get in as much as he could in their final run up to fighting the Guardian. It was absolutely vital that using runic spells had a high degree of influence on his class, especially using them in tandem with his blade. Porkchop agreed with him. More than happy to have an extended rest from their constant and frenetic pace through the Depths. Beds and cooked food were a luxury entirely foreign to him, though Kaius noted that his friend had quickly picked up an appreciation after they had spent the night in the barracks. Kaius took a slow breath. He''d felt like he could feel his father''s gaze burning a hole in him the entire conversation. Aghast at his sheer flagrant honesty about the capabilities of his family''s legacy. Still, it wasn''t like he had gotten nothing in return. Porkchop had been practically falling over himself to tell him about his skills. Plus, it felt good. To finally share. He hadn''t realised it, but keeping the secrets of his dynasty to himself was a heavy burden. Sharing them with a friend made him feel just a little bit lighter. He only had one more left to go, the final skill he would get before choosing his tenth skill on his own. "The last one in my legacy is Uncanny Dodge. It''s supposed to make you far better at dodging unseen blows, but I doubt it''s anything too crazy. It''s only a merge of two after all." Kaius finished with a deep breath, looking up only to find Porkchop staring at him with an easy grin on his face. "Thank you for sharing that with me. I could tell it was difficult." Kaius looked away, hiding his embarrassment as he waved his friend off. "It''s fine. Say, I think I saw some potatoes down in the kitchen." He said, changing the subject. "Have you ever had stew?" Porkchop cocked his head, looking at him with curiosity. "What is potatoes?" "How about we go find out." Kaius said with a grin, rising to his feet to head to the richly stocked kitchen on the first floor. Porkchop bounced to his feet and hurried after him. Tomorrow he would start his work on Runic Lexicon. For now, the only thing he could keep his mind on was a hot meal, and the room sized feather stuffed mattress he had spotted in the manor''s master bedroom. Chapter 61 : Runes pt. 1 Kaius crouched behind the massive desk that dominated the manors office. It was a little awkward to get at the cabinets beneath, as it had clearly been designed for non-humans. The seat was a little too broad, and everything was a good stride closer to the ground than was comfortable. Yanking open another draw, Kaius let out a whoop of success as he found an inkwell and a massive stack of loose paper. It was good stuff. Most paper he had used was rough pressed. Thick and grainy, made by one of the craftsmen in the villages that bordered his forest home. These sheets were as smooth as silk, perfectly square, and had a bizarrely even texture. They must have cost a fortune. He was glad he found them. Rune mastery skills were almost entirely knowledge based, but application of that knowledge would drastically speed up his rate of levelling. With his stylus he could have spent hours on inscribing things properly, but that would slow him down. Gating his rate of advancement to his pitiful Mana pool. He would end up doing that eventually anyway. It was far more effective than simple drawings on paper, and would be a great help for the inevitable slog as his skills approached their cap. Besides, he doubted the paper was alchemically treated. Even if he used inscriptions without mana gathering arrays, the magical weight would be far too much for the mundane material. He would quite literally be burning through his supplies. Using incomplete formations would stop that from happening, but that would slow his skill gain even further. Kaius looked up from the cupboard, staring at the veritable archive of books that lined the walls. Somehow he doubted that he would run out any time soon. This house hadn''t been anything special, and if there was this much paper, he had no doubt that he would be able to find more with a little bit of scavenging. Grabbing the stack, he rose to his feet and slapped it down on the top of the desk. Porkchop looked over from his spot on the daybed, disturbed by the sound. "I can''t believe you are really just planning on sitting here for a month and drawing. Won''t you get bored?" Porkchop asked. He''d been grumbling about their planned stay since late last night, after Kaius had told him more about the skills he was planning on levelling. "Oh shush, it''s not like I''m going to stay in here completely, only leaving to eat and sleep." It wasn''t a lie...mostly. Well, if he was entirely honest that would be exactly what he would do if he thought he could get away with it. Kaius knew he couldn''t though. He was pretty sure Porkchop would riot after the fourth day. The meles was many things, but patient was not one of them. "I''ll need plenty of this stuff here." Kaius tapped the stack of white paper he had placed on the desk. "Which means we''ll need to do plenty of scavenging. Probably every second or third day. We can explore the district and clear out any nearby groups of goblins while we do so. Is that enough to stop you gnawing your own leg off in boredom?" He asked, giving Porkchop a pointed look. His friend rolled his eyes, yet another human expression he had picked up. "I''m not that impatient! But yes. That would help." "Good. Now, I need to focus. If you manage to keep quiet I might even make some more stew tonight. There''s a lot more variations than just beef and potatoes you know." Porkchop''s eyes widened. With exacting precision he lowered himself back down onto the daybed without making a single sound. Laying there, perfectly still. Kaius laughed at his friend''s antics. The stew he had made last night was a rustic affair, but tasty. Despite the manor having every ingredient he had ever seen in his life, and a good hundred more, he''d stuck to the basics. Something he had gotten Illendra, the barmaid of the Stout Oak and his closest friend, to teach him. Explorer''s Toolkit had put in work, letting him refine simple techniques and ingredients into something he would have been proud to serve to the one who taught him the recipe- though he was still nowhere close to her skill. It was also the first time he had had the resources, space, and mental energy to actually cook real food since he had arrived in the Depths. Porkchop had taken to it like a house on fire, ignoring the food''s scalding heat to shove his whole snout into his still steaming portion. Kaius knew he had had him then. The perfect bribe. Porkchop had always been a glutton, but even a simple mention of stew was enough to get him to settle down now. Kaius dipped his quill in his inkpot, leaving it there as he took a moment to decide on the sigil he would draw. He chose Strength. He started to draw. Sweeping curves biting into sharp angled lines as the rune started to take shape on the page. His hand was perfectly steady, leaning on his Dexterity to keep his lines even. Making sure that each angle was perfect, each line the right thickness. The sigil was large, taking up the whole page as his hand gradually moved from edge to edge, swooping as he drew in a single continuous moment. He reinked his pen, careful to make sure not to mar the rune. Ykkardian sigils were almost self contained formations in their own right, only requiring bare little flourishes and simple lines to link them into a greater working. Similarly, it was simplicity itself to ensure the rune wouldn''t draw mana from the atmosphere. Only requiring that he change a few accents. A variation that would require him to manually channel his pool to ignite the glyph. It was that stable, self contained nature that would make it so good for use as his keystone. It was also what would make it an absolute nightmare to link to his controller, something that would be made with a very different style of runic language. His focus totally honed, the rune of Strength slowly came together on the page. A few minutes later and it was done. Kaius grinned at the rune, admiring his handy work. It was a beautiful thing, a whorl of clean lines and sweeping angles, interposed with jagged slashes. It was rather beautiful in his opinion. He''d always loved how Ykkardian was drawn in a single continuous stroke. A line that bent and wove through itself. Now it was time for the moment of truth. Giving the ink a moment to dry, Kaius picked up the page and reached for the rune. Focusing for a moment to connect his pool to the working. Tugging at his mana, the paper went ridgid. Stiff. Then arcane force tore the mundane material to shreds. A CRACK echoed through the room, quickly followed by a flash of light. Kaius cursed, blinking rapidly to clear the after image of the flash hung in his vision. Then he laughed as Porkchop let out a yelp of alarm, quickly followed by a crashing sound as something hit the floor. Shaking his hand, he nursed his slightly singed fingers. Kaius didn''t get to see it, but it was obvious that the paper must have detonated. He had expected that, but Porkchop clearly hadn''t. Maybe he''d forgotten to mention that. Oops. **Ding! True Sight has reached level 2!** The afterimage faded, revealing a shower of ash and embers that floated through the air. Across the room Porkchop lay sprawled on the floor, the day bed knocked prone. His friend was staring at him with indignation. "What the fuck was that, Kaius?" "That, my friend, was a success." Kaius replied with a wide grin, staring at the second notification that hung in his vision. **Ding! General Skill Available! Would you like to learn: Rune Mastery - Ykkardian (Rare)?** Chapter 62 : Runes pt. 2 **Ding! General Skill Available! Would you like to learn: Rune Mastery - Ykkardian (Rare)?** Kaius stared at the system notification that hung in his vision, feeling exceedingly pleased with himself. Getting offered the skill on his first attempt was evidence that all of those evenings spent in mind bending study of runes had been worth it. That his father''s exacting methods and intolerance of mistakes had worked. Mastery skills were interesting. They might boost competency, but you had to display some baseline capability before a Skill would be offered to you by the system. It was an especially high bar for the runic arts. Your inscription didn''t have to be perfect, but it did have to work. It took months of practice for that to even start to become a possibility. Even for him, with a grandmaster as his father, it had taken a lot of sweat and tears to get to this point. "Kaius. Why the hells did that paper explode." Porkchop asked him, still lying on the floor after the shock of Kaius''s rune''s spontaneous detonation had startled him from his seat. Kaius refocused on his friend, scratching his head awkwardly. "Err. The paper couldn''t handle the throughput of the rune?" He offered. "So you knew this would happen?" Porkchop accused. "Well. Yes. But-" Porkchop snorted, interrupting him. "Usually you tell people before something blows up right next to where they are sleeping." "Sorry, I-" "Will it happen again?" Porkchop cut him off again. "I mean-" "Will. You. Keep. Blowing. Up. Paper." Every word flowed across the link slowly, Porkchop making his annoyance clear. "Yes." Kaius said, feeling a little silly that he had forgotten to warn his friend about the slightly volatile effects of scribing active runes onto mundane materials. "I swear to all of your two-legged gods that if you manage to blow up this house as well I will eat your boots." Porkchop pushed himself to his feet, walking out of the study. "I''m going to nap on the bed. Come find me when you''re done blowing stuff up." "Sorry!" Kaius called after him, feeling a little bad. The feeling passed quickly, his excitement for his new skill returning in full force as he turned his attention back to his notification. Kaius accepted his new Ykkardian mastery, and pulled up the description of the skill. Rune Mastery - Ykkardian: Level 1 Rare Understanding relies on signs and symbols. These relations have weight. Once distilled into their purest form, power is all that remains. Sitting back down, Kaius thought on which language to use next. He could use any of the four, he knew that. He also couldn''t help the fact that it had been burned into him for many many years that his legacy skills had an exact order. It felt bloody wrong to just pick willy-nilly. Biting his nail, Kaius decided to work outwards from the scripts he would use for his spellcasting body formation. He already had Ykkardian, which would make up the central keystone. Outside of that would be the controller, a dense working that would serve as his link and interface with the overall working. Imprinting spell-like effects into an object with runes was, well- not easy, but relatively straight forward. Making those spells directably and intuitively controllable like a real spell? Far harder. You needed a dizzyingly complex array. Something that could handle context with ease. Something capable of handling arguments. Something adaptable. After a lot of discussion, he and Father had settled on using the Vhaxani script. For his niche use case, it was perfect. Though from his fathers lessons he had quickly gotten the idea that Vhaxanish was only useful for niche edge cases. Frankly, whoever had discovered or invented it must have been demented. Sure, it was technically equally capable at doing just about anything, and it definitely was amazing for creating perfectly tailored command and control arrays. It was also categorically verbose, and its formations and arrays invariably ended up being a dozen or more times longer than any other option available. It was also notorious for being finicky. When working with such a long structure, a single syntax error could throw the whole thing off. Causing weird quirks, or catastrophic stability failures. If he was being honest with himself, it was shit. Really shit. Horrible to use, overly complicated, and unnecessarily confusing, even when compared to other notable offenders. It was also the best bet he had. That complexity was needed when he wanted to do something like creating a permanent self sustaining body array, with disposable spell sections, that also linked to his mind and system. It was also the sole piece of his spell casting formation that Hastur had insisted he completely design himself. His father had still done all the leg work for the rest, including helping him brainstorm some spell hymns written in High Lothian. The controller itself though was far too complex and important, Father had done it all without asking for his input. Kaius remembered that week. His father hunched over his notebook, furiously scribbling. Tearing pages out in frustration, nearly throwing his whole damn book in the fire more than once. Any time Kaius had made so much as a peep, Father had yelled at him to shut up. Only for him to wake, finding his father thrusting a page of what looked like a wheel of minuscule angled letters in his face. Telling him that he had to memorise the entire thing. Perfectly. It had taken another three weeks. He was grateful to Father- loved him to pieces, but gods damned did that man have high demands on his ability Kaius sighed. It was still going to take forever to finish a formation and get the skill. Worse, he had to do it without making any mistakes. Even a basic light formation would take him at least half an hour. Gods, he hated Vhaxani. Thank the hells that as soon as he had created his spell formation he could forget the entire damned thing. Deciding he may as well just get on with it, Kaius put his pen to the page. Writing out dense swirling letters that coallessed into words thirty to fifty characters long. Each was small enough that he struggled with the necessary precision. Thankfully, one of the only positives of the script was that each individual letter was simplistic. Barely more complicated than those of Common. Even if there were five hundred and twelve of them. Kaius kept grumbling to himself, muttering a thousand vile curses against the script''s inventor, as he scribed out a basic runic formation. Word by word the lines of the script spiralled inwards, flowing according to Vhaxanish sacred geometry. Half an hour turned out to be an underestimate. A full hour later Kaius stared at his finished formation. Squeezing his fist rhythmically, Kaius restrained himself from crumpling the damnable paper. It had been an exercise in frustration. Not just due to the length, but having to stop every five seconds to double check he had his characters correct, or that his syntax was in order. "It''s over now. Just activate the rune. Get the skill." Kaius thought to himself, breathing deeply. He reached out to his rune. Intermeshing with it. Connecting to his Ma- It wouldn''t connect to his Mana. He''d made a mistake. "Fuck!" Kaius yelled Chapter 63 : Runes pt. 3 Kaius held the piece of paper between ink stained fingers, his hands shaking slightly as he stared at the complex mess of a runic sigil that had taken him the better part of an hour to write. It had to work this time. It had to. He felt like he was going insane, pouring over the grain sized characters that built up into massive words, in turn whorling into curving lines of script. It wasn''t his hand writing. That was perfect. His first attempt, the one that failed to connect to his mana, had been due to faulty substitutions. Mixing up the seventeenth and eighty-ninth Vhaxanish characters. Easy to do. One was an upside down equilateral triangle, the other an upside down equilateral triangle with a slight flick on its left point. Failures two through five had been grammar issues. Basic things, but each one had caused the formation to burst into a shower of sparks the second he pushed mana through it. He''d fixed those. It had to be right, now. Syntax was fine. Spelling was fine. He''d used the correct characters. The angles and cross over points on the lines of text were perfect. Kaius took a shaky breath. Reaching out to the sigil. Mana connected. A soft glow lit from the central point of the Vhaxanish formation, a ball of white light emerging to hover over its centre. **Ding! General Skill Available! Would you like to learn: Rune Mastery - Vhaxanish (Rare)?** "Thank the fucking GODS!" Kaius cried, throwing his hands up in triumph and letting the formation flutter to the ground. Half way it burst into flames, scattering ash across the floor. He accepted the skill in a rush, pulling up its description. Unwilling to let a freak accident force him to spend any more time than was necessary on the utterly miserable script. Being forced to regain it would mean doing at least twice as many successful formations. Rune Mastery - Vhaxanish: Level 1 Rare Lesser minds do not understand the value of precision. This skill improves the users ability to create Vhaxanish formations, and increases the stability of the formations themselves. Each level slightly increases speed and accuracy when inscribing Vhaxanish runes. Each level slightly increases stability of Vhaxanish runes. Each level slightly increases memory and learning capacity of Vhaxanish runes. "Oh fuck off." Kaius mumbled, reading the epigraph of the skill. That was ridiculous. Vhaxanish was not precise, it was cumbersome, unwieldy, and other scripts outshone it in almost every single use case imaginable. Thank you very fucking much. A noise from the doorway tore him away from his frustration. He looked up, finding Porkchop poking his head into the office. "You give up yet?" His friend asked. "I''m hungry." "Nope!" Kaius said, his voice a little more biting than he intended, still pissed off at his failures. "So no food?" Porkchop asked, his whole body drooping. He sounded devastated. Kaius immediately felt bad. "No! I got it." He said, pushing himself up and away from the desk. Porkchop perked up immediately, bounding away from the door. "Race you to the kitchen!" He''d already successfully collected the scripts he needed for his keystone and controlling arrays, now it was time for the script he needed for the linking array. It was a vital piece of the overall puzzle. His overall spell formation would be a disparate thing, made up of five different scripts working in tandem. That caused issues. Each style of runes had its own syntax, its own way of integrating separate arrays into an overall formation. He needed something to bind them together. To facilitate communication. Thankfully, it was not an uncommon problem for larger and more complex workings. Modern runecraft often relied on utilising the strengths of specific scripts and linking them together. Centuries ago it had been the sole purview of masters and grandmasters, now it was something that any middling apprentice was supposed to understand, at least the theory of it . All thanks to the work of the runewright Yosh. He was supposedly the kind of genius that is only seen once a millennium. He solved the problem of linking scripts by inventing a new one whole cloth. Yosh''s Supplementary. It was by no means a simple script, but it was far far easier to learn than what was required to integrate separate scripts without it. Where previously one had to be at least master level proficiency in each and every script they wanted to link, the Supplementary allowed that with a mere working understanding of it and the other desired components. It had its own drawbacks. It was built for one purpose, and one purpose alone. The Supplementary couldn''t be used for anything else. Often that meant that most did not truely dive deep into learning it until they were well into their journeyman years. Afterall, it wasn''t until then that integrating scripts was really viable or useful. He was a little different, as a vital component of his spell array he had needed to learn it immediately. Admittedly his fathers teaching had been entirely focused on its use with his other key four scripts - and Gretchen''s Standard for ease of practice. Unfortunately, its sole use as a linking script meant that he would need to use it for that purpose. Thankfully, he already had an idea. A Ykkardian sigil of force, with a little basic shaping with Gretchen''s Standard should be enough for his purposes. Far less painful than trying to merge Vhaxanish at any rate. In the centre of his page he wrote out a single twisting and looping line, slowly coming together into the form of a Force sigil. Ykkardian was nice to use as a baseline, its broad functionality responding well to shaping and controlling runes from a variety of forces. If he got his Standard right, the formation should activate for long enough to tear the paper in half. Something that would hopefully disrupt it''s working fast enough that he wouldn''t shower his desk in more ash. He moved to his controlling array, quickly scribing the simplified runes of Gretchen''s standard. Both the controller and the keystone had space for basic links, but they were incompatible. Working off different syntax. Redipping his pen, Kaius moved into the sharp, angular forms of Yosh''s Supplementary. It was mostly a geometric script. Relying less on characters and sigils, and more on the natural ability of mana pathway geometry to effect the working. He started from the sigil of Force, twisting his line so that sacred geometry would modulate the flow of mana. Adjusting it into a form that would be recognised by the controller of Gretchen''s Standard. A few minutes later he was finished. After waiting for the ink to dry, Kaius picked up the sheet. Holding it at arm''s length, he held his breath as he reached out to the formation with his mana, nudging a little through the working. The page tore in half. Kaius grinned. **Ding! General Skill Available! Would you like to learn: Rune Mastery - Yosh''s Supplementary (Rare)?** "Yes." Rune Mastery - Yosh''s Supplementary: Level 1 Rare If you cannot make something so easy that a Journeyman could do it, you were never really a Grandmaster. This skill improves the users ability to create Yosh''s Supplementary arrays, and increases the stability of the arrays themselves. Each level slightly increases speed and accuracy when inscribing Yosh''s Supplementary runes. Each level slightly increases stability of Yosh''s Supplementary runes. Each level slightly increases memory and learning capacity of Yosh''s Supplementary runes. Kaius took in his new skill, happy to have gotten it done on the first try. It really hammered in how awful Vhaxanish was. Oh well. Onto the next one. The grind never stops, after all. Chapter 64 : Runes pt. 4 Kaius sat at the head of a grand dining table, nine high backed seats lining each side with a long tablecloth embroidered with heraldry draping over its centre. After two full days cooped up in the manors office, he had decided he needed a change of scenery. Sitting at the head of the table was weird. An experience far removed from his rather...rustic upbringing in the Arboreal Sea. He felt like a kid playing at a noble. The whole thing got another confusing twist to it when everything was just a little too short for him. Oh well, at least the chair was terrifically comfy. Porkchop had decided to join him again, lounging on a plush carpet that sat in front of a roaring hearth. After dinner last night they had done some more exploring of the multi floored manor, eventually managing to stumble across a treasure trove of wood and coal in some unmarked closet tucked into one of the narrow servant corridors that twisted through the house''s ground floor. After a good sleep, and a hearty breakfast of pork and eggs, Kaius was ready to tackle the last two of his remaining Runic Mastery skills. Neither of them should be too difficult, at least in comparison that was the mind numbing exercise in frustration that was Vhaxanish. Once he had all five he planned on getting as much initial practice as he could through scribing formations on paper. That would, however, inevitably run out. Nor would he be able to use that for anything larger or more complex than the most basic of workings. Warding the house and surrounding area was bound to get him the rest of the way there, and would give them some extra much needed security besides. As it stood, lounging around in a manor at the centre of a Depths constructed city full of goblins wasn''t exactly what he would consider safe. He might have been convinced to leave his armour unadorned inside of the bedroom he had been using, but he still wore his sword buckled at his hip at all times. Wards would go a long way to mitigate that anxiety. If it wasn''t for the benefits of levels, he probably would have eschewed practising on paper at all. However, most of the more effective warding he knew, especially those that incorporated his chosen scripts, was only known in theory. He needed every boost he could get if he wanted to translate that into runic arts utilised in practice. He twiddled his quill, twirling it between his fingers. Thinking. The next script he needed to work on was High Lothian. It was, perhaps, the script that would see the most use in his spell formation, at least in terms of his regularity of inscribing with it. It was a complex script, though not quite as bad as Vhaxanish. It was also rather flexible, and was notoriously good at being used to define and shape spell-like effects. That was what he intended to use it for. Runic spell hymns. While the rest of his spell formation would be permanent, the hymns themselves would be consumable by nature. His goal was to burn the overall formation to his body and his mana pool, creating an immutable self sustaining formation. However, that was just the ''machinery'' that would let him cast spells. The spells themselves would be High Lothian inscriptions entirely in their own right. The casting formation would hold them in stasis, drawing on his mana pool to reserve some of his mystic might inside of the spell hymn. Once called upon, the spell would burn, consuming itself in an instant to cast his desired hymn. That also meant that he would need to prepare each and every cast of a chosen spell ahead of time, and could only store as many as his mana pool could support. It also meant if he wanted two available casts of a given spell, he would need to inscribe and link that runic hymn to the overall spellcasting formation twice. He and his father- mostly Father- had spent weeks trying to find a way around this. It unfortunately looked like it was a hard limitation of his attempted style of mage craft. Every time they tried to make a hymn permanent, it required consciously channelled mana to activate. Completely defeating the point of the exercise. No, he needed to cast at the speed of thought, which meant sacrificing staying power in favour of focused instant bursts. That fact had made High Lothian the best contender as a script to use for the hymns themselves. Yes it was complex, and yes it was finicky. It was also dense and incredibly flexible. Any spell effect he could think of could be programmed into a High Lothian hymn. Even better, most of the complexity came from properly planning any given hymn, due to the extensive number of characters and contextual grammar of the script. Once memorised, he would be able to inscribe a given spell hymn relatively quickly. At least compared to other scripts which made it easier to create spells, but harder to inscribe them. Unfortunately, even if High Lothian was technically capable of spell hymns up to the fifth tier -the highest tier of advancement currently discovered- his spell casting formation was only capable of handling spells up to the first. Anything more than that would put undue stress on his body, his father had said. He''d been willing to risk it. Father had not, and without his help the entire exercise was dead in the water. Level 1 Rare Wield the language of the arcane, seal and constrain the mystic with sacred hymns. The power of magi yours to obtain, limited only by time, material, and capability. This skill improves the users ability to create High Lothian spell hymns, and increases the stability of the spell hymns themselves. Each level slightly increases speed and accuracy when inscribing High Lothian runes. Each level slightly increases stability of High Lothian runes. Each level slightly increases memory and learning capacity of High Lothian runes. Smiling as he read the description, Kaius brushed the ashen remnants of his last formation off of the table. Clearing the space for his continued work. Refusing to take a break to celebrate, he sat back down and grabbed another leaf of paper. He was down to his final script. The one he would need for containment and stabilisation arrays. It was another vital part of his spell casting formation, one that was almost ubiquitous in all body formations. Most runic inscriptions relied on consistent geometry, and smooth and uniform materials to maintain their stability. Body formations did not, and could not, have the same advantages. By definition the body was a dynamic organism. Surfaces twisted and shifted, distorting the formation. Muscles and blood moved freely. All this and much more were what made body formations so ruinously difficult to create. It required a rare type of array worked into the formation for them to function. One that served to preserve and maintain the formation''s overall function. One that projected the formation''s structure into the surrounding mana of the body. Even cut and severed it would allow the formation to function for some time - though inevitably without the physical inscriptions to support it it would begin to fail. Simenoan was one such script designed from the ground up to support this type of runic array. Named after the runewright Simeno, who pioneered both it and body formations more than a millennia ago. His father had told him much about the man. Apparently they were kindred spirits. Though, where he sought to use runes to emulate the magi, Simeno had used body formations to turn himself into a supreme warrior. Engraving wards, strength boosts, rejuvenation, and other similar enhancements onto his very bones. Kaius could only hope that he would have as much success as the ancient runewright. That his own name would similarly last through the millenia. Once again he started by scribing another Ykkardian sigil on the centre of his page, this time returning to Strength. Around it he scribed a Simenoan stabilising array. It was a geometric script, encircling his central sigil in overlapping circles, tessellated triangles, and more. "Moment of truth." Kaius thought, finishing the formation with a final flick of his quill. He reached for the page, sinking his mana into the formation. The page snapped to rigidity. Kaius clenched his fist. Waiting. The page lay there. He reached out, tentatively lifting the formation. The page was as stiff as wood, strong and proud in his hand. Stable. A few heart beats later, and the inherent weakness of the instability reared its head. It immolated slowly, starting from the very centre of the Ykkardian sigil. The moment it started to burn into the geometry of his Simenoan array, the stabilising force collapsed. Instantly combusting the rest of the page. Kaius grinned as another notification started to blare in his mind. **Ding! General Skill Available! Would you like to learn: Rune Mastery - Simenoan (Rare)?** Chapter 65 : Runes pt. 5 Seeing that the system had offered him the skill he wanted, Kaius smiled. It was the last he needed for Runic Lexicon. Now he just needed to practise. That would come later, first he had to check his latest skill. Rune Mastery - Simenoan: Level 1 Rare Bind chaos, weave stability into the unpredictable. Find calm in disorder and force the mutable to be concrete. This skill improves the users ability to create Simenoan stabilising arrays, and increases the stability of the arrays themselves. Each level slightly increases speed and accuracy when inscribing Simenoan runes. Each level slightly increases stability of Simenoan runes. Each level slightly increases memory and learning capacity of Simenoan runes. Kaius nodded as he read the description. Nothing about it was a surprise, afterall, it had the same effects as his previous four Rune Mastery skills. "I''m guessing by your vacant stare that you got the skill?" Porkchop asked, having readjusted by the hearth to look at him. Dismissing his notification, Kaius focused on his friend. "Yeah, all done for now. Just need to get them to the cap." "So we can take a break and go exploring? As much as I love hanging around on beds and eating cooked food, it''s getting a little stale." Porkchop said, lounging by the fire. "Sorry." Kaius apologised. He knew his friend must be bored. Hells, Kaius would be too if he had no skills to work on. Unfortunately, he needed to get this done. "Can you handle a few more days? I want to churn through the early levels as fast as I can. After that I was thinking I could work on setting up alarm wards and the like around the neighbourhood. Explore and scavenge some of the other manors while we do it?" Porkchop groaned, slumping dramatically to the floor. "Fiiiiine. But you can wait a few hours, I''m hungry. If I have to sit around doing nothing while you scribble on paper, you can cook for me while you do." Kaius smiled. "I suppose I could use a break." He said, stretching before rising from his chair. "C''mon. I wanna show you what a roast is." Pretending to be calm about the prospect of an exciting new dish, Porkchop continued to lay on the floor. For all of three seconds that is. Then he tore off, claws clattering against the polished stone floor as he sprinted for the kitchen. "Race you!" .... Kaius crouched by the wall of the alley, feeling his mana slowly drain away as he connected another swooping line to a dense nexus of Yosh''s runes that served to interface his central Ykkardian sigil with the rest of the detection formation. It was slow work, but satisfying. He and Porkchop had been at it for just over three weeks now, and his constant work had pushed his skills nicely. Each and every single one was closing in on level fifteen. The impact of the skills was noticeable now. Runes and formation plans practically leapt into his mind, and he could scribe them out what felt like twice as fast with half the errors. Finishing the detection formation Kaius stood back, surveying his work. Two dense knots of runes had been scribed at chest height on both of the alley walls. A braided line connected the two, crossing the alley proper. **Ding! Rune Mastery - Ykkardian has reached level 15!** **Ding! Rune Mastery - Vhaxanish has reached level 11!** The nightmarish mishmash of scripts on the other hand... It had, however, been fantastic practice. Not just for his skills, but simply getting the feel for how each of the scripts worked in tandem. Runic Lexicon would improve that, and the fact that he had his spell casting formation preplanned would also be a boon. It still helped to grow his confidence. Jumping straight into what was perhaps the most important formation of his life, and one that could seriously injure him if he made a mistake, would have been entirely foolhardy. Taking a steady breath to hone his focus, Kaius connected the final few lines of the formation. He stepped back, watching it like a hawk as he held his breath. He couldn''t see any imperfections, and considering the growth True Sight has seen due to his scrutiny of his recent works, that was saying something. The rune sucked in mana from the atmosphere, slowly suffusing the ward. A thin glowing gas syphoning into the collection arrays he had set high up in the frames. It had taken a lot of planning, and a few shattered walls, before he had managed to get a handle on how to modulate its intake in the increased density of mana inside of the Depths. Thankfully, he''d had the foresight to practise warding in the alleys first, so their base camp was untouched. The mana clicked into place, formation activating. A thin shimmer covered the window, True Sight revealing the protective barrier. Notifications streamed into Kaius''s mind. **Ding! Intelligence has reached level 17!** **Ding! True Sight has reached level 8!** **Ding! Rune Mastery - Vhaxanish level 20!** **Ding! Rune Mastery - Yosh''s Supplementary level 20!** **Ding! Rune Mastery - Simenoan has reached level 20!** He''d done it. Finished off the skills, all in record time. He was ready to merge. These last three had been stubborn. Ykkardian had been the quickest. He managed to cap the skill before he even started to ward the manor. High Lothian wasn''t far behind, with the complexity of the noise spells he had been including in the alarm wards in the alleys. Still, it was finally over. Excitement shot through him, a wide grin splitting his face as he absorbed his success at taking another step closer to his class. His escape. Turning with a whoop, Kaius leapt towards where Porkchop was waiting, throwing his arms around his friend and wrestling him to the ground. Growling in faux outrage, Porkchop retaliated, tossing him around with his superior strength, pinning him. "I submit!" Kaius yelled playfully as he laughed. "It''s done then?" Porkchop asked, looking down at him as he took his paw off his chest. "It''s done! I''m ready!" "Thank the gods! Let''s celebrate!" "Oh?" Kaius asked, giving his friend a questioning look as he pushed himself up off the ground. "What did you have in mind?" "Stew! With potatoes!" Porkchop said, to Kaius''s complete and utter lack of surprise. "And I suppose that you will be making it for me? Since we are celebrating my achievement?" Kaius grinned. Porkchop went quiet. "Look. I have claws. We both know you are making the stew. Just let me have this." Kaius laughed, taking the lead to head towards the kitchen. "Alright. I''m ready for a break anyway. Inscribing that ward made it feel like my brain was melting." He did need a break. The constant stress on his mana pool from channelling the resource through his stylus was exhausting. Taxing on the mind in a way that only sleep seemed to fix. Trying to merge the skills now would be idiotic. Tomorrow though? He''d be doing it first thing, no matter how much Porkchop begged for breakfast. Chapter 66 : Runes Finale Kaus sat in a comfortably overstuffed armchair, his legs splayed out in front of him thanks to its slightly too short height. He had returned to the office as soon as he had woken, rising with the dawn of the crystal sun that hung high above the Depths-created dwarven city. To his luck, he''d been able to slip out of the bedroom without waking Porkchop. By his measure he had at least an hour until his friend woke, giving him plenty of time to merge Runic Lexicon. His chest rose and fell with his slow and measured breaths. The steady cadence helping him to empty his mind and prepare him for the battle of wills ahead. Even with his enhanced mental visualisation capabilities thanks to True Sight, he knew that it would require a devoted effort to ignore the calls of his legacy skills as he went through the merging process. Thankfully, with each step on his path, the amount of skills that needed to be merged decreased. He doubted that even with his drive and capped Willpower that he would be able to handle the strain of merging more than five. He could do this. It was time. His inner world spun into existence, sharp and defined. Where previously entering his soul space felt like puppeting a marionette, now he felt in control. More able to visualise and direct his will. His soul burned with a warm orange fire, lighting up the nebulae of his resources. Pulling the crystal shards of his general skills into its orbit. A full half of them glimmered with the platinum shine he had come to expect from legacy skills. A testament to his steadily growing foundation, though only one had buttressed up against the imposed cap on growth that the system imposed on the unclassed. The other half glimmered, almost overshadowed by the aura of their superior cousins. Each and everyone bled meaning into the void. Their energies twisting and turning into mind bending geometric shapes. His runic mastery skills. At this point, spinning out his initial thread of soulfire was simplicity itself. He took a moment to weave it tighter. Visualising it less like a diffuse rope of fire, and more a wire of metallic gold. Condensing it into a strengthened form. The image weighed on his mind, but he knew the bond would be necessary, would help to anchor his soul more securely to his first skill. Help him to ignore the siren song of his legacy skills, already whispering their obsession into his mind. He lunged for his first skill, wrapping it in a gilden net of soulstuff. Ykkardian shrieked of truth. Of philosophy. It condensed the world into its core principles. Leaning on layered meanings to hide profound mysteries in a single sentence. It connected to something higher. Acknowledging that interpretation and context was where true insight was formed. The weight of the skill settled heavily on his brow, dragging at his willpower. Kaius grit his teeth, staying focused as his legacy skills shrieked. Screaming for his attention. He moved on, feeling sweat starting to bead on his brow. Reaching out to his soul once more, Kaius took the time to spin out another metallic wire of soul-stuff that shined with inner light. A finger length at a time he pulled it from its soul. It was agonisingly slow, every added moment giving his legacy skills more space to resonate, demanding that he connect with them. It was worth it, the extra density of the connection remaining steadfast against their covetous desire. He touched the next skill. It was exacting. Uncompromising. There was only one truth, one correct way to interpret the union of the physical and magical. To be inaccurate was to give false commands. How could one expect obeisance from mana when one could not even direct it clearly? Complexity was necessary if one wanted to truly describe the myriad complexities of the heavens. Holding his mind steady under the buffeting winds of meaning, Kaius watched as the skill pulsed with light. Connecting to his soul. Tension spiked as the call of his legacy skills redoubled, rising into a hellish squeal that tore at his mind like an icepick. He grit his teeth, the physical pain spreading through his jaw keeping him grounded. Another wire of soul condensate shot from his soul, moving with speed as he grew used to condensing his inner self into a stable speed. Wrapping around his next skill, he dove into it. Feeling its depths before his other skills could call to him once again. Yosh''s Supplementary was relaxed. Understanding of the confusion and difficulty that could arise when concepts struggled to cross barriers in communication. It was such a foreign concept to Kaius. That truth was not universal. That meaning did not have one description. Yosh had known, and as such so did his skill. It was a mediator. One that heard, understood, and passed on. Twisting the message so that it was received correctly, its core preserved untouched. It did not seek to explain, merely translate. The skill connected, a shockwave echoing through Kaius''s innermost self. The three skills he had connected to his soul started to resonate. Singing with joy at a coming union. His legacy skills raged, the metaphysical weight of potential whipping them into new heights of furor. Kaius pushed on, his nails digging into his palm. Lashed in golden wire, High Lothian spoke to him. It called to the deft mysteries of magic. The immutable secrets of mage craft. Observed. Understood. Transcribed. Magic might have been a higher force, but it was still bound by laws. Shaped by rules. Will and intent might suffice, but true control came from direction and control, not manipulation. Bound by logic and argument, diffuse power could ignite into so much more. Unusual Embody the unity of knowledge. Transcribe order from chaos, bring harmony to the discordant, and power to the inscribed. This skill improves the users ability to create runic formations, and increases the stability of the formations themselves. Formations utilising certain languages have their efficacy slightly increased. Each level moderately increases speed and accuracy when inscribing runes. Each level moderately increases stability of runes. Each level moderately increases memory and learning capacity of runes. Each level minutely increases the power of formations utilising the Ykkardian, Vhaxanish, Yosh''s Supplementary, High Lothian, and Simenoan runic scripts. Merged from: Rune Mastery - Ykkardian, Rune Mastery - Vhaxanish, Rune Mastery - Yosh''s Supplementary, Rune Mastery - High Lothian, Rune Mastery - Simenoan Kaius honed in on the final part of the skills description. He had known that it would provide some kind of boost to the scripts that he had used to create it, but a broad boost in power had been beyond his hopes. It raised questions. If his spell casting formation was bound to his body, would it receive continual boosts as he raised the skills level? Or would the skill only affect formations at the moment of their creation. He hesitated to lean one way or the other. For normal formations, he was almost certain that they were only impacted at the moment of inscription. Disconnected from his soul, he doubted that his skill would be able to impact them from a distance. Yet, his spellcasting formation would be bound to his body. Linked to his mana, and by extension his inner self. Something that should provide the skill a pathway to continually impact it. He hoped so. One of the main drawbacks for his attempt at casting was a lack of general skills that would improve his spells. All magi had those. It seemed he might too, if his suspicions proved correct. Kaius heard a chuff from behind him. Jumping a full stride in the air in shock, Kaius spun to find Porkchop standing patiently just inside the office. "Hells, Porkchop!" He yelled, pushing his sweat sodden hair out of his face as he let out a slow breath. "I thought you were sleeping." "I was." Porkchop snorted. "Until you started yelling like you were being stabbed." Kaius gave his friend an awkward smile. He did vaguely remember making a bit of noise, though he didn''t think it had been that loud. "Sorry. Getting towards the end of my legacy. The call of the already completed skills is getting... a lot." He explained. "I know. It only gets worse from here." Porkchop said solemnly. "Now c''mon, let''s go eat breakfast. I can thrash your manipulation skills after we are done." Kaius grinned. Breakfast sounded good. He wasn''t sure how long he had been working on Runic Lexicon, but it must have been a while - he was starving. Chapter 67 : Mana pt. 1 After a hearty breakfast of fried eggs, buttered toast, and some seared meat that tasted like a cross between fish and beef, Kaius and Porkchop moved to one of the manors sitting rooms. It was a better fit for their purposes, with a tall ceiling and wide open spaces that provided them more than enough space for their mana manipulation practice. Holding an armful of firewood, Kaius loaded up the hearth. He left it unlit, sitting in such proximity to open flame would almost certainly increase the availability of fire mana, something that would only disrupt his practice of his first skill, Air Manipulation. He sat cross legged on the plush rug, facing Porkchop who settled down across from him. Devoting more of his attention to True Sight, the world lit up in a wash of colours. He could still see perfectly fine, but a strange double layering of sight revealed the hidden mystic world, covering his surroundings in a mist. Most of it was an almost eggshell blue, unaspected mana, while the rest was a smattering of the core aspects- air, fire, earth, and water. There were dozens of other shades and tints flickering in his sight, but they were ephemeral. Their fleeting forms too small, too quick, for him to really get their measure. It would have been easy with a manipulation skill, any of them, but until then he had to rely on his sight alone. "Ready?" Porkchop asked him. Kaius nodded, and watched as Porkchop''s brows furrowed in focus. One ear quivering as eddies started to swirl through the atmospheric mana. Slowly, all other colours were pushed back as air mana was drawn in. Pooling into a cloud. Over time, Kaius watched the cloud grow as Porkchop started to slowly convert unaspected mana. Once the cloud of mana had grown to the size of his chest, and had gotten dense enough to stand out amongst the background, Porkchop visibility relaxed. Though Kaius noted that he still looked at the gathered air mana with intensity. He couldn''t imagine it was easy. All manipulation skills could influence mana, but specialised ones such as Crystal Manipulation lost a lot of their flexibility and efficiency when working with other aspects. "There. Is that enough?" Porkchop asked. Kaius nodded, grateful for his friend''s help. He absolutely could get the skills he needed by himself, but it would be much much harder. Without a skill, interacting directly with mana was tough, even without having to sift for trace aspects while ignoring all others. He stuck his hand into the cloud, watching as the creamy blue mana swirled in response to his movement. If he hadn''t known better, he would have thought that it was shifting as his arm disturbed the air. It wasn''t, mana didn''t exist on a physical level. Instead, it reacted to his natural mana density, shifting out of the way. Reaching into the centre with his will, he drew on his own internal pool. Circulating a thread of mana down his arm and around his hand, bringing it back to complete a loop with his pool. He focused on the mana in the air, letting faint traces of his own pool diffuse through his skin. Saturating the cloud of air mana with traces of that which he had branded as his own. If Porkchop wanted to, it would have been simplicity itself for his friend to wipe away the imprinted mana. Instead, Porkchop aided him. Encouraging the air mana to mingle with his own. He focused, trying to sense the mana that had left his body. He didn''t need much, just to slip his hold over the thin layer of air mana around his hand. A hair''s breadth, at most. It felt like trying to catch a greased hog. Every time he thought he felt a trace of the foreign mana, it slipped through his fingers. Furrowing his brows, Kaius turned all of his senses towards his task. There! The barest whisper of a feather touch graced the palm of his hand. He leapt on the sensation rabidly. Forcing the iota of power to stabilise. His mana pool poured from his palm, burning itself at a prodigious rate to support his desires. After the first, it grew easier, more and more motes coalescing out of the cloud that Porkchop held steady for him. Once it had accumulated to something the size of a walnut, he bore down on the small collection of mana he had gathered. Holding it in place. He withdrew his hand from the cloud, a small gleaming orb hovering a few hairs above his palm coming with it. That was the easy part. Now he had to stop expending his own mana, while still keeping his grip on the aspect. Sweat dripped from his brow. With inexorable slowness, Kaius choked off the circulating mana in his arm, the diffusion through his palm stemming. The orb of air mana in his hand shook, quivering as it threatened to disperse. Kaius grunted, gritting his teeth as he focused on the orb. Commanding it to stay. To obey his will. For once he thanked his experience with withstanding the call of his legacy skills during skill merging. Without that crucible to forge his will, he knew that he would stand far less chance of being successful. Finally, the mana emitting from his palm cut out entirely, leaving the aspected ball condensed only through the power of Kaius''s demands. The system acknowledged his achievement. **Ding! General Skill Available! Would you like to learn: Air Manipulation (Rare)?** Kaius gasped, letting out a breath he hadn''t even realised he was holding. He released his mental grip on the orb in his palm, the mana dispersing like smoke in the wind. Porkchop still held his own, much larger, cloud in place with a look of concentration on his face. Waiting for him to be ready. "Set some ground rules next time!" Out of the corner of his eye he saw Porkchop grumbling, his hackles raising. For a moment Kaius thought he would pounce. Then his friend grew focused, switching back to the cloud of mana. A titanic force tore at his mental grip, wrenching the gathered energy back to where it had been. The sudden jar to his mind caused his ears to ring, a thudding ache settling in at the base of his skull. **Ding! Air Manipulation has reached level 9!** **Ding! Intelligence has reached level 18!** Another level, more control. He yanked with all of his mental might, just barely slowing the aspected power on its inexorable journey back to Porkchop''s embrace. **Ding! Air Manipulation has reached level 10!** Their battle of wills continued, Kaius desperately trying to wrench control of the ball of air mana away from Porkchop. His levels quickly began to slow, but they didn''t stop. Every few minutes a ding would sound in his mind, bringing with it a finer dexterity and a firmer grip. His headache started to fade, though his face still dripped with the sweat of exertion. Porkchop was a stout combatant, refusing to give up ground. Every time he got a little better, or they became more evenly matched, he would add something new. Even capped, manipulation skills had a lot of depth to them. Kaius was a novice, completely inexperienced with making use of his newest skill. It was like he had been granted arms for the first time. Instinctually grabbing and pulling might have been easy, but delicate work was not. In contrast, Porkchop had been inducted into the system far younger than he had. He''d had Crystal Manipulation for years. At first it was little tricks. Spinning the gaseous orb so that his mental grip slipped off it. Then he started changing shapes. Weaving the mana into ever shifting ropes. The pressure to keep up was immense, one that pushed him to his absolute limits. Every time he started to get a handle on it, Porkchop ramped up. Adding something new into their competition. That wasn''t to say it was easy for his friend. Even with all of his focus directed to maintaining his tenuous connection to the air mana, he could hear his friend panting. Laboured breathing gave away how truly difficult the exercise was. In the back of his mind, the small part that wasn''t absorbed in his contest for control, Kaius wondered how the hell people ever used raw manipulation for casting. He knew that it was difficult to use, and considered impractical in combat without a lot of levels and multiple supporting skills, but he''d seen Porkchop use it. Porkchop had coalesced that crystal shard in their fight against the Tomblord. Sure, it had taken time, but Kaius couldn''t even begin to imagine how to use the mana offensively. He was barely able to keep up with a few basic shaping exercises, let alone something like free form casting. Still, no matter how challenging it was, it was worth it. The levels rolled in, slowly strengthening his control. The gap between his ability and Porkchop''s closing as the minutes bled into an hour. He was so close, just a single level remaining. He went for the final push. He wasn''t going to win, he knew that. Porkchop was too practised, too skilled at controlling mana. A little bit would be enough. Just a scrap of mana wrested away from his friend''s grip. Bending his entire will, Kaius let out a hoarse grunt as he focused everything he had on a fist sized chunk of aspected air that floated at the very edge of Porkchop''s locus of control. Letting out a cry, he yanked. Clawing at the shard. It broke free, rocketing towards him. Slipping free of Porkchop''s grip, too surprised by his sudden change of tact. Arresting the mana before it could slam into his chest, Kaius shaped the mana into a ball. Marvelling at how easy it felt now that he was uncontested. The notification he had been waiting for dinged in his mind. **Ding! Air Manipulation has reached level 20!** Kaius let his grip on the mana slip, throwing up his hands in victory. "Woooo! I win!" "What?!" Porkchop spluttered. "You did not win. Sneaking away a scrap of mana for all of five seconds is not winning!" "Don''t be a sore loser just because I have natural talent." Kaius said, smug, as he fell backwards onto the plush rug with his hands behind his head. "Kaius!" Porkchop half shouted in outrage, leaping for him with a growl. He laughed, rolling away from his friend''s lunge. Porkchop snagged him with his paw, dragging him back in to savage him with gentle swats. After a few minutes, Kaius felt as exhausted physically as he did mentally. Going limp as Porkchop placed a firm paw on his chest. Again. "Okay, okay!" Kaius laughed. "You win. Let''s get the fire going so we can start on the next one." Porkchop huffed, letting him up. Moving over to the hearth, Kaius sparked the fire. If they kept pushing at this rate, he might be able to merge the skill before the day was out. He knew that manipulation skills were easy to train if you had someone to contest your control, but a day? It was ridiculous. He couldn''t wait. Chapter 68 : Mana pt. 2 Kaius''s eyes bored into the jagged shard of stone that hovered in the air between him and Porkchop. They''d been at it for a couple of days now, and he was finally at the finish line. Fire Manipulation and Water Manipulation had quickly followed his first skill. Getting capped as he waged a war against his friend for dominance over the aspected mana. Fast it might have been, it was also draining. Wearing down on his mind. The first day he had managed two skills, but he had been left feeling like a ringed out cloth. The training left him with a splitting headache that no amount of cold water and Health could fix. In the end, it had been a warm meal and a good sleep that had fixed the issue. They''d decided to slow the pace after that. Squeezing skill training into two days instead of three was of no real benefit if it left him insensate after all. Kaius yanked on the rock, grunting as he strained against Porkchop''s control of the element. His mana slowly trickled away. They''d decided to up the stakes for the last level. Manipulation skills could affect more than just raw mana. They also offered control of their relevant physical elements. Unfortunately, it came at a cost. Requiring both more focus, and active investment of one''s own mana to effect change to the physical. It was ruinously difficult. He could already feel his teeth creaking in his mouth from how hard he was clenching. Trying with every iota of his mind to claw at Porkchops control. It wasn''t working. His friend''s Crystal Manipulation was too close to earth, offering him more control that he had had with the other elements they had been practising with. Still, that didn''t mean Kaius intended to give up without a fight. Porkchop had been far too smug with his victories. Rubbing it in Kaius''s face that he couldn''t win, even with a skill matched to the aspect. He''d go down swinging. Porkchop''s wealth of practice might have made him simply better at raw manipulation, but gods dammit no one was going to be able to say that he didn''t at least have gumption. Grunting, Kaius tore at the stone. Just barely managing to encourage a few motes of dust to float in his direction. He could feel his mana draining, getting close to bottoming out. Dust wasn''t enough, he needed at least a pebble, nay, a shard. Even a fragment would do. Mana gushed forth as he focused his intent on a small jagged edge of the rock, straining with all his might on the section of stone. His headache spiked to new heights, the light through the windows starting to feel as though it was lancing his eyes. Honing his focus was tough, isolating the small section of their battleground requiring more from him. There was a subtle crack. A sliver of stone, barely a fingernails worth, drifted a few hairsbreadths from the greater whole. Porkchop growled, the shard freezing. Kaius breathed heavy, battling for purchase. He was so close. His mana guttered out. The stone shot towards Porkchop, thumping into his chest and causing him to yelp. **Ding! Earth Manipulation has reached level 20!** Kaius laughed at his friend''s misfortune, wiping at his forehead as he took in air in great, heaving gasps. "I win again." Porkchop sniffed imperiously. "It''s like you dont even try." Kaius leaned over, snatching a pillow from a nearby arm chair and hurled it at Porkchops face. "Oh shut up." Porkchop chuffed in his best attempt at a laugh, the noise sounding more like a rapid fire of breathy grunts. Kaius rolled his eyes at his friend''s antics. "So, are you going to merge them now? You said it would probably take some time to get your formation in place. I''m already itchy to keep going after the Champions." Porkchop asked. The skill connected, his claim solidifying with a tinkle of windchimes. His legacy skills reacted to the skill being locked in place, resonating with each other to scream discordantly. A wave of displeasure bursting forth to shudder against his forged wire of self and connection. Kaius scrunched his eyes and gritted his teeth, keeping his grip on Air Manipulation firm as his soul space shook. Waiting for the aftershocks to subside, he pushed the call of his completed skills to the wayside. Focusing on the next skill in line to merge. Another resplendent thread shot out under his command. Lancing to the next skill. Binding it tight. Fire burned. A taker of life and bringer of destruction. A force of consumption, a breaker of chains. Yet that was not all that fire held in its depths. New shoots rising from the ash, nourished in the remnants of their ancestors. A rampant consumer, corralled and leashed, turned from destroyer to home maker. The safety and comfort of a well tended hearth. A torch, revealing what was hidden in the dark, warding off the unknown things that lurked in its embrace. Control was the catalyst that turned fire from an embodiment of hate into a constant companion for the creatures that dared to strive to be more. Fire Manipulation gave that. A wave of embracing warmth flooded his inner space, mingling with the heat of the hearth. Embracing its place in his growing web. His legacy skills protested, rabid dogs turning to attack their master. Pain lanced through Kaius''s mind as they shrieked. Clawing for a thread of connection for themselves. Kaius was steadfast under their assault. Letting the pain wash over him. Something hot ran down his lip, gracing his tongue with the taste of iron. He stayed focused, True Sight helping to keep the light of his soul crystal clear in his mind''s eye. Their pull only grew stronger as he wove another thread, connecting it to the next skill. Water. Life bringer. A gentle caress that wore down even the stoutest mountains given enough time. The river that fed an ancient valley, a knife that slowly cut the world. It was the laughter of a bubbling brook, the rage of a tsunami that flattened cities. The undertow, jealousy hoarding secrets as it pulled without warning. In calm, and in fury, water was undeniable. Water Manipulation held control and surrender in balance. His legacy skills rose to a fever pitch, as if resenting the water for dousing their uncontrolled heat. Kaius braced himself, fortifying himself against the clawing grasp of his legacy, holding strong as the resonance buffeted his soul. The waves calmed, soothing to a background ripple. It was time for the last skill. Soulfire shot out, Kaius shaking in place as every muscle in his body tensed. Forcing the thread towards Earth Manipulation. Battling against the mental strain that was the scream of his other skills. He made it. Earth was steadfast and unyielding, the bones of the world that brooked no argument. The foundation upon which everything stood, the quiet guardian of the world. A mountain sentinel, standing vigil, silent and proud. Earth was substance. A silent promise of growth and sustenance. The stout wall, standing strong in the face of change. Resistance against all things mutable. Orderly. Proud. It was the anger held locked for aeons, exploding in a cataclysm that reshaped the world. A steady drum beat of gravitas that echoed from the heart. With a final cry of dissatisfaction and hunger, Kaius''s legacy skills were silenced by an explosion of resonance. His manipulation skills thrumming with realised potential. He moved quickly, buoyed by the energy of his success. Grabbing his final thread, he linked the skills together. Each bond caused the skills to brighten, to shake in his mental grip. It was easy for him to see the thread that tied them together. For all they were natural forces, there was one power, one truth of the world that underpinned them all. There was no playful gust without the shifting power of the mystic. No raging consumption without its avarice. Water flowed because it demanded, and earth stood unyielding because it allowed it. Mana. The final bond was forged, and the skills roared in joy. Crashing into one another, dissolving in a riotous collision of meaning and power. **Ding! Skill Merge Detected! Would you like to proceed?** Kaius accepted the system''s prompting. Watching as it aided him in precipitating his latest legacy skill from the clumping dust, forming a new platinum nexus of power in his soul. **Ding! Skill Merged! Mana Manipulation obtained!** Chapter 69 : Race to the Finish **Ding! Skill Merged! Mana Manipulation obtained!** Upon receiving the system notification that he had successfully merged his next legacy skill, Kaius collapsed. Falling backwards in relief. He opened his eyes, only to find Porkchop staring at him in curiosity. "Is your nose supposed to be bleeding? That never happened to me." Porkchop asked. Kaius sighed, pushing his friend''s head out of his personal space. "I mean, it''s happened pretty much every single time, and I''m not dead yet." "But you''re done though? You''re ready to work on your magic?" His friend asked excitedly. It was clear it wasn''t just the prospect of moving on that prompted his energy, though Kaius had no doubt that it was part of it. No, his friend was sincerely happy for him, happy that he had finally reached a goal that he had set his sights on for so long. Just like his father would have been. He should be here. Claws of grief set themselves upon Kaius''s throat, choking off his response. It wasn''t supposed to be his achievement, it was theirs. He never would have reached this point without Hastur, never would have even dared to try to forge a new path. Not without his fathers encouragement. His insistence that it was a worthy goal, something that showed he was a true Unterstern. He threw an arm over his face, stifling a sob. "...Kaius? What''s wrong?" Porkchop said, nudging him with his wet nose. He didn''t respond. Now that he was there, at the precipice of one of the defining moments of his life, all he could think of was how much he had lost. He could see it clear as day. Father''s wide smile, celebrating with him as he finally bound the formation to his flesh. Hear his calm advice as he wove mana through his skin, stamping it into position. How was he even going to do it without him? Kaius might have the formation memorised, but Father was always supposed to be there, guiding him through the process. Bloody hells, body formations were the providence of masters, not the unclassed! Instead poor luck had turned that to ash. His father was gone. It had been far too long. There was no way Father wouldn''t have been able to find the portal. It wasn''t hidden and it wouldn''t have been too hard to track him to the edge of the cliff, to search the bottom of the falls. A heavy weight settled on his lap, warm fur enveloping him. "I''m here. You''re not alone." Porkchop''s voice was soft. Understanding. Ready to wait as long as he needed. Kaius sat up, hands wrapping around his friend as he pulled Porkchop into a hug. Holding him tight. After a moment he pulled back, wiping his eyes with his sleeve. "Your father?" "Yeah." Kaius nodded. "He should be here. Should see me when I finish the formation. Be there to help me do it. But he''s not." He sighed, burying his face in Porkchop''s ruff. "I just wish I knew why. He should have had those bandits handedly. Should have been able to find the entrance we fell through, even if it took him a couple of weeks. They had to have been looking for us, but why? Why were we hiding in the forest? Were people looking for us? Did they find us? What happened to our family? Where are our holds?" Kaius said, his voice raising as he got more and more incensed. "So many FUCKING questions." Porkchop flicked his ears back as Kaius all but shouted in his ear. "Sorry." He mumbled, drawing back out of their embrace. "It''s okay. We''ll find him Kaius. Find out what happened. As soon as we get out of here we can look for him. Try to find records of your family. You''re always saying that people like to write everything down right? We can go to cities, look up the Unterstern name. Then, when we are strong, we can hunt those who once hunted us. Hear their cries as we force their secrets from them. Deny their pleas for mercy as we crush them." Porkchop''s tone grew dark, a promise of violence on his lips. With a flash of intent, Kaius started pulling Mana from his pool, suffusing his hand and forearm. With his latest skill he had none of his early difficulty, saturating the limb in moments. Holding the density of power in place with ease. **Ding! Mana Manipulation has reached level 2!** The Sovereign sigil would be centred on the back of his hand, positioned so that its base was in line with his wrist. A sharp breath focused his intent. Kaius brought his stylus down onto his skin. It burned. Like someone was dragging a scalpel through his soul. Ploughing a furrow through his very being. He stopped, expecting to see blood. To smell burning flesh and see his skin bubble. Nothing, there was just pain. He shoved the sensation away, feeling Rapid Adaptation section off the agony, letting him continue. **Ding! Mana Manipulation has reached level 3!** His breath hitched with every stroke, his pace slowed as he fought to keep his hand steady. Slowly the rune came together, a sweeping black knot appearing on his skin. Marks on his flesh revealing the deep channels that were being cut into his metaphysical self. Splitting his concentration, he held the Mana suffused in his arm back. Preventing it from rushing in to fill the incomplete pathways. If he let it in now, the rune would collapse, ruining his work. **Ding! Runic Lexicon has reached level 2!** A quarter hour of agonising work later and he was done, the Sovereign sigil clear and resplendent on his flesh. **Ding! Runic Lexicon has reached level 4!** That was the easy part done, now he had to suffuse his mana into the rune. Holding it in place with his will as he worked on the next array. That was the true difficulty. The drawing was simple, keeping his Mana in runic alignment while he added complexity upon complexity was going to be maddening, he knew. Taking a moment to steady himself, Kaius grabbed a hold of the energy in his arm, directing it into the rune, carefully and slowly. If his grip slipped it would rush in uncontrolled, saturating the rune unevenly. Leaving minute imperfections that would impact its stability. Even the barest hint of imperfection would ruin his work. So he went slow. Letting his mana waft in from all angles. Slowly suffusing the sigil. **Ding! Mana Manipulation has reached level 3!** **Ding! Mana Manipulation has reached level 4!** Then it was done. A thrum of power pulsed through the dense fog of energy in his flesh, like eddies in water. The rune surged, threatening to spill over as its own resonance tried to force its carefully measured flows out of alignment. Kaius clamped down, holding it in place as it slowly settled. **Ding! Mana Manipulation has reached level 5!** **Ding! Runic Lexicon has reached level 5!** The sigil snapped into place, gleaming in his True Sight with mystical radiance. He held it with his mana sense, ensuring that the mana stayed in place. Resisting the pressure as it sought to escape the confines of the furrows he had carved with his stylus. Looking away from the keystone, he set his stylus against his flesh once more. Next was the Vhaxanish controller array. A dense scrawl of runic words that would encircle the Sovereign sigil in a dense band. It would serve to link the overall working to his inner self, granting him mental connection just like he would have to a normal spell. Beyond that, it was one part of the binding that would allow mana investiture, letting him keep his runic hymns charged with mana. In their initial theories, his father had investigated leaving the High Lothian spells inert, only activating when he pushed Mana into the runic spells. It wouldn''t work. Inevitably, that road led to channelling. A side effect that defeated the entire purpose of the exercise. Instead each hymn would crystallise a portion of his Mana, holding it in reserve to be instantly activated at his choosing. That much crystalised power was volatile, hence the controller and stabilisation arrays. Even then, the hymn was sacrificial. Like an anode, it would burn away as he released its stored potential. Unfortunately, each cast would require its own inscription, but it was the only way to preserve the overall working. Kaius channelled mana into his stylus, starting with the first Vhaxanish character that would make up the array. Flesh boiled. He winced, twitching his hand. With the twitch, mana roiled. Kaius blanched, torn between his growing pain and the building pressure in his sigil. **Ding! Mana Manipulation has reached level 6!** Focus slipped. The rune detonated. Flesh shattered. Kaius screamed as blood squirted from the twisted remnants of his hand. Chapter 70 : Experimentation Kaius stared at the blood that rocketed from his hand, spraying down the front of the desk. Splattering on his carefully arrayed notes. He spun in his seat, turning away from the desk to spill blood on the floor, groaning as agony lanced through his hand. Porkchop was on him in a flash. "Kaius! What the fuck!" He grunted. Feeling as his health flooded out to treat the injury. Before it could reach it, he snatched it up in his grip with single minded focus. Ignoring his pain **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has reached level 19!** This was an opportunity, one that he couldn''t let go to waste. Much like he had in his fight with the Grimclaw, Kaius directed the health to the wound manually. Feeling the shattered bone and torn flesh, he diffused the resource, knitting structures back together. Bone was first, the framework for everything that came after. Then came ligaments and connective tissue. He suppressed a heave as he felt as snakes of white filament crawled across bone. Muscles rippled, weaving themselves back over. Then his skin. Pain vanished. Taking a deep breath, he clenched his hand into a fist, twiddling his fingers to make sure they all moved right. That was one of the main struggles with manual healing. If you messed up you could inadvertently cripple yourself. Requiring you to reinjure and try again. Still, he''d done well enough, and his hopes had been realised. **Ding! General Skill Available! Would you like to learn: Fast Healing (Rare)?** He grinned. A little earlier than he had expected, but a welcome addition all the same. The first of the skills he needed for Lesser Regeneration. "Sorry about that." He said. Porkchop shot him a look. "What?! I said it was volatile." "You might have stressed that you might be blowing up your HAND!" Porkchop yelled at him. "I''m fine, see?" He held up his left hand, twiddling his fingers. "Besides, I got one of my next skills! Now if you''ll excuse me, I should go fetch a towel before I ruin any of my notes." Leaving Porkchop standing there staring at him in shock, Kaius hurried off to grab something to mop up his blood. He really didn''t want to have to copy his notes again. ... Dabbing at the blood on the desk, Kaius''s eyes roved over his latest skills description. Fast Healing: Level 1 Rare Tis'' but a scratch. Increases the flow rate of your Health pool, drastically increasing healing speeds. Each level minutely increases the rate at which Health is expended to heal wounds. Well, at the very least he would be getting some good use out of it. He doubted that his little accident would be the only one to happen while he worked on his formation, and they were likely to get worse as he managed to get further and further through the process. After cleaning up the blood as well as he could, Kaius sat back down at the desk and prepared to jump right back into inscribing his body formation. He pushed his papers back to the far edge of the desk. In all likelihood, there would be more failures, and he wanted his notes outside of the splash zone. Laying his hand back down on its surface he grimaced slightly at the tackiness left behind after his little accident. This time he was extra careful to make sure his arm was perfectly comfortable. He had no intention of letting simple discomfort be the reason he failed his inscription. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Kaius swept up his stylus, starting the Sovereign sigil with gusto. Now that he was prepared for the stinging violation of his stylus slicing through his metaphysical flesh, he stayed steady. Whorling loops followed his implement, standing clear to his True Sight. Despite his nerves, he refused to rush. It might have been taxing. Exhausting his will as he held the sigil clear in his mind, splitting his focus to hold the saturated mana stable in his arm. It was worth it, this was an exercise in precision, not speed. Even with his careful pace, he still finished the sigil far faster than he had the first time. More confident in his abilities, and the way the stylus interacted with his malleable flesh. With careful focus he let mana flood the runic working, clamping down to hold it steady in the confines of the central array. After a minute to ensure it had stabilised, that his focus was clear enough to add yet another point of failure to the mix, he moved on. Finger-length by finger-length, a dense scrawl of Vhaxanish script began to encircle the central sigil. It was a band maybe half a finger in width, a dozen dozen rings of impossibly small words. Sentences of control, structures of transference. It stretched his dexterity, pushed the limits of his fine motor control. It was by far the densest runic working he had ever done by multiple orders of magnitude. **Ding! Runic Lexicon has reached level 6!** His pace slowed to a crawl. The dense working requiring all of his focus. He didn''t even try to keep the entire thing in his mind, instead returning to look at his notes after every word, each made up of up to a hundred complex runes. Despite his focus, his flow, there was only one thought that stood dominant at the front of his mind. He touched the stylus to the back of his hand, steadily scrawling out the Sovereign sigil with practised ease. With each attempt he had grown surer of his work, more confident. That brought with it speed. Before he knew it, he was funnelling compressed mana into the runes channels, holding it steady as it saturated. **Ding! Intelligence has reached level 20!** He switched to Vhaxanish, slowing his pace. The control array was an exercise in patience. Three pages of notes sat close to him, going through the entire array in detail. Previously he had focused on trying to memorise whole words, each a chain of fifty runes at minimum. He''d quickly learned that that was pure hubris on his own part. Now he double checked his work every few runes. Sacrificing speed for precision and accuracy. The hours ticked along, Kaius''s mana pool holding steady as he worked in pace with his regeneration. The dense disk of the control array finished. He held his breath, slowly flooding it with mana. Ring by ring it lit up, reaching the centre over the course of a minute. A pulse of light and it was done. Saturated with his power. He bore down on the working, locking it in place as he ignored the sting of salty sweat dripping into his eye. **Ding! Mana Manipulation has reached level 18!** After a few minutes'' breather he moved on, starting his work on the linking array. Yosh''s supplementary was a beautiful script, full of graceful curves and flicks. Lines of runes joined the controlling array to the keystone sigil like spokes on a wheel. Once that was done, he moved to the exterior of his Vhaxanish controller. Inscribing pyramidal spikes on the outer edge of the disk, a full two dozen of them. Each triangle was tipped with a line of runes, a connection for a High Lothian runic spell hymn. Twenty-four spell slots was far more than he would be able to support at the moment, but he and Hastur had decided it would be smart to future proof. Afterall, even if his class fully included his spell casting formation, there was no guarantee it would directly modify the working with his first class skill, or even at all. Better to be prepared than forced to redesign as he got access to more mana. Once he had finished the spell slots, a number of floating Supplementary lines were carved in his skin outside of the overall working, and in the gaps between the spokes of the wheel. Each one he double and triple checked his placement and angles. He had to be sure it was perfect. After he added his Simenoan binding array they would need to connect to the perfect spots, allowing the final stabilising section of the formation to suffuse the overall working. After a full hour of work he was done with the translation array. Mana flooded through the working with ease, each section of graceful runes lighting up in a sequence. Snapping into place. He focused, teeth grinding as he held three separate runic arrays in ridgid stasis in his flesh. His head was far beyond aching now. Strange auras surrounded his sight, unexplained by True Sight, and his brain felt like it had been liquified with a particularly violent branding iron. **Ding! Mana Manipulation has reached level 19!** No amount of a break would ease the agony, not when he still had to hold the partially completed formation stable. No, now it was a sprint. To finish the working before his will gave out, as had happened in his last handful of failures. Thankfully, Simenoan was a geometric script, relying on sacred shapes to pacify the turbulent energy of his body formation. Drawing overlapping triangles and concentric circles directly over his partially complete formation, Kaius burned through his mana pool. Forcing his stylus to sweep across his flesh with blinding speed. Years of practice, and the learnings of a dozen failures, kept Kaius''s hand steady as he sprinted to the finish line. Lines cut through tiny gaps between runes, connecting perfectly with stray fragments of Yosh''s Supplementary to form a cohesive whole. Linking his formation into one, complete, working. He finished. **Ding! Runic Lexicon has reached level 18!** His will was flagging, he could feel it. Kaius had also cut it close. Inscribing the stabilising array so quickly had absolutely torn through his mana reserves. Another minute or two and he would have started to eat into the mana suffusing his arm, ruining his attempt. Kaius took a deep breath, slowly exhaling through pursed lips. It was fine, he hadn''t. Now he just needed to suffuse the array and pray it worked. The room seemed to sway as he held his mana in a tight grip, slowly allowing it to seep into the Simenoan geometry. Each line started to glow with an even radiance. A good sign, if there was an impediment, Kaius would have expected to see bright or dark spots. The array clicked. **Ding! Mana Manipulation has reached level 20!** A moment later his formation started to pull on his mana. Gently at first, barely a light request to sink its teeth into his resource. He acquiesced, sighing in relief as his headache was cut in half as he dropped all mental hold he had on his working. Instantly pale blue energy poured into his spell casting formation. Spiralling into a dense funnel centred on his Sovereign keystone. To his True Sight it looked like an ethereal whirlwind, pulling in not just the final remnants of his own mana, but drinking deeply from the unaspected mana present in the office. Kaius grit his teeth as he looked at the sheer volume of energy that was suffusing his spell casting array. It really was do or die now. If the formation failed, if there was some minute imperfection in any one of his four arrays, the failure would be catastrophic. At best he would lose his arm. Completely. The kind of wound his Health wouldn''t be able to fully restore. Not without specialised skills. Skills he didn''t have. Inexorably his formation packed more and more power into its runes. Slowly tapering its consumption. Kaius held the armrest of his chair in a white knuckled grip, refusing to so much as twitch his left arm lest the worst happen. There was a flash of blinding light. He felt something click. Deep in his bones. A new connection forged to his soul. Violently piecing his innermost self with a painful stab of intent. He felt it. The formation. Empty, waiting for spell hymns. But present. He''d succeeded. He''d cut himself a new path, one that no one had walked before him. A flurry of system notifications dinged in his mind. The sudden jarring of the systems pull on his attention tipped him over the edge. He was spent. Fully and completely. Kaius''s eyes rolled back into his head and he slumped, falling limp onto the desk. Sound asleep. Chapter 71 : Honour in Discovery "Kaius~" Something whispered in his mind in a singsong voice. Quickly followed by something wet and cold prodding his cheek. Kaius murmured, slapping away the intrusion. "Kaius!" The voice screamed. "I''m awake!" He yelled, jolting nearly a full stride into the air as Porkchop startled him awake. "Sleep well? I thought I''d let you rest seeing as you had all your limbs. It would have been nice if you''d warned me that you would vacuum up all the atmospheric mana though. I could feel it from the bedroom." Porkchop said, watching him closely from the side of the desk. Kaius stared at his friend, bleary eyed, still too groggy to process the words correctly. He was.. In the office? What did Porkchop mean about the mana. He rubbed his eyes, vaguely noticing the dense web of runes that curled around the back of his hand and climbed up half way up his forearm. He stopped, staring at the formation. Everything came rushing back. The hours of work, the mana vacuum, the piercing pain in his soul. Kaius stood up, launching his chair to the ground with a clatter in his haste. He''d done it! Finished the formation. Twisting his hand back and forth he marvelled at the clean lines. They were impossibly clear, standing out in stark relief against his pale skin. It was almost like a tattoo, but the contrast was too sharp. The black too deep, too saturated. "Thought you might react like that." Porkchop said, chittering slightly with an animalistic laugh. "So, did you get anything? Any relevant skills or anything?" His friend asked. Kaius whipped his head back to his friend. Of course! The notifications. "Uhh, something I think. I haven''t checked yet. Give me a second." Now that he had fully risen from the fog of sleep, Kaius could feel the notifications clawing at the back of his mind. He pulled them up. **Congratulations! You have discovered the Third Pillar of Magi - Glyph Binding** **Ding! Significant Feat of Strength performed under Observation. You have been awarded an Honour: Sublime Prodigy - Glyph Binding** Kaius''s eyes widened in shock as he stared at the notification, completely forgetting the other notifications that tried to vie for his attention. This was...unexpected. He''d expected the system to reward him for his feat, at the very least offering him a high rarity skill. An Honour was something he hadn''t dared to consider. And the Third Pillar? What did that mean? Were they always meant to find it, had the system just been waiting? Kaius''s head spun at the implications. No one ever claimed to truly know the system, not in its entirety, but he''d thought they''d known it pretty well. That there were no big surprises left. Glyph binding... He liked the sound of that. It was a shock. To learn that his new formation was apparently as integral to mage craft as channelling and shaping. Kaius thought he was working with jank. A way for him to squeeze out a little magical potential in a way that complemented his sword work. To learn that it was a full fledged path? That it made him an arcanist in his own right? That changed everything. At the very least, the chances of getting a class that properly made use of his invention just shot through the roof. He leaned forwards, planting his hands on the tacky surface of the stained desk as he supported the weight of his upper body. "Hells, Kaius, at least tell me what it was. You can''t leave me hanging after I''ve been sitting around waiting for the better part of a month for you to finish." Porkchop asked curiously. "A day tops. I promise." Kaius said, only getting a short huff from his friend in response. He sat back down. He himself was fizzing at the idea of getting his spells inscribed, barely able to wait until he would be able to put his casting into practice. He already knew what his first spell would be. It was one that he had workshopped with his father. While High Lothian was flexible enough to cover just about any spell effect he could imagine, Kaius had to factor in his limited mana pool. Though, after his two honours he had more than double to play with than expected. Beyond that, there was also a concern of the kind of influence he wanted to have on his class. He planned on being a spellsword, mixing what he now knew to be glyph binding with sword arts. To that end it was vital that he made use of combat focused spells. The arcane bolt spell he developed with his father would be perfect. It should reserve somewhere between seventy-five and one hundred and fifty mana, though he wouldn''t know for sure until he had inscribed it for the first time. That meant somewhere between three and six casts before he would have to refresh his inscriptions. Like the name suggested, it was a bolt of concentrated unaspected mana. Something that would bring him some much needed ranged flexibility, and would be able to punch through mundane armour with relative ease. First, before he got started inscribing his spell, Kaius pulled up the last of the notifications that were blaring in the back of his mind. He had a suspicion of what it might be. Had hope of what it might be. Even if he couldn''t make use of it just right yet, it would confirm all he had been working towards. Focusing on it with intention, the notification flashed into existence, hovering in his mind''s eye. **Ding! General Skill Available! Would you like to learn: Glyph Binding Mastery (Unusual)?** Kaius beamed as he saw the skill that had been offered. It was a shame that he couldn''t take the skill, even if it did represent his greatest success. His legacy skills were too important, the benefits they brought too valuable. Besides, it wouldn''t be gone forever. Even if he dismissed the skill now, he could earn it again. At greatly increased difficulty, sure, but he could do it with enough practice. Besides, his last skill slot after he had completed and capped his legacy skills would get a free evolution. He could take it then, if nothing else came up that suited him better. After he rejected the offered skill he looked down to his arm, marvelling at the sharp lines of his glyph. He liked that word. It definitely rolled off the tongue better than ''runic spellcasting formation'', that was for damned sure. Whatever he called it, it looked strange on his skin. So stark, so black. So radiant in his mana sight, tightly bound power roiling along its curves, surging through runes and geometry. It was just new, he reassured himself. He would get used to it, until one day it would simply be him. Though, even with how much it jumped to his eye, he had to admit it had a certain exotic charm. Never thought he would be the one to get a bloody tattoo, yet here he was. He just wished his father was here to see it. "I hope I get to show you this one day, Father." He sighed. It would be a wonderful way to start a reunion. To regale him with stories of the Depths, much like his father had told him of his own adventures. To introduce Porkchop. To show him that their plan had been a raging success. To share the secrets of Honours. He had so much to tell him. He knew that at this point it was unlikely. "If I cannot, and you are watching down on me, I hope you can see this. See that we succeeded. See how grateful I am." Kaius thought, sending a prayer to all the great spirits and gods to watch over Father. To guard his life, and if not that, to ensure his peace in death. Drying his eyes on his sleeve, Kaius took a deep breath and shoved his longing to the back of his mind. He had work to do. First, his spells, then more Champions. Chapter 72 : The First Spell Kaius held his arm steady as he put the finishing touches on his Arcane Bolt hymn. In comparison to the sheer effort that his glyph had taken, the runic spell was simple to hold steady in his mind. Thanks to being directly attached to a supporting structure, all he had to do was draw. No saturating his arm with mana, no holding it steady with his will, just direct and simple inscribing. The High Lothian spell was a pretty thing. Connecting to one of the outer spikes of his glyph, arcing to follow the gentle curves of his hand and arm. Shaped vaguely like an arrow that wrapped around his arm, the pure rune work scrawled across his flesh. As he finished the final rune he felt the hymn snap into place, closely binding to his supporting glyph. Immediately he felt a pull on his mana. The arcane bolt inscription lit up, glowing as a portion of his mana pool was drained. It was a strange feeling. The mana wasn''t being spent. Instead it was sequestered, locked in place, forcibly constrained by his glyph as it was anchored into his spell. Once fully saturated, the luminance dimmed. Runic inscription returning to a baseline black. Kaius could tell from sensation alone that the spell had reserved nearly a full quarter of his pool. He''d check later to be sure, once he had recovered from the drain of channelling mana through his stylus. Either way, he was almost certain he''d be able to handle inscribing a full four spells with his current pool. It wasn''t much, but he had high hopes for the spell. Even if he had to reinscribe after every fight, having access to instantly castable magic was a massive strategic advantage. Whistling to catch Porkchop''s attention, he waved his friend over. "I''ve got the first one done. Once I''ve inscribed a few more shall we suit up and go test them?" He asked. Thankfully, with the support of his glyph inscribing the spells was pretty quick. Only taking him ten to fifteen minutes for the entire process. Porkchop chuffed, ears perking up at the thought of finally leaving. "I''ll go get our stuff! You keep inscribing!" Porkchop said, nearly bowling over an arm chair as he rushed out of the room, his claws scrambling for purchase on the hard ground. Kaius shook his head at his friend''s antics, though secretly he felt much the same. He could feel the tightly wound anticipation in his back and arms. Almost jittery at finally being able to put his work into practice. Taking a deep breath he calmed himself. Excited at the prospect of casting he might be, he needed his focus for inscribing. It might have been far simpler than his work on his glyph, but it was still runework. It still required a great deal of patience and a steady hand. He snatched up his bronze stylus, channelling his mana into the implement as he started on his next spell. ... Kaius loomed in the mouth of an alley. It was a narrow thing, barely two paces across, flanked on each side by a three story manor. The walls of the building were stark. Solid stone unbroken by adornment or windows. Evidently, whatever folk who had lived in these buildings had no interest in seeing into the narrow service passages that wound through the streets. They''d left the safety of their cleared neighbourhood a few hours ago, pushing through the district as they made their way further into the second tier of the dwarven city. Much to Porkchop''s displeasure, they had yet to find any goblins. After spending months in one place, Kaius had had to relent to his friend''s restless desire to explore. They''d wiped out every cluster of depths-born near their base camp weeks ago. Fully suited up for war, they had ventured out with all of their gear. Now that he had finished his glyph, Kaius had no intention of returning to their temporary home. Armour was donned, weapons secured, and they had taken everything they might need. Which, as it turned out, did not include much food. Thanks to the Depths unfathomable inclinations, each and every one of the manors they had explored up until this point had had a kitchen with foodstuffs stored under a stasis ward. Other than a few bare essentials in case that changed, they''d decided to completely forgo weighty supplies. As they had started to push into the unknown, Kaius felt a familiar heat stoke within him. A hunger for battle. The rush of clashing steel and focus honed to a razor''s edge. The Bloodsong. He could see it in Porkchop too, the way his friends shoulders bunched every few steps, the slight jitteriness in his gate. Working on his skills had muted that desire, his excitement at finally working on his glyph overshadowing it. Now, with his goal realised, it was like a dam had broken. A flood of tension and nervous energy welling up deep within him. The fact he had yet to test his Arcane Bolt only heightened his anticipation. He wanted, needed, the rush of his first cast to be accompanied by a symphony of burning muscle, cracking bone, and spilled blood. On some level he could acknowledge that his growing bloodlust could be considered a concern. He paid it no mind. This was the Depths. You either learned to love it, or you crumbled and died. Thankfully, they had found an outlet for their energy. He leaned forwards, looming over Porkchop to peer down the main street. A few blocks ahead the paved road split in two, shooting off at acute angles. A troop of goblins milled around the wide open junction. Nearly a full dozen chittered in their strange guttural language, jostling each other and only making a half attempt to keep watch. Beyond them, a few smatterings of archers sat partially concealed in what looked to be a store front, right at the corner of the angled building that sat at the crossroads. A few handful more of the low race lounging at the entrances to the manors that flanked the road. They would make perfect targets to test his new spell. Kaius''s gaze drifted down to his arm, admiring the four black lines of script that weaved their way out from the spokes that served to connect the hymns to the rest of the supporting structure. Inscribing them had been quick work, only growing faster as he had gotten more practice with them. Just under an hour for all four, and he had no doubt as his familiarity with the hymn of Arcane Bolt grew that time would shrink further. He could feel them. The roiling energy held in tension just beneath his skin. When the glyph had punctured his soul during its completion, burning itself into the deepest fibres of his being, it had forged a connection. Not only had it given him a mental link to his working -he knew that all he needed to cast now was a simple flicker of intent- it had linked itself to his status. He pulled it up to check the changes. Status: Name: Kaius Dynasty: Unterstern Age: 18 Honours: Born for Slaughter Sublime Prodigy - Glyph Binding Bound Artefacts: A Fathers Gift - Common Growth Longsword Growth Conditions- Gain a class (0/1) Acquire suitable materials (0/3) Forge a link (0/1) Kaius''s eyes roved over the developments to his status. It amazed him to see what a few months of concentrated effort had wrought. Thanks to the controlling array in his glyph, he and his father had expected a mental connection to his casting, but in all their preparations they had never dared to anticipate that the system itself would factor it in. It kept track of not only his prepared hymns, but added a line to track his free and reserved mana. Though, as Kaius considered that he now knew that glyph binding was a full and complete mage discipline in its own right, he supposed it made sense. Although, he did expect more changes as he got his class. If his glyph was fully wrapped up into it, he expected that the glyph itself would probably be co-opted or even changed by the system. Bringing its capabilities under the purview of his class skills. It was reasonably common for mages, especially manipulation magi. Manual workings often got their own section on the status that tracked devised spells. Still, his new glyph wasn''t the only change that he could see. The time they had spent holed up at the manor hadn''t been wasted, not by a long shot. Three more legacy skills, two of which were either capped or right on the precipice. Hells, he''d even done enough cooking to squeeze a level out of Explorer''s Toolkit. Though he suspected that it must have already been close, cooking was relevant to a small section of the skill and he doubted it would have provided much experience since he wasn''t using magically charged or self foraged ingredients. "Kaius, are you seriously checking your status now? Right before we are about to fight?" Porkchop asked, craning his neck to stare at him. Kaius hurriedly closed his status, startled out of his pondering. "Sorry." He said, turning his attention back to the goblins. There were a couple of ways they could approach this, the easiest being to draw the goblins into a confrontation in the alleys. It had been their main tactic, and with how successful it had proven to be, Kaius saw no reason to change it. "Do you want to bait them in? They seem to get pretty-" "Wuss." Porkchop interrupted him. Before Kaius could get a single word in edgewise his friend charged out from the safe confines of the alley, an earth shattering roar on his lips. His heart thumped as his hand shot out in a failed attempt to hold Porkchop back. "Porkchop!" Kaius called after his friend, aghast. A dump of adrenaline hit him like a sack of bricks, and his blood starting to sing. He ran, sprinting after his friend. "We''re gonna have some words after this!" He yelled after Porkchop''s sprinting form, who had the cheek to shoot him a look over his shoulder, tongue lolling out. Porkchop then snapped his head forwards to level another roar at the scrambling form of the goblins. His scalemail clinking with every hurried step Kaius drew his sword. Feeling the solid comfort of steel in his grip his tension broke, anxiety at his friend''s reckless charge dissolving as a rush of savage delight flooded through him. It had been far too long since he had had some fun. Goblins who had previously lounged in the manors entranceways rushed out into the street, joining those that were massing in the junction''s centre. Forming a solid wall of knives and clubs to break Porkchop''s charge. Behind them, archers started to loose arrows. Most focused on Porkchop, but Kaius felt stinging impacts as they pinked off his armour. Porkchop drew close. The goblins braced. Kaius saw the exact moment the goblins'' screaming fury turned into dread as Porkchop activated his Amulet of Inviolable Momentum. Blurring into a leatherbound missile. Porkchop hit the assembled formation in a cacophony of guttural screams and splintering bones. The sound was nearly enough to bring tears to his eyes. Pandaemonium. He''d missed this. The rush. It was time to take some skulls. Chapter 73 : Destructive Testing Porkchop smashed into the clumsy formation of goblins with the force of a landslide. Diminutive green bodies crunched. The line collapsed, the ''lucky'' goblins that weren''t completely trampled being sent tumbling to the floor. Kaius watched his friend roar, laying into their massed enemies with a fury, his artefact enhanced paws batting aside weapons as he crushed bone with every swing. There was no way he was going to let Porkchop have all the fun. Sprinting into the fray Kaius lashed out with A Father''s Gift. Holding his sword in a high grip, he pivoted his hands. Enchanted steel whirled through the air. He cleaved through the neck of a dagger wielding goblin, too preoccupied by Porkchop''s assault to react. **Ding! level 12 Goblin Skirmisher slain** Dark green blood sprayed across Kaius''s face. With his lips twisted into a grin, Kaius was treated to the taste of copper on his tongue. There was no disgust, only joy as he spun and drove the point of his sword through the chest of a goblin Bruiser. **Ding! level 13 Goblin Bruiser slain** Now they noticed him. A devil in blued scales. Scything through their numbers like so much wheat, more kill notifications dinging in his mind. They felt..slow. He did too. His latest Honour had provided him with a substantial boost to his Intelligence, speeding up the rate at which he processed the world around him. Tuning his reflexes. A full third of the pack turned on him, rallying blades and clubs to cut him down. He didn''t let them. His blade flashed through the air in a silver blur, turning aside their assault. Twisting attacks into openings. He followed through to cut limbs and torsos to the bone. **Ding! level 14 Goblin Bruiser slain** ... **Ding! level 11 Goblin Skirmisher slain** The stone of the junction quickly turned into a sticky mire, streams of blood slickening its surface. None of it was red. Even swamped, the goblins struggled to pierce his scale, ramshackle long knives tinking as they skittered over its surface. He moved. Turning as he blurred through the mass of depths-born, doling out death and slaughter. With every parry, every block, he felt a reservoir of energy in his vambraces fill. It was getting close. Another thing he had been looking forward to testing. Out of the corner of his eye he saw an arrow lancing for his head. He was already moving, cutting the underpowered missile out of the air with his blade. Releasing his sword with his offhand, Kaius pointed at the offending archer over the head of its fellows that blocked his path. Power crackled in his glyph. Right beneath the surface. Watching, waiting for his command. He willed it, and it was so. Gold light radiated from one of his four runic hymns. It burned without pain, embers of radiant amber wafting from his skin to drift through the air. An instant later he felt his mana surge, expending itself with a snap. A bolt of the purest azure materialised, exploding forwards to rocket towards his target. Like a shard of crystal shrapnel it crossed the distance in moments, trailing a mystic haze. The shard of power punched straight through the archer''s face. Blowing through to crack the wall of the stone building behind it, coating the ground in a splatter of brain. **Ding! level 13 Goblin Archer slain** Kaius felt the thrum of his heart, the hot hunger as he saw the power of his spell. There had been no pause. No moment where he had to hold the spell in his mind, draining his mana into the working. He simply wished it done, and his glyph obliged. Snatching up his sword with both hands, Kaius deflected yet another assault from the goblins arrayed against him. A goblin with jagged knives in each hand grew over confident, pushing past the pack. Barely lasting a second before he lanced it through the heart, ripping his blade free of its chest cavity to spill its ropes of severed intestines on the floor. **Ding! level 14 Goblin Skirmisher slain** The foul stench only angered him. Urged him to press on. A wild sweep sent the mob leaping back, and Kaius pushed in, joining Porkchop in the thick of the thrum. Sparing a moment to check on his friend''s progress, Kaius found shattered bodies littering the ground in front of his friend. Small of frame, the goblins fared as well as children in the face of Porkchop''s might. Porkchop had definitely killed more. That wasn''t good. Kaius would never hear the end of it. He locked his gaze on the final two, seeing Porkchop charge further ahead to deal with the last of the archers. Poor bastard had had a rough go of it, there were enough arrows lodged in his barding to make him look like a hedgehog. It was time to clean up. Two skirmishers looked at him with trepidation. Flicking between his green stained sword and the small mountain of bodies cooling at his feet. Strange. He hadn''t expected the depths-born to feel fear. Whatever it was passed quickly, a haze seeming to fall over the goblins as their faces quickly turned to rage and hate. With a harsh squeal they charged him. He stepped forwards, allowing a hooked knife to skitter off his scale as he hip checked the first one. Sending it splashing into a pool of its allies entrails. A quick sweep of his sword deflected the other''s stab. A twist of his wrist was enough to curve his blade, embedding it firmly in the goblins skull. **Ding! level 12 Goblin Skirmisher slain** Wrenching it free with a wet squelch he advanced on the final goblin. With a yell of primal satisfaction he cleaved through its neck. It''s head fell to the ground with a wet thwack. **Ding! level 13 Goblin Skirmisher slain** Hearing Porkchop roar, Kaius turned to see his friend bellowing his victory to the air. Standing on his hind legs over the crushed forms of the archers. Kaius winced at the state of him. Cleary Porkchop was not happy with their harassment. He''d torn them limb from limb, twisted and mangled arms and legs lying impressively far from the slain archers. One of them twitched. Fucking Hells. "Porkchop!" Kaius raised his hand to his mouth to yell at his friend. "Depths-born or not, thats fucked up! Kill them!" "Boring." Porkchop replied, cutting off his roar. Watching his friend thump back to the ground, Kaius winced as Porkchops paws crunched through the chest of one of the goblins. A few more stomps and he finished off the rest of them. Kaius hurried over to his friend, eager to get out of the pooling goblin blood that was soaking into his boots. He sheathed his sword, clapping Porkchop over the shoulder as he stepped over the crumpled bodies of the goblin archers. "That was fucking awesome! Did you see my spell?" Kaius said, still flush with the vigour and excitement of combat. "I know! I didn''t expect it to be so strong, look at those cracks!" Porkchop replied, gesturing to the spiderwebbed stone of the manor where one of his bolt spells had landed after punching straight through an archer''s skull. Kaius stared at the damage in satisfaction. It was far more than he had hoped for. A spell of that power being his to command with less effort than it took him to click his fingers was phenomenal for an unclassed, even if he could only make use of it a few times per fight. It would be a trump card that was hard to react to, that no one could expect. Magic took time to cast, and mages didn''t wear armour and charge in with a sword. All he would need was a moment. A second where they thought distance would buy them safety. Even if it was what he had been working towards he was surprised at just how easy, just how natural it had felt to weave magic into his combat style. Sure he still needed some practice. It still felt awkward to let go of his sword in battle, and he could use some work to make sure he didn''t unnecessarily pause. Plus, his aim could be better. All of that could be fixed. He could already see it. How he would flow through a battle, taking heads as he snapped out with bolts of empowered magic to reap the lives of those out of reach of his sword. As his mana grew -as he gained his class skills- he knew he would only grow in his capabilities. Arcane Bolt would be enough for now. It was a perfect first spell to practise with. To bend his class toward combat magic. Once his class selection was over he could start to experiment. Tailoring his inscribed hymns to fit the situation. That would come later. Right now, all he wanted was a shower and to clean the goblin guts out of his hair. Thankfully, there were a dozen manors with perfectly good water enchantments available. In all honesty, despite feeling like he had slept in a charnel pit, Porkchop looked much worse. Kaius leaned over, picking a strip of goblin flesh from his friend''s fur between two fingers before flicking it off to the side. "Let''s go get cleaned up." Kaius suggested, leading the way to one of the nearby manors that was unmarred from their battle. Chapter 74 : The Next Champion Standing in one of the bathrooms, Kaius activated an enchantment that was set into the wall of an absolutely massive tiled washroom. A moment later hot rainfall fell from the ceiling in a torrential downpour, splashing on the slanted floor to drain out of a grate. It was a clever bit of runework, though he had to admit it had surprised him the first time he had seen it, being far fancier than anything he had seen before. He was used to bathing in rivers, and even on the rare occasions he had stayed in an inn the best he had seen was a bathtub that heated its contents. Even those had still needed to be filled by hand. Now though, he had no idea how he would be able to live without the strange hot rain. Thankfully, the enchantments were relatively simple, if written in an unknown script. He''d still copied them down as close as he could. You didn''t need to understand how something worked if you could replicate it close enough after all. If he ever had a house he was definitely putting one of them. Stripping out of his armour and clothes he stepped into the water, dragging his gear in with him to give it a thorough wash. It would have been terrible for normal items, but thankfully enchanted artefacts were made of sterner stuff. Green rivulets stained the water as it ran along the floor. As soon as he had cleaned the muck off his gear, Kaius placed it on the floor outside of the wetroom. Most of it would dry by itself, but the bits that wouldn''t he would towel off once he was done. Porkchop, having been patiently waiting for the clutter to be removed, pushed past him to take up a full third of the wetroom. "Are you going to reinscribe too?" His friend asked, looking at the glyph that wove its way around the back of his hand to creep up his forearm. "Yeah, I need to get as much practice in as I can. I know it''s a bit of a drag, but it''s worth it." Kaius said, leaning back to let the water run through his hair, scratching his scalp to dissolve some of the green blood that had started to scab. "It''s fine. It''s only an hour, and it''s important to sharpen your claws after a hunt afterall." Porkchop assured him. With the water flattening his fur close to his skin, he no longer had the poof to hide his bulk. Each and every inch of his body was covered in bulging muscle. It was enough to make a man jealous. Kaius was pretty proud of his physique, a life of hard training and a diet high in hunted game had made him tall and strapping, but beasts were something else entirely. "How long do you think it will take until we find that Champion, do you think?" Porkchop asked as ineffectively tried to scrub at the blood that had been matted into the fur on his back. Kaius laughed, it had to have been the eighth time Porkchop had asked him that since they had left the manor they''d used as a base camp for the last few months. "Here. Let me help." Kaius said, walking behind Porkchop to help him cleanse the gore of battle. "I''m not sure, really. There was what looked like an open air temple on this layer of the city, but it looked quite far around the circle compared to where we entered. The goblin I saw definitely looked different enough to be a Champion. We''re heading in the right direction, but it''s hard to tell much more than that. It''s pretty hard to get your bearings when the only two points of comparison were a far off look from a ledge and actually being on the streets." Porkchop huffed at his non committal response, but still leaned back into his scratching. "Can you tell me what you remember about it at least?" "Well, I''m pretty sure it''s going to be some sort of caster. It looked like it was in a pavilion that had been turned into some sort of goblin ceremony grounds, and it was wearing a big fuck-off headdress and waving around a staff. There were other goblins there too, so we should be ready for it to be a group fight." Porkchop''s ears perked up at that. "That''s different. Sound''s fun though." "Mmm." Kaius nodded. "If a bit risky. I''m also pretty sure there has to be another champion in the next tier. The one before the summit. There''s been one on every single layer so far, including the Guardian at the top, so it would be a bit weird if there wasn''t one -even if I didn''t spot it." "I hope so. Every extra Champion we can find here means one less we have to search for when we are done with this biome. The clock''s ticking Kaius. You''re going to finish off your skills either way, but if we want to get our Honours and potentially even go after the Guardian before our full integration we need to push hard." ... After making the choice to avoid further encounters with the general riff-raff of the city, their pace had exploded as they crossed the district in record time. They camped in manors as the crystal sun above dimmed, and set out early each morning to walk the dusty and abandoned streets of the residential district. Eventually, they found what they were looking for. Far off in the distance Kaius saw the road they walked on lead straight into a massive open space. A handful of streets converged into a crossroads, an open plaza surrounded on all sides by buildings taller and more opulent than any he had seen so far, with artistic crenulations and massive stained glass windows adorning their fronts. At the centre of the plaza was what they had been looking for. A large raised pavilion ringed by monolithic columns that supported a vaunted roof of shaped stone. There, at the centre, he saw their target. "I see the bastard." Kaius called out. In the centre of the pavilion stood a goblin on a raised dais. Withered and decrepit, it was wearing a massive headdress that must have added full strides to its height, made up of bleached bone and glittering metal scraps. It waved a gnarled staff too and fro, directing three adherents with religious fervour as it positively glowed with mystic might. Porkchop''s ears perked at his words, swivelling towards him. "It''s a Champion?" Kaius focused his True Sight. Spiritcaller Grikx - Level 24: Champion, Depths-born, Magi, Low Race Goblin Adherent - Level 20: Depths-born, Beast, Minion, Elite, Low Race "It is, and a mage to boot. There''s also three minions, all elite like the warg was." Kaius said, relaying his findings. Porkchop shot him a look. "A mage? Will you be able to handle it." "It''s a shaman. Probably an affliction or elemental specialist. Between this-" He rapped his cuirass with a knuckle. "-and my resistance skill, it''s going to find me a terrible match up." At least he bloody well hoped it was an affliction specialist. He still had one more healing skill he needed to earn, and he was getting tired of turning down offered skills. Afflictions would be perfect to practise manually increasing the efficiency of his Health. Though, the shaman wasn''t the only issue. "I''m more worried about the elites. That warg we fought on the outskirts was a piece of work, and there are three this time." They''d have to take them out first, and Kaius was under no illusions that that would be easy. Though, if Porkchop could keep the shaman occupied with his Spell Resistance, then Kaius was confident he could handle them. They looked to be normal sized goblins, not hobs, and that meant he had the height advantage. The real question was if he saved his spells to deal with the shaman, a well timed bolt could make all the difference against a caster. "Okay," Kaius said. "Here''s what I think we should do." Chapter 75 : Shaman "I hope real dwarven cities are built like this." Kaius said as he stared at a row of immaculately carved statues that were laid in a circle around the plaza that he had spotted earlier. Each and every one was easily twice his height, and looked like they could have been living figures simply transmuted into a soft brown stone. They depicted a dwarven warrior, garbed in full plate with a stern expression revealed by an open faced helm. "Why?" Porkchop asked, clearly far more interested in what lay beyond the ring of statues. "I mean, look at this stuff." Kaius replied, sweeping his hand across the plaza before waving it generally in the direction of the cavern walls. "It''s master stonework, melded together to look like a single piece. Let alone the bloody cavern, which is clearly not natural, or the crystal sun which looks about as big as a castle. It''s easy to imagine the Depths creating something like this, but I can''t wrap my head around the fact that there might be an original out there made by bloody people. The time -the resources- this would take is mind boggling." "Yes, yes, it''s all very pretty." Porkchop said with a shrug. "But the Champion is right there. Now is not the time to be ogling buildings." Porkchop was right, but he also didn''t want to lose sight of the wonder of the Depths. It might have been a charnel pit of monsters and traps, but where else would you see a dwarven city right after exploring a glowing underground forest? Kaius sighed. Despite his appreciation for the surroundings, he turned his mind to the task ahead. The goblin shaman seemed to be in the throes of some sort of religious ecstasy, its head raised to the sky while it screamed guttural chants with a fervour, its adherents hanging on to its every word. Thankfully, it seemed far too preoccupied to notice them. "You''re still alright to keep the shaman occupied while I take care of his minions?" Kaius asked. "It makes the most sense. Even with this ring you gave me, three goblins who no doubt have weapons would be hard to deal with. I''ll be fine with my Spell Resistance." Kaius nodded. "I think with how distracted they are, we should be able to sneak behind one of those statues. It should get us close enough that I can take out one of the adherents before we even begin." "Not the shaman?" "Too risky." Kaius shook his head. "For one, it''s a Champion- so there''s no guarantee a single shot will take it out. It''s also a mage, so I''m worried it might have some way to deal with hostile magic." Porkchop grunted, clearly not convinced but he didn''t argue with Kaius either way. "Once we''re behind the statue, I''ll get a cast off. That''ll be the signal to charge in, okay? You go for one of the statues closer to the shaman." "Got it." Porkchop said, before he slunk off to the other side of the street where he would have a better angle of approach. Kaius took a breath to reassure himself, taking another look to make sure the Champion and his flunkies were still preoccupied. Whatever service the shaman was leading, it didn''t look like it was going to end any time soon. Dropping into a sprinters stance, Kaius felt his heart thump heavily in his chest. There was absolutely no cover between the road where he currently stood and the statue. Only a hundred long-strides of open pavement. If he made too much noise, or one of the Champions goons simply decided to watch their surroundings, he would be spotted in an instant. "Here we go." Kaius thought. He kicked off. Sprinting over open pavement, careful to keep his steps as light as possible. With every stride his boots clacked on stone and his scale rattled, the noise driving a spike of anxiety into his ears. He watched the shaman like a hawk for any sign of it hearing his approach. Nothing. Its screeching calls were loud enough to drown out any ambient noise. He shuffled to a stop, crouching down behind the raised stone plinth of the statue he had chosen as cover. Taking a moment to let his racing heart slow, Kaius looked a few statues over to find Porkchop hunkered down watching him closely. He shot his friend a nod, receiving one in return. Drawing his sword slowly so as to avoid making too much noise, Kaius peered over the base of the statue to stare at the attendants. Two of them were covered by the large stone pillars that held up the roof of the pavilion the shaman had taken over, but one stood exposed in a gap. "The bone shards its shooting from its staff might! Hurry up!" Kaius grunted, easier said than done. The two goblin attendants may as well have been a brick wall with how perfectly they covered each other. Whenever he got a flash of insight from Explorer''s Toolkit about a potential opening, they moved, closing the gap. The problem was that they were too bloody fast. **Ding! Explorer''s Toolkit has reached level 13!** Flicking his blade back and forth he deflected a perfectly synchronised flurry of slashes from the goblins, giving ground to their assault. With each block Kaius felt his vambrace get closer and closer to full. At the very least, if he really couldn''t find an opening he would be able to force the issue with that. Peering over the attendants shoulders, he watched the shaman dive out of the way of Porkchop''s paw, channelling glowing mana into its staff to pelt him with another hail of razor sharp bones. **Ding! True Sight has reached level 11!** Individually, they seemed to do little, but Kaius could see that his friend''s face and exposed arms were littered with dozens of shallow cuts. Inconsequential with health, but with each barrage more of Porkchop''s health would burn away to seal the wounds. That could be an issue. He had to do something. Knocking aside one attendant''s blade he stepped in and rammed the goblin with his shoulder, sending it staggering back. His hand snapped up, lighting up in burning gold as he shot an Arcane Bolt directly at the shaman''s back. Its eyes widened with the flash of light, the shaman throwing itself to the side in a last ditch effort to avoid the spell. Kaius was already turning away as it squealed in pain, slipping around a slash as the closest attendant screamed in fury at his assault of their master. Kaius punished the missed swing with a pommel strike to the goblins brow, sending it reeling. The act just barely gave him a moment to breathe before both attendants came back at him in a synchronised blur of scything bronze. Kaius grit his teeth, hearing Porkchop roar in agony once more. He did his best to defend from the attendants assault, blocking and parrying slashes where he could, but even with all his skill he wasn''t able to stop a growing number of heavy smashes of blunt force that sunk deep into the muscle beneath his armour. **Ding! Adamant Body has reached level 17!** One of the attendants rushed in, curved blade held high overhead. Kaius swept his sword up, binding the strike in an edge to edge clash. He twisted his wrists, casting the bronze sword to the side as he pirouetted into a whirling cut that slashed it from shoulder to hip. Blood flooded free from the wound, staining the front of the attendants robe a murky green. The other attendant rushed him. Kaius only just managed to bring his sword up into a clumsy block, the goblins bronze blade skittering down his sword-edge to catch on his crossguard. Then he felt his vambraces saturate, a pool of energy entering his awareness. Feeling his blood sing with the heat of battle Kaius redoubled his efforts, waiting for his opening. Only for a virulent wasting energy to seep into him from behind, punching through his armour to target his bones as the shaman cried in victory. Kaius risked a glance behind him, seeing Porkchop had jumped on the shaman''s distraction to rake his claws along its back. The shaman had still hit him with something. He knew it, he could feel it in his teeth, smell it flooding his nose. It tasted of the ravages of time, of the weakness of old men. The attendants cackled in glee, rushing him. Grunting in frustration, Kaius flicked his blade up to catch one of the crescent bronze blades. They clashed. His arm cracked. Agony lancing up into his shoulder as the pressure of the goblins attack stressed his fractured limb. **Ding! You have been afflicted by Skeletal Weakness: Curse of Brittle Bone** Chapter 76 : Osteogenesis Imperfecta Kaius flew backwards, giving ground before the goblin attendants assault. He could feel it, the energy that had seeped into his bones from the spell the shaman had cast on him. Sapping their strength, weakening the very foundation of his body. His health flooded out, saturating his arm in itching heat as it fought to seal the crack in his bone. With every blow he blocked and parried yet more cracks joined it. Kaius stepped back just a little too hard to avoid a swipe. A small bone in his foot broke. This was untenable. The affliction might not have been enough to straight up crumble his bones, but it had absolutely gutted his defence. Worse, his Health was burning in every clash as it fought a losing battle to keep him whole. Rapid Adaptation was already moving, tasting the flavour of the foreign energy as it tried to get its measure. It was slow going though. A novel mana, and a novel effect. Kaius''s resistance wouldn''t kick in for some time. No, he needed to stem the drain on his Health, and he knew exactly how to do it. Falling back, he gave ground before the attendants, parrying only the attacks that he had no chance of dodging. As he retreated, he split his focus. Wrapping his will around the flood of restorative energy that had coated his bones. He coaxed it, guiding it to seal cracks with directed application. Forcibly increasing his efficiency. It was hard at first, his only practice had been under the influence of a Psychopathic Assault tonic. Even if he knew the theory, splitting his focus so utterly in the depths of a sword fight was ruinously difficult. The attendants slipped through his guard, hammering his armoured torso. Kaius grit his teeth as his ribs shattered, hot iron flooding his mouth. Still he pressed on. Guiding his Health to regenerate him with growing efficiency. **Ding! Adamant Body has reached level 18!** A moment later he got the notification he had been waiting for. **Ding! General Skill Available! Would you like to learn: Efficient Healing (Rare)?** Kaius groaned in relief, dropping his hold on his Health to refocus entirely on his battle ahead. Immediately his latest skill went to work, stemming the torrential drain of his resource. Empowering how much his Health could heal. **Ding! Efficient Healing has reached level 2!** With his latest skill and Fast Healing, Kaius was just able to suppress the curse that had weakened his bones so badly. Oh, they still cracked, still shot shards of agony through him with every crushing blow that he deflected, but he was healing fast enough to keep up. He needed an opening. There weren''t any. Explorer''s Toolkit was completely silent, the attendants too fast, too good at covering each other for him to find one. He would have to make one. He pressed the attendants, soul-wrenching cracks shuddering through his arms as he threw his whole weight into a heavy downwards slash, forcing the goblins to block. **Ding! Efficient Healing has reached level 3!** **Ding! Efficient Healing has reached level 4!** **Ding! Efficient Healing has reached level 5!** One of the attendants slipped in low, bringing its crescent moon blade towards him with a hurried slash to his left leg, rushing to capitalise on his sword being bound up in the defence of its ally. There was a nudge in Kaius''s mind, and awareness. He could block. He didn''t Gleaming bronze cut deep into the muscle of his thigh, thick blood welling in the wound. The attendant screeched in victory, joyous at having finally dealt a decisive wound. Kaius snapped out with his left hand, grabbing the goblin by the face, feeling its teeth sink deep into the meat of his palm. The pain meant nothing. The other attendant shoved against his sword, easily pushing his one handed grip back. Kaius grinned savagely. Arcane Bolt. A flash of gold and azure. Wet flesh exploded from his palm in a cone, coating the pavilion floor in dark green gore. Kaius''s blood sung in his veins as the headless body of the attendant collapsed to the ground with a splash. Kaius stepped forwards, readying another slash. The shaman thrust its staff towards Porkchop, hitting him with another shower of darts that forced him to bunker down. With its off hand it thrust towards him, mana pulsing as it hit him with another spell. **Ding! You have been afflicted by Skeletal Weakness: Curse of Brittle Bone** The damaging energy in his bones redoubled. Kaius tried to lunge forwards and finish it, only for his leg to collapse under him as his bones shattered. With a gasp he fell to his knees as the shaman cackled at his agony. **Ding! Efficient Healing has reached level 7!** **Ding! Efficient Healing has reached level 8!** Porkchop roared. Kaius watched his friend blur, rocketing forwards directly through the densest path of cutting bone. His amulet, Kaius realised. he''d enhanced his charge. He hit the shaman with the unstoppable fury of an avalanche. The shaman went down hard, hitting the stone floor in a long slide. Porkchop roared in fury, interposing himself between Kaius and the shaman. Kaius felt his health flooding his broken bones, but it wasn''t enough. The affliction had made them so weak that any movement was enough to splinter them again. He needed a resistance. He felt it. The very moment Rapid Adaptation latched on to the foreign mana that surged through his system, savaging it like a rabid dog. Locking it down, and slowly eliminating it. **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has added a new Resistance: Bone Magic!** **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has reached level 20!** His resistance against the affliction bolstered, Kaius felt his bones strengthen, Health reknitting them back together. He pushed himself to his feet. Care would have to be taken, they were still weakened, the bone magic still present. Yet it had been lessened enough for him to move. To fight. Leather creaked as he tightened his grip on his sword. Porkchop''s ear swivelled as he heard him get up. A second later his friend rushed forwards, eager to finish off the injured Champion. Kaius rushed after him, sword held in a close guard with his point trained on the rising shaman. The goblin squealed, mana flaring around it as two lashes of condensed pain shot out. Squarely hitting him and Porkchop in the chest. He pushed through the agony, barely losing his footing for a moment as he braced for the surge of liquid fire. He pressed on. The shaman showered them in razor sharp bone darts. Kaius raised his arm, warding his eyes as bone plinked off his armour and cut into his exposed legs and head. There was a blur to his right as Porkchop lunged forwards. The shaman shrieked and the bone darts cut off. Kaius moved quickly, dropping his arm to see the shaman had thrown itself backwards, hitting Porkchop with another lash of pain. Kaius lurched in, pivoting on his foot to attack the shaman with a heavy chop. Rage twisted its features, black eyes scrunching as it raised its staff to block. Another building pulse of mana, and a second later it hit him with another whip of magic. Kaius locked up. The shaman''s chest was heaving. Bloody and tattered, it looked to be on its last legs. Fast and magically potent it might have been, its mana seemed bottomless with how many spells it had been throwing out. All the mana in the world couldn''t hide the glacial pace at which the wounds on its face healed, nor the way it hissed as he pressed his sword harder into its staff. Porkchop charged from behind him, flattening the shaman once more. It tried to roll away. Escape. Stomping on its chest with a sickening mush, Porkchop pinned the shaman in place with one paw as it vomited green blood. It was the moment he had been waiting for. A quick sprint brought him in close. He cut. The shaman''s head rolled free. **Ding! You have slain a Champion: Spiritcaller Grikx - level 24 Bone-totem Shaman! ** Chapter 77 : The Whole Pharmacy Kaius stumbled away from the corpse of the goblin Champion, his chest heaving as he slid to ground. He groaned as his hip crunched against the stone with his too rough movement. Lowering himself slowly to lie flat on his back, Kaius stared up at the vaulted stone roof of the pavilion as Rapid Adaptation worked to purge the remnants of the shamans mana from his system. "Well. That could have gone better." He said. Porkchop hunkered down next to him, his barding littered with holes and his red and black fur matted and wet with blood. "I think we did pretty well, no potions or tricks this time. Your spell was great!" Porkchop said encouragingly. "It was alright. I don''t have enough of them," Kaius responded. "I think I''m going to try to trim it down. Like, it''s got a lot of power, but we don''t really need that power. It''s only really useful against Champions, and even then I''m getting the feeling that unless they are big and slow it''s just not really worth the cost. Even if it was half as strong it would be enough to take out a common depths-born, and the whole point of the hymns is that I can switch them out." "That would probably be wise. If you had more we might have been able to box the shaman in, or interrupt those bloody spells it had." Porkchop finished with a huff. Right, Porkchop had gotten absolutely reamed by that pain whip spell. He pushed himself up into a sitting position, slowly, and checked his friend over. "How''re you doing? He got you pretty good." Porkchop tilted his head at him. "Me? I''m not the one whose bones sounded like they were made of chalk. That pain spell was just sore, it didn''t actually do any damage, and despite how I might look, those bone shards didn''t leave much more than flesh wounds." Kaius cracked a grin. "I''m fine too, just going to take it easy until Rapid Adaptation can purge the affliction. I got the resistance towards the end, but it''s still pretty uncomfortable" "Well, while you do that I''m going to see if I can find our loot." Porkchop said, rising to his feet with a grunt. Kaius watched his friend closely, not quite convinced that he had gotten off as lightly as he had said. The smear of dark red that Porkchop left of the stone beneath where he had lain was really not helping his case. After Porkchop had wandered away to poke his way around the pavilion, Kaius turned his attention to the system notification that was pinging away in the back of his mind. He''d gotten the last skill he needed for Lesser Regeneration, and not a moment too soon. The constant fractures had absolutely decimated his healthpool, and he doubted he would have been able to last much longer without slowing it down. He pulled up the skills description. Efficient Healing: Level 8 Rare Life is the constant struggle against decay, stumble and you die. The power of the Blood, the memory of the Heart, learn these mysteries and you will live. For now. Enhances the power and efficacy of your Health, increasings its regenerative capacity. Each level infinitesimally reduces Health costs. It might have been a simple skill, but it was no less useful for it. Paired with his other recent healing skills, it served as a massive increase to his staying power. Even without having merged them into his second to last legacy skills. So much of what had hampered him in fights was both his depressingly small Health cap, and the sluggish rate of his healing. Any serious wound was potentially disabling. Though now, perhaps not. Even with only the initial boost of his most recent skills he should be able to recover from broken bones and flesh wounds without having to retreat. Unfortunately, he still had to be careful. He couldn''t recover totally severed limbs, and a heart or head wound would kill him as quickly as anyone else. Dipping his attention inwards, he found that the bone magic had been almost entirely purged from his system. He watched it, Rapid Adaptation attacking the foreign energy with a fervour. Corralling and destroying the curse. Over the next few minutes the remnants became scattered, and then inevitably were annihilated completely. Sighing in relief, Kaius watched his Health flood through his system, fixing up the final remnants of damage that had been left behind. Hopping to his feet, he enjoyed the simple pleasure of feeling the solidity of his footing on the stone floor. No more having to worry about snapping his shin if he moved a little awkwardly. Porkchop was in the centre of the pavilion, poking around the raised dais that the shaman had originally stood on to deliver his sermon. His friend looked over as he stood up, his ears perked high in excitement. Depths-brewed potion Lunacy I Kaius felt uneasy reading its effects. Something that boosted his magic was useful, but after his experience with the Psychopathic Assault tonic, Kaius was weary of anything that looked like it might impact his mental state. It might not directly have stated it, but no matter how much he squinted ''lunar wisdom'' certainly was suspicious enough that he wanted to be careful. Last was the fizzing lilac potion. Jack Rabbit Tonic: Common - Tier I Run fast enough and you might just escape your fate. A tonic that boosts movement speed for several minutes. Depths-brewed potion Rapid Escape I Now that Kaius could get behind. Not just for fleeing as the tonic suggested. Speed was an invaluable equaliser in combat, as he had just learnt first hand in his battle against the attendants. These, and potentially the Lunar Empowerment tonic, would be worth saving for the Guardian. The ogre he had spotted at the top of the city was massive, and undoubtedly would be able to splatter them with a single swing of its club. If it couldn''t hit them however.... Yes, these would be perfect to save for their final confrontation. There was only one thing that was bothering him. Kaius decided he should bring it up. "Well, they''re certainly for both of us. Those ones will instantly recover some of our Health, though I''m not exactly sure by how much. Those two will boost our movement speed for a while, and the last will empower my magic." He said, pointing between the different potions. "Why do you sound concerned? That''s great isn''t it?" Porkchop asked. "Well.." Kaius said, thinking. "Don''t you think it''s a little too good? Like have we actually gotten anything that wasn''t well suited for us? I didn''t know about Champions or that they guarded rewards before I got here, so I might be wrong, but everything I have heard has said that Depths rewards are random." Porkchop cocked his head at him. "What, like bad? Why would people bother then?" "No," Kaius shook his head. "Not bad. Just i''ve heard that it''s pretty common to get things that don''t suit you. Like if we found an amulet that made you channel spells faster or something. It''d still be worth taking with us, someone else would find it really valuable, but neither of us would really be able to use it." Porkchop grunter. "Who cares? It''s not like good loot is harming us. Maybe it''s something to do with you being Observed?" "...Maybe." Kaius muttered, thinking. It didn''t feel right. "But the Depths are supposed to be impartial, it''s a whole thing. Like it''s this grand trial, I can''t really see it shifting the scales for someone just because they are doing well, y''know?" "Kaius," Porkchop said, nudging him to grab his attention. He looked over, locking eyes with his friend. "So. What. If it''s something else, it clearly likes us. Stop worrying, and go fetch your pack so we can put stuff away." Kaius grunted, but dropped the matter and started to walk towards the street where they had entered. He''d left his pack stashed there. Porkchop was probably right, but he didn''t like it. It didn''t feel like something the Depths would do. It was a mystery, one he didn''t have an answer to. Hopefully as when he''d escaped they would learn more. He already intended to look into his family name at a library in one of the nearby major cities; he could investigate this too. There was no way he was the first person this had happened to, was it? Sitting on a throne of granite, a man so immaculate he looked carved from marble started to laugh. A thousand motes of light quivering in an inky black void at the sudden noise. "Kaius, my boy. You have no idea." Chapter 78 : The Final Layer Sitting down on the raised platform where he and Porkchop had discovered the stash of potions, Kaius repacked his bag. With a single tonic each of Solar Revitalisation and Psychopathic Assault, the latest haul had brought them to a total of nine tonics. One more than he could hold in his potion pouch. After moving his coin and empties to a slot in his pack, Kaius had to make the tricky choice of which potion to leave outside of easy reach. All five of his healing tonics would be staying with him, to do otherwise was stupid. For now he was leaning towards stashing one of the Jack Rabbit tonics. He intended to save both of them for the guardian, but if the situation arose where he had to choose between imbibing a potion and potential death, he was going to make that choice ten out of ten times. Satisfied with his choice, Kaius pulled his Jurryrigger''s Stylus as well as his notepad out from his pack, before setting the bag on the ground. Having already removed his vambraces, he was ready to reinscribe. First though, he wanted to try his hand at modifying his Arcane Bolt hymn. Like he''d mentioned to Porkchop, he needed something cheaper. Having a spell that could burst a goblins head like a melon available at the flick of his fingers was all well and good, but it was costly. Most of their fights had been slogs, and only having four spells available was hampering him. Plus, the shaman''s bone darts had sparked some inspiration. He probably wouldn''t make a spell that fired a spray of them, that would suffer from the same cost problem as Arcane Bolt and would probably be less effective to boot. But if he could scale down the hymn... He flicked open his notebook, already two thirds full with runic diagrams- carefully neutered so as not to pull in mana, of course. His current hymn was made up of a few parts. A section of runes to shape the spell, one to contain and direct his mana, and another to harden it into a penetrating projectile. All made up of hundreds of High Lothian words that looped over themselves until they formed a dense, arrow shaped array. Most of the shaping and containment sections were held in the ''haft'' of the arrow, if he could just shrink the overall size of the arcane shard, reducing its mana requirements while increasing its density... Grabbing his pen, Kaius sketched out a test on his page. It looked like it should work. Everything was in alignment, there were no syntax issues. The only way to know would be to try. Snapping his book closed he shoved it back into his bag before snatching up his stylus. Laying his left hand on his knee he bent over and started to draw, wincing slightly as the mana he channelled through his stylus started to burn into him. He moved quickly. Thanks to his modifications, and the overall shrinking of the runic spell form, he actually managed to finish it quicker than normal. With a final flick of his wrist he completed the last rune on his test a mere five minutes later. His glyph drank hungrily from his mana pool, flooding his newest spell. A moment later and it clicked into place, sequestering the energy it needed for him to cast the hymn. Kaius let out a sigh of relief. At the very least the spell was stable. Now he just needed to test it. He pulled up his resources, curious about how much mana the spell had taken from his reserves. Resources: Health - 380/380 (2.8/min) Stamina - 280/280 (2.8/min) Either way, the stairs were their goal, and they weren''t too far. He couldn''t wait to see what they would find up there. Decrepit and ravaged by war the city may have been, but it was still delightfully exotic and strange to him. The massive buildings above had set his mind racing. Were they the seat of government? A church? Kaius had no idea, but he couldn''t wait to find out. Plus, there had to be a Champion out there. It would be too weird to have one on every section of the city except the one right before the Guard. He turned away from the sight, whistling to grab Porkchop''s attention. "You ready to go?" "Yeah, I got bored of sniffing rocks about an hour ago." Porkchop said glibly. Kaius rolled his eyes and set off, leading the way as they pushed ever deeper into the fallen dwarven metropolis. ... Huffing as he hauled his way up yet another step, he forced himself to avoid looking over the sheer drop to his right. While the stairs were wide and easy to climb, there were a bloody lot of them, and evidently dwarves didn''t believe in safety railings. There was nothing to stop him falling off the edge and plummeting what felt like hundreds of longstrides to his doom below. Porkchop was keeping pace with him to his left. At first his friend had been a nonstop stream of grumbling as they ascended the stairs that slowly wrapped their way around the gargantuan pillar of stone that held the next district of the city aloft. As they had climbed, exertion had slowly sapped Porkchops enthusiasm, tapering it off into the odd growl every few minutes. Ahead Kaius could see the looming city gates that guarded the way ahead. Much like the last two they had encountered, these were twisted and shattered. Gleaming in silver and gold, massive embossed scenes were mangled into shards of base metal and blasted inwards. Reaching the top, Kaius bent over as his chest heaved. Stamina might have let them maintain their pace, but his legs still burned. With a final gasp, Kaius straightened and wiped at his forehead, surveying the new district. In comparison to the residential space below, this region of the dwarven city was remarkably open. Massive stately buildings dotted a wide open boulevard, richly engraved stone rising into parapets and peaked roofs. It was beautiful, even for the dwarven city the stonework was masterful beyond compare. Engravings of stately dwarves so lifelike he could swear they were breathing, scenes of stone carving and smithing that displayed the mastery of their craft, and dozens more. They coated the exterior of every building he could see. It must have taken years, and the expense! Kaius doubted that anyone but the most skilled amongst their number would have had their work imprinted on the very stone of such an opulent region of the city. He still couldn''t tell if it was religious or the centre of the city''s statecraft, though at the very least it had clearly been an extremely exclusive space. The only residential buildings he could see looked like palaces in comparison to the manors below. It also wasn''t just dwarven masterpieces that dominated the second highest peak of the city. Kaius could see plenty of goblins too. Scattered around the open pavement, lurking in the shadows and nooks of massive buildings. They were much less clumped up here, and they looked notably tougher. More heavily armoured, their weapons looking much less like scavenged scrap. Kaius smiled as he looked out over the sight. He loved a new challenge. "Ready to go hunting for this Champion?" He asked, eager to get moving. Porkchop responded with a hungry growl, his eyes boring holes into the distant depths-born. Chapter 79 : Surprise! Kaius crept alongside the exterior of a regal building that backed up onto the wall that led to the final layer of the dwarven city, shadowing himself under a massive balcony of stone. It rose a dozen stories into the air to taper into a collection of spindly spires, with heavily barred windows dotting the walls. The exterior of the building was absolutely covered in reliefs, all following the same theme. Coin. Valuable gems locked in a vault, artefacts held securely, and more. After spotting it Kaius had immediately diverted their path to investigate. A heavily reinforced building, nestled safely in the city''s seat of government? If that didn''t scream bank, he didn''t know what did. They''d made pretty good time. While this upper district was absolutely crawling with goblins compared to the lower levels, they were far more dispersed. No more massive mobs of goblins, they only had to pick them off now and then to clear their pass. Of course, they still had to be stealthy about it. Despite the strange lack of perception that depths-born had, Kaius had no doubt that if they simply strolled out in the open they would have a horde on their hands in no time. Thankfully, his new spell had proved to be more than capable of taking out goblins, at least, with a little careful aim. More than once they''d been confronted with a goblin blocking their path, with no way to take it out before it could raise an alarm to its far off allies. After wrapping his glyph in cloth to conceal the burning light of his casting, he''d found an Arcane Dart to the back of the head did plenty well at removing those annoyances from their path. Their careful pace had slowed them. It was a lot harder to completely avoid the goblins now, even if each encounter was a lot easier. They had made their way from the entrance, hoping from estate to official looking buildings, one after the other. While this district was much smaller than the one below, it was still a city. As far as he could tell, this region of the city was a mix of noble estates, religious buildings, and the centre of government. There were no ''roads'' per se, instead the entire ring was an open stone boardwalk, dotted with massive buildings seemingly at random. They''d ended up camping out in more than one noble''s estate to pass the night. If Porkchop had been ecstatic at the comfort of the manors below, he was utterly dumbfounded at the sheer luxury that nobles lived in. If Kaius was honest with himself, he was too. Of course, he''d heard the stories about foppish nobles and their vices, but it was one thing to hear about it and another entirely to be confronted with a bed the size of most inn rooms. Still, their covert exploration of the noble district had had some benefits. He''d manage to squeeze out a couple of levels of Explorer''s Toolkit, and all his reinscribing of his hymns had managed to cap Runic Lexicon. Moving to one of the columns that supported the balcony above him, Kaius peered out to look around the front of the building. He sighed in relief. The only goblins he could spot were far off, meandering around far off estates. "Let''s go." He said, waving to Porkchop who was still lurking in the shadows of the balcony. They rushed forwards, heading towards the bay doors that were recessed into the front of the building. Kaius kept himself hunched, lowering his profile as much as he could while he kept his eyes locked on the goblins he had spotted. Waiting for any sign that they had noticed them. Nothing, they kept to their lazy patrol. The entrance to the building was just as grand as anything else, thick doors of wood with richly shaped bronze rings were set into a frame of carved stone. Kaius rushed forwards, grabbing the cold bronze and shoving the door open. To his ease it swung inwards on well oiled hinges. The interior was thick with dust, completely undisturbed. Having confirmed that the presence of enemies was unlikely, he rushed in without a closer look. "Quick! Quick!" He said, waving Porkchop in before he closed the door. Sighing in relief, Kaius turned back to the building''s interior, taking the chance to look closer now that he wasn''t worried about them being spotted. They had entered into some sort of waiting room, a wide open area with numerous benches sitting on a polished floor. Ahead of them a long stone desk prevented further access to the open plan bank. He was sure it was a bank, what with the absolutely massive vault door that was set into the far wall of the building. It must have been tunnelled into the stone foundations of the final district that rose far above them. At least that would explain why the bank had been built bordering right up against the interior wall of the ring. The roof loomed far above. Despite the size of the building, there was only one floor. Instead massive stone struts crisscrossed the open air, supporting the massive structure. It was impressive, but it did little to hold his attention compared to the jewel that was a potentially full bank vault. Porkchop howled in fury, bursting over to sink his jaws into whatever had savaged him. Dragging it away to ragdoll its diminutive form as he shook his head from side to side. Kaius barely heard it, too focused on the torrent of blood that erupted from his throat, choking him. He needed a potion, but Rapid Adaptation was moving too slowly. He''d bleed out before he could get one. The creeping chill of the grave crept in, his extremities numbing as his Health surged in an attempt to slow the bleeding. **Ding! Efficient Healing has reached level 9!** **Ding! Efficient Healing has reached level 10!** The only reason he wasn''t dead yet was Stone Blood, the skill thickening his blood. Even then, it was barely enough to keep him conscious. The Champion had cut his jugular. Fuck. **Ding! Fast Healing has reached level 20!** **Ding! Stone Blood has reached level 16!** He dived inwards, blocking out the sounds of Porkchop''s wild fury. Even if he had skills now he could help them along. He sent his senses flooding through his body, taking in his condition in an instant. Relief flooded through him. His armour had stopped the assassin from reaching his heart. They were still grievous wounds, but the ragged hole in his neck nearly reached his spine. **Ding! Stone Blood has reached level 17!** **Ding! Efficient Healing has reached level 11!** The region was a brilliant red to his internal sight, so much of his health flooding the area. Something was wrong, it was healing too slowly. Even slower than before he had gotten his regenerative skills. It had to be another skill. One that Rapid Adaptation was reacting far too slowly to. Thankfully, the skill had still partially resisted the attack, he was still healing, albeit incredibly slowly. He had to move fast. Snatching up his health in his mental grip, Kaius directed the resource manually. His skills helped, flooding the area and making each point last for more, but it was still a general regeneration. Arteries first. That was what was most important. **Ding! Stone Blood has reached level 19!** **Ding! Efficient Healing has reached level 12!** Pushing his Health towards the ropey blood vessels that even now spilled his life force onto the stone below, Kaius nearly screamed as he felt a resistance from the injury. He pressed on, forcing his flesh to reknit. His growing migraine was forgotten, swept aside in his all consuming need to survive. It wasn''t enough, he needed more. He had plenty of health, but his flesh simply refused to make use of it, willingly hurrying his descent into the grave. Wild in panic, Kaius clawed at the health that pushed at the rest of the wound on his throat, yanking on his resource pool to drag the energy away from the wounds on his chest. **Ding! Efficient Healing has reached level 13!** With a mental scream he shoved at the energy, willing it to focus solely on his torn blood vessels. Slowly, far too slowly, he felt the veins and arteries writhe. Reknitting as torn flesh sealed itself whole. **Ding! Efficient Healing has reached level 14!** He could feel it, even with the rapid ascent of his Stone Blood skill he was growing cold, weak. His mind clouded with fog, slowing down with every weakening beat of his heart. No. He couldn''t go out like this. He refused. Chapter 80 : Life Blood Kaius felt cold, ever so cold, as he lay in a growing pool of his own blood. He could faintly hear the ongoing cries of his friend''s fury as Porkchop savaged the Champion who had slit his throat and ruined his chest. He coughed, a spray of red glugging out of the ragged tear in his neck. **Ding! Stone Blood has reached level 20!** Shoving his agony and panic to the side he redoubled his grip on his Health, forcing the resource to power through whatever skill the Champion had used to inhibit his healing. He could do this. Enough focus and will and he would get through this. **Ding! Efficient Healing has reached level 15!** He could feel it, the energy left over from the attack, slowly weakening. With every push it gave out quicker. Enough time and it would have passed by itself. Time he didn''t have. His only saving grace was the fact that his chest plate had saved him from getting stabbed in the heart. Even with Stone Blood, he doubted he could have survived that. **Ding! Efficient Healing has reached level 16!** He clenched his teeth and heaved again, shoving a great wave of restorative energy towards his blood vessels. One by one they made contact, slowly rejoining as they stemmed the tide of his health. Not fast enough. The bloodloss had sapped his strength, leaving him feeling like he had an anvil on his chest as his heart fluttered, trying to keep its beat as his blood pressure fell through the floor. **Ding! Efficient Healing has reached level 17!** Again! He shoved his health, battling against the energy that coated his wounds. It wavered, poorly suited to counteracting Health that was bolstered by skills and personally directed with his will. As the Champion''s skill shuddered, he slipped through the cracks, dumping Health into his jugular. It snapped forwards like a striking snake, healing itself whole. **Ding! Efficient Healing has reached level 18!** The skill that was dampening his healing shuddered back into position, stopping him from moving on to his other vessels. It was failing, quicker than he expected. Kaius had to do it now, he could feel himself fading. It was a race, what would fail first? He shoved again, ramming against the barrier that halted his regeneration, screaming in fury as he corralled his health, slamming it into the wound on his throat. The sapping magic shattered, health rolled over his throat in a wave. **Ding! Efficient Healing has reached level 19!** Something nudged him. He ignored it. If it was the Champion he was dead anyway. He felt the flesh on his neck boil, morphic as it flowed. Resealing itself. Now that there was no skill working against him, his Health burned at a prodigious rate as he encouraged it to move faster. Even as he guided it to efficiency, supported by Efficient Healing, it vanished at an astonishing rate. His throat was last. His airway sealed and kaius coughed, spraying chunks of blood and stray flesh into the air. It splattered down on his face, paralysis stopping him from turning his head. The wound on his chest was still there, pulsing with agony as more blood pumped from his surface. Without the pressing need of his cut throat, it was his next target. Left alone it could still kill him. Unfortunately in his mad dash to stop his arterial bleed he had burnt through the vast majority of his health pool. It might not be enough. Whatever had been nudging him moved him again, clawing at something at his waist. Words rang in his mind, but he shoved them to the side. **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has added a new Resistance: Paralysis!** Kaius gasped, twitching his finger. Even with Rapid Adaptation having gotten the measure of the affliction, it wasn''t an instant process. It would fight off the rest of the paralysis quickly, but the Champion''s skill was too strong for him to fully resist it. The skill had weakened it, sure, but his entire focus was devoted to healing. Wasting the mental energy to try to reach for a potion might just kill him before it could do any good. Hard claws pulled open his mouth, cold glass clinking against his teeth. Liquid poured in, running down his throat. The taste of a year of safety and rest, of a flower in full bloom, coating his mouth. "Yeah! Shall we see if it opens it?" Kaius shot him a look, before flicking his eyes down to his limp body. "Oops..? After we''ve recovered, I mean." "That would be good, yes." Kaius said with a sigh. .... Kaius slotted the steel key into the crankshaft, turning it until it let out a satisfying click. The tiny runes that covered the surface of the vault door lit up, glowing with an inner radiance as the visible gears rotated with the heavy grind of metal on metal. Bars set into the walls slowly retracted, settling into place with a thunk. Kaius grinned, a giddy glee bubbling within him at finally getting to see what was inside. Lying paralysed with the knowledge that the vault was in arms reach had been torture. Thankfully, the paralysis affliction had faded rather quickly. He''d been able to sit up after just a minute, but both he and Porkchop had decided to wait until they were at full fighting strength to check the treasury. Afterall, as they had just learned, the Depths were more than happy to surprise you with something deadly. He was more than a little furious with himself for falling for the Champion''s ruse. He knew that complacency meant death in the Depths. Father had drilled it into him over and over again. If you think you''ve found a pattern, don''t trust it. Yet after so many Champions being clearly signposted fights, out in the open, he had come to trust that they all would be. It had nearly gotten him killed. He couldn''t let it happen again. Sure, they had never been attacked after killing a Champion before, but neither had they been ambushed by one. So they waited until the lingering numbness had dissipated and both of their wounds had healed. Porkchop had wanted to wait until their Health pools were completely full, but by the time Kaius had reached the halfway point he couldn''t bear it any longer and had pressed the issue. He turned the crack shaft, well oiled metal spinning smoothly. Some interior mechanism inside the door activated, a series of rapid clicks echoing through the hall before there was a loud thunk as the main bolt of the vault slid free. Kaius yanked on the crank, Porkchop waiting off to the side, ready to deal with anything that might be waiting inside. Despite how heavy the door was, it swung open with ease, though its momentum meant it moved slowly. Shuffling back as the door inched open, he kept himself behind the cover of the stride thick steel as Porkchop burst forwards, rushing into the chamber. Kaius dived after him, pulling his sword free as he raised his hand up. Ready and willing to blast anything that moved with an Arcane Dart. Nothing. All there was was a perfectly bored semi-circular tunnel of steel, lit by runic wardlights. It punched deep into the solid foundation of the city, opening up into a large room. They walked forwards, eager to claim their prize. As they stepped into the open space of the vault, Kaius was awed at the sheer work that went into its construction. Like the tunnel, every surface of the room had been built from metal. He sharpened his eyes, staring at the ceiling above with enhanced acuity to find that the same miniscule runes coated the surface of the steel. They swirled in complex geometries, linking into a single cohesive formation. Kaius stared at it slacked jawed. It must have taken years. "Loot!" Porkchop cried in excitement, dragging Kaius''s attention away from the sublime runework to see his friend bounding towards the centre of the vault. Like Kaius had half expected, the vault was almost entirely barren. Utterly empty, except for two pieces that lay on the centre of the floor, haloed in light from the wardlights above. One was a ring, gleaming gold. The other, a fine set of scale mail greaves that covered the waist and thighs, ending just below the knee. "Loot indeed." Kaius said with a smile, hurrying over to join Porkchop who was leaping over the artefacts in excitement. He couldn''t wait to see what they had gotten this time. Chapter 81 : Armoured pt. 2 Standing in the vault they had gained access to after slaying the assassin Champion, Kaius crouched down to take a closer look at the rewards. A pair of chausses and a ring that lay in the centre of the inscribed metal floor, haloed by the light of the wardlights set into the ceiling. "Well, what do they do?" Porkchop asked from beside him, his nervous pawing at the ground giving away his impatience. Kaius rolled his eyes. "Give me a moment, I haven''t identified them yet." He reached for the ring first. It was a simple band of gold, a ring of dense inscriptions encircling its interior face. He reached for True Sight, peering deeper into the hidden nature of the artefact. A moment later and its system description popped into his vision. Ring of the Tigers Claw: Common - Tier I Embody the tigers fury and tear your foes asunder with the cutting might of your body, this is what it means to be of the clan. Trust in your gifts, and show me what you have learned. Made from mana saturated gold, this ring''s enchantments project a honed edge of mana that projects from fists and natural weapons during unarmed combat. Depths-wrought Artefact. Accessory (Ring) Ethereal Claw I, Resizing I, Self Repair I Rolling the ring around his hand, Kaius appraised the ring with an appreciative eye. He rose from his crouch, turning to Porkchop with an open palm held out. "Paw." Porkchop physically vibrated at his words, slapping his paw down on Kaius''s hand with enough force to slap it out of the way. "Sorry." He said sheepishly as Kaius shook his head at him and slipped the ring over one of his claws and onto his finger. "What does it do?" "Should project some sort of blade from your claws when you try to scratch something. Why don''t you try it out?" He asked, stepping back as Porkchop chittered in excitement and rose onto his hind legs. Porkchop swiped the air. As he did so Kaius watched a blue haze trail behind narrow blades of mana that coated the front edge of Porkchop''s claws, extending a few finger lengths further out. He knew he could only see it thanks to True Sight, without some sort of mana sensing ability the blades would be entirely invisible. Kaius whistled as Porkchop cackled in glee, following up his tentative swipe with a blurring flurry of raking strikes as the blue mist of unaspected mana settled throughout the room. "Careful now, don''t want to accidentally set off any of the defences in here now, do we?" Kaius said, eying the way Porkchop''s projected blades narrowly missed scraping the inscribed floor. Porkchop gave him a huff, but dropped down to the floor anyway before running over to butt his head into Kaius''s hip. "Loot!" "Yeah, yeah." Kaius said, scratching him behind the ear. "Let''s see what I got." He stepped forwards, bending down to scoop the chausses he had seen off the floor. They were a near identical match to his cuirass, with the same bluish sheet scales coating a backing of beast leather, with heavy plates to defend his groin and thighs. Kaius pulled up their description with True Sight, eager to see if they really were of the same make. Kaius led the way out of the vault, happy he and Porkchop had found yet more gear to support them on their delve. As they passed through the bank, Kaius eyes the shredded body of the assassin that had brought him so close to the brink. He shuddered as he saw the knife discarded to the side of its twisted and broken limb, turning away as the memory of his lifeblood pumping out of his throat washed over him. "A good reminder not to underestimate this place." He thought to himself grimly. ... Kaius took a deep breath, enjoying the view of the city and surrounding cavern that he had from his seat on the balcony of the noble estate they had retreated to. It was nearly five stories off the ground, and sitting on the outer rim of the district it provided a fantastic vantage point from which to look out over the rest of the biome. Below him he watched goblins crawl around the city like mites, with a smattering wandering through the fungal fields outside of the city. He felt distant, removed from the constant chaos and ongoing struggle of pushing their way through the infested dwarven city. They had left the bank a few days ago, sneaking through the seat of the city''s government to return to this patch of calm. It was their second stay in the estate, it being the first place they had bunkered down for the night after reaching this layer. Opulent and rich, it provided them no small measure of creature comforts while they rested their minds and bodies after their fraught confrontation with the assassin. Plus, the fact that the grounds were surrounded by ten stride high stone walls that the goblins had not managed to breach made it a lot more secure than some of the other places they had rested on this layer. He''d needed the break. Two Champion fights in a handful of days and a close brush with death had worn on him. Though, in the end it was nothing that some dwarven beer, fine foods, and soft mattresses hadn''t been able to fix. Porkchop had enjoyed their break too. Though he seemed utterly determined to grow fat on dwarven delicacies, what with the way he had been eating. It seemed that his friend was not looking forward to going back to unseasoned meat and survival rations after they moved on. Hells, he was still sleeping from their lunch, barely able to move after tearing into a whole beef roast, the glutton. Well, at least it gave him a break from the constant yammering. Kaius smiled. Another deep breath steadied his mind. He was ready. He closed his eyes, turning his attention to the burning light of his soul that dominated his centre. Not intending to waste any time, Kaius latched his attention onto the first skill that would make up his second to last legacy skill. Latching on to his soul he spun out a thread of soulfire, weaving it into a tight golden filament. His legacy skills started to scream with greed and desire, eager to monopolise his attention. Despite the ear splitting ring in his ears, he managed to tune them out and forge a connection with his first skill. Meaning flowed across the link, foreign sensations and images revealing the core of the skill. A flood of red raced through his vision, battering against a spectre of death, forcing it into submission with pure volume. The skill spoke of logistics, how even the most grievous wound could be healed with an overwhelming application of power. It was a simple thing, a solution to a dire problem. Perhaps not the most elegant, but one that would fight with all its strength to keep you alive. It cared not for subtlety, deft control, nor manipulation. To be miserly with the essence of life was to risk perishing to an avoidable fate. Fast Healing. The skill thrummed, accepting his connection. Now bound by gold thread, the nexus of power that orbited his inner fire sang with resonance, a crisp tone echoing through his centre. Kaius scrunched his forehead, scowling as the spiteful resistance of his platinum garbed legacy skills ratcheted up to new heights. A single skill and he could already feel a migraine coming on, lancing icicles of agony drilling through his skull. It was just pain, only pain. He could manage. There was little he wouldn''t do to ensure his success, and subjecting himself to a little headache was more than acceptable. With redoubled focus, Kaius spun a new gossamer thin thread of gold from his soul. He snapped it towards the next skill as fast as he was able, unwilling to endure the torment of his legacy skills for more than he had to. Sensations flooded his mind as he connected to Stone Blood. Sweet, red vitality coursing through the network that fed the very foundations of his being. A precious commodity, to be held tightly, guarded with jealousy. The skill was almost as avaricious as the legacy skills that even now clawed at his mind with desperate fingers. It cared not for the attention that he lavished it with, only wanting a promise that he would hold tight to the sweet red nectar that it was so fascinated with. Kaius agreed with it easily, afterall, only a mad man wanted to let people ''steal'' their blood. As he accepted the skills plea it pulsed with an inner carmine light, buffeting his soul space as it joined Fast Healing in a growing harmony. The disturbance aggravated his legacy skills, Kaius suppressing a cry of agony as they tore at him. They were so desperate, needing his touch like a man needed water. It took all of his will power not to cave to their demands. He had to do this. Fingernails cut into his palms as he clenched his fists. Holding firm, he withheld the psychic agony that tore through him, waiting for the heightened aggression of his skills to pass. It could have been a moment, or an hour, but eventually their jagged tones softened. Nowhere near enough to stop his pain, but slackening to the point he could push on. His chest shuddered as he prepared himself for the final push. Just one more skill and he would be able to merge Lesser Regeneration. Chapter 82 : Font of Vitality Kaius held firm under the assault of platinum shards of crystallised power, preparing himself to link to the final nexus he needed to create his next legacy skill. It would be agony, that he was certain of. Every legacy skill he forged added to the difficulty of merging the next, and with seven orbiting his soul the battle of wills had grown dire. He exploded into motion. Wrapping his will around his soul he weaved together a tightrope of his central essence, flinging himself through the yawning void of his inner space to rocket towards the final skill. Sensing his motion, the discordant screams of his legacy skills rose to new heights. Every tone of their assault seemed to penetrate him to his very core. Assaulting his mind, shredding his soul with the purest essence of discontent and violation. His breaths came heavy, physical body reeling as a deep ache settled into his bones. The physical discomfort was the smallest of it, bare aftershocks compared to the titanic blows that rained down on his psyche. Kaius grit his teeth, pressing onwards as he stretched himself towards Efficient Healing. He could not lose. Not unless he gave up. Control over the soulspace was a product of will, intent, and desire. Despite the pain, nausea, and overwhelming sensation, Kaius''s intent was pure. He would forge this skill, and the one after, if it was the last thing he did. It was his birthright, his connection to his father, and his life''s work. Nothing would stand in his way, let alone the embittered shards of his own incomplete legacy. A gilded net wrapped around his final skill, the shard of power pulsing with light and intent as impressions of its essence were thrust upon him. Efficient Healing was a close brother to Fast Healing. The erudite scholar to its brutish simplicity. It held life, continued existence, in the highest esteem. It too recognised the value, the power, of Health. Yet where its brother seeked to flood in abundance, it saw Health as something too precious to waste. Like all things of value it had to be protected, doled out with the highest care. What good was a flood of regeneration if it was spent so lavishly, so quickly? What then would protect life, when the next time of desperate need came? Kaius gasped, coming back to himself. His mind felt slow, foggy due to the constant assault on his mind. Even with his focus sapped by his need to maintain his will Kaius could see how the skills fit together, how they could meld into a greater whole. He moved. More golden threads shot from the pyre that his skills orbited, lashing across the void to sink into the skills he had connected with. One by one they linked the skills together, connecting the circuit. As the final gleaming wire snapped into place the skills rang like a bell, joining together in a unifying harmony that silenced the angry cries of his other skills. The release from the pressure was so sudden that he almost slumped in relief. He didn''t, spine staying firm as he encouraged his skills to slide together, watching as they slid inwards. Crystalline shards crashed into one another in a violent collision, shattering them utterly. Atomised, the fractured power dissolved into a cloud of gaseous meaning. The system took notice. **Ding! Skill Merge Detected! Would you like to proceed?** With relief, Kaius surrendered his control to the system, watching as the cloud crunched. It started to spin. Slow at first, but quickly accelerating to dizzying speeds as the system forced the remnants of his skills to coalesce. Tighter. Tighter. The gas contracted, growing denser by the second. A tipping point was reached as a higher intent injected a nucleus of power and intent into the centre. Power crystalised in moments, a new shard of platinum rocking his soul with the pure notes of its birth cries. **Ding! Skill Merged! Lesser Regeneration obtained!** His latest skill drifted back, joining the chorus that drifted in a comfortable loop around his soul. Kaius''s eyes snapped open as he took a shuddering breath. He was drenched in sweat, every muscle in his body aching from the exertion of the merge. Despite his discomfort he couldn''t help but smile. He was so close. Only one more legacy skill and he would be done, able to move on to his first real choice for his build. He could almost taste it. Without standing on ceremony, he pulled up the description for Lesser Regeneration. Lesser Regeneration: Level 1 It was a massive thing, easily a few hundred strides in length and half that in width. The floor was open, unadorned apart from some casual seating arrangements at the edges. A perfect space for them to stretch their legs while remaining sheltered from the goblin ridden city outside. Porkchop had been grouchy when he had first woken him, though it had only lasted as long as it had taken his friend to realise he was ready to ''wrestle''. Though, now that he had actually told him what they needed to do Porkchop had lost most of that enthusiasm. "I''m going to stand here facing away from you, and you are going to attack me." He said with a grin. "Kaius.. You''re not wearing your armour. I don''t want to hurt you." Porkchop said slowly, like Kaius had missed something obvious. "That''s the point!" Kaius laughed. "I''m trying to get Danger Sense. The attack has to be something I''m unprepared for and has to be, well, dangerous. Don''t worry about injury, I''ll be fine. We''ll take a break for me to recover in between." Porkchop grumbled, clearly unhappy with the prospect of subjecting him to actual, serious, harm. Unfortunately, even if it was a grisly method, it was still far better than the alternatives. "Are you sure this is the only way?" Porkchop asked. Kaius nodded. "There are safer methods, but they don''t really fit our timetable. Everything else is worse. It has to be a sneak attack, so trying to get it in live combat is insanely dangerous." It was unfortunate he hadn''t merged Lesser Regeneration before the assassins ambush, not just because he would have been at far less risk of death. If he had open skill slots the sudden attack would have been perfect for unlocking the skill. "Okay. Fine. But help me take this ring off. I am NOT testing it on you." Porkchop huffed. "Thanks. Seriously. If I''d still been by myself it could have taken weeks to engineer a scenario to get it safely." Kaius said as he walked up to help Porkchop remove his latest artefact. "Now keep your chin up. I''ve got Dodge next, so we can have a bit more of a normal spar after this." Porkchop visibly perked up at his words. Kaius stood up, pocketing Porkchop''s ring as he walked back to his starting position and turned around to present his friend his back. "Now, just stand behind me and go for it. Remember, I can''t have any warning. It won''t work if I know the attack is co-" Kaius gasped as claws ripped down his back, shredding skin and cutting open muscle. His jaw clacked shut, nearly biting his tongue as he gritted his teeth against the pain. The agony was immediate, his nerves screaming as they were exposed to the air of the ball room. Grunting, Kaius felt his Health engage. The wounds on his back rippled, writhing as his enhanced regeneration reknit tissues. He stayed silent through the burning agony, gritting his teeth. Porkchop was already uncomfortable enough with not giving him the opportunity to defend himself, he was not going to make it worse. A few moments later he was healed, though he could feel the air flowing through the rents that Porkchop had torn in his jacket. **Ding! Lesser Regeneration has reached level 2!** "Nothing that time. Give me a second, I''ll take this off." He said, starting to unbuckle his top. He barely got a quarter of the way through before Porkchop''s hardened claws bit deep into his back once more. He gasped in surprise as hot blood ran down his back, joining the growing stickiness that coated his skin. "Bastard. Great job though. Still nothing." He said, gritting his teeth as his Health moved to seal up the injury. Porkchop chittered in amusement. A single claw raked down his spine, flaying open his skin without warning. "Fucking hells!" "Maybe this isn''t so bad." Porkchop laughed. Chapter 83 : Portent of Doom Another claw scythed through the flesh of Kaius''s back as he stifled a cry. They were well into the second day now. Even with the wounds surface level and minor, and with the healing power of Lesser Regeneration, Porkchop''s constant assault would burn through his health in less than half an hour. With the enforced breaks to let his Health refill, they were lucky if they managed to fit in six training sessions before they had to stop for the night. He was sure he almost felt it then. A featherlight touch on his mind right before his friend''s claws had punched into his skin. Flesh rippled as the cuts on his back resealed, empowered Health allowing him to recover with unnatural haste. He didn''t bother to tell Porkchop he was ready, it would defeat the purpose by letting him anticipate when the strike would come. Porkchop was well and truly into the rhythm of the training now. Sometimes his friend''s next strike would come moments after he had healed, others Porkchop would wait, letting him stew in anticipation for minutes before raking his claws over his back. Blood dripped to the floor in a steady cadence, Kaius''s breath coming heavy as the droplets splashed onto the sizable puddle on the floor. Another wet tear echoed through the hall as he was torn open once more. He grit his teeth, the ache in his jaw outshone by the bright agony of his back. **Ding! Lesser Regeneration has reached level 7!** Seconds later, Porkchop swung for him again. He felt it, a screaming warning in the back of his mind as he braced for the blow. Claws connecting, biting into his skin and ripping four parallel furrows through his flesh. **Ding! General Skill Available! Would you like to learn: Danger Sense (Unusual)?** Seeing the notification that sprung into his vision Kaius leapt forward with a scream of joy. "Thank the fucking heavens! I got it!" He yelled, wincing as his sudden movement pulled at the still healing wounds on his back. Porkchop rushed over to his side, stepping around the bloodstained stone where he had previously been standing. "Finally! I was starting to feel a little sick at the end there." Porkchop said. "Thank you," Kaius said as he threw his arms around his friend, pulling him into a hug. "I know that must have been difficult, but it truly was the best way." "It better have been." Porkchop growled as he nuzzled him. "I hope it was a good skill." "It is," Kaius grinned as he pulled back from the hug. "It''s Unusual." Porkchop shot him a surprised look at that. Which he thought was fair. It was possible to get offered unmerged and unevolved general skills of a higher rarity than that, but they were rewarded for truly legendary feats and trials. The sort of things that were far beyond the reach of the vast majority of weak unclassed. Unusual was just about as good as it got for most people, and even then it was an impressive achievement. It also meant that the legacy skill he eventually merged it into was going to be Unique, quite the feat for a merger of only two skills. "Lucky bastard. Is it really that good?" Porkchop asked. Kaius nodded. "Yeah. From what Father said it will make it basically impossible to get ambushed by anything that isn''t significantly stronger than me." "Tooth and claw, I wish you had that a few days ago. Would have been nice to have against the assassin." Porkchop said, clearly not over his brush with death at the hands of the Champion. "I know," Kaius sighed. "Though that''s life. Anyways, let me check this out and then I''ll go get cleaned and we can have lunch after. Are you up for some proper sparing after that? Dodge is only common so it shouldn''t take long." He asked. His friend''s ears perked up. "Yes! Even if you are not fighting back, anything is better than just cutting you over and over again," he said, shaking his head. "That was a poor excuse for wrestling. We will leave for the next biome in the morning?" Porkchop asked, backing up to settle down and wait on the polished stone floor of the ballroom. "That''s what I was thinking. There was that big tunnel out of the cavern near the base of that ledge we came in from, but we can talk more about that tomorrow." Kaius said, before his eyes unfocused and he brought up the description of his new skill. Danger Sense: Level 1 Unusual Danger is not an event - it is a process. It begins long before the first blow is struck, in the quiet shifts of fate only the most attuned can feel. To sense danger is to peer into the future, to grasp the threads of possibility and move before they tighten into a noose. That would take a while to get used to. He hadn''t quite expected Danger Sense to be so obvious, especially for attacks he could already see coming. The sense was undefined, barely giving him a sense of direction. He guessed the skill would need to be a much higher level before it would tell him anything more defined than that. He ducked, slipping under Porkchop''s slash before he stepped forwards to stand by his friend''s shoulder. A warning sounded in his mind. Porkchop whirled, snapping at him with his jaws. Dancing back, Kaius shoved the foreign sensation of encroaching danger to the back of his mind. He would have to slowly get used to the skill. Currently it was more distracting than anything else. Launching into a flurry of blows, Porkchop did his best to hem him in. His friend''s pace picked up as he slid and leaned around his furious claws. He was only able to hold out for so long before they got too fast for him to fully evade. There was only so much he could do with dodging alone. So much of his fighting style surrounded using his blade as a means of active defence. A claw smashed into his shoulder, bruising the flesh under the heavy plates, sending him stumbling back. Porkchop advanced, launching into a charge. Waiting until the last moment, Kaius pivoted to the side and allowed his friend to sail past him. Danger loomed. Kaius reacted. At the last moment Porkchop threw out a paw, trying to catch him. He was already gone, leaning back just enough to that hardened claws threw up a shower of sparks as they grated over the scales on his chest. A ding sounded in his mind. **Ding! General Skill Available! Would you like to learn: Dodge (Common)?** Kaius grinned, distracted. A blare of warning in his mind caused him to flinch. Porkchop smashed him in the shoulder, sending him collapsing to the ground in a clatter of metal on stone. Rolling over with a groan, Kaius shot his friend a wounded look. "Well, I was going to say ''I got it!'' but this is on me for being distracted." "Whoops..?" Porkchop said, staring down at him with amusement. Kaius pushed himself up with a sigh. "Yeah, my bad. Didn''t expect to get offered it so quickly." "I''ll say, I''m barely even warmed up!" Porkchop grumbled. "Yeah, yeah. There''ll be plenty of things to fight when we leave the city." Kaius said, waving his friend off. "Now let me check this." He turned his attention to the notification in his mind. Dodge: Level 1 Common Flow and rhythm. It is present in all things, from art to warfare. Lead the dance and become untouchable. Enhanced reflexes allow you to avoid oncoming blows with greater ease. Each level slightly increases body control while dodging. Each level minutely decreases reaction time to threats. Snapping the description shut, Kaius turned to look at the light of the false sun that shone through the windows of the dance hall. "Well, that took far less time than I was expecting." He said, looking back to Porkchop. "Do you want to leave now? We should be able to make it most of the way through the residential district if we keep to the routes we have already cleared." "May as well." Porkchop agreed. "Great!" Kaius said with a clap of his hands, pushing himself up off the floor. "Let''s go get our things together then." They left the hall, finally ready to make their leave from the city. Chapter 84 : Towards New Horizons Backtracking their way through the city took days. Though thankfully their pace was faster than their ascent, as they no longer had to worry about clearing out goblin depths-born. As they walked through the city, Kaius took the time to burn the sights into his mind. Despite the dusty and aged stonework, the weathering of time was not fully able to fade the bones of grandiosity and skill that perfused the city. Even the clusters of slain and armoured dwarves had a sense of wonder to them, taking a secret history of war and strife with them into the grave. Even if the whole thing was a construction of the depths, it was a sight that Kaius would never forget. He vowed then, that one day he would see a deephold in person. If a shattered facsimile of the real thing held this much beauty, what would one of the fortress cities be like in person? After they left the city through the same front gates they had entered, they pushed on through the fungal fields that lined the outside of the city. It was one thing Kaius was curious about, another failing of the Depths illusion. The city, at least if it was real, would have had supply lines to stock all of those houses with such varied food. Yet he had seen little of the dizzying varieties of fungus that they were growing in the kitchens of the city. It could have been intended as emergency supplies in a raid, but if it was the Depths had clearly not bothered to reflect that in its recreation of a successful goblin invasion. Either way, they left the edible fungus alone. Before they had left the manor district they had stocked up on as many non-perishables as they could fit in his pack and Porkchop''s saddlebags. That, and salt and spices. There was no way he was going back to unseasoned meat if he didn''t have to. Reaching the end of the fungal fields, Kaius looked up at the yawning impossibly smooth wall of the cavern. There, about half way up, he could spy the thin ledge that they had entered in from. He spun around, leaning on his True Sight to let him pierce the veil of distance. More ledges dotted the cavern wall at random intervals. Most were about the same height, but a few were higher or lower. Despite that, he made no move to correct their course to one of the other exits, favouring instead the massive tunnel at the base of the cavern towards their front. They drew closer. It almost looked like a borehole. A perfect hemisphere cut directly into the bedrock. Shattered defences littered the passage. Broken fortifications and roadblocks were scattered with the remains of slain dwarves in heavy armour. As they entered, stepping over the fallen bodies, Kaius looked around the tunnel. Lit up by ward lights, its edges were covered in the now familiar engravings of dwarven art. The main tunnel, he supposed. It must have been the sight of where the ''invasion'' had first entered from. It stretched dead ahead, well lit and without breaks, for what must have been leagues. Though Kaius could see that there was the odd intersection, with side passages breaking away. Somewhere, far off in the distance, the tunnel seemed to change. It was too great of a distance for him to see with any clarity, even with the enhanced acuity of True Sight. Maybe the end of the biome? He hoped it was. They might have been lucky to find a direct highway to their next hunting ground. Half of what made it take so long to cross the depths was the warren-like nature of the tunnels. "I wonder how delvers find Champions and Guardians so quickly?" He mused aloud. "What do you mean?" Porkchop asked. His friend might have been knowledgeable, but apart from some understanding of elven culture he was relatively ignorant to the specifics of the culture of people. "Well, delves usually only take a month or so, at least for low layers like this one. I assume they try to clear out as many Champions as they can, as from what i''ve heard almost everyone leaves with loot. I just don''t get how they do it so fast, they must have a way to track them." "Maybe that is just for delves where the biome is already explored?" "No," Kaius said with a shake of his head. "Those are even shorter. They must have something that can track them." "Does it matter if we can''t replicate it? If they do we''ll just have to make sure we get a hold of whatever they use before we come back." "Good. That''s ... good." His friend said, relieved. Kaius slapped him on the shoulder. "Chin up, you won''t scare me off with a question asked in good faith. I promise. Now!" He said, clapping his hands. "What about your own last skill? Surely you''ve picked one by now." Porkchop stayed silent for a few moments, the dim light of the wardlights above lighting up his black and red fur in a golden glow. "I have not." He finally answered. Kaius''s eyes widened in surprise. That was really unexpected. He knew that Porkchop had multiple options he was deciding between, courtesy of tutoring from his Matriarchs, but to have still not picked? After all this time? Porkchop looked over to him, seeing his expression. "It''s related to what I want to ask you. Just be patient. Please." Kaius saw his friend''s tension, and nodded. "Okay, I won''t pry. You can consider my curiosity thoroughly piqued though, I hope you have plenty of explanations hidden away under all that fur." He said, shoving down his burning curiosity to give his friend a reassuring grin. He only managed because Porkchop was clearly struggling with whatever he wanted to share. Kaius could wait, even if the mystery loomed large in his mind. What on earth could his friend want to share that could affect both of their final skills? That was linked to a birthright of the greater meles? Stories of Porkchop''s people were common amongst those who lived in and around the Arboreal Sea, yet he had heard of nothing that fit. He supposed the elves might know, but they were notoriously insular. Besides, it''s not like he had one on hand, and he wouldn''t want to hear it from anyone other than Porkchop anyways. Not if it was so clearly important. Porkchop chuffed in amusement. "There will be plenty of explanations, I promise. It''ll make sense. Just finish up your final merge." With that they fell into companionable silence, making their way further and further into the large dwarven tunnel. As they drew closer to the abrupt seam between biomes, Kaius began to see more of the details. The large hemisphere of the tunnel abruptly cut off in a solid wall of blank stone, a smaller rectangular opening serving as the entrance to the next region of the Depths. It was some sort of hallway. Artificial much like the dwarven tunnel, though its construction was far less refined. Hewn stone blocks fit together to create a passage similar to what one might expect in a castle, while ensconced orbs of glowing fluid provided a soft yellowish illumination. It was barren and austere, the new halls expanse only broken by the odd table that was covered in strange alchemical implements that Kaius had no name for. Very different to the shattered fortifications and strewn armoured bodies that decorated the dwarven passage. Reaching the end of the tunnel they came to a stop, staring at the stark demarcation between biomes. Kaius was alert, ready for Explorer''s Toolkit to warn him of traps or anything else. His skill remained blessedly silent. Luckily, the hall was more than wide enough for them to walk side by side, so they would have enough room to properly fight if something did ambush them. "Do you want me to do the honours?" Kaius asked. "Makes no difference to me." Porkchop replied. Kaius gave his friend a shrug and approached the line that separated the biomes. It was stark. Like some god had cut the two tunnels and transposed them through space, only to crudely shove them together with no attempt at smoothing the boundary. Taking a deep breath Kaius stepped forwards over the line and into the hall made of stone bricks. **Biome Entered: Fleshwarper''s Laboratory** Chapter 85 : Unnatural Places **Biome Entered: Fleshwarper''s Laboratory** Kaius winced as he read the alert that appeared in his vision as he crossed into the new biome. While he couldn''t be certain until they started to encounter some of the biomes depths-born, he was almost certain that they would be running into abominations of the fleshy variety. He had never fought them himself, they were exceedingly rare to find outside of the Depths. Usually the creation of foul rituals and alchemical mishaps. Either intentionally created as some sort of obscene fighting force, or as a side effect from some practitioner pursuing forbidden knowledge. They were supposed to be horrid, twisted creatures, possessing almost unrivalled regenerative capabilities. Gibbering balls of teeth and eyes, twisted golems of flesh, and more. Kaius had no doubt that even if could deal with them with relative ease thanks to their growing strength, there was no way he was getting out of this biome without new nightmares. Luckily, they were almost universally stupid, so Porkchop might be in luck as he doubted any of them would be using weapons. "What is it?" Porkchop asked, seeing his expression. His friend walked over the line, joining him in the new biome. "Is it the biome?" "Yeah. I''m pretty sure we''re going to run into abominations." Kaius explained. Porkchop simply cocked his head at him, confused. "You''ll see. We''ll be fine, it''s not the worst match up for us. Just be prepared for things to get a little gross." Having forewarned his friend, Kaius took the lead as they pushed further into the hall. He quickly reached one of the long side tables that he had spotted. Strange glassware, distillation columns, and more tools that he had no name for covered its surface. It was old. Stained from use, the remnants of alchemical experiments that had been left to evaporate. A book had been left open at its centre. Leaning over in curiosity, Kaius found that much like the books he had seen in the city it was written in some strange language that differed from Common. He still didn''t get it, how would anyone speak anything other than the language of the system? Other than the illegible notes, it was covered in diagrams. Most of them were meaningless to him, clearly related in some form or another to alchemy. As he kept turning pages, the content of the diagrams only got more disturbing. Blueprints for some sort of operation to infuse a person with tonics and only gods know what else. The next few pages displayed a slow progression of change from man to a twisted pillar of weeping flesh and exposed muscle. Kaius sighed, picking up the book to show Porkchop what he had found. "Abominations." He said, flicking through pages to show Porkchop various sketches of twisted horrors of flesh and bone. "Matriarch''s spite, that''s disgusting! We''re going to have to fight those?" Porkchop asked, aghast. "Yep," Kaius said grimly. "..Are you sure you don''t want to look for another biome?" Porkchop said as he turned to look back the way they came. "Not really," he mumbled. "But like I said, we''re a surprisingly good match up. Mostly unarmored, probably no magic, and no weapons. Just going to have to keep an eye out for anything weird like acidic vomit." "Acidic vomit. You want to fight things that will try to throw up on us?" Porkchop said, his voice flat. "I mean, it''s better than ghosts?" He said, trying to keep upbeat. "That is a low fucking bar, Kaius," Porkchop said with a grunt. "But lead the way." Kaius groaned. He couldn''t believe they were actually going to do this. Flesh crafted abominations weren''t the most dangerous things in the Depths, not by far, but they certainly were legendary. Almost every delver whispered about encounters with abominations. About how the smell lingered for weeks, and how they saw strangely shifting flesh every time they closed their eyes. Hells, he''d heard tavern talk on his visit to Deadacre. That there was a well mapped portal to the depths near the city. One that had only been so thoroughly explored so that people could consistently avoid the third layer abomination biome that sat adjacent to the main path down. Slapping the book down on the table, Kaius squared his shoulders and took the lead. Hampered vision or no, right now he really wished his helm had a face guard. ... As they pushed further into the laboratory Kaius was entirely unsurprised when they started to run into traps. They were tricky, sophisticated things. Showers of acid that rained from the ceiling, alchemical explosives set below pressure plates on the floor, and other such nastiness. Kaius stepped up, craning his neck to see through the opening. Beyond the door was a large room with high vaulted ceilings of ribbed stone. A mezzanine floor wrapped around the room. Kaius assumed the half floor was some sort of library, what with the bookshelves that lined the walls and the various thick armchairs dotted between them. The ground of the room seemed to be some sort of laboratory. Great glass tanks were attached to the walls by iron brackets. Stretching all the way to the ceiling, they contained some sort of thick black fluid. Almost like treacle. Other doors, siblings to the one he was currently looking through, dotted the edge of the room. Though he couldn''t see much from his angle, it didn''t look like they led to more hallways. It seemed they had found the meat of the biome. Something moved. A wet slap of something hitting the floor of the room off to the right. Just out of sight from his current angle. Kaius held his breath, looking past rows of tables and alchemical implements to try and catch a glimpse. He spotted it, sucking in a breadth. It was an abomination alright. Vaguely similar to one of the diagrams he had seen in the book at the entrance to the biome. It was a mockery of a man, a full stride taller than he was, and wrapped in grotesquely overwrought muscle. Only muscle. Exposed fibres glistened in the soft alchemical light, weeping and wet as it moved in what must have been constant agony. Beady lidless eyes were set deep into its face, giving it a twisted look of pain and scorn. With a breathy groan it took another lumbering step through the lab, exposed flesh hitting the stone with a wet thwack. Kaius stared at the spot its foot had just been in, at the slight pool of secretions that had been left behind. Kaius blanched, suppressing a heave. Depths-born or not, it was a twisted fate. One he wouldn''t wish on his worst enemy. He focused his True Sight on the monster. Flayed Horror - Level 17: Depths-born, Abomination (Flesh) Confirming the nature of the beast, Kaius stepped back and leaned down to whisper in Porkchop''s ear. "There''s an abomination in there, if you wanted to get a look through the door." He said, gesturing to the view port. "This seems like our best bet to start clearing the biome. If it''s anything like most abominations, its head won''t be an instant kill, and it will most likely be able to regenerate lost limbs and the like." Porkchop shot him a look of surprise. "That doesn''t seem fair." Kaius shrugged. Abominations had many faults, but one of the things they did have was insane durability. Thankfully amputation was actually a rather good method of dealing with them, from what Father had said. Fully regenerating a limb took a lot of Health, and with their twisted and broken bodies, few abominations were stable enough to survive long without its bolstering effects. Porkchop crept forwards, rearing up on his hind legs to peer through the door. As soon as he caught sight of the flayed horror he yelped in shock and jumped backwards. Kaius slapped his head, sighing. Porkchop had almost certainly just given them away. A moment later he heard a strained groan, then a rapid procession of wet slaps that were quickly approaching the door. "Nice going, dumbass." Kaius said teasingly as he drew his sword. "Sorry! I know you said they were gross, but I wasn''t expecting it to be so ... sticky." Porkchop chittered with embarrassment. Kaius snorted. "Well, it''s done now. Hope you''re ready!" He said, charging the door. Twisting the latch he booted it inwards, rushing through with his blade held ready. The horror was waiting for him, charging towards his position as it knocked aside a table to send glass implements shattering on the ground. With a ripple of exposed muscle, lipless jaws swung open to roar at him, streamers of viscous fluid flying free in great droplets. Kaius''s face twisted in disgust. Bringing the pommel of his sword in tight to his armpit, he trained its point on the horror. Porkchop roared from behind him and barrelled into the room. They charged. Chapter 86 : Optimisation Kaius charged into the room, confronting the full presence of the flayed horror for the first time. A full head taller than him, the skinless giant groaned in fury as it smashed aside tables laden with glassware with ease. Racing forwards, Kaius kept the tip of his sword trained on the abomination. One arm rose as it reached him. Danger flared in his mind, prompting him to move. Kaius twisted, a side step taking him out of the path of the horror''s rapidly approaching fist. **Ding! Danger Sense has reached level 3!** His returning slash cut deep into the exposed flesh of its arm, scouring its bone. Clear fluid and blood welled up from the wound as the abomination squealed. Refusing to give up his initiative. Kaius reached out with his off hand. Golden light spilled out from underneath his gloves as shard after shard of crystallised arcane energy shot towards the monster. Drifting his hands upwards, his spells punched deep into the horror''s flesh, leaving weeping holes in its chest and head. The wounds melted like putty, flesh flowing to restore wet muscle to fullness. Kaius frowned at the lack of damage his spells did. Normally, the small crystal dart was perfect to punch through armour and damage critical organs. Not so against the horror. With no discernable weak points and unnaturally fast regeneration, the small holes he had left in its body sealed themselves in seconds. The abomination was barely even slowed, gurgling as it lashed out for him once more. Kaius weaved around the strikes, punishing its attempts with a flurry of heavy slashes that cut deep into its exterior. **Ding! Dodge has reached level 2!** Porkchop joined the battle, ethereal blades erupting from his claws as he carved into the abominations flank. The depths-born flailed, wailing arms shattering the wood and glass furnishings of the laboratory as it attempted to pin them down. It might have been strong, and they had yet to leave something even remotely resembling a disabling wound, but it was slow. Too slow to catch them. Porkchop plunged his claws into the creature''s ribs, prompting it to retaliate with a heavy hammerfisted swing. Kaius stepped in, sweeping his sword up high overhead. He chopped. Enchanted steel backed by enhanced strength cleaved through the muscle on its forearm, continuing clean through its bones. The monster wailed. Treacle-like blood flowed from the wound, resisting gravity as it started to bud on the end of its severed limb. It was regrowing fast, muscle and bone weaving itself by the second. The horror whipped its other fist towards him. He stepped forwards, sword rising to meet the wild swing with another heavy overhand, cleaving through the flesh and bone. The leaking limb hit the ground with a splat. Kaius smiled as Porkchop didn''t waste the opening, rearing up onto his hind legs to rake his enhanced claws down the creatures back. Even with its prodigious regeneration, the horror was all but useless without its arms. Kaius hacked at the creature''s legs, the thick limb taking a full three chops to get through the trunks of muscle and bone that supported its weight. It squealed, more thickened vital fluid budding on its latest stump as it pitched forwards. Kaius lunged to the side, narrowly avoiding getting flattened by the horror. Now prone, they descended on it with a fury. Porkchop dug deep furrows into the creature''s chest as Kaius moved up to its head, decapitating it with a clean strike. **Ding! Dodge has reached level 3!** "I''m going to park up here for a bit, see if I can workshop this spell." Kaius said, pulling out a chair from the closest reading desk that lay between two fully laden bookshelves. Porkchop groaned. "Guess I''ll just wait then." "Oh hush," Kaius said with a roll of his eyes. "I won''t be long, we''d be waiting for my Mana to regenerate anyway." Slinging off his pack and taking a seat, Kaius fetched his notepad from his bag. In theory, adjusting his spell was simple. All it should require is a condensing of the current spellform, and some additional timed triggers to rupture the mana containment a moment after impact. In practice he had far less knowledge than he would like of High Lothian to be designing a runic hymn with so many components. Starting by drafting his current iteration of his spell, Kaius first modified it by doing a simple shaping modification to reduce the size of the bolt, while keeping its overall mana allocation the same. After a few minutes of careful scribing, he sat back to appreciate his work. It looked right, but Runic Lexicon nudged him, directing his attention to certain sections of his shaping array. With a start he realised that he needed to bolster the sections of the hymn that contained the mana of the spell. While his end goal was a needle that exploded inside the bodies of his enemies, if he left his containment runes as they were his spell was liable to disintegrate under its own pressure within a second of his casting. That wouldn''t do, not at all. Bolstering the stability of his spell, Kaius added a new section to the working that would detect the arcane needle impacting with a surface. A few minutes of drafting, and Kaius worked out the specifics of using a timing link between the impact sensing array and the containment runes. Only for his Runic Mastery skill to nudge at his attention a moment later, drawing his attention to a section of the spell hymn where his additions had broken High Lothian syntax. He grumbled at the basic error, pouring over his work as he drew out a new copy on the adjacent page. After four revisions he stared at his completed work with satisfaction. It had taken some finangling, it seemed like every time he corrected an error in his work some other section of the formation would be affected subtly by the change. Still, despite the frustrating exercise he should be done. Hopefully, if he had done his job right, a few fractions of a second after his spell hit something it should invert the function of his containment runes. Mana held under pressure would be encouraged to expand, rather than hold its current form. With how much mana he was holding constrained in a needlelike arcane construct, it should lead to a rather violent dissolution of the spell. Ideally, the delay would make it so the explosive expansion of energy would happen inside his target. Taking a deep breath, Kaius dropped his pen and double checked his working. He spotted nothing wrong with his logic or his planning. The only thing left was live testing. Thankfully, his drafting had taken long enough that his Mana had fully regenerated. Retrieving his inscription stylus from his pack, Kaius set the implement on the reading desk and went through the annoying process of unbuckling his scale and plate vambrace. Once his arm was free, Kaius let the armour fall to the ground with a clatter as he scooped up his stylus. Channelling mana into the implement, Kaius grit his teeth as he set the biting point against his skin and began to inscribe. The sting of morphing flesh and bound mana might have become familiar to him at this point, but it was still a burden that Kaius had to manage as he devoted his focus to imprinting lines of angular runes with exacting clarity. His hand stayed steady despite the distracting pain. It would all be so much easier if he didn''t have to inscribe each and every spell. If he did get offered a class there was a pretty good chance he would get offered some sort of way to hasten the process of reinscribing. Even then, it was clear to see that no pillar of magic was without its shortcomings. Glyph binding might have offered him unparalleled flexibility and ease of use, but it traded off seconds of channelling time for minutes and hours of focused inscription. Not that he would complain, of course. It was still magic, and slinging spells while he cut his way through enemies was a rush that he doubted would ever grow old. His brow furrowed in focus, Kaius finished inscribing the final rune of the hymn. He grinned at the swirling characters that curled around his hand and wrist, connecting to one of the inked spikes of his glyph. Now he just had to test it. Chapter 87 : Explosion! Kaius sat at the writing desk in the mezzanine library, staring at the finished inscription of his newest runic hymn. He itched to test it out and saw no reason to wait. "Going to test my new spell," He said to Porkchop as he rose from his seat. "fair warning, it might get a little loud." Porkchop grumbled and rolled his eyes at him, but made no real move to protest from where he lay at the foot of a bookshelf. Grinning to his friend, Kaius moved over to the bannister and leaned out over the laboratory below. He thrust his hand out, aiming towards one of the many tables full of glassware. If everything went to plan his new spell should punch through the first obstacle before detonating a handspan past it. Or in it, in the case of unruly depths-born. With a flicker of intent he reached for the tightly secured packet of mana held within his linked glyph. Now familiar golden light spilled from his hand as his reserved mana was unleashed, running through the circuits of his new spell hymn in moments only to burn out the inscription with the force of its throughput. A dark blue needle materialised at the tip of his finger, similar in shape to his Arcane Dart but a fraction of the size. It hung in the air for a fraction of a second before it shot forwards, crossing the distance between it and the table he had been aiming at in moments. There was a small thunk as the needle shot clear through the wood with a shower of splinters. Kaius held his breath as he witnessed the impact. Hoping, praying, that it would work. A heartbeat later there was a violent boom as his spell detonated. The force of the aggressively expanding mana punched a hole the size of his head clean through the table, sending wooden shrapnel flying through the room. Glass implements shattered, both from the explosion itself and the high velocity shards of wood that had flown free. Staring slack jawed at the results of his test, Kaius eventually managed to digest the sheer destruction that he had managed to pack into one tiny needle. Pumping his fist in the air he let out a whoop of success and jumped over to Porkchop to rustle the fur on his friends head. "Did you see that! It blew clean through the table!" He yelled in excitement as Porkchop growled and snapped at his hands. "Yes I did, now stop messing up my fur!" Porkchop grumbled, nipping one of his fingers. "Sorry about that." Kaius pulled his hand back with a shake and gave his friend an apologetic smile. "But seriously, that was awesome! It should work way better than Arcane Dart against regenerating lumps of meat. Hopefully it should blow holes straight through them. Plus it still only costs thirty mana!" He gushed. Thankfully Porkchop looked at least somewhat interested. At least once he took an actual good look at the ruined table and shattered glass below. Kaius knew his friend had little interest in actual runework, but everyone loved a good explosion. "I''m going to get the rest of these inscribed and then we can press on." He said, rushing back to his seat at the small reading desk that sat against the wall. Within moments he had his inscription stylus pressed against his flesh once more, moving quickly over his skin as he drew rune after rune with practised ease. With a new weapon to use against the quickly healing monsters that were present in the Fleshwarper''s Laboratory Kaius felt far more at ease about their exploration. While common depths-born were no longer any major threat to him, not with his growing collection of artefacts and skills at least, the abomination they had just slain had raised an issue. It took too long to kill. The looming deadline to get their last Honours and slay a Guardian hung like a weight from his neck. While he was confident that they would be able to handle even a full contingent of flayed horrors, if their focus was split he was far less sure in their ability to deal with them in the same manner. If they weren''t able to hack off the monster''s limbs and then focus it down, they would be forced to drain their Health the old fashioned way. Such a slog would slow them down drastically. He hoped that with his new spell they would be able to avoid that. If he could remove or cripple limbs from a distance, it should give them the time and space to pick off horrors one by one. Even when faced by a group. The smell of the room hit him like a wall, stinking of acrid chemicals and the sweet stench of rot. Scrunching his nose, Kaius stepped into the room and drew his sword in a smooth motion, holding it in one hand to keep the other free for casting. His eyes open wide as he stayed alert for any threats, taking in the almost clinical set up of the equipment arrayed throughout the room. He relaxed as he saw no trace of any horrors or other abominations. There was a chance one was hiding behind the tanks, but he suspected that it would have come for them at this point. Abominations generally weren''t the smartest of creatures, and the flayed horror had given him no reason to second guess Father''s council. "Gods it reeks." Porkchop muttered as he moved in behind him. "Must be the black liquid. I wonder what it''s for?" Kaius asked as he looked at the thick liquid that slowly bubbled like mud spring in the tubs. As soon as the words left his lips a meaty arm burst out of one of the black filled tubs, thickened alchemy clinging to flayed muscle as it grasped the edge and hauled itself upwards. Great globs of the unknown mixture stuck to its flesh as it rose to its full height with a groan, slowly dripping off its body to land back in the tub with a plop. Kaius''s arm snapped up as he instantaneously reacted to the threat. He might have falsely thought the room to be clear, but nearly a full year in the Depths had honed his senses to a razor edge. He never fully let down his guard these days. Three needles shot from his hand in rapid succession as runic hymns dissolved on his skin in a burst of golden light. Porkchop ran past him, rushing for the depths-born abomination. Made of hyperdense unaspected mana, the needles sunk deep into the flesh of the flayed horror''s chest with ease. Half a moment later, the impact trigger he had designed activated, letting loose the barely contained chaos of the unstable working. Gouts of disintegrating flesh, splintered bone, and blood erupted from the monster''s torso, the explosions tearing plate-sized holes in its chest. Savage glee surged through him as he saw that the spell had torn clean through the monster, revealing the glass reservoirs of fluid behind it. Though now the iron reinforcement was stained red with splattered meat. His Bloodsong rose. The horror gurgled, unnatural regeneration gelling blood around the edges of its wounds, sealing them off as its regeneration worked to restore the missing flesh. Kaius cackled; his plan had worked. With the flesh removed, no longer could it simply seal the wound. Instead it had to drain its Health to fully regenerate the missing flesh. That said, even gaping holes in its chest seemed to do little to deter the creature. No matter, he knew what to do. Kaius snapped off a final needle before Porkchop could finish closing the gap and throw off his aim. It sank into the flesh of its leg, just above the knee. Another percussive blast echoed out, stoking his blood lust as the eruption of viscera cleanly amputated the monster at the knee. It groaned, falling forwards to topple over the edge of the tub, only just barely catching itself on its hands. Porkchop was on it in moments, hardened claws sheathed in mana blades tearing into the exposed muscle of its head and cleaving through the bone below. It writhed, senses ruined. Kaius was already moving, settling into a two handed grip on his sword as he sprinted across the room. Skidding to a stop beside the prone form of the horror he started to hack at one flailing arm, severing it after a couple of hard chops. It was easy after that. Almost routine. He cut off the limbs and made sure they never fully regenerated, and Porkchop put his digging claws to grizzly work as he gouged out great chunks of flesh and bones from the monster''s torso. It didn''t last long. **Ding! level 16 Flayed Horror slain** Chapter 88 : Respite Kaius pushed his way through another door, quickly scanning the room for threats. They''d been traversing through the laboratory for the better part of a day now, and he had grown used to flesh horrors lurking in pools of the treacle like alchemical fluid that was so pervasive in the biome. Thankfully, this room was clean. It looked to be some sort of worker dormitory, a narrow room dominated by rows of bunk beds with one end dedicated to a rough kitchen and living area. Roughly hewn wooden tables and chairs arrayed in front of a wall of cabinetry with three enchanted cooking stoves. "Well, I think we found a rest spot." Kaius said, his grip on his blade relaxing. Though he didn''t drop his guard fully. While the Depths had been consistent with providing them with food and water, Kaius had no doubt that the ''safety'' of the spaces was only relative. Thankfully, it looked like their entrance was the only way into the room, so it would be relatively easy to block the door with one of the many bunk beds. "Thank the gods, I was exhausted after the second dozen abominations." Porkchop said with relief. Kaius grunted in agreement. This biome had been far higher in its density of depths-born than he had come to expect. Three quarters of the rooms they traversed through seemed to have some form of biological horror lying in wait for them. Flayed horrors were the most common, but occasionally they had run across another type of abomination. Twisted teratomas, globular rolling balls of meat that seemed like an amalgamation of every rejected creation of this hellscape. Exposed muscle, hair, eyes and gnashing teeth, all smushed together into a formless whole. If the flayed horrors had been relatively safe, but annoying to kill, the twisted teratomas took that to an extreme. They posed little threat, individually at least. Their mouths of gnashing teeth were undoubtedly deadly, but with the way they lethargically oozed across the floor, Kaius was pretty sure he would need to be asleep for there to be any real risk. Unfortunately, their Health and regenerative capacity was even more prodigious than the flayed horrors. It took literally tearing them to shreds to finally overwhelm their healing. Worse, unlike the skinless giants who they had never seen more than three of at once, the teratomas appeared in groups of at least six. It was awful, grinding, and bloody work. Safe work, but it was work. Not a battle. Kaius sighed, making his way over to a bunk. The monsters of this biome were disgusting, sticky, and unnecessarily annoying to put down. He only hoped that the higher density of this region meant that they would find some Champions faster than they would otherwise. With a grunt Kaius pushed the closest bunk towards the door, barricading the entrance as the wooden feet of the bed scraped against the rough stone floor. Thankfully, with his enhanced strength the task was easy, even if the noise did scrape uncomfortably at his ears. "I''m going to check my stats and then have a nap, I''ll make some food when I wake up." He said with a yawn. A hard day of travel and back to back fights had taken it out of him. "Way ahead of you." Porkchop mumbled, clambering into a bottom bunk, the wood groaning as the frame flexed under his bulk. Kaius chuckled as his friend splayed out, asleep in seconds despite the dubious quality of the bedding. Walking to the bunk next to his friend, Kaius dropped his pack and went through the time consuming process of unbuckling his armour. He slid onto the bed as soon as he was finished, making sure his blade was leaning on the wall next to him. Within drawing reach, of course. Staring up at the bed slats above him, Kaius pulled up his status. It had been a while since he checked it, and with all the battle he had seen a few gains. Unfortunately, not all that much to his Lesser Regeneration. Some, but not much. While the abominations they had been facing would no doubt do some damage to him if they ever actually hit him, they were too slow. That, and he had long since grown past the point where normal monsters were a true threat. He was quite different from the boy who had almost died clearing out a measly handful of undead from a church, that was for sure. Thankfully, all that dodging had done wonders for the skills he needed for his last legacy skill. His status flickered into view, pulling him away from his thoughts Status: Name: Kaius Dynasty: Unterstern Age: 18 Class Selection: 1 Year, 4 weeks, 5 days Race: Human (Dynastic) - +1 free stats per level Layer Reached: 2 Resources: Health - 380/380 (2.8/min) Stamina - 280/280 (2.8/min) Mana - 430/430 (4.3/min) Free Mana - 30/30 Reserved Mana - 400 Stats: Endurance - 30 + 8 (38) He was getting close. A Champion fight, maybe two, and he would be ready to merge his last legacy. Hopefully by then some more of his other skills would hit the cap. He could practically taste it now, their upcoming confrontation with the Guardian. It burned to sit out of the next couple of champion fights, but he knew he must. Porkchop needed those Honours if he was to stand a true chance in their final battle. He wouldn''t let simple impatience stand in the way of his friend''s survival. Besides, it was mind boggling that he even could feel like his pace was slow. He was on track to finish his foundation almost a full year ahead of schedule. That was utterly incomprehensible. While he knew of no other people who had a full set of legacy skills, Father had said that in the long history of their dynasty it had always been a struggle to complete the foundation in time. Apparently not everyone managed it, at least not fully capped. Kaius couldn''t even imagine the shock, the shame, that he would feel if he was in that position. To waste such a precious gift? Unthinkable. He''d asked Porkchop about his own pace of progression of course, but it was tough to compare. As a greater beast his friend had unlocked his system far earlier than him, and he had already merged and capped all of his skills before they met. Kaius thought that the advantages were just a little unfair, as greater beasts lived for a long time. Even without the life extension of climbing the tiers, a beast would have plenty of time to work on their skills. There had to be some reason for it, the system rarely played favourites to such an extent. He sighed, feeling his fatigue tugging at his eyelids. Tomorrow they would explore further, do more exhausting ''battle'', and hopefully get a little closer to their next Champion fight. For now though, he needed to rest. Kaius let his eyelids fall shut. He was out in seconds. .... After a restful sleep and a hot meal, Kaius led the way out of the rest area. They pushed deeper into the biome, crossing through room after room of laboratories, strange experimentation rooms, and other sights. The worst were the cells. Bleak stone rooms with squat cages small enough that no person would be able to stand or lie comfortably in them. Kaius stared at them uneasily, each and every one contained the withered remains of human skeletons, twisted and huddled in twos and threes. It was a shocking sight, and not for the first time Kaius had to remind himself it was all a creation of the Depths. That there was no unjust perpetrator behind the cruelty, and that the violated remains and twisted abominations were facsimiles, rather than a real atrocity. It did little to soothe his discomfort with the biome. The abominations were bad enough, but the history of their creation that lay hidden in their surroundings was a bleak one. Much like undead, abominations of flesh and blood needed a template. An anchor for the mutagenic alchemy and magic to bind itself to. He was under no illusions about what the titular fleshwarper had ''used'' as raw material. The fact that it all might have been based on some real place and time brought him no more comfort. It was horrifying to think the depths of depravity some would sink to to practise their ''art''. After that encounter, Kaius had been all too eager to throw himself into their next clash with a pair of flesh horrors the next room over. He''d burnt all of his spells blasting off the pairs limbs in one quick salvo, hurrying in to help Porkchop hack at their bodies as he shuddered with rage. They''d pushed on after that, hacking their way through rooms with a growing fury at the twisted nature of the place, only stopping to rest once they had found another communal restroom. By the third day he''d grown numb to the twisted evidence of profane alchemy that littered the biome. By the sixth he was totally inured to it. Hacking at creatures of weeping flesh and twisted form had become routine, and the cold clinical depravities of the laboratories became little more than a distasteful background to their goal. Finally though, early into the seventh day of their exploration, they found what they were looking for. Kaius had just finished reinscribing the Explosive Arcane Needle that he had expended blowing the leg off of the flayed horror that had occupied the room they had just cleared. He''d settled on it as a favoured tactic. As soon as they lost one of the legs, the horrors invariably fell to the ground and became easy pickings. Finishing his work with a final flourish, Kaius stowed his stylus and readjusted his vambraces. "Ready for the next one?" He asked, turning towards where Porkchop sat cleaning his claws. Receiving a nod in return, Kaius stood up from the table he had been using to reinscribe and moved to the door leading out of the room. He rushed through, sword at the ready. He stopped, rooted in the spot as he saw the massive scale of the area the door opened up to. Well lit by a massive alchemical light in the ceiling, the room was easily hundreds of strides long, and half that wide. It was tall too, taller than some of the soaring foyers and halls that he had seen in the upper layer of the dwarven city. So different from the small condensed utilitarian spaces that they had seen so far. Oddly enough, the doorway opened up most of the way up the room. A thin stone walkway wrapped around the edges of the space, perhaps only ten or so strides wide. They were on the far left edge, and when Kaius peered over to the right he saw that the centre of the room was dominated by a truly massive pit. It was an empty thing, a simple open box recessed into the stone. Completely devoid of ornamentation, it was made of the same simple brick that dominated the architecture of the rest of the facility, though a narrow and steep staircase ran down the edge of the drop across from them. It held only one thing. A truly gargantuan twisted teratoma. Even from a good fifty strides above, Kaius could tell that it was large enough to completely engulf him, maybe even Porkchop. A mound of eyes, stray limbs, and random organs smashed into a haphazard blob, it oozed its way across its stone containment. Moving at the speed of a light jog, it was practically lightning fast in comparison to its lesser brethren. Though they only came up to his mid thigh instead of being what looked to be almost a stride taller than him. He peered into its status and grinned as he read what was displayed. Cystic Failure - Level 28: Champion, Depths-born, Abomination (Flesh) "What is it?" Porkchop asked, trying to peer around him as he inadvertently blocked the doorway. "I think we just found your next Champion." Kaius said, stepping aside to reveal the oozing pile of flesh that patrolled the bottom of its enclosure. Chapter 89 : Solo Brawler The latest Champion that they had found on their journey through the Depths ambled at the base of the pit. As far as flesh abominations went, Kaius didn''t see how it could get more grotesque. A misshapen blob of eyes, mouths, hands, and other random body parts smashed together into a drooping ball. A bigger, meaner, cousin to the twisted teratomas that they had encountered in the laboratories and research rooms of this biome. As he looked down at it from the high stone gangway set into the pits walls, Kaius thought that it would be a surprisingly good matchup for Porkchop''s second solo fight. "Well?" He asked Porkchop, who was staring down at the undulating mass of flesh in horror. "You want me to fight that alone?" Porkchop asked, aghast. "Sure," he replied. "It''s a little faster than the normal ones, but it''s still slow and you won''t be the most boxed in." Kaius waved his hand to the wide edges of the pit that contained the Champion, a good hundred strides on its shortest length. "I mean, if the others were anything to go by, it''ll be a slog, but should also be a lot safer than anything else we have seen in the Depths. Just watch out for its skills." He finished with a cheeky smile. Porkchop eye''d him warily, before looking back to the Cystic Failure that waited at the bottom of the room. "I guess... You''ll be ready to help if I need it?" "Of course." Kaius said seriously. There was no way he would let his friend fight a Champion without backup, even if it was just an oversized blob. "I''ll wait on those." He said, nodding towards the narrow and steep staircase that descended from one edge of the pit to descend into its depths. "Fine. Let''s get this over with." Porkchop sighed. .... Porkchop grumbled to himself as he made his way carefully down the staircase, hearing the reassuring steps of his found-brother behind him. The vast majority of the time he was vastly pleased with his beastly form. His fur shined and kept him warm, his beast blood surged with strength at every beat of his heart, and with fang and claw he was never unarmed. Stairs were one of the few exceptions. No greater beast in their right mind would ever consider stairs to be a smart invention, even den builders such as himself. Trust the two-legs to come up with something so annoying. He sniffed the air, tasting the heavy scent of acrid blood, twisted flesh, and vile alchemy. Disgusting, and something that had been ever present since he had entered the biome with Kaius. His brother said he could smell it too, but he knew what the man''s senses were like. Saying it smelt bad was an understatement. The scents were as solid as a stone wall, muting and dampening all others. With how much he used his nose, it was like staring into the sun. Even then, he could still pick up the bottom notes of discarded refuse and failing organs held in place by foul magic. It originated from the Champion, the Cystic Failure, as Kaius had called it. Watching the way it oozed across the stone, leaving trails of reeking slime in its wake, filled him with disgust. At the end of the day, gross or not, Kaius had been right when he said that the Champion was a decent match up for him. At least, as long as its skills weren''t too dangerous. Slow, without much reach, and little defences to speak of, he should be able to simply harry it until it expired from exhausted Health. Thankfully his brother would be ready to jump in if anything went wrong. Feeling the fire in his blood, Porkchop crossed the intervening space between him and the festering mass in moments. He reared up, feeling the way his ring pulled at the mana in the air to spawn azure blades of his claws. His paw came down, the sharpened edge of his mana enhanced natural weapons plunging into the soft mass of flesh with ease. He scooped. A great gout of flesh was torn free of the Champion, as large as his head. The Cystic Failure wailed, a score of mouths opening wide to screech in agony. A moment later it lunged for him, flesh and tissue distending as a mouth stretched away from the main body to snap at him with its teeth. Porkchop smashed the mouth down, clawing at the pillar of flesh that connected it to the greater whole. His claws cleaved through the meat, blood and alchemical fluid spraying from the wound to splatter against his barding. To his great disgust, not all of the liquid was warded off by his armour, the fur on his arms and head getting doused in stinking fluid. He growled, tossing the severed mouth to the side. The Champion was already healing, leaking fluid congealing over the edges of the chunks it had torn from its flesh. Visibly regenerating before his very eyes. He danced back from another snapping bite, watching more and more eyes and mouths slide over amalgamated flesh of the abomination to congregate towards him. Plunging his claws into a cluster of eyes, Porkchop felt the orbs give way as they popped and coated his hand in jelly. He scooped. Another lump of meat fell to the ground. The Champion didn''t like that. A heavy screech echoed from its maws, stinging painfully in his sensitive ears. He flicked them back, dampening the noise. Before he could rush back in and punish the assault with another gouging claw, the glob of flesh contracted. One mouth opened wide as the entire amalgamation quivered with rhythmic contractions. Deep within the core of the beast, he saw a pulse of virulent green mana surge. A skill. "Watch ou-!" He heard Kaius start to call out in warning. One of the mouths closest to him opened impossibly wide. It heaved. He tried to dodge, throwing his weight to the side. The mouth released a gout of steaming vomit with a final hurl, the chunky liquid coating his shoulder and dripping down his leg. Immediately he was beset by a stench so rank he could feel it scorching the inside of his nose. A moment later his flesh started to sizzle, the noxious liquid bubbling at the surface of his flesh. Porkchop danced back, staring at the matted vomit that had soaked into his fur, feeling the slow burn as the acid ate away at him. He knew in moments that it wouldn''t kill him, his Health restoring the damage. The acid was strong, but his body was stronger. If anything, it was the smell. Laughter echoed through the pit, a full bodied cackle of mirth that came from the stairs. "Called it!" His brother taunted. "Shut it!" He hissed back, pushing the words along the link he had forged with Kaius. It was still strange, thinking in language rather than raw experience, but he was getting used to it. Growling as he looked down at the sizzling slick of bile that had coated his side, Porkchop narrowed his eyes at the Cystic Failure. It jibbered with its many mouths, eyes dilating as if delighted at dousing him with its purged fluid. He hissed, shoving the stinging pain of his wounds to the back of his mind as he delved deep into his growing frustration at the creature. Fury welled up inside of him, the vile stench twisting in his guts. Fucking vomit. How dare it! Dare to mar him so! He let the surge of bestial fury wash over him, drowing out all but an overwhelming need to sunder the Champions flesh. He charged. Chapter 90 : Hidden Loot Letting out a roar, Porkchop barrelled towards the champion. Its entire existence offended him. The unnatural melding of discordant body parts, the violent smell, the way its eyes slid over its flesh to track him, the chittering smirks. Everything. He spotted the mouth that had vomited on him. Despite having slid across the mutagenic body of the Champion, it was given away by the yellow trickle of bile that dribbled from its thin lips. Blades of mana flashed into existence and he drove his claws deep into the flesh surrounding the mouth. He fell into a flurry of blows, the thick digging claws of his people well suited to tearing out chunks of flesh with every blow. In moments he had dismantled the mouth, carving an elbow deep pit in the flesh of the abomination. It''s core pulsed green again, a mouth leaving a wake in the meat behind it as it rushed across the surface of the monster to aim at his chest. This time he was ready, diving to the side as another compressed stream of partially digested offal and stinking bile sailed past him to splash against the ground of the pit. Porkchop rushed back in, suppressing his growing nausea. Swipe after swipe he tore into the Champion, ripping out chunks of its flesh with his claws and mana blades. It tried to resist. Mouths stretching out to snap at him, tendrils of flesh elongating to connect the maws to the greater whole. He dismantled it bit by bit, cleaving through exposed flesh to sever the grotesque voids. The mound of meat quickly became pockmarked with the evidence of his assault, red fluid congealing into a sealing gel as the wounds regenerated missing flesh. The bottom of the stone hole where he fought the Champion had turned into a charnel pit, stone bricks covered in weeping fluid, scattered chunks of flesh, stray eyes, and spilled bile. Porkchop tuned it all out. Fully focused on dealing with his foe. He felt confident, secure in the knowledge that there was little the Champion could do to harm him. The stinging acidic burn of the bile hurt, but it was no real threat. Sure, it might have been a nightmare for any combatant that fought by whittling their opponents down with a thousand nicks. That had never been his style, there was something so visceral about tearing your enemies apart with your own claws. Hearing the gnashing teeth of their despair as you tore them to shreds. Another mouth slid across the sagging body of the Cystic Failure, spraying another gout of bile towards him. It seemed to have learned, the mouth gouging its chunky payload as it moved, hurling bile in a wide arc. Disgusting creature. He wouldn''t be able to dodge. He didn''t try to. Snapping his muzzle shut so he could live his life without the knowledge of what abomination vomit tasted like, Porkchop launched himself forward through the caustic fluid. He grit his teeth as the bile misted his face and back, sizzling as it ate its way through his fur and skin. As soon as he was through, a howl of fury erupted from his throat. The offending mouth didn''t last long under the ministrations of his claws. Despite removing enough meat to entirely rebuild the Champion, it was still almost entirely whole. A fight of attrition, its regeneration was more than enough to keep up with the pace of his attacks. Worse even than the twisted teratomas, Porkchop could physically feel its flesh fighting him as he burrowed into the beast. Surging and roiling as it regrew at a visible rate. Three grasping mouths converged on him, forcing him back from the rent he had gouged into the abominations side. Mana pulsed, different this time. It was using its other skill. Eyes slid over the corpulent mass, converging to lock their gaze on him. They started to weep, tears of yellow bile floating in front of the Champion to amass into a globe of acid. Porkchop fell deep into the flow of battle, throwing himself to the side in the hope the eyes wouldn''t be able to track him. He snarled as the eyes ripped across the flesh, the spell anchored in front of them. He would need to dodge. Trusting that this skill would only be as caustic as the vomit would be the height of stupidity. Mana built in the core of the Champion slowly as the orb grew in size, first as big as an apple, then growing larger than his head. Porkchop raced back. If he couldn''t evade the skill, he would have to give himself enough room and space to dodge. He''d need it with his bulk. Before he could get more than thirty strides away, the Cystic Failure released the growing deluge of its mana. The caustic orb raced forwards, launching from its starting point directly towards him at a breakneck pace. He moved. Kaius paused. He hadn''t, now that Porkchop mentioned it. With every other Champion they had faced, the loot had been relatively easy to find. Sure, it might have been tucked away in some bolt hole or another, but it was mostly obvious where they should look. Not so in the pit, there was nothing out of place. "Huh." Kaius said, stepping back to look around the battlefield. There was nothing, just plain brick and the body of the Champion. A sudden, horrific thought jumped into his mind. "Oh please fuck no." He said, his gaze locking onto the grotesque corpse. It couldn''t be. It must. Where else would it be hiding? After all, it wouldn''t be the first time they had found things in an abomination. The Champion was clearly some superior form of a twisted teratoma, and they had found out pretty quickly that they must have a tendency to eat random objects. Half of the globular depths-spawn they had slain had had remnants of shattered glassware left in their strange central stomachs. Hells, more than once he had shattered something when he had plunged his sword into the monsters. Porkchop followed his gaze, looking at the deflated body of his slain foe. "You have to be joking." "Remember the glassware?" Kaius asked, dread evident softening his voice to a bare whisper. "Oh sweet Matriarchs." Porkchop muttered. Suddenly his friend whipped his head towards him. "You do it." "Oh, no no no. It''s your kill you do the honours." Kaius insisted. "Kaius," Porkchop said plainly, staring him dead in the eyes. "You have a fucking sword. I have claws. I would have to get shoulder deep in its guts. I also saved your life barely more than a month ago. Don''t be a weasel." Kaius winced. Harsh words coming from a Greater Meles, Porkchop had made his distaste of the ''failed imitations of little meles'' very well known. "Fine," He sighed. "But I want it noted that I am kind, magnanimous, and a fantastic friend." "Yes, yes." Porkchop said, waving him towards the body with one meaty paw as he grinned. "Hurry up and get our loot, minion." Kaius groaned, but drew his sword and stepped up to the stinking corpse of the Cystic Failure. Taking a deep breath -through his mouth of course- to steady himself, Kaius raised his sword high over his head. He paused for a moment, assessing the reality of what he was about to do. A final half hearted scowl towards Porkchop revealed his friend had backed out of the splash zone. He shook his head before turning back to the corpse. "This is some gross fucking bullshit, i''ll tell you what." He grumbled to himself. With a grunt, he brought his blade down. The razor sharp blade cleaved clean through the boneless flesh of the abomination, opening it like a sack of wine. A deluge of slop, shapeless organs, and chunky bile burst free from the flesh sack. It poured in a wave, washing up around his ankles. Kaius gagged, feeling soft chunks slap into the leather of his boots as the fluid started to seep in. He jumped back, leaping out of the puddle to a nearby stretch of dry stone. "It''s in my socks!" He howled in despair, gagging as he shook unmentionable clumps from his feet. "Lucky." Porkchop said, approaching the deluge. "How the hell is this lucky!" He asked, looking up to find Porkchop peering closely at the sludge that had flowed from the corpse. His friend stepped back, revealing a thin strapless satchel that sat in a pool of viscera. Blood beaded on its surface, running free in rivulets to leave the slate grey leather untouched. Even the mess that surrounded it pulled back, leaving the bag in a circle of clean stone. "Can you imagine if you did that and there was no loot?" Porkchop grinned. Chapter 91 : Forbidden Insight Standing at the base of the stone pit that had been strewn with the gorey evidence of Porkchop''s battle with the Cystic Failure, Kaius stood at the edge of a particularly large pool of viscera and bile. The pooling fluid in his boots from cutting open the corpse of the monster had been forgotten, his focus on the artefact that Porkchop had spotted in the mess. Kaius grinned as he looked at the grey leather satchel that had flown free from the corpse of the Champion, the bile that had spilled free from the chest of the oversized teratoma giving the artefact a wide berth. "Thank the gods it had some kind of cleanliness enchantment, eh?" He said, leaning forward to hook the point of his blade through the carry handle of the bag. He moved carefully, not wanting to slip into the puddle as he pulled back from his stretch. "Check it up stairs?" Kaius asked, looking over to Porkchop. "It stinks down here." "Yes please." Porkchop replied, eager to get away from the caustic scent of biowaste, alchemy and bile. Taking a moment to clean his blade and return it to its sheath, Kaius led the way up the stairs. Taking the steps two at a time, his eyes kept drifting to the bag he held, finding it difficult to resist simply identifying the artefact that he had found. He didn''t though, it would be unsporting to take a peak without waiting for Porkchop to be ready. That said, he did wonder what there was to the artefact. In his heart of hearts he hoped it was a spatial bag, though he knew that even if something was leaning on the scales for them that was highly unlikely. They were rare finds in the Depths, something that even experienced delvers who explored far deeper than layer two would be lucky to get at all. Yet if something was shifting their drops in their favour, what else could it be? He could think of no other artefact in the shape of a bag that would actually prove useful for them. Reaching the top of the staircase, Kaius rushed onto the wide stone gangway that lined the edge of the massive pit. He took a seat, patting the ground insistently for Porkchop to join him. "Ready to find out what it is?" He asked, turning the bag over curiously. Opening it was tempting, but it would ruin the surprise. Porkchop grunted, excitement and curiosity flowing over their link. Kaius grinned and focused his True Sight on the item. Ixian Self-packing Dimensional Tent: Uncommon You want the good stuff, eh? I know just the thing. It''s factory made, but one of those fancy ones where every line worker is a skilled artisan. Easy to carry, easy to pitch and repack, and it should keep you warm and hidden while you''re out of the city. Not here! Outside if you want to test it. Nearly ruined my displays, yeesh. Made from dimensionally attuned materials, this bag contains a self pitching tent designed to provide a safe harbour out in the wilds. Trigger with mana and stand back. Objects left in the tent are vented out when repacked. Depths-wrought Artefact Auxiliary Equipment (Tent) Camouflage II, Shroud I, Weather Resistance I, Self Repair I, Self Cleaning I Kaius stared at the description of the item in confusion, before looking back to the boxy grey leather satchel. He turned it over in his hands, confused. This was their loot? It was a little... odd. He couldn''t exactly see how it would help them at all. "Well? Is it one of those fancy dimensional bags?" Porkchop asked expectantly, leaning forward to prod him with his nose. "Not...exactly?" Kaius said with a shrug. "What the hells is that supposed to mean?" "It''s a tent." He replied. "Maybe we should just leave it behind? What did you see?" Porkchop asked, concerned. "I literally could not describe it if I tried. I don''t even think I understand it, it keeps slipping away from me. I think it''s fine though, the Depths doesn''t give away cursed artefacts. At least I don''t think it does. Pretty sure I just looked at something I wasn''t supposed to." He explained, grabbing Porkchop''s shoulder to steady himself as he pushed up off the floor. "Can you see it? Or does it look like a still to you? I''m not sure if it''s selective or if I can only see through it because of my skill." He said, eying the tent''s projected illusion. "I think it''s both? I can only see the still, but I can tell it''s a tent somehow. And where the entrance is." Porkchop replied. Kaius nodded before he approached. Pushing open the flap of the tent revealed a surprisingly opulent interior. One was that far larger on the inside, large enough that he could lie end to end twice over with room to spare in any direction. Though, the height hadn''t changed much. A massive feather mattress layered with warm looking plush furs dominated one side of the tent, while the other held a small table set up with an enchanted stove. A thick rug covered the entire bottom of the floor, looking soft enough to sleep on. Stepping in with Porkchop close behind, Kaius stared around the space in wonder. It was the perfect temperature, the kind where he knew he would feel at ease whether he was naked or fully armoured. Porkchop let out a chitter of delight, drawing Kaius''s gaze as he dived on to the mattress. It held up to his abuse, and Kaius laughed as his friend groaned in pleasure as he sunk into the soft bedding. "I take it back. This is great." "Looks like it," Kaius grinned. "But maybe hold off rolling around on the bed when you''re covered in unmentionable slime?" He asked, cocking a brow at the mess his friend was leaving on the layered furs. Porkchop gasped in horror, leaping off the bed to stare mournfully at the stains. "I ruined it." "Nah, it has self cleaning. But we should get going. Both of us are pretty covered, and nice place to sleep or no, it would be good to find a rest stop to get clean and get some more food before the end of the day." Kaius said, eager to get moving. Porkchop groaned. "Thank the Matriarchs. If I managed to taint it with abomination juice I would have never forgiven myself." Porkchop sniffed, wincing as he got a nose full of the viscera that coated him. "A wash does sound great." Kaius smiled, leading the way out of the strangely expanded tent. Thankfully, whatever horrors he had seen when the artefact had shifted were not present inside the warped space. They backed away from their latest toy, giving it plenty of room for whatever happened next. "Don''t watch this time." Porkchop warned. "Believe me, I was not planning on it." Kaius said as he turned away, reaching for the artefact with his Mana Manipulation. He triggered the mechanism, squeezing his eyes shut just to be extra safe. There was a little pop of displaced air, but nothing else. No calls from beyond, or impossible geometry breaking his understanding of directions. "It''s over." Porkchop said. Kaius sighed in relief, turning around to find the grey satchel sitting exactly as he had left it. He could tell that whatever reservoir of mana it used to facilitate its unnatural transformation had been drained. It would need to recharge before they could use it again. "You want to carry it?" Kaius asked, nodding towards the straps and hooks that lined the barding on his hips, designed to secure extra saddlebags and other equipment. "Sure," Porkchop said. After securing it in place, they exited back to the arena where Porkchop had fought the Cystic Failure. Several other exits lined the stone walkway that surrounded the top of the room, offering them plenty of options to explore further in the hopes of finding a place to rest. He opened a door at random, hand glowing gold as he reflexively snapped off an Explosive Arcane Needle into the knee of the skinless occupant of the room. "More horrors." He groaned, drawing his sword. Chapter 92 : Unexpected Find It took them six hours of pushing through isolated rooms of flayed horrors and twisted teratomas before they found another rest stop. Hours of bloody work, hacking apart the twisted flesh of depths-born, getting coated in more gore as they progressively grew more and more exhausted. When they finally stumbled into the room of bunks Kaius slumped as he sheathed his sword. With leaden arms, he and Porkchop pushed one of the bunks against the door, before making enough space to set up their new dimensional tent. Kaius looked away as he activated the mechanism, seeing no reason to ever tempt fate by staring into an abyss that stared back. They crawled to the end of the room, finding a nook with a grated drain. This was no hot rain room like they had had in the dwarven manors. Instead a simple enchanted water source was set into the wall, attached to a spigot that released a steady stream of freezing water. Decidedly uncomfortable, but it was pure, clean, and a decent enough way to wash. Unfortunately, it took him the better part of an hour to work out all the little scraps of flesh and gristle that had gotten worked into the scales of his armour. By that time Porkchop had already dozed off on one of the bunks, waiting for his fur to dry before they retreated to their tent. Feeling hungry, Kaius decided against doing the same. Instead he investigated the galley kitchen with its enchanted cupboards, and its simple stovetop. Despite the sheer luxury and expense of having a bloody stasis enchantment for food preservation, the Depths seemed oddly fond of them. Much like the last bunk room they had found in this biome, the food was an austere affair. Mostly non-perishable rations. Grains, breads and the like, though there were a few preserves as well. Not quite food worth ransacking, but it served well to stretch the quality stock they had looted from the dwarven estates before they had left the city. He decided on a simple dish of pickled vegetables, salted meats, and a large helping of rice that he had found in a bin under the bench. Porkchop woke up towards the end of his cooking, ambling over when he served him a portion. They ate in silence, far too exhausted to make casual conversation. As soon as they were done they retreated to their new tent. Kaius collapsed onto the large mattress that took up a good quarter of the room of their new abode, groaning as the feather soft bedding cradled him. He was out like a light in seconds. Waking the next day feeling well rested and refreshed, Kaius looked around only to find that he was alone in the tent. Porkchop had already left. Rubbing at his bleary eyes, he pulled himself to his feet and pushed his way past the flap of heavy canvas that acted as the tent''s entrance. Porkchop lounged on one of the bunks nearby, craning his head to look at him. "Morning." He said. "Morning," Kaius replied. "I''ll make us some breakfast before we suit up and leave?" He asked, tilting his head towards the kitchen. "Please." Porkchop responded, clearly still tired as he slumped back down to doze on the bunk. Kaius grinned. His friend was many things, but an ardent enjoyer of mornings he was not. He walked over to pull open the cupboards in the kitchen, quickly finding a dozen eggs and some cheese that he had spotted the night before. After a few minutes of prep, he had a full dozen egg omelette sizzling in a frying pan on the stove. He got dressed as he waited, though he only put on his travelling clothes and his sword. The armour could wait until they left. It wasn''t exactly the most comfortable attire, even if it was well fitted. By the time he was done, so was the omelette. Slicing it in half and sliding it onto two plates, Kaius left one on a table for himself and walked the other over to Porkchop, setting it down next to his face on the mattress. The smell got his friend moving, though he didn''t even bother to sit up before he craned his neck and started gnawing on the eggs and cheese. Smiling at Porkchops antics, Kaius returned to his own breakfast and attacked it with gusto. After they finished, he picked through the cupboards one final time. Deciding to take some cheese and fresh bread with them, he wrapped the food in some cloth and stowed it safely in his pack. Thankfully its water repellent enchantments were effective against bloodshed, otherwise most of their stocks would have long since been ruined. He suited up, buckling on his scalemail and vambraces, and then they left. Returning to the grinding drudgery of pushing through alchemical workshops and putting down shifting abominations of flesh. As nice as it had been to get clean, it took all of one encounter with a pack of twisted teratomas for them to be inundated in gore once more, souring the mood. Yet despite their recent expedition from the bunk room, it only took them a handful of hours to encounter something new. Something different. "Except when it doesn''t" He thought, gnawing on his cheek. Though, now that the shock of seeing a Guardian had passed, he could see that there were entrances to each of the enclosures. Double sets of thick steel doors linked by a short hallway, providing an entrance or an exit without compromising the security of the room. An airlock system, smart. He''d bet a gold coin that whoever had runed up the glass had also made it impossible to open both doors at the same time. "Well it''s certainly something." He turned back to murmur to Porkchop. "Let me look then!" Porkchop replied. Kaius stepped to the side, watching with amusement as his friend stood rooted to the spot. Much like he had been, Porkchop was immediately captivated by the sight of the bone tree Guardian at the far off end of the hall. "Fancy a tangle with that over the ogre?" He asked. Mostly in jest, the thing looked monstrous. If it was anything like everything else they had seen in the biome, he wanted absolutely no part in it. Who knows if they would even be able to do enough damage to outstrip its Health regeneration? "Yeah, no thanks." Porkchop replied quickly. "Thought so," Kaius snorted. "We should probably move on then. Don''t want to tempt fate." He started to turn to head back the way they came, they had plenty of other routes to pick without crossing to the other door on the opposite side of the hall. "Wait a moment," Porkchop said, catching him with a paw. "What about the other enclosures?" Kaius followed his friend''s eyes to where some sort of variant of a flayed horror prowled back and forth behind the glass, completely unaware of them watching it. It was pretty big, a good stride or two taller than the normal ones, and it did have a second set of arms bursting out of its ribs. He roamed over the other sealed bays, seeing two more had living specimens. One, some kind of cat thing with tendrils sprouting from its back, the other some kind of bear covered in bone plates that wept pus. Unlikely. "Doubt it. Three champions and a Guardian in a single room? We''d have to be luckier than sin." Kaius replied, looking at the contained specimens with scepticism. "Just identify one then you idiot." Porkchop jeered, though Kaius could tell he was just teasing. "Fine." He said with a roll of his eyes. It would be a waste of time, but a small one. He focused on the cousin to the flayed horrors. Subject #38949 ''Lover Boy''- Level 26: Champion, Depths-born, Abomination (Flesh) "Well, fuck." Chapter 93 : On a Silver Platter Kaius groaned as he stared at the system notification that had appeared when he had identified the four armed horror that occupied one of the sealed enclosures that flanked the hall. He knew, now that they had confirmation that it was a Champion, that the other two still living specimens most likely were too. "I assume that it is, in fact, a Champion?" Porkchop asked, smug that he had been right. "Yeah, it is." Kaius responded glumly. "Great!" Porkchop said, starting to push past him to enter the massive hall. "Woah woah woah." Kaius said as he hurriedly held his friend back. "Look, there are not only three Champions in there, but a Guardian as well. If that runed glass fails, we are dead." Porkchop huffed, but backed off before he risked being spotted by the contained creatures. "And what do you suggest then? We both know we''re going to risk it. Three Champions in the same place is FAR too good of a find to turn our nose up. We could spend months trying to find more!" "I know." Kaius sighed. "But at the very least I want to be ready to bail if we get the slightest hint of things going wrong, okay?" "Fine," Porkchop said. "Lead the way, oh fearless leader." Kaius stepped through the door, Porkchop close on his heels as they entered the massive hall that held the strange menagerie. He was tense, sword drawn and ready, and prepared to bolt for the entrance at the slightest hint of the glowing runes that covered the glass walls of the enclosures failing. Even if the glass was a full stride thick, he had no confidence in it being able to hold back a Champion without magical reinforcement. Especially because it looked to his unexpert eye to be simple and mundane, though he could easily be wrong. The hall was clearly used as some sort of research station, other than the ten bays that flanked each wall, and the titanic enclosure that held the bone tree at the far end, dozens of observation and experimentation desks were set up. Where the rest of the biome had been set up to be clearly experimentally focused, this seemed like it had been used for a different purpose. No alchemical set ups, or dissection tables, or any of the other profane horrors they had seen were present. Instead the tables were laden with notes, diagrams of various specimens and more. As they walked past the first bays, Kaius peered through the slightly shimmering enchanted glass. They had definitely originally contained something, that was for sure. Some form of biological horror, akin to the rest of the depths-born that populated the facility judging by the twisted mass of muscle and bone that lay decomposing in the far corner of the fifty stride wide enclosure. Thick enchanted steel doors with a simple spindle mechanism barred their entrance to the enclosure. It used an airlock system, two doors separated by a short tunnel of glass. Clearly whoever had invented this facility had taken some precautions against letting these superior specimens escape. Though clearly by the infestation in the rest of the biome they hadn''t done enough, and something had gone wrong by the time the Depths decided to use the space as a template. They passed more stone rooms walled off by glass, each and every one having a decaying horror inside. Some were animalistic, others unidentifiable blobs of twisted muscle and bone. As they approached the first bay with a still living Champion, Kaius slowed his pace and moved to crouch behind one of the many desks that dotted the inside of the hall. It was the same horror he had first identified. Subject #38949 ''Lover Boy'' as the system had called it. At the very least the name confirmed that these creatures had been created, or at least modified, rather than invading from some outside source. Though he did question the sense of humour of the researcher who had given the monstrosity its moniker, some things just weren''t right. It was similar to the flayed horrors they had fought so often. Only strides taller, twice as muscular, and toting an additional pair of arms that sprouted rather unnaturally from its ribs. That wasn''t all, now that Kaius had gotten closer he could clearly see that it looked far more coordinated than its lesser cousins. Even as it stood still in the enclosure, facing away from them to look at the stone wall, it twitched. Exposed muscle fibres rippling rhythmically. He had no way to know for sure, but he would bet that it was a good deal more lively than the clumsy flayed horrors. "How do you feel about that one?" Kaius asked, his voice a low whisper so as not to break the suffocating silence that hung throughout the open space. "Probably not, It would be tough to deal with if it managed to grapple me." Porkchop replied, watching the Champion closely. "Though it''s not exactly an impossibility, let''s check the others first." Kaius nodded, and led the way to the next bay he had remembered holding a living specimen. As a pair they kept low, slipping between the many desks to obscure themselves from the sight of the four armed giant. Afterall, if they could avoid provoking the Champion into testing the glass defences of its prison, the less risk there was that it would escape. They reached the next bay. This one held some monstrous ursine creature. A skinless bear, it was covered in innumerable thick bone plates that were firmly attached to the flesh beneath. They ranged from the size of a plate, down to little shards of bone as large as his fingernail, and looked agonising. As the bear slowly prowled its cage, every movement caused its bone armour to yank at the raw flesh beneath, pus weeping from the gaps of its natural defences. The beast''s ears twitched, and it suddenly pounced, clearing a good thirty strides to slam into the glass wall that separated them from the Champion. It yowled, knife tipped tentacles striking like snakes in a failed attempt to break through the glass. Enchantments pulsed, obscuring their view slightly as an invisible magic barrier flashed into existence. Kaius''s heart leapt into his throat as he all but threw himself behind the cover of a nearby desk, ready to run. Nothing happened, the glass held firm. "Got a bit of a fright there, did you?" Porkchop said, chuckling at him. "I was worried it might escape? How were you not?" Kaius asked, astonished at his friend''s nerves. "You saw a cat that pissed off and you DIDN''T expect it to throw itself at us, even with a stride of inscribed glass in the way?" Porkchop asked, genuinely perplexed. Kaius grumbled, but returned to watch the champion with what remained of his dignity. Sometimes he forgot that as a beast himself, Porkchop had what sometimes seemed like a preternatural ability to read other creatures'' intent. The Man Eater hissed, swiping at them ineffectively as its claws screeched against the glass barrier. "Not this one then?" Kaius asked. "Gods no, did you see how fast it was? That ones going to be a struggle, even for the two of us, let me tell you." Porkchop responded with an emphatic shake of his head. "No, I''m going for the bear." Kaius sighed in relief. For a moment with how calm Porkchop had been to the cat''s attack, he had been worried that he would want to fight that one. Honestly, in comparison to a giant cat with prehensile knives and a tweaking four armed giant, a bear in plate armour didn''t seem so bad. He might have developed a little bit of healthy respect for the beasts after one had crushed his shoulder in the glade. They crept their way back down the hall, returning to the Harlequin and stopping just outside its enclosure. The bear had clearly seen them, but despite its pacing this abomination seemed to understand the futility of attack. It simply kept one eye on them as it walked back and forth through its enclosure. Kaius stared at it with discomfort, unhappy he wouldn''t be able to help his friend with his challenge. "How do you want to do this?" Kaius asked, tearing his eyes away from the pus ridden abomination to look at Porkchop. "Well, I''ll need you to do the doors. So you wait in the little hallway bit?" Porkchop asked. Kaius nodded. He was going to suggest that if Porkchop hadn''t. Staying in the enclosure himself ran too much risk of getting involved in the fight, what with how small the area was, however there was no way in all the hells that he would be caught dead waiting outside. If something went wrong it would take him far too much time to help. Walking forward, Kaius set his hands on the spindle that kept the thick runed steel doors locked tight. They were impressive things, half a stride thick and built like a vault door. While it didn''t come anywhere close to the master work that was the dwarven vault they had seen, it still looked more than rugged enough. He spun the wheel, bolts retracting with a satisfying thunk, before heaving it open. "After you." He said, waving Porkchop into the short glass hall. Time to see if Porkchop would get his first Honour. Chapter 94: Bossrush pt. 1 Porkchop waited beside his brother who was turning the wheel to open the last door of the airlock. He kept his eyes pinned on the bear that prowled through the empty space. It was watching their every move, but had yet to try anything. It didn''t even bother to wait for them to exit, nor try to ambush them when they would be hampered by the confines of the airlock. Porkchop understood. It was a bear, even if it had been twisted into a mockery of nature by unkind two legged magic. Bears might be lesser beasts, but they were proud ones. He had yet to meet one that wasn''t sure it was the toughest thing around, and no doubt this bone plated monstrosity felt the same. He couldn''t wait. Hopefully this Champion would be a better fight than that gross Cystic Failure, even if it did leak pus and blood he doubted it could be as bad as a creature that had weaponised its own vomit. The bolts that held the final door locked slid open with a thunk. His brother heaved on the door, swinging it open and stepping to the side to let him through. "Good luck." Kaius said, watching him with concern. Porkchop snorted. "I don''t need it, and I''ll be fine." He said as he walked past, fully focused on his opponent. The ''Harlequin'' as Kaius had called it, had stopped. Waiting for him patiently at the other side of the room, staring at him with cold intent in its eyes. Behind him the door slid closed with a clunk of steel on enchanted glass. Kaius hadn''t locked it, though he had asked his brother too, just in case the bear tried to get at him. Kaius was strong, but fighting an armoured bear in a corridor that left little room to manoeuvre would be a fraught thing. Porkchop pushed the thought from his mind, feeling the heat of challenge roar through his blood as he took in the Champion. It looked diseased. Even with its armoured plates he could see weeping inflamed flesh in the gaps. Hopefully this one actually had a good fight in it. It''d been too long since he had had a good brawl. Digging his claws into the stone brick below he bellowed his challenge. A roar ripped from his throat, deafening as it echoed through the enclosed space. The bear responded in kind, letting out its own roar as it kicked off and raced towards him. **Ding! You have challenged a Champion: Subject #13845 ''Harlequin''** Porkchop let out a feral grin as the Champion barrelled towards him. It wanted to play it that way? He was happy to oblige. He tapped into the well of energy in his amulet, feeling the power surge through him. It was a weight, an engine of destruction, an undeniable need to move. So he did. He kicked off, shattering a brick beneath his feet. He could feel his artefact bolstering him, like he weighed a dozen times more than he did, urging him to press forward and smash all who would stand in his way. Bone plating crunched as he hit the Champion full in the chest, the bear losing out in the opening salvo. It whined, skittering backwards across the cold ground as his enhanced momentum forced it back. Porkchop wasn''t done. Not by a long shot. He leapt forwards, claws igniting blue as he plunged his mana blades into the beast''s chest, taking advantage of the protective plates being shattered in his charge. The Champion snarled, smashing him in the shoulder with a paw strike of its own. It was strong, but its claws were thin and spindly in comparison to his, skittering off the metal plating of his barding. He still felt his bones creak under the strain of the blow, and the burning itch of his healing settled into the ruptured flesh of his shoulder. Snarling in fury, Porkchop snapped at the beast. Grabbing it by the neck he crushed, feeling its bone plates groan under the force of his bite. The Champion didn''t like that, not one bit. Growling in fury, it hammered him with clawing blows to his back. Most were deflected by his armour, but not all. Pain slammed into him, washed away quickly by his all consuming joy at finally getting a proper fight. He threw himself forwards, raking his claws and mana blades through the just barely regenerating armour of its chest, shattering the thin layer of bone before he hooked his claws under a plate at the edge of the wound and tore it free. His blades had dug deep into the chest of the bear, crunching through its sternum. The Champion gurgled, blood pouring from its mouth as he tore into its organs. Reflexively it retreated into its armour, sealing itself into a carapace of bone. Cutting off its ability to attack. Unfortunately for it, it had left a gaping hole in its defence. The missing plates on its sternum revealing a ragged hole into its chest. Porkchop roared in victory. It had made a mistake. Its last. He plunged his arm into the hole up to his shoulder, pushing his claws deep into its chest cavity. Organs were crushed as he started to dig. The Champion realised its folly as he scooped out an armful of innards, dropping its skill and desperately trying to force him back with a flurry of crushing blows. He ignored them, ignored the tearing of his flesh and the cracking of his bones. A greater meles would never fall first, let alone one with the sort of enhancing skills that he had. With a furious growl, he plunged his claws into the wound again and again. The Champion sunk its teeth into his shoulder, only to release a moment later as it vomited a torrent of blood as he tore through its lungs and heart. Despite its monstrous vitality and healing capacity, it could not hold up to having its vitals shredded to such an extent. Porkchop felt the Champion start to sag, weighing him down as an endless torrent of acrid alchemically tainted blood washed over him. He didn''t let up. It would only be giving it time to heal. With every scoop he burrowed deeper, tearing arteries and shredding organs. Roaring in victorious delight as the creature slowly expired. A final scoop and it collapsed, too weak to fight on. Porkchop snarled, peeling a bone plate from the top of its head. Revealing the gleaming bone of its skull beneath. He reared up, drawing his paw up high. Then he came down, claws aimed directly at the Champion''s skull. There was a crunch as mana reinforced claws punched through the bone, eviscerating the meat beneath. Even the infamous vitality of an abomination couldn''t handle having its chest hollowed out and its brain smushed. With a final rattling gasp, the Champion fell completely limp. Porkchop roared his victory to the air as a series of system notifications dinged in his mind. **Ding! You have slain a Champion: Subject #13845 ''Harlequin'' - level 25 Carapaced Bruiser!** **Achievement Noted - You Are Being Observed** **Ding! Significant Feat of Strength performed under Observation. You have been awarded an Honour: Born for Slaughter** Chapter 95: Bossrush pt. 2 Kaius looked on in awe as his friend crushed the skull of the bear abomination. Watching Porkchop''s battle from within the glass airlock had been rough, not the least because this fight had been far more brutal than the last one. More than once he had had to hold himself back from ripping open the thick steel door and leaping to Porkchop''s defence. All that tension left the instant Porkchop had plunged his claws into the Champions chest and secured the victory, joy and excitement rushing in its wake to fill him with a decidedly more pleasant vigour. Letting lose a laugh, Kaius ripped open the door and sprinted into the arena. "You did it!" He yelled, thrusting both of his hands in the air. It had not been an easy battle, Porkchop''s armour had great rents torn through it, and he was still bloody from the many crushing wounds he had weathered in his frenetic assault. "Got the absolute piss beat out of you, but you did it!" Porkchop matched his energy, bouncing around in excitement. "I got it! The same one as you!" Kaius laughed in joy, throwing his arm around his friend and mussing up the fur on his head. "Never doubted it for a second." He said, inwardly deciding against letting his friend know how close he had come to rushing to his assistance. That blow he had taken to his ribs from the Champion''s second skill had been nasty. "So, what does it do? Any bonus for being the second?" Kaius asked. "Unfortunately not." Porkchop shook his head. "Though the plus five to all and the bonus to skill levelling is still more than worth it." "It''s nice right?" Kaius smiled. All of your stats being raised by a quarter was a good feeling. Though in Porkchop''s case it might not be that much, he still wasn''t entirely sure how a greater beast''s bonuses to stats worked. Porkchop chittered in agreement, before he suddenly started looking around the room with a sharp look in his eye. "Wondering where our loot is." Porkchop answered, clearly noticing the curious look he had been giving him. "Ah," he said, before promptly joining the search. Unfortunately, the room was completely bare. Other than the corpse of the Champion, that is, and Kaius doubted that their items were hiding in its chest like the last one. Porkchop would have already found them when he was scooping out the things innards. Whoever had designed this facility had taken the harsh cells to a clinical extreme. He couldn''t even make out a slight divot in the stone to act as a resting spot for the specimens. A clank drew his attention upwards. A small iron hatch set into the ceiling had swung open a small dark tunnel, something he''d missed. A moment later and something rattled its way down the chute, clattering to the ground. "Please tell me that is not a pan." Porkchop groaned. Kaius winced. "It''s not a pan?" he tried unconvincingly. It was definitely a pan. There was another rattle. Porkchop''s head snapped up, expectantly tracking the rapidly approaching noise, only for his face to fall when a coin pouch hit the ground next to their first piece of equipment. "This is bullshit." Porkchop growled, staring at their loot. "It might be a Pan of Slaying?" Kaius said halfheartedly. Porkchop snorted, padding over to the drops. "Fat chance." He said. "Go on then, tell us what we got." Kaius sighed, but focused on the pan anyway. At the very least it looked like a lovely pan, made of shiny copper with a long handle sheathed with a carved lacquered wood handle. He identified it. Travellers Pan: Common - Tier I Basic luxuries become so much sweeter in the wild. Don''t look down on the simple comfort of a hot meal when the night is long, the rain harsh, and the fire won''t start. Delicately wrought, this pan is capable of cooking food while the exterior stays cool to the touch, while imparting food with a greater ability to satiate hunger. "Mostly," he said, shuffling back with a yelp when Porkchop swatted at him with a paw. "However I do think that it''s not that bad of a find. It''s still useful to us, and an artefact is still an artefact. We could still sell it for a bunch, if we really wanted to, when we get out." Not that he wanted to, who didn''t want a magic pan? Even if he would have much preferred a spatial bag or some kind of defensive artefact, he wasn''t going to turn down a new toy. It just took him a bit to get over his disappointment is all. "What good is money anyway? Never understood the two-legs obsession for shiny things." Porkchop muttered. "For trade, you dunce. You have something they want, they have something you want, you swap and use coins to represent any difference in value. Basically. It''s a lot more complicated than that." Kaius explained, kicking himself for not realising that Porkchop would have no frame of reference for fucking money. Not like the dens had banks kicking around the inner Sea. "Oh! Why didn''t you say so?" Porkchop said, perking up. "One of those things you assume everyone knows I guess." Kaius said, scratching the back of his head, before he paused and gave Porkchop a curious look. "Wait a minute, how does that make sense to you? Isn''t the whole thing that greater beasts are all free and uninhibited from the trappings of civilisation?" he finished, waving his hands to mimic a pontificating scholar. Or what he thought one might sound like at least, he''d never met a scholar after all. Porkchop snorted. "Maybe if I was a wyrm-blooded, or some other solitary creature. We live in dens, Kaius. The Matriarchs trade all the time, like knowledge and hunting ground and stuff, remember?" "Oh right." He said leaning back onto his hands. They fell into a restful silence for a moment before Porkchop shifted his weight and looked back towards him. "How''s your last skill coming along?'' He asked with clearly forced nonchalance. Kaius raised his brow. "What an entirely innocent and not loaded question." He said with a smile. "Good, I''d be surprised if I don''t cap the skills at some point in these next two fights. They get used far too often in tough fights not to. Still holding that skill you wanted to ask me about close to your chest?" He asked. "Yeah. Thanks for being patient." Porkchop muttered quietly. "No worries." he replied, before quickly changing the subject when he saw that Porkchop was still feeling a little off about holding on to his secret. He was curious, but not enough to put the pressure on, he could wait. "Hey, which Champion do you feel like fighting next?" Porkchop perked up. "Maybe the Lover Boy? At least we''ve gotten some practice with similar creatures." Kaius laughed at the name. He still felt like it was a ridiculous thing to call a four armed skinless giant, but he supposed that even in a twisted recreation of a fleshwarpers laboratory, there was humour to be found. "Let''s just call it the giant. Same tactic as the others? Try to blow a leg off?" He asked. "Yeah, though maybe more than one cast. It probably has enough Endurance to make it a fair bit tougher on top of the added health." Kaius nodded. It shouldn''t take more than two, though he''d be ready with a third just in case. He didn''t want to blow all of his charges in case something went wrong. It always did when it came to the Champions. Porkchop turned to peer over his shoulder. "Well, I''m all topped off, and I think my armour is done repairing, do you want to check it for me?" He said, standing to present Kaius with his flank. The enchantment had done some work, repairing bent plates and torn leather to an immaculate state over the couple of hours that they had been relaxing on the cold stone. It was still stained with blood, of course, but it was battle ready. "Looks good to me." Kaius said, pushing himself to his feet. "Shall we just do it now?" "Yeah. I''m bored. Let''s go kill something." Porkchop said, shaking himself to warm himself up. "Say no more." Kaius replied with a savage grin, leading the way back into the hall. After watching Porkchop have all the fun for the last two fights, he''d been itching for something that would really get the blood pumping. He just hoped the giant would put up a good fight. Chapter 96: Bossrush pt. 3 Stepping aside so that Porkchop could join him in the airlock that led to the giant''s enclosure, Kaius pulled closed the first steel door and locked it tight. As he''d originally suspected, the second door wouldn''t open if the other was left open. A precaution on letting any specimens escape, he presumed. He turned, looking through the enchanted glass tunnel to focus on their target. It still stood in the far corner of the room, twitching as it stared at the wall. Odd behaviour, even for a depths-born, but he doubted that it would last once they entered. He rolled his shoulders, loosening himself up, before he drew his sword and moved over to the next steel door. "Ready?" He asked, looking at Porkchop, who gave him a short nod in return. He took a breath, hopping up and down on the spot to get his blood pumping. The tension of pre-battle started to flow away as his heart started to race, his Bloodsong igniting in full force. Reaching for the spindle that held the door closed, he spun the wheel. With every click and clank of the geared mechanism he grew hotter and hotter. With a thud the wheel stopped. The door was fully unlocked. He set his shoulder and heaved, heavy steel swinging open soundlessly on oiled hinges. They charged into the room, starting their confrontation in earnest. Eager to capitalise on the giant''s lacking focus while they could. Two deep blue needles shot from his raised hand, racing across the room to sink deep into the back of the Champions knee with a spray of blood. It broke whatever spell held the giant in place, the four armed abomination howling at his assault. **Ding! You have challenged a Champion: Subject #38949 ''Lover Boy''** The giant spun in place, entirely unhindered by the tiny wounds he had left in its leg. Kaius''s eyes widened, the damned thing was fast. Its eyes snapped from him to Porkchop, before deciding that the charging greater beast was the more immediate threat. It only managed to a single lunging step before the arcane payload he had left in its knee detonated, sending its lower limb spinning away in a shower of gristle and gore. Entirely unphased by the grievous wound, the Champion ripped its eyes away from Porkchop to focus on him as it threw itself forward with a howl of fury. Landing on its four arms it clambered across the ground, crawling towards him fast enough to match him at a full sprint. The heat of battle already well and truly stoked within him, Kaius only grinned. Good. This one seemed like it would be a proper slog. Gripping his sword in both hands, he fell fully into his Bloodsong and raced forwards to meet it. Porkchop pivoted, launching towards the giant with an outstretched paw. He raked his claws along its ribs, though it only hissed in fury and redoubled its charge towards Kaius. Huffing in frustration, Porkchop wheeled around and chased after it. Kaius snapped off another arcane needle, aiming to take off one of its arms. In a surprising display of reaction speed and agility, the giant duked to the side. His spell was faster still. The needle sunk deep into its chest, shredded flesh blowing out of its clavicle a moment later. The giant was uncaring. Mana pulsed in the creature, forcing Kaius on to high alert. A skill. Moments later there was a gush of roiling flesh that surged through the wounds he had given it, nondescript red goop flooding the hole in its chest and trailing from its leg like a whip. Another moment and it was healed, returning to its feet in the space of a single stride. Kaius''s eyes widened. The cost of the skill on the creature''s Health must have been ruinous, but if they couldn''t cripple the beast then this was going to get rough. The giant arrived. All four of its limbs smashing towards him in a storm of rapid fire haymakers. Doom came at him from every angle, Danger Sense pushed to its limits as it tried to keep track of the flurry of blows. Kaius grit his teeth and moved. He slipped around two punches, the slightest steps and twists letting him avoid the blows by hairsbreadths. **Ding! Danger Sense has reached level 14!** **Ding! Dodge has reached level 15!** A third came from above. He nearly missed it, so focused on dodging that only the last minute warning of his skill saved him from being pasted. No time to dodge. He pivoted to the side, biting deep into the giant''s forearm with his blade as he just barely managed to deflect the overhand punch. Porkchop arrived, snarling as he launched himself at the giant from the side. He clawed at its ribs, tearing into its chest before the fourth arm smashed him back with a crunch of cracked bone. The giant turned, clobbering Porkchop with a hammerfist, before its attention focused on him once more. It descended on him with a fury, pushing his skills to the limit as he was forced to dodge over and over again. Too fast, and too strong, and with his arm still broken, there was little he could do to punish the assault. **Ding! Danger Sense has reached level 16!** Something had to give. "Get its attention!" He yelled to Porkchop, diving out of the way of a grasping hand that tried to snatch him up. **Ding! Danger Sense has reached level 17!** Porkchop roared, sinking his teeth into the meat of the giant''s leg and tore out a weeping hunk of mutated flesh. The giant''s exposed maw twisted into a mockery of a scowl, turning to deal with the most present threat. He felt the snap of his bones realigning. Not healed, at least not fully, but enough that he could hold his sword properly once more. As the giant howled and began to lay into Porkchop with bone cracking punches, golden light spilled out of Kaius''s hand as he cast. Four needles shot out, each one sinking into the Champions shoulders. Or near enough to count, he hoped. Explosions rocked the enclosure as his spells detonated, ripping its arms free of its torso in an explosion of gore that splattered from floor to ceiling. "Take that you big bastard!" Kaius yelled with glee as he rushed in with a swing of his sword, cutting a deep line into its back that almost instantly clotted with the now familiar regenerative tissue they had seen in all abominations. He held himself back from using any more of his spells, he only had four left, and there was no way to know if the giant could still use its regenerative skill. As it screamed in maddened agony mana started to rage inside of the giant, flooding out from its core to settle deep within its tissues. It started to steam, muscles creaking as they inflated to twice their size. Doom screamed in his mind. He tried to move.The giant blurred, its leg scything out into a heel kick that crashed into his shoulder before he could react. Shattering his arm, shoulder, and ribs and sending him flying back. Kaius smashed into the glass wall of the enclosure, gasping as his head whipped backwards and cracked into the wall. He slid down to the floor with a weak groan, vaguely aware of a distant roaring as his mind swam. He lifted his head up, barely able to make out the ongoing battle through the haze of his tunnelled vision, agony coursing through his body with every slight twitch. He coughed, splattering his front with blood. Seemed like scalemail did just about fuck all against brute force. Letting out a chuckle, he whimpered as the motion made his shattered ribs cut into his chest. **Ding! Lesser Regeneration has reached level 11!** Gods his head hurt. He focused on the burn of his Health, the way the all consuming itch sank into his flesh. It didn''t remove the pain, far from it. Thankfully, it was at least distracting, pulling his mind back from the mess of mangled flesh and twisted nerve endings. **Ding! Lesser Regeneration has reached level 12!** Clarity returned to his mind as his healing pushed back his concussion. The fight! He snapped his head up to see Porkchop bloody, bruised, but not broken. His friend was giving the three armed giant absolute hell, shrugging off smashing fists that would have left him shattered and broken. That had broken him. He chuckled again, biting off the wince as his ribs grated with the movement. Wait. Three arms? A jolt of energy shot through him as he realised that the giant had used its healing skill and failed to fully recover. It was on the ropes! He had to do something, now. Four more casts of his Explosive Arcane Needle. It would have to be enough. He lifted his hand, only to bite off a scream as the shattered limb flopped. Right, that had been where the giant had hit him. Well, it wasn''t like him to let a little thing like multiple broken bones stop him. Kaius took a sharp breath and braced himself for what he was about to do. He reached over, snatching his ruined arm by the wrist, gurgling through clenched teeth at the pressure he put on the fractures. Vision tunnelling as he yanked upwards, he aimed his hand towards the giant. Thankfully his hand was uninjured, so he could still point. Golden light flared as he cast all four of his remaining spells, his index finger flicking between points on the giant''s body. Kaius slumped back, more of his bones snapping back into place by the second as he watched his deadly payload fly. Chapter 97: Bossrush pt. 4 Four arcane needles slammed into the Champion. All but one hit Kaius''s intended target. Kaius grinned from where he lay slumped onto the inscribed glass that made up one wall of the enclosure. Two of its shoulders, and one in a knee, though he had missed the final arm, the remaining needle flying past the giant to slam into the stone brick behind it. Not bad for a guy with a broken arm. Concussive booms rang out, the Champion roaring in agony as its limbs were blown clear of its body. Just like the last time, the giant collapsed, it''s only remaining limbs a single arm and leg on its left side. Kaius watched red blood pour from the wounds, running into the channels between the stone brick floor. This time no regenerative force coagulated on the wounds, the Champions lifeblood pumping out like a pressurised hose. **Ding! Lesser Regeneration has reached level 13!** Porkchop wasted no time and raced in, snarling in non stop fury as he started to tear into the giants defenceless right side. It swung at him, trying in futility to force him back with wild blows with its remaining arm. Kaius felt his ribs and shoulder snap back into place, with a quick look at his resources he knew he could risk it. Another good hit would fuck him up bad, but it would be survivable. A worthwhile risk if it let them take out the Champion before its Health regeneration started to seal its wounds. Resources: Health - 89/380 (2.8/min) Stamina - 168/280 (2.8/min) Mana - 39/430 (4.3/min) Free Mana - 39/430 Reserved Mana - 0 He jumped to his feet, wincing as his body protested. While his bones were no longer broken, he was definitely not fully healed. It didn''t stop him as he raced in and started to hack at the giant''s neck. If previously it had been hard to cut into, now it felt like trying to chop wood. Whatever buffing skill it had used had made it tough, the inflated and steaming muscles separating strand by strand as he chopped. As he cut into the beast, the giant''s screams of fury turned into a soft gurgle as he reached its throat. It clawed at the ground, leaving a trail of red in its wake as it slowly crawled to try and get him in reach. Porkchop raced behind it, snatching its ankle in his jaws and yanking it back. It was cathartic, to just cut and cut and cut as his blood ran hot with fury. Every blow sprayed him with pressurised blood, the vile liquid staining his lips with alchemical taint. He smiled, and cut. Eventually the Champion could hold its skill no longer, shrivelling as it deflated when the light of Mana in its body gutted out. He cut again. This time his sword bit deep. Two more strokes took off its head. **Ding! You have slain a Champion: Subject #38949 ''Lover Boy'' - level 26 Flesh Hulk!** Kaius stumbled back from the corpse as soon as he got the notification signifying their victory. He sat down heavily, flopping on to his back to stare blankly at the ceiling as his heart rate started to slow. Then he laughed. A loud laugh, the kind that came from deep in the belly and couldn''t be contained, no matter how much it stung his still tender ribs. Gods that had been a good fight. He''d missed that, hadn''t had one like that in weeks. Even the goblin shaman hadn''t been an all out brawl like this had been. Not that that had been a bad fight, but there was something special about getting fucked up by something bigger and stronger than you and still cinching the win. Porkchop limped over, his lip torn and leaking blood, with one eye nearly swollen shut. His friend all but collapsed on the floor as he settled down next to him, groaning with discomfort. "That is true." Porkchop chuffed, before he pushed himself to his feet with a groan. "Come on, I''m healed enough to walk. We''ve both got at least a couple of hours until our resources are full, and then you''ll need to reinscribe. May as well test out that stupid pan and have a hot meal." Kaius grinned. He''d been hoping Porkchop would say that. "I am feeling pretty peckish.." He thought as his stomach gurgled at the thought of food. ... It turned out that the pan was awesome. Once he had activated it, he discovered that the Depths had imprinted the device with an ingenious set of controls that let him intuitively control the pan''s heat with a little bit of Mana Manipulation. That, and it was so slick that he was pretty sure that it would be impossible to get food to stick to it. He''d ended up making a couple of massive toasted sandwiches of cheese, egg, and salted ham. Though he did give porkchop an extra half dozen thick cut slices of meat, a sandwich wasn''t exactly the most filling thing for a beast three or more times his weight. "Why are you so good at this? Didn''t you live in a forest?" Porkchop said, moaning through the sandwich. "I''m not that good, nothing like a dedicated cook at least." Kaius relied, chewing through a bite of his own as he leaned up against a stone wall near his bag. "But yeah, Cooking is one of the skills I needed for Explorer''s Toolkit." He swallowed, thinking on how to respond more fully. "It was actually a bit more than that. Mostly cooking was, is, my only real hobby. It meant an hour or two a day where I could just mess around and have fun. Father didn''t really care about what food tasted like, only that it was edible, so as long as I didn''t waste anything I had a lot of freedom" He continued. "That can''t be all of it. You know how to use way too many things that you would have had almost no access to." Porkchop prodded. Kaius smiled. "That obvious, eh? Well, there was this barmaid in Three Fields, daughter of the innkeeper Hurrin. Illendra was her name. She was a handful or so years older than me, but was just near damn the only woman even close to my own age, so of course I was smitten. She never really thought of me that way, though she was plenty friendly. Treated me closer to a cousin, or little brother. I figured out pretty quick that offering to help out in the kitchen whenever we stayed in the Stout Oak was a damn good way to spend a lot of time around her. Father let us stay for a whole week once, because of how fast my skill was levelling" He chuckled as he reminisced. "''Was smitten''? Not anymore?" Porkchop asked, cocking his head. "Mmm," Kaius nodded. "All feels pretty distant after everything that''s happened. What about you? Any girls with pretty fur that you were fond of?" He asked, changing the subject before he started to linger on his fathers fate. Porkchop snorted. "Dens are family units, so no. The age you''re old enough to meet other dens is the same age you''re allowed to go wandering. I chose the latter." "Fair enough." Kaius said through another bite of his sandwich. "How''re you feeling about the next one?" Porkchop asked. "What? The cat?" Kaius asked. "A little nervous. Not because I don''t think we can handle it. Just had a moment with a cat in the glade back before I fought my first Champion. Bloody thing ripped my throat out, and had me convinced I was a goner." Porkchop looked at him with concern. "You going to be alright?" "Oh yeah!" He said, waving his friend off. "Just the sort of thing I''ll feel better about once I smear that nightmare kitty''s brains on the floor." Porkchop snorted. "Spoken like one of the Patriarchs." He grinned. It wasn''t entirely bluster. Ever since that damned cat had slammed into the glass wall of its enclosure he''d been eager to put it in the ground. Damned thing had nearly given him a heart attack. Plus, he should finish capping off the components of his final legacy skill in the fight. A culmination of years of work, it was tempting to storm in there right now. Unfortunately, he hadn''t finished regenerating his Mana, nor reinscribed his spells. That, and he had food to eat. Chapter 98 Bossrush pt. 5 After they finished their food, Kaius moved on to reinscribing his runic hymns as he sat by their bags in the little laboratory adjacent to the grand hall that held the menagerie of abominations. He decided to stick with thirteen casts of Explosive Arcane Dart. It was the best fit for the ridiculous regeneration of the abominations of this biome. He was curious if fire would work as well, or better, but unfortunately while his runic training had been intensive, it had also been equally focused. His grasp of High Lothian was good enough to do simple modifications to the shaping of Arcane Bolt, but inventing entirely new spells was a bit out of his wheelhouse. He could only hope his class would provide some solution to that. Either through a knowledge skill, or an alternative method of learning new hymns. Without Father, he would need to pay for runic tutoring. Not only would that be ruinously expensive, but finding someone who was skilled with both High Lothian, niche spell arrays, and formation design would be hard. Let alone the fact that anyone with that sort of skill set would have approximately zero desire to take on some unknown apprentice. Sure, they probably would if he spilled the secrets of glyph binding. Unfortunately, now that he had gotten an Honour for discovering the art, he had no doubt that there would be others. Training an established runewright in its use as a trade from hymns would be as good as handing away Honours on a silver platter. He took a last minute check of his gear, making sure that everything was buckled tight and in place. Unfortunately, their brawl with the Lover Boy had left both him and Porkchop absolutely covered in gore. Blood soaked scale was not exactly comfortable, but there was no way he intended to back track to a rest stop before they had dealt with the final Champion. He shook his head, clearing his thoughts so that he could focus on the battle ahead. "Ready?" "Of course." Porkchop replied. "Good, let''s do this then." Kaius said with a nod. They set off, reentering the hall to be greeted by the still intimidating presence of the Guardian tree of flesh and bone that sat behind a warded wall of glass on the far end. He shuddered, watching the dense mesh of veins writhe across the floor of its enclosure. He was very glad that all they would have to fight was an ogre. Much more straightforward in comparison. They pressed on, quickly approaching the far containment cell that held the feline abomination, Man Eater. Just like the last time, as soon as the cat-like creature saw them it threw itself at the glass wall of its prison, the half dozen of the bladed tentacles that sprouted from its back striking at the barrier like a scorpion''s tail. Gods it was fast. "Getting in there is going to be a bitch." Kaius murmured, watching the way the Champion prowled at the edge of its enclosure, tracking them. "It''s going to be gunning for us as soon as the door opens." A low growl rumbled in Porkchop''s chest. "It can try. I''ll force it back. Give you some room to hit it with a few needles." He suggested. Kaius nodded, and stepped forwards to open the first door of the airlock. He could feel the Man Eater watching him, holding itself still as malice bubbled just beneath the surface. "Fucking cats." Kaius murmured. He yanked open the door, ushering Porkchop inside as he closed the door behind them. Shutting them in the airlock. The Champion had moved, stalking forwards to wait a few paces away from the entrance to the enclosure. "Be fucking ready, Porkchop. Those tentacles look vicious." Kaius said, his heart rate rising in tandem with his aggression. Porkchop simply growled, bracing himself by the door. He drew his sword, leaning over his friend to spin the wheel that held the steel door locked. He leaned back, letting momentum and well oiled mechanisms slowly retracted the bolt. With every clack of the lock, Kaius felt his tension ratchet higher. Round and round the wheel span, until it slammed home with a thunk of finality. Porkchop roared, throwing his weight into the door, forcing it open. The Man Eater yowled, pouncing towards his friend. They met with a slam, Porkchop using his heavier weight and stocky build to push the creature back. It wasn''t easy, the bone tipped sinews that burst from its back striking like vipers as they plunged their dagger-like blades into Porkchop''s back again and again. Kaius was already moving, barreling out of snapping off two arcane needles as he ran out of the airlock. The Man Eater reacted, noticing his assault instantly as it leapt back, flying through the air to land a full ten strides deeper into the room. It hissed, tentacles fanning out to vibrate in an impressive threat display. Porkchop coughed, blood splattering on the floor. What a great fucking start. Kaius watched the cat as his spells impacted the far stone wall, biding his time. A moment later they detonated, showering the room with shrapnel. The Champion jolted, head whipping back to investigate the source of the noise. It was the moment he was waiting for. **Ding! Explorer''s Toolkit has reached level 18!** Nicks started to accumulate, bone spurs stabbing at the slightest gap in his defence. The pain built. Individually the wounds were nothing. Together, they were maddening. Thankfully he was at no risk of death by a thousand cuts, Lesser Regeneration keeping pace with his growing wounds. Then, as he deflected a tentacle that had stabbed towards his eyes, he felt his vambraces click as they accumulated enough energy. Kaius roared, allowing a bone spur to worm its way through the gap between his cuirass and cuisses as he stepped in towards the Champion with a wild horizontal slash. A Father''s Gift ripped through the air, cutting through two thirds of the tentacles as its point tore towards its face. **Ding! Lesser Regeneration has reached level 14!** The Man Eater leapt back, avoiding the blow. Straight into the waiting maw of Porkchop. His friend''s fangs sank into the beast''s flank before he ripped out a chunk of flesh. It howled, flaring mana before a thick black fogg suddenly covered the enclosure. **Ding! True Sight has reached level 17!** "Shit, Kaius, I can''t see!" Porkchop called, whipping his head back and forth. Kaius did the same, though he had instantly noticed that he was able to pierce the gloom with the help of his skill. Not perfectly, but enough that he could see the Man Eater retreat into the blackness. It prowled, slowing to move silently as it began to circle behind him. He smiled, perfect. "I see it." He said, letting a shake enter his voice. "Get closer to me, I wanna see if it falls for the same trick twice." Porkchop moved over, and Kaius spun to keep the Champion in the corner of his vision. Never letting his eyes linger on its stalking form. One by one tentacles sprouted from the lesion on its back, flicking through the air with deadly intent. "It''s letting its blades regrow. Be ready." Kaius said, faking a quiver. He kept turning, spinning his head to look ''blindly'' through the fog, taking his eyes off it. Just for a moment. His throat constricted as he felt six phantom blades cut through his spine and remove his head. **Ding! Danger Sense has reached level 20!** "Now!" He screamed, spinning and firing his last remaining needle towards the charging cat. His spell punched into the side of its chest, the cat wailing as the following explosion mangled its leg. Then it committed, leaping towards him with its tentacles poised to strike. Kaius leapt back, narrowly avoiding being skewered as all six bone spurs shattered the stone where he had just been standing. **Ding! Dodge has reached level 20!** Then Porkchop activated his amulet, hitting the Champion like a raging bull. The Man Eater slammed into the stone wall behind it with a sickening crunch of bone, collapsing to the ground as Porkchop dived onto it. "Pin it!" Kaius cried, racing forwards. "What do you think I''m trying to do?!" Porkchop snarled, ignoring the striking tentacles that plunged into him with a fury. Kaius sprinted up, raising his sword high. Then he cut, tapping into the well of power in his vambraces. His blade rocketed, cleaving through flesh and bone with ease as he bisected the Champion at the shoulder. The darkness vanished, and still the Champion fought on. Organs gushed from its severed chest cavity as it wiggled the nubs of its arms, craning its neck as in an attempt to sink its fangs into Porkchop. Kaius stood over the moving corpse, staring at it with cold eyes. Despite everything, vital fluid had congealed around its wounds, flesh bubbling as it started to regenerate from the wound. Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous. "You want the kill?" He growled, hand tightening on his sword. Porkchop snorted, backing away from the back half of the Champion. "You''re the one with the cat complex. Go ahead." Kaius grinned. Then he started to hack. **Ding! You have slain a Champion: Subject #41893 ''Man Eater'' - level 27 Night Stalker!** **Ding! Significant Feat of Strength performed under Observation. You have been awarded an Honour: Birds of a Blood Soaked Feather** Chapter 99 Unexpected, But More Than Welcome Kaius stood rooted to the spot, looming over the shattered remnants of the cat-like abomination he had just slain. He couldn''t take his eyes off the system notification that he had just received. Another Honour. "Did you get that too?" Porkchop asked, his voice quiet as it crossed their link. "...Yeah." Kaius replied, breaking the silence in the room. Then it all hit at once. Excitement raced through him, shooting like lightning through his spine as he let out a loud laugh. He sheathed his sword, spinning around and tackling Porkchop, who chittered in joy and wriggled out of his grip to pin him to the ground. "We did it!" Kaius said, panting as he gave up on trying to push Porkchop off his ribs. Thank the gods they had finished healing, or he would be hurting. "We did!" Porkchop replied. "But I thought it would be ten? That was only nine right?" Kaius laughed again, unable and unwilling to suppress his sheer joy. "We just guessed! But get off now, you''re so fat I can barely breathe." Porkchop snorted, but shuffled off of him. Kaius pushed himself up into a sitting position. "I''m gonna check it." He said, before pulling up the description of his latest gain, as Porkchop did the same. Birds of a Blood-Soaked Feather: Honour Some souls blaze with a light that refuses to dim, yet most are consumed by their own fury. Those who endure rise from the ashes, tempered by trials few could withstand. Once in a lifetime such kindred spirits unite and ignite an unstoppable inferno. Rip and tear, together. Awarded to those in a group of four or less who slay nine Champions unaided before class selection. Provides a Minute increase to Depths rewards. +5 all stats. Bonus: For being the first in your cohort to achieve this honour reward bonus is increased to Slight, and stat bonus is increased to +8 all stats. Kaius grinned when he saw the stat bonus. Another eight to all stats was fantastic. He could already feel the boost coursing through him. Making him tougher, faster, and think quicker. Beyond just the boost to his baseline capabilities, the increase to his Intelligence especially meant that he would be able to squeeze in another two or three charges of his Explosive Arcane Needle. A fine thing indeed, now that they were on a collision course with a Guardian. Though he did wonder if the boost from the Honours differed in some way to the boost he had gotten from the natural treasure. When he had put all those free points into his Endurance, it had felt like he had been dipped in acid as every structure of his body was reforged. The bonuses from his Honours had been different. More..external, some guiding force bolstering and strengthening him. Not that he was complaining, or even really knew if one was better than the other. Though he did wonder how the stat increases he would eventually get from his class would go. Then there was the bonus to loot. In his opinion, not quite as good as the skill levelling bonus he had gotten for killing champions solo, but definitely a nice find. He hoped that it made the drops they received a little more valuable, or rarer, rather than just increasing them in quantity. Porkchop, he knew, would be unbelievably happy with it though. In fact, any second now- "LOOT!" Porkchop yelled in excitement. Kaius laughed. "Thought you might like that. Think it''ll work on what we''re about to get, since we''d already killed the Champion?" He asked. Porkchop looked at him, shocked, before his head whipped over to the iron chute set into the far corner of the roof, waiting expectantly. Kaius shook his head at his friend''s antics. With how much the bastard liked loot, he was in for a shock the first time he saw a delver''s market. Thank the gods that greater meles weren''t all that known outside of the small communities that lived on the Arboreal Sea''s rim. He''d get fleeced by the first merchant to realise he could talk. Even as it was, Kaius was going to have to keep a tight grip on their purse strings when they left. "Watch." Kaius replied. He pulled one of the knives from the bandolier, flipping it up and snatching it mid air to grab its tang in a pinched grip. Then with a snapping flick he hurled the knife towards the corpse of the champion. It sailed cleanly through the air with nary a wobble to sink deep into the dead Champion''s flesh. Porkchop followed his movements, staring at the blade that was embedded in the dead Man Eater''s flank. "And?" he asked. Kaius simply nodded towards the knife. Porkchop sighed, but kept looking. A moment later there was a slight pop, and the knife was gone. Porkchop jumped, looking at him in confusion. "Returning, see?" He said, waving the once more full bandolier. "Huh, neat." "Yeah," Kaius chuckled. "It''s nice to have, for now. Not like a knife will be able to do much to an ogre, even if it will give me a ranged option when I''m out of spells. I''m mostly looking forward to getting some poor rogue to pay out the nose for them." Slinging the bandolier over his shoulder, Kaius grimaced as he felt his blood sodden clothes squelch under his armour. Worse, only half of it was his, and the abomination fluids that had soaked him to the bone absolutely reeked. Their back to back Champion fights might have been a godsend for his skill development and lead to the acquisition of more Honours, but it had also left the pair of them more sullied and grimey than he ever had been before. Though that did remind him. He''d managed to cap both Dodge and Danger Sense over the course of his last two fights. Despite his experience, he still couldn''t believe how good a life and death fight was for growth. With this last merge, he would have finished his entire legacy more than a year ahead of schedule. Sure, he still had to finish capping all the skills, but that would come quickly once he focused more on them individually. Plus, he would finally get to find out what his friend would propose for his last skill, he couldn''t wait. It would have to be something juicy if he was being so cagey about it. "Back to the rest stop?" Kaius asked, jutting his chin towards the door at the far end of the hall where they had stashed their packs. "I need to get clean. And merge my last skill." He finished with a grin. Porkchop''s head snapped towards him. "You finished them?!" He asked excitedly. "I did." Kaius replied, still smiling. They let themselves out of the glass walled enclosure, closing the thick steel door of the airlock behind them. Kaius took one last look at the Guardian at the end of the hall. It was an option, but one that was far less predictable than something straight forward like an ogre. He turned away, exiting the hall and fetching his pack. "Hey, since we still have so much time left, do you think we would be able to get any more Honours for killing Champions?" Porkchop asked as they walked through the various laboratories and experimentation rooms of the biome. Thankfully, they were back tracking, so other than the distasteful sight of dismantled corpses that littered the rooms, they didn''t have to worry about fighting any more depths-born. "I don''t think so." Kaius said. "I''m no scholar, so I don''t know for sure, but three alone and nine as a group feels like a pattern. The next one, if there even are higher tiers, might be nine alone and twenty-seven as a group." He continued, opening one of the doors that he had scratched a cross into the back of. "It took us damn near a year to find twelve between us, at best we would need to find another twelve, which even if we managed it would be cutting it tight. Besides, I don''t know about you, but I miss the sun and the trees. I''m ready to get out of here and start looking for Father." "You''re right." Porkchop sighed. "It just sucks to leave it as a mystery." Kaius shrugged. That was life, he wouldn''t let it eat away at him. Even after they classed up he knew there had to be more Honours. They''d find them. "Just because we''re leaving doesn''t mean we will stop pushing. Even after we find out what happened with those bandits, there will be opportunities for us to grow strong." "It would be nice to crack some skulls for what they did to us." Porkchop said darkly. "Yes, it would, wouldn''t it?" Kaius agreed, his voice hard. They kept moving, retracing their steps to one of the small places of respite that were scattered through the depths. Chapter 100 Final Merge The washroom available in the austere bunk rooms that dotted the biome were distinctly unpleasant. A narrow cubicle tucked around the corner from the kitchen, it was a far cry from the warm rainfall he had come to appreciate in the dwarven manors. For one, it was freezing. Kaius had thought he would never be caught dead shying away from a cold wash. Afterall, a lifetime of using frigid mountain streams to get clean had the effect of hardening one against such base discomforts. Unfortunately, he had to admit that he had perhaps grown a little spoiled after so many months with comfortable amenities. He shivered at the icy water cascaded over his head, muscles locking up as they tensed against the chill. He cleaned himself quickly under the spigot that jutted roughly out of the wall, before removing the gore that had accumulated on his armour. Thankfully, getting dry was much less fraught. Each of the twenty odd bunks in the rest stop were equipped with thick woollen quilts. It almost felt wrong to leave perfectly good bedding sodden and wadded on the floor, but it would all be reset anyway once the biome was left in peace for enough time. Returning to the bunkroom proper, Kaius saw Porkchop had taken to lying on the brick floor near the kitchen. He was still damp, the lacking room meaning they had to wash one at a time. "What''re you doing there?"" Kaius asked with a raised brow. "Waiting to dry," he responded, flicking his ears. "Wet fur feels horrible on the blankets." "Fair enough," Kaius said with a shrug, taking a seat on one of the nearest bunks. "You feeling up to chatting about your mystery skill after I''ve merged Uncanny Dodge?" Porkchop paused for a moment, digesting his words, before he responded a moment later. "I am. Thank you for being patient, it''s a big deal amongst my people. There will be an explanation to go along with it, I promise." Kaius grinned, feeling relieved. His curiosity had been all but eating away at him, but far more than that he had been a little concerned by how cagey Porkchop had been about it. With how open his friend usually was, it would have to be a great secret for him to have held these cards so close to his chest. Even if he had still let slip that something was up. "Well, in that case, I better get on with it," he said, pivoting to lie flat as Porkchop gave him a nod of acknowledgement. He looked up at the slats of the bunk above him for a moment, before snapping his eyes shut and diving into his soulspace. In the blackness of his inner sight, his soul lit up like a bonfire. He couldn''t quite believe it was already happening, merging his final legacy skill. It had required almost four years of constant training, wounds by the dozen, and boundless mountains of effort to reach this point. More, really. A culmination of his entire life to this point. Afterall, it wasn''t like everything had been fun and games before he had matriculated into the system. No, he was a legacy scion. Everything had been bent towards ensuring that he would be able to merge all of his skills in the short five years before his class selection. And now he was here. It was almost enough to leave him feeling a little directionless if he was honest. It was only a passing feeling though. He wouldn''t be done, not by a long shot. He still had to decide on his final skill, cap everything, and then escape the Depths. Even then he wouldn''t be done, class selection was a beast in its own right, and was a simple starting point to the endless fight to claw your way up the tiers. It was still a firm step into the end of his childhood. With a class he would be considered a man proper by society at large. If he''d been in the forest above, still with Father, they would have been planning a celebration by now. No doubt an unplanned trip to Three Fields to down many a flagon. Father wasn''t here though. Yet as much as that burned, as much as he felt the yawning pit clawing at his stomach at his absence, he didn''t feel alone. Porkchop was...family. While that didn''t blunt his grief, it did give him the resolute faith that no matter what happened in the future, there would be a brother at his side to back him up. A fat one, who was far too hairy, but a brother all the same. He snatched out, wrapping soulfire around the last skill. Another wave of meaning washed over him. Dodge was a simple thing, like most Common skills. It cared not for how danger was discovered, only in the earnest effort to avoid it. A simple lean, or the twist of a foot, was often enough. Not always, other times more drastic measures had to be taken. A dive to the ground, a turn that strained joints, or a step off a cliff. So often it wasn''t awareness that saved lives, but simple speed and control. ''Unavoidable'' was, at its core, a relative term. Dodge sought to make it meaningless. All the insight in the world meant nothing without the capability to back it up. Returning to himself, Kaius was beset on all sides by the mental assault of his legacy. In such a mutable space as his soul, where intent had substance, it quickly turned physical. Razor sharp shockwaves shot at him from all sides, wearing away at his willpower. Somehow, they knew that this was it. That there was one move left on the board. So they spoke, unwilling to hold their peace. Moving as fast as he was able, Kaius withstood the storm and wove a final thread of intent. It wrapped around his wrist like a living thing, eager to abide by his wishes. Then he moved, pressing on all of his authority as the rightful ruler of his centre to shoot towards the two skills he had bound. Tethered to his soul, they orbited in carefully controlled lockstep. Then it was done. He forged the chain between them, and it was over. Platinum shards fell subservient in an instant, recognising their loss and his rightful superiority. A moment stretched as simple, blessed, silence washed over him. Then the final merge commenced. The two skills rocketed together, held fast in his shared understanding of their essence. Protectors, one ephemeral, one physical. Together they would be so much more. Slamming into each other in a violent detonation, both shards of power atomised, dissolving into a gaseous nebula of potential. A moment later the system took notice. **Ding! Skill Merge Detected! Would you like to proceed?** Kaius gasped as the last vestiges of mental strain left him, the system taking over the process of reforging a skill anew. The glittering dust that hung in orbit around his soul began to swirl, gradually condensing as a new platinum shard started to nucleate. Where once his other legacy skills had screamed in avarice, now they sung with joy. A cleansing, pure note that washed through his soul. A call to completion, an ancient cycle so close to ascension. Then the process finished. **Ding! Skill Merged! Uncanny Dodge obtained!** He felt the overwhelming might of the system retract from his soul, his last legacy skill floating upwards to join its siblings in orbit around his centre. In unison, they snapped into place perfectly in line with the very centre of his fire of self. Unmoving, equidistant, and perfectly centred. All except for a single gap in the plane. A spot reserved in their vigil as they waited for the last peace of the puzzle. As one, unified and ready to uplift his final skill. Chapter 101 A Secret, Shared Kaius snapped his eyes open as his final legacy merge settled into place around his soul. Everything was prepped and ready for his final skill, the nexuses of power orbiting his soul locking into an equidistant formation. A single place remained in their circle, waiting for his last selection. Father had told him how it would work. When his final skill was chosen it would slot into the remaining empty space. His legacy skills would resonate, amplifying his tenth skill... somehow. He didn''t know much more than that, only that the system did all the heavy lifting. No more battles of will in his future, thank the gods. That could wait though, he still had to have his conversation with Porkchop, and investigate his latest acquisition. Grinning in anticipation, Kaius pulled up the waiting description of his latest skill. Uncanny Dodge: Level 1 Unique Roll enough dice, and eventually one of them will phase through the table. Allows the user to sense portents of doom, and aids them in evading the unavoidable through subtle guidance and twists of fate. Certain effects may impede this skill. Each level reasonably increases specificity of warnings. Each level reasonably improves the skills ability to counteract impeding effects. Each level slightly increases speed, control, reflexes and flexibility when dodging. Each level minutely lengthens the window of warning prior to the impending danger. Each level infinitesimally twists probabilities in your favour when dodging. Each level infinitesimally increases your ability to evade sensed dangers, including otherwise unavoidable attacks. Merged from: Danger Sense, Dodge As his eyes roved over the skill, Kaius drank in its effects. It was good. Far better than he had expected for a merge of only two general skills. While it was mostly a simple baseline improvement on the functionality of both Danger Sense and Dodge, it was its last two effects that grabbed his attention. As they only grew Infinitesimally, he would most likely only feel their effects subtly while he was capped to level twenty. Yet, even then, he knew that they would inevitably become invaluable as he grew. Anything that twisted the fate of the world was powerful, and Father had said that they inevitably led to truly mind bending twists of coincidence. His mind wandered, thinking of unlikely circumstances where he was saved by the changing of the wind, or an archmage''s spell destabilising catastrophically. Unfortunately, he would have to wait and see. If it did do anything at so low a level, he doubted it would be anything but the most subtle of influences. "You gonna share the details, or just keep staring at the bunk?" Porkchop asked, interrupting his thoughts. Kaius smiled and sat up. "Sorry," he replied. "Just got caught up in my thoughts. It''s good, better than I expected. Mostly the same, but it''s a fate skill." "Isn''t he one of their ancestor-heroes?" Kaius asked, cocking his brow. "The one and the same." Porkchop confirmed. "They were inseparable. Both were watched by the system, and went through many trials together, delved deep in the Depths, and secured the Sea from threats. Supposedly they were ambushed by some form of beast tide. Forced to work together to survive the chaos while trapped in a dead end cave, constantly besieged. They forged an unbreakable bond in that hell." Kaius kept his face calm, but inwardly his mind was racing. He could see some... obvious similarities to their current predicament. Porkchop watched him closely. "I see you have noticed the parallels. It is not directly relevant to the skill, but it is to why I am discussing it." he explained. "Their bond, their companionship, was noticed by the system, and it manifested a skill. A rite, a ritual, and a binding. One that raised them both to new heights, forged an unbreakable link between the two. It is why, even today, the elves hold us in such esteem, and why we tolerate their endless pestering." Kaius physically recoiled at Porkchops words, nearly falling off the bed as he jerked backwards. "A binding skill?! Like beastmasters and tamers use? I would never! How could you even suggest that I lesser you like that?" he half-shouted, standing up. Porkchop flicked his ears at the noise, but merely snorted. "No, not like that. Never like that. Though, your reaction does quash any lingering doubts I might have had. Now sit back down and listen." Kaius froze, taking a seat on the bunk slowly. If it wasn''t a binding skill, the type that shackled and slaved a beast to a person''s will, what was it? Once he had returned to his seat, Porkchop continued. "It is a binding skill, but one between equals. One that would tie us together permanently, forging a link between our souls. A perfect communion, one that would improve our cooperation and lethality, allow us to feel and hear each other over great distances, and...share our growth." Kaius''s eyes sharpened. "What do you mean?" he said slowly. "Experience, feats of strength, everything the system tracks would be amalgamated and split between us equally. What''s more, the malus for experience gain that the system places on groups would not exist for us." Porkchop explained, watching him closely. Kaius''s eyes widened. That was...huge. Class and skill growth slowed down when you worked in a group, even more so if they were larger than three individuals, and slowed down again above five. Even if you tackled challenges that were at the edge of what was possible, you would see less gains than if you undertook a lesser but equivalent risk alone. It would mean that if they pushed each other, their growth would be explosive, far exceeding what would be possible otherwise. Yet if one of them was to slack, it would be crippling, forcing their partner to put in twice the effort for half the result. "That''s why none of you use it isn''t it? Too much risk of kneecapping your growth if you bond with the wrong person." Kaius said, almost whispering. Porkchop nodded. "It''s what happened last time. We used to be a lot more integrated into the conclaves. A cub and an elven child were close friends, and performed the rite in secret. The elf was middling at best with only a couple of legacy skills, and worse, the cub broke his legacy by taking the skill. The elf grew strong, strong for them at least. The cub never grew past the third tier. We stopped living so close to the elves after that." Kaius winced. That would do it, especially if the meles had broken his legacy in the process. Despite that, he was very interested, both with the bond, and with the effects it would have on his growth. He already saw Porkchop as family, and knowing that he would always have a stalwart companion was ...nice. Yet there was still one question that burned in his mind. "Why me?" he asked softly. "Like, of course I am interested. We already planned on sticking together once we escape, and you''re already family, but what if I slow you down? You''re a greater beast, destined to reach tiers that people can only dream of." Porkchop gave him a flat look. "Gods, I wonder why I am not worried about being ''slowed down'' by the first Observed in milenia. The person who helped me reach the same heights. The person who has pioneered a whole new branch of spell casting, and the person who pushes themselves harder than anyone I have ever seen? The same person that will inevitably be the first one ever to slay a guardian without a class." Porkchop''s words were pointed, direct. "Kaius, at this stage I''m more worried that I will slow you down." Kaius leaned back, scratching his head. "Well, when you put it like that." Rolling his eyes, Porkchop snorted before looking back at him with a rare intensity. "So you are interested then?" Kaius nodded, wearing his conviction on his sleeve. "I am, though I obviously have a few more questions." "Then ask." Porkchop replied seriously, though the slow swoops of his tail on the floor gave away his happiness. Kaius grinned, leaning closer. "Well-" Chapter 102 History and Choice Kaius leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he thought about what he wanted to ask Porkchop. The fact that his friend''s secret skill was a binding one was a shock. The fact that it wasn''t one of the predatory command and control types even more so. He was incredibly interested, and had already made his mind up. Sure, it would mean that he would have no dedicated glyph-binding skill, but having literally pioneered the art he would be delusional to think that he wouldn''t get offered classes relating to it. Especially since he had a rune skill, which more than likely would evolve in that direction as he progressed. An unbreakable link that would let them fight as one, and came with significant experience advantages was too good to pass up. He just had a few more questions. "Will it affect skill growth?" he asked. "No," Porkchop shook his head. "And for that you should be thankful." "Oh?" Kaius said with a tilt of his head. "If our powerful bodies and strengthened resources are a greater beasts boon, then our slower rate of skill growth is our bane. It is not something we spread widely." Porkchop explained. His eyes widened, staring at his friend in surprise. That was unexpected, but also made a cruel sort of sense to Kaius. The system was fair in its dealings, rewarding those with the luck, strength, knowledge, and resolve to push themselves to new heights. He''d also thought it a little odd at the sheer unrivalled advantages all greater beasts had. Long life and overwhelming might were hard to overcome, but if it came at the cost of slower skill growth it would make it much harder for a beast to ascend tiers with capped skills - at least without putting off the class evolution for extended periods of time. With how vital that was to both class and skill development, it was a significant issue. "Well, that makes me feel a little better about all those extra years you got to work on your skills." Kaius said with a shake of his head. Porkchop snorted. "Without those, no greater beast would ever be able to finish a legacy. I am something of an anomaly for having finished mine so early, and that was only because I found the dens so boring that all I did was practice." Kaius grinned. That was a feeling he could empathise with, what with his own childhood of training in the outer reaches of the Sea. Though, as he thought more about what it meant that Porkchop had a slower rate of skill levelling, a frown of worry crossed his face. "What about this bond skill, will you have any difficulty with capping it before we fight the Guardian? We''ll need every edge we can get." "It''s not that slow, Kaius." Porkchop snorted. "It''s more of an issue for the massive amount of skills over the course of a complete legacy. Besides, the bond levels a little differently than most others, with everything we have been through I will be very surprised if we don''t cap it immediately. After that, it will grow naturally as we fight and explore together." That was a relief. He wouldn''t have minded waiting, but having the skill capped would mean they would be able to evolve it immediately. "And what of when it evolves?" Kaius asked. "What changes? Or was what you were talking about the evolved option." He could understand if it was, that sort of experience share was far more than he expected from an unmerged base general skill. Porkchop grew quiet, before he softly answered his question a moment later. "I don''t know. No one has taken the skill as the capstone to a legacy before." Kaius stared at his friend in surprise. "What? How?" "It''s an old skill, Kaius," Porkchop explained. "Grandfather might have been an Observed, but even the Matriarch''s memories get spotty about that time, he didn''t have a complete legacy. There were a handful of others that have made use of them, and each and every one was during his living reign, before the dens had acquired a full set. After every one of those ended with a meles'' growth getting crippled due to their bond companion being unable to keep up, no one has touched the thing until that cub. The same one who broke his legacy." Kaius leaned back, whistling in surprise. "So we''d be going in blind then. "We would." Porkchop nodded. Kaius paused, digesting the information. There was some risk. Any skill that involved a bond of that intensity could directly influence his personality, but the chance was small. Besides, he trusted Porkchop with his life, if he was willing to gamble, who was he to say no? He wasn''t the kind of person to turn down a skill that was even stronger that expected just because of a few unknowns. "I already said I''m in, Porkchop, let''s do this." Kaius said, giving his friend a confident grin. Porkchop nodded, and then frowned in concentration. A moment later, Kaius felt it. A subtle pull on his mind, the ever present connection he had with Porkchop clamouring for his attention. He knew immediately, though not how, that if he assented the thin tether that let him understand Porkchop would start to widen, growing the link between them. That he would be vulnerable to influence and control in that state. Far less used to the powers of the mind than a greater beast who was born with them, lowering his innate mental defences would put him at risk. He dropped them immediately. This was Porkchop afterall, he trusted him with his life. His heart lurched, the entire room spinning as a primal will latched onto his mind, widening their connection. Something sank into the edges of his soulspace, foreign shards of power piercing the veil, grabbing his innermost self in an iron grip. Kaius gasped. He knew then, that if he wanted to, Porkchop could start to shred. Everything inside of him screamed in warning. An instinct, like the desire to flinch away from a knife held to your throat, surged. Adrenaline coursed through his system, urging him to fight, or die. He grit his teeth, holding himself back from lashing out. "You holding up okay?" Porkchop asked, concerned, as his voice echoed with booming force to buffet his centre. Kaius winced. He felt Porkchop cringe. "Whoops, sorry. Not used to this yet." Porkchop said. "I''ll live, not exactly pleasant though." Kaius grunted. Amusement trickled through the growing conduit between them. "That''s good, because this is about to get a whole lot worse for both of us." Kaius furrowed his brow. "What do you me-?" The iron hard shards of will that Porkchop had set into the edges of his soul-space started to rip, tearing at the very boundaries of his being. It didn''t hurt, not in the sense of a stab wound, or a broken bone. It was the agony of having his most intimate defences torn from him. The utter surety of a total loss of control, a crushing of his will, and a total dissolution of the most basal boundary he''d had since he was a babe. The claws broke through, a ragged hole opened what should have been inviolable. Suddenly he was...more. Kaius''s soul screamed. An ethereal bonfire surging to new heights, golden conflagration consuming his centre in a desperate autonomic attack on all transgressors. It burned. He felt the strange golden flames lance into their mind. Could feel the molten heat dripping to the tips of their claws, scouring their fur in an inferno of uncontrolled fear. They nearly gave up, but they had to. To stop now would leave them shattered, separated, with ragged holes in their souls that would slowly bleed them dry of all that made them, them. First it would be a searing agony, slowly stretching from their chests until it reached the tips of their fingers. Then their hopes, their dreams would fade. Then their minds. Until, eventually, their bodies gave in. They were past the point of no return, they had forged the link, now they just had to stabilise it. Chapter 103 The Oaths That Bind Us Feeling the searing heat emanating from their soul, they knew they had to work quickly. Stabilise the link, before it collapsed and left them crippled. They needed the skill. Now. One half still floundered, unused to the rigours of true mental communion. The other knew what to do. They trusted, and they acted. It was time for the bloodrite. They knew, even now, that they could back out. Even splitting their minds, they knew they wouldn''t. Pain was acceptable, risk was acceptable. They would be forged anew, and rise above, or they would die. Opening their eyes, they were treated to a mind spinning duplicated sight of their bodies. One stout, red, furred, and strong. The other tall, pale, lithe, and strong. They moved slowly, mortal flesh struggling to cope with the sensation that flowed across their link. Their human body drew their hunting knife with a shaking hand. Their meles body raised their paw to their mouth. Diverting a modicum of effort, they suppressed their Health. The sting of tooth and blade was lost in the all consuming pyre that lashed across their link. Heartblood sprayed. With their Endurance they would survive for a short while, but the oath had to be forged so that they could heal. They clasped arms, anointing the stone below with the ichor of their covenant. Hearts thumped in sync. "We are one, by the rites of strife and adversity, the pact of the hunt, and the oath of fire and blood. Be it searing sun, or frozen moon, we will endure. Our blood is our bond, unbroken in the face of storm and starfall. We are the fangs in the night, and the heartbeat of the dawn. Forged in blood and pain, we rise. Unity will be our sword, and loyalty our shield. Witnessed by fate, and seen by the Arbitrator, let it be known. We are one." They spoke, voices thrumming with the potency of an ancient pact revitalised once more. The system noticed, and a familiar ding sounded in their minds. **Ding! General Skill Available! Would you like to learn: Soulforged Covenant (Unique)?** They accepted. The might of the system thrummed. Two seeds of power, the realisation of their shared might, substantiated in orbit around their souls. The new shard joined the procession of their constellations of legacy skills, filling the missing slots, completing the preparation for their final ascension. Their skills thrummed with anticipation, vibrating with barely concealed power as they waited for the final skill to be ready. Then Soulforged Covenant activated. Power surged, torrenting from the skill to suffuse the ragged holes in their souls. Soulstuff melted, channelling and bleeding across the yawning chasm that was their link. Then it started to contract. Finger-length by finger-length, the tunnel of meaning and connection shrunk, pulling their souls into alignment. As they drew together, the tears in the border of their centres widened. They gasped, feeling the last remaining shreds of difference dissolve. They writhed, the dissolution of ego as much agony as it was ecstasy. Souls united, the bubbles of their soul''s dominions intersecting, woven together with arcane might and a harmonious thrum of unity that burst free from their souls. Then a pearlescent shimmer burst into existence, sealing the bridge. It wasn''t a total severance, for that had become an impossibility with a shared centre. Yet, it was enough to delineate. They became he, and Kaius returned to himself. "By the fucking gods, what the fuck was that!" He called out, reeling backwards to slump into the bunk behind him as a rapidfire ping of dings screamed through his mind. Porkchop groaned on the floor. "They said it would be bad-weird, but I didn''t expect that." Kaius shot him a wild look, before he burst into hysterical laughter. "Holy shit! We were we, what the fuck! You can feel your claws!? That''s so weird!" he asked, the vivid memory of feeling his own handspan long nails clacking on the stone floor. Snapping up, Porkchop stared at him in bewilderment. "That''s what you took from this? Not the fact that, oh, I don''t know, we apparently share a soul-space now?" He turned his attention to the final notification that burned at the front of his mind, bringing it up with a flick of intent. **Ding! 10th Skill Capped!** **Ding! Completed Legacy Detected!** **Ding! Initiate Special Skill Evolution - Soulforged Covenant?** Looking up, Kaius locked eyes with Porkchop, receiving a slight nod in return. Taking a deep breath, he accepted the system''s prompt as he felt Porkchop do the same. He dropped into his soul-space as he felt the system descend, the undeniable power of the omnipresent force blanketing his soul. It made him feel small, like a gnat in the face of the burning might of the sun. He watched his soul flare, burning light reaching new heights, engulfing the nebulae that were his resource pools to brush up against the locked points of his equidistant skills. Right by him, he could feel -see- Porkchop''s soul doing the same. His legacy skills started to SCREAM. Not hatefully, not with the avaricious violence that they belted out during each and every one of his skill mergers. Instead it was pure, a note of harmonised, utterly complete, joy. One of purpose fulfilled, of destiny made manifest. It washed over him, the hairs on the back of his neck rising as they sang to a new crescendo. Thrumming, shifting with a scintillating platinum light. Where previously they looked like shards of the purest crystal hued with a metallic shine, now they looked liquid. Amorphous. The system reached out. Implacable. Inexorable. Ten chains of his purest essence were ripped free from his soul, entirely outside of his control. They plunged into his skills, all of them. A second later he was awash in their power. A storm of might and fury that threatened to drown him in its potency. A typhoon only made worse by his exposure to Porkchop''s own. While he may not have felt it as keenly as his own experience, it was there, yanking at him. Once more the system stepped in, bolstering him in the face of concepts made manifest. Then it began to weave. Chains of light, meaning, and understanding shot between the skills, before linking them in a great decagramic web. With his soul -the totality of all that he contained- as the conduit, the firestorm of power rushed through the network. Sacred geometry magnified and refined the power, directing it to suffuse Soulforged Covenant. It was more than the skill could bear. Great ripples shot through the liquid crystal, threatening to disperse the conceptual nexus into a fine mist. Constrained by the system until it boiled, the pressure grew more explosive by the second as it railed against the forced limits of an unclassed. The system refused. Forcing the skill to maintain its shape as it packed more and more power into its tight confines. Kaius knew an agony that he had never known before. Every facet of his being felt wrung out. Drained of all vitality as all that he was was scoured by an unrelenting forceful torrent of pure arcane might far beyond what his mortal form could tolerate. His body, his mind, his very soul began to break down. Fraying at the seams. Again the system refused. Forcing him to bear witness to its majesty. Soulforged Covenant could take no more. Even boiling with forcefully contained power, there was only so much the skills structure could take. It shattered. The system swept up the refuse, forcing more current through his soul, whirling it into a raging typhoon that sucked at the surrounding power of the ritual. Kaius started to scream, eyes locked on the declaration of supremacy that occurred before him. With deft will, sheer gaseous meaning was condensed, suffused with the purity of essence contained in his legacy skills. There, in the eye of the maelstrom, a new skill began to germinate. One shining with the purest platinum light. The final member of the conclave. It grew, and with a snap it was over. His centre returned to stillness, his ten skills locked in equidistant orbit around his soul, slowly dimming to its normal radiance. The system withdrew. A ding sounded in his mind. Kaius blacked out. Chapter 104 Evolution Kaius came to with a groan, every inch of his body aching like he had been trampled by a dozen draught horses. Everything about the last hour was hazy, as if he had witnessed it in a drunken haze. From a distance, at that. He pushed himself up, shaking his head as his bleary eyes struggled to take in the utilitarian kitchen that sat in front of him. Porkchop wasn''t much better, groaning in discomfort as he shifted up off the brick floor. It was strange. He could still feel him. Porkchop, that is. The way he sat. Held himself. The weight of his body on the warmed slabs of stone beneath him. It should have been mind bending, but it wasn''t. Distinctly different from his sense of his own being, it was more like a new limb. A new awareness that dominated his mind, like a leaden arm that had come to sudden, prickling, wakefulness. Taking a deep breath, Kaius steadied himself. His awareness shifted to the incessant blaring that had been present ever since he returned to waking. A flurry of system derived chimes that clawed at his attention. He didn''t see any reason to deny them. **Ding! General Skill Evolved! Soulforged Covenant (Unique) has become Brotherhood of Ichor and Animus (Heroic)!** Kaius grinned as he read the system notification. They''d done it. They''d actually gotten another Heroic skill. It was an impossible achievement, one that almost seemed outside of the realm of possibility. Sure, maybe nothing quite so extreme as the existence of Honours, but he would have to be an entitled wastrel to not recognise its value. Feeling Porkchop finish digesting his own, as one they turned their attention back to their next notifications. **Ding! Racial Trait Obtained! Prepare For Assimilation: Greater Beastblooded!** **Ding! Unclassed Detected! Assisting with Absorption...** It started in his marrow, a sickening twist in the gentle flesh that lay sheltered in his bones. The fatty tissue started to boil. Kaius writhed, crying out as his voice cracked like dropped glass. It was all encompassing, unavoidable, potent, and enduring. Torturous heat that burned within him. Scorching him from the inside out. Then it started to spread. Penetrating his bones, the basal support of his body shattered in a series of sickening cracks as the foreign force changed him from within. Uncaring in its iron cruelty. Kaius threw his head back, gasping. Wide eyes roved the room, sliding over bunks and kitchen cabinets, skipping past Porkchop''s mewling form where he underwent his own mutagenic change. He could feel that too. Sickening claws, picking and prodding at the very weave of his friend''s mind. An inversion of his own torture. It heightened his madness, giving him no corner to escape to. The two processes reflected through their link, amplifying the symphony of madness and loss of control. From the bones it spread to the muscles. All of a sudden he went limp, unable to twitch despite every fabric of his soul telling he had to move. To flee the source of his torment. He could not, not when it came from within. Not when it changed him inexorably, the mutation as total as it was slow. Fibres unravelled, breaking down into a primordial ooze, before substantiating whole-cloth once more, rewoven into a tighter, denser, structure. Then it got to his blood. And from his blood, to everywhere. Highways of mind-breaking pain flooded his body with potent acid. Organs dissolved, skin sloughed, and thought was forgotten. All he could do was gurgle. Swept away in a current of power and might that cared not for his mortal concerns and wants, only what He. Must. Be. From the scattered ashes, from the sludge of genetic excess and discarded weakness, he was born anew. Potent marrow wrapped in gleaming crystalline bones. His ribs thickened, shifting beneath his skin as they shrunk the gaps to shield vulnerable organs beneath. Cross-woven muscles stretched between them, explosive power held tight in the stout cables, anchored with ligamenture that thrummed with tension. His heart pumped with furious intensity, each pulse sending more and more change through his body. Nerves seared with the bright fury of the sun, scorching him with their overwhelming might. A storm that delivered the pain of his total consumption in perfect clarity, changed synapses sensing the breaking of his body with cruel and unmatched acuity. His skin toughened. Supple, flexible, but unassailable. A barrier that protected all within. Time blurred, meaningless in the face of dissolution, leaving him floating on a sea of agony and metamorphosis. Hi''s eyes widened. "Really? Well you got my green." he said, nodding towards his friend "I got a physical empowerment, same scaling." Kaius leaned forwards, rubbing his eyes, "So I just got access to the main benefit of greater beasts, and you the same with the higher races?" he asked, incredulous. "It would seem so." He looked up, staring his friend dead in the face, and started to grin. "We''re going to be absolute terrors, aren''t we?" "I certainly wouldn''t want to fight us," Porkchop chuffed. "That ogre is as good as dead meat." Kaius laughed. "Hells, I sure fucking hope so. Though I''m still going to need a good bit of time to cap the rest of my skills before we do that, so we''ll have to take our time heading back. Plus, I wouldn''t mind a week or two extended rest in one of those dwarven estates on the upper tier of the city. Those kitchens were to die for," he salivated, thinking of the stocked larders full of goods that he had never dreamed of being able to afford, let alone feast on to his heart''s content. Much better than the austere fare that they had found in the laboratory kitchens, that was for damned sure. Kaius stood up with a groan, wavering slightly as his body responded just a little too quickly with more strength than he was used to. "Going to need to get used to this, as well," he mumbled, pulling another woollen blanket off one of the bunks to mop at his sweat soaked body. The scratchy fabric tugged uncomfortably at his skin, felt far more acutely than normal. Thankfully, despite his worries, there was no gore, so he didn''t need another shower. With how sensitive his skin felt, he might actually die if he had to douse himself in the frigid torrent that served as a rain-room. "I''m gonna check out the new trait, then I''ll make us some more food before we rest," he said, tossing the soiled blanket aside. Racial traits were odd things. Incredibly rare, and only sometimes heritable. Dynastic was by far the most common, one awarded to those that merged three or more legacy skills, one of which had to be made of four skills. It was heritable, but the second generation had to meet the same requirements if they wanted to pass it on themselves. Considering the nature of legacy Dynasties, Kaius sincerely doubted that it happened often. Other than tragedy, or a forgotten misbegotten child, all but the most selfish and idiotic passed down their legacy skills. Though, for those who had joined a more organisational dynasty such as the Mystral colleges, even descendants would have to meet the requirements to join. Albeit with more... flexible entry requirements. Still, despite everything he never expected to get another one so soon. Usually if someone got any at all, it was from high tier classes, or lucky encounters in the deep reaches of the Depths. Getting one now was invaluable, though he had yet to see how it would scale. With that on his mind, he pulled up the description of both Greater Beastblooded, and Dynastic Greater Beastblooded: Racial Trait - Heritable Marrow of might, and spine of steel. Tempered and reborn with the vital essence of a greater meles, you contain a shred of their inexorable might. +1 Endurance, Strength, and Willpower per Level. Dynastic: Racial Trait - Heritable (Conditional) Platinum purity burns with capricious light, be thankful. Your soul has been washed in the light of multiple legacy skills, fueling your growth. +1 Free Stats per Level. Kaius''s jaw went slack as he took in his latest trait. Three stats per level was incredible. In the first tier, it was the equivalent of boosting his class rarity by three whole grades. Sure, the relative benefit would quickly be outstriped by the scaling of the tiers, but that was a whole class and two-hundred levels away. Until then, it was an unbelievable advantage. And to be able to pass it on too... "Is yours heritable too?" he asked in a small voice. "Without conditions?" "Yeah." Porkchop all but whispered. Kaius sat dumbfounded, staring at the screen that hung in his vision. No matter what happened in the future, the weight of being the last scion of Unterstern had just gotten that much heavier. Chapter 105 Celebrations Kaius chewed his lip. The Depths had been explosive for his growth, but even for him, the gains he had made over the day had radically launched him to a few strides from the finish line. One Honour, one legacy skill, one special evolution, and one racial trait. It was almost too much, it felt unreal. Like something he heard about in bard tales, not the sort of thing he would ever actually live through. He needed to check his status. Needed to make sure it was actually there, that he wasn''t just dreaming, or bleeding out after a bad hit from a Champion. Status: Name: Kaius Dynasty: Unterstern Age: 18 Class Selection: 1 Year, 2 days Race: Human (Dynastic, Greater Beastblooded) - +1 Wil, Str, End, and free stats per level Layer Reached: 2 Resources: Health - 460/460 (3.6/min) Stamina - 360/360 (3.6/min) Mana - 510/510 (5.1/min) Free Mana - 510/510 Reserved Mana - 0 Stats: Endurance - 30 + 16 (46) Vitality - 20 + 16 (36) Strength - 20 + 16 (36) Dexterity - 20 + 16 (36) Intelligence - 20 + 31 (51) Willpower: - 20 + 31 (51) Stat Points: 0 Class Skills (0/10): N/a General Skills (10/10): Rapid Adaptation (Heroic) - 20 Warforged (Unique) - 20 Explorers Toolkit (Unusual) - 17 > 18 Adamant Body (Unique) - 18 > 19 True Sight (Unique) - 14 > 17 Runic Lexicon (Unusual) - 20 Mana Manipulation (Unusual) - 20 Lesser Regeneration (Unusual) - 8 > 14 Uncanny Dodge (Unique) - 0 > 1 They passed through laboratories of gleaming glass and vile sludge, specimen cells full of tanks of mutagen and cages that held the bones of failed experiments. There were research rooms too. Small libraries, filled with notes and books. Much like the dwarven city they were filled with some sort of nonsense language. A different one, but still unintelligible. Kaius suspected that the Depths must not have wanted to waste resources developing coherent thought in Common. That, or it wasn''t intelligent enough to, and the books were nothing more than the twisted reflection of a dreaming god. Strangely, even with multiple days having passed, the corpses of the abominations they had slain hadn''t started to smell. Whatever alchemy and sorcery had been used in the monster''s creation, it had tainted the flesh so thoroughly that not even rot wished to touch it. When they grew tired, they sought another dorm room. They were frequent enough. Each day they passed by at least a pair, so thankfully it was never more than another hour or so''s walk to the next one when fatigue started to set in. The exit was drawing close. Kaius could feel it in his bones, the navigational bent of Explorer''s Toolkit allowing him to draw on a thousand half forgotten memories of individual rooms to keep track of their progress. As they walked, Kaius looked at the count down towards his class selection for what felt like the thousandth time that day. It had to be any minute now. **Class Selection: 1 Year** The counter ticked over. "Happy birthday to me," he said softly. Porkchop looked over sharply as he stepped over the cold corpse of a twisted teratoma. "Your birthday? Already?" "Yeah," Kaius smiled. "Though before you ask we''re not doing any celebrating until we get the hell out of the Depths. That is, if the meles even celebrate birthdays?" he asked, curious. Sometimes the meles felt like any other race, at others they were utterly alien. He wouldn''t be surprised no matter Porkchop''s answer. Well, that might have been going a bit far, he''d heard some pretty off the wall answers from Porkchop before about life in the Dens. Porkchop snorted. "Of course we do. You pick what you want to eat, and others will hunt it or find it for you. It''s basically the only time I got to eat Katcha fruit." "The thing we found in the Tomblord''s loot?" Kaius asked with an arched brow. Porkchop chuffed in confirmation. "Anyway, waiting till we are out sounds like a good idea. Mine will be in a few weeks as well. What would you want to do." They reached the end of the room, and Kaius opened the thick wooden door to the next. Kaius hummed, thinking. "Honestly? After all this shit? I''d love for nothing more than to sit by the fire at the Stout Oak and drink enough tankards of ale that I can no longer walk. It might not actually be possible with Rapid Adaptation, but I''m sure as hells going to try my best," he answered. "What about you?" "I want more stew, and you will make it for me, as is tradition. A whole barrel full." Porkchop said with firm conviction. "Oh? You''ve certainly got the stomach for it. Say, I just have to get it for you right? Not actually make it myself?" Porkchop turned to him, giving him a look. "Kaius, I don''t think you will be able to find an unattended barrel of stew." He laughed, pushing his way through the next marked door. This room was another library, and thankfully held no stinking alchemy or abomination corpses. From memory, it would only be a score or two more rooms until they were out. "I know, but the stuff at the Stout Oak is better than what I can make. Illendra and the rest have actual hospitality-focused classes, not just a general skill. With the amount of depths-coin we have, we could almost certainly get you enough to swim in." Porkchop paused for a moment, thinking. "That will do. Enough stew to swim in, it is." "Wait a second, I wasn''t actually serious," Kaius said, blanching. "It will be my birthday." Porkchop said with faux-seriousness. Sighing defeatedly, Kaius slumped his shoulders. "Fine. But not all at once, I''ll keep buying you stew until you get sick of it." "Though I have a feeling I''m going to regret saying that," Kaius muttered to himself. Porkchop chittered, amusement flowing across their link. They kept walking. In the end, ''close'' was a relative thing, but eventually they made it back to the first room they had entered the laboratory from. A flayed horrors corpse lay smashed and brutalised amongst the remains of broken tables and alchemical glassware. Above it, the same mezzanine library where he had tweaked his spell to better suit the regeneration of the inhabitants of the biome. He smiled at the memory, compressing the structure of the spell so that it penetrated deep and ruptured explosively was only a small stroke of genius, but it was his own. That made it all the more precious. Work done purely by his own hands, without the aid of Father. With how effective it had proven against the abominations, he saw no reason to swap the spell out. Without a doubt, it would be less effective against armoured opponents, at least those wearing anything heavier than leather and chain. If the spell was unable to pierce through armour, much of its potency would be lost. Thankfully, their ultimate target was all but naked, from what he could remember. With his latest gainst to his Intelligence he could hold a full seventeen, though in reality with the mana cost of using his stylus, sixteen was his true limit. It would still be a significant force multiplier against the lightly armoured goblins, though he might need to switch it out for the ogre. Tearing his eyes away from the seat where he had first crafted the spell, Kaius swung open the door that led to the standard tunnels common in the depths that seemed to surround the compound they had been exploring. He peered down the hallway, releasing his hold on True Sight just enough to peel back the mists of distance. It was a straight shot, and he was almost sure he could see the far off end of the biome. "Almost there," he muttered, anticipation thrumming through him at the thought of capping the last of his legacy skills. Chapter 106 Training Barely more than a few hundred long-strides into the fungal fields that surrounded the dwarven city, Kaius spotten his first goblin. It was a good way off, far enough that it wouldn''t notice them unless they actively tried to get its attention. It was an ugly, wretched thing. Dressed in little more than rotting cotton and scavenged burlap, it looked even more twisted and malnourished than the standard hordelings that lurked in the city proper. Holding a bare sheet of metal, roughly hacked and sharpened into the shape of a machete, it prowled through the fields, inspecting the dizzying array of fungi before occasionally stopping by a choice specimen to crudely chop off a chunk and then depositing it in the basket on its back. He doubted it would last more than an eyeblink in open combat with him. Especially now, after everything. He could feel the power that thrummed through his body. More than just the quantifiable increase from his latest Honour, his new beast blood ran hot with the violent joy of the hunt. Strengthening him, even as it enticed his Bloodsong. A perfect opponent to train his Lesser Regeneration. Unlike the rest of his skills, it required him to actually get hurt, which meant the most effective thing to do would be to at least remove his cuirass. In the city, that would be far too risky. With the goblins congregating in gangs, he would have no way of controlling the chaotic melee. A duel with an inferior opponent was far, far better. He stopped, Porkchop pulling up beside him as he felt his intentions through their bond. "This the one?" "Yeah," Kaius nodded, undoing the buckles of his armour. He pulled it free, allowing the weighty scale to drop to the earth with a clatter of metal on metal. Then he removed his reinforced jacket. While it was thin enough that it wouldn''t hamper his efforts, he saw no reason to get it bloody and torn. The jacket joined the cuirass. "Stay here and watch my stuff, would you?" Kaius said, stepping forwards. Porkchop chuffed, and Kaius felt his friend settle down next to his gear. "Put on a good show!" he called from behind him. Kaius simply shook his head and smiled, keeping his eyes locked on the half-starved form of the working goblin serf. He focused his True Sight, bringing up the depths-born''s status. Goblin Serf - Level 14: Depths-born, Low Race He whistled, a piercing and pure note cutting through the air. The goblin''s head snapped towards him, a vicious snarl revealing chipped and blackened teeth as it let out a guttural growl. Slinging the basket off its back, and spilling its cargo of fungi as it did so, the depths-born scampered towards him. Kaius''s heart thumped, a wry smile crossing his face as the cool air of the cavern brushed against his skin, heightening his senses and juxtaposing the rushing heat that coursed through his veins. This was going to be fun. With a flicker of intent, he cranked True Vision higher, boosting his acuity until his head began to throb. Immediately the goblin was thrown into a stark relief. Even half a field away, he could see the years of dirt that had been worked into its skin, the hard calluses and ropey scars from a life of forced labour, and the way each thread in its garb was fraying. It was a lot, more than he had ever tried to bear in combat before. He needed to do it. If he never pushed his limits to the skill, it would only ever be a useful scouting tool. A waste of its full potential. He started to jog, arms pumping. A Father''s Gift stayed firmly nestled in its sheath, using his blade would defeat the purpose of what he wanted to do. Afterall, you couldn''t get stabbed if you parried, and he wasn''t trying to kill the depths-born. At least, not yet. They met in the middle, the goblin throwing itself forward with a howl and a thrust. Kaius watched the blade, his mind racing as his eyes drank in every detail they could. It was slow, almost like the depths-born were moving underwater. Dodging would have been simplicity itself. Hell, the danger sense of his last legacy skill didn''t even flare. He stepped in, pivoting slightly, pulling his torso just to the left. Mana - 510/510 (5.1/min) Free Mana - 30/30 Reserved Mana - 480 It was low, as low as he was comfortable letting it get. Any more would be an unnecessary risk, especially when there was an effectively endless supply of willing goblin serfs in the fungal fields that would be more than happy to whale on him. Twisting on his front foot, Kaius pivoted and slammed his heel into the goblins ribs. Air rushed from its lungs in a ragged gasp as he sent it to the ground like a sack of bricks. In a single fluid motion he planted his foot and drew his sword, smoothly sliding into an overhand slash that caved in its skull. It quivered once, every muscle in its body going rigid for a single moment, before it slackened and died. **Ding! level 14 Goblin Serf slain** Kaius''s chest heaved, the focus and fury of the Bloodsong slowly withdrawing from him. In its wake, the aches and agonies of dozens of healed cuts and stabs washed over him, weighing him down with a mental fatigue. He groaned, sheathing his sword before he looked down to take in the blood drenched state of his torso. Without any nearby rest stops, he would need to wait until they got back to the city to properly wash. Until then, he''d have to make do with a damp cloth. "Gods dammit," he sighed, arms dropping in defeat as he made his way back to where Porkchop was watching over his armour and bags. With every step his boots squelched, saturated from the blood of a dozen would-be mortal wounds. Amusement shone loud and clear through their link, Porkchop chuffing in amusement at the display he had put on. "You know, for someone who loves spilling so much blood, you really seem to hate having it on you," Porkchop teased. Kaius rolled his eyes. "Just because I love a good fight, doesn''t mean that I''m an actual psychopath. Besides, I have no idea how you can tolerate it getting in your fur, doesn''t it stick?" he asked, bending down to pick up his pack. He didn''t bother putting on his shirt or cuirass though, he''d just have to take it off again for the next goblin. It wasn''t like there was anything really dangerous out in the fungal fields, anyway. Then, as he reached for a waterskin to wash off his blood, he realised that if he used it now he would run out before they got to the city. He sighed, slumping in defeat and slung on his pack instead. A little discomfort was worth capping the skill. Even if he could feel his pants sticking to his legs. He started walking up the next rise. "It''s not that bad," Porkchop said, responding to his question as he fell in behind him. "At least it''s only blood. Undead and abomination goop is an entirely different story." Kaius chuckled. That was a more than fair assessment, in his opinion. He had a fraction of Porkchop''s sense of smell, and even for him the ichor of battle against those depths-born was on the verge of intolerable. "So is this your master plan? Get slashed up like a cut of meat until you level Lesser Regeneration?" "Pretty much," he admitted. "Though I''m trying to get used to using True Sight to its full capacity, so I might be able to squeeze a few levels out of that. And maybe the last level of Adamant Body. I doubt i''ll get anything out of Uncanny Dodge unfortunately, that would require actually avoiding attacks." "What of when we get to the city then?" Porkchop asked. Kaius turned back to his friend and gave him a wild grin. "How do you feel about a frontal assault?" Chapter 107 Unexpected Gains Kaius slid his feet through the loamy soil, twisting in place to allow the goblin serf''s adze to dig into the meat of his thigh. He took the wound with little more than a stoic grunt, even as the ice cold metal tinked against his femur. The depths-born ripped its weapon free with a sickeningly jubilant cry. That pissed him off. He stepped in, cutting off its foul glee with a knee to the gut, then smashed it down to the ground with a backhand coated in scale. It went down hissing, scrambling drunkenly before its Health could clear its concussion. The muscle in his thigh writhed, quicker than it had only a few days prior. The sensation still sickened him, the unnatural animation of his flesh only worsened by the speed of his healing. He still preferred it to no healing at all. **Ding! Lesser Regeneration has reached level 19!** Kaius grinned as he read the notification. It was more than welcome, after days spent slowly rotating through the farms that surrounded the dwarven city. He hated training like this. It was so much less satisfying, less visceral, than the burn and heat of a true battle. Sure, it still got the heart pumping, and it was effective, but his blood barely simmered. There was no manic song that coursed through his veins, revitalising his body and mind. It was boring, plain and simple. The goblin threw itself to its feet in a howl of fury, lunging forward with a short grip on the haft of its weapon. Spittle flew free of its mouth, sticky slime landing on Kaius''s chest. He growled. Blood was one thing, but that was just fucking gross. His hand snapped out, grabbing its adze in an open palm. The chipped edge sank into his flesh, cracking the bones in his hand. He ignored the hot flood of blood that pumped from the gash, twisting with his hips to land a jaw-shattering haymaker. A single stinking and rot-laden tooth flew free of its mouth. It collapsed, squealing. Then, something unexpected happened. **Ding! Moderate Feat of Strength performed under Observation. You have been awarded an Honour: Persistent Survivor** Kaius blinked as the notification came into view, then he moved. A quick step in brought him towards the goblin, who frantically waved its adze in a wild attempt to gut him. Contemptuously slapping the blow aside, he ripped his hunting knife out of the sheath on his hip, burying it point first into the depths-borns eye. **Ding! level 13 Goblin Serf slain** Ripping his knife free, he did his best to wipe it clean on one of the few cleanish sections of his pants, before he returned it to its place on his hip. "What''s up? I felt you get excited, then you killed it. Did you cap the skill?" Porkchop asked in curiosity as he strode over. Kaius gave his friend a wide grin. "Honour," he answered simply. Porkchop froze, staring at him in shock before a riot of excitement and anticipation flooded over their bond-deepened connection. "WHAT! What is it?!" he asked in a flood of impressions that boarded the line between words and beast-speech. Kaius understood the sentiment, receiving another Honour so soon was beyond what he had expected. Even getting another one at all was a surprise. He had absolutely no clue what it was for, and he strongly doubted it had anything to do with fighting goblin serfs of all things. Kaius watched the figure, with his True Sight it was easy to see the way it twisted and hunched in on itself as it hacked at a particularly woody mushroom with a crude machete. Maybe Porkchop was right, letting himself get beat on was always frustrating, and stretching his legs always made him feel better. He dropped his bag and armour to the ground. "Yeah, alright. Mind watching this for me? I''ll be back soon." he said, striding towards the depths-spawn. He didn''t draw his sword. It wouldn''t exactly be the most sporting thing, and he wasn''t exactly going to work up a sweat if he killed it in the opening exchange. No, for this his fists would do. A rapid heat caressed his spine, stoked by the fires of his anger. His frustration at an uncaring world that would "Have fun!" Porkchop called encouragingly from behind him. Kaius breathed in, inhaling the earthy scents of the fields as his heart started to quicken. His blood hummed, barely a single note, but it was just enough to bring a smile to his face. .... Caving in the skull of a goblin with only his fists did much to alleviate Kaius of his stress and angst. Thanks to its Health, the depths-born ended up being quite the punching bag, returning to its feet as he smashed it flat time and time again. With every punch he split the skin on his knuckles, every blow resounding with the crack of bone against bone. The slight pain of the impacts were forgotten, quickly washed away in a rising song of heat, fury, and frustration. It couldn''t touch him, openings visible all through its shoddy guard and amateur assaults. Every second Explorer''s Toolkit drew more and more to his awareness. How he could disable it, break its limbs, trip it up, shove it off balance, or simply cave in its throat with a simple straight punch. He ignored the openings, selective of those only the most basic. Those that would let him feel the satisfying crack of chipped teeth and bruised flesh against his fists. **Ding! Explorer''s Toolkit has reached level 19!** By the twelfth punch he was growling, by the eighteenth he was insensate, tension shooting through his jaws as he clenched his teeth, his entire world view narrowing until it was just him and a metallic smelling target painted in red and green. It was catharsis embodied. Smashing the goblin flat once more, he kicked its machete free of its grip and mounted it. He rained down blow after blow, the goblins rage-filled cries slowly transitioning to a wet gurgle as he shattered its long nose and caved in its jaw. It didn''t last much longer than that. With a crunch, he had broken through its skull, planting his hand up to his wrist in grey matter. **Ding! level 13 Goblin Serf slain** Then he stood once more, his chest heaving as he stared down at the shattered remnants of the abused depths-born, its brain dripping from his fingers in hot globs that left traces of fatty slickness on his skin. The iron stench of its blood mixed with the spore-filled must of the fields, a bouquet that urged him on to greater acts of rage. He backed up, his heart cooling as the Bloodsong slowly left him. Turning away from the destruction he had wrought, Kaius let out a long sigh. He still ached with worry and uncertainty at his Father''s fate. He wasn''t sure how much that had helped, and it rankled how easily he had indulged meaningless cruelty. Porkchop waited for him at the top of the rise, standing over his gear. "I''m not sure how I feel after that," he said. "I know, but at least you are calmer. Let''s get your last level for your healing skill, and then we can push on to the city." Porkchop replied. Kaius looked over to his left, taking in the titanic stacked walls of the dwarven citadel. Even from such a distance, he could make out the sharp engravings that covered the darkened stone. He smiled as he did so, watching the shattered gate that they had originally passed through so many months ago. Their next trip through the city would be far different from their first one. No more scurrying through the alleys. It would be a hard fight, but a fun one. Besides, he''d been looking forward to practising fighting together with Porkchop since they had gotten their bond skill. Chapter 108 Montage or: Eye of the Meles Kaius did up the last buckle of his cuirass, the cold alloy wrapping him in a comforting protective weight. They''d stopped by the gate to the city, the shattered and twisted steel blown inwards to reveal a familiar arterial road lined with austere and blocky buildings. Rows of barracks and smithies, the military industrial backbone of the fortress. The walls of the fortress city loomed over him, draping both he and Porkchop in a deep cloak of shadow as its bulk hid them from the crystal sun suspended over the centre of the city. Hidden behind a shard of stride-thick steel as large as a barn door, his skill sharpened eyes slid over the dozens of bodies of dwarven heavy shock troops, wrapped in enough metal to arm a whole warband. Instead, it was the teeming masses of goblins that caroused in the street, and lounged in the shadowy alleys, that held his attention. The biome had reset in their absence. Thankfully, or perhaps unfortunately, the Champions had not. They would have come across the mounted goblin Outrider in their blitz through the fungal fields if they had. He held up his left hand, seeing the High Lothian lines of his runic hymns peaking through the gaps in his armour. With his latest increase to Intelligence he had been able to inscribe a full eighteen charges of his spell. A weighty payload, considering each one promised death to all but a Champion. Tightening his grip until his knuckles went white, he felt his newly enhanced strength, the way his hardened flesh resisted the pressure. Even the sensation of pressure was heightened. Beast-blooded. Kaius still didn''t understand the full depths of his transformation. He would soon. Dropping his arm back to his side he drew A Father''s Gift. "You ready?" Kaius asked, keeping his eyes locked on the goblins just inside the gate. Porkchop let out a soft, rumbling growl, anticipation and primal aggression flooding through their link. Kaius smiled at that, feeling his heart start to thrum with the drums of war. He drank deep from the river of their bond, falling into its embrace. Porkchop did the same, a well of insight and understanding flooding between them. On some level it was similar to the raw dissolution of self that he experienced when they had forged the skill. Yet if that was a raging forest fire that threatened to consume him from within, this was the warmth of shared brotherhood found around the campfire that held back the dark. The lines between them blurred. He could feel the dirt beneath Porkchop''s pads, the way the tepid wind of the cavern ruffled his fur, how his thick barding weighed comfortably across his back and shoulders. When Porkchop took a step forwards, he knew the motion as if he had done it himself. The weight and speed of it, the direction and motion. The intention. Yet still, he remained himself. There was no gestalt, no dissolution of self. Simple awareness and understanding, heightened to a level that only those who shared a centre might understand. They charged forwards, a cry of delight and a promise of violence on his lips. To his side, his brother roared a challenge, daring the goblins to meet them on the field of their doom. The goblins paused, staring at them almost incredulously. Frozen in shock, even if just for a moment. Racing through the gate, they made no move to head for the alley. This was a battle of might and fury, not of tactics and insight. Kaius''s left arm snapped up, flicking towards the goblin archers that lined the roof of the tallest building to their left. The barracks they had first explored. One after another, azure darts snapped into existence, lancing through the air to punch through the flimsy leathers of the archers and settling deep in their chests. Before he had taken three more steps, a staccato of wet booms echoed through the city. Ribs distended before rupturing totally, goblin flesh and organ meat fountaining from gaping holes that had been blown in the archers torsos. One by one, they fell from the roof. Hitting the ground dead. **Ding! level 13 Goblin Archer slain** ... **Ding! level 12 Goblin Archer slain** As they impacted the stone with a sickening splash, the spell that enthralled the mob of goblins on the street was broken. They howled, racing towards them in a tide of green bearing all manner of crude clubs, machetes, hatchets and more. Tributaries streamed from the alleys, merging with the greater wave to bolster their assault. True Sight sharpened, and he drank in their ranks. He could see it. The lacking coordination. The way they jostled, shoved, and clawed their way forwards. The weak points in the lines. The cracks in the bulwark. This was no regiment. It was a rabble. His hand shot out, golden embers falling from the back of his hand as explosive darts shot over the heads of the horde that pressed him. Ice blue shards sank into wiry flesh. One of the archers gargled and loosed the missile it held at full draw. A warning screamed in his mind, and he drifted to the side with alacrity as a returned arrow whistled past his face. A fraction of a moment later, two booms coated the goblins'' backline in the remains of their ranged support. His heart kept his rhythm, pumping a song of slaughter through his veins. The world closed in, his sharpened eyes focused only on the chaotic flow of a river of corpses-yet-to-be. Turning once again, he drove his pommel into the back of the head of a bruiser that had been slightly too focused on Porkchop. Bone crunched, and he was by his brother''s side once more. They sped up, Porkchop the anvil to his hammer. They corralled the goblins into dense masses of hate, and then crushed them. Leaving discarded limbs and cooling bodies in their wake. Kaius grinned, feeling the spray of blood on his exposed teeth. At first their bond had been almost distracting, his new sense of Porkchop''s location and actions too foreign to work into his fighting style effectively. Yet now, as they tore their way through the infested city, that had changed. They moved seamlessly, supporting each other''s weaknesses and capitalising on created openings with an efficiency usually reserved for companions who had fought together for decades. It was a glorious thing, and their combined slaughter made his blood run hot with savage glee. A skirmisher charged him. Porkchop lunged, shoulder barging it and sending the goblin reeling as it lost its footing. Kiaus was ready, slamming the pommel of his sword into the top of its skull, caving in the bone. Explorer''s Toolkit twinged, alerting him to yet another archer that rushed to the edge of an alley, arrow already nocked. His hand snapped out in a second, gold and blue scintillating over the thrum of goblin bodies as his Explosive Arcane Bolt snapped over their heads. The archer''s eyes widened, and it threw itself to the side in a desperate attempt to dodge. Kaius latched on to his spell with his Mana Manipulation, gritting his teeth as he shredded through the remnants of his free mana to curve the projectile. It sank deep into the archer''s chest with a spray of green blood. A moment later it detonated, covering the alley in entrails and gore. Doom screamed as he focused on his spell, his attention getting ripped back to the melee as a bruiser tried to smash in his knee. He slid around the attack with unnatural flexibility, planting his blade in the offending goblin''s head. **Ding! Uncanny Dodge has reached level 17!** He went back to killing. ... They were in the final stretch now, tall buildings of statecraft and opulent noble estates loomed over them as they pushed their way through the penultimate layer of the city. With how open the pavilions were, it was a hard push. Goblins swarmed them from all sides. They might have been lesser in number than the districts below, but without streets and alleys to funnel their numbers, it was far harder to stop themselves from being overwhelmed. It took everything he had to dance through the mass, dealing death with every movement. **Ding! Uncanny Dodge has reached level 20!** The frenetic battle pushed Kaius to the limit. Every second he warred with the goblins, the more his heart sang, and the more he grew used to fighting as a unit, the more he got used to using his skills as a cohesive gestalt of death. Their journey was coming to an end however, they''d arrived at the wide stairs that were cut into the final wall of the city. Spiralling their way around the richly carved buttress, they ascended to the site of their destiny. The Guardian. The fight where they would escape, or die. Not yet though, first they had to clear the area surrounding a palatial estate that rested at the food of the embellished stairs. And quite the estate it was. Kaius had never seen so much stained glass. Nor, for that matter, windows quite so large. Crenulations and spires dotted the roof of the estate, the crystal sun far above throwing teeth like shadows on the surroundings. Kaius booted a goblin, the last of the current group, sending it to the ground as its head cracked loudly on the pavement. He stepped forwards, smiling as he planted a stride of steel through its eye. **Ding! level 13 Goblin Bruiser slain** He''d capped his skills; finished his legacy. With that, their ascension through the city was over. They could rest, prepare, and wait for Porkchop to get his final Honour. He sighed, feeling the raging tempest that was the Bloodsong melt from his body, leaving fatigue in its wake. "Well then," he said, turning to Porkchop who was already licking one paw clean. "Shall we see what they have to eat?" Porkchop''s ears perked up. "More of that ham stuff from last time?" Kaius laughed. "We can only hope." Chapter 109 A Final Moment of Rest, Preparation, and Approach Kaius lounged on a settee, made of finely lacquered wood that was engraved and embossed with solid gold inlay; it was long enough for him to lie at full extension. It was also probably more expensive than the entirety of everything in Three Fields village combined, with cloudy padding that seemed to cradle him from every direction. Blood, green and red both, seeped from his armour to soak into masterfully woven depictions of smithing and craftsmanship, permanently staining the brightly coloured threads. In any other situation he might have felt mortified. Even if it was the Depths, ruining something that was clearly more expensive that he could fathom was not exactly something he relished. This was, however, one of over a dozen seats of similar quality in the sitting room, the fifth such sitting room they had found. On the first floor. That they had only explored a bare third of. Artificial creation or not, seeing such extravagance on display irked him. Not insomuch in the quality and price of the furnishings, but in the bloody greed of it all. Even with a full clan, the place would feel empty. It was a simple, needless, waste in his mind. After growing up in the Arboreal Sea, he could appreciate the desire for expensive comforts, but he simply couldn''t fathom the sheer accumulation of excess. Life was simple on the frontier, you used what you had, to the greatest extent possible. But you didn''t waste it. Nor horde it. Even if he ever grew as rich as one must be to own such an estate, he truly couldn''t imagine ever owning one. It was opulence to the point of impracticality. What use was a dozen kitchens if you had to walk what felt like a league to eat? No, he''d much prefer something small and cosy. A couple of seats that cost as much as a village would be more than enough for him. He sighed, wriggling himself deeper into the embrace of the settee, before he rolled to the side and looked to where Porkchop was splayed out on his back on one of his own. "How long until you get Persistent Survivor?" Kaius asked. Porkchop twisted his head, hanging it over the side of his seat to meet his eyes. "It''s been what, a week since you got yours? Not much longer, maybe one or two more." "That''s not too bad," Kaius said as he willingly slid sideways and kicked his blood soaked legs onto the settee to lie on his side. "What do we do to fill the time?" "More food," Porkchop responded immediately. Kaius smiled, snorting a touch in amusement. "Besides that. We''re about to head into the biggest fight of our lives, so while a rest is important for us to be in peak condition, I don''t want to get even a little soft." Groaning at his response, Porkchop rolled over to look at him more directly. "Easy, we spend a few hours every day getting used to our bond in more brawls, and then we eat like kings when we get back. You could also always work on your spells, do you have any changes you want to make?" Humming in thought, Kaius considered his hymns. Honestly, he was barely passable at High Lothian, all things considered. He might be able to tweak the spell some more, but he definitely couldn''t forge new spells whole cloth like his father could. Which was a damn shame; some sort of fire or acid hymn would have been extremely useful against the ogre. "I think I should probably stick to my original Arcane Bolt, if I''m being honest." Kaius said after a moment''s consideration. "Oh?" Porkchop asked, tilting his head quizzically. It made Kaius smile a little, the comfortable expression on his bond-brothers face completely at odds with fur that was drenched in viscera. "Yeah, it was complete overkill against the regular depths-born, and even most Champions. With how expensive it was, it was a really bad option." Kaius replied, thinking back on his first uses of his glyph where his spell had punched clean through a goblin only to carry on and crack the reinforced stone of a manor across the street. "The Guardian, on the other hand, is supposed to be up to twice the layer cap, at least for the first five layers. It could be level forty, and it''s a big motherfucker at that. I want the spell power to do some real damage, even if just to disable a joint." "You''d know," Porkchop said with a shrug. "You''re the spellcaster after all." Kaius grinned. He could feel it too. The Bloodsong. The sweet taste of battle that all career delvers felt in some capacity. It resonated in his bones, pulsing with fiery intensity with every beat of his heart. "Let''s do it then." he said, taking the first step. They started to climb, passing engraving after engraving, each one showing what looked to be a historical moment for the city. Dwarves exploring the deep darkness of caves that networked through the earth''s depths. Finding...something. Some sort of crystal. News being returned to the surface, and a greater team returning. A cavern being widened, and a town being founded. It was a fascinating thing to watch, and probably his favourite part of the dwarven city. Each one of the city''s walls seemed to have their own story, told in the art of masters on a scale so large it was almost unfathomable. As they ascended to meet their destiny, Kaius turned towards Porkchop and went over their final plan. "I''ve got the seven rejuvenation tonics and the rage tonic in my pouch, you still think you''ll be okay to catch one if I need to toss it to you?" he asked. Porkchop rolled his eyes. "Kaius, we practised throwing around that damned bottle for days, I''m positive it will be fine." Kaius grunted. He still wasn''t perfectly comfortable with holding onto their entire supply of the valuable healing elixirs, but they had very little other option. Porkchop had no hands, and there was sweet fuck all they could do about that little anatomical detail. At least for now. He had heard of artefacts that allowed you to imbibe a tonic from an internal reservoir, but whatever potential presence that had been influencing their depths rewards hadn''t deigned to grant them one. The other potions wouldn''t be an issue. They planned on splitting them between them and downing them to the last drop before they entered the arena. It would be harsh, and the sheer amount of magical energy from so many brews would no doubt be hard on their bodies. It was still better than going without, especially when facing what would no doubt be a foe that could kill them in a single solid hit. It was about the height of what they could do to influence the fight in their favour. He''d wanted to see if they could inscribe some sort of binding formation like they had with the hobgoblin champion, but Porkchop had refused. Vehemently. Too much of a risk, he''d said. Slaying the Guardian as unclassed would be a feat worthy of bardsong, and by that measure it would have an incredible influence on the quality and type of his class, and Porkchop''s bloodline awakening. Approaching it like a traditional runewright would have far too great of a risk of bending his class in that direction. He still thought it would be worth it. Even a Legendary class wouldn''t be worth it if it led to one of their deaths. Still, he had acquiesced in the end. He knew if he tried Porkchop would just ruin the formation before he could finish it anyway. At least, that''s what he had promised. After what felt like an age of leg-burning climbing, they reached the peak. Much like every other district entrance, this one was barred by a shattered metal door of titanic proportions. It was even more ostentatious than the inlayed gate at the start of the noble district below, made of what looked to be solid silver studded in green and yellow gems, some great force had torn much of the metal like tissue. Shards of the precious material were scattered across the final stairs, and for a good forty strides through the portal. Kaius dropped his pack, slinging it up against the wall so that there was no chance of the everpresent cavern wind blowing it off the sheer drop to his right. He pressed himself close to the stone, dropping into a crouch as he felt Explorer''s Toolkit wrap him in its embrace. "Stay here, i''m just going to take a quick peek before we get started." he whispered, Porkchop giving him a curt nod in response. Heart thumping away in his chest, Kaius felt his mouth creep up at the edges. He felt the icy claws of stress and dread sinking into his spine, the cold chill of fear that rested on his shoulders and settled in his chest - prickling his skin. Yet more than that, he felt alive. The heat of his singing blood kept the gloom at bay, leaving only a thrumming anticipation in its wake. This was it. The final battle. The one he had bled and screamed for, pushing himself harder than anyone had before to scrape and claw at every advantage he could. Chapter 110 Its All Ogre pt 1. Leaning forwards, Kaius peered around the shattered jewel-encrusted gate that led to the final district of the dwarven city. Like a mountain with its top shorn clean off, the pinnacle of the dwarven city was a flat and open space. Great stone tiles as large as a house paved its surface, while equidistant ridged stone columns surrounded the edges of the constructed plateau. Nothing linked them, the edge of the rise a simple sheer drop to the administrative district far below. Masterful dwarven construction it might have been, but the stout engineers clearly had no mind for safety. Dozens of statues dotted the space, each one twice his own height and an artist''s magnum opus in their own right. Stone flowed as if cloth, shone as if polished plate armour, and damn near breathed as if it was living. Each depicted what must have been some dwarven paragon, bastions of their society immortalised in regal sculpture. As was to be expected, most were warriors and artisans, plying the tools of their trades. Yet not all, on more than one occasion he spotted the familiar crook of a magi''s staff, or the scrolls and quill of a scholar. However, despite the sublime creations that put even the masterpieces of the lower city to shame, it was not the dwarf-craft that held his attention. Instead it was another figure¡ªfar more mean and terrible¡ªthat prowled through the garden of carved stone. Hulking. Brutish. Bestial. It must have been an easy eighteen strides tall to his six and a half. Its skin was more callus than flesh, grey warts and knobbled lumps marring its off-green complexion. A head too large, too deformed, to look natural - only held in place by an equally grotesque neck. One so short that its chin almost merged with its chest. A heavy, jutting brow shielded its pinhole eyes from the radiance of the false sun above. Despite that significant cover, the ogre still winced in discomfort every time it faced in the false-sun''s direction. Kaius gulped, staring at their fated challenge with apprehension. It was fucking huge. Big enough that it made the statues look to scale. Still, despite its prodigious size, he couldn''t deny the way his heart raced at the thought of slaying such a giant. It would be a feat for the ages. Not that ogres were traditionally such a great threat, at least for the elites of the frontier. Too stupid by half to ever make it to the second tier with any regularity, nor possessing the aptitude to make it any further than that, at least for the common breeds. Yet to defeat an ogre as an unclassed? One empowered to the status of Guardian? That was more than worth an epithet. Kaius Ogresbane. He rolled the words around his tongue, tasting their flavour. He found he liked it. The way it made his heart race, sent his blood surging with the potent spice of risk and deadly battle. It would make a fine capstone for his preparations for his class. Besides, there was no way that something as base as an ogre would stand between him and Father. He would not let a simple fight, no matter how deadly, stop them from reuniting, even if only to perform his final respects. Thankfully, whatever outfitting the goblin horde had done for the brute, it hadn''t extended beyond giving the thing a sheet sized leather loincloth and a crude club fashioned from an entire tree trunk.No?v(el)B\\jnn He focused his True Sight on the creature, drinking in its status. Siege Ogre - Level 36: Guardian, Depths-born, Vanguard, Low Race At the very least the bastard wasn''t level forty, the cap for a Guardian of the second layer. If it had been they would have had to contend with it having a third active skill. Even then, it was a small comfort. A single solid smack from its club would be enough to pulp either one of them. Kaius pulled back, slinking down the stairs to where Porkchop waited. Tossing the empty bottles into his pack, Kaius scooped up his own potions and started to imbibe them one by one. First came the slow inexorable vitality of Solar Revitalisation, tasting of spring growth and the warm embrace of the morning sun. Then the lilac Jack Rabbit tonic hit his tongue, washing it away in a furious rush of the acidic burn of worked muscles, and the pounding tempo of the chase. Kaius paused, the Lunar Empowerment tonic half way to his mouth. Where the potions mixed in his stomach he could feel the arcane energies mixing. While it wasn''t so contentious as to cause ill effects, he could feel the mana radiating off of the mixture in waves, filling him with a frenetic energy. Like having one too many cups of jappa. He downed his last potion. Metallic silver coated his mouth, heavy, cloying, and velvety smooth. It clung to his throat with the desperate embrace of an abandoned lover, overwhelming his palate with base notes of secrets long kept, and fortunes long sought. **Ding! You have Imbibed a Tonic: Solar Revitalisation** **Ding! You have Imbibed a Tonic: Jack Rabbit** **Ding! You have Imbibed a Tonic: Lunar Empowerment** Power thrummed, surging through him as the alchemical mixtures absorbed into his body with arcane swiftness, more condensed conceptual potency suspended in mana than a true fluid. A soothing heat welled up from his soul space, his Health and Stamina regeneration bolstered, small wisps of energy dissipating into the ether as his full resource pools were unable to capture their power. Frenetic tension set deep into his muscles and bones, reinforcing them for explosive movement. He shifted on his feet, feeling the way his body reacted, the way his reflexes kept up with his empowered motion. Then his mind expanded, and the ever present glow of mana in his vision became more. Where once it had been simple colours that lay beneath the world, now it became a painting of truth. An insight into the hidden nature of things. There were secrets hidden there, just out of reach. Too veiled to know and understand, but through the power of his tonic they were brought to the forefront. Revealed in just enough definition to barely taste the shape of them. He felt the resonance in his mana, the way it was tainted by his thought and conceptions. Even locked down as it was, it could be more. Lunar wisdom guided his hands, impressions of hardness, flight, and violent collision seeping into the ridgid runic structures that held his mana bound. There was so much more he could do, if he had just a little time to contemplate on the hidden world that had been revealed. It took all of Kaius''s will to rent his mind away from the temptation, to focus on the task at hand. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath to centre himself, and then opened them once more once he had steeled himself. Porkchop was watching him, twitching slightly with the discomfort of standing still. "You good?" "Yeah," Kaius sighed. "It''s ... heady. I''ve got a handle on it now, let''s do this." They ascended the stairs once more, the shuddering thumps of the Guardian''s heavy steps on the stone above setting Kaius''s heart ablaze with their aggressive tempo. Pausing just for a moment at the shattered gates, they shared a final look before they stepped through the portal and onto the flattened plateau that made up the summit of the dwarven citadel. As soon as their feet landed, the grim visage of the Guardian snapped over to them. Warned of their presence by some unknown insight. It howled. Deep, bassy, and full of rage. Behind them a barrier snapped into existence, sealing off the gate and linking each pillar that encircled the plateau in shimmering purple. No way out, it was do or die. **Ding! You have challenged a Guardian: Siege Ogre!** **Ding! Good Luck** Chapter 111: It’s All Ogre pt.2 chapter 111: it¡¯s all ogre pt.2 the ogre opened its tusk-ridden mouth wide and bellowed a cacophonous challenge. it stood in the middle of the carved plateau that made up the summit of the dwarven city, surrounded on all sides by a garden of lovingly carved statues. shimmering blue walls had sealed in the summit, linking the many columns that lined its edge. kaius ignored the surprise barrier; it was always going to be do or die, a lack of escape meant nothing. like a physical wave, the roar echoed through the massive cavern, punching deep into kaius¡¯s chest. he was already sprinting forwards. the ogre heaved on its massive iron wrapped club, shattering one of the many statues that surrounded it with a contemptuous swing. thanks to the jack rabbit tonic that he had imbibed, every touch of foot against stone sent him sailing through the air as he rapidly closed the distance - wind whistling past his ears. even though he was still at least a good hundred odd long-strides from his target, shrapnel from the shattered statue showered him, plinking off of his cuirass and helmet. a testament to the siege ogre¡¯s power. as he ran, porkchop peeled away from him, moving through the questionable cover of the widely spaced sculptures to flank the guardian. if there was to be any hope of it working, kaius knew he had to hold the ogre¡¯s attention. half the distance between them disappeared in an instant, his full sprint eating away at the gap. he gestured towards the ogre with his off hand, aiming for one of its sunken and beady eyes as his hand glittered with the detritus of burnt runes. an azure shard, nearly as big as one of his forearms, crackled with magical potency as it substantiated and then shot forwards. the runic hymn screamed through the air, calling out in violence and hate as its empowered form sparked with arcane discharge, lunar wisdom at work. his heart thumped, a breath catching in his throat as he watched the spell with focused intensity. howling in fury at his assault, the ogre lifted one torso sized hand to shield its face. the azure shard slammed into its palm, shattering bones and tearing a ragged hole through its flesh. a small one. as it ruptured through the other side of its hand, it disintegrated, showering the ogre''s face in scintillating shards that gouged into its skin. a bassy scream of pain and fury echoed out, stinging kaius in the ears. dark green blood poured from the wound he had left in its free hand, coating its face in gore as it swatted at the lingering arcane embers that had settled on its face after the dissolution of his spell. with his enhanced acuity he saw the exact moment it closed its eyes. explorer¡¯s toolkit screamed. an opening. he thrust out his left hand, aiming for its knee. there was no way he was leaving this to chance. he¡¯d watched his spells eviscerate champions, and even empowered the most violent weapon in his arsenal had done far less to its palm. in moments golden rain fell from his hand as kaius unleashed a salvo of arcane bolts, four crystalline missiles screaming through the air to punch into the joint. a terrible crack sounded out across the plateau as his bolts slammed home with preternatural accuracy. the ogre cried out once more. it tried to move, tried to get out of the way, but the speed of his pre-prepared casting left almost no gap between his attacks. cartilage, bone, and flesh exploded out the back of the ogre''s leg, coating a statue of an enrobed magi behind it in gore. the guardian stumbled, but it didn¡¯t fall. his blood froze. the ogre roared. lashing out in fury, it whipped its club into another statue, sending chunks of stone flying towards him. kaius tracked them with his eyes, sliding to the side and bending at his hips as uncanny dodge pinged him with a half dozen warnings. blurring with speed, kaius danced through the deadly granite rain, growling in frustration as a shower of lesser shards left light cuts on his exposed face. stepping towards him, the ogre stumbled on its ruined leg, barely able to put any weight on its partially shattered joint. it started to limp towards him. slowly. kaius let out a sigh of relief. at the very least its injured leg had massively hampered its mobility. he would have much preferred if it was completely disabled of course, without any remaining spells he had to commit to melee, and a downed ogre was one much less capable of squashing him like a bug. he could feel porkchop lying in wait behind the guardian, ready and waiting for him to begin his assault. they moved as one, racing forwards to challenge their opponent. thrumming through his veins with violent intensity, his blood started to sing as the ogre focused on him with a scowl. kaius hissed in displeasure. he¡¯d missed. while the wound had certainly pained his foe, a wound to the tear duct wasn¡¯t going to blind it. a moment later there was a pop of displaced air as the knife reappeared in his bandolier, dripping with green blood. pained and beset from all sides, the ogre screamed in frustrated fury. it balled it''s free hand into a fist, swiping it behind him in a hammering blow. kaius¡¯s breath caught in his throat. porkchop tried to move. he was just a hair too slow, the weighty blow clipping his shoulder as he pulled back. giant strength was more than enough to send kaius¡¯s bond brother flying back, the pain of a cracked shoulder bleeding through their link. porkchop withstood the blow with a stoic snarl, shoving the agony down deep as bestial vigour and platinum skill allowed him to push on. digging his claws into the stone for traction, he threw himself back into the fight. his fear replaced by righteous fury, kaius raced back in. two more blink knives shot towards the ogre''s face. it was ready for them this time, bringing its free hand back around to its front to ward off the stinging projectiles. enchanted knives sunk into its forearms. against its bulk, they may have as well been gnat bites. great hissing gusts of ill contained dimwitted hatred whistled out between the tusks of the ogre. it raised its club, planting the weapon tip first on the ground with a crack of stone. muscles as big as he was contracted on its leading leg. it rose. kaius darted in, spinning around a contemptuous slap to try for an arterial strike at its groin. his blade sunk in, nearly a stride of steel releasing a tide of blood from its flesh. porkchop wasn¡¯t going to be out done, lunging forwards to sink his teeth into the back of the creature''s calf. they barely did anything. it was too large. too thick. too mighty. kaius¡¯s eyes flicked to the wounds on its knee, drinking in the injured joints state in seconds. they were still enormous. even with the regenerative panacea of health, the injuries were simply too big to heal quickly. unfortunately, even if a wound of that size would mean his own end, it was a light wound to the guardian. it swiped at him again, still rising from its half-kneel. kaius twisted, lashing out at the passing forearm that was thicker than his waist, his blade cutting lightly into the meat. the ogre growled, lashing out again. despite his harrying, the guardian rose once more to its full height, barely worse for wear. it hefted its club, causing him to tense, only for it to slam it down tipfirst once more, shattering one of the gargantuan flagstones that paved the plateau. its head tipped back. its warted chest expanded as it sucked in air, leaving itself open. kaius blurred, taking the opportunity to fall into a vicious stream of slashes, widening the wounds on its knee. they needed it disabled. paying them no mind, the ogre let loose an ear piercing roar. mana streamed from its centre, coalescing and suffusing its flesh. kaius noted it instantly. it was channelling. screaming a warning through his bond for porkchop to pull back, he launched away from the ogre, creating distance. whatever its second skill was, he wanted time to react. a stride. a handful. then a few dozen. its mana pulsed. the guardian snapped its head towards him, cruel beady eyes shining with malevolence. doom screamed. it took a step. the ground cratered. a multi-ton, wall-breaking missile shot towards him as if launched out of a trebuchet. Chapter 112: It’s All Ogre pt. 3 chapter 112: it¡¯s all ogre pt. 3 kaius¡¯s heart caught in his throat as the siege ogre flew across the open space between them. there might have been a stone statue between them, but the guardian cared little, it may as well have been made of straw for all that it slowed it. stone shattered into dust. every quaking step may as well have taken it another league forward. something that large should not have been that fast. his legs burned, legs pumping with skill enhanced alacrity as he pushed off, sprinting to the side. dread shot down his spine, it was too fast. it was going to hit him. crying out in desperation, he threw himself away from the ogre¡¯s thundering advance, clear of its stomping legs. it swung its iron banded club. airborne as he was, kaius could do little other than to hope and pray his dodge had been enough. it wasn¡¯t, the club sailed towards him. bones shattered as the crudely shaped trunk clipped his hip, sending him into a chaotic spiral as he skittered across the ground in a flail of limbs. everything shrunk to a pinpoint, pain suppressed in the shock of the sudden wound. as if from a distance, he watched his sword fly free from his grasp, clattering against paved stone as it spun away. the world blurred as he tumbled, his head ringing as his helmet thwacked heavily into the ground. skidding to a stop by a jagged shard of stone the size of his leg, kaius groaned. his left leg was twisted, waves of mind bending agony rolling over him. it was just barely held in place by a surge of potent energy from lesser regeneration, forcing shards of bone to hold in place as his health roared free to infuse the site of his injury. distantly he felt a blare of panic and rage race across his bond. gritting his teeth, kaius pushed himself to his feet and bit back a howl as his forcibly held together hip barely withstood his weight. his health acted fast, remoulding pulped flesh and realigning bone as his skin rippled under his armour. unfortunately his cuisses had held up less well, one of the larger armour plates that encircled his hips half crumpled. it would recover, but it would take time, until then he would have to suffer it digging in uncomfortably. thankfully it wouldn''t hamper his movements too much, the ogre''s heavy blow had just barely clipped him, and had nearly torn the plate off laterally rather than crushing it inwards. porkchop¡¯s howl of bloodlust tore through his pain-addled mind. without looking, he knew that porkchop was uninjured, only fury flowed through their bond. for now. trusting that his leg would hold up to the strain, he forced down the agony of his quickly healing hip and ran for his sword. resting against the base of a nearby statue of a dwarven warlord, it took him precious seconds to close the distance. as he ran, he checked his resources. resources: health - 334/510 (4.1/min +15/min) stamina - 367/410 (4.1/min +15/min) mana - 16/560 (5.6/min) free mana - 16/560 reserved mana - 0 he growled as he took in the damage that the ogre had done to him. dropping a hand to his waist, he quickly withdrew one of their precious healing draughts. ripping the cork free with his teeth, he barely managed to avoid spilling any of the precious liquor as he poured it down his throat. it tasted of old wounds, clean linen, and the respite of a healer''s care. **ding! you have imbibed a tonic: lesser blooming rejuvenation** mana pulsed in the ogres chest once more, flowing down its arm to settle in its hands and club. the shockwave skill, it had to be. kaius¡¯s mind raced. with the reach of the club, both he and porkchop were in dire danger. doom flared. he made his choice. kaius lunged in, feinting another stab at its injured leg. so used to his focus on its wounds, the guardian reacted immediately, spinning its club around to shove it point first towards where he would have landed. he never arrived, digging his heels in and kicking off the hard stone to throw himself to the side. the club hit the ground. stone shattered. the blast expanded. a shard of a flagstone the size of his head spalled off the ground, screaming through the air to scythe through the edge of the guardians ankle with ease, just barely missing porkchop as it glanced off the bone and spun off to shatter against the barrier of the arena. it was almost instantaneous, but with true sight he just barely caught it. then the pressure wave hit him, sending him spinning back once more. it was only marginally better than getting kicked by a horse, rattling his bones and the soft organs in his chest. his ears whined, a stinging pitch that drilled into the brain. then it was gone, swept aside in a rapid burn of health. even as he tumbled through the air, his vision didn¡¯t blur, giving him a nauseating spinning view of the entire top of the city as his mind struggled to process the rapid change in perspective. a dull thud echoed through the base of his skull. distantly, he heard the ogre scream. he hit the ground, tumbling once over his shoulder before he got his feet under him and dropped one hand to the ground. sliding back, he came to a slow stop, his sword held out to his left. a savage grin split his face, his eyes locked on the ongoing battle. shielded as he had been by the bulk of the ogre¡¯s leg, porkchop had escaped the skill relatively unscathed. after the stone shard had torn through the guardians ankle, he had capitalised on the moment. kaius watched as his bond brother¡¯s stride long claws burst into brilliant blue, extending them another half a stride, before he plunged them into the crippled ankle up to the base. the ogre howled, falling as its leg finally gave out. as tough as it was, it was simply too large to support its own weight with both its ankle and knee savaged. the moment was here. kaius raced in, feeling the steady stream of effervescent alchemical power that flooded out from his stomach, surging through his system to support key muscles as he moved faster than he ever had before. his foot touched the ground for a fraction of a moment, before he kicked off with the full power of his enhanced body to sail through the air at what should have been blinding speeds. he was there. flat on the ground as it was, the guardian tried to swat him. he simply raced around. skirting the edge of its reach. keeping it grounded was the only important thing. porkchop had switched to tearing into its knee. kaius knew that it was to stay safe from its flailing leg, the guardian kicking out in an ineffectual attempt to shake them off. kaius raced to its ankle, hopping over a blind kick. his sword swept up overhead as he moved into a high guard. a father¡¯s gift came down, biting deep into an achilles that was thicker than his leg. the ogre didn¡¯t like that. it flailed, strips of warty skin weeping greenish grey blood that smeared on the stone below, stinking of iron and unwashed skin. darting back from another blind kick, kaius slipped in behind the limb and brought his blade down on the ligament once more. cutting just a little bit deeper. soon he would be through, and the battle could start in earnest. Chapter 113: It’s All Ogre pt. 4 chapter 113: it¡¯s all ogre pt. 4 porkchop watched through the corner of his eye as his bond-brother tore into the achilles of the ogre, working to further disable it. the guardian didn¡¯t take the assault without a fight, its massive leg kicking and flailing as it tried to shake them off. it clawed at the ground with its massive hands, pushing itself up in an effort to sit up and gain some measure of defence against them. the heat of bloodlust rushed through him. porkchop growled, punching his claws deeper into the guardian¡¯s joint. hunger and brutal aggression surged as he felt cartilage give slightly before a wet crunch resonated through his paws. letting loose a roar of satisfaction, he drove his other claws into the joint, digging in and savaging the knee as best he could. chunks of flesh rained free, the air growing heavy with the delectable scent of iron-rich blood. he lunged in, sinking his fangs into the hardened muscle of its hamstring, feeling them give before the power of his honed bite. pulling back, his neck strained as he tore free a strip of flesh, tossing it to the side as the acrid tang of its green vital fluid coated his tongue. to his right, kaius pulled back from the ogre¡¯s ankle. finished with hacking through the thick rope that supported its foot, his bond-brother moved, dancing over the guardians kicking legs to run past him. porkchop tracked him, watching in awe as he stepped up at the last moment, perfectly timing a launch off the ogres leg as it hefted its trunk-like leg up, sailing upwards and over porkchop to land on the guardians back. as he watched kaius plunge his sword into the ogres back, porkchop refused to be outdone. he felt for his amulet. magical potency thrummed within it; he¡¯d been channelling as much mana as he could into it since its last use, enough that it was ready once more. muscles thrummed with barely constrained power as weight settled in on his bones, adding to the violence of his might. porkchop kicked off, racing towards the ogre¡¯s injured knee. it was already a ruined thing. flayed and torn muscle stretched upwards, while the knee itself was a crude mass of mangled bone, cartilage, and ligamenture. more held together by hope and unnatural perseverance than any structural integrity, he knew that it was his greatest chance of permanently hampering the ogre. his claws dug in, biting into the dwarven-worked stone. the potent magics of his artefact bolstered him, empowering him with a barely contained force. it was exhilarating, the air rushing through his fur, and the certainty that whatever stood before him would crumple. porkchop impacted the ogre¡¯s knee with a crack, the joint giving way in a snap of bone, its ropey ligaments pulling the knee apart under their immense tension. primal joy welled within him as the guardians leg bent inwards, permanently ruined. they wouldn¡¯t give it the time to heal. his snout curling, he turned immediately to tear another strip out of its leg. the ogre''s flesh was bitter and rich, coating his tongue with vital green. if its howls had been loud before, now the ogres cry was deafening. it started to push itself up, raising onto its hand and good knee. porkchop watched as kaius moved, ripping his sword free from the ogre¡¯s back as he kicked himself off the guardian, pirouetting through the air to bleed off his momentum in a fast roll. his bond-brother raced out, spinning on his front foot to advance once more, planting his forged blade inbetween the giant depths-born¡¯s ribs, before rocking it back and forth to widen the wound. the ancestor-blood raged within him, a steady thump sounding in his ears as he quivered, ready and raging to test the ogre¡¯s might. he was a king of the forest, and he would not be outdone by a two-legged. an opening, its stomach within reach. pouncing forward, porkchop¡¯s claws burst into a brilliant azure as he tore into the stomach of the beast. kaius had kindly left its skin torn open for him, the wound his blade had left only half healed as the guardian¡¯s health struggled to keep up with the size and number of its wounds. he tore at the flesh, digging through fat and viscera to tear at the thick wall of abdominal muscles that protected its organs. blood fell in waves, great globs of flesh shredded beneath his claws. shaped to cut through earth and stone in the creation of his burrows, muscle parted like water beneath their steely strength. through their connection, he felt kaius move to assault the guardian from the front, occupying its attention with the stinging kiss of his sword as he danced around a swarm of hamfisted smashes that quaked the ground with every impact. another rope of muscle pinged, fibres snapping as he plunged through the weave, reaching desperately for the wet snakes of entrails that they hid from him. he was soaked now, barding drenched and his black-red fur matted and thick with the guardian¡¯s blood. that was too much for the ogre. howling in fury, it shifted, ignoring his bond-brother lancing it through the clavicle as it bent over and reached towards him with unsettling speed. porkchop tried to race back, but tall as it was he was left with almost no room to manoeuvre beneath its bulk. one massive hand settled over his side, latching on to his barding and crushing metal plating into his side. porkchop gasped, his bones creaking. even with the strength of his skills and the power of his body, it was nothing to the guardians titanic might. ?¦Á??o?¦Â§Ö?s health - 484/720 (4.1/min +15/min) stamina - 579/720 (4.1/min +15/min) mana - 632/720 (5.6/min) feral anticipation flooded him. it was more than enough to see him through. snapping back to the fight, he surged forwards, racing over the ground. kaius had reengaged the ogre, who bellowed in rage as his bond-brother danced through a myriad of crushing strikes. howling with hatred, it lunged forwards, sweeping its arm to catch him in a wide swipe. his heart skipped a beat as kaius blurred back, only to get caught by the tips of the ogres fingers. even that small brush was enough to dent in his flexible scale, sending him spinning across the ground in a tangle of limbs and crashing steel. roaring in fright and fury, porkchop threw himself at the guardian as it raised up, ready and prepared to end kaius with the finality of a crushing hammer fist. lunging inside the ogres guard, he drove his paw into its armpit, burying his arcane enhanced claws deep into the vulnerable muscle and flesh. the ogre¡¯s gaze snapped towards him, twisted in rage. one beady eye focused on him shining with hate, its twin nothing more than a ragged mess of bleeding flesh and leaking jelly. even then, porkchop could see the signs of the wound closing. the ogre still had plenty of health. snarling, he raked his claws down through its arm, tearing as much of the muscle as he could. the barest hint of a glow emanated from the ogre, suffusing it in a slight coloured tint. porkchop started. mana. abandoning finishing kaius off, the ogre swiped at him, driving him back. porkchop threw himself away from the blow. he knew what was coming. its fist hit the ground with a cacophonous boom, shattering stone as a wave of force rolled out and kicked him in the chest. porkchop¡¯s ears peaked to a shattering whine, its flattened on his head as shards of pain stabbed into his mind. then everything went quiet. mana still burned in the ogres chest. he raced back, claws biting against stone as his legs burned with the heat of desperation. whipping his head over his shoulder, he saw the guardian locked on him, raised up on its hands and good leg. braced like he had seen kaius do for a sprint. he was too late. the mana released. stone shattered beneath the ogres bulk, and it launched forwards at blinding speeds. adrenaline spiked through him, porkchop¡¯s eyes narrowing as he saw oncoming death as the ogre sailed through the air. he didn¡¯t have the speed, the agility to dodge. panic tore through his bond, but he heard no cries. no nothing. he dug his claws in, spinning before he threw himself towards his oncoming doom, flattening himself on the ground in the hope that the guardian would fly over him. for a moment he thought he succeeded. then the heavy reality of the ogre¡¯s hammerfist crashed into his lower back, shattering him. the ogre kept on sailing, landing in a heap a few body lengths behind him. he screamed. tried to race forwards. to retreat and heal. his back legs flopped, dead and numb. Chapter 114: It’s All Ogre Finale chapter 114: it¡¯s all ogre finale kaius downed the healing tonic, feeling the alchemical heat bloom in his stomach as it bolstered his reserves of health. glass clinked on stone as he tossed the bottle to the side and readied his grip on a father¡¯s gift. that blow had nearly been the end of him, snapping bone and sending him to the ground hard. if porkchop hadn¡¯t dived in to tear away the guardian¡¯s attention, he would have been dead. watching porkchop¡¯s battle with the guardian intensely, he felt the burning itch of his health withdraw as his clavicle popped back into place. then mana flared within the ogre, bursting out to suffuse its flesh in a halo. a loud crack echoed across the city¡¯s summit as the ogres palm hit paved stone, releasing a crushing wave of dust. icy dread raced down his spine as porkchop narrowly avoided the explosive slap. it climbed to maddening peaks when its mana didn¡¯t fade. he was already moving. sprinting into the fray. the ogre kicked off. he screamed. porkchop dived. an earth shattering fist smashed his bond-brother flat as the guardian sailed over him. panic clawed at his throat as porkchop struggled against the ground, clawing away from the ogre as his back legs lay dead and useless. his hips were slumped, spine hanging at wrong angles. even with health it was a brutal injury to heal. alchemical speed fueled him as he moved like the wind. rage and fear flooded his blood, rising into a song that bordered on madness. three small vials were pulled free. he raced to his brother, glass clinking as he dropped three quarters of their remaining tonics by him. one would be enough. it had to be. it would be. he tore another tonic from his belt, the red of war barely contained by the alchemical glass. uncorking it with his teeth, he downed the tonic. **ding! you have imbibed a tonic: psychopathic assault** the ash of spilled blood and scorched bone filled his mouth, swirling with the hoarfrost of a mass grave kissed by the rising moon that followed war. he swallowed. alchemical madness tore at his throat, maws built from the teeth of innocents sinking into his flesh. reality sharpened. focus narrowed until there was only the bleeding, half-broken body of a superior foe. joy spilled out from his chest, seeping from the marrow of his bones to fill him with radiant energy. he was back. the ogre shook its head, stumbling as it tried to stand on its shattered leg. it was still dazed. that would help. he raced in, enjoying the way that enhanced stats and alchemy let him almost fly. silver blurred through the air, parting thickened hide to reveal the beautiful green that yearned to be free. his cheeks ached from the strain of his smile. he paid it no mind, only hoping that his toy would last long enough to satisfy him. howling at his assault, the ogre swiped at him. kaius jumped, kicking off its forearm. sailing through the air, he planted his sword in the ogres neck and ripped down, using the full weight of his body to cut his way through the guardians enhanced flesh. blood fountained, gurgling like a brook as a slick pool formed on the smooth stone of their arena. a great cough fought its way free of the ogres chest, a spray of blood fighting its way past its tusks to mist kaius¡¯s face. he giggled, enjoying the slick heat of it caressing his skin. tongue running over his lips, he tasted the coppery tang as he leapt back, avoiding an enraged retaliatory strike. scowling, the ogre lashed out again, just barely clipping his lower left arm and hand as he danced away. r?an§àb?s? his forearm snapped like a twig, bone bursting free from his wrist with a wet tear. two of his fingers were torn free, the pinky and ring. kaius clucked his tongue, calmly sheathing his sword as he side stepped around another blow. using his thumb, he jammed his bone back into place, feeling muscle and meat writhe as they tried to seal around his digit. the bone healed. he pulled his digit free, drawing his sword once more. not much he could do about the fingers. health did little with completely excised extremities. it was no matter, he didn¡¯t need them to play and the flesh had already sealed. reaching for his chest with his off hand, kaius ripped a blink-knife free from his bandolier with his remaining fingers. he didn¡¯t know why he had been trying to avoid it, who cared about a class? all that mattered was the savage joy of slaughter, and the sweet song of pained lamentation. he hurled the blade, already moving to pull another free. balanced as it was, it flew straight and true, sinking into the ogre¡¯s remaining eye in a squirt of clear jelly. the knife tried to jump back. he seized his mana, flooding the artefact to suppress the enchantment with his intent. so simple, so easy. it was a down right embarrassment that he hadn¡¯t done so before. the blade stayed, lodged firmly in the guardian¡¯s orbit. its brothers and sisters followed close behind, wet thunks sounding as blades buried themselves deep into both of the ogre¡¯s sockets. kaius grinned. there was no way it would be able to heal when sharpened steel tore at its regenerating flesh. if only its bones weren¡¯t so tough. it would have been lovely to see what its brains looked like. he¡¯d have to bleed it. like a pig. ¡°i expected it, the bleed-through. it happened a little last time, and that was just with a simple link.¡± porkchop replied. ¡°that¡¯s good.¡± kaius sighed in relief. ¡°unfortunately i didn¡¯t manage to get away scott free myself, see?¡± he held up his hand, wiggling the stumps of his fingers. porkchip chirped in surprise, rushing over to inspect the wound closely. ¡°hells, kaius, that¡¯s going to mess with your sword play won¡¯t it? we have healers in the dens, they¡¯ll be able to fix it if two-legs can''t.¡± kaius grinned at his friend, amused at how his face had twisted into a caricature of concern. ¡°i¡¯ll be alright, it¡¯s just a couple of fingers. it¡¯ll take a little while to get used to, but i shouldn¡¯t be hampered overmuch. and yes, we do have healers, it¡¯ll just be expensive and take a while to get on a list. i think deadacre has at least one with regeneration powers, but we might need to wait until we travel a bit further afield.¡± kaius assured porkchop, scratching him behind the ear. ¡°if you¡¯re sure... but if it gets in the way and you can''t find a healer, we¡¯ll head to the dens, deal?¡± porkchop suggested. just as he was about to formulate a reply, a rolling wave of azure mana washed out from the centre of the plateau with blinding intensity. dense enough that he could feel a slight prickle on his skin. kaius gasped, whipping his head to search for the source of the disturbance as soon as the nearly blinding light had passed. there, at the centre, was a circle of impossibly complex runes. constantly shifting, their luminance glistened on the polished stone of the surrounding statues. their way out. joy and relief flooded him. they¡¯d done it. actually and truly done the impossible. he stood there for what felt like an age, looking at the blinding light of their freedom. rooted to the spot. then the buzz of unread notifications grew louder, shaking him from his revere. no doubt they had earned something of significance for their feat. he looked down, seeing the growing lake of greenish blood that was seeping from the guardian, then he looked up to the clean statues and floor by the portal. kaius cleared his throat, tearing porkchop¡¯s attention away from the mesmerising glow of the charged portal. ¡°do you want to take a break over there, before we search for our rewards and take the portal?¡± he asked, pointing to where he had been looking. excitement and anticipation flooded across their bond, matching and heightening his own. a wide grin slid across his face as he watched porkchop positively vibrate. ¡°let¡¯s go! i wonder what honour we got?¡± porkchop said, splashing through the pool of viscera as he ran to the clean centre of the plateau. kaius laughed as he shot after him. he wondered the same thing, because there was no question about it. there was no way they would not have gotten one. reaching the middle, kaius took one last look at the massive runic formation at the centre of the flat stone before he settled in to sit at the foot of a statue of what must have been a dwarven painter holding a brush and canvas. he met porkchop¡¯s eyes, giving him a single firm nod before he gave in to the insistence of the system. **ding! you have slain a guardian: siege ogre - level 36 wallbreaker!** **ding! you have slain a guardian: claim personalised reward?** **ding! major feat of strength performed under observation. you have been awarded an honour: kingslayer** **ding! significant feat of strength performed under observation. you have been awarded an honour: ruthless underdog** **ding! major feat of strength performed while unclassed! processing...** **ding! results obtained! assessment period no longer suitable!** **ding! unlocking class selection!** **ding! classes available! undergo class selection?** **ding! phase 1 integration objective #7 achieved!** **ding! processing, please wait...** the world shuddered. Chapter 115: A Grand & Intoxicating Innocence pt. 1 chapter 115: a grand & intoxicating innocence pt. 1 the world quaked, foundational tenets of existence shivering. kaius felt something deep and central to his being fall silent. for the first time in his life he couldn¡¯t feel the omnipresent connection to the system, revealed to him only by its absence. he gasped, heart skipping a beat as adrenaline dumped into him. he had no idea what was happening, but if it was enough to break his connection to the system it was bad. locking eyes with porkchop, he found the panicked confusion he felt thrumming inside of himself resonating through their bond. his bond-brother had been cut off as well. ¡°what is-¡± he started to ask. then he slid up-sideways-through the world, distance and space weaving itself into incomprehensible knots as an invisible claw of ancient power settled over him, yanking him away from the site of his victory. a single moment, stretched into an unbroken loop. an eternity of being everywhere and nowhere. eyes wide, true sight revealed impossible secrets to him. revealing more than his mortal mind could fathom. the way it all fit together, the mutable fragility of the world. warmth fell from his eyes, a searing fire covering the orbs. it was too much. he couldn¡¯t even scream. ... kaius snapped back. he was kneeling on nothing. his heart lurched at the yearning blackness, all of his senses rebelling at the impossibility before him. true sight told him it was real. porkchop was next to him. he could feel it. feel the same panicked confusion welling up within his brother. he wanted to twist his head, to look and ask if he was okay. he couldn¡¯t. an overwhelming presence suffocated him, weighing on every hairsbreadth of his body, heavier than a mountain. it held him still, scrutinised him. screamed his insignificance. a blinding radiance encompassed all, searing out his vision as pure unadulterated power battered him. he didn¡¯t know what the energy was, for it wasn¡¯t mana. too refined by half, too flavoured by some imperceptible note. like an affinity, but different. ¡°whoops! sorry about that. it¡¯s been aeons since i''ve had company, let alone the mortal kind.¡± a voice boomed. kaius knew that all the presence would need to do was wish them gone, and they would be obliterated. there was a fingersnap, louder than a landslide. the light vanished, and stone materialised beneath his knees. smoothly carved blocks, each perfectly even and square, formed a masonry floor. the pressure vanished. kaius moved as quickly as he could, pressing his forehead to the ground in total prostration. he felt porkchop do the same. what hope did they have in the face of divine might? what else could one do in the presence of a god? ¡°oh, stop that!¡± the voice said, quaking his very soul with the depth of its gravelly timbre. ¡°i won¡¯t have worship from honoured guests, and i am nothing so base as a half-sentient impression on a manafield,¡± the voice said, correcting kaius¡¯s unspoken assumption. his heart fluttered. it could read his mind. of course it could. but if it was not a god, then what, and what did it want with them? ¡°an ascendant. if you come sit i might tell you what that means.¡± the being explained congenially. ¡°let¡¯s do what the mysterious entity says, kaius.¡± porkchop¡¯s voice flowed over their bond, resolute despite the undertone of panic. kaius took a shuddering breath, before he mustered his will and raised his head. he was in a room, simple and bare. in front of him were two chairs and a daybed centred around a roaring hearth. there was no door, and no windows. r?ano?b?s? porkchop¡¯s mind brushed up against his, concerned. urging caution. he didn¡¯t need the reminder. ekum turned to look at him, still smiling warmly. ¡°yes to the first, no to the rest. your victories are your own, and it was no machination of mine that landed you in the challenge. though, i will admit that it was to my benefit.¡± the ascendant leaned forwards, propping himself up on his knees. his burning white robes slipped down his arms, revealing forearms wrapped with enough hard muscle that they were as thick as kaius¡¯s calf. ¡°ultimately, i am but a caretaker. a supervisor with no real power. as much as i wish it weren¡¯t so, i do not have infinite time to explain. so you will listen, understood?¡± ekum stated, clear in the fact that it was not a request. they nodded emphatically. ¡°good.¡± ekum said. he leaned back, sinking into the plush back of his chair. ¡°the system as you know it arrived on your world aeons ago. that period of transition is where many of your myths come from. it is also incomplete. the introduction is phased to ensure that as much culture and sentient life is preserved as possible. often, it fails in that endeavour.¡± the ascendant paused, giving them a moment to digest his words. kaius¡¯s mind raced. he¡¯d heard rumours and stories about the arrival of the system. there was enough remnant history that it was somewhat common knowledge, at least according to father. yet, he¡¯d never heard anything about the system being incomplete, what did that mean? and other worlds? did he mean the higher realms? the ascendant nodded to himself, as if pleased that kaius was following along. ¡°good, good. i won''t waste time on your irrelevant questions. yes, the system is incomplete. moving to later stages requires certain... triggers, to ensure a proper stage of development. normally, in most cases this might take a century or two at most. one way, or the other. in yours? it has taken over thirteen milenia.¡± ekum hissed his last words, the bitter noise digging claws into kaius¡¯s chest. he tried not to faint as a hostile frustration threatened to crush him. kaius coughed, tasting blood. the ascendant paused. the pressure vanished. ¡°my apologies. you see, i have been trapped here, alone, since the initial arrival of the system. it was to be a minor punishment. half a millenia, maybe one and a half, of toil before i was released from my bond. i am... dissatisfied with the continual extension.¡± ekum explained, the barest hint of escaping frustration sending the icy fear of death washing over kaius. he struggled to breathe. ¡°however,¡± the ascendant continued, uncaring but not unnoticing. ¡°then you two came along! defeating a guardian solo while still in your assessment period? even with completed legacies, and a smattering of honours that is no small feat. discovering glyph-binding was a stroke of luck, and the benefit of your father¡¯s genius, kaius, but all the same! now the second phase is upon us, and i come to you with five things. my congratulations, a warning, a reward, a proposition, and some advice. will you listen?¡± ekum asked, staring at them intensely. kaius sat frozen, barely able to move. his vision had started to narrow, but there was nothing he could do. not in the demesne of something so far above him. he could only obey. ekum the pale smirked, and twitched his finger towards them. air rushed into his lungs, though he moved no more than he had a moment ago. the encroaching black fled as fresh air continued to circulate through his airway. kaius nearly slumped in relief. the ascendant rose, walking over to the hearth, gripping the mantle to lean over its glowing interior. platinum locks slipped down his head like waves, haloing the ascendants face. ¡°i have already given you my congratulations, so now i will give you a warning.¡± ekum the pale stared deep into the flames. ¡°integration is a fraught process. each step injects chaos into the world, bringing with it death and fire. with how long it has been since the first stage, it will be worse for you in some ways, and better in others. in all scenarios, it is inevitable. the other stages must be reached, or your world will die.¡± ekum looked over his shoulder, eyes boring into porkchop¡¯s for a moment, before flicking to kaius¡¯s. they held an intensity, a coldness, that could smother worlds. ¡°in your success, you may have doomed the world.¡± he stated, ancient apathy dominating his features. ¡°i will be honest, i care little either way, both will mean my freedom. that brings us to your reward.¡± the ascendant looked back to the flames, releasing kaius from his grasp. ¡°knowledge, that with your success here, you have the chance to tip the balance in your favour. knowledge, that you cannot rely on the high tiered. everyone past the first tier is already crystallised; they will be unable to reach for the advancement that comes with the second stage.¡± through the gaps in the silver curtain of metallic locks, kaius saw the god-like being smirk. ¡°what will you do, i wonder? will the two of you fall, and doom your world? or will you rise ascendant?¡± Chapter 116: A Grand & Intoxicating Innocence Finale chapter 116: a grand & intoxicating innocence finale kaius sat frozen, locked in the chair. his heart pounded in his chest, every thump straining to push blood through his system, like his vital fluid had turned to treacle. he longed to turn his head, to check on porkchop. he felt his bolstering support flowing through the bond, and sent his own across in turn. he dared not reach out with anything resembling real speech. not here. not in the presence of divinity. could it possibly be true? that he had potentially doomed everything? he¡¯d merely strived for success, merely strained to reach the rewards that the system had offered. how could it deliver so cruel a punishment? ekum chuckled, flippant in his disregard of his dread and fear.. ¡°it is only a punishment if you fail, my boy. show me that steel that you¡¯ve held for the last year. you¡¯re better than this. i might only care for my freedom, but it would certainly be more... pleasant if it was your success that led to my release, instead of your failure. i get a little golden star on my record if your world survives. hence, a proposition.¡± the ascendant paused, the room falling silent except for the slow constant crackle of logs aflame. ¡°bear the weight of your crown and burn the world in your ambition, for it will be lost if you do not. do not let up, do not relax, and do not slow down. forge a power base, cultivate allies, and destroy your enemies. temper your strength, and plumb the mysteries of power. above all else, delve. delve as deep as you can, as fast as you can. if you do this, i will give you guidance. enough to ensure you have a goal, a place to direct your struggle.¡± ekum the pale stood up, his full height looming over them both. the ascendant turned, leaning back on the hearth¡¯s mantle. ¡°which leads me to the last. a piece of advice. master your aspects and reach the fiftieth layer before you rise to the third tier. i recommend a lot of killing, a lot of soul-searching, and delving as high above your level as you can manage.¡± the ascendant said, a thin half smile barely visible on his lips. kaius stayed rooted to the spot, trying and failing to digest ekum¡¯s words. reaching the fiftieth layer before the third tier would mean facing creatures up to a hundred levels higher than him, at best. let alone the champions or guardians. did the ascendant wish him death? and the third tier? on what time frame did he expect him to become a powerhouse of humanity? and what the fuck was an aspect? ekum laughed. the very essence of the world quaked. ¡°third tier? powerhouse? that¡¯s not even true on this backwater shithole.¡± he chuckled, throaty and deep, as he wiped tears from his eyes. ¡°oh, that is too good. no. i do not suggest suicide. both of you are observed, you are not cut from the same cloth as the unwashed masses. more than that, you¡¯ve achieved a major honour in your assessment period, ushering in the second stage! have some bloody faith in yourselves!¡± ekum¡¯s tone grew flinty, threatening to stop his heart with toxic intent alone. ¡°this will be the work of decades, but this does not mean you have time to slack. and no, i will not explain what an aspect is. the whole point of them is self-discovery, and the update will cover the bare essentials. ¡± ekum the pale waved towards them contemptuously. ¡°we¡¯re done here. follow my advice and we will see each other again soon enough.¡± shock fired down kaius¡¯s spine, arcing through his limbs like branching lightning. what did he mea- a hand of adamant will set its grip upon him, and he slid above-through-towards the world. ... kaius slammed back into his body. for a moment, all he could do was reel, then as the finely carved dwarven statues surrounding him continued to twist and sway he bent over and hurled. the leftover remnants of that morning''s breakfast splashed against the pavestones, his throat constricting painfully as he slumped his weight onto his arms. porkchop moaned off to his left, his brother¡¯s splitting headache seeping across their bond to aggravate kaius¡¯s discomfort further. it took a special kind of wound to leave a scar that health couldn¡¯t heal. a man with a mark like that on his face would be memorable indeed. there would be someone who would know more. porkchop headbutted him gently, smearing gore on his face. kaius gagged, shoving his bond-brother away from him. ¡°that¡¯s more like it,¡± porkchop chittered. ¡°we¡¯ll find him. besides, things will be far less fraught this time around. we unlocked our class and bloodline early, remember?¡± kaius started, what with the onslaught of notifications, and the visit from a divine entity, it had completely slipped his mind. he grinned. ¡°oh yeah, that¡¯ll definitely help. though, we might have to wait to do that. the system still feels...distant.¡± he could still feel it, its omnipresence blanketing his entire being, but it was less responsive. part of him wanted to pull up his status, to check his latest honours and see the long awaited words that he had been anticipating his entire life. he didn¡¯t though, if he tried and the system didn¡¯t respond it would be all too much. luckily he didn¡¯t have to wait long. they sat against the base of the statue for a minute, calm confidence slowly returning as he savoured the achievement of a year''s worth of work. then the world thrummed once more, unleashed potential washing through kaius like a wave. to his true sight the omnipresent mana in the depths roiled, falling into a frenzied current. kaius flinched, staring at the mana in shock, his hand snapping to his blade as he sought the cold reassurance of steel. the system spoke. **ding! global announcement: an integrated individual has performed a major feat of strength in their assessment period! integration phase 1 objective #7 achieved!** **ding! integration phase 2 initiated!** **integration phase 2 comes with a number of significant changes to the local biosphere, the great depths, and the system!** **mana density will rise and equalise over the next (1 local year), leading to less segregation of non-sapient system integrated lifeforms!** **all sentient but non-sapient lifeforms will now become integrated at their birth, and will finish their assessment period at full maturity!** **tyrants have been created and unleashed! challenge these powerful unshackled system-born, if you dare.** **rare crucible grounds have opened in the great depths. seek them out and attempt their challenges to obtain potent rewards, if you dare.** **the aspect triumvirate has been unlocked! similar to the legacy skills of the first phase, aspects are an optional advancement path. enshrine your pillars of self, and develop them in the crucible of soul and skill. it is highly recommended that all aspects are fully developed before reaching the second tier, and fully tempered before the third. due to soul-crystallisation, aspects are unavailable to those who have already ascended past the first tier.** **integration phase 3 will commence when one of several objectives are met. good luck.** Chapter 117: Aspects & Honours chapter 117: aspects & honours kaius drank in the stream of notifications. they were unlike any other communication from the system he had experienced before. they demanded his attention, soaked in layered meaning and context, refusing to allow him to misconstrue their words. mana would rise, and the low density regions that had sheltered the vast majority of settlements would be no more. nowhere would be safe. especially not when beasts ruled the lands. of tyrants and crucible grounds the system said nothing more than what was explained over text. it was clear that it considered preparation in the absence of insight part of the challenge. the aspects, however... those were made viscerally clear as the claws of the highest power brushed aside his resistance and defences to punch into his soulspace. kaius gasped, falling inwards. in the dark and empty space that occupied his centre his soul lit up the dark with golden fire. ten platinum shards sat locked in orbit, with three coloured clouds occupying the space between. beside him, through the thin barrier that kept them separate, he could see porkchop¡¯s soul, feel his bond-brother¡¯s presence as they weathered the ministrations of the system. power flooded him, guided by ancient will and nigh-abominable intent. it was like nothing he had seen before. not in the glowing potential of mana, the robust fortitude of stamina, or the virile persistence of health. something else, primal and tightly constrained. it almost felt like standing before ekum the pale, but untainted by opinion and personality. streamers of glistening energy phased straight through the barrier at the edges of his soul, coalescing above his soul, splitting into a trio of roiling orbs. gasseus and shining like burning copper, they grew and grew, until they dominated his internal sight. hanging over his very essence of being like an executioner''s sword. then the streamers started to slow, before stopping completely. the system acted, a mountain of pressure bearing down on kaius¡¯s mind. he cried out, trying to pull back out of his soul-space. the fire of his soul flickered, barely withstanding the monumental forces that it was swept up in. agony, deep and all consuming, radiated through every facet of kaius¡¯s body. it had no origin, no end. it just was. he gasped, breath fluttering as he braced himself against the assault. whatever was happening, there was no escape. he could only endure. the copper balls of gas swirled, slowly compressed under the forceful ministrations of the system. shaping them, twisting them to its liking. they collapsed, shrinking to a tenth of their former size, diffuse power condensing into a slick looking fluid. waves of energy rolled off the liquid, washing over him, heightening his discomfort. kaius grit his teeth, a crack shuddering through his jaw as he ground them together. a thin stream of red left his pool of health, flying free to treat the injury. uncaring of his ordeal, the system continued its work. the orbs of copper liquid distended, morphing and stretching. slowly they took shape. three floating pillars, capped with claw-like sconces emerged from a cocoon of potential. ancient power flexed. the pillars crystalised. soul-fire guttered, a blast of pure energy rocketing out from the completed pillars. kaius watched the slow moving wave approach, his eyes wide. it punched into his mind, spiking his agony until he could keep his mouth shut not longer. he cried out. and was booted from his soul. **ding! aspect foundations forged!** **ding! complete your pillars to begin refinement! find your truths.** kaius gasped, the cold grip of the system retracting as he sat limp against the cold stone of a dwarven statue. whatever the system had done, whatever aspects were, it had required a level of energy and power he had never seen before. while it had had the grace to prevent him from being injured, even just the sheer presence of that unknown energy had been agonising. whipping his head over to check on porkchop, he found his brother groaning as he slowly pushed himself up off the floor. ¡°well, that was unpleasant. nothing like a good few kicks in the teeth to reward us for doing the impossible.¡± porkchop complained, shaking his head to clear off his fugue. kaius let out a bubbling laugh, unable to help the reaction to porkchop¡¯s nonchalance after repeated encounters with powers beyond them. even if it did spike his headache, it felt good. his shoulders shook as he worked off the tension, before he wiped his eyes and had a last chuckle. ¡°that¡¯s one way to think about it. whatever these aspects are, i am curious about what they will actually do. both ekum and the announcement made them sound like they were the next step after a legacy?¡± kaius questioned. ¡°who knows. i just hope that it is not so impossible to finish as a full legacy set is in isolation. we have until the end of the second tier at the very least. it must be obscure and difficult if it is considered a challenge to finish them in the time it would take us to cross the four-hundred barrier.¡± porkchop replied. ¡°either way, i expect it will be something that we might have to work on in isolation. if everyone in the first tier had these unlocked, there will be a mad scramble to explore and understand them. i doubt it will be widely shared. from what you have told me people are not exactly prone to handing out potential advantages.¡± kaius snorted. that was an understatement. if aspects were anything like legacy skills, let alone a completed legacy, dynasties would be holding on to every scrap of information they could glean with an iron grip. wars had started over legacies, and if someone was suspected of holding knowledge... well, many people saw only slightly less value in preventing an enemy from obtaining an advantage than gaining one for themselves. ¡°it¡¯s going to be a fucking bloodbath. great.¡± kaius groaned, pushing his mop of hair out of his face. ¡°hopefully things will be so much of a shit show that we will be able to avoid suspicion. a greater beast and a human working together is one thing, but both of us are observed with honours, and have a full legacy to boot. if someone even suspects that we know more about what¡¯s going on, we are fucked.¡± porkchop grunted. ¡°i understand that we will need to keep our advantages close to our chest, but i will not go around pretending to be spineless prey. that will only lead to others trying to capitalise on our weakness.¡± ¡°oh no, you misunderstand me.¡± kaius grinned. ¡°we need backing; if we¡¯re going to get it we will need to show we are strong. if anything, i think we should try to poorly hide that you are a greater beast, and that we have a bond. it is a small enough secret that it will get us attention, and people will assume we gained good classes through that skill. the fact it requires mutual agreement and trust will make it far less valuable to the powers that be.¡± ¡°and what would you use this attention for?¡± porkchop asked, cocking his head. ¡°we join the delver¡¯s guild. once we have found my father and dealt with whatever chaos is no doubt waiting for us at three field¡¯s, at least. there¡¯s a branch at deadacre. they¡¯re a power unto themselves, and if we can secure their backing it will open many doors for us, and protect us from the gaze of dynasties.¡± kaius said, resolute. help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. it was a path he had always intended to take. as they rose through the ranks they would be able to access the guild¡¯s archives and more. a path to strength, and one of the better chances he had to find out what happened to his family. if father was gone, that would be more important than ever. he was not one to forget a blood debt. more than that, father had let slip that at the higher ranks, the guild made regular use of the services of hiwiann caravaneers and their bloodstones. behind a binding oath, information flowed much more freely. if there was any place that would research and discover how aspects worked, it would be there. with his direction for the future set, kaius returned his attention to more pressing issues. the rest of their rewards, and the looming presence of his available class selection. he shivered, tingling awe shooting up his spine. he still couldn¡¯t believe he had unlocked it a year early. still, despite his manic desire, he held back. the honours were more important, as each one might have an influence on his class, and he wanted to understand each fully before he made any life altering decisions. ¡°honours first, and then our class?¡± he asked, sending porkchop an excited grin. porkchop quivered, anticipation obvious. ¡°finally! i was about to be worried you would want to wait until we got back to the sea!¡± kaius laughed, and then pulled up the description of his latest rewards. kingslayer: major honour a challenge only exists to be beaten, but some are designed with others in mind. steeped in might and ambition, some disregard all warnings to attempt what they should not. most die, others rise ascendant. awarded to those who slay a guardian while unclassed. personalised guardian rewards are moderately more tailored. +10 all stats. class skills (0/10): n/a general skills (10/10): rapid adaptation (heroic) - 20 warforged (unique) - 20 explorers toolkit (unusual) - 18 > 20 adamant body (unique) - 19 > 20 true sight (unique) - 17 > 20 runic lexicon (unusual) - 20 mana manipulation (unusual) - 20 lesser regeneration (unusual) - 14 > 20 uncanny dodge (unique) - 1 > 20 brotherhood of ichor and animus (heroic) - 20 glyph bound hymns: n/a honours: born for slaughter sublime prodigy - glyph binding birds of a blood soaked feather persistent survivor (minor) kingslayer (major) ruthless underdog bound artefacts: a father¡¯s gift - common growth longsword growth conditions- gain a class (0/1) acquire suitable materials (0/3) forge a link (0/1) honestly and truly, his status sheet was ridiculous. his stats alone were almost inhuman, more than three times higher than an unclassed should be - nearly four times in the case of his mental stats. even just having three additional sections - discounting aspects - for honours, his hymns, and a father¡¯s gift, beggared belief. he had to be amongst the most powerful unclassed to ever exist. pride and satisfaction thrummed through his chest, his heart pumping to the tune of his successes. hiding the thin current of venomous grief that simmered within him. despite everything, it felt like a hollow crown. if only father were here to see, then it would have been truly perfect. kaius grunted, scrunching his eyes to clear the slight blur. he knew porkchop had noticed, but other than a warm flow of support through their bond, he didn¡¯t make a big deal of it. kaius appreciated that. he took a steadying breath and refocused on his status. right at the top, his class selection called for him, screaming for his attention. ¡°me first?¡± kaius asked, turning to porkchop. class selection was supposed to be... disabling. not dangerous, but you were left insensate for what could be hours. porkchop nodded to him, and kaius steeled himself. no longer would he be restrained and hampered by the limitations imposed upon him by the system. it was time for him to join the climb up the tiers. it was time to pick his class. a flicker of intent was all it took. everything went black. Chapter 118: Long Awaited Destiny pt. 1 chapter 118: long awaited destiny pt. 1 kaius gasped, sitting bolt upright like he had been hit by lightning. he whirled his head around, disoriented and confused. a moment ago he had been sitting on the summit of the dwarven city, confirming his class selection. now, he was...somewhere. craning his head back and forth, he gasped as he realised that he was in the sea. it was unmistakable. the rich scent of earth and pine, the cold wind that rolled off the mountains, and the everpresent warmth of the sun. jaw slack, he looked up. far above him, a green canopy rustled. branches shifted and swayed in the breeze, sun streaming through the leaves as odd bars of illumination shone through the gaps. through those, he saw an unmistakable blue. it was gorgeous. he sat there, rooted in place, simply drinking in the environs. letting the soft sounds of wind, trees, and nature suffuse him. drinking in the warmth of the sun, he realised just how much he had felt confined in the restrictive environments of the depths. even with caverns larger than most cities, and underground groves, it was a poor substitute for the world at large. ¡°gorgeous isn¡¯t it? i can see why it was chosen for you.¡± an oddly familiar voice said from behind him. kaius started, whipping around as his hand dropped for his sword. his open palm slapped a hip covered in soft cotton. wherever he was, his armour and blade hadn¡¯t come with him. standing behind him was a cowled figure, leaning up against the trunk of a tree. his robe was a deep mottled green, made of a thick woollen weave that did much to obscure all identifying details in its depths. kaius launched to his feet, backing up as he raised his arms, ready for a fight. he might not have his weapons, but that didn¡¯t mean he was helpless. ¡°who are you?¡± kaius called out, his tone hard. ¡°and how did i get here?¡± the figure stayed lounging against the base of an oak tree, unperturbed by his readiness for violence. he chuckled softly. ¡°i am your guide,¡± they said simply. ¡°and this? this is your class selection.¡± the words rushed through kaius, shock radiating down his spine. he¡¯d known little of what to expect for class selection, only that he would have to pick between a number of options. he¡¯d expected many things, but being plopped down in the sea with a mysterious figure was not one of them. he eyed the cowled man warily, his arms slowly lowering to his sides. ¡°guide? what do you mean?¡± the cowled man lifted his arms up, causing kaius to raise his fists once more. ¡°woah there,¡± the man said, raising a placating hand. ¡°just taking off my hood.¡± their hands continued upwards, gripping the thick fabric of the cowl that obscured their face. they pulled it back slowly, revealing a thick mop of brown hair streaked in grey. a scarred, strong nose jutted out from rugged features marred by the slightest wrinkles. piercing eyes magnetised his own. green, with flecks of gold. kaius froze. ¡°before you ask, no, i am not you from the future.¡± kaius the elder said with a wry smile. ¡°i am a construct of the system. your guide, your choosing grounds, are shaped by the system to be in a context you can understand, and feel at ease with.¡± kaius the elder gave kaius a long look. ¡°relatively at ease, that is.¡± kaius the elder turned his head, watching him closely as they led their way forwards with confidence. ¡°you won''t be sacrificing power, and you are still likely to develop a number of spells per skill and tier through the system¡¯s aid- far more than most magi on your planet. yet, this is still a sacrifice. i know you think you might be able to do it yourself anyway, you won''t. not for a long, long time.¡± kaius bristled, staring at the construct. ¡°how could i not? i already have a glyph, see?¡± he raised his arm, showing off the runic construct that wrapped around the back of his hand and wrist. the construct shook its head gently. ¡°kaius, i say this with confidence. your father was perhaps the most dedicated, successful, and down right genius runewright of his generation. one of the best, ever. that-¡± kaius the elder jutted one finger at his glyph. ¡°is a hodge podge piece of shit. not because your father is bad at what he does, but because glyph-binding is thoroughly divergent from other runic arts, and requires different sacred forms. your father might have been able to do it with the reference, but you do not have a hundredth of his knowledge. his genius and dedication, maybe, but not his knowledge nor the backing and resources to gain it quickly. without a dedicated class, you will not be freeform designing your own spells. not for a long time.¡± kaius paused, digesting the construct¡¯s words. at first he had felt disgruntled at his aged reflection¡¯s disparagement of father¡¯s work, but as he sat and thought on it, he realised the construct had to be right. if, by the system¡¯s own metric, father had barely been able to patch something together that half worked, then he had no hope in the hells of devising new spells. it was a sacrifice, one he couldn''t ignore. kaius chewed his lip. ¡°would i be locked into specific spells, if i went that route?¡± kaius the elder tilted his head back and forth. ¡°in a sense. it differs by class, and each spell you select will be set in stone, but there is a lot more flexibility than you are probably imagining. at the very least, you will get multiple choices to select from. at best, you will eventually build up a sizable repertoire of examples and references to tweak of your own accord.¡± kaius¡¯s ears pricked up at the construct¡¯s closing words. accruing hymns that he could learn from on his own time... that was more like it. plus, it hadn¡¯t said he would never be able to design them unassisted, only that it was a long way¡¯s off... ¡°do it.¡± he said, his spine straightening like steel. ¡°cull the pure glyph-binding classes.¡± kaius the elder looked at him, green and gold eye¡¯s twinkling. ¡°good choice, kid. now, let''s talk about rarity. you¡¯ve got quite the selection, do you want to trim any of the lower ranks?¡± kaius hummed. it made sense. he was sure he had done well. unusual classes for sure, and perhaps if he was lucky a handful of unique ones. that said, it seemed like a bad idea to ignore the rare classes just because they were lower. rarity was incredibly significant, but it wasn¡¯t everything, he might miss something perfectly suited to him. ¡°cull everything below rare.¡± he said, resolute. kaius the elder only grinned at him and gestured upwards with his thumb. kaius gapped at the construct. it wanted him to go higher? he took a deep breath, steadying himself. while his mind rebelled at the idea, he trusted that the construct was there to guide him to a well suited choice. he¡¯d never heard of anyone having something bad happen during class selection. even if people avoided talking about the experience, that was the sort of thing that would get out. ¡°cull everything below unusual.¡± he said, chewing on the words. kaius the elder¡¯s smile widened until it was almost manic, and the construct pointed up again. he froze, staring at them in sheer disbelief. it wanted more? that was ridiculous, how many unique options could he possibly have to make it worthwhile to ignore an unusual class? this was his first selection! he¡¯d never even heard of anyone getting a unique class so early, only in bardsong. it was only his legacy and honours that gave him the confidence to even get one. slowing to a stop, kaius placed one hand on a nearby trunk, feeling the reassuring grit of its bark. unclenching his jaw, he worked the words out of his mouth. ¡°cull everything below unique,¡± he said in a small voice, looking intently at the construct. kaius the elder looked at him with feral intensity, green and gold eyes burning with ambition. he pointed upwards again. ¡°come on kid, let¡¯s see if you¡¯ve got some balls.¡± Chapter 119: Long Awaited Destiny pt. 2 chapter 119: long awaited destiny pt. 2 kaius stared at the aged clone across from him in bald faced shock. it wanted him to do what?! it couldn¡¯t seriously be asking him to cull all classes lower than heroic could it? that was utter insanity. while the rarity of your starting class was not the be all and end all, having a higher rarity class did drastically increase your chances of pursuing the sort of feats that were required to evolve them further as you developed through the tiers. heroic... that would mean eleven stats per level, and class skills of a minimum of fucking unusual! that was the main reason starting off with a class higher than rare was considered so much of a boost over the lower ones, you removed your chance of getting offered common skills. it couldn¡¯t be right. surely. he gulped, dry tongue catching in his mouth, like he had been chewing on cotton. ¡°you can¡¯t be serious.¡± he whispered. kaius the elder showed him his teeth. ¡°try me.¡± he breathed out long and slow, his ears ringing as the ground started to pull away from him. shooting out one hand, he caught a tree and leaned bodily into it. ¡°that¡¯s it right? i can¡¯t have possibly gotten anything higher than heroic, can i?¡± the construct laughed. ¡°unfortunately not. it''s not even possible to get higher than heroic for your first or second class. that said, you have done well enough that you have a couple to pick from. we both know that anything else isn¡¯t worth your time. though, if you wish, i would be happy to go through them with you.¡± kaius narrowed his eyes. ¡°how many unique classes do i have available that fit the criteria?¡± the construct''s green-gold eyes bore into his own. ¡°thirty-seven.¡± his knees gave out, and he was forced to clutch the tree tight before he could straighten himself. ¡°and heroic?¡± he asked in a small voice. ¡°three.¡± kaius shuddered, taking in a deep breath. ¡°what about without any criteria?¡± ¡°seventeen.¡± the construct replied, slow and serious. ¡°fuck.¡± kaius whispered. that was... too much. far too much. his aged clone had the right of it. no matter how unnatural it felt, he had to cull. swallowing again, kaius forced the words out. ¡°cull everything that isn¡¯t a class focused on swordplay and glyph-binding, and is of a rarity lower than heroic.¡± kaius the elder gave him a deep and satisfied smile, his grey streaked hair shining in haloed light that filtered through the canopy above. ¡°good shit.¡± then the construct spun, striding off into the forest. ¡°follow.¡± he said, turning back for just a moment to focus a proud look on him. kaius gulped, hurrying after the elder. they weaved through the undergrowth, working their way over densely knotted roots through tangled brambles. for anyone else, it would have been a treacherous hike through hellish terrain. for kaius it felt like being welcomed home. he danced through the underbrush, easily keeping pace with the construct, who themselves walked through the sea like they had been born in it. eventually they stopped, a grand clearing opening up before them. lush grasses drenched in sunlight covered the open space, a riot of wildflowers washing the green in sprays of purple, yellow, and red. there, at the centre of the meadow, a trio of venerable ash trees stood. each was massive, larger than anything he had seen in the outskirts of the sea before. heavy and aged limbs sprouted from their trunks, layered in calloused bark. staring agog at the carving, kaius looked over to his guide in confusion. ¡°just focus on it. a status page will pop up.¡± the construct explained patiently. kaius frowned, but did as was suggested. he focused on the eyes of the carving, feeling them drill into him. a system description flickered into view: warsworn rune-acolyte: class - tier i heroic relevant feats: has slain at least 4000 foes of at least level 15 while unclassed. has slain at least three champions in single combat while unclassed. has slain at least 100 foes with glyph-binding while unclassed. has slain a foe of at least level 30 while unclassed. has obtained at least three honours while unclassed. has a complete set of legacy skills. has capped all base stats at 20. has a weapon mastery skill of at least unique rarity. has a self healing skill of at least unusual rarity. has a rune mastery skill of at least unusual rarity. has survived multiple mortal wounds. has fallen to fury in battle. has disregarded injury with fatalistic regularity. the temple of ish¡¯tar is a desolate place. penitents and would-be acolytes must make pilgrimage through deserts of bone and lakes of fire. even when they arrive at the steps of the monastery, the adherents of divine combat are not so easily impressed. only if they survive the trial of blades will they have the opportunity to attempt being anointed with sacred glyphs of healing and fury. the lowest of the adherents of ish¡¯tar, the warsworn rune-acolyte is a being of anger and fury. focusing on savagery and persistence in battle, they are adept close-quarters combatants. differences abound between acolytes, but they have one commonality. a sacred glyph of rage is burnt into their flesh during initiation, subsidiary workings empowering them with persistent spell effects when they tap into its vigour. all body reinforcement, self healing, and self enhancement type skills are improved by 60% stats: +3 vitality, + 3 strength, +2 intelligence, +1 endurance, +1 will, +1 free stats per level skill resonance: warforged - moderate adamant body - strong runic lexicon - strong mana manipulation - moderate lesser regeneration - strong kaius gulped. Chapter 120: Long Awaited Destiny pt. 3 or: Mount Thor chapter 120: long awaited destiny pt. 3 or: mount thor kaius took in the status of his first option. it was easy to see why he had been offered it. warsworn rune-acolyte looked to be a brutal class. he could see it suiting him well, something that would lean into the rush of battle. the sheer savage joy of throwing yourself in harm''s way to claim victory. it also...alarmed him. there were several aspects he was unsure of. while it made use of glyph-binding, it seemed that it would be bent to more passive effects and general enhancements. he¡¯d dreamed of the dance of slung spells and swung swords since he was a boy, discarding that now - even for a heroic class - rankled. that, and the idea of a glyph of rage worried him, especially when he saw that at least some of why he had been offered the skill was succumbing to the power of the psychopathic assault tonic. while it had been a powerful tool, the idea of making it central to his build made him uneasy. plus... with his new bond with porkchop, he wasn¡¯t sure how it would affect his brother. during the fight with the guardian, his tonic induced cold analytical rage had bled through their link, infecting porkchop with insensate fury. there was a risk that a class like this could do the same, and even as powerful as it was, it wasn¡¯t worth that risk. he could only hope the others would be more suitable. he pulled his attention away from the class, the description flickering out of existence to reveal the detailed wooden carving of himself as a rune-acolyte. looking back to his class-guide, he found the aged and scarred clone watching him intently. ¡°so? what do you think? it¡¯s a strong option, one that has the capability to make you an unkillable terror in combat.¡± kaius the elder asked. kaius frowned, shaking his head. ¡°i don¡¯t think so. the style of glyph-binding doesn¡¯t really align with what i wanted. if it was just that, i would probably still consider it, but the rage aspect worries me. especially if there is a chance it might hurt porkchop. this isn¡¯t the one.¡± the construct paused, giving him a calculating look. ¡°are you sure? it suits you. the sort of feats required for a heroic class means that it''s almost impossible to achieve one without it being closely aligned to some aspect of who you are. think, can you really say that you are worried about rage if you indulge in it so often?¡± kaius blanched. he thought back on the goblin he had taken out his worry and frustration on. the way his blood had run hot with cruelty. even the bloodsong. while it was mostly a pure joy and excitement for the livelihood of battle, that wasn¡¯t all it was. there was a simmering anger there. the visceral catharsis of funnelling all of his tension into bone-breaking blows and close brushes with his own mortality. yet... he did not enjoy that aspect, and he wasn¡¯t proud of surrendering to his own cruel impulses. he found no shame in enjoying a fight, but surrendering to hate was something else entirely. even if he could not deny it was a part of him, that did not mean he needed to venerate or enshrine that aspect of himself. especially not by doing something as impactful as selecting a class centred around fury. kaius steeled his spine. meeting the construct''s firm gaze, he nodded. ¡°i¡¯m sure.¡± his aged clone smiled wide. ¡°then let us check your next offering, i¡¯m sure you will find it a fascinating option.¡± the construct spun on its heels, wading through the long grass towards the next ash tree. kaius hurried after him. approaching the trunk, the tree shimmered, revealing yet another carving. once again, it depicted him. while he still had his impressive physique, it was not enriched to the point of incredulity like the last carving. cowled in a heavy cloak, and garbed in thick leathers, swirling runic tattoos covered every inch of his exposed hands and fingers. that wasn¡¯t all, clean lines crept like vines past the neck of his armour, clambering up his neck and face to spiral around his eyes, temples, and ears. crouched leaning out from behind some ruined brick wall, the carving showed him focusing intensely, curiosity and avarice clear in his gaze, with a blade held at the ready in his inscribed hands. kaius grinned as his eyes roved over the carving. that was more like it! nothing ominous, nothing that suggested sacrificing his sense of self, and a clear representation of blade and spell. he tore his eyes away, meeting his guide''s gaze. the construct smiled encouragingly, nodding his head back to the carving. ¡°go on.¡± kaius¡¯s heart thumped in anticipation. he dove straight in. glyph-bound seeker: class - tier i heroic he tore himself away from the status screen, looking back to his guide. ¡°let¡¯s check the next one.¡± ¡°let us talk first,¡± kaius the elder said with a smile. ¡°it is a very good option, one that hits all of your wants and needs, even if it might not focus on them as much as you might like. i think being a seeker would suit you well. isn¡¯t that what you always sought, on those long moonless nights where you would watch the stars? to explore the heights and depths of the world, clawing at all it had to offer until you were satisfied?¡± kaius frowned. the construct was...not wrong. he had felt that way, he still did. hells, even in the last year, he had never felt so free, even with a heart full of tragedy and his own looming mortality vying for his attention. yet... that had never been what he wanted to define him. ¡°i want to explore, yes, but i have never wanted to be an explorer. regardless of what i pick, the world will always be waiting. even if it is more difficult to seize its mysteries, that only makes the reward sweeter. no, i don¡¯t think this is the one for me. perhaps if the last option is as bad as the first, but i cannot decide until i have seen it.¡± kaius said, resolute. the construct said nothing, only giving him a half smile before they turned and led him to the final tree. kaius¡¯s heart thumped with every step, as the air grew even more charged. after his initial acclimation it had tingled over his skin, active with whispered futures. now it roared, thick currents of destiny washing over him. his hairs raised, cold tingles rippling out from his spine. the final tree was... different. not in any way he could pick out with his eye, but he could feel it. feel its regal bearing, the sheer weight of it. thick air sat heavy in his chest, forcing him to work his lungs like bellows. they stepped under its canopy, and its bark shimmered. the construct waved him forward as the final carving was revealed, gesturing at him to get closer. kaius¡¯s breathing spiked, a thin whine sounding in his ears as he approached. he saw himself. clad in a full set of scale with his helmet held under one arm, runic whorls bound him tightly. they wrapped his hands, spiralled out from his temples, and crept around the back of his neck. each location was...different, the runes showing minute discrepancies to his trained eye. they were close siblings, but not identical. thrust imperiously into the air, his sword arm gripped a blade - one he knew well. a father¡¯s gift; he¡¯d recognise the delicate twisted fillgere on its crossguard and pommel anywhere. even then, his sword had been changed too. its blade blazed with runic might, yet more strange runes wrapping every inch of its steel. waves of volatile magic burst from its edge, carved with such fine detail he could almost see the air shimmering under its potency. with sharp eyes, he stared out from the wood, gaze locked on something off in the distance. regally focused, as the slightest frown of intensity graced his lips. it was everything kaius had dreamed of and more. for there was more. the sculpted destiny did not only depict him. there, clad in dense plate barding, with a magnificent glyph shining through the fur on his chest, was porkchop. his brother bore him like a mount, enlarged and empowered. yet it was clear that it was not a position of subservience, this kaius knew. he could feel it, the bond and trust between them shone as bright as the sun. as one they charged forwards, seeming to leap free of the ash tree¡¯s trunk as they raced across a field laden with the ruins of a forgotten age, evidence of glorious victory left in their wake. kaius remembered to breathe, a gulping gasp filling his chest with air heavy with potent and ancient magics. ¡°take a closer look, i think you¡¯ll like this one.¡± the construct said with pleased self assurance, startling kaius out of his reverie. he took a steadying breath and peered closer. a status page flickered into view. Chapter 121: Long Awaited Destiny pt. 4 chapter 121: long awaited destiny pt. 4 enraptured by the sight of a potential future, kaius focused intensely on the words that appeared before him as he focused on the carving embedded into the trunk of the last ash. runeblade initiate: class - tier i heroic relevant feats: has slain at least 4000 foes of at least level 15 while unclassed. has slain at least three champions in single combat while unclassed. has slain at least nine champions while cooperating with a greater beast while unclassed. has slain at least 300 foes with glyph-binding while unclassed. has slain a guardian while unclassed. has pioneered glyph-binding. has a complete set of legacy skills. has capped all base stats at 20. has broken the unclassed cap on at least one base stat. has obtained at least 4 honours. has obtained at least 1 major honour as an unclassed. has a weapon mastery skill of at least unique rarity. has an evasion skill of at least unique rarity. has a rune mastery skill of at least unusual rarity. has formed a bond of equals with a greater beast of at least heroic rarity. has at least one other heroic skill. has bound a sword type growth weapon. has actively pursued both martial and runic supremacy. has experienced aura. the runeblades are the militant branch of the vesryn order. one and all, they are knights errant, on an eternal quest to strive towards martial and arcane perfection. it is a harsh existence, unforgiving; to become an initiate is to sacrifice all to the life of the glyph and blade. astride their life-bonded companions and with their soul-bound blades in hand, they seek the gaze of death, for it is only by staring back unflinching that a runeblade''s true might can be forged. even an initiate of the vesryn order¡¯s runeblades is a lethal opponent. their bound blades and companions give them an edge, but it is their utter focus on martial and arcane perfection that makes them indomitable for their tier. multiple glyphs adorn their bodies, each tuned to maximise a specific aspect of combat-casting. sword-arts and other esoteric abilities leave little weaknesses to exploit, and their broad span of combat hymns allow them to prepare for any eventuality. when they arrive ready for war, their rune-drenched skin is seen as a promise of violence that brings succour to their allies and terror to their enemies. all arcane and martial affinity skills are improved by 30% all spellsword, evasive, and glyph-binding type skills are improved by 60% stats: +3 intelligence, +2 endurance, +2 strength, + 2 dexterity, +1 vitality, +1 willpower per level skill resonance: warforged - strong adamant body - strong runic lexicon - strong mana manipulation - strong uncanny dodge - moderate brotherhood of ichor and animus - weak kaius drank in the status of his future class. this was it, he could feel it in his bones. it was perfect. years of blood, sweat, and tears. a lifetime of sacrifice, on his part and father¡¯s. a year in the depths, throwing himself at battle after battle, fighting off the looming ghost of his own demise with fraught fury. the broken bones and ruptured organs. the loss. everything. this made it all worth it. he knew now that when he reunited with father - in this life or gods forbid, the next - he could meet him with shining eyes and pride in his heart. that he could tell him, honestly and truly, that he had achieved everything they had set out for, and so much more. the class was everything. the pursuit of perfection, the focus on spell and sword, enshrining his values and his bonds. he could not have dreamt of a better class for him. kaius grinned, wide and true. ¡°bear witness father, a new dawn rises on unterstern today,¡± he thought, sending his words into the aether. ¡°this is the one,¡± he said as he turned to his class guide, the words reverberating through the mystic air that clouded the shaded reaches of the final ash tree. ¡°like i said, i thought you might like it.¡± kaius the elder replied, giving him an easy grin. ¡°are you sure you do not want to discuss it? your choice will be final, and more than any other, the first class you choose will impact the direction of your life forever more.¡± kaius¡¯s green and gold eyes sharped, and he straightened his spine. ¡°there is no need. it has everything i wanted. a focus on the blade and the glyph, and it enshrines my bond,¡± he paused as he realised that he did have one thing on his mind. ¡°i did have one question though. why is the resonance with brotherhood of ichor and animus weak? with everything the class stated, i would have thought that it would have been strong.¡± he tried to follow the system¡¯s work, a slow and steady thud pulsing through his head as he desperately tracked a million million threads. it was too much. individually, each one was almost invisible. the ratios and design of the working too in-depth, too detailed. his mind quaked; he was forced to slacken his focus. it was awe inspiring, a work of impossible detail. a cage slowly began to come together, sigilistic emblems locked in place in a lattice of binding wires. he knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that even with a million years he would never be able to come up with a work as grand. as detailed. each sigil, beautiful in their complexity and each totally unique, served as the vertex to a hexagrammic shell. wires of unknown power shot to the centre of each hole in the net, coalescing and amplifying. forming thousands of roaring conflagrations, each one condensing a titan¡¯s worth of power. trepidation welled within him. seeing so much raw mystic energy compressed right next to his soul gnawed at him, even with his faith in the might and control of the system. he bit his lip. his skills started to sing. a hymn of longing and want. not all of them, only some resonated with the charged potential that echoed from the system-wrought formation in waves. warforged, adamant body, runic lexicon, mana manipulation, uncanny dodge, and brotherhood of ichor and animus. the roaring maelstroms contained by hexagonal arrays continued to swell, and the song of his skills heightened as the waves of power amplified further. one stuttered, their pure note wavering for a moment before it slowly dimmed and fell silent. brotherhood of ichor and animus. kaius could tell what happened, even if he had no power over the system''s actions, he was still in the boundary of his own soul, and he felt all of the workings impacts clearly. as he had been warned, the skill was too aligned, too perfect. even with the might of his class, his bond skill had little room to grow. at least within the confines of his tier. he could only hope that the others would persevere. then, a few moments later, one skill fell off key. its resonance faltered as its tuneless note was overwhelmed in a rush of mystic might. uncanny dodge had been unable to come in line with what his class required. kaius winced. it was a powerful skill, and an evolution would have brought it to heroic. yet now, all that was left were skills that chimed with undeniable purity, aligned tightly with the growing eminations from his nascent class. pure intent and mystic might built further, just barely kept within the bounds of the system¡¯s arrays. he watched the formation with baited breath. whatever happened, it would happen soon. his skills rose to a crescendo, singing out in joy for their coming change. a thousand thousand incandescent wells of energy imploded, condensing down to monodimensional points in the centre of each six pointed star. lances of pearlescent light shot free from the base of each nexus. the arrays that made up the web of his class lensed the beams, focusing and amplifying them before they plunged deep into his soul. his pyre of self roared in primal satisfaction, igniting to new potent heights. a shockwave of charged power roared out. focused by his class construct, the wave was amplified. kaius gaped at the shimmering wall that tore away from the working that caged his soul. it washed over his soul-space and his four resonating legacy skills screamed with satisfaction, before they shattered. the system bore down on their ashes, infusing them with the remnant power of his class formation before it forged them anew. **ding! class forged! runeblade initiate obtained!** **ding! general skill evolved! warforged (unique) has become liturgical bladeform - primus ordo (heroic)!** **ding! general skill evolved! adamant body (unique) has become tempered by dissonance (heroic)!** **ding! general skill evolved! runic lexicon (unusual) has become tonal weaving (unique)!** **ding! general skill evolved! mana manipulation (unusual) has become resonance amplification (unique)!** Chapter 122: Long Awaited Destiny pt. 5 chapter 122: long awaited destiny pt. 5 kaius rose from his soul-space with a gasp, his eyes snapping open to take in the dense ash canopy above. warm sunlight filtered through the green leaves, comforting him with memories of home. he was still in his class selection. he¡¯d been told to expect that, but after all he experienced, it was hard to avoid feeling surprised. his class construct, the system sheathed in an aged and scarred clone of himself, leaned over him with warm eyes and a soft smile. despite the notifications for his new skills tugging at his mind, kaius gave the system his full attention. one did not ignore the highest of divines. ¡°pretty intense isn¡¯t it? i know i said we had more to do, and we do, but i''m not going to be so cruel as to stop you from checking out what you have gained. you almost look constipated.¡± the ancient intelligence teased. kaius blanched, struggling to marry the coarse humour with a lifetime of veneration. his class construct just gave him a cheeky grin. ¡°based off you, remember? don¡¯t go getting all up-tight about your own humour now. seriously though, check your skills, you look like you¡¯re about to pass out.¡± kaius paused, and then gave the construct a nod, indulging in his rampant curiosity over his gains without even bothering to sit up. liturgical bladeform - primus ordo: general skill - tier i affinity: arcane, martial type: spellblade, longsword, glyph-binding, mastery level 20 heroic the first order of vesryn. speak the language of war, and write your verse with steel and spell. here, mastery transcends skill; it becomes ritual. skill that enhances technical mastery with the vesryn orders liturgical bladeform style, a cohesive use of longswords and glyph-binding. improves the lethality of longswords, and the armour piercing capabilities of longswords and hymns each level significantly increases longsword and glyph-binding proficiency. each level moderately increases speed, control, and power of strikes - both mundane and magical. each level minutely increases the ability to penetrate mundane and magical defences. evolved from: warforged kaius grinned as he drank in the description of the evolved form of warforged. not for the first time, he thanked his blessings that he had been born into the legacy he had. warforged was an ... unoptimised skill, but it had served its purpose perfectly. with its power spread so thin between mastery of so many styles, warforged failed to really shine in any given one. yet, it was only a base skill. it meant that none of his ancestors were locked into a specific style or weapon at birth, able to choose what fit them best. father had said that most in the history of their dynasty managed to evolve it by the first or second class selection. when they did, they almost invariably were granted something that let them excel. the truth of those words stared him straight in the face now. he had lost his ability to make use of any weapon, but he had gained much, much more. already he could feel its effects rushing through him. when he tried to remember the feel of a perfectly aimed bowshot, or a graceful parry with a knife, it slipped away like a dream. r?a?????o???¦Ås? it wasn¡¯t that bad, he had still used and practised with dozens of weapons since he was a boy. all he had lost was the nudging and insight granted by the system, the ones that stretched his capabilities to superhuman heights. in their place, he could feel a burgeoning style taking place, one that wove a dance of arcane steel. he couldn¡¯t feel it completely, that would take practice and time to familiarise himself with his newly found instincts and implicit knowledge. that wasn¡¯t all. even if all he had gained was a sword and hymn focused style with better scaling, he would have been happy. but for the skill to increase his ability to overwhelm armour and protection? that was invaluable, especially as he knew that he and porkchop would need to punch upwards if they were to meet the significant demands of ekum the pale. invigorated by liturgical bladeform, kaius moved on to the next skill. tempered by dissonance: general skill - tier i affinity: martial, destruction type: body reinforcement, armament reinforcement, evasion he dismissed the notification, looking up to his class guide. ¡°no knowledge component?¡± he asked. the aged clone shook his head slightly. ¡°unfortunately not, i did mention that hybrid classes come with drawbacks. however, it will help you fully understand the components of the runic hymns you receive from your class skills. from there, it is just a matter of exploration, extrapolation, and testing. i wouldn¡¯t expect to reverse engineer glyphic scripts quickly though.¡± kaius paused, but gave his guide a sharp nod. at the very least he had gotten confirmation that it was possible. besides, even with a knowledge skill, it would have still been a gargantuan undertaking without any learning resources or tutors. the kind of work better suited to cloistered scholars than a warrior like himself. he just hoped that the speed and convenience of direct inscription would be enough to offset the loss. the final skill notification tugged at his mind, and kaius dove straight in. resonance amplification: general skill- tier i affinity: arcane type: glyph-binding, metamagic, manipulation level 20 unique attune yourself to the primal song, the thumping heart that runs beneath the world. impart a note of destructive purity to your hymns, reverberations shattering all that would bar your path to perfection. resonance with internal mana empowers offensive runic hymns with penetrating vibration. enhances mental control of internal mana. external mana may be controlled with significantly increased difficulty. each level significantly increases control over internal mana. each level slightly increases the potency of imbued resonance. each level minutely increases control over external mana. evolved from: mana manipulation kaius¡¯s heart thumped as a grin split his face. metamagic. he¡¯d had hopes, but without a base skill of that nature, he had gotten lucky indeed with this evolution. even if the difficulty of external mana control had increased, he¡¯d found that that particular skill was far less useful for him than a standard caster. once his hymns were set, there was little he could do to influence them to the extent a manipulation or sorcerous caster could. instead, he found internal mana control to be far more advantageous with how it assisted his inscription. even that single trade would have brought the skill better into alignment with his needs, but for it to develop a metamagic component as well? that was true fortune. imbuing his combat spells with reverberation would increase their effectiveness at no additional cost, and he could think of a number of cases where it could prove extremely advantageous, like against heavily armoured opponents. pleased with his gains, kaius dismissed the notification and pushed himself off of the soft ground of the forest. dirt and loose leaf litter clung to his back, until he brushed them free and rose to his feet. ¡°what now? you mentioned something about us still having something to do before i¡¯m finished?¡± kaius asked, turning to his guide. his guide crinkled his eyes, small crows-feet appearing at their corners. ¡°indeed we do. it¡¯s time for you to pick your first skill, and depending on your choice, your first spell.¡± anticipation welled up within him, a bubbling energy that made him feel light and energetic. his first class skill... it was finally here. unlike general skills, they almost ubiquitously had some sort of active component, and were the largest part of why classers were so capable. though, he had half suspected that he would make the choice outside of this selection place. ¡°will i always come back here when i unlock more?¡± he asked, tilting his head at kaius the elder. ¡°no, just for the skill that comes with the class evolution itself. for your later spells, you will enter something similar, you do need to be taught them after-all, but not here. somewhere less sacred, but still dear to your heart.¡± the guide explained, before he waved at kaius to follow as he turned and strode off into the meadow that surrounded the trio of ash trees that had revealed to him his class options. kaius jolted, and strode after his guide, pushing through dense grasses and walking around wildflowers. they were too pretty to damage with casual disregard. ¡°we¡¯re going somewhere else?¡± he asked, hurrying to match the clone''s pace. ¡°of course. a new skill carries a whole lot less weight in your heart than your class. it would be inappropriate to make the selection here. i still think you¡¯ll enjoy the process though, you have quite the options.¡± his guide said, looking back over their shoulder to shoot him a wink before they picked up their pace. ¡°hey! wait up!¡± kaius replied, starting to jog. Chapter 123: Long Awaited Destiny pt. 6 chapter 123: long awaited destiny pt. 6 after leaving the meadow that held the site of his class selection, kaius and his guide had fallen into an easy silence. he appreciated that. as they walked through the giant old growth forest, working their way through the undergrowth, he started to feel at home. it had been far, far, too long since he had been in the sea, been graced by the radiant warmth of the sun, smelt the rich earth and vegetal notes of wood and leaves on the air, heard the chirping of birds, and the rustling of true wind as it passed through the canopy above. even the wooded sections of the depths were a poor substitute for such concentrated life. he only hoped that whatever changes the second phase would bring, that it would leave this aura of serenity untouched. more than anything else, that would cut at him if he was the reason for its disruption. beyond a doubt, this was the break that he had craved, needed, after so long in the depths. even here in mind only, he felt the tension of a year of war slowly leave him and a renewed vigour and determination take its place. only now did his success start to feel real. they had done it, slain a guardian and obtained their classes. sure, the future held perils, but the most immediate mountain had been summited. with their success, and the knowledge and experience he now carried with him, kaius felt far more steady about the looming range on the horizon. the forest parted once more, revealing a small break in the trees where a rocky slope hampered their ability to take root. kaius came to a shuddering stop. he recognised this place. there, at the base of the slope, lay a number of cracked boulders. four in total, by chance or fate each had split cleanly through the middle to reveal a clean and flat space. just off to the side lay a burnt out campfire, scattered with loose dirt and cleared of leaves. it was the sight of where he had first truly dived into the possibility of glyph-binding. where father had expounded on the mysteries of the runic arts in depth, and spent his evenings muttering as he sketched theories on one of the split boulders. it had been an enrapturing time. then, more than any other, his father had been driven - focused totally and utterly on something other than kaius¡¯s direct training. it had been fascinating, seeing his father attack the stone with sticks of charcoal like he was trying to slay a dragon, diagram after diagram materialising before being wiped clean once more. it had humanised him, let him see father as more than a harsh taskmaster and stalwart protector. yet it had highlighted the cracks, and shone a revealing light on all they must have lost. it had revealed glimpses of the man father must have been. a driven, passionate, and viciously intelligent man who latched on problems like the jaws of a greater beast, wringing them for all the secrets and solutions he could. it had been when he realised that father was drowning. how could you solve the destruction of your dynasty? your own loss of power, that only dwindled by the day, and a son you needed to nurture and train without the resources you needed to do so? it had become clear then, in those halcyon days, why father had such demands on his attention and effort. ensuring he could survive without him was father¡¯s final act. the final problem he had to solve. kaius loved him for it. letting out a slow, shuddering, breath, kaius turned to his class guide. ¡°here?¡± he asked, his tone half accusatory. ¡°here.¡± his guide replied with a nod. ¡°there is power in symbolism. come along now.¡± kaius steeled himself. he took a long, final look at the camp he had lived in for months before he followed after his guide, approaching the split boulders. as they drew closer, he realised that three of them were not as he remembered them being. they were set in a neat line, exposed faces unshadowed by their missing halves. one seemed to be some sort of sword technique diagram. it was similar - no, identical - in style to the ones that father had sketched in the dirt with a stick when he was being taught the components of warforged. it was different though, this was no simple style guide. waves of roaring energy rolled off the blade. when the sketched figure struck his opponent, that energy tore at their flesh. a true class skill, rather than the mostly passive effects of his general set. the diagrams were vague, barely showing him what the skill did, let alone how. the next had a singular massive glyph scrawled across its surface. pointy and jagged, it was made of hard lines and acute angles. as he approached, it seemed to almost shift with his perspective, its form mutagenic and transient. it seemed there would be no stealing hidden insights from skills he didn¡¯t plan to select. out of the corner of his eye, kaius caught sight of his aged clone smirking. of course it could read his thoughts. no matter, it was an incarnation of the systems might after all. he turned his attention to the final boulder. ?§Ñ¦Ío??e?s? the last was another technique diagram, though this one was clearly designed for glyph binding. a runebound figure cast a bolt of magic, a runic hymn burning away from their outstretched hand. it did the same with its other hand, two bolts appearing while only one charge was burnt. that caught his eye. the potential to double the output of his limited runic hymns would do much to shore up the weaknesses of glyph-binding. not that he intended to make his choice of only a first impression. now that he had a class, with a monumental plus-three to intelligence every level, the limits of his mana pool would dwindle rapidly. even gated as he was by being limited in the amount of hymns he could inscribe at once, he doubted that many things would live long enough to threaten him after he had gotten through twenty-four arcane bolts. he was also immensely curious about the glyph. they were supposed to be a major centrepiece of his class, afterall. ¡°shall we start with the last one then? it certainly seems to have caught your eye.¡± his class guide said with more than a little mirth, shaking him from his revere. this tale has been unlawfully lifted from royal road. if you spot it on amazon, please report it. disruptive cut: class skill- tier i affinity: martial, sound type: longsword, antimagic, strike available! unusual some runeblades specialise, tuning themselves to a specific kind of prey. amongst these rare figures, it is the howling blades of the mage-hunters that are most feared by all of an arcane bent. this skill allows the user to infuse their blade with disruptive vigour at the cost of 100 stamina, temporarily destabilising channelled mana in their targets. each level reasonably raises the difficulty of preventing or counteracting this destabilisation. each level moderately increases the length of time that the disruption persists. each level minutely increases the chance of interrupted channelled mana causing a damaging backlash. this one intrigued him. while he was heavily disinclined to take it, it still revealed some secrets about this nebulous vesryn order that dominated the history of his class. he had chosen the path he had to be flexible, not to focus on a single type of enemy, even one as ubiquitous and dangerous as mana users. in isolation, it would be a strong pick, even with being a lower rarity than choralcasting. yet he doubted it would operate in isolation. he decided to satisfy his curiosity. afterall, what good was a guide if you did not ask them to show you the way? ¡°these skills. will they influence what i am offered later? both later skills and class evolutions?¡± he asked, turning away from the boulder to address the system construct. ¡°good catch, and good question,¡± they responded, giving him a nod. ¡°yes to influencing later classes. the skills you pick, and how you use them, both directly influence class evolutions, and often impact the types of feats that you complete. as for later skills? yes, but to a lesser degree. ultimately, it is the class itself that has the most influence, and it would take several skills with the same broad focus to completely shift everything you are offered.¡± kaius nodded along to his guide''s explanation, chewing the inside of his cheek. ¡°in that case, i don¡¯t think this one''s for me. not for my first skill, at least. is it able to be offered again?¡± he asked. ¡°it could, but it is much more likely to be something different, whether subtly or radically.¡± his guide replied, shifting their weight on one foot. it stood out to kaius, he doubted it was unconscious. there was no way that the system itself was a slave to things as base as simple discomfort. still, it humanised his guide. which he supposed was the point, it had said that it had taken that form to put him at ease after all. the specifics of skills impacts on his future choices aside, kaius still had one main question. where this class had come from. he¡¯d had a suspicion building for a while, after reading epigraph after epigraph. one that had only grown as he saw the references made to a supposedly powerful order of glyph-binders, when he was supposedly the first of his ¡®cohort¡¯. whatever that meant. ¡°the vesryn order, they''re not from around here are they? they can¡¯t be.¡± he asked, cautious curiosity tinting his words. his class guide gave him another one of its wide smiles. ¡°clever. you¡¯d be surprised how few people ask that. everyone is usually too caught up in the hullabaloo of their shiny new class.¡± kaius paused. that wasn¡¯t much of an answer, though the fact he had been commended for asking it confirmed they were not in his mind. he supposed that they could be from the higher realms, but they sounded all too ... mortal for that to make sense to him. ¡°where are they from then?¡± ¡°can¡¯t say. not yet at least. keep on climbing like you have and you¡¯ll figure it out for yourself quick enough though.¡± giving him an apologetic shrug, his class guide nodded towards his last skill option. ¡°you should check that out. something tells me you¡¯ll be quite pleased with it.¡± kaius turned back to the final boulder. the shifting, aggressive angles of the glyph on its face seemed to tug at him. drawing him forwards. he complied willingly. Chapter 124: Long Awaited Destiny pt. 7 chapter 124: long awaited destiny pt. 7 the final split boulder was a large thing. he recognised it, a perfect duplicate of another further across the base of the slope. the same one father had used to teach him runes. the shifting glyph on the boulder''s face made father¡¯s master runework look like a child''s drawing. it was jagged and aggressive, impossibly crisp lines cutting through stone, before they cracked into hard points and ran back through themselves. he found it almost impossible to focus on a single aspect of the shifting rune, his eyes tugged from point to point. every time he roved back over a spot, its entire geometry had shifted, rolling back over itself to present him with a new face. and yet, he did not ever see the thing actually move. it was simply different every time he focused. still, he could work out some aspects of its construction, even if in the broadest of senses. it was similar to his own glyph, in the way a barn cat was similar to a lion. a central nexus of violent shards, or crackling spokes, or twisting knots. a controller, shifting faster than he could focus on it. swooping lines that wove themselves into a binding, before shattering like glass. he swallowed thickly, a vein on his temple throbbing as the mutable design made his head start to ache. it didn¡¯t take long for him to give up studying much more of the formation. taking a deep breath, he stepped forwards, revealing the description of his final potential skill. latent glyph of drakthar: class skill- tier i affinity: arcane, martial type: glyph-binding, runic, spellcasting selection available! heroic the ¡®glyph of scouring,¡¯ drakthar is etched for aggression and dominance in battle. its hymns unleash raw, directed energy in bursts of screaming magic. of all vesryn glyphs, it is the most warlike, as such initiates have its latent form inscribed on their hands and wrists to make it easier to direct - and less likely to bite something important. this skill allows the user to inscribe vesryn evocation spell-hymns to be activated at will, limited only by the availability of mana to reserve into the working, and sufficient space on the body. creates a hymnbook on the user''s status if one is not already present. paired on both hands, each glyph can cast hymns inscribed on their counterpart. each level moderately increases the power, range, afflictions, and area of effect of spell-hymns cast through the glyph. each level slightly decreases the physical size of inscribed spell-hymns. every 100 levels the user may learn another runic hymn of the relevant tier to add to their hymnbook. spell-hymns known: tier i- selection available! air hissed between kaius¡¯s clenched teeth as he took in the nature of what would be the first skill of his class. there was no doubt in his mind. drakthar. he rolled the word across his tongue, feeling its hard points and sharp edges. it was a good name. a fitting one. something that a warrior-king would name his weapon. r?a??o?be?s? it was perfect. a source of new spells, his charged hymns limited only by his mana pool, and an increase of power that scaled with his level. he could think of nothing better. plus, to his core he burned to grasp as much of glyph-binding as he could. turning back to the glyph scrawled boulder, kaius felt the system react to his intent and offer him a new notification. **ding! latent glyph of drakthar class skill available, would you like to proceed? this choice is pivotal and irrevocable.** kaius accepted. power thrummed, surging through his soul. gasping at the electric energy that coursed through him, kaius dropped into his soul space. the class mesh that surrounded his soul pulsed; waves of power streaming out from the impossibly fine points that linked to his soul. guided by the system''s grand working, the power was corralled, woven into a dense ball. he could taste the flavour of that energy. aggressive, domineering. calling out in joy for the glory of battle, and the effervescent thrill that accompanied the expulsion of energy. shining with an aura of gold, the threads of intent that linked the latent skill to his class compressed the ball of formless potential, shaping it bit by bit into a shard of power. it was crystalline, much like his general skills, and gleamed with the rich red of war banners and spilled blood, shimmering with the incandescence of honourable death. unlike his legacy skills, the coalescing shard did not take on a platinum glow. golden light emanated from the working. with a final shattering crunch, his skill was forged as a pulsing wave of anticipation burst free from the nexus, washing over every inch of his being. his latest power floated away from his soul. it settled equidistant between the pillars of his aspects and the locked orbits of his legacy skills. with satisfied vigour, it started to rotate around the pyre of his soul, orbiting around the plane that split his soul top to bottom. formed and settled, it began its work in earnest. kaius started, feeling mana fly free from his pool. snapping his eyes open, he flew from his soulspace and rejoined the world of the waking. lifting his hands before his eyes, he leaned heavily on true sight, ignoring the absence of two fingers in favour of focusing on the streams of mana that split and divided under his skin. both of his hands were affected, glowing like a bonfire to his sight with the weight of mana that suffused them. woven under the intent of his skill, the mana took on new form, binding itself to his flesh according to higher mysteries and sacred geometries, leaving lines of white hot fire as the caustic arcane seared his nerves. kaius winced. it stung. like fuck. still, he could bear the discomfort. burning crimson light branded itself onto his skin, the glyph taking shape. it was cohesive, dense, and immeasurably more complex than anything he would have been able to inscribe himself, let alone design. he struggled to even identify what it did, but he could at least tell that there were different segments to the formation. if he couldn¡¯t do even that he would have been a poor excuse for a runewright¡¯s son. a central array, shaped like splayed out shards of metal, was surrounded by a densely woven mesh of hexagrams, each vertice cutting the central array in twain as they crossed his flesh with eye watering fire. jagged runes that whispered of power and the thrill of spilt blood scrawled around each line, somehow dipping through his flesh to wrap the glyph in a three dimensional matrix. it was mind bogglingly complex, and something that was only possible due to the formation being bound to his body and soul. he gulped, suddenly realising that developing his own expertise on his glyphs was going to be a lot harder than he thought if they were three dimensional. the complexity and permutations alone... balancing mana flows along a flat plane was bad enough. a final circle of runes flared into being, encircling the central formation at equidistant points. each was as large as a fingerprint, and a thin line of runes linked each one into a decagram. his mana surged, totally under the thrall of drakthar, before his whole being...clicked. shuddering in place. the burning lines of his glyph dimmed, leaving clean black elegance in their place that drenched the back of his hands and climbed up and around his wrists. clenching his fists, kaius took in their shape. he ... liked it. the brutal edges and whispered promises of violence. that said, he was going to need to buy some gloves if he wanted to avoid questions. it wouldn¡¯t take long for people to start wondering what a fresh tier one was doing with body formations of unknown design. he grinned. he couldn¡¯t wait to test them out, but first he would need to get his first spell. ¡°ready to move on?¡± his class guide asked, giving him a small smile. ¡°born ready.¡± kaius replied with a grin. Chapter 125: Long Awaited Destiny Finale chapter 125: long awaited destiny finale still cloaked in a cowl dyed the colours of the forest, kaius¡¯s class guide had led him away from the split boulders that had held his class skill options. it was time for him to learn his first hymn for his new drakthar rune. his excitement made him impatient, and it was an exercise in will to match his guide''s comfortable pace through the forest. thankfully that faded somewhat as they walked, the warm breeze and sunlight working in concert with the soft noises of insects and chirping birds lulling him to a state of relaxation. slowly, he started to enjoy their walk. it would end soon, and he knew it would be a long time until he crossed through till the second tier and returned here once more. he may as well enjoy it, even if the real thing was waiting for him when porkchop finished his own advancement. by the time they reached their destination he was almost disappointed that their walk had been cut short, though that faded quickly as his excitement returned in full force when he saw where they had arrived. the dense wall of trunks that surrounded them on all sides gradually began to thin. through their reaches he could see they were arriving at another opening in the forest, though this one was heavily shaded. it was easy to see why. a gargantuan elm dominated the centre of the clearing, its wide canopy and flat leaves shading all beneath it. soaking up the sun with avarice, it allowed none of the life giving light to nourish any potential competitors. kaius gaped up at it in awe, pausing momentarily to drink in the sight. while he had seen some truly impressive specimens in the sea, he had never seen one quite so majestic. it was enough to rival the tree that had housed the grimclaw. yet even with its prodigious size, that only held his attention for a few moments. taking in its trunk that was thick enough to encapsulate two of him lying end to end, he spotted something...out of place. a door. recessed into the thick and cracked bark of the elm. it was an elegantly carved, richly red mullions surrounding pale cream panels, with a trim of yet more red. a heavy brass handle was set into it, carved into the shape of creeping vines. it was the kind of thing he would have expected to see in a rich noble estate in deadacre, or one of the vaunted houses of learning that the wealthy and well connected sent their scions to. it had absolutely no place being in a forest, but he supposed this wasn¡¯t really the sea. he hurried on, chasing after his guide who had not broken step and was heading straight for the out of place portal. ¡°a door?¡± he asked, breathing slightly heavy as he slowed to a fast walk beside the construct. ¡°doesn¡¯t exactly fit the scenery.¡± kaius the elder chucked, bringing one hand up to his scarred mouth. ¡°no, it doesn¡¯t. the advancement space is for the selection of your class, and your first skill of the tier. not your spells, that has its own environment. there¡¯s a little bit of leeway due to the innate connection, but it still means we need a little bit of change of location. don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s quite seamless.¡± kaius hadn¡¯t been, having full faith in the system''s capabilities. people were transported by it every day when they delved the depths, and he hadn¡¯t heard one story of it causing any issues. hells, even though he only had the vaguest memories of his own entrance, that only proved his point. if it were something major, he would have remembered. arriving at the door, his guide set one aged hand on the brass handle. barely even breaking stride, the construct swung the door open and stepped through, pausing just through the precipice to hold the door for him and usher him through. ¡°after you.¡± kaius bobbed his head in gratitude and stepped through the door, his eyes roving over the newly revealed space. it was... a study. dwarven in construction, much like the study where he had first worked on his ruins in the city where his body still lay unconscious. stone and wooden construction was masterfully married in an exhibition of artisanal skill. a richly carved hearth covered the entirety of one wall, and an already roaring fire warmed the space immensely. the other three were dominated by floor to ceiling bookshelves, each one bursting at the seams with innumerable books of all shapes and sizes, one and all leatherbound and dyed in a myriad of colours. r?¦Á??o??¦Âe?s it should have been dark, considering the lack of windows, but masterfully bracketed wardlights jutted free from the pillars of the book shelves, and another hung from a chandelier in the centre of the room, bathing the space with a soft yellowish glow. kaius grinned as he saw the desk. it was functionally identical to the one where he had first done his experimentation, except this time it had been scaled up slightly to properly fit one of his height. that was a nice touch, even in the villages he often found furniture a little too small for him, considering he was half a stride taller than what most would consider to be a tall man. ¡°take a seat.¡± his guide said, closing the door behind them with a thunk. kaius hurried over to the desk, pulling out the plush seat and reclining into it with a groan. he leaned back, enjoying the way the masterful carpentry and upholstery cradled him, and looked to his guide for direction. ¡°this will be mostly similar each time you come in here. while i am here this time, you will have another construct to help you through future selections. they do not have the same complete connection with the overmind that i do, so they will have less to draw from. to you, the difference will be indistinguishable, and they will still be able to offer you the full range of assistance in choosing an adequate spell. the difference still needs to be mentioned though. by the high tiers, even if it is not an impediment, it is noticeable. a few rare individuals believed we had been hiding secrets maliciously when they noticed, so it is mentioned up front now.¡± his guide explained, walking through the room and trailing his finger along the spines of various books. every now and then, he stopped, pondering on a book before making some decision to unknown metrics, continuing on or plucking it from the shelves. ¡°what do you mean, a difference? i assume by overmind you mean the system?¡± kaius asked as his guide approached the desk and sat five books down on the polished wooden top. ¡°just so. i have the leeway to answer many questions within boundaries, much like right now, in explaining how the constructs operate. at high tiers, there are many mysteries that become evident, ones that i am able to share once asked or it is deemed important. the construct used for spell selection does not have this leeway, and while it will be more than capable of having an idle chat, most of what it will be able to share will be directly or tangentially related to what you need to make your selection.¡± kaius the elder explained, picking up books and laying them in front of him. ¡°now, spells are similar to classes in that you are not able to view every option potentially available like a class. the selection has been narrowed to those useful to you. why don''t you take a look?¡± his guide said, waving his hand over the titleless books. enjoying the story? show your support by reading it on the official site. kaius sat up, snapping forwards as his chair moved with him. with barely constrained avarice he snatched up the first title. as soon as he held the book in his hand a system description popped into view. hyperius¡¯s shard swarm: runic hymn - tier i (evocation) ... chotnik¡¯s sickness: runic hymn - tier i (evocation) affinity: poison, toxin glyph: drakthar 60 mana selection available! this hymn summons a diffuse cloud of virulent spores that causes others to suffer a damaging infliction that causes significant disorientation. finishing with the last spell, kaius arrayed the books in front of him. now that he had seen them all, he could see that the coloured covers must have at least moderately aligned with the affinity of each spell. considering the dizzying array of shades that blanketed the titles still on the shelves, there were a lot of potential options. a blue so pale it was almost white for crystal, a brilliant orange-red for fire, mottled shades of virulent green for poison and toxin, brilliant white for light, and a riotous storm of electric blue and steel blue for lightning and storm. that wasn¡¯t the only thing he had noticed. ¡°no rarity?¡± kaius asked, tilting his head quizzically at his guide. the construct shook their head. ¡°no, they are intrinsically linked to their parent skill. all are of that tier, though plenty of variation still exists within it.¡± ¡°so my choice is genuinely just down to the generality of its use case then. i can¡¯t go too specialised for my first.¡± he mused, mostly to himself. ¡°if that is what you wish.¡± his guide responded. tapping his fingers on the desk, kaius took the time to think for a moment. ¡°chotnik¡¯s sickness, when it says others does it literally mean anyone other than me who is within the cloud?¡± his guide smiled. ¡°it does, though it is worth mentioning that that can work in your favour if you encounter an entity that can shield themselves from targeted spells. the same can be said of embered orb, but i noticed you seem far less uncomfortable with that.¡± kaius considered both spells. chotnik¡¯s was right out. considering he had a soul-bonded companion, going with a spell that would indiscriminately affect porkchop was monumentally stupid. after a bit more thinking, he decided to discard embered as well. he fully intended to be in the thick of things for the rest of his life, and a spell that exploded with burning shrapnel would only be useful in situations where neither he nor porkchop could effectively engage. that just left shard swarm, lance, and stormlash. all three were incredibly appealing. swarm sounded helpful, as the lack of need to aim would allow him to fire and forget, and if each shard held even half of the potency of his own arcane shard spell they would be incredibly lethal. the fact he was unlikely to miss and they seemed to be good at dealing with armoured foes was another major benefit, let alone the fact that they were both already familiar and had a comparatively low cost compared to the other two. for lance it was the fact that it instantaneously struck his target that had caught his eye, as well as its accuracy. if the spell had punch, that meant that he would both have an option at range, and that any person he targeted would be unable to muster a defence against his hymn. stormlash... was just cool. holding lightning in his hands and using that to scorch, electrocute, and immobilise his enemies? who wouldn¡¯t want that. plus, more than anything else it fit his dream of using spellcraft and blades as a cohesive whole. he could easily imagine how he could use the spell to tear through unprepared enemies, delivering fatal strikes while they were stunned. now he just needed to make a decision. kaius leaned back, kicking his legs up on the desk while he drummed his fingers against his wooden armrest in a staccato fashion. after a moment of pondering, he stopped his drumming. he¡¯d made his choice. ¡°do you need any help to decide?¡± his guide asked congenially. ¡°no,¡± kaius said with a shake of his head. ¡°i know what i''m going to pick.¡± scarred and venerable, his guide gave him a wide and proud smile that reached his gold flecked green eyes. ¡°in that case, it has been a pleasure meeting you, kaius. you¡¯ll wake up as soon as you have picked your spell. until next time!¡± the construct straightened, turning away from the desk before they looked back over their shoulder. ¡°when you leave, do be a dear and let porkchop know i am looking forward to meeting him? due to your soulbond, he is not bound by your restriction with other people in their testing period.¡± kaius nodded. ¡°thank you, and i will.¡± giving him a nod, his guide took a step away from the desk and vanished, leaving kaius alone in the office to make his choice. as soon as his guide left, he focused on his choice. stormlash. Chapter 126: Shared Tale & Status chapter 126: shared tale & status the first thing kaius noticed was the thick layer of semi-dried gore that was sticking to his skin and gumming up the fine joints of his scalemail. the second was the smell, the foetid stench of stale battle. he groaned, eyes opening as he sat up. he was back on the plateau, leaning up on the same stone plinth that he had sat next to before selecting his class. porkchop lurched up beside him, whirling towards him to butt him with his head. ¡°kaius! you¡¯re back!¡± ¡°hey buddy,¡± he said, ruffling the fur of porkchop¡¯s head. ¡°how long was i out?¡± porkchop chuffed, leaning into his touch. ¡°an hour, maybe two. not too long. now what happened?! tell me everything!¡± kaius grinned at his bond-brother¡¯s enthusiasm. he understood, after so long of having the mysteries of class selection hidden from him, he would be eager to learn more from someone who had just gone through the experience. ¡°well, for one, i found out that there is a great reason why it is only spoken of in generalities. the system prevents discussion of it with those who have not gone through the process.¡± he held up his hand as porkchop started to whine, his eyes unconsciously drawn towards the new lines of his glyph peeking around his armour. ¡°i wasn¡¯t finished. lucky for us, you don¡¯t count due to our soul-bond, for reasons i don¡¯t quite understand.¡± porkchop visibly vibrated for a second, before he seemed to force himself to still and tilted his head. ¡°well, if you can tell me then tell me!¡± kaius shook his head, a small smile on his face. ¡°well, it''s supposed to be quite different for everyone, and i''m not sure of the differences for a greater beast since you have a bloodline instead of a class, but it was quite the experience. i was in the sea, with a guide. it was...very ceremonial. apparently it brings you to a place you will feel at ease, and your guide is in the form of someone that you would trust and pay attention to.¡± he finished. ¡°okay... that¡¯s not quite what i was expecting. there were no trials, no challenges?¡± ¡°no,¡± kaius shook his head. ¡°the guide helped me narrow down my class choices, and then led me to a place where i could review them. once i picked, several of my general skills evolved, and then i got to pick a class skill from a choice of three. after that, due to my class skill choice i got to pick a runic hymn. that was interesting. once i had chosen the spell, the guide left, but i had to go through a strange training where the system granted me knowledge and had me practise until i could create the hymn without its assistance.¡± kaius explained. ¡°anything else that you think might help?¡± porkchop asked, clearly eager to pry as much information as he could out of him. kaius hummed, looking upwards to the cavern ceiling far above, thinking back on his experience. ¡°not directly, i don¡¯t think. just trust your guide, and listen to their advice. we did really well.¡± something jumped to his mind. ¡°oh! we were right about the honours, they get some sort of scaling upgrade when you have a class. i haven¡¯t checked exactly what yet though.¡± porkchop sat up. ¡°really? that¡¯s fantastic! i was worried that they would only be a small boost. enough of that though, did you get it? what you wanted?¡± his bond brother asked. kaius¡¯s cheeks ached with the force of his smile. ¡°i did, and so much more.¡± ¡°well, don¡¯t hold me in suspense!¡± ¡°seventeen heroic class offerings, though i only looked through the glyph-binding ones. one was perfect, nigh the limit of what could be obtained for the first tier. warforged, adamant body, runic lexicon, and mana manipulation all evolved, going up a tier, and my first class skill was a glyph that grants me two hymns every tier, of the same rarity of the skill - also heroic.¡± kaius rattled off his gains, inwardly deeply satisfied at the way porkchop went stock still, his ears perking up as he stared at him in shock. barely a moment later, porkchop surged into motion, tackling him to the ground in an excited flurry of blurring swats and affectionate nuzzles. ¡°a heroic class?! and three more skills? that¡¯s amazing kaius!¡± r?an§àb¦Ås? he laughed, shoving his bond-brother off of him. ¡°i know! i expect you will get much the same.¡± he said, sitting back to lean against the plinth once more. ¡°you have to tell me everything, every description. leave nothing out.¡± porkchop insisted. kaius smiled, and launched into a description of his new changes. .... kaius glanced over at the prone form of his brother, sprawled out on the hard stone next to him. he looked to be in a deep sleep, but kaius knew from what porkchop had told him that he would be utterly unresponsive until he returned from his selection. his brother had also said that if something weird happens, he shouldn¡¯t be worried. which was worrying in and of itself. bloody idiot had refused to explain though, nor why he had insisted on removing his barding, prefering to keep it a ¡®surprise¡¯. despite having managed to remove the worst of the muck while kaius was gone, most of porkchop¡¯s fur was still plastered to his heavily muscled frame. despite that, he still looked bloody adorable curled up in a ball. shaking his head affectionately, kaius turned back to his task at hand. working the caked and stiff buckles of his vambraces to bare his arms. after their discussion, porkchop had dived straight into his selection, and kaius intended to use the time to familiarise himself with tonal weaving and his new method of inscribing his hymns. he¡¯d had some practice with his new spell in the mental space the system had created to teach it to him, but he knew that until he had put that into practice with his real body, he would continue to feel uncertain about the process. it was, afterall, ruinously complex. as soon as he had tried to form the hymn for the first time, he had immediately realised how much of a boon tonal weaving was going to be. his newest spell... made full use of the medium of his body. dipping into his flesh and winding itself around his mana flows. it was an order of magnitude more difficult than standard arrays from a practical perspective, let alone the scholastic complexity of developing them wholesale. if he¡¯d had to use his jurryrigger¡¯s inscription stylus he would have been fucked. clawing at the last buckle, he managed to dislodge a dried clump of viscera that had had it stuck fast, and freed his arm. sighing, he leaned back and worked on the other. thankfully it was a bit less messy. as he worked, he pulled up his updated status, marvelling at the changes. status: name: kaius dynasty: unterstern age: 19 enjoying the story? show your support by reading it on the official site. race: human (dynastic, greater beastblooded) - +1 wil, str, end, and free stats per level layer reached: 2 class: runeblade initiate - + 3 int, + 2 end, + 2 str, +2 dex, +1 vit, +1 wil per level sublime prodigy - glyph binding birds of a blood soaked feather persistent survivor (minor) kingslayer (major) ruthless underdog bound artefacts: a fathers gift - common growth longsword growth conditions- gain a class (1/1) acquire suitable materials (0/3) forge a link (0/1) kaius stared at his status in awe. if he had thought his growth explosive before he had gained his class, it was down right absurd now. between the scaling growth of his honours and the absurd number of stats that he received for his heroic class, he was gaining over fourteen stats per level, though the system rounded down to the nearest whole number. that was over double what a common class would receive. given time, he would be nigh unstoppable to those of comparable level to him, and the distance would only grow as he rose through the tiers. though, he did note that the system seemed to round the scaling stats of his honours down to the nearest whole number. something he didn¡¯t quite understand the vagaries of, but there were many things like that. still, he was strong. a hard smile split his face. this kind of strength would be what he needed to have his revenge on the bandits that had forced him to the depths, if his father had not already done so. anger burned within him, tinged by old grief. he knew, knew, that something must have happened to father. it had been a year, he would have found the entrance of the falls months ago, even if he had had to rest and recover after a fraught battle. if he had been captured, kaius would be coming for him. with the strength of his new class he should rise explosively through the early levels, gaining the power needed to safely track down the bandit¡¯s forces. gritting his teeth, kaius turned his mind away from the simmering anger in his chest. that would be for the future, now he had a skill to practice. in the end, he had decided to pick stormlash, despite its high mana cost. it was a powerful spell, and one that he would find easy to enmesh into his fighting style. his hope was that the lash would extend his reach, allowing him to create openings for both himself and porkchop¡ªwhile building on the foundation created by liturgical bladeform to create a seamless style of steel and spell. storm spells were well renowned for the searing burns they left behind, and the massive damage they did internally. without significant magical protection, it would be a hard hymn to defend from indeed. with sixty-five strides - twenty long-strides - of range, he would have more than enough range for most of his engagements, especially since that distance would grow as drakthar levelled. thankfully, with the significant growth of his intelligence he could already make use of eight inscriptions, something that he should be able to add to every third or fourth level. it would be a long time until he received his next spell, if he didn¡¯t get offered more glyphs that is, but he hoped that drakthar would level quickly under heavy use. reminded of his plan, kaius spent his free point on his intelligence. later he planned to use them to shore up his vitality, but for these early levels he planned to maximise his mana pool. at least until it outstripped his regeneration so much that it became cumbersome to refill. sitting up from the plinth, kaius crossed his legs and let his hands fall limply to his lap. he closed his eyes, though this time he didn¡¯t delve deeply into his internal soul-space. instead, he reached for one of his newly evolved skills, tonal weaving. newly found instincts settled over him, the skill working in tandem with true sight and resonance amplification as he painted the image of his runic formation in his mind''s eye. it was an interesting thing, long tendrils of runic script writhing and rolling over themselves, each one made up from jagged characters¡ªeach utterly more complex than the weavings he had made from high lothian. holding the image in his mind, he started to pull on his internal mana flows, connecting them to the waiting support of his drakthar glyph. they held stable, coalescing near the wrist and palm of his left hand. he pushed the image of the inscription onto the mana, willing it to respond to his desires, to mould to the shape that had been burned into his mind at the system''s instruction. controlled by resonance amplification the mana leapt to his will, precipitating into a new shape. it was a slow process, even driven by two skills and supported by the visualisation capabilities of a third, it was still an action that he only knew in theory. tiny mistakes were corrected, constrictions in his mana flow smoothed. the minutes ticked over. sweat began to bead at his brow, the processes of weaving mana directly into runes while holding a separate image in his mind taxing even with his enhanced stats. still, he made progress. correcting the last few characters, the runes snapped into place, locking down a portion of his pool that he had been using to weave. **ding! true sight has reached level 21!** **ding! tonal weaving has reached level 21!** **ding! resonance amplification has reached level 21!** kaius gasped in relief, opening his eyes to stare down at his hands. new lines of black sprouted from the glyph on his hand, wrapping sinuously around the base of his thumb before curling in on themselves to trace the curve of his wrist. holding his hand up to inspect the runic hymn from all sides, kaius grinned. it was actually quite pretty, all things considered. at first he had thought having black markings on his skin would be jarring, but as time had gone on he had come to appreciate how they drew the eye to their geometric perfection. smiling in satisfaction, he dropped his hands back to his lap and closed his eyes once more. kaius was hopeful that he could squeeze at least another level out of the skill, it was still slower than his previous work with a stylus. irritatingly so. he breathed, centering himself and bringing the image of the inscription back to the forefront of his mind. one down, seven to go. Chapter 127: Destiny Redux pt.1 chapter 127: destiny redux pt.1 porkchop groaned, stretching as he felt the cold stone of the dwarven city disappear from beneath his paws, replaced in an instant with the familiar grit of hard packed dirt. if not for kaius¡¯s warning of what to expect, the sudden transition would have no doubt startled him. as it was, he took the moment to feel the simple comfort of earth once more. he breathed in deep, smelling the deep scents of moss, moisture, and... home. porkchop froze, nose twitching as he sampled the scents on the air. there was no mistaking it, this place reeked of the dens. flooded by safe familiarity, he opened his eyes, finding himself in a dense excavated burrow. every wall was reinforced by skill manipulated stone, patterned in dozens of different whorls and shapes. the mark of the crafters who had shaped this home. the ceiling towered over him, large enough that the warren like network could easily support the size of some of his larger brethren. considering the growth spurt that came with awakening the bloodline was only the first, that was large indeed. his ears perked, tail gently swishing back and forth with joy. while he might have left, it had nothing to do with him not liking the dens. even if the matriarchs were stuffy, it was still a place of warmth and happy memories in his mind. porkchop spun in place, taking in the entirety of the burrow. half way through his turn he stopped, rooted to the spot. there, across the burrow, stood an immense beast. over twice his height, with a coat of speckled grey. a matriarch. their form was familiar, burnt into his mind after many a scolding when he had been young. brooks-no-argument had been his primary tutor, and they had clashed often over his ¡®reckless and impulsive¡¯ pursuit of growth. even knowing that the matriarch was merely the system in the guise of his teacher''s flesh, he couldn¡¯t help his reaction. porkchop lowered himself, baring his throat in the proper gesture of respect. ¡°hello, child,¡± the construct said as she looked down on him in amusement. ¡°there is no need for such honorifics. you already know who i am and why i am here.¡± he stayed silent. a lifetime of discipline was a hard mountain to climb, pre-warned or not. ¡°you may speak freely in my presence, child.¡± his class guide said, sighing heavily at his obeisance. porkchop dropped his chin, rising to his feet. ¡°hello! it is nice to meet you. i would like to reduce my bloodline choices to heroics that are focused on persistence in battle, please!¡± he said hurriedly, the words blurring together as he tried to slam his intent through beast-speak as fast as possible. across from him, his guide chuckled, her chest rising and falling with mirth. ¡°a decisive one, aren''t you? i must make you aware that this will reduce your options to a paltry two, though if you feel neither are suitable, i would be happy to show you the other three that you have earned.¡± porkchop chuffed, pleased that he had done enough to earn a heroic. he would have been lying if he said that he had known for certainty that one would be waiting for him. after all, even if kaius had managed to earn seventeen, most of his brother''s honours were firsts in comparison to his own, and he had the feat of inventing glyph-binding. all''s well that ends well. more than the extra power, he had mostly been worried about the embarrassment. if he had had to settle for a unique class, kaius would have never let him hear the end of it. ¡°two is plenty! i am sure that either one will fit me nicely,¡± he said, resolute in his decision. he was a meles, and should be an insurmountable wall in battle. it was getting ridiculous how often kaius needed to save him. no, he intended to be the anchor of their pairing, drawing the ire of their enemies with crushing fury and primal might. that would leave kaius to do what he did best, killing things with excessive prejudice. to do that he needed to be tough, hard. two options was more than enough. the matriarch dipped her head at him. ¡°then it shall be so.¡± rising to her feet, his class guide walked off at a slow comfortable pace, heading into the warren of tunnels that lead away from the burrow he had started in. ¡°come along.¡± r?§Ñ?o??b¦Ås excitement surged through him, his ears perking. it took considerable will to calmly follow the matriarch instead of shooting off after her like a startled wildcat. he couldn¡¯t wait for kaius to see how big he would get. ... the matriarch led him through another twisting tunnel, skill compacted earth shot through with carvings of strong prey, and idyllic vistas of the sights of the deep sea. one in particular stood out to him, the sun rising over a lake. the water had been rendered in glimmering blue crystal, while dark green cultivated moss showed massive lilies drifting on its surface. he knew that spot. one of the few places he had gotten to see outside of the dens when he was just a kit. he gnawed at his cheek as they walked, looking away from the art of his people as he focused his thoughts on his selection. the first bloodline had been a bad fit. one focused on brutality and mindless rage. it nominally fit his needs, what with its focus on regenerative vitality and defensive abilities, but they were split more fully with direct aggression than he was comfortable with. of course, he needed some level of direct combat ability, but he wanted much of his classes focus to be on bolstering his body and his defences. the physical might of his body, bolstered by general and class skills, would be more than enough for him. especially with kaius backing him up. they turned a corner in the tunnel, the passage widening into another cavernous burrow. much like the last bloodline they had evaluated, the centre of the cavern was coated heavily in the scavenged moss of a sleeping pit. at its centre lay a truly impressive specimen of a young forest king. nearly half his height again, it was bulging with stout muscles that were covered in a fur of such deep green that it bordered on black. it was almost similar to the patterning on his own coat, the youngling sign, but without the stripes. instead around the ruff of its neck its coat was a deep milky white, contrasting the blackish green.. he knew it to be a potential future, the figure a representation of who he might become when he finally awakened his blood. they approached, and porkchop realised with a start that the meles¡¯ digging claws were... crystalline. deep green, just barely translucent, razor sharp, and wickedly curved - they made his own claws look like the soft digits of a two-legged in comparison. ¡°and here is your other choice, child. remember, we can always check options with a different focus, or unique ones, if you find it an unsuitable fit,¡± the matriarch said, coming to a slow stop a few dozen strides from the sleeping figure. you might be reading a pirated copy. look for the official release to support the author. ¡°thank you, matriarch, but i can only wish that this is the one.¡± porkchop replied, before approaching. waves of potent aggression and stalwart surety rolled off of the beast, washing over him. the air reeked of power, stinging and singing his delicate nose. suppressing the urge to rub his snout, he continued his advance, only stopping when a system notification flickered into view. warden of sacred jade: bloodline - tier i heroic relevant feats: has slain at least 4000 foes of at least level 15 while unclassed. has slain at least three champions in single combat while unclassed. has slain at least nine champions while cooperating with an ally while unclassed. has slain a guardian while unclassed. has survived multiple highly lethal wounds. has a complete set of legacy skills. has capped all base stats at 20. has obtained at least 4 honours. has obtained at least 1 major honour as an unclassed. has a defensive mastery skill of at least unique rarity. has a body reinforcement skill of at least unusual rarity. has a natural weapon enhancement skill of at least heroic rarity. has crystal manipulation. has repeatedly stood in harm''s way to occupy enemy attention. has withstood significant assault in the defence of another on multiple occasions. is a greater beast. when subject to the heat of battle, and the pressure of responsibility, most crack. those blessed by sacred jade do not, instead weathering tribulation to emerge reborn. implacable and unstoppable, they are garbed in finest green, purity tainted only by the remnant folly of those who would stand in their path. type: body reinforcement, defensive level 20 unique sacred purity rises inviolate, untouchable by corruption. dense and unshakeable, when all else is dust, jade remains. this skill reforges the user''s body, hardening it like sacred jade and making them capable of bearing the weight of the world. each level reasonably increases the user¡¯s capability of persisting through significant injury each level reasonably increases the user¡¯s bodily integrity, making them harder to injure. each level moderately increases ability to withstand increased weight and pressure. each level minutely reduces the time required to remove an affliction evolved from: iron bodied ... landslide of fang and talon: general skill- tier i affinity: martial, primal type: natural weapon enhancement, mastery, meta enhancement level 20 heroic rock falls, everyone dies. this skill improves the users mastery of heavy armour and natural weapons, focusing on a style of inexorable assault. increases the impact of natural weapons, and empowers skills that enhance natural weapons. each level significantly increases mastery of natural weapons and heavy armour. each level moderately increases the effect of natural weapon enhancements. each level moderately increases the force transfer of natural weapons. evolved from: fortress of pugilism ... sacred empowerment: general skill- tier i affinity: crystal (sacred jade) type: meta enhancement, manipulation level 20 unique above all else, sacred jade bolsters all that it touches, purifying them and bringing them into closer alignment. this skill imbues all crystal affinity skills with the strength of sacred jade, empowering them with enhanced toughness and purification of hostile magics. allows minor control of crystal aligned mana. each level significantly increases the resistance of sacred jade manifestations to physical and magical effects. each level slightly increases control over crystal mana. evolved from: crystal manipulation porkchop drank in the changes to his skills, his chest rumbling with deep satisfaction. each one was a measurable increase to his capabilities, and the fact that his brawling skill had evolved to include armour only heightened his interest in what came next. he¡¯d definitely made the right pick for his bloodline. ¡°i am gladdened to see you are satisfied with what you have received. come along, young one, it is time for your final choice.¡± the matriarch said, intruding on his thoughts as she turned around and led the way out of the burrow. porkchop followed along dutifully, giddy at the thought of what class skills he might be offered. Chapter 128: Destiny Redux Finale chapter 128: destiny redux finale porkchop left the den, following closely behind the matriarch as she led the way through the deep forest. it was identical to how he remembered it. tree trunks, thick enough that it would take a dozen of him lying end to end to match their thickness, were spread wide with their canopies shading all that lay beneath. the air was charged with magic, each little shift in the warm breeze bringing with it the electrifying scent of the arcane. when a particularly potent wave passed through, the ferns that sprouted like the lesser trees he had seen over the mountains curled their fronts, trying to absorb as much of the arcane wind as they could. it was pleasant, and full of life. yet it held some differences. for one, there was no ever present feeling of danger. no cub left the den without an adult to watch over them, not until they were right on the cusp of their choosing and had the size necessary to fight off the odd low levelled threat that was present at the edges of the mountains. here, on the grounds of his choosing, there was no risk. no fear of a toothy horror of the second tier wandering in from the depths of the sea. sure, it had almost never happened at his den. it was his family''s raising den. right at the edge of the high mana zone, it was leagues safer than the inner reaches of the forest. the matriarch pushed through the undergrowth, clearing him a path. then, as soon as he was through, she let the thick bushes snap back into place and stepped aside to reveal three clear pools of water, a single fish swimming in their depths. all were green, though one was the deep emerald of fathomless waters, another the bright lime of new shoots, and the other a rich verdant shade that shone of powerful vitality. ¡°your skills, young one. approach and they will be revealed to you. choose carefully, because once decided there will be no reconsiderations.¡± his guide said firmly, prodding him forwards. porkchop approached the pools one by one, each revealing a potential option for his first class skill. celadon aegis: class skill- tier i affinity: crystal, martial type: defence (armour), summoning, equipment selection available! heroic bound by sacred pacts of stone and primal spirit, the warden of sacred jade is wrapped in an adamantine carapace. an unyielding bastion in the face of assault, the warden is a living barrier that stands between its allies and harm. this skill summons barding on the user, made of heavy plates of sacred jade that are highly resistant to both physical and magical damage. this requires a channelled cost of 500 mana, and an upkeep cost of 5 mana per minute. broken jade plates regenerate when additional mana is channelled into the skill, or when the skill is refreshed. every level reasonably increases armour plate durability and density. every level reasonably reduces armour weight every level slightly reduces the cost to regenerate broken armour. every 50 levels increases the barding¡¯s coverage. ... crystal fang barrage: class skill- tier i affinity: crystal, earth type: ranged, offence (magic) selection available! unusual from within the earth, ancient fangs rise to strike down all who oppose. few withstand the bite of jade. this skill summons a pair of crystal fangs that hover over the user, launching towards an enemy within 30 strides. requires 100 mana. every level reasonably increases the size, velocity and sharpness of the fangs. every level moderately increases the armour penetrating capabilities of the fangs. every 10 levels increases the number of fangs by 1. ... verdant reprisal: class skill- tier i affinity: crystal, arcane type: area of effect, reactive, defence(aura) selection available! heroic strike if you wish, but understand this: jade does not shatter; it endures, absorbing every blow until it reaches a breaking point. and when it does, it will answer each strike in kind, with roots that run deep and thorns that never relent. r?ano??¦Âe?? at an ongoing cost of 50 stamina per minute, the user creates a zone around themselves that absorbs a portion of damage, and stores that as arcane energy. once saturated the user may dispel the aura, causing a shockwave of energy infused with jade shards around them that is proportional to damage absorbed. every level reasonably increases maximum possible stored energy. every level minutely increases the conversion rate of energy. general skills (10/10): savage arsenal (heroic) - 20 shattering storm (heroic) - 20 primal vitality (unique) - 20 jade bones, earthen blood (unique) - 20 landslide of fang and talon (heroic)- 20 spell resistance (unusual)- 20 sacred empowerment (unique)- 20 primal senses (unusual) - 20 natural celerity (unusual) - 20 brotherhood of ichor and animus (heroic) - 20 (a/n- adding a (bonus) tag to appropriate honours) honours: born for slaughter birds of a blood soaked feather (bonus) persistent survivor (minor) (bonus) kingslayer (major) (bonus) ruthless underdog (bonus) ... kaius shook his head, sending a spray of tainted water in every which direction. by the time he had finished inscribing his spells, porkchop was still lying insensate on the flagstones, in the grip of choosing his first bloodline. at first he¡¯d simply waited, but then the grime and muck that coated him head to toe had grown too much, the sensation of gritty and caked cloth sticking to his skin was maddening. so he¡¯d retrieved his pack from where he had stashed it on the stairs. thankfully they had planned for this somewhat, and all of their water skins were full to the bursting. he¡¯d stripped down to his underclothes, with the self cleaning enchantments on his hunter¡¯s garb it would have been a waste of water to clean it himself. his armour, especially the fine and intricate scales of his serelian mail, was a different story. kaius scrubbed the blood and viscera from himself, before working out as much of the gunk from his armour as he could. then he left it to dry, making sure to save at least some water for porkchop. they¡¯d always planned on a short jaunt down to the manor below to get clean and secure some travelling rations, but it would have been rude to not save at least a modicum for his bond-brother to clean off the worst spots of gore that matted his fur. walking back to the statue, he leaned against the plinth and stared at the glowing blue circle of system runes that dominated the dead centre of the plateau. the portal. their exit back to the sea. kaius¡¯s eyes drank in their significance. it felt...surreal, to be so close and simply wait. sure, it made sense. this biome was cleared, and the way would remain open until they took the portal. with how defenceless they were during their class selection, it would have been idiocy to enter an unknown region of the sea without access to their class and bloodline. still, it felt odd. to wait. to simply watch the circle, knowing that the efforts of the last year had paid off, and he had gained more than he ever thought he would. to know that once he returned to the sea, once he started the rest of his life in earnest, he would be joining a world forever changed. shifted, morphed, and forced to undergo a time of struggle, trial, and strife. all because of him. he had changed the world, that was undeniable. yet despite the simple fact of the matter, it was hard to reconcile. he may have been a lost scion, with a full legacy set, and a greater beast for a brother. there may have been more mysteries than certainties in his history and family line. those very facts might have been worthy of bardsong in and of themselves. yet... he struggled to come to terms with the second phase of the integration, with the challenges laid at his feet by ekum the pale. everything else he had accomplished was personal at its core, the result of his efforts, luck, and lineage primarily affecting him, and what he personally chose to act upon. the next phase was different. an uncontrolled and unintended result of his efforts, that would affect millions. he bit his cheek, the weight of responsibility weighing on him like lead. it was foreign, and a burden that he would not have chosen for himself. yet it was his to bear all the same. a calamity of his own creation, if not of his design. staring at the portal back to the world he once knew so well, kaius steeled his heart. at the end of the day, it was still his responsibility. it was also one that he had been assured would come with benefits. the best chance for the world, ekum had said. that meant something, and even if the world had done little for him, he did not intend to let his actions harm the little folk that he felt kinship with. the people he held dear of three fields, the folks of the other frontier villages, and the beggars that he had spoken with in deadacre - unknowing that such a thing was not done - that had told him their stories. even the hunters and wayfarers that he had shared rare fires and meals with in the sea. for them, if no one else, he would not shy from the fate that had been thrust upon him. plus, if he was entirely honest with himself, something with the name of tyrant had to be a fucking good fight. he knew deep down that languishing peacetime was not the life for him. he craved the certainty of steel, the rush of hot blood, the sweet vigour of food and fine wine, the ever present vitality of a life lived on the edge. some would call him foolhardy, cocksure, brash, and perhaps even arrogant to the extent of idiocy. to them, he would agree, and would continue earnestly, unchanging in his ways. burden or no, he had been called to fight, to strive, and to win. kaius felt himself grin, his teeth bared at the world. he had many goals for the immediate future. finding the lost history of unterstern and learning why he had heard no mention of his dynasty¡¯s name when all suggested he should have, discovering the fate of his father, and pursuing the goals laid on him by a god-in-the-flesh. all of those needed one thing, power. he¡¯d learnt one thing from the last year. he responded well to the threat of death. at least the end of the world meant that he wouldn¡¯t need to seek it out for himself. standing there, dripping from the remnants of his cleanse, he was startled from his introspection as a hair raising crack emanated from the prone form of his bond-brother. kaius¡¯s head whipped over in shock. porkchop began to writhe, his flesh boiling and shifting as bones splintered. then, he started to grow. Chapter 129: Packing for a Trip chapter 129: packing for a trip kaius lurched towards his brother, laying his hands on the dense and gore drenched fur that coated the meles¡¯ thick muscle-bound form. he felt his brother''s physique straining, fibres snapping as they pulled away from bones that shattered of their own violation. panic surged through him, his heart racing as he watched porkchop undergo some sort of metamorphic change, more akin to something he would have expected to see in the fleshwarper¡¯s laboratory than a natural process. porkchop¡¯s head snapped back as his thick neck contracted uncontrollably, feature¡¯s warping as the bone and cartilage of his face snapped in a dozen splintering crunches. his features shifted, expanding as muscle and skin tore, and new flesh arose to take its place. before kaius¡¯s very eyes, his coat began to shift. it stayed the same tinted black, but the red morphed, shifting to a green so deep it was almost the colour of scorched slate, only showing its inner hue under the shine of the false sun above. a ring of milky white sprouted from his neck, dripping down to the top of his chest and running along a section of his spine as the ruff of his neck lengthened- turning into a half-mane. he realised what was happening and took a step back, crossing his arms in annoyance. ¡°porkchop, you fucking asshole. you could¡¯ve mentioned that awakening your bloodline came with a side dose of body horror.¡± kaius muttered. his bond-brother did not respond, insensate as his jaw dislocated with a stomach churning crackle-pop and the bone shattered and grew. at least it was obvious now why he¡¯d wanted his barding removed. depths-wrought enchantments were generally more flexible than artisan made ones, but everything had its limit. who knew if its resizing enchantment would have stood up to the growth. then porkchop¡¯s claws fell off. kaius shuddered, watching the strings of tissue that tied the daggers that once capped his brother''s digits snap as new talons grew in their place. they were...stone-like. a slightly translucent forest green, it looked to be some sort of crystal that had been honed to an edge so sharp it seemed like it would cut him with a bare look. cocking an eyebrow, he looked on in interest. now that he knew porkchop¡¯s life was not at risk, there was a certain morbid fascination in watching his bond-brother¡¯s body dismantle and then rebuild itself, and by holy fuck was he getting big. he¡¯d already been a living weapon before, roughly bear sized and tall enough to come up to the bottom of kaius¡¯s chest. it looked like he would be taller than him at the shoulder now, at the very least. though, it was hard to tell with how oddly proportioned he was, what being mid-evolution and all. that wasn¡¯t all, if his brother had been built like a strongman raised on a diet of whole cattle before, now it looked as though his muscles had muscles. that was...moderately terrifying. there was a reason greater beasts were so feared. considering how strong his brother would be due to his sheer physicality, the improvement from his stats would be all the more impressive. shaking his head in amazement, kaius stepped back and waited for his brother to return to him. ... kaius watched porkchop stretch, his face still a little pale from watching his brother¡¯s body crack and morph as he settled into a new, empowered, form. rolling his shoulders, porkchop ambled up to his feet, though he stumbled a little on legs that looked to be much longer and more powerful than he was used to. kaius whistled as he took in his brother¡¯s new height. ¡°fuck me, you¡¯re huge.¡± he said, mouth agape as he looked up at porkchop¡¯s green shrouded face. porkchop¡¯s ears twitched, and his head snapped towards him. he moved, bounding over to kaius and smothering him in a wall of blood streaked fur. kaius laughed, wrapping his arms around his brother and heaving in an attempt to leverage his newly enhanced strength to muscle porkchop to the ground. he was about as successful as he would have been trying to uproot a fully grown oak. porkchop batted him back with casual ease, sending him stumbling to the side before he started to rear up in excitement. ¡°kaius! i did it too! got a heroic!¡± porkchop said, exhilaration and pride streaming across their bond. ¡°really! that¡¯s great! what did you get?¡± kaius asked excitedly, slipping under and away from porkchop¡¯s descending paws. ¡°and be careful of those claws, they look sharp.¡± he chastised, staring at the spots where they had dug into the solid stone floor. ¡°whoops, sorry.¡± porkchop replied bashfully, settling down onto his haunches. it still left the meles clearing his height easily, which felt... odd. porkchop had never exactly been small, even at his old height he was taller on his hind legs, but being trounced when his brother was sitting was something else entirely. not that it made him uncomfortable. with how often porkchop ended up getting walloped due to his rather...direct fighting style, he needed all the physical advantages he could get. kaius sincerely hoped that whatever his brother had gained from his bloodline would be enough to avoid a repeat of what had happened with the guardian. seeing him shattered and broken as he tried to crawl away from the siege ogre had been one of the most terrifying things he had ever experienced. evidently his old worry seeped through their link, as he was treated to a cold nose the size of his palm smushing into his forehead. ¡°no worrying! the ancestral blood didn¡¯t just make me bigger, the magic of the transformation will have increased my baseline even more than what simple size would do. besides, one of us needs to draw our enemies ire, and you are much more suited to dealing out damage quickly. i picked the warden of sacred jade with that in mind.¡± porkchop explained. ?a???§Ö?s ¡°oh?¡± kaius said, reaching up to scratch porkchop behind his ear. his brother reacted as he always had, leaning into his touch. it gladdened him, physical change or no, he was still the same old porkchop. ¡°going for the path of the bastion, then?¡± it did make sense. porkchop¡¯s legacy skills were well bent towards drawing attention and persisting through the fire of battle. yet he would have had to get something good. while all bastions relied on appropriate skills and tough bodies, without fail they lended themselves towards heavy armour and impenetrable defences. things that would prevent wounds. even if all you took was light cuts, standing as the anchor of a battle would mean that eventually enough of them would accumulate to do you in. he moved on instinct, guided by the thrumming intent of his spell. with the barest flick of his wrist, bound lightning snapped towards the statue with a crack and a blinding flash of light. it lashed around the statue''s throat, before two more cracks echoed out in quick succession and the spell jumped to two more in a chain. electric blue lightning mana surged as stone hissed and scorched, stormlash writhing as arcing beams of purple lanced off the bolt to strike at the statues. reverberations shook the statue, cracking stone in a shower of dust. resonance amplification at work, no doubt. then it was over, the lightning disappearing with as much suddenness as it had been formed. kaus gaped at the result of his spell, staring at cracked and scorched stone, at the molten details on the statues neck where stormlash had produced enough virulent heat to soften stone. the reverberation had been potent too, finger length cracks running down the chest of the statue. hells, even the light. he was sure that without truesight the lightning would have been bright enough to leave burnt-in afterimages floating in his vision. though, he did expect that would be of limited utility in battle as he grew in levels. simple mundane effects like that would have little effect on someone with significant endurance. but the sheer power. for a moment there, before he had cast, he could feel it. the constrained might of a storm, held in the palm of his hand. that was... too much. far more than what should have been possible from a simple tier one spell. if this was the power of a heroic class and skill, what would happen when he rose through the tiers? what if he managed to increase its rarity? then, before he could muster his senses, porkchop tackled him from the side - driving him to the floor. ¡°kaius! that was fucking awesome!¡± he said, nuzzling him affectionately and managing to smear him with cold blood once more. he couldn¡¯t help but laugh, though he did shove porkchop off so that he could get to his feet, ¡°i just held a fucking lightning bolt, what the fuck!¡± kaius wiped off the worst of the gore, before frowning at the smudge of green on his hand. ¡°that said, we need to get cleaned up. no way in hell am i going back into the sea so...sticky. that, and see if your fat ass will still fit into your barding.¡± ¡°hey!¡± porkchop replied, indignant. kaius simply laughed and went to collect their things. ¡°come on! fast job¡¯s a good one.¡± ... in the end, returning to the manor to resupply and get cleaned up took them barely more than an hour. with how close they were to leaving the depths, neither he nor porkchop were keen on wasting any time before their return to the forest. damp and clean, they hurried to redress. to both their delights, porkchop still fit his barding, and a quick test proved that it still worked with his aegis. somewhat at least, apparently it chafed terribly. unfortunately, with their designs on the plunder held in the kitchens, they had need of it if they wanted to carry out as many artisanal spices and foodstuffs as they could carry. the spices especially. with how expensive and exotic most were, kaius knew that there would be many that he would most likely never get the chance to try again. given how light they were, and how far they stretched, he planned on getting everything. that said, they did decide it would be for the best to sell off the light barding at the soonest opportunity. they could replace it with something more designed for utility. some simple padded leather to cover the gaps in porkchop¡¯s aegis, and saddlebags for their gear. after storming the kitchen with the rabid fury of a full troop of pillaging raiders, they returned to the mountaintop weighed down heavily with their spoils. no matter what happened next, they would be eating like kings for a week at least. though, probably not much longer if porkchop¡¯s appetite had increased to match his new size. skirting around pools of blood, they approached their target. the glowing circle of runes that dominated the plateaus centre. they shone with crackling potency, pulsing as they grew closer. kaius stared at them with open fascination, still struggling to truly believe that they had actually made it. that they were finally here, finally leaving. they stopped at the edge, both of them staring at the threshold. all it would take was a single step, and yet both of them felt the heavy weight of the moment, its primacy and dominance. kaius looked to his left, a grin slipping out when he realised he had automatically looked at porkchop¡¯s chest, where his head would have once been. he tilted his head up, finding his brother already watching him with green-flecked-gold eyes. ¡°together?¡± he asked, raising his hand to place it on porkchop¡¯s shoulder. ¡°together, no matter what.¡± they stepped forwards, crossing the threshold, ready to take on the world as men grown. **ding! portal entered!** **descend?****exit?** **personalised guardian loot will be provided on selection of either option.** End of Book 1. Chapter 130: The Prodigal Son Returns end of book 1. chapter 130: the prodigal son returns one moment kaius was standing at the peak of a dwarven citadel deep below the earth, then the world shifted, blurring for a few mind-bending fractions of a second as he was torn along an impossible axis. something moved within those depths, something large and curious, something that inspired a primal terror within him. then he was snatched away. his stomach lurched, and he stumbled forwards, kicking up a pile of loose leaf litter. for a moment he reeled, struggling to process the experience of translocation, before he shoved it to the back of his mind when porkchop let out an excited chitter. having dived nose first into the soft earth of the forest, his brother was currently enraptured with rubbing every handspan of his surface along the ground. ¡°dirt! normal dirt, with dead leaves and insects!¡± porkchop moaned, digging his crystalline claws into the ground. kaius smiled at his bond-brother, before he craned his neck and stared at their surroundings in awe. they were back in the arboreal sea. blessedly normal trees sprouted up around them in an unbroken tide that stretched as far as he could see, while brush and grasses poked up in the small gaps in the canopy, drinking in the warm summer sun. kaius stepped forwards, into one of the beams of light, and soaked up its soft embracing heat. it had been so long since he had felt the sun. to be graced with a summer¡¯s noon upon their exit was fortuitous indeed. he closed his eyes for a moment, and just felt the thrumming life around him. the rustle of a tepid breeze passing through the trees, the subtle buzz of innumerable insects flying through the air, the chirping of birds, the scent of discarded leaves slowly decaying into mulch. it was all so pure. so different from the cold mechanical depths. it had been easy, at times, to gloss over the gaps in its illusion of life. the odd behaviour of the depths-born, the utter absence of lesser forms of life, and a dozen other things. that difference was blinding now that he had returned from his trial. spinning in place, he looked back to the portal that they had passed through. it was a pillar of stone, a rough natural block with a circle of the systems immutable and shifting runes on its front face. where once they would have glowed blue, now they were dull. spent, until enough time had passed for them to recharge - at least if someone wanted to use it as an entrance that is. that wasn¡¯t all, at the base of the stone lay two pristine artefacts, nestled on top of the pile of leaves that had accumulated against the portal due to the wind. one was a softly gleaming crystal. black like obsidian, a dull pulsing orange welled up from its deepest reaches, just barely visible in the daylight. the other was a metal box. thin, rectangular, and oddly curved on one side, it had a number of straps and attachment points, but nowhere obvious to carry it like a bag. weirder still, it didn¡¯t seem to have any kind of opening or latch. kaius¡¯s heart quickened. he tapped into true sight. spent forgeheart: unique - tier i the drained heart of a warengine, even valued treasure is sometimes discarded. a valued crystal, glimmering with the remnants of esoteric life, abandoned after the majority of its power was spent. a valuable material for forged alloys, its affinities make it a prized option for supporting the growth of newborn metallic soulbound artefacts. material (life, crystal). ... merchant¡¯s reinforced dimensional saddlebag: unique - tier i what¡¯s this for? fragile high-value goods and smuggling, mostly. sometimes both. a solid reinforced box of potent arcane infused titanium, its interior is lined with spatially aligned alloys, and engraved with a dense runic formation. allows access to a small dimensional bubble, approximately the size of a large chest, that may be used to store non-living and non-spatially-enchanted objects. depths-wrought artefact. auxiliary equipment (dimensional bag) durability ii, dimensional container i, self repair i kaius was already moving. ¡°oh holy fuck, porkchop!¡± he yelled, diving for the box before he scooped it up and held it in his hands. despite its solid metal construction, it was deceptively light, even if it felt incredibly sturdy. ra??o??be?s? ¡°what is it?¡± porkchop asked, concerned as he ran over to his side. ¡°we got one! we actually got one!¡± kaius stumbled over his words, a wide sweeping grin on his face. ¡°got what?¡± porkchop said, shoving his head past his shoulder to peer at the merchant¡¯s saddlebag. ¡°a spatial artefact! it''s small, but we should be able to fit everything in here! see?¡± he swung off his pack, holding it close to the artefact as he funnelled the slightest brush of mana against it. there was a soft pop, and his bag vanished. kaius could feel it inside the artefact, an intuitive sense of everything it contained, though it vanished when he stopped interacting with it with his mana. porkchop jumped back, shocked at his bag''s disappearing act. ¡°holy shit!¡± very different from the overwhelming deluge that occupied the depths, requiring him to focus to bring the mana into full relief, rather than pull back from his skill to stop the arcane brightness from overwhelming him. **ding! true sight has reached level 22!** he could physically see it, the slow inexorable change being wrought by the changing of phase. it was minute, but he could see more and more mana welling up from...somewhere. the increasing mana density would wreak havoc on many. even if what porkchop said was true, and most beasts would stay true to their nature, there were still more than enough out there to turn the wilds into a slaughterhouse for the unwary. especially if they grew in strength with the rising mana. trade would slow or stop, and people would be isolated and cut off from each other, unless they fought back hard. which, he realised, might have been the system''s intention. it seemed like an impossible ordeal. even if he maintained his meteoric growth, and climbed higher than any had before, how was a man and beast supposed to stand against an entire world? there was no one foe, no one target. not like the guardian. just a nebulous goal. get strong, and all would come together. people would die by the thousands, and there was little he could do to prevent it. especially if, by what ekum the pale implied, that the only true way out was through the heart of the fire. progressing the integration stage by stage, and weathering the resulting storm. hoping that if he could force himself to grow fast enough, he would not end up too badly burned. it rankled. let alone that he still had no idea what tyrants and crucible grounds were. more deathtraps no doubt, there to force people to excel or die. ¡°kaius, you¡¯re spiralling.¡± porkchop butted in, picking himself up off the ground to approach him. he craned his neck up, by the gods he still wasn¡¯t used to how big porkchop had gotten. ¡°i know, but what are we to do?¡± he asked. ¡°we do what we have always done. break it down into chunks. the integration and the chaos it will bring is our guardian, we need to find our champions first.¡± porkchop said, taking a seat next to him before he wrapped one massive arm around kaius and yanked him closer. kaius groaned, but leant against his brother all the same. ¡°okay, short term goals. we need to find out where we are. travel through the depths is supposed to get weird compared to the world above. i know the forest well enough to at least get us moving in the general direction of three fields once we know where we are.¡± ¡°you still think that¡¯s our best shot? if they live next to the sea they are likely to recognise what i am.¡± porkchop asked cautiously. kaius nodded. ¡°i know them, and they consider me one of their own. they wouldn¡¯t sell us out, sticking together is how you survive on the frontier. powerful beasts might be uncommon, but they are not completely absent, and a boggart swarm could be the end of anyone without backup. besides, it¡¯s our best shot at finding some information about the bandits that pursued us, and what happened to father.¡± ¡°you think they would know? what if the bandits simply fled after they were unable to acquire what they sought.¡± ¡°that might be so, but if father had been injured, he would have headed for the village to recover, and if those bandits had stuck around, they would have made a name for themselves.¡± kaius replied. ¡°besides, the people there...some of them are basically family. i must see them, even if just to let them know i live and do what i can to prepare them for the coming chaos. ¡°then three fields it is. i think i have an idea of how we could help, but i¡¯ll save it for the journey.¡± porkchop agreed, bumping him on the top of his head. ¡°how long will it take us to get there?¡± ¡°not too long, if we¡¯re still near where we entered. a week at most, depending on how fast we can travel.¡± kaius explained. the plateau that they had fallen from was something of a geographical oddity, it stretched from the base of the mountains that blocked off the deep sea, but in many places it stretched deep into the outskirts, much like where he and father had made camp. ¡°i may have a solution for that...¡± porkchop said, after a moment¡¯s pause. ¡°oh?¡± kaius replied, craning his head to look up at his brother. ¡°it is something of a taboo amongst greater beasts, but i could... give you a lift?¡± porkchop suggested hesitantly. kaius grinned. ¡°i didn¡¯t want to bring it up, but it would be convenient. i also had something to mention. my class definitely aligns with our bond in some form, and the carving i saw showed me riding you into battle. i¡¯m not sure how viable that actually is, nor what sorts of skills i might be offered in that vein, but i did want to check in with you before they started popping up.¡± a deep rumble echoed in porkchop¡¯s chest, gratitude and gratefulness flowing across their bond. ¡°take them if they are good, we¡¯re already going to give the matriarch¡¯s a conniption with our bond, we may as well make it really slap them in the face.¡± kaius snorted. ¡°are you sure that¡¯s wise?¡± ¡°absolutely not, but hopefully by the time we go back we will be strong enough for it to not matter.¡± porkchop said with a grin. ¡°well, with that settled, do we still plan on heading to deadacre next?¡± ¡°yeah, like i mentioned, the delving guild is our best bet for securing backing and power, and it''s the best spot for us to plan our next move. we can also start to think about finding allies and potential teammates, but i''m not sure if a provincial backwater will have anyone who can keep up with us.¡± kaius said, familiar determination steeling his spine as their plans grew more concrete. ¡°regardless of what we find out about father, we will need power and information if we want to find the bandits, and the man with the scar. deadacre is our best bet for both.¡± ¡°well then,¡± porkchop rose to his full height, his physique towering over him. ¡°shall we try to find out where we are? north should bring us closer to the mountains.¡± kaius grinned and leapt to his feet. ¡°you sure about this? it¡¯s not weird?¡± he asked. ¡°it¡¯s a little weird, but i¡¯m sure.¡± porkchop replied, crouching low. ¡°jump up!¡± letting out a whoop, kaius grabbed the leather straps of porkchop¡¯s barding and hauled himself upwards. with his enhanced strength, it was easy for him to swing up and onto porkchop¡¯s back, even despite his brother¡¯s height. the barding was a little uncomfortable, and their armour plates clanged together awkwardly, but that was washed away in kaius¡¯s sheer excitement. ¡°hold on!¡± porkchop dug his claws into the ground and launched in the rough direction of the mountains that they had divined from the position of the sun. kaius let loose a peal of laughter, barely staying seated as porkchop¡¯s powerful strides tore through the forest, heavy claws used to gain enough traction to weave around tree trunks. it was fucking good to be back. Interlude 2: Visions of Normalcy interlude 2: visions of normalcy some time in the near past... ianmus shifted his grip on his staff. though its surface was smooth and comfortable to hold, it was still a little knobbly, and after so much walking those little aches grew tiresome if he didnt adjust every now and then. he looked back, seeing the great wall of short mountains that sealed of mystral¡¯s peninsula from the rest of vaastivar. if he squinted he could just make out the narrow gap between mountains that he had passed through. the arcanist¡¯s pass, the only way to access the city state overland. he was glad to leave mystral behind, now that he had graduated. oh, he would be back. mystral was and always would be his home. however, it was his time to make his fortune. no true scholar relied solely on dusty stacks to expand their understanding of the world. besides, lacking an academician type class, such an approach would offer him little in the way of power or growth. no, it was better to leave. to see the sights of the world, to delve the depths outside of the stuffy stable passageways that the colleges had built themselves around. he wanted adventure, and he had the perfect first stop in mind. selenar, the braggart and gossipmonger, might have been a dreadful pain but he did have his uses. apparently, according to some of his international and politically inclined classmates, the greenseed dukedoms were gearing up for another sanctioned war. that was, what? the third one in two decades? ianmus shook his head at the nation''s preposterous politics, silver locks catching the breeze. ridiculous as the dukedoms might be, it represented opportunity. their wars were much closer to sabre rattling and peacocking than any true confrontation of blood and steel. far too regimented, with strict controls and regulations on numbers, locations, dates, and other such minutia. hells, they had dedicated mid battle meal breaks for gods¡¯ sakes. the most important thing, in iasmus¡¯s opinion, was that all combatants were required to be linked to a grand ritual. one that would transport you to triage the instant your health got too low. oh sure, people died, but it was as safe as mortal combat could be. if he could get into the under forty bracket, it would do wonders for his skill growth. so he had taken his graduate¡¯s staff and ring, packed up his belongings, and walked. he could have taken a caravan, but where was the fun in that? he wanted to see the world! to go off the beaten path, to scream ¡®here is ianmus, look upon him and wonder!¡¯. it was just unfortunate his feet hurt. he hadn''t quite expected overland travel to be quite so tiresome. maybe he should have taken a caravan after all? well, he was here now, may as well make the most of it. ianmus continued walking, his steady steps and sturdy leather boots taking him across the slow rolling hills and meadows that made up the expanse of the lowlands he intended to cross. rocky outcroppings dotted the landscape, shooting up through the earth like great stone saplings. it broke up the visual monotony, though it did mean he had to rely on his staff to help him when he was forced to scramble over them. the journey was meditative in a way he hadn''t expected. every moment he had spent in sunspire had been devoted to study, practical exercises, and relentless self driven training. as a scholarship student he had to stay at the top if he wanted to continue receiving the priceless training that the college offered. the fact that being in the advanced classes offered merged skills of all things was reason enough on his own. no, he had refused to fail out after a year or two like most pity enrolments. if the school had been tailored to students who had received a lifetime of tutorship before initiation, so be it. life wasn¡¯t fair. when he had to work three hours for every two bit lordlings one, he had done it. when he had to stay up late reading up on obscure nonsensical etiquette to avoid offending a pretentious professor, he had done it. when he had to bleed in the training halls, push himself harder and further than all of his so-called peers, he had done it. in return? he got a better start than he could have ever dreamed of. and now he was free. for the first time in years he felt like he could breathe easy. nothing looming over him. just the next hill to climb, and the next horizon to cross. an awful screech yanked ianmus from his musings, quickly followed by a panicked bleat. it sounded like the noise came from just over the next hill. he eyed the hill with distaste, the prospect of running long-strides up a grassy incline not his usual idea of fun. he hiked up his robe with one hand anyway, taking off at a run. immediately his legs began to burn, sudden exertion causing the muscles to protest. sure, he had done his fair share of combat training, but he was a mage damnit, he wasn''t built for it - even with stamina bolstering his reserves. another panicked bleat carried over the hill, followed by an unnerving cackle. he finally crested the hill, his breath coming heavy in his chest. even as he bent over to rest his weight on his staff he eyed his surroundings, looking for the source of the loud interruption to his walk. the hill he had just climbed was taller than most, giving him a good clean view of the area. rocky hills covered in swaying grass and protruding granite continued on into the distance, though far off to the left he could see an impressionistic green smudge that stretched across the horizon. most likely the start of the arboreal sea. ¡°yes, uncle bestot...¡± kenva grumbled. ¡°don¡¯t you ¡®uncle¡¯ me. you¡¯re on your path now, that means it doesn''t matter that you¡¯re a zhdan and it doesn¡¯t matter that i''m one too.¡± his chastisement continued unabated. ¡°but i was right there! i was just watching some little leapers!¡± kenva protested. bestots eyes softened, his brow unfurling. ¡°kenva..¡± he sighed. ¡°look, this is the toughest part, alright? i know it''s hard to adjust, to not have the leeway you are so used to. you¡¯ll see though, being free of family obligations is a blessing.¡± he crouched down, seeing her eye to eye. ¡°everyone from a dynastic clan goes through it, at least here in the tribes.¡± her eyes drifted down, staring at the yellowing grass and compacted earth as the caravans slowly rolled past the trio. ¡°i know... i just wish i could be out there already.¡± bestot clapped a steadying hand on her shoulder. ¡°aye, i understand. the steppes might be home, and the hiwiann my people, but there are broader horizons than this sea of yellow. why do you think i founded this trading caravan after my own path?¡± kenva nodded in agreement with her uncle. she loved the steppes, her clan, her tribe, and her people. never tied down, always moving free. yet even the visits to the temple cities on the solstices and equinoxes weren''t enough to dampen the growing feelings of monotony of just seeing more endless grass. ¡°we¡¯ll be at the frontier soon enough, you¡¯ll see.¡± bestot said softly. ¡°just do me a favour alright? try to keep your little excursions to when we make camp and try to let someone know first. if you do, i''ll see if i can call in a favour to get you paired up with one of our forward scouts, at least every now and then.¡± kenva¡¯s eyes brightened. the forward scouts sometimes ranged days ahead of the caravan, switching out regularly to bring back news of the path ahead, and any potential dangers. ¡°really!?¡± she said with excitement. ¡°but that''s it, okay? i¡¯ve already gotten some odd looks by letting you travel with the caravan as a worker at this low of a level, it¡¯s pretty blindingly obvious i only did it so you could save your weaning gild for the frontier. even then, we¡¯re all gonna have to pretend it''s because of your farsight again, alright?¡± kenva nodded hurriedly. ¡°alright, good. because if i do anything more i''m gonna start getting hard questions about unnecessary favouritism, and i would like to avoid an uncomfortable chat with the elders when i next meet with the tribe.¡± ¡°thank you uncle bestot!¡± kenva said softly, throwing her arms around her uncle''s broad shoulders. bestot chuckled, holding her in a brief hug before setting her back on her feet. ¡°this is the start of your real life, you¡¯ll see. now go take over for ostovir, put that skill of yours to good use.¡± he said, pointing off towards one of the larger carriages, a raised platform built into its already tall roof. kenva groaned, but ran off to take over for the lookout dutifully. once more kenva was grateful for farseer. it wasn¡¯t her only merged skill, but it was her clan''s greatest treasure, a merge of ten ocular skills that made them some of the best scouts, archers, and trackers in the united tribes. a valuable enough skill that her uncle had had enough of an excuse to pretend she was a valuable enough worker that she didn''t have to pay for passage. something she hoped would one day be true, she wanted to be known as the greatest bearer the clan had ever seen, known across vaastivar for being able to spot a raindrop from thirty leagues away. though, she supposed up north she would probably get enough attention simply flaunting the skill. she¡¯d heard strange tales of powerful merged skills being kept under wraps up there. she didn''t quite understand it, it wasn¡¯t as if she could tell anyone how to get the bloody thing. everyone in the tribes had to swear on one of the bloodstones not to share clan secrets without explicit uncoerced approval from the head- surely they had something similar? the scouting carriage drew near, and kenva was drawn from her thoughts. she ran up to the bright blue ladder that was built into the side of the yellow outer wall - a garish combination in her opinion- and hopped to hook her leg onto the first rung. ¡°hey ostovir! i¡¯m here to take over!¡± B2 Chapter 131: The Return pt. 1 b2 chapter 131: the return pt. 1 kaius craned upwards, squeezing porkchop with his knees so that he could rise to his full height. from his vantage point astride his brother¡¯s back, he was just able to see through the gap in the trees ahead. there, perhaps a half dozen leagues to the north, he could make out the thin line of the cliffs that he had fallen from. beyond them, way off in the distance, were the high peaks that separated them from the true extent of the sea, and all the magical potency that was supposed to lie beyond them. he knew their shapes well, like the spines of some great sleeping drake. there were few viable passages through the mountains, deep valleys that cut through their reaches. each one was a waymarker, a widely visible point from which to navigate. one of them was far off to his right. he knew where they were. the falls would be an hour or two¡¯s walk to their right, and far back the way they had come, and more than a little east, would be three fields, settled in a nook between two hills right at the edge of the sea. he could have made that trip by himself as an unclassed. now, with a clean image of the sea held in his mind''s eye, explorer¡¯s toolkit exploded with possibilities. paths they could take to avoid the ranges of any potentially ornery newly-awakened wolves or boars, ways through which they could follow the land, hastening their journey. in seconds he knew the exact route they should take, one that would minimise delays. as soon as he made his choice, his skill started tugging at him, helping him to orient according to the mental map he had built. it wouldn¡¯t be perfect, not with it being built on now-old memories and gut instinct, but it would be good enough. **ding! explorer¡¯s toolkit has reached level 22!** good, another level. his second in the hour since they had left the portal. he hoped, as they tracked through the forest, he would be able to get at least a few more in the couple of days it would take to reach the village. he sat down on his brother¡¯s back, tapping porkchop on the side. ¡°let¡¯s go.¡± porkchop turned, and tore off into the forest, following the sense of direction that he pushed along their bond. kaius leaned forwards, clutching at a stray strap of porkchop¡¯s barding with his off hand. even missing a few fingers, he had more than enough strength to keep a firm grip. his sword hand rested on his hilt, ready to draw at a moment''s notice. while they had yet to encounter anything larger than birds, he wanted to be ready. especially if they came across a deer; gods, he missed venison. trees blurred past them, porkchop hurtling through the forest at a breakneck pace. it was only with his heightened dexterity and intelligence that his brother was able to stop them from hurtling into a painful collision. it wouldn¡¯t be long now. he would have his answers. .... cham yawned, leaning heavily on his spear as he rolled his shoulders. he could feel his sweat pooling under his leathers, soaking through his tunic and saturating his armour. scowling for what felt like the fifteenth time in the last hour, he wished that he hadn¡¯t been the one stuck with midday watch. sure, the announcement had been a surprise, and all the wildlife becoming beasts was definitely not a small issue, but so far the highest he had seen had been a damn crow, and it was only level three. personally, he thought it was a little bit overkill, but jekkar and hurin had insisted on a round the clock watch. when your boss and the man who sold you drink told you to do something, you listened. if only he had thought about the damn sun. he would have brought a few poles and a sheet to make a shade if he had. next time. shading his eyes with his hands, cham leaned over the village palisade and scanned the treeline. his eyes roved over the many oaks, elms, and maples that made up the impenetrable reaches of the arboreal sea. shrouded in shadow, he leaned on his keen eyes to pick through the darkness, looking for any sign of larger movement. he almost hoped that some dire-bear would assault the village, at the very least it would bring a little excitement with it. plus, with jekkar having called off any hunts for at least the next few days it would probably be the only source of experience he would get for a while. a roar shook the forest, followed quickly by the panicked squawk of a whole flock taking flight from the canopy. cham froze, staring at the forest in disbelief. he heard it before he saw it, something crashing through the underbrush, something large close on its tail. he gulped, hoping to the gods it was just a fresh-born beast on the hunt. that he could handle, with two class skills under his belt and more than half the way to his third, a few piddly beasts below level ten would be nothing to him. unfortunately, new beasts weren¡¯t the only ones who lived in the forest. he suddenly regretted his earlier wish for a dire-bear to shake up his day. he tightened his grip on his spear, holding on to the palisade with the other, ready to vault over the side and defend the village at the slightest hint he would be needed. ¡°see anything?¡± a sudden and familiar voice said from behind him. cham nearly jumped out of his skin. ¡°rotting roots! stop doing that, jekkar! you¡¯re gonna end up killing me.¡± human - level 2: higher race, spellsword what the fuck was a spellsword? and how could someone have dared to ride a meles? before he could gather his thoughts further, the panicked deer caught a glimpse of the mounted duo behind it and juked to the left. towards the sea. cham grit his teeth, feeling the haft of his spear grow slick with sweat. hopefully it would pull the forest king and its rider away from their village. the meles dug its green claws into the earth, trying to alter its trajectory. despite its impressive speed, its bulk worked against it. the deer started to gain ground once more. cham watched in frozen shock as the meles¡¯ rider showed a feral scowl and lept from its back. rising like some imperious avenger, with the sun shining off his scales, the delver thrust his hand out and seized the might of the gods. a dense, violent, orange glow erupted from his hand, before a bolt straight from the stormlord¡¯s own armoury cracked into existence. bound in the delver''s grip like it was a common rider¡¯s lash. arcane lightning cracked forwards, the deer wheezing as crackling plasma wrapped itself around its throat. its whole body seized, hide sizzling as it hit the ground like a sack of rocks. at the speed it was running, it wasn''t a pretty thing, and it tumbled over itself as one spindly leg snapped and bone erupted from its flesh. seconds later, and the lash of lightning disappeared, leaving a faint shimmer in cham¡¯s vision. the delver was already running for the beast, his rune-scribed blade pumped victoriously in the air. his beastly companion beat him to the chase, sprinting past him to sink its massive jaws around the limp stag''s neck. there was a savage yank, followed by a crack that echoed out across the plains. the deer flopped. the delver let out a whoop, thrusting his fist in the air as he sheathed his sword. cham felt a little bit of his tension slacken its grip on his heart when he did that. maybe it was just some adventurous scion who didn¡¯t realise they were close to a village. though that still did nothing to explain the greater meles. ¡°fuck yeah, porkchop! venison!¡± the delver hooted, sprinting over to his companion. it was a young voice, but gravelly and hard. well suited to the imposing air that draped over them like a cloak. ¡°though, we both know it was dead before you got there.¡± did...did he just call the meles porkchop? the fucking gall! ¡°that voice..¡± rekkar croaked out. cham whipped his head over, finding his boss frozen with doubt clear on his face. like he¡¯d seen a ghost. ¡°you recognise them?¡± he asked. rekkar had the sharpest ears of them all, so it had to be something, he¡¯d seen the man pick up a rabbit in its burrow from nearly half a league away. rekkar simply shook his head, his words stolen from him. cham looked back to the duo that were still a few hundred strides from the walls. ¡°we¡¯re gonna eat good tonight.¡± the delver said, audible despite the distance. the meles looked up from the stag. past its rider. green-flecked-gold eyes locked onto his own, thrumming with primal might. cham gulped. a moment later the delver turned without saying a word, following its companions eyes to his own. they froze for a moment, then raised their hands slowly, undoing the clasp of their helm before they lifted it off. bronze slid upwards, a dense mop of dark brown locks spilling forth. the delver¡¯s features were hard, angular. like they had been cut from granite, and tempered in strife. piercing gold-flecked-green eyes burned into his own. the helmet came off. cham froze, shock and disbelief warring deep within him. was that fucking kaius? ¡°spirits protect us, it is him.¡± jekkar whispered from his side, his precious bow slipping from his hand to clatter to the floor of the palisade. he moved a moment later, blurring in cham¡¯s sight as he vaulted over the palisade, hitting the ground at a dead sprint. it was kaius. oh fuck. he had to tell hurin and illendra, they had to be ready. he turned tail and sprinted for the stairs, spear left forgotten against the wall. B2 Chapter 132: The Return pt. 2 b2 chapter 132: the return pt. 2 **ding! level 3 red deer slain - experience gained!** **ding! runeblade initiate has reached class level 3!** **+3 end, str, & int, +2 dex, wil, +1 vit, free - from class & racial traits!** **ding! latent glyph of drakthar has reached level 4!** satisfaction thrummed through kaius¡¯s blood at the quenching of his bloodsong, the deer flopping as porkchop snapped its neck between his jaws, crushing the base of its skull. a bit overkill, considering the deer had dropped dead with a single stormlash, but he understood the need to burn off the thrilling heat of the hunt. thanks to the bond between them, he was treated to the visceral sensation of his bond-brother¡¯s teeth plunging through its bones. it was a quick end, and a valiant one, for the prey that had given them such a good pursuit. without substantial reserves of health, it expired instantly as its body had been overloaded by reverberating storm mana. the fact that he had garnered a level in both his class and his glyph only sweetened his pleasure. it had been a fun few days, showing porkchop a different side of the sea than he was used to. apparently the forest on this side of the mountains was almost serene compared to what he considered the norm, and they had made good time following game trails as they zigzagged their way to the edge of its reaches. even with the awakening of beasts, they had faced few difficulties. most things got one look at porkchop and fled for their lives. though, there had been a boar that had tried to test their mettle. given how stubborn the brutes were, that wasn¡¯t all that surprising - though it had fed them well, and had given them their first levels. he¡¯d managed to eke out a level or two in most of his skills over their journey, relishing that he was no longer strained under the enforced caps of an unclassed. explorer¡¯s toolkit and brotherhood of ichor and animus had seen the most growth by far. only those that needed him to truly test himself in battle still languished at twenty. still, it was nice to take down the stag. he missed venison, and going a year without his favoured meat had driven him into a slight frenzy at seeing a lone deer traipsing at the edge of the forest. it had been a bloody wily thing. even with all of porkchop¡¯s might and speed, he was severely hampered in the forest. unable to turn on a hair, the deer had kept a constant lead on them as it danced between the trees. making a break for the plains had been its final mistake. a nice way to cap off their journey, now that they should only be a league or two from three fields. ¡°great takedown, we¡¯re gonna eat good tonight.¡± he said, grinning at his bond-brother. porkchop dropped the carcass of the deer, looking up and over kaius¡¯s shoulder. ¡°kaius, i think you might have gotten a little lost.¡± his face twisted in confusion. ¡°what do you mean?¡± he asked, turning around. then, he froze. before him, barely over a few hundred strides away, were the familiar walls of three fields. carved from stout logs felled from the nearby forest, they were spiked and stretched thrice his height into the air. a massive reinforced gate was nestled into their face, though it was the first time he could ever remember it being closed. even if the shut barrier blocked his view further into the town, he would recognise it anywhere. the way it was nestled between a crook of hills, a subtle slope leading up to the fortifications, earthworks protecting the town further. how the hells did he miss that. they¡¯d been a little focused on the deer but that was some truly spectacular unobservance on his part. then, with skill enhanced acuity, he saw two figures on the battlements watching him closely, one with a bow held at the ready. cham and rekkar, he realised, picking out their distinctive features. like most in this region, they were amber skinned, with pale blonde and sandy brown hair respectively. jekkar tensed. kaius realised with a start that he was still wearing his helm. even with both of them being hunters, and having sensory skills, neither would be able to recognise him. ¡°no sudden moves, porkchop. i know them, but i need to take off my helm.¡± he murmured, keeping his voice low, so as not to startle jekkar. the man was the head hunter of three fields, and a known deadeye. he wanted to avoid an arrow to the eye if he could. porkchop let out a low rumble, but stayed dutifully still. keeping his hands visible, kaius raised them to his head and slowly took off his helm. things happened very quickly after that. he saw the bow slip from jekkar¡¯s hand, the older hunter vaulting over the side of the palisade to hit the ground running, while cham tore off towards the village. behind him, porkchop let out a warning growl at jekkar¡¯s rapid approach. the man slowed, if only just. he was still a hunter well into the first tier, and had the speed to match. kaius dropped his helm, taking off towards the known face, sending assurance and safety along his bond. he laughed, throwing his arms wide as jekkar tore across the open field and slammed into him at full pace, wrapping his ribs in a crushing embrace. ¡°kaius, ye fuckin¡¯ idiot, we thought ye dead!¡± he bellowed into his chest. kaius laughed, returning the hug. it was fucking good to see him. jekkar had been one of the handful of village folks he¡¯d seen the most of, father foisting him onto the man for basic wilderness survival and hunting training when he was going to be busy doing gods knows what for anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. ¡°it¡¯s bloody good to see you, jekkar. you have no idea how much.¡± he replied, doing his best attempt to crush the man with his hug. it was like trying to find the give in an iron pole. the hunter pulled back, still gripping him like he was afraid he would vanish, and looked up with shock and wonder plain on his face. then jekkar squeezed a little, prodding at his chest. ¡°not a fuckin¡¯ bean pole are ya now, lad? what the fuck you been eatin¡¯? entire herds? no wonder you were so focused on that deer!¡± kaius laughed, slapping the hunter¡¯s hand away. ¡°it¡¯s a long story, a really long one, and hopefully one that you and the other elders can fill some gaps in for me. i¡¯d love to share it over an ale, if you think hurin would have us?¡± jekkar froze, just barely for a moment, but after so long in the depths kaius didn¡¯t miss it. they knew something. a tiny seed of dread sprouted in his belly. ¡°i..yeah, of course lad. yer always welcome, though as you might expect things are a little tense, what with the sudden shift with the system.¡± the hunter replied, stammering slightly. kaius nodded and smiled. ¡°i might have a little more information on that than most, if you¡¯re willing to wait.¡± jekkar looked at him sharply, searching his features for a sign of...something. whatever he found, it didn¡¯t leave him wanting. ¡°aye, you¡¯re clearly a man now. can see it right in yer status. though how you managed that a year early, i do not know. don¡¯t think i don¡¯t remember yer birthday, my boy. must have been some year.¡± kaius grinned. ¡°you have no idea. though how much i can share depends on if you and the others are still as generous with secrets as a dragon is with gold.¡± jekkar spluttered, taking mock-offence at the simple thought of being loose of lip. before the old hunter could formulate a response, kaius felt porkchop approach from behind him, simple friendly curiosity emanating across their bond. freezing suddenly, jekkar looked past kaius to stare at porkchop, an expression halfway between fear and reverence on his face. ¡°ah. i assume this be yer friend, kaius?¡± the hunter asked cautiously. ¡°hello! my name is porkchop!¡± porkchop said warmly, shoving his head over kaius¡¯s shoulder to give jekkar a sniff. jekkar froze, staring at porkchop in disbelief, before he looked back at kaius. ¡°now, kaius. lad. please do not tell me you named a king of the forest porkchop of all things.¡± the old hunter said slowly. ¡°now kaius, i know you dinnae name a forest king something that daft.¡± she said, stepping towards him with her hands on her hips. kaius chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. ¡°well... i mostly suggested it as a joke, porkchop was the one who decided to keep it.¡± uncanny dodge flickered as her hand raced out with deceptive swiftness, he ignored the warning as she slapped him upside the head. ¡°idjit! swear on the gods, you learnt no respect in that forest. don¡¯t go trying to foist off the blame onto the bloody greater meles!¡± kaius simply smiled awkwardly as illendra turned back to porkchop and bowed in a single fluid motion. ¡°it¡¯s nice to meet ye, porkchop. i hope this idjit hasn¡¯t been giving you much trouble.¡± chuckling throatily, porkchop bobbed his head at her in turn. ¡°i can see why you like this one, she¡¯s feisty.¡± he said to kaius privately, before he addressed them both. ¡°it¡¯s nice to meet you, too. kaius is my bond-brother, so don¡¯t be too harsh on him.¡± illendra turned back to him with a cocked brow. ¡°i know not even you would do something like subjugate a forest king, so i am going to hold my tongue for now.¡± ¡°he didn¡¯t.¡± porkchop confirmed. ¡°it¡¯s a part of that long story i mentioned.¡± kaius said with a sad smile. illendra¡¯s face softened. ¡°i think we¡¯re both going to have hard stories to tell, the kind that are best left for a round table and a few beers. do you want the elders to hear? they¡¯ll throw a tissy, but i think i can get them to leave off.¡± kaius shook his head. ¡°no, they should be here for it. i have questions that i hope they can answer, and i trust them to not pry too deeply into my secrets.¡± ¡°then we best go meet them, shouldn¡¯t we?¡± porkchop interjected. illendra jumped a little, clearly still unused to having a greater beast talk. kaius clapped her on the shoulder reassuringly. ¡°come on, it''s been too long.¡± starting their approach, kaius got a good look at the inside of three fields for the first time in over a year. home to nearly five-hundred souls, it was perhaps better described as a small town. a rough cobble boulevard led deep into the village, though roughly constructed barricades were arrayed behind the gate in varying stages of completion. a defence against inevitable breaches, he assumed. at least they were taking it seriously. beyond those, a motley collection of buildings. almost universally they were sturdy things constructed of old-growth wood, a staple building material so close to the sea. there was some stone, accessible thanks to the quarries set into some nearby hills, but it was mostly reserved for common buildings and where it was needed most. the hall, inn, and smithy, as well as for foundations. as they crossed the distance to the village gate, kaius flicked between the elders of the village, taking in their mixed reactions to his return. holt was missing, the head of the constabulary. that jumped out to him immediately, though with the increased threat to the village with the beast awakening, it was highly likely that the gruff man had gone to coordinate with the other settlements along the sea¡¯s rim. increased mana density and an overabundance of beasts were no laughing matters. they were low level for now, but in the coming months and years it would take hard men and strong classers to keep the people safe. that was exactly the sort of man holt was. jekkar had joined the elders. during his reunion with illendra, and was looking as unreadable as normal, save for a strange mix of barely noticeable apprehension and relief at his return. hurrin, illendra¡¯s father, watched him closely. his sheer unbridled joy at his return was palpable in the small half-smile that was mostly hidden by his sandy beard, and the slight creasing at the corners of his eyes. he could see respect there too, as his eyes roved over his artefacts. yanmi. first among equals. the mayor¡¯s flinty gaze bore into his own, evaluating him. she was wily, hard, and fair. more than once as a child she¡¯d nearly had his hide, but he knew she was something of father¡¯s confidant. he¡¯d seen them talking more than enough for that to be the case. still, he could see her mind running. calculating. if cham had seen him use his glyph, then yanmi knew too, and would already be working through a dozen assumptions and deductions from that scrap of information. eillish, still wearing her thick leather apron that had been scorched by a thousand forged nails, axe-heads, and occasionally swords. she stared in his direction like a hawk, but not at him. even more than hurrin, she drank in his gear with appreciation. kaius grinned at that. of all the village elders, eilish cared the least for the daily going-ons of the village. thankfully, she had a brilliant mind for logistics, for without them there would be no materials for her workshop, or her fellow artisans. she was a consummate crafter, and between her and her leather-working husband they produced some of the finest artisan-wrought artefacts in the region. kaius knew he needed to have a chat with her; replacing porkchop¡¯s barding with an under-armour set designed to work with his bloodline skill was directly in their wheelhouse. he could always get it enchanted in deadacre when they had the time and funds. saldar was the last, his spindly form - though still shorter than him - loomed behind his contemporaries as he watched kaius with a slight, but sharp, frown. saldar was no fan of his. ever since he¡¯d ruined half a field of new growth by wacking at the sprouts with sticks, dreaming of swords and beasts, the crotchety old farmer had branded him as a troublemaker to be treated with suspicion. in his defence, he had been a boy raised at the edge of town, and later in the woods. he¡¯d been a bit of an inconsiderate moron until saldar had sorted him out. even with saldar¡¯s low opinion of him, kaius knew he could trust the old man when push came to shove. out on the frontier, you were either community members, distant neighbours, or distrusted outsiders. the other villages treated him neighbourly, like any other resident of a different community that lived on the sea¡¯s fringe. three fields though, they¡¯d claimed him, even if he¡¯d never got to visit quite as much as he would have liked. after all, he¡¯d lived here as a young boy, before he was old enough to live on the move. above all else, saldar was a stickler for propriety, and he would be caught dead before he shared secrets with a neighbour, let alone an outsider. kaius halted at the threshold to the village, porkchop slowing with him. illendra gave him a last squeeze on the arm before she ran over to her father, stepping behind him to give him the deference he was due in the current moment. the elders stepped forwards, yanmi taking the lead. she met his eyes, giving him a nod and a small smile before she turned to porkchop and bowed. ¡°it is an honour, forest king, to have you at our village. we are at your disposal.¡± she said, keeping her head low while she waited for his response. porkchop paused for a moment. ¡°kaius, this is getting weird. why do they keep bowing. they¡¯re acting like elves.¡± kaius suppressed a laugh, before he subvocalised his response. it wasn¡¯t needed for porkchop to understand him, but even with all the time he had to get used to their bond, he was still just getting used to beast-speak. ¡°just say thank you and be polite, maybe make it known we have some sort of connection. everyone near the sea basically thinks of the meles as local spirits. once we get further away people will just think you another beast, though i''m not sure if that will be better.¡± kaius suggested. yanmi stayed prostrated, waiting patiently. porkchop bobbed his head, slipping into as close to an officious tone that kaius had ever heard from him. ¡°please, i am unused to ceremony. i am here because my sworn brother had need to return after our long...journey. for both answers and familiar faces.¡± ever the diplomat, yanmi took the answer in stride, even if half of her colleagues snapped their gaze between him and porkchop at his brother¡¯s mention of fraternal bonds. ¡°as you say, forest king.¡± yanmi responded, before she straightened and focused on kaius. ¡°we have much to discuss, it seems. we have grim tidings, and by the sounds of your miraculous seizing of a class, your garb, and your companion, you have much the tale to tell as well.¡± ¡°i do, though there would be many holes to preserve that which i would keep to myself.¡± kaius said, confirming yanmi¡¯s assumption. ¡°then we best get to the stout oak. it¡¯ll be empty by the time we arrive. only one question remains, kaius. you have been missing long, and the nature of our tale begs us to request one decision from you.¡± yanimi was serious. official in her bearing and words. kaius had seen it before. in quick glimpses and overheard tales. grim tidings indeed. the sprout of dread set root, worming its way around his bones. ¡°i would hear it.¡± he ground out, even as porkchop pressed into his back with one leg, providing his support. yanmi nodded. ¡°would you have us speak first, or is your tale so burning you must share it above all else?¡± the weight of the moment hung heavy, time seeming to pause with the looming weight and finality of a swaying hangman''s noose. kaius swallowed, his throat tacky and dry. ¡°i would speak first.¡± he whispered. anything to keep the doom at bay for a moment longer. that, and what he had to share could be time sensitive for the village to survive the coming calamity the short and imperious woman stepped forwards, laying a gentle hand on his arm and smiling at him like he was one of her own. ¡°then let us be off, kaius. i¡¯m sure you¡¯ve had a long journey, and ale is what is needed for this kind of talk. come.¡± yanmi turned, and as a group they entered three fields - picturesque and blanketed in the shining midsummer sun.. his first visit in nigh on a year and a half. he only wished it didn¡¯t feel like a funeral procession. B2 Chapter 133: The Return pt. 3 b2 chapter 133: the return pt. 3 kaius spun his old friend through the air, smiling in joy as he set her down on her feet. she didn¡¯t let go. illendra clutched him like her grip was the only thing keeping him present. she buried her face into his armoured chest, uncaring about the jagged edges that must have dug their way into her skin. ¡°where have you been, kaius? i thought i lost you.¡± illendra asked, her voice small and quivering. a sad smile crossed his face, and he leaned down to embrace her fully, burying his face in her hair. she smelled of warm bread and spices. ¡°it¡¯s a long story, and a fraught one. i lived though, and i am here, my friend.¡± after taking a few more moments to enjoy their reunion, he pulled back. he knew no one in the village would judge them guilty of impropriety, they had been friends as long as he could remember, and no one would hold a since-past childhood crush against him. not with how tight knit the communities were on the frontier. still, they would have time for a proper catch up in the coming days. he had introductions to make. ¡°i¡¯ve got someone i would like you to meet.¡± kaius said, giving her a last squeeze before he turned to the side to give illendra a full view of porkchop, who was looking on with naked curiosity. he kept his arm around her shoulder. porkchop leaned in, crouching down to avoid looming over illendra. considering that she was just over a full stride shorter than he was, his bond-brother ended up nearly lying on his belly to see her eye to eye. ¡°hello,¡± porkchop greeted her warmly. ¡°kaius told me a lot about you. he said you make really good stew.¡± illendra froze, staring at porkchop in shock. ¡°kaius...¡± she stammered. ¡°i dinnae know if i¡¯m losing my marbles, but did a forest king just ask me about my stew?¡± he chuckled. ¡°he did, he¡¯s grown very fond of my own and i wasn¡¯t about to hide where i learnt it from. his name¡¯s porkchop.¡± illendra whipped her head back towards him, her eyes narrowing. kaius paled. ¡°now kaius, i know you dinnae name a forest king something that daft.¡± she said, stepping towards him with her hands on her hips. kaius chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. ¡°well... i mostly suggested it as a joke, porkchop was the one who decided to keep it.¡± uncanny dodge flickered as her hand raced out with deceptive swiftness, he ignored the warning as she slapped him upside the head. ¡°idjit! swear on the gods, you learnt no respect in that forest. don¡¯t go trying to foist off the blame onto the bloody greater meles!¡± kaius simply smiled awkwardly as illendra turned back to porkchop and bowed in a single fluid motion. ¡°it¡¯s nice to meet ye, porkchop. i hope this idjit hasn¡¯t been giving you much trouble.¡± chuckling throatily, porkchop bobbed his head at her in turn. ¡°i can see why you like this one, she¡¯s feisty.¡± he said to kaius privately, before he addressed them both. ¡°it¡¯s nice to meet you, too. kaius is my bond-brother, so don¡¯t be too harsh on him.¡± illendra turned back to him with a cocked brow. ¡°i know not even you would do something like subjugate a forest king, so i am going to hold my tongue for now.¡± ¡°he didn¡¯t.¡± porkchop confirmed. ¡°it¡¯s a part of that long story i mentioned.¡± kaius said with a sad smile. illendra¡¯s face softened. ¡°i think we¡¯re both going to have hard stories to tell, the kind that are best left for a round table and a few beers. do you want the elders to hear? they¡¯ll throw a tissy, but i think i can get them to leave off.¡± the elders stepped forwards, yanmi taking the lead. she met his eyes, giving him a nod and a small smile before she turned to porkchop and bowed. ¡°it is an honour, forest king, to have you at our village. we are at your disposal.¡± she said, keeping her head low while she waited for his response. porkchop paused for a moment. ¡°kaius, this is getting weird. why do they keep bowing. they¡¯re acting like elves.¡± kaius suppressed a laugh, before he subvocalised his response. it wasn¡¯t needed for porkchop to understand him, but even with all the time he had to get used to their bond, he was still just getting used to beast-speak. ¡°just say thank you and be polite, maybe make it known we have some sort of connection. everyone near the sea basically thinks of the meles as local spirits. once we get further away people will just think you another beast, though i''m not sure if that will be better.¡± kaius suggested. yanmi stayed prostrated, waiting patiently. porkchop bobbed his head, slipping into as close to an officious tone that kaius had ever heard from him. ¡°please, i am unused to ceremony. i am here because my sworn brother had need to return after our long...journey. for both answers and familiar faces.¡± ever the diplomat, yanmi took the answer in stride, even if half of her colleagues snapped their gaze between him and porkchop at his brother¡¯s mention of fraternal bonds. ¡°as you say, forest king.¡± yanmi responded, before she straightened and focused on kaius. ¡°we have much to discuss, it seems. we have grim tidings, and by the sounds of your miraculous seizing of a class, your garb, and your companion, you have much the tale to tell as well.¡± ¡°i do, though there would be many holes to preserve that which i would keep to myself.¡± kaius said, confirming yanmi¡¯s assumption. ¡°then we best get to the stout oak. it¡¯ll be empty by the time we arrive. only one question remains, kaius. you have been missing long, and the nature of our tale begs us to request one decision from you.¡± yanimi was serious. official in her bearing and words. kaius had seen it before. in quick glimpses and overheard tales. grim tidings indeed. the sprout of dread set root, worming its way around his bones. ¡°i would hear it.¡± he ground out, even as porkchop pressed into his back with one leg, providing his support. yanmi nodded. ¡°would you have us speak first, or is your tale so burning you must share it above all else?¡± the weight of the moment hung heavy, time seeming to pause with the looming weight and finality of a swaying hangman''s noose. kaius swallowed, his throat tacky and dry. ¡°i would speak first.¡± he whispered. anything to keep the doom at bay for a moment longer. that, and what he had to share could be time sensitive for the village to survive the coming calamity the short and imperious woman stepped forwards, laying a gentle hand on his arm and smiling at him like he was one of her own. ¡°then let us be off, kaius. i¡¯m sure you¡¯ve had a long journey, and ale is what is needed for this kind of talk. come.¡± yanmi turned, and as a group they entered three fields - picturesque and blanketed in the shining midsummer sun.. his first visit in nigh on a year and a half. he only wished it didn¡¯t feel like a funeral procession. B2 Chapter 134: The Return pt. 4 b2 chapter 134: the return pt. 4 kaius stiffened slightly as he walked through the open door of the stout oak, though he did not break stride. he had a lot of memories in this place. of the leather wrapped benches and tables, nestled in cosy nooks that were recessed into one of the tavern¡¯s walls. the tables buffed to a high shine, reflecting the candles that sat above despite being discoloured from many a spilled drink. he remembered falling asleep under one as a boy, lulled by the soft murmur of a busy tavern and the warmth of a good fire and a full belly. of the hearth that dominated the far wall across from him, its wide mantle covered in a dozen trinkets and trophies, and a large deer skull mounted above it. many bards had sung there, dancing and playing in front of the crackling flames for the delight of a crowd. of the bar to his right, with its sweeping bench and a trio of handpulled taps that served whatever concoctions hurrin had brewed in the months prior. his first sip of beer, he remembered its malty and bitter taste, hurrin and father laughing at the face he pulled. of the many tables that dotted the wide open space, filled to the brim with locals and visiting wanderers alike. they were empty now, the fire dead, and the place quiet. ¡°fetch the pints and get the stew hot, will ye lass?¡± hurrin said, looking to his daughter. illendra nodded and rushed off ahead, flying around the bar to rush into the kitchen. thankfully, the stout oak had had their stew going for years, and he knew that illendra would have topped it off this morning, so she would only need to bring it up from a low simmer. she¡¯d be back soon. hurrin jutted his chin towards one of the larger tables that sat towards the centre of the room, exposed and open. kaius had normally seen it used for games of cards or dice, but it seemed it would be the site of their discussion. as a group they walked over, porkchop hunching down slightly to fit through the double doors. they¡¯d already stopped by the hunters lodge, depositing the deer on their way to the tavern. kaius took his seat, porkchop settling in next to him as the elders of three fields took their own. ¡°sorry we don¡¯t have anything suitable for yourself, porkchop.¡± eilish said, addressing his bond-brother. porkchop had gotten sick of being called a ¡®forest king¡¯ on the fourth go of it on their walk over and had insisted that they call him by name. ¡°we were not expecting anyone of your... lineage to ever visit our humble village. i would be happy to fetch you a hide or a rug, if you would like something. the workshops are close by.¡± ¡°no, thank you, i''m used to stone and soil, so this is fine.¡± porkchop replied politely. the elder of the artisans nodded, waiting patiently for illendra as the soft hiss of ale hitting tankards continued. a few moments later, his old friend returned, seven tankards and a low bowl expertly balanced on a serving tray. she moved around the table depositing drinks, including one for porkchop, before she finally gave him his. ¡°imperial stout. pretty strong, but i remember that''s not really an issue for you.¡± she whispered, before rushing over to take her seat by her father¡¯s side. kaius smiled at her. strong and dark had always been his preference for beer. through some arcane interaction, rapid adaptation had bolstered his tolerance to drink, and his father had warned him that he would need the help of brewers with high skill levels to feel any effects far before most classers vitality reached the point that common brews stopped working. even suppressing a skill couldn¡¯t remove its effects completely, at least not at higher levels. ¡°what¡¯s this, kaius?¡± porkchop asked him quietly, sniffing his bowl full of amber foamy liquid that was set at his edge of the table. even sitting on the floor, he still reached it easily. he smiled. ¡°beer, expect it to be a little bready and kind of bitter. it might make you feel a little warm and ... relaxed, for lack of a better term, but i expect it won''t have much effect on you with your constitution. give it a try though.¡± kaius whispered back, receiving a glimmer of curiosity in turn. turning his attention back to the elders, he found them waiting patiently. he sighed, taking a long drink from his tankard. the rich notes of a good stout flooded his palate, and he groaned in appreciation. ¡°a year without your drop is a year too long, hurrin. this is a good batch.¡± he said appreciatively, his tankard clacking as he returned it to the table. the stocky tavernkeep grinned at him. ¡°of course it is, i bloody well brewed it, didn¡¯t i?¡± saldar was the first to break the tense dance they were doing, cutting through the fluff and pleasantries with all of his familiar grump. ¡°yes, yes.¡± he waved. ¡°you make good beer, we all know this.¡± saldar leaned forwards, fixing him with a stare, though one more tinged with guarded curiosity than suspicion. ¡°now, boy. why don¡¯t you tell us what trouble you¡¯ve gotten into this time.¡± jekkar shook his head. ¡°not those ones. that plateau has to be a good hundred-and-fifty strides in the air, and the falls are massive. he¡¯d have broken a leg at least, and would have been caught in the undertow.¡± ¡°i was. leg was snapped clean through, and my health completely drained.¡± kaius explained, drawing a soft gasp from illendra. ¡°the undertow had me fully, i nearly drowned.¡± ¡°then how are you sitting here, lad.¡± hurrin asked, fully enraptured in his story. kaius grunted, taking a deep pull of his stout. ¡°there was a depths portal at the bed of the falls, undertow sucked me right through.¡± he was met with silence, every single listener watching him intensely. ¡°impossible.¡± saldar half spat, planting his hands on the table to rise from his seat. ¡°you mean to tell us you survived the depths? that¡¯s a fucking death sentence for an unclassed.¡± porkchop growled, a throaty bass that rattled the very table, sending ripples through their drinks. handspan fangs bared, his bond-brother¡¯s eyes drilled into saldar. ¡°you will not accuse my bonded brother of falsehood. especially not for something i have witnessed myself, or would you also accuse me as well?¡± saldar paled, freezing. yanmi pulled the man back into his seat, eyes narrowed at the old farmer. ¡°we would do no such thing, porkchop. saldar was simply taken aback by shock. weren¡¯t you, saldar?¡± ¡°..yes, yes i was.¡± he stammered. ¡°i apologise for interrupting.¡± kaius nodded, taking the time to have another sip of his stout. he could feel it working now. strong as it was, the heady brew was doing well at cutting through his vitality. he still had full control of his faculties, but at least he felt a little...looser. ¡°i take no offence. if i heard it i would question it too, but regardless it happened. the second layer too.¡± kaius said. jekkar winced at that, with a combat class, he knew best of everyone here the exact dangers that the depths posed. though, he noticed that neither him nor hurrin or yanmi had acted surprised. they knew something. his seed of dread rattled. ¡°i only survived those early days due to things i would not speak of. not yet. what is important is that after i managed to kill two champions, i had the sheer blind luck to be rewarded with a natural treasure.¡± everyone at the table froze, though jekkar in particular had been staring at him intently even before the mention of the fruit. ¡°truly?¡± eilish whispered. ¡°true as rain.¡± kaius nodded. ¡°what i am about to share, i only share because i consider this my home, and this and some later knowledge may be vital in ensuring that it remains a place for me to return to. this must not leave this room, clear?¡± he met the eyes of each of his listeners in turn, only moving on when he had gotten a nod, all a mixture of solemn, resolute, and curious. kaius grunted, finishing his tankard. sharing would be a risk, but porkchop had been wearing off on him. the desperate claws that most people sank into their secrets were foolish. if they hadn¡¯t, they might have already passed whatever trials the system had left for them, or at least be far better prepared. while he couldn¡¯t see himself living in three fields, it was still where he had been raised before he was old enough to survive the sea. it was home, and he wouldn¡¯t see it potentially destroyed by his own paranoia. kaius steeled himself. ¡°after eating the fruit, i became observed.¡± there was a moment of silence. then the room erupted into chaos. B2 Chapter 135: The Return pt. 5 B2 Chapter 135: The Return pt. 5 As soon as Kaius mentioned that he had become Observed by the system for consuming a Natural Treasure, the table erupted. Each and every one started talking over each other, their responses ranging drastically. Sandor merely scoffed, rolling his eyes, while Eillish, Hurrin and Yanmi jumped to their feet, hammering him with questions. Illendra sat quietly, her jaw slack as she stared at him in shock. Jekkar, on the other hand, howled with laughter, swinging back on his chair as he belted out his shock and mirth. After a few moments he rocked back forwards, the front legs of his chair smacking back to the floor with a loud crack. ¡°Quiet!¡± he boomed, cutting through the commotion. The other elders paused, looking at him. ¡°Now I den know about ye, but I¡¯ve never known young Kaius to be a liar, have ye?¡± he said in his thick frontier drawl, levelling his gaze at his colleagues. ¡°Thought not. Look, I¡¯ve analysed the lad. He has a damned class, and we all ken he¡¯s not yet hit his second decade. If anything, him bein a bloody myth makes more sense, not less. Let¡¯s hear the lad out, he¡¯s earnt that much trust at least.¡± Jekkar said. Kaius breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Thank you, Jekkar.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t long after that that I met Porkchop. I was still in a large cavern just off the entrance room, undergoing a circumnavigation when I stumbled across him having fallen through the same portal I had. The same bandits had tried to chase him down, though lost him when he threw himself in the river. From what Porkchop saw, there were far fewer of them than had chased me.¡± he continued with his story. His audience hissed, galled and mortified that even the lowest of society would dare to hunt a greater meles. Saldar especially looked apoplectic, his jaw flapping as he tried to get words out. Eilish beat him to the punch. ¡°Those bloody bastards. If everything else they¡¯ve done wasn¡¯t enough.¡± Yanmi shot her a sharp look. ¡°Hush, Eilish. Now is not the time.¡± The head of the artisans grit her teeth, but nodded. ¡°What then lad? A few extra stats shouldn¡¯t have been enough for you to escape, not against a Guardian.¡± Hurrin asked. Kaius nodded, taking another drink to wet his throat. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t have been. That was only part of it. After meeting Porkchop, I learnt that the meles have oral histories of the Observed, that their power came from rewards granted by the system for performing great feats. We tore our way through our biome, and moved onto the next. It was there that I discovered what that was.¡± He paused, allowing the moment to hang in the air. The elders leaned in. ¡°After I killed my third Champion solo, I received something called an Honour. It came with bonus stats, and a small passive boost with no scaling, though both were improved due to being the first to perform that particular feat as an unclassed. Not long after I got one for being the first to ¡®discover¡¯ glyph-binding. Let me show you.¡± Kaius took a moment to undo one of his vambraces, the elders watching him in shocked silence. Letting the scale armour fall to the table with a clank, he presented his hand, showing off his Drakthar glyph, and the attached runic hymns. His audience leaned in in interest. ¡°Lad, is this how you could cast without needing to channel? I thought I saw that when you took down that deer.¡± Jekkar said with interest as his eyes traced the runic symbols burnt into his flesh. ¡°It is, though this one is from my class. It¡¯s something Father had worked on, using his knowledge to come up with a prototype. According to my class guide, it was pretty jank compared to this, but being the first was enough to get me some great options.¡± ¡°And you got another one of these Honours for discovering this?¡± Yanmi asked. Kaius nodded. ¡°I only share because you mentioned that my class identifier is Spellsword. I think that is more to do with - well - my focus on both sword and casting. It¡¯s going to be a lot harder to hide than I expected. I was hoping I would just get Sorcerer or Skirmisher, but such is life.. We chased Honours after that, and got Porkchop his share too. After a year it was just barely enough for us to take on the Guardian.¡± Thinking of Three Fields overrun with beasts, blood in the streets and familiar faces staring at him with glassy eyes, was enough for him to know he must. Above all, the secrecy sickened him. Without the perverse desire to hoard knowledge, without a culture that killed for secrets, everyone would be better off. He and his father would have never been separated. He couldn¡¯t change that. Not yet, and not alone. But he could make a start. Some small difference. A little shove, that might one day be nurtured into a landslide. Porkchop leaned, giving him access to the bag that hit their Merchant¡¯s Saddlebag. A little mana was enough. Pulling free a sheet of paper, he gripped it so tightly he was afraid it would tear. Leaning back into his seat, he stared at the words on the page, before he looked up at the elders solemnly. ¡°I give you this out of trust, and the hope that you will use this to empower our people as best you can. While I now wish I could spread this far, for now it cannot leave Three Fields. Use it to bring the other villages under your banner, not as tyrants, but uniters. Use it to survive.¡± he said, his voice lowering into a bare whisper by the end. Placing the page on the table, he stared at the words. Explorer¡¯s Toolkit, Ironbodied, Mana Manipulation, Lesser Regeneration, Natural Celerity, Identify. Two of his own, two of Porkchop¡¯s, and two ¡®known¡¯ legacy skills. None were those that would immediately identify him, and none were those that could be used against him. He just hoped it would be enough. He pushed it forwards. Yanmi picked it up, frowning in confusion. Kaius watched her realise what he had just passed over, her eyebrows raising, before her jaw dropped in shock and her eyes opened wide. Her colleagues leaned in, each reacting the same. ¡°Kaius. Lad. We can¡¯t. This is...¡± Jekkar trailed off. ¡°Enough to found a Dynasty, I know.¡± He replied. ¡°I misjudged you boy.¡± Saldar said, looking up from the page to fix him with a calculating look. ¡°This...this might change things. You said you want us to unite the villages? Would you have us join your dynasty?¡± ¡°No,¡± Kaius shook his head. ¡°We must remain separate. The name of my dynasty has the attention of an unknown party. No, I would have you nurse successors and defenders. Spread the skills to all who can be trusted to not spread them to outsiders, until you are strong enough to be beyond reproach. Use it to unite the villages into a single city state, to leverage into Delvers, and to seize Honours. A single bastion is far more likely to survive the coming tide than seven isolated villages with a smattering of hunters and guards.¡± ¡°But why?¡± EIlish asked. ¡°With what you have told us, we could do all that anyway. This is... too much, Kaius.¡± ¡°Because I want you to fucking live! I want to know, while I pursue the pinnacle, while I throw myself at death, while I search for vengeance, and while I try to push through these gods¡¯ cursed phases, that I have done what I can to ensure I have somewhere to return to! That I have done what I can to preserve the lives of those few who I actually know and care for!¡± Kaius yelled, slamming his fist on the table. ¡°So what? Yer gonna go hunting down Tyrants? Searching for cold blooded killers? What''s next? Ye gonna Delve ten layers above yer level? Yer gonna fuckin get yerself killed!¡± Hurrin yelled, his face twisting with anguished worry. ¡°I can¡¯t bloody lose you too!¡± ¡°Pa!¡± Illendra yelled, smacking his thick shoulder as she stared at him aghast. The small seed of dread in his stomach exploded with growth, blooming into familiar grief. Kaius sighed, leaning back as he stared towards the ceiling and closed his eyes. Porkchop let out a comforting murmur, pressing into him. He¡¯d been expecting it, what else would they all dance around so delicately? ¡°So he¡¯s dead then.¡± B2 Chapter 136: The Return Finale B2 Chapter 136: The Return Finale Kaius slumped, leaning bodily against Porkchop as a wave of grief washed over him. He felt boneless, sapped of all energy. Yet, it was almost a relief. To know. He¡¯d suspected for so long, dreaded and ruminated on the ¡®if¡¯s and ¡®maybe¡¯s of it that to finally have it confirmed was like dropping a weight that he had held since falling from that cliff so long ago. He took a breath, half surprised that his eyes remained so dry. He supposed he had been grieving for some time. Father always would have found him if he could have. Porkchop bent down, resting his head on top of his own. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Kaius.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± he asked the silent room, reaching up to scratch Porkchop behind the ear as he enjoyed his bond-brother¡¯s support. Illendra broke, tears welling up in her eyes. She flew from her seat, circling the table to wrap her arms around his shoulders. Kaius let her, though he struggled to find any true comfort in it. Not in the same way he found with his bonded at least. Everything felt a little too... numb. Hurrin took a ragged breath, slumping down onto the table to rest his weight on his elbows. ¡°I¡¯m sorry lad, truly. That was not how I wanted ye to find out.¡± Hurrin¡¯s voice was heavy, his head slumped forwards to obscure his face. The others weren¡¯t much better, each looking at him with their own mix of sadness, sympathy, and the toll of their own loss. Hurrin looked across the table, meeting Saldar and Eilish¡¯s eyes. They both nodded, standing from their seats. ¡°We¡¯ll be back, boy. You¡¯ve done much for the community today, and I shan''t forget it.¡± Saldar said, respect clear in his face. ¡°But this conversation is not for our ears, so we will be taking our leave.¡± The two turned and left. Eilish paused at the door to the stout oak, looking back to Kaius. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you, Kaius, truly. I just wish it was under better circumstances.¡± The heavy oak door thudded as it shut behind her, Hurrin jolting slightly at the sound. Kaius watched them curiously. ¡°They weren¡¯t here when...Hastur passed.¡± Hurrin said, answering his unspoken question. ¡°He trusted us with some things that were for your ears only.¡± Kaius nodded, breathing heavily. He had to grit his teeth to stop it catching in his throat. Hurrin turned to Jekkar, addressing the veteran hunter. ¡°Do you want to tell the tale? You were the one who found him.¡± Jekkar gave a small shake of his head. ¡°No, no. I¡¯m not right for this. Too short of words, you should.¡± The tavernkeep took an unsteady breath, before he drank deeply from his tankard and nodded. ¡°Aye, you always have been a shit storyteller.¡± Kaius snorted; he couldn¡¯t help it. Hurrin was right, Jekkar was crap at telling tales. He could have hunted a phoenix and the best you¡¯d get out of him was that he¡¯d managed to nail a pretty bird in flight. He drank deep from his cup. ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡± Hurrin sighed. ¡°Aye lad. It was just over a year ago.¡± .... Wiping down the counter, Hurrin listened to one of the local farmer boys try to chat up his daughter. Well, failed to was more like. He was pretty sure the lad was one more bad joke from getting a full tankard to the face. He chuckled to himself, wiping up a spill. A loud crack cut through the soft murmur in the inn. It was near lunch, so there were still a few stragglers finishing up their midday meals, but no true hustle and bustle to cover up the noise of his door being kicked in. He snapped his head up, eyes widening in shock. Jekkar struggled his way in, a mountain of a man draped over his shoulder. His stomach dropped. Hastur. Garbed in thick leathers that were utterly drenched in blood, his old friend''s face was twisted up in what looked like agony, his jaw clenched so tight he was surprised the old wardog¡¯s teeth hadn¡¯t bloody shattered. ¡°EVERYBODY OUT!¡± Jekkar bellowed, startling the clientele out of their daze. The sounds of a dozen scraping chairs filled the room as they rushed to the head hunter¡¯s command. No one had any desire to ignore one of the strongest in the village, none the least if they were carrying someone injured. ¡°I need you to listen to me, old friend.¡± Hastur gasped, before he looked to the others. ¡°All of you. I fought off the bandits, slew two bloody dozen of them, but some slipped past me, chased after the boy. I tracked him after I sent the survivors fleeing like rats, while I still had most of my strength. He went over the falls.¡± ¡°Falls?¡± Jekkar asked. ¡°Unimportant. If the boy survives, he¡¯s not coming back anywhere near there.¡± Hastur groaned. ¡°Best I can tell, he fell into the Depths. There was a portal at the base.¡± Yanmi staggered, leaning on the wall for support. ¡°So he¡¯s dead then.¡± Hastur gave her a feral grin, his teeth stained red. Whatever was happening internally to his old mate, it was happening fast. ¡°Don¡¯t count him out. Boy¡¯s twice as mean and thrice as much of a rabid dog as I was at his age. No silver spoon in his bloodymouth, I made sure of that. If anyone can do it, he can.¡± He could see it, the maniacal devotion and faith in the father¡¯s face. Hurrin shook his head sadly. The boy was gone, even as tough as he was, no one survived the Depths without a class. ¡°It''s for the best either way. If he didn¡¯t fall in, he¡¯s dead. I wasn¡¯t able to kill the tracker, he¡¯d find the boy just fine. This way he¡¯ll think him dead as sure as you are. When I go, he¡¯ll come sniffing and think our line ended. No more me, no more loose ends.¡± ¡°And what? You expect us to let your killer, Kaius¡¯s killer, to just waltz in here and see your body?¡± Jekkar demanded, staring at Hastur in angered disbelief. ¡°I do!¡± Hastur bellowed. ¡°It¡¯s the boy''s best chance of survival. You must let the tracker live. Let alone that he¡¯s in the one-fifties and still has a few men with him, he must take word of mine and the boy''s death. If my boy survives, it¡¯s the best chance he has to live freely... It''s the last thing I can do for him.¡± Hastur coughed, a gout of blood spraying from his mouth. Clamping his jaw shut with a grimace, he turned his head to the side and spat out the remainder. ¡°You need to give the bounty hunter my sword.¡± Hastur said, his voice soft. ¡°What? If Kaius survives, it''s his by right!¡± Yanmi spluttered. ¡°It''s the only way. He¡¯s going to need proof that I''m dead, some token to appease his employer, and without the blade he won¡¯t leave. Between that, and proof of my death, he¡¯ll leave you be. He¡¯s a consummate professional.¡± Hastur spat his last few words. ¡°Ye can¡¯t die, Hastur. Who am I supposed to brood with if ye never come visit?¡± Jekkar whispered. ¡°What are we supposed to tell ye lad?¡± Hurrin questioned desperately. ¡°Even if by some miracle he survives, how are we supposed to tell him we let some ratfaced bastard steal ye dang blade?¡± Hastur gasped. ¡°Tell him what I have told you. Tell him I died valiantly, and he has made me proud, and done me right. Tell him he needs to let sleeping dogs lie, and that if he wants to live freely he needs to give the Onyx Temple a wide fucking berth, because that is almost certainly where the bounty hunter came from.¡± Hurrin blanched. The Onyx Temple? What kind of crazy shit had Hastur been caught up in? No wonder he lived like a fucking hermit! Hastur continued, uncaring of his friend''s response to his words, his eyes unfocused and glassy. ¡°Tell him that until he thinks he could beat the fucking Hero Josun in a gods¡¯ damned fist fight, he needs to stay on Vaastivar.¡± Hastur coughed, before he started to seize, even more violently than the last time. Hurrin held him steady, sharing worried and grief stricken glances with his fellow elders. ... ¡°He...Your da didn¡¯t last much longer than that, lad.¡± Hurrin said, choking through his words. ¡°The fits kept coming quicker, and harder, and he got less and less lucid. Couldn¡¯t get anything else out of him.¡± Kaius buried his hand in Porkchop¡¯s fur, gripping his shoulder for support as anger thrummed through him. It burned, directionless and without a readily available target. The bastard took Father¡¯s sword? He took a deep breath. ¡°So he took Art in Motion and just left? Did he defile my Father¡¯s body?¡± ¡°No!¡± Yanmi blurted. ¡°No. Even he was not so depraved. We kept your father under cold-wake, as should be done if a burial cannot be immediately held. The bounty hunter arrived a week or so later. He looked on the verge of madness when he learnt of Hastur¡¯s passing, but he just took the sword and left. We buried him after that, as one of our own.¡± ¡°It was fuckin¡¯ hard not to shoot the bastard when his back was turned, I¡¯ll tell ye that.¡± Jekkar grumbled, guilt and anger twisting his face. Kaius gave the old hunter an appreciative nod. Somehow, he managed to hold himself together. ¡°I have questions, but I need to see him first. Where did you have him buried?¡± Kaius choked out. ¡°Of course, lad. We put him to rest under the old oak tree, the one just past the fields where he¡¯d teach you all secret-like on yer visits. Guess the secrecy makes a bit more sense now.¡± Hurrin mumbled. Kaius nodded, and stood. ¡°I¡¯d like to go alone, with Porkchop. I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± The remaining elders nodded, and he left the Stout Oak, leaning heavily on Porkchop for support. B2 Chapter 137: Grief B2 Chapter 137: Grief It was a picturesque spot, his fathers final resting place. Maybe a twenty minute walk from Three Fields, along one of the dirt trails that wound their way through the farms that flanked the village. There was a hill there, one of many that graced the rolling grasslands and meadows of the frontier. It rose above the rest, but it was gentle. An easy walk over soft grass that wound its way through the many boulders that dotted the hill¡¯s face. A tree was at its peak. A venerable oak, tall, stout, and thick of limb. He knew the tree well, having visited it many-a-time in the past. The hill was isolated and private, but provided enough open sightlines of the surrounding area that it was almost impossible to approach without getting spotted. It was where his father used to take him for a few hours each day on their varying trips to the village. While in recent years, ever since he had unlocked the use of his general skills, their visits had grown more infrequent, when he had been younger they¡¯d often visited once a month or so. His lessons wouldn¡¯t stop just for a simple trip into town, so every morning he had been carted out to the hill with the lonely tree, and he had listened and learned and trained as Father had taught him yet another intricacy of survival, or sword fighting, or any other facet he would need to acquire his skills. Before then, he¡¯d lived here. Young enough that it was only hazy memories, but most of them were by this tree. Kaius kneeled in front of the gnarled oak, staring at the stone slab that now jutted out from the soil under its canopy. It was simple, but lovingly carved from the local stone. A rough block, stout enough to weather the indifference of time. Thick letters were carved deeply into its surface, equally as enduring. ¡®Hastur. A father, survivor, and one of our own. Died as he lived, valiant and fearless.¡¯ Kaius stared at the words, a panicky clawing sob stabbing its way out of his chest as fat tears burned their way down his cheeks. He kneeled, and stared, as reality collapsed around him. It wasn¡¯t fair. Wasn¡¯t right. He¡¯d done everything. Survived the impossible, seized victory from certain death, and attained forgotten power. Hells, he¡¯d met with a god. Yet still, it mattered not. Father was dead and there was nothing he could do. The deep, crushing, weight of it all settled on him like a stone, making him fight for every breath. Porkchop let out a low, soothing rumble to his right, his bond-brother laying down next to him and providing what comfort he could. A rasping gasp left his throat, and Kaius threw his arms around his brother''s neck, weeping openly. ¡°How could this be right, Porkchop? How could the gods take him from me, even after we have done their bidding. Where is the supposed fairness of the scales of fate? The good fortune to the victors? How could I have earned this, after everything we have done?¡± he begged, desperate for an answer. Porkchop let out another rumble, leaning deeply into him. ¡°Death is a cruel master, Kaius. One that strikes down newborn babes and Patriarchs with the same uncaring swipe of its claws. There need not be sense to it, it simply is.¡± his bond-brother crooned, acknowledging the senseless pain of it all. Kaius sobbed, choking through a hiccup. ¡°I knew... I knew the chances weren¡¯t good. Not after the first few months. I¡¯d hoped that Father had simply needed time to recover before he could come after me, but when he never returned... I knew, deep down. Still, I hoped. Hoped that we would stride into Three Fields, valiant and victorious. That Father would be waiting, pride, fury, and relief on his face. That he would embrace me, overwhelmed by my unexpected return, and that he would question me. That I could introduce you to him.¡± he murmured, his face buried into the snow white scruff that surrounded his brother''s neck. He squeezed tighter, fighting back the torrent of grief that beset him from all sides. ¡°It¡¯s just so cruel.¡± Kaius whispered. ¡°How am I supposed to live? To continue, knowing that he is gone.¡± As their whispered words drifted under the burroughs of the oak tree, something small thrummed within Kaius¡¯s soul. A single pillar, echoing his call ever so slightly. The sensation went unnoticed, washed away in the emotional tide of the moment. ¡°Thank you, it feels less like an insurmountable cliff, knowing that you will be by my side.¡± Kaius whispered, genuine gratitude plain in his voice. ¡°Don¡¯t be silly, Kaius. We are bonded, we live as one, and die as one. I do want to know though, what of the Onyx Temple? They must be a fearsome beast to have rattled your elders so.¡± Porkchop asked. Kaius winced. Learning that he would be going up against them had certainly put into perspective the magnitude of the task ahead of him. ¡°They¡¯re...something of a guild. Mostly only whispered about in tavern talk. Shadows in the night, the antagonists of every good story. They¡¯re supposed to be a league of criminals, anything profitable that flies against society and law is their bread and butter. Theft, smuggling, assassination, trafficking. No job too low, or too soulless. I genuinely thought they were a myth, and I don¡¯t even know how to go about finding them, let alone getting the information we need out of them.¡± Kaius explained. If they were to go against the Onyx Temple, it meant that getting backing had become all the more important. That, and growing strong. There was no way some shadowy organisation like that had managed to persist under the noses of nobility and law without some serious power and resources. Plus, who knew how much truth there was to the stories of their origins. Apparently, they had once been a shadowy sect of worshipers of Gyl, the god of shadows and dishonest dealings. He had no idea how much truth there was to that, but if they did have a history of a cult, then there was the chance that they still had a religious powerbase. That would be a risk, it would be far harder to extract information or concessions from a devout cultist than a simple rogue. ¡°Then we will need to be cautious, not the least because whoever lies behind them, those that destroyed your dynasty, might be even more resourceful if they are from beyond the continent as Hurrin suggested.¡± Porkchop said. Kaius nodded. Travelling across the oceans was almost unheard of, and entirely the domain of the powerful or exceedingly rich. The open seas were full of legions of terrifying abyssal creatures that could crush a ship as easily as turning a hand was to him. For a group, or entity, to extend their reach to Vaastivar from across the ocean? They would need to be powerful and resourceful in equal measure. ¡°At least it''s a direction, something to look into. Before I had nothing to go off, knowing that Unterstern most likely comes from across the sea gives me a lot to work with, even if knowledge of the lands beyond the shore are scant and rare.¡± Kaius mused. ¡°So our plans remain unchanged?¡± Porkchop asked. Kaius nodded. It would be a search that would take them all across Vaastivar, chasing shadows and hunting men unseen, but two things remained constant. They would need power, and they would need backing. ¡°We need to get to Deadacre. Joining the delving guild there is our best bet to grow our strength, and to start making a name for ourselves. We will need that influence if we are to truly stand a chance of finding anything about the Onyx Temple. Deadacre is likely too small, but it is rumoured they host hidden markets, perhaps if we grow strong and rich enough, we will be able to get ourselves an invitation.¡± Kaius said. Porkchop nodded. ¡°That, and the guild is probably our best bet for finding others who have the potential to keep up with us. I remember what Ekum said, we still need to find ourselves some allies.¡± Kaius raised his brow. ¡°In Deadacre? Unlikely, but I suppose we¡¯ll need to keep an eye out.¡± ¡°We¡¯re already a rock solid frontline, so all we really need are some competent supportive style classers. If they are trustworthy, and good enough, I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll be able to help them close the gap, and secure a few Honours. No doubt we¡¯ll discover more and be able to guide them.¡± Porkchop suggested. It could work, now that he thought about it. If he and Porkchop were the primary front line threats, any team members they found would be far less at risk than they would be otherwise. That said, Kaius still thought that it would be unlikely. They would still need to be delvers of a rare calibre, and Deadacre was a bit of a provincial backwater. Kaius looked at his bond-brother. Thank the gods he had him, because without Porkchop he would be drowning. As it was, it was only the simmering anger and his brother¡¯s support that gave him the energy to keep moving. He only hoped that he wasn¡¯t forcing Porkchop to give up too much in his quest for vengeance. Kaius turned back to his fathers grave stone, watching it with silent intensity as he leaned a little further into Porkchop¡¯s shoulder. B2 Chapter 138: Planning for the Future B2 Chapter 138: Planning for the Future They sat there, on that lonely hill that held Father¡¯s final rest, until the sun started to go down. It was cathartic in many ways, even if it was painful. He¡¯d been given a certainty in Father¡¯s passing, where previously there had only been likelihoods. While that certainty did not bring him peace, nor did it release him from the burden of grief, there was a weight of the unknown that had been removed from him. He had sat there and talked for hours, sharing anything and everything that came to mind with his bond-brother. Anecdotes of his life with Father, one unstable and constantly moving, but one that had its own joys. Of seeing far more of the Sea than most ever did, of training, of stories, and of shared meals and passed down insights. Eventually though, the time came where they had to make their leave. He would be back, before they left on their long journey, but before then there was time that needed to be spent amongst the living. Devising a plan for Three Fields to survive the coming shift in danger, securing them for the long term, catching up with old friends and allies, and preparing for their trip to Deadacre. They made their way down the hillside, Kaius riding his brother¡¯s back as they picked their way through the boulders that studded the grass. As they walked, he thought of their earlier conversation, the way the shape and direction of their future had come together so quickly. Porkchop was a stalwart companion, and had not hesitated to take up his blood debt as his own. Yet, he did not want that to entirely flavour their relationship. There might have been a level of necessity in their pursuit of power, and a level of need to pursue his father¡¯s killer and the destroyers of his dynasty, but that did not mean that the path there needed to be fixed. Porkchop was his own person with his own goals, and Kaius would not leave them by the wayside. ¡°Are you sure it''s okay? Our path through the frontier lands, and our trip to Deadacre? Is there not anything you wanted to do when you crossed the mountains?¡± Kaius asked suddenly, breaking the silence of the golden hour. Porkchop chuffed, the sudden rise and fall of his chest nearly unseating Kaius. ¡°This is what I wanted to do. I wanted to explore beyond the sea, grow strong, and see sights unseen. I wanted to live on the move, and go where other greater beasts did not. Kaius, the only two-legged city that a meles could ever hope to see normally are the elven conclaves, and no one wants to deal with their incessant prattling so we all avoid it.¡± ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± Kaius replied. ¡°I¡¯m sure. I¡¯m practically getting a grand tour of places I would have no hope of seeing myself. As long as we don¡¯t end up settling down for good for years to come, I will be happy.¡± Porkchop insisted. Kaius snorted, staring out over the rows of fields that grew all manner of mid-summer crops, all remarkably large and robust thanks to the might of class and general skills. He couldn¡¯t see himself setting down roots for a long time, and not just because he had too many threads pulling him in multiple directions. He felt the call of adventure just as strongly. Vaastivar, let alone the world, was full of known delights and unknown mysteries. With ruins, a dozen different peoples, and many a wild place to explore, he couldn¡¯t ever see himself not wanting to lay his eyes on as many of them as he could. ¡°I don¡¯t think you have to worry about that. Three Fields is just about the closest to a home that I have, and I''ve never even once considered moving here permanently. Life moves just a little too...slow.¡± Kaius replied, watching the small trails of smoke that rose over the next hill. Evidence of the sleepy village that was nestled behind it. ¡°But please, if something comes up that you want to do, tell me. I would not dictate our every move.¡± Acceptance and assurance flowed across their bond, and Kaius let the silence continue. He looked forward to getting back to the Stout Oak, there were plans to lay, and much to discuss. Thankfully, Hurrin had told him that he would keep the place closed for the next few days to give him some privacy. The villagers might have been respectful, but they still gawked at him and Porkchop all the same. It got a little awkward after a while. ... Thankfully, Cham had been manning the gate again, so it had been easy to get entry back into the town proper. It was a pleasant short walk through the village through the fading light of the afternoon, many a familiar face giving him a respectful nod, before they turned to gawk at him and Porkchop as soon as they thought he couldn¡¯t see. It was a funny experience. Most of the people he knew well in Threefields could be counted on two hands, with maybe a third and fourth for people he knew enough to chat with, such as Cham. Most of that second group being the members of the hunter¡¯s lodge, who he saw more than most when they ran across each other in the Sea. That said, Three Fields was a small place, and it was few the people he did not at least know their names, and fewer still that he did not recognise. Arriving at the Stout Oak, Kaius dismounted and led the way in, wincing slightly at the discomfort of sitting astride Porkchop¡¯s armoured barding. Hopefully, before they left, they would be able to replace it with something a bit more fit for purpose and compatible with his bond-brother¡¯s armour skill. Pushing open the tavern door, he was quickly treated to a blonde missile streaking its way across the room. Illendra smashed into his chest, nearly driving the air from his lungs as she wrapped her arms around him. The elder¡¯s looked at Porkchop curiously, clearly uncertain of why they would want to swap out depths-wrought armour. ¡°I¡¯ve gained an armour skill, one that is incompatible. Something that is closer to under-armour, and can let Kaius sit on my back without steel jabbing him would be much more preferable.¡± Porkchop explained. ¡°In that case, I should be able to help. Come see me first thing in the morning, and I¡¯ll try rush it through by the evening. No charge, after what you¡¯ve given us I think we can all agree we¡¯re so far in your debt that I don''t ever hope to repay it.¡± Eilish said, eyeballing Porkchop¡¯s barding. Clearly the master-craftswoman already had some ideas, but was saving them for a more dedicated discussion. ¡°Speaking of debts, these skills are a ... lot. I would hear what you have planned for us.¡± Yanmi broached carefully. He understood, it was a heavy gift, and one that in this world would usually come with strings of adamant attached. ¡°I want you to form yourselves into a regional powerhouse. Leverage them to consolidate the other villages here, preferably quickly while you still have the time to expand the walls. Share them with everyone. At least those that can be trusted not to blab with outsiders.¡± Kaius said. The elders stared at him in shock. Kaius expected that. It wasn¡¯t everyday that someone pressed for Legacy skills to be spread rather than jealousy hoarded. ¡°Everyone? Are you sure, lad?¡± Hurrin whispered. Kaius nodded. ¡°They¡¯re all defensive in nature, and it¡¯ll be the best thing for solidifying the hold of Three Fields over the surrounding region. It¡¯ll take years for the potential to be realised, but it¡¯ll hopefully ensure that Three Fields survives and hopefully thrives in the coming days. My only hope is that you¡¯ll keep them secret for the next few months, to make it less obvious that they came from me.¡± Yanmi nodded. ¡°That could work... We could each pretend we had one of them each, and decided to pool them together to help the community. It would buy us the leeway and trust needed to grow the town.¡± ¡°What I want to know is why now? What made you give away so many advantages?¡± Saldar asked, staring at him intensely. Kaius chuckled. If only the man knew that he still had six more where that came from, and Porkchop seven. ¡°They are a fraction, but most importantly it is because of the revelations I experienced in the Depths. The meles do not hoard legacies, instead sharing them freely. Their dens are all the stronger for it. It is also my belief that the main reason we have been caught flat footed by the second phase is that we never gained the strength to trigger it. If we had, this all would have been over much earlier, and the average person would be far better prepared to weather the storm. There¡¯s a good chance that others have legacy skills in the villages, my hope is that you will be able to tempt them into sharing.¡° Kaius explained. Even if it still felt wrong to share a secret that had been beaten into him, he knew that there was wisdom in the way of Porkchop¡¯s people. Beasts and Tyrants would be far less of a threat if the average person had a smattering of legacy skills and an Uncommon or even Rare class. ¡°Most importantly, I believe that the Aspects will be as much if not more impactful than legacy skills, and I intend to be one of the frontrunners. Once I have secured Honours for being the first, I will send word on their function to further bolster you.¡± Jekkar cocked an eyebrow at him at that. ¡°Mighty sure of ye self there, lad. How can ye be certain that you will be the first?¡± Kaius grinned, letting a little of the song that had ignited within him in his time in the Depths shine through. ¡°I can quite confidently say that no other first tier has the advantages that me and Porkchop have, nor the experience or sheer bloody minded drive. We will find them, and we will make use of them, even if we only beat second best by a handful of months.¡± he assured. Saldar frowned, still unconvinced. ¡°But what would you have of us? All you have given are hopes for the future, there has been no word of payment.¡± Kaius grinned at the man. ¡°Simple. A harness for Porkchop, supplies for my journey, and a fortress full of strong and capable allied delvers should I have need of them. I would not call the good folk of the frontier to war, but I do not know what the future holds. If strength in numbers is required, or a bastion is needed, I would prefer it to be strong allies of my own people.¡± The elders paused, digesting his words. One by one they nodded, even Saldar, before Yanmi met his gaze once more. ¡°That, I think, is more than fair.¡± the village head rose to her feet, reaching out to him with a hand. Kaius clasped it. The fiery woman smiled at him. ¡°Though if our yet to be named Dynasty is to be an ally of yours, Kaius, I would know your name.¡± Kaius grinned, letting the question hang for a pregnant moment. ¡°Kaius of Unterstern, pleased to make your acquaintance, Yanmi of Dynasty-yet-to-be-founded.¡± B2 Chapter 139: Preparing to Leave B2 Chapter 139: Preparing to Leave After sealing his compact with the elders of Three Fields, the atmosphere had turned raucous and celebratory. Beer flowed like water, and the deer that he and Porkchop had slain earlier in the day was brought out for a great roast. Normally, that would have been excessive for a group of seven, but with their eighth being a greater meles, it was only just enough. Kaius thanked his blessings that whatever magic supported a greater beasts frame allowed them to function on smaller amounts of food than their size would suggest, otherwise they would be in a far worse state when preparing their travel rations. He even managed to get drunk, though his pleasant buzz got more and more difficult to maintain as his control on Rapid Adaptation slipped. At least he managed to squeeze two levels out of the skill as a consolation prize, Hurrin¡¯s stout was strong stuff. **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has reached level 21!** ... **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has reached level 22!** While there was the temptation to decide on the name of their soon-to-be dynasty, the elders decided rightfully to wait for their missing member, Holt, before they made any decisions. That went double for actually planning the gargantuan task of enticing the other villages to join their banner, or how they would entice others to come forward with any potentially hidden legacy skills. That sat just fine with Kaius. He needed allies, and a base of power, but he had no interest in running a full blown dynasty, not yet at least. Having those decisions made in his absence would be far better for creating a level of separation between them and Unterstern. Eventually though, the night grew long, and he and Porkchop were led upstairs to the rooms of the inn. Luckily, the largest room had a set of double doors, so Porkchop was still able to squeeze in. He never ended up making it to the bed, instead curling up on the bearskin rug that lay in front of a smouldering fire alongside his brother. With Porkchop¡¯s growth spurt, they would have just broken the damn thing anyway. Sleep took him in moments. ... The sun shone bright, nary a cloud in the sky as Kaius crossed Three Fields. He still felt a little groggy after the night before, though mostly from mild sleep deprivation. His resistance skill might have been unfortunately effective against beer, but it was equally so against hangovers. Porkchop padded alongside him, his coat on full display. They¡¯d freed him from his barding for what would hopefully be the last time, and had stowed it in their dimensional bag. Kaius had taken to stashing the thing in his emptied pack, which he wore. No way was he leaving something that valuable behind, even if he did know practically the entire town. Walking down stone paved streets, Kaius gave friendly nods to those he passed and recognised, making a beeline to the rhythmic hammer blows that echoed from the workshops a few blocks away. They might have been set at the very edge of the town, but the place was small enough that the sounds of smithing carried far. ¡°What are you hoping that Eilish will be able to do when making me my under-armour? Wont it be missing enchantments?¡± Porkchop asked.@@@@ Kaius smiled. His bond-brother¡¯s only exposure to artefacts were from the masterworks that the system had spawned, and he had very little knowledge of the more mundane creations that a skilled crafter could create. ¡°They will, but a good artisan can still create artefacts without them. They lean more on the innate properties of the materials, and their own skills to draw out the full effectiveness of the items. Though, enchantments are more flexible, and it will definitely be worth our while to take whatever we get to an inscriptionist in Deadacre.¡± he explained as they crossed the street, rounding on a half dozen workshops. Eilish, and her husband Yondar, shared the most grand. Equal parts leatherworking shop and smithy, it dominated the street. Unlike most buildings in town, it was built entirely from stone. No one wanted their house and shop going up in flames due to a forge mishap. ¡°We will still be able to get it enchanted?¡± Porkchop asked as they approached the building, surprised. ¡°Oh, yes. it''s not quite as efficient as having the inscription worked into the very creation of the artefact, but the people with the skills to do that are few and far between. Now come on, we¡¯re here.¡± Kaius replied, pushing open the heavy oak door that led into the reception of the workshop. Eilish was waiting for him with her partner, Yondar, at her side; the pair standing behind a counter that stretched across a good half of the room. Placing his notebook on the counter, Yondar drilled out a staccato rhythm on the polished wood with his fingers. ¡°Now, I have everything we need. I assume you will be getting it inscribed at Deadacre? You have the coin for Self Repair?¡± Kaius nodded. It would be a significant cost, but they should be able to cover it with ease if they sold off Porkchop¡¯s old barding and their blink knives. ¡°Fantastic, that makes everything a lot easier. It¡¯ll probably be the only enchantment the under-armour will be able to support, though you might be able to swing Well Fitted or Self Cleaning as well depending on which one I''m able to work into the armour, but if you go that route I have the perfect material.¡± The artisan shot him a knowing grin. ¡°Something I am sure you will appreciate.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Porkchop asked. ¡°One moment.¡± Yondar said, before he hurried away from the counter and dipped into a back room. Eilish rolled her eyes at her husband¡¯s antics as a muffled curse slipped out of the open door. ¡°Always caught up in his ideas, that one.¡± she muttered. Yondar returned a moment later, carrying a bolt of leather nearly as big as he was. It was thick stuff, nearly a thumb width, and looked as supple as anything Kaius had ever seen. Almost too supple, for something that would be armour. The artisan set the leather down on the wide bench with a huff. ¡°Kaius, you remember that Stone Charger your da brought down a few years back?¡± Kaius looked at the man in shock, nodding slowly. It had been a fearsome beast, bigger than Porkchop was. It had crossed the mountains from the deep Sea one spring for some unknown reason. Terrifying things they were, though thankfully rare. They had a propensity to charge through anything that pissed them off, which was everything. His father had promptly returned him to Three Fields in Hurrin¡¯s care before setting off on its trail with Jekkar, returning victorious a week later. Yondar smiled at him. ¡°I bought the hide off him and Jekkar, and have been saving it for the right project. A bit of a waste to dilute its potential by splitting it up, so I''ve been sitting on it. It¡¯s downright perfect for this use. Softer than you could imagine, but with remarkable shock absorbing qualities and durable as a titan.¡± Kaius merely swallowed and nodded in gratitude. It would be nice to have something else of his father¡¯s to bring with him on his travels. Porkchop, on the other hand, stared at the leather with open glee, before he leaned in and gave it a sniff. ¡°Oh! One of these. I¡¯ve never seen one in person, they live too close to the mountains, but some of my denmates have said they are down right infuriating to put down.¡± Porkchop said. Yondar chuckled. ¡°That would line up with Jekkar¡¯s incessant prattling about the hunt, yes. Anyway! I should be able to have this ready by morning the day after tomorrow with EIlish¡¯s help. I¡¯m sure you have much more preparations to do for your journey today. And no asking about payment, you¡¯ve done enough for us. Think of it as a gift.¡± Kaius looked at the wisened leatherworker in appreciation. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°I am. Now shoo! I have to start immediately if I¡¯m to have any hope of getting this done in time. Go bother Yanmi about some potions or something.¡± Yondar said, ushering them out of the shop. Kaius allowed himself to be pulled along by the man''s energy, entering out into the shining sun once more. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to check in with Jekkar for rations!¡± Eilish called out, before her husband waved a final goodbye and shut the door to their shared workshop. Kaius smiled and shook his head. ¡°Are all people so weird? That was weird right?¡± Porkchop asked, looking back towards the shop before looking at Kaius. He laughed. ¡°Yes, he¡¯s a little eccentric, but he means well. Now come on, we¡¯ve got a few more places to visit.¡± As a pair they set off into Three Fields. Potions and rations, then they should be good. After that, it would be a simple matter of enjoying some well earned rest and relaxation, before he readied himself to say his goodbyes. B2 Chapter 140: Departure B2 Chapter 140: Departure Kaius sat on the floor of his room in the Stout oak, a veritable cornucopia of items and artefacts arrayed on the ground before him. Porkchop lay across, staring at them all in dismay. They¡¯d had a fast paced, but pleasant few days. It had been a rush of meeting with the various elders, stocking up on a variety of traveling essentials. That, and simply spending time with the people that he had not seen in so long. It was a soothing balm to his soul, giving him the time, space, and peace to work through not only his grief over his father¡¯s passing, but also process the monumental nature of what he had experienced in the previous year. Of all, it was perhaps Illendra who had helped most. With Hurrin keeping the tavern closed while he stayed, she had had plenty of free time to sit with him and Porkchop. Their discussions had ranged from the simple, to the deep. Everything ranging from what she had been up to since they had last met, to how the crushing weight of his responsibilities weighed on him. It had been her idea to stay a few days longer than he originally intended. Oh, she gave an excuse, that it would be good for him to share words with Holt before he left, who had sent a missive via bird that he would be returning soon. He knew that it was simply an easy out for him, that she thought he needed some time to just breathe. As it often turned out, she had been right on the money. He hadn¡¯t realised just how much tension he had been carrying until it started to fade. Jekkar was another help. The stoic hunter had had his own brushes with death out in the wilds, and he¡¯d been more than happy to swap stories of harrowing moments over a tankard. It helped to remind him that even with all that had happened to him, mortal battles were a fact of life, and that there were many who could empathise with his experiences. Now though, the time had come for them to leave. The beasts had been growing stronger faster than he had expected, from what he had heard from the village hunters. With the rising mana levels, there was nothing to encourage them to migrate, and they were quickly changing from a simple nuisance to a real threat. If they waited much longer, they could potentially be out paced. As it stood, the trip to Deadacre was likely to be a good source of levels. Hence, they were doing an inventory, something that Porkchop seemed to find physically painful. ¡°Must we, Kaius?¡± his bond-brother groaned. ¡°Yep,¡± he replied, opening his journal. ¡°It¡¯s important we know exactly what we have. Besides, this will only take me a moment.¡± His eyes roved over their belongings. Five tonics each of restoratives for their Resources, in glass bottles of a similar design to the ones he had gotten from the Depths. Yanmi¡¯s personal stock. As a dedicated alchemist who was plenty skilled, she¡¯d made them strong, despite only using what meagre reagents could be found locally. Each would restore three-hundred, though he couldn¡¯t drink more than two of any of them in a row. Something to do with how the body absorbed them, and the limitations of mortal brewers, or so Yanmi said. Much like everything else, he¡¯d been given the lot for free, though he had insisted on offloading his empties on to her. They weren¡¯t worth all that much, and she had far more use of them than him. He¡¯d also managed to get a full ninety stride length of rope, another five waterskins, and a lot more soap than was strictly necessary. Going so long without proper cleaning in the Depths had been horrid, and Kaius had no desire to repeat the experience any time soon. @@@@ Other than that, they had secured a full three weeks worth of rations; Jekkar and Hurrin had busted out the good stuff, ladening him with wellmade and tasty pemmican, salted ham, venison jerky, and a wide array of dried fruits, vegetables and nuts. With his noble¡¯s pantry worth of spices and his fancy depths-wrought pan, they would be eating well. They¡¯d also managed to pick up Porkchop¡¯s under-armour. Yondar had been kind enough to rig up a few saddle bags that could be detached with ease, one to hide their dimensional bag, the other to hold their tent and a few of their harder wearing supplies like the rope. The final new acquisition was a thin full length cloak, more for obscuring his eye-catching armour than any need for warmth. The travelling garb his father had given him was more than enough to keep that handled. Other than that, he did an accounting of their finances. Twenty-four silver and sixteen gold. A sizable sum for everyday living, but one that would not stretch all that far when considering artefacts, consumables, and other delving supplies. Luckily they would be able to sell off Porkchop¡¯s old barding and their brace of blink daggers in Deadacre, which should bolster it healthily. ¡°Are you done yet?¡± Porkchop whined. ¡°I want to try on the new under armour.¡± Kaius smirked, and finished putting away the last of their gear in their saddlebags. Porkchop had decided to wait until they were ready to leave to put on his newest artefact, but now that the time was drawing near his bond-brother was growing impatient. ¡°All done.¡± he said, rising to his feet and hefting a bag with each arm. ¡°Let¡¯s go get you suited up.¡± Porkchop was on his feet in moments, barely avoiding scoring the hardwood floors with his razor sharp claws. Kaius laughed at his brother¡¯s enthusiasm, and made his way out of the room. ... Standing out in the shining sun, Kaius heaved his bond-brother¡¯s new armour onto his back. It was a weighty thing, made of impressively cut thick leather that had been merged into a seamless whole. Diamond style cross stitches layered the thing, adding to its properties, yet through clever craftsmanship it settled over Porkchop¡¯s back like a second skin. The same slate grey as mountain stone, Kaius thought it actually looked quite dashing on Porkchop. Though, with how clear it was that it was padding, he did look a little like a half suited knight. ¡°And you will, I¡¯ll make sure of it.¡± Holt said, shooting him a wide grin. ¡°Listen, I''m not one to hold up a man on a mission, so I''ll wait with the others by the gate. Just wanted to chat personally for a second, let you know I''ve got some of my own...advantages...that I''ll be throwing in the pot. Some of the others do too, nothing quite as good or expansive as what you passed us, but something. Don¡¯t let it be said we never went all in when you fronted up first, ye hear?¡± Kaius sighed in relief. ¡°That¡¯s good to know, I was worried that it wouldn¡¯t be enough. Every bit extra should help pull people to the banner.¡± Holt clapped him on the shoulder once more, before he squeezed with reassuring strength. ¡°It will lad, I¡¯ll make sure of it. You just make sure to survive and pass on word of what you learn about everything else, and I''ll turn this place into an iron fortress by the time you next pass through.¡± ¡°Thanks, Holt, I mean it.¡± Kaius responded with gratitude. ¡°Nonsense, boy. Now I best leave you to it, I¡¯ll see you by the gate.¡± the warrior said, taking his leave. Kaius watched the man leave, feeling a little more sure of Three Fields¡¯ safety. He wasn¡¯t sure of Holt¡¯s exact level, but if he had his own Legacy skills then he would be a powerful combatant. To know that he would be pitching in to teach those skills to the wider community was even more gratifying. Shaking his head, Kaius returned to securing Porkchop¡¯s barding. It was the last thing to do before they left and chased the horizon. ... They left as soon as Kaius finished. Swinging into his ¡®saddle¡¯, he found the new padded barding to be impossibly more comfortable than Porkchop¡¯s old garb. It even had some simple loops for him to put his feet into and for him to grab. Nothing that would get in the way of his bond-brother¡¯s skill, or interfere in battle, but enough to give him some measure of secure seating. They walked down the main pavilion of Three Field¡¯s, heading towards the gate. As they left, Kaius took a long, last, look at the town. It was a slow moving place, full of hardy people who liked the rough and tumble freedom of the frontier. His people. It was sad to leave them, but he never intended on keeping his world so confined as the outskirts of the Arboreal Sea and the surrounding villages. It was time to go. Nodding at a few familiar faces as they left, Kaius spied the gate. It was already open, Illendra and the gathered elders waiting for them. He smiled, glad to see the people he knew best were there to see him off. ¡°Please be safe, Kaius. I wish you would stay, but I know you never could, even without your responsibilities.¡± Illendra said as he drew close. Kaius slid from his saddle, dropping to the ground to give her a hug. ¡°I¡¯ll be back.¡± he assured her. ¡°This place is still dear to me.¡± ¡°You better,¡± Illendra muttered, scowling at him as she wiped her eyes. ¡°I need to go get the tavern ready, now that someone isn¡¯t hogging it. I just know there''s going to be a rush tonight.¡± ¡°Go,¡± Kaius said, giving her a final hug. ¡°Thanks for seeing me off.¡± She nodded, giving him a last smile before she left. Kaius turned to the elders, before being pulled into a sequence of clasped hands, clapped shoulders, and tight hugs. Each and every one of them had words for him. Of assurance, of trust, and of promise that they wouldn¡¯t squander his gifts. The sun shone down on them with illuminating warmth, in what he hoped was a good omen for his journey. One by one the elders left, until only Jekkar remained. He was, afterall, on watch. ¡°Be safe, lad, and don¡¯t forget to send word if and when you can.¡± the old hunter said, giving him a last slap on the back. Kaius grinned at the man, before he hauled himself back into his saddle. Porkchop chuffed in excitement and started to walk out the open gates. A low squeaking groan cut across the fields of the frontier as they slowly closed behind him. He was ready. A new adventure waited, one that no doubt held danger, mystery, and the promise of growth. They set off, following a rough trail through the grasslands, over rolling hills. Towards Deadacre. B2 Chapter 141: Roadside Encounter B2 Chapter 141: Roadside Encounter Astride Porkchop¡¯s back, Kaius took in the rolling hills of the frontier. It was a gorgeous environment, shining with bright green grasses that stretched as far as the eye could see. Rocky outcroppings broke up the landscape, jutting out of the earth every which way. Most were small, but some were larger than houses. Thankfully, the stone features were relatively spread apart, so it was still an easy walk over the gentle rises as they picked their way through the jutting stone. Other than that, there was plenty of dense brush that grew in wide patches, providing shelter for small animals and grazing locations for larger ones. Or beasts, Kaius supposed. It was odd to think about, but there really weren''t any normal animals left. Thankfully, in the day and a half since leaving Three Fields they had yet to encounter anything that had tried to give them a go. That said, it was only a matter of time. The average level of things seemed to be rising dramatically with the increase in mana. Already it was rare to see something under level ten. Mostly though, it had been birds and small beasts that had been more than happy to give them a wide berth, though they had seen a deer-like plains-runner underneath one of the rare trees that dotted the landscape. The thing had threatened them with a false charge, but when they kept moving it had let them be. Honestly, at this point Kaius wished that something would try to take a bite out of them. If only so that they could start gaining some levels before things got really feisty. Shifting in his saddle, Porkchop groaned dramatically beneath him. ¡°What the hells have you been eating, fatty? You feel like you weigh more than an oak log.¡± Porkchop moaned, faking a stumble. Kaius rolled his eyes. Porkchop¡¯s armour had to be three times his weight, and he¡¯d seen Porkchop shoulder it like it was nothing. ¡°Yeah, yeah. How¡¯re you finding being out of the Sea? Is the wider world all you thought it would be?¡± he asked, making some simple conversation to pass the time. ¡°Honestly? It''s bloody weird how open this space is. There''s just nothing but rocks and grass as far as the eye can see. Every time we get to the top of one of these hills it feels like the sky is looming over me, like the ground is going to fall away.¡± Porkchop murmured, the slightest unease coming through their bond. Kaius nodded. He knew the feeling, apparently it was common for those that grew up in and around the Sea, though thankfully it was far less prominent than the last time he had crossed the frontier. ¡°Father told me it was normal on my first trip, for those that are used to closer confines at least. It should pass, just you being unused to being able to see so far or something. I¡¯m still not sure if I like being this exposed, but I got over the worst of it in a week or so.¡± he reassured, sharing what he knew of the strange phenomena. ¡°That¡¯s something, at least.¡± They lapsed into silence, continuing on their journey. At their current clip, they would likely see the walls of Deadacre by the time a few weeks had passed. They could push faster, but that would leave Porkchop drained; no need to exhaust the poor bastard when he was already kind enough to lug him around. He went back to scanning the passing rock formations, as he had gotten into the habit of. Explorer¡¯s Toolkit incessantly nudged him if he went without for longer than a few minutes, urging him to survey the many vantage spots where creatures could lurk unnoticed. He scanned the hillside, leaning on the acuity of True Sight to see far farther than he otherwise could have. Both skills had seen some good growth from his constant vigilance, which made him all the happier to adhere to the instincts of his skill. Every single level brought with it a little splash of joy, as unused as he was to no longer being constrained by the caps of an unclassed. Peering into the shadows that lurked between the jutting spires of grey stone, he expected to find nothing like he had the last several dozen times he had scouted their surroundings. Stone, stone, grass, stone, bush, stone, fur, grass, bush, stone. **Ding! Explorer¡¯s Toolkit has reached level 29!** His mind caught up to his eyes, and he came to a screeching halt as his skill blared an insistent warning to him. Fur? His eyes whipped back to a crack between two boulders, his angle obscuring a decent look into the pathway between them. Nothing. Yet he knew what he saw, and knew to trust the warning instincts that thrummed within him. Despite the potential danger, a wide grin split his mouth. Finally. ¡°Don¡¯t react, but we have something stalking us along the hill line far to our left. I only caught a glimpse of it, but it was definitely something and its setting off the hazard sense of Explorer¡¯s Toolkit something fierce.¡± Kaius said in an even voice, maintaining a slow back and forth of the ridgeline for a few moments before he returned his eyes to the front like he had found nothing. ¡°Really?! Thank the bloody Matriarchs, we haven''t had a good fight in over a week.¡± Porkchop exclaimed, a hungry glee radiating across their bond. Kaius felt that hungry desire waken his own Song, igniting a glimmering ember in his heart. ¡°Hopefully they¡¯re tough enough, it¡¯d be good to work up a good sweat,¡± he agreed. ¡°Let¡¯s keep moving, see if we can bait them into a committed attack.¡± Porkchop grunted, and kept pushing forward. Though Kaius did notice his bond-brother¡¯s ears twitching with every shift of the wind, alert for changes. His every sense was in tune with his environment, yet whatever was tracking them was as silent as a ghost. If he hadn¡¯t caught that single glimpse by chance, he would have had no idea they had something on their tail. Even tense as they were, they rose over their hill and began their descent with nary a peep from their pursuer. It was only half way up the next rise, mostly devoid of obscuring stones, that Kaius heard a baying call of hunger. Sixty. Stormlash. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Drakthar has reached level 5!** A bolt of pure arcing plasma materialised in his hand with a cracking boom, shining with barely restrained might as a shower of red embers scattered from his glyph. The Pack-lord at the head of the troop balked, trying to slow. Kaius let out a laugh of sheer joy. It was far too late for that. Focusing his intent on the oversized beast, he snapped his arm towards it. The contained fury of the storm crashed through the air faster than he could process, wrapping around the beast in a shattering crack that echoed across the hills. The lead beast seized, blood erupting from its mouth as his spell seemed to fuzz with reverberating intensity. Its legs locked up. A mountain of meat hit the ground in a flail of limbs, two of its lessers joining it as his spell arced to fry their smaller forms. They were tougher than they looked. He¡¯d just nailed them with enough storm mana that any lesser creature would be dead. Porkchop activated his amulet, transitioning from a deadstop to a landslide of blurring green with all the unleashed intensity of a snapping bowstring. Kaius was already moving, closing in on their prey. Another Stormlash whipped out, searing the remaining two longfangs that tried to scramble out of the way of his brother''s charge. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Drakthar has reached level 6!** His spell was...potent. There was no other way to describe it. The crackling whip of controlled lightning slammed into his prey like the hammer of god. Choked screams forced their way out of their throats as their flesh fried, every muscle and nerve searing as it was overwhelmed with paralysing might. Then the resonance that thrummed in his mana bridged the gap, crashing through the longfangs¡¯ bodies to eviscerate their delicate organs, shredding blood vessels and cracking bone. Far more power than should be held in the hands of a piddling level three, but thus was the inequitable favour of the system. Porkchop¡¯s armour bound form crashed into the still stunned body of the Pack-lord, trampling it beneath razor sharp claws of jade. With his enhanced weight and momentum, he cracked its chest, ribs bursting free of its flesh. Then he swiped, daggers of jade flaying its side, even as its Health roared free to seal the wounds. The first two hunters rose to their feet, attempting to harass Porkchop from the sides. Their snarling snaps did nothing but clink painfully off the heavy green stone that layered the front half of his body. Roaring with a furious challenge, Kaius¡¯s bond-brother kept their pack leader pinned with one paw, claws sinking into its chest, as he forced them back with an aggressive swipe. Kaius arrived at the shivering forms of the last two hunters, just barely rising from the daze left in the wake of his Stormlash, fur scorched and flesh weak. Three-quarters dead from the might of his spell. Setting both hands on his blade, he rose into an aggressive highguard, A Father¡¯s Gift held overhead. Bolstered by the blood of greater beasts, and empowered by Honour, his body thrummed with primal might. He swung, carving his way through the throat of his first victim. Carotid exposed, hot red vital fluid sprayed through the air. It splattered against his face, staining his face red **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo has reached level 21!**. Kaius tasted the iron tang of a life well lived and rejoiced. Nothing beat a good fight. Pivoting through his hips, he brought his blade to bear once more. A second blow and the heavy head of the hunter fell to the earth, its heart still beating, pumping its vitality to nourish the green grass below. **Ding! level 15 Longfang Hunter slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 4!** ... **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 5!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** His own blood sang at the sight, and he advanced. There was more killing to be done. B2 Chapter 142: Routed B2 Chapter 142: Routed Kaius dashed towards the second hunter that had tried to harass him, bliss and satisfaction pulsing with every beat of his heart. Even with the regenerative power of its Health and the power of its beastly body, the longfang was in a bad way. Scorched fur revealed boiled flesh, the arcing power of his spell ravaging its frame. As bad as it looked, Kaius knew it would be worse on the inside. The power of lightning and storm was well known for the vicious internal damage it left in its wake, to say nothing of the shattering resonance of his metamagic. The hunter whined, snapping at him as he leapt over the ground, lunging in a last ditch attempt to put him on the back foot. Kaius met the assault with a thrust of his own, enchanted steel guided by skill and dextrous power to lance directly into the wolven creature''s eye socket. He barely felt a crunch as his blade cut punched through bone. The hunter stiffened, empowered vitality forcing it to persist despite its certainty of death. Kaius stepped up out of his lunge, levering his sword up to eviscerate the fatty meat held within. **Ding! level 15 Longfang Hunter slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** Grinning at the ease of his victory, he yanked his sword free with a casual flick of his wrists. Previously he would have never dared to aim for such a small target, too much risk of leaving an opening, too easy to defend. Now though, with his enhanced stats, empowered body, and the thrumming rush of uncapped skills, it was like he was a horse released from the carriage. Unburdened. Free. The Pack-lord howled beneath his bond-brother¡¯s feet, bucking as its paws scrambled in the dirt, desperate to release itself from its prison. Porkchop growled, pushing down harder with a splintering crack of bone. Before he could bring his other paw around for a murder-stroke, the other remaining longfangs dashed in in a panic. Battered, bruised, and bleeding from internal wounds, they rushed in all the same. One dived, going for the small section of Porkchop¡¯s throat that was left unarmored by his gorget. Kaius felt his bond brother move. He knew Porkchop¡¯s intention as well as his own. Momentarily lifting up from the pack-lord, Porkchop slammed his paw into the hunter¡¯s side. Jade claws punctured its flesh as if it were an overripe peach, spilling its juices as the beast was sent airborne. Right towards Kaius. Howling in fear, trailing a stream of lifeblood, the beast flailed. Kaius set his stance, bracing with his back foot. He swung. Kaius let out a hefty roar, pivoting with the full weight of his body. As A Fathers Gift hit the beast, he felt it buck in his hands, trying to lever out of his grip. He snarled, knuckles going white as his missing fingers made themselves known once more. Leveraging all his enhanced strength he kept a hold of his blade, pivoting his full weight through his hips to bisect the hunter at the waist. Entrails spilled, and the green grass of the frontier was painted in bright carmine. The hunter¡¯s jaw flapped soundlessly, severed lungs unable to give it breath. Pivoting through the movement, Kaius put it out of its misery, planting his blade through its skull. **Ding! level 17 Longfang Hunter slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 6!** ¡°Maybe not on the time frames, but eventually, yes.¡± Porkchop confirmed. ¡°It¡¯s like that in the inner Sea. Yes, there is a lot of variation, but the floor will rise. Common beasts and the lower races do ... something with mana. It makes them grow without the battle we require. And it will happen quickly, if Ekam is to be believed.¡± Kaius winced. That wouldn¡¯t be good. Sure, he was entirely positive that he personally would love it, but excluding the dwarven holds and the elven conclaves, almost everywhere was built on a foundation of relative safety. At least, in the small section of Vaastivar he knew of. Sure, you would want capable guards to ward off monsters, but anything truly dangerous was a rare oddity. Something that had yet to migrate to a region of more comfortable mana density, or had wandered out of such a region for reasons unknown. If level forty became the average for everything then trade and travel would all but grind to a halt, and the simple necessities such as farming would become monumentally more dangerous. The second tier... He didn¡¯t even want to think about it. That would mean all but the end for the higher races. Porkchop¡¯s eyes softened, seeing his worry. He crossed the distance between them to lay his heavy head on his shoulder. Kaius couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at how his bond-brother now had to stoop instead of crane to do so. ¡°It¡¯s alright Kaius, we¡¯ll figure something out. Look, either way, we absolutely crushed a group of beasts that would have had us fighting for our lives a few weeks ago, and we reached level ten! Whatever happens, we are far ahead of the curve, and if we keep punching above our weight we will only get rewarded further.¡± Porkchop said, reminding him of their successes. His brother was right, their gains from what ultimately ended up being a small battle were immense. If this is what was waiting for them if they kept fighting up levels, they were practically destined to be powerhouses. It would be risky, but they had far more leeway than most. The average delver only had an Uncommon class, with a rare competent few having a Rare in the first tier. No doubt there were those hidden powerhouses that had earned an Unusual, but a Unique? A Heroic? He¡¯d seen the requirements for his class, he simply did not see how anyone could come close. With their lower stats and less potent skills, fighting upwards was a death sentence, the same went for fighting with anything less than a full team. All it took was one bad match up, one opponent with a power set that countered your own, and you were dead. He and Porkchop didn¡¯t have those issues, at least, not to the same extent. With the scaling bonus of their Honours and the stat growth of a Heroic class, they were almost certainly stronger than the pack-lord. ¡°I suppose if we get desperate, we can always return to the Depths. It shouldn¡¯t be too hard to find a portal to a sufficiently deep layer.¡± Kaius mused. Circling around Porkchop, he grabbed one of their waterskins from their dimensional pack, as well as a soap and rag, before he started to clean himself from the gore of battle. Porkchop nodded. ¡°Exactly, we¡¯ll have power in spades for our goals. Though, if we are going to seek out threats that are an actual challenge, it will make it that much harder to find a good back line to support us. We don''t want to end up with a situation where a single monster makes it past us, killing our team.¡± Quickly finishing his wipedown of his face and armour, Kaius set about wiping the worst spots from Porkchop¡¯s new barding. Self Cleaning would take care of it, but cleaning off the globs of viscera that had gotten wedged between his bond-brothers heavy-plate and his under-armour would speed up the process massively. ¡°I have some thoughts on that,¡± Kaius said as he picked at a clump of bloody hide that had gotten worked into the leather. ¡°I think the main thing is finding someone we work well with, is trustworthy enough that we don''t need to worry about our...blatantly obvious secrets.¡± ¡°Such as?¡± Porkchop asked, lifting one leg to give Kaius better access to a splatter that coated his chest. ¡°Our strength, as well as glyph-binding and the fact you¡¯re a greater beast. Other than that, I think if we can find a person or two who have at least a Rare class and a smattering of legacy skills, I think we¡¯ll be able to force feed them enough achievements that they will fly up the ranks with their next class advancement.¡± Kaius explained, retreating from under Porkchop¡¯s bulk. Rinsing the cloth, Kaius wrung it free of pinkish water before he deposited it back with the rest of their supplies. He¡¯d only used a little water, but even if streams were common in the grasslands, it was best to conserve. Who knew what could happen, and they could both live with a little travel grime. ¡°Makes sense.¡± Porkchop said, before he jutted his chin at the slain bodies of the beasts that had attempted to ambush them. ¡°Shall we take some of those for lunch?¡± Eying the corpses of the longfangs, Kaius winced at the waste of meat. Unlike the Depths, beasts above wouldn¡¯t just reset. He was in no way opposed to culling a whole herd if he had to, especially to feed his growth, but it still rankled to leave anything to waste. Consoling himself that he was at least leaving a meal to scavengers, Kaius drew his hunting knife and set about roughly butchering a mostly untouched haunch of the pack-lord. Predator meat was a little gamey, but he hoped its potent vitality would be worth the taste. Besides, he had a larder of spices to use. He stood, hoisting his choice cut. ¡°Set up over the next hill? It¡¯s down wind.¡± he asked. His bond-brother nodded, and they set off. B2 Chapter 143: A Stranger In Need B2 Chapter 143: A Stranger In Need Heavily spiced meat cut into thick strips sizzled as Kaius dropped it into his lard-greased Traveller¡¯s Pan, the heady aroma of cumin filling the air. It was one of the few spices he did know from his stock, and a powerful enough one that it should do plenty to cover the overly gamey taste of the Pack-lord. Leaving the site of their battle, they crossed the next hill before hunkering down to take a break in the shade of two jutting rock formations, sheltered from the wind and summer sun. While it might have been far too early to call it a day, there was something to be said for a hot meal after a heart pumping battle. Porkchop lay across from him, hunkered down on all fours, his nose twitching at the smell of their cooking food. ¡°Smells good.¡± Porkchop said.¡±You¡¯re going to ruin raw food for me, I¡¯ll be one of those fire aligned affinity weirdos who cook all their food. Laughing stock of the dens, I tell you.¡± Kaius snickered, using a spoon to move the meat around in the pan. ¡°I bet you¡¯d think it¡¯d be worth it.¡± ¡°No doubt, spices work surprisingly well, even if they do smell strong.¡± Porkchop replied, crinkling his nose as a change in the wind blew the cooking fumes in his face. ¡°I¡¯ve been meaning to ask you. I don¡¯t know all that much about two-legged hunting teams, what should we be looking for in a backline?¡± Porkchop asked. Kaius paused, thinking on the question. There were plenty of supportive options they could look for, but considering how hard and fast he and Porkchop tended to fight, it narrowed the selection quite a bit. ¡°Some kind of supportive caster is a must, preferably one with healing capabilities.¡± Kaius replied, holding up his left hand to wiggle the stumps of his fingers. ¡°Plus if they have some sort of battlefield control, or supportive enhancements, that would be good too. Something that will aid us without requiring too much intervention on our part.¡± Porkchop snorted at his display, drawing a smile from him. It irked him to have lost the fingers, though he knew that to have left the Depths with such a small injury could only be seen as good luck. It still messed with his swordplay, and he found himself noticing the missing digits with surprising regularity. He hadn¡¯t realised how much fine dexterity and manipulation came from his ring and pinky until he lost them. Still, it was solvable, albeit expensive and often involving long wait lists. A magi with regeneration capabilities would be a massive boon, and potentially life saving if one of them ever lost something more important than a few fingers. Other than that... ¡°I think some sort of scout or hunter would be good. Someone who can provide us with some ranged support, and maybe help us scout terrain. I¡¯m good with my general skills, but if we can find someone even halfway comparable with a dedicated class, they will outstrip me pretty quickly.¡± Kaius said, thinking about the times that it would have helped to have an archer. The Tomblord, or when he¡¯d had to blow most of his runic hymns on taking down goblin rangers in the dwarven citadel. ¡°Though, that said, someone with capability to shape the battlefield in our favour would also be very useful. A trapper, affliction specialist, hells - even an alchemist focused on poisons or gasses, something like that.¡± Kaius continued, wondering on the many ways they could fill out their composition. Regardless of who it was, and what they did, they would need to be inordinately capable and be able to assist them without coming under fire from the strong foes they intended to face. ¡°What of a rune specialist? What you did with those formations was pretty handy, even if we didn¡¯t use them much.¡± Porkchop asked him, tilting his head in curiosity. Kaius winced. ¡°I thought about it, but I think there''s too much risk of them getting far too interested in glyph binding. I do plan on sharing, but not until I''m solidly a few tiers ahead of everyone else, I have no plans on handing any potential advancement Honours away on a silver platter.¡± ¡°Fair enough, I hadn¡¯t considered that.¡± Porkchop grunted. They lapsed into silence as the rich smell of seared meat filled the air. Kaius salivated, staring at the meal. A few minutes later and it was done. They devoured their meal in seconds, both of them ignoring the searing heat of the food with their enhanced stats. Finished with the pan, Kaius packed away his tools, and took his seat once more. They set off, still heading south. ... As the leagues of rolling grass and proud spires of stone disappeared beneath their feet, the sun began to dip below the horizon. With their dimensional tent, setting camp was a much less fraught prospect than it had any right being. Pitching it in a shadowed alcove between two boulders, their tent hid itself behind the illusion of a pile of rocks, while providing them with far more comfort than Kaius was used to when camping in the wilds. Hells, it felt more like the sort of sleeping arrangements some pampered noble would have in a manicured garden of a ¡®forest¡¯ on their estate. Between the rich furs, soft bedding, and even temperature, he¡¯d had worse sleeps in bloody Three Fields. Either way, with its illusionary protection, no beast nor monster of any kind bothered them during their nightly rest. The following days passed much the same, as dawns turned to dusks with only a minor change in their surroundings. The gentle hills of the frontier would flatten into a plain eventually but until then they were treated to a rather monotonous environment by Kaius¡¯s standards, without the excitement of the roving herds of grazers that lived on the grasslands. After a life lived in the Arboreal Sea, and all the myriad sights kept within it, there were only so many cool looking big rocks he could stare at before he felt his eyes glazing over. Still, he wasn¡¯t the one walking, so it was his job to keep watch. Which he did, even if it was horrendously boring. Thankfully, they did have some moments of excitement to break up their journey. They were ¡®ambushed¡¯ by small packs of longfang hunters as much as twice a day, though these ones had lacked a Pack-lord at the helm. Invariably they crushed the instigators, and invariably the beasts fled as soon as they had killed half their number. Often, it ended up being more, just because of how easy it was. Barely enough to work up a sweat and get the blood singing, but it beat staring at yet another grassy knoll. Even if the Longfang Hunters had a skill, it seemed to just be some kind of Stamina based speed boost. He hadn¡¯t actually seen them use it to do anything other than pursue them, or flee as Kaius and Porkchop tore their packmates asunder. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Kaius couldn¡¯t complain too much though, it did bring in more levels, even if that meant each fight got even easier than the last. Both of them managed to reach level twelve, they found that the bonus experience for besting something of a higher level stopped when they were within five levels of each other. With most longfangs being below sixteen, their pace had slowed to a crawl. If they wanted to grow quickly, they would need to actually challenge themselves. If they could find one that is. His skills had grown too, almost everything had gained a few levels, with the exception of Rapid Adaptation and Lesser Regeneration. Unfortunately those didn¡¯t grow if you didn¡¯t get hurt, and none of the beast attacks had been anywhere near fraught enough for that to happen. Brotherhood of Ichor and Animus in particular had risen dramatically. Even outside of combat, it felt like it would tick over after the slightest thing. A benefit of their strong connection, he supposed. As Porkchop made his way down yet another hillside, Kaius brought up his status to conceptualise his gains. Status: Hymnbook: Glyph of Drakthar- Stormlash (Tier I - 120 mana) Honours: Born for Slaughter Sublime Prodigy - Glyph Binding Birds of a Blood Soaked Feather Persistent Survivor (Minor) Kingslayer (Major) Ruthless Underdog Bound Artefacts: A Father¡¯s Gift - Common Growth Longsword Growth Conditions- Gain a class (1/1) Acquire suitable materials (1/3) Forge a link (0/1) Kaius shook his head, gaining his class really had been like getting uncaged. He hadn¡¯t realised how much he had chafed under the restrictions until they were gone. In only a matter of weeks, he had seen nearly the same level of stat growth that he had after acquiring a full handful of not-seen-in-millenia Honours, one of which had required killing a bloody guardian. On many levels it gratified him to finally be rewarded for all his hard work, but he couldn¡¯t help but wince as he thought of what level he would be by now if he had had a class before he fell into the Depths. Though, if that had happened he wouldn¡¯t be nearly as strong. Without a Heroic class, his new racial trait, and his Honours, he would be far worse off. Literally hundreds of stats weaker, even if he had managed to somehow secure an Unusual or Unique class. Though, even with all that said, he would have preferred a slightly different distribution in his stats. A bit more Dexterity perhaps, or a touch of Willpower. He¡¯d start investing his free points into them soon, but for now he was committed to growing his mana pool as much as possible. With his limitations on glyphic casting, it was vital that he could store as many runic hymns as possible. He knew Porkchop was doing something similar, splitting them between his Endurance and Vitality to keep them growing in lock step during these early levels. Just as they reached the base of the hill that they were crossing, and were about to start their ascent on the next, a distant series of clacking chirps startled Kaius from his musings. Eyes snapping forwards, he growled in frustration as the rise to their front obscured his vision, only for a snapping beam of light to pierce the horizon from off in the distance, fading as it reached a few hundred strides into the air. Another snap followed a few seconds later, though this time no light beam appeared in the sky. Kaius¡¯s heart quickened. A skill, it had to be. Porkchop was already moving, lurching forwards with such rapid acceleration that Kaius¡¯s grip whitened on the leather loop that served as his handhold in the saddle. Jade claws punched deep into the earth, giving his bond-brother all the traction he needed to race up the delicate earth, despite his weight. More chirps, another crack of light. Whatever it was couldn¡¯t be far, even as close as the far base of the very hill they were summiting. Porkchop reached the summit, skidding to a halt, and Kaius saw. Below them, in a flat field between their current vantage point and the next hill, someone was running. Dressed in robes with a light pack on their back, they sprinted for all their life, pursuers close behind. A pack of beasts, sixteen strong. Kaius had no name for them, his only reference was that they looked like demented chickens. If chickens had the neck of a goose, long legs, were the size of a man, and their beak was built like an axe head. The figure nearly stumbled, though Kaius had no idea why, it was an open plain. Even if they were dressed poorly for the wilds. A moment later they turned, a cracking beam of light searing straight into the chest of one of the chasing birds. Their hood dropped, revealing a lithe and pale man with piercing blue eyes. The beast lurched, a hole burnt through its ribs, before it let loose a squark of rage, and raced forwards to join its companions. With a start Kaius realised the man was outnumbered and out armed. With no backup, the mage would die as soon as the beasts caught him. The moment hung, horror dawning upon him. No. He refused. ¡°Go!¡± he screamed, ripping his blade from his sheath as Porkchop charged. B2 Chapter 144: A Really Bad Day B2 Chapter 144: A Really Bad Day Ianmus was having a really bad day. He knew he should have turned back when the system had updated, or at least headed to one of the semi-maintained roads that connected Mystral with the rest of the continent. In his defence, the idea of seeing all of the variant evolutions when animals were shifted to beasts sounded fascinating, and he hadn¡¯t quite expected things to go this badly. Which they had, hence his slapdash sprint for survival. A raucous cacophony of squawks and chirps sounded from behind him. Ianmus grit his teeth, fighting against the burn in his lungs as he forced his legs to move, to hurl him forwards with every shred of energy he had. He¡¯d thought a jaunt through the wild would be exploratory! The kind of thing that a true adventure was made of. Why, he might even have had some glimmer of insight into these strange new Aspects that the system had woven into existence above his soul. In his defence, as soon as he had realised just how quickly he was getting out of his depth with the rapid leveling of beasts, he had adjusted his course, trying to cut towards Deadacre. A piddly, hodunk, backwater of a city it might have been, but it had walls. Which sounded really, really fucking good right now. **Ding! Magister¡¯s Dash has reached level 33!**. The ding of his movement skill levelling brought him a little relief, allowing him to squeeze just that much more speed out. Every good Magi had one, but he was proud of managing to be offered a lauded Unusual purely due to his own practice and efforts. Most of his non-legacy skills were like that. Too bad it wasn¡¯t helping. Another quick look over his shoulder showed that his pursuers had gained on him, thick taloned limbs dashing lightly over the grass. Of course he ran into a bloody flock of terror birds right as he decided to head to safety. He¡¯d only managed to Identify two of them, but both of them were level nineteen. That had been when the fear set in, that crippling cold fluid that washed down his spine, sapping his strength. He stood no chance, not as a level twenty magi with no front line. All of the combat casting practice in the world wouldn¡¯t help in that scenario. He started to channel, weaving his mana and pushing it into his Sunbeam skill. He stumbled, losing track of his footing as he focused on keeping his mana stable and steady. Gasping at the lurch, Iamus just barely managed to keep his stride. It still let the birds gain on him. The sunstone that capped his staff shone with brilliance as his skill clicked into place, fully charged and ready. Turning mid sprint, he aimed his staff at the front runner, firing off a lance of pale yellow light. Without checking the result, he looked to the front and kept sprinting. The bird squealed in pain and rage, but there was no sign of a deathknell. No kill notification. Dread and regret clawed at him. He¡¯d been such an idiot. Valedictorian of the Sunspire, as a scholarship student no less, and he¡¯d still failed to heed the system''s warnings. He knew, knew, that he only had a handful or so more shots of Sunbeam left. Against one, maybe two, terror birds? Possible. Not against a flock though. He was doomed. Doomed to a fate of being run down and eaten alive. What a fucking travesty. A roar echoed through the valley. One filled to the brim with bloodlust and a loudly announced promise of violent death. It chilled Ianmus to his bones, raising the hair on his neck in the way that only a superior threat could. Gasping involuntarily, he forced himself to keep running. Hoping, praying, that whatever fell fortune had found him this time had decided that the terror birds would be more entertaining company. Behind him, he heard a flurry of skidding steps as his pursuers squawked in outrage, wheeling around to advance on a new greater threat. Ianmus suppressed his sigh of relief. Whatever the reason, whatever it was, he couldn¡¯t waste the opportunity. He wouldn¡¯t stop running until he was safe in deadacre, sat in front of a fire with a glass of rich red in one hand, and a good book in the other. Then he heard the war cry. It resonated with a deep bass, like the voice of a general leading an army into battle. It promised death, and thrummed with a glee that was impossible to miss. It was a person¡¯s voice. Ianmus¡¯s gait faltered, his head snapping over to the source of the sound in shock. He slowed, then stopped. He stood there, jaw slack, as he watched an absolutely magnificent beast, garbed in leather and some kind of green stone armour, tearing down the hill side. A man was astride its back, draped in gleaming steel scales, with a longsword held victoriously aloft. **Ding! You have been Enhanced - Sundrenched Strength!** It felt hot, rich, and potent. Vitalising. New power flooded his limbs and he dropped his head back and laughed. He took it back, the magi was alright in his book. Two terror birds swooped in to capitalise on his momentary distraction. Lurching back to focus, Kaius fended one off with a swipe of his sword. The other was too fast, slamming its axe-like beak down towards him. Too late to dodge, he shifted, sliding his feat so that the headbut landed on the heavy layered armour of his pauldrons. The terror bird''s head snapped to the side with a chirp of fury, heavy head clacking against metal as its strike was deflected. Bones creaked, but did not crack. By the gods was it strong. The feathered freaks might have been feeble, but they packed a mean punch. **Ding! Tempered by Dissonance has reached level 23!**. Uncaring of his wounds, Kaius slammed into the avian, forcing it back. Seizing his blade in a half-sword grip he plunged its point into the bird''s eye, dropping it like a rock. **Ding! level 17 Terror Bird Pursuer slain - Experience Gained!** Still no level. Kaius growled in frustration. The other bird, the one he had fended off, attempted to claw him with its massive talons, only for a snapping beam of radiance to lance its face. It pulled back with a screech, a scorched hole burned into its flesh. Kaius didn¡¯t let the moment go to waste. He stepped in, hacking at the distracted monster''s neck. It went down not long after. **Ding! level 16 Terror Bird Pursuer slain - Experience Gained!** With barely more than a handful left, the terror birds looked scattered and fragile. Broken. Porkchop snapped another up in his jaws, closing his bite around its neck. A viscous heave tore the head free, blood gouting through the air. The rest of the flock flinched. Kaius grinned. Time to mop up. Condensed electric fury snapped into existence, his third Stormlash whipping out to boil the blood of two more terror birds. Unfortunately, the remnant beasts were too spread out for him to catch a third. Muscles seized as current and resonance tore through the delicate organs of the pair. One of their eyeballs burst, smoking feathers blanketing the region with the scent of scorched flesh and smouldering keratin. The crackling thrum vanished as his spell winked out of existence, two more smoking corpses joining the pile. **Ding! level 17 Terror Bird Pursuer slain - Experience Gained!** ... **Ding! level 19 Terror Bird Pursuer slain - Experience Gained!** Still no more level. Just how big was that bonus?! Their spirits shattered, and the remaining terror birds broke, sprinting back the way they had come as they screeched in despair. Porkchop let out a bellowing roar of victory, rearing up on his hind legs as he announced his might. Feeling the rabid song in his blood start to ebb, Kaius grinned. It was still too quick and too easy for his liking, but it was still better than endless walking. Still, the potent energy of the magi¡¯s enhancement still coursed through him. Kaius walked over to his bond-brother, who had already dismissed his thick plated armour, and clapped him over the shoulder. ¡°Come on, let''s go say hello.¡± he whispered, before turning to find the robed mage standing a little ways up the hill, leaning heavily on his staff as his chest rose and fell with slow intensity. Poor guy must have been run half ragged during the chase. Porkchop grunted, but stuck to his side, curiosity at the new figure drifting across their bond. Kaius grinned at the man, trying to keep his body language relaxed and friendly. ¡°Hey! Nice to meet you!¡± Kaius yelled, raising his arm over his head with a wave. B2 Chapter 145: Introductions B2 Chapter 145: Introductions Standing in a field of cooling corpses, Kaius gave the strange mage a friendly wave. He was still a good ways off, up the hill and far away from the front lines. Even if the man hadn¡¯t fled when he suggested, he¡¯d done his best, and had moved exactly where a backline caster was supposed to be. Evidently, despite his difficulties, he¡¯d been well trained, as evident by casting spells under hampered pursuit and moving to support as soon as he was able. All the more curious that he was out here alone and underleveled, despite it being a couple of weeks since the phase shift. The mage slumped at his friendly gesture, some of the stiff tension leaving him. He approached, drawing closer to the site of their victory. Behind him, he felt Porkchop fall in behind him, though he knew his brother intended to stay silent. No need to completely give the game away, even if it was almost certain the mage had noticed something off with the spells he was casting. Kaius could only hope he was a reasonable man, and that they need not resort to harsh measures to ensure his silence. The mage drew his head back, revealing his features. They confirmed his lineage as an elven halfling at the very least. He was slightly taller than even Kaius, but of a lithe and willowy build. Not thin and spindly by any means, but noticeably different from his own broad frame. Long platinum hair framed his face like unwoven silk, contrasting piercing blue eyes. The fact he was a half-elf was even more of an oddity than his presence in the wilds. With how insular elves were, halflings were rare. Kaius could only hope the man hadn¡¯t had too rough of a go at it. Father had told him of the fate of most halflings. Nigh on ostracised by full elves, they stood out like sore thumbs due to their height and fae features in human society. While they might not be as exaggerated as a full elf, Kaius could see the man''s sharp ears pointing through his hair. Most, he¡¯d heard, caught the brunt of wider society''s distaste for what was seen as elvish narcissism, treating them with scorn and distrust. Still, evidently the man had done well for himself. Elves were a curious race, their bodies possessing an uncommon vitality and quickened minds that leant to long lived lives of inventive craft, magic, and scholarship. When crossed with the natural stubborn willfulness of humans, it provided a strong base for stats to build upon, a good foundation for the academic and mystic arts. The light mage stopped a good twenty strides away, pausing as he rapidly looked between himself and Porkchop, apprehension on his face. ¡°Thank you for the rescue, kind traveller, I am the one known as Ianmus, a solar mage and graduate of the Sunspire of Mystral.¡± the half-elf said, introducing himself with a stiff bow. A mage of Mystral, that explained much, but also raised more questions. At the very least, it explained Ianmus¡¯s capability; the magi of the college spires were universally renowned for their talents. Yet, they were nearly as insular as the elves, preferring to lock themselves away in the study of the arcane rather than do much else. What on earth was a recent graduate doing here? Still, there was no need to be rude. ¡°Nice to meet you, Ianmus. I am Kaius, warrior of the frontier, and this is my companion, Porkchop. I¡¯m happy to have helped, no way I was about to let you fall afoul of beasts in times like these. Though, I must ask, what is a graduate doing out here anyway?¡± Kaius questioned. Ianmus paused, an abashed look crossing his face as he scratched the back of his head. ¡°Well... I have somewhat of a preference for novel findings and field research, unlike many of my colleagues. Unfortunately, most novel findings are found in rather...unpleasant places, so I was making a trek to the Greenseed Dukedoms, in hopes of joining one of their ceremonial wars. It would have been fantastic for skill levelling.¡± Ianmus replied, smiling to himself rather ruefully. Kaius looked at the solar mage in surprise. He hadn¡¯t realised the Dukedoms were having another war, especially now of all times. Though, he knew little about them beyond that they were mostly pomp and circumstance, at least according to the scoffing derision of the frontier folk. ¡°And you thought now was the time to travel overland? As a mage alone?¡± Kaius asked, struggling to keep the disbelief out of his voice. Perhaps he¡¯d given the graduate too much credit, such a move was unbelievably stupid. Normal magi, at least at low levels, were fucked in a direct confrontation, exactly like what had happened to the man. ¡°Ah. That. I left two weeks before the transition, when the worst I expected to cross was the odd boggart, or perhaps an irontusk that could be avoided. By the time the shift hit, I was already far from the main roads, so I adjusted my course to Deadacre. Unfortunately, I wasn¡¯t lucky enough to avoid trouble on the way.¡± Ianmus said, wincing at his misfortune. However, Kaius did note that the mage kept looking over to Porkchop with increasing regularity. Still, Kaius had his sympathies for the man. He only hoped that there weren¡¯t too many suffering the same fate, it burned to think how many unprepared travellers had lost their lives due to his own inadvertent actions. Responsibility pressed upon him. He was, if not intentionally, the reason Ianmus had nearly died. It would only be right to see him to his destination, especially since it was the same as his own. ¡°Then you have a second stroke of luck, Ianmus of Sunspire. I am also heading to Deadacre, so I would be happy to accompany you on your journey.¡± Kaius offered, though he didn¡¯t have the man''s full attention. Perhaps realising the obviousness of his blatant stare at Porkchop, Ianmus¡¯s face snapped back to his own. ¡°...Would it really be alright for me to accompany you?¡± the mage half whispered, near fear crossing his features. Kaius forced a grin on his face, before he moved his hands so that his open palms were shown to the man, and well away from his belted blade. ¡°Guess it was a bit much to hope to fly under the radar around a half-elf academic, eh?¡± he joked, keeping his tone light and even. He hoped the fact that both he and Porkchop were drenched in beast blood didn¡¯t ruin the impression. ¡°I don''t know what you mean?¡± Ianmus attempted, tense, like he might bolt at any moment. Kaius watched the mage''s wide eyes trace the black script that curved around his hand and traced his wrist. ¡°It¡¯s alright friend. It¡¯s no great secret. One that we certainly hope to keep under wraps for now, but one we understand will come to light eventually. We¡¯re just looking to build a little strength and backing first. I am sure you would understand, as a mage of Mystral. As long as you hold no designs on us, you will find no trouble here.¡± Kaius said, trying to comfort the mage. It seemed to work to middling effectiveness. On one hand, Ianmus relaxed ever so slightly, at least sure he wasn¡¯t in imminent danger. On the other, the mage still watched him with suspicion, and was clearly ready to bolt. ¡°Forgive me if I find it hard to believe that a man with mysterious magic and a greater meles for a companion, with far more strength than they should have, would not want to silence observers.¡± Ianmus replied. Kaius chuckled. ¡°There''s a story for everything, and you might find ours interesting. Besides, I would have left you to die if I was that kind of man.¡± he assured. ¡°What say you to a lunch, at the very least? Maybe half a league closer to Deadacre, so we don¡¯t have beasts coming to investigate the kills?¡± Ianmus paused, watching him intently as he searched for any sign of deceit. Evidently he found none. ¡°A lunch, at the least. I haven''t eaten well in weeks.¡± Ianmus replied. Kaius grinned. ¡°Well, that is one problem I can solve for certain. Let me dress one of these birds and we can be on our way.¡± Kaius turned, making his way to one of the decapitated terror birds that had so helpfully already drained its corpse of blood. Drawing his hunting knife, he did a quick job of gutting the beast, leaving him with a person¡¯s weight of meat and hide. ¡°Nice to meet you, mage. I hope you are less annoying than your full blooded relatives.¡± Kaius heard his bond-brother say, speaking to Ianmus behind him. Ianmus spluttered, clearly not prepared for Porkchop¡¯s meagre tolerance for elvish pestering. ¡°I...am? At least I hope I am less foppish and haughty. I know the myths and customs, but I grew up in Mystral. My father left when I was young.¡± Ianmus replied, his voice growing bitter as he spoke of his heritage. Kaius was unsurprised, knowing what he did about the lives of most half-elves. ¡°Thank the Matriarchs. There¡¯s only so much flattery I can handle, and I have yet to meet a full elf who doesn¡¯t far overestimates the limit.¡± Porkchop grumbled. Kaius smiled, and finished up his rough butchery. It was a hack job, but enough for now. He hefted the carcass with ease, the weight of it light to his enhanced strength as he draped it over his shoulder. After a lifetime of hard living, Kaius felt entirely unperturbed by the remnant trickles of blood that left the beast and coated his armour. It wasn¡¯t like he wasn¡¯t drenched anyway. Walking over to his bond-brother, he put his foot through one of the leather loops of his ¡®saddle¡¯ before he grabbed the barding and hauled himself up onto his brother''s back, terror bird carcass and all. ¡°Well then, shall we be off?¡± he asked, shooting Ianmus a grin. B2 Chapter 146: An Explanation B2 Chapter 146: An Explanation Ianmus sat on a rounded stone, his hands propped on his knees as he watched the delver-scion work. Kaius, he had said his name was. After the human and his beastly companion had finished the flock, he¡¯d offered a chance to talk. It was hard not to feel like their short walk through the afternoon sun had been a walk to the gallows. After all, he knew too much. No matter what Kaius had said, his strange magics and his relationship with the meles - Porkchop, as ridiculous and nigh-heretical as the name was - was a secret that needed to be kept hidden. Even with all of the delver¡¯s power, he was still low level. Impossibly low level, for the strength he had leveraged. Another secret, though one that he could only feel out the faintest edges of. Yet, he still lived. He hadn¡¯t been cut down where he stood, no matter how prudent a course of action it would have been. So he sat, and watched as the man took his hunting knife to the carcass of the terror bird, dismantling it with practiced ease. Oh, he still struggled with some bits. It was clear that he had never butchered such a beast before, what with the way he struggled with their tough connective tissue and odd musculature. Still, every roadblock the man hit, he worked his way through it in moments.@@@@ Whatever he was, Kaius was no foppish noble¡¯s son. That was abundantly clear. The blind disinterest in the trail-dust that coated him head to toe, his rugged and raw appearance, and his blatant disinterest in mortal concerns such as pain. He¡¯d seen that hit Kaius had taken on the shoulder, no mere level sixteen should have weathered that bonecrushing slam, armour or no. Even if he did have the strength to persevere without shattered bones, the man had smiled at the wound. Like it tickled. The sheer affinity to violence chilled Ianmus, filling his veins like an icy mountain stream. So at odds with the calm and friendly demeanour he now showed. Bloodsong, no doubt, and strongly felt. Despite everything, he could feel his latent curiosity piquing. He¡¯d been privy to the studies, on how it was some confluence of mana effecting a latent trait in the blood. It heightened aggression, the senses, increased risk-taking, and sent the mind alight with visceral joy. He himself felt it - far more than the average scholar - but far less than some, and far less than the man crouched across from him. It had been an interesting study, though one confounded by privacy concerns. How the strength of Bloodsong correlated to the strength and development of one''s level and classes. No conclusion had been found on whether it was just the Song driving people to lives where they burned bright or burnt out, or if there was some direct relationship. If the latter was true, at least it would give him some sane reason for the man''s power. Level fourteen. Madness. Watching Kaius set aside another stack of meat, the man pulled a pan from his saddlebags as well as a pouch of what he assumed to be seasonings, still utterly focused on his task. His companion shifted to give him better access to their belongings on his haunch. Either they were so perfectly in tune that such an action was automatic, or they spoke through beast-speak. He didn¡¯t know which was more imposing, because even the latter meant that they were close enough for Kaius to have learnt the famously mind-bending ¡®language¡¯. The pan was another indicator of wealth and status, along with the blatant artefacts that draped him and his companion. That, or they had been on an extended journey into the Depths. And were only level fourteen. Madness. How was he not dead? It wasn¡¯t like he could run or fight, not with their supremacy. Not that he would dare to share the secrets of a greater meles. His father might have been a scoundrel and a wastrel, a coward of a man who had left him and his mother to rot when he was a boy, but he had passed on a partial legacy and opened his path to the academies. He knew the histories, had been taught the Quiet Ways. He was proud of his heritage, if not his lineage. No, he would be sharing no secrets of the meles. Though, to see one of their insular folk garbed in armour and letting a human ride him was a shock he doubted he would forget. Questions upon questions, ones he wouldn¡¯t be getting an answer to. Ianmus watched Kaius shift out of his crouch, sitting heavily on the grass with a generously seasoned slab of meat in one hand. As Kaius grabbed the pan, he watched a faint trickle of mana leave the man, activating the artefact. Moments later the steak was dropped in, sizzling loudly. ¡°So, I know you saw my magic. I have no doubt that as a mage you spotted something a little odd with it, didn¡¯t you?¡± Kaius asked, looking up from the slowly cooking meal as he fixed Ianmus with a half smile. Ianmus paused, returning the young delver¡¯s smile with a weak one of his own. He¡¯d hoped that Kaius wouldn¡¯t have noticed his awareness, but of course he had. He still couldn¡¯t make heads or tails of it. It wasn¡¯t a simple metamagic, not even one of inordinate power. There were skills that could reduce channeling and focus requirements, but nothing he could think of that would reduce it to imperceptible levels. Beyond that, he would still have seen some trace of the man directing his mana. There hadn¡¯t been any. One moment, nothing. The next, a flash of arcane brilliance and Kaius had been holding a writhing bolt of storm mana. It flew in the face of everything he had learned. He gave Kaius a still nod. ¡°Good man, being honest. Look, that is another thing that will get out eventually, but I would have kept under wraps for now. However, since you have already seen it, I would make use of a skill. I¡¯d appreciate it if you kept what you saw to yourself.¡± Kaius said with a look, one mirrored by his beastly companion. What exactly was he playing at? Revealing more secrets. ¡°Of course.¡± Ianmus replied, keeping his face as even as he was able to. ¡°They overwhelmed us, and I was forced to flee. Nearly got me, forcing me to take a Depths portal. Thank the gods that it was only the first layer. I hunkered down, staying near the entrance while I subsisted on beast meat and water from a nearby stream.¡± Kaius continued, leaning over to flip their meal once more, revealing the browned surface of one side of the hunk of meat. Ianmus hissed. ¡°The Depths? How did you survive?¡± ¡°Extremely carefully, and with help.¡± Kaius replied. ¡°Porkchop here,¡± he clapped his bond-brother on the shoulder. ¡°Fell afoul of the same swarm, and by sheer dumb luck took the same portal that I did. Both of us were close to class selection, and capable. Managed to work our way through the biome, locating a few Champions that we skirted around, and found the Guardian. Thankfully, our selections were only a few weeks apart. Once we had our class and bloodline, we cut down some Champions to gain a few levels, then took on the Guardian.¡± Ianmus¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°And you stayed together after?¡± Porkchop leaned in. ¡°Tell me, elfling, what do you know of the stories of your people?¡± he asked, causing the magi to whip his head to his bond-brother in shock. ¡°I...I know them all, was raised to the Quiet Ways.¡± he stammered, clearly not expecting to be addressed. Kaius raised his eyebrows at that. ¡®Quiet Ways¡¯. He¡¯d have to ask Porkchop about them later, some sort of elvish tradition, no doubt. Porkchop grinned, revealing his teeth. Ianmus paled. ¡°Then you will know of the Trial of Unity. The story of Grandfather and Orrin.¡± Porkchop said. Somehow, Ianmus paled even further, looking more like a day old corpse than a man. His eyes flicked between Porkchop and Kaius, over and over. ¡°Impossible...¡± he whispered. ¡°We grew close in those dark depths, elfling. Tell me, is it so strange for bonded companions to travel together? For my brother to show me the lands I wondered on for so long?¡± Porkchop spoke imperiously, with far more force than Kaius had heard him use before. It seemed, whatever the histories his people had with the elves, there was a clear hierarchy that Porkchop knew well. Ianmus froze. A moment later he clenched his fist and slammed it into his heart, before he bowed - as much as he could from his seated position at least. ¡°I will uphold the rite of Silence.¡± the half-elf said sincerely, his tone solemn. Well, it seemed that Porkchop had been right, the mage had been easy to sway. The blatant veneration on his face was clear. No matter the struggles he had faced as a half cast, his elven parentage still ran strong. The mage straightened, looking at him with new found respect. Kaius grinned, now was the time to cinch it. Unbuckling his vambrace, he let the heavy scale armour fall to the grass with a clank. Baring his arm, he twisted it, to show off the jagged runes that wrapped around his lower forearm and fingers as arcing lines of script splayed out from his central glyph. He watched Ianmus hone in on his hand, staring at his formation with curiosity. ¡°This is what''s behind the oddity of my magic. A third Way.¡± he said. The mage''s eyes snapped to his own. ¡°Truly?¡± Kaius nodded. ¡°The life''s work of my mother, put into practice. She passed just over a year ago, hence the trip to extended family. I plan on keeping it to myself, for now. No point putting myself at risk. Yet it will also be impossible to keep secret for any impressive length of time. You spotted the oddity of my casting immediately. My hope is that I can secure enough power and backing for myself and Porkchop before those secrets escape.¡± Ianmus leaned in. ¡°And what of when it does? You must have some sort of hybrid class, correct? No foundational knowledge skills?¡± ¡°Aaaaand you have him.¡± Porkchop snorted. He grinned, showing the half-elf his teeth. ¡°Well, then I''ll need the assistance of someone I trust to help me develop it into a full Art.¡± Ianmus froze, want and desire plain on his face. ¡°Well...as an academy trained magi, I would be happy to assist when the time is right. It would only be fair to give something back to my saviour, afterall.¡± Kaius laughed, clapping his hands in delight. No doubt the half-elf knew it was a bid for his silence, but it had worked all the same - and he did have need of an academic. ¡°Good! Then let us eat. We still have enough daylight to get a few leagues closer to Deadacre. Hopefully there will be another good fight before we get there.¡± he said, deactivating his artefact pan and fetching a knife to cut slices from the now finished slab of meat that sat at its centre. B2 Chapter 147: Welcome Challenge B2 Chapter 147: Welcome Challenge With a new companion in tow, they crossed the frontier. As they crossed the rolling, rock-studded, hills that made up the lowlands of the distant mountains, Kaius found that the terror birds had become...something of a local nuisance. While they were rare before, whatever change had occurred during the second phase had caused them to proliferate like wildfire. Some local animal, catalysed by their awakenings, no doubt. Regardless of the reason, they were a plague, and one that accosted them in packs multiple times per day. At the very least, it kept their supplies rich with their hearty meat. That, and they were as much of a distraction from the monotony of overland travel as Kaius could hope for. Yet, even with all the constant battle, their leveling slowed to a crawl. Now close to the bird''s own level, they received no bonus experience, and what they did receive was reduced and split with their new mage companion. Even after what felt like a dozen or more packs, they¡¯d only managed to grow to level seventeen. Thankfully, their skills were less impacted, and Kaius had seen a smattering of growth across the board. Especially for his Latent Glyph of Drakthar, which still lagged behind the others, which had grown to level fifteen. Even Lesser Regeneration had grown some. Weak they might have been, the birds packed a hard punch, and with their swarming tactics it was inevitable that he accumulated enough cracked bones and bruises to push the skill higher. As slow as it felt, Kaius knew that three levels in as many days was still a meteoric pace. Most grew far slower than that, taking on battles infrequently, and only fighting that which they were sure of surviving. With the overwhelming amount of beasts that now roamed the wilds, it was highly likely that this would become the new norm. For those who adapted, at least. Unfortunately their pace would be impossible to maintain forever, even if they were to fight often against appropriately tough foes. As you grew through the tiers, leveling slowed to a crawl, and finding monsters to fight became harder and harder. Outside of the depths, at least. It was strange, after everything, Kaius expected he would want to avoid that hells damned place for the rest of his life.@@@@ Now, he couldn¡¯t help but miss it. The consistent challenge. The stakes. Somehow, despite the world slowly ending around him, he found himself growing bored. It didn¡¯t help that Porkchop had been growing increasingly more annoyed with how easily they had dealt with challenges. It had gotten so bad, Kaius had taken to guiding them around the groups of the birds he could spot. Him? Avoiding a fight? A travesty. Thankfully, they¡¯d been treated to at least one moment where a large pack of terror birds had descended on a herd of strange horse-like beasts, only to fall to a bone cracking storm of hooves as the entire group had charged them at once. That had been a sight to see. Kaius smiled at the memory of their confused squawks turning to squeals of terror as the birds had realised themselves out matched. Eventually though, they left the lowlands, and entered the grasslands proper. Hills flattened, becoming more irregular, with shallower gradients, as their surroundings became dominated by lush grasses and shrubs that flourished in the moisture provided by regular small streams that wormed their way through the frontier. Every now and then, a small copse of trees jutted out from the landscape, shaded burroughs visible from leagues away - as long as there were no hills to block the view, that is. Those same trees provided shelter and rest for all manner of animals that made their life on the grasslands. Even transformed to beasts, the surroundings still had a sort of natural serenity to them. Even if it was still far more open that Kaius was entirely comfortable with. Thankfully, the nuisance of the terror birds lessened, replaced instead by all manner of grazing creatures, broken up by the odd pack of hunting beasts. Those steered well clear of them, happy to focus on more familiar prey. He could only hope that they would come across a proper fight sometime soon; all this calm was making him restless. Kaius looked over to Ianmus, the half-elf mage busy scanning the horizon for more threats as they walked up a slow and gentle incline. Even if the man knew that he had the skills to pick up on any ambush attempts, it seemed that Ianmus¡¯s brush with his own mortality had left its mark. While Kaius wouldn¡¯t exactly call him skittish, he definitely had an air of discomfort about him. Though, even with only a few days having passed, it seemed the trauma of nearly getting run down by a pack of overgrown chickens was starting to fade. They hadn¡¯t exactly gotten close, but they had talked. The man had some interesting insights into the nature of the phase change. Apparently, while it was almost certain that the rising mana levels and proliferation of beasts would lead to the wilds becoming all but certain death to anyone who wasn¡¯t a seasoned and strong combatant, or under the guard by such types, it wouldn¡¯t lead to everything leveling endlessly until civilisation succumbed to an endless wave of high tier beasts. Something to do with ¡®natural variation in racial strength and bloodline purity¡¯ as Ianmus had put it. Or, much more simply, beasts could only grow so much before they started to stall, dependent on their species and bloodline. Some rare few would leap the dragon¡¯s gate to evolve further in a new form, but nowhere near most. It was something he had known of in vague terms, but it was nice to see someone confident that it would still apply in these desperate times. Kaius still wasn¡¯t sure what to make of the man. He was competent, that was certain. Perhaps not in the same league as he and Porkchop, but that would be an unreasonable expectation. Still, he had skills, aptitude, and a razor sharp mind. Those Sunbeams of his were viciously potent - sure, they left small wounds that were easy to heal, but the man was still low level. Along with his strengthening buff that invigorated and toughened the half-elf¡¯s allies, he had proven himself useful. If that wasn¡¯t enough, the man kept a cool head in battle, and had managed to pull off a raw casted healing spell using his solar affinity. Not quite as fast as a dedicated spell, but it had considerably boosted Porkchop¡¯s Health regeneration after he had gotten mobbed by a dozen terror birds. Ianmus kept walking for a moment, adjusting his course before his head whipped over to meet his gaze as the magi realised that they hadn¡¯t changed direction to match. He returned their look, expression quizzical, before understanding dawned. The mage looked back to the irontusk, before returning to meet his eyes. ¡°No. You can¡¯t be serious!¡± he asked, jaw flapping open. ¡°Why would we not? That¡¯s the first proper bloody fight we¡¯ve seen in days?¡± Kaius asked, blinking in genuine confusion. Ianmus spluttered. ¡°It¡¯s level forty-nine? And the size of a small cottage?¡± he tried. Porkchop tilted his head. ¡°Exactly?¡± ¡°You...might die?¡± Ianmus pleaded. ¡°That''s how fighting works?¡± Kaius responded. Smacking himself on the forehead, Ianmus groaned, before he pinched the bridge of his nose. ¡°In what realm do you have a chance against a level forty-nine? You have to be pulling some kind of joke here.¡± the magi asked, on the verge of pleading with them. Kaius didn¡¯t get it. That was roughly the same level gap they had had with the Guardian, and this was a common beast and they had classes now. Well, that was a bit of a lie, he did suppose that Ianmus knew none of that. It was still fun messing with him, just a bit. ¡°...This one? It¡¯ll be tough, but that''s the sort of fight that could push us to our second skill in one fell swoop!¡± Porkchop attempted to explain, following his lead. Ianmus looked between the two of them, his eyes wide with disbelieving horror. ¡°By the gods you¡¯re actually serious. Are the two of you insane?! I know you are strong, and must have good classes, but this is plain idiocy.¡± Kaius frowned. ¡°It¡¯s not.¡± Ianmus started to talk, but he cut the man off with a raise of his hand. ¡°Look, if I don¡¯t fight something more challenging than a drunk toddler, I''m going to go insane with boredom. Irontusks are tough, and hit hard, but they are pretty slow, and have shit senses. I promise you, we will be fine, it¡¯s not like you need to join if you don¡¯t want to.¡± Kaius said, his tone resolute. Teasing or not, he was serious about needing a good fight. Ianmus huffed, narrowing his eyes. ¡°Can you swear that this is not some bravado fueled cockup that will get us all killed? Are you genuinely sure you can take down something that far above you?¡± Kaius smiled. ¡°Without a scratch? Absolutely not. Without losing any more fingers? Absolutely.¡± The half-elf groaned. ¡°You¡¯re going to do this no matter what perfectly rational reason I give to avoid the damn thing, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± Both he and Porkchop replied in unison. No way were either of them going to skip out on a fight that juicy. Ianmus rolled his eyes. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll try to keep it blinded.¡± Kaius grinned, feeling the heat of his blood pulsing with wild abandon in his veins. ¡°Fantastic.¡± B2 Chapter 148: Testing Gains Pt. 1 B2 Chapter 148: Testing Gains Pt. 1 Kaius stood in his saddle, absorbing the shock of Porkchop¡¯s bounding leaps by crouching slightly with every impact. His eyes were trained firmly on the irontusk, watching and waiting for the moment it would notice them with its dulled senses. Explosive anticipation thrummed within him, every single one of his muscles held in delicious tension. He could taste it. The blood that would soon be in the air. Porkchop charged silently, though Kaius could feel he yearned to release his bloodlust with a cracking roar and a snarl of gnashing teeth. After having decided on their course of action, they had set off for their target. It was painful at first, the irontusk too far for them to race into an immediate charge, and Ianmus too slow for them to even jog. Instead he¡¯d watched it lumber across the grasslands, lowering its head to tear through foliage as it ate its fill. After so many stories of their strength and fortitude, he was eager to test his blade against them. Sure, in the grand scheme of things, they were little but gnats against the true powers of the world, but the irontusks were one of the greatest ¡®threats¡¯ on the plains. Stout of frame, even meagre levels were enough to give them crushing power, and it wasn¡¯t like the average traveller of the frontier was a high levelled delver. After descending the hill, Kaius had dismounted for a moment, his brother aiding him with charging his vambraces. While the energy would bleed quickly, he hoped that by the time they were thrust into glorious battle it would only take a single block, or maybe two, for him to tap into the artifact''s stored devastation. That had been a fun one to explain to their half-elven solar mage, though the man understood as soon as they had. They¡¯d left him a little behind. Close enough the battle would still be in range of his spells, but more than far enough that he would be well clear of any wayward blows. Ahead of him, the irontusk tensed, its massive head twitching as its small eyes locked on their rapidly approaching forms. Gods, it was big, easily as massive as the Siege Ogre had been, though far less tall. A stout neck as thick as Porkchop¡¯s waist held up its head just fine, even with the impressive weight of its curved metal tusks weighing it down. Kaius focused, bringing up its status once more. Irontusk Vagrant - Level 49: Beast, Brawler Singing joy harmonised with the resonance in his blood and mana, filling him with fervent energy as a wicked twinkle alighted in his eyes. Below him, a deep rumble started in Porkchop¡¯s belly, the start of a rattling growl. The irontusk shook itself, bucking its head in a challenge as it worked up its fury with a pair of stomps that shuddered the very ground. It bellowed, a deep bassy call that shook the plains and sent birds flying to the sky in fright. Kaius howled, his voice tearing at his throat as he relished in the sight of a challenge. A true foe that would test his mettle once more. It had been too long, too many days without the sweet succour of pouring sweat and leaden limbs. Too long since he had felt bones break and blood spill. His own, or his enemies, it mattered not. Only that he was tested. Only that he could prove himself the victor, champion by right of arms. Primal aggression and the simple heated fury of challenged supremacy flooded his bond, his brother¡¯s own Song alighting in unison with his own. Porkchop¡¯s roar was a thing of beauty, drowning his surroundings in a ringing crack that one felt in the heart. **Ding! Brotherhood of Ichor and Animus has reached level 38!**. The irontusk charged, thick muscle rippling beneath its shaggy brown coat as it lowered its head. It reached speed quickly, no matter its size and weight, simple power overcame all restrictions. Feeling his pulse spike, Kaius leaned in as his brother kept his course. No challenge so simple, so direct, would sway their path. He had faith. In their might. In Porkchop¡¯s armour. In their stalwart fearlessness. Then the vigour and warmth of the sun sunk into them, suffusing them both with unrivalled potency. Infusing them with an energy that only heightened his need to tear into the titan that dared stand in their path. **Ding! You have been Enhanced - Sundrenched Strength!**@@@@ He unsheathed his sword. The irontusk drew close. Kaius launched himself from the saddle, kicking off his brother''s back to launch a full ten strides into the air. Porkchop raced forward unhindered, teeth bared as he tapped into his amulet. Ianmus, perfectly timed to distract it. Porkchop howled in fury, ripping himself from the beast''s tusks as he spun - undeterred by his wounds - and gouged the irontusk¡¯s face for its impudence. Kaius grinned, planting one foot solidly to kick off the still quaking ground. Launching to the beast''s side, he pivoted on his front foot and twisted his hips to drive his blade home into its chest with every scrap of power he had available. Forceful enough that he slid back through the dirt as the hilt of his sword pressed against its thick hide. Lifting its head to the sky, the irontusk bellowed. The sound was baleful, penetrating deep into his chest. Kaius danced back, ripping his blade free as it wheeled on him, shaking its head in insensate frustration and rage. Mana glowed in its chest. He retreated, creating the distance he needed to react to the oncoming skill as Uncanny Dodge blared a warning in his mind. Another bolt of lightning crackled in his fist, lashing the bubbled and blackened flesh of the beast once more as he attempted to disrupt the working. **Ding! Resonance Amplification has reached level 26!**. As tough as it was, it maintained its hold on its ability, paralysing storm mana causing little more than a momentary spasm. It seemed that the dazing strike of his spells was not guaranteed to be consistent - frustrating, considering its usefulness. Thankfully, his brother was beset by far less compunction. Diving into the fray, Porkchop lashed out with green claws, gouts of flesh torn from the beast''s side to reveal the thick wall of its ribs. Ignoring Porkchop¡¯s attempts, the irontusk continued to channel. A moment later, mana flashed, pulsing with steely brilliance as it flooded its tusks. It dipped its head, points of its curved tusks catching on the dirt. Earth soared through the air as it bucked, showering the surroundings in dust and arcane brilliance. Two thin metal blades materialised, racing through the air as they spun end over end on a terminal path towards him. A second skill. A terrible scream of churned air followed their arc; gods they were fast. Glee coursed through Kaius, even as he slipped to the side, dodging one with skill enhanced agility. He raised his blade, ready for its twin. He¡¯d missed this. The simple rush. Planting his foot as he stepped as far out of the path of the attack, he rolled his shoulders and slammed his blade into it hard. An unearthly screech filled the air as he smashed his blade into the whirling projectile. Even tensed and ready for the collision, Kaius felt every joint in his body creak, bones jolting from the sheer force of the impact. His grip stayed steady, even missing two fingers, it would take more than a simple skill to overwhelm him. Sparks showered him like a spring storm, an echoing crack accompanying the spinning blade as he redirected it, sending it careening off to the side. A subtle click pulsed as a small fraction of the collision was drained and collected. **Ding! Tempered By Dissonance has reached level 27!**. His Vharcossian Vambraces. Full once more. Smashing his brother aside, the beast turned its head to look at him with what could only be described as shock. Kaius grinned, bearing his aggression plain on his face. It hadn¡¯t expected him to survive that. He could smell it. The growing uncertainty. Once lord over all on the plains, the irontusk was no longer sure of its own victory. Kaius intended to show it how right it was. B2 Chapter 149: Testing Gains Finale. B2 Chapter 149: Testing Gains Finale. The irontusk taking its eyes off his brother to stare at him with wariness proved to be folly. Insistent on keeping as much of the beast''s attention on him as possible, Porkchop plunged his claws into the irontusk¡¯s shoulder, tearing a chunk out of its hide. A loud rumbling cry echoed across the plains as it screamed in pain and frustration, whipping its head to batter his brother with its tusks, forcing Porkchop back. Unfortunately for it, his brother¡¯s armor protected him from the majority of the blow - new stone charger leather padding absorbing the impact handedly. Ceaseless in his rampage, Porkchop lunged back in, knife-like claws leaving parallel lines weeping red in their wake as he dragged them across its face. Then another Sunbeam scoured its eye, recently regenerated flesh boiling once more as concentrated light popped the delicate organ. The irontusk screamed, shaking back and forth as it sought to drive Porkchop back. Despite the constant harassment, Kaius knew in his bones that it had identified him as the true threat. Pushing through its agony, its remaining eye swiveled back to him again, black and beady. The motion was constant - forced to pick between the mountainous beast in its face, and the ever present threat of his lightning. It was a tragic sight, scorched, torn, and soaked in its own blood. Blackened and bubbled flesh made all the more grotesque by the writhing power of its health that raced to seal its wounds. Still it stood strong, ready to meet their challenge. A mountain of weight heaved, the irontusk¡¯s musculature rippling as it lurched towards him. Kaius readied himself, the scent of future danger filling the air as he waited for the creature''s coming move. Its first foot smacked the ground. Doom screamed, and the ground shook, bucking underneath his feet like a raging bull. Kaius blanched, struggling to keep his footing. It didn¡¯t stop him tapping into his glyph. Baleful orange showered the ground in burning light as two spell-hymns burned in quick succession. Thunder drowned out the irontusk¡¯s constant call, lightning lashing the beast once, then twice - as fast as he could move through the motion. The irontusk stayed steady, somehow unaffected by the shifting ground. Nor did it do much more than twitch in the face of his magical storm, even if he was sure that he had wrought havoc on its delicate internals. It dropped its head, levelling its tusks, and bucked. The metallic ivory of its natural weapons transmuted into spikes of true iron in an instant, lengthening into lethal spears. The beast''s tusks glinted in the sun as they lanced towards him. A third skill, right on the back of its ability that shook the earth - and another where he had seen no accompanying flare of mana. Kaius tried to dig his feet in, to twist his body and dive to the side. The ground dropped away, leaving him flailing. Backed by insensate fury and primal strength, the beast''s right tusk hit him in his armoured stomach. Enchanted scale screeched with fury. Steel gave way before iron, buckling. Lancing fire exploded through him, followed quickly by the creeping cold of shock as blood gushed from the ravaged channel of flesh and organs. Agony bloomed. Rapid Adaptation reacted quickly to the stenching presence of iron-aspected power, rejecting its presence and flaring with power as it sought to rebuff the assault. **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has added a new Resistance: Iron Magic!** **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has reached level 23!**. ... **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has reached level 25!**. ¡°Thank the gods,¡± he thought, shoving the pain down as he kicked back to unimpale himself. Another resistance to aspected abilities, one that would toughen him against all such wounds in the future. The effect was slight beyond measure right now, but in the future it would grow into a significant boon. That was for later, though. Right now he still had a tooth in his gut. The irontusk heaved, ripping its head upwards before more than half a stride of its tusk had retracted from his chest. Kaius tried to gasp, failing as the wound left him floundering, unable to pull in air. The hook of the creature''s malevolent tooth snatched his rib. The bone held, and he left the ground as he was sent ragdolling through the air. Kaius whipped his head around as he tumbled, vision sharpening as he tracked his trajectory, every sight available to him in crystal clarity. **Ding! True Sight has reached level 30!** He watched his brother howl, incessant rage flooding the bond as he hit the undefended side of the irontusk in a windmill of tearing claws and slicing teeth. Kaius kept spinning, taking in the look of horror on Ianmus¡¯s face, so far from the front lines of the battle. Their latest companion had already reacted, a cloud of Solar magic condensing around his head as the man worked the raw potential of the energy. Health bloomed, igniting like a match in a grain mill as restorative energy tore through him. Flesh writhed, sealing blood vessels and reknitting skin and muscle alike. Between his growing Vitality and his Lesser Regeneration, the blow was little more than a flesh wound. He could have survived it half a year ago. Now, it would barely slow him. **Ding! Lesser Regeneration has reached level 23!** ... **Ding! Lesser Regeneration has reached level 24!** The ground approached. Kaius kicked, gasping as he took another sweet breath and forced his body to twist. Landing in a crouch, he charged the irontusk, already fully focused on the ceaseless assault his brother laid against it. He watched its wounds, the way they writhed, sealing themselves. They had ravaged the beast continuously, and while it was still slowly flagging, it was regenerating enough that it was in no way weakened. Another cut on its chest was all he managed before it returned from its stunned haze, and bore down on him as the originator of its agony. Crying out, the irontusk threw its head sideways, an iron bar of a tooth careening straight for him. It was all he could do to grab his blade in both hands and throw his full weight into the inevitable collision. Enhanced steel cut deep into the iron-laced ivory, binding. It mattered little. Backed by a mountain of weight and a titan¡¯s strength, it was all he could do to hold onto his blade as it jumped in his hand. His offhand slipped, missing fingers weakening his grip before he went skidding backwards. Every muscle in his back and arms burned with strain as he forced himself to stay standing. **Ding! Tempered by Dissonance has reached level 28!** Kaius gave ground, trying to let the beast bring as little of its size and strength to bear in a direct contest of arms. It mattered nought. The irontusk took a step, then another, hammering his guard with repeated smashes. Yet, despite the terrifying onslaught, Kaius could do nothing but grin. It was flagging - weakening by the moment. At the start of the fight he would have stood no chance in the face of its mauling strikes - no chance of blocking its heavy blows. The fact he stood blade in hand, deflecting its strikes, said everything. A Sunbeam cracked through the air, burrowing into the beast''s eye once again. The beast ignored the wound, pushing on. It pulled back for another heave. Kaius moved, yanking on A Father¡¯s Gift to free his blade from the bind, twisting his wrists to lever it out. The irontusk bucked its head, lancing its tusks towards him. Empowered by Uncanny Dodge and Tempered By Dissonance, he dove under the lethal blow, pushing off the ground with his hand to spin into a roll with blurring speed as he contorted himself out of the way of a furious stomp. **Ding! Uncanny Dodge has reached level 26!** Launching to his feet, he raced to his brother. Knowledge and intent streamed across their bond. Ignoring the blade still wedged into his chest, Porkchop let out a baleful growl and stretched out a paw. Kaius stepped up onto the offered limb and kicked off, his brother heaving to send him sailing through the air. He twisted, seeing the irontusk quickly turning to search for him. It didn¡¯t look up. Landing on its back, Kaius used the full momentum of his descent to drive his sword in between the ribs of its back, piercing the Lord of the Plain¡¯s lung. The stinging kick of the impact only heightened the visceral rush that coursed up his spine. It tried to buck, with its leg shattered and its life streaming from a dozen rents in its flesh, the irontusk¡¯s resistance was a pathetic thing. Oh gods, he had missed this. The smell of iron on the air, sticky blood coating his skin, the thumping of his heart, and the sheer certainty that he was alive. Effort alone would see them through this, effort alone would make them the victor. Undefeated ruler of the plains it may have been, but the irontusk had met its match. To it, they were the hardest challenge it had faced, having grown fat on green leaves and knowledge that nothing else met its size or level. To him, it was another step on his path to supremacy, and little else. A gasping wheeze rattled from its throat, bloody foam erupting from its mouth. He kicked off, ripping his blade free to land lightly on the ground. Then Porkchop dove in, tearing a chunk out of its throat. Blood fountained, drenching his brother for the few moments before the flow started to stem. Explorer¡¯s Toolkit twinged. An opening. One that could end the battle here and now. Kaius sprinted, pommel held tucked into the pit of his arm. Even with its flesh writhing as wounds were sealed, even with its monumental Endurance and stout body, the beast could not keep up with the overwhelming damage they were laying against it. Blood streamed from a dozen pits in its chest, torn free by digging claws stained a deep red. Boiled and seared flesh wept, belying a dozen more serious internal wounds. It was flagging. Kaius could taste its death on the wind, the subtle potency of victory. It would be theirs. Reacting on skill enhanced instinct, he readjusted his grip on his sword, holding it in his dominant. He approached his target. Kicking off the ground, he flew into a spin. Thrusting out his left hand, he tapped into the stored violence of his glyph. Lightning cocooned him, before cracking out to bind the irontusk once more. Blurring steel quickly followed, a flashing arc of silver poised directly to cut into its neck. He activated his vambrace. Kept charged by being forced to constantly defend from the beast¡¯s onslaught, he¡¯d been saving it for the right moment. Stored power took over. Fuelled by the might of dozens of blows, the fine edge of his blade hit the top of the irontusk¡¯s neck like a headsman''s axe. Hardened flesh parted like wheat, bone splintering like deadwood, and blood poured like raging falls. When the might of his enchantment was spent - exhausted in the effort of breaking the creature''s toughened spine - his weight took over. Honed steel severed the thick corded bundle hidden within its spine, and carved through half a stride of flesh beneath. Spine severed, it collapsed, head flopping to the side on a half a neck of unanchored flesh and gristle. The winds of death rattled from its exposed throat, a final exhalation as its vitality anointed him in the sweet red of victory. His feet touched the ground. **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo has reached level 27!** **Ding! level 49 Irontusk Vagrant slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 18!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** ... **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 22!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** **Ding! Class skill available for selection!** Kaius howled his victory to the air, his brother¡¯s roar mirroring his own. B2 Chapter 150: Acquisitions B2 Chapter 150: Acquisitions Kaius hooted in delight as he saw the notification that his next class skill was available for selection. It amplified the rush, the slowly retreating joy that he always felt as he proved himself the superior fighter and was rewarded for it. Unfortunately, he¡¯d have to wait a little before he checked what options he had available. There were more important things to deal with first. Like the blade that was still stuck in Porkchop¡¯s chest. A volatile construction of system-borne magic, it would fade with time - but it still had to hurt like hell. He turned, eyes sliding over the shredded and torn ground coated in the lifeblood of the irontusk to focus on Porkchop limping towards him. His jade armour vanished in a puff of aspected mana, revealing the handspan of iron that protruded roughly from his brother¡¯s chest. Red blood ran down its edge in slow rivulets, dripping from its point. ¡°Shit, buddy, that must hurt.¡± he winced in sympathy, racing to Porkchop¡¯s side. ¡°No? You think? I thought that was ticklish.¡± Porkchop deadpanned, his breathing shallow so as not to disturb the blade. Kaius rolled his eyes, slapping both palms on either flat edge of the hiltless weapon as he planted one foot on Porkchop¡¯s chest. He heaved back. Porkchop groaned as the blade came out slowly, blood momentarily gushing before his Health could heal the wound. Pulling it free was harder than Kaius expected, it must have gotten lodged in his brother¡¯s ribs. ¡°Thanks. That¡¯s much better.¡± Porkchop said with plain relief, rubbing the rent in his under-armour with one paw. Kaius saw the holes. Both from the skill, and the ragged circular punch that had been taken out due to getting gored by the irontusk. Without self-repair, they would stay until they were able to get the artefact inscribed with that enchantment, or took it to a leatherworking artisan with the right skills. Thankfully, due to some reason unknown to him, even if they added the enchantment after the damage, it would still repair. To a point; they¡¯d have to be careful on the rest of their trip. ¡°I know you¡¯ve got your fancy armour now, but you should still at least try to avoid hits.¡± Kaius reproached. He hadn¡¯t missed that Porkchop had practically thrown himself at every blow he could. Porkchop had the sense to look abashed. ¡°I mean... I guess, but its the only way I''m going to get my skill up.¡± Kaius shook his head. It was a reason, he supposed. He looked at the slain Irontusk, its head half removed. Somehow, it looked almost bigger than when it was living. Even limp and cooling, splayed out on the ground, it still had the height advantage on him. He almost couldn¡¯t believe they¡¯d really done it. ¡°You know, this is kind of the first fight where I¡¯m realising how much we¡¯ve grown. Sure, we decimated everything on our way here, but those fights all felt like something we could have managed while we were still in the depths. Even if only just.¡± Porkchop said, wandering over to his side. ¡°I know what you mean. If I''m honest, it still felt too easy.¡± Kaius murmured. It was one thing to know that they were far above their contemporaries, between his bondskill enhancing his base, his racial trait, Heroic class, and Honours. It was entirely another to slay a beast more than twice his level with relative ease, one that outweighed him a dozen times over at least. Still, the feat had brought its own rewards, even if it still felt weird that there would be no artefacts waiting for them after such a magnificent fight. ¡°I assume that you¡¯re ready to pick your next skill?¡± he asked, turning back to Porkchop. ¡°I am,¡± Porkchop replied. ¡°But perhaps we should deal with Ianmus first, he looks a little frantic.¡± his brother nodded behind him. Kaius turned, before letting out a chuckle as he saw the half-elf solar mage tearing his way across the plains, practically skipping in his haste as the saddle bags they had left with him thumped against his back. His eyes were wide, expression twisted as it was caught somewhere between shock and excitement. Seeing them looking, Ianmus thrust his staff in the air and let out a whoop of delight, running faster. A moment later he skidded to a halt in front of them, practically fizzing with delight. ¡°Holy gods, that was incredible! I have never seen anything like it! A beast twice out level...and you just fought it! I thought you would whittle it down, relying on your superior agility to hamper it as you slowly bled it of health, but nope! You just went right at its face! That was so fucking stupid, I love it!¡± The mage said, practically tripping over his words as they blurred together like he was physically incapable of keeping them in. ¡°Do you always fight like that?¡± Ianmus asked, taking a moment to breathe. ¡°I got two bloody levels, all the way to level twenty-nine! Just like that!¡± Kaius laughed, joined by his brother¡¯s throaty chuckle. ¡°Pretty much, though usually we¡¯re a bit more careful than that. We got a little...lost in the thrill of it, after so long without a good fight.¡± Ianmus nodded emphatically. ¡°I can see why, even halfway across the field I felt like my heart was going to burst out of my chest, and the heat! Never have I felt the Song so keenly.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll make a Delver of you yet.¡± Porkchop chuffed. Kaius smiled, before he crouched down and cleaned his blade on the grass at his feet, streaks of red smearing over the glossy green. A bit odd, considering he was soaked to the bone in blood, but he didn¡¯t want to gunk up his sheath. ¡°What about the two of you, did you reach your goal?¡± Ianmus asked. Kaius returned to his feet as he smoothly sheathed his sword. ¡°We did, shot all the way to twenty-two.¡± Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. ¡°And you haven¡¯t picked yet? What are you waiting for?¡± Ianmus asked, puzzled. Glyphic mastery, bent to solidify the first and most primal bond, that between a man and his weapon. Feed the link, enshrine your blade in your centre, and let the truth of Vesryn bloom. This skill links the user with their bonded blade, passively increasing the potency of the weapon''s enchantments, as well as active abilities that directly interface with their weapon. This link allows the user to sense their blade from a distance. Due to a strengthened bond with the soul, enchantments can be drastically empowered for the cost of 100 stamina for a short period of time. Enables the user to reinforce their bonded weapon with relevant materials, effects of reinforcement vary depending on materials used. Each level reasonably increases the strength of active and passive empowerment of enchantments. Each level reasonably increases passive empowerment of abilities that utilise the bonded weapon. Each level slightly increases the time of active empowerment. ... Flowing Fortress: Class Skill - Tier I Affinity: Martial, Force Type: Longsword, Technique, Retributive, Defence Selection Available! Unique The man did nothing but block until they all dropped dead! I¡¯m tellin¡¯ ya, I ain¡¯t going anywhere near him. This skill allows the user to spend 100 stamina when blocking or parrying to create a cutting crescent of intangible force that slices at their foe, proportional in power to the defended attack. Each level significantly increases the strength of summoned force blades. Every 50 levels, increase the size of summoned force blades. Kaius whistled appreciatively, drinking in their effects. While it smarted that none of the skills were Heroic, he was at least pleased that neither were any Unusual. Unfortunately, it meant his decision would need to be made on merit, rather than relying on the simple supremacy of rarity. An attacking skill, a retributive defence, and something...stranger. Hard choices indeed. ¡°Well? What are your options?¡± Porkchop asked, almost as eager and curious as he was. Kaius subvocalized their descriptions. While he had no compunctions of sharing his build with Porkchop, he did not intend to do the same with Ianmus. The man was pleasant, and helpful, but one did not share the deep specifics of their status without a certain level of unshakeable trust. ¡°Hmmm. I like the sound of Echo Slash; past the first tier that will turn into a LOT of attacks.¡± Porkchop said. ¡°I know, but we can also expect it to get more costly as it rises through the tiers. Besides, there''s something about the Bladerite that calls to me. It''s the link I need with my sword to start its growth, even if we only have one material right now.¡± Kaius reasoned. He¡¯d been waiting for something like this, though he suspected that most blade related skills would eventually develop a linking capability as they rose through the tiers, especially as one accrued feats regarding the use of a growth weapon. Yet, why risk it, why wait, when he could start right now? ¡°Really? The active seems a little... lacklustre. So your blade will get a bit sharper, so what?¡± Porkchop replied with apprehension. Kaius grinned, still staring at the description. ¡°That¡¯s only for now. Just think, not only will the skill gain more effects in later tiers, it will also scale with the development of A Father¡¯s Gift. I think it''s the right choice.¡± ¡°I still think Echo Slash sounds way cooler.¡± Porkchop mumbled. ¡°That may be so, but I still think this will be far better in the long term.¡± Kaius chuckled. ¡°Keep an eye out, I¡¯m going to pick.¡± He focused on his choice. **Ding! Initiate¡¯s Glyphic Bladerite Class Skill Available, would you like to proceed? This choice is pivotal and irrevocable.** B2 Chapter 151: Emblem B2 Chapter 151: Emblem Kaius gasped as he chose Initiate¡¯s Glyphic Bladerite, the system''s formless power slipping into the confines of his soul space. His soul shone resplendent in his mind''s eye, even while his physical ones stayed open, drinking in the green fields of the plains. With deific ease, the power that reigned above all weaved a new skill shard out of golden light. A second crystal, orbiting the fires of his soul in lockstep with his first. It was just as aggressive - as prone to battle - as Drakthar, but there were differences. Where his first skill revelled in the heart pumping brutality of the fight, his newest skill was...different. Controlled. It enshrined the honour and mastery that could only be seen in a contest between two equals, one where the very prize was life. It venerated the bond between man and blade. Without man, the blade was aimless. Without blade, the man was defenceless. Together they wrought art, whirling steel painting the canvas of the world with blood and victory. The system bore down, and his skill finalised. As it did, Kaius¡¯s mind throbbed. Information streamed into him, temples pulsing as the system forced knowledge upon him. With it came understanding. He knew then what the skill represented, that he had made the right choice. This was just simply the beginning. The foundations of a partnership that would see him through until he reached the pinnacle, or breathed his last. Two glyphs, one on the palm of his hand and one on the blade of his sword. Wrought from soulfire, they would be inured against mundane destruction. Burnt into the very fundamentals of their being, they would be inexorably linked, permanently deepening the soul bond that already existed. It would not be easy. The glyphs that now shone in his mind were complex, and densely wrought. He would need time to weave them, hours at least. Thankfully, mana would be used as a vehicle, so he would still be able to use TonalWeaving. In trade, the Bladerite was more potent than he would have thought. Overcharging the enchantments on A Father¡¯s Gift looked like it would be effective indeed, even if it currently only had minor sharpness enchantments. Its true capabilities would come to bear as his sword grew, just as he had hoped. Letting out a slow breath, Kaius mopped at the sweat on his brow before he looked over to Porkchop, who was watching him with curiosity. ¡°Well? What¡¯s it like?¡± his brother asked. Kaius chuckled slightly. ¡°I made the right choice, but I will need to forge the glyphs that will bind me to the blade myself. I can do it - the system was thorough - but the work will be delicate to say the least.¡± ¡°Delicate as in ¡®blow your hand up¡¯ delicate?¡± Porkchop asked, narrowing his eyes accusatively. Kaius laughed. ¡°No, not from what I can tell. The glyphs that I have been receiving seem remarkably more stable than my original working. They just dissipate, from what I can tell. Still, I will likely need a few hours. I¡¯ll do it when we set up camp for the evening.¡± Porkchop nodded, before requesting that he watch over him while he surveyed his own choices. Watching his brother focus on his notifications, Kaius stretched and pushed himself to his feet. Rolling his shoulder, he turned. Ianmus was waiting, patiently standing to the side while he finished his work. ¡°Sorry about that, I appreciate that right after a battle isn¡¯t the most convenient time for us to pick our skills.¡± he said, scratching his head before grimacing at the blood that matted his hair. Ianmus stifled a laugh at his reaction, politely saying nothing of his gorey state. ¡°Think nothing of it. Skill selection is an exciting time, and I would not be one to stand in the way of development.¡± the half-elf paused, before looking at him curiously. ¡°Did you get anything good?¡± Kaius nodded emphatically, his satisfaction plain on his face. ¡°Oh yes, though somewhat annoyingly it will need a bit of setup first. I¡¯ll have to work on it when we make camp.¡± ¡°It¡¯s an odd thing, this style you have discovered. I haven¡¯t seen anything quite like it. Normally only artisan classes have some sort of set up beforehand.¡± Ianmus asked with interest. Their companion, Ianmus, had fallen asleep a good half an hour or so ago. Practically as soon as they had eaten. It had quickly become clear that the academian mage was quite the stranger to hard travel. Oh, he hid it well, pushing through with nary a grimace or complaint. It was still obvious to him. His whole life had been hard travel, and it was easy to pick up on the little nuances. The way the man winced as he took off his boots at the end of the day, even if Health and Stamina would easily deal with such mundane maladies. The way he watched his cooking with naked avarice, as if he was still unable to believe such creature comforts were truly available. Mostly though, it was the way that Ianmus fell asleep almost as soon as his head hit his bedroll. He knew the man was combat trained, that much was clear, but there was something wearying about cross country travel that went deeper than stats and resources. It ground down at you, polished your resolve. It led to the kind of sleep that was difficult to wake from, to the point that he and Porkchop had taken to spending extra long on breakfasts just to give the man an extra hour. That, and it was hard to turn down an excuse for a fried breakfast. Especially when they had a spatial bloody bag that kept them full of fresh supplies. No doubt Ianmus had noticed something odd, but the man was wise enough to not question the source of fresh cheese and eggs. Still, Ianmus¡¯s heavy sleep was a nice benefit right now. It meant he could work on his latest glyph in peace. It was surprising to find out that they extended beyond anchoring spell-hymns to the body, but he supposed he shouldn¡¯t be too shocked. Free casting and sorcery both had niche skills and effects that fell under their ¡®umbrella¡¯ so it made sense that the third pillar had the same. Kaius leaned back into his brother, staring at the stars above. It gladdened him, to see the same twinkling lights above him as he did in the sea. A little slice of home, that would be with him no matter where he traveled. Regardless if it was in an open field, or a city overflowing with too many people by half, there would always be a familiar sky waiting for him when the sun dipped over the horizon. He sighed. ¡°Musing again?¡± Porkchop asked, leaning into him with a soft rumble. Kaius smiled, still watching the stars above. ¡°Only a little. It¡¯s just odd, to think that what me and my father spent years on only ended up scratching the surface of an entire art. There¡¯s so much to learn, and even what I receive from the system I barely understand on a true level. More like I am copying them by rote, you know?¡± Porkchop nosed him affectionately. ¡°Isn¡¯t that exciting? It means there is more to conquer, and more to discover. Even if you don¡¯t understand the basic principles right now, it doesn¡¯t mean you never will. You have a skill that will help, you just need to study them. That, and perhaps get some help from someone else who wishes to learn more.¡± his brother finished, looking pointedly at Ianmus. Kaius smiled. ¡°Maybe, it''s a little early to jump to that right now. Perhaps if the man doesn¡¯t run off to the Dukedoms as soon as we get to Deadacre, and there are deeper bonds of true friendship between us, if that ever happens. Still, you are right on the studying front. I¡¯ll need to start that when we get some more permanent accommodations in the city. For now though, I should get these glyphs made.¡± Acceptance flowed across their bond as Porkchop switched his attention to keeping watch. Smiling at his brother in thanks, Kaius reached down next to him for where his sword lay waiting. Drawing the blade, he watched the flickering orange light of the fire glimmer on its surface, before he lay it flat across his lap. It was a beautiful gift, one he had treasured even before he knew of its true value. A shimmering steel blade, waves of darker grey playing across the metal revealing the quality of the artifice that had gone into its creation. Four runes alighted the centre of its length, nestled neatly in the furrow, while its sturdy crossguard and handle was decorated with intricately wrought filigree of life-like flowered vines that he had no name for. He would be adding to the work, emblazoning a glyph at the base of the blade, similar to where one might find a maker''s mark. The skill was an interesting one. While it was a complete glyph, and the system had ingrained him with all the instruction he needed to complete the formation flawlessly, it was almost incomplete. The very act of linking his blade to his body and soul would...change it. Or something similar, he wasn¡¯t quite certain, only that the final shape of the glyph would be personalised. An emblem, representing his very person. Kaius couldn¡¯t wait to see what it looked like. B2 Chapter 152: Emblem finale B2 Chapter 152: Emblem finale Kaius laid his hands on the flat of the blade, feeling the cold chill of the inscribed steel. Breathing deep, he emptied his mind, allowing himself to come to a slow calm. In tune with his senses, he felt the world. Chill steel, the weight of his armour pressing on the familiar softness of his travelling clothes. The sturdy support of his brother against his back, the caressing warmth of a summer¡¯s night wind, the low crackle-pop of the fire, the grit of the dirt worming its way between his pants and boots. All of it. One by one, he noted the distractions, and one by one he let them free to drift across his mind. He centred himself, and his heart slowed. Ready as he ever would be, Kaius let his eyes fall shut and he drifted into his internal world. Fresh from his experience earlier in the day, immortalised like it had been carved from adamant by the system¡¯s will, the shape of his latest glyph came to mind. Both ends of the link were identical, but he knew that he had to start with the one on his body. It was an anchor, and the waypoint his sword would use to connect to him more fully. The conduit through which it would bind itself to his ascension, empowered in lockstep with his own growth. Soul-bonded items were rare things, only whispered about in rumours and legends, but he knew more now. The system had granted context along with its glyph. Material infusion might have been the way A Father¡¯s Gift would increase in rarity, enabled by his glyph to improve both its enchantments and its construction, but it was the link itself that would lead to more fundamental growth. Once bound, truly bound, on a level far more fundamental than the base connection they already had, it would climb through the tiers of power in unison with him. Evolving to new heights in conjunction with his class. Thank the gods he had gotten the skill so early, he would have hated to think of the loss if he had waited for some other skill to evolve a linking functionality. Another slow breath quelled the musings in his mind, and he focussed on bringing the shape of the Bladerite to the forefront. Much like Drakthar it was imposing in its complexity, a three dimensional knot of sacred geometry and half understood formations. Unlike his first glyph, its shape and essence was far less brutal. Where Drakthar was all sharp points and cutting edges, the Bladerite was flowing movement made of smooth curves. It drew the eye to its angles, sweeping the gaze with increasing speed before it would bank into a hairpin turn, morphing into acute lines that would cut across the whole working. If he was honest with himself, he understood sweet fuck-all of how it worked, beyond being able to vaguely identify four separate arrays. One in the centre, with three others overlapping and subsuming it. Still, it was a gorgeous piece of runic work, one that called to mind the flowing grace of swordwork, and the beauty that could be seen in an immaculately executed sequence of moves. Speed in consistency and measured control. Thankfully, he did not need to understand the fundamentals of how the glyph worked to trust that it would. The system was many things, but it was not deceitful. That, and he knew he would have the skill¡¯s own aide in its construction. Sharpening his mind''s eye, he pulled the glyph into focus, until it hovered in the black with as much clarity as if it had been lovingly sculpted from silver wire. Still, with how mind-bendingly complex the working was, it was easy for individual parts of the image to fall out of focus, blurring as he lost track of the individual details in the mash of geometry. Slowly, patiently, he retrained his mind on the problem areas. Sharpening the image over and over, until the glyph held steady in his mind. For anything else, it would have been agonising having to rework the same sections again and again. Thankfully, the Bladerite was a thing of sublime beauty, and he had no problem spending time lavishing every hairsbreadth of its length with his attention. **Ding! True Sight has reached level 31!** ... **Ding! True Sight has reached level 33!** It was time. Grabbing hold of the mana thread with his will, he threaded it across his connection with A Father¡¯s Gift. Without the infusion of his soul it would have been impossible, or so the knowledge gifted to him by the system said. Even with the link it was difficult, fighting him every step of the way He mustered his will; gritting his teeth as he held onto the thread of power that threatened to dissolve into ash at any moment. Somehow, someway, it held. Exiting his body, his mana moved through some...fourth space he had no name for. Almost similar to when he had appeared before Ekum the Pale. The impossible geometry of it all was nearly enough to make him lose his grip, but he held, turning his mind away from the left-down-acrosswards direction his mana moved. Then, it hit his blade. The sacred purity of steel cradled his power, holding it steady as his sword assisted him like the stalwart companion it was. With the essence of his very being enshrined in his blade, he could feel...something. A nascent seed, waiting. Ready to bloom, if just given sun, water, and time. Understanding rose within him. The Bladerite would nurture this seed, and their tied ascension would nourish it, but what it would really need was familiarity and the vital water of his enemies to sprout in truth. A smile tugged at his lips, joy welling within him despite his focus. He couldn¡¯t wait to see what it would become. Another breath steadied him, and bit by bit he wove a twinned glyph on his blade, matching the one on his palm. It was smaller, just large enough to cover the fuller of his blade starting a thumbwidth above its hilt. That only made weaving the glyph all the more complex, every twisting curve and fine line requiring an even defter touch than what he had done on his palm. Worse, the internal structure of his blade was far different from the flesh of his body and the natural whorls of the mana that suffused him. Oh, it conducted and held his thread of power just fine, but the specifics were radically different. Where he expected to have to force the thread, it flowed with the utmost ease, forcing him to reign in his will before he overshot a line or ruined an angle. Where he expected his mana to conduct, it stuttered, forcing him to bear down with the entirety of his being to keep the formation stable when he encountered surprising resistance. His progress slowed to a crawl, but bit by bit the Bladerite came together. Until finally it was done. The glyph on his blade snapped into place. Kaius barely had a moment to breathe before his soul bloomed, the fires of self raging into a torrent. Power surged, widening the tenuous link he held with his blade. A Father¡¯s Gift came into new focus; he became as aware of it as he was of his own hand. Though he heard no mundane sound, his blade seemed to cry with the most primal of delights. Such was its exuberance that he half expected it to quake in joy and bounce off his legs. As power suffused both of his glyphs, they started to change. Morphing. No longer an abstract representation of the link between man and blade, they became a sigil. One that represented his union. Sacred fire burned his flesh, lines warping as they shifted with impunity. His throat spasmed, tendons raging against his skin as he clenched his jaw in a desperate attempt to stop a scream. Air hissed out, noise drowned in the thudding rush of blood in his ears. Then, as fast as it started, it was over. A wave of weakness washed over him, and Kaius fell limp, flopping against the sturdy warmth of his brother¡¯s side. Porkchop curled around him, holding him steady, but saying nothing. Lolling his head back, Kaius stared upwards at the twinkling tapestry of the night sky. Unbound once more from the iron claws of his will, an idle thought drifted across his mind as he took in their milky radiance. It was beautiful to be under the stars once more. As his breathing slowed he brought his hand up, taking in the new shape of the Bladerite glyph. His personal sigil. A blade, hanging beneath a sun. Ready to cut. B2 Chapter 153: Absorption B2 Chapter 153: Absorption Kaius breathed deep, clenching his fist and concealing the new sigil that was splayed across his palm. Sitting up from his brother''s side, he grasped A Father¡¯s Gift by the hilt and lifted it up. Firelight danced across its surface, shimmering like oil across the waves of darkened metal that were impressed into the steel. It was a strange sense, the one he had of his blade. Almost similar to his bond with Porkchop, but different in nature. Afterall, his blade was no living thing. Still, he could feel the link empowering the blade. If it had been sharp and durable before, now he could tell it would be sharp enough to shave with. Reaching out with a finger he brushed it against the edge. A feather touch, barely a whisper, but still enough that a thin line of red welled for a moment before his healing wiped away the small cut. If it was stronger now, what would happen when he actively used the skill and flooded his connection with empowering Stamina? Unfortunately, his testing would have to wait. No reason to wake Ianmus by hacking at logs. Prodding at the link with his will, he felt something else. An eagre readiness to grow, one that hungered for more. An instinct was there, how he could feed his blade and encourage its development. The Spent Forgeheart! Kaius¡¯s eyes whipped over to the saddlebags. Restraining himself was an effort of will, but he slowly lay his blade on the grass in front of him, before he crawled towards their belongings. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Porkchop asked, looking up from the fire to watch him with curiosity. ¡°Grabbing that material we got from the Guardian. I want to see if A Father¡¯s Gift can absorb it now that there is a link.¡± Kaius pushed along their bond as he reached their bags. Sneaking a hand under the flap, he connected with the spatial box held within, withdrawing his prize. A fist sized rock appeared in his hand, glossy and covered in jagged edges. It was warm, like it had been resting a few strides from an open fire. As he pulled it out, the strange glass hunk lit up his surroundings. It was a soft light, almost invisible in the day, but under the cover of the stars it glowed with the fadinging luminance of a guttering candle. Kaius¡¯s eyes flicked over to Ianmus. Seeing the elf still deep in his slumber he breathed a sigh of relief and hurried back to his blade. ¡°What if using it wakes him?¡± Porkchop asked. Kaius shrugged. In the end, it would be better if the elf figured out a new secret than to have the nature of his weapon revealed while they stayed in Deadacre. After everything, the magi was likely to at least acquiesce if they said it was something they didn¡¯t want to share. If the process did let off some signal, an overzealous artificer or mage might not be so generous.@@@@ Sitting in front of his sword once more, a keening desire started to emanate from the link he now felt with the blade. A want for the hunk of glass he held in his hand. No, something baser than a want, something without emotion or assigned value. Acting on instinct, Kaius pressed the Spent Forgeheart to the sigil that now adorned the flat of his blade just above its hilt. **Ding! Material appropriate for A Father¡¯s Gift detected! Facilitate absorption?** The words of the system rung clear, revealing themselves to him in his mind''s eye. He accepted the prompt. Immediately the pull on the Forgeheart intensified. Yanking itself from his grasp, it sealed itself to his sigil with a soft tink. Kaius looked up, gladdened to see the noise hadn¡¯t roused Ianmus. Snapping back to his blade, he watched the soft glowing obsidian start to melt. Fine drips of glossy black emitted a soft orange light, sinking into the shallow engravings of the glyph beneath it. There was no mana, no pulse of light, and no clap of thunder. Just the slow drip of glass, and the ravenous hunger that pulsed from his sword in waves. Fully liquified, the Forgeheart started to flow like treacle, shimmering its way up the fuller that marked its centre. Glossy black covered runes and steel alike, sealing itself tightly to the metal in a thin film. Desire intensified, and the soft rhythmic pulse of orange from within the glass started to increase its tempo, flashing faster and faster. Then the suction started, and before his very eyes Kaius watched his blade drink the fluid. Solid steel absorbed molten glass with agonising slowness as he watched on enraptured. Just as his blade had almost fully absorbed the Forgeheart, liquid black began to bleed from the edge of his sword. Collecting like morning dew, at first there were only a few droplets, but as more were excreted they merged together to form an unbroken coat that stretched just barely less than a fingertip into the body of the blade. That wasn¡¯t all. Glossy black welled up from his pommel too, morphing with pulsing change as the filgreed block of steel formed a disc of black on both sides of its coin-like figure. Longsword Honed II, Self Repair I, Durability II, Bloodline Veil V Kaius pondered the description, surprised to see such minimal changes despite the rather drastic difference in his blade''s appearance. He hoped that whatever changes his sword¡¯s eventual transformation would bring would be significant. As it stood, the blade was only a Common. Apprehension gnawed at him as he thought of his rate of growth. He was loathe to think of it, but unless he could acquire more materials quickly there would come a point where he would outstrip its usefulness. Thankfully, beyond the simple effects listed on the description, A Father¡¯s Gift was durable as hell. If all it took was a few more Guardians, he was sure it would hold up well enough. There was something odd about growth weapons, that was for sure. It already had been butting up on the limits of what he knew to be possible for a Common item, and it was almost inconceivable for it to still be that rarity with another rank of Honed and Durability both. Unfortunately, there was no expert on growth weapons around. Even if there was, he didn''t have the power to keep his blade protected. Kaius sighed, leaning back into Porkchop as he sheathed his blade and rested it on the ground beside him. ¡°Anything big?¡± Porkchop asked him with curiosity. ¡°An extra rank to a couple of basic enchantments, but there''s something odd about it. The blade seems...tougher than it was, and it feels like most of the energy from the material was stored for later. Which makes sense, but I just wish the whole thing was less opaque.¡± Kaius grumbled, reaching over to scratch Porkchop behind the ear as he stared into the fire. More annoying was that with the visible change, they would have to avoid any decent fights until they reached the city. Otherwise it would be too obvious to Ianmus that something was off about his sword. He paused, thinking of the coming days. Thankfully, after all their travel, they were getting remarkably close to Deadacre. As best he could tell, from his memories and the prompting of Explorer¡¯s Toolkit, they were at most a few days off from their destination. He expected to find the city changed. With the awakening of beasts and the growing danger of the wilds, plenty of people would be flocking to the city. It was no metropolis by any means, but it had solid walls and was the biggest population centre of the region. All sorts of surrounding villages and farmers must have fled to its perceived safety. That meant guards, ones that most likely had some sort of identify skill. Nothing that would reveal anything damaging, but almost certainly one that would show his class tag, and that Porkchop was a greater beast. A troubling problem. While a simple class tag would be easy enough to explain away, after all there were plenty of lesser known class types that it would only be obviously off to someone with significant learning on the subject, Porkchop would be much more of an issue. ¡°We need to think of some way to get you into the city.¡± Kaius said, after explaining their problem. While he might have been comfortable with revealing Porkchop¡¯s nature within Three Fields, elsewhere was a different matter. Greater beasts rarely interacted with higher races, and those that did were usually mature and powerful. Porkchop¡¯s nature would bring far more attention than they were ready for until they had the power to defend themselves. Porkchop fell silent, musing on the issue before he looked over to the sleeping form of their resident mage. ¡°Are there items that would hide that effectively? That I am a greater beast?¡± He asked after a moment. Kaius nodded. ¡°There should be from what I''ve heard, at least if that is all we try to hide. They would be expensive though, and we would need to get into the city first before we could get access to one. That, and I doubt anything we could get here would be useful against the higher level defenders of larger cities.¡± Pausing for a moment in thought, Porkchop eventually turned and looked at him. ¡°Why don¡¯t I wait an hour or two out from the city with Ianmus? Then you could go in and collect what we need. With our bond, we should surely still be able to at least send impressions from such a distance.¡± Kaius thought on the idea, scratching his chin. It wasn¡¯t bad. Even if he was loath to leave Porkchop behind, it wasn¡¯t like they had any other solution. ¡°I suppose it wouldn¡¯t hurt to ask, though let''s leave it till we are walking tomorrow.¡± Kaius replied, before a yawn snuck up on him and his creeping fatigue made its presence known. ¡°Anyway, it''s late. We should sleep.¡± Porkchop rolled his eyes. ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡± he replied, though he put his head down onto his paws all the same. Smiling at his brother¡¯s antics, Kaius pulled over his travel blanket and draped it over himself, before he lay down next to Porkchop. With the soothing warmth of the fire on one side, and the steady rise and fall of his brother''s chest on the other, he was out in seconds. B2 Chapter 154: Mask B2 Chapter 154: Mask Waking early the next morning with the rising sun, Kaius had set about breaking the fast of their little troupe with a hearty meal of fried potatoes and bacon. Despite everything that had happened, he could see the appeal that artisan classes held to many. In another life, being a cook might have been his calling, what with how gratified he felt when he saw the looks of appreciation on his party member¡¯s faces as they ate their breakfast. They set off shortly after, making their way further towards Deadacre. At first, Kaius was worried that Ianmus would notice the quail egg-sized gem that sat in the pommel of his blade. With his sharp eyes, he was sure the man would notice the difference. Yet, if he had, Ianmus gave no sign. That, at least, was something. They walked across rolling fields, skirting around shallow hills and fording thin streams as the sun beamed down on them from above. It was a warm heat, filled with the brilliance of the mid-summer sun. Thankfully, there were just enough clouds to prevent it from growing stifling, while few enough in number that it could in no way be called gloomy. More than once they diverted their way around the occasional copse of trees that studded the plains and served as shelter to the wild¡¯s primal denizens, or redirected when they spotted some herd of beasts. Ianmus gave them odd looks for that. Understandable after so many days of them throwing themselves into fights at the first opportunity. Yet, even if it was mildly suspicious, it was far easier to explain away than waving around a crystalline sword that had been plain metal the night before. Sitting astride Porkchop¡¯s back, Kaius looked over to their half-elf companion. The man kept pace with them comfortably. For all he seemed unused to the rigours of long-distance travel, the man was no slouch. He just hoped that he wouldn¡¯t be in too much of a rush to sequester himself inside the safety of a city''s walls. ¡°Just get it over with and ask him, Kaius.¡± Porkchop said with a soft snort, startling him. Kaius rolled his eyes. He hadn¡¯t been hemming and hawing that much, it was just a big ask. Still, his brother had the right of it. There was no point waiting. ¡°Ianmus,¡± he called out, causing the mage to look in his direction with a questioning look on his face. ¡°I have a request, if you are amenable to it.¡± The man cocked his brow at him. ¡°Oh, and what would my mighty saviour like to ask of this humble academic.¡± Ianmus teased, after so many days in each other''s company he¡¯d begun to relax, revealing a subtle and quick wit.@@@@ Kaius chuckled, before he quickly explained their problem - how having Porkchop revealed as a greater beast would cause a hullabaloo they would rather avoid. ¡°Which is why I was hoping you would be willing to stay with Porkchop an hour or two outside of the city, while I go see if I can purchase an artefact that will shift his status.¡± he finished, watching the half-elf¡¯s face closely for any sign of dissatisfaction. Instead, he found something unexpected. Plain confusion. ¡°Why would you need an artefact? I would have thought that the two of you would be able to Mask well enough without one''s assistance to at least get into the city. I mean sure, if the guards have reason to peer deeply, you might need one, but I don¡¯t see why they would take that much of an interest.¡± Ianmus said, clearly puzzled at his question. Kaius too, found that he was growing confused. Masking? What was that? And how in the world would they be able to hide their status without an artefact or skill? ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Masking? I don¡¯t know what you mean.¡± he replied. Ianmus¡¯s eyes widened in realisation. ¡°Of course! You two met when you were unclassed! My apologies, I would have brought it up early if it had occurred to me.¡± he responded, bobbing his head politely. Kaius gestured for him to continue. Yet even as the sun moved across the sky, and they traversed leagues of open green fields, Ianmus was a patient teacher, and a talented one. Though that was no great surprise considering the man¡¯s background. Once the beginnings of his mask was in place, Kaius found it only moderately difficult to hold it steady, though his constant awareness of the Will-construct was a non-stop tug at the back of his mind. Like consciously holding his hand in a position not quite painful, but uncomfortable enough that he found it impossible to ignore. Apparently that strain would grow as someone tested his defenses. ¡°Good, now that you both have that, I want you to impress on the Mask the information you desire to change. Just know that the further from the truth it is, the harder it will be to hide. For you, Porkchop, pretending to be a simple beast and changing your race should not be too difficult. However, you might have a little more difficulty, Kaius. Make sure you pick a class signifier that is similar to what you are. As much as you are able to at least.¡± Ianmus explained, looking at him with a moderately apologetic expression. He waved the man off, thinking of what he wanted to masquerade as. After a moment, he decided on Body Enhancer. They were a niche collection of classes, reliant on buffing skills and abilities to supplement their front-line capabilities. He only knew of them because his father had said that some body-formation classes fell under that umbrella. Rare enough that his odd abilities wouldn¡¯t raise too many questions, and one that would let him explain away the growing prevalence of the runic markings on his skin. He took what he knew of the class signifier and impressed it upon the shell of his will. It was the tricky bit, and the main reason the skill wasn¡¯t shared with those without a class. Spinning a thin thread of his Will, he linked it to his class before doing the same with a thread of soulfire. An intimate sense of his status became available to him, one more qualitative than the simple screens he had available normally. It was an overwhelming deluge of information, one he had to filter before he could keep it defended - or modify what was read by someone trying to analyse him. After half an hour or so of muffled curses as he tried and failed to get it to take, he felt his intention suffuse the Mask. He was ready. Looking towards Ianmus, he gave the man a nod. A thin questing probe prodded his centre, brushing up against his barrier. He knew then, instinctively, that he could flex his will and fight off the attempt to glean his secrets. Instead, he followed Ianmus¡¯s earlier instructions. Allowing the probe through the mask, but impressing his own limited deception onto the searching skill. Tension throbbed behind his ears, the task more taxing than he had expected. Still, he managed, and a moment later the probe withdrew, taking his false class signifier with it. He gasped, releasing the breath he didn¡¯t even realise he was holding as the strain on his will dissipated. A moment later Ianmus started to clap. ¡°Great job, Kaius. It takes a rare Will to succeed on your first attempt, let alone after a short few hours of lessons. Great job.¡± The half-elf addressed him with a satisfied nod, before he turned to his brother. ¡°Porkchop, you¡¯ve almost got it. It¡¯s no great surprise it''s harder for you, as a caster Kaius will have more of the relevant stats, though eventually sheer levels and the growing strength of your soul will give you enough of an edge to do it with ease. At least, if you are not challenged by someone more capable, that is.¡± Kaius grinned, happy to hear he had done what was needed. Ianmus returned it. ¡°Body Enhancer was a good choice, I see why you picked it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the closest I could think of that would explain away the most.¡± Kaius explained, before his sheer need to get at least a moderate acumen in Masking before their arrival at Deadacre prodded him to continue his work. ¡°Would you feel up to practicing this for the last couple of days of our trip? It would be a weight off my back to know Porkchop will be far less at risk.¡± he asked. ¡°Gladly,¡± Ianmus replied. ¡°It¡¯s nice to have some way to repay the two of you for saving my life.¡± Breathing a sigh of relief, Kaius redoubled his efforts on infusing his Mask. During their short discussion, his hold on the shaped will had grown tenuous. His attention drifted as the Mask started to waver and dissipate. He frowned, wondering how anyone ever got to the point of doing this in their sleep. Spending time to tighten the working, Kaius looked to Ianmus for comment. A moment later, another probe prodded the barrier around his class and soul. He grunted, brow furrowing as he strained to push across the falsified information. It might have been a hair easier, but it was hard to tell. Hopefully, by the time they arrived at Deadacre, he would at least be able to keep it up without looking like he was straining in an attempt to lift an entire ox. B2 Chapter 155: Skill Testing & Arrival B2 Chapter 155: Skill Testing & Arrival After spending the rest of the day working with Ianmus and Porkchop on Masking, Kaius had gotten better at the strange focus-intensive skill. Somewhat. It was still ruinously fatiguing to falsify his class identifier, though that had gotten a little easier as he grew more familiar with the method. Instead, most of his gains had come from hiding just how much effort it was taking him to deceive an analysis skill. Afterall, there was no point in hiding something if the person in question was staring at him making an expression like he was actively straining against a heavy load. Porkchop had gotten better too, potentially even faster than he had. Though, Kaius liked to think that was mostly because of him joining in. With his high Will, it was significantly harder to ward off his probes, but that increased difficulty had honed his brother¡¯s skills. Eventually though, they had to make camp for the eve. Once again, Ianmus had been out quickly, leaving him and Porkchop alone, sitting around their fire. With a grunt, Kaius pushed himself to his feet, moving slowly so that his armour didn¡¯t clank loudly. Looking up from where he was lying, his brother gave him an inquisitive look. ¡°Going back to that tree?¡± Porkchop asked. They¡¯d passed one of the rare few that stood alone outside of the odd copses that littered the area about a quarter hour before making camp. ¡°Yeah, just want to see what difference the new skill makes. Getting itchy from hiding the change to the sword from Ianmus.¡± Kaius replied with a nod. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll keep watch. Don¡¯t be too long though.¡± Porkchop replied, before he settled back down. Kaius gave his brother a nod and set off, palming the hilt of his blade as he rubbed the new gem in its pommel with his thumb, feeling its glossy smoothness. Once he was out of eyeshot of their camp, he drew his blade, admiring its new form in the greyscale of True Sight. It was a beautiful thing, the crystal fuller and edge elevating the sword from fine craftsmanship to something that looked like a proper artefact. Something worthy of being a growth item. Still, what he was most interested in was the effect its change and his new skill would have had on its capabilities. Both the upgrade, and the scaling boost to his enchantments would pair nicely with the effects of LiturgicalBladeform and he was reluctant to wait until a battle to understand his new abilities. Stepping through the long grasses, Kaius eventually spotted his target. The darkvision provided by his ocular skill had expanded with his levels, letting him see his surroundings in perfect clarity. Out of the earth a stout hardwood rose, surrounded by a canopy of branches that shrouded the tree from waist height up. He¡¯d taken note of it earlier due to the thickness of its limbs, some of the lower ones being even thicker than his thigh. Perfect to test out how well he could cut. Striding forwards, he stepped under the burroughs, stopping a few paces from one of the branches. @@@@ He took his stance. One foot forwards, the other just behind him and slightly angled. He held A Father¡¯s Gift in the mid-guard, hilt close to his waist with the blade angled up and away from him. It was still as perfectly balanced and weighted as it had always been. A slow breath escaped as Kaius relaxed, readying himself. Then he inhaled, sharp and fast. His blade snapped up, hips pivoting to the right as the crystalline edge of his sword melded into the shadows. Then he cut, leveraging his weight and power into the swing. Hardwood chips flew as the edge of his sword bit into the branch with a soft thwack. With perfect edge alignment, his blade sunk in deep, powered by his stats and an arcane blade empowered by two different skills. Thrumming reverberations shuddered up his sword, stinging his palms as it stuck fast, unable to penetrate further. Kaius grinned, that had been the first thing he had been worried about. Swords needed to be flexible, to give before opposing forces lest they shatter. Crystal was sharp as sin and tough as the hells, but flexible was not what it was known for. Mundane crystals at least, whatever had infused his sword seemed to have much the same properties of metal, flexing perfectly fine as he had hit the hard target. Taking his hand off the hilt, Kaius left his sword hanging out of the branch as he inspected his work. Buried cleanly in the wood, the edge of his sword was wedged a good handspan into the branch. A soft whistle escaped his lips, satisfaction buoying him at his efforts. A sword was a fantastic weapon, but it was a terrible tool for hewing through wood, especially against the grain. To make it so far was impressive. He stepped away, and gripped the soft leather of his hilt before giving his sword a yank. It meant that they were growing close to Deadacre. It also meant that farms had been abandoned. That was...understandable. Even if they kept their demeanours, it was only a matter of time before ranching beasts lead to tragedy. The farmers of the frontier had neither the experience, set up, or levels to manage such a thing safely. He only hoped that the cattle had been left to roam free while their owners set off for safer housing, and not that the body of some poor sap was left twisted and broken in some abandoned field. Beside him, Ianmus winced as he also caught sight of the roaming beasts. ¡°That¡¯s not good. If they¡¯re free, the jobs of the rest just got a whole lot harder.¡± the half-elf muttered. Kaius nodded. He wouldn¡¯t want to be the poor sap defending a field of wheat from a curious and hungry herd of cattle-beasts, that was for sure. If Deadacre wanted to feed themselves, the farms would need defending. Even with the small amount of space a good classer needed to grow food, it would still be a growing burden on resources. ¡°Come on, let''s keep moving.¡± Kaius said softly, watching the herd. They walked down the rise, moving to their right to skirt around the beasts, who looked at them with wary curiosity. Thankfully, they didn¡¯t spook. A hundred beasts of that size was a tall ask, even for him. Hopefully Deadacre would still be standing when they arrived. .... Over the next two days they walked, encountering a second herd as they did so. Bit by bit, the untamed grasslands disappeared. At first it was a single farm. A small fenced off field, with an attached cottage. Said fence had been shattered at some point, and the door to the dwelling clattered as it swung free in the wind. They¡¯d been growing radishes at some point. Half of those were uprooted now, eaten by wandering beasts. Kaius only hoped that the owners had fled, and that the house was empty. They didn¡¯t stop to check. Soon that singular farm became commonplace, more and more fields filling their surroundings until everything became one continuous swath of fences and fields. Not all were abandoned. Some had clearly bandied together, splitting the labour of growing and guarding. That, at least, was gratifying. It meant the city was likely still standing, and siege-rationing was unlikely. They did give the farms a wide berth though, grizzled farmers mean mugging them from a quarter league away as they watched them pass with distrustful expressions. Initially, it was maybe one farm in twenty that was occupied and defended. The further they travelled, the more common it became. One in ten, then five, then two. While these inner farms had guards, it was far less zealous and vigilant than their outlying cousins more at risk of attack. Hells, some of them even waved as they paced, which lit a warm glow in his belly. The farms grew denser too, eventually the wild paths of untamed land that they followed shrinking until there was a bare hundred paces between fenced off land. It wasn¡¯t long after that when they saw it. Stone, rising on the horizon. Rough, blocky, and wide. Perhaps even haphazard, if one was to be uncharitable. Walls. Lit up by the afternoon sun, Kaius felt the itch of anticipation set in as he looked at the sight, while a fizzing curiosity that buoyed Porkchop¡¯s spirit flooded through their bond. ¡°Thank the gods,¡± Ianmus sighed. They¡¯d made it to Deadacre. B2 Chapter 156: Deadacre pt. 1 B2 Chapter 156: Deadacre pt. 1 The grass started to die about a league from Deadacre. First it grew pallid and limp, a few tough patches holding on desperately to life while they eked out a meagre existence in rock hard cracked dirt. It took maybe fifteen paces before even that was gone. A stark demarcation, one that encircled the whole city. No one knew what caused it, the eerie desolation that just sat in the middle of the frontier. A perfect circle, where the ground was flat, hard, and nothing living grew. Oh, there were plenty of legends. That it had been the sight of some duel between high-tier delvers during the shattering of an empire. That it had been cursed by the gods, and all who lived there had their fortune sapped from them. That a dragon had descended, the might of their breath so powerful that the land still cowered from its potency. Kaius doubted any of them were the truth, but regardless, nothing grew in the league from Deadacre¡¯s walls. Something quite fortunate, from a defensive perspective at least. Nowhere for beasts or armies to hide, and a clean and even sightline for the city''s watchers. Shading his eyes from the sun, Kaius stared at the city. It had been locked down; that much was clear. Scouts roamed the top of the walls, far more than he remembered there being on his last trip, and nothing entered or exited the western gate around the left hand side of the wall. The east though? A train of people snaked out, easily a hundred or more. With the acuity of his skill enhanced eyes, Kaius made out all manner of people. Huddled and weary families, carrying their meagre belongings that they had been able to take with them. Mercenaries and delvers, heavily armoured with impatient expressions on their faces - as if waiting with the common rabble pained them. A few farmers, eying the others suspiciously as they huddled around carts full of produce. Merchants, with their caravans and guards, each pulled by beasts trained from birth or bonded to their drivers. At least, he assumed. Even trained animals were a bit of a risk to keep around if they transitioned to a beast, at least without relevant skills to handle them. Kaius could even see the telltale potent shine of the brightly coloured Hiwiann. A travelling convoy, making camp just past the people waiting for entrance to the city. Painted in saturated reds, yellows, blues, and every other colour under the sun they looked like they had been assaulted by a field of wildflowers - and the flowers had won. Standing out against the dusty brown of the ground, and the faded grey of the city wall, they yanked at his attention, drawing the eye. A valid tactic for the travelling traders, and a definite boon for the city that they had arrived at this time. With more than two dozen massive carriages, their convoy outnumbered the line waiting for entrance significantly. He didn¡¯t miss their vigilance, nor the number of guards they had. No sane bandit attacked the Hiwiann, how seriously they treated blood debts was legendary. Unfortunately, Kaius doubted that rogue beasts had such compunctions. By the walls, more than a dozen guards watched the line. Far more than normal, but understandable in the current circumstances. One by one they would wave groups forward, talking with them for a few moments before waving them into the city. One turned to look in his direction, before nudging another guard to his left and pointing in his direction. An ocular skill, Kaius realised. Potentially even Eagle Eye. Locking eyes with the man, he waved. The guard gave him a nod, before waving to the back of the line. He acknowledged the guard with a thumbs up, who promptly lost interest in them, turning back to the deluge of people hoping to get entrance to the city. ¡°Come on,¡± Kaius said. ¡°Let¡¯s circle around and join the line.¡±@@@@ ¡°It¡¯s strange to see so many people. I mean, I knew to expect it, but the city is far bigger than I thought it would be. How do so many people bear to live so close?¡± Porkchop asked. Ianmus chuckled. ¡°If you think this is big, just wait till you see a proper metropolis like Mystral, or some of the cities in the Dukedoms.¡± Kaius leaned forwards, ruffling Porkchop¡¯s head. Ianmus had the right of it. Even if it was the largest place he had ever been, and he fully agreed with his brother, he knew there were many, many cities larger than Deadacre. The place housed roughly twenty thousand, practically a hamlet compared to others. That was the frontier though, most preferred a less rough and tumble lifestyle than what was found out here. ¡°I¡¯m more surprised by the amount of people waiting to get into the city. It¡¯s been weeks, I would have thought the people who would shelter behind walls would have already arrived. It must be getting bad.¡± Kaius said, watching the slow moving line that they were gradually growing closer to. ¡°Really?¡± Ianmus asked, looking at him with surprise. ¡°I honestly thought there would be more.¡± Kaius smiled. ¡°Most people who live on the frontier are as tough as an ox and thrice as stubborn. Honestly, the people from Deadacre and Grandbrook to the north-east have a bit of a reputation for being soft.¡± he explained. It was mostly ribbing, but when there were only two major ¡®cities¡¯ in the frontier, the people who braved the more wild parts in remote communities often took the risks as a point of pride. He doubted any of them would make the trek lightly. Not unless something truly bad happened. Ianmus looked at him in disbelief. ¡°Deadacre. Soft.¡± he said, shaking his head at the thought of it. Kaius reached up and pulled off his helmet, before tucking it under his arm. Honestly, he should have taken it off earlier. No wonder he¡¯d been getting some looks. He gave the man a smile. Even if the woodsman was verging on leering at him, it was an understandable question given the circumstances. Especially considering Porkchop made a bear look quaint. ¡°This guy¡¯s a big softy,¡± Kaius said, reaching up to scratch his brother behind the ear. Porkchop played the part perfectly, leaning in and letting out a soft and happy rumble. ¡°Aren¡¯t ya, Porkchop?¡± That got the reaction he had been hoping for, as the woodsman stared up at Porkchop in disbelief. ¡°Some sense for names ye got.¡± he muttered. ¡°He trained then?¡± Kaius laughed. ¡°I hear that a lot, and in a sense. We¡¯ve got a bond skill, found him when he was young and had gotten separated from the rest of his pack.¡± he lied, falling back on a story that was similar enough to the truth that it would be easy to keep straight. The woodsman gave him an appraising look. Now that they were talking, the man seemed to calm down some. More curious than wary. ¡°A bond skill, eh? Impressive. Some southern beast then? I saw you came from that way. Any news from out there?¡± That, at least, was a far less fraught line of questioning, but one he would need to keep consistent all the same. After discussing with Ianmus and Porkchop on their way over, they¡¯d settled on having left from one of the other villages by the sea. At the least, it meant that he knew the area and culture enough to answer any odd questions people might have. ¡°Came from Gloomhollow. Picked up that one on the way over, after he got swamped by some beasts.¡± Kaius replied, tilting his head in Ianmus¡¯s direction. The half-elf gave an awkward wave. The village was the biggest of the settlements at the Sea''s fringe, large enough that it was plausible for people to have missed him, and was one of the furthest from Three Fields. Unfortunately, it was also one of the greatest at risk from the shift in phases, being situated inside the sea, in a spit of clear land that had been expanded into the forest. The woodsman¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Gloomhollow? No wonder ye look like a tough bastard. No idea how you can stand being so close to the Sea, what with how often things come down from those mountains. Bet its a right shitshow now.¡± Kaius grinned. ¡°It¡¯s not quite so bad, but yeah, it definitely breeds a certain character.¡± ¡°What ye doing out here then? Woulda thought they¡¯d need every fighter they could get their hands on.¡± The woodsman asked. Kaius shot the man a smile, trying to squeeze as much cocky young confidence into it that he could manage. ¡°Here to join the Guild. Was always the plan, and I¡¯m not about to let the end of the world get in the way of that.¡± Barking out a laugh, the woodsman slapped his leg. ¡°Good man. Gods know we¡¯re gonna need more Delvers now, things have really gone to shit out there. Some nasty stuff has started popping up all over the place.¡± as he talked, the woodsman''s tone grew severe. Tense. ¡°It¡¯s bad. I ain¡¯t no knee-quaking coward, but some of the shit that started hitting our hamlet was too much. Worried that if I didn¡¯t get us out then, it¡¯d be me daughter¡¯s life at risk.¡± Kaius winced in sympathy. Not every frontier community was as well defended as Three Fields, especially not the smaller remote ones. Most of them didn¡¯t even have walls, especially when they were further from more dangerous locales like the Sea. ¡°Well, that¡¯s what I''m here for. Not shy about getting into a fight that others can''t handle for themselves.¡± he said, doing his best to offer reassurance. ¡°Aye...Aye. Good on ye man, we need that these days. People are dying. I...Most of the people in this line without fancy guards and carriages have lost someone. Good to know someone¡¯s up for looking out for them, eh?¡± the woodsman¡¯s voice quavered, his jaw rippling as he clenched back emotion. ¡°Excuse me, I should check on my daughter.¡± he finished, turning away suddenly as he strode over to his child and swept her up into a tight hug. Kaius let out a heavy breath. He¡¯d known that it wouldn¡¯t be pretty, but it was something else entirely to be confronted with the sheer bleak depression of those who had lost almost everything. A glimmer of guilt shimmered in his chest, before he quashed it, lest it ignite into something more severe. He¡¯d do what he could to help people, especially since¡ªwith the Guild¡ªthat would come with levels and coin, but he couldn¡¯t accept responsibility for every tragedy. That way led to madness. Hopefully the city proper would have a less terminal ambiance. If he could get the guards to let him in, that is. B2 Chapter 157: Deadacre pt. 2 B2 Chapter 157: Deadacre pt. 2 Despite the sheer volume of people lining up outside of the city gates, the queue moved surprisingly quickly. It seemed that Deadacre had developed a well built mechanism for efficiently dealing with the dispossessed and weary travellers that had begun to flock to the safety of their walls. With more than a dozen guards at the gates, they waved groups forward two at a time, quickly working through discussions while other defenders kept watch for any beasts crossing the hard packed dirt that surrounded the city. Still, even quicker than expected, they ended up waiting hours. Thank the gods that he and Porkchop had gotten adept enough at holding their Mask that having it passively in place was no longer an overly burdensome drain on their mental energy. If they¡¯d arrived even a few days earlier, he¡¯d have had a splitting headache after holding it in place for so long. Taking a step to the side of the line, Kaius leveraged his height to peer over the crowd, craning his neck to look through the open gates to the city. @@@@ Just like he remembered, the entrance through the walls led to an open square, where a handful of large cobbled streets split off to wind their way through the city. The main roads, an arterial flow of people and goods that vitalised the settlement. While it wasn¡¯t so bad that the streets were packed chest to chest, they were busier than he remembered. Thankfully, the city seemed at least somewhat prepared. Large marquees had been set up by the city walls, guards directing the most bedraggled and shaken of the petitioners in their direction. Temporary housing, for the most desperate. Others were directed elsewhere. Those looking well off, or at least not destitute were left to find their own lodgings, while merchants and farmers laden with goods were waved down one road that Kaius remembered leading to the city''s central square. ¡°How¡¯s it looking?¡± Ianmus asked as he stepped back in line with Porkchop and the mage. ¡°Surprisingly well organised. It looks like we should be left to our own devices if we have the resources to sustain ourselves.¡± Kaius murmured, keeping his voice low so as not to disturb the people ahead of and behind them - a few more stragglers had joined the queue, though most looked to be locals making a quick trip. Porkchop snorted, though it was soft enough that it wouldn¡¯t heighten the tension of their fellow travellers. ¡°Thank the Matriarchs, I was worried we would be swamped. This is not exactly how I imagined my first visit to a human city going.¡± Kaius smiled, while Ianmus chuckled. ¡°I do have to agree. Hopefully, if things are still this organised, it should mean joining a convoy to the Dukedoms won¡¯t be too difficult.¡± Ianmus muttered. Kaius nodded, though he inwardly doubted it would be that easy. Even if the caravans were still traveling, the demand to get to the patrolled roads, siege proof cities, and armies of the Dukedoms would be high. No doubt the price for passage had soared. The line kept moving, and they shuffled ever closer to the gates. Much like the walls themselves, they were rough, but overbuilt and tough. Made up of wooden beams nearly half a stride thick, reinforced heavily with thick iron plating, it was controlled by some hidden winch system in the walls and joined by a raised portcullis that was ready to drop at a moment¡¯s notice. Eventually, they made it to the front. As they¡¯d waved people forward, Kaius had watched almost every single guard frown at Porkchop. Even with his brother masquerading as a simple beast, bonds in general were rare, and combat capable companions even more so. He doubted they¡¯d seen them often, and given the circumstances, he couldn¡¯t fault their suspicion. Especially since they were hiding something, even if it was not something that would put the inhabitants of the city at risk. Dressed in chain, with dark gray tabards displaying the insignia of the city - a dead tree, dyed in white - each and every one looked ready for trouble. Swords were belted on, and each held a halberd. Archers looked on from the top of the wall, doing double duty watching the crowd and keeping an eye out for beasts. ¡°You there, with the wife and child. Over to the left.¡± The lead guard called, waving the woodsman in front of them forwards. Standing at the head of the line, he had been directing the crowd to his available colleagues. The muscular man looked back, giving Kaius a slight nod before he ushered his daughter forward. Stepping up with Porkchop and Ianmus in tow, Kaius watched the guard calmly, keeping a firm grip on his mask. The man watched him closely in turn, regularly looking at Porkchop behind him, as if deciding what to do with them. Kaius shifted his weight on his feet, wondering what would happen. The moment stretched, an awkward pause in what had otherwise been a smooth operation up until this point. Right before he was about to ask the guardsman where he should go, another ran up, bending over to whisper in his ear. He nodded, thanking the man, before looking back to Kaius. Kaius fought the urge to groan. He hadn¡¯t known that was a thing. Thankfully, that meant he wouldn¡¯t need to lie about it. ¡°I did it.¡± Porkchop said, his voice strained, before he fell silent once more. That, at least, was something. ¡°I didn¡¯t know that was a thing, sir. Lived outside of Gloomhollow.¡± he explained, genuine chagrin resonating in his words. ¡°Every trained beast comes registered, lad. You raise him yourself, or something?¡± the sergeant replied with a deepening frown, unimpressed by his response. ¡°Letting in a beast like that trained by some kid out in the middle of nowhere is a risk, boy. What happens if he reacts poorly to the crowds?¡± Kaius winced at the sergeant''s harsh accusation. ¡°No sir, I found him when I was young. Had gotten separated from his ma or something. He was a bloody cute fluffy thing back then, so I couldn¡¯t leave him, even if he was a beast. Ended up getting a bond as one of my general skills.¡± he hurried to explain, a genuine note of desperation in his voice. The sergeant''s expression shifted, piercing grey eyes stabbing deep into his own as a contemplative frown graced the guardsman¡¯s face. He leaned back onto the wall behind him, scratching his chin. ¡°A bond skill...That would certainly do it. Unregistered though, that could cause a shit-fest if it got out.¡± the man mumbled to himself. A moment later he stood up, looking at Kaius once again. ¡°You¡¯re here to join the Guild, you said?¡± the sergeant asked. Kaius nodded quickly. ¡°Good. We¡¯ve got hunting requests falling out of our arse right now, and a young Delver competent enough to delve just after class selection is someone we could use. Especially one mounted on a warbeast, you¡¯d be able to range further than most.¡± the sergeant said. Excitement welled as Kaius listened to the man, an electrifying energy that raced down his spine and spread through his limbs. There was no way he would bother with such a speech if he wasn¡¯t going to let them in. ¡°There¡¯s one problem though, we need your beast registered. Far too much potential for a hullabaloo if it gets out I let an unregistered warbeast into the city. However...you¡¯re willing to swear under a truthstone that you have a bond skill?¡± the sergeant searched his face. Kaius nodded emphatically. Truthstones were tightly controlled bits of runework, but he knew the guild made use of them. It was almost perfect. If it was confirmed that he had a bond skill before Porkchop¡¯s nature as a greater beast got out, it would take even more heat off of them. ¡°Alright, here''s the deal. I¡¯ll let you in if you immediately go to the guild and sign up. They¡¯ll be able to register your beast if you can attest to your skill under oath. I¡¯m not sure how busy they are, but once you¡¯re done - whether that¡¯s this afternoon or some time tomorrow - come straight here and tell one of my boys that you¡¯re here to show your registration. Deal?¡± The sergeant asked, thrusting his hand out to him. ¡°Deal.¡± Kaius said as he clasped the guardsman''s hand and shook. A moment later the sergeant''s grip tightened, and he pulled him close. ¡°I¡¯m serious, boy. Straight there, and then back here. I can¡¯t have an unregistered beast in the city for long. Not right now. Remember, it won¡¯t be hard to track down the man with a giant fucking bear-thing inside the city.¡± His voice was low, but firm, as he stared Kaius dead in the eye. Kaius nodded. The sergeant stepped backwards and clapped him on the shoulder. ¡°Good lad. Now stop hogging my time and get in the gates.¡± he dismissed them with a wave, turning to nod at a few guards who were watching at the gate. Suppressing a sigh, Kaius met Ianmus¡¯ and Porkchop¡¯s eyes, who both looked as relieved as he felt. Without a word, he led the way, passing vigilant guards as he walked under the shadow of the wall to enter Deadacre. They¡¯d made it. Now he just needed to point Ianmus in the right direction and get himself registered. B2 Chapter 158: Deadacre pt. 3 B2 Chapter 158: Deadacre pt. 3 As Kaius crossed through the gates to Deadacre, the sounds of the city washed over him. The heavy background buzz of chatter and thumping boots, the clack of carts rolling over uneven cobble, and the odd cutting bark of a laugh or crying babe. Overwhelming, sure, but also full of the vitality of life. Something pleasantly different after so long with little company in his surroundings. Brown canvas tents lined the square that the gates opened to, stacked up tight to the wall with barely walkable alleys separating their fabric walls. Emergency housing. Several guards wandered the open space, directing people where they needed to go, or helping one of the more desperate into the waiting arms of those that were getting people settled in the tents. A guard in chain whistled, waving them over¡ªa woman with sandy hair cropped short and piercing blue eyes. ¡°You boys alright? I doubt you need shelter here, given your dress, but I thought I''d check and see if you knew where you were headin¡¯.¡± the guard asked. ¡°Ahh, we¡¯ll be fine, thank you. I¡¯ve been here before, so I know my way well enough around.¡± Kaius said, thanking the woman, who nodded and waved them on. Kaius set off for one of the main streets that exited the square, companions in tow. Masonry buildings lined the streets, three stories tall and made from the same rustic rough-cut stone as the rest of the city. Looming over the streets, they made navigation tough if you didn¡¯t know your way around with how they blocked sight of any landmarks. Especially since the layout of the streets looked like someone had traced a tangled length of yarn onto a city plan and called it a day. ¡°Well, we made it through the gate with little issue, though that Sergeant was a tough bastard to hide from.¡± Porkchop said. Ianmus chuckled. ¡°When he called us over I was totally convinced we¡¯d been had. Thank the gods it was just a registration issue.¡± Kaius groaned. Such a small thing, but it had nearly done them in. If his and Porkchop¡¯s stats weren¡¯t so artificially inflated, they would have been toast, for sure. ¡°The main thing is we¡¯re in the clear now.¡± Kaius said, before he turned to Ianmus. ¡°I know this is your first time here, so I can show you to the road that leads directly to the caravaneer¡¯s office by the far gate. It¡¯ll be a bit of a trek, but it''s a straight shot.¡± The half-elf smiled at him. ¡°Thank you, and thanks again for making sure I made it here in one piece.¡± ¡°It¡¯s no problem at all. Only what any decent folk would do. Listen, if you¡¯re stuck here for a bit while you wait for an empty slot, feel free to stop by if you see me around the guild house. It¡¯d be nice to see a familiar face.¡± Kaius replied, waving off Ianmus¡¯s thanks. ¡°It would, plus it would be nice to have someone else to talk to. It¡¯s going to suck pretending to be an unthinking beast.¡± Porkchop grumbled. Ianmus nodded with a smile, but he had enough sense not to directly address his brother in a crowded square. While the square was packed, it parted before them with ease. Understandable, all things considered. Ianmus was wearing the classic attire of a magi, while he was fully suited in armour with a giant of a beast at his back. Most people, regular people, weren¡¯t the type to get in the way of obvious monster killers. Exiting the square, the heady smell of smoke, dust, and sweat washed over him. It wasn''t strong, per se, but it was pervasive. With his senses sharpened since his last trip, he did his best to ignore the odour, though inwardly he missed the fresh air found outside of settlements. He¡¯d spent too long in the wilds to enjoy city life overmuch. The road they followed wound its way through the city, dozens of side streets and alleys splitting off to tangle their way through the thickets of stone buildings. Eventually, they reached a fork. ¡°This is it.¡± Kaius said as he came to a halt, turning to Ianmus. ¡°Follow that road to the end and you¡¯ll reach the other gate. No turns onto another street or anything, just straight there.¡± Ianmus paused, giving him a slight nod. ¡°Well, I suppose this is the end of our little soiree. I guess this is goodbye.¡± Kaius gave the man a warm smile before clapping him on the shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t be like that. If the fates will it I am sure we will run into each other again soon. Chances are we¡¯ll end up in the Dukedoms soon enough, where are you planning on heading?¡± Porkchop grunted, unconvinced, but let the matter lie. It wasn¡¯t like there was any better option. A short while later, they turned the bend and the guildhall came into sight. Regal and tall, it stood a good two stories higher than the surrounding three story terraced buildings that were common in Deadacre. Polished smooth stone blocks formed its stout walls, a quality rarely seen otherwise, while wide widows revealed a warmly lit wooden interior. Dozens of tables littered the space, while a wide counter stretched across two walls. One side served drinks and food to the waiting delvers, while the other had a receptionist with a queue in front of her. A guild worker, where one could accept missions and deal with other matters relevant to membership. That was who he would have to talk to. Joy and anticipation thrummed through him as he took in the enduring strength of the building, as he looked at the thick and polished oak door - a sigil of a crossed sword and stave engraved on its front. A moment that had been a long time coming. A dream of his that had finally arrived. A destiny he had sought and strived for. Becoming a delver. A duty, and a promise - of riches, power, and responsibility. One he was happy to make. It wasn¡¯t just the hall itself that held him enraptured, but the clientele as well. The place was packed. Full of all sorts of peoples, each and every one suited up and ready for war. Men in full plate, with tower shields, great swords, and other heavy armaments sat at tables next to lithe individuals in leathers, blades belted everywhere from their chest to their arms. Magi in robes chatting with archers in light mottled clothes, and every other combination and combat style imaginable. The variety was staggering, no one person looking alike in their chosen methods of defence and attack. That is, with one exception. Telltale scriptwork covered almost everything he could see, both inscrutable system runes and man-made creations alike. A springing bounce entered his step as he picked up his pace, tugging Porkchop forward. ¡°Come on, we¡¯re here!¡± Kaius said, hurrying towards the door. Porkchop grunted, but followed closely. ¡°Just remember to keep your Mask up.¡± he warned. Rolling his eyes in response, Kaius wove his way around the small amount of foot traffic before coming to a stop at the stone steps that lead to the entrance. He paused for a moment, savouring the significance of his first steps towards his future. Every legend, every good story, and every bardsong started in a guild hall. They were where strength was built, and reputations were earned. It was here that he and Porkchop would be able to make a name for themselves. Where they would be able to build an unassailable reputation. It would be here that he would be able to start his quest to discover the secrets of Aspects, and gather the backing needed to start looking into his father¡¯s killer. Something nudged him in the back, forcing him to take the first step. Kaius turned, finding Porkchop right behind him, watching him. ¡°Walk tall, Kaius. You deserve to be here.¡± Porkchop encouraged, nosing him on the shoulder to encourage him forward. Taking a breath, he nodded and strode towards the door. Gripping the brass handle, he braced himself. Preparing his Mask. Throwing his chest out and plastering a confident smile on his face he opened the massive door wide and strode into the foyer, Porkchop close behind. Silence washed over the room as what felt like half of the delvers present turned to look at him. A moment later a dozen different analysis skills hit his Mask. They were light things, almost polite. Like they weren¡¯t seeking the truth, just what he was willing to give. They still smacked him upside the head like a sledgehammer with numbers alone. Muscles bulged as his jaw clenched tight, a forced wince hissing out from between his teeth as he clutched his head. Distantly, he heard someone laugh. ¡°Fresh meat! Every fucking time, never gets old.¡± B2 Chapter 159: Deadacre pt. 4 B2 Chapter 159: Deadacre pt. 4 Kaius let out a low groan, bent over with his head throbbing like he¡¯d just been smacked upside the head with a blacksmith¡¯s hammer. As soon as the pressure of a dozen different analyse skills pressing his Mask faded, so too did the pain and discomfort. Raw indignation flooded him, mirrored by the tempered anger that flowed across his bond, revealing his brother¡¯s own thoughts on the welcome they had received. Rising to his full height, Kaius took in the milling delver¡¯s with a furrowed brow, biting his cheek to stop himself from demanding to know what right the offenders had had to test him like that. His restraint was only made more difficult by the fact that the other guild members had stopped paying attention to him in the slightest, each and every one returning to their conversations like nothing had happened. ¡°What the hells was that, Kaius?¡± Porkchop asked as he mean-mugged the crowds of armed men who sat around tables and bandied stories like they were cards. They paid Porkchop little mind, his distaste drawing little more than a glance. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure we just got hazed.¡± Kaius sighed in defeat. ¡°It¡¯s common enough, but I would have thought the Guild of all places would be better than that. Seen it happen enough with tradesmen, putting the new guy in their place.¡± Much to his surprise, his words seem to calm Porkchop immensely. ¡°Oh. They were just asserting their position. That makes sense.¡± As Kaius struggled not to cock a surprised brow at his brother, a figure rose from a seat near the middle of the tabled section. A man of middling height, with dark eyes and hair, dressed in heavily reinforced leather, with shortswords belted at his waist and a brace of throwing knives across his chest. Smiling at them awkwardly, but friendly enough, he made his way over as Kaius watched on with moderate distrust. A final clincher, to let him know where he stood, perhaps? The man came to a stop a half dozen paces from them, scratching the back of his head. ¡°Sorry about that, just a bit of ribbing from the established folk. It wasn¡¯t you specifically, they do that to everyone who walks in here with that shiny eye¡¯d look of awe.¡± the man explained, waving at the crowd behind him. ¡°It¡¯s not just pointless bullying though, and no one was actually pushing your Mask. It¡¯s mostly a way to test if someone has one in the first place. They would have suppressed their analysis skills so that it was all bark, no bite.¡± the man gave him half smile. Kaius¡¯s eyes widened, he hadn¡¯t even realised that ¡®testing¡¯ someone''s mask was something you could do. Was there a way to tell he was lying about his status? The man caught his surprised expression and hurried to elaborate. ¡°Not like that, anyone who wanders in here looking like that is inevitably pretty fresh. Half a room of experienced delvers smacking their Mask is invariably enough to get a response. If there isn''t one, someone always pulls them aside and makes sure they know how to Mask in the future, it¡¯s an important part of growing your strength, you can glean a surprising amount even with a basic identify. Saves people having to wait until bronze.¡± The delver paused, giving him an evaluating look. ¡°Honestly, the fact you didn¡¯t pass out means you¡¯re a tough one. Good job. The name¡¯s Vangus. Just wanted to come over and let you know what''s up, and see if you needed any help.¡± he finished, offering his hand. Kaius gripped him back. ¡°Well, it''s nice to get at least one polite introduction I suppose. Why go through all that effort, anyway? It¡¯s a bit extreme just to see if someone can Mask.¡± he asked. A slight wince crossed Vangus¡¯s face at Kaius¡¯s words, but it was a small thing, and fleeting. ¡°It¡¯s not. A lot of people...they get ideas about the guild. Build up an image in their head about it being this serene place of pure meritocracy, where everyone is buoyed by honour and strength of arm.¡± he explained. Kaius frowned. That was...what the guild was, wasn¡¯t it? Their neutrality was legendary, and it was impossible to rise through the ranks without integrity and strength. Seeing his expression, Vangus raised his arms placatingly. ¡°Woah, I¡¯m not saying it¡¯s not those things, but ya have to keep in mind everyone¡¯s only a person, right? Walking into a trade like this all misty eyed and as green as a new shoot universally ends up with someone being just a little too easy to take advantage of. Usually it''s small, a bad leader who prioritises their own safety over the team, or a merchant who gives you a bad price, or something like that. Not everyone thinks that membership is immediately deserving of respect.¡± ¡°So what, you just give the newbies a proverbial slap upside the head as they walk in the door to keep them on their toes?¡± Kaius asked, looking at the man sceptically. To Kaius¡¯s left, Porkchop chuffed, backing him up with just enough gormless sincerity that it seemed as though he was a simple beast reacting to feelings across their bond. Vangus watched Porkchop warily for half of a moment, before his deep brown eyes flicked back to Kaius. ¡°Um, hi. Vangus said your name is Ro?¡± he said once he had collected his wits. ¡°Names Kaius.¡± Ro smiled. ¡°Drorome, actually.¡± the first ar rolled off her tongue like a purring cat. ¡°Most can¡¯t nail the first syllable so I go by Ro.¡± Kaius smiled, he knew that naming style, and could hear the faint remnants of a familiar accent. He¡¯d met a few of them in the rare Hiwiann caravans that made it to the Sea; Father had told him of their origin when he¡¯d been puzzled by the strange way they said ars. ¡°Far south Hiwiann, right, Drorome?¡± he replied, doing his best to emulate the pronunciation. The woman cackled, slapping her hand down on the desk with a loud slap. ¡°That¡¯s fucking terrible, call me Ro. But yes, good picking! You a travelled one then?¡± she asked. Kaius shook his head. ¡°Nah. Father was, but I asked him after I heard the accent for the first time. I¡¯m from further north.¡± ¡°Oh, that explains it. Heard the wildstock up there breeds tough ones, but what the hells are they feeding ya for you to have gotten so big?¡± Ro asked, giving him a teasing smirk. ¡°I...uh, hunted game?¡± Kaius stammered. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re too precious, definitely a village boy.¡± she chuckled. ¡°Now, business. I assume you want to sign up?¡± Nodding as fast as he could to change the subject, Kaius readily agreed. Smiling just a little at his haste, Ro turned around and yelled further back into the more official sections of the Guild, a L-shaped room that curved out of sight, filled with desks. ¡°Hey, Jun! Get out here and take over; I''m gonna do an interview!¡± She yelled, before bending down to swipe two medallions from a drawstring bag at her waist, one wooden, and one brushed copper. A muffled response came from further back. ¡°I¡¯m already going!¡± she yelled again, before she leapt up and grabbed her sword, circling around the desk. ¡°Come on, it''s just through here.¡± Ro led the way, taking an impressively large door set to the left and in line with the counter. It opened into a hall, lit by wardlights, that wormed its way through the building, with more large doors opening on its left hand face. The hall was impressively large itself, with more than enough room for Porkchop to follow them. ¡°What''s with the size?¡± Kaius asked after a few seconds, looking around curiously. ¡°Hmm?¡± Ro asked, looking back at him. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s less useful here, but all Halls are built to the same specifications. Need em big enough for the various giant folk and other bigger races, and it''s not that uncommon for people to have bonded to a big warbeast like you did.¡± she explained as they walked, before slowing to a stop by a door that looked no different from the four others they had passed just like it. ¡°Come on in.¡± Ro said, pushing the door open with a casual display of strength. It swung inwards on silent hinges. Inside was an austere stone room, devoid of any windows with a looping script that had been carved into the ceiling. While he didn¡¯t know the specific script, it seemed relatively similar to High Lothian, at least in terms of the geometry it used - the runes were quite different. Still, it was enough for him to be half sure that it was some sort of silencing array, which would track for an interview room. At the centre of the room lay a wide table, each wide side having a single high-backed chair. The middle of the table had a runescribed crystal, formations delicately engraved into the flat facets of the gem and filled in with copper wire. A truth stone, a working of renowned complexity, one he could make neither heads nor tails of. Ro strode into the room, taking a seat at the table, before she slapped the wooden top. ¡°Well then, how about we have that chat.¡± B2 Chapter 160: Deadacre pt. 5 B2 Chapter 160: Deadacre pt. 5 Sitting at the table with the truthstone in a room enchanted with silence, Ro¡ªthe Guild receptionist¡ªsmiled at him and waved at the other chair. ¡°Chop chop, we don¡¯t have all day.¡± she teased. Kaius sighed and walked over to the offered chair, Porkchop following to lay at his feet. Though, with his new size, Porkchop could still easily peer over the table''s edge. Which he did, playing the part of a placid warbeast. ¡°So, it''s really just an interview? Will there be any intrusive questions.¡± Kaius asked, curious about the process. He¡¯d always heard tales of brutal sparring matches with Guild officials to earn the right to join, and increase in rank. ¡°Ehhhh,¡± Ro answered, tilting her hand back and forth in the air. ¡°Kinda. Most people do have to take a test, but most don¡¯t walk in here missing two fingers, with a dozen little scars on their face from preintegration. Most definitely don¡¯t have a warbeast that looks right out of a Duke¡¯s menagerie, nor do they take a dozen analyze skills straight to their Mask and then keep on their feet, and they absolutely do not walk in here draped in the exact sort of hodge-podge collection of artefacts that a proper Delver would have.¡± she explained, shooting him a look like he had been a little bit of an idiot. ¡°Ah.¡± Kaius said. He¡¯d definitely already given the game away, at least a little. ¡°Yes. Ah. Hence why I rushed your ass into this silence room, so that we can have a little chat and get you some protection.¡± Ro replied. ¡°Not that you¡¯ll find all that much trouble in Deadacre, but still, rumours do what rumours do. Spread.¡± Kaius frowned, he hadn¡¯t even really stopped to consider that, but he did have to say it made a certain kind of sense. Maybe if he¡¯d been level forty or fifty, but a level twenty? That made him stand out. Almost certainly not enough for anyone to reasonably suspect any of his more dangerous secrets, but enough that he would be a person of at least passing interest. Ro leaned forwards, setting her elbows on the table. ¡°So, before we jump to the whole interview thing, I thought I would ask you a few questions. Nothing personal, nothing dangerous, just a few generalities. What do you think?¡± Porkchop grumbled, shoving his huge head on his lap and forcing his nose under Kauis¡¯s hand, perfectly hiding him as a talented, but nervous youngster whose bond jumped to provide reassurance. ¡°Damn, you¡¯re good.¡± Kaius said, scratching his brother behind the ears. ¡°Best at lying to the Matriarchs in the whole Den, and don¡¯t you forget it.¡± Porkchop replief, leaning into his touch. Kaius let a touch of a quiver slip into his breath. ¡°I reserve the right to refuse to answer.¡± Ro smiled. ¡°Of course, of course. Now, what are you doing here? Why the Guild, and why Deadacre?¡± ¡°I really am from the north, lived near the Sea my whole life. Deadacre was the closest settlement I knew of with a guildhouse. As for why? Backing, and a place to grow in strength until I''m less of a minnow in a wide, wide ocean.¡± Kaius explained, pausing every few moments to choose his words. Ro nodded, tapping the table. ¡°Vague, but you can''t expect much else in a world with secrets like ours.¡± she smacked the table with her fist, the bang loud enough that Kaius nearly jumped out of his seat. ¡°Well, that''s good enough for me.¡± ¡°I...what?¡± Kaius asked. He¡¯d been expecting some kind of interrogation, some kind of pressure to obtain leverage. Not a single question, with a weak answer. Ro gave him a flat look. ¡°Boy, I''m the manager of a branch of the Delver¡¯s guild. Sure, Deadacre is a remote hole in the dirt, but there are standards. People get shipped in, out, move all around doing my kind of work.¡± Kaius did so, the glassy gem feeling icy to the touch. His mana connected to the working, and it locked a thin stream of the energy in place. A strange sensation of fingers ghosting over his soulspace tickled through his centre, though he did not know how it worked. Ro looked at him. ¡°Great. Do you accept the Guild taking a five percent fee of contract rewards, taking a minimum of one contract every year, swearing off acts of banditry, crimes against rational peoples, and cold blooded murder?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Kaius answered; the clear gem beneath his hand glowed blue in response. Ro smiled at that, a small thing. ¡°Fantastic. Do you agree to never defraud the guild on contracts or other matters, to never pretend to represent your opinions as representative of the guilds own, and to never impersonate the station or likeliness of a Guild official?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± once more the stone glowed with a clean blue light. ¡°Do you plan to join the guild to sow chaos in its ranks, leveraging your membership to create discord, or otherwise destabilise the guild as a whole?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Do you intend to cause other guild members undue harm without cause, if doing so may materially benefit you or otherwise?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the lowest layer of the Depths you have delved?¡± ¡°The second.¡± ¡°Good fucking job, you fucking madman. That means I can bump you to Copper, no lousy Wood rank for you.¡± Ro replied, fixing him with a grin. ¡°Now, last one. Do you have a bond skill, and can you ensure your companion will not attack other enlightened peoples without provocation?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± More blue light. ¡°A clean sweep, nice job. Catch.¡± Ro flicked something through the air towards him, the object blurring in metallic orange. Kaius lurched, lifting his hand up just in time for something cold and hard to slap into his palm with a stinging thwack. He turned it around, finding a copper medallion much like the bronze one he had seen the hairy chested man outside use. On one side, the embossed logo of a dead tree, the sigil of Deadacre. On the other, the symbol of the guild, a crossed sword and staff. Staring at the emblem in astonishment, Kaius looked up from it to meet Ro¡¯s eyes. ¡°Just like that?¡± ¡°Just like that.¡± she grinned back. B2 Chapter 161: Deadacre pt. 6 B2 Chapter 161: Deadacre pt. 6 Still sitting in the silence room where he had undergone his interview, Kaius stared at the copper emblem in his hand, before looking back to Ro with a slight frown on his face. ¡°How does it work? I know the emblems are supposed to be representative of our identity and allow us free passage into all kingdoms who hold the Guild, but how?¡± he asked. The freedoms permitted by Guild membership were legendary, and he knew many were tied to the little hunk of copper he now held in his hands, but little else. Ro smiled at him. ¡°It¡¯s enchanted. It¡¯s basic, just a stripped down binding ritual and Self Repair, though at higher ranks we start to reinforce them to stand up to the...vigour that most high tiered experience. Channel some mana into it, then use an analysis skill if you have one.¡± Kaius nodded, looking down to the large copper medallion. He closed his fist around it, enjoying the cold of the metal. This was just the start, from here he would push until he was a force that could no longer be denied. As much as it burned him, investigating the Onyx Temple would have to wait. They were legendary in their reach and capability, and sticking his nose into their business before he hit the second tier was just asking to end up locked away in some forgotten cell to be tortured for his secrets. He¡¯d gained backing, and a path to power today. That support might be tenuous as it stood, but as he gained strength and respect, that would change. It was possible, as risky as it was, that having some of his more obvious secrets ferreted out by Ro would be to his benefit. It made him one to keep an eye on, a potential future asset. He could leverage that. ¡°Well? What are you waiting for? Chop chop!¡± Ro said with a clap of her hands, startling him out of the moment. He shook his head, he was getting sentimental. Giving Ro an abashed half smile, Kaius pulled on his mana, threading it into the minor artefact he held in his grip. Pushing it outside of his body was...easier than it had been in the past, if he was honest with himself, but it was still leagues behind the deft control and flowing speed he had when he manipulated the energy within the confines of his body. A moment later he felt a slight pop as his mana breached the emblem, then a slight tug on his soul. The emblem hung off his centre like a lead fishing weight, if only for a moment before the connection broke once more. A minor binding formation indeed, the process had little in common with the adamant chains that bound him to Porkchop and A Father¡¯s Gift. Uncurling his fingers to reveal gleaming brushed metal, Kaius used True Sight on the artefact. Copper Guild Emblem: Common - Tier I@@@@ Copper, for those who are just showing their worth. Made from pure copper wrapped around a core of inscribed steel, this artefact freely confirms the identity of the one who wields as long as they touch the emblem with their skin while it is analyzed. Owner - Confirmed: Kaius - Copper Delver¡¯s guild member Registered Bonds: Porkchop - Warbeast Registered Accolades: N/A Artisan-wrought Artefact. Auxiliary (Emblem) Self Repair I, Guild Bond ¡°It seems he inherited the elves'' uncanny ability to miraculously get involved in every event that involves the meles. Astounding.¡± Porkchop grumbled, before letting out a heavy sigh. ¡°He¡¯s not so bad. His ears just irritate me.¡± Kaius laughed. ¡°Better that than not being able to take the good contracts. Now come on, let¡¯s visit our old friend the lieutenant.¡± They set off, making their way out of the room. As they crossed the Guild common room, Kaius caught the sight of Vangus giving him a half wave. He looked over, to find the sneak tapping a bronze emblem while raising his eyebrows questioningly. Grinning in response, Kaius flashed his copper, and got a wide smile in return. Waving the man goodbye they left the hall, entering the streets of Deadacre. .... The sun was slowly setting on the streets of the city as he and Porkchop made their way through the winding stone arteries that crisscrossed the settlement. It was a warm afternoon, amber and pink light splashing across the sky like spilled paint, and lighting up cobbled roads in a warmth that brought with it a comforting drowsiness. Kaius hummed softly as he walked next to his brother, directing them towards the delver¡¯s quarter. While Explorer¡¯s Toolkit was far less assistance in the city, he¡¯d always had a good sense of direction, and remembering which turns to take was far easier than navigating through endless forest or the winding caves of the depths. In the end, checking in with the guards by the gate had been a simple matter. They¡¯d been waved down as soon as they arrived, one of the rank and file jogging up to them. The guardsman had been young, but confident. Once he¡¯d analyzed their emblem and confirmed Porkchop¡¯s registration, he¡¯d waved them off at once, returning to helping with the milling crowds of refugees that were taking shelter in the temporary tents by the gate. The slow thrum of the crowds thinned around them as people hastened home or to the various public houses that lined its many streets. It was interesting, watching the city wind down. A different life, one that he could never quite wrap his head around. Sure, it was nice enough to spend a few weeks, or even a month or two, in the city. Afterall, it was a riot of places to explore and things to see. Yet, he couldn¡¯t see himself ever living here. Surely the narrow streets, the tight packed confines, and the crowds had to eventually drive people mad? On the other hand, all that concentrated life gave the air a certain...energy. Though, right now it was far different that he remembered from a few years back. Then, it had been almost exuberant. Joyful. Now it was tense, and stressed. Like an overdrawn bow, ready to snap. He shook his head. The sooner they could pick up a job and get out of here, the better. Another few turns took them into the Delver¡¯s district, with its wider streets, nice buildings, and dozens of different shops catered to the needs of the city''s fighters. Those were all shuttered now, though Kaius did make note of one inscriptionist with a sign of an embellished glyph engraved on a wooden shield. They had a few suits of armour in their windows. Covered in clean runework, he could make out Ykkardian sigils blended with something unfamiliar through the use of Yosh. Someone skilled and, judging by one leather set, the experience to work on Porkchop¡¯s new barding. They¡¯d have to check it out tomorrow. Though, perhaps when they went to check out the mission board, they¡¯d be able to get some recommendations. Turning another corner, he spied the Guildhouse still filled with raucous activity. He¡¯d heard they never closed, but it was good to confirm it for himself. ¡°You two-legs really do like beer, don¡¯t you?¡± Porkchop asked, eying the loud talking figures that downed tankards like it was water in a desert. ¡°Can¡¯t deny that,¡± Kaius laughed, before he pointed down another side road. ¡°Come on, the Dusty Stables is supposed to be over there.¡± A few more turns and they found it. Kaius was certain. Twice as wide as the average building, and an extra story tall, the Dusty Stables stood out in stark relief from its surroundings. Its ground floor was quite literally stables, built into the stone foundations of the building. Most were empty, but at least a third held all manner of strange mounts. Stout legged flightless birds, similar to the beasts who had accosted Ianmus. Strange horse like creatures, and a dozen other varieties of furred beast. One even had a massive lizard. Stairs lead up the side of the building, wide enough that he and Porkchop could walk two abreast, leading directly to a landing that held a massive front door. Its windows shone with the soft orange of flickering fire, mingling with the steady glow of wardlights tuned to the same colour. It looked...inviting. Kaius felt the weary weight of travel set on his shoulders, burdening him with lethargy. ¡°Come on, I want some food and a soft bed.¡± he said, hurrying his way forwards with Porkchop in tow. B2 Chapter 162: Deadacre pt. 7 B2 Chapter 162: Deadacre pt. 7 The stairs leading to the entrance to the Dusty Stables were wide things that tracked up the side of the building, shading the various pens that were set into the building at street level. A sign hung over their rise, showing off not just the name of the establishment and its insignia¡ªa crisp painting of a weather-worn stable¡ªbut that also stated that all trained and bonded beasts were welcome inside. As long as they were polite, that is. ¡°Well, I suppose we should make our entrance. Though, let me grab something from our bags first.¡± he said to Porkchop, before approaching his side and pulling a coin purse from within their dimensional bag. Sliding their earnings into a spare slot in his potion pouch, Kaius ascended the stairs and entered the tavern. It smelled...clean and homely - of saddlesoap, clean fur, and well oiled wood. Scents that made him feel more relaxed, far more than any other place in the city at least. He smiled, taking in the interior as Porkchop craned over his shoulder to look in himself. The space was wide, with a long bar stretching two thirds the length of the room directly across from him. Behind it, a long cabinet of liqueurs was set off just to the side of an entrance to a bustling open kitchen, four men hustling as they cooked and prepared all manner of foods, some of which were decidedly odd. Like the one who was dicing fruit, only to toss it in a bowl of freshly cut grass.@@@@ Kaius cocked his eyebrow at the sight. Perhaps even more befuddling than that was the general furnishings of the establishment. It had the usual trappings: tables, chairs, booths, and padded benches. There were also other, stranger things. Wide, boxy stools set at knee height that were almost big enough for him to lie on, as well as odd backless daybeds scattered around the place. The purpose for the strange furniture was readily explained by the absolutely massive cat that lounged on one such platform, curled up in front of the roaring fire that dominated the wall to his right. Hearing their entrance, the cat''s ears perked up. Lifting its head from its slumber, it focused on him, but only for a moment before it locked its eyes on Porkchop behind him. Pupils dilated, ears flicking up quickly before the cat gave a large stretch and slunk to its feet. He tensed, only for Porkchop to butt him in the back of the head with his nose. ¡°He¡¯s friendly.¡± his brother assured. ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± Kaius asked with a frown, watching the cat silently pad across the room towards them. ¡°Honestly, Kaius, I know you¡¯re a little traumatised from the last two cats, but the thing¡¯s fucking purring. Pull yourself together.¡± Porkchop chuckled. Looking back at his brother in surprise, Kaius whipped back to the cat and actually listened. Porkchop was right, a deep rumbling resonance was coming from its chest, deep enough that he more felt than heard it. Sighing in relief, Kaius forced his apprehension down. Porkchop was right, he was being ridiculous, and it was likely he could handle the cat if anything happened anyway. Afterall, he doubted an innkeeper did much delving, and even if non-combat classers could level from working in line with their class, it was mighty slow unless you were some world-leading expert. Without the slightest care in the world the cat, tall enough to meet his waist, slid right around him to wind its way around Porkchop¡¯s legs. His brother bent his head down to give the cat a curious sniff, who promptly smushed his face with its own. Much to Porkchop¡¯s surprise, judging by the way his ears suddenly flicked. Kaius chuckled, before a booming laugh drew his attention back to the bar. One of the men who had been in the kitchen, rather tall with dark features, had drifted behind the counter. He was watching Porkchop¡¯s interaction with the cat with an easy smile, resting his weight on the bar. Walking up two flights, Hensch led them to the end of a wide wooden corridor, decorated in intricate panelling that was beautifully carved with scenes of nature. Kaius didn¡¯t miss that a solid two-thirds of the scenes involved cats, the man¡¯s loyalties well displayed. It seemed that even if he charged an extravagant price, those earnings had been well reinvested into the Dusty Stables. Stopping at a door at the end of the hall, the innkeep unlocked it, before passing him back the key. The door was a broad thing, easily half his height again and twice the width of a normal door. More than large enough for Porkchop to enter. ¡°Well, here ya go. I¡¯ll knock later and leave some food outside your door. I know how you delver types like your privacy after a long time on the road.¡± Hensch said with a wink, before he sauntered off down the hall, humming a little tune to himself. Entering the room was a wondrous thing. Well equipped with a wide and low bed, a desk and chair, wardrobe, and a fireplace with rug, it was more than large enough for him and Porkchop to just exist without feeling cramped. Somehow, the fire was already lit, though Kaius quickly spotted an explanation as he saw a control glyph on the mantelpiece. An inscribed fire, extravagant, but not unappreciated. Porkchop dived for the rug, settling onto its plush surface with a groan as he rolled onto his back to soak up the heat. It seemed the whole building had been built to the same specs as the stairs, because Kaius caught nary a creak from the floorboards as his brother did so. ¡°Well, we¡¯ve got a place to stay. Shall we decide on what to sell and our plans for tomorrow before we go to bed?¡± Kaius said, sliding onto the carpet next to Porkchop. Porkchop groaned, but rolled onto his front. ¡°What are you thinking of getting rid of, anyways? Old barding, and blink-knives, but is there anything else?¡± ¡°Those, plus maybe my helmet if we don¡¯t get enough for what we need. It¡¯s a bit mediocre, and pretty heavy, so we might find something a bit better. Armour is a keep for now, though I imagine my vambraces will quickly become less useful as we level up. Even against the irontusk I noticed it wasn¡¯t as useful as it was against the others, I barely made it through even with my full weight behind the swing.¡± Kaius said, leaning back on his hands as he stared into the fire. It was odd, seeing the flickering tongues emanating directly from inscribed stone. ¡°That makes sense. What of purchases? Will we have enough to replace them with something better?¡± Slumping his head back, Kaius hummed as he thought about it. There were a few things they could use, some far cheaper than others. At the very least they had to get Porkchop¡¯s barding inscribed with self-repair. It was strong enough that going without was a total waste, especially because it would be far more costly to keep getting it repaired at leatherworkers in the long run. ¡°Barding is the priority, otherwise I think some form of refilling water source would be up there in terms of our needs. They¡¯re popular, and cheap for artefacts, and it would mean far more security as we roamed the wilds and the Depths both. I don¡¯t want to burn through all of our coin, so I think it might be best to save until we can source a suitable armour set for me. The Serellian scale hasn¡¯t been holding up all that well, for all its magic resistance is useful.¡± Kaius said after considering the issue. ¡°Is there anything else you¡¯ll need?¡± Porkchop paused, his head cocking slightly as he thought on the question. ¡°I don¡¯t think so?¡± he said finally. ¡°Well, in that case, the only other things we have to do tomorrow is check out the Guild¡¯s mission board and hope that the situation isn¡¯t as dire for missions rated for a team of two as Ro made it sound. If it is...I guess we pay a visit to the caravaneers association and see if Ianmus has departed?¡± Kaius said. While he was not so selfish as to hope that the half-elf¡¯s plans had been totally derailed, it would serve as an easy solution to the problem of their team size. While he did not match up to them in strength, Ianmus was capable, and kept a cool head in combat. Plus, he was a solar mage, which was an affinity well renowned for its split between restorative effects, scorching spells, and healing abilities. A perfect backline for them. Especially as he suspected the man to have a Rare class. If the man truly was valedictorian, he had most likely gained a handful of legacy skills, and might have had one or two more besides. That, plus the effort it would have taken to achieve that standing in the first place, was likely enough to do that much at least. He could only hope that if they were in need of his assistance, Ianmus would be both available and amenable to delving work. B2 Chapter 163: Deadacre pt. 8 B2 Chapter 163: Deadacre pt. 8 Kaius let out a sigh of satisfaction, patting his stomach as he walked down the street with Porkchop at his side. He¡¯d decided that Hensch must be a mage, because it was only by actual magic that the food could be that good. Literally, in the case of how invigorating the morning meal had been. It had been a grand affair, of eggs, toast, seared ham, and a dozen charred vegetables he had no name for. Delicious, all in all, and would have been well worth the cost of admission even without the sudden energy that had welled within him afterwards. He¡¯d asked the man about it, but all he had gotten in return was a sly grin as Hensch had tapped the side of his nose. Trade secrets or some such. High level skills, no doubt. Especially considering it had been made with only mundane ingredients. He hoped that one day Explorer¡¯s Toolkit would let him do something similar, but he doubted he would ever be able to do anything as impactful until he was far higher level than the man. Renting a room at the Dusty Stables had been a good decision. Hells, Hensch had even sent someone to fetch him a pair of gloves when he¡¯d asked, not so much as blinking at the odd request. Afterall, without his vambraces his glyphs would be on full display, something that best remained hidden for now. They were heading to the Guild. Their first stop of the day. Originally, they were going to head straight to the inscriptionist he had spotted the previous evening, but then Porkchop had pointed out that it was probably wise to get advice from Ro, or perhaps Vangus, on which places were best. That, and the Guild was closer. They¡¯d end up there anyway, so it made sense to check the mission board first thing. They still got stares as they walked through the streets, though this time they were fewer in number and more curious than wary. For one, he had left behind his armour, in favour of going about his day in his trusty set of travelling clothes. The other major factor was that they were in the Delver¡¯s quarter, and seeing an armed man going about his business with a titanic warbeast at his side was far less of an occasion for the folks who lived and worked here. Rounding a corner, the Guild came into view. It was still just as majestic as the first time he had seen it, looming high on a t-shaped intersection, declaring its dominance and institutional vigour. A glimmer of giddy butterflies fluttered their way around his stomach as he stared at the emblem of a crossed stave and sword, his hand fiddling with the copper emblem in his pocket. ¡°What¡¯s got you so joyous?¡± Porkchop asked, picking up on his mood through their bond. ¡°Just still feels strange finally making it here. I might have gained and lost much, and my route was far different than I imagined, but I''m here all the same. A delver, after years of dreaming about it.¡± Kaius murmured wistfully, an easy going smile tugging at his lips. Porkchop chuffed, drawing a few eyes from passers by. ¡°I sort of understand, I¡¯ve wondered on the nature of the lands of your people for a long time too. The more I stay here, the more strange things come to mind about the way you live. It¡¯s confusing, but exciting and adventurous.¡± Kaius clapped his brother on the back. ¡°Well, here¡¯s to fulfilling our dreams, I suppose. Let us hope the trend continues.¡± he said through their bond as they approached the front door of the building. It swung open with ease, revealing a common room far less rambunctious than it had been the previous day. Delver¡¯s clustered around the mission board, while a decently long line snaked away from the counter, each petitioner holding a thin slip of cream coloured card in their hands. Business was the name of the game this early in the morning, it seemed. ¡°I¡¯m going to go wait over by those seats, we might tug on some tails if I take up a quarter of the room by the board.¡± Porkchop said, turning towards an out of the way booth that was set up on the edge of the common area. Kaius slapped his brother on the shoulder. ¡°Good plan.¡± Walking towards the board, he made his way through the crowds, patiently waiting for the others who had arrived first to take their picks. Once a space was free he leapt into it, surveying the offerings available. Hundreds of strips of paper were pinned to the thing, covering it completely across its thirty stride length. The mission board had been separated into horizontal segments, each rimmed with a different material, creating a section of space perhaps two long-strides wide, by one and a half tall. Wood, then copper, bronze, iron, and steel. Kaius frowned as he looked at the distribution of the request. They were...telling of the state of things. The wooden section on the far left had a bare few handfuls of slips scattered across its cork surface, while the copper one he stood in front of had dozens. To his right, at the bronze, the section had so many missions available that not a scrap of its cork surface could be seen. ra??§àBE?¡ì That was the busiest section by far, a steady stream of people entering the Guild, wandering over to it to gather slips in twos and threes, before registering the mission at the front desk and leaving again. It made some sense, afterall Bronzes were the most numerous in the guild. While those who fully devoted themselves to delving quickly rose to Iron, or even Steel, he¡¯d heard there were plenty of those who joined the guild for a touch of occasional excitement, supplementary income, or a myriad of other reasons. Those types were large in number, but usually only worked as a delver once a season or less. It seemed that the change wrought by the shift in phases had lit a fire under them, rousing people from complacency, judging by the folks he saw wandering in. Still, the sheer number of missions was worrying. Bronze was for folks who could deal with threats in the sixty to one-hundred level range, and it commonly represented the point where most people without combat classes couldn¡¯t handle something on their own - even significantly over levelled. There was something worse though, while far fewer than even the Copper jobs, there were Iron ranked missions on the board. Those were supposed to be...rare. At least in the frontier and the Dukedoms. Niggling worry seeped through his stomach, a thrumming tension rising as he realised that as much as it might be nice, they needed to keep pushing. The rising tide of mana waited for no one, and he didn¡¯t want to be left behind. He could only thank the gods that the Steel board sat empty. For now. The shop itself was a fascinating thing, with shelves covered in an impressive array of artefacts. A counter dominated the far wall, the man behind it smiling at him. ¡°Welcome to Artifice and Arms! Name¡¯s Jin, what can I do for you?" the owner of the shop welcomed him. He was a short man. Slight and wiry, dressed in clean linens that draped off his thin frame. ¡°Nice to meet you, Jin. Name¡¯s Kaius, Ro recommended I visit you for a little work, and to potentially offload a couple of artifacts.¡± Kaius said cordially, approaching the counter. ¡°Well, any friend of Ro¡¯s is a friend of mine. Let¡¯s get the commission out of the way first, what do you need done?¡± Jin asked, looking at his bag in curiosity. ¡°Mind if I use up a bit of the bench?¡± he asked. Jin backed up, and waved at him to go ahead. It was a testament to the man''s professionalism that he didn¡¯t even blink as Kaius pulled out Porkchop¡¯s under-armour from their spatial container. Instead the man leaned forwards, inspecting the barding he¡¯d produced. ¡°Stone charger hide? That¡¯s good stuff. New too.¡± Jin looked up. ¡°Whoever made this knew their trade well. I assume you want Self Repair?¡± Kaius nodded, it wasn¡¯t a hard guess. ¡°Well, good news is there is plenty of space, bad news is it''s just about the only thing it will bear before it''s fully saturated. When do you need it?¡± Jin asked. ¡°Preferably sooner than a week. I want to get back out in the field.¡± Kaius said, giving Jin an awkward smile. He knew it was a fast turn around for this sort of work. Self Repair was a far more complicated inscription than most, regardless of its ubiquitous nature of depths-wrought artefacts. Jin tutted, drumming his fingers on his counter in a rolling beat. ¡°I could do it, but I''ll have to add my rush charge, ten percent, which would bring the total to one-fifty depths-gold. That good by you?¡± the man looked at him questioningly, searching his face for any sign of shock and horror. Kaius smiled at the sight of it. Father had told him many stories of people being horrified at the true cost of inscriptions. Enchanting, the kind of formation that was bound into artefacts, required an extreme level of precision over basic formations, and often needed valuable reagents in the use of the binding. ¡°Depends if I have equal in trade, and hopefully you can throw in a water producing artefact.¡± Kaius said as he pulled out his brace of blink-knives and Porkchops old set of barding. Jin blinked, peering close at both items. He nodded appreciatively at the barding, but clucked his tongue in pleased surprise at the throwing knives. A moment later he looked up and gave Kaius a contemplative look. ¡°You don¡¯t have a Guild account yet, do you?¡± he said after a moment. ¡°Is that a problem?¡± Kaius responded, his brow furrowing. Jin shook his head. ¡°Not exactly. Look, I¡¯ll take the barding for seventy. It¡¯s niche, but with Well Fitted it¡¯ll be an easy sell to the right folks. However, those blink knives are going to sell like hotcakes. Returning? On a full brace of knives? It ups the value considerably compared to six individual blades.¡± Kaius blinked, he¡¯d known returning was expensive, but he hadn¡¯t realised having them as a single set was such a factor. Jin nodded knowingly. ¡°Oh yes, it does. Look, with how much those knives will fetch me, I''ll be able to do the work on your barding overnight, throw in a self refilling waterskin, and fifty depths-gold in gold and silver for the knives. I recommend banking as much of the one-twenty as you can when you get an account, even if you do have a spatial artefact.¡± Kaius nodded. It made sense, especially if he could get access to the money in any well developed city. ¡°Deal.¡± ¡°Fantastic!¡± Jin swiped his hand over the table, revealing neat stacks of yellow and silver coinage, a large leather waterskin with runic stitching, and the existence of the man''s own spatial artifact. Each metal pillar was ten coins high, letting Kaius count the total in moments. The exact amount to the silver. Kaius nodded to the man with a smile, shoveling handfuls of coin into his saddlebag where he quickly deposited it into the Merchant¡¯s Saddlebag. ¡°Well, pleasure doing business with you, Jin. I¡¯ll see you in a few days.¡± Kaius said, offering the man his hand. Jin shook it, and wished him well, before Kaius took his leave to rejoin with Porkchop outside the shop. Now they just needed to see if they could hunt down Ianmus. Hopefully he hadn¡¯t left yet. B2 Chapter 164: Deadacre pt. 9 B2 Chapter 164: Deadacre pt. 9 Leaving the artificer¡¯s shop Kaius made his way through Deadacre with Porkchop glued close to his side. It was interesting to watch how the general populace of the wider city¡¯s reaction to them had changed now that they were not fully suited up in their armour. He supposed even if his travelling clothes were reinforced with thick leather, they were much closer to standard hunting gear than true protective armaments. Regardless, while plenty of people still openly stared at them, it was with far more curiosity than wariness now. Internally, Kaius thought that it was Porkchop doing the heavy lifting. Without his barding on display, his coat was revealed in all its gleaming density. He caught sight of more than one child step towards his brother with wide eyes full of delight, only to be snatched back by aghast parents a moment later. More than a few women too. ¡°What are you smiling about?¡± Porkchop asked, as he watched a young lady stare at his brother with open want. Kaius martialed a straight face. ¡°I¡¯ve just watched about fifteen people in the last few blocks who looked like they¡¯d sell their left leg if it meant they got a chance to pet you.¡± ¡°What?¡± Porkchop asked, looking over the moving crowds with curiosity. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Your fur.¡± he explained, still struggling not to laugh like a mad man in the middle of the street. ¡°Oh, that makes sense. It is very healthy.¡± Porkchop said plainly, though Kaius could feel the wave of satisfaction emanating across their bond. It was nearly enough to make him crack. Shaking his head, he led them onwards, snaking their way towards the caravaneer¡¯s association. They kept to the main streets, the wide arterial pathways that were flooded with carts and foot traffic, even if it was a more winding route. Undoubtedly the smaller roads would be more direct, but even if he knew the basics of the city, he was in no way as familiar with navigating its labyrinth as a local.@@@@ Turning a corner, Kaius spotted someone familiar looming head and shoulders out of the crowd, platinum hair shining like a beacon in the summer sun. Kaius elbowed his brother lightly. ¡°I think that¡¯s Ianmus! He didn¡¯t manage to get a caravan after all, or at least not yet.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hope he¡¯s not just waiting for passage then.¡± Porkchop replied. A moment later, Ianmus spotted them from down the street. He raised his hand in a friendly wave, making his way through the thrum of bodies to approach them as his pack thumped against his back. ¡°I think we might be in luck. He looks a little too hurried for a simple hello.¡± Kaius mused, smiling as he led the way down the street. ¡°Kaius!¡± Ianmus called as soon as he was within normal speaking distance. ¡°I was just coming to ask after you.¡± The magi gave Porkchop a subtle nod of acknowledgement. Stepping in, he gave the man a clap on the back. ¡°Ianmus, it¡¯s good to see you. How goes securing your passage to the Dukedoms?¡± he asked. ¡°We thought you might have left already.¡± Porkchop added. A pained smile crossed Ianmus¡¯s face, the mage stepping off to the side of the street to less impede the flow of traffic. ¡°Not...great. The association was flooded, and caravans were completely booked for months. They doubled the guard positions on each one, but I didn¡¯t have the levels to secure a working trip.¡± he explained. r?a?O??¦¢E?? Kaius schooled his expression, trying to keep the victorious joy that flooded his chest from showing on his face. ¡°Ahhh, that¡¯s a shame. I was worried that might happen.¡± Kaius said with a sympathetic shake of his head. ¡°How about I treat you to lunch? I actually have something I wanted to ask you about, and we passed an eatery earlier that looked pleasant enough.¡± Ianmus¡¯s face brightened, even as he had to rapidly press himself against the stone wall of the building they stood under to avoid a sudden rush of people. ¡°That sounds great, actually. I had something I wanted to ask you as well. Where did you have in mind?¡± the magi asked, schooling his expression quickly into a remarkable mask of calm and friendly interest. That piqued his interest. Afterall, he¡¯d gotten the measure of the man on their journey together, and he didn¡¯t seem the type that would beg after coin. Honours, for one. Even if he had to bludgeon the man into it, it would all but enforce Ianmus¡¯s silence on his own strength. Without a doubt they would find more, especially if they kept punching upwards. That, and the first tier was only the start of a very long road. If Ianmus accrued his own feats, the mans lacking strength would soon become less of an issue. That said, his and Porkchop¡¯s leads were probably far too great for that gap to ever close fully, even if it mattered less with Ianmus being part of the back line. Though, he would still keep the existence of Honours a secret until that point. That, and everything else. Ianmus watched him closely, eyes narrowed with wary curiosity. ¡°Why? Not that I am particularly against that requirement, unless our relationship completely breaks down.¡± ¡°Secrets, some of which you will inevitably be burdened with yourself.¡± he said with a shrug. Ianmus paused for a moment. ¡°Okay.¡± Looking up from his sandwich, Porkchop tilted his head at the magi. ¡°That was fast, no questions at all?¡± Kaius nodded in agreement. ¡°I expected...a little more suspicion than that, if i am honest.¡± ¡°I can use my brain, Kaius.¡± he said, leaning forwards before his tone lowered conspiratorially. ¡°You are too strong, you have secrets other than the ones I have pieced together, and I will eat my boot if those two things are not linked.¡± The magi took a breath, leaning back before his voice returned to normal volume. ¡°Look. I have thought on this thoroughly for two days. Already things are breaking down, and we are only just reaching a month since the phase change. It''s only getting worse from here. If I don''t do something now, if I keep my head firmly in the sand, then I will be left behind. I need this.¡± he finished. Kaius nodded, he could respect that, and frankly having reached that position was only a testament to the fact that Ianmus was no fool. The simple volume of people moving through the Guild in the last few days said that it was one that many were coming to. ¡°Great, though I have one last thing I must share before you commit yourself to this course.¡± Kaius said. He leaned forwards, Ianmus joining him as his voice lowered. ¡°I have a blood debt that must be paid. Not now, far too dangerous. But once I am in the second tier, I mean to begin my investigations. It will mean tangling with a group of both power and influence, and if you join, you will almost certainly end up caught up in it.¡± Ianmus¡¯s lips pursed as he thought on it. ¡°I assume this is one of the secrets?¡± Kaius nodded. ¡°How significant is the debt?¡± he asked, searching Kaius¡¯s face. ¡°The most severe.¡± Kaius replied, voice flat. ¡°I see. And would you assist me with my own endeavours, even if they became as...complex?¡± Ianmus asked in response. ¡°I would.¡± ¡°Then I will assist, if I am able. I think you will find that widespread chaos has a tendency to reveal light on many hidden things, and leave many cracks to disappear into.¡± the magi replied, watching him closely. Kaius breathed a sigh of relief, genuinely pleased that the half-elf had agreed to his terms. He offered the man his hand. ¡°To a team.¡± ¡°To a team.¡± Ianmus replied, shaking his hand firmly. Kaius smiled warmly at his newest ally, Porkchop echoing his sentiment with a throaty chuff. ¡°Let us finish our meal, and then we¡¯ll need to get you signed up at the guild. I might be able to get you in with just an interview.¡± Receiving a nod from the mage, Kaius picked up his sandwich and dove in for another large bite. Salty meat and tart relish flooded his mouth. Delicious. B2 Chapter 165: Deadacre Finale B2 Chapter 165: Deadacre Finale Getting Ianmus a membership to the guild had been even easier than Kaius had thought it would be. When they¡¯d entered the guild hall, he¡¯d spotted Ro flitting around in the workers section behind the counter, directing people to and fro. Leaning on the powers of his height, he¡¯d managed to wave her down and introduce her to his prospective team member. Thankfully, they didn¡¯t have to deal with Ianmus getting hazed. It seemed being chaperoned by a known member was enough to stave off that uncomfortable fate. At first, upon hearing that he wanted to get Ianmus in with just an interview, she¡¯d looked ready to seize him by the neck and throttle him, even if it meant jumping for it. That is, until Ianmus mentioned he was this year''s valedictorian of Sunspire. As soon as she¡¯d heard that she¡¯d grabbed the half-elf by the wrist and yanked him to the silence room without another word. Kaius had expected more interest from the other delvers in the hall, but one and all they averted their eyes. Their reasons became a lot more clear when Porkchop let slip that he¡¯d overheard Ro had something of a reputation for short temper when they ¡®meddled in business that wasn¡¯t their own¡¯, and apparently they weren¡¯t the first newcomers on the up-and-up that the manager had greased a few wheels for. It was possible that some of the established delvers were..put off by the special treatment, but Kaius assumed that most would be waiting for the results he put forth. After all, power justified much, and a meagre bending of the rules was more than understandable to secure talent. Especially when the flood of extermination requests was considered. While Ianmus was gone Kaius visited the mission board, smiling excitedly as the request he had spotted in the morning was still there. Snatching it up, he met Porkchop at a secluded table in the corner of the room to wait for their third. It didn¡¯t take all that long, Ianmus returning only a bare quarter hour later. With his lanky frame that stretched even taller than his own, it only took a moment of craning before the half-elf spotted Porkchop¡¯s bulk and hurried over. Behind him, Ro poked her head out, before giving him an exaggerated thumbs up. Kaius chuckled, shaking his head at the sight. Ianmus slid into the remaining seat with a grin, slapping a wooden medallion on the table. ¡°Wood was the best she could do, considering the circumstances, but she said once we¡¯ve done a copper over a threat level of thirty she¡¯ll be able to bump me straight up.¡± ¡°Well done, the questions weren¡¯t too difficult, other than the standard oath? My own was reasonably quick.¡± Kaius asked. Ianmus nodded. ¡°I assume she caught you guys out the second you stepped foot in here? The woman is as shrewd as a devil plying contracts.¡± Kaius chuckled, leaning back into his chair as he dropped his hand to pat Porkchop on the shoulder. ¡°She did. Gave us a talking to. A very energised one.¡± Ianmus smiled, hand momentarily retreating to his pocket, before he returned it to the surface and passed over two simple steel bands. ¡°The first minute or two was spent grilling me about if I was a spire graduate, what my rank was, and things of the like. The remainder was a straight up interrogation about how we met, if I had designs on you, if I was a spy, how genuine I planned for our cooperation to be, and what my ultimate goals were.¡± ¡°I just about thought she¡¯d transmogrified into a manticore with how viscous she was.¡± the mage finished with a shake of his head. ¡°She said those were for you two, that she got them finished overnight. She wanted you to know it would be a hundred depths-gold all up, and she¡¯ll dock half your cut until it''s paid off. I told her yours would be two thirds, for obvious reasons.¡± Kaius nodded gratefully, inspecting the rings. They were simple looking things, and a quick use of True Sight told him they were identical. Ring of Minor Deception: Uncommon - Tier I Some things are best not shared. A ring of unadorned alchemically infused steel. Assists the wearer in shrouding up to two singular aspects of their status, and passively holds their Mask in place. Active testing of the Mask still burdens Will. When worn, this artefact becomes more difficult to analyze. Artisan-wrought Artefact Accessory - Ring Limited Mask Reinforcement II, Resizing I, Inspect Resistance I He nodded at the description, surreptitiously sliding one over his finger while he pocketed the other. Assisting Porkchop with his copy would draw far too much attention, even if they were sitting in a secluded corner. He felt it activate, a strange power settling over his Mask - bolstering it. He quickly pulled his will back, sighing in relief as it stayed in place. Intuitively, he directed the ring to focus more fully on his class identifier, and his class rarity. He doubted anyone would have the kind of skill needed to see that, but it was still better safe than sorry. ¡°A reasonable price, for the security they will bring.¡± Kaius said, thanking Ianmus with a nod. Now that Ianmus had his membership, they could get to the real meat of the reason that he had brought them here. Securing their first contract. Kaius rubbed his hands together with glee. No doubt his companions would hate it¡ªhells, he hated it himself¡ªbut the match up was too good to ignore. Porkchop let out a low groan of defeat, and slumped lower to the floor. ¡°Fine, but you¡¯re cleaning the ichor out of my fur.¡± he mumbled. Ianmus cleared his throat, drawing both of their attention. ¡°I am most concerned about the levels. This is... a significant threat, are you sure you can do this? I have seen you in action myself, but seriously, this is a lot.¡± Kaius nodded. He was confident. No doubt it would be tough, and he and Porkchop would probably get a nasty bite or three, but when hadn¡¯t that happened? ¡°I am, both Porkchop and myself have gained significant strength with our second class skills. It will be tough, but this is also our best bet to grow fast. I know how foolhardy punching upwards is for most, but trust me, we will be wasting our capabilities if we do not.¡± he said seriously. Ianmus sighed, resting his forehead on his hands. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m actually agreeing to this.¡± he muttered to himself. The half-elf pushed his hair back and sat up. ¡°Fine, but try not to lose a limb? There''s only two healers in this city who can regenerate¡ªat least from what I can remember¡ªand I doubt any of us have the coin to skip the wait list.¡± Fizzing exhilaration flooded his chest, his blood warming at the thought of their upcoming battle. A day or two more and they could be off. Deadacre was nice and all, and he loved the Dusty Stables, but he longed for the freedom of the wilds once more. ¡°Great! I¡¯ll get us registered, and then we can head over to where me and Porkchop are staying to do some planning in a more private space.¡± Kaius said, standing up from his chair. ¡°If you don''t have an inn already, I¡¯d heavily recommend it. A little expensive, but I''m not sure how much of the silver a night is because of this lug.¡± Slapping his hand heavily on Porkchop¡¯s head, Kaius deftly wove around his brother''s playful nip to scratch him behind the ears. Ianmus agreed quickly. The inn was apparently still within what he could afford, and he was of the opinion that staying across town would do little but hamper their preparations for their upcoming excursion. Excusing himself from the table, Kaius approached the front counter, which thankfully was blessedly free of a line by the time he arrived. It seemed early afternoon was something of a slow period. Too late for the driven and organised, and too early for the lackadaisical. Spotting him approaching, Ro waved off a young attendant that Kaius had yet to see before. The man was moderately strapped, and seemed to have unfortunately chosen clothes a size too small. He gave Kaius a polite, if awkward, smile as he left, making room for Ro. ¡°You¡¯re lucky you found that one.¡± Ro opened with, nodding towards Ianmus. ¡°Solar mage, half-elf, and a spire elite. Down right fortuitous.¡± Kaius readily agreed with her. ¡°It¡¯s certainly convenient, that¡¯s for sure. Either way, I want to take this job.¡± He slid the mission slip across the counter. Ro read it in a glance, frowning at it. ¡°You''re sure?¡± she asked sternly, though she didn¡¯t push him to pick another. ¡°You¡¯re not overextending yourself?¡± ¡°No. As a team composition we counter it pretty handedly, and I have a solid handle on mine and Porkchop¡¯s limits.¡± he said with a shake of his head. Ro sighed, rubbing her forehead for a few seconds. ¡°Fine. But if you die, I''ll resurrect you myself just to kill you again.¡± she answered finally, eyes boring into his own with fierce intensity. She thrust out her hand imperiously, gesturing for him to pass something over. ¡°Your medallion, greenhorn.¡± she said with a roll of her eyes when he stared quizzically at the offered limb. Heat flushed his cheeks at the faux pas, the burn deepening further when Ro gave him a wide grin at his expression. Passing over his medallion, Ro used it to record his selected mission on some sort of stone block that sat just to the left of her desk. Covered in script, it was so far beyond his depths of runic knowledge he couldn¡¯t even identify the individual arrays that made it work. A second later she returned, passing both slip and medallion back to him. ¡°All done, your medallion will record the kill. go get ¡®em, greenhorn.¡± she said, before turning to whistle at the poorly dressed attendant at the rear of the building, jutting her thumb back at the desk as she walked off. Kaius shrugged to himself and returned to his team. At this point he had given up on trying to explain Ro¡¯s antics, the woman was eccentric in the extreme. Stopping at their table, Kaius collected Porkchop and Ianmus and they filed their way out of the Guild. Now all they had to do was plan their route, collect the supplies they needed, and strategise. Idly, as they walked the short distance to the Dusty Stables, Kaius wondered what grilled spider legs would taste like. B2 Chapter 166: Commute pt. 1 B2 Chapter 166: Commute pt. 1 The next few days were a flurry of activity. Right after leaving the guild they returned to the Dusty Stables for a quick visit, getting Ianmus set up in a far smaller room on the same floor he was in. Ianmus, the lucky bastard, only had to pay three copper a night for the pleasure, thanks to both the smaller room, and he wasn¡¯t paying to feed the equivalent of four men. Once Ianmus was settled, they¡¯d returned to the common area down below. Nodding to the few other proprietors of the place, they retreated to a secluded nook tucked into one corner of the room to discuss their plans. Less direct strategy for how they could manage this job, that would come the next day when they visited the maps that the Guild had to plan their route. Instead, they discussed how they could most effectively support each other in the long run, and how they expected their capabilities to develop as they filled out their class skills. Ianmus listened with rapt attention as Porkchop shared his own dreams of being a heavily armed bastion, and how he¡¯d developed a defensive battlefield control ability. He got even more enthused when Kaius, in a show of trust, shared more about his glyphs. How he¡¯d gain spells twice per tier for each one, and while he didn¡¯t know how many he would get, he was confident he would receive more as his class developed further. Then, leaning on a minor work of deception, Kaius explained his second skill. How it had forged a connection with his blade, changing its form with glyphic magic and allowing him to empower its enchantments. Drawing A Father¡¯s Gift just a hair, he showed off its new crystalline fuller and edge, and Ianmus leaned in, his eyes glinting with enraptured fascination. While there was no way he would be able to hide a growth weapon forever, Kaius hoped that it would be enough to ward off suspicion until he could ram Ianmus face first into a few of his own Honours. When that happened, there would be far less risk¡ªeven if it was already meagre with the man''s elvish respect for the meles. Ianmus himself held nothing back, explaining that he had several ¡®potent¡¯ metamagic and casting abilities. Neither he nor Porkchop questioned that, even if they both knew what he meant by that little hint. His class was a useful one, especially in their team composition. Focused primarily on supportive and restorative magics mostly through sorcerous casting, though the man had the manipulation and meta-magic to both raw cast and shape his system granted spells. In all likelihood, he would only receive a handful of directly damaging spells. Fortunately, Ianmus¡¯s free casting capability meant he was more than capable of devastating finishers if given ample time and safety to focus. With the penetrative searing power of solar magic, and the range it provided, it would complement their team nicely. Afterall, he and Porkchop were more than enough for most confrontations, especially if they had a dedicated mage supporting them. Not only that, according to Ianmus, solar casters had one of the few affinities that was all but guaranteed to develop true regenerative spells that could restore lost flesh. While they might take far longer than a life or nature mage, they also had the benefit that their spells often interfaced incredibly well with regenerative general skills - something that Kaius had shared he would likely develop and Porkchop already had. Sharing that, at least, made Ianmus far more comfortable with their current mission. Potent self-healing skills made their wanton disregard for their own bodily integrity at least understandable, even if it still wasn¡¯t quite sane. Retiring for the night, they¡¯d reconvened in the morning to return to the Guild. There they asked one of the attendants for directions to the maps¡ªthis time someone Kaius didn¡¯t recognise, rather than a well timed Ro swooping in to direct them. The woman had an uncanny sense for situations she would actually be useful for, he swore. Perhaps it was a skill? Entering the map room, only a few doors before the silence room where they had both been interviewed, they nodded to a fellow team of delvers who were planning a mission of their own. It was a wondrous space, geographical data of the entire region plastered on wall sized maps that covered every edge of the room with astounding accuracy and detail. Kaius even spotted a tiny dot nestled near the Sea labeled Three Fields. Their mission would take them a fair distance to the east and south. It was more grasslands for the most part, though towards their destination it shifted into the Hanset Woods. He¡¯d heard of them, though he¡¯d never visited. Supposedly, they resembled the Sea in the same way a shack resembled a castle. In either case, the prospect of being amongst the trees once more was pleasing, warming him to his belly. Porkchop also notably perked up when he realised they would be travelling to more familiar environs. Both he and Ianmus recorded notes and took sketches of their route. Even with a skill with a slight navigational bent, the more information he gave himself to work with, the better he would do at bringing them to their destination. None of them wanted to give their target even a single extra day to grow stronger before they fought, let alone that every hour it lived was another hour an unknowing traveller might end up dead. After that, they left as a group, before splitting up to gather necessary supplies and their final things before departure early on the morrow. The first place they stopped was Artifice and Arms to pick up Porkchop¡¯s newly inscribed barding. Jin had done a wondrous job, showing off the circular formation he had marked into the underside of the armour, just between Porkchop¡¯s shoulder blades. Kaius gave the man a friendly smile, glad that the stoic silence was fading. Even for him, who liked the peace and quiet, it was simply...odd to travel without at least a chat. ¡°Hanset Woods, taking a high copper contract on an illusion focused spider that''s been ambushing travelers.¡± he explained, watching the man wince in sympathy. Clearly, the man had as much distaste for oversized bugs as anyone else. A healthy response, in Kaius¡¯s mind. ¡°Bloody nasty, illusions are¡ª¡¯specially fer somethin¡¯ like a spider. Ye reckon ye¡¯ll be alright? Names Greth, seein¡¯ as we¡¯re talkin¡¯ now.¡± the guard responded, meting out introductions and commiserations both. Ianmus, as starved for conversation as the man had become, jumped in. ¡°We should be fine, a tough fight for sure, but between our affinities and skill sets we have quite the advantage on the beast.¡± Looking at his companion with an exaggerated expression of shock, Greth raised his eyebrows so they nearly brushed the top of his forehead. ¡°Well, well! The learn-ed one speaks, does he?¡± Kaius clenched his teeth, jaw straining to keep his face straight as Ianmus scowled at the friendly jab. Greth might have been a well travelled for a working man¡ªjudging by his odd accent at least¡ªbut it seemed he was just as comfortable teasing his ¡®betters¡¯ as anyone Kaius had met. ¡°But seriously, that be good. Whereabouts in those woods, then? We¡¯ll be circlin¡¯ back that way after our circuit. This change be good for levels, but I¡¯ll not pretend we have the experience or steel fer somethin¡¯ like that.¡± Greth said, a hint of worry spreading across his features, though the grizzled guard hid it well. Kaius nodded, it was understandable. Even for caravan guards, a profession that required a combat class, they¡¯d never had the strength and power of true delvers. Usually those without the pull of the Song, they¡¯d rarely had the need or desire to constantly seek battle until recently¡ªnor did they often have anything more than a Common class. Plus, they rarely had many levels. Before the change, it was rare that people on the road would see more than an attack or two per month on a long journey, and they would be weak and desperate things splitting experience between most of the caravan. ¡°We don¡¯t know exactly, but it''s the wooded road between Intshire and Holsborrough.¡± he answered the man, happy to share what they knew. ¡°Closer to Intshire then. Aye, that stretch¡¯s only wooded on the last third. Holsborough¡¯s a wee further outside of Hanset Woods. That¡¯s where we¡¯re bound on our way back.¡± Greth let out a heavy sigh of relief, before catching himself. ¡°Not that I¡¯m doubtin¡¯ ye could handle it, mind.¡± Kaius shook his head and chuckled. ¡°No harm, my good man. Only decent sense to be cautious in these days. Say, if you know Holsborough, mind telling me any places that do a good meal and a better drop? It¡¯d be nice to wet my throat after some hard tracks cross country.¡± Whatever self consciousness the Greth had felt at his tactless response, it was quickly replaced by a vibrant excitement that straightened his spine and filled him with energy. ¡°Oh aye! By far the best seen in all me travels. It¡¯s called--¡± Grenth started, only to be cut off with the sonorously baleful note of a horn. ¡°Eye¡¯s up lads, we got incoming!¡± the leader of the guards screamed from the front of the caravan, equal parts invigorated and focused. B2 Chapter 167: Commute pt. 2 B2 Chapter 167: Commute pt. 2 Kaius drew his blade in a moment, smokey crystal edges catching the light. His eyes snapped to the source of the voice, seeing the lead caravan guard staring off to the right of the caravan. What had caught the man''s attention was immediately evident. Some twisted entity, more gnarled ball of flailing roots than any creature of flesh and blood. It had to be a thousand strides off, yanking itself forwards with flailing spears of bramble. While beasts and the lower races were by far the most common threat people would face, they were not the only ones. The abominations and undead he had faced in the Depths were the perfect example of that. This one was not quite as malign as those twisted mockeries, but it was still dangerous. Most likely some kind of spirit, or elemental. Usually they were seen in areas of high mana density, and even then, only occasionally. Unfortunately, it seemed that the phase shift had reached the point that such creatures would appear in settled lands with more frequency. Mana surged to his side, plates of jade clacking against each other as Porkchop¡¯s barding popped into existence. Behind them, Ianmus was already channeling a free-casted spell, raw manipulation spinning mana into a working with impressive dexterity. ¡°Remember, brother, no spells.¡± Porkchop warned as he let loose a roaring cry of challenge, two of the lizard-like creatures who pulled the nearby merchant''s carriage hissing nervously. ¡°I know,¡± Kaius replied, rushing forwards at his brother¡¯s side to join the lead defenders. Each was at least level forty, and they watched them with interest as they rushed forwards. As guards, they most likely had Common classes, and there was an assumption of strength of those who possessed the madness to willingly throw themselves at the clutches of death as a chosen vocation. The ball of flailing roots drew closer as they reached the front of the pack, eerily silent except for the thwack of spiked wood digging into the soil. Most of the guards had crossbows and bows, waiting to fire until it drew in range. Kaius focused on the creature with True Sight. Bramble Ball - Level 32: Least Spirit, Skirmisher Light melee, a good opponent for the two of them, and low level to boot. At least, once his and Porkchop¡¯s true strength was taken into account. Snapping his head over to the lead guard, he whistled to catch his attention. ¡°How good¡¯s your men¡¯s aim? And anyone got any decent concussive or severing skills?¡± The man gave him an appraising look, the barest hint of a frown crossing his face as Kaius felt a glimmer of a probe against his Mask. ¡°You sure yer up for it, lad?¡± the man quickly asked, returning to watching the approaching spirit. Kaius grinned, a hot flush creeping up the back of his neck. ¡°Oh yes, sure as a taxman skims.¡± The caravan guard looked back to him, watching him for the barest moment before giving a nod. ¡°Gial, Rosh, cover him. Delver, yer mage-man looks like he¡¯s channelling enough mana to shit himself. You create the opening, he sears it dead, ye hear? Listen for me yell and get the fuck out of the way when you hear it.¡± Kaius looked back to Ianmus walking towards them, an intense look of concentration on his face as more and more solar mana streamed towards him, bound to his will. Kaius whistled softly to himself. Whatever Ianmus was doing, it had to have punch. Giving the lead caravan guard a nod, he slapped his brother on the shoulder before seizing a saddle loop in his hand and leaping onto Porkchop¡¯s back. ¡°Go.¡± Porkchop needed no other encouragement. Releasing a roar that kicked Kaius in the chest, his brother¡¯s claws dug into the earth and muscles rippled as he accelerated in moments. The sudden impulse rocked Kaius back, forcing him to crouch low and hold onto his leather loop for dear life. Exhilaration surged at the sudden acceleration, a joyful whoop sliding free from his mouth. They charged across the open ground as he held his sword high. It was a perfect time for them to practice something they had been discussing. Against a foe well within their capabilities, with plenty of support, it was the best opportunity. Mounted combat. Utterly uncaring of their challenge, the bramble ball rolled on, thorny vines whipping with independent frenzy as they speared into the earth to drag it forwards. Only one indication told him it had recognised their threat, the monster adjusting its course to intercept them. Sprays of dirt exploding with every bound, Porkchop¡¯s explosive strength brought them to speeds that left the wind whistling in Kaius¡¯s ears and his stomach lurching. **Ding! Initiate¡¯s Glyphic Bladerite has reached level 5!** For the fourth pass, he ignored his skill, wanting a comparison to see how effective it truly was. The difference was... hard to tell. The wounds he left in the spirit were just as dire, but, without his enchantments, empowered living wood was no longer so easy to cut through. His blade bucked, nearly wrenched from his hand before heightened reflexes kicked in and he was able to clutch his weapon with a startled burst of strength. Despite the rhythmic thumping of Porkchop¡¯s gait, and the heavy bellows of his breath, Kaius didn¡¯t miss the small hoot that left his brother¡¯s mouth, nor the flood of amusement that crossed their bond. Of course, trust in Porkchop to find the time to focus on his fuck ups in the middle of a fight. Dismissing the flush of warmth on his cheeks as the invigoration that came with the Song, Kaius refocused on their opponent. With a body as alien as its own, it was hard for him to tell how injured the bramble ball really was. Sure, it was absolutely covered in sticky sap, the glistening fluid lousy with the splintered remnants of its own severed limbs. On the other hand, it had not slowed, and it seemed no matter how many vines they cut there were more waiting to sprout. ¡°Another pass, it¡¯s got to be at the end of its tether.¡± Kaius demanded, focused intensity colouring his words with the fervent need to see his opponent crushed utterly. Porkchop growled in response, delighted agreement rushing across their bond soundlessly. They raced in. Ready and waiting for them, the bramble ball surged. Suddenly another three dozen thorned vines erupted from its chaotic body. It had to be a skill, stamina of some sort judging by the fact he saw no tell tale sign of mana The air was flooded with a staccato boom of thunder, each and every vine cracking like a bullwhip as they launched towards Porkchop with synchronous violence. His stomach lurched at the sight of the oncoming storm. Blade glowing with internal light, he slashed through two handfuls of vines, but there were more than twice that number waiting. Each one snaked around Porkchop, binding him tight as thorns dug deep into flesh and barding alike. Howling in pain, Kaius felt his brother buck against the skill. To be restrained was to be cowed, and he had never seen Porkchop cowed. Speed and mass in his favour, Porkchop doubled down. Kaius braced himself, feeling his brother¡¯s intention as he tapped into his amulet. Suddenly their speed doubled as Porkchop adjusted, heading straight for the meat of the monster. Evidently, it hadn¡¯t anticipated that they would decide against another strafing run. It had braced to pull them back, not push them away, and now with multiple tons of muscle and bone descending on it there was no recourse left. It tried to yank itself to the side. Kaius smiled as he saw that, with its commitment to its assault, it was left with too few tentacles to move with any haste. Twisted plant-life pulped as Porkchop smashed the spirit with the unstoppable might of a runaway carriage. Sap sprayed through the air, splattering heavily on Kaius¡¯s armour. Then the bramble born went airborne, flying up and out as a dozen splintered and snapped vines writhed through the air with furious intensity. ¡°NOW!¡± the leader of the guards screamed. Two arrows slammed into the arcing bramble ball. Whatever skills those guards had used, it was a different one from the previous. Both arrows detonated, vines exploding out of the knotted mass, carving a deep crater into its animated almost-flesh. Whiteness dominated his vision. The air howled in desperation, sundered as a beam as wide as his fist crackled into existence with a primal scream. Kaius watched in shocked fascination, the might of Ianmus¡¯s preparations making themselves known with the finality of a delivered promise of destruction. The heat of it. Kaius could feel it from three dozen strides away, searing his hair and scorching an afterimage of divine desolation onto his eyes. The bramble ball didn¡¯t stand a chance. The spell hit it dead on and continued unhindered. Immolated from the inside out, Kaius could barely see it fall to the ground limp, so blinding was his ally¡¯s attack. **Ding! level 32 Bramble Ball - Lashing Shambler slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength! Experience reduced due to significant group size.** Whipping his head over to the caravan, Kaius was treated to the sight of a dozen guards cheering at their victory. At their front, two guards dripping with sweat, and one Ianmus - his face so pale that Kaius was surprised the man was even standing. ¡°Damn, elf-boy¡¯s hits like an irontusk.¡± Porkchop said slowly. ¡°Even if he¡¯s about as hasty as a particularly energised snail.¡± he continued, unable to help himself from slipping in a friendly jab. It was all Kaius could do to nod in agreement, still shocked at the violence that had been hiding within their reedy academic. B2 Chapter 168: Commute pt. 3 B2 Chapter 168: Commute pt. 3 Blinking rapidly to clear the blinding afterimage that cut across his vision like a streak of white paint, Kaius looked back to where the corpse of the bramble ball had fallen. No longer hidden by the overwhelming brilliance of Ianmus¡¯s working, he got a good look at the destruction his friend¡¯s skill had wrought. It had been burnt out utterly, scorched black and burned from the searing power of the sun. The hole in its centre was as large as his head, and growing larger as flickering flames slowly consumed the green growth of the bundle of vines. Shaking his head in amazement, Kaius slid from his saddle and sheathed his sword. Astounding. He¡¯d heard tales of how mages, especially those with free casting abilities, were at their most dangerous with ample companions to give them the time they needed to prepare. It was common knowledge, with enough focus and time it was possible to leverage immense quantities of mana into a single cataclysmic work. Still, seeing that devastation meted out by a single man? Who had yet to secure his third class skill? It sent chills of awe down his spine. It was almost enough to make him reconsider his path. Almost. With Porkchop at his side he strolled his way to the cluster of guards, who celebrated with cheers and shoulder claps. His eyes found his way to Ianmus, leaning heavily on his staff and as pale as a sheet. Sweat dripped from his every pore, the mage¡¯s chest labouring to draw in vital air as he recovered from his exertion. No, while it was frightening and impressive, he still preferred his path. He didn¡¯t miss that the spell had taken everything from his companion. A powerful boon for their party, certainly, but one that left the half-elf defenseless and totally reliant on the capabilities of his allies. Kaius could never; he much preferred the rush of blood and the singing of blades scything through the air, his body pushed to the limit as he dealt arcane death and steely ruin with equal measure. Noticing his approach, Ianmus gave him a weak smile. The motion proved too much for the man, his chest heaving as he buckled over and retched. Frowning at the sight, Kaius hurried forwards. ¡°Ianmus! Are you alright?¡± he asked, worry gripping him by the neck. ¡°He¡¯ll be alright, lad.¡± the voice of the guard leader came from the pack near the caravan. ¡°Just a bit of mana-burn, too much arcane too fast, ain''t that right mageling?¡± ¡°Correct,¡± Ianmus gasped. ¡°You¡¯re rather learned for a guard.¡± he grumbled, getting his stomach under control before he heaved himself upwards. Kaius still watched him closely, frowning in concern. Quivering with most of his weight on his staff, his ally looked ready to just about keel over dead. He sidled closer, ready to catch his friend if he truly did pass out. The leader of the guards only laughed. ¡°Work the caravan routes for a living and you see enough mages; ain¡¯t the first time I''ve seen mana-burn¡ªand it won¡¯t be the last. Though, I will say that most lose their breakfast, yer got some iron in ya.¡± the guardsman tilted his head in respect, before he switched his focus to Kaius. ¡°And ye, that was some fierce fighting, lad. Name¡¯s Umesh. You and yer beast really tore that thing a new one, I hope it didn¡¯t get you bad?¡± The man asked, his eyes drifting over Kaius¡¯s armour, taking in the streaks of blood that cut through the trickles of sap that coated him. ¡°Kaius.¡± he said, sharing his own name. While they had nominally been travelling next to the caravan, they¡¯d kept a respectful distance, and this was the first that he¡¯d had the opportunity to introduce himself. ¡°Nothing more than scratches. It would have been a different story if we stood in place for long enough to get properly entangled.¡± he responded, rolling his shoulders uncomfortably at the thought of being bound by the bramble balls macerating tendrils. ¡°But ye weren¡¯t, and ye didn¡¯t.¡± Unesh replied, giving him a knowing nod. ¡°Can¡¯t get caught up on pasts that never happened. Listen, my job ain¡¯t over just cause we had one good scrap, but ye two should stop by my spot when we stop for the evening. Happy to share a little o¡¯ my stash of grog for the stars of the show.¡± Kaius grinned. A drink would be nice, and¡ªeven if they never saw the men from this caravan again¡ªit was always pleasant to talk and swap stories. There was something sacred about sharing a fire with a stranger, friends for a night before parting ways forever more. He and Father had done it more than once in the Sea, something of an unspoken culture for the loner types who hunted its reaches. He gave the man a nod, before he threw his hand under Ianmus¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Alright, let''s get back to our spot.¡± he said, helping his friend steady himself. ¡°I can walk myself, you know.¡± Ianmus mumbled. Kaius let out a snort, and didn¡¯t budge. ¡°I just watched you struggle to keep your lunch down for the better part of a minute, I think you¡¯re lying.¡± Ianmus grumbled, but didn¡¯t protest again. Walking away from the front of the caravan, Kaius heard Umesh giving his men a debrief on the fight, telling them more about the creature they had faced, and its various weaknesses. Interestingly, it seemed that most spirit creatures had some sort of nexus within their body that was far harder for them to heal. He groaned as he heard that. Spirits were rare enough that unless you wandered the frontier endlessly you were liable to never see one in your life. Evidently, Father had slacked on explaining more esoteric threats in favour of likely ones, as that was a nugget of information that would have been drastically helpful to know before he fought one. Ianmus must have known though, given the man had eviscerated the core of the creature with pinpoint precision. By the time they were a couple of carriage lengths from the front, Kaius heard Umesh give a sharp whistle. They even had a moment of excitement when a troupe of mole-things burst from the earth and set upon them in a swarm of excited chitters, each swipe of their long claws spraying them with shards of hardened stone. Not enough to truly blood them, not with their growing strength, but it was enough to push him over the edge of level twenty-three, and net him a level of Drakthar and Uncanny Dodge both. As the sun dipped over the horizon, they made camp beneath a drooping willow tree, finding some shelter from the low wind by its draping canopy. Sitting by a flickering fire of scavenged deadwood and leaning bodily into his brother''s dozing side, Kaius looked over to Ianmus. ¡°So, now that we¡¯re alone. This mana-burn thing. Any idea why it hasn¡¯t affected me?¡± Ianmus sighed, tapping his hand against his knee. ¡°Honestly? Not a clue, I don¡¯t have the barest theoretical understanding of how your magic works. You willing to share?¡± Staring into the fire, Kaius thought about it. While there was some risk, it was minimal when you considered everything else Ianmus already knew. Hells, no doubt the simple fact that runic spellcasting was possible and somehow tied to body formations would probably be enough for a master to tinker with, even if it would take them months to make any real headway. Still, he already had his class, and with its requirements he didn¡¯t see anyone catching up to him any time soon. ¡°We started with a complex binding formation that networked itself closely to the body''s mana flows. That''s the backbone. The spells are separate, each similar to the spell-forms inscribed on artefacts with active effects.¡± Kaius explained, casually sketching out diagrams in the dirt. Ianmus leaned in to get a better look. ¡°Spellforms are inherently unstable without a stabilising structure, in this case the glyph. But, there''s a problem.¡± ¡°If they¡¯re stably linked, you need to channel to use them?¡± Ianmus interjected animatedly. ¡°Got it in one. Instead, if you tweak them a little, you can effectively pre-channel the spell, forcing the spell-form to hold its potential and lock away a section of your pool. Though, the trade off is it takes far longer.¡± he continued, weaving tight little whorls of mana inside a vague approximation of a Lothian array. ¡°But that... surely that would make it even less stable?¡± Ianmus asked incredulously, staring at his drawings with fascination plain on his face. He nodded. It did, and his father had gotten stuck on that part for months. Drawing in the ground, Kaius sketched a little channel between his fake glyph and him, before drawing a bunch of lines tying them together. ¡°Extra stabilising arrays, and a ruinously complex control mechanism to hold onto the mana with an iron grip helps with that part. It''s surprisingly stable. Until, that is, you nudge the working with a little will.¡± He cut though the edge of the spell array, fully connecting it to the glyph through the channel. ¡°-and all of that unstable mana is forced through the working in an instant, purely due to its own directed collapse and the natural nature of mana.¡± Ianmus finished for him, dawning understanding glowing like a fire in his eyes. ¡°That¡¯s...that¡¯s brilliant.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad someone else understands, because I swear that every time he talks about it, it''s as understandable to me as watching a boar try to fly.¡± Porkchop snorted, watching on with interest. Kaius grinned, it was true. He¡¯d tried to tell Porkchop about it at first, but his brother had no patience for the finer intricacies of runecraft and magic. Ianmus looked back to the sketch, tapping his fingers on his chin. ¡°Well, if this holds true for your newer, more complex glyphs, I don¡¯t actually think you can get mana-burn. Or, at the very least, you are far more resistant to it than most.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Kaius replied, tilting his head at the mage. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Well, it''s pretty simple isn''t it? You¡¯re not actually carrying the load of that spell on your circuits, it''s all done ahead of time. That much unstable mana would give you mild mana-burn every single time you cast if it did, so at the very least your glyphs acting like conduits must be bearing a significant portion of the load.¡± Ianmus explained. Kaius sighed in relief, slumping back into the warm wall of fur behind him. ¡°Thank the gods, I was worried I would have to steer clear of any high cost spells in the future.¡± ¡°We both know you wouldn¡¯t even if you did get mana-burn.¡± Ianmus laughed, followed quickly by Porkchop¡¯s own rumbling chuckles. ¡°He¡¯s got you there.¡± Kaius rolled his eyes, but took the teasing on the chin. Afterall, they weren¡¯t really wrong. With his worries answered, their conversation moved to more light hearted topics, and Kaius busied himself with cooking their evening meal. In all likelihood, they would reach the expected range of their target by noon the day after tomorrow, and would likely run into more beasts as they entered Hanset Woods even earlier than that. For now though, Kaius simply enjoyed a little easy conversation amongst even easier company. B2 Chapter 169: Commute, Finale B2 Chapter 169: Commute, Finale Crossing open fields that were gradually shifting into light woods, Kaius walked with his team. His eyes roved over the various clusters of trees that dominated the flat horizon, searching their depths for any sign of beasts that might challenge them. While there were plenty of them about, it seemed there weren¡¯t all that many of a large enough size to truly want to tussle with their group. Something that would no doubt change as they grew in strength. Beast bloodlines were odd things, and as more variants appeared, he had no doubt that even a common crow could become a threat. While he would normally travel mounted for the speed advantage, with Ianmus there was really no point, and it felt more than a little rude to subject Porkchop to his weight for no reason. Still, as the day had passed them, Kaius had been unable to get the conversation he and Ianmus had the previous night out of his head. There was so little that he knew of the glyphs that he had received from his class, and with all the excitement he¡¯d yet to take the opportunity to really study them. While he no longer possessed a true knowledge skill, Tonal Weaving did increase his comprehension of the glyphs and hymns granted to him by the system. With the addition of his Bladerite, he finally had another point of comparison. With how quiet this leg of their trip was being, his curiosity gnawed at him. It settled on his mind like an itch, sucking at his focus. Every few moments he caught himself staring at nothing, thinking on the structure of his glyphs. He sighed. Until he gave in and actually checked how much he was able to glean from comparing his two skills, he would be a useless scout. As it was, he was liable to miss something right in front of his face. ¡°Mind if I hop on? I want to meditate on my glyphs a little.¡± he asked, tapping Porkchop on the shoulder to grab his attention. ¡°Finally.¡± his brother snorted. ¡°You really don¡¯t need to put that much pressure on yourself to keep watch. I¡¯m here too, you know, and it''s not like you¡¯ll be insensate if you¡¯re just sitting there with your eyes closed.¡± Rolling his eyes at his brother¡¯s jab, Kaius grabbed one of the leather straps on Porkchop¡¯s barding and leapt into his saddle. Leaning forwards, he ruffled his brother¡¯s fur before settling back and getting comfortable. Honestly, with the impact absorption of the stone charger leather, it cradled him better than almost anything else he¡¯d sat on. Closing his eyes, Kaius brought his glyphs to the forefront of his mind''s eye, tuning out the idle chatter that had started between Porkchop and Ianmus. Mustering his will, he drew on everything he had learned¡ªall of the sacred geometry and runic mystery of Drakthar, Stormlash, and Bladerite coming to mind at once. A dull ache throbbed at the back of his skull; the task a precarious thing that was only possible thanks to the Vesryn formations having been burnt into his mind by the will of the system. At first, it was almost impossible to keep them all in focus. His mind would drift, focusing on one working to sharpen its edges, only for the others to become hazy and unfocused. Forcing himself to relax, Kaius took a slow breath and allowed himself to let go of the desire to clutch any single aspect of the workings, filling in the details piece by piece. His effort was not in vain. Minute by minute, all three workings grew increasingly clear in his mind. **Ding! True Sight has reached level 36!** **Ding! Tonal Weaving has reached level 30!** ... **Ding! Tonal Weaving has reached level 31!** Eventually all of them burned in his mind, as crisp as if he had spent hours lavishly rendering them on parchment. Now the true work could begin. Mentally distancing himself from the workings, he rotated them in his mind, viewing them from every angle. That was the true problem with the inscrutable Vesryn magic; they were three dimensional. He couldn¡¯t just write them down. Honestly, without the skill and power to render them in the real with raw manipulation abilities, or mundane carving, he truly had no idea how someone would even go about learning the damn things. Thank the gods he could visualise them. Watching them closely, Kaius started to compare, attempting to find any sources of similarity. On a superficial level, there were none. At least, that''s what he thought at first. The runes that made up each one were different in nature, though there were commonalities. He suspected that rather than being wrought from the same runic language, Vesryn might have been made up of a small collection. Though, far different from his original glyph, they seemed to share the same base level principles. It was the little things, the same symmetry in sacred geometry, and extremely similar cadences to the lines of runes. He had no idea what any of it did, but he could spot the similarities. A common root. It was most stark with Stormlash and Drakthar, which made sense considering that one relied on the other to function. They both had the same aggressive bent¡ªexaggerated flicks, acute angles, and slashing lines. Yet neither were utterly alien when compared to the Bladerite, all of them seemed to follow a similar grammar structure, and he could even spy a couple of common characters shared between all of them, though more were present in his spell glyph and hymn. Kaius hummed, a small frown of surprise crossing his mouth. That was...unexpected, and utterly unlike any other runic language he knew of. Sure, all runes had similar principles, but each language was its own thing, and he had never heard of runes being shared across different scripts. It flew completely in the face of what he knew of sacred geometry. Each rune affected mana in a specific way, combining with others to make an effect. If, at the end of the day, they were interoperable, wouldn¡¯t that make them all part of the same language after all? But why the extreme stylistic disparity? If it was a language, it was one with far more depth and nuance than he was used to. Ianmus groaned in commiseration. ¡°I know what you mean. I¡¯ve been meditating on them almost every night since we got the global notification, but I have yet to make any headway. Not even a glimmer of a feeling to let me know i''m moving in the right direction.¡± Letting out a cough, Kaius scratched his head. Knowing that he had felt something when an academic like Ianmus hadn¡¯t was both gratifying, and a little awkward. In all honesty, he could admit it was petulant to get frustrated in the face of progress, even if it was small. ¡°Well. That¡¯s the thing. I felt something. Barely anything, but something.¡± Kaius said softly, as if it would soften the blow. It didn¡¯t. Porkchop and Ianmus narrowed their eyes at him in unison, though neither slowed their pace across the open grasslands. ¡°Details, please.¡± Porkchop said slowly, craning his neck to fix him with an intense one-eyed stare. ¡°Yes, Kaius. Tell us how you managed to stumble across a lead to the greatest mystery of our generation in a half hour of meditation.¡± Ianmus said, shaking his head. ¡°I swear to the gods, prodigies are something else.¡± Kaius rolled his eyes at the melodrama. Clearly, the two were jealous of the ironclad proof of his genius. Theatrics aside, he was happy to share. Porkchop was his brother, and, much likeHonours, figuring out Aspects would bind Ianmus to their pact of secrecy. That, and he was an intelligent man who would no doubt be of great aid to figuring out their secrets. ¡°Well, it was honestly rather simple. I was thinking about things I thought were fundamental pillars of who I was as a person. I ended up thinking about how much I crave struggle and a lofty goal to strive towards, and how I can often be single minded in my pursuit of them.¡± Kaius explained. ¡°And that was enough to figure out an Aspect?¡± Porkchop asked with incredulous disbelief. Kaius shook his head vigorously. ¡°No, of course not. It was barely a glimmer of a reaction, I tried to follow it, take the thread deeper, but it slipped away from me. Must have been off the mark somehow.¡± ¡°More importantly, I¡¯m far more interested in what that reaction was. Was it just a feeling?¡± Ianmus asked, searching his face as if the secrets he was looking for were hiding just beneath his skin. ¡°At first, it was just a feeling that disappeared quickly, but, when I repeated it again inside my soulspace, I saw my soul...flicker for lack of a better term. The lightest of pulses within its depths that rippled across its surface. Mentis reacted, pulling on my soul-fire by just a hair. I wasn¡¯t able to get much more than that, it slipped away from me quickly. Hence the frustration.¡± Kaius explained, still feeling irritated that he hadn¡¯t been able to gain anything more concrete. Ianmus nodded, his brow furrowing in thought. ¡°Well, that¡¯s not all that much, but at least we have confirmation it¡¯s to do with our understanding of ourselves.¡± Porkchop suggested, watching dutifully ahead. ¡°I¡¯m not so sure that¡¯s the only thing we learned.¡± Ianmus murmured. ¡°The bond you two share, it links your souls like other bond skills, correct?¡± Kaius nodded, while there were many differences between his and Porkchop¡¯s bond of equals, and a traditional bond skill, that much was at least true. ¡°Then why was Porkchop not able to feel the pulse in your soul?¡± Ianmus asked, curious. Kaius¡¯s eyes widened. Ianmus was right, he and Porkchop were bound so totally that simple surface level emotion flooded their connection with ease. Their actual souls shone brightly to each others senses, and something so integral to their being like a shift in that fire should have been immediately obvious. ¡°Can you think of why?¡± Kaius asked. Ianmus shrugged, giving him an apologetic look. ¡°I honestly have no idea. It could be that whatever you touched on was so subtle it slipped Porkchop¡¯s notice, or it could be that whatever processes involve the Aspects are so personal it is occluded from him. Either way, it''s a clue.¡± Kaius sighed. Great, another floating thread with little of substance to use to unravel the ensnared knot of unknowns. He resigned himself to let the mystery lie, for now at least. He was too worked up to do anymore today. Frustrating or no, it was still a lead. Far more than most people had. He resolved himself to meditating on the topic with far more regularity than he had been. Leaving the discovery of aspects to chance was something he had no interest in. After all, it was almost certain the first one there would get an Honour for their efforts, and the longer he could keep the secret of those from escaping into the wider world, the less he would have to worry about competition. Shaking his head, Kaius cleared his mind of tantalising secrets and slid from the saddle. Ultimately, it was a future problem and a future goal. Right now he was hunting a spider, and they had planning to do. B2 Chapter 170: The First Job pt. 1 B2 Chapter 170: The First Job pt. 1 In the day and a half since his minor revelation on his Mentis aspect, Kaius was completely unsuccessful in exploring the strange reaction further. In the handful of times he¡¯d meditated, he¡¯d only managed to get a similar reaction once more, the others leading to nothing but frustration. Though even that was fading as he resigned himself to the discovery of his Aspects being an inscrutable and lengthy process. His days, at least, were far more exciting. The light covering of trees slowly grew denser, slowly enclosing the ever shrinking patches of open grasses until they were little more than clear meadows scattered through a light forest. It was an interesting experience. In some ways it was familiar, a lesser cousin to the Sea. Trees as far as the eyes could see, and the familiar smell of wood, rotting leaves, and abundant life. In others, it was utterly alien. While this might have been a wood, it was a far cry from what Kaius considered to be the real thing, and even further from the deep reaches that Porkchop had called his home. Here, even the grandest and most venerable oak was a pale reflection of the specimens he considered typical. Their tallest just barely matching the average growth of the endless mat of life that covered the north-western reaches of Vaastivar. It was still nice to be back in the comforting embrace of a forest again, though; even if this one left so much blue sky visible through its thin canopy that he may as well have been in an open field. That was the main difference, Kaius decided. The story behind how the Arboreal Sea had gotten its name was a rather simple one, and one that had delighted him as a child. The trees were so large, so densely packed, that when you looked up all you saw was a sea of green¡ªthat, and the undergrowth was so dense in some parts that looking down was yet more endless green. Still, even if the Hanset Woods were small and insignificant in comparison to his home, they were still dense enough that navigating required some active focus. Kaius took the lead for the group, relying on Explorer¡¯s Toolkit to keep them on a steady heading, and to steer them clear of any potential ambushes. It had already done so. Five times. Once was a simple mundane beehive, though one of impressive scale. He¡¯d steered them around that, though he¡¯d had to be rather forceful when Porkchop had gotten fixated on the prospect of ¡®free honey, literally just sitting there¡¯. Unfortunately for his brother, neither he nor Ianmus had Porkchop¡¯s thick hide, and were in no mood for warding off a swarm of stinging insects. The others had been genuine ambushes. First, a bear, then a bloody warg of all things, then another bear, and two separate packs of wolves. Ridiculous, but also fun. All but the bears had been lower level than them, so he¡¯d only been able to squeeze a handful of skill levels and a single level for his class. Still, it got the blood pumping, and the bear meat was good for a stew, what with the plentiful seasonal berries they had been gorging themselves on. Eventually, the sun still rising on its arc through the sky, Kaius spotted what he had been looking for. A gap in the trees, sun shining brilliantly on a strip of land that had been clear cut. Easily a hundred-fifty strides wide, felled stumps littered the gap¡ªonly torn free to make way for a wide packed dirt road that had been scattered with gravel. The road between Intshire and Holsbourrough, if his navigation had steered them right. Hurrying forwards, Kaius reached the edge of the treeline and poked his head out. Leaning on True Sight, he peered far in either direction, searching for threats¡ªand any sign of their wayward giant spider. The coast was clear, the road entirely empty apart from a single deer sprinting across the gap between the trees, a solid quarter league to his right. Turning back, he gave his waiting companions a confident nod. ¡°Thank the gods, it¡¯s so good to be able to see more than a dozen strides in front of me.¡± Ianmus sighed. ¡°You¡¯re weird, for an elf.¡± Porkchop replied, cocking his head at Ianmus. ¡°Half-elf remember, and no matter where my father is from, I¡¯m a city boy through and through.¡± Ianmus replied with a grumble. Kaius chuckled at the man''s discomfort. While he was right that there was no reason people of elvish descent had to like forests, it was still a little bizarre that Ianmus seemed so actively disconcerted by the close press of the forest proper. While the rest of their trio continued to bicker good naturedly, Kaius went to Porkchop¡¯s side and retrieved his notebook. He flicked through the pages, mentally tallying their overland route and cross referencing it with his notes of the guild maps and recognisable features that he had used as way points. No doubt they were a couple of leagues off in either direction, but he¡¯d chosen this stretch of road to cover for that variability. Either way, their target should just be a handful of leagues to their right, along the road. As many as ten, and as little as two. With their walking speed significantly faster than an unenhanced man could ever manage, they would undoubtedly reach the spider by the afternoon at the latest. Nodding to himself he stowed his notes and clapped, drawing both of his companions attention. ¡°This way.¡± he said, leading his group to the road. Threads glowing with mana popped into his vision, so thin that they would have been invisible without True Sight. Glistening in the midday sun, they stretched across the road by the hundreds. A glistening carpet woven at waist height, threaded between the trunks and stretching more than a hundred strides down the road. It didn¡¯t look like a trap. Not really. The threads were too thin, and far too far appart to hold anything of significant size. Kaius knew that spiders didn¡¯t just use webs as a sticky trap, they were also sensors. Strings to let the beast know when something passed. He whipped his eyes to the forest''s edges, searching for his opponent. It tried to hide, masking itself in the same magic that had hidden its snare. It didn¡¯t work¡ªhe had the measure of the ability now¡ªand it shattered like glass before the power of his legacy skill. It was a hideous thing, mottled white and bile yellow, covered in a dense carpet of finger-length hairy bristles. Lurking in the crown of a tree, it watched them with eight glistening eyes the colour of ruby wine. Too many legs for any sane man to be comfortable held up its impressive bulk, distributing its weight between eight different branches. Let alone the fangs, as big as his forearm with venom actively dripping to pool in the boroughs of the trunk beneath it. What¡¯s more, breaking the spider''s magic revealed the totality of the destruction it had wrought. Shattered waggons littered the tree line, lines of carved earth showing where they had been crudely dragged from the road. Easily a dozen of them, if not more. There were no bodies, no remains. No doubt consumed by the spider. The lost souls who had fallen beneath its fangs would have their succour, he would make sure of it. ¡°I see it.¡± Kaius murmured, keeping his stance relaxed as he looked away from the beast. No need to give the game away just yet. ¡°How big is it? Is it really the size of a horse?¡± Porkchop asked, morbid curiosity flooding their link. Kaius chuckled. Perhaps a draught-horse, but it was far larger than the average gelding, that was for sure. ¡°Please tell me it''s as big as a horse, I don¡¯t like the sound of that laugh.¡± Ianmus said, blanching the thought. ¡°Let¡¯s call it big-horse sized.¡± He relented, though it was a little funny how much it bothered them. He hated spiders as much as the next person, but they were going to smash the damn thing. What better way to work through the discomfort? ¡°Level and tags?¡± Porkchop asked. ¡°Checking now.¡± He flicked his eyes back to the spider, bringing up its system information. Veiled Assassin Spider- Level 81: Beast, Ambusher, Elite Kaius bared his fangs, the system''s words brewing a storm of competition deep within his belly. Now wasn¡¯t that interesting. Maybe fifty levels higher would be enough for another Honour? B2 Chapter 172: The First Job pt. 3 B2 Chapter 172: The First Job pt. 3 Driven by its rudimentary instincts, the massive assassin spider dropped its illusion and pounced forward. It hit the road at a dead sprint, seven remaining legs moving with mechanical precision as it tried to remove the threat that had injured it so. With the spider revealed, Porkchop stared at the approaching beast with disgust. ¡°Mother of Matriarchs, it¡¯s fucking hideous!¡± he growled, claws digging deep into the earth as he readied himself to meet its charge. Laughing at his brother''s reaction to the manic scramble of the assassin spider, Kaius risked a quick look back to check on Ianmus. The mage was bent over, panting, but seemed far more stable than he had been after his use of his free cast beam against the bramble ball. Their plan for him to hold some mana in reserve had worked. That was good, they¡¯d need his assistance for the coming battle. Ianmus downed one of the mana potions that he had given him, grimacing at the taste. A moment later he took a deep breath and met Kaius¡¯s eyes, giving him a nod. Returning the gesture, Kaius flourished his blade and refocused on the oncoming threat. Even down one leg, the assassin spider was fast, having closed enough of the distance that he could hear the mad chitter of its fangs clacking together. ¡°Ready?¡± he asked, keeping his left hand free to cast. ¡°Ready.¡± Porkchop confirmed, bracing himself even more as powerful muscles rippled while he locked his claws into the earth. The moment arrived. As the assassin spider got within fifty strides of their formation, Kaius watched his brother tense, and felt his will shift through their bond as he activated his skill. A wave of rippling vitality coursed through Porkchop as he slammed his front claws deeper into the earth. In that same moment, a wall of raw jade erupted behind the sprinting assassin spider. Jagged and imposing, it glimmered in the shining sun as it shattered the earth in its passage. The slab of crystal¡ªa full head taller than Kaius and half that again wide¡ªrocketed through the earth, shedding a trail of cracked stone and pluming dust in its passing as it moved to Porkchop¡¯s will. Right towards the back of the pony-sized spider. Kaius watched the very moment it realised something was approaching. It hissed in surprise, trying to lurch to the left. Yet, for all of its speed, the beast was too slow to dodge. Hardened crystal met empowered chitin with a crack, and the assassin spider fell into an uncontrolled stumble. That was his cue. Kaius tapped into the roiling power stored in his glyph, the thin whine of arcing lightning joined with the acrid bite of ozone and searing light. Kicking off, Kaius dashed to the right of his brother and whipped his Stormlash towards the hissing tangle of chitinous legs and dripping fangs. Lightning arced through the air, following the guidance of Kaius¡¯s will to bind itself to the approaching spider. Thunder cracked the sky. Its deafening thump kicked him in the chest and set his heart aflutter with the rush of glorious battle. Fine hairs on the creature''s body burned in the path of his arcane might, electrical mana and potent reverberations wreaking havoc its internals. Vital fluid steamed from the gaps in the spider''s carapace, squealing like a teapot. It seized. Just barely¡ªwith its levels and power Stormlash wasn¡¯t quite enough to completely incapacitate it. It was enough. Already struggling to keep its many legs beneath it as Porkchop¡¯s Prismatic Shardwall forced it forwards, it collapsed. His brother¡¯s skill did the rest. His brother tapped into his amulet and charged. In a single instant, Porkchop went from a standstill to an explosive advance as he hauled on his deep grip of the earth. A boulder of flesh and jade smashed into the spider, squeezing it between Porkchop¡¯s assault and his immovable Shardwall. Chitin cracked, oozing ichor. Despite the titanic forces involved, the assassin spider reacted instantly. Letting out a chitter, it lunged for Porkchop with fangs that oozed a viscous fluid. Kaius watched his brother roll his shoulders smoothly, the bite clacking against a hard plate of jade before Porkchop snapped his head to sink his jaws around the nearest available spider leg. There was a sickening crack, and Porkchop brawled on. With furor and primal potency he occupied the spider''s attention, weathering spearing stabs from its leg and poisonous bites. Most ricocheted off his brother¡¯s armour. But not all. For every five blows that Porkchop shifted, taking on his heavy plate, another slipped past his defence. His under-armour did much to blunt the concussive force, but it was only of middling help against the assassin spider''s needle-like tips of its legs. After-all, it was padding designed to absorb shock rather than deflect a piercing point. Thankfully, he¡¯d been able to avoid any bites. The spider¡¯s fangs dripped with venom, and Porkchop had taken more than one stabbing strike of its legs in order to deflect a bite with a stone armour plate. While his brother held the spider occupied, Kaius did not wait idle. Another searing flash blanketed the woods as he summoned another Stormlash; cooking the monstrous spider from within, and stunning it for just barely a fraction of a moment. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Drakthar has reached level 21!** Enough time for Porkchop to react to another biting strike, poison glistening on the surface of his armour. Nor was Ianmus resting on his laurels, even if he had more than earned a moment of respite due to the potency of his overwhelming first-strike. Kaius kicked off the ground, his surroundings blurring with his sudden acceleration. He felt the invigorating rush of Ianmus¡¯s skill settling over him like a mantle. **Ding! Initiate¡¯s Glyphic Bladerite has reached level 10!** **Ding! Tempered by Dissonance has reached level 37!** Doom flared once more. The spider turned to face him, Porkchop mewling as its leg that pierced him shifted within his body. Heart thundering in his chest, Kaius kicked off the ground, moving to create distance as he tried to ward off the coming attack with another Stormlash, whipping the bolt overhead to strike the spider directly on its face. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Drakthar has reached level 22!** Uncaring of the oncoming attack, nor the bolt of light that popped another of its eyes, the assassin spider remained totally focused on him. Sacks normally hidden behind its mandible swelled to the size of a waterskin. A skill, Kaius realised. A moment too late. The sacs collapsed in on themselves, and a gout of viscous fluid squirted from each of its fangs in a high pressure stream. Squirting streams of venom covered the distance separating him from the spider in an instant. Crossing the air, the viscous fluid became a thick spray, far too wide for him to dodge effectively. Kaius did the only thing he could do. He turned, scrunching his eyes shut and snapping his mouth closed. It wasn¡¯t enough. The venom covered him utterly, worming its way through the gaps in his armour to saturate his padded clothing beneath. As soon as it touched his skin a stinging burn ignited, feverish welts covering his body as his back boiled. Moments later he felt the venom sink in, seeping into his body with supernatural swiftness. **Ding! You have been afflicted by Venom: Wracking Weakness** Muscles wasted beneath its onslaught, contracting uncontrollably as the venom started to dissolve the very structures of his body. Gasping at the sudden agony of it all, Kaius¡¯s head snapped up as his back seized, much like his brother¡¯s had. It felt like leaden weights had been attached to his limbs, the assassin spider''s skill attacking his musculature. ¡°Kaius!¡± he heard Ianmus call, panicked. Doom flared, and he forced himself to move, diving to the side just before a spear tipped leg lanced right through where he had been standing a moment before. With every second he could feel Rapid Adaptation working. Not only had it lessened the immediate effects of the venom, it burned it from his system. A purging inquisition that raged through his body, hunting down unwanted outsiders with extreme prejudice. **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has reached level 26!** Oh, he was slowed, and the acid like tendrils of venom were agony, but he wasn¡¯t out of the fight yet. ¡°Heal Porkchop when he¡¯s free!¡± Kaius called back, sparing their backline no more of his attention. Flashing steel smashed aside a flurry of probing spikes, before he smote the spider with Stormlash once more. Each and every one of the spells seemed to be affecting the spider more as storm mana and penetrating vibrations were directed through its armoured carapace, destroying it from within. It seized. Enough time for Porkchop to finally react. His brother cared not for the pain, nor the deleterious effects of the venom coursing through his system. Pushing himself to his feet, Porkchop forced the spider¡¯s leg deeper into his body. It punched through. Its off-white spearpoint dripped with his blood as it erupted from his stomach. Roaring a challenge, Porkchop snapped his head up to grab the leg that had him pinned in his jaws. Right by the joint. It creaked, then he smashed it with jade claws. It shattered. Kaius was already moving, fighting through the forced sedation and damage to his internals. The venom had already stalled, slowly being forced back as his health kept the damage at bay. Another Stormlash kept the spider pinned, making it squeal as it backed away from him. Three launching strides carried him through the air. Landing at his brother¡¯s side he kicked backwards off his shoulder, grabbing hold of the shattered spider''s limb that still speared Porkchop through his torso. In a single smooth motion he wrenched it free, tossing it to the side. He landed next to his brother, both hands on his blade. Moments later the revitalising energy of the sun surrounded Porkchop with a golden aura, sinking into his body. The sopping wound in his torso sealed itself quickly¡ªhis regeneration skill doing its work. He rolled his shoulders with a low growl, staring down the spider. Kaius watched it closely as it chittered, lunging forwards only to skitter back a moment later. It was poorly and battleworn, the remnants of its torn limbs wiggling ineffectively with the movement. Barely healed wounds covered its body, sticky ichor and burnt hair making it even more of an offensive sight to his eyes than it had been at the start. The weakness. He could smell it. Another obstacle destined to fall beneath his ceaseless march. Somewhere deep within him a pillar began to keen. B2 Chapter 173: The First Job, Finale B2 Chapter 173: The First Job, Finale The assassin spider watched them from a wary distance, lurching back and forth on its five remaining legs. Ichor coated it utterly, newly fused chitin and scorched ash showing the remnants of their assault. Stubbed limbs wiggled with a furor, the beast still instinctively trying to use them in unison with its remaining limbs. Glistening compound eyes stared at them with malevolence. Watching. Waiting. The moment stretched as they evaluated each other, watching for a moment of distraction or weakness. Kaius knew that it wasn¡¯t over, not by a long shot. With all its low-born intelligence and base instinct, this was a killer. An apex predator. Shadow drenched rogue or not, it would not take their challenge lying down. He didn¡¯t want it to. Oh, they were battered and bruised. Venom still coursed through his veins, sapping at his energy and destroying him from within. Blood still poured from the hole their enemy had torn straight through his brother, pooling on the hard packed dirt like liquid ruby. It only heightened his delight. His conviction. His adamant-bound certainty that they would win. That this was merely another step on his journey. Wounds that would have killed them with a certainty mere months ago now barely slowed them, their endurance enabling them to persevere even as their skill empowered health boiled to seal their wounds. **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has reached level 27!** The spider was tough, and strong. But it wasn¡¯t enough to stop him. Eventually, nothing would be. His destiny lay at the pinnacle. Every broken bone, pint of blood, and stride of rent flesh was in service of that. A slow and painful climb, but one that never stopped, and never retreated. The spider was an obstacle. Its destiny was to be consumed, refined, and used to lay a block on his foundation that would one day tower to the heavens. Every wound, every drop of blood spilled, only refined him. Made him sharper, tougher, and more enduring. If need be, he would hammer on the barriers to his ascension with mangled stumps until they shattered and then use the bloodsoaked shards to pave his way forward. Mentis called out in delight, and he knew it to be truth. The resonance inflamed the Blood Song within him, drowning out the feverish battle of Rapid Adaptation and the venom within him. It met the resonance in a symphony, backed by the staccato percussion of his pounding heart and the heavy rush of his lungs pulling at the iron-scented air with jealousy. A lesser man might have pulled back from the rush of pure vital focus and joy that came from the Song. He did not, and nor did his brother. Porkchop¡¯s own song thrummed across their bond. The vibrant fuel of battle surging within him. The need to feel chitin crushed beneath his claws, ichor spraying to coat him wholesale. There was a depth of primal violence there, directed and constrained by a mind that bent raw aggression towards his own ends. A bloody, satisfied grin split his face. Pondering upon the cry of his pillar could wait, now it was time to focus on the coming bloodshed. The moment ended as the assassin spider broke first, and their battle restarted in earnest. A chittering cry roiled from deep within the spider, sounding like the grinding crush of rocks being rubbed together. Ominous, and filled with fury. Sacs beneath its mandibles swelled once more as it reared back, quickly followed by two streams of venom that sprayed out in a thick cone. Porkchop was ready, as soon as their opponent had so much as twitched, he was already plunging his claws downwards, stamina flooding his body. A wall of jade erupted, spat venom splashing harmlessly over its pure surface. The wall rocketed out, pressuring the spider. Kaius raced in as light beams split the sky once more, Ianmus having repositioned to land his shots perfectly¡ªsearing the still open wounds in the creature''s carapace to slow its healing. Rounding the wall, he caught sight of it once more as it lurched sideways to dodge Porkchop¡¯s sudden attack. Starting slightly, he saw it...twist, blurring slightly as mana started to glow from within. His eyes ached for a moment and his head throbbed, but only that, and the spider appeared clear once more in his vision. **Ding! True Sight has reached level 38!** ¡°Kaius! It split in three!¡± Porkchop called, frustrated rumbles echoing across the road. An illusion, he realised. One that hadn¡¯t affected him. ¡°I see it.¡± he responded, a feral glee welling up within him. The assassin spider charged, sure in its obfuscation. Utterly certain in its primitive mind that he had fallen under its spell, it made no attempt at discretion, racing directly for him with its fangs writhing through the air. Kaius raced in uncaring. At the final moment, right when the spider was poised to skewer him through the chest, he moved. He heaved on his sword, rolling his shoulders into a heavy overhand chop. A snarl clawed its way free of his chest as he tapped into his Bladerite. Cleaving the spiderleg he had damaged earlier, steel crushed the wicked limb, severing it cleanly. **Ding! Explorer¡¯s Toolkit has reached level 36!** Destabilised by the sudden loss of a fourth limb, the spider teetered. Smelling weakness, Porkchop launched himself at the beast as light beams seared the spider¡¯s carapace every few moments. The forceful tackle took the beast to the ground, and Kaius saw his moment. Leaping over a flailing limb, he rounded on its face as his blade swept up into a high-guard. As it rose, he tapped into his Bladerite once more and dropped his off hand from his grip. Blue light flashed as he bound its head in crackling storm mana, a woven cage of magic that boiled ichor and charred chitin. Left stunned and immobile, the spider sat insensate as he gripped his blade with both hands and tapped into the stored vambrace. The executioner''s blade fell. Chitin split, severing one mandible completely. Neural tissue and sticky fluid fell forth. It seized, limbs flailing as deep within its primitive mind the creature sought to outrun its fate. Somehow, despite cutting halfway through its head, the spider still lived. Kaius¡¯s mind raced, and he found a solution. ¡°The legs.¡± he said coldly through his bond, backing up. Porkchop felt his intent and launched himself at the nearest stabbing limb, taking a flailing strike on the shoulder as he bit down hard. Lowering his sword, Kaius raised his hand. Thunder shuddered through the woods as another of the weapons of the Stormlord appeared in a shower of baleful orange sparks. Sealing the spider''s fate, he lashed the beast, wracking convulsions overcoming it. Another leg was torn free, Porkchop savaging its writhing form. He waited. Just enough time for the convulsions to subside, for its health to just start to be able to seal its wounds. Another peal of thunder. Another flash of condemning blue light. Then another. Another. The hammering blows of the storm and fury continued until all of his runic charges were spent, and all that was left before him was the limbless quivering body of a shattered and broken creature. Approaching slowly, he watched it. The way its remaining red compound eyes reflected the light, watching him in turn. Even now it was filled with hateful aggression, one remaining mandible striking ineffectively as it desperately tried to attack him. Another step and its venom sacs swelled, emptying impotently on the road in front of it. Noxious venom pooled, welling up in its mouth parts. It was time. Porkchop eviscerated its abdomen, claws raking through the soft sack with a sucking squelch. At the same time, Kaius plunged his blade into its head. Each one resounded with a heavy crunch, ichor welling with a wet slop. Three stabs it took, until he finally heard the dings he had been waiting for. **Ding! level 81 Veiled Assassin Spider - Cloaked Trapper slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** **Ding! Significant Feat of Strength performed under Observation. You have been awarded an Honour: Ruthless Underdog II** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 25!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** ... **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 39!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** B2 Chapter 174: Camaraderie pt. 1 B2 Chapter 174: Camaraderie pt. 1 Power rushed through every facet of his body; the sudden jump in levels bringing with it a heady rush that rolled over him in a wave. Pausing for a moment, he let himself feel the changes, adjusting to the palpable increase in strength. There was none of the pain, discomfort, or disorientation that he had felt as an unclassed. Supported by the structure of his class, the transition was seamless as his soul adjusted naturally. He shook the fugue off, and turned his attention back to the spider. His sword still stood proud in its thorax. Kaius pulled his blade free from the limbless body of the spider, ochre coloured ichor sticking to its surface like treacle as it squelched. As he did, he felt the Blood Song fade, leaving behind a familiar calm satisfaction in its wake. His pillar Mentis fell silent along with it, the resonance fading. Passing disappointment welled up within him at that, but it was only a momentary thing. He knew, somehow, that the insights that had come with battle were not meant to enshrine the pillar in truth. They were a seed. To be contemplated and nurtured in quiet pondering, just like Ekum had said. There would be plenty of time in the future to think on his insight. Flicking his wrist to clear the worst of the muck, he bent down to wipe the rest free on a clean section of the spider''s hairy exterior, before he rose and slid it home in its sheath. Porkchop approached him, jade plate armour vanishing off his body with a subtle pop. His thick leather under-armour was soaked with blood and vital fluid, slowly closing holes dotting its surface. It didn¡¯t stop Porkchop from rubbing his head against his. ¡°Gross!¡± he cried, shoving his brother off of him as Porkchop¡¯s sodden fur stuck to his cheek and caused the hairs on his neck to stand on end. Snickering at the move, Porkchop backed off. ¡°Come on, Ianmus looks like he¡¯s about to pass out.¡± he pushed across their bond, before turning to walk in the direction of their resident mage. Kaius looked back, ignoring the way his scale armour gummed up with all the ichor in its joints. Ianmus was standing there, pale and leaning heavily on his staff. His eyes were glassy, staring into the mid-space as his jaw flapped soundlessly. Smiling at the sight of his friend''s shock, he jogged after his brother, quickly catching up. He knew that feeling, the sense that the entire world had crumbled around you. The heavy weight of the impossibility that you were now part of history. ¡°Well, at least we know for sure that he got the honour too.¡± he pushed along their bond. Porkchop chortled next to him, shaking his head in amusement. ¡°Well, for all we know he got hit by some of that poison and is slowly dissolving from the inside out.¡± Smiling at the joke, he still smacked Porkchop on the shoulder for the poor taste. Approaching quickly, they came to a slow stop a few strides from the mage. Still frozen, he stared into space. No doubt trying to digest the system notification in front of him. Kaius cleared his throat. ¡°So. Job done?¡± he said slowly, unsure of how else to break the tension of the moment. Ianmus blinked, eyes clearing before his head lurched towards his own. Red rimmed wild eyes bored into his own, filled with exaltation, confusion, and a little madness. ¡°Kaius..I...What?¡± he stammered. Kaius just gave him an easy grin. ¡°Told you we could do it.¡± he replied. Blinking slowly for what must have been the tenth time, Ianmus shook his head and looked at him with slowly widening eyes. ¡°You knew.¡± he stated, words wooden and jaw slackening. ¡°We knew.¡± Porkchop replied. ¡°Mostly, not if this would actually get us one. But in the general sense, yes, we knew.¡± Kaius continued. Porkchop tilted his head back and forth. ¡°That, or one-hundred before two-hundred.¡± Kaius winced. While he was confident that they would be able to do it, they might have to find a few more Honours before they did so. Afterall, they would need to slay something in a tier above them, a daunting feat, even for them. Startled from his reverie, Ianmus looked over to them. ¡°You speak of this so casually. Like we haven''t just gotten five stats to everything and a scaling attribute bonus!¡± he shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s nearly three whole levels, most of them going to stats I am in dire need of.¡± ¡°So you do have a Rare class.¡± Kaius grinned. ¡°It¡¯s not that we don¡¯t appreciate and savour it, it¡¯s just that it grows a little more routine after a handful of them.¡± Ianmus froze. Kaius could physically see the mage¡¯s mind racing as he digested the information. Beside him, his brother snickered. ¡°This...was not just a dynasty secret that you saw an opportunity to capitalise on, was it?¡± he asked haltingly. ¡°Well, my dynasty was plenty powerful, and we do have good classes, but no. We found this for ourselves.¡± Kaius replied. ¡°I¡ªno. You said you had somewhere better to talk. My questions can wait.¡± Ianmus said, visibly restraining himself from delving deeper into the topic. ¡°You said you wanted to salvage some of the spider?¡± Kaius nodded. ¡°Though, I think first me and Porkchop will clean up a bit.¡± he waved down at his body, caked with the drying viscera of battle. Apologising profusely from holding them up from cleansing themselves, Ianmus waved them on. Giving the man a small smile, he and Porkchop made their way over to the side of the road where they had ditched their saddlebags shortly after spotting the spider. It would have been the tragedy of the century if they had not, and that had led to their spatial artefact being destroyed. Retrieving their massive self-filling waterskin, a bar of soap, and some rags, Kaius went about cleaning himself and his brother as best he could, going so far as to strip out of his armour and wash clean his travelling clothes. Feeling reborn, albeit sodden, they rejoined Ianmus and made their way to the corpse of the spider with their saddle bag firmly reattached to Porkchop¡¯s flank. The first thing he did was retrieve a leg, making sure to pick one that hadn¡¯t gotten misted with venom. Large as it was, he hacked at it until he held only a single segment as long as his thigh. Thankfully, their storage would keep it fresh, and due to its strange magics it only cared about absolute volume rather than efficient packing. Next, he moved to the body of their slain foe. Crouching before it, he sampled the air, leaning heavily on Explorer¡¯s Toolkit as his eyes roved over its shattered body. His gut twinged as he landed on the creature''s mandibles, both the one still attached, and the one he had cut free. At the same time, he could taste the scent of alchemical reagents on the breeze. An acrid bite coming from the creature''s venom, cloying his mouth with the scent of wasting sickness and infirmity. Fetching the first mandible, Kaius sighed in relief as he found the venom sac at its base untouched. Moving to its head next, he drew his hunting knife and hammered it into the tough joints that held them in place. Each one was like cutting into wood, far more sturdy than one would expect from flesh and blood, but he managed eventually. Returning with his prize, Ianmus watched him curiously. ¡°The fangs?¡± ¡°Probably some alchemical thing.¡± Porkchop responded for him. ¡°Kaius has an even better nose for it than me.¡± he finished, moving to Kaius¡¯s side to give him access to their storage. ¡°Ah, good thinking. A reagent from something of this strength will go for good gold, poison especially in days like this.¡± Ianmus nodded, understanding the worth of such an item. Having finished stowing their poor excuse for loot, Kaius turned to his group and clapped his hands. ¡°Right, shall we go set up the tent?¡± he asked. ¡°Wait, we have a tent?¡± Ianmus asked, giving an aghast look. ¡°Come along!¡± Kaius replied, turning to stride into the treeline. ¡°Kaius! Why have we been sleeping in the dirt if there is a tent!¡± Ianmus cried, racing after him with his hands thrown to the air in exasperation, while Porkchop chuffed in amusement at the mage¡¯s indignation. B2 Chapter 175: Camaraderie pt. 2 B2 Chapter 175: Camaraderie pt. 2 As a group they left the hard packed road that cut its way through the sun-drenched Hanset Woods. Cutting across the berm, they made their way through the trees. Stout and healthy things, a mixture of oaks, ash, and many others that spread a wide canopy. Light underbrush crunched underfoot as Kaius took the lead, plunging deep enough that they could no longer be seen from the road. As he looked around his surroundings, Kaius couldn¡¯t help but feel strangely out of place. For all this place was nominally similar to the Sea, it was too...loose. They were nearly a hundred strides into the tree line and he could still clearly see the road. Breaks in the canopy were common, and the underbrush had none of the hearty vitality of the brush that rose as tall as he was that he was used to. Eventually finding a decent dip in the ground, Kaius waved Porkchop over and unfastened their Dimensional Tent. Setting the storage bag in a small hollow surrounded by bushes, he activated the artefact with his mana before promptly scrunching his eyes shut and shielding them with his arm for good measure. No need to subject himself to interdimensional truths beyond mortal comprehension. Not today, and hopefully never again. As the tent materialised with a subtle pop, Kaius heard Ianmus jump next to him. ¡°What the hells is tha¡ªhang on, why are you covering your eyes?¡± Ianmus started, before addressing him with plain confusion. Groaning in resignation, he opened his eyes once more. ¡°Ocular skill. First time he opened it he got a little spooked by what he saw.¡± Porkchop explained with a snicker. Taking a last look at the thin leather tent, vaguely making out the impression of another bush nestled amongst its cousins, Kaius turned to Ianmus and sighed. ¡°It¡¯s dimensional, and has an illusion cloak. Some sort of janky spatial effect didn¡¯t react well with me when I saw it, I recommend against looking if you ever are able to.¡± He stepped forwards, opening the tent¡¯s flap to reveal the larger, rather homely space within. ¡°Now come on, we can talk inside.¡± Porkchop led the way, diving into their space to nestle himself on the wide cushioned mattress covered in furs. Their mage, on the other hand, stared at the interior in shock as he numbly made his way in. Stepping in after the man, Kaius let the flap fall closed and took a seat on the spacious floor. Ianmus was still standing in the centre of the space, turning slowly as he took in the interior with wide eyes. ¡°Why would you hide something so useful?¡± Ianmus asked absentmindedly. ¡°I can think of a dozen times being able to hide in plain sight would have saved us plenty of trouble on our journey. Let alone the comfort.¡± Kaius grunted, reaching over to Porkchop to retrieve their traveler''s pan, the chunk of spider leg, and as many cooking supplies as he thought he would need. Keeping the tent a secret had been a tactical choice, if Ianmus had ever proved himself untrustworthy, an unknown ability to hide in plain sight would have been invaluable. He told the mage as much as he went about cracking open the spider leg on a flat chopping board. The meat inside was delicate. Almost reminiscent of the rare crawfish he and Father would catch in the streams that networked the Sea. ¡°It wasn¡¯t meant as a slight,¡± he assured. ¡°We just wanted a gold piece tucked in our boot for if everything went to shit. Bit pointless now you¡¯re bound by a similar secret.¡± Frowning down at him, Ianmus looked displeased at his reasoning. He could understand, it was a bit of a bitter pill to swallow. Eventually though, the mage sighed in acceptance and took his seat across from him. They sat there in silence for a moment as he diced and spiced the spider meat. The questions would come soon, he was sure of it - but he didn¡¯t want to press the issue. If only he had some butter¡ªif the spider was like crawfish it would have been perfect. Unfortunately, lard would have to do. Ianmus sat with his elbows on his knees, head propped up by his hands as a scrunched expression of intense concentration stood frozen on his face. A moment later he sat up slowly and looked between them. ¡°I assume much of what you have told me was a falsity born out of necessity?¡± he asked. Kaius bobbed his head, while Porkchop took the moment to respond. ¡°In a sense. Downplayed, details twisted and changed, and certain things omitted, but the broad strokes were there.¡± Ianmus strummed his fingers against the canvas floor of the tent. ¡°This wasn¡¯t your first Honour, was it?¡± he asked, watching them intently. ¡°My seventh, Porkchop¡¯s sixth.¡± Kaius confirmed, looking up from his work to meet the half-elf¡¯s eyes. They widened in shock, a thin hiss escaping his clenched teeth. ¡°So many? No wonder you are so strong. What¡¯s the one Porkchop couldn¡¯t get?¡± Smirking slightly, Kaius raised his dominant hand, showing off the glyph that embossed his palm. ¡°First one to discover glyph-binding. That¡¯s not all, there¡¯s bonuses too. Ones we¡¯ve found are being the first in our ¡®cohort¡¯--whatever that means¡ªas well as achieving one unclassed, and sometimes doing something solo. Though the last one gets murky; some honours are exclusively for doing certain feats solo.¡± Rocking backwards at his reveal, Ianmus stared at him mutely for a drawn out moment. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Unclassed...?¡± he finally forced out, slowly looking between them. As soon as he finished the word he trailed off, falling silent as he gathered his thoughts. ¡°It was you, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Ianmus said slowly, chewing on his lip. ¡°The phase shift.¡± Kaius nodded slowly, methodically finishing his prep for their meal before he activated the Traveller¡¯s Pan in front of him. Thankfully, it stayed cool on its exterior, so he could use it directly on the canvas. ¡°It was. Though it was unintentional; we were just trying to survive.¡± he replied, voice softening to a whisper as he thought back on the year of constantly living on the edge. The stress and tension that each day would be their last. It had honed him, and he had loved it, but there was still a weight to the experience. A level of respect demanded that could not be denied. ¡°I...how?¡± Ianmus asked, curiosity and disbelief warring in his voice. At the very least there was no anger in it. No hatred or accusation. That had been what worried Kaius the most. ¡°A year trapped in the second layer of the Depths. As unclassed no less.¡± Porkchop explained, shuffling closer on the fur layered mattress that enveloped him. As large as he had grown, there would be only just enough room for them to share the space. ¡°One of the things Kaius forgot to mention is that there are also Minor and Major honours. We got a minor one for surviving a year in the Depths unclassed, and a Major for slaying a guardian. The latter was what kicked off the change, and gave us access to our classes.¡± Ianmus whipped his head over to Porkchop, staring at him intently. ¡°A whole year? How?¡± He looked back to Kaius, then started looking between him and his brother rapidly. ¡°Your legacy.¡± he stated, settling on Porkchop once more. ¡°You helped Kaius complete his own? I know completed legacies are common amongst the meles.¡± ¡°No,¡± Kaius said with a shake of his head. ¡°I already had my own. But you are correct, they are how we survived, and eventually thrived. Once we found out about Honours, we pushed as hard as we could.¡± Ianmus stared at him incredulously. ¡°That...There have been no higher race dynasties with a complete legacy since the Eternal Empire. Not publicly at least.¡± his almond eyes searched Kaius¡¯s face. ¡°Who are you, Kaius? Why would you be so far from your people? Why are you not with them now? And why on all the gods hold dear would you attempt a Guardian?¡± The deep weight of his grief revealed itself to Kaius once more, settling upon him like a leaden mantle. Weighing him down with the magnitude of his loss, and his responsibility to hold the perpetrators to account. He breathed, feeling the emotion and letting it pass as his eyes drifted closed. When he opened them once more, he saw the contrition and concern in Ianmus¡¯s face and smiled at him wearily. ¡°That...is a long story, but one I think we perhaps have time for.¡± he said slowly. ¡°It started when I was young, living in the Sea with my Father...¡± .... Kaius told his tale, and he told it well, using his preoccupation with their lunch as an excuse to distract himself whenever it got too much. Porkchop would jump in then, filling in the gaps whenever he no longer had the stamina to continue. They held nothing back, not at this point. His life in the forest, his lack of knowledge about his background. The flight from the tracker, and his meeting with Porkchop. Their battles and their plights, and the Honours they had earned on their journey. He spoke of the weight of desperation during that year. His need to know of his father¡¯s fate, and the dire tidings he returned to - learning that it was the Onyx Temple who were ultimately responsible. Ianmus was a good listener. He had sat there enraptured in his tale, asking questions when appropriate, and giving the right amount of shocked gasps, cosmirations, and congratulations where needed. All in all, it made for a great bonding activity for their team. Far better than he had ever hoped it would go, at least. They even shared their builds, and the existence of their additional racial traits and Heroic classes. That had fascinated Ianmus. He¡¯d begged them to trawl through their old notifications, a boring and focus intensive experience, so that he could learn of their requirements. Something about building a ¡®framework¡¯ to understand class requirements better. Ianmus too had shared his own. He did have a Rare class. Novitiate Solar Theurge, a class that encompassed both sorcery and free casting¡ªand one that could easily bend in either direction further down the path. He had his own legacy skills¡ªfive from the college, and two from his father. Most were merges of three to five, though one was seven. His other skills were nothing to sniff at either: three Unusual skills that he had acquired through dedicated shedding of blood and sweat. A good foundation¡ªone they would be able to build upon handedly as they acquired more Honours in preparation for the second tier. In all honesty, he was surprised Ianmus hadn¡¯t gotten an Unusual class. If he had to guess, the sheltered nature of collegiate training had offset much of the effect his large number of legacy and high rarity skills would have had. Still, that was in some ways good news¡ªwith the feats they were acquiring, and the Honour he had gained, Kaius would be surprised if he didn¡¯t completely skip a rarity and jump to at least Unique in the second tier. Kaius finished his tale at the same time he finished cooking their lunch. Switching the pan off, a warm and spicy scent filled their tent. It smelt good, but odd. Remarkably similar to crawfish in the end, but without the tang of seafood that he was used to. ¡°And that¡¯s it.¡± he said, pushing the pan away as he fetched some bowls. ¡°Amazing, and terrible for you to have experienced such.¡± Ianmus said with a shake of his head. Then his eyes blazed, impassioned and fierce. ¡°The Onyx Temple are the worst of blackguards, and I would be more than happy to assist you in your blood debt.¡± Kaius nodded his head in gratitude. ¡°I only request one thing.¡± Ianmus followed up. ¡°Oh?¡± Kaius asked, tilting his head at the man. He doubted he was trying to leverage something out of him, but he was curious about what he wanted. ¡°Take me with you to the end, and I will bleed as much as I have to to keep up. These Honours...Ekum, and the phases. It¡¯s a mystery on a never before seen scale. So much could be found, and so much progress could be made. Let alone your magic, the scale and significance of it.¡± Ianmus said with fervour. ¡°If I let this slip by I would never be able to sleep again.¡± Kaius grinned, and his brother chuffed with joy. ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°We need you just as much; a god himself said so.¡± Porkchop quipped. ¡°Good...good¡ªI am thankful.¡± Ianmus said with a bow of his head. ¡°Now, bonded as a team in truth, I wish to ask for your thoughts on my next available skill. That fight pushed me to level forty-one.¡± Kaius waved him off. ¡°None of that. First, we eat. We can all delve into our statuses after lunch.¡± Ladling the fried spider into bowls, he passed them out amongst his team, a budding warmth growing within him as he watched their latest member¡ªboth in deed and spirit¡ªaccept his cooking with a thankful smile. With no more secrets, and with Ianmus having taken the first step to supremacy, he hoped they would be able to keep their bond for years to come. B2 Chapter 176: Camaraderie, Finale. B2 Chapter 176: Camaraderie, Finale. Sitting within the tent, Kaius enjoyed the lard fried spider. Tender and juicy, it practically melted in his mouth, and carried the mild herbs and spices he had used beautifully. All in all, definitely as delicious as he had hoped it would be. What¡¯s more, with every bite he felt a gentle and warm energy coursing free from the meal, seeping from his stomach to swaddle him like a warm blanket. He didn¡¯t see any major effects in his status, or anything of the like, but it satisfied him on some deep level. Every wave of the vitalising energy washed away his fatigue and exhaustion from the recent battle, revitalising the mind and soothing the weariness of his body and soul. It sat heavy in his stomach, satiating him far faster than he expected from a meal of its size. A happy smile crossed his face. He¡¯d always wanted to try high-level beast meat, but it was supposed to be unsafe for those without a class. With Explorer¡¯s Toolkit stretching its worth as much as it could with its meagre levels, he had finally gotten a taste of the empowered foodstuffs that the high-tiered thrived on. Savouring another bite, his mind turned to more important matters. With the entire team having fallen to silence as they ate, it was the perfect time to survey his status for the first time in a number of weeks. He was pretty sure Porkchop was already looking at his own, what with the way his half-lidded eyes stared into the mid-space. Though, it could have just been the food. Giving his brother a smile, he pulled up his system information. Status: Name: Kaius Dynasty: Unterstern Age: 19 Race: Human (Dynastic, Greater Beastblooded) - +1 Wil, Str, End, and free stats per level Layer Reached: 2 Class: Runeblade Initiate - +3 Int, +2 End, +2 Str, +2 Dex, +1 Vit, +1 Wil per level Level: 39 Resources: Health - 1837/2450 (13.5/min) Stamina - 1920/2320 (18.3/min) Mana - 1650/3190 (21.5/min) Free Mana - 1650/3190 Reserved Mana - 0 Stats: Endurance - 144 + 49 + 25% (245) Vitality - 58 + 49 + 25% (135) Strength - 134 + 49 + 25% (232) Dexterity - 96 + 49 + 25% (183) Intelligence - 172 + 63 + 33% (319) Willpower: - 96 + 63 + 33% (215) Stat Points: 0 Aspects: Pillar Corporus: N/A Pillar Mentis: N/A Pillar Animus: N/A Class Skills (2/10): Latent Glyph of Drakthar (Heroic) - 9 > 22 Initiate¡¯s Glyphic Bladerite (Unique) - 0 > 10 General Skills (10/10): Rapid Adaptation (Heroic) - 22 > 28 Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo (Heroic) - 23 > 30 Explorers Toolkit (Unusual) - 30 > 36 Tempered by Dissonance (Heroic) - 22 > 31 True Sight (Unique) - 27 > 38 Tonal Weaving (Unique) - 24 > 31 Resonance Amplification (Unique) - 23 > 27 Lesser Regeneration (Unusual) - 20 > 28 Uncanny Dodge (Unique) - 23 > 29 Brotherhood of Ichor and Animus (Heroic) - 36 > 40 Hymnbook: Glyph of Drakthar- Stormlash (Tier I - 120 mana) Honours: Born for Slaughter (Bonus) Sublime Prodigy - Glyph Binding (Bonus) Birds of a Blood Soaked Feather (Bonus) Persistent Survivor (Minor) (Bonus) Kingslayer (Major) (Bonus) Ruthless Underdog (Bonus) Ruthless Underdog II Bound Artefacts: A Fathers Gift - Common Growth Longsword Growth Conditions- Gain a class (1/1) Absorb suitable materials (1/3) Forge a link (1/1) A sigh of satisfaction slipped free, though whether it was from his gains or from the fried spider, he didn¡¯t know. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. With a single battle, they had leapfrogged the rising curve. Now the standard beasts of the plains would certainly pose no threat to them, though that was in some ways bittersweet. If they kept this growth up, it would become a significant challenge to find suitable foes to sharpen themselves on. Well, that wasn¡¯t quite true. He was sure the guild would have plenty of recorded entrances to the Depths of a sufficient layer - however, if he would have access to ones deep enough was an entirely different story. Hopefully with this mission they would prove themselves capable of bronze, and if not, with only one more. Those were the real threats, both the kind he could grow off of, and the kind that threatened the surrounding region the most. Even Iron, with all the might of the beasts that made up its ranks, were rare enough that they surely could not match up to the devastation that was the overflowing Bronze board. At least until the beasts grew further, that is. Shaking off his musings, Kaius turned his attention to his companions. Both seemed to be done with their own checks of their gains. ¡°Satisfied?¡± he asked the group. ¡°Extremely.¡± ¡°I concur.¡± Ianmus agreed with a nod. Kaius grinned, glad that Ianmus in particular was in good spirits at their success against the spider. It was a stark thing, your first brush with the impossible¡ªbut the man had handled it as well as the best of them. ¡°Ianmus,¡± he asked. ¡°You mentioned you have your next skill available, did you want to share what you were thinking?¡± The mage brightened at his words, exuberance sliding across his face. ¡°Yes, yes! I have a couple of options¡ªall rare, thank the fates. I am partial to all of them, it just depends how I can best fit into the team.¡± Kaius waved at the man to continue. ¡°There''s a direct healing spell¡ªone hundred health for the same mana, but the health and range scales slightly, which could prove significant over time, and the relatively low mana cost means a quick channeling time, especially as my wisdom improves.¡± Ianmus explained heartily. ¡°On the other hand, I also have a meta magic that would let me double the effectiveness of a spell for double the mana cost, but the increase scales minutely. This, in particular, would be brilliant for my free casting. Eventually it would let me get far more punch for an attack or restorative than the increased cost, reducing the chances of mana burn.¡± he continued. Kaius hummed under his breath. Even if these were just the first two, they were both equally valuable. Healing, the quick kind in particular, was of extreme use in the sorts of battles that they were destined to face, and could literally be the difference between life and death. On the other hand, Ianmus had proven that his alpha strikes were potent indeed, capable of severely wounding even the assassin spider when he had none of his and Porkchop¡¯s advantages. Sure, it took ten minutes of channeling, but in the right situation it was a game changer. Especially if he and Porkchop could take the heat, Ianmus could potentially even make use of his free casting ability in combat. Still, he had three options. ¡°And the final?¡± Kaius asked. ¡°Perhaps my least favourite, even if still tempting under other circumstances. A variant beam attack, one focused on a blinding affliction.¡± Ianmus answered. Scratching his chin, Kaius thought he agreed with the man. It was too niche, especially in comparison to the previous two skills. ¡°I suppose my main question is whether you are leaning towards free casting or sorcery?¡± Porkchop interjected. Kaius nodded. It was a significant point. At some point, for optimal effectiveness, Ianmus would need to lean one way or the other. Not entirely, some level of both abilities was always useful for a mage, but indecisiveness was rarely helpful where the system was concerned. Pausing to think on the question, Ianmus looked up deep in thought. ¡°I think, if you had asked me a few months ago, I would have said sorcery. The time cost of free casting is too extreme for most; a single mistake from your front line and you are dead.¡± he looked down, meeting their eyes. ¡°Now though, with you two? I think the potential power and flexibility of free casting is too useful and potent to set aside. I saw the way you handled that spider. Elite and sixty levels your senior, and it still never had a moment where it could ignore you.¡± Kaius turned, meeting his brother''s eyes for a knowing look before he smiled back at Ianmus. ¡°Then you have your answer¡ªbesides, solar free casting is fantastic at healing anyway, isn¡¯t it?¡± he said with an easy grin. Ianmus returned it, nodding emphatically. ¡°It is, significantly so. A potent blend of regeneration, recovery, and restorative. I have the education to do it too. I agree, I¡¯ll pick Hypercharged Spell.¡± A moment later, the lanky half-elf¡¯s eyes closed, and he made his choice. Kaius leaned in, grabbing their plates and pan, before popping his head out of the tent to rinse them off with their water skin. By the time he had returned, Ianmus¡¯s awareness had returned from his selection, the man looking as pleased as an overfed pig. ¡°Right!¡± Kaius said with a clap. ¡°Lunch is over, we¡¯ve made our gains, and we have a long journey ahead of us. I suggest we get the grizzly work over and done with and survey the damage the spider left, and then make our way to Holsborough before returning to the Guild.¡± Ianmus winced at his words, while Porkchop groaned. ¡°That was a lot of wreckage, Kaius; it might be gruesome.¡± Porkchop said. He nodded grimly back. ¡°I know, but it is the right thing to do. That, and salvage rights. Some of those looked like merchant caravans. Besides, I doubt there will be much in the way of remains. Spiders are...thorough.¡± Going a little pale, Ianmus looked away. ¡°I suppose we must.¡± Taking the lead, Kaius stepped out of the tent, before collapsing it with his eyes closed as soon as his compatriots had exited. Securing it to his brother¡¯s back, he led their way back through the woods towards the road. It would be grim work, but if they could bring word to Holsborough of any identified caravans, they would be able to do the rest. At the very least, they could send more thorough investigators now that the road was clear. ... Bleak sights passed before his eyes as they picked through the remains of the assassin spider''s nest. The dense web that crossed the road was now little more than thin silk. Still tough and sticky, but easily clearable without the infusion of one of the spider''s skills. They¡¯d found shattered wagons galore, but, like Kaius had expected, no sight of any bodies. No doubt there were bones somewhere, hidden in some dark hole in the ranges that the monstrosity had claimed as its territory. Kaius didn¡¯t have the time or the inclination to go searching for them. As much as his heart bled for the senseless loss of life, they were already gone. His time was better spent elsewhere. They could leave that job for the locals, now that the threat was gone. Instead, they searched the wagons. Most were weeks old, dating back before the notice had gone out of something picking off travellers. A few were more recent. Poor bastards who hadn¡¯t paid attention to the comings and goings, or were too cocksure and confident to listen. There was little of value. Most were mundane goods. Cloths, finely tanned leathers, pottery, and foodstuffs. Practical things. With how broken the wagons were, the wares had been fully exposed to the elements, and the delicates had been shattered. The rest had rotted, or worn beyond the point of being worth salvaging. To them at least, no doubt some enterprising townsman would have a field day picking through what they considered trash. There was, however, one thing that was worth their time. ¡°You two, over here!¡± Porkchop called with excitement, over by a particularly heavy set carriage that had been reinforced with iron banding. The wood had been shattered, and no amount of mundane metal had stopped the spider from prying off the roof. Kaius shared a glance with Ianmus, who was idly kicking planks aside as he inspected a more common wagon. As one they raced to his brother''s side. Approaching quickly, he found his brother crouched over a small lockbox, a good ten strides from the wagon. Half embedded in the dirt, and covered in leaf litter, it must have been knocked free in the confrontation. Or dropped in a merchant¡¯s desperate flight, Kaius thought to himself grimly. He crouched down as Porkchop levered it out with a single claw. It was a small thing, maybe a hand-and-a-half long and a hand wide, with a thick padlock keeping it sealed shut. Kaius grinned as he saw it. A money box, no two ways about it. ¡°Want me to melt it open?¡± Ianmus asked, a gleaming eye on their find. ¡°It might take a while, but I could do it.¡± Kaius shook his head, setting the box on a patch of hardened dirt as he rose to his full height. ¡°Nah, this is much easier.¡± Raising his foot to his chest, he leaned on the full might of his increased strength as he drove down in a vicious full-bodied stomp. Wood splintered with a terrible crack, but the box held firm. It shattered on the second stomp. Whoever the merchant was, he hadn¡¯t invested in an enchanted lockbox. As the box collapsed, glittering rounds of silver and copper spilled forth¡ªdozens and dozens of them. Kaius met his team''s gaze, his own wide grin mirrored on their own faces. ¡°Drinks on me at Holsborough?¡± B2 Chapter 177: Journey to Holsborough B2 Chapter 177: Journey to Holsborough Leaving the wreckage and ruin that was the spider''s nest behind, Kaius and his party made their way down the road to Holsborough, slowly trekking towards the edge of the Hanset Woods. Two days of travel, hunkering down in their dimensional tent in the evenings, with at least another one until they hit the edge of the swathe of lightly packed trees. Then it would be a day of crossing the plains. Intshire was closer by at least half, but the township lay further away from Deadacre. It would have been fastest for them to have simply cut back the way they had come, but none of them felt it would be right to leave without at least giving word on one end that the assassin spider had been slain, and the worst of the road¡¯s threats cleared. Plus, he was sure that whatever salvage the locals would find would be a significant boon in the current times. While it was of no use to the likes of them, there were plenty of goods that would still be serviceable, if weather-beaten. The lockbox though, that they could use. After accounting for their finds, they had another sixty-eight silver and ninety-seven copper to their name. A paltry sum, compared to the earnings they would get from this mission, but it was convenient all the same. A single gold was a large sum of money to most people, and having a weighty supply of lesser coingage would certainly help with paying their way through common taverns and the like. As the sun shone down on the widespread green around them, Kaius watched their surroundings closely. The way the breeze shifted the canopies and caressed the heavy brush beneath. The song of birds, and the low level buzz of insects. A background song that could be hiding danger. Not that he was particularly worried. While he was certain threats even more dangerous than the spider were appearing with alarming regularity, the realm was a large place, and they would have to be unlucky indeed to stumble across one so close to the range of another. Still, as it stood, he was the closest thing they had to a scout, so he planned on doing his job diligently. His vigilance was rewarded shortly after, Explorer¡¯s Toolkit nudging his attention to a flashing blur a good two hundred strides into the trees. Tilting his head, Kaius focused on the flash, clarity coming to him quickly. A trio of wolves, skulking from tree to tree. Mangey and thin, they looked starved. Desperate. His heart beat stayed steady, without the barest whisper of vitalising glee that came with the Blood Song. They were...weak. Focusing on one who was peering around a wide oak, he pulled up its status. Forest Wolf - Level 21: Beast, Skirmisher Sighing, he slipped from his brother¡¯s back and palmed the hilt of his sword. Ianmus and Porkchop looked at him in confusion. ¡°Nothing bad. Just some desperate wolves.¡± he explained without turning back, waving off any questions before they were asked. Striding off the road, he approached the tree line. His blatant, unthreatening approach was too much for the small pack. As one they bayed, charging from their cover as they raced towards him with foaming muzzles. Out in the open, they looked less decrepit than he had thought. Still obviously hungry, but not generally underfed, nor did they look wasted to the point of weakness. Their grey pelts still even had a sheen, without a mat in sight. Poor bastards. They¡¯d just skipped one too many meals, enough hunger to force them into a confrontation they had no idea would be their end. Slowing to a stop, he let them approach. His sword was still in its sheath, and his hands rested comfortably at his side. The sheer nonchalance sent the wolves into a frenzy, their pace redoubling. Each one sent plumes of dirt spraying behind itself, as they wove between the trunks at a pace only possible after a full life hunting through the reaches of the woods. Slavering snarls slipped from their muzzles, brown eyes focused on him with furious intensity. It was almost admirable. Then they came into range. Kaius swept his hand out towards casually, a baleful shower of orange sparks hanging in a trail behind it. Blue-white cracked, throwing the surrounding trees into stark relief as a writhing bolt of lightning appeared in his hand before arcing towards the lead wolf. It impacted with finality, two lesser streams of potent magic splitting off to the other two wolves. Each and every one seized, muscles clenching with every scrap of strength they could muster. Tumbling into a ragged pile of meat, the wolves collapsed dead and smoking. **Ding! level 21 Forest Wolf - Able Hunter slain - Experience Gained! Reduced Experience for slaying a foe of Insignificant Strength!** ... **Ding! level 22 Forest Wolf - Able Hunter slain - Experience Gained! Reduced Experience for slaying a foe of Insignificant Strength!** Watching their prone forms twitch with the remnants of his magic, Kaius sighed and made his way back to his companions. Disappointing, but surprisingly common. They¡¯d suffered two more attacks from a variety of beasts, either those desperate, or so territorial they would willingly throw themselves at death. Fortunately, most things in the woods had some instinctive understanding of their strength, and had steered well clear. Still, a proper fight would have been nice. Even if it wasn¡¯t as fraught as the spider, it still would have been good to see some more significant gains than the bare smattering of three skill levels he had seen since then. Ianmus shook his head at him, a wry smile on his face. ¡°You look like you just got sentenced to six months of hard labour.¡± he teased. That set Porkchop off, his brother chortling at Ianmus¡¯s joke. ¡°He does! Like he had to dig the next den tunnel!¡± If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Scowling at his companions, Kaius quickened his stride to rejoin them. ¡°I can¡¯t help it! That wasn¡¯t even a fight! I could do a dozen of those and not see a single skill level, let alone a class one.¡± ¡°Chin up, man, you at least had that insight into your Aspects¡ªwhy don¡¯t you do some more pondering now that a few days have passed and see if you can share anything else?¡± Ianmus asked. Kaius sighed, he was right. He had shared his revelation on the truths he had brushed upon in their fight during their first day. They¡¯d all been fizzing with excitement at the prospect of delving more into the secrets of the latest addition to the system. Both Ianmus and Porkchop had felt a little resonance - Porkchop with Corporus, and Ianmus with Mentis - but both had been lesser things, equivalent to the slight vibrations he had felt previously. The resonance, the insight into his motivation and mentality, had been different. More primal and central to his being. He knew it was the start of a path, one that would lead him to the prize. Unfortunately, it was frustratingly elusive. As much as he wanted it to come quickly and easily, every time he had meditated on the concept of weathering all in his advance towards his goals, he¡¯d gotten nothing. Nothing, except for the sense that something was a little off, and that he needed time to digest the experience before more could be done. Shrugging in resignation, Kaius jumped onto his brother''s back and settled into the saddle. Closing his eyes, he started to meditate. Dominance and fearlessness in his pursuit of his goals. The need and drive to push ever onwards. The breaking of barriers. Inexorable pursuit of perfection. He tried a dozen phrases and mantras, pondering how they fit into the mentality with which he approached everything. The answer he came to was frustrating. They all did, but only in the general sense. As he watched his Pillar Mentis in his mind''s eye, he got nothing but the sense he was just a little off. A little wrong, by a hair. Whatever the pillar wanted, the only thing he could tell is that it wasn¡¯t some outside philosophy that he could mould to himself¡ªsome quip or phrase that he could use to describe himself. No, it was some sort of primordial truth, he could feel it in his bones. Unfortunately, today did not seem to be the day where he would find it. Opening his eyes, he sighed. ¡°Nothing, again. I think I''ll just leave it; wait until we¡¯re settled back in Deadacre when I''m less wound up.¡± Walking beside him, Ianmus nodded in understanding. ¡°I think that would make sense. Back at the Academies, whenever I was faced with a particularly troublesome question or mystery, I always found quiet contemplation of my understanding of the problem helped the best. Usually, after a few days of that, I¡¯d just be walking the grounds before the solution would just jump to mind seemingly out of nowhere.¡± Kaius nodded in agreement. Contemplation of what he already knew about himself, he could do that. Not now though, he still felt restless about turning in and collecting their next mission. That, and the hell they would have to pay when Ro found out just what level the spider had been. Groaning at the thought, Kaius pushed the fiery woman out of his mind and went back to surveying their surroundings. Only another day or two to Holsborough. ... Kaius¡¯s prediction had been nearly bang on. After another day of endless green and chittering birds, the Hanset Woods had gradually begun to thin. Snaking ever onwards, the rough packed road they followed led them across streams, through meadows and clearings, until eventually the trees grew so thin that ¡®woods¡¯ no longer fit. By the next morning, they had returned to the plains proper¡ªthough one much more lush than the surroundings of Deadacre. Grass sprouted to the waist, dotted with a dizzying variety of wildflowers that were spotted through the fields like sprays from a flicked painter¡¯s brush. It was, in all honesty, beautiful. The air was rife with floral scents, and buzzing bees and nectar drinking birds flitted to and fro, the latter resting every few minutes in the many trees that provided shelter from the heat of the scorching late summer sun. It was a peaceful journey. Even though they saw many beasts - all manner of grazers, and the odd predator that preyed upon them, nothing that Kaius had seen eclipsed the thirtieth level, and none had the lack of sense to attempt an attack on their persons. As they travelled, discussions were bandied about to fill the time. His favourite had been their talks of their homes. Ianmus had spoke of the famous city of Mystral. Coastal home of magic and spires. Apparently, the rumor that its walls were plated in glistening crystal had a nugget of truth to them. A small nugget, admittedly. They were made of some sort of local stone, a kind of granite that had been naturally infused with mana, making the small crystals within grow large and refract the light with startling brilliance when the sun hit it just right. It also made it tougher than sin, and the perfect material for building fortifications, even if it was twice as heavy as the mortal equivalent. Of the spires, Ianmus had mostly spoken of his own. The Sunspire, one of hundreds within the city. A premier amongst premiers, it was one of the Twenty-Four, an academy that was far larger than most of the towers within Mystral. Ianmus spoke of it fondly, the knowledge to be found there, and the architectural beauty. Of his fellow students, he had less kind things to say. At least, those of more noble birth who were apparently a veritable nightmare to get along with. They didn¡¯t appreciate being shown up by a common-born, let alone a half-elf, and had made Ianmus¡¯s life rather burdensome before his talent had proven too great to be denied. Porkchop spoke of the dens, and the magical sights that could be seen within the deep Sea. Trees so tall and thick that each of them could lie end on end, and still only be half the width of their trunk. Carnivorous plants, and the titanic booms of powerful beasts warring in the night. He also spoke of the life of his people. The works of art they wrought on the walls and surroundings of their dens. The great split between those that thought true beauty lay in the pure abstraction of visual art reduced to pure form, designed to draw a specific impression, and those who lovingly rendered scenes of the Sea - some lifelike, and others in representation of the impressions of the moment. It was bizarrely foreign to him, the idea that a troupe of greater beasts could nearly come to blows over who was the best artist in the family. Ianmus in particular had found that fascinating, and had been most curious about where Porkchop fell on the spectrum. To the man''s disappointment, his brother had only snorted, saying half the reason he wanted to explore was because he found the whole thing moderately ridiculous. Both styles had their merits, and he was firmly in the half of the family who preferred to wander and hunt than spend their days locked underground working on some ¡®masterpiece¡¯. Though, he did let slip that one of his favourites was a scene of titanic lilies floating on a lake. He himself had shared his life on the hunt, and the differences that the outskirts of the Sea had from the interior. The vistas he had seen, and the nights of contemplation as Father taught him the constellations of the sky. Both of his companions had watched him cautiously at first, as if the stories so intertwined with his father would bring him anguish. He was a little surprised they hadn¡¯t. Oh, it ached, but it was overshone by the happiness he found in those memories¡ªOf sharing his brightest days with his newest friends and family. Eventually though, the conversation died as a smudge crested the horizon. Focusing heavily, Kaius brought the image into focus. A town, walled in heavily reinforced logs, with a dozen men at the gate. Holsborough. At the sight of their destination, a surprising amount of apprehension filled him. More than a few of the spider''s victims would have hailed from here, and they would be the ones who would have to bring news of its death, and share the details of what they found. It was the right thing to do, but it would be a painful conversation all the same. B2 Chapter 178: Pride B2 Chapter 178: Pride The smudge on the horizon that was Holsborrough revealed itself to be a small town, stoutly defended with a thick wall of trunks and earthworks. As they approached, Kaius was the first to see that their entrance to the city had been shut, a full squad of guards watching the gate. Much like the defenders of Deadacre, they were garbed mostly in chain and leathers, with the stout hafts of their polearms standing tall above them. Astute and vigilant, the guards spotted them quickly. Kaius waved his hand, calling for them to slow their approach. Clearly, the men were watching for something, and if it wasn¡¯t a fear of the spider that had plagued this very road only a twenty or so leagues away, he would eat his left boot. Sure, the beast did not seem to be the type to roam far, but he doubted the lord of this settlement would have much interest in taking chances with everything that had been occurring. ¡°Guess it¡¯s back to pretending to be stupid, again.¡± Porkchop groaned as they walked to meet the guards. Kaius patted his brother¡¯s back in sympathy. He knew that Porkchop didn¡¯t care overmuch, and that his brother found plenty of amusement in watching the comings and goings as an observer, but it didn¡¯t mean it was an ideal state of affairs. ¡°Chin up, It won¡¯t be too long until we can go about our business openly. The second tier should be safe enough, and at this rate it won''t take us long at all.¡±Kaius replied, raising his hand to give the hardened faces of the guards a friendly wave. ¡°Indeed,¡± Ianmus nodded. ¡°While your current course of action is wise, greater beasts acting in long term cooperation with the higher races is not unheard of - at least historically.¡± Kaius gave the half-elf an interested look. He hadn¡¯t heard of that before. Stories of greater beasts saving wayward travellers on a whim, sure, but not long term cooperation. ¡°You¡¯ll have to tell us about them some time. Though, for now I should deal with these guards.¡± Kaius said, before he picked up his pace and approached ahead of his companions. The guards waited for him stiffly. As soon as they came within speaking distance, the lead man threw up his hand. ¡°Halt, delvers. This gate is currently closed until we can confirm the destruction of the spider beast in the woods.¡± The man said. His tone was stern, and hard, but through his enhanced vision he could see the slight sheen of sweat on the man''s face. He was nervous, though judging by the confident looks he gave them, it was far more about the beast than it was them. Kaius pulled his badge from his belt, the brushed metal shining in the sun. ¡°Then you¡¯re in luck, we diverted our route to Deadacre to let the town know that the assassin spider is dead.¡± The guards froze, backs straightening as they looked at him with a mixture of relief, and disbelief. ¡°Truly?¡± one asked from where he stood at the back of the pack, before a quick elbow from one of his colleagues shut him up. The lead guardsman looked at the offender with narrowed eyes, before he gave Kaius an appraising look. ¡°Regardless of his lack of decorum, I would have to agree with him, do you have any proof? While we¡¯ve had no confirmations of its level, the report we received from the Guild placed it at a higher level than our own. I won¡¯t risk good folks'' lives on a rumour.¡± Kaius nodded. He understood. Most of the reason they had done this diversion was to give the local communities a heads up rather than lump on additional weeks of waiting for their mission to be confirmed and word to be sent back. That, and it was a good place to rest for an afternoon before they were on their way. Moving to their bags, he withdrew one of the arm sized mandibles of the spider. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be handing this off for a detailed analysis, with its potential alchemical value, but if any of your men here have an appraisal skill, they are welcome to take a look.¡± Kaius replied, displaying their trophy to the waiting guards. ¡°That would work.¡± The guard leader replied, before he nodded to one of his men. Young and mousey, the man nearly missed that he had been called upon, until his superior cleared his throat and fixed the guard with a glare. ¡°R..right! Sorry!¡± The guard replied, taking a few steps out of the throng of bodies to get a clear look at the mandible and fang in Kaius¡¯s arms. A second later he hissed, eyes going wide. ¡°Boss! I think they really did it! Says it¡¯s a fang and venom sac from an assassin spider that made use of illusion powers!¡± ¡°It¡¯s sergeant, idiot. But thank you, back in with the others.¡± the guard leader replied, waving at the man to rejoin the rest of the squad. Kaius nodded at the words, stowing their prize, before he went to meet the sergeant who had approached them. Stepping up, he clasped the man''s hand firmly. ¡°This is the best news I¡¯ve had all year. I don¡¯t know how you did it, and I don¡¯t care - thank you, having that trade route down was making life tough for folks here, let alone everyone who was lost.¡± the sergeant said, a wide grin splitting his weathered face. ¡°Just getting paid, sergeant.¡± Kaius said with a slight shake of his head. ¡°But you ain¡¯t getting paid to go out of your way to let us know as soon as you could, for that you have my thanks.¡± the guard leader replied. ¡°Tell me...those that it took, was there any sign of them?¡± The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Kaius winced, thinking of the shattered ruins of caravans they had had a cursory pick through. Seeing his expression, the guardsman¡¯s mouth hardened into a thin line. ¡°I see. I¡¯d held out for some slim hope that it was one of those spider types that hoarded their food, but I suppose it was not to be.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know for sure. The only things we saw were shattered wagons lumped in the tree line. No bodies, or remains. The chances are slim though. It didn¡¯t seem the type, in my uneducated opinion.¡± Kaius replied grimly. The sergeant sighed, head bowing under the weight of lost souls. ¡°A shame, damn shame. Knew some good men who worked those routes.¡± shaking his head, the sergeant¡¯s dutiful mask took over once more and his eyes focused with steely intensity. ¡°Listen man, I know you know how tough things are out here. Without the trade between here and Intshire, we¡¯ve been flagging. Worse, merchant¡¯s from Deadacre ways have been steering clear too - without their main route through these parts, they just haven¡¯t bothered.¡± the sergeant shook his head, spitting to the side with venom at his mention of the risk avoidance of the traders. ¡°The goods, are they salvageable?¡± he said, cutting to the chase. Kaius tilted his head. While most had been useless to them, there had been plenty that would have been great for the town. Hides, ores, and other sturdy goods had survived the exposure, even if some had been damaged slightly. ¡°Somewhat. Not much of interest to us, so I can¡¯t comment in any depth because we didn¡¯t look too thoroughly. Food¡¯s gone, obviously, but I saw at least some leathers, pottery, and ores that survived. There was plenty more we passed over after seeing it wasn¡¯t anything worth our while to salvage.¡± Kaius explained. The sergeant nodded slowly. ¡°I can work with that. We¡¯ll need to search the wreckage for the remains anyway. That many in one place, I don¡¯t want to deal with undead on top of everything else, as unlikely as it might be.¡± He hadn¡¯t thought of that. Large concentrations of people dying in one place could be dangerous, especially if it was the lamentable kind of violent death those people had suffered. Normally natural undead were only an issue in higher mana zones, and even then, only rarely. Unfortunately, with the changes in mana levels that had accompanied the phase shift, the Frontier might no longer be safe from that particular issue. Thankfully, most natural undead were unlikely to become a plague. It would be faen luck indeed for one to be ¡®born¡¯ that could spread their contagion, or control its lesser kin. Turning back to his men, the sergeant whistled at one to the rear. A tall and dark haired man weathered by the years, he looked grizzled and - judging by the way his gaze instantly snapped to the sergeant - experienced. ¡°Erthin, go tell the Captain that the spider¡¯s dead, and let him know I think we need a search and recovery squad.¡± the sergeant said. Erthin simply gave the head guardsman a single nod, and jogged for the smaller door set to the side of the gate, rushing off as ordered. ¡°Thank you for this, truly. I¡¯d be happy to let you into the city, but I¡¯d be a fool not to share that you¡¯ll have difficulty stabling your beast as things are.¡± the sergeant said, giving Kaius a nod. Nodding back, Kaius accepted the man''s words easily. They¡¯d been expecting it, especially once they¡¯d actually started to make plans for their journey back to Deadacre. Rarely did smaller towns such as this have facilities for creatures like Porkchop - afterall, there was little market for it when most such bonded beasts would be only stopping through on their way to Deadacre. ¡°It¡¯s fine, we planned to just stop for lunch - the day¡¯s still young after all.¡± he explained. ¡°Say, a merchant¡¯s guard we shared the road with said the Plucked Hen was the best place to stop by - just wanted to see what a local thought.¡± The sergeant snorted, shaking his head. ¡°Maybe if you wanted to get swindled. Nice enough beer, but stupidly overpriced. Not surprised a traveller told you that - they¡¯re the main marks. Try the Three Barrels just down the road - they¡¯ve got outside seating too, for your bonded.¡± he finished, nodding his head towards Porkchop. Then the sergeant nodded to his men, who hurried about the laborious effort of unbarring the main gate and winching it open. Saying their goodbyes to the guards, Kaius and his companions made their way into Holsborough. It was a nice enough place - clean, with tall wooden houses with steep arched roofs. The commotion of the opening gate had drawn plenty of interest from the locals, who stopped to watch them as they passed. While it hadn¡¯t been anywhere near long enough for word of their deed to spread, it seemed that two delvers and a warbeast entering town from the direction of a beast that had led to the gates being barred was enough to tip people off. From there the whispers had spread faster than they moved down the street as people dashed off to tell others of the news. Before he knew it, people were gathering in twos and threes, lurking in doorways and on corners to watch them pass. Respect and admiration was plain on the faces of those that stared at them when they passed, conversations lowering as people talked in hush whispers. No doubt half of it was to do with their levels -or rather, the surprising lack of them- but Kaius caught just as many snippets of people giving their quiet thanks. It was...odd. Kaius wasn¡¯t the most used to people at the best of times, and having such open focus on him was more than a little uncomfortable. A lifetime in the Sea had given him many advantages, but comfort in a crowd was not one of them. And yet...at the same time, he felt an unexpected level of pride thrumming through his chest. He walked down the street with his back straight and his chin high, a warm ember of accomplishment buoying him through the experience. They might have chosen this mission because the spider was likely to be of a high level, and was a good enough match up he had confidence in their success - but seeing the relief? The smiles and nods as they walked past? It felt good. Really good. ¡°We made a real difference here.¡± he murmured, turning his head slightly to watch a child who hung halfway out a window as they passed under the building. Ianmus nodded. ¡°We did, and we should take pride in that. There is more to delving than just the pursuit of power. I think, with the heights we plan to strive for, this is perhaps just a taste of the impact we could have.¡± ¡°It is the duty and burden of the strong. The weakest members of the pack rely on you to succeed in your hunt, lest the whole den suffer.¡± Porkchop replied, accepting the attention they received as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Smiling to himself, Kaius found a little more energy entering his stride despite their long journey. He couldn¡¯t wait for their celebratory beer, he already knew that it would be the best he ever tasted - regardless if the captain was good with his suggestion or not. He only hoped that their reception at the guild would be as good. Somehow, he doubted it. The thought of telling Ro the spider¡¯s true level was enough to send a thread of ice shooting through his veins. That woman was scary. B2 Chapter 179: Mistakes, pt. 1 B2 Chapter 179: Mistakes, pt. 1 Kaius stood in front of the heavy oak door to the Guild with a heavy seed of dread burning away in his stomach. He was not looking forward to this conversation. Judging by the slight pallor on Ianmus¡¯s face, and the way the Porkchop¡¯s ears kept flicking nervously every few seconds, neither were his companions. They¡¯d arrived back in Deadacre after another few days of travel. Thanks to the flat plains between there and Holsborrough, the road had been an almost dead shot back to the city, which had sped up their travel considerably. It had been a decidedly dull section of their trip, with only a few handfuls of beasts desperate or foolhardy enough to attack them¡ªone of them being another bramble ball. Barely enough to work up a sweat, and certainly not enough of a challenge to do more than remind Kaius how much he enjoyed a proper fight. Still, he and Porkchop had managed to eke out another few skill levels.. That had only made the problem worse though¡ªnow that he sat right at the precipice to his next class skill, he was desperate to get back out there and seize it. Still, they had a job to do, and the best place to find a good fight was right in the building in front of him. Sighing to himself, Kaius pushed the door open, feeling the carving of a crossed staff and sword beneath his palm. A wall of noise hit him like a punch, a roaring common room greeting him. Delvers streamed to and fro, collecting jobs, using the guilds various facilities, and above all else getting hammered at the bar. The sheer exuberance of the energy was enough to buoy his spirits just a tad, and Kaius stepped in with a slight smile on his face. Making their way through the throng of people¡ªwho parted rather easily between Porkchop¡¯s bulk and he and Ianmus¡¯s imposing height¡ªKaius made his way to the service desk with his companions in tow. Ro wasn¡¯t working the counter¡ªanother assistant that he had never met before had that duty¡ªbut he could see her flitting back and forth in the far reaches of the office as she attended to one duty or another. As he moved to join the line, the woman caught sight of them, and gave them a smile and a wave. Barely half a moment passed before her smile became pained, and Kaius physically saw a vein start to throb in her forehead. She must have analysed them, even if he hadn¡¯t felt even a faint brush against his Mask. ¡°Uh oh.¡± Porkchop said, with all the resigned doom of someone staring up at an executioner beside the block. Ro¡¯s eyes narrowed, and she jabbed a finger at them before pointing to the entrance of the hall where the silence room lay. A deep sigh escaped him as he let his shoulders slump. ¡°Surely she won''t be that mad, would she?¡± Ianmus said hopefully - his tone giving away that he in no way believed his own words. ¡°Let¡¯s just go.¡± Kaius replied, leading the way to the interview room. He watched Ro hurriedly jam things into a cupboard with a little more force than necessary and slowly walk to meet them, a storm glowing in her eyes. As Kaius passed, a broad shouldered man in plate clapped him on the shoulder. ¡°Lad, I don¡¯t know what you did, but good luck.¡± he said, looking at him in pity. Kaius only groaned in response, which got him an amused chuckle. Reaching the door to the silence room, they came to a slow stop and waited for their destiny¡ªtheir own silence weighing on them like a blacksmith¡¯s anvil. Ro stomped up to them with a furious scowl. Reaching the door, she worked its locking enchantments with a deft flick of mana, before slamming the door open. ¡°In.¡± she said, pointing inside. Kaius nodded stiffly, moving quickly as he could to sit at the interview table. Ianmus joined him at one of the other chairs, while Porkchop moved to his side and sat on the floor. Ro slammed the door shut and stalked over to the head of the table. She slapped her palms down on its surface with a mighty thwack, the massive carved hardwood jumping with the force of the blow. ¡°Which one of you dumb fucks wants to explain how you managed to nearly double your level in a single mission?¡± she asked with a low voice, furious eyes scanning across their own. Kaius took the leap - he was the de facto team leader, and it was his responsibility. Let alone that he had half of the reason they had attempted such a difficult fight. ¡°The spider was a higher level than expected.¡± he said, keeping his tone calm in an attempt to placate the guild manager. He didn¡¯t feel calm. Inwardly, he was terrified. Ro was furious, and he now knew for absolute certain that she was strong. Potent power washed off her in waves, throwing her fury and frustration at them with a palpable weight. ¡°Higher level than expected?¡± Ro¡¯s voice rose. ¡°What the fuck kind of carefully curated understatement is that? Do you think I am a moron? Do you think I don¡¯t know what kind of fight it would take for you to jump seventeen levels in the case of a single mission? You promised me you would only act according to your abilities!¡± She ranted, each word punctuated by a physical flare in her mana that hit him like a brick, causing his eyes to water. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°It was a calculated risk. I was confident in our abilities.¡± Kaius said cautiously, trying his best to stand his ground in the face of Ro¡¯s momentous disapproval. ¡°Calculated Risk?! Do you even hear yourself.¡± she seethed. ¡°You are going to put your hand on that truth-crystal and tell me exactly what that spider was, how many there were, and if you managed to clear the nest right fucking now, or, gods help me, I will ban you from the guild faster than you can blink.¡± ¡°Now!¡± she said with a blurring clap that left his ears ringing. Kaius blanched and slapped his hand on the crystal set into the table. Threading his mana into the delicate runework, he activated the working. ¡°It was a single Veiled Assassin Spider. It was nesting in the trees by the road, trapping travellers. Two of its skills were directly related to that, and it used two more in our battle. One to split into three illusory copies, and one to spit venom.¡± he hurried to explain. ¡°Level and tags?¡± Ro ground out, her patience clearly waning. Kaius gulped, feeling his tongue stick to the roof of his mouth like parchment. ¡°Eighty-one. Ambusher and Elite.¡± The stone shone true, revealing his sincerity. Ro froze, staring at the crystal beneath his hand. All of the ephemeral pressure that had weighed on them since she had closed the door vanished in an instant. ¡°I...what?¡± she said slowly, frowning at the crystal as if she suspected it was broken. ¡°That makes no sense. I thought you¡¯d found a group and had jumped in without a proper extermination team. A single spider? Truly?¡± she said, staring at them in plain confusion. Kaius nodded. ¡°You...you should be dead. No, someone helped you. Higher level too. But if they did you wouldn¡¯t have gotten that many levels. This makes no sense.¡± Ro muttered, brow furrowing as she processed their achievement. Finally she looked up, staring at them in shock, before her face morphed into concern. ¡°You¡¯re a fucking idiot.¡± she said with a sigh, before sinking into her chair like the weight of the world had settled onto her. Propping her head up with one hand, she rubbed her brow. ¡°Such a fucking idiot.¡± Now it was his turn to be frustrated. What right did she have to denigrate them for their success? Sure, it was only possible because of achievements and advantages so extreme she would never guess, but their victory should be celebrated. ¡°I-¡± ¡°Stop.¡± Ro said with a raise of her hand. ¡°Think.¡± She leaned forwards, fixing them with a level stare. ¡°What, exactly, did you think was going to happen? That jump in levels is going to be obvious. Whatever cursed reason you have to hide in the skirts of the guild, you aren''t safe yet. Even if you can punch that far above your level for some gods¡¯ forsaken reason, if whoever you are running from finds out you¡¯re here, you are fucked unless you can defend yourselves.¡± ¡°This sort of shit spreads, Kaius! This isn¡¯t some hot up and comer shit, this is something from a bard¡¯s tale! A single lick of this hits the common room and all of Deadacre will know of it by nightfall, and all of the Frontier by the end of the month!¡± Ro yelled, slamming her fist on the table. Kaius paused, looking sideways to see his companions'' faces mirroring the same dawning horror he now felt. He hadn¡¯t considered that. ¡°And now, because you are a fucking moron, we are going to have to loop in the guildmaster in order to keep this secret! Let alone the amount of fucking paperwork I¡¯m going to have to do passing you missions under the table to get you to the second tier as fast as possible.¡± with every word Ro rose further out of her seat, until she stood over them ranting. ¡°Fuck!¡± She shouted, throwing her arms up and pacing back and forth. ¡°I fucking hate paperwork, you assholes!¡± Kaius reeled back under the sudden shift in the conversation. Paperwork? Rushing them to the second tier? What on earth was Ro on about? Whatever it was, it sounded good. While the guild manager was still frustrated, it was much closer to annoyance now than genuine anger directed towards them. Still, he understood her distaste¡ªsome of his least favourite memories were his father making him write treatises on various topics, though thankfully those lessons had been rare due to their limited supplies of paper. Still...in hindsight, Ro had a point. While he had rushed into the mission with a burning urge to grow strong as fast as possible, now that it had been pointed out he realised he had been shortsighted to think achievements like that wouldn¡¯t make waves. He should have realised that a sudden jump in levels like they had gotten would catch people''s attention. Kaius struggled to regret it though. It had earnt them another Honour, and Ianmus¡¯s first¡ªtruly binding him to their cause. That, and it had meant that they had secured more help from Ro, and had potentially opened an inroads into developing a relationship with the local guildmaster. That was massive. They were invariably powerful, and carried a significant amount of political pull. Exactly the kind of backing he would need. If it meant that they would need to rush up the ranks to secure their help, all the better in his mind. Ro narrowed her eyes at him. ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t notice that grin, dumbass.¡± The half smile on his face slid into one in truth. ¡°Sorry, Ro. Not that I am opposed to taking on more difficult missions, but is it really so dire?¡± The guild manager sighed, pushing her hair out of her face. ¡°Yes, it really is.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how you managed this, but I can guess. Some psychotic story involving meeting a greater beast young, far too many legacy skills than I care to think about, and some obscenely strong class. And now you¡¯re dragging this poor asshat-¡± she jutted one finger at Ianmus, who winced ¡°-by the scruff of his neck in the hopes that his next tier evolution will help him close the gap.¡± ¡°The quicker we can get you to the second tier, and Silver rank with it, the quicker you¡¯ll be covered by the full might of the Guilds protections. That¡¯s the start of the inner ranks, and more tightly controlled oaths¡ªnothing subservient, but enough that attacking you would incite retaliation. Let alone any personal power you can bring to bear.¡± Ro explained. ¡°And why are you going so far to support us if it brings such risk and such personal trouble?¡± Ianmus asked, leaning forward with a cautious expression on his face. Ro sighed, leaning back. ¡°Simple, you¡¯ve just proven yourself invaluable. Shit like this? It¡¯s what Platinum¡¯s are made of. I have this nagging feeling in the back of my skull that we will need another Silver in Deadacre before the year is out, especially one who is as strong as you three might end up. More warriors I can stand side by side with and trust to hold my back. If I pull through on this? You owe me big.¡± Benefits and security. That justification, at least, made full sense to him. He would have been far more suspicious if the woman had pretended it was simply out of worry and concern. ¡°Then let¡¯s do it. What¡¯s our next move?¡± Kaius asked, leaning in. ¡°Now? You fuck off. The amount of shit you¡¯ve heaped on my lap is ridiculous. Tomorrow? You come in and exchange your medallions for Bronze, you meet the Guildmaster, and we discuss the best way to nurture you into something truly wondrous.¡± Ro replied. A deadly serious expression settled on Ro¡¯s face as she looked at him with fire in her eyes. ¡°There will be some uncomfortable questions, and I expect the Guildmaster will need to leave his reservations at the door. Expect to fight him, he likes hands on knowledge, and we will need to know your true capabilities if we are to do this properly. I can attest that we will be able to secure our silence to your satisfaction. Okay?¡± Kaius¡¯s stomach roiled, but he nodded. This was moving faster than he had hoped, but he could only pray that it would work out to his advantage. ¡°Good,¡± Ro said with a sigh of relief. ¡°Now get the fuck out of here and get a beer or something, I have work to do.¡± B2 Chapter 180: Mistakes, pt. 2 B2 Chapter 180: Mistakes, pt. 2 Returning to the Dusty Stables was like returning home. Hensch had welcomed them with open arms, celebrating their victorious return with a pair of ales on the house. It was more than welcome, after a couple weeks of constant overland travel, the gesture was enough to solidify the choice to stay at this inn. The few other delvers in the common room nodded their heads, raising their drinks in toast before returning to their own conversations. Few in number, there were only four teams that Kaius could see, and each and every one had some form of beast with them. Most small, but one had a large wolf-like beast that looked at Porkchop in confusion and interest - tongue lolling out of its mouth. It seemed, regardless of its popularity amongst those delvers with companions, the Dusty Stables was rarely packed to the rafters. Another thing that explained the price, Kaius supposed. At least it meant that their old rooms were still available, and thanks to the money they still had on the books they were still cleared for the better part of a week''s stay. After an evening of downing their cups and telling anyone who would listen about their heroic fight against the ¡®terror of Hanset¡¯¡ªthough they did make sure to downplay its strength¡ªthey had retired to their rooms for the evening. Sleeping on a proper bed was pure luxury after the life he had lived, and, despite an anxious gnawing in his stomach about the prospect of meeting the Guildmaster the next day, Kaius slept like a baby. .... Crossing the common room with a pair of teas, Kaius slipped into the secluded back booth that was nestled in a tucked out of the way corner. Ianmus and Porkchop were waiting for him. The former cradled his head in his hands, a pallid colour on his face. ¡°I don¡¯t understand? Shouldn¡¯t your Health and Vitality have dealt with the beer? And why would you drink that stuff anyway if you feel like this the next day?¡± Kaius caught the end of his brother asking the half-elf. Ianmus groaned, rubbing his face and reaching for the cup of tea that Kaius offered him with a gratified smile on his face. ¡°It does, the remnants of the alcohol at least. The problem is that it doesn¡¯t do much for the dehydration or lack of sleep we got last night.¡± Ianmus explained, blowing on his cup. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine after some water and food.¡± Kaius nodded, it was a common thing that most young men learnt. Everyone had heard of someone who had gained their first point of vitality from the celebrations that followed being inducted into the system. ¡°Hensch is bringing us some cold cuts and bread soon, so don¡¯t worry.¡± he said, stomach gurgling at the thought of food. ¡°Thank the Matriarchs, I¡¯m starving.¡± Ianmus took a slow sip of his tea, eyes closing in appreciation, before he turned his attention back to Kaius. ¡°How long do we have until we are supposed to meet with Ro?¡± ¡°The seventh bell after dawn toll, so we have just over two hours,¡± he explained. The manager of the guild had told them to return to the Guild just after lunch, she¡¯d be waiting to take them to the Guildmaster. ¡°I¡¯m still nervous about this; everything you guys have said makes it sound like he¡¯s the equivalent of a Patriarch.¡± Porkchop muttered. ¡°That¡¯s not entirely incorrect.¡± Ianmus admitted. ¡°For places like this, the guildmaster is usually amongst the most premier of local powers. Both political and personal, it¡¯s a big deal for us to be meeting them. I just wish we knew what to expect.¡± ¡°I doubt its foul play, but I do have reservations about exactly what they will want us to share. Our general strength, capabilities, and pace of advancement I can understand, but I hope they are not so foolish as to expect us to share everything.¡± Kaius replied with a frown on his face. Even if they were the guild, he wasn¡¯t about to go blabbing about Honours, or his part in the phase shift. Especially not after he had received that warning immediately on entering. ¡°I think the effects of our bond skill will help cover some of the impossibilities - especially the racial trait. Remember, the description of the skill was never recorded - we can pretend it evolved with our classes.¡± Porkchop suggested. Ianmus nodded. ¡°He has the right of it. The guild is old. I have no doubt in their long and occasionally sordid history, there have been similar occasions to this - though perhaps nothing quite so extreme.¡± ¡°Regardless, Ro said that the guildmaster will likely want us to wrestle with him. Isn¡¯t that exciting? It¡¯s been so long since I''ve crossed claws and knew I would lose.¡± Porkchop¡¯s voice grew energetic as he mentioned their likely upcoming spar. Kaius snorted a little. Trust Porkchop to focus on perhaps the least risky part of their afternoon. Though, he did admit, the prospect of crossing blades with a Guildmaster did cause his heart to beat a little harder. They were legendary, even if he knew little about this one in particular. ¡°Do you know anything about him?¡± he asked, locking eyes with Ianmus. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. The half-elf cocked his brow in surprise. ¡°Seriously? You¡¯ve never heard of Rieker, The Wardog of Deadacre? I¡¯ve heard tales of his exploits in the Depths all the way in Mystral!¡± Kaius gave Ianmus a flat look. ¡°Grew up in the Sea, remember?¡± Ianmus coughed, having the sense to look a little embarrassed. ¡°Right, right, of course. Apologies.¡± he cleared his throat. ¡°Well, he¡¯s late into the second tier - at least that is what is rumoured. In his hayday he was known for delving religiously, never taking more than a day or two to offload supplies and sell off artefacts before diving into another. He came to fame for taking down some second tier beast that had wandered out of the north, threatening some small city on the coast north of the dukedoms.¡± Kaius looked at him in surprise. ¡°What¡¯s someone like that doing here then? Why¡¯d he stop?¡± ¡°No one really knows,¡± Ianmus said with a shrug. ¡°He took over from the previous guildmaster about five years ago. I¡¯ve heard rumours, from it being a temporary break, a favour to a senior guild official, or even that a secret entrance to a deep layer of the Depths was discovered and this was an easy cover for him to monopolise it.¡± ¡°Regardless, the man is a legend, and a renowned lover of battle. Honestly, I think that the two of you may get on well with him.¡± he finished. Kaius paused. If this Rieker lived up to the life that Ianmus had mentioned, then he could be a powerful ally, and no doubt would have plenty of lived experience to draw on for advice on how they could ascend as fast as possible. That, and if he really did want to test them personally, they had an opportunity to impress the man. ¡°Well, we¡¯ll have to take the fight seriously then.¡± Kaius said with a final nod. ... Kaius stepped into the guild with his companions in tow, fully dressed for war. Ro was already waiting for them, standing off to the side of the hall that led deeper into the building. She leaned on the wall with her arms crossed, a stern expression dissuading anyone from bothering her. As soon as they entered, she met their eyes and waved them over. ¡°At least you had the sense to not be late, or unprepared.¡± she said tersely, looking them up and down with a note of approval in her voice. ¡°Now come on, I don¡¯t want to keep Guildmaster Rieker waiting, he¡¯s a busy man.¡± Without waiting for their response, Ro stalked down the hall. Hurrying after her, she led them through a maze-like blend of corridors and stairwells before they stepped into an open foyer on the fifth floor. It was richly decorated, with a thick woven rug of gargantuan proportions that covered the floor. Elegant chairs lined each side of the room, while its far end was dominated by an unmanned desk and a truly titanic door. Given how many stairs they had walked up, they had to be on the top floor of the building, and judging by the lack of other passageways or exits, it seemed it had been reserved for the guildmaster¡¯s sole use. Calm and confident, Ro led them towards the door. Made of richly stained oak embossed in silver, it towered over Kaius. It seemed to emanate pressure¡ªlike only those worthy would be able to so much as knock. Their resident guild manager seemed entirely unaffected. Coming to a slow stop, she raised her hand to a massive knocker wrought out of solid silver and gave it a single solid rap on the wood. A moment passed, oppressive silence following the knock, before a bassy voice that demanded respect answered her call. ¡°Come in, Ro.¡± The words were...calm¡ªeven toned, verging on polite. Kaius just managed to catch what looked like a mild unwinding of tension in Ro¡¯s shoulders before she swung the massive door open with casual ease, and ushered them inside. Breath hitching with momentary nervousness, Kaius stepped in. Inside was an office, just as richly¡ªif sparsely¡ªdecorated as the room outside. The far wall was dominated by bookshelves, though there was a space where a comparatively unadorned door led further into what Kaius assumed was the guildmaster¡¯s personal quarters. Another carpet covered the floor, leading to a large hearth to his left. Trinkets covered its mantle. Scraps of armour, strange rocks that glowed with internal brilliance, and the shattered remnants of weapons. Trophies from prior battles and delves. Above, a massive skull of some unnamed beast dominated the wall. It was enormous, nearly as tall as he was, with arm-length fangs jutting out of a wide jaw. Kaius barely glanced at it for a second, too enraptured by what lay at the other end of the room. There, sat behind a sturdily carved oaken desk twice as long as he was tall, was a man. He was tall¡ªthough not excessively so, perhaps a head and a half shorter than he was. If he¡¯d had any thoughts of that lessening the impact and respect the man commanded, that was wiped away by the guildmaster¡¯s presence. He dripped power. Sweated a promise of violence and retribution. Calm grey eyes watched him evenly, a hidden fire lighting them from within. Rieker was...imposing. Even physically, he looked like he had been carved from a hardwood burl¡ªbroad of shoulder, thick, and strong. Kaius had no doubt that even if they both had all of the system¡¯s enhancements stripped from them, that the man would give him a run for his money in raw physicality, height difference or no. ¡°Ah, our newest members. Heard you¡¯ve been giving dear old Ro a little bit of a headache, eh?¡± Rieker said, his voice filling the room with the shuddering timbre of a spilled bucket of gravel. ¡°Why don¡¯t you take a seat.¡± Rieker waved to the four chairs in front of his desk. It was clear that it wasn¡¯t a request. Gulping, Kaius walked forwards, and quickly noted that he had missed one of the chairs that had a padded mat placed on the ground next to it, perfectly sized for Porkchop to sit. Taking the chair, his brother sat on his left while Ianmus took the spot on his right. Ro opted to pick up her chair, shifting it behind the desk to take her position at Rieker¡¯s right. ¡°Now, Ro told me about you three just as soon as you arrived. A greater beast masquerading as a bonded beast is strange, but I¡¯ve seen stranger.¡± Rieker said calmly to his brother, before his focus switched to him. ¡°We thought you just another wayward scion. It seems we were wrong.¡± ¡°A scion, a valedictorian, and a greater beast walk into the guild¡ªthen a few weeks later they kill an elite beast over thrice their level. That¡¯s not something you see everyday. Or ever, really.¡± Rieker continued, watching them with focused intensity. ¡°Makes it worth having a little chat, don¡¯t you think?¡± B2 Chapter 181: Mistakes, pt. 3 B2 Chapter 181: Mistakes, pt. 3 Sitting across from the guildmaster of Deadacre, Kaius felt the weight of the man''s gaze. It settled on his shoulders like lead¡ªpeeled him apart like a butchered rabbit. Rieker¡¯s curiosity was...palpable. ¡°What would you like to know?¡± Kaius said cautiously, taking the lead. Rieker drummed his fingers on the top of his desk, each impact cracking loudly through the room. ¡°Not the how, before you get too worried. That would be improper for someone in my position, and I doubt that anything you did was repeatable.¡± the guildmaster started, meeting his eyes. ¡°I also don¡¯t care about the why. As Ro has already told you, scions seeking shelter within the guild is no new thing.¡± Leaning forwards, Rieker put his elbows on the desk. ¡°No, what I am most interested in is how far we can push you. How far can you go? How high is too high before you break?¡± Impassioned as he was, a gleaming fire alighted in the guildmaster¡¯s eyes, revealing a madness that let him climb to the upper reaches of power seen within the human kingdoms. ¡°I need¡ªthe guild needs¡ªSteel and Silver, not Copper and Bronze, that has become only more apparent with this change of the system. You, in your uncautious idiocy, have revealed yourselves to be worthy of investment.¡± he finished. Kaius paused, turning to meet his companion¡¯s eyes. They looked back at him with trust. That he would lead them right, and that they would stand behind his decision. ¡°What, exactly, do you mean?¡± he asked. ¡°That is rather simple. Until you reach the end of the first tier, or preferably the second, you are too vulnerable to being picked off by your enemies. That, you know. What you may not have considered is that dynasties who would prefer to eliminate a rising threat when it is still in the cradle are a dime a dozen. You, Kaius, are in grave danger. Porkchop too, due to the simple value of his knowledge of legacy skills, and Ianmus is as well by simple association.¡± Rieker explained. Kaius winced. He¡¯d hoped that the general threat of the powerful would have been ameliorated by his membership to the Guild, but it seemed he had been naive. Ro sighed from her seat beside the guild master. ¡°Your growth has proven to be extreme, Kaius. Many would risk the guild''s ire to remove a simple Copper or Bronze with your potential. It would be easy to manufacture justification, or to hide involvement all together, with your current level of power.¡± ¡°What do we do, then?¡± Kaius asked. If their own lack of prudence had put them in danger, they needed a solution, and the guild¡¯s assistance in their growth was too beneficial to deny. ¡°We¡¯re going to need to artificially lower your rank and downplay your accomplishments, while feeding you appropriate contracts on the side¡ªuntil you reach High Steel at the very least. Ro can run interference on any rumours that are already spreading.¡± Rieker said, commanding the room. ¡°You¡¯ll also have my personal assistance with selecting missions that are right on the cusp of what you can handle, as well as with skill training to make up for the time you will lose by levelling so quickly¡± Kaius froze. He hadn¡¯t expected that Rieker would be so willing to get personally involved. A test of their abilities, sure, but training from someone in the second tier? That was something money couldn¡¯t buy. There had to be a catch. ¡°That...is a significant offer,¡± he replied slowly. ¡°What would you need in return for it?¡± Rieker grinned, revealing canines that came to overly lengthy points. It was an aggressive thing, full of glee. ¡°First, I will need to know what I am working with¡ªthe rough details of your build, your stat gain per level, that sort of thing.¡± he started, before holding up a hand as Kaius frowned. ¡°Do not worry, I am in possession of a shard of one of the Bloodstones¡ªa gift after a significant favour for a Hiwiann Clanmaster. I am willing to make a binding oath to take what I learn to the grave, to never make an attempt on your life¡ªexcept in self defence¡ª and never use what I learn against you. No one else will know.¡± A Bloodstone? That was the first time he had heard of anyone outside of the trader-people having one. That...could actually work. With the potent natural magics that linked it back to the original spire, it would be a binding oath in truth¡ªwithout any of the risks or flaws that came with using one of those vanishingly rare few that held an oath-making skill. Still, it was the sort of decision he could not make alone. Even if he was willing to give up his own secrets, those of his party were not his to share. ¡°Is that agreeable to the two of you?¡± he asked his team. ¡°It is.¡± Porkchop readily agreed, though he was the most likely to find the term acceptable, given the culture of his people. Kaius turned to Ianmus, who nodded quickly - as if wary of speaking in Rieker¡¯s presence. ¡°Then with my team''s agreement, I can accept that term. However, you said it was the first?¡± Kaius asked, watching the guildmaster closely. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Rieker nodded. ¡°The other you will perhaps find more contentious, but it is perhaps the most important. First, let me give you some background.¡± The guildmaster stood from his chair, his hands resting behind his back as he paced back and forth behind his desk. ¡°Everyone is focused on these fucking beasts. The number, the quality, the rising levels. It is a mask to the true threat, people. These...aspects have been denied to me, to most everyone with any real power on this continent.¡± He stopped behind his chair, turning to face him. ¡°That is dangerous. A new, unassailable, advantage that I would bet my life is as important as legacy skills. New powers will rise, emboldened by the chaos, bringing with them terror and bloodshed. You need only look to the histories of the empire to know what will come.¡± Kaius caught Ianmus nodding out of the corner of his eye. ¡°Worse...these ¡®Tyrants¡¯. I expect them to be a threat designed to challenge those with Aspects, not those without. This worries me. It worries my colleagues and my betters. The guild has not survived so long, become so ubiquitous across Vaastivar and beyond, by letting changes catch us on the back foot.¡± Rieker continued, his eyes boring into Kaius¡¯s own. ¡°We are doing all we can to identify those with the most promise, nurture them, and share our findings. I would have all of you join this program¡ªyou will gain access to all of our findings, and you will share your own. You will also agree to take up arms in defence of the guild, given we are attacked without provocation. I will need an oath on this.¡± the guildmaster said with finality, before he turned to nod at Ro who also stood. ¡°We will give you a few minutes to discuss¡ªbut know that this is the price of our assistance.¡± The pair filed out of the room, leaving the team in stunned silence. They sat there for a few moments, simply digesting the sheer weight of Rieker¡¯s presence. How the very air felt lighter with his absence. ¡°Well, I was right, he is like a Patriarch.¡± Porkchop said, breaking the silence. Kaius snorted and shook his head. ¡°Seriously though, that¡¯s a big ask, what do you two think?¡± ¡°The defence oath is fine, it¡¯s well known to be a requirement of higher tiers of membership. It¡¯s only in the case of underhanded trickery and unprovoked assault that it will bind us, not true allegiance to a banner. All we would be doing is agreeing to it a few years early.¡± Ianmus explained. That, at least, was something. Binding oaths were not something to take likely, but if it was only a defensive oath, and a common one at that, then it was far less risky. Still, the program to share findings about Aspects... That was something else. ¡°And the Aspect program? There could be Honours on the line¡ªdo we really want to risk losing that opportunity?¡± Kaius asked in a soft voice, quieting himself to avoid the potential of being overheard. ¡°Kaius, you are already on the precipice of your first, and both me and Ianmus have already felt a glimmer from one of our own pillars. With all of our advantages, do you really think that anyone else has a chance of catching up?¡± Porkchop asked, incredulous at the thought that they wouldn¡¯t be the first. Ianmus nodded along with his brother¡¯s words. ¡°I agree¡ªbesides, it sounds like this program is already happening. I think if we forgo access to what others have learned, we risk being left behind by the collective.¡± That...made sense, actually. In the end, it all came down to faith. Did he have the faith in his own capabilities, and those of his team, that they would be more capable than the others the guild had found. Kaius snorted to himself. Of course he did. Afterall, had any of those nameless rising stars ushered in a new era? Found themselves Observed? He doubted it. ¡°Then it''s decided,¡± he said, getting nods of conviction in return. ¡°Though I will want acceptance that we will be able to share our own discoveries with Aspects with whomever we please.¡± Rising to his seat, he walked to the door that led out of the study and opened it, finding Rieker and Ro waiting patiently in the chairs that lined the foyer. The guildmaster looked up at his appearance, giving him a once over. ¡°Made up your mind, kid?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll do it.¡± Kaius said, his tone resolute. Rieker shot up to his feet, a wide grin on his face. ¡°Fantastic!¡± he said with a clap of his hands. ¡°This is going to be so much fun.¡± The guildmaster swept into the office, gesturing at him to take his seat before he took his place behind the desk. Ro didn¡¯t join them, saying that she would find them later, once she had found them a mission. Reaching into a drawer, the guildmaster drew out an ornate box that was lacquered in a dark stain, with gems and gold embedded in its motifs. Unlatching it, he drew out a small shard of stone. It was a brilliant red, the colour of arterial blood, and strangely textured. Almost like the pumice he sometimes saw floating down mountain streams - though far more dense. A Bloodstone, the first he had seen. Kaius cleared his throat, drawing the guildmaster¡¯s attention. ¡°Before we begin, we want assurance that we will be able to share our findings about Aspects with others at our leisure. Porkchop has his Den to consider, and I have taken steps to start building my own allies. That, and all of us are likely to have our own future families to consider.¡± Kaius said, slow and careful. He didn¡¯t want to offend someone as powerful as Reiker. The guildmaster waved him off dismissively. ¡°Yes, yes. That will be fine, as long as you are not solely sharing guild secrets¡ªwhatever you discover yourselves is your own secret to share as you please.¡± ¡°First, I will take my oath.¡± Rieker said, drawing a thin blade from his waist and setting it on the table. ¡°Then you will take yours. After that, we battle in my private armory, and then we can discuss the specifics of your team''s power.¡± Kaius frowned, looking at the man confused. ¡°You want to fight us before we tell you our builds and power growth?¡± Rieker laughed, bending backwards over his chair as he held his belly. ¡°Of course!¡± ¡°It¡¯s far more fun that way.¡± he said, looking back at them with a distinctively familiar hunger in his eyes. B2 Chapter 182: Mistakes, pt. 4 B2 Chapter 182: Mistakes, pt. 4 Having told them of his plans for them, Rieker placed his Bloodstone shard on the centre of the table with almost reverent care. ¡°Now, to get the formalities out of the way, I¡¯ll go first.¡± he said, grabbing his knife off the desk. It was short, less than a handspan in length, but to Kaius it had all the tells of a masterwork. Fine hammer patterns flanking the spine of the blade, with a dense scrawl of script on the flat of the knife. Rieker was swift, drawing its honed edge over his thumb. Red blood welled. ¡°They¡¯re deceptively simple to use, the Bloodstones.¡± Rieker explained. ¡°A little soul infused mana in your blood -¡± He pressed his thumb to the shard of stone, which drank it in like parched soil. As it did so, the bloody glow within pulsed with growing intensity. ¡°-and then you speak the words of your oath.¡± Rieker paused for just a moment, letting more of his blood seep into the strange natural artefact. ¡°I, Rieker, swear that I shall take any knowledge you all share with me today and in the future, as it pertains to your secrets, statuses, and history, to my grave without being spread¡ªunless given your express consent in the absence of manipulation. I swear to never attempt to cut your life short, through action or subterfuge, unless in self defence.¡± the guildmaster whispered. The shard of Bloodstone reacted, flaring in red light. Something within it pulsed. Not mana, but some other kind of energy Kaius could just barely sense. As the wave washed over him, he knew that the man''s oath had been binding. Rieker sighed in relief as his oath took, leaning back in his chair as he mopped at his glistening forehead. ¡°Glad that''s over¡ªgives me the willies every time I have to do it.¡± ¡°Is it painful?¡± Porkchop asked, cocking his head at the man. ¡°No,¡± Rieker shook his head. ¡°But it feels like someones tickling your soul¡ªrather uncomfortable, all things considered.¡± Kaius looked at the Bloodstone with curiosity, but when he tried to analyse the strange object the system refused to share. It seemed that whatever it was, it was too high of a tier for him to peer into its secrets with his current strength. Ultimately, it didn¡¯t matter. The Bloodstones were legendary, and tightly controlled as the sacred heritage of the Hiwiann. However Rieker had gotten ahold of one, it had to be quite the story. With his own oath complete, the guildmaster led them through the ones he wanted them to make. Like Ianmus had said it would be, the oath was rather loose in what it required of them. An oath to defend the guild in moments of need, and to keep the secrets they learned to themselves¡ªboth those from the aspects program, and any other secrets that were shared with them due to their membership. Even the defensive pact was generous in its terms. It only required them to defend the guild to the best of their reasonable ability¡ªno fighting to the death, or sacrificing all other obligations. As soon as they were done with it, Rieker carefully picked up the stone shard, and deposited it into the velvet lined box that had originally housed it. A moment later, the box vanished - most likely into the spatial storage that a guildmaster would be certain to have. ¡°Right! Now that that¡¯s done, come with me. It¡¯s time to head to my sparring grounds.¡± Rieker said with a clap, commanding their attention as he stood from his seat. They followed him dutifully as he led them through the unadorned door that barred their entrance deeper into the guildmaster¡¯s quarters. Kaius felt his heart lurch as they stepped through. It wasn¡¯t every day that you got to see how someone of Rieker¡¯s stature lived. Unfortunately, they only got to see a bare thirty strides of hallway adorned by the trophies of past battles¡ªeverything from scraps of scale to stuffed heads mounted on the wall¡ªbefore he took them through another door and into a steep spiral staircase. Walking down, Kaius was surprised to see no landings, and no exits. They just kept walking down, and down, and down. With nothing but plain cobble and a wardlight every quarter turn, it was incredibly difficult to tell how far they had walked. Only that it was far deeper than the ground floor of the guildhall, the minutes bleeding as the monotonous descent continued. Some time later, they reached the bottom. An empty foyer, showing only an inscribed steel door that was barred tight. Rieker stopped before it, turning to them. ¡°Through here is the guildmaster¡¯s practice hall. Every guild has one, and they are universally built to withstand the rigours of a high tier-three battle. Do not worry about going all out¡ªwe¡¯re deep beneath the city right now, and no one will notice a thing.¡± the guildmaster explained, laying his hand on the thick slab of steel masquerading as a door. They nodded. It made sense to Kaius, even if he had never taken the time to think through the specifics of catering to a high tiered person''s practice requirements. Afterall, people in Riekers position needed to grow their skills as much as anyone, and his job meant that he couldn¡¯t well just up and leave for an extended delve without significant notice and planning. After all, it would be all too easy for someone to notice his absence and capitalise on it - even if just politically. Rieker pulled out his own guild emblem. It was solid gold, and far more ornate than his own - though, Kaius had little clue if that was the case for all Gold members, or if the extra embellishment was due to his position. As Rieker pressed the emblem against the door, Kaius heard the deep groaning rattle of locks disengaging, and saw the flare of unknowable inscriptions activating. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. With a final thunk, the steel slab popped open, revealing an empty well of blackness. A moment later wardlights engaged, and the training hall was revealed. Kaius took in the sight with wide eyes, hearing Ianmus gasp behind him. The place was immense. Easily fifteen-hundred strides in depth and width, with a ceiling that loomed far overhead. Titanic wardlights decorated the roof, illuminating the monolithic stone slabs that had been used in the room''s construction. Made of some off blue rock, each one looked like it had a year''s worth of inscribing work carved into their surfaces. ¡°It¡¯s rather impressive, isn¡¯t it?¡± Rieker said, stepping into the hall with his arms out swept. ¡°Welcome to my abode! I like it much more than the stuffy old office upstairs, at least.¡± As they filed into the hall, Kaius noticed two things. The first was that there was a rather conspicuous metal box sitting at the far end of the room covered in cloth. Though it was hard to judge the size of it due to the distances and scale involved, it was easily twice his height on every edge. The second was that the wall behind him was absolutely covered in an armoury¡¯s worth of arms and armour. Each and every one looked like it was something that would cost a noble¡¯s estate¡ªthe kind of weapons forged for use by someone who would shatter mortal weapons with a swing. Strolling to the wall, Rieker pulled down a one-handed warhammer. It was an odd thing, with a head the size of a brick¡ªwithout his obvious strength, it would have been unbalanced and useless. In the guildmaster¡¯s hands, it may as well have been made from wood. The warhammer blurred in his hands as he spun through a stream of stances and swings. ¡°Good enough.¡± Rieker said with a nod of satisfaction, before he returned to them. ¡°Now, before we have our little tussle, I want to see you in action,¡± he explained. ¡°To do that, you¡¯re going to need to fight something of an appropriate level. I do not qualify. Luckily, I had a little time last night after Ro informed me of your little overachievement.¡± Rieker waved his hammer towards the cloth covered box at the far end of the room. A great gale howled from its tip, whipping winds launching across the open space. Cloth flapped, and a deep, angry growl echoed out from beneath its cover. A moment later the wind grew too much, and the cloth was ripped free. What Kaius had thought a box was revealed to be a cage, and within it a beast. Hunchbacked and heavily muscled, a hound-like creature prowled within. Deep red, the colour of burning coals, with a row of bristles down its spine, it stared at their little group with frustrated rage as it paced back and forth along the edge of its cage. Kaius didn¡¯t miss the small puffs of smoke that left its nostrils with every breath. ¡°That, at least from what I heard of your previous mission, should challenge you nicely.¡± Rieker said with a wild smile. ¡°I look forward to seeing how the three of you perform.¡± Kaius frowned at the guildmaster, while both Porkchop and Ianmus stared at him in naked shock. Flicking back to the beast in the cage, Kaius analysed it. While he wasn¡¯t opposed to a live fight¡ªafter all, it would likely get him his next class skill if it was a real challenge¡ªhe still wanted to see what they were working with. Infernus Hound - Level 87: Beast, Brawler Eyes widening in shock, Kaius read the description of the beast twice over. Level eighty-seven? How the hells had the guildmaster managed to find it? Let alone smuggle it back into the city and into the guild with no one being the wiser? In a single night no less. Still, as he dismissed the notification and locked eyes with the snarling hound, Kaius felt himself starting to grin. He¡¯d been worried that it would take them weeks to get access to their next good fight, and here was some lovely guild official serving him one on a silver platter. How could he say no? ¡°Hah!¡± Rieker laughed. Kaius looked over to find the man watching him closely, an unhidden grin plastered on his face. ¡°That¡¯s what I like to see! A bit of fire, a bit of zeal!¡± the guildmaster continued. ¡°How did you manage it?¡± Kaius asked in genuine curiosity. ¡°Smuggling a level eighty-seven into a city is no small feat.¡± Ianmus whipped over to him, brows raised in shock as he flicked between Kaius and the infernus hound. Rieker ignored the startled mage¡¯s reaction. ¡°Oh, a little of this, and a little of that.¡± he replied with an amused twinkle in his eye. ¡°Reaching the blasted thing was the most annoying bit, but it''s not the first time I''ve picked up something special to see how a team acts in the field.¡± Kaius nodded, though he did wish that the guildmaster would be a little more open about it. In the end, he could understand why he was not. Afterall, any back channels that Rieker held into the city would have to be politically...delicate. Not the sort of thing any seasoned figure of his stature would share with a greenhorn like himself. ¡°Well, we can do it. The spider was only a little lower level, and it was an Elite.¡± Kaius said with confidence. He knew his team¡ªthey could handle this. ¡°Well¡ªsaid spider was an illusion based ambusher out of its element, but yes. I was hoping for something a bit tougher, but it was the best I could do on short notice.¡± Rieker replied, scratching the back of his head. ¡°It¡¯s more than okay! I thought I would have to wait weeks for my next class skill!¡± Porkchop said, kneading the stone ground with his claws. Clearly, Kaius¡¯s bond brother was growing restless. Rieker grinned back at the meles, before he addressed them as a group. ¡°Now for the disclaimers. This is still a training exercise, so I will not let anyone die¡ªhowever¡ªyou best fight like you might, as I wont be stepping in for anything short of it.¡± he said, fixing them with a stern stare. The sheer presence he commanded was enough to straighten Kaius¡¯s spine as he listened to the guildmaster¡¯s words intently. ¡°I need to see how you actually battle, not what you do in a controlled spar against someone of far greater strength.¡± he continued. ¡°So hold nothing back. No stratagem, no skill, and no ability. I have already given you my oath, so if you can handedly put it into the ground - do so.¡± The guildmaster watched them closely, scanning their determined faces, until he apparently found enough in their expressions to satisfy him. Nodding to himself, Rieker stepped to the side, giving them an uninterrupted view of the infernus hound. ¡°Good luck!¡± he said, clicking his fingers. The cage that held their challenge opened. B2 Chapter 183: Mistakes, pt. 5 B2 Chapter 183: Mistakes, pt. 5 As Kaius watched the gate to the cage slam open, and the infernus hound step free of its prison, he felt a familiar tingle start in his fingers. His breath quickened, vitalising his body with the sweet air of the training hall as he prepared himself to do battle. His blade was in hand a moment later. There had been no conscious decision, he just had a need for it, and his body moved. The infernus hound padded out onto the stone, moving cautiously. As if unsure of the fact it had really been released. It was a moment of calm, one he would not waste. Kaius ripped open his resource panel, assessing what he had available. Resources: Health - 2450/2450 (13.5/min) Stamina - 2320/2320 (18.3/min) Mana - 3170/3190 (21.5/min) Free Mana - 70/70 Reserved Mana - 3120 A lot¡ªhe had a lot available. Thousands of each resource, and twenty-six casts of Stormlash. If they didn¡¯t give Rieker a good showing, it would be fucking shameful. Ignoring the ever watchful gaze of the guildmaster, standing off to the side with his arms crossed, Kaius assumed command. ¡°Ianmus. Alpha strike, try to take out one of its legs when you have an opening. Porkchop, with me. Keeping it away from Ianmus is your priority.¡± he snapped off orders, striding forwards with purpose. His companions nodded. Mana streamed around Ianmus, moving far more vigorously than it ever had in the past. The mage¡¯s third skill, it had to be. At the upswell of magical energy, the infernus hound¡¯s head snapped to them. Its hackles rose, and a gravelly call of anger resonated from deep within its chest. Orange glowed from within its throat, the previous thin streams of smoke replaced by gouting jets of flame as the beast readied itself to charge. ¡°Ready yourselves.¡± Kaius said softly, settling into his stance as he continued his advance. ¡°It¡¯s coming.¡± The hound charged, a baying promise of violence on its lips. .... Rieker watched the greenhorns with interest as they squared off against the pup he¡¯d found in the outlands the night before. It had been an interesting night. Ro, with all her usual energy and fire, had burst in¡ªswearing so much that he¡¯d thought they were under attack. Nope, she¡¯d just found a once in a century genius, and some wayward greater beast, who¡¯d somehow done the impossible. At first he¡¯d brushed her off. Afterall, he¡¯d seen many so called ¡®geniuses¡¯ - all of them had fallen beneath his hammer in the end. Then she¡¯d told him that they¡¯d killed a level eighty, while they were in their twenties. That had caught his attention. That was definitely not something you saw every day. Or at all. Ever, really. At the very least, he could see why they pushed so hard. That leader of theirs especially¡ªKaius¡ªhe had the hunger. Beyond a drive or a want, he needed strength. Oozed that desperate clawing grasp as he latched on to everything that would bring him another step towards the peak. The greater beast too, though that was much less of a surprise. No doubt the meles had a full legacy, and he must have shared at least some of his knowledge with the boy. Almost certainly an interesting story. Not that he cared. It wouldn¡¯t be long before whatever brought them here was ancient history. He cared if they had what it took to reach Adamant. Leaning against the wall, he watched Kaius bark out his commands. Decent awareness. Decisive. Simple, but effective. The boy raced forwards, the meles at his side as they charged towards the pup. Judging by the way the infernus hound¡¯s chest was swelling, they were about to get a face full of fire. How would they deal with that? Right on cue an enormous gout of orange flames burst from the hound¡¯s throat, a searing wave that barrelled directly towards the racing pair. Rieker watched with interest as Porkchop plunged his claws into the ground. A wall of jade erupted a moment later, blocking the attack. Flames hit its surface, gouting upwards and to the sides as it was diverted. With unspoken, and flawless, communication he watched the boy race forwards, hidden in the shadow of the wall as it rocketed towards the source of the flames. Right as it was about to slam into the hound, it noticed the walls approach and cut off its flames with a yelping snap of its jaws¡ªleaping to the side to avoid being sent sprawling. Had the boy learned beast-speak? Another oddity. Whatever the reason for their coordination, it seemed to him that the hound¡¯s desperate dodge was exactly the moment that Kaius had been waiting for. The boy dived free of the shadow of the jade and...dropped his offhand from his blade? Perhaps he would get to see what this whole ¡®spellsword¡¯ thing was about. As cute as the boy¡¯s Mask had been, it didn¡¯t stand a chance against the likes of him¡ªsomething Ro was already hard at work finding a way to correct. After all, he wasn¡¯t about to waste his hard work and investment on these kids if the passing curiosity of a powerhouse was enough to see them vanish into some dark cell. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Violent orange sprayed from the boy¡¯s hand in a shower of glittering sparks, halting Rieker¡¯s thoughts dead in their tracks. Narrowing his eyes in interest, he watched as an impossibly dense bolt of storm and lightning mana condensed in Kaius¡¯s hand. Shock jolted down his back at the spell, raising the hair on the back of his neck. No channeling, no nothing. With a fiery light in his eyes, Rieker watched the boy bind the beast¡ªshuddering reverberations and electrical potency frying the hound from the inside out. Stunned with minor convulsions and pain, the hound froze. Barely for a moment, but enough for the boy to act. Rieker found his cheeks starting to ache from the force of his smile as Kaius ran in to plunge his blade deep into its chest, undaunted by a beast twice his size and level. Before the hound could rouse itself from its stupor, the boy hammered it with another lash¡ªleaping back from a pained swipe of the beast¡¯s claws. Now, wasn¡¯t that interesting? He¡¯d been around the block, and he knew for certain that whatever the boy had used, it was new. Then Porkchop hit the distracted beast like a brick wall - smashing it back with the bulk of his summoned stone armour. Too strong. Too fast. The pair of them. It was ridiculous. Insane. Impossible. He loved it. Even a Unique class couldn¡¯t explain this, and that was what he had suspected. Heroic maybe? Unlikely, even a new style of magic and a completed legacy wouldn¡¯t be enough¡ªat least he didn¡¯t think. But that still wouldn¡¯t explain what he was seeing. These greenhorns were fighting like they were seasoned Silver. At least in terms of raw physicality¡ªtheir skills were dogshit and he could smell that lack of experience that only hard lessons could bring. He¡¯d fix that. Harassed as it was, the infernus hound tapped into one of its skills. It flashed through the air¡ªthough it may as well have been swimming through treacle to Rieker¡ªand appeared at Porkchop¡¯s side before he could react. Mana flashed, and the hound raked the air, three arcs of condensed fire flying free. They slammed into the meles flank, filling the air with the reeking stench of immolated fur and melted flesh. The greater beast...didn¡¯t give a flying fuck. It just pushed straight through the pain, plunging its claws into the similar sized hounds chest. Kaius wasn¡¯t far behind, sword glowing with soul-infused stamina as he flew into a blurring kata of heavy slashes interspersed with the cracking flash of lightning. That sword skill was interesting indeed. Few skills made use of a connection to the soul, but the chances of the boy having a linking skill already were so low he could handidly discard it. Whatever it was, it was decent enough¡ªno doubt it would grow all the more terrifying as Kaius grew through the tiers. A link, at some point, was almost a given. His mastery skill was similarly good. The style was rigid¡ªobviously new and skill imposed¡ªbut it was a good skill. Fluid, adaptable, and fast. He¡¯d seen it a million times before. Too many beasts, not enough skilled opponents. It¡¯d get him killed before he got too deep in the Depths¡ªtoo many lower-races and other sapient tool users amongst the depths-born that would exploit the fuck out of his wooden rigidity. He could beat it out of him. Gods, to think he thought he was worried they would disappoint him. Deep within his belly, Rieker started to laugh. A booming thing that filled the room with his mirth. Where the fuck did these monsters come from? Who the fuck did he blow in a past life to find some seeds like this? They were green. Raw as fuck. More rock than ore. But he would shatter them. Melt them down. Turn them into weapons. In all honesty, they already were. He watched as the hound howled in fury, incensate from the nonstop assault that had been leveraged against it. Another flame-breath was coming¡ªRieker could smell it. The beast wanted space, and that was how it was used to getting it. Fire bloomed, hosing the two greenhorns. Porkchop reacted quickly, diverting the flames away from him. Kaius...the strange giant from the south did something that surprised him. He tried to dodge, but the hound was too close, and too fast. Even with all of his impossible speed, it wasn¡¯t enough. And then he tripped. Tripped! Who the fuck can fight like that and trips? Too coincidental. Too perfectly timed to save him from a serious case of immolation. It reeked of a fate ability. Yet another impossibility about him. I mean, for fuck¡¯s sake, he¡¯d fought his arse off for years to earn a Unique tier two class, and he¡¯d only gotten one at level two-sixty-one! And his wasn¡¯t even evasive! Pure bullshit. Rieker shook his head, not even attempting to hide his manic grin as the boy ignored the flesh on his back melting off his body in favour of rolling to his feet and punishing the hound¡¯s audacity with another impossible bolt of lightning. Nor did he miss that Kaius had a smile to match his own. Manic. Lusty. Wanting. A man after his own heart, it seemed. Someone who appreciated the finer things in life. The jade that had shielded Porkchop shot forwards under the meles direction, slamming the hound bodily towards Kaius¡ªwho wasted not a moment capitalising on the weakness. His strange crystal sword glowed with inner fire once more, stabbing deep into the hound¡¯s neck. Blood foamed from its muzzle with a whine, eyes wild. Narrowing his eyes at the sword, Rieker tried to puzzle through what was off about it. It wasn¡¯t a simple Common longsword, that was for sure¡ªbut whatever shielding enchantment it had was potent. The strange soul skill wasn¡¯t enough to explain everything. Despite his curiosity, he was no smith, and had no way to puzzle through its secrets with eyesight alone. The battle raged on, the roars of bloodlust and splashing viscera warming Rieker¡¯s heart. Flashes of blue lit up the room, broken only by the flickering orange as more fire spewed from the infernus hound. They were really pressuring it now¡ªthe beast was drawing on more and more of its repertoire. Hosing breaths of flame, blades of fire shooting from its claws, bursts of blurring speed, and now a flame infused charge¡ªone that Porkchop withstood with calm focus as he accepted scorching burns to plunge his crystal claws into the beast''s chest. Fantastic focus and vigour, with no fear of injury. Whatever those boys had been up to in recent months, it had been violent indeed. Most new classers took years to get over their rather natural fear of injury. Rieker¡¯s eyes flicked to their backline, the half-elf watching the battle with enraptured attention. That in and of itself was impressive, considering the storm of solar mana that raged over his head, bound to the man''s iron hard will as he wove his spell. An all in attack¡ªa risky play for most, but understandable considering the strength of the frontline. After all, it was his only viable way of keeping up, for now at least. While Ianmus in no way held up to the might of his companions, he was still impressive. From a normal perspective at least. Skilled¡ªin the way that came with studious practice¡ªand focused. Two important traits for a mage. With the two lunatics dragging him upwards by his scruff, he¡¯d go far. Good thing he wasn¡¯t being dragged. He could see that same desire in the half-elf¡¯s eye, hear the man''s heart pounding in his chest. He wanted this. Just as much as the others. Even totally reliant on them to survive, he had faith. A good batch. He couldn¡¯t wait to see what terrors he could turn them into. B2 Chapter 184: Mistakes, finale. B2 Chapter 184: Mistakes, finale. Kaius drank in the battlefield, every fibre of his being in tune with the moment. The infernus hound was battered, its coat reduced to a raw patchy mass of oozing flesh and blackened skin thanks to his spells¡ªit¡¯s clear resistance to fire no help against the power of Storm. Rents had been torn open in its hide from blade and claw alike, revealing glistening strands of muscle that bulged and tensed with every move. Yet its health was burning¡ªthe cuts slowly sealing with supernatural vigour. That, and the beast was far tougher than others they had faced. Despite its wounds, despite the ragged state of its body, it fought on unhindered. He could only count his blessings that it had no additional regeneration abilities. The healing was slow, and they were steadily wearing it down. Porkchop mauled the hound, falling into a controlled assault. There were no wild, unthinking lashes of his claws. Instead his brother moved with intention. He rolled and flowed with the flow of the battle, always moving just right to take as much of a blow as he could on his heavy plate. Every opening was punished, snapping jaws smashed shut and clawing limbs batted away as he plunged his own thick natural weapons into the infurnus hound¡¯s delicate flesh. The beast was barely keeping up. Kaius felt it as his Toolkit thrummed, an opening they could capitalise on. And as he knew, his brother knew too¡ªthe strength of their bond rendering communication pointless. A deafening crack echoed off the hard stone walls as he raked the beast''s form with another Stormlash. Surprised as it was, there was no moment for it to brace. **Ding! Resonance Amplification has reached level 30!** Whining in agony, smoke rose from its body as he savaged its internals. With a great heave, Porkchop lunged in with supernatural weight behind his steps. Colliding with bone shuddering force, the hound was shoved to the side, unsteady and stumbling. Already in position, Kaius swept A Father¡¯s Gift into a high-guard. He slashed with everything he had, back engaging as he pivoted through his hips. Careening through the air, his blade burned with the inner fire of his Bladerite, before its jagged crystalline edge cut deep into the muscles and structure of its knee. Growling in fury, the hound snapped at him with finger-length teeth. Transferring his weight to his front foot, Kaius twirled his blade with a twist of his wrists. Honed steel slammed into the beast¡¯s muzzle, slamming it away and scouring bone. Another flash of burning lightning scoured its flesh, giving him the time he needed to dance back. Before he could move back into rengage, a burning beam of light appeared within a handspan of his chest. It lanced across the room, stinging his eyes with its luminance before the spell wrought havoc and terror on the infernus hound. Potent and charged with minutes of channelling, the beam of solar energy lanced straight into the leg he had just injured. Kaius should have been blinded by the brilliance, but with his True Sight at work, he watched flesh immolate and dissolve, ligaments sear, and bones blacken. **Ding! True Sight has reached level 39!** A terrible wound, the worst they had wrought in their battle by far, but far less injurious than he had been expecting. Infused with flaming magic, the beast seemed to have some sort of resistance to the blinding heat. Regardless, the beast was hobbled, its leg falling limp as every structure in its lower thigh boiled and burned. The beast whined, lunging away from the beam, before the spell finally winked out. A potent attack. One that had almost gotten him. ¡°Cutting it a little close, don¡¯t you think!¡± Kaius called back to the mage without looking, already racing forward in unison with his brother to press their advantage. ¡°Best shot in Sunspire!¡± Ianmus yelled back, his breathing laborious. Whatever the drain he had felt, the mage was obviously not ready to take his leave of the battle. Before Kaius had made even three more steps, a familiar bloom of invigoration grew within him. **Ding! You have been Enhanced - Sundrenched Strength!** Porkchop reached the infernus hound first, a rolling growl reverberating in his barrel chest as a jade wall slammed into the beast from behind, shunting it directly into the reach of his claws. The hound lurched, tapping into a skill as it blurred back out of reach. Far less agile than before, even with the added speed it was a stumbling run with one of its legs almost completely hobbled. Fixing them with a furious snarl, mana bloomed within the beast''s chest. With the increased acuity of his mana sight with his growing levels, Kaius knew that it was something different. Something that needed to be channeled. Uncanny Dodge screamed a warning. ¡°Wall!¡± he yelled to his brother, sprinting to his side. The sense of danger grew. Skidding to his brother''s side, he hunkered down behind Porkchop¡¯s flank as a wall of jade erupted in front of them. Not a moment too soon. The hound detonated. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. With the beast as the epicentre, an explosion of fire bloomed. As the potent magic hit Porkchop¡¯s Shardwall, the jade rocked back, cracking with the force of the collision. Even saving them from the worst of the blast, fire washed over it in a spilling wave¡ªdraping over them in a cloak of pain and bubbling flesh. Kaius held his breath as agony assaulted him from every angle. His clothes smouldered, and the metal of his armour grew to searing heats. Even with the magic resistance of his Serellian Scale, he was barely protected. **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has reached level 29!** **Ding! Tempered by Dissonance has reached level 32!** Health tore through his system¡ªspreading itself thin to regenerate burnt flesh. It only served to keep his agony fresh, nerves constantly regenerating to be tortured anew. In the end, it was Rapid Adaptation that let him persevere. Fire was one of the oldest of his affinities, and with the surging power of his skill battling against the pervasive aspected magic, the infernus hound¡¯s flames struggled to penetrate more than skin deep. And yet, the fires didn¡¯t end, the hound continuing to channel as his health burned precipitously. It was committed, burning every last scrap of its mana in an attempt to take them out. **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has reached level 30!** **Ding! Lesser Regeneration has reached level 30!** Porkchop didn¡¯t have the same advantages. Oh, his brother weathered the storm with sheer grit, toughness, and health, but it was wearing him down far faster. The fires gutted out, and with the storm of fire gone, Porkchop¡¯s injuries were revealed in their full gorey details. Green jade was scorched black, and the leather padding beneath was completely ragged and scorched. His brother''s fur had almost entirely burnt free, his entire body left one weeping exposed sore. Fighting against the agony, Porkchop pushed himself off the ground. Empowered by his healing skill, his skin rippled, sealing itself whole as a thin blackish fuzz erupted from his pores. Kaius¡¯s own skill went to work, healing his own injuries at a pace that was only moderately slower. The warmth of the sun graced their flesh, soothing their injuries and bolstering their reserves of health as the spell Ianmus must have been preparing enveloped him and Porkchop. **Ding! You have been Healed - Solar Manipulation!** His body still hurt, still cried in protest with every movement, but pain had always been easy to shove to the back of his mind. He focused on their target. Across the hall, the infernus hound lay waiting. Exhausted and spent, it watched them cautiously as its chest heaved. Taking a single cautious step towards them, it growled from deep within its chest. Kaius didn¡¯t miss the quiver in its legs. Nor the way its eyes seemed to be glazed. Mana burn, he realised. They had to end this now, before it recovered. He pushed himself to his feet, working through the pain as he forced himself to take step after shaking step. As skin and flesh healed, his steps grew steadier¡ªhis grip on his blade, stronger. **Ding! Lesser Regeneration has reached level 31!** Soon he was running, a ragged battlecry on his lips. Porkchop arrived first, a storm of flashing green claws and hammering walls of jade. Kaius wasn¡¯t far behind, falling into a blur of carving steel and flashing lightning. The infernus hound tried to fight back¡ªto capitalise on the injuries that it had wrought¡ªbut it was useless. Snapping bites and savage claws were beaten back with tight pivoting parries and nimble dodges, punished in turn with scorching storm and a blade empowered with stamina and soul. Slowly, the hound collapsed before them. With a lame leg, and two opponents of similar physical strength, there was little it could do. Its wounds grew numerous, bone and muscle alike exposed to the air as they carved into its flesh with claw, blade, and spell. Even Ianmus took part in the final execution, finger width beams of light piercing deep into open wounds. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Drakthar has reached level 26!** Where once its wounds writhed with vitality, now the beast¡¯s wounds healed at a crawl, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of injuries. Inevitably, it gutted out completely. The infernus hound collapsed, its monstrous strength finally giving out. There was no pause, no moment of ceremony. As soon as it fell, they were already moving. Sweeping his blade up, it flared with internal fire before he brought it down on the beast''s neck in a heavy chop. Porkchop didn¡¯t let him do all the work. He plunged his claws down into the hound¡¯s skull with the full weight of his prodigious bulk. Blood sprayed, and bone crunched. The battle was won. **Ding! level 87 Infernus Hound - Smouldering Mauler slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 40!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** ... **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 48!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** **Ding! Class skill available for selection!** Kaius stood over the cooling body of the infernus hound, pounding heart slowing with every passing second. As power rushed through him with the stack of levels he had just gained, he felt his class direct the growth¡ªaiding him in rapidly adjusting to the changes. Far more smooth of an experience than it had been without a class. Despite the sting of his almost-healed burns, a wide grin slipped across Kaius¡¯s face. That had been a good fight. That last desperate attack had been a deadly thing. If it wasn¡¯t for his and his brother¡¯s potent defensive skills and powerful healing, they would have been toast for sure. That, and Ianmus had topped off their health right when they needed it most. And as a reward? His next class skill, ready to be claimed. He couldn¡¯t wait to see what they were. Loud claps interrupted his train of thought, drawing his attention over to Rieker. The guildmaster was smiling at them widely, cutting through the post-battle haze with every slow and lazy slap of his palms. ¡°Bravo, great showing!¡± he called loudly, waving them over. Kaius sheathed his sword, and made his way over with Porkchop. Neither of them rushed, not with the stinging burn of their remnant wounds, or the weariness of exertion leaning on them. Rieker waited patiently, still leaning against the same wall he had been when they first started their fight. ¡°You know, I had high hopes for the three of you, but you managed to kill that pup even more decisively than I expected.¡± Rieker said once they had all gathered before him. Kaius grinned at the man¡¯s praise. Though he had always known that they would impress him¡ªafter all, it would be pretty embarrassing if they couldn¡¯t¡ªit meant a better chance of gaining benefits if Rieker thought they were worth investing in. ¡°Listen¡ªI want to wait until you¡¯re fully sharp for our spar, that means at least a couple of hours. Why don¡¯t you look through the skills you¡¯ve earned, and have a chat as a team, while I go and fetch us some lunch?¡± Rieker asked. A moment later he waved his hands, and three chairs and a plush rug appeared on the stone floor surrounding a low table. They were plush things, padded and upholstered in rich fabrics. Kaius stared at the seats longingly, but was loath to rest his bloodsoaked and sootstained body on such rich pieces. ¡°Gods, the looks on your faces.¡± Rieker snorted. ¡°Sit, I can get them cleaned.¡± Nearly collapsing in relief, Kaius dragged himself into the chair. Rieker smiled down at them, still standing. ¡°I¡¯ll be back in half an hour¡ªmake your choices then. It¡¯ll be far more exciting if you have a few surprises for me when we fight.¡± With that, the guildmaster swept off, leaving through the heavy steel door as he made his way back to his chambers with a casual haste only possible to the powerful. Kaius groaned as soon as the man left, melting into his chair for a moment, before he met his team members'' eyes. ¡°Me first?¡± he asked. B2 Chapter 185: The Third Skill B2 Chapter 185: The Third Skill Kaius looked at Porkchop with desperate eyes, trying and failing to suppress his eager desire to rip open his notifications and dive into his next skill selection. It was only fair to ask¡ªafter he had picked first last time, and as a coherent team it would be important to get their input on the skills he was offered, even if he had the final say. Porkchop held his gaze for a moment, stern and unyielding. Slumping his shoulders with a sigh, Kaius relented. It was rather greedy for him to try for twice in a row. ¡°Just messing with you, go ahead.¡± Porkchop said with a snort, nearly shoving him off his seat with a playful bat of his paws. ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± Kaius asked, unable to hide the gleeful smile that spread across his face. ¡°Yeah,¡± Porkchop nodded. ¡°I don¡¯t get as antsy about this as you do. Besides, I¡¯m really curious about what you got offered.¡± Without standing on ceremony, he seized the lifeline he had been given and threw himself fully into his notifications. **Ding! Class skill available for selection!** Latent Glyph of Aelina: Class Skill - Tier I Affinity: Arcane, Martial Type: Glyph-binding, Runic, Spellcasting Selection Available! Heroic The ¡®Glyph of Transference¡¯, Aelina is the source of the Runeblade¡¯s legendary ability to appear as soon as they are called upon. Its hymns are at once the logistical backbone of Vesryn, and a source of unrivaled battlefield mobility. Ephemeral and swift, it is bound to the feet, where the centring touch of the earth can remind initiates that the present is ever fleeting¡ªand time is not a resource to be squandered. This skill allows the user to inscribe Vesryn translocation and motility spell-hymns to be activated at will, limited only by the availability of mana to reserve into the working, and sufficient space on the body. Creates a hymnbook on the user''s status if one is not already present. Multiples of the same glyph can cast hymns inscribed on their counterpart. Each level moderately increases the power, range, and area of effect of spell-hymns cast through the glyph. Each level slightly decreases the physical size of inscribed spell-hymns. Every 100 levels the user may learn another runic hymn of the relevant tier to add to their hymnbook. Spell-hymns Known: Tier I - Selection Available! ... Latent Glyph of Tsi¡¯ria: Class Skill - Tier I Affinity: Arcane, Corruption Type: Glyph-binding, Runic, Spellcasting Selection Available! Heroic The ¡®Glyph of Withering¡¯, Tsi¡¯ria is the unrelenting siege that devours all resistance. Some foes are too mighty¡ªor too wily¡ªto be dealt with direct force alone. Tsi¡¯ria, and the insidious creep of its mighty afflictions, grind away at such enemies until they are but dust in the wind. Tsi¡¯ria is inscribed on the sclera, so that all may know the risks of drawing Vesryn eyes. This skill allows the user to inscribe Vesryn affliction and curse spell-hymns to be activated at will, limited only by the availability of mana to reserve into the working, and sufficient space on the body. Creates a hymnbook on the user''s status if one is not already present. Multiples of the same glyph can cast hymns inscribed on their counterpart. Each level moderately increases the power, range, and area of effect of spell-hymns cast through the glyph. Each level slightly decreases the physical size of inscribed spell-hymns. Every 100 levels the user may learn another runic hymn of the relevant tier to add to their hymnbook. Spell-hymns Known: Tier - Selection Available! ... Mystic Persistence: Class Skill - Tier I Affinity: Arcane Type: Glyph-binding, Metamagic Selection Available! Unique Sometimes you just need a bit of extra kick. Solar light that vaporises from the inside out, a burst of healing that continues to trickle in, flickering incorporeality after a blink¡ªthat kind of thing. It¡¯s saved me more than once, sure as the hells. This skill allows the user to alter a runic hymn inscription to have additional over-time effects for 5 seconds, for 20% added base mana reserved. Every level reasonably increases the potency of the over-time effect. Every 20 levels the additional over-time effect extends for an additional 1 second. Kaius couldn¡¯t contain his gasp as he processed the fact that he had not one, but two different glyphs available¡ªspell casting ones at that. He¡¯d always thought that the chance was pretty good he would get offered more, afterall it was a central function of the class, but there had been a niggling doubt that the rest would align closer to his Bladerite in function. Single purpose speciality things, with far less of the breadth of capability offered by Drakthar. That worry was blown aside as easily as sand in the wind. If there had been just one, it would have been possible that the glyphs would be an infrequent and rare thing, but two? The chances of that would be incredibly unlikely. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. He knew that he would pick one¡ªwhile Mystic Persistence was good, it just simply didn¡¯t have the same level of utility¡ªbut which? Thank the gods he had his team with him to work through it, he¡¯d have sat there ruminating on the decision for hours if he was left to handle it alone. ¡°Well, what did you get?¡± Ianmus asked, curiosity naked on his face. ¡°Yeah, you wouldn¡¯t gasp like that if it wasn¡¯t good.¡± Porkchop agreed with a nod. Shaking his thoughts from his head, Kaius minimised the selection screen. ¡°Two glyphs,¡± he said quietly, almost reverent. ¡°One focused on translocation and mobility spells¡ªthough I don¡¯t know exactly what that means, other than it likely being movement related¡ªand the other focuses on afflictions and curse magic. Aelina and Tsi¡¯ria¡± Porkchop''s eyes widened in surprise, while Ianmus rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ¡°Well, at the very least I can confirm Aelina will be movement focused.¡± Ianmus said confidently. ¡°Translocation magics are all about travelling to or away from a specific spot or level of existence. Teleportation, incorporeality, target based movement, and other such things.¡± Kaius grinned as soon as he heard the word ¡®teleportation¡¯. It was the pinnacle of movement magics, and one that every would-be caster hoped to one day achieve. Who wouldn¡¯t want to skip weeks of overland travel with a simple snap of their fingers. Of course, he doubted he would get it as a tier one spell. Teleportation was rare, practically unheard of for those outside of the third tier unless they had a specialist spatial mage class. It was somewhat more accessible through the use of ruinously complicated formations, but only the exceedingly wealthy had access to them with any level of regularity. ¡°And mobility?¡± Kaius asked, eager to learn more about the other style of magic Aelina offered. ¡°Simple, they are spells that more directly empower your own movement and grant abilities that would otherwise be impossible. Think sprinting four times as fast and leaving a burning trail of fire in your wake.¡± Ianmus replied. Kaius nodded, another useful addition. Thankfully, he knew of both curses and afflictions, so he needed no assistance there. Curses in particular were nasty things. Speciality afflictions that were often far more long lasting, esoteric, and insidious than simple afflictions that would eventually resolve themselves on their own. Honestly, the idea of curse magic made him uncomfortable. Curse mages¡ªand affliction ones, for that matter¡ªhad something of a...reputation for being of unsavoury character. If anything, that was an understatement. Curse mages were closer to reviled in truth. It was hard to be a welcome and upstanding member of the community if you could damn someone to a year of mild bad luck without the slightest hint of it being due to a curse. At least, until someone went looking for it. Getting offered the skill in the first place was a little worrying. While the class would influence the selection, your own actions did too. It made him think; was he the one holding nefarious designs in his heart, or was the mysterious Vesryn order less noble than they seemed at first glance? ¡°I have to be honest, I am far more interested in Aelina. I hate the idea of curse magic. It feels...ignoble.¡± Kaius finally said. ¡°But, we are a team, and if there is a genuine case for it being more useful, I will seriously consider it.¡± Even if he really didn¡¯t want to. The idea of feeling the burning pain of inscription on his eyeballs made him want to crawl out of his skin. Ianmus looked at him with surprise. ¡°I didn¡¯t take you to be superstitious. Curse magic is a branch like any other, and like all tools it is capable of misuse, but it is not inherently evil¡ªno matter what people say.¡± ¡°I know, I know,¡± Kaius said with a wince. ¡°Still, it just doesn¡¯t feel like me. I like to be in the meat of a fight, and knowing that I won due to my own strength, ingenuity, and ability. While it would be easy to argue that it''s no different to Stormlash¡¯s stun, I just don¡¯t like it.¡± ¡°Then don¡¯t take it. A movement focused glyph fits your needs perfectly, and is exactly what we need as a team.¡± Porkchop replied, prodding him in the chest. To his surprise, Ianmus also gave a firm nod of agreement. ¡°Porkchop is right. Currently, you are our roaming offense. The biggest threat to you, and to the team as a whole, is the difficulty you currently have in being right where you need to be.¡± the half-elf said. Kaius frowned. He wasn¡¯t sure if he agreed with that. Afterall, he had been doing just fine so far. Ianmus caught his expression and sighed. ¡°Kaius, think of the fight we just had, and the aura of flame that the infernus hound summoned. If you had the right translocation spell, you might have been able to move directly into position to attack the beast, or have been able to pull you and Porkchop out of danger.¡± ¡°He¡¯s right¡ªyou¡¯re strong, and hit harder than a stampeding herd, but more angles to attack from and more avenues to avoid injury will only make you all the more lethal.¡± Porkchop said, flooding their bond with an assurance that his competence was not in question. When his brother put it like that, it was hard to argue. He knew that he would only start with a single spell, but when he had multiple? He could imagine himself stepping on the air to attack a giant beast from above, or slipping through shadows to strike unaware. Plus, who could resist the temptation of a potential teleportation spell in the future? ¡°Aelina it is.¡± Kaius replied with conviction, and chose his third skill. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Aelina Class Skill Available, would you like to proceed? This choice is pivotal and irrevocable.** As soon as he confirmed his choice, the now familiar omnipotent grasp of the system settled on his soul. Power roared through his inner centre, weaving a new golden shard to join the nexuses of power that orbited the golden conflagration of his soul. As the skill crystalised, the system turned its attention to his mind. Knowledge and understanding was crammed into his head with the subtlety of a dwarvish greathammer backed by a full-bodied swing. Gut wrenching aches resounded in his head as his brain felt like it swelled to thrice its size¡ªthreatening to spill out of his ears. With that pain came an image. A delicate glyph. Long, graceful, and full of tight spirals, Aelina was immediately obvious as a cousin of Drakthar. Much of the core of the working was the same. Oh, it was drawn differently. Softer, with thinner lines, and a number of individual runes that made up the arrays were different, but the similarities were plain as day. Even his drastically lacking familiarity with Vesryn glyphic runes wasn¡¯t enough to stop him from noticing them. Outside of that core binding though, it was vastly different. With the knowledge of its structure came an understanding of how it meshed to his body. Far greater in size than Drakthar, the extremities of the glyph looked like ripples on a pond¡ªor the delicate whorls of a spinning dust devil. With the core of the formation formed on his heel, the rest would loop outward, encapsulating the rest of his sole and wrapping up onto the instep of his foot. He knew this for a certainty, and his mind ached all the more for it. The system didn¡¯t wait for him to stop processing the experience before it made it so in truth. Grabbing an inviolable grip on his mana, the system weaved the glyph with deft expertise. Each line¡ªeach loop in his skin and natural mana flows¡ª left a stinging kiss in its wake. A parting gift that ensured he remembered that every power had its cost. Finally the system was done, and Kaius collapsed into the back of his chair with a gasp of relief. As soon as he had processed the experience, Kaius bent over in a scramble and unlaced a boot as quickly as he was able to. Letting the heavy reinforced leather fall to the stone floor with a clatter, he ripped off his wool socks and stared at what was waiting for him. Another black glyph, delicately weaving its way across the soles of his feat. ¡°Pretty!¡± B2 Chapter 186: The Second Spell B2 Chapter 186: The Second Spell Kaius shook his head at Porkchop¡¯s antics, though he couldn¡¯t help but agree that his latest glyph¡ªAelina¡ªwas rather graceful in its design. As soon as the system retreated and left him with a new mark on his flesh, and knowledge in his mind, he felt the familiar ding of a system notification. No doubt it was his waiting spell-hymns. From what his class guide had said, it would involve some level of hands-on guidance from a system construct¡ªsimilar to the space he had arrived in to select his class. Still, he was unsure of how it worked. Would he make the choice there? Or beforehand? If he jumped in right now and it was the former, he would lose all of his ability to discuss their thoughts on what could benefit them as a team. Thankfully, the problem was easily solved by simply asking. From what Ianmus had told him, the way he learnt spells wasn¡¯t uncommon amongst sorcerers, and Kaius was all but certain the man would know the answer. ¡°Oh, yes! I hadn¡¯t realised that you didn¡¯t know.¡± Ianmus nodded enthusiastically at his question. ¡°It can vary, as the system has a tendency to personalise itself to an individuals needs, but generally you can expect to make the selection much like you did with your class skill¡ªoften it is only when someone is in danger, or they have an extreme predilection to lengthy decision making, that they go to the system space for their actual choice.¡± That was a relief. Sharing his options would not just help him to more clearly work through his choices and direction, but would help him uncover the secrets of his class. Skills built on skills, so every spell choice he made would inevitably have some level of effect on the kind of options he would receive in the future. With someone as knowledgeable as Ianmus on hand, he could hopefully get some insight on what their long term effects might be. After all, if there was a good spell for individual one off utility, but it led to him receiving more and more options of a similar bent, he wasn¡¯t likely to pick it. ¡°In that case, let¡¯s dive right in.¡± he said, bringing up the waiting notification as he bent down to put his boot back on¡ªno point in giving Rieker even the smallest advantage by letting him see the glyph when he returned. **Ding! Spell-hymn available for selection!** Yellia¡¯s Slip Step: Runic Hymn - Tier I (Translocation) Affinity: Space, Dimension Glyph: Aelina 80 Mana Selection Available! This Hymn partially submerges the user in slip space for 10 steps, lengthening distance travelled and intermittently rendering them incorporeal. ... Galewind Dash: Runic Hymn - Tier I (Mobility) Affinity: Air, Storm Glyph: Aelina 60 Mana Selection Available! This Hymn summons a howling tailwind that drastically increases movement speed and seeks to disrupt incoming attacks. ... Ingrid¡¯s Localised Downness: Runic Hymn - Tier I (Translocation) Affinity: Gravity Glyph: Aelina 50 Mana Selection Available! This Hymn temporarily reorients the effect of gravity on the user to be directly beneath their centre at all times for 1 minute. ... Defensive Transference: Runic Hymn - Tier I (Mobility) Affinity: Kinetic, Martial Glyph: Aelina 200 Mana Selection Available! This Hymn infuses the body with an energy field that will absorb and store 70% of the force of the next attack weathered¡ªup to a certain limit. This stored energy may be used to empower a single step at 300% efficiency. Reading each of the spell¡¯s descriptions, Kaius leaned back into his chair bodily and crossed one leg over his knee. It was a wide array of exactly the skills he was hoping for, though while all were movement related it was plain to see that they all had a clear bent to either defense or utility. Slip Step and Defensive Transference were the most immediately interesting to him. Both would serve something he distinctly lacked¡ªactive defense and evasion. The former seemed like it would be fantastic for unblockable and unavoidable attacks, especially as his glyph levelled. Afterall, he had no doubt that both the amount of steps he would take, and the amount of time he would spend incorporeal, would grow. That, and increasing the distance he could cover in a step would no doubt be disorienting as all hell for his opponents. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. On the other hand, Defensive Transference seemed...potent. A massive reduction to incoming blows, combined with a way to explosively create or close distance? The only major downside was its comparatively extreme cost¡ªthough even that would grow far less of a hindrance as he continued to level. Kaius turned to his team members, taking the time to run them through his options, and his thoughts on the spells. Running his hands through his hair, he asked their opinions. With how torn he was between both spells, he hoped there was something that would make it a clear cut decision. ¡°Slip Step, without question!¡± Ianmus was surprisingly vehement with his response, clenching the armrests of his chair in a white knuckle grip as he half rose from his seat. A moment later, the half-elf coughed as he realised that both Kaius and Porkchop were staring at him with half tilted heads. Slowly lowering himself back into the chair, he cleared his throat. ¡°Sorry. But you said it was a space and dimension affinity? Truly?¡± Kaius nodded. He knew that they were generally good affinities for certain types of spellwork¡ªand he would have to be an idiot not to see how that fit into movement spells¡ªbut with the relatively modest capabilities of Slip Step he hadn¡¯t realised that it was such a big deal. Ianmus smiled, his eyes practically sparkling. ¡°Unbelievable. I know the strength of your class, but you clearly don¡¯t understand how rare it is to see something of that affinity in the first tier, let alone so early.¡± ¡°Spit it out! Why is it special?¡± Porkchop interjected with a snort, getting a teasing roll of the eyes from Kaius in return. Though, he did admit that he was also curious¡ªhe had always assumed they were uncommon because of the rumoured complexity of the spells that involved them, rather than an inherent trait of the affinities themselves. ¡°I was about to!¡± Ianmus defended himself. ¡°Like I was saying, those affinities are esoteric ¡ªsimilar to void, aether, time, and others¡ªthose are incredibly rare in the second tier, and only get slightly more common as you rise up.¡± The half-elf paused, gathering his thoughts. ¡°Both Space and Dimension are considered some of the best affinities for translocation and mobility spells that exist. If you continue to pick them, you have a solid chance of evolving your overall glyph skill to specialise in them later¡ªthat is your best chance to get some sort of instantaneous movement skill far before you would otherwise.¡± Kaius rolled his hand through the air, encouraging the half-elf to continue. Ianmus grinned, clearly more than happy to expound on the minutiae of mana theory to an eager and willing audience. ¡°From what we know thanks to historic records, and contemporary examples, true translocation spells¡ªteleportation, skip jumps, portals, relative substitutions, elemental drifts, and the like¡ªstart to appear at the second tier for Space and Dimension. Other closely aligned affinities such as liminality, void, time, and light start to get such abilities in the third¡ªand as far as we know affinities of a generally ephemeral nature such as air, storm, fire, and shadow start to appear in the fourth. At least, so we believe from the little we have been able to gather from history and watching the elves, dwarves, and others who live in high mana regions.¡± Ianmus explained, the pace of his speech growing faster as he fell into the rhythm of his thoughts. Kaius raised an eyebrow when his companion mentioned knowledge of the fourth tier¡ªeven if it was only vague. He hadn¡¯t heard of any public facing fourth tiers in the human settled central regions, and as far as he knew that had been the case since the calamity that was the shattering of the empire. Though it wouldn¡¯t surprise him if there was more than one old monster who kept growing in secret. He knew one thing for certain, there were either none, or there were multiple keeping each other in check. With the tendency of dynasties to dominate, if one man had such an advantage, they would move brutally and endlessly to wipe out all potential threats to their lineage¡ªand secure as many legacies as they could. ¡°What of more physical affinities? Like crystal, or wood?¡± Kaius asked, noting that they had been left out of Ianmus¡¯s explanation. ¡°We don¡¯t know.¡± Ianmus said with a shrug. ¡°The Eternal Emperor was the strongest in Vaastivarian history at an estimated tier five or six, and he was a time affinity skirmisher¡ªhe¡¯d had a translocation ability since the third tier. That said, it¡¯s a little beside the point. I think the potential benefits of Slip Step¡¯s affinities make it a clear winner, and I think that if you get offered another spell with the same affinities when your skill reaches level one-hundred you should take it, even if it is subpar compared to the rest. If you do that, I would be shocked if you don¡¯t get a skip or blink ability in the second tier¡ªeven if the skill doesn¡¯t evolve to specialise.¡± Kaius nodded along to the man¡¯s words. A blink ability would be worth it; he¡¯d take two useless Common spells if it was enough to make it a certainty. The sheer tactical usefulness of such an ability was too much to ignore. Though, a blink was not the only thing he would be pleased to get out of such a tendency towards an affinity. Evidently he wasn¡¯t the only one. ¡°What of longer ranged spells? Like a gate?¡± Porkchop asked their resident expert. ¡°A gate? Unlikely.¡± Ianmus replied with a shake of his head. ¡°Gates and portals are high tier spells, and ones that often require lengthy channeling time at that. There''s a reason runic ones are so rare and tightly controlled. I¡¯m not all that sure that they align with glyph-binding very well¡ªif it did ever appear it would have a truly momentous mana cost, not the best when it will tie up your mana until you use it.¡± A good point, in Kaius¡¯s opinion. As much as he adored glyph-binding¡ªthe skill was everything he had ever wanted it to be¡ªnothing under the purview of the system was without checks, balances, and drawbacks. For him, spells of occasional use and a high cost were far less useful than they would be to free-casters and sorcerers. Having too much of his mana pool reserved would severely limit his overall effectiveness, and even if he could technically simply wait to inscribe the spell until it was needed, it was still far less usable than it was for other mages. After all, inscribing took far longer than channelling an equivalent spell¡ªthe whole benefit was that he could do it ahead of time. Still, if he got the option of a portal or planar gate, he would take it in a heartbeat. Hopefully he wouldn¡¯t need to though. ¡°What about teleportation?¡± Kaius asked. ¡°Maybe.¡± Ianmus replied, scrunching his face with uncertainty. ¡°Tier three is much more likely¡ªstill, the more spells you take of those affinities, the more likely it is to happen. ¡°Oh gods, yes.¡± his brother turned to him. ¡°Kaius, take the spell. The quicker we can stop walking everywhere, the better. And by we, I mean me¡ªcarrying you is fine, but walking sucks.¡± Porkchop said, immediately jumping onto the wagon. Kaius laughed and made his decision right then and there. It had been down to the knife¡¯s edge anyways, but who would pass up an opportunity to teleport in the future? Besides, Slip Step was a good skill in its own right. ¡°Well, that¡¯s good enough for me!¡± .... One moment he was deep beneath the earth in a stone hall, draped in bloodsoaked armour and sitting on finely upholstered furniture. The next, he was clothed in simple cotton, standing before a familiar hearth inside of the office where he had learnt his first class skill. ¡°Hello, Kaius, it is good to see you again so soon.¡± A warm voice said from behind him, weathered and mellowed by age. His voice. B2 Chapter 187: Predictions B2 Chapter 187: Predictions Kaius came to with a groan, shaking his head to clear out the fugue that clouded his mind. The process of learning Slip Step had been almost identical to that of Stormlash. The system¡¯s agent had appeared, greeting him briefly before leaving him to his work until he needed someone to talk through a particularly troublesome issue with his learning. After that, the system had impressed a knowledge of his new spell-hymn upon him. If it had just been that, it wouldn¡¯t have been too bad - it was similar to how he learned his class skills after all. Unfortunately, it wasn¡¯t just like that. Unlike his glyphs, where the system did the heavy lifting of binding them to his body, Kaius had to reinscribe his spells himself. With their twisting three dimensional nature, it was a hellish task¡ªnot one he could lean on theoretical knowledge alone to bridge the gap. Especially since the system only granted him knowledge of its shape¡ªnot the process of actually weaving it. Instead, he was left in that room¡ªwith access to a seemingly unlimited well of mana to draw on¡ªto weave the spell himself. The system hadn¡¯t been satisfied until he could do it flawlessly every single time. It had taken hours. The one saving grace is that he had somehow been insulated from the devastating effects of a destabilised array. With how often he¡¯d failed, no doubt he would have blown one of his feet off without the system''s protection. Looking around the room, Kaius saw that the training hall was unchanged. Rieker was still gone, his armour was still tacky and bloodied, and his teammates still sat there¡ªcuriously watching him. ¡°How long was I out?¡± Kaius asked, clearing his throat as he realised how dry his mouth was. ¡°Only a few minutes.¡± his brother responded. Ianmus nodded. ¡°I assume it was much longer for you? I have read that the system can use time dilation for spell-learning skills.¡± Kaius grunted in response, giving the half-elf a quick nod. ¡°Yeah, took bloody hours. I was only allowed out once I could get through the whole process without failure.¡± Both Ianmus and Porkchop winced in sympathy. ¡°My condolences¡ªbut I suspect it is better than the alternative where we live in a world where the system''s gifts can lead to bodily injury due to lacking understanding.¡± He supposed that was true. Still, even if it was a relatively draining and annoying experience to go through, it wasn¡¯t enough to quell the small bubble of fizzing excitement within his chest. Aelina. His second glyph! And one that broadened his spell casting to more than just brute strength. Kaius had always loved magic for its strength, but it was its versatility and the options it gave that had really drawn him in. It was nice to finally be taking some steps in that direction. Through his bond, Kaius felt his brother mirroring his own excitement¡ªthough it was clear that most of it was directed to his own upcoming skill selection. Looking over, he saw that Porkchop was barely restraining himself, muscles tensing in thick furred legs as the meles forced himself to sit still. Kaius let out a wide smile. ¡°Go on then, check what you got.¡± he told his brother warmly. Chuffing in excitement, Porkchop¡¯s eyes immediately unfocused as he dived into his notifications. Then his ears perked up, and he refocused on his team. ¡°There¡¯s some really good stuff here!¡± he said, straightening up. ¡°First one¡¯s Bulwark¡¯s Challenge. It''s a roar that will focus the attention and aggression of our enemies on me, while infecting them with some sort of rage that weakens them and makes them sloppy.¡± Listening with interest, Kaius thought on the skill. It certainly sounded useful. Porkchop was their Bastion, and any skill that allowed them to take more of the heat from their squishier team members was a valuable part in any composition¡ªespecially if it had affliction-like effects as well. ¡°Then there¡¯s Splintered Punishment. It does sound good, but I''m not sure if it''s as good as the others¡ªboth the first and last skill are Heroic. It¡¯ll make the next hit on my armour send out an explosive spray of shards at my attacker. I have been wanting an offensive skill, but I''m not sure if one that requires me to get hit first is a good fit.¡± Porkchop continued. ¡°And the last?¡± Kaius asked. While an offensive skill did sound good, and retributive skills had their place in a build like Porkchop¡¯s, he had to agree that it sounded like it didn¡¯t match up as nicely. ¡°Intercede the Faithful. I¡¯m honestly thinking about picking this one. It will let me rapidly put myself in front of an opponent''s attack within a certain distance¡ªregardless of who it is aimed at. It¡¯ll also summon a shield of crystal to help me withstand it.¡± Porkchop finished, watching them curiously to hear their thoughts. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Kaius leaned back, scratching his chin as he thought about the skills. That last one...it sounded very handy. It would let Porkchop survive bigger hits, but most importantly it would give him a better method of supporting the team. As their Bastion, one of Porkchop¡¯s jobs was to ensure the safety of their backline¡ªif something got past them, this skill could just help them keep Ianmus alive. ¡°What do you think?¡± Kaius asked his brother. Porkchop shuffled for a moment, before he shared his thoughts. They ended up being remarkably similar to Kaius¡¯s own, the meles leaning towards the final skill as one that would best let him support the rest of the team¡ªtaking hits that others could not survive. ¡°I actually strongly disagree.¡± Ianmus said, speaking up for the first time. His words were quiet and polite, but still filled with conviction all the same. Both Kaius and Porkchop turned to look at the mage with surprise. Afterall, he was the one whose safety would be most improved with the selection of the third skill. ¡°Oh? Why is that?¡± Porkchop asked with genuine curiosity, tilting his head. ¡°Because I think it is a mistake to make long term decisions based on short term inadequacies.¡± Ianmus replied. Confusion welled up inside of Kaius as his brow furrowed. What did the man mean by that? Sure, the largest part of the danger Ianmus currently faced was his lack of relative strength compared to his and Porkchop¡¯s own¡ªsomething that would quickly change as the man gathered more Honours and evolved his class to a higher rarity in the second tier¡ªbut that didn¡¯t mean the skill was without value. Even if they were all equally powerful, something that would let Porkchop weather something that would take one of them out of the fight was a distinct advantage that was hard to ignore¡ªhis brother was the toughest of them by a league. ¡°Let me explain.¡± the half-elf continued when he saw their faces. ¡°Currently, as the back line, I am rather isolated and alone with you two in the front, and I am weak enough that a single monster making it past you will leave me with little ways of defending myself. I assume this is the major impetus with selecting a skill that will lead to you being able to take hits for me?¡± Ianmus asked, looking at Porkchop. ¡°I mean...yeah. The sort of things we have to fight to see the gains we want would squash you like a bug¡ªno offence.¡± Porkchop replied. Nodding at his brother''s words, Kaius couldn¡¯t help but agree. Sure, it might change in the future, but what happened when they went on a delve? They might be facing individual tough monsters at the moment, but even with all of their capability he and Porkchop couldn¡¯t be everywhere. A full squad of depths-born? Some would inevitably slip past¡ªthen Ianmus would be dead. ¡°That¡¯s what I thought. Listen¡ªthe first skill is going to do much better at that in the long run. If the monsters are all attacking you, then I am safe.¡± Ianmus explained. ¡°More than that...have the two of you thought about our team composition in the long term?¡± ¡°In what way?¡± Kaius asked. ¡°We know there is room for more, but there¡¯s that whole small issue of finding people who can actually add value without holding us back¡ªat least until they get a few Honours and tier ups.¡± ¡°Yes, I know. And there is the whole trust issue thing in the first place. While it may be hard, it will not be impossible¡ªand we currently have a glaring hole.¡± Ianmus leaned forwards, clasping his hands as his voice thrummed with conviction. ¡°We do?¡± Porkchop questioned. ¡°I know someone who can help control the battlefield, or something like a scout would be helpful¡ªbut to call it a hole? I¡¯m not so sure.¡± ¡°Control, no. Between me and Kaius we have that covered, or at least we will. Currently we have a mobile skirmisher type, a bastion, and a support-slash-finisher. A great foundation¡ªbut we need someone else on the backline. Preferably someone who can focus on battlefield awareness, keeping me safe, and taking out high-value targets that neither of you can easily reach while dealing with the meat of the threat.¡± Ianmus explained. Understanding dawned on Kaius. ¡°If we find someone like that, you¡¯ll be safer, and we¡¯ll all be far better off if Porkchop can direct the brunt of attention to himself¡ªallowing me and the hypothetical teammate to run roughshod over any especially dangerous targets.¡± Ianmus nodded. ¡°Exactly. Besides¡ªattention management is a core part of being a Bastion, and this is a far better version of it than most get.¡± Finding himself agreeing with the mage, Kaius turned to his brother. At the end of the day, it was Porkchop¡¯s skill, and his decision on what would best fit his build. Porkchop was clearly thinking about it, his head bowed with his brows scrunched as he pondered the argument. ¡°I think...I agree. Though I think it is foolish to base everything on the off chance that we will find another member for our party, Bulwark¡¯s Challenge is actually potentially better for keeping the two of you safe. It might not let me take an attack that would otherwise ruin you, but if everything is focused on me, there is far less chance of one of those ever happening in the first place.¡± Porkchop said, before his eyes closed and he made his decision. A moment later his eyes popped back open, and the meles chuffed in joy. ¡°Oh this is going to be so much fun to use¡ªI can already tell.¡± Cocking his brow questioningly, Kaius wandered what his brother meant. ¡°You¡¯ll see¡ªlet¡¯s save our new skills for Rieker. Give him a little surprise.¡± Porkchop said with a gleeful smile when he saw Kaius¡¯s expression. At the mention of the fearsome guildmaster, Kaius¡¯s mind drifted to their upcoming spar. He wondered what it would be like. Obviously, Rieker was supremely skilled and experienced¡ªand had the same love of battle that drove most delvers¡ªbut with them being so far beneath the man he couldn¡¯t see them being treated with anything other than kid gloves. ¡°I wonder how it''s going to go down.¡± Kaius murmured. ¡°I expect he¡¯ll probably just bat us around a bit while he breaks down every little mistake we make and rubs our nose in it.¡± Ianmus laughed at his comment, deep and throatily. ¡°Really? He¡¯s definitely going to make it a show of force. Cut us down a notch, show us no matter how strong we are for our level, some things are too insurmountable to beat.¡± the half-elf said, his eyes glistening with inner fire. ¡°I think he¡¯s the type that will want to show us the peaks that exist to inspire us to climb higher.¡± ¡°You¡¯re both right.¡± Porkchop interjected, drawing both of their eyes. ¡°The man is a Patriarch through and through. He will crush us utterly¡ªcapitalise on any inadequacy we dare to show in his presence¡ªand then when we are battered and bleeding, crushed utterly, he will lecture us on our mistakes and show us the path to improvement.¡± Before Kaius could respond, Porkchop¡¯s ears flicked, and he looked towards the closed metal door that led out of the sparring hall. ¡°Speaking of, he¡¯s here.¡± B2 Chapter 188: Looking Forward B2 Chapter 188: Looking Forward Kaius sat around a table laden with the most delicious food he had tasted in his life. His armour was damp, soaking the cotton and leathers of his traveling clothes beneath. Thankfully, it was also blessedly clean. Picking up the dainty silver fork in front of him, Kaius cut through the hunk of roast duck in front of him. It was...divine. He had no other words for it¡ªperfectly cooked and spiced, juicy, with crispy skin. It was far and away the most refined meal he had ever had¡ªthe poultry being paired with delicately charred vegetables and a sweet citrusy sauce. Taking another bite, he felt the meat all but dissolve in his mouth and struggled to bite back a moan. It wasn¡¯t enough to stop Rieker from meeting his eyes and giving him an easy grin. Kaius smiled back, but didn¡¯t stand on propriety as he shoveled another mouthful in. The meal had been a long affair, starting with breads and jams, then some sort of spiced scorched beef skewers, and now the duck. Whenever he thought it was about to be over, Rieker just pulled more unimaginable acts of gastronomy out of his storage artifact. The guild master had been plain in his intentions. He wanted them fresh¡ªwhich meant time to rest, ready themselves, and top off their resources. Rieker had even gone so far as to supply buckets of water, clothes, and soap¡ªgiving him and Porkchop the chance to properly clean themselves of the filthy remnants of their battle with the infernus hound. Thankfully, it seemed the guild master was in no great rush. When Kaius had informed him that he would need extra time once his mana had fully regenerated to prepare his spells, Rieker had only waved him off. Though, there had been a shine of curiosity in the man''s eyes. Evidently not enough to press him on the specifics¡ªbut Kaius got the sense that was mostly because he wanted them to have an edge in their upcoming confrontation, and the guildmaster seemed to have a propensity for trying to figure things out for himself. No doubt the man had some sort of mana sight¡ªmost people got it at some point from their general skills, at least if they had some sort of sensory one, which was almost all delvers. With that he¡¯d be able to see much of the process anyway. The conversation so far had been rather casual, discussions of their fight with the spider and the hound, what they thought they did well and similar. Kaius didn¡¯t expect that to last too much longer. Afterall, even if Rieker did want to save some suspense for their massively unequal spar there were far too many things of import to discuss as it regarded their plans for the coming months. ¡°So.¡± Rieker said, looking between him and Porkchop as he broke the silence. As he spoke the guildmaster placed his cutlery back down on the table with immaculate and refined precision. ¡°I know that Ro already sourced a couple of Masking artefacts for the two of you, but they are not going to cut it, and Ianmus needs one as well.¡± ¡°Sounds expensive.¡± Porkchop cut straight to the point, leaning on the advantage of his mental speech to continue to chew through some duck. A booming laugh filled the hall as Rieker leaned back in his chair. ¡°Normally, it would be. Luckily for all of you, as members of a special guild initiative¡ªwhich this whole Aspect thing firmly counts as¡ªyou get plenty of advantages that others do not.¡± ¡°So we all get them for free?¡± Ianmus asked hopefully. ¡°Yep.¡± Rieker said simply. ¡°It¡¯s necessary. If we¡¯re going to be getting you to do appropriate levelled missions in an effort to level you as quickly as possible, we¡¯re going to need to hide some of the changes in your status. It¡¯ll be too obvious something¡¯s up if you¡¯re shooting up in level every time you leave on what should be a routine hunting mission.¡± ¡°Now, we¡¯ll call the debt on the old artefacts even, but these new ones will remain property of the guild. They¡¯re going to be too valuable to just straight up give them to you. Once you¡¯re strong enough that hiding your strength is pointless, you¡¯ll need to give them back.¡± the guildmaster continued. Kaius nodded at the man''s words. He could accept that¡ªafter all, they were getting them for free, and it sounded like they would have free and exclusive use of them until they were no longer needed. He just hoped it wouldn¡¯t take long. Artefacts of the kind of calibre that had those sorts of stipulations were expensive, hard to make, and lengthy to procure. Guts twisting at the thought of having to wait weeks to get back in the field, Kaius couldn¡¯t help but frown. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Rieker said, grinning at his expression. ¡°Ro¡¯s working on my orders; she¡¯s using the guildhall''s link network with head office to requisition some¡ªthey should be here in a couple of days at worst.¡± To his right, Kaius saw Ianmus¡¯s eyes widen in surprise. ¡°That quick?¡± ¡°What? You think you guys are the first we¡¯ve needed to nurture in secrecy?¡± Rieker responded with a shrug. ¡°You might be the most ridiculous, but the guild has a stock of potent masking artefacts on hand for all sorts of uses.¡± That was...suspicious. Kaius doubted that their use case would be the primary thing they were given out for. It seemed even the honourable Delver''s Guild had some level of cloak and dagger to it¡ªthough he shouldn¡¯t be totally surprised given the warning he had received on his first step through the threshold. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Still, they were benefiting, and he wasn¡¯t one to bite the hand that was feeding him. It was mostly the missions he was curious about. While there were plenty of beast hunts available at the moment, before the shift they were by far the minority of tasks that delvers took. Most were sanctioned delves looking for specific monster parts, reagents, and more from within the depths. Hells, even just delving without a specific job was common¡ªand encouraged by the guild. Thanks to the accords, the guild managed all delves within a city¡¯s domain of control, and oversaw taxing the income drawn from it¡ªto be split between them and the local powers. ¡°Why not delves? It¡¯s easily the most expedient way to get us up in level if you can get us into a delve over the tenth layer.¡± he asked, the question itching at him too much to keep to himself. Rieker winced. ¡°I would if I could, lad, but Depths entrances are linked to mana levels in some way¡ªfinding something deeper than layer ten is hard in the central regions. The phase change might have started increasing the mana, but it hasn¡¯t changed the entrances. Yet.¡± That was surprising. He hadn¡¯t realised there was a relationship between mana density and how common deep entrances were. It did make some level of sense¡ªeverything in the system was geared towards pushing people higher. With deeper entrances being in higher mana density zones, it would encourage the powerful to push further out and claim those zones for themselves. It also explained why the elves and dwarves were so much more powerful than humans¡ªat least on average. They wouldn¡¯t need to spend months or years pushing deeper into the Depths just to get access to an appropriate biome to level in. That said, Kaius didn¡¯t miss the way that Rieker had said that the entrances hadn¡¯t changed. Much like the guildmaster, he suspected that it would happen eventually¡ªwhether it was once the mana zones stabilised at their new higher baseline, or in a future phase. If entrances to the depths changed, and lower layer ones became less common, it would put even greater stress on the cities. Without ready access to low level beasts or depths-born, it would be far harder for the weak to grow. Especially since the rising danger of the wilds would discourage people from ranging further to find something suitable. Still, even if deeper entrances were still rare, he doubted the guild didn¡¯t know of at least one that they could use. ¡°There¡¯s truly none?¡± Ianmus asked, mirroring his thoughts. ¡°It¡¯s not that. They¡¯re used too often and too closely monitored¡ªit¡¯d be impossible to hide.¡± Rieker explained, before he paused to have another bite of duck. ¡°Thankfully, it''s only temporary. Once you have the strength to delve the twenty-second layer, I know of a rarely used entrance in the surrounding area. The plan would be for you to keep pushing down until you hit the second tier¡ªonce you¡¯re there, there will be much less need for secrecy.¡± ¡°So we hunt beasts until then. Makes sense.¡± Porkchop said with a bob of his head, before he returned to viciously attacking his food. ¡°You will, and I already have a few missions in mind that could be a good fit¡ªthough I will withhold making any decisions until I have tested you for myself, and you have shared some of your growth patterns with me.¡± Rieker said with a nod. Kaius grinned. That wasn¡¯t so bad, especially if the guildmaster held up to his promise of helping them with skill training. It wouldn¡¯t take all that long for them to reach the point of being ready for another delve, maybe a few months¡ªmost of which would be spent traveling. That, and doing missions meant gold, so even if they were missing out on the bounty of a true delve, it wasn¡¯t like they would be destitute. Rieker had already told them that due to the increased level of the spider, their reward had been increased to a full one-fifty gold. Nearly enough for a decent artefact. Their other missions would likely be similar. Kaius suspected that the man would be picking missions that were much the same¡ªnominally within an understandable range, but ones that were likely to have grown into a greater threat. Afterall, it was the easiest way to avoid convoluted cover-ups that could blow up in their face. Unfortunately, they were going to be in dire need of gear upgrades, and soon. Common and uncommon artefacts just weren''t enough to bridge the gap at the levels they were fighting at. Kaius could only hope that the assistance they had managed to gather would extend to helping them on that front too. ... Despite their plan being laid out, it seemed the guildmaster wasn¡¯t done. After pausing for a moment to allow them to get through more of their meal, the man softly cleared his throat, catching the attention of Kaius and his companions. ¡°No doubt by the time you leave, you¡¯ll be stronger than me¡ªat least as far as raw strength goes. There will be plenty more for you to do, but you won¡¯t find it in Deadacre. I¡¯ll grease a few palms to introduce you to a few people who could help path your way to Wight¡¯s End.¡± Rieker continued. Kaius looked at the man sharply, seeing Ianmus do much the same. Wight¡¯s End? Even he¡¯d heard of it. A city deep in the southern mountains, as much dwarven as it was manish, it was supposed to be the place for elite delvers to gather¡ªand also the seat of the guild''s power on Vaastivar. It was also dangerous, right on the border of a high mana zone. If you weren¡¯t in the second tier, you had to travel there via a heavily defended dwarven deep road. Riker cocked his brows at them. ¡°What? You think you¡¯re getting inducted into a secret guild initiative¡ªand have some of the highest potential I''ve ever seen¡ªand you think I wouldn¡¯t get you to the head office? It would be a waste not to.¡± Kaius found himself grinning, though he did his best to suppress the hardened edge to it. Sure, it was a legendary city, and no doubt easily one of the best places for them to go if they wanted to grow truly strong, but that wasn¡¯t the only thing. Oh no. Afterall, it wasn¡¯t just the Guild that was supposed to make their home there. While he¡¯d only heard rumours, there were plenty enough of the city having an underbelly. Strange night markets, grey-market auctions, contraband, and murder-for-hire. The Onyx Temple¡ªhe was sure of it. With the guild supporting his growth, they would have to know something about his enemies. He would just have to prove himself¡ªmake him and his team so strong and valuable that they would have to share what they knew. And when they did, he would strike. B2 Chapter 189: Stupid Prizes, pt. 1 B2 Chapter 189: Stupid Prizes, pt. 1 Kaius stood in the training hall. It reeked with the scent of iron, the cold corpse of the infernus hound still laying where it had been slain. His team was with him, Porkchop standing by his side with his armour already summoned, while Ianmus loomed behind them¡ªhis staff gripped firmly. Across the hall was Rieker. He looked...casual. At complete ease in a way that was radically divergent from the tense anticipation that made Kaius flex his grip on his sword, the leather wrapping squeaking. Garbed in only the high quality cottons he had been wearing to eat, the only thing that gave away his violent intent was the oddly balanced warhammer he held in an easy grip. Forcing his muscles to loosen, Kaius rolled his shoulders. He took a slow breath, readying himself for the coming battle. For the first time since his spars with Father, he knew he would lose. The only question was how long they would last, and if they could make the guildmaster sweat for it. Thankfully, the guildmaster had been kind enough to step out of the silence-enchanted hall to give them a few minutes to come up with a battleplan. All in all, it was similar to how they normally fought¡ªwith one main exception. They would be fighting defensively. Ianmus wasn¡¯t even going to try for an alpha strike. Their opponent was a man, not a mindless beast, and no doubt he would focus on Ianmus if given the slightest opportunity. It was basic battle tactics. A mage was too dangerous, too versatile, to be left alone. Especially since they were so vulnerable if you could close the distance. Instead, the half-elf would focus on blinding Rieker as much as he was able, and on keeping his frontline hale and hearty. Porkchop had his own role to play. Making sure that their opponent never got the opening he would be looking for. Unfortunately, his new skill was unlikely to work on Rieker to any great effect, his vastly inflated level compared to their own would confer too much innate resistance to anything they could throw at him¡ªlet alone the raw Willpower that the man surely had. As for himself, Kaius would be their harasser, using both of his spells to keep the pressure on. With his added spell, he now had to make choices on his loadout¡ªbalance his reserved mana based on what he expected to need. Honestly, it was probably for the best. It was rare indeed when he had had the opportunity to burn all of his inscriptions in a single fight. For this one, he¡¯d decided to give himself a decent chance to lean on his latest spell, though he¡¯d still leant primarily on his only damaging spell. Ten charges of Slip Step, and twenty-two of Stormlash. It wouldn¡¯t be enough¡ªnot against the Wardog of Deadacre. Even if he was going to lose, it didn¡¯t stop a smile from creeping its way across his face. There was no fear, for Rieker wouldn¡¯t kill them. Instead, all Kaius felt was the rising heat of the challenge. The thrill of staring up an insurmountable mountain¡ªof knowing that he wouldn¡¯t give up, even in the face of certain defeat. Afterall, even if they were destined to lose today, weakness was temporary. All he needed was time and battle, and one day he would surpass the second tier. Kaius knew it in his bones. Taking a quick glance to his team to check in on them, he got a pair of swift nods in return. They were prepared for what was to come. ¡°Ready!¡± he called to the looming danger wrapped in a man''s skin. Rieker grinned. A wide thing, revealing far too many teeth. Even from nearly a hundred long-strides away, Kaius could see the way he looked at them with what could only be described as hunger. He presented the man his side, right leg forward with his blade held out at an angle. A duelist''s stance that minimised his profile and kept his off hand free for casting. Nominally, it was a poor choice for a longsword¡ªbut with all of his enhanced strength A Father¡¯s Gift may as well have been as light as a feather. More, he felt the instincts from his spellblade mastery skill nudge him to shift his stance a little wider, giving him the range of motion to pivot through his hips and lean more heavily into the slashes that such a stout weapon encouraged. His aggressive stance seemed to only buoy the guildmaster¡¯s good mood. He didn¡¯t move to follow, still standing relaxed¡ªalmost slouching. ¡°Ready.¡± Rieker said back, his voice projecting through the space with a deep baritone. Kaius braced. Rieker lunged. It was a simple movement. Economic, easy, and smooth. Almost slow. A piercing crack echoed as the man''s foot hit the floor, launching him towards Kaius and his party at breakneck speeds. Then, he was simply there. Right in their face. Still, as fast as the guildmaster may have been, they were no strangers to fighting against creatures that had them utterly physically outmatched. Kaius lurched forwards, thrusting towards Rieker¡¯s chest with a full weighted stab, his blade racing forwards in a blur of grey and black. It glowed with internal fire, empowered by his Bladerite. Light crackled in his off hand as he summoned a Stormlash in preparation for a follow up, showering the ground behind him in orange light. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. As he moved, Porkchop punched the ground with his claws, a wall of jade erupting between them and the guildmaster. Ostensibly, it blocked Kaius¡¯s path of attack, but he was under no illusions that Rieker would be caught off guard. Kaius heard the slap of a boot on stone, before Rieker simply sailed clean over the slab of jade that raced towards him. Adjusting the angle of his blade, Kaius aimed to run the man through. A casual open-handed slap was enough to wrench his sword away. Eyes widening, he stumbled as he tightened his grip on his hilt, the force of the parry leaving his hand stinging and numb. His follow up came quickly, offhand lashing out to bind Rieker with another streamer of crackling lightning. Plasma arced, crossing the space between them in half a moment. Only to discharge impotently on stone as Rieker...disappeared. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Drakthar has reached level 27!** The barest rustle of fabric behind him was all the warning he got. Kaius¡¯s eyes hardened. He planted his weight on his back foot to pivot into a vicious glowing cut as he brought his offhand back onto his hilt. **Ding! Initiate¡¯s Bladerite has reached level 16!** Rieker was right there, ready for him with his warhammer held in a choked grip. Waiting with an easy grin on his face. The man dipped, bobbing underneath his sweeping blade. A moment later he twitched his head, pulling it to the side to narrowly dodge one of Ianmus¡¯s snapping Sunbeams . Kaius grit his teeth, bringing his pommel down in a heavy smash¡ªaiming to crack the guildmaster¡¯s skull. It was useless; the man was as slippery as an eel. Even flowing through a flurry of cuts and stabs, interweaving Stomlashes with his strikes, it was like fighting the air. Every time he thought he was bound to land a hit, the man would adjust by the barest of a hair''s breadth, allowing his sword to sail past harmlessly. No matter how much he watched the man, sought openings and weaknesses, he found nothing. Explorer¡¯s Toolkit was silent¡ªexcept for the constant scream of danger it blurted at Rieker¡¯s every movement. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Drakthar has reached level 28!** ... **Ding! Latent Glyph of Drakthar has reached level 29!** **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo has reached level 33!** ... **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo has reached level 35!** ¡°Decent reactions, and plenty aggressive, but it¡¯s all meaningless if you can''t even hit me.¡± Rieker taunted, his grin enough to drive a hot flush of infuriation up Kaius¡¯s neck. A shattering cry that promised doom and slaughter echoed through the hall as Porkchop unleashed his latest skill, trying to force the guildmaster¡¯s attention on him. Rieker looked away from Kaius, assessing the threat. He and Ianmus reacted instantly, yellow and blue light flashing as they both tried to capitalise on the man''s distraction. It was useless. Rieker flashed in faster than he could track, appearing inside his guard. Planting a solid palm on his chest, the guildmaster shoved. It was like getting kicked by a mule. Kaius gasped as the air was driven from his chest, the force of the blow enough to send him skidding back across the stone. It was all he could do to keep his feet underneath him. **Ding! Tempered by Dissonance has reached level 33!** ¡°Nice try, and a good response to a ¡®distracted¡¯ opponent. Unfortunately, all the cohesive teamwork in the world means nothing in the face of Strength.¡± Rieker locked eyes with him, eyes glinting dangerously. His grip on his warhammer loosened, his grip sliding down to the base of the haft. Ice shot through Kaius¡¯s veins. This was going to hurt. Porkchop saw it at the same time he did¡ªthe growing anticipation on Rieker¡¯s face. The man had been toying with them, assessing their movements. It seemed he had seen enough. Unleashing another Bulwark¡¯s Challenge that filled the hall with his terrible roar, Porkchop tapped into the mana he had stored in his amulet and shot towards the guildmaster. As he moved, Kaius caught a flash of yellow from Ianmus¡¯s staff, before his brother was wrapped in the bolstering power of the sun. Rieker looked over to the rapidly approaching ball of primal fury and smiled. A simple step sent the man flying backwards, creating enough distance for Porkchop to lose steam. It didn¡¯t dissuade his brother, who flew into a storm of raking claws and gnashing teeth. He did as well as Kaius had done, grasping nothing but air. ¡°All that fury, all that power. It means nothing if there is no thought backing it.¡± Rieker whispered, the words cutting through the howling din of the battle. Kaius tried to support, racing in to hack at the agile warrior, but even with the two of them laying into the man, it was of no use¡ªthey couldn¡¯t bloody hit him. Rieker wasn¡¯t even moving fast. It was easy to keep track of him, most of the time at least¡ªhells, Kaius was sure that he was moving slower than they were. It was like he knew where they were going to move, like he was leading them on a dance. Then Rieker attacked. Porkchop fell first. ¡°You throw yourself at me, expecting your sheer size and presence to be enough to force my attention. You savage, and you bite, and you claw¡ª but there is no deftness. No attempt to create openings. You don¡¯t even try to force me to dance to your tune, to try and leave me vulnerable to your allies.¡± Rieker said with ease, like he was making conversation over dinner. There was no malice, no cruelty, and no hostility¡ªjust a casual sharing of facts. ¡°You expect your armour to keep you safe.¡± the guildmaster stepped in, slipping around a Sunbeam, rolling under a heavy clawed swipe, and slapping away a thrust of Kaius¡¯s sword to appear inside of Porkchop¡¯s guard. ¡°It doesn¡¯t.¡± Rieker¡¯s hammer hit Porkchop¡¯s jade breastplate with the weight of a mountain. It wasn¡¯t a hard swing¡ªat least, it didn¡¯t look like it¡ªand the armour was some of the thickest on Porkchop¡¯s body. It didn¡¯t matter in the slightest. A shattering crash resounded through the hall, like bricks being dropped onto stone from a great height. Porkchop¡¯s chest caved in, blood fountaining from his mouth in a desperate gurgle. ¡°Porkchop!¡± Ianmus called, a glow surrounding him in a warm halo as he started to shape a healing spell. Kaius¡¯s heart leapt into his throat. He knew the wound was unlikely to kill his brother, not with his current Endurance, and his sheer toughness, but it was a grievous injury all the same. Unable to help himself, a desperate cry of rage slipped between his lips and the agony spreading across their bond sparked a raging heat in his chest. He raced in. He had to catch the man, move faster than he could, force him off guard. Something. His newest spell was his only choice. Reaching out with his will to the swirling inscription that wrapped around his foot, Kaius watched the guildmaster draw a dagger from his belt. Looming over his brother¡¯s collapsed form, Rieker plunged the blade down between Porkchop¡¯s shoulder blades. Right into his spine. B2 Chapter 190: Stupid Prizes, Pt. 2 B2 Chapter 190: Stupid Prizes, Pt. 2 Kaius watched in shock as the guildmaster stabbed his brother between the shoulderblades, the dagger severing Porkchop¡¯s spine. Porkchop went limp, legs splaying out. With his chest still shattered from the guildmaster¡¯s casual swing, he did little more let out a soft wheeze of foaming blood. ¡°Remember this moment of weakness. Remember that intentionality is your greatest weapon, and your stoutest shield. Not fury and system granted skill.¡± Rieker stepped back, leaving the blade planted. Kaius¡¯s heart thumped, and he cast his spell¡ªSlip Step. Pale blue motes streamed from the soles of his feet, and he felt himself plunge through the skin of the world. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Aelina has reached level 2!** The heavy grip of reality slackened as the grey stone and red blood faded to muted hues. Kaius could tell he was only a half step into some unknown realm, but even with a hair''s breadth of separation, the immutable laws of distance bound him tightly no longer. Hidden secrets whispered from the edges of his vision, tugging on his focus as Truesight revealed what was not and what should not be. Kaius focused his mind¡ªpushing the shifting half shapes to the background as he turned his full attention to his target. It was unstable. With every movement, he felt his very being flicker¡ªsliding back and forth like he was transferring his weight between his feet. ¡°Oh? Space? That¡¯s interesting.¡± Rieker said, turning to him while a burst of sunlight settled on the stricken form of Porkchop behind him. It wasn¡¯t enough¡ªwith the blade still lodged in Porkchop¡¯s back he was unable to rid himself of his paralysis. Lightning crackled into existence as Kaius summoned another Stormlash, and took a step. The world contracted. His foot touched the ground three times closer to his target than it should have taken him. Rieker didn¡¯t care, the same easy smile on his face igniting a fire within Kaius¡¯s chest. Too casual, too carefree. It was pissing him off. Hurling the power of the storm at the man who may as well have been made of adamant, Kaius pulled on his power again and again as he stood in one spot. Rieker simply side stepped, slipped, and dodged with blurring speed, each and every one of Kaius¡¯s lashes missing him utterly. He grit his teeth, and tapped into his Bladerite before lunging into a thrust. A blow that should have crossed six strides stabbed through eighteen, rushing straight for Rieker¡¯s neck. A twitch took the guildmaster away from the path of his blade. Then he swiped with an open palm. Eyes wide as his heart thumped with the might of his song, Kaius leapt back again and again. Space shrunk with every step, his being flickering into the inbetween space as he moved. It was no use; Rieker kept pace easily. Right as Kaius¡¯s foot touched the ground, Rieker swept out an open palm, grabbing his wrist. Somehow perfectly timing the rate of his flickers to hold onto mortal flesh. Powerless to resist, he was yanked forwards, until he stood chest to chest with the guildmaster. ¡°You forget yourself, Kaius. You do not fight alone.¡± Rieker whispered to him, almost crooning. Then he was careening through the air, arms windmilling as he tried to control his flailing. Landing on the cold stone of the floor, Kaius¡¯s breath was forced out of his chest. He looked up in horror to see Rieker rounding on Ianmus. ¡°And you, you¡¯re just weak. That might change in the future, but you would do best to avoid drawing attention to yourself until that day comes.¡± Ianmus tried to flee, yet even with all of his grace and swiftness¡ªeven with the potency of his Magister¡¯s Dash ¡ªit mattered little. Rieker arrived at his side in a quick burst of speed, and stomped. A strangled scream escaped Ianmus¡¯s lips as his leg shattered, the sickly white of his shin rupturing through his flesh with a wet tear. ¡°Remember this pain, mage, for it is what your frontline faces constantly. It is what you will inevitably face in true battle, and if you cannot persevere¡ªcontinue to fight¡ªyou will die.¡± Kaius leapt to his feet, the world twisting to assist his movement as he watched Ianmus start to channel as he lurched back from the guildmaster. A single step brought him closer, and his magic fizzled out. Without hesitation Kaius burned another charge, slipping back into the half-space between worlds. He raced across the ground, sword and spell at the ready, and the strides vanished beneath his flickering feet. Ten steps took him halfway there, and he cast Slip Step for the third time. Another ten brought him into range, and thunder boomed deep within the earth. Lightning crackled, howling with fury as it cut through the air. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Aelina has reached level 3!** Rieker kicked off the ground, dodging the lash without even looking back. The leather soles of his shoes squealed in protest as he screeched to a halt by Ianmus. A single stomp cracked one of the inscribed flagstones, landing a finger-length from the mages head. ¡°Dead.¡± Ianmus slumped in defeat, releasing his hold on his mana. Kaius¡¯s heart leapt into his throat as the guildmaster finished decimating his team with brutal efficiency. Wardog indeed. Keeping his distance, Kaius burnt through the rest of his Stormlash inscriptions¡ªall fourteen of them¡ªone after the other in a blurring stream of cracking thunder and howling light. No matter his tricks, feints, and quick succession spells, it was useless. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Drakthar has reached level 30!** The guild master was too fast. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. As soon as he was empty, he gripped his sword with both hands and settled into an inside-right guard, the pommel of his blade pulled in close to the armpit. Still a foot into the strange half-space of his spell, he charged. Appearing before Rieker in three steps, he hacked at the man, gritting his teeth as his sword was slapped away. He stepped, circling as he hammered the guildmaster¡¯s impenetrable guard, feinting and probing for openings. **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo has reached level 36!** ¡°You¡¯re an interesting one, Kaius. Skilled beyond your years, blooded against monsters, wielding magics I have no name for, and too strong by half. It¡¯s still not enough.¡± Rieker said, smashing his blade to the side so hard that it peeled out a pure note. ¡°It¡¯s not enough. Not against the machinations of men.¡± he crouched, letting Kaius¡¯s thrust sail past his ear as he punched. For the first time in the fight, Kaius flickered at just the right time, the blow sailing clean through him as he fell into the space between worlds. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Aelina has reached level 4!** Rieker just calmly pulled back, smashing aside his retaliation and hammering him again as soon as he reappeared. The blow hit Kaius in the stomach, radiating agony through his abdomen and forcefully voiding his lungs. Bile surged into his mouth, bitterness tainting it with an acidic burn. ¡°The powerful will watch you. Finding the things you hold dear. Ferret out your weaknesses.¡± Nearly chest to chest, Kaius tried to force the man back with a crushing pommel strike to his collarbone, refreshing Slip Step as he did. Rieker simply weathered the blow like it was rain. ¡°And once your weaknesses are known, they will tear you down from the base up. Bait you into a fervent rage, until you make a mistake that reveals you.¡± Rieker headbutted him. His nose shattered, head rocking back. Blood ran down the back of his throat, accompanying the eye watering sting. Hissing in agony, Kaius ignored the taste of iron as he tongued a loose tooth. The fire of his frustration started to boil. Kaius attacked, flowing into a storm of tight swooping lashes and aggressive thrusts as he used every trick he could to try to maneuver the guildmaster into an assaultable position. **Ding! Tempered By Dissonance has reached level 34!** None of them touched the guild master. ¡°Then, once you have been provoked. They will strike.¡± Rieker swung. The head of the hammer struck his blade right above the hilt. Metal and crystal cracked in a tortured scream, bucking in his hand with potent reverberations. Strong enough that he lost his grip with his off hand, three fingers not enough to keep hold of the ringing blade. Rieker slapped the blade to the side with an empty palm, leaving Kaius undefended. ¡°After that? You die.¡± Uncanny Dodge and Explorer¡¯s Toolkit both screamed of the danger he was in. Kaius tried to leap back. He was too slow, even with his new spell. A blurring streak hit him on his left wrist. Bone shattered. Flesh tore. His hand flew free. Kaius gasped, falling backwards onto the floor as he stared at the spurting remnants of his wrist. Every pump of his heart sent thickly congealed blood oozing from the wound. His hand spasmed, uncontrollable twitches wracking the limb. Except, that was impossible. It was gone. Ruined. Lesser Regeneration worked against him, sealing the wound shut in moments. **Ding! Lesser Regeneration has reached level 32!** Now it would only return with the aid of a potent healer. One they had no access to, not without significantly more wealth and political pull, or were willing to wait months. He was crippled. Ruined. Kaius looked up to find the guildmaster looming over him. He shrank back, feeling real fear for the first time. If the man was willing to maim him, perhaps the bout had been more serious than he realised. ¡°Remember this fear, Kaius. Your brazen overconfidence nearly got you all killed this week.¡± Rieker said, staring at him with fury on his face. ¡°You are the leader, and steering your team right is your responsibility.¡± Rieker crouched, lowering himself until they saw eye to eye. ¡°Get away from him!¡± Porkchop roared, unable to do anything more than watch on. Rieker ignored him, just like he ignored Ianmus who struggled his way to a seated position and fired a beam of light at the guildmaster. The spell landed, doing little more than scorching the skin on Rieker¡¯s throat. ¡°Kicking up the kind of fuss you did with that spider was moronic. It revealed your hand, and forced mine. The only way someone like you lives is with power, or secrecy. Now you have neither.¡± Kaius whipped his sword up, point wavering as he held it to the man¡¯s eye. Rieker didn¡¯t so much as flinch. ¡°You could still die, you know. Ro, for all her competency, is not a miracle worker. If she can¡¯t cover up the trail the three of you left a league wide¡ªif someone stumbles across the remnants of her work and gets curious¡ªyou could be vanished into some cell before the month is out, waiting for the next Onyx Temple mindmage to strip you down for every iota of knowledge you have.¡± the guildmaster said calmly, pushing aside his sword with the tip of one finger. Kaius sagged, realising that the guildmaster was not after his life. ¡°Because mark my words, someone will notice. Without a doubt.¡± Rieker continued, fixing Kaius with a stare that left horror creeping up his neck. Rieker was right. How could he have been so stupid? They should have taken the easy jobs¡ªlevelled a little slower, or at least taken missions that had enough travel time they could have explained their gains as a result of numerous beasts. ¡°I see you understand now. That¡¯s good. Remember that fear.¡± the guildmaster said, watching him closely. ¡°The only question now is if Ro has bought us enough time for you to get strong enough to kill anyone who comes after you.¡± Reaching out to him, Rieker pulled a potion from his spatial storage. A square bottle¡ªcapped in gold with elegant swirls marking its surface¡ªheld a tonic of vibrant white, shimmering and effervescent. ¡°Now drink. No pupil of mine will walk around missing fingers.¡± Letting his sword drop to the floor with a clatter, Kaius reached for the bottle with a shaking hand. The man couldn¡¯t possibly have given him a true regeneration potion, could he? Rieker stood, and left him staring at the bottle. A moment later he heard Ianmus yelp, and turned to see the mage cradling his own tonic to his chest. It was different from his own¡ªred, and far more plain. Behind him, Porkchop growled throatily. ¡°Quiet you¡ªI know you¡¯ve seen your Patriarchs do worse. The boy will get you all killed if I baby him.¡± he heard Rieker respond. Whipping his head over, Kaius caught the man pulling his dagger free from his brother¡¯s spine¡ªwhere he promptly wiped it clean on his brother''s fur before sheathing it once more. ¡°Still an asshole.¡± Porkchop grumbled. ¡°Where¡¯s my potion?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get one.¡± Rieker grinned. ¡°You don¡¯t need it, and there''s no point skipping the skill training.¡± Kaius narrowed his eyes at the man, before Porkchop mentally poked him across their bond. ¡°Drink your potion, idiot.¡± Porkchop said privately, while he huffed at the guildmaster. Rolling his eyes¡ªthe vigilance of battle slowly leaving him¡ªKaius eyed the milky liquid once more. If it was a potion of true regeneration, the kind that could regrow lost limbs, then he had just been handed a treasure worth many times its weight in gold. He had to know. True Sight brought up its description. Flesh Regrowth Tonic: Rare - Tier II You could put an egg back together with this thing. A complex tonic brewed from reagents rich in Life and Blood aspects, massively restoring health and slowly regenerating missing body parts over an extended period of time. Artisan-brewed potion Health Restoration V, True Regeneration I The bottle nearly slipped from his fingers as he stared at the description in shock. Tier two? B2 Chapter 191: Ignition B2 Chapter 191: Ignition The ghosts of Kaius¡¯s fingers spasmed. Grunting at the discomfort, he scratched at the stump of his limb. It was a smooth nubbin, muscles and skin slowly distending as his flesh morphed and grew. Disgusting, in all honesty. Though, no matter how much his skin crawled at the sight of his morphing flesh, he knew it would bring back his hand¡ªand his missing fingers with it. What disturbed him more was the unblemished skin that came with the regrowth. His glyph was gone. That galled. It also heightened his nerves, a tight little ball that had been building in his stomach. Rieker would have had no way of knowing, but he had never inscribed one of the Vesryn glyphs by himself. They were convoluted, three dimensional, and ruinously complex. The prospect of weaving one around his mana flows without the system''s assistance was terrifying¡ªmade him feel the icy breath of dread on the back of his neck. Still, he knew it was for the best. The strong delvers? The kinds who rose to the peak of what people knew to be possible? They lost limbs. Not often, but it happened. Especially in those who held down the front line like he did. Usually it wasn¡¯t too much of a problem. Even if they didn¡¯t have a healer capable of some form of regeneration on their team, they would have the wealth and connections to see one of the rare few healers who plied such a skill publicly. To learn to weave a new glyph now, meant that he wouldn¡¯t have to experiment if it happened in the field. It still sucked. Losing his hand sucked. Losing sucked¡ªmore than he thought it would. Sighing, Kaius leaned his head back against the hard wood of his headrest, staring at the vaulted ceiling far above. After Rieker had dressed them down, he¡¯d ushered them back to the table, before leaving once more to fetch what he called ¡®the good stuff¡¯. Said he¡¯d be back soon. No doubt he was just giving them space to decompress after he¡¯d smeared them across the floor in a minute flat. Thank the hells that Rieker had, because only the gods knew that he needed it. With his mind drifting to their ¡®spar¡¯, Kaius was unable to stop himself from ruminating. Not even the sharp spiking pain of his tooth goring the inside of his cheek was enough to snap him out of it, not with his pain resistance and healing. As much as it burned for them to get destroyed, to have his flaws so systematically revealed, it was worse that he knew that the guildmaster was right. He¡¯d been reckless. That might get them killed, and there was little he could do about it at this point. Picking the spider as their first mission? Stupid. He could see it now¡ªthough he felt like punching the wall until his other hand was a smeared mess that it had taken it being rubbed in his face to realise. They should have taken it slow¡ªor at the very least planned a cover story and more circuitous route back. Porkchop and Ianmus, they might have agreed with him, but it was his duty to be the voice of reason. He¡¯d taken the mantle of party leader, and failed to respect it. He¡¯d failed his team. Too drunk on freedom and the allure of power. The oldest sin¡ªthe one that killed more delvers than anything else. He¡¯d thought himself immune, untouchable thanks to his strength. Stupid. Relative strength meant nothing when you were still helpless to those with power and experience both. The strongest chick in the henhouse was still helpless to the weakest fox. His gaze turning back to the stump of his hand, Kaius watched the rhythm pulse in time with his hand¡ªgrowing just a little bit more with each undulation. Supposedly it would take a few weeks, not that it made it any less miraculous. It was a strange thing, to be beaten and broken. It made you realise things. Revealed truths. Clawing his way up the mountain, step by bloody step? Advancing on all obstacles and beating on them with shattered fists? That wasn¡¯t his truth. It was a truth. But it wasn¡¯t his. Too incomplete, too...juvenile. There was something more there¡ªhe knew it, even as his aspect lay silent and still within him. If victory at all costs had been his pillar, this experience would have shattered it. It was the truth of the fool, the deluded, and the egoistic. It was the dream of a boy. He had too many responsibilities to be a boy. Even if he would never let go of the thrill of the fight, or stop taking risks¡ªfor those things were as much immutable truths about himself as his stubbornness¡ªhe needed more. Enough tribulation had washed through his life that he was more. That fight? Rieker¡¯s total annihilation? It had been necessary¡ªbrutal and eye opening. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Kaius sighed, letting his eyes feel closed as he felt the weight of consequence settle on his chest. He had a long way to go, and he¡¯d just had to go and give them a deadline. Hurling them at the closest deadly challenge and hoping for the best? Hoping they could use the pressure of the experience to grow? It would kill him and Porkchop eventually, and Ianmus would undoubtedly die far far sooner. All it would take is a single slip up for a beast or a man to get past them, and the mage would be dead. He couldn¡¯t allow that. Ianmus had made his choice, and they had made theirs, but that didn¡¯t mean he needed to be stupid about it. But if his truth wasn¡¯t that of mindless determination, what was it? What did he want? Truly want? To find his father¡¯s killer, and bring him his due? Of course. To seek the lost histories of Unterstern, and justice for the destruction of a family he never met? Most certainly. To rise victorious over the changing phases, securing his home and lands? Most definitely. To see the world, and explore its secrets like he had always dreamed of? Of course! Yet...those were desires¡ªnot truths¡ªand they were all big problems. The kind that needed strength to be solved. Power. It always came back to power in the end. Everyone wanted it, and few had it. He¡¯d thought he¡¯d been on a sure fire path, after all, he¡¯d seized far more than most already. Yet...he¡¯d still been going about it all the wrong way. Kaius needed to grow. In the deftness of his mind. In the way he approached challenges. The ability to throw himself at death was good, but it needed to be tempered by wisdom. By the will to do whatever was necessary to see him and his team to the next dawn. If he wanted to see the peak, it was necessary. He needed experience, and today had shown him he had precious little of it. Challenges would come, and he would face them staunchly. He would batter at them until his bones broke and the ground was stained red with his blood¡ªbut only if he had to. Afterall, even loss was valuable. It was experience. The knowledge and understanding he could glean from such things would help him to avoid or surpass any similar challenge in the future. Fighting wasn¡¯t everything, no matter how strange it felt to say that. He wanted life. A good life. Battle¡ªthe thrill of the challenge, the scent of blood in the air, the sweet sting of exertion, and the wild screams of mayhem¡ªwas a part of that. But it wasn¡¯t everything. The smell of fresh grass or a seared steak, the sweet taste of wine and the laughter of good company, the warmth of the fire and the restful caress of a spring night¡¯s breeze. Those were important too. He would lose them if all he sought was mindless fury. And yet, even as his mind went round and round and round Kaius knew that they were hollow truths. They were part of something, but they were details and shades, not the full painting. What. Did. He. Want. Kaius sat with the thought, allowing the darkness behind his closed eyelids to wash over him. Memories shifted through his mind. Nights with Porkchop, Ianmus, and Father. Spent around fires, with full bellies and happy smiles. The scenery changed, the background changed, but the feeling he got didn¡¯t. He wanted...a place to call his own. Somewhere that was just for him, and for those he called his own. But he couldn¡¯t have it. It was stolen from him once, and then again, by those who would still hound him. It was out of reach until the damn integration finished. And it would always be fragile unless he had the strength to defend it from those who would covet it. He didn¡¯t even think it was a place. After all, he could never see himself settling down in one place¡ªhe¡¯d grown up even more uprooted than the damn Hiwiann, they at least had their ancestral clan grounds and temple cities. But the belonging? The kind he had found with Porkchop and Ianmus? That he would kill for, hone himself for, hunt, and grow for. But to defend that sacred space, he needed more than strength. He needed ability. Strength, tempered by the wisdom of a thousand campaigns¡ªvictories and defeat alike. If it took reaching the very pinnacle to secure it¡ªif it took singlehandedly besting the integration, shattering the Onyx Temple, and destroying the mysterious threats behind them that had razed his dynasty, he would do it. Life was no battle, it was a war¡ªand he would campaign for his desires. Kaius gasped as Mentis, the very pillar he had been brushing up against for weeks, started to howl in visceral joy and satisfaction. Lightning arced up his spine, forcing him bolt upright in moments and drawing the curious and concerned eyes of his companions. He saw nothing, wide eyes too enraptured by the sights in his soul-space. Once silent, still, and desolate, a single pillar of his triumvirate exploded into activity. Shudders echoed down its monolithic form as his soul pulsed with ever growing burning intensity. A keening want reverberated from the pillar, desperately reaching for his soulfire as the golden flames began to bulge, reaching for the Mentis. Far below, circling his soul, his legacy skills heard the call and joined the chorus with pure platinum voices of their own. Cringing for a moment, Kaius¡¯s stomach dropped as he braced himself for the avarice he thought long behind him. Only for it to never come. The song of his legacy skills softened, falling into harmony with the want of Mentis. They bolstered its call, eagerly supporting the pillar as his soul roiled with renewed energy and might. His heart thumped in his chest as he realised with finality that this might be happening now. Now. With Rieker planning to return at any moment. He could feel the weight in his soul building to a crescendo¡ªthe shell of his class pulsing in tune with his soul and aspects, serenaded by his legacy. Why, of all the gods were good, did it have to be now. He might have planned to share with the guild, but he didn¡¯t want to lose out until he had discovered if his team would be able to follow his lead. Secure honours. Then his soul flared, and without his aid a solid rope of soulfire connected to the waiting sconce atop Mentis. It ignited, gold flickering to a blinding white flame that nestled itself upon the pillar. The strange stone-like exterior shook as a blast wave rocketed out¡ªshaking the formless space within. It held firm, and everything stabilised. Yet somehow, Kaius knew the transformation was incomplete. Waiting. **Ding! Pillar of Self Discovered, Mentis Ignited. Would you like to initiate Aspect Formation?** B2 Chapter 192: Lessons B2 Chapter 192: Lessons **Ding! Pillar of Self Discovered, Mentis Ignited. Would you like to initiate Aspect Formation?** The system dinged in his mind, waiting for his command. With the instinctual knowledge that came with all of the systems communication, he knew he could wait. Suppressing the urge to sigh in relief, Kaius dismissed the notification. It sat at the corner of his mind, weighing on his attention. To his chagrin, he found it did nothing for the riotous want of the pillar in his soul. Its need to be complete. A soft warbling keen resonated within him, slowly growing in intensity. After the sheer onslaught that was the process of merging his legacy skills, it was easy to ignore. Yet, Kaius knew that would change. It would grow until he was forced to complete the aspect. Whether that would take a minute, an hour, or a day, he had no idea. Ianmus and Porkchop still watched him closely, their faces mirroring concern and confusion. Just as he was about to explain, just as joy and excitement started to bubble within him, the door to the hall opened with a clang. They all nearly jumped a long-stride in the air as Rieker strode back in, the man watching them with a cocked brow. ¡°Hells, I know I literally wiped the floor with you, but you shouldn''t be that jumpy.¡± the guildmaster muttered, quickly approaching as he balanced carrying three small cuts and a shallow bowl. They smiled, though Kaius caught his brother watching him out of the corner of his eye. ¡°What was that, Kaius? I felt...something.¡± Porkchop asked through their bond, returning his eyes to their ¡®host¡¯. ¡°Later.¡± Rieker looked almost bashful as he sat down in front of them¡ªsomething Kaius had never expected to associate with a man of such presence. Still, it was what it was, and the guildmaster gave them a small smile as he pushed over a small cup to each of them. Porkchop sneezed at his first sniff, looking back to Rieker curiously. At his brother¡¯s reaction, Kaius peered into the porcelain vessel, finding some sort of liquor inside. It was thick, and a few moments later he got a heavy punch of herbs and spirits. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Kaius asked, picking up the drink to swirl it. ¡°Dwarven balsam...¡± Ianmus answered first, staring at the drink in wonder. ¡°It¡¯s almost impossible to get outside of their stoneholds...¡± Rieker only smirked. ¡°Not if you know the right people. Got another crate just a few weeks ago. That¡¯s neither here nor there, though. Drink...Slowly!¡± Rieker cautioned as Porkchop went to down the lot at once. Smiling at his brother¡¯s antics, Kaius took a sip. It burned, hot and sweet, with a heavy vegetal note that lingered on the tongue. Odd, almost medicinal, but surprisingly delicious. Ianmus also seemed to enjoy it, a small smile crossing his previously wooden face as he leaned back on his chair. Porkchop...wasn¡¯t so convinced. His face was stiff as the liquor burned, though he stared at Kaius furiously not to give away he didn¡¯t appreciate what he could tell was a precious gift. Kaius bit his lip, though he noted that the corner of Rieker¡¯s mouth had twitched at Porkchop¡¯s reaction. Finally, the guildmaster sighed. ¡°I hope you all learned a valuable lesson today. You are strong, but you are strong for your level.¡± Rieker said, breaking the silence. As one, they lowered their cups, giving the man their attention. ¡°I destroyed you today, and the differences in tiers only get more tyrannical as you grow. Worse, I am of only middling strength for human lands. Powerful for a backwater like this, but I am not one of the true elites of the central territories.¡± he continued. Kaius¡¯s eyes widened. That seemed...hard to believe. He knew the man had to be high in the second tier, and with a good class to boot from what Rieker had implied. Sure, there were supposed to be some rare few in the third tier, but the guildmaster couldn¡¯t be too far behind them, could he? Rieker met his eyes, giving him a firm nod. ¡°I¡¯m serious. And that¡¯s not even counting the terrors in the high mana societies. Against the elves, dwarves, and further off folks? I am nothing. You? You are less than nothing. The potential is there, but that doesn¡¯t matter if you die trying to reach it.¡± The guildmaster''s eyes bore into their own, his gaze flicking from person to person. ¡°I hope you internalise the lesson I taught you today. Kaius froze for a moment, before he gave a firm nod. ¡°I¡ªwe¡ªhave. I was reckless, and because of that we are in danger.¡± He received a firm nod in return, though Rieker looked equally relieved and guilty at his admission. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about the hand, but I had to make sure you learnt your lesson. A couple of days with it recovering will hopefully drill into you what can be lost when you are careless.¡± Rieker said to Kaius, before he addressed them as a group. ¡°Now! Onto the things I have learned. Beyond just raw stats, you all have great skills. That includes you Ianmus.¡± The mage smiled at the guildmaster¡¯s words, though the conversation quickly moved on. ¡°However¡ªyou have far too much room to improve, especially because of how quickly you are going to level in the coming months. It will be tough to get your skills to keep pace.¡± Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Rieker turned towards Porkchop, starting with him first. ¡°You, young meles, have the workings of a fighting style¡ªa true and defined one, with your natural might and heavy armour¡ªbut it is painfully clear you are both not used to fighting with intention, and you have zero basis for understanding how to fight with armour.¡± ¡°I suppose that¡¯s fair¡ªI don¡¯t really know anyone else amongst my people who use it. Plenty just alter their fur, but it feels different.¡± Porkchop replied. ¡°It is,¡± Rieker agreed. ¡°But it also has the potential to be far stronger, even if it is more difficult. You¡¯re also too aggressive. Forcing enemies to come to you, and in doing so giving your roaming fighter more openings, and reducing the burden on Ianmus, is your aim. Taking hits well, and learning to force opponents to move to where you want them should be your goal.¡± Porkchop took on the guildmaster¡¯s criticisms stoically, and to Kaius¡¯s surprise, he couldn¡¯t feel even a hint of indignation through their bond. Next Rieker turned to their half-elf mage. ¡°You, Ianmus, are far too still and reactionary. You need to be moving. This is not a collegiate mage duel, this is battle. I know you can cast and move, I saw you do it there at the end. If you¡¯re not always keeping Porkchop between you and the enemy, you are out of position. That, and you¡¯re wasting mana.¡± Ianmus nearly jumped out of his seat at the man''s final words. ¡°What?! I would never!¡± The guildmaster held up his hand, calling for his silence. Ianmus lowered himself back down, frustrated confusion plain on his face. ¡°You are. Most of your potshots are basically pinpricks, especially because of how high above your level you are punching. Am I right in assuming you wish to move to pure free-casting magic?¡± Rieker asked. Ianmus nodded, platinum locks sweeping over his face. ¡°Then you need to start channeling your sorcery, before empowering it and holding it ready with free cast mana manipulation. It will be a total bitch to do, but it will mean you can wait for the right weak point and target it fully. It will also increase your chances of evolving the skill towards being a meta-magic or focus.¡± ¡°More importantly,¡± Rieker continued. ¡°You should be focusing on healing far more often. Keeping Porkchop and Kaius hale and hearty will almost always be a better use of mana than a light beam that blinds their opponents for a second. Unless there is a decisive moment to turn the tide¡ªheal.¡± Ianmus mulled over Rieker¡¯s words, wincing as he heard his mistakes, before he finally nodded. Then it was Kaius¡¯s turn. Rieker watched him closely, pausing as if he needed time to think on how to phrase his words correctly. ¡°Kaius...you are a tricky one. Much of my wisdom is hard to apply with the strange hybrid path you have developed. Yet, what I can say is that you are suffering from a lack of decisive focus.¡± Rieker started, fixing him in place with a look that carried the weight of years upon its brow. ¡°You are at once too aggressive, and too reactive. You draw fire, when you should wait for an opening. You rush to Porkchop¡¯s defence, when you should trust in his survival. Both of which make it harder for him to do his duty and hold attention. The guildmaster paused for a moment. ¡°It is getting you injured when you do not need to be, putting further strain on your healer''s focus and resources. You need to be mobile.¡± Rieker tapped the table, emphasising his point with a calloused finger. ¡°You should be ready to fall back and support any one of your team at the slightest moment, and be capitalising on every opportunity to hammer anyone who shows you their flank to attack Porkchop.¡± Kaius grunted, but he did have to agree. Even if accepting his failures tasted like ash. While he had been doing most of what the guildmaster had said, he would admit that he was unused to Porkchop¡¯s rapidly growing perseverance. His brother had his chest cracked open like an egg, and had still been more than able to keep going until he was forcibly paralysed. While he was no wet blanket, Porkchop had the Endurance and Vitality to spare, let alone a doubled health pool and a healing skill that was even more potent than his own. Still, it was hard to suppress the instincts that had kept both of them alive down in the dark tunnels of the Depths. Rieker flicked his eyes between both him and Porkchop. ¡°Also, the fact that the two of you haven¡¯t been training your healing skills is a travesty. It¡¯s blindingly obvious they are low level¡ªthe fact that the two of you haven¡¯t started sparing disrobed is a travesty.¡± Kaius cocked an eyebrow at the man¡ªstruggling to marry the stonerought seriousness of the guild masters tone with the fact he had just told him to fight naked. ¡°Why on earth would they fight naked?¡± Ianmus asked, frowning with a confusion that made him look far less of the intellect he was. Rieker rolled his eyes. ¡°The whole point is to spill blood and heal¡ªno point wasting good clothes.¡± ¡°Plus...nothing better for a warrior''s spirit than the fear of a stray blade to the tackle.¡± the guildmaster grinned, steeley eyes twinkling with mirth. The Wardog¡¯s joke hit Kaius like a brick, focused as he was on Rieker acting seriously in his capacity as guildmaster. It broke the tension, a deep laugh welling up from his belly, shaking loose the pricking claws of his regret and self-directed frustration. Humour aside, he could see the value of it¡ªat least fighting in his small clothes¡ªhe had been rather lacklustre in his efforts to train a skill that was nominally easy, if unpleasant, to grow. Same with Rapid Adaptation¡ªif they were going to do this right, he should be trying to gather as many resistances as he could before he needed them. The guildmaster had offered to train him, so hopefully he would have some ideas. Rieker shook his head, still smiling. ¡°Now, I have a plan. It is simple in essence¡ªI will find you suitable jobs. Tough ones that will challenge you, but hopefully not increase your levels so quickly that we are unable to mask your strength.¡± Kaius nodded along, his team doing the same. ¡°To that end, each of your ¡®main¡¯ jobs will be far from the city, and we¡¯ll give you several easier ones on the trip there. With the rising levels, you should be able to blame your growth on an average difficulty increase across all of them. You¡¯ll seem strong and capable, but not so much as to be dangerous.¡± Rieker continued. ¡°When you¡¯re not on a job, you¡¯ll be here. Training your asses off¡ªwith me and potentially a few chosen instructors who will be sworn in if they are needed¡ªso that your skills aren''t left behind.¡± Kaius grinned. Now that was what he was talking about. While the idea of external instructors worried him, if they were tied to the guild and bound by the very same oath as the guildmaster, he couldn¡¯t see it causing an issue. Then Rieker stopped, watching them all closely. It was a heavy moment, his grave eyes making it feel like Kaius was standing before a precipice. ¡°However, to do any of that, I need to know what I''m working with. Your stat growth, the shape of your class and skills¡ªand preferably their rarity¡ªas well as the direction you are aiming to build towards. No information on legacies, or anything of that sort of nature, but I do need information.¡± Kaius¡¯s mouth went bone dry. A leap of faith¡ªone that could lead to salvation. Yet no jump into the unknown was without misgivings, and the information Rieker requested was amongst those only shared with those closest to you. Bond by oath or not, it was hard to ignore a lifelong culture of secrecy. ¡°So, who wants to go first!¡± Rieker clapped, the sharp crack nearly jolting Kaius¡¯s bones from his skin. B2 Chapter 193: Partial Truths B2 Chapter 193: Partial Truths The cushioned back of Kaius¡¯s chair felt extra plush as Rieker stared at him and his brother with a slack jaw, clearly struggling to reassemble his worldview and failing. ¡°Seventeen attribute points?! That is quite literally unbelievable¡ªhow?¡± Rieker stammered out, forcing Kaius to bite his tongue lest his amusement cross over into abject rudeness. It had been a long conversation¡ªone that had lasted for over an hour at least. The first thing Rieker had wanted to know had been about his glyph-binding, and the strange magics that let him hide his channeling while casting spells. It was a fun little misconception to burst, the guildmaster staring at him with wide eyes when he shared that there was in fact no channeling. He¡¯d all but demanded to know more after that, and Kaius was more than happy to oblige. After all, it was nice to have the significance of his discovery verified. One day he would share it with the world, when his position was secured, but until then the satisfaction of people''s reactions was mostly withheld from him. If the guildmaster had been surprised to find that the skill lacked channeling, he¡¯d been even more shocked to learn it was technically a variant of runecraft¡ªand was centred on pre-preparing spells with runic incantations bound into his flesh. Rieker had immediately seen the value in the style of magic¡ªeven if it wasn¡¯t his area of expertise, Kaius himself had exemplified its potential to support close quarters combat. Though, it had been funny watching the exact moment when the guildmaster had realised he would never be able to breathe a word of the momentous discovery to anyone else for the rest of his life. His hard features had twisted, turning an impressive shade of purplish red as he stared at Kaius with wild desperation. It was only when Kaius had shared that he intended to share his discoveries¡ªonce he was strong enough for it to no longer be a risk to him¡ªthat the guild master had let out a sigh of relief. It was, in Rieker¡¯s opinion, a skill set that would be utterly invaluable to most delving teams¡ªsomething that would keep them alive as the world grew more and more dangerous, and would allow them to specifically prepare for known threats. Kaius agreed with the man. He¡¯d never intended to keep the entire art to himself¡ªseeing it flourish and spread would be a grand achievement that would bring its own kind of immortality. That, and he intended to do something similar himself when he had enough spells. If Vesryn runes were researched on a wide scale, it was undoubtable that spells would be discovered, and he saw no reason he could not use them for himself. Still, if glyph-binding had shocked Rieker, the knowledge of his and Porkchop¡¯s build damn near killed him. Rieker still stared at them, as if he physically was unable to process their stat growth. ¡°Seventeen? You¡¯re sure.¡± he asked. As if somehow Kaius wouldn¡¯t know his own status. ¡°Very. I know you said you didn¡¯t need to know this, but Porkchop and myself have Unique classes, more than one additional racial trait, and a skill that directly enhances our physicality.¡± Kaius confirmed. It was a lie, of course, but even with an oath the complete truth was dangerous. He was nowhere near ready to reveal the truth of Honours and a Heroic class would raise far too many questions. He would have said his class was Unusual, but it would be unbelievable with his stat growth. His explanation didn¡¯t help the guildmaster at all. Kaius wasn¡¯t even sure if the man was breathing, his chest as still as a rock. Eventually Rieker closed his eyes and breathed out slow. ¡°Hells, kid. That¡¯s enough to make a man question his own abilities. How are the two of you so tightly bound in levels and growth though? I assumed that Porkchop shared some skills with you. After all, the cooperation of the greater meles¡¯ dens is their most famous attribute. I also assume that whatever he passed on was enough to complete a legacy¡ª I refuse to believe you could be this strong without one¡ªbut I don¡¯t understand this.¡± That was another little misunderstanding that Kaius would let lie. If the man wanted to offer up a reasonable explanation for him having a completed legacy all on his own, Kaius would let him have it. Him having his own completed legacy would raise far too many questions¡ªpotentially even more than if he let slip about the existence of Honours. ¡°That is true, but you have made an error. When we told Ro that I was Kaius¡¯s bonded companion, we weren¡¯t lying.¡± Porkchop interjected. Rieker¡¯s eyes snapped back and forth between him and Porkchop. ¡°You¡¯re kidding.¡± he said flatly. ¡°No,¡± Kaius shook his head. ¡°We both got trapped in the depths over a year before our class selection. We grew...close. It was our bond skill that gave us the biggest edge, and still does. A lucky encounter with a natural treasure got us our first racial trait, but our bond skill gave us another, larger one.¡± ¡°A natural treasure too? Next you¡¯re going to tell me the sky rained gold and the Glowing One turned up to shit on your doorstep at the moment of your birth.¡± Rieker scoffed, before he shook his head. ¡°Who the fuck are you, boy? Bonding a greater beast? A Unique class? Multiple racial traits? Surviving the Depths? You¡¯d think you walked straight out of a legend!¡± This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°If only he knew how ridiculous it truly was.¡± Porkchop silently pushed through their bond, forcing Kaius to bite back a smile. It was no surprise that Rieker was struggling to digest their abilities; it had to be world shaking to learn that such a thing was possible. Still, Porkchop was right, if even the doctored half-truths they had come up with garnered this level of reaction, then they had made the right call deciding to play it safe. Any more and the guildmaster might have just straight up disbelieved them. That, and while he wouldn¡¯t have been able to share, there would have been nothing stopping Rieker rushing off in an attempt to secure his own Honours, potentially robbing them of First bonuses. Chewing his lip, the guildmaster finally spoke once more. ¡°I have many things I want to ask, but I wont. It would both be improper, and potentially dangerous for either me, or you. Instead, I will only ask what I must.¡± Kaius returned Rieker¡¯s firm look, giving him a stiff nod. He could still feel the pulsing yearn of his Aspect waiting for his attention. It was easy enough to hold back for now, but the sooner this conversation was over with, the better. ¡°Thank you,¡± Rieker replied, looking genuinely relieved that he agreed to the questioning. ¡°First, I must know¡ªIs there anyone looking for you? With this sort of talent, it would be easy to requisition a portal to hide you away somewhere secure, but if not then Deadacre is a good place to slide under the noses of the powerful. Ianmus and Porkchop both looked to him quickly, almost urging him onwards. Through his bond with his brother, he could tell what they most likely thought. A perfect chance to secure some assistance against the Temple. Kaius paused, choosing his words carefully. ¡°Yes, and no.¡± Tilting his head questioningly, Rieker watched him closely. ¡°My dynasty was wiped out, forcing me and my father into hiding, though I know nothing of any details beyond that. An agent of the Onyx Temple¡ªa roguish man with dark hair and a ropey scar across his face¡ªtracked us down with a troupe of bandits. My father ended up dead, and I ended up in the Depths.¡± Kaius clenched his fist, impotent frustration speeding his heart and sapping the strength from his muscles. ¡°As far as I know, they think me dead, and I''m unsure if the man with the scar would recognise me¡ªhe only saw my face for a brief few moments.¡± Pausing at the words, the guildmaster rubbed his chin. ¡°Onyx Temple eh. If he was a skilled hunter-killer, he likely would recognise you, but the reach of the Temple is wide, and there are many operatives. I think staying put would be the best option. Deadacre has a minute presence at best, and I doubt anyone sent to hunt the two of you would stick around for long.¡± He breathed a sigh of relief, glad he wouldn¡¯t have to upend his life to rush into hidden training. While he may trust the guild, he didn¡¯t want his entire life dictated by them for the short term¡ªeven if he would do it if necessary. ¡°Yes, if anything, moving you could draw more eyes. Deadacre is best¡ªin the end this is just a more concrete example of the very thing we are trying to avoid. Just...if you want revenge, hold off on pursuing it until I am done with you. Promise me that, and I''ll put feelers out through my contracts for a tracker with a facial scar¡ªdeal?¡± Rieker asked, looking at him with genuine concern. Kaius stared at him in shock. He hadn¡¯t thought that the guildmaster would go so far as to personally assist them in finding their quarry. At best, he thought the man might give them a lead or two to somewhere where they could make contact with the organisation and start their own search. ¡°Deal.¡± he replied, nodding hurriedly. The guildmaster gave him a short grin, before he sighed and rested his elbows on the table as he rubbed his brow. In that moment more than any other, Kaius saw the weight of the man''s years. The burden of command, and the price of power cutting furrows deep into his skin. The man held it well, but he held it all the same. ¡°Your...strengths. Your growth. It will make this both easier and harder.¡± Rieker eventually muttered. ¡°Why? I¡¯ve battled with these two for weeks, I struggle to see how their power won''t let them rise with titanic swiftness.¡± Ianmus asked, breaking the silence of the guildmaster¡¯s thoughts. ¡°That¡¯s just the problem. They will¡ªyou won¡¯t.¡± Rieker replied, fixing their mage with what would have been a glare on anyone else¡ªfor the guildmaster it was almost friendly. ¡°Every level, every battle, they will outstrip you more and more¡ªuntil at least the second tier, where you will be able to close the gap somewhat with a class evolution. Unless you¡¯re hiding some way to scale your growth up your ass, I don¡¯t see how you can viably keep up.¡± Kaius met Porkchop¡¯s eyes, an unspoken question flooding across his bond. A want for reassurance. He didn¡¯t want to reveal Honours, but it sounded like Rieker was leaning towards cutting Ianmus out. That wouldn¡¯t do¡ªnot after the bonds they had forged in battle, and especially not after sharing their secrets with the man. Porkchop gave him a slight nod, green-flecked-gold eyes resolute. ¡°We are.¡± Kaius said to the guild master. ¡°I won¡¯t share its details. It¡¯s unpredictable, hard to acquire, and dangerous, but it will provide all of us strength. I doubt Ianmus will ever fully catch up, but he will most likely get a good class evolution, and will close some of the distance between us.¡± Rieker groaned, brown hair streaked with white wisdom draped off his face as he stared at the ceiling. ¡°More impossibilities. Just great.¡± Sitting back up, Rieker shook his head at them slowly, though Kaius still caught the slight grin on his face. ¡°Regardless, that solves one problem¡ªslightly¡ªbut there is still the issue that we will need to be careful about ramping up the difficulty of your missions. The rising level of beasts will make things somewhat easier, but it will still take time to locate appropriate challenges¡ªespecially since I want you to gain no more than a single class skill per mission. Any more than that and you risk not having enough time to integrate it into your kit.¡± Kaius nodded, and he could see his party''s faces mirroring his own agreement with looks of focused intensity. Even if it took the guildmaster time to find them missions, if they were gaining roughly twenty levels per task, that was still explosive growth. ¡°And of our skill levels?¡± Kaius asked. Rieker smiled wider than he had since their bout. A ruthless grin that showed far too many teeth. ¡°Training. Ruthless training¡ªwith heavy sparing, direction from myself and anyone appropriate I can pull away. I have a few people in mind, but they will take time to bring in. I¡¯ll need to use the guild¡¯s gate. Expect them to arrive some time after your next mission.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be hard, painful, and tough. But I''ll make you strong, boys, you can count on that.¡± Rieker continued, nodding to himself. ¡°We¡¯ll start tomorrow, bright and early. Ro will meet you at the counter at the second bell. Until then, I expect you to go back to your inn and celebrate¡ªRo has already deposited your pay to your account.¡± Kaius raised an eyebrow at that. ¡°Tomorrow?¡± he said, raising his stump that still pulsed with a burning itch. ¡°Won¡¯t this be a bit of an issue.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t know you needed a hand to train healing and resistances.¡± Rieker replied, his eyes wild with a familiar mania. A love of strength in all its forms¡ªand a total disregard for discomfort and pain. Kaius bared his teeth right back, his heart thumping as tingling anticipation shot down his neck. The man was right¡ªhe didn¡¯t. B2 Chapter 194: Revelations, pt. 1 B2 Chapter 194: Revelations, pt. 1 Reclining deep into the overstuffed armchair next to the fireplace in his room, Kaius did his best to tune out the desperate keening of his ignited aspect. After their discussion with Rieker had finished, the man had escorted them out of his training hall and quarters. At first Kaius had been worried that they would need the guildmaster¡¯s timetable to be completely free every time they were to train, but he¡¯d let them know there were other ways there¡ªRo would show them tomorrow. Even if Rieker had insisted on them celebrating, they¡¯d done nothing of the sort. Immediately upon returning to the Dusty Stables, Kaius had ignored the inviting warmth and tuned out the welcoming hiss of ale hitting tankards in favour of retreating to his room, Porkchop and Ianmus in tow. He¡¯d even gone so far as to decline Hensch¡¯s offer of bringing dinner to his rooms. After all, who knew how long his Aspect would take. Now he sat and readied himself, Porkchop and Ianmus leaning in with wide eyes from their seats on the ground and opposite armchair respectively. Taking a breath, Kaius gave his team a nod and gave in to the keening of the burning pillar above his soul. **Ding! Pillar of Self Discovered, Mentis Ignited. Would you like to initiate Aspect Formation?** He accepted the systems waiting prompt, and dropped into his soul-space. Now that he was no longer hiding from the change, Kaius got his first good look at the burning flame above the pillar¡ªtasted the racing energy that flowed from it in waves. Potent, sharp, and wise. It was...strange, like his mind was racing at a million miles a minute just from the light and heat it gave off. A simple flicker of will connected him to the construct more fully. Kaius saw his truth. Saw what the light of the burning pyre had seen revealed within him. Desire to grow, and strive, and survive. To face trial and tribulation willingly. To learn from the experiences, and draw upon his history to pave his next step, to see him through the next danger. What he wanted was ephemeral and changeable¡ªit wasn¡¯t Truth. How he got there? How he approached barriers and obstacles? How he worked to grow and learn and change? That was Truth. Visions flooded his mind. A soldier¡ªaged, bloody, and tall¡ªstood shoulder to shoulder with ten-thousand others, facing down an iron and flesh wall across a field littered with the fallen. Enemies and allies alike were shuffling, hiding their discomfort and fear in small movements. The soldier stood tall, unphased. He¡¯d already seen it all. Kaius could see it in his eyes. A want, a need, a desire. It threw the soldier back into battle again and again¡ªthrough heroic victories and crushing losses. Yet still¡ªthey stood tall, every battle leaving them a little older, a little wiser, and a little more scarred. Yet still, the soldier was unphased¡ªtrusting in his mind, and his blade. The sword drew him in. It was plain. Simple honed and oiled steel, scratched and brushed by the ministrations of a thousand failed challengers. The blade held memories. The blood, essence, and reminders of a thousand battles. Chipped it might have been, simplistic and unadorned it might have been, but it remembered. The stabs. The parries and feints. The cuts. The false-charges. The openings. The maneuvers. The guards. The formations. The guard-breakers. The sieges. The hikes. The camps. The drills. The orders. The plans. The failures. The victories. Every scratch, chip, and scar was a treatise on war. The blade remembered, and it guided the way. Kaius snapped back to himself, reeling within his soulspace. The fugue left from the vision was heavy, blanketing his mind like a roux. It shaded his perception in his soul-space, making his vision blurry and indistinct. ?§Ñ¦­o???E?s? But even through that haze, the burning light of his aspect was visible. Radiant and full of splendour, it burst with light. Growing more and more intense, until all he could see was a burning yellow that reeked of wisdom. From deep within himself, the power of Mentis rose. Claws closed around his mind, plunging deep as they rearranged his thoughts, shifted lobes, and metamorphosed his cognition. Twisting them, reinforcing the connections and easing the flow of sensation. His thoughts expanded. A second stream burst into existence. Not a full duplicate, but where once he was limited to a single thread, now two focused on his changing mind. It was violating, exposing, and revealing. The crux of who he was, how he thought, reinforced and infused with power. Yet despite the vulnerability, he found himself at ease. It wasn¡¯t the forced change of corruption, nor a destroying fire that left ashes in its wake. Potent, yes. Overwhelming, definitely. But it felt...right. Like he had taken a step to being more whole. Slowly, the light of Mentis dimmed, leaving fullness in its wake. **Ding! Mentis Aspect Founded - The Veteran¡¯s Blade** **Ding! Significant Feat of Strength performed under Observation. You have been awarded an Honour: Trailblazer II** Kaius gasped, his eyes snapping open. The light of the room flooded in, bringing with it the faces of his team watching him closely with eyes that reflected the gentle flicks of the hearthflame. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. There was no moment of confusion, no split second of disorientation like he normally experienced¡ªhe was simply there. ¡°Fucking hells, this is bizzare.¡± he said, shaking his head. ¡°What was it like? The bond got all...wishy washy for a while there.¡± Porkchop asked. Kaius gripped his knee, idly noting the supple texture while he thought on his next words. ¡°Strange... There were visions, similar to the impression you get from skill merging, but far far more in depth and immersive, and far more personal.¡± Kaius paused, gathering his words as Ianmus leaned in closely¡ªobviously eager to learn as much about the experience as he could. ¡°Once the Aspect ignited...it did something to my mind. Some generalised boost¡ªI keep expecting it to be overwhelming, how fast everything is coming in. But it isn¡¯t¡ªwhich is almost disorienting in its own right.¡± With every word he spoke, thoughts flitted across his mind like a flock of migrating starlings, creating connections and making inferences that would have otherwise been out of reach. It was different from the reinforcement of stats¡ªthat he could tell immediately. More...qualitative. Everything seemed to be broader. Rather than just thinking faster, he was comfortably holding a conversation while assessing the changes that had been wrought on him. The second thread wasn¡¯t as good¡ªslow, ponderous, and lackadaisical¡ªbut it was there . ¡°Colours seem deeper, my thoughts more fluid, and I¡¯m pretty sure that I''m thinking about two things at once.¡± Kaius continued, frowning as he adjusted to having an entire second stream of consciousness, even one throttled, slow, and lacking in spoken awareness. ¡°Fascinating.¡± Ianmus replied, watching him with a hungry avarice. ¡°That is definitely not something that occurs with Intelligence, even at drastically high levels. What of the general base, has your speed of thought increased?¡± Kaius nodded. It had, though to what extent he found it hard to say¡ªit was noticeable, but he had no way to tell if he could sense it because of the other changes. He¡¯d know more soon, the changes to his thoughts had made the buzz of his waiting notifications into a piercing drone. ¡°I¡¯m checking it now¡ªand the Honour that came with it.¡± he replied, shooting his team a sly grin. He heard them suck in a breath, and before they could heave him back into more questions, he pulled up his notifications. Honour first¡ªif only because it would be the fastest to digest and explain. Trailblazer II: Honour Pillars of the self, enshrining fundamental truths. Soon to be reforged in a platinum crucible so that they may support the foundation of all that will come. Awarded to the first five to found an Aspect in a given cohort. Provides a Moderate decrease to the difficulty of the discovery and development of Aspects. +5 all stats, +3% all stats. Bonus: For being the first in your cohort to achieve this Honour the stat bonus is increased to +8 all stats, +4% all stats and receive an Aspect Informational Package ...or apparently not. What the fuck was an Informational Package?! His newly enlightened mind raced, trawling its way through his memories and plucking threads of the knowledge he held on the system and its functions. It had to be. That fucking bastard. Kaius growled, head throbbing with the sudden intensity of his hatred of someone long dead. Frustration that he couldn¡¯t kill them himself quickly weaving its way into a tapestry of scorching heat that left a flush on his face. Yet it did not cloud him¡ªhe still thought clearly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?!¡± Porkchop asked, scooching forwards in concern. ¡°What could have incensed you so?¡± Kaius chewed on his words¡ªstewing on the sudden unexpected intensity of his emotions. ¡°The Honour... It¡¯s a sequential one¡ªone awarded to the first five to found an Aspect.¡± ¡°Why would that frustrate you?¡± Ianmus asked. ¡°Were you not the first?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that.¡± Kaius said with a sharp shake of his head. ¡°It¡¯s the first bonus¡ªit comes with a system-granted information package on Aspects.¡± The warmth of the fire became sweltering, pooling under his shirt and inflaming his disgust. ¡°Think¡ªthe Aspects followed on from Legacy skills. There is no doubt in my mind that the first Honour went to the first to found a Legacy. If they received information from the system on how to discover merged skills, they never shared.¡± His team looked at him in shock¡ªboth at the notoriously opaque workings of the system being shared, and at the potential former existence of information on Legacy skills. A deep look of despondence crossed Ianmus¡¯s face, the mage mourning the loss of knowledge. ¡°It can¡¯t be true. It can¡¯t. The loss...Where would we be now if that had been known?¡± he asked. ¡°Probably well past the integration.¡± Porkchop spat, his disgust mirroring Kaius¡¯s own. Of all of their members, he was the most at odds with the pervasive secrecy that oozed from every layer of society¡ªhis own had no such compunctions about sharing. ¡°Exactly.¡± Kaius nodded stiffly, before he sighed and turned away from the potential tragedy. To his surprise, the raging flood of distaste retreated quickly¡ªvanishing once he had decided it was no longer time to indulge. ¡°I¡¯m going to check my Aspect, if I dive straight into the information package I¡¯ll go mad.¡± he said, getting understanding nods from his team. He pulled up the description of his latest discovery¡ªhis Pillar Mentis. The Veteran¡¯s Edge: Pillar Mentis - Seed Stage The Veteran holds wants that have no place on the battlefield, its Edge does not. Slayer, and drawer of blood. Giver and taker of life. The Veteran¡¯s Edge has seen a thousand campaigns¡ªvictories and defeats both. It has been honed, oiled, shattered, reforged, imbued, lost, found, and reclaimed. Kings, Tyrants, and the meek alike have fallen before it, as it has before them. It does not seek rest, nor solace, for that is not where its purpose lies. It does not desire victory and conquest, because such things are ephemeral and short-lived. There is only the urge to temper and quench in viscera¡ªto grow and learn and cut. There is only the faint hope that maybe, once the campaign is done and the sun sets on the field of battle¡ªwhen the Veteran has achieved their goal¡ªit might be laid down at rest. Not forgotten and dull, never that, but instead left remembered and ready for when the next dawn breaks on war once more. Afterall, there is always something else worth killing for. As an aspect of Mentis, The Veteran¡¯s Edge reforges the mind with the wisdom of a thousand battles. The Veteran does not survive through strength of arm, but through wit, will, and control. Mental Reinforcement: Glass Mind The Pillar Mentis reinforces the mind, purifying it into glass. Improves multi-tasking and meta-cognitive abilities. Seed: Campaigner¡¯s Reasoning Imbued with the wisdom of a thousand battles, remember what happened before. Greatly improves your Glass Mind¡¯s memory of previous combat related experiences, insights, lessons, and tactics. Automatic recall and synthesis of information is improved to facilitate a path to victory. B2 Chapter 195: Revelations, Finale B2 Chapter 195: Revelations, Finale Kaius stared at the description of The Veteran¡¯s Blade¡ªhis Mentis Aspect¡ªin shock. It was huge¡ªand far more involved than any skill or honour description he had seen. Suddenly, he was extremely glad that he still had an informational package to read, because he had very little context of what any of it meant. He could, at least, assume that his new second stream of thought was due to the Glass Mind that had come with the aspect. It was the only place that made any mention of multi-tasking. As for his Seed, the Campaigner¡¯s Reasoning, he still had yet to notice any direct implications of the change. From the wording, it was combat focused, and sounded like it would be an extreme help. Half of what won a battle was knowledge that was so deeply ingrained that you could act upon it instinctively¡ªthe best way to defeat a guard, where to stand, weaknesses, and more. If this change really helped him process that better, if it really gave him a better mind for battle, he was pleased with his change indeed. Though, he decided to reserve his full judgement of the change until he had seen it in use. Hopefully he would be able to puzzle it out during their upcoming training with Rieker. Whatever it was, and however it had changed him, it was far more subtle than the lesser mind that his aspect had spawned. Less noticeable than even his rapidly increasing Intelligence, he sincerely hoped that it was an indication of how integrated the change was, rather than its scope. For something that was supposed to be a continuation of Legacy skills, he hoped that it would be just as impactful. Beyond the description, Kaius found his eyes repeatedly returning to the Aspects epigraph. It spoke to him on a deep level¡ªresonated with his understanding of himself and his goals, though in a way he found hard to describe. At a first glance, he had thought that it was referring to a sword¡ªthe Veteran¡¯s Edge, that is. What else would hunger for blood, keep a man safe, and be reforged? But on a second read, he wasn¡¯t so sure. The more Kaius thought about it, the more certain he became that it was the Veteran¡¯s mind. His mentality, focus, and drive. Drinking in all varied experiences, and plotting its way forward. Lighting the way, and securing a path that would see the veteran home¡ªhale and hearty¡ªwhen the battle was done. Regardless if it was won or lost. It was a way he wanted to live. At the end of the day, his goal wasn¡¯t to win any given fight. It was grander, and far further off than that. If he wanted to gain the power he needed to secure him and his from the machinations of those that would do them harm, he needed to accept that defeat would happen. He needed to keep his eyes on the peak, and use every barrier and stumble as a learning experience, to better surpass them when they were next faced. Kaius smiled, pleased that he had received something that fit him so well¡ªthe Campaigner¡¯s Reasoning was perfectly suited to help him grow from his experiences after all¡ªand dismissed the notification. He found his team waiting, leaning close towards him as they sat with straight backs and sharp eyes. Covering his mouth at their intense focus, Kaius shared what he had learned¡ªincluding the mysteries that he hoped his waiting notification would solve. Ianmus leaned back in his chair, crossing one leg as he stared into the fire¡ªpondering Kaius¡¯s explanation of the Veteran¡¯s Edge with a slow rhythmic drum of fingertips on the carved wooden hand rest. ¡°I agree that the information package will likely clear up any misconceptions that we have.¡± the half-elf started. ¡°At least, we can hope. With how jealousy the system guards its secrets, I would not be surprised if it withholds the full story. Honour reward, or no.¡± ¡°Surely this strange parallel mind is generalisable though? It mentions that it is from Mentis itself.¡± Porkchop replied, turning to face Ianmus. ¡°It¡¯s likely.¡± Ianmus said, shifting in his seat. ¡°But we cannot know for sure. The way I see it, there are three options. Either all Mentis Aspects come with this ¡®Glass Mind¡¯, or there is a pool of possible changes it chooses between¡ªsimilar to the Seed but less personalised. It¡¯s even possible that the parallel thoughts are entirely unique, like the Seed, and the only non-specialised boost is a general improvement in cognition. After all, these Aspects seem highly personalised compared to anything else we have seen so far.¡± Kaius wasn¡¯t sure about that last one. Sure, it was true that The Veteran¡¯s Edge seemed almost tailor made for him, but he thought it was just as likely that the system simply had a pool of them to draw from that was too large to fathom. People didn¡¯t differ that much, and he could easily imagine there being others that were just as suited to this aspect as he was. Plus, if the Glass Mind wasn¡¯t a more generic benefit, he would have expected it to be more...tonally consistent with The Veteran¡¯s Edge. As it was, he suspected that Ianmus¡¯s first two guesses would be far closer to the truth than anything else. ¡°Well then, should I check the information package? It might illuminate a few things.¡± Kaius replied, itching to dive into it. After all, most of what society knew of the system''s functions was due to generations of research. r?A?No?????E?s? The system itself informing people of its capabilities had to be a first. Or, perhaps it was a second. His face flushed with bitter outrage as he remembered the fact that someone might have received something similar for Legacy skills, and decided to keep the information to themselves. ¡°Please do!¡± Ianmus said, knocking him out of his contemplation. The mage¡¯s hands were scrunched tight, whitening with the force of his suppressed excitement. ¡°This sort of discovery is what scholars dream of¡ªit seems that my hope that following you would lead to interesting discoveries is already paying off.¡± Kaius snorted at his teammate¡¯s antics, but dutifully pulled up his waiting notification all the same. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. **Ding! Informational Package Available! Access?** Informational Package - Aspects: For being the first in your cohort to develop an aspect, you receive information on their function, purpose, and development. Share this insight, or monopolise it, as you please. The founding of the Aspect¡¯s Triumvirate is the second step of the Path, following that of the Legacy. Where the Legacy emphasises the power of community and knowledge, the Aspect Triumvirate enshrines the potency of personal understanding and experience. Each Aspect empowers and changes the focus of their domain¡ªMind, Body, and Soul¡ªon a level far deeper than simple skills. The process of founding and refining them is an intense personal metamorphosis, one that prepares and strengthens the self for the coming rigours of the Path. All aspects carry a baseline level of refinement to their domain, but every Truth is singular and will confer a Seed that provides unique benefits. As you further walk the Path, these Seeds will be nurtured. Founded on personal Truths, Aspects are inherently revelatory. These self-discoveries are often first revealed in moments of intense crisis, clarity, or stress. Like many things under the system, intense battle with beings of notable level or strength disparity is particularly conducive to producing these revelations. Once touched upon, introspection, meditation, and externally induced trance-like states can be utilised to delve into them more deeply. As personal understanding grows, so does the ease of future discoveries. For Mentis, this Truth is the waystone of mentality, drive, conviction, and motivation. Understand the core thread that links these facets of the mind, and the Aspect is revealed. Ignite Pillar Corporus and Pillar Animus to reveal the nature of their Truths. Ignite all three Pillars to reveal a hint of the third Step of the Path¡ªAspect Refinement. Be warned, it is possible to force an Aspect Ignition with a poorly fitting truth¡ªdoing so has potentially disastrous consequences for the Path unless steps are taken to correct this issue during refinement. While he was reading, Kaius saw Ianmus rush out of his seat. The mage hurried to his bag, retrieving a notebook and quill, ready and waiting to transcribe their discoveries. Kaius turned his attention back to his notification. Glee welled within him, growing more dense and forceful with every line he read, until a wide smile split his face. It was tainted with a bitterness that came with his realisation that he was likely right¡ªthat if someone had earned something similar for Legacy skills, they had never shared. The information here...it was too complete. Too fleshed out, with little insights, and more. It even gave hints on how to discover and find Aspects, even if Corporus and Animus were more vague. Whatever it had been, it must have come with some level of direction on how to find valid skill merges. That, he knew for sure, had never been shared. If it had, it had been locked away in some family vault and guarded jealousy, and eventually been lost to time. For if any living dynasty had that knowledge, they would have already seized control of Vaastivar¡ªformed a second Empire. Still, even those distasteful thoughts quickly fell to the back of his mind as both of his mental processes focused on the implications of the knowledge. Finishing his first pass, he turned his focus to Ianmus. ¡°Ready to transcribe?¡± Ianmus snapped his head up and down, so forceful that Kaius was almost certain it would have fallen off if he nodded any harder. Even Porkchop, normally disdainful of academic specificities, was sitting rooted to the spot¡ªfocused on him with his full attention. Clearing his throat, Kaius brought the notification into view once more, and read it out loud¡ªslow and clear, but also soft enough that it wouldn¡¯t be overheard. Ianmus¡¯s handwriting was neat and blindingly fast, easily keeping pace. As soon as Kaius was done reading, he placed the leaf down on the floor where it could dry without running. Leaning back, Ianmus ran his fingers through his hair¡ªsilver locks shimmering in the light of the fire. ¡°Hells.¡± the mage whispered, his eyes glassy and unfocused. ¡°There¡¯s so much...and it definitely reads like it¡¯s a continuation of a previous package.¡± Porkchop said, matching Ianmus¡¯s disconcertion. ¡°Why would it keep it so limited? Give it only to a single person.¡± While he¡¯d been reading, Kaius had been turning that very thought over in his mind. There was only one explanation that made sense to him. ¡°It¡¯s a test,¡± he said, voice heavy. His words caught his teammates'' attention, two pairs of eyes focusing on his own. Ianmus seemed to understand his point immediately, forehead scrunching as he let out a low groan. Porkchop, however, only tilted his head¡ªprompting Kaius to explain further. ¡°Think about it. Everything in this integration process seems to be driving towards developing powerful individuals. It said it itself¡ªthe Legacy is a test of community and knowledge. One, it seems, that only your people have passed as was intended¡ªas far as we know, at least.¡± Ianmus nodded in agreement. ¡°It makes a strange kind of sense¡ªif we assume that the purpose of the assessment period is to reward the growth of those most capable, having knowledge of Legacy skills spread widely would be a far better foundation to discover powerhouses. After all, even if anyone could get access to a complete legacy, it would only be the most driven and dedicated that would ever complete one.¡± Humming low in his throat, Porkchop pondered their words. ¡°I suppose that¡¯s true. Most meles don¡¯t finish their legacies¡ªI was a bit strange for how much I focused on my skills. I suppose it''s different for peoples who have the weight of expectation and scarcity on their shoulders¡ªbut when everyone has it, it''s like expecting to see those without legacies working until they only have Unusual and Unique skills.¡± Porkchop replied. ¡°But if the system is trying to cultivate powerhouses, or even just find people capable of walking this ¡®Path¡¯, why wouldn¡¯t it share this knowledge as widely as possible?¡± he continued, questioning the system¡¯s reasoning. Kaius sighed, rubbing his head. ¡°I think the system might be aiming for that, but I think the integration is testing something else. How well suited a society is for producing the strong. This...feels exactly in line with that. When someone is given an advantage, do they share it? Make it easier for others to follow in their footsteps? After all, from Ekum¡¯s words it sounds like the integration is as much capable of being completed by successive generations and by a single powerhouse.¡± ¡°I agree¡ªfor all we know, the system would find societies where third tiers are as common as grass more valuable than one that produced someone of the hypothesised seventh tier.¡± Ianmus said, nodding along with Kaius¡¯s words. Kaius sighed, slumping back into his chair. The revelations and changes brought by the Aspects were intense, but thankfully he had been one to secure these findings. It would give Ianmus and Porkchop the edge they needed to secure their own Aspects and version of the Honour. The knowledge that entrancement could be used to hasten their discovery alone was invaluable. After that though...he would spread this. He had to. Even if he hadn¡¯t agreed to help the guild, it was far too valuable to society as a whole¡ªand if they did it right it would be difficult to trace back to them. Three Fields would be first. Jekkar was still in the first tier, and Holt might still be too¡ªwith them now being well defined allies, the town¡¯s security would be far more assured if they gained the Honour. It would be a race against time though. No doubt there were other geniuses out there, either with the guild or other dynasties and institutions, that were coming close to their own discoveries. The information would definitely enable them to garner their own aspects, but whether that would win the race was up to luck and their own abilities. Especially because he couldn¡¯t justify giving them too much of a lead. If it got out that Three Fields had that kind of knowledge, and no one else did, they would have powerhouses descending on them in an instant. He was only glad he had found companions that would agree with his plan¡ªboth saw knowledge as a treasure to be shared. Like he¡¯d told them earlier¡ªwhat good was being a trailblazer if no one could follow the path you created? B2 Chapter 196: Training, pt. 1 B2 Chapter 196: Training, pt. 1 Kaius leapt to the side, feeling the tepid air of the training hall caress his skin as he desperately sped away from Porkchop¡¯s claws. It was their first day sparring, and Rieker had him strip down to his small clothes to fight his brother. No skills, no spells. Just raw ability as they tried to tear each other to shreds. Neither of them were shy about it¡ªPorkchop had immediately set upon him in a furious tumble of teeth and claws. With his left hand reduced to a slowly healing nubbin, Kaius felt himself at a distinct disadvantage. Even if he had the strength to use A Father¡¯s Gift one-handed, it didn¡¯t mean the sword was perfect for it. Still, blood had soaked Porkchop¡¯s fur in half a dozen places¡ªevidence that he could still lay down the hurt even disarmed. Not to say that he got away scott free. Facing down the mountain of meat that was his brother, Kaius finally got an inkling of the primal terror that their enemies must have felt in their final moments. Even without armour, it was hard to hold your ground against an apex-predator more than thrice your size bearing down on you. It was enough to make a man break out into a cold sweat. As he moved, half his mind reacted, while the other half analysed the approaching jade claws. They were going to hit him, no doubt about that. Even with the advanced warning and boosted speed from Uncanny Dodge, and his improved footwork from Tempered By Dissonance, Porkchop was like lightning given form. Knowing escape was impossible, he warded off Porkchop¡¯s follow through with a rapid jab of his blade¡ªtilting his shoulder to keep the deadly weapons from his core. Razor sharp jade punctured his flesh like it was butter, just barely glancing off the bones off his upper arm. Muscle flayed, flapping free in a bright spray of blood, dousing his body in what felt like its fifteenth coat of the visceral paint. As the slab of meat flopped open, Kaius caught the glinting white of his bone out of the corner of his eye. It was cracked. He grunted, shunting off the blinding white flare of agony as Rapid Adaptation pulsed, muting the pain. Health went to work, flooding from the pool in his soul space to douse the site of the injury. Individual muscle fibres writhed like snakes, and his shoulder started to seal itself shut¡ªthickened blood welling at the edges of the wound like water in an overfull cup. Porkchop was already moving, lunging in with a bite. Kaius was ready for him. They¡¯d already choked off the bond from both ends, allowing nothing but vague emotional impressions through¡ªneither of them were interested in cheating. Unfortunately for his brother, it wasn¡¯t enough. As soon as their spar had started, Kaius found the full extent of The Veteran¡¯s Edge revealed to him. The secondary process in his mind had latched onto Porkchop like a bloodhound, analysing his every move to compare to his knowledge of his brother¡¯s fighting style. Within moments he could almost predict his brother¡¯s every action¡ªit wasn¡¯t perfect, but it was enough. Kaius leapt back and slashed, carving through Porkchop¡¯s snout and peeling back a lip to reveal jagged teeth. ¡°Uh oh,¡± he thought to himself, staring at the wound. Neither of them were supposed to be going for the head, but in his focus he¡¯d reacted instinctively. His brother howled, genuine anger flooding their narrowed bond as Porkchop raced in with renewed vigour. Blanching at the sudden¡ªadmittedly well deserved¡ªaggression, Kaius reacted as best he could. He caught the next swipe on his blade, opening Porkchop¡¯s wrist. The third crushed his guard, carving through his thigh from hip to knee¡ªopening it like a sliced bun. Porkchop skidded to a halt as he fell to one knee with a gasp, deep red gushing from a severed artery to pool on the stone. ¡°That¡¯s for going for the nose, dick.¡± He simply groaned back, holding his leg together to make the job easier for Lesser Regeneration. A burst of healing hit them both a moment later. Ianmus, standing on the sidelines next to the guildmaster. Rieker had tasked him with holding healing skills at the ready¡ªit was good skill training for the mage, and let him and Porkchop keep gutting each other for far longer than they would otherwise. After a minute of lying in his own blood, Kaius got back to his feet and dove back in. Both of them had already levelled their healing skills a couple of times, but there was still plenty of time for more. ... Sitting cross legged on the floor of the hall, Kaius grumbled as the cold stone leeched the heat from his legs. He cradled a glass bottle, one of several that Rieker had procured for him to use over the coming week. From the looks that Ianmus had given them, he knew that most of them were rare. He sighed, uncorking the bottle with his teeth. It opened with a squeak. While his hand had mostly finished healing, it wasn¡¯t fully complete. When Rieker had said it would be slow, he wasn¡¯t lying. After five days of being torn to shreds by his brother, and tearing him up in turn, his palm had only just finished regenerating. His fingers, on the other hand, were still little more than wiggling stumps. Sighing at the noxious blue-white fluid inside the vial, Kaius analysed it with his True Sight for what felt like the fifth time. Frozen Blood Oil: Uncommon - Tier I Affinity: Ice Turns out having ice in your veins is rather deadly. A long-acting oil that spreads freezing ice through wounds, hampering the flesh and bursting soft tissues Depths-brewed Weapon Oil Creeping Hoarfrost II Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Was he really going to do this? Injure himself purely to grow his skills? Yes, yes he was. Kaius drew his knife. The thick oil oozed from the neck of the potion bottle, beading on the rim like molasses. Wafting notes of the cold night of winter, and the slow burning heat of hypothermic exposure wrinkled his nose as a slow stream of toxin slid free. As soon as it touched his knife, the viscosity changed, seeping to cover the full extent of the blade. It was oddly adhering, holding tight to the surface of the metal in a thin film without dripping or running. Finishing his pour, Kaius capped the bottle and set it to the side. A quick flip readjusted his grip. Now holding the knife downwards, he held it over his thigh¡ªstaring at his own pale flesh. ¡°Just get it over with, you big baby!¡± Porkchop called through their bond with a snort, grunting as a crash of white light seared his chest when Ianmus unleashed a Sunbeam at him. Rieker had them pulling double duty, training Porkchop''s Magic Resistance and Ianmus¡¯s sorcery. Kaius rolled his eyes at his brother¡¯s antics and took a deep breath to steady himself. Honestly, he didn¡¯t know why he had this mental block. He¡¯d suffered far worse injuries without even blinking, but there was just something about self-inflicted injuries that the mind rebelled against. Some instinct that held him back from plunging the knife down into his leg. There was nothing for it. He closed his eyes. And plunged the knife down. *Ding! You have been afflicted by Ice: Creeping Hoarfrost* Cold steel pierced his flesh, diving deep into the muscle beneath. Pain flared, though it was a small thing. Easily suppressed by Rapid Adaptation. In the back of his mind, he noted the surprising resistance his skin had put up to the blade. Razor sharp, and made of good steel, it had never had any issues of the sort before. It was a piddly thing, and not his second or even third choice of attack, but it had saved him in the past. Perhaps it was time to replace it¡ªhe could always hold on to it as a keepsake; after all, it had been a gift from Father. Opening his eyes, he looked down to see the knife sunk to the hilt, a full two handspan and a half of blade deep. He left it there, feeling the numbing agony of the weapon oil attack his flesh. Frost grew from the edge of his wound, bluing and brittle skin visible even through the hot red that ran in rivulets from the injury. Counting out ten breaths, he sat there waiting. His resistance skill was slow to react to the novel affliction¡ªit pulsed, rushing to the site of the injury, and tasted the flavour of the magic that was slowly creeping its way up his limb. Health burned, healing the damage that the hoarfrost left in his tissues. With the dense power of the weapon oil, it mostly served to keep his agony fresh¡ªrejuvenating tissues refrozen to the point of bursting in an endless cycle. Gritting his teeth, Kaius yanked his knife free in a spray of blood. The wound sealed in seconds, leaving toxic oil trapped deep in his flesh. Now he just had to wait for RapidAdaptation to do its thing. A ding sounded in his mind, the first of many levels. ..... Kaius curled his fingers, staring at them in moderate wonder as he held them up to the light that streamed from the wardlights high above in the training hall¡¯s ceiling. Finally, after weeks of wanting to crawl out of his skin at the sensation of his flesh undulating and stretching, his hand was healed. Waking up in the morning to a fresh set of fingers had been a delight¡ªthe last few days had been especially frustrating. With mostly healed fingers, he¡¯d been returning to base instincts¡ªtrying to use the limb for daily tasks, only to suddenly fail when the missing tips of his digits would suddenly make themselves known. Unfortunately¡ªor perhaps fortunately¡ªthe full regeneration of his hand meant that he could no longer put off working on reinscribing his Drakthar glyph. He could have started a few days ago, but he had kept finding excuses to put it off. More resistances to get, and more sparing to do with Porkchop. Now though, the weapon oils were exhausted¡ªfor now, Rieker said he would work on sourcing more while they were off on their next mission¡ªand he had nothing holding him back. Clenching his fist, Kaius felt the tension and pressure shoot through his palm and up his arm, mirroring the heavy demon that sat on his chest. Vesryn glyphs were...intensely complicated. His original glyph of his father¡¯s design was a child¡¯s drawing in comparison, and he¡¯d mangled himself trying to inscribe that. Sure, his mental stats and level were far higher than they were back then, and he now had dedicated skills that would help¡ªlet alone his new Aspect¡ªbut it didn¡¯t make it any less intimidating. He¡¯d already walked with Ianmus and Porkchop to the guild. While it would have been more comfortable at the Stables, it was too risky to his brother¡¯s cover to let Porkchop arrive without his bonded partner. That, and in the likely event he cocked something up, it would be nice to have a healer immediately on hand. A brief look confirmed that Ianmus and Porkchop were deep in their own training. Ianmus had spent the last week working on using his solar manipulation to affect his sorcery skills¡ªhis beam attack and physical buff. It looked to be grueling work, even now the man¡¯s face was scrunched and sweat streamed off his brow. A beam snapped out¡ªscorching Porkchop who watched his fur and flesh burn with stoic interest. Unlike his original attacks, it hung in the air, continuing to scour flesh and blacken bone. It was fascinating to watch¡ªthe flexibility that a traditional mage had on changing even rigid System-granted sorcery to suit their needs. So unlike his own glyph-binding. It was also a distraction, he realised, shaking his head and turning his focus inwards. As his eyes closed, the almost-circulatory structures of his mana conduits came into the view of his mind''s eye. He focused on his hand, bringing up his long-since memorised image of his glyph. Taking it slow would be his path to success¡ªhe knew the theory, he knew the glyph, he just had to put it into practice. Easier said than done, unfortunately. He infused his mana-pool with a thread of his soul, and started to draw out a thin stream of mana that he pushed to his limb. To Kaius¡¯s surprise, it was far easier than he had anticipated. Not simply due to his increased Willpower, nor his drastically improved skills, but because of the ease he had in holding everything clear in his mind. By far the hardest part of inscribing his spells and glyphs had always been the strain of splitting his attention. The glyph itself, his infused mana, and the structure of the weave all had demands on his focus. With his Aspect, and the Glass Mind that came with it, everything became far easier. Unfortunately it made the glyph itself no less complex. His teeth clenched, grinding against his trepidation. With nothing else for it, he decided to dive in. Grasping a hold of his mana he weaved a complex knot. Each finger width dove and wound through his flesh, binding themselves recursively to the natural mana pathways that threaded his body. It was slow going, barely a finger-width a minute. Thankfully, holding the structure stable was¡ªwell, not easy, but manageable. Still, progress was made, and the closest he ever came to failure was the occasional ding of a skill level shaking him from his focused fugue. Now more than ever he realised that the person who had originally designed this glyphic language was a genius. Against all his expectations, the structure was remarkably unreactive¡ªeven unfinished, it wanted to bind to his flesh, and each of his momentary slip-ups lead to little more than a waver in the tight whorls and loops of mana. That said, his head still throbbed, and his clothes were still soaked with sweat. After what felt like an hour he finished the first array, feeling it snap in place. Mana pulsed, flaring its connection to his soul and settled in¡ªbinding itself in place. Kaius¡¯s eyebrows furrowed in surprise at the unexpected development. He hoped it meant he could take a break¡ªit was the first of nine that he had identified, and it had taken him the better part of an hour to complete. Slowly, trepidatiously, he withdrew his grip on the mana. A cooling rush of relief flooded him as the orphaned array stayed in place. It was stable. Chapter 130 - 129: Packing for a Trip Kaius lurched towards his brother, laying his hands on the dense and gore drenched fur that coated the meles'' thick muscle-bound form. He felt his brother''s physique straining, fibres snapping as they pulled away from bones that shattered of their own violation. Panic surged through him, his heart racing as he watched Porkchop undergo some sort of metamorphic change, more akin to something he would have expected to see in the Fleshwarper''s Laboratory than a natural process. Porkchop''s head snapped back as his thick neck contracted uncontrollably, feature''s warping as the bone and cartilage of his face snapped in a dozen splintering crunches. His features shifted, expanding as muscle and skin tore, and new flesh arose to take its place. Before Kaius''s very eyes, his coat began to shift. It stayed the same tinted black, but the red morphed, shifting to a green so deep it was almost the colour of scorched slate, only showing its inner hue under the shine of the false sun above. A ring of milky white sprouted from his neck, dripping down to the top of his chest and running along a section of his spine as the ruff of his neck lengthened- turning into a half-mane. He realised what was happening and took a step back, crossing his arms in annoyance. "Porkchop, you fucking asshole. You could''ve mentioned that awakening your bloodline came with a side dose of body horror." Kaius muttered. His bond-brother did not respond, insensate as his jaw dislocated with a stomach churning crackle-pop and the bone shattered and grew. At least it was obvious now why he''d wanted his barding removed. Depths-wrought enchantments were generally more flexible than artisan made ones, but everything had its limit. Who knew if its resizing enchantment would have stood up to the growth. Then Porkchop''s claws fell off. Kaius shuddered, watching the strings of tissue that tied the daggers that once capped his brother''s digits snap as new talons grew in their place. They were...stone-like. A slightly translucent forest green, it looked to be some sort of crystal that had been honed to an edge so sharp it seemed like it would cut him with a bare look. Cocking an eyebrow, he looked on in interest. Now that he knew Porkchop''s life was not at risk, there was a certain morbid fascination in watching his bond-brother''s body dismantle and then rebuild itself, and by holy fuck was he getting big. He''d already been a living weapon before, roughly bear sized and tall enough to come up to the bottom of Kaius''s chest. It looked like he would be taller than him at the shoulder now, at the very least. Though, it was hard to tell with how oddly proportioned he was, what being mid-evolution and all. That wasn''t all, if his brother had been built like a strongman raised on a diet of whole cattle before, now it looked as though his muscles had muscles. That was...moderately terrifying. There was a reason greater beasts were so feared. Considering how strong his brother would be due to his sheer physicality, the improvement from his stats would be all the more impressive. Shaking his head in amazement, Kaius stepped back and waited for his brother to return to him. ... Kaius watched Porkchop stretch, his face still a little pale from watching his brother''s body crack and morph as he settled into a new, empowered, form. Rolling his shoulders, Porkchop ambled up to his feet, though he stumbled a little on legs that looked to be much longer and more powerful than he was used to. Kaius whistled as he took in his brother''s new height. "Fuck me, you''re huge." he said, mouth agape as he looked up at Porkchop''s green shrouded face. Porkchop''s ears twitched, and his head snapped towards him. He moved, bounding over to Kaius and smothering him in a wall of blood streaked fur. Kaius laughed, wrapping his arms around his brother and heaving in an attempt to leverage his newly enhanced Strength to muscle Porkchop to the ground. He was about as successful as he would have been trying to uproot a fully grown oak. Porkchop batted him back with casual ease, sending him stumbling to the side before he started to rear up in excitement. "Kaius! I did it too! Got a Heroic!" Porkchop said, exhilaration and pride streaming across their bond. "Really! That''s great! What did you get?" Kaius asked excitedly, slipping under and away from Porkchop''s descending paws. "And be careful of those claws, they look sharp." he chastised, staring at the spots where they had dug into the solid stone floor. "Whoops, sorry." Porkchop replied bashfully, settling down onto his haunches. It still left the meles clearing his height easily, which felt... odd. Porkchop had never exactly been small, even at his old height he was taller on his hind legs, but being trounced when his brother was sitting was something else entirely. Not that it made him uncomfortable. With how often Porkchop ended up getting walloped due to his rather...direct fighting style, he needed all the physical advantages he could get. Kaius sincerely hoped that whatever his brother had gained from his bloodline would be enough to avoid a repeat of what had happened with the Guardian. Seeing him shattered and broken as he tried to crawl away from the siege ogre had been one of the most terrifying things he had ever experienced. Evidently his old worry seeped through their link, as he was treated to a cold nose the size of his palm smushing into his forehead. "No worrying! The ancestral blood didn''t just make me bigger, the magic of the transformation will have increased my baseline even more than what simple size would do. Besides, one of us needs to draw our enemies ire, and you are much more suited to dealing out damage quickly. I picked the Warden of Sacred Jade with that in mind." Porkchop explained. "Oh?" Kaius said, reaching up to scratch Porkchop behind his ear. His brother reacted as he always had, leaning into his touch. It gladdened him, physical change or no, he was still the same old Porkchop. "Going for the path of the bastion, then?" It did make sense. Porkchop''s legacy skills were well bent towards drawing attention and persisting through the fire of battle. Yet he would have had to get something good. While all bastions relied on appropriate skills and tough bodies, without fail they lended themselves towards heavy armour and impenetrable defences. Things that would prevent wounds. Even if all you took was light cuts, standing as the anchor of a battle would mean that eventually enough of them would accumulate to do you in. "If you''re doing that we''re going to have to invest in some heavier barding. Full plate at least, if not heavy-plate. I''m sure we''ll find someone in Deadacre who could do it, but we''ll probably need to commission it, and it won''t be cheap. Thank the gods we''ve got a few artefacts we can part with, I think we should be able to cover it with the blink daggers." Kaius said, already planning how he could support Porkchop to the best of his ability. They were a team, and with how little equipment Porkchop generally needed he would have to be a complete miser not to splash out on something good for something so central. "Self Repair and Durability at the very least, though I might need to sell off the helm to make that happen, I could do with some simple steel for a while." he muttered, scratching at his chin. "No, we don''t! I got a good pick for my first bloodline skill, see?" Porkchop interrupted him, before he backed up a few paces. Kaius cocked his head in interest. "Oh?" "Watch!" Porkchop said with a grin. Mana flared within his brother''s chest, building to a crescendo over a handful of seconds as Porkchop focused with intensity. Whatever skill he had gained, it was taking a lot of mana for a skill in the first tier. The accumulated power peaked, glowing with the shimmering colour of crystal affinity, though strangely tainted by a shining green. It rushed forth, exploding from his brother''s body in a forceful wave to settle heavily against his fur. Kaius''s jaw dropped. Wherever the mana touched, thick slabs of heavy jade were left in their place. Bound to each other by oddly delicate chains of the same material, they formed an impressive suit of barding. Heavy-plate barding, though it looked oddly incomplete. Almost rough cut, the angled plates of jade conformed to Porkchop''s body. A gorget and chestplate covered his front and neck, while more overlapping plates stretched up his neck and down the top of his spine. A skullcap of barely transparent greenstone was affixed to his head, while a stout nose-guard stretched down his snout. More sections hung from the spine armour, draping over his ribs and forming into short half-pauldrons that left his legs free and mobile. As the armour popped into existence, Porkchop let out a soft grunt as he adjusted to the added weight and bulk of his summoned armour. "I...What?" Kaius said, shocked. When Porkchop had said that bloodlines were similar to classes, he had expected the skills to be a little more aligned to primal and beastly flavours. Something that summoned armour was nowhere near the top of his list of what he had been expecting. "Is this...normal?" Porkchop snorted. "What, for a beast to get skills that let them use and create two-legged things like plate? No, absolutely not. As far as I can tell, our bond might be having some influence on our options." "But that is besides the point! Look at this! Much better than leather and piddly metal." Porkchop said excitedly, craning his neck to take in his new skill produced defences. "It''s called Celadon Aegis." Kaius grinned, with this he felt much better about leaving Porkchop to push the assault while he mopped up. It was a nigh on perfect combo. One agile, one stout, and both capable of dishing out significant offensive power, they would be terrors. Though he did wish that the armour covered a bit more. The jade plates had plenty of gaps, and left Porkchop''s limbs and flank relatively undefended, like a beastly version of a breastplate and helm. "What''s its scaling like? Anything other than basic improvements?" He asked. "Breakpoints, like your glyph. Though a little better at every fifty levels. Improves the armour''s coverage." Porkchop said, dismissing the skill. The armour plates dissolved like smoke, dissipating into glowing mana that dispersed into the surrounding air. "What about you, have you had a chance to test Stormlash yet?" Kaius smiled. "No, I thought I would wait until you got back. Practically the hardest thing I''ve done." "Well, what are you waiting for! Let''s see!" Porkchop replied, his ears twitching in excitement as he launched to his feet. Kaius grinned, and turned off to the side, facing towards a nearby cluster of statues. They would serve as good a target as any. Dropping his hand to his side, he felt for the inscriptions that spiralled out from his Drakthar glyph. They pulsed in his mind with barely constrained potency, ready and willing to leap to his call. The barest brush of will was all it took. Chained mana was unleashed, surging through runic circuits in moments. Pure arcane was shifted, changed, and reforged, unleashing with crackling might. One jagged line of script that wrapped his thumb and crept around his wrist smouldered with orange light, dissolving in a shower of sparks as the spell hymn was burnt. Stormlash activated, a peal of thunder booming as a thick rope of crackling plasma appeared in his hand. He could feel its electrifying might charging the surrounding air, the hairs on the back of his arm rising. It lashed like a living thing. Potent, aggressive, vindictive. He moved on instinct, guided by the thrumming intent of his spell. With the barest flick of his wrist, bound lightning snapped towards the statue with a crack and a blinding flash of light. It lashed around the statue''s throat, before two more cracks echoed out in quick succession and the spell jumped to two more in a chain. Electric blue lightning mana surged as stone hissed and scorched, Stormlash writhing as arcing beams of purple lanced off the bolt to strike at the statues. Reverberations shook the statue, cracking stone in a shower of dust. Resonance Amplification at work, no doubt. Then it was over, the lightning disappearing with as much suddenness as it had been formed. Kaus gaped at the result of his spell, staring at cracked and scorched stone, at the molten details on the statues neck where Stormlash had produced enough virulent heat to soften stone. The reverberation had been potent too, finger length cracks running down the chest of the statue. Hells, even the light. He was sure that without Truesight the lightning would have been bright enough to leave burnt-in afterimages floating in his vision. Though, he did expect that would be of limited utility in battle as he grew in levels. Simple mundane effects like that would have little effect on someone with significant Endurance. But the sheer power. For a moment there, before he had cast, he could feel it. The constrained might of a storm, held in the palm of his hand. That was... too much. Far more than what should have been possible from a simple tier one spell. If this was the power of a Heroic class and skill, what would happen when he rose through the tiers? What if he managed to increase its rarity? Then, before he could muster his senses, Porkchop tackled him from the side - driving him to the floor. "Kaius! That was fucking awesome!" He said, nuzzling him affectionately and managing to smear him with cold blood once more. He couldn''t help but laugh, though he did shove Porkchop off so that he could get to his feet, "I just held a fucking lightning bolt, what the fuck!" Kaius wiped off the worst of the gore, before frowning at the smudge of green on his hand. "That said, we need to get cleaned up. No way in hell am I going back into the Sea so...sticky. That, and see if your fat ass will still fit into your barding." "Hey!" Porkchop replied, indignant. Kaius simply laughed and went to collect their things. "Come on! Fast job''s a good one." ... In the end, returning to the manor to resupply and get cleaned up took them barely more than an hour. With how close they were to leaving the Depths, neither he nor Porkchop were keen on wasting any time before their return to the forest. Damp and clean, they hurried to redress. To both their delights, Porkchop still fit his barding, and a quick test proved that it still worked with his Aegis. Somewhat at least, apparently it chafed terribly. Unfortunately, with their designs on the plunder held in the kitchens, they had need of it if they wanted to carry out as many artisanal spices and foodstuffs as they could carry. The spices especially. With how expensive and exotic most were, Kaius knew that there would be many that he would most likely never get the chance to try again. Given how light they were, and how far they stretched, he planned on getting everything. That said, they did decide it would be for the best to sell off the light barding at the soonest opportunity. They could replace it with something more designed for utility. Some simple padded leather to cover the gaps in Porkchop''s Aegis, and saddlebags for their gear. After storming the kitchen with the rabid fury of a full troop of pillaging raiders, they returned to the mountaintop weighed down heavily with their spoils. No matter what happened next, they would be eating like kings for a week at least. Though, probably not much longer if Porkchop''s appetite had increased to match his new size. Skirting around pools of blood, they approached their target. The glowing circle of runes that dominated the plateaus centre. They shone with crackling potency, pulsing as they grew closer. Kaius stared at them with open fascination, still struggling to truly believe that they had actually made it. That they were finally here, finally leaving. They stopped at the edge, both of them staring at the threshold. All it would take was a single step, and yet both of them felt the heavy weight of the moment, its primacy and dominance. Kaius looked to his left, a grin slipping out when he realised he had automatically looked at Porkchop''s chest, where his head would have once been. He tilted his head up, finding his brother already watching him with green-flecked-gold eyes. "Together?" He asked, raising his hand to place it on Porkchop''s shoulder. "Together, no matter what." They stepped forwards, crossing the threshold, ready to take on the world as men grown. **Ding! Portal Entered!** **Descend?****Exit?** **Personalised Guardian Loot will be provided on selection of either option.** Chapter 131 - End of Book 1 - 130: The Prodigal Son Returns One moment Kaius was standing at the peak of a dwarven citadel deep below the earth, then the world shifted, blurring for a few mind-bending fractions of a second as he was torn along an impossible axis. Something moved within those depths, something large and curious, something that inspired a primal terror within him. Then he was snatched away. His stomach lurched, and he stumbled forwards, kicking up a pile of loose leaf litter. For a moment he reeled, struggling to process the experience of translocation, before he shoved it to the back of his mind when Porkchop let out an excited chitter. Having dived nose first into the soft earth of the forest, his brother was currently enraptured with rubbing every handspan of his surface along the ground. "Dirt! Normal dirt, with dead leaves and insects!" Porkchop moaned, digging his crystalline claws into the ground. Kaius smiled at his bond-brother, before he craned his neck and stared at their surroundings in awe. They were back in the Arboreal Sea. Blessedly normal trees sprouted up around them in an unbroken tide that stretched as far as he could see, while brush and grasses poked up in the small gaps in the canopy, drinking in the warm summer sun. Kaius stepped forwards, into one of the beams of light, and soaked up its soft embracing heat. It had been so long since he had felt the sun. To be graced with a summer''s noon upon their exit was fortuitous indeed. He closed his eyes for a moment, and just felt the thrumming life around him. The rustle of a tepid breeze passing through the trees, the subtle buzz of innumerable insects flying through the air, the chirping of birds, the scent of discarded leaves slowly decaying into mulch. It was all so pure. So different from the cold mechanical Depths. It had been easy, at times, to gloss over the gaps in its illusion of life. The odd behaviour of the depths-born, the utter absence of lesser forms of life, and a dozen other things. That difference was blinding now that he had returned from his trial. Spinning in place, he looked back to the portal that they had passed through. It was a pillar of stone, a rough natural block with a circle of the systems immutable and shifting runes on its front face. Where once they would have glowed blue, now they were dull. Spent, until enough time had passed for them to recharge - at least if someone wanted to use it as an entrance that is. That wasn''t all, at the base of the stone lay two pristine artefacts, nestled on top of the pile of leaves that had accumulated against the portal due to the wind. One was a softly gleaming crystal. Black like obsidian, a dull pulsing orange welled up from its deepest reaches, just barely visible in the daylight. The other was a metal box. Thin, rectangular, and oddly curved on one side, it had a number of straps and attachment points, but nowhere obvious to carry it like a bag. Weirder still, it didn''t seem to have any kind of opening or latch. Kaius''s heart quickened. He tapped into True Sight. Spent Forgeheart: Unique - Tier I The drained heart of a warengine, even valued treasure is sometimes discarded. A valued crystal, glimmering with the remnants of esoteric life, abandoned after the majority of its power was spent. A valuable material for forged alloys, its affinities make it a prized option for supporting the growth of newborn metallic soulbound artefacts. Material (Life, Crystal). ... Merchant''s Reinforced Dimensional Saddlebag: Unique - Tier I What''s this for? Fragile high-value goods and smuggling, mostly. Sometimes both. A solid reinforced box of potent arcane infused titanium, its interior is lined with spatially aligned alloys, and engraved with a dense runic formation. Allows access to a small dimensional bubble, approximately the size of a large chest, that may be used to store non-living and non-spatially-enchanted objects. Depths-wrought Artefact. Auxiliary Equipment (Dimensional Bag) Durability II, Dimensional Container I, Self Repair I Kaius was already moving. "Oh holy fuck, Porkchop!" He yelled, diving for the box before he scooped it up and held it in his hands. Despite its solid metal construction, it was deceptively light, even if it felt incredibly sturdy. "What is it?" Porkchop asked, concerned as he ran over to his side. "We got one! We actually got one!" Kaius stumbled over his words, a wide sweeping grin on his face. "Got what?" Porkchop said, shoving his head past his shoulder to peer at the Merchant''s Saddlebag. "A spatial artefact! It''s small, but we should be able to fit everything in here! See?" He swung off his pack, holding it close to the artefact as he funnelled the slightest brush of mana against it. There was a soft pop, and his bag vanished. Kaius could feel it inside the artefact, an intuitive sense of everything it contained, though it vanished when he stopped interacting with it with his mana. Porkchop jumped back, shocked at his bag''s disappearing act. "Holy shit!" "I know! Do you have any idea how expensive these are? We''re gonna have to hide it in one of your saddlebags!" Kaius spun, shaking Porkchop by his jowls. His brother shook him off. "Quick! Put the rest of our stuff in it, I wanna see if it all fits!" Porkchop hunkered down, and Kaius ran to his side like a giddy child, picking at knots with hurried fingers as he pulled down the rough bags they had managed to convert into clunky saddlebags from things scavenged from the dwarven city. Kaius funnelled their food supplies, extra water, and his precious spices into their new container, immensely pleased when he saw it was still just barely over half full. Saving one of their rough stitched bags, they shoved the dimensional container into it, tearing a few holes so that they could secure it to Porkchop''s barding from within. It looked suspicious as hell, but it would do until they made it to one of the villages and they could commission a leather cover, and a proper set of under-armour for Porkchop. Kaius stepped back, pleased with his handiwork. "What of the other thing? That crystal?" Porkchop asked, looking past him to where the Forgeheart lay forgotten on a pile of leaves. At his brother''s prompting, Kaius felt his joy surge once more. "It''s one of the materials I need for my sword," he said happily. "Though I''m not sure what to do with it." He walked over, picking up the glassy stone. It was warm to the touch, like a stone that had been left to bake in the sun. He drew his blade a handspan, and tried touching the material to his weapon. Nothing happened, though he did feel attraction between the two when he attempted to pull the stone back. Then he tried the handle, where the bonding formation lay hidden underneath its wrap. Still nothing. Kaius frowned. "We might need to stash it for later. Maybe I need a smith, or to ''forge a link'', whatever that means. Hopefully it''s the latter, I don''t exactly want to go around telling everyone what I have." Porkchop nuzzled him. "We''ll figure it out. Either way, we got some good rewards. Why don''t you pack it into the Merchant''s Saddlebag to keep it safe?" Nodding at his friend''s suggestion, Kaius stowed it away. At the end of the day, even securing it in the first place had gone a long way to solving one issue he had wondered about. Perhaps, with a few more Guardians, he could obtain the rest of the rare materials he needed. With their loot secured, Porkchop had quickly returned to enjoying the simple pleasure of their return to the Sea, kicking up clumps of dead leaves as he sunk his heavy digging claws into the earth below. Kaius smiled, before he turned back to the portal. Before he had been distracted by their rewards, he''d been meaning to check something he had heard about. He focused his True Sight on the system''s formation. Great Depths Portal: Locked - 3 daysLayer: 2Biome: The Great Warren (explored) Kaius nodded in satisfaction, he had heard that most analysis type skills would give some insight into the access ways to the Depths that dotted the land, but it was good to get confirmation. Dropping down, Kaius flopped down to the ground and leaned back heavily onto his hands. He simply stared at the forest around him, still struggling to process that they had actually done it. Even after more than a year in the Depths, it had been a constant push to the finish, a constant threat that hung over his head. It was one thing to know that you had achieved your goal, another to be presented with the reality of success. Unbidden, a soft giggle escaped his lips, breaking the soft silence that surrounded them. In the trees above, a small sparrow took flight, flittering between the trees as it watched him with open curiosity. Kaius looked back, a half smile on his face. Other than meeting Porkchop, it was the first time that something moving hadn''t tried to kill him in far too long. "Kaius. You should analyse the bird." Porkchop said cautiously. "Huh? Why?" He asked, still watching the creature as it flitted to a branch and settled down to face him. "We''re not in danger, but remember what the system said about phase two? With integrating animals?" Porkchop reminded him. His eyes widened, and he immediately directed his skill towards the sparrow. Common Sparrow - Level 1: Beast Kaius hissed, sucking in air through his teeth. "I take it''s a beast then?" Porkchop asked, having shifted to watch the bird with curiosity. "Yeah, it is. This is going to change... a lot. I hope the villages will be ready." Kaius replied, a knot of worry forming in his stomach. Porkchop rumbled. "Things will become more fraught, especially as mana levels rise. I will not lie, it will be tough, but they will have a chance. At the very least beasts will still follow their instincts and natural inclinations, they are not like depths-born." he said with confidence. Kaius looked at his brother sceptically. "Are you sure? Just about every beast I have ever run into on this side of the mountains has been territorial, and most were actively aggressive." "It''s because of the mana. Here, only the species and individuals who possess that bent will have a far greater chance of accruing the feats needed for the system to take notice. Over the mountains, where the mana is greater, it is far easier for a common animal to become a beast. You see the meek just as often as the tyrannical. Besides, until the mana levels grow, they won''t be able to grow truly strong." Porkchop explained, trying to subdue his worry. "That''s only going to take a year." Kaius said, his mouth tightening into a line. With the mention of the system''s upcoming changes, he peered deep into the mana that flowed through the world around him. Unlike the depths, it was a barest tint on the surroundings. A subtle glow, or the odd mote of light, tinted the colours of their aspect. As could be expected from a forest, light, nature, earth, and life dominated, though there were dozens of others too - many he could not put a name to. Very different from the overwhelming deluge that occupied the Depths, requiring him to focus to bring the mana into full relief, rather than pull back from his skill to stop the arcane brightness from overwhelming him. **Ding! True Sight has reached level 22!** He could physically see it, the slow inexorable change being wrought by the changing of phase. It was minute, but he could see more and more mana welling up from...somewhere. The increasing mana density would wreak havoc on many. Even if what Porkchop said was true, and most beasts would stay true to their nature, there were still more than enough out there to turn the wilds into a slaughterhouse for the unwary. Especially if they grew in strength with the rising mana. Trade would slow or stop, and people would be isolated and cut off from each other, unless they fought back hard. Which, he realised, might have been the system''s intention. It seemed like an impossible ordeal. Even if he maintained his meteoric growth, and climbed higher than any had before, how was a man and beast supposed to stand against an entire world? There was no one foe, no one target. Not like the Guardian. Just a nebulous goal. Get strong, and all would come together. People would die by the thousands, and there was little he could do to prevent it. Especially if, by what Ekum the Pale implied, that the only true way out was through the heart of the fire. Progressing the integration stage by stage, and weathering the resulting storm. Hoping that if he could force himself to grow fast enough, he would not end up too badly burned. It rankled. Let alone that he still had no idea what Tyrants and Crucible Grounds were. More deathtraps no doubt, there to force people to excel or die. "Kaius, you''re spiralling." Porkchop butted in, picking himself up off the ground to approach him. He craned his neck up, by the gods he still wasn''t used to how big Porkchop had gotten. "I know, but what are we to do?" he asked. "We do what we have always done. Break it down into chunks. The integration and the chaos it will bring is our Guardian, we need to find our Champions first." Porkchop said, taking a seat next to him before he wrapped one massive arm around Kaius and yanked him closer. Kaius groaned, but leant against his brother all the same. "Okay, short term goals. We need to find out where we are. Travel through the Depths is supposed to get weird compared to the world above. I know the forest well enough to at least get us moving in the general direction of Three Fields once we know where we are." "You still think that''s our best shot? If they live next to the Sea they are likely to recognise what I am." Porkchop asked cautiously. Kaius nodded. "I know them, and they consider me one of their own. They wouldn''t sell us out, sticking together is how you survive on the frontier. Powerful beasts might be uncommon, but they are not completely absent, and a boggart swarm could be the end of anyone without backup. Besides, it''s our best shot at finding some information about the bandits that pursued us, and what happened to Father." "You think they would know? What if the bandits simply fled after they were unable to acquire what they sought." "That might be so, but if Father had been injured, he would have headed for the village to recover, and if those bandits had stuck around, they would have made a name for themselves." Kaius replied. "Besides, the people there...some of them are basically family. I must see them, even if just to let them know I live and do what I can to prepare them for the coming chaos. "Then Three Fields it is. I think I have an idea of how we could help, but I''ll save it for the journey." Porkchop agreed, bumping him on the top of his head. "How long will it take us to get there?" "Not too long, if we''re still near where we entered. A week at most, depending on how fast we can travel." Kaius explained. The plateau that they had fallen from was something of a geographical oddity, it stretched from the base of the mountains that blocked off the Deep Sea, but in many places it stretched deep into the outskirts, much like where he and Father had made camp. "I may have a solution for that..." Porkchop said, after a moment''s pause. "Oh?" Kaius replied, craning his head to look up at his brother. "It is something of a taboo amongst greater beasts, but I could... Give you a lift?" Porkchop suggested hesitantly. Kaius grinned. "I didn''t want to bring it up, but it would be convenient. I also had something to mention. My class definitely aligns with our bond in some form, and the carving I saw showed me riding you into battle. I''m not sure how viable that actually is, nor what sorts of skills I might be offered in that vein, but I did want to check in with you before they started popping up." A deep rumble echoed in Porkchop''s chest, gratitude and gratefulness flowing across their bond. "Take them if they are good, we''re already going to give the Matriarch''s a conniption with our bond, we may as well make it really slap them in the face." Kaius snorted. "Are you sure that''s wise?" "Absolutely not, but hopefully by the time we go back we will be strong enough for it to not matter." Porkchop said with a grin. "Well, with that settled, do we still plan on heading to Deadacre next?" "Yeah, like I mentioned, the Delving guild is our best bet for securing backing and power, and it''s the best spot for us to plan our next move. We can also start to think about finding allies and potential teammates, but I''m not sure if a provincial backwater will have anyone who can keep up with us." Kaius said, familiar determination steeling his spine as their plans grew more concrete. "Regardless of what we find out about Father, we will need power and information if we want to find the bandits, and the man with the scar. Deadacre is our best bet for both." "Well then," Porkchop rose to his full height, his physique towering over him. "Shall we try to find out where we are? North should bring us closer to the mountains." Kaius grinned and leapt to his feet. "You sure about this? It''s not weird?" he asked. "It''s a little weird, but i''m sure." Porkchop replied, crouching low. "Jump up!" Letting out a whoop, Kaius grabbed the leather straps of Porkchop''s barding and hauled himself upwards. With his enhanced strength, it was easy for him to swing up and onto Porkchop''s back, even despite his brother''s height. The barding was a little uncomfortable, and their armour plates clanged together awkwardly, but that was washed away in Kaius''s sheer excitement. "Hold on!" Porkchop dug his claws into the ground and launched in the rough direction of the mountains that they had divined from the position of the sun. Kaius let loose a peal of laughter, barely staying seated as Porkchop''s powerful strides tore through the forest, heavy claws used to gain enough traction to weave around tree trunks. It was fucking good to be back. B2 Chapter 197: Training, Finale B2 Chapter 197: Training, Finale Kaius held his sword in a mid-guard, a neutral stance that allowed an easy flow into a variety of attacks and alternate stances. The lights of the training hall were as harsh as they always had been, but after nearly four weeks of spending almost every waking hour down here he was well used to it. Sort of. It was still glaring if he got careless and looked directly towards them¡ªTruesight might have kept his vision clear, but it didn¡¯t make the experience comfortable. Nearly a whole month, working himself to the bone in an effort to shore up their lacking skills before their explosive rise in levels continued once more¡ªfor a time. Even with the bonus experience from punching so far above their level, it would slow down eventually. It had been more than worth it. Every moment of exertion and agony. Every drop of sweat and blood. Every vile toxin and vicious affliction. He¡¯d seen more growth in the last few weeks than he had thought possible. Yet not even the fizzing energy of progress could buoy the weight on his shoulders. This time they had spent was not without cost. Every day that they trained was a day that the beasts grew stronger. Nearly four months post phase-shift and things were getting bad. The streets were grim¡ªtense and quiet. For a while more refugees and asylum seekers had arrived. At first they flooded the plaza where he and his team had entered the city, but eventually there was too little space. Now, practically every square in the city had a ramshackle collection of canvas dwellings housing the beaten and dispossessed. It had been far worse when the steady flow of heavy eyes and bent spines had slowed to a trickle. Now it was rare to see anyone outside the city walls¡ªonly fools, delvers, and heavily armed caravans dared to brave the wilds. He hoped it was because people had found other refuges, and ways to persevere. That only the weak and incapable had been forced to flee. It was possible¡ªthe farmers were managing, somehow. Kaius swore that every time he saw one they were leaping up in levels¡ªand their eyes were just a little harder. He hadn¡¯t seen it yet, but he¡¯d heard rumours in the guild hall that more than a few of the more desperate had tried to raid the wagons laden with food. Apparently most of them were lucky to only lose a few fingers for their efforts. He found it hard to blame the farmers. They were putting themselves at dire risk¡ªeven with the way they had banded together¡ªin order to feed the city. Especially since few people were truly starving. With the amount of beasts around, meat was plentiful, and, like most cities, Deadacre had been built around a shallow depths biome that could provide an emergency food source. Layer three, with mostly beasts¡ªit was doing much to serve the city. Unfortunately, it had a middling length week-long reset period; it was a massive operation to get food out. They¡¯d been rotating teams of heavily vetted Iron delvers and high level guards, equipped with borrowed spatial artefacts of significant capacity. Their power meant a speedy clear, and a shorter wait to begin the reset timer, but it meant that those clearing it were seeing few benefits for their trouble. The destitution and overall bleakness of it rubbed him raw. Made being in the city for so long even more painful than it already was. He longed for the free fields and open blue of the wilds¡ªthe excitement and adventure of a cross-country hike, suitably sprinkled with heart pounding fights. Soon. Soon. Rieker had a mission for them¡ªhe and Ro were just setting up a route and clearing up the official side of things. When Ro had gotten mad at the amount of paperwork they had created for her, Kaius had thought she¡¯d been playing it up. Judging by the hours she seemed to spend filling out forms and signing them in triplicate, getting some authorisation or another to hide their records and obscure the missions they were taking, she hadn¡¯t been. It seemed past a certain level the guild really hated special dispensations without a very good reason. Still, despite everything, there were only a few short days left. They wouldn¡¯t be easy. Rieker stood across from him, casual in his cotton slacks and linen shirt. The man was totally at ease, and utterly unworried for his safety. Hells, if not for holding the same warhammer that had taken his hand, Kaius would have thought the man was ready for dinner. More sparring¡ªthough this time he was allowed his skills and spells. Thankfully, Kaius had also been allowed to wear his armour, if only to better the rate at which Tempered By Dissonance would level. These fights were to better his Lesser Regeneration. The real focus was his sword-work, and how he could push his burgeoning style to more seamlessly integrate his spells. They¡¯d already been at it for a few days, and the results spoke for themselves. Rieker moved fast, and hit hard, but not so powerfully that he was unable to keep up or defend. That is, until he made a mistake, and the guildmaster would punish it like lightning. Nothing serious, nothing that would take him out of the fight. Just a broken bone or two. Broken bones still hurt. His fingers rolled over the tacky leather of his sword¡¯s grip, settling to a more comfortable position. A frustrating experience, but one that The Veteran¡¯s Edge had taken to like water. Rieker might catch him out with a trick once¡ªeven twice¡ªbut he learned his lesson, and from that moment on, any feint or tell was as visible to him as the sun. He simply knew¡ªand with each bout, his library of understanding grew. With his Glass Mind scouring his memories, his swordplay had risen by leaps and bounds. How to step, when to strike, when to cast, and when to slip through the skin of the world. Even grizzled old Rieker had been impressed¡ªthough he was only rewarded with harder blows and more stringent standards. Kaius breathed. ¡°Ready!¡± he shouted, his words carrying across the hall. ¡°Ready,¡± the guildmaster¡¯s soft words carried clean through the hall, audible despite the lack of projection behind them. Kaius raced in. The guildmaster flew to meet him, hammer held high. ..... Kaius groaned, splayed out over his brother''s back as he stared up at the wooden ceiling of their room in the Dusty Stables. The soft orange tones of a deep sunset streamed through the high windows¡ªcoating the room in dulcet tones that urged him to fall asleep right this minute. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. They¡¯d finished their last day of Rieker¡¯s hellish training. Finally. The man was a devil¡ªno, a demon king. He¡¯d held nothing back in correcting their ¡®inadequacies¡¯, saying only that it was disgraceful and disgusting that people of their talent would have skill levels so low every time they so much as sighed. Utterly ridiculous, honestly. It wasn¡¯t like any of them had slacked off, not even for a moment. As soon as the day was done¡ªanother one of brutal sparring with the guildmaster himself¡ªthey had rushed from the hall, all but sprinting to the closest thing they had to a home in Deadacre. Hensch, the beautiful man, had taken one look at them and banished them to their rooms. It hadn¡¯t taken much to convince them, and the fact that the innkeep had promised to bring dinner to their rooms, and wake them if he had too, had only made the offer all the sweeter. Even Yong¡ªthe gregarious cat-beast that was Hensch¡¯s bonded¡ªhad left them alone. Impressive, considering his overly-gregarious nature and utter fascination with Porkchop. Now, even after hours of lying around practically insensate, none of them could muster up the energy to move. Kaius craned his neck up, catching Ianmus¡¯s eye. The man was sprawled in one of the armchairs by the fire, uncharacteristically slouched with one leg flung over the armrest. Considering Ianmus was more the type to smooth out his robe before he so much as sat down, he must have been as exhausted as Kaius felt. ¡°Hell of a month, eh?¡± Kaius quipped, giving his teammate a smile. ¡°Huh?¡± Ianmus said, slowly rolling his head to look over at him. His eyes were heavy. Unfocused. ¡°Oh, yeah. Reminds me of second year¡ªthey had us do a survival course where we weren''t allowed to sleep for the whole week. Just about drove me mad.¡± ¡°I feel like my bones are going to fall out...¡± Porkchop groaned, his chest vibrating underneath Kaius¡¯s back. Kaius laughed. It was a strange thing, the fatigue that came with pushing yourself to the limits. Stamina did much, soothing aching muscles and invigorating the body, but it couldn¡¯t do everything. With enough training, it got to a point where the body just...had enough. When all that could really help you recover was a good day or two at rest, full of good food and wine. He didn¡¯t understand the specifics of it¡ªwhen he¡¯d asked yesterday Ianmus had mumbled something unintelligible about the ¡®complicated interplay of mind, body, and soul¡¯. Just about the only thing he had understood was that any significant expenditure of a resource that was chronic over multiple days and weeks could cause the issue. Unfortunate, considering all of them had been spending all three like water for the entirety of their brief stint of intensive training. Thankfully, Ianmus had clarified that the issue got less and less significant as one¡¯s stats grew. It made sense, after all, he¡¯d felt similar burn-out in the Depths after far less intensive stints. A glance told him that Ianmus had returned to his doze, and the rhythmic motions of his brother¡¯s chest told him that Porkchop had drifted off as well. As much as Kaius wished he could join him, he couldn¡¯t, not yet. Even if the soft afternoon sun on his face did feel like getting serenaded by an angel. He needed to check his gains. With the frantic pace of his levelling, Kaius had forced himself to put off checking them throughout the month. With the regularity of the dings that had come, he knew they would be significant. After all, even if Rieker had paid special attention to Rapid Adaptation and Lesser Regeneration, every single one of his skills had been pushed to their limits. Intense, exhausting, and stressful¡ªbut oh so worth it. His mana skills especially had seen surprising growth¡ªas much of a pain in the ass as it had been to reinscribe his Drakthar glyph, the complicated nature of the working had done wonders for his skill levels. Even if it had taken three straight days to complete. Let alone the additional resistances he had gained¡ªthose alone were worth the pain and discomfort of self-injury. That, and Rieker had done his best to procure multiple sources for him to gain a defence against some relatively common affinities that he had thought Kaius was likely to encounter. He¡¯d been especially insistent on Kaius adapting to the affinities that he and his team mates used¡ªapparently the old man had seen one too many cases of friendly fire in his life. Stifling a yawn, Kaius dived into his status¡ªpulling up the changes to Rapid Adaptation as well. Status: Name: Kaius Dynasty: Unterstern Age: 19 Race: Human (Dynastic, Greater Beastblooded) - +1 End, Str, Wil, and free stats per level Layer Reached: 2 Class: Runeblade Initiate - +3 Int, +2 End, +2 Str, +2 Dex, +1 Vit, +1 Wil per level Level: 48 Resources: Health - 2970/2970 (16.1/min) Stamina - 2850/2850 (22.3/min) Mana - 3870/3870 (26.8/min) Free Mana - 3870/3870 Reserved Mana - 0 Stats: Endurance - 174 + 57 + 29% (297) Vitality - 68 + 57 + 29% (161) Strength - 164 + 57 + 29% (285) Dexterity - 116 + 57 + 29% (223) Intelligence - 212 + 71 + 37% (387) Willpower: - 116 + 71 + 37% (268) Stat Points: 0 Aspects: Pillar Corporus: N/A Pillar Mentis: The Veteran¡¯s Edge Reinforcement: Glass MindSeed: Campaigner¡¯s Reason Pillar Animus: N/A Class Skills (3/10): Latent Glyph of Drakthar (Heroic) - 22 > 43 Initiate¡¯s Glyphic Bladerite (Unique) - 10 > 26 Latent Glyph of Aelina (Heroic) - 0 > 15 General Skills (10/10): Rapid Adaptation (Heroic) - 28 > 69 Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo (Heroic) - 30 > 47 Explorer¡¯s Toolkit (Unusual) - 36 > 39 Tempered by Dissonance (Heroic) - 31 > 45 True Sight (Unique) - 38 > 39 Tonal Weaving (Unique) - 31 > 49 Resonance Amplification (Unique) - 27 > 38 Lesser Regeneration (Unusual) - 28 > 60 Uncanny Dodge (Unique) - 29 > 37 Brotherhood of Ichor and Animus (Heroic) - 40 > 48 Hymnbook: Glyph of Drakthar - Stormlash (Tier I - 120 mana) Glyph of Aelina - Yellia¡¯s Slip Step (Tier I - 80 mana) Honours: Born for Slaughter (Bonus) Sublime Prodigy - Glyph Binding (Bonus) Birds of a Blood Soaked Feather (Bonus) Persistent Survivor (Minor) (Bonus) Kingslayer (Major) (Bonus) Ruthless Underdog (Bonus) Ruthless Underdog II Trailblazer II (Bonus) Bound Artefacts: A Fathers Gift - Common Growth Longsword Growth Conditions- Gain a class (1/1) Absorb suitable materials (1/3) Forge a link (1/1) ... Rapid Adaptation: Level 69 Heroic Resistances: Pain, Fear, Poison, Disease, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Void, Aether, Venom, Corruption, Bone, Paralysis, Ice, Magma, Light, Wood, Crystal, Electric Kaius shook his head at the monumental gains. Regardless of the progress¡ªof the worsening state of the integration¡ªit had been well worth it to delay. Their safety was better assured, and if they had pushed ahead unheeded, it was likely that their skills would lag. While they could simply wait at the threshold to the second tier while they capped their skills, it was far better for their overall effectiveness in battle if they took the time to keep their skills appropriately levelled. With his review done, Kaius stopped fighting against the steady yank of his exhaustion, allowing himself to drift off as the purple and orange hues of the sunset warmed his face. Tomorrow they would start their next mission¡ªhe couldn¡¯t wait. Chapter 132 - Interlude 2: Visions of Normalcy Some time in the near past... Ianmus shifted his grip on his staff. Though its surface was smooth and comfortable to hold, it was still a little knobbly, and after so much walking those little aches grew tiresome if he didnt adjust every now and then. He looked back, seeing the great wall of short mountains that sealed of Mystral''s peninsula from the rest of Vaastivar. If he squinted he could just make out the narrow gap between mountains that he had passed through. The Arcanist''s pass, the only way to access the city state overland. He was glad to leave Mystral behind, now that he had graduated. Oh, he would be back. Mystral was and always would be his home. However, it was his time to make his fortune. No true scholar relied solely on dusty stacks to expand their understanding of the world. Besides, lacking an academician type class, such an approach would offer him little in the way of power or growth. No, it was better to leave. To see the sights of the world, to delve the Depths outside of the stuffy stable passageways that the colleges had built themselves around. He wanted adventure, and he had the perfect first stop in mind. Selenar, the braggart and gossipmonger, might have been a dreadful pain but he did have his uses. Apparently, according to some of his international and politically inclined classmates, the Greenseed Dukedoms were gearing up for another sanctioned war. That was, what? The third one in two decades? Ianmus shook his head at the nation''s preposterous politics, silver locks catching the breeze. Ridiculous as the Dukedoms might be, it represented opportunity. Their wars were much closer to sabre rattling and peacocking than any true confrontation of blood and steel. Far too regimented, with strict controls and regulations on numbers, locations, dates, and other such minutia. Hells, they had dedicated mid battle meal breaks for gods'' sakes. The most important thing, in Iasmus''s opinion, was that all combatants were required to be linked to a grand ritual. One that would transport you to triage the instant your health got too low. Oh sure, people died, but it was as safe as mortal combat could be. If he could get into the under forty bracket, it would do wonders for his skill growth. So he had taken his graduate''s staff and ring, packed up his belongings, and walked. He could have taken a caravan, but where was the fun in that? He wanted to see the world! To go off the beaten path, to scream ''here is Ianmus, look upon him and wonder!''. It was just unfortunate his feet hurt. He hadn''t quite expected overland travel to be quite so tiresome. Maybe he should have taken a caravan after all? Well, he was here now, may as well make the most of it. Ianmus continued walking, his steady steps and sturdy leather boots taking him across the slow rolling hills and meadows that made up the expanse of the lowlands he intended to cross. Rocky outcroppings dotted the landscape, shooting up through the earth like great stone saplings. It broke up the visual monotony, though it did mean he had to rely on his staff to help him when he was forced to scramble over them. The journey was meditative in a way he hadn''t expected. Every moment he had spent in Sunspire had been devoted to study, practical exercises, and relentless self driven training. As a scholarship student he had to stay at the top if he wanted to continue receiving the priceless training that the college offered. The fact that being in the advanced classes offered merged skills of all things was reason enough on his own. No, he had refused to fail out after a year or two like most pity enrolments. If the school had been tailored to students who had received a lifetime of tutorship before initiation, so be it. Life wasn''t fair. When he had to work three hours for every two bit lordlings one, he had done it. When he had to stay up late reading up on obscure nonsensical etiquette to avoid offending a pretentious professor, he had done it. When he had to bleed in the training halls, push himself harder and further than all of his so-called peers, he had done it. In return? He got a better start than he could have ever dreamed of. And now he was free. For the first time in years he felt like he could breathe easy. Nothing looming over him. Just the next hill to climb, and the next horizon to cross. An awful screech yanked Ianmus from his musings, quickly followed by a panicked bleat. It sounded like the noise came from just over the next hill. He eyed the hill with distaste, the prospect of running long-strides up a grassy incline not his usual idea of fun. He hiked up his robe with one hand anyway, taking off at a run. Immediately his legs began to burn, sudden exertion causing the muscles to protest. Sure, he had done his fair share of combat training, but he was a mage damnit, he wasn''t built for it - even with Stamina bolstering his reserves. Another panicked bleat carried over the hill, followed by an unnerving cackle. He finally crested the hill, his breath coming heavy in his chest. Even as he bent over to rest his weight on his staff he eyed his surroundings, looking for the source of the loud interruption to his walk. The hill he had just climbed was taller than most, giving him a good clean view of the area. Rocky hills covered in swaying grass and protruding granite continued on into the distance, though far off to the left he could see an impressionistic green smudge that stretched across the horizon. Most likely the start of the Arboreal Sea. It was what was happening below him that caught his attention. A goat yanked on a crude rope snare in terror, one of its rear legs caught up tight in the hunting trap. Its flank was coated in blood, even from halfway up the hill Ianmus could see great rents in its flesh, leaking red all over the grass below. In front of it, looking up in his direction, was a squat grey thing covered in a thick matt of wiry thin fur. Wrinkled and twisted, greasy thin strips of mottled hair hung down from a squashed skull to lay limply over rough clothing made from rotting rawhide. Black beady eyes, wide set and too lopsided to be anything other than the result of some god''s mistake, stared up at him. The creature hissed, revealing pointed teeth. It tried to menace at him, waving a bloody and crude stone knife in his direction. A boggart. Disgusting creatures. Bred like vermin, and were too cruel and stupid for their own good. If he chased it off it would simply fetch its tribe and try to ambush him while he slept. Not that he would let the vicious little pest survive. They had a habit of settling into an area before hunting it barren. The little idiots didn''t even try to move on when that happened, preferring to descend into cannibalism - too cowardly to think of roaming so far from their home nest. If he was closer to town, he would be duty bound to return and report the sighting. Out in the wilds though, he would have to be satisfied with culling this one and putting a few leagues between him and the rest. He drove his staff into the ground and stood up straight. The sunstone orb at its tip began to glow as he channelled his mana through the staff and back into Sunbeam, the instrument speeding up the flow of his mana. The boggard hissed again, before its brute aggression won out over its cowardly instincts and it began to lop up the hill towards him. A moment later he felt the drain on his mana peter out, his spell clicking into place in his mind forcing him to hold it under tension, lest it go off undirected. He released the spell. A beam of glowing light snapped into existence, connecting the tip of his staff to a point on the boggarts forehead, before winking out moments later. The monster collapsed bonelessly, the sizzling hole his spell had left in its wake leaking fluid. **Ding! level 3 Boggart slain** Ianmus smiled at the kill notification before his gaze flicked to the goat, its pained bleating redoubling at the frightful flash of light. "Oh you poor thing, let me see if I can fix you up." He said softly, beginning to walk down the hill. .... "Kenva! Get over here!" The voice of the caravan master echoed out over the tawny grasses of the steppe to the patch of shrubbery that she was crouched behind. Kenva huffed, annoyance washing over her as the voice of the caravan master caused the little leapers to startle, sending them bounding off into their burrows. Cute little things, she''d always loved them. "I''m coming Bistot!" She called back over her shoulder. She picked up her bow from where she had lain it down next to her and rose to trot back in the direction of the slowly moving caravan. It sprawled out far to her left and right, a great chain of brightly coloured carriages pulled by teams of lystrodonts. Each and every one was crafted almost entirely out of wood - an impressive expense in the arid steppes. She thought the lystrodonts were far prettier in all honesty, in an admittedly ugly sort of way. Bigger than a northern ox, they were heavily muscled creatures with stout tails. Thick brown skin, covered in sparse bristles, covered the beasts while two large tusks poked free of their strangely squashed looking heads. Some people found them intimidating, but she knew the big teeth were just to root around for tubers and grubs. She''d never met one that didn''t love a good scratch. "Kenva!" Bistot called warningly again, drawing her attention away from the magnificent beasts. She redoubled her pace, her feet slapping rhythmically against the tough dirt, already hardening in the late ''spring'' heat. She skidded to a stop in front of the caravan master, her breath still coming easy despite the half frantic run. "I don''t know how many times I have to tell you girl, don''t go running off to stare at bugs without asking someone first!" Bestot said with a huff, looking down towards her with his arms crossed. He was a large man, and his bright red and gleaming silver outfit did little to detract from his wild black beard and towering countenance. "Yes, Uncle Bestot..." Kenva grumbled. "Don''t you ''Uncle'' me. You''re on your Path now, that means it doesn''t matter that you''re a Zhdan and it doesn''t matter that I''m one too." His chastisement continued unabated. "But I was right there! I was just watching some little leapers!" Kenva protested. Bestots eyes softened, his brow unfurling. "Kenva.." He sighed. "Look, this is the toughest part, alright? I know it''s hard to adjust, to not have the leeway you are so used to. You''ll see though, being free of family obligations is a blessing." He crouched down, seeing her eye to eye. "Everyone from a dynastic clan goes through it, at least here in the tribes." Her eyes drifted down, staring at the yellowing grass and compacted earth as the caravans slowly rolled past the trio. "I know... I just wish I could be out there already." Bestot clapped a steadying hand on her shoulder. "Aye, I understand. The steppes might be home, and the Hiwiann my people, but there are broader horizons than this sea of yellow. Why do you think I founded this trading caravan after my own path?" Kenva nodded in agreement with her uncle. She loved the steppes, her clan, her tribe, and her people. Never tied down, always moving free. Yet even the visits to the temple cities on the solstices and equinoxes weren''t enough to dampen the growing feelings of monotony of just seeing more endless grass. "We''ll be at the frontier soon enough, you''ll see." Bestot said softly. "Just do me a favour alright? Try to keep your little excursions to when we make camp and try to let someone know first. If you do, I''ll see if I can call in a favour to get you paired up with one of our forward scouts, at least every now and then." Kenva''s eyes brightened. The forward scouts sometimes ranged days ahead of the caravan, switching out regularly to bring back news of the path ahead, and any potential dangers. "Really!?" She said with excitement. "But that''s it, okay? I''ve already gotten some odd looks by letting you travel with the caravan as a worker at this low of a level, it''s pretty blindingly obvious I only did it so you could save your weaning gild for the frontier. Even then, we''re all gonna have to pretend it''s because of your Farsight again, alright?" Kenva nodded hurriedly. "Alright, good. Because if I do anything more I''m gonna start getting hard questions about unnecessary favouritism, and I would like to avoid an uncomfortable chat with the elders when I next meet with the tribe." "Thank you uncle Bestot!" Kenva said softly, throwing her arms around her Uncle''s broad shoulders. Bestot chuckled, holding her in a brief hug before setting her back on her feet. "This is the start of your real life, you''ll see. Now go take over for Ostovir, put that skill of yours to good use." He said, pointing off towards one of the larger carriages, a raised platform built into its already tall roof. Kenva groaned, but ran off to take over for the lookout dutifully. Once more Kenva was grateful for Farseer. It wasn''t her only merged skill, but it was her clan''s greatest treasure, a merge of ten ocular skills that made them some of the best scouts, archers, and trackers in the United Tribes. A valuable enough skill that her uncle had had enough of an excuse to pretend she was a valuable enough worker that she didn''t have to pay for passage. Something she hoped would one day be true, she wanted to be known as the greatest bearer the clan had ever seen, known across Vaastivar for being able to spot a raindrop from thirty leagues away. Though, she supposed up north she would probably get enough attention simply flaunting the skill. She''d heard strange tales of powerful merged skills being kept under wraps up there. She didn''t quite understand it, it wasn''t as if she could tell anyone how to get the bloody thing. Everyone in the tribes had to swear on one of the bloodstones not to share clan secrets without explicit uncoerced approval from the head- surely they had something similar? The scouting carriage drew near, and Kenva was drawn from her thoughts. She ran up to the bright blue ladder that was built into the side of the yellow outer wall - a garish combination in her opinion- and hopped to hook her leg onto the first rung. "Hey Ostovir! I''m here to take over!" Chapter 133 - B2 131: The Return pt. 1 Kaius craned upwards, squeezing Porkchop with his knees so that he could rise to his full height. From his vantage point astride his brother''s back, he was just able to see through the gap in the trees ahead. There, perhaps a half dozen leagues to the north, he could make out the thin line of the cliffs that he had fallen from. Beyond them, way off in the distance, were the high peaks that separated them from the true extent of the Sea, and all the magical potency that was supposed to lie beyond them. He knew their shapes well, like the spines of some great sleeping drake. There were few viable passages through the mountains, deep valleys that cut through their reaches. Each one was a waymarker, a widely visible point from which to navigate. One of them was far off to his right. He knew where they were. The falls would be an hour or two''s walk to their right, and far back the way they had come, and more than a little east, would be Three Fields, settled in a nook between two hills right at the edge of the Sea. He could have made that trip by himself as an unclassed. Now, with a clean image of the Sea held in his mind''s eye, Explorer''s Toolkit exploded with possibilities. Paths they could take to avoid the ranges of any potentially ornery newly-awakened wolves or boars, ways through which they could follow the land, hastening their journey. In seconds he knew the exact route they should take, one that would minimise delays. As soon as he made his choice, his skill started tugging at him, helping him to orient according to the mental map he had built. It wouldn''t be perfect, not with it being built on now-old memories and gut instinct, but it would be good enough. **Ding! Explorer''s Toolkit has reached level 22!** Good, another level. His second in the hour since they had left the portal. He hoped, as they tracked through the forest, he would be able to get at least a few more in the couple of days it would take to reach the village. He sat down on his brother''s back, tapping Porkchop on the side. "Let''s go." Porkchop turned, and tore off into the forest, following the sense of direction that he pushed along their bond. Kaius leaned forwards, clutching at a stray strap of Porkchop''s barding with his off hand. Even missing a few fingers, he had more than enough Strength to keep a firm grip. His sword hand rested on his hilt, ready to draw at a moment''s notice. While they had yet to encounter anything larger than birds, he wanted to be ready. Especially if they came across a deer; gods, he missed venison. Trees blurred past them, Porkchop hurtling through the forest at a breakneck pace. It was only with his heightened Dexterity and Intelligence that his brother was able to stop them from hurtling into a painful collision. It wouldn''t be long now. He would have his answers. .... Cham yawned, leaning heavily on his spear as he rolled his shoulders. He could feel his sweat pooling under his leathers, soaking through his tunic and saturating his armour. Scowling for what felt like the fifteenth time in the last hour, he wished that he hadn''t been the one stuck with midday watch. Sure, the announcement had been a surprise, and all the wildlife becoming beasts was definitely not a small issue, but so far the highest he had seen had been a damn crow, and it was only level three. Personally, he thought it was a little bit overkill, but Jekkar and Hurin had insisted on a round the clock watch. When your boss and the man who sold you drink told you to do something, you listened. If only he had thought about the damn sun. He would have brought a few poles and a sheet to make a shade if he had. Next time. Shading his eyes with his hands, Cham leaned over the village palisade and scanned the treeline. His eyes roved over the many oaks, elms, and maples that made up the impenetrable reaches of the Arboreal Sea. Shrouded in shadow, he leaned on his Keen Eyes to pick through the darkness, looking for any sign of larger movement. He almost hoped that some dire-bear would assault the village, at the very least it would bring a little excitement with it. Plus, with Jekkar having called off any hunts for at least the next few days it would probably be the only source of experience he would get for a while. A roar shook the forest, followed quickly by the panicked squawk of a whole flock taking flight from the canopy. Cham froze, staring at the forest in disbelief. He heard it before he saw it, something crashing through the underbrush, something large close on its tail. He gulped, hoping to the gods it was just a fresh-born beast on the hunt. That he could handle, with two class skills under his belt and more than half the way to his third, a few piddly beasts below level ten would be nothing to him. Unfortunately, new beasts weren''t the only ones who lived in the forest. He suddenly regretted his earlier wish for a dire-bear to shake up his day. He tightened his grip on his spear, holding on to the palisade with the other, ready to vault over the side and defend the village at the slightest hint he would be needed. "See anything?" a sudden and familiar voice said from behind him. Cham nearly jumped out of his skin. "Rotting roots! Stop doing that, Jekkar! You''re gonna end up killing me." "Just keepin'' you sharp, lad," Jekkar said, clapping him on the shoulder as he stepped forwards to join him at the raised wall of spiked logs. "Now, you see anything? I came as fast as I could." Cham noticed he already had his bow, though how he''d managed to string it and get here in the handful of seconds since the roar, he didn''t know. "Nothing yet," he shook his head. "I think it''s a chase. Though, I haven''t seen anything more than a rustle." "It''s definitely a chase, I can hear them from here. The one doing the hunting might be earth or metal aligned though, I can hear it clanking." Jekkar muttered, stringing an arrow as he watched the treeline like a hawk. Cham paled. Fresh beasts like these ones wouldn''t develop anything like that until they had a couple skills under their belt, both general and whatever they had that was equivalent to a class. Whatever it was would have to be old. Maybe it was a direbear. Another roar rang out, closer this time. Far closer. He spotted movement a moment later, underbrush shaking as something sprinted parallel to the treeline. He tracked it, knuckles whitening on his spear''s haft. It spooked, duking sideways. Towards them. "Ah fuck." Cham muttered. Hopefully whatever was on the hunt would take its prey and leave. "Hush. I''m listening, something''s off." Jekkar replied, still completely focused on the tree line. He had his bow up and ready now, prepared to draw at the slightest provocation. A tan blur burst through the dense brush, leaping over a thicket of brambles in a panicked rush. A stag, sprinting at full tilt. He could see its eyes, the way they rolled around in its sockets. The way it almost foamed at the mouth, its blood pulsing through its thick neck. Cham knew it was exhausted, and the chase had not been kind to it. An Inspect confirmed what he already knew. Red Deer - Level 3: Beast Whatever pursued was close on its tail. He raised his spear, catching Jekkar hoist his bow from the corner of his eye. This wasn''t anywhere near the first time they had had to deal with a pissed off beast, and it wouldn''t be the last. They were ready. Moments later, a mountain of muscle tore straight through the bramble, racing off at an angle to charge at its prey, blessedly away from the village. It was...immense. Large enough that it would be able to scrape the top of the palisade with ease if it stood on its hind legs. Greenish-black fur coated the beast, though a ruff of white capped its neck. He''d recognise that shape anywhere. It had been drilled into him as a boy. Those sharp golden eyes, the powerful body and squat legs, the wedge shaped head. He froze, nearly pitching forwards as he forgot where he was. It was a fucking Forest King. Inspect snapped off. Greater Meles - Level 2: Greater Beast, Bastion It tore across the ground, gaining on the deer quickly now that it was out in the open. By the fucking gods it was fast. He''d heard of the might of the Kings of the Forest, but to do that at the second level? It was unthinkable. Then Cham''s eyes caught up to him, and he realised that wasn''t all. The meles was wearing armour. Toughened leather reinforced by plates of steel. It would have been unbelievably foreign to him, if it wasn''t for the rider on the greater beast''s back. A fucking giant by the looks of it, he''d only met one person with a height like that, and they''d been sadly lost for over a year. Sword drawn, he was draped in the hodgepodge collection of artefacts that was the telltale sign of a delver. Bluish scalemail guarded his chest, while similar vambraces of a separately distinctive style covered his arms, and a bronze helm securely capped his head. Cham watched as the rider thrust his longsword in the air and bellowed a war cry, so razor focused on their prey that they seemed to not even notice them. He forgot to breathe. "Impossible..." Jekkar whispered from beside him, lowering his bow but keeping an arrow knocked. That shook him from his shocked haze, and he fired off another Inspect. Human - Level 2: Higher Race, Spellsword What the fuck was a spellsword? And how could someone have dared to ride a meles? Before he could gather his thoughts further, the panicked deer caught a glimpse of the mounted duo behind it and juked to the left. Towards the Sea. Cham grit his teeth, feeling the haft of his spear grow slick with sweat. Hopefully it would pull the Forest King and its rider away from their village. The meles dug its green claws into the earth, trying to alter its trajectory. Despite its impressive speed, its bulk worked against it. The deer started to gain ground once more. Cham watched in frozen shock as the meles'' rider showed a feral scowl and lept from its back. Rising like some imperious avenger, with the sun shining off his scales, the delver thrust his hand out and seized the might of the gods. A dense, violent, orange glow erupted from his hand, before a bolt straight from the Stormlord''s own armoury cracked into existence. Bound in the delver''s grip like it was a common rider''s lash. Arcane lightning cracked forwards, the deer wheezing as crackling plasma wrapped itself around its throat. Its whole body seized, hide sizzling as it hit the ground like a sack of rocks. At the speed it was running, it wasn''t a pretty thing, and it tumbled over itself as one spindly leg snapped and bone erupted from its flesh. Seconds later, and the lash of lightning disappeared, leaving a faint shimmer in Cham''s vision. The delver was already running for the beast, his rune-scribed blade pumped victoriously in the air. His beastly companion beat him to the chase, sprinting past him to sink its massive jaws around the limp stag''s neck. There was a savage yank, followed by a crack that echoed out across the plains. The deer flopped. The delver let out a whoop, thrusting his fist in the air as he sheathed his sword. Cham felt a little bit of his tension slacken its grip on his heart when he did that. Maybe it was just some adventurous scion who didn''t realise they were close to a village. Though that still did nothing to explain the greater meles. "Fuck yeah, Porkchop! Venison!" The delver hooted, sprinting over to his companion. It was a young voice, but gravelly and hard. Well suited to the imposing air that draped over them like a cloak. "Though, we both know it was dead before you got there." Did...did he just call the meles Porkchop? The fucking gall! "That voice.." Rekkar croaked out. Cham whipped his head over, finding his boss frozen with doubt clear on his face. Like he''d seen a ghost. "You recognise them?" he asked. Rekkar had the sharpest ears of them all, so it had to be something, he''d seen the man pick up a rabbit in its burrow from nearly half a league away. Rekkar simply shook his head, his words stolen from him. Cham looked back to the duo that were still a few hundred strides from the walls. "We''re gonna eat good tonight." The delver said, audible despite the distance. The meles looked up from the stag. Past its rider. Green-flecked-gold eyes locked onto his own, thrumming with primal might. Cham gulped. A moment later the delver turned without saying a word, following its companions eyes to his own. They froze for a moment, then raised their hands slowly, undoing the clasp of their helm before they lifted it off. Bronze slid upwards, a dense mop of dark brown locks spilling forth. The delver''s features were hard, angular. Like they had been cut from granite, and tempered in strife. Piercing gold-flecked-green eyes burned into his own. The helmet came off. Cham froze, shock and disbelief warring deep within him. Was that fucking Kaius? "Spirits protect us, it is him." Jekkar whispered from his side, his precious bow slipping from his hand to clatter to the floor of the palisade. He moved a moment later, blurring in Cham''s sight as he vaulted over the palisade, hitting the ground at a dead sprint. It was Kaius. Oh fuck. He had to tell Hurin and Illendra, they had to be ready. He turned tail and sprinted for the stairs, spear left forgotten against the wall. Chapter 134 - B2 132: The Return pt. 2 **Ding! level 3 Red Deer slain - Experience Gained!** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 3!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** **Ding! Latent Glyph of Drakthar has reached level 4!** Satisfaction thrummed through Kaius''s blood at the quenching of his Bloodsong, the deer flopping as Porkchop snapped its neck between his jaws, crushing the base of its skull. A bit overkill, considering the deer had dropped dead with a single Stormlash, but he understood the need to burn off the thrilling heat of the hunt. Thanks to the bond between them, he was treated to the visceral sensation of his bond-brother''s teeth plunging through its bones. It was a quick end, and a valiant one, for the prey that had given them such a good pursuit. Without substantial reserves of health, it expired instantly as its body had been overloaded by reverberating storm mana. The fact that he had garnered a level in both his class and his glyph only sweetened his pleasure. It had been a fun few days, showing Porkchop a different side of the Sea than he was used to. Apparently the forest on this side of the mountains was almost serene compared to what he considered the norm, and they had made good time following game trails as they zigzagged their way to the edge of its reaches. Even with the awakening of beasts, they had faced few difficulties. Most things got one look at Porkchop and fled for their lives. Though, there had been a boar that had tried to test their mettle. Given how stubborn the brutes were, that wasn''t all that surprising - though it had fed them well, and had given them their first levels. He''d managed to eke out a level or two in most of his skills over their journey, relishing that he was no longer strained under the enforced caps of an unclassed. Explorer''s Toolkit and Brotherhood of Ichor and Animus had seen the most growth by far. Only those that needed him to truly test himself in battle still languished at twenty. Still, it was nice to take down the stag. He missed venison, and going a year without his favoured meat had driven him into a slight frenzy at seeing a lone deer traipsing at the edge of the forest. It had been a bloody wily thing. Even with all of Porkchop''s might and speed, he was severely hampered in the forest. Unable to turn on a hair, the deer had kept a constant lead on them as it danced between the trees. Making a break for the plains had been its final mistake. A nice way to cap off their journey, now that they should only be a league or two from Three Fields. "Great takedown, we''re gonna eat good tonight." he said, grinning at his bond-brother. Porkchop dropped the carcass of the deer, looking up and over Kaius''s shoulder. "Kaius, I think you might have gotten a little lost." His face twisted in confusion. "What do you mean?" he asked, turning around. Then, he froze. Before him, barely over a few hundred strides away, were the familiar walls of Three Fields. Carved from stout logs felled from the nearby forest, they were spiked and stretched thrice his height into the air. A massive reinforced gate was nestled into their face, though it was the first time he could ever remember it being closed. Even if the shut barrier blocked his view further into the town, he would recognise it anywhere. The way it was nestled between a crook of hills, a subtle slope leading up to the fortifications, earthworks protecting the town further. How the hells did he miss that. They''d been a little focused on the deer but that was some truly spectacular unobservance on his part. Then, with skill enhanced acuity, he saw two figures on the battlements watching him closely, one with a bow held at the ready. Cham and Rekkar, he realised, picking out their distinctive features. Like most in this region, they were amber skinned, with pale blonde and sandy brown hair respectively. Jekkar tensed. Kaius realised with a start that he was still wearing his helm. Even with both of them being hunters, and having sensory skills, neither would be able to recognise him. "No sudden moves, Porkchop. I know them, but I need to take off my helm." He murmured, keeping his voice low, so as not to startle Jekkar. The man was the head hunter of Three Fields, and a known deadeye. He wanted to avoid an arrow to the eye if he could. Porkchop let out a low rumble, but stayed dutifully still. Keeping his hands visible, Kaius raised them to his head and slowly took off his helm. Things happened very quickly after that. He saw the bow slip from Jekkar''s hand, the older hunter vaulting over the side of the palisade to hit the ground running, while Cham tore off towards the village. Behind him, Porkchop let out a warning growl at Jekkar''s rapid approach. The man slowed, if only just. He was still a hunter well into the first tier, and had the speed to match. Kaius dropped his helm, taking off towards the known face, sending assurance and safety along his bond. He laughed, throwing his arms wide as Jekkar tore across the open field and slammed into him at full pace, wrapping his ribs in a crushing embrace. "Kaius, ye fuckin'' idiot, we thought ye dead!" he bellowed into his chest. Kaius laughed, returning the hug. It was fucking good to see him. Jekkar had been one of the handful of village folks he''d seen the most of, Father foisting him onto the man for basic wilderness survival and hunting training when he was going to be busy doing gods knows what for anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. "It''s bloody good to see you, Jekkar. You have no idea how much." he replied, doing his best attempt to crush the man with his hug. It was like trying to find the give in an iron pole. The hunter pulled back, still gripping him like he was afraid he would vanish, and looked up with shock and wonder plain on his face. Then Jekkar squeezed a little, prodding at his chest. "Not a fuckin'' bean pole are ya now, lad? What the fuck you been eatin''? Entire herds? No wonder you were so focused on that deer!" Kaius laughed, slapping the hunter''s hand away. "It''s a long story, a really long one, and hopefully one that you and the other elders can fill some gaps in for me. I''d love to share it over an ale, if you think Hurin would have us?" Jekkar froze, just barely for a moment, but after so long in the Depths Kaius didn''t miss it. They knew something. A tiny seed of dread sprouted in his belly. "I..yeah, of course lad. Yer always welcome, though as you might expect things are a little tense, what with the sudden shift with the system." the hunter replied, stammering slightly. Kaius nodded and smiled. "I might have a little more information on that than most, if you''re willing to wait." Jekkar looked at him sharply, searching his features for a sign of...something. Whatever he found, it didn''t leave him wanting. "Aye, you''re clearly a man now. Can see it right in yer status. Though how you managed that a year early, I do not know. Don''t think I don''t remember yer birthday, my boy. Must have been some year." Kaius grinned. "You have no idea. Though how much I can share depends on if you and the others are still as generous with secrets as a dragon is with gold." Jekkar spluttered, taking mock-offence at the simple thought of being loose of lip. Before the old hunter could formulate a response, Kaius felt Porkchop approach from behind him, simple friendly curiosity emanating across their bond. Freezing suddenly, Jekkar looked past Kaius to stare at Porkchop, an expression halfway between fear and reverence on his face. "Ah. I assume this be yer friend, Kaius?" the hunter asked cautiously. "Hello! My name is Porkchop!" Porkchop said warmly, shoving his head over Kaius''s shoulder to give Jekkar a sniff. Jekkar froze, staring at Porkchop in disbelief, before he looked back at Kaius. "Now, Kaius. Lad. Please do not tell me you named a King of the Forest Porkchop of all things." the old hunter said slowly. Kaius grinned. He''d expected something like this. For all who lived near the Sea, greater meles were nigh on mythical creatures, and the subject of story and legend. "I might have." Kaius responded. "That''s a little bit of a reach." Porkchop snorted. "What greater beasts use instead of names doesn''t exactly...translate, so Kaius suggested it as a joke. I decided to keep it, as it will make my enemies underestimate me!" Jekkar craned his neck up at the mountain of muscle that towered over him. "Ah. Yes. A valid battle tactic." he said haltingly, clearly doing his best to give deference. Shaking his head, Kaius turned around and gave Porkchop a scratch behind the ears. "Don''t bully them too much, you big oaf." he said softly, before turning back to Jekkar, who was still staring at the two of them, more than a little bug eyed. "How about that ale, old man? Think it''s been enough time for Cham to send word of my coming?" he asked. The hunter shook himself. "Aye! Aye, sorry Kaius. Just didn''t expect to see you again, not so changed, and not after...everything." Kaius looked at the hunter sharply. That was...telling. "Didn''t expect me? So you know of the bandits then." Jekkar paused, before he started to slump. "Aye, we do. It might be best if we wait for that ale, eh boy? You know I''ve never been the best with..." he waved his hands around, gesturing at the general air of it all. "This." The little sprout of dread in Kaius''s stomach grew just a little more. Jekkar had always been a blunt and to the point man, for him to avoid the topic meant that it was something that even he knew would need a little tact. That meant nothing good. "Perhaps we best get on to that beer then." Kaius said softly as Porkchop rested the comforting weight of his head on his shoulder. Jekkar nodded. "Need any help with the deer?" he replied, changing the subject to more immediate matters. Kaius took the distraction from the heavy weight of unspoked tales with gratitude. "Nah, Porkchop can carry it. Right?" Porkchop nodded. "Just throw it on my back." he said, settling down to make it less of an acrobatic task. Jekkar jumped to assistance, helping Kaius toss it over Porkchop''s shoulders, before they set off at an easy pace to the village gates. "I''ll get it butchered after we reach the inn?" Jekkar asked. "I assume you''ll be staying there, just ''bout the only place with doors big enough for yer companion to get inside. I can bring it back later, let Hurin and Illendra cook it up nice." "What, not gonna take your cut this time?" Kaius teased. Jekkar barked out a laugh. "Ye get this one freebie, lad. Just this once. Don''t tell anyone though." Kaius smiled. "On the gods." As they walked, Kaius snapped his head towards the gate as it started to creak open. It seemed Cham had managed to rouse some sort of response. The thick oaken gate swung open slowly, revealing a small crowd. Jekkar waved, giving assurance that everything was fine. There weren''t too many people, barely a handful, and he recognised every single one. One and all stood stock still, frozen at the sight of him, or perhaps the sight of Porkchop. Hurin, the innkeeper. Yanmi, the mayor. Eilish, the head of the artisans. Saldar, the elder of the farmers. Illendra. Kaius froze as he saw her face, memories washing over him. Of the times spent in warm conversation, of her yammering about her latest culinary creation. Of his yearning. It was ... gone now, a realisation that settled on his heart with melancholy. She was still absolutely gorgeous, with her piercing turquoise eyes, flaxen hair, and soft features, but it was simple beauty now. Too much had changed. Still, he ached to run to her. Few had given him such comfort, and fewer still had treated him with the warmth that she had. Even non reciprocating of his affections, she had still treated him with friendship and kindness. At some point he''d stopped moving, he realised. Staring at her. With all of his enhanced acuity, he watched the very moment when she realised it was truly him, tears welling up in her eyes. "Kaius!" Illendra screamed, nearly tripping over her pale yellow dress and apron as she sprinted away from the group that still stood at the threshold to the village. Jekkar looked back, and saw him frozen a dozen paces behind him. He gave Kaius a grin, and stepped off to the side. He barely noticed, still frozen as he watched the rapidly approaching streak of yellow cloth and blonde hair. Porkchop shoved him forwards. "Don''t be rude." Stumbling was enough to shake him from his fugue. He ran, sweeping his oldest friend off her feet and wrapping her in a desperate hug as he spun her through the air. "Illendra..." B2 Chapter 198: Second Mission, Pt. 1 B2 Chapter 198: Second Mission, Pt. 1 Kaius looked around the room. They were back on the top floor of the guild¡ªone that was totally reserved for the guildmaster¡¯s roof. However, rather than return to his personal office for this conversation, they had exited the stairs and taken a door just off the foyer before his quarters. Ro had led the way with confidence, having met them in the common room of the guild just as they had entered. Thankfully, it didn¡¯t draw too much attention. The guild had many trainers, and it wasn¡¯t all that odd for Ro to take an interest in promising youngsters¡ªso most just assumed she had taken on that mantle. Not even the most conspiratorial would assume that they had been training with the guildmaster daily. After a short walk past tapestries and paintings, Ro had opened a door¡ªleading to some sort of meeting room. Rieker was already waiting, sitting on one side of a large rectangular hardwood table. A luxurious thing, etched in filigree, blooming flowers, and fantastical birds in flight. High backed chairs surrounded it on all edges, enough for five people to sit across each long edge. The wall behind the guildmaster were austere, much like all the others. That said, they were still clearly expensive. Wood panelling¡ªa deep brown with rosy undertones¡ªflanked the bottom third, while the upper section before the sculpted ceiling was papered with some sort of rich red. Simple, but beautiful. Even the wardlights let off a soft yellow glow that filled the room with a gentle ambiance. Kaius¡¯s eyes skimmed past the large windows that adorned the wall past the head of the table, revealing a high view of Deadacre. Also pretty, but ultimately not what he was here for. Today was when they would learn of their next contract¡ªand the finalised details of Rieker¡¯s plan to rush them to the Steel ranks¡ªor potentially further, to the second tier. ¡°Come, come, take a seat.¡± the guildmaster said, waving them towards the seats across from him. They filed in¡ªKaius pulling out a chair so that Porkchop could sit next to him. Ro circled around the table, taking her position at Rieker¡¯s right. ¡°First, some ¡®gifts¡¯. Ro?¡± Rieker said, turning to the guild manager. Drorome nodded, reaching into her doublet to pull out two familiar medallions, and three small charms that looked like beads of woven wire. The former were guild tokens¡ªmuch like their own copper ones, but bronze instead. Ro pushed them forwards. ¡°These are for your new rank¡ªcongratulations, you made Bronze.¡± Ro¡¯s voice was flat and insincere, though Kaius knew that for all the woman was acting stoney, she did have a genuine fondness for them. ¡°I hope you appreciate the two days of forms it took to get you this after a single mission.¡± On the back of her withering stare, she smiled¡ªface flicking quickly to a bright warmth. ¡°It¡¯s a genuine achievement, and as much as I have been grumbling about the extra work, it¡¯s a well deserved reward. With the overleveled nature of the assassin spider, you earned a bonus¡ªone-twenty gold. I took the liberty of splitting it between your accounts in the division that Ianmus requested.¡± ¡°Bronze is where the guild truly begins to invest in its members¡ªgiving access to our banking through the use of your medallions. In cities with a guildhall, most establishments catering to delvers can draw on it directly, but you can always withdraw coin at any hall.¡± Rieker interjected. ¡°Most importantly in our case, it clears you for missions up to level one-hundred.¡± Kaius nodded. He¡¯d known of both, but it was good to confirm they had earned it all the same. Thankfully, by the time they had outgrown threats on that scale, they had both Rieker and Ro to smooth their advancement to Iron¡ªthey¡¯d already said they would do as much. Apparently, the ranks weren¡¯t so much a direct declaration of the levels of a given team¡ªinstead, they were designed to show off the caliber of threats they could face. Most people did not fight above their level¡ªcertainly no one went to the extremes that he and his team did¡ªbut it wasn¡¯t entirely unheard of for elite teams to enter a new rank ten to twenty levels early. ¡°These, on the other hand.¡± Ro tapped the rings. ¡°Are not a reward. They are a loan. Rieker had to request them personally from the head office¡ªpulling strings to do so¡ªand they are exceptionally valuable.¡± ¡°Our new masking artifacts? Ianmus is getting one too?¡± Porkchop asked. ¡°Indeed,¡± Ro nodded. ¡°We don¡¯t just need to hide your class identifiers, or that you are a greater beast¡ªwe need a total mask, something that will obscure you completely against analysis from anyone under the third tier.¡± Kaius ogled the plain rings that looked like they were made out of simple steel, finding it hard to believe they could be so potent. Masking them utterly from someone at the peak of the second tier? He was no expert in the skill, but from what Ianmus had said, that was a steep ask. It also made his mind drift to what Rieker had said so long ago, that even high in the second he considered himself only a middling power. It went against everything he knew. From everything he had been taught, third tiers were as rare as dragon¡¯s teeth¡ªbut Rieker made it sound like they were almost common. ¡°I see you recognise your value.¡± Rieker said with a nod. ¡°Indeed¡ªI can confirm that these were hard for me to acquire, even with a career''s worth of connections to draw upon. I would have liked to get something that would have hidden you from a third tier. Unfortunately, I do not have the wealth, pull, or favours to get something like that.¡± ¡°Plus, it is of dubious value.¡± Ro interjected. ¡°The chances of a third tier¡ªone with an analysis skill, mind¡ª coming to Deadacre of all places is vanishingly small, and if you catch their eye¡ªyou¡¯re already fucked. Someone in the first standing up to their analysis would be just as damning as them seeing it in the first place. We hope, by the time you brush against such lofty shoulders, you will more than be capable of handling your own Mask.¡± Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Kaius caught Ianmus staring at the rings, an intense look of contemplation furrowing his brow. Finally, he looked up to their superiors. ¡°What tier and rarity are these? From what I know about enchantment theory¡ªwhat you¡¯re saying it can do is impossible for something less than a second tier artefact. Well, unless they are named items.¡± Ro and Rieker grinned, matching smiles that were all teeth. ¡°You¡¯re right. They¡¯re Unusual second-tier artefacts¡ªtook me a month to secure them. At significant personal cost, mind you.¡± Rieker replied. Kaius blinked, his mind reeling. First the regeneration tonic, now these rings? Just how rich was Rieker!? They had to be thousands of gold! At least! Rolling her eyes, Ro slapped the guildmaster on the shoulder¡ªit was a telling display of familiarity, one that was enough to ground Kaius from his shock at the expense of the artefacts. ¡°Don¡¯t tell fibs.¡± she admonished him, before turning back to him. ¡°He requisitioned them. They were¡ªand remain¡ªguild property. Thankfully, promising youngsters like you that need a little secrecy is exactly why the guild produces them. They¡¯re a loan ¡ªuntil you reach the point where you can Mask yourself just as well as these can.¡± She slid the rings over. ¡°Pass me back your old ones. I¡¯m taking them back and clearing your debt, they can just go straight back to the armory. You also won¡¯t be able to analyse them until you put them on.¡± Kaius nodded, scooping up the cold band of metal. Turning it over in his hand, it really did just look like a simple loop of solid steel¡ªwith no signs of inscription to be seen. Obviously they had been made by a master, whether it was an artisan or a runesmith, they¡¯d done immensely well to hide the nature of the artefact. Sliding it on to his finger, he peered at it with True Sight. Ring of Jealous Secrets: Unusual - Tier II Some things are best not shared. A ring of inscribed mithril inlaid with tier two mind-aspected amethyst, and coated in a fine layer of steel. Fully blocks inspection of the wearer with an adamant defence, and passively holds their Mask in place. Active testing of the Mask still burdens Will, but this strain is greatly lessened. Mask is preserved even if the wielder falls unconscious. This artefact is drastically difficult to analyse, and is enchanted to encourage disinterest in its presence when worn. Artisan-wrought Artefact. Accessory - Ring Adamant Mask II, Resizing I, Inspect Resistance VI, Self Repair III, Durability II, Cloak of Disinterest IV Kaius gaped at the artefact¡ªmarvelling at the number and quality of enchantments that had been packed into the ring. His first piece of tier two equipment, a significant milestone if he had ever heard of one. Sure, it wasn¡¯t technically his , and it would do little to materially benefit him in battle¡ªbut it was still a significant gesture. No matter how much Rieker downplayed it, and no matter how much Ro said it was guild property, there was no way these would have been easy to acquire. Especially since they were barely a quarter of the way through the first tier. ¡°Thank you.¡± he said, bowing his head to his superiors. He might have had an independent streak a mile long, and still have a few reservations about Rieker¡¯s and Ro¡¯s true gains from helping them¡ªbut there was no denying they were pulling out all the stops. Feeling the nudging curiosity coming through his bond, Kaius relayed the artifact''s functions to Porkchop. His brother¡¯s eyes widened, sniffing the ring in curiosity, before he got Kaius to help him with replacing his own. Ianmus, on the other hand, was still rooted in shock¡ªsitting in his chair with his hand held in front of his face, staring at the ring like he expected it to vanish at any moment. ¡°Now!¡± Rieker clapped, jolting all of them out of the revere. ¡°With that done we have a mission to discuss.¡± That caught Kaius¡¯s attention, his heart thumping at the thought of finally getting out of the city once more. ¡°We had a scout come through a couple of weeks ago¡ªa refugee from a small hamlet closer to the coast. An old soldier¡ªhad enough levels to make it out there, but had fled with his village to keep them safe. Tough bastard managed to keep all fifty of them alive, charting them a course around the worst of the beasts. Don¡¯t think he slept a wink for the whole trip.¡± Ro started. Rieker pulled a roll of paper from his spatial artefact, and passed it over. Ro unravelled it on the table, revealing a map of Deadacre and the surrounding regions. She pointed to a spot deep in the hill country to the south east. ¡°They passed through this spot a good three or four weeks back¡ªpretty early into their journey. The scout had been doing his nightly rounds, and stumbled into something serious.¡± Kaius leaned in, looking at where she was pointing. He didn¡¯t know too much about the kind of dangers that could be found over there¡ªand even if he did, they had likely changed since the phase-shift. ¡°What¡¯d he find?¡± Ianmus asked curiously. ¡°I can¡¯t remember there being anything of note in the Dramsal hills¡ªonly a few boggarts and the like.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Rieker said, his word cutting through Ianmus¡¯s question like a knife. ¡°He found a boggart warren.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t they just pests? I haven¡¯t heard of anyone having much trouble with them in the past.¡± Porkchop tilted his head, looking at the guildmaster in confusion. ¡°Not any more.¡± Ro¡¯s voice was grim. ¡°He said he found hundreds. Most in the late fifties to sixties¡ªbut you can count on their elites and leaders being higher. A plague of that size alone is a threat to the entire region. If they aren¡¯t stamped out, they¡¯ll just keep growing and growing and growing. Eventually, even Deadacre might be at risk.¡± Kaius stared at the guild manager with wide eyes. That serious? ¡°Why in the hells would you send us then?¡± ¡°Because, lad, a plague of this size is a job for me. Ro brought this right to my desk. With a volume of enemies like this, and of a decent level, it will be enough to get you to your next class skill. Most importantly though, facing so many enemies will stress your abilities, and your team work. Your skills will benefit vastly.¡± Rieker explained. Then the guildmaster rooted him to the spot with steely eyes. ¡°However, this is important. The boggarts must be slain, and I am taking a risk leaving this in your hands. They¡¯re unlikely to run, but if you don¡¯t catch all of the leaders, they¡¯ll just keep breeding until we have another swarm on our hands in a few months. If you fuck it up, we¡¯ll have to clean up your mess. ¡° ¡°I hope I don¡¯t have to say that if that happens, I will be very disappointed. Don¡¯t disappoint me.¡± Riekers words were teasing, but they had a hard edge to them. He genuinely expected them to slaughter this threat. No doubt, if they failed, their next training sessions would be even more tortuous than the last. Kaius swallowed, a lump catching in his throat. B2 Chapter 199: Second Mission, Pt 2 Pausing as he met the guildmasters¡¯ eyes, Kaius considered the responsibility that had been offered. Taking out a boggart swarm of once in a century''s strength? That was vital, and the fact that they had been offered the task showed a level of trust he didn¡¯t expect to receive so early. ¡°Given the risks, and the importance of this task, we won''t force you to take it on.¡± Ro said, drawing Kaius¡¯s attention away from Rieker. ¡°Take a few minutes to think it through¡ªwe have backups, but this is a genuine opportunity if you can seize it. Similarly, if you do decide to accept, you should prepare thoroughly¡ªit¡¯s a little more complex than what you did with the spider.¡± Kaius looked to his team, searching their faces for any indication of their preferences. Porkchop, as always, looked thrilled at the idea of any form of challenge¡ªso he was a shoe in. Ianmus however, looked concerned, with a slight frown marring his angular features. He caught the man¡¯s eye. ¡°What do you think?¡± Ianmus paused, contemplative for a few moments, before he shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s up to you, I trust your judgement. A swarm of that size is dangerous, but I am less concerned for our safety¡ªthe two of you can handle it. I do have one question though.¡± ¡°How are we allowed to do this? This can¡¯t be a Bronze rated task.¡± Ianmus asked, his attention turning to the two guild administrators on the opposite side of the table. One of Ro¡¯s eyes scrunched as she grimaced¡ªher awareness of the non-standard nature of their mission obvious. Rieker only grinned. ¡°Technically, since the scout only saw enemies under level seventy¡ªand he only saw a few dozen at any one given time¡ªit¡¯s within the bounds of what a Bronze can handle.¡± Rieker said, his voice carrying through the room. ¡°Though I will admit that it is stretching the definition just a little. Traditionally anything that can potentially escalate to disastrous levels is given priority to delvers who have a certainty of success¡ªthough I have plenty of leeway in how that applies.¡± Ianmus mulled the words over, before he turned back to Kaius. ¡°I¡¯m satisfied¡ªit¡¯s up to you.¡± Nodding to his teammate, Kaius leaned over to look closer at the map that Ro had placed on the table¡ªconsidering the boggart swarm that they were tasked with culling. The group itself should be easy to navigate to. Deep in the dense and rocky hills that lay east and south of Deadacre¡ªabout two weeks walk if he was reading the map right. It would likely be a relatively easy journey. Flat land, with few stopping points other than a few smaller villages that they could stop by for supplies. If they were still inhabited, that is. Kaius frowned¡ªthe fact that the scout had moved past them, going straight to Deadacre, was telling. Though, it was possible they just simply didn¡¯t have the infrastructure or supplies to handle the influx of hopefuls. No doubt the boggarts were holed up in some cave, as their kind was wont to do. While he knew relatively little of that region, he had heard that there were some pretty extensive systems that networked the hills and bedrock beneath. He didn¡¯t deny it was an exhilarating opportunity, but it had its risks. Boggarts of the level that they had described were rare, and were usually the result of some small tribe of the buggers being left undiscovered in a particularly dangerous region. However, swarms were slightly more common. As one of the lower races, boggarts formed complex communities that could grow and scale. Unfortunately, like all others of their cursed nature, they seemed to be inherently destructive and parasitic. They festered, eating regions barren until they either starved themselves out or formed conquesting warbands, descending on surrounding territories to pillage and eat and slave. Normally, it was a rare issue¡ªlacking the faculties of the higher races and greater beasts, they had little of either¡¯s raw power and ingenuity. Hells, they couldn¡¯t even speak Common, which Kaius assumed meant that they had some lower form of the system like beasts. Even when they did form hosts, most of the time their environment couldn¡¯t support large numbers, and they stabilised in small tribal groups¡ªvicious and bloodthirsty, but low level and weak. It was only when a rare shaman or warchief appeared¡ªpulling various tribes under their banner¡ªthat they would form a host and raid in search of the resources they needed to grow their numbers, increasing in levels all the while. Kaius sincerely hoped that this tribe, numbering in the hundreds, was some result of the increased number of beasts allowing them to grow fat and numerous, and not the result of one of their number becoming a chieftain. Warchiefs, and the various other types of boggarts that rode at the head of swarms, were universally powerful. A cut above their more common brethren, both in stature and the might of their system-granted abilities, from what he had heard. If even the common rabble beat him in level...one of them would be potent indeed. On the other hand, Kaius could see Rieker¡¯s wisdom in them taking this mission on. First, the guildmaster was correct in that it would be a fantastic whetstone to hone the edge of their skills against. More than that though, it would give them valuable practice against thinking enemies. Boggarts might have a base and simple intelligence, but they were conniving and cunning. Learning how to manage opposing tactics, ambushes, and the like, now instead of against a superior force of men could save their life. Plus, ever since gaining his Veteran¡¯s Edge, he had taken a new shine to the breadth of value that varied experience held. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. In his spars against Porkchop and Rieker he had realised that his knowledge of war was fragmented and relatively untested. No matter how much his mind pulled on his past experiences to seek a path to victory, it mattered little when almost all of them were against rabid depths-born and simple beasts. Plus, he didn''t need an Aspect to know that they had yet to adapt their team tactics against large volumes of enemies. Learning to manoeuvre and dismantle a numerically superior force would be vital before they returned to the depths¡ªespecially considering Ianmus¡¯s relative vulnerability to being caught out alone. All in all, he thought it would be worth it. Besides, surely a mission of this import would have a commensurate reward? ¡°What¡¯s the pay?¡± he asked. ¡°Now we¡¯re talking! Should have been the first bloody question out of your mouth.¡± Rieker said, walloping the table hard enough for it to jump. As the table crashed back to the ground, the guild master winced as Ro stared daggers at him. ¡°Rieker! If I have to fill out a requisition form again for another table, I am going to hand off your precious liquor to the closest booze-hound I can find that looks like he drinks rotten apples for a living!¡± Ro yelled at the man, swatting him on the arm. It seemed even the guildmaster himself wasn¡¯t immune to her fire¡ªRo clearly had no compunctions about denying Rieker the respect his station was ¡®due¡¯. Kaius bit the inside of his cheek, hiding his amusement. Rieker, at the very least, had the good sense to look abashed. ¡°Sorry, Ro.¡± Sniffing, and giving him a swift nod at his minor contrition, Ro turned her attention back to them. ¡°The reward is considerable. A full platinum piece¡ªone-thousand gold to split between you¡ª¡± she explained. Kaius¡¯s eyebrows shot up, and he heard his teammates gasp in surprise. That was a lot of money¡ªeven enough to start securing a couple of pieces of Rare- gear for him and his team, potentially even more. Ro continued on, uncaring of their reactions. ¡°¡ªhowever, we have a suggestion. Rieker can explain.¡± ¡°It¡¯s quite simple really,¡± Rieker said, taking over from his guild manager. ¡°You all are in desperate need of some better gear. Unfortunately, coin rewards for guild work are relatively controlled¡ªthe guidelines are set by the head office, and we have very little ability to shift them. Not by much, at least.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sensing there¡¯s a ¡®but¡¯ coming.¡± Porkchop grunted, sitting up taller on the carpeted floor to watch the guildmaster closer. Rieker nodded. ¡°There is, but it''s the good kind.¡± Drumming his fingers on the table, the guildmaster searched for his words. ¡°The guild has an Armoury system. It¡¯s the same place we got those Masking artefacts from. Any member can forgo their mission rewards in place of receiving an artefact¡ªchosen by us, in most cases.¡± Kaius nodded¡ªhe could see where the guildmaster was going with that. Artefacts were...difficult to concretely price, beyond certain generalities. If they could receive it as a reward...Kaius decided to voice his assumption. ¡°I imagine if we take that option, you will have far greater leeway in what we are rewarded with?¡± he asked. Both Ro and Rieker nodded. ¡°We have a few things in mind, actually.¡± Ro explained, clearly more in her element as the change of pace to logistical concerns made her perk up. While she might have hated paperwork, it was becoming more and more clear that she was a fantastic administrator. ¡°Though, some of them you might have to forfeit your rewards from more than one mission to be able to afford.¡± she rose her hand as Ianmus opened his mouth. ¡°Trust me, you¡¯ll be getting an impossibly good price, but there are limits to how far we can bend things¡ªeven for the Armoury.¡± Kaius sat up straighter. He did have to admit, the idea of fresh gear was an appealing one. While his rewards from the Depths had been invaluable in keeping him alive, most of them were of little assistance against the monsters they currently faced. Hells, his armour had barely been holding up against Champions¡ªand even if they were empowered compared to even Elites, it wasn¡¯t enough to make them compare to something like the infernus hound. It might even be possible to leverage the rewards for materials to upgrade his blade. It was holding up better than most, despite nominally being Common, but the sooner he could improve it the better. He knew little of growth artefacts, but almost all stories agreed on one thing¡ªthe first step in their development was the most impactful. A sort of awakening. It was a risk. Telling Ro and the guildmaster that he had a growth weapon would be as impactful as telling them they had Honours¡ªonly slightly less uncertain than letting slip that he and Porkchop were behind the phase shift. His mind raced¡ªface staying still as Ro and Rieker went through a laundry list of gear improvements that they could make. A new staff for Ianmus¡ªfollowed by some decently protective robes. Rings galore for Porkchop, to better increase his damage output and maneuverability. Armour for him, a full set this time¡ªsomething that Ro emphasised would be better off saving for. Unfortunately, the guild administrators were also adamant he replace his blade¡ªand soon. A Common weapon was a poor tool at their level of strength, in their eyes. The idea rankled¡ªrelinquishing his pay in return for a weapon he would never use. Yet the idea of revealing the existence of his sword¡ªFather¡¯s most precious gift¡ªmade his stomach twist. At the very least, it would need Ro to be looped into the same oath that the guildmaster had made. His mind torn, Kaius reached for his bond¡ªseeking out Porkchop¡¯s advice. ¡°Just do it,¡± Porkchop replied upon hearing him out. ¡°The worst that can happen is she has to leave the room¡ªit¡¯s too big of an opportunity to miss out on, and they already know much. Besides, I think it is good for us if she is oathbound anyway, and this is a good excuse to get that done.¡± The tense indecision that was balled up in his chest eased at his brother''s words. Steeling himself, Kaius waited for his moment while Ianmus nodded along to Rieker¡¯s insistence that he needed an ioun stone. He''d never heard of them, but judging by the way the conversation was going, it seemed to be some sort of artifact that would act as a store of mana for Ianmus to tap upon when needed. Finally, their words petered off, and he sensed his moment. Time to find out if he could squeeze the guild for help in upgrading A Father¡¯s Gift. Chapter 135 - B2 133: The Return pt. 3 Kaius spun his old friend through the air, smiling in joy as he set her down on her feet. She didn''t let go. Illendra clutched him like her grip was the only thing keeping him present. She buried her face into his armoured chest, uncaring about the jagged edges that must have dug their way into her skin. "Where have you been, Kaius? I thought I lost you." Illendra asked, her voice small and quivering. A sad smile crossed his face, and he leaned down to embrace her fully, burying his face in her hair. She smelled of warm bread and spices. "It''s a long story, and a fraught one. I lived though, and I am here, my friend." After taking a few more moments to enjoy their reunion, he pulled back. He knew no one in the village would judge them guilty of impropriety, they had been friends as long as he could remember, and no one would hold a since-past childhood crush against him. Not with how tight knit the communities were on the frontier. Still, they would have time for a proper catch up in the coming days. He had introductions to make. "I''ve got someone I would like you to meet." Kaius said, giving her a last squeeze before he turned to the side to give Illendra a full view of Porkchop, who was looking on with naked curiosity. He kept his arm around her shoulder. Porkchop leaned in, crouching down to avoid looming over Illendra. Considering that she was just over a full stride shorter than he was, his bond-brother ended up nearly lying on his belly to see her eye to eye. "Hello," Porkchop greeted her warmly. "Kaius told me a lot about you. He said you make really good stew." Illendra froze, staring at Porkchop in shock. "Kaius..." she stammered. "I dinnae know if I''m losing my marbles, but did a Forest King just ask me about my stew?" He chuckled. "He did, he''s grown very fond of my own and I wasn''t about to hide where I learnt it from. His name''s Porkchop." Illendra whipped her head back towards him, her eyes narrowing. Kaius paled. "Now Kaius, I know you dinnae name a Forest King something that daft." she said, stepping towards him with her hands on her hips. Kaius chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Well... I mostly suggested it as a joke, Porkchop was the one who decided to keep it." Uncanny Dodge flickered as her hand raced out with deceptive swiftness, he ignored the warning as she slapped him upside the head. "Idjit! Swear on the gods, you learnt no respect in that forest. Don''t go trying to foist off the blame onto the bloody greater meles!" Kaius simply smiled awkwardly as Illendra turned back to Porkchop and bowed in a single fluid motion. "It''s nice to meet ye, Porkchop. I hope this idjit hasn''t been giving you much trouble." Chuckling throatily, Porkchop bobbed his head at her in turn. "I can see why you like this one, she''s feisty." he said to Kaius privately, before he addressed them both. "It''s nice to meet you, too. Kaius is my bond-brother, so don''t be too harsh on him." Illendra turned back to him with a cocked brow. "I know not even you would do something like subjugate a Forest King, so I am going to hold my tongue for now." "He didn''t." Porkchop confirmed. "It''s a part of that long story I mentioned." Kaius said with a sad smile. Illendra''s face softened. "I think we''re both going to have hard stories to tell, the kind that are best left for a round table and a few beers. Do you want the elders to hear? They''ll throw a tissy, but I think I can get them to leave off." Kaius shook his head. "No, they should be here for it. I have questions that I hope they can answer, and I trust them to not pry too deeply into my secrets." "Then we best go meet them, shouldn''t we?" Porkchop interjected. Illendra jumped a little, clearly still unused to having a greater beast talk. Kaius clapped her on the shoulder reassuringly. "Come on, it''s been too long." Starting their approach, Kaius got a good look at the inside of Three Fields for the first time in over a year. Home to nearly five-hundred souls, it was perhaps better described as a small town. A rough cobble boulevard led deep into the village, though roughly constructed barricades were arrayed behind the gate in varying stages of completion. A defence against inevitable breaches, he assumed. At least they were taking it seriously. Beyond those, a motley collection of buildings. Almost universally they were sturdy things constructed of old-growth wood, a staple building material so close to the Sea. There was some stone, accessible thanks to the quarries set into some nearby hills, but it was mostly reserved for common buildings and where it was needed most. The hall, inn, and smithy, as well as for foundations. As they crossed the distance to the village gate, Kaius flicked between the elders of the village, taking in their mixed reactions to his return. Holt was missing, the head of the constabulary. That jumped out to him immediately, though with the increased threat to the village with the beast awakening, it was highly likely that the gruff man had gone to coordinate with the other settlements along the Sea''s rim. Increased mana density and an overabundance of beasts were no laughing matters. They were low level for now, but in the coming months and years it would take hard men and strong classers to keep the people safe. That was exactly the sort of man Holt was. Jekkar had joined the elders. During his reunion with Illendra, and was looking as unreadable as normal, save for a strange mix of barely noticeable apprehension and relief at his return. Hurrin, Illendra''s father, watched him closely. His sheer unbridled joy at his return was palpable in the small half-smile that was mostly hidden by his sandy beard, and the slight creasing at the corners of his eyes. He could see respect there too, as his eyes roved over his artefacts. Yanmi. First among equals. The mayor''s flinty gaze bore into his own, evaluating him. She was wily, hard, and fair. More than once as a child she''d nearly had his hide, but he knew she was something of Father''s confidant. He''d seen them talking more than enough for that to be the case. Still, he could see her mind running. Calculating. If Cham had seen him use his glyph, then Yanmi knew too, and would already be working through a dozen assumptions and deductions from that scrap of information. Eillish, still wearing her thick leather apron that had been scorched by a thousand forged nails, axe-heads, and occasionally swords. She stared in his direction like a hawk, but not at him. Even more than Hurrin, she drank in his gear with appreciation. Kaius grinned at that. Of all the village elders, Eilish cared the least for the daily going-ons of the village. Thankfully, she had a brilliant mind for logistics, for without them there would be no materials for her workshop, or her fellow artisans. She was a consummate crafter, and between her and her leather-working husband they produced some of the finest artisan-wrought artefacts in the region. Kaius knew he needed to have a chat with her; replacing Porkchop''s barding with an under-armour set designed to work with his bloodline skill was directly in their wheelhouse. He could always get it enchanted in Deadacre when they had the time and funds. Saldar was the last, his spindly form - though still shorter than him - loomed behind his contemporaries as he watched Kaius with a slight, but sharp, frown. Saldar was no fan of his. Ever since he''d ruined half a field of new growth by wacking at the sprouts with sticks, dreaming of swords and beasts, the crotchety old farmer had branded him as a troublemaker to be treated with suspicion. In his defence, he had been a boy raised at the edge of town, and later in the woods. He''d been a bit of an inconsiderate moron until Saldar had sorted him out. Even with Saldar''s low opinion of him, Kaius knew he could trust the old man when push came to shove. Out on the frontier, you were either community members, distant neighbours, or distrusted outsiders. The other villages treated him neighbourly, like any other resident of a different community that lived on the Sea''s fringe. Three Fields though, they''d claimed him, even if he''d never got to visit quite as much as he would have liked. After all, he''d lived here as a young boy, before he was old enough to live on the move. Above all else, Saldar was a stickler for propriety, and he would be caught dead before he shared secrets with a neighbour, let alone an outsider. Kaius halted at the threshold to the village, Porkchop slowing with him. Illendra gave him a last squeeze on the arm before she ran over to her father, stepping behind him to give him the deference he was due in the current moment. The elders stepped forwards, Yanmi taking the lead. She met his eyes, giving him a nod and a small smile before she turned to Porkchop and bowed. "It is an honour, Forest King, to have you at our village. We are at your disposal." she said, keeping her head low while she waited for his response. Porkchop paused for a moment. "Kaius, this is getting weird. Why do they keep bowing. They''re acting like elves." Kaius suppressed a laugh, before he subvocalised his response. It wasn''t needed for Porkchop to understand him, but even with all the time he had to get used to their bond, he was still just getting used to beast-speak. "Just say thank you and be polite, maybe make it known we have some sort of connection. Everyone near the Sea basically thinks of the meles as local spirits. Once we get further away people will just think you another beast, though I''m not sure if that will be better." Kaius suggested. Yanmi stayed prostrated, waiting patiently. Porkchop bobbed his head, slipping into as close to an officious tone that Kaius had ever heard from him. "Please, I am unused to ceremony. I am here because my sworn brother had need to return after our long...journey. For both answers and familiar faces." Ever the diplomat, Yanmi took the answer in stride, even if half of her colleagues snapped their gaze between him and Porkchop at his brother''s mention of fraternal bonds. "As you say, Forest King." Yanmi responded, before she straightened and focused on Kaius. "We have much to discuss, it seems. We have grim tidings, and by the sounds of your miraculous seizing of a class, your garb, and your companion, you have much the tale to tell as well." "I do, though there would be many holes to preserve that which I would keep to myself." Kaius said, confirming Yanmi''s assumption. "Then we best get to the Stout Oak. It''ll be empty by the time we arrive. Only one question remains, Kaius. You have been missing long, and the nature of our tale begs us to request one decision from you." Yanimi was serious. Official in her bearing and words. Kaius had seen it before. In quick glimpses and overheard tales. Grim tidings indeed. The sprout of dread set root, worming its way around his bones. "I would hear it." he ground out, even as Porkchop pressed into his back with one leg, providing his support. Yanmi nodded. "Would you have us speak first, or is your tale so burning you must share it above all else?" The weight of the moment hung heavy, time seeming to pause with the looming weight and finality of a swaying hangman''s noose. Kaius swallowed, his throat tacky and dry. "I would speak first." he whispered. Anything to keep the doom at bay for a moment longer. That, and what he had to share could be time sensitive for the village to survive the coming calamity The short and imperious woman stepped forwards, laying a gentle hand on his arm and smiling at him like he was one of her own. "Then let us be off, Kaius. I''m sure you''ve had a long journey, and ale is what is needed for this kind of talk. Come." Yanmi turned, and as a group they entered Three Fields - picturesque and blanketed in the shining midsummer sun.. His first visit in nigh on a year and a half. He only wished it didn''t feel like a funeral procession. Chapter 136 - B2 134: The Return pt. 4 Kaius stiffened slightly as he walked through the open door of the Stout Oak, though he did not break stride. He had a lot of memories in this place. Of the leather wrapped benches and tables, nestled in cosy nooks that were recessed into one of the tavern''s walls. The tables buffed to a high shine, reflecting the candles that sat above despite being discoloured from many a spilled drink. He remembered falling asleep under one as a boy, lulled by the soft murmur of a busy tavern and the warmth of a good fire and a full belly. Of the hearth that dominated the far wall across from him, its wide mantle covered in a dozen trinkets and trophies, and a large deer skull mounted above it. Many bards had sung there, dancing and playing in front of the crackling flames for the delight of a crowd. Of the bar to his right, with its sweeping bench and a trio of handpulled taps that served whatever concoctions Hurrin had brewed in the months prior. His first sip of beer, he remembered its malty and bitter taste, Hurrin and Father laughing at the face he pulled. Of the many tables that dotted the wide open space, filled to the brim with locals and visiting wanderers alike. They were empty now, the fire dead, and the place quiet. "Fetch the pints and get the stew hot, will ye lass?" Hurrin said, looking to his daughter. Illendra nodded and rushed off ahead, flying around the bar to rush into the kitchen. Thankfully, the Stout Oak had had their stew going for years, and he knew that Illendra would have topped it off this morning, so she would only need to bring it up from a low simmer. She''d be back soon. Hurrin jutted his chin towards one of the larger tables that sat towards the centre of the room, exposed and open. Kaius had normally seen it used for games of cards or dice, but it seemed it would be the site of their discussion. As a group they walked over, Porkchop hunching down slightly to fit through the double doors. They''d already stopped by the hunters lodge, depositing the deer on their way to the tavern. Kaius took his seat, Porkchop settling in next to him as the elders of Three Fields took their own. "Sorry we don''t have anything suitable for yourself, Porkchop." Eilish said, addressing his bond-brother. Porkchop had gotten sick of being called a ''Forest King'' on the fourth go of it on their walk over and had insisted that they call him by name. "We were not expecting anyone of your... lineage to ever visit our humble village. I would be happy to fetch you a hide or a rug, if you would like something. The workshops are close by." "No, thank you, I''m used to stone and soil, so this is fine." Porkchop replied politely. The elder of the artisans nodded, waiting patiently for Illendra as the soft hiss of ale hitting tankards continued. A few moments later, his old friend returned, seven tankards and a low bowl expertly balanced on a serving tray. She moved around the table depositing drinks, including one for Porkchop, before she finally gave him his. "Imperial stout. Pretty strong, but I remember that''s not really an issue for you." she whispered, before rushing over to take her seat by her father''s side. Kaius smiled at her. Strong and dark had always been his preference for beer. Through some arcane interaction, Rapid Adaptation had bolstered his tolerance to drink, and his father had warned him that he would need the help of brewers with high skill levels to feel any effects far before most classers Vitality reached the point that common brews stopped working. Even suppressing a skill couldn''t remove its effects completely, at least not at higher levels. "What''s this, Kaius?" Porkchop asked him quietly, sniffing his bowl full of amber foamy liquid that was set at his edge of the table. Even sitting on the floor, he still reached it easily. He smiled. "Beer, expect it to be a little bready and kind of bitter. It might make you feel a little warm and ... relaxed, for lack of a better term, but I expect it won''t have much effect on you with your constitution. Give it a try though." Kaius whispered back, receiving a glimmer of curiosity in turn. Turning his attention back to the elders, he found them waiting patiently. He sighed, taking a long drink from his tankard. The rich notes of a good stout flooded his palate, and he groaned in appreciation. "A year without your drop is a year too long, Hurrin. This is a good batch." he said appreciatively, his tankard clacking as he returned it to the table. The stocky tavernkeep grinned at him. "Of course it is, I bloody well brewed it, didn''t I?" Saldar was the first to break the tense dance they were doing, cutting through the fluff and pleasantries with all of his familiar grump. "Yes, yes." he waved. "You make good beer, we all know this." Saldar leaned forwards, fixing him with a stare, though one more tinged with guarded curiosity than suspicion. "Now, boy. Why don''t you tell us what trouble you''ve gotten into this time." Kaius sighed, feeling Porkchop lean ever so slightly into him for support. He took another long drink from his tankard, draining it dry. Before Illendra could rise to refill it for him, he stood and walked over to the bar, leaning over the bend to work the spigot and refill his stout. "I assume you won''t mind if there are some rather blatant holes in the tale? Even if I''m sure half of you could guess at my secrets, I''d rather leave them unsaid." Jekkar scoffed. "Old coots like us know how it is, Kaius. Besides, bonds of community or not, it''s safer if we can say with true honesty that we don''t know what you''re hiding." Kaius nodded, and returned to his seat with a full drink in hand. "Well. You know that after our last visit, me and Father were planning on shifting spots once more?" "We do," Yanmi said, her voice uncharacteristically soft. "Well, we ended up pushing onto the plateau. We shifted camps as we do, but after a few months we ended up settling by the falls. You should know the ones, Jekkar. To the north east, you can catch the sun glinting off them in the mornings from a couple of the rocky outcroppings not far from here." "Aye," the old hunter nodded. "Never been there me-self, but I know a few veterans of the Sea from the other villages who have." Kaius nodded, a knot of anger and grief twisting in his stomach. He took another deep gulp from his stout, the soft building warmth of it helping to steel his nerves even if he felt Rapid Adaptation working to purge its effects. He pushed the skill down, willing it to settle and let the drop do its work. He could always relax his hold if he got too sloppy. "We made camp near the top of the falls. Had been there barely a pair of days, not nearly enough to get a full and proper lay of the land. That morning I''d gone north, veering away from the river to do a bit of scouting, maybe find some forage for dinner. I ended up seeing a troupe of men on one of the higher ridge lines. Not far as the crow flies, but perhaps a league between us by ground. As soon as they saw me they gave chase." Kaius said, jaw clenching as he chewed his way through every word. The elders'' reactions were mixed, but telling. Jekkar scowled, looking away as his jaw muscles bulged. Yanmi and Saldar frowned, stern and displeased. Hurrin looked at him with worry and sympathy. Even Eilish, normally stoic and practical, had covered her hand with her mouth, looking at him with a pained expression. Not one of them looked surprised. Kaius soldiered on. "I took flight, running back to Father as fast as I could. By the time I made it, I barely had a minute or two''s lead. Father made me flee again, barely taking the time to hand me my pack before he forced me away, holding me to an old promise if this was ever to happen. He stayed behind to guard my retreat." Another drink emptied his tankard. He refilled it at the bar, grabbing a second tankard while he was at it. No point interrupting himself every five seconds. Not one of the elders gave it a second look. "It was the last time I saw him. Evidently there were too many for him to fully hold off, because a bare few minutes later I had a half dozen archers on my tail. At least, it felt like that many, I never got a clean look." Illendra was openly crying now, silent tears spilling down her face as she listened to his tale with horror plain on her face. Kaius took a slow breath. It was hard, to speak of that day, but it was something that brought with it a level of closure that he hadn''t expected. "In the panic of the chase, I stopped paying attention to the surroundings. Those bandits, they could have killed me if they wanted. They didn''t. I realised too late that they had herded me to the edge of the river, trapping me between its currents, the cliffs, and themselves." he continued. His audience were hanging off his words now. Even Porkchop was listening intently, though he had heard the story before. "I made the only choice I had. I threw myself off the falls." he had to force the last words out, reliving the overwhelming terror of the situation, the heady feelings of cowardice that had perfused him at leaving his father behind. "What?! How do you live, lad?!" Jekkar yelled, slamming the table, before he winced as every set of eyes snapped to him. "What do you mean, Jekkar?" Saldar asked. "There''s dozens of bloody falls in those woods, for a lad like him I can''t imagine he''d get anything more than a little roughed up." Jekkar shook his head. "Not those ones. That plateau has to be a good hundred-and-fifty strides in the air, and the falls are massive. He''d have broken a leg at least, and would have been caught in the undertow." "I was. Leg was snapped clean through, and my health completely drained." Kaius explained, drawing a soft gasp from Illendra. "The undertow had me fully, I nearly drowned." "Then how are you sitting here, lad." Hurrin asked, fully enraptured in his story. Kaius grunted, Taking a deep pull of his stout. "There was a Depths portal at the bed of the falls, undertow sucked me right through." He was met with silence, every single listener watching him intensely. "Impossible." Saldar half spat, planting his hands on the table to rise from his seat. "You mean to tell us you survived the Depths? That''s a fucking death sentence for an unclassed." Porkchop growled, a throaty bass that rattled the very table, sending ripples through their drinks. Handspan fangs bared, his bond-brother''s eyes drilled into Saldar. "You will not accuse my bonded brother of falsehood. Especially not for something I have witnessed myself, or would you also accuse me as well?" Saldar paled, freezing. Yanmi pulled the man back into his seat, eyes narrowed at the old farmer. "We would do no such thing, Porkchop. Saldar was simply taken aback by shock. Weren''t you, Saldar?" "..Yes, yes I was." he stammered. "I apologise for interrupting." Kaius nodded, taking the time to have another sip of his stout. He could feel it working now. Strong as it was, the heady brew was doing well at cutting through his Vitality. He still had full control of his faculties, but at least he felt a little...looser. "I take no offence. If I heard it I would question it too, but regardless it happened. The second layer too." Kaius said. Jekkar winced at that, with a combat class, he knew best of everyone here the exact dangers that the Depths posed. Though, he noticed that neither him nor Hurrin or Yanmi had acted surprised. They knew something. His seed of dread rattled. "I only survived those early days due to things I would not speak of. Not yet. What is important is that after I managed to kill two Champions, I had the sheer blind luck to be rewarded with a Natural Treasure." Everyone at the table froze, though Jekkar in particular had been staring at him intently even before the mention of the fruit. "Truly?" Eilish whispered. "True as rain." Kaius nodded. "What I am about to share, I only share because I consider this my home, and this and some later knowledge may be vital in ensuring that it remains a place for me to return to. This must not leave this room, clear?" He met the eyes of each of his listeners in turn, only moving on when he had gotten a nod, all a mixture of solemn, resolute, and curious. Kaius grunted, finishing his tankard. Sharing would be a risk, but Porkchop had been wearing off on him. The desperate claws that most people sank into their secrets were foolish. If they hadn''t, they might have already passed whatever trials the system had left for them, or at least be far better prepared. While he couldn''t see himself living in Three Fields, it was still where he had been raised before he was old enough to survive the Sea. It was home, and he wouldn''t see it potentially destroyed by his own paranoia. Kaius steeled himself. "After eating the fruit, I became Observed." There was a moment of silence. Then the room erupted into chaos. Chapter 137 - B2 135: The Return pt. 5 As soon as Kaius mentioned that he had become Observed by the system for consuming a Natural Treasure, the table erupted. Each and every one started talking over each other, their responses ranging drastically. Sandor merely scoffed, rolling his eyes, while Eillish, Hurrin and Yanmi jumped to their feet, hammering him with questions. Illendra sat quietly, her jaw slack as she stared at him in shock. Jekkar, on the other hand, howled with laughter, swinging back on his chair as he belted out his shock and mirth. After a few moments he rocked back forwards, the front legs of his chair smacking back to the floor with a loud crack. "Quiet!" he boomed, cutting through the commotion. The other elders paused, looking at him. "Now I den know about ye, but I''ve never known young Kaius to be a liar, have ye?" he said in his thick frontier drawl, levelling his gaze at his colleagues. "Thought not. Look, I''ve analysed the lad. He has a damned class, and we all ken he''s not yet hit his second decade. If anything, him bein a bloody myth makes more sense, not less. Let''s hear the lad out, he''s earnt that much trust at least." Jekkar said. Kaius breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Jekkar." "It wasn''t long after that that I met Porkchop. I was still in a large cavern just off the entrance room, undergoing a circumnavigation when I stumbled across him having fallen through the same portal I had. The same bandits had tried to chase him down, though lost him when he threw himself in the river. From what Porkchop saw, there were far fewer of them than had chased me." he continued with his story. His audience hissed, galled and mortified that even the lowest of society would dare to hunt a greater meles. Saldar especially looked apoplectic, his jaw flapping as he tried to get words out. Eilish beat him to the punch. "Those bloody bastards. If everything else they''ve done wasn''t enough." Yanmi shot her a sharp look. "Hush, Eilish. Now is not the time." The head of the artisans grit her teeth, but nodded. "What then lad? A few extra stats shouldn''t have been enough for you to escape, not against a Guardian." Hurrin asked. Kaius nodded, taking another drink to wet his throat. "It wouldn''t have been. That was only part of it. After meeting Porkchop, I learnt that the meles have oral histories of the Observed, that their power came from rewards granted by the system for performing great feats. We tore our way through our biome, and moved onto the next. It was there that I discovered what that was." He paused, allowing the moment to hang in the air. The elders leaned in. "After I killed my third Champion solo, I received something called an Honour. It came with bonus stats, and a small passive boost with no scaling, though both were improved due to being the first to perform that particular feat as an unclassed. Not long after I got one for being the first to ''discover'' glyph-binding. Let me show you." Kaius took a moment to undo one of his vambraces, the elders watching him in shocked silence. Letting the scale armour fall to the table with a clank, he presented his hand, showing off his Drakthar glyph, and the attached runic hymns. His audience leaned in in interest. "Lad, is this how you could cast without needing to channel? I thought I saw that when you took down that deer." Jekkar said with interest as his eyes traced the runic symbols burnt into his flesh. "It is, though this one is from my class. It''s something Father had worked on, using his knowledge to come up with a prototype. According to my class guide, it was pretty jank compared to this, but being the first was enough to get me some great options." "And you got another one of these Honours for discovering this?" Yanmi asked. Kaius nodded. "I only share because you mentioned that my class identifier is Spellsword. I think that is more to do with - well - my focus on both sword and casting. It''s going to be a lot harder to hide than I expected. I was hoping I would just get Sorcerer or Skirmisher, but such is life.. We chased Honours after that, and got Porkchop his share too. After a year it was just barely enough for us to take on the Guardian." Illendra''s jaw finally snapped shut at that. "You fought a Guardian? Do you have a death wish?" she accused, her voice growing shrill with concerned anger. Kaius smiled sadly. "I wasn''t going to wait another year to find out what happened to Father, Illendra." His words took the winds out of her sails, and she paled. "Of...of course." Giving her a small nod, he returned to his explanation. "It is what happened from there that causes me to share a secret like Honours. It is my killing of the Guardian that set off the second phase." He was met with shocked silence, but he pushed on either way. "I learned from the system itself that this is just the beginning. Someone will either achieve the requirements for more phases to progress, or we will inevitably be overwhelmed and perish." Kaius finished, waiting for a reaction. Yanmi collected herself, and focused on him intensely. "You are sure." "I am." he nodded solemnly. "What of the Tyrants? The Crucibles? The Aspects?" Yanmi followed up with. "I don''t know. Though, the aspects are why I have shared about Honours. It was suggested to me that I hold off from crossing into the third tier before I complete them. It is my bet that I will garner more Honours for doing so." Kaius explained. He leaned forwards and fixed the elders of Three Fields with a potent stare, his expression deadly serious. "I would not see somewhere I consider home destroyed, and my people slain due to the consequences of my own actions. The new phases will come with opportunities for Honours and power. Everyone here is in the first stage, and you all have aspects for it. I need you to seize the day, things will only get worse from here. I plan on completing my Aspects, and when I do I will send word of how. You must persevere." Hurrin let out an explosive breath, leaning back to stare at the ceiling. "Fuck." He returned forwards, slapping his palm on the table. "Lad. You intend to pursue these phases? Yer barely in your first tier!" Beside him, Porkchop sat up, looming over the table. "Kaius was the first Observed in millennia, and the pioneer of a new art. I am the second, and a greater meles. If not us, then who?" "I don''t bloody know, but yer gonna get yerself killed!" Hurrin yelled. Kaius frowned. He needed them to understand. If they didn''t push they would all perish. It might take years, but he trusted the words of a god. If they couldn''t progress the integration, they were all doomed. "Hurrin, I must. The wheel is in motion, it can''t be stopped. You need to bandy for support from the other villages. Unite and share resources, something that I assume Holt is already working on. If there are more Honours available, there will be some that I am able to share, eventually. Those will bolster you, and the more people searching for them, and the more we can share information, the better all of our chances will be. Please." Saldar spoke up. "How, Kaius? You''ve lived training since you were a lad. Our best are hunters and guards, not consummate warriors. If Honours require the kind of feats you mentioned, we''ll die trying to pursue them." Kaius looked over to Porkchop, who nodded at him reassuringly. "Do it. I know it feels wrong, but this perverse obsession with secrets is the only thing that makes sense for why we stagnated for so long. I can understand for strangers, for when it could be used against you, but not for them." Kaius grit his teeth and nodded. They''d discussed it for days on their journey through the Sea. It went against every bone in his body. It felt like betrayal, for all he was meant to be, for all he had been raised for. No matter how much it made sense. Thinking of Three Fields overrun with beasts, blood in the streets and familiar faces staring at him with glassy eyes, was enough for him to know he must. Above all, the secrecy sickened him. Without the perverse desire to hoard knowledge, without a culture that killed for secrets, everyone would be better off. He and his father would have never been separated. He couldn''t change that. Not yet, and not alone. But he could make a start. Some small difference. A little shove, that might one day be nurtured into a landslide. Porkchop leaned, giving him access to the bag that hit their Merchant''s Saddlebag. A little mana was enough. Pulling free a sheet of paper, he gripped it so tightly he was afraid it would tear. Leaning back into his seat, he stared at the words on the page, before he looked up at the elders solemnly. "I give you this out of trust, and the hope that you will use this to empower our people as best you can. While I now wish I could spread this far, for now it cannot leave Three Fields. Use it to bring the other villages under your banner, not as tyrants, but uniters. Use it to survive." he said, his voice lowering into a bare whisper by the end. Placing the page on the table, he stared at the words. Explorer''s Toolkit, Ironbodied, Mana Manipulation, Lesser Regeneration, Natural Celerity, Identify. Two of his own, two of Porkchop''s, and two ''known'' legacy skills. None were those that would immediately identify him, and none were those that could be used against him. He just hoped it would be enough. He pushed it forwards. Yanmi picked it up, frowning in confusion. Kaius watched her realise what he had just passed over, her eyebrows raising, before her jaw dropped in shock and her eyes opened wide. Her colleagues leaned in, each reacting the same. "Kaius. Lad. We can''t. This is..." Jekkar trailed off. "Enough to found a Dynasty, I know." He replied. "I misjudged you boy." Saldar said, looking up from the page to fix him with a calculating look. "This...this might change things. You said you want us to unite the villages? Would you have us join your dynasty?" "No," Kaius shook his head. "We must remain separate. The name of my dynasty has the attention of an unknown party. No, I would have you nurse successors and defenders. Spread the skills to all who can be trusted to not spread them to outsiders, until you are strong enough to be beyond reproach. Use it to unite the villages into a single city state, to leverage into Delvers, and to seize Honours. A single bastion is far more likely to survive the coming tide than seven isolated villages with a smattering of hunters and guards." "But why?" EIlish asked. "With what you have told us, we could do all that anyway. This is... too much, Kaius." "Because I want you to fucking live! I want to know, while I pursue the pinnacle, while I throw myself at death, while I search for vengeance, and while I try to push through these gods'' cursed phases, that I have done what I can to ensure I have somewhere to return to! That I have done what I can to preserve the lives of those few who I actually know and care for!" Kaius yelled, slamming his fist on the table. "So what? Yer gonna go hunting down Tyrants? Searching for cold blooded killers? What''s next? Ye gonna Delve ten layers above yer level? Yer gonna fuckin get yerself killed!" Hurrin yelled, his face twisting with anguished worry. "I can''t bloody lose you too!" "Pa!" Illendra yelled, smacking his thick shoulder as she stared at him aghast. The small seed of dread in his stomach exploded with growth, blooming into familiar grief. Kaius sighed, leaning back as he stared towards the ceiling and closed his eyes. Porkchop let out a comforting murmur, pressing into him. He''d been expecting it, what else would they all dance around so delicately? "So he''s dead then." Chapter 138 - B2 136: The Return Finale Kaius slumped, leaning bodily against Porkchop as a wave of grief washed over him. He felt boneless, sapped of all energy. Yet, it was almost a relief. To know. He''d suspected for so long, dreaded and ruminated on the ''if''s and ''maybe''s of it that to finally have it confirmed was like dropping a weight that he had held since falling from that cliff so long ago. He took a breath, half surprised that his eyes remained so dry. He supposed he had been grieving for some time. Father always would have found him if he could have. Porkchop bent down, resting his head on top of his own. "I''m so sorry, Kaius." "What happened?" he asked the silent room, reaching up to scratch Porkchop behind the ear as he enjoyed his bond-brother''s support. Illendra broke, tears welling up in her eyes. She flew from her seat, circling the table to wrap her arms around his shoulders. Kaius let her, though he struggled to find any true comfort in it. Not in the same way he found with his bonded at least. Everything felt a little too... numb. Hurrin took a ragged breath, slumping down onto the table to rest his weight on his elbows. "I''m sorry lad, truly. That was not how I wanted ye to find out." Hurrin''s voice was heavy, his head slumped forwards to obscure his face. The others weren''t much better, each looking at him with their own mix of sadness, sympathy, and the toll of their own loss. Hurrin looked across the table, meeting Saldar and Eilish''s eyes. They both nodded, standing from their seats. "We''ll be back, boy. You''ve done much for the community today, and I shan''t forget it." Saldar said, respect clear in his face. "But this conversation is not for our ears, so we will be taking our leave." The two turned and left. Eilish paused at the door to the stout oak, looking back to Kaius. "It''s good to see you, Kaius, truly. I just wish it was under better circumstances." The heavy oak door thudded as it shut behind her, Hurrin jolting slightly at the sound. Kaius watched them curiously. "They weren''t here when...Hastur passed." Hurrin said, answering his unspoken question. "He trusted us with some things that were for your ears only." Kaius nodded, breathing heavily. He had to grit his teeth to stop it catching in his throat. Hurrin turned to Jekkar, addressing the veteran hunter. "Do you want to tell the tale? You were the one who found him." Jekkar gave a small shake of his head. "No, no. I''m not right for this. Too short of words, you should." The tavernkeep took an unsteady breath, before he drank deeply from his tankard and nodded. "Aye, you always have been a shit storyteller." Kaius snorted; he couldn''t help it. Hurrin was right, Jekkar was crap at telling tales. He could have hunted a phoenix and the best you''d get out of him was that he''d managed to nail a pretty bird in flight. He drank deep from his cup. "I''m listening." Hurrin sighed. "Aye lad. It was just over a year ago." .... Wiping down the counter, Hurrin listened to one of the local farmer boys try to chat up his daughter. Well, failed to was more like. He was pretty sure the lad was one more bad joke from getting a full tankard to the face. He chuckled to himself, wiping up a spill. A loud crack cut through the soft murmur in the inn. It was near lunch, so there were still a few stragglers finishing up their midday meals, but no true hustle and bustle to cover up the noise of his door being kicked in. He snapped his head up, eyes widening in shock. Jekkar struggled his way in, a mountain of a man draped over his shoulder. His stomach dropped. Hastur. Garbed in thick leathers that were utterly drenched in blood, his old friend''s face was twisted up in what looked like agony, his jaw clenched so tight he was surprised the old wardog''s teeth hadn''t bloody shattered. "EVERYBODY OUT!" Jekkar bellowed, startling the clientele out of their daze. The sounds of a dozen scraping chairs filled the room as they rushed to the head hunter''s command. No one had any desire to ignore one of the strongest in the village, none the least if they were carrying someone injured. Hurrin was already moving. "Illendra!" he yelled, snapping his daughter out of her shocked stare. She looked to him, fear and uncertainty on her face. "Get Yanmi here! Then go tell Holt he needs to get his boys on the wall and be ready for trouble." Illendra just kept standing there, rooted to the spot as she stared at him. "Now, lass!" Hurrin clapped his hands, jolting his daughter into action. She sprinted out from behind the bar, dashing past Jekkar who was already hauling Hastur into a padded bench so that his friend could lay flat. Hurrin burst into motion, snatching his medkit from under the bar. It was a shite thing, barely a few bandages and swabs to mop up the rowdy boys who''d get into a weekend brawl before they had any decent Health. Not nearly enough for whatever was wrong with Hastur, not if his Health wasn''t enough. The man was as tough as iron. He just hoped that Yanmi would get here quick enough. Charging across the room, knocking chairs aside in his haste, Hurrin dropped to his knees and started pulling out bandages. A bloody hand clapped on his wrist. "Save it, old friend. It''s not my blood." Hastur choked out, focusing on him with steely eyes. They were bloodshot, so red it made the green of his irises stand out like shining emeralds. "I..What? What''s wrong with ye then?" Hurrin asked his old mate, as Jekkar worked to strip him from his chest armour. "Just the past..." every muscle in Hastur''s body tensed at once, a desperate pained cry forcing its way past his clenched teeth as his head was thrown back. A moment later, the fit ended, and his friend slumped back to the bench, panting. "Catching up to me." Hurrin rushed to Jekkar''s assistance, working bloodsoaked buckles to strip Hastur out of his light armour. It was drenched in blood, with dozens of rents covering its every surface. He shoved his finger through one, feeling its clean edge. Too clean to be a beast. He looked at Jekkar questioningly. The old hunter nodded. "Blades." "Fucking bounty hunter. Lead a troop of bandits right down on our heads. Thought we were safe. That it had been long enough. Turns out the bastard found a lead in Deadacre, someone telling tales of an interesting looking blade with diamond cutouts, I knew that visit was a stupid risk." Hastur hissed, his neck bulging with stress. Hurrin grit his teeth. Bandits were no good, especially not if they could put Hastur in this state. He''d seen the man demolish beasts with nothing more than his general skills. They yanked the armour off of Hastur, baring his chest. His skin was whole and unblemished, showing only thick muscle and flawless skin drenched in blood. "Ye have no wounds, man. What''s going on with ye? Poison?" Jekkar questioned, staring at Hastur with panicked confusion. Hastur chuckled throatily, before he started to cough. "After a fashion. Like I said, history is catching up with me. There''s nothing to be done. It''s already far too late." Before Hurrin could demand a response, the door to the tavern smashed open, and Yanmi sprinted into the room, hefting a bag nearly as big as she was. She took a single look at Hastur before it slipped from her fingers, crashing to the floor as the tonic bottles inside clanked. She walked over in a daze. "Oh no, no, no. Hastur, you didn''t! You knew this would happen!" "I had to!" Hastur forced out. "It was the only way to give the boy a chance..." "Will somebody tell me what the fuck is going on!" Hurrin bellowed, demanding an explanation. The room fell into silence, broken only by Hastur''s laboured breathing. "He''s dying, and there''s nothing we can do." Yanmi choked, her face twisted by frustration and grief. "But why? Yer fuckin uninjured man!" Hurrin keened, staring at his old friend with wild eyes. "Soul-rend." Hastur coughed. "A part of my past that you all have so respectfully ignored. Only Yanmi knew, and only because I couldn''t hide it from her skills. It shredded my soul utterly, destroyed my class, and completely fucked my general skills." Hastur gasped, wracked by another fit as his eyes rolled back into his head. Yanmi rushed over and all three held him in the bench as he thrashed. Hastur slumped, panting. It was longer than last time, whatever it was was getting worse. "I managed to survive thanks to a skill, but despite looking, I couldn''t find a way to heal the damage. With my soul so injured, my class was broken. No levelling, no nothing." Hastur forced out. "And using any of your class skills would put so much stress on your soul that it would break the fragile balance." Yanmi whispered, finishing it for him. Hurrin slumped, looking at his friend in despair. Hastur fixed him with a driven gaze, half mad with mania and conviction. "I need you to listen to me, old friend." Hastur gasped, before he looked to the others. "All of you. I fought off the bandits, slew two bloody dozen of them, but some slipped past me, chased after the boy. I tracked him after I sent the survivors fleeing like rats, while I still had most of my strength. He went over the falls." "Falls?" Jekkar asked. "Unimportant. If the boy survives, he''s not coming back anywhere near there." Hastur groaned. "Best I can tell, he fell into the Depths. There was a portal at the base." Yanmi staggered, leaning on the wall for support. "So he''s dead then." Hastur gave her a feral grin, his teeth stained red. Whatever was happening internally to his old mate, it was happening fast. "Don''t count him out. Boy''s twice as mean and thrice as much of a rabid dog as I was at his age. No silver spoon in his bloody mouth, I made sure of that. If anyone can do it, he can." He could see it, the maniacal devotion and faith in the father''s face. Hurrin shook his head sadly. The boy was gone, even as tough as he was, no one survived the Depths without a class. "It''s for the best either way. If he didn''t fall in, he''s dead. I wasn''t able to kill the tracker, he''d find the boy just fine. This way he''ll think him dead as sure as you are. When I go, he''ll come sniffing and think our line ended. No more me, no more loose ends." "And what? You expect us to let your killer, Kaius''s killer, to just waltz in here and see your body?" Jekkar demanded, staring at Hastur in angered disbelief. "I do!" Hastur bellowed. "It''s the boy''s best chance of survival. You must let the tracker live. Let alone that he''s in the one-fifties and still has a few men with him, he must take word of mine and the boy''s death. If my boy survives, it''s the best chance he has to live freely... It''s the last thing I can do for him." Hastur coughed, a gout of blood spraying from his mouth. Clamping his jaw shut with a grimace, he turned his head to the side and spat out the remainder. "You need to give the bounty hunter my sword." Hastur said, his voice soft. "What? If Kaius survives, it''s his by right!" Yanmi spluttered. "It''s the only way. He''s going to need proof that I''m dead, some token to appease his employer, and without the blade he won''t leave. Between that, and proof of my death, he''ll leave you be. He''s a consummate professional." Hastur spat his last few words. "Ye can''t die, Hastur. Who am I supposed to brood with if ye never come visit?" Jekkar whispered. "What are we supposed to tell ye lad?" Hurrin questioned desperately. "Even if by some miracle he survives, how are we supposed to tell him we let some ratfaced bastard steal ye dang blade?" Hastur gasped. "Tell him what I have told you. Tell him I died valiantly, and he has made me proud, and done me right. Tell him he needs to let sleeping dogs lie, and that if he wants to live freely he needs to give the Onyx Temple a wide fucking berth, because that is almost certainly where the bounty hunter came from." Hurrin blanched. The Onyx Temple? What kind of crazy shit had Hastur been caught up in? No wonder he lived like a fucking hermit! Hastur continued, uncaring of his friend''s response to his words, his eyes unfocused and glassy. "Tell him that until he thinks he could beat the fucking Hero Josun in a gods'' damned fist fight, he needs to stay on Vaastivar." Hastur coughed, before he started to seize, even more violently than the last time. Hurrin held him steady, sharing worried and grief stricken glances with his fellow elders. ... "He...Your da didn''t last much longer than that, lad." Hurrin said, choking through his words. "The fits kept coming quicker, and harder, and he got less and less lucid. Couldn''t get anything else out of him." Kaius buried his hand in Porkchop''s fur, gripping his shoulder for support as anger thrummed through him. It burned, directionless and without a readily available target. The bastard took Father''s sword? He took a deep breath. "So he took Art in Motion and just left? Did he defile my Father''s body?" "No!" Yanmi blurted. "No. Even he was not so depraved. We kept your father under cold-wake, as should be done if a burial cannot be immediately held. The bounty hunter arrived a week or so later. He looked on the verge of madness when he learnt of Hastur''s passing, but he just took the sword and left. We buried him after that, as one of our own." "It was fuckin'' hard not to shoot the bastard when his back was turned, I''ll tell ye that." Jekkar grumbled, guilt and anger twisting his face. Kaius gave the old hunter an appreciative nod. Somehow, he managed to hold himself together. "I have questions, but I need to see him first. Where did you have him buried?" Kaius choked out. "Of course, lad. We put him to rest under the old oak tree, the one just past the fields where he''d teach you all secret-like on yer visits. Guess the secrecy makes a bit more sense now." Hurrin mumbled. Kaius nodded, and stood. "I''d like to go alone, with Porkchop. I''ll be back soon." The remaining elders nodded, and he left the Stout Oak, leaning heavily on Porkchop for support. Chapter 139 - B2 137: Grief It was a picturesque spot, his fathers final resting place. Maybe a twenty minute walk from Three Fields, along one of the dirt trails that wound their way through the farms that flanked the village. There was a hill there, one of many that graced the rolling grasslands and meadows of the frontier. It rose above the rest, but it was gentle. An easy walk over soft grass that wound its way through the many boulders that dotted the hill''s face. A tree was at its peak. A venerable oak, tall, stout, and thick of limb. He knew the tree well, having visited it many-a-time in the past. The hill was isolated and private, but provided enough open sightlines of the surrounding area that it was almost impossible to approach without getting spotted. It was where his father used to take him for a few hours each day on their varying trips to the village. While in recent years, ever since he had unlocked the use of his general skills, their visits had grown more infrequent, when he had been younger they''d often visited once a month or so. His lessons wouldn''t stop just for a simple trip into town, so every morning he had been carted out to the hill with the lonely tree, and he had listened and learned and trained as Father had taught him yet another intricacy of survival, or sword fighting, or any other facet he would need to acquire his skills. Before then, he''d lived here. Young enough that it was only hazy memories, but most of them were by this tree. Kaius kneeled in front of the gnarled oak, staring at the stone slab that now jutted out from the soil under its canopy. It was simple, but lovingly carved from the local stone. A rough block, stout enough to weather the indifference of time. Thick letters were carved deeply into its surface, equally as enduring. ''Hastur. A father, survivor, and one of our own. Died as he lived, valiant and fearless.'' Kaius stared at the words, a panicky clawing sob stabbing its way out of his chest as fat tears burned their way down his cheeks. He kneeled, and stared, as reality collapsed around him. It wasn''t fair. Wasn''t right. He''d done everything. Survived the impossible, seized victory from certain death, and attained forgotten power. Hells, he''d met with a god. Yet still, it mattered not. Father was dead and there was nothing he could do. The deep, crushing, weight of it all settled on him like a stone, making him fight for every breath. Porkchop let out a low, soothing rumble to his right, his bond-brother laying down next to him and providing what comfort he could. A rasping gasp left his throat, and Kaius threw his arms around his brother''s neck, weeping openly. "How could this be right, Porkchop? How could the gods take him from me, even after we have done their bidding. Where is the supposed fairness of the scales of fate? The good fortune to the victors? How could I have earned this, after everything we have done?" he begged, desperate for an answer. Porkchop let out another rumble, leaning deeply into him. "Death is a cruel master, Kaius. One that strikes down newborn babes and Patriarchs with the same uncaring swipe of its claws. There need not be sense to it, it simply is." his bond-brother crooned, acknowledging the senseless pain of it all. Kaius sobbed, choking through a hiccup. "I knew... I knew the chances weren''t good. Not after the first few months. I''d hoped that Father had simply needed time to recover before he could come after me, but when he never returned... I knew, deep down. Still, I hoped. Hoped that we would stride into Three Fields, valiant and victorious. That Father would be waiting, pride, fury, and relief on his face. That he would embrace me, overwhelmed by my unexpected return, and that he would question me. That I could introduce you to him." he murmured, his face buried into the snow white scruff that surrounded his brother''s neck. He squeezed tighter, fighting back the torrent of grief that beset him from all sides. "It''s just so cruel." Kaius whispered. "How am I supposed to live? To continue, knowing that he is gone." He pulled back, staring Porkchop in the eyes with a desperate expression. It was a genuine question. How in the hells could he push on, knowing that Father wouldn''t be there at the end of his journey? Porkchop''s gold-flecked-green eyes softened. "You need time, Kaius. The loss will always bite, but not always so keenly. In days and weeks and months, the crushing weight fades. The sadness retreats. Eventually, you will be able to remember the fond times, and cherish them, without them crushing you." More thick tears welled up, blurring his vision, only for something warm and wet to slide across his face. Kaius froze. "Did you just lick me?" he asked, deeply confused. Porkchop had never done that. Porkchop chuffed. "I had to do something to snap you out of the spiral. It worked, didn''t it?" Kaius laughed, deep and with all of his chest, until his mirth bordered on mania. He hugged Porkchop once more, absentmindedly noticing the way the stumps of his fingers caught on his brother''s fur. "Thank you. I just don''t see a way out, a way to not feel so...defeated." "Like I said, it comes with time. There was a member of my den, a distant cousin, though as close as I had ever gotten to anyone before you. He taught me many things, and was a kindred spirit. I loved him, still do. One day, he went out on the hunt, pursuing some beast. He never returned. I still remember the day, how it felt like my heart would stop beating from the sheer agonising lethargy of the pain. How it felt like I had a gaping wound that would never heal. It did, eventually." Porkchop said softly. Kaius paused. "I''m sorry, I never knew." "Because I never said. With the fate of your father unknown, it would have been a cruel story to share. I tell it now because I want you to know that I did heal, and the sun shone bright once more. It just took time." Porkchop pressed, waves of reassurance and support crossing their bond. Kaius turned, looking at his father''s headstone. The sun shone through the canopy above, alighting the stone with a soft and warm glow. How could he? When Father''s killer was still at large. When Art in Motion had been stolen. When his history had been stripped from him, and the sworn enemies of his dynasty celebrated without his knowledge of their identities. Hot rage welled up. Primed with the fuel of his grief, it ignited like a pyre. How could he rest when he had a blood debt. "I''m going to find that rat-bastard." Kaius growled. Porkchop chuckled throatily, a hard edge hidden within. "Not the take away I was going for, but it''ll do." "Him, the Onyx Temple, the people who destroyed my dynasty and hired the bounty hunter. They have to pay." Kaius clenched his fist, feeling the power of his reforged body as the tension made his knuckles go white. Even if it took years of careful investigation and planning, he would have his satisfaction. "And I will help you. We are sworn brothers, your pain is my pain, your oaths are my oaths." Porkchop said solemnly, fixing him with a serious stare. "Then let us swear. To having our vengeance." Kaius whispered. "To our vengeance." Porkchop echoed him, sealing the pact. As their whispered words drifted under the burroughs of the oak tree, something small thrummed within Kaius''s soul. A single pillar, echoing his call ever so slightly. The sensation went unnoticed, washed away in the emotional tide of the moment. "Thank you, it feels less like an insurmountable cliff, knowing that you will be by my side." Kaius whispered, genuine gratitude plain in his voice. "Don''t be silly, Kaius. We are bonded, we live as one, and die as one. I do want to know though, what of the Onyx Temple? They must be a fearsome beast to have rattled your elders so." Porkchop asked. Kaius winced. Learning that he would be going up against them had certainly put into perspective the magnitude of the task ahead of him. "They''re...something of a guild. Mostly only whispered about in tavern talk. Shadows in the night, the antagonists of every good story. They''re supposed to be a league of criminals, anything profitable that flies against society and law is their bread and butter. Theft, smuggling, assassination, trafficking. No job too low, or too soulless. I genuinely thought they were a myth, and I don''t even know how to go about finding them, let alone getting the information we need out of them." Kaius explained. If they were to go against the Onyx Temple, it meant that getting backing had become all the more important. That, and growing strong. There was no way some shadowy organisation like that had managed to persist under the noses of nobility and law without some serious power and resources. Plus, who knew how much truth there was to the stories of their origins. Apparently, they had once been a shadowy sect of worshipers of Gyl, the god of shadows and dishonest dealings. He had no idea how much truth there was to that, but if they did have a history of a cult, then there was the chance that they still had a religious powerbase. That would be a risk, it would be far harder to extract information or concessions from a devout cultist than a simple rogue. "Then we will need to be cautious, not the least because whoever lies behind them, those that destroyed your dynasty, might be even more resourceful if they are from beyond the continent as Hurrin suggested." Porkchop said. Kaius nodded. Travelling across the oceans was almost unheard of, and entirely the domain of the powerful or exceedingly rich. The open seas were full of legions of terrifying abyssal creatures that could crush a ship as easily as turning a hand was to him. For a group, or entity, to extend their reach to Vaastivar from across the ocean? They would need to be powerful and resourceful in equal measure. "At least it''s a direction, something to look into. Before I had nothing to go off, knowing that Unterstern most likely comes from across the sea gives me a lot to work with, even if knowledge of the lands beyond the shore are scant and rare." Kaius mused. "So our plans remain unchanged?" Porkchop asked. Kaius nodded. It would be a search that would take them all across Vaastivar, chasing shadows and hunting men unseen, but two things remained constant. They would need power, and they would need backing. "We need to get to Deadacre. Joining the delving guild there is our best bet to grow our strength, and to start making a name for ourselves. We will need that influence if we are to truly stand a chance of finding anything about the Onyx Temple. Deadacre is likely too small, but it is rumoured they host hidden markets, perhaps if we grow strong and rich enough, we will be able to get ourselves an invitation." Kaius said. Porkchop nodded. "That, and the guild is probably our best bet for finding others who have the potential to keep up with us. I remember what Ekum said, we still need to find ourselves some allies." Kaius raised his brow. "In Deadacre? Unlikely, but I suppose we''ll need to keep an eye out." "We''re already a rock solid frontline, so all we really need are some competent supportive style classers. If they are trustworthy, and good enough, I''m sure we''ll be able to help them close the gap, and secure a few Honours. No doubt we''ll discover more and be able to guide them." Porkchop suggested. It could work, now that he thought about it. If he and Porkchop were the primary front line threats, any team members they found would be far less at risk than they would be otherwise. That said, Kaius still thought that it would be unlikely. They would still need to be delvers of a rare calibre, and Deadacre was a bit of a provincial backwater. Kaius looked at his bond-brother. Thank the gods he had him, because without Porkchop he would be drowning. As it was, it was only the simmering anger and his brother''s support that gave him the energy to keep moving. He only hoped that he wasn''t forcing Porkchop to give up too much in his quest for vengeance. Kaius turned back to his fathers grave stone, watching it with silent intensity as he leaned a little further into Porkchop''s shoulder. Chapter 140 - B2 138: Planning for the Future They sat there, on that lonely hill that held Father''s final rest, until the sun started to go down. It was cathartic in many ways, even if it was painful. He''d been given a certainty in Father''s passing, where previously there had only been likelihoods. While that certainty did not bring him peace, nor did it release him from the burden of grief, there was a weight of the unknown that had been removed from him. He had sat there and talked for hours, sharing anything and everything that came to mind with his bond-brother. Anecdotes of his life with Father, one unstable and constantly moving, but one that had its own joys. Of seeing far more of the Sea than most ever did, of training, of stories, and of shared meals and passed down insights. Eventually though, the time came where they had to make their leave. He would be back, before they left on their long journey, but before then there was time that needed to be spent amongst the living. Devising a plan for Three Fields to survive the coming shift in danger, securing them for the long term, catching up with old friends and allies, and preparing for their trip to Deadacre. They made their way down the hillside, Kaius riding his brother''s back as they picked their way through the boulders that studded the grass. As they walked, he thought of their earlier conversation, the way the shape and direction of their future had come together so quickly. Porkchop was a stalwart companion, and had not hesitated to take up his blood debt as his own. Yet, he did not want that to entirely flavour their relationship. There might have been a level of necessity in their pursuit of power, and a level of need to pursue his father''s killer and the destroyers of his dynasty, but that did not mean that the path there needed to be fixed. Porkchop was his own person with his own goals, and Kaius would not leave them by the wayside. "Are you sure it''s okay? Our path through the frontier lands, and our trip to Deadacre? Is there not anything you wanted to do when you crossed the mountains?" Kaius asked suddenly, breaking the silence of the golden hour. Porkchop chuffed, the sudden rise and fall of his chest nearly unseating Kaius. "This is what I wanted to do. I wanted to explore beyond the sea, grow strong, and see sights unseen. I wanted to live on the move, and go where other greater beasts did not. Kaius, the only two-legged city that a meles could ever hope to see normally are the elven conclaves, and no one wants to deal with their incessant prattling so we all avoid it." "You''re sure?" Kaius replied. "I''m sure. I''m practically getting a grand tour of places I would have no hope of seeing myself. As long as we don''t end up settling down for good for years to come, I will be happy." Porkchop insisted. Kaius snorted, staring out over the rows of fields that grew all manner of mid-summer crops, all remarkably large and robust thanks to the might of class and general skills. He couldn''t see himself setting down roots for a long time, and not just because he had too many threads pulling him in multiple directions. He felt the call of adventure just as strongly. Vaastivar, let alone the world, was full of known delights and unknown mysteries. With ruins, a dozen different peoples, and many a wild place to explore, he couldn''t ever see himself not wanting to lay his eyes on as many of them as he could. "I don''t think you have to worry about that. Three Fields is just about the closest to a home that I have, and I''ve never even once considered moving here permanently. Life moves just a little too...slow." Kaius replied, watching the small trails of smoke that rose over the next hill. Evidence of the sleepy village that was nestled behind it. "But please, if something comes up that you want to do, tell me. I would not dictate our every move." Acceptance and assurance flowed across their bond, and Kaius let the silence continue. He looked forward to getting back to the Stout Oak, there were plans to lay, and much to discuss. Thankfully, Hurrin had told him that he would keep the place closed for the next few days to give him some privacy. The villagers might have been respectful, but they still gawked at him and Porkchop all the same. It got a little awkward after a while. ... Thankfully, Cham had been manning the gate again, so it had been easy to get entry back into the town proper. It was a pleasant short walk through the village through the fading light of the afternoon, many a familiar face giving him a respectful nod, before they turned to gawk at him and Porkchop as soon as they thought he couldn''t see. It was a funny experience. Most of the people he knew well in Threefields could be counted on two hands, with maybe a third and fourth for people he knew enough to chat with, such as Cham. Most of that second group being the members of the hunter''s lodge, who he saw more than most when they ran across each other in the Sea. That said, Three Fields was a small place, and it was few the people he did not at least know their names, and fewer still that he did not recognise. Arriving at the Stout Oak, Kaius dismounted and led the way in, wincing slightly at the discomfort of sitting astride Porkchop''s armoured barding. Hopefully, before they left, they would be able to replace it with something a bit more fit for purpose and compatible with his bond-brother''s armour skill. Pushing open the tavern door, he was quickly treated to a blonde missile streaking its way across the room. Illendra smashed into his chest, nearly driving the air from his lungs as she wrapped her arms around him. "Kaius! I''m so sorry. I hope you''re okay." she whispered, squeezing him tighter. Grinning as he patted her back, Kaius returned her hug before he released his old friend. "I''m okay. Not great, but okay. I knew something like this was likely when he didn''t come for me, it was just painful to have my fears confirmed." Illendra looked up at him, searching his face for any hint of a lie. He didn''t know what she found there, but she nodded a few moments later. "If you''re sure. Come take a seat, Pa is off grabbing the other elders, so I''ll fetch you two a beer and some food. Stout again?" Kaius grinned and shook his head, unsurprised that Hurrin knew he was coming. News travelled fast in Threefields. "Something a bit lighter this time please, just an ale." he responded. Illendra nodded. "And for you?" she said, asking Porkchop. "Just some stew... I''m not sure if I particularly like beer." Porkchop admitted. Illendra smiled, before she stifled a laugh with her hand. "Don''t let Pa here you say that, he''ll be crushed." Kaius smiled and took a seat. Illendra joined the two of them at the table a moment later, bringing their drinks and food. They sat there, chatting for what felt like the better part of an hour before the elders showed up, catching up for lost time. No doubt Hurrin had taken his time fetching his colleagues, giving them a moment to just...talk. It was nice to hear what his friend had been up to. Apparently she''d found a lad, some hunter from the next village over. It was still early days yet, but she seemed fond of him. That, at least, put a bit of warmth in his chest. He might have been jealous once, but those days were long past. Now he was just happy a friend had found a bit of joy, and it was someone who could hopefully keep her safe in the coming uncertainty. The door to the tavern swung open once more, and the five heads of the village entered. Each gave him an appraising look, their faces filled with a mixture of sympathy, respect, and determination. The room fell silent as they took their seats, though Illendra ran to grab them drinks. It was a heavy quiet, neither him nor the elders quite sure where to start. "I''m sorry to have served you with such news right on your victorious return, Kaius." Yanmi finally said, starting their talk as was her duty as the mouth of the village. Kaius gave her a sad smile. "Like I told Illendra, I already half expected it. Though, even prepared, no man wants to hear of their father''s passing." The elders nodded. "Too right, lad. Too right. I lost me own young, so I know the sting of it." Jekkar said in his customary curt voice, commiserating in his own uniquely gruff way. Kaius tilted his head to the man, acknowledging the gesture. "It galls me to do this, but we have plans to make, and it''s plain as day that young Kaius won''t be sticking around for all that long." Saldar said, looking genuinely pained to be the first to break the respectful space they held for his grief. Beside him, Porkchop settled into his meal as he sent amusement across their bond. "That one''s nearly as stuffy as a Matriarch." Kaius managed to suppress his smile at the quip. Just. "That we do, and I appreciate the gesture, but Saldar is right. We have much to discuss, and I would be on the road within a few days at most." he said, breaking the news of his quick visit. If they waited too long in the town, then the rising level of mana and growing strength of the now-ubiquitous beasts could be a significant barrier to a speedy journey. "So soon?" Eilish asked, surprised. Kaius nodded. "Enough time to resupply, and hopefully replace Porkchop''s barding." The elder''s looked at Porkchop curiously, clearly uncertain of why they would want to swap out depths-wrought armour. "I''ve gained an armour skill, one that is incompatible. Something that is closer to under-armour, and can let Kaius sit on my back without steel jabbing him would be much more preferable." Porkchop explained. "In that case, I should be able to help. Come see me first thing in the morning, and I''ll try rush it through by the evening. No charge, after what you''ve given us I think we can all agree we''re so far in your debt that I don''t ever hope to repay it." Eilish said, eyeballing Porkchop''s barding. Clearly the master-craftswoman already had some ideas, but was saving them for a more dedicated discussion. "Speaking of debts, these skills are a ... lot. I would hear what you have planned for us." Yanmi broached carefully. He understood, it was a heavy gift, and one that in this world would usually come with strings of adamant attached. "I want you to form yourselves into a regional powerhouse. Leverage them to consolidate the other villages here, preferably quickly while you still have the time to expand the walls. Share them with everyone. At least those that can be trusted not to blab with outsiders." Kaius said. The elders stared at him in shock. Kaius expected that. It wasn''t everyday that someone pressed for Legacy skills to be spread rather than jealousy hoarded. "Everyone? Are you sure, lad?" Hurrin whispered. Kaius nodded. "They''re all defensive in nature, and it''ll be the best thing for solidifying the hold of Three Fields over the surrounding region. It''ll take years for the potential to be realised, but it''ll hopefully ensure that Three Fields survives and hopefully thrives in the coming days. My only hope is that you''ll keep them secret for the next few months, to make it less obvious that they came from me." Yanmi nodded. "That could work... We could each pretend we had one of them each, and decided to pool them together to help the community. It would buy us the leeway and trust needed to grow the town." "What I want to know is why now? What made you give away so many advantages?" Saldar asked, staring at him intensely. Kaius chuckled. If only the man knew that he still had six more where that came from, and Porkchop seven. "They are a fraction, but most importantly it is because of the revelations I experienced in the Depths. The meles do not hoard legacies, instead sharing them freely. Their dens are all the stronger for it. It is also my belief that the main reason we have been caught flat footed by the second phase is that we never gained the strength to trigger it. If we had, this all would have been over much earlier, and the average person would be far better prepared to weather the storm. There''s a good chance that others have legacy skills in the villages, my hope is that you will be able to tempt them into sharing." Kaius explained. Even if it still felt wrong to share a secret that had been beaten into him, he knew that there was wisdom in the way of Porkchop''s people. Beasts and Tyrants would be far less of a threat if the average person had a smattering of legacy skills and an Uncommon or even Rare class. "Most importantly, I believe that the Aspects will be as much if not more impactful than legacy skills, and I intend to be one of the frontrunners. Once I have secured Honours for being the first, I will send word on their function to further bolster you." Jekkar cocked an eyebrow at him at that. "Mighty sure of ye self there, lad. How can ye be certain that you will be the first?" Kaius grinned, letting a little of the song that had ignited within him in his time in the Depths shine through. "I can quite confidently say that no other first tier has the advantages that me and Porkchop have, nor the experience or sheer bloody minded drive. We will find them, and we will make use of them, even if we only beat second best by a handful of months." he assured. Saldar frowned, still unconvinced. "But what would you have of us? All you have given are hopes for the future, there has been no word of payment." Kaius grinned at the man. "Simple. A harness for Porkchop, supplies for my journey, and a fortress full of strong and capable allied delvers should I have need of them. I would not call the good folk of the frontier to war, but I do not know what the future holds. If strength in numbers is required, or a bastion is needed, I would prefer it to be strong allies of my own people." The elders paused, digesting his words. One by one they nodded, even Saldar, before Yanmi met his gaze once more. "That, I think, is more than fair." the village head rose to her feet, reaching out to him with a hand. Kaius clasped it. The fiery woman smiled at him. "Though if our yet to be named Dynasty is to be an ally of yours, Kaius, I would know your name." Kaius grinned, letting the question hang for a pregnant moment. "Kaius of Unterstern, pleased to make your acquaintance, Yanmi of Dynasty-yet-to-be-founded." B2 Chapter 200: Second Mission, pt. 3 B2 Chapter 200: Second Mission, pt. 3 Mid-morning sun streamed in from the windows of the fifth floor meeting room, blanketing the richly stained wooden table where Kaius and his team were discussing their upcoming rewards for their next mission. Kaius cleared his throat at a lull in the conversation, drawing the room''s attention. Sharing the nature of his sword was inherently risky, but if he could secure an oath from Ro, he would be far more comfortable. ¡°Rieker, Ro, I have a question for you.¡± Kaius said ¡°Oh, what''s on your mind?¡± Ro asked, looking at him with curiosity, the rest of the table''s eyes turning with her to train on him as he interrupted. ¡°It''s not like you to interrupt, did you have a request?¡± ¡°In a sense, though it''s only tangentially related to the topic at hand¡± Kaius replied, still feeling a little nervous. His response only seemed to pique Rieker and Ro¡¯s curiosity all the more; the pair of experienced gilded administrators looking at him with curiosity. ¡°Go on,¡± Rieker responded, encouraging him to continue. Kaius paused for a moment, gathering his nerves. ¡°It relates to our gear¡ªanother secret, and a rather large one. Unfortunately, it is one I have realised will become rather suspicious with the extent of your involvement in our current training. Hiding it would be...inconvenient and wasteful.¡± That got their attention, Ro in particular narrowing her eyes as she watched him closely. ¡°There¡¯s just one thing,¡± Kaius continued. ¡°If possible, I would like Ro to take an oath similar to the one you did, guildmaster.¡± Rieker immediately winced, cringing away from his request¡ªeven Ianmus stared at him in horror. Curiously, Ro herself didn¡¯t seem too surprised by his request, the corner of her eyes crinkling as her lips tweaked upwards. ¡°Kaius! You can¡¯t just ask that!¡± Ianmus all but yelled, aghast. He looked to his teammate in confusion, brow furrowing. Why not? It seemed like a pretty reasonable thing to do? Ianmus sighed, running his hands through his hair as he took in Kaius¡¯s expression. ¡°You can¡¯t just ask a Hiwiann to take an oath, especially not on one of the blood stones¡ªthey¡¯re sacred! There¡¯s all sorts of protocols that have to be followed.¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t mind him¡ªwe all know the idiot grew up in the middle of nowhere, he didn¡¯t know what he was asking. Besides, I''m no puritan.¡± Ro assured the mage, before shooting Kaius a smile. ¡°He¡¯s right though. If you were anyone else, I would be apoplectic¡ªbe thankful you¡¯ve already proven you¡¯re an idiot of the highest degree.¡± ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t realise it was a taboo.¡± Kaius replied, bowing his head respectfully. He didn¡¯t feel truly bad, after all, he considered their security more important than cultural practice¡ªbut if he had known he might have reworded his request. ¡°Thank you for being gracious, but this is important¡ªI might have to share with Rieker privately.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say I wouldn¡¯t take the oath, greenhorn. Just that you had been rude.¡± Ro grinned. The guildmaster turned to the manager of his branch, one eyebrow raised in surprise. ¡°Really, Ro? You decide to pick up a new binding now, of all times?¡± ¡°What can I say? The boy is interesting¡ªI¡¯ll go get the stone.¡± Ro replied, pushing her way out of her seat and leaving the room before any more words could be voiced. The room lay silent while she was gone¡ªKaius and Porkchop struggling to understand the hubbub around the oath, and Ianmus and Rieker astounded by the ease at which Ro had agreed. Ro swept back into the room, setting the ornate box that held the shard of the bloodstones down on the table. ¡°Now, so you do not make this mistake again¡ªand end up getting thrown out of a caravan or worse¡ªthere are two main things to abide by when you want to make an oath with a Hiwiann.¡± Kaius leaned in. Even if he didn¡¯t fully understand the custom or importance, it clearly existed. Given that he was likely to end up traveling all over Vaastivar, learning how to not piss off the trader-peoples who supplied half the continent with goods seemed like a wise choice. ¡°First, never ask. You can state it, if you make yourself the sole focus¡ª¡¯I would be willing to make an oath on this¡¯ is acceptable.¡± Nodding along, he filed the information away. He still thought the custom strange, but if he could work around it¡ªit would do. ¡°Second, always be prepared to bargain. A Hiwiann will never make a one-sided oath, even with death on the line.¡± Ro gave him a predatory smile, the points of her teeth glinting in the wardlights and raising the hair on the back of his neck. ¡°With that in mind, here¡¯s the deal. I swear on this, and you swear to give me three days of your full effort on one or multiple tasks of my choosing¡ªas long as they are not a risk to your life.¡± Kaius cocked his head. When the guild manager had given him that smile, he¡¯d been expecting something egregious¡ªshe clearly knew he wanted something, so she had him over the barrel. A few days'' work was... not very much, in his eyes. ¡°That¡¯s...uncharacteristically kind of you, Ro.¡± Rieker said, watching the woman like she¡¯d grown three heads. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°Hah! Kid¡¯s going to be Platinum before the decade¡¯s out¡ªor I''ll eat my boot. You best believe I¡¯ll be banking those favours.¡± Ro said, letting out a bark of laughter at the guildmaster¡¯s words. Rieker nodded, looking immediately more comfortable. ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± Kaius looked between them in confusion, before looking at Ro in surprise as he processed what she was saying. From what he knew of the ranks of the guild, they went up every hundred levels after you hit the second tier, so Platinum would have to be the first half of the third tier. First, the fact that Ro was confident he would make it there so quickly was flattering¡ªfrom what he knew the geniuses who even made it to third tier usually took decades. Second, it seemed...reasonable? Sure, he¡¯d be stronger, but it was only for three days. ¡°Deal.¡± Ro cackled, rubbing her hands together in glee, before she slid the box over to him. ¡°Person who suggests it goes first!¡± Ianmus¡¯s subtle nod to him let him know it was likely another custom, so Kaius held back his pride and unlatched the box, pulling free the shard of pulsing red rock. Relieving himself of a drop of blood with the aid of his trusty hunting knife, Kaius made his oath. Swearing to aid Ro with three full days of effort¡ªas long as it wasn¡¯t a risk to his life¡ªKaius felt his soul pulse as a faint and ephemeral connection linked him to something greater. An oath, set in stone. As soon as the last words left his lips, Ro cackled, wringing her hands as if she had just gotten away with robbing a bank. ¡°Fuck, I love a good mark.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, am I missing something? I understand she wants to wait until I¡¯m strong, but she¡¯s acting like I just signed away my first born.¡± Kaius directed his words to Rieker, desperately hoping that the guildmaster would explain the oddities in Ro¡¯s reaction. ¡°Three days of effort from a third tier is not usually something that money can buy¡ªRo¡¯s just gambling you¡¯ll make it there, though it seems to be a pretty safe bet.¡± Rieker replied. Kaius tilted his head at the woman, before shrugging as he put it to the back of his mind. Potential future value or no, it was still just three days of work. He didn¡¯t see how that matched up to someone swearing to keep his secrets and never act against him. Though, he supposed the best deals were the ones where both parties walked away thinking they had won. Gently taking the bloodstone back from him, Ro went through with her own oath¡ªidentical to the one that Rieker had made a month ago. She smiled as she did so, like it didn¡¯t feel like cold water was poured over her soul. Kaius sighed with relief as soon as she was done¡ªwith his security confirmed, he could see about the guild helping with A Father¡¯s Gift. ¡°Ro, I¡¯ll loop you in later. Come to my office the night before your rest-day. It¡¯ll be a long one, and I expect we¡¯ll be quite drunk by the time we¡¯re finished.¡± Rieker nodded to his second. ¡°Now, Kaius, what did you think was so important you had to loop Ro into the oath.¡± Nodding to the guildmaster, he unsheathed his blade, laying it flat across the table. ¡°It¡¯s about A Father¡¯s Gift...¡± .... Walking out of the guild, Kaius still felt the afterglow of the satisfaction from seeing Ro and Rieker¡¯s shocked reactions to learning his sword was a growth weapon. They¡¯d simply sat frozen, not doing anything other than blinking. It¡¯d taken clapping to snap them out of it, and even then they had little to say for minutes. Good thing he¡¯d decided against sharing that Father had made it, any more surprises and he was pretty sure that their hearts would have given out. He¡¯d gotten them to agree to see if they could help upgrade the sword in the end¡ªthough apparently it would be a bit more trouble than simply picking a good sword. Apparently, the guild had strict rules on who could know the contents of their artifact stores¡ªfor operational security reasons, according to the guildmaster. Moreover, there were also rules against removing items from the vault''s protection without due cause, ones that even Rieker was bound to. Troublesome, as it meant that they couldn¡¯t simply ferry him materials until one resonated, and he couldn¡¯t go in to show them which ones¡ªif any¡ªdid. In the end, Ro had come up with a rather convoluted method, and he¡¯d had to agree. A binding formation¡ªone that would cut him off from all of his senses. They¡¯d cart his insensate body in, and he¡¯d rely on his bond with A Father¡¯s Gift to see if anything was resonating. Porkchop would wait elsewhere in the guild with a communication artefact, and he would tell his brother if something did, at which point Porkchop would be able to tell the guild administrators that there had been a resonance and how strong it was. Once they¡¯d been catalogued, they¡¯d cart his body out, free him, and let him know if he could have his prize now, or if he would have to bank more rewards. Convoluted and ridiculous in his opinion, but if that is what it took to get his blade upgraded he¡¯d do it. Thankfully, they weren¡¯t entirely sure if they had to¡ªwhile they had never personally encountered such a case, it was likely the guild had dealt with bound weapon wielders before¡ªthey¡¯d see if there were any official rulings that would make their lives easier. Unfortunately, the same ridiculous rules that made it necessary also meant they couldn¡¯t do it now. He had to wait until they could reward him. Shaking his head at the memory, Kaius made his way back to the Stables with his team. The rest of the day would be dedicated to preparation. Taking on a boggart swarm was no easy task¡ªit could take weeks, and there was likely to be a distinct lack of anything edible once their business was underway with how voracious the buggers were. Beyond food supplies, Ianmus had raised that it would be smart to pack mana restoratives, and potentially antidotes for disease and poison. If they were ambushed when Ianmus was out, he¡¯d be almost entirely defenceless. Same went for the antidotes¡ªIanmus could burn out an infection, but if he was afflicted while low on mana, it was better to save the resource for defence. That wasn¡¯t all; Ro had offloaded three other jobs for them to tackle on the way there. They would be trivial for their strength, but, given how rapidly the state of things was changing, that might not stay the case for long. His Glass Mind was already racing¡ªpouring over his memories to plan the most effective route it could based on his understanding of the region. Aspect in full force, it planned for the campaign ahead. Looking around the street, he noticed a man in a plush purple cloak almost running into his house, a sack of what sounded like jars held in a white knuckle grip. It seemed that the air of desperation had finally begun to claw its way into even the wealthy in the Delver¡¯s district. It was...sickly and heavy, seeing the weight that people carried as they walked the streets. Reminded him of the fragility of what had once seemed ironclad. Gods, he couldn¡¯t wait to get out of here. Chapter 141 - B2 139: Preparing to Leave After sealing his compact with the elders of Three Fields, the atmosphere had turned raucous and celebratory. Beer flowed like water, and the deer that he and Porkchop had slain earlier in the day was brought out for a great roast. Normally, that would have been excessive for a group of seven, but with their eighth being a greater meles, it was only just enough. Kaius thanked his blessings that whatever magic supported a greater beasts frame allowed them to function on smaller amounts of food than their size would suggest, otherwise they would be in a far worse state when preparing their travel rations. He even managed to get drunk, though his pleasant buzz got more and more difficult to maintain as his control on Rapid Adaptation slipped. At least he managed to squeeze two levels out of the skill as a consolation prize, Hurrin''s stout was strong stuff. **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has reached level 21!** ... **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has reached level 22!** While there was the temptation to decide on the name of their soon-to-be dynasty, the elders decided rightfully to wait for their missing member, Holt, before they made any decisions. That went double for actually planning the gargantuan task of enticing the other villages to join their banner, or how they would entice others to come forward with any potentially hidden legacy skills. That sat just fine with Kaius. He needed allies, and a base of power, but he had no interest in running a full blown dynasty, not yet at least. Having those decisions made in his absence would be far better for creating a level of separation between them and Unterstern. Eventually though, the night grew long, and he and Porkchop were led upstairs to the rooms of the inn. Luckily, the largest room had a set of double doors, so Porkchop was still able to squeeze in. He never ended up making it to the bed, instead curling up on the bearskin rug that lay in front of a smouldering fire alongside his brother. With Porkchop''s growth spurt, they would have just broken the damn thing anyway. Sleep took him in moments. ... The sun shone bright, nary a cloud in the sky as Kaius crossed Three Fields. He still felt a little groggy after the night before, though mostly from mild sleep deprivation. His resistance skill might have been unfortunately effective against beer, but it was equally so against hangovers. Porkchop padded alongside him, his coat on full display. They''d freed him from his barding for what would hopefully be the last time, and had stowed it in their dimensional bag. Kaius had taken to stashing the thing in his emptied pack, which he wore. No way was he leaving something that valuable behind, even if he did know practically the entire town. Walking down stone paved streets, Kaius gave friendly nods to those he passed and recognised, making a beeline to the rhythmic hammer blows that echoed from the workshops a few blocks away. They might have been set at the very edge of the town, but the place was small enough that the sounds of smithing carried far. "What are you hoping that Eilish will be able to do when making me my under-armour? Wont it be missing enchantments?" Porkchop asked. Kaius smiled. His bond-brother''s only exposure to artefacts were from the masterworks that the system had spawned, and he had very little knowledge of the more mundane creations that a skilled crafter could create. "They will, but a good artisan can still create artefacts without them. They lean more on the innate properties of the materials, and their own skills to draw out the full effectiveness of the items. Though, enchantments are more flexible, and it will definitely be worth our while to take whatever we get to an inscriptionist in Deadacre." he explained as they crossed the street, rounding on a half dozen workshops. Eilish, and her husband Yondar, shared the most grand. Equal parts leatherworking shop and smithy, it dominated the street. Unlike most buildings in town, it was built entirely from stone. No one wanted their house and shop going up in flames due to a forge mishap. "We will still be able to get it enchanted?" Porkchop asked as they approached the building, surprised. "Oh, yes. it''s not quite as efficient as having the inscription worked into the very creation of the artefact, but the people with the skills to do that are few and far between. Now come on, we''re here." Kaius replied, pushing open the heavy oak door that led into the reception of the workshop. Eilish was waiting for him with her partner, Yondar, at her side; the pair standing behind a counter that stretched across a good half of the room. "Kaius! Right on time." the head of the Three Fields'' artisans said warmly. "Good to see you, lad; it warms the heart to see you well." Yondar said, smiling at him. Kaius returned the man''s grin. He''d always liked Yondar. Though he didn''t know the man all that well, he''d always been kind and friendly. "Yondar, good to see you. I hear that your wife has volunteered your services?" Kaius said, as Eilish rolled her eyes at him. "That she has. A worthy trade for the gift you have given us; let alone the honour of crafting a piece for a Forest King." he said, dipping his head respectfully to Porkchop. "Now, you said that you needed some sort of ... under-armour? It would be good to see what I will be working with." "Well, I''ll let the man himself do the talking." Kaius said, ushering Porkchop forwards. His bond-brother towered in the shop, but he took a respectful seat in front of the counter. "Hello! It is nice to meet you." Porkchop said to Yondar. The man smiled, though Kaius could see that he was still a little unsettled at having a massive meles sitting in his place of work. "Nice to meet you too! Now, how can I help?" "Well, I have a bloodline skill that creates a heavy plate armour around my body. I was hoping for something tough that can help to absorb impact, but still stand up to a light bit of abuse if I''m caught out before I can summon my plate. It would also be perfect if it has a way for us to secure some cargo on my flank, and potentially some extra padding on my spine with some sort of loop for Kaius to hold onto during a charge." Porkchop explained, visibly getting more excited as he went through their ideas. Yondar dutifully took notes, sketching out ideas as he mused on what was possible. The man eyed his bond-brother intently, noting down measurements that he could tell purely by sight. "That does sound doable, though would you be able to show me the armour?" Yondar asked. "Sure! Is here fine?" Porkchop asked. As soon as Yondar nodded, Kaius watched mana start to glow within his bond-brother as he channelled his skill. A scant few seconds later there was a pop of displaced air as heavy overlapping plates of thick jade appeared around Porkchop, the floorboards creaking under his new weight. The armour was still just as fearsome as it was the first time he had seen it, covering his bond-brother''s front section in an imposing defence. Sure, there were still gaps between the armour, and it didn''t fully seal him in like a normal suit of heavy-plate, but that would change as the skill levelled. Yondar leaned in, clearly fascinated by the armour. "Remarkable. The weight alone must be quite something, no doubt it would be useless without your impressive might. Though, I can see why you would like some under-armour. Tell me, will it encompass more as you level?" Porkchop nodded. The leatherworker immediately scribbled more notes. "Perfect. Originally I was considering some sort of variation of a Hiwiann lightweight saddle, but even that will be too high profile if the armour ever stretches down your spine. Sorry, Kaius," Yondar shot him a small smile. "Best you''re going to get is some extra padded leather and a few loops for your hand and feet holds." He laughed. "That''s more than alright. What of the saddle bags?" The artisan nodded. "I''ll do something similar, make it so you can tear or cut them free without damaging the bags themselves, though from what I know of armour skills you might already be in need of a replacement before it reaches Porkchop''s flank." Placing his notebook on the counter, Yondar drilled out a staccato rhythm on the polished wood with his fingers. "Now, I have everything we need. I assume you will be getting it inscribed at Deadacre? You have the coin for Self Repair?" Kaius nodded. It would be a significant cost, but they should be able to cover it with ease if they sold off Porkchop''s old barding and their blink knives. "Fantastic, that makes everything a lot easier. It''ll probably be the only enchantment the under-armour will be able to support, though you might be able to swing Well Fitted or Self Cleaning as well depending on which one I''m able to work into the armour, but if you go that route I have the perfect material." The artisan shot him a knowing grin. "Something I am sure you will appreciate." "Oh?" Porkchop asked. "One moment." Yondar said, before he hurried away from the counter and dipped into a back room. Eilish rolled her eyes at her husband''s antics as a muffled curse slipped out of the open door. "Always caught up in his ideas, that one." she muttered. Yondar returned a moment later, carrying a bolt of leather nearly as big as he was. It was thick stuff, nearly a thumb width, and looked as supple as anything Kaius had ever seen. Almost too supple, for something that would be armour. The artisan set the leather down on the wide bench with a huff. "Kaius, you remember that Stone Charger your da brought down a few years back?" Kaius looked at the man in shock, nodding slowly. It had been a fearsome beast, bigger than Porkchop was. It had crossed the mountains from the deep Sea one spring for some unknown reason. Terrifying things they were, though thankfully rare. They had a propensity to charge through anything that pissed them off, which was everything. His father had promptly returned him to Three Fields in Hurrin''s care before setting off on its trail with Jekkar, returning victorious a week later. Yondar smiled at him. "I bought the hide off him and Jekkar, and have been saving it for the right project. A bit of a waste to dilute its potential by splitting it up, so I''ve been sitting on it. It''s downright perfect for this use. Softer than you could imagine, but with remarkable shock absorbing qualities and durable as a titan." Kaius merely swallowed and nodded in gratitude. It would be nice to have something else of his father''s to bring with him on his travels. Porkchop, on the other hand, stared at the leather with open glee, before he leaned in and gave it a sniff. "Oh! One of these. I''ve never seen one in person, they live too close to the mountains, but some of my denmates have said they are down right infuriating to put down." Porkchop said. Yondar chuckled. "That would line up with Jekkar''s incessant prattling about the hunt, yes. Anyway! I should be able to have this ready by morning the day after tomorrow with EIlish''s help. I''m sure you have much more preparations to do for your journey today. And no asking about payment, you''ve done enough for us. Think of it as a gift." Kaius looked at the wisened leatherworker in appreciation. "Are you sure?" "I am. Now shoo! I have to start immediately if I''m to have any hope of getting this done in time. Go bother Yanmi about some potions or something." Yondar said, ushering them out of the shop. Kaius allowed himself to be pulled along by the man''s energy, entering out into the shining sun once more. "Don''t forget to check in with Jekkar for rations!" Eilish called out, before her husband waved a final goodbye and shut the door to their shared workshop. Kaius smiled and shook his head. "Are all people so weird? That was weird right?" Porkchop asked, looking back towards the shop before looking at Kaius. He laughed. "Yes, he''s a little eccentric, but he means well. Now come on, we''ve got a few more places to visit." As a pair they set off into Three Fields. Potions and rations, then they should be good. After that, it would be a simple matter of enjoying some well earned rest and relaxation, before he readied himself to say his goodbyes. Chapter 142 - B2 140: Departure Kaius sat on the floor of his room in the Stout oak, a veritable cornucopia of items and artefacts arrayed on the ground before him. Porkchop lay across, staring at them all in dismay. They''d had a fast paced, but pleasant few days. It had been a rush of meeting with the various elders, stocking up on a variety of traveling essentials. That, and simply spending time with the people that he had not seen in so long. It was a soothing balm to his soul, giving him the time, space, and peace to work through not only his grief over his father''s passing, but also process the monumental nature of what he had experienced in the previous year. Of all, it was perhaps Illendra who had helped most. With Hurrin keeping the tavern closed while he stayed, she had had plenty of free time to sit with him and Porkchop. Their discussions had ranged from the simple, to the deep. Everything ranging from what she had been up to since they had last met, to how the crushing weight of his responsibilities weighed on him. It had been her idea to stay a few days longer than he originally intended. Oh, she gave an excuse, that it would be good for him to share words with Holt before he left, who had sent a missive via bird that he would be returning soon. He knew that it was simply an easy out for him, that she thought he needed some time to just breathe. As it often turned out, she had been right on the money. He hadn''t realised just how much tension he had been carrying until it started to fade. Jekkar was another help. The stoic hunter had had his own brushes with death out in the wilds, and he''d been more than happy to swap stories of harrowing moments over a tankard. It helped to remind him that even with all that had happened to him, mortal battles were a fact of life, and that there were many who could empathise with his experiences. Now though, the time had come for them to leave. The beasts had been growing stronger faster than he had expected, from what he had heard from the village hunters. With the rising mana levels, there was nothing to encourage them to migrate, and they were quickly changing from a simple nuisance to a real threat. If they waited much longer, they could potentially be out paced. As it stood, the trip to Deadacre was likely to be a good source of levels. Hence, they were doing an inventory, something that Porkchop seemed to find physically painful. "Must we, Kaius?" his bond-brother groaned. "Yep," he replied, opening his journal. "It''s important we know exactly what we have. Besides, this will only take me a moment." His eyes roved over their belongings. Five tonics each of restoratives for their Resources, in glass bottles of a similar design to the ones he had gotten from the Depths. Yanmi''s personal stock. As a dedicated alchemist who was plenty skilled, she''d made them strong, despite only using what meagre reagents could be found locally. Each would restore three-hundred, though he couldn''t drink more than two of any of them in a row. Something to do with how the body absorbed them, and the limitations of mortal brewers, or so Yanmi said. Much like everything else, he''d been given the lot for free, though he had insisted on offloading his empties on to her. They weren''t worth all that much, and she had far more use of them than him. He''d also managed to get a full ninety stride length of rope, another five waterskins, and a lot more soap than was strictly necessary. Going so long without proper cleaning in the Depths had been horrid, and Kaius had no desire to repeat the experience any time soon. Other than that, they had secured a full three weeks worth of rations; Jekkar and Hurrin had busted out the good stuff, ladening him with wellmade and tasty pemmican, salted ham, venison jerky, and a wide array of dried fruits, vegetables and nuts. With his noble''s pantry worth of spices and his fancy depths-wrought pan, they would be eating well. They''d also managed to pick up Porkchop''s under-armour. Yondar had been kind enough to rig up a few saddle bags that could be detached with ease, one to hide their dimensional bag, the other to hold their tent and a few of their harder wearing supplies like the rope. The final new acquisition was a thin full length cloak, more for obscuring his eye-catching armour than any need for warmth. The travelling garb his father had given him was more than enough to keep that handled. Other than that, he did an accounting of their finances. Twenty-four silver and sixteen gold. A sizable sum for everyday living, but one that would not stretch all that far when considering artefacts, consumables, and other delving supplies. Luckily they would be able to sell off Porkchop''s old barding and their brace of blink daggers in Deadacre, which should bolster it healthily. "Are you done yet?" Porkchop whined. "I want to try on the new under armour." Kaius smirked, and finished putting away the last of their gear in their saddlebags. Porkchop had decided to wait until they were ready to leave to put on his newest artefact, but now that the time was drawing near his bond-brother was growing impatient. "All done." he said, rising to his feet and hefting a bag with each arm. "Let''s go get you suited up." Porkchop was on his feet in moments, barely avoiding scoring the hardwood floors with his razor sharp claws. Kaius laughed at his brother''s enthusiasm, and made his way out of the room. ... Standing out in the shining sun, Kaius heaved his bond-brother''s new armour onto his back. It was a weighty thing, made of impressively cut thick leather that had been merged into a seamless whole. Diamond style cross stitches layered the thing, adding to its properties, yet through clever craftsmanship it settled over Porkchop''s back like a second skin. The same slate grey as mountain stone, Kaius thought it actually looked quite dashing on Porkchop. Though, with how clear it was that it was padding, he did look a little like a half suited knight. Behind them sat the stalls of the Stout Oak''s stables, though they''d opted to get Porkchop suited on the small courtyard in front of them. Wide as they were, with plenty of polished oak steps and ledges, it would have made the job far easier to use them. Kaius had decided against it, stabling Porkchop like a common beast of burden felt...demeaning, even if the meles himself didn''t see an issue with it. Porkchop rose up to his full height, giving Kaius access to the straps and buckles that would secure the armour in place. All things considered, it was a fine peace, and Yondar had managed to stretch far more out of his raw materials than Kaius had expected. Though, that said, the man was an artisan in the middle of the first tier, if he hadn''t been able to do so much with a well suited material like the hide of a late tier Stone Charger it would have been a little surprising. Still, analysing the artefact for the first time had been a little bit of a shock. Thinking of the moment, he pulled up the status once more as he threaded another strap though its buckle and cinched it comfortably tight. Dampening Padded Barding: Rare - Tier I Brought low by proficient hunters, the hide of an errant Stone Charger languished unused, waiting for the perfect form. Now serving as the regalia of one of strong blood, its destiny has been realised. Made from specially treated Stone Charger leather, quadruple stitched and multilayered, this barding has a thin padded spine section to cushion a rider with minimal increase in profile, and has quick release buckles for saddlebags. Using the natural properties of the materials, this barding is maximised to absorb blunt force impacts, though it can weather a blade with reasonable effectiveness. Artisan-wrought Artefact. Padded Beast Under-armour Durability III, Impact Negation III, Self Cleaning I Kaius shook his head as he looked at the description of the artefact. Rare, one of their first, and one that would have been incredibly expensive if he had had to pay for the materials and craftsmanship. The Durability and Impact Negation effects were sizable, and would go far to providing Porkchop additional protection from blunt force and attacks that slipped past his armour plates. That, and the latter should hopefully make for a far more comfortable ride than the measly double layering of leather that served as a saddle suggested. What was more surprising to him was that Yondar had managed to work Self Cleaning into the mix. Kaius knew the man had said it was possible, but it was still an impressive feat that must have required significant investment of skill. The barding basically already looked like it had been enchanted, though he knew that Yondar would have squeezed the materials close to their limit with his work. It was likely that the armour wouldn''t be able to support much more when they eventually got it inscribed. Hopefully it was enough for Self Repair. "Kaius, a man''s coming. Big guy, wearing chain, looks tough." Porkchop warned, watching the street. Kaius rolled back onto his heels and rose from his crouch. "That would be Holt. Right on time, as always," he replied, turning to give the approaching figure a smile and a wave. Holt gave him a nod, continuing his steady approach. He was an imposing man, nearly as tall as Kaius and built like a wiry mountain lion. Garbed in leather and chain, he had his arming sword at his side. Kaius was pretty sure he had never seen that blade out of the head of the constabulary''s reach. "Kaius, good to see you, lad." Holt said, reaching out to clasp Kaius''s hand and pulling him into a firm hug. "Finally got blooded, aye?" He shot the warrior a wiry grin. Of all those in the village, Holt was the most directly combat capable, and easily the strongest. Probably in his last sprint to the second tier, if Kaius had to guess. "That I did, though if I had the choice it would have been under different circumstances." Holt nodded solemnly. "Of course, it was rat-faced luck, what happened to ye and your da, but such is the will of the Lady." Clapping him on the shoulder, the warrior turned towards his bond-brother. "And this must be ye friend, Porkchop. Shit name for a killer." Porkchop chuffed. "The responses have made it more than worth it, trust me." "No doubt, no doubt." Holt said respectfully, before he turned his attention back to Kaius. "Just came to give you my thanks, lad; me and Jekkar have been in fits tryna figure out a way to get through the coming danger. Ye really saved my hide there. It''s a plan fit for a madman, but it''s one that I think might just work." Kaius nodded. "Just trying to make sure I have somewhere to come back to." "And you will, I''ll make sure of it." Holt said, shooting him a wide grin. "Listen, I''m not one to hold up a man on a mission, so I''ll wait with the others by the gate. Just wanted to chat personally for a second, let you know I''ve got some of my own...advantages...that I''ll be throwing in the pot. Some of the others do too, nothing quite as good or expansive as what you passed us, but something. Don''t let it be said we never went all in when you fronted up first, ye hear?" Kaius sighed in relief. "That''s good to know, I was worried that it wouldn''t be enough. Every bit extra should help pull people to the banner." Holt clapped him on the shoulder once more, before he squeezed with reassuring strength. "It will lad, I''ll make sure of it. You just make sure to survive and pass on word of what you learn about everything else, and I''ll turn this place into an iron fortress by the time you next pass through." "Thanks, Holt, I mean it." Kaius responded with gratitude. "Nonsense, boy. Now I best leave you to it, I''ll see you by the gate." the warrior said, taking his leave. Kaius watched the man leave, feeling a little more sure of Three Fields'' safety. He wasn''t sure of Holt''s exact level, but if he had his own Legacy skills then he would be a powerful combatant. To know that he would be pitching in to teach those skills to the wider community was even more gratifying. Shaking his head, Kaius returned to securing Porkchop''s barding. It was the last thing to do before they left and chased the horizon. ... They left as soon as Kaius finished. Swinging into his ''saddle'', he found the new padded barding to be impossibly more comfortable than Porkchop''s old garb. It even had some simple loops for him to put his feet into and for him to grab. Nothing that would get in the way of his bond-brother''s skill, or interfere in battle, but enough to give him some measure of secure seating. They walked down the main pavilion of Three Field''s, heading towards the gate. As they left, Kaius took a long, last, look at the town. It was a slow moving place, full of hardy people who liked the rough and tumble freedom of the frontier. His people. It was sad to leave them, but he never intended on keeping his world so confined as the outskirts of the Arboreal Sea and the surrounding villages. It was time to go. Nodding at a few familiar faces as they left, Kaius spied the gate. It was already open, Illendra and the gathered elders waiting for them. He smiled, glad to see the people he knew best were there to see him off. "Please be safe, Kaius. I wish you would stay, but I know you never could, even without your responsibilities." Illendra said as he drew close. Kaius slid from his saddle, dropping to the ground to give her a hug. "I''ll be back." he assured her. "This place is still dear to me." "You better," Illendra muttered, scowling at him as she wiped her eyes. "I need to go get the tavern ready, now that someone isn''t hogging it. I just know there''s going to be a rush tonight." "Go," Kaius said, giving her a final hug. "Thanks for seeing me off." She nodded, giving him a last smile before she left. Kaius turned to the elders, before being pulled into a sequence of clasped hands, clapped shoulders, and tight hugs. Each and every one of them had words for him. Of assurance, of trust, and of promise that they wouldn''t squander his gifts. The sun shone down on them with illuminating warmth, in what he hoped was a good omen for his journey. One by one the elders left, until only Jekkar remained. He was, afterall, on watch. "Be safe, lad, and don''t forget to send word if and when you can." the old hunter said, giving him a last slap on the back. Kaius grinned at the man, before he hauled himself back into his saddle. Porkchop chuffed in excitement and started to walk out the open gates. A low squeaking groan cut across the fields of the frontier as they slowly closed behind him. He was ready. A new adventure waited, one that no doubt held danger, mystery, and the promise of growth. They set off, following a rough trail through the grasslands, over rolling hills. Towards Deadacre. Chapter 143 - B2 141: Roadside Encounter Astride Porkchop''s back, Kaius took in the rolling hills of the frontier. It was a gorgeous environment, shining with bright green grasses that stretched as far as the eye could see. Rocky outcroppings broke up the landscape, jutting out of the earth every which way. Most were small, but some were larger than houses. Thankfully, the stone features were relatively spread apart, so it was still an easy walk over the gentle rises as they picked their way through the jutting stone. Other than that, there was plenty of dense brush that grew in wide patches, providing shelter for small animals and grazing locations for larger ones. Or beasts, Kaius supposed. It was odd to think about, but there really weren''t any normal animals left. Thankfully, in the day and a half since leaving Three Fields they had yet to encounter anything that had tried to give them a go. That said, it was only a matter of time. The average level of things seemed to be rising dramatically with the increase in mana. Already it was rare to see something under level ten. Mostly though, it had been birds and small beasts that had been more than happy to give them a wide berth, though they had seen a deer-like plains-runner underneath one of the rare trees that dotted the landscape. The thing had threatened them with a false charge, but when they kept moving it had let them be. Honestly, at this point Kaius wished that something would try to take a bite out of them. If only so that they could start gaining some levels before things got really feisty. Shifting in his saddle, Porkchop groaned dramatically beneath him. "What the hells have you been eating, fatty? You feel like you weigh more than an oak log." Porkchop moaned, faking a stumble. Kaius rolled his eyes. Porkchop''s armour had to be three times his weight, and he''d seen Porkchop shoulder it like it was nothing. "Yeah, yeah. How''re you finding being out of the Sea? Is the wider world all you thought it would be?" he asked, making some simple conversation to pass the time. "Honestly? It''s bloody weird how open this space is. There''s just nothing but rocks and grass as far as the eye can see. Every time we get to the top of one of these hills it feels like the sky is looming over me, like the ground is going to fall away." Porkchop murmured, the slightest unease coming through their bond. Kaius nodded. He knew the feeling, apparently it was common for those that grew up in and around the Sea, though thankfully it was far less prominent than the last time he had crossed the frontier. "Father told me it was normal on my first trip, for those that are used to closer confines at least. It should pass, just you being unused to being able to see so far or something. I''m still not sure if I like being this exposed, but I got over the worst of it in a week or so." he reassured, sharing what he knew of the strange phenomena. "That''s something, at least." They lapsed into silence, continuing on their journey. At their current clip, they would likely see the walls of Deadacre by the time a few weeks had passed. They could push faster, but that would leave Porkchop drained; no need to exhaust the poor bastard when he was already kind enough to lug him around. He went back to scanning the passing rock formations, as he had gotten into the habit of. Explorer''s Toolkit incessantly nudged him if he went without for longer than a few minutes, urging him to survey the many vantage spots where creatures could lurk unnoticed. He scanned the hillside, leaning on the acuity of True Sight to see far farther than he otherwise could have. Both skills had seen some good growth from his constant vigilance, which made him all the happier to adhere to the instincts of his skill. Every single level brought with it a little splash of joy, as unused as he was to no longer being constrained by the caps of an unclassed. Peering into the shadows that lurked between the jutting spires of grey stone, he expected to find nothing like he had the last several dozen times he had scouted their surroundings. Stone, stone, grass, stone, bush, stone, fur, grass, bush, stone. **Ding! Explorer''s Toolkit has reached level 29!** His mind caught up to his eyes, and he came to a screeching halt as his skill blared an insistent warning to him. Fur? His eyes whipped back to a crack between two boulders, his angle obscuring a decent look into the pathway between them. Nothing. Yet he knew what he saw, and knew to trust the warning instincts that thrummed within him. Despite the potential danger, a wide grin split his mouth. Finally. "Don''t react, but we have something stalking us along the hill line far to our left. I only caught a glimpse of it, but it was definitely something and its setting off the hazard sense of Explorer''s Toolkit something fierce." Kaius said in an even voice, maintaining a slow back and forth of the ridgeline for a few moments before he returned his eyes to the front like he had found nothing. "Really?! Thank the bloody Matriarchs, we haven''t had a good fight in over a week." Porkchop exclaimed, a hungry glee radiating across their bond. Kaius felt that hungry desire waken his own Song, igniting a glimmering ember in his heart. "Hopefully they''re tough enough, it''d be good to work up a good sweat," he agreed. "Let''s keep moving, see if we can bait them into a committed attack." Porkchop grunted, and kept pushing forward. Though Kaius did notice his bond-brother''s ears twitching with every shift of the wind, alert for changes. His every sense was in tune with his environment, yet whatever was tracking them was as silent as a ghost. If he hadn''t caught that single glimpse by chance, he would have had no idea they had something on their tail. Even tense as they were, they rose over their hill and began their descent with nary a peep from their pursuer. It was only half way up the next rise, mostly devoid of obscuring stones, that Kaius heard a baying call of hunger. Snapping his head to the noise, Kaius got his first good glimpse of their pursuer. Or, more accurately, pursuers. Five large grey figures left the hidden safety of the rocky formations a good few hundred strides away. Each was large, almost wolf-like, though with blockier heads and jutting fangs that he could see even from such a distance. One though, one was massive. Whereas its lesser companions would have reached just higher than his waist, the leader of the small pack came up to Kaius''s chest easily. They waited at the edge of the stone, snarling and snapping as they glared at him with feral hunger. Porkchop met their calls with a chesty growl of his own, the noise rolling across the gentle hillside like shattering stone, his chest reverberating beneath Kaius''s legs. Eyes twinkling in anticipation, Kaius swung himself out of his saddle and landed solidly on the ground with a thump. He drew his sword, a smile beginning to tweak at his lips. Heart quickening, he felt the familiar thrum of the Bloodsong start its tune, filling him with a dearly missed fervour. "Go on then." he said to Porkchop. His brother rolled his eyes, but dutifully swiped at him with an easily dodged but very heavy blow. Kaius blocked, feeling his companion''s might as jade claws sparked off his steel. Shuddering under the weight of the strike, he held his ground. Energy siphoned, charging his vambraces just a little. Honestly, once it had occurred to them that they could prepare a cleaving strike before a fight, he''d felt like a total moron. Such was life. The clang of stone and steel startled the sneering beasts into action, and the pack shot forwards with a deluge of chittering whines. Porkchop glowed with hidden mana, heavy plates of sacred jade covering him seconds later. Kaius marveled at the sight, the stout armour resting perfectly over his new barding. He looked fearsome. Strong. Flicking back to the rapidly approaching pack, he analyzed the group. Longfang Hunter- Level 14: Beast, Skirmisher ... Longfang Hunter- Level 17: Beast, Skirmisher Longfang Pack-Lord- Level 32: Beast, Leader, Bruiser "Fourteen to seventeen, big one''s thirty-two." Kaius snapped off. "Guess it''s time to put our choices to the test." Porkchop replied with dark anticipation colouring his voice. Kaius grinned, readying his stance. It felt...off, with his missing fingers, but he had gotten used to the injury. Hopefully it wouldn''t be too long until he could get them healed; despite his skill, he had a little less leverage and control without them. Still, it would be enough to kill. Thirty would be tough for any normal classer at their level, but it was time to put his class to the test, to see the true might of a Runeblade. The longfangs raced down the grassy hillside, and up the next to meet them. A hundred strides. Ninety. He dropped his offhand to his side, adjusting to a one handed grip guided by Liturgical Bladeform. Seventy-five. Porkchop howled, digging in his claws as he readied to charge. Sixty. Stormlash. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Drakthar has reached level 5!** A bolt of pure arcing plasma materialised in his hand with a cracking boom, shining with barely restrained might as a shower of red embers scattered from his glyph. The Pack-lord at the head of the troop balked, trying to slow. Kaius let out a laugh of sheer joy. It was far too late for that. Focusing his intent on the oversized beast, he snapped his arm towards it. The contained fury of the storm crashed through the air faster than he could process, wrapping around the beast in a shattering crack that echoed across the hills. The lead beast seized, blood erupting from its mouth as his spell seemed to fuzz with reverberating intensity. Its legs locked up. A mountain of meat hit the ground in a flail of limbs, two of its lessers joining it as his spell arced to fry their smaller forms. They were tougher than they looked. He''d just nailed them with enough storm mana that any lesser creature would be dead. Porkchop activated his amulet, transitioning from a deadstop to a landslide of blurring green with all the unleashed intensity of a snapping bowstring. Kaius was already moving, closing in on their prey. Another Stormlash whipped out, searing the remaining two longfangs that tried to scramble out of the way of his brother''s charge. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Drakthar has reached level 6!** His spell was...potent. There was no other way to describe it. The crackling whip of controlled lightning slammed into his prey like the hammer of god. Choked screams forced their way out of their throats as their flesh fried, every muscle and nerve searing as it was overwhelmed with paralysing might. Then the resonance that thrummed in his mana bridged the gap, crashing through the longfangs'' bodies to eviscerate their delicate organs, shredding blood vessels and cracking bone. Far more power than should be held in the hands of a piddling level three, but thus was the inequitable favour of the system. Porkchop''s armour bound form crashed into the still stunned body of the Pack-lord, trampling it beneath razor sharp claws of jade. With his enhanced weight and momentum, he cracked its chest, ribs bursting free of its flesh. Then he swiped, daggers of jade flaying its side, even as its Health roared free to seal the wounds. The first two hunters rose to their feet, attempting to harass Porkchop from the sides. Their snarling snaps did nothing but clink painfully off the heavy green stone that layered the front half of his body. Roaring with a furious challenge, Kaius''s bond-brother kept their pack leader pinned with one paw, claws sinking into its chest, as he forced them back with an aggressive swipe. Kaius arrived at the shivering forms of the last two hunters, just barely rising from the daze left in the wake of his Stormlash, fur scorched and flesh weak. Three-quarters dead from the might of his spell. Setting both hands on his blade, he rose into an aggressive highguard, A Father''s Gift held overhead. Bolstered by the blood of greater beasts, and empowered by Honour, his body thrummed with primal might. He swung, carving his way through the throat of his first victim. Carotid exposed, hot red vital fluid sprayed through the air. It splattered against his face, staining his face red **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo has reached level 21!**. Kaius tasted the iron tang of a life well lived and rejoiced. Nothing beat a good fight. Pivoting through his hips, he brought his blade to bear once more. A second blow and the heavy head of the hunter fell to the earth, its heart still beating, pumping its vitality to nourish the green grass below. **Ding! level 15 Longfang Hunter slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 4!** ... **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 5!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** His own blood sang at the sight, and he advanced. There was more killing to be done. Interlude 3: Rumours Interlude 3: Rumours Jorn coughed weakly, trying to clear the thick wad of mucous that seemed to be choking him alive. Leaning one hand against the greasy stone wall of the alley, he doubled over¡ªhis head spinning as a ka-thunk rocked his chest. His heart skipping another beat, it had to be. They were getting closer together. He needed more shard. It...it would be his soon. Even with the fucking beasts ruining the supply lines¡ªeven the thickest smuggler was a fucking rat, and too few were braving the wilds¡ªGrave-eye would have some. He always did. He was desperate enough that the prices would be worth it. Besides, this time he wouldn¡¯t owe the demon-spawn shit. He had info. Everyone knew that Grave-eye liked info. Sure, he was a ruthlessly conniving bastard who would look best dressed in six strides of soil¡ªa veritable plague on the city¡ªbut the man had shard. Or at least, Jorn was almost certain he did. How could he not? Grave-eye had his fingers in every single pie in the city. Sure, he was a smaller player, but he was smart, had connections. Everyone knew him. Everyone liked him¡ªor at least, thought he was useful. It was honestly impressive how he¡¯d managed to leverage a web of favours, deals, and alliances to keep himself safe in the middle of his enclave. He had to have shard. Just thinking about it was enough to get that metallic tingle on the back of his tongue, his mouth puckering at the very thought of it. That porcelain bite¡ªshining a soft, impossible, grey. The sour taste of joy and acceptance. The bitter fucking abscense of it. Another thud rolled through him. Jorn crouched down, hugging his knees as he waited for the wave to pass. He just...just had to get to Grave-eye. Even a flake would last him for a week¡ªhells, a month! Feeling himself grin at the thought of the poison, Jorn felt sick to his stomach. A delver, shivering in an alley as he dreamed of his next fix. Gods, he was gutless. Such a fucking bastard. A two-bit delver who was pathetic enough to get hooked on fucking shard¡ªover a wench of all things! But...it wasn¡¯t all his fault. Cass had tricked him¡ªtold him it was just a bit of fun. Told him that she¡¯d taken it for once or twice a year since she¡¯d been a woman, without a hint of a craving. Liar. Then she¡¯d died, and there was no fucking way he was dealing with that sober. He¡¯d lost Hosh in a delve three months later, and Talla the very next time he¡¯d dared to step foot in those demon-spawned Depths after that. Who could blame a man for grief? Besides, it was the last time. Jorn coughed, and the wad finally came free. Spluttering to the point of retching, he spat the slimy gristle onto the piss-streaked stone, and came up for a breath of sweet air¡ªat least as close as you could get to it on this side of Deadacre. With air, came clarity. Gods, what was he doing? He was a rat, a sellout¡ªa fucking snake. He should turn back. This was a step too low, even for a bastard like him. He could tell Ro¡ªhe¡¯d never spoken to her, but he¡¯d heard she was reasonable. Oh, she¡¯d chuck him in a cell until he was good and dry, but she wouldn¡¯t give him the boot. She might if he went through with tonight. There were a lot of opportunities out there now, for someone like him. Even a shit Scout with an Uncommon class could make something of themselves these days¡ªplenty of things to grow strong against. Plus, the boys had been talking about pushing up through Bronze¡ªmaking their way to Iron. There¡¯d be good coin with that, enough to get him to the Dukedoms. Like he¡¯d always wanted. Ma would have wanted it too. Even if he could never visit her again, she¡¯d want that for him. He wouldn¡¯t even have to delve. No more losing people to Guardians¡ªjust scoping out beasts, and running if it was too hard. He could do that, couldn¡¯t he? Just as he pushed against the alley wall, the damp grime feeling like shards of glass on his too-sensitive skin, his chest was rocked by another shuddering thump. Pain exploded, shooting down his arm and clawing its way up his neck. No. No, he couldn¡¯t. He¡¯d die. He needed to taper¡ªtoo much of a shock to the system to do it cold, not with how long he¡¯d been on the poison. But...but to taper he needed shard. Fuck. It was his life, or theirs. Hells, it wasn¡¯t even their life! Just a few rumours really¡ªstuff anyone could find out if they were watching closely. Jorn gasped as a burning hot flush roared up his back, nearly heaving again as his nose ran down the back of his throat. There was no choice. He had to see Grave-eye. .... Grave-eye leaned back in his chair, the leather-lined recliner tilted back on an angle as he rested his boots on his desk. Ironwood desk, the top lined with suede made from a venomous cantel beast¡ªonly found in the eighth layer of a delve right in this very city. Took a beating like nothing else, and it didn¡¯t stain. A large bonus, in his line of work. ¡°Gorm, bring me a brandy.¡± he called to his hound who waited by the door to his office with a snap of his fingers. The brute grunted, but moved to obey, bowing his head to avoid the chandelier. Bloody ogre of a man¡ªbut keeping even a giant-blooded around had its uses. He narrowed his eyes at the man''s slouch, the slow, lackadaisical, pace of his walk to the liquor cabinet by his bookcase¡ªthat one had been engraved by elves of all things. Any slower, and he¡¯d have the man found in a gutter. Already would have, if the half-brained dimwit wasn¡¯t so annoyingly loyal. ¡°Oh, and fetch me my copy of ¡®The Secret Lives of Antidevian Mistresses¡¯ as well.¡± Grave-eye added with a wave of his hand as Gorm opened the liquor cabinet with a shocking lack of care¡ªdidn¡¯t the moron know that the joiner who¡¯d made that was dead, and elvish, it was a rare piece! Gorm shuddered to a stop, his hands frozen halfway through opening the crystal decanter that held his brandy. A Mystral vintage¡ªthe best brandy came from the best wine, after all. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. ¡°Yer....what?¡± Gorm asked, staring at him with a complete lack of deference. Grave-eye scowled, throwing his hands up in the air. ¡°A book, you blithering fool! Right there! The red spine¡ªimperial octavo, with the deckled edges and marbled boards.¡± Gorm just stopped, staring at the bookcase as his eyes roved right over his book like the utter brainless lout he was. ¡°Right there, you fool! Second shelf from the top, five in from the right. Or do I need to teach you how to count, as well!¡± Grave-eye yelled, staring at his hound in disbelief. Utterly ridiculous. He¡¯d have buried Gorm in a fucking latrine by now¡ªif he hadn¡¯t pocketed every bribe he¡¯d been offered and then immediately turned it over with a list of who¡¯d tried. After a shocking display of mental agility, Gorm managed to find the book after his third set of directions, and brought him both his drink and his reading material. Finally he could relax. .... He¡¯d only just gotten to his favourite chapter¡ª¡¯Seventy Silks for Sixteen Balls¡¯¡ªwhen he was rudely interrupted by someone hammering on his front door. They were heavy hits, carrying that desperate quality he had gotten so used to, and carried up the stairs to his study with inordinate ease. Grave-eye sighed, his temple throbbing as he kicked his feet off the plush leather topper of his desk. ¡°Gorm, go see who that is. If they don¡¯t have a good reason to be here, kill them...and break a few bones first for interrupting my book.¡± he said, dismissing his hound with a wave of his hand. Swirling his brandy, Grave-eye took another sip of the amber liquid. It burned smooth, leaving the very same note of peaches and rock-melon on the back of his tongue that made the source vineyard so famous. A few moments passed, and he heard his hound open his door for a moment, then close it again. He didn¡¯t hear Gorm¡¯s passage otherwise¡ªthe imbecile was terrifyingly quiet. He¡¯d considered getting him fit with a bell, just to stop the amount of times he¡¯d turned around to find the twit looming behind him like a statue¡ªby the gods he had the brains of one. His hound re-entered, stopping by the door and doing little else. Not entirely outside of the ordinary, to be honest. ¡°Well? Who was it?¡± he asked. ¡°Jorn.¡± Gorm replied. ¡°And I am supposed to know who the fuck that is how?¡± Grave-eye narrowed his eyes at his hound. ¡°Bronze delver, shard addict, Scout, last bought a full scrap from Fos nine weeks ago¡ªnothing since.¡± Gorm replied, his voice the same low drone it always was. He clucked his tongue. Now he remembered. A filthy gutter-rat of an addict, for sure¡ªbut the man had given him a few tasty morsels in the past. Hopefully, for his sake, he¡¯d brought some today. ¡°Well, what did he want? Or is he lying dead in my lobby¡ªbecause I thought I told you to stop leaving bodies there, it¡¯ll stain the marble.¡± Gorm shrugged. ¡°Said he¡¯s got something good, wants to trade it for some Shard. Wants five scrap of it.¡± Five scrap? That was enough to keep even the most seasoned shard-vein juiced to their eyeballs for months. Let alone it was a clean three-thousand gold, alchemical products weren¡¯t cheap, afterall. It had to be something good¡ªor the man was lying. Grave-eye paused, thinking on it more. In all likelihood the shard-vein was simply desperate, not that that was any great risk. He could deal with a bronze delver alone, let alone one strung out on shard of all things¡ªGorm would shatter him like the fine china he¡¯d been forced to stop buying. ¡°Well, what are you waiting for? Go fetch the gutter-rat!¡± Dead-eye dismissed his hound with a sniff, topping up his brandy from the decanter on his desk. A moment later, and Jorn crossed the silence wards he¡¯d had embedded in his walls¡ªthe low droning splutter of a shard-vein in deep withdrawal filling the halls of his home. Grave-eye scowled in disgust. The bastard better have something good, or he was a dead little rat. A single set of shuddering steps advanced up his stairs, walking over his finely woven and richly dyed rugs¡ªno doubt tracking in all manner of disgusting filth¡ªbefore they stopped outside of his office. Gorm opened the door, shoving the shard-vein in. The rat stumbled, barely arresting himself before he slammed into his desk. Lucky, if he¡¯d spilled even a single drop of his brandy, he wouldn¡¯t even have waited to hear out the rat¡¯s inevitably lying squeeks. ¡°Jorn.¡± Grave-eye said, dragging the rat''s eyes to his own. ¡°You have five seconds to start telling me why you interrupted my book before my hound starts breaking your fingers.¡± The rat¡¯s eyes widened, though they stayed pinpricks despite the light of the ward-lights. Fucking shard-veins, disgusting creatures. ¡°Yes Grave-eye, sorry Grave-eye. I...I came because I saw something you might be interested in, want to trade it for some shard. Tryna get off it you see, thought a big batch to help wean would be smart.¡± the rat yammered. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear what helps you sleep at night, you fool! What did you see?¡± Grave-eye growled, boring holes in the rat. Jorn gulped, his throat quivering around some obstruction. ¡°Well, I was on a mission, out Intshire ways, near the woods out there...¡± .... Grave-eye¡¯s mind raced as he listened to Jorn''s tale. Now this! This was something he could use. Interesting. Very interesting indeed. This was worth a whole lot more than a few scraps. Now...how to profit. Well, he had one thing left to do. ¡°Well, Jorn, this was a pleasant surprise indeed. Thank you for bringing this to my attention¡ªthough, pray tell, have you shared this with anyone else? This kind of info is most valuable when it is only in my hands.¡± he smiled at the shard-vein, even if it sickened him. The rat¡¯s eyes widened, no doubt surprised by his stunning display of grace. ¡°N...no, Grave-eye¡ªI swear to the gods!¡± the rat managed to somehow grow even more pallid and sweaty. ¡°No gods in this house, on the truth-stone if you please.¡± Grave-eye replied, tilting his head to the fine piece of runework that he had embedded into the top left of his desk. The shard-vein nodded hurriedly, though his eyes rolled at the motion, swaying as if he was going to pass out. Still, he was obedient enough¡ªfor a rat¡ªand placed his hand on the stone. ¡°I swear that I have told my story to no one except you, Grave-eye.¡± To Grave-eye¡¯s delight, the stone shone green. A secret that was his alone, how splendid! ¡°Fantastic job, Jorn! You¡¯ve done me a great service, I think one worthy of ten scraps, how does that sound?¡± Grave-eye forced himself to be sweet, even if it sickened him. Like the simple minded beast it was, the rat''s entire countenance morphed at the mention of even more shard than it had been expecting. Its face brightened, eyes becoming wide and bright as a smile of genuine happiness spread across his face. ¡°Oh thank you, Lord Grave-eye, you are too kind!¡± it spoke, falling to its knees as it clasped its hands. ¡°Yes, yes. Rewards to the faithful and all.¡± he replied, waving off its protestrations. ¡°Gorm, fetch the man his gift.¡± Gorm opened the cabinet behind him, before stepping forward. The rat looked up, a wide smile on his face as he looked at the hound. The hound buried a knife in the rat''s face, blood spurting over his woven rostian rug. ¡°For fuck¡¯s sake, Gorm! How many times have I told you to bludgeon them if they are on the carpets! Are you trying your hand at being a colourist?¡± Grave-eye cried, staring at the spreading pool that was soaking into the dense orange weave of his rug. ¡°Why are you standing there, you fool! You think because you remembered what ¡®gift¡¯ means that you¡¯ve done a good job? Get it off my bloody carpet!¡± Gorm grunted, bending down before he hoisted the body over his shoulder. The idiot that he was, he left a trail of blood his entire way out of the office. Grave-eye sighed, turning away from the mess¡ªthank the gods he knew a cleansing spell. Swirling his brandy as he stared into the hearth behind his desk, he thought on what he had just learned. A smile grew on his face. He¡¯d need to confirm it for himself, of course. Keep an eye on things. But if it turned out to be correct? This could be the score of a lifetime. Oh yes, this could turn into quite the profitable endeavour. Chapter 144 - B2 142: Routed Kaius dashed towards the second hunter that had tried to harass him, bliss and satisfaction pulsing with every beat of his heart. Even with the regenerative power of its Health and the power of its beastly body, the longfang was in a bad way. Scorched fur revealed boiled flesh, the arcing power of his spell ravaging its frame. As bad as it looked, Kaius knew it would be worse on the inside. The power of lightning and storm was well known for the vicious internal damage it left in its wake, to say nothing of the shattering resonance of his metamagic. The hunter whined, snapping at him as he leapt over the ground, lunging in a last ditch attempt to put him on the back foot. Kaius met the assault with a thrust of his own, enchanted steel guided by skill and dextrous power to lance directly into the wolven creature''s eye socket. He barely felt a crunch as his blade cut punched through bone. The hunter stiffened, empowered vitality forcing it to persist despite its certainty of death. Kaius stepped up out of his lunge, levering his sword up to eviscerate the fatty meat held within. **Ding! level 15 Longfang Hunter slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** Grinning at the ease of his victory, he yanked his sword free with a casual flick of his wrists. Previously he would have never dared to aim for such a small target, too much risk of leaving an opening, too easy to defend. Now though, with his enhanced stats, empowered body, and the thrumming rush of uncapped skills, it was like he was a horse released from the carriage. Unburdened. Free. The Pack-lord howled beneath his bond-brother''s feet, bucking as its paws scrambled in the dirt, desperate to release itself from its prison. Porkchop growled, pushing down harder with a splintering crack of bone. Before he could bring his other paw around for a murder-stroke, the other remaining longfangs dashed in in a panic. Battered, bruised, and bleeding from internal wounds, they rushed in all the same. One dived, going for the small section of Porkchop''s throat that was left unarmored by his gorget. Kaius felt his bond brother move. He knew Porkchop''s intention as well as his own. Momentarily lifting up from the pack-lord, Porkchop slammed his paw into the hunter''s side. Jade claws punctured its flesh as if it were an overripe peach, spilling its juices as the beast was sent airborne. Right towards Kaius. Howling in fear, trailing a stream of lifeblood, the beast flailed. Kaius set his stance, bracing with his back foot. He swung. Kaius let out a hefty roar, pivoting with the full weight of his body. As A Fathers Gift hit the beast, he felt it buck in his hands, trying to lever out of his grip. He snarled, knuckles going white as his missing fingers made themselves known once more. Leveraging all his enhanced strength he kept a hold of his blade, pivoting his full weight through his hips to bisect the hunter at the waist. Entrails spilled, and the green grass of the frontier was painted in bright carmine. The hunter''s jaw flapped soundlessly, severed lungs unable to give it breath. Pivoting through the movement, Kaius put it out of its misery, planting his blade through its skull. **Ding! level 17 Longfang Hunter slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 6!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** A half a moment later, he felt Porkchop plunge his claws into the skull of the Pack-lord, ending the would-be threat. **Ding! level 32 Longfang Pack-lord slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 7!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** ... **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 10!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** **Ding! Brotherhood of Ichor and Animus has reached level 31!**. Power thrummed through him from his class, bolstering every facet of his being. Totally focused, Kaius spun to the final hunter. He raced towards it, blade held to the side, as the blood of the beast''s pack ran off his armour in rivulets. It was too much for the longfang; letting out a wail of wounded terror it turned and sprinted for the hills, a sudden burst of speed taking it out of the range of Kaius''s spell. Coming to a skidding stop, Kaius watched the retreating form of the beast in shock. It just...left? He frowned, blade held loosely at his side. "I honestly forgot they could do that." Porkchop said, looking up from his victory to stare at the retreating beast with befuddled disappointment. Kaius groaned, raking his shaggy hair out of his face as he realised what had just happened. They weren''t in the Depths anymore. Normal beasts didn''t have the unshakeable bloodlust and iron morale of depths-born. "Bit of a lacklustre end to it all; it''s like dessert just decided to take its leave." he muttered, bloodsong fading slowly with an unfulfilled twang. It had been a fight, but he wasn''t sure if it was a good one. Where was the risk of death? They''d just utterly crushed something most of the way to the same level as the bloody Guardian that had nearly cost them their lives. "Pff, don''t be so grouchy." Porkchop said, reading him like a book as he extracted his claws from his target''s skull and stepped off its corpse. A moment later his summoned armour disappeared in a flash of mana."It''s no wonder we tore through them. Even the Pack-lord would have fallen before us a month ago, and now we have the stats and power of our class and bloodline." He knew his brother was right, but it didn''t mean he had to like it. "That thing must have been a beast from before the change to have that level, I''m just worried about what we will have to do to get a good fight now. It''s not like powerful beasts grow on trees, you know." he muttered. Porkchop rolled his eyes. "Kaius, for one, it didn''t have the enhanced power of a Champion or Guardian. Two, it was an overgrown dog, something bigger would have been much more difficult. Three, I give it a month or two before the mana levels reach a point where you won''t be able to throw a stone without hitting something level forty or above. Potentially significantly higher, depending on how bad it gets. I know stories from my people from the far north, where the second tier is common." Kaius looked at his companion in surprise. "You''re sure?" "Maybe not on the time frames, but eventually, yes." Porkchop confirmed. "It''s like that in the inner Sea. Yes, there is a lot of variation, but the floor will rise. Common beasts and the lower races do ... something with mana. It makes them grow without the battle we require. And it will happen quickly, if Ekam is to be believed." Kaius winced. That wouldn''t be good. Sure, he was entirely positive that he personally would love it, but excluding the dwarven holds and the elven conclaves, almost everywhere was built on a foundation of relative safety. At least, in the small section of Vaastivar he knew of. Sure, you would want capable guards to ward off monsters, but anything truly dangerous was a rare oddity. Something that had yet to migrate to a region of more comfortable mana density, or had wandered out of such a region for reasons unknown. If level forty became the average for everything then trade and travel would all but grind to a halt, and the simple necessities such as farming would become monumentally more dangerous. The second tier... He didn''t even want to think about it. That would mean all but the end for the higher races. Porkchop''s eyes softened, seeing his worry. He crossed the distance between them to lay his heavy head on his shoulder. Kaius couldn''t help but chuckle at how his bond-brother now had to stoop instead of crane to do so. "It''s alright Kaius, we''ll figure something out. Look, either way, we absolutely crushed a group of beasts that would have had us fighting for our lives a few weeks ago, and we reached level ten! Whatever happens, we are far ahead of the curve, and if we keep punching above our weight we will only get rewarded further." Porkchop said, reminding him of their successes. His brother was right, their gains from what ultimately ended up being a small battle were immense. If this is what was waiting for them if they kept fighting up levels, they were practically destined to be powerhouses. It would be risky, but they had far more leeway than most. The average delver only had an Uncommon class, with a rare competent few having a Rare in the first tier. No doubt there were those hidden powerhouses that had earned an Unusual, but a Unique? A Heroic? He''d seen the requirements for his class, he simply did not see how anyone could come close. With their lower stats and less potent skills, fighting upwards was a death sentence, the same went for fighting with anything less than a full team. All it took was one bad match up, one opponent with a power set that countered your own, and you were dead. He and Porkchop didn''t have those issues, at least, not to the same extent. With the scaling bonus of their Honours and the stat growth of a Heroic class, they were almost certainly stronger than the pack-lord. "I suppose if we get desperate, we can always return to the Depths. It shouldn''t be too hard to find a portal to a sufficiently deep layer." Kaius mused. Circling around Porkchop, he grabbed one of their waterskins from their dimensional pack, as well as a soap and rag, before he started to clean himself from the gore of battle. Porkchop nodded. "Exactly, we''ll have power in spades for our goals. Though, if we are going to seek out threats that are an actual challenge, it will make it that much harder to find a good back line to support us. We don''t want to end up with a situation where a single monster makes it past us, killing our team." Quickly finishing his wipedown of his face and armour, Kaius set about wiping the worst spots from Porkchop''s new barding. Self Cleaning would take care of it, but cleaning off the globs of viscera that had gotten wedged between his bond-brothers heavy-plate and his under-armour would speed up the process massively. "I have some thoughts on that," Kaius said as he picked at a clump of bloody hide that had gotten worked into the leather. "I think the main thing is finding someone we work well with, is trustworthy enough that we don''t need to worry about our...blatantly obvious secrets." "Such as?" Porkchop asked, lifting one leg to give Kaius better access to a splatter that coated his chest. "Our strength, as well as glyph-binding and the fact you''re a greater beast. Other than that, I think if we can find a person or two who have at least a Rare class and a smattering of legacy skills, I think we''ll be able to force feed them enough achievements that they will fly up the ranks with their next class advancement." Kaius explained, retreating from under Porkchop''s bulk. Rinsing the cloth, Kaius wrung it free of pinkish water before he deposited it back with the rest of their supplies. He''d only used a little water, but even if streams were common in the grasslands, it was best to conserve. Who knew what could happen, and they could both live with a little travel grime. "Makes sense." Porkchop said, before he jutted his chin at the slain bodies of the beasts that had attempted to ambush them. "Shall we take some of those for lunch?" Eying the corpses of the longfangs, Kaius winced at the waste of meat. Unlike the Depths, beasts above wouldn''t just reset. He was in no way opposed to culling a whole herd if he had to, especially to feed his growth, but it still rankled to leave anything to waste. Consoling himself that he was at least leaving a meal to scavengers, Kaius drew his hunting knife and set about roughly butchering a mostly untouched haunch of the pack-lord. Predator meat was a little gamey, but he hoped its potent vitality would be worth the taste. Besides, he had a larder of spices to use. He stood, hoisting his choice cut. "Set up over the next hill? It''s down wind." he asked. His bond-brother nodded, and they set off. Chapter 145 - B2 143: A Stranger In Need Heavily spiced meat cut into thick strips sizzled as Kaius dropped it into his lard-greased Traveller''s Pan, the heady aroma of cumin filling the air. It was one of the few spices he did know from his stock, and a powerful enough one that it should do plenty to cover the overly gamey taste of the Pack-lord. Leaving the site of their battle, they crossed the next hill before hunkering down to take a break in the shade of two jutting rock formations, sheltered from the wind and summer sun. While it might have been far too early to call it a day, there was something to be said for a hot meal after a heart pumping battle. Porkchop lay across from him, hunkered down on all fours, his nose twitching at the smell of their cooking food. "Smells good." Porkchop said."You''re going to ruin raw food for me, I''ll be one of those fire aligned affinity weirdos who cook all their food. Laughing stock of the dens, I tell you." Kaius snickered, using a spoon to move the meat around in the pan. "I bet you''d think it''d be worth it." "No doubt, spices work surprisingly well, even if they do smell strong." Porkchop replied, crinkling his nose as a change in the wind blew the cooking fumes in his face. "I''ve been meaning to ask you. I don''t know all that much about two-legged hunting teams, what should we be looking for in a backline?" Porkchop asked. Kaius paused, thinking on the question. There were plenty of supportive options they could look for, but considering how hard and fast he and Porkchop tended to fight, it narrowed the selection quite a bit. "Some kind of supportive caster is a must, preferably one with healing capabilities." Kaius replied, holding up his left hand to wiggle the stumps of his fingers. "Plus if they have some sort of battlefield control, or supportive enhancements, that would be good too. Something that will aid us without requiring too much intervention on our part." Porkchop snorted at his display, drawing a smile from him. It irked him to have lost the fingers, though he knew that to have left the Depths with such a small injury could only be seen as good luck. It still messed with his swordplay, and he found himself noticing the missing digits with surprising regularity. He hadn''t realised how much fine dexterity and manipulation came from his ring and pinky until he lost them. Still, it was solvable, albeit expensive and often involving long wait lists. A magi with regeneration capabilities would be a massive boon, and potentially life saving if one of them ever lost something more important than a few fingers. Other than that... "I think some sort of scout or hunter would be good. Someone who can provide us with some ranged support, and maybe help us scout terrain. I''m good with my general skills, but if we can find someone even halfway comparable with a dedicated class, they will outstrip me pretty quickly." Kaius said, thinking about the times that it would have helped to have an archer. The Tomblord, or when he''d had to blow most of his runic hymns on taking down goblin rangers in the dwarven citadel. "Though, that said, someone with capability to shape the battlefield in our favour would also be very useful. A trapper, affliction specialist, hells - even an alchemist focused on poisons or gasses, something like that." Kaius continued, wondering on the many ways they could fill out their composition. Regardless of who it was, and what they did, they would need to be inordinately capable and be able to assist them without coming under fire from the strong foes they intended to face. "What of a rune specialist? What you did with those formations was pretty handy, even if we didn''t use them much." Porkchop asked him, tilting his head in curiosity. Kaius winced. "I thought about it, but I think there''s too much risk of them getting far too interested in glyph binding. I do plan on sharing, but not until I''m solidly a few tiers ahead of everyone else, I have no plans on handing any potential advancement Honours away on a silver platter." "Fair enough, I hadn''t considered that." Porkchop grunted. They lapsed into silence as the rich smell of seared meat filled the air. Kaius salivated, staring at the meal. A few minutes later and it was done. They devoured their meal in seconds, both of them ignoring the searing heat of the food with their enhanced stats. Finished with the pan, Kaius packed away his tools, and took his seat once more. They set off, still heading south. ... As the leagues of rolling grass and proud spires of stone disappeared beneath their feet, the sun began to dip below the horizon. With their dimensional tent, setting camp was a much less fraught prospect than it had any right being. Pitching it in a shadowed alcove between two boulders, their tent hid itself behind the illusion of a pile of rocks, while providing them with far more comfort than Kaius was used to when camping in the wilds. Hells, it felt more like the sort of sleeping arrangements some pampered noble would have in a manicured garden of a ''forest'' on their estate. Between the rich furs, soft bedding, and even temperature, he''d had worse sleeps in bloody Three Fields. Either way, with its illusionary protection, no beast nor monster of any kind bothered them during their nightly rest. The following days passed much the same, as dawns turned to dusks with only a minor change in their surroundings. The gentle hills of the frontier would flatten into a plain eventually but until then they were treated to a rather monotonous environment by Kaius''s standards, without the excitement of the roving herds of grazers that lived on the grasslands. After a life lived in the Arboreal Sea, and all the myriad sights kept within it, there were only so many cool looking big rocks he could stare at before he felt his eyes glazing over. Still, he wasn''t the one walking, so it was his job to keep watch. Which he did, even if it was horrendously boring. Thankfully, they did have some moments of excitement to break up their journey. They were ''ambushed'' by small packs of longfang hunters as much as twice a day, though these ones had lacked a Pack-lord at the helm. Invariably they crushed the instigators, and invariably the beasts fled as soon as they had killed half their number. Often, it ended up being more, just because of how easy it was. Barely enough to work up a sweat and get the blood singing, but it beat staring at yet another grassy knoll. Even if the Longfang Hunters had a skill, it seemed to just be some kind of Stamina based speed boost. He hadn''t actually seen them use it to do anything other than pursue them, or flee as Kaius and Porkchop tore their packmates asunder. Kaius couldn''t complain too much though, it did bring in more levels, even if that meant each fight got even easier than the last. Both of them managed to reach level twelve, they found that the bonus experience for besting something of a higher level stopped when they were within five levels of each other. With most longfangs being below sixteen, their pace had slowed to a crawl. If they wanted to grow quickly, they would need to actually challenge themselves. If they could find one that is. His skills had grown too, almost everything had gained a few levels, with the exception of Rapid Adaptation and Lesser Regeneration. Unfortunately those didn''t grow if you didn''t get hurt, and none of the beast attacks had been anywhere near fraught enough for that to happen. Brotherhood of Ichor and Animus in particular had risen dramatically. Even outside of combat, it felt like it would tick over after the slightest thing. A benefit of their strong connection, he supposed. As Porkchop made his way down yet another hillside, Kaius brought up his status to conceptualise his gains. Status: Name: Kaius Dynasty: Unterstern Age: 19 Race: Human (Dynastic, Greater Beastblooded) - +1 Wil, Str, End, and free stats per level Layer Reached: 2 Class: Runeblade Initiate - +3 Int, +2 End, +2 Str, +2 Dex, +1 Vit, +1 Wil per level Level: 12 Resources: Health - 1310/1310 (9.2/min) Stamina - 1220/1220 (10.7/min) Mana - 1650/1650 (13.3/min) Free Mana - 90/90 Reserved Mana - 1560 Stats: Endurance - 66 + 44 + 22% (131) Vitality - 32 + 44 + 22% (92) Strength - 56 + 44 + 22% (122) Dexterity - 44 + 44 + 22% (107) Intelligence - 68 + 59 + 30% (165) Willpower: - 44 + 59 + 30% (133) Stat Points: 0 Aspects: Pillar Corporus: N/A Pillar Mentis: N/A Pillar Animus: N/A Class Skills (1/10): Latent Glyph of Drakthar (Heroic) - 1 > 9 General Skills (10/10): Rapid Adaptation (Heroic) - 20 > 22 Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo (Heroic) - 20 > 23 Explorers Toolkit (Unusual) - 20 > 30 Tempered by Dissonance (Heroic) - 20 > 22 True Sight (Unique) - 20 > 27 Tonal Weaving (Unique) - 20 > 24 Resonance Amplification (Unique) - 20 > 23 Lesser Regeneration (Unusual) - 20 Uncanny Dodge (Unique) - 20 > 23 Brotherhood of Ichor and Animus (Heroic) - 20 > 36 Hymnbook: Glyph of Drakthar- Stormlash (Tier I - 120 mana) Honours: Born for Slaughter Sublime Prodigy - Glyph Binding Birds of a Blood Soaked Feather Persistent Survivor (Minor) Kingslayer (Major) Ruthless Underdog Bound Artefacts: A Father''s Gift - Common Growth Longsword Growth Conditions- Gain a class (1/1) Acquire suitable materials (1/3) Forge a link (0/1) Kaius shook his head, gaining his class really had been like getting uncaged. He hadn''t realised how much he had chafed under the restrictions until they were gone. In only a matter of weeks, he had seen nearly the same level of stat growth that he had after acquiring a full handful of not-seen-in-millenia Honours, one of which had required killing a bloody guardian. On many levels it gratified him to finally be rewarded for all his hard work, but he couldn''t help but wince as he thought of what level he would be by now if he had had a class before he fell into the Depths. Though, if that had happened he wouldn''t be nearly as strong. Without a Heroic class, his new racial trait, and his Honours, he would be far worse off. Literally hundreds of stats weaker, even if he had managed to somehow secure an Unusual or Unique class. Though, even with all that said, he would have preferred a slightly different distribution in his stats. A bit more Dexterity perhaps, or a touch of Willpower. He''d start investing his free points into them soon, but for now he was committed to growing his mana pool as much as possible. With his limitations on glyphic casting, it was vital that he could store as many runic hymns as possible. He knew Porkchop was doing something similar, splitting them between his Endurance and Vitality to keep them growing in lock step during these early levels. Just as they reached the base of the hill that they were crossing, and were about to start their ascent on the next, a distant series of clacking chirps startled Kaius from his musings. Eyes snapping forwards, he growled in frustration as the rise to their front obscured his vision, only for a snapping beam of light to pierce the horizon from off in the distance, fading as it reached a few hundred strides into the air. Another snap followed a few seconds later, though this time no light beam appeared in the sky. Kaius''s heart quickened. A skill, it had to be. Porkchop was already moving, lurching forwards with such rapid acceleration that Kaius''s grip whitened on the leather loop that served as his handhold in the saddle. Jade claws punched deep into the earth, giving his bond-brother all the traction he needed to race up the delicate earth, despite his weight. More chirps, another crack of light. Whatever it was couldn''t be far, even as close as the far base of the very hill they were summiting. Porkchop reached the summit, skidding to a halt, and Kaius saw. Below them, in a flat field between their current vantage point and the next hill, someone was running. Dressed in robes with a light pack on their back, they sprinted for all their life, pursuers close behind. A pack of beasts, sixteen strong. Kaius had no name for them, his only reference was that they looked like demented chickens. If chickens had the neck of a goose, long legs, were the size of a man, and their beak was built like an axe head. The figure nearly stumbled, though Kaius had no idea why, it was an open plain. Even if they were dressed poorly for the wilds. A moment later they turned, a cracking beam of light searing straight into the chest of one of the chasing birds. Their hood dropped, revealing a lithe and pale man with piercing blue eyes. The beast lurched, a hole burnt through its ribs, before it let loose a squark of rage, and raced forwards to join its companions. With a start Kaius realised the man was outnumbered and out armed. With no backup, the mage would die as soon as the beasts caught him. The moment hung, horror dawning upon him. No. He refused. "Go!" he screamed, ripping his blade from his sheath as Porkchop charged. Chapter 146 - B2 144: A Really Bad Day Ianmus was having a really bad day. He knew he should have turned back when the system had updated, or at least headed to one of the semi-maintained roads that connected Mystral with the rest of the continent. In his defence, the idea of seeing all of the variant evolutions when animals were shifted to beasts sounded fascinating, and he hadn''t quite expected things to go this badly. Which they had, hence his slapdash sprint for survival. A raucous cacophony of squawks and chirps sounded from behind him. Ianmus grit his teeth, fighting against the burn in his lungs as he forced his legs to move, to hurl him forwards with every shred of energy he had. He''d thought a jaunt through the wild would be exploratory! The kind of thing that a true adventure was made of. Why, he might even have had some glimmer of insight into these strange new Aspects that the system had woven into existence above his soul. In his defence, as soon as he had realised just how quickly he was getting out of his depth with the rapid leveling of beasts, he had adjusted his course, trying to cut towards Deadacre. A piddly, hodunk, backwater of a city it might have been, but it had walls. Which sounded really, really fucking good right now. **Ding! Magister''s Dash has reached level 33!**. The ding of his movement skill levelling brought him a little relief, allowing him to squeeze just that much more speed out. Every good Magi had one, but he was proud of managing to be offered a lauded Unusual purely due to his own practice and efforts. Most of his non-legacy skills were like that. Too bad it wasn''t helping. Another quick look over his shoulder showed that his pursuers had gained on him, thick taloned limbs dashing lightly over the grass. Of course he ran into a bloody flock of terror birds right as he decided to head to safety. He''d only managed to Identify two of them, but both of them were level nineteen. That had been when the fear set in, that crippling cold fluid that washed down his spine, sapping his strength. He stood no chance, not as a level twenty magi with no front line. All of the combat casting practice in the world wouldn''t help in that scenario. He started to channel, weaving his mana and pushing it into his Sunbeam skill. He stumbled, losing track of his footing as he focused on keeping his mana stable and steady. Gasping at the lurch, Iamus just barely managed to keep his stride. It still let the birds gain on him. The sunstone that capped his staff shone with brilliance as his skill clicked into place, fully charged and ready. Turning mid sprint, he aimed his staff at the front runner, firing off a lance of pale yellow light. Without checking the result, he looked to the front and kept sprinting. The bird squealed in pain and rage, but there was no sign of a deathknell. No kill notification. Dread and regret clawed at him. He''d been such an idiot. Valedictorian of the Sunspire, as a scholarship student no less, and he''d still failed to heed the system''s warnings. He knew, knew, that he only had a handful or so more shots of Sunbeam left. Against one, maybe two, terror birds? Possible. Not against a flock though. He was doomed. Doomed to a fate of being run down and eaten alive. What a fucking travesty. A roar echoed through the valley. One filled to the brim with bloodlust and a loudly announced promise of violent death. It chilled Ianmus to his bones, raising the hair on his neck in the way that only a superior threat could. Gasping involuntarily, he forced himself to keep running. Hoping, praying, that whatever fell fortune had found him this time had decided that the terror birds would be more entertaining company. Behind him, he heard a flurry of skidding steps as his pursuers squawked in outrage, wheeling around to advance on a new greater threat. Ianmus suppressed his sigh of relief. Whatever the reason, whatever it was, he couldn''t waste the opportunity. He wouldn''t stop running until he was safe in deadacre, sat in front of a fire with a glass of rich red in one hand, and a good book in the other. Then he heard the war cry. It resonated with a deep bass, like the voice of a general leading an army into battle. It promised death, and thrummed with a glee that was impossible to miss. It was a person''s voice. Ianmus''s gait faltered, his head snapping over to the source of the sound in shock. He slowed, then stopped. He stood there, jaw slack, as he watched an absolutely magnificent beast, garbed in leather and some kind of green stone armour, tearing down the hill side. A man was astride its back, draped in gleaming steel scales, with a longsword held victoriously aloft. The terror birds had fully rounded on his saviours, tearing across the open ground to meet them at the base of the hill. Struggling to process what he was watching, Ianmus saw the armoured beast beneath the man let out another bellow and accelerate. Heading straight for them. It wasn''t slowing. Whatever it was, it intended to trample the flock. Thick crystalline claws dug into the earth, powerful muscles engaging to keep the pair on target. Wait. Those claws. That body plan. Could it possibly be? No, he had to be mistaken. Ianmus rejected the notion utterly, there was no way that one of them would be seen outside the Arboreal Sea, let alone armoured and carrying a man. Obscured as it was by armour, and charging at a full clip, it was hard for him to be sure of anything. Then a bolt of lightning snapped into existence, grasped firmly in the rider''s hand. Ianmus stared at the raging torrent in disbelief. He had to be dreaming, that was it. Or the birds had already caught him and were tearing into his entrails as blood loss made him delusional. Because that man hadn''t channeled. Which was impossible. Spells needed to be channeled. Some might be quick, but they all needed to be channeled. No one could just summon lightning bolts instantly. What the fuck! Uncaring of his disbelief, the rider hurled the bolt, cracking it like a bullwhip towards the leaders of the flock. The spell raged with such intensity it was blinding, both to his mana sense and to his eyes. Ropes of writhing plasma coiled around the leader as it shrieked in agony. Boiling blood spurted from its mouth and eyes, as more arcs cracked from the main bolt to bind two more terror birds. They succumbed just as quickly, collapsing to the ground, dead. Iamus gulped. Maybe...maybe it was a high level delver? It would explain the speed of his casting. The stone armoured beast crushed the flock beneath his bulk, shattering bone and severing flesh as the mount lashed out with claws the length of shortswords. Then the rider leapt, lashing out with another bolt of lightning to smite more terror birds, even as he pirouetted through the air to land daintily on his feet. The scale armoured rider dashed in, eviscerating another member of the flock with a masterful stroke of their blade, diving into the thick of the melee with a grace that belied mastery. A magi cum blademaster, he really had seen everything. Then the rider turned towards him. "Run you fool!" he screamed, before pivoting around a desperate hammer peck to fly back into battle. How the hell had he dodged that, he wasn''t even looking! A moment later he processed the man''s words. It struck a war up inside him, he longed to run to safety. And yet...that fight. It looked glorious! I mean, he was a magi, it wasn''t like he would go diving into the thick of things... And he had been looking for a good way to test his latest spell that he''d learnt a few days ago. Sundrenched Strength would surely make their job a little easier, even if they did have it well in hand... Ianmus made his mind up and sprinted across the hill, circling behind his new front line. Let no one say that he, Ianmus, valedictorian of Sunspire, was a coward. ... Kaius felt the power of two consecutive level ups flow through him. Terror Birds, the system had called them. He didn''t find them all that scary. Porkchop had shattered their formation, stone and fury breaking bones like twigs as every lash of his claws ripped through feathered flesh. Kaius kept up just fine. His first two casts of Stormlash had killed six of them outright, potent lightning and storm mana frying the beasts from the inside out as his metamagic ruined their internals. Blood sprayed as he tore through the vestigial wing of one of the avians, biting deep into its chest beneath. The beast howled in fury, rearing back to slam its strange axe-like beak towards him in a vicious peck. Doom swirled, multiple skills working to plot out the exact path of the attack. He slid to the side, drawing his razor sharp sword across the bird''s neck. Hot vitality fountained, feeding the earth. As he spun, he caught sight of the robed man running across the hill, angling behind them. Kaius rolled his eyes, that is not what he had meant when he told the man to flee. Returning his focus to the battle, he whirled his sword around into a full weighted swing, cleaving the head from the terror bird that already accosted him. **Ding! level 18 Terror Bird Pursuer slain - Experience Gained!** Kaius frowned at the notification. To close in level for a bonus, which he''d come to realise had to be very significant if the stark difference in leveling pace was anything to go by. More notifications dinged in his mind as Porkchop eviscerated two more. Then, out of nowhere, Kaius was beset by heat. A nourishing one, that brought with it the smell of sweat and worked muscles, the power of labour under the hard sun. **Ding! You have been Enhanced - Sundrenched Strength!** It felt hot, rich, and potent. Vitalising. New power flooded his limbs and he dropped his head back and laughed. He took it back, the magi was alright in his book. Two terror birds swooped in to capitalise on his momentary distraction. Lurching back to focus, Kaius fended one off with a swipe of his sword. The other was too fast, slamming its axe-like beak down towards him. Too late to dodge, he shifted, sliding his feat so that the headbut landed on the heavy layered armour of his pauldrons. The terror bird''s head snapped to the side with a chirp of fury, heavy head clacking against metal as its strike was deflected. Bones creaked, but did not crack. By the gods was it strong. The feathered freaks might have been feeble, but they packed a mean punch. **Ding! Tempered by Dissonance has reached level 23!**. Uncaring of his wounds, Kaius slammed into the avian, forcing it back. Seizing his blade in a half-sword grip he plunged its point into the bird''s eye, dropping it like a rock. **Ding! level 17 Terror Bird Pursuer slain - Experience Gained!** Still no level. Kaius growled in frustration. The other bird, the one he had fended off, attempted to claw him with its massive talons, only for a snapping beam of radiance to lance its face. It pulled back with a screech, a scorched hole burned into its flesh. Kaius didn''t let the moment go to waste. He stepped in, hacking at the distracted monster''s neck. It went down not long after. **Ding! level 16 Terror Bird Pursuer slain - Experience Gained!** With barely more than a handful left, the terror birds looked scattered and fragile. Broken. Porkchop snapped another up in his jaws, closing his bite around its neck. A viscous heave tore the head free, blood gouting through the air. The rest of the flock flinched. Kaius grinned. Time to mop up. Condensed electric fury snapped into existence, his third Stormlash whipping out to boil the blood of two more terror birds. Unfortunately, the remnant beasts were too spread out for him to catch a third. Muscles seized as current and resonance tore through the delicate organs of the pair. One of their eyeballs burst, smoking feathers blanketing the region with the scent of scorched flesh and smouldering keratin. The crackling thrum vanished as his spell winked out of existence, two more smoking corpses joining the pile. **Ding! level 17 Terror Bird Pursuer slain - Experience Gained!** ... **Ding! level 19 Terror Bird Pursuer slain - Experience Gained!** Still no more level. Just how big was that bonus?! Their spirits shattered, and the remaining terror birds broke, sprinting back the way they had come as they screeched in despair. Porkchop let out a bellowing roar of victory, rearing up on his hind legs as he announced his might. Feeling the rabid song in his blood start to ebb, Kaius grinned. It was still too quick and too easy for his liking, but it was still better than endless walking. Still, the potent energy of the magi''s enhancement still coursed through him. Kaius walked over to his bond-brother, who had already dismissed his thick plated armour, and clapped him over the shoulder. "Come on, let''s go say hello." he whispered, before turning to find the robed mage standing a little ways up the hill, leaning heavily on his staff as his chest rose and fell with slow intensity. Poor guy must have been run half ragged during the chase. Porkchop grunted, but stuck to his side, curiosity at the new figure drifting across their bond. Kaius grinned at the man, trying to keep his body language relaxed and friendly. "Hey! Nice to meet you!" Kaius yelled, raising his arm over his head with a wave. B2 Chapter 201: Infiltration, pt. 1 B2 Chapter 201: Infiltration, pt. 1 Shifting a little closer to his cover to keep the sun out of his eyes, Kaius crouched next to a prominent boulder jutting up from the ridge line. True Sight did much to improve his vision, including preventing the glare from blinding him, but that didn¡¯t mean he would deal with the discomfort if he didn¡¯t have to. Barely a few strides ahead of him, the ridge rose to a precipice before sharply falling away. It gave way a steep curve of scree that gradually transitioned to hardy shrubs and grasses¡ªone edge of a large valley that split half a dozen clustered hills in twain, starting from two-thirds of the way up the tallest one. There was a spring there. More of a waterfall now, after so many aeons of eroding the soil and rock. It fed a stream, winding its way through the valley like a snake with gleaming sapphire scales. That same placid water had carved its way clean through a fault in the valley''s opposite side at some point in the past, time and wind doing the rest. Now, it had left behind an exposed cliff¡ªone with a large cave at its base. It was a surprisingly lush environment. Watered by the spring, and sheltered from the harsh winds that blew off the grasslands, a riot of small trees and brush coated the base of the valley, interspersed with dozens of gametrails. Past evidence of life, though he found little of it present currently. Unfortunately, natural beauty was not what he came here for. Explorer¡¯s Toolkit tugged him in a dozen different directions, building on his lifetime spent tracking game to reveal the tale that lay hidden in plain sight. Right below him, at the base of the scree. The rain washed remnants of a fire, tucked beside a rocky overhang formed by a lucky collision of falling boulders. A shattered femur¡ªdeer by the looks¡ªstriped clean. Gnawed on, judging by the scrapes, but the tell tale colour and scorching of a cooking fire was missing. Further down the valley, lying on the pebbly shore of the small river¡ªa broken haft. Standing out from the detritus of the valley due to its unnatural straightness, no matter how crudely it had been shaped. Closer to the far side of the valley, by the cave, A series of rhythmic gouges scarred the trunk of a lone tree, the closest to the opening. Too even, too closely spaced to be a bear or cat. Not every marking was the same. Some looked only a few days old, others months¡ªeven years. The passing evidence of something hiding. Watching. Thankfully, not there right now¡ªfrom his high vantage point, he could see clean through the loose canopy, already starting to shift colours with the changing of the seasons. It was the cave that was the biggest give away. Flakes from handworked stone and broken arrow and spear points littered the ground. A refuse pile, just off to the left¡ªlittle more than stripped bones half-heartedly hidden in the earth. The faintest trace of soot staining the highest reaches of the cave, curling over its edge. Boggarts. He was sure of it. Unfortunately, he was less sure they were still here. He¡¯d no idea if this was their den, or an occasionally used rest stop as they ranged across the hills in search of food. They¡¯d been on their trail for a week now, ever since they had entered the dense hills that would eventually turn back into the same mountains that sealed off Mystral and cut the Arboreal Sea in twain. It hadn¡¯t been hard to track them, not in the slightest. A blind child could have found the signs. Messy hunts and battles, crudely dug sleeping pits, discarded tools, refuse, uncooked bone, and heavy tracks with clawed feet. The same signs he could see in the valley. Unfortunately, half the issue was that there were so many tracks. They crisscrossed the region, with no clear direction or oversight. It had taken him a day to get enough examples to put a picture together. They all seemed to be heading away from a central location¡ªa few too many tracks pointing directly in the direction of this valley. At the very least, they¡¯d made good time to their target. An additional two weeks, on top of the one they had spent tracking the boggarts. They¡¯d done their scut work on the way over, taking a meandering route across the plains to clear the other threats that Ro had tasked them with. Easy, boring work¡ªbut necessary. This far out from Deadacre, most delvers didn¡¯t bother. Not when there was so much to do closer to home. Only the higher ranks could make it here with any haste, and they had far more important problems to be dealing with. That left the few well defended villages in the region without much support. So, even if it was busy work better suited to a normal team of their level, they had done their duty. Taking out a few bothersome beasts that had proven they had the potential to grow into a real threat to the nearby communities. All for a handful of skill levels and a single class level. Still, he did have to admit that there were some fun moments. It was nice to be out and about, and the variety of beasts that had come with the phase change gave him something to look forward to about the encounters. The first had been relatively straightforward. A wolf pack, headed by a mated pair who¡¯d gained some sort of dire-beast type. The call had come in because they¡¯d been oddly focused on a nearby walled settlement. More than one hunter had gone missing, and more than one watcher had seen the pack lurking in the tree line. Waiting for people to come out unprepared and alone. They¡¯d been nasty business, not so much because of their strength, but because of the unnatural cohesion they bestowed upon their pack. Porkchop had had his work cut out for him defending Ianmus, while he¡¯d focused on thinning the herd with judicious use of Stormlash. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. A few days to the east, they¡¯d had their second mission. Another village, this one having food issues. While it was a common complaint in these days, a large helping of the blame could be laid on a level fifty-five vine-blooded panther. Allegedly, it was well on its way to eating¡ªor driving off¡ªanything that was even remotely safe to hunt in the region. Kaius was pretty sure it had been doing it for the sport of it. When they¡¯d been tracking it down, he¡¯d seen far too many dead prey animals with only a bite or two taken from their flesh for it to be a coincidence. Worse, the locals had a good reason to believe¡ªat least based on what the mission had said¡ªthat their wooden walls would do little to keep it out. For one, it was a cat that was very happy scaling vertical tree trunks. Secondly, it had a nature aspect, and Kaius had gotten a first hand experience on how it manipulated plant-matter to bind and confuse opponents when it pounced. Unfortunately for the panther, it had seen Porkchop as the biggest threat, and had only had a few seconds to realise its mistake before his brother had pinned it, and he¡¯d planted his blade in its skull. Their last stop had been the most entertaining by far. A new beast, rather than something that had always existed. A rock-scaled biter, according to what one village scout had reported. The report had been fantastical, some lizard-beast, tall enough to come up to his chest. Thankfully, it hadn¡¯t taken any victims. Territorial and loud, it had stayed just outside of the outlying regions of the village¡ªbut had ruthlessly attacked anything that got too close. In normal cases, it would have been left well enough alone¡ªmost villagers would just steer clear of a territorial beast unless its domain encroached on their own. Unfortunately, it was an unknown entity, and there was too much risk that the situation could escalate if it was left in peace. They¡¯d found it nesting¡ªthough there¡¯d been no eggs¡ªand it had done its description justice. Heavy set and strong, its head looked big enough to bite him in half. Not only that, its name wasn¡¯t just for show. Sporting an earth affinity, and natural armour of toughened stone-like scales, it had been a tough beast to put down. Or at least, it would have been if they weren¡¯t so much stronger than it. Overall, a good run in his opinion. Kaius wasn¡¯t even that annoyed that the exercise hadn¡¯t granted them much in the way of levels. Closing in on fifty as they were, he was well and truly starting to feel the burden of increasing experience requirements. Thankfully, it should be mostly ameliorated by the extreme difference in level between them and their true opponents. Plus, it wasn¡¯t like they¡¯d had to do much fighting outside of their missions. While most beasts had a drive to hunt for experience¡ªnot just growth¡ªthey weren¡¯t unthinking or mad, just aggressively territorial. Something to do with the rising mana, Ianmus had theorised¡ªgiven that Porkchop had confirmed even the meekest of beasts was far more ornery in the deep Sea, it was enough for him to take it as fact. Still, even with that being the case, most beasts had some instinctive measure of strength. As long as they didn¡¯t seem easy targets, and didn¡¯t linger in any territories, they were mostly left alone to travel in peace. At first he¡¯d hoped that with how manageable of a journey it had been, and with how they were almost halfway through the rise in mana levels, he¡¯d been hopeful that people would be able to get a grip on things soon. Once they adapted to the rising danger, that is. The mana would stabilise at a new normal, the beasts would stop growing stronger, and people would catch up. Simple, right? Unfortunately, both Ianmus and Porkchop had disabused him of his misconceptions. They weren¡¯t even close to the level of threats that were seen in the Deep Sea yet, and that was only middling in terms of mana density compared to some of the true danger zones of the continent. Some of which, Ianmus said, had already been populated solely by integrated monsters¡ªthe mana potent enough that natural animals would spontaneously awaken, or die. It seemed that even if mana had kept rising at a steady pace, whatever means through which it affected the levels of monsters wasn¡¯t happening at the same rate. They¡¯d be dealing with monsters evolving and growing in levels for years, at least. Nor were beasts the only issue. He¡¯d spotted more than one spirit, and other, stranger, creatures in their travels. Their strength seemed to be more closely tied to the mana, and so did their frequency. They hadn¡¯t stuck around to visit the villages and inform them of the completion of the tasks. The guild would be able to do that when they returned, they¡¯d been in far too much of a rush to do otherwise. Boggarts were, afterall, a plague. No need to let it brew for longer than was necessary to secure their cover story. Crouched in his cover, Kaius had his thoughts interrupted as he caught movement to the far left end of the valley. Focusing his eyes, distance was peeled away before him, the far off trees and grasses coming into stark relief. **Ding! Truesight has reached level 41!** His patience was rewarded as soon as he did so. A gibbering troop of boggarts was pushing their way through the grass, nearly a dozen strong. They were much like he remembered them. There¡¯d been a couple of times that he and Father had stumbled across a small band of them searching for a hunting ground¡ªnot an uncommon story, when you lived on the frontier. Diminutive figures, gnarled and twisted¡ªwith hunched backs and a ratty fur and stringy long hair matted with grease. Large eyes were set deep into misshapen heads, while too-long arms jutted out from openings in their rough hide clothing. As much as he wished it were not so, there were also differences. Everything he¡¯d seen and heard of said a tall boggart would come up to his waist. Half the band that tracked through the valley were tall enough to come up to his chest, and were more muscular than their smaller brethren. Far more muscular. If the normal boggarts looked twisted and sickly, these looked...fearsome. Their legs had lengthened, giving them a swift adroitness that the others lacked. Their backs, still hunched, had broadened, allowing them to move with a sure predatory grace. Even the tools they held were more finely wrought. It seemed beasts weren¡¯t the only ones who¡¯d been changed by the phase shift. Bugbear- Level 58: Lower Race, Vanguard Frowning at the description of the strange boggart relatives, Kaius tracked the troop with his gaze. They went straight to the cave, loitering outside before the biggest bugbear of the lot gave a deep bellowing call. It echoed through the stone chasm, petering off to a fading note. A few moments passed, the troop shifting from foot to foot as they waited. Now that they were no longer obscured by the grass, Kaius realised that the size wasn¡¯t the only issue with the bugbears. Their hide clothing¡ªit had runes. Crude simplistic, yes¡ªbut they were still runes. After all, simple art didn¡¯t glow with a sickening inner-light, Truesight revealing their real nature. They had a shaman. Chapter 147 - B2 145: Introductions Standing in a field of cooling corpses, Kaius gave the strange mage a friendly wave. He was still a good ways off, up the hill and far away from the front lines. Even if the man hadn''t fled when he suggested, he''d done his best, and had moved exactly where a backline caster was supposed to be. Evidently, despite his difficulties, he''d been well trained, as evident by casting spells under hampered pursuit and moving to support as soon as he was able. All the more curious that he was out here alone and underleveled, despite it being a couple of weeks since the phase shift. The mage slumped at his friendly gesture, some of the stiff tension leaving him. He approached, drawing closer to the site of their victory. Behind him, he felt Porkchop fall in behind him, though he knew his brother intended to stay silent. No need to completely give the game away, even if it was almost certain the mage had noticed something off with the spells he was casting. Kaius could only hope he was a reasonable man, and that they need not resort to harsh measures to ensure his silence. The mage drew his head back, revealing his features. They confirmed his lineage as an elven halfling at the very least. He was slightly taller than even Kaius, but of a lithe and willowy build. Not thin and spindly by any means, but noticeably different from his own broad frame. Long platinum hair framed his face like unwoven silk, contrasting piercing blue eyes. The fact he was a half-elf was even more of an oddity than his presence in the wilds. With how insular elves were, halflings were rare. Kaius could only hope the man hadn''t had too rough of a go at it. Father had told him of the fate of most halflings. Nigh on ostracised by full elves, they stood out like sore thumbs due to their height and fae features in human society. While they might not be as exaggerated as a full elf, Kaius could see the man''s sharp ears pointing through his hair. Most, he''d heard, caught the brunt of wider society''s distaste for what was seen as elvish narcissism, treating them with scorn and distrust. Still, evidently the man had done well for himself. Elves were a curious race, their bodies possessing an uncommon vitality and quickened minds that leant to long lived lives of inventive craft, magic, and scholarship. When crossed with the natural stubborn willfulness of humans, it provided a strong base for stats to build upon, a good foundation for the academic and mystic arts. The light mage stopped a good twenty strides away, pausing as he rapidly looked between himself and Porkchop, apprehension on his face. "Thank you for the rescue, kind traveller, I am the one known as Ianmus, a solar mage and graduate of the Sunspire of Mystral." the half-elf said, introducing himself with a stiff bow. A mage of Mystral, that explained much, but also raised more questions. At the very least, it explained Ianmus''s capability; the magi of the college spires were universally renowned for their talents. Yet, they were nearly as insular as the elves, preferring to lock themselves away in the study of the arcane rather than do much else. What on earth was a recent graduate doing here? Still, there was no need to be rude. "Nice to meet you, Ianmus. I am Kaius, warrior of the frontier, and this is my companion, Porkchop. I''m happy to have helped, no way I was about to let you fall afoul of beasts in times like these. Though, I must ask, what is a graduate doing out here anyway?" Kaius questioned. Ianmus paused, an abashed look crossing his face as he scratched the back of his head. "Well... I have somewhat of a preference for novel findings and field research, unlike many of my colleagues. Unfortunately, most novel findings are found in rather...unpleasant places, so I was making a trek to the Greenseed Dukedoms, in hopes of joining one of their ceremonial wars. It would have been fantastic for skill levelling." Ianmus replied, smiling to himself rather ruefully. Kaius looked at the solar mage in surprise. He hadn''t realised the Dukedoms were having another war, especially now of all times. Though, he knew little about them beyond that they were mostly pomp and circumstance, at least according to the scoffing derision of the frontier folk. "And you thought now was the time to travel overland? As a mage alone?" Kaius asked, struggling to keep the disbelief out of his voice. Perhaps he''d given the graduate too much credit, such a move was unbelievably stupid. Normal magi, at least at low levels, were fucked in a direct confrontation, exactly like what had happened to the man. "Ah. That. I left two weeks before the transition, when the worst I expected to cross was the odd boggart, or perhaps an irontusk that could be avoided. By the time the shift hit, I was already far from the main roads, so I adjusted my course to Deadacre. Unfortunately, I wasn''t lucky enough to avoid trouble on the way." Ianmus said, wincing at his misfortune. However, Kaius did note that the mage kept looking over to Porkchop with increasing regularity. Still, Kaius had his sympathies for the man. He only hoped that there weren''t too many suffering the same fate, it burned to think how many unprepared travellers had lost their lives due to his own inadvertent actions. Responsibility pressed upon him. He was, if not intentionally, the reason Ianmus had nearly died. It would only be right to see him to his destination, especially since it was the same as his own. "Then you have a second stroke of luck, Ianmus of Sunspire. I am also heading to Deadacre, so I would be happy to accompany you on your journey." Kaius offered, though he didn''t have the man''s full attention. "Thank you, I don''t know if I would make it without your assistance..." the mage said, trailing off as he gave up pretense to stare at Porkchop with an open mix of disbelief, shock, and mild horror. Kaius bit his cheek, suppressing his urge to curse. He knew. Of course he knew. A wave of prickling frustration at his own lacking thought rushed through him. Greater meles might be obscure and poorly known outside of the communities that boarded the sea, and the conclaves within, but an academy trained half-elf was exactly the sort of person who would recognise one. Immediately he reached out through his bond. He might not like using the silent speech it allowed, but he could do it just fine, and the situation warranted it. "He knows. I know we planned on slipping glyph-binding and your nature out at some point, but it''s still too early." Kaius said, apprehension gnawing at him. "Just talk to the man, Kaius. We have time to get his measure, and need not make any hasty decisions. It is no fault of his own, remember?" Porkchop replied, still calm as he met the half-elf''s gaze with poorly disguised amusement. To him, at least. Kaius had no idea how good other people were at interpreting his brother''s expressions. Kaius breathed, slowing his thumping heart. It was true, and something that he had already intended on. It was just that glyph-binding would be far easier to wave off as a simple facet of an interesting class or meta-magic if the man did not know he was travelling with a greater beast. Still, it was the right thing to do. He drifted to memories of his Father''s words of wisdom, shared when he had first began to feel the weight of holding the secret of a legacy. ... They sat at a campfire, resting after a painful and exhausting day of training his Poison Resistance. At the very least, the strange brews his father fed him, as many and varied as they were, did little more than inspire fugue, or itchy rashes. Nothing truly dangerous. Father stirred the cooking pot with a whittled stick, staring at the bubbling stew like it would cook faster if he just thought hard enough. Yet, that held little of Kaius''s attention, as he stared into the flames. He''d started to feel a weight. Of fear and unease. He was old enough now, to question their circumstances. The burden of their legacy was a heavy one, and one that had clearly brought them ruin before. What would he do, if someone found out? "What is it, boy? you got that look you get when you''re thinking too hard." Father said gruffly. "What am I supposed to do if someone discovers our secrets? Must it come to violence?" he asked, his voice small as flickering orange danced in front of his eyes. Father sighed, the sound backed by the weight of years. "Sometimes, but hopefully rarely. It depends on who finds out, and what the secret is." Father said, not looking up from his impatient prodding of their dinner. "A member of decent folk, stumbling across something small by happenstance? That is no great thing. You simply become friends, or welcome allies at the least. You make it so they would never dream of revealing your secrets. If they are pressed to the point they must tell, you already cocked something up, fierce enough that people are on your tail anyway." Father muttered. The words assuaged his worries, blanketing some of his deepest fears. He didn''t want to be a killer, not like that. Still... "What if they are not of a good sort, and they learn something large?" he asked. Father frowned, different from the ones that he saw when he made a mistake in training. It was harder. Jaded. "Those, my boy. Those you kill." Father said, his tone pitiless. .... Kaius breathed, letting the memory wash over him. It still stung, to think of Father. Of his passing. But the man''s wisdom had yet to fail him, and he was nothing if not filial. He just hoped that Ianmus was a good sort, and proved as such over the coming weeks. Perhaps realising the obviousness of his blatant stare at Porkchop, Ianmus''s face snapped back to his own. "...Would it really be alright for me to accompany you?" the mage half whispered, near fear crossing his features. Kaius forced a grin on his face, before he moved his hands so that his open palms were shown to the man, and well away from his belted blade. "Guess it was a bit much to hope to fly under the radar around a half-elf academic, eh?" he joked, keeping his tone light and even. He hoped the fact that both he and Porkchop were drenched in beast blood didn''t ruin the impression. "I don''t know what you mean?" Ianmus attempted, tense, like he might bolt at any moment. Kaius watched the mage''s wide eyes trace the black script that curved around his hand and traced his wrist. "It''s alright friend. It''s no great secret. One that we certainly hope to keep under wraps for now, but one we understand will come to light eventually. We''re just looking to build a little strength and backing first. I am sure you would understand, as a mage of Mystral. As long as you hold no designs on us, you will find no trouble here." Kaius said, trying to comfort the mage. It seemed to work to middling effectiveness. On one hand, Ianmus relaxed ever so slightly, at least sure he wasn''t in imminent danger. On the other, the mage still watched him with suspicion, and was clearly ready to bolt. "Forgive me if I find it hard to believe that a man with mysterious magic and a greater meles for a companion, with far more strength than they should have, would not want to silence observers." Ianmus replied. Kaius chuckled. "There''s a story for everything, and you might find ours interesting. Besides, I would have left you to die if I was that kind of man." he assured. "What say you to a lunch, at the very least? Maybe half a league closer to Deadacre, so we don''t have beasts coming to investigate the kills?" Ianmus paused, watching him intently as he searched for any sign of deceit. Evidently he found none. "A lunch, at the least. I haven''t eaten well in weeks." Ianmus replied. Kaius grinned. "Well, that is one problem I can solve for certain. Let me dress one of these birds and we can be on our way." Kaius turned, making his way to one of the decapitated terror birds that had so helpfully already drained its corpse of blood. Drawing his hunting knife, he did a quick job of gutting the beast, leaving him with a person''s weight of meat and hide. "Nice to meet you, mage. I hope you are less annoying than your full blooded relatives." Kaius heard his bond-brother say, speaking to Ianmus behind him. Ianmus spluttered, clearly not prepared for Porkchop''s meagre tolerance for elvish pestering. "I...am? At least I hope I am less foppish and haughty. I know the myths and customs, but I grew up in Mystral. My father left when I was young." Ianmus replied, his voice growing bitter as he spoke of his heritage. Kaius was unsurprised, knowing what he did about the lives of most half-elves. "Thank the Matriarchs. There''s only so much flattery I can handle, and I have yet to meet a full elf who doesn''t far overestimates the limit." Porkchop grumbled. Kaius smiled, and finished up his rough butchery. It was a hack job, but enough for now. He hefted the carcass with ease, the weight of it light to his enhanced strength as he draped it over his shoulder. After a lifetime of hard living, Kaius felt entirely unperturbed by the remnant trickles of blood that left the beast and coated his armour. It wasn''t like he wasn''t drenched anyway. Walking over to his bond-brother, he put his foot through one of the leather loops of his ''saddle'' before he grabbed the barding and hauled himself up onto his brother''s back, terror bird carcass and all. "Well then, shall we be off?" he asked, shooting Ianmus a grin. Chapter 148 - B2 146: An Explanation Ianmus sat on a rounded stone, his hands propped on his knees as he watched the delver-scion work. Kaius, he had said his name was. After the human and his beastly companion had finished the flock, he''d offered a chance to talk. It was hard not to feel like their short walk through the afternoon sun had been a walk to the gallows. After all, he knew too much. No matter what Kaius had said, his strange magics and his relationship with the meles - Porkchop, as ridiculous and nigh-heretical as the name was - was a secret that needed to be kept hidden. Even with all of the delver''s power, he was still low level. Impossibly low level, for the strength he had leveraged. Another secret, though one that he could only feel out the faintest edges of. Yet, he still lived. He hadn''t been cut down where he stood, no matter how prudent a course of action it would have been. So he sat, and watched as the man took his hunting knife to the carcass of the terror bird, dismantling it with practiced ease. Oh, he still struggled with some bits. It was clear that he had never butchered such a beast before, what with the way he struggled with their tough connective tissue and odd musculature. Still, every roadblock the man hit, he worked his way through it in moments. Whatever he was, Kaius was no foppish noble''s son. That was abundantly clear. The blind disinterest in the trail-dust that coated him head to toe, his rugged and raw appearance, and his blatant disinterest in mortal concerns such as pain. He''d seen that hit Kaius had taken on the shoulder, no mere level sixteen should have weathered that bonecrushing slam, armour or no. Even if he did have the strength to persevere without shattered bones, the man had smiled at the wound. Like it tickled. The sheer affinity to violence chilled Ianmus, filling his veins like an icy mountain stream. So at odds with the calm and friendly demeanour he now showed. Bloodsong, no doubt, and strongly felt. Despite everything, he could feel his latent curiosity piquing. He''d been privy to the studies, on how it was some confluence of mana effecting a latent trait in the blood. It heightened aggression, the senses, increased risk-taking, and sent the mind alight with visceral joy. He himself felt it - far more than the average scholar - but far less than some, and far less than the man crouched across from him. It had been an interesting study, though one confounded by privacy concerns. How the strength of Bloodsong correlated to the strength and development of one''s level and classes. No conclusion had been found on whether it was just the Song driving people to lives where they burned bright or burnt out, or if there was some direct relationship. If the latter was true, at least it would give him some sane reason for the man''s power. Level fourteen. Madness. Watching Kaius set aside another stack of meat, the man pulled a pan from his saddlebags as well as a pouch of what he assumed to be seasonings, still utterly focused on his task. His companion shifted to give him better access to their belongings on his haunch. Either they were so perfectly in tune that such an action was automatic, or they spoke through beast-speak. He didn''t know which was more imposing, because even the latter meant that they were close enough for Kaius to have learnt the famously mind-bending ''language''. The pan was another indicator of wealth and status, along with the blatant artefacts that draped him and his companion. That, or they had been on an extended journey into the Depths. And were only level fourteen. Madness. How was he not dead? It wasn''t like he could run or fight, not with their supremacy. Not that he would dare to share the secrets of a greater meles. His father might have been a scoundrel and a wastrel, a coward of a man who had left him and his mother to rot when he was a boy, but he had passed on a partial legacy and opened his path to the academies. He knew the histories, had been taught the Quiet Ways. He was proud of his heritage, if not his lineage. No, he would be sharing no secrets of the meles. Though, to see one of their insular folk garbed in armour and letting a human ride him was a shock he doubted he would forget. Questions upon questions, ones he wouldn''t be getting an answer to. Ianmus watched Kaius shift out of his crouch, sitting heavily on the grass with a generously seasoned slab of meat in one hand. As Kaius grabbed the pan, he watched a faint trickle of mana leave the man, activating the artefact. Moments later the steak was dropped in, sizzling loudly. "So, I know you saw my magic. I have no doubt that as a mage you spotted something a little odd with it, didn''t you?" Kaius asked, looking up from the slowly cooking meal as he fixed Ianmus with a half smile. Ianmus paused, returning the young delver''s smile with a weak one of his own. He''d hoped that Kaius wouldn''t have noticed his awareness, but of course he had. He still couldn''t make heads or tails of it. It wasn''t a simple metamagic, not even one of inordinate power. There were skills that could reduce channeling and focus requirements, but nothing he could think of that would reduce it to imperceptible levels. Beyond that, he would still have seen some trace of the man directing his mana. There hadn''t been any. One moment, nothing. The next, a flash of arcane brilliance and Kaius had been holding a writhing bolt of storm mana. It flew in the face of everything he had learned. He gave Kaius a still nod. "Good man, being honest. Look, that is another thing that will get out eventually, but I would have kept under wraps for now. However, since you have already seen it, I would make use of a skill. I''d appreciate it if you kept what you saw to yourself." Kaius said with a look, one mirrored by his beastly companion. What exactly was he playing at? Revealing more secrets. "Of course." Ianmus replied, keeping his face as even as he was able to. The delver gave him a nod, before he flipped the slow cooking meat in front of him and settled back. Crossing his legs he closed his eyes and started to breathe, slow and even. Right in front of his eyes the mana field went wild to Ianmus''s vision. Arcane energy roared into action within the delver''s body, almost as if he was channeling a spell. Then, with what must have been a titanic application of will, the mana began to twist, weaving itself into an ever more defined shape. It was...impossible. And slow, the process taking minutes for a clarity in design to become visible to even his sharpened mana senses. Sure, it was heavily obscured within the safety of the delver''s body, but he saw enough. What he did see sparked an inferno of curiosity within Ianmus, setting his heart fluttering with the sweet Song of desire. A secret, grand and unknown. A natural mystery, begging to be shattered and cracked open, to reveal the meat of truth within. Right before his eyes, the delver twisted his mana into runes. Foreign ones, class supplied no doubt, but ones of unimaginable complexity. For one, they were three dimensional, and for two, he had forged them out of nothing but will. True fascination gripped him as more and more mana was pumped into the workings. Then it snapped into place, anchored into the man''s arm. He watched it stabilise, held in stasis, prepared and ready to be used at the delver''s slightest behest. He realised with a shock that there were nine duplicates already woven around the mans wrist in a dense knot. Each and every one must have been a spell. Without pause, he watched Kaius with a slack jaw as the delver dived straight into the next one, recreating another spell. The same spell. Ianmus leaned in. He needed to learn more. Runework had never been his forte, but this? This was something else. Surely Kaius would need help plumbing the mysteries of this art? Consummate warrior and apparent genius he might have been, the man was clearly no scholar, the application had all the signs of system given insight. Too...rigid. Too...rote. Plus, his class tag. Spellsword. A hybrid, one he would have said was impossible a few days prior, but a hybrid all the same. Surely the man would need help to plumb its depths. Just barely a tenth into his first class, there was still plenty of time to pivot. Surely. .... Kaius breathed, feeling the sting of his last Stormlash hymn snap into place. He could feel it, curling around his hand to twine around the stumps of his two missing fingers. Gloves would be important; it seemed the more spells he added, the more they stretched out from his glyph. With his newly enhanced mana pool, he''d been able to fit a full fourteen casts this time. Much more than he had used in any given engagement at this point. He expected when he fought something truly challenging to him, he''d wish he had more. Still, something curious had started to occur as he added more hymns to his inscription. The sharp runes of his Drakthar hymns had started to overlap, branching off from one another like the arcing bolt of lightning that the hymn summoned. Convenient, as he had been worried that he would run out of space to imbue himself with spells if they had not. He opened his eyes, flicking over to where Porkchop watched their new companion with amusement plain on his furred face. "Did it work?" Kaius subvocalized. "Oh yeah, the elfling is hooked. You would have thought you were pulling artefacts out of thin air with how much he was staring." Porkchop replied humorously. Kaius suppressed a smile. "Good. Still want to go with the backstory? Let the bond slip?" Agreement flooded their bond. "I do. The man''s been looking at me like flowers sprout from the ground as I walk, exactly like an elf. If we dangled our bond, he''d keep silent, I''m almost certain." That was good. Their secrets needed protecting, but he hadn''t lied when he said he would prefer to keep the man alive, a few dangling carrots should be enough. The man was a researcher after all. Kaius turned back to Ianmus, giving him a grin as he saw the magi looking at him with naked curiosity. "So, you must be wondering why a man is traveling with a meles." he said, breaking the silence. Ianmus jolted, startled out of his haze. "I...Yes. I didn''t expect to ever even meet one of the Kings of the Forest, let alone traveling so closely with a man." he stammered. Kaius nodded. "Six months back, shortly before my class selection, I was travelling through the foothills with a caravan, en route to meet with my uncle. We got hit by a full blown boggart swarm." he paused, allowing Ianmus to process his worlds. The half-elf had leaned in, listening closely. "They overwhelmed us, and I was forced to flee. Nearly got me, forcing me to take a Depths portal. Thank the gods that it was only the first layer. I hunkered down, staying near the entrance while I subsisted on beast meat and water from a nearby stream." Kaius continued, leaning over to flip their meal once more, revealing the browned surface of one side of the hunk of meat. Ianmus hissed. "The Depths? How did you survive?" "Extremely carefully, and with help." Kaius replied. "Porkchop here," he clapped his bond-brother on the shoulder. "Fell afoul of the same swarm, and by sheer dumb luck took the same portal that I did. Both of us were close to class selection, and capable. Managed to work our way through the biome, locating a few Champions that we skirted around, and found the Guardian. Thankfully, our selections were only a few weeks apart. Once we had our class and bloodline, we cut down some Champions to gain a few levels, then took on the Guardian." Ianmus''s brow furrowed. "And you stayed together after?" Porkchop leaned in. "Tell me, elfling, what do you know of the stories of your people?" he asked, causing the magi to whip his head to his bond-brother in shock. "I...I know them all, was raised to the Quiet Ways." he stammered, clearly not expecting to be addressed. Kaius raised his eyebrows at that. ''Quiet Ways''. He''d have to ask Porkchop about them later, some sort of elvish tradition, no doubt. Porkchop grinned, revealing his teeth. Ianmus paled. "Then you will know of the Trial of Unity. The story of Grandfather and Orrin." Porkchop said. Somehow, Ianmus paled even further, looking more like a day old corpse than a man. His eyes flicked between Porkchop and Kaius, over and over. "Impossible..." he whispered. "We grew close in those dark depths, elfling. Tell me, is it so strange for bonded companions to travel together? For my brother to show me the lands I wondered on for so long?" Porkchop spoke imperiously, with far more force than Kaius had heard him use before. It seemed, whatever the histories his people had with the elves, there was a clear hierarchy that Porkchop knew well. Ianmus froze. A moment later he clenched his fist and slammed it into his heart, before he bowed - as much as he could from his seated position at least. "I will uphold the rite of Silence." the half-elf said sincerely, his tone solemn. Well, it seemed that Porkchop had been right, the mage had been easy to sway. The blatant veneration on his face was clear. No matter the struggles he had faced as a half cast, his elven parentage still ran strong. The mage straightened, looking at him with new found respect. Kaius grinned, now was the time to cinch it. Unbuckling his vambrace, he let the heavy scale armour fall to the grass with a clank. Baring his arm, he twisted it, to show off the jagged runes that wrapped around his lower forearm and fingers as arcing lines of script splayed out from his central glyph. He watched Ianmus hone in on his hand, staring at his formation with curiosity. "This is what''s behind the oddity of my magic. A third Way." he said. The mage''s eyes snapped to his own. "Truly?" Kaius nodded. "The life''s work of my mother, put into practice. She passed just over a year ago, hence the trip to extended family. I plan on keeping it to myself, for now. No point putting myself at risk. Yet it will also be impossible to keep secret for any impressive length of time. You spotted the oddity of my casting immediately. My hope is that I can secure enough power and backing for myself and Porkchop before those secrets escape." Ianmus leaned in. "And what of when it does? You must have some sort of hybrid class, correct? No foundational knowledge skills?" "Aaaaand you have him." Porkchop snorted. He grinned, showing the half-elf his teeth. "Well, then I''ll need the assistance of someone I trust to help me develop it into a full Art." Ianmus froze, want and desire plain on his face. "Well...as an academy trained magi, I would be happy to assist when the time is right. It would only be fair to give something back to my saviour, afterall." Kaius laughed, clapping his hands in delight. No doubt the half-elf knew it was a bid for his silence, but it had worked all the same - and he did have need of an academic. "Good! Then let us eat. We still have enough daylight to get a few leagues closer to Deadacre. Hopefully there will be another good fight before we get there." he said, deactivating his artefact pan and fetching a knife to cut slices from the now finished slab of meat that sat at its centre. Chapter 149 - B2 147: Welcome Challenge With a new companion in tow, they crossed the frontier. As they crossed the rolling, rock-studded, hills that made up the lowlands of the distant mountains, Kaius found that the terror birds had become...something of a local nuisance. While they were rare before, whatever change had occurred during the second phase had caused them to proliferate like wildfire. Some local animal, catalysed by their awakenings, no doubt. Regardless of the reason, they were a plague, and one that accosted them in packs multiple times per day. At the very least, it kept their supplies rich with their hearty meat. That, and they were as much of a distraction from the monotony of overland travel as Kaius could hope for. Yet, even with all the constant battle, their leveling slowed to a crawl. Now close to the bird''s own level, they received no bonus experience, and what they did receive was reduced and split with their new mage companion. Even after what felt like a dozen or more packs, they''d only managed to grow to level seventeen. Thankfully, their skills were less impacted, and Kaius had seen a smattering of growth across the board. Especially for his Latent Glyph of Drakthar, which still lagged behind the others, which had grown to level fifteen. Even Lesser Regeneration had grown some. Weak they might have been, the birds packed a hard punch, and with their swarming tactics it was inevitable that he accumulated enough cracked bones and bruises to push the skill higher. As slow as it felt, Kaius knew that three levels in as many days was still a meteoric pace. Most grew far slower than that, taking on battles infrequently, and only fighting that which they were sure of surviving. With the overwhelming amount of beasts that now roamed the wilds, it was highly likely that this would become the new norm. For those who adapted, at least. Unfortunately their pace would be impossible to maintain forever, even if they were to fight often against appropriately tough foes. As you grew through the tiers, leveling slowed to a crawl, and finding monsters to fight became harder and harder. Outside of the depths, at least. It was strange, after everything, Kaius expected he would want to avoid that hells damned place for the rest of his life. Now, he couldn''t help but miss it. The consistent challenge. The stakes. Somehow, despite the world slowly ending around him, he found himself growing bored. It didn''t help that Porkchop had been growing increasingly more annoyed with how easily they had dealt with challenges. It had gotten so bad, Kaius had taken to guiding them around the groups of the birds he could spot. Him? Avoiding a fight? A travesty. Thankfully, they''d been treated to at least one moment where a large pack of terror birds had descended on a herd of strange horse-like beasts, only to fall to a bone cracking storm of hooves as the entire group had charged them at once. That had been a sight to see. Kaius smiled at the memory of their confused squawks turning to squeals of terror as the birds had realised themselves out matched. Eventually though, they left the lowlands, and entered the grasslands proper. Hills flattened, becoming more irregular, with shallower gradients, as their surroundings became dominated by lush grasses and shrubs that flourished in the moisture provided by regular small streams that wormed their way through the frontier. Every now and then, a small copse of trees jutted out from the landscape, shaded burroughs visible from leagues away - as long as there were no hills to block the view, that is. Those same trees provided shelter and rest for all manner of animals that made their life on the grasslands. Even transformed to beasts, the surroundings still had a sort of natural serenity to them. Even if it was still far more open that Kaius was entirely comfortable with. Thankfully, the nuisance of the terror birds lessened, replaced instead by all manner of grazing creatures, broken up by the odd pack of hunting beasts. Those steered well clear of them, happy to focus on more familiar prey. He could only hope that they would come across a proper fight sometime soon; all this calm was making him restless. Kaius looked over to Ianmus, the half-elf mage busy scanning the horizon for more threats as they walked up a slow and gentle incline. Even if the man knew that he had the skills to pick up on any ambush attempts, it seemed that Ianmus''s brush with his own mortality had left its mark. While Kaius wouldn''t exactly call him skittish, he definitely had an air of discomfort about him. Though, even with only a few days having passed, it seemed the trauma of nearly getting run down by a pack of overgrown chickens was starting to fade. They hadn''t exactly gotten close, but they had talked. The man had some interesting insights into the nature of the phase change. Apparently, while it was almost certain that the rising mana levels and proliferation of beasts would lead to the wilds becoming all but certain death to anyone who wasn''t a seasoned and strong combatant, or under the guard by such types, it wouldn''t lead to everything leveling endlessly until civilisation succumbed to an endless wave of high tier beasts. Something to do with ''natural variation in racial strength and bloodline purity'' as Ianmus had put it. Or, much more simply, beasts could only grow so much before they started to stall, dependent on their species and bloodline. Some rare few would leap the dragon''s gate to evolve further in a new form, but nowhere near most. It was something he had known of in vague terms, but it was nice to see someone confident that it would still apply in these desperate times. Kaius still wasn''t sure what to make of the man. He was competent, that was certain. Perhaps not in the same league as he and Porkchop, but that would be an unreasonable expectation. Still, he had skills, aptitude, and a razor sharp mind. Those Sunbeams of his were viciously potent - sure, they left small wounds that were easy to heal, but the man was still low level. Along with his strengthening buff that invigorated and toughened the half-elf''s allies, he had proven himself useful. If that wasn''t enough, the man kept a cool head in battle, and had managed to pull off a raw casted healing spell using his solar affinity. Not quite as fast as a dedicated spell, but it had considerably boosted Porkchop''s Health regeneration after he had gotten mobbed by a dozen terror birds. On the other hand, it still felt odd that the man knew his secrets. Sure, it was only the ones that were inevitable to get out, and nothing truly dangerous like his class rarity, Honours, legacy skills, or the fact that they had started the second phase, but it still felt strange for someone who was close to a stranger to know something that could become a vulnerability. Ianmus was personable though, Kaius had to give him that. Once the magi had gotten over his understandable apprehension about their intentions, he had been more than happy to prattle about a dozen different implications of glyph-binding. How he only wished he could be around to see the faces on some of his old teachers when it eventually became common knowledge. Apparently there were whole schools of thought surrounding the place of magic and spellcasting in the wider system that would be thrown into disarray. That, and the man was sure that there would be insights that could be used for free casting - sacred geometry was already used in more complex weavings of raw mana, though it did not make use of runes in truth. Kaius didn''t quite understand the thrill the man got from that, but it was an interesting conversation to have nonetheless - at least the uses of sacred geometry were, the academic side was a little dull. If Ianmus didn''t immediately high-tail it to the Greenseed Dukedoms after they arrived in Deadacre, he was almost of the mind to strike up a lasting friendship with the man. The half-elf clearly knew much more than him about magical theory, and having an academic already privy to his magic to bounce ideas off would be mighty convenient. They reached the top of the rise, and immediately Kaius noticed something...interesting. Little more than a brownish fuzzy blob at the bottom of the hill and a little ways across the flat grasslands. Still...it looked large, and he knew of only one such creature that made its home in this part of the frontier that was so prodigious. He honed in with Truesight, his vision sharpening. The monster came into view, one he recognised instantly. Legs as thick as his chest, tapering down to shining metallic cloven hooves. A body, built like a bulls, but as thick as a barge and with a jagged ridge of knobbly vertebrae that pushed up against its skin and draped in a thick, matted, brown coat. A heavy head, currently bent down to tear apart a bush in a single morsel, leaf and wood ground into a pulp between molars close to the size of his fist. Two silvery tusks angled out of its mouth, tapering to a fine point and perfectly situated to smash and gore whatever fell afoul of its territorial anger. An Irontusk, the undisputed kings of the grasslands surrounding Deadacre. They were beasts that bred true far before the phase shift, and thankfully solitary and rare. Most were placid when left alone, mostly thanks to their poor eyesight - get close enough for one to spot you, and they were liable to crush you into a paste. Most importantly, they were huge. Easily half as big again as Porkchop was with his evolved form. They were also strong. Kaius grinned, identifying the beast. Irontusk Vagrant- Level 49: Beast, Brawler Finally. What he had been waiting for. His heart quickened, senses sharpening as the soft wind sent a tingle shooting across his skin. A longing want of violence began to croon, soft whispers of glory alighting in his mind. Porkchop stiffened, feeling his desire. "Where?" he asked, because there was no question of what. Not after their bond, not after so long sharing in the delight of vigorous battle. "Irontusk, down there. Level forty-nine. You seen one before?" Kaius replied, leaning forwards to point so that Porkchop could see. Ianmus started at his words. "An Irontusk? That''s a high level for this area, though perhaps I shouldn''t be surprised with the way things have been going." he said, shading his eyes from the sun as he peered in the beast''s direction. "I think if we circle around that copse over there, we should be able to avoid it." Ianmus finished, gesturing to a small circle of trees far off to their right. Away from the Irontusk. As one, he and his bond-brother turned. Kaius''s brow furrowed as he looked at the magi with naked confusion on his face. Ianmus kept walking for a moment, adjusting his course before his head whipped over to meet his gaze as the magi realised that they hadn''t changed direction to match. He returned their look, expression quizzical, before understanding dawned. The mage looked back to the irontusk, before returning to meet his eyes. "No. You can''t be serious!" he asked, jaw flapping open. "Why would we not? That''s the first proper bloody fight we''ve seen in days?" Kaius asked, blinking in genuine confusion. Ianmus spluttered. "It''s level forty-nine? And the size of a small cottage?" he tried. Porkchop tilted his head. "Exactly?" "You...might die?" Ianmus pleaded. "That''s how fighting works?" Kaius responded. Smacking himself on the forehead, Ianmus groaned, before he pinched the bridge of his nose. "In what realm do you have a chance against a level forty-nine? You have to be pulling some kind of joke here." the magi asked, on the verge of pleading with them. Kaius didn''t get it. That was roughly the same level gap they had had with the Guardian, and this was a common beast and they had classes now. Well, that was a bit of a lie, he did suppose that Ianmus knew none of that. It was still fun messing with him, just a bit. "...This one? It''ll be tough, but that''s the sort of fight that could push us to our second skill in one fell swoop!" Porkchop attempted to explain, following his lead. Ianmus looked between the two of them, his eyes wide with disbelieving horror. "By the gods you''re actually serious. Are the two of you insane?! I know you are strong, and must have good classes, but this is plain idiocy." Kaius frowned. "It''s not." Ianmus started to talk, but he cut the man off with a raise of his hand. "Look, if I don''t fight something more challenging than a drunk toddler, I''m going to go insane with boredom. Irontusks are tough, and hit hard, but they are pretty slow, and have shit senses. I promise you, we will be fine, it''s not like you need to join if you don''t want to." Kaius said, his tone resolute. Teasing or not, he was serious about needing a good fight. Ianmus huffed, narrowing his eyes. "Can you swear that this is not some bravado fueled cockup that will get us all killed? Are you genuinely sure you can take down something that far above you?" Kaius smiled. "Without a scratch? Absolutely not. Without losing any more fingers? Absolutely." The half-elf groaned. "You''re going to do this no matter what perfectly rational reason I give to avoid the damn thing, aren''t you?" "Yep." Both he and Porkchop replied in unison. No way were either of them going to skip out on a fight that juicy. Ianmus rolled his eyes. "Fine. I''ll try to keep it blinded." Kaius grinned, feeling the heat of his blood pulsing with wild abandon in his veins. "Fantastic." B2 Chapter 202: Infiltration, pt. 2 B2 Chapter 202: Infiltration, pt. 2 Watching the boggarts and larger bugbears loiter outside of what must have been their dwelling, a heavy ball curdled in his stomach. A shaman. That was...not great. Ianmus had been more than happy to expand on the specifics of boggarts on their journey out of Deadacre. Apparently, beyond a certain group size, boggarts started changing. At first they just got bolder, more headstrong, and meaner. Soon though, more dangerous figures would appear in their tribes as stronger variants of whatever equivalent they had to classes became available. Assassins and scouts, deft fighters and accurate rangers, and more. The true tipping point was when a warchief appeared¡ªthat was when they could officially be called a plague. If they weren¡¯t curbed quickly, it only got worse. Sometimes, very rarely, an undiscovered boggart nest would progress to the point where smart ones started appearing. It was a basal, crude, intelligence¡ªone that was still just as hungry and warmongering¡ªbut it was lethally dangerous. Shamans. The spiritual backbone of a plague, casting foul magics through instinctive will and sorcery. Normally...it took significant time. Boggarts bred and aged quickly, but it still took a few years for the new generation to develop these classes. Either this nest had gone undiscovered for some time, or¡ªa far worse option¡ªthe rising mana was increasing the base-level of their development. The crude runes on the bugbears hide armour could only have come from a shaman. A well developed one too¡ªmaybe more than one if they were unlucky. The plague was reaching maturity. As soon as they had drained their surroundings dry of nourishment, they would spill free¡ªmost likely onto the plains, where food was clearly visible from the hill tops. He needed to share this with his team. Between that and the appearance of bugbears, they might need to change their tack. Crouched by the boulder, he waited for the raiding party to enter. The reply to their call came quickly¡ªand faintly. Whatever had heard their call was deep. With their welcome secure, the bugbears took the lead. Hurrying to a hidden nook¡ªfrustratingly obscured by a lip in the cave wall¡ªthe leader passed out torches. Reaching down to its waist, it pulled out some sort of bone charm. An effigy of sorts, one marked by similar runes to the ones on its armour. Cupping the crude artefact tightly, the bugbear lifted it to his torch as its jutting brow furrowed in concentration. The torch burst into flame. The boggarts moved quickly after that, the leader lighting torches before they set off into the cave in a disturbing show of discipline. Not daring to rise from his crouch, Kaius planted his hands on the ground and slowly made his way down from the ridge. Once far enough that there was little risk of being spotted by a scout, he rose to his full height and set off at a jog towards his waiting teammates. He¡¯d left them a hundred strides down the steep slope''s surface, nestled in a small alcove between three jutting rocks¡ªone of which held the familiar sign of a glowing circle of runes on its exterior face. A portal to the Depths, one of the many they¡¯d seen on their journey. Analysing it had revealed it was an entrance to the third layer¡ªcommon enough, and not worth reporting to the guild. They¡¯d still kept well clear of it, they were on a time limit, after all. It was a surprisingly good hiding spot. Even knowing where they were, it was impossible to spot them from where he stood. Only a narrow passage between the stones on the right-hand side of the cluster would allow a view into its admittedly cramped confines. ¡°¡ªand the water! Oh, you must see the ocean sometime, Porkchop. I promise it is truly as endless as I say. Large enough that the Arboreal Sea¡¯s endless reaches were named after it.¡± he overheard Ianmus whisper to his brother. Porkchop snorted, but without directing attention towards him, Kaius missed his actual reply. Even their bond required intention to speak through, after all. ¡°I¡¯m serious! The name for the water came first, and yes, I promise it is actually salty. That¡¯s not just some joke we tell land-locked folks.¡± Ianmus insisted. Kaius shook his head, a wry smile on his face as he walked around the grouped boulders. While he wasn¡¯t quite as skeptical as Porkchop, he could understand the incredulity. It was hard to imagine an endless stretch of nothing but water spanning from horizon to horizon. Where did it all even come from? He entered their hide away, both of his companions snapping up to meet his eyes. ¡°Kaius! Ianmus was just telling me about the water around his city! I don¡¯t know if I believe him how much there is though¡ªsurely it can¡¯t rain that much?¡± Porkchop said, greeting him enthusiastically. Kaius stepped closer, scratching his brother behind the ears. ¡°It¡¯s the truth, though one I''ve never gotten to see for myself. I don¡¯t quite understand how it¡¯s so big or salty either.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have to take the two of you to see it some time, then. Either at Mystral, or Port Yorr on the east coast¡ªit¡¯s a large city-state on the other side of the dukedoms, one I''ve been meaning to visit. It¡¯s supposed to be rather beautiful.¡± Ianmus said, smiling at the idea. Kaius understood. In the rare few occasions he¡¯d gotten to see someone on their first visit to Three Fields, the singular look of awe that they gave the Arboreal Sea was a memorable sight. Pleasant, in the way that it reminded you of the fantastical nature of something that had become mundane through simple time and proximity. ¡°Still, that¡¯s for the future¡ªKaius, did you manage to spot any further tracks for us to follow?¡± Ianmus continued, switching his attention to their task. The casual candor and easy atmosphere vanished, replaced by a tempered focus that focused the mind. He nodded. ¡°More than that, I''m pretty sure we¡¯ve found their den. One of them, at least.¡± Porkchop looked at him sharply. ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Kaius replied, taking a seat on the loose earth. ¡°There''s a cave on the far valley wall, a big one¡ªand deep too. Whole place is littered with signs, and I managed to catch a raiding party entering. I¡¯m surprised you didn¡¯t hear the leader''s call.¡± ¡°Wait, that was a boggart? We thought it was a mountain goat.¡± Ianmus frowned. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Kaius nodded. As soon as he did, Porkchop was rising to his feet, shaking off the trail dust that had coated his belly. ¡°What are we waiting for, then? Let¡¯s go get this done.¡± ¡°Woah,¡± Kaius held up his hand, getting Porkchop to halt before they could leave their hideaway. ¡°There''s more.¡± Porkchop groaned, but returned to sitting all the same. Ianmus huffed, leaning back as he stared at the blue sky above. ¡°There¡¯s always bloody more.¡± he muttered to himself. Kaius chuffed at that. It was hard to disagree. They did seem to have a tendency to find themselves in situations where the dangers and stakes were higher than expected. ¡°That there is, friend.¡± he smiled ruefully. ¡°They have a shaman, an established one, maybe more. The raiding party had crude runes impressed into their hide armour. Worse, there were bugbears.¡± Ianmus¡¯s head snapped to him, his eye¡¯s narrowing. ¡°What in the headmaster¡¯s beard is a bugbear?¡± ¡°No clue, I was hoping you would know. They¡¯re still clearly boggarts, but bigger and meaner. Kind of reminded me of a hob, but somehow even more ugly.¡± Kaius replied with a shrug. Ianmus took a hissing breath in through his teeth, clearly disturbed by the news. Not that Kaius expected him to be happy about it. Boggarts being able to develop new, more dangerous, forms was good for absolutely no one. The smaller ones were bad enough, let alone a specimen the size of a small man and twice as muscled. Rubbing his jaw, Ianmus fell silent. He was thinking, that much was clear. Kaius had spent enough time around the man to recognise the furrow in his brow and the way his eyes had drifted into staring at the mid-space. He gave him time, any insight the mage might have would be valuable. Ianmus broke his silence. ¡°It¡¯s been theorised that they might be able to do that. The capabilities of the lower-races are somewhat unknown, they¡¯re not exactly the easiest to study¡ªand not exactly my area of expertise, I''ve only brushed up against it in passing. The development of goblins into hobs and coblyns as they move up their social hierarchy is well known, but they are the only other example we¡¯ve got. Ogres and trolls do something similar, but not quite as drastic. I¡¯d hoped that it was unique to them, but it seems that boggart''s confinement to relatively low mana zones was the only thing stopping it.¡± Kaius nodded along to his mage¡¯s words. ¡°If we assume it''s similar to goblins, is there anything we should watch out for?¡± Ianmus nodded at him. ¡°We don¡¯t quite know how their version of the system works, but we think it¡¯s closer to how a beast¡¯s works. Expect the more developed specimens to have better classes, and stronger bodies. On that note, if they¡¯re like goblins, we can expect at least a hundred of them if hob-equivalents have started to appear. Probably more if you saw multiple in a raiding party.¡± Kaius sighed. That was just fantastic. Porkchop, on the other-hand, was characteristically enthused. ¡°So, what? We get a better fight, What¡¯s the issue? We¡¯re here to level, people! Not like we¡¯re backing out now just because it''s a little more dangerous. Even if they have big ones, we still have the stat advantage, they don¡¯t stand a chance.¡± Porkchop insisted. Listening to Porkchop¡¯s rousing speech, Ianmus shook his head at himself. ¡°You¡¯re right, of course. Regardless of the danger, we have been given a task, and will have to see it through. At the very least, this will be vital information to share with the guild. I just wished that for once something unexpected wouldn¡¯t happen¡ªand that I''d discovered my aspect before we got here.¡± Kaius nodded. Both Porkchop and Ianmus had gotten immeasurably closer to their own Aspects¡ªIanmus had started to build his resonance with Mentis, much like he had, while Porkchop had felt himself drawing close to igniting Corporus. Both were right on the cusp, having spent every evening meditating on what their Truth could be. All Ianmus had been able to share was that he was sure it had something to do with control and discovery. That, at least, was far more sane than Porkchop¡¯s supposed Truth. He struggled to see how the phrase ¡®not dying¡¯ was enough to resonate, but he had conceded there was nothing in the little they knew about Aspects that said they had to be complex. There was a hope that they could ignite them during this trial. Afterall, a god himself had said that a good fight would go a long way to their development. That said, he couldn¡¯t stop the nervous tingle that he felt when he thought of the time it had taken. There were Honours on the line, and every extra day they took was another that someone else could beat his teammates to the finish. They had advantages¡ªthat much was certain¡ªbut their success wasn¡¯t guaranteed. Thankfully, Ianmus had thought deeply on the information they had gleaned from the informational package the system had granted Kaius. Specifically on the effect of trances on aspect ignition. He¡¯d commissioned a tonic from an alchemist before they had left, burning half of his coin on it¡ªthe other going to a cheap darkvision amulet that sat around his neck. A full dose was supposed to send someone into a dream-like stupor, where the mind wandered aimless and confused. Ianmus had taken to watering it down to a fraction of the original potency¡ªtaking it like a nightcap before his evening meditations in their tent. It had been...shockingly effective. That first evening had spurred him forwards more than the entire month preceding. He¡¯d even been kind enough to share half of it with Porkchop, though both Kaius and his brother had insisted on covering half the cost. That tonic had been enough to push them both right to the precipice over their journey. Now all they needed was a spark. At first, Kaius had hoped he would be able to make use of it himself. Despite soul-searching, he¡¯d not found so much of a quiver in his other two aspects. Even taking the watered down tonic to aid in meditation hadn¡¯t helped. It seemed without a direction to focus on¡ªa trigger to draw you in¡ªa trance was of little use. He really shouldn¡¯t complain. The fact that it had brought his team closer to securing their own Honours was enough. Afterall, their strength was his strength. ¡°You¡¯ll get there¡ªboth of you. Porkchop is right, this is bound to be a good fight¡ªno doubt it will be what both of you need to tip you over the edge. In fact, if either of you start to resonate strongly down there, call out. If there''s the chance to follow the thread without putting the team at risk, take it.¡± Kaius replied to Ianmus. They nodded, happy with the idea. ¡°Now, before we head in, we should discuss our formation,¡± he continued. ¡°Judging by the quiet response I heard from within, it seems to be quite deep. I think that if it''s just a single tunnel, Ianmus should hang back where he¡¯s less at risk. However, if it opens up into multiple paths, or caverns, you should probably stay within a dozen paces of us.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll stay close to him, just try not to range too far ahead. We¡¯ll need to work together if their numbers are as large as Rieker and Ro thought they might be.¡± Porkchop replied. Kaius nodded. Their conversation quickly continued as they covered contingencies. What to do if Ianmus was ambushed, if they were pincered, or if the boggarts just came at them in a single wave. With how many there were, the goal would be to avoid the final scenario. Things would go much smoother if they didn¡¯t have to face the entire plague at once. Without a stealth specialist, it was likely that it would happen eventually, but every boggart they put in the ground before the alarm went up was another they wouldn¡¯t have to worry about. To that end, they decided to wait for nightfall, when most would be asleep. Thankfully, larger groups of boggarts were known to sleep in smaller family units¡ªthey¡¯d sneak in, wiping them out one by one. Then they would make their stand. As they planned, Kaius felt the music of battle start to race through his veins¡ªfaint, but undeniably pleasant. Dangerous or not, the battle ahead might be enough for him to gather his next class skill. He couldn¡¯t wait. Chapter 150 - B2 148: Testing Gains Pt. 1 Kaius stood in his saddle, absorbing the shock of Porkchop''s bounding leaps by crouching slightly with every impact. His eyes were trained firmly on the irontusk, watching and waiting for the moment it would notice them with its dulled senses. Explosive anticipation thrummed within him, every single one of his muscles held in delicious tension. He could taste it. The blood that would soon be in the air. Porkchop charged silently, though Kaius could feel he yearned to release his bloodlust with a cracking roar and a snarl of gnashing teeth. After having decided on their course of action, they had set off for their target. It was painful at first, the irontusk too far for them to race into an immediate charge, and Ianmus too slow for them to even jog. Instead he''d watched it lumber across the grasslands, lowering its head to tear through foliage as it ate its fill. After so many stories of their strength and fortitude, he was eager to test his blade against them. Sure, in the grand scheme of things, they were little but gnats against the true powers of the world, but the irontusks were one of the greatest ''threats'' on the plains. Stout of frame, even meagre levels were enough to give them crushing power, and it wasn''t like the average traveller of the frontier was a high levelled delver. After descending the hill, Kaius had dismounted for a moment, his brother aiding him with charging his vambraces. While the energy would bleed quickly, he hoped that by the time they were thrust into glorious battle it would only take a single block, or maybe two, for him to tap into the artifact''s stored devastation. That had been a fun one to explain to their half-elven solar mage, though the man understood as soon as they had. They''d left him a little behind. Close enough the battle would still be in range of his spells, but more than far enough that he would be well clear of any wayward blows. Ahead of him, the irontusk tensed, its massive head twitching as its small eyes locked on their rapidly approaching forms. Gods, it was big, easily as massive as the Siege Ogre had been, though far less tall. A stout neck as thick as Porkchop''s waist held up its head just fine, even with the impressive weight of its curved metal tusks weighing it down. Kaius focused, bringing up its status once more. Irontusk Vagrant - Level 49: Beast, Brawler Singing joy harmonised with the resonance in his blood and mana, filling him with fervent energy as a wicked twinkle alighted in his eyes. Below him, a deep rumble started in Porkchop''s belly, the start of a rattling growl. The irontusk shook itself, bucking its head in a challenge as it worked up its fury with a pair of stomps that shuddered the very ground. It bellowed, a deep bassy call that shook the plains and sent birds flying to the sky in fright. Kaius howled, his voice tearing at his throat as he relished in the sight of a challenge. A true foe that would test his mettle once more. It had been too long, too many days without the sweet succour of pouring sweat and leaden limbs. Too long since he had felt bones break and blood spill. His own, or his enemies, it mattered not. Only that he was tested. Only that he could prove himself the victor, champion by right of arms. Primal aggression and the simple heated fury of challenged supremacy flooded his bond, his brother''s own Song alighting in unison with his own. Porkchop''s roar was a thing of beauty, drowning his surroundings in a ringing crack that one felt in the heart. **Ding! Brotherhood of Ichor and Animus has reached level 38!**. The irontusk charged, thick muscle rippling beneath its shaggy brown coat as it lowered its head. It reached speed quickly, no matter its size and weight, simple power overcame all restrictions. Feeling his pulse spike, Kaius leaned in as his brother kept his course. No challenge so simple, so direct, would sway their path. He had faith. In their might. In Porkchop''s armour. In their stalwart fearlessness. Then the vigour and warmth of the sun sunk into them, suffusing them both with unrivalled potency. Infusing them with an energy that only heightened his need to tear into the titan that dared stand in their path. **Ding! You have been Enhanced - Sundrenched Strength!** He unsheathed his sword. The irontusk drew close. Kaius launched himself from the saddle, kicking off his brother''s back to launch a full ten strides into the air. Porkchop raced forward unhindered, teeth bared as he tapped into his amulet. Time seemed to hang. A beam of light snapped out from behind him, searing its way through one of the irontusk''s eyes in a bubble of fluid with needle tip precision. Ianmus, the cheeky dog. He''d stolen first blood. The irontusk howled, lowering its head further, even as Porkchop blurred, racing towards the mighty beast with total lack of concern. Kaius tapped into one of the wells of power that was bound resolutely in the maleficent glyph that adorned his hand. It fizzed, boiling with eagerness as they waited for his command. Baleful light showered from his hand in a burst of embers, a bolt of the Stormlord''s finest crackling with hateful vigour as it snatched up its barely contained power. Thunder boomed as Kaius whipped his lash towards the irontusk, the searing might of his spell tearing across the air to wrap the beast in arcing lightning. Its coat vaporised in the path of his spell, potent electrical energy scorching the beast from the inside out. Reverberation followed, blood bursting from the burns he had left in its flesh. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Drakthar has reached level 16!**. An enraged cry escaped its throat as the irontusk stumbled. It was too big, too powerful, for his spell to have immobilised it. Yet, at the pace they moved, a stumble was enough. It righted itself, but its charge was broken, and the correction came too little too late. Porkchop leapt, his heavily armoured form crashing into the irontusk''s shoulder like a falling oak. Its bones cracked under his brother''s enhanced momentum, the thick slabs of jade that covered Porkchop lending him the inescapable might of a landslide. Kaius touched the ground, racing in. Tearing into the beast with crystalline claws, Porkchop ravaged the beast''s shoulder and chest, his green armour quickly slicked with bright carmine. No longer were they weak. No longer were they hampered by the barriers that all unclassed suffered from. No, his brother''s strength was a glorious thing as he shredded flesh and scored bone. Hide rumoured to be as hard as mundane chainmail was nothing before sacred jade. The irontusk shook itself out of its haze with a cry of fury, only for another Sunbeam to scour its way across the plains to burn its way through the delicate flesh of its nose. It flinched, whipping its head to the side as its glinting grey tusks smashed into Porkchop''s side with a clang. Snarling in fury, Porkchop met force with force, throwing himself into the attack as he kept the pressure on. The irontusk bucked, trying to bring the needlepoint ends of its tusks to bare. Kaius was having none of that. Blue and orange light alighted the plains once more as he summoned a Stormlash. The beast shuddered as he raced in, breaking its concentration with pain and convulsions both. Both hands gripped A Father''s Gift once more, and Kaius swung as he planted his weight on his back foot and pivoted. Steel blurred, and he felt the renowned toughness of the irontusks for himself. Even with an enchanted blade honed to perfection, backed by the might and muscle of a Heroic class, it still felt like trying to carve through wood. Still, even high Endurance and natural constitution was not enough to resist his onslaught, not with his new Strength. Flesh parted beneath his slice, rivulets of red soaking the beast''s thick fur as he tore into its leg. **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo has reached level 26!**. The irontusk roared and potency thrummed through the air. Another beam snapped, scouring its face. It merely shook its head, rearing up before it slammed its legs home into the hardened ground of the plains. Shuddering quakes shook the ground, Kaius''s stomach dropping as he relied on all of his enhanced speed and dexterity to keep his feet beneath him. **Ding! Tempered By Dissonance has reached level 26!**. A skill, and one that he had seen no evidence of, no tell tale shine of channelled mana. A stamina ability, one he had no way of sensing. Off balance as they were, the irontusk capitalised on the opening. Seeing his brother as the greater threat, the behemoth turned and gouged his brother with his tusks. A cry left Kaius''s lips as he watched razor point tusks punch clean through a gap in his brother''s jade armour, blood welling from the wound as cushioned under-armour was sundered. Then another beam hit, scorching a pulsing highway of blood that thrummed in the irontusk''s thick neck. Blood squirted, backed by the pressure of its titanic heart, vitality nurturing the rich soil beneath them. Ianmus, perfectly timed to distract it. Porkchop howled in fury, ripping himself from the beast''s tusks as he spun - undeterred by his wounds - and gouged the irontusk''s face for its impudence. Kaius grinned, planting one foot solidly to kick off the still quaking ground. Launching to the beast''s side, he pivoted on his front foot and twisted his hips to drive his blade home into its chest with every scrap of power he had available. Forceful enough that he slid back through the dirt as the hilt of his sword pressed against its thick hide. Lifting its head to the sky, the irontusk bellowed. The sound was baleful, penetrating deep into his chest. Kaius danced back, ripping his blade free as it wheeled on him, shaking its head in insensate frustration and rage. Mana glowed in its chest. He retreated, creating the distance he needed to react to the oncoming skill as Uncanny Dodge blared a warning in his mind. Another bolt of lightning crackled in his fist, lashing the bubbled and blackened flesh of the beast once more as he attempted to disrupt the working. **Ding! Resonance Amplification has reached level 26!**. As tough as it was, it maintained its hold on its ability, paralysing storm mana causing little more than a momentary spasm. It seemed that the dazing strike of his spells was not guaranteed to be consistent - frustrating, considering its usefulness. Thankfully, his brother was beset by far less compunction. Diving into the fray, Porkchop lashed out with green claws, gouts of flesh torn from the beast''s side to reveal the thick wall of its ribs. Ignoring Porkchop''s attempts, the irontusk continued to channel. A moment later, mana flashed, pulsing with steely brilliance as it flooded its tusks. It dipped its head, points of its curved tusks catching on the dirt. Earth soared through the air as it bucked, showering the surroundings in dust and arcane brilliance. Two thin metal blades materialised, racing through the air as they spun end over end on a terminal path towards him. A second skill. A terrible scream of churned air followed their arc; gods they were fast. Glee coursed through Kaius, even as he slipped to the side, dodging one with skill enhanced agility. He raised his blade, ready for its twin. He''d missed this. The simple rush. Planting his foot as he stepped as far out of the path of the attack, he rolled his shoulders and slammed his blade into it hard. An unearthly screech filled the air as he smashed his blade into the whirling projectile. Even tensed and ready for the collision, Kaius felt every joint in his body creak, bones jolting from the sheer force of the impact. His grip stayed steady, even missing two fingers, it would take more than a simple skill to overwhelm him. Sparks showered him like a spring storm, an echoing crack accompanying the spinning blade as he redirected it, sending it careening off to the side. A subtle click pulsed as a small fraction of the collision was drained and collected. **Ding! Tempered By Dissonance has reached level 27!**. His Vharcossian Vambraces. Full once more. Smashing his brother aside, the beast turned its head to look at him with what could only be described as shock. Kaius grinned, bearing his aggression plain on his face. It hadn''t expected him to survive that. He could smell it. The growing uncertainty. Once lord over all on the plains, the irontusk was no longer sure of its own victory. Kaius intended to show it how right it was. Chapter 151 - B2 149: Testing Gains Finale. The irontusk taking its eyes off his brother to stare at him with wariness proved to be folly. Insistent on keeping as much of the beast''s attention on him as possible, Porkchop plunged his claws into the irontusk''s shoulder, tearing a chunk out of its hide. A loud rumbling cry echoed across the plains as it screamed in pain and frustration, whipping its head to batter his brother with its tusks, forcing Porkchop back. Unfortunately for it, his brother''s armor protected him from the majority of the blow - new stone charger leather padding absorbing the impact handedly. Ceaseless in his rampage, Porkchop lunged back in, knife-like claws leaving parallel lines weeping red in their wake as he dragged them across its face. Then another Sunbeam scoured its eye, recently regenerated flesh boiling once more as concentrated light popped the delicate organ. The irontusk screamed, shaking back and forth as it sought to drive Porkchop back. Despite the constant harassment, Kaius knew in his bones that it had identified him as the true threat. Pushing through its agony, its remaining eye swiveled back to him again, black and beady. The motion was constant - forced to pick between the mountainous beast in its face, and the ever present threat of his lightning. It was a tragic sight, scorched, torn, and soaked in its own blood. Blackened and bubbled flesh made all the more grotesque by the writhing power of its health that raced to seal its wounds. Still it stood strong, ready to meet their challenge. A mountain of weight heaved, the irontusk''s musculature rippling as it lurched towards him. Kaius readied himself, the scent of future danger filling the air as he waited for the creature''s coming move. Its first foot smacked the ground. Doom screamed, and the ground shook, bucking underneath his feet like a raging bull. Kaius blanched, struggling to keep his footing. It didn''t stop him tapping into his glyph. Baleful orange showered the ground in burning light as two spell-hymns burned in quick succession. Thunder drowned out the irontusk''s constant call, lightning lashing the beast once, then twice - as fast as he could move through the motion. The irontusk stayed steady, somehow unaffected by the shifting ground. Nor did it do much more than twitch in the face of his magical storm, even if he was sure that he had wrought havoc on its delicate internals. It dropped its head, levelling its tusks, and bucked. The metallic ivory of its natural weapons transmuted into spikes of true iron in an instant, lengthening into lethal spears. The beast''s tusks glinted in the sun as they lanced towards him. A third skill, right on the back of its ability that shook the earth - and another where he had seen no accompanying flare of mana. Kaius tried to dig his feet in, to twist his body and dive to the side. The ground dropped away, leaving him flailing. Backed by insensate fury and primal strength, the beast''s right tusk hit him in his armoured stomach. Enchanted scale screeched with fury. Steel gave way before iron, buckling. Lancing fire exploded through him, followed quickly by the creeping cold of shock as blood gushed from the ravaged channel of flesh and organs. Agony bloomed. Rapid Adaptation reacted quickly to the stenching presence of iron-aspected power, rejecting its presence and flaring with power as it sought to rebuff the assault. **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has added a new Resistance: Iron Magic!** **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has reached level 23!**. ... **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has reached level 25!**. "Thank the gods," he thought, shoving the pain down as he kicked back to unimpale himself. Another resistance to aspected abilities, one that would toughen him against all such wounds in the future. The effect was slight beyond measure right now, but in the future it would grow into a significant boon. That was for later, though. Right now he still had a tooth in his gut. The irontusk heaved, ripping its head upwards before more than half a stride of its tusk had retracted from his chest. Kaius tried to gasp, failing as the wound left him floundering, unable to pull in air. The hook of the creature''s malevolent tooth snatched his rib. The bone held, and he left the ground as he was sent ragdolling through the air. Kaius whipped his head around as he tumbled, vision sharpening as he tracked his trajectory, every sight available to him in crystal clarity. **Ding! True Sight has reached level 30!** He watched his brother howl, incessant rage flooding the bond as he hit the undefended side of the irontusk in a windmill of tearing claws and slicing teeth. Kaius kept spinning, taking in the look of horror on Ianmus''s face, so far from the front lines of the battle. Their latest companion had already reacted, a cloud of Solar magic condensing around his head as the man worked the raw potential of the energy. Health bloomed, igniting like a match in a grain mill as restorative energy tore through him. Flesh writhed, sealing blood vessels and reknitting skin and muscle alike. Between his growing Vitality and his Lesser Regeneration, the blow was little more than a flesh wound. He could have survived it half a year ago. Now, it would barely slow him. **Ding! Lesser Regeneration has reached level 23!** ... **Ding! Lesser Regeneration has reached level 24!** The ground approached. Kaius kicked, gasping as he took another sweet breath and forced his body to twist. Landing in a crouch, he charged the irontusk, already fully focused on the ceaseless assault his brother laid against it. He watched its wounds, the way they writhed, sealing themselves. They had ravaged the beast continuously, and while it was still slowly flagging, it was regenerating enough that it was in no way weakened. He arrived, whirling his blade overhead to bring it down with his full body weight. A Father''s Gift cut deep into its thigh, splitting hide and muscle alike. Spinning away from the cut, Kaius unleashed another Stormlash, quickly binding its chest before he jumped back from a retaliatory twitching stomp. Acrid and foul, the stench of melted flesh and burned hair filled the air. The irontusk bellowed, goring his brother with a rapid buck of its head as its curved teeth transmuted and lengthened once more. Between the two prongs of their assault, it was growing desperate. One tusk glanced off the thick jade plating on Porkchop''s chest, but another found purchase, punching through the gaps in his armour. Porkchop coughed, blood foaming as the beast''s tusk punctured a lung. It didn''t stop his brother in the slightest. He wrenched himself off of the tusk without a moment''s hesitation, ignoring the gush of his lifeblood soaking into the dirt and filling the air with the scent of iron. With his powerful healing skill, the bleed was already stemming. Diving back in, Porkchop plunged his claws into the beast''s muzzle as it struggled to respond with its skill still in effect - the added length making its natural weapons cumbersome and unwieldy. Claws of green crystal were stained red in moments. Porkchop ripped, tearing the beast''s nose half free. Kaius didn''t let the moment go to waste, flying into a flurry of blows as he hacked and hacked at the widening wound on the giant''s leg. He might have barely come half way up its thigh, but he had learnt one thing against the Guardian. A bigger beast was just a bigger target. Two more Stormlashes were interwoven into the sweeping blurs of his blade, Liturgical Bladeform guiding him through the rhythm of weaving his magic into his fighting style. The rhythm of steel and spell was coming to him, and while it was still a new dance, it was becoming more natural by the minute. Chopping once more, he felt his blade bite bone. Feral delight split his face as the leg collapsed, muscle too severed to fully support its weight. Squealing in panic, the irontusk flew into a fury. Relentless in its retaliation, it hammered Porkchop with the sides of its tusks before twisting as much as it was able to force him back. Kaius ducked, slipping under the arm-thick bar of greyish ivory that threatened to crush his ribs. It whistled overhead, wind blowing with its passing. Then, summer light bloomed, filling him and Porkchop both with the shining vitality of the sun. **Ding! You have been Healed - Solar Manipulation!** His health shot up. Not instantly, but a rise more prodigious than anything he could manage with the simple tonics they had used in the depths. Still, it had been a lengthy spell to cast - much had happened in the time since Ianmus had started to channel. The weakness of free casting, but its flexibility was proven in how Ianmus was able to adjust it to heal them both on the fly. Gasping at the radiant warmth that suffused him, Kaius twisted, and thrust. The point of his sword punched deep into the irontusk''s neck that loomed above him. Blood spouted, coating his face in the sticky scent of victory. Squealing in fear and agony, the irontusk mustered its energy as mana flared in its chest once more. Kaius backed off, grass blurring beneath his feet as he retreated. A glance at his resources told him all he needed to know. Resources: Health - 1348/1520 (9.2/min) Stamina - 929/1220 (12.7/min) Mana - 776/1910 (13.3/min) Free Mana - 56/390 Reserved Mana - 720 Whatever came next, he could weather it. Yet it didn''t turn to him. Thrashing its head back and forth, it smashed its tusks into Porkchop again and again, hammering his brother as it gathered mana. Kaius''s eyes widened. Air cracked as brilliant light snapped into existence, scorching a line through the irontusk''s throat, Ianmus''s own attempt to ward off the coming attack. For a moment, there was nothing but a hole, the wound cauterised by the superheated light of the spell - then the sheer volume of blood overwhelmed the barrier of cooked meat, and blood gushed from the wound. The irontusk flinched. Every wound, no matter how small, brought it inexorably closer to the precipice of death. It was already uncomfortably close Porkchop growled, punishing the assault with lashing claws. Kaius dashed back in, driving his blade into the beast''s chest. A shuddering rattle echoed in its throat, and its blocky head dropped as mana surged. It kicked its head back, two spinning blades of iron slamming directly into Porkchop''s chest and shoulder. Both hit jade. Crystal cracked, bleeding the force of the skill. One blade shattered, flinging razor shards out in an explosion of shrapnel, dowsing Porkchop in a dozen small cuts. The other wedged itself through his brother''s armour, stuck fast in his chest plate. A handspan of blade punched into his chest. The might of thunder heeded his call as he tapped into another Stormlash, crackling potency mirroring his growing rage. He drowned in the song now, the rhythmic tempo of his heart heightening his focus, amplified by the stinging pain and heady joy of battle that flooded across his bond. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Drakthar has reached level 17!** Lightning descended like the hammer of a god, binding the beast''s neck to bubble its flesh and ravage its internals. Reverberant frequencies rushed through its body, every wound widening as blood vessels burst in an explosion of gore. More glowing orange embers poured from his hand, showering the grass beneath him as he ripped at more of his runic hymns - now was the time to end this fight, before Porkchop withstood more grievous wounds so that he didn''t have to. Three more bolts joined the first, its body seizing as he fried it from the inside out as the acrid scent of burnt hair married with the bitter stench of over-seared meat. Victory would be his. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Drakthar has reached level 18!** **Ding! Resonance Amplification has reached level 27!** Another cut on its chest was all he managed before it returned from its stunned haze, and bore down on him as the originator of its agony. Crying out, the irontusk threw its head sideways, an iron bar of a tooth careening straight for him. It was all he could do to grab his blade in both hands and throw his full weight into the inevitable collision. Enhanced steel cut deep into the iron-laced ivory, binding. It mattered little. Backed by a mountain of weight and a titan''s strength, it was all he could do to hold onto his blade as it jumped in his hand. His offhand slipped, missing fingers weakening his grip before he went skidding backwards. Every muscle in his back and arms burned with strain as he forced himself to stay standing. **Ding! Tempered by Dissonance has reached level 28!** Kaius gave ground, trying to let the beast bring as little of its size and strength to bear in a direct contest of arms. It mattered nought. The irontusk took a step, then another, hammering his guard with repeated smashes. Yet, despite the terrifying onslaught, Kaius could do nothing but grin. It was flagging - weakening by the moment. At the start of the fight he would have stood no chance in the face of its mauling strikes - no chance of blocking its heavy blows. The fact he stood blade in hand, deflecting its strikes, said everything. A Sunbeam cracked through the air, burrowing into the beast''s eye once again. The beast ignored the wound, pushing on. It pulled back for another heave. Kaius moved, yanking on A Father''s Gift to free his blade from the bind, twisting his wrists to lever it out. The irontusk bucked its head, lancing its tusks towards him. Empowered by Uncanny Dodge and Tempered By Dissonance, he dove under the lethal blow, pushing off the ground with his hand to spin into a roll with blurring speed as he contorted himself out of the way of a furious stomp. **Ding! Uncanny Dodge has reached level 26!** Launching to his feet, he raced to his brother. Knowledge and intent streamed across their bond. Ignoring the blade still wedged into his chest, Porkchop let out a baleful growl and stretched out a paw. Kaius stepped up onto the offered limb and kicked off, his brother heaving to send him sailing through the air. He twisted, seeing the irontusk quickly turning to search for him. It didn''t look up. Landing on its back, Kaius used the full momentum of his descent to drive his sword in between the ribs of its back, piercing the Lord of the Plain''s lung. The stinging kick of the impact only heightened the visceral rush that coursed up his spine. It tried to buck, with its leg shattered and its life streaming from a dozen rents in its flesh, the irontusk''s resistance was a pathetic thing. Oh gods, he had missed this. The smell of iron on the air, sticky blood coating his skin, the thumping of his heart, and the sheer certainty that he was alive. Effort alone would see them through this, effort alone would make them the victor. Undefeated ruler of the plains it may have been, but the irontusk had met its match. To it, they were the hardest challenge it had faced, having grown fat on green leaves and knowledge that nothing else met its size or level. To him, it was another step on his path to supremacy, and little else. A gasping wheeze rattled from its throat, bloody foam erupting from its mouth. He kicked off, ripping his blade free to land lightly on the ground. Then Porkchop dove in, tearing a chunk out of its throat. Blood fountained, drenching his brother for the few moments before the flow started to stem. Explorer''s Toolkit twinged. An opening. One that could end the battle here and now. Kaius sprinted, pommel held tucked into the pit of his arm. Even with its flesh writhing as wounds were sealed, even with its monumental Endurance and stout body, the beast could not keep up with the overwhelming damage they were laying against it. Blood streamed from a dozen pits in its chest, torn free by digging claws stained a deep red. Boiled and seared flesh wept, belying a dozen more serious internal wounds. It was flagging. Kaius could taste its death on the wind, the subtle potency of victory. It would be theirs. Reacting on skill enhanced instinct, he readjusted his grip on his sword, holding it in his dominant. He approached his target. Kicking off the ground, he flew into a spin. Thrusting out his left hand, he tapped into the stored violence of his glyph. Lightning cocooned him, before cracking out to bind the irontusk once more. Blurring steel quickly followed, a flashing arc of silver poised directly to cut into its neck. He activated his vambrace. Kept charged by being forced to constantly defend from the beast''s onslaught, he''d been saving it for the right moment. Stored power took over. Fuelled by the might of dozens of blows, the fine edge of his blade hit the top of the irontusk''s neck like a headsman''s axe. Hardened flesh parted like wheat, bone splintering like deadwood, and blood poured like raging falls. When the might of his enchantment was spent - exhausted in the effort of breaking the creature''s toughened spine - his weight took over. Honed steel severed the thick corded bundle hidden within its spine, and carved through half a stride of flesh beneath. Spine severed, it collapsed, head flopping to the side on a half a neck of unanchored flesh and gristle. The winds of death rattled from its exposed throat, a final exhalation as its vitality anointed him in the sweet red of victory. His feet touched the ground. **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo has reached level 27!** **Ding! level 49 Irontusk Vagrant slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 18!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** ... **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 22!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** **Ding! Class skill available for selection!** Kaius howled his victory to the air, his brother''s roar mirroring his own. Chapter 152 - B2 150: Acquisitions Kaius hooted in delight as he saw the notification that his next class skill was available for selection. It amplified the rush, the slowly retreating joy that he always felt as he proved himself the superior fighter and was rewarded for it. Unfortunately, he''d have to wait a little before he checked what options he had available. There were more important things to deal with first. Like the blade that was still stuck in Porkchop''s chest. A volatile construction of system-borne magic, it would fade with time - but it still had to hurt like hell. He turned, eyes sliding over the shredded and torn ground coated in the lifeblood of the irontusk to focus on Porkchop limping towards him. His jade armour vanished in a puff of aspected mana, revealing the handspan of iron that protruded roughly from his brother''s chest. Red blood ran down its edge in slow rivulets, dripping from its point. "Shit, buddy, that must hurt." he winced in sympathy, racing to Porkchop''s side. "No? You think? I thought that was ticklish." Porkchop deadpanned, his breathing shallow so as not to disturb the blade. Kaius rolled his eyes, slapping both palms on either flat edge of the hiltless weapon as he planted one foot on Porkchop''s chest. He heaved back. Porkchop groaned as the blade came out slowly, blood momentarily gushing before his Health could heal the wound. Pulling it free was harder than Kaius expected, it must have gotten lodged in his brother''s ribs. "Thanks. That''s much better." Porkchop said with plain relief, rubbing the rent in his under-armour with one paw. Kaius saw the holes. Both from the skill, and the ragged circular punch that had been taken out due to getting gored by the irontusk. Without self-repair, they would stay until they were able to get the artefact inscribed with that enchantment, or took it to a leatherworking artisan with the right skills. Thankfully, due to some reason unknown to him, even if they added the enchantment after the damage, it would still repair. To a point; they''d have to be careful on the rest of their trip. "I know you''ve got your fancy armour now, but you should still at least try to avoid hits." Kaius reproached. He hadn''t missed that Porkchop had practically thrown himself at every blow he could. Porkchop had the sense to look abashed. "I mean... I guess, but its the only way I''m going to get my skill up." Kaius shook his head. It was a reason, he supposed. He looked at the slain Irontusk, its head half removed. Somehow, it looked almost bigger than when it was living. Even limp and cooling, splayed out on the ground, it still had the height advantage on him. He almost couldn''t believe they''d really done it. "You know, this is kind of the first fight where I''m realising how much we''ve grown. Sure, we decimated everything on our way here, but those fights all felt like something we could have managed while we were still in the depths. Even if only just." Porkchop said, wandering over to his side. "I know what you mean. If I''m honest, it still felt too easy." Kaius murmured. It was one thing to know that they were far above their contemporaries, between his bondskill enhancing his base, his racial trait, Heroic class, and Honours. It was entirely another to slay a beast more than twice his level with relative ease, one that outweighed him a dozen times over at least. Still, the feat had brought its own rewards, even if it still felt weird that there would be no artefacts waiting for them after such a magnificent fight. "I assume that you''re ready to pick your next skill?" he asked, turning back to Porkchop. "I am," Porkchop replied. "But perhaps we should deal with Ianmus first, he looks a little frantic." his brother nodded behind him. Kaius turned, before letting out a chuckle as he saw the half-elf solar mage tearing his way across the plains, practically skipping in his haste as the saddle bags they had left with him thumped against his back. His eyes were wide, expression twisted as it was caught somewhere between shock and excitement. Seeing them looking, Ianmus thrust his staff in the air and let out a whoop of delight, running faster. A moment later he skidded to a halt in front of them, practically fizzing with delight. "Holy gods, that was incredible! I have never seen anything like it! A beast twice out level...and you just fought it! I thought you would whittle it down, relying on your superior agility to hamper it as you slowly bled it of health, but nope! You just went right at its face! That was so fucking stupid, I love it!" The mage said, practically tripping over his words as they blurred together like he was physically incapable of keeping them in. "Do you always fight like that?" Ianmus asked, taking a moment to breathe. "I got two bloody levels, all the way to level twenty-nine! Just like that!" Kaius laughed, joined by his brother''s throaty chuckle. "Pretty much, though usually we''re a bit more careful than that. We got a little...lost in the thrill of it, after so long without a good fight." Ianmus nodded emphatically. "I can see why, even halfway across the field I felt like my heart was going to burst out of my chest, and the heat! Never have I felt the Song so keenly." "We''ll make a Delver of you yet." Porkchop chuffed. Kaius smiled, before he crouched down and cleaned his blade on the grass at his feet, streaks of red smearing over the glossy green. A bit odd, considering he was soaked to the bone in blood, but he didn''t want to gunk up his sheath. "What about the two of you, did you reach your goal?" Ianmus asked. Kaius returned to his feet as he smoothly sheathed his sword. "We did, shot all the way to twenty-two." "And you haven''t picked yet? What are you waiting for?" Ianmus asked, puzzled. Kaius snorted, as if the man hadn''t sprinted towards them like an entire duchy was on his tail. "Felt like it was better to wait for you to get here. Besides, I wanted to ask, this choosing won''t take us back to the class selection space will it?" "I was wondering the same thing actually, my guide mentioned that it was only for certain skills, but I was a little too caught up in the whole event to dig deeper." Porkchop said, mirroring his interest. Ianmus looked at them surprised. Though, in some ways that made sense. The man was an academy mage, the opportunity to grill the system for as much information as he could had probably been as exciting as getting his class was. "Most won''t, not unless it is a skill that requires some level of hands-on practice to learn safely. Usually that relates to spell skills, I assume it is similar for you Kaius?" He nodded. "I thought so, it''s often the case for less research aligned magi classes. While you won''t fall insensate, most skills will come with a system insight into their function. Depending on the complexity it will leave you quite distracted." Kaius nodded, thankful for the explanation. He shot Porkchop a questioning gaze, even if they had just defeated the biggest beast around, it was still good practice to take turns. While he somewhat trusted Ianmus, he was far less confident in the man''s ability to defend them in the low likelihood they were ambushed. Porkchop nodded. "You first, I don''t mind waiting a few more minutes. Let me know if you need help working through anything." Kaius gave his brother a smile of thanks, before he took a seat on the plush grass below. It might have still reeked of spilled blood, but they were far enough from the irontusk he was at no risk of sitting in a puddle "In that case..." He pulled up the waiting notification. **Ding! Class skill available for selection!** Three skill screens popped into view, showing him the next step on his path. Echo Slash: Class Skill - Tier I Affinity: Martial, Mirror Type: Longsword, Technique, Strike Selection Available! Unique Blurring speed breeds echoes, breathe life into them and see your foes sundered. This skill allows the user to spend 200 stamina to create a blade echo that mirrors an attack, multiplying offensive capability. Each level reasonably raises the power of blade echoes. Each level moderately increases speed of both the initial strike and resultant blade echoes. Every 20 levels, increase blade echoes by 1. ... Initiate''s Glyphic Bladerite: Class Skill - Tier I Affinity: Arcane, Martial Type: Glyph-binding, Runic, Armament Enhancement, Longsword Selection Available! Unique Glyphic mastery, bent to solidify the first and most primal bond, that between a man and his weapon. Feed the link, enshrine your blade in your centre, and let the truth of Vesryn bloom. This skill links the user with their bonded blade, passively increasing the potency of the weapon''s enchantments, as well as active abilities that directly interface with their weapon. This link allows the user to sense their blade from a distance. Due to a strengthened bond with the soul, enchantments can be drastically empowered for the cost of 100 stamina for a short period of time. Enables the user to reinforce their bonded weapon with relevant materials, effects of reinforcement vary depending on materials used. Each level reasonably increases the strength of active and passive empowerment of enchantments. Each level reasonably increases passive empowerment of abilities that utilise the bonded weapon. Each level slightly increases the time of active empowerment. ... Flowing Fortress: Class Skill - Tier I Affinity: Martial, Force Type: Longsword, Technique, Retributive, Defence Selection Available! Unique The man did nothing but block until they all dropped dead! I''m tellin'' ya, I ain''t going anywhere near him. This skill allows the user to spend 100 stamina when blocking or parrying to create a cutting crescent of intangible force that slices at their foe, proportional in power to the defended attack. Each level significantly increases the strength of summoned force blades. Every 50 levels, increase the size of summoned force blades. Kaius whistled appreciatively, drinking in their effects. While it smarted that none of the skills were Heroic, he was at least pleased that neither were any Unusual. Unfortunately, it meant his decision would need to be made on merit, rather than relying on the simple supremacy of rarity. An attacking skill, a retributive defence, and something...stranger. Hard choices indeed. "Well? What are your options?" Porkchop asked, almost as eager and curious as he was. Kaius subvocalized their descriptions. While he had no compunctions of sharing his build with Porkchop, he did not intend to do the same with Ianmus. The man was pleasant, and helpful, but one did not share the deep specifics of their status without a certain level of unshakeable trust. "Hmmm. I like the sound of Echo Slash; past the first tier that will turn into a LOT of attacks." Porkchop said. "I know, but we can also expect it to get more costly as it rises through the tiers. Besides, there''s something about the Bladerite that calls to me. It''s the link I need with my sword to start its growth, even if we only have one material right now." Kaius reasoned. He''d been waiting for something like this, though he suspected that most blade related skills would eventually develop a linking capability as they rose through the tiers, especially as one accrued feats regarding the use of a growth weapon. Yet, why risk it, why wait, when he could start right now? "Really? The active seems a little... lacklustre. So your blade will get a bit sharper, so what?" Porkchop replied with apprehension. Kaius grinned, still staring at the description. "That''s only for now. Just think, not only will the skill gain more effects in later tiers, it will also scale with the development of A Father''s Gift. I think it''s the right choice." "I still think Echo Slash sounds way cooler." Porkchop mumbled. "That may be so, but I still think this will be far better in the long term." Kaius chuckled. "Keep an eye out, I''m going to pick." He focused on his choice. **Ding! Initiate''s Glyphic Bladerite Class Skill Available, would you like to proceed? This choice is pivotal and irrevocable.** B2 Chapter 203: Infiltration, pt. 3 B2 Chapter 203: Infiltration, pt. 3 After deciding to wait for nightfall, Kaius had returned to his watch upon the ridge. Seated quietly in the shadow of the boulder, he kept his eyes on the valley. As the early autumn sun had tracked its way down towards the horizon, more boggarts had appeared. Raiding parties¡ªmore than one returning with the carcasses of their hunts. Each and every one had a bugbear or two in their midst, directing their lesser siblings with disturbing intelligence. By the time the amber cloak of the setting sun draped his back, the valley drenched in shadow, the incoming boggarts had slowed. When night finally fell, he¡¯d made a count of seventy individuals, with an unknown quantity already inside the caves. The moon had risen high in the sky by the time he had decided it was time for them to strike. With the fall of night, his darkvision came into play¡ªthe vibrant colours of the day washing out into a clear monochrome. Returning to the clustered boulders, Kaius nodded to his team, and they busied themselves with securing the supplies they would need for their assault. Light was unneeded¡ªthey could all see in the dark to varying degrees. Ianmus was the worst off, his amulet only brightening complete darkness to a level where a normal man would be hard pressed to see more than indistinct shadows in the dark. Thankfully, his elven heritage and high mental stats had left him with sharp enough eyes that it was only a minor hindrance. Their packs would be left behind. They¡¯d stash them in their tent¡ªwhich they¡¯d pitched in a corner of the space in the middle of the piled stones. Hopefully, even if they were discovered, it would be passed over as just another pile of rocks. The lighter they could travel, the quicker they would move if they had to. Potions were gathered and sorted¡ªfour mana potions, four health, and a couple of general purpose antidotes. Ianmus had them secured at his belt, though he¡¯d taken a pair of health potions for himself and Porkchop. They¡¯d also bring a few rations. Not much, just a days worth of jerky and a single mundane waterskin¡ªthey could be down there for hours, and keeping their strength up would be important. Kaius donned his cloak and pulled its draping hood over his helmet. No doubt there would be watchers in the cave, relying on firelight to see. A poorly timed glint of metal would give them away if he didn¡¯t cover himself. Thankfully, it wasn¡¯t the only protection they had against that eventuality. Knowing they¡¯d most likely be venturing underground, Kaius had been storing ash from their nightly fires for weeks. Every scrap of metal¡ªartifacts, buckles, armour, and more¡ªwas rubbed down, obscuring their sheen as much as possible. In silent unison, they left their packs and advanced. Hiking a good quarter league along the ridge, they moved to a relatively gentle slope that was absent of scree that Kaius had spotted earlier. It would have been far too risky to scramble down right outside the cave¡ªif there were watches that he had missed, they would be spotted immediately. Each step was still nerve wracking. Kaius took every stride with care, experience and Skill guiding his footsteps as he crept around brittle grasses and stray twigs. Even Porkchop, with all his impressive bulk, was like a ghost. The hunt was well known to him, and he moved with a silent grace that made his strength all the more terrifying. Entering the treeline, Kaius kept his eyes constantly moving. Totally focused on their surroundings, his Glass Mind raced, working with Explorer¡¯s Toolkit to catalogue every shrouded bough, pool of shadow, and shifting shape. Potential points of ambush were highlighted, focused on, analysed, and discarded in moments as he guided them through the valley. Soon, his vigilance was rewarded. Leaf litter¡ªspread a little too consistently to be natural. Holding up a hand for his team to halt, Kaius crept forwards, eying the disturbance. Toolkit had thoroughly looked onto it now, baying in his mind like a bloodhound on the scent of game. Lowering himself into a crouch, he peered closely at the leaves. A dense mat of woven twigs was beneath them. Finding a lack of tripwires or branches held under tension in the surroundings, Kaius moved to a nearby tree and scooped a long stick off the ground. Returning to the suspicious pile, he hooked his stick under the lip of the woven twigs, lifting them upwards. It revealed a hole¡ªas deep as he was, with stone-tipped spears lining the bottom. A pit-fall. The boggarts had been building traps. **Ding! Explorer¡¯s Toolkit has reached level 45!** ¡°Traps. Pretty simplistic though¡ªif this is exemplary of their work I should be able to get us to the cave without issues.¡± Kaius whispered. His team nodded, and they set off once more with redoubled caution. Kaius spotted four more pitfalls on their journey through the widespread trees¡ªone of which had already been triggered. They¡¯d approached that one, eager to see what the boggarts had been setting them for. They didn¡¯t seem like they were being used for hunting¡ªnot with the size of them, or the way they had been set at convenient routes through the trees. Unfortunately, the pit had been empty¡ªthough broken spears and the dried remnants of blood still lined the base of the pit. Whatever had fallen through had obviously been carted off as lunch. As they drew close to the cave, the short trees that lined the valley floor grew even thinner. Artificially so¡ªroughly hacked at stumps had taken their place. Kaius only hoped that the wood had been used for cooking fires, rather than fortifications deeper in the cave. Despite going through the effort to create clear sight lines around the cave''s mouth, the boggarts seemed to have grown complacent in the safety of their new home. The lone tree beside the cave entrance was empty, and he spotted no sign of fire inside the cave. Even if some of the boggarts had skills that let them see in the dark, none of them had been posted either. He could see the cave''s interior just fine, and between Truesight and his Toolkit he had full confidence in spotting watchers if they had existed. Approaching the cliff''s edge, they pressed themselves close to the stone. Kaius took the lead, with Porkchop taking the rear. Shuffling right up to the edge, Kaius craned his neck to peer into the cave. His lips pursed into a frown¡ªthe cave was just as extensive as he¡¯d feared. There¡¯d been a thin hope that it would stretch back a handful of dozen long-strides before widening into an enclosed cavern. It was not to be. Instead, the fifteen stride wide opening expanded almost immediately to double that. The natural tunnel punched deep into the hillside, before it slowly curved down¡ªinto the belly of the world¡ªobscuring him from seeing any deeper. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Even with his vision occluded, he still saw hints of smaller side passage winding off from the main cave. Cracks and fissures that could hold watching boggarts, traps, or grisly trophies. Kaius pulled himself back, relaying his findings to his team. Getting a nod in return, they entered. Taking his position at the front of the group, Kaius left his blade in its sheath. Even covered in ash, there was still the chance it could give them away, and he was more than confident he¡¯d be able to draw it in time. Besides, it wasn¡¯t like he was defenceless. He had a full complement of spells already inscribed¡ªStormlash and Slip Step both, though he¡¯d only taken a handful of the latter. If the entire plague did descend on their heads, he wanted as many casts of crackling lightning as he could get. Step by step they crept into the darkness. Now that they were fully in the cave, the signs of boggart habitation were everywhere. Soot stains, claw scratched stones, bones, and more. He could even smell smoke, wafting up towards them from deep within the underground passage. The jagged fissures in the cave walls drew close. Some were visible as little more than large cracks in the rock, while through others he could see openings. Only a few looked wide enough to be usable, but he wasn¡¯t going to take any chances. Not when his Glass Mind was happily focused on the many ways such a space could be used to obscure an ambush or trap. Kaius waved for his team to move closer to the wall as they approached the first of the fissures. Leaving them where they were, he dropped into a deep crouch and snuck forward. A quick approach and swift look let him know that the fissure was empty. He rushed forwards, checking the others as quickly as he could while still remaining silent. Some had been used as impromptu dumping grounds, but none housed any boggarts. Kaius drew back, moving swiftly as he returned. ¡°Nothing,¡± he whispered. ¡°we continue.¡± Porkchop and Ianmus nodded, following after him. If he¡¯d had an inkling that the cave system was large, after a quarter hour of slowly creeping through the darkness it had proven itself massive. It almost reminded him of being in the depths. The endless crawl through twisting tunnels and passages in search of the next cavern full of beasties. There were still differences. The mana was more wild, the surroundings more natural. A surface level similarity only. Still, it was enough that he quickly fell back into old habits¡ªconstantly looking for threats, always looking over his shoulder, and pulling more heavily on his bond so that he would know immediately if Porkchop spotted something. Advancing onwards, through cold blackness and hardened stone, Kaius¡¯s tension rose. He would have expected that they would have run into something by now. The evidence that the boggarts had made their home here existed, but the absence of their presence grated further with every step. If the cave got any deeper, he was worried that their foes had found an entrance to the underworld¡ªthe sprawling network of caves and caverns that were home to strange and dangerous monsters. Though, that said, he was pretty sure they¡¯d need to descend half a league or more before that happened, and the boggarts themselves would likely be little more than a snack to the denizens of that umbral place. It was the monotony that was the worst. The unknown. He had no problem fighting the boggarts, but all this creeping and skulking was doing his head in. Finally, after rounding yet another gentle bend in the cave, his wish came true. A deep hiss broke the silence, bouncing clean off the hardened rock walls to reach his ears from deeper down the passage. Kaius froze at once, feeling Porkchop do the same behind him. His heart thumped in his chest, jaw muscles tense as he prayed that they hadn¡¯t been caught. A moment later another hiss crossed the space, this one a little raspier¡ªquickly followed by the sound of clattering rocks and heaving grunts. Kaius shared a look with his team, tilting his head questionably. Ianmus nodded. Investigation it was. Rounding the bend, they came across the first major divergence from their path since they had entered the cave. A cross road, one branch continuing straight and downwards, and one that split off to the right, quickly leveling out. The dual clamour of anger and clattering blows was coming from the right. Close. Rushing forwards, Kaius peered down the quiet tunnel. It seemed to end quickly¡ªa champer that had definitely been used at some point, judging by the burnt out fire pits and scraps of bone that were strewn around the place. Currently though, it lay abandoned. He returned, checking down the tunnel where the ongoing feral calls were coming from. Inching forwards down the tunnel, Kaius strained his ears. There were definitely two of them, and they were fighting alright. The tunnel started to curve off to the right. Rounding the bend, Kaius saw the faintest hint of rising light shimmering on the far cave wall. He poked his head around the corner, finding little but a brighter glow reflecting off another turn. That was one problem with his darkvision, it was sensitive enough that even the slightest hint of light was noticeable in pitch-blackness. He gestured to his team to stay put, pushing on ahead alone. While he was no match for a proper sneak, Toolkit did at least bring some benefit to his stealth. Faint hisses and deep whacks resolved themselves into snarls, scraps, and yipping bleats as they drew closer, each bend revealing more and more light. Whatever confrontation was occurring ahead, it sounded vicious. Finally, the light Kaius could see was visibly flickering, revealing the nature of its flaming source. He crept ahead of his team, cloak pulled tight around him as the recognisable sound of fists hitting flesh droned. He poked his eyes around the corner, pressed tight to the cave wall to hide his presence¡ªthough he was careful not to let his armour clink on the stone. A small cavern, perhaps twice as wide as the cave¡ªthrown in stark relief by a small fire that burned at its centre. Standing before the fire were two boggarts, desperately wailing on each other with fist and stone as they fought over a mostly striped leg bone. If it was just the two of them, Kaius would have already rushed in to silence them. With the infernal racket they were making, their cries of alarm would have been no different. Unfortunately, they weren¡¯t alone. Half a dozen more boggarts looked on from the side of the cavern, nestled around another passage leading deeper into the cave. A bugbear loomed over his lessers, amusement visible on their face as they stared at the brawl. It was the passage behind them that drew his eye. Crude torches were mounted on its side, lighting it up. Moreover, the stone had been crudely hacked at, shattered edges and jagged walls revealing it had been widened. The start of the nest. .... Crouched at the edge of the cliff face, Drorome watched the three idiots enter the cave with a sigh. Her Mirage Skein broke up her image, hiding her completely from their sight. Not that the overconfident fools had been watching. I mean, really, they went through all the trouble of taking an account of the raiding parties, only to rush in head first? She knew that they were bound to fail¡ªit was the entire point of this exercise, after all¡ªbut she¡¯d hoped they would at least do it well. On the gods, if they went down there¡ªaware that there were unknowns like the bugbears¡ªand went straight to a frontal assault, she¡¯d beat some sense into them herself. It was always the same with prodigies¡ªthey thought themselves invincible. That raw power meant everything, and forgot to account for simple things like raw numbers and the power of attrition. These ones might be once-in-a-millenia, but from everything she had seen, it only made the problems worse. Shaking her head in disappointment, she stepped forwards, falling soundlessly through the air. Chapter 153 - B2 151: Emblem Kaius gasped as he chose Initiate''s Glyphic Bladerite, the system''s formless power slipping into the confines of his soul space. His soul shone resplendent in his mind''s eye, even while his physical ones stayed open, drinking in the green fields of the plains. With deific ease, the power that reigned above all weaved a new skill shard out of golden light. A second crystal, orbiting the fires of his soul in lockstep with his first. It was just as aggressive - as prone to battle - as Drakthar, but there were differences. Where his first skill revelled in the heart pumping brutality of the fight, his newest skill was...different. Controlled. It enshrined the honour and mastery that could only be seen in a contest between two equals, one where the very prize was life. It venerated the bond between man and blade. Without man, the blade was aimless. Without blade, the man was defenceless. Together they wrought art, whirling steel painting the canvas of the world with blood and victory. The system bore down, and his skill finalised. As it did, Kaius''s mind throbbed. Information streamed into him, temples pulsing as the system forced knowledge upon him. With it came understanding. He knew then what the skill represented, that he had made the right choice. This was just simply the beginning. The foundations of a partnership that would see him through until he reached the pinnacle, or breathed his last. Two glyphs, one on the palm of his hand and one on the blade of his sword. Wrought from soulfire, they would be inured against mundane destruction. Burnt into the very fundamentals of their being, they would be inexorably linked, permanently deepening the soul bond that already existed. It would not be easy. The glyphs that now shone in his mind were complex, and densely wrought. He would need time to weave them, hours at least. Thankfully, mana would be used as a vehicle, so he would still be able to use Tonal Weaving. In trade, the Bladerite was more potent than he would have thought. Overcharging the enchantments on A Father''s Gift looked like it would be effective indeed, even if it currently only had minor sharpness enchantments. Its true capabilities would come to bear as his sword grew, just as he had hoped. Letting out a slow breath, Kaius mopped at the sweat on his brow before he looked over to Porkchop, who was watching him with curiosity. "Well? What''s it like?" his brother asked. Kaius chuckled slightly. "I made the right choice, but I will need to forge the glyphs that will bind me to the blade myself. I can do it - the system was thorough - but the work will be delicate to say the least." "Delicate as in ''blow your hand up'' delicate?" Porkchop asked, narrowing his eyes accusatively. Kaius laughed. "No, not from what I can tell. The glyphs that I have been receiving seem remarkably more stable than my original working. They just dissipate, from what I can tell. Still, I will likely need a few hours. I''ll do it when we set up camp for the evening." Porkchop nodded, before requesting that he watch over him while he surveyed his own choices. Watching his brother focus on his notifications, Kaius stretched and pushed himself to his feet. Rolling his shoulder, he turned. Ianmus was waiting, patiently standing to the side while he finished his work. "Sorry about that, I appreciate that right after a battle isn''t the most convenient time for us to pick our skills." he said, scratching his head before grimacing at the blood that matted his hair. Ianmus stifled a laugh at his reaction, politely saying nothing of his gorey state. "Think nothing of it. Skill selection is an exciting time, and I would not be one to stand in the way of development." the half-elf paused, before looking at him curiously. "Did you get anything good?" Kaius nodded emphatically, his satisfaction plain on his face. "Oh yes, though somewhat annoyingly it will need a bit of setup first. I''ll have to work on it when we make camp." "It''s an odd thing, this style you have discovered. I haven''t seen anything quite like it. Normally only artisan classes have some sort of set up beforehand." Ianmus asked with interest. "Ehh, it''s not too different from what a free caster has to deal with, just front loaded." Kaius waved the man off, before turning as his brother chuffed. He found Porkchop staring at him excitedly, his claws digging deep into the soft soil at his feet. "Need any help? Or did you find something you want." Kaius asked. Porkchop shook his head. "I already picked. An offensive and control ability." he explained. "Oh?" Kaius replied, switching to talking through their bond. "What was it?" "Prismatic Shardwall, A Unique just like yours. It summons a jagged wall of crystal that I can then slam towards me, or away from me. A stamina skill too, which is rare for something like this." Porkchop replied, his ears flicking with excitement. "Towards you? How does that help?" Kaius asked with a frown. His brother grinned at him in response. "What will happen when there is a monster between the wall and me?" Eyes widening in shock, Kaius''s mind raced. Oh, that was devilish. With Porkchop being all but a steel barrier himself, the skill would crush them. Especially depending on how fast it moved. He could see how careful use of the skill would be useful indeed, especially if used to pull enemies around the battlefield, or draw them in, leaving them off balance and vulnerable. A clap startled him out of his thoughts. Kaius turned to find Ianmus watching both of them expectantly. "Right. Since you are both done, should we head to that stream over there by that copse?" the magi said, pointing over to a small grouping of trees that were nestled at the base of a short rise a good quarter-league off to their right. Kaius stared quizzically in the direction Ianmus pointed, his eyebrows scrunched. He''d seen the trees, but had completely missed the stream. Maybe the magi was mistaken? He would have noticed with True Sight. Ianmus rolled his eyes. "Yes, there is a stream. Unlike the two of you I wasn''t staring at the irontusk like it knew the solution to the Izmak theorem the entire walk over. Now come on, you both reek." he said, answering Kaius''s unspoken question, before starting to walk in the direction of the copse. Porkchop snorted, lumbering to his feet with a chuckle before he set off after their companion. "He''s got us there. We did get a little...fixated, probably something we should work on. A wash does sound good though. I hate feeling sticky." Kaius shrugged to himself. Maybe he had missed the stream. That was embarrassing. Only a little though, it was hard for him to feel anything other than pleased at their victory now that he had another skill to try out. As soon as they washed and got a few leagues closer to Deadacre that is, no point burning daylight when he could get it set up when they made camp. Besides, Ianmus was right. He could do with a little less blood gumming up the joints of his armour. Paling a little at the thick scent of stale blood and sweat, Kaius recoiled from the stench emanating from his armour. He did reek. Jogging after his traveling companions, Kaius raced forwards to the pair who were now strolling beside each other. ... Staring into the low flames of their campfire, Kaius watched the way each tongue flicked back and forth. Porkchop rested behind Kaius, head nestled on his paws as his warm bulk supported his brother''s back. Their companion, Ianmus, had fallen asleep a good half an hour or so ago. Practically as soon as they had eaten. It had quickly become clear that the academian mage was quite the stranger to hard travel. Oh, he hid it well, pushing through with nary a grimace or complaint. It was still obvious to him. His whole life had been hard travel, and it was easy to pick up on the little nuances. The way the man winced as he took off his boots at the end of the day, even if Health and Stamina would easily deal with such mundane maladies. The way he watched his cooking with naked avarice, as if he was still unable to believe such creature comforts were truly available. Mostly though, it was the way that Ianmus fell asleep almost as soon as his head hit his bedroll. He knew the man was combat trained, that much was clear, but there was something wearying about cross country travel that went deeper than stats and resources. It ground down at you, polished your resolve. It led to the kind of sleep that was difficult to wake from, to the point that he and Porkchop had taken to spending extra long on breakfasts just to give the man an extra hour. That, and it was hard to turn down an excuse for a fried breakfast. Especially when they had a spatial bloody bag that kept them full of fresh supplies. No doubt Ianmus had noticed something odd, but the man was wise enough to not question the source of fresh cheese and eggs. Still, Ianmus''s heavy sleep was a nice benefit right now. It meant he could work on his latest glyph in peace. It was surprising to find out that they extended beyond anchoring spell-hymns to the body, but he supposed he shouldn''t be too shocked. Free casting and sorcery both had niche skills and effects that fell under their ''umbrella'' so it made sense that the third pillar had the same. Kaius leaned back into his brother, staring at the stars above. It gladdened him, to see the same twinkling lights above him as he did in the sea. A little slice of home, that would be with him no matter where he traveled. Regardless if it was in an open field, or a city overflowing with too many people by half, there would always be a familiar sky waiting for him when the sun dipped over the horizon. He sighed. "Musing again?" Porkchop asked, leaning into him with a soft rumble. Kaius smiled, still watching the stars above. "Only a little. It''s just odd, to think that what me and my father spent years on only ended up scratching the surface of an entire art. There''s so much to learn, and even what I receive from the system I barely understand on a true level. More like I am copying them by rote, you know?" Porkchop nosed him affectionately. "Isn''t that exciting? It means there is more to conquer, and more to discover. Even if you don''t understand the basic principles right now, it doesn''t mean you never will. You have a skill that will help, you just need to study them. That, and perhaps get some help from someone else who wishes to learn more." his brother finished, looking pointedly at Ianmus. Kaius smiled. "Maybe, it''s a little early to jump to that right now. Perhaps if the man doesn''t run off to the Dukedoms as soon as we get to Deadacre, and there are deeper bonds of true friendship between us, if that ever happens. Still, you are right on the studying front. I''ll need to start that when we get some more permanent accommodations in the city. For now though, I should get these glyphs made." Acceptance flowed across their bond as Porkchop switched his attention to keeping watch. Smiling at his brother in thanks, Kaius reached down next to him for where his sword lay waiting. Drawing the blade, he watched the flickering orange light of the fire glimmer on its surface, before he lay it flat across his lap. It was a beautiful gift, one he had treasured even before he knew of its true value. A shimmering steel blade, waves of darker grey playing across the metal revealing the quality of the artifice that had gone into its creation. Four runes alighted the centre of its length, nestled neatly in the furrow, while its sturdy crossguard and handle was decorated with intricately wrought filigree of life-like flowered vines that he had no name for. He would be adding to the work, emblazoning a glyph at the base of the blade, similar to where one might find a maker''s mark. The skill was an interesting one. While it was a complete glyph, and the system had ingrained him with all the instruction he needed to complete the formation flawlessly, it was almost incomplete. The very act of linking his blade to his body and soul would...change it. Or something similar, he wasn''t quite certain, only that the final shape of the glyph would be personalised. An emblem, representing his very person. Kaius couldn''t wait to see what it looked like. Chapter 154 - B2 152: Emblem finale Kaius laid his hands on the flat of the blade, feeling the cold chill of the inscribed steel. Breathing deep, he emptied his mind, allowing himself to come to a slow calm. In tune with his senses, he felt the world. Chill steel, the weight of his armour pressing on the familiar softness of his travelling clothes. The sturdy support of his brother against his back, the caressing warmth of a summer''s night wind, the low crackle-pop of the fire, the grit of the dirt worming its way between his pants and boots. All of it. One by one, he noted the distractions, and one by one he let them free to drift across his mind. He centred himself, and his heart slowed. Ready as he ever would be, Kaius let his eyes fall shut and he drifted into his internal world. Fresh from his experience earlier in the day, immortalised like it had been carved from adamant by the system''s will, the shape of his latest glyph came to mind. Both ends of the link were identical, but he knew that he had to start with the one on his body. It was an anchor, and the waypoint his sword would use to connect to him more fully. The conduit through which it would bind itself to his ascension, empowered in lockstep with his own growth. Soul-bonded items were rare things, only whispered about in rumours and legends, but he knew more now. The system had granted context along with its glyph. Material infusion might have been the way A Father''s Gift would increase in rarity, enabled by his glyph to improve both its enchantments and its construction, but it was the link itself that would lead to more fundamental growth. Once bound, truly bound, on a level far more fundamental than the base connection they already had, it would climb through the tiers of power in unison with him. Evolving to new heights in conjunction with his class. Thank the gods he had gotten the skill so early, he would have hated to think of the loss if he had waited for some other skill to evolve a linking functionality. Another slow breath quelled the musings in his mind, and he focussed on bringing the shape of the Bladerite to the forefront. Much like Drakthar it was imposing in its complexity, a three dimensional knot of sacred geometry and half understood formations. Unlike his first glyph, its shape and essence was far less brutal. Where Drakthar was all sharp points and cutting edges, the Bladerite was flowing movement made of smooth curves. It drew the eye to its angles, sweeping the gaze with increasing speed before it would bank into a hairpin turn, morphing into acute lines that would cut across the whole working. If he was honest with himself, he understood sweet fuck-all of how it worked, beyond being able to vaguely identify four separate arrays. One in the centre, with three others overlapping and subsuming it. Still, it was a gorgeous piece of runic work, one that called to mind the flowing grace of swordwork, and the beauty that could be seen in an immaculately executed sequence of moves. Speed in consistency and measured control. Thankfully, he did not need to understand the fundamentals of how the glyph worked to trust that it would. The system was many things, but it was not deceitful. That, and he knew he would have the skill''s own aide in its construction. Sharpening his mind''s eye, he pulled the glyph into focus, until it hovered in the black with as much clarity as if it had been lovingly sculpted from silver wire. Still, with how mind-bendingly complex the working was, it was easy for individual parts of the image to fall out of focus, blurring as he lost track of the individual details in the mash of geometry. Slowly, patiently, he retrained his mind on the problem areas. Sharpening the image over and over, until the glyph held steady in his mind. For anything else, it would have been agonising having to rework the same sections again and again. Thankfully, the Bladerite was a thing of sublime beauty, and he had no problem spending time lavishing every hairsbreadth of its length with his attention. **Ding! True Sight has reached level 31!** ... **Ding! True Sight has reached level 33!** Finally, he was ready. Kaius started to weave. With the new grasp that Tonal Weaving gave him over his internal mana supplies, it was easy for him to grip his mana pool, threading a string of power out into his body. Infusing that power with the essence of his soul was far more complex. His skill helped somewhat, as did his experience with soul-fire during the merging of his legacy skills, but it was not perfect. Kaius stayed calm, taking his time. There was no scream, no psychic dissonance to power through. Just him, his image, and his will. He could do this. Radiant power suffused his mana as a branch of soulfire connected to his pool. He continued his work, worming a thin thread of mana down his arm, to gather it in the palm of his right hand. Hairsbreadth by agonising hairsbreadth, he wove the thread around his natural mana pathways, snapping it into place as he formed his Bladerite. Sweat beaded on his brow, his forehead furrowing in concentration. The glyph came together. It was an interesting thing. Even with its beauty, and his own lacking comprehension, it was easy for him to see it was...incomplete. Too much empty space, odd lines that ended nowhere, and linking sentences of runes that failed to connect. With a final gasp, he wove the last line, and the first half of his Bladerite snapped into place. Linked to his soul, it pulsed with energy, searing his palm with a blinding heat. **Ding! Tonal Weaving has reached level 27!** ... **Ding! Tonal Weaving has reached level 29!** Groaning as softly as he could, Kaius bit his lip until he tasted blood in an effort to stifle a scream that would wake Ianmus. It would have been fantastic if he could have hidden away in their tent, but they''d decided to keep that in reserve. Afterall, an unknown ability to shelter in plain sight was no small advantage. Something cold and wet prodded his cheek. Porkchop, checking in on him in concern. "You okay? That felt like it hurt." his brother asked, soft green-flecked-gold eyes glistening in the firelight. Kaius breathed. "Yeah. Stung like a bitch, but I expected that. The first bit''s done." he replied, lifting his palm to inspect his work. New black markings stretched across his palm from edge to edge. Unlike the full work that he had pictured in his mind''s eye, the new inscription on his skin was flattened, missing details. Still beautiful, but the full depths of its magnitude hidden in his flesh and mana. Waggling his fingers to reassure himself the pain was gone, he lay his palm flat over his blade. Right where its twin was destined to sit. Diving back into his work, he pushed his awareness of his brother''s attention out of his mind. Thankfully, despite the pain, he had managed to keep his grip on the soul infused mana thread that sat in his arm. Without the need to repeat that step, he searched his inner space for his existing connection to A Father''s Gift. It was a subtle and small thing, guided by the greatly reduced version of their link that had been forged by a simple enchantment. Yet, despite its fragile weakness, it was still a binding. Still a present force he could quest for. He knew himself intimately, and it came to him quickly, the hardened edges and flexible rigidity of his sword drifting across his senses like a forgotten limb. A curious sensation, to have such an awareness of a sword. Somehow, despite the alien nature of the link, it still felt familiar. Somehow, he knew that he had been leaning on it for a long time, pulling on the bond in the heat of battle to align himself with a true awareness of the location and space of his blade, a proprioception that heightened his blade-arts. Still, regardless of how he had felt and used his bond with the blade subconsciously in the past, he had never felt it as keenly as he had in this moment. It was time. Grabbing hold of the mana thread with his will, he threaded it across his connection with A Father''s Gift. Without the infusion of his soul it would have been impossible, or so the knowledge gifted to him by the system said. Even with the link it was difficult, fighting him every step of the way He mustered his will; gritting his teeth as he held onto the thread of power that threatened to dissolve into ash at any moment. Somehow, someway, it held. Exiting his body, his mana moved through some...fourth space he had no name for. Almost similar to when he had appeared before Ekum the Pale. The impossible geometry of it all was nearly enough to make him lose his grip, but he held, turning his mind away from the left-down-acrosswards direction his mana moved. Then, it hit his blade. The sacred purity of steel cradled his power, holding it steady as his sword assisted him like the stalwart companion it was. With the essence of his very being enshrined in his blade, he could feel...something. A nascent seed, waiting. Ready to bloom, if just given sun, water, and time. Understanding rose within him. The Bladerite would nurture this seed, and their tied ascension would nourish it, but what it would really need was familiarity and the vital water of his enemies to sprout in truth. A smile tugged at his lips, joy welling within him despite his focus. He couldn''t wait to see what it would become. Another breath steadied him, and bit by bit he wove a twinned glyph on his blade, matching the one on his palm. It was smaller, just large enough to cover the fuller of his blade starting a thumbwidth above its hilt. That only made weaving the glyph all the more complex, every twisting curve and fine line requiring an even defter touch than what he had done on his palm. Worse, the internal structure of his blade was far different from the flesh of his body and the natural whorls of the mana that suffused him. Oh, it conducted and held his thread of power just fine, but the specifics were radically different. Where he expected to have to force the thread, it flowed with the utmost ease, forcing him to reign in his will before he overshot a line or ruined an angle. Where he expected his mana to conduct, it stuttered, forcing him to bear down with the entirety of his being to keep the formation stable when he encountered surprising resistance. His progress slowed to a crawl, but bit by bit the Bladerite came together. Until finally it was done. The glyph on his blade snapped into place. Kaius barely had a moment to breathe before his soul bloomed, the fires of self raging into a torrent. Power surged, widening the tenuous link he held with his blade. A Father''s Gift came into new focus; he became as aware of it as he was of his own hand. Though he heard no mundane sound, his blade seemed to cry with the most primal of delights. Such was its exuberance that he half expected it to quake in joy and bounce off his legs. As power suffused both of his glyphs, they started to change. Morphing. No longer an abstract representation of the link between man and blade, they became a sigil. One that represented his union. Sacred fire burned his flesh, lines warping as they shifted with impunity. His throat spasmed, tendons raging against his skin as he clenched his jaw in a desperate attempt to stop a scream. Air hissed out, noise drowned in the thudding rush of blood in his ears. Then, as fast as it started, it was over. A wave of weakness washed over him, and Kaius fell limp, flopping against the sturdy warmth of his brother''s side. Porkchop curled around him, holding him steady, but saying nothing. Lolling his head back, Kaius stared upwards at the twinkling tapestry of the night sky. Unbound once more from the iron claws of his will, an idle thought drifted across his mind as he took in their milky radiance. It was beautiful to be under the stars once more. As his breathing slowed he brought his hand up, taking in the new shape of the Bladerite glyph. His personal sigil. A blade, hanging beneath a sun. Ready to cut. Chapter 155 - B2 153: Absorption Kaius breathed deep, clenching his fist and concealing the new sigil that was splayed across his palm. Sitting up from his brother''s side, he grasped A Father''s Gift by the hilt and lifted it up. Firelight danced across its surface, shimmering like oil across the waves of darkened metal that were impressed into the steel. It was a strange sense, the one he had of his blade. Almost similar to his bond with Porkchop, but different in nature. Afterall, his blade was no living thing. Still, he could feel the link empowering the blade. If it had been sharp and durable before, now he could tell it would be sharp enough to shave with. Reaching out with a finger he brushed it against the edge. A feather touch, barely a whisper, but still enough that a thin line of red welled for a moment before his healing wiped away the small cut. If it was stronger now, what would happen when he actively used the skill and flooded his connection with empowering Stamina? Unfortunately, his testing would have to wait. No reason to wake Ianmus by hacking at logs. Prodding at the link with his will, he felt something else. An eagre readiness to grow, one that hungered for more. An instinct was there, how he could feed his blade and encourage its development. The Spent Forgeheart! Kaius''s eyes whipped over to the saddlebags. Restraining himself was an effort of will, but he slowly lay his blade on the grass in front of him, before he crawled towards their belongings. "What are you doing?" Porkchop asked, looking up from the fire to watch him with curiosity. "Grabbing that material we got from the Guardian. I want to see if A Father''s Gift can absorb it now that there is a link." Kaius pushed along their bond as he reached their bags. Sneaking a hand under the flap, he connected with the spatial box held within, withdrawing his prize. A fist sized rock appeared in his hand, glossy and covered in jagged edges. It was warm, like it had been resting a few strides from an open fire. As he pulled it out, the strange glass hunk lit up his surroundings. It was a soft light, almost invisible in the day, but under the cover of the stars it glowed with the fadinging luminance of a guttering candle. Kaius''s eyes flicked over to Ianmus. Seeing the elf still deep in his slumber he breathed a sigh of relief and hurried back to his blade. "What if using it wakes him?" Porkchop asked. Kaius shrugged. In the end, it would be better if the elf figured out a new secret than to have the nature of his weapon revealed while they stayed in Deadacre. After everything, the magi was likely to at least acquiesce if they said it was something they didn''t want to share. If the process did let off some signal, an overzealous artificer or mage might not be so generous. Sitting in front of his sword once more, a keening desire started to emanate from the link he now felt with the blade. A want for the hunk of glass he held in his hand. No, something baser than a want, something without emotion or assigned value. Acting on instinct, Kaius pressed the Spent Forgeheart to the sigil that now adorned the flat of his blade just above its hilt. **Ding! Material appropriate for A Father''s Gift detected! Facilitate absorption?** The words of the system rung clear, revealing themselves to him in his mind''s eye. He accepted the prompt. Immediately the pull on the Forgeheart intensified. Yanking itself from his grasp, it sealed itself to his sigil with a soft tink. Kaius looked up, gladdened to see the noise hadn''t roused Ianmus. Snapping back to his blade, he watched the soft glowing obsidian start to melt. Fine drips of glossy black emitted a soft orange light, sinking into the shallow engravings of the glyph beneath it. There was no mana, no pulse of light, and no clap of thunder. Just the slow drip of glass, and the ravenous hunger that pulsed from his sword in waves. Fully liquified, the Forgeheart started to flow like treacle, shimmering its way up the fuller that marked its centre. Glossy black covered runes and steel alike, sealing itself tightly to the metal in a thin film. Desire intensified, and the soft rhythmic pulse of orange from within the glass started to increase its tempo, flashing faster and faster. Then the suction started, and before his very eyes Kaius watched his blade drink the fluid. Solid steel absorbed molten glass with agonising slowness as he watched on enraptured. Just as his blade had almost fully absorbed the Forgeheart, liquid black began to bleed from the edge of his sword. Collecting like morning dew, at first there were only a few droplets, but as more were excreted they merged together to form an unbroken coat that stretched just barely less than a fingertip into the body of the blade. That wasn''t all. Glossy black welled up from his pommel too, morphing with pulsing change as the filgreed block of steel formed a disc of black on both sides of its coin-like figure. The thin layer of black that covered the fuller, edge, and pommel of his sword let out a low hiss and started to boil. Kaius jumped, half expecting a searing heat to burn his legs where the sword lay flat, only for nothing of the sort to happen. He looked over to his brother with wild eyes, only to find Porkchop staring at the blade with the same impassioned intensity that he had been. Minute by minute, the black boiled away, absorbed fully by his sword. What was left in its place filled him with awe. Everywhere the liquid Forgeheart had touched had been transformed, wave patterned steel transfigured into a solid black crystal. The edges tapered to a point so fine he could see through the material, barely able to make out the subtle jagged edge his blade now had. Almost like it had been knapped. Yet there was none of the jagged lack of refinement of a primitive tool. Where the edge transitioned into the body of the blade, as well as the fuller and orb of black crystal that sat embedded in his pommel, it was perfectly smooth - like a polished and rounded gem. Light gleamed off the surface, shining resplendent in the soft light of the fire. He lifted the blade up to get a better look, and suppressed a gasp as the firelight shone through his fuller in a smokey grey. It revealed his glyph, and the runic enchantments. They soaked up the light, shining suspended in glass with the same pulsing orange light that had once lived within the Spent Forgeheart. With the transformation complete, Kaius felt only a faint whisper of ...fullness come across his link with his weapon. It seemed even if another material was already in his possession, he would have had to wait for the changes to settle before adding more. Similarly, he could simply tell that the blade had improved. Sharper, tougher, and more penetrating. Yet, there was a glimmer that this was but a hint of potential barely revealed, that the changes were only skin deep. Most of the energy seemed to have been squirrelled away, saved for some greater purpose. Only when he had provided the rest of what it needed would its transformation be complete. The familiar ding of a system notification sounded in his mind. "Well. That was more dramatic than I expected." Porkchop said plainly, still watching his sword in curiosity. Kaius snickered, doing his best to keep quiet. "You can say that again. I''ve got to check some notifications." he replied, and then opened the waiting communication from the system. **Ding! Growth Weapon - A Father''s Gift has absorbed Spent Forgeheart! Absorb two more suitable materials to complete the upgrade!** Kaius frowned as he read the notification that told him exactly nothing other than what had been blatantly obvious. Hopefully whatever changes had been wrought would be visible on the blade''s description. Channeling his True Sight, he focused on his sword. A Father''s Gift: Common - Tier I Forged in the dying days of Unterstern. Quenched in the fading light of prosperity. The final work of a master. Birthright of the last Scion. A two-handed longsword, forged from meteoric iron, orichalum, and Deep Essence, this sword hides a sliver of morphic Craexia crystal in its hilt. If the right conditions are met, this shard of potential may bloom. The complex network of a binding ritual is hidden under its hilt wrap. A core of crystal formed from a Spent Forgeheart now threads the blade, honing its edge even further. Artisan-wrought Artefact Growth Item Materials needed for advancement: 2 Bound & Linked Longsword Honed II, Self Repair I, Durability II, Bloodline Veil V Kaius pondered the description, surprised to see such minimal changes despite the rather drastic difference in his blade''s appearance. He hoped that whatever changes his sword''s eventual transformation would bring would be significant. As it stood, the blade was only a Common. Apprehension gnawed at him as he thought of his rate of growth. He was loathe to think of it, but unless he could acquire more materials quickly there would come a point where he would outstrip its usefulness. Thankfully, beyond the simple effects listed on the description, A Father''s Gift was durable as hell. If all it took was a few more Guardians, he was sure it would hold up well enough. There was something odd about growth weapons, that was for sure. It already had been butting up on the limits of what he knew to be possible for a Common item, and it was almost inconceivable for it to still be that rarity with another rank of Honed and Durability both. Unfortunately, there was no expert on growth weapons around. Even if there was, he didn''t have the power to keep his blade protected. Kaius sighed, leaning back into Porkchop as he sheathed his blade and rested it on the ground beside him. "Anything big?" Porkchop asked him with curiosity. "An extra rank to a couple of basic enchantments, but there''s something odd about it. The blade seems...tougher than it was, and it feels like most of the energy from the material was stored for later. Which makes sense, but I just wish the whole thing was less opaque." Kaius grumbled, reaching over to scratch Porkchop behind the ear as he stared into the fire. More annoying was that with the visible change, they would have to avoid any decent fights until they reached the city. Otherwise it would be too obvious to Ianmus that something was off about his sword. He paused, thinking of the coming days. Thankfully, after all their travel, they were getting remarkably close to Deadacre. As best he could tell, from his memories and the prompting of Explorer''s Toolkit, they were at most a few days off from their destination. He expected to find the city changed. With the awakening of beasts and the growing danger of the wilds, plenty of people would be flocking to the city. It was no metropolis by any means, but it had solid walls and was the biggest population centre of the region. All sorts of surrounding villages and farmers must have fled to its perceived safety. That meant guards, ones that most likely had some sort of identify skill. Nothing that would reveal anything damaging, but almost certainly one that would show his class tag, and that Porkchop was a greater beast. A troubling problem. While a simple class tag would be easy enough to explain away, after all there were plenty of lesser known class types that it would only be obviously off to someone with significant learning on the subject, Porkchop would be much more of an issue. "We need to think of some way to get you into the city." Kaius said, after explaining their problem. While he might have been comfortable with revealing Porkchop''s nature within Three Fields, elsewhere was a different matter. Greater beasts rarely interacted with higher races, and those that did were usually mature and powerful. Porkchop''s nature would bring far more attention than they were ready for until they had the power to defend themselves. Porkchop fell silent, musing on the issue before he looked over to the sleeping form of their resident mage. "Are there items that would hide that effectively? That I am a greater beast?" He asked after a moment. Kaius nodded. "There should be from what I''ve heard, at least if that is all we try to hide. They would be expensive though, and we would need to get into the city first before we could get access to one. That, and I doubt anything we could get here would be useful against the higher level defenders of larger cities." Pausing for a moment in thought, Porkchop eventually turned and looked at him. "Why don''t I wait an hour or two out from the city with Ianmus? Then you could go in and collect what we need. With our bond, we should surely still be able to at least send impressions from such a distance." Kaius thought on the idea, scratching his chin. It wasn''t bad. Even if he was loath to leave Porkchop behind, it wasn''t like they had any other solution. "I suppose it wouldn''t hurt to ask, though let''s leave it till we are walking tomorrow." Kaius replied, before a yawn snuck up on him and his creeping fatigue made its presence known. "Anyway, it''s late. We should sleep." Porkchop rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah." he replied, though he put his head down onto his paws all the same. Smiling at his brother''s antics, Kaius pulled over his travel blanket and draped it over himself, before he lay down next to Porkchop. With the soothing warmth of the fire on one side, and the steady rise and fall of his brother''s chest on the other, he was out in seconds. B2 Chapter 204: Infiltration, pt. 4 B2 Chapter 204: Infiltration, pt. 4 The squabbling boggarts kept wailing on each-other, slavering and howling with maddened fury. The lump of bone and gristle they were fighting over spun across the floor of the cavern, launched by a stray kick. Both boggarts paused, staring at their distant prize. A moment later they both lunged, flying into a tangle of grasping and clawing limbs as they yanked each other back. One squirmed its way free, desperately reaching for the bone. Only for the other to sink its fangs into its calf, red blood spilling free. Kaius saw the very moment the boggart tasted its fellow¡¯s blood. Pinprick pupils set deep into beady eyes dilated, frozen in place as the other boggart howled in pain. The noise seemed to snap it out of its reverie. Its eyes flicked to the bone, then back to the spindly leg held tight in its grasp. It made its choice. Biting deeper, it snapped its head back, ripping free a chunk of the other boggart¡¯s calf. The wounded one screamed, shrill and terrible. Turning on its attacker, it swept up a stone from the cave floor and bashed the biter over the head. Once, then twice when the first wasn¡¯t enough to force its vice-like bite free. The stone gashed the biter, face splitting open as greasy fur ran slick with its blood. Hands were raised, warding off the strikes. The air in the room shifted. Once staring on in cackling amusement, the other boggarts that lined the wall leaned in, a hunger shining in their eyes. It was a dark focus, almost palpable¡ªresonating with the pained and furious screams of the combatants. The bitten boggart straddled their biter¡¯s chest. Its clutched stone rose high overhead, before it drove it down with the weight of its anger. It clacked off a raised forearm, splitting the flesh¡ªthough the bone held strong. Hissing in fury, it struck again, and again. A hate filled rhythm fueling its twisted body, and the bitten boggart savaged its opponent. At first the biter held up resistance, scratching at the other¡¯s face with desperate intensity. Then a heavy smash slipped through its guard, catching it on the forehead. The boggart gasped, head snapping back to crack against the stone floor with a loud retort. It slumped back limp and dazed. Crying in victory, the other boggart didn¡¯t pause for a second. The hall quieted, filled only with the sodden sound of its chosen weapon splitting flesh. Again and again it wailed, until with one final heaving blow, a sickening crack echoed off the walls of the cave. Panting in exertion, the boggart rose, looking down at the mashed face of its competitor. Kaius saw the wild and hungry look that covered its face. He knew what was coming, but he couldn¡¯t look away. The boggart dived down, tearing at the mouldering leathers that covered its companion. It stripped the body clean with practiced efficiency, and then bit down on its shoulder, wrenching a chunk of flesh free with a snap of its neck. Kaius clenched his teeth, swallowing his gorge at the casual display of cannibalism. He turned his attention to the spectators. Only for them to pounce. The sight of so much flesh sent them into a madness, clawing at each other as they descended on the slain boggart. Whipped into a fervour by the taste of blood, the victorious boggart tried to defend its kills. Stone raised high, it cried out in challenge, despite the numbers arrayed against it. It proved to be the wrong move. The mob turned on it at once, and it vanished under a flail of limbs. Pained cries filled the cave, only to be cut short and replaced by the sound of cracking bones and torn flesh. The boggarts were...not clean eaters. In their maddened hunger, strips of fur and sprays of blood coated them liberally, spraying away from the densely knotted cluster. The bugbear, however, had not moved. It still stood there, unmoved by the show of wanton hunger and violence. There was no sign of displeasure on its twisted and alien face. No, instead its jutting fangs were bared in a clear display of glee. It laughed, loud and dark, before it pushed itself off the cave wall it had been leaning against and waded into the fray. Lost in bloodlust as they were, more than one boggart turned on the intruder with a hiss. The bugbear simply growled, spitting out a gravelly word in their twisted mockery of language as it kicked them to the side, sending the boggarts sprawling. Reaching one of the bodies, it bent down and snatched up a leg¡ªwrenching the body free of the lesser ones that tried to hold on to it desperately. A flurry of snapping kicks was enough to dislodge the unruly bunch. Standing with its chest high, the bugbear hoisted the slain boggart aloft. Chunks were missing from its arms and legs, and the shattered remnants of its skull still leaked a pink sludge streaked with dripping blood. The bugbear gave the body a cursory look, licking its lips with a heavy breath. One of the boggart¡¯s whimpered, staring at the body that had been torn from it. The bugbear¡¯s eyes snapped over, staring at the hungry remainders with a dark scowl on its face. As if daring them to challenge it. When none did, Kaius watched it smile, look over its prize, and turn to descend deeper into the tunnel. The remaining boggarts sat frozen and fearful, watching the retreating figure of the bugbear vanish into the tunnel. That moment of quiet calm lasted only until it had disappeared from sight. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. As a group, they turned back towards the body. Growls raised in throats, as boggarts were shoved away from the single remaining meal. As soon as violence was raised, they descended over the body in a mad rush to gorge on the slain meat. Yet there was only so much to go around. Those that clustered around the body had to deal with shuddering punches, and heavy scratches as their compatriots tried to tear them free to get their own access. It was a quickly breaking balance, Kaius realised. It wouldn¡¯t take the mob long to realise that there was plenty of meat with its heart still beating. The second one showed a fraction too much weakness, they would fall prey to their own vicious desires and turn on eachother. A perfect moment for them to strike. Taking a last, long, look at the horrors the boggarts had wrought on their own kind, Kaius knew that they had to die. It was foul and evil, what they did. Perhaps, if they had been unthinking and particularly brutal beasts, he¡¯d be able to wave it away as the heartless viciousness of nature. Boggarts weren¡¯t beasts. They made fire, tools, and clothes. They even had some simplistic cousin to language, same as the goblins. To descend to such depravity when they had such faculties was unforgivable. No, it was evil . Plain and simple. Worse, if they were falling to cannibalism, they must have been struggling to support their population levels. He¡¯d known that they¡¯d only seen a few beasts since they¡¯d entered the hills, but the appetite of the plague must be truly voracious. It wouldn¡¯t take long for the hunger to drive them from their den. Send them spilling out into the plains below. They had to end this. Tonight. ... Kaius raced through the cave, hurrying back to where his companions waited for him a few bends around the tunnel. He found them waiting, hidden in a crook of the cave wall that would have obscured them from anything following them in. Waving to catch their attention, he saw Ianmus sighing in relief. ¡°What did you find, friend?¡± the half-elf whispered softly. ¡°Madness.¡± Kaius replied, shaking his head at the memory of the grotesque display he¡¯d had the displeasure of witnessing. ¡°It¡¯s definitely the start of their warren. The cave opens up¡ªthere were two boggarts fighting over a scrap of bone.¡± he continued, keeping his voice low so as to be certain to be drowned out by the sounds of the hissing brawl that came through the cave. ¡°Just the two? Why¡¯d it get louder, then?¡± Porkchop asked, looking back the way he had come. Kaius shook his head. ¡°There were more, perhaps ten, watching them brawl¡ªsame with a bugbear. One of the fighters got killed, and the other was quickly overrun as it turned into a feeding frenzy.¡± ¡°They¡¯ve already fallen to cannibalism? That¡¯s not good; we have a week¡ªat most¡ªbefore they¡¯ll start looking for fresh feeding grounds. In fact, I bet that¡¯s what those raiding parties are already doing. With these ¡®bugbears¡¯ and a shaman, we should expect more organisation than boggarts are known for.¡± Ianmus replied, frowning heavily when he learned how close they had cut things. ¡°Exactly. Regardless, this is our chance to strike. The bugbear left with one of the bodies, and the boggarts are on the verge of descending into bloodshed once more. If we attack in silence, I doubt any listeners would be able to hear anything different.¡± Kaius explained. His companions nodded, doing a final check of their gear. Porkchop decided against summoning his armour. Strong as it was, plates of overlapping stone weren¡¯t the most agile or quiet of things. Besides, with his brothers might, he should have very little trouble with the diminutive creatures. Kaius drew his blade, moving slowly so as to keep the motion silent. He¡¯d rubbed it in ash much like his armour, blending with its smokey crystal fuller and edge to leave it looking like a slice of congealed shadow in the umbral intensity of the cave. Right on cue, the second that they started to creep forwards, the snarling of the boggarts rose to a crescendo, cries of anger and pain echoing through the passage. They had turned on each other. ¡°Ianmus! SundrenchedStrength!¡± Kaius hissed, breaking into a jog. The mage nodded, eyes narrowing in concentration as he kept pace with the team, mana streaming towards him. A second later Kaius saw mana flash¡ªthough it did not illuminate the cave to his mortal sight¡ªand felt the soothing vigour of the sun settle into his flesh. **Ding! You have been Enhanced - Sundrenched Strength!** A second flash followed a few steps after that, this time centred on Porkchop. His physicality empowered, Kaius was able to speed up while still remaining silent. A quick glance behind him showed Porkchop right at his tail, with Ianmus at the rear, a channelled spell held primed and ready. At the last turn, Kaius broke into a sprint. Bursting into the room, he was treated to the sight of all out bloodshed. Two more boggarts were bleeding profusely¡ªtheir flesh writhing as health slowly sealed their injuries. The rest of the boggarts had cornered them, ignoring the half eaten corpse lying by the fire in the centre of the room. It was a cacophony of snarls and gnashing teeth, and brutal, clawing blows. The two targets were getting the worst of it, but it didn¡¯t mean the rest were working together with ease. No, any boggart who drew too closely to another almost invariably caught a swung stone or a heavy punch. Kaius took it all in, cataloguing their dishevelled lack of unity. His Glass Mind called in glee, pouring over the weaknesses in their formation. Stormlash was right out¡ªit was too loud, and he needed to save it. He also wouldn¡¯t need it. Leaping forwards with a silent snarl on his face, he buried the edge of A Father¡¯s Gift in a boggart¡¯s brainpan, blood spraying from the wound. It collapsed, limp and boneless. **Ding! level 54 Boggart - Feral Mauler slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** He was already moving. The strange style of Vesryn swordplay was still unfamiliar to him, but he¡¯d started to get a handle on it. It was quick, adaptable, and fast. Planting his weight on his lead foot, he spun, using the momentum of his turn to rip his blade free of its bind in the goblins head. The pommel of his blade caught the next one in the back of the head with a shuddering crunch, sending it sprawling prone. Then Porkchop descended upon them, a storm of flashing green claws quickly followed by a burst of heat as Ianmus unleashed his spell. He¡¯d done....something to it using freecasting. He could still feel the heat of it¡ªsee it in his mana-sight¡ªbut it was invisible to the naked eye. The boggarts finally noticed them, Porkchop too large to be lost in the haze of their bloodlust. They cried in surprise and fury, scrambling back from their assault. Kaius only grinned, switching to a one handed stance he had been practicing, before he whipped his blade through a boggart''s exposed belly. Blood ran in waves, entrails sloshing free to tangle up its allies'' feet. The calls. They sounded exactly like the boggarts earlier brawl. Chapter 156 - B2 154: Mask Waking early the next morning with the rising sun, Kaius had set about breaking the fast of their little troupe with a hearty meal of fried potatoes and bacon. Despite everything that had happened, he could see the appeal that artisan classes held to many. In another life, being a cook might have been his calling, what with how gratified he felt when he saw the looks of appreciation on his party member''s faces as they ate their breakfast. They set off shortly after, making their way further towards Deadacre. At first, Kaius was worried that Ianmus would notice the quail egg-sized gem that sat in the pommel of his blade. With his sharp eyes, he was sure the man would notice the difference. Yet, if he had, Ianmus gave no sign. That, at least, was something. They walked across rolling fields, skirting around shallow hills and fording thin streams as the sun beamed down on them from above. It was a warm heat, filled with the brilliance of the mid-summer sun. Thankfully, there were just enough clouds to prevent it from growing stifling, while few enough in number that it could in no way be called gloomy. More than once they diverted their way around the occasional copse of trees that studded the plains and served as shelter to the wild''s primal denizens, or redirected when they spotted some herd of beasts. Ianmus gave them odd looks for that. Understandable after so many days of them throwing themselves into fights at the first opportunity. Yet, even if it was mildly suspicious, it was far easier to explain away than waving around a crystalline sword that had been plain metal the night before. Sitting astride Porkchop''s back, Kaius looked over to their half-elf companion. The man kept pace with them comfortably. For all he seemed unused to the rigours of long-distance travel, the man was no slouch. He just hoped that he wouldn''t be in too much of a rush to sequester himself inside the safety of a city''s walls. "Just get it over with and ask him, Kaius." Porkchop said with a soft snort, startling him. Kaius rolled his eyes. He hadn''t been hemming and hawing that much, it was just a big ask. Still, his brother had the right of it. There was no point waiting. "Ianmus," he called out, causing the mage to look in his direction with a questioning look on his face. "I have a request, if you are amenable to it." The man cocked his brow at him. "Oh, and what would my mighty saviour like to ask of this humble academic." Ianmus teased, after so many days in each other''s company he''d begun to relax, revealing a subtle and quick wit. Kaius chuckled, before he quickly explained their problem - how having Porkchop revealed as a greater beast would cause a hullabaloo they would rather avoid. "Which is why I was hoping you would be willing to stay with Porkchop an hour or two outside of the city, while I go see if I can purchase an artefact that will shift his status." he finished, watching the half-elf''s face closely for any sign of dissatisfaction. Instead, he found something unexpected. Plain confusion. "Why would you need an artefact? I would have thought that the two of you would be able to Mask well enough without one''s assistance to at least get into the city. I mean sure, if the guards have reason to peer deeply, you might need one, but I don''t see why they would take that much of an interest." Ianmus said, clearly puzzled at his question. Kaius too, found that he was growing confused. Masking? What was that? And how in the world would they be able to hide their status without an artefact or skill? "I''m sorry, Masking? I don''t know what you mean." he replied. Ianmus''s eyes widened in realisation. "Of course! You two met when you were unclassed! My apologies, I would have brought it up early if it had occurred to me." he responded, bobbing his head politely. Kaius gestured for him to continue. "Masking directly involves interacting with your class or bloodline construct, so it is one of those things that is annoyingly difficult to share with unclassed due to the restrictions around the selection process. Most don''t bother trying to teach it until after someone has reached class advancement." Ianmus finished, pausing for him to digest his words. Kaius groaned, rubbing his eyelids in frustration. Of course, another lesson that he missed due to circumstances. He just hoped that it wasn''t some great secret, and Ianmus would be able to share it. Porkchop beat him to the punch. "What is it, and will it help us get into Deadacre without giving away what we are?" his brother asked. Ianmus nodded emphatically, before he launched into an explanation of the ability. "Yes, yes, it''s down right perfect, and no great secret either. Not well known amongst common folk, but almost everyone who comes from a learned or well off background knows of it, and can use it to varying levels of proficiency. I''ve heard that the Guild teaches it to their members once they have proven themselves and risen out of Copper rank too." Kaius nodded, gripping the loop of leather attached to Porkchop''s under-armour a little tighter as his brother stepped into a particularly large pothole hidden in the grass. If the guild gave it out at Bronze rank, then it was no great secret indeed. Leaving copper only took confirming that you have delved the fourth layer, or by reaching level sixty and doing enough high-copper tasks, and that was if they were being overcautious. "What does it do, then?" he asked. "It''s a way to fight off identification skills through a clever exercise of masking your soul in your will. It will let you feel probes - basic ones, at least - and either attempt to rebuff them or attempt to deceive them. Blocking is easier, but then you give the game away, and are faced with far more scrutiny. Deception requires more focus and willpower to pull off upfront, but in this scenario will save you from far more suspicion." Ianmus explained, going through the function of the skill. Kaius frowned. If it was so easy, so fundamental, then surely people must be constantly using it, right? Such a thing would grant a huge tactical advantage in direct duals and conflicts with other people. He voiced his question. "Ahh, at higher levels maybe, but it is an exhausting skill, and one that takes time and persistence to grow skilled with. That is actually what most artefacts and system Skills do, empower your own ability to Mask and often allow it to be done passively to some extent. That, and with its demands on your focus, you''ll find it''s about as wise as a sorcerer trying to channel and fight at the same time." Ianmus explained with a little grin. As they delved more into the topic, Kaius learned that there was much one could do to improve their Mask, and that as one grew more proficient in the technique it was possible for it to become an almost automatic thing. Held in place constantly, but only requiring active investiture of Will when someone tested your defences. Supposedly, when he first started, it would take constant focus to keep the barrier in place. It got easier with levels and stats, but so did it get easier for people with high leveled skills and classes, with high rarity analyze skills to pierce your defence. He suspected that he would have an easier time than most with developing a barrier, if Ianmus decided to teach them, of course. Afterall, he had far more Intelligence and Willpower than could be expected for someone of his level. That in and of itself would aid him. Afterall, who would expect deception from someone so weak? "Will they be able to tell if I rebuff them?" he asked. Ianmus shook his head. "No, not without skills or artefacts, though it can be rather obvious if they receive less information than they should. That is why providing false information is often far more beneficial, even if it is far more taxing to do so. Now follow my directions, it is surprisingly simple, though the depths to the technique are vast." Kaius grinned as he and his brother listened to the mage with rapt curiosity. Under expert direction, he dipped into his soulspace, wrapping the entirety of his soul in a thin weave of his Will. It was tricky at first, requiring him to spread his focus and intent in an even sheet. Just getting that first bit stable took him nearly an hour to get a hang of. Yet even as the sun moved across the sky, and they traversed leagues of open green fields, Ianmus was a patient teacher, and a talented one. Though that was no great surprise considering the man''s background. Once the beginnings of his mask was in place, Kaius found it only moderately difficult to hold it steady, though his constant awareness of the Will-construct was a non-stop tug at the back of his mind. Like consciously holding his hand in a position not quite painful, but uncomfortable enough that he found it impossible to ignore. Apparently that strain would grow as someone tested his defenses. "Good, now that you both have that, I want you to impress on the Mask the information you desire to change. Just know that the further from the truth it is, the harder it will be to hide. For you, Porkchop, pretending to be a simple beast and changing your race should not be too difficult. However, you might have a little more difficulty, Kaius. Make sure you pick a class signifier that is similar to what you are. As much as you are able to at least." Ianmus explained, looking at him with a moderately apologetic expression. He waved the man off, thinking of what he wanted to masquerade as. After a moment, he decided on Body Enhancer. They were a niche collection of classes, reliant on buffing skills and abilities to supplement their front-line capabilities. He only knew of them because his father had said that some body-formation classes fell under that umbrella. Rare enough that his odd abilities wouldn''t raise too many questions, and one that would let him explain away the growing prevalence of the runic markings on his skin. He took what he knew of the class signifier and impressed it upon the shell of his will. It was the tricky bit, and the main reason the skill wasn''t shared with those without a class. Spinning a thin thread of his Will, he linked it to his class before doing the same with a thread of soulfire. An intimate sense of his status became available to him, one more qualitative than the simple screens he had available normally. It was an overwhelming deluge of information, one he had to filter before he could keep it defended - or modify what was read by someone trying to analyse him. After half an hour or so of muffled curses as he tried and failed to get it to take, he felt his intention suffuse the Mask. He was ready. Looking towards Ianmus, he gave the man a nod. A thin questing probe prodded his centre, brushing up against his barrier. He knew then, instinctively, that he could flex his will and fight off the attempt to glean his secrets. Instead, he followed Ianmus''s earlier instructions. Allowing the probe through the mask, but impressing his own limited deception onto the searching skill. Tension throbbed behind his ears, the task more taxing than he had expected. Still, he managed, and a moment later the probe withdrew, taking his false class signifier with it. He gasped, releasing the breath he didn''t even realise he was holding as the strain on his will dissipated. A moment later Ianmus started to clap. "Great job, Kaius. It takes a rare Will to succeed on your first attempt, let alone after a short few hours of lessons. Great job." The half-elf addressed him with a satisfied nod, before he turned to his brother. "Porkchop, you''ve almost got it. It''s no great surprise it''s harder for you, as a caster Kaius will have more of the relevant stats, though eventually sheer levels and the growing strength of your soul will give you enough of an edge to do it with ease. At least, if you are not challenged by someone more capable, that is." Kaius grinned, happy to hear he had done what was needed. Ianmus returned it. "Body Enhancer was a good choice, I see why you picked it." "It''s the closest I could think of that would explain away the most." Kaius explained, before his sheer need to get at least a moderate acumen in Masking before their arrival at Deadacre prodded him to continue his work. "Would you feel up to practicing this for the last couple of days of our trip? It would be a weight off my back to know Porkchop will be far less at risk." he asked. "Gladly," Ianmus replied. "It''s nice to have some way to repay the two of you for saving my life." Breathing a sigh of relief, Kaius redoubled his efforts on infusing his Mask. During their short discussion, his hold on the shaped will had grown tenuous. His attention drifted as the Mask started to waver and dissipate. He frowned, wondering how anyone ever got to the point of doing this in their sleep. Spending time to tighten the working, Kaius looked to Ianmus for comment. A moment later, another probe prodded the barrier around his class and soul. He grunted, brow furrowing as he strained to push across the falsified information. It might have been a hair easier, but it was hard to tell. Hopefully, by the time they arrived at Deadacre, he would at least be able to keep it up without looking like he was straining in an attempt to lift an entire ox. Chapter 157 - B2 155: Skill Testing & Arrival After spending the rest of the day working with Ianmus and Porkchop on Masking, Kaius had gotten better at the strange focus-intensive skill. Somewhat. It was still ruinously fatiguing to falsify his class identifier, though that had gotten a little easier as he grew more familiar with the method. Instead, most of his gains had come from hiding just how much effort it was taking him to deceive an analysis skill. Afterall, there was no point in hiding something if the person in question was staring at him making an expression like he was actively straining against a heavy load. Porkchop had gotten better too, potentially even faster than he had. Though, Kaius liked to think that was mostly because of him joining in. With his high Will, it was significantly harder to ward off his probes, but that increased difficulty had honed his brother''s skills. Eventually though, they had to make camp for the eve. Once again, Ianmus had been out quickly, leaving him and Porkchop alone, sitting around their fire. With a grunt, Kaius pushed himself to his feet, moving slowly so that his armour didn''t clank loudly. Looking up from where he was lying, his brother gave him an inquisitive look. "Going back to that tree?" Porkchop asked. They''d passed one of the rare few that stood alone outside of the odd copses that littered the area about a quarter hour before making camp. "Yeah, just want to see what difference the new skill makes. Getting itchy from hiding the change to the sword from Ianmus." Kaius replied with a nod. "Alright, I''ll keep watch. Don''t be too long though." Porkchop replied, before he settled back down. Kaius gave his brother a nod and set off, palming the hilt of his blade as he rubbed the new gem in its pommel with his thumb, feeling its glossy smoothness. Once he was out of eyeshot of their camp, he drew his blade, admiring its new form in the greyscale of True Sight. It was a beautiful thing, the crystal fuller and edge elevating the sword from fine craftsmanship to something that looked like a proper artefact. Something worthy of being a growth item. Still, what he was most interested in was the effect its change and his new skill would have had on its capabilities. Both the upgrade, and the scaling boost to his enchantments would pair nicely with the effects of Liturgical Bladeform and he was reluctant to wait until a battle to understand his new abilities. Stepping through the long grasses, Kaius eventually spotted his target. The darkvision provided by his ocular skill had expanded with his levels, letting him see his surroundings in perfect clarity. Out of the earth a stout hardwood rose, surrounded by a canopy of branches that shrouded the tree from waist height up. He''d taken note of it earlier due to the thickness of its limbs, some of the lower ones being even thicker than his thigh. Perfect to test out how well he could cut. Striding forwards, he stepped under the burroughs, stopping a few paces from one of the branches. He took his stance. One foot forwards, the other just behind him and slightly angled. He held A Father''s Gift in the mid-guard, hilt close to his waist with the blade angled up and away from him. It was still as perfectly balanced and weighted as it had always been. A slow breath escaped as Kaius relaxed, readying himself. Then he inhaled, sharp and fast. His blade snapped up, hips pivoting to the right as the crystalline edge of his sword melded into the shadows. Then he cut, leveraging his weight and power into the swing. Hardwood chips flew as the edge of his sword bit into the branch with a soft thwack. With perfect edge alignment, his blade sunk in deep, powered by his stats and an arcane blade empowered by two different skills. Thrumming reverberations shuddered up his sword, stinging his palms as it stuck fast, unable to penetrate further. Kaius grinned, that had been the first thing he had been worried about. Swords needed to be flexible, to give before opposing forces lest they shatter. Crystal was sharp as sin and tough as the hells, but flexible was not what it was known for. Mundane crystals at least, whatever had infused his sword seemed to have much the same properties of metal, flexing perfectly fine as he had hit the hard target. Taking his hand off the hilt, Kaius left his sword hanging out of the branch as he inspected his work. Buried cleanly in the wood, the edge of his sword was wedged a good handspan into the branch. A soft whistle escaped his lips, satisfaction buoying him at his efforts. A sword was a fantastic weapon, but it was a terrible tool for hewing through wood, especially against the grain. To make it so far was impressive. He stepped away, and gripped the soft leather of his hilt before giving his sword a yank. The sword held firm, pulling him forward with the force of his motion. Kaius frowned, tugging the hilt a bit more. Nothing. It was stuck fast. "For fuck''s sake." he groaned, crouching under the hilt to heave upwards. Wood squealed, and bit by bit his blade was levered free. Grunting as it finally escaped its bind, Kaius snatched it back into his hands. That was the other problem, without the wedge of an axe, a blade was far more likely to get stuck. In the end, it was worth it. Eyeing the thick branch, he reset himself. Then he reached for the Initiate''s Glyphic Bladerite. Stamina flooded from his pool in an instantaneous wave, flooding his connection to the sword with empowering force. At once, the glyph on his palm and its twin embedded in the crystal of his fuller lit up with ghostly white light, quickly joined by the Ykkardian inscriptions further up the blade''s length. A Father''s Gift thrumbed, empowered and ready. Once more, he cut. **Ding! Initiate''s Glyphic Bladerite has reached level 2!** This time, there were no splinters, and the thunk of his blade edge biting into the branch was as soft as the wind. Then his sword shuddered in his hands, stinging them with reverberating force once more. He hadn''t cut through. Kaius frowned, a little disappointed. Leaning forwards, he inspected his work. It was only with True Sight that he could see the incision, so clean was the severing. A full hand and a half his sword had bitten in, before coming to a stop halfway through the branch. That was...pretty good! Not quite the devastation he had been hoping for, but the skill was only level two, and he had cut a fair bit deeper. At the end of the day, his skill would be making his blade sharper and tougher, neither of which would overly impact the fact that a sword was a shit woodcutting tool. Even roughly three times as strong as his considerable base abilities, it just wasn''t what the weapon was designed for. Working at the hilt of his sword, he slowly wiggled it free of its bind. He knew that the true potential of the skill would come when he was able to upgrade A Father''s Gift. Mature growth items were legendary for the breadth and power of their effects, and being able to empower them further was no small boon. Let alone whatever additional abilities the skill would gain as it moved into the second tier. Coming loose with a small pop, Kaius rotated his blade to look at its edge. Nary a nick or a chip was present. He grinned, satisfaction warming his chest despite the cool night air, before he sheathed the blade. Striding away from the tree, Kaius made his way back to camp. With his curiosity satisfied, he''d finally be able to sleep. Given how much practice of his Mask he planned on doing before reaching Deadacre, he needed every scrap of it he could get. ... The first sign that they were getting close to Deadacre appeared early one morning. They''d set off an hour earlier, cresting a low hill in the rising light of the sun. As the hillside fell away they were greeted with a sight that caused disquiet to settle in his stomach, souring his breakfast. Cattle, a whole herd of them. They still milled together, just as placid as they might have been a few months in the past, but they were changed. Larger, more muscular, with exaggerated horns that graced their heads. Still, they were easily recognisable as livestock. Their splotchy cream hides were all marked with a streak of red dye on their flank, though some had a deep green. Different farmers stock, he figured. It meant that they were growing close to Deadacre. It also meant that farms had been abandoned. That was...understandable. Even if they kept their demeanours, it was only a matter of time before ranching beasts lead to tragedy. The farmers of the frontier had neither the experience, set up, or levels to manage such a thing safely. He only hoped that the cattle had been left to roam free while their owners set off for safer housing, and not that the body of some poor sap was left twisted and broken in some abandoned field. Beside him, Ianmus winced as he also caught sight of the roaming beasts. "That''s not good. If they''re free, the jobs of the rest just got a whole lot harder." the half-elf muttered. Kaius nodded. He wouldn''t want to be the poor sap defending a field of wheat from a curious and hungry herd of cattle-beasts, that was for sure. If Deadacre wanted to feed themselves, the farms would need defending. Even with the small amount of space a good classer needed to grow food, it would still be a growing burden on resources. "Come on, let''s keep moving." Kaius said softly, watching the herd. They walked down the rise, moving to their right to skirt around the beasts, who looked at them with wary curiosity. Thankfully, they didn''t spook. A hundred beasts of that size was a tall ask, even for him. Hopefully Deadacre would still be standing when they arrived. .... Over the next two days they walked, encountering a second herd as they did so. Bit by bit, the untamed grasslands disappeared. At first it was a single farm. A small fenced off field, with an attached cottage. Said fence had been shattered at some point, and the door to the dwelling clattered as it swung free in the wind. They''d been growing radishes at some point. Half of those were uprooted now, eaten by wandering beasts. Kaius only hoped that the owners had fled, and that the house was empty. They didn''t stop to check. Soon that singular farm became commonplace, more and more fields filling their surroundings until everything became one continuous swath of fences and fields. Not all were abandoned. Some had clearly bandied together, splitting the labour of growing and guarding. That, at least, was gratifying. It meant the city was likely still standing, and siege-rationing was unlikely. They did give the farms a wide berth though, grizzled farmers mean mugging them from a quarter league away as they watched them pass with distrustful expressions. Initially, it was maybe one farm in twenty that was occupied and defended. The further they travelled, the more common it became. One in ten, then five, then two. While these inner farms had guards, it was far less zealous and vigilant than their outlying cousins more at risk of attack. Hells, some of them even waved as they paced, which lit a warm glow in his belly. The farms grew denser too, eventually the wild paths of untamed land that they followed shrinking until there was a bare hundred paces between fenced off land. It wasn''t long after that when they saw it. Stone, rising on the horizon. Rough, blocky, and wide. Perhaps even haphazard, if one was to be uncharitable. Walls. Lit up by the afternoon sun, Kaius felt the itch of anticipation set in as he looked at the sight, while a fizzing curiosity that buoyed Porkchop''s spirit flooded through their bond. "Thank the gods," Ianmus sighed. They''d made it to Deadacre. Chapter 158 - B2 156: Deadacre pt. 1 The grass started to die about a league from Deadacre. First it grew pallid and limp, a few tough patches holding on desperately to life while they eked out a meagre existence in rock hard cracked dirt. It took maybe fifteen paces before even that was gone. A stark demarcation, one that encircled the whole city. No one knew what caused it, the eerie desolation that just sat in the middle of the frontier. A perfect circle, where the ground was flat, hard, and nothing living grew. Oh, there were plenty of legends. That it had been the sight of some duel between high-tier delvers during the shattering of an empire. That it had been cursed by the gods, and all who lived there had their fortune sapped from them. That a dragon had descended, the might of their breath so powerful that the land still cowered from its potency. Kaius doubted any of them were the truth, but regardless, nothing grew in the league from Deadacre''s walls. Something quite fortunate, from a defensive perspective at least. Nowhere for beasts or armies to hide, and a clean and even sightline for the city''s watchers. Shading his eyes from the sun, Kaius stared at the city. It had been locked down; that much was clear. Scouts roamed the top of the walls, far more than he remembered there being on his last trip, and nothing entered or exited the western gate around the left hand side of the wall. The east though? A train of people snaked out, easily a hundred or more. With the acuity of his skill enhanced eyes, Kaius made out all manner of people. Huddled and weary families, carrying their meagre belongings that they had been able to take with them. Mercenaries and delvers, heavily armoured with impatient expressions on their faces - as if waiting with the common rabble pained them. A few farmers, eying the others suspiciously as they huddled around carts full of produce. Merchants, with their caravans and guards, each pulled by beasts trained from birth or bonded to their drivers. At least, he assumed. Even trained animals were a bit of a risk to keep around if they transitioned to a beast, at least without relevant skills to handle them. Kaius could even see the telltale potent shine of the brightly coloured Hiwiann. A travelling convoy, making camp just past the people waiting for entrance to the city. Painted in saturated reds, yellows, blues, and every other colour under the sun they looked like they had been assaulted by a field of wildflowers - and the flowers had won. Standing out against the dusty brown of the ground, and the faded grey of the city wall, they yanked at his attention, drawing the eye. A valid tactic for the travelling traders, and a definite boon for the city that they had arrived at this time. With more than two dozen massive carriages, their convoy outnumbered the line waiting for entrance significantly. He didn''t miss their vigilance, nor the number of guards they had. No sane bandit attacked the Hiwiann, how seriously they treated blood debts was legendary. Unfortunately, Kaius doubted that rogue beasts had such compunctions. By the walls, more than a dozen guards watched the line. Far more than normal, but understandable in the current circumstances. One by one they would wave groups forward, talking with them for a few moments before waving them into the city. One turned to look in his direction, before nudging another guard to his left and pointing in his direction. An ocular skill, Kaius realised. Potentially even Eagle Eye. Locking eyes with the man, he waved. The guard gave him a nod, before waving to the back of the line. He acknowledged the guard with a thumbs up, who promptly lost interest in them, turning back to the deluge of people hoping to get entrance to the city. "Come on," Kaius said. "Let''s circle around and join the line." "It''s strange to see so many people. I mean, I knew to expect it, but the city is far bigger than I thought it would be. How do so many people bear to live so close?" Porkchop asked. Ianmus chuckled. "If you think this is big, just wait till you see a proper metropolis like Mystral, or some of the cities in the Dukedoms." Kaius leaned forwards, ruffling Porkchop''s head. Ianmus had the right of it. Even if it was the largest place he had ever been, and he fully agreed with his brother, he knew there were many, many cities larger than Deadacre. The place housed roughly twenty thousand, practically a hamlet compared to others. That was the frontier though, most preferred a less rough and tumble lifestyle than what was found out here. "I''m more surprised by the amount of people waiting to get into the city. It''s been weeks, I would have thought the people who would shelter behind walls would have already arrived. It must be getting bad." Kaius said, watching the slow moving line that they were gradually growing closer to. "Really?" Ianmus asked, looking at him with surprise. "I honestly thought there would be more." Kaius smiled. "Most people who live on the frontier are as tough as an ox and thrice as stubborn. Honestly, the people from Deadacre and Grandbrook to the north-east have a bit of a reputation for being soft." he explained. It was mostly ribbing, but when there were only two major ''cities'' in the frontier, the people who braved the more wild parts in remote communities often took the risks as a point of pride. He doubted any of them would make the trek lightly. Not unless something truly bad happened. Ianmus looked at him in disbelief. "Deadacre. Soft." he said, shaking his head at the thought of it. Kaius let out a low chuckle, though it was half forced. "Maybe not soft, but definitely more luxurious than a village of a few hundred out in the middle of nowhere. The locals must have already made it into the walls, if they aren''t defending their farms. These ones have to be from further afield, it must be bad out there for them to come so far." As they crossed the hardbaked ground, they grew close to the line. Hard eyes watched him, eying up his gear, and staring at Porkchop with suspicion. Weary fathers, hardened guards, and curious delvers. Kaius let it wash over him, his back straight. "Gods, they''re looking at me like I''m a half second from eating them." Porkchop grumbled as Kaius caught him side-eying a particularly wary caravan guard who was resting his hand on the head of an axe belted at his waist. "Pay them no mind. It''s understandable, all things considered. Most will have it far rougher than we do. Besides, we''re still a good half mile from them and you''re pretty huge. I''d be worried too." Kaius replied, already having turned his focus to Ianmus. The elf had grown quiet, more than usual, with a pensive air hanging over his head. Whatever it was, he was sure the man would share it soon enough. "Thank you, both of you, for getting me here in one piece." Ianmus finally said, breaking the silence. "Are you sure there is nothing I can do to reward you?" Kauis smiled to himself. So that was it. "You already have, my friend. Your oath, and teaching us of Masking is more than enough. I know we will most likely go our separate ways, but in the future I would be happy to travel with you again once more." A measure of tension left Ianmus''s shoulders, and his forehead unfurrowed just a little. "...I''d like that, if fate wills it. You''re an interesting pair, and I get the feeling that you are not done with your discoveries or excitement. I''ll leave it there though, we''re almost to the back of the line, the two of you should Mask yourselves." Kaius nodded at the magi''s words, shrouding his class and soul in a thin sheet of Will. After days of practice, holding the barrier steady required little focus. Little more than a subtle awareness of it tugged at his mind, something he could keep going for hours if he must. Though, having it directly tested was still arduous in its own right. Thankfully, analysis skills were not ubiquitous, and peering into someone''s status was highly rude without cause. That social nicety made far more sense to him, now that he knew it was possible to sense those probes. Joining the back of the line, a large woodsman watched them warily. A bit shorter than Kaius, but impressively even more muscular. Even with his blatant strength, and a hewing axe on his back, the man looked stressed. Travel worn, with matted hair and an unkept beard. His family was with him, a wife in a stained and torn dress, her eyes bagged and bloodshot. Behind her, a child, just barely peeking out from behind her mother''s skirts as she stared at Porkchop with wild eyes. Kaius nodded at the man calmly, hopefully assuring him he was just here to wait the same as him. He had far greater concerns than a suspicion of a man and his family. Namely, successfully lying to the guards at the gate. He could only hope they would be successful. Kaius couldn''t help but feel a bubbling pit of anxiety open up in his stomach at the thought of it. ... As the line slowly shuffled forwards, Kaius noticed many in the queue turning back to look at him every few moments. Some were curious, but more looked nervous. Verging on scared. "I''m gonna dismount, might make us stand out a little less." Kaius said, using his bond to talk silently to his brother. "I doubt it will work, but be my guest, you''re heavy." Porkchop grumbled. Kaius slipped from the saddle with a chuckle, landing on the ground with a clank of rattling scales. Ahead of them the gruff looking woodsman looked back, watching him closely before switching to Porkchop and narrowing his eyes with suspicion. He didn''t look frightened, at least. Considering the man had arms thicker than most people''s legs, Kaius had doubted the man was a stranger to a scuffle. Especially if he made his trade in the wilds, it was inevitable to come up against dangerous wildlife. "Yer mount ain''t gonna be an issue, is he?" the woodsman asked curtly, meeting his eyes. Kaius reached up and pulled off his helmet, before tucking it under his arm. Honestly, he should have taken it off earlier. No wonder he''d been getting some looks. He gave the man a smile. Even if the woodsman was verging on leering at him, it was an understandable question given the circumstances. Especially considering Porkchop made a bear look quaint. "This guy''s a big softy," Kaius said, reaching up to scratch his brother behind the ear. Porkchop played the part perfectly, leaning in and letting out a soft and happy rumble. "Aren''t ya, Porkchop?" That got the reaction he had been hoping for, as the woodsman stared up at Porkchop in disbelief. "Some sense for names ye got." he muttered. "He trained then?" Kaius laughed. "I hear that a lot, and in a sense. We''ve got a bond skill, found him when he was young and had gotten separated from the rest of his pack." he lied, falling back on a story that was similar enough to the truth that it would be easy to keep straight. The woodsman gave him an appraising look. Now that they were talking, the man seemed to calm down some. More curious than wary. "A bond skill, eh? Impressive. Some southern beast then? I saw you came from that way. Any news from out there?" That, at least, was a far less fraught line of questioning, but one he would need to keep consistent all the same. After discussing with Ianmus and Porkchop on their way over, they''d settled on having left from one of the other villages by the sea. At the least, it meant that he knew the area and culture enough to answer any odd questions people might have. "Came from Gloomhollow. Picked up that one on the way over, after he got swamped by some beasts." Kaius replied, tilting his head in Ianmus''s direction. The half-elf gave an awkward wave. The village was the biggest of the settlements at the Sea''s fringe, large enough that it was plausible for people to have missed him, and was one of the furthest from Three Fields. Unfortunately, it was also one of the greatest at risk from the shift in phases, being situated inside the sea, in a spit of clear land that had been expanded into the forest. The woodsman''s eyes widened. "Gloomhollow? No wonder ye look like a tough bastard. No idea how you can stand being so close to the Sea, what with how often things come down from those mountains. Bet its a right shitshow now." Kaius grinned. "It''s not quite so bad, but yeah, it definitely breeds a certain character." "What ye doing out here then? Woulda thought they''d need every fighter they could get their hands on." The woodsman asked. Kaius shot the man a smile, trying to squeeze as much cocky young confidence into it that he could manage. "Here to join the Guild. Was always the plan, and I''m not about to let the end of the world get in the way of that." Barking out a laugh, the woodsman slapped his leg. "Good man. Gods know we''re gonna need more Delvers now, things have really gone to shit out there. Some nasty stuff has started popping up all over the place." as he talked, the woodsman''s tone grew severe. Tense. "It''s bad. I ain''t no knee-quaking coward, but some of the shit that started hitting our hamlet was too much. Worried that if I didn''t get us out then, it''d be me daughter''s life at risk." Kaius winced in sympathy. Not every frontier community was as well defended as Three Fields, especially not the smaller remote ones. Most of them didn''t even have walls, especially when they were further from more dangerous locales like the Sea. "Well, that''s what I''m here for. Not shy about getting into a fight that others can''t handle for themselves." he said, doing his best to offer reassurance. "Aye...Aye. Good on ye man, we need that these days. People are dying. I...Most of the people in this line without fancy guards and carriages have lost someone. Good to know someone''s up for looking out for them, eh?" the woodsman''s voice quavered, his jaw rippling as he clenched back emotion. "Excuse me, I should check on my daughter." he finished, turning away suddenly as he strode over to his child and swept her up into a tight hug. Kaius let out a heavy breath. He''d known that it wouldn''t be pretty, but it was something else entirely to be confronted with the sheer bleak depression of those who had lost almost everything. A glimmer of guilt shimmered in his chest, before he quashed it, lest it ignite into something more severe. He''d do what he could to help people, especially since¡ªwith the Guild¡ªthat would come with levels and coin, but he couldn''t accept responsibility for every tragedy. That way led to madness. Hopefully the city proper would have a less terminal ambiance. If he could get the guards to let him in, that is. B2 Chapter 205: Infiltration, pt. 5 B2 Chapter 205: Infiltration, pt. 5 Kaius lunged to the side, shouldering a boggart to the ground as he narrowly avoided a hosing spray of blood as Porkchop tore another¡¯s head free. He stepped through the movement, booting the boggart that was desperately trying to scramble back up. A Father¡¯s Gift swept out, a twist of his hips driving the power to ram it through the throat of a boggart that tried to rush him with its grasping claws held out. It fell, choking¡ªthough it would heal, if given the chance. He could see the flesh writhing. His Glass Mind was well and truly showing its worth, allowing him to fully immerse himself in the violent rhythm of their battle as it fed him information. Where the boggart¡¯s formation was weak, which individual had left an opening for him to exploit, and how he could capitalise on the chaos their sudden assault had caused. It pulled on his system granted skills, weaving the instinct they gave him with the knowledge and memory of dozens of battles. They fought in total silence. Rough guttural cries of anger and panic were the only sounds that filled the small cavern, the sounds of his team''s heavy breathing drowned out in the cacophony of the boggart¡¯s slaughter. Ramming his blade through the skull of the boggart below his boot, he lunged forwards, finishing off the other that was still clawing at the weeping hole in its neck. **Ding! level 57 Boggart - Primitive Fighter slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** **Ding! level 53 Boggart - Skulking Biter slain - Experience Gained!** It was easy. The boggarts might have had them bested in levels¡ªbut only just, and they had none of their superlative skills or stats to back them up. Throw in that they were disorganised, short, and weaponless....well, he¡¯d pushed himself harder stacking firewood before. Another beam of light snapped out, burning its way through a boggart¡¯s eye and burrowing its way into the creature¡¯s skull. Not deep enough to kill the monster instantly, but it still sent it reeling¡ªvulnerable to a crushing blow from Porkchop that swept its legs out from under it, before he smashed its skull. It was the third one that Ianmus had cast. They were...different from his normal Sunbeams. He could still feel their heat, still see the popping glow of mana as the beams materialised¡ªhighlighting their path¡ªbut his natural eyes saw nothing. Not even with Truesight. A mystery, but one that was quickly pushed to the side in favour of cleaving through a boggart¡¯s arm as it desperately tried to claw at him. He stepped in, punching it in the face with the hilt of his blade, its nose collapsing with a shuddering crack. Kaius drew his sword back, before lunging forwards and ramming his blade through its skull. The point of his sword was drawn down as the boggart collapsed, dead weight enough to let it slide free of his blade. **Ding! level 56 Boggart - Feral Mauler slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** He turned, catching the final moments of Porkchop plunging his claws through the last monster''s crown. Chest heaving, Kaius took in the sight of their battle¡ªthe blood strewn cavern silent other than the crackle of flame and their own heaving breaths. The light flickered, shadows creeping across the floor and walls¡ªmaking the slowly pooling blood look alive with movement. He strained his ears¡ªeven the clamour of violence in his blood that sung with every battle quelled by his desperate need to listen for outraged cries from deeper within the cave. There was nothing. Despite the fury of their attack, it had been lost in the cacophony of the boggart¡¯s own mindless brawl. Still, if something came to investigate, they would be discovered at once. Porkchop¡¯s bodies might have passed for a particularly savage beating with a rock, but the clean cuts left in the corpses of his targets stood out garishly¡ªclear evidence of a bladed weapon. They had to hide the bodies. While pools of blood may be suspicious, there was already more than enough in the room before they had sprung their ambush. Not all of it was fresh, either¡ªplenty of dark brown stains had been laid down in many layers, splattering across the floors and wall. If they were lucky, it would just be suspicious, rather than a dead give away. He flicked his sword, clearing the worst of the blood before he wiped it down on some of the fur clothes that the boggarts had dressed themselves in. Sheathing his blade, he turned to his team. ¡°Time to start hauling¡ªwe¡¯re stashing them in one of those side crevices we saw earlier.¡± he whispered. ¡°Porkchop, I hate to do this, but we¡¯re stringing some over your back. I want this done in one trip.¡± Porkchop¡¯s muzzle scrunched in distaste. ¡°Fine, but let¡¯s make it quick.¡± Ianmus only nodded. They moved quickly, hauling most of the bodies onto Porkchop¡¯s back. The limp corpses stained his under-armour red, but his brother bore it without complaint. By the time they were done, Porkchop looked like a macabre living plague-cart, the heaping bodies just barely kept stable with a few clever uses of the extra straps that Porkchop had for securing belongings to his back. Kaius bent down, taking up his own cargo¡ªa boggart slung over each shoulder¡ªas Ianmus did the same. They set off, jogging back as fast as they could the way they had come, desperately trying to keep their heavy footfalls as quiet as possible. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. .... Hauling the last of the bodies off his brother''s back, Kaius ignored the way the beast''s fur stuck to the skin of his hands and left a slippery film in its wake. He walked over to the crack, shoving the body roughly through the opening. A stride and a half wide, the crack went only two strides deep before it opened up to a thin chute that disappeared into the stone below. One arm got stuck, trapped at an awkward angle behind the corpse''s back. With a heave, Kaius threw his weight into his shove. Bone gave way with a wet crack, and the arm twisted around the body unnaturally. It gave just enough to fall free, hiding the last of their victims from sight. Kaius sighed, still feeling the tense dread of potential discovery despite their grisly work being done. He shook his head, deciding to distract himself while they crept back. ¡°Ianmus,¡± he whispered. ¡°That spell of yours¡ªthe manipulation you were doing to your sorcery, why couldn¡¯t I see it?¡± ¡°An old discovery. One that Sunspire has known of for centuries.¡± he replied in clipped words, his eyes trained ahead. ¡°We don¡¯t fully understand it, but there are forms to light. One of them is potent and dangerous, but invisible to mortal eyes¡ªmost of them, at least.¡± ¡°Why not use it all the time, then?¡± Porkchop asked, though his words were distracted. Something seemed to have caught his brother''s attention, judging by the way his ears kept flicking to train on sounds coming from behind them¡ªkeeping an ear out for returning raiding parties, he supposed. Ianmus shrugged in response to the question. ¡°Light is already too fast for anything to dodge without instinctive or precognitive abilities, so the fact it can¡¯t be seen isn¡¯t that helpful in most situations. Add in the additional complexity of requiring free-cast modification, additional channel time, and greater mana costs, and it''s just not worth the effort most of the time.¡± ¡°I will admit it''s handy for situations like this, though.¡± Ianmus continued after a moment''s pause. Kaius nodded at the explanation. Knowing the costs of the change, he could understand why it had niche applications. Still, it was a good facet to file away¡ªthey might usually confront most of their problems head on in open battle, but it was bound to be useful in the future. Even if only to stop Ianmus pointing a glowing arrow directly towards himself in the future¡ªhandy if they weren¡¯t confident they could keep him safe. With his curiosity satisfied, they fell back into a deep silence¡ªlistening for any sounds of their bloodshed being discovered as they made their way back to the boggart warren. .... Kaius rushed forwards as he entered the flickering light of a small stone brazier. They¡¯d been scattered along the tunnel they¡¯d watched the bugbear enter. He slowed to a steady creep as he once again draped in shadow. The boggarts might have been keeping their home lit¡ªusing some sort of rendered tallow by the looks of it¡ªbut it was infrequent. Long stretches of gloom filled the wide tunnel, broken only by isolated islands of flickering yellow light and guttering flame. It was dead silent, only the low hum of fire filling the air with a soft murmur. Quiet enough that each careful step they made sounded like they were wading through a pit of broken glass. Porkchop and Ianmus dashed after him, joining him in the dark. They all stopped, straining their senses to the maximum¡ªdesperately attempting to catch any sign of approaching boggarts. As it stood, their plan was simple. Hide. If it turned out to be a small group that they were confident they could take out without the alarm being raised, they would do so. However, if the group was any larger than one or two individuals, they would stay hidden, and hope they would be passed unawares. Thankfully, the forcefully widened tunnel had plenty of hidden nooks. Shortly after entering the lit warren, they¡¯d found that the boggarts had been rather industrious. At regular intervals, openings had been carved into the tunnel¡ªadmittedly, it was rather haphazard, but it was enough for their uses. Some were little more than indents in the wall that Kaius would struggle to press himself into, but others were more substantial. Small corridors that went nowhere, and cramped rooms that seemed to serve no purpose. At the very least, they hadn¡¯t found anything that suggested an intentional and complicated layout¡ªno additional intersecting halls where they would need to worry about patrols or boggarts approaching them from behind. Instead it was like they were abandoned. Remnant sleeping spaces that had been left as they were as the plague had expanded, eating its way further into the earth like a cancer. Porkchop had been especially alert, constantly checking their rear and sides. Kaius could feel his nerves¡ªa burning electricity that loomed at the back of his neck like a ghost. Far too much to be simple caution in the case of a raiding party appearing unexpectedly. ¡°What¡¯s got you so wound up? I know we¡¯re trying to rid ourselves of as many of them as we can before an alarm goes out, but it''s not like we can¡¯t handle ourselves.¡± he asked Porkchop through their bond, not pausing his scanning of their surroundings. His brother¡¯s eyes flicked to him briefly, before he went back to searching the darkness. ¡°I¡¯m...not sure. I haven¡¯t heard, smelt, or seen anything, but I can¡¯t shake this feeling that we are being watched. It¡¯s like a claw at my back. A predator in the trees above. I¡¯m trying to put it out of my mind, but...¡± Porkchop sounded weary, like the constant blaring of his instincts was exhausting him like a physical weight. Kaius frowned. That wasn¡¯t like him, he¡¯d seen Porkchop dive headfirst into an ogre¡ªrun through shattered bones and torn flesh. For something to make him uneasy, it had to be serious. Nor was Kaius one to dismiss something as vague as instincts. The senses of a greater beast were honed things¡ªsharpened under the weight of bloodline and tradition. It was easy to imagine there were traces he was picking up that his conscious mind couldn¡¯t put together. Yet...what could they do but stay alert? Toolkit and Uncanny Dodge were both silent, other than the former aiding him by guiding his quiet movements and directing him to potential spots that watchers may lay in wait. Besides, if there was something, it had to be related to the boggarts. He was confident in their success, and if the shaman had scried them, or something similar, he doubted that the tunnel would be as quiet as it was. Even if a trap was being laid for them, they were already moving as surreptitiously as they could. ¡°Just keep doing what you¡¯re doing,¡± Kaius replied. ¡°Tell me if you notice anything concrete.¡± Porkchop nodded. Then his ears suddenly flicked forwards. He froze, ears trained down the passage ahead. ¡°Movement! Far off but coming this way!¡± Kaius¡¯s heart dropped. Chapter 159 - B2 157: Deadacre pt. 2 Despite the sheer volume of people lining up outside of the city gates, the queue moved surprisingly quickly. It seemed that Deadacre had developed a well built mechanism for efficiently dealing with the dispossessed and weary travellers that had begun to flock to the safety of their walls. With more than a dozen guards at the gates, they waved groups forward two at a time, quickly working through discussions while other defenders kept watch for any beasts crossing the hard packed dirt that surrounded the city. Still, even quicker than expected, they ended up waiting hours. Thank the gods that he and Porkchop had gotten adept enough at holding their Mask that having it passively in place was no longer an overly burdensome drain on their mental energy. If they''d arrived even a few days earlier, he''d have had a splitting headache after holding it in place for so long. Taking a step to the side of the line, Kaius leveraged his height to peer over the crowd, craning his neck to look through the open gates to the city. Just like he remembered, the entrance through the walls led to an open square, where a handful of large cobbled streets split off to wind their way through the city. The main roads, an arterial flow of people and goods that vitalised the settlement. While it wasn''t so bad that the streets were packed chest to chest, they were busier than he remembered. Thankfully, the city seemed at least somewhat prepared. Large marquees had been set up by the city walls, guards directing the most bedraggled and shaken of the petitioners in their direction. Temporary housing, for the most desperate. Others were directed elsewhere. Those looking well off, or at least not destitute were left to find their own lodgings, while merchants and farmers laden with goods were waved down one road that Kaius remembered leading to the city''s central square. "How''s it looking?" Ianmus asked as he stepped back in line with Porkchop and the mage. "Surprisingly well organised. It looks like we should be left to our own devices if we have the resources to sustain ourselves." Kaius murmured, keeping his voice low so as not to disturb the people ahead of and behind them - a few more stragglers had joined the queue, though most looked to be locals making a quick trip. Porkchop snorted, though it was soft enough that it wouldn''t heighten the tension of their fellow travellers. "Thank the Matriarchs, I was worried we would be swamped. This is not exactly how I imagined my first visit to a human city going." Kaius smiled, while Ianmus chuckled. "I do have to agree. Hopefully, if things are still this organised, it should mean joining a convoy to the Dukedoms won''t be too difficult." Ianmus muttered. Kaius nodded, though he inwardly doubted it would be that easy. Even if the caravans were still traveling, the demand to get to the patrolled roads, siege proof cities, and armies of the Dukedoms would be high. No doubt the price for passage had soared. The line kept moving, and they shuffled ever closer to the gates. Much like the walls themselves, they were rough, but overbuilt and tough. Made up of wooden beams nearly half a stride thick, reinforced heavily with thick iron plating, it was controlled by some hidden winch system in the walls and joined by a raised portcullis that was ready to drop at a moment''s notice. Eventually, they made it to the front. As they''d waved people forward, Kaius had watched almost every single guard frown at Porkchop. Even with his brother masquerading as a simple beast, bonds in general were rare, and combat capable companions even more so. He doubted they''d seen them often, and given the circumstances, he couldn''t fault their suspicion. Especially since they were hiding something, even if it was not something that would put the inhabitants of the city at risk. Dressed in chain, with dark gray tabards displaying the insignia of the city - a dead tree, dyed in white - each and every one looked ready for trouble. Swords were belted on, and each held a halberd. Archers looked on from the top of the wall, doing double duty watching the crowd and keeping an eye out for beasts. "You there, with the wife and child. Over to the left." The lead guard called, waving the woodsman in front of them forwards. Standing at the head of the line, he had been directing the crowd to his available colleagues. The muscular man looked back, giving Kaius a slight nod before he ushered his daughter forward. Stepping up with Porkchop and Ianmus in tow, Kaius watched the guard calmly, keeping a firm grip on his mask. The man watched him closely in turn, regularly looking at Porkchop behind him, as if deciding what to do with them. Kaius shifted his weight on his feet, wondering what would happen. The moment stretched, an awkward pause in what had otherwise been a smooth operation up until this point. Right before he was about to ask the guardsman where he should go, another ran up, bending over to whisper in his ear. He nodded, thanking the man, before looking back to Kaius. "Go talk to the sergeant, Delver. He''ll be able to make the call on your companion." the guard told him with a frown, pointing to another uniformed man standing off to the right by the base of the walls, watching the proceedings. He was dressed much the same as the others, though a single red star adorned his tabard on his left breast. Kaius gave the guard a sharp nod, seeing no reason not to comply. Belligerence would only harm their prospects, afterall. Looking back to his companions he jutted his head over towards the sergeant, and they set off, leaving behind a waiting gaggle of petitioners. The head guard watched their approach with stern eyes. Not exactly suspicious, or distrustful, but certainly an expression that clearly told where he stood. He was the authority here, and that was to be respected. Stopping a few paces from the man, Kaius gave the man a polite nod. Inwardly, his guts were curdling. No doubt Porkchop, and potentially him as well, would be identified as they entered the city. A low level guardsman was one thing, but a grizzled veteran sergeant was far more likely to have skill levels and stats under his belt that could present an issue to their Mask. He felt none of that tension from his bond. Porkchop was calm, and ready. "Sergeant." Kaius said. "Mmm," the guard officer replied, eyes roving over him before he switched his attention to Ianmus. "Academy brat, I presume?" he asked the mage. Ianmus stiffened, but stepped forward smoothly all the same. "Yes sir, graduated recently," he replied. The gruff sergeant hummed, tilting his head at Ianmus with a slight narrowing of his eyes. "Recent indeed, if you haven''t hit your forties yet. What''re you doing here?" he asked. Kaius swallowed. He knew it was almost a certainty that they would be analysed, but now that the test was here it set his heart thumping. Ianmus chuckled. It was a half strangled thing, filled with the harsh humour of the gallows. "Graduated a few months back, thought I would do a bit of overland travel to the Dukedoms, gain a little experience before I investigated rumours about them potentially having another ''war''." he explained, shuffling on the dusty earth. "Change hit once I was halfway between here and the mountains, that one saved me from getting torn to shreds by a flock of terror birds. I''m hoping to join a convoy to finish the last leg of my journey." The guard sergeant''s stern expression broke a little as he winced. "You and half the city, lad. Hope you''re ready for some stiff competition. And terror birds? Haven''t heard of those." "They''re new," Kaius spoke up, the sergeant''s attention snapping to him. "Mostly confined to the stone hills towards the Sea. For now, at least. Bloody mean things, like a long necked chicken the size of a man, but as fast as a horse with a tendency to smash things with their axe shaped beaks." "I see. One of my boys did say you had come from the south, but I''m surprised to hear you''ve come so far. Delver." the sergeant said. A moment later he felt an intrusion on his Mask as the guardsman attempted to analyse him with a skill. Immediately a hot spike of pain started to drive into the back of his head, his Will surging as he leveraged every scrap of his being to focus on taking on the roll of a Body Enhancer. A moment later it was over, the probe retreating. Kaius bit back a sigh of relief, hoping that he looked as natural and easy as he had a few moments prior. "Especially for a level twenty-two. That''s a lot of gear you''ve got for that level, and it''s odd for you to travel with all this going on, don''t you think? The Sea''s too close for you to have left before the change. Especially with a mount." the sergeant said with an unnaturally even voice, staring at him with flinty eyes. Kaius swallowed. "Came to join the Guild, sir. Me and Porkchop delved the first layer just after class selection, my family left me a few artefacts, and the delve got me the rest." Kaius explained, hoping the sergeant would buy his story. "Mmm." the sergeant hummed, watching Porkchop closely. "Big bastard, isn''t he? I suppose that with a warbeast that would be possible. He registered?" Kaius fought the urge to groan. He hadn''t known that was a thing. Thankfully, that meant he wouldn''t need to lie about it. "I did it." Porkchop said, his voice strained, before he fell silent once more. That, at least, was something. "I didn''t know that was a thing, sir. Lived outside of Gloomhollow." he explained, genuine chagrin resonating in his words. "Every trained beast comes registered, lad. You raise him yourself, or something?" the sergeant replied with a deepening frown, unimpressed by his response. "Letting in a beast like that trained by some kid out in the middle of nowhere is a risk, boy. What happens if he reacts poorly to the crowds?" Kaius winced at the sergeant''s harsh accusation. "No sir, I found him when I was young. Had gotten separated from his ma or something. He was a bloody cute fluffy thing back then, so I couldn''t leave him, even if he was a beast. Ended up getting a bond as one of my general skills." he hurried to explain, a genuine note of desperation in his voice. The sergeant''s expression shifted, piercing grey eyes stabbing deep into his own as a contemplative frown graced the guardsman''s face. He leaned back onto the wall behind him, scratching his chin. "A bond skill...That would certainly do it. Unregistered though, that could cause a shit-fest if it got out." the man mumbled to himself. A moment later he stood up, looking at Kaius once again. "You''re here to join the Guild, you said?" the sergeant asked. Kaius nodded quickly. "Good. We''ve got hunting requests falling out of our arse right now, and a young Delver competent enough to delve just after class selection is someone we could use. Especially one mounted on a warbeast, you''d be able to range further than most." the sergeant said. Excitement welled as Kaius listened to the man, an electrifying energy that raced down his spine and spread through his limbs. There was no way he would bother with such a speech if he wasn''t going to let them in. "There''s one problem though, we need your beast registered. Far too much potential for a hullabaloo if it gets out I let an unregistered warbeast into the city. However...you''re willing to swear under a truthstone that you have a bond skill?" the sergeant searched his face. Kaius nodded emphatically. Truthstones were tightly controlled bits of runework, but he knew the guild made use of them. It was almost perfect. If it was confirmed that he had a bond skill before Porkchop''s nature as a greater beast got out, it would take even more heat off of them. "Alright, here''s the deal. I''ll let you in if you immediately go to the guild and sign up. They''ll be able to register your beast if you can attest to your skill under oath. I''m not sure how busy they are, but once you''re done - whether that''s this afternoon or some time tomorrow - come straight here and tell one of my boys that you''re here to show your registration. Deal?" The sergeant asked, thrusting his hand out to him. "Deal." Kaius said as he clasped the guardsman''s hand and shook. A moment later the sergeant''s grip tightened, and he pulled him close. "I''m serious, boy. Straight there, and then back here. I can''t have an unregistered beast in the city for long. Not right now. Remember, it won''t be hard to track down the man with a giant fucking bear-thing inside the city." His voice was low, but firm, as he stared Kaius dead in the eye. Kaius nodded. The sergeant stepped backwards and clapped him on the shoulder. "Good lad. Now stop hogging my time and get in the gates." he dismissed them with a wave, turning to nod at a few guards who were watching at the gate. Suppressing a sigh, Kaius met Ianmus'' and Porkchop''s eyes, who both looked as relieved as he felt. Without a word, he led the way, passing vigilant guards as he walked under the shadow of the wall to enter Deadacre. They''d made it. Now he just needed to point Ianmus in the right direction and get himself registered. Chapter 160 - B2 158: Deadacre pt. 3 As Kaius crossed through the gates to Deadacre, the sounds of the city washed over him. The heavy background buzz of chatter and thumping boots, the clack of carts rolling over uneven cobble, and the odd cutting bark of a laugh or crying babe. Overwhelming, sure, but also full of the vitality of life. Something pleasantly different after so long with little company in his surroundings. Brown canvas tents lined the square that the gates opened to, stacked up tight to the wall with barely walkable alleys separating their fabric walls. Emergency housing. Several guards wandered the open space, directing people where they needed to go, or helping one of the more desperate into the waiting arms of those that were getting people settled in the tents. A guard in chain whistled, waving them over¡ªa woman with sandy hair cropped short and piercing blue eyes. "You boys alright? I doubt you need shelter here, given your dress, but I thought I''d check and see if you knew where you were headin''." the guard asked. "Ahh, we''ll be fine, thank you. I''ve been here before, so I know my way well enough around." Kaius said, thanking the woman, who nodded and waved them on. Kaius set off for one of the main streets that exited the square, companions in tow. Masonry buildings lined the streets, three stories tall and made from the same rustic rough-cut stone as the rest of the city. Looming over the streets, they made navigation tough if you didn''t know your way around with how they blocked sight of any landmarks. Especially since the layout of the streets looked like someone had traced a tangled length of yarn onto a city plan and called it a day. "Well, we made it through the gate with little issue, though that Sergeant was a tough bastard to hide from." Porkchop said. Ianmus chuckled. "When he called us over I was totally convinced we''d been had. Thank the gods it was just a registration issue." Kaius groaned. Such a small thing, but it had nearly done them in. If his and Porkchop''s stats weren''t so artificially inflated, they would have been toast, for sure. "The main thing is we''re in the clear now." Kaius said, before he turned to Ianmus. "I know this is your first time here, so I can show you to the road that leads directly to the caravaneer''s office by the far gate. It''ll be a bit of a trek, but it''s a straight shot." The half-elf smiled at him. "Thank you, and thanks again for making sure I made it here in one piece." "It''s no problem at all. Only what any decent folk would do. Listen, if you''re stuck here for a bit while you wait for an empty slot, feel free to stop by if you see me around the guild house. It''d be nice to see a familiar face." Kaius replied, waving off Ianmus''s thanks. "It would, plus it would be nice to have someone else to talk to. It''s going to suck pretending to be an unthinking beast." Porkchop grumbled. Ianmus nodded with a smile, but he had enough sense not to directly address his brother in a crowded square. While the square was packed, it parted before them with ease. Understandable, all things considered. Ianmus was wearing the classic attire of a magi, while he was fully suited in armour with a giant of a beast at his back. Most people, regular people, weren''t the type to get in the way of obvious monster killers. Exiting the square, the heady smell of smoke, dust, and sweat washed over him. It wasn''t strong, per se, but it was pervasive. With his senses sharpened since his last trip, he did his best to ignore the odour, though inwardly he missed the fresh air found outside of settlements. He''d spent too long in the wilds to enjoy city life overmuch. The road they followed wound its way through the city, dozens of side streets and alleys splitting off to tangle their way through the thickets of stone buildings. Eventually, they reached a fork. "This is it." Kaius said as he came to a halt, turning to Ianmus. "Follow that road to the end and you''ll reach the other gate. No turns onto another street or anything, just straight there." Ianmus paused, giving him a slight nod. "Well, I suppose this is the end of our little soiree. I guess this is goodbye." Kaius gave the man a warm smile before clapping him on the shoulder. "Don''t be like that. If the fates will it I am sure we will run into each other again soon. Chances are we''ll end up in the Dukedoms soon enough, where are you planning on heading?" "Satrinsale. They''ve got some entrances to the Depths that are well aligned with my affinities, and with all that''s going on I want as much strength as I can get. I''ll probably join the Guild when I''m there." Ianmus replied, smiling ruefully. "I don''t want a repeat of what happened with those terror birds." Kaius nodded. In all likelihood, they probably would meet the man again. Satrinsale was one of the larger cities in the Dukedoms, and would have a large Guildhall indeed, let alone libraries. A good place for him to do a little digging on his family, and the goings on of the world outside of Vaastivar. "Well, we might see you there then! Just leave a message for us at the Guild when you get there." he replied. "I will. It would be nice to see a familiar face." Ianmus smiled. He scratched at the back of his head absentmindedly for a moment, before he offered his hand. "Well, goodbye, I suppose." Kaius returned the shake, giving the man a wide grin. "See you soon." Ianmus nodded, before he turned and left with a wave. Kaius watched the tall half-elf go, his silver hair standing out head and shoulder above the rest of the crowd. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. "Be safe, elfling!" Porkchop called after him. Ianmus turned, shooting his brother a smile, before he kept walking. "Well then, I suppose we best be off." Kaius said, once Ianmus had rounded a bend in the road. He nodded towards the other branch of the intersection. "Come on, it''s just down here." ... The stares were getting old. He didn''t like the way people ogled. Sure, he was tall, heavily armed and had a beast taller than he was at his side, but you would think that most people would have some sense of propriety. They did in Three Fields, at least. Here every third person craned their neck to keep staring at him as he passed. It wore at his mood, and made the general press of the crowd even more irritating than it had been at first. Still, walking through the city was an eye opening experience. Other than inns being far more full than normal, you''d think that nothing was amiss with the outside world. No one seemed...ready. They were just going about their days, in their dyed cottons, shopping and working. He didn''t understand it. How they could live their lives while beasts were growing stronger by the day. Sure, most people didn''t have a combat class, but they could still grow stronger with levels, or work towards some way to empower those who could. Thankfully, as they drew closer to the district dedicated to the Delver''s guild, things got much better. Fewer folks, and those that were present were far more used to the sight of artefacts and arms. Here, almost everything catered to the rich, both monetarily and in personal strength. Taverns with brews that could knock out a horse with a drop, alchemists with vials full of vibrant swirling colours in their windows, and all manner of artisans ladened the streets. Blacksmiths hammered, and leatherworkers sewed, creating wares only to pass them on to waiting runewrights, finishing the craft to sell at a premium. At least here there was a sense of urgency, a resolute tone of seriousness that pervaded the general air of the place. Here were the fighters, and those that supplied them. Here were those that understood what was at stake. Few common citizens lived here, and the ones that did were either local delvers or the proprietors of the establishments who served them and their travelling cousins. It was the enchanters and general hawkers of artifice that caught his attention the most. They had loot to sell, and there were plenty of artefacts that could come in handy for them in their future delves and work for the Guild. That, and they still needed to get Porkchop''s armour enchanted with Self-Repair. "Where are we going to stay, Kaius? Half of these doors I can''t even squeeze through." Porkchop asked, looking at the buildings they passed with concern. Patting his brother on the shoulder, Kaius met the question with a soft chuckle. "There will be inns near the Guild that are suitable for people with bond skills. They''re uncommon, but not THAT rare. We might need to pay out the nose for it, but we''ll find a place that fits you. Worst comes to worst, we''ll find a place with some stables and we can both sleep there." Porkchop grunted, unconvinced, but let the matter lie. It wasn''t like there was any better option. A short while later, they turned the bend and the guildhall came into sight. Regal and tall, it stood a good two stories higher than the surrounding three story terraced buildings that were common in Deadacre. Polished smooth stone blocks formed its stout walls, a quality rarely seen otherwise, while wide widows revealed a warmly lit wooden interior. Dozens of tables littered the space, while a wide counter stretched across two walls. One side served drinks and food to the waiting delvers, while the other had a receptionist with a queue in front of her. A guild worker, where one could accept missions and deal with other matters relevant to membership. That was who he would have to talk to. Joy and anticipation thrummed through him as he took in the enduring strength of the building, as he looked at the thick and polished oak door - a sigil of a crossed sword and stave engraved on its front. A moment that had been a long time coming. A dream of his that had finally arrived. A destiny he had sought and strived for. Becoming a delver. A duty, and a promise - of riches, power, and responsibility. One he was happy to make. It wasn''t just the hall itself that held him enraptured, but the clientele as well. The place was packed. Full of all sorts of peoples, each and every one suited up and ready for war. Men in full plate, with tower shields, great swords, and other heavy armaments sat at tables next to lithe individuals in leathers, blades belted everywhere from their chest to their arms. Magi in robes chatting with archers in light mottled clothes, and every other combination and combat style imaginable. The variety was staggering, no one person looking alike in their chosen methods of defence and attack. That is, with one exception. Telltale scriptwork covered almost everything he could see, both inscrutable system runes and man-made creations alike. A springing bounce entered his step as he picked up his pace, tugging Porkchop forward. "Come on, we''re here!" Kaius said, hurrying towards the door. Porkchop grunted, but followed closely. "Just remember to keep your Mask up." he warned. Rolling his eyes in response, Kaius wove his way around the small amount of foot traffic before coming to a stop at the stone steps that lead to the entrance. He paused for a moment, savouring the significance of his first steps towards his future. Every legend, every good story, and every bardsong started in a guild hall. They were where strength was built, and reputations were earned. It was here that he and Porkchop would be able to make a name for themselves. Where they would be able to build an unassailable reputation. It would be here that he would be able to start his quest to discover the secrets of Aspects, and gather the backing needed to start looking into his father''s killer. Something nudged him in the back, forcing him to take the first step. Kaius turned, finding Porkchop right behind him, watching him. "Walk tall, Kaius. You deserve to be here." Porkchop encouraged, nosing him on the shoulder to encourage him forward. Taking a breath, he nodded and strode towards the door. Gripping the brass handle, he braced himself. Preparing his Mask. Throwing his chest out and plastering a confident smile on his face he opened the massive door wide and strode into the foyer, Porkchop close behind. Silence washed over the room as what felt like half of the delvers present turned to look at him. A moment later a dozen different analysis skills hit his Mask. They were light things, almost polite. Like they weren''t seeking the truth, just what he was willing to give. They still smacked him upside the head like a sledgehammer with numbers alone. Muscles bulged as his jaw clenched tight, a forced wince hissing out from between his teeth as he clutched his head. Distantly, he heard someone laugh. "Fresh meat! Every fucking time, never gets old." Chapter 161 - B2 159: Deadacre pt. 4 Kaius let out a low groan, bent over with his head throbbing like he''d just been smacked upside the head with a blacksmith''s hammer. As soon as the pressure of a dozen different analyse skills pressing his Mask faded, so too did the pain and discomfort. Raw indignation flooded him, mirrored by the tempered anger that flowed across his bond, revealing his brother''s own thoughts on the welcome they had received. Rising to his full height, Kaius took in the milling delver''s with a furrowed brow, biting his cheek to stop himself from demanding to know what right the offenders had had to test him like that. His restraint was only made more difficult by the fact that the other guild members had stopped paying attention to him in the slightest, each and every one returning to their conversations like nothing had happened. "What the hells was that, Kaius?" Porkchop asked as he mean-mugged the crowds of armed men who sat around tables and bandied stories like they were cards. They paid Porkchop little mind, his distaste drawing little more than a glance. "I''m pretty sure we just got hazed." Kaius sighed in defeat. "It''s common enough, but I would have thought the Guild of all places would be better than that. Seen it happen enough with tradesmen, putting the new guy in their place." Much to his surprise, his words seem to calm Porkchop immensely. "Oh. They were just asserting their position. That makes sense." As Kaius struggled not to cock a surprised brow at his brother, a figure rose from a seat near the middle of the tabled section. A man of middling height, with dark eyes and hair, dressed in heavily reinforced leather, with shortswords belted at his waist and a brace of throwing knives across his chest. Smiling at them awkwardly, but friendly enough, he made his way over as Kaius watched on with moderate distrust. A final clincher, to let him know where he stood, perhaps? The man came to a stop a half dozen paces from them, scratching the back of his head. "Sorry about that, just a bit of ribbing from the established folk. It wasn''t you specifically, they do that to everyone who walks in here with that shiny eye''d look of awe." the man explained, waving at the crowd behind him. "It''s not just pointless bullying though, and no one was actually pushing your Mask. It''s mostly a way to test if someone has one in the first place. They would have suppressed their analysis skills so that it was all bark, no bite." the man gave him half smile. Kaius''s eyes widened, he hadn''t even realised that ''testing'' someone''s mask was something you could do. Was there a way to tell he was lying about his status? The man caught his surprised expression and hurried to elaborate. "Not like that, anyone who wanders in here looking like that is inevitably pretty fresh. Half a room of experienced delvers smacking their Mask is invariably enough to get a response. If there isn''t one, someone always pulls them aside and makes sure they know how to Mask in the future, it''s an important part of growing your strength, you can glean a surprising amount even with a basic identify. Saves people having to wait until bronze." The delver paused, giving him an evaluating look. "Honestly, the fact you didn''t pass out means you''re a tough one. Good job. The name''s Vangus. Just wanted to come over and let you know what''s up, and see if you needed any help." he finished, offering his hand. Kaius gripped him back. "Well, it''s nice to get at least one polite introduction I suppose. Why go through all that effort, anyway? It''s a bit extreme just to see if someone can Mask." he asked. A slight wince crossed Vangus''s face at Kaius''s words, but it was a small thing, and fleeting. "It''s not. A lot of people...they get ideas about the guild. Build up an image in their head about it being this serene place of pure meritocracy, where everyone is buoyed by honour and strength of arm." he explained. Kaius frowned. That was...what the guild was, wasn''t it? Their neutrality was legendary, and it was impossible to rise through the ranks without integrity and strength. Seeing his expression, Vangus raised his arms placatingly. "Woah, I''m not saying it''s not those things, but ya have to keep in mind everyone''s only a person, right? Walking into a trade like this all misty eyed and as green as a new shoot universally ends up with someone being just a little too easy to take advantage of. Usually it''s small, a bad leader who prioritises their own safety over the team, or a merchant who gives you a bad price, or something like that. Not everyone thinks that membership is immediately deserving of respect." "So what, you just give the newbies a proverbial slap upside the head as they walk in the door to keep them on their toes?" Kaius asked, looking at the man sceptically. To Kaius''s left, Porkchop chuffed, backing him up with just enough gormless sincerity that it seemed as though he was a simple beast reacting to feelings across their bond. Vangus watched Porkchop warily for half of a moment, before his deep brown eyes flicked back to Kaius. "I...yeah, pretty much. Someone always gives the follow up though, thought I''d do it this time as you look tough. Not often you see someone walk in here with a bonded companion and a compliment of artefacts at your level. Look, the vast majority of delvers are alright, a few are the skin-off-their-backs types, and even fewer are gutless bastards. But the last do exist, so it''s on us as a group to stop the new guys from getting into a sticky situation." Vangus said, giving him an imploring look. Kaius sighed. In the end, even if it did sting to get slapped around like that, it was only a momentary headache, and he could see the reason in getting the new guys to pay attention quickly. "I suppose if I''d just been told I probably would have brushed it off as an overblown problem." Kaius replied. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. The delver gave him a beaming smile, flashing him with pearly white teeth. "Now you''re getting it! Listen, I assume you''re here to sign up?" Kaius nodded. "Fantastic, we need all the help we can get. Low level problems are exploding all over the region, and the tasks that need an Iron guilder are only barely less frequent. We need fresh blood, there''s too much to do." Vangus turned, gesturing to the short line that led to the receptionist''s desk. "Go chat with Ro¡ªyou''re lucky she''s on the counter, she''d got pull. There''s nothing major, just a truth stone interview to see if you intend to follow the rules, but she''ll be able to make it happen quicker than most." Kaius looked past him to watch the lithe blonde woman behind the desk, currently animatedly talking to a bare chested man who was nearly as hairy as Porkchop, before he looked back and gave Vangus a nod. The delver smiled and clapped him on the shoulder. "Good luck, new guy. These are some trying times, keep your wits about you." Vangus turned, returning to the tabled section of the guild hall where two of what Kaius assumed were his team members were waiting for him, a man garbed in chain with a round shield and mace laying on the floor, and a willowy woman in leathers with an unstrung bow propped up against the table. The pair rose a tankard as Vangus approached, toasting him with something unintelligible. Taking a shallow breath, Kaius shared a look with Porkchop. "Well, that was an explanation at least. Why weren''t you affected as much as me, by the way?" Porkchop chuffed. "I only got hit by one or two. Like Vangus said, I don''t think they were really all that interested in actually breaking our Mask." Kaius slumped his shoulders, fully giving in to the fact that it might just have been reasonable after all. "Come on, let''s go join the line." he said through their bond, turning around to make his way to the guild desk. It seemed like in their deliberations, the hairy bare-chested man had finished his discussions, walking away from the counter with a wide smile on his face and a bag of coin gripped tightly in his hand to a raucous round of applause from a table of similarly under-dressed folks. The receptionist, on the other hand, watched the man go with a slight frown on her face. "Bloody bruisers, too much muscle and not enough brains." the receptionist muttered, just loud enough for him to hear, before she smiled at the next in line. This interaction seemed to go much quicker. The man was some sort of skirmisher, a light footed front-line fighter. He slapped a bronze looking medallion on the counter and said he had a task to turn in. The receptionist smiled at him warmly, before scanning the medallion with something hidden out of view, then handed it back. The skirmisher gave her a quick nod, then scooped up his insignia and strutted away. Then it was his turn. "New guy right? Always rough the first time, but don''t worry, most of these guys would get down and dirty in a bar fight for a fellow guildy. The fact you didn''t shit yourself and crack your skull on the floor bought you a lot more good will than you think." the receptionist said. Kaius blinked. He hadn''t expected that from the face of the Guild in Deadacre. He took a step closer, and noticed that while she was wearing a tan blouse, she wore trousers instead of a dress, and had a sheathed bastard-sword leaning against the desk. A fellow delver, then. That made the foul mouth a little more understandable. "Um, hi. Vangus said your name is Ro?" he said once he had collected his wits. "Names Kaius." Ro smiled. "Drorome, actually." the first ar rolled off her tongue like a purring cat. "Most can''t nail the first syllable so I go by Ro." Kaius smiled, he knew that naming style, and could hear the faint remnants of a familiar accent. He''d met a few of them in the rare Hiwiann caravans that made it to the Sea; Father had told him of their origin when he''d been puzzled by the strange way they said ars. "Far south Hiwiann, right, Drorome?" he replied, doing his best to emulate the pronunciation. The woman cackled, slapping her hand down on the desk with a loud slap. "That''s fucking terrible, call me Ro. But yes, good picking! You a travelled one then?" she asked. Kaius shook his head. "Nah. Father was, but I asked him after I heard the accent for the first time. I''m from further north." "Oh, that explains it. Heard the wildstock up there breeds tough ones, but what the hells are they feeding ya for you to have gotten so big?" Ro asked, giving him a teasing smirk. "I...uh, hunted game?" Kaius stammered. "Oh, you''re too precious, definitely a village boy." she chuckled. "Now, business. I assume you want to sign up?" Nodding as fast as he could to change the subject, Kaius readily agreed. Smiling just a little at his haste, Ro turned around and yelled further back into the more official sections of the Guild, a L-shaped room that curved out of sight, filled with desks. "Hey, Jun! Get out here and take over; I''m gonna do an interview!" She yelled, before bending down to swipe two medallions from a drawstring bag at her waist, one wooden, and one brushed copper. A muffled response came from further back. "I''m already going!" she yelled again, before she leapt up and grabbed her sword, circling around the desk. "Come on, it''s just through here." Ro led the way, taking an impressively large door set to the left and in line with the counter. It opened into a hall, lit by wardlights, that wormed its way through the building, with more large doors opening on its left hand face. The hall was impressively large itself, with more than enough room for Porkchop to follow them. "What''s with the size?" Kaius asked after a few seconds, looking around curiously. "Hmm?" Ro asked, looking back at him. "Oh, it''s less useful here, but all Halls are built to the same specifications. Need em big enough for the various giant folk and other bigger races, and it''s not that uncommon for people to have bonded to a big warbeast like you did." she explained as they walked, before slowing to a stop by a door that looked no different from the four others they had passed just like it. "Come on in." Ro said, pushing the door open with a casual display of strength. It swung inwards on silent hinges. Inside was an austere stone room, devoid of any windows with a looping script that had been carved into the ceiling. While he didn''t know the specific script, it seemed relatively similar to High Lothian, at least in terms of the geometry it used - the runes were quite different. Still, it was enough for him to be half sure that it was some sort of silencing array, which would track for an interview room. At the centre of the room lay a wide table, each wide side having a single high-backed chair. The middle of the table had a runescribed crystal, formations delicately engraved into the flat facets of the gem and filled in with copper wire. A truth stone, a working of renowned complexity, one he could make neither heads nor tails of. Ro strode into the room, taking a seat at the table, before she slapped the wooden top. "Well then, how about we have that chat." B2 Chapter 206: Infiltration, pt. 6 B2 Chapter 206: Infiltration, pt. 6 Kaius reacted instantly to Porkchop¡¯s warning of movement coming their way. He spun, holding a finger to his lips as he grabbed Ianmus by the shoulder. Jumping at his sudden movement, the mage froze. Shaking the man to get his attention, Kaius took off with a low, loping, jog¡ªwaving at his companions to follow. There¡¯d been a room a little ways back, one large enough that they could hide within. Every step felt like someone banging on his nerves like a mallet, every muffled footfall causing his blood to throb audibly in his ears. Soon, he heard the approaching monster. Heavy plodding footfalls, a wide gait with feet that slapped loudly on the rough stone. Too large, too heavy to be a boggart. A bugbear, on patrol. Thankfully the tunnel had a slow gentle curve to the left, they had a while yet before the bugbear would be in sight of them. Reaching the thin opening in the stone, Kaius dived in. Ianmus stumbled in next, Kaius pulled him through, pushing him towards a corner of the room that was out of view of the hall. Porkchop was last. Thanks to his large stone claws, he had to shift his weight onto the back of his feet in order to keep their points from clattering on the stone. An awkward position¡ªplenty quiet, but it slowed him down. Urging his brother to take his place in front of Ianmus, Kaius pressed himself close to the wall, blade in hand as he kept watch for the approaching bugbear. Step by step it drew closer. Every single one making his heart only pound louder in their chest. Thank the gods it was only one¡ªthey had a good chance of taking it out silently. If they could take it by surprise. The muffled sound of its approach grew clearer. It must have rounded the bend, the sound no longer morphed by bouncing off the cave walls. Moments later he got his first glimpse. A long and distended shadow¡ªbacklit from a brazier. It was close, the nearest light source was only twenty long-strides away. A glow lit the exterior hall as the bugbear stepped into the shadowy stretch that held their hiding spot¡ªillumination from a torch, it had to be. Then he saw it. Tall enough that its head would touch his chin, wrapped in inscribed hides and bulging with muscle. It looked...bored as it trudged its way along, not even bothering to sweep its gaze across the many excavations that lined the walls. Just a routine patrol, or something similar. Kaius suppressed a sigh of relief. He would have loved to analyse the monster, but he was wary. Lower races were strange things¡ªwith some half-equivalent to classes that empowered them. For all he knew, their shaman could have been teaching its elites how to Mask, and he wasn¡¯t going to risk immediate discovery if he didn¡¯t have to¡ªeven if it was unlikely. Eyes drilling into the back of its skull, Kaius adjusted his grip on his sword. Well textured and tacky, his handle-wrap had still become slick with the pooling sweat of his nerves. Three more steps. That¡¯s all the time he gave it. As soon as it had its back towards them, he stepped out into the hall. Slipping into an aggressive high-guard, he took one steady step after steady step¡ªclosing the gap as the bugbear continued¡ªoblivious to the approaching cloak of death. Finally, he could bear the tension no longer, the monster close enough he could have reached out and touched it. Twisting through his hips and rolling his shoulders through the motion, Kaius brought his blade down in a blurring streak of grey. A soft snick filled the air, the honed edge of his blade backed by enough empowered strength to crush straight through the back of the bugbear¡¯s skull¡ªcarrying through to cleave it half in twain with a wet crunch. **Ding! level 64 Bugbear - Crude Warrior slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** Death throes took over, the monster stiffening for an eyeblink before it fell limp. The burning torch in its hand slipped free, falling to the ground with a gut-wrenching clatter that was nearly enough for Kaius to scrunch his eyes shut. Moving quickly, he ripped his blade free, rushing forward just in time to catch the collapsing body in his arms. It was a stout thing¡ªshort it may have been, but it was in no way light. Packed with dense muscle, it felt like it had the mass of a man twice its size. Thankfully, with two-eighty-eight strength, he was over five times as strong as he was at baseline, and that had been improved considerably between the metamorphosis of his beast-blood and the effects of his bond with Porkchop. Kaius moved quickly, hauling the body back to their hiding spot, as Ianmus rushed out to grab the torch. He dumped the corps unceremoniously in the corner, Ianmus leaving its doused lightsource on top of it. A slow breath was enough to clear much of the nervous tension he had felt at the risk of discovery¡ªgiving his heart a moment to slow. It had gone flawlessly, proof that they could do this with enough time and care. At least, that is what he hoped. ¡°Let¡¯s move.¡± Kaius led the way back into the hall, their slow assault of the warren continuing. .... A flickering light was up ahead, revealed as they pushed around a slow bend in the main passage. Coming from a side room this time, rather than the infrequent flames that kept the tunnel just barely darker than a moonlit night. Kaius raised a hand, calling for them to slow their pace. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. He looked to Porkchop, who was already perking his ears in the direction of the room. A moment later his brother nodded. ¡°Boggarts, or maybe bugbears. Not making much noise though¡ªthey could be asleep. Or just sitting quietly, hard to tell.¡± He nodded. At least he could be grateful that they weren¡¯t active. Still, he would need to check it out to be sure¡ªhe was the only one who had a Skill that would aid in going undetected. He waved them back, retreating to the last empty room they had passed. Once his teammates had sequestered themselves safely in the darkness of the stone enclosure, he pushed on¡ªfalling into a low and easy crouch with his blade held at the ready. His spells were ready and waiting¡ªwhile he didn¡¯t want to spend any so early, he was prepared to use them if he had to. He might, if the room was full of alert bugbears. Creeping step by creeping step, he drew close to the revealing light of the crude doorway. His breaths were shallow, cutoff quickly to minimise any noise he might make. The strides seemed to dissolve with the agonising pace of the final winter''s snow¡ªhis senses receiving the full attention of himself and his Glass Mind. He stopped at the precipice, heart pounding so loud that he swore it could rouse the sleeping dead. Staying hidden, he stayed in the pooling shadows¡ªdemarcated by a razor-like line of light that swept across the floor. Ready to burst in at the slightest hint of being discovered, he surveyed the room. The tension released, his shoulders slumping as he saw what it contained. Boggarts, and sleeping. Unlike the rooms before, this one had been made into some...meagre semblance of a comfortable living space. Ratty hides¡ªmost too fallen to wear and tear to be used for anything useful¡ªhad been laid across the floor, surrounding a circle of clean stone that held a low smoking fire. Half a dozen of the monsters were laying around it, hides strewn over them for additional warmth. Their chests rose and fell with comfortable regularity, the slow breathing of nighttime stupor. To his surprise, the hides and fire weren¡¯t the only signs of habitation. Some were disturbingly familiar¡ªalmost like what one would expect from a primitive enlightened, a member of the higher races. Art. Crude figures sketched in ochre and charcoal were scrawled on the walls in great numbers. It would have been fascinating, if the depictions weren¡¯t as perverse as the boggarts were. Boggarts, tearing prey limb from limb. A crude showing of violence and dominance, Kaius saw half a dozen recognisable shapes. A wolf, its throat being torn out. A deer, disembowelled. Another boggart, beheaded. A man, legs and arms broken. The sight of the last drawing chilled him to the bone, driving all shreds of empathy he might have felt clear from his mind. The plague, they¡¯d already killed. Kaius stepped into the room, silent as a ghost. Hand tightening into a fist, he approached the closest boggart, staring down at it silently. The monster slept soundly, blissfully ignorant of his presence as soft murmurs escaped it with every breath. It looked...safe, and at peace. Killing it in such a state felt unsporting. Dishonourable. Was he the kind of man who could sneak in the dead of night and kill someone in their most vulnerable? The kind who could violate the most basal decrees of the sanctity of hearth and home? Would he still have honour if he did what he must do? This was no mad beast, but a thinking being, even if it was a cruel one. The boggart at his feet breathed, and thought, and wanted¡ªjudging by the way the small group were nestled together, it even loved. Was it right to take that from them, without even giving them the basic respect to look at death and know its face? Kaius desperately searched within himself for guilt, for contrition. For a simple sign of a common basal law of honour that he would abide by. Even a simple discomfort. He found himself left wanting. There was only a willingness to do what must be done, and a dozen memories reinforcing that it was the right and proper course to chart. If he did not, they would kill. If he did not, it could get them killed. His Glass Mind was even more callous. It brought forth a memory¡ªone that crept through his heart like cold ice. Hurrin¡¯s words. That his father had died because he brought his sword to Deadacre. That he had died because of sentimentality, and careless overconfidence. He would not let anyone else die for something as wantonly luxurious as honour. He would savour it where he could, but today was not that day. The ice broke, leaving only the cold of hatred. Kaius¡¯s eyes went flat, his face still and impassive. A little shove was all it took. Just a bit of controlled bodyweight, really. The point of his blade punched through the boggarts eye with a soft splash of clear goo and red blood. He levered his blade in a circle, macerating the soft meat within. The boggart stiffened for a moment, a quiet gasp leaving its throat as it breathed its last. **Ding! level 57 Boggart - Primitive Fighter slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** Dripping with the evidence of his deed, A Father¡¯s Gift came free just as easily¡ªsilent and smooth. He didn¡¯t even have to move to reach the next, not with how closely they had nestled themselves together. It died just as easily, and just as quietly. **Ding! level 53 Boggart - Slinger slain - Experience Gained!** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 50!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** Step by step, he circled the room, leaving only slowly cooling corpses in his wake. Pulling his blade free of the last boggart, Kaius looked at the blood of the defenceless he had spilled, and felt...nothing. Not even contempt. Just the knowledge that he had done his duty, and secured the lives of those the monsters would have slain in the future. It wasn¡¯t something to be proud of, but it had to be done all the same. He swept the room, throwing hides over the bodies of his victims. Without close inspection, they would simply look like they were sleeping. Even better, he¡¯d found a crude bucket of stale water in one of the rooms'' back corners. He doused the low burning flames, leaving the room blanketed in darkness, before he left. Returning to his team. ¡°You okay? I got a level up while you were in there.¡± Porkchop asked as soon as he entered the room they were hidden inside. It was a private message, one pushed along their bond so that it was for his ears alone. He knew what his brother really meant. With the closeness of the connection between their souls, Porkchop would have been able to feel his strange crisis¡ªand his cold anger afterwards. ¡°I¡¯m fine¡ªjust a few sleeping boggarts. They¡¯ve been taken care of.¡± he replied, taking the lead as they filed back into the hall. The night was short, and they had much to do. He doubted it would be the last time a boggart would die in its sleep. .... Drorome leant against the cave wall with her arms crossed, melting into the shadows as she watched the sight in front of her. Close enough that she could reach out and touch him, Kaius left the boggart¡¯s sleeping chambers¡ªhis eyes flat and hard. Perhaps they weren¡¯t entirely hopeless¡ªa whittling down of their numbers was a smart play, even if it would have been better prepared with sabotage and a more concrete plan of attack. They might even manage to get to the main chamber of the warren without being discovered¡ªif they were lucky, that is. Still, she wondered what they would do once they saw what waited for them. How would they react, when they realised they had no chance? Chapter 162 - B2 160: Deadacre pt. 5 Sitting at the table with the truthstone in a room enchanted with silence, Ro¡ªthe Guild receptionist¡ªsmiled at him and waved at the other chair. "Chop chop, we don''t have all day." she teased. Kaius sighed and walked over to the offered chair, Porkchop following to lay at his feet. Though, with his new size, Porkchop could still easily peer over the table''s edge. Which he did, playing the part of a placid warbeast. "So, it''s really just an interview? Will there be any intrusive questions." Kaius asked, curious about the process. He''d always heard tales of brutal sparring matches with Guild officials to earn the right to join, and increase in rank. "Ehhhh," Ro answered, tilting her hand back and forth in the air. "Kinda. Most people do have to take a test, but most don''t walk in here missing two fingers, with a dozen little scars on their face from preintegration. Most definitely don''t have a warbeast that looks right out of a Duke''s menagerie, nor do they take a dozen analyze skills straight to their Mask and then keep on their feet, and they absolutely do not walk in here draped in the exact sort of hodge-podge collection of artefacts that a proper Delver would have." she explained, shooting him a look like he had been a little bit of an idiot. "Ah." Kaius said. He''d definitely already given the game away, at least a little. "Yes. Ah. Hence why I rushed your ass into this silence room, so that we can have a little chat and get you some protection." Ro replied. "Not that you''ll find all that much trouble in Deadacre, but still, rumours do what rumours do. Spread." Kaius frowned, he hadn''t even really stopped to consider that, but he did have to say it made a certain kind of sense. Maybe if he''d been level forty or fifty, but a level twenty? That made him stand out. Almost certainly not enough for anyone to reasonably suspect any of his more dangerous secrets, but enough that he would be a person of at least passing interest. Ro leaned forwards, setting her elbows on the table. "So, before we jump to the whole interview thing, I thought I would ask you a few questions. Nothing personal, nothing dangerous, just a few generalities. What do you think?" Porkchop grumbled, shoving his huge head on his lap and forcing his nose under Kauis''s hand, perfectly hiding him as a talented, but nervous youngster whose bond jumped to provide reassurance. "Damn, you''re good." Kaius said, scratching his brother behind the ears. "Best at lying to the Matriarchs in the whole Den, and don''t you forget it." Porkchop replief, leaning into his touch. Kaius let a touch of a quiver slip into his breath. "I reserve the right to refuse to answer." Ro smiled. "Of course, of course. Now, what are you doing here? Why the Guild, and why Deadacre?" "I really am from the north, lived near the Sea my whole life. Deadacre was the closest settlement I knew of with a guildhouse. As for why? Backing, and a place to grow in strength until I''m less of a minnow in a wide, wide ocean." Kaius explained, pausing every few moments to choose his words. Ro nodded, tapping the table. "Vague, but you can''t expect much else in a world with secrets like ours." she smacked the table with her fist, the bang loud enough that Kaius nearly jumped out of his seat. "Well, that''s good enough for me." "I...what?" Kaius asked. He''d been expecting some kind of interrogation, some kind of pressure to obtain leverage. Not a single question, with a weak answer. Ro gave him a flat look. "Boy, I''m the manager of a branch of the Delver''s guild. Sure, Deadacre is a remote hole in the dirt, but there are standards. People get shipped in, out, move all around doing my kind of work." Ro was the manager of this branch? That was surprising to Kaius, only the branch master and vice master would have seniority over her. He was about to ask why she was spending her valuable time on him, when she cut him off with a wave of her hand. "Shush. Like I was saying, I''ve been around the block. You reek of a dispossessed scion. Too strong, too sure, too trained, and too fucking green." Ro continued. Kaius froze, his heart skipping a beat as soon as she said the word ''scion''. Porkchop lifted his head and fixed her with a flat stare, his hackles raising. The manager of the guild was entirely unflustered by the display, fixing his brother with a cold stare that screamed of barely restrained violence. In a blurring display of speed and control, she swept her bastard-sword faster than the speed of thought from where it rested against the table, levelling it directly in line with Porkchop''s eye. Idly, as the electrical storm of processing the sudden change worked its way to his brain, Kaius noted that it was still sheathed. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. "And don''t even get me started about you, Porkchop. A fucking greater beast? In my guild house? and you didn''t expect me to notice? We''re barely a month''s walk from the Sea!" Ro said, her voice frustrated to the point of verging on anger. She flicked her eyes back to him, hammering him to his chair with a will of steel. "Too. Fucking. Green. So yes, I wanted to know why the fuck you are here, and yes, the fact you need backing tells me everything I need to know. You''re stuck in the Sea without a tent, and need help. Probably also want to stab some bastard of a usurper or three, have a handful legacy skills you are holding onto for dear life¡ªmaybe more if you managed to befriend a fucking greater meles¡ªand probably genuinely do need as much backing as you can get. That sounds about right?" she stared at him challengingly. Kaius sat rooted to the spot, his mouth flapping ineffectively for a moment, before he slumped in defeat. He was about to answer before his brother beat him to the punch. "Yeah, that''s about right. Is any of it going to be a problem?" Porkchop asked, giving up all pretenses. Letting out an explosive breath of air, Ro rocked back in her seat, her blade seeming to instantly shift back to leaning against the table as she put her arms behind her head. "Thank the fucking gods you play the part of a gormless twit well enough, but it pissed me off to see you do it. No, none of it will be a problem. Scions are a copper a score in the guild, everyone''s running from something, and this is something of a safe haven for those who want out of the madness... Never managed to meet one quite as eye-catching or as fresh as you though." Kaius groaned, leaning forwards as he put his arms on the table to take his weight. "Does anyone else know? That Porkchop is a greater beast? We knew it would get out eventually, but we wanted to build up some strength and renown first." Grinning at them both, Ro kicked her feet up, each heel clacking loudly as it smacked the wooden table top. "No, despite everything you both have good Masks, and most wouldn''t recognise a greater beast from a type so secretive, even if a few rumours do stretch all the way here. You should, however, recognise that most people like me are paid to know those sorts of things." "Now," Ro continued. "I will say this once, and say this simply. I don''t give a shit about any of that unless you make it my problem. So don''t and we will have no issue. The real and frank matter is that everyone who makes it out of Iron rank to transition to Steel has secrets, and Steel ranks are the true run of the mill workforce of the Guild. Everything lower than that is just...prospecting. You, unless you are some gibbering idiot, are probably going to make it there, if my instincts don''t fail me." Kicking her feet off the desk, Ro rocked forwards on her seat to aggressively slam her elbows down on the table. "That means that I have another tool I can use to stop this utter shit show of a phase shift from tearing this city to shreds. So no, you don''t have to take a combat test, and I''ll even throw in a few artefacts on lien that you can pay off with a couple missions, to boost your Mask. When you''re ready to go a little more ''public'' about being a special little boy, I''ll help it go well. That''s the only special treatment you get though. In return, you do your fucking hardest to be a model member, deal?" Kaius breathed, digesting her words. He could...accept that. Hells, this was probably the best case scenario. This is what he wanted, after all. Backing, and most backing came with a hell of a lot more strings attached then ''run around killing monsters and getting paid for it.'' "Deal," he said with a nod. "Thank fuck, you''re not a total moron. Put your hand on the stone and channel some mana into it." Ro replied, gesturing to the truth-stone set into the table. Kaius did so, the glassy gem feeling icy to the touch. His mana connected to the working, and it locked a thin stream of the energy in place. A strange sensation of fingers ghosting over his soulspace tickled through his centre, though he did not know how it worked. Ro looked at him. "Great. Do you accept the Guild taking a five percent fee of contract rewards, taking a minimum of one contract every year, swearing off acts of banditry, crimes against rational peoples, and cold blooded murder?" "Yes." Kaius answered; the clear gem beneath his hand glowed blue in response. Ro smiled at that, a small thing. "Fantastic. Do you agree to never defraud the guild on contracts or other matters, to never pretend to represent your opinions as representative of the guilds own, and to never impersonate the station or likeliness of a Guild official?" "Yes." once more the stone glowed with a clean blue light. "Do you plan to join the guild to sow chaos in its ranks, leveraging your membership to create discord, or otherwise destabilise the guild as a whole?" "No." "Do you intend to cause other guild members undue harm without cause, if doing so may materially benefit you or otherwise?" "No." "What''s the lowest layer of the Depths you have delved?" "The second." "Good fucking job, you fucking madman. That means I can bump you to Copper, no lousy Wood rank for you." Ro replied, fixing him with a grin. "Now, last one. Do you have a bond skill, and can you ensure your companion will not attack other enlightened peoples without provocation?" "Yes." More blue light. "A clean sweep, nice job. Catch." Ro flicked something through the air towards him, the object blurring in metallic orange. Kaius lurched, lifting his hand up just in time for something cold and hard to slap into his palm with a stinging thwack. He turned it around, finding a copper medallion much like the bronze one he had seen the hairy chested man outside use. On one side, the embossed logo of a dead tree, the sigil of Deadacre. On the other, the symbol of the guild, a crossed sword and staff. Staring at the emblem in astonishment, Kaius looked up from it to meet Ro''s eyes. "Just like that?" "Just like that." she grinned back. Chapter 163 - B2 161: Deadacre pt. 6 Still sitting in the silence room where he had undergone his interview, Kaius stared at the copper emblem in his hand, before looking back to Ro with a slight frown on his face. "How does it work? I know the emblems are supposed to be representative of our identity and allow us free passage into all kingdoms who hold the Guild, but how?" he asked. The freedoms permitted by Guild membership were legendary, and he knew many were tied to the little hunk of copper he now held in his hands, but little else. Ro smiled at him. "It''s enchanted. It''s basic, just a stripped down binding ritual and Self Repair, though at higher ranks we start to reinforce them to stand up to the...vigour that most high tiered experience. Channel some mana into it, then use an analysis skill if you have one." Kaius nodded, looking down to the large copper medallion. He closed his fist around it, enjoying the cold of the metal. This was just the start, from here he would push until he was a force that could no longer be denied. As much as it burned him, investigating the Onyx Temple would have to wait. They were legendary in their reach and capability, and sticking his nose into their business before he hit the second tier was just asking to end up locked away in some forgotten cell to be tortured for his secrets. He''d gained backing, and a path to power today. That support might be tenuous as it stood, but as he gained strength and respect, that would change. It was possible, as risky as it was, that having some of his more obvious secrets ferreted out by Ro would be to his benefit. It made him one to keep an eye on, a potential future asset. He could leverage that. "Well? What are you waiting for? Chop chop!" Ro said with a clap of her hands, startling him out of the moment. He shook his head, he was getting sentimental. Giving Ro an abashed half smile, Kaius pulled on his mana, threading it into the minor artefact he held in his grip. Pushing it outside of his body was...easier than it had been in the past, if he was honest with himself, but it was still leagues behind the deft control and flowing speed he had when he manipulated the energy within the confines of his body. A moment later he felt a slight pop as his mana breached the emblem, then a slight tug on his soul. The emblem hung off his centre like a lead fishing weight, if only for a moment before the connection broke once more. A minor binding formation indeed, the process had little in common with the adamant chains that bound him to Porkchop and A Father''s Gift. Uncurling his fingers to reveal gleaming brushed metal, Kaius used True Sight on the artefact. Copper Guild Emblem: Common - Tier I Copper, for those who are just showing their worth. Made from pure copper wrapped around a core of inscribed steel, this artefact freely confirms the identity of the one who wields as long as they touch the emblem with their skin while it is analyzed. Owner - Confirmed: Kaius - Copper Delver''s guild member Registered Bonds: Porkchop - Warbeast Registered Accolades: N/A Artisan-wrought Artefact. Auxiliary (Emblem) Self Repair I, Guild Bond Kaius dismissed the notification. "So I just have to hold it while someone uses an analysis skill and it will work?" Nodding her head, Ro''s hair swished past her shoulders, forcing her to brush it back. "Exactly, it will say ''Owner Unconfirmed'' otherwise. It''s basic, but it works. For now, as a Copper it will give you proof of identity for you and Porkchop, but once you reach Bronze, you will be able to open an account with us, to keep your funds safe and access them from any city with a Guildhouse." Kaius nodded in appreciation. The Guild had fallen into the banking industry early. After all, Delver''s tended to travel far, travel often, and accumulate significant wealth. He could understand leaving access until the Bronze tier, as it had to be an expensive system to run, however they did it. Ro sighed, stretching her arms over head before she stood up from her seat. She met his eyes once more once she was standing. "Listen, as a Copper you''ll be able to take on jobs rated up to level sixty. Your type tends to grow strong, quick, so I''m sure you''ll chafe under that soon enough. Your quickest route to bronze will be ten jobs rated from fifty to your cap. However, even with a warbeast, you''ll only be able to take jobs rated for a team of two, which will substantially hamper your prospects with how overrun the entire region is. My advice is you find someone you can trust and work with long term, the three to five bracket is much more flexible." she said, calmly explaining his position. Kaius frowned. Another team member? And only level sixty? They''d just handedly taken down an Irontusk barely a week ago, and with their size and natural strength they were a threat rated far higher than their nominative level. Ro smirked, pink lips parting to reveal the tips of her canines. "Yeah, it''s bullshit, but that''s why I told you I wouldn''t be bending any more rules. Listen, most of the jobs we are taking now are escalating in threat by the time we can reach them. A few mid-thirty jobs, maybe a week or two''s travel from Deadacre? Why, I''d be down right surprised if they didn''t hit a threat level in the forties by the time you reached them." Kaius''s mind raced. That could work. Sure, Ro was still drastically underestimating him, and it would mean more time in the wilds, but honestly he preferred that to the constant hustle and bustle of the city. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. "Thank you, I''ll keep that in mind." he replied, giving Ro a thankful nod. The manager of the Guild fixed him with a stare. "I''m only telling you that because I assume you have a good handle on your own capabilities. Don''t go and chase something before you''re ready. I need Iron and Steel, not dead greenhorns and another fucking write up, you hear?" Ro demanded, steely eyes drilling into his own as the hand that wasn''t holding her sword rested on her hip. "Yes, ma''am." "That''s what I like to hear." Ro said, giving him a firm nod. "Now, I really suggest you find someone to work with. I wasn''t joking when I said we don''t have much work that will suit you for a team of two. Also, I suggest heading back to the gate now, they sent a runner to let me know that you were coming." Kaius nodded once more. Ro smiled, and with a few parting words on where he could find an inn by the name of the Dusty Stables¡ªallegedly something of a favourite amongst delvers with unusual bonded companions¡ªthe manager of the delver''s guild swept out of the room to see to her duties. The door clicked shut, leaving them alone, and Kaius simply sat and digested the last few moments. "Well. That was eventful. Promising first experience with the Guild, though, she''s no nonsense, but also helpful. Kinda like a Matriarch." Porkchop said. Kaius shook his head and chuckled at his brother''s words. "If that living whirlwind reminded you of the Matriarchs, I can see why you left. But you''re right, that went about as well as we could have hoped, given the circumstances." His brother let out a throaty chuckle, though he didn''t deny the words. "What now?" Porkchop asked. Kaius sighed and pushed himself out of the seat. "Now we go and get your registration confirmed with the guards by the gate. No need to make any more trouble. After that, probably find our inn. It''s late enough that the artisans will be setting up shop by the time we get back, and I''d like to do a little inventory of what we want to flog off, and what we want to buy." Grunting at his answer, Porkchop rose to his feet, towering over him. "And what of a third party member? No one will be able to keep up with us, so we''ll have to settle for someone who won''t get in our way. Also, I''m not sure if you''ve noticed, but basically anyone we bring with us will immediately notice our strength, and your magic." Kaius groaned. He didn''t need reminding. That sort of trust was in short supply. "Tomorrow, we''ll check the board and see if the situation is as dire as it looked to be. If it is...we might need to hunt down Ianmus, hope that he''s been unable to secure passage." "It seems he inherited the elves'' uncanny ability to miraculously get involved in every event that involves the meles. Astounding." Porkchop grumbled, before letting out a heavy sigh. "He''s not so bad. His ears just irritate me." Kaius laughed. "Better that than not being able to take the good contracts. Now come on, let''s visit our old friend the lieutenant." They set off, making their way out of the room. As they crossed the Guild common room, Kaius caught the sight of Vangus giving him a half wave. He looked over, to find the sneak tapping a bronze emblem while raising his eyebrows questioningly. Grinning in response, Kaius flashed his copper, and got a wide smile in return. Waving the man goodbye they left the hall, entering the streets of Deadacre. .... The sun was slowly setting on the streets of the city as he and Porkchop made their way through the winding stone arteries that crisscrossed the settlement. It was a warm afternoon, amber and pink light splashing across the sky like spilled paint, and lighting up cobbled roads in a warmth that brought with it a comforting drowsiness. Kaius hummed softly as he walked next to his brother, directing them towards the delver''s quarter. While Explorer''s Toolkit was far less assistance in the city, he''d always had a good sense of direction, and remembering which turns to take was far easier than navigating through endless forest or the winding caves of the depths. In the end, checking in with the guards by the gate had been a simple matter. They''d been waved down as soon as they arrived, one of the rank and file jogging up to them. The guardsman had been young, but confident. Once he''d analyzed their emblem and confirmed Porkchop''s registration, he''d waved them off at once, returning to helping with the milling crowds of refugees that were taking shelter in the temporary tents by the gate. The slow thrum of the crowds thinned around them as people hastened home or to the various public houses that lined its many streets. It was interesting, watching the city wind down. A different life, one that he could never quite wrap his head around. Sure, it was nice enough to spend a few weeks, or even a month or two, in the city. Afterall, it was a riot of places to explore and things to see. Yet, he couldn''t see himself ever living here. Surely the narrow streets, the tight packed confines, and the crowds had to eventually drive people mad? On the other hand, all that concentrated life gave the air a certain...energy. Though, right now it was far different that he remembered from a few years back. Then, it had been almost exuberant. Joyful. Now it was tense, and stressed. Like an overdrawn bow, ready to snap. He shook his head. The sooner they could pick up a job and get out of here, the better. Another few turns took them into the Delver''s district, with its wider streets, nice buildings, and dozens of different shops catered to the needs of the city''s fighters. Those were all shuttered now, though Kaius did make note of one inscriptionist with a sign of an embellished glyph engraved on a wooden shield. They had a few suits of armour in their windows. Covered in clean runework, he could make out Ykkardian sigils blended with something unfamiliar through the use of Yosh. Someone skilled and, judging by one leather set, the experience to work on Porkchop''s new barding. They''d have to check it out tomorrow. Though, perhaps when they went to check out the mission board, they''d be able to get some recommendations. Turning another corner, he spied the Guildhouse still filled with raucous activity. He''d heard they never closed, but it was good to confirm it for himself. "You two-legs really do like beer, don''t you?" Porkchop asked, eying the loud talking figures that downed tankards like it was water in a desert. "Can''t deny that," Kaius laughed, before he pointed down another side road. "Come on, the Dusty Stables is supposed to be over there." A few more turns and they found it. Kaius was certain. Twice as wide as the average building, and an extra story tall, the Dusty Stables stood out in stark relief from its surroundings. Its ground floor was quite literally stables, built into the stone foundations of the building. Most were empty, but at least a third held all manner of strange mounts. Stout legged flightless birds, similar to the beasts who had accosted Ianmus. Strange horse like creatures, and a dozen other varieties of furred beast. One even had a massive lizard. Stairs lead up the side of the building, wide enough that he and Porkchop could walk two abreast, leading directly to a landing that held a massive front door. Its windows shone with the soft orange of flickering fire, mingling with the steady glow of wardlights tuned to the same colour. It looked...inviting. Kaius felt the weary weight of travel set on his shoulders, burdening him with lethargy. "Come on, I want some food and a soft bed." he said, hurrying his way forwards with Porkchop in tow. Chapter 164 - B2 162: Deadacre pt. 7 The stairs leading to the entrance to the Dusty Stables were wide things that tracked up the side of the building, shading the various pens that were set into the building at street level. A sign hung over their rise, showing off not just the name of the establishment and its insignia¡ªa crisp painting of a weather-worn stable¡ªbut that also stated that all trained and bonded beasts were welcome inside. As long as they were polite, that is. "Well, I suppose we should make our entrance. Though, let me grab something from our bags first." he said to Porkchop, before approaching his side and pulling a coin purse from within their dimensional bag. Sliding their earnings into a spare slot in his potion pouch, Kaius ascended the stairs and entered the tavern. It smelled...clean and homely - of saddlesoap, clean fur, and well oiled wood. Scents that made him feel more relaxed, far more than any other place in the city at least. He smiled, taking in the interior as Porkchop craned over his shoulder to look in himself. The space was wide, with a long bar stretching two thirds the length of the room directly across from him. Behind it, a long cabinet of liqueurs was set off just to the side of an entrance to a bustling open kitchen, four men hustling as they cooked and prepared all manner of foods, some of which were decidedly odd. Like the one who was dicing fruit, only to toss it in a bowl of freshly cut grass. Kaius cocked his eyebrow at the sight. Perhaps even more befuddling than that was the general furnishings of the establishment. It had the usual trappings: tables, chairs, booths, and padded benches. There were also other, stranger things. Wide, boxy stools set at knee height that were almost big enough for him to lie on, as well as odd backless daybeds scattered around the place. The purpose for the strange furniture was readily explained by the absolutely massive cat that lounged on one such platform, curled up in front of the roaring fire that dominated the wall to his right. Hearing their entrance, the cat''s ears perked up. Lifting its head from its slumber, it focused on him, but only for a moment before it locked its eyes on Porkchop behind him. Pupils dilated, ears flicking up quickly before the cat gave a large stretch and slunk to its feet. He tensed, only for Porkchop to butt him in the back of the head with his nose. "He''s friendly." his brother assured. "You''re sure?" Kaius asked with a frown, watching the cat silently pad across the room towards them. "Honestly, Kaius, I know you''re a little traumatised from the last two cats, but the thing''s fucking purring. Pull yourself together." Porkchop chuckled. Looking back at his brother in surprise, Kaius whipped back to the cat and actually listened. Porkchop was right, a deep rumbling resonance was coming from its chest, deep enough that he more felt than heard it. Sighing in relief, Kaius forced his apprehension down. Porkchop was right, he was being ridiculous, and it was likely he could handle the cat if anything happened anyway. Afterall, he doubted an innkeeper did much delving, and even if non-combat classers could level from working in line with their class, it was mighty slow unless you were some world-leading expert. Without the slightest care in the world the cat, tall enough to meet his waist, slid right around him to wind its way around Porkchop''s legs. His brother bent his head down to give the cat a curious sniff, who promptly smushed his face with its own. Much to Porkchop''s surprise, judging by the way his ears suddenly flicked. Kaius chuckled, before a booming laugh drew his attention back to the bar. One of the men who had been in the kitchen, rather tall with dark features, had drifted behind the counter. He was watching Porkchop''s interaction with the cat with an easy smile, resting his weight on the bar. "Not often Yong takes such an interest in someone, especially not one so much bigger than him." the man said with a deep and gravelly voice that filled the room. At his words, Yong''s ears perked up, and the cat trotted across the room to join him by the bar. "Ay, I don''t have any treats for ya, you big fatty." the innkeeper said affectionately, rubbing Yong''s head as the cat yowled pleadingly. The man''s will didn''t last long, as he flicked a scrap of...something out over the counter. Yong chased after it in a mad scramble. "Ahhh, can never stay stern with him for long. Name''s Hensch, by the way, owner and proprietor of the Dusty Stables." Hensch gave a small bow. Kaius smiled at the sight, while at first he had been worried about how accommodating an inn could truly be for a creature of Porkchop''s size, those worries had fled as he watched the man''s interactions with Yong. "Kaius, and the big lug behind me is Porkchop. Ro pointed me here, said you''re probably my best bet for lodgings." he said, introducing himself. Hensch chuckled, lightly slapping the countertop. "Met Ro, did ya? She''s a feisty one, but she''s not wrong. Not many places in this city that would be happy to deal with a warbeast of that big boy''s size, bonded or not." "How''d you know he was bonded?" Kaius asked, tilting his head slightly. "Well, for one, you''re a mite evocative with your body language." Hench pinched his fingers, exaggerating the motion with a squint of his eyes. "Bit of a give away with bond skills, the link goes both ways after all. For two, I haven''t heard a peep from any of the other customers about an ornery warbeast around town. No way in hells some bear-thing straight from the hells would be so calm if it couldn''t tap directly into your mindstate to know everything was at ease. That, and Porkchop there''s got none of the rigid restraint you see from trained beasts, and ye didn''t leave him in the stables." Hensch explained, ticking the points of his fingers one by one. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Kaius chuckled, reaching up to scratch Porkchop behind the ears. "Well, you''ve got me there, we''re here to get settled. For a week at least, I''m going to be going on a lot of out of town journeys for the Guild." "Figured, what with Ro''s recommendation and all." Hensch nodded. "You want him to stay in your room? It''s no trouble, but I''ll have to give ya one of the bigger ones which are a little pricier. Depths-silver a night. Comes with feed for ya bonded, in whatever way he needs. If ya end up rushing off, I''ll just credit ye the remaining nights." Kaius blinked at the price. One silver would have been enough to house him for a month in Three Fields, though he supposed for an inn that catered to delvers with beast companions, it made sense. After all, silver was cheap when a single delve could pull enough artefacts to drown you in the stuff. "Put us down for a week for now, though no doubt we''ll be here regularly for the next while." Kaius said, crossing the room as he pulled the required coinage from his purse. It was a moderate dent in their loose silver, but he suspected between selling off some artefacts and taking jobs for the guild, it would be a negligible expense. "Thank ye kindly." Hensch said with a nod. "You''ll meet the other patrons tomorrow, I imagine, most have already retired, and a few are still out on business. Now, what''s your boy eat?" Kaius coughed. "Erm. Human food, mostly, as long as it''s rich in meat and vegetables. Spices are fine, as long as they are not too pungent." he finished. After so long cooking with the dwarven spices they''d found that anything too hot or intense had a tendency to leave Porkchop a sneezing, drooling mess. Hensch laughed, slapping his thigh with mirth. "Shoulda known you''d coddle the beastie, what with a name like Porkchop," he said with a smile. "That''s fine lad, I can work with that. Give me a chance to wash me hands and I''ll show you to your room." Hurrying into the kitchen to direct his workers for a moment, Hensch washed up and quickly returned, swiping a key from under the counter. He led them up the wide stairs, which didn''t even creak under Porkchop''s weight. Kaius was impressed, especially when he noticed discrete lines of what must have been a reinforcing formation scribed into the wood under the lip of each step. Walking up two flights, Hensch led them to the end of a wide wooden corridor, decorated in intricate panelling that was beautifully carved with scenes of nature. Kaius didn''t miss that a solid two-thirds of the scenes involved cats, the man''s loyalties well displayed. It seemed that even if he charged an extravagant price, those earnings had been well reinvested into the Dusty Stables. Stopping at a door at the end of the hall, the innkeep unlocked it, before passing him back the key. The door was a broad thing, easily half his height again and twice the width of a normal door. More than large enough for Porkchop to enter. "Well, here ya go. I''ll knock later and leave some food outside your door. I know how you delver types like your privacy after a long time on the road." Hensch said with a wink, before he sauntered off down the hall, humming a little tune to himself. Entering the room was a wondrous thing. Well equipped with a wide and low bed, a desk and chair, wardrobe, and a fireplace with rug, it was more than large enough for him and Porkchop to just exist without feeling cramped. Somehow, the fire was already lit, though Kaius quickly spotted an explanation as he saw a control glyph on the mantelpiece. An inscribed fire, extravagant, but not unappreciated. Porkchop dived for the rug, settling onto its plush surface with a groan as he rolled onto his back to soak up the heat. It seemed the whole building had been built to the same specs as the stairs, because Kaius caught nary a creak from the floorboards as his brother did so. "Well, we''ve got a place to stay. Shall we decide on what to sell and our plans for tomorrow before we go to bed?" Kaius said, sliding onto the carpet next to Porkchop. Porkchop groaned, but rolled onto his front. "What are you thinking of getting rid of, anyways? Old barding, and blink-knives, but is there anything else?" "Those, plus maybe my helmet if we don''t get enough for what we need. It''s a bit mediocre, and pretty heavy, so we might find something a bit better. Armour is a keep for now, though I imagine my vambraces will quickly become less useful as we level up. Even against the irontusk I noticed it wasn''t as useful as it was against the others, I barely made it through even with my full weight behind the swing." Kaius said, leaning back on his hands as he stared into the fire. It was odd, seeing the flickering tongues emanating directly from inscribed stone. "That makes sense. What of purchases? Will we have enough to replace them with something better?" Slumping his head back, Kaius hummed as he thought about it. There were a few things they could use, some far cheaper than others. At the very least they had to get Porkchop''s barding inscribed with self-repair. It was strong enough that going without was a total waste, especially because it would be far more costly to keep getting it repaired at leatherworkers in the long run. "Barding is the priority, otherwise I think some form of refilling water source would be up there in terms of our needs. They''re popular, and cheap for artefacts, and it would mean far more security as we roamed the wilds and the Depths both. I don''t want to burn through all of our coin, so I think it might be best to save until we can source a suitable armour set for me. The Serellian scale hasn''t been holding up all that well, for all its magic resistance is useful." Kaius said after considering the issue. "Is there anything else you''ll need?" Porkchop paused, his head cocking slightly as he thought on the question. "I don''t think so?" he said finally. "Well, in that case, the only other things we have to do tomorrow is check out the Guild''s mission board and hope that the situation isn''t as dire for missions rated for a team of two as Ro made it sound. If it is...I guess we pay a visit to the caravaneers association and see if Ianmus has departed?" Kaius said. While he was not so selfish as to hope that the half-elf''s plans had been totally derailed, it would serve as an easy solution to the problem of their team size. While he did not match up to them in strength, Ianmus was capable, and kept a cool head in combat. Plus, he was a solar mage, which was an affinity well renowned for its split between restorative effects, scorching spells, and healing abilities. A perfect backline for them. Especially as he suspected the man to have a Rare class. If the man truly was valedictorian, he had most likely gained a handful of legacy skills, and might have had one or two more besides. That, plus the effort it would have taken to achieve that standing in the first place, was likely enough to do that much at least. He could only hope that if they were in need of his assistance, Ianmus would be both available and amenable to delving work. B2 Chapter 207: Infiltration, pt. 7 B2 Chapter 207: Infiltration, pt. 7 A faint rattling gasp slipped out of the boggart¡¯s throat as his blade burst its eye and slid into its skull. Firelight played off the ashen tones of his blade, haloing the crystal set in its form. It shuddered, falling limp. **Ding! level 55 Boggart - Skulker slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** Kaius breathed easy as he pulled his blade free, and glanced towards Porkchop. His brother was making his way around the other edge of the room with a silent grace that belied his size. Stopping at the foot of a boggart, he would raise one paw¡ªreaching over to press a point of his razor sharp jade claws into their head. It was the fifth such room they¡¯d encountered¡ªand they were growing more common. Not all had been lit as this one was¡ªothers they¡¯d almost walked straight past, only noticing the sleeping monsters due to their rigour in checking every room. Porkchop had insisted on joining him. While he wasn¡¯t the most stealthy with his bulk and lack of dedicated skills, he did just fine at moving quietly¡ªwhich was the most important thing with their targets sleeping. Nominally, it had been insurance in case of one of the greasy ferals awakening. With each room holding anywhere from a handful to a dozen of them, they¡¯d have to act fast to silence the wakers before a scream of surprise could give them away. Another step and he looked down at the twisted figure, its chest rising and falling with easy regularity. Covered in hide blankets, it looked peaceful¡ªeven gentle. Much of its mishapen body and greasy hair was hidden by its covers, leaving only a strange and lumpy face. One that seemed all too human. Not enough for him to forget its poisonous nature, but enough for him to find the work draining. A thrust slid through bone, backed by just enough strength to overcome the reinforcement brought by its levels. After killing so many of the creatures, Toolkit had helped him discern a weak spot. Right between their eyes¡ªa place where bone grew thin and its skull plates fused poorly. **Ding! level 56 Boggart - Brawler slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 51!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** **Ding! Explorer¡¯s Toolkit has reached level 47!** Another dead boggart. He moved on, padding his way through the room to the next prone form. There were only a couple left. At the very least, the grizzly work had brought them a pair of levels. Not all that much, considering the gains he¡¯d seen from a single fight in the past. At least Explorer¡¯s Toolkit had been getting a bit of a novel growth from all of the sneaking about. It was unfortunately to be expected. They were close in level, not particularly challenging, and their overall experience was being somewhat reduced by working in a team. Still rather prodigious if he used the standards of normal growth. Most teams wouldn¡¯t dare to take on more than a handful of equally levelled opponents. Even the elite ones wouldn¡¯t attempt anything more that ten or maybe twenty levels higher, with extremely good matchups and preparation. For a full fledged horde like this? If any even dared to attempt it, it would be against things drastically weaker than themselves. A dedicated team might get a couple of levels a week, assuming they were fighting constantly as you would in the Depths. That slowed down further the higher you climbed. At a constant pace, an elite team might reach the second tier in a couple of years¡ªmost took far longer, since few had the drive and stamina to delve constantly. They were making good pace, and Kaius had no doubt there were more levels coming. Potentially enough to take them to the precipice of their next skill. Kaius thrust again, his blade stained red with the repeated executions. The boggart stiffened, shuddering through its death. **Ding! level 56 Boggart - Brawler slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** An arm seized, slapping to the side. Right into the chest of the next sleeping monster. It started, shaking its head as bleary eyes opened, staring up at him in sleepy confusion. He reacted instantly. A lunge took him forwards, spearing the boggart between his eyes¡ªalready widening in realisation. It died, lips just barely opening to call out to its fellows. Both he and Porkchop gave up their pretences, speed more helpful than complete silence. **Ding! level 60 Boggart - Skulker slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** Sweeping his eyes across the room, Kaius double checked his count of the remaining monsters. Four, two more for him. They were already shifting, sleep disturbed by the rousing sounds of their motion. One tugged at its blanket, pulling it over its head. He nailed the hide in place, A Father¡¯s Gift pinning the covering fast. **Ding! level 49 Boggart - Scavenger slain - Experience Gained!** Porkchop had already plunged his claws through both of his remaining targets, large enough to reach both. The final boggart sat stark upright, eyes spinning around the room before it focused on them. Its face paled, horror and fear plain in its beady eyes. Death had come, and it knew it. The boggart drew in a breath¡ªready to scream. Kaius raced into a thrust, punching his blade through the base of its throat, cutting off the coming noise at the source. It gasped, wet and foaming. A splutter of blood misted from the opening, as the boggart clutched at his blade. Its hands were cut to the bone as it ineffectively tried to remove the weapon. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. There was no joy in this. No Song in his blood. Just cold certainty, duty, and the pounding unease of potential discovery. With flat eyes, Kaius ripped his blade free. The wound he¡¯d left started to roil, the boggart¡¯s health burning to seal it closed. He didn¡¯t give it the opportunity to finish. A flick of his wrists spun his blade into a heavy overhead, his sword edge coming home to roost in the boggart¡¯s skull. **Ding! level 54 Boggart - Mauler slain - Experience Gained!** Flicking his blade clean, Kaius smothered the shimmering coals at the room''s centre with a little water and a dampened hide. Covering the bodies with their blankets, he joined his brother at the entryway. Unease gnawed away at the base of his belly as he went about his work. The groups had been growing larger. This hadn¡¯t been the first time a boggart had awakened¡ªit was only a matter of time until they were too slow to suppress a call for help. Eventually, it would turn into a pitched assault. Ianmus was waiting for them. ¡°Good job, gruesome as it may be.¡± Ianmus whispered at a barely audible volume. ¡°I got a level.¡± Kaius nodded. They¡¯d been hoping for that. There was little in the way that Ianmus could aid them in their culling of the sleeping boggarts. While they¡¯d taken the effort to confirm that Ianmus could kill the boggarts with a single Sunbeam manipulated to invisible light, they needed to keep his mana topped off for the real dangers. Instead, the mage had been keeping their Sundrenched Strength constantly active¡ªgiving him contribution in the eyes of the system, and making their jobs all the easier. ... Kaius chewed through a mouthful of jerky. Well salted and expertly smoked, it was a far cry from the crude fixings he¡¯d had to eat in his initial stint in the Depths. With the extensive nature of the cave, and the slow crawling pace they¡¯d had to take, they¡¯d already been pushing through the warren for a long while. Enough time for their hunger to make itself known. While they could have pushed through, Ianmus had raised one point. Despite their enhanced constitutions, none of them were immune to the mundane realities of life, including the gurgling of a hungry belly. The mage was proven correct less than a minute later. Kaius¡¯s had growled right as they were about to sweep a room¡ªa quiet noise, but enough for his heart to feel like the hand of death had set its grip upon him. They¡¯d pulled back into explored territories, taking a few minutes to restore their reserves¡ªand hopefully avoid blowing their cover for something as silly as a little hunger. Eating in silence gave him plenty of space to think. Killing the boggarts was not what he expected, but it wasn¡¯t their casual slaughter that occupied his mind¡ªit was their classes. They seemed strangely similar to the system of the higher races, as well as that of monsters. Other creatures¡ªbeasts especially¡ªwere often physically changed by the system''s bestowals. A wolf was always a wolf¡ªbut its physical form, bloodlines, and potential would change drastically based on its racial type. A common wolf might have a handful of available Common bloodlines¡ªmaybe an Uncommon if they were exceptional. They¡¯d also struggle to ever reach the end of the first tier¡ªlimited by the realities of their growth. On the other hand, a direwolf would be larger, stronger, and have a better selection of bloodlines¡ªif still just as limited. They¡¯d also be able to grow to a higher level¡ªthough all of those differences were still minor, a direwolf wasn''t anything too special. Of course, beasts could improve their racial type¡ªthough Kaius didn¡¯t understand the specifics very well, other than it being related to birth, dare and deed, mana levels, consumption of things rich in magical energy, or some combination of all four. He made a mental note to ask Porkchop at some point¡ªif anyone was likely to be an expert, it would have to be the Dens. If they were truly exceptional, they could even fully evolve their race. Even the greatest of wolves would hit a wall at some point, and it took a rare specimen to make the leap to something that would allow advancement¡ªa flame-aspected bloodline might have a chance at evolving to become a hellhound, or something similar. Greater beasts were different. They had no real cap on their growth, and as far as he knew they couldn¡¯t advance their race¡ªand evolving it was impossibly difficult. As Porkchop had told him so long ago, he would likely always be a greater meles. Yet there were also similarities. While their bloodlines had the same nigh infinite variation of a higher race¡¯s class, it was still intimately tied to their race. Porkchop had told him that as far as the Dens were aware, other greater beasts they knew of had notably different bents and inclinations to their bloodlines. Those bloodlines were also still tied to their form¡ªKaius only needed to look at his brother''s new jade claws, green coat, and size to see that. The boggarts¡ªlower races in general, from what he remembered of goblins, ogres, and trolls¡ªseemed similar in a way. Clearly, based on the existence of hobs and bugbears, there seemed to be some link between their racial type and their classes. Ianmus had said as much. On the other hand, there was far less racial variation than a beast, and their class seemed to have no impact on their forms. Sure, the ones that had classes that sounded front-line focused tended to be bigger and taller, but that was just as easy to say about people. They also lacked the wide variations of classes that were seen in the higher races and greater beasts. A Common man of the soil¡¯s class would tend towards having a simplistic name, but there was still a great amount of variation. They could be a Harvester, Skilled Farmer, Fruit Cultivator, Cattle Herder and hundreds more. As the class got rarer, the more specific or grandiose the name, and the less likely you were to see someone else with a duplicate without specific training towards a goal class¡ªthough that was common across everything. The boggarts? He kept seeing similar classes, over and over again. Like they were simple beasts. They¡¯d killed only one bugbear, but its class had stood alone. Kaius would bet a full gold that they¡¯d start seeing it again as they killed more of the larger brutes. It was strange¡ªwhat separated them? Was it just their monstrous ways? Their inability to use the common tongue or written language? Where did the system draw the line? Were all lower races so malevolent? He only had four examples to work off, and they were equal in their barbarous ways. Kaius swallowed his mouthful of salted meat, taking their waterskin from Ianmus¡¯s offered hand after he raised it questioningly towards him. For all he knew, it was a punishment directly from the system. A lowering of the cruelest and harshest of thinking beings¡ªa way to give the races capable of more than slaughter and war a fighting chance. He sincerely hoped that it was not the case. It all being down to a little bad luck with particularly grotesque specimens would be nicer¡ªa world with a whole category for the evil and stupid was a little grim. Kaius sighed quietly, drinking deep from their supplies of water. It was likely that others would know more¡ªhe wasn¡¯t exactly the most academic person, what with his background and all. Even if he did have a broad knowledge thanks to his father¡¯s teachings, he often found himself lacking details and specifics. In the end, all that mattered was that he could expect two things. Predictable capabilities, and the bugbears to be stronger than their lesser relatives. He shook his head, rising to his feet before he offered Ianmus a hand up. They¡¯d taken enough time to rest¡ªtheir culling waited. Chapter 165 - B2 163: Deadacre pt. 8 Kaius let out a sigh of satisfaction, patting his stomach as he walked down the street with Porkchop at his side. He''d decided that Hensch must be a mage, because it was only by actual magic that the food could be that good. Literally, in the case of how invigorating the morning meal had been. It had been a grand affair, of eggs, toast, seared ham, and a dozen charred vegetables he had no name for. Delicious, all in all, and would have been well worth the cost of admission even without the sudden energy that had welled within him afterwards. He''d asked the man about it, but all he had gotten in return was a sly grin as Hensch had tapped the side of his nose. Trade secrets or some such. High level skills, no doubt. Especially considering it had been made with only mundane ingredients. He hoped that one day Explorer''s Toolkit would let him do something similar, but he doubted he would ever be able to do anything as impactful until he was far higher level than the man. Renting a room at the Dusty Stables had been a good decision. Hells, Hensch had even sent someone to fetch him a pair of gloves when he''d asked, not so much as blinking at the odd request. Afterall, without his vambraces his glyphs would be on full display, something that best remained hidden for now. They were heading to the Guild. Their first stop of the day. Originally, they were going to head straight to the inscriptionist he had spotted the previous evening, but then Porkchop had pointed out that it was probably wise to get advice from Ro, or perhaps Vangus, on which places were best. That, and the Guild was closer. They''d end up there anyway, so it made sense to check the mission board first thing. They still got stares as they walked through the streets, though this time they were fewer in number and more curious than wary. For one, he had left behind his armour, in favour of going about his day in his trusty set of travelling clothes. The other major factor was that they were in the Delver''s quarter, and seeing an armed man going about his business with a titanic warbeast at his side was far less of an occasion for the folks who lived and worked here. Rounding a corner, the Guild came into view. It was still just as majestic as the first time he had seen it, looming high on a t-shaped intersection, declaring its dominance and institutional vigour. A glimmer of giddy butterflies fluttered their way around his stomach as he stared at the emblem of a crossed stave and sword, his hand fiddling with the copper emblem in his pocket. "What''s got you so joyous?" Porkchop asked, picking up on his mood through their bond. "Just still feels strange finally making it here. I might have gained and lost much, and my route was far different than I imagined, but I''m here all the same. A delver, after years of dreaming about it." Kaius murmured wistfully, an easy going smile tugging at his lips. Porkchop chuffed, drawing a few eyes from passers by. "I sort of understand, I''ve wondered on the nature of the lands of your people for a long time too. The more I stay here, the more strange things come to mind about the way you live. It''s confusing, but exciting and adventurous." Kaius clapped his brother on the back. "Well, here''s to fulfilling our dreams, I suppose. Let us hope the trend continues." he said through their bond as they approached the front door of the building. It swung open with ease, revealing a common room far less rambunctious than it had been the previous day. Delver''s clustered around the mission board, while a decently long line snaked away from the counter, each petitioner holding a thin slip of cream coloured card in their hands. Business was the name of the game this early in the morning, it seemed. "I''m going to go wait over by those seats, we might tug on some tails if I take up a quarter of the room by the board." Porkchop said, turning towards an out of the way booth that was set up on the edge of the common area. Kaius slapped his brother on the shoulder. "Good plan." Walking towards the board, he made his way through the crowds, patiently waiting for the others who had arrived first to take their picks. Once a space was free he leapt into it, surveying the offerings available. Hundreds of strips of paper were pinned to the thing, covering it completely across its thirty stride length. The mission board had been separated into horizontal segments, each rimmed with a different material, creating a section of space perhaps two long-strides wide, by one and a half tall. Wood, then copper, bronze, iron, and steel. Kaius frowned as he looked at the distribution of the request. They were...telling of the state of things. The wooden section on the far left had a bare few handfuls of slips scattered across its cork surface, while the copper one he stood in front of had dozens. To his right, at the bronze, the section had so many missions available that not a scrap of its cork surface could be seen. That was the busiest section by far, a steady stream of people entering the Guild, wandering over to it to gather slips in twos and threes, before registering the mission at the front desk and leaving again. It made some sense, afterall Bronzes were the most numerous in the guild. While those who fully devoted themselves to delving quickly rose to Iron, or even Steel, he''d heard there were plenty of those who joined the guild for a touch of occasional excitement, supplementary income, or a myriad of other reasons. Those types were large in number, but usually only worked as a delver once a season or less. It seemed that the change wrought by the shift in phases had lit a fire under them, rousing people from complacency, judging by the folks he saw wandering in. Still, the sheer number of missions was worrying. Bronze was for folks who could deal with threats in the sixty to one-hundred level range, and it commonly represented the point where most people without combat classes couldn''t handle something on their own - even significantly over levelled. There was something worse though, while far fewer than even the Copper jobs, there were Iron ranked missions on the board. Those were supposed to be...rare. At least in the frontier and the Dukedoms. Niggling worry seeped through his stomach, a thrumming tension rising as he realised that as much as it might be nice, they needed to keep pushing. The rising tide of mana waited for no one, and he didn''t want to be left behind. He could only thank the gods that the Steel board sat empty. For now. Sighing at the state of things, Kaius leaned closer to the Copper requests. He leafed through the pages, reading the descriptions of missions in and around the region under the purview of this guild branch. A frown slowly grew on his face. Cavern lurkers picking off miners in a quarry, level forty threat, team of three or more. Eirholm under assault by a pack of unknown beasts, assumed level fifty threat, team of five or more. Boggart swarm harrying passage between Broadfield and Whetendale, level forty-five threat, team of five or more. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. With increasing frustration, he flipped through the missions, only finding something that he and Porkchop would be able to take every ten or so. Each and everyone was categorically unsuitable. Help needed wrangling escaped beast cattle, level twenty-five threat, team of two plus. Hunting hound turned on owners, level twenty threat, team of two plus. Lake geese preventing access of fishermen, level twenty... Kaius looked on in disgust. It seemed they would have to hope that Ianmus was still in the city after all. To make matters worse, he''d found more than one mission that he thought would suit him and Porkchop perfectly well, if only they could take him. A singular giant spider at the edge of what was suitable for Copper, with suspected illusion abilities when stationary, team of fucking three plus. Grinding his teeth for a moment, Kaius forced his shoulders to relax as he took a long sigh. "Thought I''d find you here," a familiar voice said from behind him. "I can explain why there''s nothing for you, if you''d like." Kaius turned to find Ro standing behind him, a knowing smile on her face. The surrounding delvers gave her plenty of space, their deference clear. Honestly, he could probably imagine why. For most, delving was extremely dangerous without a balanced team of three to five. An institution like the Guild, especially one that was notorious for drawing in overconfident youngsters, would have to dissuade their members from elaborate suicide. "I''m guessing it''s to stop the vast majority who would be picking up jobs they really shouldn''t" he sighed. Ro grinned, and nodded. "Yep. Most missions are structured under the assumption that you will have found a team by the time you are out of early Copper. So, you have anyone in mind, or do you want me to introduce you to some folks who might fit?" "I might. The mage I arrived in town with, he was trying to catch a caravan to the Dukedoms, but with the way of things he might have been delayed." Kaius explained. Ro nodded. "Understandable. Honestly, unless he''s fucking loaded, he''s probably still holed up at the association. Everyone and their grandmother wants to be behind the walls of a Greenseed city right now. I''d hurry though, never know what might happen." Well, that was something at least. He''d known it would be busy, but he knew that of anyone Ro would be best positioned to know the truth of it. Still, while he had her here, Kaius figured he might as well ask after an appropriate inscriptionist. "I''ll get it done before lunch," he promised. "While I have you, do you know where I could offload a few spare artefacts, and get a Self Repair job done?" "Busy man." Ro said with a smile. "But yes, go to the Artifice and Arms, just a few blocks down the left, and then a block to the right. Jin''s a trustworthy sort, he''ll treat you right." Kaius nodded, committing the simple directions to memory. "Anyways, I have to get back to work. Just wanted to check in on my latest member. Don''t die, Kaius, we need all hands right now." Ro said, before she turned heel and walked through the crowd, leaving him to his business. Well, at least the trip hadn''t been a total failure, and now they could get some more preparations done. Kaius pushed his way through the gaggle that still flowed too and from the mission board, informing Porkchop of his findings on his way to the door. Next stop, enchantments. ... The door to Artifice and Arms jingled as he pushed it open. At first he thought it was a bell, though a moment later he spotted a small inscription on the door jam. Finely wrought and delicate, it was an impressive display of miniaturisation even if the formation itself was simple. Porkchop waited for him outside, calmly sitting outside one of the shop''s bay windows. Kaius nabbed the saddle bag from his brother, slinging it over his shoulder as he entered the place. If there was anywhere there was little risk of backlash due to it being discovered, it was to a fellow inscriptionist. Any artificer who got a reputation for sharing secrets of their customers'' gear would be a pariah in minutes. The shop itself was a fascinating thing, with shelves covered in an impressive array of artefacts. A counter dominated the far wall, the man behind it smiling at him. "Welcome to Artifice and Arms! Name''s Jin, what can I do for you?" the owner of the shop welcomed him. He was a short man. Slight and wiry, dressed in clean linens that draped off his thin frame. "Nice to meet you, Jin. Name''s Kaius, Ro recommended I visit you for a little work, and to potentially offload a couple of artifacts." Kaius said cordially, approaching the counter. "Well, any friend of Ro''s is a friend of mine. Let''s get the commission out of the way first, what do you need done?" Jin asked, looking at his bag in curiosity. "Mind if I use up a bit of the bench?" he asked. Jin backed up, and waved at him to go ahead. It was a testament to the man''s professionalism that he didn''t even blink as Kaius pulled out Porkchop''s under-armour from their spatial container. Instead the man leaned forwards, inspecting the barding he''d produced. "Stone charger hide? That''s good stuff. New too." Jin looked up. "Whoever made this knew their trade well. I assume you want Self Repair?" Kaius nodded, it wasn''t a hard guess. "Well, good news is there is plenty of space, bad news is it''s just about the only thing it will bear before it''s fully saturated. When do you need it?" Jin asked. "Preferably sooner than a week. I want to get back out in the field." Kaius said, giving Jin an awkward smile. He knew it was a fast turn around for this sort of work. Self Repair was a far more complicated inscription than most, regardless of its ubiquitous nature of depths-wrought artefacts. Jin tutted, drumming his fingers on his counter in a rolling beat. "I could do it, but I''ll have to add my rush charge, ten percent, which would bring the total to one-fifty depths-gold. That good by you?" the man looked at him questioningly, searching his face for any sign of shock and horror. Kaius smiled at the sight of it. Father had told him many stories of people being horrified at the true cost of inscriptions. Enchanting, the kind of formation that was bound into artefacts, required an extreme level of precision over basic formations, and often needed valuable reagents in the use of the binding. "Depends if I have equal in trade, and hopefully you can throw in a water producing artefact." Kaius said as he pulled out his brace of blink-knives and Porkchops old set of barding. Jin blinked, peering close at both items. He nodded appreciatively at the barding, but clucked his tongue in pleased surprise at the throwing knives. A moment later he looked up and gave Kaius a contemplative look. "You don''t have a Guild account yet, do you?" he said after a moment. "Is that a problem?" Kaius responded, his brow furrowing. Jin shook his head. "Not exactly. Look, I''ll take the barding for seventy. It''s niche, but with Well Fitted it''ll be an easy sell to the right folks. However, those blink knives are going to sell like hotcakes. Returning? On a full brace of knives? It ups the value considerably compared to six individual blades." Kaius blinked, he''d known returning was expensive, but he hadn''t realised having them as a single set was such a factor. Jin nodded knowingly. "Oh yes, it does. Look, with how much those knives will fetch me, I''ll be able to do the work on your barding overnight, throw in a self refilling waterskin, and fifty depths-gold in gold and silver for the knives. I recommend banking as much of the one-twenty as you can when you get an account, even if you do have a spatial artefact." Kaius nodded. It made sense, especially if he could get access to the money in any well developed city. "Deal." "Fantastic!" Jin swiped his hand over the table, revealing neat stacks of yellow and silver coinage, a large leather waterskin with runic stitching, and the existence of the man''s own spatial artifact. Each metal pillar was ten coins high, letting Kaius count the total in moments. The exact amount to the silver. Kaius nodded to the man with a smile, shoveling handfuls of coin into his saddlebag where he quickly deposited it into the Merchant''s Saddlebag. "Well, pleasure doing business with you, Jin. I''ll see you in a few days." Kaius said, offering the man his hand. Jin shook it, and wished him well, before Kaius took his leave to rejoin with Porkchop outside the shop. Now they just needed to see if they could hunt down Ianmus. Hopefully he hadn''t left yet. Chapter 166 - B2 164: Deadacre pt. 9 Leaving the artificer''s shop Kaius made his way through Deadacre with Porkchop glued close to his side. It was interesting to watch how the general populace of the wider city''s reaction to them had changed now that they were not fully suited up in their armour. He supposed even if his travelling clothes were reinforced with thick leather, they were much closer to standard hunting gear than true protective armaments. Regardless, while plenty of people still openly stared at them, it was with far more curiosity than wariness now. Internally, Kaius thought that it was Porkchop doing the heavy lifting. Without his barding on display, his coat was revealed in all its gleaming density. He caught sight of more than one child step towards his brother with wide eyes full of delight, only to be snatched back by aghast parents a moment later. More than a few women too. "What are you smiling about?" Porkchop asked, as he watched a young lady stare at his brother with open want. Kaius martialed a straight face. "I''ve just watched about fifteen people in the last few blocks who looked like they''d sell their left leg if it meant they got a chance to pet you." "What?" Porkchop asked, looking over the moving crowds with curiosity. "Why?" "Your fur." he explained, still struggling not to laugh like a mad man in the middle of the street. "Oh, that makes sense. It is very healthy." Porkchop said plainly, though Kaius could feel the wave of satisfaction emanating across their bond. It was nearly enough to make him crack. Shaking his head, he led them onwards, snaking their way towards the caravaneer''s association. They kept to the main streets, the wide arterial pathways that were flooded with carts and foot traffic, even if it was a more winding route. Undoubtedly the smaller roads would be more direct, but even if he knew the basics of the city, he was in no way as familiar with navigating its labyrinth as a local. Turning a corner, Kaius spotted someone familiar looming head and shoulders out of the crowd, platinum hair shining like a beacon in the summer sun. Kaius elbowed his brother lightly. "I think that''s Ianmus! He didn''t manage to get a caravan after all, or at least not yet." "Let''s hope he''s not just waiting for passage then." Porkchop replied. A moment later, Ianmus spotted them from down the street. He raised his hand in a friendly wave, making his way through the thrum of bodies to approach them as his pack thumped against his back. "I think we might be in luck. He looks a little too hurried for a simple hello." Kaius mused, smiling as he led the way down the street. "Kaius!" Ianmus called as soon as he was within normal speaking distance. "I was just coming to ask after you." The magi gave Porkchop a subtle nod of acknowledgement. Stepping in, he gave the man a clap on the back. "Ianmus, it''s good to see you. How goes securing your passage to the Dukedoms?" he asked. "We thought you might have left already." Porkchop added. A pained smile crossed Ianmus''s face, the mage stepping off to the side of the street to less impede the flow of traffic. "Not...great. The association was flooded, and caravans were completely booked for months. They doubled the guard positions on each one, but I didn''t have the levels to secure a working trip." he explained. Kaius schooled his expression, trying to keep the victorious joy that flooded his chest from showing on his face. "Ahhh, that''s a shame. I was worried that might happen." Kaius said with a sympathetic shake of his head. "How about I treat you to lunch? I actually have something I wanted to ask you about, and we passed an eatery earlier that looked pleasant enough." Ianmus''s face brightened, even as he had to rapidly press himself against the stone wall of the building they stood under to avoid a sudden rush of people. "That sounds great, actually. I had something I wanted to ask you as well. Where did you have in mind?" the magi asked, schooling his expression quickly into a remarkable mask of calm and friendly interest. That piqued his interest. Afterall, he''d gotten the measure of the man on their journey together, and he didn''t seem the type that would beg after coin. "A place back in the delver''s quarter." he pointed over his shoulder. "Not too far from here, shall we?" he asked, keeping his thoughts to himself. He''d find out either way soon enough. "Let''s!" Ianmus said, falling into step with him as they turned to make their way back down the street. A groan of relief slipped from Porkchop''s mouth, startling a few nearby residents, though they quickly calmed when Porkchop showed complete disinterest in them. His brother''s gaze was razor focused on their path ahead. "Thank the Matriarchs, I''m starving." .... Seated at an exterior table at the edge of the eatery''s space so that Porkchop could join them, Kaius smiled at the waiter who handed him an earthen plate with a heaping sandwich on top of it. He''d spotted someone eating one on their way from the artificer, and the heaping pile of meat, relish, and salad had been more than enough to clinch the deal for him. He''d even managed to get them to give Porkchop one of his own, though he got the feeling it was an only moderately unusual request considering where the eatery was located. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. The waiter smiled back, the faintest hint of pink spreading across her pale cheeks before she hurried back into the store. Taking a quick bite of his meal, Kaius chased it with a sip of his beer before he turned his attention back to Ianmus. "So, look, I thought I would just cut to the chase." Ianmus said cautiously, taking a break from his own sandwich. "Ever since we separated a couple of days ago, I haven''t been able to get that fight with the irontusk out of my head, and the thought just kept churning when I found out I wouldn''t be able to leave Deadacre for some time." Kaius''s stomach sank. The man was rattled, he had to be. Of course he would be, how could he have been so stupid? No sane man wanted to fight something twice his level and twenty times his size. No way the man would join him now. "It was too much?" he asked after giving himself a moment to get a handle on his disappointment. "No," Ianmus said with thrumming fire, leaning closer and putting his hands on the table. "It was...exhilarating. The rush! The growth! I studied the Song much in the colleges, but I always thought that I was one of the many who only felt it lightly. But now? I feel useless, restless at the very idea of rushing off to the Dukedoms and wasting away behind reinforced walls." he continued, his voice taking on a desperate, almost pleading, quality. Kaius sat back, shocked at the turn of events. Even Porkchop, as focused as he was on slicing his sandwich into manageable chunks with his claws, looked up. Ianmus''s eyes flicked between the two of him, his eyes widening slightly with a hint of desperation. He held his hands up placatingly. "Listen. I know I am weaker, that I won''t face the same danger as the two of you, and that you are probably reasonably worried about me slowing you down. However, I''m a great back line, probably one of the best you''ll find amongst our own level. Even amongst interspire competitions, I came first in all my year group, and with solar affinity I''m well positioned for restorative and invigorating magics, let alone that I have decent free casting capabilities." The words spilled out of Ianmus''s mouth in a torrent, a blur of justifications that continued without pause. Then Kaius raised his hands, and he trailed off with a paling of his cheeks. "I imagine your next words would be that we can already trust you?" Kaius asked, raising one brow. Ianmus gave him a short nod, a small frown gracing his face. "Yeah, we were on our way to ask you to join us." Porkchop said, beating him to the punch in saving the half-elf from his distress. Ianmus''s transformation was miraculous, his face nigh-on becoming radiant as his spine straightened. "You were? Truly?" "Yep." Kaius answered. "But, and this is relatively significant, only if it is a long term thing." It was something that he and Porkchop had decided on the night before. Traveling with the man was one thing, but actually working together? It wouldn''t take a sharp mind like Ianmus''s long to pick apart more of their secrets, including potentially dangerous ones. With a long term partnership, however, it was likely that the man would inevitably end up bound by the same chains that held him. Honours, for one. Even if he had to bludgeon the man into it, it would all but enforce Ianmus''s silence on his own strength. Without a doubt they would find more, especially if they kept punching upwards. That, and the first tier was only the start of a very long road. If Ianmus accrued his own feats, the mans lacking strength would soon become less of an issue. That said, his and Porkchop''s leads were probably far too great for that gap to ever close fully, even if it mattered less with Ianmus being part of the back line. Though, he would still keep the existence of Honours a secret until that point. That, and everything else. Ianmus watched him closely, eyes narrowed with wary curiosity. "Why? Not that I am particularly against that requirement, unless our relationship completely breaks down." "Secrets, some of which you will inevitably be burdened with yourself." he said with a shrug. Ianmus paused for a moment. "Okay." Looking up from his sandwich, Porkchop tilted his head at the magi. "That was fast, no questions at all?" Kaius nodded in agreement. "I expected...a little more suspicion than that, if i am honest." "I can use my brain, Kaius." he said, leaning forwards before his tone lowered conspiratorially. "You are too strong, you have secrets other than the ones I have pieced together, and I will eat my boot if those two things are not linked." The magi took a breath, leaning back before his voice returned to normal volume. "Look. I have thought on this thoroughly for two days. Already things are breaking down, and we are only just reaching a month since the phase change. It''s only getting worse from here. If I don''t do something now, if I keep my head firmly in the sand, then I will be left behind. I need this." he finished. Kaius nodded, he could respect that, and frankly having reached that position was only a testament to the fact that Ianmus was no fool. The simple volume of people moving through the Guild in the last few days said that it was one that many were coming to. "Great, though I have one last thing I must share before you commit yourself to this course." Kaius said. He leaned forwards, Ianmus joining him as his voice lowered. "I have a blood debt that must be paid. Not now, far too dangerous. But once I am in the second tier, I mean to begin my investigations. It will mean tangling with a group of both power and influence, and if you join, you will almost certainly end up caught up in it." Ianmus''s lips pursed as he thought on it. "I assume this is one of the secrets?" Kaius nodded. "How significant is the debt?" he asked, searching Kaius''s face. "The most severe." Kaius replied, voice flat. "I see. And would you assist me with my own endeavours, even if they became as...complex?" Ianmus asked in response. "I would." "Then I will assist, if I am able. I think you will find that widespread chaos has a tendency to reveal light on many hidden things, and leave many cracks to disappear into." the magi replied, watching him closely. Kaius breathed a sigh of relief, genuinely pleased that the half-elf had agreed to his terms. He offered the man his hand. "To a team." "To a team." Ianmus replied, shaking his hand firmly. Kaius smiled warmly at his newest ally, Porkchop echoing his sentiment with a throaty chuff. "Let us finish our meal, and then we''ll need to get you signed up at the guild. I might be able to get you in with just an interview." Receiving a nod from the mage, Kaius picked up his sandwich and dove in for another large bite. Salty meat and tart relish flooded his mouth. Delicious. Chapter 167 - B2 165: Deadacre Finale Getting Ianmus a membership to the guild had been even easier than Kaius had thought it would be. When they''d entered the guild hall, he''d spotted Ro flitting around in the workers section behind the counter, directing people to and fro. Leaning on the powers of his height, he''d managed to wave her down and introduce her to his prospective team member. Thankfully, they didn''t have to deal with Ianmus getting hazed. It seemed being chaperoned by a known member was enough to stave off that uncomfortable fate. At first, upon hearing that he wanted to get Ianmus in with just an interview, she''d looked ready to seize him by the neck and throttle him, even if it meant jumping for it. That is, until Ianmus mentioned he was this year''s valedictorian of Sunspire. As soon as she''d heard that she''d grabbed the half-elf by the wrist and yanked him to the silence room without another word. Kaius had expected more interest from the other delvers in the hall, but one and all they averted their eyes. Their reasons became a lot more clear when Porkchop let slip that he''d overheard Ro had something of a reputation for short temper when they ''meddled in business that wasn''t their own'', and apparently they weren''t the first newcomers on the up-and-up that the manager had greased a few wheels for. It was possible that some of the established delvers were..put off by the special treatment, but Kaius assumed that most would be waiting for the results he put forth. After all, power justified much, and a meagre bending of the rules was more than understandable to secure talent. Especially when the flood of extermination requests was considered. While Ianmus was gone Kaius visited the mission board, smiling excitedly as the request he had spotted in the morning was still there. Snatching it up, he met Porkchop at a secluded table in the corner of the room to wait for their third. It didn''t take all that long, Ianmus returning only a bare quarter hour later. With his lanky frame that stretched even taller than his own, it only took a moment of craning before the half-elf spotted Porkchop''s bulk and hurried over. Behind him, Ro poked her head out, before giving him an exaggerated thumbs up. Kaius chuckled, shaking his head at the sight. Ianmus slid into the remaining seat with a grin, slapping a wooden medallion on the table. "Wood was the best she could do, considering the circumstances, but she said once we''ve done a copper over a threat level of thirty she''ll be able to bump me straight up." "Well done, the questions weren''t too difficult, other than the standard oath? My own was reasonably quick." Kaius asked. Ianmus nodded. "I assume she caught you guys out the second you stepped foot in here? The woman is as shrewd as a devil plying contracts." Kaius chuckled, leaning back into his chair as he dropped his hand to pat Porkchop on the shoulder. "She did. Gave us a talking to. A very energised one." Ianmus smiled, hand momentarily retreating to his pocket, before he returned it to the surface and passed over two simple steel bands. "The first minute or two was spent grilling me about if I was a spire graduate, what my rank was, and things of the like. The remainder was a straight up interrogation about how we met, if I had designs on you, if I was a spy, how genuine I planned for our cooperation to be, and what my ultimate goals were." "I just about thought she''d transmogrified into a manticore with how viscous she was." the mage finished with a shake of his head. "She said those were for you two, that she got them finished overnight. She wanted you to know it would be a hundred depths-gold all up, and she''ll dock half your cut until it''s paid off. I told her yours would be two thirds, for obvious reasons." Kaius nodded gratefully, inspecting the rings. They were simple looking things, and a quick use of True Sight told him they were identical. Ring of Minor Deception: Uncommon - Tier I Some things are best not shared. A ring of unadorned alchemically infused steel. Assists the wearer in shrouding up to two singular aspects of their status, and passively holds their Mask in place. Active testing of the Mask still burdens Will. When worn, this artefact becomes more difficult to analyze. Artisan-wrought Artefact Accessory - Ring Limited Mask Reinforcement II, Resizing I, Inspect Resistance I He nodded at the description, surreptitiously sliding one over his finger while he pocketed the other. Assisting Porkchop with his copy would draw far too much attention, even if they were sitting in a secluded corner. He felt it activate, a strange power settling over his Mask - bolstering it. He quickly pulled his will back, sighing in relief as it stayed in place. Intuitively, he directed the ring to focus more fully on his class identifier, and his class rarity. He doubted anyone would have the kind of skill needed to see that, but it was still better safe than sorry. "A reasonable price, for the security they will bring." Kaius said, thanking Ianmus with a nod. Now that Ianmus had his membership, they could get to the real meat of the reason that he had brought them here. Securing their first contract. Kaius rubbed his hands together with glee. No doubt his companions would hate it¡ªhells, he hated it himself¡ªbut the match up was too good to ignore. Pulling out his slip of card, Kaius read its contents once more. ... Threat level: Assumed Fifty Location: Wooded road between Intshire and Holburrough, forty leagues south-east-east of Deadacre. Description: Horse-sized spider beast, ambushing travellers on the road through hidden webs. Illusion and affliction abilities. Last confirmed sighting, two weeks post phase shift. No confirmed level¡ªdescriptions in line with a threat of fifty. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Reward: Fifty depths-gold. Known abilities: Trapped webs, motionless cloaking¡ªmore unknown. ... It was a good match up for their team. As it was an affliction specialist, he would hold a distinctive advantage against the beast in direct combat, and similarly it would find it far more difficult to trap him in its illusions than others. That, and solar magic was anathema to illusion, and ambush predators tended to be far worse off when they did not have the element of surprise. There was still the fact that it was a horse sized spider, no doubt a significant reason that the job had languished unchosen for so long. Disgusting, but it would be good to work off some of his final grievances for the swarm that had given him his welcome to the Depths. The only thing that irked him was the pay. So soon after his payout from his artefacts, it felt like a small sum. That said, he knew it was a false perspective. Fifty gold was almost certainly enough to survive off for a year or more, it was only the outrageous cost of artefacts and delver economies that made it seem like a small sum. Placing the slip on the table, he pushed it over to Ianmus and Porkchop. Surprisingly, his brother could read common just as well as he could, though he supposed that greater beasts had to understand the system just as much as anyone else. A moment later Ianmus pulled away sharply, while Porkchop whipped his head towards him with a puff of surprise. Kaius smiled, a wicked thing full of malicious glee. "You can''t be serious." Ianmus pleaded. "Kaius, it''s a spider the size of a horse, think of the legs!" Porkchop said, backing the mage up. Their pleas fell upon his ears like the sweetest of songs, stoking his schadenfreude. "Not even just that, no confirmed level? From two weeks ago, plus the week it will take us to get there? For all we know it could be over level sixty-five by the time we engage!" Kaius nodded, feigning a focused look on his face. While he didn''t want them to flounder for too long, it was very funny watching them protest. Letting their complaints hang for a few more moments, he eventually dropped the act, waving their protests off. "Listen, I understand. Yes, spiders are gross, and yes, it''s potentially a high level, but we are a great match up." he explained, leaning forwards. "It''s an ambush predator, a species weak to direct attacks, it''s weak to your affinity Ianmus, and I have the skills to see through its illusions long before we get caught in its web. Porkchop too, will be able to lean on my senses, even if only slightly. Inflictions are also far less risky for me and Porkchop than most." Kaius finished, fixing both Ianmus and his brother with a serious stare. "But it''s gross!" Porkchop whined. "Think of the levels!" Porkchop let out a low groan of defeat, and slumped lower to the floor. "Fine, but you''re cleaning the ichor out of my fur." he mumbled. Ianmus cleared his throat, drawing both of their attention. "I am most concerned about the levels. This is... a significant threat, are you sure you can do this? I have seen you in action myself, but seriously, this is a lot." Kaius nodded. He was confident. No doubt it would be tough, and he and Porkchop would probably get a nasty bite or three, but when hadn''t that happened? "I am, both Porkchop and myself have gained significant strength with our second class skills. It will be tough, but this is also our best bet to grow fast. I know how foolhardy punching upwards is for most, but trust me, we will be wasting our capabilities if we do not." he said seriously. Ianmus sighed, resting his forehead on his hands. "I can''t believe I''m actually agreeing to this." he muttered to himself. The half-elf pushed his hair back and sat up. "Fine, but try not to lose a limb? There''s only two healers in this city who can regenerate¡ªat least from what I can remember¡ªand I doubt any of us have the coin to skip the wait list." Fizzing exhilaration flooded his chest, his blood warming at the thought of their upcoming battle. A day or two more and they could be off. Deadacre was nice and all, and he loved the Dusty Stables, but he longed for the freedom of the wilds once more. "Great! I''ll get us registered, and then we can head over to where me and Porkchop are staying to do some planning in a more private space." Kaius said, standing up from his chair. "If you don''t have an inn already, I''d heavily recommend it. A little expensive, but I''m not sure how much of the silver a night is because of this lug." Slapping his hand heavily on Porkchop''s head, Kaius deftly wove around his brother''s playful nip to scratch him behind the ears. Ianmus agreed quickly. The inn was apparently still within what he could afford, and he was of the opinion that staying across town would do little but hamper their preparations for their upcoming excursion. Excusing himself from the table, Kaius approached the front counter, which thankfully was blessedly free of a line by the time he arrived. It seemed early afternoon was something of a slow period. Too late for the driven and organised, and too early for the lackadaisical. Spotting him approaching, Ro waved off a young attendant that Kaius had yet to see before. The man was moderately strapped, and seemed to have unfortunately chosen clothes a size too small. He gave Kaius a polite, if awkward, smile as he left, making room for Ro. "You''re lucky you found that one." Ro opened with, nodding towards Ianmus. "Solar mage, half-elf, and a spire elite. Down right fortuitous." Kaius readily agreed with her. "It''s certainly convenient, that''s for sure. Either way, I want to take this job." He slid the mission slip across the counter. Ro read it in a glance, frowning at it. "You''re sure?" she asked sternly, though she didn''t push him to pick another. "You''re not overextending yourself?" "No. As a team composition we counter it pretty handedly, and I have a solid handle on mine and Porkchop''s limits." he said with a shake of his head. Ro sighed, rubbing her forehead for a few seconds. "Fine. But if you die, I''ll resurrect you myself just to kill you again." she answered finally, eyes boring into his own with fierce intensity. She thrust out her hand imperiously, gesturing for him to pass something over. "Your medallion, greenhorn." she said with a roll of her eyes when he stared quizzically at the offered limb. Heat flushed his cheeks at the faux pas, the burn deepening further when Ro gave him a wide grin at his expression. Passing over his medallion, Ro used it to record his selected mission on some sort of stone block that sat just to the left of her desk. Covered in script, it was so far beyond his depths of runic knowledge he couldn''t even identify the individual arrays that made it work. A second later she returned, passing both slip and medallion back to him. "All done, your medallion will record the kill. go get ''em, greenhorn." she said, before turning to whistle at the poorly dressed attendant at the rear of the building, jutting her thumb back at the desk as she walked off. Kaius shrugged to himself and returned to his team. At this point he had given up on trying to explain Ro''s antics, the woman was eccentric in the extreme. Stopping at their table, Kaius collected Porkchop and Ianmus and they filed their way out of the Guild. Now all they had to do was plan their route, collect the supplies they needed, and strategise. Idly, as they walked the short distance to the Dusty Stables, Kaius wondered what grilled spider legs would taste like. B2 Chapter 208: Infiltration, finale B2 Chapter 208: Infiltration, finale They pushed on, Ianmus hanging just behind them as they moved from shadowed stretch to shadowed stretch. Passing beyond where they had already cleared, each long-stride was hard earned. Each of the roughly hewn openings in the tunnel wall¡ªsometimes common enough to come every fifty strides¡ªhad to be checked thoroughly. They were diligent, sweeping the rooms without fail. Shifting in width regularly, the cave made for a tense journey. The boggarts¡ªcapable of quarrying they may have been¡ªwere crude workers. Where the cave had widened naturally beyond their requirements, they¡¯d left it be, only taking the effort to crack their way through bedrock when it narrowed to the point of being unusable. It left them plenty of space to tuck themselves into nooks and crannies, but by the same metric it overwhelmed his Toolkit and Glass Mind with spots of potential ambush. Enhanced he may have been, but the constant grind of heightened awareness abraded his nerves like coarse sand. Looming out of the constant gloom, Kaius saw the cave split in two. Both passages were natural, the boggarts having done little more than smash through particularly notable extrusions of stone. He narrowed his eyes¡ªboth of the passages were better lit, a notable change from the nigh constant darkness they had travelled through, moving between considerable stretches of shadow and darkness. It wasn¡¯t quite so bad that they would be constantly exposed without any cover, but it was still notably more revealing. There were other changes. While the passage that peeled off to the right seemed to still have openings carved into its walls¡ªeven if they were fewer in number¡ªthe path that continued ahead had nothing of the sort. An unbroken passage, boring straight ahead as it dipped gently downwards, obscuring its final destination. He slowed his approach, Ianmus and Porkchop padding forwards to join him at his sides. A decision point, with both likely leading to more boggarts judging by the lights. ¡°What do you think?¡± Kaius muttered, asking for their opinion. ¡°I¡¯m tempted to take the passage with the rooms, even if just so we have more places to hide in all that light.¡± Porkchop sniffed deeply, raising his nose in the air, before he shook his head noncommittally. ¡°Whole place reeks of them, otherwise I¡¯d suggest whichever smelled like it had fewer boggarts. Less chance of being discovered.¡± Ianmus tilted his head, eyes flicking between the paths. ¡°I¡¯d say the straight path probably leads somewhere more important¡ªto the bugbears, perhaps? We¡¯ve seen little of them so far.¡± Kaius nodded¡ªa decent enough reasoning. ¡°All the more reason to hang the right. May as well deal with as much of the chaff as we can before tackling the more challenging brutes.¡± With their decision made, they set off for their chosen path. Creeping down the cave, the added light was disconcerting. They were still dim sources that left plenty of shadows for them to lurk in, but every brush with the illumination felt like being stripped bare. Peering through the side rooms as they passed, Kaius found that they were roomier. The ceilings had been carved taller, and while they found a complete absence of sleeping boggarts, they found evidence of other, more interesting things. Storehouses. Most of the early ones seemed to be stacked with fuel. Roughly hewn chunks of wood, haphazardly piled, and crude earthen pots filled with thickened fat. Judging by the myriad scents and shades of the tallow, the boggarts definitely weren¡¯t farming anything. It seemed that before scarcity had set in, they¡¯d been processing their kills. Further in they found stacked hides, crude tools, and even workshops¡ªthe evidence of labour to make their wares. Kaius found himself beset by a voyeuristic curiosity that grew with intensity with every room. It was an interesting glimpse into their lives, one he doubted many researchers or enthusiasts of the natural world would get to see¡ªconsidering the danger and scarcity of boggart plagues that grew to this size. It was smothered quickly when they found a storehouse of raided goods. Sticking close to the shadows, Kaius poked his head through the opening to the room. Carved out of the rock like the others, it held a haphazard array of simple iron and steel tools. Picks, shovels, hoes¡ªeven simple iron stakes¡ªlay in haphazard piles. Each and every one was in some level of disrepair. Scuffed, dented, and dusted with rust, it was obvious that the boggarts were poor caretakers of their ill gotten gains. And ill gotten they must have been. When he¡¯d first seen the drawings of people in some of the boggarts bedchambers, he¡¯d hoped it had been isolated incidents. Sole travellers running afoul of bad luck. He¡¯d been wrong. It seemed at least one settlement in the hills had fallen prey to the plague. That wasn¡¯t all¡ªhe doubted they¡¯d only taken digging tools. Gritting his teeth, Kaius waved Ianmus forward. Approaching quickly, Ianmus looked into the room¡ªwincing when he saw the contents. ¡°Do you think...?¡± Ianmus whispered, voice hushed. ¡°That some of them are going to have better weapons than stone and wood? Yeah.¡± Kaius nodded. Porkchop came forward, looking for himself. ¡°More dangerous, yes, but we shouldn¡¯t be too worried. I doubt they have anything high-quality, and I''ll eat my left foot if any of them are some type of Weaponmaster.¡± This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Kaius bit his cheek, tearing his eyes away from the room. He didn¡¯t like it, but Porkchop was right¡ªit was just disconcerting to know that what looked to be a whole hamlet had been lost. Hopefully he was wrong. Maybe a raiding party had simply stumbled across a ghost town¡ªthe inhabitants having long since fled the dangers of the wilds. He shook his head, putting the matter to the back of his mind. They continued. After a few more minutes of slow furtive walking, they came across another room. A pair of them, really. They were on opposite sides of the cave, a bare sixty strides separating them. The first was another store of hides¡ªthough this one was only partially full, the leathers stacked up halfway to the side of a singular wall. Taking only a cursory look, they moved to the next. Kaius¡¯s eyes widened as his sight pierced the gloom¡ªfinding something he hadn¡¯t expected. Food. A full room, fifteen strides deep and wide, stacked with crude racks made of lashed sticks and shaped wood. Each shelf was layered in smoked meat. The sight of such stores surprised him. Everything they had seen had pointed towards the plague being on the verge of starvation. Between the cannibalism, and the boggarts fighting over a scrap of bone, food was one of the last things he expected to find hoarded. Perhaps it was being rationed? Kept for the more valuable members of the tribe? He doubted that the warchief was as hungry as the lowest status members huddled in groups far from the inner reaches of the warren. Regardless, it was barely processed. Instead of thin strips, they¡¯d cut whole hunks of meat¡ªcrudely drying it over hot smoke without the use of salt, by the looks and smell of it. Focusing his eyes, he saw a great deal of variation between the cuts. Some looked like haunches of mountain goat. Others, rib racks that could have been taken from wolves. Nothing had been spared, he could even see what looked like shrivelled and blackened hearts piled near the far walls. Not even those of their own race. An odd cut had caught his eye, drawing his attention. Only for him to realise that it was likely a forearm. Just the right length to have come from a boggart. Analysis only confirmed that truth. Fearing what else he would find in the room if he looked too deeply, Kaius felt his nausea rise. He backed away. ¡°Store house¡ªsmoked food, including boggart.¡± he whispered with grimly pursed lips. Only to freeze as a low laugh echoed through the cave from up ahead. Kaius held his breath, not daring to make a sound as he strained his hearing. The sound petered out, turning into a barely audible murmur. Whatever it had been was close, but not that close. It also wasn¡¯t coming any closer. They hadn¡¯t been discovered. Sharing a look of determination and resolute nods with his team, Kaius led them onwards. They crept through the cave, taking care to place their feet softly on the hardened ground. Slowly, the noises grew louder, resolving themself into a barely heard conversation of deep guttural tones. Too deep to be boggarts. Bugbears, it had to be. It was still hard to tell how close they were. The omnipresent serpentine curve of the cave passage was helpful in that it broke up sightlines, but it did severely hamper their ability to see more than a hundred strides in either direction. Rounding another bend, the far wall of the cave ahead glinted with reflected light¡ªmore than could be expected from the small torches that had been lighting the passages since they entered the nest. Sharing a silent look with his team, Kaius stepped out alone. He approached quickly, pressing himself close to the cold stone wall as he peered around the corner. Seeing nothing but another illuminated bend, he rushed to the edge of the next bend¡ªheart pounding with every step. Feeling sweat bead on his brow, he listened close. The guttural speech had faded now, but he could still hear something awake down the passage. Poking his eyes out, Kaius saw that the cave continued for a good thirty strides before it terminated in a large natural cavern. Illuminated by a roaring fire of a size yet to be seen, stalactites broke up the ceiling with needle tipped points. Their upwards turned siblings had been smashed and cleared, the floor crudely smoothed. For a good reason, Kaius realised. A crude tent had been pitched along one cavern edge¡ªmade of roughly carved wood and stitched together hides. An understandable improvement from the living facilities of common boggarts¡ªunderstandable, considering the seven bugbears that sat around the fire at the cavern¡¯s centre. Each and every one of them was alert and awake, tearing into haunches of smoked meat. The biggest of them¡ªperhaps tall enough to reach his collarbone¡ªhad what looked to be a woodsman''s axe at his side, confirming his fears. No doubt a bugbear of status, because the others had crude stone weapons. Albeit ones of a better and sturdier make than most he¡¯d seen. There was no way they could take them on without a cry going out. For one, they were undoubtedly tougher than boggarts¡ªbetter armed and stronger too. Two, he had absolutely no way of being spotted unawares. Their fire kept the whole room lit, and they circled it in such a way that he¡¯d likely be spotted as soon as he rounded the bend. Worse, there was a pillar of stone at the back of the room, with a large plate of metal shaped into a crude gone jutting off its side. Covered in the large and jagged runes favoured by the tribe¡¯s shaman, If the bugbear¡¯s got the chance to wail on it they¡¯d no doubt be able to wake the dead. Kaius pulled back¡ªthis tunnel was a bust, they¡¯d have to scope out the next and hope for more easy prey. He returned to his team quickly, not bothering to hide in the shadows since it would have been impossible for anything to creep past Ianmus and Porkchop with them being unaware. They greeted his return with relieved nods, Ianmus giving him a questioning look. Shaking his head, Kaius held a finger to his lips, before gesturing back the way they had come. They were far too close to speak¡ªeven a whisper might be overheard if they were unlucky. They retreated back the way they had come. Putting a couple of bends between them and the bugbears, Kaius felt comfortable enough to share his findings at a low whisper. ¡°Seven bugbears, awake and no way to sneak up on them. Room¡¯s at least a dead end¡ªwe check out the other tunnel.¡± Ianmus nodded. ¡°No chance at all of taking them by surprise?¡± Porkchop asked. ¡°Not without an alarm going out.¡± Kaius replied with a shake of his head for Ianmus¡¯s benefit. He set off, waving for his team to follow. Backtracking eased his nerves. Walking through stretches they¡¯d confirmed empty was a balm to cold tension in his spine. He knew all the creeping and hiding was necessary given the scale of the plague, but give him a straight up fight any day of the week and he¡¯d be happy with it. The larder came into view, and Kaius picked up the pace, passing the doorway¡ªhis team hot on his heels. Only for a hammer blow of fear to rock his chest as a piercing squeal of surprise shattered the silence. Chapter 168 - B2 166: Commute pt. 1 The next few days were a flurry of activity. Right after leaving the guild they returned to the Dusty Stables for a quick visit, getting Ianmus set up in a far smaller room on the same floor he was in. Ianmus, the lucky bastard, only had to pay three copper a night for the pleasure, thanks to both the smaller room, and he wasn''t paying to feed the equivalent of four men. Once Ianmus was settled, they''d returned to the common area down below. Nodding to the few other proprietors of the place, they retreated to a secluded nook tucked into one corner of the room to discuss their plans. Less direct strategy for how they could manage this job, that would come the next day when they visited the maps that the Guild had to plan their route. Instead, they discussed how they could most effectively support each other in the long run, and how they expected their capabilities to develop as they filled out their class skills. Ianmus listened with rapt attention as Porkchop shared his own dreams of being a heavily armed bastion, and how he''d developed a defensive battlefield control ability. He got even more enthused when Kaius, in a show of trust, shared more about his glyphs. How he''d gain spells twice per tier for each one, and while he didn''t know how many he would get, he was confident he would receive more as his class developed further. Then, leaning on a minor work of deception, Kaius explained his second skill. How it had forged a connection with his blade, changing its form with glyphic magic and allowing him to empower its enchantments. Drawing A Father''s Gift just a hair, he showed off its new crystalline fuller and edge, and Ianmus leaned in, his eyes glinting with enraptured fascination. While there was no way he would be able to hide a growth weapon forever, Kaius hoped that it would be enough to ward off suspicion until he could ram Ianmus face first into a few of his own Honours. When that happened, there would be far less risk¡ªeven if it was already meagre with the man''s elvish respect for the meles. Ianmus himself held nothing back, explaining that he had several ''potent'' metamagic and casting abilities. Neither he nor Porkchop questioned that, even if they both knew what he meant by that little hint. His class was a useful one, especially in their team composition. Focused primarily on supportive and restorative magics mostly through sorcerous casting, though the man had the manipulation and meta-magic to both raw cast and shape his system granted spells. In all likelihood, he would only receive a handful of directly damaging spells. Fortunately, Ianmus''s free casting capability meant he was more than capable of devastating finishers if given ample time and safety to focus. With the penetrative searing power of solar magic, and the range it provided, it would complement their team nicely. Afterall, he and Porkchop were more than enough for most confrontations, especially if they had a dedicated mage supporting them. Not only that, according to Ianmus, solar casters had one of the few affinities that was all but guaranteed to develop true regenerative spells that could restore lost flesh. While they might take far longer than a life or nature mage, they also had the benefit that their spells often interfaced incredibly well with regenerative general skills - something that Kaius had shared he would likely develop and Porkchop already had. Sharing that, at least, made Ianmus far more comfortable with their current mission. Potent self-healing skills made their wanton disregard for their own bodily integrity at least understandable, even if it still wasn''t quite sane. Retiring for the night, they''d reconvened in the morning to return to the Guild. There they asked one of the attendants for directions to the maps¡ªthis time someone Kaius didn''t recognise, rather than a well timed Ro swooping in to direct them. The woman had an uncanny sense for situations she would actually be useful for, he swore. Perhaps it was a skill? Entering the map room, only a few doors before the silence room where they had both been interviewed, they nodded to a fellow team of delvers who were planning a mission of their own. It was a wondrous space, geographical data of the entire region plastered on wall sized maps that covered every edge of the room with astounding accuracy and detail. Kaius even spotted a tiny dot nestled near the Sea labeled Three Fields. Their mission would take them a fair distance to the east and south. It was more grasslands for the most part, though towards their destination it shifted into the Hanset Woods. He''d heard of them, though he''d never visited. Supposedly, they resembled the Sea in the same way a shack resembled a castle. In either case, the prospect of being amongst the trees once more was pleasing, warming him to his belly. Porkchop also notably perked up when he realised they would be travelling to more familiar environs. Both he and Ianmus recorded notes and took sketches of their route. Even with a skill with a slight navigational bent, the more information he gave himself to work with, the better he would do at bringing them to their destination. None of them wanted to give their target even a single extra day to grow stronger before they fought, let alone that every hour it lived was another hour an unknowing traveller might end up dead. After that, they left as a group, before splitting up to gather necessary supplies and their final things before departure early on the morrow. The first place they stopped was Artifice and Arms to pick up Porkchop''s newly inscribed barding. Jin had done a wondrous job, showing off the circular formation he had marked into the underside of the armour, just between Porkchop''s shoulder blades. The black markings were dense, and had seeped deeply into the very conceptual fabric of the artefact. Even if the working itself was destroyed, the item would still repair itself¡ªand the formation¡ªjust fine. Kaius found it fascinating, unable to help but draw parallels between the physical nature of body formations and glyphs, and the permanent infusions of the enchanter''s art. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Thanking the man profusely, Kaius helped Porkchop armour up, before he secured the saddlebag they had loosely slung over his brother''s haunch back where it belonged. Next was a short trip to the markets, where he collected all manner of preserved and fresh food to shore up their supplies. While they still had plenty left from the Dwarven city, and no doubt fresh meat would be in healthy supply thanks to the flood of aggressive beasts, they were now cooking for three, and he didn''t want them to be on a ration diet. After all, if you were doing killing work, it was always best to be well fed. As the self-selected cook of their team, that responsibility fell on him. By the time the sun began to dim, drifting over the horizon, they returned back to the Dusty Stables to share their evening meal with Ianmus, who had done his best to suit himself up with attire more suitable for travelling. In his case, that meant keeping his robe¡ªwhich was an artefact¡ªbut splashing out on a far better pair of boots. After his first experience with overland travel, the half-elf had come to appreciate the subtle luxuries a good boot could provide. Retiring early, Kaius lay next to Porkchop with his eyes wide open, fizzing with excitement for the coming dawn. Tomorrow they would be off, to chase power, and remove a threat. Good and honest work that brought him closer to his goals, what more could he want? Eventually sleep claimed him, the slow breaths of his brother lulling him into a dreamless slumber. .... Leaving the eastern gate, Kaius and his team kept pace with a small merchant''s caravan that was making their way in the same direction. While they weren''t official crew, neither the merchant nor his guards saw any trouble in having two delvers and a warbeast keep abreast with them for the first few days of their journey. After all, it was simply more manpower to both scare off ornery beasts, and deal with them if they attacked. It did slow them somewhat, but as they were leaving the hard packed trail that led out of Deadacre in a mere two days time, it would only save them a handful of hours all up. The merchant himself was a reclusive sort, preferring the security and safety of his reinforced carriage that sat between two more carrying goods. It was impressive, perhaps not opulent, but clearly expensive. Wooden framed, with hard steel plating reinforcing every inch of its surface. Instead of windows, shuttered metal slats that could be locked tight from the inside were set into each side of the wagon, allowing a full range of vision with relative safety. If the ridiculous level of over engineering wasn''t enough, Kaius spied the tell tale sign of inscriptions curling around the edges of many of the plates. Some sort of defensive inscription, no doubt. It must have weighed tons, and only by the might of the lizard-like trained beasts that hauled it was it able to move at all. Though, they weren''t the most spry of things, and inwardly Kaius wondered if the merchant would have been ultimately safer with a mode of transportation that moved faster than a strolling walk. In contrast to their employer, a few of the guards were very chatty. At least, they were by the second day of their shared journey. At first they''d just eyed them warily, Porkchop most especially. "Oi, biggun! Up on the beast! Where''re ye headed, eh?" a great lug of a man asked, calling out to Kaius from his position a good ten strides to the left of the front goods wagon. Kaius gave the man a friendly smile, glad that the stoic silence was fading. Even for him, who liked the peace and quiet, it was simply...odd to travel without at least a chat. "Hanset Woods, taking a high copper contract on an illusion focused spider that''s been ambushing travelers." he explained, watching the man wince in sympathy. Clearly, the man had as much distaste for oversized bugs as anyone else. A healthy response, in Kaius''s mind. "Bloody nasty, illusions are¡ª''specially fer somethin'' like a spider. Ye reckon ye''ll be alright? Names Greth, seein'' as we''re talkin'' now." the guard responded, meting out introductions and commiserations both. Ianmus, as starved for conversation as the man had become, jumped in. "We should be fine, a tough fight for sure, but between our affinities and skill sets we have quite the advantage on the beast." Looking at his companion with an exaggerated expression of shock, Greth raised his eyebrows so they nearly brushed the top of his forehead. "Well, well! The learn-ed one speaks, does he?" Kaius clenched his teeth, jaw straining to keep his face straight as Ianmus scowled at the friendly jab. Greth might have been a well travelled for a working man¡ªjudging by his odd accent at least¡ªbut it seemed he was just as comfortable teasing his ''betters'' as anyone Kaius had met. "But seriously, that be good. Whereabouts in those woods, then? We''ll be circlin'' back that way after our circuit. This change be good for levels, but I''ll not pretend we have the experience or steel fer somethin'' like that." Greth said, a hint of worry spreading across his features, though the grizzled guard hid it well. Kaius nodded, it was understandable. Even for caravan guards, a profession that required a combat class, they''d never had the strength and power of true delvers. Usually those without the pull of the Song, they''d rarely had the need or desire to constantly seek battle until recently¡ªnor did they often have anything more than a Common class. Plus, they rarely had many levels. Before the change, it was rare that people on the road would see more than an attack or two per month on a long journey, and they would be weak and desperate things splitting experience between most of the caravan. "We don''t know exactly, but it''s the wooded road between Intshire and Holsborrough." he answered the man, happy to share what they knew. "Closer to Intshire then. Aye, that stretch''s only wooded on the last third. Holsborough''s a wee further outside of Hanset Woods. That''s where we''re bound on our way back." Greth let out a heavy sigh of relief, before catching himself. "Not that I''m doubtin'' ye could handle it, mind." Kaius shook his head and chuckled. "No harm, my good man. Only decent sense to be cautious in these days. Say, if you know Holsborough, mind telling me any places that do a good meal and a better drop? It''d be nice to wet my throat after some hard tracks cross country." Whatever self consciousness the Greth had felt at his tactless response, it was quickly replaced by a vibrant excitement that straightened his spine and filled him with energy. "Oh aye! By far the best seen in all me travels. It''s called--" Grenth started, only to be cut off with the sonorously baleful note of a horn. "Eye''s up lads, we got incoming!" the leader of the guards screamed from the front of the caravan, equal parts invigorated and focused. Chapter 169 - B2 167: Commute pt. 2 Kaius drew his blade in a moment, smokey crystal edges catching the light. His eyes snapped to the source of the voice, seeing the lead caravan guard staring off to the right of the caravan. What had caught the man''s attention was immediately evident. Some twisted entity, more gnarled ball of flailing roots than any creature of flesh and blood. It had to be a thousand strides off, yanking itself forwards with flailing spears of bramble. While beasts and the lower races were by far the most common threat people would face, they were not the only ones. The abominations and undead he had faced in the Depths were the perfect example of that. This one was not quite as malign as those twisted mockeries, but it was still dangerous. Most likely some kind of spirit, or elemental. Usually they were seen in areas of high mana density, and even then, only occasionally. Unfortunately, it seemed that the phase shift had reached the point that such creatures would appear in settled lands with more frequency. Mana surged to his side, plates of jade clacking against each other as Porkchop''s barding popped into existence. Behind them, Ianmus was already channeling a free-casted spell, raw manipulation spinning mana into a working with impressive dexterity. "Remember, brother, no spells." Porkchop warned as he let loose a roaring cry of challenge, two of the lizard-like creatures who pulled the nearby merchant''s carriage hissing nervously. "I know," Kaius replied, rushing forwards at his brother''s side to join the lead defenders. Each was at least level forty, and they watched them with interest as they rushed forwards. As guards, they most likely had Common classes, and there was an assumption of strength of those who possessed the madness to willingly throw themselves at the clutches of death as a chosen vocation. The ball of flailing roots drew closer as they reached the front of the pack, eerily silent except for the thwack of spiked wood digging into the soil. Most of the guards had crossbows and bows, waiting to fire until it drew in range. Kaius focused on the creature with True Sight. Bramble Ball - Level 32: Least Spirit, Skirmisher Light melee, a good opponent for the two of them, and low level to boot. At least, once his and Porkchop''s true strength was taken into account. Snapping his head over to the lead guard, he whistled to catch his attention. "How good''s your men''s aim? And anyone got any decent concussive or severing skills?" The man gave him an appraising look, the barest hint of a frown crossing his face as Kaius felt a glimmer of a probe against his Mask. "You sure yer up for it, lad?" the man quickly asked, returning to watching the approaching spirit. Kaius grinned, a hot flush creeping up the back of his neck. "Oh yes, sure as a taxman skims." The caravan guard looked back to him, watching him for the barest moment before giving a nod. "Gial, Rosh, cover him. Delver, yer mage-man looks like he''s channelling enough mana to shit himself. You create the opening, he sears it dead, ye hear? Listen for me yell and get the fuck out of the way when you hear it." Kaius looked back to Ianmus walking towards them, an intense look of concentration on his face as more and more solar mana streamed towards him, bound to his will. Kaius whistled softly to himself. Whatever Ianmus was doing, it had to have punch. Giving the lead caravan guard a nod, he slapped his brother on the shoulder before seizing a saddle loop in his hand and leaping onto Porkchop''s back. "Go." Porkchop needed no other encouragement. Releasing a roar that kicked Kaius in the chest, his brother''s claws dug into the earth and muscles rippled as he accelerated in moments. The sudden impulse rocked Kaius back, forcing him to crouch low and hold onto his leather loop for dear life. Exhilaration surged at the sudden acceleration, a joyful whoop sliding free from his mouth. They charged across the open ground as he held his sword high. It was a perfect time for them to practice something they had been discussing. Against a foe well within their capabilities, with plenty of support, it was the best opportunity. Mounted combat. Utterly uncaring of their challenge, the bramble ball rolled on, thorny vines whipping with independent frenzy as they speared into the earth to drag it forwards. Only one indication told him it had recognised their threat, the monster adjusting its course to intercept them. Sprays of dirt exploding with every bound, Porkchop''s explosive strength brought them to speeds that left the wind whistling in Kaius''s ears and his stomach lurching. His blade held ready, Kaius held the spirit in his eye with a focused intensity that bordered on maddened fixation. He could already feel it, envisioning its strange wooden flesh parting before his blade, the sting of his blade''s grip bucking in his hand as he battled against the might of his blow. "Bring us past it." he said to his brother. A useless gesture, for one who knew his intentions utterly. More born of habit, than necessity. Porkchop merely growled, accelerating. Lashing vines whipped through the air towards them, Kaius ignored the threat and tapped into his Bladeright, stamina fueling his soul-bound blade as orange fire ignited the runes in its fuller from within. He swung. A Father''s Gift blurred through the air, its transparent edge fading like smoke on the wind. Finely knapped edges cut through wooden flesh like the vines had been made from silk, warding off the spirits attack with pure offence. Undeterred by the severed vines that flew free, he bit deep into the meat of the bramble ball''s body. Sharpness enhanced to the extreme, there was little of the biting impact he expected. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. **Ding! Initiate''s Glyphic Bladerite has reached level 3!** ... **Ding! Initiate''s Glyphic Bladerite has reached level 4!** Then they were gone, Porkchop''s pace and speed bringing them past the spirit in half a moment. Kaius whipped his head back, trying to see the damage he had left. Vines writhed, sprouting anew from within the creature''s depths to seal the ragged hole he had left in its body, sticky sap leaking free. The two guards behind him loosed their projectiles. Clearly enhanced by skills, they screamed through the air with a shrill whistle. Each one punched into the spirit with the force of a hammer blow, gouts of woody plant matter exploding forth. That, at least, seemed to send the bramble ball into a frenzy. Thorny vines whipped through the air like the lashing tendrils of some forgotten underwater horror in eerie silence. Nor did it lose its focus on them. Snaking limbs punched deep into the earth, hauling it forwards with the low rumble of shredded earth. It tore up the ground beneath it, chunks of macerated grass and debris flying backwards. Plunging his claws into the ground Porkchop hauled against the force of his own mass, forcing them into a tight turn. Kaius leaned in, crouched low to maintain his footing in the saddle as he worked in perfect concert with Porkchop''s movement. **Ding! Brotherhood of Ichor and Animus has reached level 39!** As soon as they got in range the bramble ball attacked. Empowering itself with some sort of skill, its vines lengthened to the extreme, slashing them with thrice the speed it had the first time. Kaius ignored the lashing limbs. Wood or no, its thorns cut like iron, raking over his armour and Porkchop''s jade plate with a torturous squeal. He grit his teeth against the impact, the heavy weight of the blow resounding through his chest with a stinging fury. Tapping into his Bladerite, his sword glowed with internal fire once more. He slashed, leaning off the saddle, supported only by his offhand grip on a loop of leather and the strength of his legs. Another great rent opened in the flesh of the spirit. Porkchop hurtled on, wheeling for another charge as two more arrows punched deep into the already closing wound. Beginning to feel the rhythm of the battle, Kaius revelled in the heat that coursed through his blood. He felt...invincible, power beyond anything he had experienced in his hand. Every blow, every swing, was backed by thrice the power he had barely a year ago. The bramble was helpless before them. Wily and aggressive, its snaking vines would have been incredibly dangerous up close, but it could do little against their strafing assault. For every pass they made it barely had half a second to thrash them with its vines. Yet, at the speed of their charges, it had no hope of landing more than the faintest of glancing wounds. Three more passes he used his Bladerite, and three more times he mete out punishment for the spirits'' audacity at attacking them. With every pass, the two guards who had been assigned to assist him worked with a well oiled synchronicity. They capitalised on the wounds he left, making them all the more potent with the concussive force of their shots. **Ding! Initiate''s Glyphic Bladerite has reached level 5!** For the fourth pass, he ignored his skill, wanting a comparison to see how effective it truly was. The difference was... hard to tell. The wounds he left in the spirit were just as dire, but, without his enchantments, empowered living wood was no longer so easy to cut through. His blade bucked, nearly wrenched from his hand before heightened reflexes kicked in and he was able to clutch his weapon with a startled burst of strength. Despite the rhythmic thumping of Porkchop''s gait, and the heavy bellows of his breath, Kaius didn''t miss the small hoot that left his brother''s mouth, nor the flood of amusement that crossed their bond. Of course, trust in Porkchop to find the time to focus on his fuck ups in the middle of a fight. Dismissing the flush of warmth on his cheeks as the invigoration that came with the Song, Kaius refocused on their opponent. With a body as alien as its own, it was hard for him to tell how injured the bramble ball really was. Sure, it was absolutely covered in sticky sap, the glistening fluid lousy with the splintered remnants of its own severed limbs. On the other hand, it had not slowed, and it seemed no matter how many vines they cut there were more waiting to sprout. "Another pass, it''s got to be at the end of its tether." Kaius demanded, focused intensity colouring his words with the fervent need to see his opponent crushed utterly. Porkchop growled in response, delighted agreement rushing across their bond soundlessly. They raced in. Ready and waiting for them, the bramble ball surged. Suddenly another three dozen thorned vines erupted from its chaotic body. It had to be a skill, stamina of some sort judging by the fact he saw no tell tale sign of mana The air was flooded with a staccato boom of thunder, each and every vine cracking like a bullwhip as they launched towards Porkchop with synchronous violence. His stomach lurched at the sight of the oncoming storm. Blade glowing with internal light, he slashed through two handfuls of vines, but there were more than twice that number waiting. Each one snaked around Porkchop, binding him tight as thorns dug deep into flesh and barding alike. Howling in pain, Kaius felt his brother buck against the skill. To be restrained was to be cowed, and he had never seen Porkchop cowed. Speed and mass in his favour, Porkchop doubled down. Kaius braced himself, feeling his brother''s intention as he tapped into his amulet. Suddenly their speed doubled as Porkchop adjusted, heading straight for the meat of the monster. Evidently, it hadn''t anticipated that they would decide against another strafing run. It had braced to pull them back, not push them away, and now with multiple tons of muscle and bone descending on it there was no recourse left. It tried to yank itself to the side. Kaius smiled as he saw that, with its commitment to its assault, it was left with too few tentacles to move with any haste. Twisted plant-life pulped as Porkchop smashed the spirit with the unstoppable might of a runaway carriage. Sap sprayed through the air, splattering heavily on Kaius''s armour. Then the bramble born went airborne, flying up and out as a dozen splintered and snapped vines writhed through the air with furious intensity. "NOW!" the leader of the guards screamed. Two arrows slammed into the arcing bramble ball. Whatever skills those guards had used, it was a different one from the previous. Both arrows detonated, vines exploding out of the knotted mass, carving a deep crater into its animated almost-flesh. Whiteness dominated his vision. The air howled in desperation, sundered as a beam as wide as his fist crackled into existence with a primal scream. Kaius watched in shocked fascination, the might of Ianmus''s preparations making themselves known with the finality of a delivered promise of destruction. The heat of it. Kaius could feel it from three dozen strides away, searing his hair and scorching an afterimage of divine desolation onto his eyes. The bramble ball didn''t stand a chance. The spell hit it dead on and continued unhindered. Immolated from the inside out, Kaius could barely see it fall to the ground limp, so blinding was his ally''s attack. **Ding! level 32 Bramble Ball - Lashing Shambler slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength! Experience reduced due to significant group size.** Whipping his head over to the caravan, Kaius was treated to the sight of a dozen guards cheering at their victory. At their front, two guards dripping with sweat, and one Ianmus - his face so pale that Kaius was surprised the man was even standing. "Damn, elf-boy''s hits like an irontusk." Porkchop said slowly. "Even if he''s about as hasty as a particularly energised snail." he continued, unable to help himself from slipping in a friendly jab. It was all Kaius could do to nod in agreement, still shocked at the violence that had been hiding within their reedy academic. Chapter 170 - B2 168: Commute pt. 3 Blinking rapidly to clear the blinding afterimage that cut across his vision like a streak of white paint, Kaius looked back to where the corpse of the bramble ball had fallen. No longer hidden by the overwhelming brilliance of Ianmus''s working, he got a good look at the destruction his friend''s skill had wrought. It had been burnt out utterly, scorched black and burned from the searing power of the sun. The hole in its centre was as large as his head, and growing larger as flickering flames slowly consumed the green growth of the bundle of vines. Shaking his head in amazement, Kaius slid from his saddle and sheathed his sword. Astounding. He''d heard tales of how mages, especially those with free casting abilities, were at their most dangerous with ample companions to give them the time they needed to prepare. It was common knowledge, with enough focus and time it was possible to leverage immense quantities of mana into a single cataclysmic work. Still, seeing that devastation meted out by a single man? Who had yet to secure his third class skill? It sent chills of awe down his spine. It was almost enough to make him reconsider his path. Almost. With Porkchop at his side he strolled his way to the cluster of guards, who celebrated with cheers and shoulder claps. His eyes found his way to Ianmus, leaning heavily on his staff and as pale as a sheet. Sweat dripped from his every pore, the mage''s chest labouring to draw in vital air as he recovered from his exertion. No, while it was frightening and impressive, he still preferred his path. He didn''t miss that the spell had taken everything from his companion. A powerful boon for their party, certainly, but one that left the half-elf defenseless and totally reliant on the capabilities of his allies. Kaius could never; he much preferred the rush of blood and the singing of blades scything through the air, his body pushed to the limit as he dealt arcane death and steely ruin with equal measure. Noticing his approach, Ianmus gave him a weak smile. The motion proved too much for the man, his chest heaving as he buckled over and retched. Frowning at the sight, Kaius hurried forwards. "Ianmus! Are you alright?" he asked, worry gripping him by the neck. "He''ll be alright, lad." the voice of the guard leader came from the pack near the caravan. "Just a bit of mana-burn, too much arcane too fast, ain''t that right mageling?" "Correct," Ianmus gasped. "You''re rather learned for a guard." he grumbled, getting his stomach under control before he heaved himself upwards. Kaius still watched him closely, frowning in concern. Quivering with most of his weight on his staff, his ally looked ready to just about keel over dead. He sidled closer, ready to catch his friend if he truly did pass out. The leader of the guards only laughed. "Work the caravan routes for a living and you see enough mages; ain''t the first time I''ve seen mana-burn¡ªand it won''t be the last. Though, I will say that most lose their breakfast, yer got some iron in ya." the guardsman tilted his head in respect, before he switched his focus to Kaius. "And ye, that was some fierce fighting, lad. Name''s Umesh. You and yer beast really tore that thing a new one, I hope it didn''t get you bad?" The man asked, his eyes drifting over Kaius''s armour, taking in the streaks of blood that cut through the trickles of sap that coated him. "Kaius." he said, sharing his own name. While they had nominally been travelling next to the caravan, they''d kept a respectful distance, and this was the first that he''d had the opportunity to introduce himself. "Nothing more than scratches. It would have been a different story if we stood in place for long enough to get properly entangled." he responded, rolling his shoulders uncomfortably at the thought of being bound by the bramble balls macerating tendrils. "But ye weren''t, and ye didn''t." Unesh replied, giving him a knowing nod. "Can''t get caught up on pasts that never happened. Listen, my job ain''t over just cause we had one good scrap, but ye two should stop by my spot when we stop for the evening. Happy to share a little o'' my stash of grog for the stars of the show." Kaius grinned. A drink would be nice, and¡ªeven if they never saw the men from this caravan again¡ªit was always pleasant to talk and swap stories. There was something sacred about sharing a fire with a stranger, friends for a night before parting ways forever more. He and Father had done it more than once in the Sea, something of an unspoken culture for the loner types who hunted its reaches. He gave the man a nod, before he threw his hand under Ianmus''s shoulder. "Alright, let''s get back to our spot." he said, helping his friend steady himself. "I can walk myself, you know." Ianmus mumbled. Kaius let out a snort, and didn''t budge. "I just watched you struggle to keep your lunch down for the better part of a minute, I think you''re lying." Ianmus grumbled, but didn''t protest again. Walking away from the front of the caravan, Kaius heard Umesh giving his men a debrief on the fight, telling them more about the creature they had faced, and its various weaknesses. Interestingly, it seemed that most spirit creatures had some sort of nexus within their body that was far harder for them to heal. He groaned as he heard that. Spirits were rare enough that unless you wandered the frontier endlessly you were liable to never see one in your life. Evidently, Father had slacked on explaining more esoteric threats in favour of likely ones, as that was a nugget of information that would have been drastically helpful to know before he fought one. Ianmus must have known though, given the man had eviscerated the core of the creature with pinpoint precision. By the time they were a couple of carriage lengths from the front, Kaius heard Umesh give a sharp whistle. "We''re good to go, boss!" he yelled loudly to the unseen merchant, who had remained hidden away in his mobile fortress. Moments later the lizard beasts that drove the wagons gave a hiss, and heaved forwards, their train moving across the frontier once more. As they walked back to their position flanking the middle of the caravan, Kaius switched his attention back to Ianmus. He was steadier on his feet, though he still looked far more pallid and clammy than Kaius was comfortable with. "You sure you''re fine? I haven''t heard much about mana-burn, or whatever has got you this twisted up." he murmured, keeping his voice low enough that the various attendants of the caravan wouldn''t overhear him. Ianmus looked at him in shock. "You don''t know? You''re a bloody caster." he hissed. Kaius shook his head. He truly didn''t, not even once in his conversations with his father on the potential effects of their experimental glyph had it come up. Though, perhaps due to Father''s background, that wasn''t too much of a surprise. "Is it a thing for runewrights?" Kaius asked. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Ianmus shook his head, before he winced at the sudden movement and clutched his scalp. "No, they work over far too long of a time frame. It''s a consequence of channelling too much of your mana pool at once. Stresses the soul, and abrades your mana circuits. It''s not really dangerous, not unless you''re a complete idiot, but it leaves you fatigued, ill, and nauseous in a way that health cannot solve." That sounded...bad, especially considering the fact his own mana consumption was instantaneous. "Well, this whole thing came from a runewright, so maybe it slipped my mother''s mind." Kaius said, still leaning on the small bits of secrecy he had. Ianmus knew he was keeping them, so he wasn''t over worried about lying to his friend. Ianmus frowned, a low harumph escaping. "Still reckless, though it''s odd you''ve never felt it before. I would have thought it would be an issue, given...everything." Nodding at the man''s words, Kaius continued to support them while they walked. In the end, figuring out why would have to wait. They were leaving the caravan the next day, and a discussion on his magic could wait until then. Too much chance of keen ears listening to their talks to do it in the current moment. "Let''s talk more about it later, when we have more privacy. How long will you be incapacitated for? It better not be days." Kaius said, eying his friend. "No, nothing like that. Perhaps an hour, it eases as my pool naturally refills. Just don''t try to alleviate it with restoration tonics, they just end up stressing your circuits more." Ianmus explained with a weak chuckle, the kind that belied personal experience. Kaius shook his head. In the end, regardless of the temporary cost, Ianmus had shown that he had a devastating ace up his sleeves. If he could do this now, with a bare ten minutes of preparation, what would he be able to do in the second tier, or the third? Deciding to offer the half-elf a slot on their team was feeling like a smarter decision by the day. .... After their encounter with the bramble ball, Kaius found the guards had become far more friendly and willing to chat with their group. By the time their evening with Umesh had rolled around, they''d been inundated with a dozen well meaning questions on their histories and upcoming mission. It was nice...for the first hour. While he liked people, and didn''t mind crowds overmuch in a general sense, Kaius was still distinctly unused to having so many people so interested in making conversation. It quickly became fatiguing, and by afternoon the next day when they left the road to cut more directly overland towards their destination he was sighing in relief. That said, he still said his goodbyes. Individually the guards had all been fine people, and had good stories to boot, there had just been a few too many of them at once for his temperament. As soon as they were out of earshot and eyesight, Porkchop let out a groan and shook himself vigorously. "By the matriarchs, pretending to be stupid is fucking exhausting." he grumbled. Kaius laughed, and even Ianmus, for all of his differences to the meles, cracked a wide smile. "You did great, buddy, seriously." he replied, scratching his brother behind the ear. He got a snort in response. "Thanks for your faith in my ability to be a moron." Setting off at a brisk pace, they cut their way across the countryside. At first, it was little more than the familiar lush grasses broken up by the occasional tree or bush, but as they pushed further and further east the trees started to get thicker, small copses and clusters appearing every league or two. Not anywhere near enough to be a forest, but certainly far closer to Kaius''s preferred environment than bloody empty fields. They even had a moment of excitement when a troupe of mole-things burst from the earth and set upon them in a swarm of excited chitters, each swipe of their long claws spraying them with shards of hardened stone. Not enough to truly blood them, not with their growing strength, but it was enough to push him over the edge of level twenty-three, and net him a level of Drakthar and Uncanny Dodge both. As the sun dipped over the horizon, they made camp beneath a drooping willow tree, finding some shelter from the low wind by its draping canopy. Sitting by a flickering fire of scavenged deadwood and leaning bodily into his brother''s dozing side, Kaius looked over to Ianmus. "So, now that we''re alone. This mana-burn thing. Any idea why it hasn''t affected me?" Ianmus sighed, tapping his hand against his knee. "Honestly? Not a clue, I don''t have the barest theoretical understanding of how your magic works. You willing to share?" Staring into the fire, Kaius thought about it. While there was some risk, it was minimal when you considered everything else Ianmus already knew. Hells, no doubt the simple fact that runic spellcasting was possible and somehow tied to body formations would probably be enough for a master to tinker with, even if it would take them months to make any real headway. Still, he already had his class, and with its requirements he didn''t see anyone catching up to him any time soon. "We started with a complex binding formation that networked itself closely to the body''s mana flows. That''s the backbone. The spells are separate, each similar to the spell-forms inscribed on artefacts with active effects." Kaius explained, casually sketching out diagrams in the dirt. Ianmus leaned in to get a better look. "Spellforms are inherently unstable without a stabilising structure, in this case the glyph. But, there''s a problem." "If they''re stably linked, you need to channel to use them?" Ianmus interjected animatedly. "Got it in one. Instead, if you tweak them a little, you can effectively pre-channel the spell, forcing the spell-form to hold its potential and lock away a section of your pool. Though, the trade off is it takes far longer." he continued, weaving tight little whorls of mana inside a vague approximation of a Lothian array. "But that... surely that would make it even less stable?" Ianmus asked incredulously, staring at his drawings with fascination plain on his face. He nodded. It did, and his father had gotten stuck on that part for months. Drawing in the ground, Kaius sketched a little channel between his fake glyph and him, before drawing a bunch of lines tying them together. "Extra stabilising arrays, and a ruinously complex control mechanism to hold onto the mana with an iron grip helps with that part. It''s surprisingly stable. Until, that is, you nudge the working with a little will." He cut though the edge of the spell array, fully connecting it to the glyph through the channel. "-and all of that unstable mana is forced through the working in an instant, purely due to its own directed collapse and the natural nature of mana." Ianmus finished for him, dawning understanding glowing like a fire in his eyes. "That''s...that''s brilliant." "I''m glad someone else understands, because I swear that every time he talks about it, it''s as understandable to me as watching a boar try to fly." Porkchop snorted, watching on with interest. Kaius grinned, it was true. He''d tried to tell Porkchop about it at first, but his brother had no patience for the finer intricacies of runecraft and magic. Ianmus looked back to the sketch, tapping his fingers on his chin. "Well, if this holds true for your newer, more complex glyphs, I don''t actually think you can get mana-burn. Or, at the very least, you are far more resistant to it than most." "Oh?" Kaius replied, tilting his head at the mage. "Why not?" "Well, it''s pretty simple isn''t it? You''re not actually carrying the load of that spell on your circuits, it''s all done ahead of time. That much unstable mana would give you mild mana-burn every single time you cast if it did, so at the very least your glyphs acting like conduits must be bearing a significant portion of the load." Ianmus explained. Kaius sighed in relief, slumping back into the warm wall of fur behind him. "Thank the gods, I was worried I would have to steer clear of any high cost spells in the future." "We both know you wouldn''t even if you did get mana-burn." Ianmus laughed, followed quickly by Porkchop''s own rumbling chuckles. "He''s got you there." Kaius rolled his eyes, but took the teasing on the chin. Afterall, they weren''t really wrong. With his worries answered, their conversation moved to more light hearted topics, and Kaius busied himself with cooking their evening meal. In all likelihood, they would reach the expected range of their target by noon the day after tomorrow, and would likely run into more beasts as they entered Hanset Woods even earlier than that. For now though, Kaius simply enjoyed a little easy conversation amongst even easier company. B2 Chapter 209: Fear, pt. 1 B2 Chapter 209: Fear, pt. 1 The noise cut through the silence like a knife. It was shrill, high pitched, and desperate. Hells, it was barely loud¡ªa squeak of surprise that had been stifled quickly. Far from anything that could be described as a clamouring rallying cry, bringing down the whole warren on their heads. That didn¡¯t stop the wave of dread that rushed through his chest, binding his lungs and throat in barbed wire. Heart racing, Kaius lurched to the noise before he¡¯d even finished processing what had caused it¡ªsword pulled back for a stab. A boggart came into view¡ªstill as a statue, a haunch of smoked meat held halfway risen to its fangs. It was crouched low, eyes frozen wide as it stared at them in uncomprehending shock. Kaius¡¯s kick off the ground sent him racing towards it, approaching with the full weight of his swiftness behind him. It lurched, realising that it was under attack as its surprise faded. A great, heaving gasp expanded in its chest¡ªlungs working like bellows. A building scream. Kaius touched the ground in front of it, rolling his shoulders into a desperate stab. Fine and sharp, the point of A Father¡¯s Gift ripped through the intervening space. Flesh and bone parted with a meaty thwack and a kick of resistance, his sword erupting from the back of its head. **Ding! level 50 Boggart - Scavenger slain - Experience Gained!** Blood dripped from its point as he let go of his blade, sweeping forwards to wrap the body in his cloak, catching its dead weight in his arms. Heaving the body up, he raced back to his team. ¡°Leather storeroom¡ªnow!¡± he hissed as quietly as he could, ears straining for any sign that the noise had been caught by the bugbears only a few bends down the tunnel. As a single unit, they raced to the next room¡ªonly fourty or so sides away. Slipping into the room, Kaius hurriedly dumped the body¡ªgrimacing as he felt that tacky wetness of blood that had soaked into the fibres of his cloak. Moving quickly, he pulled hides off the pile that reached up one half of the wall, covering the evidence of their deeds. With blood roaring in his veins, he moved to the door, pressing himself deep into the heavily shadowed wall. Porkchop was directly across the doorway from him, Ianmus safely hidden behind his bulk. Unless a bugbear poked his head straight into the room, they were hidden. Waiting in tense silence, Kaius shifted his blade into a high stance, ready to cleave through anything that stepped through the door. From his angle, he kept his eye on the pantry. He couldn¡¯t believe it. What on all that was holy was their luck? A thieving boggart being the one to catch them? It felt ridiculous, after all the time and care they had spent creeping their way through the nest. Swallowing through a dry lump on his throat, he kept his ears sharp for any sign of approach. The bugbears were definitely close enough to hear the shriek, even if it had been quiet enough that he doubted it would have been heard by the boggarts further through the tunnel they had yet to explore. Staring at the sight of their discovery, Kaius¡¯s eyes went wide as he realised that the haunch of dried meat the boggart had been eating was still sitting in plain sight of the door. Evidence that something unscrupulous had occurred¡ªeven if it didn¡¯t give away everything. He hardened his heart, readying himself to dash from their cover and secure the meat that might incite further curiosity from any investigators. Only to hear the sound of approaching footsteps coming from further up the tunnel. Multiple sets of clomping footfalls, echoing on the hard stone. Bugbears. He grit his teeth, sharing a look with Porkchop. ¡°Can you tell how many?¡± he asked through their bond. Porkchop nodded. ¡°Four.¡± Kaius scowled. If it had been one or two, they would have had a decent chance of taking them out unawares before an alarm went out. With four, it was all but impossible. Their moment of stealth might have come to a premature end. Still, he wanted to try. If there was any chance they could continue to thin the herd, or get a decent look at the full numbers of the plague, he wanted to give it a shot. ¡°Steady yourself¡ªwe lose nothing by waiting until we¡¯re discovered. There¡¯s still a chance that they just think it''s a thieving boggart.¡± he said, wishing that hope alone would be enough to secure such an eventuality. The steps grew closer, a new light reflecting off the far bend of the tunnel. Torches. The bugbears were close. ¡°And if they leave, searching for the offender, and stumble across the dead bodies?¡± Porkchop asked, tilting his head at them. ¡°Then we follow¡ªtry to take them out far from the tunnel we have yet to explore, and hope that the sounds of our clash do not travel. Fill in Ianmus.¡± Porkchop nodded. With their plan set, Kaius fell back to watching the approaching figures closely, nerves stretched to a breaking point. It was a strange sensation¡ªone that Kaius hadn¡¯t expected. They¡¯d been handed this mission specially by the guildmaster. Sure, it would push them in ways different than they were used to, and he had an inkling that it was supposed to be as much of a learning experience as it was a true mission, but he had full confidence in their abilities to see it through. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. It was just...stressful, not knowing if they would be discovered or not. He was trying to treat this whole enterprise with a little more care and intention than he normally would, and knowing they might be discovered fell a little too close to something that felt like failure for comfort. The bugbears rounded the corner¡ªfour of them, just like Porkchop had said. Two were holding torches up high, the group searching the hallway for signs of what had made the disturbance. Much to Kaius¡¯s relief, they weren¡¯t moving with the urgency he would expect if they had thought there were intruders. Instead they looked bored, and annoyed. Like leaving their fire to investigate the noise was a chore. A good sign¡ªhopefully they would see the half eaten meat, and write it off as a thieving boggart scaring itself in the middle of its heist. Still, even if they weren¡¯t aware of his team''s presence, the bugbears were still ready for trouble. The two holding torches were armed with clubs reinforced with bands of what looked like iron scavenged from a barrel brace, while the others held spears with wicked stone points. They¡¯d clearly been crafted with far more care than the weaponry of the general rabble¡ªeven the stone spear-tips looked like they¡¯d been made from some sort of mana-imbued stone, the glinting firelight throwing off a faint green sparkle. Sweeping their eyes across the cavern, the bugbears marched straight for the larder. Kaius held his breath as they looked in, worried that even the faintest noise would give him away. One of the bugbears holding a torch growled, stepping and waving his torch through the room. As a group, Kaius saw every single one of their eyes snap to the dropped morsel of flesh that he¡¯d been left behind. Their frustration and anger at the theft was clear, some unintelligible argument of snapping growls and snarls. They split off, entering the store room as they swept it from corner to corner¡ªlooking for the offender that would dare to steal from the larder. Unsuccessful in their search, it seemed like they were at odds about what to do next. Three of the bugbears waved their hands wildly at the remainder¡ªone of the two with a torch. When one bugbear jutted a clawed thumb back the way they had come, the torchbearer snarled, shaking its head before it punctuated a choked off word with a snap of its jaws. Its companions shrugged at it, looking between themselves before they turned and left¡ªjostling each other as they set off back towards their camp further down the tunnel. Kaius steadied himself against the wall, watching them leave as a surprising wave of relief washed through him at the trio''s departure. Only a single one remained, staring into the larder with suspicious intensity. One bugbear¡ªthat they could deal with. Keeping his blade ready, Kaius watched the torchbearer step back into the room. It crouched down, right where he had slain the boggart. Reaching out with one cruelly clawed finger, it swiped its digit across the stone before rubbing its finger against its thumb. Blood, Kaius realised with a start as he saw the dark smear that spread between its fingertips. The bugbear sniffed deeply, before tasting the evidence of their crimes. A cruel sneer spread across its face, revealing yellowed fangs¡ªstubby and short. Rising to its full height, it snapped in the direction of its departing allies. For a long moment, Kaius was worried it would call them back to assist, only for the monster to turn in his direction and start to walk¡ªclub raised and ready. He swore that its beady and cruel eyes¡ªdeeply set in its brutish face¡ªwere staring directly at him, tearing apart his secrets. Of course, he was deeply drenched in the darkness, but it was still unnerving. Glancing across to Porkchop, his brother gave him the slightest nod. He was ready¡ªeven if Porkchop couldn¡¯t see the bugbear, he could still hear him coming this way. Kaius adjusted his grip, sweaty palms making his hilt slick. Another step brought their enemy closer to its eventual death. Every stride it approached, the light from its flickering and dim torch illuminated more of the storeroom of hides. It was only by the angle of their positions that they weren¡¯t spotted, obscured by shadows and stone. The bugbear narrowed its eyes at the far wall. Clearly, it had noticed the hodgepodge rearrangement of their stocks that Kaius had been forced to make when he had hidden the body of the thief. It picked up its place, stomping forward with a face of glowering disgust, fixated on the rounded form that had been stashed beneath stacked leather. Convinced, perhaps, that it had found the cowering thief that had yelped after cutting itself in the larder¡ªtoo stupid to flee properly. It stepped through the threshold. Kaius struck. As did his brother. Crystal and steel descended with the blurring conviction of final judgement, paired with half-moons of sacred jade that sought to consecrate whatever remained. There was only the soft sound of flesh parting and the muffled crack of bone giving way. Kaius buried his blade in the bugbears head, the point of Porkchop¡¯s claws punching through the back of its skull. **Ding! level 62 Bugbear - Brawling Smasher slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 52!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** The bugbear¡¯s body went limp, and Porkchop shifted forwards to catch it with an upswept paw. They¡¯d been quick¡ªstriking with enough speed and fury to remove the threat without noise. Kaius moved quickly, moving the body to a far corner of the room, covering the evidence of their deeds in more carefully stacked leather¡ªusing a few sheets of the same to mop up what he could of the blood they had spilled. With his Truesight improving in their trek through the darkness, it stood out plainly to him. Standing back to assess his work, he thought it good enough to pass a cursory inspection¡ªbut it would only last so long. ¡°That went as well as it could, but we¡¯re on a time limit now.¡± he whispered, eyes roving the room to see if there was anything else they could do to delay discovery. ¡°Eventually the others are going to get suspicious that our dead bugbear hasn¡¯t returned.¡± ¡°We could get lucky, they might assume he¡¯s off beating some boggart half to death.¡± Porkchop replied. Ianmus shook his head. ¡°We¡¯d be fools to rely on that.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Kaius nodded at the mage¡¯s words. ¡°We check the final corridor¡ªif we¡¯re lucky, we can clear some more sleepers before an alarm goes off. At the very least we¡¯ll know more of the structure of this place before we start an earnest assault.¡± Poking his head out of the room, Kaius confirmed that the coast was clear before he waved at his team to join him. ¡°Let¡¯s move.¡± They raced down the cave passage, retracing their steps as fast as they could remain quiet. .... Drorome watched the young delvers leave, wondering why she¡¯d let Rieker put her up to this. She¡¯d followed him to their post at Deadacre out of loyalty¡ªso many years of delving together were not so easily forgotten¡ªbut did he really have to give her so much to do? At least Kaius had left¡ªit was annoying how active she had to be about staying out of his line of sight. She had no doubt she¡¯d be able to best his ocular skill, but less certain she¡¯d be able to prevent any feedback. Knowledge that something was there would ruin this whole exercise just as much as getting properly spotted would. She eyed the stashed bodies, cocking one brow at the slow seep of blood that was running free from the stacked hides. Shoddy work¡ªbut about as best as could be expected considering their general approach to things. It wouldn¡¯t be long now. Chapter 171 - B2 169: Commute, Finale Crossing open fields that were gradually shifting into light woods, Kaius walked with his team. His eyes roved over the various clusters of trees that dominated the flat horizon, searching their depths for any sign of beasts that might challenge them. While there were plenty of them about, it seemed there weren''t all that many of a large enough size to truly want to tussle with their group. Something that would no doubt change as they grew in strength. Beast bloodlines were odd things, and as more variants appeared, he had no doubt that even a common crow could become a threat. While he would normally travel mounted for the speed advantage, with Ianmus there was really no point, and it felt more than a little rude to subject Porkchop to his weight for no reason. Still, as the day had passed them, Kaius had been unable to get the conversation he and Ianmus had the previous night out of his head. There was so little that he knew of the glyphs that he had received from his class, and with all the excitement he''d yet to take the opportunity to really study them. While he no longer possessed a true knowledge skill, Tonal Weaving did increase his comprehension of the glyphs and hymns granted to him by the system. With the addition of his Bladerite, he finally had another point of comparison. With how quiet this leg of their trip was being, his curiosity gnawed at him. It settled on his mind like an itch, sucking at his focus. Every few moments he caught himself staring at nothing, thinking on the structure of his glyphs. He sighed. Until he gave in and actually checked how much he was able to glean from comparing his two skills, he would be a useless scout. As it was, he was liable to miss something right in front of his face. "Mind if I hop on? I want to meditate on my glyphs a little." he asked, tapping Porkchop on the shoulder to grab his attention. "Finally." his brother snorted. "You really don''t need to put that much pressure on yourself to keep watch. I''m here too, you know, and it''s not like you''ll be insensate if you''re just sitting there with your eyes closed." Rolling his eyes at his brother''s jab, Kaius grabbed one of the leather straps on Porkchop''s barding and leapt into his saddle. Leaning forwards, he ruffled his brother''s fur before settling back and getting comfortable. Honestly, with the impact absorption of the stone charger leather, it cradled him better than almost anything else he''d sat on. Closing his eyes, Kaius brought his glyphs to the forefront of his mind''s eye, tuning out the idle chatter that had started between Porkchop and Ianmus. Mustering his will, he drew on everything he had learned¡ªall of the sacred geometry and runic mystery of Drakthar, Stormlash, and Bladerite coming to mind at once. A dull ache throbbed at the back of his skull; the task a precarious thing that was only possible thanks to the Vesryn formations having been burnt into his mind by the will of the system. At first, it was almost impossible to keep them all in focus. His mind would drift, focusing on one working to sharpen its edges, only for the others to become hazy and unfocused. Forcing himself to relax, Kaius took a slow breath and allowed himself to let go of the desire to clutch any single aspect of the workings, filling in the details piece by piece. His effort was not in vain. Minute by minute, all three workings grew increasingly clear in his mind. **Ding! True Sight has reached level 36!** **Ding! Tonal Weaving has reached level 30!** ... **Ding! Tonal Weaving has reached level 31!** Eventually all of them burned in his mind, as crisp as if he had spent hours lavishly rendering them on parchment. Now the true work could begin. Mentally distancing himself from the workings, he rotated them in his mind, viewing them from every angle. That was the true problem with the inscrutable Vesryn magic; they were three dimensional. He couldn''t just write them down. Honestly, without the skill and power to render them in the real with raw manipulation abilities, or mundane carving, he truly had no idea how someone would even go about learning the damn things. Thank the gods he could visualise them. Watching them closely, Kaius started to compare, attempting to find any sources of similarity. On a superficial level, there were none. At least, that''s what he thought at first. The runes that made up each one were different in nature, though there were commonalities. He suspected that rather than being wrought from the same runic language, Vesryn might have been made up of a small collection. Though, far different from his original glyph, they seemed to share the same base level principles. It was the little things, the same symmetry in sacred geometry, and extremely similar cadences to the lines of runes. He had no idea what any of it did, but he could spot the similarities. A common root. It was most stark with Stormlash and Drakthar, which made sense considering that one relied on the other to function. They both had the same aggressive bent¡ªexaggerated flicks, acute angles, and slashing lines. Yet neither were utterly alien when compared to the Bladerite, all of them seemed to follow a similar grammar structure, and he could even spy a couple of common characters shared between all of them, though more were present in his spell glyph and hymn. Kaius hummed, a small frown of surprise crossing his mouth. That was...unexpected, and utterly unlike any other runic language he knew of. Sure, all runes had similar principles, but each language was its own thing, and he had never heard of runes being shared across different scripts. It flew completely in the face of what he knew of sacred geometry. Each rune affected mana in a specific way, combining with others to make an effect. If, at the end of the day, they were interoperable, wouldn''t that make them all part of the same language after all? But why the extreme stylistic disparity? If it was a language, it was one with far more depth and nuance than he was used to. What''s more, he could see other similarities between Drakthar and his Bladerite that weren''t shared with Stormlash. Comparable clusters and arrays of unknown function, but with a broadly similar shape and placement within the overall working. ...Strange, but curious. Regardless, it was far too complex for him to work through now, not with how few examples he had. Hopefully there would be more glyphs in the future, and as Tonal Weaving grew he would be far better positioned to tease out their secrets. Releasing the images with a sigh, Kaius felt the throb at the back of his head dissipate as he stopped pulling his mind in three different directions. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Rather than open his eyes, he decided to take the opportunity to think more on aspects. After all, Ekum the Pale had said it would take combat and meditation, and who was he to ignore the advice of a god? They were related to personal truths; that much had been made clear by both Ekum and the system itself. Yet...he knew little of what sort of truth they might be. What did he know about himself, truly and deeply? Pausing, Kaius thought back on the life he had lived, and the path of hardship he had walked. Comfort and predictable security went right out the door, they were pleasant things, but not something he held overly dear. Hells, every time he''d come close to them, he''d started to get itchy within days. No, he much preferred the excitement of the unknown, and the guttural rush that came from pushing up against external pressure and challenges. It was the struggle that he truly loved, the clawing fight to work his way just another hair closer to his goals. That exhilarating thrill to race to the finish, besting all who would contest him. Victory, and satisfaction. Something deep within him thrummed. Just. Barely even a quiver really, but he felt it all the same. His heart thumped, kicking like a mule in his chest as he dived into his soulspace, the rising pillars of his aspects before him in an instant. They were...still. Unmoving. Irritation welled, frustrated energy bucking against his calm focus. Suppressing the desire to snap his eyes open and jump to the ground in frustration, Kaius slowly worked through his previous thoughts. There had been something¡ªno way he had imagined it. Struggle and success was a thread he could follow. It was something he''d known about himself early, that once he had chosen a path for himself, his mind closed on it like a vice, and little would dissuade him from reaching it. Another pulse. Watching from within his soul-space, Kaius saw his soul...quiver. Barely even a ripple, but it was movement all the same. Simultaneously, one of his pillars¡ªthe one he innately knew to be Mentis¡ªreacted with the barest hint of an attractive force. Desperately, Kaius dived into his memories, offering up proof of his assertions. Fighting through the depths, throwing himself against ''unbeatable'' odds, suffering through his resistance training, and devoting every hour he could to finishing his legacy. It wasn''t enough. Ephemeral as the breeze, the pulsing connection between his Mentis and his soul gutted out before anything more occurred. The thread was gone. "Fuck." Kaius thought to himself, balling his fists until his nails bit painfully into his palms. He took a deep breath, balling up the aimless negativity, before letting it go with his exhale. Frustration was meaningless. What mattered was that he had felt something¡ªa truth that had resonated within him. It was a thread, and one he could follow. Though, perhaps not right now. Filled with bundled tension, he longed to stretch his legs. No doubt there was some element of epiphany and revelation to the aspects, and those couldn''t be forced. Like Ekum had said, it would take time and meditation to understand. Opening his eyes, Kaius found himself confronted with Porkchop craning his head to look at him with curiosity, Ianmus doing the same. "What?" Kaius asked, patting himself down to make sure that nothing embarrassing had happened while he was distracted. "You were muttering." Ianmus offered. "And cursing a lot." Porkchop finished. Pushing his hair out of his face, Kaius sighed. "Sorry, just got a little frustrated. Started with a headache from visualising my glyphs, and then got worse when I tried meditating on ''truths''." he explained, curling his raised fingers as he finished his final word. Ianmus groaned in commiseration. "I know what you mean. I''ve been meditating on them almost every night since we got the global notification, but I have yet to make any headway. Not even a glimmer of a feeling to let me know i''m moving in the right direction." Letting out a cough, Kaius scratched his head. Knowing that he had felt something when an academic like Ianmus hadn''t was both gratifying, and a little awkward. In all honesty, he could admit it was petulant to get frustrated in the face of progress, even if it was small. "Well. That''s the thing. I felt something. Barely anything, but something." Kaius said softly, as if it would soften the blow. It didn''t. Porkchop and Ianmus narrowed their eyes at him in unison, though neither slowed their pace across the open grasslands. "Details, please." Porkchop said slowly, craning his neck to fix him with an intense one-eyed stare. "Yes, Kaius. Tell us how you managed to stumble across a lead to the greatest mystery of our generation in a half hour of meditation." Ianmus said, shaking his head. "I swear to the gods, prodigies are something else." Kaius rolled his eyes at the melodrama. Clearly, the two were jealous of the ironclad proof of his genius. Theatrics aside, he was happy to share. Porkchop was his brother, and, much like Honours, figuring out Aspects would bind Ianmus to their pact of secrecy. That, and he was an intelligent man who would no doubt be of great aid to figuring out their secrets. "Well, it was honestly rather simple. I was thinking about things I thought were fundamental pillars of who I was as a person. I ended up thinking about how much I crave struggle and a lofty goal to strive towards, and how I can often be single minded in my pursuit of them." Kaius explained. "And that was enough to figure out an Aspect?" Porkchop asked with incredulous disbelief. Kaius shook his head vigorously. "No, of course not. It was barely a glimmer of a reaction, I tried to follow it, take the thread deeper, but it slipped away from me. Must have been off the mark somehow." "More importantly, I''m far more interested in what that reaction was. Was it just a feeling?" Ianmus asked, searching his face as if the secrets he was looking for were hiding just beneath his skin. "At first, it was just a feeling that disappeared quickly, but, when I repeated it again inside my soulspace, I saw my soul...flicker for lack of a better term. The lightest of pulses within its depths that rippled across its surface. Mentis reacted, pulling on my soul-fire by just a hair. I wasn''t able to get much more than that, it slipped away from me quickly. Hence the frustration." Kaius explained, still feeling irritated that he hadn''t been able to gain anything more concrete. Ianmus nodded, his brow furrowing in thought. "Well, that''s not all that much, but at least we have confirmation it''s to do with our understanding of ourselves." Porkchop suggested, watching dutifully ahead. "I''m not so sure that''s the only thing we learned." Ianmus murmured. "The bond you two share, it links your souls like other bond skills, correct?" Kaius nodded, while there were many differences between his and Porkchop''s bond of equals, and a traditional bond skill, that much was at least true. "Then why was Porkchop not able to feel the pulse in your soul?" Ianmus asked, curious. Kaius''s eyes widened. Ianmus was right, he and Porkchop were bound so totally that simple surface level emotion flooded their connection with ease. Their actual souls shone brightly to each others senses, and something so integral to their being like a shift in that fire should have been immediately obvious. "Can you think of why?" Kaius asked. Ianmus shrugged, giving him an apologetic look. "I honestly have no idea. It could be that whatever you touched on was so subtle it slipped Porkchop''s notice, or it could be that whatever processes involve the Aspects are so personal it is occluded from him. Either way, it''s a clue." Kaius sighed. Great, another floating thread with little of substance to use to unravel the ensnared knot of unknowns. He resigned himself to let the mystery lie, for now at least. He was too worked up to do anymore today. Frustrating or no, it was still a lead. Far more than most people had. He resolved himself to meditating on the topic with far more regularity than he had been. Leaving the discovery of aspects to chance was something he had no interest in. After all, it was almost certain the first one there would get an Honour for their efforts, and the longer he could keep the secret of those from escaping into the wider world, the less he would have to worry about competition. Shaking his head, Kaius cleared his mind of tantalising secrets and slid from the saddle. Ultimately, it was a future problem and a future goal. Right now he was hunting a spider, and they had planning to do. Chapter 172 - B2 170: The First Job pt. 1 In the day and a half since his minor revelation on his Mentis aspect, Kaius was completely unsuccessful in exploring the strange reaction further. In the handful of times he''d meditated, he''d only managed to get a similar reaction once more, the others leading to nothing but frustration. Though even that was fading as he resigned himself to the discovery of his Aspects being an inscrutable and lengthy process. His days, at least, were far more exciting. The light covering of trees slowly grew denser, slowly enclosing the ever shrinking patches of open grasses until they were little more than clear meadows scattered through a light forest. It was an interesting experience. In some ways it was familiar, a lesser cousin to the Sea. Trees as far as the eyes could see, and the familiar smell of wood, rotting leaves, and abundant life. In others, it was utterly alien. While this might have been a wood, it was a far cry from what Kaius considered to be the real thing, and even further from the deep reaches that Porkchop had called his home. Here, even the grandest and most venerable oak was a pale reflection of the specimens he considered typical. Their tallest just barely matching the average growth of the endless mat of life that covered the north-western reaches of Vaastivar. It was still nice to be back in the comforting embrace of a forest again, though; even if this one left so much blue sky visible through its thin canopy that he may as well have been in an open field. That was the main difference, Kaius decided. The story behind how the Arboreal Sea had gotten its name was a rather simple one, and one that had delighted him as a child. The trees were so large, so densely packed, that when you looked up all you saw was a sea of green¡ªthat, and the undergrowth was so dense in some parts that looking down was yet more endless green. Still, even if the Hanset Woods were small and insignificant in comparison to his home, they were still dense enough that navigating required some active focus. Kaius took the lead for the group, relying on Explorer''s Toolkit to keep them on a steady heading, and to steer them clear of any potential ambushes. It had already done so. Five times. Once was a simple mundane beehive, though one of impressive scale. He''d steered them around that, though he''d had to be rather forceful when Porkchop had gotten fixated on the prospect of ''free honey, literally just sitting there''. Unfortunately for his brother, neither he nor Ianmus had Porkchop''s thick hide, and were in no mood for warding off a swarm of stinging insects. The others had been genuine ambushes. First, a bear, then a bloody warg of all things, then another bear, and two separate packs of wolves. Ridiculous, but also fun. All but the bears had been lower level than them, so he''d only been able to squeeze a handful of skill levels and a single level for his class. Still, it got the blood pumping, and the bear meat was good for a stew, what with the plentiful seasonal berries they had been gorging themselves on. Eventually, the sun still rising on its arc through the sky, Kaius spotted what he had been looking for. A gap in the trees, sun shining brilliantly on a strip of land that had been clear cut. Easily a hundred-fifty strides wide, felled stumps littered the gap¡ªonly torn free to make way for a wide packed dirt road that had been scattered with gravel. The road between Intshire and Holsbourrough, if his navigation had steered them right. Hurrying forwards, Kaius reached the edge of the treeline and poked his head out. Leaning on True Sight, he peered far in either direction, searching for threats¡ªand any sign of their wayward giant spider. The coast was clear, the road entirely empty apart from a single deer sprinting across the gap between the trees, a solid quarter league to his right. Turning back, he gave his waiting companions a confident nod. "Thank the gods, it''s so good to be able to see more than a dozen strides in front of me." Ianmus sighed. "You''re weird, for an elf." Porkchop replied, cocking his head at Ianmus. "Half-elf remember, and no matter where my father is from, I''m a city boy through and through." Ianmus replied with a grumble. Kaius chuckled at the man''s discomfort. While he was right that there was no reason people of elvish descent had to like forests, it was still a little bizarre that Ianmus seemed so actively disconcerted by the close press of the forest proper. While the rest of their trio continued to bicker good naturedly, Kaius went to Porkchop''s side and retrieved his notebook. He flicked through the pages, mentally tallying their overland route and cross referencing it with his notes of the guild maps and recognisable features that he had used as way points. No doubt they were a couple of leagues off in either direction, but he''d chosen this stretch of road to cover for that variability. Either way, their target should just be a handful of leagues to their right, along the road. As many as ten, and as little as two. With their walking speed significantly faster than an unenhanced man could ever manage, they would undoubtedly reach the spider by the afternoon at the latest. Nodding to himself he stowed his notes and clapped, drawing both of his companions attention. "This way." he said, leading his group to the road. "Alright, this stretch of road is straight enough that I''ll be able to see a good league any given moment. We should be able to spot the spider plenty easy, since the mission briefing mentioned that everyone who had survived an encounter with it was ambushed on the road itself." Kaius said, discussing their plan. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. "And you''re sure that you''ll be able to spot it with your illusion piercing skill?" Ianmus asked, double checking that he was confident. Kaius nodded. From what they''d heard, the spider mostly relied on staying still to make full use of its illusions. If whatever skill it was using was not powerful enough to manage anything better than a blur while using it, then it shouldn''t be that powerful of a skill. Unless its skill level was significantly higher than expected, he should have no problems. "Our main goal will be to get it to attack us. It''s an ambush predator that makes use of webs. Confronting it in its nest is probably the worst thing we could possibly do." Kaius explained, before he turned his full attention to Ianmus. "What''s the range on that beam attack that you used against the bramble ball, and how accurate are you with it?" Ianmus thought for a moment. "If you want me to cast afterwards, it''ll have to be about half as much mana. About a league, if my mental maths is right. As for accuracy?" Ianmus gave him an easy and confident grin. "I went to Sunspire; target shooting is one of the primary ways the student body is made to compete with each other. I won, always. Give me somewhere to point, and I''ll hit it." Kaius nodded. That was more than enough for him. "Once I''ve spotted the spider, you open with that, and we''ll draw it in. Or, if it runs, track it down before it can regenerate its pool. After your spell, just focus on enhancing me and Porkchop, and taking out its eyes if you get the chance. Ianmus nodded at his words, and he turned his attention to Porkchop. "Our job is to give it a warm welcome. We focus on the legs, try to remove as much mobility as we can. It''s supposed to be a quick bastard, so the faster we do that the safer we will be. As soon as it draws close, you use your new skill and yank it towards you. I''ll keep it fried with Stormlash while you take out as many as you can." Kaius explained. Porkchop nodded. "What of after, when the battle is in full swing?" Kaius shrugged. They''d fought together enough at this point that he was confident they could handle it. He''d always been of the opinion that too complicated of a plan of attack just slowed people down, and could cause issues if people waited too long to abandon it if it was no longer viable. Fundamental roles worked far better. "You hold its attention and hit it hard, I harass and smash it in its dangly bits, Ianmus heals us and zaps it in the eyes, nice and simple." "And if it goes after me?" Ianmus asked, a mild frown on his face. Kaius nodded. "It''s unlikely, as we''ll be very in its face, and the immediate threat. Porkchop, if it does, use your new skill. Everyone happy with that?" Receiving nods in return, Kaius took the lead once more as they walked down the road, his eyes focusing with trained intensity as he kept watch for the slightest hint of something being out of place. .... His head throbbing from the intensity of his extended use of True Sight, Kaius finally spotted what he had been waiting for. There, maybe three-hundred long-strides down the road, a faint waver crossing the body of the road. He halted, throwing a hand out to get his companions to do the same. Wordlessly he focused, ignoring the eye-watering spike of pain that accompanied the action. Whatever it was, it was faint. Barely visible, a shimmer in the air like heat rising off sunbaked rocks. True Sight protested, his brow furrowed. The shimmer intensified. He grit his teeth, willing his skill to reveal the truth of what was there. It shattered the illusory shimmer. **Ding! True Sight has reached level 37!** Threads glowing with mana popped into his vision, so thin that they would have been invisible without True Sight. Glistening in the midday sun, they stretched across the road by the hundreds. A glistening carpet woven at waist height, threaded between the trunks and stretching more than a hundred strides down the road. It didn''t look like a trap. Not really. The threads were too thin, and far too far appart to hold anything of significant size. Kaius knew that spiders didn''t just use webs as a sticky trap, they were also sensors. Strings to let the beast know when something passed. He whipped his eyes to the forest''s edges, searching for his opponent. It tried to hide, masking itself in the same magic that had hidden its snare. It didn''t work¡ªhe had the measure of the ability now¡ªand it shattered like glass before the power of his legacy skill. It was a hideous thing, mottled white and bile yellow, covered in a dense carpet of finger-length hairy bristles. Lurking in the crown of a tree, it watched them with eight glistening eyes the colour of ruby wine. Too many legs for any sane man to be comfortable held up its impressive bulk, distributing its weight between eight different branches. Let alone the fangs, as big as his forearm with venom actively dripping to pool in the boroughs of the trunk beneath it. What''s more, breaking the spider''s magic revealed the totality of the destruction it had wrought. Shattered waggons littered the tree line, lines of carved earth showing where they had been crudely dragged from the road. Easily a dozen of them, if not more. There were no bodies, no remains. No doubt consumed by the spider. The lost souls who had fallen beneath its fangs would have their succour, he would make sure of it. "I see it." Kaius murmured, keeping his stance relaxed as he looked away from the beast. No need to give the game away just yet. "How big is it? Is it really the size of a horse?" Porkchop asked, morbid curiosity flooding their link. Kaius chuckled. Perhaps a draught-horse, but it was far larger than the average gelding, that was for sure. "Please tell me it''s as big as a horse, I don''t like the sound of that laugh." Ianmus said, blanching the thought. "Let''s call it big-horse sized." He relented, though it was a little funny how much it bothered them. He hated spiders as much as the next person, but they were going to smash the damn thing. What better way to work through the discomfort? "Level and tags?" Porkchop asked. "Checking now." He flicked his eyes back to the spider, bringing up its system information. Veiled Assassin Spider- Level 81: Beast, Ambusher, Elite Kaius bared his fangs, the system''s words brewing a storm of competition deep within his belly. Now wasn''t that interesting. Maybe fifty levels higher would be enough for another Honour? Chapter 173 - B2 171: The First Job pt 2. Flicking his eyes back to the hulking brute of an arachnid that lay nestled in the crown of an oak, Kaius pondered their assault. The garish white and yellow of its carapace took on a new meaning now that he had seen its description. Danger. A welcome one, that could springboard their growth if they approached this battle right, but one that would also take care in how they handled the fight. This would be as fierce as fighting the Champions had been, he could feel it. That same prickling intensity of heightened awareness was present, the sensation of every facet of his being coming alive, zapping him with tiny jolts, right down to his bones. Veiled Assassin Spider- Level 81: Beast, Ambusher, Elite Level eighty-one was an extreme jump, but he thought they could manage. At least, he and Porkchop could. Between their heroic classes and Honours, they were gaining an average of fourteen stats per level, let alone their flat bonuses. While he didn''t know exactly what being an Elite meant for their opponent¡ªother than the few elites they had faced in the Depths being stronger than their levels had implied, much like the Champions and Guardian¡ªhe had to assume that it did not have a massive edge on them as far as pure statistics went. Skills too, while it almost certainly had them handedly trounced on the basis of levels, he and Porkchop without a doubt held the advantage in quality. Their resident mage on the other hand... Ianmus was fucked if they let the spider reach him. It was worth the risk. While there was no guarantee of there being an Honour waiting for them if they won, Kaius thought the chances were pretty good. He already had an Honour for slaying an enemy thirty five levels above him as an unclassed, and as far as he knew no one in the first tier fought things that far above them, not even with a large team. Such a gap, against an elite, in what the system would consider a team of two? Before they''d even reached level fifty? That was exactly the sort of feat of strength that he could see the system rewarding. That honour was vital, not just for growing his own personal might, but to bind Ianmus closer to his cause. Kaius''s mind raced, trying to figure out how he could get Ianmus to commit to the assault. With the way both he and Porkchop were staring at him expectantly, waiting for his response, he knew he only had a couple of moments before suspicions started. "I need you to back me on this. No questions, just follow my lead." Kaius pushed through his link with Porkchop. Without waiting for his brother''s response, he turned to Ianmus. "We must do this. I cannot explain, not right now, but this fight just became far more valuable to us, you included." Kaius said, an intense fire illuminating the gold-flecked-green of his eyes. Ianmus grunted, biting his lip as he struggled against the lethargic chill of dread that washed over him. "How bad is it?" he whispered. "Eighty-one, elite." Kaius said calmly, his full attention on his ally. He watched the wave of horror wash over the man''s features, before he visibly bore down on the gut reaction, suppressing his fear with a will honed by the rigours of battle and study. Ianmus paused, taking a slow breath to collect himself. "Kaius. If anyone else dared to suggest they wanted to fight an elite as a team of three I would think them foolish. If they wanted to do the same thing while outlevelled close to three times over, I would think them certifiably insane." the half-elf turned to the third member of their little group. "What of you, Porkchop. Have you succumbed to insanity as well? I would not think of one of the meles to take such a foolish gambit." Porkchop snorted. "Then you do not know my people well, elfling. Regardless, I know what my brother intends, and it is a worthy risk. Not to mention it is a risk that is far less fraught than you realise." Stepping forwards, Kaius clasped Ianmus on the shoulder, willing his certainty and confidence to flow into the man, for him to absorb some of the boundless hunger that he felt building within him by the second. "Please, Ianmus. Trust me. This is not some delusion of invulnerability sung into existence by my lust for battle. I will not pretend I do not feel it, the hunger to throw myself at such a great beast, but it is not why." Ianmus met his gaze, searching his face for an answer. "Then what, Kaius? Because from here it is the only reasonable explanation." As Ianmus spoke, his voice grew more incensed, words blurring together with a pleading vigour as he tried to make Kaius see reason. "It''s a bloody elite! A stronger baseline than its common brethren, charged with unnatural amounts of mana by accident or right of birth. Better skills, more power, and worse, a better bloodline, which means more stats on top of everything else. How. Could. You. Possibly. Win." drawing close, Ianmus punctuated every word with a jabbing finger that rattled Kaius''s scale male with every impact. A flutter of annoyance welled within Kaius. That was enough of that, frustration and fear was no reason to be rude. When Ianmus tried to poke him again he twitched. That was all it took, with the growing influence of his bond skill, his reforged beast blood, and over a hundred points of dexterity, his hand all but portalled to grab Ianmus''s own. Ianmus stopped, stock still as he looked at Kaius''s hand in shock. His jaw hung open. Kaius held his allies hand steady for a moment, before he slackened his grip and snapped his hand back to his side faster than he knew Ianmus would be able to track. The mage blinked, slowly. Staring at him dumbfounded, Ianmus looked to his outstretched finger, then to Kaius''s hand, then back again. "How?" Ianmus finally whispered. "You shouldn''t be able to move like that. It''s not possible. You shouldn''t have the stats, or the base to reach that speed, let alone control it." Before he could answer the man, Porkchop stepped in. "Not impossible, just with methods forgotten and recently discovered both. You say you have seen our hidden strength. Ianmus, you have misunderstood us. We have been holding back. Perhaps not to the extent of hiding everything, but you have not seen us truly pressed." A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Pausing to digest his brother''s words, Ianmus let out a heavy breath and rested his forehead on his staff, staring at the hard packed dirt of the road beneath them. A moment later he looked back up, right into Kaius''s eyes. "Can you promise this is not some crazed delusion? That there is a good, logical and concrete reason to pursue this reckless madness?" Ianmus pleaded, watching him closely. "Can you promise that we will not end up dead?" "There is a reason. A good one, other than the sheer amount of levels we will be rewarded with for success. A more obscure reward, by no means guaranteed, but one that seems to fit the general sorts of criteria that I have seen for others. It is worth the risk of death." Kaius replied, the stalwart iron of his conviction and certainty reverberating through his voice. Looking back at the assassin spider, he watched it shift in its nest, uncaring of their halted steps. It was confident, he could tell. Utterly convinced that people of their nominal power would be unable to pierce its illusion. Waiting patiently for its next meal to come. Ianmus continued to stare at him, searching his face for answers as he leaned heavily on the bonds of trust they had started to forge in the weeks they had spent together on the road. Kaius knew he was asking much, but this was the life he had promised himself he would live. Companions were needed, that much was true, but only if they could prove they could keep up. He met the half-elf''s gaze, watching him with equal intensity. Now was the moment. Where Ianmus would prove he had the mettle and gumption to willingly fall to the insanity, the heat, of the Song. Would he willingly dive into the crucible that would eventually see him reforged? Would he prove that he had what it took to climb towards the peak, even if it required crawling on shattered limbs and wading through agony? Or would he cower and break? Something passed through Ianmus''s face. A flicker of resignation, part surrender and part rising exhilaration. A twitch of his brow. A straightening of his shoulders and spine. It told Kaius all he needed to know. The man was in. "If I am committing myself to suicide, I would know of this reward if we survive this, regardless if we receive it or not." Ianmus said, a growing ember of courage and manic energy thrumming through his words. The Song, building within him. Kaius nodded. The man had earned that much. Any companion of his that would willingly attempt feats such as this was worthy of consideration and trust. "Of course." "It is good to have you with us, truly. You will have proven yourself with this fight, elfing. Let it be a glorious one." Porkchop jumped in, sharing his respect. Ianmus sighed, and leaned heavily on his staff. "I can''t believe we are actually going to do this." he muttered to himself, before looking up to them once more. "Has our strategy changed?" Kaius shook his head. Even with the unexpected strength and levels of the spider, their original plan was still their best bet. A searing bolt of solar magic to draw it away from its domain, while he and Porkchop hammered it as hard as they could. "You free cast a beam like you used on that bramble ball, then focus on supporting me and Porkchop from a safe distance. Take out eyes and the like if you can, but your first priority will be keeping us strong and hale while attracting as little attention as possible." Kaius explained. Ianmus nodded, becoming focused and confident once more as the shock of their opponents strength wore off. "Where do I need to hit?" Moving behind the man, Kaius pointed directly to where the spider was hunkered down. Calmly and with authority, he directed Ianmus''s attention to the tree it had made its home. "See that cluster of four branches? One of them splitting into three? Where they meet, two strides above. Can you make the shot?" Ianmus snorted at his words, as if the idea of him being unable to hit such a target was as ridiculous a proposition as not being able to tie his own shoes. "I already told you, I''m the best shot of my year. I could hit a needle at that range." Nodding in satisfaction, Kaius withdrew two of his mana restorative tonics, as well as one of his health ones, and passed them over to Ianmus. "Take these, they''ll restore three-hundred each. You can only take two though, after that toxicity will set in." Ianmus nodded, before he focused his eyes on the exact location where Kaius had told him the spider was lying in wait. A moment later his eyelids fluttered, and Kaius watched the half-elfs lips move with unspoken words as colossal quantities of solar mana began to stream from the mage. Under the man''s will, it drew yet more from their surroundings, a typhoon of power that vortexed. Golden and resplendent, it split into dozens of streamers, raw mana woven into a complex geometry of power. Kaius watched on in interest. While free casting was mostly about will and intent, he had known that the best among them borrowed from the slightest of principles found in the runic arts to pack even more intent and power into their spells. It was glorious to finally see it in action. Still, it was easy to see the problems with free casting. Powerful and incredibly flexible it might have been, it was also the most lengthy and focus heavy of the mystic arts. Ianmus would be at this for a while. Turning to Porkchop, Kaius gave his bond-brother a nod. It was time for them to ready themselves. With a flash of mana, Porkchop was garbed in thick plates of jade. He led their way forwards, careful to stay out of Ianmus''s line of sight with the waiting spider. They stopped a good hundred strides down the road. Still more than far enough that the assassin spider opted to wait for them patiently, but close enough that they would be able to do battle without worrying about their mage being caught in the crossfire. As a crescendo of solar might built behind him, Kaius felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise at the mystical charge that built in the air. It caressed his skin, whispering scorching violence and swift retribution. It was almost too much, layering on his itching anticipation for the fight ahead. His heart pounded, blood singing with an intensity he hadn''t felt in months. Here he was, ready to dance on the knife''s edge, and he had to wait? It was nigh on unjust. Judging by the way a low growl resonated in his brother''s chest, and his claws rhythmically punctured the earth, Porkchop felt much the same. A few swipes of his brother''s claws deflected off his blade and charged his vambraces, their enhanced power enough to quickly fill its reservoir. Only a small benefit now, but not one he intended to leave at the wayside for a pivotal battle. Agonising minutes passed in tense silence, before the faintest of breathy words were carried on the wind from behind him. "Ready..." Ianmus said, strain and exhaustion evident. "Go." Kaius replied, cutting the air with his hand to signal their attack. A beam of pure white, as thick as his wrist, punched into existence. It burned the very air, resounding with the tortured squeal and thunderclap of the breath of the world being vaporised in an instant. There was no traversal of space, it was simply a line of power writ into existence. One that connected Ianmus''s outstretched arm to the scoured yellow and white carapace of the assassin spider. Chitin burst and Ichor roiled. It was a good shot, punching straight through one of its front limbs to pierce through its thorax. Off yellow and brown goo was superheated, ejected from the wound with bone cracking force to coat the crown of its tree-home in boiling viscera. It''s leg fell free to crash softly into the leaf litter below, even as the holes in its carapace boiled themselves shut. The assassin spider squealed in chittering rage and moved. Skittering down the tree trunk, its illusion dissolved, and it charged straight for them. Kaius grinned. B2 Chapter 210: Fear, finale B2 Chapter 210: Fear, finale Reaching the split in the cave, Kaius hurriedly peered down the tunnel that led to the surface. Straining his senses, he was relieved to hear no sign of howling panic or anger¡ªthe boggarts they had slain on their way in had yet to be discovered. Just ahead and to the right, the cave split¡ªangling downwards. The path they had yet to take. It was mostly similar to the other routes, a natural cave that had been roughly chipped at until it was mostly uniform in size. Unlike the other passages they had explored, this one had no sign of any rooms that had been carved into its edges. What that meant, he had little clue¡ªbut at the very least they would be able to traverse it far more quickly since they wouldn¡¯t have to stop and check every room for enemies as they passed. With the crossroads being empty, Kaius led their descent into the next tunnel. It was well lit, much like the corridor that had held the storerooms had been. He could only assume that meant that it was equally important. Considering what they had seen of the warren had had far less occupants than he would have expected, he could only assume this was the path to the main living quarters. If all went well, they would be equally as poorly defended as the rest, and they could slip through and kill the boggarts in their beds. If they were in close proximity, it would only be a matter of time before they were discovered, but with a little luck they¡¯d be able to thin their numbers significantly before that happened. Turn by turn they descended, the gentle incline of the tunnel continuing as they wormed their way deeper into the earth''s embrace. With every bend, Kaius expected a boggart to be lying in wait¡ªsome sort of guard or watcher¡ªbut his fears never resolved themselves into truth. Each clear section of corridor soothed his nerves, bringing his calm confidence back to the surface. After another few minutes of descent, Kaius saw something new. Blue toned light, cutting through the soft gloom of firelight to paint itself on the outside edge of a bend in the passage. Kaius waved at his team to halt, their hastened steps slowing as they stopped in a pool of shadows between the fires that dotted the cave. ¡°Stay hidden¡ªI''ll check it out.¡± he whispered, before setting off at a brisk pace. Approaching the bend, Kaius pressed himself to the wall and peered past the lip. The passage ended quickly, opening up into a wide cavern¡ªthough another kink in the cave''s serpentine path obscured most of the opening, leaving only a sliver a few handspans wide through which he could see into the open cavern. What he saw made him very glad that obscuring stone existed. The cavern was immense¡ªlarge enough he almost thought that he¡¯d been transported back to the Depths. Easily five-hundred long-strides across, with a ceiling that soared high enough overhead that he could only see a small section of it on the far side, it was devastatingly well lit. Not by fires, either. While they dotted the floor, they seemed to be being used as a source of comfort and heat. No, the soft blue radiance was coming from what looked to be crude ward lights. They were large, and cumbersome¡ªa dozen or so pillars of crudely carved stone that had been spread across the cavern, standing even taller than him. They were covered in the sharp and brutish glyphs he had seen on the leather armour of the bugbears, and none were smaller than a handspan. It seemed that the shaman had not discovered a way to work with runes in miniature. Kaius was unsurprised¡ªin all honesty, he considered it a miracle that such base creatures could work the runic arts at all. No doubt it would have been impossible without the aid of the system. Still, the wardlights drenched everything he could see in a dim blue light¡ªrevealing a sight that flooded his veins with cold realisation. There were too many of them. Tents were clustered around fires, covering the entire floor of the cavern. Small, rustic things made of leather and wood¡ªmuch like he had seen in the bugbears room near the larder. Each and every single one seemed to be housing the larger monsters¡ªbugbears milling around fires, or sleeping within the tents themselves. As for the boggarts, they seemed to have been relegated to the cavern walls. It was hard to see from his poor angle, but it seemed rooms had been excavated into the stone¡ªthe few he could see filled to bursting with the smaller members of the tribe. That wasn¡¯t all. The break in the cave gave him just enough space to see the far end of the cavern. Larger tents were set up there¡ªon a small rise of stone where they could oversee all. Closer to marques than single person sleeping spaces, they¡¯d been constructed of leathers of a far higher cut and quality than the rest¡ªeven if it was still hodgepodge. At a cursory look, he saw bear, dear, and boar pelts¡ªamongst other things he couldn¡¯t place. They¡¯d been painted in runes¡ªprotections for the leaders of the plague, no doubt. It was the leaders themselves that drew his eye¡ªand their guards. Beefy looking bugbear guards stood alert around the tents, while two more draped in bone charms and headdresses sat outside one tent pouring over some spilled bones. Shamans, he could only assume, though not the head one. That was undoubtedly the bugbear that stood in inaudible conversation with a hulking brute that outweighed even the heaviest of bugbears. The pair looked fearsome. Smaller in stature the bugbear shaman may have been, but it was covered in painted inscriptions¡ªevery scrap of its exposed flesh showing the same cruel shapes that he¡¯d seen elsewhere. Its hair was matted, braided with the bones of a dozen kills¡ªand its cruel mouth showed carved fangs with every muttered word. The boggling¡ªsomething Kaius had started to use in his head to refer to the lower race as a whole¡ªthat was listening with bored disinterest was obviously the warchief. He doubted it was a bugbear; he¡¯d yet to see one of them come up to his chin, and the head of the plague looked like it was taller than him by a handspan. Heavy muscles wrapped its bare chest and arms, revealing a visible strength of arm that looked more than able to heft the massive club of worked stone that rested against its throne. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Kaius was at a loss for how to tackle the problem that waited in front of him. Centralised in a single room, with ample light and plenty of watchers to spot them as soon as they walked in, they would be discovered the second they stepped into the chamber. Moreover, there were simply too many of them. He¡¯d thought the estimates of the plague¡¯s size were generous to the point it almost beggared belief, but now it seemed that if anything it was on the smaller side of its potential size. Over a hundred bugbears, easily¡ªjust based on the narrow slice he could see. Who knew how many boggarts there were packed into the cavern''s edges. A plague in truth. His heart sat heavy in his chest, dragging at his confidence. They¡¯d have to retreat, pull back and come up with a different approach of attack¡ªif it wasn¡¯t already too late. While he was confident that they would be able to take any one of the monsters with ease¡ªexcluding the elites with unknown capabilities¡ªthe simple volume of them would bleed their resources dry in an extended confrontation. Taking a slow breath to steady his nerves, Kaius rushed back to his team. If they wanted any chance of making it out of the caves before the alarm went out, they¡¯d have to leave now. At the very least, there was hope that if they vanished like ghosts into the night, the discovery of the slain bodies would delay the boggart¡¯s eventual migration. It was likely hunters would be sent after them, but that would just mean more targets for them to remove. Rounding the bend, Kaius found his team huddled where he had left them. He rushed over. ¡°We have to leave, now. The plague is bigger than we realised, and they¡¯re all in a single cavern¡ªwe have no way of thinning them out without being discovered immediately.¡± Kaius whispered in a low hiss. To Ianmus¡¯ and Porkchop¡¯s credit, they didn¡¯t question his decision¡ªonly nodding, grim determination in their eyes. They made haste, retracing their steps through the firelit corridor. His chest thudded with every step, heart pounding as he slipped into a state of rigid focus and awareness. Try as he might, he heard nothing but the crackle and flicker of the oil lanterns. Still, the lack of noise was a good thing. Maybe they¡¯d done it¡ªwould be able to slip away without discovery. Then Porkchop barked a warning, words transmitted directly into Kaius¡¯s head. ¡°I hear them! Four bugbears coming towards us¡ªthey¡¯re already in the passage, we¡¯ve got no way to avoid them.¡± Kaius¡¯s stomach dropped, cold dread settling deep in his chest. They¡¯d been pinned, with how lit the tunnel was they had absolutely no chance of slipping past the monsters undetected. Mind racing, Kaius¡¯s eyes slid across their short section of tunnel, desperately looking for something that could twist fate in their favour. A simple lip in the stone, right before the bend ahead, was the best found. ¡°We hide there¡ªambush them hard as soon as they are around the bend. We hit them quick and strong, but regardless, as soon as they¡¯re dead, we run.¡± Kaius pushed along his bond. Porkchop nodded, the impression of his words being shared with Ianmus crossing back over. Racing forwards, Kaius pressed himself to the lip of the stone. There was a chance they could still do this. Between Slip Step and his Bladerite, he was a dervish in battle¡ªfar faster than anything the bugbears could hope to match¡ªnot when his stats were almost certain to be twice their own. They might be able to silence them. He wouldn¡¯t assume they would. Even as he strained his senses to hear the oncoming threat, his Glass Mind went to work¡ªCampaigner¡¯s Reasoning leveraged as he searched for a way to give them a chance against a potential tide of unending monsters. The dark, he realised¡ªthe boggarts couldn¡¯t see in the dark. If they could make it to those narrow stretches of pitch-black caves closer to the surface, they might have a chance. The natural choke point would reduce their numbers to a manageable level, and even if they brought torches, the low light would leave them confused and vulnerable. It might give them a chance¡ªthough they¡¯d have to ration their Resources like a pauper in winter. The thought was driven from his mind as he heard the soft thuds of multiple feet. His hearing was sharp, but not sharp enough to tell how close they were. They needed to be precise¡ªstrike right when their enemies would have no time to react. Kaius looked at Porkchop. ¡°Not yet.¡± He tightened his grip on his blade¡ªforcing himself to steady through the jittery tension that raced up his spine, the wait more tortuous than a sword in the gut. ¡°Wait.¡± his brother urged. Kaius didn¡¯t want to wait. He wanted to run and stab and cut. He held himself steady all the same. The seconds ticked down, each one bringing the huffing boggling¡¯s a step closer to discovering them. They sounded so close that Kaius would have sworn they were simply standing on the other side of the lip in the passage. ¡°Now!¡± Porkchop yelled in his mind, bursting into motion. Kaius cast Slip Step before Porkchop had even finished speaking. Blue sparks showered the tunnel in a silent light show, his body melding into a halfway point between worlds. He took a step, reaching the corner. The boggarts were there¡ªstiffening at his sudden appearance. Another step took him past the frontrunners, appearing right by their backline. He¡¯d have to trust Porkchop to deal with the others. The first bugbear died before it could even blink, A Father¡¯s Gift glowing with inner fire as he struck its head clean from its shoulders. **Ding! level 64 Bugbear - Heavy Slinger slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** A tight twist spun him on his lead foot. He lunged into a thrust¡ªspace collapsing before him as he crossed an impossible distance. The honed point of his blade erupted from the back of the second bugbear¡¯s skull. **Ding! level 59 Bugbear - Spear Raider slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** They both died silently. Behind him, Kaius heard a body collapse with a crunch and a soft gasp. One more. He sidestepped, blade hurtling through the air with deadly intent as he appeared before the last bugbear. It screamed. A warcry, a rallying call, a final desperate vengeance. It seemed to hang in the air¡ªcarrying for impossible moments as his sword cleaved through the bugbear¡¯s jaw, spraying hot blood through the air. **Ding! level 61 Bugbear - Primitive Fighter slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** Kaius¡¯s heart froze like ice. All of them stood still as the dead¡ªthe impossible noise nailing them in place. Only for a cacophonous choir of cries to rush through the tunnel behind them, hitting Kaius like a physical blow to the ribs. They¡¯d been heard. ¡°Run!¡± Chapter 174 - B2 172: The First Job pt. 3 Driven by its rudimentary instincts, the massive assassin spider dropped its illusion and pounced forward. It hit the road at a dead sprint, seven remaining legs moving with mechanical precision as it tried to remove the threat that had injured it so. With the spider revealed, Porkchop stared at the approaching beast with disgust. "Mother of Matriarchs, it''s fucking hideous!" he growled, claws digging deep into the earth as he readied himself to meet its charge. Laughing at his brother''s reaction to the manic scramble of the assassin spider, Kaius risked a quick look back to check on Ianmus. The mage was bent over, panting, but seemed far more stable than he had been after his use of his free cast beam against the bramble ball. Their plan for him to hold some mana in reserve had worked. That was good, they''d need his assistance for the coming battle. Ianmus downed one of the mana potions that he had given him, grimacing at the taste. A moment later he took a deep breath and met Kaius''s eyes, giving him a nod. Returning the gesture, Kaius flourished his blade and refocused on the oncoming threat. Even down one leg, the assassin spider was fast, having closed enough of the distance that he could hear the mad chitter of its fangs clacking together. "Ready?" he asked, keeping his left hand free to cast. "Ready." Porkchop confirmed, bracing himself even more as powerful muscles rippled while he locked his claws into the earth. The moment arrived. As the assassin spider got within fifty strides of their formation, Kaius watched his brother tense, and felt his will shift through their bond as he activated his skill. A wave of rippling vitality coursed through Porkchop as he slammed his front claws deeper into the earth. In that same moment, a wall of raw jade erupted behind the sprinting assassin spider. Jagged and imposing, it glimmered in the shining sun as it shattered the earth in its passage. The slab of crystal¡ªa full head taller than Kaius and half that again wide¡ªrocketed through the earth, shedding a trail of cracked stone and pluming dust in its passing as it moved to Porkchop''s will. Right towards the back of the pony-sized spider. Kaius watched the very moment it realised something was approaching. It hissed in surprise, trying to lurch to the left. Yet, for all of its speed, the beast was too slow to dodge. Hardened crystal met empowered chitin with a crack, and the assassin spider fell into an uncontrolled stumble. That was his cue. Kaius tapped into the roiling power stored in his glyph, the thin whine of arcing lightning joined with the acrid bite of ozone and searing light. Kicking off, Kaius dashed to the right of his brother and whipped his Stormlash towards the hissing tangle of chitinous legs and dripping fangs. Lightning arced through the air, following the guidance of Kaius''s will to bind itself to the approaching spider. Thunder cracked the sky. Its deafening thump kicked him in the chest and set his heart aflutter with the rush of glorious battle. Fine hairs on the creature''s body burned in the path of his arcane might, electrical mana and potent reverberations wreaking havoc its internals. Vital fluid steamed from the gaps in the spider''s carapace, squealing like a teapot. It seized. Just barely¡ªwith its levels and power Stormlash wasn''t quite enough to completely incapacitate it. It was enough. Already struggling to keep its many legs beneath it as Porkchop''s Prismatic Shardwall forced it forwards, it collapsed. His brother''s skill did the rest. His brother tapped into his amulet and charged. In a single instant, Porkchop went from a standstill to an explosive advance as he hauled on his deep grip of the earth. A boulder of flesh and jade smashed into the spider, squeezing it between Porkchop''s assault and his immovable Shardwall. Chitin cracked, oozing ichor. Despite the titanic forces involved, the assassin spider reacted instantly. Letting out a chitter, it lunged for Porkchop with fangs that oozed a viscous fluid. Kaius watched his brother roll his shoulders smoothly, the bite clacking against a hard plate of jade before Porkchop snapped his head to sink his jaws around the nearest available spider leg. There was a sickening crack, and Porkchop brawled on. With furor and primal potency he occupied the spider''s attention, weathering spearing stabs from its leg and poisonous bites. Most ricocheted off his brother''s armour. But not all. For every five blows that Porkchop shifted, taking on his heavy plate, another slipped past his defence. His under-armour did much to blunt the concussive force, but it was only of middling help against the assassin spider''s needle-like tips of its legs. After-all, it was padding designed to absorb shock rather than deflect a piercing point. Thankfully, he''d been able to avoid any bites. The spider''s fangs dripped with venom, and Porkchop had taken more than one stabbing strike of its legs in order to deflect a bite with a stone armour plate. While his brother held the spider occupied, Kaius did not wait idle. Another searing flash blanketed the woods as he summoned another Stormlash; cooking the monstrous spider from within, and stunning it for just barely a fraction of a moment. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Drakthar has reached level 21!** Enough time for Porkchop to react to another biting strike, poison glistening on the surface of his armour. Nor was Ianmus resting on his laurels, even if he had more than earned a moment of respite due to the potency of his overwhelming first-strike. Kaius kicked off the ground, his surroundings blurring with his sudden acceleration. He felt the invigorating rush of Ianmus''s skill settling over him like a mantle. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. **Ding! You have been Enhanced - Sundrenched Strength!** Solar majesty ignited the furnace within, fueling even greater feats of physicality. Kaius raced on, moving into a position known to him only through the free flow of Porkchop''s intent that streamed across their bond. Porkchop roared, smashing the spider to the side with a terrible swipe of his claws. Empowered by mana and hardened even further, chitin crunched, and the assassin spider lurched to the side. Without a moment of hesitation, he smoothly punched a blurring claw into the earth. Jade erupted from the ground with a deafening boom, cracking the spider in its mandibles. Squealing through the earth, the Prismatic Shardwall slammed bodily into the spider, shunting it back. Right into Kaius''s waiting arms. It was a symphony of violence. Planting his lead foot, he pirouetted, leading with his off hand. Lightning burst into existence with the might of nature''s scorn, lashing the monstrosity. A Father''s Gift trailed close behind, burning with internal fire as his Bladerite ignited the runes held within its glassy fuller. Driving his weight though a pivot of his hips, he slashed. The empowered edge of his blade met the chitin of the Elite assassin spider. Common or not, his was a bound weapon¡ªempowered by a Unique skill¡ªand would not be denied. Ichor sprayed like a fountain as one of the spider''s limbs was split nearly in twain, coating his shining scales in ochre treacle. **Ding! Initiate''s Glyphic Bladerite has reached level 8!** **Ding! Initiate''s Glyphic Bladerite has reached level 9!** **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo has reached level 29!** Kaius wasn''t done, not by a long shot. He rolled through the momentum of his swing, transferring his weight as he braced with legs of oak and a core of steel. His three-fingered hand swung up towards the spider, nearly brushing the ground. A crackling bolt extended and bent through the air, directed by his will to lash the spider''s thorax. More ichor steamed from the rents in the spider''s armour, internals roiling against the power of his magic. Slapping his off-hand back on his blade, he reversed his carried through swing. There was no leverage, no smooth economy of motion. He didn''t need it. Brute force and his vambrace of Varkhossian Deflection was more than enough. Tapping into his vambraces filled him with the stored power of a meles'' casual fury, and his blade ripped back through the leg he had half shattered, severing it cleanly and carrying through to score its thorax heavily. **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo has reached level 30!** Quickly shaking off its fugue from the sheer intensity of their combined assault, the assassin spider squealed. It was a shrill sound, one that communicated the sheer hatred it felt at their assault despite its alien nature. Remaining needle-like legs dug into the ground, and the spider lunged with mandibles outstretched. Right for Kaius. He dove, but there was no need, for his brother was already there. Porkchop tackled the spider, only for its fangs to finally find purchase between his armoured plates. Hollow daggers quivered, and viscous fluid pumped deep into his brother''s body. The poison did nothing to stop his brother''s charge, nor his prodigious weight that he brought to bear with deft ease. The assassin spider was knocked back, stumbling as it was forced to give ground. Porkchop still howled, pain clawing its way free of his throat as the venom coursed through his veins. Seizing from the affliction, Porkchop''s right front leg gave way and he stumbled, giving their monstrous foe a prime shot as his poorly defended flank. Heart quickening as a chill dread shot down his spine, Kaius leapt to his brother''s defence with a cry on his lips. He moved, covering ground like he never had before. **Ding! Tempered by Dissonance has reached level 30!** Light beams snapped overhead, Ianmus reacting as fast as he could. The duo of searing lances each devastated one of the spider''s eyes. Unfortunately, it was far less hampered than a normal beast would have been, six more remaining to watch them with calculating disdain. One leg speared forwards, sinking deep into Porkchop''s less armoured flank. Thick crimson welled from the wound, staining leather under-armour and chitin alike. The assassin spider reared back, mandibles wavering with glee as it prepared to lunge. Another two Stormlashs gave it pause, overloading its nervous system for a bare moment and cooking it from within. It was all the time Kaius needed. Arriving at the beast with blade held in a low-guard, he swung upwards and pivoted into a stab. Right into its poorly armoured abdomen. Runes shone with the fire of his Bladerite, and he ripped his sword to the left. A great rent opened in the fleshy sack of the spider''s rear, brown goo flowing forth in a deluge. The spider squealed, doom flaring within him as two of its spear-like legs rose off the ground to harry him with a pair of stabs. Silver and grey blurred, his blade smashing aside one leg as he spun around the other. **Ding! Initiate''s Glyphic Bladerite has reached level 10!** **Ding! Tempered by Dissonance has reached level 37!** Doom flared once more. The spider turned to face him, Porkchop mewling as its leg that pierced him shifted within his body. Heart thundering in his chest, Kaius kicked off the ground, moving to create distance as he tried to ward off the coming attack with another Stormlash, whipping the bolt overhead to strike the spider directly on its face. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Drakthar has reached level 22!** Uncaring of the oncoming attack, nor the bolt of light that popped another of its eyes, the assassin spider remained totally focused on him. Sacks normally hidden behind its mandible swelled to the size of a waterskin. A skill, Kaius realised. A moment too late. The sacs collapsed in on themselves, and a gout of viscous fluid squirted from each of its fangs in a high pressure stream. Squirting streams of venom covered the distance separating him from the spider in an instant. Crossing the air, the viscous fluid became a thick spray, far too wide for him to dodge effectively. Kaius did the only thing he could do. He turned, scrunching his eyes shut and snapping his mouth closed. It wasn''t enough. The venom covered him utterly, worming its way through the gaps in his armour to saturate his padded clothing beneath. As soon as it touched his skin a stinging burn ignited, feverish welts covering his body as his back boiled. Moments later he felt the venom sink in, seeping into his body with supernatural swiftness. **Ding! You have been afflicted by Venom: Wracking Weakness** Muscles wasted beneath its onslaught, contracting uncontrollably as the venom started to dissolve the very structures of his body. Gasping at the sudden agony of it all, Kaius''s head snapped up as his back seized, much like his brother''s had. It felt like leaden weights had been attached to his limbs, the assassin spider''s skill attacking his musculature. "Kaius!" he heard Ianmus call, panicked. Doom flared, and he forced himself to move, diving to the side just before a spear tipped leg lanced right through where he had been standing a moment before. With every second he could feel Rapid Adaptation working. Not only had it lessened the immediate effects of the venom, it burned it from his system. A purging inquisition that raged through his body, hunting down unwanted outsiders with extreme prejudice. **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has reached level 26!** Oh, he was slowed, and the acid like tendrils of venom were agony, but he wasn''t out of the fight yet. "Heal Porkchop when he''s free!" Kaius called back, sparing their backline no more of his attention. Flashing steel smashed aside a flurry of probing spikes, before he smote the spider with Stormlash once more. Each and every one of the spells seemed to be affecting the spider more as storm mana and penetrating vibrations were directed through its armoured carapace, destroying it from within. It seized. Enough time for Porkchop to finally react. His brother cared not for the pain, nor the deleterious effects of the venom coursing through his system. Pushing himself to his feet, Porkchop forced the spider''s leg deeper into his body. It punched through. Its off-white spearpoint dripped with his blood as it erupted from his stomach. Roaring a challenge, Porkchop snapped his head up to grab the leg that had him pinned in his jaws. Right by the joint. It creaked, then he smashed it with jade claws. It shattered. Kaius was already moving, fighting through the forced sedation and damage to his internals. The venom had already stalled, slowly being forced back as his health kept the damage at bay. Another Stormlash kept the spider pinned, making it squeal as it backed away from him. Three launching strides carried him through the air. Landing at his brother''s side he kicked backwards off his shoulder, grabbing hold of the shattered spider''s limb that still speared Porkchop through his torso. In a single smooth motion he wrenched it free, tossing it to the side. He landed next to his brother, both hands on his blade. Moments later the revitalising energy of the sun surrounded Porkchop with a golden aura, sinking into his body. The sopping wound in his torso sealed itself quickly¡ªhis regeneration skill doing its work. He rolled his shoulders with a low growl, staring down the spider. Kaius watched it closely as it chittered, lunging forwards only to skitter back a moment later. It was poorly and battleworn, the remnants of its torn limbs wiggling ineffectively with the movement. Barely healed wounds covered its body, sticky ichor and burnt hair making it even more of an offensive sight to his eyes than it had been at the start. The weakness. He could smell it. Another obstacle destined to fall beneath his ceaseless march. Somewhere deep within him a pillar began to keen. Chapter 175 - B2 173: The First Job, Finale The assassin spider watched them from a wary distance, lurching back and forth on its five remaining legs. Ichor coated it utterly, newly fused chitin and scorched ash showing the remnants of their assault. Stubbed limbs wiggled with a furor, the beast still instinctively trying to use them in unison with its remaining limbs. Glistening compound eyes stared at them with malevolence. Watching. Waiting. The moment stretched as they evaluated each other, watching for a moment of distraction or weakness. Kaius knew that it wasn''t over, not by a long shot. With all its low-born intelligence and base instinct, this was a killer. An apex predator. Shadow drenched rogue or not, it would not take their challenge lying down. He didn''t want it to. Oh, they were battered and bruised. Venom still coursed through his veins, sapping at his energy and destroying him from within. Blood still poured from the hole their enemy had torn straight through his brother, pooling on the hard packed dirt like liquid ruby. It only heightened his delight. His conviction. His adamant-bound certainty that they would win. That this was merely another step on his journey. Wounds that would have killed them with a certainty mere months ago now barely slowed them, their endurance enabling them to persevere even as their skill empowered health boiled to seal their wounds. **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has reached level 27!** The spider was tough, and strong. But it wasn''t enough to stop him. Eventually, nothing would be. His destiny lay at the pinnacle. Every broken bone, pint of blood, and stride of rent flesh was in service of that. A slow and painful climb, but one that never stopped, and never retreated. The spider was an obstacle. Its destiny was to be consumed, refined, and used to lay a block on his foundation that would one day tower to the heavens. Every wound, every drop of blood spilled, only refined him. Made him sharper, tougher, and more enduring. If need be, he would hammer on the barriers to his ascension with mangled stumps until they shattered and then use the bloodsoaked shards to pave his way forward. Mentis called out in delight, and he knew it to be truth. The resonance inflamed the Blood Song within him, drowning out the feverish battle of Rapid Adaptation and the venom within him. It met the resonance in a symphony, backed by the staccato percussion of his pounding heart and the heavy rush of his lungs pulling at the iron-scented air with jealousy. A lesser man might have pulled back from the rush of pure vital focus and joy that came from the Song. He did not, and nor did his brother. Porkchop''s own song thrummed across their bond. The vibrant fuel of battle surging within him. The need to feel chitin crushed beneath his claws, ichor spraying to coat him wholesale. There was a depth of primal violence there, directed and constrained by a mind that bent raw aggression towards his own ends. A bloody, satisfied grin split his face. Pondering upon the cry of his pillar could wait, now it was time to focus on the coming bloodshed. The moment ended as the assassin spider broke first, and their battle restarted in earnest. A chittering cry roiled from deep within the spider, sounding like the grinding crush of rocks being rubbed together. Ominous, and filled with fury. Sacs beneath its mandibles swelled once more as it reared back, quickly followed by two streams of venom that sprayed out in a thick cone. Porkchop was ready, as soon as their opponent had so much as twitched, he was already plunging his claws downwards, stamina flooding his body. A wall of jade erupted, spat venom splashing harmlessly over its pure surface. The wall rocketed out, pressuring the spider. Kaius raced in as light beams split the sky once more, Ianmus having repositioned to land his shots perfectly¡ªsearing the still open wounds in the creature''s carapace to slow its healing. Rounding the wall, he caught sight of it once more as it lurched sideways to dodge Porkchop''s sudden attack. Starting slightly, he saw it...twist, blurring slightly as mana started to glow from within. His eyes ached for a moment and his head throbbed, but only that, and the spider appeared clear once more in his vision. **Ding! True Sight has reached level 38!** "Kaius! It split in three!" Porkchop called, frustrated rumbles echoing across the road. An illusion, he realised. One that hadn''t affected him. "I see it." he responded, a feral glee welling up within him. The assassin spider charged, sure in its obfuscation. Utterly certain in its primitive mind that he had fallen under its spell, it made no attempt at discretion, racing directly for him with its fangs writhing through the air. Kaius raced in uncaring. At the final moment, right when the spider was poised to skewer him through the chest, he moved. The air screamed as it was torn by the speed of his slashes, blurring blade smashing aside the thrust with ease. He stepped in, lightning streaming from his hand, scouring his opponent from within. Bending at the waist to slip past a lunging bite, he tapped into his Bladerite, sword lighting with internal fire. A smooth step to the side, and he returned to a two-handed grip as he snapped into a high guard and hacked at the spider''s grotesque face. It lurched, just barely managing to move one foreleg into the way of his assault, chitin crunched as he cut his way halfway through. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Squeels resounded, furious and pained. Thrashing, the spider fell into a barely controlled storm of stabbing limbs and gnashing bites. The wound on its leg bubbled, healing enough to take its weight¡ªthough he still saw the chinks in its armour. Kaius''s heart quickened, black and grey blurring through the air as he hammered blows aside, leveraging all of his skill and strength to transfer his weight and momentum into a tight dance of parries. Step by step he was forced back. **Ding! Tempered by Dissonance has reached level 38!**. Each blow carried the weight of a mountain, his blade ringing like a struck bell as his opponent hammered his guard. With every peel, his blade jumped in his hand from the force of the collisions, forcing him to tighten his grip. Not for the first time, he cursed the siege ogre for taking his fingers. Worse, he couldn''t block everything. It was his single sword against a flurry of stabbing limbs and a hungry maw. Kaius saved himself from the worst, but for every three attacks he turned away, one found him out of position. He was too slow. Steel-hard chitin punched through his armour effortlessly, lances of agony blooming as they tore through his flesh, lacerating his muscles as if they were softly woven cloth. Burning health did what it could, his flesh roiling as it worked to heal the grievous wounds, but he was flagging. Slowed as he was by the remnants of the venom, the wounds only worsened his ability to keep up. At least the pain was nothing, not with how familiar he was with its touch. **Ding! Lesser Regeneration has reached level 26!** ... **Ding! Lesser Regeneration has reached level 28!** **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has reached level 28!** Burbling laughter welled up from his throat as he smashed aside yet another stabbing limb, before just barely slipping away from a venom soaked bite. A dozen weeping wounds soaked the cloth and leather of his travelling clothes, a creeping warmth of sticky lifeblood binding them tight to his skin. He was utterly outmatched. If he let go of his blade for even a single second, the next blow would send his sword spinning from his grip, he could just barely hold on even as it was. His only saving grace was that the furious assault had charged his vambraces once more. Without his magic, he couldn''t keep the pressure up, letting the monstrously powerful beast bring its inflated physicality to bear against him. With so much pressure on him, he couldn''t even safely empower an attack. Alone, he would die. But he wasn''t alone. A wall of jade slammed into the spider''s side, yanking it to the left. Porkchop dove on the assassin spider, stride long claws punching deep into its poorly defended abdomen. Ichor and guts fountained, staining jade a sickly yellow. "Took you long enough!" he pushed through the bond with his brother, sighing in relief as his empowered healing finally had the time to start properly sealing the wounds he had accumulated while keeping the spider occupied. "Not my fault! The illusions still hurt somehow, I thought it was the real one!" Porkchop replied, even as he threw himself bodily into an oncoming bite, the spider''s fangs screeching as they failed to find purchase on his armour. Another jade wall erupted, slamming into its undercarriage with a crack. The spider jumped, and Porkchop punished the moment of weakness with a savage swipe of his claws. Looking back to Ianmus, Kaius found the man racing in a circle, a panicked look of determination on his face. "Take the hit! It''s an illusion!" he screamed, before turning his focus back to the real threat. It would hurt, but Ianmus had proven himself no pushover, and a few of his solar beams would be enough to destabilise the working. Racing in, Kaius took note of his resources. A third of his health left, nearly the same for stamina, and eight charges of Stormlash left. Plenty. He sensed it, stronger than any other time he had in this battle. An opening. A weakness. He heaved on his sword, rolling his shoulders into a heavy overhand chop. A snarl clawed its way free of his chest as he tapped into his Bladerite. Cleaving the spiderleg he had damaged earlier, steel crushed the wicked limb, severing it cleanly. **Ding! Explorer''s Toolkit has reached level 36!** Destabilised by the sudden loss of a fourth limb, the spider teetered. Smelling weakness, Porkchop launched himself at the beast as light beams seared the spider''s carapace every few moments. The forceful tackle took the beast to the ground, and Kaius saw his moment. Leaping over a flailing limb, he rounded on its face as his blade swept up into a high-guard. As it rose, he tapped into his Bladerite once more and dropped his off hand from his grip. Blue light flashed as he bound its head in crackling storm mana, a woven cage of magic that boiled ichor and charred chitin. Left stunned and immobile, the spider sat insensate as he gripped his blade with both hands and tapped into the stored vambrace. The executioner''s blade fell. Chitin split, severing one mandible completely. Neural tissue and sticky fluid fell forth. It seized, limbs flailing as deep within its primitive mind the creature sought to outrun its fate. Somehow, despite cutting halfway through its head, the spider still lived. Kaius''s mind raced, and he found a solution. "The legs." he said coldly through his bond, backing up. Porkchop felt his intent and launched himself at the nearest stabbing limb, taking a flailing strike on the shoulder as he bit down hard. Lowering his sword, Kaius raised his hand. Thunder shuddered through the woods as another of the weapons of the Stormlord appeared in a shower of baleful orange sparks. Sealing the spider''s fate, he lashed the beast, wracking convulsions overcoming it. Another leg was torn free, Porkchop savaging its writhing form. He waited. Just enough time for the convulsions to subside, for its health to just start to be able to seal its wounds. Another peal of thunder. Another flash of condemning blue light. Then another. Another. The hammering blows of the storm and fury continued until all of his runic charges were spent, and all that was left before him was the limbless quivering body of a shattered and broken creature. Approaching slowly, he watched it. The way its remaining red compound eyes reflected the light, watching him in turn. Even now it was filled with hateful aggression, one remaining mandible striking ineffectively as it desperately tried to attack him. Another step and its venom sacs swelled, emptying impotently on the road in front of it. Noxious venom pooled, welling up in its mouth parts. It was time. Porkchop eviscerated its abdomen, claws raking through the soft sack with a sucking squelch. At the same time, Kaius plunged his blade into its head. Each one resounded with a heavy crunch, ichor welling with a wet slop. Three stabs it took, until he finally heard the dings he had been waiting for. **Ding! level 81 Veiled Assassin Spider - Cloaked Trapper slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** **Ding! Significant Feat of Strength performed under Observation. You have been awarded an Honour: Ruthless Underdog II** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 25!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** ... **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 39!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** Chapter 176 - B2 174: Camaraderie pt. 1 Power rushed through every facet of his body; the sudden jump in levels bringing with it a heady rush that rolled over him in a wave. Pausing for a moment, he let himself feel the changes, adjusting to the palpable increase in strength. There was none of the pain, discomfort, or disorientation that he had felt as an unclassed. Supported by the structure of his class, the transition was seamless as his soul adjusted naturally. He shook the fugue off, and turned his attention back to the spider. His sword still stood proud in its thorax. Kaius pulled his blade free from the limbless body of the spider, ochre coloured ichor sticking to its surface like treacle as it squelched. As he did, he felt the Blood Song fade, leaving behind a familiar calm satisfaction in its wake. His pillar Mentis fell silent along with it, the resonance fading. Passing disappointment welled up within him at that, but it was only a momentary thing. He knew, somehow, that the insights that had come with battle were not meant to enshrine the pillar in truth. They were a seed. To be contemplated and nurtured in quiet pondering, just like Ekum had said. There would be plenty of time in the future to think on his insight. Flicking his wrist to clear the worst of the muck, he bent down to wipe the rest free on a clean section of the spider''s hairy exterior, before he rose and slid it home in its sheath. Porkchop approached him, jade plate armour vanishing off his body with a subtle pop. His thick leather under-armour was soaked with blood and vital fluid, slowly closing holes dotting its surface. It didn''t stop Porkchop from rubbing his head against his. "Gross!" he cried, shoving his brother off of him as Porkchop''s sodden fur stuck to his cheek and caused the hairs on his neck to stand on end. Snickering at the move, Porkchop backed off. "Come on, Ianmus looks like he''s about to pass out." he pushed across their bond, before turning to walk in the direction of their resident mage. Kaius looked back, ignoring the way his scale armour gummed up with all the ichor in its joints. Ianmus was standing there, pale and leaning heavily on his staff. His eyes were glassy, staring into the mid-space as his jaw flapped soundlessly. Smiling at the sight of his friend''s shock, he jogged after his brother, quickly catching up. He knew that feeling, the sense that the entire world had crumbled around you. The heavy weight of the impossibility that you were now part of history. "Well, at least we know for sure that he got the honour too." he pushed along their bond. Porkchop chortled next to him, shaking his head in amusement. "Well, for all we know he got hit by some of that poison and is slowly dissolving from the inside out." Smiling at the joke, he still smacked Porkchop on the shoulder for the poor taste. Approaching quickly, they came to a slow stop a few strides from the mage. Still frozen, he stared into space. No doubt trying to digest the system notification in front of him. Kaius cleared his throat. "So. Job done?" he said slowly, unsure of how else to break the tension of the moment. Ianmus blinked, eyes clearing before his head lurched towards his own. Red rimmed wild eyes bored into his own, filled with exaltation, confusion, and a little madness. "Kaius..I...What?" he stammered. Kaius just gave him an easy grin. "Told you we could do it." he replied. Blinking slowly for what must have been the tenth time, Ianmus shook his head and looked at him with slowly widening eyes. "You knew." he stated, words wooden and jaw slackening. "We knew." Porkchop replied. "Mostly, not if this would actually get us one. But in the general sense, yes, we knew." Kaius continued. Standing rooted to the spot, Ianmus seemed to freeze as he processed the information. Kaius waited patiently. He knew there would be questions, and many of them, but it would take time for the half-elf to digest what had just happened. He himself had sat stunned for what must have been most of an hour after he had eaten that fruit. Suddenly Ianmus lurched into motion, racing towards them as a manic laugh slipped from his lips. Throwing a lanky arm around each of their necks he pulled them into a strong hug, uncaring of the gore and ichor that coated both of them. "You demented bastards! You knew! You already knew! That''s how you''re so strong. Any dynasty that knew of this must have a potent legacy; you''ve got to have an Unusual¡ªno, Unique class!" he howled, embracing them before he pulled back. "I haven''t even had the chance to check what it does, but it must be!" Kaius smiled at the man. They really had him now. Had bound him to their cause in truth. He could hear it. The fervent need for more, the burning desire to strive forwards. Friends besides, he and Porkchop were the best place that Ianmus would be able to find an opportunity to do that. "I must know more, please. This is the kind of discovery that makes the life of a scholar like myself." Ianmus continued, calming as the shock of the moment slowly passed. Kaius clapped the man on the shoulder. "And you will have it. With a shared secret of this magnitude, how could I not trust you? I just have to ask you one thing." Refined features hardened as Ianmus''s eyes steeled with conviction. "Anything." he said with a nod. "With all of our strength, we came close to death here. Not the closest me and Porkchop have ever gotten, but close. The path we walk requires that level of risk, and we are happy to lay our lives down to reach the summit. Are you?" he asked. It was a serious question. An existence of throwing yourself against death to eke out every scrap of power was one he and his brother had committed themselves to fully, but it was one that was unbearable for most. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Not everyone found joy in battle like they did, nor did they find the same meaning in a life lived to the fullest. Not in the same sense, at least. Ianmus laughed, long and loud. Manic and impassioned, he threw his head back as his sweat streaked platinum locks hung limply from his head. "Kaius, my friend. You could tell me you intended to break the accords and lead a campaign to conquer Vaastivar and I would still follow you to the bitter end." he stepped forwards, laying a firm grip on his shoulder. "You," he looked at Porkchop. "Both of you. You have made me Observed. Have shown me hidden secrets, and brought me nose first to wisdom thought lost. Revealed the secret to the greatest mystery of our age. I am a seeker of knowledge. You have brought me the wealth of an empire." "And the risk of death?" Porkchop asked. "What of it?" Ianmus said, waving a hand through the air dismissively. "I feel the Blood Song stronger day by day. I was never one to sequester in a tower with his tomes like some of my contemporaries, but I have changed. The only thing I could think during that battle, even when I thought the spider had slipped past you and my death was at hand, was how alive I felt." A wild gleam entered the half-elf''s eyes, furor empowering his words with a conviction that told Kaius everything. "How good the rush felt, and how much sweeter my next morsel would be if I lived to see another day." A compatriot in truth then, one who understood the finer things in life. "Then let us check our Honour, as a team. Once we harvest what we can from the spider, we can get off the road. Porkchop and I have been keeping an artifact in reserve that will give us plenty of privacy for a longer discussion." Kaius replied. His companions nodded, and as one they pulled up the description of their latest reward. Ruthless Underdog II: Honour Doing the impossible once is dumb luck. Doing it twice? Now, that is competence. Awarded to those who slay an enemy 50 levels or more above them while under level 100 in a group of three or less. Provides a Minute increase to all experience earned when fighting above your level. +5 all stats. +3% all stats. Kaius grinned as he read the words that hung in his vision. There were chains of Honours, to have that confirmed gladdened him. Unfortunately, it did mean that he and Porkchop had probably lost out on the follow up Honours for slaying Champions while unclassed, but ultimately it was a small loss. With this, he had confirmed that there were plenty still up for grabs. Similarly, they had not received a bonus for this one. It seemed that the ancient Observers of yore were at least capable of achieving the same feat that they just had, something that didn''t surprise him. Legendary were their feats of strength, afterall. That too spoke to the likelihood of there being more Honours to achieve. It would take more than a handful of them to earn the stories that were ascribed to their actions. "What do you think, Porkchop? Seventy-five levels higher before level one-fifty?" he asked, thinking on what they might possibly need to achieve to earn the next one. Porkchop tilted his head back and forth. "That, or one-hundred before two-hundred." Kaius winced. While he was confident that they would be able to do it, they might have to find a few more Honours before they did so. Afterall, they would need to slay something in a tier above them, a daunting feat, even for them. Startled from his reverie, Ianmus looked over to them. "You speak of this so casually. Like we haven''t just gotten five stats to everything and a scaling attribute bonus!" he shook his head. "That''s nearly three whole levels, most of them going to stats I am in dire need of." "So you do have a Rare class." Kaius grinned. "It''s not that we don''t appreciate and savour it, it''s just that it grows a little more routine after a handful of them." Ianmus froze. Kaius could physically see the mage''s mind racing as he digested the information. Beside him, his brother snickered. "This...was not just a dynasty secret that you saw an opportunity to capitalise on, was it?" he asked haltingly. "Well, my dynasty was plenty powerful, and we do have good classes, but no. We found this for ourselves." Kaius replied. "I¡ªno. You said you had somewhere better to talk. My questions can wait." Ianmus said, visibly restraining himself from delving deeper into the topic. "You said you wanted to salvage some of the spider?" Kaius nodded. "Though, I think first me and Porkchop will clean up a bit." he waved down at his body, caked with the drying viscera of battle. Apologising profusely from holding them up from cleansing themselves, Ianmus waved them on. Giving the man a small smile, he and Porkchop made their way over to the side of the road where they had ditched their saddlebags shortly after spotting the spider. It would have been the tragedy of the century if they had not, and that had led to their spatial artefact being destroyed. Retrieving their massive self-filling waterskin, a bar of soap, and some rags, Kaius went about cleaning himself and his brother as best he could, going so far as to strip out of his armour and wash clean his travelling clothes. Feeling reborn, albeit sodden, they rejoined Ianmus and made their way to the corpse of the spider with their saddle bag firmly reattached to Porkchop''s flank. The first thing he did was retrieve a leg, making sure to pick one that hadn''t gotten misted with venom. Large as it was, he hacked at it until he held only a single segment as long as his thigh. Thankfully, their storage would keep it fresh, and due to its strange magics it only cared about absolute volume rather than efficient packing. Next, he moved to the body of their slain foe. Crouching before it, he sampled the air, leaning heavily on Explorer''s Toolkit as his eyes roved over its shattered body. His gut twinged as he landed on the creature''s mandibles, both the one still attached, and the one he had cut free. At the same time, he could taste the scent of alchemical reagents on the breeze. An acrid bite coming from the creature''s venom, cloying his mouth with the scent of wasting sickness and infirmity. Fetching the first mandible, Kaius sighed in relief as he found the venom sac at its base untouched. Moving to its head next, he drew his hunting knife and hammered it into the tough joints that held them in place. Each one was like cutting into wood, far more sturdy than one would expect from flesh and blood, but he managed eventually. Returning with his prize, Ianmus watched him curiously. "The fangs?" "Probably some alchemical thing." Porkchop responded for him. "Kaius has an even better nose for it than me." he finished, moving to Kaius''s side to give him access to their storage. "Ah, good thinking. A reagent from something of this strength will go for good gold, poison especially in days like this." Ianmus nodded, understanding the worth of such an item. Having finished stowing their poor excuse for loot, Kaius turned to his group and clapped his hands. "Right, shall we go set up the tent?" he asked. "Wait, we have a tent?" Ianmus asked, giving an aghast look. "Come along!" Kaius replied, turning to stride into the treeline. "Kaius! Why have we been sleeping in the dirt if there is a tent!" Ianmus cried, racing after him with his hands thrown to the air in exasperation, while Porkchop chuffed in amusement at the mage''s indignation. B2 Chapter 211: Siege, pt. 1 B2 Chapter 211: Siege, pt. 1 Kaius pumped his arms, keeping an easy pace as flickering oil lamps washed them with light. He longed to stretch his gait¡ªto push himself to the full speeds he was capable of. If they did that, Ianmus was dead. The mage was ahead of him, sprinting as fast as he was able¡ªa speed that was genuinely impressive considering his distinct lack of Strength and Dexterity, the man clearly considered running to be a vital skill in a caster¡¯s toolbox. To his right, Porkchop was keeping a similar loping gate to his own, though it was obvious to see that he was also forcing himself to a slow pace. They took the corner hard, keeping their speed as they pressed on. He could hear the plague raging behind them. There was no pursuit yet, but it would only be moments until the bodies were discovered and a force was on their tail¡ªthe smallest of graces afforded to them thanks to their sudden discovery, confusion working in their favour. His mind raced as darkened stone rooms flashed passed them. Did they fight, or did they run? Running was risky. Once they were out of the caves, they¡¯d have enough headroom to throw Ianmus on Porkchop¡¯s back and make a break for it. Unfortunately, the plague seemed to be made up of largely physical specimens. Considering how long their journey into the earth had been, Kaius suspected that their pursuers would close the distance before then. Leading the boggarts on a pursuit out of the valley could be disastrous¡ªprecipitate them splintering into groups and infecting an even wider region. If they were unlucky, it might even speed up the boggarts discovery of the plains. No, they had a duty. He doubted they¡¯d be able to cull all of them, but at the very least they could fight them to a standstill in the darkness of the caves¡ªthin their numbers until they were forced into a fighting retreat. If they did enough, they might cripple the tribe. Stall their development and starvation long enough that a team better suited to their annihilation could be rallied. Kaius pressed his lips into a hard line, his mind made up. ¡°Tell Ianmus we¡¯re going to have to fight¡ªwe¡¯ll hold a choke point in the darkness.¡± he pressed through his bond, Porkchop replying with an unmistakable feeling of acknowledgement¡ªand an undeniable undercurrent of red thrill. Kaius felt it too, his blood heating with a roar that had been steadily building since they had been discovered. Calm had come with it, the cool certainty that there was no more room for anticipation and dread¡ªonly action. The bloodsong had been changing within him, he¡¯d noticed. Less overwhelming, less...feral. He¡¯d grown since leaving the depths. While he still felt the rushing anticipation of the fight, he no longer wanted to turn and fight where he stood as he once would have. Some of it was undoubtedly the clarity that had come with his ignited Mentis¡ªthe energy of his fire burned by his Glass Mind as it searched for avenues to victory. Some of it was due to simple experience. The Depths¡ªthe isolated microcosm of challenge and battle that they were¡ªhad made it all too easy to indulge in base desires. His responsibilities had grown. His team, their mission, his vengeance, the phases, his growth. Porkchop, on the other hand... Judging by the growing anticipation and violent desires he felt cross their bond, his brother was still very much in favour of simple, direct, action. Not that Kaius could judge him for that, he still longed for the thrill of the fight¡ªit had simply been tempered. A howling roar raced through the tunnel behind them, a low rumble echoing shortly after it. The pursuit had begun. ... Kaius spotted the narrowing of the cave¡ªthe pitch black hiding no secrets before the flat monochrome vision of his Truesight. The boggarts had done little to excavate the tunnels this close to the entrance of the cave, and a natural deviation in the stone had led to a section that tightened to where he and Porkchop would only just be able to fight side by side. **Ding! Truesight has reached level 48!** The perfect place to make their stand. ¡°Ianmus! Stop beyond the thinning walls!¡± he called. The mage nodded, his chest heaving too hard to answer through words. Kaius appraised him, taking in his sweat streaked face and flushed skin. Ianmus had pushed himself hard¡ªsprinted for all he was worth through the caves. No doubt his Stamina was shot, though thankfully the man would have little need for it in the coming conflict. He could hear the roaring noise of their pursuers drawing closer¡ªa tremendous wall of sound that burst through the cave in a constant assault. They were a minute away, maybe two. Ianmus was the weak link to a fighting retreat, and given his pace through the cave, would have no chance in an outright rout. They¡¯d need to buy the man time. He took his position at Porkchop¡¯s side, facing back the way they had come. Mana flashed through the darkness, welling up from within his brother''s centre as jade plates bound his massive body in impenetrable defence. Kaius held his blade ready. Heat washed over him¡ªIanmus working immediately to refresh their empowerment before the tide was upon them. **Ding! You have been Enhanced - Sundrenched Strength!** The howl of the plague grew all the more baleful¡ªslavering monsters baying for flesh. Their hunger, he realised. Blood had sat heavy in the air as they fled through the sites of their slaughter, it must be driving the boggarts mad. ¡°Ianmus,¡± he called, keeping his eyes dead ahead as he waited for their enemies. ¡°There is a good chance we will need to flee.¡± ¡°I know, if their numbers are as great as you said¡ªas it sounds like they are¡ªthen they¡¯ll wear us down with attrition alone. We don¡¯t have the potions or regeneration to keep up¡ªI''ve done the estimations I can, and none of them look good. Even in the best case scenario, we stand no chance.¡± Ianmus¡¯s voice was determined, but Kaius had dealt with the nerves of staring death in the face enough times to hone in on the raw edge to the mage¡¯s tone. ¡°Rieker set us up.¡± Ianmus continued, trailing off to a whisper. ¡°Calm yourself. We¡¯re going to be fine.¡± he assured¡ªthey might lose this battle, but he¡¯d be damned before he resigned himself to losing his life. ¡°When I call for it, I want you to retreat. Race to our tent as fast as you can, it¡¯ll hide you well enough.¡± Kaius could practically feel Ianmus¡¯s gaze snapping to the back of his head. ¡°You want me to abandon you to your fate?¡± Ianmus asked, the thin edge of shock and offense cutting through his nerves. ¡°No,¡± Kaius said with a shake of his head. ¡°We¡¯re just buying time¡ªIt''s almost certain that me and Porkchop will be able to lose them on foot. We¡¯ll circle back, collect you and disappear.¡± ¡°We cannot flee to the plains,¡± Ianmus cut in, voice resolute. ¡°The two of you might be fast, but you¡¯ll leave tracks¡ªif we¡¯re followed, they might be convinced to vanish into the forests if they discover how rife they are with food.¡± ¡°We can lose them in the hills¡ªchip away at their trackers and raiders. I doubt we¡¯ll be able to starve them out, with how much meat today will bring¡ªbut we can harry them all the same.¡± Porkchop assured the mage. The half-elf ground his teeth at his explanation, but clearly thought it was a reasonable course, not saying a word to the contrary. Instead, Kaius felt the man start to channel his mana¡ªthe cleansing might of the sun gathering around the man. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°I¡¯ll focus on healing¡ªa full strength beam might be effective here, but it would burn me dry.¡± Kaius nodded. ¡°I hear them, they¡¯re close.¡± Porkchop suddenly butted in, hackles rising as he growled into the darkness of the tunnel. ¡°Ready yourselves for glory, my friends.¡± Kaius said, settling into his guard¡ªready to break the boggart¡¯s charge with Stormlash. .... The first boggarts spilled around the bend in the passage in a gibbering tide that was preceded by the dull flickering glow of torches. The light was inconsistent and dim. A dull radiance that only just barely managed to beat back the darkness, leaving much of the passage draped in gloom. Barely any of them held torches at all, really¡ªmost seemingly having been driven to furious madness by the sudden alarm and assault. It mattered little to him, but hopefully it would make the boggart¡¯s advance all the more difficult. Most of the mob were boggarts, their charge slowing as the crowd was crushed together by the narrowing tunnel¡ªforced to march eight abreast in the confines of his team''s chosen battlefield. They were an unending tide¡ªmore pressing from around the bend to push on the backs of the dozens of bogglings that choked the visible stretch of cave. The sudden force of the walls pressing them inwards hit the approaching plague like a physical blow¡ªmany of those in the middle falling to the ground as their allies to their sides were forced inwards. Pained screams rang out, bones breaking as those that fell were trampled by their allies. Even a few bugbears faltered. By far the minority of the force, they were still easily visible by their stature, scattered inconsistently though the mass¡ªurging their lessers onwards. Kaius grinned with feral glee as he saw that his plan had worked¡ªthat the memory his Glass Mind had impressed on him of a panicked stampede of deer through a tight gully had proven relevant. Orange light spilled across him, snarling cries rising to a near fever pitch as the plague spotted them. Boggart spearmen and slingers loosed their projectiles. Most were empowered in some way, mana flashing in his eyes as the lesser creatures drew on system granted skills to imbue their weapons with myriad powers. Kaius took it all in. His skills and Glass Mind aiding him in tracking their passage¡ªand how best to defend himself. **Ding! Explorer¡¯s Toolkit has reached level 50!** Even empowered by skills, the tight crush of the chokepoint had severely hampered the boggart¡¯s ability to put any real force and skill into their blows. He dashed to the side, twisting with unnatural speed as he guided the stone weapons he couldn¡¯t dodge into glancing safely off his armour. **Ding! Uncanny Dodge has reached level 41!** **Ding! Tempered by Dissonance has reached level 46!** It wasn¡¯t perfect¡ªthe slings in particular still bruised flesh and cracked bone, a dozen flares of hot agony radiating through his arms and ribs. However, such slight wounds could barely even slow him, the slighest trickle of Health enough to wash away all evidence of injury. **Ding! Lesser Regeneration has reached level 61!** Cutting another soaring spear out of the air, Kaius was treated to the sight of his stone-clad brother unleashing a maddening roar¡ªone that resonated with unnatural potency, sinking deep into his ears. Bulwark¡¯s Challenge rolled over the rapidly approaching tide like poison. It amplified the visible boggling¡¯s aggression to untold heights¡ªsmall eyes widened, growing bloodshot as the monsters let out a feral scream of madness. As a single unit, their attention focused on his brother, more of their number falling beneath the feet of their brethren as they fought madly to race towards his brother. The debilitating strength of the skill was evident in the shaking of their limbs, and their stumbling lack of coordination. Porkchop didn¡¯t wait for them to come¡ªnor did Kaius. The dusky passage lit up pure blueish white, overwhelmed by the brilliance of the lash of crackling lightning that appeared in his hand. Almost all of the boggarts howled, those lacking the skills to protect their vision finding themselves blinded by the flash. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Drakthar has reached level 48!** He struck, slashing at a bugbear at the head of the charge. The heat and paralysing fury of a typhoon seared straight through its meagre defenses, boiling flesh and driving the resonant force of his mana deep into its body. Two streamers arced outwards, gracing two lesser boggarts with the same pain. **Ding! Resonance Amplification has reached level 43!** Clear as his vision was, he saw the terrible state of the creatures¡ªblackened and smoking, they fell beneath their fellows feet, slowing the approach of the horde further. Porkchop charged. His amulet might have been a comparatively small boost to his top speed now, but it still had one use¡ªit got him up to speed in the barest of moments. Trusting in his armour, Porkchop smashed straight into the front lines¡ªcaring not for the prickling row of wood and stone spears that were trained on him. Crude implements of war shattered on sacred jade, the full weight of the charge crushing bones and pulping flesh. Then a jade wall erupted from the ground, crushing a full third of the front line backwards¡ªforcing the boggarts into a disarray. The skill expended its energy quickly against the endless tide of meat¡ªbut it did its job well, creating space for Porkchop to tear into the remainder. His charge wasn¡¯t without injury¡ªhalf a dozen different streaks of red flowing from between the gaps in Porkchop¡¯s armour. Kaius raced in, blurring across the battlefield as he flowed through a precession of thrusts and cuts. Each one parted flesh¡ªcleaved through limbs and left lifeblood flowing in its wake. **Ding! level 58 Boggart - Skulker slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** ... **Ding! level 64 Bugbear - Hungry Clubber slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo has reached level 50!** ... **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo has reached level 52!** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 53!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** The bogglings tried to mount a resistance¡ªa few managing to lean on a myriad of skills to turn his blade, or punish his assault with a quickened stab, or an acidic slash. He simply pulled back, more than happy to focus his efforts on those more vulnerable. **Ding! Uncanny Dodge has reached level 42!** ... **Ding! Uncanny Dodge has reached level 44!** **Ding! Truesight has reached level 49!** With how crowded they were, it was impossible for them to track him effectively¡ªespecially not with Porkchop¡¯s skill still pulling on their attention, forcing their fury towards his indomitable presence. His blade moved like a living thing, smashing aside the probing strikes of a particularly ambitious bugbear totting a warpick, his heavy parries leaving it open to retaliation¡ªsomething he capitalised on with ruthless efficiency, slipping around its allies¡¯ club swings and spear thrusts to roll his sword into a riposte. **Ding! Tempered by Dissonance has reached level 47!** ... **Ding! Tempered by Dissonance has reached level 48!** **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform has reached level 53!** Blood sprayed, another body falling limp on the floor. **Ding! level 62 Bugbear - Swift Raider slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** The press started to regain some organisation¡ªthe sudden fury of his team''s assault waning as the barking commands of bugbears brought some semblance of order. Those further back¡ªan unending tide that stretched out of sight¡ªstopped pressing forwards, giving the vanguard time and space to breathe. Until he blitzed passed, gutting them open, that is. Kaius held himself back from unleashing Stormlashes into the pit¡ªhe was perfectly poised to take out the bugbears that were leading, but every spell cast was one that was unavailable to him for the rest of the battle. Somewhere, out there in the masses of bodies, were the warchief and his shamans. He¡¯d need power for that kind of threat. Tightening his footwork, Kaius directed his mind to economy of motion. Short cuts and brisk stabs, unburdened by frivolous movements. Every point of stamina was precious, and with his Glass Mind utterly focused on the movements of his enemy he was freed to spend his effort like a miser. It was basic¡ªmechanical and routine, but it brought with it a solid rhythm. A tempo that let him force the boggarts to pay for every hairsbreadth of ground with a mountain of cooling bodies. **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform has reached level 56!** **Ding! Uncanny Dodge has reached level 49!** **Ding! Tempered by Dissonance has reached level 50!** **Ding! Explorer¡¯s Toolkit has reached level 52!** **Ding! Lesser Regeneration has reached level 62!** **Ding! Brotherhood of Ichor and Animus has reached level 65!** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 54!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** He could do this as long as he needed to. ... Ro watched the tide of boggart¡¯s and larger bugbears stream past her. It had finally happened, as she knew it would. Now she had a choice to make¡ªtoo much pressure and her vexing charges might break, letting some of the tribe flee. Or worse, one of them might fall. The dead couldn¡¯t learn. Still, this much was far from enough. Too easy and they wouldn¡¯t be pressed up close to the edge. Those kinds of lessons stuck with you, wormed their way deep to influence you forever more. The kind of teaching that would save them when there was no one coming to help. She¡¯d act to stymie the flow soon. But not yet. Chapter 177 - B2 175: Camaraderie pt. 2 As a group they left the hard packed road that cut its way through the sun-drenched Hanset Woods. Cutting across the berm, they made their way through the trees. Stout and healthy things, a mixture of oaks, ash, and many others that spread a wide canopy. Light underbrush crunched underfoot as Kaius took the lead, plunging deep enough that they could no longer be seen from the road. As he looked around his surroundings, Kaius couldn''t help but feel strangely out of place. For all this place was nominally similar to the Sea, it was too...loose. They were nearly a hundred strides into the tree line and he could still clearly see the road. Breaks in the canopy were common, and the underbrush had none of the hearty vitality of the brush that rose as tall as he was that he was used to. Eventually finding a decent dip in the ground, Kaius waved Porkchop over and unfastened their Dimensional Tent. Setting the storage bag in a small hollow surrounded by bushes, he activated the artefact with his mana before promptly scrunching his eyes shut and shielding them with his arm for good measure. No need to subject himself to interdimensional truths beyond mortal comprehension. Not today, and hopefully never again. As the tent materialised with a subtle pop, Kaius heard Ianmus jump next to him. "What the hells is tha¡ªhang on, why are you covering your eyes?" Ianmus started, before addressing him with plain confusion. Groaning in resignation, he opened his eyes once more. "Ocular skill. First time he opened it he got a little spooked by what he saw." Porkchop explained with a snicker. Taking a last look at the thin leather tent, vaguely making out the impression of another bush nestled amongst its cousins, Kaius turned to Ianmus and sighed. "It''s dimensional, and has an illusion cloak. Some sort of janky spatial effect didn''t react well with me when I saw it, I recommend against looking if you ever are able to." He stepped forwards, opening the tent''s flap to reveal the larger, rather homely space within. "Now come on, we can talk inside." Porkchop led the way, diving into their space to nestle himself on the wide cushioned mattress covered in furs. Their mage, on the other hand, stared at the interior in shock as he numbly made his way in. Stepping in after the man, Kaius let the flap fall closed and took a seat on the spacious floor. Ianmus was still standing in the centre of the space, turning slowly as he took in the interior with wide eyes. "Why would you hide something so useful?" Ianmus asked absentmindedly. "I can think of a dozen times being able to hide in plain sight would have saved us plenty of trouble on our journey. Let alone the comfort." Kaius grunted, reaching over to Porkchop to retrieve their traveler''s pan, the chunk of spider leg, and as many cooking supplies as he thought he would need. Keeping the tent a secret had been a tactical choice, if Ianmus had ever proved himself untrustworthy, an unknown ability to hide in plain sight would have been invaluable. He told the mage as much as he went about cracking open the spider leg on a flat chopping board. The meat inside was delicate. Almost reminiscent of the rare crawfish he and Father would catch in the streams that networked the Sea. "It wasn''t meant as a slight," he assured. "We just wanted a gold piece tucked in our boot for if everything went to shit. Bit pointless now you''re bound by a similar secret." Frowning down at him, Ianmus looked displeased at his reasoning. He could understand, it was a bit of a bitter pill to swallow. Eventually though, the mage sighed in acceptance and took his seat across from him. They sat there in silence for a moment as he diced and spiced the spider meat. The questions would come soon, he was sure of it - but he didn''t want to press the issue. If only he had some butter¡ªif the spider was like crawfish it would have been perfect. Unfortunately, lard would have to do. Ianmus sat with his elbows on his knees, head propped up by his hands as a scrunched expression of intense concentration stood frozen on his face. A moment later he sat up slowly and looked between them. "I assume much of what you have told me was a falsity born out of necessity?" he asked. Kaius bobbed his head, while Porkchop took the moment to respond. "In a sense. Downplayed, details twisted and changed, and certain things omitted, but the broad strokes were there." Ianmus strummed his fingers against the canvas floor of the tent. "This wasn''t your first Honour, was it?" he asked, watching them intently. "My seventh, Porkchop''s sixth." Kaius confirmed, looking up from his work to meet the half-elf''s eyes. They widened in shock, a thin hiss escaping his clenched teeth. "So many? No wonder you are so strong. What''s the one Porkchop couldn''t get?" Smirking slightly, Kaius raised his dominant hand, showing off the glyph that embossed his palm. "First one to discover glyph-binding. That''s not all, there''s bonuses too. Ones we''ve found are being the first in our ''cohort''--whatever that means¡ªas well as achieving one unclassed, and sometimes doing something solo. Though the last one gets murky; some honours are exclusively for doing certain feats solo." Rocking backwards at his reveal, Ianmus stared at him mutely for a drawn out moment. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. "Unclassed...?" he finally forced out, slowly looking between them. As soon as he finished the word he trailed off, falling silent as he gathered his thoughts. "It was you, wasn''t it?" Ianmus said slowly, chewing on his lip. "The phase shift." Kaius nodded slowly, methodically finishing his prep for their meal before he activated the Traveller''s Pan in front of him. Thankfully, it stayed cool on its exterior, so he could use it directly on the canvas. "It was. Though it was unintentional; we were just trying to survive." he replied, voice softening to a whisper as he thought back on the year of constantly living on the edge. The stress and tension that each day would be their last. It had honed him, and he had loved it, but there was still a weight to the experience. A level of respect demanded that could not be denied. "I...how?" Ianmus asked, curiosity and disbelief warring in his voice. At the very least there was no anger in it. No hatred or accusation. That had been what worried Kaius the most. "A year trapped in the second layer of the Depths. As unclassed no less." Porkchop explained, shuffling closer on the fur layered mattress that enveloped him. As large as he had grown, there would be only just enough room for them to share the space. "One of the things Kaius forgot to mention is that there are also Minor and Major honours. We got a minor one for surviving a year in the Depths unclassed, and a Major for slaying a guardian. The latter was what kicked off the change, and gave us access to our classes." Ianmus whipped his head over to Porkchop, staring at him intently. "A whole year? How?" He looked back to Kaius, then started looking between him and his brother rapidly. "Your legacy." he stated, settling on Porkchop once more. "You helped Kaius complete his own? I know completed legacies are common amongst the meles." "No," Kaius said with a shake of his head. "I already had my own. But you are correct, they are how we survived, and eventually thrived. Once we found out about Honours, we pushed as hard as we could." Ianmus stared at him incredulously. "That...There have been no higher race dynasties with a complete legacy since the Eternal Empire. Not publicly at least." his almond eyes searched Kaius''s face. "Who are you, Kaius? Why would you be so far from your people? Why are you not with them now? And why on all the gods hold dear would you attempt a Guardian?" The deep weight of his grief revealed itself to Kaius once more, settling upon him like a leaden mantle. Weighing him down with the magnitude of his loss, and his responsibility to hold the perpetrators to account. He breathed, feeling the emotion and letting it pass as his eyes drifted closed. When he opened them once more, he saw the contrition and concern in Ianmus''s face and smiled at him wearily. "That...is a long story, but one I think we perhaps have time for." he said slowly. "It started when I was young, living in the Sea with my Father..." .... Kaius told his tale, and he told it well, using his preoccupation with their lunch as an excuse to distract himself whenever it got too much. Porkchop would jump in then, filling in the gaps whenever he no longer had the stamina to continue. They held nothing back, not at this point. His life in the forest, his lack of knowledge about his background. The flight from the tracker, and his meeting with Porkchop. Their battles and their plights, and the Honours they had earned on their journey. He spoke of the weight of desperation during that year. His need to know of his father''s fate, and the dire tidings he returned to - learning that it was the Onyx Temple who were ultimately responsible. Ianmus was a good listener. He had sat there enraptured in his tale, asking questions when appropriate, and giving the right amount of shocked gasps, cosmirations, and congratulations where needed. All in all, it made for a great bonding activity for their team. Far better than he had ever hoped it would go, at least. They even shared their builds, and the existence of their additional racial traits and Heroic classes. That had fascinated Ianmus. He''d begged them to trawl through their old notifications, a boring and focus intensive experience, so that he could learn of their requirements. Something about building a ''framework'' to understand class requirements better. Ianmus too had shared his own. He did have a Rare class. Novitiate Solar Theurge, a class that encompassed both sorcery and free casting¡ªand one that could easily bend in either direction further down the path. He had his own legacy skills¡ªfive from the college, and two from his father. Most were merges of three to five, though one was seven. His other skills were nothing to sniff at either: three Unusual skills that he had acquired through dedicated shedding of blood and sweat. A good foundation¡ªone they would be able to build upon handedly as they acquired more Honours in preparation for the second tier. In all honesty, he was surprised Ianmus hadn''t gotten an Unusual class. If he had to guess, the sheltered nature of collegiate training had offset much of the effect his large number of legacy and high rarity skills would have had. Still, that was in some ways good news¡ªwith the feats they were acquiring, and the Honour he had gained, Kaius would be surprised if he didn''t completely skip a rarity and jump to at least Unique in the second tier. Kaius finished his tale at the same time he finished cooking their lunch. Switching the pan off, a warm and spicy scent filled their tent. It smelt good, but odd. Remarkably similar to crawfish in the end, but without the tang of seafood that he was used to. "And that''s it." he said, pushing the pan away as he fetched some bowls. "Amazing, and terrible for you to have experienced such." Ianmus said with a shake of his head. Then his eyes blazed, impassioned and fierce. "The Onyx Temple are the worst of blackguards, and I would be more than happy to assist you in your blood debt." Kaius nodded his head in gratitude. "I only request one thing." Ianmus followed up. "Oh?" Kaius asked, tilting his head at the man. He doubted he was trying to leverage something out of him, but he was curious about what he wanted. "Take me with you to the end, and I will bleed as much as I have to to keep up. These Honours...Ekum, and the phases. It''s a mystery on a never before seen scale. So much could be found, and so much progress could be made. Let alone your magic, the scale and significance of it." Ianmus said with fervour. "If I let this slip by I would never be able to sleep again." Kaius grinned, and his brother chuffed with joy. "Of course." "We need you just as much; a god himself said so." Porkchop quipped. "Good...good¡ªI am thankful." Ianmus said with a bow of his head. "Now, bonded as a team in truth, I wish to ask for your thoughts on my next available skill. That fight pushed me to level forty-one." Kaius waved him off. "None of that. First, we eat. We can all delve into our statuses after lunch." Ladling the fried spider into bowls, he passed them out amongst his team, a budding warmth growing within him as he watched their latest member¡ªboth in deed and spirit¡ªaccept his cooking with a thankful smile. With no more secrets, and with Ianmus having taken the first step to supremacy, he hoped they would be able to keep their bond for years to come. Chapter 178 - B2 176: Camaraderie, Finale. Sitting within the tent, Kaius enjoyed the lard fried spider. Tender and juicy, it practically melted in his mouth, and carried the mild herbs and spices he had used beautifully. All in all, definitely as delicious as he had hoped it would be. What''s more, with every bite he felt a gentle and warm energy coursing free from the meal, seeping from his stomach to swaddle him like a warm blanket. He didn''t see any major effects in his status, or anything of the like, but it satisfied him on some deep level. Every wave of the vitalising energy washed away his fatigue and exhaustion from the recent battle, revitalising the mind and soothing the weariness of his body and soul. It sat heavy in his stomach, satiating him far faster than he expected from a meal of its size. A happy smile crossed his face. He''d always wanted to try high-level beast meat, but it was supposed to be unsafe for those without a class. With Explorer''s Toolkit stretching its worth as much as it could with its meagre levels, he had finally gotten a taste of the empowered foodstuffs that the high-tiered thrived on. Savouring another bite, his mind turned to more important matters. With the entire team having fallen to silence as they ate, it was the perfect time to survey his status for the first time in a number of weeks. He was pretty sure Porkchop was already looking at his own, what with the way his half-lidded eyes stared into the mid-space. Though, it could have just been the food. Giving his brother a smile, he pulled up his system information. Status: Name: Kaius Dynasty: Unterstern Age: 19 Race: Human (Dynastic, Greater Beastblooded) - +1 Wil, Str, End, and free stats per level Layer Reached: 2 Class: Runeblade Initiate - +3 Int, +2 End, +2 Str, +2 Dex, +1 Vit, +1 Wil per level Level: 39 Resources: Health - 1837/2450 (13.5/min) Stamina - 1920/2320 (18.3/min) Mana - 1650/3190 (21.5/min) Free Mana - 1650/3190 Reserved Mana - 0 Stats: Endurance - 144 + 49 + 25% (245) Vitality - 58 + 49 + 25% (135) Strength - 134 + 49 + 25% (232) Dexterity - 96 + 49 + 25% (183) Intelligence - 172 + 63 + 33% (319) Willpower: - 96 + 63 + 33% (215) Stat Points: 0 Aspects: Pillar Corporus: N/A Pillar Mentis: N/A Pillar Animus: N/A Class Skills (2/10): Latent Glyph of Drakthar (Heroic) - 9 > 22 Initiate''s Glyphic Bladerite (Unique) - 0 > 10 General Skills (10/10): Rapid Adaptation (Heroic) - 22 > 28 Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo (Heroic) - 23 > 30 Explorers Toolkit (Unusual) - 30 > 36 Tempered by Dissonance (Heroic) - 22 > 31 True Sight (Unique) - 27 > 38 Tonal Weaving (Unique) - 24 > 31 Resonance Amplification (Unique) - 23 > 27 Lesser Regeneration (Unusual) - 20 > 28 Uncanny Dodge (Unique) - 23 > 29 Brotherhood of Ichor and Animus (Heroic) - 36 > 40 Hymnbook: Glyph of Drakthar- Stormlash (Tier I - 120 mana) Honours: Born for Slaughter (Bonus) Sublime Prodigy - Glyph Binding (Bonus) Birds of a Blood Soaked Feather (Bonus) Persistent Survivor (Minor) (Bonus) Kingslayer (Major) (Bonus) Ruthless Underdog (Bonus) Ruthless Underdog II Bound Artefacts: A Fathers Gift - Common Growth Longsword Growth Conditions- Gain a class (1/1) Absorb suitable materials (1/3) Forge a link (1/1) A sigh of satisfaction slipped free, though whether it was from his gains or from the fried spider, he didn''t know. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. With a single battle, they had leapfrogged the rising curve. Now the standard beasts of the plains would certainly pose no threat to them, though that was in some ways bittersweet. If they kept this growth up, it would become a significant challenge to find suitable foes to sharpen themselves on. Well, that wasn''t quite true. He was sure the guild would have plenty of recorded entrances to the Depths of a sufficient layer - however, if he would have access to ones deep enough was an entirely different story. Hopefully with this mission they would prove themselves capable of bronze, and if not, with only one more. Those were the real threats, both the kind he could grow off of, and the kind that threatened the surrounding region the most. Even Iron, with all the might of the beasts that made up its ranks, were rare enough that they surely could not match up to the devastation that was the overflowing Bronze board. At least until the beasts grew further, that is. Shaking off his musings, Kaius turned his attention to his companions. Both seemed to be done with their own checks of their gains. "Satisfied?" he asked the group. "Extremely." "I concur." Ianmus agreed with a nod. Kaius grinned, glad that Ianmus in particular was in good spirits at their success against the spider. It was a stark thing, your first brush with the impossible¡ªbut the man had handled it as well as the best of them. "Ianmus," he asked. "You mentioned you have your next skill available, did you want to share what you were thinking?" The mage brightened at his words, exuberance sliding across his face. "Yes, yes! I have a couple of options¡ªall rare, thank the fates. I am partial to all of them, it just depends how I can best fit into the team." Kaius waved at the man to continue. "There''s a direct healing spell¡ªone hundred health for the same mana, but the health and range scales slightly, which could prove significant over time, and the relatively low mana cost means a quick channeling time, especially as my wisdom improves." Ianmus explained heartily. "On the other hand, I also have a meta magic that would let me double the effectiveness of a spell for double the mana cost, but the increase scales minutely. This, in particular, would be brilliant for my free casting. Eventually it would let me get far more punch for an attack or restorative than the increased cost, reducing the chances of mana burn." he continued. Kaius hummed under his breath. Even if these were just the first two, they were both equally valuable. Healing, the quick kind in particular, was of extreme use in the sorts of battles that they were destined to face, and could literally be the difference between life and death. On the other hand, Ianmus had proven that his alpha strikes were potent indeed, capable of severely wounding even the assassin spider when he had none of his and Porkchop''s advantages. Sure, it took ten minutes of channeling, but in the right situation it was a game changer. Especially if he and Porkchop could take the heat, Ianmus could potentially even make use of his free casting ability in combat. Still, he had three options. "And the final?" Kaius asked. "Perhaps my least favourite, even if still tempting under other circumstances. A variant beam attack, one focused on a blinding affliction." Ianmus answered. Scratching his chin, Kaius thought he agreed with the man. It was too niche, especially in comparison to the previous two skills. "I suppose my main question is whether you are leaning towards free casting or sorcery?" Porkchop interjected. Kaius nodded. It was a significant point. At some point, for optimal effectiveness, Ianmus would need to lean one way or the other. Not entirely, some level of both abilities was always useful for a mage, but indecisiveness was rarely helpful where the system was concerned. Pausing to think on the question, Ianmus looked up deep in thought. "I think, if you had asked me a few months ago, I would have said sorcery. The time cost of free casting is too extreme for most; a single mistake from your front line and you are dead." he looked down, meeting their eyes. "Now though, with you two? I think the potential power and flexibility of free casting is too useful and potent to set aside. I saw the way you handled that spider. Elite and sixty levels your senior, and it still never had a moment where it could ignore you." Kaius turned, meeting his brother''s eyes for a knowing look before he smiled back at Ianmus. "Then you have your answer¡ªbesides, solar free casting is fantastic at healing anyway, isn''t it?" he said with an easy grin. Ianmus returned it, nodding emphatically. "It is, significantly so. A potent blend of regeneration, recovery, and restorative. I have the education to do it too. I agree, I''ll pick Hypercharged Spell." A moment later, the lanky half-elf''s eyes closed, and he made his choice. Kaius leaned in, grabbing their plates and pan, before popping his head out of the tent to rinse them off with their water skin. By the time he had returned, Ianmus''s awareness had returned from his selection, the man looking as pleased as an overfed pig. "Right!" Kaius said with a clap. "Lunch is over, we''ve made our gains, and we have a long journey ahead of us. I suggest we get the grizzly work over and done with and survey the damage the spider left, and then make our way to Holsborough before returning to the Guild." Ianmus winced at his words, while Porkchop groaned. "That was a lot of wreckage, Kaius; it might be gruesome." Porkchop said. He nodded grimly back. "I know, but it is the right thing to do. That, and salvage rights. Some of those looked like merchant caravans. Besides, I doubt there will be much in the way of remains. Spiders are...thorough." Going a little pale, Ianmus looked away. "I suppose we must." Taking the lead, Kaius stepped out of the tent, before collapsing it with his eyes closed as soon as his compatriots had exited. Securing it to his brother''s back, he led their way back through the woods towards the road. It would be grim work, but if they could bring word to Holsborough of any identified caravans, they would be able to do the rest. At the very least, they could send more thorough investigators now that the road was clear. ... Bleak sights passed before his eyes as they picked through the remains of the assassin spider''s nest. The dense web that crossed the road was now little more than thin silk. Still tough and sticky, but easily clearable without the infusion of one of the spider''s skills. They''d found shattered wagons galore, but, like Kaius had expected, no sight of any bodies. No doubt there were bones somewhere, hidden in some dark hole in the ranges that the monstrosity had claimed as its territory. Kaius didn''t have the time or the inclination to go searching for them. As much as his heart bled for the senseless loss of life, they were already gone. His time was better spent elsewhere. They could leave that job for the locals, now that the threat was gone. Instead, they searched the wagons. Most were weeks old, dating back before the notice had gone out of something picking off travellers. A few were more recent. Poor bastards who hadn''t paid attention to the comings and goings, or were too cocksure and confident to listen. There was little of value. Most were mundane goods. Cloths, finely tanned leathers, pottery, and foodstuffs. Practical things. With how broken the wagons were, the wares had been fully exposed to the elements, and the delicates had been shattered. The rest had rotted, or worn beyond the point of being worth salvaging. To them at least, no doubt some enterprising townsman would have a field day picking through what they considered trash. There was, however, one thing that was worth their time. "You two, over here!" Porkchop called with excitement, over by a particularly heavy set carriage that had been reinforced with iron banding. The wood had been shattered, and no amount of mundane metal had stopped the spider from prying off the roof. Kaius shared a glance with Ianmus, who was idly kicking planks aside as he inspected a more common wagon. As one they raced to his brother''s side. Approaching quickly, he found his brother crouched over a small lockbox, a good ten strides from the wagon. Half embedded in the dirt, and covered in leaf litter, it must have been knocked free in the confrontation. Or dropped in a merchant''s desperate flight, Kaius thought to himself grimly. He crouched down as Porkchop levered it out with a single claw. It was a small thing, maybe a hand-and-a-half long and a hand wide, with a thick padlock keeping it sealed shut. Kaius grinned as he saw it. A money box, no two ways about it. "Want me to melt it open?" Ianmus asked, a gleaming eye on their find. "It might take a while, but I could do it." Kaius shook his head, setting the box on a patch of hardened dirt as he rose to his full height. "Nah, this is much easier." Raising his foot to his chest, he leaned on the full might of his increased strength as he drove down in a vicious full-bodied stomp. Wood splintered with a terrible crack, but the box held firm. It shattered on the second stomp. Whoever the merchant was, he hadn''t invested in an enchanted lockbox. As the box collapsed, glittering rounds of silver and copper spilled forth¡ªdozens and dozens of them. Kaius met his team''s gaze, his own wide grin mirrored on their own faces. "Drinks on me at Holsborough?" Chapter 179 - B2 177: Journey to Holsborough Leaving the wreckage and ruin that was the spider''s nest behind, Kaius and his party made their way down the road to Holsborough, slowly trekking towards the edge of the Hanset Woods. Two days of travel, hunkering down in their dimensional tent in the evenings, with at least another one until they hit the edge of the swathe of lightly packed trees. Then it would be a day of crossing the plains. Intshire was closer by at least half, but the township lay further away from Deadacre. It would have been fastest for them to have simply cut back the way they had come, but none of them felt it would be right to leave without at least giving word on one end that the assassin spider had been slain, and the worst of the road''s threats cleared. Plus, he was sure that whatever salvage the locals would find would be a significant boon in the current times. While it was of no use to the likes of them, there were plenty of goods that would still be serviceable, if weather-beaten. The lockbox though, that they could use. After accounting for their finds, they had another sixty-eight silver and ninety-seven copper to their name. A paltry sum, compared to the earnings they would get from this mission, but it was convenient all the same. A single gold was a large sum of money to most people, and having a weighty supply of lesser coingage would certainly help with paying their way through common taverns and the like. As the sun shone down on the widespread green around them, Kaius watched their surroundings closely. The way the breeze shifted the canopies and caressed the heavy brush beneath. The song of birds, and the low level buzz of insects. A background song that could be hiding danger. Not that he was particularly worried. While he was certain threats even more dangerous than the spider were appearing with alarming regularity, the realm was a large place, and they would have to be unlucky indeed to stumble across one so close to the range of another. Still, as it stood, he was the closest thing they had to a scout, so he planned on doing his job diligently. His vigilance was rewarded shortly after, Explorer''s Toolkit nudging his attention to a flashing blur a good two hundred strides into the trees. Tilting his head, Kaius focused on the flash, clarity coming to him quickly. A trio of wolves, skulking from tree to tree. Mangey and thin, they looked starved. Desperate. His heart beat stayed steady, without the barest whisper of vitalising glee that came with the Blood Song. They were...weak. Focusing on one who was peering around a wide oak, he pulled up its status. Forest Wolf - Level 21: Beast, Skirmisher Sighing, he slipped from his brother''s back and palmed the hilt of his sword. Ianmus and Porkchop looked at him in confusion. "Nothing bad. Just some desperate wolves." he explained without turning back, waving off any questions before they were asked. Striding off the road, he approached the tree line. His blatant, unthreatening approach was too much for the small pack. As one they bayed, charging from their cover as they raced towards him with foaming muzzles. Out in the open, they looked less decrepit than he had thought. Still obviously hungry, but not generally underfed, nor did they look wasted to the point of weakness. Their grey pelts still even had a sheen, without a mat in sight. Poor bastards. They''d just skipped one too many meals, enough hunger to force them into a confrontation they had no idea would be their end. Slowing to a stop, he let them approach. His sword was still in its sheath, and his hands rested comfortably at his side. The sheer nonchalance sent the wolves into a frenzy, their pace redoubling. Each one sent plumes of dirt spraying behind itself, as they wove between the trunks at a pace only possible after a full life hunting through the reaches of the woods. Slavering snarls slipped from their muzzles, brown eyes focused on him with furious intensity. It was almost admirable. Then they came into range. Kaius swept his hand out towards casually, a baleful shower of orange sparks hanging in a trail behind it. Blue-white cracked, throwing the surrounding trees into stark relief as a writhing bolt of lightning appeared in his hand before arcing towards the lead wolf. It impacted with finality, two lesser streams of potent magic splitting off to the other two wolves. Each and every one seized, muscles clenching with every scrap of strength they could muster. Tumbling into a ragged pile of meat, the wolves collapsed dead and smoking. **Ding! level 21 Forest Wolf - Able Hunter slain - Experience Gained! Reduced Experience for slaying a foe of Insignificant Strength!** ... **Ding! level 22 Forest Wolf - Able Hunter slain - Experience Gained! Reduced Experience for slaying a foe of Insignificant Strength!** Watching their prone forms twitch with the remnants of his magic, Kaius sighed and made his way back to his companions. Disappointing, but surprisingly common. They''d suffered two more attacks from a variety of beasts, either those desperate, or so territorial they would willingly throw themselves at death. Fortunately, most things in the woods had some instinctive understanding of their strength, and had steered well clear. Still, a proper fight would have been nice. Even if it wasn''t as fraught as the spider, it still would have been good to see some more significant gains than the bare smattering of three skill levels he had seen since then. Ianmus shook his head at him, a wry smile on his face. "You look like you just got sentenced to six months of hard labour." he teased. That set Porkchop off, his brother chortling at Ianmus''s joke. "He does! Like he had to dig the next den tunnel!" This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Scowling at his companions, Kaius quickened his stride to rejoin them. "I can''t help it! That wasn''t even a fight! I could do a dozen of those and not see a single skill level, let alone a class one." "Chin up, man, you at least had that insight into your Aspects¡ªwhy don''t you do some more pondering now that a few days have passed and see if you can share anything else?" Ianmus asked. Kaius sighed, he was right. He had shared his revelation on the truths he had brushed upon in their fight during their first day. They''d all been fizzing with excitement at the prospect of delving more into the secrets of the latest addition to the system. Both Ianmus and Porkchop had felt a little resonance - Porkchop with Corporus, and Ianmus with Mentis - but both had been lesser things, equivalent to the slight vibrations he had felt previously. The resonance, the insight into his motivation and mentality, had been different. More primal and central to his being. He knew it was the start of a path, one that would lead him to the prize. Unfortunately, it was frustratingly elusive. As much as he wanted it to come quickly and easily, every time he had meditated on the concept of weathering all in his advance towards his goals, he''d gotten nothing. Nothing, except for the sense that something was a little off, and that he needed time to digest the experience before more could be done. Shrugging in resignation, Kaius jumped onto his brother''s back and settled into the saddle. Closing his eyes, he started to meditate. Dominance and fearlessness in his pursuit of his goals. The need and drive to push ever onwards. The breaking of barriers. Inexorable pursuit of perfection. He tried a dozen phrases and mantras, pondering how they fit into the mentality with which he approached everything. The answer he came to was frustrating. They all did, but only in the general sense. As he watched his Pillar Mentis in his mind''s eye, he got nothing but the sense he was just a little off. A little wrong, by a hair. Whatever the pillar wanted, the only thing he could tell is that it wasn''t some outside philosophy that he could mould to himself¡ªsome quip or phrase that he could use to describe himself. No, it was some sort of primordial truth, he could feel it in his bones. Unfortunately, today did not seem to be the day where he would find it. Opening his eyes, he sighed. "Nothing, again. I think I''ll just leave it; wait until we''re settled back in Deadacre when I''m less wound up." Walking beside him, Ianmus nodded in understanding. "I think that would make sense. Back at the Academies, whenever I was faced with a particularly troublesome question or mystery, I always found quiet contemplation of my understanding of the problem helped the best. Usually, after a few days of that, I''d just be walking the grounds before the solution would just jump to mind seemingly out of nowhere." Kaius nodded in agreement. Contemplation of what he already knew about himself, he could do that. Not now though, he still felt restless about turning in and collecting their next mission. That, and the hell they would have to pay when Ro found out just what level the spider had been. Groaning at the thought, Kaius pushed the fiery woman out of his mind and went back to surveying their surroundings. Only another day or two to Holsborough. ... Kaius''s prediction had been nearly bang on. After another day of endless green and chittering birds, the Hanset Woods had gradually begun to thin. Snaking ever onwards, the rough packed road they followed led them across streams, through meadows and clearings, until eventually the trees grew so thin that ''woods'' no longer fit. By the next morning, they had returned to the plains proper¡ªthough one much more lush than the surroundings of Deadacre. Grass sprouted to the waist, dotted with a dizzying variety of wildflowers that were spotted through the fields like sprays from a flicked painter''s brush. It was, in all honesty, beautiful. The air was rife with floral scents, and buzzing bees and nectar drinking birds flitted to and fro, the latter resting every few minutes in the many trees that provided shelter from the heat of the scorching late summer sun. It was a peaceful journey. Even though they saw many beasts - all manner of grazers, and the odd predator that preyed upon them, nothing that Kaius had seen eclipsed the thirtieth level, and none had the lack of sense to attempt an attack on their persons. As they travelled, discussions were bandied about to fill the time. His favourite had been their talks of their homes. Ianmus had spoke of the famous city of Mystral. Coastal home of magic and spires. Apparently, the rumor that its walls were plated in glistening crystal had a nugget of truth to them. A small nugget, admittedly. They were made of some sort of local stone, a kind of granite that had been naturally infused with mana, making the small crystals within grow large and refract the light with startling brilliance when the sun hit it just right. It also made it tougher than sin, and the perfect material for building fortifications, even if it was twice as heavy as the mortal equivalent. Of the spires, Ianmus had mostly spoken of his own. The Sunspire, one of hundreds within the city. A premier amongst premiers, it was one of the Twenty-Four, an academy that was far larger than most of the towers within Mystral. Ianmus spoke of it fondly, the knowledge to be found there, and the architectural beauty. Of his fellow students, he had less kind things to say. At least, those of more noble birth who were apparently a veritable nightmare to get along with. They didn''t appreciate being shown up by a common-born, let alone a half-elf, and had made Ianmus''s life rather burdensome before his talent had proven too great to be denied. Porkchop spoke of the dens, and the magical sights that could be seen within the deep Sea. Trees so tall and thick that each of them could lie end on end, and still only be half the width of their trunk. Carnivorous plants, and the titanic booms of powerful beasts warring in the night. He also spoke of the life of his people. The works of art they wrought on the walls and surroundings of their dens. The great split between those that thought true beauty lay in the pure abstraction of visual art reduced to pure form, designed to draw a specific impression, and those who lovingly rendered scenes of the Sea - some lifelike, and others in representation of the impressions of the moment. It was bizarrely foreign to him, the idea that a troupe of greater beasts could nearly come to blows over who was the best artist in the family. Ianmus in particular had found that fascinating, and had been most curious about where Porkchop fell on the spectrum. To the man''s disappointment, his brother had only snorted, saying half the reason he wanted to explore was because he found the whole thing moderately ridiculous. Both styles had their merits, and he was firmly in the half of the family who preferred to wander and hunt than spend their days locked underground working on some ''masterpiece''. Though, he did let slip that one of his favourites was a scene of titanic lilies floating on a lake. He himself had shared his life on the hunt, and the differences that the outskirts of the Sea had from the interior. The vistas he had seen, and the nights of contemplation as Father taught him the constellations of the sky. Both of his companions had watched him cautiously at first, as if the stories so intertwined with his father would bring him anguish. He was a little surprised they hadn''t. Oh, it ached, but it was overshone by the happiness he found in those memories¡ªOf sharing his brightest days with his newest friends and family. Eventually though, the conversation died as a smudge crested the horizon. Focusing heavily, Kaius brought the image into focus. A town, walled in heavily reinforced logs, with a dozen men at the gate. Holsborough. At the sight of their destination, a surprising amount of apprehension filled him. More than a few of the spider''s victims would have hailed from here, and they would be the ones who would have to bring news of its death, and share the details of what they found. It was the right thing to do, but it would be a painful conversation all the same. B2 Chapter 212: Siege, pt. 2 B2 Chapter 212: Siege, pt. 2 The minutes burned by the score, a steadily growing exhaustion welling up inside him. Kaius knew what it was; battle fatigue, the heavy strain on one''s senses as they were pushed to their limit, operating at their full capacity as Resources flowed like wine at a noble¡¯s party. Not that the constant assault was without its benefits. The unending horde of bogglings had brought gifts¡ªskill and class levels galore. Even without significant level disparity to fuel their growth, quantity was a quality all of its own. Not to mention, he and Porkchop had developed a rhythm. A comfortable mode of cooperation that would serve them well long into the future. His brother was an anchor and a wall, keeping attention focused on him, as the wave of flesh broke against his stalwart defence. Kaius raced through the rapids¡ªpinning the enemy against Porkchop¡¯s inviolate defense, a headsman¡¯s axe to the pinned. No longer was the tunnel one of clean stone and pure darkness. Now it was a slaughter house; a veritable temple to Straxi, god of butchery and bloodletting. The walls were painted with stinking iron¡ªvisible only as a slate-grey wash in the monochrome of his Truesight¡ªand the fallen had been smashed by a thousand stomping feet, pulped into a boggy muck of offal and death. It made for treacherous footing. The boggarts got the worst of it¡ªa dozen slips leading to yet more shattered bodies being added to the mire. Still, it had not been without their own costs. Kaius had already taken one deep stab to the hip. A bugbear, armed with what looked to be a simple stone spear. The crafters of the plague had quickly proven themselves resourceful¡ªa glowing spear strike had punched clean through his scale, scouring a furrow through the bone of his hip. Primitive they may have been, the boggarts had somehow sourced mana infused materials¡ªand their shamans had inscribed them further. Not all were equipped so well, but he¡¯d gotten good at picking out the sparkling stone of the bugbears that had been. Their weapons were not so easy to reduce to kindling. Uncanny Dodge screamed a warning in his mind, a creeping hand of death approaching from the blindspot to his right. Unfortunately, right at the same time a boggart to his front made an effort to slam an axe into his belly. Kaius lurched back, speeding up as his skill hastened his speed. A stone sledgehammer sailed past his nose, right where his head had been a moment earlier. The bugbear who had swung at him snarled. **Ding! Uncanny Dodge has reached level 54!** Grinning at the failed attempt on his life, Kaius booted the bugbear back¡ªsending it stumbling into the press of boggarts. Stepping forwards, Kaius kept his eyes locked on the hammer-user as his blade lashed out to cut clean through the throat of a boggart that had harassed him earlier. It fell back, clawing at the lifeblood that jetted from the wound. **Ding! level 57 Boggart - Swift Raider slain - Experience Gained!** Pivoting on his back foot, he lunged forwards, burying the point of his sword in the downed bugbear¡¯s eye. **Ding! level 67 Bugbear - Harsh Taskmaster slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 55!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** Solar warmth rushed through him as Kaius felt Ianmus¡¯s spell take hold¡ªa heal, the second he¡¯d received. Even with all the care he had taken, it was hard to avoid everything. Ianmus had done a good job keeping him topped up though, especially considering the amount of work that the mage had put into keeping Porkchop hale and hearty, in spite of his brother taking the brunt of the boggart¡¯s assault. Their Resources were still dropping. Three times he¡¯d had to burn a Stormlash to break a rally that had threatened to overwhelm Porkchop. Three less spells, and not one spent on the death of any of the plague¡¯s elite members. The tide flowed once more¡ªbugbear rallying cries driving the mob forwards in a unity of violence. Porkchop growled, refusing to give up more ground¡ªthey¡¯d already lost too much, pushed back halfway through the choked up section of tunnel. He roared, plunging a gleaming green claw into the stone beneath him. A monolithic block of his chosen mineral tore through the ground with a howling screech¡ªtortured stone protesting its rough treatment. The skill slammed into the rush of boggarts like a raging bull, splintering their line once more. Of all their skills, Porkchop¡¯s Prismatic Shardwall had shown its value the most. They¡¯d have been overrun a dozen times over without it. Unfortunately, each time he used it, it sapped his brother of Stamina¡ªrobbed him of the fuel he needed to keep the pyre of his fury stoked. They were managing it for now, but the tide seemed unending¡ªunhalting. Every second was more Stamina, more Health, and more Mana being consumed. The levels helped¡ªbrought them more power and fuel both; it wasn¡¯t enough. They were being worn down. ... Kaius was gasping, chest heaving with the burning heat of exertion and a dozen quickly healing wounds. **Ding! Lesser Regeneration has reached level 65!** Has it been minutes? Hours? It was hard to tell. A monotonous grind of blood and fury¡ªa marathon of violence that left him feeling more strungout and exhausted than even his fight against the siege ogre Guardian so many months ago. And yet...he was buoyed by the song in his blood, left feeling focused and clear in a way that was rare and precious¡ªa vitality that invigorated him on a deeper level than the mortal concerns of exhaustion and battle fatigue. The clarity was welcome; it kept him on edge, alert for the inevitable changing of the fates. Now, more than ever, he was certain that they would have to flee. His Glass Mind raced, comparing his memories of lessons on attrition, the rate at which his team were felling enemies, and the steady drain on their resource, to the number of bodies that had fallen. How much effort would it take to kill that next boggart, or the bugbear after that. There were too many, almost certainly. Every Bladerite, every Stormlash, every Slip Step, and every healing spell took them closer to needing to flee, yet it was only with those moments of might that they stood their ground. The work he had started earlier in the battle continued. Every moment, he found wasteful expenditure to excise. A lunge just a little too long, a twirl of his sword just a little too flourishing. Frivolous effort burning precious seconds that could be leveraged to extend their assault. His swordplay and footwork slowly refined, a simple process of the smallest movements he could make to steal another boggart¡¯s final breath. **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo has reached level 61!** **Ding! Tempered by Dissonance has reached level 54!** An echoing call of ancient victory and surety of strength shook the cave, Porkchop letting out another baleful roar that inspired madness in their enemies. His brother was battered and bloodsoaked, his under-armour drenched to the core in his own viscera from dozens fist-sized gouges that had been torn from his flesh again and again. Still, he moved strong. An immovable rock in the rapids, forcing the tide of flesh to move to his whims. Every crushing paw and bite reaped lives, but the wounds were accumulating. They healed quickly, bestial vitality and a regeneration skill sealing Porkchop¡¯s wounds in moments. Stout fortitude and a will of iron made the injuries no less painful. Kaius dashed in, the bogglings offering little resistance to his racing assault in the forced focus on Porkchop. Only for a low droning chant to start from deeper within the cave¡ªstill concealed around the bend. A sickening glow of roiling mana spread through the air with the grace of a dying leper. The crowd of bogglings heaved, something moving deep within its shadowed confines¡ªpreceded by maddened roars. They came into view a moment later, drawing his eye even as he sprayed brain through the air with a cleaving strike to the side of a boggart¡¯s skull. Three heavily muscled bugbears, each dressed in scavenged chain defiled with plain hide tabards painted in the crude runes of the shamans. The armour wasn¡¯t the only stolen tool of mannish origin¡ªa hunting spear, woodsman''s axe, and blacksmith¡¯s hammer were held in tightly clenched fists. These too were corrupted; defiled by bone charms and painted incantations. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. With eyes glowing in purple fire, the ensorcelled bugbears shoved their kin to the side¡ªwading through the tide of war to make their stand on the front lines. The arrival of the powerful bugbears right as Porkchop had maddened the entire front line was just about the worst moment possible. They needed time¡ªspace to react to the threat. His brother agreed, they¡¯d fallen heavily into their bond in this battle, and simple words were unnecessary. A heavy slam summoned another Shardwall, Kaius feeling the creeping fatigue the skill brought in its wake. **Ding! Brotherhood of Ichor and Animus has reached level 68!** The level brought with it a rush of changing energy¡ªone that sank deep into him, compacting his bones, and reknitting his flesh. A minute change, but every iota of power that Kaius could leverage mattered. Jade smashed back the gibbering uncoordinated masses, sending them sprawling in the elite''s path. Seeing the skill, and hearing Porkchop¡¯s exhausted gasp, Ianmus reacted. His mana shifted palpably through the air as he quickly modified the spell he¡¯d been holding at the ready. The restful light of the sun settled on Porkchop¡¯s shoulders, bolstering the regeneration of his Stamina. Kaius made his own move, burning plasma and bottled fury cracking into existence. In the tight confines of the tunnel, the booming thundercrack dazed as easy as a blow to the head, joining with the blinding light to daze the boggarts. Storm¡¯s contempt screamed through the air, lurching to wrap the rapidly approaching elites with chains that burned like the forge¡ªand penetrated thrice as deep as simple heat. Only for a barrier of roiling lilac to burst into existence, flickering in defiant opposition to his spell. The bugbears screamed, but kept pushing under the aegis of their magical protection. Scowling at the persistent enemies, Kaius focused on them with his Truesight. Bugbear- Level 72: Lower Race, Bruiser, Ensorcelled .... Bugbear- Level 71: Lower Race, Vanguard, Ensorcelled .... Bugbear- Level 72: Lower Race, Bruiser, Ensorcelled Higher level than anything they had yet to see in this hell-pit, and backed by an unseen caster to boot. Just great, the true fighting force of the plague had started to arrive. As much as he wished to smite them with the fury of a dozen lightning bolts, he held back from casting Stormlash¡ªthey could do this. If the shaman kept their protection strong, using his spells would amount to nothing but a worthless pissing contest. **Ding! You have been Enhanced - Sundrenched Strength!** Kaius flicked his head back, slamming his pommel into the temple of a boggart who tried to capitalise on his momentary distraction. Ianmus gasped behind him, already pouring a mana potion down his throat¡ªhis second of the battle, and last, if he didn¡¯t wish to deal with potion toxicity. Porkchop roared, calling his attention back to the front. He saw the elite bugbears racing forwards¡ªpushing straight for Porkchop. Paws lashed out, batting away a probing spear thrust. A hasty swing of a hatchet was easily avoided, but the final bugbear lunged in as its muscles swelled and its hammer keened a high pitched squeal. A shattering blow cracked against the thick jade plate that covered Porkchop¡¯s shoulder. Greenstone shards spalled, showering the enemy in razor sharp flakes that left filaments of blood streaking its skin. Porkchop grunted, the blow heavy enough to be felt through his dampening under-armour. He still reacted instantly¡ªdagger length claws raking through common mail, the mundane metal squealing as its links were sundered. Pressed as he was, the other bugbears harried him¡ªa dozen light wounds sprouting in the gaps between his armour. Kaius growled in hatred, anger flaring at the brutality his brother faced. He raced in, heading straight for the one carrying the hunting spear¡ªit was by far Porkchop¡¯s worst match-up. Lesser boggarts squealed in fury, trying to arrest his charge. Those in his direct path died quickly, their skulls split with contemptuous ease. Those further away, he crippled with sweeping slashes, weaving around amateur defenses to lop off limbs. **Ding! level 53 Boggart - Feral Mauler slain - Experience Gained!** ... **Ding! level 54 Boggart - Primitive Fighter slain - Experience Gained!** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 56!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo has reached level 62!** Their sheer numerical bulk was still enough to slow him, and with every second Porkchop gathered more wounds. Kaius growled, tapping into Aelina. Pale blue light erupted from his feet, arcane embers phasing through his boots as the jealous grasp of reality slackened its grip on him. Distance lost all meaning, every step lurching him through the masses of enemies. Seeking weapons phased through his body¡ªa subtle tug from Uncanny Dodge making it clear the skill was influencing the flickers of unreality in his favour. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Aelina has reached level 18!** The bugbear reacted to his mind-bending charge instantly. It spun in a flash of mana, joints bending impossibly as it twisted to deliver a thrust towards his throat with the decisiveness of a striking viper. A Father¡¯s Gift slammed upwards, shunting the spear shaft. His Toolkit screamed a warning, a boggart approaching from the group to his left. It dived, aiming to tangle his legs. Kaius phased backwards, cleanly avoiding the attack¡ªand punished it with a thrust to the back of the head that left its brain oozing onto the gore-covered floor. **Ding! level 49 Boggart - Skulker slain - Experience Gained! Reduced Experience for slaying a foe of Insignificant Strength!** **Ding! Explorer¡¯s Toolkit has reached level 53!** The ensorcelled bugbear pressed him again, lurching forwards with unnatural speed as it flew into a flurry of sweeping cuts and stabs. Kaius held it back, blade dancing as he wove around the strikes, parrying those that were impossible to dodge. **Ding! Uncanny Dodge has reached level 55!** **Ding! Tempered by Dissonance has reached level 55!** **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo has reached level 63!** Unfortunately, the bugbear required enough focus from him that its many lessers were able to capitalise on it. Skin and muscle tore, blood soaking his legs and stomach as a half dozen crude weapons left their marks on his flesh. Stormlash cracked, forcing the chaff back with stunning fury, before Kaius lunged in. While his target might have been immune to his spell¡ªit wasn¡¯t immune to the burst of light. Half-blind, its defence was crude¡ªjust barely able to defend its head. His sword punched into its shoulder instead, shuddering as bone and cartilage shattered. The arm fell limp, wound too grievous to heal quickly. Its spear drooped, leaving it wide open. Pulling back from his thrust, he spun his blade high overhead. A hoarse yell escaped his lips, muscles straining with the force of his chop, burying his blade in the bugbear¡¯s brainpan. **Ding! level 72 Bugbear - Shaman¡¯s Chosen slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** His enemy collapsed. Kaius whipped over to Porkchop, seeing him still beating the other two bugbears back. He was holding his own¡ªmaking the bugbears work for it¡ªbut hadn¡¯t managed to injure either to any major capacity. Slip Step was still in effect, his battle with the spear-user having only taken six steps. He raced in, distance shrinking before him as he arrived behind the bugbear that had a blacksmith¡¯s hammer wound back to strike at his brother¡¯s splintering armour. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Aelina has reached level 19!** Kaius ran it through, chain and crudely enchanted hide serving as little impediment to his strength. The bugbear gurgled, blood foaming from its mouth as it snapped back in shock. The sudden twist bound Kaius¡¯s sword unexpectedly, lurching him in. Pain bloomed as the bugbear struck¡ªthe hammer cracking him in the side of his helmet, ringing his dome like a bell. His vision blurred, the world going grey for a moment. His Glass Mind took over¡ªbuilt on something more refined than meat, it shunted him into an unsteady step backwards, ripping his blade free as he phased into the half-space of his skill. Then Health kicked in, and his vision cleared. Head aching like he¡¯d been kicked by a horse, Kaius shook himself free of his fugue, refocusing on the battle. Healing warmth settled over him¡ªrevitalising the regenerative pool of energy at his core. ¡°Thank you!¡± he called, batting away the strikes of boggarts who¡¯d rushed to take advantage of his disorientation. Ianmus only grunted¡ªtoo preoccupied with preparing his next spell to do anything more than acknowledge Kaius. He risked a glance at Porkchop, finding his brother crushing the hammer toting bugbear with a heavy smash of his paws, and quickly working on dismantling the remaining chosen. **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 57!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** Kaius grinned¡ªtheir first brush with strong foes, and they¡¯d survived. He still felt the looming guilt and failure of their eventual retreat¡ªtime was running out for them¡ªbut he consoled himself that if they kept up their current pace they might be able to take out one of the plague''s precious shamans first. It was a thin excuse, held in place mostly by his preoccupation with staying alive, but it was all he had. Right as the thought crossed his mind, the miasmic field of mana at the far end of the tunnel moved, pressing inwards with the slow approach of the boggart tide. Two more bugbear elites appeared¡ªthough they weren¡¯t alone. They flanked a thinner specimen¡ªwiry and shrewd looking, with bones braided into its hair. It held a staff, a bugbear skull painted with inscriptions. It glared at them cruelly¡ªprofane chants pouring unending from its lips. Kaius glared back. The last push¡ªit was time to make their stand. Chapter 180 - B2 178: Pride The smudge on the horizon that was Holsborrough revealed itself to be a small town, stoutly defended with a thick wall of trunks and earthworks. As they approached, Kaius was the first to see that their entrance to the city had been shut, a full squad of guards watching the gate. Much like the defenders of Deadacre, they were garbed mostly in chain and leathers, with the stout hafts of their polearms standing tall above them. Astute and vigilant, the guards spotted them quickly. Kaius waved his hand, calling for them to slow their approach. Clearly, the men were watching for something, and if it wasn''t a fear of the spider that had plagued this very road only a twenty or so leagues away, he would eat his left boot. Sure, the beast did not seem to be the type to roam far, but he doubted the lord of this settlement would have much interest in taking chances with everything that had been occurring. "Guess it''s back to pretending to be stupid, again." Porkchop groaned as they walked to meet the guards. Kaius patted his brother''s back in sympathy. He knew that Porkchop didn''t care overmuch, and that his brother found plenty of amusement in watching the comings and goings as an observer, but it didn''t mean it was an ideal state of affairs. "Chin up, It won''t be too long until we can go about our business openly. The second tier should be safe enough, and at this rate it won''t take us long at all." Kaius replied, raising his hand to give the hardened faces of the guards a friendly wave. "Indeed," Ianmus nodded. "While your current course of action is wise, greater beasts acting in long term cooperation with the higher races is not unheard of - at least historically." Kaius gave the half-elf an interested look. He hadn''t heard of that before. Stories of greater beasts saving wayward travellers on a whim, sure, but not long term cooperation. "You''ll have to tell us about them some time. Though, for now I should deal with these guards." Kaius said, before he picked up his pace and approached ahead of his companions. The guards waited for him stiffly. As soon as they came within speaking distance, the lead man threw up his hand. "Halt, delvers. This gate is currently closed until we can confirm the destruction of the spider beast in the woods." The man said. His tone was stern, and hard, but through his enhanced vision he could see the slight sheen of sweat on the man''s face. He was nervous, though judging by the confident looks he gave them, it was far more about the beast than it was them. Kaius pulled his badge from his belt, the brushed metal shining in the sun. "Then you''re in luck, we diverted our route to Deadacre to let the town know that the assassin spider is dead." The guards froze, backs straightening as they looked at him with a mixture of relief, and disbelief. "Truly?" one asked from where he stood at the back of the pack, before a quick elbow from one of his colleagues shut him up. The lead guardsman looked at the offender with narrowed eyes, before he gave Kaius an appraising look. "Regardless of his lack of decorum, I would have to agree with him, do you have any proof? While we''ve had no confirmations of its level, the report we received from the Guild placed it at a higher level than our own. I won''t risk good folks'' lives on a rumour." Kaius nodded. He understood. Most of the reason they had done this diversion was to give the local communities a heads up rather than lump on additional weeks of waiting for their mission to be confirmed and word to be sent back. That, and it was a good place to rest for an afternoon before they were on their way. Moving to their bags, he withdrew one of the arm sized mandibles of the spider. "I''m afraid I won''t be handing this off for a detailed analysis, with its potential alchemical value, but if any of your men here have an appraisal skill, they are welcome to take a look." Kaius replied, displaying their trophy to the waiting guards. "That would work." The guard leader replied, before he nodded to one of his men. Young and mousey, the man nearly missed that he had been called upon, until his superior cleared his throat and fixed the guard with a glare. "R..right! Sorry!" The guard replied, taking a few steps out of the throng of bodies to get a clear look at the mandible and fang in Kaius''s arms. A second later he hissed, eyes going wide. "Boss! I think they really did it! Says it''s a fang and venom sac from an assassin spider that made use of illusion powers!" "It''s sergeant, idiot. But thank you, back in with the others." the guard leader replied, waving at the man to rejoin the rest of the squad. Kaius nodded at the words, stowing their prize, before he went to meet the sergeant who had approached them. Stepping up, he clasped the man''s hand firmly. "This is the best news I''ve had all year. I don''t know how you did it, and I don''t care - thank you, having that trade route down was making life tough for folks here, let alone everyone who was lost." the sergeant said, a wide grin splitting his weathered face. "Just getting paid, sergeant." Kaius said with a slight shake of his head. "But you ain''t getting paid to go out of your way to let us know as soon as you could, for that you have my thanks." the guard leader replied. "Tell me...those that it took, was there any sign of them?" The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Kaius winced, thinking of the shattered ruins of caravans they had had a cursory pick through. Seeing his expression, the guardsman''s mouth hardened into a thin line. "I see. I''d held out for some slim hope that it was one of those spider types that hoarded their food, but I suppose it was not to be." "We don''t know for sure. The only things we saw were shattered wagons lumped in the tree line. No bodies, or remains. The chances are slim though. It didn''t seem the type, in my uneducated opinion." Kaius replied grimly. The sergeant sighed, head bowing under the weight of lost souls. "A shame, damn shame. Knew some good men who worked those routes." shaking his head, the sergeant''s dutiful mask took over once more and his eyes focused with steely intensity. "Listen man, I know you know how tough things are out here. Without the trade between here and Intshire, we''ve been flagging. Worse, merchant''s from Deadacre ways have been steering clear too - without their main route through these parts, they just haven''t bothered." the sergeant shook his head, spitting to the side with venom at his mention of the risk avoidance of the traders. "The goods, are they salvageable?" he said, cutting to the chase. Kaius tilted his head. While most had been useless to them, there had been plenty that would have been great for the town. Hides, ores, and other sturdy goods had survived the exposure, even if some had been damaged slightly. "Somewhat. Not much of interest to us, so I can''t comment in any depth because we didn''t look too thoroughly. Food''s gone, obviously, but I saw at least some leathers, pottery, and ores that survived. There was plenty more we passed over after seeing it wasn''t anything worth our while to salvage." Kaius explained. The sergeant nodded slowly. "I can work with that. We''ll need to search the wreckage for the remains anyway. That many in one place, I don''t want to deal with undead on top of everything else, as unlikely as it might be." He hadn''t thought of that. Large concentrations of people dying in one place could be dangerous, especially if it was the lamentable kind of violent death those people had suffered. Normally natural undead were only an issue in higher mana zones, and even then, only rarely. Unfortunately, with the changes in mana levels that had accompanied the phase shift, the Frontier might no longer be safe from that particular issue. Thankfully, most natural undead were unlikely to become a plague. It would be faen luck indeed for one to be ''born'' that could spread their contagion, or control its lesser kin. Turning back to his men, the sergeant whistled at one to the rear. A tall and dark haired man weathered by the years, he looked grizzled and - judging by the way his gaze instantly snapped to the sergeant - experienced. "Erthin, go tell the Captain that the spider''s dead, and let him know I think we need a search and recovery squad." the sergeant said. Erthin simply gave the head guardsman a single nod, and jogged for the smaller door set to the side of the gate, rushing off as ordered. "Thank you for this, truly. I''d be happy to let you into the city, but I''d be a fool not to share that you''ll have difficulty stabling your beast as things are." the sergeant said, giving Kaius a nod. Nodding back, Kaius accepted the man''s words easily. They''d been expecting it, especially once they''d actually started to make plans for their journey back to Deadacre. Rarely did smaller towns such as this have facilities for creatures like Porkchop - afterall, there was little market for it when most such bonded beasts would be only stopping through on their way to Deadacre. "It''s fine, we planned to just stop for lunch - the day''s still young after all." he explained. "Say, a merchant''s guard we shared the road with said the Plucked Hen was the best place to stop by - just wanted to see what a local thought." The sergeant snorted, shaking his head. "Maybe if you wanted to get swindled. Nice enough beer, but stupidly overpriced. Not surprised a traveller told you that - they''re the main marks. Try the Three Barrels just down the road - they''ve got outside seating too, for your bonded." he finished, nodding his head towards Porkchop. Then the sergeant nodded to his men, who hurried about the laborious effort of unbarring the main gate and winching it open. Saying their goodbyes to the guards, Kaius and his companions made their way into Holsborough. It was a nice enough place - clean, with tall wooden houses with steep arched roofs. The commotion of the opening gate had drawn plenty of interest from the locals, who stopped to watch them as they passed. While it hadn''t been anywhere near long enough for word of their deed to spread, it seemed that two delvers and a warbeast entering town from the direction of a beast that had led to the gates being barred was enough to tip people off. From there the whispers had spread faster than they moved down the street as people dashed off to tell others of the news. Before he knew it, people were gathering in twos and threes, lurking in doorways and on corners to watch them pass. Respect and admiration was plain on the faces of those that stared at them when they passed, conversations lowering as people talked in hush whispers. No doubt half of it was to do with their levels -or rather, the surprising lack of them- but Kaius caught just as many snippets of people giving their quiet thanks. It was...odd. Kaius wasn''t the most used to people at the best of times, and having such open focus on him was more than a little uncomfortable. A lifetime in the Sea had given him many advantages, but comfort in a crowd was not one of them. And yet...at the same time, he felt an unexpected level of pride thrumming through his chest. He walked down the street with his back straight and his chin high, a warm ember of accomplishment buoying him through the experience. They might have chosen this mission because the spider was likely to be of a high level, and was a good enough match up he had confidence in their success - but seeing the relief? The smiles and nods as they walked past? It felt good. Really good. "We made a real difference here." he murmured, turning his head slightly to watch a child who hung halfway out a window as they passed under the building. Ianmus nodded. "We did, and we should take pride in that. There is more to delving than just the pursuit of power. I think, with the heights we plan to strive for, this is perhaps just a taste of the impact we could have." "It is the duty and burden of the strong. The weakest members of the pack rely on you to succeed in your hunt, lest the whole den suffer." Porkchop replied, accepting the attention they received as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Smiling to himself, Kaius found a little more energy entering his stride despite their long journey. He couldn''t wait for their celebratory beer, he already knew that it would be the best he ever tasted - regardless if the captain was good with his suggestion or not. He only hoped that their reception at the guild would be as good. Somehow, he doubted it. The thought of telling Ro the spider''s true level was enough to send a thread of ice shooting through his veins. That woman was scary. Chapter 181 - B2 179: Mistakes, pt. 1 Kaius stood in front of the heavy oak door to the Guild with a heavy seed of dread burning away in his stomach. He was not looking forward to this conversation. Judging by the slight pallor on Ianmus''s face, and the way the Porkchop''s ears kept flicking nervously every few seconds, neither were his companions. They''d arrived back in Deadacre after another few days of travel. Thanks to the flat plains between there and Holsborrough, the road had been an almost dead shot back to the city, which had sped up their travel considerably. It had been a decidedly dull section of their trip, with only a few handfuls of beasts desperate or foolhardy enough to attack them¡ªone of them being another bramble ball. Barely enough to work up a sweat, and certainly not enough of a challenge to do more than remind Kaius how much he enjoyed a proper fight. Still, he and Porkchop had managed to eke out another few skill levels.. That had only made the problem worse though¡ªnow that he sat right at the precipice to his next class skill, he was desperate to get back out there and seize it. Still, they had a job to do, and the best place to find a good fight was right in the building in front of him. Sighing to himself, Kaius pushed the door open, feeling the carving of a crossed staff and sword beneath his palm. A wall of noise hit him like a punch, a roaring common room greeting him. Delvers streamed to and fro, collecting jobs, using the guilds various facilities, and above all else getting hammered at the bar. The sheer exuberance of the energy was enough to buoy his spirits just a tad, and Kaius stepped in with a slight smile on his face. Making their way through the throng of people¡ªwho parted rather easily between Porkchop''s bulk and he and Ianmus''s imposing height¡ªKaius made his way to the service desk with his companions in tow. Ro wasn''t working the counter¡ªanother assistant that he had never met before had that duty¡ªbut he could see her flitting back and forth in the far reaches of the office as she attended to one duty or another. As he moved to join the line, the woman caught sight of them, and gave them a smile and a wave. Barely half a moment passed before her smile became pained, and Kaius physically saw a vein start to throb in her forehead. She must have analysed them, even if he hadn''t felt even a faint brush against his Mask. "Uh oh." Porkchop said, with all the resigned doom of someone staring up at an executioner beside the block. Ro''s eyes narrowed, and she jabbed a finger at them before pointing to the entrance of the hall where the silence room lay. A deep sigh escaped him as he let his shoulders slump. "Surely she won''t be that mad, would she?" Ianmus said hopefully - his tone giving away that he in no way believed his own words. "Let''s just go." Kaius replied, leading the way to the interview room. He watched Ro hurriedly jam things into a cupboard with a little more force than necessary and slowly walk to meet them, a storm glowing in her eyes. As Kaius passed, a broad shouldered man in plate clapped him on the shoulder. "Lad, I don''t know what you did, but good luck." he said, looking at him in pity. Kaius only groaned in response, which got him an amused chuckle. Reaching the door to the silence room, they came to a slow stop and waited for their destiny¡ªtheir own silence weighing on them like a blacksmith''s anvil. Ro stomped up to them with a furious scowl. Reaching the door, she worked its locking enchantments with a deft flick of mana, before slamming the door open. "In." she said, pointing inside. Kaius nodded stiffly, moving quickly as he could to sit at the interview table. Ianmus joined him at one of the other chairs, while Porkchop moved to his side and sat on the floor. Ro slammed the door shut and stalked over to the head of the table. She slapped her palms down on its surface with a mighty thwack, the massive carved hardwood jumping with the force of the blow. "Which one of you dumb fucks wants to explain how you managed to nearly double your level in a single mission?" she asked with a low voice, furious eyes scanning across their own. Kaius took the leap - he was the de facto team leader, and it was his responsibility. Let alone that he had half of the reason they had attempted such a difficult fight. "The spider was a higher level than expected." he said, keeping his tone calm in an attempt to placate the guild manager. He didn''t feel calm. Inwardly, he was terrified. Ro was furious, and he now knew for absolute certain that she was strong. Potent power washed off her in waves, throwing her fury and frustration at them with a palpable weight. "Higher level than expected?" Ro''s voice rose. "What the fuck kind of carefully curated understatement is that? Do you think I am a moron? Do you think I don''t know what kind of fight it would take for you to jump seventeen levels in the case of a single mission? You promised me you would only act according to your abilities!" She ranted, each word punctuated by a physical flare in her mana that hit him like a brick, causing his eyes to water. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. "It was a calculated risk. I was confident in our abilities." Kaius said cautiously, trying his best to stand his ground in the face of Ro''s momentous disapproval. "Calculated Risk?! Do you even hear yourself." she seethed. "You are going to put your hand on that truth-crystal and tell me exactly what that spider was, how many there were, and if you managed to clear the nest right fucking now, or, gods help me, I will ban you from the guild faster than you can blink." "Now!" she said with a blurring clap that left his ears ringing. Kaius blanched and slapped his hand on the crystal set into the table. Threading his mana into the delicate runework, he activated the working. "It was a single Veiled Assassin Spider. It was nesting in the trees by the road, trapping travellers. Two of its skills were directly related to that, and it used two more in our battle. One to split into three illusory copies, and one to spit venom." he hurried to explain. "Level and tags?" Ro ground out, her patience clearly waning. Kaius gulped, feeling his tongue stick to the roof of his mouth like parchment. "Eighty-one. Ambusher and Elite." The stone shone true, revealing his sincerity. Ro froze, staring at the crystal beneath his hand. All of the ephemeral pressure that had weighed on them since she had closed the door vanished in an instant. "I...what?" she said slowly, frowning at the crystal as if she suspected it was broken. "That makes no sense. I thought you''d found a group and had jumped in without a proper extermination team. A single spider? Truly?" she said, staring at them in plain confusion. Kaius nodded. "You...you should be dead. No, someone helped you. Higher level too. But if they did you wouldn''t have gotten that many levels. This makes no sense." Ro muttered, brow furrowing as she processed their achievement. Finally she looked up, staring at them in shock, before her face morphed into concern. "You''re a fucking idiot." she said with a sigh, before sinking into her chair like the weight of the world had settled onto her. Propping her head up with one hand, she rubbed her brow. "Such a fucking idiot." Now it was his turn to be frustrated. What right did she have to denigrate them for their success? Sure, it was only possible because of achievements and advantages so extreme she would never guess, but their victory should be celebrated. "I-" "Stop." Ro said with a raise of her hand. "Think." She leaned forwards, fixing them with a level stare. "What, exactly, did you think was going to happen? That jump in levels is going to be obvious. Whatever cursed reason you have to hide in the skirts of the guild, you aren''t safe yet. Even if you can punch that far above your level for some gods'' forsaken reason, if whoever you are running from finds out you''re here, you are fucked unless you can defend yourselves." "This sort of shit spreads, Kaius! This isn''t some hot up and comer shit, this is something from a bard''s tale! A single lick of this hits the common room and all of Deadacre will know of it by nightfall, and all of the Frontier by the end of the month!" Ro yelled, slamming her fist on the table. Kaius paused, looking sideways to see his companions'' faces mirroring the same dawning horror he now felt. He hadn''t considered that. "And now, because you are a fucking moron, we are going to have to loop in the guildmaster in order to keep this secret! Let alone the amount of fucking paperwork I''m going to have to do passing you missions under the table to get you to the second tier as fast as possible." with every word Ro rose further out of her seat, until she stood over them ranting. "Fuck!" She shouted, throwing her arms up and pacing back and forth. "I fucking hate paperwork, you assholes!" Kaius reeled back under the sudden shift in the conversation. Paperwork? Rushing them to the second tier? What on earth was Ro on about? Whatever it was, it sounded good. While the guild manager was still frustrated, it was much closer to annoyance now than genuine anger directed towards them. Still, he understood her distaste¡ªsome of his least favourite memories were his father making him write treatises on various topics, though thankfully those lessons had been rare due to their limited supplies of paper. Still...in hindsight, Ro had a point. While he had rushed into the mission with a burning urge to grow strong as fast as possible, now that it had been pointed out he realised he had been shortsighted to think achievements like that wouldn''t make waves. He should have realised that a sudden jump in levels like they had gotten would catch people''s attention. Kaius struggled to regret it though. It had earnt them another Honour, and Ianmus''s first¡ªtruly binding him to their cause. That, and it had meant that they had secured more help from Ro, and had potentially opened an inroads into developing a relationship with the local guildmaster. That was massive. They were invariably powerful, and carried a significant amount of political pull. Exactly the kind of backing he would need. If it meant that they would need to rush up the ranks to secure their help, all the better in his mind. Ro narrowed her eyes at him. "Don''t think I don''t notice that grin, dumbass." The half smile on his face slid into one in truth. "Sorry, Ro. Not that I am opposed to taking on more difficult missions, but is it really so dire?" The guild manager sighed, pushing her hair out of her face. "Yes, it really is." "I don''t know how you managed this, but I can guess. Some psychotic story involving meeting a greater beast young, far too many legacy skills than I care to think about, and some obscenely strong class. And now you''re dragging this poor asshat-" she jutted one finger at Ianmus, who winced "-by the scruff of his neck in the hopes that his next tier evolution will help him close the gap." "The quicker we can get you to the second tier, and Silver rank with it, the quicker you''ll be covered by the full might of the Guilds protections. That''s the start of the inner ranks, and more tightly controlled oaths¡ªnothing subservient, but enough that attacking you would incite retaliation. Let alone any personal power you can bring to bear." Ro explained. "And why are you going so far to support us if it brings such risk and such personal trouble?" Ianmus asked, leaning forward with a cautious expression on his face. Ro sighed, leaning back. "Simple, you''ve just proven yourself invaluable. Shit like this? It''s what Platinum''s are made of. I have this nagging feeling in the back of my skull that we will need another Silver in Deadacre before the year is out, especially one who is as strong as you three might end up. More warriors I can stand side by side with and trust to hold my back. If I pull through on this? You owe me big." Benefits and security. That justification, at least, made full sense to him. He would have been far more suspicious if the woman had pretended it was simply out of worry and concern. "Then let''s do it. What''s our next move?" Kaius asked, leaning in. "Now? You fuck off. The amount of shit you''ve heaped on my lap is ridiculous. Tomorrow? You come in and exchange your medallions for Bronze, you meet the Guildmaster, and we discuss the best way to nurture you into something truly wondrous." Ro replied. A deadly serious expression settled on Ro''s face as she looked at him with fire in her eyes. "There will be some uncomfortable questions, and I expect the Guildmaster will need to leave his reservations at the door. Expect to fight him, he likes hands on knowledge, and we will need to know your true capabilities if we are to do this properly. I can attest that we will be able to secure our silence to your satisfaction. Okay?" Kaius''s stomach roiled, but he nodded. This was moving faster than he had hoped, but he could only pray that it would work out to his advantage. "Good," Ro said with a sigh of relief. "Now get the fuck out of here and get a beer or something, I have work to do." Chapter 182 - B2 180: Mistakes, pt. 2 Returning to the Dusty Stables was like returning home. Hensch had welcomed them with open arms, celebrating their victorious return with a pair of ales on the house. It was more than welcome, after a couple weeks of constant overland travel, the gesture was enough to solidify the choice to stay at this inn. The few other delvers in the common room nodded their heads, raising their drinks in toast before returning to their own conversations. Few in number, there were only four teams that Kaius could see, and each and every one had some form of beast with them. Most small, but one had a large wolf-like beast that looked at Porkchop in confusion and interest - tongue lolling out of its mouth. It seemed, regardless of its popularity amongst those delvers with companions, the Dusty Stables was rarely packed to the rafters. Another thing that explained the price, Kaius supposed. At least it meant that their old rooms were still available, and thanks to the money they still had on the books they were still cleared for the better part of a week''s stay. After an evening of downing their cups and telling anyone who would listen about their heroic fight against the ''terror of Hanset''¡ªthough they did make sure to downplay its strength¡ªthey had retired to their rooms for the evening. Sleeping on a proper bed was pure luxury after the life he had lived, and, despite an anxious gnawing in his stomach about the prospect of meeting the Guildmaster the next day, Kaius slept like a baby. .... Crossing the common room with a pair of teas, Kaius slipped into the secluded back booth that was nestled in a tucked out of the way corner. Ianmus and Porkchop were waiting for him. The former cradled his head in his hands, a pallid colour on his face. "I don''t understand? Shouldn''t your Health and Vitality have dealt with the beer? And why would you drink that stuff anyway if you feel like this the next day?" Kaius caught the end of his brother asking the half-elf. Ianmus groaned, rubbing his face and reaching for the cup of tea that Kaius offered him with a gratified smile on his face. "It does, the remnants of the alcohol at least. The problem is that it doesn''t do much for the dehydration or lack of sleep we got last night." Ianmus explained, blowing on his cup. "I''ll be fine after some water and food." Kaius nodded, it was a common thing that most young men learnt. Everyone had heard of someone who had gained their first point of vitality from the celebrations that followed being inducted into the system. "Hensch is bringing us some cold cuts and bread soon, so don''t worry." he said, stomach gurgling at the thought of food. "Thank the Matriarchs, I''m starving." Ianmus took a slow sip of his tea, eyes closing in appreciation, before he turned his attention back to Kaius. "How long do we have until we are supposed to meet with Ro?" "The seventh bell after dawn toll, so we have just over two hours," he explained. The manager of the guild had told them to return to the Guild just after lunch, she''d be waiting to take them to the Guildmaster. "I''m still nervous about this; everything you guys have said makes it sound like he''s the equivalent of a Patriarch." Porkchop muttered. "That''s not entirely incorrect." Ianmus admitted. "For places like this, the guildmaster is usually amongst the most premier of local powers. Both political and personal, it''s a big deal for us to be meeting them. I just wish we knew what to expect." "I doubt its foul play, but I do have reservations about exactly what they will want us to share. Our general strength, capabilities, and pace of advancement I can understand, but I hope they are not so foolish as to expect us to share everything." Kaius replied with a frown on his face. Even if they were the guild, he wasn''t about to go blabbing about Honours, or his part in the phase shift. Especially not after he had received that warning immediately on entering. "I think the effects of our bond skill will help cover some of the impossibilities - especially the racial trait. Remember, the description of the skill was never recorded - we can pretend it evolved with our classes." Porkchop suggested. Ianmus nodded. "He has the right of it. The guild is old. I have no doubt in their long and occasionally sordid history, there have been similar occasions to this - though perhaps nothing quite so extreme." "Regardless, Ro said that the guildmaster will likely want us to wrestle with him. Isn''t that exciting? It''s been so long since I''ve crossed claws and knew I would lose." Porkchop''s voice grew energetic as he mentioned their likely upcoming spar. Kaius snorted a little. Trust Porkchop to focus on perhaps the least risky part of their afternoon. Though, he did admit, the prospect of crossing blades with a Guildmaster did cause his heart to beat a little harder. They were legendary, even if he knew little about this one in particular. "Do you know anything about him?" he asked, locking eyes with Ianmus. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. The half-elf cocked his brow in surprise. "Seriously? You''ve never heard of Rieker, The Wardog of Deadacre? I''ve heard tales of his exploits in the Depths all the way in Mystral!" Kaius gave Ianmus a flat look. "Grew up in the Sea, remember?" Ianmus coughed, having the sense to look a little embarrassed. "Right, right, of course. Apologies." he cleared his throat. "Well, he''s late into the second tier - at least that is what is rumoured. In his hayday he was known for delving religiously, never taking more than a day or two to offload supplies and sell off artefacts before diving into another. He came to fame for taking down some second tier beast that had wandered out of the north, threatening some small city on the coast north of the dukedoms." Kaius looked at him in surprise. "What''s someone like that doing here then? Why''d he stop?" "No one really knows," Ianmus said with a shrug. "He took over from the previous guildmaster about five years ago. I''ve heard rumours, from it being a temporary break, a favour to a senior guild official, or even that a secret entrance to a deep layer of the Depths was discovered and this was an easy cover for him to monopolise it." "Regardless, the man is a legend, and a renowned lover of battle. Honestly, I think that the two of you may get on well with him." he finished. Kaius paused. If this Rieker lived up to the life that Ianmus had mentioned, then he could be a powerful ally, and no doubt would have plenty of lived experience to draw on for advice on how they could ascend as fast as possible. That, and if he really did want to test them personally, they had an opportunity to impress the man. "Well, we''ll have to take the fight seriously then." Kaius said with a final nod. ... Kaius stepped into the guild with his companions in tow, fully dressed for war. Ro was already waiting for them, standing off to the side of the hall that led deeper into the building. She leaned on the wall with her arms crossed, a stern expression dissuading anyone from bothering her. As soon as they entered, she met their eyes and waved them over. "At least you had the sense to not be late, or unprepared." she said tersely, looking them up and down with a note of approval in her voice. "Now come on, I don''t want to keep Guildmaster Rieker waiting, he''s a busy man." Without waiting for their response, Ro stalked down the hall. Hurrying after her, she led them through a maze-like blend of corridors and stairwells before they stepped into an open foyer on the fifth floor. It was richly decorated, with a thick woven rug of gargantuan proportions that covered the floor. Elegant chairs lined each side of the room, while its far end was dominated by an unmanned desk and a truly titanic door. Given how many stairs they had walked up, they had to be on the top floor of the building, and judging by the lack of other passageways or exits, it seemed it had been reserved for the guildmaster''s sole use. Calm and confident, Ro led them towards the door. Made of richly stained oak embossed in silver, it towered over Kaius. It seemed to emanate pressure¡ªlike only those worthy would be able to so much as knock. Their resident guild manager seemed entirely unaffected. Coming to a slow stop, she raised her hand to a massive knocker wrought out of solid silver and gave it a single solid rap on the wood. A moment passed, oppressive silence following the knock, before a bassy voice that demanded respect answered her call. "Come in, Ro." The words were...calm¡ªeven toned, verging on polite. Kaius just managed to catch what looked like a mild unwinding of tension in Ro''s shoulders before she swung the massive door open with casual ease, and ushered them inside. Breath hitching with momentary nervousness, Kaius stepped in. Inside was an office, just as richly¡ªif sparsely¡ªdecorated as the room outside. The far wall was dominated by bookshelves, though there was a space where a comparatively unadorned door led further into what Kaius assumed was the guildmaster''s personal quarters. Another carpet covered the floor, leading to a large hearth to his left. Trinkets covered its mantle. Scraps of armour, strange rocks that glowed with internal brilliance, and the shattered remnants of weapons. Trophies from prior battles and delves. Above, a massive skull of some unnamed beast dominated the wall. It was enormous, nearly as tall as he was, with arm-length fangs jutting out of a wide jaw. Kaius barely glanced at it for a second, too enraptured by what lay at the other end of the room. There, sat behind a sturdily carved oaken desk twice as long as he was tall, was a man. He was tall¡ªthough not excessively so, perhaps a head and a half shorter than he was. If he''d had any thoughts of that lessening the impact and respect the man commanded, that was wiped away by the guildmaster''s presence. He dripped power. Sweated a promise of violence and retribution. Calm grey eyes watched him evenly, a hidden fire lighting them from within. Rieker was...imposing. Even physically, he looked like he had been carved from a hardwood burl¡ªbroad of shoulder, thick, and strong. Kaius had no doubt that even if they both had all of the system''s enhancements stripped from them, that the man would give him a run for his money in raw physicality, height difference or no. "Ah, our newest members. Heard you''ve been giving dear old Ro a little bit of a headache, eh?" Rieker said, his voice filling the room with the shuddering timbre of a spilled bucket of gravel. "Why don''t you take a seat." Rieker waved to the four chairs in front of his desk. It was clear that it wasn''t a request. Gulping, Kaius walked forwards, and quickly noted that he had missed one of the chairs that had a padded mat placed on the ground next to it, perfectly sized for Porkchop to sit. Taking the chair, his brother sat on his left while Ianmus took the spot on his right. Ro opted to pick up her chair, shifting it behind the desk to take her position at Rieker''s right. "Now, Ro told me about you three just as soon as you arrived. A greater beast masquerading as a bonded beast is strange, but I''ve seen stranger." Rieker said calmly to his brother, before his focus switched to him. "We thought you just another wayward scion. It seems we were wrong." "A scion, a valedictorian, and a greater beast walk into the guild¡ªthen a few weeks later they kill an elite beast over thrice their level. That''s not something you see everyday. Or ever, really." Rieker continued, watching them with focused intensity. "Makes it worth having a little chat, don''t you think?" B2 Chapter 213: Siege, pt. 3 B2 Chapter 213: Siege, pt. 3 The shaman sneered at him from deep within the press of bogglings. Standing head and shoulders above the lesser boggarts, its nature was obvious. Even if he excluded the sickly mana that hung around it like a cloak, its grisly skull-topped staff and bone-charm woven hair were dead giveaways. It wasn¡¯t alone¡ªflanked by two more empowered bugbears. Much like their predecessors, they were hulking things fueled by primitive magic¡ªmana burning in their eyes and wafting from their skin. The shaman would be the first opponent that the plague would feel keenly upon their death. Kaius bared his teeth, hunger flaring within him. After so long of an endless grind of monsters, the weight of knowing that they could not complete their mission, he hungered for something that felt impactful. A token, that their stand here had lead to real losses¡ªones that wouldn¡¯t be so easily replaced like the common rabble. Still, with its status within the plague, Kaius wondered how strong it would be. The empowered bugbears had been tough. Even if they each would have been easy to dispatch on an individual basis, they¡¯d been a tougher nut to crack with a literal army of bogglings at their back. Kaius used his True Sight, seeking to learn more of the spell-caster¡¯s power. Bugbear - Level 77: Lower Race, Mage, Elite Kaius roved over the monster''s description. Much like he¡¯d expected, it was significantly more developed than the average boggling in the plague. Low enough that it was definitely killable, but it was also a caster solidly entrenched in a nigh unreachable position. Things could get a little dicey. A boggart on the front line howled¡ªleaping towards him with a crude knife held ready, moving with an unnaturally lurching speed. A skill, no doubt¡ªbut not a very effective one. Kaius sidestepped, bringing his blade up to open its belly, before pivoting into a heavy chop that cleaved through its skull. **Ding! level 52 Boggart - Stalker slain - Experience Gained! Reduced Experience for slaying a foe of Insignificant Strength!** Kaius shook his head¡ªthe creatures had uncommon classes at best, even with their relative parity in levels, he was by far their superior in all respects. Unfortunately, it was replaced instantly. As much as he wanted to give the slowly approaching shaman his full attention, there was a constant stream of bogglings for him to slay. He felt like his bones were made of lead¡ªhis very essence weighed down as he danced through the storming assault, dealing out retributive punishment with every opportunity. It was tough. In the tight confines of the tunnel he was only just able to move enough to beat the boggarts back, and stop his brother from getting flanked. Even with his Toolkit and Glass Mind pouring over the openings in the boggling¡¯s formation, he had little of the room he needed to outmanoeuvre his enemies. Hells, even his arsenal was limited. Each of his spells was an unrecoverable cost¡ªone he was saving for when they were absolutely needed. He was already glad he¡¯d saved so many in reserve now that a shaman would soon enter into the range of his engagement. He couldn¡¯t even use his Bladerite with impunity¡ªthough thankfully it at least passively bolstered his blade until it cut through boggarts like a sharpened scythe through wheat. Every active use represented a significant drain on his stamina, one that would be almost impossible to recover with the constant exertion of battle. Sure, he wasn¡¯t fighting with the full weight of his strength and speed¡ªslowing the natural drain of the resource¡ªbut it was still limited, and he¡¯d need at least some in reserve for their eventual retreat. He wasn¡¯t made for this¡ªwasn¡¯t well suited for the slow and inevitable grind against his resources. This whole exercise was a terrible match up for his capabilities¡ªone that had proven itself to be far more of a weakness that he had anticipated. Sure, he¡¯d always known that the nature of his spell-hymns was best aligned for dueling¡ªa sudden outpour of power that could overwhelm small groups and singular foes of great strength¡ªbut he¡¯d always assumed that he¡¯d be able to lean on his bladework for extended engagements. After all, it had worked in the Depths. Now he realised that without skills to deal with such numbers quickly, the crushing grind of expenditure would be the death of him. The Depths was a false equivalence¡ªits groups of enemies dispersed and separated, he¡¯d always had the chance to fall back and recover when he took a little care. A weakness of his class¡ªone that seemed to similarly impact his team, albeit to a lesser degree. If he¡¯d been a pure warrior, capable of cleaving through a half dozen boggarts in a single swing. If Ianmus had been a mage of mass damage, thinning and weakening the horde with persistent spells. If Porkchop had the means to prevent damage, not just reduce and withstand it. Any of those being true would have changed their circumstances¡ªif all were, they would be in a radically different position. He was growing to suspect he knew the reason behind this mission of theirs. Levels were one thing, but they were doing...too poorly. In a way that would have been no doubt immediately evident to Ro and Rieker¡ªexperienced as they were. A lesson. That even with all their might, match-ups were king. An embarrassing one to have to learn, considering he¡¯d used it to great effect against their enemies. An important one to have highlighted now all the same. Keeping track of the shaman out of the corner of his eye, Kaius was halfway through gutting a bugbear when he noticed the hazy glow of mana surrounding the shaman start to churn. Clearly, it had grown close enough to target them with a spell. **Ding! Truesight has reached level 50!** Sickly and boiling, it moved in tune with a foul chant that fell from the spell-slinging bugbear¡¯s mouth in a steady stream of hisses and growls¡ªsomehow audible over the cacophonous din of battle. Its hands weaved the mystical energy, directing it to condense into a compact ball at its front. Kaius reacted instantly. With the range of Stormlash having increased substantially since his initial selection of the spell, the shaman had brought itself into his reach. Stamping his foot with a choked up chop of his blade, Kaius finished off a boggart that was currently shoveling its intestines back into its chest. His left hand dropped from the hilt of his sword¡ªstance shifting to free up the motion of bladed hand, he swept his sword up, flowing into a smooth stream of biting stabs and forceful parries that kept the weight of the crushing bodies from overwhelming him. Porkchop felt his intentions, shifting closer to guard his right. His off hand swept out as baleful orange sparks showered from his Drakthar glyph, a howling bolt of electricity appearing in his hand. Light and thunder blinded the bogglings, sending them into a momentary disarray as arcing plasma shot over their heads. It crashed against the shaman...only for a shimmering field to substantiate a hairsbreadth from its skin. Stormlash poured its might into the barrier, straining to overwhelm it as two streamers impotently crackled against the magical defenses of the shaman¡¯s entourage. Biting frustration welled up¡ªprickling the back of his neck as the first worthy opponent to use his spell against stymied his attack. Another boom shook dust from the cavern''s ceiling, his ears ringing as he hurled another spell directly at the shaman, hoping to overwhelm its defenses with pure power. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. It didn¡¯t work. Even with the controlled might of the Stormlord his to command, the shaman¡¯s barrier stood unyielding. The monstrosity smirked, revealing brown and yellow fangs as its lips twinged upwards¡ªits chanting continuing unbroken. Kaius clenched his teeth so hard that they groaned¡ªon the verge of shattering. It dared to feel smug?! The second he was through that barrier, it was dead. Rising to a fever pitch, the chanting grew fast¡ªagressive¡ªbefore the shaman cut its hands through the air. The ball of roiling mana erupted, hosing the ranks in front of the mystical bugbear in a visible fog of noxious yellow. Bogglings gasped and spluttered, hacking as the cloud rolled over them towards where Kaius and Porkchop were waiting. The shaman had sacrificed its tribe members as disposable pawns. Treacherous bastard. An affliction, no doubt. Slow moving, but one that left them nowhere to hide. They couldn¡¯t pull back¡ªretreat in the hopes of it dissipating¡ªfor if they allowed the ranks of the bogglings to leave the chokehold they would swarm over them. They¡¯d be overwhelmed in seconds. Unfortunately it had made one mistake¡ªit assumed the spell would weaken them and the front line equally. With Rapid Adaptation at his side, Kaius was certain he could persevere. ¡°Stay out of the fog, Ianmus. We fight on.¡± Kaius called back, less confident in the mage¡¯s own ability to withstand whatever was coming. Afterall, he had none of Porkchop¡¯s prodigious vitality or Kaius¡¯s resistance. Taking the care to watch the affected bogglings closely as he spun out of the way of a spear thrust, Kaius noticed that they didn¡¯t seem to be too worse for wear. They choked and hacked, and moved with a notable clumsy weakness¡ªbut they weren¡¯t ailing. Thank the gods for that, because the noxious yellow fogbank was seconds from rolling over them. A second later it hit. It was a heavy gas. One that clung to the skin¡ªseeking out the tender membranes of his eyes and nose. Reeking of sulfur and some unnamable acrid bite, it stung to high heaven, his vision obscured further as tears welled up. He breathed it in. Cloying contagion sunk its fangs into his throat¡ªripping at the delicate flesh with vicious persistence. It was like inhaling a whole smokehouse, every fibre of his being urging him to cough. Kaius grit his teeth¡ªswallowing the base instinct lest the distraction injure him further. He could feel the noxious magic within the gas settle in deep. It raced through his body¡ªclutching tight to his muscles and nerves with a jealous grasp. If his arms felt like lead before, now they weighed as much as adamant, and stubbornly refused to move with the grace he had long grown accustomed to. **Ding! You have been afflicted by Smog - Myasthenic Haze** Rapid Adaptation was already moving¡ªsubsuming the energy with a voracious appetite, learning its pattern as it digested the novel affinity. The shaman had a Rare class at best. The spell was weak¡ªin level, rarity, and potency. The might of his oldest Heroic skill proved far its superior. Righteous in its defence, Kaius felt a shudder run through his body as the skill sampled and quickly categorised the noxious affliction. Similar to Poison, with subtle differences. Rapid Adaptation bloomed, burning out the contagion like a wildfire. **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has added a new Resistance: Smog!** **Ding! You have resisted Smog - Myasthenic Haze** With a staggering gasp, Kaius returned to his full faculties. Rapid Adaptation stayed in constant motion, whirling through his body to keep his system clear of affliction. **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has reached level 73!** Weakened and spluttering, the boggarts and bugbears that desperately tried to wear him down became all the slower¡ªall the easier to gut and slash and kill. Bodies fell, A Father¡¯s Gift reaping a grim toll as Kaius felt his chest grow increasingly wet with blood. The shaman howled¡ªincensed that its plan had backfired. Kaius returned the call with a grin¡ªbaring his teeth at the boggling. The shaman had to die. ¡°Ianmus! Any ideas on how to get through its shield?¡± Kaius called loudly, unwilling to look back and check how far the mage had had to retreat. ¡°Maybe! Give me a second,¡± Ianmus replied, his voice surprisingly distant. Minor the shaman¡¯s affliction might have been, but it had spread widely. Beside him, Porkchop spluttered as the noxious poison attacked his lungs, but raged through the front line almost unhindered. With the sheer weight of his Vitality, a simple poison that weakened the muscles was a long distance from slowing him down by more than a hair. Seconds later, a beam materialised in the air above Kaius¡¯s head. Invisible, except for the mana it exuded and the path it burned through the poisonous fog. A lance bisecting the cave, drawing a clear line between Ianmus¡¯s staff and the shaman¡¯s eye. The shaman squealed, clutching the ruined and burned socket of its eye in surprise and shock at its sudden injury, jelly leaking between its fingers. Snapping its remaining eye upwards, the shaman glared at Ianmus¡¯s distant figure, howling something unintelligible. Kaius grinned¡ªhe didn¡¯t know how, but Ianmus had broken the shield. Another lightbeam cut through the air, though this time it dispersed harmlessly against the shaman¡¯s shield. It cackled, waving its guards forward. They obeyed instantly, wading their way through the crush. ¡°I got it!¡± Ianmus cried. ¡°It¡¯s an adaptive shield! It has to switch targets!¡± ¡°So I can fry it?!¡± Kaius called back, narrowly parrying a bugbear¡¯s heavy clubswing, before kicking it backwards into a group of boggarts. ¡°Not yet!¡± Ianmus returned, another beam splashing against the shaman¡¯s shield. ¡°It¡¯ll be quicker defending itself¡ªthe guards are probably undefended though!¡± That was all he needed to hear. Lightning burst from his hand, lashing one of the approaching bugbears with fiery eyes. Bound in scorching azure, its head ripped back as a pained scream clawed its way free of the creature¡¯s throat. A secondary arc jumped to its fellow¡ªscorching its flesh to the bone. Frozen in agony as they were, they had no chance to react to his second spell. Eyes smoked in their sockets¡ªboiling from the sheer potency of electrical energy that roared through their bodies. Reverberations wracked them, shattering their bones from the inside out. Blackened and leaking, they fell. **Ding! level 71 Bugbear - Shaman¡¯s Chosen slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** ... **Ding! level 72 Bugbear - Shaman¡¯s Chosen slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** The shaman howled in fury¡ªmana condensing around it as it moved to cast another spell, incensed by their destruction of its toys. ¡°On my count¡ªthere¡¯ll be a small window when my beam hits!¡± Ianmus called, channeling his own ability. Kaius cut through the approaching minnows¡ªready to strike. ¡°Three!¡± Doom screamed in Kaius¡¯s mind¡ªdrawing his attention to the enemy spellcaster. The shaman snarled, unleashing a bolt of noxious liquid that shot towards Kaius at a breakneck pace. ¡°Two!¡± Kaius moved, lunging forwards and grabbing a boggart by the scruff. Its fangs sunk into his wrist, a closely clutched knife plunging into his forearm. He ignored the stinging burn of his wounds, throwing the beast into the path of the spell. Caustic miasma splashed over the boggling. It screamed, the shaman''s magic eating it to the bone. ¡°One!¡± Kaius shot the shaman a grin, delighting in its frustrated howl. ¡°Now!¡± Ianmus fired his bolt of light. Empowered and fortified, it was nearly twice as thick as his usual spells. Smashing up against the shaman¡¯s defences, the solar magic revealed the rippling form of the mystic shield that fought it back with a vigour. The beam kept burning¡ªheld in place through focused channeling. Face scrunched in focus, the shaman shifted the full weight of its attention to fighting off Ianmus¡¯s assault. Only for a lash of lighting to phase right through its shield¡ªburning it from the inside out. Kaius moved quickly, spending his charges to confirm the kill. Two more Stormlashes cracked out¡ªsuccessive booms drawing forth a wail of startled screams from the blinded mass of bogglings arrayed against them. When the sudden daylight ended, the shaman fell backwards into a smoking heap. **Ding! level 77 Bugbear - Touched by Miasma slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 58!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has reached level 74!** Chapter 183 - B2 181: Mistakes, pt. 3 Sitting across from the guildmaster of Deadacre, Kaius felt the weight of the man''s gaze. It settled on his shoulders like lead¡ªpeeled him apart like a butchered rabbit. Rieker''s curiosity was...palpable. "What would you like to know?" Kaius said cautiously, taking the lead. Rieker drummed his fingers on the top of his desk, each impact cracking loudly through the room. "Not the how, before you get too worried. That would be improper for someone in my position, and I doubt that anything you did was repeatable." the guildmaster started, meeting his eyes. "I also don''t care about the why. As Ro has already told you, scions seeking shelter within the guild is no new thing." Leaning forwards, Rieker put his elbows on the desk. "No, what I am most interested in is how far we can push you. How far can you go? How high is too high before you break?" Impassioned as he was, a gleaming fire alighted in the guildmaster''s eyes, revealing a madness that let him climb to the upper reaches of power seen within the human kingdoms. "I need¡ªthe guild needs¡ªSteel and Silver, not Copper and Bronze, that has become only more apparent with this change of the system. You, in your uncautious idiocy, have revealed yourselves to be worthy of investment." he finished. Kaius paused, turning to meet his companion''s eyes. They looked back at him with trust. That he would lead them right, and that they would stand behind his decision. "What, exactly, do you mean?" he asked. "That is rather simple. Until you reach the end of the first tier, or preferably the second, you are too vulnerable to being picked off by your enemies. That, you know. What you may not have considered is that dynasties who would prefer to eliminate a rising threat when it is still in the cradle are a dime a dozen. You, Kaius, are in grave danger. Porkchop too, due to the simple value of his knowledge of legacy skills, and Ianmus is as well by simple association." Rieker explained. Kaius winced. He''d hoped that the general threat of the powerful would have been ameliorated by his membership to the Guild, but it seemed he had been naive. Ro sighed from her seat beside the guild master. "Your growth has proven to be extreme, Kaius. Many would risk the guild''s ire to remove a simple Copper or Bronze with your potential. It would be easy to manufacture justification, or to hide involvement all together, with your current level of power." "What do we do, then?" Kaius asked. If their own lack of prudence had put them in danger, they needed a solution, and the guild''s assistance in their growth was too beneficial to deny. "We''re going to need to artificially lower your rank and downplay your accomplishments, while feeding you appropriate contracts on the side¡ªuntil you reach High Steel at the very least. Ro can run interference on any rumours that are already spreading." Rieker said, commanding the room. "You''ll also have my personal assistance with selecting missions that are right on the cusp of what you can handle, as well as with skill training to make up for the time you will lose by levelling so quickly" Kaius froze. He hadn''t expected that Rieker would be so willing to get personally involved. A test of their abilities, sure, but training from someone in the second tier? That was something money couldn''t buy. There had to be a catch. "That...is a significant offer," he replied slowly. "What would you need in return for it?" Rieker grinned, revealing canines that came to overly lengthy points. It was an aggressive thing, full of glee. "First, I will need to know what I am working with¡ªthe rough details of your build, your stat gain per level, that sort of thing." he started, before holding up a hand as Kaius frowned. "Do not worry, I am in possession of a shard of one of the Bloodstones¡ªa gift after a significant favour for a Hiwiann Clanmaster. I am willing to make a binding oath to take what I learn to the grave, to never make an attempt on your life¡ªexcept in self defence¡ª and never use what I learn against you. No one else will know." A Bloodstone? That was the first time he had heard of anyone outside of the trader-people having one. That...could actually work. With the potent natural magics that linked it back to the original spire, it would be a binding oath in truth¡ªwithout any of the risks or flaws that came with using one of those vanishingly rare few that held an oath-making skill. Still, it was the sort of decision he could not make alone. Even if he was willing to give up his own secrets, those of his party were not his to share. "Is that agreeable to the two of you?" he asked his team. "It is." Porkchop readily agreed, though he was the most likely to find the term acceptable, given the culture of his people. Kaius turned to Ianmus, who nodded quickly - as if wary of speaking in Rieker''s presence. "Then with my team''s agreement, I can accept that term. However, you said it was the first?" Kaius asked, watching the guildmaster closely. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Rieker nodded. "The other you will perhaps find more contentious, but it is perhaps the most important. First, let me give you some background." The guildmaster stood from his chair, his hands resting behind his back as he paced back and forth behind his desk. "Everyone is focused on these fucking beasts. The number, the quality, the rising levels. It is a mask to the true threat, people. These...aspects have been denied to me, to most everyone with any real power on this continent." He stopped behind his chair, turning to face him. "That is dangerous. A new, unassailable, advantage that I would bet my life is as important as legacy skills. New powers will rise, emboldened by the chaos, bringing with them terror and bloodshed. You need only look to the histories of the empire to know what will come." Kaius caught Ianmus nodding out of the corner of his eye. "Worse...these ''Tyrants''. I expect them to be a threat designed to challenge those with Aspects, not those without. This worries me. It worries my colleagues and my betters. The guild has not survived so long, become so ubiquitous across Vaastivar and beyond, by letting changes catch us on the back foot." Rieker continued, his eyes boring into Kaius''s own. "We are doing all we can to identify those with the most promise, nurture them, and share our findings. I would have all of you join this program¡ªyou will gain access to all of our findings, and you will share your own. You will also agree to take up arms in defence of the guild, given we are attacked without provocation. I will need an oath on this." the guildmaster said with finality, before he turned to nod at Ro who also stood. "We will give you a few minutes to discuss¡ªbut know that this is the price of our assistance." The pair filed out of the room, leaving the team in stunned silence. They sat there for a few moments, simply digesting the sheer weight of Rieker''s presence. How the very air felt lighter with his absence. "Well, I was right, he is like a Patriarch." Porkchop said, breaking the silence. Kaius snorted and shook his head. "Seriously though, that''s a big ask, what do you two think?" "The defence oath is fine, it''s well known to be a requirement of higher tiers of membership. It''s only in the case of underhanded trickery and unprovoked assault that it will bind us, not true allegiance to a banner. All we would be doing is agreeing to it a few years early." Ianmus explained. That, at least, was something. Binding oaths were not something to take likely, but if it was only a defensive oath, and a common one at that, then it was far less risky. Still, the program to share findings about Aspects... That was something else. "And the Aspect program? There could be Honours on the line¡ªdo we really want to risk losing that opportunity?" Kaius asked in a soft voice, quieting himself to avoid the potential of being overheard. "Kaius, you are already on the precipice of your first, and both me and Ianmus have already felt a glimmer from one of our own pillars. With all of our advantages, do you really think that anyone else has a chance of catching up?" Porkchop asked, incredulous at the thought that they wouldn''t be the first. Ianmus nodded along with his brother''s words. "I agree¡ªbesides, it sounds like this program is already happening. I think if we forgo access to what others have learned, we risk being left behind by the collective." That...made sense, actually. In the end, it all came down to faith. Did he have the faith in his own capabilities, and those of his team, that they would be more capable than the others the guild had found. Kaius snorted to himself. Of course he did. Afterall, had any of those nameless rising stars ushered in a new era? Found themselves Observed? He doubted it. "Then it''s decided," he said, getting nods of conviction in return. "Though I will want acceptance that we will be able to share our own discoveries with Aspects with whomever we please." Rising to his seat, he walked to the door that led out of the study and opened it, finding Rieker and Ro waiting patiently in the chairs that lined the foyer. The guildmaster looked up at his appearance, giving him a once over. "Made up your mind, kid?" "We''ll do it." Kaius said, his tone resolute. Rieker shot up to his feet, a wide grin on his face. "Fantastic!" he said with a clap of his hands. "This is going to be so much fun." The guildmaster swept into the office, gesturing at him to take his seat before he took his place behind the desk. Ro didn''t join them, saying that she would find them later, once she had found them a mission. Reaching into a drawer, the guildmaster drew out an ornate box that was lacquered in a dark stain, with gems and gold embedded in its motifs. Unlatching it, he drew out a small shard of stone. It was a brilliant red, the colour of arterial blood, and strangely textured. Almost like the pumice he sometimes saw floating down mountain streams - though far more dense. A Bloodstone, the first he had seen. Kaius cleared his throat, drawing the guildmaster''s attention. "Before we begin, we want assurance that we will be able to share our findings about Aspects with others at our leisure. Porkchop has his Den to consider, and I have taken steps to start building my own allies. That, and all of us are likely to have our own future families to consider." Kaius said, slow and careful. He didn''t want to offend someone as powerful as Reiker. The guildmaster waved him off dismissively. "Yes, yes. That will be fine, as long as you are not solely sharing guild secrets¡ªwhatever you discover yourselves is your own secret to share as you please." "First, I will take my oath." Rieker said, drawing a thin blade from his waist and setting it on the table. "Then you will take yours. After that, we battle in my private armory, and then we can discuss the specifics of your team''s power." Kaius frowned, looking at the man confused. "You want to fight us before we tell you our builds and power growth?" Rieker laughed, bending backwards over his chair as he held his belly. "Of course!" "It''s far more fun that way." he said, looking back at them with a distinctively familiar hunger in his eyes. Chapter 184 - B2 182: Mistakes, pt. 4 Having told them of his plans for them, Rieker placed his Bloodstone shard on the centre of the table with almost reverent care. "Now, to get the formalities out of the way, I''ll go first." he said, grabbing his knife off the desk. It was short, less than a handspan in length, but to Kaius it had all the tells of a masterwork. Fine hammer patterns flanking the spine of the blade, with a dense scrawl of script on the flat of the knife. Rieker was swift, drawing its honed edge over his thumb. Red blood welled. "They''re deceptively simple to use, the Bloodstones." Rieker explained. "A little soul infused mana in your blood -" He pressed his thumb to the shard of stone, which drank it in like parched soil. As it did so, the bloody glow within pulsed with growing intensity. "-and then you speak the words of your oath." Rieker paused for just a moment, letting more of his blood seep into the strange natural artefact. "I, Rieker, swear that I shall take any knowledge you all share with me today and in the future, as it pertains to your secrets, statuses, and history, to my grave without being spread¡ªunless given your express consent in the absence of manipulation. I swear to never attempt to cut your life short, through action or subterfuge, unless in self defence." the guildmaster whispered. The shard of Bloodstone reacted, flaring in red light. Something within it pulsed. Not mana, but some other kind of energy Kaius could just barely sense. As the wave washed over him, he knew that the man''s oath had been binding. Rieker sighed in relief as his oath took, leaning back in his chair as he mopped at his glistening forehead. "Glad that''s over¡ªgives me the willies every time I have to do it." "Is it painful?" Porkchop asked, cocking his head at the man. "No," Rieker shook his head. "But it feels like someones tickling your soul¡ªrather uncomfortable, all things considered." Kaius looked at the Bloodstone with curiosity, but when he tried to analyse the strange object the system refused to share. It seemed that whatever it was, it was too high of a tier for him to peer into its secrets with his current strength. Ultimately, it didn''t matter. The Bloodstones were legendary, and tightly controlled as the sacred heritage of the Hiwiann. However Rieker had gotten ahold of one, it had to be quite the story. With his own oath complete, the guildmaster led them through the ones he wanted them to make. Like Ianmus had said it would be, the oath was rather loose in what it required of them. An oath to defend the guild in moments of need, and to keep the secrets they learned to themselves¡ªboth those from the aspects program, and any other secrets that were shared with them due to their membership. Even the defensive pact was generous in its terms. It only required them to defend the guild to the best of their reasonable ability¡ªno fighting to the death, or sacrificing all other obligations. As soon as they were done with it, Rieker carefully picked up the stone shard, and deposited it into the velvet lined box that had originally housed it. A moment later, the box vanished - most likely into the spatial storage that a guildmaster would be certain to have. "Right! Now that that''s done, come with me. It''s time to head to my sparring grounds." Rieker said with a clap, commanding their attention as he stood from his seat. They followed him dutifully as he led them through the unadorned door that barred their entrance deeper into the guildmaster''s quarters. Kaius felt his heart lurch as they stepped through. It wasn''t every day that you got to see how someone of Rieker''s stature lived. Unfortunately, they only got to see a bare thirty strides of hallway adorned by the trophies of past battles¡ªeverything from scraps of scale to stuffed heads mounted on the wall¡ªbefore he took them through another door and into a steep spiral staircase. Walking down, Kaius was surprised to see no landings, and no exits. They just kept walking down, and down, and down. With nothing but plain cobble and a wardlight every quarter turn, it was incredibly difficult to tell how far they had walked. Only that it was far deeper than the ground floor of the guildhall, the minutes bleeding as the monotonous descent continued. Some time later, they reached the bottom. An empty foyer, showing only an inscribed steel door that was barred tight. Rieker stopped before it, turning to them. "Through here is the guildmaster''s practice hall. Every guild has one, and they are universally built to withstand the rigours of a high tier-three battle. Do not worry about going all out¡ªwe''re deep beneath the city right now, and no one will notice a thing." the guildmaster explained, laying his hand on the thick slab of steel masquerading as a door. They nodded. It made sense to Kaius, even if he had never taken the time to think through the specifics of catering to a high tiered person''s practice requirements. Afterall, people in Riekers position needed to grow their skills as much as anyone, and his job meant that he couldn''t well just up and leave for an extended delve without significant notice and planning. After all, it would be all too easy for someone to notice his absence and capitalise on it - even if just politically. Rieker pulled out his own guild emblem. It was solid gold, and far more ornate than his own - though, Kaius had little clue if that was the case for all Gold members, or if the extra embellishment was due to his position. As Rieker pressed the emblem against the door, Kaius heard the deep groaning rattle of locks disengaging, and saw the flare of unknowable inscriptions activating. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. With a final thunk, the steel slab popped open, revealing an empty well of blackness. A moment later wardlights engaged, and the training hall was revealed. Kaius took in the sight with wide eyes, hearing Ianmus gasp behind him. The place was immense. Easily fifteen-hundred strides in depth and width, with a ceiling that loomed far overhead. Titanic wardlights decorated the roof, illuminating the monolithic stone slabs that had been used in the room''s construction. Made of some off blue rock, each one looked like it had a year''s worth of inscribing work carved into their surfaces. "It''s rather impressive, isn''t it?" Rieker said, stepping into the hall with his arms out swept. "Welcome to my abode! I like it much more than the stuffy old office upstairs, at least." As they filed into the hall, Kaius noticed two things. The first was that there was a rather conspicuous metal box sitting at the far end of the room covered in cloth. Though it was hard to judge the size of it due to the distances and scale involved, it was easily twice his height on every edge. The second was that the wall behind him was absolutely covered in an armoury''s worth of arms and armour. Each and every one looked like it was something that would cost a noble''s estate¡ªthe kind of weapons forged for use by someone who would shatter mortal weapons with a swing. Strolling to the wall, Rieker pulled down a one-handed warhammer. It was an odd thing, with a head the size of a brick¡ªwithout his obvious strength, it would have been unbalanced and useless. In the guildmaster''s hands, it may as well have been made from wood. The warhammer blurred in his hands as he spun through a stream of stances and swings. "Good enough." Rieker said with a nod of satisfaction, before he returned to them. "Now, before we have our little tussle, I want to see you in action," he explained. "To do that, you''re going to need to fight something of an appropriate level. I do not qualify. Luckily, I had a little time last night after Ro informed me of your little overachievement." Rieker waved his hammer towards the cloth covered box at the far end of the room. A great gale howled from its tip, whipping winds launching across the open space. Cloth flapped, and a deep, angry growl echoed out from beneath its cover. A moment later the wind grew too much, and the cloth was ripped free. What Kaius had thought a box was revealed to be a cage, and within it a beast. Hunchbacked and heavily muscled, a hound-like creature prowled within. Deep red, the colour of burning coals, with a row of bristles down its spine, it stared at their little group with frustrated rage as it paced back and forth along the edge of its cage. Kaius didn''t miss the small puffs of smoke that left its nostrils with every breath. "That, at least from what I heard of your previous mission, should challenge you nicely." Rieker said with a wild smile. "I look forward to seeing how the three of you perform." Kaius frowned at the guildmaster, while both Porkchop and Ianmus stared at him in naked shock. Flicking back to the beast in the cage, Kaius analysed it. While he wasn''t opposed to a live fight¡ªafter all, it would likely get him his next class skill if it was a real challenge¡ªhe still wanted to see what they were working with. Infernus Hound - Level 87: Beast, Brawler Eyes widening in shock, Kaius read the description of the beast twice over. Level eighty-seven? How the hells had the guildmaster managed to find it? Let alone smuggle it back into the city and into the guild with no one being the wiser? In a single night no less. Still, as he dismissed the notification and locked eyes with the snarling hound, Kaius felt himself starting to grin. He''d been worried that it would take them weeks to get access to their next good fight, and here was some lovely guild official serving him one on a silver platter. How could he say no? "Hah!" Rieker laughed. Kaius looked over to find the man watching him closely, an unhidden grin plastered on his face. "That''s what I like to see! A bit of fire, a bit of zeal!" the guildmaster continued. "How did you manage it?" Kaius asked in genuine curiosity. "Smuggling a level eighty-seven into a city is no small feat." Ianmus whipped over to him, brows raised in shock as he flicked between Kaius and the infernus hound. Rieker ignored the startled mage''s reaction. "Oh, a little of this, and a little of that." he replied with an amused twinkle in his eye. "Reaching the blasted thing was the most annoying bit, but it''s not the first time I''ve picked up something special to see how a team acts in the field." Kaius nodded, though he did wish that the guildmaster would be a little more open about it. In the end, he could understand why he was not. Afterall, any back channels that Rieker held into the city would have to be politically...delicate. Not the sort of thing any seasoned figure of his stature would share with a greenhorn like himself. "Well, we can do it. The spider was only a little lower level, and it was an Elite." Kaius said with confidence. He knew his team¡ªthey could handle this. "Well¡ªsaid spider was an illusion based ambusher out of its element, but yes. I was hoping for something a bit tougher, but it was the best I could do on short notice." Rieker replied, scratching the back of his head. "It''s more than okay! I thought I would have to wait weeks for my next class skill!" Porkchop said, kneading the stone ground with his claws. Clearly, Kaius''s bond brother was growing restless. Rieker grinned back at the meles, before he addressed them as a group. "Now for the disclaimers. This is still a training exercise, so I will not let anyone die¡ªhowever¡ªyou best fight like you might, as I wont be stepping in for anything short of it." he said, fixing them with a stern stare. The sheer presence he commanded was enough to straighten Kaius''s spine as he listened to the guildmaster''s words intently. "I need to see how you actually battle, not what you do in a controlled spar against someone of far greater strength." he continued. "So hold nothing back. No stratagem, no skill, and no ability. I have already given you my oath, so if you can handedly put it into the ground - do so." The guildmaster watched them closely, scanning their determined faces, until he apparently found enough in their expressions to satisfy him. Nodding to himself, Rieker stepped to the side, giving them an uninterrupted view of the infernus hound. "Good luck!" he said, clicking his fingers. The cage that held their challenge opened. Chapter 185 - B2 183: Mistakes, pt. 5 As Kaius watched the gate to the cage slam open, and the infernus hound step free of its prison, he felt a familiar tingle start in his fingers. His breath quickened, vitalising his body with the sweet air of the training hall as he prepared himself to do battle. His blade was in hand a moment later. There had been no conscious decision, he just had a need for it, and his body moved. The infernus hound padded out onto the stone, moving cautiously. As if unsure of the fact it had really been released. It was a moment of calm, one he would not waste. Kaius ripped open his resource panel, assessing what he had available. Resources: Health - 2450/2450 (13.5/min) Stamina - 2320/2320 (18.3/min) Mana - 3170/3190 (21.5/min) Free Mana - 70/70 Reserved Mana - 3120 A lot¡ªhe had a lot available. Thousands of each resource, and twenty-six casts of Stormlash. If they didn''t give Rieker a good showing, it would be fucking shameful. Ignoring the ever watchful gaze of the guildmaster, standing off to the side with his arms crossed, Kaius assumed command. "Ianmus. Alpha strike, try to take out one of its legs when you have an opening. Porkchop, with me. Keeping it away from Ianmus is your priority." he snapped off orders, striding forwards with purpose. His companions nodded. Mana streamed around Ianmus, moving far more vigorously than it ever had in the past. The mage''s third skill, it had to be. At the upswell of magical energy, the infernus hound''s head snapped to them. Its hackles rose, and a gravelly call of anger resonated from deep within its chest. Orange glowed from within its throat, the previous thin streams of smoke replaced by gouting jets of flame as the beast readied itself to charge. "Ready yourselves." Kaius said softly, settling into his stance as he continued his advance. "It''s coming." The hound charged, a baying promise of violence on its lips. .... Rieker watched the greenhorns with interest as they squared off against the pup he''d found in the outlands the night before. It had been an interesting night. Ro, with all her usual energy and fire, had burst in¡ªswearing so much that he''d thought they were under attack. Nope, she''d just found a once in a century genius, and some wayward greater beast, who''d somehow done the impossible. At first he''d brushed her off. Afterall, he''d seen many so called ''geniuses'' - all of them had fallen beneath his hammer in the end. Then she''d told him that they''d killed a level eighty, while they were in their twenties. That had caught his attention. That was definitely not something you saw every day. Or at all. Ever, really. At the very least, he could see why they pushed so hard. That leader of theirs especially¡ªKaius¡ªhe had the hunger. Beyond a drive or a want, he needed strength. Oozed that desperate clawing grasp as he latched on to everything that would bring him another step towards the peak. The greater beast too, though that was much less of a surprise. No doubt the meles had a full legacy, and he must have shared at least some of his knowledge with the boy. Almost certainly an interesting story. Not that he cared. It wouldn''t be long before whatever brought them here was ancient history. He cared if they had what it took to reach Adamant. Leaning against the wall, he watched Kaius bark out his commands. Decent awareness. Decisive. Simple, but effective. The boy raced forwards, the meles at his side as they charged towards the pup. Judging by the way the infernus hound''s chest was swelling, they were about to get a face full of fire. How would they deal with that? Right on cue an enormous gout of orange flames burst from the hound''s throat, a searing wave that barrelled directly towards the racing pair. Rieker watched with interest as Porkchop plunged his claws into the ground. A wall of jade erupted a moment later, blocking the attack. Flames hit its surface, gouting upwards and to the sides as it was diverted. With unspoken, and flawless, communication he watched the boy race forwards, hidden in the shadow of the wall as it rocketed towards the source of the flames. Right as it was about to slam into the hound, it noticed the walls approach and cut off its flames with a yelping snap of its jaws¡ªleaping to the side to avoid being sent sprawling. Had the boy learned beast-speak? Another oddity. Whatever the reason for their coordination, it seemed to him that the hound''s desperate dodge was exactly the moment that Kaius had been waiting for. The boy dived free of the shadow of the jade and...dropped his offhand from his blade? Perhaps he would get to see what this whole ''spellsword'' thing was about. As cute as the boy''s Mask had been, it didn''t stand a chance against the likes of him¡ªsomething Ro was already hard at work finding a way to correct. After all, he wasn''t about to waste his hard work and investment on these kids if the passing curiosity of a powerhouse was enough to see them vanish into some dark cell. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Violent orange sprayed from the boy''s hand in a shower of glittering sparks, halting Rieker''s thoughts dead in their tracks. Narrowing his eyes in interest, he watched as an impossibly dense bolt of storm and lightning mana condensed in Kaius''s hand. Shock jolted down his back at the spell, raising the hair on the back of his neck. No channeling, no nothing. With a fiery light in his eyes, Rieker watched the boy bind the beast¡ªshuddering reverberations and electrical potency frying the hound from the inside out. Stunned with minor convulsions and pain, the hound froze. Barely for a moment, but enough for the boy to act. Rieker found his cheeks starting to ache from the force of his smile as Kaius ran in to plunge his blade deep into its chest, undaunted by a beast twice his size and level. Before the hound could rouse itself from its stupor, the boy hammered it with another lash¡ªleaping back from a pained swipe of the beast''s claws. Now, wasn''t that interesting? He''d been around the block, and he knew for certain that whatever the boy had used, it was new. Then Porkchop hit the distracted beast like a brick wall - smashing it back with the bulk of his summoned stone armour. Too strong. Too fast. The pair of them. It was ridiculous. Insane. Impossible. He loved it. Even a Unique class couldn''t explain this, and that was what he had suspected. Heroic maybe? Unlikely, even a new style of magic and a completed legacy wouldn''t be enough¡ªat least he didn''t think. But that still wouldn''t explain what he was seeing. These greenhorns were fighting like they were seasoned Silver. At least in terms of raw physicality¡ªtheir skills were dogshit and he could smell that lack of experience that only hard lessons could bring. He''d fix that. Harassed as it was, the infernus hound tapped into one of its skills. It flashed through the air¡ªthough it may as well have been swimming through treacle to Rieker¡ªand appeared at Porkchop''s side before he could react. Mana flashed, and the hound raked the air, three arcs of condensed fire flying free. They slammed into the meles flank, filling the air with the reeking stench of immolated fur and melted flesh. The greater beast...didn''t give a flying fuck. It just pushed straight through the pain, plunging its claws into the similar sized hounds chest. Kaius wasn''t far behind, sword glowing with soul-infused stamina as he flew into a blurring kata of heavy slashes interspersed with the cracking flash of lightning. That sword skill was interesting indeed. Few skills made use of a connection to the soul, but the chances of the boy having a linking skill already were so low he could handidly discard it. Whatever it was, it was decent enough¡ªno doubt it would grow all the more terrifying as Kaius grew through the tiers. A link, at some point, was almost a given. His mastery skill was similarly good. The style was rigid¡ªobviously new and skill imposed¡ªbut it was a good skill. Fluid, adaptable, and fast. He''d seen it a million times before. Too many beasts, not enough skilled opponents. It''d get him killed before he got too deep in the Depths¡ªtoo many lower-races and other sapient tool users amongst the depths-born that would exploit the fuck out of his wooden rigidity. He could beat it out of him. Gods, to think he thought he was worried they would disappoint him. Deep within his belly, Rieker started to laugh. A booming thing that filled the room with his mirth. Where the fuck did these monsters come from? Who the fuck did he blow in a past life to find some seeds like this? They were green. Raw as fuck. More rock than ore. But he would shatter them. Melt them down. Turn them into weapons. In all honesty, they already were. He watched as the hound howled in fury, incensate from the nonstop assault that had been leveraged against it. Another flame-breath was coming¡ªRieker could smell it. The beast wanted space, and that was how it was used to getting it. Fire bloomed, hosing the two greenhorns. Porkchop reacted quickly, diverting the flames away from him. Kaius...the strange giant from the south did something that surprised him. He tried to dodge, but the hound was too close, and too fast. Even with all of his impossible speed, it wasn''t enough. And then he tripped. Tripped! Who the fuck can fight like that and trips? Too coincidental. Too perfectly timed to save him from a serious case of immolation. It reeked of a fate ability. Yet another impossibility about him. I mean, for fuck''s sake, he''d fought his arse off for years to earn a Unique tier two class, and he''d only gotten one at level two-sixty-one! And his wasn''t even evasive! Pure bullshit. Rieker shook his head, not even attempting to hide his manic grin as the boy ignored the flesh on his back melting off his body in favour of rolling to his feet and punishing the hound''s audacity with another impossible bolt of lightning. Nor did he miss that Kaius had a smile to match his own. Manic. Lusty. Wanting. A man after his own heart, it seemed. Someone who appreciated the finer things in life. The jade that had shielded Porkchop shot forwards under the meles direction, slamming the hound bodily towards Kaius¡ªwho wasted not a moment capitalising on the weakness. His strange crystal sword glowed with inner fire once more, stabbing deep into the hound''s neck. Blood foamed from its muzzle with a whine, eyes wild. Narrowing his eyes at the sword, Rieker tried to puzzle through what was off about it. It wasn''t a simple Common longsword, that was for sure¡ªbut whatever shielding enchantment it had was potent. The strange soul skill wasn''t enough to explain everything. Despite his curiosity, he was no smith, and had no way to puzzle through its secrets with eyesight alone. The battle raged on, the roars of bloodlust and splashing viscera warming Rieker''s heart. Flashes of blue lit up the room, broken only by the flickering orange as more fire spewed from the infernus hound. They were really pressuring it now¡ªthe beast was drawing on more and more of its repertoire. Hosing breaths of flame, blades of fire shooting from its claws, bursts of blurring speed, and now a flame infused charge¡ªone that Porkchop withstood with calm focus as he accepted scorching burns to plunge his crystal claws into the beast''s chest. Fantastic focus and vigour, with no fear of injury. Whatever those boys had been up to in recent months, it had been violent indeed. Most new classers took years to get over their rather natural fear of injury. Rieker''s eyes flicked to their backline, the half-elf watching the battle with enraptured attention. That in and of itself was impressive, considering the storm of solar mana that raged over his head, bound to the man''s iron hard will as he wove his spell. An all in attack¡ªa risky play for most, but understandable considering the strength of the frontline. After all, it was his only viable way of keeping up, for now at least. While Ianmus in no way held up to the might of his companions, he was still impressive. From a normal perspective at least. Skilled¡ªin the way that came with studious practice¡ªand focused. Two important traits for a mage. With the two lunatics dragging him upwards by his scruff, he''d go far. Good thing he wasn''t being dragged. He could see that same desire in the half-elf''s eye, hear the man''s heart pounding in his chest. He wanted this. Just as much as the others. Even totally reliant on them to survive, he had faith. A good batch. He couldn''t wait to see what terrors he could turn them into. B2 Chapter 214: Siege, Finale B2 Chapter 214: Siege, Finale Kaius watched a rage of outrage and despair roll through the back ranks of the bogglings, the loss of the shaman hitting those who had seen its smoking body fall like a hammer blow. A blow to their morale¡ªa small victory, but one he was unsure on how effective it would be at turning the tide in their favour. Afterall, it was still what felt like an unending tide. The rough cavern floor was a veritable mire of blood and viscera, yet still there seemed to be no end to them. Fortunately¡ªthough he had to admit it was strange to think of that way¡ªthe noxious gas the shaman unleashed continued to persist through its death. It stung, aggravating the lungs and eyes as it constantly tried to reinfect him with its miasma. Yet Rapid Adaptation fought it off handedly¡ªa steady stream of skill levels dinging in the back of his mind every few minutes. Resisting the toxin had granted him a significant advantage, the bogglings that constantly assaulted his position were weakened and brittle¡ªall the easier to cut his way through their formation. Porkchop was less lucky, moving sluggish and slow. Thankfully, his impressive Vitality still meant he was far less impacted than their opponents. Still, listening to his brother splutter and sneeze as he crushed another bugbear¡¯s skull made him sympathetic to Porkchop¡¯s plight. Three bugbears converged on him, trying to skewer him with their spears in a coordinated assault. It was a good move¡ªhemmed as he was, the only way he could dodge would be by giving ground. Something he would not do. His Glass Mind pushed him towards a solution, digesting the chaotic flow of battle in moments. Inner fire streamed through the crystalline power of his sword, Kaius¡¯s Stamina dropping as he tapped into a rare use of his Bladerite. Empowered by the energy of his body, the enchantments on his sword honed its edge to an impossibly fine point. **Ding! Initiate''s Bladerite has reached level 32!** The simple wooden hafts of the bugbear¡¯s spears stood no chance, his blade cleaving clean through and leaving the trio holding little more than sticks. A step brought him in close, sword blurring as he cut the bugbears down where they stood. Three more dings sounded in his mind, more tallies for the counter. He didn¡¯t get off scot free¡ªfocused as he was, a boggart had managed to slip under his guard, planting a knife in his side. Kaius winced, tensing around the rough blade as he dispatched its wielder. **Ding! level 53 Boggart - Primitive Fighter slain - Experience Gained! Experience Reduced due to Level Disparity.** It was one gash amongst many¡ªa collection of cut flesh and cracked bone that wore away at his health with grinding regularity. He was pushing through¡ªavoiding anything that would truly impair him, but he would fail eventually. It was just a question of how many they could put in the ground first. .... The bright well of satisfaction at slaying the shaman didn¡¯t stay lit for long, the constant gnawing anxiety of their impending flight overshadowing it. He¡¯d burnt too many spells against that single adversary. No matter how necessary it had been, they had no way of knowing how many more shamans were bearing down on them¡ªnor had they seen any sign of the warchief. Preventing himself from unleashing fully on the bogglings was an exercise in frustration. He could have killed far more if he¡¯d simply been willing to take a few more wounds. The rabble arrayed in front of him had plenty of openings, and it would only cost him a few scratches to take more lives. Unfortunately, even scratches would lead to death in great enough quantities For what felt like the thousandth time, he checked his resources¡ªmonitoring it so that he knew when it was time to leave. Resources: Health - 2489/3360 (18.4/min) Stamina - 1520/3230 (24.8/min) Mana - 4300/4300 (28.3/min) Free Mana - 2230/4300 Reserved Mana - 2080 Kaius grimaced. It wasn¡¯t great. His mana¡ªthanks to their protracted battle and his inability to use it without his glyph¡ªwas full. It didn¡¯t mean much when he only had twomore casts of Slip Step and sixteen of Stormlash. Stamina was low enough he¡¯d have to be wary of using his Bladerite too¡ªthough his health was doing fine thanks to Ianmus¡¯s efforts. ¡°Sound off your resources!¡± he called¡ªknowing how his team was faring was the only way they¡¯d get through this. ¡°Health¡¯s mostly full! Mana is two thirds, Stamina is at a third!¡± Porkchop replied quickly, barely breaking stride as he lunged forwards to lock his jaws around an unlucky boggart¡¯s head. He bit down with a crunch, blood gushing from his maw. ¡°Mana¡¯s down to a third¡ªout of potions. Rest is full!¡± Ianmus called, voice carrying through the fading remnants of miasma that separated them. Wincing, Kaius looked out at the swarm that still pushed forwards in a seemingly unending wave. They were approaching the danger zone¡ªleaving their flight until they were almost empty was a fool¡¯s play. They needed enough stamina to keep up a healthy sprint, and enough of their other Resources to fight. The time was coming. They¡¯d failed. Ro and the guildmaster had entrusted him with something important, and he¡¯d fumbled it due to a lack of care. He¡¯d had plenty of time to think about it during the battle, and it felt like every sweep of his sword brought another thought of what they could have done differently. They could have watched the plague¡ªpicking off raiding teams as they slowly whittled down the tribe. They could have brought explosives, trapped them inside the cave and starved them out. Hells, they could have poisoned their food supply¡ªweakened them before they engaged. None of it had occurred to him¡ªeven knowing the numbers they¡¯d face, he¡¯d assumed that simple personal power would be enough to overwhelm all challenges they might face. He¡¯d grown overconfident in his strength¡ªhis ability to cut through those weaker than him. ¡°Ianmus! Ready yourself to flee!¡± Kaius cried, spinning to sweep aside a bugbear¡¯s glowing club. ¡°I...I can¡¯t!¡± Ianmus replied, his voice haltering. There was no fear in it, no anxiety over his fate¡ªjust a simple gritty determination and conviction. Kaius frowned, booting a boggart back as he turned and hacked at another that was harassing Porkchop¡¯s side. **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 59!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** Reflexively placing his spare point in Vitality like he had since level fifty-one, Kaius brooded over Ianmus¡¯s refusal. What was the man thinking? They¡¯d laid out their plans before they¡¯d engaged¡ªKaius said the word, and Ianmus would leave while they covered his retreat. Every second they stayed increased the risk of them being too fatigued to escape safely. ¡°Why?!¡± he replied, desperate to understand. ¡°Mentis!¡± Ianmus called back, quick and desperate. ¡°I¡¯m on the cusp of it, I can feel it. Just a final spell, then I''ll go!¡± Kaius groaned¡ªof course it had to happen now. Why wouldn¡¯t it? The system itself had told them that intense battle made the revelations come quicker. Porkchop was less distracted by the change in plans, sending another Shardwall smashing into the bogglings front line with a growl. As the battle had progressed, they¡¯d come less and less frequently, the ability too expensive to use consistently. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m going to be beaten by an elf!¡± he cried in mock outrage. ¡°The Matriarchs are going to have my tail.¡± Regardless of the poor timing, they¡¯d have to make do¡ªan Honour could be on the line, and he and Porkchop could hold out for a few more minutes. ¡°Just be quick about it!¡± he yelled, leaping back to avoid a heavy chop of a boggart¡¯s axe. ¡°I will, just be ready! I¡¯ve been working on something¡ªI''ve had far too much time to think, but I might be able to clear the cave! Can you get me to the front line when I¡¯m ready?¡± Ianmus replied, the mana in the cave already rushing towards him in reaction to the magic he was weaving. Whatever it was, it was dense¡ªcomplex. Kaius could feel it like a storm on the horizon, pricking against the back of his neck. ¡°You want to do what?!¡± Kaius yelled back, thinking he¡¯d misheard¡ªboth that the man thought he could put dozens of bogglings to death with a single blow, and that he had to be right next to them to do it. ¡°Come to the front!¡± Now Kaius knew the man was mad. ¡°Kind of asking for a lot!¡± ¡°Not for long, I promise¡ªjust enough time to cast! One of Porkchop¡¯s Shardwall¡¯s and a few of your Stormlashes would be enough!¡± ¡°Just do it.¡± Kaius shot his brother a scowl. ¡°Fine!¡± he called, deciding to agree against his better instincts. Whatever Ianmus planned, he hoped it would work. .... Ianmus felt the sweet burn of Solar mana burning its way through the ethereal pathways that wormed their way through his all too physical flesh. The meat of his body was a limitation, one he would do away with if he could. He¡¯d sat through a dozen lectures, dreaming of the wonders of elementals and spirits¡ªthe connection they had to the vitality of the world. Mana. It was truly everything. Doubling his focus, Ianmus felt his jaw move, mumbling words with an automaticity that forgeod conscious thought. A tool, one he had learned in his first year at Sunspire. When the fire of mana¡¯s demands grew too strong, too wrothfull, the liturgy of the learned soothed its passions. Everything was bent to his work. He¡¯d had a realisation, in the press of battle. There was more he could take from Kaius¡¯s presence than the simple refinement of using sacred geometry in his casting. The way that his friend had described bending destabilisation to his will. The way he leashed mana to inexorable whims. There was a path to salvation there. Pulling on the mana of his core with the stalwart mind of a lord, Ianmus wove his work. Solar mana streamed around him in knots and weaves of great complexity. Despite his focus, his mind wandered. He¡¯d left Sunspire for a reason. The ossification he¡¯d seen there disgusted him. The way his tutors¡ªthe whole institution¡ªrevelled in their glacial movement was revolting. Sitting in towers. Reading books. Planning. Always planning. But never acting. It had rubbed off on him, and it was his gravest mistake. Mana was dynamic, and in this moment of direst pressure, Ianmus realised he had forgotten that. It demanded movement. Precise and controlled movement, but action all the same. There would be changes in the future¡ªthat he was certain of. Given the opportunity, he knew that he would bring others what he lacked. A place to learn. One that fostered curiosity, discovery, and exploration, not one that clung desperately to the illusion of safety that existed in a cloistered tower of gold. Surrounded by an aurora of sun''s fury, Ianmus realised he had faltered, and Mentis screamed to new heights in response. .... Kaius heard Ianmus mumbling a constant mutter. While a chant wasn¡¯t required for free casting, he knew it was a commonly used mnemonic to focus the mind¡ªwhatever the mage was doing was stretching him to his limits. Five minutes had passed since the man had started, and only now did it seem like he was reaching a crescendo. The distinct tang of sweet sunlight hung heavy in the air, Ianmus¡¯s mana overpowering the final remnant traces of the shaman¡¯s gaseous spell. The stink of solar affinity wasn¡¯t the only thing that had changed. It had been slow at first¡ªunnoticable¡ªbut now he was certain. The bogglings were slowing. More still streamed around the corner, but they were loosely packed, with none of the dense crush of bodies that they¡¯d been for the better part of the last hour. The tide seemed to be stemming. It was an impossibility. It churned his stomach, igniting a blazing suspicion in his belly. There was no way they¡¯d started to exhaust the plague. Sure, they¡¯d killed what had to be over a hundred of the freaks, but he¡¯d seen enough bodies in that cavern to triple the number of dead easily. Where was the head shaman? The warchief? He¡¯d seen neither hide nor hair of them. Had they held back? Kept some of their forces in reserve? He doubted it. Everything he¡¯d seen today, knew about boggarts, suggested that the plague should have thrown themselves at them in an unending wave. Hells, they had. No way they had the smarts¡ªthe acumen¡ªto consider a tactical ploy like that. What if they¡¯d fled? He¡¯d never gotten a full look at the main chamber of the nest. There could have easily been another cave. Perhaps they were circling around, moving to pincer them from behind. Or worse, had decided to flee from the threat, and were already en route to the plains. This horde could have easily been a distraction. Something meant to keep them occupied while the warchief led his host to the east. He shoved the dark feelings deep, letting himself feel the soothing flow of bloodshed and the rapid beat of his heart. Regardless of the reasoning, the slowing tide buoyed him. He felt far more confident now¡ªthat they might be able to cull this lesser group. It pushed back their need to flee, judging by the rate of their approach, there might only be a few dozen left hidden around the bend of the cave. Suddenly the roiling mana in the air stilled. ¡°I¡¯m...ready.¡± Ianmus called, each word sounding like it had been forced through clenched teeth. Kaius breathed, sharing a glance with Porkchop, who nodded. Picking up the pace of his assault, Kaius burnt a charge of Slip Step. With the mortal boundaries of distance loosening their grip on him, he lurched across the front line in a constant flicker. Blows that would have landed phased right through him, leaving the attackers wide open for his counterattack¡ªhis form growing insubstantial with unnatural timing more than once. **Ding! Uncanny Dodge has reached level 57!** From behind, he heard Ianmus make his way forward. Each step was slow¡ªweighed down by the burden of his consumed focus. As soon as it sounded like the man was a bare few strides behind him, Kaius unleashed a trio of Stormlashes. The spells activated at the speed of thought, three writhing vines of shocking power washing over the front line of bogglings. Arcs split, catching more bodies in the lethal net. Two expired directly¡ªthe rest seized, falling back into the row behind them. The sudden dead weight of their allies staggered the rest, a rolling disorientation that moved through the crowd of monsters like a wave. Porkchop capitalised on the moment, a Shardwall rocketing forwards, sending the mass sprawling back. Then Ianmus was there next to him. Brow furrowed and jaw tensed, he looked like he was battling for his life¡ªmore focused than Kaius had ever seen him. A point of mana glowed at the tip of his staff, so potent that it warped the air¡ªcasting off a visible light. The mage¡¯s staff dipped down, wavering as Ianmus pointed it forwards. Everything went white. **Ding! Truesight has reached level 52!** His ocular skill might have protected him from the worst of it, but even then, Kaius could just barely make out a hazy view of the devastation. A hair thin beam erupted from Ianmus¡¯s staff, so bright and hot that Kaius could feel his skin cooking from simple proximity. Like all of the man''s spells, it substantiated instantly¡ªa gossamer thin thread linking his focus to the far wall of the cave. Then the air screamed, and the thread was suddenly a sheet¡ªbisecting the cave at chest height before it vanished a moment later. Staring at Ianmus in shock, Kaius cursed as his friend¡¯s eyes rolled back into his head and he started to keel over. Whipping back to the front without bothering to catch the man¡ªIanmus could deal with losing a bit of his health¡ªhe readied himself to defend his friend¡¯s prone body. Only to find nothing but a field of severed corpses, a slow trickle of new foes warily rounding the corner to step onto the field of the dead. It was a bare few¡ªmaybe two dozen, boggarts one and all¡ªwho entered the cave. They looked at them in abject terror¡ªeyes wide as they waded through the lake of blood and viscera that drenched the cave. More than one looked back the way they had come, only to flinch and march on. No matter the certainty of death, something behind them drove them forwards to certain death. ¡°They¡¯re afraid.¡± Porkchop said, his chest heaving as they waited for the final bogglings to approach. It was the first chance either of them had had to rest since the siege had begun. ¡°They are¡ªbut of what?¡± Kaius¡¯s words seemed to break the boggarts out of their fugue. They screamed, taking final fearful glances at the tunnel they left, before racing forwards with maddened abandon. ¡°Hopefully we never find out.¡± Porkchop replied, stepping forwards to meet their charge. Chapter 186 - B2 184: Mistakes, finale. Kaius drank in the battlefield, every fibre of his being in tune with the moment. The infernus hound was battered, its coat reduced to a raw patchy mass of oozing flesh and blackened skin thanks to his spells¡ªit''s clear resistance to fire no help against the power of Storm. Rents had been torn open in its hide from blade and claw alike, revealing glistening strands of muscle that bulged and tensed with every move. Yet its health was burning¡ªthe cuts slowly sealing with supernatural vigour. That, and the beast was far tougher than others they had faced. Despite its wounds, despite the ragged state of its body, it fought on unhindered. He could only count his blessings that it had no additional regeneration abilities. The healing was slow, and they were steadily wearing it down. Porkchop mauled the hound, falling into a controlled assault. There were no wild, unthinking lashes of his claws. Instead his brother moved with intention. He rolled and flowed with the flow of the battle, always moving just right to take as much of a blow as he could on his heavy plate. Every opening was punished, snapping jaws smashed shut and clawing limbs batted away as he plunged his own thick natural weapons into the infurnus hound''s delicate flesh. The beast was barely keeping up. Kaius felt it as his Toolkit thrummed, an opening they could capitalise on. And as he knew, his brother knew too¡ªthe strength of their bond rendering communication pointless. A deafening crack echoed off the hard stone walls as he raked the beast''s form with another Stormlash. Surprised as it was, there was no moment for it to brace. **Ding! Resonance Amplification has reached level 30!** Whining in agony, smoke rose from its body as he savaged its internals. With a great heave, Porkchop lunged in with supernatural weight behind his steps. Colliding with bone shuddering force, the hound was shoved to the side, unsteady and stumbling. Already in position, Kaius swept A Father''s Gift into a high-guard. He slashed with everything he had, back engaging as he pivoted through his hips. Careening through the air, his blade burned with the inner fire of his Bladerite, before its jagged crystalline edge cut deep into the muscles and structure of its knee. Growling in fury, the hound snapped at him with finger-length teeth. Transferring his weight to his front foot, Kaius twirled his blade with a twist of his wrists. Honed steel slammed into the beast''s muzzle, slamming it away and scouring bone. Another flash of burning lightning scoured its flesh, giving him the time he needed to dance back. Before he could move back into rengage, a burning beam of light appeared within a handspan of his chest. It lanced across the room, stinging his eyes with its luminance before the spell wrought havoc and terror on the infernus hound. Potent and charged with minutes of channelling, the beam of solar energy lanced straight into the leg he had just injured. Kaius should have been blinded by the brilliance, but with his True Sight at work, he watched flesh immolate and dissolve, ligaments sear, and bones blacken. **Ding! True Sight has reached level 39!** A terrible wound, the worst they had wrought in their battle by far, but far less injurious than he had been expecting. Infused with flaming magic, the beast seemed to have some sort of resistance to the blinding heat. Regardless, the beast was hobbled, its leg falling limp as every structure in its lower thigh boiled and burned. The beast whined, lunging away from the beam, before the spell finally winked out. A potent attack. One that had almost gotten him. "Cutting it a little close, don''t you think!" Kaius called back to the mage without looking, already racing forward in unison with his brother to press their advantage. "Best shot in Sunspire!" Ianmus yelled back, his breathing laborious. Whatever the drain he had felt, the mage was obviously not ready to take his leave of the battle. Before Kaius had made even three more steps, a familiar bloom of invigoration grew within him. **Ding! You have been Enhanced - Sundrenched Strength!** Porkchop reached the infernus hound first, a rolling growl reverberating in his barrel chest as a jade wall slammed into the beast from behind, shunting it directly into the reach of his claws. The hound lurched, tapping into a skill as it blurred back out of reach. Far less agile than before, even with the added speed it was a stumbling run with one of its legs almost completely hobbled. Fixing them with a furious snarl, mana bloomed within the beast''s chest. With the increased acuity of his mana sight with his growing levels, Kaius knew that it was something different. Something that needed to be channeled. Uncanny Dodge screamed a warning. "Wall!" he yelled to his brother, sprinting to his side. The sense of danger grew. Skidding to his brother''s side, he hunkered down behind Porkchop''s flank as a wall of jade erupted in front of them. Not a moment too soon. The hound detonated. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. With the beast as the epicentre, an explosion of fire bloomed. As the potent magic hit Porkchop''s Shardwall, the jade rocked back, cracking with the force of the collision. Even saving them from the worst of the blast, fire washed over it in a spilling wave¡ªdraping over them in a cloak of pain and bubbling flesh. Kaius held his breath as agony assaulted him from every angle. His clothes smouldered, and the metal of his armour grew to searing heats. Even with the magic resistance of his Serellian Scale, he was barely protected. **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has reached level 29!** **Ding! Tempered by Dissonance has reached level 32!** Health tore through his system¡ªspreading itself thin to regenerate burnt flesh. It only served to keep his agony fresh, nerves constantly regenerating to be tortured anew. In the end, it was Rapid Adaptation that let him persevere. Fire was one of the oldest of his affinities, and with the surging power of his skill battling against the pervasive aspected magic, the infernus hound''s flames struggled to penetrate more than skin deep. And yet, the fires didn''t end, the hound continuing to channel as his health burned precipitously. It was committed, burning every last scrap of its mana in an attempt to take them out. **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has reached level 30!** **Ding! Lesser Regeneration has reached level 30!** Porkchop didn''t have the same advantages. Oh, his brother weathered the storm with sheer grit, toughness, and health, but it was wearing him down far faster. The fires gutted out, and with the storm of fire gone, Porkchop''s injuries were revealed in their full gorey details. Green jade was scorched black, and the leather padding beneath was completely ragged and scorched. His brother''s fur had almost entirely burnt free, his entire body left one weeping exposed sore. Fighting against the agony, Porkchop pushed himself off the ground. Empowered by his healing skill, his skin rippled, sealing itself whole as a thin blackish fuzz erupted from his pores. Kaius''s own skill went to work, healing his own injuries at a pace that was only moderately slower. The warmth of the sun graced their flesh, soothing their injuries and bolstering their reserves of health as the spell Ianmus must have been preparing enveloped him and Porkchop. **Ding! You have been Healed - Solar Manipulation!** His body still hurt, still cried in protest with every movement, but pain had always been easy to shove to the back of his mind. He focused on their target. Across the hall, the infernus hound lay waiting. Exhausted and spent, it watched them cautiously as its chest heaved. Taking a single cautious step towards them, it growled from deep within its chest. Kaius didn''t miss the quiver in its legs. Nor the way its eyes seemed to be glazed. Mana burn, he realised. They had to end this now, before it recovered. He pushed himself to his feet, working through the pain as he forced himself to take step after shaking step. As skin and flesh healed, his steps grew steadier¡ªhis grip on his blade, stronger. **Ding! Lesser Regeneration has reached level 31!** Soon he was running, a ragged battlecry on his lips. Porkchop arrived first, a storm of flashing green claws and hammering walls of jade. Kaius wasn''t far behind, falling into a blur of carving steel and flashing lightning. The infernus hound tried to fight back¡ªto capitalise on the injuries that it had wrought¡ªbut it was useless. Snapping bites and savage claws were beaten back with tight pivoting parries and nimble dodges, punished in turn with scorching storm and a blade empowered with stamina and soul. Slowly, the hound collapsed before them. With a lame leg, and two opponents of similar physical strength, there was little it could do. Its wounds grew numerous, bone and muscle alike exposed to the air as they carved into its flesh with claw, blade, and spell. Even Ianmus took part in the final execution, finger width beams of light piercing deep into open wounds. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Drakthar has reached level 26!** Where once its wounds writhed with vitality, now the beast''s wounds healed at a crawl, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of injuries. Inevitably, it gutted out completely. The infernus hound collapsed, its monstrous strength finally giving out. There was no pause, no moment of ceremony. As soon as it fell, they were already moving. Sweeping his blade up, it flared with internal fire before he brought it down on the beast''s neck in a heavy chop. Porkchop didn''t let him do all the work. He plunged his claws down into the hound''s skull with the full weight of his prodigious bulk. Blood sprayed, and bone crunched. The battle was won. **Ding! level 87 Infernus Hound - Smouldering Mauler slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 40!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** ... **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 48!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** **Ding! Class skill available for selection!** Kaius stood over the cooling body of the infernus hound, pounding heart slowing with every passing second. As power rushed through him with the stack of levels he had just gained, he felt his class direct the growth¡ªaiding him in rapidly adjusting to the changes. Far more smooth of an experience than it had been without a class. Despite the sting of his almost-healed burns, a wide grin slipped across Kaius''s face. That had been a good fight. That last desperate attack had been a deadly thing. If it wasn''t for his and his brother''s potent defensive skills and powerful healing, they would have been toast for sure. That, and Ianmus had topped off their health right when they needed it most. And as a reward? His next class skill, ready to be claimed. He couldn''t wait to see what they were. Loud claps interrupted his train of thought, drawing his attention over to Rieker. The guildmaster was smiling at them widely, cutting through the post-battle haze with every slow and lazy slap of his palms. "Bravo, great showing!" he called loudly, waving them over. Kaius sheathed his sword, and made his way over with Porkchop. Neither of them rushed, not with the stinging burn of their remnant wounds, or the weariness of exertion leaning on them. Rieker waited patiently, still leaning against the same wall he had been when they first started their fight. "You know, I had high hopes for the three of you, but you managed to kill that pup even more decisively than I expected." Rieker said once they had all gathered before him. Kaius grinned at the man''s praise. Though he had always known that they would impress him¡ªafter all, it would be pretty embarrassing if they couldn''t¡ªit meant a better chance of gaining benefits if Rieker thought they were worth investing in. "Listen¡ªI want to wait until you''re fully sharp for our spar, that means at least a couple of hours. Why don''t you look through the skills you''ve earned, and have a chat as a team, while I go and fetch us some lunch?" Rieker asked. A moment later he waved his hands, and three chairs and a plush rug appeared on the stone floor surrounding a low table. They were plush things, padded and upholstered in rich fabrics. Kaius stared at the seats longingly, but was loath to rest his bloodsoaked and sootstained body on such rich pieces. "Gods, the looks on your faces." Rieker snorted. "Sit, I can get them cleaned." Nearly collapsing in relief, Kaius dragged himself into the chair. Rieker smiled down at them, still standing. "I''ll be back in half an hour¡ªmake your choices then. It''ll be far more exciting if you have a few surprises for me when we fight." With that, the guildmaster swept off, leaving through the heavy steel door as he made his way back to his chambers with a casual haste only possible to the powerful. Kaius groaned as soon as the man left, melting into his chair for a moment, before he met his team members'' eyes. "Me first?" he asked. Chapter 187 - B2 185: The Third Skill Kaius looked at Porkchop with desperate eyes, trying and failing to suppress his eager desire to rip open his notifications and dive into his next skill selection. It was only fair to ask¡ªafter he had picked first last time, and as a coherent team it would be important to get their input on the skills he was offered, even if he had the final say. Porkchop held his gaze for a moment, stern and unyielding. Slumping his shoulders with a sigh, Kaius relented. It was rather greedy for him to try for twice in a row. "Just messing with you, go ahead." Porkchop said with a snort, nearly shoving him off his seat with a playful bat of his paws. "You''re sure?" Kaius asked, unable to hide the gleeful smile that spread across his face. "Yeah," Porkchop nodded. "I don''t get as antsy about this as you do. Besides, I''m really curious about what you got offered." Without standing on ceremony, he seized the lifeline he had been given and threw himself fully into his notifications. **Ding! Class skill available for selection!** Latent Glyph of Aelina: Class Skill - Tier I Affinity: Arcane, Martial Type: Glyph-binding, Runic, Spellcasting Selection Available! Heroic The ''Glyph of Transference'', Aelina is the source of the Runeblade''s legendary ability to appear as soon as they are called upon. Its hymns are at once the logistical backbone of Vesryn, and a source of unrivaled battlefield mobility. Ephemeral and swift, it is bound to the feet, where the centring touch of the earth can remind initiates that the present is ever fleeting¡ªand time is not a resource to be squandered. This skill allows the user to inscribe Vesryn translocation and motility spell-hymns to be activated at will, limited only by the availability of mana to reserve into the working, and sufficient space on the body. Creates a hymnbook on the user''s status if one is not already present. Multiples of the same glyph can cast hymns inscribed on their counterpart. Each level moderately increases the power, range, and area of effect of spell-hymns cast through the glyph. Each level slightly decreases the physical size of inscribed spell-hymns. Every 100 levels the user may learn another runic hymn of the relevant tier to add to their hymnbook. Spell-hymns Known: Tier I - Selection Available! ... Latent Glyph of Tsi''ria: Class Skill - Tier I Affinity: Arcane, Corruption Type: Glyph-binding, Runic, Spellcasting Selection Available! Heroic The ''Glyph of Withering'', Tsi''ria is the unrelenting siege that devours all resistance. Some foes are too mighty¡ªor too wily¡ªto be dealt with direct force alone. Tsi''ria, and the insidious creep of its mighty afflictions, grind away at such enemies until they are but dust in the wind. Tsi''ria is inscribed on the sclera, so that all may know the risks of drawing Vesryn eyes. This skill allows the user to inscribe Vesryn affliction and curse spell-hymns to be activated at will, limited only by the availability of mana to reserve into the working, and sufficient space on the body. Creates a hymnbook on the user''s status if one is not already present. Multiples of the same glyph can cast hymns inscribed on their counterpart. Each level moderately increases the power, range, and area of effect of spell-hymns cast through the glyph. Each level slightly decreases the physical size of inscribed spell-hymns. Every 100 levels the user may learn another runic hymn of the relevant tier to add to their hymnbook. Spell-hymns Known: Tier - Selection Available! ... Mystic Persistence: Class Skill - Tier I Affinity: Arcane Type: Glyph-binding, Metamagic Selection Available! Unique Sometimes you just need a bit of extra kick. Solar light that vaporises from the inside out, a burst of healing that continues to trickle in, flickering incorporeality after a blink¡ªthat kind of thing. It''s saved me more than once, sure as the hells. This skill allows the user to alter a runic hymn inscription to have additional over-time effects for 5 seconds, for 20% added base mana reserved. Every level reasonably increases the potency of the over-time effect. Every 20 levels the additional over-time effect extends for an additional 1 second. Kaius couldn''t contain his gasp as he processed the fact that he had not one, but two different glyphs available¡ªspell casting ones at that. He''d always thought that the chance was pretty good he would get offered more, afterall it was a central function of the class, but there had been a niggling doubt that the rest would align closer to his Bladerite in function. Single purpose speciality things, with far less of the breadth of capability offered by Drakthar. That worry was blown aside as easily as sand in the wind. If there had been just one, it would have been possible that the glyphs would be an infrequent and rare thing, but two? The chances of that would be incredibly unlikely. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. He knew that he would pick one¡ªwhile Mystic Persistence was good, it just simply didn''t have the same level of utility¡ªbut which? Thank the gods he had his team with him to work through it, he''d have sat there ruminating on the decision for hours if he was left to handle it alone. "Well, what did you get?" Ianmus asked, curiosity naked on his face. "Yeah, you wouldn''t gasp like that if it wasn''t good." Porkchop agreed with a nod. Shaking his thoughts from his head, Kaius minimised the selection screen. "Two glyphs," he said quietly, almost reverent. "One focused on translocation and mobility spells¡ªthough I don''t know exactly what that means, other than it likely being movement related¡ªand the other focuses on afflictions and curse magic. Aelina and Tsi''ria" Porkchop''s eyes widened in surprise, while Ianmus rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Well, at the very least I can confirm Aelina will be movement focused." Ianmus said confidently. "Translocation magics are all about travelling to or away from a specific spot or level of existence. Teleportation, incorporeality, target based movement, and other such things." Kaius grinned as soon as he heard the word ''teleportation''. It was the pinnacle of movement magics, and one that every would-be caster hoped to one day achieve. Who wouldn''t want to skip weeks of overland travel with a simple snap of their fingers. Of course, he doubted he would get it as a tier one spell. Teleportation was rare, practically unheard of for those outside of the third tier unless they had a specialist spatial mage class. It was somewhat more accessible through the use of ruinously complicated formations, but only the exceedingly wealthy had access to them with any level of regularity. "And mobility?" Kaius asked, eager to learn more about the other style of magic Aelina offered. "Simple, they are spells that more directly empower your own movement and grant abilities that would otherwise be impossible. Think sprinting four times as fast and leaving a burning trail of fire in your wake." Ianmus replied. Kaius nodded, another useful addition. Thankfully, he knew of both curses and afflictions, so he needed no assistance there. Curses in particular were nasty things. Speciality afflictions that were often far more long lasting, esoteric, and insidious than simple afflictions that would eventually resolve themselves on their own. Honestly, the idea of curse magic made him uncomfortable. Curse mages¡ªand affliction ones, for that matter¡ªhad something of a...reputation for being of unsavoury character. If anything, that was an understatement. Curse mages were closer to reviled in truth. It was hard to be a welcome and upstanding member of the community if you could damn someone to a year of mild bad luck without the slightest hint of it being due to a curse. At least, until someone went looking for it. Getting offered the skill in the first place was a little worrying. While the class would influence the selection, your own actions did too. It made him think; was he the one holding nefarious designs in his heart, or was the mysterious Vesryn order less noble than they seemed at first glance? "I have to be honest, I am far more interested in Aelina. I hate the idea of curse magic. It feels...ignoble." Kaius finally said. "But, we are a team, and if there is a genuine case for it being more useful, I will seriously consider it." Even if he really didn''t want to. The idea of feeling the burning pain of inscription on his eyeballs made him want to crawl out of his skin. Ianmus looked at him with surprise. "I didn''t take you to be superstitious. Curse magic is a branch like any other, and like all tools it is capable of misuse, but it is not inherently evil¡ªno matter what people say." "I know, I know," Kaius said with a wince. "Still, it just doesn''t feel like me. I like to be in the meat of a fight, and knowing that I won due to my own strength, ingenuity, and ability. While it would be easy to argue that it''s no different to Stormlash''s stun, I just don''t like it." "Then don''t take it. A movement focused glyph fits your needs perfectly, and is exactly what we need as a team." Porkchop replied, prodding him in the chest. To his surprise, Ianmus also gave a firm nod of agreement. "Porkchop is right. Currently, you are our roaming offense. The biggest threat to you, and to the team as a whole, is the difficulty you currently have in being right where you need to be." the half-elf said. Kaius frowned. He wasn''t sure if he agreed with that. Afterall, he had been doing just fine so far. Ianmus caught his expression and sighed. "Kaius, think of the fight we just had, and the aura of flame that the infernus hound summoned. If you had the right translocation spell, you might have been able to move directly into position to attack the beast, or have been able to pull you and Porkchop out of danger." "He''s right¡ªyou''re strong, and hit harder than a stampeding herd, but more angles to attack from and more avenues to avoid injury will only make you all the more lethal." Porkchop said, flooding their bond with an assurance that his competence was not in question. When his brother put it like that, it was hard to argue. He knew that he would only start with a single spell, but when he had multiple? He could imagine himself stepping on the air to attack a giant beast from above, or slipping through shadows to strike unaware. Plus, who could resist the temptation of a potential teleportation spell in the future? "Aelina it is." Kaius replied with conviction, and chose his third skill. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Aelina Class Skill Available, would you like to proceed? This choice is pivotal and irrevocable.** As soon as he confirmed his choice, the now familiar omnipotent grasp of the system settled on his soul. Power roared through his inner centre, weaving a new golden shard to join the nexuses of power that orbited the golden conflagration of his soul. As the skill crystalised, the system turned its attention to his mind. Knowledge and understanding was crammed into his head with the subtlety of a dwarvish greathammer backed by a full-bodied swing. Gut wrenching aches resounded in his head as his brain felt like it swelled to thrice its size¡ªthreatening to spill out of his ears. With that pain came an image. A delicate glyph. Long, graceful, and full of tight spirals, Aelina was immediately obvious as a cousin of Drakthar. Much of the core of the working was the same. Oh, it was drawn differently. Softer, with thinner lines, and a number of individual runes that made up the arrays were different, but the similarities were plain as day. Even his drastically lacking familiarity with Vesryn glyphic runes wasn''t enough to stop him from noticing them. Outside of that core binding though, it was vastly different. With the knowledge of its structure came an understanding of how it meshed to his body. Far greater in size than Drakthar, the extremities of the glyph looked like ripples on a pond¡ªor the delicate whorls of a spinning dust devil. With the core of the formation formed on his heel, the rest would loop outward, encapsulating the rest of his sole and wrapping up onto the instep of his foot. He knew this for a certainty, and his mind ached all the more for it. The system didn''t wait for him to stop processing the experience before it made it so in truth. Grabbing an inviolable grip on his mana, the system weaved the glyph with deft expertise. Each line¡ªeach loop in his skin and natural mana flows¡ª left a stinging kiss in its wake. A parting gift that ensured he remembered that every power had its cost. Finally the system was done, and Kaius collapsed into the back of his chair with a gasp of relief. As soon as he had processed the experience, Kaius bent over in a scramble and unlaced a boot as quickly as he was able to. Letting the heavy reinforced leather fall to the stone floor with a clatter, he ripped off his wool socks and stared at what was waiting for him. Another black glyph, delicately weaving its way across the soles of his feat. "Pretty!" Chapter 188 - B2 186: The Second Spell Kaius shook his head at Porkchop''s antics, though he couldn''t help but agree that his latest glyph¡ªAelina¡ªwas rather graceful in its design. As soon as the system retreated and left him with a new mark on his flesh, and knowledge in his mind, he felt the familiar ding of a system notification. No doubt it was his waiting spell-hymns. From what his class guide had said, it would involve some level of hands-on guidance from a system construct¡ªsimilar to the space he had arrived in to select his class. Still, he was unsure of how it worked. Would he make the choice there? Or beforehand? If he jumped in right now and it was the former, he would lose all of his ability to discuss their thoughts on what could benefit them as a team. Thankfully, the problem was easily solved by simply asking. From what Ianmus had told him, the way he learnt spells wasn''t uncommon amongst sorcerers, and Kaius was all but certain the man would know the answer. "Oh, yes! I hadn''t realised that you didn''t know." Ianmus nodded enthusiastically at his question. "It can vary, as the system has a tendency to personalise itself to an individuals needs, but generally you can expect to make the selection much like you did with your class skill¡ªoften it is only when someone is in danger, or they have an extreme predilection to lengthy decision making, that they go to the system space for their actual choice." That was a relief. Sharing his options would not just help him to more clearly work through his choices and direction, but would help him uncover the secrets of his class. Skills built on skills, so every spell choice he made would inevitably have some level of effect on the kind of options he would receive in the future. With someone as knowledgeable as Ianmus on hand, he could hopefully get some insight on what their long term effects might be. After all, if there was a good spell for individual one off utility, but it led to him receiving more and more options of a similar bent, he wasn''t likely to pick it. "In that case, let''s dive right in." he said, bringing up the waiting notification as he bent down to put his boot back on¡ªno point in giving Rieker even the smallest advantage by letting him see the glyph when he returned. **Ding! Spell-hymn available for selection!** Yellia''s Slip Step: Runic Hymn - Tier I (Translocation) Affinity: Space, Dimension Glyph: Aelina 80 Mana Selection Available! This Hymn partially submerges the user in slip space for 10 steps, lengthening distance travelled and intermittently rendering them incorporeal. ... Galewind Dash: Runic Hymn - Tier I (Mobility) Affinity: Air, Storm Glyph: Aelina 60 Mana Selection Available! This Hymn summons a howling tailwind that drastically increases movement speed and seeks to disrupt incoming attacks. ... Ingrid''s Localised Downness: Runic Hymn - Tier I (Translocation) Affinity: Gravity Glyph: Aelina 50 Mana Selection Available! This Hymn temporarily reorients the effect of gravity on the user to be directly beneath their centre at all times for 1 minute. ... Defensive Transference: Runic Hymn - Tier I (Mobility) Affinity: Kinetic, Martial Glyph: Aelina 200 Mana Selection Available! This Hymn infuses the body with an energy field that will absorb and store 70% of the force of the next attack weathered¡ªup to a certain limit. This stored energy may be used to empower a single step at 300% efficiency. Reading each of the spell''s descriptions, Kaius leaned back into his chair bodily and crossed one leg over his knee. It was a wide array of exactly the skills he was hoping for, though while all were movement related it was plain to see that they all had a clear bent to either defense or utility. Slip Step and Defensive Transference were the most immediately interesting to him. Both would serve something he distinctly lacked¡ªactive defense and evasion. The former seemed like it would be fantastic for unblockable and unavoidable attacks, especially as his glyph levelled. Afterall, he had no doubt that both the amount of steps he would take, and the amount of time he would spend incorporeal, would grow. That, and increasing the distance he could cover in a step would no doubt be disorienting as all hell for his opponents. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. On the other hand, Defensive Transference seemed...potent. A massive reduction to incoming blows, combined with a way to explosively create or close distance? The only major downside was its comparatively extreme cost¡ªthough even that would grow far less of a hindrance as he continued to level. Kaius turned to his team members, taking the time to run them through his options, and his thoughts on the spells. Running his hands through his hair, he asked their opinions. With how torn he was between both spells, he hoped there was something that would make it a clear cut decision. "Slip Step, without question!" Ianmus was surprisingly vehement with his response, clenching the armrests of his chair in a white knuckle grip as he half rose from his seat. A moment later, the half-elf coughed as he realised that both Kaius and Porkchop were staring at him with half tilted heads. Slowly lowering himself back into the chair, he cleared his throat. "Sorry. But you said it was a space and dimension affinity? Truly?" Kaius nodded. He knew that they were generally good affinities for certain types of spellwork¡ªand he would have to be an idiot not to see how that fit into movement spells¡ªbut with the relatively modest capabilities of Slip Step he hadn''t realised that it was such a big deal. Ianmus smiled, his eyes practically sparkling. "Unbelievable. I know the strength of your class, but you clearly don''t understand how rare it is to see something of that affinity in the first tier, let alone so early." "Spit it out! Why is it special?" Porkchop interjected with a snort, getting a teasing roll of the eyes from Kaius in return. Though, he did admit that he was also curious¡ªhe had always assumed they were uncommon because of the rumoured complexity of the spells that involved them, rather than an inherent trait of the affinities themselves. "I was about to!" Ianmus defended himself. "Like I was saying, those affinities are esoteric ¡ªsimilar to void, aether, time, and others¡ªthose are incredibly rare in the second tier, and only get slightly more common as you rise up." The half-elf paused, gathering his thoughts. "Both Space and Dimension are considered some of the best affinities for translocation and mobility spells that exist. If you continue to pick them, you have a solid chance of evolving your overall glyph skill to specialise in them later¡ªthat is your best chance to get some sort of instantaneous movement skill far before you would otherwise." Kaius rolled his hand through the air, encouraging the half-elf to continue. Ianmus grinned, clearly more than happy to expound on the minutiae of mana theory to an eager and willing audience. "From what we know thanks to historic records, and contemporary examples, true translocation spells¡ªteleportation, skip jumps, portals, relative substitutions, elemental drifts, and the like¡ªstart to appear at the second tier for Space and Dimension. Other closely aligned affinities such as liminality, void, time, and light start to get such abilities in the third¡ªand as far as we know affinities of a generally ephemeral nature such as air, storm, fire, and shadow start to appear in the fourth. At least, so we believe from the little we have been able to gather from history and watching the elves, dwarves, and others who live in high mana regions." Ianmus explained, the pace of his speech growing faster as he fell into the rhythm of his thoughts. Kaius raised an eyebrow when his companion mentioned knowledge of the fourth tier¡ªeven if it was only vague. He hadn''t heard of any public facing fourth tiers in the human settled central regions, and as far as he knew that had been the case since the calamity that was the shattering of the empire. Though it wouldn''t surprise him if there was more than one old monster who kept growing in secret. He knew one thing for certain, there were either none, or there were multiple keeping each other in check. With the tendency of dynasties to dominate, if one man had such an advantage, they would move brutally and endlessly to wipe out all potential threats to their lineage¡ªand secure as many legacies as they could. "What of more physical affinities? Like crystal, or wood?" Kaius asked, noting that they had been left out of Ianmus''s explanation. "We don''t know." Ianmus said with a shrug. "The Eternal Emperor was the strongest in Vaastivarian history at an estimated tier five or six, and he was a time affinity skirmisher¡ªhe''d had a translocation ability since the third tier. That said, it''s a little beside the point. I think the potential benefits of Slip Step''s affinities make it a clear winner, and I think that if you get offered another spell with the same affinities when your skill reaches level one-hundred you should take it, even if it is subpar compared to the rest. If you do that, I would be shocked if you don''t get a skip or blink ability in the second tier¡ªeven if the skill doesn''t evolve to specialise." Kaius nodded along to the man''s words. A blink ability would be worth it; he''d take two useless Common spells if it was enough to make it a certainty. The sheer tactical usefulness of such an ability was too much to ignore. Though, a blink was not the only thing he would be pleased to get out of such a tendency towards an affinity. Evidently he wasn''t the only one. "What of longer ranged spells? Like a gate?" Porkchop asked their resident expert. "A gate? Unlikely." Ianmus replied with a shake of his head. "Gates and portals are high tier spells, and ones that often require lengthy channeling time at that. There''s a reason runic ones are so rare and tightly controlled. I''m not all that sure that they align with glyph-binding very well¡ªif it did ever appear it would have a truly momentous mana cost, not the best when it will tie up your mana until you use it." A good point, in Kaius''s opinion. As much as he adored glyph-binding¡ªthe skill was everything he had ever wanted it to be¡ªnothing under the purview of the system was without checks, balances, and drawbacks. For him, spells of occasional use and a high cost were far less useful than they would be to free-casters and sorcerers. Having too much of his mana pool reserved would severely limit his overall effectiveness, and even if he could technically simply wait to inscribe the spell until it was needed, it was still far less usable than it was for other mages. After all, inscribing took far longer than channelling an equivalent spell¡ªthe whole benefit was that he could do it ahead of time. Still, if he got the option of a portal or planar gate, he would take it in a heartbeat. Hopefully he wouldn''t need to though. "What about teleportation?" Kaius asked. "Maybe." Ianmus replied, scrunching his face with uncertainty. "Tier three is much more likely¡ªstill, the more spells you take of those affinities, the more likely it is to happen. "Oh gods, yes." his brother turned to him. "Kaius, take the spell. The quicker we can stop walking everywhere, the better. And by we, I mean me¡ªcarrying you is fine, but walking sucks." Porkchop said, immediately jumping onto the wagon. Kaius laughed and made his decision right then and there. It had been down to the knife''s edge anyways, but who would pass up an opportunity to teleport in the future? Besides, Slip Step was a good skill in its own right. "Well, that''s good enough for me!" .... One moment he was deep beneath the earth in a stone hall, draped in bloodsoaked armour and sitting on finely upholstered furniture. The next, he was clothed in simple cotton, standing before a familiar hearth inside of the office where he had learnt his first class skill. "Hello, Kaius, it is good to see you again so soon." A warm voice said from behind him, weathered and mellowed by age. His voice. B2 Chapter 215: Decompression B2 Chapter 215: Decompression Kaius scrambled up the hill, battling against the scree slope as he used one hand to hold Ianmus secure to his shoulder. Loose stone gave way with every step, sending him a stride backwards for every one he climbed. He wasn¡¯t the only one having a rough go at it, Porkchop¡¯s weight was working against him, making his journey to the lip of the valley even more arduous. Shifting in his stupor, Ianmus let out a soft moan¡ªthough he did little else. Kaius frowned, concerned at his friend¡¯s state. Ever since he¡¯d cast that spell¡ªthat ridiculous, all consuming, spell¡ªhe¡¯d been out cold. When he and Porkchop had finished off the last of the boggling siege, Kaius had hoped that the man would wake quickly¡ªso that they could flee, celebrate, and interrogate the mage for his idiocy. They had no such luck¡ªworse, once the fighting was done, he¡¯d realised that Ianmus was pallid and blue. They¡¯d slipped a health potion down his throat, one of their last, but as far as he could tell it¡¯d done nothing. There¡¯d been nothing for it but to truss the man up like a hunted pig and haul him out of there as they fled. Even with all their bloodlust, neither he nor Porkchop had any interest in sticking around to investigate what had prevented the rest of the plague from attacking them in that cave. Especially since it looked like the last boggarts had been more scared of what lay back the way they had come, than the two delvers who had just slaughtered what felt like two hundred of their kin. At best, they¡¯d been press ganged by the warchief, who was looping around to flank them. At worst, there was something more dangerous than them in those tunnels. No, it was much better to flee¡ªto recuperate, recharge, and investigate when they were fresh. With a grunt, Kaius hauled Ianmus¡¯s limp body over the lip of the ridge, scrambling up after him. Porkchop joined him shortly after. ¡°What¡¯s the plan? Create some distance?¡± Porkchop asked, scanning the valley and hills for threats. ¡°Tent.¡± Kaius grunted, picking up Ianmus and slinging him over Porkchop¡¯s back. ¡°We have no idea how stable he is.¡± His brother nodded, and they set off¡ªdipping below the ridge line to avoid standing out against the sky. Moving from rocky outcroppings to shallow divots in the earth, Kaius scanned their surroundings, expecting something to jump out at them¡ªfor something to go wrong in the eleventh hour. That¡¯s how it went, right? Something always went wrong, in his experience. Yet nothing did. They made it back to the secluded cluster of boulders that hid their tent. Seeing that small spire of illusory canvas and leather was the sweetest succour he had ever experienced. A balm on his aching mind, a tonic for his weary soul. Tension rolled off his back, leaving him feeling heavy and tired. Here, at least, they had some modicum of safety. Both he and Porkchop had taken care to lay false tracks, and obscure their true route to this spot. They¡¯d even dipped through the small stream that ran through the valley¡ªwashing away the scent of blood and muck of battle. Even if they were stumbled upon, it would have to be hellish luck indeed for a boggling to decide to search between the boulders¡ªand even if they did that, having the ability to pierce the illusion that hid their tent was almost an impossibility. He pulled Ianmus from his brother¡¯s back, dipping into the warmth and comfort of their living space before depositing the mage on the fur lined bed that took up one edge. Porkchop pushed his way inside, standing beside him to watch the mage. ¡°What do we do?¡± Porkchop asked. ¡°What even happened to him, for that matter.¡± ¡°I think it might be mana burn, but it looks a lot worse than normal.¡± Kaius replied. Every other time Ianmus had expended enough mana at once to leave himself sickly and weak, Kaius had been able to see the natural mana around the half-elf¡¯s body grow thin and hazy. Now, it was entirely absent¡ªa disconcerting man shaped hole in the world. At least at first¡ªKaius realised he could see the faintest sheen welling up from deep within Ianmus. He sighed in relief, glad that there had been a positive development. ¡°I think he¡¯s recovering¡ªhis mana¡¯s returning.¡± Kaius said, turning to their discarded packs. Reaching into their dimensional storage, he retrieved his pan, a haunch of beef, and some pulped vegetable sauce he¡¯d managed to pick up from a market¡ªenough for a braise. ¡°May as well make sure he wakes up to hot food, it looks like he¡¯ll need it.¡± he continued, sitting on the floor of the tent as he went about preparing their meal. ¡°Stew?¡± Porkchop asked enthusiastically, settling beside him as he eyed the ingredients. ¡°Close,¡± Kaius laughed. ¡°But I think you¡¯ll like it just as much.¡± .... A few hours later, Kaius was just finishing up the final touches to a spell hymn when a desperate gasp cut into his internal world. His heart quickened. Tightening his grip on his mana, he redoubled his efforts¡ªweaving the final few runes he needed on a spindly array to finish his Stormlash inscription. Mana pulsed through his pathways, locking the inscription into place, and sealing a portion of his pool inside of his glyph. Snapping his eyes open, Kaius looked up to see Ianmus sitting bolt upright on the bed, a look of wonder on his face as he stared off into space. ¡°Ianmus! Are you alright!¡± Kaius called, leaping to his feet and rushing over. ¡°You¡¯ve been out for a couple hours.¡± ¡°Something smells delicious,¡± the mage mumbled, looking down towards the bubbling surface of their pan in the middle of the floor. A moment later he shook his head, eyes clearing as he looked around their tent in confusion. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°The tent?¡± he asked, dazed. ¡°What happened with the boggarts? Did we flee?¡± Porkchop lumbered over, a warm rubble echoing through the space¡ªloud enough that it would have put Kaius¡¯s nerves on edge if he hadn¡¯t already confirmed that no noise made in the dimension space would exit its boundary. ¡°In a sense. You were absorbed in your spell, so I''m unsure if you noticed, but the boggarts started to stem. After your attack there were barely a dozen left.¡± Porkchop replied, before he smacked Ianmus in the back of the head with a meaty paw. ¡°Also, elfling, perhaps next time it would be best to ask us before you knock yourself out in a life or death situation.¡± Ianmus went bright red. ¡°Sorry! I truly didn¡¯t expect that to happen¡ªonce the spell went off it just kept pulling deeper and deeper on my reserves, drained me utterly dry¡ªmana and will both¡ªon top of the extra exertion from my metamagic.¡± ¡°Well, whatever it was, it was effective¡ªyou cut what must have been forty bogglings in half.¡± Kaius replied. The spell had been an impressive display of violence for someone who had yet to reach their fourth class skill. It reinforced his belief that Ianmus only had a Rare class by dint of lacking deeds and combat experience¡ªhe certainly had far more theoretical and practical casting knowledge than most mages far his senior would have. Even if it had drained him to the last drop and taken an aeon to channel, that guillotine of light had some oomph behind it, that was for sure. ¡°Once we¡¯d cleaned up, we got out of there¡ªno way were we sticking around to find out what happened to the rest of the bogglings.¡± Kaius continued. ¡°Bogglings?¡± Porkchop asked, turning to tilt his head at Kaius. Kaius coughed, clearing his throat. ¡°Oh, uh. I just started calling them that in my head¡ªlike goblinoids, I guess¡ªfelt weird to keep switching between boggart and bugbear.¡± ¡°As good a name as any¡ªwe might even get to make it official if we¡¯re the first to discover the bugbears, though it would surprise me if we were. Even if they only appear in larger plagues, I doubt this is the only place they¡¯ve been able to grow unchecked since the phase shift.¡± Ianmus said, nodding at the name. Kaius waved the man off. ¡°Forget ¡®bogglings¡¯, what I want to know is if it worked,¡± he leaned in, watching his friend closely. ¡°Did you get it?¡± A slow grin crept across Ianmus¡¯s face, stretching from ear to ear. ¡°I did¡ªfelt it reach the point of ignition right as the spell was cast. I haven¡¯t checked the notification yet though.¡± ¡°Beaten by an elf, what a fucking travesty¡ªthe Matriarchs would be ashamed.¡± Porkchop whined, throwing himself to the floor dramatically. Kaius rolled his eyes at his brother¡¯s antics. He knew he wasn¡¯t really disappointed¡ªunlike himself, Porkchop wasn¡¯t competitive at anything more than a little harmless fun. Besides, the oaf had already let slip that their extended fight had nearly been enough for him to ignite his own Corporus Aspect, much to Kaius¡¯s delight. If Ianmus also got an Honour for being in the first five, it would mean that Porkchop still had a chance¡ªa pretty good one, in all likelihood. He doubted many other people were going to quite the extremes as they were¡ªor doping themselves with potions that loosened the spirit from the body. ¡°Don¡¯t leave us all waiting then. Ignite Mentis, we¡¯ll keep you safe while you¡¯re out.¡± Kaius said, turning back to Ianmus. The mage grinned, and nodded¡ªbefore his eyes went glassy. A twitch was all the warning he got before Ianmus accepted his notifications, eyes rolling back into his head as he slumped back into the bed. Kaius jumped, startled by the sudden change¡ªas far as he was aware, he¡¯d stayed conscious through the whole process. ¡°Calm down,¡± Porkchop told him, nudging him in the shoulder. ¡°You did the same thing. He¡¯ll be done in a few minutes, I promise.¡± ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± Kaius asked, watching Ianmus closely. ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡± Kaius still kept his attention on his friend, ready to do...something, if it went wrong. He was glad he did, when a moment later a soft glow started to emanate from Ianmus¡¯s head¡ªright in the centre. Even with Truesight it was hazy and indistinct. Soft and pale, it almost looked like mana. Almost. Somehow he knew it was different, lacking the energy''s cold impartiality. Unfortunately, it was impossible to discern anything else¡ªleast of all because it was as small as a pinhead, only just noticeable due to the sheer difference it held to his senses. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± he asked, leaning in. ¡°What¡¯s what?¡± Porkchop replied, tilting his head in confusion. ¡°You don¡¯t see it?¡± Kaius replied, cocking his brow at his brother. ¡°You have natural mana-sight, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Kaius, I''m seeing nothing¡ªif you¡¯re seeing some form of energy, it¡¯s invisible.¡± Well, wasn¡¯t that curious. Basic energy sense was an ability known to be native to all greater beasts. Though, he supposed it was no great surprise¡ªIanmus probably wasn¡¯t able to see it either, otherwise one of them would have mentioned it when Kaius had gone through his own ignition. ¡°Strange¡ªwe¡¯ll talk about it later though, Ianmus seems to be rousing.¡± The half-elf¡¯s eyes fluttered open less than a second later, a wide grin stretching across his face as he sat up and met Kaius¡¯s eyes. ¡°You¡¯re right¡ªthe Glass Mind is weird.¡± Kaius laughed. ¡°Almost feels like you grew a third arm, right?¡± Ianmus nodded emphatically. ¡°And you already know how to use it? Totally bizarre.¡± ¡°No need to rub it in, guys.¡± Porkchop huffed with faux offence. ¡°Now, if you¡¯re done bragging to each other, do you want to share what you got for your Seed? And if i¡¯m still in the running for an Honour?¡± Ianmus¡¯s eyes unfocused, roving through the air as he read the description of his latest gains. ¡°Well, I got the Aspect of The Patient Weaver. My seed¡ªThreads of Preparation¡ªallows my Glass Mind to hasten channeling, independently manipulate and modify free-cast spells, and hold a spell prepared while I work on the next.¡± Ianmus replied, grinning wildly while he read off his status screen. Kaius nodded, impressed. That was a significant boon by any standard¡ªa mage who could do two separate things at once with their spell casting was almost hard to imagine, so much of what made freecasting a difficult style to make work was its demands on attention and mental capacity. Still, there was one thing he still wanted to know. ¡°That¡¯s fantastic¡ªtruly. But what of the Honour? Did you get one?¡± Ianmus met his eyes, giving him a nod. ¡°I did, though it only says I''m in the first five¡ªnot how many are left.¡± Porkchop sighed in relief. ¡°So there''s still a chance. Thank the Matriarchs.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get it buddy, don¡¯t you worry.¡± Kaius patted his brother on the shoulder. ¡°Now, we¡¯ve got braised steaks to eat¡ªI busted out the good stuff to celebrate. Who wants some?¡± Scrambling in their haste, Ianmus and Porkchop collided, and ended up in a tangle of limbs on the floor. Kaius laughed. Chapter 189 - B2 187: Predictions Kaius came to with a groan, shaking his head to clear out the fugue that clouded his mind. The process of learning Slip Step had been almost identical to that of Stormlash. The system''s agent had appeared, greeting him briefly before leaving him to his work until he needed someone to talk through a particularly troublesome issue with his learning. After that, the system had impressed a knowledge of his new spell-hymn upon him. If it had just been that, it wouldn''t have been too bad - it was similar to how he learned his class skills after all. Unfortunately, it wasn''t just like that. Unlike his glyphs, where the system did the heavy lifting of binding them to his body, Kaius had to reinscribe his spells himself. With their twisting three dimensional nature, it was a hellish task¡ªnot one he could lean on theoretical knowledge alone to bridge the gap. Especially since the system only granted him knowledge of its shape¡ªnot the process of actually weaving it. Instead, he was left in that room¡ªwith access to a seemingly unlimited well of mana to draw on¡ªto weave the spell himself. The system hadn''t been satisfied until he could do it flawlessly every single time. It had taken hours. The one saving grace is that he had somehow been insulated from the devastating effects of a destabilised array. With how often he''d failed, no doubt he would have blown one of his feet off without the system''s protection. Looking around the room, Kaius saw that the training hall was unchanged. Rieker was still gone, his armour was still tacky and bloodied, and his teammates still sat there¡ªcuriously watching him. "How long was I out?" Kaius asked, clearing his throat as he realised how dry his mouth was. "Only a few minutes." his brother responded. Ianmus nodded. "I assume it was much longer for you? I have read that the system can use time dilation for spell-learning skills." Kaius grunted in response, giving the half-elf a quick nod. "Yeah, took bloody hours. I was only allowed out once I could get through the whole process without failure." Both Ianmus and Porkchop winced in sympathy. "My condolences¡ªbut I suspect it is better than the alternative where we live in a world where the system''s gifts can lead to bodily injury due to lacking understanding." He supposed that was true. Still, even if it was a relatively draining and annoying experience to go through, it wasn''t enough to quell the small bubble of fizzing excitement within his chest. Aelina. His second glyph! And one that broadened his spell casting to more than just brute strength. Kaius had always loved magic for its strength, but it was its versatility and the options it gave that had really drawn him in. It was nice to finally be taking some steps in that direction. Through his bond, Kaius felt his brother mirroring his own excitement¡ªthough it was clear that most of it was directed to his own upcoming skill selection. Looking over, he saw that Porkchop was barely restraining himself, muscles tensing in thick furred legs as the meles forced himself to sit still. Kaius let out a wide smile. "Go on then, check what you got." he told his brother warmly. Chuffing in excitement, Porkchop''s eyes immediately unfocused as he dived into his notifications. Then his ears perked up, and he refocused on his team. "There''s some really good stuff here!" he said, straightening up. "First one''s Bulwark''s Challenge. It''s a roar that will focus the attention and aggression of our enemies on me, while infecting them with some sort of rage that weakens them and makes them sloppy." Listening with interest, Kaius thought on the skill. It certainly sounded useful. Porkchop was their Bastion, and any skill that allowed them to take more of the heat from their squishier team members was a valuable part in any composition¡ªespecially if it had affliction-like effects as well. "Then there''s Splintered Punishment. It does sound good, but I''m not sure if it''s as good as the others¡ªboth the first and last skill are Heroic. It''ll make the next hit on my armour send out an explosive spray of shards at my attacker. I have been wanting an offensive skill, but I''m not sure if one that requires me to get hit first is a good fit." Porkchop continued. "And the last?" Kaius asked. While an offensive skill did sound good, and retributive skills had their place in a build like Porkchop''s, he had to agree that it sounded like it didn''t match up as nicely. "Intercede the Faithful. I''m honestly thinking about picking this one. It will let me rapidly put myself in front of an opponent''s attack within a certain distance¡ªregardless of who it is aimed at. It''ll also summon a shield of crystal to help me withstand it." Porkchop finished, watching them curiously to hear their thoughts. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Kaius leaned back, scratching his chin as he thought about the skills. That last one...it sounded very handy. It would let Porkchop survive bigger hits, but most importantly it would give him a better method of supporting the team. As their Bastion, one of Porkchop''s jobs was to ensure the safety of their backline¡ªif something got past them, this skill could just help them keep Ianmus alive. "What do you think?" Kaius asked his brother. Porkchop shuffled for a moment, before he shared his thoughts. They ended up being remarkably similar to Kaius''s own, the meles leaning towards the final skill as one that would best let him support the rest of the team¡ªtaking hits that others could not survive. "I actually strongly disagree." Ianmus said, speaking up for the first time. His words were quiet and polite, but still filled with conviction all the same. Both Kaius and Porkchop turned to look at the mage with surprise. Afterall, he was the one whose safety would be most improved with the selection of the third skill. "Oh? Why is that?" Porkchop asked with genuine curiosity, tilting his head. "Because I think it is a mistake to make long term decisions based on short term inadequacies." Ianmus replied. Confusion welled up inside of Kaius as his brow furrowed. What did the man mean by that? Sure, the largest part of the danger Ianmus currently faced was his lack of relative strength compared to his and Porkchop''s own¡ªsomething that would quickly change as the man gathered more Honours and evolved his class to a higher rarity in the second tier¡ªbut that didn''t mean the skill was without value. Even if they were all equally powerful, something that would let Porkchop weather something that would take one of them out of the fight was a distinct advantage that was hard to ignore¡ªhis brother was the toughest of them by a league. "Let me explain." the half-elf continued when he saw their faces. "Currently, as the back line, I am rather isolated and alone with you two in the front, and I am weak enough that a single monster making it past you will leave me with little ways of defending myself. I assume this is the major impetus with selecting a skill that will lead to you being able to take hits for me?" Ianmus asked, looking at Porkchop. "I mean...yeah. The sort of things we have to fight to see the gains we want would squash you like a bug¡ªno offence." Porkchop replied. Nodding at his brother''s words, Kaius couldn''t help but agree. Sure, it might change in the future, but what happened when they went on a delve? They might be facing individual tough monsters at the moment, but even with all of their capability he and Porkchop couldn''t be everywhere. A full squad of depths-born? Some would inevitably slip past¡ªthen Ianmus would be dead. "That''s what I thought. Listen¡ªthe first skill is going to do much better at that in the long run. If the monsters are all attacking you, then I am safe." Ianmus explained. "More than that...have the two of you thought about our team composition in the long term?" "In what way?" Kaius asked. "We know there is room for more, but there''s that whole small issue of finding people who can actually add value without holding us back¡ªat least until they get a few Honours and tier ups." "Yes, I know. And there is the whole trust issue thing in the first place. While it may be hard, it will not be impossible¡ªand we currently have a glaring hole." Ianmus leaned forwards, clasping his hands as his voice thrummed with conviction. "We do?" Porkchop questioned. "I know someone who can help control the battlefield, or something like a scout would be helpful¡ªbut to call it a hole? I''m not so sure." "Control, no. Between me and Kaius we have that covered, or at least we will. Currently we have a mobile skirmisher type, a bastion, and a support-slash-finisher. A great foundation¡ªbut we need someone else on the backline. Preferably someone who can focus on battlefield awareness, keeping me safe, and taking out high-value targets that neither of you can easily reach while dealing with the meat of the threat." Ianmus explained. Understanding dawned on Kaius. "If we find someone like that, you''ll be safer, and we''ll all be far better off if Porkchop can direct the brunt of attention to himself¡ªallowing me and the hypothetical teammate to run roughshod over any especially dangerous targets." Ianmus nodded. "Exactly. Besides¡ªattention management is a core part of being a Bastion, and this is a far better version of it than most get." Finding himself agreeing with the mage, Kaius turned to his brother. At the end of the day, it was Porkchop''s skill, and his decision on what would best fit his build. Porkchop was clearly thinking about it, his head bowed with his brows scrunched as he pondered the argument. "I think...I agree. Though I think it is foolish to base everything on the off chance that we will find another member for our party, Bulwark''s Challenge is actually potentially better for keeping the two of you safe. It might not let me take an attack that would otherwise ruin you, but if everything is focused on me, there is far less chance of one of those ever happening in the first place." Porkchop said, before his eyes closed and he made his decision. A moment later his eyes popped back open, and the meles chuffed in joy. "Oh this is going to be so much fun to use¡ªI can already tell." Cocking his brow questioningly, Kaius wandered what his brother meant. "You''ll see¡ªlet''s save our new skills for Rieker. Give him a little surprise." Porkchop said with a gleeful smile when he saw Kaius''s expression. At the mention of the fearsome guildmaster, Kaius''s mind drifted to their upcoming spar. He wondered what it would be like. Obviously, Rieker was supremely skilled and experienced¡ªand had the same love of battle that drove most delvers¡ªbut with them being so far beneath the man he couldn''t see them being treated with anything other than kid gloves. "I wonder how it''s going to go down." Kaius murmured. "I expect he''ll probably just bat us around a bit while he breaks down every little mistake we make and rubs our nose in it." Ianmus laughed at his comment, deep and throatily. "Really? He''s definitely going to make it a show of force. Cut us down a notch, show us no matter how strong we are for our level, some things are too insurmountable to beat." the half-elf said, his eyes glistening with inner fire. "I think he''s the type that will want to show us the peaks that exist to inspire us to climb higher." "You''re both right." Porkchop interjected, drawing both of their eyes. "The man is a Patriarch through and through. He will crush us utterly¡ªcapitalise on any inadequacy we dare to show in his presence¡ªand then when we are battered and bleeding, crushed utterly, he will lecture us on our mistakes and show us the path to improvement." Before Kaius could respond, Porkchop''s ears flicked, and he looked towards the closed metal door that led out of the sparring hall. "Speaking of, he''s here." Chapter 190 - B2 188: Looking Forward Kaius sat around a table laden with the most delicious food he had tasted in his life. His armour was damp, soaking the cotton and leathers of his traveling clothes beneath. Thankfully, it was also blessedly clean. Picking up the dainty silver fork in front of him, Kaius cut through the hunk of roast duck in front of him. It was...divine. He had no other words for it¡ªperfectly cooked and spiced, juicy, with crispy skin. It was far and away the most refined meal he had ever had¡ªthe poultry being paired with delicately charred vegetables and a sweet citrusy sauce. Taking another bite, he felt the meat all but dissolve in his mouth and struggled to bite back a moan. It wasn''t enough to stop Rieker from meeting his eyes and giving him an easy grin. Kaius smiled back, but didn''t stand on propriety as he shoveled another mouthful in. The meal had been a long affair, starting with breads and jams, then some sort of spiced scorched beef skewers, and now the duck. Whenever he thought it was about to be over, Rieker just pulled more unimaginable acts of gastronomy out of his storage artifact. The guild master had been plain in his intentions. He wanted them fresh¡ªwhich meant time to rest, ready themselves, and top off their resources. Rieker had even gone so far as to supply buckets of water, clothes, and soap¡ªgiving him and Porkchop the chance to properly clean themselves of the filthy remnants of their battle with the infernus hound. Thankfully, it seemed the guild master was in no great rush. When Kaius had informed him that he would need extra time once his mana had fully regenerated to prepare his spells, Rieker had only waved him off. Though, there had been a shine of curiosity in the man''s eyes. Evidently not enough to press him on the specifics¡ªbut Kaius got the sense that was mostly because he wanted them to have an edge in their upcoming confrontation, and the guildmaster seemed to have a propensity for trying to figure things out for himself. No doubt the man had some sort of mana sight¡ªmost people got it at some point from their general skills, at least if they had some sort of sensory one, which was almost all delvers. With that he''d be able to see much of the process anyway. The conversation so far had been rather casual, discussions of their fight with the spider and the hound, what they thought they did well and similar. Kaius didn''t expect that to last too much longer. Afterall, even if Rieker did want to save some suspense for their massively unequal spar there were far too many things of import to discuss as it regarded their plans for the coming months. "So." Rieker said, looking between him and Porkchop as he broke the silence. As he spoke the guildmaster placed his cutlery back down on the table with immaculate and refined precision. "I know that Ro already sourced a couple of Masking artefacts for the two of you, but they are not going to cut it, and Ianmus needs one as well." "Sounds expensive." Porkchop cut straight to the point, leaning on the advantage of his mental speech to continue to chew through some duck. A booming laugh filled the hall as Rieker leaned back in his chair. "Normally, it would be. Luckily for all of you, as members of a special guild initiative¡ªwhich this whole Aspect thing firmly counts as¡ªyou get plenty of advantages that others do not." "So we all get them for free?" Ianmus asked hopefully. "Yep." Rieker said simply. "It''s necessary. If we''re going to be getting you to do appropriate levelled missions in an effort to level you as quickly as possible, we''re going to need to hide some of the changes in your status. It''ll be too obvious something''s up if you''re shooting up in level every time you leave on what should be a routine hunting mission." "Now, we''ll call the debt on the old artefacts even, but these new ones will remain property of the guild. They''re going to be too valuable to just straight up give them to you. Once you''re strong enough that hiding your strength is pointless, you''ll need to give them back." the guildmaster continued. Kaius nodded at the man''s words. He could accept that¡ªafter all, they were getting them for free, and it sounded like they would have free and exclusive use of them until they were no longer needed. He just hoped it wouldn''t take long. Artefacts of the kind of calibre that had those sorts of stipulations were expensive, hard to make, and lengthy to procure. Guts twisting at the thought of having to wait weeks to get back in the field, Kaius couldn''t help but frown. "Don''t worry," Rieker said, grinning at his expression. "Ro''s working on my orders; she''s using the guildhall''s link network with head office to requisition some¡ªthey should be here in a couple of days at worst." To his right, Kaius saw Ianmus''s eyes widen in surprise. "That quick?" "What? You think you guys are the first we''ve needed to nurture in secrecy?" Rieker responded with a shrug. "You might be the most ridiculous, but the guild has a stock of potent masking artefacts on hand for all sorts of uses." That was...suspicious. Kaius doubted that their use case would be the primary thing they were given out for. It seemed even the honourable Delver''s Guild had some level of cloak and dagger to it¡ªthough he shouldn''t be totally surprised given the warning he had received on his first step through the threshold. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Still, they were benefiting, and he wasn''t one to bite the hand that was feeding him. It was mostly the missions he was curious about. While there were plenty of beast hunts available at the moment, before the shift they were by far the minority of tasks that delvers took. Most were sanctioned delves looking for specific monster parts, reagents, and more from within the depths. Hells, even just delving without a specific job was common¡ªand encouraged by the guild. Thanks to the accords, the guild managed all delves within a city''s domain of control, and oversaw taxing the income drawn from it¡ªto be split between them and the local powers. "Why not delves? It''s easily the most expedient way to get us up in level if you can get us into a delve over the tenth layer." he asked, the question itching at him too much to keep to himself. Rieker winced. "I would if I could, lad, but Depths entrances are linked to mana levels in some way¡ªfinding something deeper than layer ten is hard in the central regions. The phase change might have started increasing the mana, but it hasn''t changed the entrances. Yet." That was surprising. He hadn''t realised there was a relationship between mana density and how common deep entrances were. It did make some level of sense¡ªeverything in the system was geared towards pushing people higher. With deeper entrances being in higher mana density zones, it would encourage the powerful to push further out and claim those zones for themselves. It also explained why the elves and dwarves were so much more powerful than humans¡ªat least on average. They wouldn''t need to spend months or years pushing deeper into the Depths just to get access to an appropriate biome to level in. That said, Kaius didn''t miss the way that Rieker had said that the entrances hadn''t changed. Much like the guildmaster, he suspected that it would happen eventually¡ªwhether it was once the mana zones stabilised at their new higher baseline, or in a future phase. If entrances to the depths changed, and lower layer ones became less common, it would put even greater stress on the cities. Without ready access to low level beasts or depths-born, it would be far harder for the weak to grow. Especially since the rising danger of the wilds would discourage people from ranging further to find something suitable. Still, even if deeper entrances were still rare, he doubted the guild didn''t know of at least one that they could use. "There''s truly none?" Ianmus asked, mirroring his thoughts. "It''s not that. They''re used too often and too closely monitored¡ªit''d be impossible to hide." Rieker explained, before he paused to have another bite of duck. "Thankfully, it''s only temporary. Once you have the strength to delve the twenty-second layer, I know of a rarely used entrance in the surrounding area. The plan would be for you to keep pushing down until you hit the second tier¡ªonce you''re there, there will be much less need for secrecy." "So we hunt beasts until then. Makes sense." Porkchop said with a bob of his head, before he returned to viciously attacking his food. "You will, and I already have a few missions in mind that could be a good fit¡ªthough I will withhold making any decisions until I have tested you for myself, and you have shared some of your growth patterns with me." Rieker said with a nod. Kaius grinned. That wasn''t so bad, especially if the guildmaster held up to his promise of helping them with skill training. It wouldn''t take all that long for them to reach the point of being ready for another delve, maybe a few months¡ªmost of which would be spent traveling. That, and doing missions meant gold, so even if they were missing out on the bounty of a true delve, it wasn''t like they would be destitute. Rieker had already told them that due to the increased level of the spider, their reward had been increased to a full one-fifty gold. Nearly enough for a decent artefact. Their other missions would likely be similar. Kaius suspected that the man would be picking missions that were much the same¡ªnominally within an understandable range, but ones that were likely to have grown into a greater threat. Afterall, it was the easiest way to avoid convoluted cover-ups that could blow up in their face. Unfortunately, they were going to be in dire need of gear upgrades, and soon. Common and uncommon artefacts just weren''t enough to bridge the gap at the levels they were fighting at. Kaius could only hope that the assistance they had managed to gather would extend to helping them on that front too. ... Despite their plan being laid out, it seemed the guildmaster wasn''t done. After pausing for a moment to allow them to get through more of their meal, the man softly cleared his throat, catching the attention of Kaius and his companions. "No doubt by the time you leave, you''ll be stronger than me¡ªat least as far as raw strength goes. There will be plenty more for you to do, but you won''t find it in Deadacre. I''ll grease a few palms to introduce you to a few people who could help path your way to Wight''s End." Rieker continued. Kaius looked at the man sharply, seeing Ianmus do much the same. Wight''s End? Even he''d heard of it. A city deep in the southern mountains, as much dwarven as it was manish, it was supposed to be the place for elite delvers to gather¡ªand also the seat of the guild''s power on Vaastivar. It was also dangerous, right on the border of a high mana zone. If you weren''t in the second tier, you had to travel there via a heavily defended dwarven deep road. Riker cocked his brows at them. "What? You think you''re getting inducted into a secret guild initiative¡ªand have some of the highest potential I''ve ever seen¡ªand you think I wouldn''t get you to the head office? It would be a waste not to." Kaius found himself grinning, though he did his best to suppress the hardened edge to it. Sure, it was a legendary city, and no doubt easily one of the best places for them to go if they wanted to grow truly strong, but that wasn''t the only thing. Oh no. Afterall, it wasn''t just the Guild that was supposed to make their home there. While he''d only heard rumours, there were plenty enough of the city having an underbelly. Strange night markets, grey-market auctions, contraband, and murder-for-hire. The Onyx Temple¡ªhe was sure of it. With the guild supporting his growth, they would have to know something about his enemies. He would just have to prove himself¡ªmake him and his team so strong and valuable that they would have to share what they knew. And when they did, he would strike. Chapter 191 - B2 189: Stupid Prizes, pt. 1 Kaius stood in the training hall. It reeked with the scent of iron, the cold corpse of the infernus hound still laying where it had been slain. His team was with him, Porkchop standing by his side with his armour already summoned, while Ianmus loomed behind them¡ªhis staff gripped firmly. Across the hall was Rieker. He looked...casual. At complete ease in a way that was radically divergent from the tense anticipation that made Kaius flex his grip on his sword, the leather wrapping squeaking. Garbed in only the high quality cottons he had been wearing to eat, the only thing that gave away his violent intent was the oddly balanced warhammer he held in an easy grip. Forcing his muscles to loosen, Kaius rolled his shoulders. He took a slow breath, readying himself for the coming battle. For the first time since his spars with Father, he knew he would lose. The only question was how long they would last, and if they could make the guildmaster sweat for it. Thankfully, the guildmaster had been kind enough to step out of the silence-enchanted hall to give them a few minutes to come up with a battleplan. All in all, it was similar to how they normally fought¡ªwith one main exception. They would be fighting defensively. Ianmus wasn''t even going to try for an alpha strike. Their opponent was a man, not a mindless beast, and no doubt he would focus on Ianmus if given the slightest opportunity. It was basic battle tactics. A mage was too dangerous, too versatile, to be left alone. Especially since they were so vulnerable if you could close the distance. Instead, the half-elf would focus on blinding Rieker as much as he was able, and on keeping his frontline hale and hearty. Porkchop had his own role to play. Making sure that their opponent never got the opening he would be looking for. Unfortunately, his new skill was unlikely to work on Rieker to any great effect, his vastly inflated level compared to their own would confer too much innate resistance to anything they could throw at him¡ªlet alone the raw Willpower that the man surely had. As for himself, Kaius would be their harasser, using both of his spells to keep the pressure on. With his added spell, he now had to make choices on his loadout¡ªbalance his reserved mana based on what he expected to need. Honestly, it was probably for the best. It was rare indeed when he had had the opportunity to burn all of his inscriptions in a single fight. For this one, he''d decided to give himself a decent chance to lean on his latest spell, though he''d still leant primarily on his only damaging spell. Ten charges of Slip Step, and twenty-two of Stormlash. It wouldn''t be enough¡ªnot against the Wardog of Deadacre. Even if he was going to lose, it didn''t stop a smile from creeping its way across his face. There was no fear, for Rieker wouldn''t kill them. Instead, all Kaius felt was the rising heat of the challenge. The thrill of staring up an insurmountable mountain¡ªof knowing that he wouldn''t give up, even in the face of certain defeat. Afterall, even if they were destined to lose today, weakness was temporary. All he needed was time and battle, and one day he would surpass the second tier. Kaius knew it in his bones. Taking a quick glance to his team to check in on them, he got a pair of swift nods in return. They were prepared for what was to come. "Ready!" he called to the looming danger wrapped in a man''s skin. Rieker grinned. A wide thing, revealing far too many teeth. Even from nearly a hundred long-strides away, Kaius could see the way he looked at them with what could only be described as hunger. He presented the man his side, right leg forward with his blade held out at an angle. A duelist''s stance that minimised his profile and kept his off hand free for casting. Nominally, it was a poor choice for a longsword¡ªbut with all of his enhanced strength A Father''s Gift may as well have been as light as a feather. More, he felt the instincts from his spellblade mastery skill nudge him to shift his stance a little wider, giving him the range of motion to pivot through his hips and lean more heavily into the slashes that such a stout weapon encouraged. His aggressive stance seemed to only buoy the guildmaster''s good mood. He didn''t move to follow, still standing relaxed¡ªalmost slouching. "Ready." Rieker said back, his voice projecting through the space with a deep baritone. Kaius braced. Rieker lunged. It was a simple movement. Economic, easy, and smooth. Almost slow. A piercing crack echoed as the man''s foot hit the floor, launching him towards Kaius and his party at breakneck speeds. Then, he was simply there. Right in their face. Still, as fast as the guildmaster may have been, they were no strangers to fighting against creatures that had them utterly physically outmatched. Kaius lurched forwards, thrusting towards Rieker''s chest with a full weighted stab, his blade racing forwards in a blur of grey and black. It glowed with internal fire, empowered by his Bladerite. Light crackled in his off hand as he summoned a Stormlash in preparation for a follow up, showering the ground behind him in orange light. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. As he moved, Porkchop punched the ground with his claws, a wall of jade erupting between them and the guildmaster. Ostensibly, it blocked Kaius''s path of attack, but he was under no illusions that Rieker would be caught off guard. Kaius heard the slap of a boot on stone, before Rieker simply sailed clean over the slab of jade that raced towards him. Adjusting the angle of his blade, Kaius aimed to run the man through. A casual open-handed slap was enough to wrench his sword away. Eyes widening, he stumbled as he tightened his grip on his hilt, the force of the parry leaving his hand stinging and numb. His follow up came quickly, offhand lashing out to bind Rieker with another streamer of crackling lightning. Plasma arced, crossing the space between them in half a moment. Only to discharge impotently on stone as Rieker...disappeared. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Drakthar has reached level 27!** The barest rustle of fabric behind him was all the warning he got. Kaius''s eyes hardened. He planted his weight on his back foot to pivot into a vicious glowing cut as he brought his offhand back onto his hilt. **Ding! Initiate''s Bladerite has reached level 16!** Rieker was right there, ready for him with his warhammer held in a choked grip. Waiting with an easy grin on his face. The man dipped, bobbing underneath his sweeping blade. A moment later he twitched his head, pulling it to the side to narrowly dodge one of Ianmus''s snapping Sunbeams. Kaius grit his teeth, bringing his pommel down in a heavy smash¡ªaiming to crack the guildmaster''s skull. It was useless; the man was as slippery as an eel. Even flowing through a flurry of cuts and stabs, interweaving Stomlashes with his strikes, it was like fighting the air. Every time he thought he was bound to land a hit, the man would adjust by the barest of a hair''s breadth, allowing his sword to sail past harmlessly. No matter how much he watched the man, sought openings and weaknesses, he found nothing. Explorer''s Toolkit was silent¡ªexcept for the constant scream of danger it blurted at Rieker''s every movement. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Drakthar has reached level 28!** ... **Ding! Latent Glyph of Drakthar has reached level 29!** **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo has reached level 33!** ... **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo has reached level 35!** "Decent reactions, and plenty aggressive, but it''s all meaningless if you can''t even hit me." Rieker taunted, his grin enough to drive a hot flush of infuriation up Kaius''s neck. A shattering cry that promised doom and slaughter echoed through the hall as Porkchop unleashed his latest skill, trying to force the guildmaster''s attention on him. Rieker looked away from Kaius, assessing the threat. He and Ianmus reacted instantly, yellow and blue light flashing as they both tried to capitalise on the man''s distraction. It was useless. Rieker flashed in faster than he could track, appearing inside his guard. Planting a solid palm on his chest, the guildmaster shoved. It was like getting kicked by a mule. Kaius gasped as the air was driven from his chest, the force of the blow enough to send him skidding back across the stone. It was all he could do to keep his feet underneath him. **Ding! Tempered by Dissonance has reached level 33!** "Nice try, and a good response to a ''distracted'' opponent. Unfortunately, all the cohesive teamwork in the world means nothing in the face of Strength." Rieker locked eyes with him, eyes glinting dangerously. His grip on his warhammer loosened, his grip sliding down to the base of the haft. Ice shot through Kaius''s veins. This was going to hurt. Porkchop saw it at the same time he did¡ªthe growing anticipation on Rieker''s face. The man had been toying with them, assessing their movements. It seemed he had seen enough. Unleashing another Bulwark''s Challenge that filled the hall with his terrible roar, Porkchop tapped into the mana he had stored in his amulet and shot towards the guildmaster. As he moved, Kaius caught a flash of yellow from Ianmus''s staff, before his brother was wrapped in the bolstering power of the sun. Rieker looked over to the rapidly approaching ball of primal fury and smiled. A simple step sent the man flying backwards, creating enough distance for Porkchop to lose steam. It didn''t dissuade his brother, who flew into a storm of raking claws and gnashing teeth. He did as well as Kaius had done, grasping nothing but air. "All that fury, all that power. It means nothing if there is no thought backing it." Rieker whispered, the words cutting through the howling din of the battle. Kaius tried to support, racing in to hack at the agile warrior, but even with the two of them laying into the man, it was of no use¡ªthey couldn''t bloody hit him. Rieker wasn''t even moving fast. It was easy to keep track of him, most of the time at least¡ªhells, Kaius was sure that he was moving slower than they were. It was like he knew where they were going to move, like he was leading them on a dance. Then Rieker attacked. Porkchop fell first. "You throw yourself at me, expecting your sheer size and presence to be enough to force my attention. You savage, and you bite, and you claw¡ª but there is no deftness. No attempt to create openings. You don''t even try to force me to dance to your tune, to try and leave me vulnerable to your allies." Rieker said with ease, like he was making conversation over dinner. There was no malice, no cruelty, and no hostility¡ªjust a casual sharing of facts. "You expect your armour to keep you safe." the guildmaster stepped in, slipping around a Sunbeam, rolling under a heavy clawed swipe, and slapping away a thrust of Kaius''s sword to appear inside of Porkchop''s guard. "It doesn''t." Rieker''s hammer hit Porkchop''s jade breastplate with the weight of a mountain. It wasn''t a hard swing¡ªat least, it didn''t look like it¡ªand the armour was some of the thickest on Porkchop''s body. It didn''t matter in the slightest. A shattering crash resounded through the hall, like bricks being dropped onto stone from a great height. Porkchop''s chest caved in, blood fountaining from his mouth in a desperate gurgle. "Porkchop!" Ianmus called, a glow surrounding him in a warm halo as he started to shape a healing spell. Kaius''s heart leapt into his throat. He knew the wound was unlikely to kill his brother, not with his current Endurance, and his sheer toughness, but it was a grievous injury all the same. Unable to help himself, a desperate cry of rage slipped between his lips and the agony spreading across their bond sparked a raging heat in his chest. He raced in. He had to catch the man, move faster than he could, force him off guard. Something. His newest spell was his only choice. Reaching out with his will to the swirling inscription that wrapped around his foot, Kaius watched the guildmaster draw a dagger from his belt. Looming over his brother''s collapsed form, Rieker plunged the blade down between Porkchop''s shoulder blades. Right into his spine. B2 Chapter 216: Cold Bodies, pt. 1 B2 Chapter 216: Cold Bodies, pt. 1 Giving his pan a last good shake to flick off as much water as he could, Kaius dipped back into the tent. While he¡¯d asked Ianmus if he¡¯d noted anything about the strange pinpoint of energy that had radiated from his mind during the founding of his Aspect, the mage had only been confused¡ªand voraciously curious. The lack of answers was a shame, but hopefully with more time and experience they¡¯d discover something more concrete. He¡¯d been thinking through their meal. Ianmus¡¯s success with igniting his Aspect was a significant boon¡ªworth the risk he had pulled. It had also brought with it questions. How had casting a spell allowed him to ignite the pillar? And what was that strange white light he had seen? Somehow he doubted the latter would be easy to answer. Stepping around Porkchop, he took a seat at the foot of the bed and turned to Ianmus¡ªat the very least, he could learn more about that plane of light. ¡°Ianmus¡ªthat spell you cast, how¡¯d you do it? It was far stronger than anything I had expected from you.¡± he asked. Ianmus looked up, startled for a moment at the sudden question. ¡°Oh! It was partially because of you, actually.¡± his friend replied, scratching behind an ear. ¡°I¡¯d been thinking about what you told me of your glyph¡ªthe controlled collapse of unstable mana. Some principles of the rune arts are used in free-casting, so I thought I''d give it a go.¡± Porkchop shifted to face them, evidently interested in their conversation. Kaius nodded¡ªsecretly pleased that there were elements of glyph-binding that could be used elsewhere. He¡¯d known it was likely, every other form of magic was interconnected on some level. Still, for it to have been something that he and Father had developed themselves¡ªrather than something unique to Vesryn¡ªwas gratifying. ¡°How¡¯d it help? And what did it have to do with Mentis?¡± Kaius asked. Ianmus¡¯s eyes fuzzed over¡ªa familiar look on the half-elf, one that overtook his features anytime he was absorbed in magical theory. He explained how he¡¯d compressed his mana¡ªleaning on the principles of guided instability that Kaius had shared when he¡¯d explained the reasoning behind his original glyph. So much of the mage¡¯s exhaustion had been the utter annihilation of his mental energy, directing the explosive release of his mana into a purely horizontal plane had taken much from him. Though, Ianmus was very much still interested in testing it further. At least, once they were somewhere safe and he was well rested. That much, Kaius agreed with him wholeheartedly. If Ianmus could get a grip on this new shaping of solar magic, it would be significantly helpful¡ªthe ability to deal with large groups of weak enemies was something they clearly lacked. Thankfully, it would almost undoubtedly happen eventually¡ªoften what was once impossible became as easy as a turn of the hand with enough levels. ¡°Mentis...is more difficult to explain. My meditations¡ªthey made me realise that I have a tendency to over-analyse, to think of things from every angle. It¡¯s what drew me to magic, and what led to my performance in Sunspire...but it also made me indecisive, at times. I decided that if it was so integral to who I am, it needed to be fully under my control. That taking an action was more important than finding the best one. Decisive planning and preparation, rather than an impossible attempt to consider everything equally. The spell was my attempt at that.¡± Ianmus continued, fiddling with the hem of his shirt. Porkchop let out a low huff, a grumbling chuckle emanating from deep in his chest. ¡°So Kaius realised that sprinting blindfolded through a maze until you run into a wall is a bad idea, and you realised that it''s a better one than trying to map the whole thing before you started moving.¡± Smiling at his brother''s friendly jab, Kaius rolled his eyes. Porkchop did have the right of it though¡ªhe had been a little...action-forward in the past. Still¡ªit was good to see that Ianmus¡¯s ignition had come with its own insights into how he wanted to grow. It seemed that the personal insights of the Aspects were as much of a benefit as the additional powers they brought. A reflection of their development¡ªthe mindset with which they sought their goals. Speaking of goals¡ªthey still had yet to decide what they were going to do. The mission had gone...sideways, to say the least. A siege that nearly led to an outright rout, and a revelation of their utter misjudgement of their capabilities and plans. Something had saved them¡ªthough if it was a stroke of good fortune, or a reprieve before disaster, was yet to be known. With the time it had taken Ianmus to return to waking, they¡¯d had enough time to recover from their excursion¡ªat least in terms of their Resource pools. It would take a lot longer than a few hours for the exhaustion and mental fatigue to fade. Regardless, they were in a position where they had to choose¡ªdid they investigate? He¡¯d need another half hour or so to finish reinscribing, but then they¡¯d need to choose. It was a decision he was uncomfortable making unilaterally. He might have been the party leader, but this was their lives¡ªif the rest of the bogglings were lying in ambush, or something more dangerous had taken them out, reentering that cave would put them in grave danger. Biting the bullet, Kaius cleared his throat, drawing his friends away from the ongoing conversation. ¡°I think, at this point, we need to decide if we¡¯re going back in that tunnel¡ªwe could just leave and tell the guild what happened, but it could save lives if we confirm they¡¯re still living¡ªand precious resources if they¡¯re dead.¡± Kaius said. ¡°I say we investigate¡ªit doesn¡¯t sit right with me to leave without checking, feels cowardly.¡± Porkchop replied. To Kaius¡¯s surprise, Ianmus nodded along with his brother¡¯s words¡ªnormally he could count on the half-elf being the voice of reason in their little group. ¡°I agree¡ªfor one major reason. Whatever happens, there will be repercussions for our failure here. Returning with evidence of what happened¡ªone way or the other¡ªcould lessen it somewhat.¡± Ianmus replied. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. A sharp wince slipped from Kaius¡¯s mouth. He¡¯d been trying not to think of that. Neither Ro, nor Rieker, stood out to him as the most lenient of sorts. Understanding, sure, but not lenient. Even if this mission had been meant as a lesson, he was sure there would still be consequences for failure. For all he knew¡ªproper investigation was part of the test, and they might worsen their failure further. ¡°Well, in that case¡ªwe need a plan. If we need to flee, we should be ready to run like a demon is on our tail. For all we know, one might be.¡± Kaius said. ¡°I¡¯ll be inscribing plenty of Slip Step¡ªI can chain them if need be¡ªbut we can¡¯t let you slow us down.¡± he nodded to Ianmus, who nodded grimly. ¡°I understand. Perhaps it¡¯s better if I stay behind?¡± the mage replied. ¡°No,¡± Porkchop said with a shake of his head. ¡°I¡¯ll let you sit on my back, just this once. Your weight isn¡¯t enough to slow me in the slightest, and me and Kaius will both be faster with your solar empowerment. Let alone we might need healing.¡± Kaius snapped to his brother in shock, Ianmus mirroring his expression. That was a significant concession¡ªone that showed a level of comfort that surprised him. It wasn¡¯t just about trust, but vulnerability. Porkchop had made it quite clear that carrying someone on his back was taboo, and something he only allowed because he knew that Kaius would not take it for granted. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Ianmus asked¡ªhis tone incredulous, like he struggled to believe he had heard correctly. ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡± Porkchop replied, before he sniffed. ¡°Only because we might die otherwise, don¡¯t go getting any funny ideas that I''ll be the only one walking now.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± Ianmus replied, clutching his heart in mock offense. Kaius shook his head, chuckling. ¡°Well then, since we¡¯re decided, prepare yourselves¡ªwe leave when I finish inscribing.¡± ... The site of their siege looked impossibly gruesome. Far worse than he remembered. Fresh eyes rendered him incredulous. A stretch of tunnel¡ªperhaps thirty long-strides long¡ªwas utterly carpeted in congealed blood, torn flesh, and pulped offal. Dark red stretched a full two strides up the wall, and where the fighting was thickest the bodies were stacked tall enough to come up to his waist. The worst was the smell¡ªraw meat, iron, unwashed bodies, and spilled bowels; all mingling together in a miasma that stuck to the throat and clung to his clothes. He could feel it¡ªthe sheer volume of it was enough to raise the humidity to the point where he grew sticky. He¡¯d been far too absorbed in the heaving rhythm of battle at the time to notice, but the bogglings would have been trampling on layers of their dead. That alone should have been enough of a sign that something wasn¡¯t right. Their baying cries and savage eyes had seemed to be madened bloodlust at the time¡ªbut what if it wasn¡¯t? What if they¡¯d been driven forwards by something else¡ªthey were no depths-born. At some point their will should have broken¡ªlong before they were wading through the entrails of their tribe to offer themselves up for slaughter. A chill shot down his spine, animal instincts on edge as he peered into the dark. It was unsettling, far more than the gore they had left in their wake. ¡°Wading through that is going to ruin my fur.¡± Porkchop moaned, pulling Kaius out of his musings. ¡°And yet we¡¯ll do it anyway.¡± Kaius replied, taking the first step into the viscera. It squelched, welling up around his boots and soaking the leather¡ªstill disconcertingly warm in its deepest reaches. Kaius breathed out slow, suppressing the roiling in his stomach as he clambered on. More than once he nearly ended up face first, an arm shifting, or his foot slipping on unidentifiable muck¡ªhe soldiered on, advancing until he was over the worst of it. Once his team had joined them, they continued. They moved at a creep¡ªjust as cautious as the first time they had moved through the tunnels. At first there was nothing, the cave empty. Then they reached the lit warren, and the bodies strewn through its halls. It started right by the entrance. Bogglings, by the dozen¡ªsurgically dismantled with a precision that left Kaius in shock. Clean cuts that separated heads, limbs and waists. It only got worse the further in they entered. At first there were signs of struggle¡ªweapons clutched in hands, the bodies having fallen in such a way that it made it obvious they were still struggling to fight out of the cave. That changed quickly. More and more often boggarts and bogglings lay facing the wrong way¡ªlike they¡¯d fled. Some had their legs cut off, trails of blood left on the stone as they had attempted to claw their way back to their den. It shocked him¡ªan impossibility. Whatever had done this had to be right behindthem when they were fleeing. But there''d been no sign, no tells. The only way the scene made sense was if something had been in the cave, unnoticed by both them and the bogglings, and had waited until they were in the middle of the mass to strike. ¡°Porkchop...¡± Kaius whispered, breaking the tense silence that had consumed them since they¡¯d stumbled across the signs of battle that weren''t their own. ¡°Didn¡¯t you mention that you felt like we were being watched?¡± Porkchop¡¯s ears flattened against his head¡ªa soft whine escaping. ¡°I¡¯d forgotten about that...I don¡¯t sense it now though.¡± ¡°Yeah, me too¡ªObviously you weren¡¯t imagining it.¡± he muttered back. Rallying their spirits, they pushed on. Reaching the crossroads, they slowed¡ªgiving Ianmus the opportunity to jump onto Porkchop¡¯s back. Sundrenched vigour filled them both¡ªsteadying their bodies in a way that didn¡¯t quite reach his nerves. They hadn¡¯t seen hide nor hair of the mysterious attacker¡ªonly the evidence of a desperate struggle that grew all the more fearful and gruesome, heading directly for the cavern in front. Step by step they continued, tense and ready to flee at the sign of danger. Kaius kept his Slip Step ready¡ªhalf of the mind to activate one now. The cave opened up. Raw carnage rooted him to the spot. If their own battle had been a brutal siege, whatever had happened in the cavern was a wanton slaughter. Bodies cleaved at the waist, halves tossed to the side with contempt. Limbs scattered like leaves, gathering in unrecognisable piles. Wardlights that were covered in so much blood they shone a pale red. The bogglings hadn¡¯t just been killed¡ªthey¡¯d been annihilated. Kaius couldn¡¯t even estimate the corpses, for not a single one was in a single piece¡ªtorn apart with a level of dedication that could only come from hate. No creature did this. Only a thinking mind could be so intentional¡ªso careful¡ªin its savagery. The dealer of this death was obvious. For there was Ro, sitting on the warchief¡¯s throne with her legs propped up on its corpse. ¡°Well, boys¡ªhow does failure taste?¡± Chapter 192 - B2 190: Stupid Prizes, Pt. 2 Kaius watched in shock as the guildmaster stabbed his brother between the shoulderblades, the dagger severing Porkchop''s spine. Porkchop went limp, legs splaying out. With his chest still shattered from the guildmaster''s casual swing, he did little more let out a soft wheeze of foaming blood. "Remember this moment of weakness. Remember that intentionality is your greatest weapon, and your stoutest shield. Not fury and system granted skill." Rieker stepped back, leaving the blade planted. Kaius''s heart thumped, and he cast his spell¡ªSlip Step. Pale blue motes streamed from the soles of his feet, and he felt himself plunge through the skin of the world. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Aelina has reached level 2!** The heavy grip of reality slackened as the grey stone and red blood faded to muted hues. Kaius could tell he was only a half step into some unknown realm, but even with a hair''s breadth of separation, the immutable laws of distance bound him tightly no longer. Hidden secrets whispered from the edges of his vision, tugging on his focus as Truesight revealed what was not and what should not be. Kaius focused his mind¡ªpushing the shifting half shapes to the background as he turned his full attention to his target. It was unstable. With every movement, he felt his very being flicker¡ªsliding back and forth like he was transferring his weight between his feet. "Oh? Space? That''s interesting." Rieker said, turning to him while a burst of sunlight settled on the stricken form of Porkchop behind him. It wasn''t enough¡ªwith the blade still lodged in Porkchop''s back he was unable to rid himself of his paralysis. Lightning crackled into existence as Kaius summoned another Stormlash, and took a step. The world contracted. His foot touched the ground three times closer to his target than it should have taken him. Rieker didn''t care, the same easy smile on his face igniting a fire within Kaius''s chest. Too casual, too carefree. It was pissing him off. Hurling the power of the storm at the man who may as well have been made of adamant, Kaius pulled on his power again and again as he stood in one spot. Rieker simply side stepped, slipped, and dodged with blurring speed, each and every one of Kaius''s lashes missing him utterly. He grit his teeth, and tapped into his Bladerite before lunging into a thrust. A blow that should have crossed six strides stabbed through eighteen, rushing straight for Rieker''s neck. A twitch took the guildmaster away from the path of his blade. Then he swiped with an open palm. Eyes wide as his heart thumped with the might of his song, Kaius leapt back again and again. Space shrunk with every step, his being flickering into the inbetween space as he moved. It was no use; Rieker kept pace easily. Right as Kaius''s foot touched the ground, Rieker swept out an open palm, grabbing his wrist. Somehow perfectly timing the rate of his flickers to hold onto mortal flesh. Powerless to resist, he was yanked forwards, until he stood chest to chest with the guildmaster. "You forget yourself, Kaius. You do not fight alone." Rieker whispered to him, almost crooning. Then he was careening through the air, arms windmilling as he tried to control his flailing. Landing on the cold stone of the floor, Kaius''s breath was forced out of his chest. He looked up in horror to see Rieker rounding on Ianmus. "And you, you''re just weak. That might change in the future, but you would do best to avoid drawing attention to yourself until that day comes." Ianmus tried to flee, yet even with all of his grace and swiftness¡ªeven with the potency of his Magister''s Dash¡ªit mattered little. Rieker arrived at his side in a quick burst of speed, and stomped. A strangled scream escaped Ianmus''s lips as his leg shattered, the sickly white of his shin rupturing through his flesh with a wet tear. "Remember this pain, mage, for it is what your frontline faces constantly. It is what you will inevitably face in true battle, and if you cannot persevere¡ªcontinue to fight¡ªyou will die." Kaius leapt to his feet, the world twisting to assist his movement as he watched Ianmus start to channel as he lurched back from the guildmaster. A single step brought him closer, and his magic fizzled out. Without hesitation Kaius burned another charge, slipping back into the half-space between worlds. He raced across the ground, sword and spell at the ready, and the strides vanished beneath his flickering feet. Ten steps took him halfway there, and he cast Slip Step for the third time. Another ten brought him into range, and thunder boomed deep within the earth. Lightning crackled, howling with fury as it cut through the air. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Aelina has reached level 3!** Rieker kicked off the ground, dodging the lash without even looking back. The leather soles of his shoes squealed in protest as he screeched to a halt by Ianmus. A single stomp cracked one of the inscribed flagstones, landing a finger-length from the mages head. "Dead." Ianmus slumped in defeat, releasing his hold on his mana. Kaius''s heart leapt into his throat as the guildmaster finished decimating his team with brutal efficiency. Wardog indeed. Keeping his distance, Kaius burnt through the rest of his Stormlash inscriptions¡ªall fourteen of them¡ªone after the other in a blurring stream of cracking thunder and howling light. No matter his tricks, feints, and quick succession spells, it was useless. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Drakthar has reached level 30!** The guild master was too fast. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. As soon as he was empty, he gripped his sword with both hands and settled into an inside-right guard, the pommel of his blade pulled in close to the armpit. Still a foot into the strange half-space of his spell, he charged. Appearing before Rieker in three steps, he hacked at the man, gritting his teeth as his sword was slapped away. He stepped, circling as he hammered the guildmaster''s impenetrable guard, feinting and probing for openings. **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo has reached level 36!** "You''re an interesting one, Kaius. Skilled beyond your years, blooded against monsters, wielding magics I have no name for, and too strong by half. It''s still not enough." Rieker said, smashing his blade to the side so hard that it peeled out a pure note. "It''s not enough. Not against the machinations of men." he crouched, letting Kaius''s thrust sail past his ear as he punched. For the first time in the fight, Kaius flickered at just the right time, the blow sailing clean through him as he fell into the space between worlds. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Aelina has reached level 4!** Rieker just calmly pulled back, smashing aside his retaliation and hammering him again as soon as he reappeared. The blow hit Kaius in the stomach, radiating agony through his abdomen and forcefully voiding his lungs. Bile surged into his mouth, bitterness tainting it with an acidic burn. "The powerful will watch you. Finding the things you hold dear. Ferret out your weaknesses." Nearly chest to chest, Kaius tried to force the man back with a crushing pommel strike to his collarbone, refreshing Slip Step as he did. Rieker simply weathered the blow like it was rain. "And once your weaknesses are known, they will tear you down from the base up. Bait you into a fervent rage, until you make a mistake that reveals you." Rieker headbutted him. His nose shattered, head rocking back. Blood ran down the back of his throat, accompanying the eye watering sting. Hissing in agony, Kaius ignored the taste of iron as he tongued a loose tooth. The fire of his frustration started to boil. Kaius attacked, flowing into a storm of tight swooping lashes and aggressive thrusts as he used every trick he could to try to maneuver the guildmaster into an assaultable position. **Ding! Tempered By Dissonance has reached level 34!** None of them touched the guild master. "Then, once you have been provoked. They will strike." Rieker swung. The head of the hammer struck his blade right above the hilt. Metal and crystal cracked in a tortured scream, bucking in his hand with potent reverberations. Strong enough that he lost his grip with his off hand, three fingers not enough to keep hold of the ringing blade. Rieker slapped the blade to the side with an empty palm, leaving Kaius undefended. "After that? You die." Uncanny Dodge and Explorer''s Toolkit both screamed of the danger he was in. Kaius tried to leap back. He was too slow, even with his new spell. A blurring streak hit him on his left wrist. Bone shattered. Flesh tore. His hand flew free. Kaius gasped, falling backwards onto the floor as he stared at the spurting remnants of his wrist. Every pump of his heart sent thickly congealed blood oozing from the wound. His hand spasmed, uncontrollable twitches wracking the limb. Except, that was impossible. It was gone. Ruined. Lesser Regeneration worked against him, sealing the wound shut in moments. **Ding! Lesser Regeneration has reached level 32!** Now it would only return with the aid of a potent healer. One they had no access to, not without significantly more wealth and political pull, or were willing to wait months. He was crippled. Ruined. Kaius looked up to find the guildmaster looming over him. He shrank back, feeling real fear for the first time. If the man was willing to maim him, perhaps the bout had been more serious than he realised. "Remember this fear, Kaius. Your brazen overconfidence nearly got you all killed this week." Rieker said, staring at him with fury on his face. "You are the leader, and steering your team right is your responsibility." Rieker crouched, lowering himself until they saw eye to eye. "Get away from him!" Porkchop roared, unable to do anything more than watch on. Rieker ignored him, just like he ignored Ianmus who struggled his way to a seated position and fired a beam of light at the guildmaster. The spell landed, doing little more than scorching the skin on Rieker''s throat. "Kicking up the kind of fuss you did with that spider was moronic. It revealed your hand, and forced mine. The only way someone like you lives is with power, or secrecy. Now you have neither." Kaius whipped his sword up, point wavering as he held it to the man''s eye. Rieker didn''t so much as flinch. "You could still die, you know. Ro, for all her competency, is not a miracle worker. If she can''t cover up the trail the three of you left a league wide¡ªif someone stumbles across the remnants of her work and gets curious¡ªyou could be vanished into some cell before the month is out, waiting for the next Onyx Temple mindmage to strip you down for every iota of knowledge you have." the guildmaster said calmly, pushing aside his sword with the tip of one finger. Kaius sagged, realising that the guildmaster was not after his life. "Because mark my words, someone will notice. Without a doubt." Rieker continued, fixing Kaius with a stare that left horror creeping up his neck. Rieker was right. How could he have been so stupid? They should have taken the easy jobs¡ªlevelled a little slower, or at least taken missions that had enough travel time they could have explained their gains as a result of numerous beasts. "I see you understand now. That''s good. Remember that fear." the guildmaster said, watching him closely. "The only question now is if Ro has bought us enough time for you to get strong enough to kill anyone who comes after you." Reaching out to him, Rieker pulled a potion from his spatial storage. A square bottle¡ªcapped in gold with elegant swirls marking its surface¡ªheld a tonic of vibrant white, shimmering and effervescent. "Now drink. No pupil of mine will walk around missing fingers." Letting his sword drop to the floor with a clatter, Kaius reached for the bottle with a shaking hand. The man couldn''t possibly have given him a true regeneration potion, could he? Rieker stood, and left him staring at the bottle. A moment later he heard Ianmus yelp, and turned to see the mage cradling his own tonic to his chest. It was different from his own¡ªred, and far more plain. Behind him, Porkchop growled throatily. "Quiet you¡ªI know you''ve seen your Patriarchs do worse. The boy will get you all killed if I baby him." he heard Rieker respond. Whipping his head over, Kaius caught the man pulling his dagger free from his brother''s spine¡ªwhere he promptly wiped it clean on his brother''s fur before sheathing it once more. "Still an asshole." Porkchop grumbled. "Where''s my potion?" "Don''t get one." Rieker grinned. "You don''t need it, and there''s no point skipping the skill training." Kaius narrowed his eyes at the man, before Porkchop mentally poked him across their bond. "Drink your potion, idiot." Porkchop said privately, while he huffed at the guildmaster. Rolling his eyes¡ªthe vigilance of battle slowly leaving him¡ªKaius eyed the milky liquid once more. If it was a potion of true regeneration, the kind that could regrow lost limbs, then he had just been handed a treasure worth many times its weight in gold. He had to know. True Sight brought up its description. Flesh Regrowth Tonic: Rare - Tier II You could put an egg back together with this thing. A complex tonic brewed from reagents rich in Life and Blood aspects, massively restoring health and slowly regenerating missing body parts over an extended period of time. Artisan-brewed potion Health Restoration V, True Regeneration I The bottle nearly slipped from his fingers as he stared at the description in shock. Tier two? Chapter 193 - B2 191: Ignition The ghosts of Kaius''s fingers spasmed. Grunting at the discomfort, he scratched at the stump of his limb. It was a smooth nubbin, muscles and skin slowly distending as his flesh morphed and grew. Disgusting, in all honesty. Though, no matter how much his skin crawled at the sight of his morphing flesh, he knew it would bring back his hand¡ªand his missing fingers with it. What disturbed him more was the unblemished skin that came with the regrowth. His glyph was gone. That galled. It also heightened his nerves, a tight little ball that had been building in his stomach. Rieker would have had no way of knowing, but he had never inscribed one of the Vesryn glyphs by himself. They were convoluted, three dimensional, and ruinously complex. The prospect of weaving one around his mana flows without the system''s assistance was terrifying¡ªmade him feel the icy breath of dread on the back of his neck. Still, he knew it was for the best. The strong delvers? The kinds who rose to the peak of what people knew to be possible? They lost limbs. Not often, but it happened. Especially in those who held down the front line like he did. Usually it wasn''t too much of a problem. Even if they didn''t have a healer capable of some form of regeneration on their team, they would have the wealth and connections to see one of the rare few healers who plied such a skill publicly. To learn to weave a new glyph now, meant that he wouldn''t have to experiment if it happened in the field. It still sucked. Losing his hand sucked. Losing sucked¡ªmore than he thought it would. Sighing, Kaius leaned his head back against the hard wood of his headrest, staring at the vaulted ceiling far above. After Rieker had dressed them down, he''d ushered them back to the table, before leaving once more to fetch what he called ''the good stuff''. Said he''d be back soon. No doubt he was just giving them space to decompress after he''d smeared them across the floor in a minute flat. Thank the hells that Rieker had, because only the gods knew that he needed it. With his mind drifting to their ''spar'', Kaius was unable to stop himself from ruminating. Not even the sharp spiking pain of his tooth goring the inside of his cheek was enough to snap him out of it, not with his pain resistance and healing. As much as it burned for them to get destroyed, to have his flaws so systematically revealed, it was worse that he knew that the guildmaster was right. He''d been reckless. That might get them killed, and there was little he could do about it at this point. Picking the spider as their first mission? Stupid. He could see it now¡ªthough he felt like punching the wall until his other hand was a smeared mess that it had taken it being rubbed in his face to realise. They should have taken it slow¡ªor at the very least planned a cover story and more circuitous route back. Porkchop and Ianmus, they might have agreed with him, but it was his duty to be the voice of reason. He''d taken the mantle of party leader, and failed to respect it. He''d failed his team. Too drunk on freedom and the allure of power. The oldest sin¡ªthe one that killed more delvers than anything else. He''d thought himself immune, untouchable thanks to his strength. Stupid. Relative strength meant nothing when you were still helpless to those with power and experience both. The strongest chick in the henhouse was still helpless to the weakest fox. His gaze turning back to the stump of his hand, Kaius watched the rhythm pulse in time with his heart¡ªgrowing just a little bit more with each undulation. Supposedly it would take a few weeks, not that it made it any less miraculous. It was a strange thing, to be beaten and broken. It made you realise things. Revealed truths. Clawing his way up the mountain, step by bloody step? Advancing on all obstacles and beating on them with shattered fists? That wasn''t his truth. It was a truth. But it wasn''t his. Too incomplete, too...juvenile. There was something more there¡ªhe knew it, even as his aspect lay silent and still within him. If victory at all costs had been his pillar, this experience would have shattered it. It was the truth of the fool, the deluded, and the egoistic. It was the dream of a boy. He had too many responsibilities to be a boy. Even if he would never let go of the thrill of the fight, or stop taking risks¡ªfor those things were as much immutable truths about himself as his stubbornness¡ªhe needed more. Enough tribulation had washed through his life that he was more. That fight? Rieker''s total annihilation? It had been necessary¡ªbrutal and eye opening. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Kaius sighed, letting his eyes feel closed as he felt the weight of consequence settle on his chest. They had a long way to go, and he''d just had to go and give them a deadline. Hurling them at the closest deadly challenge and hoping for the best? Hoping they could use the pressure of the experience to grow? It would kill him and Porkchop eventually, and Ianmus would undoubtedly die far far sooner. All it would take is a single slip up for a beast or a man to get past them, and the mage would be dead. He couldn''t allow that. Ianmus had made his choice, and they had made theirs, but that didn''t mean he needed to be stupid about it. But if his truth wasn''t that of mindless determination, what was it? What did he want? Truly want? To find his father''s killer, and bring him his due? Of course. To seek the lost histories of Unterstern, and justice for the destruction of a family he never met? Most certainly. To rise victorious over the changing phases, securing his home and lands? Most definitely. To see the world, and explore its secrets like he had always dreamed of? Of course! Yet...those were desires¡ªnot truths¡ªand they were all big problems. The kind that needed strength to be solved. Power. It always came back to power in the end. Everyone wanted it, and few had it. He''d thought he''d been on a sure fire path, after all, he''d seized far more than most already. Yet...he''d still been going about it all the wrong way. Kaius needed to grow. In the deftness of his mind. In the way he approached challenges. The ability to throw himself at death was good, but it needed to be tempered by wisdom. By the will to do whatever was necessary to see him and his team to the next dawn. If he wanted to see the peak, it was necessary. He needed experience, and today had shown him he had precious little of it. Challenges would come, and he would face them staunchly. He would batter at them until his bones broke and the ground was stained red with his blood¡ªbut only if he had to. Afterall, even loss was valuable. It was experience. The knowledge and understanding he could glean from such things would help him to avoid or surpass any similar challenge in the future. Fighting wasn''t everything, no matter how strange it felt to say that. He wanted life. A good life. Battle¡ªthe thrill of the challenge, the scent of blood in the air, the sweet sting of exertion, and the wild screams of mayhem¡ªwas a part of that. But it wasn''t everything. The smell of fresh grass or a seared steak, the sweet taste of wine and the laughter of good company, the warmth of the fire and the restful caress of a spring night''s breeze. Those were important too. He would lose them if all he sought was mindless fury. And yet, even as his mind went round and round and round Kaius knew that they were hollow truths. They were part of something, but they were details and shades, not the full painting. What. Did. He. Want. Kaius sat with the thought, allowing the darkness behind his closed eyelids to wash over him. Memories shifted through his mind. Nights with Porkchop, Ianmus, and Father. Spent around fires, with full bellies and happy smiles. The scenery changed, the background changed, but the feeling he got didn''t. He wanted...a place to call his own. Somewhere that was just for him, and for those he called his own. But he couldn''t have it. It was stolen from him once, and then again, by those who would still hound him. It was out of reach until the damn integration finished. And it would always be fragile unless he had the strength to defend it from those who would covet it. He didn''t even think it was a place. After all, he could never see himself settling down in one place¡ªhe''d grown up even more uprooted than the damn Hiwiann, they at least had their ancestral clan grounds and temple cities. But the belonging? The kind he had found with Porkchop and Ianmus? That he would kill for, hone himself for, hunt, and grow for. But to defend that sacred space, he needed more than strength. He needed ability. Strength, tempered by the wisdom of a thousand campaigns¡ªvictories and defeat alike. If it took reaching the very pinnacle to secure it¡ªif it took singlehandedly besting the integration, shattering the Onyx Temple, and destroying the mysterious threats behind them that had razed his dynasty, he would do it. Life was no battle, it was a war¡ªand he would campaign for his desires. Kaius gasped as Mentis, the very pillar he had been brushing up against for weeks, started to howl in visceral joy and satisfaction. Lightning arced up his spine, forcing him bolt upright in moments and drawing the curious and concerned eyes of his companions. He saw nothing, wide eyes too enraptured by the sights in his soul-space. Once silent, still, and desolate, a single pillar of his triumvirate exploded into activity. Shudders echoed down its monolithic form as his soul pulsed with ever growing burning intensity. A keening want reverberated from the pillar, desperately reaching for his soulfire as the golden flames began to bulge, reaching for the Mentis. Far below, circling his soul, his legacy skills heard the call and joined the chorus with pure platinum voices of their own. Cringing for a moment, Kaius''s stomach dropped as he braced himself for the avarice he thought long behind him. Only for it to never come. The song of his legacy skills softened, falling into harmony with the want of Mentis. They bolstered its call, eagerly supporting the pillar as his soul roiled with renewed energy and might. His heart thumped in his chest as he realised with finality that this might be happening now. Now. With Rieker planning to return at any moment. He could feel the weight in his soul building to a crescendo¡ªthe shell of his class pulsing in tune with his soul and aspects, serenaded by his legacy. Why, of all the gods were good, did it have to be now. He might have planned to share with the guild, but he didn''t want to lose out until he had discovered if his team would be able to follow his lead. Secure honours. Then his soul flared, and without his aid a solid rope of soulfire connected to the waiting sconce atop Mentis. It ignited, gold flickering to a blinding white flame that nestled itself upon the pillar. The strange stone-like exterior shook as a blast wave rocketed out¡ªshaking the formless space within. It held firm, and everything stabilised. Yet somehow, Kaius knew the transformation was incomplete. Waiting. **Ding! Pillar of Self Discovered, Mentis Ignited. Would you like to initiate Aspect Formation?** Chapter 194 - B2 192: Lessons **Ding! Pillar of Self Discovered, Mentis Ignited. Would you like to initiate Aspect Formation?** The system dinged in his mind, waiting for his command. With the instinctual knowledge that came with all of the systems communication, he knew he could wait. Suppressing the urge to sigh in relief, Kaius dismissed the notification. It sat at the corner of his mind, weighing on his attention. To his chagrin, he found it did nothing for the riotous want of the pillar in his soul. Its need to be complete. A soft warbling keen resonated within him, slowly growing in intensity. After the sheer onslaught that was the process of merging his legacy skills, it was easy to ignore. Yet, Kaius knew that would change. It would grow until he was forced to complete the aspect. Whether that would take a minute, an hour, or a day, he had no idea. Ianmus and Porkchop still watched him closely, their faces mirroring concern and confusion. Just as he was about to explain, just as joy and excitement started to bubble within him, the door to the hall opened with a clang. They all nearly jumped a long-stride in the air as Rieker strode back in, the man watching them with a cocked brow. "Hells, I know I literally wiped the floor with you, but you shouldn''t be that jumpy." the guildmaster muttered, quickly approaching as he balanced carrying three small cuts and a shallow bowl. They smiled, though Kaius caught his brother watching him out of the corner of his eye. "What was that, Kaius? I felt...something." Porkchop asked through their bond, returning his eyes to their ''host''. "Later." Rieker looked almost bashful as he sat down in front of them¡ªsomething Kaius had never expected to associate with a man of such presence. Still, it was what it was, and the guildmaster gave them a small smile as he pushed over a small cup to each of them. Porkchop sneezed at his first sniff, looking back to Rieker curiously. At his brother''s reaction, Kaius peered into the porcelain vessel, finding some sort of liquor inside. It was thick, and a few moments later he got a heavy punch of herbs and spirits. "What''s this?" Kaius asked, picking up the drink to swirl it. "Dwarven balsam..." Ianmus answered first, staring at the drink in wonder. "It''s almost impossible to get outside of their stoneholds..." Rieker only smirked. "Not if you know the right people. Got another crate just a few weeks ago. That''s neither here nor there, though. Drink...Slowly!" Rieker cautioned as Porkchop went to down the lot at once. Smiling at his brother''s antics, Kaius took a sip. It burned, hot and sweet, with a heavy vegetal note that lingered on the tongue. Odd, almost medicinal, but surprisingly delicious. Ianmus also seemed to enjoy it, a small smile crossing his previously wooden face as he leaned back on his chair. Porkchop...wasn''t so convinced. His face was stiff as the liquor burned, though he stared at Kaius furiously not to give away he didn''t appreciate what he could tell was a precious gift. Kaius bit his lip, though he noted that the corner of Rieker''s mouth had twitched at Porkchop''s reaction. Finally, the guildmaster sighed. "I hope you all learned a valuable lesson today. You are strong, but you are strong for your level." Rieker said, breaking the silence. As one, they lowered their cups, giving the man their attention. "I destroyed you today, and the differences in tiers only get more tyrannical as you grow. Worse, I am of only middling strength for human lands. Powerful for a backwater like this, but I am not one of the true elites of the central territories." he continued. Kaius''s eyes widened. That seemed...hard to believe. He knew the man had to be high in the second tier, and with a good class to boot from what Rieker had implied. Sure, there were supposed to be some rare few in the third tier, but the guildmaster couldn''t be too far behind them, could he? Rieker met his eyes, giving him a firm nod. "I''m serious. And that''s not even counting the terrors in the high mana societies. Against the elves, dwarves, and further off folks? I am nothing. You? You are less than nothing. The potential is there, but that doesn''t matter if you die trying to reach it." The guildmaster''s eyes bore into their own, his gaze flicking from person to person. "I hope you internalise the lesson I taught you today. Kaius froze for a moment, before he gave a firm nod. "I¡ªwe¡ªhave. I was reckless, and because of that we are in danger." He received a firm nod in return, though Rieker looked equally relieved and guilty at his admission. "I''m sorry about the hand, but I had to make sure you learnt your lesson. A couple of days with it recovering will hopefully drill into you what can be lost when you are careless." Rieker said to Kaius, before he addressed them as a group. "Now! Onto the things I have learned. Beyond just raw stats, you all have great skills. That includes you Ianmus." The mage smiled at the guildmaster''s words, though the conversation quickly moved on. "However¡ªyou have far too much room to improve, especially because of how quickly you are going to level in the coming months. It will be tough to get your skills to keep pace." Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Rieker turned towards Porkchop, starting with him first. "You, young meles, have the workings of a fighting style¡ªa true and defined one, with your natural might and heavy armour¡ªbut it is painfully clear you are both not used to fighting with intention, and you have zero basis for understanding how to fight with armour." "I suppose that''s fair¡ªI don''t really know anyone else amongst my people who use it. Plenty just alter their fur, but it feels different." Porkchop replied. "It is," Rieker agreed. "But it also has the potential to be far stronger, even if it is more difficult. You''re also too aggressive. Forcing enemies to come to you, and in doing so giving your roaming fighter more openings, and reducing the burden on Ianmus, is your aim. Taking hits well, and learning to force opponents to move to where you want them should be your goal." Porkchop took on the guildmaster''s criticisms stoically, and to Kaius''s surprise, he couldn''t feel even a hint of indignation through their bond. Next Rieker turned to their half-elf mage. "You, Ianmus, are far too still and reactionary. You need to be moving. This is not a collegiate mage duel, this is battle. I know you can cast and move, I saw you do it there at the end. If you''re not always keeping Porkchop between you and the enemy, you are out of position. That, and you''re wasting mana." Ianmus nearly jumped out of his seat at the man''s final words. "What?! I would never!" The guildmaster held up his hand, calling for his silence. Ianmus lowered himself back down, frustrated confusion plain on his face. "You are. Most of your potshots are basically pinpricks, especially because of how high above your level you are punching. Am I right in assuming you wish to move to pure free-casting magic?" Rieker asked. Ianmus nodded, platinum locks sweeping over his face. "Then you need to start channeling your sorcery, before empowering it and holding it ready with free cast mana manipulation. It will be a total bitch to do, but it will mean you can wait for the right weak point and target it fully. It will also increase your chances of evolving the skill towards being a meta-magic or focus." "More importantly," Rieker continued. "You should be focusing on healing far more often. Keeping Porkchop and Kaius hale and hearty will almost always be a better use of mana than a light beam that blinds their opponents for a second. Unless there is a decisive moment to turn the tide¡ªheal." Ianmus mulled over Rieker''s words, wincing as he heard his mistakes, before he finally nodded. Then it was Kaius''s turn. Rieker watched him closely, pausing as if he needed time to think on how to phrase his words correctly. "Kaius...you are a tricky one. Much of my wisdom is hard to apply with the strange hybrid path you have developed. Yet, what I can say is that you are suffering from a lack of decisive focus." Rieker started, fixing him in place with a look that carried the weight of years upon its brow. "You are at once too aggressive, and too reactive. You draw fire, when you should wait for an opening. You rush to Porkchop''s defence, when you should trust in his survival. Both of which make it harder for him to do his duty and hold attention. The guildmaster paused for a moment. "It is getting you injured when you do not need to be, putting further strain on your healer''s focus and resources. You need to be mobile." Rieker tapped the table, emphasising his point with a calloused finger. "You should be ready to fall back and support any one of your team at the slightest moment, and be capitalising on every opportunity to hammer anyone who shows you their flank to attack Porkchop." Kaius grunted, but he did have to agree. Even if accepting his failures tasted like ash. While he had been doing most of what the guildmaster had said, he would admit that he was unused to Porkchop''s rapidly growing perseverance. His brother had his chest cracked open like an egg, and had still been more than able to keep going until he was forcibly paralysed. While he was no wet blanket, Porkchop had the Endurance and Vitality to spare, let alone a doubled health pool and a healing skill that was even more potent than his own. Still, it was hard to suppress the instincts that had kept both of them alive down in the dark tunnels of the Depths. Rieker flicked his eyes between both him and Porkchop. "Also, the fact that the two of you haven''t been training your healing skills is a travesty. It''s blindingly obvious they are low level¡ªthe fact that the two of you haven''t started sparing disrobed is a travesty." Kaius cocked an eyebrow at the man¡ªstruggling to marry the stonerought seriousness of the guild masters tone with the fact he had just told him to fight naked. "Why on earth would they fight naked?" Ianmus asked, frowning with a confusion that made him look far less of the intellect he was. Rieker rolled his eyes. "The whole point is to spill blood and heal¡ªno point wasting good clothes." "Plus...nothing better for a warrior''s spirit than the fear of a stray blade to the tackle." the guildmaster grinned, steeley eyes twinkling with mirth. The Wardog''s joke hit Kaius like a brick, focused as he was on Rieker acting seriously in his capacity as guildmaster. It broke the tension, a deep laugh welling up from his belly, shaking loose the pricking claws of his regret and self-directed frustration. Humour aside, he could see the value of it¡ªat least fighting in his small clothes¡ªhe had been rather lacklustre in his efforts to train a skill that was nominally easy, if unpleasant, to grow. Same with Rapid Adaptation¡ªif they were going to do this right, he should be trying to gather as many resistances as he could before he needed them. The guildmaster had offered to train him, so hopefully he would have some ideas. Rieker shook his head, still smiling. "Now, I have a plan. It is simple in essence¡ªI will find you suitable jobs. Tough ones that will challenge you, but hopefully not increase your levels so quickly that we are unable to mask your strength." Kaius nodded along, his team doing the same. "To that end, each of your ''main'' jobs will be far from the city, and we''ll give you several easier ones on the trip there. With the rising levels, you should be able to blame your growth on an average difficulty increase across all of them. You''ll seem strong and capable, but not so much as to be dangerous." Rieker continued. "When you''re not on a job, you''ll be here. Training your asses off¡ªwith me and potentially a few chosen instructors who will be sworn in if they are needed¡ªso that your skills aren''t left behind." Kaius grinned. Now that was what he was talking about. While the idea of external instructors worried him, if they were tied to the guild and bound by the very same oath as the guildmaster, he couldn''t see it causing an issue. Then Rieker stopped, watching them all closely. It was a heavy moment, his grave eyes making it feel like Kaius was standing before a precipice. "However, to do any of that, I need to know what I''m working with. Your stat growth, the shape of your class and skills¡ªand preferably their rarity¡ªas well as the direction you are aiming to build towards. No information on legacies, or anything of that sort of nature, but I do need information." Kaius''s mouth went bone dry. A leap of faith¡ªone that could lead to salvation. Yet no jump into the unknown was without misgivings, and the information Rieker requested was amongst those only shared with those closest to you. Bond by oath or not, it was hard to ignore a lifelong culture of secrecy. "So, who wants to go first!" Rieker clapped, the sharp crack nearly jolting Kaius''s bones from his skin. B2 Chapter 217: Cold Bodies, finale B2 Chapter 217: Cold Bodies, finale Sitting on the warchief¡¯s throne, Ro gave them a look as she sprawled out lazily¡ªone leg crossed. It was calculative¡ªstern and judging. Kaius struggled to respond, his mind still rooted in the spot by the simple sight of seeing her in the boggling cave. Ro? Of all people¡ªthe strange force that had torn their way through the bogglings that had given them so much trouble was Ro? They hadn¡¯t even sensed her¡ªand the obvious ease with which she had cut through the horde revealed she held far more personal power than he expected. So it was a test, he realised. Rieker had said he would put them on missions that were at the very edge of their ability, but Kaius had thought that the man had meant their ability to handle in direct battle. This...seemed different. They¡¯d missed something crucial, and no doubt were going to suffer for it. Ro watched them standing in silence, her fingers drumming impatiently on the bone of the warchief¡¯s throne. ¡°Come on, folks, I don¡¯t have all day. I asked you a question.¡± her tone brooked no argument. Kaius flinched¡ªrealising he¡¯d just spent the last few minutes staring at the guild manager. In his defence, seeing her here¡ªcomfortable in the midst of a charnel house¡ªwas not what he had expected. Hells, a dragon would have surprised him less. ¡°Like ash.¡± he replied honestly. After so many hours to think about it, he¡¯d continuously arrived at the same point again and again. They¡¯d failed due to hubris and lack of preparation¡ªnot inability. Sure, they were poorly suited to such a fight. At least they were until Ianmus showed his capabilities with his new spell that had annihilated what must have been over fifty bogglings¡ªa spell the man hadn¡¯t even named yet. Ro smiled at his response¡ªit wasn¡¯t a wide one. More a bare acknowledgement that they at least had the sense to know that they¡¯d messed up. ¡°Good¡ªyou¡¯re not entirely hopeless, even if today was a fucking travesty. I¡¯ve seen Coppers who work better than this, you utter fools.¡± Ro tore into them, her withering gaze letting them know just how disappointed she truly was. ¡°I mean, seriously, we tell you you¡¯re up against an entire warren and you just...waltz in? Credit where credit is due, at least you didn¡¯t go for a frontal assault, but there¡¯s so much more you should have done. I hope that¡¯s evident.¡± ¡°It is,¡± Kaius replied, stepping forward to take the brunt of her disappointment. As party leader, it was ultimately his failure¡ªhe was the one with the final say on their tactics. ¡°We should have watched the horde for longer¡ªtried to get an accurate reading on their numbers.¡± ¡°And your assault? What would you have done differently then?¡± Ro uncrossed her legs, leaning over in the chair to rest her elbow on the arm of the throne. Kaius winced, thinking of all the things he should have done. ¡°There¡¯s a lot. Sneaking in was probably the best ploy¡ªas was leaving the raiders alone. If they¡¯d known we¡¯d been approaching we would have had to deal with ambushes and traps galore¡ªprobably magical ones too, with the bugbear shamans.¡± Ro nodded¡ªthough Kaius could tell by the way she rolled her wrist at him to continue that she thought it was a bare minimum of tactical acumen. ¡°Other than that, I¡¯ve had the time to think. I can see two main things we could have done to improve our odds. Three, technically¡ªbut I don¡¯t think the last is as applicable in this specific situation.¡± Ro cocked her head, looking at him with a touch of genuine surprise. Kaius was almost offended by her lack of faith in his ability to recognise his faults, but he was sure she was more used to pampered nobles¡ªand in her defence, they had been more than a little reckless right off the back of her warnings about the assassin spider. ¡°Oh? You¡¯ve reflected¡ªwhat a surprise. Shock me with your wisdom, greenhorn.¡± she replied, her voice sardonic. Taking the jab with the grace Ro had earned¡ªshe had just saved their asses, after all¡ªKaius nodded. ¡°First, we were woefully uninformed of the difficulties of a large scale cull of bogglings¡ª¡± ¡°Bogglings?¡± Ro cut in¡ªunable to stop herself from chuckling at the unexpected word. The mirthful smile she let slip cut the tension. They weren¡¯t in trouble, Kaius realised. Her stern disappointment was smoke and mirrors, his Glass Mind was sure of it¡ªcataloguing her every reaction against his memories. This had been planned. Thank the gods he¡¯d managed to crack her with a slip of the tongue, though he stood by the fact that bogglings was the best term for the monsters. ¡°Ah, the boggarts and bugbears...and whatever that is I suppose.¡± Kaius replied, nodding his head towards the stiffened corpse of the warchief. ¡°Sort of like goblinoids.¡± Ro tried to keep a stern face, but his eyes were sharp enough to catch the twitch at the corner of her mouth. ¡°Right, yes¡ªbogglings. It¡¯ll do¡ªthe system calls the big one¡¯s Bugganes, by the way.¡± The guild manager replied, nearly choking on the name for the largest boggling. ¡°Continue.¡± Kaius nodded, doing his best to ignore the humour that Ro had found in the names. He did admit it was a strange name, but regardless if it was expected for them to fail or not¡ªthey were being judged. Trying to find the humour in it all¡ªto joke with Ro as if she was a friend¡ªwould undoubtedly backfire. He might have, back in the guild hall¡ªif they were sharing a pint and swapping stories¡ªbut right now they were delvers who had failed, and she was their superior. ¡°We were uninformed. While bugbears and other developed forms of boggarts are new, cullings of a scale like this are almost certainly not. We should have asked for advice¡ªfound accounts in the guild, approaches that had worked in the past, and tactics that would maximise our success. We probably should have looked into goblins too, since they¡¯re a similar plague to the dwarves, and they deal with them in far greater numbers than boggarts have ever been seen in.¡± Kaius said, laying out the first of their mistakes. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. He¡¯d thought about it a lot. Honestly, the fact that it had taken this for him to realise he should be leveraging the experience of the guild was an embarrassment. They were an institution, with all the knowledge and experience that came with it. Not just a mission board and a wallet. ¡°Yes!¡± Ro said, throwing up her hands like she wanted to throw herself to her knees and praise the gods. ¡°I wanted to wring your fucking neck when you morons left Deadacre without asking to be shown to the Archives¡ªwe have more than maps, you know!¡± ¡°I won¡¯t fault you for not looking into goblins¡ªthough I will be mandating that for anyone who takes on a boggling contract from now on¡ªbecause this development of the ¡®bogglings¡¯ came as much of a shock to me as anyone else. I only knew as much as you did before we arrived.¡± Ro continued, before she leaned in and fixed them with a stare. ¡°However, if you¡¯d looked into boggarts you¡¯d know that bugbears aren¡¯t new.¡± Kaius looked at her in shock¡ªthey weren¡¯t? What in the gods¡¯ names was she talking about? It seemed he wasn¡¯t the only one surprised by her response. Ianmus¡¯s eyes were practically falling out of his skull. ¡°They aren¡¯t?¡± Ianmus replied. ¡°But I thought they were thought of as unique amongst the lower races?¡± ¡°Wrong, though a common belief. Boggart dens rarely grow above level twenty, or forty members, before they are discovered and stamped out. However, there have been a few accounts of them growing large enough to have chiefs and shamans...who are invariably bugbears. We just thought they were closer to ogres and trolls, where a single leader and a single mage can develop into a more potent form.¡± Ro replied, shaking her head. Kaius sighed¡ªso they¡¯d been even more uninformed than he thought. ¡°That just reinforces my point¡ªwe should have researched. No doubt there would have been long held approaches to culling effectively.¡± The guild manager gave him a slow nod, like he¡¯d just said that cows could be milked. ¡°There are. I¡¯m glad you¡¯ve realised this on your own¡ªa delver needs to be prepared. The threats of this world are myriad and vast, but history is long. If you have any inkling of what you¡¯re going to face, you¡¯re doing yourself a disservice by ignoring the wisdom of your predecessors. Now, you said you had other failings¡ªtell me.¡± ¡°Preparation.¡± Kaius replied. ¡°We came in half-cocked. You¡¯d outright told us an estimate of numbers¡ªbut we still stocked as if we would have the down time to recover.¡± Ro clapped, each crack of her hands echoing through the cavern. ¡°Correct. A common enough issue amongst fresh meat that has only delved¡ªwhich was everyone in the central lands, before this phase change flooded us with monsters. The shallow layers of the Depths are forgiving¡ªalmost kind. In the deep wilds¡ªeverywhere now, with the rising mana¡ªand the deeper layers, you do not get those pretty little encounters wrapped in a bow. It''s a constant grind¡ªrest only comes when you¡¯ve killed everything nearby, hidden yourselves, or managed to run fast enough to escape.¡± So the Depths did change as you got deeper. Kaius filed that knowledge away¡ªit was another thing to research. He¡¯d known the biomes got more expansive, and even more densely populated, but he¡¯d hoped that being able to rest between battles would remain. Ro caught his eye. ¡°I see that look¡ªyes, deeper layers of the depths are far more difficult than can be explained by levels alone. The monsters are smarter, tougher, and more coordinated. There''s more of them, they roam larger areas, and rest spaces grow fewer and fewer. Regardless, the common wisdom is to approach every estimate as if the true numbers were twice what you had been told¡ªand you didn¡¯t even prepare for that much.¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t.¡± Kaius agreed. ¡°We should have had as many restoratives as we could purchase¡ªpotion toxicity matters far less when you¡¯re fighting for so long, we could have fielded far more skills far more frequently if we weren¡¯t worried about burning out. Even if I''d still had to save my spells, I would have been able to use my Bladerite far more than I did.¡± Nodding along to his words, Kaius was surprised to see the guild manager looked almost pleased. Clearly, by offering up his own explanations for their failure, he¡¯d taken a bit of the wind out of the sails of the lecture she¡¯d no doubt been expecting to give. She paused for a bit, tapping the armrest while she looked off into space¡ªclearly thinking. Suddenly, Ro rose to her feet, jumping down from the grisly throne to walk towards them. ¡°I¡¯ll be honest¡ªthose are the main issues I''d noted. I¡¯m curious though¡ªyou said you made three mistakes, what was the third?¡± Kaius cocked his head. He was sure that the last one had been something that she and Rieker would have wanted to drive home. ¡°That we should have recognised we were not well suited to this mission, and asked for assistance?¡± Ro paused midstep, looking at him like he¡¯d grown three heads. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s just precious¡ªno.¡± ¡°What? I¡ª¡± ¡°No.¡± Ro cut him off. ¡°Learn to deal with your weaknesses and deficiencies, or you¡¯ll die. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow¡ªbut someday you will. If you¡¯re not confident in your chances of success on a contract you don¡¯t take it.¡± ¡°More than that, the rise in mana has...changed things. In all likelihood¡ªwhether on the surface, or a deep delve¡ªyou will run into a situation you are unequipped to handle. When that happens, you run. You run fast, far, and only return when you are equipped to seize victory.¡± she continued. Ro slapped her knee, clearly thinking through her words¡ªfocusing on how best to impress her teachings upon them. ¡°Being a delver is dangerous. We told you we had resources in place to handle this¡ªif you felt unsuited, or found yourself out of your depths, you should have stood your ground and declined the job¡ªor retreated. Yes, this was vitally important¡ªbut if you had died nothing would have been gained, and the bogglings would have been just as much of a threat. A living delver¡ªespecially of you and your team''s calibre¡ªand an incomplete mission is far more valuable than a dead one and a half-finished job.¡± ¡°That is what I want you to take away from this. Yes, we expected you to make this mistake. That is why I came, to ensure that you learned, while still extracting as much hands-on experience and levels as possible. Yes, there were developments neither of us expected¡ªbut if you had read the histories, you could have either handled it, or retreated to inform us of such an event. Remember, this is no true loss¡ªtake it for what it is, a teaching. You will have only failed us if this happens again.¡± Ro finished Then she kept walking. Kaius expected her to slow¡ªto join them where they stood. She didn¡¯t. He spun, tracking her as she walked past. ¡°I¡¯ve got shit to do¡ªpaperwork.¡± Ro spat the word like it was poison. ¡°Don¡¯t make these mistakes again, and come see me when you return to the city.¡± Then she blurred, vanishing in a gust of wind. Kaius stood there, rooted to the spot as he stared after the guild manager in disbelief. He struggled to wrap his head around the woman. She travelled all the way here to simply judge their performance, tear them a new one, and then just leaves? When he¡¯d seen Ro sitting there, he¡¯d expected a remedial beatdown at the very least¡ªsomething like Rieker had done. If not a week or so of training as they travelled back to Deadacre. Apparently he¡¯d been mistaken. ¡°Well, that was weird. Shall we look for loot?¡± Porkchop said, breaking the stunned silence. Kaius sighed. B2 Chapter 218: Looting and Leaving, pt. 1 B2 Chapter 218: Looting and Leaving, pt. 1 Kaius carefully picked his way between the chunks of boggling strewn across the cavern¡ªthe remnants of Ro¡¯s earlier devastation of a full two thirds of the plague. While he didn¡¯t hold overmuch respect for their dead, nor was it possible to completely avoid getting his boots coated in all varieties of unmentionable, feeling his weight pulp flesh beneath his boot was still disgusting. So he did his best, relying on supernatural dexterity and strength to hop between islands of clean stone as he made his way to the slain warchief¡¯s and shaman¡¯s tents. ¡°Show off.¡± Porkchop muttered. Kaius snorted. Neither of his teammates had the luxury of avoiding the muck. Porkchop was simply too large to avoid it all, and Ianmus suffered from a simple lack of physical ability. Shooting his brother an easy grin, he made a final leap¡ªa good fifteen strides¡ªto the patch of relatively unblemished stone that surrounded the structures. He spun¡ªthrowing his hands in the air. ¡°Ta-da!¡± Ankle deep in viscera, neither of his companions found his humour particularly gripping¡ªhis show only earning him a doubled glare as they stomped over to him. With Ro having been confirmed as the source of the missing bogglings, much of the tense anxiety that had weighed upon them had fled. Unfortunately, the dissatisfaction at their showing remained. An acrid bitterness that percolated in his stomach, doing its best to taint everything else they had to be proud of. For there were things they had done well¡ªhe knew that, and acknowledging their victories was just as important as learning from their defeat. Ianmus had founded his Aspect Mentis, they¡¯d survived a siege they were thoroughly unprepared for, and they¡¯d gained skill and class levels galore. That said, the revelation that Ro had been watching them the whole time¡ªthat they¡¯d specifically been sent on a mission that was poorly suited to them, on the assumption they would approach it with inadequate thought and preparation¡ªwas a little difficult to swallow. Especially because the woman had left within minutes of their conversation even starting. Kaius wanted to pick her brains, to get her opinion on where they should direct their efforts. Now he¡¯d have to wait until they got to Deadacre¡ªsomething that was imposing in its own right. No doubt Rieker would have his own things to say, and Kaius would sooner believe that trees walked than think the guildmaster wouldn¡¯t have a few...remedial lessons waiting for them at their return. Porkchop and Ianmus arrived, breaching the tide of death to join him on dry land. They shook their feet¡ªa vain attempt to dislodge the worst of the drippings. ¡°I still can¡¯t believe one woman did all of this,¡± Ianmus said, eyes scanning the strewn bodies of the horde with a furrowed brow that revealed the devastation had left him impressed¡ªand intimidated. ¡°She has to be in the second tier, right?¡± Kaius nodded. It was the only explanation that made sense. The way she¡¯d been all but undetectable to their every senses¡ªincluding his Truesight, which specialised in revealing the hidden¡ªand the ease with which she had cut through hundreds of monsters left very little other explanation. Let alone the woman¡¯s speed¡ªthere''d been no flash of mana, but when she¡¯d left them it felt like she¡¯d just dissolved into wind. One moment she¡¯d been standing there, the next Ro was just...gone. ¡°She feels strong,¡± Porkchop agreed. ¡°She tore these creatures apart¡ªno one with claws that sharp stays a simple Uncommon or Rare.¡± Porkchop¡¯s statement got Kaius thinking¡ªassuming she was tier two, was it likely she had an Unusual class? He decided to ask Ianmus, who had taken to cutting a section of hide from one of the nearby tents in an attempt to clean up his boots. Ianmus looked up, letting out a low hum as he thought it over. ¡°Most people are pretty cagey about it¡ªTier two¡¯s are rare in the central lands, especially those close to the Frontier. No one wants to accidentally let it slip to their enemies¡ªpolitical and physical¡ªthat they¡¯re at a stat disadvantage afterall. However, I''d say it''s likely. Uncommon is the bare minimum for Delvers, and with the kind of dedicated effort it takes to reach the second tier I would be surprised if anyone was less than Rare.¡± Ianmus finally replied, discarding his scrap hide¡ªnow soaked in blood. Kaius tilted his head, not entirely sure if he agreed. Sure, most people either died or burnt out of adventuring work long before they evolved their class¡ªbut everything he¡¯d seen in the Guild had screamed a shocking lack of ambition. In his mind, the fact that most people fought things lower in level than themselves would reduce their chances. Sure, it wouldn¡¯t be everyone¡ªbut there had to be some people who were diligent and overcautious, building up their levels over decades instead of months and years. Surely not all of them would just...give up, right? With all the benefits that came from rising through the tiers¡ªthe life extension, increased stats, and skill evolutions¡ªpeople wouldn¡¯t just stop trying, it would be absurd. Yet he couldn¡¯t see any other explanation for the notable lack of people higher than the first tier¡ªand the prevalence of exceptionalism amongst those who made it. It made no sense. It was just experience, if people hungered for it, it was in reach. He couldn¡¯t see how fighting lower level monsters could be so soul destroying that people would just give up. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Admittedly, it was probably so boring and slow that he was getting restless just thinking about that particular path to power. Kaius shook his head, driving the matter from his mind. They¡¯d made their way through the thickest piles of bodies in the hopes of investigating for valuables¡ªif there were any, they were bound to be near the plague leader¡¯s tents. ¡°I¡¯ll check the shaman¡¯s tent¡ªwho knows what sort of noxious things it might have been brewing in the past.¡± Kaius suggested. If there was anything dangerous, he was the least likely to be affected with his broad spanning resistances. ¡°Good idea, plus you have a nose for reagents¡ªI''ll check out the rear of the cavern. That stone the boggling were using has me curious, if there¡¯s a vein of it we might be able to claim a finders fee. It¡¯s pretty normal for valuable seams that are worth extracting.¡± Ianmus replied, nodding his head to the shadowed wall beyond the tents. At the very least, there was evidence of more mining back there¡ªthough it could have just as easily been the plague making another expansion. ¡°That¡¯s a little cheeky, don¡¯t you think? Wouldn¡¯t Ro have the claim since she cleared the cavern?¡± Porkchop asked, surprise¡ªbut not disapproval¡ªseeping through his mental words. Ianmus had the decency to look bashful, shooting them a half smile. ¡°Of course¡ªthough I will admit that her sudden flight indicates she considers her salvage forfeit.¡± ¡°Hah¡ªwe can hope. I guess that leaves the Warchief¡¯s den, then. I¡¯ll yell if there¡¯s anything that needs thumbs.¡± Porkchop said, plodding towards the largest tent to their right. Sharing a silent nod with Ianmus, he left the mage to do his own investigations, and walked towards the only slightly smaller tent about fifty strides across the cavern. It was a grisly thing¡ªimpressive in scale for its crude construction. A chest high circular wall made of a crudely stitched mishmash of different hides stretched across a wooden frame served as the base to the structure, while a low conical top of similar make was fastened to a central pillar. The pillar itself was particularly macabre¡ªtwo dozen different skulls were mounted on strange effergies of bone. A profane offering or beseechment of whatever dark gods the spiritual leader of the plague had paid his allegiance to. Pushing aside the flap that held the tent closed, Kaius quickly found the iron-laden air of the cavern outside washed away with the sharp bite of alchemy. Most of it was old¡ªa stale torrent of bitter hatred sinking its way into his nostrils, its older black works long since losing the potency that would have differentiated the scent of magic. Honestly, for what he had seen of the general barbarity of the bogglings, he was almost impressed by the creature¡¯s setup. Almost. A low sleeping pit had been gouged into the stone at the far end of the tent, roughly layered with grease streaked furs. Other than that single sign of habitation, everything else in the space seemed to have been devoted to crude imitations of alchemy and runes. Drying herbs, reagents, and poultices hung from the wooden framing of the tent''s root, with more in the final stages of preservation lining rickety wooden shelves that dotted the tent haphazardly. At the centre, right where a cooking pit would have normally been, several cauldrons had been set over a currently unlit fire. The pots were cast iron¡ªno doubt stolen from whatever unfortunate souls the plague had set their eyes upon. With the residue of past experiments and so many mundane reagents filling the air, it was hard for Kaius to work his way through what he was looking for. He was no Alchemist, and even his Toolkit was a poor substitute for a class with a full complement of synergistic skills. He¡¯d hoped that he could rely on nothing but his nose to draw him to any choice pickings, but it seemed such a thing would not be the case. Sighing at the work ahead of him, Kaius started to pick his way through the belongings of the dead shaman¡ªtaking care not to touch anything lest he run afoul of some affliction or curse. .... Much like he had expected, most of the lead shaman¡¯s stash of reagents were little more than mana infused mundane herbs. Something a skilled practitioner could use in a pinch, but nothing actually worth collecting. There had been a shelf of open bowls filled with a shocking number of noxious ointments and tonics of a dubious nature, though Kaius was as inclined to touch them and he was to try to bite a bull¡¯s backside. Just the thought of messing around with boggling ¡®tonics¡¯ set his stomach roiling. That said, he¡¯d also been pleasantly surprised. Despite the careful search taking enough time that both Ianmus and Porkchop had called in to make sure he wasn¡¯t lying on the floor and foaming at the mouth, it had actually proven fruitful. The shaman had somehow managed to collect three reagents that were potent enough for the system to give them a rarity¡ªone of which was even a Rare, a sliver of milky crystal glowing with an internal green light. An affinity condensate¡ªthough one of the lowest grade. A shame, considering that that limited its uses considerably. If it was twice the size, Kaius had no doubt they¡¯d be able to get a clean thousand gold, considering how hard they were to find. He¡¯d almost missed it, hidden as it was underneath a pile of lesser herbs on a shelf tucked in a back corner of the tent. Kaius looked at his haul, having laid them out on a thin bench to give them a closer look. Other than the crystal, there¡¯d been a mushroom that reeked of fire and ash once he¡¯d gotten close enough, and a small waterskin filled with some sort of amber treacle substance¡ªtree sap, from the system''s description. He pulled up their descriptions, wanting to take a final look¡ªfinding even one would have been a pleasant surprise, but all three would likely bring in enough coin to rival one of their lesser missions that they¡¯d completed on the journey over. Wasting Ash Toadstool: Uncommon - Tier I Affinity - Fire, Ash, Toxin Beware the ruin heralded by ash. A magically potent fungus, brimming with the caustic remnants of flame. Reagent .... Least Nature Condensate Rare - Tier I Affinity - Nature A spring breeze, preserved in amber. Through miracle or a conflux of coincidence, this smallest drop of purified Nature affinity has crystallised Reagent .... Hungering Hemlock Sap: Common - Tier I Affinity - Nature, Poison Sometimes even the most mundane of beings can become more than their birth. The extract of a Hemlock that has long steeped in potential of mana. Reagent Chapter 195 - B2 193: Partial Truths The cushioned back of Kaius''s chair felt extra plush as Rieker stared at him and his brother with a slack jaw, clearly struggling to reassemble his worldview and failing. "Seventeen attribute points?! That is quite literally unbelievable¡ªhow?" Rieker stammered out, forcing Kaius to bite his tongue lest his amusement cross over into abject rudeness. It had been a long conversation¡ªone that had lasted for over an hour at least. The first thing Rieker had wanted to know had been about his glyph-binding, and the strange magics that let him hide his channeling while casting spells. It was a fun little misconception to burst, the guildmaster staring at him with wide eyes when he shared that there was in fact no channeling. He''d all but demanded to know more after that, and Kaius was more than happy to oblige. After all, it was nice to have the significance of his discovery verified. One day he would share it with the world, when his position was secured, but until then the satisfaction of people''s reactions was mostly withheld from him. If the guildmaster had been surprised to find that the skill lacked channeling, he''d been even more shocked to learn it was technically a variant of runecraft¡ªand was centred on pre-preparing spells with runic incantations bound into his flesh. Rieker had immediately seen the value in the style of magic¡ªeven if it wasn''t his area of expertise, Kaius himself had exemplified its potential to support close quarters combat. Though, it had been funny watching the exact moment when the guildmaster had realised he would never be able to breathe a word of the momentous discovery to anyone else for the rest of his life. His hard features had twisted, turning an impressive shade of purplish red as he stared at Kaius with wild desperation. It was only when Kaius had shared that he intended to share his discoveries¡ªonce he was strong enough for it to no longer be a risk to him¡ªthat the guild master had let out a sigh of relief. It was, in Rieker''s opinion, a skill set that would be utterly invaluable to most delving teams¡ªsomething that would keep them alive as the world grew more and more dangerous, and would allow them to specifically prepare for known threats. Kaius agreed with the man. He''d never intended to keep the entire art to himself¡ªseeing it flourish and spread would be a grand achievement that would bring its own kind of immortality. That, and he intended to do something similar himself when he had enough spells. If Vesryn runes were researched on a wide scale, it was undoubtable that spells would be discovered, and he saw no reason he could not use them for himself. Still, if glyph-binding had shocked Rieker, the knowledge of his and Porkchop''s build damn near killed him. Rieker still stared at them, as if he physically was unable to process their stat growth. "Seventeen? You''re sure." he asked. As if somehow Kaius wouldn''t know his own status. "Very. I know you said you didn''t need to know this, but Porkchop and myself have Unique classes, more than one additional racial trait, and a skill that directly enhances our physicality." Kaius confirmed. It was a lie, of course, but even with an oath the complete truth was dangerous. He was nowhere near ready to reveal the truth of Honours and a Heroic class would raise far too many questions. He would have said his class was Unusual, but it would be unbelievable with his stat growth. His explanation didn''t help the guildmaster at all. Kaius wasn''t even sure if the man was breathing, his chest as still as a rock. Eventually Rieker closed his eyes and breathed out slow. "Hells, kid. That''s enough to make a man question his own abilities. How are the two of you so tightly bound in levels and growth though? I assumed that Porkchop shared some skills with you. After all, the cooperation of the greater meles'' dens is their most famous attribute. I also assume that whatever he passed on was enough to complete a legacy¡ª I refuse to believe you could be this strong without one¡ªbut I don''t understand this." That was another little misunderstanding that Kaius would let lie. If the man wanted to offer up a reasonable explanation for him having a completed legacy all on his own, Kaius would let him have it. Him having his own completed legacy would raise far too many questions¡ªpotentially even more than if he let slip about the existence of Honours. "That is true, but you have made an error. When we told Ro that I was Kaius''s bonded companion, we weren''t lying." Porkchop interjected. Rieker''s eyes snapped back and forth between him and Porkchop. "You''re kidding." he said flatly. "No," Kaius shook his head. "We both got trapped in the depths over a year before our class selection. We grew...close. It was our bond skill that gave us the biggest edge, and still does. A lucky encounter with a natural treasure got us our first racial trait, but our bond skill gave us another, larger one." "A natural treasure too? Next you''re going to tell me the sky rained gold and the Glowing One turned up to shit on your doorstep at the moment of your birth." Rieker scoffed, before he shook his head. "Who the fuck are you, boy? Bonding a greater beast? A Unique class? Multiple racial traits? Surviving the Depths? You''d think you walked straight out of a legend!" This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. "If only he knew how ridiculous it truly was." Porkchop silently pushed through their bond, forcing Kaius to bite back a smile. It was no surprise that Rieker was struggling to digest their abilities; it had to be world shaking to learn that such a thing was possible. Still, Porkchop was right, if even the doctored half-truths they had come up with garnered this level of reaction, then they had made the right call deciding to play it safe. Any more and the guildmaster might have just straight up disbelieved them. That, and while he wouldn''t have been able to share, there would have been nothing stopping Rieker rushing off in an attempt to secure his own Honours, potentially robbing them of First bonuses. Chewing his lip, the guildmaster finally spoke once more. "I have many things I want to ask, but I wont. It would both be improper, and potentially dangerous for either me, or you. Instead, I will only ask what I must." Kaius returned Rieker''s firm look, giving him a stiff nod. He could still feel the pulsing yearn of his Aspect waiting for his attention. It was easy enough to hold back for now, but the sooner this conversation was over with, the better. "Thank you," Rieker replied, looking genuinely relieved that he agreed to the questioning. "First, I must know¡ªIs there anyone looking for you? With this sort of talent, it would be easy to requisition a portal to hide you away somewhere secure, but if not then Deadacre is a good place to slide under the noses of the powerful. Ianmus and Porkchop both looked to him quickly, almost urging him onwards. Through his bond with his brother, he could tell what they most likely thought. A perfect chance to secure some assistance against the Temple. Kaius paused, choosing his words carefully. "Yes, and no." Tilting his head questioningly, Rieker watched him closely. "My dynasty was wiped out, forcing me and my father into hiding, though I know nothing of any details beyond that. An agent of the Onyx Temple¡ªa roguish man with dark hair and a ropey scar across his face¡ªtracked us down with a troupe of bandits. My father ended up dead, and I ended up in the Depths." Kaius clenched his fist, impotent frustration speeding his heart and sapping the strength from his muscles. "As far as I know, they think me dead, and I''m unsure if the man with the scar would recognise me¡ªhe only saw my face for a brief few moments." Pausing at the words, the guildmaster rubbed his chin. "Onyx Temple eh. If he was a skilled hunter-killer, he likely would recognise you, but the reach of the Temple is wide, and there are many operatives. I think staying put would be the best option. Deadacre has a minute presence at best, and I doubt anyone sent to hunt the two of you would stick around for long." He breathed a sigh of relief, glad he wouldn''t have to upend his life to rush into hidden training. While he may trust the guild, he didn''t want his entire life dictated by them for the short term¡ªeven if he would do it if necessary. "Yes, if anything, moving you could draw more eyes. Deadacre is best¡ªin the end this is just a more concrete example of the very thing we are trying to avoid. Just...if you want revenge, hold off on pursuing it until I am done with you. Promise me that, and I''ll put feelers out through my contracts for a tracker with a facial scar¡ªdeal?" Rieker asked, looking at him with genuine concern. Kaius stared at him in shock. He hadn''t thought that the guildmaster would go so far as to personally assist them in finding their quarry. At best, he thought the man might give them a lead or two to somewhere where they could make contact with the organisation and start their own search. "Deal." he replied, nodding hurriedly. The guildmaster gave him a short grin, before he sighed and rested his elbows on the table as he rubbed his brow. In that moment more than any other, Kaius saw the weight of the man''s years. The burden of command, and the price of power cutting furrows deep into his skin. The man held it well, but he held it all the same. "Your...strengths. Your growth. It will make this both easier and harder." Rieker eventually muttered. "Why? I''ve battled with these two for weeks, I struggle to see how their power won''t let them rise with titanic swiftness." Ianmus asked, breaking the silence of the guildmaster''s thoughts. "That''s just the problem. They will¡ªyou won''t." Rieker replied, fixing their mage with what would have been a glare on anyone else¡ªfor the guildmaster it was almost friendly. "Every level, every battle, they will outstrip you more and more¡ªuntil at least the second tier, where you will be able to close the gap somewhat with a class evolution. Unless you''re hiding some way to scale your growth up your ass, I don''t see how you can viably keep up." Kaius met Porkchop''s eyes, an unspoken question flooding across his bond. A want for reassurance. He didn''t want to reveal Honours, but it sounded like Rieker was leaning towards cutting Ianmus out. That wouldn''t do¡ªnot after the bonds they had forged in battle, and especially not after sharing their secrets with the man. Porkchop gave him a slight nod, green-flecked-gold eyes resolute. "We are." Kaius said to the guild master. "I won''t share its details. It''s unpredictable, hard to acquire, and dangerous, but it will provide all of us strength. I doubt Ianmus will ever fully catch up, but he will most likely get a good class evolution, and will close some of the distance between us." Rieker groaned, brown hair streaked with white wisdom draped off his face as he stared at the ceiling. "More impossibilities. Just great." Sitting back up, Rieker shook his head at them slowly, though Kaius still caught the slight grin on his face. "Regardless, that solves one problem¡ªslightly¡ªbut there is still the issue that we will need to be careful about ramping up the difficulty of your missions. The rising level of beasts will make things somewhat easier, but it will still take time to locate appropriate challenges¡ªespecially since I want you to gain no more than a single class skill per mission. Any more than that and you risk not having enough time to integrate it into your kit." Kaius nodded, and he could see his party''s faces mirroring his own agreement with looks of focused intensity. Even if it took the guildmaster time to find them missions, if they were gaining roughly twenty levels per task, that was still explosive growth. "And of our skill levels?" Kaius asked. Rieker smiled wider than he had since their bout. A ruthless grin that showed far too many teeth. "Training. Ruthless training¡ªwith heavy sparing, direction from myself and anyone appropriate I can pull away. I have a few people in mind, but they will take time to bring in. I''ll need to use the guild''s gate. Expect them to arrive some time after your next mission." "It''ll be hard, painful, and tough. But I''ll make you strong, boys, you can count on that." Rieker continued, nodding to himself. "We''ll start tomorrow, bright and early. Ro will meet you at the counter at the second bell. Until then, I expect you to go back to your inn and celebrate¡ªRo has already deposited your pay to your account." Kaius raised an eyebrow at that. "Tomorrow?" he said, raising his stump that still pulsed with a burning itch. "Won''t this be a bit of an issue." "Didn''t know you needed a hand to train healing and resistances." Rieker replied, his eyes wild with a familiar mania. A love of strength in all its forms¡ªand a total disregard for discomfort and pain. Kaius bared his teeth right back, his heart thumping as tingling anticipation shot down his neck. The man was right¡ªhe didn''t. Chapter 196 - B2 194: Revelations, pt. 1 Reclining deep into the overstuffed armchair next to the fireplace in his room, Kaius did his best to tune out the desperate keening of his ignited aspect. After their discussion with Rieker had finished, the man had escorted them out of his training hall and quarters. At first Kaius had been worried that they would need the guildmaster''s timetable to be completely free every time they were to train, but he''d let them know there were other ways there¡ªRo would show them tomorrow. Even if Rieker had insisted on them celebrating, they''d done nothing of the sort. Immediately upon returning to the Dusty Stables, Kaius had ignored the inviting warmth and tuned out the welcoming hiss of ale hitting tankards in favour of retreating to his room, Porkchop and Ianmus in tow. He''d even gone so far as to decline Hensch''s offer of bringing dinner to his rooms. After all, who knew how long his Aspect would take. Now he sat and readied himself, Porkchop and Ianmus leaning in with wide eyes from their seats on the ground and opposite armchair respectively. Taking a breath, Kaius gave his team a nod and gave in to the keening of the burning pillar above his soul. **Ding! Pillar of Self Discovered, Mentis Ignited. Would you like to initiate Aspect Formation?** He accepted the systems waiting prompt, and dropped into his soul-space. Now that he was no longer hiding from the change, Kaius got his first good look at the burning flame above the pillar¡ªtasted the racing energy that flowed from it in waves. Potent, sharp, and wise. It was...strange, like his mind was racing at a million miles a minute just from the light and heat it gave off. A simple flicker of will connected him to the construct more fully. Kaius saw his truth. Saw what the light of the burning pyre had seen revealed within him. Desire to grow, and strive, and survive. To face trial and tribulation willingly. To learn from the experiences, and draw upon his history to pave his next step, to see him through the next danger. What he wanted was ephemeral and changeable¡ªit wasn''t Truth. How he got there? How he approached barriers and obstacles? How he worked to grow and learn and change? That was Truth. Visions flooded his mind. A soldier¡ªaged, bloody, and tall¡ªstood shoulder to shoulder with ten-thousand others, facing down an iron and flesh wall across a field littered with the fallen. Enemies and allies alike were shuffling, hiding their discomfort and fear in small movements. The soldier stood tall, unphased. He''d already seen it all. Kaius could see it in his eyes. A want, a need, a desire. It threw the soldier back into battle again and again¡ªthrough heroic victories and crushing losses. Yet still¡ªthey stood tall, every battle leaving them a little older, a little wiser, and a little more scarred. Yet still, the soldier was unphased¡ªtrusting in his mind, and his blade. The sword drew him in. It was plain. Simple honed and oiled steel, scratched and brushed by the ministrations of a thousand failed challengers. The blade held memories. The blood, essence, and reminders of a thousand battles. Chipped it might have been, simplistic and unadorned it might have been, but it remembered. The stabs. The parries and feints. The cuts. The false-charges. The openings. The maneuvers. The guards. The formations. The guard-breakers. The sieges. The hikes. The camps. The drills. The orders. The plans. The failures. The victories. Every scratch, chip, and scar was a treatise on war. The blade remembered, and it guided the way. Kaius snapped back to himself, reeling within his soulspace. The fugue left from the vision was heavy, blanketing his mind like a roux. It shaded his perception in his soul-space, making his vision blurry and indistinct. But even through that haze, the burning light of his aspect was visible. Radiant and full of splendour, it burst with light. Growing more and more intense, until all he could see was a burning yellow that reeked of wisdom. From deep within himself, the power of Mentis rose. Claws closed around his mind, plunging deep as they rearranged his thoughts, shifted lobes, and metamorphosed his cognition. Twisting them, reinforcing the connections and easing the flow of sensation. His thoughts expanded. A second stream burst into existence. Not a full duplicate, but where once he was limited to a single thread, now two focused on his changing mind. It was violating, exposing, and revealing. The crux of who he was, how he thought, reinforced and infused with power. Yet despite the vulnerability, he found himself at ease. It wasn''t the forced change of corruption, nor a destroying fire that left ashes in its wake. Potent, yes. Overwhelming, definitely. But it felt...right. Like he had taken a step to being more whole. Slowly, the light of Mentis dimmed, leaving fullness in its wake. **Ding! Mentis Aspect Founded - The Veteran''s Blade** **Ding! Significant Feat of Strength performed under Observation. You have been awarded an Honour: Trailblazer II** Kaius gasped, his eyes snapping open. The light of the room flooded in, bringing with it the faces of his team watching him closely with eyes that reflected the gentle flicks of the hearthflame. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. There was no moment of confusion, no split second of disorientation like he normally experienced¡ªhe was simply there. "Fucking hells, this is bizzare." he said, shaking his head. "What was it like? The bond got all...wishy washy for a while there." Porkchop asked. Kaius gripped his knee, idly noting the supple texture while he thought on his next words. "Strange... There were visions, similar to the impression you get from skill merging, but far far more in depth and immersive, and far more personal." Kaius paused, gathering his words as Ianmus leaned in closely¡ªobviously eager to learn as much about the experience as he could. "Once the Aspect ignited...it did something to my mind. Some generalised boost¡ªI keep expecting it to be overwhelming, how fast everything is coming in. But it isn''t¡ªwhich is almost disorienting in its own right." With every word he spoke, thoughts flitted across his mind like a flock of migrating starlings, creating connections and making inferences that would have otherwise been out of reach. It was different from the reinforcement of stats¡ªthat he could tell immediately. More...qualitative. Everything seemed to be broader. Rather than just thinking faster, he was comfortably holding a conversation while assessing the changes that had been wrought on him. The second thread wasn''t as good¡ªslow, ponderous, and lackadaisical¡ªbut it was there. "Colours seem deeper, my thoughts more fluid, and I''m pretty sure that I''m thinking about two things at once." Kaius continued, frowning as he adjusted to having an entire second stream of consciousness, even one throttled, slow, and lacking in spoken awareness. "Fascinating." Ianmus replied, watching him with a hungry avarice. "That is definitely not something that occurs with Intelligence, even at drastically high levels. What of the general base, has your speed of thought increased?" Kaius nodded. It had, though to what extent he found it hard to say¡ªit was noticeable, but he had no way to tell if he could sense it because of the other changes. He''d know more soon, the changes to his thoughts had made the buzz of his waiting notifications into a piercing drone. "I''m checking it now¡ªand the Honour that came with it." he replied, shooting his team a sly grin. He heard them suck in a breath, and before they could heave him back into more questions, he pulled up his notifications. Honour first¡ªif only because it would be the fastest to digest and explain. Trailblazer II: Honour Pillars of the self, enshrining fundamental truths. Soon to be reforged in a platinum crucible so that they may support the foundation of all that will come. Awarded to the first five to found an Aspect in a given cohort. Provides a Moderate decrease to the difficulty of the discovery and development of Aspects. +5 all stats, +3% all stats. Bonus: For being the first in your cohort to achieve this Honour the stat bonus is increased to +8 all stats, +4% all stats and receive an Aspect Informational Package ...or apparently not. What the fuck was an Informational Package?! His newly enlightened mind raced, trawling its way through his memories and plucking threads of the knowledge he held on the system and its functions. It had to be. That fucking bastard. Kaius growled, head throbbing with the sudden intensity of his hatred of someone long dead. Frustration that he couldn''t kill them himself quickly weaving its way into a tapestry of scorching heat that left a flush on his face. Yet it did not cloud him¡ªhe still thought clearly. "What''s wrong?!" Porkchop asked, scooching forwards in concern. "What could have incensed you so?" Kaius chewed on his words¡ªstewing on the sudden unexpected intensity of his emotions. "The Honour... It''s a sequential one¡ªone awarded to the first five to found an Aspect." "Why would that frustrate you?" Ianmus asked. "Were you not the first?" "It''s not that." Kaius said with a sharp shake of his head. "It''s the first bonus¡ªit comes with a system-granted information package on Aspects." The warmth of the fire became sweltering, pooling under his shirt and inflaming his disgust. "Think¡ªthe Aspects followed on from Legacy skills. There is no doubt in my mind that the first Honour went to the first to found a Legacy. If they received information from the system on how to discover merged skills, they never shared." His team looked at him in shock¡ªboth at the notoriously opaque workings of the system being shared, and at the potential former existence of information on Legacy skills. A deep look of despondence crossed Ianmus''s face, the mage mourning the loss of knowledge. "It can''t be true. It can''t. The loss...Where would we be now if that had been known?" he asked. "Probably well past the integration." Porkchop spat, his disgust mirroring Kaius''s own. Of all of their members, he was the most at odds with the pervasive secrecy that oozed from every layer of society¡ªhis own had no such compunctions about sharing. "Exactly." Kaius nodded stiffly, before he sighed and turned away from the potential tragedy. To his surprise, the raging flood of distaste retreated quickly¡ªvanishing once he had decided it was no longer time to indulge. "I''m going to check my Aspect, if I dive straight into the information package I''ll go mad." he said, getting understanding nods from his team. He pulled up the description of his latest discovery¡ªhis Pillar Mentis. The Veteran''s Edge: Pillar Mentis - Seed Stage The Veteran holds wants that have no place on the battlefield, its Edge does not. Slayer, and drawer of blood. Giver and taker of life. The Veteran''s Edge has seen a thousand campaigns¡ªvictories and defeats both. It has been honed, oiled, shattered, reforged, imbued, lost, found, and reclaimed. Kings, Tyrants, and the meek alike have fallen before it, as it has before them. It does not seek rest, nor solace, for that is not where its purpose lies. It does not desire victory and conquest, because such things are ephemeral and short-lived. There is only the urge to temper and quench in viscera¡ªto grow and learn and cut. There is only the faint hope that maybe, once the campaign is done and the sun sets on the field of battle¡ªwhen the Veteran has achieved their goal¡ªit might be laid down at rest. Not forgotten and dull, never that, but instead left remembered and ready for when the next dawn breaks on war once more. Afterall, there is always something else worth killing for. As an aspect of Mentis, The Veteran''s Edge reforges the mind with the wisdom of a thousand battles. The Veteran does not survive through strength of arm, but through wit, will, and control. Mental Reinforcement: Glass Mind The Pillar Mentis reinforces the mind, purifying it into glass. Improves multi-tasking and meta-cognitive abilities. Seed: Campaigner''s Reasoning Imbued with the wisdom of a thousand battles, remember what happened before. Greatly improves your Glass Mind''s memory of previous combat related experiences, insights, lessons, and tactics. Automatic recall and synthesis of information is improved to facilitate a path to victory. Chapter 197 - B2 195: Revelations, Finale Kaius stared at the description of The Veteran''s Blade¡ªhis Mentis Aspect¡ªin shock. It was huge¡ªand far more involved than any skill or honour description he had seen. Suddenly, he was extremely glad that he still had an informational package to read, because he had very little context of what any of it meant. He could, at least, assume that his new second stream of thought was due to the Glass Mind that had come with the aspect. It was the only place that made any mention of multi-tasking. As for his Seed, the Campaigner''s Reasoning, he still had yet to notice any direct implications of the change. From the wording, it was combat focused, and sounded like it would be an extreme help. Half of what won a battle was knowledge that was so deeply ingrained that you could act upon it instinctively¡ªthe best way to defeat a guard, where to stand, weaknesses, and more. If this change really helped him process that better, if it really gave him a better mind for battle, he was pleased with his change indeed. Though, he decided to reserve his full judgement of the change until he had seen it in use. Hopefully he would be able to puzzle it out during their upcoming training with Rieker. Whatever it was, and however it had changed him, it was far more subtle than the lesser mind that his aspect had spawned. Less noticeable than even his rapidly increasing Intelligence, he sincerely hoped that it was an indication of how integrated the change was, rather than its scope. For something that was supposed to be a continuation of Legacy skills, he hoped that it would be just as impactful. Beyond the description, Kaius found his eyes repeatedly returning to the Aspects epigraph. It spoke to him on a deep level¡ªresonated with his understanding of himself and his goals, though in a way he found hard to describe. At a first glance, he had thought that it was referring to a sword¡ªthe Veteran''s Edge, that is. What else would hunger for blood, keep a man safe, and be reforged? But on a second read, he wasn''t so sure. The more Kaius thought about it, the more certain he became that it was the Veteran''s mind. His mentality, focus, and drive. Drinking in all varied experiences, and plotting its way forward. Lighting the way, and securing a path that would see the veteran home¡ªhale and hearty¡ªwhen the battle was done. Regardless if it was won or lost. It was a way he wanted to live. At the end of the day, his goal wasn''t to win any given fight. It was grander, and far further off than that. If he wanted to gain the power he needed to secure him and his from the machinations of those that would do them harm, he needed to accept that defeat would happen. He needed to keep his eyes on the peak, and use every barrier and stumble as a learning experience, to better surpass them when they were next faced. Kaius smiled, pleased that he had received something that fit him so well¡ªthe Campaigner''s Reasoning was perfectly suited to help him grow from his experiences after all¡ªand dismissed the notification. He found his team waiting, leaning close towards him as they sat with straight backs and sharp eyes. Covering his mouth at their intense focus, Kaius shared what he had learned¡ªincluding the mysteries that he hoped his waiting notification would solve. Ianmus leaned back in his chair, crossing one leg as he stared into the fire¡ªpondering Kaius''s explanation of the Veteran''s Edge with a slow rhythmic drum of fingertips on the carved wooden hand rest. "I agree that the information package will likely clear up any misconceptions that we have." the half-elf started. "At least, we can hope. With how jealousy the system guards its secrets, I would not be surprised if it withholds the full story. Honour reward, or no." "Surely this strange parallel mind is generalisable though? It mentions that it is from Mentis itself." Porkchop replied, turning to face Ianmus. "It''s likely." Ianmus said, shifting in his seat. "But we cannot know for sure. The way I see it, there are three options. Either all Mentis Aspects come with this ''Glass Mind'', or there is a pool of possible changes it chooses between¡ªsimilar to the Seed but less personalised. It''s even possible that the parallel thoughts are entirely unique, like the Seed, and the only non-specialised boost is a general improvement in cognition. After all, these Aspects seem highly personalised compared to anything else we have seen so far." Kaius wasn''t sure about that last one. Sure, it was true that The Veteran''s Edge seemed almost tailor made for him, but he thought it was just as likely that the system simply had a pool of them to draw from that was too large to fathom. People didn''t differ that much, and he could easily imagine there being others that were just as suited to this aspect as he was. Plus, if the Glass Mind wasn''t a more generic benefit, he would have expected it to be more...tonally consistent with The Veteran''s Edge. As it was, he suspected that Ianmus''s first two guesses would be far closer to the truth than anything else. "Well then, should I check the information package? It might illuminate a few things." Kaius replied, itching to dive into it. After all, most of what society knew of the system''s functions was due to generations of research. The system itself informing people of its capabilities had to be a first. Or, perhaps it was a second. His face flushed with bitter outrage as he remembered the fact that someone might have received something similar for Legacy skills, and decided to keep the information to themselves. "Please do!" Ianmus said, knocking him out of his contemplation. The mage''s hands were scrunched tight, whitening with the force of his suppressed excitement. "This sort of discovery is what scholars dream of¡ªit seems that my hope that following you would lead to interesting discoveries is already paying off." Kaius snorted at his teammate''s antics, but dutifully pulled up his waiting notification all the same. Stolen novel; please report. **Ding! Informational Package Available! Access?** Informational Package - Aspects: For being the first in your cohort to develop an aspect, you receive information on their function, purpose, and development. Share this insight, or monopolise it, as you please. The founding of the Aspect''s Triumvirate is the second step of the Path, following that of the Legacy. Where the Legacy emphasises the power of community and knowledge, the Aspect Triumvirate enshrines the potency of personal understanding and experience. Each Aspect empowers and changes the focus of their domain¡ªMind, Body, and Soul¡ªon a level far deeper than simple skills. The process of founding and refining them is an intense personal metamorphosis, one that prepares and strengthens the self for the coming rigours of the Path. All aspects carry a baseline level of refinement to their domain, but every Truth is singular and will confer a Seed that provides unique benefits. As you further walk the Path, these Seeds will be nurtured. Founded on personal Truths, Aspects are inherently revelatory. These self-discoveries are often first revealed in moments of intense crisis, clarity, or stress. Like many things under the system, intense battle with beings of notable level or strength disparity is particularly conducive to producing these revelations. Once touched upon, introspection, meditation, and externally induced trance-like states can be utilised to delve into them more deeply. As personal understanding grows, so does the ease of future discoveries. For Mentis, this Truth is the waystone of mentality, drive, conviction, and motivation. Understand the core thread that links these facets of the mind, and the Aspect is revealed. Ignite Pillar Corporus and Pillar Animus to reveal the nature of their Truths. Ignite all three Pillars to reveal a hint of the third Step of the Path¡ªAspect Refinement. Be warned, it is possible to force an Aspect Ignition with a poorly fitting truth¡ªdoing so has potentially disastrous consequences for the Path unless steps are taken to correct this issue during refinement. While he was reading, Kaius saw Ianmus rush out of his seat. The mage hurried to his bag, retrieving a notebook and quill, ready and waiting to transcribe their discoveries. Kaius turned his attention back to his notification. Glee welled within him, growing more dense and forceful with every line he read, until a wide smile split his face. It was tainted with a bitterness that came with his realisation that he was likely right¡ªthat if someone had earned something similar for Legacy skills, they had never shared. The information here...it was too complete. Too fleshed out, with little insights, and more. It even gave hints on how to discover and find Aspects, even if Corporus and Animus were more vague. Whatever it had been, it must have come with some level of direction on how to find valid skill merges. That, he knew for sure, had never been shared. If it had, it had been locked away in some family vault and guarded jealousy, and eventually been lost to time. For if any living dynasty had that knowledge, they would have already seized control of Vaastivar¡ªformed a second Empire. Still, even those distasteful thoughts quickly fell to the back of his mind as both of his mental processes focused on the implications of the knowledge. Finishing his first pass, he turned his focus to Ianmus. "Ready to transcribe?" Ianmus snapped his head up and down, so forceful that Kaius was almost certain it would have fallen off if he nodded any harder. Even Porkchop, normally disdainful of academic specificities, was sitting rooted to the spot¡ªfocused on him with his full attention. Clearing his throat, Kaius brought the notification into view once more, and read it out loud¡ªslow and clear, but also soft enough that it wouldn''t be overheard. Ianmus''s handwriting was neat and blindingly fast, easily keeping pace. As soon as Kaius was done reading, he placed the leaf down on the floor where it could dry without running. Leaning back, Ianmus ran his fingers through his hair¡ªsilver locks shimmering in the light of the fire. "Hells." the mage whispered, his eyes glassy and unfocused. "There''s so much...and it definitely reads like it''s a continuation of a previous package." Porkchop said, matching Ianmus''s disconcertion. "Why would it keep it so limited? Give it only to a single person." While he''d been reading, Kaius had been turning that very thought over in his mind. There was only one explanation that made sense to him. "It''s a test," he said, voice heavy. His words caught his teammates'' attention, two pairs of eyes focusing on his own. Ianmus seemed to understand his point immediately, forehead scrunching as he let out a low groan. Porkchop, however, only tilted his head¡ªprompting Kaius to explain further. "Think about it. Everything in this integration process seems to be driving towards developing powerful individuals. It said it itself¡ªthe Legacy is a test of community and knowledge. One, it seems, that only your people have passed as was intended¡ªas far as we know, at least." Ianmus nodded in agreement. "It makes a strange kind of sense¡ªif we assume that the purpose of the assessment period is to reward the growth of those most capable, having knowledge of Legacy skills spread widely would be a far better foundation to discover powerhouses. After all, even if anyone could get access to a complete legacy, it would only be the most driven and dedicated that would ever complete one." Humming low in his throat, Porkchop pondered their words. "I suppose that''s true. Most meles don''t finish their legacies¡ªI was a bit strange for how much I focused on my skills. I suppose it''s different for peoples who have the weight of expectation and scarcity on their shoulders¡ªbut when everyone has it, it''s like expecting to see those without legacies working until they only have Unusual and Unique skills." Porkchop replied. "But if the system is trying to cultivate powerhouses, or even just find people capable of walking this ''Path'', why wouldn''t it share this knowledge as widely as possible?" he continued, questioning the system''s reasoning. Kaius sighed, rubbing his head. "I think the system might be aiming for that, but I think the integration is testing something else. How well suited a society is for producing the strong. This...feels exactly in line with that. When someone is given an advantage, do they share it? Make it easier for others to follow in their footsteps? After all, from Ekum''s words it sounds like the integration is as much capable of being completed by successive generations and by a single powerhouse." "I agree¡ªfor all we know, the system would find societies where third tiers are as common as grass more valuable than one that produced someone of the hypothesised seventh tier." Ianmus said, nodding along with Kaius''s words. Kaius sighed, slumping back into his chair. The revelations and changes brought by the Aspects were intense, but thankfully he had been one to secure these findings. It would give Ianmus and Porkchop the edge they needed to secure their own Aspects and version of the Honour. The knowledge that entrancement could be used to hasten their discovery alone was invaluable. After that though...he would spread this. He had to. Even if he hadn''t agreed to help the guild, it was far too valuable to society as a whole¡ªand if they did it right it would be difficult to trace back to them. Three Fields would be first. Jekkar was still in the first tier, and Holt might still be too¡ªwith them now being well defined allies, the town''s security would be far more assured if they gained the Honour. It would be a race against time though. No doubt there were other geniuses out there, either with the guild or other dynasties and institutions, that were coming close to their own discoveries. The information would definitely enable them to garner their own aspects, but whether that would win the race was up to luck and their own abilities. Especially because he couldn''t justify giving them too much of a lead. If it got out that Three Fields had that kind of knowledge, and no one else did, they would have powerhouses descending on them in an instant. He was only glad he had found companions that would agree with his plan¡ªboth saw knowledge as a treasure to be shared. Like he''d told them earlier¡ªwhat good was being a trailblazer if no one could follow the path you created? Chapter 198 - B2 196: Training, pt. 1 Kaius leapt to the side, feeling the tepid air of the training hall caress his skin as he desperately sped away from Porkchop''s claws. It was their first day sparring, and Rieker had him strip down to his small clothes to fight his brother. No skills, no spells. Just raw ability as they tried to tear each other to shreds. Neither of them were shy about it¡ªPorkchop had immediately set upon him in a furious tumble of teeth and claws. With his left hand reduced to a slowly healing nubbin, Kaius felt himself at a distinct disadvantage. Even if he had the strength to use A Father''s Gift one-handed, it didn''t mean the sword was perfect for it. Still, blood had soaked Porkchop''s fur in half a dozen places¡ªevidence that he could still lay down the hurt even disarmed. Not to say that he got away scott free. Facing down the mountain of meat that was his brother, Kaius finally got an inkling of the primal terror that their enemies must have felt in their final moments. Even without armour, it was hard to hold your ground against an apex-predator more than thrice your size bearing down on you. It was enough to make a man break out into a cold sweat. As he moved, half his mind reacted, while the other half analysed the approaching jade claws. They were going to hit him, no doubt about that. Even with the advanced warning and boosted speed from Uncanny Dodge, and his improved footwork from Tempered By Dissonance, Porkchop was like lightning given form. Knowing escape was impossible, he warded off Porkchop''s follow through with a rapid jab of his blade¡ªtilting his shoulder to keep the deadly weapons from his core. Razor sharp jade punctured his flesh like it was butter, just barely glancing off the bones off his upper arm. Muscle flayed, flapping free in a bright spray of blood, dousing his body in what felt like its fifteenth coat of the visceral paint. As the slab of meat flopped open, Kaius caught the glinting white of his bone out of the corner of his eye. It was cracked. He grunted, shunting off the blinding white flare of agony as Rapid Adaptation pulsed, muting the pain. Health went to work, flooding from the pool in his soul space to douse the site of the injury. Individual muscle fibres writhed like snakes, and his shoulder started to seal itself shut¡ªthickened blood welling at the edges of the wound like water in an overfull cup. Porkchop was already moving, lunging in with a bite. Kaius was ready for him. They''d already choked off the bond from both ends, allowing nothing but vague emotional impressions through¡ªneither of them were interested in cheating. Unfortunately for his brother, it wasn''t enough. As soon as their spar had started, Kaius found the full extent of The Veteran''s Edge revealed to him. The secondary process in his mind had latched onto Porkchop like a bloodhound, analysing his every move to compare to his knowledge of his brother''s fighting style. Within moments he could almost predict his brother''s every action¡ªit wasn''t perfect, but it was enough. Kaius leapt back and slashed, carving through Porkchop''s snout and peeling back a lip to reveal jagged teeth. "Uh oh," he thought to himself, staring at the wound. Neither of them were supposed to be going for the head, but in his focus he''d reacted instinctively. His brother howled, genuine anger flooding their narrowed bond as Porkchop raced in with renewed vigour. Blanching at the sudden¡ªadmittedly well deserved¡ªaggression, Kaius reacted as best he could. He caught the next swipe on his blade, opening Porkchop''s wrist. The third crushed his guard, carving through his thigh from hip to knee¡ªopening it like a sliced bun. Porkchop skidded to a halt as he fell to one knee with a gasp, deep red gushing from a severed artery to pool on the stone. "That''s for going for the nose, dick." He simply groaned back, holding his leg together to make the job easier for Lesser Regeneration. A burst of healing hit them both a moment later. Ianmus, standing on the sidelines next to the guildmaster. Rieker had tasked him with holding healing skills at the ready¡ªit was good skill training for the mage, and let him and Porkchop keep gutting each other for far longer than they would otherwise. After a minute of lying in his own blood, Kaius got back to his feet and dove back in. Both of them had already levelled their healing skills a couple of times, but there was still plenty of time for more. ... Sitting cross legged on the floor of the hall, Kaius grumbled as the cold stone leeched the heat from his legs. He cradled a glass bottle, one of several that Rieker had procured for him to use over the coming week. From the looks that Ianmus had given them, he knew that most of them were rare. He sighed, uncorking the bottle with his teeth. It opened with a squeak. While his hand had mostly finished healing, it wasn''t fully complete. When Rieker had said it would be slow, he wasn''t lying. After five days of being torn to shreds by his brother, and tearing him up in turn, his palm had only just finished regenerating. His fingers, on the other hand, were still little more than wiggling stumps. Sighing at the noxious blue-white fluid inside the vial, Kaius analysed it with his True Sight for what felt like the fifth time. Frozen Blood Oil: Uncommon - Tier I Affinity: Ice Turns out having ice in your veins is rather deadly. A long-acting oil that spreads freezing ice through wounds, hampering the flesh and bursting soft tissues Depths-brewed Weapon Oil Creeping Hoarfrost II The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Was he really going to do this? Injure himself purely to grow his skills? Yes, yes he was. Kaius drew his knife. The thick oil oozed from the neck of the potion bottle, beading on the rim like molasses. Wafting notes of the cold night of winter, and the slow burning heat of hypothermic exposure wrinkled his nose as a slow stream of toxin slid free. As soon as it touched his knife, the viscosity changed, seeping to cover the full extent of the blade. It was oddly adhering, holding tight to the surface of the metal in a thin film without dripping or running. Finishing his pour, Kaius capped the bottle and set it to the side. A quick flip readjusted his grip. Now holding the knife downwards, he held it over his thigh¡ªstaring at his own pale flesh. "Just get it over with, you big baby!" Porkchop called through their bond with a snort, grunting as a crash of white light seared his chest when Ianmus unleashed a Sunbeam at him. Rieker had them pulling double duty, training Porkchop''s Magic Resistance and Ianmus''s sorcery. Kaius rolled his eyes at his brother''s antics and took a deep breath to steady himself. Honestly, he didn''t know why he had this mental block. He''d suffered far worse injuries without even blinking, but there was just something about self-inflicted injuries that the mind rebelled against. Some instinct that held him back from plunging the knife down into his leg. There was nothing for it. He closed his eyes. And plunged the knife down. *Ding! You have been afflicted by Ice: Creeping Hoarfrost* Cold steel pierced his flesh, diving deep into the muscle beneath. Pain flared, though it was a small thing. Easily suppressed by Rapid Adaptation. In the back of his mind, he noted the surprising resistance his skin had put up to the blade. Razor sharp, and made of good steel, it had never had any issues of the sort before. It was a piddly thing, and not his second or even third choice of attack, but it had saved him in the past. Perhaps it was time to replace it¡ªhe could always hold on to it as a keepsake; after all, it had been a gift from Father. Opening his eyes, he looked down to see the knife sunk to the hilt, a full two handspan and a half of blade deep. He left it there, feeling the numbing agony of the weapon oil attack his flesh. Frost grew from the edge of his wound, bluing and brittle skin visible even through the hot red that ran in rivulets from the injury. Counting out ten breaths, he sat there waiting. His resistance skill was slow to react to the novel affliction¡ªit pulsed, rushing to the site of the injury, and tasted the flavour of the magic that was slowly creeping its way up his limb. Health burned, healing the damage that the hoarfrost left in his tissues. With the dense power of the weapon oil, it mostly served to keep his agony fresh¡ªrejuvenating tissues refrozen to the point of bursting in an endless cycle. Gritting his teeth, Kaius yanked his knife free in a spray of blood. The wound sealed in seconds, leaving toxic oil trapped deep in his flesh. Now he just had to wait for Rapid Adaptation to do its thing. A ding sounded in his mind, the first of many levels. ..... Kaius curled his fingers, staring at them in moderate wonder as he held them up to the light that streamed from the wardlights high above in the training hall''s ceiling. Finally, after weeks of wanting to crawl out of his skin at the sensation of his flesh undulating and stretching, his hand was healed. Waking up in the morning to a fresh set of fingers had been a delight¡ªthe last few days had been especially frustrating. With mostly healed fingers, he''d been returning to base instincts¡ªtrying to use the limb for daily tasks, only to suddenly fail when the missing tips of his digits would suddenly make themselves known. Unfortunately¡ªor perhaps fortunately¡ªthe full regeneration of his hand meant that he could no longer put off working on reinscribing his Drakthar glyph. He could have started a few days ago, but he had kept finding excuses to put it off. More resistances to get, and more sparing to do with Porkchop. Now though, the weapon oils were exhausted¡ªfor now, Rieker said he would work on sourcing more while they were off on their next mission¡ªand he had nothing holding him back. Clenching his fist, Kaius felt the tension and pressure shoot through his palm and up his arm, mirroring the heavy demon that sat on his chest. Vesryn glyphs were...intensely complicated. His original glyph of his father''s design was a child''s drawing in comparison, and he''d mangled himself trying to inscribe that. Sure, his mental stats and level were far higher than they were back then, and he now had dedicated skills that would help¡ªlet alone his new Aspect¡ªbut it didn''t make it any less intimidating. He''d already walked with Ianmus and Porkchop to the guild. While it would have been more comfortable at the Stables, it was too risky to his brother''s cover to let Porkchop arrive without his bonded partner. That, and in the likely event he cocked something up, it would be nice to have a healer immediately on hand. A brief look confirmed that Ianmus and Porkchop were deep in their own training. Ianmus had spent the last week working on using his solar manipulation to affect his sorcery skills¡ªhis beam attack and physical buff. It looked to be grueling work, even now the man''s face was scrunched and sweat streamed off his brow. A beam snapped out¡ªscorching Porkchop who watched his fur and flesh burn with stoic interest. Unlike his original attacks, it hung in the air, continuing to scour flesh and blacken bone. It was fascinating to watch¡ªthe flexibility that a traditional mage had on changing even rigid System-granted sorcery to suit their needs. So unlike his own glyph-binding. It was also a distraction, he realised, shaking his head and turning his focus inwards. As his eyes closed, the almost-circulatory structures of his mana conduits came into the view of his mind''s eye. He focused on his hand, bringing up his long-since memorised image of his glyph. Taking it slow would be his path to success¡ªhe knew the theory, he knew the glyph, he just had to put it into practice. Easier said than done, unfortunately. He infused his mana-pool with a thread of his soul, and started to draw out a thin stream of mana that he pushed to his limb. To Kaius''s surprise, it was far easier than he had anticipated. Not simply due to his increased Willpower, nor his drastically improved skills, but because of the ease he had in holding everything clear in his mind. By far the hardest part of inscribing his spells and glyphs had always been the strain of splitting his attention. The glyph itself, his infused mana, and the structure of the weave all had demands on his focus. With his Aspect, and the Glass Mind that came with it, everything became far easier. Unfortunately it made the glyph itself no less complex. His teeth clenched, grinding against his trepidation. With nothing else for it, he decided to dive in. Grasping a hold of his mana he weaved a complex knot. Each finger width dove and wound through his flesh, binding themselves recursively to the natural mana pathways that threaded his body. It was slow going, barely a finger-width a minute. Thankfully, holding the structure stable was¡ªwell, not easy, but manageable. Still, progress was made, and the closest he ever came to failure was the occasional ding of a skill level shaking him from his focused fugue. Now more than ever he realised that the person who had originally designed this glyphic language was a genius. Against all his expectations, the structure was remarkably unreactive¡ªeven unfinished, it wanted to bind to his flesh, and each of his momentary slip-ups lead to little more than a waver in the tight whorls and loops of mana. That said, his head still throbbed, and his clothes were still soaked with sweat. After what felt like an hour he finished the first array, feeling it snap in place. Mana pulsed, flaring its connection to his soul and settled in¡ªbinding itself in place. Kaius''s eyebrows furrowed in surprise at the unexpected development. He hoped it meant he could take a break¡ªit was the first of nine that he had identified, and it had taken him the better part of an hour to complete. Slowly, trepidatiously, he withdrew his grip on the mana. A cooling rush of relief flooded him as the orphaned array stayed in place. It was stable. Chapter 199 - B2 197: Training, Finale Kaius held his sword in a mid-guard, a neutral stance that allowed an easy flow into a variety of attacks and alternate stances. The lights of the training hall were as harsh as they always had been, but after nearly four weeks of spending almost every waking hour down here he was well used to it. Sort of. It was still glaring if he got careless and looked directly towards them¡ªTruesight might have kept his vision clear, but it didn''t make the experience comfortable. Nearly a whole month, working himself to the bone in an effort to shore up their lacking skills before their explosive rise in levels continued once more¡ªfor a time. Even with the bonus experience from punching so far above their level, it would slow down eventually. It had been more than worth it. Every moment of exertion and agony. Every drop of sweat and blood. Every vile toxin and vicious affliction. He''d seen more growth in the last few weeks than he had thought possible. Yet not even the fizzing energy of progress could buoy the weight on his shoulders. This time they had spent was not without cost. Every day that they trained was a day that the beasts grew stronger. Nearly four months post phase-shift and things were getting bad. The streets were grim¡ªtense and quiet. For a while more refugees and asylum seekers had arrived. At first they flooded the plaza where he and his team had entered the city, but eventually there was too little space. Now, practically every square in the city had a ramshackle collection of canvas dwellings housing the beaten and dispossessed. It had been far worse when the steady flow of heavy eyes and bent spines had slowed to a trickle. Now it was rare to see anyone outside the city walls¡ªonly fools, delvers, and heavily armed caravans dared to brave the wilds. He hoped it was because people had found other refuges, and ways to persevere. That only the weak and incapable had been forced to flee. It was possible¡ªthe farmers were managing, somehow. Kaius swore that every time he saw one they were leaping up in levels¡ªand their eyes were just a little harder. He hadn''t seen it yet, but he''d heard rumours in the guild hall that more than a few of the more desperate had tried to raid the wagons laden with food. Apparently most of them were lucky to only lose a few fingers for their efforts. He found it hard to blame the farmers. They were putting themselves at dire risk¡ªeven with the way they had banded together¡ªin order to feed the city. Especially since few people were truly starving. With the amount of beasts around, meat was plentiful, and, like most cities, Deadacre had been built around a shallow depths biome that could provide an emergency food source. Layer three, with mostly beasts¡ªit was doing much to serve the city. Unfortunately, it had a middling length week-long reset period; it was a massive operation to get food out. They''d been rotating teams of heavily vetted Iron delvers and high level guards, equipped with borrowed spatial artefacts of significant capacity. Their power meant a speedy clear, and a shorter wait to begin the reset timer, but it meant that those clearing it were seeing few benefits for their trouble. The destitution and overall bleakness of it rubbed him raw. Made being in the city for so long even more painful than it already was. He longed for the free fields and open blue of the wilds¡ªthe excitement and adventure of a cross-country hike, suitably sprinkled with heart pounding fights. Soon. Soon. Rieker had a mission for them¡ªhe and Ro were just setting up a route and clearing up the official side of things. When Ro had gotten mad at the amount of paperwork they had created for her, Kaius had thought she''d been playing it up. Judging by the hours she seemed to spend filling out forms and signing them in triplicate, getting some authorisation or another to hide their records and obscure the missions they were taking, she hadn''t been. It seemed past a certain level the guild really hated special dispensations without a very good reason. Still, despite everything, there were only a few short days left. They wouldn''t be easy. Rieker stood across from him, casual in his cotton slacks and linen shirt. The man was totally at ease, and utterly unworried for his safety. Hells, if not for holding the same warhammer that had taken his hand, Kaius would have thought the man was ready for dinner. More sparring¡ªthough this time he was allowed his skills and spells. Thankfully, Kaius had also been allowed to wear his armour, if only to better the rate at which Tempered By Dissonance would level. These fights were to better his Lesser Regeneration. The real focus was his sword-work, and how he could push his burgeoning style to more seamlessly integrate his spells. They''d already been at it for a few days, and the results spoke for themselves. Rieker moved fast, and hit hard, but not so powerfully that he was unable to keep up or defend. That is, until he made a mistake, and the guildmaster would punish it like lightning. Nothing serious, nothing that would take him out of the fight. Just a broken bone or two. Broken bones still hurt. His fingers rolled over the tacky leather of his sword''s grip, settling to a more comfortable position. A frustrating experience, but one that The Veteran''s Edge had taken to like water. Rieker might catch him out with a trick once¡ªeven twice¡ªbut he learned his lesson, and from that moment on, any feint or tell was as visible to him as the sun. He simply knew¡ªand with each bout, his library of understanding grew. With his Glass Mind scouring his memories, his swordplay had risen by leaps and bounds. How to step, when to strike, when to cast, and when to slip through the skin of the world. Even grizzled old Rieker had been impressed¡ªthough he was only rewarded with harder blows and more stringent standards. Kaius breathed. "Ready!" he shouted, his words carrying across the hall. "Ready," the guildmaster''s soft words carried clean through the hall, audible despite the lack of projection behind them. Kaius raced in. The guildmaster flew to meet him, hammer held high. ..... Kaius groaned, splayed out over his brother''s back as he stared up at the wooden ceiling of their room in the Dusty Stables. The soft orange tones of a deep sunset streamed through the high windows¡ªcoating the room in dulcet tones that urged him to fall asleep right this minute. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. They''d finished their last day of Rieker''s hellish training. Finally. The man was a devil¡ªno, a demon king. He''d held nothing back in correcting their ''inadequacies'', saying only that it was disgraceful and disgusting that people of their talent would have skill levels so low every time they so much as sighed. Utterly ridiculous, honestly. It wasn''t like any of them had slacked off, not even for a moment. As soon as the day was done¡ªanother one of brutal sparring with the guildmaster himself¡ªthey had rushed from the hall, all but sprinting to the closest thing they had to a home in Deadacre. Hensch, the beautiful man, had taken one look at them and banished them to their rooms. It hadn''t taken much to convince them, and the fact that the innkeep had promised to bring dinner to their rooms, and wake them if he had too, had only made the offer all the sweeter. Even Yong¡ªthe gregarious cat-beast that was Hensch''s bonded¡ªhad left them alone. Impressive, considering his overly-gregarious nature and utter fascination with Porkchop. Now, even after hours of lying around practically insensate, none of them could muster up the energy to move. Kaius craned his neck up, catching Ianmus''s eye. The man was sprawled in one of the armchairs by the fire, uncharacteristically slouched with one leg flung over the armrest. Considering Ianmus was more the type to smooth out his robe before he so much as sat down, he must have been as exhausted as Kaius felt. "Hell of a month, eh?" Kaius quipped, giving his teammate a smile. "Huh?" Ianmus said, slowly rolling his head to look over at him. His eyes were heavy. Unfocused. "Oh, yeah. Reminds me of second year¡ªthey had us do a survival course where we weren''t allowed to sleep for the whole week. Just about drove me mad." "I feel like my bones are going to fall out..." Porkchop groaned, his chest vibrating underneath Kaius''s back. Kaius laughed. It was a strange thing, the fatigue that came with pushing yourself to the limits. Stamina did much, soothing aching muscles and invigorating the body, but it couldn''t do everything. With enough training, it got to a point where the body just...had enough. When all that could really help you recover was a good day or two at rest, full of good food and wine. He didn''t understand the specifics of it¡ªwhen he''d asked yesterday Ianmus had mumbled something unintelligible about the ''complicated interplay of mind, body, and soul''. Just about the only thing he had understood was that any significant expenditure of a resource that was chronic over multiple days and weeks could cause the issue. Unfortunate, considering all of them had been spending all three like water for the entirety of their brief stint of intensive training. Thankfully, Ianmus had clarified that the issue got less and less significant as one''s stats grew. It made sense, after all, he''d felt similar burn-out in the Depths after far less intensive stints. A glance told him that Ianmus had returned to his doze, and the rhythmic motions of his brother''s chest told him that Porkchop had drifted off as well. As much as Kaius wished he could join him, he couldn''t, not yet. Even if the soft afternoon sun on his face did feel like getting serenaded by an angel. He needed to check his gains. With the frantic pace of his levelling, Kaius had forced himself to put off checking them throughout the month. With the regularity of the dings that had come, he knew they would be significant. After all, even if Rieker had paid special attention to Rapid Adaptation and Lesser Regeneration, every single one of his skills had been pushed to their limits. Intense, exhausting, and stressful¡ªbut oh so worth it. His mana skills especially had seen surprising growth¡ªas much of a pain in the ass as it had been to reinscribe his Drakthar glyph, the complicated nature of the working had done wonders for his skill levels. Even if it had taken three straight days to complete. Let alone the additional resistances he had gained¡ªthose alone were worth the pain and discomfort of self-injury. That, and Rieker had done his best to procure multiple sources for him to gain a defence against some relatively common affinities that he had thought Kaius was likely to encounter. He''d been especially insistent on Kaius adapting to the affinities that he and his team mates used¡ªapparently the old man had seen one too many cases of friendly fire in his life. Stifling a yawn, Kaius dived into his status¡ªpulling up the changes to Rapid Adaptation as well. Status: Name: Kaius Dynasty: Unterstern Age: 19 Race: Human (Dynastic, Greater Beastblooded) - +1 End, Str, Wil, and free stats per level Layer Reached: 2 Class: Runeblade Initiate - +3 Int, +2 End, +2 Str, +2 Dex, +1 Vit, +1 Wil per level Level: 48 Resources: Health - 2970/2970 (16.1/min) Stamina - 2850/2850 (22.3/min) Mana - 3870/3870 (26.8/min) Free Mana - 3870/3870 Reserved Mana - 0 Stats: Endurance - 174 + 57 + 29% (297) Vitality - 68 + 57 + 29% (161) Strength - 164 + 57 + 29% (285) Dexterity - 116 + 57 + 29% (223) Intelligence - 212 + 71 + 37% (387) Willpower: - 116 + 71 + 37% (268) Stat Points: 0 Aspects: Pillar Corporus: N/A Pillar Mentis: The Veteran''s Edge Reinforcement: Glass Mind Seed: Campaigner''s Reason Pillar Animus: N/A Class Skills (3/10): Latent Glyph of Drakthar (Heroic) - 22 > 43 Initiate''s Glyphic Bladerite (Unique) - 10 > 26 Latent Glyph of Aelina (Heroic) - 0 > 15 General Skills (10/10): Rapid Adaptation (Heroic) - 28 > 69 Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo (Heroic) - 30 > 47 Explorer''s Toolkit (Unusual) - 36 > 39 Tempered by Dissonance (Heroic) - 31 > 45 True Sight (Unique) - 38 > 39 Tonal Weaving (Unique) - 31 > 49 Resonance Amplification (Unique) - 27 > 38 Lesser Regeneration (Unusual) - 28 > 60 Uncanny Dodge (Unique) - 29 > 37 Brotherhood of Ichor and Animus (Heroic) - 40 > 48 Hymnbook: Glyph of Drakthar - Stormlash (Tier I - 120 mana) Glyph of Aelina - Yellia''s Slip Step (Tier I - 80 mana) Honours: Born for Slaughter (Bonus) Sublime Prodigy - Glyph Binding (Bonus) Birds of a Blood Soaked Feather (Bonus) Persistent Survivor (Minor) (Bonus) Kingslayer (Major) (Bonus) Ruthless Underdog (Bonus) Ruthless Underdog II Trailblazer II (Bonus) Bound Artefacts: A Fathers Gift - Common Growth Longsword Growth Conditions- Gain a class (1/1) Absorb suitable materials (1/3) Forge a link (1/1) ... Rapid Adaptation: Level 69 Heroic Resistances: Pain, Fear, Poison, Disease, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Void, Aether, Venom, Corruption, Bone, Paralysis, Ice, Magma, Light, Wood, Crystal, Electric Kaius shook his head at the monumental gains. Regardless of the progress¡ªof the worsening state of the integration¡ªit had been well worth it to delay. Their safety was better assured, and if they had pushed ahead unheeded, it was likely that their skills would lag. While they could simply wait at the threshold to the second tier while they capped their skills, it was far better for their overall effectiveness in battle if they took the time to keep their skills appropriately levelled. With his review done, Kaius stopped fighting against the steady yank of his exhaustion, allowing himself to drift off as the purple and orange hues of the sunset warmed his face. Tomorrow they would start their next mission¡ªhe couldn''t wait. Chapter 200 - B2 198: Second Mission, Pt. 1 Kaius looked around the room. They were back on the top floor of the guild¡ªone that was totally reserved for the guildmaster''s roof. However, rather than return to his personal office for this conversation, they had exited the stairs and taken a door just off the foyer before his quarters. Ro had led the way with confidence, having met them in the common room of the guild just as they had entered. Thankfully, it didn''t draw too much attention. The guild had many trainers, and it wasn''t all that odd for Ro to take an interest in promising youngsters¡ªso most just assumed she had taken on that mantle. Not even the most conspiratorial would assume that they had been training with the guildmaster daily. After a short walk past tapestries and paintings, Ro had opened a door¡ªleading to some sort of meeting room. Rieker was already waiting, sitting on one side of a large rectangular hardwood table. A luxurious thing, etched in filigree, blooming flowers, and fantastical birds in flight. High backed chairs surrounded it on all edges, enough for five people to sit across each long edge. The wall behind the guildmaster were austere, much like all the others. That said, they were still clearly expensive. Wood panelling¡ªa deep brown with rosy undertones¡ªflanked the bottom third, while the upper section before the sculpted ceiling was papered with some sort of rich red. Simple, but beautiful. Even the wardlights let off a soft yellow glow that filled the room with a gentle ambiance. Kaius''s eyes skimmed past the large windows that adorned the wall past the head of the table, revealing a high view of Deadacre. Also pretty, but ultimately not what he was here for. Today was when they would learn of their next contract¡ªand the finalised details of Rieker''s plan to rush them to the Steel ranks¡ªor potentially further, to the second tier. "Come, come, take a seat." the guildmaster said, waving them towards the seats across from him. They filed in¡ªKaius pulling out a chair so that Porkchop could sit next to him. Ro circled around the table, taking her position at Rieker''s right. "First, some ''gifts''. Ro?" Rieker said, turning to the guild manager. Drorome nodded, reaching into her doublet to pull out two familiar medallions, and three small charms that looked like beads of woven wire. The former were guild tokens¡ªmuch like their own copper ones, but bronze instead. Ro pushed them forwards. "These are for your new rank¡ªcongratulations, you made Bronze." Ro''s voice was flat and insincere, though Kaius knew that for all the woman was acting stoney, she did have a genuine fondness for them. "I hope you appreciate the two days of forms it took to get you this after a single mission." On the back of her withering stare, she smiled¡ªface flicking quickly to a bright warmth. "It''s a genuine achievement, and as much as I have been grumbling about the extra work, it''s a well deserved reward. With the overleveled nature of the assassin spider, you earned a bonus¡ªone-twenty gold. I took the liberty of splitting it between your accounts in the division that Ianmus requested." "Bronze is where the guild truly begins to invest in its members¡ªgiving access to our banking through the use of your medallions. In cities with a guildhall, most establishments catering to delvers can draw on it directly, but you can always withdraw coin at any hall." Rieker interjected. "Most importantly in our case, it clears you for missions up to level one-hundred." Kaius nodded. He''d known of both, but it was good to confirm they had earned it all the same. Thankfully, by the time they had outgrown threats on that scale, they had both Rieker and Ro to smooth their advancement to Iron¡ªthey''d already said they would do as much. Apparently, the ranks weren''t so much a direct declaration of the levels of a given team¡ªinstead, they were designed to show off the caliber of threats they could face. Most people did not fight above their level¡ªcertainly no one went to the extremes that he and his team did¡ªbut it wasn''t entirely unheard of for elite teams to enter a new rank ten to twenty levels early. "These, on the other hand." Ro tapped the rings. "Are not a reward. They are a loan. Rieker had to request them personally from the head office¡ªpulling strings to do so¡ªand they are exceptionally valuable." "Our new masking artifacts? Ianmus is getting one too?" Porkchop asked. "Indeed," Ro nodded. "We don''t just need to hide your class identifiers, or that you are a greater beast¡ªwe need a total mask, something that will obscure you completely against analysis from anyone under the third tier." Kaius ogled the plain rings that looked like they were made out of simple steel, finding it hard to believe they could be so potent. Masking them utterly from someone at the peak of the second tier? He was no expert in the skill, but from what Ianmus had said, that was a steep ask. It also made his mind drift to what Rieker had said so long ago, that even high in the second he considered himself only a middling power. It went against everything he knew. From everything he had been taught, third tiers were as rare as dragon''s teeth¡ªbut Rieker made it sound like they were almost common. "I see you recognise your value." Rieker said with a nod. "Indeed¡ªI can confirm that these were hard for me to acquire, even with a career''s worth of connections to draw upon. I would have liked to get something that would have hidden you from a third tier. Unfortunately, I do not have the wealth, pull, or favours to get something like that." "Plus, it is of dubious value." Ro interjected. "The chances of a third tier¡ªone with an analysis skill, mind¡ª coming to Deadacre of all places is vanishingly small, and if you catch their eye¡ªyou''re already fucked. Someone in the first standing up to their analysis would be just as damning as them seeing it in the first place. We hope, by the time you brush against such lofty shoulders, you will more than be capable of handling your own Mask." A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Kaius caught Ianmus staring at the rings, an intense look of contemplation furrowing his brow. Finally, he looked up to their superiors. "What tier and rarity are these? From what I know about enchantment theory¡ªwhat you''re saying it can do is impossible for something less than a second tier artefact. Well, unless they are named items." Ro and Rieker grinned, matching smiles that were all teeth. "You''re right. They''re Unusual second-tier artefacts¡ªtook me a month to secure them. At significant personal cost, mind you." Rieker replied. Kaius blinked, his mind reeling. First the regeneration tonic, now these rings? Just how rich was Rieker!? They had to be thousands of gold! At least! Rolling her eyes, Ro slapped the guildmaster on the shoulder¡ªit was a telling display of familiarity, one that was enough to ground Kaius from his shock at the expense of the artefacts. "Don''t tell fibs." she admonished him, before turning back to him. "He requisitioned them. They were¡ªand remain¡ªguild property. Thankfully, promising youngsters like you that need a little secrecy is exactly why the guild produces them. They''re a loan¡ªuntil you reach the point where you can Mask yourself just as well as these can." She slid the rings over. "Pass me back your old ones. I''m taking them back and clearing your debt, they can just go straight back to the armory. You also won''t be able to analyse them until you put them on." Kaius nodded, scooping up the cold band of metal. Turning it over in his hand, it really did just look like a simple loop of solid steel¡ªwith no signs of inscription to be seen. Obviously they had been made by a master, whether it was an artisan or a runesmith, they''d done immensely well to hide the nature of the artefact. Sliding it on to his finger, he peered at it with True Sight. Ring of Jealous Secrets: Unusual - Tier II Some things are best not shared. A ring of inscribed mithril inlaid with tier two mind-aspected amethyst, and coated in a fine layer of steel. Fully blocks inspection of the wearer with an adamant defence, and passively holds their Mask in place. Active testing of the Mask still burdens Will, but this strain is greatly lessened. Mask is preserved even if the wielder falls unconscious. This artefact is drastically difficult to analyse, and is enchanted to encourage disinterest in its presence when worn. Artisan-wrought Artefact. Accessory - Ring Adamant Mask II, Resizing I, Inspect Resistance VI, Self Repair III, Durability II, Cloak of Disinterest IV Kaius gaped at the artefact¡ªmarvelling at the number and quality of enchantments that had been packed into the ring. His first piece of tier two equipment, a significant milestone if he had ever heard of one. Sure, it wasn''t technically his, and it would do little to materially benefit him in battle¡ªbut it was still a significant gesture. No matter how much Rieker downplayed it, and no matter how much Ro said it was guild property, there was no way these would have been easy to acquire. Especially since they were barely a quarter of the way through the first tier. "Thank you." he said, bowing his head to his superiors. He might have had an independent streak a mile long, and still have a few reservations about Rieker''s and Ro''s true gains from helping them¡ªbut there was no denying they were pulling out all the stops. Feeling the nudging curiosity coming through his bond, Kaius relayed the artifact''s functions to Porkchop. His brother''s eyes widened, sniffing the ring in curiosity, before he got Kaius to help him with replacing his own. Ianmus, on the other hand, was still rooted in shock¡ªsitting in his chair with his hand held in front of his face, staring at the ring like he expected it to vanish at any moment. "Now!" Rieker clapped, jolting all of them out of the revere. "With that done we have a mission to discuss." That caught Kaius''s attention, his heart thumping at the thought of finally getting out of the city once more. "We had a scout come through a couple of weeks ago¡ªa refugee from a small hamlet closer to the coast. An old soldier¡ªhad enough levels to make it out there, but had fled with his village to keep them safe. Tough bastard managed to keep all fifty of them alive, charting them a course around the worst of the beasts. Don''t think he slept a wink for the whole trip." Ro started. Rieker pulled a roll of paper from his spatial artefact, and passed it over. Ro unravelled it on the table, revealing a map of Deadacre and the surrounding regions. She pointed to a spot deep in the hill country to the south east. "They passed through this spot a good three or four weeks back¡ªpretty early into their journey. The scout had been doing his nightly rounds, and stumbled into something serious." Kaius leaned in, looking at where she was pointing. He didn''t know too much about the kind of dangers that could be found over there¡ªand even if he did, they had likely changed since the phase-shift. "What''d he find?" Ianmus asked curiously. "I can''t remember there being anything of note in the Dramsal hills¡ªonly a few boggarts and the like." "Exactly." Rieker said, his word cutting through Ianmus''s question like a knife. "He found a boggart warren." "Aren''t they just pests? I haven''t heard of anyone having much trouble with them in the past." Porkchop tilted his head, looking at the guildmaster in confusion. "Not any more." Ro''s voice was grim. "He said he found hundreds. Most in the late fifties to sixties¡ªbut you can count on their elites and leaders being higher. A plague of that size alone is a threat to the entire region. If they aren''t stamped out, they''ll just keep growing and growing and growing. Eventually, even Deadacre might be at risk." Kaius stared at the guild manager with wide eyes. That serious? "Why in the hells would you send us then?" "Because, lad, a plague of this size is a job for me. Ro brought this right to my desk. With a volume of enemies like this, and of a decent level, it will be enough to get you to your next class skill. Most importantly though, facing so many enemies will stress your abilities, and your team work. Your skills will benefit vastly." Rieker explained. Then the guildmaster rooted him to the spot with steely eyes. "However, this is important. The boggarts must be slain, and I am taking a risk leaving this in your hands. They''re unlikely to run, but if you don''t catch all of the leaders, they''ll just keep breeding until we have another swarm on our hands in a few months. If you fuck it up, we''ll have to clean up your mess. " "I hope I don''t have to say that if that happens, I will be very disappointed. Don''t disappoint me." Riekers words were teasing, but they had a hard edge to them. He genuinely expected them to slaughter this threat. No doubt, if they failed, their next training sessions would be even more tortuous than the last. Kaius swallowed, a lump catching in his throat. Chapter 201 - B2 199: Second Mission, Pt 2 Pausing as he met the guildmasters'' eyes, Kaius considered the responsibility that had been offered. Taking out a boggart swarm of once in a century''s strength? That was vital, and the fact that they had been offered the task showed a level of trust he didn''t expect to receive so early. "Given the risks, and the importance of this task, we won''t force you to take it on." Ro said, drawing Kaius''s attention away from Rieker. "Take a few minutes to think it through¡ªwe have backups, but this is a genuine opportunity if you can seize it. Similarly, if you do decide to accept, you should prepare thoroughly¡ªit''s a little more complex than what you did with the spider." Kaius looked to his team, searching their faces for any indication of their preferences. Porkchop, as always, looked thrilled at the idea of any form of challenge¡ªso he was a shoe in. Ianmus however, looked concerned, with a slight frown marring his angular features. He caught the man''s eye. "What do you think?" Ianmus paused, contemplative for a few moments, before he shrugged. "It''s up to you, I trust your judgement. A swarm of that size is dangerous, but I am less concerned for our safety¡ªthe two of you can handle it. I do have one question though." "How are we allowed to do this? This can''t be a Bronze rated task." Ianmus asked, his attention turning to the two guild administrators on the opposite side of the table. One of Ro''s eyes scrunched as she grimaced¡ªher awareness of the non-standard nature of their mission obvious. Rieker only grinned. "Technically, since the scout only saw enemies under level seventy¡ªand he only saw a few dozen at any one given time¡ªit''s within the bounds of what a Bronze can handle." Rieker said, his voice carrying through the room. "Though I will admit that it is stretching the definition just a little. Traditionally anything that can potentially escalate to disastrous levels is given priority to delvers who have a certainty of success¡ªthough I have plenty of leeway in how that applies." Ianmus mulled the words over, before he turned back to Kaius. "I''m satisfied¡ªit''s up to you." Nodding to his teammate, Kaius leaned over to look closer at the map that Ro had placed on the table¡ªconsidering the boggart swarm that they were tasked with culling. The group itself should be easy to navigate to. Deep in the dense and rocky hills that lay east and south of Deadacre¡ªabout two weeks walk if he was reading the map right. It would likely be a relatively easy journey. Flat land, with few stopping points other than a few smaller villages that they could stop by for supplies. If they were still inhabited, that is. Kaius frowned¡ªthe fact that the scout had moved past them, going straight to Deadacre, was telling. Though, it was possible they just simply didn''t have the infrastructure or supplies to handle the influx of hopefuls. No doubt the boggarts were holed up in some cave, as their kind was wont to do. While he knew relatively little of that region, he had heard that there were some pretty extensive systems that networked the hills and bedrock beneath. He didn''t deny it was an exhilarating opportunity, but it had its risks. Boggarts of the level that they had described were rare, and were usually the result of some small tribe of the buggers being left undiscovered in a particularly dangerous region. However, swarms were slightly more common. As one of the lower races, boggarts formed complex communities that could grow and scale. Unfortunately, like all others of their cursed nature, they seemed to be inherently destructive and parasitic. They festered, eating regions barren until they either starved themselves out or formed conquesting warbands, descending on surrounding territories to pillage and eat and slave. Normally, it was a rare issue¡ªlacking the faculties of the higher races and greater beasts, they had little of either''s raw power and ingenuity. Hells, they couldn''t even speak Common, which Kaius assumed meant that they had some lower form of the system like beasts. Even when they did form hosts, most of the time their environment couldn''t support large numbers, and they stabilised in small tribal groups¡ªvicious and bloodthirsty, but low level and weak. It was only when a rare shaman or warchief appeared¡ªpulling various tribes under their banner¡ªthat they would form a host and raid in search of the resources they needed to grow their numbers, increasing in levels all the while. Kaius sincerely hoped that this tribe, numbering in the hundreds, was some result of the increased number of beasts allowing them to grow fat and numerous, and not the result of one of their number becoming a chieftain. Warchiefs, and the various other types of boggarts that rode at the head of swarms, were universally powerful. A cut above their more common brethren, both in stature and the might of their system-granted abilities, from what he had heard. If even the common rabble beat him in level...one of them would be potent indeed. On the other hand, Kaius could see Rieker''s wisdom in them taking this mission on. First, the guildmaster was correct in that it would be a fantastic whetstone to hone the edge of their skills against. More than that though, it would give them valuable practice against thinking enemies. Boggarts might have a base and simple intelligence, but they were conniving and cunning. Learning how to manage opposing tactics, ambushes, and the like, now instead of against a superior force of men could save their life. Plus, ever since gaining his Veteran''s Edge, he had taken a new shine to the breadth of value that varied experience held. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. In his spars against Porkchop and Rieker he had realised that his knowledge of war was fragmented and relatively untested. No matter how much his mind pulled on his past experiences to seek a path to victory, it mattered little when almost all of them were against rabid depths-born and simple beasts. Plus, he didn''t need an Aspect to know that they had yet to adapt their team tactics against large volumes of enemies. Learning to manoeuvre and dismantle a numerically superior force would be vital before they returned to the depths¡ªespecially considering Ianmus''s relative vulnerability to being caught out alone. All in all, he thought it would be worth it. Besides, surely a mission of this import would have a commensurate reward? "What''s the pay?" he asked. "Now we''re talking! Should have been the first bloody question out of your mouth." Rieker said, walloping the table hard enough for it to jump. As the table crashed back to the ground, the guild master winced as Ro stared daggers at him. "Rieker! If I have to fill out a requisition form again for another table, I am going to hand off your precious liquor to the closest booze-hound I can find that looks like he drinks rotten apples for a living!" Ro yelled at the man, swatting him on the arm. It seemed even the guildmaster himself wasn''t immune to her fire¡ªRo clearly had no compunctions about denying Rieker the respect his station was ''due''. Kaius bit the inside of his cheek, hiding his amusement. Rieker, at the very least, had the good sense to look abashed. "Sorry, Ro." Sniffing, and giving him a swift nod at his minor contrition, Ro turned her attention back to them. "The reward is considerable. A full platinum piece¡ªone-thousand gold to split between you¡ª" she explained. Kaius''s eyebrows shot up, and he heard his teammates gasp in surprise. That was a lot of money¡ªeven enough to start securing a couple of pieces of Rare- gear for him and his team, potentially even more. Ro continued on, uncaring of their reactions. "¡ªhowever, we have a suggestion. Rieker can explain." "It''s quite simple really," Rieker said, taking over from his guild manager. "You all are in desperate need of some better gear. Unfortunately, coin rewards for guild work are relatively controlled¡ªthe guidelines are set by the head office, and we have very little ability to shift them. Not by much, at least." "I''m sensing there''s a ''but'' coming." Porkchop grunted, sitting up taller on the carpeted floor to watch the guildmaster closer. Rieker nodded. "There is, but it''s the good kind." Drumming his fingers on the table, the guildmaster searched for his words. "The guild has an Armoury system. It''s the same place we got those Masking artefacts from. Any member can forgo their mission rewards in place of receiving an artefact¡ªchosen by us, in most cases." Kaius nodded¡ªhe could see where the guildmaster was going with that. Artefacts were...difficult to concretely price, beyond certain generalities. If they could receive it as a reward...Kaius decided to voice his assumption. "I imagine if we take that option, you will have far greater leeway in what we are rewarded with?" he asked. Both Ro and Rieker nodded. "We have a few things in mind, actually." Ro explained, clearly more in her element as the change of pace to logistical concerns made her perk up. While she might have hated paperwork, it was becoming more and more clear that she was a fantastic administrator. "Though, some of them you might have to forfeit your rewards from more than one mission to be able to afford." she rose her hand as Ianmus opened his mouth. "Trust me, you''ll be getting an impossibly good price, but there are limits to how far we can bend things¡ªeven for the Armoury." Kaius sat up straighter. He did have to admit, the idea of fresh gear was an appealing one. While his rewards from the Depths had been invaluable in keeping him alive, most of them were of little assistance against the monsters they currently faced. Hells, his armour had barely been holding up against Champions¡ªand even if they were empowered compared to even Elites, it wasn''t enough to make them compare to something like the infernus hound. It might even be possible to leverage the rewards for materials to upgrade his blade. It was holding up better than most, despite nominally being Common, but the sooner he could improve it the better. He knew little of growth artefacts, but almost all stories agreed on one thing¡ªthe first step in their development was the most impactful. A sort of awakening. It was a risk. Telling Ro and the guildmaster that he had a growth weapon would be as impactful as telling them they had Honours¡ªonly slightly less uncertain than letting slip that he and Porkchop were behind the phase shift. His mind raced¡ªface staying still as Ro and Rieker went through a laundry list of gear improvements that they could make. A new staff for Ianmus¡ªfollowed by some decently protective robes. Rings galore for Porkchop, to better increase his damage output and maneuverability. Armour for him, a full set this time¡ªsomething that Ro emphasised would be better off saving for. Unfortunately, the guild administrators were also adamant he replace his blade¡ªand soon. A Common weapon was a poor tool at their level of strength, in their eyes. The idea rankled¡ªrelinquishing his pay in return for a weapon he would never use. Yet the idea of revealing the existence of his sword¡ªFather''s most precious gift¡ªmade his stomach twist. At the very least, it would need Ro to be looped into the same oath that the guildmaster had made. His mind torn, Kaius reached for his bond¡ªseeking out Porkchop''s advice. "Just do it," Porkchop replied upon hearing him out. "The worst that can happen is she has to leave the room¡ªit''s too big of an opportunity to miss out on, and they already know much. Besides, I think it is good for us if she is oathbound anyway, and this is a good excuse to get that done." The tense indecision that was balled up in his chest eased at his brother''s words. Steeling himself, Kaius waited for his moment while Ianmus nodded along to Rieker''s insistence that he needed an ioun stone. He''d never heard of them, but judging by the way the conversation was going, it seemed to be some sort of artifact that would act as a store of mana for Ianmus to tap upon when needed. Finally, their words petered off, and he sensed his moment. Time to find out if he could squeeze the guild for help in upgrading A Father''s Gift. Chapter 202 - B2 200: Second Mission, pt. 3 Mid-morning sun streamed in from the windows of the fifth floor meeting room, blanketing the richly stained wooden table where Kaius and his team were discussing their upcoming rewards for their next mission. Kaius cleared his throat at a lull in the conversation, drawing the room''s attention. Sharing the nature of his sword was inherently risky, but if he could secure an oath from Ro, he would be far more comfortable. "Rieker, Ro, I have a question for you." Kaius said "Oh, what''s on your mind?" Ro asked, looking at him with curiosity, the rest of the table''s eyes turning with her to train on him as he interrupted. "It''s not like you to interrupt, did you have a request?" "In a sense, though it''s only tangentially related to the topic at hand" Kaius replied, still feeling a little nervous. His response only seemed to pique Rieker and Ro''s curiosity all the more; the pair of experienced gilded administrators looking at him with curiosity. "Go on," Rieker responded, encouraging him to continue. Kaius paused for a moment, gathering his nerves. "It relates to our gear¡ªanother secret, and a rather large one. Unfortunately, it is one I have realised will become rather suspicious with the extent of your involvement in our current training. Hiding it would be...inconvenient and wasteful." That got their attention, Ro in particular narrowing her eyes as she watched him closely. "There''s just one thing," Kaius continued. "If possible, I would like Ro to take an oath similar to the one you did, guildmaster." Rieker immediately winced, cringing away from his request¡ªeven Ianmus stared at him in horror. Curiously, Ro herself didn''t seem too surprised by his request, the corner of her eyes crinkling as her lips tweaked upwards. "Kaius! You can''t just ask that!" Ianmus all but yelled, aghast. He looked to his teammate in confusion, brow furrowing. Why not? It seemed like a pretty reasonable thing to do? Ianmus sighed, running his hands through his hair as he took in Kaius''s expression. "You can''t just ask a Hiwiann to take an oath, especially not on one of the blood stones¡ªthey''re sacred! There''s all sorts of protocols that have to be followed." "Oh, don''t mind him¡ªwe all know the idiot grew up in the middle of nowhere, he didn''t know what he was asking. Besides, I''m no puritan." Ro assured the mage, before shooting Kaius a smile. "He''s right though. If you were anyone else, I would be apoplectic¡ªbe thankful you''ve already proven you''re an idiot of the highest degree." "Sorry, I didn''t realise it was a taboo." Kaius replied, bowing his head respectfully. He didn''t feel truly bad, after all, he considered their security more important than cultural practice¡ªbut if he had known he might have reworded his request. "Thank you for being gracious, but this is important¡ªI might have to share with Rieker privately." "I didn''t say I wouldn''t take the oath, greenhorn. Just that you had been rude." Ro grinned. The guildmaster turned to the manager of his branch, one eyebrow raised in surprise. "Really, Ro? You decide to pick up a new binding now, of all times?" "What can I say? The boy is interesting¡ªI''ll go get the stone." Ro replied, pushing her way out of her seat and leaving the room before any more words could be voiced. The room lay silent while she was gone¡ªKaius and Porkchop struggling to understand the hubbub around the oath, and Ianmus and Rieker astounded by the ease at which Ro had agreed. Ro swept back into the room, setting the ornate box that held the shard of the bloodstones down on the table. "Now, so you do not make this mistake again¡ªand end up getting thrown out of a caravan or worse¡ªthere are two main things to abide by when you want to make an oath with a Hiwiann." Kaius leaned in. Even if he didn''t fully understand the custom or importance, it clearly existed. Given that he was likely to end up traveling all over Vaastivar, learning how to not piss off the trader-peoples who supplied half the continent with goods seemed like a wise choice. "First, never ask. You can state it, if you make yourself the sole focus¡ª''I would be willing to make an oath on this'' is acceptable." Nodding along, he filed the information away. He still thought the custom strange, but if he could work around it¡ªit would do. "Second, always be prepared to bargain. A Hiwiann will never make a one-sided oath, even with death on the line." Ro gave him a predatory smile, the points of her teeth glinting in the wardlights and raising the hair on the back of his neck. "With that in mind, here''s the deal. I swear on this, and you swear to give me three days of your full effort on one or multiple tasks of my choosing¡ªas long as they are not a risk to your life." Kaius cocked his head. When the guild manager had given him that smile, he''d been expecting something egregious¡ªshe clearly knew he wanted something, so she had him over the barrel. A few days'' work was... not very much, in his eyes. "That''s...uncharacteristically kind of you, Ro." Rieker said, watching the woman like she''d grown three heads. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. "Hah! Kid''s going to be Platinum before the decade''s out¡ªor I''ll eat my boot. You best believe I''ll be banking those favours." Ro said, letting out a bark of laughter at the guildmaster''s words. Rieker nodded, looking immediately more comfortable. "That''s more like it." Kaius looked between them in confusion, before looking at Ro in surprise as he processed what she was saying. From what he knew of the ranks of the guild, they went up every hundred levels after you hit the second tier, so Platinum would have to be the first half of the third tier. First, the fact that Ro was confident he would make it there so quickly was flattering¡ªfrom what he knew the geniuses who even made it to third tier usually took decades. Second, it seemed...reasonable? Sure, he''d be stronger, but it was only for three days. "Deal." Ro cackled, rubbing her hands together in glee, before she slid the box over to him. "Person who suggests it goes first!" Ianmus''s subtle nod to him let him know it was likely another custom, so Kaius held back his pride and unlatched the box, pulling free the shard of pulsing red rock. Relieving himself of a drop of blood with the aid of his trusty hunting knife, Kaius made his oath. Swearing to aid Ro with three full days of effort¡ªas long as it wasn''t a risk to his life¡ªKaius felt his soul pulse as a faint and ephemeral connection linked him to something greater. An oath, set in stone. As soon as the last words left his lips, Ro cackled, wringing her hands as if she had just gotten away with robbing a bank. "Fuck, I love a good mark." "I''m sorry, am I missing something? I understand she wants to wait until I''m strong, but she''s acting like I just signed away my first born." Kaius directed his words to Rieker, desperately hoping that the guildmaster would explain the oddities in Ro''s reaction. "Three days of effort from a third tier is not usually something that money can buy¡ªRo''s just gambling you''ll make it there, though it seems to be a pretty safe bet." Rieker replied. Kaius tilted his head at the woman, before shrugging as he put it to the back of his mind. Potential future value or no, it was still just three days of work. He didn''t see how that matched up to someone swearing to keep his secrets and never act against him. Though, he supposed the best deals were the ones where both parties walked away thinking they had won. Gently taking the bloodstone back from him, Ro went through with her own oath¡ªidentical to the one that Rieker had made a month ago. She smiled as she did so, like it didn''t feel like cold water was poured over her soul. Kaius sighed with relief as soon as she was done¡ªwith his security confirmed, he could see about the guild helping with A Father''s Gift. "Ro, I''ll loop you in later. Come to my office the night before your rest-day. It''ll be a long one, and I expect we''ll be quite drunk by the time we''re finished." Rieker nodded to his second. "Now, Kaius, what did you think was so important you had to loop Ro into the oath." Nodding to the guildmaster, he unsheathed his blade, laying it flat across the table. "It''s about A Father''s Gift..." .... Walking out of the guild, Kaius still felt the afterglow of the satisfaction from seeing Ro and Rieker''s shocked reactions to learning his sword was a growth weapon. They''d simply sat frozen, not doing anything other than blinking. It''d taken clapping to snap them out of it, and even then they had little to say for minutes. Good thing he''d decided against sharing that Father had made it, any more surprises and he was pretty sure that their hearts would have given out. He''d gotten them to agree to see if they could help upgrade the sword in the end¡ªthough apparently it would be a bit more trouble than simply picking a good sword. Apparently, the guild had strict rules on who could know the contents of their artifact stores¡ªfor operational security reasons, according to the guildmaster. Moreover, there were also rules against removing items from the vault''s protection without due cause, ones that even Rieker was bound to. Troublesome, as it meant that they couldn''t simply ferry him materials until one resonated, and he couldn''t go in to show them which ones¡ªif any¡ªdid. In the end, Ro had come up with a rather convoluted method, and he''d had to agree. A binding formation¡ªone that would cut him off from all of his senses. They''d cart his insensate body in, and he''d rely on his bond with A Father''s Gift to see if anything was resonating. Porkchop would wait elsewhere in the guild with a communication artefact, and he would tell his brother if something did, at which point Porkchop would be able to tell the guild administrators that there had been a resonance and how strong it was. Once they''d been catalogued, they''d cart his body out, free him, and let him know if he could have his prize now, or if he would have to bank more rewards. Convoluted and ridiculous in his opinion, but if that is what it took to get his blade upgraded he''d do it. Thankfully, they weren''t entirely sure if they had to¡ªwhile they had never personally encountered such a case, it was likely the guild had dealt with bound weapon wielders before¡ªthey''d see if there were any official rulings that would make their lives easier. Unfortunately, the same ridiculous rules that made it necessary also meant they couldn''t do it now. He had to wait until they could reward him. Shaking his head at the memory, Kaius made his way back to the Stables with his team. The rest of the day would be dedicated to preparation. Taking on a boggart swarm was no easy task¡ªit could take weeks, and there was likely to be a distinct lack of anything edible once their business was underway with how voracious the buggers were. Beyond food supplies, Ianmus had raised that it would be smart to pack mana restoratives, and potentially antidotes for disease and poison. If they were ambushed when Ianmus was out, he''d be almost entirely defenceless. Same went for the antidotes¡ªIanmus could burn out an infection, but if he was afflicted while low on mana, it was better to save the resource for defence. That wasn''t all; Ro had offloaded three other jobs for them to tackle on the way there. They would be trivial for their strength, but, given how rapidly the state of things was changing, that might not stay the case for long. His Glass Mind was already racing¡ªpouring over his memories to plan the most effective route it could based on his understanding of the region. Aspect in full force, it planned for the campaign ahead. Looking around the street, he noticed a man in a plush purple cloak almost running into his house, a sack of what sounded like jars held in a white knuckle grip. It seemed that the air of desperation had finally begun to claw its way into even the wealthy in the Delver''s district. It was...sickly and heavy, seeing the weight that people carried as they walked the streets. Reminded him of the fragility of what had once seemed ironclad. Gods, he couldn''t wait to get out of here. Chapter 203 - Interlude 3: Rumours Jorn coughed weakly, trying to clear the thick wad of mucous that seemed to be choking him alive. Leaning one hand against the greasy stone wall of the alley, he doubled over¡ªhis head spinning as a ka-thunk rocked his chest. His heart skipping another beat, it had to be. They were getting closer together. He needed more shard. It...it would be his soon. Even with the fucking beasts ruining the supply lines¡ªeven the thickest smuggler was a fucking rat, and too few were braving the wilds¡ªGrave-eye would have some. He always did. He was desperate enough that the prices would be worth it. Besides, this time he wouldn''t owe the demon-spawn shit. He had info. Everyone knew that Grave-eye liked info. Sure, he was a ruthlessly conniving bastard who would look best dressed in six strides of soil¡ªa veritable plague on the city¡ªbut the man had shard. Or at least, Jorn was almost certain he did. How could he not? Grave-eye had his fingers in every single pie in the city. Sure, he was a smaller player, but he was smart, had connections. Everyone knew him. Everyone liked him¡ªor at least, thought he was useful. It was honestly impressive how he''d managed to leverage a web of favours, deals, and alliances to keep himself safe in the middle of his enclave. He had to have shard. Just thinking about it was enough to get that metallic tingle on the back of his tongue, his mouth puckering at the very thought of it. That porcelain bite¡ªshining a soft, impossible, grey. The sour taste of joy and acceptance. The bitter fucking abscense of it. Another thud rolled through him. Jorn crouched down, hugging his knees as he waited for the wave to pass. He just...just had to get to Grave-eye. Even a flake would last him for a week¡ªhells, a month! Feeling himself grin at the thought of the poison, Jorn felt sick to his stomach. A delver, shivering in an alley as he dreamed of his next fix. Gods, he was gutless. Such a fucking bastard. A two-bit delver who was pathetic enough to get hooked on fucking shard¡ªover a wench of all things! But...it wasn''t all his fault. Cass had tricked him¡ªtold him it was just a bit of fun. Told him that she''d taken it for once or twice a year since she''d been a woman, without a hint of a craving. Liar. Then she''d died, and there was no fucking way he was dealing with that sober. He''d lost Hosh in a delve three months later, and Talla the very next time he''d dared to step foot in those demon-spawned Depths after that. Who could blame a man for grief? Besides, it was the last time. Jorn coughed, and the wad finally came free. Spluttering to the point of retching, he spat the slimy gristle onto the piss-streaked stone, and came up for a breath of sweet air¡ªat least as close as you could get to it on this side of Deadacre. With air, came clarity. Gods, what was he doing? He was a rat, a sellout¡ªa fucking snake. He should turn back. This was a step too low, even for a bastard like him. He could tell Ro¡ªhe''d never spoken to her, but he''d heard she was reasonable. Oh, she''d chuck him in a cell until he was good and dry, but she wouldn''t give him the boot. She might if he went through with tonight. There were a lot of opportunities out there now, for someone like him. Even a shit Scout with an Uncommon class could make something of themselves these days¡ªplenty of things to grow strong against. Plus, the boys had been talking about pushing up through Bronze¡ªmaking their way to Iron. There''d be good coin with that, enough to get him to the Dukedoms. Like he''d always wanted. Ma would have wanted it too. Even if he could never visit her again, she''d want that for him. He wouldn''t even have to delve. No more losing people to Guardians¡ªjust scoping out beasts, and running if it was too hard. He could do that, couldn''t he? Just as he pushed against the alley wall, the damp grime feeling like shards of glass on his too-sensitive skin, his chest was rocked by another shuddering thump. Pain exploded, shooting down his arm and clawing its way up his neck. No. No, he couldn''t. He''d die. He needed to taper¡ªtoo much of a shock to the system to do it cold, not with how long he''d been on the poison. But...but to taper he needed shard. Fuck. It was his life, or theirs. Hells, it wasn''t even their life! Just a few rumours really¡ªstuff anyone could find out if they were watching closely. Jorn gasped as a burning hot flush roared up his back, nearly heaving again as his nose ran down the back of his throat. There was no choice. He had to see Grave-eye. .... Grave-eye leaned back in his chair, the leather-lined recliner tilted back on an angle as he rested his boots on his desk. Ironwood desk, the top lined with suede made from a venomous cantel beast¡ªonly found in the eighth layer of a delve right in this very city. Took a beating like nothing else, and it didn''t stain. A large bonus, in his line of work. "Gorm, bring me a brandy." he called to his hound who waited by the door to his office with a snap of his fingers. The brute grunted, but moved to obey, bowing his head to avoid the chandelier. Bloody ogre of a man¡ªbut keeping even a giant-blooded around had its uses. He narrowed his eyes at the man''s slouch, the slow, lackadaisical, pace of his walk to the liquor cabinet by his bookcase¡ªthat one had been engraved by elves of all things. Any slower, and he''d have the man found in a gutter. Already would have, if the half-brained dimwit wasn''t so annoyingly loyal. "Oh, and fetch me my copy of ''The Secret Lives of Antidevian Mistresses'' as well." Grave-eye added with a wave of his hand as Gorm opened the liquor cabinet with a shocking lack of care¡ªdidn''t the moron know that the joiner who''d made that was dead, and elvish, it was a rare piece! Gorm shuddered to a stop, his hands frozen halfway through opening the crystal decanter that held his brandy. A Mystral vintage¡ªthe best brandy came from the best wine, after all. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. "Yer....what?" Gorm asked, staring at him with a complete lack of deference. Grave-eye scowled, throwing his hands up in the air. "A book, you blithering fool! Right there! The red spine¡ªimperial octavo, with the deckled edges and marbled boards." Gorm just stopped, staring at the bookcase as his eyes roved right over his book like the utter brainless lout he was. "Right there, you fool! Second shelf from the top, five in from the right. Or do I need to teach you how to count, as well!" Grave-eye yelled, staring at his hound in disbelief. Utterly ridiculous. He''d have buried Gorm in a fucking latrine by now¡ªif he hadn''t pocketed every bribe he''d been offered and then immediately turned it over with a list of who''d tried. After a shocking display of mental agility, Gorm managed to find the book after his third set of directions, and brought him both his drink and his reading material. Finally he could relax. .... He''d only just gotten to his favourite chapter¡ª''Seventy Silks for Sixteen Balls''¡ªwhen he was rudely interrupted by someone hammering on his front door. They were heavy hits, carrying that desperate quality he had gotten so used to, and carried up the stairs to his study with inordinate ease. Grave-eye sighed, his temple throbbing as he kicked his feet off the plush leather topper of his desk. "Gorm, go see who that is. If they don''t have a good reason to be here, kill them...and break a few bones first for interrupting my book." he said, dismissing his hound with a wave of his hand. Swirling his brandy, Grave-eye took another sip of the amber liquid. It burned smooth, leaving the very same note of peaches and rock-melon on the back of his tongue that made the source vineyard so famous. A few moments passed, and he heard his hound open his door for a moment, then close it again. He didn''t hear Gorm''s passage otherwise¡ªthe imbecile was terrifyingly quiet. He''d considered getting him fit with a bell, just to stop the amount of times he''d turned around to find the twit looming behind him like a statue¡ªby the gods he had the brains of one. His hound re-entered, stopping by the door and doing little else. Not entirely outside of the ordinary, to be honest. "Well? Who was it?" he asked. "Jorn." Gorm replied. "And I am supposed to know who the fuck that is how?" Grave-eye narrowed his eyes at his hound. "Bronze delver, shard addict, Scout, last bought a full scrap from Fos nine weeks ago¡ªnothing since." Gorm replied, his voice the same low drone it always was. He clucked his tongue. Now he remembered. A filthy gutter-rat of an addict, for sure¡ªbut the man had given him a few tasty morsels in the past. Hopefully, for his sake, he''d brought some today. "Well, what did he want? Or is he lying dead in my lobby¡ªbecause I thought I told you to stop leaving bodies there, it''ll stain the marble." Gorm shrugged. "Said he''s got something good, wants to trade it for some Shard. Wants five scrap of it." Five scrap? That was enough to keep even the most seasoned shard-vein juiced to their eyeballs for months. Let alone it was a clean three-thousand gold, alchemical products weren''t cheap, afterall. It had to be something good¡ªor the man was lying. Grave-eye paused, thinking on it more. In all likelihood the shard-vein was simply desperate, not that that was any great risk. He could deal with a bronze delver alone, let alone one strung out on shard of all things¡ªGorm would shatter him like the fine china he''d been forced to stop buying. "Well, what are you waiting for? Go fetch the gutter-rat!" Dead-eye dismissed his hound with a sniff, topping up his brandy from the decanter on his desk. A moment later, and Jorn crossed the silence wards he''d had embedded in his walls¡ªthe low droning splutter of a shard-vein in deep withdrawal filling the halls of his home. Grave-eye scowled in disgust. The bastard better have something good, or he was a dead little rat. A single set of shuddering steps advanced up his stairs, walking over his finely woven and richly dyed rugs¡ªno doubt tracking in all manner of disgusting filth¡ªbefore they stopped outside of his office. Gorm opened the door, shoving the shard-vein in. The rat stumbled, barely arresting himself before he slammed into his desk. Lucky, if he''d spilled even a single drop of his brandy, he wouldn''t even have waited to hear out the rat''s inevitably lying squeeks. "Jorn." Grave-eye said, dragging the rat''s eyes to his own. "You have five seconds to start telling me why you interrupted my book before my hound starts breaking your fingers." The rat''s eyes widened, though they stayed pinpricks despite the light of the ward-lights. Fucking shard-veins, disgusting creatures. "Yes Grave-eye, sorry Grave-eye. I...I came because I saw something you might be interested in, want to trade it for some shard. Tryna get off it you see, thought a big batch to help wean would be smart." the rat yammered. "I don''t want to hear what helps you sleep at night, you fool! What did you see?" Grave-eye growled, boring holes in the rat. Jorn gulped, his throat quivering around some obstruction. "Well, I was on a mission, out Intshire ways, near the woods out there..." .... Grave-eye''s mind raced as he listened to Jorn''s tale. Now this! This was something he could use. Interesting. Very interesting indeed. This was worth a whole lot more than a few scraps. Now...how to profit. Well, he had one thing left to do. "Well, Jorn, this was a pleasant surprise indeed. Thank you for bringing this to my attention¡ªthough, pray tell, have you shared this with anyone else? This kind of info is most valuable when it is only in my hands." he smiled at the shard-vein, even if it sickened him. The rat''s eyes widened, no doubt surprised by his stunning display of grace. "N...no, Grave-eye¡ªI swear to the gods!" the rat managed to somehow grow even more pallid and sweaty. "No gods in this house, on the truth-stone if you please." Grave-eye replied, tilting his head to the fine piece of runework that he had embedded into the top left of his desk. The shard-vein nodded hurriedly, though his eyes rolled at the motion, swaying as if he was going to pass out. Still, he was obedient enough¡ªfor a rat¡ªand placed his hand on the stone. "I swear that I have told my story to no one except you, Grave-eye." To Grave-eye''s delight, the stone shone green. A secret that was his alone, how splendid! "Fantastic job, Jorn! You''ve done me a great service, I think one worthy of ten scraps, how does that sound?" Grave-eye forced himself to be sweet, even if it sickened him. Like the simple minded beast it was, the rat''s entire countenance morphed at the mention of even more shard than it had been expecting. Its face brightened, eyes becoming wide and bright as a smile of genuine happiness spread across his face. "Oh thank you, Lord Grave-eye, you are too kind!" it spoke, falling to its knees as it clasped its hands. "Yes, yes. Rewards to the faithful and all." he replied, waving off its protestrations. "Gorm, fetch the man his gift." Gorm opened the cabinet behind him, before stepping forward. The rat looked up, a wide smile on his face as he looked at the hound. The hound buried a knife in the rat''s face, blood spurting over his woven rostian rug. "For fuck''s sake, Gorm! How many times have I told you to bludgeon them if they are on the carpets! Are you trying your hand at being a colourist?" Grave-eye cried, staring at the spreading pool that was soaking into the dense orange weave of his rug. "Why are you standing there, you fool! You think because you remembered what ''gift'' means that you''ve done a good job? Get it off my bloody carpet!" Gorm grunted, bending down before he hoisted the body over his shoulder. The idiot that he was, he left a trail of blood his entire way out of the office. Grave-eye sighed, turning away from the mess¡ªthank the gods he knew a cleansing spell. Swirling his brandy as he stared into the hearth behind his desk, he thought on what he had just learned. A smile grew on his face. He''d need to confirm it for himself, of course. Keep an eye on things. But if it turned out to be correct? This could be the score of a lifetime. Oh yes, this could turn into quite the profitable endeavour. B2 Chapter 219: Looting and Leaving, pt. 2 B2 Chapter 219: Looting and Leaving, pt. 2 Reading through the descriptions of the reagents that he¡¯d discovered in the shaman¡¯s tent for the second time, Kaius focused on the Least Nature Condensate. It was by far the most valuable of the bunch. Condensates were rare. Only in the perfect conditions would they manifest, requiring unnatural mana density with an unusual bent to a single affinity¡ªon top of needing something to encourage it all to crystallise, though no one had ever discovered what to his knowledge¡ªsomething he could easily be mistaken on. Least ones like he held in his hand were by far the most common¡ªaccounting for something ludicrous like ninety-eight in all hundred discoveries. Unfortunately, they were by far the least valuable. Larger condensates had a myriad of uses in alchemy, runework, and large free-cast spells. Ones like the splinter in his palm lacked that potency, and were mostly just used to empower or intensify reactions that made use of their affinity or a closely aligned one. They could still empower spells, but they didn¡¯t have the staying power or ritualistic might of the rarer finds. Even still, they were expensive¡ªboth due to their rarity, and because even if they lacked much of the use of their larger cousins, they were still useful. Regardless of its value, Kaius thought it was likely they¡¯d hold onto the nature condensate. If he¡¯d stayed the path of a standard Runewright he would have been able to use it as a reagent in any number of potent inscriptions. As it stood, it would still likely have some value to Ianmus¡ªit could be used to potentiate spells of a similar affinity, and Solar was close to both Nature and Light. Scooping up his spoils, Kaius left the tent to find his team sitting on a clean section of stone far from the smears of spilled blood that splattered the stone¡ªeven though the area around the tents was only relatively clean. ¡°Find anything good? You were in there for a while.¡± Ianmus asked, looking at him with curiosity. ¡°Yeah¡ªthere was a lot to get through. Found a few things though, including this.¡± Kaius hucked the affinity crystal towards Ianmus, who jolted before desperately trying not to drop the crystalline shard. Ianmus scowled at him, though there was no bite to it. He only shot him a grin¡ªeven a least condensate wasn¡¯t fragile enough to shatter from being dropped. ¡°Check it out, you might find it useful. Happy to sell it if not.¡± Kaius said, nodding towards the shard in Ianmus¡¯s hand. The mage looked down, focusing on the white and green shard, before his eyes widened. ¡°A shard of Nature? That¡¯s a surprisingly good find¡ªyes, I''ll keep it. In a pinch I can use it to empower a spell or speed up my channeling.¡± ¡°Even your light beams?¡± Porkchop asked, tilting his head at the reagent. ¡°I could, technically, but it would be a waste. The healing and growth aspects of Solar align much closer to Nature, so that is where it would get the most effect¡ªand probably where we would see the most use, if we¡¯re ever in a spot where we need healing without a lengthy channel time.¡± Kaius nodded¡ªhe¡¯d hoped for that, and it sounded like it would be far more beneficial for them than the hundred or so gold they¡¯d be able to sell it for. ¡°Can you use it more than once?¡± he asked, mostly out of curiosity. Ianmus nodded. ¡°Though not too much more than that. A handful if we¡¯re lucky, two or three if we are not¡ªthough the potency will drop each time.¡± Satisfied the crystal would be put to good use, Kaius walked over to take a seat with his friends. ¡°What of you two, anything good?¡± Porkchop snorted, shaking his head. ¡°I wish¡ªjust junk. Best I found was a handful of silver that the warchief had piled up as some sort of decoration.¡± That was a moderate disappointment, though he knew that even finding the reagents was a boon¡ªonly in the Depths would you ever consistently be showered with rewards. Though, there was still the stone. ¡°How about you?¡± he asked, turning to Ianmus. The mage tilted his hand back and forth. ¡°So-so, it¡¯s only a Common Earth-infused stone. From the looks of it, it''s quite the vein though, so it could have some bulk value for fortifications.¡± ¡°People would lug blocks of stone from here to Deadacre?¡± Porkchop asked incredulously. ¡°They probably would have, a year ago. Now, with the beasts, the only ones who¡¯ll even be interested would be the local towns. A few days journey could be worth material for fortifications made from infused stone.¡± Ianmus replied with a shake of his head. ¡°Well then, if we¡¯re done here, should we start making tracks? Dawn¡¯s approaching and it would be nice to get away from the stench of offal.¡± Kaius suggested. He grinned when he got hurried nods in return, the whole team jumping to their feet. Deadacre, and Rieker, awaited¡ªit¡¯d be rude to dawdle. .... The stars were out, clear and bright. Kaius sat reclined with his back against one of the small trees that dotted the plains of the frontier. Porkchop was next to him, lying on his back and staring up at the sky. They¡¯d decided to leave Ianmus to sleep in the tent¡ªneither of them feeling particularly tired yet. It¡¯d been an easy day''s journey, without any flashes of excitement to burn off their energy. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. After so many years of training, then the ordeal that was the depths, Kaius found it difficult to sleep early without working off some steam. Thankfully the night was young, and he had no issues with spending some time stargazing. He was jealous of Ianmus¡¯s ability to fall asleep at the drop of a hat. He¡¯d asked how the man had done it, but all he¡¯d gotten was some half mumbled explanation of ¡®sleep being a stone for a sharp mind¡¯¡ªas if that let him in on the secret. That said, he could understand the fatigue. It had been the better part of a week since they¡¯d left the den of the bogglings¡ªlong enough that they¡¯d gotten more than halfway to Deadacre. They¡¯d had a few fights against some ornery beasts, but it was closer to busy work than anything exciting. They¡¯d been weak things, but territorial, and hadn¡¯t been enough to even grant him a skill level. With the grinding monotony of endless grasses, even he was looking forward to their return, despite his experience at cross country travel. Though, he was worried that they¡¯d been attacked at all¡ªthe creatures should have left them well enough alone, considering how much more powerful they were. At the very least he¡¯d had a lot to think about. Primarily how they were growing, and what their next steps would be. As a team they were on the cusp of their fourth class skill¡ªanother significant jump in their capabilities¡ªand Porkchop was right at the precipice of founding his Aspect. Or so he insisted, though they hadn¡¯t gotten around to talking about his budding insights yet. Kaius shuffled back, sitting further upright. With the night to themselves, and no worry about breaking the silence thanks to beast-speak, now was actually a pretty good time to ask. He reached out, prodding his brother mentally to get his attention. Porkchop listed to the side, lazily moving his head to meet his eyes. ¡°What?¡± his brother asked. ¡°Just thought I¡¯d ask you how your Aspect was coming along; you said you were getting close.¡± he replied. Porkchop paused, before he rolled back over to continue staring at the sky. ¡°It¡¯s going okay¡ªnot as fast as I''d hoped. It feels like I''m right on the edge of it, but there''s something that¡¯s in my way.¡± Kaius nodded, he could understand that. When Mentis had first started to resonate in his meditations, he¡¯d noticed that every time he¡¯d come close it would feel like the sensation would grow ephemeral and slip away from him. As the system had said¡ªthe whole thing was inherently revelatory. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll get there¡ªwhere are you getting stuck?¡± he asked, happy to help Porkchop work through it. ¡°It¡¯s mostly that I don¡¯t know what Corporus is. After your and Ianmus¡¯s experiences, it¡¯s obvious that Mentis has something to do with your mentality, and the way that you think about your goals and challenges in your path,¡± Porkchop said, reaching up a paw to the sky. ¡°Corporus¡ªthe insight¡¯s I¡¯ve had that have resonated with it¡ªfeels different. Closer to the physical body. How you take knocks and keep on going. I don¡¯t think I can think my way towards it like you two did, I need to feel it here.¡± he continued, tapping his chest. That caught Kaius¡¯s attention. It had been obvious from what the system had told them that Corporus was the Aspect of the body, but he¡¯d been trying to wrap his head around exactly what it was tied to. His brother¡¯s insight that it felt like it was tied to the ability to endure was enlightening. Even if it was just relevant to Porkchop¡¯s personal understanding, it was still a puzzle piece that he could use as a starting point for his own exploration when the time came. He could understand Porkchop¡¯s frustration though¡ªit seemed like a primal insight that was felt, rather than consciously understood. Though, if anyone was bound to find it, it would be Porkchop. He was more in tune with his body than anyone else Kaius knew. ¡°What¡¯ve you found so far?¡± Kaius asked, curious about what Porkchop had discovered. ¡°That siege was the closest I ever got¡ªhonestly, another hour and I think I would¡¯ve had it.¡± Porkchop started, a faint wisp of annoyance drifting across their bond¡ªthough Kaius knew it was only a superficial thing, he doubted Porkchop was really upset that they¡¯d been saved from drowning in boggling guts. ¡°When my arms felt like lead, when I knew that if I fell, so would everyone else¡ªit felt like a weight. A responsibility I had taken on, and couldn¡¯t remove, not when it was so critical. I knew then, that I would keep standing. Even on stumps, I would endure. I always have. When I can¡¯t escape, I hold. When I can deal with something head on, I act. Burdens are something to be carried, so why complain?¡± Porkchop said, rolling over to face him. ¡°But like I said, I don¡¯t think I can think my way there. I know I''m close, every time I think about it Corporus howls up a bloody storm, but it feels like I need to prove it. Prove that I can keep going when my heart screams for rest and my muscles threaten to tear themselves in two. I can feel it in my bones, it¡¯s an aspect tied to action.¡± Kaius smiled at his brother. That really did sound like Porkchop¡ªand if Corporus was really tied to action, he had no doubt that his brother would get there soon. Afterall, if there was anything they were good at, it was getting themselves into the kind of trouble that left them half-dead at the end of it. ¡°If you just need that, I''m sure you¡¯ll get there with our next mission. No doubt we¡¯ll end up fighting something unreasonably tough¡ªI doubt Rieker would go so far as to reinforce his point by making us fight a horde immediately again.¡± Kaius said, attempting to encourage him. Porkchop looked down, a decidable expression of uncertainty on his face. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I have to.¡± he said, scratching at the dirt. ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°I get the sense that it doesn¡¯t need to be in a fight. I just have to prove myself, to myself. If that makes sense. Waiting for the next mission could take too long¡ªit¡¯s at least another few days to Deadacre, then no doubt we¡¯ll get stuck in some training regime until Rieker think¡¯s we¡¯re suitably ready, and then it¡¯ll take even more time travelling to our next job. For all we know, I¡¯ve only got a week or two to secure that Honour.¡± Porkchop said, a look of frustration on his face. Watching Porkchop¡¯s face¡ªfeeling the emotions in their bond¡ªhe realised that Porkchop was taking the potential loss of the Honour harder than he realised. There was a desperation there, a hunger to move forwards¡ªto not be left behind. Kaius¡¯s face softened, and he shifted forwards, laying his hand over Porkchop¡¯s paw that was still scratching at the earth. ¡°We¡¯ll figure it out¡ªyou¡¯ve got it in the bag. Do you have any ideas on how to push through? I¡¯ll help in any way I can.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t, but...¡± Porkchop trailed off, averting his eyes as a bubble of guilt and anxiety swelled up to wash over Kaius. He looked at his brother with surprise, not expecting Porkchop to be feeling guilty of all things. Was he really so worried? ¡°But what? Everything¡¯s going to be fine.¡± he said softly. Porkchop shook his head, before a thread of conviction resolved itself within him and he met Kaius¡¯s eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not that, I...I want to ask Rieker for help.¡± Kaius froze, staring at his brother in shock. B2 Chapter 220: Looting and Leaving, Finale B2 Chapter 220: Looting and Leaving, Finale Kaius stared at Porkchop with a slack jaw, trying to process the words that had just been said. Did he just hear him say they should tell Rieker? Sitting in silence, his mind raced. While he had intended to tell the guildmaster about their aspects eventually¡ªhe¡¯d meant to do it after they had all acquired one, and secured an Honour for themselves. If they told him now, he¡¯d have questions. Namely, why it was so important for Porkchop to found his Aspect Corporus as soon as possible. Even if Rieker had been understanding about the exact specifics of the nature of their strength, it would be in his duty to see if it was something he could repeat¡ªuse to empower the guild. Kaius couldn¡¯t in good conscience lie to the man. There was much that the man knew, but Honours were something else. If the man wasn¡¯t already suspicious of their involvement in the phase change, he would have to be a moron not to suspect something if they let Honours slip. Plus, there was no way they¡¯d be able to pretend that the only Honour they had received was from founding their Aspects¡ªhis and Porkchop¡¯s unnatural strength was too blatant to try that on, Rieker would see through it immediately. His heart sped up at the very thought of it, kicking inside his chest as he thought of the consequences. Who knew what the man would do. Regardless of their lack of intent or control over the situation, it was still a catastrophe. A change that had impacted everyone. It was hard to imagine that someone as involved in the culling of monsters as the guildmaster wouldn¡¯t take umbrage to their role in the rapid increase in danger. Not even just that, Honours were inherently a race. First bonuses were potent, and if word got out that they existed, it was all but certain that they would lose to someone at some point. There were too many scions and powerhouses with the backing of entire dynasties¡ªthey would leverage anything they could to secure another edge. Feeling the rising tension building behind his eyes, Kaius forced himself to breathe. He turned his attention to his brother, who¡¯d been watching him cautiously since he¡¯d shared his desire to ask for help. ¡°Okay...you want to tell Rieker. You¡¯re aware that if we did that, it¡¯d most likely take us to the point where we have to share the existence of Honours? I thought we¡¯d intended to try and secure as many bonuses as we could before we even considered that.¡± Kaius said slowly, doing his best to reign in his feelings. Porkchop had trusted him in bringing this to him, and to react in fear or anxiety would be a disservice to their bond. Porkchop shook his shoulders, burning off some of his unease. ¡°I know, but the longer I think about it, the more I am unsure if we¡¯re making the right choice by keeping them to ourselves.¡± he replied. Kaius took a deep breath, rubbing the ball of his hand into his forehead. ¡°Porkchop, I know that the secrecy of the central lands is strange to you, but we can¡¯t burn every advantage we have to do the right thing. At least not until we are strong enough to handle the repercussions. If the guild started pursuing Honours, no matter how secretively, it will get out. Then people will wonder where they learned about them.¡± Kaius said slowly, hoping that his brother would understand where he was coming from. ¡°That¡¯s not even considering the fact that we¡¯ll almost certainly lose out on more bonuses.¡± Porkchop shook his head, firm conviction bleeding across their bond. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if you¡¯re right. I promise I''ve thought about this¡ªhear me out, at the very least.¡± Kaius paused. If this wasn¡¯t just Porkchop having a flight of fancy due to a worry that he might miss out on an Honour, then he could do that at least. He gave his brother a nod, whose shoulders relaxed. ¡°Thank you. First, Honours will get out anyway¡ªwe can¡¯t stop the others who are in the first five to complete an Aspect from learning about them. Sure, there¡¯s a good chance they won''t even be on Vaastivar, and they might keep it to themselves or their Dynasty, but people will learn. That means the competition already exists, and others will likely grow strong in much the same way we have.¡± He supposed that was true¡ªbut it still didn¡¯t feel like enough justification to spread it widely, and make it obvious that they had discovered honours too. Before he could bring it up, Porkchop continued talking. ¡°It¡¯s not just that, either. If we bring this to the guild, they will be in our debt¡ªit is the greatest discovery of a millennia, and potentially far more rewarding than Aspects in the long run.¡± ¡°Is something as nebulous as a debt worth losing our advantage?¡± Kaius replied, his brow furrowed. ¡°Kaius, the second that someone else earns an Honour, the advantage will have already been lost. At least if we share with Rieker, we will at least be helping to nurture powers that are supposed to be our allies.¡± His jaw flexed, teeth grinding as he swallowed his frustration. It was hard to deny that they would be unable to keep Honours entirely secret¡ªhe could admit that much. Yet he couldn¡¯t help but shake the deep seated sense that to do so would be wrong. Even sharing their existence with Three Fields¡ªwith people he trusted and loved¡ªhad been difficult to stomach. Doing the same with as large an organisation as the guild had him on the verge of panic. Because there would be no way that Rieker would keep the existence of Honours private. Sure, he would be oath-bound to hide their involvement, but all it would take would be one curious senior member to do a little bit of investigating to discover the man had a new team of proteges. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°I¡¯m¡ªI''m not sure, Porkchop. My gut says it¡¯s too risky. You said you¡¯re on the verge of your Aspect already, is it truely so important? There will be more Honours in our future, even if you miss this one.¡± Porkchop growled softly in frustration. Leaning forwards, he shoved Kaius in the shoulder with a heavy paw, shaking him out of his thoughts. ¡°Kaius, you dolt. I¡¯m not that desperate¡ªI think there are direct benefits to us as a team that you¡¯re not considering. Though, I do think you¡¯re discounting the beneficial impact that a growing group of Observed delvers would have on this shitshow.¡± Porkchop sighed, pulling back. ¡°Look, the guild is going to find out at some point¡ªif not from this honour, then another of the new ones related to the phase change. Can you guarantee that we will be the first to kill a Tyrant? Or deal with whatever a Crucible is? Or be the first to finish all three Aspects, or anything else we don¡¯t even know exists? You know all of those are likely to come with Honours.¡± he continued. Kaius groaned, leaning back onto his hands. Porkchop was right¡ªon that front at least. Especially on the front of Tyrants. No doubt they were strong, and the guild was the first contacted to deal with threats like that. Even if the first to kill one was massively higher level, he had no reason to think that it would disqualify them¡ªhis own honour for discovering glyph binding hadn¡¯t had any such limitations. ¡°And when they find out, it¡¯ll be immediately obvious why we¡¯re so strong¡ªthey¡¯ll know. Not just that we have Honours, but that we have hidden them.¡± Kaius whispered, his eyes boring holes into the ground. ¡°Exactly.¡± Porkchop nodded. ¡°We may as well leverage this to gain trust, before our secrecy is discovered anyway.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s just it, then? We¡¯re doomed to be discovered, to lose our advantage over the competition? Lose our bonuses to others?¡± Kaius muttered, a bitter frustration within him. It felt like every time he tried to secure safety for himself and those closest to him, the world conspired to rip it all away. Porkchop scoffed, rolling his eyes. ¡°Okay, now you¡¯re just being dramatic.¡± Scowling back at his brother, Kaius still did his best to reign in his gut reaction. Porkchop was right¡ªmoping was pointless. If it was bound to happen, then Porkchop had the right of it. They should be planning on how best to use it to their advantage. Kaius took a breath, and nodded, doing his best to set his reservations to the side. ¡°Alright then, you mentioned I''d missed a way we could benefit from this¡ªwhat¡¯ve you got.¡± Porkchop shook himself, happy that he¡¯d gotten through to Kaius. He sat up quickly. ¡°Okay, first, I don¡¯t think that we should be too worried about losing our advantages¡ªor too many firsts. We both have completed legacies, multiple Honours from our unclassed period, and Heroic classes¡ªthat¡¯s a large gap for people to catch up, and it gives us a large advantage on getting more.¡± That was admittedly true, though it still felt unnatural to willingly hand over the tools for people to bridge even some of that distance. He nodded anyway. ¡°The thing is though, even if we do lose a first bonus here or there, I think sharing with the guild would net us more Honours in the long run.¡± How exactly did that work? Kaius gave his brother a look, cocking his brow¡ªwho promptly responded with an exasperated stare. ¡°For the sake of all that the Matriarchs hold dear¡ªKaius, we don¡¯t exactly have a book of their names and their requirements. We have enough to guess at some, but the vast majority of those depend on our capability to kill things stronger than us, and finish our aspects faster than others. What do you think would happen if the entire guild was looking for them? They¡¯d discover things we hadn¡¯t even thought to try!¡± Kaius rocked back on his hands, staring at his brother in shock. In all his visceral hatred of sharing dangerous secrets, he¡¯d gotten so caught up in the idea of people competing with them for the same Honours that he hadn¡¯t even considered the aspect of finding them in the first place. Porkchop was...right. That was a significant benefit. Even if they lost a couple of firsts, if they could get access to the requirements of others it would more than outweigh the downsides. Especially since sharing wouldn¡¯t exactly take away the advantages they had already gained. They¡¯d be in a far better position to attempt challenges for honours than others. It was just...would there really be people skilled enough and crazy enough to attempt the sort of deadly feats that an Honour required, just on the vague hunch that it might pay off? Porkchop, of course, had already thought about that. ¡°Of course they will¡ªsure, most people avoid challenges, but not everyone. There are people who¡¯ve earned Rare and Unusual classes through their own merit, Ianmus is a perfect example. Besides, I''m sure there¡¯s all sorts of obscure minor Honours that will be less risky to attempt. We got one for living in the Depths for a year, and we could have done that without ever fighting a Champion or Guardian.¡± Kaius drummed his hand against his knee, thinking. The more time he mulled it over, the more he realised that Porkchop had a good point. They had much to gain, and only a little to lose. Rieker and Ro were sworn to secrecy, and would be oath-bound to assist them. They would be able to insulate them from suspicion¡ªor at least keep their secret until they were strong enough it wouldn¡¯t matter. Beyond that...the most elite and promising guild members growing even more powerful would only benefit everyone, and creating a knowledge sharing network would benefit them directly. If they got in early, shared that Honours existed now¡ªthey could beat others to the punch. Try to influence a program similar to the knowledge sharing of Aspects and share the details of their knowledge package so that the information could never be lost. ¡°Okay, you¡¯ve convinced me.¡± Kaius finally said. Chuffing in surprise, Porkchop launched himself at Kaius in excitement¡ªpressing him to the ground with a heavy warm weight. ¡°I knew I was right!¡± Porkchop teased, ignoring Kaius¡¯s muffled protests and attempts to shove him off. Kaius resorted to ramming his thumb under one of his brother¡¯s ribs, digging it in painfully and causing Porkchop to yelp and leap off of him. ¡°Oaf.¡± he said with a grin, pushing himself into a sitting position. ¡°Like I was saying¡ªwe still need to discuss it with Ianmus. It is as much his secret as it is our own, we¡¯re a team and we can¡¯t decide something like this for him unilaterally.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Porkchop replied, unconcerned as he rolled onto his back and went back to staring at the night sky. ¡°You said that people name groups of stars, right? What are those ones?¡± he continued, pointing at a cluster of bright lights in the heavens above. Kaius shook his head, amazed at Porkchop¡¯s ability to change the subject. ¡°The bottom half of The Miner, those are his boots.¡± Kaius replied, before Porkchop pointed at another, and then another¡ªasking him to name the constellations Father had taught him as a boy. Time flew by, and before Kaius knew it, the tiredness that had eluded him earlier had him wrapped up tight. They retired, ready to continue their journey tomorrow¡ªand ask Ianmus what he thought of Porkchop¡¯s plan. Chapter 204 - B2 201: Infiltration, pt. 1 Shifting a little closer to his cover to keep the sun out of his eyes, Kaius crouched next to a prominent boulder jutting up from the ridge line. True Sight did much to improve his vision, including preventing the glare from blinding him, but that didn''t mean he would deal with the discomfort if he didn''t have to. Barely a few strides ahead of him, the ridge rose to a precipice before sharply falling away. It gave way a steep curve of scree that gradually transitioned to hardy shrubs and grasses¡ªone edge of a large valley that split half a dozen clustered hills in twain, starting from two-thirds of the way up the tallest one. There was a spring there. More of a waterfall now, after so many aeons of eroding the soil and rock. It fed a stream, winding its way through the valley like a snake with gleaming sapphire scales. That same placid water had carved its way clean through a fault in the valley''s opposite side at some point in the past, time and wind doing the rest. Now, it had left behind an exposed cliff¡ªone with a large cave at its base. It was a surprisingly lush environment. Watered by the spring, and sheltered from the harsh winds that blew off the grasslands, a riot of small trees and brush coated the base of the valley, interspersed with dozens of gametrails. Past evidence of life, though he found little of it present currently. Unfortunately, natural beauty was not what he came here for. Explorer''s Toolkit tugged him in a dozen different directions, building on his lifetime spent tracking game to reveal the tale that lay hidden in plain sight. Right below him, at the base of the scree. The rain washed remnants of a fire, tucked beside a rocky overhang formed by a lucky collision of falling boulders. A shattered femur¡ªdeer by the looks¡ªstriped clean. Gnawed on, judging by the scrapes, but the tell tale colour and scorching of a cooking fire was missing. Further down the valley, lying on the pebbly shore of the small river¡ªa broken haft. Standing out from the detritus of the valley due to its unnatural straightness, no matter how crudely it had been shaped. Closer to the far side of the valley, by the cave, A series of rhythmic gouges scarred the trunk of a lone tree, the closest to the opening. Too even, too closely spaced to be a bear or cat. Not every marking was the same. Some looked only a few days old, others months¡ªeven years. The passing evidence of something hiding. Watching. Thankfully, not there right now¡ªfrom his high vantage point, he could see clean through the loose canopy, already starting to shift colours with the changing of the seasons. It was the cave that was the biggest give away. Flakes from handworked stone and broken arrow and spear points littered the ground. A refuse pile, just off to the left¡ªlittle more than stripped bones half-heartedly hidden in the earth. The faintest trace of soot staining the highest reaches of the cave, curling over its edge. Boggarts. He was sure of it. Unfortunately, he was less sure they were still here. He''d no idea if this was their den, or an occasionally used rest stop as they ranged across the hills in search of food. They''d been on their trail for a week now, ever since they had entered the dense hills that would eventually turn back into the same mountains that sealed off Mystral and cut the Arboreal Sea in twain. It hadn''t been hard to track them, not in the slightest. A blind child could have found the signs. Messy hunts and battles, crudely dug sleeping pits, discarded tools, refuse, uncooked bone, and heavy tracks with clawed feet. The same signs he could see in the valley. Unfortunately, half the issue was that there were so many tracks. They crisscrossed the region, with no clear direction or oversight. It had taken him a day to get enough examples to put a picture together. They all seemed to be heading away from a central location¡ªa few too many tracks pointing directly in the direction of this valley. At the very least, they''d made good time to their target. An additional two weeks, on top of the one they had spent tracking the boggarts. They''d done their scut work on the way over, taking a meandering route across the plains to clear the other threats that Ro had tasked them with. Easy, boring work¡ªbut necessary. This far out from Deadacre, most delvers didn''t bother. Not when there was so much to do closer to home. Only the higher ranks could make it here with any haste, and they had far more important problems to be dealing with. That left the few well defended villages in the region without much support. So, even if it was busy work better suited to a normal team of their level, they had done their duty. Taking out a few bothersome beasts that had proven they had the potential to grow into a real threat to the nearby communities. All for a handful of skill levels and a single class level. Still, he did have to admit that there were some fun moments. It was nice to be out and about, and the variety of beasts that had come with the phase change gave him something to look forward to about the encounters. The first had been relatively straightforward. A wolf pack, headed by a mated pair who''d gained some sort of dire-beast type. The call had come in because they''d been oddly focused on a nearby walled settlement. More than one hunter had gone missing, and more than one watcher had seen the pack lurking in the tree line. Waiting for people to come out unprepared and alone. They''d been nasty business, not so much because of their strength, but because of the unnatural cohesion they bestowed upon their pack. Porkchop had had his work cut out for him defending Ianmus, while he''d focused on thinning the herd with judicious use of Stormlash. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. A few days to the east, they''d had their second mission. Another village, this one having food issues. While it was a common complaint in these days, a large helping of the blame could be laid on a level fifty-five vine-blooded panther. Allegedly, it was well on its way to eating¡ªor driving off¡ªanything that was even remotely safe to hunt in the region. Kaius was pretty sure it had been doing it for the sport of it. When they''d been tracking it down, he''d seen far too many dead prey animals with only a bite or two taken from their flesh for it to be a coincidence. Worse, the locals had a good reason to believe¡ªat least based on what the mission had said¡ªthat their wooden walls would do little to keep it out. For one, it was a cat that was very happy scaling vertical tree trunks. Secondly, it had a nature aspect, and Kaius had gotten a first hand experience on how it manipulated plant-matter to bind and confuse opponents when it pounced. Unfortunately for the panther, it had seen Porkchop as the biggest threat, and had only had a few seconds to realise its mistake before his brother had pinned it, and he''d planted his blade in its skull. Their last stop had been the most entertaining by far. A new beast, rather than something that had always existed. A rock-scaled biter, according to what one village scout had reported. The report had been fantastical, some lizard-beast, tall enough to come up to his chest. Thankfully, it hadn''t taken any victims. Territorial and loud, it had stayed just outside of the outlying regions of the village¡ªbut had ruthlessly attacked anything that got too close. In normal cases, it would have been left well enough alone¡ªmost villagers would just steer clear of a territorial beast unless its domain encroached on their own. Unfortunately, it was an unknown entity, and there was too much risk that the situation could escalate if it was left in peace. They''d found it nesting¡ªthough there''d been no eggs¡ªand it had done its description justice. Heavy set and strong, its head looked big enough to bite him in half. Not only that, its name wasn''t just for show. Sporting an earth affinity, and natural armour of toughened stone-like scales, it had been a tough beast to put down. Or at least, it would have been if they weren''t so much stronger than it. Overall, a good run in his opinion. Kaius wasn''t even that annoyed that the exercise hadn''t granted them much in the way of levels. Closing in on fifty as they were, he was well and truly starting to feel the burden of increasing experience requirements. Thankfully, it should be mostly ameliorated by the extreme difference in level between them and their true opponents. Plus, it wasn''t like they''d had to do much fighting outside of their missions. While most beasts had a drive to hunt for experience¡ªnot just growth¡ªthey weren''t unthinking or mad, just aggressively territorial. Something to do with the rising mana, Ianmus had theorised¡ªgiven that Porkchop had confirmed even the meekest of beasts was far more ornery in the deep Sea, it was enough for him to take it as fact. Still, even with that being the case, most beasts had some instinctive measure of strength. As long as they didn''t seem easy targets, and didn''t linger in any territories, they were mostly left alone to travel in peace. At first he''d hoped that with how manageable of a journey it had been, and with how they were almost halfway through the rise in mana levels, he''d been hopeful that people would be able to get a grip on things soon. Once they adapted to the rising danger, that is. The mana would stabilise at a new normal, the beasts would stop growing stronger, and people would catch up. Simple, right? Unfortunately, both Ianmus and Porkchop had disabused him of his misconceptions. They weren''t even close to the level of threats that were seen in the Deep Sea yet, and that was only middling in terms of mana density compared to some of the true danger zones of the continent. Some of which, Ianmus said, had already been populated solely by integrated monsters¡ªthe mana potent enough that natural animals would spontaneously awaken, or die. It seemed that even if mana had kept rising at a steady pace, whatever means through which it affected the levels of monsters wasn''t happening at the same rate. They''d be dealing with monsters evolving and growing in levels for years, at least. Nor were beasts the only issue. He''d spotted more than one spirit, and other, stranger, creatures in their travels. Their strength seemed to be more closely tied to the mana, and so did their frequency. They hadn''t stuck around to visit the villages and inform them of the completion of the tasks. The guild would be able to do that when they returned, they''d been in far too much of a rush to do otherwise. Boggarts were, afterall, a plague. No need to let it brew for longer than was necessary to secure their cover story. Crouched in his cover, Kaius had his thoughts interrupted as he caught movement to the far left end of the valley. Focusing his eyes, distance was peeled away before him, the far off trees and grasses coming into stark relief. **Ding! Truesight has reached level 41!** His patience was rewarded as soon as he did so. A gibbering troop of boggarts was pushing their way through the grass, nearly a dozen strong. They were much like he remembered them. There''d been a couple of times that he and Father had stumbled across a small band of them searching for a hunting ground¡ªnot an uncommon story, when you lived on the frontier. Diminutive figures, gnarled and twisted¡ªwith hunched backs and a ratty fur and stringy long hair matted with grease. Large eyes were set deep into misshapen heads, while too-long arms jutted out from openings in their rough hide clothing. As much as he wished it were not so, there were also differences. Everything he''d seen and heard of said a tall boggart would come up to his waist. Half the band that tracked through the valley were tall enough to come up to his chest, and were more muscular than their smaller brethren. Far more muscular. If the normal boggarts looked twisted and sickly, these looked...fearsome. Their legs had lengthened, giving them a swift adroitness that the others lacked. Their backs, still hunched, had broadened, allowing them to move with a sure predatory grace. Even the tools they held were more finely wrought. It seemed beasts weren''t the only ones who''d been changed by the phase shift. Bugbear- Level 58: Lower Race, Vanguard Frowning at the description of the strange boggart relatives, Kaius tracked the troop with his gaze. They went straight to the cave, loitering outside before the biggest bugbear of the lot gave a deep bellowing call. It echoed through the stone chasm, petering off to a fading note. A few moments passed, the troop shifting from foot to foot as they waited. Now that they were no longer obscured by the grass, Kaius realised that the size wasn''t the only issue with the bugbears. Their hide clothing¡ªit had runes. Crude simplistic, yes¡ªbut they were still runes. After all, simple art didn''t glow with a sickening inner-light, Truesight revealing their real nature. They had a shaman. Chapter 205 - B2 202: Infiltration, pt. 2 Watching the boggarts and larger bugbears loiter outside of what must have been their dwelling, a heavy ball curdled in his stomach. A shaman. That was...not great. Ianmus had been more than happy to expand on the specifics of boggarts on their journey out of Deadacre. Apparently, beyond a certain group size, boggarts started changing. At first they just got bolder, more headstrong, and meaner. Soon though, more dangerous figures would appear in their tribes as stronger variants of whatever equivalent they had to classes became available. Assassins and scouts, deft fighters and accurate rangers, and more. The true tipping point was when a warchief appeared¡ªthat was when they could officially be called a plague. If they weren''t curbed quickly, it only got worse. Sometimes, very rarely, an undiscovered boggart nest would progress to the point where smart ones started appearing. It was a basal, crude, intelligence¡ªone that was still just as hungry and warmongering¡ªbut it was lethally dangerous. Shamans. The spiritual backbone of a plague, casting foul magics through instinctive will and sorcery. Normally...it took significant time. Boggarts bred and aged quickly, but it still took a few years for the new generation to develop these classes. Either this nest had gone undiscovered for some time, or¡ªa far worse option¡ªthe rising mana was increasing the base-level of their development. The crude runes on the bugbears hide armour could only have come from a shaman. A well developed one too¡ªmaybe more than one if they were unlucky. The plague was reaching maturity. As soon as they had drained their surroundings dry of nourishment, they would spill free¡ªmost likely onto the plains, where food was clearly visible from the hill tops. He needed to share this with his team. Between that and the appearance of bugbears, they might need to change their tack. Crouched by the boulder, he waited for the raiding party to enter. The reply to their call came quickly¡ªand faintly. Whatever had heard their call was deep. With their welcome secure, the bugbears took the lead. Hurrying to a hidden nook¡ªfrustratingly obscured by a lip in the cave wall¡ªthe leader passed out torches. Reaching down to its waist, it pulled out some sort of bone charm. An effigy of sorts, one marked by similar runes to the ones on its armour. Cupping the crude artefact tightly, the bugbear lifted it to his torch as its jutting brow furrowed in concentration. The torch burst into flame. The boggarts moved quickly after that, the leader lighting torches before they set off into the cave in a disturbing show of discipline. Not daring to rise from his crouch, Kaius planted his hands on the ground and slowly made his way down from the ridge. Once far enough that there was little risk of being spotted by a scout, he rose to his full height and set off at a jog towards his waiting teammates. He''d left them a hundred strides down the steep slope''s surface, nestled in a small alcove between three jutting rocks¡ªone of which held the familiar sign of a glowing circle of runes on its exterior face. A portal to the Depths, one of the many they''d seen on their journey. Analysing it had revealed it was an entrance to the third layer¡ªcommon enough, and not worth reporting to the guild. They''d still kept well clear of it, they were on a time limit, after all. It was a surprisingly good hiding spot. Even knowing where they were, it was impossible to spot them from where he stood. Only a narrow passage between the stones on the right-hand side of the cluster would allow a view into its admittedly cramped confines. "¡ªand the water! Oh, you must see the ocean sometime, Porkchop. I promise it is truly as endless as I say. Large enough that the Arboreal Sea''s endless reaches were named after it." he overheard Ianmus whisper to his brother. Porkchop snorted, but without directing attention towards him, Kaius missed his actual reply. Even their bond required intention to speak through, after all. "I''m serious! The name for the water came first, and yes, I promise it is actually salty. That''s not just some joke we tell land-locked folks." Ianmus insisted. Kaius shook his head, a wry smile on his face as he walked around the grouped boulders. While he wasn''t quite as skeptical as Porkchop, he could understand the incredulity. It was hard to imagine an endless stretch of nothing but water spanning from horizon to horizon. Where did it all even come from? He entered their hide away, both of his companions snapping up to meet his eyes. "Kaius! Ianmus was just telling me about the water around his city! I don''t know if I believe him how much there is though¡ªsurely it can''t rain that much?" Porkchop said, greeting him enthusiastically. Kaius stepped closer, scratching his brother behind the ears. "It''s the truth, though one I''ve never gotten to see for myself. I don''t quite understand how it''s so big or salty either." "I''ll have to take the two of you to see it some time, then. Either at Mystral, or Port Yorr on the east coast¡ªit''s a large city-state on the other side of the dukedoms, one I''ve been meaning to visit. It''s supposed to be rather beautiful." Ianmus said, smiling at the idea. Kaius understood. In the rare few occasions he''d gotten to see someone on their first visit to Three Fields, the singular look of awe that they gave the Arboreal Sea was a memorable sight. Pleasant, in the way that it reminded you of the fantastical nature of something that had become mundane through simple time and proximity. "Still, that''s for the future¡ªKaius, did you manage to spot any further tracks for us to follow?" Ianmus continued, switching his attention to their task. The casual candor and easy atmosphere vanished, replaced by a tempered focus that focused the mind. He nodded. "More than that, I''m pretty sure we''ve found their den. One of them, at least." Porkchop looked at him sharply. "You''re sure?" "Yeah," Kaius replied, taking a seat on the loose earth. "There''s a cave on the far valley wall, a big one¡ªand deep too. Whole place is littered with signs, and I managed to catch a raiding party entering. I''m surprised you didn''t hear the leader''s call." "Wait, that was a boggart? We thought it was a mountain goat." Ianmus frowned. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Kaius nodded. As soon as he did, Porkchop was rising to his feet, shaking off the trail dust that had coated his belly. "What are we waiting for, then? Let''s go get this done." "Woah," Kaius held up his hand, getting Porkchop to halt before they could leave their hideaway. "There''s more." Porkchop groaned, but returned to sitting all the same. Ianmus huffed, leaning back as he stared at the blue sky above. "There''s always bloody more." he muttered to himself. Kaius chuffed at that. It was hard to disagree. They did seem to have a tendency to find themselves in situations where the dangers and stakes were higher than expected. "That there is, friend." he smiled ruefully. "They have a shaman, an established one, maybe more. The raiding party had crude runes impressed into their hide armour. Worse, there were bugbears." Ianmus''s head snapped to him, his eye''s narrowing. "What in the headmaster''s beard is a bugbear?" "No clue, I was hoping you would know. They''re still clearly boggarts, but bigger and meaner. Kind of reminded me of a hob, but somehow even more ugly." Kaius replied with a shrug. Ianmus took a hissing breath in through his teeth, clearly disturbed by the news. Not that Kaius expected him to be happy about it. Boggarts being able to develop new, more dangerous, forms was good for absolutely no one. The smaller ones were bad enough, let alone a specimen the size of a small man and twice as muscled. Rubbing his jaw, Ianmus fell silent. He was thinking, that much was clear. Kaius had spent enough time around the man to recognise the furrow in his brow and the way his eyes had drifted into staring at the mid-space. He gave him time, any insight the mage might have would be valuable. Ianmus broke his silence. "It''s been theorised that they might be able to do that. The capabilities of the lower-races are somewhat unknown, they''re not exactly the easiest to study¡ªand not exactly my area of expertise, I''ve only brushed up against it in passing. The development of goblins into hobs and coblyns as they move up their social hierarchy is well known, but they are the only other example we''ve got. Ogres and trolls do something similar, but not quite as drastic. I''d hoped that it was unique to them, but it seems that boggart''s confinement to relatively low mana zones was the only thing stopping it." Kaius nodded along to his mage''s words. "If we assume it''s similar to goblins, is there anything we should watch out for?" Ianmus nodded at him. "We don''t quite know how their version of the system works, but we think it''s closer to how a beast''s works. Expect the more developed specimens to have better classes, and stronger bodies. On that note, if they''re like goblins, we can expect at least a hundred of them if hob-equivalents have started to appear. Probably more if you saw multiple in a raiding party." Kaius sighed. That was just fantastic. Porkchop, on the other-hand, was characteristically enthused. "So, what? We get a better fight, What''s the issue? We''re here to level, people! Not like we''re backing out now just because it''s a little more dangerous. Even if they have big ones, we still have the stat advantage, they don''t stand a chance." Porkchop insisted. Listening to Porkchop''s rousing speech, Ianmus shook his head at himself. "You''re right, of course. Regardless of the danger, we have been given a task, and will have to see it through. At the very least, this will be vital information to share with the guild. I just wished that for once something unexpected wouldn''t happen¡ªand that I''d discovered my aspect before we got here." Kaius nodded. Both Porkchop and Ianmus had gotten immeasurably closer to their own Aspects¡ªIanmus had started to build his resonance with Mentis, much like he had, while Porkchop had felt himself drawing close to igniting Corporus. Both were right on the cusp, having spent every evening meditating on what their Truth could be. All Ianmus had been able to share was that he was sure it had something to do with control and discovery. That, at least, was far more sane than Porkchop''s supposed Truth. He struggled to see how the phrase ''not dying'' was enough to resonate, but he had conceded there was nothing in the little they knew about Aspects that said they had to be complex. There was a hope that they could ignite them during this trial. Afterall, a god himself had said that a good fight would go a long way to their development. That said, he couldn''t stop the nervous tingle that he felt when he thought of the time it had taken. There were Honours on the line, and every extra day they took was another that someone else could beat his teammates to the finish. They had advantages¡ªthat much was certain¡ªbut their success wasn''t guaranteed. Thankfully, Ianmus had thought deeply on the information they had gleaned from the informational package the system had granted Kaius. Specifically on the effect of trances on aspect ignition. He''d commissioned a tonic from an alchemist before they had left, burning half of his coin on it¡ªthe other going to a cheap darkvision amulet that sat around his neck. A full dose was supposed to send someone into a dream-like stupor, where the mind wandered aimless and confused. Ianmus had taken to watering it down to a fraction of the original potency¡ªtaking it like a nightcap before his evening meditations in their tent. It had been...shockingly effective. That first evening had spurred him forwards more than the entire month preceding. He''d even been kind enough to share half of it with Porkchop, though both Kaius and his brother had insisted on covering half the cost. That tonic had been enough to push them both right to the precipice over their journey. Now all they needed was a spark. At first, Kaius had hoped he would be able to make use of it himself. Despite soul-searching, he''d not found so much of a quiver in his other two aspects. Even taking the watered down tonic to aid in meditation hadn''t helped. It seemed without a direction to focus on¡ªa trigger to draw you in¡ªa trance was of little use. He really shouldn''t complain. The fact that it had brought his team closer to securing their own Honours was enough. Afterall, their strength was his strength. "You''ll get there¡ªboth of you. Porkchop is right, this is bound to be a good fight¡ªno doubt it will be what both of you need to tip you over the edge. In fact, if either of you start to resonate strongly down there, call out. If there''s the chance to follow the thread without putting the team at risk, take it." Kaius replied to Ianmus. They nodded, happy with the idea. "Now, before we head in, we should discuss our formation," he continued. "Judging by the quiet response I heard from within, it seems to be quite deep. I think that if it''s just a single tunnel, Ianmus should hang back where he''s less at risk. However, if it opens up into multiple paths, or caverns, you should probably stay within a dozen paces of us." "I''ll stay close to him, just try not to range too far ahead. We''ll need to work together if their numbers are as large as Rieker and Ro thought they might be." Porkchop replied. Kaius nodded. Their conversation quickly continued as they covered contingencies. What to do if Ianmus was ambushed, if they were pincered, or if the boggarts just came at them in a single wave. With how many there were, the goal would be to avoid the final scenario. Things would go much smoother if they didn''t have to face the entire plague at once. Without a stealth specialist, it was likely that it would happen eventually, but every boggart they put in the ground before the alarm went up was another they wouldn''t have to worry about. To that end, they decided to wait for nightfall, when most would be asleep. Thankfully, larger groups of boggarts were known to sleep in smaller family units¡ªthey''d sneak in, wiping them out one by one. Then they would make their stand. As they planned, Kaius felt the music of battle start to race through his veins¡ªfaint, but undeniably pleasant. Dangerous or not, the battle ahead might be enough for him to gather his next class skill. He couldn''t wait. Chapter 206 - B2 203: Infiltration, pt. 3 After deciding to wait for nightfall, Kaius had returned to his watch upon the ridge. Seated quietly in the shadow of the boulder, he kept his eyes on the valley. As the early autumn sun had tracked its way down towards the horizon, more boggarts had appeared. Raiding parties¡ªmore than one returning with the carcasses of their hunts. Each and every one had a bugbear or two in their midst, directing their lesser siblings with disturbing intelligence. By the time the amber cloak of the setting sun draped his back, the valley drenched in shadow, the incoming boggarts had slowed. When night finally fell, he''d made a count of seventy individuals, with an unknown quantity already inside the caves. The moon had risen high in the sky by the time he had decided it was time for them to strike. With the fall of night, his darkvision came into play¡ªthe vibrant colours of the day washing out into a clear monochrome. Returning to the clustered boulders, Kaius nodded to his team, and they busied themselves with securing the supplies they would need for their assault. Light was unneeded¡ªthey could all see in the dark to varying degrees. Ianmus was the worst off, his amulet only brightening complete darkness to a level where a normal man would be hard pressed to see more than indistinct shadows in the dark. Thankfully, his elven heritage and high mental stats had left him with sharp enough eyes that it was only a minor hindrance. Their packs would be left behind. They''d stash them in their tent¡ªwhich they''d pitched in a corner of the space in the middle of the piled stones. Hopefully, even if they were discovered, it would be passed over as just another pile of rocks. The lighter they could travel, the quicker they would move if they had to. Potions were gathered and sorted¡ªfour mana potions, four health, and a couple of general purpose antidotes. Ianmus had them secured at his belt, though he''d taken a pair of health potions for himself and Porkchop. They''d also bring a few rations. Not much, just a days worth of jerky and a single mundane waterskin¡ªthey could be down there for hours, and keeping their strength up would be important. Kaius donned his cloak and pulled its draping hood over his helmet. No doubt there would be watchers in the cave, relying on firelight to see. A poorly timed glint of metal would give them away if he didn''t cover himself. Thankfully, it wasn''t the only protection they had against that eventuality. Knowing they''d most likely be venturing underground, Kaius had been storing ash from their nightly fires for weeks. Every scrap of metal¡ªartifacts, buckles, armour, and more¡ªwas rubbed down, obscuring their sheen as much as possible. In silent unison, they left their packs and advanced. Hiking a good quarter league along the ridge, they moved to a relatively gentle slope that was absent of scree that Kaius had spotted earlier. It would have been far too risky to scramble down right outside the cave¡ªif there were watches that he had missed, they would be spotted immediately. Each step was still nerve wracking. Kaius took every stride with care, experience and Skill guiding his footsteps as he crept around brittle grasses and stray twigs. Even Porkchop, with all his impressive bulk, was like a ghost. The hunt was well known to him, and he moved with a silent grace that made his strength all the more terrifying. Entering the treeline, Kaius kept his eyes constantly moving. Totally focused on their surroundings, his Glass Mind raced, working with Explorer''s Toolkit to catalogue every shrouded bough, pool of shadow, and shifting shape. Potential points of ambush were highlighted, focused on, analysed, and discarded in moments as he guided them through the valley. Soon, his vigilance was rewarded. Leaf litter¡ªspread a little too consistently to be natural. Holding up a hand for his team to halt, Kaius crept forwards, eying the disturbance. Toolkit had thoroughly looked onto it now, baying in his mind like a bloodhound on the scent of game. Lowering himself into a crouch, he peered closely at the leaves. A dense mat of woven twigs was beneath them. Finding a lack of tripwires or branches held under tension in the surroundings, Kaius moved to a nearby tree and scooped a long stick off the ground. Returning to the suspicious pile, he hooked his stick under the lip of the woven twigs, lifting them upwards. It revealed a hole¡ªas deep as he was, with stone-tipped spears lining the bottom. A pit-fall. The boggarts had been building traps. **Ding! Explorer''s Toolkit has reached level 45!** "Traps. Pretty simplistic though¡ªif this is exemplary of their work I should be able to get us to the cave without issues." Kaius whispered. His team nodded, and they set off once more with redoubled caution. Kaius spotted four more pitfalls on their journey through the widespread trees¡ªone of which had already been triggered. They''d approached that one, eager to see what the boggarts had been setting them for. They didn''t seem like they were being used for hunting¡ªnot with the size of them, or the way they had been set at convenient routes through the trees. Unfortunately, the pit had been empty¡ªthough broken spears and the dried remnants of blood still lined the base of the pit. Whatever had fallen through had obviously been carted off as lunch. As they drew close to the cave, the short trees that lined the valley floor grew even thinner. Artificially so¡ªroughly hacked at stumps had taken their place. Kaius only hoped that the wood had been used for cooking fires, rather than fortifications deeper in the cave. Despite going through the effort to create clear sight lines around the cave''s mouth, the boggarts seemed to have grown complacent in the safety of their new home. The lone tree beside the cave entrance was empty, and he spotted no sign of fire inside the cave. Even if some of the boggarts had skills that let them see in the dark, none of them had been posted either. He could see the cave''s interior just fine, and between Truesight and his Toolkit he had full confidence in spotting watchers if they had existed. Approaching the cliff''s edge, they pressed themselves close to the stone. Kaius took the lead, with Porkchop taking the rear. Shuffling right up to the edge, Kaius craned his neck to peer into the cave. His lips pursed into a frown¡ªthe cave was just as extensive as he''d feared. There''d been a thin hope that it would stretch back a handful of dozen long-strides before widening into an enclosed cavern. It was not to be. Instead, the fifteen stride wide opening expanded almost immediately to double that. The natural tunnel punched deep into the hillside, before it slowly curved down¡ªinto the belly of the world¡ªobscuring him from seeing any deeper. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Even with his vision occluded, he still saw hints of smaller side passage winding off from the main cave. Cracks and fissures that could hold watching boggarts, traps, or grisly trophies. Kaius pulled himself back, relaying his findings to his team. Getting a nod in return, they entered. Taking his position at the front of the group, Kaius left his blade in its sheath. Even covered in ash, there was still the chance it could give them away, and he was more than confident he''d be able to draw it in time. Besides, it wasn''t like he was defenceless. He had a full complement of spells already inscribed¡ªStormlash and Slip Step both, though he''d only taken a handful of the latter. If the entire plague did descend on their heads, he wanted as many casts of crackling lightning as he could get. Step by step they crept into the darkness. Now that they were fully in the cave, the signs of boggart habitation were everywhere. Soot stains, claw scratched stones, bones, and more. He could even smell smoke, wafting up towards them from deep within the underground passage. The jagged fissures in the cave walls drew close. Some were visible as little more than large cracks in the rock, while through others he could see openings. Only a few looked wide enough to be usable, but he wasn''t going to take any chances. Not when his Glass Mind was happily focused on the many ways such a space could be used to obscure an ambush or trap. Kaius waved for his team to move closer to the wall as they approached the first of the fissures. Leaving them where they were, he dropped into a deep crouch and snuck forward. A quick approach and swift look let him know that the fissure was empty. He rushed forwards, checking the others as quickly as he could while still remaining silent. Some had been used as impromptu dumping grounds, but none housed any boggarts. Kaius drew back, moving swiftly as he returned. "Nothing," he whispered. "we continue." Porkchop and Ianmus nodded, following after him. If he''d had an inkling that the cave system was large, after a quarter hour of slowly creeping through the darkness it had proven itself massive. It almost reminded him of being in the depths. The endless crawl through twisting tunnels and passages in search of the next cavern full of beasties. There were still differences. The mana was more wild, the surroundings more natural. A surface level similarity only. Still, it was enough that he quickly fell back into old habits¡ªconstantly looking for threats, always looking over his shoulder, and pulling more heavily on his bond so that he would know immediately if Porkchop spotted something. Advancing onwards, through cold blackness and hardened stone, Kaius''s tension rose. He would have expected that they would have run into something by now. The evidence that the boggarts had made their home here existed, but the absence of their presence grated further with every step. If the cave got any deeper, he was worried that their foes had found an entrance to the underworld¡ªthe sprawling network of caves and caverns that were home to strange and dangerous monsters. Though, that said, he was pretty sure they''d need to descend half a league or more before that happened, and the boggarts themselves would likely be little more than a snack to the denizens of that umbral place. It was the monotony that was the worst. The unknown. He had no problem fighting the boggarts, but all this creeping and skulking was doing his head in. Finally, after rounding yet another gentle bend in the cave, his wish came true. A deep hiss broke the silence, bouncing clean off the hardened rock walls to reach his ears from deeper down the passage. Kaius froze at once, feeling Porkchop do the same behind him. His heart thumped in his chest, jaw muscles tense as he prayed that they hadn''t been caught. A moment later another hiss crossed the space, this one a little raspier¡ªquickly followed by the sound of clattering rocks and heaving grunts. Kaius shared a look with his team, tilting his head questionably. Ianmus nodded. Investigation it was. Rounding the bend, they came across the first major divergence from their path since they had entered the cave. A cross road, one branch continuing straight and downwards, and one that split off to the right, quickly leveling out. The dual clamour of anger and clattering blows was coming from the right. Close. Rushing forwards, Kaius peered down the quiet tunnel. It seemed to end quickly¡ªa champer that had definitely been used at some point, judging by the burnt out fire pits and scraps of bone that were strewn around the place. Currently though, it lay abandoned. He returned, checking down the tunnel where the ongoing feral calls were coming from. Inching forwards down the tunnel, Kaius strained his ears. There were definitely two of them, and they were fighting alright. The tunnel started to curve off to the right. Rounding the bend, Kaius saw the faintest hint of rising light shimmering on the far cave wall. He poked his head around the corner, finding little but a brighter glow reflecting off another turn. That was one problem with his darkvision, it was sensitive enough that even the slightest hint of light was noticeable in pitch-blackness. He gestured to his team to stay put, pushing on ahead alone. While he was no match for a proper sneak, Toolkit did at least bring some benefit to his stealth. Faint hisses and deep whacks resolved themselves into snarls, scraps, and yipping bleats as they drew closer, each bend revealing more and more light. Whatever confrontation was occurring ahead, it sounded vicious. Finally, the light Kaius could see was visibly flickering, revealing the nature of its flaming source. He crept ahead of his team, cloak pulled tight around him as the recognisable sound of fists hitting flesh droned. He poked his eyes around the corner, pressed tight to the cave wall to hide his presence¡ªthough he was careful not to let his armour clink on the stone. A small cavern, perhaps twice as wide as the cave¡ªthrown in stark relief by a small fire that burned at its centre. Standing before the fire were two boggarts, desperately wailing on each other with fist and stone as they fought over a mostly striped leg bone. If it was just the two of them, Kaius would have already rushed in to silence them. With the infernal racket they were making, their cries of alarm would have been no different. Unfortunately, they weren''t alone. Half a dozen more boggarts looked on from the side of the cavern, nestled around another passage leading deeper into the cave. A bugbear loomed over his lessers, amusement visible on their face as they stared at the brawl. It was the passage behind them that drew his eye. Crude torches were mounted on its side, lighting it up. Moreover, the stone had been crudely hacked at, shattered edges and jagged walls revealing it had been widened. The start of the nest. .... Crouched at the edge of the cliff face, Drorome watched the three idiots enter the cave with a sigh. Her Mirage Skein broke up her image, hiding her completely from their sight. Not that the overconfident fools had been watching. I mean, really, they went through all the trouble of taking an account of the raiding parties, only to rush in head first? She knew that they were bound to fail¡ªit was the entire point of this exercise, after all¡ªbut she''d hoped they would at least do it well. On the gods, if they went down there¡ªaware that there were unknowns like the bugbears¡ªand went straight to a frontal assault, she''d beat some sense into them herself. It was always the same with prodigies¡ªthey thought themselves invincible. That raw power meant everything, and forgot to account for simple things like raw numbers and the power of attrition. These ones might be once-in-a-millenia, but from everything she had seen, it only made the problems worse. Shaking her head in disappointment, she stepped forwards, falling soundlessly through the air. B2 Chapter 221: Growing Problems, pt. 1 B2 Chapter 221: Growing Problems, pt. 1 The morning sun was low on the horizon, shining brightly in their eyes, as they made their final approach to Deadacre. With Truesight fortifying his vision against the glare, Kaius could comfortably see the smudge of brown that was the circle of cracked earth that surrounded the small Frontier city¡¯s walls. The fortifications themselves were jutting over the horizon¡ªstanding out in a thin grey line. Whooping in excitement, Kaius urged them forwards, happily sharing with his team that they were close. He¡¯d never thought that he¡¯d be one to enjoy spending some time in the city, but after another week of nothing but open plains and knee high grasses Kaius was on the verge of letting a beast gnaw on his leg if it meant a change to the monotony. Settlements weren¡¯t perfect, but the flat open plains of the Frontier were just so damn boring. Even the continually growing aggression of the local monsters wasn¡¯t enough to change that. It had none of the dynamic vibrancy and changing scenery that he¡¯d loved about the Sea¡ªthe way you could walk a league and feel like you¡¯d been transported somewhere entirely different. To his left, Ianmus perked up at the news that the city was only an hour or two away on foot. The mage was even more sick of their travel than he was. It wasn¡¯t so much that Ianmus was accustomed to the creature comforts of urban life¡ªthough he definitely was, no one could call the man a seasoned woodsman. In Kaius¡¯s opinion, it was more likely even more extreme boredom than his own. Ianmus was used to having libraries, experimentation, and research to fill his time¡ªsomething that was quite hard when you spend a dozen hours walking every day. Every time they went more than a few hours without there being some problem or novelty to occupy the man''s attention, he started to make up his own time wasters¡ªgoing glassy eyed as his mind wandered on who knew what. At the very least, they¡¯d kept him occupied for a full day with their discussion on asking for Rieker¡¯s help in founding Porkchop¡¯s aspect¡ªand letting him in on the existence of Honours. Ianmus had agreed wholeheartedly, immediately seeing the value in an expanded pool of front running delvers hunting for the kind of feats that would provide them as a reward. Plus, the guild had all manner of theorists and researchers, who he¡¯d said would likely be able to piece together a wider picture of potential feats that could reward one. He¡¯d let slip that he even had a few ideas of Honours they could attempt for themselves. Right before they hit their hundredth level, Ianmus wanted to cast a spell with his entire store of mana. It¡¯d likely wipe him out for days with severe mana burn, but he hoped that there would be one for using a certain amount of mana in a single spell. Kaius thought the idea had some merit, but if Ianmus failed they¡¯d have little way to tell if it was because it didn¡¯t exist, or if the man just didn¡¯t have enough Intelligence. With nearly a full third of his stat points going towards it, it would unbalance him too much to invest more into the attribute. On the other hand, Kaius had far less issues doing so. Sure, he¡¯d started putting his spare point into Vitality when he crossed level fifty¡ªand would continue to do so¡ªbut with his wealth of Honours he was still far ahead of the curve. Ianmus had thought it would be worth trying to expend his mana as fast as possible, to see if there was an Honour for spending mana in a short enough period of time¡ªsomething glyph-binding was uniquely suited for. He didn¡¯t see the harm in trying, since all it would cost him was a little time to reinscribe and regenerate his mana. Though, he¡¯d probably wait until the same level as Ianmus. If it existed, it would probably be ¡®before level one-hundred¡¯ like Ruthless Underdog II. Waiting would net him a greater chance of having enough in the tank to actually achieve that goal. Letting his mind continue to wander, Kaius slowly picked up his pace alongside his team, happy to almost be back in the city¡ªeven if their return meant a waiting scolding, hard training, and the sharing of tightly held secrets. ... A plume of dust billowed from the base of Deadacre¡¯s walls, obscuring the gates and tying an anxious knot in the pit of Kaius¡¯s belly. ¡°You see that?¡± Kaius murmured, nudging Porkchop. ¡°Yeah.¡± Porkchop replied. ¡°What¡¯re the chances the guards are fighting?¡± ¡°I¡¯d say they¡¯re pretty high.¡± ¡°Think we should check it out?¡± ¡°Absolutely.¡± Kaius looked to Ianmus at his left, who was frowning in the direction of the walls¡ªhis eyesight not as good as their own, even with the benefits of his elven lineage. ¡°Yes, we¡¯ll take him.¡± Porkchop interjected with a snort, reading him like an open book. ¡°But only if you carry him when we¡¯re running there.¡± Snapping back to Porkchop, Kaius raised a brow at his brother. He wanted him to do what? ¡°What? You¡¯re strong enough, aren¡¯t you? Or does it feel a little weird to carry a grown man?¡± Porkchop teased, giving him a grin that showed off entirely too many fangs. Rolling his eyes, Kaius looked towards their distracted mage, before he smirked as an idea came to him. He crept up behind Ianmus, his friend still watching what was happening at the base of the city walls. ¡°I¡¯m going to get you back for this, you know.¡± he said silently through his bond. ¡°Oh, please, you think this will be just as funny as I do.¡± ¡°True, doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m not going to try though.¡± Once he was in a single stride of Ianmus¡¯s back, Kaius blurred into motion. He swept his arms out, ducking down before he ripped Ianmus off his feet in a bridal carry. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Ianmus yelled, flailing madly in surprise. ¡°What the...put me down, you dog!¡± the mage hollered, doing his best to wriggle free. Kaius only laughed, tightening his grip around Ianmus¡¯s chest and knees. Even if Ianmus was taller than he was, his Strength was enough that it felt about as difficult as picking up a toddler¡ªand Ianmus¡¯s was low enough his protests were as easy to ignore. ¡°Come on, princess, we¡¯re going for a ride.¡± he replied, dashing over to Porkchop. ¡°What in the hells do you mea...¡± Ianmus¡¯s words were quickly replaced by a yelp of shock as Kaius kicked off, his leg burning with exertion as he sailed through the air. Grunting as he landed on Porkchop¡¯s back, he kicked his feet through the leather loops that hung off his brother¡¯s under-armour. ¡°Have you tried eating less?¡± Porkchop grunted, rolling his shoulders as he adjusted to the sudden weight. Kaius scoffed, readjusting his grip on his ornery teammate who was still silently trying to wriggle free. ¡°This is extremely undignified, Kaius!¡± Ianmus protested. ¡°Oh shush, it¡¯s the quickest way to get there¡ªunless you want to leave those guards to sort out whatever that is by themselves?¡± he replied, dismissing the man''s complaints. Ianmus paused at his words. Evidently, he realised that for all of their joviality, both he and Porkchop were serious about coming to aid Deadacre¡¯s defenders. ¡°Just make it quick.¡± he whispered, halting his insistent wriggling. ¡°You heard the man, Porkchop! Let¡¯s make this quick.¡± Kaius said, grinning. Ianmus¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Well, if he insists, who am I to refuse.¡± Kaius tightened his knees, holding himself firmly to the saddle. ¡°Oh by the shining spire, please don¡¯t.¡± Ianmus pleaded. ¡°My good man, I have no idea what you mean!¡± Kaius replied, holding the mage tighter as he leaned forwards in the saddle. ¡°Yes, you do! Please don¡¯t!¡± ¡°Are you perhaps a little overheated, elfling? You seem to be in hysterics over a simple evening ride.¡± Porkchop teased, before he dipped into their private bond. ¡°You ready?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Kaius replied, still grinning wildly. ¡°You bastards, I¡¯m not going to forget this one.¡± Ianmus said, scrunching his eye¡¯s shut. Kaius laughed, before he felt like he was yanked backwards by a mountain troll as Porkchop tapped into his amulet, accelerating to his full sprint in moments. Squeezing his legs for dear life, he let out a long holler of excitement as the air rushed through his hair. Porkchop¡¯s feet pounded a steady rhythm in the earth, each hastened bound kicking up clods of dirt and propelling them across the plains like he was a bounding hare. It was exhilarating, speeding across the open ground like this¡ªmade him feel like he was an air elemental, soaring where he pleased. Ianmus, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying it less intensely. His eyes were scrunched, alabaster complexion washed out further to a pallid grey. Kaius could see the man''s lips moving as he muttered a steady stream of words, but the speed of their approach ripped them away before they could reach his ears. No doubt the man was cursing ever having met them. Turning his attention to their destination, Kaius found his view of the commotion at the gates quickly resolving. At the speed Porkchop was moving at, the strides practically melted before them, drawing them close enough that he could see small figures racing back and forth¡ªa chaotic thrum of bodies. It was a fight alright¡ªa rather desperate one from the looks of it. Beasts, judging by the low smudges he could see flickering back and forth in the haze. Still, as best he could tell, the guards were handling it. They¡¯d formed a line, using shields to deny the assaulting monsters the opportunity to pick them apart, while archers above loosed arrow after arrow into the targets below. Not that Kaius thought that meant they could slow their approach. The monsters assaulting the gates looked like they outnumbered the guards by four to one, a tangled wave of bodies that smashed into their line again and again. Thankfully, they¡¯d be there to help in a few minutes at most. Porkchop at a full sprint was practically faster than lightning, when compared to their normal easy pace they travelled with. ¡°Hit them hard when we arrive, I¡¯ll jump off with Ianmus before you do.¡± Kaius said, the blurred figures slowly coming into focus. Dogs, by the looks of it¡ªmostly lacking fur, though they made up for it with a thick leathery hide. Now that they were close enough, Kaius could see the guardsmen at the gate''s faces. Tense eyes, filled with anxiety, duty, and fear. Sweaty beading on their brows, glinting in the sun. They were putting the dogs down, bleeding them dry with a dozen spear points every time one grew desperate enough to assault their shield line. Yet, they weren¡¯t without their own casualties. Prone bodies, huddled in the thin space the defenders had left between their backs and the shut gate behind them. Red blood spilled from a dozen wounds, desperate allies and comrades pressing rags into the injuries in the hopes of stemming the bleeding long enough for Health to seal the bites. Not all of them were successful, or so the still form dragged off to the side of the main group suggested. It was easy to forget sometimes, how slow natural healing was without a skill like his own Lesser Regeneration. Sure, everything would be fine in minutes if you had enough Health, but that was little comfort when you could bleed out in half that time. Baying yips filled the air, joined by the sounds of desperate shouts and clanging steel. Porkchop roared, letting loose a Bulwark¡¯s Challenge. The guards jumped, more than a few freezing at the sound of another predator¡ªthough Kaius saw them snap out of it quickly when they noticed him on his brother¡¯s back. The dogs, on the other hand, reacted to Porkchop¡¯s challenge with snarls of fury¡ªat the distances they were, the skill was stretched thin enough that it didn¡¯t force them into focusing on them. It did, however, distract them long enough for a full dozen to go down with spear points lodged in their skull. Deadacre¡¯s guards straightened at the small victory, buoyed by the approaching assistance. Then the moment came. Kaius pushed down on his foot loops as hard as he could, sending himself up and back. Ianmus gasped, only barely ready for the sudden dismount. Porkchop continued forwards, tapping into his amulet a second time as he descended on the pack of dogs like a rampaging drake. They immediately focused on the greater threat, swarming him. Bracing himself, Kaius¡¯s feet touched the ground. Still backed by the momentum of their charge, he slid for a full twelve strides over the dusty and hard earth before coming to a slow stop. Kaius set Ianmus down on his feet, gently shoving him towards the onlooking defenders. ¡°Healing time, princess.¡± he teased, the jab enough to shake the half-elf out of his daze. Giving him a final withering look, Ianmus set off running towards the guards. They parted to let him pass, not questioning the mage¡¯s approach. Drawing his blade, Kaius smiled as he watched Porkchop fling a dog through the air with a heavy swipe, blood spraying behind it in a long trail as his brother¡¯s jade claws cleaved straight through its ribs. He raced in. Chapter 207 - B2 204: Infiltration, pt. 4 The squabbling boggarts kept wailing on each-other, slavering and howling with maddened fury. The lump of bone and gristle they were fighting over spun across the floor of the cavern, launched by a stray kick. Both boggarts paused, staring at their distant prize. A moment later they both lunged, flying into a tangle of grasping and clawing limbs as they yanked each other back. One squirmed its way free, desperately reaching for the bone. Only for the other to sink its fangs into its calf, red blood spilling free. Kaius saw the very moment the boggart tasted its fellow''s blood. Pinprick pupils set deep into beady eyes dilated, frozen in place as the other boggart howled in pain. The noise seemed to snap it out of its reverie. Its eyes flicked to the bone, then back to the spindly leg held tight in its grasp. It made its choice. Biting deeper, it snapped its head back, ripping free a chunk of the other boggart''s calf. The wounded one screamed, shrill and terrible. Turning on its attacker, it swept up a stone from the cave floor and bashed the biter over the head. Once, then twice when the first wasn''t enough to force its vice-like bite free. The stone gashed the biter, face splitting open as greasy fur ran slick with its blood. Hands were raised, warding off the strikes. The air in the room shifted. Once staring on in cackling amusement, the other boggarts that lined the wall leaned in, a hunger shining in their eyes. It was a dark focus, almost palpable¡ªresonating with the pained and furious screams of the combatants. The bitten boggart straddled their biter''s chest. Its clutched stone rose high overhead, before it drove it down with the weight of its anger. It clacked off a raised forearm, splitting the flesh¡ªthough the bone held strong. Hissing in fury, it struck again, and again. A hate filled rhythm fueling its twisted body, and the bitten boggart savaged its opponent. At first the biter held up resistance, scratching at the other''s face with desperate intensity. Then a heavy smash slipped through its guard, catching it on the forehead. The boggart gasped, head snapping back to crack against the stone floor with a loud retort. It slumped back limp and dazed. Crying in victory, the other boggart didn''t pause for a second. The hall quieted, filled only with the sodden sound of its chosen weapon splitting flesh. Again and again it wailed, until with one final heaving blow, a sickening crack echoed off the walls of the cave. Panting in exertion, the boggart rose, looking down at the mashed face of its competitor. Kaius saw the wild and hungry look that covered its face. He knew what was coming, but he couldn''t look away. The boggart dived down, tearing at the mouldering leathers that covered its companion. It stripped the body clean with practiced efficiency, and then bit down on its shoulder, wrenching a chunk of flesh free with a snap of its neck. Kaius clenched his teeth, swallowing his gorge at the casual display of cannibalism. He turned his attention to the spectators. Only for them to pounce. The sight of so much flesh sent them into a madness, clawing at each other as they descended on the slain boggart. Whipped into a fervour by the taste of blood, the victorious boggart tried to defend its kills. Stone raised high, it cried out in challenge, despite the numbers arrayed against it. It proved to be the wrong move. The mob turned on it at once, and it vanished under a flail of limbs. Pained cries filled the cave, only to be cut short and replaced by the sound of cracking bones and torn flesh. The boggarts were...not clean eaters. In their maddened hunger, strips of fur and sprays of blood coated them liberally, spraying away from the densely knotted cluster. The bugbear, however, had not moved. It still stood there, unmoved by the show of wanton hunger and violence. There was no sign of displeasure on its twisted and alien face. No, instead its jutting fangs were bared in a clear display of glee. It laughed, loud and dark, before it pushed itself off the cave wall it had been leaning against and waded into the fray. Lost in bloodlust as they were, more than one boggart turned on the intruder with a hiss. The bugbear simply growled, spitting out a gravelly word in their twisted mockery of language as it kicked them to the side, sending the boggarts sprawling. Reaching one of the bodies, it bent down and snatched up a leg¡ªwrenching the body free of the lesser ones that tried to hold on to it desperately. A flurry of snapping kicks was enough to dislodge the unruly bunch. Standing with its chest high, the bugbear hoisted the slain boggart aloft. Chunks were missing from its arms and legs, and the shattered remnants of its skull still leaked a pink sludge streaked with dripping blood. The bugbear gave the body a cursory look, licking its lips with a heavy breath. One of the boggart''s whimpered, staring at the body that had been torn from it. The bugbear''s eyes snapped over, staring at the hungry remainders with a dark scowl on its face. As if daring them to challenge it. When none did, Kaius watched it smile, look over its prize, and turn to descend deeper into the tunnel. The remaining boggarts sat frozen and fearful, watching the retreating figure of the bugbear vanish into the tunnel. That moment of quiet calm lasted only until it had disappeared from sight. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. As a group, they turned back towards the body. Growls raised in throats, as boggarts were shoved away from the single remaining meal. As soon as violence was raised, they descended over the body in a mad rush to gorge on the slain meat. Yet there was only so much to go around. Those that clustered around the body had to deal with shuddering punches, and heavy scratches as their compatriots tried to tear them free to get their own access. It was a quickly breaking balance, Kaius realised. It wouldn''t take the mob long to realise that there was plenty of meat with its heart still beating. The second one showed a fraction too much weakness, they would fall prey to their own vicious desires and turn on eachother. A perfect moment for them to strike. Taking a last, long, look at the horrors the boggarts had wrought on their own kind, Kaius knew that they had to die. It was foul and evil, what they did. Perhaps, if they had been unthinking and particularly brutal beasts, he''d be able to wave it away as the heartless viciousness of nature. Boggarts weren''t beasts. They made fire, tools, and clothes. They even had some simplistic cousin to language, same as the goblins. To descend to such depravity when they had such faculties was unforgivable. No, it was evil. Plain and simple. Worse, if they were falling to cannibalism, they must have been struggling to support their population levels. He''d known that they''d only seen a few beasts since they''d entered the hills, but the appetite of the plague must be truly voracious. It wouldn''t take long for the hunger to drive them from their den. Send them spilling out into the plains below. They had to end this. Tonight. ... Kaius raced through the cave, hurrying back to where his companions waited for him a few bends around the tunnel. He found them waiting, hidden in a crook of the cave wall that would have obscured them from anything following them in. Waving to catch their attention, he saw Ianmus sighing in relief. "What did you find, friend?" the half-elf whispered softly. "Madness." Kaius replied, shaking his head at the memory of the grotesque display he''d had the displeasure of witnessing. "It''s definitely the start of their warren. The cave opens up¡ªthere were two boggarts fighting over a scrap of bone." he continued, keeping his voice low so as to be certain to be drowned out by the sounds of the hissing brawl that came through the cave. "Just the two? Why''d it get louder, then?" Porkchop asked, looking back the way he had come. Kaius shook his head. "There were more, perhaps ten, watching them brawl¡ªsame with a bugbear. One of the fighters got killed, and the other was quickly overrun as it turned into a feeding frenzy." "They''ve already fallen to cannibalism? That''s not good; we have a week¡ªat most¡ªbefore they''ll start looking for fresh feeding grounds. In fact, I bet that''s what those raiding parties are already doing. With these ''bugbears'' and a shaman, we should expect more organisation than boggarts are known for." Ianmus replied, frowning heavily when he learned how close they had cut things. "Exactly. Regardless, this is our chance to strike. The bugbear left with one of the bodies, and the boggarts are on the verge of descending into bloodshed once more. If we attack in silence, I doubt any listeners would be able to hear anything different." Kaius explained. His companions nodded, doing a final check of their gear. Porkchop decided against summoning his armour. Strong as it was, plates of overlapping stone weren''t the most agile or quiet of things. Besides, with his brothers might, he should have very little trouble with the diminutive creatures. Kaius drew his blade, moving slowly so as to keep the motion silent. He''d rubbed it in ash much like his armour, blending with its smokey crystal fuller and edge to leave it looking like a slice of congealed shadow in the umbral intensity of the cave. Right on cue, the second that they started to creep forwards, the snarling of the boggarts rose to a crescendo, cries of anger and pain echoing through the passage. They had turned on each other. "Ianmus! Sundrenched Strength!" Kaius hissed, breaking into a jog. The mage nodded, eyes narrowing in concentration as he kept pace with the team, mana streaming towards him. A second later Kaius saw mana flash¡ªthough it did not illuminate the cave to his mortal sight¡ªand felt the soothing vigour of the sun settle into his flesh. **Ding! You have been Enhanced - Sundrenched Strength!** A second flash followed a few steps after that, this time centred on Porkchop. His physicality empowered, Kaius was able to speed up while still remaining silent. A quick glance behind him showed Porkchop right at his tail, with Ianmus at the rear, a channelled spell held primed and ready. At the last turn, Kaius broke into a sprint. Bursting into the room, he was treated to the sight of all out bloodshed. Two more boggarts were bleeding profusely¡ªtheir flesh writhing as health slowly sealed their injuries. The rest of the boggarts had cornered them, ignoring the half eaten corpse lying by the fire in the centre of the room. It was a cacophony of snarls and gnashing teeth, and brutal, clawing blows. The two targets were getting the worst of it, but it didn''t mean the rest were working together with ease. No, any boggart who drew too closely to another almost invariably caught a swung stone or a heavy punch. Kaius took it all in, cataloguing their dishevelled lack of unity. His Glass Mind called in glee, pouring over the weaknesses in their formation. Stormlash was right out¡ªit was too loud, and he needed to save it. He also wouldn''t need it. Leaping forwards with a silent snarl on his face, he buried the edge of A Father''s Gift in a boggart''s brainpan, blood spraying from the wound. It collapsed, limp and boneless. **Ding! level 54 Boggart - Feral Mauler slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** He was already moving. The strange style of Vesryn swordplay was still unfamiliar to him, but he''d started to get a handle on it. It was quick, adaptable, and fast. Planting his weight on his lead foot, he spun, using the momentum of his turn to rip his blade free of its bind in the goblins head. The pommel of his blade caught the next one in the back of the head with a shuddering crunch, sending it sprawling prone. Then Porkchop descended upon them, a storm of flashing green claws quickly followed by a burst of heat as Ianmus unleashed his spell. He''d done....something to it using freecasting. He could still feel the heat of it¡ªsee it in his mana-sight¡ªbut it was invisible to the naked eye. The boggarts finally noticed them, Porkchop too large to be lost in the haze of their bloodlust. They cried in surprise and fury, scrambling back from their assault. Kaius only grinned, switching to a one handed stance he had been practicing, before he whipped his blade through a boggart''s exposed belly. Blood ran in waves, entrails sloshing free to tangle up its allies'' feet. The calls. They sounded exactly like the boggarts earlier brawl. Chapter 208 - B2 205: Infiltration, pt. 5 Kaius lunged to the side, shouldering a boggart to the ground as he narrowly avoided a hosing spray of blood as Porkchop tore another''s head free. He stepped through the movement, booting the boggart that was desperately trying to scramble back up. A Father''s Gift swept out, a twist of his hips driving the power to ram it through the throat of a boggart that tried to rush him with its grasping claws held out. It fell, choking¡ªthough it would heal, if given the chance. He could see the flesh writhing. His Glass Mind was well and truly showing its worth, allowing him to fully immerse himself in the violent rhythm of their battle as it fed him information. Where the boggart''s formation was weak, which individual had left an opening for him to exploit, and how he could capitalise on the chaos their sudden assault had caused. It pulled on his system granted skills, weaving the instinct they gave him with the knowledge and memory of dozens of battles. They fought in total silence. Rough guttural cries of anger and panic were the only sounds that filled the small cavern, the sounds of his team''s heavy breathing drowned out in the cacophony of the boggart''s slaughter. Ramming his blade through the skull of the boggart below his boot, he lunged forwards, finishing off the other that was still clawing at the weeping hole in its neck. **Ding! level 57 Boggart - Primitive Fighter slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** **Ding! level 53 Boggart - Skulking Biter slain - Experience Gained!** It was easy. The boggarts might have had them bested in levels¡ªbut only just, and they had none of their superlative skills or stats to back them up. Throw in that they were disorganised, short, and weaponless....well, he''d pushed himself harder stacking firewood before. Another beam of light snapped out, burning its way through a boggart''s eye and burrowing its way into the creature''s skull. Not deep enough to kill the monster instantly, but it still sent it reeling¡ªvulnerable to a crushing blow from Porkchop that swept its legs out from under it, before he smashed its skull. It was the third one that Ianmus had cast. They were...different from his normal Sunbeams. He could still feel their heat, still see the popping glow of mana as the beams materialised¡ªhighlighting their path¡ªbut his natural eyes saw nothing. Not even with Truesight. A mystery, but one that was quickly pushed to the side in favour of cleaving through a boggart''s arm as it desperately tried to claw at him. He stepped in, punching it in the face with the hilt of his blade, its nose collapsing with a shuddering crack. Kaius drew his sword back, before lunging forwards and ramming his blade through its skull. The point of his sword was drawn down as the boggart collapsed, dead weight enough to let it slide free of his blade. **Ding! level 56 Boggart - Feral Mauler slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** He turned, catching the final moments of Porkchop plunging his claws through the last monster''s crown. Chest heaving, Kaius took in the sight of their battle¡ªthe blood strewn cavern silent other than the crackle of flame and their own heaving breaths. The light flickered, shadows creeping across the floor and walls¡ªmaking the slowly pooling blood look alive with movement. He strained his ears¡ªeven the clamour of violence in his blood that sung with every battle quelled by his desperate need to listen for outraged cries from deeper within the cave. There was nothing. Despite the fury of their attack, it had been lost in the cacophony of the boggart''s own mindless brawl. Still, if something came to investigate, they would be discovered at once. Porkchop''s bodies might have passed for a particularly savage beating with a rock, but the clean cuts left in the corpses of his targets stood out garishly¡ªclear evidence of a bladed weapon. They had to hide the bodies. While pools of blood may be suspicious, there was already more than enough in the room before they had sprung their ambush. Not all of it was fresh, either¡ªplenty of dark brown stains had been laid down in many layers, splattering across the floors and wall. If they were lucky, it would just be suspicious, rather than a dead give away. He flicked his sword, clearing the worst of the blood before he wiped it down on some of the fur clothes that the boggarts had dressed themselves in. Sheathing his blade, he turned to his team. "Time to start hauling¡ªwe''re stashing them in one of those side crevices we saw earlier." he whispered. "Porkchop, I hate to do this, but we''re stringing some over your back. I want this done in one trip." Porkchop''s muzzle scrunched in distaste. "Fine, but let''s make it quick." Ianmus only nodded. They moved quickly, hauling most of the bodies onto Porkchop''s back. The limp corpses stained his under-armour red, but his brother bore it without complaint. By the time they were done, Porkchop looked like a macabre living plague-cart, the heaping bodies just barely kept stable with a few clever uses of the extra straps that Porkchop had for securing belongings to his back. Kaius bent down, taking up his own cargo¡ªa boggart slung over each shoulder¡ªas Ianmus did the same. They set off, jogging back as fast as they could the way they had come, desperately trying to keep their heavy footfalls as quiet as possible. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. .... Hauling the last of the bodies off his brother''s back, Kaius ignored the way the beast''s fur stuck to the skin of his hands and left a slippery film in its wake. He walked over to the crack, shoving the body roughly through the opening. A stride and a half wide, the crack went only two strides deep before it opened up to a thin chute that disappeared into the stone below. One arm got stuck, trapped at an awkward angle behind the corpse''s back. With a heave, Kaius threw his weight into his shove. Bone gave way with a wet crack, and the arm twisted around the body unnaturally. It gave just enough to fall free, hiding the last of their victims from sight. Kaius sighed, still feeling the tense dread of potential discovery despite their grisly work being done. He shook his head, deciding to distract himself while they crept back. "Ianmus," he whispered. "That spell of yours¡ªthe manipulation you were doing to your sorcery, why couldn''t I see it?" "An old discovery. One that Sunspire has known of for centuries." he replied in clipped words, his eyes trained ahead. "We don''t fully understand it, but there are forms to light. One of them is potent and dangerous, but invisible to mortal eyes¡ªmost of them, at least." "Why not use it all the time, then?" Porkchop asked, though his words were distracted. Something seemed to have caught his brother''s attention, judging by the way his ears kept flicking to train on sounds coming from behind them¡ªkeeping an ear out for returning raiding parties, he supposed. Ianmus shrugged in response to the question. "Light is already too fast for anything to dodge without instinctive or precognitive abilities, so the fact it can''t be seen isn''t that helpful in most situations. Add in the additional complexity of requiring free-cast modification, additional channel time, and greater mana costs, and it''s just not worth the effort most of the time." "I will admit it''s handy for situations like this, though." Ianmus continued after a moment''s pause. Kaius nodded at the explanation. Knowing the costs of the change, he could understand why it had niche applications. Still, it was a good facet to file away¡ªthey might usually confront most of their problems head on in open battle, but it was bound to be useful in the future. Even if only to stop Ianmus pointing a glowing arrow directly towards himself in the future¡ªhandy if they weren''t confident they could keep him safe. With his curiosity satisfied, they fell back into a deep silence¡ªlistening for any sounds of their bloodshed being discovered as they made their way back to the boggart warren. .... Kaius rushed forwards as he entered the flickering light of a small stone brazier. They''d been scattered along the tunnel they''d watched the bugbear enter. He slowed to a steady creep as he once again draped in shadow. The boggarts might have been keeping their home lit¡ªusing some sort of rendered tallow by the looks of it¡ªbut it was infrequent. Long stretches of gloom filled the wide tunnel, broken only by isolated islands of flickering yellow light and guttering flame. It was dead silent, only the low hum of fire filling the air with a soft murmur. Quiet enough that each careful step they made sounded like they were wading through a pit of broken glass. Porkchop and Ianmus dashed after him, joining him in the dark. They all stopped, straining their senses to the maximum¡ªdesperately attempting to catch any sign of approaching boggarts. As it stood, their plan was simple. Hide. If it turned out to be a small group that they were confident they could take out without the alarm being raised, they would do so. However, if the group was any larger than one or two individuals, they would stay hidden, and hope they would be passed unawares. Thankfully, the forcefully widened tunnel had plenty of hidden nooks. Shortly after entering the lit warren, they''d found that the boggarts had been rather industrious. At regular intervals, openings had been carved into the tunnel¡ªadmittedly, it was rather haphazard, but it was enough for their uses. Some were little more than indents in the wall that Kaius would struggle to press himself into, but others were more substantial. Small corridors that went nowhere, and cramped rooms that seemed to serve no purpose. At the very least, they hadn''t found anything that suggested an intentional and complicated layout¡ªno additional intersecting halls where they would need to worry about patrols or boggarts approaching them from behind. Instead it was like they were abandoned. Remnant sleeping spaces that had been left as they were as the plague had expanded, eating its way further into the earth like a cancer. Porkchop had been especially alert, constantly checking their rear and sides. Kaius could feel his nerves¡ªa burning electricity that loomed at the back of his neck like a ghost. Far too much to be simple caution in the case of a raiding party appearing unexpectedly. "What''s got you so wound up? I know we''re trying to rid ourselves of as many of them as we can before an alarm goes out, but it''s not like we can''t handle ourselves." he asked Porkchop through their bond, not pausing his scanning of their surroundings. His brother''s eyes flicked to him briefly, before he went back to searching the darkness. "I''m...not sure. I haven''t heard, smelt, or seen anything, but I can''t shake this feeling that we are being watched. It''s like a claw at my back. A predator in the trees above. I''m trying to put it out of my mind, but..." Porkchop sounded weary, like the constant blaring of his instincts was exhausting him like a physical weight. Kaius frowned. That wasn''t like him, he''d seen Porkchop dive headfirst into an ogre¡ªrun through shattered bones and torn flesh. For something to make him uneasy, it had to be serious. Nor was Kaius one to dismiss something as vague as instincts. The senses of a greater beast were honed things¡ªsharpened under the weight of bloodline and tradition. It was easy to imagine there were traces he was picking up that his conscious mind couldn''t put together. Yet...what could they do but stay alert? Toolkit and Uncanny Dodge were both silent, other than the former aiding him by guiding his quiet movements and directing him to potential spots that watchers may lay in wait. Besides, if there was something, it had to be related to the boggarts. He was confident in their success, and if the shaman had scried them, or something similar, he doubted that the tunnel would be as quiet as it was. Even if a trap was being laid for them, they were already moving as surreptitiously as they could. "Just keep doing what you''re doing," Kaius replied. "Tell me if you notice anything concrete." Porkchop nodded. Then his ears suddenly flicked forwards. He froze, ears trained down the passage ahead. "Movement! Far off but coming this way!" Kaius''s heart dropped. Chapter 209 - B2 206: Infiltration, pt. 6 Kaius reacted instantly to Porkchop''s warning of movement coming their way. He spun, holding a finger to his lips as he grabbed Ianmus by the shoulder. Jumping at his sudden movement, the mage froze. Shaking the man to get his attention, Kaius took off with a low, loping, jog¡ªwaving at his companions to follow. There''d been a room a little ways back, one large enough that they could hide within. Every step felt like someone banging on his nerves like a mallet, every muffled footfall causing his blood to throb audibly in his ears. Soon, he heard the approaching monster. Heavy plodding footfalls, a wide gait with feet that slapped loudly on the rough stone. Too large, too heavy to be a boggart. A bugbear, on patrol. Thankfully the tunnel had a slow gentle curve to the left, they had a while yet before the bugbear would be in sight of them. Reaching the thin opening in the stone, Kaius dived in. Ianmus stumbled in next, Kaius pulled him through, pushing him towards a corner of the room that was out of view of the hall. Porkchop was last. Thanks to his large stone claws, he had to shift his weight onto the back of his feet in order to keep their points from clattering on the stone. An awkward position¡ªplenty quiet, but it slowed him down. Urging his brother to take his place in front of Ianmus, Kaius pressed himself close to the wall, blade in hand as he kept watch for the approaching bugbear. Step by step it drew closer. Every single one making his heart only pound louder in their chest. Thank the gods it was only one¡ªthey had a good chance of taking it out silently. If they could take it by surprise. The muffled sound of its approach grew clearer. It must have rounded the bend, the sound no longer morphed by bouncing off the cave walls. Moments later he got his first glimpse. A long and distended shadow¡ªbacklit from a brazier. It was close, the nearest light source was only twenty long-strides away. A glow lit the exterior hall as the bugbear stepped into the shadowy stretch that held their hiding spot¡ªillumination from a torch, it had to be. Then he saw it. Tall enough that its head would touch his chin, wrapped in inscribed hides and bulging with muscle. It looked...bored as it trudged its way along, not even bothering to sweep its gaze across the many excavations that lined the walls. Just a routine patrol, or something similar. Kaius suppressed a sigh of relief. He would have loved to analyse the monster, but he was wary. Lower races were strange things¡ªwith some half-equivalent to classes that empowered them. For all he knew, their shaman could have been teaching its elites how to Mask, and he wasn''t going to risk immediate discovery if he didn''t have to¡ªeven if it was unlikely. Eyes drilling into the back of its skull, Kaius adjusted his grip on his sword. Well textured and tacky, his handle-wrap had still become slick with the pooling sweat of his nerves. Three more steps. That''s all the time he gave it. As soon as it had its back towards them, he stepped out into the hall. Slipping into an aggressive high-guard, he took one steady step after steady step¡ªclosing the gap as the bugbear continued¡ªoblivious to the approaching cloak of death. Finally, he could bear the tension no longer, the monster close enough he could have reached out and touched it. Twisting through his hips and rolling his shoulders through the motion, Kaius brought his blade down in a blurring streak of grey. A soft snick filled the air, the honed edge of his blade backed by enough empowered strength to crush straight through the back of the bugbear''s skull¡ªcarrying through to cleave it half in twain with a wet crunch. **Ding! level 64 Bugbear - Crude Warrior slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** Death throes took over, the monster stiffening for an eyeblink before it fell limp. The burning torch in its hand slipped free, falling to the ground with a gut-wrenching clatter that was nearly enough for Kaius to scrunch his eyes shut. Moving quickly, he ripped his blade free, rushing forward just in time to catch the collapsing body in his arms. It was a stout thing¡ªshort it may have been, but it was in no way light. Packed with dense muscle, it felt like it had the mass of a man twice its size. Thankfully, with two-eighty-eight strength, he was over five times as strong as he was at baseline, and that had been improved considerably between the metamorphosis of his beast-blood and the effects of his bond with Porkchop. Kaius moved quickly, hauling the body back to their hiding spot, as Ianmus rushed out to grab the torch. He dumped the corps unceremoniously in the corner, Ianmus leaving its doused lightsource on top of it. A slow breath was enough to clear much of the nervous tension he had felt at the risk of discovery¡ªgiving his heart a moment to slow. It had gone flawlessly, proof that they could do this with enough time and care. At least, that is what he hoped. "Let''s move." Kaius led the way back into the hall, their slow assault of the warren continuing. .... A flickering light was up ahead, revealed as they pushed around a slow bend in the main passage. Coming from a side room this time, rather than the infrequent flames that kept the tunnel just barely darker than a moonlit night. Kaius raised a hand, calling for them to slow their pace. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. He looked to Porkchop, who was already perking his ears in the direction of the room. A moment later his brother nodded. "Boggarts, or maybe bugbears. Not making much noise though¡ªthey could be asleep. Or just sitting quietly, hard to tell." He nodded. At least he could be grateful that they weren''t active. Still, he would need to check it out to be sure¡ªhe was the only one who had a Skill that would aid in going undetected. He waved them back, retreating to the last empty room they had passed. Once his teammates had sequestered themselves safely in the darkness of the stone enclosure, he pushed on¡ªfalling into a low and easy crouch with his blade held at the ready. His spells were ready and waiting¡ªwhile he didn''t want to spend any so early, he was prepared to use them if he had to. He might, if the room was full of alert bugbears. Creeping step by creeping step, he drew close to the revealing light of the crude doorway. His breaths were shallow, cutoff quickly to minimise any noise he might make. The strides seemed to dissolve with the agonising pace of the final winter''s snow¡ªhis senses receiving the full attention of himself and his Glass Mind. He stopped at the precipice, heart pounding so loud that he swore it could rouse the sleeping dead. Staying hidden, he stayed in the pooling shadows¡ªdemarcated by a razor-like line of light that swept across the floor. Ready to burst in at the slightest hint of being discovered, he surveyed the room. The tension released, his shoulders slumping as he saw what it contained. Boggarts, and sleeping. Unlike the rooms before, this one had been made into some...meagre semblance of a comfortable living space. Ratty hides¡ªmost too fallen to wear and tear to be used for anything useful¡ªhad been laid across the floor, surrounding a circle of clean stone that held a low smoking fire. Half a dozen of the monsters were laying around it, hides strewn over them for additional warmth. Their chests rose and fell with comfortable regularity, the slow breathing of nighttime stupor. To his surprise, the hides and fire weren''t the only signs of habitation. Some were disturbingly familiar¡ªalmost like what one would expect from a primitive enlightened, a member of the higher races. Art. Crude figures sketched in ochre and charcoal were scrawled on the walls in great numbers. It would have been fascinating, if the depictions weren''t as perverse as the boggarts were. Boggarts, tearing prey limb from limb. A crude showing of violence and dominance, Kaius saw half a dozen recognisable shapes. A wolf, its throat being torn out. A deer, disembowelled. Another boggart, beheaded. A man, legs and arms broken. The sight of the last drawing chilled him to the bone, driving all shreds of empathy he might have felt clear from his mind. The plague, they''d already killed. Kaius stepped into the room, silent as a ghost. Hand tightening into a fist, he approached the closest boggart, staring down at it silently. The monster slept soundly, blissfully ignorant of his presence as soft murmurs escaped it with every breath. It looked...safe, and at peace. Killing it in such a state felt unsporting. Dishonourable. Was he the kind of man who could sneak in the dead of night and kill someone in their most vulnerable? The kind who could violate the most basal decrees of the sanctity of hearth and home? Would he still have honour if he did what he must do? This was no mad beast, but a thinking being, even if it was a cruel one. The boggart at his feet breathed, and thought, and wanted¡ªjudging by the way the small group were nestled together, it even loved. Was it right to take that from them, without even giving them the basic respect to look at death and know its face? Kaius desperately searched within himself for guilt, for contrition. For a simple sign of a common basal law of honour that he would abide by. Even a simple discomfort. He found himself left wanting. There was only a willingness to do what must be done, and a dozen memories reinforcing that it was the right and proper course to chart. If he did not, they would kill. If he did not, it could get them killed. His Glass Mind was even more callous. It brought forth a memory¡ªone that crept through his heart like cold ice. Hurrin''s words. That his father had died because he brought his sword to Deadacre. That he had died because of sentimentality, and careless overconfidence. He would not let anyone else die for something as wantonly luxurious as honour. He would savour it where he could, but today was not that day. The ice broke, leaving only the cold of hatred. Kaius''s eyes went flat, his face still and impassive. A little shove was all it took. Just a bit of controlled bodyweight, really. The point of his blade punched through the boggarts eye with a soft splash of clear goo and red blood. He levered his blade in a circle, macerating the soft meat within. The boggart stiffened for a moment, a quiet gasp leaving its throat as it breathed its last. **Ding! level 57 Boggart - Primitive Fighter slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** Dripping with the evidence of his deed, A Father''s Gift came free just as easily¡ªsilent and smooth. He didn''t even have to move to reach the next, not with how closely they had nestled themselves together. It died just as easily, and just as quietly. **Ding! level 53 Boggart - Slinger slain - Experience Gained!** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 50!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** Step by step, he circled the room, leaving only slowly cooling corpses in his wake. Pulling his blade free of the last boggart, Kaius looked at the blood of the defenceless he had spilled, and felt...nothing. Not even contempt. Just the knowledge that he had done his duty, and secured the lives of those the monsters would have slain in the future. It wasn''t something to be proud of, but it had to be done all the same. He swept the room, throwing hides over the bodies of his victims. Without close inspection, they would simply look like they were sleeping. Even better, he''d found a crude bucket of stale water in one of the rooms'' back corners. He doused the low burning flames, leaving the room blanketed in darkness, before he left. Returning to his team. "You okay? I got a level up while you were in there." Porkchop asked as soon as he entered the room they were hidden inside. It was a private message, one pushed along their bond so that it was for his ears alone. He knew what his brother really meant. With the closeness of the connection between their souls, Porkchop would have been able to feel his strange crisis¡ªand his cold anger afterwards. "I''m fine¡ªjust a few sleeping boggarts. They''ve been taken care of." he replied, taking the lead as they filed back into the hall. The night was short, and they had much to do. He doubted it would be the last time a boggart would die in its sleep. .... Drorome leant against the cave wall with her arms crossed, melting into the shadows as she watched the sight in front of her. Close enough that she could reach out and touch him, Kaius left the boggart''s sleeping chambers¡ªhis eyes flat and hard. Perhaps they weren''t entirely hopeless¡ªa whittling down of their numbers was a smart play, even if it would have been better prepared with sabotage and a more concrete plan of attack. They might even manage to get to the main chamber of the warren without being discovered¡ªif they were lucky, that is. Still, she wondered what they would do once they saw what waited for them. How would they react, when they realised they had no chance? B2 Chapter 222: Growing Problems, pt. 2 B2 Chapter 222: Growing Problems, pt. 2 Snapping to the left, Kaius planted his weight and brought his blade up into a hanging guard. The dog-beast that had been trying to rush him yelped, cutting itself deep on the angled edge of A Father¡¯s Gift. Focused and calm, he reset his blade, and slashed through its skull. **Ding! Savage Hound - Level 30 Slain, Experience Gained! Reduced Experience for slaying an enemy of Insignificant Strength!** They were weak. Easy to kill. Even if there were a few dozen of them, they had nowhere near the numbers or organisation to overwhelm him like had happened with the bogglings. A roar sounded from behind him, supported by half a dozen terrified yips as Porkchop tore his way through a milling group of the pack. Neither of them were using their skills¡ªthere was no need, and with the watching guards they¡¯d give too much away. They didn¡¯t need stories of unknown magic and warbeasts summoning suits of armour to make their way around town. Not that all of the guards were standing in defence of their fallen by the gate. As Kaius hacked his way through the handful of dogs that circled him warily, he spotted two tribunes¡ªthe lowest of common command ranks¡ªleading their men into a charge. In groups of four¡ªthe highest one could go before more intensive experience penalties set in¡ªthey raced into the fray with leveled spears and heavy tower shields. Curious at their sudden nerve, Kaius identified one of the front runners¡ªhoping the rudeness would be forgiven in the current circumstances, if it was noticed at all. Human - level 38 Striker Disciplined and focused, the men were silent in their approach other than the rhythmic pounding of their heavy boots. Absorbed as the hounds were in the aggressive devastation that he and Porkchop wrought in their midst, they missed the charge right up until the first of them screamed in agony as a stride of steel and three of wood punched straight through the back of its waist. Kaius moved, seizing the moment. A thrust punched through the ear of a hound to his front that had snapped its head over to the newest threat in surprise. **Ding! Savage Hound - Level 32 Slain, Experience Gained! Reduced Experience for slaying an enemy of Insignificant Strength!** He stepped out of his lunge, a dragging slash severing the shoulder muscles of the hound to the left of the corpse leaking blood from its ears. Movement caught his attention¡ªheart pulsing to the rhythm of his blade. A carry through chop cut through the spine of a hound that lunged in with a snarl. **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo has reached level 64!** With their bodies broken, both the hounds fell limp. Driving back their baying allies, Kaius finished them off, bone crunching as his bladepoint slid effortlessly through their skulls. **Ding! Savage Hound - Level 34 Slain, Experience Gained! Reduced Experience for slaying an enemy of Insignificant Strength!** ... **Ding! Savage Hound - Level 29 Slain, Experience Gained! Reduced Experience for slaying an enemy of Insignificant Strength!** Mechanical work¡ªbut it was good to get the blood pumping. Watching out of the corner of his eye, Kaius noted the smooth precision with which the tribunes commanded their men. Curt shouts preceded practiced teamwork, spearmen charging forwards with their shields held out to drive the hounds back, while one of their companions separated one beast from the greater pack with a flurry of jabs. Another barked command, and the team smoothly rotated through their formation, turning to pincer the isolated hound in a sudden flash of violence. They stepped back, revealing a limp body leaking blood from punctured holes in its chest and head. One of the tribunes caught his eye, giving him a nod of respect and gratitude. Kaius grinned back, before a yelping dog covered in bone deep claw wounds sailed through the air, landing at his feet. Relaxed and smooth, he drove his blade down¡ªfeeling the kicking impact as it drove clean through the stunned beast and rammed into the hardened dirt beneath. When another hound tried its luck, Kaius kicked it in the chest. Ribs cracked as the beast went flying back, tumbling uncontrollably as his enhanced strength sent it flying into a handful of hounds that had started to harry the guardsmen that had moved to help them cull the threat. It was a simple fight, but one that still had joy to it. Half a year ago, a pack of this size and level would have torn him and Porkchop to shreds. In comparison, now he was cutting his way through their numbers with contemptuous ease without a single class skill. Seeing the direct results of his labour laid out so plainly was enough to warm Kaius¡¯s heart, a small smile creeping up his lips as contentment put a spring in his step. It didn¡¯t take much longer for the hounds to break. With half their number laying shattered and cold on the ground, it was obvious even to their simple minds that they were utterly outmatched now that Kaius and Porkchop had joined the fray. It was a sudden thing¡ªthe way the pack¡¯s snarling barks turned to fearful yips, the pack turning tail and sprinting for the plains. Porkchop tried to draw them back in with a Bulwark¡¯s Challenge, but it seemed with their spirit thoroughly broken, there was too little aggression for the skill to inflame into madness. If anything it made the problem worse¡ªthe hounds nearly falling over themselves in their haste to escape the apex predator who had roared at them in fury. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Kaius frowned as he watched them flee. Letting them escape felt wrong. The beasts had already proven themselves willing to assault men, and farms lay in every direction. No doubt they¡¯d rally and start their hunt anew soon enough. Unfortunately, there was little he could do. Weak they may have been, the dogs were swift, quickly tearing away from Deadacre in a cloud of dust. Catching them was unlikely, and they¡¯d no doubt scatter as soon as he set out in pursuit. Thankfully, the archers on the city walls had no compunctions about spending arrows like they were yesterday¡¯s bread. Bolt after bolt was loosed, blurred streaks enhanced by skills as they buried themselves in hound-flesh with unerring accuracy. A third of the pack either dropped dead, or stumbled and fell¡ªdying shortly after as follow up shots picked off the unmoving targets. There were at least a dozen more who managed to escape, however, and Kaius could only hope that this disaster had beaten some fear into the beast¡¯s brains. As much as he tried, he couldn¡¯t quell all of his discomfort. None of them would have lived if he¡¯d used his Stormlash¡ªthe threat could have been ended there and then. Unfortunately, both Rieker and Ro had cautioned him on being liberal and open with his spell casting until he was into the second tier. Too much risk of the curiosity it would incite leading to people asking questions that would make them suspicious of what else he was hiding. Checking in on Porkchop, he found his brother uninjured. He¡¯d gotten a few nips and scratches on his forelimbs, but nothing that he hadn¡¯t been able to heal almost instantaneously. Most of the damage had been borne to his under-armour. The soft padding that it was, the hounds hard claws and skill-driven bites had torn the leather¡ªa small price to pay for hiding Porkchop¡¯s armour skill considering that he could see the rents repairing themselves when he looked closely. ¡°That was fun, a little easy though.¡± Porkchop said. Kaius simply smiled and clapped his brother on the shoulder, mindful of their audience. Confident that Porkchop was fine, Kaius made his way towards the waiting guards that had regathered at the city gates. With the hounds driven off, Kaius got his first good look at them. They looked haggard and exhausted¡ªdrained from their ordeal. Each guard was drenched in sweat, mingling with the ever present dust into streaking grime that clung to their skin. Nearly all of them had blood soaked deep into their tabards and padded leggings. Kaius doubted that all of it would have been from the hounds. Especially since he could still see Ianmus hard at work, mana flowing around him in a constant stream as he channelled healing spell after healing spell, triaging those most injured. It wasn¡¯t a pretty sight. Ianmus was bent over a man with their hamstring half ripped out, the muscle exposed to the air while another guard pressed the wound closed, stopping torn arteries from bleeding the injured man dry. Those lying in wait had cloths pressed tightly to wounds, staunching their own bleeds. That was the problem with Health. It would heal almost anything, but until your Vitality and Endurance got high enough, it was still all too easy for a wound to kill faster than it closed. Not for the first time, he felt thankful for his Lesser Regeneration¡ªbacked by his stats, it took far more than a little exposed muscle to put him down. He approached, giving the guardsmen a respectful wave. They nodded back, before someone familiar stepped out of their ranks. The same sergeant who had interviewed them before they¡¯d first entered Deadacre a few months prior. ¡°Sergeant,¡± he said, nodding his head respectfully. ¡°Delver,¡± the sergeant replied. ¡°I remember you, Kaius right? I knew it was a good idea to bend the rules a little¡ªthanks for getting us out of the fire. Names Jon, not sure if I gave it last time.¡± ¡°Nothing to it,¡± Kaius waved off the man''s thanks. ¡°Anyone would be happy to help. Though, I must say, I¡¯m surprised to see a group of that number assault the walls¡ªhells, for beasts to try a group of armed men at all¡ªit seems a little out of character.¡± The sergeant winced, scanning over his men. Kaius followed his eyes, noting they settled on a limp form lying up against a wall, their eyes closed. A glimmer of sympathy ran down his neck. He didn¡¯t envy the sergeant¡ªfatalities of those under your watch had to be painful, especially when you were duty bound to send your charges into the thick of the danger regardless. ¡°We¡¯re doing our best, but it''s getting worse. Something about the mana¡ªit¡¯s not just making them stronger, it¡¯s driving some of them to madness.¡± the sergeant said as he looked sadly at the body, before steeling his expression and turning back to Kaius. Kaius had hoped that wasn¡¯t the case, but he couldn¡¯t deny it. They¡¯d been noticing it more and more. While most of the creatures of the plains seemed more than happy enough to give Kaius and his team a wide berth, a growing number had seemed to be crazed, chasing them down at the slightest opportunity. For them, it was little more than an annoyance¡ªeven with their increasing strength, few of the beasts in the plains were truly strong, and it seemed most of the species were little more than common empowered animals. They didn¡¯t have the power to prove truly dangerous in the face of Honours and Heroic classes. A small comfort for the everyman, stuck with Common and Uncommon classes and less than a handful of skills. For that¡¯s what they were, Kaius realised as he looked at the guards. Just men. Not soldiers, and definitely not warriors. People who¡¯d taken a steady job, and apprenticed themselves to gain a class that would give them the opportunity to grow their strength a little in relative safety. No doubt before this year they¡¯d never had to deal with anything worse than a unruly wagon-pulling beast, or common drunks. Now here they were, throwing themselves at half a hundred hounds, and losing people for it. ¡°Are you keeping up?¡± Kaius asked¡ªif the guards were falling behind the beasts in levels, things would only get worse. ¡°We weren¡¯t¡ªnot until the captain mandated my tribunes engage individually with their teams. Even now, it¡¯s only just.¡± the sergeant muttered bitterly, taking in the dozens of dead hounds. ¡°The goodfolk of Deadacre keep asking why we don¡¯t just shut the gates and let the archers handle it¡ªthey don¡¯t get it.¡± Kaius nodded. If they did that, when the time came when they had to have men defending the walls¡ªor worse, beasts breached them¡ªthey would have been left far behind, becoming little more than fodder. ¡°Is there anything I can do to help?¡± Kaius asked genuinely. If there was something, he wanted to at least try¡ªafter all, he wouldn¡¯t exactly enjoy living in Deadacre if it was overrun by beasts. The sergeant barked out a forced laugh. ¡°No...no, you delvers are already doing what you can¡ªthe guild¡¯s got Copper and Bronze teams combing the city''s surroundings to keep the beasts in check, but it''s impossible to catch them all. No, strong men like you are better off focusing on the bigger threats my boys will never have a hope of handling.¡± ¡°I appreciate the offer, but I''ll get my boys through this. If I have my way, they¡¯ll be double in level by this time next year, at the least.¡± the sergeant met his eyes, giving him a nod, before a loud creak echoed from the city gate drew his attention as it started to inch open. ¡°Looks like the coast is clear. Thanks for the help, and thank your mage-friend too for his healing¡ªit saved lives.¡± Kaius nodded, clasping the sergeant on the shoulder, before he walked towards where Ianmus was waiting by the slowly opening gates. The guards parted as he approached, each one giving them a nod of gratitude and respect. Chapter 210 - B2 207: Infiltration, pt. 7 A faint rattling gasp slipped out of the boggart''s throat as his blade burst its eye and slid into its skull. Firelight played off the ashen tones of his blade, haloing the crystal set in its form. It shuddered, falling limp. **Ding! level 55 Boggart - Skulker slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** Kaius breathed easy as he pulled his blade free, and glanced towards Porkchop. His brother was making his way around the other edge of the room with a silent grace that belied his size. Stopping at the foot of a boggart, he would raise one paw¡ªreaching over to press a point of his razor sharp jade claws into their head. It was the fifth such room they''d encountered¡ªand they were growing more common. Not all had been lit as this one was¡ªothers they''d almost walked straight past, only noticing the sleeping monsters due to their rigour in checking every room. Porkchop had insisted on joining him. While he wasn''t the most stealthy with his bulk and lack of dedicated skills, he did just fine at moving quietly¡ªwhich was the most important thing with their targets sleeping. Nominally, it had been insurance in case of one of the greasy ferals awakening. With each room holding anywhere from a handful to a dozen of them, they''d have to act fast to silence the wakers before a scream of surprise could give them away. Another step and he looked down at the twisted figure, its chest rising and falling with easy regularity. Covered in hide blankets, it looked peaceful¡ªeven gentle. Much of its mishapen body and greasy hair was hidden by its covers, leaving only a strange and lumpy face. One that seemed all too human. Not enough for him to forget its poisonous nature, but enough for him to find the work draining. A thrust slid through bone, backed by just enough strength to overcome the reinforcement brought by its levels. After killing so many of the creatures, Toolkit had helped him discern a weak spot. Right between their eyes¡ªa place where bone grew thin and its skull plates fused poorly. **Ding! level 56 Boggart - Brawler slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 51!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** **Ding! Explorer''s Toolkit has reached level 47!** Another dead boggart. He moved on, padding his way through the room to the next prone form. There were only a couple left. At the very least, the grizzly work had brought them a pair of levels. Not all that much, considering the gains he''d seen from a single fight in the past. At least Explorer''s Toolkit had been getting a bit of a novel growth from all of the sneaking about. It was unfortunately to be expected. They were close in level, not particularly challenging, and their overall experience was being somewhat reduced by working in a team. Still rather prodigious if he used the standards of normal growth. Most teams wouldn''t dare to take on more than a handful of equally levelled opponents. Even the elite ones wouldn''t attempt anything more that ten or maybe twenty levels higher, with extremely good matchups and preparation. For a full fledged horde like this? If any even dared to attempt it, it would be against things drastically weaker than themselves. A dedicated team might get a couple of levels a week, assuming they were fighting constantly as you would in the Depths. That slowed down further the higher you climbed. At a constant pace, an elite team might reach the second tier in a couple of years¡ªmost took far longer, since few had the drive and stamina to delve constantly. They were making good pace, and Kaius had no doubt there were more levels coming. Potentially enough to take them to the precipice of their next skill. Kaius thrust again, his blade stained red with the repeated executions. The boggart stiffened, shuddering through its death. **Ding! level 56 Boggart - Brawler slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** An arm seized, slapping to the side. Right into the chest of the next sleeping monster. It started, shaking its head as bleary eyes opened, staring up at him in sleepy confusion. He reacted instantly. A lunge took him forwards, spearing the boggart between his eyes¡ªalready widening in realisation. It died, lips just barely opening to call out to its fellows. Both he and Porkchop gave up their pretences, speed more helpful than complete silence. **Ding! level 60 Boggart - Skulker slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** Sweeping his eyes across the room, Kaius double checked his count of the remaining monsters. Four, two more for him. They were already shifting, sleep disturbed by the rousing sounds of their motion. One tugged at its blanket, pulling it over its head. He nailed the hide in place, A Father''s Gift pinning the covering fast. **Ding! level 49 Boggart - Scavenger slain - Experience Gained!** Porkchop had already plunged his claws through both of his remaining targets, large enough to reach both. The final boggart sat stark upright, eyes spinning around the room before it focused on them. Its face paled, horror and fear plain in its beady eyes. Death had come, and it knew it. The boggart drew in a breath¡ªready to scream. Kaius raced into a thrust, punching his blade through the base of its throat, cutting off the coming noise at the source. It gasped, wet and foaming. A splutter of blood misted from the opening, as the boggart clutched at his blade. Its hands were cut to the bone as it ineffectively tried to remove the weapon. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. There was no joy in this. No Song in his blood. Just cold certainty, duty, and the pounding unease of potential discovery. With flat eyes, Kaius ripped his blade free. The wound he''d left started to roil, the boggart''s health burning to seal it closed. He didn''t give it the opportunity to finish. A flick of his wrists spun his blade into a heavy overhead, his sword edge coming home to roost in the boggart''s skull. **Ding! level 54 Boggart - Mauler slain - Experience Gained!** Flicking his blade clean, Kaius smothered the shimmering coals at the room''s centre with a little water and a dampened hide. Covering the bodies with their blankets, he joined his brother at the entryway. Unease gnawed away at the base of his belly as he went about his work. The groups had been growing larger. This hadn''t been the first time a boggart had awakened¡ªit was only a matter of time until they were too slow to suppress a call for help. Eventually, it would turn into a pitched assault. Ianmus was waiting for them. "Good job, gruesome as it may be." Ianmus whispered at a barely audible volume. "I got a level." Kaius nodded. They''d been hoping for that. There was little in the way that Ianmus could aid them in their culling of the sleeping boggarts. While they''d taken the effort to confirm that Ianmus could kill the boggarts with a single Sunbeam manipulated to invisible light, they needed to keep his mana topped off for the real dangers. Instead, the mage had been keeping their Sundrenched Strength constantly active¡ªgiving him contribution in the eyes of the system, and making their jobs all the easier. ... Kaius chewed through a mouthful of jerky. Well salted and expertly smoked, it was a far cry from the crude fixings he''d had to eat in his initial stint in the Depths. With the extensive nature of the cave, and the slow crawling pace they''d had to take, they''d already been pushing through the warren for a long while. Enough time for their hunger to make itself known. While they could have pushed through, Ianmus had raised one point. Despite their enhanced constitutions, none of them were immune to the mundane realities of life, including the gurgling of a hungry belly. The mage was proven correct less than a minute later. Kaius''s had growled right as they were about to sweep a room¡ªa quiet noise, but enough for his heart to feel like the hand of death had set its grip upon him. They''d pulled back into explored territories, taking a few minutes to restore their reserves¡ªand hopefully avoid blowing their cover for something as silly as a little hunger. Eating in silence gave him plenty of space to think. Killing the boggarts was not what he expected, but it wasn''t their casual slaughter that occupied his mind¡ªit was their classes. They seemed strangely similar to the system of the higher races, as well as that of monsters. Other creatures¡ªbeasts especially¡ªwere often physically changed by the system''s bestowals. A wolf was always a wolf¡ªbut its physical form, bloodlines, and potential would change drastically based on its racial type. A common wolf might have a handful of available Common bloodlines¡ªmaybe an Uncommon if they were exceptional. They''d also struggle to ever reach the end of the first tier¡ªlimited by the realities of their growth. On the other hand, a direwolf would be larger, stronger, and have a better selection of bloodlines¡ªif still just as limited. They''d also be able to grow to a higher level¡ªthough all of those differences were still minor, a direwolf wasn''t anything too special. Of course, beasts could improve their racial type¡ªthough Kaius didn''t understand the specifics very well, other than it being related to birth, dare and deed, mana levels, consumption of things rich in magical energy, or some combination of all four. He made a mental note to ask Porkchop at some point¡ªif anyone was likely to be an expert, it would have to be the Dens. If they were truly exceptional, they could even fully evolve their race. Even the greatest of wolves would hit a wall at some point, and it took a rare specimen to make the leap to something that would allow advancement¡ªa flame-aspected bloodline might have a chance at evolving to become a hellhound, or something similar. Greater beasts were different. They had no real cap on their growth, and as far as he knew they couldn''t advance their race¡ªand evolving it was impossibly difficult. As Porkchop had told him so long ago, he would likely always be a greater meles. Yet there were also similarities. While their bloodlines had the same nigh infinite variation of a higher race''s class, it was still intimately tied to their race. Porkchop had told him that as far as the Dens were aware, other greater beasts they knew of had notably different bents and inclinations to their bloodlines. Those bloodlines were also still tied to their form¡ªKaius only needed to look at his brother''s new jade claws, green coat, and size to see that. The boggarts¡ªlower races in general, from what he remembered of goblins, ogres, and trolls¡ªseemed similar in a way. Clearly, based on the existence of hobs and bugbears, there seemed to be some link between their racial type and their classes. Ianmus had said as much. On the other hand, there was far less racial variation than a beast, and their class seemed to have no impact on their forms. Sure, the ones that had classes that sounded front-line focused tended to be bigger and taller, but that was just as easy to say about people. They also lacked the wide variations of classes that were seen in the higher races and greater beasts. A Common man of the soil''s class would tend towards having a simplistic name, but there was still a great amount of variation. They could be a Harvester, Skilled Farmer, Fruit Cultivator, Cattle Herder and hundreds more. As the class got rarer, the more specific or grandiose the name, and the less likely you were to see someone else with a duplicate without specific training towards a goal class¡ªthough that was common across everything. The boggarts? He kept seeing similar classes, over and over again. Like they were simple beasts. They''d killed only one bugbear, but its class had stood alone. Kaius would bet a full gold that they''d start seeing it again as they killed more of the larger brutes. It was strange¡ªwhat separated them? Was it just their monstrous ways? Their inability to use the common tongue or written language? Where did the system draw the line? Were all lower races so malevolent? He only had four examples to work off, and they were equal in their barbarous ways. Kaius swallowed his mouthful of salted meat, taking their waterskin from Ianmus''s offered hand after he raised it questioningly towards him. For all he knew, it was a punishment directly from the system. A lowering of the cruelest and harshest of thinking beings¡ªa way to give the races capable of more than slaughter and war a fighting chance. He sincerely hoped that it was not the case. It all being down to a little bad luck with particularly grotesque specimens would be nicer¡ªa world with a whole category for the evil and stupid was a little grim. Kaius sighed quietly, drinking deep from their supplies of water. It was likely that others would know more¡ªhe wasn''t exactly the most academic person, what with his background and all. Even if he did have a broad knowledge thanks to his father''s teachings, he often found himself lacking details and specifics. In the end, all that mattered was that he could expect two things. Predictable capabilities, and the bugbears to be stronger than their lesser relatives. He shook his head, rising to his feet before he offered Ianmus a hand up. They''d taken enough time to rest¡ªtheir culling waited. Chapter 211 - B2 208: Infiltration, finale They pushed on, Ianmus hanging just behind them as they moved from shadowed stretch to shadowed stretch. Passing beyond where they had already cleared, each long-stride was hard earned. Each of the roughly hewn openings in the tunnel wall¡ªsometimes common enough to come every fifty strides¡ªhad to be checked thoroughly. They were diligent, sweeping the rooms without fail. Shifting in width regularly, the cave made for a tense journey. The boggarts¡ªcapable of quarrying they may have been¡ªwere crude workers. Where the cave had widened naturally beyond their requirements, they''d left it be, only taking the effort to crack their way through bedrock when it narrowed to the point of being unusable. It left them plenty of space to tuck themselves into nooks and crannies, but by the same metric it overwhelmed his Toolkit and Glass Mind with spots of potential ambush. Enhanced he may have been, but the constant grind of heightened awareness abraded his nerves like coarse sand. Looming out of the constant gloom, Kaius saw the cave split in two. Both passages were natural, the boggarts having done little more than smash through particularly notable extrusions of stone. He narrowed his eyes¡ªboth of the passages were better lit, a notable change from the nigh constant darkness they had travelled through, moving between considerable stretches of shadow and darkness. It wasn''t quite so bad that they would be constantly exposed without any cover, but it was still notably more revealing. There were other changes. While the passage that peeled off to the right seemed to still have openings carved into its walls¡ªeven if they were fewer in number¡ªthe path that continued ahead had nothing of the sort. An unbroken passage, boring straight ahead as it dipped gently downwards, obscuring its final destination. He slowed his approach, Ianmus and Porkchop padding forwards to join him at his sides. A decision point, with both likely leading to more boggarts judging by the lights. "What do you think?" Kaius muttered, asking for their opinion. "I''m tempted to take the passage with the rooms, even if just so we have more places to hide in all that light." Porkchop sniffed deeply, raising his nose in the air, before he shook his head noncommittally. "Whole place reeks of them, otherwise I''d suggest whichever smelled like it had fewer boggarts. Less chance of being discovered." Ianmus tilted his head, eyes flicking between the paths. "I''d say the straight path probably leads somewhere more important¡ªto the bugbears, perhaps? We''ve seen little of them so far." Kaius nodded¡ªa decent enough reasoning. "All the more reason to hang the right. May as well deal with as much of the chaff as we can before tackling the more challenging brutes." With their decision made, they set off for their chosen path. Creeping down the cave, the added light was disconcerting. They were still dim sources that left plenty of shadows for them to lurk in, but every brush with the illumination felt like being stripped bare. Peering through the side rooms as they passed, Kaius found that they were roomier. The ceilings had been carved taller, and while they found a complete absence of sleeping boggarts, they found evidence of other, more interesting things. Storehouses. Most of the early ones seemed to be stacked with fuel. Roughly hewn chunks of wood, haphazardly piled, and crude earthen pots filled with thickened fat. Judging by the myriad scents and shades of the tallow, the boggarts definitely weren''t farming anything. It seemed that before scarcity had set in, they''d been processing their kills. Further in they found stacked hides, crude tools, and even workshops¡ªthe evidence of labour to make their wares. Kaius found himself beset by a voyeuristic curiosity that grew with intensity with every room. It was an interesting glimpse into their lives, one he doubted many researchers or enthusiasts of the natural world would get to see¡ªconsidering the danger and scarcity of boggart plagues that grew to this size. It was smothered quickly when they found a storehouse of raided goods. Sticking close to the shadows, Kaius poked his head through the opening to the room. Carved out of the rock like the others, it held a haphazard array of simple iron and steel tools. Picks, shovels, hoes¡ªeven simple iron stakes¡ªlay in haphazard piles. Each and every one was in some level of disrepair. Scuffed, dented, and dusted with rust, it was obvious that the boggarts were poor caretakers of their ill gotten gains. And ill gotten they must have been. When he''d first seen the drawings of people in some of the boggarts bedchambers, he''d hoped it had been isolated incidents. Sole travellers running afoul of bad luck. He''d been wrong. It seemed at least one settlement in the hills had fallen prey to the plague. That wasn''t all¡ªhe doubted they''d only taken digging tools. Gritting his teeth, Kaius waved Ianmus forward. Approaching quickly, Ianmus looked into the room¡ªwincing when he saw the contents. "Do you think...?" Ianmus whispered, voice hushed. "That some of them are going to have better weapons than stone and wood? Yeah." Kaius nodded. Porkchop came forward, looking for himself. "More dangerous, yes, but we shouldn''t be too worried. I doubt they have anything high-quality, and I''ll eat my left foot if any of them are some type of Weaponmaster." You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Kaius bit his cheek, tearing his eyes away from the room. He didn''t like it, but Porkchop was right¡ªit was just disconcerting to know that what looked to be a whole hamlet had been lost. Hopefully he was wrong. Maybe a raiding party had simply stumbled across a ghost town¡ªthe inhabitants having long since fled the dangers of the wilds. He shook his head, putting the matter to the back of his mind. They continued. After a few more minutes of slow furtive walking, they came across another room. A pair of them, really. They were on opposite sides of the cave, a bare sixty strides separating them. The first was another store of hides¡ªthough this one was only partially full, the leathers stacked up halfway to the side of a singular wall. Taking only a cursory look, they moved to the next. Kaius''s eyes widened as his sight pierced the gloom¡ªfinding something he hadn''t expected. Food. A full room, fifteen strides deep and wide, stacked with crude racks made of lashed sticks and shaped wood. Each shelf was layered in smoked meat. The sight of such stores surprised him. Everything they had seen had pointed towards the plague being on the verge of starvation. Between the cannibalism, and the boggarts fighting over a scrap of bone, food was one of the last things he expected to find hoarded. Perhaps it was being rationed? Kept for the more valuable members of the tribe? He doubted that the warchief was as hungry as the lowest status members huddled in groups far from the inner reaches of the warren. Regardless, it was barely processed. Instead of thin strips, they''d cut whole hunks of meat¡ªcrudely drying it over hot smoke without the use of salt, by the looks and smell of it. Focusing his eyes, he saw a great deal of variation between the cuts. Some looked like haunches of mountain goat. Others, rib racks that could have been taken from wolves. Nothing had been spared, he could even see what looked like shrivelled and blackened hearts piled near the far walls. Not even those of their own race. An odd cut had caught his eye, drawing his attention. Only for him to realise that it was likely a forearm. Just the right length to have come from a boggart. Analysis only confirmed that truth. Fearing what else he would find in the room if he looked too deeply, Kaius felt his nausea rise. He backed away. "Store house¡ªsmoked food, including boggart." he whispered with grimly pursed lips. Only to freeze as a low laugh echoed through the cave from up ahead. Kaius held his breath, not daring to make a sound as he strained his hearing. The sound petered out, turning into a barely audible murmur. Whatever it had been was close, but not that close. It also wasn''t coming any closer. They hadn''t been discovered. Sharing a look of determination and resolute nods with his team, Kaius led them onwards. They crept through the cave, taking care to place their feet softly on the hardened ground. Slowly, the noises grew louder, resolving themself into a barely heard conversation of deep guttural tones. Too deep to be boggarts. Bugbears, it had to be. It was still hard to tell how close they were. The omnipresent serpentine curve of the cave passage was helpful in that it broke up sightlines, but it did severely hamper their ability to see more than a hundred strides in either direction. Rounding another bend, the far wall of the cave ahead glinted with reflected light¡ªmore than could be expected from the small torches that had been lighting the passages since they entered the nest. Sharing a silent look with his team, Kaius stepped out alone. He approached quickly, pressing himself close to the cold stone wall as he peered around the corner. Seeing nothing but another illuminated bend, he rushed to the edge of the next bend¡ªheart pounding with every step. Feeling sweat bead on his brow, he listened close. The guttural speech had faded now, but he could still hear something awake down the passage. Poking his eyes out, Kaius saw that the cave continued for a good thirty strides before it terminated in a large natural cavern. Illuminated by a roaring fire of a size yet to be seen, stalactites broke up the ceiling with needle tipped points. Their upwards turned siblings had been smashed and cleared, the floor crudely smoothed. For a good reason, Kaius realised. A crude tent had been pitched along one cavern edge¡ªmade of roughly carved wood and stitched together hides. An understandable improvement from the living facilities of common boggarts¡ªunderstandable, considering the seven bugbears that sat around the fire at the cavern''s centre. Each and every one of them was alert and awake, tearing into haunches of smoked meat. The biggest of them¡ªperhaps tall enough to reach his collarbone¡ªhad what looked to be a woodsman''s axe at his side, confirming his fears. No doubt a bugbear of status, because the others had crude stone weapons. Albeit ones of a better and sturdier make than most he''d seen. There was no way they could take them on without a cry going out. For one, they were undoubtedly tougher than boggarts¡ªbetter armed and stronger too. Two, he had absolutely no way of being spotted unawares. Their fire kept the whole room lit, and they circled it in such a way that he''d likely be spotted as soon as he rounded the bend. Worse, there was a pillar of stone at the back of the room, with a large plate of metal shaped into a crude gone jutting off its side. Covered in the large and jagged runes favoured by the tribe''s shaman, If the bugbear''s got the chance to wail on it they''d no doubt be able to wake the dead. Kaius pulled back¡ªthis tunnel was a bust, they''d have to scope out the next and hope for more easy prey. He returned to his team quickly, not bothering to hide in the shadows since it would have been impossible for anything to creep past Ianmus and Porkchop with them being unaware. They greeted his return with relieved nods, Ianmus giving him a questioning look. Shaking his head, Kaius held a finger to his lips, before gesturing back the way they had come. They were far too close to speak¡ªeven a whisper might be overheard if they were unlucky. They retreated back the way they had come. Putting a couple of bends between them and the bugbears, Kaius felt comfortable enough to share his findings at a low whisper. "Seven bugbears, awake and no way to sneak up on them. Room''s at least a dead end¡ªwe check out the other tunnel." Ianmus nodded. "No chance at all of taking them by surprise?" Porkchop asked. "Not without an alarm going out." Kaius replied with a shake of his head for Ianmus''s benefit. He set off, waving for his team to follow. Backtracking eased his nerves. Walking through stretches they''d confirmed empty was a balm to cold tension in his spine. He knew all the creeping and hiding was necessary given the scale of the plague, but give him a straight up fight any day of the week and he''d be happy with it. The larder came into view, and Kaius picked up the pace, passing the doorway¡ªhis team hot on his heels. Only for a hammer blow of fear to rock his chest as a piercing squeal of surprise shattered the silence. Chapter 212 - B2 209: Fear, pt. 1 The noise cut through the silence like a knife. It was shrill, high pitched, and desperate. Hells, it was barely loud¡ªa squeak of surprise that had been stifled quickly. Far from anything that could be described as a clamouring rallying cry, bringing down the whole warren on their heads. That didn''t stop the wave of dread that rushed through his chest, binding his lungs and throat in barbed wire. Heart racing, Kaius lurched to the noise before he''d even finished processing what had caused it¡ªsword pulled back for a stab. A boggart came into view¡ªstill as a statue, a haunch of smoked meat held halfway risen to its fangs. It was crouched low, eyes frozen wide as it stared at them in uncomprehending shock. Kaius''s kick off the ground sent him racing towards it, approaching with the full weight of his swiftness behind him. It lurched, realising that it was under attack as its surprise faded. A great, heaving gasp expanded in its chest¡ªlungs working like bellows. A building scream. Kaius touched the ground in front of it, rolling his shoulders into a desperate stab. Fine and sharp, the point of A Father''s Gift ripped through the intervening space. Flesh and bone parted with a meaty thwack and a kick of resistance, his sword erupting from the back of its head. **Ding! level 50 Boggart - Scavenger slain - Experience Gained!** Blood dripped from its point as he let go of his blade, sweeping forwards to wrap the body in his cloak, catching its dead weight in his arms. Heaving the body up, he raced back to his team. "Leather storeroom¡ªnow!" he hissed as quietly as he could, ears straining for any sign that the noise had been caught by the bugbears only a few bends down the tunnel. As a single unit, they raced to the next room¡ªonly fourty or so sides away. Slipping into the room, Kaius hurriedly dumped the body¡ªgrimacing as he felt that tacky wetness of blood that had soaked into the fibres of his cloak. Moving quickly, he pulled hides off the pile that reached up one half of the wall, covering the evidence of their deeds. With blood roaring in his veins, he moved to the door, pressing himself deep into the heavily shadowed wall. Porkchop was directly across the doorway from him, Ianmus safely hidden behind his bulk. Unless a bugbear poked his head straight into the room, they were hidden. Waiting in tense silence, Kaius shifted his blade into a high stance, ready to cleave through anything that stepped through the door. From his angle, he kept his eye on the pantry. He couldn''t believe it. What on all that was holy was their luck? A thieving boggart being the one to catch them? It felt ridiculous, after all the time and care they had spent creeping their way through the nest. Swallowing through a dry lump on his throat, he kept his ears sharp for any sign of approach. The bugbears were definitely close enough to hear the shriek, even if it had been quiet enough that he doubted it would have been heard by the boggarts further through the tunnel they had yet to explore. Staring at the sight of their discovery, Kaius''s eyes went wide as he realised that the haunch of dried meat the boggart had been eating was still sitting in plain sight of the door. Evidence that something unscrupulous had occurred¡ªeven if it didn''t give away everything. He hardened his heart, readying himself to dash from their cover and secure the meat that might incite further curiosity from any investigators. Only to hear the sound of approaching footsteps coming from further up the tunnel. Multiple sets of clomping footfalls, echoing on the hard stone. Bugbears. He grit his teeth, sharing a look with Porkchop. "Can you tell how many?" he asked through their bond. Porkchop nodded. "Four." Kaius scowled. If it had been one or two, they would have had a decent chance of taking them out unawares before an alarm went out. With four, it was all but impossible. Their moment of stealth might have come to a premature end. Still, he wanted to try. If there was any chance they could continue to thin the herd, or get a decent look at the full numbers of the plague, he wanted to give it a shot. "Steady yourself¡ªwe lose nothing by waiting until we''re discovered. There''s still a chance that they just think it''s a thieving boggart." he said, wishing that hope alone would be enough to secure such an eventuality. The steps grew closer, a new light reflecting off the far bend of the tunnel. Torches. The bugbears were close. "And if they leave, searching for the offender, and stumble across the dead bodies?" Porkchop asked, tilting his head at them. "Then we follow¡ªtry to take them out far from the tunnel we have yet to explore, and hope that the sounds of our clash do not travel. Fill in Ianmus." Porkchop nodded. With their plan set, Kaius fell back to watching the approaching figures closely, nerves stretched to a breaking point. It was a strange sensation¡ªone that Kaius hadn''t expected. They''d been handed this mission specially by the guildmaster. Sure, it would push them in ways different than they were used to, and he had an inkling that it was supposed to be as much of a learning experience as it was a true mission, but he had full confidence in their abilities to see it through. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. It was just...stressful, not knowing if they would be discovered or not. He was trying to treat this whole enterprise with a little more care and intention than he normally would, and knowing they might be discovered fell a little too close to something that felt like failure for comfort. The bugbears rounded the corner¡ªfour of them, just like Porkchop had said. Two were holding torches up high, the group searching the hallway for signs of what had made the disturbance. Much to Kaius''s relief, they weren''t moving with the urgency he would expect if they had thought there were intruders. Instead they looked bored, and annoyed. Like leaving their fire to investigate the noise was a chore. A good sign¡ªhopefully they would see the half eaten meat, and write it off as a thieving boggart scaring itself in the middle of its heist. Still, even if they weren''t aware of his team''s presence, the bugbears were still ready for trouble. The two holding torches were armed with clubs reinforced with bands of what looked like iron scavenged from a barrel brace, while the others held spears with wicked stone points. They''d clearly been crafted with far more care than the weaponry of the general rabble¡ªeven the stone spear-tips looked like they''d been made from some sort of mana-imbued stone, the glinting firelight throwing off a faint green sparkle. Sweeping their eyes across the cavern, the bugbears marched straight for the larder. Kaius held his breath as they looked in, worried that even the faintest noise would give him away. One of the bugbears holding a torch growled, stepping and waving his torch through the room. As a group, Kaius saw every single one of their eyes snap to the dropped morsel of flesh that he''d been left behind. Their frustration and anger at the theft was clear, some unintelligible argument of snapping growls and snarls. They split off, entering the store room as they swept it from corner to corner¡ªlooking for the offender that would dare to steal from the larder. Unsuccessful in their search, it seemed like they were at odds about what to do next. Three of the bugbears waved their hands wildly at the remainder¡ªone of the two with a torch. When one bugbear jutted a clawed thumb back the way they had come, the torchbearer snarled, shaking its head before it punctuated a choked off word with a snap of its jaws. Its companions shrugged at it, looking between themselves before they turned and left¡ªjostling each other as they set off back towards their camp further down the tunnel. Kaius steadied himself against the wall, watching them leave as a surprising wave of relief washed through him at the trio''s departure. Only a single one remained, staring into the larder with suspicious intensity. One bugbear¡ªthat they could deal with. Keeping his blade ready, Kaius watched the torchbearer step back into the room. It crouched down, right where he had slain the boggart. Reaching out with one cruelly clawed finger, it swiped its digit across the stone before rubbing its finger against its thumb. Blood, Kaius realised with a start as he saw the dark smear that spread between its fingertips. The bugbear sniffed deeply, before tasting the evidence of their crimes. A cruel sneer spread across its face, revealing yellowed fangs¡ªstubby and short. Rising to its full height, it snapped in the direction of its departing allies. For a long moment, Kaius was worried it would call them back to assist, only for the monster to turn in his direction and start to walk¡ªclub raised and ready. He swore that its beady and cruel eyes¡ªdeeply set in its brutish face¡ªwere staring directly at him, tearing apart his secrets. Of course, he was deeply drenched in the darkness, but it was still unnerving. Glancing across to Porkchop, his brother gave him the slightest nod. He was ready¡ªeven if Porkchop couldn''t see the bugbear, he could still hear him coming this way. Kaius adjusted his grip, sweaty palms making his hilt slick. Another step brought their enemy closer to its eventual death. Every stride it approached, the light from its flickering and dim torch illuminated more of the storeroom of hides. It was only by the angle of their positions that they weren''t spotted, obscured by shadows and stone. The bugbear narrowed its eyes at the far wall. Clearly, it had noticed the hodgepodge rearrangement of their stocks that Kaius had been forced to make when he had hidden the body of the thief. It picked up its place, stomping forward with a face of glowering disgust, fixated on the rounded form that had been stashed beneath stacked leather. Convinced, perhaps, that it had found the cowering thief that had yelped after cutting itself in the larder¡ªtoo stupid to flee properly. It stepped through the threshold. Kaius struck. As did his brother. Crystal and steel descended with the blurring conviction of final judgement, paired with half-moons of sacred jade that sought to consecrate whatever remained. There was only the soft sound of flesh parting and the muffled crack of bone giving way. Kaius buried his blade in the bugbears head, the point of Porkchop''s claws punching through the back of its skull. **Ding! level 62 Bugbear - Brawling Smasher slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 52!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** The bugbear''s body went limp, and Porkchop shifted forwards to catch it with an upswept paw. They''d been quick¡ªstriking with enough speed and fury to remove the threat without noise. Kaius moved quickly, moving the body to a far corner of the room, covering the evidence of their deeds in more carefully stacked leather¡ªusing a few sheets of the same to mop up what he could of the blood they had spilled. With his Truesight improving in their trek through the darkness, it stood out plainly to him. Standing back to assess his work, he thought it good enough to pass a cursory inspection¡ªbut it would only last so long. "That went as well as it could, but we''re on a time limit now." he whispered, eyes roving the room to see if there was anything else they could do to delay discovery. "Eventually the others are going to get suspicious that our dead bugbear hasn''t returned." "We could get lucky, they might assume he''s off beating some boggart half to death." Porkchop replied. Ianmus shook his head. "We''d be fools to rely on that." "Exactly," Kaius nodded at the mage''s words. "We check the final corridor¡ªif we''re lucky, we can clear some more sleepers before an alarm goes off. At the very least we''ll know more of the structure of this place before we start an earnest assault." Poking his head out of the room, Kaius confirmed that the coast was clear before he waved at his team to join him. "Let''s move." They raced down the cave passage, retracing their steps as fast as they could remain quiet. .... Drorome watched the young delvers leave, wondering why she''d let Rieker put her up to this. She''d followed him to their post at Deadacre out of loyalty¡ªso many years of delving together were not so easily forgotten¡ªbut did he really have to give her so much to do? At least Kaius had left¡ªit was annoying how active she had to be about staying out of his line of sight. She had no doubt she''d be able to best his ocular skill, but less certain she''d be able to prevent any feedback. Knowledge that something was there would ruin this whole exercise just as much as getting properly spotted would. She eyed the stashed bodies, cocking one brow at the slow seep of blood that was running free from the stacked hides. Shoddy work¡ªbut about as best as could be expected considering their general approach to things. It wouldn''t be long now. B2 Chapter 223: Growing Problems, Finale B2 Chapter 223: Growing Problems, Finale The common folk were getting desperate, Kaius realised. It wasn¡¯t so much their looks. Most seemed well enough fed, and as clean as anyone could expect to stay in a city. No¡ªit was the pervasive tension that seemed to seep from their very pores, suspicion and anxiety hanging over the city streets like a contagious miasma. Where before people had gone about their business with single minded focus, weaving their way through the crowds and brushing shoulders, now people were slow. Furtive, as they watched those closest to them out of the corner of their eyes¡ªscanning their surroundings just a little too frequently. As visibly travelled as they were, with a ¡®warbeast¡¯ at their sides, he and Ianmus got by far the most looks. Equal parts envy, suspicion, and occasionally an unnerving level of concern. It had to be what was sending Explorer¡¯s Toolkit haywire. Muted and dampened as it was by his presence in a settlement, it was hard to get a clear reading. Just potential danger, somewhere, an a feeling of being watched. He just hoped it wasn¡¯t a portent of budding unrest, and uneasy populace one bad day from a riot. Kaius shook his head, hoping to clear the discomfort¡ªthey¡¯d be in the Delver¡¯s district soon. That, at least, had proven a surprising bastion of normalcy in the city. Afterall, it was a wealthy area, and its inhabitants by and large could look after themselves. ... Kaius walked down the wide staircase of the Dusty Stables, Ianmus and Porkchop close at his heels. He enjoyed the little animal motif that had been engraved into the skirting boards¡ªa little bit of whimsical fun that he¡¯d grown to appreciate about Hensch¡¯s taste in decor. After entering the city, they¡¯d made full haste to the inn, eager to get their rooms secured and wash off the trail dust¡ªHensch had been as helpful as ever, simply passing over the keys and reopening their account. Kaius would have been happy to pay up there and then, but the innkeeper had insisted that it was easier to do it this way when they would, in all likelihood, be coming and going unpredictably. That first wash in the Stable¡¯s heated baths was heaven. Kaius might have been a man of the wilds, but hot water was one of the few luxuries that he could admit were worth the discomfort of the crowds. If only artifacts that produced enough hot water to wash with weren¡¯t so bloody expensive if they were anything approaching a portable size. Though, his other option was a larger spatial storage, something that would be a little bit more difficult to acquire than what amounted to an expensive luxury trinket. As nice as it was to be clean, none of them had dawdled¡ªmeeting in Kaius¡¯s and Porkchop¡¯s shared room with damp hair and clean gear. Their conversation with Rieker and Ro loomed¡ªtwo of them, in actual fact. Kaius felt like he wouldn¡¯t be able to relax until it was done. The inevitable dressing down and planning for their next mission was one thing, but now that they had decided the course of seeking Rieker¡¯s help with Porkchop¡¯s Aspect, and on sharing their knowledge of Honours, the anticipation was gnawing at the back of his neck like a gnat. The sooner they could be done with it, the better. A board flexed as he stepped down onto the main floor of the Inn. A couple of delving teams¡ªscattered across the common room¡ªlooked up, before giving him a nod and turning back to their conversations. Hensch, on the other hand, hurried out from behind his counter. He smiled at them, carrying three packages wrapped in brown paper. ¡°Kaius! I was about to come up.¡± he said, juggling the packages until they were piled in one hand¡ªfreeing him up for a handshake. Yong, his bonded beast, looked up from their bed at the bar¡¯s entrance, peering curiously at what had gotten their companion to move. The cat let out a friendly chirp as he saw Porkchop looming in the corner of the room, before they resettled themselves and returned to napping. ¡°Hensch¡ªthanks again for working with us quickly, we needed that clean. We¡¯ve got business at the guild, but I imagine we¡¯ll be back for dinner¡ªmaybe you can tell me more of that story of how you found Yong in the southern jungles, eh?¡± ¡°Of course, my friend! We hadn¡¯t even gotten to the best part before you last left!¡± the innkeep replied. ¡°But listen, I know you missed lunch, and I doubt you got the chance to eat much if you¡¯ve been on the road since this morning. I made you a few sandwiches. I was going to bring them up, but I suppose you could always eat them on the way to the guild.¡± Kaius grinned, nodding to the man as he took the waxy paper packages¡ªa quick peek inside showing thick slabs of bread filled with some leftover roast, cheese, and leafy greens. For what felt like the thousandth time, Kaius was glad he¡¯d decided to take Ro¡¯s suggestion on lodgings to heart. Hensch had proven himself to be a wonderful host¡ªmaking their stays easy enough that he was of half a mind to think he was almost as good as Hurrin. Though, he did think that the beer in Three Fields was better. ¡°Seriously, Hensch, you didn¡¯t need to do that. We could have gotten some food on the way.¡± Kaius said, shaking his head. ¡°Bah,¡± Hensch waved him off. ¡°Nonsense¡ªyou¡¯re some of my best customers, and Porkchop is awfully patient with Yong. Only the gods know what fresh hell you lot are getting up to outside of those walls, keeping soft men like me from ending up in some beast''s belly. A few left overs is the least I could do.¡± This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Accepting the praise with grace, Kaius nodded his head to the man. Hensch had proven himself steadfast in his welcome, and it was impossible not to like him. Still, as much as it would have been nice to stay and chat, they did have places to be. Giving the innkeep some final passing thanks, they left the inn¡ªdigging into their lunch as they went. However, Kaius did get more than one odd look as he tore chunks out of Porkchop¡¯s meal to toss it to him. .... After waiting patiently for a quarter hour, Kaius made his way to the front of the line that snaked its way through the guild¡¯s common room. If he¡¯d thought the place had been busy when they¡¯d first arrived in Deadacre, now it was positively overflowing. The place had gotten so busy that he¡¯d had to leave Porkchop and Ianmus at a table¡ªthe line would have been unmanageable if people had been sending up their full teams. The air of celebration had fled too, leaving only focused eyes and hushed discussions as delving teams buzzed back and forth, turning in missions and picking up new ones. As the man in front of him¡ªwearing an interesting set of dark leather armour that seemed to shift and writhe in the light¡ªleft the counter, Kaius realised that the receptionist was the same well-built man that he¡¯d seen working the desk a few times before. Stepping forwards, Kaius nodded his head respectfully as he passed over his Bronze badge. The man swept it up, pressing it to something hidden behind the rise of the counter. A few moments later he looked back up, recognition on his face. ¡°Oh, Kaius¡ªRo mentioned I should keep an eye out for you. I thought it might have been, since you¡¯re so tall, but I wasn¡¯t sure.¡± he reached a hand over the desk, standing from his chair. ¡°Name¡¯s Frist¡ªI''ve seen you ¡®round but I¡¯m not sure if we were ever introduced.¡± Kaius clasped the receptionist¡¯s hand firmly, finding it like trying to wrap his fist around a block of granite. It seemed like a measure of strength was a requirement of holding a position in the guild, even for the lower ones. ¡°Nice to meet you, Frist¡ªyou mentioned Ro? She told me to seek her out when I got back.¡± Frist nodded. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what she told me too¡ªthough if you want to know why, I can¡¯t help you. That hellion never tells me anything.¡± the receptionist replied, returning to his seat. ¡°She¡¯s just down the hall,¡± Frist pointed down the corridor leading deeper into the guild. ¡°Eight doors down from the silence room¡ªhas her name on the door and everything.¡± Kaius thanked the man and took his leave, hurrying over to fetch Porkchop and Ianmus from where they waited quietly at a table tucked away in the corner. Walking through the hall¡ªstill large enough that its comical size made him feel like a child¡ªKaius found the door quickly. Made of thick oak, with a darker stain and a smoother finish than the rest, it had ¡®Drorome¡¯ engraved on a thick steel plate. Forcing down the nerves at letting the woman know they had something to share, Kaius reached out and knocked three times, a deep booming sound that bounced of the masonry walls. ¡°Come in!¡± Ro yelled, muffled by the heavy oak. Kaius pushed the door open, his team filing in behind him. Ro¡¯s office was...quite something. Built to a similar standard as the guildmaster¡¯s, it had none of the ostentatious flare that someone might expect from a guild member of import. However, where Rieker¡¯s office was an austere space of regimented focus, Ro¡¯s was closer to the site of an alchemical mishap. A dozen shelves and drawers, bursting at the seams as what looked to be a whole library''s worth of paper was strewn on every available surface and packed into any cranny they would fit. Hells, there was enough of it on the floor to write a whole book with. Kaius stood rooted to the spot, staring at the mayhem with a cocked eyebrow, while Ro watched on with narrowed eyes. At the very least, he was holding it together better than Ianmus, who was making half stifled strangled noises behind him. Meeting her gaze, he couldn¡¯t help but smirk. ¡°I have had a sudden revelation on why you hate paperwork, Ro.¡± ¡°Oh, fuck off,¡± Ro replied, rolling her eyes at him. ¡°Wait until you¡¯re Steel to start getting smart with me, Greenhorn¡ªit¡¯ll make your life a whole lot easier.¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± Kaius replied, his smile unbroken. Ro reached into her desk, shoving aside roughly stacked notes to pull out an inscribed metal disk. It was one that he recognised. Father had used them as an example of classical uses of High Lothian. A communication amulet, though a fairly basic one¡ªhe doubted the linked artifacts could connect over anything more than a couple of blocks. ¡°They¡¯re here, you free?¡± Ro said, channeling some mana into the disk. ¡°Send them up.¡± Rieker¡¯s low voice rumbled from the artifact a moment later, tinny and distorted. ¡°Will do,¡± Ro replied, before sliding her line to the guildmaster back into the same drawer she¡¯d pulled it from. Slapping her hands on the table, Ro stood up¡ªsending more than one leaf of paper fluttering to the floor. She watched it for a moment, before admitting defeat and ignoring it. ¡°Alright¡ªI know fresh meat like you are want to quake in your boots at the thought of a dressing down, but don¡¯t be. You know you fucked up, and how. Rieker won¡¯t rub your noses in it.¡± she said, her face settling into a calm confidence as she stepped into her role as guild manager. ¡°What¡¯s the chat for, then?¡± Kaius asked, curious what the guildmaster wanted from them if not to lend them a lesson. He¡¯d expected Rieker would tear them to shreds over their failures¡ªespecially with how he had punished their hubris last time. Kaius scratched at his wrist, the thought of the itching regrowth of his hand sending a spike of phantom sensation through the limb. ¡°A debrief, a chat about your earnings, as well as your next mission, and what training will look like before you undergo it.¡± Ro replied. Kaius nodded, before he glanced at his team. They met his eyes, nodding. Now was as good a time as any to mention that they had something important to share. Ro narrowed her eyes at them, catching the look. ¡°What shit did you get caught up in this time?¡± she asked, exasperated. ¡°Nothing like that, I promise. We¡¯ve just got something to share with you and Rieker¡ªit¡¯s big, but it¡¯ll potentially be beneficial to the wider guild.¡± Ro tilted her head at him, her curiosity burning holes into his eyes¡ªlike she wanted to reach in and pluck the secrets directly from his mind. Then, just as the silence was starting to grow stifling, she gave him a curt nod. ¡°Always room for more world shaking impossibilities, I suppose. They seem to follow you like flies on shit.¡± she said, before she turned and marched her way to the stairs that lead the way up to the guildmaster¡¯s office. ¡°Come along!¡± she said, waving them after her. Chapter 213 - B2 210: Fear, finale Reaching the split in the cave, Kaius hurriedly peered down the tunnel that led to the surface. Straining his senses, he was relieved to hear no sign of howling panic or anger¡ªthe boggarts they had slain on their way in had yet to be discovered. Just ahead and to the right, the cave split¡ªangling downwards. The path they had yet to take. It was mostly similar to the other routes, a natural cave that had been roughly chipped at until it was mostly uniform in size. Unlike the other passages they had explored, this one had no sign of any rooms that had been carved into its edges. What that meant, he had little clue¡ªbut at the very least they would be able to traverse it far more quickly since they wouldn''t have to stop and check every room for enemies as they passed. With the crossroads being empty, Kaius led their descent into the next tunnel. It was well lit, much like the corridor that had held the storerooms had been. He could only assume that meant that it was equally important. Considering what they had seen of the warren had had far less occupants than he would have expected, he could only assume this was the path to the main living quarters. If all went well, they would be equally as poorly defended as the rest, and they could slip through and kill the boggarts in their beds. If they were in close proximity, it would only be a matter of time before they were discovered, but with a little luck they''d be able to thin their numbers significantly before that happened. Turn by turn they descended, the gentle incline of the tunnel continuing as they wormed their way deeper into the earth''s embrace. With every bend, Kaius expected a boggart to be lying in wait¡ªsome sort of guard or watcher¡ªbut his fears never resolved themselves into truth. Each clear section of corridor soothed his nerves, bringing his calm confidence back to the surface. After another few minutes of descent, Kaius saw something new. Blue toned light, cutting through the soft gloom of firelight to paint itself on the outside edge of a bend in the passage. Kaius waved at his team to halt, their hastened steps slowing as they stopped in a pool of shadows between the fires that dotted the cave. "Stay hidden¡ªI''ll check it out." he whispered, before setting off at a brisk pace. Approaching the bend, Kaius pressed himself to the wall and peered past the lip. The passage ended quickly, opening up into a wide cavern¡ªthough another kink in the cave''s serpentine path obscured most of the opening, leaving only a sliver a few handspans wide through which he could see into the open cavern. What he saw made him very glad that obscuring stone existed. The cavern was immense¡ªlarge enough he almost thought that he''d been transported back to the Depths. Easily five-hundred long-strides across, with a ceiling that soared high enough overhead that he could only see a small section of it on the far side, it was devastatingly well lit. Not by fires, either. While they dotted the floor, they seemed to be being used as a source of comfort and heat. No, the soft blue radiance was coming from what looked to be crude ward lights. They were large, and cumbersome¡ªa dozen or so pillars of crudely carved stone that had been spread across the cavern, standing even taller than him. They were covered in the sharp and brutish glyphs he had seen on the leather armour of the bugbears, and none were smaller than a handspan. It seemed that the shaman had not discovered a way to work with runes in miniature. Kaius was unsurprised¡ªin all honesty, he considered it a miracle that such base creatures could work the runic arts at all. No doubt it would have been impossible without the aid of the system. Still, the wardlights drenched everything he could see in a dim blue light¡ªrevealing a sight that flooded his veins with cold realisation. There were too many of them. Tents were clustered around fires, covering the entire floor of the cavern. Small, rustic things made of leather and wood¡ªmuch like he had seen in the bugbears room near the larder. Each and every single one seemed to be housing the larger monsters¡ªbugbears milling around fires, or sleeping within the tents themselves. As for the boggarts, they seemed to have been relegated to the cavern walls. It was hard to see from his poor angle, but it seemed rooms had been excavated into the stone¡ªthe few he could see filled to bursting with the smaller members of the tribe. That wasn''t all. The break in the cave gave him just enough space to see the far end of the cavern. Larger tents were set up there¡ªon a small rise of stone where they could oversee all. Closer to marques than single person sleeping spaces, they''d been constructed of leathers of a far higher cut and quality than the rest¡ªeven if it was still hodgepodge. At a cursory look, he saw bear, dear, and boar pelts¡ªamongst other things he couldn''t place. They''d been painted in runes¡ªprotections for the leaders of the plague, no doubt. It was the leaders themselves that drew his eye¡ªand their guards. Beefy looking bugbear guards stood alert around the tents, while two more draped in bone charms and headdresses sat outside one tent pouring over some spilled bones. Shamans, he could only assume, though not the head one. That was undoubtedly the bugbear that stood in inaudible conversation with a hulking brute that outweighed even the heaviest of bugbears. The pair looked fearsome. Smaller in stature the bugbear shaman may have been, but it was covered in painted inscriptions¡ªevery scrap of its exposed flesh showing the same cruel shapes that he''d seen elsewhere. Its hair was matted, braided with the bones of a dozen kills¡ªand its cruel mouth showed carved fangs with every muttered word. The boggling¡ªsomething Kaius had started to use in his head to refer to the lower race as a whole¡ªthat was listening with bored disinterest was obviously the warchief. He doubted it was a bugbear; he''d yet to see one of them come up to his chin, and the head of the plague looked like it was taller than him by a handspan. Heavy muscles wrapped its bare chest and arms, revealing a visible strength of arm that looked more than able to heft the massive club of worked stone that rested against its throne. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Kaius was at a loss for how to tackle the problem that waited in front of him. Centralised in a single room, with ample light and plenty of watchers to spot them as soon as they walked in, they would be discovered the second they stepped into the chamber. Moreover, there were simply too many of them. He''d thought the estimates of the plague''s size were generous to the point it almost beggared belief, but now it seemed that if anything it was on the smaller side of its potential size. Over a hundred bugbears, easily¡ªjust based on the narrow slice he could see. Who knew how many boggarts there were packed into the cavern''s edges. A plague in truth. His heart sat heavy in his chest, dragging at his confidence. They''d have to retreat, pull back and come up with a different approach of attack¡ªif it wasn''t already too late. While he was confident that they would be able to take any one of the monsters with ease¡ªexcluding the elites with unknown capabilities¡ªthe simple volume of them would bleed their resources dry in an extended confrontation. Taking a slow breath to steady his nerves, Kaius rushed back to his team. If they wanted any chance of making it out of the caves before the alarm went out, they''d have to leave now. At the very least, there was hope that if they vanished like ghosts into the night, the discovery of the slain bodies would delay the boggart''s eventual migration. It was likely hunters would be sent after them, but that would just mean more targets for them to remove. Rounding the bend, Kaius found his team huddled where he had left them. He rushed over. "We have to leave, now. The plague is bigger than we realised, and they''re all in a single cavern¡ªwe have no way of thinning them out without being discovered immediately." Kaius whispered in a low hiss. To Ianmus'' and Porkchop''s credit, they didn''t question his decision¡ªonly nodding, grim determination in their eyes. They made haste, retracing their steps through the firelit corridor. His chest thudded with every step, heart pounding as he slipped into a state of rigid focus and awareness. Try as he might, he heard nothing but the crackle and flicker of the oil lanterns. Still, the lack of noise was a good thing. Maybe they''d done it¡ªwould be able to slip away without discovery. Then Porkchop barked a warning, words transmitted directly into Kaius''s head. "I hear them! Four bugbears coming towards us¡ªthey''re already in the passage, we''ve got no way to avoid them." Kaius''s stomach dropped, cold dread settling deep in his chest. They''d been pinned, with how lit the tunnel was they had absolutely no chance of slipping past the monsters undetected. Mind racing, Kaius''s eyes slid across their short section of tunnel, desperately looking for something that could twist fate in their favour. A simple lip in the stone, right before the bend ahead, was the best found. "We hide there¡ªambush them hard as soon as they are around the bend. We hit them quick and strong, but regardless, as soon as they''re dead, we run." Kaius pushed along his bond. Porkchop nodded, the impression of his words being shared with Ianmus crossing back over. Racing forwards, Kaius pressed himself to the lip of the stone. There was a chance they could still do this. Between Slip Step and his Bladerite, he was a dervish in battle¡ªfar faster than anything the bugbears could hope to match¡ªnot when his stats were almost certain to be twice their own. They might be able to silence them. He wouldn''t assume they would. Even as he strained his senses to hear the oncoming threat, his Glass Mind went to work¡ªCampaigner''s Reasoning leveraged as he searched for a way to give them a chance against a potential tide of unending monsters. The dark, he realised¡ªthe boggarts couldn''t see in the dark. If they could make it to those narrow stretches of pitch-black caves closer to the surface, they might have a chance. The natural choke point would reduce their numbers to a manageable level, and even if they brought torches, the low light would leave them confused and vulnerable. It might give them a chance¡ªthough they''d have to ration their Resources like a pauper in winter. The thought was driven from his mind as he heard the soft thuds of multiple feet. His hearing was sharp, but not sharp enough to tell how close they were. They needed to be precise¡ªstrike right when their enemies would have no time to react. Kaius looked at Porkchop. "Not yet." He tightened his grip on his blade¡ªforcing himself to steady through the jittery tension that raced up his spine, the wait more tortuous than a sword in the gut. "Wait." his brother urged. Kaius didn''t want to wait. He wanted to run and stab and cut. He held himself steady all the same. The seconds ticked down, each one bringing the huffing boggling''s a step closer to discovering them. They sounded so close that Kaius would have sworn they were simply standing on the other side of the lip in the passage. "Now!" Porkchop yelled in his mind, bursting into motion. Kaius cast Slip Step before Porkchop had even finished speaking. Blue sparks showered the tunnel in a silent light show, his body melding into a halfway point between worlds. He took a step, reaching the corner. The boggarts were there¡ªstiffening at his sudden appearance. Another step took him past the frontrunners, appearing right by their backline. He''d have to trust Porkchop to deal with the others. The first bugbear died before it could even blink, A Father''s Gift glowing with inner fire as he struck its head clean from its shoulders. **Ding! level 64 Bugbear - Heavy Slinger slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** A tight twist spun him on his lead foot. He lunged into a thrust¡ªspace collapsing before him as he crossed an impossible distance. The honed point of his blade erupted from the back of the second bugbear''s skull. **Ding! level 59 Bugbear - Spear Raider slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** They both died silently. Behind him, Kaius heard a body collapse with a crunch and a soft gasp. One more. He sidestepped, blade hurtling through the air with deadly intent as he appeared before the last bugbear. It screamed. A warcry, a rallying call, a final desperate vengeance. It seemed to hang in the air¡ªcarrying for impossible moments as his sword cleaved through the bugbear''s jaw, spraying hot blood through the air. **Ding! level 61 Bugbear - Primitive Fighter slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** Kaius''s heart froze like ice. All of them stood still as the dead¡ªthe impossible noise nailing them in place. Only for a cacophonous choir of cries to rush through the tunnel behind them, hitting Kaius like a physical blow to the ribs. They''d been heard. "Run!" Chapter 214 - B2 211: Siege, pt. 1 Kaius pumped his arms, keeping an easy pace as flickering oil lamps washed them with light. He longed to stretch his gait¡ªto push himself to the full speeds he was capable of. If they did that, Ianmus was dead. The mage was ahead of him, sprinting as fast as he was able¡ªa speed that was genuinely impressive considering his distinct lack of Strength and Dexterity, the man clearly considered running to be a vital skill in a caster''s toolbox. To his right, Porkchop was keeping a similar loping gate to his own, though it was obvious to see that he was also forcing himself to a slow pace. They took the corner hard, keeping their speed as they pressed on. He could hear the plague raging behind them. There was no pursuit yet, but it would only be moments until the bodies were discovered and a force was on their tail¡ªthe smallest of graces afforded to them thanks to their sudden discovery, confusion working in their favour. His mind raced as darkened stone rooms flashed passed them. Did they fight, or did they run? Running was risky. Once they were out of the caves, they''d have enough headroom to throw Ianmus on Porkchop''s back and make a break for it. Unfortunately, the plague seemed to be made up of largely physical specimens. Considering how long their journey into the earth had been, Kaius suspected that their pursuers would close the distance before then. Leading the boggarts on a pursuit out of the valley could be disastrous¡ªprecipitate them splintering into groups and infecting an even wider region. If they were unlucky, it might even speed up the boggarts discovery of the plains. No, they had a duty. He doubted they''d be able to cull all of them, but at the very least they could fight them to a standstill in the darkness of the caves¡ªthin their numbers until they were forced into a fighting retreat. If they did enough, they might cripple the tribe. Stall their development and starvation long enough that a team better suited to their annihilation could be rallied. Kaius pressed his lips into a hard line, his mind made up. "Tell Ianmus we''re going to have to fight¡ªwe''ll hold a choke point in the darkness." he pressed through his bond, Porkchop replying with an unmistakable feeling of acknowledgement¡ªand an undeniable undercurrent of red thrill. Kaius felt it too, his blood heating with a roar that had been steadily building since they had been discovered. Calm had come with it, the cool certainty that there was no more room for anticipation and dread¡ªonly action. The bloodsong had been changing within him, he''d noticed. Less overwhelming, less...feral. He''d grown since leaving the depths. While he still felt the rushing anticipation of the fight, he no longer wanted to turn and fight where he stood as he once would have. Some of it was undoubtedly the clarity that had come with his ignited Mentis¡ªthe energy of his fire burned by his Glass Mind as it searched for avenues to victory. Some of it was due to simple experience. The Depths¡ªthe isolated microcosm of challenge and battle that they were¡ªhad made it all too easy to indulge in base desires. His responsibilities had grown. His team, their mission, his vengeance, the phases, his growth. Porkchop, on the other hand... Judging by the growing anticipation and violent desires he felt cross their bond, his brother was still very much in favour of simple, direct, action. Not that Kaius could judge him for that, he still longed for the thrill of the fight¡ªit had simply been tempered. A howling roar raced through the tunnel behind them, a low rumble echoing shortly after it. The pursuit had begun. ... Kaius spotted the narrowing of the cave¡ªthe pitch black hiding no secrets before the flat monochrome vision of his Truesight. The boggarts had done little to excavate the tunnels this close to the entrance of the cave, and a natural deviation in the stone had led to a section that tightened to where he and Porkchop would only just be able to fight side by side. **Ding! Truesight has reached level 48!** The perfect place to make their stand. "Ianmus! Stop beyond the thinning walls!" he called. The mage nodded, his chest heaving too hard to answer through words. Kaius appraised him, taking in his sweat streaked face and flushed skin. Ianmus had pushed himself hard¡ªsprinted for all he was worth through the caves. No doubt his Stamina was shot, though thankfully the man would have little need for it in the coming conflict. He could hear the roaring noise of their pursuers drawing closer¡ªa tremendous wall of sound that burst through the cave in a constant assault. They were a minute away, maybe two. Ianmus was the weak link to a fighting retreat, and given his pace through the cave, would have no chance in an outright rout. They''d need to buy the man time. He took his position at Porkchop''s side, facing back the way they had come. Mana flashed through the darkness, welling up from within his brother''s centre as jade plates bound his massive body in impenetrable defence. Kaius held his blade ready. Heat washed over him¡ªIanmus working immediately to refresh their empowerment before the tide was upon them. **Ding! You have been Enhanced - Sundrenched Strength!** The howl of the plague grew all the more baleful¡ªslavering monsters baying for flesh. Their hunger, he realised. Blood had sat heavy in the air as they fled through the sites of their slaughter, it must be driving the boggarts mad. "Ianmus," he called, keeping his eyes dead ahead as he waited for their enemies. "There is a good chance we will need to flee." "I know, if their numbers are as great as you said¡ªas it sounds like they are¡ªthen they''ll wear us down with attrition alone. We don''t have the potions or regeneration to keep up¡ªI''ve done the estimations I can, and none of them look good. Even in the best case scenario, we stand no chance." Ianmus''s voice was determined, but Kaius had dealt with the nerves of staring death in the face enough times to hone in on the raw edge to the mage''s tone. "Rieker set us up." Ianmus continued, trailing off to a whisper. "Calm yourself. We''re going to be fine." he assured¡ªthey might lose this battle, but he''d be damned before he resigned himself to losing his life. "When I call for it, I want you to retreat. Race to our tent as fast as you can, it''ll hide you well enough." Kaius could practically feel Ianmus''s gaze snapping to the back of his head. "You want me to abandon you to your fate?" Ianmus asked, the thin edge of shock and offense cutting through his nerves. "No," Kaius said with a shake of his head. "We''re just buying time¡ªIt''s almost certain that me and Porkchop will be able to lose them on foot. We''ll circle back, collect you and disappear." "We cannot flee to the plains," Ianmus cut in, voice resolute. "The two of you might be fast, but you''ll leave tracks¡ªif we''re followed, they might be convinced to vanish into the forests if they discover how rife they are with food." "We can lose them in the hills¡ªchip away at their trackers and raiders. I doubt we''ll be able to starve them out, with how much meat today will bring¡ªbut we can harry them all the same." Porkchop assured the mage. The half-elf ground his teeth at his explanation, but clearly thought it was a reasonable course, not saying a word to the contrary. Instead, Kaius felt the man start to channel his mana¡ªthe cleansing might of the sun gathering around the man. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. "I''ll focus on healing¡ªa full strength beam might be effective here, but it would burn me dry." Kaius nodded. "I hear them, they''re close." Porkchop suddenly butted in, hackles rising as he growled into the darkness of the tunnel. "Ready yourselves for glory, my friends." Kaius said, settling into his guard¡ªready to break the boggart''s charge with Stormlash. .... The first boggarts spilled around the bend in the passage in a gibbering tide that was preceded by the dull flickering glow of torches. The light was inconsistent and dim. A dull radiance that only just barely managed to beat back the darkness, leaving much of the passage draped in gloom. Barely any of them held torches at all, really¡ªmost seemingly having been driven to furious madness by the sudden alarm and assault. It mattered little to him, but hopefully it would make the boggart''s advance all the more difficult. Most of the mob were boggarts, their charge slowing as the crowd was crushed together by the narrowing tunnel¡ªforced to march eight abreast in the confines of his team''s chosen battlefield. They were an unending tide¡ªmore pressing from around the bend to push on the backs of the dozens of bogglings that choked the visible stretch of cave. The sudden force of the walls pressing them inwards hit the approaching plague like a physical blow¡ªmany of those in the middle falling to the ground as their allies to their sides were forced inwards. Pained screams rang out, bones breaking as those that fell were trampled by their allies. Even a few bugbears faltered. By far the minority of the force, they were still easily visible by their stature, scattered inconsistently though the mass¡ªurging their lessers onwards. Kaius grinned with feral glee as he saw that his plan had worked¡ªthat the memory his Glass Mind had impressed on him of a panicked stampede of deer through a tight gully had proven relevant. Orange light spilled across him, snarling cries rising to a near fever pitch as the plague spotted them. Boggart spearmen and slingers loosed their projectiles. Most were empowered in some way, mana flashing in his eyes as the lesser creatures drew on system granted skills to imbue their weapons with myriad powers. Kaius took it all in. His skills and Glass Mind aiding him in tracking their passage¡ªand how best to defend himself. **Ding! Explorer''s Toolkit has reached level 50!** Even empowered by skills, the tight crush of the chokepoint had severely hampered the boggart''s ability to put any real force and skill into their blows. He dashed to the side, twisting with unnatural speed as he guided the stone weapons he couldn''t dodge into glancing safely off his armour. **Ding! Uncanny Dodge has reached level 41!** **Ding! Tempered by Dissonance has reached level 46!** It wasn''t perfect¡ªthe slings in particular still bruised flesh and cracked bone, a dozen flares of hot agony radiating through his arms and ribs. However, such slight wounds could barely even slow him, the slighest trickle of Health enough to wash away all evidence of injury. **Ding! Lesser Regeneration has reached level 61!** Cutting another soaring spear out of the air, Kaius was treated to the sight of his stone-clad brother unleashing a maddening roar¡ªone that resonated with unnatural potency, sinking deep into his ears. Bulwark''s Challenge rolled over the rapidly approaching tide like poison. It amplified the visible boggling''s aggression to untold heights¡ªsmall eyes widened, growing bloodshot as the monsters let out a feral scream of madness. As a single unit, their attention focused on his brother, more of their number falling beneath the feet of their brethren as they fought madly to race towards his brother. The debilitating strength of the skill was evident in the shaking of their limbs, and their stumbling lack of coordination. Porkchop didn''t wait for them to come¡ªnor did Kaius. The dusky passage lit up pure blueish white, overwhelmed by the brilliance of the lash of crackling lightning that appeared in his hand. Almost all of the boggarts howled, those lacking the skills to protect their vision finding themselves blinded by the flash. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Drakthar has reached level 48!** He struck, slashing at a bugbear at the head of the charge. The heat and paralysing fury of a typhoon seared straight through its meagre defenses, boiling flesh and driving the resonant force of his mana deep into its body. Two streamers arced outwards, gracing two lesser boggarts with the same pain. **Ding! Resonance Amplification has reached level 43!** Clear as his vision was, he saw the terrible state of the creatures¡ªblackened and smoking, they fell beneath their fellows feet, slowing the approach of the horde further. Porkchop charged. His amulet might have been a comparatively small boost to his top speed now, but it still had one use¡ªit got him up to speed in the barest of moments. Trusting in his armour, Porkchop smashed straight into the front lines¡ªcaring not for the prickling row of wood and stone spears that were trained on him. Crude implements of war shattered on sacred jade, the full weight of the charge crushing bones and pulping flesh. Then a jade wall erupted from the ground, crushing a full third of the front line backwards¡ªforcing the boggarts into a disarray. The skill expended its energy quickly against the endless tide of meat¡ªbut it did its job well, creating space for Porkchop to tear into the remainder. His charge wasn''t without injury¡ªhalf a dozen different streaks of red flowing from between the gaps in Porkchop''s armour. Kaius raced in, blurring across the battlefield as he flowed through a precession of thrusts and cuts. Each one parted flesh¡ªcleaved through limbs and left lifeblood flowing in its wake. **Ding! level 58 Boggart - Skulker slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** ... **Ding! level 64 Bugbear - Hungry Clubber slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo has reached level 50!** ... **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo has reached level 52!** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 53!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** The bogglings tried to mount a resistance¡ªa few managing to lean on a myriad of skills to turn his blade, or punish his assault with a quickened stab, or an acidic slash. He simply pulled back, more than happy to focus his efforts on those more vulnerable. **Ding! Uncanny Dodge has reached level 42!** ... **Ding! Uncanny Dodge has reached level 44!** **Ding! Truesight has reached level 49!** With how crowded they were, it was impossible for them to track him effectively¡ªespecially not with Porkchop''s skill still pulling on their attention, forcing their fury towards his indomitable presence. His blade moved like a living thing, smashing aside the probing strikes of a particularly ambitious bugbear totting a warpick, his heavy parries leaving it open to retaliation¡ªsomething he capitalised on with ruthless efficiency, slipping around its allies'' club swings and spear thrusts to roll his sword into a riposte. **Ding! Tempered by Dissonance has reached level 47!** ... **Ding! Tempered by Dissonance has reached level 48!** **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform has reached level 53!** Blood sprayed, another body falling limp on the floor. **Ding! level 62 Bugbear - Swift Raider slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** The press started to regain some organisation¡ªthe sudden fury of his team''s assault waning as the barking commands of bugbears brought some semblance of order. Those further back¡ªan unending tide that stretched out of sight¡ªstopped pressing forwards, giving the vanguard time and space to breathe. Until he blitzed passed, gutting them open, that is. Kaius held himself back from unleashing Stormlashes into the pit¡ªhe was perfectly poised to take out the bugbears that were leading, but every spell cast was one that was unavailable to him for the rest of the battle. Somewhere, out there in the masses of bodies, were the warchief and his shamans. He''d need power for that kind of threat. Tightening his footwork, Kaius directed his mind to economy of motion. Short cuts and brisk stabs, unburdened by frivolous movements. Every point of stamina was precious, and with his Glass Mind utterly focused on the movements of his enemy he was freed to spend his effort like a miser. It was basic¡ªmechanical and routine, but it brought with it a solid rhythm. A tempo that let him force the boggarts to pay for every hairsbreadth of ground with a mountain of cooling bodies. **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform has reached level 56!** **Ding! Uncanny Dodge has reached level 49!** **Ding! Tempered by Dissonance has reached level 50!** **Ding! Explorer''s Toolkit has reached level 52!** **Ding! Lesser Regeneration has reached level 62!** **Ding! Brotherhood of Ichor and Animus has reached level 65!** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 54!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** He could do this as long as he needed to. ... Ro watched the tide of boggart''s and larger bugbears stream past her. It had finally happened, as she knew it would. Now she had a choice to make¡ªtoo much pressure and her vexing charges might break, letting some of the tribe flee. Or worse, one of them might fall. The dead couldn''t learn. Still, this much was far from enough. Too easy and they wouldn''t be pressed up close to the edge. Those kinds of lessons stuck with you, wormed their way deep to influence you forever more. The kind of teaching that would save them when there was no one coming to help. She''d act to stymie the flow soon. But not yet. Chapter 215 - B2 212: Siege, pt. 2 The minutes burned by the score, a steadily growing exhaustion welling up inside him. Kaius knew what it was; battle fatigue, the heavy strain on one''s senses as they were pushed to their limit, operating at their full capacity as Resources flowed like wine at a noble''s party. Not that the constant assault was without its benefits. The unending horde of bogglings had brought gifts¡ªskill and class levels galore. Even without significant level disparity to fuel their growth, quantity was a quality all of its own. Not to mention, he and Porkchop had developed a rhythm. A comfortable mode of cooperation that would serve them well long into the future. His brother was an anchor and a wall, keeping attention focused on him, as the wave of flesh broke against his stalwart defence. Kaius raced through the rapids¡ªpinning the enemy against Porkchop''s inviolate defense, a headsman''s axe to the pinned. No longer was the tunnel one of clean stone and pure darkness. Now it was a slaughter house; a veritable temple to Straxi, god of butchery and bloodletting. The walls were painted with stinking iron¡ªvisible only as a slate-grey wash in the monochrome of his Truesight¡ªand the fallen had been smashed by a thousand stomping feet, pulped into a boggy muck of offal and death. It made for treacherous footing. The boggarts got the worst of it¡ªa dozen slips leading to yet more shattered bodies being added to the mire. Still, it had not been without their own costs. Kaius had already taken one deep stab to the hip. A bugbear, armed with what looked to be a simple stone spear. The crafters of the plague had quickly proven themselves resourceful¡ªa glowing spear strike had punched clean through his scale, scouring a furrow through the bone of his hip. Primitive they may have been, the boggarts had somehow sourced mana infused materials¡ªand their shamans had inscribed them further. Not all were equipped so well, but he''d gotten good at picking out the sparkling stone of the bugbears that had been. Their weapons were not so easy to reduce to kindling. Uncanny Dodge screamed a warning in his mind, a creeping hand of death approaching from the blindspot to his right. Unfortunately, right at the same time a boggart to his front made an effort to slam an axe into his belly. Kaius lurched back, speeding up as his skill hastened his speed. A stone sledgehammer sailed past his nose, right where his head had been a moment earlier. The bugbear who had swung at him snarled. **Ding! Uncanny Dodge has reached level 54!** Grinning at the failed attempt on his life, Kaius booted the bugbear back¡ªsending it stumbling into the press of boggarts. Stepping forwards, Kaius kept his eyes locked on the hammer-user as his blade lashed out to cut clean through the throat of a boggart that had harassed him earlier. It fell back, clawing at the lifeblood that jetted from the wound. **Ding! level 57 Boggart - Swift Raider slain - Experience Gained!** Pivoting on his back foot, he lunged forwards, burying the point of his sword in the downed bugbear''s eye. **Ding! level 67 Bugbear - Harsh Taskmaster slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 55!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** Solar warmth rushed through him as Kaius felt Ianmus''s spell take hold¡ªa heal, the second he''d received. Even with all the care he had taken, it was hard to avoid everything. Ianmus had done a good job keeping him topped up though, especially considering the amount of work that the mage had put into keeping Porkchop hale and hearty, in spite of his brother taking the brunt of the boggart''s assault. Their Resources were still dropping. Three times he''d had to burn a Stormlash to break a rally that had threatened to overwhelm Porkchop. Three less spells, and not one spent on the death of any of the plague''s elite members. The tide flowed once more¡ªbugbear rallying cries driving the mob forwards in a unity of violence. Porkchop growled, refusing to give up more ground¡ªthey''d already lost too much, pushed back halfway through the choked up section of tunnel. He roared, plunging a gleaming green claw into the stone beneath him. A monolithic block of his chosen mineral tore through the ground with a howling screech¡ªtortured stone protesting its rough treatment. The skill slammed into the rush of boggarts like a raging bull, splintering their line once more. Of all their skills, Porkchop''s Prismatic Shardwall had shown its value the most. They''d have been overrun a dozen times over without it. Unfortunately, each time he used it, it sapped his brother of Stamina¡ªrobbed him of the fuel he needed to keep the pyre of his fury stoked. They were managing it for now, but the tide seemed unending¡ªunhalting. Every second was more Stamina, more Health, and more Mana being consumed. The levels helped¡ªbrought them more power and fuel both; it wasn''t enough. They were being worn down. ... Kaius was gasping, chest heaving with the burning heat of exertion and a dozen quickly healing wounds. **Ding! Lesser Regeneration has reached level 65!** Has it been minutes? Hours? It was hard to tell. A monotonous grind of blood and fury¡ªa marathon of violence that left him feeling more strungout and exhausted than even his fight against the siege ogre Guardian so many months ago. And yet...he was buoyed by the song in his blood, left feeling focused and clear in a way that was rare and precious¡ªa vitality that invigorated him on a deeper level than the mortal concerns of exhaustion and battle fatigue. The clarity was welcome; it kept him on edge, alert for the inevitable changing of the fates. Now, more than ever, he was certain that they would have to flee. His Glass Mind raced, comparing his memories of lessons on attrition, the rate at which his team were felling enemies, and the steady drain on their resource, to the number of bodies that had fallen. How much effort would it take to kill that next boggart, or the bugbear after that. There were too many, almost certainly. Every Bladerite, every Stormlash, every Slip Step, and every healing spell took them closer to needing to flee, yet it was only with those moments of might that they stood their ground. The work he had started earlier in the battle continued. Every moment, he found wasteful expenditure to excise. A lunge just a little too long, a twirl of his sword just a little too flourishing. Frivolous effort burning precious seconds that could be leveraged to extend their assault. His swordplay and footwork slowly refined, a simple process of the smallest movements he could make to steal another boggart''s final breath. **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo has reached level 61!** **Ding! Tempered by Dissonance has reached level 54!** An echoing call of ancient victory and surety of strength shook the cave, Porkchop letting out another baleful roar that inspired madness in their enemies. His brother was battered and bloodsoaked, his under-armour drenched to the core in his own viscera from dozens fist-sized gouges that had been torn from his flesh again and again. Still, he moved strong. An immovable rock in the rapids, forcing the tide of flesh to move to his whims. Every crushing paw and bite reaped lives, but the wounds were accumulating. They healed quickly, bestial vitality and a regeneration skill sealing Porkchop''s wounds in moments. Stout fortitude and a will of iron made the injuries no less painful. Kaius dashed in, the bogglings offering little resistance to his racing assault in the forced focus on Porkchop. Only for a low droning chant to start from deeper within the cave¡ªstill concealed around the bend. A sickening glow of roiling mana spread through the air with the grace of a dying leper. The crowd of bogglings heaved, something moving deep within its shadowed confines¡ªpreceded by maddened roars. They came into view a moment later, drawing his eye even as he sprayed brain through the air with a cleaving strike to the side of a boggart''s skull. Three heavily muscled bugbears, each dressed in scavenged chain defiled with plain hide tabards painted in the crude runes of the shamans. The armour wasn''t the only stolen tool of mannish origin¡ªa hunting spear, woodsman''s axe, and blacksmith''s hammer were held in tightly clenched fists. These too were corrupted; defiled by bone charms and painted incantations. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. With eyes glowing in purple fire, the ensorcelled bugbears shoved their kin to the side¡ªwading through the tide of war to make their stand on the front lines. The arrival of the powerful bugbears right as Porkchop had maddened the entire front line was just about the worst moment possible. They needed time¡ªspace to react to the threat. His brother agreed, they''d fallen heavily into their bond in this battle, and simple words were unnecessary. A heavy slam summoned another Shardwall, Kaius feeling the creeping fatigue the skill brought in its wake. **Ding! Brotherhood of Ichor and Animus has reached level 68!** The level brought with it a rush of changing energy¡ªone that sank deep into him, compacting his bones, and reknitting his flesh. A minute change, but every iota of power that Kaius could leverage mattered. Jade smashed back the gibbering uncoordinated masses, sending them sprawling in the elite''s path. Seeing the skill, and hearing Porkchop''s exhausted gasp, Ianmus reacted. His mana shifted palpably through the air as he quickly modified the spell he''d been holding at the ready. The restful light of the sun settled on Porkchop''s shoulders, bolstering the regeneration of his Stamina. Kaius made his own move, burning plasma and bottled fury cracking into existence. In the tight confines of the tunnel, the booming thundercrack dazed as easy as a blow to the head, joining with the blinding light to daze the boggarts. Storm''s contempt screamed through the air, lurching to wrap the rapidly approaching elites with chains that burned like the forge¡ªand penetrated thrice as deep as simple heat. Only for a barrier of roiling lilac to burst into existence, flickering in defiant opposition to his spell. The bugbears screamed, but kept pushing under the aegis of their magical protection. Scowling at the persistent enemies, Kaius focused on them with his Truesight. Bugbear- Level 72: Lower Race, Bruiser, Ensorcelled .... Bugbear- Level 71: Lower Race, Vanguard, Ensorcelled .... Bugbear- Level 72: Lower Race, Bruiser, Ensorcelled Higher level than anything they had yet to see in this hell-pit, and backed by an unseen caster to boot. Just great, the true fighting force of the plague had started to arrive. As much as he wished to smite them with the fury of a dozen lightning bolts, he held back from casting Stormlash¡ªthey could do this. If the shaman kept their protection strong, using his spells would amount to nothing but a worthless pissing contest. **Ding! You have been Enhanced - Sundrenched Strength!** Kaius flicked his head back, slamming his pommel into the temple of a boggart who tried to capitalise on his momentary distraction. Ianmus gasped behind him, already pouring a mana potion down his throat¡ªhis second of the battle, and last, if he didn''t wish to deal with potion toxicity. Porkchop roared, calling his attention back to the front. He saw the elite bugbears racing forwards¡ªpushing straight for Porkchop. Paws lashed out, batting away a probing spear thrust. A hasty swing of a hatchet was easily avoided, but the final bugbear lunged in as its muscles swelled and its hammer keened a high pitched squeal. A shattering blow cracked against the thick jade plate that covered Porkchop''s shoulder. Greenstone shards spalled, showering the enemy in razor sharp flakes that left filaments of blood streaking its skin. Porkchop grunted, the blow heavy enough to be felt through his dampening under-armour. He still reacted instantly¡ªdagger length claws raking through common mail, the mundane metal squealing as its links were sundered. Pressed as he was, the other bugbears harried him¡ªa dozen light wounds sprouting in the gaps between his armour. Kaius growled in hatred, anger flaring at the brutality his brother faced. He raced in, heading straight for the one carrying the hunting spear¡ªit was by far Porkchop''s worst match-up. Lesser boggarts squealed in fury, trying to arrest his charge. Those in his direct path died quickly, their skulls split with contemptuous ease. Those further away, he crippled with sweeping slashes, weaving around amateur defenses to lop off limbs. **Ding! level 53 Boggart - Feral Mauler slain - Experience Gained!** ... **Ding! level 54 Boggart - Primitive Fighter slain - Experience Gained!** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 56!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo has reached level 62!** Their sheer numerical bulk was still enough to slow him, and with every second Porkchop gathered more wounds. Kaius growled, tapping into Aelina. Pale blue light erupted from his feet, arcane embers phasing through his boots as the jealous grasp of reality slackened its grip on him. Distance lost all meaning, every step lurching him through the masses of enemies. Seeking weapons phased through his body¡ªa subtle tug from Uncanny Dodge making it clear the skill was influencing the flickers of unreality in his favour. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Aelina has reached level 18!** The bugbear reacted to his mind-bending charge instantly. It spun in a flash of mana, joints bending impossibly as it twisted to deliver a thrust towards his throat with the decisiveness of a striking viper. A Father''s Gift slammed upwards, shunting the spear shaft. His Toolkit screamed a warning, a boggart approaching from the group to his left. It dived, aiming to tangle his legs. Kaius phased backwards, cleanly avoiding the attack¡ªand punished it with a thrust to the back of the head that left its brain oozing onto the gore-covered floor. **Ding! level 49 Boggart - Skulker slain - Experience Gained! Reduced Experience for slaying a foe of Insignificant Strength!** **Ding! Explorer''s Toolkit has reached level 53!** The ensorcelled bugbear pressed him again, lurching forwards with unnatural speed as it flew into a flurry of sweeping cuts and stabs. Kaius held it back, blade dancing as he wove around the strikes, parrying those that were impossible to dodge. **Ding! Uncanny Dodge has reached level 55!** **Ding! Tempered by Dissonance has reached level 55!** **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo has reached level 63!** Unfortunately, the bugbear required enough focus from him that its many lessers were able to capitalise on it. Skin and muscle tore, blood soaking his legs and stomach as a half dozen crude weapons left their marks on his flesh. Stormlash cracked, forcing the chaff back with stunning fury, before Kaius lunged in. While his target might have been immune to his spell¡ªit wasn''t immune to the burst of light. Half-blind, its defence was crude¡ªjust barely able to defend its head. His sword punched into its shoulder instead, shuddering as bone and cartilage shattered. The arm fell limp, wound too grievous to heal quickly. Its spear drooped, leaving it wide open. Pulling back from his thrust, he spun his blade high overhead. A hoarse yell escaped his lips, muscles straining with the force of his chop, burying his blade in the bugbear''s brainpan. **Ding! level 72 Bugbear - Shaman''s Chosen slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** His enemy collapsed. Kaius whipped over to Porkchop, seeing him still beating the other two bugbears back. He was holding his own¡ªmaking the bugbears work for it¡ªbut hadn''t managed to injure either to any major capacity. Slip Step was still in effect, his battle with the spear-user having only taken six steps. He raced in, distance shrinking before him as he arrived behind the bugbear that had a blacksmith''s hammer wound back to strike at his brother''s splintering armour. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Aelina has reached level 19!** Kaius ran it through, chain and crudely enchanted hide serving as little impediment to his strength. The bugbear gurgled, blood foaming from its mouth as it snapped back in shock. The sudden twist bound Kaius''s sword unexpectedly, lurching him in. Pain bloomed as the bugbear struck¡ªthe hammer cracking him in the side of his helmet, ringing his dome like a bell. His vision blurred, the world going grey for a moment. His Glass Mind took over¡ªbuilt on something more refined than meat, it shunted him into an unsteady step backwards, ripping his blade free as he phased into the half-space of his skill. Then Health kicked in, and his vision cleared. Head aching like he''d been kicked by a horse, Kaius shook himself free of his fugue, refocusing on the battle. Healing warmth settled over him¡ªrevitalising the regenerative pool of energy at his core. "Thank you!" he called, batting away the strikes of boggarts who''d rushed to take advantage of his disorientation. Ianmus only grunted¡ªtoo preoccupied with preparing his next spell to do anything more than acknowledge Kaius. He risked a glance at Porkchop, finding his brother crushing the hammer toting bugbear with a heavy smash of his paws, and quickly working on dismantling the remaining chosen. **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 57!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** Kaius grinned¡ªtheir first brush with strong foes, and they''d survived. He still felt the looming guilt and failure of their eventual retreat¡ªtime was running out for them¡ªbut he consoled himself that if they kept up their current pace they might be able to take out one of the plague''s precious shamans first. It was a thin excuse, held in place mostly by his preoccupation with staying alive, but it was all he had. Right as the thought crossed his mind, the miasmic field of mana at the far end of the tunnel moved, pressing inwards with the slow approach of the boggart tide. Two more bugbear elites appeared¡ªthough they weren''t alone. They flanked a thinner specimen¡ªwiry and shrewd looking, with bones braided into its hair. It held a staff, a bugbear skull painted with inscriptions. It glared at them cruelly¡ªprofane chants pouring unending from its lips. Kaius glared back. The last push¡ªit was time to make their stand. B2 Chapter 224: Payment, pt. 1 B2 Chapter 224: Payment, pt. 1 Watching the guild administrators across from him, Kaius tried to work off some of his tension by balling his hands on his trousers. They¡¯d done it. Shared that they had Aspects. It had been tough, but the right decision. Now he was just waiting in silence for the guildmaster to deliver his verdict. Rieker was silent, staring at them with a stoney intensity as he digested his words. His expression was schooled, not giving them the slightest hint on whether he was thrilled, shocked, or furious that two of them had already unlocked Aspects. After they¡¯d had a small dressing down¡ªwhere Rieker had made extra sure that they were aware of what they¡¯d done wrong about the boggling hunt¡ªthe guildmaster had requested they start with their little secret. He¡¯d thought that it would be best to do so if they thought it was likely to impact their plans moving forward. That, at least, was undoubtable. Rieker was thorough, and Kaius would be surprised if learning of the achievements up for grabs wouldn¡¯t radically alter his choices on their missions¡ªlet alone the fact that Porkchop wanted the man''s direct help. Inwardly, Kaius couldn¡¯t help but wonder if they¡¯d be able to crack his composure as the conversation continued. Aspects were one thing, but he hadn¡¯t even gotten to Honours yet. The silence continued for a moment, Rieker chewing through the news they had given. ¡°So, the two of you have unlocked your Aspects,¡± he said, nodding at Kaius and Iamus. ¡°This is a grand development¡ªa few others in the program have started to feel a resonance, but nothing concrete. If you¡¯re able to share what you¡¯ve learned, we might be able to accelerate things. I do wonder why you waited so long to share.¡± Kaius cleared his throat¡ªthis was the moment. They had that information, but they needed to tell him about Honours. ¡°We can¡ªbut there¡¯s something else tied to it. Another...way of gaining power that is applicable to everyone who has the strength and luck to grasp them. Unfortunately, some of them are limited, so at first it made more sense to monopolise the resource.¡± Rieker narrowed his eyes, leaning in. The intensity of his focus was palpable, raising the hairs on the back of Kaius¡¯s neck as he felt like he was a ten year old staring down a direbear. Ro wasn¡¯t much better, her eye¡¯s thinned to slits¡ªhe could only hope that their secrecy wouldn¡¯t lead to her disapproval. ¡°And this mystery power, would it be the source of your unnatural strength?¡± Reiker asked. He nodded, keeping his expression schooled. ¡°It is, they¡¯re called Honour¡¯s¡ª¡± Ro hissed, slamming her palm on Rieker¡¯s desk with enough force that the wood screamed in protest. Kaius jumped at the sudden noise, the woman too fast for him to react to. ¡°Bullshit.¡± ¡°Sorry?¡± Kaius asked, not expecting the reaction. He¡¯d expected incredulity, but for Ro to just disbelieve them upon even hearing the name of the system''s rewards was outside of his expectations. Ro held firm, glaring at him. ¡°The oldest guild records mention Honours¡ªthe source of the Observed¡¯s strength¡ªso yeah, bullshit. The records of their strength are well known, you don¡¯t even come close to matching up.¡± ¡°You already know of Honours?¡± Porkchop asked in surprise. ¡°That should make things easier.¡± ¡°You persist with this farce?¡± Ro said, flicking her attention to his brother. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re playing at, but¡ª¡± ¡°Calm, Ro.¡± Rieker said, cutting her off with a raised hand. ¡°We both know the old records are spotty, we only know the name, not what Honour¡¯s are. Besides, those records are tightly held¡ªhow would they have learnt of it otherwise?¡± The guild manager huffed, but held her tongue and slowly lowered herself back into her seat. She still stared at them with narrowed eyes, but it was clear that they¡¯d at least have the chance to explain themselves¡ªthank the gods. As Ro settled back down, Rieker nodded, before turning his attention back to them. ¡°Saying you have Honours¡ªthat by that very nature, are Observed¡ªis an extraordinary claim. As I mentioned, the records are spotty, but they¡¯re clear they were the source of the Observed¡¯s unnatural strength. A strength, mind you, that you do not have¡ªnothing you¡¯ve done comes close to those impossible feats.¡± Rieker said slowly, before he fell silent. Ianmus cleared his throat, drawing the room towards him. ¡°That, at least, is easy to explain. There are clearly many Honours¡ªKaius and Porkchop helped me gain one, but have a lot more themselves. It¡¯s also a scaling bonus.¡± Rieker and Ro looked at Kaius, curiosity and surprise in their eyes. ¡°Is this true? You shared the strength with him?¡± Ro asked. Kaius nodded. ¡°It was the easiest way to ensure his loyalty, and make it so that our secrets were also his¡ªit would have made long term cooperation impossible otherwise.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Rieker hummed, rubbing his chin. ¡°You¡¯ve got some sense, then¡ªbut please, don¡¯t dangle the answer to the oldest mystery in the guild. What do they do? How do they work.¡± Kaius took a breath, and started to explain. The Honour¡¯s they had discovered, the different tiers to their strength, and the bonuses that could be acquired for achieving them alone, or being the first to do so. That, and the rest of the small secrets they had kept. The truth of their classes, and their experience in the Depths. The one thing he¡¯d held back is their role in the phase shift, and their subsequent brush with the divine. At first, Ro and Rieker had been clearly skeptical, with small frowns and furrowed brows. As Kaius continued to talk, that slowly changed. By the end of it, the guild administrators were leaning in with their hands clenched tightly around their armrests¡ªhanging off his every word. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°Fascinating...this could change everything. Sure, it would be more effective the earlier you started, but even Ro and I could benefit from this. A fine gift you have brought me, boy¡ªespecially after the disappointment of missing out on Aspects.¡± Rieker replied. ¡°I¡¯ll say¡ªyou¡¯ve convinced me Greenhorn. I¡¯m in your debt for this secret you have gifted us.¡± Ro said, following up from the guildmaster. The guildmaster fell silent as his fingers drummed a staccato beat on his desk, providing a brisk tempo to his thoughts. ¡°I doubt you did this out of simple good will though¡ªtell me, what do you hope to gain? And how does this relate to Aspects?¡± Kaius nodded. ¡°Simple¡ªthe Aspects come with an Honour for being in the first five to found one. Ianmus and I already have it, and Porkchop is right on the cusp. He was hoping that you¡¯d be able to assist him¡ªhe¡¯s certain that he needs to persevere in the face of physical adversity to get over the final hump.¡± Turning to Porkchop, Rieker gave the meles a long and calculating look. ¡°Done, we¡¯ll discuss how at the end of our meeting¡ªif it¡¯s urgent I can clear my schedule for the afternoon. However, I doubt that¡¯s all of it.¡± Porkchop chuffed, palpable satisfaction that the guildmaster had agreed to help so easily bleeding across their bond. ¡°It¡¯s not. It was my idea to tell you¡ªI''ve always thought that the two-legged focus on secrets was ridiculous. Half the reason the Dens are so powerful is we share our legacies¡ªit makes it a lot easier to discover new merged skills. I thought we could do something similar, and piggy back off of the Aspect network that the guild is creating.¡± Reiker cocked his head in surprise. ¡°Oh? You wish to spread it widely? Are you not concerned that you will lose some of those bonuses you mentioned?¡± Kaius felt the faintest hint of heat wash over his face. Having the guildmaster immediately pick at the core of his secrecy felt a little too revealing for comfort. Especially since he had now fully embraced Porkchop¡¯s plan, the requirements for Honours would be priceless. ¡°It was, and is, a concern¡ªbut, if the guild is focusing resources on a promising group of people in the first tier, then enforcing a sharing of Honour requirements will benefit us more in the long run.¡± Kaius replied. ¡°Besides, I''m more than confident in our strength. I doubt there is anyone who could beat us to the punch.¡± he continued. Ro nodded at his words. ¡°Forward thinking. For once I approve, Kaius. This is significant, though we would be smart to delay its spread until you¡¯ve reached a measure of strength to ensure your safety. This will bring attention, no matter how much we might try to hide your involvement. It is unavoidable.¡± ¡°I agree. This is big, but too big to enact immediately.¡± Rieker said. ¡°However, Aspects are another matter. Are you able to share what you have learnt?¡± Kaius reached into his pocket, searching for the folded page where he had meticulously inscribed the informational package that the system had shared with him, as well as some of his and Ianmus¡¯s own insights into the process of igniting Mentis. He placed it on the desk, sliding it over. Rieker snatched it up, folding it open and holding it up so both he and Ro could read it quickly. At first their expressions were focused, eyes flicking back and forth as they scanned the page. Then they quickly grew incredulous, shock spelled out in bold through wide eyes and open mouths. ¡°...This. Where did you get this.¡± Ro said, looking at them in open surprise. ¡°The value in this is incalculable.¡± ¡°It was part of the bonus for being the first to found an Aspect.¡± Kaius said plainly, still feeling the sting over the likelihood that similar knowledge had been lost about Legacy skills. Ro and Rieker seemed to catch on quickly, dissatisfaction marring their features as they looked between him and the page. ¡°You think there was one for Legacy skills.¡± Rieker¡¯s words were not a question. Kaius nodded stiffly, before Ianmus spoke up from his right. ¡°It would only make sense¡ªthe loss is...staggering if it is true, though.¡± Rieker grunted, taking a last look at the page before he folded it up and placed it in his breast pocket. ¡°All of you have earned a great deal of good will with this¡ªyou can be sure that this will be spread widely. Though, much like the Honours, I¡¯ll delay sharing it until you are strong enough to survive the acclaim and rewards that will come.¡± he said. Kaius nodded, relieved that the guildmaster wasn¡¯t going to rush the process. ¡°Setting up an information share on Honours won¡¯t be too difficult, but Ro and I will have to start quickly. Thankfully, I¡¯ve still got enough pull with a couple of higher ups that they¡¯ll humour me in building out the infrastructure, as long as you don¡¯t mind me telling them that I¡¯ll be able to share something good in a year or two if they do.¡± Reiker continued. Thinking it through, Kaius didn¡¯t see the harm in that much at least. He could only imagine the kind of resources that would have to be mobilised to get such a program underway. ¡°Will it be shared with all?¡± Porkchop asked. An important question, Kaius realised. He could definitely see the benefits of spreading it to every guild member¡ªit would be a massive force multiplier for the growing chaos. On the other hand, that could be dangerous. If everyone pursued the sort of feats Honours required, many reckless delvers would die. ¡°Aspects, almost certainly¡ªI doubt everyone will be able to ignite them, from the sounds of it it¡¯s quite difficult and few have as much drive as you do. Honours, however, are dangerous. I¡¯d be shocked if the higher ups didn¡¯t make it conditional on guildmaster approval to share¡ªespecially for these unclassed Honours, they¡¯d kill overconfident younglings by the thousands. I¡¯m of the mind to keep them secret entirely, for more than one reason.¡± Rieker¡¯s words made Kaius confident that they had made the right decision. For him to realise immediately that in many ways Honours were a poison chalice was a credit to his intelligence. On the other hand, he could easily see a couple of scenarios where a controlled delve might be beneficial. A team of four unclassed loaded to the gills with artefacts and consumables, spending their last year in the depths would have a good shot of acquiring a minor Honour, and perhaps a few Champion related ones¡ªif they had the right Skills and skill, that is. It was a dilemma though, some would invariably die¡ªand while he didn¡¯t regret his experiences in the slightest, it was a hard thing to stomach. Rieker hummed, drawing Kaius back out of his thoughts. ¡°Those Unclassed Honours that you acquired. They point to something. Something large, obvious, and dire.¡± Kaius¡¯s stomach dropped. Rieker gave him a hard look. ¡°I will only say this. We will not discuss it. We will not reference it. I don¡¯t want to know. As far as I''m concerned, the state of the world is due to divine intervention¡ªnot the actions of two ludicrously lucky children.¡± Ro nodded, equally as severe. ¡°In fact, half of these Honours will not leave this room. Rieker and I know how dangerous it would be for you if these got out¡ªit doesn¡¯t take a genius to connect the dots when the pieces are all laid out. I can feel my oath tugging at the very mention of sharing them.¡± Kaius sighed in relief, a palpable weight leaving his shoulders. Their role in the phase shift was their greatest risk, but they¡¯d managed to navigate the high waters. Rieker rapped his knuckles on the table, getting his attention. ¡°Now, with that out of the way, we can move to more enjoyable topics. Your reward for your missions.¡± Kaius smiled, his heart racing at the thought that the next step towards upgrading his sword might just be within arms reach. Rieker grinned back at him. ¡°Oh yes, there¡¯s plenty to be happy about. Officially, Ro never left Deadacre¡ªso the reward for that whole boggart cull is yours, on top of the fee for the imbued stone seam.¡± He reached down under his desk, pulling out a stack of three boxes. Two were made of simple pine, but one was a dark inscribed hardwood, held shut by a bronze latch. A deep thunk echoed through the room as Rieker set them on the table. ¡°Who wants to go first?¡± Chapter 216 - B2 213: Siege, pt. 3 The shaman sneered at him from deep within the press of bogglings. Standing head and shoulders above the lesser boggarts, its nature was obvious. Even if he excluded the sickly mana that hung around it like a cloak, its grisly skull-topped staff and bone-charm woven hair were dead giveaways. It wasn''t alone¡ªflanked by two more empowered bugbears. Much like their predecessors, they were hulking things fueled by primitive magic¡ªmana burning in their eyes and wafting from their skin. The shaman would be the first opponent that the plague would feel keenly upon their death. Kaius bared his teeth, hunger flaring within him. After so long of an endless grind of monsters, the weight of knowing that they could not complete their mission, he hungered for something that felt impactful. A token, that their stand here had lead to real losses¡ªones that wouldn''t be so easily replaced like the common rabble. Still, with its status within the plague, Kaius wondered how strong it would be. The empowered bugbears had been tough. Even if they each would have been easy to dispatch on an individual basis, they''d been a tougher nut to crack with a literal army of bogglings at their back. Kaius used his True Sight, seeking to learn more of the spell-caster''s power. Bugbear - Level 77: Lower Race, Mage, Elite Kaius roved over the monster''s description. Much like he''d expected, it was significantly more developed than the average boggling in the plague. Low enough that it was definitely killable, but it was also a caster solidly entrenched in a nigh unreachable position. Things could get a little dicey. A boggart on the front line howled¡ªleaping towards him with a crude knife held ready, moving with an unnaturally lurching speed. A skill, no doubt¡ªbut not a very effective one. Kaius sidestepped, bringing his blade up to open its belly, before pivoting into a heavy chop that cleaved through its skull. **Ding! level 52 Boggart - Stalker slain - Experience Gained! Reduced Experience for slaying a foe of Insignificant Strength!** Kaius shook his head¡ªthe creatures had uncommon classes at best, even with their relative parity in levels, he was by far their superior in all respects. Unfortunately, it was replaced instantly. As much as he wanted to give the slowly approaching shaman his full attention, there was a constant stream of bogglings for him to slay. He felt like his bones were made of lead¡ªhis very essence weighed down as he danced through the storming assault, dealing out retributive punishment with every opportunity. It was tough. In the tight confines of the tunnel he was only just able to move enough to beat the boggarts back, and stop his brother from getting flanked. Even with his Toolkit and Glass Mind pouring over the openings in the boggling''s formation, he had little of the room he needed to outmanoeuvre his enemies. Hells, even his arsenal was limited. Each of his spells was an unrecoverable cost¡ªone he was saving for when they were absolutely needed. He was already glad he''d saved so many in reserve now that a shaman would soon enter into the range of his engagement. He couldn''t even use his Bladerite with impunity¡ªthough thankfully it at least passively bolstered his blade until it cut through boggarts like a sharpened scythe through wheat. Every active use represented a significant drain on his stamina, one that would be almost impossible to recover with the constant exertion of battle. Sure, he wasn''t fighting with the full weight of his strength and speed¡ªslowing the natural drain of the resource¡ªbut it was still limited, and he''d need at least some in reserve for their eventual retreat. He wasn''t made for this¡ªwasn''t well suited for the slow and inevitable grind against his resources. This whole exercise was a terrible match up for his capabilities¡ªone that had proven itself to be far more of a weakness that he had anticipated. Sure, he''d always known that the nature of his spell-hymns was best aligned for dueling¡ªa sudden outpour of power that could overwhelm small groups and singular foes of great strength¡ªbut he''d always assumed that he''d be able to lean on his bladework for extended engagements. After all, it had worked in the Depths. Now he realised that without skills to deal with such numbers quickly, the crushing grind of expenditure would be the death of him. The Depths was a false equivalence¡ªits groups of enemies dispersed and separated, he''d always had the chance to fall back and recover when he took a little care. A weakness of his class¡ªone that seemed to similarly impact his team, albeit to a lesser degree. If he''d been a pure warrior, capable of cleaving through a half dozen boggarts in a single swing. If Ianmus had been a mage of mass damage, thinning and weakening the horde with persistent spells. If Porkchop had the means to prevent damage, not just reduce and withstand it. Any of those being true would have changed their circumstances¡ªif all were, they would be in a radically different position. He was growing to suspect he knew the reason behind this mission of theirs. Levels were one thing, but they were doing...too poorly. In a way that would have been no doubt immediately evident to Ro and Rieker¡ªexperienced as they were. A lesson. That even with all their might, match-ups were king. An embarrassing one to have to learn, considering he''d used it to great effect against their enemies. An important one to have highlighted now all the same. Keeping track of the shaman out of the corner of his eye, Kaius was halfway through gutting a bugbear when he noticed the hazy glow of mana surrounding the shaman start to churn. Clearly, it had grown close enough to target them with a spell. **Ding! Truesight has reached level 50!** Sickly and boiling, it moved in tune with a foul chant that fell from the spell-slinging bugbear''s mouth in a steady stream of hisses and growls¡ªsomehow audible over the cacophonous din of battle. Its hands weaved the mystical energy, directing it to condense into a compact ball at its front. Kaius reacted instantly. With the range of Stormlash having increased substantially since his initial selection of the spell, the shaman had brought itself into his reach. Stamping his foot with a choked up chop of his blade, Kaius finished off a boggart that was currently shoveling its intestines back into its chest. His left hand dropped from the hilt of his sword¡ªstance shifting to free up the motion of bladed hand, he swept his sword up, flowing into a smooth stream of biting stabs and forceful parries that kept the weight of the crushing bodies from overwhelming him. Porkchop felt his intentions, shifting closer to guard his right. His off hand swept out as baleful orange sparks showered from his Drakthar glyph, a howling bolt of electricity appearing in his hand. Light and thunder blinded the bogglings, sending them into a momentary disarray as arcing plasma shot over their heads. It crashed against the shaman...only for a shimmering field to substantiate a hairsbreadth from its skin. Stormlash poured its might into the barrier, straining to overwhelm it as two streamers impotently crackled against the magical defenses of the shaman''s entourage. Biting frustration welled up¡ªprickling the back of his neck as the first worthy opponent to use his spell against stymied his attack. Another boom shook dust from the cavern''s ceiling, his ears ringing as he hurled another spell directly at the shaman, hoping to overwhelm its defenses with pure power. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. It didn''t work. Even with the controlled might of the Stormlord his to command, the shaman''s barrier stood unyielding. The monstrosity smirked, revealing brown and yellow fangs as its lips twinged upwards¡ªits chanting continuing unbroken. Kaius clenched his teeth so hard that they groaned¡ªon the verge of shattering. It dared to feel smug?! The second he was through that barrier, it was dead. Rising to a fever pitch, the chanting grew fast¡ªagressive¡ªbefore the shaman cut its hands through the air. The ball of roiling mana erupted, hosing the ranks in front of the mystical bugbear in a visible fog of noxious yellow. Bogglings gasped and spluttered, hacking as the cloud rolled over them towards where Kaius and Porkchop were waiting. The shaman had sacrificed its tribe members as disposable pawns. Treacherous bastard. An affliction, no doubt. Slow moving, but one that left them nowhere to hide. They couldn''t pull back¡ªretreat in the hopes of it dissipating¡ªfor if they allowed the ranks of the bogglings to leave the chokehold they would swarm over them. They''d be overwhelmed in seconds. Unfortunately it had made one mistake¡ªit assumed the spell would weaken them and the front line equally. With Rapid Adaptation at his side, Kaius was certain he could persevere. "Stay out of the fog, Ianmus. We fight on." Kaius called back, less confident in the mage''s own ability to withstand whatever was coming. Afterall, he had none of Porkchop''s prodigious vitality or Kaius''s resistance. Taking the care to watch the affected bogglings closely as he spun out of the way of a spear thrust, Kaius noticed that they didn''t seem to be too worse for wear. They choked and hacked, and moved with a notable clumsy weakness¡ªbut they weren''t ailing. Thank the gods for that, because the noxious yellow fogbank was seconds from rolling over them. A second later it hit. It was a heavy gas. One that clung to the skin¡ªseeking out the tender membranes of his eyes and nose. Reeking of sulfur and some unnamable acrid bite, it stung to high heaven, his vision obscured further as tears welled up. He breathed it in. Cloying contagion sunk its fangs into his throat¡ªripping at the delicate flesh with vicious persistence. It was like inhaling a whole smokehouse, every fibre of his being urging him to cough. Kaius grit his teeth¡ªswallowing the base instinct lest the distraction injure him further. He could feel the noxious magic within the gas settle in deep. It raced through his body¡ªclutching tight to his muscles and nerves with a jealous grasp. If his arms felt like lead before, now they weighed as much as adamant, and stubbornly refused to move with the grace he had long grown accustomed to. **Ding! You have been afflicted by Smog - Myasthenic Haze** Rapid Adaptation was already moving¡ªsubsuming the energy with a voracious appetite, learning its pattern as it digested the novel affinity. The shaman had a Rare class at best. The spell was weak¡ªin level, rarity, and potency. The might of his oldest Heroic skill proved far its superior. Righteous in its defence, Kaius felt a shudder run through his body as the skill sampled and quickly categorised the noxious affliction. Similar to Poison, with subtle differences. Rapid Adaptation bloomed, burning out the contagion like a wildfire. **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has added a new Resistance: Smog!** **Ding! You have resisted Smog - Myasthenic Haze** With a staggering gasp, Kaius returned to his full faculties. Rapid Adaptation stayed in constant motion, whirling through his body to keep his system clear of affliction. **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has reached level 73!** Weakened and spluttering, the boggarts and bugbears that desperately tried to wear him down became all the slower¡ªall the easier to gut and slash and kill. Bodies fell, A Father''s Gift reaping a grim toll as Kaius felt his chest grow increasingly wet with blood. The shaman howled¡ªincensed that its plan had backfired. Kaius returned the call with a grin¡ªbaring his teeth at the boggling. The shaman had to die. "Ianmus! Any ideas on how to get through its shield?" Kaius called loudly, unwilling to look back and check how far the mage had had to retreat. "Maybe! Give me a second," Ianmus replied, his voice surprisingly distant. Minor the shaman''s affliction might have been, but it had spread widely. Beside him, Porkchop spluttered as the noxious poison attacked his lungs, but raged through the front line almost unhindered. With the sheer weight of his Vitality, a simple poison that weakened the muscles was a long distance from slowing him down by more than a hair. Seconds later, a beam materialised in the air above Kaius''s head. Invisible, except for the mana it exuded and the path it burned through the poisonous fog. A lance bisecting the cave, drawing a clear line between Ianmus''s staff and the shaman''s eye. The shaman squealed, clutching the ruined and burned socket of its eye in surprise and shock at its sudden injury, jelly leaking between its fingers. Snapping its remaining eye upwards, the shaman glared at Ianmus''s distant figure, howling something unintelligible. Kaius grinned¡ªhe didn''t know how, but Ianmus had broken the shield. Another lightbeam cut through the air, though this time it dispersed harmlessly against the shaman''s shield. It cackled, waving its guards forward. They obeyed instantly, wading their way through the crush. "I got it!" Ianmus cried. "It''s an adaptive shield! It has to switch targets!" "So I can fry it?!" Kaius called back, narrowly parrying a bugbear''s heavy clubswing, before kicking it backwards into a group of boggarts. "Not yet!" Ianmus returned, another beam splashing against the shaman''s shield. "It''ll be quicker defending itself¡ªthe guards are probably undefended though!" That was all he needed to hear. Lightning burst from his hand, lashing one of the approaching bugbears with fiery eyes. Bound in scorching azure, its head ripped back as a pained scream clawed its way free of the creature''s throat. A secondary arc jumped to its fellow¡ªscorching its flesh to the bone. Frozen in agony as they were, they had no chance to react to his second spell. Eyes smoked in their sockets¡ªboiling from the sheer potency of electrical energy that roared through their bodies. Reverberations wracked them, shattering their bones from the inside out. Blackened and leaking, they fell. **Ding! level 71 Bugbear - Shaman''s Chosen slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** ... **Ding! level 72 Bugbear - Shaman''s Chosen slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** The shaman howled in fury¡ªmana condensing around it as it moved to cast another spell, incensed by their destruction of its toys. "On my count¡ªthere''ll be a small window when my beam hits!" Ianmus called, channeling his own ability. Kaius cut through the approaching minnows¡ªready to strike. "Three!" Doom screamed in Kaius''s mind¡ªdrawing his attention to the enemy spellcaster. The shaman snarled, unleashing a bolt of noxious liquid that shot towards Kaius at a breakneck pace. "Two!" Kaius moved, lunging forwards and grabbing a boggart by the scruff. Its fangs sunk into his wrist, a closely clutched knife plunging into his forearm. He ignored the stinging burn of his wounds, throwing the beast into the path of the spell. Caustic miasma splashed over the boggling. It screamed, the shaman''s magic eating it to the bone. "One!" Kaius shot the shaman a grin, delighting in its frustrated howl. "Now!" Ianmus fired his bolt of light. Empowered and fortified, it was nearly twice as thick as his usual spells. Smashing up against the shaman''s defences, the solar magic revealed the rippling form of the mystic shield that fought it back with a vigour. The beam kept burning¡ªheld in place through focused channeling. Face scrunched in focus, the shaman shifted the full weight of its attention to fighting off Ianmus''s assault. Only for a lash of lighting to phase right through its shield¡ªburning it from the inside out. Kaius moved quickly, spending his charges to confirm the kill. Two more Stormlashes cracked out¡ªsuccessive booms drawing forth a wail of startled screams from the blinded mass of bogglings arrayed against them. When the sudden daylight ended, the shaman fell backwards into a smoking heap. **Ding! level 77 Bugbear - Touched by Miasma slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 58!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has reached level 74!** Chapter 217 - B2 214: Siege, Finale Kaius watched a rage of outrage and despair roll through the back ranks of the bogglings, the loss of the shaman hitting those who had seen its smoking body fall like a hammer blow. A blow to their morale¡ªa small victory, but one he was unsure on how effective it would be at turning the tide in their favour. Afterall, it was still what felt like an unending tide. The rough cavern floor was a veritable mire of blood and viscera, yet still there seemed to be no end to them. Fortunately¡ªthough he had to admit it was strange to think of that way¡ªthe noxious gas the shaman unleashed continued to persist through its death. It stung, aggravating the lungs and eyes as it constantly tried to reinfect him with its miasma. Yet Rapid Adaptation fought it off handedly¡ªa steady stream of skill levels dinging in the back of his mind every few minutes. Resisting the toxin had granted him a significant advantage, the bogglings that constantly assaulted his position were weakened and brittle¡ªall the easier to cut his way through their formation. Porkchop was less lucky, moving sluggish and slow. Thankfully, his impressive Vitality still meant he was far less impacted than their opponents. Still, listening to his brother splutter and sneeze as he crushed another bugbear''s skull made him sympathetic to Porkchop''s plight. Three bugbears converged on him, trying to skewer him with their spears in a coordinated assault. It was a good move¡ªhemmed as he was, the only way he could dodge would be by giving ground. Something he would not do. His Glass Mind pushed him towards a solution, digesting the chaotic flow of battle in moments. Inner fire streamed through the crystalline power of his sword, Kaius''s Stamina dropping as he tapped into a rare use of his Bladerite. Empowered by the energy of his body, the enchantments on his sword honed its edge to an impossibly fine point. **Ding! Initiate''s Bladerite has reached level 32!** The simple wooden hafts of the bugbear''s spears stood no chance, his blade cleaving clean through and leaving the trio holding little more than sticks. A step brought him in close, sword blurring as he cut the bugbears down where they stood. Three more dings sounded in his mind, more tallies for the counter. He didn''t get off scot free¡ªfocused as he was, a boggart had managed to slip under his guard, planting a knife in his side. Kaius winced, tensing around the rough blade as he dispatched its wielder. **Ding! level 53 Boggart - Primitive Fighter slain - Experience Gained! Experience Reduced due to Level Disparity.** It was one gash amongst many¡ªa collection of cut flesh and cracked bone that wore away at his health with grinding regularity. He was pushing through¡ªavoiding anything that would truly impair him, but he would fail eventually. It was just a question of how many they could put in the ground first. .... The bright well of satisfaction at slaying the shaman didn''t stay lit for long, the constant gnawing anxiety of their impending flight overshadowing it. He''d burnt too many spells against that single adversary. No matter how necessary it had been, they had no way of knowing how many more shamans were bearing down on them¡ªnor had they seen any sign of the warchief. Preventing himself from unleashing fully on the bogglings was an exercise in frustration. He could have killed far more if he''d simply been willing to take a few more wounds. The rabble arrayed in front of him had plenty of openings, and it would only cost him a few scratches to take more lives. Unfortunately, even scratches would lead to death in great enough quantities For what felt like the thousandth time, he checked his resources¡ªmonitoring it so that he knew when it was time to leave. Resources: Health - 2489/3360 (18.4/min) Stamina - 1520/3230 (24.8/min) Mana - 4300/4300 (28.3/min) Free Mana - 2230/4300 Reserved Mana - 2080 Kaius grimaced. It wasn''t great. His mana¡ªthanks to their protracted battle and his inability to use it without his glyph¡ªwas full. It didn''t mean much when he only had two more casts of Slip Step and sixteen of Stormlash. Stamina was low enough he''d have to be wary of using his Bladerite too¡ªthough his health was doing fine thanks to Ianmus''s efforts. "Sound off your resources!" he called¡ªknowing how his team was faring was the only way they''d get through this. "Health''s mostly full! Mana is two thirds, Stamina is at a third!" Porkchop replied quickly, barely breaking stride as he lunged forwards to lock his jaws around an unlucky boggart''s head. He bit down with a crunch, blood gushing from his maw. "Mana''s down to a third¡ªout of potions. Rest is full!" Ianmus called, voice carrying through the fading remnants of miasma that separated them. Wincing, Kaius looked out at the swarm that still pushed forwards in a seemingly unending wave. They were approaching the danger zone¡ªleaving their flight until they were almost empty was a fool''s play. They needed enough stamina to keep up a healthy sprint, and enough of their other Resources to fight. The time was coming. They''d failed. Ro and the guildmaster had entrusted him with something important, and he''d fumbled it due to a lack of care. He''d had plenty of time to think about it during the battle, and it felt like every sweep of his sword brought another thought of what they could have done differently. They could have watched the plague¡ªpicking off raiding teams as they slowly whittled down the tribe. They could have brought explosives, trapped them inside the cave and starved them out. Hells, they could have poisoned their food supply¡ªweakened them before they engaged. None of it had occurred to him¡ªeven knowing the numbers they''d face, he''d assumed that simple personal power would be enough to overwhelm all challenges they might face. He''d grown overconfident in his strength¡ªhis ability to cut through those weaker than him. "Ianmus! Ready yourself to flee!" Kaius cried, spinning to sweep aside a bugbear''s glowing club. "I...I can''t!" Ianmus replied, his voice haltering. There was no fear in it, no anxiety over his fate¡ªjust a simple gritty determination and conviction. Kaius frowned, booting a boggart back as he turned and hacked at another that was harassing Porkchop''s side. **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 59!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** Reflexively placing his spare point in Vitality like he had since level fifty-one, Kaius brooded over Ianmus''s refusal. What was the man thinking? They''d laid out their plans before they''d engaged¡ªKaius said the word, and Ianmus would leave while they covered his retreat. Every second they stayed increased the risk of them being too fatigued to escape safely. "Why?!" he replied, desperate to understand. "Mentis!" Ianmus called back, quick and desperate. "I''m on the cusp of it, I can feel it. Just a final spell, then I''ll go!" Kaius groaned¡ªof course it had to happen now. Why wouldn''t it? The system itself had told them that intense battle made the revelations come quicker. Porkchop was less distracted by the change in plans, sending another Shardwall smashing into the bogglings front line with a growl. As the battle had progressed, they''d come less and less frequently, the ability too expensive to use consistently. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. "I can''t believe I''m going to be beaten by an elf!" he cried in mock outrage. "The Matriarchs are going to have my tail." Regardless of the poor timing, they''d have to make do¡ªan Honour could be on the line, and he and Porkchop could hold out for a few more minutes. "Just be quick about it!" he yelled, leaping back to avoid a heavy chop of a boggart''s axe. "I will, just be ready! I''ve been working on something¡ªI''ve had far too much time to think, but I might be able to clear the cave! Can you get me to the front line when I''m ready?" Ianmus replied, the mana in the cave already rushing towards him in reaction to the magic he was weaving. Whatever it was, it was dense¡ªcomplex. Kaius could feel it like a storm on the horizon, pricking against the back of his neck. "You want to do what?!" Kaius yelled back, thinking he''d misheard¡ªboth that the man thought he could put dozens of bogglings to death with a single blow, and that he had to be right next to them to do it. "Come to the front!" Now Kaius knew the man was mad. "Kind of asking for a lot!" "Not for long, I promise¡ªjust enough time to cast! One of Porkchop''s Shardwall''s and a few of your Stormlashes would be enough!" "Just do it." Kaius shot his brother a scowl. "Fine!" he called, deciding to agree against his better instincts. Whatever Ianmus planned, he hoped it would work. .... Ianmus felt the sweet burn of Solar mana burning its way through the ethereal pathways that wormed their way through his all too physical flesh. The meat of his body was a limitation, one he would do away with if he could. He''d sat through a dozen lectures, dreaming of the wonders of elementals and spirits¡ªthe connection they had to the vitality of the world. Mana. It was truly everything. Doubling his focus, Ianmus felt his jaw move, mumbling words with an automaticity that forgeod conscious thought. A tool, one he had learned in his first year at Sunspire. When the fire of mana''s demands grew too strong, too wrothfull, the liturgy of the learned soothed its passions. Everything was bent to his work. He''d had a realisation, in the press of battle. There was more he could take from Kaius''s presence than the simple refinement of using sacred geometry in his casting. The way that his friend had described bending destabilisation to his will. The way he leashed mana to inexorable whims. There was a path to salvation there. Pulling on the mana of his core with the stalwart mind of a lord, Ianmus wove his work. Solar mana streamed around him in knots and weaves of great complexity. Despite his focus, his mind wandered. He''d left Sunspire for a reason. The ossification he''d seen there disgusted him. The way his tutors¡ªthe whole institution¡ªrevelled in their glacial movement was revolting. Sitting in towers. Reading books. Planning. Always planning. But never acting. It had rubbed off on him, and it was his gravest mistake. Mana was dynamic, and in this moment of direst pressure, Ianmus realised he had forgotten that. It demanded movement. Precise and controlled movement, but action all the same. There would be changes in the future¡ªthat he was certain of. Given the opportunity, he knew that he would bring others what he lacked. A place to learn. One that fostered curiosity, discovery, and exploration, not one that clung desperately to the illusion of safety that existed in a cloistered tower of gold. Surrounded by an aurora of sun''s fury, Ianmus realised he had faltered, and Mentis screamed to new heights in response. .... Kaius heard Ianmus mumbling a constant mutter. While a chant wasn''t required for free casting, he knew it was a commonly used mnemonic to focus the mind¡ªwhatever the mage was doing was stretching him to his limits. Five minutes had passed since the man had started, and only now did it seem like he was reaching a crescendo. The distinct tang of sweet sunlight hung heavy in the air, Ianmus''s mana overpowering the final remnant traces of the shaman''s gaseous spell. The stink of solar affinity wasn''t the only thing that had changed. It had been slow at first¡ªunnoticable¡ªbut now he was certain. The bogglings were slowing. More still streamed around the corner, but they were loosely packed, with none of the dense crush of bodies that they''d been for the better part of the last hour. The tide seemed to be stemming. It was an impossibility. It churned his stomach, igniting a blazing suspicion in his belly. There was no way they''d started to exhaust the plague. Sure, they''d killed what had to be over a hundred of the freaks, but he''d seen enough bodies in that cavern to triple the number of dead easily. Where was the head shaman? The warchief? He''d seen neither hide nor hair of them. Had they held back? Kept some of their forces in reserve? He doubted it. Everything he''d seen today, knew about boggarts, suggested that the plague should have thrown themselves at them in an unending wave. Hells, they had. No way they had the smarts¡ªthe acumen¡ªto consider a tactical ploy like that. What if they''d fled? He''d never gotten a full look at the main chamber of the nest. There could have easily been another cave. Perhaps they were circling around, moving to pincer them from behind. Or worse, had decided to flee from the threat, and were already en route to the plains. This horde could have easily been a distraction. Something meant to keep them occupied while the warchief led his host to the east. He shoved the dark feelings deep, letting himself feel the soothing flow of bloodshed and the rapid beat of his heart. Regardless of the reasoning, the slowing tide buoyed him. He felt far more confident now¡ªthat they might be able to cull this lesser group. It pushed back their need to flee, judging by the rate of their approach, there might only be a few dozen left hidden around the bend of the cave. Suddenly the roiling mana in the air stilled. "I''m...ready." Ianmus called, each word sounding like it had been forced through clenched teeth. Kaius breathed, sharing a glance with Porkchop, who nodded. Picking up the pace of his assault, Kaius burnt a charge of Slip Step. With the mortal boundaries of distance loosening their grip on him, he lurched across the front line in a constant flicker. Blows that would have landed phased right through him, leaving the attackers wide open for his counterattack¡ªhis form growing insubstantial with unnatural timing more than once. **Ding! Uncanny Dodge has reached level 57!** From behind, he heard Ianmus make his way forward. Each step was slow¡ªweighed down by the burden of his consumed focus. As soon as it sounded like the man was a bare few strides behind him, Kaius unleashed a trio of Stormlashes. The spells activated at the speed of thought, three writhing vines of shocking power washing over the front line of bogglings. Arcs split, catching more bodies in the lethal net. Two expired directly¡ªthe rest seized, falling back into the row behind them. The sudden dead weight of their allies staggered the rest, a rolling disorientation that moved through the crowd of monsters like a wave. Porkchop capitalised on the moment, a Shardwall rocketing forwards, sending the mass sprawling back. Then Ianmus was there next to him. Brow furrowed and jaw tensed, he looked like he was battling for his life¡ªmore focused than Kaius had ever seen him. A point of mana glowed at the tip of his staff, so potent that it warped the air¡ªcasting off a visible light. The mage''s staff dipped down, wavering as Ianmus pointed it forwards. Everything went white. **Ding! Truesight has reached level 52!** His ocular skill might have protected him from the worst of it, but even then, Kaius could just barely make out a hazy view of the devastation. A hair thin beam erupted from Ianmus''s staff, so bright and hot that Kaius could feel his skin cooking from simple proximity. Like all of the man''s spells, it substantiated instantly¡ªa gossamer thin thread linking his focus to the far wall of the cave. Then the air screamed, and the thread was suddenly a sheet¡ªbisecting the cave at chest height before it vanished a moment later. Staring at Ianmus in shock, Kaius cursed as his friend''s eyes rolled back into his head and he started to keel over. Whipping back to the front without bothering to catch the man¡ªIanmus could deal with losing a bit of his health¡ªhe readied himself to defend his friend''s prone body. Only to find nothing but a field of severed corpses, a slow trickle of new foes warily rounding the corner to step onto the field of the dead. It was a bare few¡ªmaybe two dozen, boggarts one and all¡ªwho entered the cave. They looked at them in abject terror¡ªeyes wide as they waded through the lake of blood and viscera that drenched the cave. More than one looked back the way they had come, only to flinch and march on. No matter the certainty of death, something behind them drove them forwards to certain death. "They''re afraid." Porkchop said, his chest heaving as they waited for the final bogglings to approach. It was the first chance either of them had had to rest since the siege had begun. "They are¡ªbut of what?" Kaius''s words seemed to break the boggarts out of their fugue. They screamed, taking final fearful glances at the tunnel they left, before racing forwards with maddened abandon. "Hopefully we never find out." Porkchop replied, stepping forwards to meet their charge. Chapter 218 - B2 215: Decompression Kaius scrambled up the hill, battling against the scree slope as he used one hand to hold Ianmus secure to his shoulder. Loose stone gave way with every step, sending him a stride backwards for every one he climbed. He wasn''t the only one having a rough go at it, Porkchop''s weight was working against him, making his journey to the lip of the valley even more arduous. Shifting in his stupor, Ianmus let out a soft moan¡ªthough he did little else. Kaius frowned, concerned at his friend''s state. Ever since he''d cast that spell¡ªthat ridiculous, all consuming, spell¡ªhe''d been out cold. When he and Porkchop had finished off the last of the boggling siege, Kaius had hoped that the man would wake quickly¡ªso that they could flee, celebrate, and interrogate the mage for his idiocy. They had no such luck¡ªworse, once the fighting was done, he''d realised that Ianmus was pallid and blue. They''d slipped a health potion down his throat, one of their last, but as far as he could tell it''d done nothing. There''d been nothing for it but to truss the man up like a hunted pig and haul him out of there as they fled. Even with all their bloodlust, neither he nor Porkchop had any interest in sticking around to investigate what had prevented the rest of the plague from attacking them in that cave. Especially since it looked like the last boggarts had been more scared of what lay back the way they had come, than the two delvers who had just slaughtered what felt like two hundred of their kin. At best, they''d been press ganged by the warchief, who was looping around to flank them. At worst, there was something more dangerous than them in those tunnels. No, it was much better to flee¡ªto recuperate, recharge, and investigate when they were fresh. With a grunt, Kaius hauled Ianmus''s limp body over the lip of the ridge, scrambling up after him. Porkchop joined him shortly after. "What''s the plan? Create some distance?" Porkchop asked, scanning the valley and hills for threats. "Tent." Kaius grunted, picking up Ianmus and slinging him over Porkchop''s back. "We have no idea how stable he is." His brother nodded, and they set off¡ªdipping below the ridge line to avoid standing out against the sky. Moving from rocky outcroppings to shallow divots in the earth, Kaius scanned their surroundings, expecting something to jump out at them¡ªfor something to go wrong in the eleventh hour. That''s how it went, right? Something always went wrong, in his experience. Yet nothing did. They made it back to the secluded cluster of boulders that hid their tent. Seeing that small spire of illusory canvas and leather was the sweetest succour he had ever experienced. A balm on his aching mind, a tonic for his weary soul. Tension rolled off his back, leaving him feeling heavy and tired. Here, at least, they had some modicum of safety. Both he and Porkchop had taken care to lay false tracks, and obscure their true route to this spot. They''d even dipped through the small stream that ran through the valley¡ªwashing away the scent of blood and muck of battle. Even if they were stumbled upon, it would have to be hellish luck indeed for a boggling to decide to search between the boulders¡ªand even if they did that, having the ability to pierce the illusion that hid their tent was almost an impossibility. He pulled Ianmus from his brother''s back, dipping into the warmth and comfort of their living space before depositing the mage on the fur lined bed that took up one edge. Porkchop pushed his way inside, standing beside him to watch the mage. "What do we do?" Porkchop asked. "What even happened to him, for that matter." "I think it might be mana burn, but it looks a lot worse than normal." Kaius replied. Every other time Ianmus had expended enough mana at once to leave himself sickly and weak, Kaius had been able to see the natural mana around the half-elf''s body grow thin and hazy. Now, it was entirely absent¡ªa disconcerting man shaped hole in the world. At least at first¡ªKaius realised he could see the faintest sheen welling up from deep within Ianmus. He sighed in relief, glad that there had been a positive development. "I think he''s recovering¡ªhis mana''s returning." Kaius said, turning to their discarded packs. Reaching into their dimensional storage, he retrieved his pan, a haunch of beef, and some pulped vegetable sauce he''d managed to pick up from a market¡ªenough for a braise. "May as well make sure he wakes up to hot food, it looks like he''ll need it." he continued, sitting on the floor of the tent as he went about preparing their meal. "Stew?" Porkchop asked enthusiastically, settling beside him as he eyed the ingredients. "Close," Kaius laughed. "But I think you''ll like it just as much." .... A few hours later, Kaius was just finishing up the final touches to a spell hymn when a desperate gasp cut into his internal world. His heart quickened. Tightening his grip on his mana, he redoubled his efforts¡ªweaving the final few runes he needed on a spindly array to finish his Stormlash inscription. Mana pulsed through his pathways, locking the inscription into place, and sealing a portion of his pool inside of his glyph. Snapping his eyes open, Kaius looked up to see Ianmus sitting bolt upright on the bed, a look of wonder on his face as he stared off into space. "Ianmus! Are you alright!" Kaius called, leaping to his feet and rushing over. "You''ve been out for a couple hours." "Something smells delicious," the mage mumbled, looking down towards the bubbling surface of their pan in the middle of the floor. A moment later he shook his head, eyes clearing as he looked around their tent in confusion. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. "The tent?" he asked, dazed. "What happened with the boggarts? Did we flee?" Porkchop lumbered over, a warm rubble echoing through the space¡ªloud enough that it would have put Kaius''s nerves on edge if he hadn''t already confirmed that no noise made in the dimension space would exit its boundary. "In a sense. You were absorbed in your spell, so I''m unsure if you noticed, but the boggarts started to stem. After your attack there were barely a dozen left." Porkchop replied, before he smacked Ianmus in the back of the head with a meaty paw. "Also, elfling, perhaps next time it would be best to ask us before you knock yourself out in a life or death situation." Ianmus went bright red. "Sorry! I truly didn''t expect that to happen¡ªonce the spell went off it just kept pulling deeper and deeper on my reserves, drained me utterly dry¡ªmana and will both¡ªon top of the extra exertion from my metamagic." "Well, whatever it was, it was effective¡ªyou cut what must have been forty bogglings in half." Kaius replied. The spell had been an impressive display of violence for someone who had yet to reach their fourth class skill. It reinforced his belief that Ianmus only had a Rare class by dint of lacking deeds and combat experience¡ªhe certainly had far more theoretical and practical casting knowledge than most mages far his senior would have. Even if it had drained him to the last drop and taken an aeon to channel, that guillotine of light had some oomph behind it, that was for sure. "Once we''d cleaned up, we got out of there¡ªno way were we sticking around to find out what happened to the rest of the bogglings." Kaius continued. "Bogglings?" Porkchop asked, turning to tilt his head at Kaius. Kaius coughed, clearing his throat. "Oh, uh. I just started calling them that in my head¡ªlike goblinoids, I guess¡ªfelt weird to keep switching between boggart and bugbear." "As good a name as any¡ªwe might even get to make it official if we''re the first to discover the bugbears, though it would surprise me if we were. Even if they only appear in larger plagues, I doubt this is the only place they''ve been able to grow unchecked since the phase shift." Ianmus said, nodding at the name. Kaius waved the man off. "Forget ''bogglings'', what I want to know is if it worked," he leaned in, watching his friend closely. "Did you get it?" A slow grin crept across Ianmus''s face, stretching from ear to ear. "I did¡ªfelt it reach the point of ignition right as the spell was cast. I haven''t checked the notification yet though." "Beaten by an elf, what a fucking travesty¡ªthe Matriarchs would be ashamed." Porkchop whined, throwing himself to the floor dramatically. Kaius rolled his eyes at his brother''s antics. He knew he wasn''t really disappointed¡ªunlike himself, Porkchop wasn''t competitive at anything more than a little harmless fun. Besides, the oaf had already let slip that their extended fight had nearly been enough for him to ignite his own Corporus Aspect, much to Kaius''s delight. If Ianmus also got an Honour for being in the first five, it would mean that Porkchop still had a chance¡ªa pretty good one, in all likelihood. He doubted many other people were going to quite the extremes as they were¡ªor doping themselves with potions that loosened the spirit from the body. "Don''t leave us all waiting then. Ignite Mentis, we''ll keep you safe while you''re out." Kaius said, turning back to Ianmus. The mage grinned, and nodded¡ªbefore his eyes went glassy. A twitch was all the warning he got before Ianmus accepted his notifications, eyes rolling back into his head as he slumped back into the bed. Kaius jumped, startled by the sudden change¡ªas far as he was aware, he''d stayed conscious through the whole process. "Calm down," Porkchop told him, nudging him in the shoulder. "You did the same thing. He''ll be done in a few minutes, I promise." "You''re sure?" Kaius asked, watching Ianmus closely. "I''m sure." Kaius still kept his attention on his friend, ready to do...something, if it went wrong. He was glad he did, when a moment later a soft glow started to emanate from Ianmus''s head¡ªright in the centre. Even with Truesight it was hazy and indistinct. Soft and pale, it almost looked like mana. Almost. Somehow he knew it was different, lacking the energy''s cold impartiality. Unfortunately, it was impossible to discern anything else¡ªleast of all because it was as small as a pinhead, only just noticeable due to the sheer difference it held to his senses. "What''s that?" he asked, leaning in. "What''s what?" Porkchop replied, tilting his head in confusion. "You don''t see it?" Kaius replied, cocking his brow at his brother. "You have natural mana-sight, don''t you?" "Kaius, I''m seeing nothing¡ªif you''re seeing some form of energy, it''s invisible." Well, wasn''t that curious. Basic energy sense was an ability known to be native to all greater beasts. Though, he supposed it was no great surprise¡ªIanmus probably wasn''t able to see it either, otherwise one of them would have mentioned it when Kaius had gone through his own ignition. "Strange¡ªwe''ll talk about it later though, Ianmus seems to be rousing." The half-elf''s eyes fluttered open less than a second later, a wide grin stretching across his face as he sat up and met Kaius''s eyes. "You''re right¡ªthe Glass Mind is weird." Kaius laughed. "Almost feels like you grew a third arm, right?" Ianmus nodded emphatically. "And you already know how to use it? Totally bizarre." "No need to rub it in, guys." Porkchop huffed with faux offence. "Now, if you''re done bragging to each other, do you want to share what you got for your Seed? And if i''m still in the running for an Honour?" Ianmus''s eyes unfocused, roving through the air as he read the description of his latest gains. "Well, I got the Aspect of The Patient Weaver. My seed¡ªThreads of Preparation¡ªallows my Glass Mind to hasten channeling, independently manipulate and modify free-cast spells, and hold a spell prepared while I work on the next." Ianmus replied, grinning wildly while he read off his status screen. Kaius nodded, impressed. That was a significant boon by any standard¡ªa mage who could do two separate things at once with their spell casting was almost hard to imagine, so much of what made freecasting a difficult style to make work was its demands on attention and mental capacity. Still, there was one thing he still wanted to know. "That''s fantastic¡ªtruly. But what of the Honour? Did you get one?" Ianmus met his eyes, giving him a nod. "I did, though it only says I''m in the first five¡ªnot how many are left." Porkchop sighed in relief. "So there''s still a chance. Thank the Matriarchs." "You''ll get it buddy, don''t you worry." Kaius patted his brother on the shoulder. "Now, we''ve got braised steaks to eat¡ªI busted out the good stuff to celebrate. Who wants some?" Scrambling in their haste, Ianmus and Porkchop collided, and ended up in a tangle of limbs on the floor. Kaius laughed. B2 Chapter 225: Payment, pt. 2 B2 Chapter 225: Payment, pt. 2 Kaius grinned as he looked at the stacked boxes on the table¡ªthe first of their rewards, and a source of gear they would otherwise likely not have the funds or connections to get ahold of. He¡¯d hoped that they would be able to get some today, but after Ro and Rieker had warned them that it might take more than one mission, Kaius hadn¡¯t wanted to get his hopes up. A quick glance at his team showed him they must have been feeling similarly excited, both Ianmus and Porkchop looking on with undisguised avarice. ¡°Between the platinum piece, and the extra hundred gold for the mineral seam finders fee¡ªwhich was unfortunately reduced due to the current difficulties in exploiting that resource¡ªwe were able to pick out some good pieces for you.¡± Rieker said, smiling at their obvious anticipation. ¡°We were even able to come up with a little work around for our problem with finding if Kaius¡¯s blade would resonate with any of our materials on hand.¡± he continued, eyes flicking to Kaius. ¡°Or at least, Ro was able to.¡± Ro nodded, though she frowned at the latched box at the bottom of the pile¡ªthe same expression he¡¯d seen her make every time administrative work came up. Sometimes, he wondered what she was doing here as a manager. It clearly didn¡¯t suit her. ¡°Took two days of asking around, and combing through our records, but it turns out we¡¯re within our right to create samples. That bottom box contains a scrapping of everything we have on hand¡ªif your blade resonates with any of them, we¡¯ll either give it to you now, or reserve it until you¡¯ve completed enough missions to earn it.¡± Ro said. Kaius nodded, staring at the box with open yearning. To know that it potentially held all that he needed to finally awaken his blade made him want to dash out of his seat and snatch it up immediately. It took considerable will, and squeezing his own knees in a deathgrip, to stay still. After all, it made sense for him to go last. His teammates were getting hand-picked gear, and it would be cruel to make them sit through him rifling through who knows how many materials. ¡°You two pick between yourselves who goes first.¡± he said. The looks of gratitude were almost enough to quell the hoarding dragon inside of him that squealed in outrage at the prospect of waiting. ¡°Ianmus can go first, it¡¯s his first time getting loot. At least the good kind.¡± Porkchop said, nodding to the mage. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Ianmus asked, surprised that Porkchop had forfeited without a fight. Porkchop rolled his eyes. ¡°Just hurry up! I don¡¯t want to wait all day.¡± Ianmus nodded, and approached the desk. Rieker and Ro watched them with wry smiles, clearly amused and well used to the antics of a delving team deciding their loot rotation. The guildmaster nudged one box forward, indicating to Ianmus which one he should take. The box was long¡ªby far the largest of all of the boxes at what looked to be just over six strides, though it lacked the heft and depth of the lacquered box holding Kaius¡¯s materials. Hurrying back to his seat, Ianmus lifted the thin pine top, revealing an interior wrapped in cotton padding. Laying inside was a staff. Kaius thought it was a pretty thing, the wood somehow grown in a tightly bound spiral¡ªlike the braiding of a rope. At its top, the strands of honey coloured wood unravelled, weaving themselves into a cage that had tightly bound some sort of stone streaked with seams of glittering yellow. Runes covered the faceted stone by the dozens, dense workings revealing few secrets¡ªthe telltale script of the Depths hiding its intent from even Kaius¡¯s trained eyes. Ianmus reached out with a shaking hand, touching the inset stone with what looked to be awe. ¡°Infused sunstone...¡± he muttered to himself, lifting his new staff out of the box, and setting its container on the floor. As his friend turned his newest focus over in his hands, Kaius took the opportunity to analyse it with Truesight, curious at what had gotten Ianmus so excited. Staff of the Woven Corona: Unusual - Tier I A Dawn Maple, waiting for purpose. The essence of the sun, waiting for a home. Sacred to the weaver, their destiny is made manifest¡ªa union of the disparate, and an act of worship. Made from Dawn Maple, directed to grow around a faceted chunk of high grade sunstone, this staff has been lacquered with an infused stain. Being made of materials that are almost exclusively aligned to the solar affinity, this staff provides an exceptional boost to mana control and channeling speed when using that affinity. Solar spells cast through this staff are empowered, and it has been inscribed with a meta magic to drastically increase the speed at which tier I solar beam spells may be cast, at the expense of drastically reducing their range. Depths-wrought Artefact. Casting Focus - Staff Durability I, Solar Empowerment I, Solar Focus III, Self Repair I, Quickened Ray II Kaius nodded in appreciation of the artifact. Even just the simple increase to the efficiency of Ianmus¡¯s casting would have been a potent boon, but the fact that it also allowed the mage to cast more swiftly in close quarters was astounding. ¡°That one was a lucky find¡ªthere¡¯s a delve near Deadacre with a Solar themed biome at the fifteenth layer. Most avoid it, due to the difficulty of dealing with enemies that have attacks that are difficult to block or dodge.¡± Rieker explained. ¡°How¡¯d you get it, then?¡± Ianmus asked, getting a feel for the staff¡¯s balance. ¡°Had a Steel team with a mirror mage come through a few years back, they were uniquely suited to it. Let me tell you, that mage was apoplectic when their best Champion reward was a staff that he couldn¡¯t use.¡± Rieker chuckled, shaking his head at the memory. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°I can understand why¡ªit¡¯s an amazing piece. I¡¯d be furious if I got something like this, but found out it was useless to me.¡± Ianmus mumbled, still cradling the staff like it was made of glass. Ro waved him off. ¡°Don¡¯t feel too bad, he managed to trade it in for an amulet that increased the potency of abilities that deflected or redirected attacks¡ªhe made out like a bandit.¡± She paused for a moment, looking to where Porkchop was ¡®patiently¡¯ waiting. His brother looked like he was using all of his concentration to avoid tearing Rieker¡¯s carpet to shreds with his honed jade claws as he continually readjusted¡ªrestless anticipation flooding across their bond in waves. ¡°Perhaps we let Porkchop check his reward, before Rieker¡¯s floor gets ruined, eh?¡± she continued. Ianmus jumped, before he looked to the side and shuffled his chair to give Porkchop room. ¡°Sorry!¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay!¡± Porkchop replied, before he loomed up on his hind legs, towering over everyone else in the room. Gods, it was easy to forget just how big he was¡ªfilling the room like a direbear¡ªwhen he so rarely stood up to his full size. With a surprising delicacy, Porkchop pinched the next pinewood box between claws on opposing hands and placed it in front of him as he settled onto his haunches. This box was by far the smallest¡ªperhaps the size of a large book. Porkchop flicked it open, revealing a similar lining to the one that had been inside of Ianmus¡¯s package. Laying on the bed of cotton wadding was what looked to be a bracelet¡ªa length of flexible metal plates, each embossed with a series of runes. Kaius leaned in, peering closer with Truesight. It was Ykkardian, he realised¡ªhe¡¯d recognise those standalone glyphs anywhere¡ªcombined with some unknown script. Without the system''s help, he had to fall back on his mortal training. Thankfully, that had been considerable due to his father¡¯s efforts. While he had no clue as to what the unknown script was doing, he could recognise about half of the sigils on the bracelet. Armament, Stalwart, Empowerment, Reinforce, and Shield. A defensive artefact, without a doubt. Satisfied that he still had some of his capabilities, Kaius looked up to find Porkchop watching him expectantly. ¡°Yes?¡± Kaius asked, confused. ¡°I don¡¯t have Identify.¡± Porkchop said plainly, looking at him like he¡¯d been dropped on his head. ¡°Oh. Right, sorry.¡± Kaius replied, scratching the back of his head. He pulled up the item''s description, curious as to if his assessment had been correct, and read it out to Porkchop. Bracelet of Tangible Ghosts: Unusual - Tier I The Chittari Militia has a simple doctrine. Gear that is summoned needs far less logistical support, and allows resources to be funneled to more useful purposes. Indeed, their harassing skirmishers are let loose to nip at the heels of their foes, with only a pair of boots, a pack of rations, and a single Bracelet of Tangible Ghosts provided to them. Crafted from mirage infused steel, and a length of alchemically treated mithril bindings, this bracelet Significantly improves the durability and effects of all summoned armaments produced from both skills and items. Depths-wrought Artefact. Accessory - Bracelet Durability I, Stalwart Apparition V, Self Repair I, Resizing I Porkchop hummed appreciatively when he learnt of his latest artefacts capabilities. Kaius too could appreciate its benefits. Something like this would empower Porkchop¡¯s armour, and¡ªif he was correct¡ªthe blades of mana that coated his claws thanks to one of the artefacts they had found on their initial delve. ¡°Where¡¯d you find this, then? It¡¯s perfect.¡± Kaius asked, curious about the object''s origin. ¡°No idea, it¡¯s been sitting in the vault for decades¡ªnot many people focus on summoned equipment, so it¡¯s been languishing untouched. If anything, you¡¯re doing us a favour by taking it off our hands.¡± Rieker answered. ¡°Technically, we pushed the limits with this one. We had to get an artificer to add the resizing enchantment, and working with a depths-wrought artefact is always expensive due to the difficulty. It was too perfect not too, however.¡± Ro continued. Kaius nodded, before he got out of his chair and helped Porkchop don his bracelet. The metal warped unnaturally, stretching to a size where he could easily slip it over his brother''s dinner-plate sized paws. Standing back up, Kaius had his focus immediately latch on to the final remaining box. It was deeper than the others, perhaps a stride tall, and made of far higher quality furnishings. He looked at it with hunger, eager to see what waited within. Rieker saw his face and grinned. Leaning forwards, the guildmaster flicked open the latch and opened the box. As he did so, the lid slid back and up, revealing cleverly hidden cantilevered metal struts. The box split into five distinct parts, the wood having joined so closely that the seams were hidden even to his enhanced sight. Each part moved back and up, revealing five interior shelves that were covered in a soft grey velvet. Glass vials lay inside small holes, each one holding the barest grains and drops of material. The bottom was the most complete, with dozens of bottles stacked in tight. As Kaius moved his eyes up the tiers of the container, the vials grew fewer in number¡ªthe fifth compartment holding a bare handful. With the box opened, a thin mist of mana wafted free of its confinement. It was a churned mixture, dozens of different affinities blending into an undifferentiated whole. Still, as the thin energy rushed over him, Kaius felt the blade at his hip keen in excitement¡ªhungering for something within. ¡°There¡¯s something in there, my sword is reacting.¡± Kaius whispered, surprised. He¡¯d half expected that they would have had nothing¡ªthe sword rousing itself on the simple basis of trace amounts of emitted mana set his heart racing, and his nose tingling at the myriad unexplainable scents. If the resonance was this potent, how would his sword react with a whole piece of the material? ¡°Really? That¡¯s good. Records on how growth items work is spotty¡ªwe¡¯d been ready to let you touch the materials to the blade directly.¡± Rieker replied. Kaius set a hand on his hilt, half expecting his sword to fly out of its sheath of its own volition, so strong was its want. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if that is a good idea. It feels even hungrier than when I found the Spent Forgeheart.¡± Rieker laughed at that, leaning back in mirth. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll have it handled.¡± Then the guildmaster nodded to the box. ¡°Before you figure out which one it is, I¡¯ll explain how this will work. We¡¯ve separated the materials into value. The lowest sections are the cheapest¡ªanything from the lowest two you should be able to afford straight away. As you go higher though, you might have to save for another mission or two depending on its value. Potentially a lot more, for the highest tier¡ªthose have more variability in their price than the rest of the box combined.¡± Rieker continued, waving his hands across the various open compartments of the box. Kaius nodded, still fixated on the many vials before him. ¡°Let¡¯s hope it¡¯s nothing at the top then.¡± He stepped forwards, reaching out to start searching for what had his blade so excited. Chapter 219 - B2 216: Cold Bodies, pt. 1 Giving his pan a last good shake to flick off as much water as he could, Kaius dipped back into the tent. While he''d asked Ianmus if he''d noted anything about the strange pinpoint of energy that had radiated from his mind during the founding of his Aspect, the mage had only been confused¡ªand voraciously curious. The lack of answers was a shame, but hopefully with more time and experience they''d discover something more concrete. He''d been thinking through their meal. Ianmus''s success with igniting his Aspect was a significant boon¡ªworth the risk he had pulled. It had also brought with it questions. How had casting a spell allowed him to ignite the pillar? And what was that strange white light he had seen? Somehow he doubted the latter would be easy to answer. Stepping around Porkchop, he took a seat at the foot of the bed and turned to Ianmus¡ªat the very least, he could learn more about that plane of light. "Ianmus¡ªthat spell you cast, how''d you do it? It was far stronger than anything I had expected from you." he asked. Ianmus looked up, startled for a moment at the sudden question. "Oh! It was partially because of you, actually." his friend replied, scratching behind an ear. "I''d been thinking about what you told me of your glyph¡ªthe controlled collapse of unstable mana. Some principles of the rune arts are used in free-casting, so I thought I''d give it a go." Porkchop shifted to face them, evidently interested in their conversation. Kaius nodded¡ªsecretly pleased that there were elements of glyph-binding that could be used elsewhere. He''d known it was likely, every other form of magic was interconnected on some level. Still, for it to have been something that he and Father had developed themselves¡ªrather than something unique to Vesryn¡ªwas gratifying. "How''d it help? And what did it have to do with Mentis?" Kaius asked. Ianmus''s eyes fuzzed over¡ªa familiar look on the half-elf, one that overtook his features anytime he was absorbed in magical theory. He explained how he''d compressed his mana¡ªleaning on the principles of guided instability that Kaius had shared when he''d explained the reasoning behind his original glyph. So much of the mage''s exhaustion had been the utter annihilation of his mental energy, directing the explosive release of his mana into a purely horizontal plane had taken much from him. Though, Ianmus was very much still interested in testing it further. At least, once they were somewhere safe and he was well rested. That much, Kaius agreed with him wholeheartedly. If Ianmus could get a grip on this new shaping of solar magic, it would be significantly helpful¡ªthe ability to deal with large groups of weak enemies was something they clearly lacked. Thankfully, it would almost undoubtedly happen eventually¡ªoften what was once impossible became as easy as a turn of the hand with enough levels. "Mentis...is more difficult to explain. My meditations¡ªthey made me realise that I have a tendency to over-analyse, to think of things from every angle. It''s what drew me to magic, and what led to my performance in Sunspire...but it also made me indecisive, at times. I decided that if it was so integral to who I am, it needed to be fully under my control. That taking an action was more important than finding the best one. Decisive planning and preparation, rather than an impossible attempt to consider everything equally. The spell was my attempt at that." Ianmus continued, fiddling with the hem of his shirt. Porkchop let out a low huff, a grumbling chuckle emanating from deep in his chest. "So Kaius realised that sprinting blindfolded through a maze until you run into a wall is a bad idea, and you realised that it''s a better one than trying to map the whole thing before you started moving." Smiling at his brother''s friendly jab, Kaius rolled his eyes. Porkchop did have the right of it though¡ªhe had been a little...action-forward in the past. Still¡ªit was good to see that Ianmus''s ignition had come with its own insights into how he wanted to grow. It seemed that the personal insights of the Aspects were as much of a benefit as the additional powers they brought. A reflection of their development¡ªthe mindset with which they sought their goals. Speaking of goals¡ªthey still had yet to decide what they were going to do. The mission had gone...sideways, to say the least. A siege that nearly led to an outright rout, and a revelation of their utter misjudgement of their capabilities and plans. Something had saved them¡ªthough if it was a stroke of good fortune, or a reprieve before disaster, was yet to be known. With the time it had taken Ianmus to return to waking, they''d had enough time to recover from their excursion¡ªat least in terms of their Resource pools. It would take a lot longer than a few hours for the exhaustion and mental fatigue to fade. Regardless, they were in a position where they had to choose¡ªdid they investigate? He''d need another half hour or so to finish reinscribing, but then they''d need to choose. It was a decision he was uncomfortable making unilaterally. He might have been the party leader, but this was their lives¡ªif the rest of the bogglings were lying in ambush, or something more dangerous had taken them out, reentering that cave would put them in grave danger. Biting the bullet, Kaius cleared his throat, drawing his friends away from the ongoing conversation. "I think, at this point, we need to decide if we''re going back in that tunnel¡ªwe could just leave and tell the guild what happened, but it could save lives if we confirm they''re still living¡ªand precious resources if they''re dead." Kaius said. "I say we investigate¡ªit doesn''t sit right with me to leave without checking, feels cowardly." Porkchop replied. To Kaius''s surprise, Ianmus nodded along with his brother''s words¡ªnormally he could count on the half-elf being the voice of reason in their little group. "I agree¡ªfor one major reason. Whatever happens, there will be repercussions for our failure here. Returning with evidence of what happened¡ªone way or the other¡ªcould lessen it somewhat." Ianmus replied. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. A sharp wince slipped from Kaius''s mouth. He''d been trying not to think of that. Neither Ro, nor Rieker, stood out to him as the most lenient of sorts. Understanding, sure, but not lenient. Even if this mission had been meant as a lesson, he was sure there would still be consequences for failure. For all he knew¡ªproper investigation was part of the test, and they might worsen their failure further. "Well, in that case¡ªwe need a plan. If we need to flee, we should be ready to run like a demon is on our tail. For all we know, one might be." Kaius said. "I''ll be inscribing plenty of Slip Step¡ªI can chain them if need be¡ªbut we can''t let you slow us down." he nodded to Ianmus, who nodded grimly. "I understand. Perhaps it''s better if I stay behind?" the mage replied. "No," Porkchop said with a shake of his head. "I''ll let you sit on my back, just this once. Your weight isn''t enough to slow me in the slightest, and me and Kaius will both be faster with your solar empowerment. Let alone we might need healing." Kaius snapped to his brother in shock, Ianmus mirroring his expression. That was a significant concession¡ªone that showed a level of comfort that surprised him. It wasn''t just about trust, but vulnerability. Porkchop had made it quite clear that carrying someone on his back was taboo, and something he only allowed because he knew that Kaius would not take it for granted. "Are you sure?" Ianmus asked¡ªhis tone incredulous, like he struggled to believe he had heard correctly. "I''m sure." Porkchop replied, before he sniffed. "Only because we might die otherwise, don''t go getting any funny ideas that I''ll be the only one walking now." "I wouldn''t dare!" Ianmus replied, clutching his heart in mock offense. Kaius shook his head, chuckling. "Well then, since we''re decided, prepare yourselves¡ªwe leave when I finish inscribing." ... The site of their siege looked impossibly gruesome. Far worse than he remembered. Fresh eyes rendered him incredulous. A stretch of tunnel¡ªperhaps thirty long-strides long¡ªwas utterly carpeted in congealed blood, torn flesh, and pulped offal. Dark red stretched a full two strides up the wall, and where the fighting was thickest the bodies were stacked tall enough to come up to his waist. The worst was the smell¡ªraw meat, iron, unwashed bodies, and spilled bowels; all mingling together in a miasma that stuck to the throat and clung to his clothes. He could feel it¡ªthe sheer volume of it was enough to raise the humidity to the point where he grew sticky. He''d been far too absorbed in the heaving rhythm of battle at the time to notice, but the bogglings would have been trampling on layers of their dead. That alone should have been enough of a sign that something wasn''t right. Their baying cries and savage eyes had seemed to be madened bloodlust at the time¡ªbut what if it wasn''t? What if they''d been driven forwards by something else¡ªthey were no depths-born. At some point their will should have broken¡ªlong before they were wading through the entrails of their tribe to offer themselves up for slaughter. A chill shot down his spine, animal instincts on edge as he peered into the dark. It was unsettling, far more than the gore they had left in their wake. "Wading through that is going to ruin my fur." Porkchop moaned, pulling Kaius out of his musings. "And yet we''ll do it anyway." Kaius replied, taking the first step into the viscera. It squelched, welling up around his boots and soaking the leather¡ªstill disconcertingly warm in its deepest reaches. Kaius breathed out slow, suppressing the roiling in his stomach as he clambered on. More than once he nearly ended up face first, an arm shifting, or his foot slipping on unidentifiable muck¡ªhe soldiered on, advancing until he was over the worst of it. Once his team had joined them, they continued. They moved at a creep¡ªjust as cautious as the first time they had moved through the tunnels. At first there was nothing, the cave empty. Then they reached the lit warren, and the bodies strewn through its halls. It started right by the entrance. Bogglings, by the dozen¡ªsurgically dismantled with a precision that left Kaius in shock. Clean cuts that separated heads, limbs and waists. It only got worse the further in they entered. At first there were signs of struggle¡ªweapons clutched in hands, the bodies having fallen in such a way that it made it obvious they were still struggling to fight out of the cave. That changed quickly. More and more often boggarts and bogglings lay facing the wrong way¡ªlike they''d fled. Some had their legs cut off, trails of blood left on the stone as they had attempted to claw their way back to their den. It shocked him¡ªan impossibility. Whatever had done this had to be right behind them when they were fleeing. But there''d been no sign, no tells. The only way the scene made sense was if something had been in the cave, unnoticed by both them and the bogglings, and had waited until they were in the middle of the mass to strike. "Porkchop..." Kaius whispered, breaking the tense silence that had consumed them since they''d stumbled across the signs of battle that weren''t their own. "Didn''t you mention that you felt like we were being watched?" Porkchop''s ears flattened against his head¡ªa soft whine escaping. "I''d forgotten about that...I don''t sense it now though." "Yeah, me too¡ªObviously you weren''t imagining it." he muttered back. Rallying their spirits, they pushed on. Reaching the crossroads, they slowed¡ªgiving Ianmus the opportunity to jump onto Porkchop''s back. Sundrenched vigour filled them both¡ªsteadying their bodies in a way that didn''t quite reach his nerves. They hadn''t seen hide nor hair of the mysterious attacker¡ªonly the evidence of a desperate struggle that grew all the more fearful and gruesome, heading directly for the cavern in front. Step by step they continued, tense and ready to flee at the sign of danger. Kaius kept his Slip Step ready¡ªhalf of the mind to activate one now. The cave opened up. Raw carnage rooted him to the spot. If their own battle had been a brutal siege, whatever had happened in the cavern was a wanton slaughter. Bodies cleaved at the waist, halves tossed to the side with contempt. Limbs scattered like leaves, gathering in unrecognisable piles. Wardlights that were covered in so much blood they shone a pale red. The bogglings hadn''t just been killed¡ªthey''d been annihilated. Kaius couldn''t even estimate the corpses, for not a single one was in a single piece¡ªtorn apart with a level of dedication that could only come from hate. No creature did this. Only a thinking mind could be so intentional¡ªso careful¡ªin its savagery. The dealer of this death was obvious. For there was Ro, sitting on the warchief''s throne with her legs propped up on its corpse. "Well, boys¡ªhow does failure taste?" Chapter 220 - B2 217: Cold Bodies, finale Sitting on the warchief''s throne, Ro gave them a look as she sprawled out lazily¡ªone leg crossed. It was calculative¡ªstern and judging. Kaius struggled to respond, his mind still rooted in the spot by the simple sight of seeing her in the boggling cave. Ro? Of all people¡ªthe strange force that had torn their way through the bogglings that had given them so much trouble was Ro? They hadn''t even sensed her¡ªand the obvious ease with which she had cut through the horde revealed she held far more personal power than he expected. So it was a test, he realised. Rieker had said he would put them on missions that were at the very edge of their ability, but Kaius had thought that the man had meant their ability to handle in direct battle. This...seemed different. They''d missed something crucial, and no doubt were going to suffer for it. Ro watched them standing in silence, her fingers drumming impatiently on the bone of the warchief''s throne. "Come on, folks, I don''t have all day. I asked you a question." her tone brooked no argument. Kaius flinched¡ªrealising he''d just spent the last few minutes staring at the guild manager. In his defence, seeing her here¡ªcomfortable in the midst of a charnel house¡ªwas not what he had expected. Hells, a dragon would have surprised him less. "Like ash." he replied honestly. After so many hours to think about it, he''d continuously arrived at the same point again and again. They''d failed due to hubris and lack of preparation¡ªnot inability. Sure, they were poorly suited to such a fight. At least they were until Ianmus showed his capabilities with his new spell that had annihilated what must have been over fifty bogglings¡ªa spell the man hadn''t even named yet. Ro smiled at his response¡ªit wasn''t a wide one. More a bare acknowledgement that they at least had the sense to know that they''d messed up. "Good¡ªyou''re not entirely hopeless, even if today was a fucking travesty. I''ve seen Coppers who work better than this, you utter fools." Ro tore into them, her withering gaze letting them know just how disappointed she truly was. "I mean, seriously, we tell you you''re up against an entire warren and you just...waltz in? Credit where credit is due, at least you didn''t go for a frontal assault, but there''s so much more you should have done. I hope that''s evident." "It is," Kaius replied, stepping forward to take the brunt of her disappointment. As party leader, it was ultimately his failure¡ªhe was the one with the final say on their tactics. "We should have watched the horde for longer¡ªtried to get an accurate reading on their numbers." "And your assault? What would you have done differently then?" Ro uncrossed her legs, leaning over in the chair to rest her elbow on the arm of the throne. Kaius winced, thinking of all the things he should have done. "There''s a lot. Sneaking in was probably the best ploy¡ªas was leaving the raiders alone. If they''d known we''d been approaching we would have had to deal with ambushes and traps galore¡ªprobably magical ones too, with the bugbear shamans." Ro nodded¡ªthough Kaius could tell by the way she rolled her wrist at him to continue that she thought it was a bare minimum of tactical acumen. "Other than that, I''ve had the time to think. I can see two main things we could have done to improve our odds. Three, technically¡ªbut I don''t think the last is as applicable in this specific situation." Ro cocked her head, looking at him with a touch of genuine surprise. Kaius was almost offended by her lack of faith in his ability to recognise his faults, but he was sure she was more used to pampered nobles¡ªand in her defence, they had been more than a little reckless right off the back of her warnings about the assassin spider. "Oh? You''ve reflected¡ªwhat a surprise. Shock me with your wisdom, greenhorn." she replied, her voice sardonic. Taking the jab with the grace Ro had earned¡ªshe had just saved their asses, after all¡ªKaius nodded. "First, we were woefully uninformed of the difficulties of a large scale cull of bogglings¡ª" "Bogglings?" Ro cut in¡ªunable to stop herself from chuckling at the unexpected word. The mirthful smile she let slip cut the tension. They weren''t in trouble, Kaius realised. Her stern disappointment was smoke and mirrors, his Glass Mind was sure of it¡ªcataloguing her every reaction against his memories. This had been planned. Thank the gods he''d managed to crack her with a slip of the tongue, though he stood by the fact that bogglings was the best term for the monsters. "Ah, the boggarts and bugbears...and whatever that is I suppose." Kaius replied, nodding his head towards the stiffened corpse of the warchief. "Sort of like goblinoids." Ro tried to keep a stern face, but his eyes were sharp enough to catch the twitch at the corner of her mouth. "Right, yes¡ªbogglings. It''ll do¡ªthe system calls the big one''s Bugganes, by the way." The guild manager replied, nearly choking on the name for the largest boggling. "Continue." Kaius nodded, doing his best to ignore the humour that Ro had found in the names. He did admit it was a strange name, but regardless if it was expected for them to fail or not¡ªthey were being judged. Trying to find the humour in it all¡ªto joke with Ro as if she was a friend¡ªwould undoubtedly backfire. He might have, back in the guild hall¡ªif they were sharing a pint and swapping stories¡ªbut right now they were delvers who had failed, and she was their superior. "We were uninformed. While bugbears and other developed forms of boggarts are new, cullings of a scale like this are almost certainly not. We should have asked for advice¡ªfound accounts in the guild, approaches that had worked in the past, and tactics that would maximise our success. We probably should have looked into goblins too, since they''re a similar plague to the dwarves, and they deal with them in far greater numbers than boggarts have ever been seen in." Kaius said, laying out the first of their mistakes. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. He''d thought about it a lot. Honestly, the fact that it had taken this for him to realise he should be leveraging the experience of the guild was an embarrassment. They were an institution, with all the knowledge and experience that came with it. Not just a mission board and a wallet. "Yes!" Ro said, throwing up her hands like she wanted to throw herself to her knees and praise the gods. "I wanted to wring your fucking neck when you morons left Deadacre without asking to be shown to the Archives¡ªwe have more than maps, you know!" "I won''t fault you for not looking into goblins¡ªthough I will be mandating that for anyone who takes on a boggling contract from now on¡ªbecause this development of the ''bogglings'' came as much of a shock to me as anyone else. I only knew as much as you did before we arrived." Ro continued, before she leaned in and fixed them with a stare. "However, if you''d looked into boggarts you''d know that bugbears aren''t new." Kaius looked at her in shock¡ªthey weren''t? What in the gods'' names was she talking about? It seemed he wasn''t the only one surprised by her response. Ianmus''s eyes were practically falling out of his skull. "They aren''t?" Ianmus replied. "But I thought they were thought of as unique amongst the lower races?" "Wrong, though a common belief. Boggart dens rarely grow above level twenty, or forty members, before they are discovered and stamped out. However, there have been a few accounts of them growing large enough to have chiefs and shamans...who are invariably bugbears. We just thought they were closer to ogres and trolls, where a single leader and a single mage can develop into a more potent form." Ro replied, shaking her head. Kaius sighed¡ªso they''d been even more uninformed than he thought. "That just reinforces my point¡ªwe should have researched. No doubt there would have been long held approaches to culling effectively." The guild manager gave him a slow nod, like he''d just said that cows could be milked. "There are. I''m glad you''ve realised this on your own¡ªa delver needs to be prepared. The threats of this world are myriad and vast, but history is long. If you have any inkling of what you''re going to face, you''re doing yourself a disservice by ignoring the wisdom of your predecessors. Now, you said you had other failings¡ªtell me." "Preparation." Kaius replied. "We came in half-cocked. You''d outright told us an estimate of numbers¡ªbut we still stocked as if we would have the down time to recover." Ro clapped, each crack of her hands echoing through the cavern. "Correct. A common enough issue amongst fresh meat that has only delved¡ªwhich was everyone in the central lands, before this phase change flooded us with monsters. The shallow layers of the Depths are forgiving¡ªalmost kind. In the deep wilds¡ªeverywhere now, with the rising mana¡ªand the deeper layers, you do not get those pretty little encounters wrapped in a bow. It''s a constant grind¡ªrest only comes when you''ve killed everything nearby, hidden yourselves, or managed to run fast enough to escape." So the Depths did change as you got deeper. Kaius filed that knowledge away¡ªit was another thing to research. He''d known the biomes got more expansive, and even more densely populated, but he''d hoped that being able to rest between battles would remain. Ro caught his eye. "I see that look¡ªyes, deeper layers of the depths are far more difficult than can be explained by levels alone. The monsters are smarter, tougher, and more coordinated. There''s more of them, they roam larger areas, and rest spaces grow fewer and fewer. Regardless, the common wisdom is to approach every estimate as if the true numbers were twice what you had been told¡ªand you didn''t even prepare for that much." "We didn''t." Kaius agreed. "We should have had as many restoratives as we could purchase¡ªpotion toxicity matters far less when you''re fighting for so long, we could have fielded far more skills far more frequently if we weren''t worried about burning out. Even if I''d still had to save my spells, I would have been able to use my Bladerite far more than I did." Nodding along to his words, Kaius was surprised to see the guild manager looked almost pleased. Clearly, by offering up his own explanations for their failure, he''d taken a bit of the wind out of the sails of the lecture she''d no doubt been expecting to give. She paused for a bit, tapping the armrest while she looked off into space¡ªclearly thinking. Suddenly, Ro rose to her feet, jumping down from the grisly throne to walk towards them. "I''ll be honest¡ªthose are the main issues I''d noted. I''m curious though¡ªyou said you made three mistakes, what was the third?" Kaius cocked his head. He was sure that the last one had been something that she and Rieker would have wanted to drive home. "That we should have recognised we were not well suited to this mission, and asked for assistance?" Ro paused midstep, looking at him like he''d grown three heads. "Oh, that''s just precious¡ªno." "What? I¡ª" "No." Ro cut him off. "Learn to deal with your weaknesses and deficiencies, or you''ll die. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow¡ªbut someday you will. If you''re not confident in your chances of success on a contract you don''t take it." "More than that, the rise in mana has...changed things. In all likelihood¡ªwhether on the surface, or a deep delve¡ªyou will run into a situation you are unequipped to handle. When that happens, you run. You run fast, far, and only return when you are equipped to seize victory." she continued. Ro slapped her knee, clearly thinking through her words¡ªfocusing on how best to impress her teachings upon them. "Being a delver is dangerous. We told you we had resources in place to handle this¡ªif you felt unsuited, or found yourself out of your depths, you should have stood your ground and declined the job¡ªor retreated. Yes, this was vitally important¡ªbut if you had died nothing would have been gained, and the bogglings would have been just as much of a threat. A living delver¡ªespecially of you and your team''s calibre¡ªand an incomplete mission is far more valuable than a dead one and a half-finished job." "That is what I want you to take away from this. Yes, we expected you to make this mistake. That is why I came, to ensure that you learned, while still extracting as much hands-on experience and levels as possible. Yes, there were developments neither of us expected¡ªbut if you had read the histories, you could have either handled it, or retreated to inform us of such an event. Remember, this is no true loss¡ªtake it for what it is, a teaching. You will have only failed us if this happens again." Ro finished Then she kept walking. Kaius expected her to slow¡ªto join them where they stood. She didn''t. He spun, tracking her as she walked past. "I''ve got shit to do¡ªpaperwork." Ro spat the word like it was poison. "Don''t make these mistakes again, and come see me when you return to the city." Then she blurred, vanishing in a gust of wind. Kaius stood there, rooted to the spot as he stared after the guild manager in disbelief. He struggled to wrap his head around the woman. She travelled all the way here to simply judge their performance, tear them a new one, and then just leaves? When he''d seen Ro sitting there, he''d expected a remedial beatdown at the very least¡ªsomething like Rieker had done. If not a week or so of training as they travelled back to Deadacre. Apparently he''d been mistaken. "Well, that was weird. Shall we look for loot?" Porkchop said, breaking the stunned silence. Kaius sighed. Chapter 221 - B2 218: Looting and Leaving, pt. 1 Kaius carefully picked his way between the chunks of boggling strewn across the cavern¡ªthe remnants of Ro''s earlier devastation of a full two thirds of the plague. While he didn''t hold overmuch respect for their dead, nor was it possible to completely avoid getting his boots coated in all varieties of unmentionable, feeling his weight pulp flesh beneath his boot was still disgusting. So he did his best, relying on supernatural dexterity and strength to hop between islands of clean stone as he made his way to the slain warchief''s and shaman''s tents. "Show off." Porkchop muttered. Kaius snorted. Neither of his teammates had the luxury of avoiding the muck. Porkchop was simply too large to avoid it all, and Ianmus suffered from a simple lack of physical ability. Shooting his brother an easy grin, he made a final leap¡ªa good fifteen strides¡ªto the patch of relatively unblemished stone that surrounded the structures. He spun¡ªthrowing his hands in the air. "Ta-da!" Ankle deep in viscera, neither of his companions found his humour particularly gripping¡ªhis show only earning him a doubled glare as they stomped over to him. With Ro having been confirmed as the source of the missing bogglings, much of the tense anxiety that had weighed upon them had fled. Unfortunately, the dissatisfaction at their showing remained. An acrid bitterness that percolated in his stomach, doing its best to taint everything else they had to be proud of. For there were things they had done well¡ªhe knew that, and acknowledging their victories was just as important as learning from their defeat. Ianmus had founded his Aspect Mentis, they''d survived a siege they were thoroughly unprepared for, and they''d gained skill and class levels galore. That said, the revelation that Ro had been watching them the whole time¡ªthat they''d specifically been sent on a mission that was poorly suited to them, on the assumption they would approach it with inadequate thought and preparation¡ªwas a little difficult to swallow. Especially because the woman had left within minutes of their conversation even starting. Kaius wanted to pick her brains, to get her opinion on where they should direct their efforts. Now he''d have to wait until they got to Deadacre¡ªsomething that was imposing in its own right. No doubt Rieker would have his own things to say, and Kaius would sooner believe that trees walked than think the guildmaster wouldn''t have a few...remedial lessons waiting for them at their return. Porkchop and Ianmus arrived, breaching the tide of death to join him on dry land. They shook their feet¡ªa vain attempt to dislodge the worst of the drippings. "I still can''t believe one woman did all of this," Ianmus said, eyes scanning the strewn bodies of the horde with a furrowed brow that revealed the devastation had left him impressed¡ªand intimidated. "She has to be in the second tier, right?" Kaius nodded. It was the only explanation that made sense. The way she''d been all but undetectable to their every senses¡ªincluding his Truesight, which specialised in revealing the hidden¡ªand the ease with which she had cut through hundreds of monsters left very little other explanation. Let alone the woman''s speed¡ªthere''d been no flash of mana, but when she''d left them it felt like she''d just dissolved into wind. One moment she''d been standing there, the next Ro was just...gone. "She feels strong," Porkchop agreed. "She tore these creatures apart¡ªno one with claws that sharp stays a simple Uncommon or Rare." Porkchop''s statement got Kaius thinking¡ªassuming she was tier two, was it likely she had an Unusual class? He decided to ask Ianmus, who had taken to cutting a section of hide from one of the nearby tents in an attempt to clean up his boots. Ianmus looked up, letting out a low hum as he thought it over. "Most people are pretty cagey about it¡ªTier two''s are rare in the central lands, especially those close to the Frontier. No one wants to accidentally let it slip to their enemies¡ªpolitical and physical¡ªthat they''re at a stat disadvantage afterall. However, I''d say it''s likely. Uncommon is the bare minimum for Delvers, and with the kind of dedicated effort it takes to reach the second tier I would be surprised if anyone was less than Rare." Ianmus finally replied, discarding his scrap hide¡ªnow soaked in blood. Kaius tilted his head, not entirely sure if he agreed. Sure, most people either died or burnt out of adventuring work long before they evolved their class¡ªbut everything he''d seen in the Guild had screamed a shocking lack of ambition. In his mind, the fact that most people fought things lower in level than themselves would reduce their chances. Sure, it wouldn''t be everyone¡ªbut there had to be some people who were diligent and overcautious, building up their levels over decades instead of months and years. Surely not all of them would just...give up, right? With all the benefits that came from rising through the tiers¡ªthe life extension, increased stats, and skill evolutions¡ªpeople wouldn''t just stop trying, it would be absurd. Yet he couldn''t see any other explanation for the notable lack of people higher than the first tier¡ªand the prevalence of exceptionalism amongst those who made it. It made no sense. It was just experience, if people hungered for it, it was in reach. He couldn''t see how fighting lower level monsters could be so soul destroying that people would just give up. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Admittedly, it was probably so boring and slow that he was getting restless just thinking about that particular path to power. Kaius shook his head, driving the matter from his mind. They''d made their way through the thickest piles of bodies in the hopes of investigating for valuables¡ªif there were any, they were bound to be near the plague leader''s tents. "I''ll check the shaman''s tent¡ªwho knows what sort of noxious things it might have been brewing in the past." Kaius suggested. If there was anything dangerous, he was the least likely to be affected with his broad spanning resistances. "Good idea, plus you have a nose for reagents¡ªI''ll check out the rear of the cavern. That stone the boggling were using has me curious, if there''s a vein of it we might be able to claim a finders fee. It''s pretty normal for valuable seams that are worth extracting." Ianmus replied, nodding his head to the shadowed wall beyond the tents. At the very least, there was evidence of more mining back there¡ªthough it could have just as easily been the plague making another expansion. "That''s a little cheeky, don''t you think? Wouldn''t Ro have the claim since she cleared the cavern?" Porkchop asked, surprise¡ªbut not disapproval¡ªseeping through his mental words. Ianmus had the decency to look bashful, shooting them a half smile. "Of course¡ªthough I will admit that her sudden flight indicates she considers her salvage forfeit." "Hah¡ªwe can hope. I guess that leaves the Warchief''s den, then. I''ll yell if there''s anything that needs thumbs." Porkchop said, plodding towards the largest tent to their right. Sharing a silent nod with Ianmus, he left the mage to do his own investigations, and walked towards the only slightly smaller tent about fifty strides across the cavern. It was a grisly thing¡ªimpressive in scale for its crude construction. A chest high circular wall made of a crudely stitched mishmash of different hides stretched across a wooden frame served as the base to the structure, while a low conical top of similar make was fastened to a central pillar. The pillar itself was particularly macabre¡ªtwo dozen different skulls were mounted on strange effergies of bone. A profane offering or beseechment of whatever dark gods the spiritual leader of the plague had paid his allegiance to. Pushing aside the flap that held the tent closed, Kaius quickly found the iron-laden air of the cavern outside washed away with the sharp bite of alchemy. Most of it was old¡ªa stale torrent of bitter hatred sinking its way into his nostrils, its older black works long since losing the potency that would have differentiated the scent of magic. Honestly, for what he had seen of the general barbarity of the bogglings, he was almost impressed by the creature''s setup. Almost. A low sleeping pit had been gouged into the stone at the far end of the tent, roughly layered with grease streaked furs. Other than that single sign of habitation, everything else in the space seemed to have been devoted to crude imitations of alchemy and runes. Drying herbs, reagents, and poultices hung from the wooden framing of the tent''s root, with more in the final stages of preservation lining rickety wooden shelves that dotted the tent haphazardly. At the centre, right where a cooking pit would have normally been, several cauldrons had been set over a currently unlit fire. The pots were cast iron¡ªno doubt stolen from whatever unfortunate souls the plague had set their eyes upon. With the residue of past experiments and so many mundane reagents filling the air, it was hard for Kaius to work his way through what he was looking for. He was no Alchemist, and even his Toolkit was a poor substitute for a class with a full complement of synergistic skills. He''d hoped that he could rely on nothing but his nose to draw him to any choice pickings, but it seemed such a thing would not be the case. Sighing at the work ahead of him, Kaius started to pick his way through the belongings of the dead shaman¡ªtaking care not to touch anything lest he run afoul of some affliction or curse. .... Much like he had expected, most of the lead shaman''s stash of reagents were little more than mana infused mundane herbs. Something a skilled practitioner could use in a pinch, but nothing actually worth collecting. There had been a shelf of open bowls filled with a shocking number of noxious ointments and tonics of a dubious nature, though Kaius was as inclined to touch them and he was to try to bite a bull''s backside. Just the thought of messing around with boggling ''tonics'' set his stomach roiling. That said, he''d also been pleasantly surprised. Despite the careful search taking enough time that both Ianmus and Porkchop had called in to make sure he wasn''t lying on the floor and foaming at the mouth, it had actually proven fruitful. The shaman had somehow managed to collect three reagents that were potent enough for the system to give them a rarity¡ªone of which was even a Rare, a sliver of milky crystal glowing with an internal green light. An affinity condensate¡ªthough one of the lowest grade. A shame, considering that that limited its uses considerably. If it was twice the size, Kaius had no doubt they''d be able to get a clean thousand gold, considering how hard they were to find. He''d almost missed it, hidden as it was underneath a pile of lesser herbs on a shelf tucked in a back corner of the tent. Kaius looked at his haul, having laid them out on a thin bench to give them a closer look. Other than the crystal, there''d been a mushroom that reeked of fire and ash once he''d gotten close enough, and a small waterskin filled with some sort of amber treacle substance¡ªtree sap, from the system''s description. He pulled up their descriptions, wanting to take a final look¡ªfinding even one would have been a pleasant surprise, but all three would likely bring in enough coin to rival one of their lesser missions that they''d completed on the journey over. Wasting Ash Toadstool: Uncommon - Tier I Affinity - Fire, Ash, Toxin Beware the ruin heralded by ash. A magically potent fungus, brimming with the caustic remnants of flame. Reagent .... Least Nature Condensate Rare - Tier I Affinity - Nature A spring breeze, preserved in amber. Through miracle or a conflux of coincidence, this smallest drop of purified Nature affinity has crystallised Reagent .... Hungering Hemlock Sap: Common - Tier I Affinity - Nature, Poison Sometimes even the most mundane of beings can become more than their birth. The extract of a Hemlock that has long steeped in potential of mana. Reagent B2 Chapter 226: Payment, pt. 3 B2 Chapter 226: Payment, pt. 3 Staring at a case of what looked to be easily over a hundred vials of materials was rather overwhelming, especially when he had no easy way to tell which one would be the material that Kaius¡¯s sword hungered for. If it even was just a single material¡ªfor all he knew there could be multiple. Kaius hoped so¡ªknowing that all it would take to upgrade his blade was a few missions would take a load off his mind, and would exponentially increase his effectiveness in battle. Using his Truesight to analyse each and every one would have taken far too long, so he decided to simply start his way from the bottom. The least expensive materials were probably the least likely to be what he needed, but he decided to work his way through them all the same. Every bottle he picked up held something new. Pinches of electric blue dust, droplets of sparking metal, even splinters of wood that writhed and wriggled its way around the bottom of the glass. That was just the first layer¡ªas he picked his way through the low hanging fruit, Kaius moved his way up the container, laying his hands on samples of more expensive and rare materials. By the third layer, things got truly strange. A flake of what looked to be gelatine, except formed from condensed fire that flickered and blazed with contained fury. A grain sized shard of a pitch black hole in the world, except when he rattled the vial it tinked of the glass like common metal. Halfway through the third layer, he found what he was looking for. As his fingers brushed against the lid of the next vial, he felt his sword yank on his bond¡ªhungrily crying for whatever the bottle contained. Kaius snatched it up out of its velvet housing, holding it up to the light to get a better look at what was held within. ¡°This is it.¡± he said confidently, staring at a small metallic bead that rolled around the base of the vial. It was small, barely half the size of a grain of rice, and a deep red colour¡ªlike clotted blood. Curiously, it seemed to be a liquid, though one of a density and cohesiveness he¡¯d never seen. It didn¡¯t streak, or spread, but as it rolled across the glass he watched the metal droplet deform and mold to the surface. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Ro said, nearly sighing in relief. ¡°We were worried there wouldn¡¯t be anything. Deadacre is a bit of a backwater, and we have nowhere near a comprehensive stock¡ªeverything of real value is exchanged with other guildhalls in places where they¡¯ll actually get used.¡± Kaius nodded, before he set the vial to the side¡ªignoring his sword¡¯s primitive dismay as he did so. ¡°Just want to see if there¡¯s anything else¡ªI might be able to leap straight to awakening A Father¡¯s Gift if there is.¡± Rieker merely nodded, waving at him to go ahead. Thankfully, his team seemed happy to wait, both Porkchop and Ianmus more focused on fiddling with their latest artefacts than what he was doing. Continuing his exploration of the materials, Kaius found nothing of note within the rest of the third section. Nor, much to his disappointment, did he find anything in the fourth. There was only the top compartment of the box left¡ªholding a bare seven vials, all of which were the most valuable of the lot. Even if he did find something here, Kaius doubted he would be able to get access to it any time soon. After all, Rieker had said some of them were expensive to the extreme. Still, if there was, it was an option he could pursue if the opportunity arose, though he would wait until after he had updated his armour to start saving. The topmost compartment held materials that were by far the strangest¡ªand blazed like the sun to his mana sight. Ash that whirled in a vortex of its own creation. Grains of sand, floating in a ball in the vials centre. A shard of bone, dripping with enough magical potency that it visibly distorted the very air around it. Kaius nearly buckled as he picked up the vial¡ªso strong was the desire of his blade. It hungered for the bone, needed it in a way that Kaius had no name for. A simple fact of its existence. A bundle of unliving desire that the blade may have been, Kaius instinctively knew that this material was far better than anything else he could hope to secure otherwise. Regardless of its cost, he had to have it. Kaius placed it on the table, his hand shaking. ¡°This one resonated too.¡± he said, looking up. Only to be surprised to see a Rieker letting out a sympathetic wince. ¡°I was afraid you¡¯d say that¡ªit¡¯s bloody expensive. Not the most economical thing to save for.¡± the guildmaster said. ¡°I can also tell that it¡¯s invaluable for the development of my sword, it¡¯d be worth the cost.¡± Rieker nodded, scratching his chin in thought. ¡°You¡¯ll see why it¡¯s so pricey when you analyze it. I can¡¯t in good conscience let you funnel all of your rewards towards it¡ªat least not until you¡¯re in a new suit of armour.¡± R?aNo???s? Kaius frowned¡ªeven if it was costly, he¡¯d been hoping it would be an attainable goal with enough work. ¡°How long?¡± he asked. ¡°For the first material? Another mission would net you that, and some proper greaves to go over your boots. Another two missions would finish off the armour¡ªyou¡¯ll be earning more with each one. By then...you should be well into Iron. If I were to guess at the growing difficulty of the missions you could take, I would say it would take...another fifteen or so before you accrued enough for that material. And that¡¯s with us fudging the numbers on its value significantly.¡± Rieker replied, giving him an apologetic smile. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Kaius¡¯s shoulder¡¯s slumped as he realised the magnitude of work it would take to earn that final material. Fifteen missions was far too much, if he delayed acquiring other equipment for that long, he¡¯d be vastly undergeared¡ªespecially considering the rate of their ongoing advancement. He couldn¡¯t be brushing up on the second tier and using uncommon equipment¡ªit¡¯d be suicide, especially considering the caliber of threats that they came up against. ¡°I see you understand the position we¡¯re in.¡± Rieker said, before he leaned over and gave him an encouraging clap over the shoulder. ¡°Listen¡ªthere¡¯s a chance we can make it happen. Upgrading your weapon is a worthy goal, but I''m bound by my oaths to the guild, I can¡¯t just give it to you.¡± Rieker paused for a moment. ¡°However, extraordinary service to the guild would allow me to bend the rules. There¡¯s nothing that would count at the moment, but with the phase shift it¡¯s just a matter of time. If a settlement under Deadacre¡¯s sphere of protection falls under assault, or there¡¯s a beast wave like the old tales...well, if you¡¯re strong enough, let¡¯s just say it¡¯s likely there will be plenty of opportunities to prove your value to the guild. Hells, if we didn¡¯t have to hide your sharing of Honours and Aspects, that¡¯d be enough right now¡ªif you still need it by the time those are revealed, you can have it then.¡± the guildmaster continued, giving him an encouraging smile. Kaius nodded, feeling somewhat mollified. Clearly, Rieker wasn¡¯t being difficult because he wanted to, and if there were alternative ways to secure the final piece he needed for his sword, he would do so. Besides, if worst came to worst, he would still be better off than he had been before. There was always the hope that his enhanced Guardian rewards would provide him a viable alternative when they next delved. Hells, if the final material he had picked from the guilds stores was truly that good, he could always stockpile valuables of his own to trade for it. ¡°Thanks, Rieker.¡± he said, before he turned his attention to the two glass vials he had set on the guildmaster desk. He picked up the first one he had found¡ªthe material he would have his hands on by the end of their next mission. Swirling the strangely liquid bead around the glass, Kaius analysed it with his Truesight. Elder Blood: Unique - Tier I Affinity - Blood, Metal Power is the essence of blood, congealed and crystalised it becomes accessible. A potent metal, found only in the ancient gravesites of powerful beasts. Where enough blood has spilled, the iron gravitates to the locus of residual power¡ªshifting and transmuting in the presence of Blood and Metal affinity to become something more. Reagent Kaius read the notification in surprise, blinking it away when he was done. Unique? That was more than he had expected¡ªafter all, it had only been from the middle layer of the box. If something from there was that valuable, how expensive was the bone he had pulled out? ¡°I¡¯m glad that you picked out that one¡ªit would have been terribly disappointing if the only things you found were out of reach.¡± Rieker said when he looked up. ¡°Where¡¯d it get found?¡± Rieker looked to Ro¡ªit seemed she knew far more of the logistics of the guild than the guildmaster did. Hells, for all Kaius knew, she was the one who had collated the samples in the first place. ¡°A guardian drop¡ªlayer seventeen. One of the local Steel teams found it recently¡ªthey¡¯re rushing for Silver with everything that¡¯s happening. None of them had much use for a material, so they traded it in for gear.¡± she explained. Kaius nodded. It made sense. He even suspected that the reason he could even get access to a Unique so quickly was that it was a raw material. Few artificers in a place like deadacre would have the skills to make full use of the stuff, so he doubted there was any great demand. That only made him more curious about the bone shard. Things tended to get increasingly expensive per tier increase, but even with that it would have to be something singularly potent to fetch the price that the guild was asking for. Kaius placed the droplet of Elder Blood back on the table, and pulled up the description of the last material. Infant Wyvern Bone: Epic - Tier I Affinity - Arcane, Draconic, Primal Even the least of dragonlings will raze an empire. A scrap of bone from an infant wyvern¡ªthe lowest member, of the lowest order of draconic lesser beasts. Even with the barest hint of the power of their primogenitors, wyvern remains bristle with the potency they burn with in life. Reagent Kaius was suddenly very glad he had left the vial on the table, because he doubted he would have been able to keep a grip on it after reading its description. Epic¡ªand draconic at that? Where in the great heavens had this come from. Even the least of draconic creatures were feared for a reason. Possessing singular magical potency, a body that would put even a greater meles to shame, and terrifyingly powerful breath weapons, they were usually given a wide berth. It was often easier to leave them be, and hope that they were simply migrating, than it was to drive them off. When they did prove too much of a threat? The cullings were the stuff of bardsong¡ªhe¡¯d heard of people gaining a rarity increase in their class simply from participating. Though, now that he thought about it, that was probably an exaggeration. Kaius looked up at Rieker and Ro in shock, still struggling to believe what he had seen. ¡°Where the fuck did you find a wyvern?¡± Kaius asked, causing his team to snap towards him in shock. ¡°Wait, that¡¯s from a dragonling? I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d find them out here where the mana is so thin.¡± Porkchop asked, looking at the shard of bone with curiosity. Ianmus only watched the guild administrators closely, interested in their response. Grinning widely, Rieker jutted a thumb to his chest. ¡°That¡¯d be me. A runt flew down from the mountains and settled in the Hanset woods. I had to cull it before it grew out of the first tier¡ªletting it do so was a dire enough threat that I couldn¡¯t trust it to anyone else.¡± Kaius gave the man a nod of respect. That battle must have been legendary, even if the guildmaster had outlevelled the creature significantly. Even an infant draconic beast was no wilting daisy. ¡°I¡¯ve got its skull mounted above my bed, but I sold everything else back to the guild. A single femur is all that¡¯s left after the other guildhalls got their mitts on the choice cuts.¡± Kaius¡¯s eyes drifted back to the shard of bone. A dragonling...that was a powerful resource. One that he could see benefiting the growth of his sword immensely¡ªespecially since it was the first Epic anything that he¡¯d ever seen, even if it was simply tier one. He made up his mind. Regardless of what he had to do¡ªshort of stealing the damned thing¡ªhe¡¯d get his hands on that bone. He could already imagine how good A Father¡¯s Gift would look with a dragonbone hilt. Chapter 222 - B2 219: Looting and Leaving, pt. 2 Reading through the descriptions of the reagents that he''d discovered in the shaman''s tent for the second time, Kaius focused on the Least Nature Condensate. It was by far the most valuable of the bunch. Condensates were rare. Only in the perfect conditions would they manifest, requiring unnatural mana density with an unusual bent to a single affinity¡ªon top of needing something to encourage it all to crystallise, though no one had ever discovered what to his knowledge¡ªsomething he could easily be mistaken on. Least ones like he held in his hand were by far the most common¡ªaccounting for something ludicrous like ninety-eight in all hundred discoveries. Unfortunately, they were by far the least valuable. Larger condensates had a myriad of uses in alchemy, runework, and large free-cast spells. Ones like the splinter in his palm lacked that potency, and were mostly just used to empower or intensify reactions that made use of their affinity or a closely aligned one. They could still empower spells, but they didn''t have the staying power or ritualistic might of the rarer finds. Even still, they were expensive¡ªboth due to their rarity, and because even if they lacked much of the use of their larger cousins, they were still useful. Regardless of its value, Kaius thought it was likely they''d hold onto the nature condensate. If he''d stayed the path of a standard Runewright he would have been able to use it as a reagent in any number of potent inscriptions. As it stood, it would still likely have some value to Ianmus¡ªit could be used to potentiate spells of a similar affinity, and Solar was close to both Nature and Light. Scooping up his spoils, Kaius left the tent to find his team sitting on a clean section of stone far from the smears of spilled blood that splattered the stone¡ªeven though the area around the tents was only relatively clean. "Find anything good? You were in there for a while." Ianmus asked, looking at him with curiosity. "Yeah¡ªthere was a lot to get through. Found a few things though, including this." Kaius hucked the affinity crystal towards Ianmus, who jolted before desperately trying not to drop the crystalline shard. Ianmus scowled at him, though there was no bite to it. He only shot him a grin¡ªeven a least condensate wasn''t fragile enough to shatter from being dropped. "Check it out, you might find it useful. Happy to sell it if not." Kaius said, nodding towards the shard in Ianmus''s hand. The mage looked down, focusing on the white and green shard, before his eyes widened. "A shard of Nature? That''s a surprisingly good find¡ªyes, I''ll keep it. In a pinch I can use it to empower a spell or speed up my channeling." "Even your light beams?" Porkchop asked, tilting his head at the reagent. "I could, technically, but it would be a waste. The healing and growth aspects of Solar align much closer to Nature, so that is where it would get the most effect¡ªand probably where we would see the most use, if we''re ever in a spot where we need healing without a lengthy channel time." Kaius nodded¡ªhe''d hoped for that, and it sounded like it would be far more beneficial for them than the hundred or so gold they''d be able to sell it for. "Can you use it more than once?" he asked, mostly out of curiosity. Ianmus nodded. "Though not too much more than that. A handful if we''re lucky, two or three if we are not¡ªthough the potency will drop each time." Satisfied the crystal would be put to good use, Kaius walked over to take a seat with his friends. "What of you two, anything good?" Porkchop snorted, shaking his head. "I wish¡ªjust junk. Best I found was a handful of silver that the warchief had piled up as some sort of decoration." That was a moderate disappointment, though he knew that even finding the reagents was a boon¡ªonly in the Depths would you ever consistently be showered with rewards. Though, there was still the stone. "How about you?" he asked, turning to Ianmus. The mage tilted his hand back and forth. "So-so, it''s only a Common Earth-infused stone. From the looks of it, it''s quite the vein though, so it could have some bulk value for fortifications." "People would lug blocks of stone from here to Deadacre?" Porkchop asked incredulously. "They probably would have, a year ago. Now, with the beasts, the only ones who''ll even be interested would be the local towns. A few days journey could be worth material for fortifications made from infused stone." Ianmus replied with a shake of his head. "Well then, if we''re done here, should we start making tracks? Dawn''s approaching and it would be nice to get away from the stench of offal." Kaius suggested. He grinned when he got hurried nods in return, the whole team jumping to their feet. Deadacre, and Rieker, awaited¡ªit''d be rude to dawdle. .... The stars were out, clear and bright. Kaius sat reclined with his back against one of the small trees that dotted the plains of the frontier. Porkchop was next to him, lying on his back and staring up at the sky. They''d decided to leave Ianmus to sleep in the tent¡ªneither of them feeling particularly tired yet. It''d been an easy day''s journey, without any flashes of excitement to burn off their energy. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. After so many years of training, then the ordeal that was the depths, Kaius found it difficult to sleep early without working off some steam. Thankfully the night was young, and he had no issues with spending some time stargazing. He was jealous of Ianmus''s ability to fall asleep at the drop of a hat. He''d asked how the man had done it, but all he''d gotten was some half mumbled explanation of ''sleep being a stone for a sharp mind''¡ªas if that let him in on the secret. That said, he could understand the fatigue. It had been the better part of a week since they''d left the den of the bogglings¡ªlong enough that they''d gotten more than halfway to Deadacre. They''d had a few fights against some ornery beasts, but it was closer to busy work than anything exciting. They''d been weak things, but territorial, and hadn''t been enough to even grant him a skill level. With the grinding monotony of endless grasses, even he was looking forward to their return, despite his experience at cross country travel. Though, he was worried that they''d been attacked at all¡ªthe creatures should have left them well enough alone, considering how much more powerful they were. At the very least he''d had a lot to think about. Primarily how they were growing, and what their next steps would be. As a team they were on the cusp of their fourth class skill¡ªanother significant jump in their capabilities¡ªand Porkchop was right at the precipice of founding his Aspect. Or so he insisted, though they hadn''t gotten around to talking about his budding insights yet. Kaius shuffled back, sitting further upright. With the night to themselves, and no worry about breaking the silence thanks to beast-speak, now was actually a pretty good time to ask. He reached out, prodding his brother mentally to get his attention. Porkchop listed to the side, lazily moving his head to meet his eyes. "What?" his brother asked. "Just thought I''d ask you how your Aspect was coming along; you said you were getting close." he replied. Porkchop paused, before he rolled back over to continue staring at the sky. "It''s going okay¡ªnot as fast as I''d hoped. It feels like I''m right on the edge of it, but there''s something that''s in my way." Kaius nodded, he could understand that. When Mentis had first started to resonate in his meditations, he''d noticed that every time he''d come close it would feel like the sensation would grow ephemeral and slip away from him. As the system had said¡ªthe whole thing was inherently revelatory. "I''m sure you''ll get there¡ªwhere are you getting stuck?" he asked, happy to help Porkchop work through it. "It''s mostly that I don''t know what Corporus is. After your and Ianmus''s experiences, it''s obvious that Mentis has something to do with your mentality, and the way that you think about your goals and challenges in your path," Porkchop said, reaching up a paw to the sky. "Corporus¡ªthe insight''s I''ve had that have resonated with it¡ªfeels different. Closer to the physical body. How you take knocks and keep on going. I don''t think I can think my way towards it like you two did, I need to feel it here." he continued, tapping his chest. That caught Kaius''s attention. It had been obvious from what the system had told them that Corporus was the Aspect of the body, but he''d been trying to wrap his head around exactly what it was tied to. His brother''s insight that it felt like it was tied to the ability to endure was enlightening. Even if it was just relevant to Porkchop''s personal understanding, it was still a puzzle piece that he could use as a starting point for his own exploration when the time came. He could understand Porkchop''s frustration though¡ªit seemed like a primal insight that was felt, rather than consciously understood. Though, if anyone was bound to find it, it would be Porkchop. He was more in tune with his body than anyone else Kaius knew. "What''ve you found so far?" Kaius asked, curious about what Porkchop had discovered. "That siege was the closest I ever got¡ªhonestly, another hour and I think I would''ve had it." Porkchop started, a faint wisp of annoyance drifting across their bond¡ªthough Kaius knew it was only a superficial thing, he doubted Porkchop was really upset that they''d been saved from drowning in boggling guts. "When my arms felt like lead, when I knew that if I fell, so would everyone else¡ªit felt like a weight. A responsibility I had taken on, and couldn''t remove, not when it was so critical. I knew then, that I would keep standing. Even on stumps, I would endure. I always have. When I can''t escape, I hold. When I can deal with something head on, I act. Burdens are something to be carried, so why complain?" Porkchop said, rolling over to face him. "But like I said, I don''t think I can think my way there. I know I''m close, every time I think about it Corporus howls up a bloody storm, but it feels like I need to prove it. Prove that I can keep going when my heart screams for rest and my muscles threaten to tear themselves in two. I can feel it in my bones, it''s an aspect tied to action." Kaius smiled at his brother. That really did sound like Porkchop¡ªand if Corporus was really tied to action, he had no doubt that his brother would get there soon. Afterall, if there was anything they were good at, it was getting themselves into the kind of trouble that left them half-dead at the end of it. "If you just need that, I''m sure you''ll get there with our next mission. No doubt we''ll end up fighting something unreasonably tough¡ªI doubt Rieker would go so far as to reinforce his point by making us fight a horde immediately again." Kaius said, attempting to encourage him. Porkchop looked down, a decidable expression of uncertainty on his face. "I''m not sure if I have to." he said, scratching at the dirt. "Oh?" "I get the sense that it doesn''t need to be in a fight. I just have to prove myself, to myself. If that makes sense. Waiting for the next mission could take too long¡ªit''s at least another few days to Deadacre, then no doubt we''ll get stuck in some training regime until Rieker think''s we''re suitably ready, and then it''ll take even more time travelling to our next job. For all we know, I''ve only got a week or two to secure that Honour." Porkchop said, a look of frustration on his face. Watching Porkchop''s face¡ªfeeling the emotions in their bond¡ªhe realised that Porkchop was taking the potential loss of the Honour harder than he realised. There was a desperation there, a hunger to move forwards¡ªto not be left behind. Kaius''s face softened, and he shifted forwards, laying his hand over Porkchop''s paw that was still scratching at the earth. "We''ll figure it out¡ªyou''ve got it in the bag. Do you have any ideas on how to push through? I''ll help in any way I can." "I don''t, but..." Porkchop trailed off, averting his eyes as a bubble of guilt and anxiety swelled up to wash over Kaius. He looked at his brother with surprise, not expecting Porkchop to be feeling guilty of all things. Was he really so worried? "But what? Everything''s going to be fine." he said softly. Porkchop shook his head, before a thread of conviction resolved itself within him and he met Kaius''s eyes. "It''s not that, I...I want to ask Rieker for help." Kaius froze, staring at his brother in shock. Chapter 223 - B2 220: Looting and Leaving, Finale Kaius stared at Porkchop with a slack jaw, trying to process the words that had just been said. Did he just hear him say they should tell Rieker? Sitting in silence, his mind raced. While he had intended to tell the guildmaster about their aspects eventually¡ªhe''d meant to do it after they had all acquired one, and secured an Honour for themselves. If they told him now, he''d have questions. Namely, why it was so important for Porkchop to found his Aspect Corporus as soon as possible. Even if Rieker had been understanding about the exact specifics of the nature of their strength, it would be in his duty to see if it was something he could repeat¡ªuse to empower the guild. Kaius couldn''t in good conscience lie to the man. There was much that the man knew, but Honours were something else. If the man wasn''t already suspicious of their involvement in the phase change, he would have to be a moron not to suspect something if they let Honours slip. Plus, there was no way they''d be able to pretend that the only Honour they had received was from founding their Aspects¡ªhis and Porkchop''s unnatural strength was too blatant to try that on, Rieker would see through it immediately. His heart sped up at the very thought of it, kicking inside his chest as he thought of the consequences. Who knew what the man would do. Regardless of their lack of intent or control over the situation, it was still a catastrophe. A change that had impacted everyone. It was hard to imagine that someone as involved in the culling of monsters as the guildmaster wouldn''t take umbrage to their role in the rapid increase in danger. Not even just that, Honours were inherently a race. First bonuses were potent, and if word got out that they existed, it was all but certain that they would lose to someone at some point. There were too many scions and powerhouses with the backing of entire dynasties¡ªthey would leverage anything they could to secure another edge. Feeling the rising tension building behind his eyes, Kaius forced himself to breathe. He turned his attention to his brother, who''d been watching him cautiously since he''d shared his desire to ask for help. "Okay...you want to tell Rieker. You''re aware that if we did that, it''d most likely take us to the point where we have to share the existence of Honours? I thought we''d intended to try and secure as many bonuses as we could before we even considered that." Kaius said slowly, doing his best to reign in his feelings. Porkchop had trusted him in bringing this to him, and to react in fear or anxiety would be a disservice to their bond. Porkchop shook his shoulders, burning off some of his unease. "I know, but the longer I think about it, the more I am unsure if we''re making the right choice by keeping them to ourselves." he replied. Kaius took a deep breath, rubbing the ball of his hand into his forehead. "Porkchop, I know that the secrecy of the central lands is strange to you, but we can''t burn every advantage we have to do the right thing. At least not until we are strong enough to handle the repercussions. If the guild started pursuing Honours, no matter how secretively, it will get out. Then people will wonder where they learned about them." Kaius said slowly, hoping that his brother would understand where he was coming from. "That''s not even considering the fact that we''ll almost certainly lose out on more bonuses." Porkchop shook his head, firm conviction bleeding across their bond. "I''m not sure if you''re right. I promise I''ve thought about this¡ªhear me out, at the very least." Kaius paused. If this wasn''t just Porkchop having a flight of fancy due to a worry that he might miss out on an Honour, then he could do that at least. He gave his brother a nod, whose shoulders relaxed. "Thank you. First, Honours will get out anyway¡ªwe can''t stop the others who are in the first five to complete an Aspect from learning about them. Sure, there''s a good chance they won''t even be on Vaastivar, and they might keep it to themselves or their Dynasty, but people will learn. That means the competition already exists, and others will likely grow strong in much the same way we have." He supposed that was true¡ªbut it still didn''t feel like enough justification to spread it widely, and make it obvious that they had discovered honours too. Before he could bring it up, Porkchop continued talking. "It''s not just that, either. If we bring this to the guild, they will be in our debt¡ªit is the greatest discovery of a millennia, and potentially far more rewarding than Aspects in the long run." "Is something as nebulous as a debt worth losing our advantage?" Kaius replied, his brow furrowed. "Kaius, the second that someone else earns an Honour, the advantage will have already been lost. At least if we share with Rieker, we will at least be helping to nurture powers that are supposed to be our allies." His jaw flexed, teeth grinding as he swallowed his frustration. It was hard to deny that they would be unable to keep Honours entirely secret¡ªhe could admit that much. Yet he couldn''t help but shake the deep seated sense that to do so would be wrong. Even sharing their existence with Three Fields¡ªwith people he trusted and loved¡ªhad been difficult to stomach. Doing the same with as large an organisation as the guild had him on the verge of panic. Because there would be no way that Rieker would keep the existence of Honours private. Sure, he would be oath-bound to hide their involvement, but all it would take would be one curious senior member to do a little bit of investigating to discover the man had a new team of proteges. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. "I''m¡ªI''m not sure, Porkchop. My gut says it''s too risky. You said you''re on the verge of your Aspect already, is it truely so important? There will be more Honours in our future, even if you miss this one." Porkchop growled softly in frustration. Leaning forwards, he shoved Kaius in the shoulder with a heavy paw, shaking him out of his thoughts. "Kaius, you dolt. I''m not that desperate¡ªI think there are direct benefits to us as a team that you''re not considering. Though, I do think you''re discounting the beneficial impact that a growing group of Observed delvers would have on this shitshow." Porkchop sighed, pulling back. "Look, the guild is going to find out at some point¡ªif not from this honour, then another of the new ones related to the phase change. Can you guarantee that we will be the first to kill a Tyrant? Or deal with whatever a Crucible is? Or be the first to finish all three Aspects, or anything else we don''t even know exists? You know all of those are likely to come with Honours." he continued. Kaius groaned, leaning back onto his hands. Porkchop was right¡ªon that front at least. Especially on the front of Tyrants. No doubt they were strong, and the guild was the first contacted to deal with threats like that. Even if the first to kill one was massively higher level, he had no reason to think that it would disqualify them¡ªhis own honour for discovering glyph binding hadn''t had any such limitations. "And when they find out, it''ll be immediately obvious why we''re so strong¡ªthey''ll know. Not just that we have Honours, but that we have hidden them." Kaius whispered, his eyes boring holes into the ground. "Exactly." Porkchop nodded. "We may as well leverage this to gain trust, before our secrecy is discovered anyway." "So that''s just it, then? We''re doomed to be discovered, to lose our advantage over the competition? Lose our bonuses to others?" Kaius muttered, a bitter frustration within him. It felt like every time he tried to secure safety for himself and those closest to him, the world conspired to rip it all away. Porkchop scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Okay, now you''re just being dramatic." Scowling back at his brother, Kaius still did his best to reign in his gut reaction. Porkchop was right¡ªmoping was pointless. If it was bound to happen, then Porkchop had the right of it. They should be planning on how best to use it to their advantage. Kaius took a breath, and nodded, doing his best to set his reservations to the side. "Alright then, you mentioned I''d missed a way we could benefit from this¡ªwhat''ve you got." Porkchop shook himself, happy that he''d gotten through to Kaius. He sat up quickly. "Okay, first, I don''t think that we should be too worried about losing our advantages¡ªor too many firsts. We both have completed legacies, multiple Honours from our unclassed period, and Heroic classes¡ªthat''s a large gap for people to catch up, and it gives us a large advantage on getting more." That was admittedly true, though it still felt unnatural to willingly hand over the tools for people to bridge even some of that distance. He nodded anyway. "The thing is though, even if we do lose a first bonus here or there, I think sharing with the guild would net us more Honours in the long run." How exactly did that work? Kaius gave his brother a look, cocking his brow¡ªwho promptly responded with an exasperated stare. "For the sake of all that the Matriarchs hold dear¡ªKaius, we don''t exactly have a book of their names and their requirements. We have enough to guess at some, but the vast majority of those depend on our capability to kill things stronger than us, and finish our aspects faster than others. What do you think would happen if the entire guild was looking for them? They''d discover things we hadn''t even thought to try!" Kaius rocked back on his hands, staring at his brother in shock. In all his visceral hatred of sharing dangerous secrets, he''d gotten so caught up in the idea of people competing with them for the same Honours that he hadn''t even considered the aspect of finding them in the first place. Porkchop was...right. That was a significant benefit. Even if they lost a couple of firsts, if they could get access to the requirements of others it would more than outweigh the downsides. Especially since sharing wouldn''t exactly take away the advantages they had already gained. They''d be in a far better position to attempt challenges for honours than others. It was just...would there really be people skilled enough and crazy enough to attempt the sort of deadly feats that an Honour required, just on the vague hunch that it might pay off? Porkchop, of course, had already thought about that. "Of course they will¡ªsure, most people avoid challenges, but not everyone. There are people who''ve earned Rare and Unusual classes through their own merit, Ianmus is a perfect example. Besides, I''m sure there''s all sorts of obscure minor Honours that will be less risky to attempt. We got one for living in the Depths for a year, and we could have done that without ever fighting a Champion or Guardian." Kaius drummed his hand against his knee, thinking. The more time he mulled it over, the more he realised that Porkchop had a good point. They had much to gain, and only a little to lose. Rieker and Ro were sworn to secrecy, and would be oath-bound to assist them. They would be able to insulate them from suspicion¡ªor at least keep their secret until they were strong enough it wouldn''t matter. Beyond that...the most elite and promising guild members growing even more powerful would only benefit everyone, and creating a knowledge sharing network would benefit them directly. If they got in early, shared that Honours existed now¡ªthey could beat others to the punch. Try to influence a program similar to the knowledge sharing of Aspects and share the details of their knowledge package so that the information could never be lost. "Okay, you''ve convinced me." Kaius finally said. Chuffing in surprise, Porkchop launched himself at Kaius in excitement¡ªpressing him to the ground with a heavy warm weight. "I knew I was right!" Porkchop teased, ignoring Kaius''s muffled protests and attempts to shove him off. Kaius resorted to ramming his thumb under one of his brother''s ribs, digging it in painfully and causing Porkchop to yelp and leap off of him. "Oaf." he said with a grin, pushing himself into a sitting position. "Like I was saying¡ªwe still need to discuss it with Ianmus. It is as much his secret as it is our own, we''re a team and we can''t decide something like this for him unilaterally." "Of course." Porkchop replied, unconcerned as he rolled onto his back and went back to staring at the night sky. "You said that people name groups of stars, right? What are those ones?" he continued, pointing at a cluster of bright lights in the heavens above. Kaius shook his head, amazed at Porkchop''s ability to change the subject. "The bottom half of The Miner, those are his boots." Kaius replied, before Porkchop pointed at another, and then another¡ªasking him to name the constellations Father had taught him as a boy. Time flew by, and before Kaius knew it, the tiredness that had eluded him earlier had him wrapped up tight. They retired, ready to continue their journey tomorrow¡ªand ask Ianmus what he thought of Porkchop''s plan. Chapter 224 - B2 221: Growing Problems, pt. 1 The morning sun was low on the horizon, shining brightly in their eyes, as they made their final approach to Deadacre. With Truesight fortifying his vision against the glare, Kaius could comfortably see the smudge of brown that was the circle of cracked earth that surrounded the small Frontier city''s walls. The fortifications themselves were jutting over the horizon¡ªstanding out in a thin grey line. Whooping in excitement, Kaius urged them forwards, happily sharing with his team that they were close. He''d never thought that he''d be one to enjoy spending some time in the city, but after another week of nothing but open plains and knee high grasses Kaius was on the verge of letting a beast gnaw on his leg if it meant a change to the monotony. Settlements weren''t perfect, but the flat open plains of the Frontier were just so damn boring. Even the continually growing aggression of the local monsters wasn''t enough to change that. It had none of the dynamic vibrancy and changing scenery that he''d loved about the Sea¡ªthe way you could walk a league and feel like you''d been transported somewhere entirely different. To his left, Ianmus perked up at the news that the city was only an hour or two away on foot. The mage was even more sick of their travel than he was. It wasn''t so much that Ianmus was accustomed to the creature comforts of urban life¡ªthough he definitely was, no one could call the man a seasoned woodsman. In Kaius''s opinion, it was more likely even more extreme boredom than his own. Ianmus was used to having libraries, experimentation, and research to fill his time¡ªsomething that was quite hard when you spend a dozen hours walking every day. Every time they went more than a few hours without there being some problem or novelty to occupy the man''s attention, he started to make up his own time wasters¡ªgoing glassy eyed as his mind wandered on who knew what. At the very least, they''d kept him occupied for a full day with their discussion on asking for Rieker''s help in founding Porkchop''s aspect¡ªand letting him in on the existence of Honours. Ianmus had agreed wholeheartedly, immediately seeing the value in an expanded pool of front running delvers hunting for the kind of feats that would provide them as a reward. Plus, the guild had all manner of theorists and researchers, who he''d said would likely be able to piece together a wider picture of potential feats that could reward one. He''d let slip that he even had a few ideas of Honours they could attempt for themselves. Right before they hit their hundredth level, Ianmus wanted to cast a spell with his entire store of mana. It''d likely wipe him out for days with severe mana burn, but he hoped that there would be one for using a certain amount of mana in a single spell. Kaius thought the idea had some merit, but if Ianmus failed they''d have little way to tell if it was because it didn''t exist, or if the man just didn''t have enough Intelligence. With nearly a full third of his stat points going towards it, it would unbalance him too much to invest more into the attribute. On the other hand, Kaius had far less issues doing so. Sure, he''d started putting his spare point into Vitality when he crossed level fifty¡ªand would continue to do so¡ªbut with his wealth of Honours he was still far ahead of the curve. Ianmus had thought it would be worth trying to expend his mana as fast as possible, to see if there was an Honour for spending mana in a short enough period of time¡ªsomething glyph-binding was uniquely suited for. He didn''t see the harm in trying, since all it would cost him was a little time to reinscribe and regenerate his mana. Though, he''d probably wait until the same level as Ianmus. If it existed, it would probably be ''before level one-hundred'' like Ruthless Underdog II. Waiting would net him a greater chance of having enough in the tank to actually achieve that goal. Letting his mind continue to wander, Kaius slowly picked up his pace alongside his team, happy to almost be back in the city¡ªeven if their return meant a waiting scolding, hard training, and the sharing of tightly held secrets. ... A plume of dust billowed from the base of Deadacre''s walls, obscuring the gates and tying an anxious knot in the pit of Kaius''s belly. "You see that?" Kaius murmured, nudging Porkchop. "Yeah." Porkchop replied. "What''re the chances the guards are fighting?" "I''d say they''re pretty high." "Think we should check it out?" "Absolutely." Kaius looked to Ianmus at his left, who was frowning in the direction of the walls¡ªhis eyesight not as good as their own, even with the benefits of his elven lineage. "Yes, we''ll take him." Porkchop interjected with a snort, reading him like an open book. "But only if you carry him when we''re running there." Snapping back to Porkchop, Kaius raised a brow at his brother. He wanted him to do what? "What? You''re strong enough, aren''t you? Or does it feel a little weird to carry a grown man?" Porkchop teased, giving him a grin that showed off entirely too many fangs. Rolling his eyes, Kaius looked towards their distracted mage, before he smirked as an idea came to him. He crept up behind Ianmus, his friend still watching what was happening at the base of the city walls. "I''m going to get you back for this, you know." he said silently through his bond. "Oh, please, you think this will be just as funny as I do." "True, doesn''t mean I''m not going to try though." Once he was in a single stride of Ianmus''s back, Kaius blurred into motion. He swept his arms out, ducking down before he ripped Ianmus off his feet in a bridal carry. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Ianmus yelled, flailing madly in surprise. "What the...put me down, you dog!" the mage hollered, doing his best to wriggle free. Kaius only laughed, tightening his grip around Ianmus''s chest and knees. Even if Ianmus was taller than he was, his Strength was enough that it felt about as difficult as picking up a toddler¡ªand Ianmus''s was low enough his protests were as easy to ignore. "Come on, princess, we''re going for a ride." he replied, dashing over to Porkchop. "What in the hells do you mea..." Ianmus''s words were quickly replaced by a yelp of shock as Kaius kicked off, his leg burning with exertion as he sailed through the air. Grunting as he landed on Porkchop''s back, he kicked his feet through the leather loops that hung off his brother''s under-armour. "Have you tried eating less?" Porkchop grunted, rolling his shoulders as he adjusted to the sudden weight. Kaius scoffed, readjusting his grip on his ornery teammate who was still silently trying to wriggle free. "This is extremely undignified, Kaius!" Ianmus protested. "Oh shush, it''s the quickest way to get there¡ªunless you want to leave those guards to sort out whatever that is by themselves?" he replied, dismissing the man''s complaints. Ianmus paused at his words. Evidently, he realised that for all of their joviality, both he and Porkchop were serious about coming to aid Deadacre''s defenders. "Just make it quick." he whispered, halting his insistent wriggling. "You heard the man, Porkchop! Let''s make this quick." Kaius said, grinning. Ianmus''s eyes went wide. "Well, if he insists, who am I to refuse." Kaius tightened his knees, holding himself firmly to the saddle. "Oh by the shining spire, please don''t." Ianmus pleaded. "My good man, I have no idea what you mean!" Kaius replied, holding the mage tighter as he leaned forwards in the saddle. "Yes, you do! Please don''t!" "Are you perhaps a little overheated, elfling? You seem to be in hysterics over a simple evening ride." Porkchop teased, before he dipped into their private bond. "You ready?" "Yeah." Kaius replied, still grinning wildly. "You bastards, I''m not going to forget this one." Ianmus said, scrunching his eye''s shut. Kaius laughed, before he felt like he was yanked backwards by a mountain troll as Porkchop tapped into his amulet, accelerating to his full sprint in moments. Squeezing his legs for dear life, he let out a long holler of excitement as the air rushed through his hair. Porkchop''s feet pounded a steady rhythm in the earth, each hastened bound kicking up clods of dirt and propelling them across the plains like he was a bounding hare. It was exhilarating, speeding across the open ground like this¡ªmade him feel like he was an air elemental, soaring where he pleased. Ianmus, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying it less intensely. His eyes were scrunched, alabaster complexion washed out further to a pallid grey. Kaius could see the man''s lips moving as he muttered a steady stream of words, but the speed of their approach ripped them away before they could reach his ears. No doubt the man was cursing ever having met them. Turning his attention to their destination, Kaius found his view of the commotion at the gates quickly resolving. At the speed Porkchop was moving at, the strides practically melted before them, drawing them close enough that he could see small figures racing back and forth¡ªa chaotic thrum of bodies. It was a fight alright¡ªa rather desperate one from the looks of it. Beasts, judging by the low smudges he could see flickering back and forth in the haze. Still, as best he could tell, the guards were handling it. They''d formed a line, using shields to deny the assaulting monsters the opportunity to pick them apart, while archers above loosed arrow after arrow into the targets below. Not that Kaius thought that meant they could slow their approach. The monsters assaulting the gates looked like they outnumbered the guards by four to one, a tangled wave of bodies that smashed into their line again and again. Thankfully, they''d be there to help in a few minutes at most. Porkchop at a full sprint was practically faster than lightning, when compared to their normal easy pace they travelled with. "Hit them hard when we arrive, I''ll jump off with Ianmus before you do." Kaius said, the blurred figures slowly coming into focus. Dogs, by the looks of it¡ªmostly lacking fur, though they made up for it with a thick leathery hide. Now that they were close enough, Kaius could see the guardsmen at the gate''s faces. Tense eyes, filled with anxiety, duty, and fear. Sweaty beading on their brows, glinting in the sun. They were putting the dogs down, bleeding them dry with a dozen spear points every time one grew desperate enough to assault their shield line. Yet, they weren''t without their own casualties. Prone bodies, huddled in the thin space the defenders had left between their backs and the shut gate behind them. Red blood spilled from a dozen wounds, desperate allies and comrades pressing rags into the injuries in the hopes of stemming the bleeding long enough for Health to seal the bites. Not all of them were successful, or so the still form dragged off to the side of the main group suggested. It was easy to forget sometimes, how slow natural healing was without a skill like his own Lesser Regeneration. Sure, everything would be fine in minutes if you had enough Health, but that was little comfort when you could bleed out in half that time. Baying yips filled the air, joined by the sounds of desperate shouts and clanging steel. Porkchop roared, letting loose a Bulwark''s Challenge. The guards jumped, more than a few freezing at the sound of another predator¡ªthough Kaius saw them snap out of it quickly when they noticed him on his brother''s back. The dogs, on the other hand, reacted to Porkchop''s challenge with snarls of fury¡ªat the distances they were, the skill was stretched thin enough that it didn''t force them into focusing on them. It did, however, distract them long enough for a full dozen to go down with spear points lodged in their skull. Deadacre''s guards straightened at the small victory, buoyed by the approaching assistance. Then the moment came. Kaius pushed down on his foot loops as hard as he could, sending himself up and back. Ianmus gasped, only barely ready for the sudden dismount. Porkchop continued forwards, tapping into his amulet a second time as he descended on the pack of dogs like a rampaging drake. They immediately focused on the greater threat, swarming him. Bracing himself, Kaius''s feet touched the ground. Still backed by the momentum of their charge, he slid for a full twelve strides over the dusty and hard earth before coming to a slow stop. Kaius set Ianmus down on his feet, gently shoving him towards the onlooking defenders. "Healing time, princess." he teased, the jab enough to shake the half-elf out of his daze. Giving him a final withering look, Ianmus set off running towards the guards. They parted to let him pass, not questioning the mage''s approach. Drawing his blade, Kaius smiled as he watched Porkchop fling a dog through the air with a heavy swipe, blood spraying behind it in a long trail as his brother''s jade claws cleaved straight through its ribs. He raced in. B2 Chapter 227: Payment, Finale B2 Chapter 227: Payment, Finale Ro cleared her throat, pulling Kaius¡¯s attention away from the sample materials he had found resonated with his blade. ¡°Now, as we mentioned earlier¡ªit makes sense for you to invest in your blade, but not to the extent of ignoring all else. Once you¡¯ve gotten that first material, we¡¯ll have to insist on you upgrading your armour.¡± the guild manager said, giving him a firm look. Kaius nodded, in easy agreement. ¡°I know¡ªI am set on that bone, but I''ll have to be content waiting until I can complete a meritorious enough service to earn it. It¡¯s too expensive otherwise.¡± Ro nodded, giving him a small smile. ¡°You seem to be getting smarter by the day, greenhorn. Regardless, after your next mission, it should take you another one or two more to complete your armour. By then, you should be closing in on strong enough for the delve we have access to. Our hope is that once you enter there, you¡¯ll keep pushing down until you reach the second tier. If your skills aren¡¯t capped, or you still have Aspects to ignite, do not feel pressured to cross the threshold immediately.¡± Rieker nodded in agreement. ¡°Ro is right; with your strengths, and your ability to fight monsters stronger than you, you¡¯ll be able to complete your skills in no time. I have no doubt your Aspects will be much the same. Rushing into the second tier would be a complete waste of your potential.¡± Kaius nodded. In that, they agreed. While he didn¡¯t relish the thought of spending years at the level cap working on a final few stubborn skills, he doubted that would happen to them. Not with how quickly they¡¯d managed to progress them so far¡ªa few months at most. ¡°That was always the plan, but it is good to know we¡¯ll be back in the Depths soon enough. If we spend significant time there, would I be able to trade in artefacts to put towards the wyvern bone?¡± Kaius asked. Ianmus perked up. ¡°I hadn¡¯t thought of that¡ªI''m sure we¡¯ll be lousy with them if we churn through as many Champions as you have in the past.¡± Kaius gave his teammate a grin, happy to see the man was already on board with the idea of squeezing the Depths for all it was worth. It would be a waste not to with the Honour they had gained that would let them track down the powerful monsters with ease. ¡°Of course, depending on their value it might take a few of them though. Draconic remains are exceptionally valuable, even when compared to other things of the same rarity and tier. They¡¯re just too damn uncommon.¡± Rieker replied, gently trying to mediate their expectations. Kaius nodded. ¡°Before we move on to the matter of our training, I did want to ask something. Do either of you know much about growth weapons? I¡¯d just like to know if waiting for the bone is the right move, or if I''d be better off using a cheaper material if one comes along.¡± he asked. Rieker tilted his hand back and forth. ¡°A little¡ªthey¡¯re famous enough that the guild has some records that I can access, though they¡¯re also rare enough that the notes are spotty at best and more than a little vague.¡± Rieker replied. ¡°In essence, yes, it¡¯s probably worth it. Both Ro and myself spent the last few days reading as much as we could, and it seems like the first development of a growth item is the most impactful, and the easiest to get. The results seem to be based on the materials used, and once they¡¯re awakened, improving their rarity is the effort of a lifetime, and improving their rank is tied to your own. Though, I''m not sure of the specifics beyond that.¡± Rieker replied, his gravelly voice filling the room. Kaius nodded. That cemented the matter in his mind. He had to get that bone, even if he was forced to use a replacement blade for a little while. Hopefully he wouldn¡¯t, but no matter his sentimental attachment to his weapon, he would not let that get in the way of practicality. ... ¡°Well, if that¡¯s all settled, it¡¯s time to discuss your training.¡± Ro said, drawing their attention away from their current and future rewards. Ro was as focused as ever, her stern features demanding their attention. ¡°Last time, we focused on your general skills. That was important, they¡¯re the foundation of your strength, and were abysmally low. Now, however, our focus is shifting. Your class skills¡ªthey¡¯re the core of your abilities, and drastically impact the actual threat you can bring to bear. The next few missions will be much more aligned to your strengths. Single, powerful targets.¡± Ro continued, before she stood up and began to pace back and forth. Kaius had noticed that about her. She seemed incapable of sitting still whenever she was working through a thread in her mind. ¡°Improving your ability to hit hard has become even more important with you sharing the existence of Honours. There is only one additional one we can be certain of¡ªkilling a monster a hundred levels above you before you reach tier two. That is a lethal challenge¡ªeven with your strength, that will require much preparation and the selection of the correct foe. We will help, but your best chance will be to stall out at level two-hundred and cap your skills first¡ªsomething you will want to do anyway.¡± Ro came to a stop, turning and focusing her attention on Kaius. ¡°Your goal for the next couple weeks will be your glyphs. They are curious things, but you¡¯re using them without much skill.¡± Kaius clenched his jaw, suppressing his urge to bristle defensively at Ro¡¯s criticism. ¡°I see that look¡ªtrust me, greenhorn. Your magic may be new, and you¡¯ve already mentioned how little influence you have over them with mana manipulation. That is one thing, but even runewrights can influence their workings with focused intention and will.¡± This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Kaius looked at her in surprise. That was news to him, Father had never mentioned anything of the sort. ¡°You can?¡± he asked with a quiet voice, his surprise mirrored by his team. Ro nodded. ¡°You can. It¡¯s not something that¡¯s taught to new students¡ªit¡¯s barely worth mentioning when it¡¯s only useful with significant Intelligence and Will. Let alone that by the time it¡¯s truly viable everyone almost invariably discovers it anyway.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be focusing on trying to control how your lash moves, and what the secondary arcs target. For your evasive skill, you should focus on trying to influence the timing of the flickers. It¡¯ll be far more useful that way.¡± the guild manager continued. Digesting her words, Kaius mulled the thought over in his mind. In a way, it made sense. One thing that he did know was that all forms of magic had some level of interconnection with every other. A lot of the grey areas had fallen into place with his discovery of glyph-binding, but the influence of free casting on the art had been mysterious. Mana manipulation was almost useless, but it seemed the dominance of Will in free casting bled over to his own art. He gave Ro a swift nod, determined to discover what he could of what she had mentioned. Every edge was something he could use to grow strong, even if it was difficult. ¡°Do not expect great results. Even for you, I doubt you¡¯ll see anything extraordinary. However, it is highly likely that stressing your skills in such a way will be fantastic for their growth¡ªpotentially enough for you to strive for your next spells.¡± Rieker interjected, throwing a little cold water on his growing fire. Ro nodded. ¡°It¡¯s true, but the earlier you start, the quicker you will grow adept at the skill.¡± Then the guild manager switched her focus to Ianmus, the half-elf straightening in his chair as the force of her personality was brought to bear. ¡°Ianmus, your focus will be on your beam spell¡ªthe quicker you can start to fire additional rays, the quicker you will be able to actually assist. While your team will likely outstrip you in pure firepower for some time, the ability to fully blind something in a single cast will be invaluable. Additionally, I expect you to be using your Hypercharged Spell metamagic continuously¡ªwith its scaling you should be aiming to reach a point where it is something you can use consistently.¡± Ianmus nodded, accepting Ro¡¯s direction. Pacing the room once more, she stopped with a snap of her heels on the hardwood floor, spinning to Porkchop. ¡°Unfortunately, due to the nature of the skill, we won¡¯t be able to effectively train your Bulwark¡¯s Challenge¡ªmy advice is to use it as often as you can in a real combat scenario, even against those that serve no significant threat to your team.¡± Porkchop winced¡ªKaius knew that his brother had been wanting to improve the skill, it was the first he¡¯d received that helped to truly define his role as a Bastion. ¡°What will I be focusing on instead?¡± Porkchop asked. ¡°Your armour¡ªyou¡¯re right on the verge of a development, and if we focus on it completely we just might be able to edge out a second one. The additional coverage will do much to shore up your weaknesses.¡± Kaius gave Porkchop a look of pity. There was only one way for his brother to rank that skill up¡ªgetting hit hard, often. It sounded like he was in for a rough few weeks. Porkchop rolled his eyes at Kaius, but gave Ro a brief nod. ¡°Good¡ªI''ll give you one thing, few people would so willingly sign themselves up for that. At the very least, you¡¯ll give Ianmus opportunity to practice his healing, which will be good for his Solar Manipulation and Hypercharged Spell.¡± Ro replied. ¡°What of our resources?¡± Ianmus asked. ¡°If Kaius and I are going to be casting so much, we¡¯ll be burning through mana like it¡¯s water.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll provide potions.¡± Rieker said, his gruff voice cutting through the room. ¡°You¡¯re worthy of investment, but even if you weren¡¯t, the secrets you have shared today have brought you much. The largest rewards will have to wait until we enact our planned program, but you¡¯ve earned yourself a few training aids, to say the least.¡± His attention flicked to Kaius. ¡°You¡¯ll also be drinking more toxins. No point wasting time when we can level up your resistance and healing skills at the same time, though you¡¯ve already burnt through the stock of readily available affinities, so I doubt we¡¯ll be adding more resistances.¡± Kaius groaned inwardly. He knew he should be thankful¡ªtonics were not cheap¡ªbut he couldn¡¯t help but dread the experience of feeling his body dissolve from the inside out. At the very least, it would be good to train his focus through the distraction. Rieker grinned at his obvious distaste. ¡°Life sucks, boy. May as well get used to it before you have to do it while something is trying to eat you.¡± Done with his teasing, Rieker focused on Porkchop. ¡°Now, you mentioned you needed help with your Aspect¡ªcare to explain? I¡¯d be more than happy to help right after this if I can.¡± Porkchop perked up, excitedly launching into an explanation of his insights into Corporus. How it was centred in the physical body¡ªand how he believed he needed to force himself to overcome his physical limits if he wanted a hope of igniting it. Rieker leaned back, scratching his chin. After several moments, he slowly started to speak. ¡°Well...I have one idea. It¡¯d be dangerous...but it¡¯d definitely work.¡± Ro snapped her eyes towards the guildmaster, narrowing them dangerously. Kaius swallowed, impressed that Rieker took the look without even flinching. ¡°Rieker, you can¡¯t seriously be thinking of that, can you?¡± The guildmaster shrugged. ¡°What? It¡¯s right there, isn¡¯t it? Sounds bloody perfect to me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s meant for the transition to Silver!¡± ¡°It¡¯s also meant for higher races, not a greater beast hopped up on Honours and an obscenely strong class. He¡¯s a big boy, he can take it¡ªat worst I''ll just yank him out before he dies.¡± Ro gave the guildmaster a withering look. The kind that Kaius half expected to eat made its way through the man''s head, and the wall behind him. Kaius looked between Rieker and Ro with a moderate amount of alarm¡ªwhatever they were talking about, it seemed serious¡ªespecially if Ro was concerned for Porkchop¡¯s safety. ¡°What, exactly, are you talking about?¡± Kaius asked cautiously. ¡°The Trial of Will.¡± Rieker and Ro replied simultaneously. Chapter 225 - B2 222: Growing Problems, pt. 2 Snapping to the left, Kaius planted his weight and brought his blade up into a hanging guard. The dog-beast that had been trying to rush him yelped, cutting itself deep on the angled edge of A Father''s Gift. Focused and calm, he reset his blade, and slashed through its skull. **Ding! Savage Hound - Level 30 Slain, Experience Gained! Reduced Experience for slaying an enemy of Insignificant Strength!** They were weak. Easy to kill. Even if there were a few dozen of them, they had nowhere near the numbers or organisation to overwhelm him like had happened with the bogglings. A roar sounded from behind him, supported by half a dozen terrified yips as Porkchop tore his way through a milling group of the pack. Neither of them were using their skills¡ªthere was no need, and with the watching guards they''d give too much away. They didn''t need stories of unknown magic and warbeasts summoning suits of armour to make their way around town. Not that all of the guards were standing in defence of their fallen by the gate. As Kaius hacked his way through the handful of dogs that circled him warily, he spotted two tribunes¡ªthe lowest of common command ranks¡ªleading their men into a charge. In groups of four¡ªthe highest one could go before more intensive experience penalties set in¡ªthey raced into the fray with leveled spears and heavy tower shields. Curious at their sudden nerve, Kaius identified one of the front runners¡ªhoping the rudeness would be forgiven in the current circumstances, if it was noticed at all. Human - level 38 Striker Disciplined and focused, the men were silent in their approach other than the rhythmic pounding of their heavy boots. Absorbed as the hounds were in the aggressive devastation that he and Porkchop wrought in their midst, they missed the charge right up until the first of them screamed in agony as a stride of steel and three of wood punched straight through the back of its waist. Kaius moved, seizing the moment. A thrust punched through the ear of a hound to his front that had snapped its head over to the newest threat in surprise. **Ding! Savage Hound - Level 32 Slain, Experience Gained! Reduced Experience for slaying an enemy of Insignificant Strength!** He stepped out of his lunge, a dragging slash severing the shoulder muscles of the hound to the left of the corpse leaking blood from its ears. Movement caught his attention¡ªheart pulsing to the rhythm of his blade. A carry through chop cut through the spine of a hound that lunged in with a snarl. **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo has reached level 64!** With their bodies broken, both the hounds fell limp. Driving back their baying allies, Kaius finished them off, bone crunching as his bladepoint slid effortlessly through their skulls. **Ding! Savage Hound - Level 34 Slain, Experience Gained! Reduced Experience for slaying an enemy of Insignificant Strength!** ... **Ding! Savage Hound - Level 29 Slain, Experience Gained! Reduced Experience for slaying an enemy of Insignificant Strength!** Mechanical work¡ªbut it was good to get the blood pumping. Watching out of the corner of his eye, Kaius noted the smooth precision with which the tribunes commanded their men. Curt shouts preceded practiced teamwork, spearmen charging forwards with their shields held out to drive the hounds back, while one of their companions separated one beast from the greater pack with a flurry of jabs. Another barked command, and the team smoothly rotated through their formation, turning to pincer the isolated hound in a sudden flash of violence. They stepped back, revealing a limp body leaking blood from punctured holes in its chest and head. One of the tribunes caught his eye, giving him a nod of respect and gratitude. Kaius grinned back, before a yelping dog covered in bone deep claw wounds sailed through the air, landing at his feet. Relaxed and smooth, he drove his blade down¡ªfeeling the kicking impact as it drove clean through the stunned beast and rammed into the hardened dirt beneath. When another hound tried its luck, Kaius kicked it in the chest. Ribs cracked as the beast went flying back, tumbling uncontrollably as his enhanced strength sent it flying into a handful of hounds that had started to harry the guardsmen that had moved to help them cull the threat. It was a simple fight, but one that still had joy to it. Half a year ago, a pack of this size and level would have torn him and Porkchop to shreds. In comparison, now he was cutting his way through their numbers with contemptuous ease without a single class skill. Seeing the direct results of his labour laid out so plainly was enough to warm Kaius''s heart, a small smile creeping up his lips as contentment put a spring in his step. It didn''t take much longer for the hounds to break. With half their number laying shattered and cold on the ground, it was obvious even to their simple minds that they were utterly outmatched now that Kaius and Porkchop had joined the fray. It was a sudden thing¡ªthe way the pack''s snarling barks turned to fearful yips, the pack turning tail and sprinting for the plains. Porkchop tried to draw them back in with a Bulwark''s Challenge, but it seemed with their spirit thoroughly broken, there was too little aggression for the skill to inflame into madness. If anything it made the problem worse¡ªthe hounds nearly falling over themselves in their haste to escape the apex predator who had roared at them in fury. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Kaius frowned as he watched them flee. Letting them escape felt wrong. The beasts had already proven themselves willing to assault men, and farms lay in every direction. No doubt they''d rally and start their hunt anew soon enough. Unfortunately, there was little he could do. Weak they may have been, the dogs were swift, quickly tearing away from Deadacre in a cloud of dust. Catching them was unlikely, and they''d no doubt scatter as soon as he set out in pursuit. Thankfully, the archers on the city walls had no compunctions about spending arrows like they were yesterday''s bread. Bolt after bolt was loosed, blurred streaks enhanced by skills as they buried themselves in hound-flesh with unerring accuracy. A third of the pack either dropped dead, or stumbled and fell¡ªdying shortly after as follow up shots picked off the unmoving targets. There were at least a dozen more who managed to escape, however, and Kaius could only hope that this disaster had beaten some fear into the beast''s brains. As much as he tried, he couldn''t quell all of his discomfort. None of them would have lived if he''d used his Stormlash¡ªthe threat could have been ended there and then. Unfortunately, both Rieker and Ro had cautioned him on being liberal and open with his spell casting until he was into the second tier. Too much risk of the curiosity it would incite leading to people asking questions that would make them suspicious of what else he was hiding. Checking in on Porkchop, he found his brother uninjured. He''d gotten a few nips and scratches on his forelimbs, but nothing that he hadn''t been able to heal almost instantaneously. Most of the damage had been borne to his under-armour. The soft padding that it was, the hounds hard claws and skill-driven bites had torn the leather¡ªa small price to pay for hiding Porkchop''s armour skill considering that he could see the rents repairing themselves when he looked closely. "That was fun, a little easy though." Porkchop said. Kaius simply smiled and clapped his brother on the shoulder, mindful of their audience. Confident that Porkchop was fine, Kaius made his way towards the waiting guards that had regathered at the city gates. With the hounds driven off, Kaius got his first good look at them. They looked haggard and exhausted¡ªdrained from their ordeal. Each guard was drenched in sweat, mingling with the ever present dust into streaking grime that clung to their skin. Nearly all of them had blood soaked deep into their tabards and padded leggings. Kaius doubted that all of it would have been from the hounds. Especially since he could still see Ianmus hard at work, mana flowing around him in a constant stream as he channelled healing spell after healing spell, triaging those most injured. It wasn''t a pretty sight. Ianmus was bent over a man with their hamstring half ripped out, the muscle exposed to the air while another guard pressed the wound closed, stopping torn arteries from bleeding the injured man dry. Those lying in wait had cloths pressed tightly to wounds, staunching their own bleeds. That was the problem with Health. It would heal almost anything, but until your Vitality and Endurance got high enough, it was still all too easy for a wound to kill faster than it closed. Not for the first time, he felt thankful for his Lesser Regeneration¡ªbacked by his stats, it took far more than a little exposed muscle to put him down. He approached, giving the guardsmen a respectful wave. They nodded back, before someone familiar stepped out of their ranks. The same sergeant who had interviewed them before they''d first entered Deadacre a few months prior. "Sergeant," he said, nodding his head respectfully. "Delver," the sergeant replied. "I remember you, Kaius right? I knew it was a good idea to bend the rules a little¡ªthanks for getting us out of the fire. Names Jon, not sure if I gave it last time." "Nothing to it," Kaius waved off the man''s thanks. "Anyone would be happy to help. Though, I must say, I''m surprised to see a group of that number assault the walls¡ªhells, for beasts to try a group of armed men at all¡ªit seems a little out of character." The sergeant winced, scanning over his men. Kaius followed his eyes, noting they settled on a limp form lying up against a wall, their eyes closed. A glimmer of sympathy ran down his neck. He didn''t envy the sergeant¡ªfatalities of those under your watch had to be painful, especially when you were duty bound to send your charges into the thick of the danger regardless. "We''re doing our best, but it''s getting worse. Something about the mana¡ªit''s not just making them stronger, it''s driving some of them to madness." the sergeant said as he looked sadly at the body, before steeling his expression and turning back to Kaius. Kaius had hoped that wasn''t the case, but he couldn''t deny it. They''d been noticing it more and more. While most of the creatures of the plains seemed more than happy enough to give Kaius and his team a wide berth, a growing number had seemed to be crazed, chasing them down at the slightest opportunity. For them, it was little more than an annoyance¡ªeven with their increasing strength, few of the beasts in the plains were truly strong, and it seemed most of the species were little more than common empowered animals. They didn''t have the power to prove truly dangerous in the face of Honours and Heroic classes. A small comfort for the everyman, stuck with Common and Uncommon classes and less than a handful of skills. For that''s what they were, Kaius realised as he looked at the guards. Just men. Not soldiers, and definitely not warriors. People who''d taken a steady job, and apprenticed themselves to gain a class that would give them the opportunity to grow their strength a little in relative safety. No doubt before this year they''d never had to deal with anything worse than a unruly wagon-pulling beast, or common drunks. Now here they were, throwing themselves at half a hundred hounds, and losing people for it. "Are you keeping up?" Kaius asked¡ªif the guards were falling behind the beasts in levels, things would only get worse. "We weren''t¡ªnot until the captain mandated my tribunes engage individually with their teams. Even now, it''s only just." the sergeant muttered bitterly, taking in the dozens of dead hounds. "The goodfolk of Deadacre keep asking why we don''t just shut the gates and let the archers handle it¡ªthey don''t get it." Kaius nodded. If they did that, when the time came when they had to have men defending the walls¡ªor worse, beasts breached them¡ªthey would have been left far behind, becoming little more than fodder. "Is there anything I can do to help?" Kaius asked genuinely. If there was something, he wanted to at least try¡ªafter all, he wouldn''t exactly enjoy living in Deadacre if it was overrun by beasts. The sergeant barked out a forced laugh. "No...no, you delvers are already doing what you can¡ªthe guild''s got Copper and Bronze teams combing the city''s surroundings to keep the beasts in check, but it''s impossible to catch them all. No, strong men like you are better off focusing on the bigger threats my boys will never have a hope of handling." "I appreciate the offer, but I''ll get my boys through this. If I have my way, they''ll be double in level by this time next year, at the least." the sergeant met his eyes, giving him a nod, before a loud creak echoed from the city gate drew his attention as it started to inch open. "Looks like the coast is clear. Thanks for the help, and thank your mage-friend too for his healing¡ªit saved lives." Kaius nodded, clasping the sergeant on the shoulder, before he walked towards where Ianmus was waiting by the slowly opening gates. The guards parted as he approached, each one giving them a nod of gratitude and respect. Chapter 226 - B2 223: Growing Problems, Finale The common folk were getting desperate, Kaius realised. It wasn''t so much their looks. Most seemed well enough fed, and as clean as anyone could expect to stay in a city. No¡ªit was the pervasive tension that seemed to seep from their very pores, suspicion and anxiety hanging over the city streets like a contagious miasma. Where before people had gone about their business with single minded focus, weaving their way through the crowds and brushing shoulders, now people were slow. Furtive, as they watched those closest to them out of the corner of their eyes¡ªscanning their surroundings just a little too frequently. As visibly travelled as they were, with a ''warbeast'' at their sides, he and Ianmus got by far the most looks. Equal parts envy, suspicion, and occasionally an unnerving level of concern. It had to be what was sending Explorer''s Toolkit haywire. Muted and dampened as it was by his presence in a settlement, it was hard to get a clear reading. Just potential danger, somewhere, an a feeling of being watched. He just hoped it wasn''t a portent of budding unrest, and uneasy populace one bad day from a riot. Kaius shook his head, hoping to clear the discomfort¡ªthey''d be in the Delver''s district soon. That, at least, had proven a surprising bastion of normalcy in the city. Afterall, it was a wealthy area, and its inhabitants by and large could look after themselves. ... Kaius walked down the wide staircase of the Dusty Stables, Ianmus and Porkchop close at his heels. He enjoyed the little animal motif that had been engraved into the skirting boards¡ªa little bit of whimsical fun that he''d grown to appreciate about Hensch''s taste in decor. After entering the city, they''d made full haste to the inn, eager to get their rooms secured and wash off the trail dust¡ªHensch had been as helpful as ever, simply passing over the keys and reopening their account. Kaius would have been happy to pay up there and then, but the innkeeper had insisted that it was easier to do it this way when they would, in all likelihood, be coming and going unpredictably. That first wash in the Stable''s heated baths was heaven. Kaius might have been a man of the wilds, but hot water was one of the few luxuries that he could admit were worth the discomfort of the crowds. If only artifacts that produced enough hot water to wash with weren''t so bloody expensive if they were anything approaching a portable size. Though, his other option was a larger spatial storage, something that would be a little bit more difficult to acquire than what amounted to an expensive luxury trinket. As nice as it was to be clean, none of them had dawdled¡ªmeeting in Kaius''s and Porkchop''s shared room with damp hair and clean gear. Their conversation with Rieker and Ro loomed¡ªtwo of them, in actual fact. Kaius felt like he wouldn''t be able to relax until it was done. The inevitable dressing down and planning for their next mission was one thing, but now that they had decided the course of seeking Rieker''s help with Porkchop''s Aspect, and on sharing their knowledge of Honours, the anticipation was gnawing at the back of his neck like a gnat. The sooner they could be done with it, the better. A board flexed as he stepped down onto the main floor of the Inn. A couple of delving teams¡ªscattered across the common room¡ªlooked up, before giving him a nod and turning back to their conversations. Hensch, on the other hand, hurried out from behind his counter. He smiled at them, carrying three packages wrapped in brown paper. "Kaius! I was about to come up." he said, juggling the packages until they were piled in one hand¡ªfreeing him up for a handshake. Yong, his bonded beast, looked up from their bed at the bar''s entrance, peering curiously at what had gotten their companion to move. The cat let out a friendly chirp as he saw Porkchop looming in the corner of the room, before they resettled themselves and returned to napping. "Hensch¡ªthanks again for working with us quickly, we needed that clean. We''ve got business at the guild, but I imagine we''ll be back for dinner¡ªmaybe you can tell me more of that story of how you found Yong in the southern jungles, eh?" "Of course, my friend! We hadn''t even gotten to the best part before you last left!" the innkeep replied. "But listen, I know you missed lunch, and I doubt you got the chance to eat much if you''ve been on the road since this morning. I made you a few sandwiches. I was going to bring them up, but I suppose you could always eat them on the way to the guild." Kaius grinned, nodding to the man as he took the waxy paper packages¡ªa quick peek inside showing thick slabs of bread filled with some leftover roast, cheese, and leafy greens. For what felt like the thousandth time, Kaius was glad he''d decided to take Ro''s suggestion on lodgings to heart. Hensch had proven himself to be a wonderful host¡ªmaking their stays easy enough that he was of half a mind to think he was almost as good as Hurrin. Though, he did think that the beer in Three Fields was better. "Seriously, Hensch, you didn''t need to do that. We could have gotten some food on the way." Kaius said, shaking his head. "Bah," Hensch waved him off. "Nonsense¡ªyou''re some of my best customers, and Porkchop is awfully patient with Yong. Only the gods know what fresh hell you lot are getting up to outside of those walls, keeping soft men like me from ending up in some beast''s belly. A few left overs is the least I could do." This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Accepting the praise with grace, Kaius nodded his head to the man. Hensch had proven himself steadfast in his welcome, and it was impossible not to like him. Still, as much as it would have been nice to stay and chat, they did have places to be. Giving the innkeep some final passing thanks, they left the inn¡ªdigging into their lunch as they went. However, Kaius did get more than one odd look as he tore chunks out of Porkchop''s meal to toss it to him. .... After waiting patiently for a quarter hour, Kaius made his way to the front of the line that snaked its way through the guild''s common room. If he''d thought the place had been busy when they''d first arrived in Deadacre, now it was positively overflowing. The place had gotten so busy that he''d had to leave Porkchop and Ianmus at a table¡ªthe line would have been unmanageable if people had been sending up their full teams. The air of celebration had fled too, leaving only focused eyes and hushed discussions as delving teams buzzed back and forth, turning in missions and picking up new ones. As the man in front of him¡ªwearing an interesting set of dark leather armour that seemed to shift and writhe in the light¡ªleft the counter, Kaius realised that the receptionist was the same well-built man that he''d seen working the desk a few times before. Stepping forwards, Kaius nodded his head respectfully as he passed over his Bronze badge. The man swept it up, pressing it to something hidden behind the rise of the counter. A few moments later he looked back up, recognition on his face. "Oh, Kaius¡ªRo mentioned I should keep an eye out for you. I thought it might have been, since you''re so tall, but I wasn''t sure." he reached a hand over the desk, standing from his chair. "Name''s Frist¡ªI''ve seen you ''round but I''m not sure if we were ever introduced." Kaius clasped the receptionist''s hand firmly, finding it like trying to wrap his fist around a block of granite. It seemed like a measure of strength was a requirement of holding a position in the guild, even for the lower ones. "Nice to meet you, Frist¡ªyou mentioned Ro? She told me to seek her out when I got back." Frist nodded. "Yeah, that''s what she told me too¡ªthough if you want to know why, I can''t help you. That hellion never tells me anything." the receptionist replied, returning to his seat. "She''s just down the hall," Frist pointed down the corridor leading deeper into the guild. "Eight doors down from the silence room¡ªhas her name on the door and everything." Kaius thanked the man and took his leave, hurrying over to fetch Porkchop and Ianmus from where they waited quietly at a table tucked away in the corner. Walking through the hall¡ªstill large enough that its comical size made him feel like a child¡ªKaius found the door quickly. Made of thick oak, with a darker stain and a smoother finish than the rest, it had ''Drorome'' engraved on a thick steel plate. Forcing down the nerves at letting the woman know they had something to share, Kaius reached out and knocked three times, a deep booming sound that bounced of the masonry walls. "Come in!" Ro yelled, muffled by the heavy oak. Kaius pushed the door open, his team filing in behind him. Ro''s office was...quite something. Built to a similar standard as the guildmaster''s, it had none of the ostentatious flare that someone might expect from a guild member of import. However, where Rieker''s office was an austere space of regimented focus, Ro''s was closer to the site of an alchemical mishap. A dozen shelves and drawers, bursting at the seams as what looked to be a whole library''s worth of paper was strewn on every available surface and packed into any cranny they would fit. Hells, there was enough of it on the floor to write a whole book with. Kaius stood rooted to the spot, staring at the mayhem with a cocked eyebrow, while Ro watched on with narrowed eyes. At the very least, he was holding it together better than Ianmus, who was making half stifled strangled noises behind him. Meeting her gaze, he couldn''t help but smirk. "I have had a sudden revelation on why you hate paperwork, Ro." "Oh, fuck off," Ro replied, rolling her eyes at him. "Wait until you''re Steel to start getting smart with me, Greenhorn¡ªit''ll make your life a whole lot easier." "Yes, ma''am." Kaius replied, his smile unbroken. Ro reached into her desk, shoving aside roughly stacked notes to pull out an inscribed metal disk. It was one that he recognised. Father had used them as an example of classical uses of High Lothian. A communication amulet, though a fairly basic one¡ªhe doubted the linked artifacts could connect over anything more than a couple of blocks. "They''re here, you free?" Ro said, channeling some mana into the disk. "Send them up." Rieker''s low voice rumbled from the artifact a moment later, tinny and distorted. "Will do," Ro replied, before sliding her line to the guildmaster back into the same drawer she''d pulled it from. Slapping her hands on the table, Ro stood up¡ªsending more than one leaf of paper fluttering to the floor. She watched it for a moment, before admitting defeat and ignoring it. "Alright¡ªI know fresh meat like you are want to quake in your boots at the thought of a dressing down, but don''t be. You know you fucked up, and how. Rieker won''t rub your noses in it." she said, her face settling into a calm confidence as she stepped into her role as guild manager. "What''s the chat for, then?" Kaius asked, curious what the guildmaster wanted from them if not to lend them a lesson. He''d expected Rieker would tear them to shreds over their failures¡ªespecially with how he had punished their hubris last time. Kaius scratched at his wrist, the thought of the itching regrowth of his hand sending a spike of phantom sensation through the limb. "A debrief, a chat about your earnings, as well as your next mission, and what training will look like before you undergo it." Ro replied. Kaius nodded, before he glanced at his team. They met his eyes, nodding. Now was as good a time as any to mention that they had something important to share. Ro narrowed her eyes at them, catching the look. "What shit did you get caught up in this time?" she asked, exasperated. "Nothing like that, I promise. We''ve just got something to share with you and Rieker¡ªit''s big, but it''ll potentially be beneficial to the wider guild." Ro tilted her head at him, her curiosity burning holes into his eyes¡ªlike she wanted to reach in and pluck the secrets directly from his mind. Then, just as the silence was starting to grow stifling, she gave him a curt nod. "Always room for more world shaking impossibilities, I suppose. They seem to follow you like flies on shit." she said, before she turned and marched her way to the stairs that lead the way up to the guildmaster''s office. "Come along!" she said, waving them after her. Chapter 227 - B2 224: Payment, pt. 1 Watching the guild administrators across from him, Kaius tried to work off some of his tension by balling his hands on his trousers. They''d done it. Shared that they had Aspects. It had been tough, but the right decision. Now he was just waiting in silence for the guildmaster to deliver his verdict. Rieker was silent, staring at them with a stoney intensity as he digested his words. His expression was schooled, not giving them the slightest hint on whether he was thrilled, shocked, or furious that two of them had already unlocked Aspects. After they''d had a small dressing down¡ªwhere Rieker had made extra sure that they were aware of what they''d done wrong about the boggling hunt¡ªthe guildmaster had requested they start with their little secret. He''d thought that it would be best to do so if they thought it was likely to impact their plans moving forward. That, at least, was undoubtable. Rieker was thorough, and Kaius would be surprised if learning of the achievements up for grabs wouldn''t radically alter his choices on their missions¡ªlet alone the fact that Porkchop wanted the man''s direct help. Inwardly, Kaius couldn''t help but wonder if they''d be able to crack his composure as the conversation continued. Aspects were one thing, but he hadn''t even gotten to Honours yet. The silence continued for a moment, Rieker chewing through the news they had given. "So, the two of you have unlocked your Aspects," he said, nodding at Kaius and Iamus. "This is a grand development¡ªa few others in the program have started to feel a resonance, but nothing concrete. If you''re able to share what you''ve learned, we might be able to accelerate things. I do wonder why you waited so long to share." Kaius cleared his throat¡ªthis was the moment. They had that information, but they needed to tell him about Honours. "We can¡ªbut there''s something else tied to it. Another...way of gaining power that is applicable to everyone who has the strength and luck to grasp them. Unfortunately, some of them are limited, so at first it made more sense to monopolise the resource." Rieker narrowed his eyes, leaning in. The intensity of his focus was palpable, raising the hairs on the back of Kaius''s neck as he felt like he was a ten year old staring down a direbear. Ro wasn''t much better, her eye''s thinned to slits¡ªhe could only hope that their secrecy wouldn''t lead to her disapproval. "And this mystery power, would it be the source of your unnatural strength?" Reiker asked. He nodded, keeping his expression schooled. "It is, they''re called Honour''s¡ª" Ro hissed, slamming her palm on Rieker''s desk with enough force that the wood screamed in protest. Kaius jumped at the sudden noise, the woman too fast for him to react to. "Bullshit." "Sorry?" Kaius asked, not expecting the reaction. He''d expected incredulity, but for Ro to just disbelieve them upon even hearing the name of the system''s rewards was outside of his expectations. Ro held firm, glaring at him. "The oldest guild records mention Honours¡ªthe source of the Observed''s strength¡ªso yeah, bullshit. The records of their strength are well known, you don''t even come close to matching up." "You already know of Honours?" Porkchop asked in surprise. "That should make things easier." "You persist with this farce?" Ro said, flicking her attention to his brother. "I don''t know what you''re playing at, but¡ª" "Calm, Ro." Rieker said, cutting her off with a raised hand. "We both know the old records are spotty, we only know the name, not what Honour''s are. Besides, those records are tightly held¡ªhow would they have learnt of it otherwise?" The guild manager huffed, but held her tongue and slowly lowered herself back into her seat. She still stared at them with narrowed eyes, but it was clear that they''d at least have the chance to explain themselves¡ªthank the gods. As Ro settled back down, Rieker nodded, before turning his attention back to them. "Saying you have Honours¡ªthat by that very nature, are Observed¡ªis an extraordinary claim. As I mentioned, the records are spotty, but they''re clear they were the source of the Observed''s unnatural strength. A strength, mind you, that you do not have¡ªnothing you''ve done comes close to those impossible feats." Rieker said slowly, before he fell silent. Ianmus cleared his throat, drawing the room towards him. "That, at least, is easy to explain. There are clearly many Honours¡ªKaius and Porkchop helped me gain one, but have a lot more themselves. It''s also a scaling bonus." Rieker and Ro looked at Kaius, curiosity and surprise in their eyes. "Is this true? You shared the strength with him?" Ro asked. Kaius nodded. "It was the easiest way to ensure his loyalty, and make it so that our secrets were also his¡ªit would have made long term cooperation impossible otherwise." "Hmm," Rieker hummed, rubbing his chin. "You''ve got some sense, then¡ªbut please, don''t dangle the answer to the oldest mystery in the guild. What do they do? How do they work." Kaius took a breath, and started to explain. The Honour''s they had discovered, the different tiers to their strength, and the bonuses that could be acquired for achieving them alone, or being the first to do so. That, and the rest of the small secrets they had kept. The truth of their classes, and their experience in the Depths. The one thing he''d held back is their role in the phase shift, and their subsequent brush with the divine. At first, Ro and Rieker had been clearly skeptical, with small frowns and furrowed brows. As Kaius continued to talk, that slowly changed. By the end of it, the guild administrators were leaning in with their hands clenched tightly around their armrests¡ªhanging off his every word. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. "Fascinating...this could change everything. Sure, it would be more effective the earlier you started, but even Ro and I could benefit from this. A fine gift you have brought me, boy¡ªespecially after the disappointment of missing out on Aspects." Rieker replied. "I''ll say¡ªyou''ve convinced me Greenhorn. I''m in your debt for this secret you have gifted us." Ro said, following up from the guildmaster. The guildmaster fell silent as his fingers drummed a staccato beat on his desk, providing a brisk tempo to his thoughts. "I doubt you did this out of simple good will though¡ªtell me, what do you hope to gain? And how does this relate to Aspects?" Kaius nodded. "Simple¡ªthe Aspects come with an Honour for being in the first five to found one. Ianmus and I already have it, and Porkchop is right on the cusp. He was hoping that you''d be able to assist him¡ªhe''s certain that he needs to persevere in the face of physical adversity to get over the final hump." Turning to Porkchop, Rieker gave the meles a long and calculating look. "Done, we''ll discuss how at the end of our meeting¡ªif it''s urgent I can clear my schedule for the afternoon. However, I doubt that''s all of it." Porkchop chuffed, palpable satisfaction that the guildmaster had agreed to help so easily bleeding across their bond. "It''s not. It was my idea to tell you¡ªI''ve always thought that the two-legged focus on secrets was ridiculous. Half the reason the Dens are so powerful is we share our legacies¡ªit makes it a lot easier to discover new merged skills. I thought we could do something similar, and piggy back off of the Aspect network that the guild is creating." Reiker cocked his head in surprise. "Oh? You wish to spread it widely? Are you not concerned that you will lose some of those bonuses you mentioned?" Kaius felt the faintest hint of heat wash over his face. Having the guildmaster immediately pick at the core of his secrecy felt a little too revealing for comfort. Especially since he had now fully embraced Porkchop''s plan, the requirements for Honours would be priceless. "It was, and is, a concern¡ªbut, if the guild is focusing resources on a promising group of people in the first tier, then enforcing a sharing of Honour requirements will benefit us more in the long run." Kaius replied. "Besides, I''m more than confident in our strength. I doubt there is anyone who could beat us to the punch." he continued. Ro nodded at his words. "Forward thinking. For once I approve, Kaius. This is significant, though we would be smart to delay its spread until you''ve reached a measure of strength to ensure your safety. This will bring attention, no matter how much we might try to hide your involvement. It is unavoidable." "I agree. This is big, but too big to enact immediately." Rieker said. "However, Aspects are another matter. Are you able to share what you have learnt?" Kaius reached into his pocket, searching for the folded page where he had meticulously inscribed the informational package that the system had shared with him, as well as some of his and Ianmus''s own insights into the process of igniting Mentis. He placed it on the desk, sliding it over. Rieker snatched it up, folding it open and holding it up so both he and Ro could read it quickly. At first their expressions were focused, eyes flicking back and forth as they scanned the page. Then they quickly grew incredulous, shock spelled out in bold through wide eyes and open mouths. "...This. Where did you get this." Ro said, looking at them in open surprise. "The value in this is incalculable." "It was part of the bonus for being the first to found an Aspect." Kaius said plainly, still feeling the sting over the likelihood that similar knowledge had been lost about Legacy skills. Ro and Rieker seemed to catch on quickly, dissatisfaction marring their features as they looked between him and the page. "You think there was one for Legacy skills." Rieker''s words were not a question. Kaius nodded stiffly, before Ianmus spoke up from his right. "It would only make sense¡ªthe loss is...staggering if it is true, though." Rieker grunted, taking a last look at the page before he folded it up and placed it in his breast pocket. "All of you have earned a great deal of good will with this¡ªyou can be sure that this will be spread widely. Though, much like the Honours, I''ll delay sharing it until you are strong enough to survive the acclaim and rewards that will come." he said. Kaius nodded, relieved that the guildmaster wasn''t going to rush the process. "Setting up an information share on Honours won''t be too difficult, but Ro and I will have to start quickly. Thankfully, I''ve still got enough pull with a couple of higher ups that they''ll humour me in building out the infrastructure, as long as you don''t mind me telling them that I''ll be able to share something good in a year or two if they do." Reiker continued. Thinking it through, Kaius didn''t see the harm in that much at least. He could only imagine the kind of resources that would have to be mobilised to get such a program underway. "Will it be shared with all?" Porkchop asked. An important question, Kaius realised. He could definitely see the benefits of spreading it to every guild member¡ªit would be a massive force multiplier for the growing chaos. On the other hand, that could be dangerous. If everyone pursued the sort of feats Honours required, many reckless delvers would die. "Aspects, almost certainly¡ªI doubt everyone will be able to ignite them, from the sounds of it it''s quite difficult and few have as much drive as you do. Honours, however, are dangerous. I''d be shocked if the higher ups didn''t make it conditional on guildmaster approval to share¡ªespecially for these unclassed Honours, they''d kill overconfident younglings by the thousands. I''m of the mind to keep them secret entirely, for more than one reason." Rieker''s words made Kaius confident that they had made the right decision. For him to realise immediately that in many ways Honours were a poison chalice was a credit to his intelligence. On the other hand, he could easily see a couple of scenarios where a controlled delve might be beneficial. A team of four unclassed loaded to the gills with artefacts and consumables, spending their last year in the depths would have a good shot of acquiring a minor Honour, and perhaps a few Champion related ones¡ªif they had the right Skills and skill, that is. It was a dilemma though, some would invariably die¡ªand while he didn''t regret his experiences in the slightest, it was a hard thing to stomach. Rieker hummed, drawing Kaius back out of his thoughts. "Those Unclassed Honours that you acquired. They point to something. Something large, obvious, and dire." Kaius''s stomach dropped. Rieker gave him a hard look. "I will only say this. We will not discuss it. We will not reference it. I don''t want to know. As far as I''m concerned, the state of the world is due to divine intervention¡ªnot the actions of two ludicrously lucky children." Ro nodded, equally as severe. "In fact, half of these Honours will not leave this room. Rieker and I know how dangerous it would be for you if these got out¡ªit doesn''t take a genius to connect the dots when the pieces are all laid out. I can feel my oath tugging at the very mention of sharing them." Kaius sighed in relief, a palpable weight leaving his shoulders. Their role in the phase shift was their greatest risk, but they''d managed to navigate the high waters. Rieker rapped his knuckles on the table, getting his attention. "Now, with that out of the way, we can move to more enjoyable topics. Your reward for your missions." Kaius smiled, his heart racing at the thought that the next step towards upgrading his sword might just be within arms reach. Rieker grinned back at him. "Oh yes, there''s plenty to be happy about. Officially, Ro never left Deadacre¡ªso the reward for that whole boggart cull is yours, on top of the fee for the imbued stone seam." He reached down under his desk, pulling out a stack of three boxes. Two were made of simple pine, but one was a dark inscribed hardwood, held shut by a bronze latch. A deep thunk echoed through the room as Rieker set them on the table. "Who wants to go first?" B2 Chapter 228: Thy Strength…, pt. 1 B2 Chapter 228: Thy Strength..., pt. 1 Runeblade Porkchop pricked his ears, the guild administrators¡¯ words grabbing at his attention. Pushing against the delicate wooden floors¡ªever careful to avoid gouging the expensive materials that two-legs seemed inordinately fascinated with¡ªhe rose to his haunches. The Trial of Will? What could that be? It certainly sounded like the kind of thing that could help him push through the final blasted barrier that had been haunting him. Ever since that delicious fight against the bogglings, he¡¯d felt the ember of it burning away in his chest¡ªa heat that penetrated deep in his bones, promising to remould him from the inside out. By the Matriarchs, he wanted it done. The tantalising promise of fire was almost too much to bear. If only he could just think himself to the finish line like both of his companions had been able to. Unfortunately, he had yet to resonate with his pillar Mentis¡ªand even if he had, he doubted it would be as easy for him. Even with the help of his bond skill, and the reinforcement of his mind from the racial trait it had brought, he was still affected by the curse of greater beasts. Worse, since it seemed like their slower skill development stretched to the revelations required by Aspects. Corporus, at least, seemed to be a little better. He could feel it right to his core, it was an aspect of action. All he needed was the right environment¡ªhe wouldn¡¯t fail. Wouldn¡¯t stagnate. Not like the others. ¡°It sounds dangerous, whatever it is.¡± his bond-brother muttered, the scent of simple, honest, concern wafting richly from their bond. Porkchop rolled his eyes. He didn¡¯t understand how Kaius could be such a stalwart and fearless fighter and still manage to worry more than a nanny whenever he had to do something a little risky. He was a meles! Pigheadedness was his birthright. ¡°I¡¯ll do it,¡± he said, projecting his voice to the room. It still felt a little weird, structuring his thoughts into something as limiting as words¡ªbut he¡¯d gotten a lot more comfortable with it over the last year or so. Rieker¡ªPatriarch in a skin suit that he was¡ªgrinned at his words, clapping his hands loud enough that Porkchop had to flick his ears back to avoid the stinging reverb. ¡°See! This crop is tough, Ro. He can handle it¡ªif he really needs to be pushed to his real limit, the Trial is perfect.¡± The guild manager huffed, pretending to be furious. Not for the first time, Porkchop wondered why they persisted with pretending that they were simple allies¡ªhe could smell them all over each other. Then again, humans seemed oddly uncomfortable with the realities of living so close together for people who seemed to do so at every available opportunity. Perhaps it was just some nicety he didn¡¯t understand. ¡°I can¡¯t in good conscience let Porkchop agree without knowing what he¡¯s getting himself into.¡± Ro insisted. Rieker waved to continue, unconcerned and clearly convinced that Porkchop would agree anyway. Which he would. The Trial could involve being sawn in half and he¡¯d still agree¡ªhells, it would probably work. Watching him closely, Ro groaned as she realised that his mind was already made up. She still explained anyway. ¡°Crossing through to Silver is a large jump¡ªthe threats and dangers that are faced by people in the second tier vary wildly, as does the capabilities of delvers as the stat gap between rarity grows. There¡¯s a number of trials to assess where someone falls on the scale¡ªthe results are used to ensure that priceless delvers aren¡¯t sent off on a suicide mission.¡± Ro explained. r?a¦­o?E?s?? Cocking his head, Porkchop watched her curiously. That sounded...interesting. If there were multiple trials, perhaps he could try the others if this one didn¡¯t work. ¡°The Trial of Will is a looping corridor built into the earth beneath every guildhall. It¡¯s one of the few trials like that, most are too expensive to create to be economical if we were to build them everywhere. With every step, you¡¯ll grow heavier. At first, it¡¯s just a few extra stone¡ªbut get far enough and it will feel like your organs are being pulped.¡± Ro continued, jumping into her explanation of the trial. The guild manager reeked of discontent, clearly unhappy with the idea of him undergoing the challenge. He didn¡¯t mind, as long as she didn¡¯t try to stop him¡ªit just meant she was nice, even if she tried to hide it by being as bristly as a boar. ¡°That''s not all¡ªwith every revolution, a new torment starts to build. The temperature will start to fluctuate between hot and cold, the difference growing more extreme with every stride. Then, a droning noise that grows louder and louder. Then fatigue, discomfort, hunger, and thirst. It rarely kills¡ªit¡¯s entirely illusory¡ªbut I''ve seen it push people to madness.¡± Ro finished, watching him closely. Honestly, it sounded perfect. It was exactly the kind of thing he needed to see where he really stopped. How far he could go if the only thing holding him back was his ability to wallow in the muck and keep on going. Porkchop¡¯s tail thumped into the side of Kaius¡¯s chair. ¡°I don¡¯t think that was meant to encourage you, Porkchop.¡± Ianmus chuckled. Porkchop huffed at him. The elfling was right, of course¡ªbut there was no way he would let him know that. ¡°Of course it was! It sounds perfect¡ªand there¡¯s more options if it doesn¡¯t work. What else could it have been?¡± His brother sighed in defeat. ¡°I can¡¯t really fault you for that¡ªI guess it¡¯s no different than hunting down the Champions instead of waiting for our classes. I doubt anything will be able to crack you, I was just worried it might be dangerous.¡± Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Oh, I like these ones, Ro¡ªso much more refreshing than the usual stock we have to work with in this backwater.¡± Rieker replied, shifting in his chair as he smiled with genuine pride at Porkchop and his team. ¡°Not dangerous, he says¡ªfucking greenhorns.¡± the guild manager muttered under her breath, folding her arms. ¡°Idiots, the lot of you. But fine¡ªI, at least, have the sense not to fight the inevitable.¡± ¡°It¡¯s on your head if this goes wrong.¡± she said to Rieker. Then she looked back to Porkchop, her lips pursed, even if her bright eyes gave away her true feelings of concern. ¡°Try not to die¡ªit¡¯d be such a waste.¡± Porkchop nodded, and then she was gone, sweeping out of Rieker¡¯s office in a blur of motion. ¡°Well then, guess we best get to the trial¡ªthe stairs are one floor down, so you¡¯ll have to follow me.¡± Rieker said, standing from his desk. Porkchop nodded, and rose to his feet¡ªhis team joining him. .... The stone floor was cold under the pads of his feet, each paved slab big enough that he could stand comfortably on a single one. Inscriptions covered their surface, but he had little idea of what they did¡ªeven Kaius had been out of his depth, only able to identify a little of High Lothian, though the working was too complex for him to ascertain how it worked. Laid end on end, the paved hall stretched in a wide circle¡ªthe curve gentle enough that it must have been a couple of hundred strides in total. The Trial of Will¡ªhe couldn¡¯t wait. Looking to his left, Porkchop met his team''s gaze. A second row of pavestones lay on the outer edge of the hall, half of its twenty stride width. Clear of the effects of the trial, it was so assessors could keep pace with those being challenged¡ªand pull them to safety if need be. His team looked just as excited as they did worried, though he could tell that Kaius¡¯s concern had mellowed out as they¡¯d walked to the trial. Rieker had explained more as they walked. While what Ro had said was correct, there were a few things that had been marginally overblown. For one, it was extremely rare for anyone to perish during the trial. Those that did were usually those with weak nerves, the constant assault of pressure and sensation enough that their heart gave out. Even then, it was only a real risk if their strife went unnoticed. Madness was a possibility, but one that Rieker thought was unlikely. He¡¯d seen many undergo the Trial, and had done so himself. In all that time, the guildmaster had said he¡¯d never seen someone with Porkchop¡¯s unyielding mentality give in to that particular weakness. Porkchop had asked about the trial being illusory. His main worry was that if it was not actually challenging him physically, it wouldn¡¯t be enough for his aspect. Rieker had only laughed¡ªsaying that it was plenty physical. The illusion aspect was only used so that most of the trial''s effects wouldn¡¯t do direct damage to the body¡ªthey would still affect him just fine. The weight especially¡ªthat was real enough. It was something of a badge of honour to persist until it started to break bone. Rieker had warned him that while he, Ianmus, and Kaius would be able to keep pace with him, there would be a silence effect, and a barrier that would prevent him from seeing out of the trial. He¡¯d have to complete the challenge without hearing the urging of his companions. That was a bonus, in his mind. No doubt Kaius would get all blubbery the second so much as one of his toes broke. ¡°Ready?¡± Rieker asked, standing behind his team with the medallion that controlled the Trial in his hand. Porkchop nodded. ¡°Good luck! You¡¯ve got this, you know you do.¡± Kaius called, giving him a wide grin¡ªhis brother did his best to hide the undercurrent of nerves that pulsed through their bond, but Porkchop caught it. He chuffed, stepping forwards to butt his head into his brother''s chest. ¡°Stop worrying. I put up with you blowing a hole in your hand every few hours for weeks.¡± he replied. ¡°I suppose that¡¯s true,¡± Kaius replied with a chuckle. ¡°Still, good luck.¡± Kaius finished, this time this time with less biting anxiety, and more warm support. Porkchop grinned, before he stepped back onto the track. Rieker gave him a nod, and a faint haze of the man''s mana infused the medallion. A second later a haze snapped into place, cutting off the Trial from the track that ran parallel to it. Weight settled on his shoulders¡ªa miniscule amount, a bare fraction of the burden of his armour. Shaking himself limber, Porkchop took the first step. More weight, though still almost unnoticeable. He decided to take a comfortable pace¡ªthe insight he¡¯d been tracking on his hunt was not one of explosive power, or swift speed. Instead it was persistence¡ªunyielding strength did not need to rush. And he did need to be unyielding. Porkchop knew his fate¡ªknew who he was. Outsider. Malcontent. Changeling. A quarrelsome burden to the people of his birth¡ªunwilling to bend the knee when it was expected of him. Required of him. He loved his family, but their obsession with tradition and stagnation was their own weight, not his. The cracks had already been showing by the time he had left. The dwindling numbers of young, the growing tensions at the meet, the fading strength of their elders in the face of what had been achieved in the stories of lost glory. The increasing distance from the elves galled him the most¡ªannoying they may have been, but there was no honour in isolation. They may cower¡ªrefuse to change in the face of what should have been obvious. No doubt they were already splintering, old wounds flaring as the phase change shoved a claw in the gap between scales. A burden, they said. Isolation to be a burden of his own, by dint of his differences. They¡¯d been wrong¡ªon so many fronts. The weights he carried were many, but loneliness was not one of them. No, he carried the burden of understanding. His people were slowly diminishing, and would continue to do so unless someone could beat some sense into them. There were no crowns amongst his people, it was not their way. But leaders? Those of action and strength? They were there by the dozens. If he could just prove what could be gained from interacting with the world outside of their cloistered burrows, they would change. He knew it. At first it had been a childish fancy¡ªa simple want to show his people what should have been obvious. Yet every day since he had fallen into the Depths, it seemed more and more like a possibility. He hadn¡¯t told Kaius yet¡ªthey had far more pressing issues, none the least the vermin behind his father¡¯s death. He knew when he did he would have his brother¡¯s support. It wasn¡¯t about rule, or glory, or leading his people. That was not the way of the meles, they did not have kings in the ways of men. They just had to be forced to see the error of their ways¡ªstopped from falling into petty infighting and nonsensical isolation. He just had to prepare himself for it¡ªthis little Trial was only the first step. When he was ready, he would force them to accept the reality of the situation. He could only hope he would get there before the growing changes of the integration caught up with them. Porkchop took another step, the weight on his shoulders pressing him ever harder into the flagstones below. Chapter 228 - B2 225: Payment, pt. 2 Kaius grinned as he looked at the stacked boxes on the table¡ªthe first of their rewards, and a source of gear they would otherwise likely not have the funds or connections to get ahold of. He''d hoped that they would be able to get some today, but after Ro and Rieker had warned them that it might take more than one mission, Kaius hadn''t wanted to get his hopes up. A quick glance at his team showed him they must have been feeling similarly excited, both Ianmus and Porkchop looking on with undisguised avarice. "Between the platinum piece, and the extra hundred gold for the mineral seam finders fee¡ªwhich was unfortunately reduced due to the current difficulties in exploiting that resource¡ªwe were able to pick out some good pieces for you." Rieker said, smiling at their obvious anticipation. "We were even able to come up with a little work around for our problem with finding if Kaius''s blade would resonate with any of our materials on hand." he continued, eyes flicking to Kaius. "Or at least, Ro was able to." Ro nodded, though she frowned at the latched box at the bottom of the pile¡ªthe same expression he''d seen her make every time administrative work came up. Sometimes, he wondered what she was doing here as a manager. It clearly didn''t suit her. "Took two days of asking around, and combing through our records, but it turns out we''re within our right to create samples. That bottom box contains a scrapping of everything we have on hand¡ªif your blade resonates with any of them, we''ll either give it to you now, or reserve it until you''ve completed enough missions to earn it." Ro said. Kaius nodded, staring at the box with open yearning. To know that it potentially held all that he needed to finally awaken his blade made him want to dash out of his seat and snatch it up immediately. It took considerable will, and squeezing his own knees in a deathgrip, to stay still. After all, it made sense for him to go last. His teammates were getting hand-picked gear, and it would be cruel to make them sit through him rifling through who knows how many materials. "You two pick between yourselves who goes first." he said. The looks of gratitude were almost enough to quell the hoarding dragon inside of him that squealed in outrage at the prospect of waiting. "Ianmus can go first, it''s his first time getting loot. At least the good kind." Porkchop said, nodding to the mage. "Are you sure?" Ianmus asked, surprised that Porkchop had forfeited without a fight. Porkchop rolled his eyes. "Just hurry up! I don''t want to wait all day." Ianmus nodded, and approached the desk. Rieker and Ro watched them with wry smiles, clearly amused and well used to the antics of a delving team deciding their loot rotation. The guildmaster nudged one box forward, indicating to Ianmus which one he should take. The box was long¡ªby far the largest of all of the boxes at what looked to be just over six strides, though it lacked the heft and depth of the lacquered box holding Kaius''s materials. Hurrying back to his seat, Ianmus lifted the thin pine top, revealing an interior wrapped in cotton padding. Laying inside was a staff. Kaius thought it was a pretty thing, the wood somehow grown in a tightly bound spiral¡ªlike the braiding of a rope. At its top, the strands of honey coloured wood unravelled, weaving themselves into a cage that had tightly bound some sort of stone streaked with seams of glittering yellow. Runes covered the faceted stone by the dozens, dense workings revealing few secrets¡ªthe telltale script of the Depths hiding its intent from even Kaius''s trained eyes. Ianmus reached out with a shaking hand, touching the inset stone with what looked to be awe. "Infused sunstone..." he muttered to himself, lifting his new staff out of the box, and setting its container on the floor. As his friend turned his newest focus over in his hands, Kaius took the opportunity to analyse it with Truesight, curious at what had gotten Ianmus so excited. Staff of the Woven Corona: Unusual - Tier I A Dawn Maple, waiting for purpose. The essence of the sun, waiting for a home. Sacred to the weaver, their destiny is made manifest¡ªa union of the disparate, and an act of worship. Made from Dawn Maple, directed to grow around a faceted chunk of high grade sunstone, this staff has been lacquered with an infused stain. Being made of materials that are almost exclusively aligned to the solar affinity, this staff provides an exceptional boost to mana control and channeling speed when using that affinity. Solar spells cast through this staff are empowered, and it has been inscribed with a meta magic to drastically increase the speed at which tier I solar beam spells may be cast, at the expense of drastically reducing their range. Depths-wrought Artefact. Casting Focus - Staff Durability I, Solar Empowerment I, Solar Focus III, Self Repair I, Quickened Ray II Kaius nodded in appreciation of the artifact. Even just the simple increase to the efficiency of Ianmus''s casting would have been a potent boon, but the fact that it also allowed the mage to cast more swiftly in close quarters was astounding. "That one was a lucky find¡ªthere''s a delve near Deadacre with a Solar themed biome at the fifteenth layer. Most avoid it, due to the difficulty of dealing with enemies that have attacks that are difficult to block or dodge." Rieker explained. "How''d you get it, then?" Ianmus asked, getting a feel for the staff''s balance. "Had a Steel team with a mirror mage come through a few years back, they were uniquely suited to it. Let me tell you, that mage was apoplectic when their best Champion reward was a staff that he couldn''t use." Rieker chuckled, shaking his head at the memory. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. "I can understand why¡ªit''s an amazing piece. I''d be furious if I got something like this, but found out it was useless to me." Ianmus mumbled, still cradling the staff like it was made of glass. Ro waved him off. "Don''t feel too bad, he managed to trade it in for an amulet that increased the potency of abilities that deflected or redirected attacks¡ªhe made out like a bandit." She paused for a moment, looking to where Porkchop was ''patiently'' waiting. His brother looked like he was using all of his concentration to avoid tearing Rieker''s carpet to shreds with his honed jade claws as he continually readjusted¡ªrestless anticipation flooding across their bond in waves. "Perhaps we let Porkchop check his reward, before Rieker''s floor gets ruined, eh?" she continued. Ianmus jumped, before he looked to the side and shuffled his chair to give Porkchop room. "Sorry!" "It''s okay!" Porkchop replied, before he loomed up on his hind legs, towering over everyone else in the room. Gods, it was easy to forget just how big he was¡ªfilling the room like a direbear¡ªwhen he so rarely stood up to his full size. With a surprising delicacy, Porkchop pinched the next pinewood box between claws on opposing hands and placed it in front of him as he settled onto his haunches. This box was by far the smallest¡ªperhaps the size of a large book. Porkchop flicked it open, revealing a similar lining to the one that had been inside of Ianmus''s package. Laying on the bed of cotton wadding was what looked to be a bracelet¡ªa length of flexible metal plates, each embossed with a series of runes. Kaius leaned in, peering closer with Truesight. It was Ykkardian, he realised¡ªhe''d recognise those standalone glyphs anywhere¡ªcombined with some unknown script. Without the system''s help, he had to fall back on his mortal training. Thankfully, that had been considerable due to his father''s efforts. While he had no clue as to what the unknown script was doing, he could recognise about half of the sigils on the bracelet. Armament, Stalwart, Empowerment, Reinforce, and Shield. A defensive artefact, without a doubt. Satisfied that he still had some of his capabilities, Kaius looked up to find Porkchop watching him expectantly. "Yes?" Kaius asked, confused. "I don''t have Identify." Porkchop said plainly, looking at him like he''d been dropped on his head. "Oh. Right, sorry." Kaius replied, scratching the back of his head. He pulled up the item''s description, curious as to if his assessment had been correct, and read it out to Porkchop. Bracelet of Tangible Ghosts: Unusual - Tier I The Chittari Militia has a simple doctrine. Gear that is summoned needs far less logistical support, and allows resources to be funneled to more useful purposes. Indeed, their harassing skirmishers are let loose to nip at the heels of their foes, with only a pair of boots, a pack of rations, and a single Bracelet of Tangible Ghosts provided to them. Crafted from mirage infused steel, and a length of alchemically treated mithril bindings, this bracelet Significantly improves the durability and effects of all summoned armaments produced from both skills and items. Depths-wrought Artefact. Accessory - Bracelet Durability I, Stalwart Apparition V, Self Repair I, Resizing I Porkchop hummed appreciatively when he learnt of his latest artefacts capabilities. Kaius too could appreciate its benefits. Something like this would empower Porkchop''s armour, and¡ªif he was correct¡ªthe blades of mana that coated his claws thanks to one of the artefacts they had found on their initial delve. "Where''d you find this, then? It''s perfect." Kaius asked, curious about the object''s origin. "No idea, it''s been sitting in the vault for decades¡ªnot many people focus on summoned equipment, so it''s been languishing untouched. If anything, you''re doing us a favour by taking it off our hands." Rieker answered. "Technically, we pushed the limits with this one. We had to get an artificer to add the resizing enchantment, and working with a depths-wrought artefact is always expensive due to the difficulty. It was too perfect not too, however." Ro continued. Kaius nodded, before he got out of his chair and helped Porkchop don his bracelet. The metal warped unnaturally, stretching to a size where he could easily slip it over his brother''s dinner-plate sized paws. Standing back up, Kaius had his focus immediately latch on to the final remaining box. It was deeper than the others, perhaps a stride tall, and made of far higher quality furnishings. He looked at it with hunger, eager to see what waited within. Rieker saw his face and grinned. Leaning forwards, the guildmaster flicked open the latch and opened the box. As he did so, the lid slid back and up, revealing cleverly hidden cantilevered metal struts. The box split into five distinct parts, the wood having joined so closely that the seams were hidden even to his enhanced sight. Each part moved back and up, revealing five interior shelves that were covered in a soft grey velvet. Glass vials lay inside small holes, each one holding the barest grains and drops of material. The bottom was the most complete, with dozens of bottles stacked in tight. As Kaius moved his eyes up the tiers of the container, the vials grew fewer in number¡ªthe fifth compartment holding a bare handful. With the box opened, a thin mist of mana wafted free of its confinement. It was a churned mixture, dozens of different affinities blending into an undifferentiated whole. Still, as the thin energy rushed over him, Kaius felt the blade at his hip keen in excitement¡ªhungering for something within. "There''s something in there, my sword is reacting." Kaius whispered, surprised. He''d half expected that they would have had nothing¡ªthe sword rousing itself on the simple basis of trace amounts of emitted mana set his heart racing, and his nose tingling at the myriad unexplainable scents. If the resonance was this potent, how would his sword react with a whole piece of the material? "Really? That''s good. Records on how growth items work is spotty¡ªwe''d been ready to let you touch the materials to the blade directly." Rieker replied. Kaius set a hand on his hilt, half expecting his sword to fly out of its sheath of its own volition, so strong was its want. "I''m not sure if that is a good idea. It feels even hungrier than when I found the Spent Forgeheart." Rieker laughed at that, leaning back in mirth. "I''m sure you''ll have it handled." Then the guildmaster nodded to the box. "Before you figure out which one it is, I''ll explain how this will work. We''ve separated the materials into value. The lowest sections are the cheapest¡ªanything from the lowest two you should be able to afford straight away. As you go higher though, you might have to save for another mission or two depending on its value. Potentially a lot more, for the highest tier¡ªthose have more variability in their price than the rest of the box combined." Rieker continued, waving his hands across the various open compartments of the box. Kaius nodded, still fixated on the many vials before him. "Let''s hope it''s nothing at the top then." He stepped forwards, reaching out to start searching for what had his blade so excited. Chapter 229 - B2 226: Payment, pt. 3 Staring at a case of what looked to be easily over a hundred vials of materials was rather overwhelming, especially when he had no easy way to tell which one would be the material that Kaius''s sword hungered for. If it even was just a single material¡ªfor all he knew there could be multiple. Kaius hoped so¡ªknowing that all it would take to upgrade his blade was a few missions would take a load off his mind, and would exponentially increase his effectiveness in battle. Using his Truesight to analyse each and every one would have taken far too long, so he decided to simply start his way from the bottom. The least expensive materials were probably the least likely to be what he needed, but he decided to work his way through them all the same. Every bottle he picked up held something new. Pinches of electric blue dust, droplets of sparking metal, even splinters of wood that writhed and wriggled its way around the bottom of the glass. That was just the first layer¡ªas he picked his way through the low hanging fruit, Kaius moved his way up the container, laying his hands on samples of more expensive and rare materials. By the third layer, things got truly strange. A flake of what looked to be gelatine, except formed from condensed fire that flickered and blazed with contained fury. A grain sized shard of a pitch black hole in the world, except when he rattled the vial it tinked of the glass like common metal. Halfway through the third layer, he found what he was looking for. As his fingers brushed against the lid of the next vial, he felt his sword yank on his bond¡ªhungrily crying for whatever the bottle contained. Kaius snatched it up out of its velvet housing, holding it up to the light to get a better look at what was held within. "This is it." he said confidently, staring at a small metallic bead that rolled around the base of the vial. It was small, barely half the size of a grain of rice, and a deep red colour¡ªlike clotted blood. Curiously, it seemed to be a liquid, though one of a density and cohesiveness he''d never seen. It didn''t streak, or spread, but as it rolled across the glass he watched the metal droplet deform and mold to the surface. "That''s good." Ro said, nearly sighing in relief. "We were worried there wouldn''t be anything. Deadacre is a bit of a backwater, and we have nowhere near a comprehensive stock¡ªeverything of real value is exchanged with other guildhalls in places where they''ll actually get used." Kaius nodded, before he set the vial to the side¡ªignoring his sword''s primitive dismay as he did so. "Just want to see if there''s anything else¡ªI might be able to leap straight to awakening A Father''s Gift if there is." Rieker merely nodded, waving at him to go ahead. Thankfully, his team seemed happy to wait, both Porkchop and Ianmus more focused on fiddling with their latest artefacts than what he was doing. Continuing his exploration of the materials, Kaius found nothing of note within the rest of the third section. Nor, much to his disappointment, did he find anything in the fourth. There was only the top compartment of the box left¡ªholding a bare seven vials, all of which were the most valuable of the lot. Even if he did find something here, Kaius doubted he would be able to get access to it any time soon. After all, Rieker had said some of them were expensive to the extreme. Still, if there was, it was an option he could pursue if the opportunity arose, though he would wait until after he had updated his armour to start saving. The topmost compartment held materials that were by far the strangest¡ªand blazed like the sun to his mana sight. Ash that whirled in a vortex of its own creation. Grains of sand, floating in a ball in the vials centre. A shard of bone, dripping with enough magical potency that it visibly distorted the very air around it. Kaius nearly buckled as he picked up the vial¡ªso strong was the desire of his blade. It hungered for the bone, needed it in a way that Kaius had no name for. A simple fact of its existence. A bundle of unliving desire that the blade may have been, Kaius instinctively knew that this material was far better than anything else he could hope to secure otherwise. Regardless of its cost, he had to have it. Kaius placed it on the table, his hand shaking. "This one resonated too." he said, looking up. Only to be surprised to see a Rieker letting out a sympathetic wince. "I was afraid you''d say that¡ªit''s bloody expensive. Not the most economical thing to save for." the guildmaster said. "I can also tell that it''s invaluable for the development of my sword, it''d be worth the cost." Rieker nodded, scratching his chin in thought. "You''ll see why it''s so pricey when you analyze it. I can''t in good conscience let you funnel all of your rewards towards it¡ªat least not until you''re in a new suit of armour." Kaius frowned¡ªeven if it was costly, he''d been hoping it would be an attainable goal with enough work. "How long?" he asked. "For the first material? Another mission would net you that, and some proper greaves to go over your boots. Another two missions would finish off the armour¡ªyou''ll be earning more with each one. By then...you should be well into Iron. If I were to guess at the growing difficulty of the missions you could take, I would say it would take...another fifteen or so before you accrued enough for that material. And that''s with us fudging the numbers on its value significantly." Rieker replied, giving him an apologetic smile. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Kaius''s shoulder''s slumped as he realised the magnitude of work it would take to earn that final material. Fifteen missions was far too much, if he delayed acquiring other equipment for that long, he''d be vastly undergeared¡ªespecially considering the rate of their ongoing advancement. He couldn''t be brushing up on the second tier and using uncommon equipment¡ªit''d be suicide, especially considering the caliber of threats that they came up against. "I see you understand the position we''re in." Rieker said, before he leaned over and gave him an encouraging clap over the shoulder. "Listen¡ªthere''s a chance we can make it happen. Upgrading your weapon is a worthy goal, but I''m bound by my oaths to the guild, I can''t just give it to you." Rieker paused for a moment. "However, extraordinary service to the guild would allow me to bend the rules. There''s nothing that would count at the moment, but with the phase shift it''s just a matter of time. If a settlement under Deadacre''s sphere of protection falls under assault, or there''s a beast wave like the old tales...well, if you''re strong enough, let''s just say it''s likely there will be plenty of opportunities to prove your value to the guild. Hells, if we didn''t have to hide your sharing of Honours and Aspects, that''d be enough right now¡ªif you still need it by the time those are revealed, you can have it then." the guildmaster continued, giving him an encouraging smile. Kaius nodded, feeling somewhat mollified. Clearly, Rieker wasn''t being difficult because he wanted to, and if there were alternative ways to secure the final piece he needed for his sword, he would do so. Besides, if worst came to worst, he would still be better off than he had been before. There was always the hope that his enhanced Guardian rewards would provide him a viable alternative when they next delved. Hells, if the final material he had picked from the guilds stores was truly that good, he could always stockpile valuables of his own to trade for it. "Thanks, Rieker." he said, before he turned his attention to the two glass vials he had set on the guildmaster desk. He picked up the first one he had found¡ªthe material he would have his hands on by the end of their next mission. Swirling the strangely liquid bead around the glass, Kaius analysed it with his Truesight. Elder Blood: Unique - Tier I Affinity - Blood, Metal Power is the essence of blood, congealed and crystalised it becomes accessible. A potent metal, found only in the ancient gravesites of powerful beasts. Where enough blood has spilled, the iron gravitates to the locus of residual power¡ªshifting and transmuting in the presence of Blood and Metal affinity to become something more. Reagent Kaius read the notification in surprise, blinking it away when he was done. Unique? That was more than he had expected¡ªafter all, it had only been from the middle layer of the box. If something from there was that valuable, how expensive was the bone he had pulled out? "I''m glad that you picked out that one¡ªit would have been terribly disappointing if the only things you found were out of reach." Rieker said when he looked up. "Where''d it get found?" Rieker looked to Ro¡ªit seemed she knew far more of the logistics of the guild than the guildmaster did. Hells, for all Kaius knew, she was the one who had collated the samples in the first place. "A guardian drop¡ªlayer seventeen. One of the local Steel teams found it recently¡ªthey''re rushing for Silver with everything that''s happening. None of them had much use for a material, so they traded it in for gear." she explained. Kaius nodded. It made sense. He even suspected that the reason he could even get access to a Unique so quickly was that it was a raw material. Few artificers in a place like deadacre would have the skills to make full use of the stuff, so he doubted there was any great demand. That only made him more curious about the bone shard. Things tended to get increasingly expensive per tier increase, but even with that it would have to be something singularly potent to fetch the price that the guild was asking for. Kaius placed the droplet of Elder Blood back on the table, and pulled up the description of the last material. Infant Wyvern Bone: Epic - Tier I Affinity - Arcane, Draconic, Primal Even the least of dragonlings will raze an empire. A scrap of bone from an infant wyvern¡ªthe lowest member, of the lowest order of draconic lesser beasts. Even with the barest hint of the power of their primogenitors, wyvern remains bristle with the potency they burn with in life. Reagent Kaius was suddenly very glad he had left the vial on the table, because he doubted he would have been able to keep a grip on it after reading its description. Epic¡ªand draconic at that? Where in the great heavens had this come from. Even the least of draconic creatures were feared for a reason. Possessing singular magical potency, a body that would put even a greater meles to shame, and terrifyingly powerful breath weapons, they were usually given a wide berth. It was often easier to leave them be, and hope that they were simply migrating, than it was to drive them off. When they did prove too much of a threat? The cullings were the stuff of bardsong¡ªhe''d heard of people gaining a rarity increase in their class simply from participating. Though, now that he thought about it, that was probably an exaggeration. Kaius looked up at Rieker and Ro in shock, still struggling to believe what he had seen. "Where the fuck did you find a wyvern?" Kaius asked, causing his team to snap towards him in shock. "Wait, that''s from a dragonling? I didn''t think you''d find them out here where the mana is so thin." Porkchop asked, looking at the shard of bone with curiosity. Ianmus only watched the guild administrators closely, interested in their response. Grinning widely, Rieker jutted a thumb to his chest. "That''d be me. A runt flew down from the mountains and settled in the Hanset woods. I had to cull it before it grew out of the first tier¡ªletting it do so was a dire enough threat that I couldn''t trust it to anyone else." Kaius gave the man a nod of respect. That battle must have been legendary, even if the guildmaster had outlevelled the creature significantly. Even an infant draconic beast was no wilting daisy. "I''ve got its skull mounted above my bed, but I sold everything else back to the guild. A single femur is all that''s left after the other guildhalls got their mitts on the choice cuts." Kaius''s eyes drifted back to the shard of bone. A dragonling...that was a powerful resource. One that he could see benefiting the growth of his sword immensely¡ªespecially since it was the first Epic anything that he''d ever seen, even if it was simply tier one. He made up his mind. Regardless of what he had to do¡ªshort of stealing the damned thing¡ªhe''d get his hands on that bone. He could already imagine how good A Father''s Gift would look with a dragonbone hilt. Chapter 230 - B2 227: Payment, Finale Ro cleared her throat, pulling Kaius''s attention away from the sample materials he had found resonated with his blade. "Now, as we mentioned earlier¡ªit makes sense for you to invest in your blade, but not to the extent of ignoring all else. Once you''ve gotten that first material, we''ll have to insist on you upgrading your armour." the guild manager said, giving him a firm look. Kaius nodded, in easy agreement. "I know¡ªI am set on that bone, but I''ll have to be content waiting until I can complete a meritorious enough service to earn it. It''s too expensive otherwise." Ro nodded, giving him a small smile. "You seem to be getting smarter by the day, greenhorn. Regardless, after your next mission, it should take you another one or two more to complete your armour. By then, you should be closing in on strong enough for the delve we have access to. Our hope is that once you enter there, you''ll keep pushing down until you reach the second tier. If your skills aren''t capped, or you still have Aspects to ignite, do not feel pressured to cross the threshold immediately." Rieker nodded in agreement. "Ro is right; with your strengths, and your ability to fight monsters stronger than you, you''ll be able to complete your skills in no time. I have no doubt your Aspects will be much the same. Rushing into the second tier would be a complete waste of your potential." Kaius nodded. In that, they agreed. While he didn''t relish the thought of spending years at the level cap working on a final few stubborn skills, he doubted that would happen to them. Not with how quickly they''d managed to progress them so far¡ªa few months at most. "That was always the plan, but it is good to know we''ll be back in the Depths soon enough. If we spend significant time there, would I be able to trade in artefacts to put towards the wyvern bone?" Kaius asked. Ianmus perked up. "I hadn''t thought of that¡ªI''m sure we''ll be lousy with them if we churn through as many Champions as you have in the past." Kaius gave his teammate a grin, happy to see the man was already on board with the idea of squeezing the Depths for all it was worth. It would be a waste not to with the Honour they had gained that would let them track down the powerful monsters with ease. "Of course, depending on their value it might take a few of them though. Draconic remains are exceptionally valuable, even when compared to other things of the same rarity and tier. They''re just too damn uncommon." Rieker replied, gently trying to mediate their expectations. Kaius nodded. "Before we move on to the matter of our training, I did want to ask something. Do either of you know much about growth weapons? I''d just like to know if waiting for the bone is the right move, or if I''d be better off using a cheaper material if one comes along." he asked. Rieker tilted his hand back and forth. "A little¡ªthey''re famous enough that the guild has some records that I can access, though they''re also rare enough that the notes are spotty at best and more than a little vague." Rieker replied. "In essence, yes, it''s probably worth it. Both Ro and myself spent the last few days reading as much as we could, and it seems like the first development of a growth item is the most impactful, and the easiest to get. The results seem to be based on the materials used, and once they''re awakened, improving their rarity is the effort of a lifetime, and improving their rank is tied to your own. Though, I''m not sure of the specifics beyond that." Rieker replied, his gravelly voice filling the room. Kaius nodded. That cemented the matter in his mind. He had to get that bone, even if he was forced to use a replacement blade for a little while. Hopefully he wouldn''t, but no matter his sentimental attachment to his weapon, he would not let that get in the way of practicality. ... "Well, if that''s all settled, it''s time to discuss your training." Ro said, drawing their attention away from their current and future rewards. Ro was as focused as ever, her stern features demanding their attention. "Last time, we focused on your general skills. That was important, they''re the foundation of your strength, and were abysmally low. Now, however, our focus is shifting. Your class skills¡ªthey''re the core of your abilities, and drastically impact the actual threat you can bring to bear. The next few missions will be much more aligned to your strengths. Single, powerful targets." Ro continued, before she stood up and began to pace back and forth. Kaius had noticed that about her. She seemed incapable of sitting still whenever she was working through a thread in her mind. "Improving your ability to hit hard has become even more important with you sharing the existence of Honours. There is only one additional one we can be certain of¡ªkilling a monster a hundred levels above you before you reach tier two. That is a lethal challenge¡ªeven with your strength, that will require much preparation and the selection of the correct foe. We will help, but your best chance will be to stall out at level two-hundred and cap your skills first¡ªsomething you will want to do anyway." Ro came to a stop, turning and focusing her attention on Kaius. "Your goal for the next couple weeks will be your glyphs. They are curious things, but you''re using them without much skill." Kaius clenched his jaw, suppressing his urge to bristle defensively at Ro''s criticism. "I see that look¡ªtrust me, greenhorn. Your magic may be new, and you''ve already mentioned how little influence you have over them with mana manipulation. That is one thing, but even runewrights can influence their workings with focused intention and will." Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Kaius looked at her in surprise. That was news to him, Father had never mentioned anything of the sort. "You can?" he asked with a quiet voice, his surprise mirrored by his team. Ro nodded. "You can. It''s not something that''s taught to new students¡ªit''s barely worth mentioning when it''s only useful with significant Intelligence and Will. Let alone that by the time it''s truly viable everyone almost invariably discovers it anyway." "You''ll be focusing on trying to control how your lash moves, and what the secondary arcs target. For your evasive skill, you should focus on trying to influence the timing of the flickers. It''ll be far more useful that way." the guild manager continued. Digesting her words, Kaius mulled the thought over in his mind. In a way, it made sense. One thing that he did know was that all forms of magic had some level of interconnection with every other. A lot of the grey areas had fallen into place with his discovery of glyph-binding, but the influence of free casting on the art had been mysterious. Mana manipulation was almost useless, but it seemed the dominance of Will in free casting bled over to his own art. He gave Ro a swift nod, determined to discover what he could of what she had mentioned. Every edge was something he could use to grow strong, even if it was difficult. "Do not expect great results. Even for you, I doubt you''ll see anything extraordinary. However, it is highly likely that stressing your skills in such a way will be fantastic for their growth¡ªpotentially enough for you to strive for your next spells." Rieker interjected, throwing a little cold water on his growing fire. Ro nodded. "It''s true, but the earlier you start, the quicker you will grow adept at the skill." Then the guild manager switched her focus to Ianmus, the half-elf straightening in his chair as the force of her personality was brought to bear. "Ianmus, your focus will be on your beam spell¡ªthe quicker you can start to fire additional rays, the quicker you will be able to actually assist. While your team will likely outstrip you in pure firepower for some time, the ability to fully blind something in a single cast will be invaluable. Additionally, I expect you to be using your Hypercharged Spell metamagic continuously¡ªwith its scaling you should be aiming to reach a point where it is something you can use consistently." Ianmus nodded, accepting Ro''s direction. Pacing the room once more, she stopped with a snap of her heels on the hardwood floor, spinning to Porkchop. "Unfortunately, due to the nature of the skill, we won''t be able to effectively train your Bulwark''s Challenge¡ªmy advice is to use it as often as you can in a real combat scenario, even against those that serve no significant threat to your team." Porkchop winced¡ªKaius knew that his brother had been wanting to improve the skill, it was the first he''d received that helped to truly define his role as a Bastion. "What will I be focusing on instead?" Porkchop asked. "Your armour¡ªyou''re right on the verge of a development, and if we focus on it completely we just might be able to edge out a second one. The additional coverage will do much to shore up your weaknesses." Kaius gave Porkchop a look of pity. There was only one way for his brother to rank that skill up¡ªgetting hit hard, often. It sounded like he was in for a rough few weeks. Porkchop rolled his eyes at Kaius, but gave Ro a brief nod. "Good¡ªI''ll give you one thing, few people would so willingly sign themselves up for that. At the very least, you''ll give Ianmus opportunity to practice his healing, which will be good for his Solar Manipulation and Hypercharged Spell." Ro replied. "What of our resources?" Ianmus asked. "If Kaius and I are going to be casting so much, we''ll be burning through mana like it''s water." "We''ll provide potions." Rieker said, his gruff voice cutting through the room. "You''re worthy of investment, but even if you weren''t, the secrets you have shared today have brought you much. The largest rewards will have to wait until we enact our planned program, but you''ve earned yourself a few training aids, to say the least." His attention flicked to Kaius. "You''ll also be drinking more toxins. No point wasting time when we can level up your resistance and healing skills at the same time, though you''ve already burnt through the stock of readily available affinities, so I doubt we''ll be adding more resistances." Kaius groaned inwardly. He knew he should be thankful¡ªtonics were not cheap¡ªbut he couldn''t help but dread the experience of feeling his body dissolve from the inside out. At the very least, it would be good to train his focus through the distraction. Rieker grinned at his obvious distaste. "Life sucks, boy. May as well get used to it before you have to do it while something is trying to eat you." Done with his teasing, Rieker focused on Porkchop. "Now, you mentioned you needed help with your Aspect¡ªcare to explain? I''d be more than happy to help right after this if I can." Porkchop perked up, excitedly launching into an explanation of his insights into Corporus. How it was centred in the physical body¡ªand how he believed he needed to force himself to overcome his physical limits if he wanted a hope of igniting it. Rieker leaned back, scratching his chin. After several moments, he slowly started to speak. "Well...I have one idea. It''d be dangerous...but it''d definitely work." Ro snapped her eyes towards the guildmaster, narrowing them dangerously. Kaius swallowed, impressed that Rieker took the look without even flinching. "Rieker, you can''t seriously be thinking of that, can you?" The guildmaster shrugged. "What? It''s right there, isn''t it? Sounds bloody perfect to me." "It''s meant for the transition to Silver!" "It''s also meant for higher races, not a greater beast hopped up on Honours and an obscenely strong class. He''s a big boy, he can take it¡ªat worst I''ll just yank him out before he dies." Ro gave the guildmaster a withering look. The kind that Kaius half expected to eat made its way through the man''s head, and the wall behind him. Kaius looked between Rieker and Ro with a moderate amount of alarm¡ªwhatever they were talking about, it seemed serious¡ªespecially if Ro was concerned for Porkchop''s safety. "What, exactly, are you talking about?" Kaius asked cautiously. "The Trial of Will." Rieker and Ro replied simultaneously. B2 Chapter 229: Thy Strength…, pt. 2 B2 Chapter 229: Thy Strength..., pt. 2 Porkchop took another step, grunting in discomfort as the weight increased again, joined by a baleful scream that stabbed into his ears. Kaius¡¯s constant attention flowed through their bond. His worry, and his pride. It was a muted thing though, easily pushed to the background. His bond-brother knew that he had made his choice, and respected it. Porkchop was coming to the end of his second revolution, each step arduous as he kept his measured pace. This was nowhere close to his limit¡ªa little burn and a loud noise wouldn¡¯t stop him. It was simple discomfort, minor and forgettable compared to the hurdles he had set for himself. Life wasn¡¯t an easy path¡ªit was one of striving to reach the next meal, of slaying competitors and prey alike. His heart pumped strong with the blood of greater beasts, his body was tough¡ªhis joints and bones hard and stable in the face of the growing pressure. Corporus hadn¡¯t even started to resonate yet¡ªhis lungs were calm, each breath slow and steady as he walked. The mantle of the Jade Warden was his by right of conquest and victory, a hunt that had taken him through the Depths long before he should have been able. A low growl rattled his chest, claws clinking on stone as he took another step. This Trial would break his body, but it would not break his will. He knew that much¡ªeven if he had to crawl, shattered and broken, he would make his way forward until he could move no more. Another step. More weight. ..... The searing heat of the fire scorched his skin¡ªturned his fur to ash and seared his flesh¡ªno matter what he saw when he looked down. It was agony, an all consuming inferno that was joined by the weight of mountains bearing down on his back. He ached¡ªbowing as his legs quaked beneath him. Porkchop snarled in defiance, calling out his rejection. This would not break him. The screams of the damned heightened, overwhelming his senses¡ªpiercing his mind with directed malice as honed agony resounded through his skull. He would not give up. He did not care if it was stubborn pride, childish misconception, or foolish idealism¡ªhe would persevere. His people were wrong. There was nothing to be found in rigid tradition. It was killing them¡ªfracturing them as a people. The arguments over differences in song, art, and hunt. It was pointless. Young as he had been, he could see it. Why couldn¡¯t they? Was it hypocrisy, to judge them for their own unyielding attitude when he himself was just as stubborn? Perhaps¡ªhe didn¡¯t care. He didn¡¯t know what the right way was, that was a task for people far wiser than him. He just knew that the old ways weren¡¯t working. The Dens grew more divisive and insular every year, a disgrace to the founding tenets of their people. The Grandfather would be ashamed. He wouldn¡¯t have it. He¡¯d show them their mistakes¡ªthe damage they were causing. By right of claw and blood, he would do it. But first, he had to take another step. Sucking in a deep breath, Porkchop steeled himself against the agonous heat, and took another, shaking, step. The consuming fury of fire vanished, replaced by the bitter disgust of cold. Tendrils sunk their way into his flesh, petrifying all that crossed their path. Cutting crystals filled his flesh. He should have been a statue, his skin should have blackened and died¡ªbut he stood hale and hearty, quaking under the growing strain of the weight. Rooted in place, he shook¡ªbones threatening to splinter as judgement fell upon him. He refused. Hair''s breadth by hair¡¯s breadth, his paw rose, quaking from the strain. With the same determination that led him to seek strength beyond the mountains that tradition had demanded he never cross, Porkchop placed his foot down. And took another step. The screaming contempt of his people slammed into his back, buckling his knees. Losing his focus for the barest of moments in the face of burning fire and screaming hate, his knees crashed into the stone below¡ªshattering. The first drops of blood left his body, bone erupting from his flesh in lances of clarifying agony. Health burned, gnawing at his flesh with the persistence of a thousand gnats as bone was pulled back in place¡ªflesh sealing faster than even his brother could manage with his lesser skill. **Ding! Primal Vigour has reached level 70!** A deep echoing growl shook within his chest, fighting against the weight that threatened to crush the breath out from him. He rebelled against the pain, the pressure, the heat, and the noise. Muscles screamed, engaging in a unity of purpose as he pressed against the earth, forcing himself upwards. If he fell here, how would he ever have the strength to face his Den and say that they were wrong? How would he best his Patriarch when he came for his head? How would he gain the might to grant the defeated mercy, in rejection of their ways? How would he ever protect what he cared about? His friends? His people? This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Shaking like a leaf in a storm, Porkchop rose. **Ding! Jade Bones, Earthen Blood has reached level 56!** Standing once more, he breathed heavy and slow. He would need more than strength to change tradition¡ªhe would need to be enduring. Inviolate in the face of fearful rejection and hateful fang both. He could not stop. Not here. Porkchop took another step, and deep within his soul a pillar began to croon¡ªsoft and quiet. .... The line was right in front of him. A new torment, just another step away. Corporus blazed within his soul, a scream of challenge and victory. It was coming¡ªPorkchop could feel it. His bones splintered, fracturing despite his best efforts to keep his stance square and stable. There was too much weight¡ªthe essence of a mountain, condensed onto him. Yet with every echoing crack that resonated through his skull, his Health raced through, sealing the weakness shut. And endless cycle of agonising renewal, his very body rejecting the demands he had placed upon them. The pain was immense, but it was a mere candle towards his determination. How could he fall now? Would he step aside as the Dens died a slow death? Would he falter, when he was all that stood between his team and a violent end? He would not. Not while he still had the barest iota of strength, the faintest capability to act. He would not fall, could not fall, until his flesh burst, his bones dissolved, and his heart beat its last. Struggle was an eternal truth, and he was not one to baulk and hide from reality. Sickening cracks drowned out the incessant screaming in his ear as he reached out one leg, his paw falling limp as his wrist snapped. **Ding! Primal Vigour has reached level 82!** He took a step. The weight grew¡ªdelicate blood vessels in his nose bursting. His throat filled with the bite of a successful hunt, vibrant red staining the floor below. With the weight came a new burden¡ªweakness. It was a slight thing, his already exhausted body feeling just that slightest bit slower¡ªmuscles just a little bit looser. Porkchop paused, giving his failing body time to heal¡ªto adjust. Then he took another step, blood and bile dripping to the floor as he struggled to keep his jaw closed. .... Porkchop collapsed. The weight was too heavy, the noise and temperature too distracting, and the fatigue too sapping. Even with all of his stubborn bloodyminded focus, he could not stand. Yet...he could not stop here. He still had more to give. If he would not walk, he would crawl. Shattered and broken he might be, but he would not halt until he reached his goal. He¡¯d reach it, or he wouldn¡¯t, but either way he would push on until he had nothing left to give. **Ding! Jade Bones, Earthen Blood has reached level 65!** With the vigour of the already dead, Porkchop slid his arm forwards. He was too weak, and the weight too heavy, to lift the limb¡ªso he didn¡¯t try. Shuffling it forwards, he snarled against the pain, forcing himself to breath deep. A shallow gasp was all he could manage. Through sheer force of will, he managed to hook the tips of his claws into the thin seam between the flagstones ahead. Huffing in victory, he slowly pulled his back legs up, anchoring them in much the same way. Tugging on them softly, he found his hold good enough¡ªthough it was hard to tell by the way his joints creaked and strained under the pressure that crushed him to the earth. Trusting in himself, he heaved¡ªdragging himself forwards. He could do this. By right, he was a Bastion. The first to enter battle and the last to fall. Until his dying breath, he would be a barrier that defended others. Whether it was saving his team from the fury of their enemies¡ªlarge and small¡ªor his people from their own shortsightedness. Reaching the next flagstone, Porkchop grunted as the weight increased once more and the air turned deathly cold. Just another stride, he could do this. Minutes burned as his quaking arms reached out, slowly hooking his claws into the next seam. Porkchop heaved. He didn¡¯t move. Straining harder caused his joints to pop, separating in their sockets as bones splintered. Still he heaved, fighting against the pain, battling for just another hand span¡ªanother hair¡¯s breadth. The force of his pull just broke him further, limbs falling limp. He struggled on, trying to drive himself forwards. It was no use¡ªhis body had given out. No matter his desire, his need, or his frustration, he had hit the wall. There was nothing left to give. Yet, despite the futility¡ªthe marrow-deep knowledge that he had been bested¡ªPorkchop did not give up. In desperation, he raged against the pressure, moving anyway he could as skin tore and muscle split in his battle to make it just another hair closer. Corporus saw his struggle, and approved. Deep within his soul, Porkchop felt his fire blaze to new heights¡ªa song of unyielding adamant throwing back the screams of the Trial, a blaze of surety in victory burning back the chill. His soul pulsed, and his pillar Corporus ignited. The last vestige of the barest remaining scraps of his willpower gutted out as Porkchop realised he had achieved his goal. Black flooded his vision, a last gasp crushed from his chest. .... **Ding! Pillar of Self Discovered, Corporus Ignited. Would you like to initiate Aspect Formation?** Porkchop lurched back to awareness as the resonant ding of the system notification resounded through his mind. The clean scent of stone dominated his nose, mired only by the biting tang of stains of his own blood and bile, stretching in an unbroken trail ahead and behind him. Silent as it was, he was almost convinced he¡¯d gone deaf¡ªmind fatigued to the point it took him some time to realise it was simple, blessed, quiet. One thing he did not miss was the slight form of his brother, crouched beside his head. It was impossible to, even if he could only see the deep brown of his well conditioned boots, their bond made his presence and eminent concern unmistakable. ¡°Hey buddy, how¡¯re you feeling?¡± Kaius¡¯s words were soft and crooning. ¡°Like a shadelion gave up halfway through eating me,¡± Porkchop responded, not even coming close to feeling like moving. His closest friend snorted, shaking his head with a smirk. ¡°I¡¯m not surprised, that was a hell of a showing.¡± A gruff voice cut in, the familiar heavy timbre of the Patriarch of Deadacre¡¯s guild. ¡°Most Silvers struggle to make it to the end of the temperature swings, let alone the screaming. I was confident you¡¯d do well, but I definitely never thought you¡¯d make it to the lap of weakness, let alone half way through it.¡± Rieker continued, clear and genuine respect shining through. ¡°You¡¯ve impressed me.¡± Porkchop chuckled¡ªsurprisingly, that felt good, having his efforts acknowledged by someone so clearly strong. The guildmaster wasn¡¯t the only one¡ªIanmaus was leaning on the wall a few strides down the hall, watching him with genuine relief. The half-elf gave him a warm smile, before he nodded to draw his attention to Kaius¡ªwho looked like he was about to rupture with curiosity. ¡°More importantly, did it work? Did you manage to ignite your Aspect?¡± Kaius asked, leaning in to whisper conspiratorially the second he had Porkchop]¡¯s attention again. He smiled wide in response, baring his teeth. ¡°I did.¡± B2 Chapter 230: Thy Strength…, Finale B2 Chapter 230: Thy Strength..., Finale Still lying prone on the cold stone floor of the Trial of Will, Porkchop huffed in amusement as Kaius smiled wide at his achievement. ¡°You got it? That''s great! What¡¯re you waiting for?¡± Kaius asked hurriedly. ¡°Nothing¡ªI¡¯m going to initiate it now, there¡¯s no need to risk giving someone even more time to secure that Honour.¡± Porkchop replied, still feeling that now familiar pang of anxiety at the thought of losing the system¡¯s reward. Kaius nodded, scooching back. ¡°You go right ahead, you¡¯re safe here.¡± Porkchop gave his brother a quick nod, before he turned his attention to the waiting presence of the system hanging in his mind. He accepted the waiting notification. Slipping into his soul space, he saw the waiting pyre burning atop his pillar Corporus. It was a stable thing, reeking of duty and determination. It was strange¡ªthe scents it gave off, the weight it held...it reminded him of a dozen different figures. The Matriarchs and Patriarchs. Ekum. Even Rieker. There was a little of it in all of them. Porkchop reached out with his will¡ªdriven as much by curiosity as he was the gentle guidance of the system. As he connected to his aspect, he drowned in visions. A thief, baring his teeth as the axe came down on his wrist¡ªblood, pain and infirmity a worthy price of seeing their family fed through the winter. A stallion, fighting through the haze of exhaustion and blood loss to feel the splintering crack of the wolf''s skull that had harried his herd. A greater beast he had no name for, tearing its way through two opposing armies that threatened to drown its peoples home in ash and fire. A general, ordering his men to their death in order to prevent the loss of more. A visionary, smiling as the noose slipped over their neck, certain that their death would be one of the last. A king, leading the charge so that the soldiers behind would not falter. All those and more washed over him in a storm of duty, sacrifice, and indomitable will. The scars of flesh and mind, the weight of ages, and the scorn of many tried to beat them down, to force them to change course. A dozen dozen figures rejecting what was, and what should be, in an endless struggle to force the very world itself to accept the reality of what they were. Fighters to the last breath, be it blade or time. He saw them. Their plight, their struggles, and their unyielding determination to throw themselves into the crucible again and again to achieve what they must. He saw them, and understood. Corporus surged like a pyre, and Porkchop burned. Fangs of mutation ripped into his flesh, sinking ever deeper as tendrils of energy sank into his bones¡ªonly to scorch them to ash. Wrapping around his marrow, Corporus flared. Impurities dissolved, and the refined remnants were morphed¡ªchanged to better suit the image of perfection his Aspect held. The pain was exquisite, reaching to every facet of his body. It was a scouring unlike any other he had experienced. A judgement that had observed him in totality and found him wanting. A change, foisted upon the deepest and most essential parts of him. It blistered the skin, and scoured the nerves, blurring into a single moment of incomprehensible discomfort that left no space for words or reactions. Porkchop bore it silently¡ªa price more than fair for the strength he needed. Slowly, the tendrils of agony retreated from his flesh, leaving his marrow polished and concentrated in its wake. He could feel it, the raging vitality that had been left behind. From that deepest part of his flesh, it suffused all. Viciously potent blood surged, nourishing his body, and filling him with renewed vigour. An indefatigable resilience making itself known to him. **Ding! Corporus Aspect Founded - The Indomitable Mantle** **Ding! Significant Feat of Strength performed under Observation. You have been awarded an Honour: Trailblazer II** Porkchop¡¯s eyes snapped open. He chirped in delight, chest shaking as a wave of relief coursed through his veins. The Honour. He¡¯d earned it. He wouldn¡¯t be left behind. Filled to the brim with buzzing energy, he surged to his feet, diving to where Kaius was watching him with a restless expression on his face. ¡°I got it! I got the Honour!¡± he yelled, pressing his brother down by his shoulders. Kaius wriggled, trying pointlessly to escape¡ªhe¡¯d neither the strength or mass to present a real challenge in a wrestling match anymore, disappointing as that was. ¡°Get off, you oaf!¡± Kaius yelled, before he craned his neck to scowl at their onlookers who had started to laugh. Porkchop pulled back, grinning. ¡°Give me a second, I¡¯m going to check what the Aspect does.¡± he said, settling down onto his haunches before he pulled up the description of The Indomitable Mantle. The Indomitable Mantle: Pillar Corporus - Seed Stage A king may die, a general may fall, and a firebrand may hang. Their mantle does not¡ªit endures. Blade and fang, war and destruction, exhaustion and infirmity¡ªall mean little in the face of duty and bond. The marrow-deep ache of sacrifice, the grinding wheel of attrition, the agony of effort beyond limits¡ªall are withstood when action is required. The Mantle seeks no glory, vanity, or reward. It is a shield first, a bastion second, and a force of nature last. It does not flinch when the weak cower, nor retreat when the strong demand it. Not because it is unthinking, not because it is fearless, but because it must. Let the storm rage. Let the enemy come. Let the weight of the world bear down. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. The Mantle endures. As an Aspect of Corporus, The Indomitable Mantle reforges the body with the resilience and will of those who do what they must. It does not prevent wounds¡ªit ensures survival despite them. Corporeal Reinforcement: Titan¡¯s Marrow The Pillar Corporus reinforces the marrow, purifying the body with the might of Titans. Improves ability to withstand and survive grievous wounds and reduces fatigue. Seed: Only Those Who Bleed May Command Leadership is an action, not a title. Greatly improves the efficacy of Titan¡¯s Marrow when acting in the defence of others, or the pursuit of a goal. .... Kaius watched his brother closely, glad to see he was his usual energetic and playful self. The fact that Porkchop had earned the Honour was a huge weight off his mind. As much as his bond-brother had tried to play at not being worried about being left behind, Kaius knew him well enough to know that was false. He also hoped that their bond would work as it had in the Depths, and that Porkchop might have also gotten the reward from being first. Hopefully it had, not just because of the additional stats it brought, but because it should mean that the system would also grant him the information package¡ªwhich would mean he wouldn¡¯t have to wait until he¡¯d already formed his Corporus aspect to get additional insights into how it was founded. That said...maybe his own informational package had already been updated? Taking a final look at Porkchop, Kaius satisfied himself that the oaf was still absorbed in the description of his aspect. Judging by the way his brother¡¯s eyes were glazed over and roving back and forth, he was. Understandable, considering the size his own notification had been. Flicking his attention to the informational package, Kaius focused on the section where the system had described the core of Mentis. To his delight, there was more following it. Informational Package - Aspects: For Mentis, this Truth is the waystone of mentality, drive, conviction, and motivation. Understand the core thread that links these facets of the mind, and the Aspect is revealed. For Corporus, this Truth is the core of how you move through the world¡ªwhat and how you will endure, sacrifice, and struggle through in the pursuit of your desires. It is the locus of the body, and it is concerned with the method in which you chose to walk the path¡ªwhen this is understood, the Aspect is revealed. Ignite Pillar Animus to reveal the nature of their Truths. Quickly dismissing the notification, Kaius heard Porkchop chuffing in delight. ¡°Anything good? I must admit, hearing about these aspects has me feeling rather jealous.¡± Rieker asked, his gruff voice carrying through the cold stone hall. Kaius felt a pang of sympathy¡ªanyone who had reached the guildmaster¡¯s strength in the central regions of Vaastivar was without a doubt driven and determined. To miss out on a method of advancement due to something as small as the timing of your birth would eat him alive. All things considered, he thought Rieker had handled it immensely well¡ªa proof of his experience and wisdom, perhaps. Afterall, this was the first time he¡¯d heard the man utter anything even approaching a complaint, and it was barely even one at that. Though, more than that, Kaius was also curious about what Porkchop had gained. The system''s words on Corporus, and the absolute trial of horrors that he¡¯d just watched Porkchop push himself through without complaint had him hoping that it would be as significant as his own Glass Mind. Porkchop nodded his head emphatically, before he launched into a hurried explanation of how Corporus had reinforced his body and changed his marrow¡ªhow it would make people able to withstand greater wounds without faltering, and push themselves closer to the edge. That was a potent ability, in Kaius¡¯s mind. While Endurance made people tougher¡ªharder to injure¡ªits impacts on how you actually withstood injuries were much less drastic. Present, and notable with enough levels, but much less so. If your guts were hanging out, or your heart or brain was destroyed, you were in a real pickle unless you had a specific skill that let you deal with that. The same with exhaustion. Stamina did stop true fatigue from setting in, but it didn¡¯t help with everything. As he¡¯d found in their siege against the bogglings, if you kept going for long enough, it weighed on you¡ªexhausted you in a way that went beyond the expense of Resources. The kind of reinforcement that Corporus brought would be valuable for everyone. Even mages¡ªhe¡¯d seen the way that Ianmus looked when he¡¯d been burning through his mana pool. If Titan¡¯s Marrow could help with mana burn too...that would align with the benefits he¡¯d seen with the Glass Mind. Especially when it seemed clear that the basic reinforcement of an Aspect was personalised by the seed. Both he and Ianmus had had their Glass Mind tuned to what they would need to use it for most, and it seemed the same with Porkchop. Only Those Who Bleed May Command¡ªA name that sent a jolt of tingles down his spine, not that he¡¯d ever tell Porkchop that¡ªdid just that. It seemed tailor made for Porkchop, someone who¡¯d been more than willing to take a hit for him on multiple occasions, and was more stubborn than anyone else he¡¯d met. Seeing Porkchop had finished his discussion with Rieker, Kaius decided to jump in. ¡°You should check your Honour, Porkchop. My information package updated.¡± he said with an easy grin, enjoying the way his friend¡¯s eyes widened in response. A moment later Porkchop¡¯s eyes unfocused, though just for a moment. ¡°It did! I got the bonus!¡± Porkchop replied, infectious joy shining across their bond. ¡°Seriously, I still can¡¯t believe you got a bond skill that lets you share system rewards like that; it¡¯s patently unfair to the rest of us.¡± Ianmus said with a shake of his head, though Kaius could see his friend was smiling. Rieker grunted in agreement. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve all secured your advantage, do I have your permission to share some of these insights with the rest of the network? It¡¯s likely that they¡¯ll push a few of the others that are close over the line, and if we¡¯re lucky we might be able to foist some of the heat about Honours onto them.¡± the guildmaster asked, waiting a moment for their excitement to die down. Thinking about it for a moment, Kaius saw no reason to say no. At least, if Rieker could ensure that the information wouldn¡¯t be hoarded further. ¡°Can you ensure that the sharing of Honours¡¯ requirements go ahead if someone else gets one?¡± he asked. The guildmaster nodded, firm and sure of himself. ¡°I can¡ªI¡¯m not sure if you¡¯ve realised this, but the only way the Guild maintains its relevance in the face of noble dynasties is by being very good at scooping up unaligned promising upstarts like yourself. Mutual benefit is a founding tenant of the institution, and those in the Honours program all have plenty of reasons to act for the benefit of the many.¡± Rieker replied. Nodding slowly, Kaius realised that it made complete sense. Rieker and Ro had been too quick to act, too comfortable in investing significantly in their safety and development, for it to have been anything other than standard operation. ¡°What do you get out of it?¡± he asked, swallowing his nervousness at questioning Rieker¡¯s eminent authority. The guildmaster raised an eyebrow. ¡°Well, if we speak in general terms, if I guided a new delver into safely becoming someone of note, the guild would reward me on its own terms¡ªif said person ended up in our proverbial ¡®camp¡¯ that is.¡± Ianmus nodded, standing up straight from where he was leaning on the wall. ¡°It¡¯s the same with the academies¡ªfor scholarship students, at least. I would have mentioned it, if I knew you didn¡¯t know. Most institutional dynasties work like that on Vaastivar¡ªA whole lot of dice rolls on forging good relationships in the next generation, and being too valuable to challenge outright.¡± Rieker nodded. ¡°Ianmus has the right of it. As for your case specifically¡ªwell, what you shared today would have been worth a thousand bad calls.¡± That was a fair call¡ªif anything, the scales were weighed in their favour after everything they¡¯d shared with the man. ¡°Regardless, this has been enough for a day. You¡¯ve all earned a day of rest, especially after your shit show of a mission.¡± Kaius winced, after spilling his guts out to the guildmaster and watching Porkchop walk himself half to death, he¡¯d almost managed to drive their poor showing against the bogglings out of his mind. ¡°Come see me the day after tomorrow¡ªyour training starts then. I¡¯ll debrief you on your next mission when I''ve found something suitable.¡± Rieker finished, giving them all a nod. Getting to his feet, Kaius watched Porkchop do the same¡ªrising with surprising vigour after everything he had been through. They followed Rieker out of the Trial hall, making their way up the stairs to the guildhouse proper. Honestly, a cold beer and one of Hensch¡¯s dinners at the Stables sounded perfect. A day of relaxation would do him good, but after that, he¡¯d be pushing as hard as he could to unlock his next spells. After all, he still needed a good handful of examples to truly start puzzling out the mysteries of Vesryn rune work. Chapter 231 - B2 228: Thy Strength…, pt. 1 Porkchop pricked his ears, the guild administrators'' words grabbing at his attention. Pushing against the delicate wooden floors¡ªever careful to avoid gouging the expensive materials that two-legs seemed inordinately fascinated with¡ªhe rose to his haunches. The Trial of Will? What could that be? It certainly sounded like the kind of thing that could help him push through the final blasted barrier that had been haunting him. Ever since that delicious fight against the bogglings, he''d felt the ember of it burning away in his chest¡ªa heat that penetrated deep in his bones, promising to remould him from the inside out. By the Matriarchs, he wanted it done. The tantalising promise of fire was almost too much to bear. If only he could just think himself to the finish line like both of his companions had been able to. Unfortunately, he had yet to resonate with his pillar Mentis¡ªand even if he had, he doubted it would be as easy for him. Even with the help of his bond skill, and the reinforcement of his mind from the racial trait it had brought, he was still affected by the curse of greater beasts. Worse, since it seemed like their slower skill development stretched to the revelations required by Aspects. Corporus, at least, seemed to be a little better. He could feel it right to his core, it was an aspect of action. All he needed was the right environment¡ªhe wouldn''t fail. Wouldn''t stagnate. Not like the others. "It sounds dangerous, whatever it is." his bond-brother muttered, the scent of simple, honest, concern wafting richly from their bond. Porkchop rolled his eyes. He didn''t understand how Kaius could be such a stalwart and fearless fighter and still manage to worry more than a nanny whenever he had to do something a little risky. He was a meles! Pigheadedness was his birthright. "I''ll do it," he said, projecting his voice to the room. It still felt a little weird, structuring his thoughts into something as limiting as words¡ªbut he''d gotten a lot more comfortable with it over the last year or so. Rieker¡ªPatriarch in a skin suit that he was¡ªgrinned at his words, clapping his hands loud enough that Porkchop had to flick his ears back to avoid the stinging reverb. "See! This crop is tough, Ro. He can handle it¡ªif he really needs to be pushed to his real limit, the Trial is perfect." The guild manager huffed, pretending to be furious. Not for the first time, Porkchop wondered why they persisted with pretending that they were simple allies¡ªhe could smell them all over each other. Then again, humans seemed oddly uncomfortable with the realities of living so close together for people who seemed to do so at every available opportunity. Perhaps it was just some nicety he didn''t understand. "I can''t in good conscience let Porkchop agree without knowing what he''s getting himself into." Ro insisted. Rieker waved to continue, unconcerned and clearly convinced that Porkchop would agree anyway. Which he would. The Trial could involve being sawn in half and he''d still agree¡ªhells, it would probably work. Watching him closely, Ro groaned as she realised that his mind was already made up. She still explained anyway. "Crossing through to Silver is a large jump¡ªthe threats and dangers that are faced by people in the second tier vary wildly, as does the capabilities of delvers as the stat gap between rarity grows. There''s a number of trials to assess where someone falls on the scale¡ªthe results are used to ensure that priceless delvers aren''t sent off on a suicide mission." Ro explained. Cocking his head, Porkchop watched her curiously. That sounded...interesting. If there were multiple trials, perhaps he could try the others if this one didn''t work. "The Trial of Will is a looping corridor built into the earth beneath every guildhall. It''s one of the few trials like that, most are too expensive to create to be economical if we were to build them everywhere. With every step, you''ll grow heavier. At first, it''s just a few extra stone¡ªbut get far enough and it will feel like your organs are being pulped." Ro continued, jumping into her explanation of the trial. The guild manager reeked of discontent, clearly unhappy with the idea of him undergoing the challenge. He didn''t mind, as long as she didn''t try to stop him¡ªit just meant she was nice, even if she tried to hide it by being as bristly as a boar. "That''s not all¡ªwith every revolution, a new torment starts to build. The temperature will start to fluctuate between hot and cold, the difference growing more extreme with every stride. Then, a droning noise that grows louder and louder. Then fatigue, discomfort, hunger, and thirst. It rarely kills¡ªit''s entirely illusory¡ªbut I''ve seen it push people to madness." Ro finished, watching him closely. Honestly, it sounded perfect. It was exactly the kind of thing he needed to see where he really stopped. How far he could go if the only thing holding him back was his ability to wallow in the muck and keep on going. Porkchop''s tail thumped into the side of Kaius''s chair. "I don''t think that was meant to encourage you, Porkchop." Ianmus chuckled. Porkchop huffed at him. The elfling was right, of course¡ªbut there was no way he would let him know that. "Of course it was! It sounds perfect¡ªand there''s more options if it doesn''t work. What else could it have been?" His brother sighed in defeat. "I can''t really fault you for that¡ªI guess it''s no different than hunting down the Champions instead of waiting for our classes. I doubt anything will be able to crack you, I was just worried it might be dangerous." This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. "Oh, I like these ones, Ro¡ªso much more refreshing than the usual stock we have to work with in this backwater." Rieker replied, shifting in his chair as he smiled with genuine pride at Porkchop and his team. "Not dangerous, he says¡ªfucking greenhorns." the guild manager muttered under her breath, folding her arms. "Idiots, the lot of you. But fine¡ªI, at least, have the sense not to fight the inevitable." "It''s on your head if this goes wrong." she said to Rieker. Then she looked back to Porkchop, her lips pursed, even if her bright eyes gave away her true feelings of concern. "Try not to die¡ªit''d be such a waste." Porkchop nodded, and then she was gone, sweeping out of Rieker''s office in a blur of motion. "Well then, guess we best get to the trial¡ªthe stairs are one floor down, so you''ll have to follow me." Rieker said, standing from his desk. Porkchop nodded, and rose to his feet¡ªhis team joining him. .... The stone floor was cold under the pads of his feet, each paved slab big enough that he could stand comfortably on a single one. Inscriptions covered their surface, but he had little idea of what they did¡ªeven Kaius had been out of his depth, only able to identify a little of High Lothian, though the working was too complex for him to ascertain how it worked. Laid end on end, the paved hall stretched in a wide circle¡ªthe curve gentle enough that it must have been a couple of hundred strides in total. The Trial of Will¡ªhe couldn''t wait. Looking to his left, Porkchop met his team''s gaze. A second row of pavestones lay on the outer edge of the hall, half of its twenty stride width. Clear of the effects of the trial, it was so assessors could keep pace with those being challenged¡ªand pull them to safety if need be. His team looked just as excited as they did worried, though he could tell that Kaius''s concern had mellowed out as they''d walked to the trial. Rieker had explained more as they walked. While what Ro had said was correct, there were a few things that had been marginally overblown. For one, it was extremely rare for anyone to perish during the trial. Those that did were usually those with weak nerves, the constant assault of pressure and sensation enough that their heart gave out. Even then, it was only a real risk if their strife went unnoticed. Madness was a possibility, but one that Rieker thought was unlikely. He''d seen many undergo the Trial, and had done so himself. In all that time, the guildmaster had said he''d never seen someone with Porkchop''s unyielding mentality give in to that particular weakness. Porkchop had asked about the trial being illusory. His main worry was that if it was not actually challenging him physically, it wouldn''t be enough for his aspect. Rieker had only laughed¡ªsaying that it was plenty physical. The illusion aspect was only used so that most of the trial''s effects wouldn''t do direct damage to the body¡ªthey would still affect him just fine. The weight especially¡ªthat was real enough. It was something of a badge of honour to persist until it started to break bone. Rieker had warned him that while he, Ianmus, and Kaius would be able to keep pace with him, there would be a silence effect, and a barrier that would prevent him from seeing out of the trial. He''d have to complete the challenge without hearing the urging of his companions. That was a bonus, in his mind. No doubt Kaius would get all blubbery the second so much as one of his toes broke. "Ready?" Rieker asked, standing behind his team with the medallion that controlled the Trial in his hand. Porkchop nodded. "Good luck! You''ve got this, you know you do." Kaius called, giving him a wide grin¡ªhis brother did his best to hide the undercurrent of nerves that pulsed through their bond, but Porkchop caught it. He chuffed, stepping forwards to butt his head into his brother''s chest. "Stop worrying. I put up with you blowing a hole in your hand every few hours for weeks." he replied. "I suppose that''s true," Kaius replied with a chuckle. "Still, good luck." Kaius finished, this time this time with less biting anxiety, and more warm support. Porkchop grinned, before he stepped back onto the track. Rieker gave him a nod, and a faint haze of the man''s mana infused the medallion. A second later a haze snapped into place, cutting off the Trial from the track that ran parallel to it. Weight settled on his shoulders¡ªa miniscule amount, a bare fraction of the burden of his armour. Shaking himself limber, Porkchop took the first step. More weight, though still almost unnoticeable. He decided to take a comfortable pace¡ªthe insight he''d been tracking on his hunt was not one of explosive power, or swift speed. Instead it was persistence¡ªunyielding strength did not need to rush. And he did need to be unyielding. Porkchop knew his fate¡ªknew who he was. Outsider. Malcontent. Changeling. A quarrelsome burden to the people of his birth¡ªunwilling to bend the knee when it was expected of him. Required of him. He loved his family, but their obsession with tradition and stagnation was their own weight, not his. The cracks had already been showing by the time he had left. The dwindling numbers of young, the growing tensions at the meet, the fading strength of their elders in the face of what had been achieved in the stories of lost glory. The increasing distance from the elves galled him the most¡ªannoying they may have been, but there was no honour in isolation. They may cower¡ªrefuse to change in the face of what should have been obvious. No doubt they were already splintering, old wounds flaring as the phase change shoved a claw in the gap between scales. A burden, they said. Isolation to be a burden of his own, by dint of his differences. They''d been wrong¡ªon so many fronts. The weights he carried were many, but loneliness was not one of them. No, he carried the burden of understanding. His people were slowly diminishing, and would continue to do so unless someone could beat some sense into them. There were no crowns amongst his people, it was not their way. But leaders? Those of action and strength? They were there by the dozens. If he could just prove what could be gained from interacting with the world outside of their cloistered burrows, they would change. He knew it. At first it had been a childish fancy¡ªa simple want to show his people what should have been obvious. Yet every day since he had fallen into the Depths, it seemed more and more like a possibility. He hadn''t told Kaius yet¡ªthey had far more pressing issues, none the least the vermin behind his father''s death. He knew when he did he would have his brother''s support. It wasn''t about rule, or glory, or leading his people. That was not the way of the meles, they did not have kings in the ways of men. They just had to be forced to see the error of their ways¡ªstopped from falling into petty infighting and nonsensical isolation. He just had to prepare himself for it¡ªthis little Trial was only the first step. When he was ready, he would force them to accept the reality of the situation. He could only hope he would get there before the growing changes of the integration caught up with them. Porkchop took another step, the weight on his shoulders pressing him ever harder into the flagstones below. Chapter 232 - B2 229: Thy Strength…, pt. 2 Porkchop took another step, grunting in discomfort as the weight increased again, joined by a baleful scream that stabbed into his ears. Kaius''s constant attention flowed through their bond. His worry, and his pride. It was a muted thing though, easily pushed to the background. His bond-brother knew that he had made his choice, and respected it. Porkchop was coming to the end of his second revolution, each step arduous as he kept his measured pace. This was nowhere close to his limit¡ªa little burn and a loud noise wouldn''t stop him. It was simple discomfort, minor and forgettable compared to the hurdles he had set for himself. Life wasn''t an easy path¡ªit was one of striving to reach the next meal, of slaying competitors and prey alike. His heart pumped strong with the blood of greater beasts, his body was tough¡ªhis joints and bones hard and stable in the face of the growing pressure. Corporus hadn''t even started to resonate yet¡ªhis lungs were calm, each breath slow and steady as he walked. The mantle of the Jade Warden was his by right of conquest and victory, a hunt that had taken him through the Depths long before he should have been able. A low growl rattled his chest, claws clinking on stone as he took another step. This Trial would break his body, but it would not break his will. He knew that much¡ªeven if he had to crawl, shattered and broken, he would make his way forward until he could move no more. Another step. More weight. ..... The searing heat of the fire scorched his skin¡ªturned his fur to ash and seared his flesh¡ªno matter what he saw when he looked down. It was agony, an all consuming inferno that was joined by the weight of mountains bearing down on his back. He ached¡ªbowing as his legs quaked beneath him. Porkchop snarled in defiance, calling out his rejection. This would not break him. The screams of the damned heightened, overwhelming his senses¡ªpiercing his mind with directed malice as honed agony resounded through his skull. He would not give up. He did not care if it was stubborn pride, childish misconception, or foolish idealism¡ªhe would persevere. His people were wrong. There was nothing to be found in rigid tradition. It was killing them¡ªfracturing them as a people. The arguments over differences in song, art, and hunt. It was pointless. Young as he had been, he could see it. Why couldn''t they? Was it hypocrisy, to judge them for their own unyielding attitude when he himself was just as stubborn? Perhaps¡ªhe didn''t care. He didn''t know what the right way was, that was a task for people far wiser than him. He just knew that the old ways weren''t working. The Dens grew more divisive and insular every year, a disgrace to the founding tenets of their people. The Grandfather would be ashamed. He wouldn''t have it. He''d show them their mistakes¡ªthe damage they were causing. By right of claw and blood, he would do it. But first, he had to take another step. Sucking in a deep breath, Porkchop steeled himself against the agonous heat, and took another, shaking, step. The consuming fury of fire vanished, replaced by the bitter disgust of cold. Tendrils sunk their way into his flesh, petrifying all that crossed their path. Cutting crystals filled his flesh. He should have been a statue, his skin should have blackened and died¡ªbut he stood hale and hearty, quaking under the growing strain of the weight. Rooted in place, he shook¡ªbones threatening to splinter as judgement fell upon him. He refused. Hair''s breadth by hair''s breadth, his paw rose, quaking from the strain. With the same determination that led him to seek strength beyond the mountains that tradition had demanded he never cross, Porkchop placed his foot down. And took another step. The screaming contempt of his people slammed into his back, buckling his knees. Losing his focus for the barest of moments in the face of burning fire and screaming hate, his knees crashed into the stone below¡ªshattering. The first drops of blood left his body, bone erupting from his flesh in lances of clarifying agony. Health burned, gnawing at his flesh with the persistence of a thousand gnats as bone was pulled back in place¡ªflesh sealing faster than even his brother could manage with his lesser skill. **Ding! Primal Vigour has reached level 70!** A deep echoing growl shook within his chest, fighting against the weight that threatened to crush the breath out from him. He rebelled against the pain, the pressure, the heat, and the noise. Muscles screamed, engaging in a unity of purpose as he pressed against the earth, forcing himself upwards. If he fell here, how would he ever have the strength to face his Den and say that they were wrong? How would he best his Patriarch when he came for his head? How would he gain the might to grant the defeated mercy, in rejection of their ways? How would he ever protect what he cared about? His friends? His people? The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Shaking like a leaf in a storm, Porkchop rose. **Ding! Jade Bones, Earthen Blood has reached level 56!** Standing once more, he breathed heavy and slow. He would need more than strength to change tradition¡ªhe would need to be enduring. Inviolate in the face of fearful rejection and hateful fang both. He could not stop. Not here. Porkchop took another step, and deep within his soul a pillar began to croon¡ªsoft and quiet. .... The line was right in front of him. A new torment, just another step away. Corporus blazed within his soul, a scream of challenge and victory. It was coming¡ªPorkchop could feel it. His bones splintered, fracturing despite his best efforts to keep his stance square and stable. There was too much weight¡ªthe essence of a mountain, condensed onto him. Yet with every echoing crack that resonated through his skull, his Health raced through, sealing the weakness shut. And endless cycle of agonising renewal, his very body rejecting the demands he had placed upon them. The pain was immense, but it was a mere candle towards his determination. How could he fall now? Would he step aside as the Dens died a slow death? Would he falter, when he was all that stood between his team and a violent end? He would not. Not while he still had the barest iota of strength, the faintest capability to act. He would not fall, could not fall, until his flesh burst, his bones dissolved, and his heart beat its last. Struggle was an eternal truth, and he was not one to baulk and hide from reality. Sickening cracks drowned out the incessant screaming in his ear as he reached out one leg, his paw falling limp as his wrist snapped. **Ding! Primal Vigour has reached level 82!** He took a step. The weight grew¡ªdelicate blood vessels in his nose bursting. His throat filled with the bite of a successful hunt, vibrant red staining the floor below. With the weight came a new burden¡ªweakness. It was a slight thing, his already exhausted body feeling just that slightest bit slower¡ªmuscles just a little bit looser. Porkchop paused, giving his failing body time to heal¡ªto adjust. Then he took another step, blood and bile dripping to the floor as he struggled to keep his jaw closed. .... Porkchop collapsed. The weight was too heavy, the noise and temperature too distracting, and the fatigue too sapping. Even with all of his stubborn bloodyminded focus, he could not stand. Yet...he could not stop here. He still had more to give. If he would not walk, he would crawl. Shattered and broken he might be, but he would not halt until he reached his goal. He''d reach it, or he wouldn''t, but either way he would push on until he had nothing left to give. **Ding! Jade Bones, Earthen Blood has reached level 65!** With the vigour of the already dead, Porkchop slid his arm forwards. He was too weak, and the weight too heavy, to lift the limb¡ªso he didn''t try. Shuffling it forwards, he snarled against the pain, forcing himself to breath deep. A shallow gasp was all he could manage. Through sheer force of will, he managed to hook the tips of his claws into the thin seam between the flagstones ahead. Huffing in victory, he slowly pulled his back legs up, anchoring them in much the same way. Tugging on them softly, he found his hold good enough¡ªthough it was hard to tell by the way his joints creaked and strained under the pressure that crushed him to the earth. Trusting in himself, he heaved¡ªdragging himself forwards. He could do this. By right, he was a Bastion. The first to enter battle and the last to fall. Until his dying breath, he would be a barrier that defended others. Whether it was saving his team from the fury of their enemies¡ªlarge and small¡ªor his people from their own shortsightedness. Reaching the next flagstone, Porkchop grunted as the weight increased once more and the air turned deathly cold. Just another stride, he could do this. Minutes burned as his quaking arms reached out, slowly hooking his claws into the next seam. Porkchop heaved. He didn''t move. Straining harder caused his joints to pop, separating in their sockets as bones splintered. Still he heaved, fighting against the pain, battling for just another hand span¡ªanother hair''s breadth. The force of his pull just broke him further, limbs falling limp. He struggled on, trying to drive himself forwards. It was no use¡ªhis body had given out. No matter his desire, his need, or his frustration, he had hit the wall. There was nothing left to give. Yet, despite the futility¡ªthe marrow-deep knowledge that he had been bested¡ªPorkchop did not give up. In desperation, he raged against the pressure, moving anyway he could as skin tore and muscle split in his battle to make it just another hair closer. Corporus saw his struggle, and approved. Deep within his soul, Porkchop felt his fire blaze to new heights¡ªa song of unyielding adamant throwing back the screams of the Trial, a blaze of surety in victory burning back the chill. His soul pulsed, and his pillar Corporus ignited. The last vestige of the barest remaining scraps of his willpower gutted out as Porkchop realised he had achieved his goal. Black flooded his vision, a last gasp crushed from his chest. .... **Ding! Pillar of Self Discovered, Corporus Ignited. Would you like to initiate Aspect Formation?** Porkchop lurched back to awareness as the resonant ding of the system notification resounded through his mind. The clean scent of stone dominated his nose, mired only by the biting tang of stains of his own blood and bile, stretching in an unbroken trail ahead and behind him. Silent as it was, he was almost convinced he''d gone deaf¡ªmind fatigued to the point it took him some time to realise it was simple, blessed, quiet. One thing he did not miss was the slight form of his brother, crouched beside his head. It was impossible to, even if he could only see the deep brown of his well conditioned boots, their bond made his presence and eminent concern unmistakable. "Hey buddy, how''re you feeling?" Kaius''s words were soft and crooning. "Like a shadelion gave up halfway through eating me," Porkchop responded, not even coming close to feeling like moving. His closest friend snorted, shaking his head with a smirk. "I''m not surprised, that was a hell of a showing." A gruff voice cut in, the familiar heavy timbre of the Patriarch of Deadacre''s guild. "Most Silvers struggle to make it to the end of the temperature swings, let alone the screaming. I was confident you''d do well, but I definitely never thought you''d make it to the lap of weakness, let alone half way through it." Rieker continued, clear and genuine respect shining through. "You''ve impressed me." Porkchop chuckled¡ªsurprisingly, that felt good, having his efforts acknowledged by someone so clearly strong. The guildmaster wasn''t the only one¡ªIanmaus was leaning on the wall a few strides down the hall, watching him with genuine relief. The half-elf gave him a warm smile, before he nodded to draw his attention to Kaius¡ªwho looked like he was about to rupture with curiosity. "More importantly, did it work? Did you manage to ignite your Aspect?" Kaius asked, leaning in to whisper conspiratorially the second he had Porkchop]''s attention again. He smiled wide in response, baring his teeth. "I did." Chapter 233 - B2 230: Thy Strength…, Finale Still lying prone on the cold stone floor of the Trial of Will, Porkchop huffed in amusement as Kaius smiled wide at his achievement. "You got it? That''s great! What''re you waiting for?" Kaius asked hurriedly. "Nothing¡ªI''m going to initiate it now, there''s no need to risk giving someone even more time to secure that Honour." Porkchop replied, still feeling that now familiar pang of anxiety at the thought of losing the system''s reward. Kaius nodded, scooching back. "You go right ahead, you''re safe here." Porkchop gave his brother a quick nod, before he turned his attention to the waiting presence of the system hanging in his mind. He accepted the waiting notification. Slipping into his soul space, he saw the waiting pyre burning atop his pillar Corporus. It was a stable thing, reeking of duty and determination. It was strange¡ªthe scents it gave off, the weight it held...it reminded him of a dozen different figures. The Matriarchs and Patriarchs. Ekum. Even Rieker. There was a little of it in all of them. Porkchop reached out with his will¡ªdriven as much by curiosity as he was the gentle guidance of the system. As he connected to his aspect, he drowned in visions. A thief, baring his teeth as the axe came down on his wrist¡ªblood, pain and infirmity a worthy price of seeing their family fed through the winter. A stallion, fighting through the haze of exhaustion and blood loss to feel the splintering crack of the wolf''s skull that had harried his herd. A greater beast he had no name for, tearing its way through two opposing armies that threatened to drown its peoples home in ash and fire. A general, ordering his men to their death in order to prevent the loss of more. A visionary, smiling as the noose slipped over their neck, certain that their death would be one of the last. A king, leading the charge so that the soldiers behind would not falter. All those and more washed over him in a storm of duty, sacrifice, and indomitable will. The scars of flesh and mind, the weight of ages, and the scorn of many tried to beat them down, to force them to change course. A dozen dozen figures rejecting what was, and what should be, in an endless struggle to force the very world itself to accept the reality of what they were. Fighters to the last breath, be it blade or time. He saw them. Their plight, their struggles, and their unyielding determination to throw themselves into the crucible again and again to achieve what they must. He saw them, and understood. Corporus surged like a pyre, and Porkchop burned. Fangs of mutation ripped into his flesh, sinking ever deeper as tendrils of energy sank into his bones¡ªonly to scorch them to ash. Wrapping around his marrow, Corporus flared. Impurities dissolved, and the refined remnants were morphed¡ªchanged to better suit the image of perfection his Aspect held. The pain was exquisite, reaching to every facet of his body. It was a scouring unlike any other he had experienced. A judgement that had observed him in totality and found him wanting. A change, foisted upon the deepest and most essential parts of him. It blistered the skin, and scoured the nerves, blurring into a single moment of incomprehensible discomfort that left no space for words or reactions. Porkchop bore it silently¡ªa price more than fair for the strength he needed. Slowly, the tendrils of agony retreated from his flesh, leaving his marrow polished and concentrated in its wake. He could feel it, the raging vitality that had been left behind. From that deepest part of his flesh, it suffused all. Viciously potent blood surged, nourishing his body, and filling him with renewed vigour. An indefatigable resilience making itself known to him. **Ding! Corporus Aspect Founded - The Indomitable Mantle** **Ding! Significant Feat of Strength performed under Observation. You have been awarded an Honour: Trailblazer II** Porkchop''s eyes snapped open. He chirped in delight, chest shaking as a wave of relief coursed through his veins. The Honour. He''d earned it. He wouldn''t be left behind. Filled to the brim with buzzing energy, he surged to his feet, diving to where Kaius was watching him with a restless expression on his face. "I got it! I got the Honour!" he yelled, pressing his brother down by his shoulders. Kaius wriggled, trying pointlessly to escape¡ªhe''d neither the strength or mass to present a real challenge in a wrestling match anymore, disappointing as that was. "Get off, you oaf!" Kaius yelled, before he craned his neck to scowl at their onlookers who had started to laugh. Porkchop pulled back, grinning. "Give me a second, I''m going to check what the Aspect does." he said, settling down onto his haunches before he pulled up the description of The Indomitable Mantle. The Indomitable Mantle: Pillar Corporus - Seed Stage A king may die, a general may fall, and a firebrand may hang. Their mantle does not¡ªit endures. Blade and fang, war and destruction, exhaustion and infirmity¡ªall mean little in the face of duty and bond. The marrow-deep ache of sacrifice, the grinding wheel of attrition, the agony of effort beyond limits¡ªall are withstood when action is required. The Mantle seeks no glory, vanity, or reward. It is a shield first, a bastion second, and a force of nature last. It does not flinch when the weak cower, nor retreat when the strong demand it. Not because it is unthinking, not because it is fearless, but because it must. Let the storm rage. Let the enemy come. Let the weight of the world bear down. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. The Mantle endures. As an Aspect of Corporus, The Indomitable Mantle reforges the body with the resilience and will of those who do what they must. It does not prevent wounds¡ªit ensures survival despite them. Corporeal Reinforcement: Titan''s Marrow The Pillar Corporus reinforces the marrow, purifying the body with the might of Titans. Improves ability to withstand and survive grievous wounds and reduces fatigue. Seed: Only Those Who Bleed May Command Leadership is an action, not a title. Greatly improves the efficacy of Titan''s Marrow when acting in the defence of others, or the pursuit of a goal. .... Kaius watched his brother closely, glad to see he was his usual energetic and playful self. The fact that Porkchop had earned the Honour was a huge weight off his mind. As much as his bond-brother had tried to play at not being worried about being left behind, Kaius knew him well enough to know that was false. He also hoped that their bond would work as it had in the Depths, and that Porkchop might have also gotten the reward from being first. Hopefully it had, not just because of the additional stats it brought, but because it should mean that the system would also grant him the information package¡ªwhich would mean he wouldn''t have to wait until he''d already formed his Corporus aspect to get additional insights into how it was founded. That said...maybe his own informational package had already been updated? Taking a final look at Porkchop, Kaius satisfied himself that the oaf was still absorbed in the description of his aspect. Judging by the way his brother''s eyes were glazed over and roving back and forth, he was. Understandable, considering the size his own notification had been. Flicking his attention to the informational package, Kaius focused on the section where the system had described the core of Mentis. To his delight, there was more following it. Informational Package - Aspects: For Mentis, this Truth is the waystone of mentality, drive, conviction, and motivation. Understand the core thread that links these facets of the mind, and the Aspect is revealed. For Corporus, this Truth is the core of how you move through the world¡ªwhat and how you will endure, sacrifice, and struggle through in the pursuit of your desires. It is the locus of the body, and it is concerned with the method in which you chose to walk the path¡ªwhen this is understood, the Aspect is revealed. Ignite Pillar Animus to reveal the nature of their Truths. Quickly dismissing the notification, Kaius heard Porkchop chuffing in delight. "Anything good? I must admit, hearing about these aspects has me feeling rather jealous." Rieker asked, his gruff voice carrying through the cold stone hall. Kaius felt a pang of sympathy¡ªanyone who had reached the guildmaster''s strength in the central regions of Vaastivar was without a doubt driven and determined. To miss out on a method of advancement due to something as small as the timing of your birth would eat him alive. All things considered, he thought Rieker had handled it immensely well¡ªa proof of his experience and wisdom, perhaps. Afterall, this was the first time he''d heard the man utter anything even approaching a complaint, and it was barely even one at that. Though, more than that, Kaius was also curious about what Porkchop had gained. The system''s words on Corporus, and the absolute trial of horrors that he''d just watched Porkchop push himself through without complaint had him hoping that it would be as significant as his own Glass Mind. Porkchop nodded his head emphatically, before he launched into a hurried explanation of how Corporus had reinforced his body and changed his marrow¡ªhow it would make people able to withstand greater wounds without faltering, and push themselves closer to the edge. That was a potent ability, in Kaius''s mind. While Endurance made people tougher¡ªharder to injure¡ªits impacts on how you actually withstood injuries were much less drastic. Present, and notable with enough levels, but much less so. If your guts were hanging out, or your heart or brain was destroyed, you were in a real pickle unless you had a specific skill that let you deal with that. The same with exhaustion. Stamina did stop true fatigue from setting in, but it didn''t help with everything. As he''d found in their siege against the bogglings, if you kept going for long enough, it weighed on you¡ªexhausted you in a way that went beyond the expense of Resources. The kind of reinforcement that Corporus brought would be valuable for everyone. Even mages¡ªhe''d seen the way that Ianmus looked when he''d been burning through his mana pool. If Titan''s Marrow could help with mana burn too...that would align with the benefits he''d seen with the Glass Mind. Especially when it seemed clear that the basic reinforcement of an Aspect was personalised by the seed. Both he and Ianmus had had their Glass Mind tuned to what they would need to use it for most, and it seemed the same with Porkchop. Only Those Who Bleed May Command¡ªA name that sent a jolt of tingles down his spine, not that he''d ever tell Porkchop that¡ªdid just that. It seemed tailor made for Porkchop, someone who''d been more than willing to take a hit for him on multiple occasions, and was more stubborn than anyone else he''d met. Seeing Porkchop had finished his discussion with Rieker, Kaius decided to jump in. "You should check your Honour, Porkchop. My information package updated." he said with an easy grin, enjoying the way his friend''s eyes widened in response. A moment later Porkchop''s eyes unfocused, though just for a moment. "It did! I got the bonus!" Porkchop replied, infectious joy shining across their bond. "Seriously, I still can''t believe you got a bond skill that lets you share system rewards like that; it''s patently unfair to the rest of us." Ianmus said with a shake of his head, though Kaius could see his friend was smiling. Rieker grunted in agreement. "Now that you''ve all secured your advantage, do I have your permission to share some of these insights with the rest of the network? It''s likely that they''ll push a few of the others that are close over the line, and if we''re lucky we might be able to foist some of the heat about Honours onto them." the guildmaster asked, waiting a moment for their excitement to die down. Thinking about it for a moment, Kaius saw no reason to say no. At least, if Rieker could ensure that the information wouldn''t be hoarded further. "Can you ensure that the sharing of Honours'' requirements go ahead if someone else gets one?" he asked. The guildmaster nodded, firm and sure of himself. "I can¡ªI''m not sure if you''ve realised this, but the only way the Guild maintains its relevance in the face of noble dynasties is by being very good at scooping up unaligned promising upstarts like yourself. Mutual benefit is a founding tenant of the institution, and those in the Honours program all have plenty of reasons to act for the benefit of the many." Rieker replied. Nodding slowly, Kaius realised that it made complete sense. Rieker and Ro had been too quick to act, too comfortable in investing significantly in their safety and development, for it to have been anything other than standard operation. "What do you get out of it?" he asked, swallowing his nervousness at questioning Rieker''s eminent authority. The guildmaster raised an eyebrow. "Well, if we speak in general terms, if I guided a new delver into safely becoming someone of note, the guild would reward me on its own terms¡ªif said person ended up in our proverbial ''camp'' that is." Ianmus nodded, standing up straight from where he was leaning on the wall. "It''s the same with the academies¡ªfor scholarship students, at least. I would have mentioned it, if I knew you didn''t know. Most institutional dynasties work like that on Vaastivar¡ªA whole lot of dice rolls on forging good relationships in the next generation, and being too valuable to challenge outright." Rieker nodded. "Ianmus has the right of it. As for your case specifically¡ªwell, what you shared today would have been worth a thousand bad calls." That was a fair call¡ªif anything, the scales were weighed in their favour after everything they''d shared with the man. "Regardless, this has been enough for a day. You''ve all earned a day of rest, especially after your shit show of a mission." Kaius winced, after spilling his guts out to the guildmaster and watching Porkchop walk himself half to death, he''d almost managed to drive their poor showing against the bogglings out of his mind. "Come see me the day after tomorrow¡ªyour training starts then. I''ll debrief you on your next mission when I''ve found something suitable." Rieker finished, giving them all a nod. Getting to his feet, Kaius watched Porkchop do the same¡ªrising with surprising vigour after everything he had been through. They followed Rieker out of the Trial hall, making their way up the stairs to the guildhouse proper. Honestly, a cold beer and one of Hensch''s dinners at the Stables sounded perfect. A day of relaxation would do him good, but after that, he''d be pushing as hard as he could to unlock his next spells. After all, he still needed a good handful of examples to truly start puzzling out the mysteries of Vesryn rune work. B2 Chapter 231: Pursuit of Mastery B2 Chapter 231: Pursuit of Mastery Standing in the underground training hall, Kaius looked over at the field of stone pillars that was arrayed before him. Rieker had set them up for them¡ªmade of some sort of material that was resistant to resonance, and well grounded, they served as durable targets for him to practice influencing his spells with his Will. The first week had been an exercise in frustration, especially since Ianmus had had a much easier time with using his own Will to influence his abilities. The mage¡¯s gains had been meagre, but he¡¯d seen something on the first day, and every day after that he¡¯d managed just a hair of progress. His glyph-binding, on the other hand, seemed uniquely ill suited to the process. His spells had a layer of detachment from him¡ªsupported by his glyph and directed collapse of unstable mana, they had none of the personal touch of weaving magic directly out of your mana channels. Still, he¡¯d managed it, even if the challenge had been hellish. Not much, but...something. Every time he lashed one of the stone pillars, two additional arches would leap to a nearby neighbour. At first it had been utterly random, but now he had some measure of control. A tiny, miserable, measure. Perhaps one in five tries, he¡¯d get a single arc to connect where he wanted it to. It wasn¡¯t even really control, more like rigging a dice roll so the odds were ever so slightly in his favour. At least he was improving. Achingly slowly, but he was improving. He shot a glance to his left, where Ianmus was deep in focus as he strained his mind to adjust the size of one of his light beams without using his manipulation skill. He scowled¡ªthe man was far too blasted talented at magic for his own good. Shaking his head, Kaius turned his focus back on the pillars. A fugue-like fuzz fell over the edges of his vision as he pulled his attention back from the world to focus on his spell, and his target. Slowing down, his heart picked up the tempo of a measured march¡ªendless and rhythmic. Just his target, and the spell. With the pillar filling his vision¡ªa dark grey with flecks of reflective crystals¡ªhe flexed his will. Lightning cracked, boiling in his hand with a fury that sharpened his senses. It roiled in his grip, fighting against him to rage and writhe in an effort to follow its design. A moment''s pause calmed the mind, and Kaius swung. Not at his target¡ªits neighbour. Searing gold cut through the air, wrapping itself round the stone pillar¡ªdumping hot plasma and arcane reverberation into the material as streamers of energy burst free. One snapped to the right, the opposite direction of his target. Then the other dominated his vision, filling the centre of his focus with screaming cracks of storm¡¯s fury. The focus of his will, bound in a destructive web of his own making. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Drakthar has reached level 60!** Kaius grinned, satisfaction washing over him at his success. He quashed it a moment later, resetting his stance as he worked on honing his focus once more. Until he was successful twice in a row, he wouldn¡¯t be satisfied. A significant ordeal, considering how draining each and every cast was¡ªeven after a bare five casts he could feel the burgeoning throb that was setting in behind his left eye, threatening to pop the orb free with every beat of his heart. Shaking off the fatigue, Kaius refocused. Another dozen or so attempts¡ªthen he could take a break to drink some poison and reinscribe. .... The hammer hit him in the chest, shattering his breastplate like glass and cracking his sternum. Good as his dampening under-armour was, the guildmaster hit like a hill giant. Porkchop growled, snapping at Rieker in frustration when his hand got a little too close. The guildmaster snatched his hand back, wagging a finger at his face. ¡°You''re going to have to be faster than that if you want a bite of me, meles.¡± he grinned. Porkchop¡¯s heart kicked in his chest as Rieker lunged forwards, warhammer swept up just slow enough that he could track it. It was coming for his neck, he realised. Shoving off the ground, Porkchop reared up, throwing his bulk into the guildmaster¡¯s swing. He took the blow on his pauldron, robbing the attack of half of its wind up. Throbbing agony rolled through him as his shoulder slipped in its socket, jade shards flying free as the hammer spalled enhanced crystal with ease. Porkchop ignored the pain, letting it wash away in the growing heat of aggression. He dug his back claws in, using the traction to twist into a full bodied swipe¡ªhoping to catch Rieker in his undefended and unarmoured stomach. The guildmaster only smirked¡ªspinning off his front foot to shatter yet another armour plate, this time one of long segments hanging off his mid back. A new addition once the skill had crossed level fifty. ¡°Come on, Porkchop! You¡¯re better than this! Don¡¯t just let me beat on you.¡± Stolen novel; please report. Rieker accompanied his words with a baleful blitz of smashing hammer swings that left his forearm, ribs, and shoulder blade splintered¡ªshards of jade falling to the floor like rain. Health roared like a pyre, stitching his bones whole in seconds. Forcing mana into the construction of his skill, Porkchop felt the energy surge into his armour¡ªfixing it to wholeness. Rieker capitalised on the moment of distraction, swinging for his shoulder again. Porkchop roared. He pulled his arm up, letting the guildmaster¡¯s hammer hit him just below his armpit. The plates there were thin¡ªjust barely covered from the development of his armour skill at level fifty. Blood gushed as the thick slap of steel punched straight through, shredding muscle and caving in his upper ribs. **Ding! Celadon Aegis has reached level 70!** Snapping his arm down, Porkchop wedged the weapon into his side by the haft. Ignoring the burning ache, he kicked off with his jaw wide open¡ª ¡ªand sunk his teeth straight into Rieker¡¯s shoulder. Or, at least, he tried to. Was the man made of rock? It was like chewing granite! Rieker laughed¡ªa booming thing that filled him with apprehension. ¡°Now that,¡± the guildmaster said, releasing his hammer to grab him by the muzzle. His jaw creaked. ¡°Is more like it.¡± Rieker ripped his teeth straight out of his shoulder, shreds of flesh tearing free. The wound writhed, closing faster than Porkchop could blink. A palm slapped his breastplate, cracking echoed filling the hall. THe force was undeniable. He stumbled back. ¡°When someone is stronger than you, faster than you? Take the hit, and make them bleed.¡± Rieker¡¯s bloody joy was infectious¡ªhis own hunting fury rising in response. ¡°Again.¡± He charged, and Rieker raced to meet him. .... Mana whorled around him¡ªhe¡¯d always loved it. The way it responded to your very wishes, coaxed by will and manipulation. The way it curled around him, caressing him like a warm summer''s breeze. If it sounded easy, it wasn¡¯t. Mana was a wild tempest¡ªwith its own wants and desires. It would make your wishes come true, but only if you had the skill, knowledge, and simple power to prove your worth. He had all three, courtesy of his father and the teachings of Sun Spire. Well, he thought he had¡ªmeeting the two maniacs across the hall had disabused him of that notion. That was true strength, woven from threads of persistence, maniacal disregard for injury, and simple grit. It would have been oh so easy for him to retreat into his shell, to soothe himself with soft whispers that he was the more brilliant, only held back by a lack of access to their advantages. Unfortunately, Kaius had made that impossible. Who would have thought that someone with that much bloodlust would have a keen mind for magic? Sure, he¡¯d relied on a class that fed him spells¡ªbut Kaius had to, for there was no one else to learn from. It wasn¡¯t like the man was resting on his laurels, what with the way he obsessively studied his glyphs every time he reinscribed. Desperately searching for minute commonalities between them. Ianmus knew, it was only a matter of time until Kaius cracked the secrets of Vesryn runework. Even if it took a decade, Kaius would manage it. If he wanted to keep up, he needed to give it his all. Ianmus hummed a low note¡ªan old habit to clear his mind before a particularly strenuous spell. Keeping his eyes open, he kept his teammates in his eyes, each in opposite corners of the expansive underground hall. He reached for the comfort of Solar¡ªfeeling the delicate touch of familiar warmth. Streamers of light coalesced around him¡ªa cocoon of burning heat and nurturing joy. Thread by thread, he began to weave. Sundrenched Strength served as the foundation of the spell¡ªevery good mage had a few basics in their tool kit, and his would be complete when he acquired a healing sorcery. It was a small strain, but one that would weigh on him as he moved to the next phase. His Glass Mind stepped in, holding the weight of the will needed to keep the spell in place when he stretched it far beyond its design. Hypercharged Spell was next¡ªmana surged with new potency as he fed it through the working, filling his sorcery to the bursting in only a few breaths. This alone was little strain, it was what came next that would test him. Holding firm to his staff, he reached out with his mind¡ªpulling on threads of raw Solar might. Spun gold danced to his tune, held in a grip of iron that forced it to obey. Touching his spell form, he unravelled the outermost section of the working. Mana bucked, his Glass Mind straining to keep the unbalanced sorcery held in place. Moving as quick as he was able¡ªpainfully limited by the rate at which he could channel his mana¡ªIanmus ripped out the targeting solution by its guts. A colossal weight settled on his shoulders as sweat beaded on his brow, half a dozen different class and general skills working in concert to keep the spell from detonating uncontrollably. Latent the destabilisation might have been, he could still see it¡ªthe eddies in the tightly structured mana that spun around him. Piece by piece, he rebuilt the spell. It was tough¡ªstraining him to the edges of his skill. The academy had only just touched upon the art of will imbuement¡ªthey hadn¡¯t even seen fit to define it as separate from manipulation¡ªand most of his advancements had come from simple experimentation since meeting his team. Mind clear and focused, he pushed his Glass Mind to its limits, offloading as much of the strain as he could. It was a simplistic thing, still bound utterly to his own consciousness, but capable of raw computation outside of his main stream of thought. It was also unfortunately terrible at deft work, so he was forced to rely on it only for feeding the work mana, and for aiding in stabilisation. Grunting with strain, Ianmus felt the last reformed section snap into place, stable once more. Visible to all who had mana sight, a circle of woven mana hovered in front of him. There were no runes¡ªhe knew little of the art, and even if he did he couldn¡¯t even imagine the strain¡ªbut the geometry of the sigil pulsed with meaning. Aiding him just the slightest in keeping the whole thing from collapsing. Another thing he had Kaius to thank for. Fighting against the urge to sigh in relief, he released the spell. A wave of solar growth rushed out. Where normally it would be a diffuse cloud that would settle into the bodies of his targets in a short range, this one had been split into two tight bolts. Both crossed the hall in seconds¡ªsinking deep into the bodies of Kaius and Porkchop, filling them with empowered physicality. **Ding! Sundrenched Strength has reached level 67!** **Ding! Solar Manipulation has reached level 76!** **Ding! Hypercharged Spell has reached level 43!** **Ding! Starlit Efficiency has reached level 68!** **Ding! Focused Attention has reached level 69!** **Ding! Magician''s Potency has reached level 67!** Wiping his forehead, Ianmus grimaced at the sheen of sweat that it left on his palm. His circuits ached, the metaphysical pathways through his body fraying under the burden he¡¯d placed them under¡ªunderstandable, after pushing half his mana into the spell. A good result, all things considered. A year ago, and he would have been ecstatic to level two class skills and four general skills with a single spell. Now, it just felt like there was more to do. He couldn¡¯t fall behind, not when they were his ticket to understanding the secrets of mana. Chapter 234 - B2 231: Pursuit of Mastery Standing in the underground training hall, Kaius looked over at the field of stone pillars that was arrayed before him. Rieker had set them up for them¡ªmade of some sort of material that was resistant to resonance, and well grounded, they served as durable targets for him to practice influencing his spells with his Will. The first week had been an exercise in frustration, especially since Ianmus had had a much easier time with using his own Will to influence his abilities. The mage''s gains had been meagre, but he''d seen something on the first day, and every day after that he''d managed just a hair of progress. His glyph-binding, on the other hand, seemed uniquely ill suited to the process. His spells had a layer of detachment from him¡ªsupported by his glyph and directed collapse of unstable mana, they had none of the personal touch of weaving magic directly out of your mana channels. Still, he''d managed it, even if the challenge had been hellish. Not much, but...something. Every time he lashed one of the stone pillars, two additional arches would leap to a nearby neighbour. At first it had been utterly random, but now he had some measure of control. A tiny, miserable, measure. Perhaps one in five tries, he''d get a single arc to connect where he wanted it to. It wasn''t even really control, more like rigging a dice roll so the odds were ever so slightly in his favour. At least he was improving. Achingly slowly, but he was improving. He shot a glance to his left, where Ianmus was deep in focus as he strained his mind to adjust the size of one of his light beams without using his manipulation skill. He scowled¡ªthe man was far too blasted talented at magic for his own good. Shaking his head, Kaius turned his focus back on the pillars. A fugue-like fuzz fell over the edges of his vision as he pulled his attention back from the world to focus on his spell, and his target. Slowing down, his heart picked up the tempo of a measured march¡ªendless and rhythmic. Just his target, and the spell. With the pillar filling his vision¡ªa dark grey with flecks of reflective crystals¡ªhe flexed his will. Lightning cracked, boiling in his hand with a fury that sharpened his senses. It roiled in his grip, fighting against him to rage and writhe in an effort to follow its design. A moment''s pause calmed the mind, and Kaius swung. Not at his target¡ªits neighbour. Searing gold cut through the air, wrapping itself round the stone pillar¡ªdumping hot plasma and arcane reverberation into the material as streamers of energy burst free. One snapped to the right, the opposite direction of his target. Then the other dominated his vision, filling the centre of his focus with screaming cracks of storm''s fury. The focus of his will, bound in a destructive web of his own making. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Drakthar has reached level 60!** Kaius grinned, satisfaction washing over him at his success. He quashed it a moment later, resetting his stance as he worked on honing his focus once more. Until he was successful twice in a row, he wouldn''t be satisfied. A significant ordeal, considering how draining each and every cast was¡ªeven after a bare five casts he could feel the burgeoning throb that was setting in behind his left eye, threatening to pop the orb free with every beat of his heart. Shaking off the fatigue, Kaius refocused. Another dozen or so attempts¡ªthen he could take a break to drink some poison and reinscribe. .... The hammer hit him in the chest, shattering his breastplate like glass and cracking his sternum. Good as his dampening under-armour was, the guildmaster hit like a hill giant. Porkchop growled, snapping at Rieker in frustration when his hand got a little too close. The guildmaster snatched his hand back, wagging a finger at his face. "You''re going to have to be faster than that if you want a bite of me, meles." he grinned. Porkchop''s heart kicked in his chest as Rieker lunged forwards, warhammer swept up just slow enough that he could track it. It was coming for his neck, he realised. Shoving off the ground, Porkchop reared up, throwing his bulk into the guildmaster''s swing. He took the blow on his pauldron, robbing the attack of half of its wind up. Throbbing agony rolled through him as his shoulder slipped in its socket, jade shards flying free as the hammer spalled enhanced crystal with ease. Porkchop ignored the pain, letting it wash away in the growing heat of aggression. He dug his back claws in, using the traction to twist into a full bodied swipe¡ªhoping to catch Rieker in his undefended and unarmoured stomach. The guildmaster only smirked¡ªspinning off his front foot to shatter yet another armour plate, this time one of long segments hanging off his mid back. A new addition once the skill had crossed level fifty. "Come on, Porkchop! You''re better than this! Don''t just let me beat on you." The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Rieker accompanied his words with a baleful blitz of smashing hammer swings that left his forearm, ribs, and shoulder blade splintered¡ªshards of jade falling to the floor like rain. Health roared like a pyre, stitching his bones whole in seconds. Forcing mana into the construction of his skill, Porkchop felt the energy surge into his armour¡ªfixing it to wholeness. Rieker capitalised on the moment of distraction, swinging for his shoulder again. Porkchop roared. He pulled his arm up, letting the guildmaster''s hammer hit him just below his armpit. The plates there were thin¡ªjust barely covered from the development of his armour skill at level fifty. Blood gushed as the thick slap of steel punched straight through, shredding muscle and caving in his upper ribs. **Ding! Celadon Aegis has reached level 70!** Snapping his arm down, Porkchop wedged the weapon into his side by the haft. Ignoring the burning ache, he kicked off with his jaw wide open¡ª ¡ªand sunk his teeth straight into Rieker''s shoulder. Or, at least, he tried to. Was the man made of rock? It was like chewing granite! Rieker laughed¡ªa booming thing that filled him with apprehension. "Now that," the guildmaster said, releasing his hammer to grab him by the muzzle. His jaw creaked. "Is more like it." Rieker ripped his teeth straight out of his shoulder, shreds of flesh tearing free. The wound writhed, closing faster than Porkchop could blink. A palm slapped his breastplate, cracking echoed filling the hall. THe force was undeniable. He stumbled back. "When someone is stronger than you, faster than you? Take the hit, and make them bleed." Rieker''s bloody joy was infectious¡ªhis own hunting fury rising in response. "Again." He charged, and Rieker raced to meet him. .... Mana whorled around him¡ªhe''d always loved it. The way it responded to your very wishes, coaxed by will and manipulation. The way it curled around him, caressing him like a warm summer''s breeze. If it sounded easy, it wasn''t. Mana was a wild tempest¡ªwith its own wants and desires. It would make your wishes come true, but only if you had the skill, knowledge, and simple power to prove your worth. He had all three, courtesy of his father and the teachings of Sun Spire. Well, he thought he had¡ªmeeting the two maniacs across the hall had disabused him of that notion. That was true strength, woven from threads of persistence, maniacal disregard for injury, and simple grit. It would have been oh so easy for him to retreat into his shell, to soothe himself with soft whispers that he was the more brilliant, only held back by a lack of access to their advantages. Unfortunately, Kaius had made that impossible. Who would have thought that someone with that much bloodlust would have a keen mind for magic? Sure, he''d relied on a class that fed him spells¡ªbut Kaius had to, for there was no one else to learn from. It wasn''t like the man was resting on his laurels, what with the way he obsessively studied his glyphs every time he reinscribed. Desperately searching for minute commonalities between them. Ianmus knew, it was only a matter of time until Kaius cracked the secrets of Vesryn runework. Even if it took a decade, Kaius would manage it. If he wanted to keep up, he needed to give it his all. Ianmus hummed a low note¡ªan old habit to clear his mind before a particularly strenuous spell. Keeping his eyes open, he kept his teammates in his eyes, each in opposite corners of the expansive underground hall. He reached for the comfort of Solar¡ªfeeling the delicate touch of familiar warmth. Streamers of light coalesced around him¡ªa cocoon of burning heat and nurturing joy. Thread by thread, he began to weave. Sundrenched Strength served as the foundation of the spell¡ªevery good mage had a few basics in their tool kit, and his would be complete when he acquired a healing sorcery. It was a small strain, but one that would weigh on him as he moved to the next phase. His Glass Mind stepped in, holding the weight of the will needed to keep the spell in place when he stretched it far beyond its design. Hypercharged Spell was next¡ªmana surged with new potency as he fed it through the working, filling his sorcery to the bursting in only a few breaths. This alone was little strain, it was what came next that would test him. Holding firm to his staff, he reached out with his mind¡ªpulling on threads of raw Solar might. Spun gold danced to his tune, held in a grip of iron that forced it to obey. Touching his spell form, he unravelled the outermost section of the working. Mana bucked, his Glass Mind straining to keep the unbalanced sorcery held in place. Moving as quick as he was able¡ªpainfully limited by the rate at which he could channel his mana¡ªIanmus ripped out the targeting solution by its guts. A colossal weight settled on his shoulders as sweat beaded on his brow, half a dozen different class and general skills working in concert to keep the spell from detonating uncontrollably. Latent the destabilisation might have been, he could still see it¡ªthe eddies in the tightly structured mana that spun around him. Piece by piece, he rebuilt the spell. It was tough¡ªstraining him to the edges of his skill. The academy had only just touched upon the art of will imbuement¡ªthey hadn''t even seen fit to define it as separate from manipulation¡ªand most of his advancements had come from simple experimentation since meeting his team. Mind clear and focused, he pushed his Glass Mind to its limits, offloading as much of the strain as he could. It was a simplistic thing, still bound utterly to his own consciousness, but capable of raw computation outside of his main stream of thought. It was also unfortunately terrible at deft work, so he was forced to rely on it only for feeding the work mana, and for aiding in stabilisation. Grunting with strain, Ianmus felt the last reformed section snap into place, stable once more. Visible to all who had mana sight, a circle of woven mana hovered in front of him. There were no runes¡ªhe knew little of the art, and even if he did he couldn''t even imagine the strain¡ªbut the geometry of the sigil pulsed with meaning. Aiding him just the slightest in keeping the whole thing from collapsing. Another thing he had Kaius to thank for. Fighting against the urge to sigh in relief, he released the spell. A wave of solar growth rushed out. Where normally it would be a diffuse cloud that would settle into the bodies of his targets in a short range, this one had been split into two tight bolts. Both crossed the hall in seconds¡ªsinking deep into the bodies of Kaius and Porkchop, filling them with empowered physicality. **Ding! Sundrenched Strength has reached level 67!** **Ding! Solar Manipulation has reached level 76!** **Ding! Hypercharged Spell has reached level 43!** **Ding! Starlit Efficiency has reached level 68!** **Ding! Focused Attention has reached level 69!** **Ding! Magician''s Potency has reached level 67!** Wiping his forehead, Ianmus grimaced at the sheen of sweat that it left on his palm. His circuits ached, the metaphysical pathways through his body fraying under the burden he''d placed them under¡ªunderstandable, after pushing half his mana into the spell. A good result, all things considered. A year ago, and he would have been ecstatic to level two class skills and four general skills with a single spell. Now, it just felt like there was more to do. He couldn''t fall behind, not when they were his ticket to understanding the secrets of mana. B2 Chapter 232: Communique B2 Chapter 232: Communique Leaning back into the plush padding of their chosen booth at the Stables, Kaius let out a soft goan as he drank deeply from his tankard. The malty beer did much to soothe his bone deep exhaustion, but it wasn¡¯t a cure all. Every fibre of his body felt wrung out¡ªbeaten, shredded, and abused. His mana circuits ached, something he hadn¡¯t even realised was possible. Turns out, if you spend a few weeks doing little else than casting, drinking mana potions, and inscribing spells, you¡¯d figure out right quick exactly what mana burn felt like. Despite their theories that he was immune, it just seemed like he was rather resistant to its acute effects¡ªhe suffered them just fine with chronic exhaustion. The rest of his team wasn¡¯t much better. Ianmus was nurturing a drink much like himself, as he stared out their little window with a vacant eyed look. Normally quick as a tack, the man had grown ever more quiet in the last week¡ªtoo exhausted from their training to use his mind for anything other than shallow conversation. Porkchop, on the other hand, was destroying a plate of roast meats with gusto, though Kaius had noticed that his bond-brother had been exceptionally reticent to move unless absolutely required. Still, it had been well worth it. They¡¯d made significant gains across the board. Most of his growth had been seen in his two glyphs, both responding incredibly well to his dogged attempts at influencing his spells with his will. Initiate¡¯s Bladerite hadn¡¯t quite languished untouched, but in comparison he¡¯d only made a token effort at its use. Still, even that was enough to increase its level substantially. Much of his general skills had been left untouched, but a few had also been stressed quite handedly. The toxins he¡¯d imbibed had done their work to raise the level of his resistance skill, and both Tonal Weaving and Resonance Amplification had done wonders with all of the casting and reinscribing that he had been doing. Though, he had a growing hope that the damaging resonance that the latter imbued his Drakthar spells with would develop to boost his other spells as well. He¡¯d felt it at the edges whenever he cast Slip Step¡ªa tenuous link between the two. Out of reach for now, but one he hoped was a portent of things to come. Deciding to review his gains more fully, Kaius pulled up his full status. Status: Name: Kaius Dynasty: Unterstern Age: 19 Race: Human (Dynastic, Greater Beastblooded) - +1 End Str, Wil, and free stats per level Layer Reached: 2 Class: Runeblade Initiate - +3 Int, +2 End, +2 Str, +2 Dex, +1 Vit, +1 Wil per level Level: 59 Resources: Health - 3400/3400 (18.7/min) Stamina - 3270/3270 (25.1/min) Mana - 4350/4350 (28.6/min) Free Mana - 3350/3350 Reserved Mana - 1000 Stats: Endurance - 207 + 57 + 29% (340) Vitality - 88 + 57 + 29% (187) Strength - 197 + 57 + 29% (327) Dexterity - 138 + 57 + 29% (251) Intelligence - 247 + 72 + 37% (435) Willpower: - 138 + 72 + 37% (286) Stat Points: 0 Aspects: Pillar Corporus: N/A Pillar Mentis: The Veteran¡¯s Edge Reinforcement: Glass MindSeed: Campaigner¡¯s Reason Pillar Animus: N/A Class Skills (3/10): Latent Glyph of Drakthar (Heroic) - 43 > 78 Initiate¡¯s Glyphic Bladerite (Unique) - 26 > 44 Latent Glyph of Aelina (Heroic) - 15 > 63 General Skills (10/10): Rapid Adaptation (Heroic) - 69 > 86 Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo (Heroic) - 47 > 65 Explorer¡¯s Toolkit (Unusual) - 39 > 53 Tempered by Dissonance (Heroic) - 45 > 55 True Sight (Unique) - 39 > 54 Tonal Weaving (Unique) - 49 > 64 Resonance Amplification (Unique) - 38 > 63 Lesser Regeneration (Unusual) - 60 > 67 Uncanny Dodge (Unique) - 37 > 57 Brotherhood of Ichor and Animus (Heroic) - 48 > 75 Hymnbook: Glyph of Drakthar - Stormlash (Tier I - 120 mana) Glyph of Aelina - Yellia¡¯s Slip Step (Tier I - 80 mana) Honours: Born for Slaughter (Bonus) Sublime Prodigy - Glyph Binding (Bonus) Birds of a Blood Soaked Feather (Bonus) Persistent Survivor (Minor) (Bonus) Kingslayer (Major) (Bonus) Ruthless Underdog (Bonus) Ruthless Underdog II Trailblazer II (Bonus) Bound Artefacts: A Father¡¯s Gift - Common Growth Longsword Growth Conditions- Gain a class (1/1) Absorb suitable materials (1/3) Forge a link (1/1) The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Humming to himself in satisfaction at his gains, Kaius nearly jumped out of his skin when a soft cough sounded from just beside him. Dismissing his Status, Kaius looked over to find Hensch waiting patiently, his arms crossed behind his back. Yong was there too¡ªas he always was, Kaius couldn¡¯t remember a time that the large cat hadn¡¯t been within a few strides of the man¡ªpeering out from behind Hensch¡¯s legs. ¡°Ho, Kaius¡ªsorry to interrupt.¡± the innkeeper said, giving him a warm smile. ¡°Nonsense, what can I do for you?¡± Kaius asked, wondering why Hensch had come over. The innkeeper was friendly, but he was almost religious about giving his patrons privacy unless they were actively including him in their conversations. ¡°A letter for you¡ªwent to the guild, but Ro had it rerouted here. Arrived about an hour ago, but the lot of you looked like you could use a bit of time to relax.¡± Hensch grinned, nodding towards the quadruplet of empty pints at the centre of the table. Kaius¡¯s brows raised in surprise. A letter? It must have been from Three Fields¡ªhe couldn¡¯t think of anyone else who would know where to reach him. A flash of concern crept up the back of his neck. He hoped that it was something innocuous, not a warning or plea for help. With the growing danger, the communities at the edge of the Sea would be worse off compared to most. Not only would they have to contend with more dangerous beasts compared to the plains, but there could be real threats wandering down from the mountains at any time. Something that would no doubt become more and more frequent as the mana levels rose enough to comfortably support the denizens of the mountains and deep regions of the Arboreal Sea. ¡°Thanks, Hensch. I¡¯ll take a look.¡± Kaius replied, trying to keep his face schooled. He must have done a bad job, because a hint of concern crossed the innkeep¡¯s face as he handed over a small tube¡ªthe kind that was used to secure a letter to a bird. ¡°Before I leave ye to it, Ro got the runner boy to mention that she could handle sending out a response¡ªjust leave one with her when ye next see her.¡± Hensch said. Kaius nodded gratefully, and the innkeep gave them a final nod and returned back to the bar. ¡°A letter?¡± Ianmus asked curiously¡ªthe sudden change enough to rouse his interest despite his fatigue. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s from the Elders?¡± Porkchop asked, tilting his head at the compact tube. Kaius nodded, uncapping the package and unrolling a tightly wound page. ¡°I don¡¯t see who else it could be¡ªI just hope everything is okay.¡± The letter was written in a neat cursive that immediately identified they had been correct¡ªYanmi¡¯s handwriting. Kaius dove in eager to see what had caused them to reach out. Dear Kaius, It gladdens this old woman''s heart to think that you have settled well in Deadacre¡ªwe¡¯ve heard from passers by that the delving work there is proving lucrative, so I truly hope you have found what you were looking for when you left us. The Council is well¡ªwe were successful in our plans to secure our heritage in the region. The others were ornery, as us old coots are wont to be when sudden change is afoot, but they saw the wisdom when they saw what was on the table, and what we risked by inaction. Our next generation have hope now¡ªof stable walls, and a strong future. One more varied than ever with how everyone has come to work together. It¡¯s proven more successful than even us hopefuls thought, so much so that it seems we might be able to have more than a few fields and hunting grounds. I reach out to let you know we¡¯ve relocated. The bonds of culture were strong enough that we could all work together, but a new future requires a new founding. Plus, expanding any one of the settlements would have been far too difficult. Except for Gloomhollow, but they¡¯ve been affected by the change the most, considering how far into the Sea they are set. Laying the foundations has been easy work¡ªwe¡¯re a hardy sort, and with all of our hunters and builders, things are going well. We founded a site some thirty leagues east of Three Fields, about two before Oakstown and the start of the foothills proper. Jekkar and the head hunter from Oakstown found the place¡ªit¡¯s an old plateau, worn down into a large flat top hill. Good bedrock foundations, and natural rock formations acting as walls. As I write this, the earthworks and palisade have been completed¡ªmasonry blocks, this time¡ªand work is ongoing on common areas until a proper cityship can be built. There¡¯s even a Depths entrance inside the walls, something we considered prudent with all the changes in the world. Layer one, set into one of the rocky outcroppings. There¡¯s a second barely a league away, but being the tenth layer it¡¯s far too dangerous for most. The youngsters have taken to the change well, as they¡¯re wont to do. Especially those who have earned their statuses in recent months¡ªthey¡¯ve had a fire lit under them by the growing danger. Much better than some of the weary bones who live out here at the edge of nowhere, at least. Seaborn, they are. I hope to hear from you soon¡ªI ache to hear of the goings on in the world, and all that you have experienced in your adventures. Your absence is felt most keenly¡ª Yanmi, Mayor of Dawntown. Kaius leaned back in shock as he finished the letter. He knew what the villages had planned, but for them to have founded a new city, whole cloth? That was an impressive undertaking¡ªespecially to have found a site that was both defensible and had easy access to a delve. Still, there was much hidden in the soft language of an old friend catching up. He¡¯d need to discuss this. ¡°Perhaps we best head to our rooms,¡± Kaius said, meeting his team''s eyes. They nodded, and as a group they filed out¡ªgiving Hensch a thankful nod as they went. ... Sitting on the bed, Kaius watched his teammates finish reading the letter. Ianmus rubbed his forehead, looking up. ¡°Well, one thing is clear, there¡¯s a lot written between the lines.¡± Kaius nodded. ¡°Yeah. It seems like they got everyone on board, and managed to convince others to share their skills as well. At least, I hope so.¡± ¡°It would have to be. ¡®More than a few fields and hunting grounds¡¯? ¡®More varied than ever¡¯? That screams more legacy skills.¡± Porkchop agreed. Kaius nodded¡ªthat wasn¡¯t all, it seemed like they were already training the youngsters who¡¯d just awakened to the system. They were moving fast. Faster than he¡¯d dared hope. ¡°¡®Seaborn¡¯ as well¡ªI wouldn¡¯t be surprised if that is the name of their future dynasty. The question is now, what do we respond? No doubt she is hoping for some additional information.¡± Ianmus said. Kaius nodded. ¡°Aspects, for one.¡± It was an easy choice¡ªthe faster that the new powerbloc that was Dawntown had access to what they had learnt, the quicker that they could capitalise on it. Unless somebody was hiding their presence very well, everyone in those communities was in the first tier, and would be well served by completing their aspects. Porkchop hummed, clearly thinking something through. ¡°I have an idea, though I''m not sure if you¡¯re going to like it.¡± his brother said after a moment''s pause. Kaius cocked his head¡ªPorkchop had proven to be wise about topics that he was likely to reject out of habit, so he¡¯d hear him out regardless of what it was. ¡°Oh? What did you have in mind?¡± Porkchop shuffled, readjusting as he slowly started to talk. ¡°Well, if they have a wide variety of legacy skills, a full city''s worth of talent to pull upon, and access to a delve...they should probably consider especially talented teams of three spending their last year and a half unsupervised in the Depths.¡± Porkchop said, watching him cautiously. Anxiety lurched through his chest. Porkchop¡¯s words were startlingly close to his fears surrounding the risks of releasing honours at all. Before he could bite out a retort, he swallowed his tension¡ªreleasing a slow breath. ¡°Okay, clearly you know I''d be nervous about that¡ªwhy don¡¯t you explain?¡± Kaius replied. ¡°I¡¯m also curious. Every piece of common sense points to that being a grand way for people to end up dead.¡± His brother sagged in evident relief. ¡°It would definitely be dangerous¡ªbut it would be far from what we experienced, Kaius. Just think, layer one, in a delve that has been well mapped for a couple biomes in any direction¡ªall of the locations of Champions, the composition of enemies, and the types of Guardians laid out.¡± Kaius nodded, keeping up with Porkchop so far. That would have made a large difference, but he still thought it was reckless to expect unclassed to do what they did, even at a lower layer. Few had their advantages, and they¡¯d still almost died on multiple occasions. ¡°They get escorted to a specific biome, to a safe room. Then they park up, working on capping their skills and stats while getting combat experience against the depths-born. After a year, they get a minor Honour¡ªworth it by itself. Hopefully by then they¡¯re capped, and can follow a planned route to kill ten Champions in a group of three, netting them another honour. If they still have time, and can fight Champions they¡¯ve already fought as a group, three each, netting them a third.¡± Porkchop continued, getting more enthusiastic as he went. ¡°And the Guardian?¡± Kaius asked¡ªwhat Porkchop suggested actually could work, though it would be dangerous beyond belief. ¡°They don¡¯t attempt it¡ªthey can return to where they entered, and either get escorted through the rest, or they can wait for class selection, gain their first few easy levels, and do it themselves.¡± Porkchop finished. Ianmus leaned back. ¡°You know, that actually doesn¡¯t sound like a bad idea. It utterly flies in the face of conventional wisdom¡ªbut that only exists because the risk is utterly pointless until you factor in Honours, and no one knew about those.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe I''m saying this¡ªbut I agree.¡± Kaius replied. The influence three honours would have on the people of Dawntown was immense. Not only would it help them strive higher, with the additional stats and scaling, but they¡ªand the experience in the Depths¡ªwould no doubt grant them a considerable boost to their class rarity. A lesser mirror to he and Porkchop¡¯s own development. Reaching over to their spatial pack, he pulled out his writing supplies. ¡°Help me write this out¡ªwe¡¯re going to need to be really careful in how we word this. It should only be attempted by groups of the most competent and careful. That, and we¡¯re going to have to be careful about the message being intercepted.¡± Kaius replied. Someone else reading the letter was unlikely, if Ro had promised to sort the delivery herself¡ªguild courier services were legendary for their discreteness¡ªbut it was still something he wouldn¡¯t take a chance on. His team gathered round, preparing to help him pen a response. One that, he hoped, would propel the people of the new city of Dawntown to an unassailable strength in the coming years. Chapter 235 - B2 232: Communique Leaning back into the plush padding of their chosen booth at the Stables, Kaius let out a soft goan as he drank deeply from his tankard. The malty beer did much to soothe his bone deep exhaustion, but it wasn''t a cure all. Every fibre of his body felt wrung out¡ªbeaten, shredded, and abused. His mana circuits ached, something he hadn''t even realised was possible. Turns out, if you spend a few weeks doing little else than casting, drinking mana potions, and inscribing spells, you''d figure out right quick exactly what mana burn felt like. Despite their theories that he was immune, it just seemed like he was rather resistant to its acute effects¡ªhe suffered them just fine with chronic exhaustion. The rest of his team wasn''t much better. Ianmus was nurturing a drink much like himself, as he stared out their little window with a vacant eyed look. Normally quick as a tack, the man had grown ever more quiet in the last week¡ªtoo exhausted from their training to use his mind for anything other than shallow conversation. Porkchop, on the other hand, was destroying a plate of roast meats with gusto, though Kaius had noticed that his bond-brother had been exceptionally reticent to move unless absolutely required. Still, it had been well worth it. They''d made significant gains across the board. Most of his growth had been seen in his two glyphs, both responding incredibly well to his dogged attempts at influencing his spells with his will. Initiate''s Bladerite hadn''t quite languished untouched, but in comparison he''d only made a token effort at its use. Still, even that was enough to increase its level substantially. Much of his general skills had been left untouched, but a few had also been stressed quite handedly. The toxins he''d imbibed had done their work to raise the level of his resistance skill, and both Tonal Weaving and Resonance Amplification had done wonders with all of the casting and reinscribing that he had been doing. Though, he had a growing hope that the damaging resonance that the latter imbued his Drakthar spells with would develop to boost his other spells as well. He''d felt it at the edges whenever he cast Slip Step¡ªa tenuous link between the two. Out of reach for now, but one he hoped was a portent of things to come. Deciding to review his gains more fully, Kaius pulled up his full status. Status: Name: Kaius Dynasty: Unterstern Age: 19 Race: Human (Dynastic, Greater Beastblooded) - +1 End Str, Wil, and free stats per level Layer Reached: 2 Class: Runeblade Initiate - +3 Int, +2 End, +2 Str, +2 Dex, +1 Vit, +1 Wil per level Level: 59 Resources: Health - 3400/3400 (18.7/min) Stamina - 3270/3270 (25.1/min) Mana - 4350/4350 (28.6/min) Free Mana - 3350/3350 Reserved Mana - 1000 Stats: Endurance - 207 + 57 + 29% (340) Vitality - 88 + 57 + 29% (187) Strength - 197 + 57 + 29% (327) Dexterity - 138 + 57 + 29% (251) Intelligence - 247 + 72 + 37% (435) Willpower: - 138 + 72 + 37% (286) Stat Points: 0 Aspects: Pillar Corporus: N/A Pillar Mentis: The Veteran''s Edge Reinforcement: Glass Mind Seed: Campaigner''s Reason Pillar Animus: N/A Class Skills (3/10): Latent Glyph of Drakthar (Heroic) - 43 > 78 Initiate''s Glyphic Bladerite (Unique) - 26 > 44 Latent Glyph of Aelina (Heroic) - 15 > 63 General Skills (10/10): Rapid Adaptation (Heroic) - 69 > 86 Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo (Heroic) - 47 > 65 Explorer''s Toolkit (Unusual) - 39 > 53 Tempered by Dissonance (Heroic) - 45 > 55 True Sight (Unique) - 39 > 54 Tonal Weaving (Unique) - 49 > 64 Resonance Amplification (Unique) - 38 > 63 Lesser Regeneration (Unusual) - 60 > 67 Uncanny Dodge (Unique) - 37 > 57 Brotherhood of Ichor and Animus (Heroic) - 48 > 75 Hymnbook: Glyph of Drakthar - Stormlash (Tier I - 120 mana) Glyph of Aelina - Yellia''s Slip Step (Tier I - 80 mana) Honours: Born for Slaughter (Bonus) Sublime Prodigy - Glyph Binding (Bonus) Birds of a Blood Soaked Feather (Bonus) Persistent Survivor (Minor) (Bonus) Kingslayer (Major) (Bonus) Ruthless Underdog (Bonus) Ruthless Underdog II Trailblazer II (Bonus) Bound Artefacts: A Father''s Gift - Common Growth Longsword Growth Conditions- Gain a class (1/1) Absorb suitable materials (1/3) Forge a link (1/1) This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Humming to himself in satisfaction at his gains, Kaius nearly jumped out of his skin when a soft cough sounded from just beside him. Dismissing his Status, Kaius looked over to find Hensch waiting patiently, his arms crossed behind his back. Yong was there too¡ªas he always was, Kaius couldn''t remember a time that the large cat hadn''t been within a few strides of the man¡ªpeering out from behind Hensch''s legs. "Ho, Kaius¡ªsorry to interrupt." the innkeeper said, giving him a warm smile. "Nonsense, what can I do for you?" Kaius asked, wondering why Hensch had come over. The innkeeper was friendly, but he was almost religious about giving his patrons privacy unless they were actively including him in their conversations. "A letter for you¡ªwent to the guild, but Ro had it rerouted here. Arrived about an hour ago, but the lot of you looked like you could use a bit of time to relax." Hensch grinned, nodding towards the quadruplet of empty pints at the centre of the table. Kaius''s brows raised in surprise. A letter? It must have been from Three Fields¡ªhe couldn''t think of anyone else who would know where to reach him. A flash of concern crept up the back of his neck. He hoped that it was something innocuous, not a warning or plea for help. With the growing danger, the communities at the edge of the Sea would be worse off compared to most. Not only would they have to contend with more dangerous beasts compared to the plains, but there could be real threats wandering down from the mountains at any time. Something that would no doubt become more and more frequent as the mana levels rose enough to comfortably support the denizens of the mountains and deep regions of the Arboreal Sea. "Thanks, Hensch. I''ll take a look." Kaius replied, trying to keep his face schooled. He must have done a bad job, because a hint of concern crossed the innkeep''s face as he handed over a small tube¡ªthe kind that was used to secure a letter to a bird. "Before I leave ye to it, Ro got the runner boy to mention that she could handle sending out a response¡ªjust leave one with her when ye next see her." Hensch said. Kaius nodded gratefully, and the innkeep gave them a final nod and returned back to the bar. "A letter?" Ianmus asked curiously¡ªthe sudden change enough to rouse his interest despite his fatigue. "Do you think it''s from the Elders?" Porkchop asked, tilting his head at the compact tube. Kaius nodded, uncapping the package and unrolling a tightly wound page. "I don''t see who else it could be¡ªI just hope everything is okay." The letter was written in a neat cursive that immediately identified they had been correct¡ªYanmi''s handwriting. Kaius dove in eager to see what had caused them to reach out. Dear Kaius, It gladdens this old woman''s heart to think that you have settled well in Deadacre¡ªwe''ve heard from passers by that the delving work there is proving lucrative, so I truly hope you have found what you were looking for when you left us. The Council is well¡ªwe were successful in our plans to secure our heritage in the region. The others were ornery, as us old coots are wont to be when sudden change is afoot, but they saw the wisdom when they saw what was on the table, and what we risked by inaction. Our next generation have hope now¡ªof stable walls, and a strong future. One more varied than ever with how everyone has come to work together. It''s proven more successful than even us hopefuls thought, so much so that it seems we might be able to have more than a few fields and hunting grounds. I reach out to let you know we''ve relocated. The bonds of culture were strong enough that we could all work together, but a new future requires a new founding. Plus, expanding any one of the settlements would have been far too difficult. Except for Gloomhollow, but they''ve been affected by the change the most, considering how far into the Sea they are set. Laying the foundations has been easy work¡ªwe''re a hardy sort, and with all of our hunters and builders, things are going well. We founded a site some thirty leagues east of Three Fields, about two before Oakstown and the start of the foothills proper. Jekkar and the head hunter from Oakstown found the place¡ªit''s an old plateau, worn down into a large flat top hill. Good bedrock foundations, and natural rock formations acting as walls. As I write this, the earthworks and palisade have been completed¡ªmasonry blocks, this time¡ªand work is ongoing on common areas until a proper cityship can be built. There''s even a Depths entrance inside the walls, something we considered prudent with all the changes in the world. Layer one, set into one of the rocky outcroppings. There''s a second barely a league away, but being the tenth layer it''s far too dangerous for most. The youngsters have taken to the change well, as they''re wont to do. Especially those who have earned their statuses in recent months¡ªthey''ve had a fire lit under them by the growing danger. Much better than some of the weary bones who live out here at the edge of nowhere, at least. Seaborn, they are. I hope to hear from you soon¡ªI ache to hear of the goings on in the world, and all that you have experienced in your adventures. Your absence is felt most keenly¡ª Yanmi, Mayor of Dawntown. Kaius leaned back in shock as he finished the letter. He knew what the villages had planned, but for them to have founded a new city, whole cloth? That was an impressive undertaking¡ªespecially to have found a site that was both defensible and had easy access to a delve. Still, there was much hidden in the soft language of an old friend catching up. He''d need to discuss this. "Perhaps we best head to our rooms," Kaius said, meeting his team''s eyes. They nodded, and as a group they filed out¡ªgiving Hensch a thankful nod as they went. ... Sitting on the bed, Kaius watched his teammates finish reading the letter. Ianmus rubbed his forehead, looking up. "Well, one thing is clear, there''s a lot written between the lines." Kaius nodded. "Yeah. It seems like they got everyone on board, and managed to convince others to share their skills as well. At least, I hope so." "It would have to be. ''More than a few fields and hunting grounds''? ''More varied than ever''? That screams more legacy skills." Porkchop agreed. Kaius nodded¡ªthat wasn''t all, it seemed like they were already training the youngsters who''d just awakened to the system. They were moving fast. Faster than he''d dared hope. "''Seaborn'' as well¡ªI wouldn''t be surprised if that is the name of their future dynasty. The question is now, what do we respond? No doubt she is hoping for some additional information." Ianmus said. Kaius nodded. "Aspects, for one." It was an easy choice¡ªthe faster that the new powerbloc that was Dawntown had access to what they had learnt, the quicker that they could capitalise on it. Unless somebody was hiding their presence very well, everyone in those communities was in the first tier, and would be well served by completing their aspects. Porkchop hummed, clearly thinking something through. "I have an idea, though I''m not sure if you''re going to like it." his brother said after a moment''s pause. Kaius cocked his head¡ªPorkchop had proven to be wise about topics that he was likely to reject out of habit, so he''d hear him out regardless of what it was. "Oh? What did you have in mind?" Porkchop shuffled, readjusting as he slowly started to talk. "Well, if they have a wide variety of legacy skills, a full city''s worth of talent to pull upon, and access to a delve...they should probably consider especially talented teams of three spending their last year and a half unsupervised in the Depths." Porkchop said, watching him cautiously. Anxiety lurched through his chest. Porkchop''s words were startlingly close to his fears surrounding the risks of releasing honours at all. Before he could bite out a retort, he swallowed his tension¡ªreleasing a slow breath. "Okay, clearly you know I''d be nervous about that¡ªwhy don''t you explain?" Kaius replied. "I''m also curious. Every piece of common sense points to that being a grand way for people to end up dead." His brother sagged in evident relief. "It would definitely be dangerous¡ªbut it would be far from what we experienced, Kaius. Just think, layer one, in a delve that has been well mapped for a couple biomes in any direction¡ªall of the locations of Champions, the composition of enemies, and the types of Guardians laid out." Kaius nodded, keeping up with Porkchop so far. That would have made a large difference, but he still thought it was reckless to expect unclassed to do what they did, even at a lower layer. Few had their advantages, and they''d still almost died on multiple occasions. "They get escorted to a specific biome, to a safe room. Then they park up, working on capping their skills and stats while getting combat experience against the depths-born. After a year, they get a minor Honour¡ªworth it by itself. Hopefully by then they''re capped, and can follow a planned route to kill ten Champions in a group of three, netting them another honour. If they still have time, and can fight Champions they''ve already fought as a group, three each, netting them a third." Porkchop continued, getting more enthusiastic as he went. "And the Guardian?" Kaius asked¡ªwhat Porkchop suggested actually could work, though it would be dangerous beyond belief. "They don''t attempt it¡ªthey can return to where they entered, and either get escorted through the rest, or they can wait for class selection, gain their first few easy levels, and do it themselves." Porkchop finished. Ianmus leaned back. "You know, that actually doesn''t sound like a bad idea. It utterly flies in the face of conventional wisdom¡ªbut that only exists because the risk is utterly pointless until you factor in Honours, and no one knew about those." "I can''t believe I''m saying this¡ªbut I agree." Kaius replied. The influence three honours would have on the people of Dawntown was immense. Not only would it help them strive higher, with the additional stats and scaling, but they¡ªand the experience in the Depths¡ªwould no doubt grant them a considerable boost to their class rarity. A lesser mirror to he and Porkchop''s own development. Reaching over to their spatial pack, he pulled out his writing supplies. "Help me write this out¡ªwe''re going to need to be really careful in how we word this. It should only be attempted by groups of the most competent and careful. That, and we''re going to have to be careful about the message being intercepted." Kaius replied. Someone else reading the letter was unlikely, if Ro had promised to sort the delivery herself¡ªguild courier services were legendary for their discreteness¡ªbut it was still something he wouldn''t take a chance on. His team gathered round, preparing to help him pen a response. One that, he hoped, would propel the people of the new city of Dawntown to an unassailable strength in the coming years. B2 Chapter 233: King of the Jungle B2 Chapter 233: King of the Jungle Grave-eye watched the team enter the guildhall. His room was utterly inadequate¡ªwho the hell used pine for flooring? Was the owner born in a barn? Unfortunately, it was the only place available on short notice that had a view of the guildhall from its window. Like every day, they entered shortly after the morning bell¡ªand like every day, he expected he wouldn¡¯t see them leaving until dusk. It was...unbelievably suspicious. They had to think him a fool. Having his time wasted like this burned. There were much better uses of his time than sitting by a blasted window in a mouldering room. Running his business. Visiting the ever worsening theatre. Buying vintages. Anything. The simple cost of renting an apartment next to the guild? Having his hound cart up a selection of his best wines and favoured books? The blasted fools had to be spitting at him on purpose for how much they were costing him. That is, that¡¯s what he would think if there was any chance of those delvers catching on to his sublime machinations. No, they were doing something there all day. No one spent that much time in the guild, not without good reason. Throw in the fact that neither he, nor any of his assets, could analyse them? Including their warbeast? It painted a picture, especially because even advanced analyse skills designed to punch through Masks without a trace had been rebuffed with ease¡ªwithout his marks knowing. They had powerful artefacts shielding them, they had to. No matter how skilled they clearly were¡ªthe Guild was obviously investing in them, so they had to be good¡ªno two bit prodigy would be able to best him with raw Will. No doubt they¡¯d be leaving soon¡ªit was closing in on a month since their last mission. He already had someone in mind to tail them. Too much rode on this. Oh yes, there would be no second chances with the consummate professionals he was hoping to contact. He needed something good. Something that would finally prove how worthy he was. He could already taste it. The fine wine, the respect, the fear. If those two...children turned out to be the real deal, they were his ticket to real prospects. A seat at the high table. The authority that he was owed would finally be his. ... Rieker¡¯s office was becoming a familiar sight. While they didn¡¯t come here every day, it was seemingly the guildmaster¡¯s venue of choice for any sort of official discussion. Considering they were about to receive their next mission¡ªone that promised to be far better suited to their skills than the bogglings had been¡ªthis fit the bill. With his team at his side, Kaius waited for the guildmaster to speak. Normally, it would have been unneeded. It was impossible to avoid building up a rapport with someone that you spent so much time with, especially one as driven and capable as Rieker. He was surprisingly easy going, and had often invited them to speak up when they had questions, or wanted to make simple conversation. This was not one of those times. Rieker the man was absent, and sitting in his place was the guildmaster, Wardog of Deadacre. Even the ever fiery Ro was acting as her station demanded, standing to Rieker¡¯s right, her arms held behind her waist. It was impressive watching him don his mantle¡ªthe way his spine straightened, and gravitas oozed from his very pores. ¡°You¡¯ve done well, all of you,¡± Rieker said, breaking the silence. ¡°Kaius,¡± the guildmaster turned his head just a hair, eyes boring into him. ¡°You¡¯re on the verge of your next spell for Drakthar, and your other skills are not too much further behind.¡± Rieker turned to Ianmus next. ¡°You too, have done well¡ªan impressive development across the board. Your metamagic is more potent than ever, and you managed to reach the point of Sunbeam casting a second ray. An important achievement, that will make you far more effective at hampering your foes.¡± the guildmaster continued, before his eyes settled on the last member of their team. ¡°Porkchop. You¡¯ve done the best¡ªwith Corporus backing you, you managed to seize not one, but two developments to your armour skill. The strain you put yourself under would have killed most lesser folk¡ªand you shouldered it with ease. Well done. ¡± His eyes roved over them all. ¡°I mean it, all of you have done brilliantly.¡± A warm smile broke on Rieker¡¯s face, his pride and satisfaction at their progress making Kaius set his shoulders just a little squarer. The guildmaster was many things, but he was not a man that dolled out praise without it being earned. The change in his demeanour also signalled the end of his stoic facade. Ro stepped forwards, taking a seat next to him. Fizzing excitement welled up within him¡ªalmost bubbling over as he anxiously waited to learn more about their upcoming mission. ¡°I know you¡¯re eager to get out of the city, and I''m happy to say that we¡¯ve found something good for you,¡± Rieker said, an infectious grin on his face. Ro jumped in. ¡°We had something come in a few days ago¡ªsomething special, that will be a tough challenge even for you.¡± Something special? That caught Kaius¡¯s attention¡ªthere was such a variety of threats roving the countryside since the phase shift that it had to be something truly stand-out for Ro and Rieker to treat it as special . He could only hope that it would be something fun¡ªa fight against something big and tough, that would push and stress their capabilities. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Even if such a thing had been Rieker and Ro¡¯s plan for them, if something unexpected had cropped up that would provide them a valuable learning experience, Kaius had no doubt that they¡¯d end up on another mission that would force them to adapt. It seemed Porkchop felt similarly. Beside him, his brother leaned in, tilting his head in curiosity. ¡°Is it challenging because it''s a tough fight, that we¡¯re well suited for, or because we¡¯ll be out of our element?¡± his brother asked. Rieker laughed, shaking his head. ¡°No, nothing like the last one¡ªI think you learned your lesson there. It¡¯ll be a tough fight¡ªtough enough that you¡¯ll have to fight smart¡ªbut one I think you¡¯ll enjoy. I¡¯ll let Ro tell you more. Ro nodded. ¡°We got reports of a large reptilian beast settling down into a forest east of Deadacre¡ªjust above the Hanset woods. Without any concrete information, I checked it out myself.¡± Kaius¡¯s eyes sharpened¡ªthere was no way that Ro would have gone herself to investigate mere rumours unless they had reason to think that the beast could have been a threat that only her or Rieker could have dealt with. For it to be fostered onto them after its identity had been confirmed? It had to be something that they had to analyse directly to ascertain its strength¡ªa beast with a high capacity for growth. Oh, sure, it could have just been a case of mistaken identity¡ªbut why would they call it special if that was the case? A slow smile spread over Ro¡¯s face as she watched him. ¡°I confirmed it as a lesser drake, it either appeared with the phase change, and was missed before it grew to its current size, or it snuck in from the mountains under our noses.¡± Kaius hissed through his teeth, the rest of his team reeling much the same at the reveal. A drake, even a lesser one, was a potent threat. Pseudo-draconic¡ªnot closely related to the most fearsome of all greater beasts, but one that was a far distant cousin nonetheless. They lacked the breath attacks of true draconids, but still had a ghost of their strength and magical potency. Even a ghost of a dragon was enough to put most delvers six strides under. Smelling the challenge on the horizon, his bloodsong woke within him and crooned with desire. A lesser drake...that would be a fight to remember. ¡°Its level?¡± Ianmus cut in, his eyes sharp and focused. Kaius could tell the mage felt at least a shard of the anticipation that was growing in his chest. The growing flush creeping up the back of Ianmus¡¯s pale neck was a dead give away. ¡°One-oh-four,¡± Ro responded, giving Ianmus a nod of respect for jumping to the most pertinent information. ¡°Though it might be a smidge higher by the time you arrive.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not an elite, but it doesn¡¯t need to be,¡± Rieker added. ¡°It¡¯s not the largest level jump that you¡¯ve ever fought, but this thing is tough, strong, and less of a perfect match up than the assassin spider. With its earth affinity, it¡¯ll be tossing boulders around with ease, and its scales will leave it heavily armoured almost everywhere.¡± Kaius nodded. He didn¡¯t know all that much about lesser drakes, but all pseudo-draconic beasts were supposed to be consummate users of their element¡ªno doubt it would wield the earth as well as its own limbs. The armour was a bit of a worry, but they¡¯d learned from their mistakes with the bogglings. They¡¯d check the archives for weaknesses before they left. ¡°The two of you are strong,¡± Rieker continued, looking at him and Porkchop. ¡°Strong enough that I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if you match, or exceed its total stats. However, it¡¯s a drake. The thing¡¯s almost as big as a house¡ªtwelve strides at the shoulder¡ªand will be meaner than a direboar. That raw physicality is a tough thing to equal, and you should expect it to survive wounds that would slay a lesser creature.¡± ¡°On the other hand, this will be fantastic experience for all of you,¡± Ro said, jumping it. ¡°Plus, it¡¯s relatively close to a village, so the rewards for slaying it will be higher than if it was in the middle of nowhere. If you decide to accept, the reward will be ten platinum.¡± If the hunger in his belly for a good fight wasn¡¯t enough, the sudden lurch at the size of the reward sealed the deal. They were taking this¡ªno two ways about it. That much coin would do much for the greatly needed upgrades to their artefacts that they were working towards. ¡°What of the body?¡± Ianmus asked. ¡°I know the price of beast remains has fallen through the floor, but I doubt that pseudo-draconids have become so common they¡¯ve lost all of their old value. I¡¯d hate to leave it there to rot, but we have no way of handling a corpse of that size.¡± A great question, one that Kaius wouldn¡¯t have thought to ask¡ªhe¡¯d been too lost in thought of glory and riches to remember that the beast itself would be valuable in its own right. Scale and bone would be valuable to many an artificer, the blood and bile to alchemists and inscriptionists. Even the meat would be a cut above the fare usually found in the markets, packed with energy that the right classer would be able to turn into a particularly vitalising meal. Rieker reached into his pocket, drawing out a thin steel token with a dense inscription on its centre. He placed it on his desk and slid it over. ¡°We¡¯ll give you this¡ªif you channel mana into it, we¡¯ll be alerted. Use it once the drake is dead, and Ro will come with spatial artefacts to collect the corpse.¡± Kaius nodded at the guildmaster in gratitude, sweeping up the minor artefact and pocketing it. Though, he was surprised that Ro would go through the effort. Even if the remains were valuable, so was Ro¡¯s time. More evidence of the favour they had managed to curry, he supposed. ¡°It¡¯ll take me about eight hours to get there, so just hold tight and make camp. We¡¯ll have to take a cut, since I''ll be working officially, but what''s left should still be enough to increase your rewards¡ªand the artefacts we use the funds to take out of the vault¡ªsignificantly.¡± Ro then jumped into an explanation of what they could expect to receive upon their return, a turn in the conversation that filled Kaius with delight. The unexpected windfall of such a mission would do much for them. He himself could look forward to not just the mass of Elder Blood, but also a full set of Rare scale armour. It was an upgrade that would mean setting aside his Vambraces of Varkhossian Deflection, but that was a sacrifice he was willing to make. While the enhancement to his attacks was useful, it was no longer the deciding factor of his engagements. It was simple, really; the enchantment didn¡¯t scale. He¡¯d gotten stronger, and his enemies tougher, so with each fight the impact the bracers had was growing smaller and smaller. In the end, finally having a complete set of armour would serve him far better¡ªand keep him safer as well. Ianmus would be getting a new set of robes, and a wellstone¡ªsome sort of floating crystal he would be able to use as mana storage. It sounded rather mundane to him, but judging by the way the man¡¯s face had lit up, it was considerably valuable. Porkchop was perhaps the most excited with his future rewards. He¡¯d be getting a mobile shield¡ªa niche defensive artefact that would float through the air according to his will. Surprisingly, that had only gotten a nod from his brother¡ªit was learning he¡¯d also be getting an artefact that would give him a spectral hand that had him really excited. Ro had treated it almost as an afterthought, considering it was weak enough to have almost no use in combat. Still, the prospect of no longer being hampered by his lack of thumbs was clearly thought of as the more significant boon. With their future rewards laid out, Rieker cleared his throat, grabbing the room¡¯s attention. ¡°There will be no additional missions this time¡ªwe¡¯ve managed to circumvent the usual channels, so there will be little need to obscure your movements. I wish you good luck¡ªbut I hope you won¡¯t need it.¡± the guildmaster finished, giving them a slight smile. Kaius beamed back at the man. Recognising the dismissal for what it was, they stood up and thanked Rieker and Ro for their time. Filing out of the room, Kaius shared excited looks with his team. It was time to hit the archives, plan, and purchase anything they thought necessary for the mission ahead. They had a drake to kill. Chapter 236 - B2 233: King of the Jungle Grave-eye watched the team enter the guildhall. His room was utterly inadequate¡ªwho the hell used pine for flooring? Was the owner born in a barn? Unfortunately, it was the only place available on short notice that had a view of the guildhall from its window. Like every day, they entered shortly after the morning bell¡ªand like every day, he expected he wouldn''t see them leaving until dusk. It was...unbelievably suspicious. They had to think him a fool. Having his time wasted like this burned. There were much better uses of his time than sitting by a blasted window in a mouldering room. Running his business. Visiting the ever worsening theatre. Buying vintages. Anything. The simple cost of renting an apartment next to the guild? Having his hound cart up a selection of his best wines and favoured books? The blasted fools had to be spitting at him on purpose for how much they were costing him. That is, that''s what he would think if there was any chance of those delvers catching on to his sublime machinations. No, they were doing something there all day. No one spent that much time in the guild, not without good reason. Throw in the fact that neither he, nor any of his assets, could analyse them? Including their warbeast? It painted a picture, especially because even advanced analyse skills designed to punch through Masks without a trace had been rebuffed with ease¡ªwithout his marks knowing. They had powerful artefacts shielding them, they had to. No matter how skilled they clearly were¡ªthe Guild was obviously investing in them, so they had to be good¡ªno two bit prodigy would be able to best him with raw Will. No doubt they''d be leaving soon¡ªit was closing in on a month since their last mission. He already had someone in mind to tail them. Too much rode on this. Oh yes, there would be no second chances with the consummate professionals he was hoping to contact. He needed something good. Something that would finally prove how worthy he was. He could already taste it. The fine wine, the respect, the fear. If those two...children turned out to be the real deal, they were his ticket to real prospects. A seat at the high table. The authority that he was owed would finally be his. ... Rieker''s office was becoming a familiar sight. While they didn''t come here every day, it was seemingly the guildmaster''s venue of choice for any sort of official discussion. Considering they were about to receive their next mission¡ªone that promised to be far better suited to their skills than the bogglings had been¡ªthis fit the bill. With his team at his side, Kaius waited for the guildmaster to speak. Normally, it would have been unneeded. It was impossible to avoid building up a rapport with someone that you spent so much time with, especially one as driven and capable as Rieker. He was surprisingly easy going, and had often invited them to speak up when they had questions, or wanted to make simple conversation. This was not one of those times. Rieker the man was absent, and sitting in his place was the guildmaster, Wardog of Deadacre. Even the ever fiery Ro was acting as her station demanded, standing to Rieker''s right, her arms held behind her waist. It was impressive watching him don his mantle¡ªthe way his spine straightened, and gravitas oozed from his very pores. "You''ve done well, all of you," Rieker said, breaking the silence. "Kaius," the guildmaster turned his head just a hair, eyes boring into him. "You''re on the verge of your next spell for Drakthar, and your other skills are not too much further behind." Rieker turned to Ianmus next. "You too, have done well¡ªan impressive development across the board. Your metamagic is more potent than ever, and you managed to reach the point of Sunbeam casting a second ray. An important achievement, that will make you far more effective at hampering your foes." the guildmaster continued, before his eyes settled on the last member of their team. "Porkchop. You''ve done the best¡ªwith Corporus backing you, you managed to seize not one, but two developments to your armour skill. The strain you put yourself under would have killed most lesser folk¡ªand you shouldered it with ease. Well done. " His eyes roved over them all. "I mean it, all of you have done brilliantly." A warm smile broke on Rieker''s face, his pride and satisfaction at their progress making Kaius set his shoulders just a little squarer. The guildmaster was many things, but he was not a man that dolled out praise without it being earned. The change in his demeanour also signalled the end of his stoic facade. Ro stepped forwards, taking a seat next to him. Fizzing excitement welled up within him¡ªalmost bubbling over as he anxiously waited to learn more about their upcoming mission. "I know you''re eager to get out of the city, and I''m happy to say that we''ve found something good for you," Rieker said, an infectious grin on his face. Ro jumped in. "We had something come in a few days ago¡ªsomething special, that will be a tough challenge even for you." Something special? That caught Kaius''s attention¡ªthere was such a variety of threats roving the countryside since the phase shift that it had to be something truly stand-out for Ro and Rieker to treat it as special. He could only hope that it would be something fun¡ªa fight against something big and tough, that would push and stress their capabilities. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Even if such a thing had been Rieker and Ro''s plan for them, if something unexpected had cropped up that would provide them a valuable learning experience, Kaius had no doubt that they''d end up on another mission that would force them to adapt. It seemed Porkchop felt similarly. Beside him, his brother leaned in, tilting his head in curiosity. "Is it challenging because it''s a tough fight, that we''re well suited for, or because we''ll be out of our element?" his brother asked. Rieker laughed, shaking his head. "No, nothing like the last one¡ªI think you learned your lesson there. It''ll be a tough fight¡ªtough enough that you''ll have to fight smart¡ªbut one I think you''ll enjoy. I''ll let Ro tell you more. Ro nodded. "We got reports of a large reptilian beast settling down into a forest east of Deadacre¡ªjust above the Hanset woods. Without any concrete information, I checked it out myself." Kaius''s eyes sharpened¡ªthere was no way that Ro would have gone herself to investigate mere rumours unless they had reason to think that the beast could have been a threat that only her or Rieker could have dealt with. For it to be fostered onto them after its identity had been confirmed? It had to be something that they had to analyse directly to ascertain its strength¡ªa beast with a high capacity for growth. Oh, sure, it could have just been a case of mistaken identity¡ªbut why would they call it special if that was the case? A slow smile spread over Ro''s face as she watched him. "I confirmed it as a lesser drake, it either appeared with the phase change, and was missed before it grew to its current size, or it snuck in from the mountains under our noses." Kaius hissed through his teeth, the rest of his team reeling much the same at the reveal. A drake, even a lesser one, was a potent threat. Pseudo-draconic¡ªnot closely related to the most fearsome of all greater beasts, but one that was a far distant cousin nonetheless. They lacked the breath attacks of true draconids, but still had a ghost of their strength and magical potency. Even a ghost of a dragon was enough to put most delvers six strides under. Smelling the challenge on the horizon, his bloodsong woke within him and crooned with desire. A lesser drake...that would be a fight to remember. "Its level?" Ianmus cut in, his eyes sharp and focused. Kaius could tell the mage felt at least a shard of the anticipation that was growing in his chest. The growing flush creeping up the back of Ianmus''s pale neck was a dead give away. "One-oh-four," Ro responded, giving Ianmus a nod of respect for jumping to the most pertinent information. "Though it might be a smidge higher by the time you arrive." "It''s not an elite, but it doesn''t need to be," Rieker added. "It''s not the largest level jump that you''ve ever fought, but this thing is tough, strong, and less of a perfect match up than the assassin spider. With its earth affinity, it''ll be tossing boulders around with ease, and its scales will leave it heavily armoured almost everywhere." Kaius nodded. He didn''t know all that much about lesser drakes, but all pseudo-draconic beasts were supposed to be consummate users of their element¡ªno doubt it would wield the earth as well as its own limbs. The armour was a bit of a worry, but they''d learned from their mistakes with the bogglings. They''d check the archives for weaknesses before they left. "The two of you are strong," Rieker continued, looking at him and Porkchop. "Strong enough that I wouldn''t be surprised if you match, or exceed its total stats. However, it''s a drake. The thing''s almost as big as a house¡ªtwelve strides at the shoulder¡ªand will be meaner than a direboar. That raw physicality is a tough thing to equal, and you should expect it to survive wounds that would slay a lesser creature." "On the other hand, this will be fantastic experience for all of you," Ro said, jumping it. "Plus, it''s relatively close to a village, so the rewards for slaying it will be higher than if it was in the middle of nowhere. If you decide to accept, the reward will be ten platinum." If the hunger in his belly for a good fight wasn''t enough, the sudden lurch at the size of the reward sealed the deal. They were taking this¡ªno two ways about it. That much coin would do much for the greatly needed upgrades to their artefacts that they were working towards. "What of the body?" Ianmus asked. "I know the price of beast remains has fallen through the floor, but I doubt that pseudo-draconids have become so common they''ve lost all of their old value. I''d hate to leave it there to rot, but we have no way of handling a corpse of that size." A great question, one that Kaius wouldn''t have thought to ask¡ªhe''d been too lost in thought of glory and riches to remember that the beast itself would be valuable in its own right. Scale and bone would be valuable to many an artificer, the blood and bile to alchemists and inscriptionists. Even the meat would be a cut above the fare usually found in the markets, packed with energy that the right classer would be able to turn into a particularly vitalising meal. Rieker reached into his pocket, drawing out a thin steel token with a dense inscription on its centre. He placed it on his desk and slid it over. "We''ll give you this¡ªif you channel mana into it, we''ll be alerted. Use it once the drake is dead, and Ro will come with spatial artefacts to collect the corpse." Kaius nodded at the guildmaster in gratitude, sweeping up the minor artefact and pocketing it. Though, he was surprised that Ro would go through the effort. Even if the remains were valuable, so was Ro''s time. More evidence of the favour they had managed to curry, he supposed. "It''ll take me about eight hours to get there, so just hold tight and make camp. We''ll have to take a cut, since I''ll be working officially, but what''s left should still be enough to increase your rewards¡ªand the artefacts we use the funds to take out of the vault¡ªsignificantly." Ro then jumped into an explanation of what they could expect to receive upon their return, a turn in the conversation that filled Kaius with delight. The unexpected windfall of such a mission would do much for them. He himself could look forward to not just the mass of Elder Blood, but also a full set of Rare scale armour. It was an upgrade that would mean setting aside his Vambraces of Varkhossian Deflection, but that was a sacrifice he was willing to make. While the enhancement to his attacks was useful, it was no longer the deciding factor of his engagements. It was simple, really; the enchantment didn''t scale. He''d gotten stronger, and his enemies tougher, so with each fight the impact the bracers had was growing smaller and smaller. In the end, finally having a complete set of armour would serve him far better¡ªand keep him safer as well. Ianmus would be getting a new set of robes, and a wellstone¡ªsome sort of floating crystal he would be able to use as mana storage. It sounded rather mundane to him, but judging by the way the man''s face had lit up, it was considerably valuable. Porkchop was perhaps the most excited with his future rewards. He''d be getting a mobile shield¡ªa niche defensive artefact that would float through the air according to his will. Surprisingly, that had only gotten a nod from his brother¡ªit was learning he''d also be getting an artefact that would give him a spectral hand that had him really excited. Ro had treated it almost as an afterthought, considering it was weak enough to have almost no use in combat. Still, the prospect of no longer being hampered by his lack of thumbs was clearly thought of as the more significant boon. With their future rewards laid out, Rieker cleared his throat, grabbing the room''s attention. "There will be no additional missions this time¡ªwe''ve managed to circumvent the usual channels, so there will be little need to obscure your movements. I wish you good luck¡ªbut I hope you won''t need it." the guildmaster finished, giving them a slight smile. Kaius beamed back at the man. Recognising the dismissal for what it was, they stood up and thanked Rieker and Ro for their time. Filing out of the room, Kaius shared excited looks with his team. It was time to hit the archives, plan, and purchase anything they thought necessary for the mission ahead. They had a drake to kill. B2 Chapter 234: Drake, pt. 1 B2 Chapter 234: Drake, pt. 1 Kaius crouched on a branch halfway up a large pine tree, holding one hand to the rough bark of the trunk to steady himself as it swayed gently in the breeze. Jutting out from the top of one of the taller hills that dotted the forest, it served as a perfect vantage point to watch his prey. Their journey to the small woods had taken them a couple of weeks, with a smattering of beast fights and skill levels to tide them over. It was an easy trip, especially with the bubbling excitement that had taken over their moods as they¡¯d gotten closer and closer to their target. For safety, they¡¯d decided to camp a good hour''s walk from the forest. Drakes were known to claim large swaths of land as their territory, and they patrolled it religiously. Considering this diminutive collection of trees measured only four leagues across at its widest, if they¡¯d set up under the trees it would have only been a matter of time before the overgrown lizard would have found them. A sharp crack echoed through the air, joined by a patch of the forest¡¯s crown shaking as something large pushed its way through the canopy. Honed into his Truesight as he was, Kaius spotted the drake immediately. His heart fluttered in his chest as he took in its form, like it had every time he¡¯d laid his eyes on the beast in the days he¡¯d been tracking it. It was fucking huge. When Rieker had said that it was as large as a house, Kaius had been expecting it to be at least a partial exaggeration. It wasn¡¯t; the beast was truly that immense. A long-snouted head as big as he was, shaped similar to the drawings of a crocodile¡¯s that he¡¯d seen in a book of reptiles in the archives, poked through the treetops as the drake reared up on its back legs. Pushing past its curled lip, forearm length teeth shone a bright white in the sun. He knew from the times he¡¯d seen it pass through clearings that it was nearly a full fifty strides from tail to snout¡ªnearly half of that length made up by its overly muscular tail that had a vicious row of spikes running down the top of it. Mottled brown and green scales garbed it in armour as tough as any dwarven plate, their curious colouring breaking up its form¡ªmaking it hard to track even with his enhanced vision, at least when it was still. It was only by the dint of the clear tracks it had left throughout the forest as it broke its way through the canopy that Kaius was able to follow its movements so easily. A hissing snarl left the drake¡¯s throat as it grew frustrated with the stubborn oak that barred its path, hardwood too tough for it to simply walk through with ease. It lashed out with one of its four fingered front limbs, sword-length claws cutting deep into branches as thick as his leg, before its brute strength tore them free. With its path mostly clear, the drake lowered itself¡ªfront limbs curling back into its chest as it lumbered onwards. Kaius felt a prickling jolt raise the hairs on his neck as he took in the casual display of power. He couldn¡¯t wait to meet the thing out on the field. Though, this time they¡¯d learned from their mistakes. There would be no running in half-cocked¡ªno crashing through the forest to fight the drake on its own terms. It was too large, too strong, to approach with wilful negligence like that. Before they¡¯d left Deadacre, they¡¯d spent three days combing the guild¡¯s archives for anything they could find that would reveal the drake¡¯s strengths, and the weaknesses they could exploit to ensure their victory. It had strong scales¡ªtougher than steel¡ªbut they were thin on the underbelly and throat. It¡¯d still be tougher than mundane chainmail, but nothing he couldn¡¯t handle if he aimed for the fragile seams between the large plates. Porkchop wouldn¡¯t even have to do that¡ªhis claws of jade would punch straight through like it was paper. It was aggressive and territorial, but stupid. If they could bait it into a trap, there would be little cunning they would need to be on guard for, though they¡¯d have to contend with its unrelenting fury and strength. Blessed with good hearing, he¡¯d had to satisfy himself with following the beast from afar¡ªany closer than he already was and there was the risk that it would notice him. Thankfully, its sense of smell was good, but not amazing, and it had crap night-vision. They¡¯d also found reference that its senses were liable to irritation, sending it into directionless rage and confusion when it was overwhelmed. Something they¡¯d worked into their plan of attack. Unfortunately, not all of the drake¡¯s strengths had a foil. Earth aspected as it was, its manipulation skills seemed to come as naturally to it as breathing. He¡¯d watched it shift dirt and stone casually, cutting easy trails for itself through the uneven forest floor. Hells¡ªhe¡¯d watched it take down half a dozen deer with a shower of stone shards it had ripped out of the ground and hurled through the air with the same ease he¡¯d cast one of his spell-hymns. A dangerous and lethal threat, but they had a plan. He knew where it slept. Had mapped the routes it took through the forest¡ªthe routine patrol it took every day. And every night. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Just as the moon reached its peak, the drake would rouse itself from its slumber, ambling out of its cave to wander through its territory. Kaius had followed it from afar, moving like a ghost through the trees. Without fail, the drake was only half attentive to its surroundings¡ªit¡¯s walk driven by instinct rather than true need. Without any real threats to challenge its superiority, it had grown confident and lax in its awareness. Even if he didn¡¯t quite understand why a beast with poor night vision would be driven to a nightly patrol, he wasn¡¯t going to question it. There was a gully, perhaps a half hour into its route, with steep stone sides and tree laden ridges. It walked down the middle of that path, every time. That would be the site of their battle¡ªhe¡¯d already worked with Porkchop to stack dozens of logs on each side, giving the beast plenty of time to get used to the change in its surroundings. Even if it had the manipulation skills of a true dragon, that wouldn¡¯t help it against their trap. Tomorrow night¡ªthat was when they would strike. ... Wide strokes of pink and purple painted the horizon, heralding the coming eve. Settled comfortably around the campfire, Kaius and his team enjoyed their last few hours before they had to make their way to the gully and prepare their ambush. They readied themselves. Kaius crouched by his pan, stirring a mixture of sliced meat, onions, and spices. The smell of dried thyme and frying pepper filled the air, whetting his appetite. It was a simple fair, but rich in high quality beast meat. Something that had become astoundingly cheap thanks to the considerable increase in beast cullings that had occurred since the phase shift. He¡¯d taken his time in Deadacre¡¯s markets, relying on his nose to point him towards cuts that smelt of vigour, alertness, and quick reactions¡ªthings they¡¯d need if they wanted to seize their victory against the primaeval monster that had made this patch of wilderness its home. That time shared its worth now. As his dish sizzled and steamed against the enchanted metal of his Traveller¡¯s Pan, waves of alchemical power washed over him. The smell of a battle of dominance, a bloody and battered victor standing tall, joined with the rushing zap of pursuit¡ªthe scent of a stomach dropping well of energy that revealed itself when things were most dire. It would be nothing compared to something a true chef''s class could make¡ªExplorer¡¯s Toolkit was a fantastic skill, but cooking was only a small part of its greater whole, and could not hold a candle to the true majesties that could be crafted by those who devoted themselves to the art. But even subtle, the boost would be long lasting, and he wanted them to have every edge they could get. ¡°Have you organised our tonics?¡± Kaius asked, looking to Ianmus out of the corner of his eye. Ianmus nodded, placing down the last few bottles into three distinct piles. The first was simple¡ªthree potions that they would douse themselves in, eliminating all of their scent for a full day. A necessary precaution against the drake¡¯s sense of smell, even if the risks were only minor. They¡¯d also managed to acquire some quickfire¡ªan alchemical solution that would spread widely, and burn hot and long. A match to ignite the tinder that would be waiting, and would heighten the flames to an unnatural inferno. Thankfully, the drake was not a true dragon, or even a direct relative¡ªit would have little of those beast¡¯s resistance to mundane elements. He only wished it was less expensive¡ªthey¡¯d been limited to only a couple of bottles of the powerful alchemical solution. They¡¯d also invested in a bigger potion pouch for himself, and another for Ianmus as well. His new one wrapped from the back of his left hip, all the way around to his stomach. Unfortunately, it wasn¡¯t enchanted¡ªthey didn¡¯t have the funds for that expense¡ªbut each compartment was made of thick steel plating wrapped in a heavy oak-tanned leather.Even without inscriptions, the crafter who¡¯d made the thing had been skilled. Thanks to the care that had been put into it, it had a single level of Durability despite its mundane materials. It¡¯d take a mean hit to damage it. With a new capacity of twenty, he¡¯d be carrying a full ten health restoration tonics, six stamina restoratives, one of mana, and a final three tonics that would provide a short lived but potent boost to their speed and strength¡ªfor if their plan failed. It was a lot¡ªbut it was for both him and Porkchop. Ianmus had his own reserves, though his tonics differed significantly. Only two health and one stamina restorative, but six mana tonics, and a potion that would boost his speed significantly for a substantial length¡ªa last resort if he drew the ire of the drake. That wasn¡¯t all¡ªon top of the quickfire they¡¯d be using for their ambush, they¡¯d secured two additional tonics for Ianmus to take before the start of the battle. One that would speed up his channeling for a full ten minutes, and another that would drastically increase the potency of his solar magic for three. That last one would be vital in securing their victory. He and Porkchop were strong¡ªcapable¡ªbut a drake was a drake. Even if they hammered it with everything they had, its sheer physical size would work against them. They needed something with punch. Something that could ignore the heavy plating that armoured the beast, and strike straight for the vitals that would mostly be out of his and his brother¡¯s reach. Ianmus¡¯s searing beams, backed by alchemy and the full weight of his metamagic and mana pool, would be perfect for that. Especially if the drake was pinned under a mountain of burning logs and was stunned by the full weight of his armoury of Stormlash. It was a heavy burden to place on the man, especially when he would have to balance that task with the responsibility of keeping both of them healed and empowered with Sundrenched Strength. Kaius knew that the half-elf could do it. He¡¯d proven his stalwart capability a dozen times over by now¡ªhe could trust him to do what was needed. Seeing the strips of meat in his pan had taken a dark golden hew, Kaius reached out with his mana and killed the heat. **Ding! Explorer¡¯s Toolkit has reached level 61!** Fetching the stack of plates he had left in arm''s reach, he served up a third each¡ªheaping portions that would have filled a labourer after a hard day''s work. Each plate subtly glowed to his mana sight, revealing the gentle potency held within. ¡°Eat up, we leave as soon as we¡¯re finished.¡± B2 Chapter 235: Drake, pt. 2 The night was almost pitch black, the thin waning moon providing only the barest slivers of light. Thankfully, Kaius had his Truesight, and the pervasive gloom of the forest was lit up in grey toned hues that hid nothing from his eyes. Their rush through the trees had been as fast as they could make it¡ªthere was only a few hours between when the drake retired and when it would begin its nightly patrol of its territory. A tight timeline for them to get set up and prepared. He took a final look at their preparations. A sharp rocky crevasse cut through the earth to his left like the clawmark of some titanic beast, the final remnants of some long extinguished stream. It was just barely wide enough for the drake to pass through¡ªenough space for it to manoeuvre a little, but not enough for it to turn around. They¡¯d stacked logs on each side of the crevasse, dozens of them. Hardwoods one and all¡ªmonstrous oaks and ashes that they had felled nearby. With their strength, they¡¯d been easy to cut down, and only moderately difficult to haul into place with Porkchop¡¯s help¡ªeven despite the fact that each one had been almost as thick as his chest. That hadn¡¯t been the difficulty. The only window of relative safety where they could risk the noise of felling the trees was when the drake was far away on patrol¡ªa bare handful of hours per day. Still, they¡¯d managed, and now they had a precarious pile that was ready to fall as soon as he heaved on the lever that would send them all crashing down below. If anything, the levers had been the hardest things to organise. Considering the size and weight of the stacked logs, they¡¯d spent hours finding branches that were long and stout enough to work. Porkchop was on the other side of the rent in the forest floor behind his own pile, the white ruff around his neck standing out starkly as he peered through the darkness¡ªmeeting Kaius¡¯s eyes. Kaius gave his brother a hungry look, his anticipation of the coming conflict mirrored in the emotions that flooded from Porkchop across their bond. His heart thumped, blood ablaze with the promise of future glory. Heavy cracking thumps echoed through the darkness, night birds taking flight as they were shaken from their roosts. It was growing close. Moving away from the logs, he moved towards the sheltered treeline and gave Ianmus a nod as he entered the range of his darkvision amulet. No words were shared¡ªit felt almost sacrilegious to break the silence, even if there was still little risk of their prey overhearing a few quiet whispers. Ianmus reached into his belt, drawing out their flasks of quickfire, ready to light an alchemically supercharged pyre atop the drake¡¯s hide. Returning to the logs, Kaius kept watch of the drake¡¯s trail path¡ªit would have been easy to think of them as fully fledged roads, if they weren¡¯t strewn with the shattered remnants of broken branches and pulped undergrowth. Eventually, he saw it, and time seemed to slow. A monster of myth, a horror conjured from a child''s nightmare. It was his first time seeing it so close, and the only thing he could feel was awe. It was a living weapon, honed in the brutal warfields of the wilds¡ªa conqueror who had known no defeat. The confidence¡ªthe unflappable security in its own strength¡ªexuded from its very pores. Whatever hellhole it had crawled out from, it was certain that it sat at the very pinnacle of this little slice of the plains. Unfortunate, since tonight was the night it would learn how mistaken it truly was. Lumbering stomps carried it forwards, the full length of the creature emerging from the trees. Its grasping claws were held close to its chest, while backward-kneed legs flexed to propel its bulk forwards. Kaius analyzed it. Lesser Stone Drake - Level 107 Beast, Pseudo-Dragon, Magical, Brawler It was one thing to know that it was nearly as tall as the siege ogre that they had slain in the depths, and another entirely to feel the full weight of its presence brought to bear. A titanic physicality that he would never be able to match, with instinctive affinity abilities as well? There was no wonder that most people left pseudo-draconids well enough alone. Even for a normal team of equal level, it would be a pyrrhic victory at best. They weren¡¯t a normal team. There was no fear within him. No trepidation at the hungering death that watched on from the hells. Only liquid fire, his body rousing as he understood the enormity of their task. Pupils dilated, senses honing as he drank in every facet¡ªprocessed in full by his Glass Mind as he turned the total weight of his attention to the approaching monster. Flexing the fingers of his sword hand, Kaius grasped the long lever they had readied on their trap as the drake continued on, making its way slowly into the crevasse below. Loose gravel crunched under its feet as soft soil gave way to stone¡ªstray chips pulverised to dust under its weight. Every stride it moved felt like it took an eternity. A relentless procession of agonising impatience and anticipation. Until, finally, it was in position. ¡°NOW!¡± Kaius screamed through his bond, pulling down on his lever with all of his system-backed strength. At first it felt like the logs wouldn¡¯t move¡ªtoo stable under the pressure and weight of the stack. It set Kaius¡¯s teeth on edge, their window would only be a handful of seconds. His heart nearly fell out his chest in relief as a terrible groan echoed through the trees a moment later, roughly hewn logs scraping against each other as their precarious stability was shattered. Porkchop¡¯s stack joined his own a bare moment later. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. They fell, hitting the rocky wall of the cut in the earth, bouncing back out to rain down carefully prepared fury on the drake below. Beady eyes looked up, trying and failing to pierce the gloom as a soul-rattling roar tore its way free of its throat¡ªa challenge noticed a moment too late. The first of the logs smacked the drake in the jaw, point first. Bone shuddered with a creek that left Kaius¡¯s skin crawling. It fell prone, dazed by the sudden ferocity of their assault. The deadly rain kept falling¡ªtonnes of wood burying the drake. Enough weight that even a draconid would struggle to free themselves. Only its long neck and head was free¡ªeverything else entombed under what would hopefully become the drake¡¯s grave. It wasn¡¯t dead, Kaius could see the shuddering of its neck as it breathed, the way its jaw shifted under its scales, slowly realigning its jaw. He cast Slip Step, kicking off the ground as the world lost its hold on him. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Aelina has reached level 68!** Reality shifted around him, each step sending him long-strides further than it should have. Ripping his blade from its sheath, Kaius leaned on his quick senses and deft body, leaping from jutting rock to jutting rock as he flew down the side of the crevasse. Halfway down, he kicked off, soaring towards the drake¡¯s limp head. Drawing A Father¡¯s Gift up, he readied to plunge his sword into its eye. The strength of his soul flooded his blade, enchantments empowered beyond reasonable belief as he used Initiate¡¯s Bladerite. **Ding! Initiate¡¯s Glyphic Bladerite has reached level 47!** It almost proved to be his undoing. Light flashed within the smokey crystal of his fuller, sigils burning with empowered vigour. The glimmer cut through the drake¡¯s haze, Kaius watching its eyes widen. There was nothing he could do¡ªno force he could enact to change his terminal flight to its rousing maw. Right as he blade was about to punch through the beast¡¯s fist sized black orb, the drake lurched, yanking its head to the side. The tip of Kaius¡¯s blade punched through a gap in the toughened scales on the top of its head, but skittered off its reinforced skull and glanced to the side. A booming hiss rattled out from the beast¡¯s cracked chest. Lurching up, the drake¡¯s mouth snapped open¡ªas quick as a bullwhip as it tried to snatch him from the air. Kaius reacted. He kicked off the bony ridge of its upper lip¡ªlegs burning as he forced as much strength through them as possible. Shooting back, he just barely managed to avoid the follow up clack of its teeth as the drake tried to punish his retreat, Slip Step carrying him further than the beast anticipated. **Ding! Uncanny Dodge has reached level 59!** **Ding! Latent Glyph of Aelina has reached level 69!** **Ding! Tempered by Dissonance has reached level 57!** Bright white banished the night, a writhing snake of stunning pain and screaming energy summoned into Kaius¡¯s hand. He smote the beast, a wrist thick streamer of lightning wrapping itself around the drake¡¯s neck. Storm mana and the vibrational force of Resonance Amplification pumped into its system, circumventing the might of its armoured scales. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Drakthar has reached level 79!** The drake snapped its head up, its neck tensing uncontrollably. Kaius¡¯s feet touched the stone of the crevasse floor, and he rushed back¡ªretreating from the range at which the beast could threaten him with its arm length fangs. Porkchop arrived a moment later¡ªforced to circle round to the end of the short gully in a mad sprint thanks to his inability to descend its steep edge. He was garbed in his armour¡ªresplendent and mighty under the weight of dozens of crystal slabs. The changes to his summoned equipment had forged him into an unshakeable fortress. Where before it had only just covered his chest, upper back, and head, now everything except his back legs were wrapped in seamless overlapping heavy-plate. It was an intimidating sight, especially as his new helm covered his eyes and ears completely¡ªhis senses untouched by dint of system backed magic. Only his jaw remained free to bite and tear, and even then, a triangular plate was affixed to the bottom of it. ¡°Fire coming!¡± Ianmus¡¯s warning call sounded from above, two glass bottles careening through the air shortly after. They hit the pile of wood directly above where the drake was buried, shattering on impact. Oily liquid splashed, spreading far further than was possible without alchemical miracles. Everywhere it touched, an inferno was ignited. Even fresh and damp, the logs went up in seconds¡ªthe night beaten back into the flickering shadows thrown off by the hungering flames. The drake roared, heaving in a mindless panic against the crushing weight, trying to escape the scorching flames that kissed its flesh. Kaius saw the tell tale glow of solar mana coalescing up above, Ianmus beginning to channel. They only had to hold it for a few minutes. Kaius saw his brother plunge his claws into the earth¡ªa Prismatic Shardwall erupted from the stone. Hurled forwards through tortured earth, it crashed into the drake¡¯s snout, shattering scales and spraying blood from its injured nose. Kaius dashed to the side, the world sliding around him as Porkchop followed up his assault with a roar, Bulwark¡¯s Challenge forcing the drake''s attention on him. He doubted the compulsion would last long, not against a drake, but it was enough. The beast was left open. Only then did he see the building mana emanating from the beast¡ªsufusing the stone beneath the piled logs. Kaius¡¯s eyes widened¡ªhe had to interrupt the spell before it could free itself. Landing by the crevasse wall, he tapped into his stormlash. Their whole battleplan relied on crippling¡ªif not killing¡ªthe beast before it could recover from their initial assault. The longer it took to free itself from the pyre they had built, the worse its wounds would be. A prime example of an apex predator it may have been, but its Health was still limited¡ªespecially at a level of one-oh-seven. When its healing was shot, it would die just as easily as anything else. He¡¯d come into this battle with twenty-nine casts of Stormlash, and ten of Yellia¡¯s Slip Step. Kaius burned every lash he has, one after the other. Thundercracks blurred together as lash after lash fell upon the descendant of fables, the gully cast in a white glow as he burned the drake out from within. Smoke rose, and blood poured¡ªinterior organs and vessels rupturing from the continuing reverberations of his assault. His ears rang, and his mind ached, as Kaius emptied nearly his entire pool in seconds. Even with most of the tension being managed by his glyph, it was a strenuous thing. The channels in his hand and wrist aching under the tension of over two dozen spells cast back to back with only moments to aim between. He leaned on his will and intent, head throbbing as he directed the crackling arcs to bind the creature''s throat¡ªdoing his best to concentrate the damage on as small an area as possible. The drake slumped into a smoking heap, the bonefire it was buried under growing larger by the second. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Drakthar has reached level 80!** ... **Ding! Latent Glyph of Drakthar has reached level 86!** **Ding! Resonance Amplification has reached level 64!** ... **Ding! Resonance Amplification has reached level 65!** B2 Chapter 236: Drake, pt. 3 B2 Chapter 236: Drake, pt. 3 Runeblade Leashed lightning faded, the white light of dawn retreating from the forest gully. In the flickering orange light of the raging flames, Kaius saw the devastation he had wrought. Blackened scales peeled back from weeping flesh¡ªclear fluid dripping from the cauterised ring that circled the beast¡¯s neck. A moment later the drake recovered from his onslaught and roared. Battered and bleeding, charred and smoking, it called its defiance to the heavens above. The cry of hatred and fury was immense¡ªa physical weight that pressed on them from all sides. The forest woke to a nightmare, its more humble inhabitants calling out their panic as the angered cries of their king threw them into terror. Heaving up against the weight and burning pain that had it pinned, the drake tried to free itself from the burning weight of the logs that held it down¡ªbut its bones had been shattered, its body too broken to fight against the weight. Cutting off its fury with a snap of its person-sized jaws, the drake turned its oversized head to level Kaius with a baleful gaze. A pinned arm twitched, and a stone the size of his head ripped itself free from the ground, a crack echoing through their surroundings. Slaved to the drake¡¯s will, it shot forwards¡ªracing straight for Kaius. He dodged, slipping through space with another cast of Slip Step¡ªPorkchop was quicker. His brother snarled and raced in, smashing the rock off course with a heavy barge of his shoulder. It cracked against the jade plate, spinning off to shatter against the edge of the cliff. Kaius raced in, refusing to allow the drake to batter them unimpeded. He held his blade steady in an inside-guard, pommel tucked into the pit of his arm, ready to parry any further stone projectiles. Porkchop followed close on his tail, shielding his right from assault. He missed a shard of stone that rose behind him. Only a fraction of a moment after a portent of death screamed out in his mind, a last minute flicker into the space between worlds saved him as a spike as thick as his wrist shot through the ghost of his sternum. **Ding! Uncanny Dodge has reached level 60!** ... **Ding! Uncanny Dodge has reached level 62!** **Ding! Latent Glyph of Aelina has reached level 70!** Whitening at the narrowly avoided doom, Kaius continued his charge¡ªkeeping one eye behind him as he spun around a half dozen follow up shots, his blade burring in an adamant defense. Enough for his vambraces to fully charge. **Ding! Tempered by Dissonance has reached level 58!** ... **Ding! Tempered by Dissonance has reached level 59!** Covering his rear, Porkchop intercepted a dozen more¡ªthe shards shattering against his defense, leaving spider-webbing cracks in the jade. Through the haze of motion, he saw Ianmus above. A storm of golden mana surrounded him, brow furrowed in concentration as he wove a series of overlapping decagons. Kaius grinned at the sight¡ªhe¡¯d shared all he could about sacred geometry, and it was a joy to see the half-elf put the knowledge into practice with such ease. Landing next to the beast¡¯s neck, Kaius felt the searing heat of the burning logs radiating on his face. He attacked immediately with a thrust. Cutting through the air with unerring accuracy, he aimed for the thin and pale scales on its throat¡ªhalf of them scoured away completely, leaving only a devastation of meat in the wake of his electrical assault. His blade punched in, hot draconic blood spraying like a geyser from the wound. Droplets sizzled as they landed on the bonfire that raged above and around the drake. It snapped its jaws, narrowly missing Kaius as he danced back, before it suddenly hurled itself to the side. The display of power was not without reason, as its bulk shifted enough to resettle the logs that had buried it. Opening up just enough space for one of its long and muscular arms to be free. Claws two-thirds as long as his sword cut through the air, racing straight for him. An echoing cry cut through the crackle of the flames, and the drake''s own growl, as Porkchop hammered the beast with another Bulwark¡¯sChallenge. With its attention forcibly removed from him, Kaius slipped under the swipe of its claws, and infused his blade with stamina. Sigils glowed with the majesty of his Bladerite; Kaius tapped into the well of energy held within his vambraces. He slashed, the crystalline edge of his blade biting deep into the drake¡¯s ruined throat. Muscles parted and searing blood painted the stone below in a wave¡ªthe gully filled with the scent of battle and war. **Ding! Initiate¡¯s Glyphic Bladerite has reached level 48!** Alas, he didn¡¯t cut deep enough. Neither its airway, nor its arteries were severed, the additional power from his vambraces lacking against a creature of such power. He turned through his strike¡ªleaving the drake with the parting gift of a stab that punched deep¡ªbefore he was forced to dance back as two walls of stone smashed together where he had just been standing. Fleet he may have been, the drake was faster. When its instinctive magic failed, it followed up with a backhanded smash, instinctive alarm flooding Kaius a moment before it struck. He heeded the warning of Uncanny Dodge immediately, but he was caught all the same. The backs of claws built like steel beams crushed through his hastily raised defense, a ward too weak to fend off a psuedo-draconid. **Ding! Tempered by Dissonance has reached level 60!** ... **Ding! Tempered by Dissonance has reached level 62!** Tumbling through the air, Kaius thought for a moment that he¡¯d managed to avoid injury¡ªthe force of breaking through his guard enough to send him airborne. Suffocating agony disabused him of that notion a moment later¡ªhis lungs screaming as he failed to draw breath thanks to a chest that had crushed like an egg. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. His health dropped like a stone, restorative energy burning to reknit muscle, mend bone, and seal torn blood vessels. Rapid Adaptation did not leave wanting¡ªthe skill roaring as his mind stayed clear despite the sickening pops of his chest reinflating. A snap rang out as he hit the ground hard, left elbow popping from his socket as it hyperextended on impact. Rolling backwards, it was whole by the time he came to his feet¡ªbleeding momentum in a long backwards side. **Ding! Lesser Regeneration has reached level 68!** ... **Ding! Lesser Regeneration has reached level 69!** **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has reached level 87!** Kaius bared his teeth at the drake, tasting the iron remnants of his wounds in his mouth. Off hand dropping to his belt, he pulled free a restorative¡ªroiling red held in a square glass vial. It tasted of scabbed wounds and restful nights, his lifesaving Health jumping back to almost full. **Ding! You have imbibed a tonic: Minor Healing Dreams** A glance upwards showed a storm of mana whirling around Ianmus¡ªhe was almost done, they just needed to give him a little more time. Unfortunately, he wasn¡¯t fully recovered yet¡ªLesser Regeneration was powerful, but it wasn¡¯t a miracle skill. He¡¯d only be a liability if he rushed in. Porkchop was already on it¡ªhis brother was a typhoon, an unrelenting storm of claws and stalwart fortitude. No matter what hell the drake dished out, Porkchop refused to back down¡ªswiping claws from a beast thrice his size crunching against plates of sacred jade. His brother¡¯s style was evident¡ªthe way he would throw himself into attacks before they could be fully brought to bare, angling his body so that the blows fell ineffectively on the thickest armour across his shoulders and upper back. Cracked and chipped, the jade plates held strong¡ªsuffering abuse uncountable as they saved Porkchop from greater injury. For every blow his brother took, he returned one in kind. Green sickles carved through the comparatively fragile scales on the underside of the drakes jaw and throat, leaving deep furrows that wept the beast¡¯s precious life blood. ¡°Ready!¡± Ianmus screamed, a golden storm raging around him, just barely held stable by his will and experience. Porkchop reacted instantly. A wall of jade sprouted from the earth, smashing the drake''s head back and obscuring its vision. Porkchop retreated, creating room. Ianmus unleashed devastation. It was like a war god had descended. A lance, as bright as the sun, imposed itself upon reality. So luminous that even his Truesight was momentarily overwhelmed, his vision dominated by a white gash in reality brought forth by Ianmus¡¯s demands for the drake¡¯s death. A terrible scream of tortured wind emanated from the beam in a wave, and the air reeked of the coming storm as the violent heat tore at its surroundings, the spell overwhelming all senses at once. Even the very heat of it. It scorched him¡ªfine hairs on Kaius¡¯s face curling under the intensity. As the afterimages faded, Kaius was treated to the sight of the drake lying limp¡ªa smoking hole in the middle of its skull. The spell had carved straight through it, leaving a glowing pool of slowly cooling molten rock on the floor of the crevasse. But there was no ding. No kill notification. Its chest rose weakly¡ªfluttering under their myriad offensive¡ªand its wounds writhed agonisingly slowly. The creature¡¯s brain had been boiled, exposed to the world, and its Health was failing. Weak, and ailing. But not dead. Somehow, some way, the drake had survived. For a moment it was all Kaius could do to stand rooted to the spot, staring at it in disbelief. No matter what they had read, what they had been told, the truth of the jealous grip it held on life was only now becoming real to him now that he was forced to contend with it head on. It didn¡¯t make any sense. There was a bloody hole in its gods¡¯ damned brain! How was it still living? A shudder passed through its body¡ªthe many agonies of its wounds revealing themselves in a scream of such potent hatred that Kaius half expected his own Health to start dropping. Bending the world to its will, the ground shuddered, a wave of stone and earth emanating from the drake like ripples from a pond. It kicked Kaius into the air¡ªthe shaking ground ruining his footing. Burning logs rolled free, dislodged by the drake''s sudden magic. It heaved against the remainders, putting its titanic might to work. Lumbering and slow¡ªthe arm and leg on its left side limp and half-useless¡ªit rose in a shower of sparks and embers. Crippled as it was, it just barely managed to crawl out of the inferno, revealing the extent of its injuries. The scale and flesh along its back had been scoured clean by purifying fire¡ªrevealing blackened bones to the world. Scorched muscle contracted, working to keep the beast moving. Half of its jaw hung lip and useless¡ªsword-like teeth poking free from behind dead lips. Dozens of rents had been opened on its ruined throat, his blade and Porkchop¡¯s claws taking their pound of flesh after his barrage of Stormlash had peeled back its defenses. It was dying, that much was clear. But even dying, it was still a drake¡ªand even a rat was at its most dangerous when cornered. With fire at its back, in a crevasse too tight for it to turn, it only had one thin hope to survive. Going through them. ... Snapping his hand to his waist, Kaius pulled free a pair of tonics. He tossed one to his brother, who snatched it from the air and shattered the glass in his jaws. Kaius ripped his own cork free with his teeth, downing the thick orange liquid within. It hit his tongue with the force of a kicking stallion, his eyes going bloodshot as raw power smashed its way through his veins. It was a heady taste¡ªthe stench of physical superiority overwhelming his senses as it burned its way down his throat. **Ding! You have imbibed a Tonic: Tiger Blood** Tossing his bottle to the side, the square bottle seemed to glide lazily through the air at half speed as the enhancement hit his system with an almost feverish and septic heat. The drake growled, each motion exaggerated as his heart started hammering on the inside of his ribs. Streams of energy leached from the tonic in his stomach, suffusing his bones and flesh¡ªa clarion call that demanded action. With the power, came instinct¡ªa familiar one, enflamed to new heights. The rushing joy of weakening prey, and the cold focus of a patient hunter settled over him like a cloak¡ªwrapping him tight in their embrace. His Glass Mind raced¡ªleaning on the support of his skills to plan his assault. The drake was weak and ailing¡ªExplorer¡¯s Toolkit sensed vulnerabilities everywhere. The gaping hole in its head had left the right side of its body weak and deadened, its moves slow and ungainly. Its physical superiority had been utterly removed from the board. Magic would be the real problem. From what he could see, most of the creature''s bloodline skills seemed to be related to its earth manipulation¡ªeither meta magic, or sorcery. Instinctive as its casting was, those would have been left relatively untouched, even by the wound that had burned the radiance from its eyes, leaving them dull and unfocused. Still, even if he doubted that it had any other tricks up its sleeves¡ªthe situation had grown dire enough that even a beast as dimwitted as the drake would have used them by now¡ªhe wouldn¡¯t take any chances. He pulled on his bond, melding close as he readied himself for his assault. Porkchop would keep him safe, and he would hammer the drake''s wounds¡ªeither he¡¯d kill it, or buy Ianmus enough time for another beam. Blue motes of light erupted from his feet, Aelina glowing as he cast a Slip Step. B2 Chapter 237: Drake, Finale B2 Chapter 237: Drake, Finale Kaius flickered in and out of the world as he charged towards the drake, his brother at his side and a screaming challenge on his lips. It was in a dire state. Half its body had been left paralysed and numb from the smoking canal that Ianmus had bored through its skull, blood poured from a dozen sword and claw wounds, and its back had been scorched until its ribs and spine had been bared to the world. Reacting to their advance, the drake raked its good arm against the crevasse floor¡ªa boulder ripped itself free of the stone, hurtling straight towards Kaius. Large as a pumpkin, if it landed he would be left shattered and broken. He didn¡¯t dodge, trusting in the bond he had forged with his brother. A Prismatic Wall tore across the gully, the thick slab swatting the projectile out of the air like a fly. It shattered against sacred jade, shards of stone shrapnel dousing the surrounding area. **Ding! Brotherhood of Ichor and Animus has reached level 80!** ... **Ding! Brotherhood of Ichor and Animus has reached level 82!** Porkchop roared, pulling the beast¡¯s attention to him with a Bulwark¡¯s Challenge. It snarled, showering his brother in a hail of fine tipped shards. They shattered like glass on Porkchop¡¯s armour¡ªa grunt leaving his chest as jade plates cracked under the force of the impact. Halfway to the drake, a golden glow settled around Porkchop and himself¡ªthe warmth of the sun soothing the burn of his fatigue. His health shot up, capping quickly as Ianmus¡¯s spell restored his reserves. **Ding! You have been healed: Solar Manipulation!** Kaius risked a glance to his teammate on the ridge, finding Ianmus already locked in focus¡ªthe tell tale sign of solar mana infused with the sparking energy of his meta magic roiling around him. The mage started to weave, threads of mana forming another complex geometric sigil centred on the tip of his staff. Another beam. Arriving at the drake with another two steps, Kaius ducked under a clumsy swipe of its sword-length claws, before he flashed from his mid-guard into an upwards parry¡ªknocking away a fast moving shard of stone that had been racing for his head. **Ding! Tempered by Dissonance has reached level 63!** Stepping through the skin of the world, he halted under the drake¡¯s chest¡ªright where its wagon sized body met its thick neck. Porkchop unleashed another roar, keeping the drake focused on him as he cracked its jaw with a fast moving wall of jade, rushing in behind the obstruction to claw at its face. With the beast occupied, Kaius tapped into his Bladerite, feeling another chunk of his stamina bleed into his sword. It was low enough he¡¯d need a restorative soon. Burning with inner light, Kaius rammed his blade upwards¡ªtowards where he knew the beast¡¯s heart to be. Thin though the scales on its underside may have been, they weren¡¯t weak. A Father¡¯s Gift sunk in a handspan, blood running down the fuller of his sword as a pained growl resonated down its length. Ripping his weapon free, Kaius forced more stamina through his bound weapon, fire burning on its sigils once more. He rammed his blade home¡ªrepeating the action again when his second strike wasn¡¯t enough. **Ding! Initiates Glyphic Bladerite has reached level 49!** It sunk to the hilt on his third, a high pressure spray of blood coating him in scarlet. Pivoting through his hips, Kaius punched the side of his hilt with an open palm¡ªlevering the tip of his sword deep within the drake¡¯s chest, widening the internal wounds. **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo has reached level 67!** **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo has reached level 68!** Extracting his sword¡ªdusky glass coated a bright red¡ªKaius rushed away with the last few steps of his spell. A potion that tasted of grass and a dozen cooked meals washed down his throat¡ªsoothing energy refilling his Stamina. **Ding! You have imbibed a tonic: Restful Splendour** Porkchop kept the pressure on, carving his way through fire-weakened scales to tear into the delicate flesh beneath. Blood poured from the wound in its heart by the gallon, and the withering damage of their flaming ambush had left it burnt to the bone. They just needed to play it safe now. The drake howled¡ªanguish and spite ringing clear through the gloomy half-light. Mana surged within it, and it snapped its head forward in a final burst of vigour. Stone ran like water, moulding to the outside of its jaw¡ªa second set of fangs, imbued and empowered by draconic fury. Porkchop tapped into his amulet, launching himself straight at the beast. He smashed its jaw shut with a lowered shoulder¡ªjade shattering the weakening drake¡¯s skill like glass. Reeling and stunned, the beast had no recourse as his brother plunged his claws into its eyes¡ªgrabbing a firm grip on its sockets. In an awe-inspiring display of strength, Porkchop reared up on his back legs before he muscled the drake¡¯s head down¡ªsnarling as he wrenched it to the side, baring its throat. Seeing the moment was here, Ianmus acted. His spell, two thirds charged, was cast prematurely. Only a fraction of the might of his previous assault, but still more than potent enough. With needle fine precision, he threaded his attack into the gaping hole he had bored with his earlier attack¡ªangle adjusted so that it burned straight down the drake¡¯s neck. Blinding luminance erupted from the flesh of its throat only moments before the lance of light cut straight through into the stone below. Somehow, its vitality held. The drake was still standing. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Porkchop solved that a moment later¡ªweathering a storm of stone shrapnel as a dozen wounds wept on his undefended flank, he sent a wall of jade straight into the beast¡¯s remaining good leg. Swept off its feet, it crashed to the ground. A hiss of agony slipped from its throat¡ªblood foaming at the edge. Kaius flashed to his brother''s side, another cast of Slip Step granting him the fleet footing he needed. With the head of the drake pinned, he leapt onto its skull¡ªblade held ready. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Aelina has reached level 72!** Rushing to the point of the injury of Ianmus¡¯s first beam, Kaius peered deep into his skull. A shocking sight¡ªall blackened flesh and ashen bone. He could see now that the drake had only survived by dint of its own lacking intelligence. Its braincase¡ªsmall and recessed deep in layers of boney defences, had only just been nicked by his teammate¡¯s spell¡ªthe deepest defences burnt black, but unbroken. The lameness it had experienced had been due to residual heat alone. But scorched bone was brittle. Another Bladerite filled his sword with vigour, and Kaius plunged it home. Backed by his weight and the full might of his strength, the remnants of the drake¡¯s skull shattered. Two strides of steel and crystal slammed home. **Ding! Initiate¡¯s Bladerite has reached level 50!** The drake stiffened, and still didn¡¯t die. Losing control of more of its body, the drake slashed at Porkchop with a final desperate swing of its claws. Porkchop took it over his spine, grunting as the weight of the heavy hit sank through his armour. Kaius kicked off, the sudden movement threatening to take his legs out from under him. Touching the ground, he raced in, carving into the drake¡¯s flesh with cut after cut. Porkchop did the same, his claws tearing strips of muscle and gristle free. With its brain ruined, the beast had lost all control over its body¡ªunable to muster even the slightest defence. Lances of sunlight rained from above two at a time¡ªinvisible to the naked eye as Ianmus shifted them to a more potent form. They were but a candle to his earlier attacks, but they scoured the drake¡¯s body¡ªburning into every wound that had removed its armoured scales. By the time the drake finally expired, it looked like a week-old corpse¡ªbones exposed from the hungry jaws of questing scavengers. **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo has reached level 69!** ... **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo has reached level 70!** **Ding! level 107 Lesser Earth Drake - Despot of Stone slain - Experience Gained! Bonus Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 60!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** ... **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 74!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** **Ding! Class skill available for selection!** Kaius stood a dozen long-strides back from the slowly cooling beast, quietly reveling in their victory under the flickering light of the burning logs as his heart slowly returned to a normal pace. Porkchop padded over, sitting beside him as he looked over the battered remains of their slain foe with a concerned eye. ¡°Something tells me Ro isn¡¯t going to be happy about this.¡± Kaius groaned. He didn¡¯t even want to think about it. ... Ingle¡¯s nerve nearly broke when the dragon had lumbered out of the trees. But she hadn¡¯t¡ªcouldn¡¯t. You didn¡¯t take a job for Grave-eye and not see it through, that was a good way to get your stiff tossed in the gutters. Pompous maniac he might have been, but he paid well, and life in the city was getting expensive. It was supposed to be an easy job¡ªnothing too distasteful, the bastard had said. Just follow a few delvers, let him know what they got up to, and how strong of a beast they were fighting. So she¡¯d watched their camp, and followed them into the trees when they¡¯d gone for their final assault. From a good distance, of course¡ªwhat good was a tracking and surveillance class if you couldn¡¯t find out everything you needed from three leagues away. She¡¯d scaled a tree¡ªa big one on a hill¡ªand had watched them set up around their little deadfall ambush. A reasonable plan, she thought. They¡¯d definitely prepared for whatever they were planning to do. Then a fucking drake had lumbered out of the woods. A dragon. An actual fucking dragon. It made her reevaluate everything¡ªhow dangerous could one criminal be?! By the grace of Kaand and all who took their fate into their own hands, she was Steel! At worst she could flee to another city, no one could handle the wilds like her. Even with all the beasts all it would cost her was a little time. Then she remembered that small stack of platinum that Grave-eye had placed on his hideous desk. Just three pieces¡ªbut that was enough to get her some new gear. Enough that she could gain a few more levels, and stay on top of this shitstorm of chaos that had fallen on them half a year ago. Still, she¡¯d readied herself to flee. A dragon, just barely lower level than she was. Whatever Grave-eye wanted with them, he¡¯d be disappointed, because they were going to get eaten alive. That kind of threat was for Silver, not a bunch of no names. From what she¡¯d been able to sniff out, they were as green as spring shoots. No way, no way in all the hells would they be surviving this. What on earth was the guild thinking. It couldn¡¯t be a sanctioned mission¡ªthe rumour mill would have been on fire if a dragon had hit the questboard. They were doomed. And when they died, she would be stuck in a forest with a pissed off dragon. Even the knowledge there was no possible way it would know she was here, that she would be able to sneak free after the delvers sudden and violent demise, wasn¡¯t enough to make her feel comfortable. It was only the memory of that silver sheen of three little coins that stayed her hands. Kept her steady as she held onto the gently swaying trunk. So she waited, and she watched. And chaos reigned. Beams that turned night into day, the fury of a storm summoned at a moments notice, and a beast fighting in crystal armour. The crushing beatdown that the delvers handed out should have steadied her nerves¡ªmade her comfortable that the job would be finished soon, with no uncomfortable hiccups to explain to the ill tempered fop playing gangster. It didn¡¯t. All Ingle felt was fear. Fear, when the mage burned the dragon from the inside out. Fear, when the strange hybrid summoned the might of the Stormlord without a second of channeling¡ªlike he was blessed by the god himself. Fear, when the warbeast wrestled the dragon to the ground¡ªpinning it with strength of arm alone. Dragonslayers. Heroes from song. Living myths, with impossible strengths. Power beyond their levels, might beyond reason. And here she was, about to sell them out for a little coin. B2 Chapter 238: Fourth Skill B2 Chapter 238: Fourth Skill Kaius reveled in the rush of strength that welled up from his soul¡ªand the joy at having seized his next skill. He took a moment to just let it wash over him, eyes drifting closed as the sensations of his body being remoulded and shaped according to the system¡¯s will coursed through him from the top of his head to the tips of his toes. Fifteen levels¡ªan immense achievement for a single battle by any reasonable means, but not his greatest. The pleasure of having his capability grow by leaps and bounds in a single confrontation was a transient one. He knew that much. As the system¡¯s demands grew with each level up, their growth would slow faster than they would be able to keep up. It was a simple fact of life. Even if their rate of growth outstripped their common foes, eventually they would simply not be able to fight¡ªor potentially even find¡ªthings of a high enough level to secure them the experience they needed. They would need monsters by the bucket full to gain even a single level. Even with the increase in beasts, simply finding enough monsters that presented them a suitable challenge would be difficult. It was an inevitable grind that eventually forced all serious climbers back into the arms of the depths. Dangerous, risky, and lengthy delves might be, but they were rewarding beyond measure. A consistent source of monsters¡ªboth in volume and in challenge, thanks to Champions¡ªthat would serve as the true fuel to their ascension. Thankfully, that day was not today. So Kaius stood quietly, and enjoyed the feeling of having the strength of his body and mind redoubled. The moment passed¡ªthe joyful rush of levelling leaving peace and contentment in its wake. Opening his eyes to the ruined body of the drake, Kaius sighed at the state of its wounds. A solid third of its hide had been scorched to the point of uselessness¡ªlet alone the gallons of valuable blood that had spilled on the earth below. Still, with its size there was plenty of material left¡ªhopefully it would still be worth plenty of coin, and hopefully Ro wouldn¡¯t be too annoyed with them. Though, the more he thought about that, the less likely it had seemed. She was one of the ones who had impressed upon them that they should fight smart¡ªit would be a little hypocritical to lambast them for doing exactly that. Somehow he doubted they would escape a ribbing though, even if it was light-hearted. Walking forward, he crouched down by the creature''s leg. The thick muscle there was still warm¡ªand would no doubt make a good post-battle meal, thanks to their unintentional blooding of the carcass. Unfortunately, his knife would be a poor option for cutting through its scales. ¡°Mind cutting some of this out for me? I doubt my knife is up to the job, and a sword is a bit awkward.¡± Kaius asked, craning his neck to look to Porkchop. ¡°Sure,¡± Porkchop replied, his expression clearing as Kaius¡¯s question shook him from his own leveling revelry. Porkchop wandered over. Using a single claw, he carved a slab free from the drake. Kaius snatched it up with glee, looking at the faint radiant glow still present in the meat. Few could say they had eaten a dragon, even one so far removed from their primogenitors as a lesser drake. During their research on the beast, he¡¯d spent some of his spare time looking into accounts of meals made with their remains. Supposedly, all draconic creatures were supposed to have a refining effect on your base physicality¡ªthe reason for the expense of their meat, in addition to its rarity. For a lesser drake, the effect would be so small it may as well have been nonexistent. Even if he ate the whole damn thing he doubted it would do enough to be noticeable. Not that it would work anyway, the potency faded completely within weeks, even with spatial preservation. You¡¯d need a real draconid, not a stunted runt of a cousin of one, to see real gains. Still, that wasn¡¯t the only reason for his interest. They were supposed to taste sublime¡ªno way he was skipping out on a meal like this just for a few extra silver. Holding his prize like it was made of gold, Kaius grinned like a mad man as he walked away from the site of their battle¡ªmuch to Porkchop¡¯s amusement. Ianmus waved, already having moved to the end of the gully with their bags. Kaius hurried over¡ªeagre to get cooking, and sink his teeth into his latest skill. ... Sizzling crackles filled the air as Kaius pressed the steak into the pan, doing his best to allow the drake meat to form a dense crust. Having already activated their communication token to summon Ro, they could only wait for her arrival¡ªand the coming dawn. He¡¯d cut three steaks from the hunk that Porkchop had butchered for him, each one as thick as his wrist and twice as large. The only seasonings that he¡¯d used was salt¡ªhe wanted to get a feel for the meat by itself, before he went about adding to it. Judging by the mouthwatering scent¡ªfull of the hardy fortitude of stone¡ªit had been the right move. Satisfied that he had a good ten minutes before it needed to be flipped¡ªstrong beasts took notably longer to cook¡ªhe sat back with a satisfied sigh. Pausing for a moment, Kaius eventually looked to his team. ¡°So...who''s going first?¡± he asked. None of them had chosen their skills yet¡ªhappy to get comfortable before they went through their options as a team. ¡°You, I think. I¡¯ll go last¡ªthe reverse of our order for the rewards of the boggling mission.¡± Ianmus replied, a smile on his face. ¡°Yep¡ªit would be only fair.¡± ¡°Well, if you insist. I¡¯m not going to argue the point.¡± Kaius grinned. He pulled up his notifications immediately¡ªthree new skill options revealing themselves to him. Siege Breaker Thrust: This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Class Skill - Tier I Affinity: Martial, Arcane Type: Spellsword, Armament Technique, Armor-Piercing Selection Available! Unique I know they don¡¯t bother to tell you shit in basic, but you¡¯ll understand soon. There¡¯s a reason our armies are made up of individuals with a logistics contingent. See those Atavist shock troops? They look tough, right? Their shields may as well be city walls, for all the good our blades will do. Don¡¯t worry though, our champion will cut through their ranks like the paper soldiers they are¡ªI¡¯ve seen him drill his way through a stride of solid mythril with a single thrust. This skill allows the user to reinforce their weapon with the essence of war and magic during a single overwhelming thrust. Martial attuned mana fuels the blow with unimaginable strength, lengthening the user¡¯s range by three strides. Honed to an infinitesimal point, the condensed arcane allows the user to sunder even the most stalwart of defences. Cost: 150 mana Each level greatly increases the penetrative power of the skill. Each level significantly increases the physical force backing the skill. Every 20 levels the maximum range of the skill increases by a stride. ... Bell-toll Blitz: Class Skill - Tier I Affinity: Martial Type: Armament Technique, Longsword, Flurry Selection Available! Heroic And lo! did Jaan proclaim that with the dawn of each cycle, he would honour his mother with a cut of perfection. One for each day that had passed since the great betrayal, confined to a single, sonorous, moment. And lo! on the tenth cycle, did Jaan¡¯s enemies fall beneath a storm of swords. This skill infuses the user with the vigour of war, allowing them to attack five times in the time they would normally strike once, while maintaining their control and accuracy. Enhanced speed and strength lends the attacks a crushing might. Cost: 150 stamina Each level significantly increases the strength of the strikes. Every 25 levels, the user can make an additional attack. ... Mystic¡¯s Rend: Class Skill - Tier I Affinity: Arcane, Martial Type: Spellsword, Armament Technique, Slash Selection Available! Heroic The mystic is quiet, but they are not meek. Those that would attempt to cavort with the forbidden, or grasp what should be left fallow and forgotten, will quickly find themselves sundered by threads of the Arcane, woven into a volatile edge. Ruination upon those that forgo the wisdom of their betters. This skill allows the user to weave a gossamer thin edge of purified mana along their weapon. This edge will detonate outwards shortly after cutting a target¡ªa small shaped explosion that will inflict ruin upon their enemies and leave the user untouched. Inherently destructive and unstable, arcane mana causes everything it touches to degrade¡ªslightly aiding in piercing defenses and corroding flesh. Once formed, the arcane edge of Mystic¡¯s Rend will last for fifteen seconds before fading. The skill may be dismissed earlier at will, though it will linger for some time as it safely dissipates. Causes affliction: Arcane Blight Cost: 60 mana Each level significantly increases the size and force of the shaped detonation. Each level moderately increases the corrosive and armour penetrating effects of Arcane Blight. Each level slightly increases the length of time the skill persists. Every 50 levels the stability and efficiency of the skill grows, allowing an additional slash. Roving across the skills, Kaius¡¯s smile widened with delight. Sword techniques¡ªproper ones, unlike his Bladerite which acted more of an enhancement of his sword itself. Rattling off the descriptions to his team, Kaius turned his focus away from the waiting decision, eager to hear their thoughts. Ianmus hummed, pausing to think through the options that Kaius had shared with him. ¡°I¡¯m quite partial to that thrust skill¡ªit sounds singularly focused on dealing with highly armoured opponents. It would fill a hole in your kit.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Kaius replied, tilting his head at the mage in surprise. One skill was a clear standout, in his mind. At least, for him personally¡ªhe could see how each of them would be beneficial to others with different general skills, and a different approach to combat. He was leaning to Mystic¡¯s Rend¡ªit filled a hole in his arsenal handedly, and the explosive effect called to him. It sounded like it would do the most to increase the actual damage he could leverage with his blade. After all¡ªhe struggled with leaving lasting wounds with his sword alone. A forceful explosion of caustic arcane inside his opponents bodies would do much to change that. Siege Breaker¡¯s Thrust seemedgood, after all, he might have been able to deal a finishing blow to the drake if he¡¯d been able to pierce its skull on his initial attack. However, in the end, it sounded like it ultimately would only leave simple stab wounds in his enemies. No doubt that would change as the skill developed through the tier increases and evolutions, but that was a while off, and the same could be said for everything else. Armour was an issue, but he¡¯d have other options to deal with that¡ªStormlash worked well, and he had another Drakthar spell just around the corner. The same went for Bell-toll Blitz. It relied too much on his ability to injure his opponents with his sword alone. Sure, his blade would grow stronger, but that would be just as beneficial for Mystric¡¯s Rend. If more of his general skills enhanced his sword play, or more of his skill set was dedicated to the blade, the scales might have balanced out differently. As it stood his final skill would bring with it explosive power and an affliction. It was a clear winner. He explained his thoughts to his team. They nodded thoughtfully. ¡°I think, when you put it like that, it makes complete sense. At the very least, Bell-toll Blitz is the clear loser¡ªboth of the other skills will finally give you a use for all of the free mana you¡¯re generating during our fights. Your pick is also the cheapest¡ªso you should be able to generate enough to use it every couple of minutes already.¡± Porkchop explained. It was something Kaius hadn¡¯t considered¡ªand only cemented his decision further. With his mind made up, he selected his fourth skill. **Ding! Mystic¡¯s Rend Class Skill Available, would you like to proceed? This choice is pivotal and irrevocable.** The power of the system settled around him. Purified potential was woven together in his soul-space, clearly visible in his mind''s eye. With its speed and power, the process was complete a moment later, and another faceted gem joined its siblings in orbit around his soul and class construct. When the skill settled in place, Kaius opened his eyes and smiled widely. He leapt to his feet, drawing his blade. Leaning on newly found instincts, he drew on his mana¡ªweaving the energy as his skill demanded. Without the complicated instructions required of a spell, it leapt to his command. A razor thin thread of burning azure crackled into being around his blade a moment later¡ªso bright it was almost white. It seemed to sizzle the very air around it¡ªinstability leashed to his desires. The very sight of that burning edge nourished the building excitement within him. Seeing that band of offensive magic threading his sword was a testament to his path. A statement, more than any other, that he had committed himself to walking a route of spell and steel. Kaius threw his head from side to side¡ªlooking for something to cut. B2 Chapter 239: Team Gains B2 Chapter 239: Team Gains Gold light filled the gully, thrown off by the burning logs that were slowly reducing themselves to embers a good two hundred strides down its length. The flames threw the corpse of the drake into relief, silhouetting it in shadow. Kaius searched for a target to practice his latest skill on, eyes piercing the gloom with ease. There was plenty of stone around, but even he wasn¡¯t reckless enough to think hacking at boulders with an explosive skill was a good idea. Even if he was protected from the detonation, he doubted that extended to shrapnel. He settled on a handspan-thick branch that had been thrown free from their deadfall trap. Rushing over, he groaned as the thin blue-white line of energy that surrounded his blade fizzled out a few seconds later. No matter, it was a cheap skill, and he¡¯d regenerated enough mana to use it a dozen times over if he wanted to. He used the skill again, taking a high stance with his blade poised to chop. Arcane brilliance zapped along the edge of his blade¡ªlighting his surroundings in a flat bluish hue. It crackled, fluctuating like a lyre¡¯s string as the magic fought to keep itself contained. Grinning madly, Kaius struck. It wasn¡¯t an especially hard blow¡ªif he went all out, mundane wood wouldn¡¯t hold up, which would ruin the test. He still cut into the green hardwood with ease. A shrill whine filled the air as dissolutive magic ate through the branch, growing in intensity over the space of two heartbeats as the thin wire of magic around his blade warbled and shuddered. Then there was a crack, loud enough that Kaius jolted despite expecting it. Wood shattered, the branch splitting in two. Splinters and shards erupted from the site of his attack, his eyes instinctively closing. The line of energy coating the edge of his blade had seemed to contract¡ªcondensing at the point of impact. Suddenly overloaded by the density of power, it exploded. **Ding! Mystic¡¯s Rend has reached level 2!** With far less force than Kaius had been expecting. He¡¯d hoped for something earth shattering. A power worthy of a Heroic skill, vaporising the branch and liquifying the stone beneath. That hadn¡¯t happened¡ªsure, he¡¯d split the branch cleanly. He could have done that without the skill, though. He frowned, crouching down. Only for his eyes to widen as he saw the result of his skill. Right under where the branch had lain, the stone was cratered. A hole, perhaps half a handspan deep, by two wide, had been gouged in the stone. Kaius felt like slapping himself on the back of the head. The description had said it was a shaped explosion. Even if it was small at level one, the force had been directed outwards to a point¡ªruining the sturdy surface. Suddenly glad he¡¯d had the sense to not attack one of the many boulders, Kaius found himself reevaluating the skill. If it had done that to solid stone, at level one at that, what would it do inside of his enemies? Not bad at all, especially for only sixty mana. ¡°Satisfied?¡± Ianmus called from where he and Porkchop were sitting. ¡°It¡¯s not as flashy as I thought,¡± Kaius replied, rising from his crouch to walk back to their still-cooking meal. ¡°But yes, very.¡± ¡°Great! That means it¡¯s my turn!¡± Porkchop said as he sat back down. Kaius only grinned as his brother¡¯s eyes unfocused before he could reply. A few minutes later, Porkchop shook his head, returning his focus to their surroundings. ¡°There¡¯s some good stuff here!¡± he said, clearly excited. ¡°Oh? Do share.¡± Ianmus replied. Porkchop jumped into his explanation. The first of his options was The Warden¡¯s Maw, a skill that would summon fangs of jade around his jaw, which would launch themselves deep into a target''s flesh if Porkchop bit someone. Kaius was immediately partial to the skill¡ªeven if he was a Bastion, Porkchop would need at least a couple of skills focused on directly damaging his opponents. Overspecialisation would leave him weak if he was ever caught in a proper fight without their help. Holding his tongue, he still waited for the other options before saying his piece. Afterall, there was no reason to think it would be the only offensive skill. The next option Porkchop had received was the Protector of the Glade. It was an interesting option¡ªan ability that would make him far harder to move and far tougher, and would last as long as he stood in one spot. Potent as it may have been, especially considering the synergy it had with a number of Porkchop¡¯s general skills, Kaius was still uncertain it was the right choice. Not only was staying immobile a risky proposition in any circumstance, it would also deeply conflict with Porkchop¡¯s role in their party. Kaius was an agile fighter, and if Porkchop was supposed to soak up hits for him wherever possible, he needed to move. It was as simple as that. Let alone the fact that both of them had their work cut out for them keeping Ianmus safe¡ªthe man was so terrifyingly fragile. Thankfully, Porkchop clearly felt the same, for he rejected the skill outright in the same breath that he explained it. His brother¡¯s final option was something called Concussive Parry. A skill that would imbue a parry with an explosive force that was explicitly focused on the weapon and limb carrying it. If it didn¡¯t shatter the weapons that he parried directly, it was highly likely to disarm his opponents¡ªif not literally dis-arm them. There was something to be said for a defensive skill with offensive applications¡ªPorkchop did it brilliantly with his Prismatic Shardwall, afterall¡ªbut Kaius still favoured the first skill. ¡°What¡¯re you thinking?¡± Kaius asked with bated breath. ¡°The Warden¡¯s Maw, I need an offensive skill, and it sounds like it would be very easy to work into my normal style.¡± Porkchop replied, his voice clear and resolute. Kaius held back from sighing in relief. He was worried that if Porkchop waited any longer to pick one, the system would start to offer them less and less. Unlikely, considering that the ability to leverage hostile force was a cornerstone of all combat classes, but a proposition that worried him nonetheless. Ianmus nodded in agreement as well¡ªnone of the team seeing any reason to pick anything else. With there being no alternative viewpoints to consider, Porkchop moved quickly. His eyes stared into the mid-space as he made his selection, before he jolted to his feet a few moments later. Mana surged within his brother''s core a moment later, and four conical spikes of jade popped into existence. They hovered right next to his brother''s jaw, flanking the position of his incisors. Kaius stared at the jade spikes with glee. Each one was three handspans long, and tapered slowly to a viciously sharp tip. Shaking himself with excitement, Porkchop rushed over to the cold body of the drake and hurled himself into a lunging bite. As his teeth sunk into its flesh, the tips of the Warden¡¯s Maw touched the drakes scales. They launched forwards in the same instant, accelerating so explosively that they seemed to vanish before his very eyes. He just barely caught the spikes coming to a halt inside the drakes flesh, before the summoned jade faded away. The only remaining evidence of their existence, four finger-width holes left in its flesh. A strong skill, one that would keep his brother safe¡ªthat was good. He smiled as Porkchop huffed in joy, and raced back over to them. ¡°Did you see that? It punched right through its scales!¡± his brother replied, nearly bowling him over in his excitement. Kaius laughed, boxing Porkchop¡¯s ears. ¡°Careful, you fat oaf!¡± Porkchop only snorted, shoving him with a paw. The casual move sent him thudding to the ground. Ianmus cleared his throat, pulling their eyes towards him right as Porkchop was about to pounce. ¡°I do believe that it is my turn?¡± Ianmus said, cocking his brow at them. ¡°Ah, right. Sorry.¡± Kaius replied, pushing his hair out of his face with an apologetic smile. ¡°Yeah¡ªgo ahead. We¡¯ll behave.¡± Porkchop added, backing up before taking a seat once more. Ianmus only rolled his eyes¡ªthough he smiled too¡ªbefore his attention turned to his system notification. He shared his findings shortly after. It was an interesting collection of skills that he¡¯d been offered¡ªtwo of the options were metamagic, an indication that the system was aware of his attempt to twist the class in the direction of freecasting. Burning Light was the first offer. Every light based offensive spell he used¡ªwhich was all of them, thanks to his Solar affinity¡ªwould linger. Wounds would fill with the scorching power of the sun, leaving behind an affliction that would continue to burn his enemies from the inside out. It wasn¡¯t a glamorous, or particularly honourable one, but Kaius knew it would be potent indeed. Most metamagic scaled at least partially to the spell they were linked to. If Ianmus used one of his overcharged beams, or the light plane he had used at the end of the boggart den, the affliction that it left behind would be the stuff of nightmares. Even he wouldn¡¯t feel comfortable dealing with such a contagion, not until his Rapid Adaptation was far higher level at least. The next metamagic Ianmus was offered was almost the complete opposite. Chlorophyllic Rejuvenation. When applied to a healing spell, it would cause it to also restore half that amount of stamina, and vice versa. Simple, but effective. Apparently it was rather costly though, and Kaius was unsure of its true value. There was something to be said for an efficient economy of time¡ªhe¡¯d be pulling double duty for a single channeled spell¡ªbut he wasn¡¯t sure if it was worth it compared to the other options. Afterall, Ianmus could already restore both with free-casting, it just took a lot of time and effort. Ianmus¡¯s final option was a sorcery. Ray of Tender Recovery. A healing spell, one that was at the rarity cap of what his class could provide. It was of only middling strength¡ªrestoring only five-hundred health¡ªbut it had a miniscule mana cost and a quick channel time. An emergency response that could easily save one of their lives. In the end, he didn¡¯t get to share his input. Ianmus made an executive decision to pick the healing spell. ¡°It¡¯s simple really¡ªeven the most devout free-caster needs at least a few sorceries to rely on when time is of the essence. With this, I will have rounded out three spells that focus on the full core of Solar magic. Physical enhancements, ray attacks, and restoration magic. I already rejected a heal last level to further cement my path, but now is a good time to pick it. After this I can fully focus on abilities that will enhance my free casting¡± Ianmus explained when Kaius asked how he had made his choice. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s a good healing spell. With how often the two of you seemingly try to compete on who can get stabbed the most, something fast and cheap will get plenty of use¡ªI¡¯m sure of it.¡± Ianmus said, giving them a knowing smile. Now it was Kaius¡¯s turn to roll his eyes. They weren¡¯t that bad. Sure, they got injured more than most¡ªbut they had the skills to handle it, and it was to be expected that they¡¯d get a little battered when they did things like fight drakes. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. A moment later, Ianmus accepted the skill. When he¡¯d returned to the world of the living, he scooped his staff off the stone floor, a focused look on his face. Solar mana flowed around him a moment later¡ªcoalescing in seconds. From the conglomeration of magical potential, a white scintillating beam shot forth to splash against Kaius¡¯s chest. It felt...good. The magic seeped into him with the warmth of a gentle embrace, and the soft caress of a summer¡¯s breeze. ¡°Huh.¡± he said, looking down at his chestplate¡ªstill slightly damp from the water he had used to wash off his earlier gore. ¡°What¡¯d it feel like?¡± Porkchop asked with curiosity. ¡°Like getting a hug.¡± Kaius replied. ¡°That¡¯s fairly normal for solar healing magic¡ªit¡¯s an affinity of dichotomies. Searing heat, and invigorating growth handed out in equal measure.¡± Ianmus explained. Kaius nodded, only for the faint scent of smoke to enter his nose. His eye¡¯s widened in a panic, head snapping to the pan where the slab of drake meat had started to scorch. ¡°Shit!¡± He dived for the pan, the rush of fear joined by the chuckling amusement of his companions. Savages, they had no respect for his artistry. Turning the heat down with a flutter of mana, Kaius sighed in defeat as he flipped the steak to reveal a surface that had been seared far too black by half. ¡°Guess I''ll have this one.¡± he groaned. Resigned to his subpar starter¡ªbecause of course he would cook another, he just didn¡¯t want to waste food¡ªKaius settled in to watch the cooking food with closer attention. They still had a fair few hours until Ro would arrive, so it wasn¡¯t like he had anything better to do. He just hoped she wouldn¡¯t be too harsh with her teasing for the state of the drake¡¯s carcass. B2 Chapter 240: Beast Lore After waking with the rising dawn, Kaius pushed his way out of the tent they had pitched right by the site of their battle and set about making breakfast. His companions were still dozing, sleep claiming them deeply after the rigours of their midnight soiree with the drake. Fetching another cut of meat from the body of the drake, he decided to pair it with some bread and scrambled eggs. A simple meal, but one that would be relatively easy to make. He prepared an extra serving¡ªit was likely that Ro would arrive within an hour at most. Kaius shook his head wrily at the thought of the woman crossing that much ground in only eight hours. The trip had taken them the better part of two weeks¡ªthat sort of speed, sustained over that long, was ridiculous. Not for the first time, he wondered what level she was¡ªand Rieker too, for that matter. The second tier was the bare minimum, he suspected that Silver was a requirement to hold the sort of rank that they had within the guild. It felt too low for the kind of feats he had seen from them. Gold rank¡ªlevel three-hundred¡ªperhaps? Regardless of their exact level, he was almost certain that they had good classes too. People who put in the sort of consistent effort required to reach that level in the low mana zone that was Central Plains almost invariably grew strong as they passed through the tiers. Before beasts had swamped the land, reaching that high in any sort of reasonable time frame required nigh constant delving, or trips far afield to where powerful monsters were able to be found. It was still hard to believe; people in the second tier were rare. Almost unheard of, from what he¡¯d heard from Father and the discussion he¡¯d had with Ianmus after they had first witnessed Ro¡¯s blinding speed. Sure, it was obvious that he¡¯d run into far more of them in the Guild, and that his own strength meant he was all but certain to brush shoulders with people of nominally similar pedigree. But Deadacre? It was a backwater¡ªand not a particularly pleasant one at that, from what Ianmus had said. Meeting not one, but two delvers of their capability was mind boggling. It was somewhat explainable in that they clearly knew each other well¡ªtoo well for the mere handful of years that Rieker had been stationed in the city. He still questioned why they were there though. There had to be a reason. It wasn¡¯t so much a burning need to know, but there was a curiosity there. Maybe he was wrong, and the second tier was more common than he was led to believe¡ªcertainly, both Rieker and Ekum had implied that the third tier was not the legendary achievement he had believed it was. For all he knew, bigger cities could have second tiers by the dozen, and guildmasters solidly into the third. On the other hand, maybe there was something about Deadacre that held the guild¡¯s interest enough that they¡¯d station two elites just to safeguard it. It was by no means impossible. The city had its mysteries. The circle of blighted land that grew around it, and the rumours of its origin, for one. Even if that wasn¡¯t the case, it could be something as mundane as politics. The frontier was large. A poor and underpopulated region, it nonetheless was the nexus between the Hiwiann steppe, Mystral, the Dukedoms, and the elvish Domains. With only two major cities in such a region, maybe the guild simply needed some display of strength to project their will through the region. Honestly, the more he thought about it, the more likely that was the case¡ªthough he hoped it was not so. The other two options were far more exciting secrets. Lost in thought as he dreamed of hidden lairs in the Deadacre sewers, and secret societies of high level delvers, Kaius smiled as he continued his preparation for breakfast, cutting the drake meat into long strips. .... ¡°Fucking hells, you guys really did a number on this thing.¡± Surprise physically jolted him at the sudden noise that came from behind him, a desperate blurt escaping from his lips as Kaius jumped upwards. His team mirrored his responses¡ªPorkchop bolted upright, hackles raised, and Ianmus snapped his head upwards from where he¡¯d been staring mindlessly at the ground in front of him. Kaius¡¯s hand lurched to the hilt of his sword instinctively, before he realised he recognised who the voice belonged to. Ro. Whipping around, Kaius found the guild manager grinning at them with a knowing smile¡ªclearly finding amusement at the fright she had given them. ¡°Gods¡¯ bollocks, woman!¡± Ianmus replied with a glare, clutching his chest. Ro only cackled madly, the mage¡¯s protests inspiring more delight. ¡°Never gets old,¡± she finally said, wiping her eyes as her laughter petered out. Walking over to their group, she waved at Kaius to shuffle to the side¡ªstaring at the nearly finished breakfast cooking away in his pan. ¡°Shuffle over,¡± Ro said. ¡°Do you have enough for me? Some asshole activated a communication token at midnight, so I''ve been running for hours on last night''s dinner.¡± Kaius winced¡ªsuddenly realising the imposition they had placed upon her. ¡°Sorry about that¡ªits nightly patrol was the only time that it came through this valley, and it was the best shot we had.¡± he explained, moving to his right to create some space for Ro. ¡°Bah,¡± Ro said as she waved him off, and took her seat on the stone ground. ¡°Think nothing of it¡ªthis sort of shit is just part of the job.¡± Craning her neck back, she took in the still body of the drake. Nearly fifty strides from snout to tail, Kaius would have needed to stand on his own shoulders with his arms outstretched to just barely reach its back. ¡°Even seeing it for myself a few weeks ago, it still amazes me just how damn big these things get. It¡¯s only the second I''ve ever seen, you know? And the other was in the depths, so I couldn¡¯t be sure if they got to that size naturally.¡± Ro said, turning back to them. Kaius nodded. Things like drakes were unheard of in the central lands¡ªseeing one at all was seen as something of a sign of a successful career. Hells, anything of that size was seen as a serious threat¡ªthe irontusks around Deadacre were something of an outlier, and probably would have been culled if they didn¡¯t tend to stay low level and keep clear of major settlements. ¡°Guess it goes to show just how much is changing, huh?¡± Kaius replied. He only got a slow nod in response¡ªthey were all well too aware of the effects the phase change had had on the settlements in the region. Finally, Ro looked up and gave them a smile. ¡°Still, I wasn¡¯t joking about you tearing that thing to shreds. It looks like a pack of flaming dogs got at it.¡± Porkchop snorted in amusement. ¡°It might as well have been¡ªthat thing just wouldn¡¯t bloody die no matter what we did. I¡¯d bet the fight would have gone far differently if we hadn¡¯t had the sense to drop half a forest of logs on its back.¡± Ro cocked her brow at the mention of their ambush. ¡°Oh? Is my little team of greenhorns starting to use their brains? I saw the embers, but I didn¡¯t dare hope.¡± Kaius rolled his eyes at her jab, but smiled all the same. ¡°We aren¡¯t that bad.¡± ¡°You can tell me that once a few years have passed since I saved your asses from suicide by boggling plague.¡± she scoffed. Kaius had the sense to look embarrassed, but he held to his belief that they could be far worse than they were. Sure, they¡¯d had to learn a few lessons, but he doubted that was unique to them. The fact that the dangers they faced were greater than most didn¡¯t change that. With her impeccable sense of timing, Ro had arrived right as their meal had finished cooking. Shuffling forwards, Kaius served out heaping portions onto the plates that they brought with them in their spatial storage. He passed the dishes out, receiving thankful nods in return. With the smell of food in the air, the conversation died out for a short time¡ªeveryone too focused on shoving as much meat and eggs into their mouth as they could without choking. Simply put, the meat was delicious. Richer and more flavoursome than any cut he¡¯d had before, it all but dissolved in his mouth. ¡°Regardless of our prior follies, I would love to know why it was so hard to kill¡ªif you know, that is.¡± Ianmus asked once he was half way through his plate. Ro chewed through her mouthful, holding her hand up to ask for time. ¡°It¡¯s something you¡¯ll notice more and more¡ªa factor of Endurance that becomes apparent as you grow closer to the second tier. Once you cross that threshold, it¡¯s something of a universal challenge you will have to deal with.¡± Kaius raised an eyebrow at that. While Endurance made things tougher, it was hard to imagine that everything would be able to survive the level of devastation that the drake had persisted through. When he asked, Ro shook her head. ¡°There are degrees to everything¡ªof course some things will be much more fragile than others. Even so, you¡¯ll start to see more and more creatures persisting through wounds that should have killed them. You can still kill things without fully draining their health, but it will get harder to do so with every level. Thankfully, I have yet to see something that a good old fashioned decapitation can¡¯t take down.¡± Ro explained. She continued on¡ªtalking about how the drake was a special case. While eventually everything would grow that tough, it would take far longer¡ªat which point their own growing abilities should be able to keep pace. Apparently, all inherently magical creatures had some decreased reliance on the mortal concerns of the body. It varied, and draconic creatures were some of the worst of the lot¡ªat least as far as beasts went, things like spirits and elementals were far stranger. Their blood would keep beating even through a burst heart, their legs would hold their weight through shattered bones and torn muscle, and other such impossibilities he would struggle to believe if he hadn¡¯t seen the evidence with his own eyes. Sure, it would hamper them greatly, and they couldn¡¯t persist like that indefinitely¡ªbut that simple power of persistence made them a dangerous threat. One that he was proud to have slain at such a low level¡ªeven if it was only a lesser drake. ¡°Why didn¡¯t we find references to that in the archive?¡± Ianmus asked, clearly a little affronted that his research skills had been stymied. Ro gave them an awkward smile. ¡°A failing of Rieker and myself. It is...easy to forget that you are only bronze, when we so handedly send you on threats that most Steel teams closing in on the second tier would balk at. More detailed information on threats of this caliber are usually held in the rooms which you would not have been able to access.¡± Ianmus frowned at her response, his unhappiness at not having full access to the information they had sought evident. ¡°Why would that information be locked up? I can¡¯t exactly see the harm in people being more wary of taking on a draconic creature.¡± Kaius asked. ¡°In this case, it wouldn¡¯t be an issue¡ªbut those shelves hold far more than just bestiaries, and even those have more than just the strengths and weaknesses of strong monsters. More than one cocky idiot would try their hand at something they shouldn¡¯t, if they knew that a creature''s corpse could bring them more than a single mission of their tier.¡± Ro replied. Kaius struggled to believe that¡ªpeople with their specific brand of reckless abandon were supposed to be as rare as hen¡¯s teeth. It turned out that Ro had an easy explanation. While yes, it was unlikely that anyone would seek out something clearly higher leveled, there had been many, many cases of someone learning of a creature''s value, and foolishly attempting to track down a juvenile. Almost invariably it ended up with the team in question getting eaten by angry parents, or simply overwhelmed by the natural strengths of more powerful varieties of beasts. At the very least, Ro would apply for special dispensation for their access. She couldn¡¯t just jump them up through the ranks, but having individually vetted teams access information they otherwise couldn¡¯t was not unheard of. It was likely to take some time, but in the interim she offered to fetch any relevant bestiaries herself. As their conversation wound down, Ro finished her meal. When she had, she slapped her knees and leapt to her feet. ¡°Well! As nice as this has been¡ªand as good as the meal was¡ªduty calls. I can¡¯t be away from Deadacre for too long; last time the build up of work was unbearable.¡± she said, before walking to the drake¡¯s corpse. Kaius was about to ask her how she planned on segmenting it for her storage artifacts¡ªhe¡¯d spotted the new collection of rings she sported on her fingers earlier¡ªwhen Ro drew her sword. Eyes sharpening, Kaius stilled as Ro casually pirouetted her blade through the air. It was similar to his own, though a hand shorter to make it equally comfortable using either single handed, or with both. Then Ro seemed to...flicker, the only evidence she had moved being seen in the blood dripping from her sword. The drake¡¯s stomach opened, offal falling free as she flickered again. Another blur of motion, and Ro stood with her chest notably heaving as the drake slid into four distinct pieces. Each cut was flawlessly straight and smooth¡ªand Kaius saw no evidence Ro had truly struggled, other than a little exertion. Approaching the segments, Ro tapped each one in turn. They vanished with a pop of displaced air¡ªdisappearing into her spatial artefacts. Ro gave them a final wave¡ªgrinning at their slack jawed expressions. ¡°See ya!¡± she replied, before vanishing in a blur¡ªthough one that was notably visible compared to her earlier attacks. ¡°By the Matriarchs! How the hells does she do that?¡± Porkchop asked, still staring at where Ro had been standing. ¡°I have no idea,¡± Kaius replied. B2 Chapter 240: Beast Lore B2 Chapter 240: Beast Lore After waking with the rising dawn, Kaius pushed his way out of the tent they had pitched right by the site of their battle and set about making breakfast. His companions were still dozing, sleep claiming them deeply after the rigours of their midnight soiree with the drake. Fetching another cut of meat from the body of the drake, he decided to pair it with some bread and scrambled eggs. A simple meal, but one that would be relatively easy to make. He prepared an extra serving¡ªit was likely that Ro would arrive within an hour at most. Kaius shook his head wrily at the thought of the woman crossing that much ground in only eight hours. The trip had taken them the better part of two weeks¡ªthat sort of speed, sustained over that long, was ridiculous. Not for the first time, he wondered what level she was¡ªand Rieker too, for that matter. The second tier was the bare minimum, he suspected that Silver was a requirement to hold the sort of rank that they had within the guild. It felt too low for the kind of feats he had seen from them. Gold rank¡ªlevel three-hundred¡ªperhaps? Regardless of their exact level, he was almost certain that they had good classes too. People who put in the sort of consistent effort required to reach that level in the low mana zone that was Central Plains almost invariably grew strong as they passed through the tiers. Before beasts had swamped the land, reaching that high in any sort of reasonable time frame required nigh constant delving, or trips far afield to where powerful monsters were able to be found. It was still hard to believe; people in the second tier were rare. Almost unheard of, from what he¡¯d heard from Father and the discussion he¡¯d had with Ianmus after they had first witnessed Ro¡¯s blinding speed. Sure, it was obvious that he¡¯d run into far more of them in the Guild, and that his own strength meant he was all but certain to brush shoulders with people of nominally similar pedigree. But Deadacre? It was a backwater¡ªand not a particularly pleasant one at that, from what Ianmus had said. Meeting not one, but two delvers of their capability was mind boggling. It was somewhat explainable in that they clearly knew each other well¡ªtoo well for the mere handful of years that Rieker had been stationed in the city. He still questioned why they were there though. There had to be a reason. It wasn¡¯t so much a burning need to know, but there was a curiosity there. Maybe he was wrong, and the second tier was more common than he was led to believe¡ªcertainly, both Rieker and Ekum had implied that the third tier was not the legendary achievement he had believed it was. For all he knew, bigger cities could have second tiers by the dozen, and guildmasters solidly into the third. On the other hand, maybe there was something about Deadacre that held the guild¡¯s interest enough that they¡¯d station two elites just to safeguard it. It was by no means impossible. The city had its mysteries. The circle of blighted land that grew around it, and the rumours of its origin, for one. Even if that wasn¡¯t the case, it could be something as mundane as politics. The frontier was large. A poor and underpopulated region, it nonetheless was the nexus between the Hiwiann steppe, Mystral, the Dukedoms, and the elvish Domains. With only two major cities in such a region, maybe the guild simply needed some display of strength to project their will through the region. Honestly, the more he thought about it, the more likely that was the case¡ªthough he hoped it was not so. The other two options were far more exciting secrets. Lost in thought as he dreamed of hidden lairs in the Deadacre sewers, and secret societies of high level delvers, Kaius smiled as he continued his preparation for breakfast, cutting the drake meat into long strips. .... ¡°Fucking hells, you guys really did a number on this thing.¡± Surprise physically jolted him at the sudden noise that came from behind him, a desperate blurt escaping from his lips as Kaius jumped upwards. His team mirrored his responses¡ªPorkchop bolted upright, hackles raised, and Ianmus snapped his head upwards from where he¡¯d been staring mindlessly at the ground in front of him. Kaius¡¯s hand lurched to the hilt of his sword instinctively, before he realised he recognised who the voice belonged to. Ro. Whipping around, Kaius found the guild manager grinning at them with a knowing smile¡ªclearly finding amusement at the fright she had given them. ¡°Gods¡¯ bollocks, woman!¡± Ianmus replied with a glare, clutching his chest. Ro only cackled madly, the mage¡¯s protests inspiring more delight. ¡°Never gets old,¡± she finally said, wiping her eyes as her laughter petered out. Walking over to their group, she waved at Kaius to shuffle to the side¡ªstaring at the nearly finished breakfast cooking away in his pan. ¡°Shuffle over,¡± Ro said. ¡°Do you have enough for me? Some asshole activated a communication token at midnight, so I''ve been running for hours on last night''s dinner.¡± Kaius winced¡ªsuddenly realising the imposition they had placed upon her. ¡°Sorry about that¡ªits nightly patrol was the only time that it came through this valley, and it was the best shot we had.¡± he explained, moving to his right to create some space for Ro. ¡°Bah,¡± Ro said as she waved him off, and took her seat on the stone ground. ¡°Think nothing of it¡ªthis sort of shit is just part of the job.¡± Craning her neck back, she took in the still body of the drake. Nearly fifty strides from snout to tail, Kaius would have needed to stand on his own shoulders with his arms outstretched to just barely reach its back. ¡°Even seeing it for myself a few weeks ago, it still amazes me just how damn big these things get. It¡¯s only the second I''ve ever seen, you know? And the other was in the depths, so I couldn¡¯t be sure if they got to that size naturally.¡± Ro said, turning back to them. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Kaius nodded. Things like drakes were unheard of in the central lands¡ªseeing one at all was seen as something of a sign of a successful career. Hells, anything of that size was seen as a serious threat¡ªthe irontusks around Deadacre were something of an outlier, and probably would have been culled if they didn¡¯t tend to stay low level and keep clear of major settlements. ¡°Guess it goes to show just how much is changing, huh?¡± Kaius replied. He only got a slow nod in response¡ªthey were all well too aware of the effects the phase change had had on the settlements in the region. Finally, Ro looked up and gave them a smile. ¡°Still, I wasn¡¯t joking about you tearing that thing to shreds. It looks like a pack of flaming dogs got at it.¡± Porkchop snorted in amusement. ¡°It might as well have been¡ªthat thing just wouldn¡¯t bloody die no matter what we did. I¡¯d bet the fight would have gone far differently if we hadn¡¯t had the sense to drop half a forest of logs on its back.¡± Ro cocked her brow at the mention of their ambush. ¡°Oh? Is my little team of greenhorns starting to use their brains? I saw the embers, but I didn¡¯t dare hope.¡± Kaius rolled his eyes at her jab, but smiled all the same. ¡°We aren¡¯t that bad.¡± ¡°You can tell me that once a few years have passed since I saved your asses from suicide by boggling plague.¡± she scoffed. Kaius had the sense to look embarrassed, but he held to his belief that they could be far worse than they were. Sure, they¡¯d had to learn a few lessons, but he doubted that was unique to them. The fact that the dangers they faced were greater than most didn¡¯t change that. With her impeccable sense of timing, Ro had arrived right as their meal had finished cooking. Shuffling forwards, Kaius served out heaping portions onto the plates that they brought with them in their spatial storage. He passed the dishes out, receiving thankful nods in return. With the smell of food in the air, the conversation died out for a short time¡ªeveryone too focused on shoving as much meat and eggs into their mouth as they could without choking. Simply put, the meat was delicious. Richer and more flavoursome than any cut he¡¯d had before, it all but dissolved in his mouth. ¡°Regardless of our prior follies, I would love to know why it was so hard to kill¡ªif you know, that is.¡± Ianmus asked once he was half way through his plate. Ro chewed through her mouthful, holding her hand up to ask for time. ¡°It¡¯s something you¡¯ll notice more and more¡ªa factor of Endurance that becomes apparent as you grow closer to the second tier. Once you cross that threshold, it¡¯s something of a universal challenge you will have to deal with.¡± Kaius raised an eyebrow at that. While Endurance made things tougher, it was hard to imagine that everything would be able to survive the level of devastation that the drake had persisted through. When he asked, Ro shook her head. ¡°There are degrees to everything¡ªof course some things will be much more fragile than others. Even so, you¡¯ll start to see more and more creatures persisting through wounds that should have killed them. You can still kill things without fully draining their health, but it will get harder to do so with every level. Thankfully, I have yet to see something that a good old fashioned decapitation can¡¯t take down.¡± Ro explained. She continued on¡ªtalking about how the drake was a special case. While eventually everything would grow that tough, it would take far longer¡ªat which point their own growing abilities should be able to keep pace. Apparently, all inherently magical creatures had some decreased reliance on the mortal concerns of the body. It varied, and draconic creatures were some of the worst of the lot¡ªat least as far as beasts went, things like spirits and elementals were far stranger. Their blood would keep beating even through a burst heart, their legs would hold their weight through shattered bones and torn muscle, and other such impossibilities he would struggle to believe if he hadn¡¯t seen the evidence with his own eyes. Sure, it would hamper them greatly, and they couldn¡¯t persist like that indefinitely¡ªbut that simple power of persistence made them a dangerous threat. One that he was proud to have slain at such a low level¡ªeven if it was only a lesser drake. ¡°Why didn¡¯t we find references to that in the archive?¡± Ianmus asked, clearly a little affronted that his research skills had been stymied. Ro gave them an awkward smile. ¡°A failing of Rieker and myself. It is...easy to forget that you are only bronze, when we so handedly send you on threats that most Steel teams closing in on the second tier would balk at. More detailed information on threats of this caliber are usually held in the rooms which you would not have been able to access.¡± Ianmus frowned at her response, his unhappiness at not having full access to the information they had sought evident. ¡°Why would that information be locked up? I can¡¯t exactly see the harm in people being more wary of taking on a draconic creature.¡± Kaius asked. ¡°In this case, it wouldn¡¯t be an issue¡ªbut those shelves hold far more than just bestiaries, and even those have more than just the strengths and weaknesses of strong monsters. More than one cocky idiot would try their hand at something they shouldn¡¯t, if they knew that a creature''s corpse could bring them more than a single mission of their tier.¡± Ro replied. Kaius struggled to believe that¡ªpeople with their specific brand of reckless abandon were supposed to be as rare as hen¡¯s teeth. It turned out that Ro had an easy explanation. While yes, it was unlikely that anyone would seek out something clearly higher leveled, there had been many, many cases of someone learning of a creature''s value, and foolishly attempting to track down a juvenile. Almost invariably it ended up with the team in question getting eaten by angry parents, or simply overwhelmed by the natural strengths of more powerful varieties of beasts. At the very least, Ro would apply for special dispensation for their access. She couldn¡¯t just jump them up through the ranks, but having individually vetted teams access information they otherwise couldn¡¯t was not unheard of. It was likely to take some time, but in the interim she offered to fetch any relevant bestiaries herself. As their conversation wound down, Ro finished her meal. When she had, she slapped her knees and leapt to her feet. ¡°Well! As nice as this has been¡ªand as good as the meal was¡ªduty calls. I can¡¯t be away from Deadacre for too long; last time the build up of work was unbearable.¡± she said, before walking to the drake¡¯s corpse. Kaius was about to ask her how she planned on segmenting it for her storage artifacts¡ªhe¡¯d spotted the new collection of rings she sported on her fingers earlier¡ªwhen Ro drew her sword. Eyes sharpening, Kaius stilled as Ro casually pirouetted her blade through the air. It was similar to his own, though a hand shorter to make it equally comfortable using either single handed, or with both. Then Ro seemed to...flicker, the only evidence she had moved being seen in the blood dripping from her sword. The drake¡¯s stomach opened, offal falling free as she flickered again. Another blur of motion, and Ro stood with her chest notably heaving as the drake slid into four distinct pieces. Each cut was flawlessly straight and smooth¡ªand Kaius saw no evidence Ro had truly struggled, other than a little exertion. Approaching the segments, Ro tapped each one in turn. They vanished with a pop of displaced air¡ªdisappearing into her spatial artefacts. Ro gave them a final wave¡ªgrinning at their slack jawed expressions. ¡°See ya!¡± she replied, before vanishing in a blur¡ªthough one that was notably visible compared to her earlier attacks. ¡°By the Matriarchs! How the hells does she do that?¡± Porkchop asked, still staring at where Ro had been standing. ¡°I have no idea,¡± Kaius replied. Interlude 4: The Oriole Interlude 4: The Oriole ¡°Hells, Grave-eye, what the fuck kind of job was this? I know it paid well, but the drake was level one-hundred-and-seven? Are you trying to get me killed? Sending me to watch some team of scions like that?¡± Ingle raved, pacing back and forth through his office. Tuning out the rest of the woman¡¯s nonsensical ranting, Grave-eye was of half a mind to have Gorm kill her, just for the sheer impudence of daring to take that tone with him. Alas, the woman was too strong¡ªand too useful. It was hard to find competent delvers of her calibre that were willing to get their hands dirty. Though even Ingle only did so infrequently, selectively, and for a good price. He could respect that. Grave-eye sighed, leaning on his desk as he rubbed his brow. Regardless of her wanton disregard of his station, Ingle was reliable. She never spilled a word about anything¡ªnot even when he tried to pay her to find out who else procured her services¡ªand her testimony had been proven to be bound in adamant at every turn. That alone kept her alive. It just burned like gutrot that she knew it, someone as careful as Ingle wouldn¡¯t dare to test his ire if she thought there was a hint of a risk to it. Which made the impossibilities that spewed from her mouth all the more difficult to believe. A drake? At over level one-hundred? Two missions ago the pair of fools had fought a simple spider, barely around level eighty from what he¡¯d been able to dig up. That was an impossibility, pure and simple. Every report¡ªincluding Ingle¡¯s own¡ªhad suggested that both fights were at the edges of their capabilities. That rate of growth? In three missions? When they hadn¡¯t left the city in between? It was simply impossible. Let alone the fact that the team was fucking Bronze! To a superior mind such as himself, it was simplicity itself to deduce that there was a greater scheme afoot. The guild was up to something. He was certain that this was under their sanction¡ªtheir guidance. Impossibly strong bronzes kill a drake, and then a day later the guild manager herself is selling off drake remains under the proviso that the contract records stay sealed? While claiming that it was an unexpected threat that the Wardog had handled himself? No way; no fucking way. ¡°Thank you for your services, Ingle. You can leave now.¡± Grave-eye said, tossing the delver a coin pouch with the three platinum he owed her. Ingle stopped mid sentence, glaring at him as the pouch hit her in the chest and fell to the floor. Still, in testament to her crude intelligence, she didn¡¯t say another word. Swooping up her pay, the delver left¡ªstomping hard enough to rattle his liquor cabinet. That caused a vein in his forehead to throb in disgust and outrage¡ªbut with the magnanimity that was required of his station, he let it go. There were far more important things to worry about. Leaning back in his chair, Grave-eye let out a sigh as he kicked his polished boots up onto his desk. ¡°Drink?¡± Grave-eye clutched his chest, nearly falling out of his chair in fright. He shot his hound a look that could have scoured flesh from bone. He¡¯d forgotten that Gorm was standing in the corner. The man had a frightening ability to fade into the background for a grotesque giant. Honestly, it was a miracle his mother had even survived birthing the half-breed mongrel. ¡°How many times do I have to tell you not to do that, you imbecile!¡± he hissed. ¡°And what kind of question is that? Of course I do.¡± ¡°Of course, Grave-eye.¡± Tuning out the presence of his manservant, Grave-eye returned his mind to more important matters. Like the fact that it was so bleeding obvious that the guild was nurturing a pair of wayward scions. They only did that when the person in question had no ties to a prominent dynasty. Exiled rejects, independent prodigies, and those in hiding. Grave-eye grinned. That meant they were a prime target. Oh yes¡ªthis was quite the valuable find. And he knew just what to do with it. His teeth bared to the world, Grave-eye could already feel the heights that he would be able to rise to with this sort of winning hand. Glass clinked as Gorm placed his drink on his desk. He snatched it up before it could leave condensation on the rich leather cover¡ªhe hadn¡¯t spent so much on a refrigeration cupboard just for his hound to ruin his furnishings. ¡°Gorm.¡± ¡°Yes, Grave-eye?¡± his hound responded, as placid and slow as always. ¡°Send a message to Old Yon¡ªtell him we should meet. That I have something worth his personal attention.¡± Grave-eye replied. Gorm frowned. He must have been struggling to remember how to make contact, it would only make sense for someone so diminished. Oh how Grave-eye wished that he could have someone capable for a servant. R?aN§à?E?s?? Too bad he always ended up killing those¡ªthey always fell to the temptation of plotting against him. At least his hound was too stupid to ever do such a thing. ¡°Are you sure you should do that? Old Yon¡¯s a hard man¡ªhis favour might not be as pleasant as you think.¡± Gorm replied. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Grave-eye narrowed his eyes at his hound. That was the problem with fools, they could never see the big picture. He was at the height of Deadacre¡¯s underworld¡ªof course he should be treated with the respect of his station. A low-born fool like Gorm could never understand the ways of men of action and influence. Gorm sighed. ¡°Yes, Grave-eye.¡± ... Grave-eye felt the chill touch of the grave brush against his neck¡ªthe crypt air of the catacombs beneath the church that he had been directed to were damp and foreboding. Not for the first time, he wished that Gorm was with him. It wasn¡¯t fear! No, it was just unbecoming for a man such as himself to be without his servant. He was of half a mind to give Old Yon a piece of his mind when he arrived at their meeting point. Walls of bone moaned as a gust of frigid wind rattled through the sockets of the many skulls that watched him. Grave-eye pulled his cloak around him and hurried onwards. The sooner he could return to his glass of brandy and book that was waiting for him by the hearth, the better. .... Glancing at the lidless eyes that watched him from every angle, he could only wish that his contact had thought to meet somewhere with a little more taste. It was all just a touch too macabre in his mind. He could respect a setting of scene as much as the next man¡ªbut did it have to be so ghastly? Thankfully, his journey through the tunnels seemed to have come to an end. Taking the next left hand junction¡ªhe¡¯d spent a whole hour memorising the directions that had come in response to his request¡ªGrave-eye found himself staring at a door. It was blessedly well designed. The gadrooning on its panels was divine¡ªpleasant curved impressions that radiated from a central point where a filgreed brass knob rested. Why, it even had caryatids supporting the arch above! They were beautiful things¡ªartful renditions of what looked like hellish denizens screaming in anguish. Not his first choice, and a little last century, but he could respect the artistry in the work. This was a little more like it! Someone had even gone through the effort to dust the thing! Hurrying forwards, Grave-eye hammered the knocker¡ªthree times, as etiquette demanded. He frowned. After waiting a few minutes to politely give any occupants time to respond, he knocked again. Still nothing. Uneasy at the prospect of breaching propriety, Grave-eye tried the latch all the same. It was unlocked. The door opened into a flawless corridor of stone¡ªif a drab one. Slabs of light grey polished stone lined the flaws and ceilings, each edge set perfectly square. The place was lit by wardlights, but few of them, leaving the reaches drenched in shadow. Finding the whole thing a little unnerving, Grave-eye tentatively stepped through. His steps through the passage were hurried¡ªthe time of his meeting was growing close, and he refused to be late. Nothing else harried him¡ªhe refused to even entertain the thought. Though his stomach churned all the same. After what felt like an aeon in the dark, twisting through myriad turns, he arrived at another door. This one was plain, but well built, with a kind of rustic refinement to it. Made of what was blatantly heartwood¡ªan expensive kind too, he could recognise the rudy red of jettum anywhere¡ªit had been fastened together without any visible nails. Mortise and tenon joints, the kind of expense only a man of taste would bother with. Grinning in excitement, Grave-eye hurried over, knocking three times. ¡°Come in.¡± The voice was smooth and calm, with the kind of rich baritone more suited to court than a catacomb. Grave-eye stepped through the passage, finding an office. Much like the door, it was a simple thing. A large wooden desk in the centre of the room, with two chairs for guests before it. There was also a single book shelf that sat against the far wall, as well as a fireplace that sat adjacent to the desk. All of that fell to the wayside as he took in the man that was seated in his position of authority. Old Yon. He wasn¡¯t what Grave-eye had been expecting. The grandeur that a man of his station should have oozed was utterly absent. In its place was an utterly forgettable visage of mediocrity. Middling height¡ªperfectly so, the man couldn¡¯t have more than five and three quarter strides¡ªwith brown eyes and simple features. His clothes were rough spun, but tough and well made, if utterly lacking in refinement. He didn¡¯t even inspire dread. For a man like Old Yon, he¡¯d at least have expected a glare that could kill, or something. All in all, Old Yon was...pedestrian. Forgettable to an extreme degree. If Grave-eye had passed him on the street, he¡¯d have been more likely to spit on the man than greet him. A thought that brought a rush of concern down his back as he realised who he was standing before. ¡°Sit.¡± Grave-eye sat. Keeping his back perfectly straight, Old Yon reached behind his desk. He pulled free a heavy leather sack sack, straining under the weight of its contents. ¡°This¡ª¡± Old Yon set the bag on his desk. It clinked¡ªloudly. ¡°¡ªis a thousand platinum.¡± Before Grave-eye could so much as gulp, Old Yon reached into his pocket and retrieved what looked to be a silver medallion. He set it down next to his absurdly large coin-pouch. ¡°And this is a communication artifact.¡± Old Yon finished, touching the disk of metal. Pausing for a moment, Old Yon gave him a long look. His heart fluttered. ¡°You mentioned you had something valuable for me¡ªthis could be your reward. Hells, if it''s good enough, it might only be a down payment.¡± Old Yon said, before he tapped his fingers on his desk. ¡°That is only if what you have is valuable. Thankfully, I don¡¯t believe that you are stupid enough to waste my time¡ªwouldn¡¯t you say, Rondel of Silverwind?¡± Grave-eye froze. That was impossible. He¡¯d erased everything. Covered all tracks. How could the man know? Rondel finally admitted to himself that he was out of his depth, and the fear that had been waiting beneath the facade embarrassed him. ¡°Of...of course, Old Yon. I wouldn¡¯t waste your time.¡± he stammered, failing to keep his apprehension out of his voice. Old Yon smiled, and he saw the man''s mask crack. A malevolent intelligence lay beneath¡ªcalculating and cruel. ¡°Here¡¯s what''s going to happen. You¡¯re going to tell me about these...promising seeds that you have uncovered, and I¡¯ll do my own verification. If against all odds, you¡¯ve proven yourself as valuable as you believe, this platinum will be yours and there will be more in it for you later when the job is done.¡± the underlord explained, every word punctuated with a conviction that the world would bend to his demands. ¡°If, beyond all likelihoods, you are somehow this capable, I will call upon you in the future with this.¡± Old Yon tapped the communication medallion. ¡°I always endeavour to have...fruitful relationships with aspiring up-and-comers.¡± Old Yon smiled. A plain thing¡ªlike what you would expect from a fishmonger who¡¯d manage to sell a bumper crop of a haul. Somehow, that made it all the more terrifying. ¡°So, Rondel, why don¡¯t we start from the top.¡± Grave-eye took a steadying breath. It was far too late to back out now. Gathering his thoughts, he began to talk. B2 Chapter 241: Princely Payment B2 Chapter 241: Princely Payment Kaius and his team sat in a loose circle in their room at the Stables, staring at the pile of new equipment that was arrayed in front of them. Their journey back from the battle with the drake had been an easy one¡ªwith their newfound strength they¡¯d been left well enough alone by the vast majority of monsters that roved the wilds. The few that were too stupid to know better were dealt with easily. It seemed even the rising aggression of the local monsters had a limit. At the very least, they had provided him with the opportunity to pump a few levels into his latest skill¡ªMystic¡¯s Rend. Like he¡¯d expected due to its low cost, the current size of the arcane detonation was small. However, when it was contained and directed into his target''s bodies, the results were...messy. Regardless, their return to Deadacre had been an easy one, and they¡¯d high tailed it to the guild to meet with Rieker and Ro. The guildmaster had heaped praise on them galore¡ªproud of the fact that they had approached the battle with wit rather than simply relying on their brute strength, even if the choice had lowered the value of the drake¡¯s corpse. It still provided enough coin for them to increase the equipment they¡¯d gained substantially. Like the guild administrators had said, it had been enough for him to be rewarded with a full set of scale armour¡ªon top of the Elder blood he needed for his sword. With their payment in hand, they¡¯d rushed back to their rooms in the Stables¡ªgiddy as children as they ogled at their new rewards. Kaius stared at the shining set of scale that was laying in front of him. It was of a different style to his old Selian Scale. Where that had a sleek, almost reptilian look to it, his newest armour reminded him of the armour of an archetypical knight¡ªbut one where all extraneous plate had been replaced with thick overlapping scales the size of his hand. Only where flexibility was absolutely crucial¡ªmostly near the joints¡ªwere smaller scales used. It even came with a matching helmet¡ªsomething he was more than happy with. His old helm had been good, but it irked him that the bronze toned metal it had been crafted from stood out so starkly from the blueish steel of the rest of his gear. These pieces had been crafted by an artificer, and designed as a complete set. That alone gave him his first look at something he hadn¡¯t expected to see. Set bonuses. It was only a small effect¡ªapparently only the very best artisans could manage to create them, and it was never as outrageous as what could appear if someone was lucky enough to get a set effect from Depths-wrought artefacts. Still, it gave him valuable insight into how they functioned. At first he¡¯d been confused by the extraneous runework that seemed to be on every piece of the armour¡ªbut when he had it all laid out in front of him, he realised that they made a complete array when used in conjunction. The runic language used was unfamiliar, but Kaius could only imagine the difficulty of getting such an enchantment to function. He couldn¡¯t even begin to theorise how the enchantment worked even with none of the individual inscriptions being physically linked to each other. Shaking his head in amazement, he analysed the cuirass with his Truesight¡ªwanting to reread its description again. Upstart¡¯s Scalemail Cuirass: Rare - Tier I I¡¯d like to see you best this, you over stoked forge-hand! Forged from high grade steel alloyed with the barest hint of orichalum, this scalemail armour was crafted by an unusually accomplished journeyman runesmith. Well defended where it needs to be, this medium armour was an exercise in removing some of the limitations commonly faced by this class of defence¡ªblunt force trauma. Artisan-wrought Artefact Medium Armour (Cuirass) Durability III, Impact Reduction II, Self Repair I, Self Cleaning I, Resizing I Set Effect 5/5: Weight Reduction I Kaius smirked at the armour''s epigraph. It had surprised him when he first saw it¡ªand the ones of a similar nature on the other pieces, but the picture it painted was all too relatable. For artisan-wrought artefacts, the system had a penchant for pulling from relevant moments of the crafter¡¯s own life. When he¡¯d asked about it, Ro had smiled and let him know that this particular crafter had been embroiled in a feud at the time¡ªand this armour set had been the result of one of their many competitions. The smith had won the contest, but had been so disgruntled at having his frustration immortalised by the system that he¡¯d been ready to get rid of the armour by any means necessary. The guild had managed to get ahold of it for a steal¡ªunder the proviso that it was shipped to a Vault in the middle of nowhere, in the hopes that its creator would never have to lay his eyes on it again. ?a?No??§¦?S Each of the five pieces had identical enchantments¡ªcovering his cuisses, helmet, cuirass, greaves, and a pair of gloved gauntlets. Thanks to the resizing enchantment, he¡¯d be able to wear it over his travelling clothes. As convenient as that may be, Kaius was well aware that he should really secure some under-armour at some point soon. It was an important part of medium and heavy armour¡ªoften coming with enchantments aligned to further reduce impacts, deal with weight, and temperature. As he got higher in level, getting access to better tiers of equipment, it would likely become even more vital. The necessity of gear that provided more esoteric benefits than simple increases to toughness and durability became more and more necessary as the abilities of the foes he would face got increasingly varied and powerful. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. His new armour would also mean a moderate influx of funds to the group¡¯s coffers. While he was a little upset to be losing the magic resistance of his old Sellian gear, it was ultimately inconsequential. Rapid Adaptation¡ªeven with its direct damage resistance being pitiful with his current level and tier¡ªalready outstripped its effects handedly. As he grew to the second and third tiers, he knew he could expect his need for similar enchantments to reduce further. While not all skills followed the same development path¡ªthey grew similarly, but the system was ever fond of personalisation based on usage¡ªKaius knew that it was almost a certainty that he would quickly gain an increased measure of direct damage resistance. Father had said as much, and had been confident that even if he managed to evolve the skill entirely, he would maintain its core capabilities. The loss of his Bracers of Varkhossian Deflection was no great thing either. As he¡¯d grown increasingly strong, the static boost of the artefact had become less useful. Perhaps not negligible, not yet at least, but something that was no longer a deciding factor in his fights. Thankfully, it was likely a highly valuable effect, and he hoped that he could get a good price selling it to an artificer. Looking over to his team, Kaius found the two of them ogling their own rewards. Ianmus had gotten a new robe, and an ioun stone¡ªa chunk of crystal the size of his fist that would hover over the man¡¯s shoulder, acting as a mana reservoir. The latter was a curious artefact¡ªsomething he hadn¡¯t known existed. Apparently, the transfer was slow and lossy in both directions, but it would serve as a potent force multiplier for larger spells, or an emergency reserve. Wanting to refresh himself on Ianmus¡¯s new acquisitions, he analysed them. Robes of Theurgic Defense: Unusual - Tier I The only defenseless mage is an unprepared one. Made from forge-silk, a delicate formation has been woven into the very fabric of this robe. Holding a reservoir of mana, this artefact is able to mitigate attacks by pulling automatically from this stored energy. Artisan-wrought Artefact Clothes (Robe) Durability I, Impact Reduction I, Self Repair I, Arcane Barrier III ... Cracked Ioun Stone Fragment: Unusual - Tier I A shard of jealousy personified, coaxed into sharing its precious collection. Crafted from naturally occurring Galash crystal, this ioun stone is capable of holding a reserve of mana that maintains the signature of its user. Inscribed to allow direct transference of stored mana into a spell working, it is a potent force multiplier for any mage. Depths-wrought Artefact Auxiliary Equipment (Ioun Stone) Durability I, Self Repair I, Mana Reservoir IV They were a brilliant pair of artefacts for their mage. Ianmus¡¯s old robes were mediocre things¡ªdurable, self cleaning, and self repairing, but ultimately almost useless for any form of defence. His new ones were very different. Light and flowing, with an almost metallic sheen to their cream-coloured tone, they would serve as the first real boost to the man¡¯s survivability. The ioun stone was similar¡ªwhile it was by no means something that would radically change how they fought, it would mean that when the situation required it, Ianmus¡¯s devastating ray blasts would be just that much more destructive. Porkchop had gotten his own toys too. Kaius looked over to the artefacts his brother had received, a giant shield large enough to nearly cover a full grown man, and a simple unassuming ear stud that Porkchop had already had him punch into his ear. Stud of Lesser Ghosthand: Uncommon - Tier I Do you know how good it feels to be able to scratch the middle of my back again? To never have to reach for a stool to grab something from the top shelf? Life is about simple pleasures, my friend¡ªa little innovation goes a long way. Forged from spirit attuned aluminium and inlaid with ectoplasmic resin, this ear stud was designed as a mobility aid for an ailing artisan. Allows the control of a small telekinetic hand within nine strides of the user. This hand is slow and weak, leaving it incapable of most combat functionality. Artisan-wrought Artefact Auxiliary Equipment (Ear Stud) Durability I, Self Repair I, Ghost Hand I .... Autonomous Greatshield: Unique - Tier I You know what beats having a shield? Having two. Wanna know what beats that? Three. Forged from high grade steel that had been smelted using carbon sourced from a crop of Mind attuned wood, as well as force aligned titanium, this greatshield is telekinetically linked to its user. Responding immediately to their wishes, it will act to intercede attacks. Depths-wrought Artefact Armour (Shield) Durability IV, Self Repair I, Telekinetic Control II Kaius grinned as he read through the description of Porkchop¡¯s first artefact again. He¡¯d been overjoyed when he first received it. There were few things that Porkchop disliked about his body, but the lack of opposable thumbs was something that brought him endless frustration¡ªespecially since he had entered a society that assumed their presence as a forgone conclusion. The stud of Ghosthand would be nothing but a trinket to the vast majority of people¡ªniche, fun, and occasionally useful, but not much else. In Porkchop¡¯s possession, it was almost invaluable. He¡¯d worn it non-stop since receiving it¡ªgoing so far as to insist on eating with a fork when they¡¯d eaten a meal. All in all, it was a fantastic haul. There was only one thing left. A large jar, sealed tight into the same alchemical glass used for tonics¡ªbut the size of his head. Inside was a glob of what looked like congealed blood, except with a dull metallic sheen that threw off highlights of arterial red when it hit the light. Elder Blood¡ªthe next material he needed for his blade. Even sealed as it was, it called to him. Not in the sense his blade was reacting to its presence¡ªthe alchemical glass did its job¡ªbut he craved it. Yearned to snatch it up and pour it over his blade. To see what changes would be wrought in his most prized of possessions as he fed it its due. It seems he wasn¡¯t the best at hiding his wanton desire, as both Ianmus and Porkchop gave him knowing looks. ¡°I¡¯ll pitch the tent? Would give us a little extra privacy so you can absorb that material.¡± Ianmus said. Kaius nodded emphatically. ¡°Please.¡± The sooner he could help A Father¡¯s Gift to take its next step, the better. B2 Chapter 242: Elder Blood B2 Chapter 242: Elder Blood Sitting cross legged in the middle of his team¡¯s dimensional tent, Kaius stared down at his blade. Porkchop and Ianmus watched on in reverent silence as he swept his hand across its length, feeling the hunger with which its surface tore into the heat of his body. A Father¡¯s Gift, his most prized possession. A gift for reaching the age at which the system integrated with him fully. One that he now knew that his father had been preparing for for far longer than he had ever believed. One that had revealed the true depths of his father¡¯s secrets, and the hidden mysteries of their dynasty. Who would have believed that a gruff man living in the woods would have once been capable of crafting a mythical growth item? Even with the obvious depth of their legacy, it had still caught him by surprise¡ªhad still made him dream of the lost years in which his father must have forged this piece. Had the first designs been drawn when his unknown mother¡¯s stomach had swelled? Earlier? Whenever it was, it must have been forged in the heart of Unterstern, because no object of such potential could have been created without the workshop and resources of an entrenched master. Something his father had certainly lacked in the Arboreal Sea. Twisting his right hand, he saw the sign emblazoned on his palm in the black of night. A cutting weapon of death, hanging like a bared threat from a burning sun. His sigil¡ªmirrored in the fuller of his blade and glowing with the barest motes of light in the smoky crystal. A link, like his sword was to his past. His eyes graced its length reverently. The steel grey and charcoal black waves of alternating layered steel, sandwiched between an edge and centre of smoke grey crystal, the runes that blazed above his sigil, the filigreed cross guard and pommel, and the simple binding of woven leather over its grip. It was a thing of beauty¡ªbut it was a weapon first. A tool to cut through his obstacles. Stalwart, unbreakable, but not an implement of brute strength. For all of the supposed cracking brittleness of crystal, it bent like any sword¡ªgiving in to pressure, lest it snap. At its core, it was a weapon of control, speed, and intent. One that demanded mastery of the body. A visceral hunger and fury chained to purpose¡ªfuel to drive oneself beyond what was possible. A dangerous tool, where lacking ability became as dangerous to the self as it did the enemy. Deep within his core, Kaius felt a faint chime from one of his pillars. An aspect, crooning in delight as he drank in the sublime perfection of his oldest companion. Corporus, making its presence known. It was a weak resonance¡ªjust the barest hint of a restless slumber making itself known. Kaius paid the moment no mind. He¡¯d learned from Mentis and from his brother¡¯s experiences in awakening this same pillar. Enlightenment could not be forced, and Corporus was felt in the body. If his aspect demanded mastery, it would have it. There would be proving grounds aplenty in his future. But not today. This moment was for his blade. For the nourishment of a bond that would see him through to the very pinnacle. Like him, A Father¡¯s Gift dripped with potential. Hungered for growth. It had been with him since the start of his journey, and had witnessed every triumph and tribulation he had experienced. Kaius intended to reward that loyal devotion with the rich fertiliser it needed to grow into an implement that cut the path towards his goal. It was his sword. Designed from the outset to be bared in his hands. No matter how slow the process was, he would gather the reagents it was worth, and nourish the potential that lay in its core. Even if he had to lay it down momentarily¡ªto pick up a lesser blade when its current power fell lacking¡ªhe would search for the means to push it to new heights. R?A??o?bE?S?? Its first step was all accounted for. First, the Elder Blood. Then, the wyvern bone. No matter what it took, he would serve it only the very best of offerings. He vowed, whispered words that hung silently in the base of his chest. When the first step of his vengeance was at hand¡ªwhen he retook his father¡¯s blade¡ªit would be his sword that spilled the blood of his enemies. The tracker. The man with the scar on his face. He was only a small piece of the puzzle, but he would fall all the same. It was a start of a thread that needed to be followed. A man of his strength would have had little to do with the planning. No, there were others in the Onyx Temple that had a hand in Father¡¯s death. Even they would not be the end of the road. There was the looming threat soaring above the clouds, unseen from below. Someone had paid them¡ªdirected them to their vile work. There was no doubt in his mind that they were the same people who had wrought destruction on his family. Had crippled his father, shattered his dynasty, and stolen his birthright. It would be a long path. A bloody path. But with his blade, and his team, he would see it through to the end. With every step, every skill, and every level, he drew closer to the strength he needed to finally begin his search. The need to hunt and rage pumped through his chest¡ªsurging through his veins as his body demanded he move . Demanded he fight bodily against the storm of emotion that raged through him. He held himself still. The Veteran¡¯s Edge had revealed his path to him, and it was not one that was slaved to the basal wishes of instinct. Today, he took another step. As he would every day, until he stood at the peak. Until his desires were his own, unthreatened by the wishes of others. Until those that had clawed their way up with him, just as battered and bloody, stood with him and rejoiced. His vengeance would come¡ªhe could have patience. Blood called to blood, and it was only right that the essence of that very ichor would serve to temper his blade in preparation for the coming storm. Placing the sigil on his palm against its twin on his blade, Kaius felt the spark that slumbered within. It was little more than a growing seed of power nestled within dead iron, but who knew what would come in the future. He¡¯d researched more, in the archives. The first step of a growth weapon was an awakening. One that was most vital for defining its path and growth in the future. He¡¯d already fed it a core of molten life. Now it was time for the vital fluid. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Looking up, he met his team''s eyes. Feeling the weight of the moment¡ªand in Porkchop¡¯s case, his emotions directly¡ªthey gave him solemn nods. Kaius returned the gesture, before his gaze drifted to the jar of Elder Blood that sat at his side. Held in alchemical glass, its presence was entirely sealed, preventing his blade from crying out in desire. It looked like a glob of congealed blood the size of two of his fists. A dark cordovan, glistening wet in the soft lights that hung from the roof of the tent. Taking the chill glass in hand, the reagent rolled in the glass¡ªshimmering with a metallic sheen. He half expected it to leave streaks¡ªto deform and flow like a liquid. It didn¡¯t. It straddled the line between phases¡ªas much solid metal as it was thick liquid, shifting and changing without rhyme or reason. Truesight showed him it¡¯s description¡ªrefreshing his memory of his reward. Elder Blood: Unique - Tier I Affinity - Blood, Metal Power is the essence of blood, congealed and crystalised it becomes accessible. A potent metal, found only in the ancient gravesites of powerful beasts. Where enough blood has spilled, the iron gravitates to the locus of residual power¡ªshifting and transmuting in the presence of Blood and Metal affinity to become something more. Reagent Breathing deep, Kaius unscrewed the lid to the jar. As the scent of bloody battle and clashing swords filled the air, A Father¡¯s Gift reacted instantaneously. It keened, hungering as it seemed to tremble in Kaius¡¯s lap. Kaius smiled down at it warmly, before he dipped his hand into the jar to retrieve the metal within. It was cool to the touch, clinging to his fingers. It almost felt wet, but when he drew it free, he saw no traces of it left of his hands. Despite the odd feeling, he was immediately taken with its heft. A solid density that dragged his hand down¡ªforcing him to use a surprising amount of strength to move it freely. It wasn¡¯t that the weight was too much to bear¡ªnot with his current power¡ªjust that it held more mass than seemed possible for its size. He brought it to his sword, and it drank deep. **Ding! Material appropriate for A Father¡¯s Gift detected! Facilitate absorption?** As soon as the material touched the emblem on his blade, it liquified¡ªturning the bright carmine of arterial blood. Defying gravity, it swelled upwards, twisting in a siphon that was sucked deeper and deeper into the crystal of his fuller. Veins erupted, sprouting organically through the material as new growth wormed its way through crystal and steel alike. Everywhere they touched, changes were wrought. The overlapping layers of steel darkened¡ªcharcoal becoming pitch black, and blue steel becoming a dusky iron tinge. As the light above him struck the surface, Kaius saw a red gleam shine deeply¡ªrevealing the blood within. The veins within the crystal shrunk as the transformation continued, but they didn¡¯t disappear. Organically branching through both his fuller and edge, they gave his sword a bite of the grotesque¡ªa visage that promised to drink deep from his enemies. As the changes on his blade crystalised, the final remnants of the Elder Blood flowed free, dousing his guard and grip. It congealed on its surface¡ªhiding the changes within. Heartbeats later, it seeped inwards like water thrown on sand. The filigree on his guard and pommel was revealed first. Much like the belly of his blade, it now threw off red highlights¡ªbut that wasn¡¯t all. The filigree on its surface sparkled, vines now bestowed with the brilliant berries¡ªeach one a miniscule dot of what looked like solidified blood. His grip was revealed last¡ªthe simplest change, but one he liked deeply. What had once been a simple crosshatched wrapping of black leather, now held an intricately braided loop of leather the colour of rich port. **Ding! Growth Weapon - A Father¡¯s Gift has absorbed Elder Blood! Absorb one more suitable material to complete the upgrade!** Grinning at the new form of his blade, Kaius immediately opened its description with Truesight. A Father¡¯s Gift: Common - Tier I Forged in the dying days of Unterstern. Quenched in the fading light of prosperity. The final work of a master. Birthright of the last Scion. A two-handed longsword, forged from meteoric iron, orichalum, and Deep Essence, this sword hides a sliver of morphic Craexia crystal in its hilt. If the right conditions are met, this shard of potential may bloom. The complex network of a binding ritual is hidden under its hilt wrap. A core of crystal formed from a Spent Forgeheart now threads the blade, honing its edge even further. Veins of Elder Blood have quenched the sword from within, the essence of ancient battlefields stoking its regeneration and thickening the veil of blood that hides its truth. Artisan-wrought Artefact Growth Item: Materials needed for advancement: 1 Bound & Linked Longsword Honed II, Self Repair II, Durability II, Bloodline Veil VII Blinking away the screen, Kaius looked up to find Ianmus staring at the sword with a moderate amount of concern. ¡°Is it truly still only Common? The thing looks like it¡¯s holding enough magical weight that it could detonate if I breathed on it wrong.¡± the mage said, staring deeply at the weapon in his lap. Kaius nodded. He knew what Ianmus meant. Even if each material had morphed his weapon and reinforced its enchantments far beyond the limits of what a Common artefact should be able to bear, it was clear that the vast majority of the power of the materials had been siphoned away into the blade¡¯s core. He could feel it boiling there¡ªwaiting for the right spark to unleash it. It felt like almost anything would be enough to push it over the edge. Unfortunately, it would have to wait. He had eyes for only one piece. ¡°Makes you think what bloody dragon bone would do to it, doesn¡¯t it?¡± he replied, smiling at his weapon in satisfaction. ¡°You¡¯re willing to wait that long? You heard Rieker, it might take a year with how many missions we would need to secure it.¡± Porkchop asked. Kaius shrugged. ¡°I doubt it¡ªhe¡¯s already said that others in the guild are getting close to their own Aspects without help. I would be surprised if he won¡¯t be forced to move early to secure the Honours sharing network¡ªby that point we¡¯ll have the full support of the guild, even if he hides our exact identities for now.¡± Porkchop grunted. ¡°I suppose that¡¯s true¡ªstill, best to be prepared in the off chance it takes longer than expected.¡± Nodding back, Kaius was in full agreement with his brother. He was fully ready to set his blade aside in favour of a temporary replacement if he had to. Just because he wanted to nurture his sword with the best possible options didn¡¯t mean he had to sacrifice his own effectiveness in battle. Even with all the strength that it should by all means lack, Kaius expected that as it was A Father¡¯s Gift was probably straddling the line between an Uncommon and a Rare weapon. With much less variety in effects at that. ¡°Regardless, I expect the next few weeks will be interesting. Rieker is no doubt going to put you through the ringer, Kaius, considering how close you are to selecting your next spells for both Aelina and Drakthar.¡± Ianmus replied. ¡°All of us are, really. A couple of my skills are close to a break point, and from what I can remember Porkchop is close enough to his Shardwall expanding that Rieker will want him to push past it.¡± he continued. Kaius only grinned. As harsh as the guildmaster¡¯s training was, he had proven himself a dedicated and effective tutor. The skill growth they had seen under his direct tutelage beggared belief, and he was of no mind to discount their luck in securing his help. Few people, even the talented, could expect as much time and attention from a renowned warrior of the second tier as they had been afforded. Still¡ªsomething deep within him doubted that their days of hard training and blood pumping missions were long for the world. Everything had been going a little too easy for the last few months. He wouldn¡¯t squander whatever remained of their time. Every scrap of power they could scavenge now might be the thing that saved him when everything went to shit. Because it always did. When the hells boiled over, they would be ready. Rieker would make sure of it. B2 Chapter 243: Sequential Improvements, pt. 1 B2 Chapter 243: Sequential Improvements, pt. 1 Rieker was already waiting for them when they entered the underground training hall. He stood casually, arms crossed over a shirt that was suited to a day at the markets, shooting them an easy grin. ¡°Well, lads, I hope you¡¯re ready for a rough couple of weeks¡ªyou¡¯re all at a precipice, and I intend to push you over it before your next mission,¡± the guildmaster said, a glint in the man¡¯s eyes setting Kaius¡¯s heart racing. He smirked back, rolling his shoulders to ready himself for the day ahead. ... A pulsing flash visible in his mana sight was the only warning he got, a low powered light beam flickering into place a moment later to intersect with his chest. It was weak enough it would have done little but warm his skin. Kaius hurled his Will into the coursing magic of Slip Step, gritting his teeth as he urged the spell to push him out of the world as he lunged forwards. Reality blurred, and the beam phased harmlessly through his chest. Ahead of him, Porkchop was waiting in a defensive stance. Light and thunder filled the hall as a Stormlash crackled to life in his hand. Whipping the spell forwards, it arced through the air at a breakneck pace¡ªaimed to bind Porkchop around his chest. Right before his attack could land, a wall of jade erupted from the earth, dissipating his attack at a distance that left crackling secondary streamers unable to reach his brother. Another beam flashed¡ªthis one singeing the scales of his new armour. The sudden jolt of heat was almost enough to throw off his rhythm. Almost. Lunging to the side, Kaius slipped around the wall of jade that Porkchop had sent racing towards him a moment after it had blocked his attack. Spinning into a twirl, he tapped into Drakthar, discharging three spells at once. Writhing blue-white snakes filled the air, and Kaius threw the full weight of his intent and Glass Mind into binding the mystic abilities to his will. Urging them to diverge from the path he had set¡ªto curve through the air around the next wall that Porkchop was actively summoning. His magic bucked against him¡ªthe runic conduits that dominated Glyphbinding serving as a barrier that blocked his direct connection with the mana within them. Still, even with the burdens his chosen style had fostered upon him, he managed. Somewhat. One lightning bolt jerked high. Barely three strides, but it was enough¡ªit skimmed over the top of his brother¡¯s summoned wall to crack against Porkchop¡¯s chest. Faced with an opposed element, the Stormlash struggled to penetrate his brother¡¯s jade breastplate, much of its potency burning off as it charred the armour¡¯s exterior. The potent resonant force imbued in it by Resonance Amplification had no such limitations. Porkchop grunted, shards of crystal spalling from his armour to land on the stone floor like a glass rain. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Drakthar has reached level 100!** **Ding! Spell available for selection!** Kaius skidded to a halt, his heart thumping as a wide grin spread across his face. He¡¯d done it! After nearly a week of constant¡ªand contrived¡ªsparring, he¡¯d managed to push his Latent Glyph of Drakthar to the next stage. With his focus broken by the skill increase he had been waiting for, he read through the other skills that had increased since the start of his spar. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Aelina has reached level 86!** ... **Ding! Resonance Amplification has reached level 83!** ... **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has reached level 90!** ... **Ding! Uncanny Dodge has reached level 75!** ... **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo has reached level 86!** A new spell. A massive achievement that would do much to broaden his capabilities. Stormlash had proven itself a priceless and potent part of his kit, but at its core he knew his class was one designed for flexibility. With only a single damaging spell available to him, he¡¯d felt hamstrung¡ªforced to limit the ways in which he approached combat. His latest skill¡ªMystic¡¯s Rend¡ªwent a long way to correct that, but ultimately it was something that amplified his abilities in close combat, and not something that could potentially add a new modality to his offence. A spell absolutely would. Especially if he was lucky enough to get something that improved his ability to deal with enemies at range. Excitement fizzing within him, Kaius threw his arms in the air in celebration, a loud laugh spilling from his lips. ¡°I did it!¡± he called. His team grinned back at him¡ªtheir genuine delight at his latest gain plain as day on their faces. They rushed over, already having expected something significant when he¡¯d lost his focus¡ªa clear sign that their current bout was over. ¡°Finally! I know Prismatic Shardwall needs work, but it was getting boring letting you wale on me all day.¡± Porkchop replied, his armor vanishing as he bounded over to butt his head into Kaius¡¯s chest¡ªa move that nearly sent him sprawling. Ianmus wasn¡¯t far behind, clapping a hand on his shoulder. ¡°Congratulations¡ªand not just for the new spell. You''re getting adept at influencing your spell-hymns; I think you managed to force a skip a good half a dozen times this bout.¡± Kaius beamed, glad that his friends were with him to celebrate his victories. It was just a shame that Rieker wasn¡¯t here for the moment¡ªhe¡¯d been too busy with his duties to spare them more than an hour that morning. Still, the people most important to him were here, and he had a spell to pick. ¡°I¡¯m going to see what I¡¯ve been offered now.¡± Kaius said, shifting his weight from foot to foot, as if he was readying to physically chase down the object of his excitement. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Seeing his friends¡¯ nods of encouragement, he turned his attention to the waiting notification, and the words of the system spilled across his vision. Volcanic Expulsion: Runic Hymn - Tier I (Evocation) Affinity: Magma Glyph: Drakthar 150 Mana Selection Available! This Hymn summons a spray of liquid magma in a 20 long-stride cone. The spray continuously erupts for five seconds. ... Rexia¡¯s Thorns: Runic Hymn - Tier I (Evocation) Affinity: Nature Glyph: Drakthar 90 Mana Selection Available! This Hymn summons a grasping bramble of vines coated in steel-like thorns that covers region 5 long-strides wide. The vines automatically envelop all targets in reach. ... Sonic Scream: Runic Hymn - Tier I (Evocation) Affinity: Sound, Vibration Glyph: Drakthar 100 Mana Selection Available! This Hymn summons an explosive wall of sound in a 40 long-stride cone, penetrating armor and damaging internals. ... Hateful Nail: Runic Hymn - Tier I (Evocation) Affinity: Metal Glyph: Drakthar 100 Mana Selection Available! This Hymn summons a dense spike of metal that launches outwards at high speed. Hardened and pointed, it penetrates armour with ease. Upon impacting a target, the spike rapidly expands into a dense knot of tangled hooks. ... Ghostly Knife: Runic Hymn - Tier I (Evocation) Affinity: Spectral, Martial Glyph: Drakthar 70 Mana Selection Available! This Hymn summons a spectral blade behind a target within fifty long-strides, where it will strike directly for their undefended back. Roving over the options provided to him, Kaius immediately focused on a single one. All of the spells offered sounded fantastic. In particular, there were two that would provide him with a much needed ability to deal with larger crowds of enemies. Yet...Kaius couldn¡¯t help but feel that they would be the wrong choice. Sure, they had struggled against the bogglings, and having spells such as Sonic Scream and Volcanic Expulsion would have drastically changed the tides. However, it would have still been an impossible battle all the same. In the vast majority of cases, his bodily strength and skill with his blade was enough to deal with weaker opponents. As a team, they excelled at taking on singular, powerful, targets. Eventually, he would need to expand from that, but for his current goals that suited perfectly. In the far reaches of the Depths, it would be Champions and Guardians that were the truest threats, and he currently lacked something to project his capabilities at range. From that perspective Hateful Nail was perfect. That wasn¡¯t to say it wasn¡¯t without weaknesses. Judging by its wording, there would be little of the spell assisted targeting that he had leaned on so heavily with Stormlash. It would require him to aim, to land his shots. Something he was comfortable with¡ªarchery and thrown weapons had been a large aspect of his training for Warforged, afterall. In return, he would gain a long distance attack that sounded down-right devilish in its effects. A nail that twisted into fish hooks in his opponent''s flesh? Hateful, indeed. It would be crippling¡ªagonising¡ªand Kaius was confident that even a non-lethal blow would leave his targets crippled and wide open for a follow up assault. Afterall, Health couldn¡¯t heal a wound if the object of harm was still lodged deep. The only other spell that dragged at him was Rexia¡¯s Thorns. The ability to bind his foes with tearing spines was a tempting one. Bound and immobile, any enemy would be left a sitting duck waiting for his or his brother¡¯s killing stroke. Still¡ªhe was still partial to Hateful Nail. It felt right. Filled a gap in his kit that had been left wanting since he had abandoned his original glyph and left his Arcane Bolt spell and its variations behind. All the same, even if he was confident in his selection, there was wisdom in seeking the thoughts of his team. Blinking away the description of his options, Kaius looked up to his team¡ªan exuberant grin on his face. He relayed his options, sharing his opinion on his preferred choice and watched the thoughtful expressions of his companions closely. Ianmus broke the silence first, rubbing his smooth chin as he worked his way through his ideas. ¡°I think you have the right idea¡ªwhile I think that you should eventually build on your ability to handle multiple threats at once, for now I think both you and Porkchop can hold off a threat while I work on that wide guillotine lance i used against the bogglings.¡± he started. ¡°This Hateful Nail sounds promising. Not just because it will open up avenues for dealing with priority targets at range, but because it will be an impressive tool to weaken strong opponents if you can lodge a spike of twisted metal in their joints to hamper their mobility.¡± Ianmus finished, nodding in agreement to Kaius¡¯s original musings. Porkchop chuffed. ¡°What he said¡ªI saw how effective you were with your Arcane Bolts in the Depths. This sounds similar, but more effective in every way.¡± Kaius nodded at his team, thanking them for their input. With them all being in agreement, there was really no reason to stand on ceremony. Lowering himself to the floor, Kaius sat crossed legged on the cold stone. His other spell selections had come with a period of unawareness, and he had no desire to crack his skull on the floor on the off chance the experience left him sprawling. Focusing his gaze on Hateful Nail, he made his choice. And his consciousness fled, the room going black. .... Gasping, Kaius shot up from the floor, propping himself up with one arm. Disorientation washed over him, the experience of spending days focusing on learning his latest spell standing in stark contrast to what he knew would have been only a couple of minutes of time elapsing. ¡°How was it? Learn anything interesting from the runes?¡± Ianmus asked, offering him a hand to pull him upwards. Kaius groaned, taking the offered limb and pulling himself up to standing. ¡°Nothing concrete¡ªbut there were definitely some similarities to Stormlash¡¯s construction. Enough that I''ll need to spend some time properly comparing them¡ªthough I doubt I have enough to start properly inferring how the script works.¡± Kaius replied. Much like his other spells, the system had pulled him into a strange liminal space¡ªthe office where he was forced to study and practice with the spell-hymn until he knew its shape and structure like the back of his hand. His latest spell hymn was a compact thing¡ªtightly wound sigils and whorls that were woven into a work that promised pain and destruction. All in all, despite the monotony of focusing on its construction to the rejection of all else, Kaius found himself positively fizzing with anticipation to test the Hateful Nail out. As much as he might have wished it, the system had not provided him the means to actually see the spell in action¡ªeven when he had succeeded in its demands of perfect and consistent inscription of its many looping lines. ¡°Shall we get lunch, then?Kaius will need time to recover his mana anyway, so we might as well save testing out the spell, and working on our other skills until then.¡± Porkchop suggested¡ªthey¡¯d gone without food since the darkest hours of the morning, and the emptiness of his stomach was clearly weighing on him. Kaius nodded. As much as he wanted to see what his latest ability could do, he knew that he needed a break from thinking about the woven knots of his structure before he dived back into inscribing it in truth. ¡°Let¡¯s do it¡ªwe¡¯ll have plenty of time to practice, I doubt that Rieker will give us another mission until we have all hit our goals. Definitely not until I¡¯ve managed to squeeze out the next spell from Aelina, at the very least.¡± Kaius replied. Smiling in hungry excitement, they made their way out of the training hall. If they were lucky, they might be able to make it back to the Stables in time for one of Hensch¡¯s legendary meals. B2 Chapter 244: Sequential Improvements, pt. 2 B2 Chapter 244: Sequential Improvements, pt. 2 Rieker let out a barking snarl, his plated boot cracking the tiled stone floor of the training hall with the force of his charge. Even laden down by his heavy plate the guildmaster was fast¡ªbut not so fast that Kaius couldn¡¯t track him. He knew that the man was slowing himself, holding back so that he could actually put up a fight. The recent spars with Rieker still felt like he was facing up against the siege ogre once again. Every trick he pulled, every burst of strength and speed, was met with even retribution¡ªexperience and age giving the Wardog the tools he needed to meet Kaius at a level that forced him to his limit. Kaius couldn¡¯t help but grin at the shining titan of steel that approached him. Defenseless he might have been against the man¡¯s true might, he still took pride in that he was dangerous enough that Rieker had to don his personal armaments to ensure a lucky strike didn¡¯t cause an injury that would interrupt their confrontation. This would be their final spar¡ªhe knew that in his bones. His team had achieved their goals, having spent the last day more interested in watching him getting beaten and tempered at the hands of a master warrior. Aelina had a single level left, and both his Bladerite and Mystic¡¯s Rend had grown by leaps and bounds. Another shudder coursed through the floor as Rieker kicked off again, his warhammer rising in a promise of destruction. Kaius¡¯s senses sharpened, time slowing as he tapped into the rhythmic song that coursed through his blood. He hungered. To show the Wardog what he was made of. To finally make him bleed. Mana surged, two glyphs responding to his will. Snapping his left hand up, Kaius tapped into his latest spell. A spike of twisted steel screamed out¡ªas long as his forearm with a base as thick as two thumbs. The air howled at its passage, loosed faster than an arbalest bolt, and a shower of orange motes drifted from the glyph of Drakthar that lay hidden under the scale of his gauntlets. The world shuddered, sparks of azure drifting from his boots as Kaius lurched forwards¡ªSlip Step shrinking space as he charged forwards, hot on the heels of his Hateful Nail. The metal spike crossed the hall in the barest of moments. Kaius¡¯s aim was true¡ªhoned in the days of his childhood, and remembered in the week of sparring against a superior foe. Rieker reacted instantly, his hammer blurring to smash the spike aside. A clear ding ran through the air, sparks flying at the collision that sent Kaius¡¯s summoned attack spinning to the side. The spike morphed a moment later, cruel branches and hooks sprouting from his surface¡ªuseless, without flesh and armour to latch on to. Still fast approaching, Kaius hammered Rieker with another salvo¡ªtwo Nails warded off with the same ease as the first. ¡°You¡¯ll have to do better than that, lad.¡± Rieker said, his voice muffled from the confines of his full helm. Kaius responded with a crash of thunder¡ªStormlash lighting the hall blue as it raced towards his opponent with sparking fury. Driving his foot into the ground, Rieker launched himself to the side. Lighting smote the earth, harmlessly scorching stone. Racing to meet him, Kaius dipped into another Slip Step . Seizing the mana in his core, he pushed it to his blade. He had a plan¡ªWill surged into the spell that coursed out from Aelina, held tightly constrained until the moment he needed it. A wire seared to life along his blade''s edge, warping and shimmering with visible instability. Mystic¡¯s Rend. He¡¯d left a portion of his mana unallocated¡ªenough for a handful of uses of the skill. Grabbing his blade in both hands, Kaius lunged forwards, dipping his shoulders to roll into a rising slash that would sunder the Wardog from hip to opposing shoulder. ra??Ob?? Despite Slip Step making his advance far faster than it should have been, Rieker was ready for him. His warhammer swept down, smashing aside Kaius¡¯s blade with a deafening clang. Only for the thin edge of unstable arcane along the edge of his blade to detonate outwards from the point of impact. Caustic energy blasted outwards, drowning Riekers arm in volatile blue. Even familiar with the skill, the guildmaster still grunted as his arm was forced back. Kaius moved, diving through slip space as his blade grew bright with the vigour of his Bladerite. His hand flashed up from his hilt for the barest of moments, harrying Rieker¡¯s guard with a Hateful Nail. Rieker blurred, batting the projectile away¡ªonly for screaming lightning to follow close behind, a Stormlash binding his arm tight. The first blow. It barely made the man grunt¡ªhis rhythm thrown off for only a fraction of a moment. It was all Kaius needed. Pulling his blade in tight to the pit of his arm, coiled strength exploded out into a devastating stab. The razor sharp crystal point of his blade met the overlapping runed plates that covered Rieker¡¯s chest and stopped fast¡ªskittering across its surface with nary a scratch left behind. Kaius scowled. He¡¯d aimed for a seam, but the bastard had dropped his shoulder at the last moment, throwing off his aim. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The Wardog¡¯s retaliation followed quickly. Leaping back, Kaius¡¯s heart thumped as he saw the descending promise of his opponent''s hammer. ¡°Good¡ªbut you can do better!¡± Rieker called, racing after him. Kaius swept his blade up in an attempt to turn the blow¡ªonly for Rieker to sweep wide, defying the natural momentum of his swing. Bone splintered as the hammer smashed into the scales guarding his hip¡ªblunt force transmitted smoothly into the flesh beneath. Hip shattering it might have been, Kaius still knew that Rieker had held back. He¡¯d seen it once¡ªthe Wardog putting his full might into a blow. It was a simple exhibition, an example of how far they had to go. That blow had atomised the training dummy¡ªa glowing hammer strike of fire and fury. A familiar itching heat bloomed, his mashed hip reknitting almost as quick as the wound was delivered. Ignoring the dull ache left in the hammer''s wake, Kaius whirled his blade overhead¡ªanother thread of explosive wire coating its edge. Rieker twisted through his hips, switching to a two handed grip as he drew his weapon back to defend against the cleaving blow. A committed defence¡ªan exploitable weakness that left Explorer¡¯s Toolkit crooning in delight, even muted as it was in the confines of the city. Kaius grinned¡ªit was the moment he¡¯d been waiting for. After all his practice imbuing his spells with intent, he¡¯d noticed something interesting. Centred on his glyphs, persistent spells like Slip Step were far easier to manipulate. He could push his intent into the glyph for longer¡ªmore easily force a result the longer he worked. As he strained, bringing his sword down with all of the might in his back and arms, Kaius unleashed his accumulated will. It was still a gamble¡ªmaybe one chance in five at best¡ªbut it was all he had. If he failed, he¡¯d be open and unguarded¡ªat best Rieker would kick him back and break a few of his ribs. But he wanted to see the man bleed. Just once. Right as the haft of Rieker¡¯s hammer rose to meet his swing, Kaius flickered. A barest moment of intangibility, usually so unreliable, happening with impeccable timing. His blade phased right through the Wardogs hammer, a ghostly apparition that brooked no barriers. The guildmaster¡¯s counter-swing continued unhindered, sailing over his head. Then the blurring fuzz of slip space left Kaius¡¯s senses, and the edge of his sword slammed into Rieker¡¯s pauldron. The wire of arcane coating his blade snapped, whining ominously as it condensed at the point of impact. **Ding! Latent Glyph of Aelina has reached level 100!** **Ding! Spell available for selection!** Blue white fire burst outwards in a tight cone, a deafening crack stabbing into Kaius¡¯s ears as the shockwave blew over him. Rieker grunted, stepping back under the unexpected result. He paused, staring at Kaius before turning his helmeted head to stare at his scorched armour. A thin drip of blood seeped out from a seam between the plates, right where Kaius had struck. Standing in a mid-guard, it took all of Kaius¡¯s willpower not to throw arms in the air and howl his victory. Thankfully, his own visored helmet concealed his wild grin. Then Rieker looked back at him, and his heart nearly froze as he remembered who he was facing. The Wardog. Palpable violence washed outwards, seeping through his scaled armour to chill his blood like a glacial breeze. Metal and leather creaked as Rieker tightened his gauntleted grip on his hammer. ¡°Ah, crap.¡± Kaius thought to himself. ¡°Just kidding.¡± Rieker said, his body suddenly relaxing. Kaius sighed in relief, the breath he hadn¡¯t even realised he was holding racing free. ¡°Dick.¡± he called back, rolling his eyes¡ªeven with only a thin gap in his visor, he knew that Rieker would see it. Rieker chuckled¡ªa sound closer to grinding boulders than human amusement. Pulling off his helmet, the guildmaster pushed the streaks of sweat soaked hair free of his face and gave him a teasing grin. ¡°That was ballsy¡ªbut effective all the same. Never thought a kid who hasn¡¯t even reached his fifth skill would be able to make me bleed.¡± Rieker shook his head with a rueful smile, before he snapped up with narrowed eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone, I''ll never hear the end of it.¡± Kaius laughed. As much as Rieker could crush him if he wanted, he¡¯d achieved a far more important victory. A blow to the man¡¯s pride. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare¡ªwho would believe little old me managed to hurt the Wardog of Deadacre anyway?¡± Kaius responded. Rieker snorted, before he walked over and clasped Kaius¡¯s shoulder. ¡°That was a good fight¡ªyou¡¯re getting stronger. All of you.¡± he said, turning to include Porkchop and Ianmus, who had started to make their way over from the edge of the hall now that their spar had finished. ¡°A few more months, and I have no doubt you¡¯ll be ready for your next delve¡ªwhich means you¡¯ll have a straight shot to the end of the first tier. Even if you have to spend a bit of time working on your skills before you make the jump, you¡¯ll have more than enough strength to protect yourself from some of the more common dangers of power.¡± Rieker continued. Kaius nodded¡ªhe¡¯d hoped so. As much as he¡¯d enjoyed the last half a year or so, he was getting antsy. The sooner he had the strength and backing to be able to look into the bounty hunter who had tracked down him and Father, the better. He¡¯d already asked Reiker if he¡¯d found anything about the man with the scar, but the guildmaster had little to tell him. Only apologetically confirming Kaius¡¯s suspicion that he wasn¡¯t a known local agent, and that he was still waiting to hear from contacts in the Greenseed Dukedoms and further afield. Rieker turned his attention back to him, a curious expression on his face. ¡°That last attack of yours, where you phased through, is it consistent?¡± Kaius winced, shaking his head. ¡°As much as I would love it to be, it isn¡¯t.¡± Barking a laugh, Rieker shook his head slowly. ¡°Just my luck then. You¡¯ll get there eventually, but until then, best to leave it as a last ditch attack.¡± Kaius nodded¡ªhe wasn¡¯t foolish enough to risk leaving himself completely open in a true mortal battle. ¡°The important thing for now is that it worked. Though I would love to know if it was enough to push you over the edge.¡± Rieker asked. Evidently, his team felt similarly, both Ianmus and Porkchop watching him closely in anticipation of his response. ¡°It was.¡± Kaius grinned. The others smiled widely, stepping in to slap him on the back in congratulations. ¡°What are you waiting for then? Check your options!¡± Porkchop said, nudging him in the chest. Kaius laughed and shoved his brother back, but pulled up his notifications all the same, moving first to the other skills that had increased during his brawl with the guildmaster. **Ding! Initiate¡¯s Glyphic Bladerite has reached level 73!** ... **Ding! Mystic¡¯s Rend has reached level 23!** ... **Ding! Tempered by Dissonance has reached level 81!** ... **Ding! Explorer¡¯s Toolkit has reached level 75!** ... **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo has reached level 98!** ... **Ding! Lesser Regeneration has reached level 86!** Kaius took in his growth¡ªa mere fraction of his total gains over the last few weeks of training, but significant all the same. As much as a deep part of him hungered to throw himself non-stop into confrontations, he knew that the work Rieker had insisted they put in was the reason they were keeping pace with their meteoric rise in levels. If they managed to keep this up, there was a very real possibility that they wouldn¡¯t have to spend much time at all capped at the end of the tier. Smiling in satisfaction, he moved on. He had spells to pick. B2 Chapter 245: Sequential Improvements, Finale B2 Chapter 245: Sequential Improvements, Finale Standing before Rieker and his team, Kaius took in the stream of options that coursed passed his vision. His fourth spell, coming straight off the back of his third. He¡¯d been looking forward to this selection¡ªthe type of fighter that he was, he¡¯d been certain that an additional avenue through which to advance, manoeuvre, and retreat would improve his lethality almost as much as his Drakthar spells would. Judging by the options provided, he¡¯d been correct. Trussant¡¯s Expedient Shunt: Runic Hymn - Tier I (Mobility) Affinity: Force Glyph: Aelina 100 Mana Selection Available! This Hymn rapidly shunts the user five long-strides in a chosen direction through an explosive burst of force mana, shielding them from the effects of their sudden movement. At any time, the user may halt their movement via a secondary, opposing, burst. ... Verdant Traversal: Runic Hymn - Tier I (Mobility) Affinity: Nature, Life Glyph: Aelina 200 Mana Selection Available! This Hymn twists surrounding flora to slightly assist the user¡¯s movements, and hamper any opponents within two long-strides of their person for one hour. ... Wave Dash: Runic Hymn - Tier I (Mobility) Affinity: Water Glyph: Aelina 100 Mana Selection Available! This Hymn summons a surge of turbulent water that assists the users movements for fifteen seconds, while leaving them unhindered to its currents. ... Chotnik¡¯s Obscured Retreat: Runic Hymn - Tier I (Mobility) Affinity: Dust Glyph: Aelina 150 Mana Selection Available! This Hymn summons a dense cloud of dust with every step the user takes for 30 seconds, obscuring their form. While inside this cloud, the user moves moderately faster. ... Shadebound Return: Runic Hymn - Tier I (Translocation) Affinity: Dusk, Shadow Glyph: Aelina 300 Mana Selection Available! This Hymn detaches the user from their shadow, leaving it sealed in place. Five seconds later, the user is returned to their original location. Kaius grinned as he read the spells¡ªthere were a couple that immediately jumped out to him. Shadebound Return,Chotnik¡¯s Obscured Retreat, and Trussant¡¯s ExpedientShunt all looked extremely promising. The first was simple¡ªeven a translocation spell as limited as this one would provide extreme utility in combat. He doubted there would be any enemies at their current levels of power that would be easily able to deal with him suddenly appearing behind them. His only worries were that it would be almost useless when he eventually got a more potent and usable teleportation style spell, and that it cost an eye watering three-hundred mana. The cost, in particular, drove him away from selecting it¡ªthat was two Stormlashes or three Hateful Nails, something that would make it exceedingly difficult to justify inscribing more than a couple of casts. Thankfully, the other two spells of interest seemed far less restrictive. In spite of its name, Kaius thought Obscured Retreat would make for a brilliant offensive mobility spell¡ªone that would hamper his opponents vision, and empower his ability to manoeuvre around them. That, and it would come in handy if they ever had to make a hasty exit. Still...he couldn¡¯t quite pull his eyes away from his final selection¡ªthe first one he had been shown. Expedient Shunt sounded...extremely flexible, if somewhat complicated to utilise to the fullest extent possible. Suddenly flying in any direction would be a significant boon, and if the explosive force was large enough, he might even be able to use it offensively. That said, it was a gamble. If the shunt was uncontrollable, it could be a liability on the battlefield. A sudden dodge or advance was one thing, but if it sent him flying into an uncontrollable tangle of limbs, it might just get him killed. It was still hard to get the idea out of his head. If it was hard to control, it might still be worth it¡ªhe was confident that he at least had the bodily control to learn if he had to. The potential for vertical mobility alone...he could already imagine a dozen different stratagems that he could utilise the spell in, especially since the spell was cheap enough he could likely chain multiple casts together, or combine it with the distance shrinking effects of Slip Step for an extra boost. He turned to his audience, one and all watching him with expectant expressions. Grinning at their obvious impatience, Kaius shared his options¡ªand his thoughts. Rieker scratched at the stubble on his jaw, nodding thoughtfully. ¡°I think you¡¯re on the right track¡ªif perhaps not for the reason you have considered.¡± the guildmaster eventually said. Kaius cocked his head at the man, curious about what he had missed. ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°Those spells will scale with you, and they are cheap. A sudden, semi-offensive, burst of force to hurl you in any direction you want? Capable of being halted at will? I can see that being strong at higher tiers.¡± Ianmus¡¯s eyes widened in realisation, before he nodded emphatically. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°You¡¯re right!¡± the mage replied, before turning to Kaius. ¡°You¡¯ll inevitably reach the point where it would be trivial to keep dozens of this spell inscribed. If the detonations continue to grow in strength, the spell might well become a viable method of attack in its own right.¡± Before he could even fully process the idea of turning himself into a living bomb, Rieker chuckled. ¡°While that is true, I was more thinking about how many serious injuries I could have avoided in my life if¡ªat any time¡ªI could have suddenly decided to be moving in a different direction at extreme pace. That¡¯s something that you won¡¯t outgrow. Plus, with your lack of channel time, it will literally never be anticipated.¡± the guildmaster said. ¡°It¡¯s alright, elf-boy, I thought your idea was fun.¡± Porkchop chuffed, nudging Ianmus with his shoulder as the mage¡¯s shoulders slumped at his assumption being off the mark. Kaius smiled, but found that he agreed with both of them regardless¡ªTrussant¡¯s Expedient Shunt seemed like the best pick of the lot. ¡°I¡¯m going to pick it.¡± Rieker nodded. ¡°In which case, I¡¯m going to leave you¡ªI have work to attend to. Go see Ro tomorrow morning, we can discuss your next mission then.¡± Turning to leave, the guildmaster looked over his shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re doing well, Kaius. While you might lack the honed class focus of someone like Porkchop, you¡¯ve still got the strength expected of your class rarity, and are developing a monstrously versatile power set¡ªyou¡¯ll have very few true weaknesses by the time you¡¯ve gotten all of your skills, I have no doubt.¡± Finished with giving one of his rare compliments, Rieker strode out of the hall, his plated feet clanking on the stone with every step. Kaius beamed at the guildmaster¡¯s words, happy that someone of Rieker¡¯s experience saw the value in what he was trying to create. ¡°Well then, I best get this over with, I suppose¡ªthen we can go eat.¡± Kaius said to his team, taking a seat on the floor. Pulling up his spell options, he made his choice and was whisked away to a familiar office. .... Kiaus stood in front of a wide wooden table, his team crowded around him. They were in what seemed to be a small library only available to higher ranked members of the guild. Judging by the material on the shelves, access was limited less because of the contents of the books, and more because it was private and secluded. A place for the powerful to plan without being intruded on by hopeful juniors. Ro had led them up there quickly, before flying back downstairs as soon as she was done¡ªmuttering something about chasing up on overdue reports. Across the table, Rieker stood facing away from them, his hands roving as he picked his way through the shelves that lined the walls. ¡°Ah, here we are.¡± Rieker finally said, his hands settling on a rolled canvas. Pulling it free, he set it down on the desk with a solid thump, rolling it open with a flick of his wrists. A move that sent a gentle puff of dust gusting upwards¡ªthe infrequently used canvas revealing itself to be a map of Deadacre and its surrounding regions. A valuable one at that, judging by the size and detail it held. Leaning over, the guildmaster tapped one finger on a section reasonably far to the northeast of the city. The region he pointed to looked odd to Kaius¡¯s eyes¡ªthe map maker had drawn it in the same colours that it had in the deadzone that surrounded the city. The environment, at least, looked reasonably easy to identify. Stacked stoned and rocky pillars had been drawn alongside strange piles of what he assumed was dead wood, bleached white in the sun. ¡°The Bonefields, ghastly place.¡± Rieker said. Kaius¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, the context enough for the white drawings of what he had assumed to be wood to resolve themselves into slightly abstracted piles of bleached bone. ¡°What¡¯s there? I¡¯ve never heard of it.¡± Ianmus replied, bending down to get a closer look at the drawing. ¡°A whole lot of not much, usually. Some think it''s cursed, but it¡¯s not. Just...dead, much like the lands around the city. A lot of bone, stone, and one pesky little native critter that has proven to be a growing problem.¡± Rieker replied. That was enough for Kaius to be certain that these ¡®critters¡¯ were about to be served a death sentence. ¡°What are they?¡± Kaius asked, his focus honing¡ªhe planned on getting as much information as he could out of the guild master. ¡°Bone biters.¡± Rieker grumbled. ¡°Not new¡ªthey¡¯ve always been there¡ªbut they¡¯re bloody weird. Never really bothered to cull them¡ªthey¡¯re aggressive, but don¡¯t really leave the Bonefields, which are leagues from anything important. Plus they never really used to get above level fifty or so.¡± Kaius brushed his hand through his hair. If they were out of the way, and were generally a non-issue, he wondered what had changed? Guild contracts didn¡¯t exactly come out of nowhere. After he asked, Rieker chuckled in response. ¡°I¡¯ll be honest¡ªit is a relatively low priority mission, a caravan strayed too close and got harassed. However, I wanted someone to check them out. Reports said they¡¯d grown to level one-ten and up, and it''s odd for them to venture out of their habitat at all.¡± the guildmaster responded. ¡°Mostly, I thought it would be good experience for the three of you.¡± Looking to his team, Kaius raised his eyebrow questioningly. They nodded back, giving him their confidence. ¡°Alright, you¡¯ve got our attention¡ªI want to learn more about them first, before we commit to taking the mission on, though.¡± he said, turning his attention back to Rieker. ¡°Good man,¡± RIeker grinned, pleased that he was doing his due diligence. .... It turned out that calling bone biters weird was an understatement. They were supposed to be doglike, if front heavy and over muscled¡ªbut they were covered in thick plates of bony armour, leaving them looking bulky and skeletal. Apparently, most had assumed they were undead, or abominations¡ªnope, plain old beasts. Weird ones, who seemed to subsist by gnawing on the ancient remains that littered their demesne, and by hunting the various smaller creatures that lived in it. They travelled in packs, with wide ranges, and were highly aggressive. It was the main reason that a mission could even be justified. If they were starting to leave the Bonefields, they could prove to be a lethal threat to the nearby caravan routes. Each group laid claim to a large territory, and Rieker wanted them to clear out the group that patrolled the edge closest to the caravan trail. Hopefully they¡¯d simply lost a territory dispute, and had been forced to exit the Bonefields. If they hadn¡¯t, they would need a larger, more comprehensive culling of their numbers. Something that Rieker insisted was not their job¡ªgoing so far as to demand they leave if it turned out multiple groups of biters were ranging out of the edge, or they saw evidence of persistent hunting in the area surrounding the Bonefields. Ultimately, they were being tasked with a scouting mission¡ªthey¡¯d earn their pay on information alone. Killing the pack that had assaulted the caravan would bring a bonus, but a small one. It was a convenient source of experience, but not one the guildmaster would have them risk everything for. It was their tendency to hunt in numbers that worried him¡ªtheir levels were high, and even if it would be nothing like the unending siege of bogglings, it would still be dangerous. Thankfully, they had rarely been spotted at numbers higher than twenty strong. The group they had been tasked with investigating was supposed to be in the upper reaches of that number, but not larger¡ªthough he was loath to fully trust any second-hand report from a panicked caravan. The last few missions he had taken had proven that information from their issuers was to be taken with a large grain of salt. Still, even with that being the case, he was confident in their abilities. They had hunted a drake. Even if it had been lower level than these bone biters, it was immensely larger, and a pseudo-dragon¡ªtwo things that made it immensely stronger than simple levels could gauge. After that hunt, they had plenty of coin to make preparations, and due to the low-priority nature of the mission, would be able to take as much time as they needed researching the surrounding area. That would be critical¡ªwith how far the beasts travelled they¡¯d need to bait the creatures to them. Thankfully, that likely wouldn¡¯t be all that difficult with how aggressive they were. Rieker suggested they make use of the plentiful rock formations to create a defensible position¡ªone where Ianmus could perch safely up high, while he and Porkchop focused on the more hands-on aspects of battle. Happy with what they had learned, Kaius accepted the mission. Rieker gave them a nod, before his face grew stern. ¡°One more thing, before you leave to make your preparations.¡± the guildmaster said, stopping them as they readied themselves to leave. Kaius looked up, meeting his eyes. ¡°Stay on your toes. You¡¯re making great progress, but It¡¯s been over six months since you killed that spider. If anyone noticed, they¡¯ll have been watching and will have seen your growth. If you notice any sign of being followed¡ªany suspicion at all, high-tail it back here.¡± Kaius¡¯s face went grim, mirrored in the hardened stances of his team. They nodded. ¡°I¡¯d send Ro after you if I could, but...any more absences on her part are going to be questioned¡ªand we¡¯ve both got a lot on our plates with everything that¡¯s been happening. I¡¯ve done my best to keep you hidden, but just be careful, alright? I¡¯m only human.¡± Rieker said. The man was genuinely concerned, Kaius realised, warmth at the guildmaster¡¯s fondness for them warring in his chest against the gnawing worry at their potential discovery. ¡°Take this.¡± Rieker tossed him a similar medallion to the one they had been given before the drake hunt. ¡°It¡¯s a message token¡ªif you get in trouble, use it. I promise I''ll come looking.¡± ¡°We will¡ªthank you.¡± Kaius replied, slipping the disk into his belt pouch. Rieker gave them a small nod, before he busied himself with clearing away the map and notes that had gotten strewn across the table during their debrief. Taking it for the dismissal that it was, Kaius led his team out of the room¡ªpotential men of nefarious intent or not, they had a mission to plan. B2 Chapter 246: Intertwined Plans B2 Chapter 246: Intertwined Plans Thumping down the heavy bestiary he had found in the stacks¡ªone of a dozen copies for the local threats¡ªKaius brushed off the dust and thumbed through its pages, coming to a stop when he reached the entry on bone-biters. A quick read confirmed what he had hoped. ¡°Here,¡± he said, leaning back away from the book so that Ianmus could peer at the page. ¡°They¡¯re carrion eaters, among other things.¡± he pointed to the relevant line. ¡°Might be a way to bait them towards us.¡± The entry on bone-biters was small, but one enterprising explorer had confirmed he¡¯d seen the biters traveling far to scavenge kills, when the opportunity was available. ¡°A fake kill site is a good idea.¡± Porkchop confirmed. ¡°Especially if we can haul in a couple of deer or similar from the surrounding grasslands.¡± Nodding, Kaius pushed the book in front of Ianmus, who was still busy reading the entry. The mage was better suited to it than him, and he¡¯d only skimmed the page. Standing up, he peered over the map they had purchased earlier in the day¡ªmore detailed than the one Rieker had shown them, but covering less area. It was surprisingly pricey for a bit of paper, but ultimately a negligible cost compared to refreshing their stocks of potions. Hells, even the hunting knife he¡¯d gotten to replace his old one was more expensive. He glanced at it, sitting on his hip. It still felt weird not to have his old blade¡ªone that had been a gift¡ªbut common steel was growing useless against the hides he was having to cut through now. This one was a fine piece¡ªa simple Common with enchantments to enhance its durability and edge. Turning back to the map, Kaius focused on the territory of the biters. They¡¯d circled the supposed range of the pack they were interested in¡ªa section right at western edge of the Bonefields. According to the map, there was a river within a day''s walk. It was most likely their best bet if they wanted to find large game. That said, he wanted more assurance than just a likelihood that they would be able to bait the biters to them. They needed a way to handle their numbers¡ªreduce their strength. The right staging grounds would be part of that, but perhaps... ¡°Could we poison the bodies?¡± Kaius asked, eyes still roving over the contours of drawn stoney outcroppings. Ianmus flicked to the next page, answering a moment later. ¡°Unlikely. It says here that they have a fantastic resistance to disease and poison, and a similarly good sense of smell¡ªwe could always try toxins from other affinities, but those are expensive and there''s a good chance they might sniff them out and steer clear.¡± ¡°Do they have any physical vulnerabilities? Anything that might let us deal with their armour?¡± Porkchop asked. Ianmus pursed his lips, eyes roving the lines of text in front of him, before he tilted his head to the side. ¡°Not exactly. They¡¯re not the most extensively researched creatures¡ªthis entry is barely three pages, and half of one of those is a sketch.¡± the soft sound of Ianmus¡¯s finger tapping the page carried through the hushed silence of the archives. ¡°There is an excerpt here about a biter struggling to turn in a pursuit and hitting a cliff face¡ªleaving itself badly injured¡ªbut it¡¯s a comedic anecdote. It could mean that they¡¯re poor turners, and vulnerable to crushing force, but it¡¯s hard to tell if it¡¯s exaggerated for effect.¡± A single anecdote. It wasn¡¯t much. Running his hands through his hair, Kaius thought through their options. Even if it was shaky knowledge, it was better than nothing. Tracing the outskirts of the Bonefields, his eyes settled on a section of contoured lines. A small plateau, ringed by what looked to be sharply rising stone pillars, and finishing in a sharp drop into a ravine. It would be hard to access¡ªonly two narrow routes led to the flat outcropping, one from outside of the dead space, and one from further in. It was also the only decent option he could spot on the map that didn¡¯t risk butting up against another pack''s territory. There was no way he wanted to risk fighting more than one pack at the same time¡ªat least not at first. If they did well against the first one, they¡¯d likely gain enough levels that they could squeeze out more growth from others without too much risk. Not too many though, otherwise they¡¯d risk outstripping their skill levels significantly. Thankfully, they could at least be confident in the accuracy of their map. They¡¯d paid top dollar for one that had been drawn using scrying abilities¡ªit was a close recreation of the actual physical features of the land, rather than an impressionistic one for wayfinding. ¡°Here,¡± Kaius pointed to the plateau he had found. ¡°We can bait them up here. Ianmus can hide up in the rocks, and if Porkchop and I get overwhelmed, we might be able to bait them into charging off the cliff¡ªif they¡¯re as poor turners as the book says.¡± ¡°And if you can¡¯t?¡± Ianmus asked, looking critically at his choice of battlefield. ¡°We jump¡ªthe ravine only looks to be twenty long-strides deep, and both of us will recover from broken legs faster than they will. Hopefully that won¡¯t even be an issue though.¡± ?a??O??bE?S ¡°Oh?¡± Porkchop asked curiously, wondering how he could possibly intend to save them from broken bones. Kaius grinned. He had his new spell, and from the little he had tested it, it would work fine at slowing his descent. As for his brother? Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°Have you ever tried to get your Shardwall to come out of a cliff?¡± .... In a darkened office buried deep in a lost place, Old Yon closed his eyes and breathed deep, scenting vellum and well oiled wood. The smell of hard work, and profits to be made. Opening his eyes, he took in the austerity around him. Everything was quality¡ªgood wood, well carved stone, and anything else that added material value; he was no pauper afterall. It was still simple. He despised the excess of some of his peers and superiors. There was no better way to leave a trail than for someone to start questioning why parfum, art, vintage, and silk was vanishing into the wilds in vast quantities. No, simplicity was enough for him. Finery was for those of weak will¡ªthose who couldn¡¯t focus on more pertinent things. Turning his attention to the papers on his desk, Old Yon moved onto more important matters. Business. He picked up the first page on the stack¡ªhis weekly reports. Leaning back into the hard wood slats of his chair, he allowed himself a small smile as his seat didn¡¯t so much as squeak. A lack of noise was the only comfort he needed, and it was one he was more than happy to pay for. Shard price was on the up¡ªanother tenth again since the last week, and there¡¯d been an uptick in habitual users. He smiled, far too many teeth glinting in the candle light. Much like most things these days, there was opportunity and challenge in equal measure. His trained eyes could see the profit that was waiting to be seized¡ªif he could handle the difficulties in securing it. The increased price was only partially due to addicts¡ªmostly it was due to dwindling supply. Smuggling had grown more difficult with increased eyes on caravans, and fewer and fewer in his network were willing to brave the wilds with a smaller crew. Tapping his chin, Old Yon peered into the veil¡ªcalculating a path forward as his eyes glowed a sickly purple, washing out the pale yellow of his candles. The light faded as he reached his decision, mind slowing as he returned to himself. Restricted selling was fine¡ªbut they needed that supply. If they couldn¡¯t drip feed shard to their growing customer base, they¡¯d lose too many of them. They needed a stockpile, until trade normalised once again. He placed the page down, reaching for the quill he¡¯d left in his inkwell. A stroke of ink on the page was enough for him to sign off on the expenditure of doubling guards for the smugglers. The next report was interesting. One of the governor''s guards had been getting uppity, started to demand more payment for the information he had been slipping one of his men. Yosi, by the looks of it. He remembered that agent, and it seemed he was as effective as he always had been. The guard hadn¡¯t realised he was one of a dozen they had on payroll. Yosi had ensured the man had an unfortunate...accident, and one of the hopefuls they had been grooming was already slated to replace him. The pages started to fly past, Old Yon¡¯s eyes glowing once more as he devoured text after text, cataloguing what he had learned in the iron vault that was his mind. His quill blurred, orders and directions left in moments. He signed the death of a merchant that refused to price-fix with some of their own. A gambling ring was sentenced to discovery¡ªa few too many guards sniffing around it. Easier to cut loose to preserve the greater network, and give the dogs a bone to gnaw on¡ªafter the valuable employees were reassigned, and the useless and dangerously knowledgeable were dealt with. They had plenty of bodies to take the fall, after all. The meat markets were full to the bursting, overwhelmed by the deluge of the dispossessed and desperate. With a slash of his pen, Old Yon ordered some of the prettier ones sent to Grandbrook. Bruiser was holding up a bit better than he was¡ªhis cell was far more centralised, and had a larger population to work with. More room for profit, and more space for a tramp from an overrun hamlet to disappear. Besides, Bruiser owing him another favour would likely prove useful in the coming months. Moving to the next page, Old Yon smiled. He¡¯d been looking forward to this one. His greatest prize of the year¡ªperhaps only overshadowed by the pet project that Grave-eye had left in his lap. The Hiwwian was still holding strong¡ªher mouth sealed up tighter than a guild vault. Old Yon frowned, at this point, he was almost certain that standard methods wouldn¡¯t work. Bloody oaths, they made the most profitable ventures the most difficult. He¡¯d hoped that he¡¯d caught her early enough, but it seemed it wasn¡¯t to be. A few more weeks, and he¡¯d pay for a mind mage. They¡¯d need one if she was oathbound. Even aside from the Legacy she held, she had some secret¡ªa valuable one, by his estimation. He needed to know how she did it. She¡¯d grown almost as fast as his other primary interest, without the backing of the guild. Grinding his teeth in frustration, Old Yon leaned back in his chair and kept flicking through his reports. It wasn¡¯t like she was going anywhere, and besides, he might as well save his money¡ªsave the call out fee for when he managed to secure the next shipment he was investigating. A single knock echoed through the room¡ªfirm and polite. Old Yon sighed, the glow in his eyes fading. It was important¡ªno one here would dare to interrupt him otherwise¡ªbut it still irked to have his work interrupted in such a fashion. ¡°Yes?¡± he said. The door cracked open, and a figure draped in black hunting clothes walked in. He was tall, and almost skeletal in his willowyness. One of his hunters. ¡°That team you¡¯ve got me watching is leaving the city.¡± the man said, his voice a soft whisper¡ªas if breaking the silence was painful to him. Old Yon nodded. Finally. ¡°Take a Silver retrieval team.¡± The hunter cocked his brow, looking at him incredulously. ¡°Mighty expensive for a bunch of kids, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°First, do not question me in my own office.¡± Old Yon¡¯s words were calm, slow¡ªbut backed by a poisonous surety of violent ends if his will was not heeded. The hunter winced, shrinking back slightly. Seeing his subordinate¡¯s fear, he smiled, wide and predatory. ¡°Second, yes, it¡¯s a gamble, but if ¡®Grave-eye¡¯-¡± Old Yon spat the name with derision. ¡°-is right, securing them now is well worth the effort and cost, and a weaker team might not be able to get the job done. That team is growing like an invasive fungus, and I want to know how.¡± The hunter swallowed, mustering his courage before he spoke. ¡°And if the lordling is wrong?¡± The shadows pooling under Old Yon¡¯s desk stretched, cloaking him in a malignancy that contrasted the white of his bared teeth. ¡°Then we¡¯ll have our price from him directly.¡± B2 Chapter 247: Bonefields, pt. 1 B2 Chapter 247: Bonefields, pt. 1 Their walk from Deadacre was a long one¡ªfilled with cold wind and frigid rain. The waxed canvas cloaks they had to keep off the weather helped, but it didn¡¯t make the late autumn climate pleasant. Thankfully, with their stats and gear, unpleasant was all it was. A mild discomfort at most. If one thing worked in their favour, it was that the local creatures were as beaten down by the weather as they were. Favouring their dens and nooks instead of ranging widely across the plains and forests that surrounded Deadacre. Combined with their growing strength, they faced far less aggression than they otherwise would have¡ªmost beasts willing to let them pass as soon as it became obvious they had no interest in harassing them, or challenging them for their territory. That didn¡¯t mean there were no fights during their journey. More than once they had spotted a creature of a size and strength that could prove troublesome for the unprepared, or beasts that had grown temperamental under the ministrations of the rising mana. Easy enough for a team of their calibre to deal with, but not necessarily a hamlet, or a caravan. Spiders the size of dogs, nesting in the trees over a road. A rare direbear, making its den a bare league from a small village. Those were the standouts. Nothing that broached level sixty, but enough of a threat to the unprepared that it felt reckless to leave them. Small breaks from the monotony, but enough for a few skill levels, and to get the blood pumping. After three weeks of travel, they arrived at the river that they had spotted on the map, curling its way through meadows and cutting through clustered trees. The weather was thankfully mild, a pallid overcast that muted the colours of the world around them¡ªwith only the faintest hint of a drizzle. It was a good enough spot to try and bag a few deer, or something similar that they could use as bait¡ªthe Bone-fields were a bare day¡¯s walk at a casual pace to their east. Crouched on a gentle rise, Kaius swept his gaze through the trees, leaning on his Truesight to cut through the murky shadows cast from the clouds above. He¡¯d spotted a few larger creatures drinking from the waters on their approach, but nothing since they were close enough to actually strike. So he sat, and waited¡ªhis team clustered around him. After a quarter hour, it became obvious that the boredom grew too much for Porkchop. He shifted, looking over to Kaius and Ianmus. ¡°What do we do if Rieker is right? If we¡¯re attacked before we are ready?¡± Kaius paused, staring off into the woods as he digested the sudden question. It was something that had sat at the back of his mind, but every time he considered it, he came up at a loss. Unless it was some common bandits, underestimating them, he really couldn¡¯t see such a confrontation going well. Anyone who had the resources to watch them closely enough to discover their strength, would have the people on hand to deal with it. He sighed, shrugging. ¡°I wish I had a better answer than ¡®fight like a demon, and try to survive¡¯, but I don¡¯t.¡± A shallow chuff left Porkchop¡¯s throat, though Kaius could feel the undercurrent of worry that simmered beneath it. ¡°It¡¯s still probably worth thinking about,¡± Ianmus replied, leaning on his staff. ¡°For all we can hope that Rieker is wrong, or that we get lucky, we should still act like it¡¯s a certainty.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Kaius replied. He knew Ianmus was right, but every time he started to think about it, he tied his brain up in knots, and his chest felt like it had a heavy weight dropped on it. ¡°Most likely contenders? Aside from some ballsy thugs, or the obvious danger of the Onyx Temple, that is.¡± he continued. Those two represented two extremes of the threat¡ªone they would deal with easily, and the other one they had no chance against unless they got lucky and were underestimated. ¡°Local nobility?¡± Porkchop asked. ¡°I know you always mentioned that they were a large risk.¡± Ianmus shook his head. ¡°There aren¡¯t any¡ªat least not with any significant presence. We¡¯d have to get supremely unlucky for the blue-blooded to have noticed us.¡± Kaius nodded along to his teammates'' words¡ªit was a defining feature of the Frontier. With how low value the lands were, no dynasty of any reasonable ability bothered to exert their influence here directly. Sure, agents and businesses had ties to a dozen dozen powers across central Vaastivar, but there were no strongholds. Even the governors of Deadacre and Grandbrook barely counted as powers in the truest sense. If anyone of real means took an interest in the cities, their rulers would find themselves ousted before the week was out. Kaius doubted that the governour himself would have any interest. While they might envy their abilities, they would be far more likely to try to extort the guild for concessions in return for their secrecy¡ªthey relied on it far too much to risk damaging their relationship, and Kaius doubted they had the resources to pull off an abduction directly under Rieker¡¯s nose. He paused, finding himself absent of the simmering tension that normally came with thinking about the danger they were in. It seemed working through it with his team really had helped. ¡°It could end up being a team of Delvers¡ªcorrupt ones. That guy from our first visit did mention that not everyone in the guild was a ray of sunshine.¡± Kaius said, thinking back on the many, many figures that would have seen them interacting so closely with Ro. Surely that would arouse some suspicions. Porkchop snorted, flexing his claws so that they dug into the dirt. ¡°I don¡¯t know about you, but I''m not all that concerned about a delving team from Deadacre. You¡¯ve seen them¡ªunless they have a secret team of tier two Silvers hanging around, we¡¯ll wipe the floor with them.¡± his brother said confidently, a low growl in the back of his throat. That was...true. While most of Deadacre¡¯s delvers were putting in the work and growing like wildfire in the current climate, none of them were exactly the cream of the crop. The city was remote, relatively poor, and¡ªfrom what Ianmus had told him¡ªembarrassingly small. Anyone of any exceptional skill tended to leave for greener pastures quickly. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°I hate to say it, but what if it is the Onyx Temple?¡± Ianmus said, his voice low. ¡°Then we go back to my original plan, fighting like demons.¡± Kaius replied softly. He hadn¡¯t sat idle in the months since he had discovered the nature of his enemy¡ªhe¡¯d done his research. They were too competent, too resourceful, and too strong for them to handle. Every report he¡¯d seen implied that they watched, waited, and then struck with overwhelming force. The only saving grace they had is that they¡¯d be taken alive¡ªa small one, considering what would likely happen under the Temple¡¯s care. Potential imprisonment made Kaius feel all the more dour, made worse by the gray clouds and drizzle that seemed to be a reflection of his mood. Still, if they were captured alive, there would be opportunities to struggle. He wasn¡¯t one to simply consign himself to woe and death when there was the chance of seizing his fate in his own hands. ¡°I suppose if it does happen, I should keep some of my spells in reserve¡ªSlip Step and a Hateful Nail might be all I need to get us out of a cell and steal a set of keys.¡± Kaius mused. Seemingly unconvinced, Ianmus frowned. ¡°There are ways of dealing with magic¡ªformations, and artefacts that will stop us from calling on our Stamina and Mana.¡± Kaius shrugged. He was familiar with the formations in question¡ªthey were a staple for any jail or holding cell, and Father had covered them extensively¡ªif broadly. The theoretical applications of runecraft had been far more important than the specifics of their construction. There was one thing he did know¡ªthey worked by binding the resources into the centre of the person subjected to their effects. ¡°Glyphbinding should still work¡ªthey¡¯re famously limited. If they worked by preventing the flow of mana at all, they¡¯d invariably disrupt their own function.¡± he replied. Porkchop chuffed back, as Ianmus¡¯s eyes widened in realisation. ¡°Then we have an extra set of fangs, hiding in the bushes.¡± Ianmus nodded. ¡°It¡¯s not much...but it¡¯s better than nothing. What of the rest of us, then?¡± ¡°I think, no matter how diligent they are, they will underestimate us¡ªme and Porkchop especially. Just stay alert, keep strong, and be ready to act as soon as I do. If we are captured I have no doubt we¡¯ll have to suffer through a month or two of care before their guard drops enough for us to have an opportunity.¡± Kaius said, returning his attention to the tree line. ¡°Besides, they¡¯d need at least high Steel to handle us¡ªpotentially even fresh Silver¡¯s, Porkchop and I are gaining more than double the stats of someone with a Rare class. The increased stat gain of the second tier will offset that, but I doubt anyone that strong is cheap enough to be assigned simple guard duty. If we¡¯re quick, and quiet, we might be able to fight our way out.¡± he finished. Ianmus sighed. ¡°So in the end, it comes down to hopes, if¡¯s, and maybe¡¯s.¡± ¡°Always has, Ianmus. It always has.¡± Kaius said, shooting him a quick grin. Afterall, it wasn¡¯t like they could reduce their risks more than they already were. There were few missions suitable to them any closer to the city, and even if there were they would risk being seen with how many delvers were crawling the countryside. Before he could continue their chat a flicker of movement drew his attention back to the river. Two deer, nervously making their way to the water. ¡°There!¡± Kaius hissed, pointing his finger to their far off forms. ¡°Our bait¡ªyou sure you¡¯re up for taking them out from this far?¡± ¡°Of course I am¡ªyou¡¯ve quite literally watched me hit targets twice as small from double the distance.¡± Ianmus replied, mildly affronted at having his abilities questioned. ¡°I suppose I best ready myself, then.¡± Porkchop said, digging his claws into the earth as he prepared to chase down their prey if they survived Ianmus¡¯s attack. Kaius grinned, seeing the amber glow of solar mana start to coalesce around his friend¡¯s staff. After this, they¡¯d be able to move on to the Bonefields¡ªand the fight he¡¯d been hungering after for weeks. ... Trekking onwards, with two deer slung over Porkchop¡¯s back, the Bonefields revealed themselves as an unending dense stack of monoliths, masquerading as a mesa. Red spires of rock, sandwiched close together with weathered trails and fissures worming their way through their maze-like clusters. At first, Kaius had wondered why he could see no sign of the legendary remains that had given the region its name. That is, until the cloud cover above broke, and a ray of sun revealed a wall of stark white, nestled deep inside of the monoliths. He thought it was stone at first¡ªtoo broad, and too large for his mind to process what he was seeing. Watching it with curiosity, Kaius realised his mistake as they kept moving, and his changing angle revealed the distinctive shape of a rib. It stopped him in his tracks. It was...impossible¡ªgargantuan and huge. Of course, everything they had read had said that the skeletons in the fields were large¡ªbut he¡¯d assumed it would be something the size of an irontusk, maybe a little larger. With the size of the rib, the creature it had come from would have been apocalyptic in scale. Even the drake they had felled would have been a small beast compared to whatever leviathans had roamed these spires in aeons past. ¡°Fascinating, isn¡¯t it.¡± Ianmus said, after coming to see what had halted him. ¡°I...You knew they would be this big?¡± Kaius replied. ¡°Only rumours¡ªit¡¯s one of only a handful of oddities in the Frontier, and with its proximity to Deadacre, it is rather famous amongst the more adventurous scholars. Only as a curiosity though¡ªthere¡¯s nothing of true value in its depths.¡± Ianmus said. ¡°Do you think they were dragons?¡± they were the only things that he could conceive of being that large. Porkchop snorted at his words. ¡°Dragons aren¡¯t the only things that are titanic¡ªI''ve even seen a few beings that big myself at the outskirts of the Deep Sea¡ªand they are far more common in the deep reaches, from what I''ve heard. Besides, dragons are solitary, so it wouldn¡¯t make much sense for it to be a whole graveyard of them.¡± Kaius kept staring at the bones, until his companions urged him on¡ªunable to free himself of the thoughts of mountainous creatures walking the lands. There was a certain level of awe that he couldn¡¯t rid himself of¡ªa curiosity about the beasts that had left such a mark. As they continued walking, Kaius found himself catching small glimpses of similar remains every few minutes, hidden deep in the craggy red stone. Not all were of the same scale as that first rib, but none of them were small. Large enough, at least, that he questioned how they could have ended up in the tight passageways between the rocks. Most were too small to pass through, but there were plenty of paths that they could have walked through two abreast. Even those may as well have been hair-thin fissures to the original inhabitants of the fields. With the map they had procured, it only took them another hour to find the natural road that would lead them to their chosen battle ground. Wide enough that they could comfortably walk in a line, it wove its way through the stone¡ªa natural highway that would take them to the plateau where they would make their stand. Kaius picked up his pace¡ªthe imminent promise of battle overwhelming his curiosity as his blood grew heated. It promised to be a significant one¡ªeven with the dramatically rising experience costs of each level, so many high level beasts promised to push them far along their path to safety. He just hoped it hadn¡¯t come too late. B2 Chapter 248: Bonefields, pt. 2 B2 Chapter 248: Bonefields, pt. 2 Exiting the pathway that led them through the monoliths that dotted the exterior of the Bonefields, Kaius looked at the plateau that opened up before them with a pleased expression on his face. It would be a good battleground¡ªas good as he had hoped it would be, from the scryed map they had purchased. Rectangular, the stretch of dusty red stone was about twenty long-strides wide, and twice that in length. Hemmed in on three sides by tightly packed pillars of stone, they had entered from the east¡ªthe short side of the clearing. Across from them, the ground dropped away into a jagged fissure, like the ground had been shattered by the blow of a colossus¡¯ hammer. With the clouds clearing, the newly returned sun revealed the Bonefields in their full glory, risen as the plateau was above the rest of the region. They stretched as far as the eye could see¡ªdipping over the horizon like a splash of rusty paint that had spread over the normal green grazinglands of the Frontier. It was harsh, desolate, but also held a certain grave-bound beauty. Like a particularly beautiful cemetery. The monoliths that hemmed in the fields grew larger further into the Bonefields, but far more sparse¡ªopening up the terrain into a dust swept pit of stone. There were more bones too¡ªand he caught his first glimpse of a skull. Half as big as a house, and half eroded by wind and time, it had been pushed up against a rocky spire and half buried in debris. To his surprise, it lacked the reptilian features he had imagined. More cat-like, with long carnivorous fangs. Kaius dragged his eyes away from the remnants of dead beasts. As much as he wished he could walk to the edge of that plateau and stare at the Bonefields until the sun fell over the horizon, they had a job to do, and a battle to prepare for. Turning his critical eye to their immediate surroundings, Kaius nodded in satisfaction at the natural walls that hemmed them in. The shortest of the monoliths were more than twice his height, with the tallest being nearly three times¡ªbut their craggly exteriors had more than enough handholds for a strong classer to climb them with ease. Another passage into the stone walls existed on their left¡ªthe northern face of the plateau. It was just as wide as the one they had come from, and from their map Kaius knew that it would be the most likely route that the biters would take to investigate the bait they would be setting. Kaius looked away from the passage, searching the walls of their battleground for a suitable place for Ianmus to fight from. ¡°There,¡± he said, nudging Ianmus before pointing to a sheltered nook nestled on the southern face. It was three closely packed spires, providing a vantage point over the plateau, far out of reach of any hungry beasts who lacked the digits needed to climb. It was also low enough that, if needed, Ianmus would be able to easily clamber up to the tops of the stacks and run. He was by far the most fragile of their group, and the simple fact of knowing he was out of reach would make his and Porkchop¡¯s job far easier. ¡°Good plan.¡± Ianmus replied. Setting off towards the raised nook, Kaius looked behind him as they pushed further onto the open field of stone. It was mostly idle curiosity¡ªthe barren rock and dust of their surroundings was still entirely foreign to him. A red waste that tugged at his mind, conjuring strange thoughts of ages past. The glowing runic circle he saw emblazoned on the wall stopped him dead, surprise rooting him to the spot. It was something that had been entirely absent from their map¡ªnot that its creator would have had anywhere near the detail or angle to capture it. Almost out of place with its artificial brilliance, a Depths entrance glowed with vibrant energy¡ªinscribed according to the will of the System on the face of one of the larger monoliths, about four strides off the ground. ¡°What is it?¡± Porkchop asked, before he too slowed to a halt as he saw what had captured Kaius¡¯s attention. ¡°Well, isn¡¯t that interesting?¡± Ianmus murmured as he walked over to their sides, staring at the radiant runes. Kaius immediately analysed it, leaning on his Truesight as he sought to delve deep into the portal¡¯s secrets. Great Depths Portal: OpenLayer: 17Biome: ???? (unexplored) He stifled a curse as he saw what layer the portal entered into. It meant that the average level of depthsborn would be a full one-seventy. Doable, in the right circumstances, but lethal in the volumes and chaos that could be found on a delve. He¡¯d hoped that its presence would be a rare blessing¡ªa gods¡¯ gifted escape hatch if something went wrong. With the way that the portals worked, there was a good chance that if they entered it would be hours or days before they could be followed¡ªweeks, if they were lucky. More than enough time for a pack of beasts to lose interest and wander off. Unfortunately, with their current level of strength, entering so far into the Depths would be all but a death sentence. They¡¯d pulled off the impossible before, but he had no interest in tempting fate twice. Not if there were other options. ¡°A shame,¡± Ianmus said, analysing the portal with his own skill. ¡°It¡¯s not all bad¡ªif the biters are as strong as the reports said, we are likely to get plenty of levels today. If things truly take a turn for the worst, it will still give us a chance.¡± Porkchop replied. Kaius shrugged, tugging one of the deer bodies that Porkchop had been carrying off his back and lugging it over his shoulder. In his mind, it was still poor fortune. While a fool''s gambit was better than nothing, if they¡¯d been lucky enough for the portal to be one to the seventh layer, or lower, it would have been a perfect escape route. They would have been able to blitz their way horizontally, raising and lowering through layers at random if needed¡ªlosing any potential pursuers that might have followed them in after the lock out reset. Unfortunately, luck wasn¡¯t on their side today, so he put it out of his mind. Dumping the carcass he had been carrying in the centre of the plateau, he helped relieve Porkchop of his own, before he waved them on. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get Ianmus and our gear up in that nook¡ªI¡¯ll leave the last of the preparations for when we¡¯re ready.¡± he replied. Once Ianmus had clambered up the side of the sheer rock walls, Kaius threw him their various bags¡ªthe mage stashing them in a sheltered crack in the stone at the back of his perch. Focusing fully on taking a final inventory of his supplies, he readied himself for the battle ahead. Resources: Health - 3980/3980 (22.5/min) Stamina - 3850/3850 (29/min) Mana - 4950/4950 (32.7/min) Free Mana -230/230 Reserved Mana - 4720 His resources were fully topped off, and he had a full complement of spells. He¡¯d gone for a fairly balanced load out. For his Drakthar hymns, he¡¯d chosen to inscribe fifteen of Hateful Nail, and twelve of Stormlash. Both would be effective against the armoured bone biters¡ªhis Nail had serious penetrative power, and his storm spell would penetrate the material with ease. Ultimately, he¡¯d chosen to use more of the former skill because of their potential for hampering mobility for the full length of the fight. If he managed to bury one in a joint, when it bloomed into a bramble of twisted hooks, it would likely completely lock up the limb¡ªand leave ruinous wounds. That, and he wanted to finish the fight with at least two extra casts of the spell¡ªjust in case. For his Aelina spell hymns, he¡¯d gone with an even split of ten casts each for both Yelia¡¯s Slip Step, and Trussant¡¯s Expedient Shunt. Both were immensely useful, one allowing him sudden bursts of mobility, and the other giving him unnatural reach and speed that was difficult to track and predict. He couldn¡¯t deny that there was a temptation to inscribe more of Expedient Shunt. After practicing with the spell, he¡¯d found it to be...extremely fun to use. There was a visceral thrill about being able to send himself flying in any direction, coasting on a controlled wave of force that left him untouched. Unfortunately, the battle-ground was not a place for games, and he had to balance his frivolous wants with the simple utility of Slip Step. That, and ever since Rieker had given them that warning, he¡¯d sworn to leave himself with two casts of the spatial skill at all times¡ªeven if it hampered him somewhat. If they ever did get captured, it would be on that skill, and that skill alone, that he would be able to attempt an escape. The only time anyone bothered to ward defences for spatial skills was for strategic level defences. It was too complex, and too expensive for most applications¡ªand he¡¯d been extremely careful to practice influencing his immaterial flickers only when they were in private. It was dangerous, but he¡¯d found with enough preparation, he could inject enough will into the spell to let him slip through solid objects if they were thin enough. After all, there wasn¡¯t that much difference between a battleaxe and a barred door. Other than his inscribed spells, he¡¯d left a couple hundred mana unassigned. It wasn¡¯t much¡ªonly enough for him to use Mystic Rend three times¡ªbut as he cast his spells, he¡¯d be able to top himself off with a mana potion and increase his ability to leverage the skill. Nodding to himself, he dismissed his Resources and checked his potion pouch, revealing a glimmering stock of potions for his various pools of energy. Unlike with the drake, they¡¯d decided against more expensive short term enhancements in favour of a large stock of restoratives. While the reports they¡¯d seen had said they were only up against a single pack, there was always the chance that the reports were wrong. After the cock up that was the boggling siege, he¡¯d wanted to be absolutely sure that they had everything they needed to fight off ten times the reported number of enemies. They hadn¡¯t quite had the funds for that much, but they had plenty of spares in their spatial storage. If the worst happened, Ianmus would be able to throw them down from his safe vantage point. Potion toxicity was an issue, but in a protracted fight, it could be managed¡ªstaving off a slow loss by attrition. Satisfied that everything was in place, he closed his potion pouch and reached into the small purse he¡¯d attached to the side¡ªretrieving a thick vial of brown sludge. An alchemical mixture that had cost them a pretty penny, it would accelerate the decomposition of the deer they were using as bait, and would amplify the stench of carrion so much that the alchemist who had brewed it for them had insisted they¡¯d be able to smell it from a quarter league away if the wind was blowing right. Ianmus had been certain the man was bluffing, but even if the true effects were a fraction as good, it would be enough. One thing every bestiary they had searched had agreed on was that the biter¡¯s sense of smell was frighteningly sharp. Tightening his grip around the vial, Kaius pulled his new hunting knife from its sheath. He twirled it through his hands, warming his blood and limbering his muscles for the fight ahead. ¡°Everybody ready?¡± he asked, striding to the deer carcasses they had left at the centre of the plateau. Porkchop nodded¡ªanticipation and aggression flowing steadily through their bond. His brother was more than ready. ¡°As much as I¡¯ll ever be¡ªI have no clue how the two of you manage the pre-fight jitters so well. I feel like I¡¯m going to vomit every time.¡± Ianmus called back. Kaius chuckled, he knew it was a common response¡ªeven in fearless warriors¡ªbut it was one he couldn¡¯t empathise with. A fight on the horizon only got him fiery, made him hunger for the meditative crash of steel and burning strain of worked muscles. It was one of the few times his brain truly quieted, when he was immersed in the flowing music that sang through his blood. Being so strongly attuned to the Bloodsong might have made him reckless at times, but he wouldn¡¯t change it for the world. Reaching the deer¡¯s bodies, he crouched down, gutting them with a swift yank of his blade. Viscera spilled in a tide, blood and giblets running over the red stone. He¡¯d made sure to do it badly¡ªnicking the ropey organs so their contents ran through the creature¡¯s chest cavity. He didn¡¯t know if it would help the alchemical mixture do its work, but he did know that in his forest home, a poor job of gutting a kill was sure to bring scavengers investigating. After cleaning and sheathing his knife, Kaius uncorked the vial in its hands. The alchemical stench of a wasting death, and the thriving life of rot wafted free¡ªclinging to the back of his throat. While the smell was heady, it wasn¡¯t exactly bad, not in the same way that mundane decay reeked. His synesthesia might have tied itself to smell, but it was just how he interpreted the strange sensations he naturally got from concentrated magic. Unfortunately, as soon as he used the damn thing, he would have to deal with some very real decay. Taking a deep breath, he held his breath and dripped the thick brown fluid over the open guts of the carcasses. Backing up quickly, he watched the creatures¡¯ flesh bubble and rot¡ªskin bubbling, hair withering, and flesh sloughing off bone as the mixture accelerated the decay of days into simple minutes. Reaching his brother¡¯s side, he took a breath, and was immediately assaulted by the concentrated punch of damp meat left to spoil. It was potent¡ªall encompassing, even upwind. Kaius heard retching from above and behind him¡ªIanmus losing his lunch at the sudden wave of stench. He merely grit his teeth and steeled himself¡ªthey¡¯d been assured that it was by far at its worst in the beginning¡ªthe smell would stem in a few minutes. Regardless, now all they had to do was wait, and try to keep their stomachs settled. There was no way the local biters would be able to miss this. Drawing his blade, he consigned himself to taking shallow breaths through his mouth until the alchemist¡¯s tonic had done its work. B2 Chapter 249: Bonefields, pt. 3 B2 Chapter 249: Bonefields, pt. 3 From where he was sitting in the autumn sun, Porkchop lurched to his feet¡ªhead snapping to stare out over the cliff at the far end of the plateau, into the Bonefields. ¡°They¡¯re coming. I can hear them.¡± he said, voice broadcast widely so that Ianmus would hear him too. Kaius was on his feet in a second. It had been nearly an hour since they had used an alchemical tonic to make their bait rapidly decay, and after the first ten minutes they had relaxed as the smell had stemmed partially with no sign of approaching beasts. He grabbed his helmet from where it was sitting beside him, the thick plated steel cold through the leather interior of his gauntlets. Slamming it on his head, he tightened the strap that would hold it in place. As it settled, he felt the set enchantment activate¡ªhis armour becoming just that little bit lighter. The helmet narrowed his vision¡ªbut only just, having been designed to maximise as much of a viewing angle as possible. A Father¡¯s Gift was out of its scabbard in a flash, held ready in a mid-guard as it caught the light, bands of steel caught between crystal glinting a subtle red. Looking up to Ianmus, he found his teammate standing ready¡ªstaff held firmly in one hand as he gazed out far into the Bonefields, the same direction Porkchop had been looking. Following their eye line, he took a look himself. Kaius might have lacked Porkchop¡¯s ears, but he had the best eyes in their team and spotted their foe quickly. One of them at least, just a pale cream and pink blur, dashing between the red stone monoliths as it raced off to their left. It was impossible to track it for long¡ªthe winding shadowed passages of stone and bone remnants of titans obscuring it in seconds. ¡°I saw one¡ªonly for a second.¡± Kaius said, confirming Porkchop¡¯s alert. Turning back to the entrance he knew the biters would come from, Kaius readied himself. He widened his stance¡ªloosening his muscles so that he could react at the slightest warning. ¡°Do you know how many there are?¡± he asked, still keeping his eyes trained on the passage that the biters would enter from. ¡°Not perfectly,¡± Porkchop replied, his ears swiveling to track the distant sounds coming from the wider Bonefields. ¡°But it sounds like a lot¡ªmaybe more than twenty.¡± Ianmus snorted above them. ¡°I¡¯m starting to see why everyone treats the reports we get so skeptically!¡± he called down. That drew a laugh from Kaius. ¡°What? You thought farmhands and caravan guards would be masters of scouting and surveying?¡± he joked. Even if Ro and Rieker hadn¡¯t taken the time to hammer it in that they had to come prepared for any eventuality, they would have figured it out eventually. There were only so many times that he could run head first into a confrontation that vastly outstripped their mission briefings before it wasn¡¯t impossible to avoid drawing conclusions. Apparently, it hadn¡¯t always been that bad¡ªbut even before the rapidly changing dynamics of the phase change, it had been something that happened with unfortunate frequency. The guild did its best to assume the worst, but there was only so much they could do without sending dedicated scouts to check themselves¡ªat which point it was far more efficient for delvers to do that leg work themselves. He still wasn''t too worried. There was almost no chance that any given one of the biters had anything more than the equivalent to a rare class. That meant both he and Porkchop would outweigh them in raw stats¡ªeven if his were spread widely. Their numbers would be an issue¡ªbut he had plenty of experience with fighting large groups. Hell, in the Great Warren, he and Porkchop had gone up against groups of goblins forty strong again and again, and that was as unclassed. Plus, the biters outleveled them significantly. Every drop of blood they spilled, and every beast they slew, would bring with it strength. Their levels would rise, and the difficulty with which the next creature was felled would fall. They could do this. Standing and waiting, Kaius flowed through a series of slashes and stabs¡ªwarming his body as his heart pounded in his chest with rhythmic intensity. There was a tightness at the back of his throat¡ªa tension that built at the pit of his stomach, winding tighter with every moment. He was ready. He could hear them now¡ªthe sound of snapping teeth, clacking plates of bone, and scratching feet on stone. A far off biter snarled¡ªvicious and low. It was a brutal sound. One that dripped with hunger¡ªwith the strength and arrogance of a creature who knew it had no betters. That it sat at the pinnacle of power, and prowled through the seat of its sovereignty. All of his worries about tracking down his father¡¯s killers, gaining the strength they needed to move with some degree of freedom, and working to progress the integration flooded away. In its place was a honed focus¡ªeverything focused on how they could pass this next challenge. There was an immediacy to battle that he loved. A flow of motion and mind that centred him directly in the moment¡ªconnected him deeply to his surroundings. The howling wind raced through the monoliths, caressing his skin with the cool touch of late autumn. The sun shone down, glinting off the metal of his armaments, and focusing its presence on their battlegrounds. All of that made itself known to him. He digested it¡ªfelt it keenly¡ªwithout allowing it to cloud his mind. All he could see was the passage where they would come. The hole in his centre flexed, widening as he fell deeply into the bond he had enshrined with Porkchop. Even with his helmet cutting off half of his view of his brother, Kaius could feel where he was perfectly. The way the muscles in Porkchop¡¯s back tensed, and his back claws dug into the hardened stone with ease as he readied himself to lunge forwards in an explosive charge. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Mana flooded through Porkchop¡¯s aura¡ªair displaced with a subtle pop as thumb-length thick plates of overlapping sacred jade were summoned onto his body. His brother¡¯s face was sealed fully¡ªthough Kaius could still see through Porkchop¡¯s eyes, his magic serving no barrier to his senses. Above them, Ianmus unleashed his first spell in a searing wave of solar mana¡ªcharged to a new potency by his metamagic. The magic settled over him like a dousing in scalding water¡ªthe radiant heat of the sun soaking into his bones, stoking his passions as his physicality grew to new heights. **Ding! You have been Enhanced - Sundrenched Strength (Hypercharged Spell)!** The biters arrived, howling as they peeled around the corner of the far off passage, racing onto the plateau in a tide of bone wrapped hunger. Strong he might have known the alchemy would be, but he hadn¡¯t expected such a fervent approach by the beasts. The rotting stench of the deer carcasses seemed to have driven them mad¡ªthe beasts approaching with abandon and all caution thrown to the wind. As they raced over the dusted stone, the biters spotted them immediately. Slavering howls and gnashing snarls echoing across the pack as they readjusted their course¡ªsprinting straight for Kaius and his team. They were curiously formed things. They would have come up to his waist¡ªabout as tall as Porkchop had been before his evolution, but far bulkier and covered in a bone carapace. Underneath their armour, he could see that they were in fact simple beasts¡ªthough he could see how they could be mistaken for something less natural. Even if they lacked the horrific countenance, the biters almost reminded him of the bear abomination they fought in the depths, but he could tell they were creatures born¡ªnot made. That didn¡¯t mean they were pleasant to look at. Each beast had an oversized dog-like head with shrivelled pink skin poking out from between plates. It was plated in a natural helm¡ªleaving their heads reminiscent of a smaller creature wearing a discarded skull. Their torso was tapered¡ªlike a stretched triangle lying on its side. Massive shoulders and a barrel chest supported oversized front limbs tipped with wicked claws, while their rear narrowed to thin legs and a stubby nub of a tail. Kaius reacted to their presence immediately. A quick count confirmed that Porkchop was right¡ªthere were twenty-two. Not completely outside of the realm of possibility, but still slightly more than they were ¡®supposed¡¯ to expect. His eyes honed in on their armour¡ªsearching for any weakness he could exploit. Explorer¡¯s Toolkit came alive¡ªworking in conjunction with his Glass Mind to evaluate the threat. The platting that covered them was thick and stout¡ªbut it looked to be simple bone. Tough, but not undefeatable. Plus, natural as it was, it lacked the reticulation and overlapping layers of true plate. Thin gaps ran along the seams of the plate, revealing pink skin. The insides of their joints were even less covered¡ªlacking any armour at all, including on their throat. If they were covered, the biters would have been immobile. As it was, they might as well have been completely unarmored. The beasts seemed to rely heavily on the strength of their front limbs to move¡ªusing their overdeveloped shoulders and upper torso to haul themselves forwards at a breakneck pace. If he could shatter those joints, they¡¯d be all but crippled. His hand snapped up, a salvo of four Hateful Nails flying out as motes of orange flaked out from his gauntlet, the remnant byproduct of his burnt spell inscriptions. A high pitched crack echoed through the air¡ªeach projectile flying fast enough that a blast of wind hit him in the face. The biters jolted at the sudden sound, but none of them expected his assault to come so suddenly, and none of the beasts seemed used to dealing with an attack at range. Twisted steel stakes flashed through the air, driving deep into the shoulders of three of his targets¡ªblood showering as they howled in rage as pain bloomed within their bodies. Only one of his targets was able to dodge, lurching slightly to the side in what Kaius was sure was more luck than intentional evasion. It still took the bolt in the chest, the steel nail punching half way through the thickened bone and causing cracks to spiderweb through the rest of the natural breastplate. The downed biters howls of fury quickly turned into desperate whines of agony as his Hateful Nails bloomed. Cruelly barbed spikes and twisted hooks erupted from the steel, tearing through the bodies of the beasts as binding brambles seemed to claw their way through delicate flesh with willful malevolence. Muscles were shredded, bones cracked, and¡ªjust as he hoped¡ªtheir shoulders gave out completely. Losing the use of their limbs so suddenly sent them crashing down¡ªa flail of clacking bones that forced the beasts behind them to slow their sudden charge so they could safely leap over the prone forms of their crying packmates. Even then, more than one stumbled over the newly formed road-block. The one he had shot in the chest fared worse. Crawling wires and spikes were injected straight into the centre of its torso, shredding the delicate organs within. Kaius watched it outright collapse, panting weakly as a deluge of foaming blood seeped from its mouth. The blow must have ruptured its lungs, he realised. With the metal of his spell still embedded deeply in its flesh, its Health could do nothing¡ªburning impotently as it elongated the beasts suffering. Kaius knew that as soon as the precious resource expended itself, the beast would suffocate. First blood was his¡ªhe¡¯d already killed one. Light flashed overhead¡ªsearing beams sinking into the eyes of another front runner, leaving it yelping and blinded. Porkchop roared¡ªa furious bellow that announced his primal dominance. The effect was immediate, enraged howls rolling over the pack as they narrowed their focus, snapping at each other as they raced to be the first to punish the challenger to their territory. Clad in sacred jade, Porkchop was unphased by the rage of the pack, confident violence oozing across their bond. He charged, a wall of jade preceding him as he entered the fray. Kiaus grinned. He couldn¡¯t let Porkchop have all the glory. Focusing on his glyph of Aelina, he tapped into his newest spell. Light blue shards burst from his glyph, and a sudden crack echoed off the stone walls that surrounded them as explosive force detonated behind and below his back. He went airborne. The ground blurred beneath him, wind racing over his face as he flew. Even with a slavering horde of grotesque beasts at his landing point, he couldn¡¯t help but laugh at the simple joy of moving very fast, very suddenly. Howling glee ripped its way free of his throat, stamina flooding into his blade as Kaius used his Bladerite and fanned the flames of its enchantments. This fight was going to be fun. B2 Chapter 250: Bonefields, pt. 4 B2 Chapter 250: Bonefields, pt. 4 Kaius raced through the air, riding a wave of force as he held A Father¡¯s Gift at the ready¡ªaiming to impale the first bone biter he could. Howling laughter bubbled up from his chest, the simple exhilaration of flying across the plateau spiking his heart rate and amplifying the hunger he felt for the blood that was about to be spilled. Life truly was about the simple things. Twice, a pair of solar rays shot over his head¡ªmomentarily blinding two of the front runners. The crack shot that he was, Ianmus cared little for the pack¡¯s erratic sprint, and hit the biters'' recessed eyes with ease. Whining in pain, the sudden loss of their senses caused them to stumble, breaking the momentum of their charge as the greater pack was forced to race around their crippled vanguard. One bone biter lunged for him, its strange skull-like jaws widening in a double row of teeth, one of which sat external to its true maw. Bringing his blade up into a defensive stance, Kaius tapped into the connection he still held to his Expedient Shunt. A secondary detonation erupted directly into the face of the biter, his forward momentum bleeding off. Dazed by the explosion that had seared its face and forced it backwards, the biter scrambled to the side, clumsy in its confusion. Kaius lunged inwards, the tip of his Bladerite infused sword sliding perfectly into the gap of unarmoured flesh on its throat. He ripped his blade to the side, tearing open its flesh as hot red blood poured onto the dusty stone below. More beams glittered over Kaius¡¯s head. They lanced into the pack¡ªkeeping the beasts disoriented and on edge. Clacking its jaws in rage at the pain of the wound, the biter ignored the gaping hole in its neck and corrected its course to rush him with a blur of swiping claws¡ªeach one rippling with the force of an unknown skill. The tell-tale blue motes of Aelina rushed from his feet as Kaius cast Slip Step. World warping around him as he pushed mana through his blade, a thin wire of unstable arcane energy forming around the edge of his sword. As he moved, his brother joined the battle. A shardwall slammed into the body of the charging pack¡ªforcing them back and breaking the momentum of their assault further. With the compulsion of his Bulwark¡¯s Challenge forcing most of the biters to focus on his armoured form, they were too closely packed to evade. Especially since the wall was now nearly twice as wide as it was to begin with. The sound of bone carapace shattering filled the air, natural armour splintering as biters half blinded by Ianmus¡¯s continuous assault all but sprinted head first into the collision. It was music to Kaius¡¯s ears. He grinned, keeping his focus on his current opponent. At the end of his lunge, distance resumed its normal hold over him. Crouching slightly, he leaned forwards to slip under his target¡¯s snapping jaws. He rose, leading with his blade. Uncompromising in its assault, small bone shards split off from the biter¡¯s carapace, pelting Kaius in a hail of fine needles. He barely saw a flicker in the beast¡¯s mana before the attack, and with its wide spread, he had almost no way to dodge. Heart pounding in his chest, a lucky flicker into the dimension that Slip Step attached him to saved him from the worst of it. Stepping back into the material world, the final dozen needles clacked against his armour. Fast, and sharp, more than one found its way between his scales¡ªpin pricks of heat that grew slick in moments as his blood pooled from the injuries. Grunting stoically, Kaius weathered the wounds¡ªhis Health already burning to push the foreign objects free as blood stained the gleaming steel of his armour. His rising slash landed¡ªright on the writhing wound he had left in its throat. The wire of energy surrounding his sword collapsed to a single point, whining ominously. Then it detonated. Caustic arcane ripped through the tattered remnants of the biter¡¯s neck. Flesh tore, and bone shattered. The biter fell limp, just barely hanging on to life as its head was held on with a thin strip of flesh and cracked spine. In the cold focus that the Bloodsong and his Glass Mind impressed on him, Kaius watched the flopping beast with impassionate eyes. It was out of the fight¡ªwould die soon¡ªevery beat of its heart spilling more vital fluid onto the plateau. Kaius switched his focus¡ªhis brother¡¯s Challenge was wearing off, and the pack¡¯s attention was steadily drifting away from the towering figure in green crystal armour. Uncanny Dodge flared a warning in his mind, preceding another biter lunging towards him with its mouth agape. He moved. Even with Slip Step, and the burst of speed from his general skill, it wasn¡¯t enough. The beast activated a skill of its own¡ªadvancing with a sudden alacrity. Jaws closed over the thick plated metal of his pauldrons, clamping down like a vice. The metal squealed, but held. Unfortunately, with the high degree of flexibility of his scale armour, it was also forced into his flesh. Only having a moment to curse his luck, Kaius felt a crack shudder through his chest as something in the joint gave way. Chill sweat beaded on his face as agony coursed through his nerves like lightning. Growling in frustration, he dropped his good arm from his blade¡ªslapping the occupied biter over its eye. Hateful Nail. A spike of twisted steel burst the delicate organ¡ªblood and jelly expelled over him as the nail continued through the bone beneath. Then it bloomed, and the creature''s brain oozed from its ruined sockets as his spell grew into a twisted gnarl of hooked and spiked metal. The beast dropped, its lifeless jaws slipping free of his shoulder. **Ding! level 110 Bone Biter - Shatterjaw slain - Experience Gained! Increased Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 75!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** ... **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 78!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** Snatching his blade from his wounded hand, Kaius allowed his left arm to fall limp by his side as his Health went to work resetting his shattered shoulder. He turned about face, the floating point of his sword held between him and the pack¡ªa duelist¡¯s stance. Taking a slow breath to steady his heart rate, he ignored the twinge in his shoulder. Even injured, he knew they could do this. The power of his level ups roared through him¡ªevery facet of his being expanded all at once, reinforced by the dead biter¡¯s energy. His pools expanded¡ªthe influx of usable power a more than welcome addition to his arsenal. Kaius grinned, with the added mana he wouldn¡¯t have to down one of his mana potions to make use of his Mystic¡¯s Rend. He wasn¡¯t the only one happy with the sudden jump in levels. Porkchop let out a deafening roar, redoubling his hold on the pack''s focus. His brother dived in¡ªmassive jade jaws appearing as a shadow to his own as he tore his way into the bone-plated creatures. With Porkchop¡¯s heavy-plate, they struggled to retaliate¡ªthe bone biter¡¯s own strikes skittering off the armour. Feeling a pop as his shoulder slid back into place, Kaius hurled a Stormlash into the pack. Blue-white light paired with a deafening crack as he stunned three beasts that had started to make their way to him¡ªthe threat he presented too immediate to be completely ignored. Capitalising on the opening, he rushed towards the biter whose throat he¡¯d ripped out¡ªthe beast¡¯s chest fluttering as it clung to the final vestiges of its life¡ªspace warping with his every step. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. A radiant beam splashed against his chest, warming him from the inside out. The remaining pulped flesh of his shoulder reknit itself at a rapid pace, while the restorative power of the sun slightly replenished his missing health. **Ding! You have been Healed - Ray of Tender Recovery** ¡°Thanks!¡± he called, before he was forced to abort his advance as the targets of his spell recovered and charged towards him with a snarl on their bone-covered lips. He knew he¡¯d done them damage¡ªthe tell tale blood on their fangs revealing the extent of the injuries storm and vibration had done to their internals. Porkchop threw his weight into the pack¡ªforcing them back with a barrage of smashing claws and jade-sheathed bites. The three beasts who had focused on Kaius snapped their gaze over to his brother, but upon seeing the weight of bodies that occupied him, they continued their advance. With the strength of his injured arm renewed, Kaius put up an adamant defence. His blade blurred as he smacked aside raking claw after raking claw, leaning on his bodily control and mastery of the sword to redirect the beasts¡¯ strength, using their momentum against them. Mana flared deep within the left most biter, its raised paw infused with an overwhelming sense of weight. An unknown variable, he lurched back. Only for the pink skin of the middle biter to start to steam between its armour¡ªthe creature¡¯s speed redoubling. Before he could react to the flared warning of Uncanny Dodge, a raking claw tore across his chest. His scale breastplate saved him from the worst of the wound¡ªbut he still felt his ribs crack, and the bright fire of the biter tearing open weeping lines in his flesh as its claws tore through his armour. Knocked back and off balance, with three biters bearing down on him, he knew he needed to move. To disengage. An Expedient Shunt blasted him back and up, his feet leaving the ground. As violent as the skill was¡ªat least to others¡ªthe blast singed the delicate eyes and ears of the biters, forcing them back as they yelped in surprise. **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 79!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** ... **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 82!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** **Ding! Class skill available for selection!** Another burst of energy coursed through him. Eyes flicking over to where Porkchop was fighting, he saw the shattered body of a biter lying broken beneath his brother¡¯s feet. A hungry grin spread across Kaius¡¯s face. Best he see if he could keep that momentum going. Another wave of force erupted above and to the side of him, his trajectory violently altered as he shot towards the dying biter he had left bleeding on the ground. He hit the beast sword-point first, his knees cracking painfully as he crouched to bleed off the force of his landing. Crystal and steel punched straight through the biters skull¡ªpiercing its brain. **Ding! level 116 Bone Biter - Hunter of the Long Dead slain - Experience Gained! Increased Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 83!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** ... **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 85!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** Spinning back to the other three biters, he waved his hand¡ªpeeling thunder filling the air as he slashed at the group with another writhing band of lightning. Howling at his assault, smoking char coated the creatures¡¯ carapaces as leaking fissures appeared in their flesh¡ªresonant force tearing them apart from within. In that moment of stillness, Ianmus acted. Two rays of burning starlight burst the eyes of the beast closest to Kaius, the spell boring its way through the thin bone to ravage the fatty matter within. Kaius felt Explorer¡¯s Toolkit chime in his mind¡ªan opening that he could not resist. Racing forwards, he used his last spatially contracted step to appear right next to his enemy. Stamina flooded from his soul, the crystal fuller of his blade alighting in ghostly fire that burned from within. Empowered by his Bladerite, he thrust his blade deep into the beast''s open mouth. Crunching through the back of his throat, the point of his sword halted against its bone carapace. It stiffened, before going limp as he severed its spine¡ªbut it didn¡¯t die. The tough bastard. Grunting in dissatisfaction, Kaius ripped his sword free, hurriedly spinning to block an overhead slam from the remaining biter¡ªno longer stunned by his spell. The paw hit his blade like a hammer blow. Shuddering force rocked his body, and as much as he raged against the enhanced attack, Kaius was forced to one knee¡ªthe edge of his blade cracking like a spider¡¯s web. Reacting on instinct, he spun his blade, pulling the beast''s paw to the right as he rolled left. Thunder boomed once more, magical lightning binding the beast totally. A secondary arc branched off¡ªwrapping the biter he had stabbed in the eye in its embrace. His primary target seized¡ªchest heaving as it bent over and let loose a rancid mix of half digested meat and its own blood. The other biter died¡ªtoo injured to survive the lightning and vibrations wracking its body. **Ding! level 118 Bone Biter - Tracker for the Hungry slain - Experience Gained! Increased Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 86!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** ... **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 87!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** The sea of bodies around him heaved, Porkchop calling out once more. The constant bay of the biters rose to a fever-pitch, his brother¡¯s renewed skill seizing their fury with avarice. In that moment of stillness, Kaius quickly dumped his accumulated free points into Vitality, as he had done with every level since he had placed fifty into Intelligence. Porkchop was an anchor in the storm, the waves crashing over him¡ªleaving him unmolested in his vestment of sacred jade. Not to say he was uninjured. Grievous wounds aplenty covered his unarmoured rear, but they writhed with uncanny speed¡ªtaking a life of their own as his regenerative skill sealed them at a pace that left Kaius feeling more than a little jealous. With his latest artefact¡ªthe massive floating greatshield¡ªhe was even more of an unassailable fortress than before. The shield darted around his right side¡ªwarding off a whole avenue of attack to narrow the directions that Porkchop had to pay attention to. Every so often, another one of Ianmus¡¯s healing rays would splash over Porkchop¡ªhealing his wounds all the quicker, and aiding him in keeping his health topped up. Racing forwards, Kaius finished off the last biter who had separated from the pack with two slashes backed by Mystic¡¯s Rend. **Ding! level 116 Bone Biter - Maw of the Mountain slain - Experience Gained! Increased Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 88!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** Revelling in his power increasing once again, he advanced to dance through the edges of the distracted crowd. He fell deeply into the rhythm of battle, relying on his Glass Mind to focus on the complexity of the heaving wave of bodies. Each of his general skills contributed¡ªkeeping his movements sure and safe as he slipped through gaps and weaved around the angered retaliation he incited with his blade, slipping his sword into every undefended vulnerability he could. More than once, he was attacked from behind, only for the screaming warning and burst of speed from Uncanny Dodge to help him lurch away. Danger was everywhere¡ªseen in the movements and tells of more than a dozen beasts. So was opportunity¡ªthanks to his Skills and mundane experience, he saw openings galore as the creature''s feral strength broke impotently on his brother¡¯s superior endurance and physicality. Four more biters died under he and Porkchop¡¯s combined efforts¡ªthree of them thanks to Ianmus blinding the beasts. **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 89!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** ... **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 90!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** When Porkchop sent the crush flying back with a Prismatic Shardwall, Kaius saw his moment. Two Hateful Nail¡¯s flew from his outstretched hand, the spikes of iron buzzing from the potency imbued by Resonance Amplification. One punched straight through the shattered bone breastplate of a biter who had just discovered the power of his brother¡¯s Warden¡¯s Maw¡ªkilling the creature in seconds as the sudden growth of hooks and wires shredded its heart and lungs. The other Nail crippled a biter¡ªthe beast screaming in agony as his spell shattered its shoulder and locked the limb in place with cruel barbs. Then a furious howl echoed from the back of the mob¡ªwashing over Kaius in a statement of the supremacy of a pack at hunt. He could smell it, the magic of the skill. The way it ignored him, and inflamed their enemies¡¯ passions. Everything changed after that. To the last, every biter grew just that much faster, and to the last, Porkchop¡¯s hold over the pack shattered. Immediately burning another charge of Slip Step, Kaius raced forwards. Right as he was about to ram a biter through the eye, two more suddenly lunged towards him¡ªpincering him with their dripping jaws held wide. A portent of doom screamed a warning, and Kaius planted his front foot with all of his might, the soft stone of the Bonefields cracking beneath his heel. The first ambusher was too slow, his space warping steps narrowly carrying him out of the range of its desperate follow up swipe of his claws. Unfortunately, the other biter reacted just as fast¡ªbounding into another leap to correct for his dodge. Its fangs burned with a ghostly fire¡ªsickly oranges shining bright in Kaius¡¯s eyes. Then they closed over his shoulder. The heavy plates of his pauldrons did little to stop the skill empowered bite. A weak gasp slipped from Kaius¡¯s lips, his vision closing in as thumb length fangs crushed through the metal to tear at his flesh¡ªutterly shattering his shoulder, upper arm, and several of his ribs. **Ding! You have been afflicted by The Bite That Fells - Bone** The chill of fear shot up his spine. He was stuck fast¡ªno way out, with the biter¡¯s fangs buried a palm-width into his chest. B2 Chapter 251: Bonefields, Finale B2 Chapter 251: Bonefields, Finale Heart thumping in his chest, Kaius shut out the pain of his injuries. Agonous it might have been, the pain was drowned out by the roaring heat of his fury. He would not be cowed by simple pain¡ªhe would not be bested by something little better than a mangy dog-thing. Hoarsely crying out, he ignored the feeling of his shattered bones punching through his skin as he twisted, driving the point of his sword deep into a gap between the bone plates that covered the biter¡¯s chest. The beast yelped, yanking its head to the side. With as good of a grip as it had, Kaius was yanked off his feet¡ªthe world going horizontal as his flesh tore further. Using its overdeveloped strength, the biter hauled¡ªtossing him away in a desperate attempt to dislodge his blade. Somehow, he managed to keep a grip on it¡ªthe world blurring around him as he spiraled through the air in a splay of limbs. He came down hard, tumbling across the plateau in a flail of limbs and streaking blood. Groaning at the rough treatment, Kaius pushed himself to his feet. He coughed, wincing at the flare of pain that radiated from his shoulder¡ªand from the flood of blood that filled his mouth. Spitting out the red, he glanced at his wound. It was ruined¡ªan injury far worse than the cat that had almost done him in when he¡¯d first landed in the Depths. His armour was in tatters¡ªstray strips of flesh and white bone protruding from the hole where his pauldron had once been. Hot blood pumped from the wound¡ªslow as treacle, but soaking him all the same. Trying to lift the arm was useless, and whatever skill his enemy had used was inhibiting his healing. Every thump of his heart pushed more blood from the torn mess of blood vessels. Even with Lesser Regeneration causing his vital fluid to flow like thick treacle, every moment sapped him of his strength. His stark lack of fear made Kaius pause. He¡¯d grown. The last time he¡¯d had his shoulder broken like this, he¡¯d cried¡ªfearing his death. Now, the thought of that only made him bare his bloodstained teeth¡ªthe Bloodsong rising to a fever pitch. Rapid Adaptation was already burning through his system¡ªfighting the affliction off, but there was no way he would bet on it happening soon. His Glass Mind made it clear that was folly¡ªadapting to what was happening now is how he¡¯d see another day. Seeing his wounds, a trio of biters peeled off from the pack, stalking towards him with the one who had wounded him at the lead. Kaius¡¯s smile widened at their approach and he tightened his grip on his blade, adjusting his stance to better use it with one hand. And to think he¡¯d been worried the fight wouldn¡¯t be enough of a challenge. ... Leaping backwards, Kaius relied on his Slip Step to put a decent chunk of distance between him and the approaching bone biters. His shoulder fucking hurt¡ªand his health was burning faster than it should trying to fight through the affliction that was stifling his recovery. Abominable undead-looking dog-things they might have been, these beasts hit as hard as a hill giant. And now he had to take on three of them one handed. He knew he shouldn¡¯t have found that prospect exhilarating. That it should have sent a wave of dread rushing up his spine, constricting his throat. Unfortunately, he¡¯d long since accepted that he seemed to have lost his mind in the Depths. Just a few bits, really. The unimportant ones, like a healthy sense of self-preservation, and a good understanding of reasonable risks. Grunting at the jolt of pain, he shoved his blade under the pit of his ruined arm¡ªforcing himself to hold the weapon against his body, flexing muscles making bone shards punch deeper into his flesh. As quick as he could, he pulled two potions free from his pouch. One the green of grass shoots, the other the silver-blue of heated steel. Two restoratives, mana and health. Holding both at the same time, he ripped the corks free with his teeth, before pouring both down his throat. The tonics mingled on his tongue, a confusing alchemical mixture of the icy chill of a sacred wind, and the warming fuzz of taking a nap on a field of wildflowers. **Ding! You have imbibed a Tonic: Superior Life Infusion** **Ding! You have Imbibed a Tonic: Nourishing Kiss of the Moon** As the alchemical mixtures hit his stomach, energy coursed into his soul¡ªboth his Health and Mana recovering by a full thousand. They¡¯d been costly things¡ªbut more than worth it in his honest opinion. Discarding the bottles, he reset his stance as they tinked against the stone. His blade was leveled, held angled upwards with his elbow bent. His chosen opponents were still approaching cautiously¡ªwary of the figure who had slaughtered so many of their pack mates. Seeing their caution, Kaius risked a quick glance at Porkchop. He¡¯d felt his brother¡¯s burning rage¡ªand the pain that had been building on his back and hindquarters. Arrayed against what had to be half of the pack¡¯s original numbers, Porkchop was doing his best, but without Kaius there to sow confusion and discord through their ranks he was having a rough go at it. Oh, sure, he was still a terror¡ªeven outnumbering him ten to one, the biters shied away from Porkchop¡¯s every movement, doing their best to never be caught in the range of his deadly claws and fangs. But they did have the numbers, and even with his Autonomous Greatshield, Porkchop couldn¡¯t defend from every assault. Great gouges had been torn from his lower back and hind legs¡ªsome as deep as Kaius¡¯s wrist where the biters had torn chunks of flesh out of his brother. As much as the sensation of his brother¡¯s pain drove his battlefury to a fever pitch, he was confident that Porkchop could hold his own. Especially with Ianmus supporting him. In that brief look, another of the mage¡¯s silvery-white Rays of Tender Recover splashed over his brother¡ªhis healing rapidly recovering. Confident in Porkchop¡¯s chances, Kaius turned back to his own struggle. Brandishing his blade with a flourish, he turned to his side¡ªleaving his injured shoulder pointing away from the biters. No point providing them with an easy shot at his injury if he didn¡¯t have to. The world wavered as he stepped, moving thrice as far as he should have. His advance seemed to shake the biters out of their caution. Low growls ceased, and they attacked as one. A screaming bark came from the leftmost beast¡ªa skill that stabbed his ears like an icepick, waves of crushing force buffeting him a moment later. Muscling through the attack with brute force, Kaius covered his face with his arm, only partially defending from the shower of bone needles that pelted him from another of the beasts. Half of the needles punched through his armour¡ªbut they did little else besides, a few needle pricks far from enough to truly injure him, and pain meant little to him now. As soon as the initial assault was over, Kaius summoned a Shunt, riding a wave of explosive force as he closed the distance. It was a snap decision, each cast was precious, but he wasn¡¯t about to let the beasts wear him down from range. A discordant whine filled the air as he sheathed his blade in the burning wire of Mystic¡¯s Rend . The biters scattered in the face of his assault, but Expedient Shunt was fast. Too fast for all of them to escape. He descended like a holy avenger, bringing his blade down on the neck of the bone biter who had used the bone needles against him. Unfortunately, with his awkward angle, he wasn¡¯t able to strike directly for its undefended throat. Fortunately, Mystic¡¯s Rend cared little for bone armour. The skill collapsed, explosive arcane shattering the plate that covered the back of its neck. The beast whined¡ªit¡¯s armour and flesh corroding under the hungry touch of raw arcane. Before it could recover, or its packmates could force him back, Kaius rolled through the down stroke. Bringing his blade around again, he struck the same wound¡ªthis time layering Mystic¡¯s Rend with the enhancing power of his Bladerite. His sword bit deep¡ªcleaving into the biters spine, before the resultant explosion blew the bone out through its neck. It collapsed, eyes going glassy. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. **Ding! level 114 Bone Biter - Far Hunter slain - Experience Gained! Increased Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 91!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** Kaius howled his victory to the air¡ªand then quickly refreshed his Slip Step so he could avoid the furious retaliation of the other two rapidly approaching biters. As he raced away, searching for an opening to exploit, another of Ianmus¡¯s healing rays burnt through the air. It was easily thrice the thickness of his previous spells, and so potent that he could see the raw solar mana arcing across its length. The beam splashed over Porkchop¡ªevery one of his wounds repairing themselves within the second. A complete restoration. One that allowed him to turn the tide on the mob that assaulted him. Porkchop charged, exploiting the sudden shift in the battle to sink his jaws around a biter¡¯s head¡ªhis Warden¡¯s Maw crushing the creature''s skull. More power raced into Kaius¡¯s soul with its death, though not enough to push him over the next level. As much as he hated it, the growing experience burden was simply too much for a single death to fulfil¡ªespecially with the rapidly shrinking gap in their strengths. The ray still burned, and Kaius couldn¡¯t help but stare in awe at the spell that had enabled Porkchop¡¯s kill. How¡¯d Ianmus managed it? He hadn¡¯t spent anywhere near the channeling time he would need for such a trick¡ªeven if he used his Hypercharged Spell. Then he saw the tell tale traces of another affinity threaded through the ray, hidden almost completely by the sheer intensity of the spell¡ªa subtle pale green. Life mana. He¡¯d used the condensate. Thank the gods they¡¯d found it. Lunging to the side, Kaius narrowly avoided a clawing swipe from his own opponents. He swept his focus inwards¡ªfinding that Rapid Adaptation was making good progress against the affliction. Plus, even with it in place, he was still healing. His bleeding was almost entirely stopped now, and most of his bones had set themselves, even if they hadn¡¯t properly healed yet. Another heavy paw strike came for him. He reacted on instinct. With only a one handed grip on his blade, he risked losing it if he tried to block or parry. Instead he dropped his shoulder. Thick claws smashed into his pauldron. A deep gasp shot out of Kaius¡¯s mouth as the air was driven from his lungs, partly from the force of the strike, and partly from having his wounded shoulder jostled so heavily. But he still had his sword. Bursting to the side with a Shunt, Kaius shot straight into the face of the nearest biter. Right as they were about to collide, he bled off his momentum with a secondary activation. The resultant explosion knocked the beast off balance, its claws scrambling at the hard ground. Conveniently leaving it unable to deal with the Rend that took it in the throat. Another explosion rippled out¡ªthis one joined by chunks of flesh. A moment later, more strength exploded through him as unseen beasts were found wanting before Porkchop¡¯s claws. **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 92!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** Burning through his body, Rapid Adaptation excised the last of Kaius¡¯s affliction, and his flesh writhed with renewed intensity. ¡°Heal!¡± he screamed, needing to finish the fight quickly. A radiant beam¡ªlike getting a warm hug from a loved one¡ªwashed over him. **Ding! You have been Healed - Ray of Tender Recovery** Between it and his Lesser Regeneration he regained the use of his offhand a moment later¡ªeven if his shoulder would take another half a minute or so to fully recover. Kaius rolled his shoulder, wincing as it twinged. It¡¯d do. It was enough. Two crackling snakes of lightning burst from his hand, binding his opponents tight. Refreshing his Slip Step, he rushed the beasts¡ªburning stamina and mana like water as he hammered them with Mystic¡¯s Rend and Glyphic Bladerite both. In his haste to return to Porkchop¡¯s side and render assistance, he got sloppy¡ªmore blood spilled on the plateau as a lucky claw strike bared his ribs to the world, scything through the flesh that had been exposed by the rent in his armour. The biters still fell before his fury¡ªarcane explosions and heavy slashes tearing chunks from their flesh, until they collapsed dead. **Ding! level 120 Bone Biter - Maw of the Mountain slain - Experience Gained! Increased Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** ... **Ding! level 119 Bone Biter - Rabid Pursuer slain - Experience Gained! Increased Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** Without waiting for a moment, Kaius raced towards his brother. Only six biters were left¡ªfour shattered corpses lying at Porkchop¡¯s feet. Still more than enough for him to struggle to ward them all off. Using another Shunt, Kaius flew in, snapping off a Hateful Nail right towards a biter who¡¯d manage to circle around and sink his jaws into Porkchop¡¯s hip. The metal spike screamed through the air, punching straight into the beast¡¯s eye. The creature dropped dead a moment later. **Ding! level 112 Bone Biter - Rabid Pursuer slain - Experience Gained! Increased Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** Three more Nails left his hand¡ªbut his other targets were wary of him after the sharp crack of the explosion that had sent him flying towards them. They lurched away from the projectiles¡ªthe spells burying deep into their flesh, but failing to leave lethal wounds. Gritting his teeth, Kaius switched to Stormlash, two crackling arcs leaving the entire group momentarily stunned. It was enough of an opening for Porkchop to kill two of them¡ªpunching into their skulls with his reinforced claws. **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 93!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** Landing next to one of the last living members of the back, Kaius cut deep into its neck with a Rend. Claws raked his back¡ªeven though the armour held, white fire lanced into his mind as his ribs and spine cracked. He ignored the injury¡ªremoving the head of the beast in front of him with a double helping of Rend and his Bladerite. **Ding! level 117 Bone Biter - Hunter of the Long Dead slain - Experience Gained! Increased Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** Blue motes trailed Kaius¡¯s feet as he sprinted forwards, taking himself out of the range of the biter behind him as he flickered in and out of the world. Barely a moment later burning rays shot across the plateau, blinding one of the last two beasts. It was the only opening Kaius needed. Blind and defenceless, it was simplicity itself to send a Hateful Nail into its skull. **Ding! level 114 Bone Biter - Mountain Maw slain - Experience Gained! Increased Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** With only a single Biter remaining, Porkchop took out his frustration at being mobbed by the vast majority of the pack the whole fight. He descended on the beast in a fury¡ªcracking its carapace with raking swipe after raking swipe of his claws. It tried to dodge¡ªescape from the danger of a furious greater meles¡ªbut it was no use. Porkchop ended it like he had most of his kills¡ªsqueezing its brains out of its ears with a crushing bite of Warden¡¯s Maw. **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 94!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** **Ding! Significant Feat of Strength performed under Observation. You have been awarded an Honour: Hordebreaker** **Class Skill Notifications Consolidated!** **Ding! Latent Glyph of Drakthar has reached level 111 > 118!** ... **Ding! Initiate¡¯s Glyphic Bladerite has reached level 74 > 79!** ... **Ding! Latent Glyph of Aelina has reached level 103 > 111!** ... **Ding! Mystic¡¯s Rend has reached level 27 > 46!** **General Skill Notifications Consolidated!** **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has reached level 91 > 94!** ... **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo has reached level 92 > 98!** ... **Ding! Explorer¡¯s Toolkit has reached level 72 > 77!** ... **Ding! Tempered By Dissonance has reached level 83 > 90!** ... **Ding! Resonance Amplification has reached level 84 > 87!** ... **Ding! Lesser Regeneration has reached level 87 > 98!** ... **Ding! Uncanny Dodge has reached level 89 > 97!** ... **Ding! Brotherhood of Ichor and Animus has reached level 98 > 109!** Kaius stood, staring at the notifications with a wild smile on his face. He laughed long and loud as he revelled in his latest victory. Another Honour! And one that likely had later variants too¡ªthis fight had been even better than he¡¯d hoped. More than that, he felt the visceral satisfaction of stinging wounds and burning muscles. Of the sweat streaming off of him like rain, and his lungs billowing in his chest. It had been so long, so long, since they¡¯d had a decent fight. Everything, everything since leaving the Depths had been so different. The spider had been desperate, but awkward¡ªhe¡¯d been too unused to fighting with Ianmus¡¯s support. The infernus hound had been tainted by the memories of Rieker¡¯s lessons, and the boggarts had been a grind. Even the Drake¡ªrelative of dragons it might have been, it hadn¡¯t exactly been a straight up brawl. This though? This had tested him¡ªleft him injured in a way that had felt so normal in his life below ground. He hadn¡¯t even realised he¡¯d missed it. Kaius turned to his friends, simple joy on his face. ¡°We got another one!¡± he called, thrusting his blade in the air. Porkchop chuffed, immediately taking a seat as his remnant wounds healed, while Ianmus clapped, his own smile wide and broad. ¡°A great showing, you two. Very hair-raising display.¡± the mage quipped. Kaius was about to reply, when a sharp twinge radiated through his chest. It was like he¡¯d been stung¡ªright where the hole in his armour left his skin exposed. He looked down, expecting to find some bit of scrap scale that had gotten caught. Instead he found a dart. ¡°What the fuck?¡± **Ding! You have been afflicted by Gravebound Slumber - Poison, Dream, Tier 2** B2 Chapter 252: Watchers in the Wings, pt. 1 B2 Chapter 252: Watchers in the Wings, pt. 1 **Ding! You have been afflicted by Gravebound Slumber - Poison, Dream, Tier 2** Kaius stared down at the dart in his chest, struggling to process what it was doing there. It was a small thing¡ªreally just a weighted needle with a few fins to stabilise it in flight. Then he noticed the creeping numbness that was slowly seeping across his chest¡ªa circle barely a thumb width wide. It was joined by an insidious fatigue¡ªone that felt soft and comfortable, fuzzing the edge of his senses. Horror dawned, a yawning pit in his stomach opening as his mind caught up to the reality of the situation. ¡°Shit! Ambush!¡± Kaius screamed, knocking the dart from his skin. His eyes snapped up to Ianmus¡ªjust in time to watch the mage suddenly collapse. Furious rage bellowed from behind him, Porkchop having enough Vitality that the poison was struggling to bring him down quickly. Despite scanning his surroundings, Kaius saw no sight of their ambushers. That was good¡ªthey still had a chance. If they were lucky, the shot had been taken from range, and they hadn¡¯t expected them to be able to handle their toxin. His hand dropped to his belt pouch, ripping out the medallion that Rieker had given them for this very eventuality. Before he could channel the mana to activate the enchantment, he felt the smooth disk of metal rip free of his hands¡ªcatching the sun as its twisted and deformed surface spun through the air. Right off the edge of the plateau. ¡°Fuck!¡± he swore. They had an archer. A good one. Kaius grit his teeth and ran, struggling against the liquid weight that pressed down on his muscles. A quick glance showed Porkchop listing, confused at his sudden intoxication. ¡°Behind me, now! We need to use your shield as a stretcher.¡± he demanded, still sprinting for Ianmus¡¯s prone form. He felt Porkchop steeling himself through their bond¡ªhe listened without question, taking off at an ambling run. Reaching the base of the stone wall that surrounded the plateau, Kaius jumped at a full sprint. Sailing through the air, he just grabbed a hand hold that jutted out below the ledge that Ianmus was lying on insensate. A single heave brought him up, landing on his feet. Instantly, he saw that Ianmus had his own dart¡ªsticking straight out of his shoulder. Ripping it free, Kaius swooped the gangly man over his shoulder, grabbing their spatial bag nestled at the back of the outcropping in the same motion. There was more up there¡ªtheir tent, and a pile of other belongings that didn¡¯t quite fit in their stores. He left it. There was no time. Refusing to wait for a second volley, Kaius leapt down, bleeding off the force of his landing with bent knees. Porkchop was waiting for him, his greatshield hovering horizontal at his side¡ªinverted so that Ianmus could rest in its concave depression. ¡°Where now?¡± Porkchop asked, his eyes hard but slightly glassy. ¡°The portal, as fast as we can.¡± Kaius replied, roughly dumping Ianmus in his stretcher. The shield bobbed under the mage¡¯s weight, but held. Their worst fears had been realised, and an escape into the Depths was by far their best shot. Whoever had come for them was powerful and well connected¡ªthey needed to be if they had used a tier two toxin. Ra??o?E?S?? Fuck. With the affliction having Dream affinity, he didn¡¯t have a full resistance, and even if he did he had no confidence in his skill being able to fight it off before he succumbed. The clock was ticking. They ran. Mid step, he ripped open his potion pouch, downing a tonic for each of his resources before he tossed another trio to his brother. Porkchop was listing¡ªalmost stumbling from the effects of the poison that coursed through his veins, but he was still plenty fast. Even then, Kaius could feel the slowly creeping exhaustion that was building in his brother¡¯s body. His brother still had enough wherewithal to snatch the bottles out of the air. They shattered between his jade teeth, glass ignored as it cut deep into Porkchop¡¯s cheeks and gums. ¡°More. Health and Stamina.¡± Porkchop demanded. Kaius ripped them out of his pouch and sent them flying, two more potions shattering in his brother¡¯s mouth. He could feel the exhaustion of his own affliction. Rapid Adaptation burned like wildfire, but the toxin was too strong, and too unfamiliar. The best he was doing was slowing its encroachment, but he knew he would be consumed all the same. It was inevitable. Thankfully it was a gradual process¡ªthey could make it to the portal, even if his leaden eyes and clouded mind made it feel like he¡¯d been up for a day straight. Halfway across the plateau, he noticed something atop the monoliths that surrounded the glowing ring of their salvation. It wasn¡¯t even a blur, just a certainty from Truesight that something had just moved. A pervasive feeling that he was being lied to. Not for the first time, he blessed his fortunes at having had access to such a valuable Legacy. He felt the patches of wrongness drop down in front of the portal, even if the coast looked clear. ¡°Attackers guarding the portal, Shardwall on my mark.¡± Kaius said through beast speak, refusing to give their mysterious visitors any indication of their plans. A flood of determined acceptance crossed their bond. Leaning into the connection deeply, Kaius fed his brother every sense he had of where their targets were waiting. The growing sense of falsity was still¡ªwaiting just a half dozen strides in front of their escape. He grit his teeth, pretending nothing was wrong as he sprinted onwards. It couldn¡¯t be too early¡ªthey had one shot at surprising their ambushers, and even if they were out leveled all they needed was to break through their line. The less time they had to react, the better. The distance shrunk with every step. Fifty strides. Thirty. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Twelve. ¡°Now!¡± Porkchop feinted a stumble, driving his front claw into the red rock of the plateau. Sharped jade slid home with ease, his pace correcting with the fluid motion of practice as he ripped his paw free of the earth. Sacred Jade erupted¡ªseven strides high, by fifteen long, the skill having grown with the levels that had come with their most recent training. Racing forward with the grinding crash of tortured stone, the Shardwall accelerated straight for the group that he knew to be waiting for them. Kaius heard a curse, and their targets reacted¡ªdashing away from the approaching skill. His arms might have felt like lead, and his heart might have raced like he¡¯d been running for a full day, but when an indistinct patch of lies shot straight for him, Kaius was ready. With an iron grip on his will, he ripped at his stamina and mana, pushing both resources into his blade. With the levels he had gained, and the potions he had consumed, his resources were doing just fine¡ªall of them above four fifths of their total. His spells? Less great, he¡¯d spent more than half of the casts he¡¯d prepared for each one. As Kaius raised his blade high, light burned within his sword¡ªa sheath of arcane joined by the burning light of his blade''s enchantments. He cut. The shroud of sensed lies shattered. In its place was a weathered man¡ªhis skin cracked by age¡ªwho was cloaked in a heavy set of inscribed black splintmail. A colossal greatsword in hand, the man swung, catching Kaius¡¯s slash in a textbook rising block. Pressing hard against the attacker, Kaius grunted as his back and arms ached with the pain of exertion. He was strong, but the other man was stronger¡ªand he knew it. Caught in a bind, Kaius analyzed the man¡ªhoping to learn anything he could. Only for his probe to shatter helplessly against the man¡¯s Mask, barely gleaning anything. Human - ???? ????, ???? Whoever they were, they were strong. The swordsman smirked, lips parting to reveal yellowed teeth. Kaius ignored the taunt. Mystic¡¯s Rend detonated¡ªthe expulsion of raw arcane forcing his opponents greatsword back a hair, breaking their bind. A corrosive wave washed over his opponent, causing the swordsman to grunt in frustration as it scorched his flesh. It was the opening he needed. With a flick of his wrist, he pulled the greatsword off centre, levering against the swordsman¡¯s strength to slip into a stab that raced for the man¡¯s throat. The swordman¡¯s grin faltered, and he blurred into motion. Relying on the heft of his weapon, he smashed Kaius¡¯s blade aside¡ªcountering with a hacking blow of his own. ¡°Fiesty one, aren¡¯t ya?¡± the swordsman spat. Kaius only lunged in¡ªanother wire of arcane infusing on the edge of his blade. Aborting his attack, the swordsman backed up out of range¡ªleery of his skill. Rather than press the opening, Kaius raced away. He had to get to Porkchop before they were hemmed in. The portal was all that mattered. His brother was already fighting¡ªtwo more figures dancing around him to capitalise on his clumsy weakness. One a black haired rogue with a pair of daggers, the other a masked woman with flaxen hair pelting him from further afield with arrows. Porkchop wasn¡¯t letting them off easy. A shardwall erupted, blocking the archer¡¯s view before he explosively launched forwards. Only for the black hair man¡¯s daggers to glow with internal light. He plunged them deep into Porkchop¡¯s back thigh, stopping his charge dead¡ªsomehow. And yet, for all their aggression they ignored Ianmus¡ªthere was only one good reason for that, they wanted them alive. Kaius couldn¡¯t let them stall for time¡ªeven if each of their opponents was stronger than them. Before he could come to his brother¡¯s assistance, the grizzled swordsman blurred infront of him, forcing Kaius to come to a skidding halt lest he get skewered by a cleaving stroke of the bruiser¡¯s sword. Diagonally to his left, a final figure appeared. Short and thin, with a staff taller than he was, a mage wove a stream of glowing mana. Kaius¡¯s eyes widened. A full team¡ªwhoever wanted them was taking no chances. Worse, the construct the mage was casting was growing by the second. It had already reached a terrifying potency, he needed that man gone. He lunged for the caster¡ªonly to lunge back as a blurring stab from the swordsman carved a thin line across the surface of his stomach. Pulling his blade back with a flick, the wrinkled warrior wove a tight flurry¡ªsome sort of skill causing a dozen duplicates of his blade to appear. Even with Truesight, it was impossible keep track of. If he hadn¡¯t already been certain that this team drastically outlevelled him, he was now. Cursing under his breath, Kaius abandoned any hope of parrying the attack, kicking off the ground in an attempt to create space. Only his reactions were too slow¡ªthe progressive creep of his affliction leaving his muscles weak and placid. Pain exploded through his chest as the bruiser¡¯s greatsword tore through the tattered remnants of his chest plate and severed his pectoral. Swallowing a gasp, Kaius allowed the force of the swing to spin him and used the momentum to thrust straight for the warrior¡¯s eye. It was a perfect counter¡ªfast and on target, and perfectly timed to slip over the swordsman''s guard. His opponent only grunted¡ªracing away in a flash of mana to avoid the blow. Away from the mage, who was left undefended only a few long-strides away with his spell still moments from completion. Kaius moved without hesitation, burning a charge of Slip Step to close the gap as fast as he could¡ªhis eyes promising a violent end to the mage who had dared to confront him. The mage panicked¡ªunleashing his spell early. An uncontrolled wall of fire erupted between Kaius and his target¡ªhot enough he felt his hair curling. He didn¡¯t care¡ªnot with the fury that roared within him. Why did it have to be this way? Why couldn¡¯t skills just be shared openly, rather than coveted and killed over. Stubborn in his pursuit, Kaius pushed on. Fire was one of his oldest resistances. He¡¯d live, even if his defence wouldn¡¯t be as strong as it was against an affliction ¡ª especially since the mage had cast his spell early and the magic fueling the blaze was flickering and inconsistent. A burst of force exploded at his back, shunting him forwards as glyphs flared within his blade and a wire of arcane burned at its edge. He flew straight into the conflagration, sword point leveled at the exact point he knew the mage to be. The flames cared little for his wants¡ªscorching ire blackening his flesh. It hurt, more than almost anything he had felt¡ªfeeling his charred skin blister and curl, the flesh underneath sizzling. Then he was out the other side, quick enough that his burns¡ªeven if all consuming¡ªwere only skin deep. Without the radiance of flames obscuring his sight, the first thing he saw was the mage backing up. Unfortunately for him, he was far too slow to escape. Kaius¡¯s blade caught him in the throat¡ªpunching straight through the delicate flesh to erupt from his spine. Time seemed to slow. Kaius stared deep into the mage''s eyes. Seeing the fear there, the confusion. Just how little the man could comprehend his own end¡ªcouldn¡¯t grapple with the strides of steel buried in his flesh. For a fleeting moment, Kaius felt the heavy weight of guilt. He¡¯d never killed a man before. Then Mystic¡¯s Rend detonated. The mage¡¯s head flew free. Blood, viscera, and shards of bone splattered in every direction, a good portion of the gore stinging painfully as it stuck to his slowly healing burns. **Ding! level 204 Human - Immolation Mage (Tier 2) slain - Experience Gained! Increased Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!** **Ding! Significant Feat of Strength performed under Observation. You have been awarded an Honour: Ruthless Underdog III** **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 95!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** ... **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 106!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** **Ding! Class skill available for selection!** Kaius stared at the notifications mutely, horror slowly rising as he took in the level of the mage he had just taken off-guard. At the fact that he¡¯d just killed a man. His chest heaved¡ªthe exertion of battle only hastening the progress of the poison that slowly sapped his strength. With every movement, fluid sodden clothes stuck to his raw flesh. It was a stinging bite that mingled with the roiling itch that covered him from head to toe¡ªhis Health plummeting as he recovered. He could think about it later. They needed to get through that portal¡ªhe¡¯d been just about the worst match up possible for that mage, and had far less confidence against the rest of the ambushers. Dashing away, he raced towards Porkchop, eyes roaming as he searched for the swordsman. Pain exploded just above his left hip¡ªa stride of steel erupting from his stomach. Ah. That¡¯s where he was. B2 Chapter 253: Watchers in the Wings, finale B2 Chapter 253: Watchers in the Wings, finale Staring down at the stride-long length of the greatsword that was sticking out of his stomach, Kaius wondered how he got here. It seemed more than a little unfair that going out of his way to kill powerful monsters that were a threat to the people of Deadacre had led to a sword sticking out of his gut. Then the stinging heat kicked in, and with it came fury. He knew he should be saving his spells¡ªknew he should hoard them for if they were captured. Yet, if he did, he would all but consign them to that fate becoming a certainty. It was a risk, the chance of escape now, or a chance later. He made his choice. Expedient Shunt. Kaius flew forwards, the swordsman behind him cursing at the sudden blast of force. Before the crack of the first explosion had faded, he activated his spell again¡ªanother wave of energy bursting free of his chest, canceling his movement the second the blade in his stomach had been removed. Front foot touching the ground, Kaius leaned on every scrap of bodily control he had to spin on the spot and lunge back towards the swordsman. Burning stamina to fuel a Bladerite, he wove into a series of tight thrusts and economic cuts¡ªtesting his opponent¡¯s guard as his burns and the wound on his stomach healed. The warrior was strong¡ªevery blow was blocked with ease, his slab of a sword smashing aside Kaius¡¯s probing strikes. And yet...Kaius was beginning to realise he might not be as strong as he expected for a tier 2. Certainly, he was not as titanic as Rieker. Between his honours and his class, his own Strength was monstrous. His stats, while spread out, were similar to a freshly risen tier two with a Rare class. More than that, he was a giant of a man, standing head and shoulders over the swordsman, and in the prime of his life with beast blood running through his veins. The swordsman was old, and only of middling height¡ªeven with more Strength, it had far less to work off. Kaius grit his teeth, cursing the poison he had been afflicted with. Without it sapping his strength, inexorably pulling him closer to slumber, he would have been far more sure in his victory. Now, with his body ailing and his agility crumbling by the second, he had to rely on his skill with the blade, and his confidence in his constitution. The warrior thrust, his blade racing for Kaius¡¯s chest. Kaius swept his blade up, catching the man''s sword at the tip with the strong base of his own. Twirling his sword, he yanked the weapon off centre, smoothly transitioning into a counter-thrust. It cut through the warrior''s ear¡ªhis ambusher only saved from a sword through the eye by a last minute twitch of his head. Snarling in fury, the swordsman pulled back, carrying the inertia of his heavy weapon into a sideways cleave. The blade burned¡ªempowered by another of the warrior''s skills. It shattered his defence¡ªblooding Kaius further with a cut that trailed over his hip. Capitalising on the opening, the swordsman guided his weapon¡¯s momentum and carved another furrow through his flesh. This couldn¡¯t continue. He was being beaten down¡ªhis mind too clouded to fight effectively. Porkchop was faring even worse than he was, their bond revealing just how badly he was succumbing to the poison. Faced with two fighters faster and more mobile, it was all Porkchop could do to stay standing. His brother was running on fumes, and unless something changed, they were done for. R?¦¡?????s? Giving ground before the swordsman¡¯s onslaught, Kaius¡¯s Glass Mind raced. Their chances...didn¡¯t look good. Even if he could last another ten minutes before the poison pulled him under, Porkchop wouldn¡¯t last that long¡ªand there was no way he was abandoning his team to their fate. Yet it wasn¡¯t all bad¡ªfaced with an older and more skilled opponent, he felt Corporus begin to keen. With every slash, parry, and counterattack, the power within his soul flared¡ªa delighted tone ringing out at his economy of motion. At the way he leveraged everything¡ªeven if it might not be enough. He doubted that he would ignite the pillar here on the battlefield¡ªit wasn¡¯t flaring half as bright as when he had finally founded Mentis¡ªbut Kaius took solace in the fact it meant he was on the right path. Narrowly avoiding another of the swordsman¡¯s crushing blows, Kaius realised there was one thing they could do. It wasn¡¯t a certain path to victory, but it would be a retribution. He fell deeper into his bond. ¡°Wait for the moment¡ªwe¡¯re switching targets.¡± he sent to his brother, pushing along his intentions. Porkchop was too exhausted¡ªtoo drained by the poison¡ª to reply with anything other than simple acceptance. The swordsman pressed the attack, weaving half a dozen skills into a relentless onslaught that had Kaius just barely maintaining his grip on his blade. He gave ground. Step by step, he drew closer to Porkchop and the archer and rogue that were harassing him. Watching through Porkchop¡¯s eyes, he saw the moment the rogue presented Kaius his back. It was all he was waiting for. Thunder shook the battlefield, Stormlash appearing in his hand. It screamed through the air¡ªbinding the swordsman in chains of stunning agony as he committed fully to a heavy chop. The swordsman¡¯s body was wracked by convulsions as reverberant force and lightning pummeled his internals. Kaius smirked. Even if they had been watching him, it was hard to adjust to a lifetime of being used to casters needing to channel. A shunt blew him away from the swordsman¡ªspinning him through the air so that he shot straight for the undefended rogue. Arcane energy surrounded his blade, backed by the fire of his Bladerite. The second he had acted, Porkchop moved. A Shardwall obscured him from his opponents, and he lurched backwards¡ªcharging straight for the stunned swordsman. The warrior recovered right before Porkchop was about to bear down on him. ¡°Shit!¡± he screamed¡ªblade shining as he thrust towards the oncoming threat. Porkchop ignored the attack¡ªallowing the greatsword to shatter his breastplate and lance into his chest down to the hilt. His weight and speed bowled the swordsman over, sending both of them to the ground. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Kaius felt his brother''s jaws close around the swordsman''s head¡ªWarden¡¯s Maw crushing the man¡¯s skull, before Porkchop lurched backwards to free himself from his impalement. **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 107!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** .... **Ding! Runeblade Initiate has reached class level 113!** **+3 End, Str, & Int, +2 Dex, Wil, +1 Vit, Free - from Class & Racial Traits!** ¡°That¡¯s why you wear a helmet, idiot.¡± Kaius thought to himself, drawing his sword back to stab his blade into the knife-wielding rogue¡¯s back. The rogue blurred, reacting like he had eyes in the back of his head. Gods he was fast, far faster than the swordsman. Before he knew it, the rogue was inside of his guard, and he felt the kiss of the man¡¯s blade three times. Kaius gasped¡ªblood welling from the wounds. The rogue backed up, looking behind Kaius at the slain bodies of his companion. ¡°Typical,¡± the man spat. ¡°Should¡¯ve known better than to trust a report. At least it¡¯s less of the pot to share.¡± Circling along the wall, the archer drew back her bow¡ªaiming for him. Sinking into his guard, Kaius accepted the momentary reprieve¡ªevery second was another he could heal. ¡°Who are you?¡± he asked, keeping his tone even and casual. ¡°No one you would know.¡± the rogue replied. ¡°Looks like you¡¯re all on your lonesome now, though. Might be best you just give up, save us all a bit of hassle.¡± Kaius¡¯s eyes widened, heart slamming in his chest. He didn¡¯t take the bait and look behind him, but he could feel through his bond that the man was right. Porkchop was out¡ªhis mind hazy and indistinct. Killing the swordsman had taken the last of his brother¡¯s strength, and he¡¯d fallen under the sway of the poison. They¡¯d lost. He knew that by himself he had no chance against the remaining members of the team. Undoubtedly the leader, the rogue was in a league of his own¡ªhe moved like a ghost, and his daggers felt like they hit as hard as the swordsman¡¯s heavy blade. Worse, he felt the numbness creeping up his neck, the weight on his shoulders, and the pooling fatigue that made his limbs feel like lead. He had little left to give. The only thing he could do is make them work for it. He rushed the rogue, a sudden Hateful Nail forcing the archer to evade. Flowing into a cycle of slashes, Kaius did his best to hem the man in. Yet for all of his advantage in range and strength, the man was impossible to hit. He simply flowed around his strikes like they were moving at half speed¡ªdashing in and out of his guard to whittle away at him with a dozen light cuts. He was being toyed with¡ªa fact that burned. Every cut was light, sinking just deep enough to cut the muscle, even when it would have been easy for the rogue to leave mortal wounds. All the while, arrows flew¡ªpunching into his legs and arms, hampering his ability to respond. The archer needed to go. With only a few more casts left, Kaius used Expedient Shunt¡ªsoaring straight for the irritating woman. She only used a movement skill of her own¡ªa surge of wind carrying her out of his reach while she landed three more arrows in his hip. Howling in frustration, Kaius abandoned his pursuit and whirled back to the leader¡ªhis wild swing hitting nothing but air. **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has added a new Resistance: Dream!** Feeling the ding of Rapid Adaptation growing used to the final component of the toxin that coursed through his blood, Kaius hoped for a moment that it would be what he needed to turn the tide. It wasn¡¯t¡ªeven burning with renewed vigour, the poison only slowed. He could feel it now, clouding his mind. Every thought was hazy, like he¡¯d only just woke up, and his wounds crawled with an unnatural chill. ¡°Who hired you? The Onyx Temple?¡± Kaius gasped, sweat dripping from his brow. Clumsily swiping through the air, he missed an arrow, the projectile slamming home into his upper arm. The leader ignored him. His form dissolved like smoke on the wind, racing inwards. Kaius tried to ward him off¡ªonly for a dagger to punch through his hand. With a grip of iron, the rogue yanked his arm upwards. His blade slipped free, clattering to the ground with a loud ring. ¡°You¡¯re strong¡ªI see why they want you.¡± the man murmured, his voice guttural. Kaius bared his teeth. Lightning cracked in his free hand, and he swiped for the rogue¡ªtrying to free himself so he could grab A Father¡¯s Gift. An arrow slammed home into his shoulder, rupturing the joint. Crippled and poisoned as Kaius was, the rogue simply stepped to the side, letting his spell splash harmlessly behind him on the red stone of the plateau. ¡°Your magic is strange too.¡± Blurring inwards, the rogue¡¯s dagger grew dark and indistinct. Ruthless in his assault, he smashed the pommel into Kaius¡¯s temple. His vision went grey, legs collapsing as whatever skill the leader had used sapped all of his strength. Flipping his dagger into a reverse grip, the rogue used another skill¡ªhis blade glowing with internal light. The dagger slammed home into Kaius¡¯s clavicle, drawing a final quiet gasp from his throat. The poison in Kaius¡¯s body went berserk¡ªtripling its rampage through his body as the rogue¡¯s final skill inflamed it to new heights. Barely holding on to the precipice as he was, it was too much. He slumped¡ªjust barely aware of his surroundings, his vision little more than an indistinct haze. A set of boots hit the ground in front of him, another illusion dissolving. Half delirious as he was, Kaius absentmindedly noted that they were utilitarian¡ªknee high brown leather that looked well worn, like the kind he was wearing under his sabatons. All but paralysed as he was, that was all he could make out¡ªhis eyes half closed and his neck immobile. The rogue turned to the new arrival. ¡°You gave me bad information; now I need to go through the hassle of finding more men.¡± the rogue said, his tone biting. ¡°You¡¯ll be paid for the difficulties¡ªthis was outside our anticipation.¡± the new arrival appeased in a smooth baritone. ¡°I better be¡ªno sane man takes out a contract on a greater meles.¡± he hissed. ¡°The elves have ears everywhere. If this blows back on us, me and Chance will have to flee past the dukedoms if we want to keep our skin. Even that might not be enough¡±. The stranger winced. ¡°That was my mistake¡ªI never got within a half-league of them while I was tracking them. It¡¯s my first time seeing the beast this close.¡± Taking a deep sigh, the stranger turned, looking down at Kaius. ¡°Not to worry¡ªI''m sure he¡¯ll simply be ransomed. The other one though....he¡¯s proven even more interesting than was expected. Expect to be paid handsomely, in addition to what was promised.¡± The conversation died to a murmur, and Kaius felt his grip on consciousness grow tenuous. It was only when manacles clicked over his hands that he returned from the fog, the sudden shock of his mana and stamina growing sluggish and immobile jolting him back. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Old Yon is expecting us.¡± Kaius had just enough wherewithal to fight through his confusion, committing the name to memory before the heavy weight of the Gravebound Slumber tugged him back to unconsciousness. .... **Class Skill Notifications Consolidated!** **Ding! Latent Glyph of Drakthar has reached level 118 > 120!** ... **Ding! Initiate¡¯s Glyphic Bladerite has reached level 79 > 84!** ... **Ding! Latent Glyph of Aelina has reached level 111 > 114!** ... **Ding! Mystic¡¯s Rend has reached level 46 > 57!** **General Skill Notifications Consolidated!** **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has reached level 94 > 113!** ... **Ding! Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo has reached level 98 > 105!** ... **Ding! Explorer¡¯s Toolkit has reached level 77 > 78!** ... **Ding! Tempered By Dissonance has reached level 90 > 93!** ... **Ding! Truesight has reached level 78 > 87!** ... **Ding! Resonance Amplification has reached level 87 > 88!** ... **Ding! Lesser Regeneration has reached level 98 > 106!** ... **Ding! Uncanny Dodge has reached level 97 > 101!** ... **Ding! Brotherhood of Ichor and Animus has reached level 109 > 114!** B2 Chapter 254: Confinement, pt. 1 B2 Chapter 254: Confinement, pt. 1 Kaius¡¯s vision fuzzed as he fell in and out of consciousness. He was being carried, slung roughly over someone¡¯s shoulder. Everything ached¡ªthe remnants of his Health were not enough to fully recover from the beatdown he had just suffered. It was only by the blaring insistence of his Glass Mind that he had the wherewithal to stay limp and silent. No need to let his captors know he was awake, even if it was only barely. Through half-lidded eyes, he watched black-booted feet stomp their way through the long grass of the frontier. The rogue, it had to be¡ªhis every step driving his shoulder uncomfortably into Kaius¡¯s tender stomach. Struggling against the weight of the poison that was steadily dragging him back into oblivion, he tried his best to see how far they¡¯d walked. Grass meant they¡¯d left the Bonefields. Then the rogue stopped. ¡°Chuck them in the cart,¡± the voice of the stranger who¡¯d arrived at the end of their battle said. The rogue grunted. Kaius felt himself lifted off of the man''s shoulder before he was roughly tossed forwards. Fogged as his mind was, he didn¡¯t have to fight all that hard to suppress his instincts to catch himself. He landed on something warm and soft¡ªPorkchop, judging by the blood soaked fur that pressed into the back of his neck. Cracking a lidded eye, his assumption was confirmed, right as Ianmus¡¯s limp body was tossed on top of him. He just barely stifled a groan as the man¡¯s dead weight pressed directly on a half-healed cut on his chest. Gods, it was hard to think. Even knowing how vital it was that he learned of their destination, he was struggling to keep his eyes cracked. ¡°You sure you¡¯ll be able to keep them contained? They¡¯re tough as nails. I wouldn¡¯t mind sitting around for a month or two to keep things settled.¡± the rogue asked. Kaius almost thought he heard a little respect in the bastard¡¯s voice. The stranger barked a laugh. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯d love that. No, my containment measures will be more than enough¡ªdon¡¯t you worry, no one¡¯s ever escaped Yon¡¯s pit.¡± Brushing off the stranger''s words¡ªthere was always a first time for everything¡ªhe focused as much as he could on the fact that the rogue wouldn¡¯t be guarding them. Even through the fog that clouded him, he knew that it was unlikely the man would have offered it if there were already guards of his own calibre. That was...good. He thought it was good, at least. Unable to fight against the poison any longer, Kaius fell back into unconsciousness. .... Water dripped on Kaius¡¯s face, lurching him back to the world of the waking. Opening his eyes slowly, confusion rolled over him as he struggled to process where he was. Last thing he remembered, they¡¯d been fighting some dog-like beasts in the Bonefields. Then...there had been an ambush? Ice shot down his spine, banishing the last of his fatigue as the memories of their defeat and capture washed over him. Lurching to a seated position, he looked around. He was in a cell¡ªthree walls, a ceiling, and a floor made of a uniform cobblestone. It wasn¡¯t exactly watertight. Moisture seeped through the seams in the stone¡ªfeeding patches of mold and moss that had made their home in the room. r?a?????o?????E?S?? Barely eight strides wide, he¡¯d been left with almost no room to move¡ªeven if he could lie flat on the cold ground, he didn¡¯t have enough room to stretch out his arms. Switching attention to his body, Kaius scowled as he realised that his captors had stripped him of everything. His armour, blade, and everything else was gone¡ªreplaced by a moldy roughspun burlap smok that left the thick black lines of his glyphs bare to the world. No doubt they would have plenty of questions for him about those. Thankfully, he could feel his blade¡ªhis bond to his weapon yanking his attention far off to his left. Most likely they¡¯d left it in a store room, or some kind of vault. Getting access would be vital to their escape. With the communication medallion being destroyed before he could use it, it would be up to them to escape. Holding his hand to his face to trace the lines of the sigil that was emblazoned on the palm of his swordhand, Kaius realised with a start that his captors had missed something. A ring. The one that Rieker and Ro had gifted him that reinforced his mask. Kaius sighed in relief. The enchantment to redirect attention had held. That, at least, was something¡ªthe less information his captors could glean, the better. If they couldn¡¯t get through his mask, they wouldn¡¯t know their levels, and escape would be just that much easier. Setting his hand down, Kaius took in the final wall of his cell. A door of wrought iron bars was set in its centre, leading to a similarly depressing stone hallway that was lit by surprisingly bright wardlights. Unfortunately, the lights were a cold blue-white that left him feeling exposed and uncomfortable. ¡°A fine choice for a dungeon.¡± he thought to himself with a snort. Kaius took a deep breath. The worst had come to pass¡ªthey¡¯d been captured, with no immediate way to escape. He knew what would come next. Torture. Then a mindmage, when they realised they wouldn¡¯t be able to get anything from him. Surprisingly, the thought didn¡¯t strike terror. Deep down, he¡¯d expected this would happen at some point, and now that it had, he wasn¡¯t about to sit around shaking in his boots. The only thing fear would do was dull his mind. If he wanted out, he needed his full faculties. He knew he wouldn¡¯t break¡ªwhat he had gone through to earn his resistance skills as a child of fifteen would make any hardened torturer blanch. Pain, poison, fire, and void¡ªeach had been an ordeal that had almost broken him, made more brutal by the fact Father had used it as an opportunity to harden him for this very eventuality. Even Ianmus had been through anti-interrogation training before he¡¯d been deemed worthy of learning the legacy skills of his college. A mindmage though...they wouldn¡¯t have much defence against that. He¡¯d give it a month, maybe two before they settled on that option¡ªblackmarket mind crackers didn¡¯t exactly strike him as cheap, especially not if they had to be trusted to keep legacy skills to themselves. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Even with a time limit, he couldn¡¯t exactly jump straight to escape¡ªthey would have to plan. Learn about their captors and where they were being held in any way they could, while they waited for complacency and routine to give them an opening. Steeling himself for the hard days to come, Kaius dropped into his soulspace. He needed to check if his resources were still constrained. In the burning light of his soul, he saw that they were. The once gaseous clouds of his Mana and Stamina were locked down tight, contained in their pools. His glyphs though? They might not be. Sweeping his attention to the tightly wound magic constructs that he had imbued into his flesh, Kaius let a wild grin spread across his face as he found tightly packed bundles of mana waiting for his command. He might not be able to inscribe more, but he had what was left. Seven casts of Hateful Nail , four of Stormlash, six of Yellia¡¯s Slip Step, and three of Trussant¡¯s Expedient Shunt. Every single one was precious, and he¡¯d have to hoard them carefully for their escape. He knew he had more skills to pick, and Honours to check, but he would have plenty of time to check on those later. Right now, he needed information. Starting with inspecting the inscription that had sealed his resources. Pushing himself up to his feet, Kaius grimaced as he stepped into a small puddle of frigid water that had dripped from the ceiling. Shaking off the drips, he searched the room¡ªquickly finding what he was looking for. Around the rim of the ceiling, just out of reach, there was a long line of glyphs¡ªrecessed deep into the rock so that he wouldn¡¯t be able to disrupt them with his fingers. He didn¡¯t recognise the exact script, but he didn¡¯t need to. He¡¯d seen this exact formation before¡ªan example of a standard resource lockout inscription that Father had shown him. Following the lines to the door, he found a second set of runes¡ªthese ones in the more familiar Ykkardian script. Physical reinforcement¡ªa complex and strong formation too. No doubt a protection against a physical attempt at escape. Thankfully, he saw no wards protecting against spatial movement. At least, none he could recognise. Whoever had built this never expected to hold powerful mages. The final inscription he found was a basic alarm ward¡ªone set to trip if the door was ever opened without a key. Kaius grinned. It was a victory¡ªwithout protections to stop him using a Slip Step to get out of his cell, he could get out whenever he wanted. He¡¯d still need a key to free his friends, but that was nothing a few casts of Hateful Nail couldn¡¯t solve. Pressing himself up to the bars, he peered into the hall. Wide and straight, the passage ended in another reinforced door a good forty strides to his left. All along the corridor, more barred gates were set¡ªeach a cell as austere in his own. Leaning on their bond to pull him in the right direction, he spotted Porkchop across the hall, two doors down to his right. His brother had been stripped of his armour, and was sprawled out prone on the ground. One door further away, Ianmus lay in much the same condition¡ªdressed in a smock that was an identical copy of Kaius¡¯s own. Seeing his companions held so close eased his tension, his shoulders slumping. It had been his largest worry, that they¡¯d be split up and he would have to hunt them down through whatever prison they were being held in. Right as he sighed and started to back away from the bars, Kaius caught a flash of movement to his left. Heart hammering at the sudden shock, he snapped his head to its source¡ªand nearly jumped when he found someone staring at him. A woman, in a cell of her own¡ªthough of a species he had never seen before. Her eyes were a piercing blue, absent of all traces of black or white, and her features were angular and lean. Almost like she was an elf, though instead of their refined grace she was cutting and sharp. Her ears were the wrong shape too, and she was far too short¡ªeven halflings like Ianmus towered over Kaius, and while she would have been notably tall for a human woman, she was still a head shorter than him. That, and he was fairly sure her pale skin was verging on purple, though that could have easily been due to the light. Once the shock of her unfamiliar features faded, Kaius noticed that not all of her lean features were necessarily due to her blood. She was gaunt. Almost skeletal, and her red-brown hair hung in clumped, thin strips. Whoever she was, she¡¯d been here a while. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, manling? Never seen an aen before?¡± she asked hoarsely, her words biting. Ignoring the barb, Kaius tilted his head at her. ¡°No,¡± he replied, before he pushed her out of his mind and returned his gaze to the hall¡ªsearching for more evidence of security inscriptions. The woman went quiet, evidently not expecting such a sudden dismissal. While he wouldn¡¯t leave an innocent down here if he had the choice, right now his priority was on learning as much as he could. Searching the ceiling, he found no trace of further formations. Explorer¡¯s Toolkit was silent too, but he wasn¡¯t sure if an alarm was close enough to a trap for his skill to work. They¡¯d only get one shot at this. It should be a pretty good one¡ªwith their sudden growth in strength, he was confident against the guards of this place. Especially since he still had his hazy memories of the team that had captured them offering to work as guards. Without jailors of a similar strength, they¡¯d have little chance of surviving a head to head confrontation¡ªespecially since so little of Porkchop¡¯s strength relied on his items. ¡°My name¡¯s Kenva, if you wanted to know.¡± the woman whispered softly, her voice trembling as she said her name. Startled out of his thoughts, Kaius looked back to her. Seeing her fragile peace offering, he knew he couldn¡¯t just ignore her. The weight of her time in the dungeon was too obvious¡ªit would be cruel. ¡°Kaius,¡± he replied, voice softening to just above a whisper. ¡°Where are we?¡± Kenva shrugged. ¡°Not sure, really. Some compound near Deadacre, I assume. They caught me when I was travelling there from Grandbrook. Drugged me before I could run. Next thing I know, I¡¯m in this cell.¡± ¡°How long?¡± ¡°A month, maybe two.¡± she replied, staring hard at the wall next to her. Kaius winced¡ªno wonder she looked like shit. Then he processed what she had said. ¡°Wait, you travelled across the frontier alone? After everything?¡± Kaius asked, surprised. He knew the woman was likely strong, just on the simple basis she was also being held by a group that had clearly pursued them for the same reason, but a feat like that was impressive. ¡°Of course¡ªI am a Zhdan. If a little walk was out of my power, I would shame my clan-name and the legacy they have gifted me.¡± Kenva replied, scoffing as if she struggled to believe the thought. Kaius cocked his brow at her. That was...boastful. With the threats that had arisen on the plains since the phase change, she would have needed some real strength to have managed. Seeing his expression, Kenva looked to the side. ¡°What do they want?¡± he asked. He was almost certain that he knew the answer, but it was best to have it confirmed. Kenva seemed to shrink into herself. ¡°Same thing they probably want with you. My knowledge. Don¡¯t seem to care that I have a blood oath.¡± Kaius watched her closely¡ªthe way she flinched at the memories. Her fragile nerves. He was right¡ªTorture. Nodding to her, he set his eyes on his team. He was confident in Porkchop¡ªhe was tough as nails, and they had each other to lean on during the pain. Ianmus though...he would be a weak link. It would be a delicate balance between preparation and waiting too long. Thank the gods they could use Porkchop to communicate quietly¡ªit¡¯d help. ¡°You woke up pretty quickly¡ªyou must be strong, right?¡± Kenva finally said, her desperation for a conversation partner outweighing her wariness. Kaius shot her a quick look. ¡°I think that until I¡¯m sure that you¡¯re not with our captors, that we should keep our conversation topics to something less personal,¡± he replied. It was a lie, of course¡ªthe girl had every physical and emotional sign of long term imprisonment. He just wanted to wait for Porkchop to wake until they could talk. ¡°Oh. Sorry.¡± Kenva replied, shrinking in on herself as she scooted back into the corner of her cell. Kaius sighed. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind talking¡ªit''s just best for both of our safeties that we act smart about it.¡± That seemed to brighten the woman up. ¡°What did you want to know?¡± she asked. ¡°Well, for starters, how often do the guards check on us?¡± B2 Chapter 255: Confinement, pt. 2 B2 Chapter 255: Confinement, pt. 2 It had been almost a full day since he¡¯d woken in his cell. Mostly, it had just been sitting and waiting. Ianmus and Porkchop had woken a few hours after that, and he¡¯d briefed them as quickly as he could¡ªusing Porkchop as an intermediary just in case they were being listened to. They¡¯d looped Kenva into their conversations¡ªasking her more sensitive questions, but had been careful not to mention any details of who they were, their builds, or their plan to escape. She¡¯d still been ecstatic at finally having talking partners, and they¡¯d made sure to talk idly out loud to throw off any listeners. Unfortunately, she knew little that was helpful. Their captors were fans of sedatives¡ªknocking her out any time she was transported through the compound. All she knew was that after the first couple of week of holding out under torture, she¡¯d been left to rot, the cell¡¯s guard only checking on her once a day to throw a cup of slop onto the floor of her cell. With all the down time he, Porkchop, and Ianmus had gone through their skill selections. His were bitter sweet¡ªboth were glyphs, one of which was one that finally revealed why his class had required a soul-bonded companion. Unfortunately, in the current circumstances they were all but useless. He needed his mana unshackled before he could inscribe his latest additions, and even if he could, he was unsure of how much help a level one skill would be. To that end, he¡¯d held off on picking a spell to go with his latest casting glyph. After escaping, their best bet to stay free would be to dive into the nearest Depths portal they could find¡ªusing the confusing warren and the lockout period to flee as far as they could. Considering the sheer variability of what they might find, he wanted to keep his options open to tailor it to their future needs. Still, even if the skills weren¡¯t the most helpful to their current circumstances, they were still great in their own right. He pulled up their descriptions, refreshing himself. Latent Glyph of Vyrthane: Class Skill - Tier I Affinity: Arcane, Martial Type: Glyph-binding, Runic, Spellcasting Selection Available! Heroic The ¡®Glyph of Iron¡¯, Vyrthane is the lynchpin of the Vesryn order¡¯s rumoured invincibility. Its hymns are an adamant shield¡ªdefending the Runeblades from threats mundane and obscure. Stout and unshakeable, it is inscribed on the heart, where it can best defend the core of its bearer. This skill allows the user to inscribe Vesryn barrier and defensive spell-hymns to be activated at will, limited only by the availability of mana to reserve into the working, and sufficient space on the body. Creates a hymnbook on the user''s status if one is not already present. Multiples of the same glyph can cast hymns inscribed on their counterpart. Each level moderately increases the power, range, and area of effect of spell-hymns cast through the glyph. Each level slightly decreases the physical size of inscribed spell-hymns. Every 100 levels the user may learn another runic hymn of the relevant tier to add to their hymnbook. Spell-hymns Known: Tier I - Selection Available! .... Sigil of Vesryn¡¯s Pact: Class Skill- Tier I Affinity: Arcane, Soul Type: Glyph-binding, Runic, Bond, Enhancement Selection Available! Unique A totem to the ancient pact that bound the Penswari to Vesryn forever more. A symbol of unity, it represents a sharing of strength¡ªa seed that blooms when watered. Layered with glyphic gifts, it rests on the sternum, granting strength to the eternal companions of the order. Bestowed power, that will one day reverberate backwards in kind. R¦Á?¦­O??b?s? This skill allows the user to inscribe the Vesryn Pact Sigil on the sternum of their bonded companion, greatly increasing the distance at which they can communicate. The sigil can be inscribed with glyphic formations that permanently bolsters the bondeds capability. Creates a formationbook on the user''s status if one is not already present. Each level moderately increases the potency of inscribed formations, new and existing. Every 200 levels the user may learn another inscription to add to the sigil. Formations Known: Tier I - Selection Available! Both skills were fine additions¡ªbeating out his other options by a league. Vyrthane had been an immediate pick. After the back to back batterings he had received at the hands of the bone biters and his captors, the idea of shielding spells had been more than welcome. Vesryn¡¯s Pact on the other hand...that had been interesting. Something he hadn¡¯t quite expected to see, but one that he welcomed all the same. Porkchop¡¯s strength was his strength, and he knew that picking a skill like this in the first tier would serve them both well. It was highly likely that as the skill rose through future tiers, it would gain additional capabilities that multiplied the force that he and his brother could leverage when working together. It had been enough of a tempter that he¡¯d picked it over a Heroic metamagic¡ªnot that he was too stressed about that choice. He was confident that he¡¯d be able to bring the skill up a rarity in tier two. Porkchop and Ianmus had made their own selections as well. His brother had picked Interceed the Weak and Jadecrash. The first of which was a skill that would let him rapidly reposition, and if used to intercept an attack meant for an ally, would significantly empower his retaliation. The latter was a little more interesting¡ªit would let Porkchop coat one of his arms in jade during an attack, stunning his target. In Kaius¡¯s mind, both were perfect¡ªbuilding on the foundation that Porkchop had set as he worked towards being the unassailable anchor of their formation. Ianmus, on the other hand, had only a single selection to make¡ªa prospect that had irritated him greatly. After waking he¡¯d spent a full fifteen minutes fuming that he¡¯d been taken out of the fight so quickly and missed out on not only additional levels, but an Honour too. In the end, he¡¯d picked Starlight Alacrity¡ªan ability that let him move incredibly quickly as long as he channeled mana into the skill, but only in straight lines. Kaius had expected him to pick another metamagic, but the mage had shaken his head¡ªinsisting that any caster who ignored mobility was as good as dead, and that it would mesh finely with his general skill Magister¡¯s Dash. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. In totality, it was a bittersweet addition to their capabilities. They¡¯d grown stronger, but had been captured with their resources suppressed. Without being able to fully dive into the newest avenue of their growth, it felt fake. Unreal. Kaius leaned back on his hands, ignoring the cold touch of the damp stone as he sighed. They¡¯d get out¡ªhe¡¯d make it happen. By the forsaken hells, he¡¯d rather die trying to escape than let his jailors pick over his mind until they had found what they wanted and disposed of him in a shallow grave. Right as he settled in to spend more time waiting, a door slammed out of sight from his cell, the noise booming through the hard stone hall. Kaius jolted upright. Footsteps clattered through the hall, drawing closer by the second. He launched to his feet, puddles splashing as he readied himself to get his first look at their jailor. Through his cell door, he watched Kenva shy away¡ªracing from where she had sat near her door to huddle in the back of her cell. Her eyes were wide¡ªorbs of solid blue standing out in the murky shadows. She was scared. ¡°Be ready, they might be coming for one of us.¡± Kaius pushed along his bond, willing Porkchop to pass the message along to Ianmus. Every footfall hit his chest like a hammerblow¡ªthe anticipation building. He clenched his fist, knuckles whitening as he stood up straight, refusing to fall to panic. They stopped outside of his cell. A man leered through the bars, yellow teeth bared as the jailor¡¯s eyes shone with a cruel delight from behind greasy strands of dark hair. He was shorter than Kaius had been expecting. Stout, too¡ªlike a woodsman who¡¯d let himself go. Dressed in simple nondescript dark leather armour, with a hammer looped at his belt, he looked like any other common thug that Kaius had seen lurking in the alleys of deadacre. ¡°Heard you¡¯re a tough one¡ªI like those. Makes it all the sweeter when you break.¡± the jailor said, his hungry grin spreading wider across his face. ¡°And you will break¡ªeveryone does in the end.¡± Kaius said nothing, letting the words roll over him like water. He refused to give the man the satisfaction. Instead, he used Truesight, throwing the full empowered weight of his will into analysing the brute. He felt his probe hit the man¡¯s mask, and shatter right through it like glass. Human - Level 114 Brute A hoarse yell escaped the man¡¯s throat, his pockmarked face twisting in agony as he clutched his head. Kaius only smiled. And analysed the man again. Too stunned to react the first time, his jailor hadn¡¯t dropped his mask. He splintered it again, making the man howl in furious agony. His third probe slid through¡ªeven a common thug had the sense not to be caught by the same trick three times in a row. ¡°You¡¯ll regret that soon, you rat-fuck. I¡¯m going to have fun watching you squeal.¡± the jailor growled, eyes burning furiously. Standing up straight, he reached over and slapped a palm on the wall next to Kaius¡¯s cell. A faint hint of mana flashed, and Kaius realised that the man had activated a formation. Then all Kaius knew was pain, his body locking up as a searing heat coursed through every hair¡¯s breadth of his body. Try as he might, he couldn¡¯t help grunting involuntarily at the sudden assault¡ªthough he quickly leaned on Rapid Adaptation to help sweep the pain into a dark recess of his mind, processing the experience with dispassionate distance. While he writhed on the ground, the jailor moved his hand over and mana flashed again. Gas followed, a dense fog drifting down from the ceiling, prevented from wafting out of the door by arcane edifice. As he watched what he had no doubt was a sedative drift down, he heard Porkchop let out a heavy growl and felt his brother¡¯s need to tear their jailor limb from limb. ¡°Patience,¡± he said, weathering the pain that still coursed through his body. ¡°His time will come soon enough¡ªI¡¯ll be fine, whatever they do to me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to tear him limb from limb.¡± his brother promised. He knew his answer didn¡¯t ease Porkchop¡¯s worries, but it did stop him from futilely throwing himself at the barred doors¡ªfar better the jailor think his allies cowed by the display of dominance. The gas reached him¡ªsmelling of soft lilacs and ocean spray. **Ding! You have been afflicted by Poison, Dream - Gravebound Slumber, Tier 2** So, they reused the same poison. That was sloppy. As the poison coursed through his body, Kaius watched the jailor pull out a set of keys and a ward stone from a pouch at his waist, waiting for him to pass out. That action sealed the man''s fate. They needed those keys to escape¡ªwhich meant the jailor had to die. Kaius faded, a slight smile on his lips despite the wracking waves of pain that washed over his body. .... Kaius swallowed a groan, straining at the straps that held him to the table. They¡¯d been at it for hours now. He¡¯d woken up tied down, surrounded by what could only be described as a butcher''s den. The walls were the same damp stone as his cell, but dozens of iron pegs had been hammered in, all manner of tools hanging down. Hooks, knives, files, vices, and other more inventive implements of pain. A masked man in a bloodstained leather apron leaned over him, an inscribed fillet knife in hand. It dripped with blood. His blood. Snapping his head to the side, his gaze burning into the other occupant of the room who was leaning against the far wall, dressed in a noble¡¯s silks¡ªthe foil to the faceless pain of his torturer. Smiling at him sadly, the man pushed an errant strand of his finely combed blonde hair back into place. Kaius was going to kill the foppish bastard, on his father¡¯s grave. The tendons on his neck stood out in stark relief as he clenched his jaw hard enough that his teeth felt like they would crack. Health surged, boiling through his veins as the energy raced to heal a dozen different fillets that had been cut from his inner thighs. They¡¯d peeled back his skin¡ªprevented the writhing membrane from sealing itself whole by nailing it down to his shin. Now those nails were gone, and he could feel his flesh unfurling¡ªcreeping back up his bloodsoaked legs as the wound was made whole once more. It was a strain as much psychological as it was physical. That was the problem with Health¡ªall these bastards had to do was pump him full of potions to keep him healing and alert. Especially since their torturer seemed to have skills that heightened his nerves, and made it so that every slice seemed to bleed less and heal easier. Their question was small¡ªsimple and easy. It was a trap. A way to make him break, make the next concession just that much easier. He knew if he answered, it would lead to a road where they learned what they wanted, and then disposed of him. So he kept silent¡ªrefusing to answer even the most basic of questions, no matter what reprieve they promised him. The finely dressed faux-noble looked at him with a pained expression, before his eyes flicked to the torturer and it transformed to disgusted. ¡°It¡¯s so distasteful, being forced to do this to you, Kaius. I hate torture, you know.¡± he said, his voice soft and refined¡ªlike he¡¯d come from a college in Mystral. ¡°It truly is a disgrace¡ªIf I had any other choice, I wouldn¡¯t stand for it, but they¡¯ve got me in a bondage of my own. You must understand, don¡¯t you? If I don¡¯t get the answers that my superior wants, it¡¯ll be me on that table.¡± the man continued. ¡°So please¡ªfor your own sake. Just answer the question.¡± ¡°What did you eat for your last meal, before you were captured?¡± the torturer asked immediately after. Kaius spat in his face, spittle thick with blood. The torturer stood unmoving, uncaring as the spittle ran down his mask. It still gave kaius some visceral joy at standing defiantly in the face of agony. The suited man sighed. ¡°I really wish you hadn¡¯t done that.¡± With a swift yank, the torturer grabbed the flap of skin that had yet to fully heal, ripping it down as he tore the skin from his leg. With motions refined from deft practice, he pinned the flap to his shin with barbed hooks, the metal flaming as it settled deep in his flesh. Reaching below the table, the torturer gripped a now-familiar jar. Salt. Kaius gasped as the white dust hit his flesh¡ªunable to help the most basal response to the creeping fire that alighted his exposed thigh muscles, the fibres rippling in uncontrolled contractions. Then he felt the cold kiss of the knife, and he retreated from the pain¡ªtransmuting living horror into a dispassionate reflection of his bodily state. Deep in the recesses of his mind, Porkchop was waiting for him¡ªhis brother¡¯s presence bringing the simple comfort of warmth and love that made the experience all the more bearable. With every cycle, it grew easier, his captors'' attention holding less and less of a sway on his mind. ¡°What did you eat for your last meal, before you were captured?¡± Kaius only chuckled, the noise breathy and wet. And so it continued, their little cycle of inane questions and horrific acts repeating. **Ding! Rapid Adaptation has reached level 113 > 134!** ... **Ding! Tempered By Dissonance has reached level 93 > 118!** ... **Ding! Lesser Regeneration has reached level 106 > 138!** ... **Ding! Brotherhood of Ichor and Animus has reached level 114 > 138!** B2 Chapter 256: Confinement, pt. 3 B2 Chapter 256: Confinement, pt. 3 Resting against the back wall of his cell, Kaius idly traced the shapes of clumped moss that had grown in the damp. He was thinking about their cell mate¡ªKenva. At first, they¡¯d kept their distance, but the more time that passed, the more he was convinced that the woman could be a vital asset in their escape. It was the little details. The way her eyes flicked to the far wall, as if she could see something through solid wood and stone. Her sudden reactions to unexpected noise¡ªhand dropping to a non-existent knife. After sharing a jail for nearly two weeks, Kaius was now certain that Kenva was a genuine prisoner. More than that, he grew more sure that she hadn¡¯t been boasting about her feat of crossing the plains alone. With everything he knew, it raised more questions. Either she was beyond skilled at avoiding trouble, or she was hiding secrets. What were the chances that someone with a fresh class would be able to walk so far without encountering a beast significantly higher level than them? In his experience¡ªvery little. A few days ago, when she¡¯d been knocked out to be taken for questioning, he¡¯d taken the opportunity to analyse her. Level eighty-six. A level almost on par with Ianmus¡ªsomething he¡¯d only managed to attain in such a short time thanks to Kaius¡¯s help. And she¡¯d been imprisoned for over a month when they arrived. Thanks to her blood oath, Kenva was more than happy to boast about her legacy skills¡ªif not the details, something he assumed she had learned after her boasting had landed her in this pit. As much as that explained, it didn¡¯t explain enough. Even if she likely had an Unusual class. He had a suspicion¡ªone he intended to confirm. Regardless, the frequency of his and his team''s interrogations had begun to slow. Their captors were growing less confident that they could extract the information they coveted through traditional means¡ªhe doubted they had more than a month before they gave up entirely. When that happened, they¡¯d call for a mindmage. Kaius didn¡¯t intend to wait around for one to arrive. With every interrogation, Rapid Adaptation grew. Already, he¡¯d started to remember blurry memories of being dragged through corridors of stone. All he needed was a few more weeks to learn what he could, and then they would act. Now, though, it was time to loop Kenva into their little plan. Drawing his finger back from the clump of detritus he had been scratching at, Kaius rested his head against the wall and closed his eyes. He fell deeply into his bond¡ªPorkchop welcoming him in. There were no questions, his brother already knew what he needed. They¡¯d had plenty of time to experiment with the connection between their souls, and they had discovered that if Porkchop made one of the lesser connections he used for beast speak it was possible for him to piggyback off that connection. Unfortunately, it was a demanding task that required significant focus from both him and his brother, so it wouldn¡¯t be helpful in battle. Especially since they could only maintain one conversation at a time. It was, however, an easy way for them to discuss sensitive subjects in privacy. ¡°Kenva,¡± Kaius said, opening his eyes in time to see the woman start. ¡°What is it?¡± she mouthed the words, still unused to purely mental communication. ¡°I think it¡¯s time we had a talk, now that I''m confident you¡¯re who you say you are.¡± Through the bars in his cell, Kaius could see her glaring. ¡°And what makes you think that I would share my secrets so easily?¡± she asked, a deep frown on her face. Kaius grinned, ignoring the discomfort of his damp smock. ¡°Because I have a way to get us out of these cells.¡± A loud snort of derision filled the hall. ¡°Now I know you¡¯re lying. There¡¯s no way out¡ªthey accounted for everything.¡± Kenva replied, her words bitter. ?A?¦­o??E?S? Pushing himself to his feet, Kaius walked to the metal door that sealed his cell shut. He leaned into it, resting his arms through the gaps as if he was simply bored of sitting down. The tight gaps pushed his sleeves up, revealing the looping black lines of incomprehensible runes that covered the backs of both of his hands and wrists. ¡°You can¡¯t account for something you don¡¯t know exists.¡± he said confidently. ¡°See these?¡± Kaius shook his hands. ¡°Glyphic magic. I¡¯ve got a number of spells already charged with mana¡ªthe lockout inscriptions don¡¯t work on it. With them, I can kill the guard and escape my cell, using his keys to free my team¡ªand you, if you¡¯ll help us.¡± That caught the woman''s attention. She leaned forward, eyes flicking between his eyes and the markings on his skin. After satisfying her curiosity, she looked away¡ªback at the featureless stone of her cell. ¡°Why include me? It¡¯s a risk, isn¡¯t it?¡± her words were uncertain, as if she was expecting a trick. ¡°You¡¯re strong.I¡¯d bet stronger than you should be¡ªso much so that you were captured despite having an oath protecting your legacy. Level eighty-six, so quickly? On a solo journey across the Frontier? The only people I''ve known to grow like that are my team.¡± he said, his eyes boring into her with burning intensity. Kenva froze, just barely for a moment, but Kaius caught it all the same. Shoving down his urge to grin, he simply stayed silent, letting the woman respond on her own time¡ªtoo much pressure might get her to shut down. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Kenva finally said, relying on the age old defense of denial. He rolled his eyes. ¡°Please. You¡¯ve clearly got a good legacy, and I doubt you would have survived the plains even with a Rare class¡ªso I''m guessing you probably have an Unusual.¡± Kenva froze again, her chest rising and falling at a fluttering beat. She was panicking. He had to calm her. ¡°Kenva!¡± he called, slapping the gate to his cell. The sudden noise caused her eyes to dart to his. ¡°I already told you I have unknown magic¡ªyou have more on me than I have on you, so calm yourself.¡± She paused, mulling his words over, before she nodded¡ªa streak of red-brown hair falling into her face. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Like I was saying, even with those things, it doesn¡¯t explain how you shot up so quickly. I think I know what did, though. Levelling like that requires risks that most would never take¡ªthat are almost sure to kill you.¡± he said, watching her carefully. Slowly, ever so slowly, she gave him a single nod. He smiled. ¡°While you were travelling¡ªhunting beasts¡ªI¡¯m guessing you got unlucky. Nearly died, fighting something that by all rights should have killed you.¡± Kenva¡¯s eyes went wide, staring at him in shock. He was right. Readjusting, Kaius leaned against the stone frame of the doorway, a knowing smile on his face. ¡°I¡¯d say whatever you ran into was something far stronger than you should have been able to kill, but you did it anyway. Something like, I don¡¯t know, fifty levels above you?¡± Kaius asked, probing for her reaction. Kenva only narrowed her eyes, a suspicious frown forming. Muffling a curse, Kaius¡¯s mind raced. He¡¯d been sure that she¡¯d gotten Honours¡ªit was the easiest explanation. But if not Ruthless Underdog, then what? His mind flicked to the Honour he¡¯d received after killing the group of bone biters. Needing to check its wording, the description materialised in front of his eyes. Horde Breaker: Honour A champion slaying an army of its lessers is to be expected, but a pack of wolves running before the might of the skillful rabbit? That is truly remarkable. Awarded to those in a team of four or less who slay a group of at least twenty foes that are at least 35 levels or more above their initial levels, before level 100. Provides a Minute increase to Resource efficiency when fighting groups of 20 or more enemies. +5 all stats. +3% all stats. He decided to double down¡ªit was a long shot, but if he was wrong he¡¯d just have to come right out and ask. ¡°Maybe a pack of somethings then? Thirty-five higher than you?¡± Kenva gasped, a sharp inhale that rang clear through the quiet dungeon. Well now, of all Honours, that wasn¡¯t one he¡¯d expected her to have. Fighting a whole group of overleveled enemies alone? Even he would have struggled with that, and it sounded like Kenva had done it very early. Satisfaction at being right flooded through him. She was perfect. Though he still wanted to know how the fuck she was alive. Slowly, Kenva overcame her shock¡ªstaring at him with a burning curiosity. ¡°How do you know? How could you possibly know?¡± she asked, as curious as she was desperate. Now he knew he had her. Kaius gave her a wink. ¡°I¡¯ve got ten.¡± he replied. ¡°Ten? Ten Honours!?¡± Kenva said, rushing forward to grab the bars of her cell¡ªdisbelief plain on her face. He smirked back. ¡°Yep.¡± ¡°What? How!¡± she demanded. ¡°You first.¡± he said, shaking his head. ¡°How the fuck did you survive that? I only just got that Honour, and that was with my full team.¡± Kenva scratched her hair, looking away with an abashed expression. ¡°It was a mistake, and more luck than anything else. I got a bit carried away with chasing bonus experience, and ran into a group of snails that liked to drop down from the trees and dissolve their prey with acid skills.¡± ¡°Snails?¡± he questioned in disbelief, too shocked to remember to speak through his bond. ¡°Snails.¡± Kenva confirmed, shooting him a look at the noise he made. ¡®Sorry.¡¯ he mouthed. ¡°Still, how did you survive?¡± Kenva went back to looking embarrassed. ¡°They were slow, really slow, and I have good eyes, so I could spot where they were hiding. Took me a full day, and all of my arrows. I resorted to throwing rocks by the end.¡± Shaking his head, Kaius suppressed a laugh. That was ridiculous. He loved it. ¡°Do you have any more?¡± he asked, curious if there were any that he would be able to obtain. She paused, hesitating, before Kaius saw heresteel her expression. ¡°Two. One for killing two foes in a single attack, and another for killing something from over half a league away. Both thirty-five levels higher, under level one-hundred. The same beasts, actually¡ªdrained all of my stamina making the shot, but I had to try.¡± Kenva said. For a moment, all Kaius could feel was a rush of despondency as he realised that the Honours were forever out of reach. It faded as he thought about it further. Neither of them, he realised, were ones he and Porkchop were ever likely to get. Both of them were close ranged fighters, and there was no way he was accurate enough with Hateful Nail to hit something at that distance¡ªeven if he would be able to see his target with Truesight. The same went for the other, he didn¡¯t even know how Kenva had managed that one. ¡°Seriously? Two beasts at once, from over half a league away? That¡¯s ridiculous.¡± He didn¡¯t immediately discount it out of hand, he had his own ridiculous feats, but that was seriously impressive. ¡°I couldn¡¯t help it! They were taking a nap with their heads perfectly lined up¡ªI¡¯d be a disgrace of an archer if I didn¡¯t at least try.¡± Kenva replied, puffing her chest out with a wild smile on her face. Kaius smiled as he saw her reaction. He knew that look. That feeling, the joy of having done the impossible. He¡¯d seen it in his reflection, in the faces of his teammates. It seemed that kindred spirits truly could be found in the most unlikely of places. ¡°I still want to know how you made that shot; you said you''re an archer?¡± he asked¡ªif they were going to work together to escape, it was vital that they shared their capabilities. Kenva nodded. ¡°My best legacy skill is an ocular one, and my first class skill lets me channel as much stamina as I want to empower the speed and force of a shot¡ªlanding it at that distance was easily two parts luck, one part skill. What about you and your impossible magic¡ªhow¡¯d you get so strong?¡± Smiling as the conversation moved the way it hoped, Kaius gave her his story in brief. How one of his parents had been a runewright, and had helped him pioneer glyphbinding. He kept the details vague, but did share the details of him and his team¡¯s fighting styles¡ªand some of the Honours they had earned, though he kept his unclassed ones a secret for now. Kenva, to her credit, accepted the need for some details to be held back¡ªafter all, she hadn¡¯t shared the details of her own legacy. She did, however, have one solution. ¡°When we escape, we will take an oath on the Bloodstones, and we will talk at length. I may have learned the hard way why Northerners hide their strength, but it doesn¡¯t mean I enjoy it.¡± she said, leaning back into the rough cobble behind her and nodding as if the matter was decided. While he struggled to understand how they would possibly get access to one of those Hiwiann relics, he didn¡¯t see any problem with that. In all honesty, he hoped that their cooperation might extend further than simply aiding each other in their break out. An archer was exactly what they had been looking for to round out their team, and somehow he doubted that they were going to find someone better than a powerful scion who had managed to discover Honours on their own. ¡°So, you¡¯re in, then?¡± he asked. Kenva gave him another nod¡ªthis one backed by a hungry grin, one that promised retribution. ¡°I want to hear your plan, though. We won¡¯t get far without our gear.¡± Drumming his fingers against one of the bars of his cell door, Kaius thought about how to respond. ¡°I have a powerful resistance legacy skill¡ªevery time they take me to interrogation, their poison works less and less. I¡¯m already close to fully waking as they drag me through the halls. I just need a few weeks to build a mental map.¡± he replied. ¡°And our gear?¡± ¡°I have a tracking rune, of a sort, on my sword¡ªI can feel it, and I''m confident I''ll be able to at least break whatever formations they have guarding their vault. Porkchop and Ianmus are dangerous enough we can do without until then.¡± Their conversation continued, Kaius explaining his plan. B2 Chapter 257: Confinement, Finale B2 Chapter 257: Confinement, Finale With his arms crossed in his lap, sat with his eyes closed and drove out all distractions. The sapping chill of the cold stone against the threadbear burlap of his smock. The itch between his shoulders. The just barely audible rustle of footsteps in some far off hallway. All of it was driven out, in favour of focusing on the slowing rhythm of his heart, and the steady bellow of his lungs. An old centring trick¡ªone Father had taught him young, to get him through the trials of learning the more...brutal parts of their legacy. He¡¯d used it much, confined in this prison. It had been a month in the forsaken hells. After all he had experienced, he was ready to leave. ¡°Soon.¡± he promised himself, furrowing his brow. The time hadn¡¯t been kind to him. Almost every day was a litany of agonies, as varied as they were gut wrenching. His only solace was that they seemed to be interested in him, and him alone. Ianmus, tough as he was, did not have the same advantages as he and Porkchop did. Sure, he had some surface level training, and a meditation skill that helped him get through the agony¡ªbut he didn¡¯t have their familiarity with having his flesh torn and cut, and he didn¡¯t have a constant soul-bond to lean on when it got too brutal. He¡¯d had to deal with it alone. Luckily, they¡¯d manage to convince their captors that Ianmus was a patsy thanks to their discrepancy between their abilities. He¡¯d slipped them only what they would have already learned by watching their fight against the eaters, and between that and knowing that his legacy was defended by the oaths of Mystral¡¯s Spires, they lost interest¡ªassuming that he wasn¡¯t privy to their deepest secrets. Oh, they still worked him over every few days out of cruelty and spite, but he was strong enough to handle that much. They had been...less kind to Kaius and Porkchop. At first, it was thrice a day. Barely giving him time to sleep and rest, he would wake to the scorching agony of his guard activating his cell''s formation, before more gas would drift down from the ceiling. He¡¯d wake, strapped to the table for yet more agonies. And oh, they were many. Burning fire, freezing ice, dipping him in acid before scrubbing him with wire brushes. Common knives, and simple blackjacks, to more esoteric vices and clamps. The only thing they hadn¡¯t done was remove any of his body parts. And yet...with every day it had grown easier and easier. Rapid Adaptation, Tempered by Dissonance, Lesser Regeneration. They were his bulwarks¡ªhis shield against their attempts. Every swipe of the blade, every affliction, and every blow affected him less, and healed quicker. Even the pain lost its hold on him¡ªhis mind growing familiar with its touch, and his skill making it less visceral¡ªa purely informational reflection of the harm he had been dealt. He¡¯d felt the results of that process after the first week, but now...he was almost unphased by their attention. It simply...was. Sure, it was still violating to have the sanctity of his flesh intruded on so intimately, but that was what the meditation was for. It kept him grounded. Porkchop had been less lucky. Sure, his own skills had grown, making him tougher and heal quicker, but he had nothing for the pain. Nothing, except their bond, and his own brutal stubbornness. His brother¡¯s Corporus aspect had been a blessing, and a curse. The Indomitable Mantle had set his brother on a path of unbreakable silence, but he could feel the way the attentions of their captors had worn away at him. Thankfully, their moment would come soon. By the end of the second week, Rapid Adaptation had grown to the point where the sedative that they used, once all consuming, had weakened so that it left him feeling nothing but dizzy and drunk. It was exactly the advantage that he had hoped it would be. Every time he was taken for questioning, he lay still and silent, pretending to succumb. And in return his captors gave him a grand tour of their prison, all the while spilling their guts about all sorts of interesting tidbits. There was a rotation of crew who took him to the torture chambers after their guard passed over his limp body. Each one took a slightly different route¡ªoften switching things up, complacent in their confidence of his unconsciousness. He¡¯d seen three levels of the compound. The prison was the lowest¡ªtwo floors below ground. He was pretty sure it was a small fort in a forest, judging by the low stone walls he had seen out of a window when a guard had once disobeyed his orders and detoured to the ground floor to sneak a sip of drink. It was a simple layout, one that he had memorised like the back of his hand¡ªa warren of sturdy hallways and thick doors, only a few of them locked. After so many trips, he had a rough grasp on the number of men staffing the prison. Enough that their escape would be a struggle, especially since he was fairly certain that a few of them were a decent bit stronger than their jailer¡ªat least judging from the man''s quivering deference to the men who transported him through the compound. He also knew where his sword was being held. Located right next to the stairs that led up a level, that room was one of the few that he saw on every trip. Thick oak, banded by heavy steel, it would have been easy to look over, if it wasn¡¯t for the positively devilish array that was scrawled on its surface. Perhaps a quarter of the time, the men who carried him would run into a colleague at the base of the stairs and stop to chat¡ªa banal workday distraction that gave him the time he needed to examine the room in depth. The blasted thing was locked up tighter than a bank vault¡ªto most, the inscriptions that held it sealed would have been as incomprehensibly complex as they were powerful. A sure fire protection for its contents. Unfortunately for his captors, he was not most people. The formation was written in Vhaxanish. A difficult language, to be sure, but one that he knew incredibly well. Of all the scripts he had learned to create his first glyph, it was Vhaxanish that had required the most comprehensive theoretical understanding in order to make use of. It was the nature of the script, it was too precise, lengthy, particular, and complex to trust to rote memorisation. The slightest deviation would have rendered his glyph non-functional, and the only way to prevent that had been true understanding. Which meant he knew how the enchantment on the door worked, Vhaxanish formations were always easier to break than they were to create. It was almost time for them to leave. He only needed a few more loops through the compound to double check the last few pieces. In a mixed blessing, his ¡®trips¡¯ had grown more infrequent. As his stoicism had continued, they¡¯d grown less and less focused on interrogating him¡ªnow only surprising him with a visit every day to day-and-a-half. He assumed it was an attempt to keep him shattered and off balance, not that it was working. Unfortunately, he knew why they had done so. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. He¡¯d overheard the guards chatting on his last trip. The ¡®boss¡¯, who he assumed was the same Old Yon he¡¯d heard his abductors discuss, had finally hired a mindmage. Apparently, he was rather furious that the mage would take a month or two to arrive, after the sizable fortune of platinum he had paid to secure him. He wanted to be long gone before the mage¡¯s arrival. Still, despite everything he had endured, and despite the fact that all of their fates rested on an incredibly risky escape plan¡ªand his ability to phase through his cell door¡ªKaius was proud of what he had achieved. No matter how much they had tried, no matter what they had done to him, he hadn¡¯t screamed. They still didn¡¯t even know what he had eaten. Rice, with lentils and carrots. The bastards. Even better, their captor''s attempts had only further aided their eventual escape. That, and the honours he had secured in his final battle before his capture. Kaius pulled up his status. Status: Name: Kaius Dynasty: Unterstern Age: 19 Race: Human (Dynastic, Greater Beastblooded) - +1 End Str, Wil, and free stats per level Layer Reached: 2 Class: Runeblade Initiate - +3 Int, +2 End, +2 Str, +2 Dex, +1 Vit, +1 Wil per level Level: 113 Resources: Health - 5970/5970 (36.1/min) Stamina - 5830/5830 (42.9/min) Mana - 7110/7110 (47.6/min) Free Mana - 5150/5150 Reserved Mana - 1960 Stats: Endurance - 369 + 70 + 36% (597) Vitality - 196 + 70 + 36% (361) Strength - 359 + 70 + 36% (583) Dexterity - 246 + 70 + 36% (429) Intelligence - 409 + 85 + 44% (711) Willpower: - 246 + 85 + 44% (476) Stat Points: 0 Aspects: Pillar Corporus: N/A Pillar Mentis: The Veteran¡¯s Edge Reinforcement: Glass MindSeed: Campaigner¡¯s Reason Pillar Animus: N/A Class Skills (6/10): Latent Glyph of Drakthar (Heroic) - 78 > 120 Initiate¡¯s Glyphic Bladerite (Unique) - 44 > 84 Latent Glyph of Aelina (Heroic) - 63 > 114 Mystic¡¯s Rend (Heroic) - 0 >57 Latent Glyph of Vyrthane (Heroic) - 0 > 1 Sigil of Vesryn¡¯s Pact (Unique) - 0 > 1 General Skills (10/10): Rapid Adaptation (Heroic) - 86 > 200 Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo (Heroic) - 65 > 105 Explorer¡¯s Toolkit (Unusual) - 53 > 81 Tempered by Dissonance (Heroic) - 55 > 200 True Sight (Unique) - 54 > 89 Tonal Weaving (Unique) - 64 > 91 Resonance Amplification (Unique) - 63 > 88 Lesser Regeneration (Unusual) - 67 > 200 Uncanny Dodge (Unique) - 57 > 101 Brotherhood of Ichor and Animus (Heroic) - 75 > 200 Hymnbook: Glyph of Drakthar - Stormlash (Tier I - 120 mana) Hateful Nail (Tier I - 100 mana) Glyph of Aelina - Yellia¡¯s Slip Step (Tier I - 80 mana) Trusant¡¯s Expedient Shunt (Tier I - 100 mana) Glyph of Vyrthane - Selection Available! Formationbook: Sigil of Vesryn¡¯s Pact - Selection Available! Honours: Born for Slaughter (Bonus) Sublime Prodigy - Glyph Binding (Bonus) Birds of a Blood Soaked Feather (Bonus) Persistent Survivor (Minor) (Bonus) Kingslayer (Major) (Bonus) Ruthless Underdog (Bonus) Ruthless Underdog II Trailblazer II (Bonus) Hordebreaker Ruthless Underdog III Bound Artefacts: A Fathers Gift - Common Growth Longsword Growth Conditions - Gain a class (1/1) Absorb suitable materials (2/3) Forge a link (1/1) ... Ruthless Underdog III: Honour Growth begets might, which begets growth in turn. Awarded to those who slay an enemy 100 levels or more above them while under level 200. Provides a Minute increase to all experience earned when fighting above your level. +5 all stats, +3% all stats. Bonus: For achieving this honour solo reward bonus is increased to Slight, and the stat bonus is increased to +8 all stats, +4% all stats. Taking a look at his status, Kaius smiled. With so many gains he should almost thank his captors. His taunting jailor in particular he had a gift in mind for¡ªone limited and precious. A wet cough rang through the jail. Jerking his head at the sound, Kaius winced as he smacked his head on the stone wall behind him. Looking over to the source, he saw Kenva shivering in her cell¡ªeven if stats made mundane illness all but impossible, dust, damp, and mold had a way of clogging up the lungs just fine. She was an interesting one, that Aen. He¡¯d found out that she was Hiwiann¡ªsomething that was apparently supposed to have been evident. How was he to know that the Aen had been one of two founding species of that culture? They took anyone¡ªhe was more used to guessing based on clothing, accents and names. Apparently Kenva¡¯s clan was from the deep south-west, close to the Sawtooth Alps and the Drozag Stoneholds within them. Between her unfamiliar accent, and the lack of bright colours, it had completely missed him. At the very least it explained why she was confident that they would be able to make a blood oath¡ªshe must have had a shard in her belongings. If they were lucky, all of their things would be in the same room as his blade. ¡°You okay?¡± Kaius asked as she hacked up phlegm. ¡°Mhmm¡± she nodded. ¡°It¡¯s the damp¡ªmy people were made for hotter and drier climates.¡± Kaius nodded back, only for a shuddering crash to shake the building by its bones. Powder fell like rain, coating Kaius in a thick layer of grey¡ªlike the compound had been hit by a giant¡¯s hammer. ¡°What the hell was that!?¡± Ianmus called loudly, holding the wall of his cell for balance. Kaius jumped to his feet and ran to his cell door. ¡°Earthquake?¡± Porkchop asked. ¡°In the middle of the plains? This far from the Wildguard mountains? No.¡± Iasmus said, his brow furrowed. ¡°What else could it be?¡± Kenva asked. ¡°No clue, but be quiet please.¡± Kaius interjected, straining his ears. ¡°Hear anything?¡± he asked Porkchop. His brother¡¯s ears swiveled towards the exit of their jail. ¡°Lots of running, lots of shouting. One set coming closer.¡± Kaius grinned, wide and predatory. It was time. ¡°Tell the others to ready themselves, and distract the guard when he comes in.¡± he said Porkchop grunted in affirmation. ¡°Do you know what¡¯s happening?¡± He met his brother¡¯s eye. ¡°An opportunity.¡± There was no doubt in his mind that the approaching footsteps were their jailor. More than once he¡¯d raced to their cells after the slightest of noises¡ªtaking any chance he could to punish them with the pain enchantments. It was a little sooner than he¡¯d like. Ideally, he would have had some more time to plan their route, but moments like this came rarely. It was time for decisive action. B3? Interlude 5: Strange Tidings B3? Interlude 5: Strange Tidings Dvei stalked forwards, using his greatshield to push through the long grass while he kept his morningstar held and ready. They¡¯d learnt the hard way that outside of the sturdy walls of settlements, nowhere was safe. The early morning sun did little to cut through the biting winter chill, every step forwards paired with the crunch of last night''s frost. A low rise was up ahead, covered in a thicket of trees. It was the start of the small woods that homed their target¡ªa pack of beasts that had proven troublesome enough to nearby trade routes for the governor to sponsor a guild mission. He kept his eye on the ash tree half way up its slope. Even if he couldn¡¯t see anything, he knew that his ranger¡ªHan¡ªwould be lying in wait. Han had gone ahead to scout the danger last night, and had found that the beasts had nested in a small clearing just a few hundred long-strides into the tree line. Now that they were ready to begin their assault, the man was keeping a steady eye on their targets. Eight days of crossing the Frontier, three of scoping out the threat and they were right at the precipice¡ªa journey which had already netted him a level. In just over a week! It was almost enough to make him enjoy the hellish explosion of monsters. Almost. Not even the explosive growth they¡¯d seen in the past year was enough to overshadow the nauseous churn he felt in his stomach before every battle. Part excitement, part dread, he had long since become familiar with it in the seven years since he¡¯d received his class. After every mission, he questioned if he¡¯d made the right choice as a young lad. Every brush with death weighed heavily, building on the last. The losses too, as blessedly rare as they were. Still, in the end, it was a hard life to turn away from¡ªwhat with how lucrative delving was. This mission he felt better about. It was a good fit, for him and his team. Jinto beasts, the report had called them. Mostly physical abilities, mammalian, and only as large as a big dog. The pack had been confirmed by a guild scout team just over two weeks ago, and he¡¯d snatched the posting just about as soon as it had hit the missionboard. Given the fact that the report had been written by scouts¡ªinstead of a merchant who was trying to downplay the severity to save some coin¡ªand that the beasts level had been confirmed a few short weeks ago, he was fairly confident that the estimate on their abilities would be close. Just over ten creatures, with an average level in the mid seventies. Fifteen monsters and a level in the high eighties was what he¡¯d drawn as their limit, so they had plenty of wiggle room before they¡¯d be caught in the shit. Keeping his eyes roving for movement, Dvei¡¯s thoughts drifted to their promised reward. With the mission rewarding enough coin for them to get one-fifty gold each, he would finally have enough for that Rare chest plate he¡¯d had his eye on. It would be his first piece of gear so valuable, one that he hoped would bolster his ability to keep his team safe. Three times a day, it would let him restore a large chunk of his health and stamina¡ªvital, considering they lacked a healer and there wasn¡¯t always time to quaff a potion. The fact it would cut down on their operating expenses only made it more attractive. He just hoped it would still be at Artifice and Arms. Jin might have been legendary for his uncommon honesty, but one thing he would not do is reserve stock¡ªeven with a downpayment. Huffing softly, Dvei shook himself out of his thoughts when a crouched figure seemed to melt out of the crown of the ash tree he¡¯d been watching. Han, raising his hand to grab his attention. Crouched in the boughs of the tree, the ranger¡¯s eyes were still focused ahead, though Dvei saw them flick in his direction every second or two. He raised his morningstar, signalling he¡¯d seen the ranger¡¯s sign. As soon as Han saw his acknowledgment, his free hand blurred into a sequence of battle-signs. Twelve targets. Roughly level eighty. Dvei breathed a sigh of relief¡ªbut didn¡¯t lower his weapon. He could relax back when he¡¯d gotten everyone home safe behind the walls. Turning back, he saw the rest of his team waiting in the shade of a lone tree. Maelea, another heavy-fighter like himself, was wrapped in a mismatch of plate and chain. Nearly six strides tall, her calloused hands were choked up tight under the head of her double-sided axe. As reliable as ever, Maelea was alert and ready to defend the last member of their troupe at the first sign of trouble. Garth¡ªa glass mage whose attitude was as sharp as his spells. When their battle started, that job would fall to Han, but only an idiot would let their mage wander around unprotected¡ªand even if he was sure that their surroundings were clear, he wasn¡¯t the sort of leader to take risks. Catching their eyes, he hung his morningstar from his belt and signed for them to come forwards. Targets located. Strike soon. He was glad he¡¯d gone through the effort of talking his team into learning the battle-cant. Every one of them had been reticent to say the least, insisting they¡¯d be able to afford a communication artifact soon enough. Well, everyone except Han, but he suspected that the man had just been eager to have another excuse not to talk. Dvei shook his head at the memory. Sometimes he thought his team was suicidal. Even if they had an artifact, or one of them developed a communication skill, he¡¯d still have insisted on it. People died, artifacts could be blocked or broken, and this way everyone could communicate vital information silently. ¡°Well, are we finally doing it?¡± Garth asked impatiently. Dvei frowned at the man, displeased with the noise he made so casually. That, and the fact that he¡¯d literally just told him they were¡ªhe¡¯d made it clear that if Garth didn¡¯t pull his weight, or listen, he was out. The mage was good, it was why he¡¯d picked him after Eirn¡ªtheir old metal mage¡ªhad lost the stomach for battle, but Garth¡¯s constant disregard for proper procedure was making him second guess that decision. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Fucking Bloodsong, ruined all too many good delvers who didn¡¯t have the discipline to keep it controlled. Even If Garth mostly kept to grumbling and thick-headed questioning of rules he didn¡¯t understand the reason behind, Dvei wouldn¡¯t hesitate to kick him out if he showed any deeper signs of that flaw. He had no interest in ending up dead at the hands of an overconfident fool. Standing behind the mage, Maelea rolled her eyes at Garth¡¯s words¡ªan action that forced Dvei to school his expression. As the leader, he had to hold himself to a higher standard¡ªregardless of his empathy for the warrior¡¯s frustration. ¡°Come, let''s see what Han has for us.¡± .... Dvei let out a furious bellow as he threw his weight behind his shield. Despite the tide of baying jinto¡¯s that rushed at him, he stayed clear headed. Responding to his will, Stamina flowed into the shard of power that was Hardened Bulwark¡ªone of the two Uncommon skills he had received from his class. Deep in his soul, the skill flashed with inner light. Power flooded his shield, a thick haze extending from its edge, extending its surface and anchoring him deep into the earth. A howling blur of black fur and thick teeth slammed into the slab of steel, sharp claws screeching as they slid ineffectively against its surface. Anchored as he was, Dvei was unshaken as the beast ran into him at a full sprint, whining as something deep within it crunched. Shoving the weight of the beast back, he disengaged his skill and opened his guard. With the beast stunned, he brought down the heavy weight of his morningstar on its skull. Only to feel an unsatisfying thud as the beast¡¯s fur flashed silver, rebuffing his attack with a skill. Gritting his teeth, he snapped his shield back in place before the jinto or its packmates could bear down upon him. Safe once more, he slammed his weapon against his shield¡ªa gong echoing through the clearing as he burned more Stamina to draw the beast''s focus his way. Maelea moved as he did so, flowing around him as she spun her two-handed axe through the air as if it was a reed. The weapon¡¯s edge fogged¡ªhoarfrost coating its surface as she brought her axe down in a brutal chop on the stunned beast''s neck¡ªcutting deep. It fell limp, spine cut clean through. With the most immediate threat finished, Dvei was free to focus on the rest of the pack. He knew he could trust Han to finish it off. Hunkering beneath his shield, Dvei charged¡ªShielded Advance yanking at the minds of the nearest jintos so that they were compelled to meet him head on. Propelled by unnatural force, he couldn¡¯t help but grin as the beasts yelped as he hit them like a maul¡ªsending them sprawling with bone-cracking force. ¡°Kill!¡± Han crawled out from behind him, his call cutting through the steady bellow of Garth¡¯s chanted spell. A signal that the first of the pack had fallen. Dvei didn¡¯t call back¡ªhe didn¡¯t have to. Wading into the fray, claws and bites slipped off his armoured form¡ªthe small bruises and blunt wounds they left in their wake washed away by the slow and steady trickle of his Health that burned to keep him in fighting shape. Managing the attention of the pack was like trying to sail in a storm. His lungs heaved like a blacksmith¡¯s bellows, muscles aching as he heaved his greatshield to intercept a dozen different snapping bites. Despite the strain, he stayed steady. There was a rhythm to battle, one that he knew well, and trusted to keep him safe. Every handful of blows that he rebuffed, he returned with one of his own¡ªonly striking when he was absolutely certain that doing so wouldn¡¯t allow one of the beasts around his shield. He left the killing blows to Maelea and Han, instead focusing on crippling the beasts where he could¡ªthe heavy steel of his weapon only needing a few blows to shatter their bones. As he riled the pack into a fury, Maelea flowed around his sides¡ªher axe leaving trails of fog in the air as she cleaved through flesh¡ªslowing the beasts further, and killing one out right. ¡°Kill!¡± she called out loudly enough that their backline would hear. He could see she had taken wounds, but they were few¡ªshallow bites that leaked blood through the chain on her legs. With her improved healing skill, Dvei knew she would recover quickly. Garth¡¯s chanting reached a crescendo¡ªa piece of theatre, but an easy way for the mage to let them know he was close to being able to cast. It was the one operational requirement that Garth hadn¡¯t tried to fight him on, something he suspected had more to do with it being pleasing to the mage¡¯s ego than anything else. As Dvei kept up his steady swings, arrows flew around him. A precision assault that left the projectiles lodged in shoulders and hips¡ªleaving the beasts an easy target for Maelea¡¯s axe. Slowly, they made progress. As their foes fell injured and prone, arrows sought out their eyes¡ªtheir kills confirmed by Han¡¯s shouts. It was still a grinding siege. The beasts were persistent¡ªrabid in their desire to rip them limb from limb, furious at their invasion of their home and territory. Yet, their approach kept them safe¡ªhe¡¯d much rather the battle last twice as long, but they all walked away without appreciable injury. Spinning to his right, Dvei rebuffed a jinto that had tried to clear his shield, infusing his morning star with Armour Breaker. Knocked back from his shield bash, the beast landed on its side. He brought his mace down, aiming for its spine and ribs as it scrambled at the dirt, trying to get its feet under it. Then it froze. They all froze¡ªevery beast going rigid as their heads turned behind them in eerie unison. His morning star came down, cracking the base of the jinto¡¯s skull that lay before him. It didn¡¯t react. Dvei¡¯s stomach dropped. He¡¯d never seen beasts react like this; it was...different. Different was dangerous. Before he could call for them to pull back, he heard Garth scream. ¡°Shattered Fragments!¡± Moving on muscle memory, Dvei hunkered behind his shield¡ªMaelea pressing herself close to their back as they minimised their profile. Four long-stride long glass spears shot around him. Blood sprayed in eerie silence as the spell landed on target¡ªthree unmoving beasts dropping dead on the spot as the glass punched deep into their heads, the last standing unmoving as blood welled up around the shard wedged a stride into its chest. Power trickled through him as his soul flared, the deaths enough to push him to his next level. **Ding! Heavy Shieldbearer has reached class level 93!** **+2 End, Str, +1 Dex, Vit, Free!** The pack stayed silent¡ªstill staring to the south-east. ¡°Hold!¡± Dvei yelled uneasily, every muscle in his body held in tension. Whatever was happening, it wasn¡¯t natural. ¡°What the fuck is going on?¡± Maelea muttered, shifting her grip on her axe as she stood ready to attack at the slightest movement. He just shook his head¡ªhe wished he knew. As if the spell that held them rooted was broken by Maelea¡¯s words, the pack turned as one¡ªfacing the direction that had held them captivated, before they tore over the ground a moment later. To the last, they ran like they were being chased by denizens of the forsaken hells, even those with broken bones sprinting as fast as they physically could. Fixated on the trail of blood left behind the beasts, the dread that had built within him sat heavy. ¡°What are we waiting for! We need to go after them!¡± Garth snarled. He turned, shooting the mage a look of disgust. ¡°No, you blasted fool! We¡¯re leaving, and that¡¯s final. Unless you plan on hunting them down alone?¡± Ignoring the mage¡¯s spluttered complaints, Dvei stared after the fleeing jinto beasts. The guild needed to hear of this. Something had changed. Again. B3? Interlude 6: Myriad Developments B3? Interlude 6: Myriad Developments Deep in the bowels of the earth, surrounded by dripping stone and stagnant eyes, She woke. Seven eyes snapped open, and She knew her purpose. Gnarled fingers dug into rock, as She rose to her full height. Her deep breath tasted existence¡ªit was weak and untempered. With understanding, came zeal. Her soul flared with unbridled purity, and She knew Her purpose. Under Its righteous demands, She would burn a path that only the worthy could walk. ¡°Come.¡± She demanded. And they obeyed. .... Grumbling at the jumbled stack of papers, Rieker tugged unconsciously at the neck of his soft cotton tunic. The reports were important¡ªalarming enough that he and Ro were working late into the night¡ªbut he couldn¡¯t get that blasted feeling out of his mind. That niggling suspicion that had led him well so often in the past. He looked to his right, where Ro was lounging on an overstuffed leather settee, flicking through her own reports while she nursed a glass of wine. Despite the even toned wardlights that lit the room, the fire across from her shone through her dark wavy hair¡ªframing her face in a soft luminance. Gods, she was so beautiful. Still every bit as captivating as the day she¡¯d muscled her way onto his delving team¡ªway back when they were simple Wood. And yet...for all her presence was a balm to his tensions, he still felt that little niggle. ¡°They should be back by now.¡± Rieker huffed, giving up on the delving reports in front of him. Ro sighed, bending backwards over her seat to meet his eyes. ¡°They¡¯re only a week overdue, you know what those three are like.¡± Shaking his head, Rieker let out a low rumble of dissatisfaction. ¡°I can''t shake the feeling that something has gone wrong. I know we haven¡¯t seen anything except the usual black-handed bullshit, but with how bloody busy everyone has been it would be all too easy for some of the more...seasoned scum to slip under our notice.¡± he said, resting his elbow on his desk and rubbing his forehead. Ro stood up with fluid grace, walking slowly to him. Moving behind him, she placed her hands over his shoulders, bringing the simple comfort of touch as she dug her fingers into the knots of tension that had been building all afternoon. Leaning back into her, Rieker¡¯s eyes drifted closed as he let out a soft groan of delight. Ro leaned in close. ¡°We¡¯ve done what we can.¡± she whispered gently. ¡°They have a medallion, and the stats of a delver in the early second tier. Even if they are discovered, whoever goes after them will be in for a nasty surprise.¡± ¡°I know that.¡± Rieker sighed. Even with everything he had done to prepare them, it did little to banish his concern. Especially with the likelihood of just who would take the most interest in delvers like Kaius and his team. There weren¡¯t too many powers that would have the ability to slip under their notice in a backwater like Deadacre, and unfortunately the ones that did exist were some of the worst. ¡°We both know that it¡¯ll be the Onyx Temple¡ªthe chances they don¡¯t have a cell in Deadacre are close to zero.¡± he finally said. He felt his love¡¯s warm breath on his cheek as she gently shushed him. ¡°You know as well as I that they will be operating largely independently¡ªif they even are here. They¡¯ll be limited by the resources they can pull on. Even if they do fall afoul of some scheme, I wouldn¡¯t count them out just yet. Those kids are tough, and resourceful¡ªplus, the chances of someone taking the proper precautions against Kaius¡¯s knowledge of runes is slim.¡± Grunting in agreement, Rieker relaxed further in Ro¡¯s touch. That, at least, was true. While Kaius would perhaps match up to only a middling journeyman traditional runewright, and lacked their skills, his knowledge of the arts would make him a nightmare to keep imprisoned. Runewrights were amongst the worst prisoners¡ªoften finding ways to disrupt the formations that would have easily kept someone many times more powerful contained. It still didn¡¯t mean he enjoyed the thought of those kids being held by Onyx Temple scum. Ro pushed down on his shoulders, forcing him to relax the tension that had begun to build once more. ¡°Listen¡ªit¡¯s still likely they¡¯ve just gotten sidetracked. If they¡¯re not back in another week or two, we can start our search.¡± she whispered. An easy suggestion, but one that provided no comfort. While he had resources he could pull upon, the most powerful were working at a breakneck pace to keep things stabilised. That wasn¡¯t even considering the frustrating limitations placed upon him by his position. RANo?B????? Bloody politics. Even if he could rampage as he pleased, it wasn¡¯t like he was a rogue or scout. It would be like trying to hunt ghosts, and the second he moved, they¡¯d go to ground¡ªmaking his job all the harder. Rieker felt the soft brush of lips on his cheek. ¡°I know you¡¯re worried, but we should head to bed¡ªKaius and his team are not the only lives we¡¯re trying to safeguard. These reports we¡¯ve been getting of beasts suddenly migrating to the south-east have me worried. Whatever is happening, I doubt it''s innocuous, and we¡¯ll have our hands full finding out what¡¯s happening.¡± Ro whispered, tugging him upwards. Rieker allowed himself to be pulled to his feet, nodding along to Ro¡¯s words. It was another worry for the pile¡ªone that he had even fewer explanations for. Inevitably, he drifted back to the missing lads¡ªhis memory moving down paths best left forgotten. ¡°I just hoped that this time it would be different.¡± he muttered. Ro¡¯s face softened, a sad smile crossing her face. ¡°They¡¯re not Gile, Rieker¡ªit¡¯ll be okay.¡± Rieker nodded, his face solemn¡ªbut his heart wasn''t in it. ¡°I just wish we had more time¡ªhad less chains on us. I can¡¯t help but feel that if the worst does come to pass, that I might not have done enough.¡± A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. ¡°We all do¡ªthe three of them are smart and resourceful, even if they are captured, they will still have a chance.¡± Ro replied, gripping his face so he was forced to meet her gaze. ¡°Besides, I care for them too. If they don¡¯t turn up, I¡¯ll start turning screws¡ªpeople in this city have a tendency to forget that the Wardog wasn¡¯t the only one of us who should be feared.¡± she continued, heated in her conviction. A genuine bark of laughter slipped from Rieker¡¯s mouth. ¡°There¡¯s that fire.¡± .... Hanrick groaned as he leaned back in his chair and kicked his legs up onto his desk. Surrounded by the furnishings of his station, and looking out through stained glass to survey his domain, he should have felt at ease. By the enlightened higher realms, he was in the literal seat of his power! Instead, he sighed¡ªmassaging his eyebrows as if that would dispel the headache that had been building for the better part of a year. Things were going...poorly. Deadacre was caught between the hammer and anvil, every resource he had at hand strained as he desperately searched for a point of equilibrium. The cost of supplying so many refugees with stable enough food and housing to prevent their palpable discontent from boiling over into riots was immense. Even with the emergency tax on delving activities, he was barely keeping on top of things. A knock echoed through the room, drawing Hanrick¡¯s eye to the thick slab of carved oak that sealed his official chamber. Fyfen, no doubt. As quick as ever at responding to his calls. ¡°Come in!¡± Hanrick called in a rich baritone tempered by a modest weight of years, before he quickly ran his fingers through his sandy hair. Even if it was only his aide, there was a certain propiety that had to be kept. Fyfen walked through the door. As always, the short man was impeccably groomed¡ªhis black hair combed into a neat slick, and his formal court dress freshly pressed. ¡°Governor.¡± his aide said, head dipping respectfully. ¡°You called for me?¡± Hanrick nodded, before he returned to looking out of the window of his office. Set high in his keep, it gave an almost uninterrupted view of the majority of the city¡ªa sprawl of twisted streets and cobble buildings spilling out across the land. ¡°My request to Rieker? How was it taken?¡± he asked. With how many reports he¡¯d seen of the sudden change in beast movements, Hanrick had been on edge. In some ways, it was a welcome reprieve for his guardsmen¡ªbut he¡¯d not lead a city like Deadacre for decades by only looking at the surface of things. With the increasing levels of the city guard, he needed to capitalise on this sudden reprieve to make headway on long term stability. The system¡¯s words the previous year had been clear¡ªthe current state of things was permanent, and could get worse. As it currently stood, even if things stayed static, they were in a slow decline. They simply had too many people with too many needs, in too little space. Thankfully, with the sudden departure of the local beasts, he had an opportunity. Ideally, he¡¯d pull a full third of his guard from their normal work¡ªrotating their numbers through delves in the two Depths entrances they had access to in the city. The extra resources would be nice¡ªworking under his banner, Deadacre would get a far larger share from them than the cut they got from guild delvers. More importantly though, it would drastically accelerate the growth of his guards. He hoped it would be a virtuous cycle¡ªstronger guards meant less men needed to keep the peace and man the walls, which in turn would allow those extra hours to be put towards developing them further. In many ways, the plan was taboo¡ªakin to building a trained army. He didn¡¯t care¡ªwithout that strength, he would have no hope of expanding the city and fortifying the surrounding farmland. It was a plan that had been in the works for weeks now. His men could enter in the maximum possible group size for the local delves, and split off into paired tribunes before slowly delving out and down. Engaging targets separately, each pair of squads would be able to maximise their experience gain while staying close enough on hand to band together against unexpected threats. Unfortunately, the entire blasted thing rested on Rieker¡¯s approval. It rankled, but the treaties were clear¡ªin the Frontier, the guild had prominence on all decisions relating to the Depths. Suppressing a grimace, Hanrick turned his attention back to his aide¡ªwho was currently wincing at his question. ¡°Well?¡± he asked. Fyfen cleared his throat. ¡°Sorry, sire. Rieker is willing to agree to your proposal¡ªbut he wanted concessions.¡± Hanrick groaned. No doubt those ¡®concessions¡¯ were Ro¡¯s doing. That woman was a demon at the negotiating table, and it was down right impossible to catch the guildmaster without her ready and willing to provide Rieker her council. ¡°What did he want this time?¡± he sighed. ¡°Your backing on an investigation into some of the more...insidious elements of the city''s underbelly.¡± Fyfen said, placing a slip of paper in front of him. Scanning the document, he saw an outline of an impressively thorough plan to route out some of the more well connected criminals that had been causing him problems for years. It was out of the ordinary, but a more than fine request. He himself would benefit greatly from less elements introducing chaos into the city. ¡°Anything else?¡± he asked, looking up from the page to glance at his aide. Fyfen nodded. ¡°A tax reduction on their first purchasing rights for any artefacts the guards retrieve that we wish to sell¡ªand, weirdly, an agreement that usable and appropriate gear be left in the hands of those who found them.¡± Hanrick nodded once. ¡°That is fine. Get it done.¡± Fyfen gave him a short bow, before he left the room at haste. Hanrick reminded himself to give the man some extra rest days. He was effective, but he couldn¡¯t have the man burning out¡ªhe was far too valuable. Swiveling in his chair, he kicked his feet back up and gazed over the city¡ªeyes narrowing at the tall guildhouse that was just barely visible in the distance, even with his mental stats improving his perception. Just what were Rieker and Ro up to? The tax was obvious, simple bargaining. As was the desire for the guards to keep what they kill¡ªthat was an old tenant of the guild, and Rieker was nothing if not traditional. But an investigation? In the years since he had retired to Deadacre, Rieker had always been hands off with criminal matters that did not directly involve his men. But the guildmaster had seemed tense in their last few meetings¡ªso different from the odd vitality that he had exuded for months now. Something had happened. Rieker may have been a long colleague and a staunch ally, but in days like these, Hanrick refused to walk into something blind. With so much on the table, he had little time for petty games of politics¡ªespecially not with the increasing number of men in his employ that his spymaster was having to keep track of. Perhaps...perhaps he should hasten his next meeting with Rieker. There was only one syndicate that the man could be referring aiming for, and if he dangled his own leads, they might both benefit. He nodded to himself. Yes, that would work well. Hanrick tapped into his communication skill, connecting to his aide. ¡°While you¡¯re at it, organise a lunch with Rieker¡ªI wish to discuss this...investigation with him.¡± ... Lights spun through the void, shining down on a body of statuesque perfection. Ekum twirled his fingers, forcing the motes to dance to his tune as his glassy eyes stared at far off sights. It could have been moments, or millennia, but eventually a small smirk twinged at the edges of his lips. With the barest flicker of intent, a bead of light left the swarming nebula, vanishing into the ascendant''s forehead. A smile crossed his lips, the fabric of the world around him quaking at the momentary loss of control as he soaked in all the system had recorded of his gamble. The boy had been a busy bee indeed. ¡°The travesty of the young and weak¡ªand another trial for you to overcome. I wonder how you¡¯ll do?¡± he muttered. B2 Chapter 258: An Unexpected End B2 Chapter 258: An Unexpected End Laughter spilled across the polished marble room, the delicate sound of joy quickly echoed by a dozen other mirthful women. They danced¡ªhips swaying through the slowly raining petals as the warm sun shone through their silks, framing the subtle curves of their hips and breasts. They moved slow, but carefree. A voyage of love and light as they fuzzed in and out of sight. A goblet was offered, the colour of honey and studded with rich rubies and gleaming diamonds. The wine within was buttery and rich¡ªexactly as he expected the good stuff would taste. He laughed¡ªjoined by the gentle mirth of a pale beauty who still leaned over him, full frame spilling over as her green eyes twinkled with shy deference. Winking at the girl, Tovic grabbed a handful of what was on offer as he tugged her into his lap and raised his goblet, cheering in delight. Running his hand up her hip, he¡ª A deep seated crash shattered the illusion, throwing Tovic into a bleary disarray. Wiping his hand across his face, he stared at the film of grey that had been left on its surface, desperately trying to reconcile what was happening with his sudden awakening from his dream. ¡°Is that dust?¡± he thought, swinging his legs out of bed to sit on its edge. Rubbing his fingers together, he realised it was. Why the fuck what he covered in dust, and what the hells had caused that noise? He sincerely hoped it wasn¡¯t guards roughhousing outside of his room again¡ªif they¡¯d woken him from such a nice dream, there would be hell to pay. Shaking off the last of his fatigue, the blood drained from his face as a wardlight in the ceiling suddenly cast a deep red over his room. He stared at the light in horror. Never, in all of his years working in the compound, had that light turned on. An all hands call. An alert that they were under attack. Adrenaline shot through his veins¡ªa flow of cold dread that banished his exhaustion and left his heart thumping in his chest. Hands moving in a blur, he ripped off his sleeping clothes, doing his best to dust himself off the rest of the debris that coated him. How could they possibly be under attack? The compound was hidden, its location only known to a handful of the boss¡¯s chosen few¡ªeven he was knocked out before he was cycled out. For fuck¡¯s sake, barely more than a hut with walls tucked deep in a forest¡ªmost of it was underground! Unease rushed through him as he froze, realising that if they were truly under attack, he had no way out. No doubt the place had hidden exits, but he didn¡¯t know where they were. Even if he wanted to, there was no way for him to flee. Tovic grit his teeth, rushing to his closet. Halfway across the room, a deafening crash kicked him in the chest. More dust rained from the ceiling as he stumbled, struggling to keep his legs as the very bones of the building shook beneath his feet. Calls of alarm carried through his heavy door, pounding feet and the jangle of armour crashing into stone easily heard. The guards were active, rushing through the hallways in a scurry of activity. Shortly after, a bell began to peel far above¡ªthe noise faint after having to traverse through a warren of underground passages to reach him. ¡°Fuck.¡± Tovic muttered, forcing himself to move as he started to pull his under-armour on. Graces be, that he didn¡¯t have to join them on their mad dash to the surface. Tough as nails he might have been, he had no will to spill his blood for the ¡®cause¡¯. Thankfully, his job was simple. Kill the prisoners if they were fully breached. Tying his padded tunic on as best he could, he started pulling out his boiled leather and chain¡ªthrowing on his armour with reckless abandon, barely slow enough to make sure his buckles were properly fastened before he moved on to lacing his boots. Snatching up his trusty steel bludgeon, he felt a modicum safer. Though only marginally; an assault on the compound was something he¡¯d never anticipated actually happening. What sort of lunatic would move against Old Yon like that? They¡¯d have to be mad. Old Yon was as avaricious as a dragon, and thrice as mean¡ªno way he would take an assault like this lying down. Whoever had organised this raid was a dead man walking. He might have just been muscle who¡¯d gotten stronger than most, but Old Yon and his core crew were connected. Knew the sorts of people that anyone with sense left well enough alone. Strapping his buckler to his arm, Tovic sneered as his thoughts turned to his charges. These new ones were even worse than the girl. Thought they were tough because they¡¯d handled a little bit of pain, thought they were strong because they¡¯d been handed the sort of opportunities most men never even dreamed of. ??????o??B?s? The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. He despised them¡ªthe silver spooned freaks who never knew the struggles that real men went through to gain even a sliver of safety in the brutal battlefield that was life. Never knew hunger. Never needed to learn who would shank you for a spare copper bit. They deserved what was coming for them, every scrap of it. When the mind mage arrived, he looked forward to watching them shatter. To witnessing their smug pride turn to ash as their brain melted out their ears. In his mind, what they were doing was justice. None of them, not even the beast, deserved what they had got. Not when the deserving like him had to squeak by, barely surviving thanks to their strength of arm and quick wit. Besides, their capabilities were wasted on them. Any fool who was stupid enough to be caught was far too weak to be trusted with such power. Much better he make a little profit off their failure, where he could squirrel away the little bits of information he so desperately needed as the blue-blooded scum screamed their hearts out. He grinned, thinking of the wealth he had secured. The scraps he had pieced together over the years¡ªhalf mumbles after prisoners had been returned to him from questioning. No child of his would suffer as he had¡ªand no child of his would be so stupid as to get caught by boastful tales and flashy fights. Already he had figured out three skills¡ªsmall ones, but enough that his own would flourish. One was even a legacy! His own would put them to good use¡ªscions of the people, rather than some trumped up noble bastard. Tying the final lace of his scaled hide boots, Tovic launched to his feet and rushed to his door. Slamming it open, he let out a bark of surprise as he nearly ran head first into a tall man holding a hammer sprinting down the hall¡ªa poorly fastened steel breastplate clanking with every step. Flinching, he reached for his bludgeon¡ªonly to belatedly recognise the man thanks to his dark brown mop of hair and overly bushy brows that dropped heavily over his grey eyes. Catching the guard, he helped the man steady his feet. ¡°Eldric! What the fuck¡¯s going on?¡± Tovic asked with hurried desperation. Eldric shook his head, voice stern and his eyes cold. ¡°No clue¡ªI intend to find out. Just do your job, and make sure the prisoners aren¡¯t freed.¡± The closest thing he had to a friend in the compound clapped him over the shoulder, taking off down the hall at a full sprint once more. Tovic scowled. They still didn¡¯t know? How was that possible? He knew they had scouts and dozens of wards in the surrounding hills, even if he had precious little details of where they were. For a force this strong to slip by them without a soul knowing, it had to be bad. Overwhelming numbers, or undefeatable force. Nothing else explained how they¡¯d managed to rock the very foundations of the building without anyone being the wiser. Shaking off the tightening in his stomach, he stalked on¡ªpressing against walls every couple of minutes as more guards scrambled their way to the surface. .... Grunting as he pushed open the heavy reinforced door to the cells, Tovic felt his heart start to settle. He was in the lowest point in the compound, and his personal realm of absolute authority. The only way he would be attacked down here was if the entire operation was destroyed, and every one of his allies was killed or routed. Deep in his heart, he knew that was unlikely to happen. The value of the bluebloods he was holding down here was immense, as was Old Yon¡¯s interest in them. No doubt someone had already reached out to the boss, and reinforcements were on their way. Stepping into the cells proper, a wave of unwashed funk and mold smacked him in the face. He scowled in disgust¡ªeven hosing them down with ice water every few days wasn¡¯t enough to keep the foetid stench of the freaks from building to intolerable levels. Taking a last gasp of fresh air from the hall behind him, he entered the jail and barred the door behind him¡ªthe satisfying thunk of the bolt slamming home helping to somewhat ease his nerves. It was a fleeting reprieve, banished the second another impact rolled through the jail in a dull boom, sending more dust raining down. Gritting his teeth, Tovis steadied his nerves and prowled down the long hall that was flanked by grated steel doors. His first stop was the Hiwiann lordling. She looked...shaken¡ªgaunt and weak in a way that normally brought a smile to his lips. Not today. She met his eyes¡ªher gaze flinty and far less on edge than he would like. The distinctive lack of fear caught in his throat. The attack had put a bit of fire back in her. Scowling hatefully, he flexed his hand to stop himself from reaching for the cells control formation to fry her where she sat. He knew it wasn¡¯t just the attack. Ever since his other charges had arrived, the Hiwiann had grown...vexing. The girl had been doing so well¡ªgrowing meek and fearful with her time in his care. Until they ruined it. He scanned the other cages¡ªthe mutt of an elfling, the beast, and the freak. Their stubborn confidence was maddening, made him want to walk into their cells and beat them until they knew their place. It was only his respect for Old Yon that stopped him. ¡°Listen here, you lot¡ªyou¡¯re going to sit here pretty and quiet, or I''m leaving the punishment formation on for the next week.¡± he said, punctuating his words with a heavy growl. He hoped they did¡ªit would be nice to see them squirm, thieving nobles that they were. ¡°I¡¯d like to see you try, knave.¡± the elvish mutt replied with a grating sneer, rising to his full freakish height. The elfling walked to the cell door at a slow stroll, eyes boring into Tovic with moronic confidence. A vein in his forehead pulsed. ¡°What the fuck did you just say, freak?¡± he replied, stalking over to the lippy bastard¡ªhis teeth clenched so tight they creaked. ¡°I dare you to try me again, I dare you!¡± he screamed¡ªanger only heightened further as a maddened smile split the elfling¡¯s face. The man had gone mad¡ªcracked. Clearly he¡¯d need to be put down. Afterall, in the chaos of an attack, he couldn¡¯t just let mutinous thoughts linger where they could inspire others. Old Yon would understand. He slapped his hand on the working. ¡°I¡¯d like to see how you feel after¡ª¡± Something sharp slammed into the back of his skull. The last thing he heard was a bloodthirsty roar fill the jail. B2 Chapter 259: Trusting Strangers B2 Chapter 259: Trusting Strangers Watching the jailor swagger his way into their prison, Kenva forced herself to stay still and steady. Even if she was nervous about how this would go, and still struggled to fully believe that Kaius had a way to slip out of the cells and deal with their captor, she was absolutely sick of cowering. Her rise, burning bright across the Frontier as she forged her own path according to the traditions of her people, had only made the fall all the more crushing. Before Kaius and his team had arrived, she had been on the verge of giving up. The weight of it had grown too much, an all consuming fatigue that had weighed heavier every second of every day. No matter how much she had searched, tried to find a solution, there had been nothing. And then they arrived. Even if this ended with her death, it would be better than that slow consumption she¡¯d been subjected to for months. Endlessly waiting for a mindcracker to arrive and shatter her psyche, cowering in fear of the punishment formation on her cell, shrieking in agony as her flesh was split and cut. All of it¡ªthe men of this place needed to burn. Seeing her small act of defiance, the jailor''s face twisted into a snarl. Spittle flew, landing on the roughly hewn stone floor. By the grace of the Bloodstones, she suppressed the mad smile that threatened to spill across her face. She didn¡¯t want it to be her fault if enraging the jailor threw off Kaius and his team¡¯s plan. As the fattened and cruel man walked on, her focus shifted to where Kaius was standing quietly in the back of his cell¡ªintense focus and calm determination visible in the thin line of his mouth, and the heavy furrow in his brow. Despite sharing many secrets, she only had a nebulous understanding of what their plan was. She knew he had a strange magic he thought was unaffected by the formations in their cells, that he had memorised a good chunk of the compound, and that he believed they had the strength to break free. Outside of that...it was still a struggle to see how it all came together. Not that it mattered¡ªif this was all just a prelude to dying a glorious death, that was preferable to the other fates available to her. Kenva still wanted to know how he planned to escape from his cell. Her companions of circumstance were still hiding things from her. It was something she was fine with¡ªunderstood completely, after her quick and brutal introduction to the realities of northern secrecy. Everything she learned of them made her all the more curious. Even on the basis of the Honours they had earned alone, having so many of them beggared belief. Even earning the three she had had been a fraught and deadly experience. For these delvers to have earned multiples of that number? It suggested experiences that boggled the mind¡ªand an unrepentant hunger to throw themselves against impossible odds. She liked that. Despite that, it was strange to meet people that were just as¡ªif not more¡ªaccomplished than her. After her trials, seizing Honours and going so far as to discover an aspect while imprisoned, she thought that it would be almost impossible to find someone who had dived head first into the opportunities of the phase change with as much abandon. She¡¯d thought she was unique. And yet, the proof stood in front of her. A consummate delver, her own age¡ªa whole team of them. One of them was even a greater beast! Though of a kind that she hadn¡¯t heard of before. Everything they had said painted them as consummate fighters, and they did know about honours, so they couldn¡¯t be weaklings. Especially not with what Farseer said about him. ??? - ??? - ??? ???, Lethal Threat, ??? The Mask he had was inordinately strong¡ªimpossibly so, even if he did have enough Honours that his stats should be absurdly inflated. Yet, there was one thing it couldn¡¯t block. R??¦¡No????? Farseer did many things¡ªit had improved analysis, revealed all forms of energy at great distance, and allowed her to see soul signatures if they were close enough. It even let her see peoples innards and resource pathways if she wished; a mighty helpful effect for a ranger. Yet the thing that had saved her life the most was it saw strength. Perceived it on a deeper level than simple analysis¡ªin the currents and eddies of a person''s soul, in the brightness of their luminance, and the purity and heat of their fire. And oh did Kaius burn. It was enough to convince her to give her fellow captees a chance. That impossible light that raged within him...it gave her hope, and made her wonder what the others were like. True soul reading required line of sight, even if mundane materials were little barrier to her picking up on a soul''s aura. At least, if they were close enough, that is. Even training the skill as much as she could, the hazy glow that was streaked with the colour of a person''s affinities and resources was only visible in a couple dozen long-strides. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. It meant that even if she could see the teammates from the wall, she had no way of knowing how they matched up to their leader. The greater beast she was confident would be similar, but the mage was more of an unknown. ¡°What the fuck did you just say, freak?¡± their jailor started to yell at the half-elf in question, dragging Kenva from her thoughts. Looking over, she watched Kaius slowly approach the gate to his cell¡ªa hand bound in glyphs reaching through the bars. To her natural eyes, they looked like semi organic and intricate tattoos¡ªa custom common in the coastal Hiwiann communities in the far west, but one she had yet to see commonly outside of her migratory people. To Farseer, the looping lines of arcane script glowed with an azure fire, volatile mana packed into their form with such density that she was surprised they didn¡¯t sting. They almost looked ready to explode! At least, the ones on his hands and feet did¡ªthere was another glyph on his chest that had none of the external attachments that the others did, and looked far calmer by comparison. Despite the obvious fact that Kaius intended to cast one of the spells he had bound to his hands by unknown means, that was not where most of Kenva¡¯s focus was drawn to. Instead, it was his feet. The mana bound to the artificial circuits roiled with the dynamic intensity of magical energy that had been imbued with intent. A surprising thing for someone at their stage to have even an initial mastery of¡ªKenva only knew what it was because of her skill allowing her to directly see some of the more senior members of her tribe making use of the ability. Whatever he was doing, it had to be integral to Kaius¡¯s plan. She shuffled forwards, legs grazing uncomfortably against the cold stone floor as she moved to get a better look at what she knew was about to occur. It still caught her by surprise when a flash of mana was expelled from Kaius¡¯s glyph, burning flakes of burning orange arcane falling from his hand. There was a subtle pop. A sliver of steel raced across the hall. With her eyes as sharp as they were, she was just barely able to follow it. It spun, stable and true as it flew unerringly towards the back of their jailor''s skull. Perfectly aimed, the spell impacted the centre of his head, slamming home. Endurance hardened bone parted like poorly woven cloth, a soft thwack breaking the silence as blood and bone sprayed backwards. Kenva stared at the gaping hole in the back of her tormentor''s head in shock¡ªprocessing the red and pink flesh that oozed from within. Where had it come from? Where was the channeling? It broke every tenant of magic she knew¡ªher mind only unbalanced further by the uncomfortably sudden ease with which the jailor had died. With how fast her eyes worked, she watched him stand there for what felt like aeons, a confused gasp slipping from his lungs as all muscular control left him. Like he hadn¡¯t realised he was dead. Then the remnant mana held deep in the bloodied spike of steel bloomed, and the jailor''s head was no more. It simply...fell open, spilling the remnant contents of the man who had once been onto the floor below. The final deluge of an overly wet end that sloshed up against the bars to Ianmus¡¯s cell as the corpse collapsed bonelessly. Porkchop let out a low rumble¡ªa primaeval sound of furious delight and vicarious satisfaction. It sent a chill up her spine, tendrils reaching into the base of her skull, but it wasn¡¯t enough to shake her away from the image that burned itself into her mind. A corpse¡ªof an evil man, to be sure¡ªbut one that had been a thinking, breathing, being just moments before. She¡¯d never seen a body before, certainly not one that had been....procured so violently. It was only when she saw another deluge of mana erupt from Kaius out of the corner of her eye that she was able to pull away. The roiling control he held over the glyph on his feet exploded outwards¡ªguiding another spell that was cast with instantaneous speed. Much like the first, inefficiencies in the process lead to mana being burned¡ªthis time twisted by the nature of its glyph to shower the floor of Kaius¡¯s cell in pale blue motes. He lunged towards the door of his cell, and Kenva watched the fabric of the world ripple and twist. Space shifted to the man¡¯s whims, weaving itself into a short corridor that violated her simple understanding of basic constants like distance¡ªleaving a deep ache that radiated over her head from behind her eyes. As he stepped impossibly far, Kenva wondered what the hell he was planning. Even with space contracted, she could see that it hadn¡¯t actually affected anything material. He would slam into the barrier all the same. And yet...he didn''t. Kenva¡¯s jaw slid open, staring in bald faced shock as the corridor of space around Kaius suddenly destabilised, twisting itself into a bizarre knot that was impossible to follow through normal geometry. Half of its volume jutted in a way she could only describe as tangential to the world, taking Kaius with it. It was barely for a moment, but that was enough. He was out of his cell¡ªdoubling over and clutching his head the second his feet touched the ground once more. Kenva assumed it was a consequence of overstressing his will, he must have poured everything he had into his spell to ensure success. An empathetic frown pulled her lips downward. She¡¯d seen the effect of overdrawn will before¡ªit was supposed to feel like an ember had been shoved into your head, scorching the very centre of your being. Regardless of how troublesome the action must have been, it had still worked. Kaius was free¡ªwhich meant their flight would start soon. Kenva pushed herself to her feet, her hands balling tightly into fists. Whatever came next, she would be ready. Walking to her cell door, she watched Kaius race to the leaking corpse of their jailor¡ªthe body squelching as he rolled it onto its back, fetching the cell keys and wardstones with clinical efficiency. He rose, meeting her eyes. It sent her heart thumping in her chest¡ªseeing that fire in his soul, that ruthless certainty that nothing would stand in his way or stop him from reaching his freedom. It inflamed her own bottled hatred. The scorn and anger that had simmered away from months as she suffered helplessly at the hands of the unforgiven and unrepentant scum who had held her trapped. Now, with the tables turned, and an opportunity presented to return some of that strife? She felt eager. Long suppressed, her heart started to beat to the tempo of the Drums of War once again. B2 Chapter 260: Escape, pt. 1 B2 Chapter 260: Escape, pt. 1 Tugging gently at the corpse of the jailor, Kaius grimaced. Hateful Nail was not exactly the cleanest of spells, and rolling the body onto its back was enough to slop his mashed brains out of the cavernous holes in its head. An ugly reality of a dark deed, the face was ruptured, flaccid features split and twisted¡ªstill held in the vaguest of mockeries of a person by barbs of wire that punctured and wove through the corpse''s flesh. If that wasn¡¯t enough, the potent vibrations that were imbued in the spell by Resonance Amplification had down right liquified the soft meat inside. It was a stark sight, one that forced him to confront the totality of what he had done. There was no guilt¡ªno second guessing of his actions. Only a stifling sadness of what their actions had forced him to become, a sticky fatigue that massed in the pit of his stomach, sapping at his strength. Yet the reality of the situation was that he had been forced to this point, and this would only be the first of many deaths before the day was done. Deeper down, he knew it was more than stoic realism that hardened him to his deed. No matter how well he had weathered their attention, it was a simple truth that he had suffered. As uncomfortable as it might have been, he recognised that a large part of him was looking forward to what was about to come. As black as it was, he needed to see it. The moment when they realised their mistake¡ªthat no one was coming to save them, and there was nothing standing between them and the anger he felt scouring his chest. Stifling his divided feelings at so easily snuffing out a human life, Kaius turned his attention to the jailor''s belt. Having watched the jailor for weeks now, he knew exactly where the man had kept his keys. A small drawstring pouch made of soft leather, just a slightly darker shade of brown than the ones around it. Moving quickly, he pulled out what he needed. A thick iron key for the cells, and a square piece of flat stone, carved with an intricate array. It was perhaps even more important than the key itself, as without it any precaution that had been added into the formations of the cells would be activated as soon as they were opened. If they were lucky? Just an alarm. If they weren¡¯t? Well, Kaius wouldn¡¯t be surprised if a group that had been so willing to kidnap, torture, and eventually kill young delvers would have precautions to prevent their prisoners from ever being able to discuss their experiences in captivity. With the keys in hand, Kaius rushed to the door of Ianmus¡¯s cell. The mage looked...tired. As worn out, dirty, and hungry as he felt. Those remnant effects of their time in the compound didn¡¯t reach his eyes. Those blazed with indignation and determination. Whatever came next, Ianmus seemed to be ready for it. ¡°Nice work getting his attention,¡± Kaius said, giving Ianmus a grin. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you had it in you. I almost thought all that time in the academy had made you allergic to being rude, or something.¡± Ianmus rolled his eyes. ¡°Oh, shut up. Even a priest would be a little biting after what we¡¯ve been through.¡± The mage leaned closer. ¡°I hope this plan of yours is as good as you¡¯ve made it sound,¡± he said seriously. ¡°We¡¯re only getting one shot at this.¡± Kaius nodded. He knew that, but even if they had spent another two weeks before making their attempt, there would have been little more for him to learn. Sure, he would have been able to better confirm his understanding of their numbers and movements, but the benefit that would provide paled in comparison to the advantage of moving while their captors were occupied with defending from a surprise assault. Holding the wardstone tight in his hand, he placed it over the nexus of the control formation for the cell, before he leaned back to crane his neck towards their latest ally. ¡°Kenva!¡± he called, causing the aen woman to jolt before she pressed herself up close to the door to meet his eyes. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen the way you¡¯ve been looking at the walls¡ªlike you¡¯ve been tracking something moving through them. Is anyone coming our way?¡± Once he¡¯d first noticed her doing it, it had been all too obvious. The way she would focus on a point beyond the stark stone of her cell, following it as it moved. Given that she¡¯d mentioned she had a powerful ocular skill, Kaius was almost certain it at minimum gave her some way to see living beings through obstacles. A strong testament to her legacy, considering even his own Truesight lacked anything resembling such an ability. Kenva froze for a moment, before she turned to the wall behind her, roving across its surface. Facing him again, she shook her head emphatically. They had time. Hopefully enough that he could improve their chances before he left. ¡°What are the limitations?¡± Kaius asked as focused back on Ianmus¡¯s cell. He knew they had to exist¡ªeven if she somehow had a Heroic skill, the ability to see through obstacles was far too potent for the first tier otherwise. R?¦¡?¦­O???§¦?S ¡°The radius isn¡¯t the best¡ªtwenty long-strides, give or take. I¡¯ll only be able to give us half a minute''s warning, maybe a bit longer if they¡¯re in an adjacent hallway,¡± she replied, her voice ringing clear, true, and utterly absent of the uncertainty that had perfused her when they had first met. Kaius nodded. It was more than enough time. The door to Ianmus¡¯s cell clanked open, and he pulled the mage into a tight hug, one Ianmus returned with a fervour. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Pushing him back by his shoulders, Kaius met Ianmus¡¯s eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s do this.¡± He passed the mage the key and wardstone. ¡°Free the others, Porkchop first. I need a few minutes to inscribe as much as possible¡ªwe¡¯re going to need the firepower.¡± Nodding in understanding, Ianmus snatched up the keys from his hand before he deftly leapt over the pool of blood that was spreading from the corpse at their feet and rushed to Porkchop¡¯s cell. Kaius met his brother¡¯s eyes¡ªseeing the hunger and unsatiated fury that roiled within him, spilling over their bond and inflaming his own burning need to bring revenge and ruin against those that had subjected them to the most basal of cruelties. ¡°Patience. I need you to guard the door while I work.¡± His brother huffed¡ªbut violent desires or no, Porkchop was no slave to his impulses. ¡°Of course¡ªjust be quick. There is more blood that needs to be spilled tonight.¡± ¡°Believe me, I will be. Just don¡¯t forget our objective is escape¡ªeven if I hold no sympathy for those who try to get in the way of that,¡± Kaius replied. Feeling his brother''s acceptance, Kaius turned his attention to his other task. Topping up his spells. With his repertoire still drained from the fight with the bone biters so long ago, he was far less armed than he could be, especially because, without his sword and armour, they were all but his only method of attack. Time was of the essence¡ªhe wanted to strike before their captors rallied and solidified their defence. While the early confusion of the attack was fully set in, they¡¯d have the best chance of breaking through. That meant his time was limited, and he¡¯d have to be selective of what spells he inscribed. Thankfully, the rising level of Tonal Weaving and simple practice meant that even with a meagre five or ten minutes he¡¯d be able to top himself off significantly. Backing away from the cooling corpse of their jailor, he took a seat on the damp stone floor and closed his eyes. Of his spells, Hateful Nail would take the largest precedence. He needed a way to kill, and Stormlash was loud. As strong as the searing lightning was, using it would be a surefire way to announce to his enemies that they had combatants coming from below. Expedient Shunt had a similar issue¡ªhe doubted it would help significantly in the relatively tight confines of the corridors they would be moving through in their escape, and it too made plenty of noise. That said, he would still do his best to inscribe a few more copies of each spell¡ªhis strength was in versatility, and he had no plans to completely limit himself. Reaching into his centre, Kaius connected to his mana¡ªwincing as at the overwhelming sensation of connecting to the resource. After being confined into artificial stillness for so long, his mana seemed almost furious¡ªboiling with potency as it leapt to obey his commands. It was almost too eager¡ªstraining against him as he tried to limit the current to the precise amounts that he needed for the delicate work of glyph binding. He spent his first minute like that, simply refamiliarising himself with the flow and control of his mana, coaxing it back to a state in which it moved to his will like an additional limb. Then he started his work. Hateful Nail came first¡ªwith it, he was confident he would be able to eliminate the compound''s guards with complete secrecy. It was a silent attack and, as his jailer had learned, all it took was a single Nail to the back of the head. One of his newer spells, it was one of the inscriptions he was least familiar with. Still, it used the same rune-set as Stormlash and his Drakthar glyph, so he was highly familiar with each individual piece. Seizing his mana, he linked it to his glyph, before he burned his already stressed will to loop it through his flesh¡ªbinding it into jagged three dimensional runes. The final working was a blocky thing. He knew that on his skin it looked like a thin shiv of black runes with a nexus at its centre. Beneath the surface, it was much more complex. The formation expanded outwards diagonally, forming a trapezoid of densely notted mana. To make the complexity worse, it wasn¡¯t like each line of script sat in neatly separated rows. Oh no, that would have been far too easy. Instead they wove through each other in a dense interconnected web¡ªjoined according to an internal logic that he did not fully understand. Not yet, at least. With his repertoire of glyphs and spells growing, he would soon have enough examples to start delving more into how they worked. Despite the complexity, he finished the spell-hymn with a speed that he wouldn¡¯t have dreamed of before he was forced into his current circumstances. Normally, he liked to take his time to ensure everything was done perfectly¡ªrechecking his work when necessary. Now, that went out the window as he bent his entire being into finishing as quickly as possible. Less than a minute later, he was done. The achievement came with the familiar chime of a skill increasing, but he ignored the notification in favour of focusing on his work. Without pausing, he flew into the next inscription of Hateful Nail, finishing it just as quickly. With repetition in play, each inscription came faster than the one before, and he managed to inscribe a full nine casts in what must have been just over five minutes. While he would have liked to inscribe more, time was of the essence, and his new total of sixteen would have to be enough for his purposes. Next he moved to Stormlash. As his oldest spell, he was even more familiar with its form. Two inscriptions later¡ªbringing his total to six¡ªhe moved on, satisfied that it would be enough for his current purposes. Slip step was next, four more flowing black inscriptions joining the glyph on his feet, increasing his total to ten casts. Finally he moved to Expedient Shunt, and inscribed it twice for a total of five casts. He checked his mana. Resources: Health - 5970/5970 (36.1/min) Stamina - 5830/5830 (42.9/min) Mana - 7110/7110 (47.6/min) Free Mana - 4090/4090 Reserved Mana - 3520 He winced, seeing how much he still had available. Sure, it wasn¡¯t an entirely dead resource now that he could make use of it with Mystic¡¯s Rend, but that skill was unavailable to him until he could get his hands on a bladed weapon. Unfortunately, he was uncomfortable spending any more time sitting in the cells. As it stood, he could still hear the sounds of confused guards and desperate sprinting, and the compound still shook under the impact of unknown forces. That wasn¡¯t guaranteed to last. The quarter hour he had spent had been worth it for how much he had increased his arsenal, but any more than that and they risked the compound guards rallying and solidifying their defence. They had to move, now. B2 Chapter 261: Escape, pt. 2 B2 Chapter 261: Escape, pt. 2 Opening his eyes, Kaius saw his companions standing by the door to their jail¡ªprepared to defend against potential intruders. Porkchop was covered in his jade plate, ready and waiting to descend on anything that threatened to enter. Kenva was just behind him, staring intently through the wall, watching for guards, while Ianmus stood the furthest back¡ªeyes focused as a small amount of Solar mana wove its way around his hand. He stood, an action that drew their attention. They looked over to him, waiting. His eyes roved over his friends¡ªnew and old¡ªand he saw the heavy set weight on their shoulders, and the bubbling energy that threatened to spill over at any moment. They were fraying, he realised. If he didn¡¯t give them direction¡ªa clear avenue to direct their frustration and efforts¡ªthey risked their focus on their goal collapsing in favour of venting their frustrations on their captors. They were doomed if their attempt devolved into trying to wipe the whole compound of the map. ¡°Okay, people!¡± he said, straightening his back to project confidence. ¡°The day is here¡ªwe¡¯re making it out, or we¡¯ll die trying.¡± They grinned at his words. ¡°I need everyone to remember that we have one true goal here¡ªescape.¡± he continued, staring deep into their eyes so they were forced to acknowledge his words. ¡°Do not doubt that we will have our pound of flesh, but I need you focused. We¡¯re doomed if we fall completely to vengeance.¡± He could tell by the tightening of their eyes that his words had forced them to grapple with their impulses¡ªthough they still nodded. It was as good as it would get, he supposed. ¡°Our first stop is gear¡ªI know where the vault they are storing my sword is, and with a little luck the rest of our gear will be there too. If we can, we¡¯re taking everything.¡± ¡°I can get behind robbing them blind.¡± Kenva replied with a grin. Kaius returned her smile. ¡°Like I said, we¡¯ll have our pound of flesh¡ªjust because escape is our focus doesn¡¯t mean we won¡¯t take every opportunity to make it hurt on the way out.¡± ¡°Ianmus¡ªthe room is warded, but like I mentioned, I know how to break it. I know you said you can manage eight simultaneous beams, but are you sure you can make them hot enough to deform stone?¡± he continued, switching his focus to their mage. Ianmus nodded. ¡°Of course. Though it¡¯ll take me three-quarters of a minute to channel the spell.¡± That was more than doable¡ªtaking the time to break the ward simultaneously was vital. If they didn¡¯t, they¡¯d be forced to deal with all sorts of alarms and counter-intrusion measures. Whoever had made the formation on the vault was skilled¡ªsimply trying to crack it with brute force would trigger several secondary enchantments. ¡°Fantastic¡ªI''ll let you know when to start, just wait for me to point out the glyphs you need to target.¡± That was one problem solved. He turned his attention to Kenva¡ªhe still didn¡¯t know the full extent of her capabilities. ¡°You said you¡¯re best with a boy, but can you fight without one?¡± The woman winced. ¡°Not until I have some shortswords or at least a knife¡ªmost of my skills are ineffective without that at the minimum.¡± A shame, but an issue that wouldn¡¯t hamper them overmuch. Porkchop alone would be all they needed until they breached the vault¡ªespecially supported by both his and Ianmus¡¯s spells. ¡°Just keep an eye on any approaching guards¡ªrelay anything you see to Porkchop, he¡¯ll be able to pass it along,¡± he replied. Finally, he met his brother''s eyes. ¡°You know what to do.¡± ¡°Kill quickly, and keep the squishy ones safe.¡± Porkchop replied with a roll of his eyes, drawing a smile from Kaius. They were ready¡ªas much as they would ever be. He stepped forwards, taking the offered key and wardstone from Ianmus, before he unlocked the door to the jail. Taking a final breath to ready himself, he pushed it open¡ªrevealing a hall drenched in a pulsing red light. It was time to breach the vault. ... Walking the corridors of their prison under his own power was a surreal experience. Despite being crafted out of the same blocky granite as the cells, the halls were finished to a far higher standard. Ground decently smooth, it was almost comfortable beneath his uncovered feet. Or, at least, it wasn¡¯t obviously designed to maximise discomfort. R?ANo??????§¦?s Neither was the hall pervaded by the same dank humidity that had seeped out of every seam in the cells. Dry and free of mould, the air tasted almost fresh¡ªif the word could be used for an underground bunker with questionable ventilation. He¡¯d seen it before, of course, but only with his mind clouded by toxins, and his limbs bound. Even unarmed and garbed in disintegrating burlap, the absence of those things only heightened the taste of freedom that seemed to waft down the corridors. That said, it wasn¡¯t exactly an environment that encouraged his relief. Especially with the wardlights that drenched every visible surface in a deep red light. Even and dim, it stripped him of all sense of depth, softening shadows and flatting the hall. With his team behind him, he crept forwards, his readiness held in the taut tension of his jaw and the rhythmic clenching of his fists. Thankfully, every hallway he had seen so far had been a wide thing¡ªbroad enough that Porkchop could walk beside Kenva and Ianmus with ease. Having to walk ahead or behind the pair would have made his brother¡¯s job far harder if they were rushed at, or ambushed from behind. This close to their cells, their route was relatively simple¡ªa straight path further into the lowest level, with few branching paths or rooms where remnant stragglers may lie in weight, having yet to join the defence above. Their dungeon wasn¡¯t the only one in the complex, either. To their left and right, more doors lay open, revealing cells that were an identical copy to the rooms that had held them for the last few months. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Each and every one they passed, Kaius looked back to Kenva to see if she had seen the signs of anything living. Every shake of her head was a relief. It seemed that they were the only ones unlucky enough to have fallen into the clutches of the kidnappers who had stolen them. A small blessing. Another quake shook the building and Kaius raised an arm to shield his face from the falling dust, a single wardlight above their head flickering as its formation was momentarily disturbed. They pushed on. After passing another dozen or so cells the doors set into the wall stopped while the hallway continued on unbroken¡ªa gentle bend hiding the crossroads that he knew lay ahead. Though he could still hear yells, they were faint and far off¡ªfiltering down from far above. If they were lucky, anyone who should have been occupying this level would already have joined the defence, giving them a clear and safe path to the vault. He didn¡¯t want to bank on that possibility. Somehow, he doubted that the kind of scum who would join an enterprise like this were particularly valiant. In his experience, their types were much more likely to prioritise their own skin over contributing to a group defense. He wouldn¡¯t be surprised at all to find a few remnants hiding away in their rooms. Reaching the first junction, Kaius took them left, slowing further as more doors started to stud the walls. Some of the rooms on this level housed personnel, but even with all of his surreptitious scouting, it was impossible to know how many. Generally, the doors were left closed and he¡¯d only gotten a few glimpses inside them when he¡¯d been lucky enough to be carried past as someone entered or left a room. Others had different functions¡ªmess halls, meeting rooms, and simple storage. The next level up had more of the same, though he thought that the floor above them housed the vast majority of the staff. Down here seemed to be...overflow¡ªthe simple austerity lacking some of the nicer finishes of the other floors. Now though, with the surprise assault that had been launched against their captors, those doors had been left ajar¡ªprocedure abandoned in the guards'' haste. Given that almost every door in this section of the floor was currently sitting ajar, he assumed that they were moving through what amounted to the barracks. All the more reason for them to be cautious. Kaius looked backwards and tilted his head at Kenva¡ªwhile he could creep up and check the rooms for occupants, it was far safer to rely on her strange soul sight to confirm if they were empty or not. She shook her head. They were clear. Breathing out in relief, his heart slowed slightly from the staccato beat that had been hammering in his chest since he had splattered the brains of their jailor. With the quarters seemingly left empty and unguarded in their captors haste to join the compounds defence, they had just been handed a vital opportunity. As it stood, dressed in rags and stinking of filth and unwashed bodies, anyone who saw them would immediately know that they had escaped. That is, unless they managed to scavenge some of the sturdy uniforms of black canvas and leather that he had seen every occupant of this place wearing. It wouldn¡¯t exactly be a disguise¡ªthere was no way they would be able to bluff there way out, even if they could somehow have hidden the half-tonne lump of muscle and fur that was his brother. However, if they were lucky, seeing a group dressed in uniform would give any guards they ran across pause. Every extra moment that it took their enemies to process that they were a threat was a moment where they could seize the initiative. With Hateful Nail, even an instant would be enough for him to end a threat. ¡°Come.¡± he whispered, waving to his team as he hurried forwards into the first open room. Waiting just inside the entrance, he ushered them in, before closing the door behind them. The room was...disappointingly mundane. With the evil that its occupants had so willingly engaged in, he¡¯d almost expected to see half of the room reserved for a shrine dedicated to Nuldyr¡ªladen with grisly effergies as the god of murder, bloodshed, and pillaging demanded. Instead there were four unmade bunks, covered in haphazard piles of grey woolen blankets, as if the occupants had rushed out of bed without time to make them. Was it night? He¡¯d long since lost any sense of what the time was, thanks to the lighting in the cells shining a constant sterile white. If it was, they might have a minor advantage in their eventual flight, but it would do little to help them until they actually got out of the blasted pit of stone. Looking past the beds, Kaius surveyed the rest of the room. At the back, past a small table littered with knocked over cups, he spotted what he was looking for. Several wardrobes¡ªdeep enough that they might have held far more than just clothes. They¡¯d been flung open¡ªindistinguishable black and grey garments strewing the floor. Even better, the opposite corner of the far wall held two spouts jutting out of the wall at head height, about six strides apart, with small iron grates set in the stone floor below. A place to wash. It was almost certainly cold, and notably lacking in any sense of privacy, but with their current circumstances that mattered little. ¡°What now?¡± Ianmus asked in a low tone, tugging him from his thoughts. ¡°We make it less immediately obvious that we are escaped prisoners,¡± Kaius replied, before he nodded towards the washing station in the back of the room. ¡°You and Kenva go first¡ªI''ll pick through the uniforms while Porkchop guards the door.¡± Ianmus blanched at his words, before blushing a deep red¡ªthe colour standing out starkly on his alabaster skin. ¡°What? I...Kaius, that would be highly inappropriate.¡± he hissed, eyes flicking towards their newest companion. Groaning inwardly at his reaction, Kaius rolled his eyes. Evidently he wasn¡¯t the only one who found it ridiculous, as Porkchop let out a stifled huff of amusement. They quite literally did not have the time or luxury of embarrassment. At the very least, the aen seemed to have her head set well on her shoulders¡ªKenva had only given him a firm nod. Before he could even get a word in about the needs of the situation taking precedence over Ianmus¡¯s sense of propriety, Kenva stepped forward and grabbed him by the scruff of his tunic. ¡°Come on, lanky. We¡¯ve got better shit to worry about than acting like blushing maidens,¡± Kenva said firmly, tugging the stumbling mage behind her. ¡°I won¡¯t look if you don¡¯t¡ªjust keep your eyes on the door.¡± Ianmus knocked her hand off of him with a huff, but continued walking towards the washing station anyways. ¡°I was only trying to preserve your modesty!¡± ¡°Right now, I¡¯d prefer freedom¡ªdon¡¯t have too much modesty on the steppe anyway, not all that useful when it slows down the caravan.¡± Kenva replied. Kaius smiled slightly at her words¡ªit was a sentiment he understood. When you lived on the move, simple concerns such as nudity had a tendency to fall to the wayside. He¡¯d thought Ianmus had come to grips with that, but it seemed having a woman in their midst had brought some of his more inconvenient city-bound sensibilities rearing back up. Pushing the rest of their conversation to the side, Kaius looked to his brother. Still garbed in his armour, Porkchop had taken up position in front of the door. ¡°You alright to keep watch?¡± Kaius asked. ¡°Of course¡ªjust help me get the muck out of my fur when those two are done, it itches terribly.¡± Porkchop replied, not looking back from his steadfast watch. Sending his agreement through their bond, he made his way over to the flung open closets¡ªstudiously keeping his eyes away from the running spigots across the room. Crouching down, he rifled through them. Looking for anything they could use. Much to his dissatisfaction, he did not find any conveniently left armour or weapons¡ªthere were however, plenty of clothes. Enough to meet their needs, at least. He still kept searching. As he pulled out a pile of leather jerkins, Kaius found what he was hoping for. A set of knives, safely slotted in holsters that had been hung from a hook in the corner of the cupboard. They weren¡¯t weapons¡ªwith their thick spines and handspan-length blades, they were clearly tools of utility. But a knife was still a knife, and with one he could kill. B3? Chapter 262: Escape, pt. 3 B3? Chapter 262: Escape, pt. 3 Feeling the chill of the air on his still damp skin, Kaius tugged his pants over his hips and muscled the buttons on his fly closed. Despite his struggles with the non-compliant clothes, he still stared over the bunks in front of him to keep his eyes trained on the door¡ªthe constant restless gnawing he felt in his chest urging him to move faster. Even with Ianmus and Kenva now fully dressed and keeping watch, every second would matter if someone discovered them. He wanted to be able to react immediately. Eventually though, the trousers won the war¡ªthe final button was too troublesome to close without looking. Grunting in frustration, he forced it through and bent down to grab the tunic and jacket he had found. Those, at least, fit a bit better¡ªsturdy canvas and wool sliding over his broad chest comfortably, even if the sleeves were a little too short. Kaius supposed he should feel grateful he found anything that fit him at all. He was not exactly a commonly sized man, standing a full stride taller than the average, with shoulders that may as well have been thrice as broad. Even a couple of months of thin gruel and torturous confinement wasn¡¯t enough to put a dent in the muscle he had built over the last year. Some of that he expected was due to the influences of his Beastblooded racial trait, and his bond skill, but he¡¯d always been big. Kenva and Ianmus had faired better. Ianmus fit his clothes just fine, though his wrists and ankles jutted out awkwardly far, and the ranger had the opposite problem¡ªextra fabric bunching at the ankles of the boots they¡¯d managed to find in a usable size. Lucky bastard, both he and Ianmus had been relegated to simple black socks. At the very least, the clothes were a massive upgrade from a rotting tunic. It wasn¡¯t armour, not by half, but the fabric was triple stitched and thick¡ªit would hold up to the abuse he expected they¡¯d put it through before they retrieved their real gear from the vault. Only time would tell if it would actually help to obscure their status as escaped prisoners. The weight of the unknown sat heavy, bubbling anxieties threatening to turn his focused haste into panicked speed. He forced the feelings down, focusing on his immediate tasks. Whatever came next, they¡¯d manage. Fully dressed, apart from the socks he had left sitting on the nearby bunk, Kaius reached for the dark grey woolen blanket that he¡¯d used as a towel. Drying his hair, Kaius looked back at the spigots they¡¯d used to get clean. Even if the water was frigid, it was a monumental step up from the weekly hose down of literal ice water they had gotten in the cells. Their fallen jailor might have wanted to rid them of the worst of the muck of their captivity, but he hadn¡¯t made the experience pleasant. With the soap they¡¯d found, he felt downright reborn. Judging by the way the rigidity that had suffused Ianmus and Kenva had faded somewhat, he assume his companions felt similarly. Though, he did notice that Ianmus was still doing his best to avoid Kenva¡¯s eyes¡ªangled away from her under an obvious pretence to get better coverage of the door. Kaius smiled, shaking his head slightly. He understood, even if he didn¡¯t feel the same compunctions with nakedness. Even though they had all been focused on moving as quickly as they could, it was impossible not to notice with how little privacy the room afforded. His brother, on the other hand, somehow managed to look even more fearsome with his dense fur plastered close to his skin. Waiting patiently towards the front of the room, every curve of his musculature was highlighted in a dull red sheen¡ªmaking him look more like an artist''s rendition of primal strength than a truly living creature. The simple statement of his brother¡¯s primal might eased his nerves. Even if they did end up in a fight without their gear, Porkchop would be almost at his full strength. He doubted any two-bit crook would be able to go toe to toe with a rampaging greater meles. Unfortunately, such wasn¡¯t the case for him. He was limited to the small selection of spells he had already inscribed, and a simple camping knife. He¡¯d taken a few minutes to inscribe a handful more while his team had cleaned themselves¡ªHateful Nails one and all¡ªbut it still didn¡¯t feel like enough. At least with the knife he should be able to use Mystic¡¯sRend, his skill never did say it needed a sword. Grumbling inwardly at his circumstances, Kaius walked over to the small table that sat next to the armoires where he had scavenged their clothes and snatched up one of the blades he had left sitting there. He flicked it into the air, wincing as it¡¯s balance made it tumble uncontrollably. He snatched it out of the air¡ªmental stats improving his perception to the point that such a feat was easy¡ªand slammed it into its sheath. Buckling its sheath at his waist, he knew that the naked discomfort he felt without his sword was a simple reality he had to get used to. At least he had a blade, even if it was a poor one. Scooping up the remainders of the motley collection of uniformly bad quality knives, Kaius made his way to his team. ¡°Here,¡± he said, passing off a blade to both of them. ¡°Can I have another?¡± Kenva asked, eying the remaining knife left. ¡°I¡¯m Skilled in two blades, and these are just long enough for me to use with my abilities.¡± He nodded and passed it over, relieved that another member of their party would be atleast partially battle-ready. Though, he did know that the woman was primarily a ranger, so he doubted that short-blades were anything more than a backup weapon in more normal circumstances. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°How much further is the vault?¡± Porkchop asked, his attention never wavering from the door. Kaius grunted. The compound was massive¡ªor, at least, what he had seen of these two underground levels suggested it was. Currently they sat at the almost complete opposite end of the floor from both the vault, and the stairs to the next level. Thankfully, despite each layer being made up of a mire of twisting and intersecting corridors and rooms, one group of guards who had taken him semi-regularly to questioning had a tendency towards. They had never daudled when they¡¯d hauled his limp body to the torture chambers on the floor above, and he¡¯d memorised their route. ¡°We won¡¯t be moving the fastest, just in case we run into any stragglers, but maybe ten or fifteen minutes. And that¡¯s quick, whoever designed this place seemingly hated sightlines¡ªno corridor I''ve seen runs for more than sixty strides without splitting, turning, or passing through some room.¡± he replied. As much as he wished they could simply sprint straight for the vault, doing so would be folly. He knew that they would run into trouble¡ªcould feel it in his bones. He doubted that a hive of scum like this would leap to the defense of their fellows, he¡¯d eat his socks if there weren¡¯t at least a couple of personnel dragging their feet in the hopes that the danger would have mostly passed by the time they got up top. ¡°Well, I think if we do happen to run into any guard, we should capture them if we can¡ªthe knowing hunter waits by the game trail, and all,¡± Kenva grunted, crossing her arms and leaning into the stone wall to her left. ¡°We¡¯re dangerously low on information, even with you resisting their toxin, we still have no idea on what is happening above, who is in charge, or even where the hell we are.¡± ¡°Knowledge aids, always,¡± Ianmus agreed, nodding. ¡°I doubt we¡¯ll get the opportunity to make another attempt if we fail, so seizing every opportunity that comes our way will be of utmost importance.¡± Running his hands through his hair, Ianmus frowned in concentration. ¡°More than that, I want to know more about the vault. What, exactly, do we risk if I make a mistake? Just how precise will this work be?¡± That was...a hard question to answer¡ªwhile he¡¯d all but memorised the formation used on the door, it was still a monstrous work made by a master, and he only knew enough about Vhaxanish to intuit the generalities of most of its function¡ªand how to break them safely. One didn¡¯t need to be a master joiner to know how to knock the pins out of a door, after all. ¡°We¡¯ll capture someone if we can, but only if we can do so without risk¡ªgetting into that vault is priority number one. Getting our gear back will have the single greatest impact on our chances of escape.¡± Kaius said, accepting that more information would be helpful. As for the vault...he turned to Ianmus. ¡°We¡¯ve talked about it somewhat, but to be detailed¡ªthe vault is sealed by a nightmarish Vhaxanish formation, and it¡¯s riddled with redundancies and contingencies. If we just tried to hammer it in, we¡¯d get nowhere, set off an alarm, and trigger half a dozen traps, only two of which I''ve been able to identify. One of which is a curse.¡± Ianmus winced¡ªeveryone knew exactly how horrific curse magic was to deal with. The effects might be small, but they were almost impossible to remove without treatment or growing strong enough that the power of your soul overwhelmed them. ¡°Thankfully, I am reasonably proficient in the language that was used to inscribe it¡ªthough only in a mortal sense, I lost my Skill with it when one of my general skills evolved to align with glyph binding,¡± Kaius continued. ¡°It¡¯s one of the most complex scripts to use, but also one of the easiest to break, if you know where to look. There are eight key sections I will need you to destroy simultaneously, the largest no bigger than the tip of my finger. If the timing is off, or you miss even one, every last ditch measure embedded in that enchantment will trigger at once¡ªand we¡¯ll all be in for a horrible time.¡± Ianmus paused, staring at him gravely for a few moments as he processed the importance of his task¡ªgetting their gear back, and all the other things in the vault besides, would fall on his shoulders alone. The mage¡¯s eyes hardened, and he gave Kaius a nod. ¡°Well, I suppose I best not miss.¡± Kaius grinned, Ianmus¡¯s determination fueling his own. ¡°Let¡¯s move people, we¡¯ve got ground to cover.¡± .... As they continued moving through the twisted warren of granite, drowning in the red light of the alarm, Kaius noticed that the dim sounds coming from far above were growing more chaotic, and the rattling shudders that wracked the compound were growing even more intense. The more it went on, the more he doubted that it was a rescue squad from Deadacre¡ªeven Rieker wouldn¡¯t be able to leverage so much strength, and he doubted they¡¯d have been able to rouse an army in their defence. Putting the matter out of mind, Kaius led the way forward¡ªhis offhand relaxed and ready to cast a Hateful Nail. They¡¯d pushed through a couple more corridors since moving on from their temporary respite. Despite his best efforts to take a cursory look through the armoires of every room they had passed, they hadn¡¯t found anything better than the knives and simple clothes they¡¯d already appropriated. He¡¯d given up after they¡¯d left the first section of sleeping quarters¡ªit was wasting too much of their time. Kaius had hoped that Kenva would be able to speed the process up, but apparently her ocular skill didn¡¯t allow her to peer through obstacles without limit, she could only see living things. What they did, however, stumble across was a mess hall, large enough to seat at least fifty. It had been mostly empty¡ªat this point Kaius was almost certain that it was the middle of the night¡ªbut there had been a dozen plates of half eaten meals strewn across long tables that stretched across the room. Sucking down someone''s half eaten dinner wasn¡¯t exactly dignifying, but in the current circumstances it may as well have been succour brought by the gods themselves. Invigorated by the nourishment, they¡¯d continued with far more energy and focus than before. Kaius stared down their current stretch of hallway, almost identical to the ones they had passed before¡ªa mix of open and closed door, and plain red-drenched granite. They were getting close¡ªalmost halfway, by his reckoning. Halfway through his step, he saw Kenva come to a dead stop. ¡°Kaius!People rushing to get ready, fifth door on our left. Kenva is pretty sure they are just in a hurry to get above.¡± Porkchop suddenly shouted, urgency flooding across their bond. He snapped to the door in question, one of the last before the hall made yet another bend. Now that their presence had been made aware to him, he could hear a faint murmur of movement coming from the room, almost entirely drowned out by the soft rumbles from above. Freezing, his mind raced. They could hide and let them pass¡ªall it would take is ducking into one of the open rooms next to them. Yet, he couldn¡¯t get Ianmus and Kenva¡¯s words out of his head. They were low on information, and he doubted they would get another opportunity like this. Jaw clenching, he made his decision. It was time to act, and maybe find out something helpful. B3? Chapter 263: Escape, pt. 4 B3? Chapter 263: Escape, pt. 4 It was strange, how a simple wooden door could loom so large. Now that they had been pointed out to him, Kaius could hear the hastened movements of people behind it. In the drenching red of the wardlights, the door seemed to almost whisper a promise of coming violence. He knew, of course, that they could hide in one of the empty rooms to their sides¡ªwith the current emergency, he doubted that the guards would stop to check behind them. And yet...they needed information. ¡°They¡¯re almost ready to leave.¡± Porkchop pushed along their bond, urgency flavouring his words. Kaius nodded, his mind racing as he came up with a plan. Just before the room, across the hall, there was another door that lay open. ¡°Tell Ianmus to get in that room¡± he replied, nodding to the cover. ¡°we¡¯ve no way of knowing if they¡¯ll be able to sense him preparing a spell, so it¡¯ll be safer to keep him out of the way¡ªif we end up needing him it¡¯ll be a decent enough defensible angle for him to work from.¡± Porkchop let out a puff of air from his nose, signalling his acceptance. They moved shortly after, steps furtive and soft as they approached. They would need to hit them hard, and hit them fast. Considering they were under geared, he wanted to give their targets as little opportunity to rally as possible. Only the gods knew what sort of trouble an extended scuffle could bring down on their head. Far better that they save that excitement for when they had their gear. ¡°You take the far side of the door.¡± Kaius sent to his brother, jutting his chin forwards. ¡°The second one of them opens that door, I want you to pull them out and end the threat. I¡¯ll deal with the second one¡ªtell Kenva to jump in if it looks like I need help.¡± Another wave of acknowledgement flooded his bond, coloured by an aggressive thrill and a sense of vindication at finally channelling some frustration. Kaius pushed the feelings out of his mind. Reaching the doorway, he pushed himself flat against the stone wall, Kenva right behind him. When it opened, the door himself would shield him. He¡¯d just need to move fast when Porkchop engaged. This close to their room, he could hear the guards inside with crystal clarity. They rushed through their room with haste¡ªevery muffled curse and dull thud causing his heart to thump in his chest. He hated this part of battle. The trickle of sand in the hour glass, each grain weighing like a boulder on his taught nerves. He¡¯d rather take a sword through the chest than have to just sit and wait. Ignoring the pulsing heat in his veins, he turned his attention to Kenva. The aen was staring at the wall with intense focus¡ªmuscles in her jaw standing out like cables through the sallow and gaunt divots in her cheeks. Captivity had not been kind to her. Yet, it was clear she hadn¡¯t broken. Her eyes burned hot. Hateful. They traced crisp lines over the stone as Kenva followed the movements of her prey beyond it like the ambush predator she was. Waiting for the moment when she would give her signal, Kaius¡¯s ears sharpened as the two men in the room started to talk. ¡°I think we should just stay here¡ªI don¡¯t want to risk it. What if it¡¯s a full blown invasion? An Army? We¡¯ll be slaughtered!¡± a low voice hissed, almost pleading. A muffled scoff carried through the door. ¡°Now I know you¡¯re fucking stupid, but that¡¯s impressive even for you. What, do you think, we¡¯ll be able to tell Hons to stop him mashing our brains out our ears when we¡¯re discovered abandoning our posts?¡± ¡°Please, Ethric!¡± the first voice continued¡ªan obvious panic starting to bleed through. ¡°It¡¯s the middle of the night! We still have some of that dust left, we could just pretend we were so wasted we slept through it all?¡± Ethric grunted. ¡°I¡¯m not all that keen on getting flogged either.¡± ¡°Look, you can stay here and cower if you want, but I fancy keeping my fate in my own hands. We¡¯re already going to be in deep shit for being so late¡ªif we leave now, we might be able to get away with a tongue-lashing.¡± he continued, The familiar clack of hardened leather reaching Kaius¡¯s ears as the guard dropped what must have been his boots on the stone. He heard the man start to lace them a moment later. It wouldn¡¯t be long now. The first man sighed¡ªcreaking wood following a moment later. ¡°Well, a flogging is better than going up there to get shanked by someone who''s mad enough to attack Old Yon, isn¡¯t it? You¡¯ve heard the whispers¡ªhe has ties to the Onyx!¡± Kaius¡¯s stomach lurched. Onyx. The Temple, it had to be. Even if he¡¯d known it was likely that they were responsible for his capture, the confirmation still sent a chill down his spine. The bloody bastards just couldn¡¯t leave him be. Why did it seem like they were at the root of everything that had gone wrong in his life? His knuckles whitened as his grip tightened around his knife. It wasn¡¯t enough to cause his father¡¯s death and take his inheritance of steel? They had to spirit him away to a den of torture too? It incensed him. All of it. The lack of honour. The dark dealings. The simple bloody evil of it. Kaius¡¯s blood ran hot, heart thumping loud enough he only just barely caught the next words of the conversation. ¡°Fiorn already told us you idiot¡ªwe know it¡¯s not an army. It¡¯s some sort of feral wave of beasts.¡± Ethric said with a frustrated sigh. ¡°Now quit your dawdling and let¡¯s go. We¡¯re already going to be deep enough in the shit as it is for how slow we¡¯ve been.¡± You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Kaius tensed. Looking back, a quick nod from Kenva confirmed what he already knew. They were coming. Hard leather soles clacked on the stone floor, approaching the door step by step. Poorly oiled hinges creaked. Porkchop exploded into motion. Claws sharper than a razor dug into the wood of the door, ripping it open as what sounded like the guard Ethric yelped in surprise. Floating jaws manifested as his brother used Warden¡¯s Maw, Porkchop¡¯s mouth yawning open in turn to reveal the needle tip points of his green teeth. Stepping to the side, Kaius moved out from behind the door just in time to witness blood spray as Porkchop bit deep into the guard¡¯s chest and shoulder¡ªpunching straight through the simple mail he wore as armour. The guard gasped¡ªstill struggling to process his fate as shattered bones ruptured his flesh. Muscles rippled along Porkchop¡¯s back, his neck snapping to the side as he yanked the man off his feet¡ªsending him flying across the hall. A hoarse gurgle left the guard¡¯s throat as he tumbled through the air. The sound stopped when he hit the wall with a sickening crack, falling to the ground in a tumble of limbs. Porkchop was on him a moment later. With the doorway free and open, Kaius kicked off the ground¡ªfeeling the new heights of his strength as he ran through the now empty doorway. The remaining guard stood in the middle of the room just to the right of a table, ridgid as a board as he stared at Porkchop with undisguised horror¡ªstill halfway through drawing in the breath for a shocked scream. Kaius noticed the sheathed shortsword still sitting on the bed behind the man, his thoughts moving faster than his physical steps. He was small, compared to him at least¡ªskinny, and only middling in height. He had no chance. It was only when the gap between them was halfway closed that the guard noticed him. His eyes refocused, pupils in his brown eyes dilating to moony spheres as he processed the rapidly approaching danger. The guard flinched. Kauis dropped his shoulder and swept his hands out, hitting the man in his midriff with a dragon¡¯s fury. The blow forced the air out of the guards lungs¡ªhalf choking him on spittle and bile as Kaius felt the guard¡¯s rib crack. Wrapping his arms around the guard¡¯s waist, Kaius hauled him up as he took four more steps. Then he brought him down. Underestimating the force of his tackle, he slammed the guard down through the frame of a bunk¡ªshattering the cheap pine it was constructed from and sending the bed skidding backwards. The guard¡¯s skull cracked loudly on the stone floor. Dazed and slow as his opponent was, Kaius pushed himself up¡ªgrabbing the guard by his chain tunic. Lifting him up was as easy as hauling a child, new strength coursing through him. He felt it now. The power. The might. Confined as he¡¯d been, there had been little opportunity to adjust to the jump in his physicality that had come with his most recent Honours and levels. With the violent attentions of his captors having capped Brotherhood of Ichor and Animus? Kaius felt like he could wrestle an Irontusk. Raising the stunned guard over his head, he slammed the man back down on the stone. Flailing, one of the guard¡¯s arms got trapped behind his back in the descent¡ªbone snapping as a shard of grey-pink butted up against the sleeve of his chainmail. Now the guard moaned¡ªclawing ineffectively against kaius¡¯s iron grip as he tried to free himself. It pissed Kaius off. After everything he had lived through? After everything he had endured? This was the calibre of people that had kept him confined? People this weak? He ripped the guard upwards. ¡°Mercy!¡± the man blubbered. Kaius turned and slammed him through the table. The guard gurgled, the blow to his back stealing his voice once more. Teeth bared in fury, Kaius yanked the man up and threw him at the wall with all of his might. Head slamming into the wall, the guard slumped to the floor. Racing over, Kaius yanked on his leg, pulling him into the centre of the room. He whimpered. Grunting in disgust, Kaius straddled the guard''s chest and pinned his arms to the floor with his knees. Moaning in pain, the man tried to wriggle¡ªhalf heartedly drying to dislodge him. Hearing rapid steps behind, Kaius flicked his head back and readied his dagger. It was Kenva. Knowing he wasn¡¯t about to get a sword in the back, Kaius turned his attention to the guard he¡¯d pinned. There was a thump from behind him, Kenva¡¯s shoulder pressing into the small of his back as she pinned the guard¡¯s legs. Beneath him, the guard was rousing from his daze. Eyes bright and glistening, he stared at Kaius closely¡ªsucking in a deep breath. Snapping his hand down, Kaius clamped it over the guard¡¯s mouth. ¡°Shhh,¡± he whispered, bringing the tip of the knife he¡¯d scavenged to hover over the man¡¯s eye. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t want me to slip, now, would we?¡± The guard stiffened. Behind him, Kenva shifted¡ªa quick glance showing she was now sitting on the man''s knees, the tips of both of her blades pressing into the guard¡¯s groin. Turning back to his captive, Kaius gave him a wide grin¡ªhoping his eyes were as wild and furious as the heat he could feel boiling away in his core. ¡°Here¡¯s what¡¯s going to happen.¡± he said slowly, tracing the tip of his knife along the guard''s orbit. ¡°You¡¯re going to talk.¡± The guard swallowed. Kaius kept pushing¡ªthey didn¡¯t have the liberty of doing this slow and thorough. Not with the time limit on them. ¡°I know you¡¯re going to talk, because rats like you are smart enough to figure out what a group of very angry prisoners are liable to do if you don¡¯t.¡± He could see the guard wavering¡ªhis fear of them butting up against his fear of his employers. It would only take a little nudge to break him completely. And he knew just what to do. Reaching through his bond, he sent Porkchop his idea, and got a flood of vicious approval in response. ¡°But, if you¡¯re as thick as most criminals seem to be, let me make it extra clear.¡± He wrenched the guard¡¯s head to the side, pressing down so that they were forced to look out of the door. Porkchop was in full view, hackles raised and his jaw stained by the other guard¡¯s blood as his eyes tore into their prisoner with predatory intensity. The corpse of the other guard hung limply from his mouth, teeth digging into his skull. Their captive froze. Porkchop bit down, a wet crunch carrying through the heavy silence that had followed their sudden ambush. The guard whimpered. B2 Chapter 264: Escape, pt. 5 B2 Chapter 264: Escape, pt. 5 Their captive was a weak man with a weak will, that much was clear. The second Porkchop had bitten through his companion''s skull, Kaius knew that they had broken them. Using his weight to keep the man pinned, Kaius felt the bones of their broken arm grind as they tried to pull away in a flinch¡ªunable to deal with that wet crack. Porkchop opened his mouth, letting the limp body fall free. Snaking his paw out, he caught the guard''s corpse and lowered it to the floor gently in an effort to avoid creating unnecessary noise. Not that it would matter all that much. Porkchop had left the guard¡¯s blood splattered halfway up the wall¡ªthe evidence of their ambush gleaming dully in the red wardlights. Kaius felt their captive shake beneath him. Looking down, he saw the man staring at him pleadingly¡ªtears beading in his eyes. Then he heard a dull thud, and the guard groaned, tensing upwards. ¡°Gross. He pissed himself.¡± Kenva muttered from behind him, a quick glance showing her scowling in disgust. ¡°Easy,¡± Kaius replied, his sudden shift to a soft tone throwing his captive further. ¡°We¡¯re here to learn what we can, not stoop to their level.¡± With the guard already broken, they needed him to have hope that obeisance was a path to survival. It was the only way they¡¯d learn anything helpful¡ªotherwise the man would be liable to lead them astray out of sheer spite. Returning to his captive, Kaius felt a wave of distaste temper the heat of his anger. He knew what they were about to do was necessary, but that didn¡¯t mean he felt good about it. Even if the counter-interrogation training Father had put him through while learning Rapid Adaptation meant he knew a fair bit about getting what they wanted, it was still an act he took little joy in. His face hardened. ¡°Now, will you be quiet? Or will I have to get my beast in here to eat you?¡± he said, ignoring Porkchop¡¯s silent scoff in the back of his mind. The guard whimpered, doing his best to nod. ¡°Good,¡± he replied, keeping his hand in place as he sat back¡ªreducing some of the pressure he was putting on the man''s broken arm. ¡°Grab Ianmus and get in here, and bring the body with you. No need to make it any more obvious that we¡¯ve passed through than it already is.¡± Kaius pushed through his bond, eying the dark stains in the hall out of the corner of his eyes. He waited patiently as Ianmus and Porkchop trickled in, their mage shutting the door behind him. Carrying the corpse of the other guard with ease, his brother wandered over to the corner of the room and dropped it by a cabinet. Their captive watched in naked fear the entire time. Kaius took his hand away from the guard¡¯s mouth, knife still poised and ready by his eye. Their captive gasped, eyes snapping back to him. ¡°I¡¯ll talk, I¡¯ll talk! Anything I know, I promise, just please don¡¯t kill me!¡± the guard whispered desperately, his voice hoarse and thin. Kaius smiled grimly. ¡°Good, I don¡¯t fancy stooping to the level of scum like you.¡± he said, the man beneath him flinching. ¡°Tell us what we want to know, and we¡¯ll bind and gag you and stuff you in the closet.¡± His words hit the guard like a hammer¡ªtension flooding away from his pinned body as fresh tears started to well in his eyes. ¡°Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you! I didn¡¯t mean to come here, I promise! It was just supposed to be a quick job for a friend. I didn¡¯t know what they really did until I wasn¡¯t allowed to leave,¡± the guard blubbered, pleading with Kaius. ?a¦­O??BE?s?? ¡°I normally just rough people up, I swear I didn''t know they tortured people. I¡¯m as much a captive as you are, please believe me! I''ll tell you anything!¡± Kaius ground his teeth. That was the biggest crock of shit he had ever heard. A place like this, scooping up uninvested nobodies? When his room was so close to the cells used for holding and interrogating people for their legacies? It took all of his willpower just to avoid suppressing a scoff. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. As if whoever ran this place would even give away its existence to anyone who was not seasoned, cut throat, and completely under their thumb. No matter what the guard said, he was knowingly complicit in their capture and torture. He had very little patience for his excuses. ¡°Shh.¡± Kaius hissed, tapping his blade against the guard''s cheekbone. ¡°Don¡¯t blubber, just answer our questions.¡± A shudder ran through their body with every touch of the knife, but he fell silent all the same. ¡°Where are we?¡± Kaius asked, starting small. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± the guard whispered, hoarse and quiet. ¡°At least a few weeks south-east of Deadacre, in some kind of woods.¡± Kaius grunted. Just great¡ªthe bastard didn¡¯t even know where they were. Seeing his frustration at his response, the guard started to pant as panic set its claws on him. ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth, I swear! The woods must be big, because even when I''ve been in one of the watchtowers I¡¯ve only ever seen tree tops¡ªthough, I couldn¡¯t see very far. This place is surrounded by some pretty big hills.¡± they blubbered. That...was very little to go off, but it was something. As far as he knew, there were no significant hills for a fair distance, and it was further than that until he remembered seeing any maps that showed any hilly forests. ¡°Any guesses, Ianmus?¡± he asked. The mage crossed his arms. ¡°Well, it¡¯s the same direction that Kenva thought we were¡ªassuming that¡¯s correct, we¡¯d have to be at least three weeks from the city at a slow hike. Maybe half that if we rushed the whole way. It could be further though¡ªthat¡¯s only the first place that matches.¡± That was less than ideal. Even if they could move at full pace the whole distance to cut the time down further, evading what seemed to be a small army of men when most of that distance would be open plains was all but impossible. They¡¯d need to lose their pursuers somehow¡ªhe doubted there was any way they would escape unnoticed. Still, the fact that the compound was so remote was not exactly unexpected. It was the only way he could imagine hiding something of this scale was even possible. It still galled that not even the personnel who were trusted to work here had much more information than that though. ¡°How¡¯d you even get here without knowing where we are?¡± he asked, exasperated. ¡°We met in a warehouse!¡± the guard stammered. ¡°In Deadacre¡¯s industrial district¡ªacross from some textile mill¡ªSunath¡¯s Silks, or something. Looked just like a normal place, with shipments being loaded onto wagons and such.¡± Kaius cocked a brow at that, filing away the name. It would make a good lead to dig into this operation further when they escaped. ¡°And what, they put a bag on your head?¡± he asked, probing for more. The guard shook his head. ¡°No. We had to drink a tonic to accept the job. Next thing I know I''m waking up in this room.¡± Kaius grunted in disgust¡ªthis was a dead end. Seemingly sensing his annoyance, the guard he had pinned whimpered. Sighing at the pointless line of questioning, Kaius decided to change his approach. If they couldn¡¯t learn anything about their surroundings, then they may as well learn what they could about the inside of the compound. ¡°How many of you are there, working here?¡± he asked. ¡°I¡¯m not sure exactly, maybe a few hundred? more?¡± the guard said with a gulp, noticing Kaius¡¯s mouth flatten into a line at another vague answer. ¡°So many? What, do they need an army to keep us imprisoned?¡± Kenva hissed in disbelief. Kaius couldn¡¯t help but agree. Even if he knew there were a lot of them based on what he had seen, he would have guessed their total numbers were far lower. Though, they were obviously valuable to the leader of this place, so it was possible that they could have just been kept away from most of the personnel. So many men complicated things. It turned their entire escape into a twisted reflection of the culling of the boggart swarm. And once again they were low on information, without any time to plan. At least this time they had advantages. Their foes were under siege, by a swarm of maddened beasts, of all things¡ªand they didn¡¯t have to wipe this place off the map, only break through and disappear. Plus, whatever they were fighting had to be a significant force. Far larger than he had expected, if it was enough of a threat to martial what was apparently hundreds of men in defence of the compound. They needed to learn more. The guard beneath him winced as he leaned harder on his slowly healing arm. ¡°Answer her!¡± Kaius hissed. B3? Chapter 265: Escape, finale B3? Chapter 265: Escape, finale Pressing heavily on the captured guard¡¯s broken arm, Kaius skewered him with a stare as he waited for them to answer. He¡¯d expected that the compound they¡¯d been taken to would have a significant force of men manning it¡ªat least fifty, from what he¡¯d seen¡ªbut to find out that it was in the hundreds? They had a far harder fight ahead of them than he had expected. ¡°It''s mostly for smuggling!¡± the guard hurriedly answered Kenva. ¡°That, and as a storage for goods¡ªthe floor above has warehouses that have ramps to the open space in the courtyard at ground level.¡± he stammered desperately. ¡°We work in them in shifts.¡± Kaius nodded, that would explain why he¡¯d never seen the numbers the guard had mentioned. Most of them were busy turning a profit for their masters. ¡°A few of us think it''s a hidden bunker for the syndicate too, when things get a bit dicey in Deadacre.¡± their captive continued. That caught Kaius¡¯s attention. What on earth was the ¡®syndicate¡¯? He¡¯d heard them mention an Old Yon, and that he had ties to the Onyx, but what did that mean? He¡¯d assumed that this whole operation was owned and run by them¡ªat the very least, from the little he¡¯d heard and read about the shadowy organisation, it sure seemed like they¡¯d have the resources and reach to do that. But maybe he was wrong? ¡°Tell me about this syndicate, and that Old Yon you were talking about earlier.¡± Kaius pressed. ¡°I-I don¡¯t know much, alright? They¡¯re a gang of some kind, same as you see anywhere¡ªexcept they¡¯re far more...professional than I''ve worked with before. They keep quiet, don¡¯t let people boast, and just go about their business. They run this place.¡± the guard explained¡ªstammering slightly. ¡°And Old Yon?¡± he asked. The guard gulped. ¡°I know even less about him. Only learned he existed when I came here. He¡¯s supposed to be the head of the syndicate, or one of them. No one¡¯s really sure. They say he¡¯s got ties to the Onyx though.¡± the guard hissed his final words, as if a simple mention of the Temple could summon them into the room. ¡°What does that even mean?¡± Kaius pressed, pushing more of his weight down so his captive gasped. ¡°Who is this guy? Is the Onyx Temple giving him orders? How do they work?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t fucking know!¡± the guard yelled, before his face blanched with fear. ¡°Please, I¡¯m just some cutthroat from Deadacre. I don¡¯t know shit about lofty Onyx nothing, Old Yon could just be some grunt for all I know¡ªpeople always saying they¡¯re cells or some shit like that.¡± Kaius sighed. The longer this went on, the more it turned out to be a colossal waste of time. A rumble shook the building¡ªthe first one in a while. As dust rained down, Kaius looked up in contemplation. ¡°And that?¡± Kaius asked, pointing upwards. ¡°Supposed to be beasts or something.¡± the guard replied. ¡°One of Ethric¡¯s mates came down to wake us¡ªwell, wake Ethric at least, I was still out of it. He knew we¡¯d been hitting the dust pretty hard last night, but he wasn¡¯t making much sense. Something about them being rabid and mad, talking about dozens of different ones all working together.¡± The guard shuddered. ¡°It ain¡¯t right, whatever it is.¡± Ianmus cleared his throat before Kaius could answer. ¡°And the way out? You mentioned these warehouses¡ªany other tunnels or exits we can slip out of?¡± Kaius cocked an eyebrow at the guard, waiting for his answer. He gulped. ¡°Not that I know of, but I don¡¯t know much. And I wouldn¡¯t use the warehouses¡ªthe main compound will be less guarded. No doubt they¡¯ll be focused on defending the walls first, and the stock second.¡± It seemed their captive was finally starting to believe that he was safe¡ªas long as he answered. Taking a deep breath, the guard relaxed and started to answer further. R?a?obE?S? ¡°Building up top is the size of some fancy manor or small keep, with a massive courtyard around it that has stone fortifications. There¡¯s only one gate out, which is kept warded and locked tight, but you could probably scale the wall pretty easily¡ªthere¡¯s stairs up to the top at every corner, and it¡¯s not that tall.¡± he explained. His answer banished some of Kaius¡¯s tension. That, at least, seemed workable. They¡¯d need to push hard and fast to capitalise on confusion and disorganisation, but if they could get over the wall and past the beasts, they¡¯d be able to vanish into the forest while the guards were occupied. Still, it was by no means going to be an easy escape. ¡°Why not make the place easier to defend? Surely there''s a risk of people jumping over the wall.¡± he asked. The guard gave him an awkward half shrug. ¡°The whole place is warded with an illusion formation¡ªI think the wall was mostly just to stop beasts wandering in, though I heard it can make it a little hard to navigate close to them.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just great.¡± Kaius heard Ianmus mutter beside him. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. He couldn¡¯t help but agree. Between the swarming beasts, and the inevitable flood of personnel, they were going to need to lean fully on a blitzing assault to break free before their captors could rally against the horde above. If he had to lean on True Sight to lead them true on top of that? There would be a lot of opportunities for something to go wrong. If they were lucky, there would be a conveniently located Depths portal that they could vanish into. With the chaos, and a decent lock out period, he was confident that they would be able to lose anyone who got it in their mind to follow them. In reality, even if the stone portals were omnipresent across Vaastivar and the world, they weren¡¯t so common that you could trip over one around every corner. Relying on such a stroke of luck as their primary plan would be the choice of a fool. No, the would need to make sure they were spotted heading directly towards Deadacre, and then split west at the soonest opportunity. Hopefully, with enough luck, that might buy them enough time that they might actually stumble across a Depths portal, even if it would likely take a few days. Glancing down at the man he had pinned, Kaius pondered his captive. In all honesty, the man was useless. They¡¯d gathered a few tidbits, but nothing that had really changed anything. He only had one question left, and he doubted the man would know much. ¡°The vault.¡± he said, startling the guard. ¡°The one near the base of the stairs to the next level¡ªhave you ever seen it opened? Heard whispers about what they keep in there?¡± The guard hesitated, up until Kaius grabbed him by his tunic and shook him roughly. ¡°Well?¡± he asked? ¡°I¡ªonly a few rumours. Nothing certain,¡± the guard replied, looking nervous. ¡°Let¡¯s hear them.¡± Kaius said, making it clear that he expected the man to answer quickly. ¡°It¡¯s always under guard, especially when it¡¯s opened, and well...men talk, you know? Even if they know that they¡¯ll be flogged for letting it slip, it always happens.¡± the guard started. Kaius groaned, impatient at the man¡¯s preamble. Seeing the frustration in his face, the guard gulped. ¡°It¡¯s supposed to be Old Yon¡¯s personal stash, alright? No idea if it''s true, but apparently it¡¯s barely more than a cupboard. Just a few nicknacks that some of the leaders here take away for a few hours and then put back.¡± the guard answered, shying away as Kaius frowned. ¡°A cupboard? You¡¯re sure?¡± Kaius asked¡ªhe knew that his sword was in there, but if none of their other gear was, it would make escape just that much harder. He sincerely hoped that it wasn¡¯t just a stash of trophies. ¡°When was it last opened? And what did they put in there?¡± he pressed, causing the guard to flinch. ¡°Just after you arrived! I promise!¡± the guard pleaded. ¡°It was the same shit as always though, just the head of the compound taking a few rings for an hour or two.¡± Rings? Why the fuck would someone go through that much effort for a bit of jewelry? It didn¡¯t make a lick of sense, unless... Kaius sat upright like he¡¯d been hit by a bolt of the Stormlord¡¯s best as realisation flooded him. He grinned, wide and hungry. ¡°I think I know what¡¯s in that vault.¡± he said through his bond, trusting Porkchop to pass his words on. ¡°Oh?¡± Porkchop replied curiously, head tilting at him. ¡°Shady smuggling and trafficking ring? With ties to a powerful organisation? And all it¡¯s got in its vault is a few rings? There are spatial containers in there, surer than the sun shines.¡± Kaius replied, glee still radiating over him. They needed that. Let alone their own gear, who knew what other things this ¡®syndicate¡¯ thought valuable enough to store in them. Small as they were, they¡¯d be able to clean the entire place out. If they were lucky, they might even be able to make off with most of the organisation''s wealth. Or at least a significant chunk of it. Considering how complex and dangerous trade had gotten, he doubted that a clandestine group like that would easily be able to recover from such a loss in resources. Hells, if they were spatial rings, he wouldn¡¯t be surprised if those artefacts alone represented a significant chunk of their wealth. Spatial artefacts were not cheap¡ªespecially if they could store anything of appreciable size. They were simply too rare, and so costly and troublesome to make that very few crafters bothered to make any with tier one materials. Kaius looked back to the guard he had pinned. It was time to finish up. ¡°Anyone else have any questions?¡± he asked his team. The heavy silence lay unbroken, their faces grim and committed. It pulled a sigh from him¡ªmade him feel far more tired than before. ¡°Well, that¡¯s great, right? Listen, if you want to tie me up and shove me in that closet,¡± the guard jutted his chin to the armoire backed up against the wall beside them, shooting him a desperate grin. ¡°I won''t fight you. I know when I¡¯m beat.¡± ¡°You know we can¡¯t risk doing that right?¡± Porkchop pushed along their bond, the words sitting heavy on his mind. He knew. By the gods, he knew. Too much was riding on this¡ªfor all he knew, the man had a Skill to slip out of bonds, or break free. A compound like this? As warded as it was? There was no doubt in Kaius¡¯s mind that there would be somewhere close that the man could raise an alarm, call for aid. And then they¡¯d be pincered before they could even get their gear. A black act. One that sickened him. One that was his duty, his burden, as the leader. The guard¡¯s smile faltered. ¡°Hey? I talked right? I talk, you lock me up.¡± Kaius said nothing, his palms growing slick as a sickening disgust welled in his stomach. ¡°Let me do it.¡± Porkchop said, stepping forward. ¡°No.¡± Kaius slammed his knife down, ramming its full length into the guard¡¯s eye. He stiffened¡ªjust barely for a moment¡ªand fell limp. ¡°I won¡¯t make you a murderer of unarmed men.¡± **Ding! level 67 Human - Back Alley Blade slain - Experience Gained! Reduced Experience for slaying a foe of Insignificant Strength!** He stared into the corpse¡¯s glassy eyes and realised that he¡¯d never even asked the man¡¯s name. B2 Chapter 266: Grand Larceny, pt. 1 B2 Chapter 266: Grand Larceny, pt. 1 Kaius stood up, his knife sliding free from the dead guard¡¯s skull with a wet squelch. The sound cut deeper than any blade, revulsion crawling up his spine as competing thoughts bounced around the inside of his mind. They had to do it¡ªeven if they¡¯d bound the man, taken the time to back track to the cells and lock him up properly, there was no telling what skills the man might have had¡ªnor what the simple delay could mean for their escape. Keeping him alive was a risk they couldn¡¯t afford. A mercy that could have killed them faster than any spell or arrow. And yet, never in his darkest days, nor in the highest heights of his fury, would he have ever thought he would have been capable of killing an unarmed¡ªdefenceless¡ªman who was begging for his life. Ever. He hadn¡¯t been a boggart. Wasn¡¯t some monster out of a children''s tale, who slavered after brutality and blood. It was a man. Who had begged. Begged with tears in his eyes. And yet, why did he feel so little? That was what truly sickened him. He should have been shaking. Wailing at the world for forcing him to such acts. Instead he felt nauseous and cold¡ªdisgusted at his own lack of mind for the cost to his humanity. Kaius stood, stuck in place like iron stakes had been driven through his feet, staring at the weeping hole he¡¯d bored in the man¡¯s skull. A hand clapped him on his shoulder, giving him a firm squeeze he wasn¡¯t sure he deserved. ¡°It had to be done,¡± Ianmus whispered. ¡°No matter how black of a deed it might be.¡± The mage¡¯s words rolled over him like wind against iron. Even if he had withstood the torturer¡¯s blade, it felt like a part of him died in that operating room¡ªone that cared far more about things like honour, mercy, and righteousness. In its place was only a rousing fury, and a growing disappointment at the rising cost in human life. ¡°I know. It¡¯s why I did it,¡± he said slowly, feeling Ianmus give him one last pat on his back before he stepped away. Tearing his eyes away from the magnetic sight beneath him, Kaius turned and offered Kenva his hand. She clasped it firmly, rising to her feet with her jaw set tight¡ªdetermination shining bright in her eyes. Porkchop, at least, said nothing. With their bond, his brother would feel that he wanted to move. To set this day behind him in history¡ªconsume himself in the advancement of their escape, to return to the memory later. When he could better process. Instead, there was just the low and constant warmth of their bond¡ªan insistence that no matter what, he had made the right choice. Kaius took a deep breath, emptying his mind. He had no time for rumination. Letting his thoughts consume him would distract him¡ªworsen their chances of success. Looking back down, his eyes slowed as he took in the corpse¡¯s undamaged chain tunic, and the sheathed shortsword that had fallen to the ground after he had shattered the bunk. ¡°Help me strip the bodies.¡± ... Halls passed by in a haze as they left the site of their ambush behind. New chainmail armour, only slightly bloodstained, lay heavier on Kaius¡¯s shoulders than its physical weight could ever explain. Oversized as it was, it still fit him well enough¡ªthough it didn¡¯t reach anywhere near to his knees like it was supposed to, and the belt he¡¯d used to cinch it to his waist was more than a little uncomfortably tight. At least he had a proper weapon. That was one small comfort. He¡¯d taken one shortsword, Kenva the other. They were both shit¡ªmiddling steel with the barest of durability and honing enchantments to make it serviceable, but he hoped that with a standard issue kit he¡¯d be able to sell his disguise for a few extra moments. Other than their grizzly ambush and execution, there was little else in the way of trouble that they ran into as they cautiously hurried through the lowest level of the compound. Once or twice they had heard concerned yelling, and occasionally the patter of running feet from adjacent and adjoining halls, but those guards had moved on quickly. More interested in rushing to join the ongoing battle above than to investigate. Not that they were stupid enough to give them a reason to do so. Other than that, the floor was totally empty. As they walked, Kaius peered through the open doorways that lined the walls. After so long of being hauled past their closed frames, it was nice to finally get to look into them to his heart''s content. Even if the hanging weight of ever-burning time meant he never spent more than a cursory glance. Most of the rooms seemed mundane in their function, though more than once they passed by something more interesting. Large sparring halls, with walls adorned with wooden weapons. A large kitchen, with enough equipment to cook for dozens of men¡ªstill spotless from the night before. That one was a pleasant find¡ªletting them scavenge some more food and water to keep their strength up. A few half eaten meals wasn¡¯t enough to fully remove the remnants of their malnourishment, no matter the fortitude their enhanced stats gave them to such mortal maladies. They didn¡¯t linger. Curiosity wasn¡¯t enough to drown out the hanging knife of urgency that he could feel on his neck, nor the anger that he was struggling to manage. Thank the gods for his Glass Mind. It was active constantly¡ªalways feeding him knowledge of their best course forward. Plotting his way to freedom and victory. The closer they got to the stairs the more the sounds of battle from above grew audible¡ªstill nothing but blunted rumbles and the faint roar of yells melding together. His senses might have been heightened to over a dozen times his natural baseline by his mental stats and Brotherhood of Ichor and Animus, but the fight above had to be truly calamitous if it was loud enough to reach so deep into the earth. It would have to be a pitched battle for the noise to reach so deep. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Still, the growing noise heightened his anticipation. If they were drawing closer to the stairs, they were getting closer to their target. ¡°The vault is growing close¡ªand it will almost certainly still be guarded.¡± Kaius said softly, before he poked his head around their next corner to make sure the coast was clear. ¡°Even now? With the fighting so fierce?¡± Porkchop replied. Kaius nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen it with less than two guards. Sometimes it was as much as six. If it truly does contain storage artefacts, there is no way that it would ever be left undefended.¡± ¡°What¡¯s our plan, then?¡± Ianmus asked. ¡°Since I assume you¡¯ll want me to be preparing my spell to break the formation while we attack them. ¡°Our approach will be hidden from them until the final bend, but the last eighty strides will be a straight shot down an open hallway with nowhere to hide.¡± he replied, picturing the right angled hall with the vault¡¯s door in the corner. The stairs up would be only a couple more bends past it, giving them an easy path onwards. ¡°So what, we¡¯re just going to charge them like some sort of startled dosteon?¡± Kenva said, referencing some steppe animal he¡¯d never heard of. ¡°No,¡± Kaius shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ll approach alone¡ªI¡¯ll have plenty of reason to be running, and with this red light they won¡¯t be able to see my face easily. I¡¯m confident I can handle them, and I doubt they¡¯ll be able to tell how tall I am until I¡¯m too close for it to matter.¡± Ianmus and Porkchop nodded, accepting his plan without question, but Kenva just looked at him with her lips pursed and her brow arched. ¡°Are you sure? It¡¯s a bit of an unnecessary risk, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure, just trust me.¡± he replied¡ªshe¡¯d see, he didn¡¯t blame her for not fully grasping his strength yet. It was a bit ridiculous. They ran on, drawing ever closer. .... Kaius pressed his back deep into the cold stone wall, feeling the heat leach from his back. The vault was just around the corner, and, just like he had expected, it was still guarded. Three voices drifted to his ears. A better number than he had hoped for. ¡°What do you think is even going on up there with those monsters?¡± the first guard said in a soft timbre. ¡°You heard Ulma, they¡¯re acting unnatural. What if it¡¯s beast-masters? Some prelude to soften us up before the guild or the guard attacks? Someone mentioned that those sods we¡¯ve got locked up down here were the guildmaster¡¯s darlings.¡± A second guard let out a low grumble. ¡°I don¡¯t know, how would they have found us? We¡¯re in the middle of nowhere, and there hasn¡¯t been any shift changes since everything went to hell in the city. Unless they have some bloody Gold seer, I can¡¯t see how that would happen¡ªand if they do, we¡¯re all fucked anyway.¡± ¡°What else could it be? It was the bloody all-hands call!¡± the first guard hissed. A third voice sighed. ¡°Could the two of you just shut up and enjoy the fact it''s not us up there bleeding? We¡¯ll be fine¡ªOld Yon don¡¯t let people in here unless they¡¯re at least level sixty, and all the real muscle are a fair bit stronger, you know that.¡± Kaius paused at their words¡ªthere was something happening in Deadacre? What could have possibly happened while they were gone. Could it be related to them? He doubted that Ro or Rieker had taken their kidnapping well. The thought of those two tearing their way through the criminal underbelly of the city warmed his heart. Hells, even if they hadn¡¯t done quite enough to find them, it was entirely possible that they¡¯d stopped stronger jailors from arriving to guard them. In the end, it didn''t really matter, they would find out soon enough. They were committed now, it was time to make his move. ¡°I¡¯m going,¡± Kaius told his brother silently through their bond, giving him a nod. ¡°Be safe!¡± Porkchop insisted. He smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll yell if I need help.¡± Pushing off the stone wall, Kaius took a slow breath as he started to bounce up and down on his feet, raising his heart rate as he walked past his team back the way he had come. He needed enough distance that he could get to speed, without the guards wondering why the sounds of his movement had started so close to them. Reaching the next bend, he turned back. And ran. Letting his jaw grow slack and his breath uneven, he stumbled and slid across the ground like he was in a barely controlled rush¡ªpulling back on the strength of his footfalls to slow to a believable pace. He gave his team a final nod as he passed, and peeled around the corner. At the end of the hall was the door he was aiming for. Scraping the ceiling at twelve strides tall, it was a massive slab of oak that had been bound in a cross hatch of steel plates. Every inch of it was covered in finger-width runes, weaving their way in complex loops and circles across the door and its stone frame. Three guards lounged in front of it, leaning up against the walls. He knew they would be stronger than the common rabble; it was plain in the quality of their gear. No simple chain and short blades for these ones¡ªonly hardened splint-mail and gleaming inscriptions on their well crafted weapons. He made sure to angle his approach slightly away for them¡ªlike he was running for the next corner, instead of straight for them. Two of them jumped as they caught sight of his approach, hands reaching to their waists. Then they relaxed, seemingly assured that someone dressed in their own standard issue black was on their side. Kaius felt the fire in his chest surge at the realisation. He¡¯d make sure they wouldn¡¯t regret that mistake for too long. ¡°Woah there, looks like we have a straggler.¡± the closest guard heckled with a grin. ¡°Better hurry and get on top before they have your hide!¡± Kaius shot the guard an embarrassed smile, but kept running. Inwardly, he fizzed with glee. His disguise had worked! It lasted for a few more steps¡ªthe furthest guard narrowing his eyes to peer at him closer as his hand drifted to his sword. ¡°Do you recognise him?¡± the guard muttered, Kaius¡¯s senses sharp enough to pick up the soft words. ¡°And where the hell are his boots?¡± That was his queue. Even suspicious as they were, the guards were seemingly unwilling to make a move without aggressive actions on his part. He could solve that, even if he would have liked to have gotten a bit closer, but such was life. Taking a final step, Kaius snapped his hand up as a shower of orange sparks burned free of the glyph on the back of his palm. A trio of Hateful Nails streaked across the air¡ªvibrating with such intensity they blurred even to his sharpened vision. The guard who¡¯d questioned his identity was already moving¡ªthrowing himself to the side as soon as Kaius had so much as flinched. The spell meant for his head shattered the stone wall behind him, drilling deep before it spiralled outwards and sent a shower of stone chips to the ground. His companions weren¡¯t so lucky. Spikes of iron punched through their faces with a spray of red¡ªan expanding metallic bramble rupturing their skulls from the inside. Wet particulates splattered the walls as they collapsed. **Ding! level 103 Human - Heavy-handed Enforcer slain - Experience Gained! Reduced Experience for slaying a foe of Insignificant Strength!** ... **Ding! level 110 Human - Quickblade slain - Experience Gained!** The final guard scrambled to his feet, a bastard sword already in hand. Kaius ripped his blade free of the sheath at his hip and kicked off the wall to his left, hurtling straight for him. B3? Chapter 268: Grand Larceny, pt. 3 B3? Chapter 268: Grand Larceny, pt. 3 Surrounded by the desolation of his assault, Kaius tuned out the remnant agonies of his battle, and the slaughter he had smeared up the wall. Ire and fury had faded from him¡ªdissipaiting much like all evidence of his wounds. He knew if he continued to ruminate on the anger he still felt for his captors, it would pull at his mind¡ªdistract him. That couldn¡¯t happen. There was work to be done, and his indulgence had already cost them enough time. His attention turned to the warded door¡ªthe vault, that even now, held contents that tugged at his soul. His blade, and potentially a king¡¯s ransom in spatial storage artefacts besides. It was an impressive thing. A continuous slab of polished dark hardwood, stretching to the ceiling some twelve strides up, bound in plating of thick steel gleaming with the iridescence of alchemical reinforcement, and bolted deep into the uncompromising stone that made up its arch. Those features, and the thick keyport that was two thirds down its left side, were inconsequential. Complex runes scribed every surface of the door, spilling over onto the raised stone that surrounded it. They were small¡ªdense, as Vhaxanish demanded. Some five-hundred and twelve different simplistic characters, woven into words of arcane power, each a minimum of thirty-five characters long. Each word blended together, with little delineating gaps, and each line swirled into arrays of stunning complexity. Kaius knew that whoever had inscribed this vault had been a sublime runewright, and whoever had commissioned it must have done so at great cost¡ªits destruction would wound Old Yon almost as much as their theft of its contents. The script was an interesting choice for a ward of such complexity. He could see the elegance in it. Redundancies had been built into every facet of the working that he had been able to identify, dozens of triggers set to activate any number of countermeasures that he lacked the skill to interpret. The slightest hint of tampering would be enough to set it off, and Vhaxanish was so niche, complex, and specialised that it was impossible to intuit your way through breaking the ward. Thankfully, the runewright responsible for this testament to over-engineering had made a fatal error. They had been far too confident in the security of obscurity. Vhaxanish was inherently unstable. The creator of this formation had leaned on that in its construction¡ªrelying on the ease with which individual arrays destabalised when manipulated to trigger the failsafes they had inscribed. Yet that was a weakness. He might have lacked a tenth of the experience and Skill required to create something like this, but he had the knowledge and ability to understand its construction, and how to exploit it. All it had taken was time¡ªto memorise, and to study. Something he had been given in ample volume. He hadn¡¯t understood how it worked on the frequent but short glimpses that he¡¯d seen of the vault. Instead, every moment he¡¯d been unwatched in its presence had been spent engraving every rune of its creation into the fabric of his mind. A visual image he could investigate and manipulate in the relative privacy of his cell, as he leaned on simple knowledge and the subtle nudgings of Explorer¡¯s Toolkit to ferret out every trap that lay within its confines. A feat only possible due to Glass Mind¡¯s focus on memorisation, even with his vastly inflated mental stats. Still, he¡¯d managed, and he¡¯d spent hours leaning on Father¡¯s teachings to tease apart every line and array. He didn¡¯t understand all of it, but he¡¯d mapped how it fit together¡ªand how to cause a cascading failure. Eyes roving over the formation, he refreshed himself¡ªdouble checking that the mental map of the inscription that he had built in his mind had been accurate. It was. First, three dense whorling knots of runes, bound in sequence across the thickest steel plate that bisected the front of the door through its middle. Each was only the size of his thumb print, and was a small part of the array that physically reinforced the door and kept it locked fast¡ªhe doubted even Porkchop would be able to batter it down while it was in play. A minute spiraling word, right by the bottom hinge, was the next locus. Each component rune was so small he wondered how they had been inscribed in the first place. It was an almost identical clone of a dozen other spirals that clustered around it. If they broke this section of the array, it would aid in furthering the building cascade. If they so much as touched any of its twins, they would trip an alarm. The next two were similarly small sections of an array that stretched across the top of the stone arch around the door. One in each corner, they needed to break a single runic character inside of a single word. Rather annoying, considering the words were eighty-six characters long, and the rune in question sat right next to an identical pair. Unfortunately, it was necessary to stop the destabilised formation from connecting to what he could only assume was some sort of communication artefact¡ªand interrupt a half dozen other contingencies as well. The next was another tricky one. Located a third in from the right of the top left quadrant, it was another singular rune. Thankfully, it was located right at the end of a discrete word, so it would be slightly easier to target. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. If four hairs-breadths of space was any much better than five. It was tied to a targeting mechanism¡ªthe nature of which he wasn¡¯t entirely certain of, but suspected was some form of curse. Like all of the arrays he was targeting, it was directly tied to the stability of the overall formation. And last, a small triangular sigil on the bottom left corner of the door. This one played no direct role in anything of extreme relevance, other than the fact it was a vital part of the stabilising array that allowed all of the constituent parts of the formation to work together in harmony. Individually, destroying the weak points he had identified would do little other than trigger every other counter intrusion, ward, and locking mechanism that had been inscribed. Together, their destruction would overload the entire formation from the inside out¡ªcausing the mana bound within the Vhaxanish lines to destabilise and burn out at once. Kaius¡¯s jaw clenched as he took in the sheer precision the task would require. It was a lot to ask of Ianmus, all it would take is a single beam being off by a hair, and all of his work would be for naught. If they triggered the wards, they had almost no chance of ever getting through that door¡ªeven with Porkchop¡¯s brute strength. And yet...if anyone could do it, Kaius knew it would be Ianmus. He¡¯d seen the mage use his solar rays with surgical precision, and he was always boasting about being the best shot in this college. He would just have to have a little faith. Besides, if he said he couldn¡¯t, there were other options. There was a different, much easier, sequence they could destroy that would cause the main locking and reinforcement array to fail. It was just that if they went that route, they¡¯d be unable to avoid activating every other nasty countermeasure imbued into the door. A startled gasp from behind him caused Kaius to look back. His team was approaching quickly¡ªfurtive steps carrying them down the hall in almost complete silence. Of the three, Ianmus moved with the most focus¡ªevery step placed with directed intention as a dense knot of solar mana swirled into a circlet of overlapping sacred geometry. It was something unfamiliar to Kaius¡ªand potentially still a work in progress judging by the imperfections in the simplistic sigil. It seemed he wasn¡¯t the only one who had been busy during their long confinement. Kenva had her hand covering her mouth as she gawked at the ravaged bodies and pooled blood that lay around him. Porkchop seemed to find some amusement in her shock, his ears flicking subtly. ¡°Tell me, Kaius, is this some new two-legged bathing custom that I have missed? Or did you go swimming in their blood by accident?¡± Porkchop said, deftly shaking loose some of the heavy grimness that had settled over their group. Kaius rolled his eyes at his brother''s jab, his attention more focused on Kenva¡¯s narrowed eyes of concern as they flicked between the remnant remains of the vault¡¯s guards and the hanging rents in the chain that covered his chest. He doubted the woman had much to draw on to contextualise his strength or abilities, so he could understand the unease of seeing him so covered in the marks of fraught battle. ¡°I¡¯m alright, already had a few skills that made me tough, and our little ¡®holiday¡¯,¡± Kaius tried to hold himself back from spitting the word. ¡°Has led to them being capped handedly.¡± The ranger frowned, clearly struggling to believe him. ¡°Just a few chest wounds, no big deal? Draining most of your health seems bloody reckless to me, especially considering we¡¯re currently in the middle of trying to break out of a prison.¡± She was completely correct, of course, even if not about the magnitude of his expenditure. Every drop of Health was a valuable resource that couldn¡¯t be squandered. Still, better him than someone else, and, all things considered, in his mind it should be plenty understandable that he¡¯d let his emotions get the best of him. ¡°Trust me, I''ll be fine. I¡¯m still well over three-quarters, I just...let the circumstances get the best of me for a moment.¡± he replied, the tense line of Kenva¡¯s frown laxening as she stared at him in surprise. ¡°Kenva, he could have been ritualistically disembowelled and he¡¯d still be in fighting shape in a minute or two¡ªI¡¯ve seen close enough to it myself.¡± Ianmus interjected with a grunt, his voice strained. Even now, Kaius watched him focusing intensely on the strange sigil of mana he held contained with his will alone. ¡°Now, please, holding this many spells in sequence is not exactly easy. I would much appreciate it if we could move on to the part where I actually cast?¡± Kaius nodded, seeing Kenva echo his motion a moment later¡ªthough he did catch her still looking at his chest with curiosity. Strange¡ªhe¡¯d sworn that his external wounds had long closed, even if the damage to his internals still had a little bit left to recover. Putting the matter out of mind, Kaius waved Ianmus over. ¡°I¡¯m not going to lie¡ªthis is going to be tough.¡± he said, getting a nod from the mage. ¡°If you miss the exact targets even slightly, we¡¯ll have zero chance of ever breaking in, so I hope you haven¡¯t been boasting about your aim.¡± Kaius shot the man a grin. Snorting at his jab, Ianmus straightened up to his full height¡ªlooming a full head taller than him. ¡°I don¡¯t recall boasting¡ªjust facts. Now show me what I''m hitting, even with my Glass Mind this channel feels like I''ve stuck my head in a wardrum.¡± Buoyed by his companion¡¯s confidence, Kaius moved through the different rune sequences he would have to destroy. He took his time with it¡ªany slight increase to the risk of their discovery was worth it if it improved their chances of getting access to some proper gear. With each target, Ianmus grew ever more focused, his pupils shrinking to needle points as he stared at each point to engrave them into his mind. ¡°You¡¯re going to owe me a beer if I pull this off Kaius.¡± Ianmus hissed. ¡°These shots are going to need more precision than is even expected of my professors. We¡¯re talking about hair''s breadth tolerances here.¡± Kaius¡¯s heart sank. He considered the backup option¡ªdisabling the worst of the locking and reinforcement wards¡ªbut weathering whatever offensive countermeasures the vault was imbued with and battering the damn thing down was something he sincerely hoped to avoid. That, and he was almost certain they would be hit with some sort of tracking curse. Even if he hadn¡¯t found one, he knew they were commonplace for these sorts of formations. ¡°So you can¡¯t do it? Ianmus¡¯s smile was wild¡ªalmost strained. ¡°I never said that, now, did I?¡± B3? Chapter 269: Grand Larcency, Finale B3? Chapter 269: Grand Larcency, Finale Kaius was utterly prepared for everything to go to shit. They¡¯d backed up a full third of the way down the hall¡ªas far as Ianmus was confident in still being able to make the shot¡ªto create some distance just in case. Porkchop had taken front and centre, his armour summoned, and his body braced to cover the much more fragile members of their party. Watching Ianmus channel, all Kaius could do was gnaw the inside of his cheek. His part was done, and now he had to sit and watch as their mage did his thing. He hated not being able to take part in the final execution of his plan, not when so much was riding on their ability to get access to some real gear. Gnawing at his lip, Kaius tasted iron as Ianmus focused on his target with an intensity that could have melted steel. At the very least, the man was treating his task with the weight it deserved. It did little to quell the roil in his stomach. He was sure that he identified the right bits to disable the inscription. That didn¡¯t mean he was a master of runework, not in the same way as the vault''s creator¡ªespecially not since he lost his enhanced ability with Vhaxanish. He could have just barely scratched the surface¡ªfallen into false leads that the runewright had laid for this exact purpose. Slowly, Ianmus raised his arm, gesturing towards the vault. Heart thumping in his chest, Kaius held himself back from listening to the anxieties that screamed at him to abort their attempt¡ªthat he¡¯d made some mistake in his evaluation of the formation. They were in too deep now. There was no backing out. Besides, he knew that it was unlikely the runewright had gone to such lengths¡ªsuch work would have been expensive. Maybe if this was the vault of a Dukedom bank, or the homebase of a powerhouse, they would have gone through the cost and effort. Not for this though. Even if this ¡®Old Yon¡¯ was clearly rich and resourceful, there was a certain level of renown you needed to even be able to procure a runewright of that skill in the first place. Mana pulsed deep within the circular sigil that Ianmus had formed above his hand, the wavering and hazy geometry crystallising into clean lines for the barest of moments as eight thin beams snapped into existence. Each one roared with the might of the sun¡ªand was only visible thanks to his mana sight, and felt in the substantial heat that warmed Kaius¡¯s face. Ianmus had used his higher energy light¡ªperhaps to assist in melting the stone. They varied in thickness. Some were as wide as a finger, while others looked closer to overly long needles. They sunk into wood, stone, and steel with pinpoint precision¡ªorange glowing in the dark as the materials charred and began to melt. A few seconds later, the beams guttered out and the eight dim glowing points began to cool as Kaius¡¯s blood rushed louder in his ears. ¡°Well? Did it work?¡± Porkchop asked, ears pricking up as he tilted his head at the door. ¡°Wait a moment...¡± Kaius replied, fists clenched tight. A subtle buzz filled the air a moment later as the lines of script that Ianmus had disrupted started to smoulder, and then burn. The whine heightened in pitch, light blooming as it spread across the entire formation like wildfire¡ªan arcane maelstrom that ate at the delicate network of runes from the inside out. Multicoloured motes drifted free from the glowing runes¡ªsimilar to the burnt waste that emanated from Kaius¡¯s own glyphs every time he cast a spell, but at a volume so dense it almost looked like arcane snow. Then, almost as soon as it started, the light winked out¡ªleaving a quiet door with the scorched remnants of runic magic burnt into its face. Kaius¡¯s breath caught in his throat. ¡°Wait.¡± he said, watching the door like a hawk, unsure if they¡¯d succeeded. Nothing happened. No magic glowed to his Truesight and, other than the rumble above and their own breaths, the hall was utterly silent. The door stood still and silent. Inert. As far as he could tell, they¡¯d done it. The vault was now just a mundane door, with a mundane¡ªif tough¡ªlock. ¡°Porkchop, break us through!¡± Kaius yelled as he jogged forward. ¡°With pleasure,¡± Porkchop replied with an eager chuff. Digging his claws into the stone floor below, Porkchop lurched into a full sprint. Right before he was about to hit the door, Kaius watched his brother drop his shoulder¡ªa pauldron backed by tonnes of muscle and stone ramming straight into the thick bar of alchemical steel that sat across the door''s centre. The vault all but exploded. Stone shattered as the momentum of Porkchop¡¯s charge ripped the bolt, bar and hinges straight out of their housings with a bang. A faint flash of light gleamed from what Kaius assumed was a remnant charge in the vault''s inscriptions as steel screamed and twisted around his brother''s bulk. Released from its bindings, the door shot inwards like a loosed bolt, a cacophonous crunch sounding as it smacked into a wall just a couple of strides later. Twisted and broken, the door still lay half in its arch. The vault proper was just as small as they¡¯d been told. Kaius arrived with the rest of the team close on his heels right as Porkchop was pushing himself to his feet, stone and shattered wood sliding free from his back. ¡°Ready to get some loot?¡± he grinned, feeling the chill of his brother¡¯s armour as he slapped him on his back. ¡°Why do you think I ran so fast?¡± Porkchop chortled as he hooked his claws into the broken door and yanked it into the hallway. ¡°Now hurry up! I¡¯d grab it all myself, but I don¡¯t have thumbs, or my ghosthand artefact¡± If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Fizzing with excitement, Kaius all but jumped towards the open door. ¡°Are they always like this?¡± he caught Kenva whispering from behind him. Ianmus sighed. ¡°You get used to it. They¡¯re serious when they need to be.¡± They joined him a moment later, and they peered into the newly opened space. It was a featureless box¡ªnow littered with dust and rubble¡ªthat had a single, large, nook on the left hand wall. Kept clear from the door¡¯s violent collision, its contents had been left untouched ¡°My bag! And our tent¡± Porkchop cried, looming on his hind legs as held onto the doorframe and craned his neck into the room. A familiar satchel lay alongside a tightly packed tent on the plinth of stone, covered in dust. Despite the obvious joy his brother felt at recovering some of his most prized belongings, Kaius paid them no mind. Instead he stood frozen, staring at four rings that lay on a purple silk cushion, their exteriors engraved with the inscrutable runes of the system. He knew what they likely were. He still struggled to believe it, even with the evidence staring him straight in the face. The tugging on his soul, the one that bound him directly to A Father¡¯s Gift? It pointed directly to one of the rings. If that wasn¡¯t enough, they all shimmered with the faintest purples and blacks of Dimension and Space attuned mana. Swallowing thickly, Kaius analysed it with Truesight Wayfarer¡¯s Spatial Ring: Heroic - Tier I The most prepared don¡¯t need to choose between packing light and travelling in style. A band of spatially attuned iron, alchemically treated before being forged into steel. Allows access to a small dimensional bubble, with a diameter of three long-strides, that may be used to store non-living and non-spatially-enchanted objects. Due to dimensional distortion, only the raw volume of stored objects affects capacity. Simple enchantments hide visible signs of the ring''s magical nature, but can be defeated by intense scrutiny or analysis. Artisan-wrought Artefact. Auxiliary Equipment (Dimensional Ring) Durability III, Dimensional Container II, Inert Disguise I, Self Repair I Kaius couldn¡¯t help but let out a soft gasp as he read the ring''s description. A Heroic item. One that held a greater volume than Porkchop¡¯s bag, in a far more concealable form. And there were four of them. The simple wealth they represented would be enough for the average commoner to support himself and a hundred of their friends for the rest of their lives. In luxury. Perhaps not an unimaginable sum to the high-tiered, or the truly wealthy, but to him? It was more money in one place than he¡¯d ever seen before in his life. Feeling his palms go slick, Kaius realised they needed to move, and move fast. For all he knew, that flash of mana he¡¯d seen when Porkchop had battered down the door had been an alarm triggering. Even the simple noise of their entrance could have people already on their way to investigate. He lurched forwards, snatching up the bag and tent before he turned and tossed them to Ianmus and Kenva. They caught them with ease¡ªfaces looking just as tense as he felt. Scooping up the rings from their bed, Kaius clenched them tight in his fist¡ªthe cold loops feeling heavier than they had any right to. ¡°Let¡¯s go¡ªback to one of those empty rooms we passed. Hopefully one of these will have some decent gear for us.¡± he said, getting nods in return as his team parted for him to take the lead. They took off at a run, pelting down the hall. As they moved, Kaius sent a thread of mana pulsing through the rings. It brought an impression of their contents¡ªan awareness and image in his mind''s eye, as if each item inside was laid out in neat rows in-front of him for his perusal. Even without a detailed accounting of each item and their statuses, what he saw nearly made him stumble. Rare alchemical reagents by the dozens¡ªmore than a few of which looked like tightly regulated ingredients that were used in the manufacturing of magical intoxicants. Considering that same ring also had what looked to be several stone weights of powder sealed in glass jars that smelt of a wasting death and pleasant dreams, he was almost certain he was correct. The illicit substances were just the beginning. An alchemist''s shop¡¯s worth of tonic and potions, a good chunk of which seemed to be poisons by the smell of them, an armoiries'' worth of gear¡ªincluding his sword and the rest of their equipment that they¡¯d had when they were captured, and a noble¡¯s estate of assorted old vintages, art, and jewellery made up the vast majority of their haul. But it wasn¡¯t all of it. While the tonics and enchanted artefacts were the most pertinent to their escape, they weren¡¯t what held his focus in a vice grip. That went to a small wooden trunk, unassuming and simple. Like the kind that one might store a few more fragile belongings on a long caravan trip. Or, more accurately, the gleaming platinum coins that had filled it to the bursting. What had to be thousands of them. Maybe more. Kaius couldn¡¯t help it, he cackled, long and loud¡ªdrawing curious looks from his team. ¡°What¡¯d you find?¡± Kenva asked, not slowing from her run. ¡°You mean what didn¡¯t I find¡ªwe¡¯re rich!¡± And that was just at a first look! The rings held enough that they wouldn¡¯t have anywhere near the time required to properly analyse and categorise the contents until they¡¯d escaped to safety. The simple weight of the value of their haul was still plain as day. This bloody ¡®Old Yon¡¯ was going to rue the day he ever learned of their existence. Plus, the simple size of the rings would aid them well in their escape¡ªthe only thing they were missing was mundane supplies and sundries, something they should still have in abundance in their Merchant¡¯s Saddlebags if their captors hadn¡¯t cleared it out. Even if they had, he was a good hunter, and he doubted that a Hiwiann ranger was a slouch when it came to securing her own food. Turning the corner at nearly a full sprint, Kaius nodded his head towards an open door five back¡ªa meeting room he remembered seeing a number of large tables inside of. ¡°That one!¡± They barrelled inside, Ianmus pausing to slam the door shut and lock it behind them. Kaius had already moved to the closest table, and shoved it forward with a groan of wood on stone as he barred the entrance. Large enough to seat twelve, Kaius hoped it would delay any pursuers if they were discovered. Racing back, Kaius skidded to a halt by one of the two remaining tables. Threading mana into the ring that held the collection of artefacts, he started to dump out equipment as fast as he could withdraw it. He didn¡¯t bother to sort through them in the ring¡ªwith both Ianmus and Kenva having analysis skills, it would be far faster to work together to pick out what they could use. At first, his team was tense¡ªworried about time. As gleaming cuirass after shining necklace after carved shield was laid out is a growing pile of power and wealth, they shifted to a silence driven by disbelief, jaws slackening in shock. ¡°That is a lot of loot,¡± Porkchop said suspiciously. ¡°Are we sure that we¡¯re not dead?¡± ¡°I said we were rich!¡± Kaius said, only half suppressing a giggle as he stared at the small mountain of artifacts piled high on the table. ¡°Now help me sort this!¡± he said, summoning his sword last as he buckled its scabbard back to his waist where it belonged with careful reverence. ¡°We need to get geared.¡± B3? Chapter 270: Ill Gotten Gains, pt. 1 B3? Chapter 270: Ill Gotten Gains, pt. 1 Sifting through the mound of artifacts they had stolen, Kaius rapidly picked out everything he recognised. With the clock ticking down, their full accompaniment of smaller rings and amulets would have to wait. It was a decision that would hit Porkchop the hardest, but luckily his brother was the least reliant on external items to function in their role. That, and Porkchop¡¯s doorsized greatshield had been bloody easy to find. Ianmus and Kenva were clustered around the same table as him¡ªpulling out items to sort out what they recognised, and what looked like it could likely be usable. Each had a growing pile behind them¡ªthough Kenva¡¯s was currently the smallest at a set of boots and leather reinforced pants. Without access to an analysis skill, or the ability to easily sort items, Porkchop had taken to keeping watch by the door¡ªhis AutonomousGreatshield pressed up tight across the frame to act as an oversized bar. Pulling a roundshield out of the pile, Kaius spotted a leather cuirass. With a grey dense grain, and thin metal plates reinforcing the chest and back, and chain covering everything else, it looked like a well made piece. One that he suspected to be fairly valuable, considering the dense whorls of inscriptions that had been embossed directly onto the leather itself. That, and he had yet to find an artifact in the collection that was lower than Rare, other than their own gear¡ªsomething he suspected was only because of the lack of visitors the compound had had since their arrival. ¡°Kenva, what sort of armour do you use?¡± he asked, nearly sending an arming sword clattering to the floor as he tugged the armour free. The ranger looked up from her end of the pile, still smiling from her most recent find¡ªa quiver. She sat it down in an empty section of the far end of the table. ¡°Light armour, why?¡± Kaius nodded, and took a moment to investigate the armour''s status¡ªlightly flexing his will to truncate it to just the information he needed. Swift Strider¡¯s Cuirass: Rare - Tier I Designed for those who need to be fleet of foot, this cuirass provides decent protection without hampering mobility, while its inscription quickens its bearer''s movements. Artisan-wrought Artefact Light Armour (Cuirass) Durability III, Hastened Steps II, Self Repair I, Resizing I While it wasn¡¯t the most phenomenal piece of gear he¡¯d ever seen, he could still see it would be useful for the ranger¡ªas their backline attacker, she was almost as reliant on her mobility as he was. ¡°Here, this should suit you well.¡± Kaius said, tossing it to Kenva. ¡°Did you have anything with you when you were captured that they might have stashed?¡± ¡°Just that,¡± Kenva said, tilting her head towards the quiver she had set aside as she held up the cuirass to inspect. ¡°And my bow¡ªeverything else I had were simple Common¡¯s. It is good I found the quiver, if the bow is still here it will be hard to use without it.¡± Kaius nodded, and got to digging¡ªhe remembered seeing a reasonably ornate longbow inside of the ring, so even if it wasn¡¯t her one specifically, she¡¯d still have a weapon. Tugging aside a heavy breastplate, he came across Ianmus¡¯s eon stone nestled softly in a wad of quilted and layered cotton. Snatching them both out, he tossed the stone to Ianmus before unfurling the cream coloured tunic¡ªa hint of excitement bubbling away at his suspicions of its purpose. It unraveled into a long coat¡ªsimple leather ties secured to its front to hold it closed. A gambeson, and one that had been stitched with a complex sequence of runes on its back. He tossed it to the other table, onto a growing pile of his own gear. He¡¯d check what its exact enchantments were later¡ªregardless of what they were, they were bound to be an upgrade from the traveling clothes his father had gifted him. ¡°Is it important to you? You looked pretty happy when you found the quiver.¡± Kaius asked. Pausing for a moment with her hands still wrapped around an axe¡¯s haft, Kenva eventually nodded. ¡°They were maturation gifts from my parents, the most they could give me for starting my journey on the Path of Wisdom. The quiver is alright¡ªit summons some decent arrows with a little mana that can last a few days, but the bow was special. They got yelled at for a week about it being inappropriate for a path-taker.¡± Kaius looked up, quizzical. While the Hiwiann were ubiquitous on Vaastivar¡ªtheir caravans went everywhere¡ªhe actually knew relatively little of their customs. Though, that wasn¡¯t all that surprising. His life hadn¡¯t exactly been the most cosmopolitan, and the only Hiwiann that he knew well was Ro, and that relationship was largely on a professional basis thanks to her station. He knew a few anecdotes thanks to Father¡ªlike the fact that anyone could join a clan if they were willing to take a bloodoath¡ªbut little else. ¡°You¡¯re taking the Path?¡± Ianmus asked curiously. ¡°I thought that it had fallen somewhat out of favour.¡± Kenva shrugged. ¡°My clan, Zhdan, is traditional. I do not mind it¡ªI see the wisdom in exploring without the burden of expectations, and without the boon of the resources and acclaim that comes with dynastic backing.¡± This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Kaius asked. ¡°I¡¯m not all that familiar with Hiwiann customs.¡± Kenva nodded, though she returned to digging through artefacts. ¡°It is an old tradition. The clans, though more open and flexible than most thanks to the Bloodstones, saw that the trappings of power were not a wholly positive thing for the youngest generation. Once we have gained our class¡ªand passed the most pivotal point for needing our clan''s assistance¡ªwe journey alone. On the Path, we cannot rely on our clan-name, and we cannot bring with us more than a single pouch of gold, and an appropriate weapon to defend ourselves.¡± That was interesting. It wasn¡¯t entirely unfamiliar to him considering his own upbringing¡ªand considering the picture his father had painted of most pampered scions, he could see how it would temper some of the worst entitlements. ¡°Ianmus mentioned it''s less common now?¡± Kaius prompted, wondering why that had happened. ¡°It''s not so much that it''s uncommon, more that it has morphed from its original purpose.¡± Kenva replied. ¡°You will not see many true Path takers out of the steppe now, so I understand Ianmus¡¯s misconception. Mostly, you see scions joining a trade route, company, or squad that is not attached to their family¡ªgaining experience. Some say it is the same, but when everyone still knows of your blood and pedigree, and you have access to credit secured by your clan-name, I find it hard to agree. Especially when they treat the Path as a finite year or two long thing.¡± ¡°Fascinating,¡± Ianmus said, wholly absorbed by the ranger''s words. ¡°So when does your Path end? I was under the assumption that it was just a year.¡± ¡°It has been that way for a while, but no, there is no set end. I will return to my clan when it calls to me¡ªsome never return. I have my doubts if I will¡ªnone of Zhdan¡¯s honoured ancestors did, and I intend to rest amongst their numbers.¡± Seeing the gleam of a familiar set of scale cuisses, Kaius set his armour aside before he passed a wand that had been lying underneath it to Ianmus. He glanced at Kenva, taking in the piercing solid blue of her eyes. Another wayward vagrant with lofty ambitions. Judging by her strength, and the honours she had gained, she had the potential to be a fantastic asset. That conversation could wait though¡ªshe¡¯d mentioned sharing more in-depth under oath. Returning to fereting through the gear, Kaius slowly retrieved the last of his stolen artefacts¡ªhe didn¡¯t find all that much that was helpful to him, though he wouldn¡¯t know for sure until they took the time to investigate the dozens of smaller rings and amulets that lounged in the pile. There had been a few swords of usable enough size, but he was reticent to abandon A Father¡¯s Gift so soon into retrieving it. He¡¯d make the switch if his blade¡¯s eventual upgrade seemed too far on the horizon, but it was still serviceable enough for now. Despite each of them having almost all they needed¡ªKenva had found a pair of mismatched shortswords to add to her stack¡ªthey had yet to find the bow he had seen earlier, so they kept looking. Apparently, he¡¯d managed to dump it right on the bottom of the stack. Across the table from him, Ianmus grunted as he pulled free the long-bow that he had seen inside the ring. It was, frankly, a beautiful piece. Gleaming dark wood, engraved with raised depictions of vines and grasses, with what looked like threads of polished silver worming their way through the limbs. Kaius analysed it reflexively. Farstrider Longbow: Heroic - Tier I History forgotten, replaced by a heritage of journey and wonder. Carved from rare Antwark heartwood that had been infected with silver-worm, this bow imparts incredible stability, power and distance to its shots. Carefully enchanted, each arrow violently fragments after penetrating a target¡ªworsening wounds and recovery. Depths-wrought Artefact. Weapon - Longbow Durability I, Self Repair I, Stable Flight V, Powershot III, Fragmenting Arrows III Kaius held back from whistling in appreciation as he read the item''s description. No wonder Kenva was so eager to get it back¡ªand no wonder having a quiver that could summon its own arrows was so vital. ¡°Is this your bow?¡± Ianmus asked, offering it to Kenva. Her face brightened, a wide smile spilling across it. ¡°It is!¡± she said, all but leaping over the table to grab it with reverent hands. ¡°It has been in my family for generations¡ªmy ancestor retrieved it from the depths on his own Path.¡± Kaius grinned at her, before he cleared his throat. ¡°Right! I think we should call it here¡ªI¡¯ll store the rest of this, and see if I can find us a few restoratives in the stash of tonics while you two get ready¡ªI want to be out of here in five more minutes at most.¡± His companions nodded, bursting into motion as they moved to change into their gear¡ªthankfully, the tough canvas clothes they had scavenged from the guards were thin enough to wear under armour, so Kaius didn¡¯t have to deal with Ianmus¡¯s sense of embarrassment. Threading mana into the storage ring on his finger, Kaius swept up the remaining artefacts. Air brushed over his face as it moved to fill the void left behind as the equipment vanished. Honestly, it was astonishing how little a dent they¡¯d made in the pile. Despite the sheer volume they¡¯d pulled out, they¡¯d only reduced the pile by a third. Even if most of the gear was no higher than Rare, it would easily be worth a sack of Platinum when sold¡ªsomething he intended to do with anything they couldn¡¯t use when they returned to Deadacre. Smiling at the thought of their newfound riches, Kaius grabbed Porkchop¡¯s underarmour from where he¡¯d left it on the table next to his own gear. Wandering over to his brother, he unceremoniously hurled it onto Porkchop¡¯s back before he started buckling straps with practiced haste. ¡°Find anything interesting?¡± Porkchop asked, slightly glum. Kaius grinned, scratching his brother¡¯s ribs as he cinched the waist belt of his leather armour tight. ¡°Nothing phenomenal¡ªmost of it is weapons and armour no better than what we already have. I¡¯m sure that¡¯ll change when we go through the accessories.¡± he replied. ¡°We better¡ªI miss my ghost hand. It was so useful! I get that we can''t exactly spend an hour picking through them though.¡± Buckling the last strap, Kaius stood up. ¡°Chin up, we¡¯ll get some time soon¡ªand there''ll be plenty of battle in the meantime to keep you occupied until then.¡± Leaving Porkchop to guard the door, Kaius quickly made his way to his own gear¡ªall the while trying to sort through the confusing mess of alchemical scents that emanated from the tonics stored in one of the rings. If he could find some restoratives, they¡¯d be in a much better position to deal with what lay ahead. B2 Chapter 271: Ill Gotten Gains, Finale B2 Chapter 271: Ill Gotten Gains, Finale Strapping his greaves onto his trusty leather boots, Kaius breathed a sigh of relief and comfort. Spending so long without his equipment had left him feeling vulnerable and naked. Now, draped in shining scale, with his sword back on his hip, he felt whole once more. Though, it was still a little strange to feel the dense layered fabric that covered him from neck to his mid thigh under his cuirass. His new gambeson had proven to be a much welcome addition. Made from innately magical cloth, it would help to significantly blunt any impacts to his chest¡ªone of the major weaknesses of his flexible scale armour. Tugging at its hem, he pulled up its description once more. Ithrian Standard Issue Gamberson: Rare - Tier I Our wealth is seen in our armies, and the equipment they field. Where they tread, light and prosperity follows. Made from layered and quilted canvas that has been woven from force attuned cotton, this gamberson is designed to sit under an outer layer of armour and blunt impacts. A variety of simple inscriptions ensure the comfort of its wearer. Depths-wrought Artefact. Padded Under-armour Durability I, Impact Negation II, Temperature Control I, Self Cleaning I, Self Repair I The fact it was also self cleaning, and would aid in regulating his temperature was an unneeded, but much welcome addition. While he was more than used to the sticky layer of viscera that came with all good battles, it didn¡¯t mean he enjoyed needing to hose himself off after every fight. Turning his attention back to his collection of spatial rings, Kaius dipped his awareness into the one holding the stash of tonics. Most of them were unknown to him, but after searching them by scent while he had gotten changed, he¡¯d managed to ferret out the distinctive reek of various restoratives. Not many, just a bare few for each resource, but enough to give them a sizable edge. He¡¯d already downed a healing one to top himself off, and passed a mana potion over to Ianmus for him to do the same. He took a moment to shuffle a few of each tonic into three other rings¡ªwhere they would be far easier to pick out than from a legion of similar looking bottles. Even if most spatial artifacts gave an awareness of what lay inside, it helped little when the contents were already unfamiliar. Whistling sharply, Kaius grabbed his team''s attention. He pulled off two rings¡ªone mostly filled with reagents, the other plain valuables¡ªand flicked the glistening bands towards Ianmus and Kenva. Catching the rings, Ianmus gave him a simple nod, while Kenva looked at him in surprise. ¡°Are you sure?¡± she asked. ¡°I did little to assist with opening the vault¡ªreturning my family''s gifts was more than enough.¡± Kaius nodded. ¡°I put some tonics inside it¡ªa ring will make them far easier to use in battle. If we end up going our separate ways after we fully escape, you can always return it.¡± ¡°Though, I will ask that you at least come with us to Deadacre. No doubt, a significant chunk of these valuables are stolen goods¡ªprobably from this very region. I¡¯d like to return them, if we can. I¡¯ll not give up the rings, or the platinum, but anything else I have no strong attachment to. We can do a proper accounting and split our earnings after¡ªI¡¯m not going to stiff someone who''s helping us escape out of their earned cut.¡± Kenva paused, before she slowly nodded and slipped the ring on her finger. ¡°An uncommon show of trust, and a rare display of honour, I will not forget this.¡± Kaius gave her a nod, before he took in his team in full. Their newest, and perhaps temporary, member stood draped in heavy leathers¡ªher vitals covered by fine metal plates that did little to hamper her mobility. Her clan¡¯s bow was in her hands, and two short blades were at her hips¡ªone almost ceremonially ornate, while the other had the militaristic austerity of plain steel. Mana flowed through her¡ªa bright trail that connected to the quiver on her back, quickly repopulating with needle-point bodkin arrows. Ianmus stood not far from her, cloaked in his cream coloured robes, staff in hand, with his still-charged eon stone drifting over his shoulder. Between his pale garb, alabaster skin, and platinum hair he looked every bit the high-minded mage untouched by mortal concerns. He even had a new wand at his hip¡ªthe one Kaius had passed to him¡ªsealing the look even further. The new wand was a nice addition. Ianmus had said he could use it to create decently sized force barriers¡ªa fantastic find, considering that more physical defenses were usually far outside of the wheelhouse of his Solar affinity. Finally, Porkchop stood waiting by the door¡ªrearing and ready to go as he needled the ground restlessly with his claws. His brother had retracted his shield from baring the door, the telekinetic slab hovering close to his spine. Watching them, Kaius saw his burning need to move echoed in the shifting of their feet, and their restless glances to the door. They¡¯d all spent far too much time here in the dark, and as much as plundering their captors'' wealth had been a much needed release of frustration it could only quell them so much. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. They were ready. The first stage of their escape was finished, and now they only needed to burn a path to freedom. He clenched his fist, feeling his gauntlet creak underneath the pressure as he stared at the cold stone beneath his feet. Retribution would come, but they had to escape first. ¡°We¡¯ve all suffered,¡± Kaius started, drawing his companions eyes. ¡°We all know that. We¡¯re all angry and vengeful, we know that too.¡± He looked up, seeing the fire in their eyes. ¡°There will be blood tonight, but we must control ourselves¡ªI know I didn¡¯t set the best example when I battered that guard¡¯s head in, and for that I apologise, but we can¡¯t afford to lose sight of what''s at stake. Freedom.¡± His team nodded. Kaius rose to his feet, moving to the door. ¡°From here we move fast, we hit hard, and we do not stop until we either find a Depths portal, or we make it back to Deadacre. There will be no more skulking, no more careful infiltration, we will run and kill anything that tries to get in our way.¡± he said, grunting as he shoved aside the table they had butted up against the door. ¡°Porkchop and I will take the lead, clearing the path forward. Kenva,¡± he turned back to the ranger. ¡°I need you to keep Ianmus safe first, and deal with priority threats second. Can you do that?¡± ¡°Of course¡ªI¡¯m no pampered sniper.¡± Kaius gave her a nod. ¡°Once we¡¯re in the courtyard, we break straight for the north-west. Keep an eye out for a delve; if we¡¯re lucky enough to find one it will make losing any pursuers far easier. Let''s go.¡± He swung the door open, running out into the hall at full tilt, his team close on his heels. As much as he had espoused their need for focus on their goals, he itched for someone to try to stop them. The time for scurrying around like a rat was over, now he wanted blood. .... They took the stairs two at a time, every step thundering on stone with the clanking of their armour as they flew up to the next level of the compound. Sound was no longer a concern. At this point confrontation was inevitable, though Kaius expected that the second floor would be just as dead as the first. The rumbling cries of bloodshed and war overhead had only intensified during their detour to regear¡ªno doubt the only remnants still underground were those too cowardly to join a pitched battle. Not exactly the sort to interfere with a full delving team of the geared and powerful. Porkchop was in the lead, his armour making him sound closer to a charging stone elemental than a creature of flesh and blood. He was the perfect vanguard for their advance. With his weight and skills that buffed his momentum, he was an unstoppable axehead that would split any barriers in their way. As they ran, Kaius plotted their route through the second floor. There was one main one that he had memorised that would take them directly to the final staircase. He expected it was a little circuitous, since his guards had acted surreptitious everytime they had taken him upstairs instead of directly to the interrogation room. Unfortunately, without ever having access to anything approaching a floor plan of the compound, he only knew of the passages he had directly seen. ¡°Once we reach the top, just keep going straight¡ªwe have eight turns to make, but I can tell you which ones.¡± Kaius called out to his brother ahead, who merely grunted and kept up with his breakneck ascent. Their path to the courtyard wasn¡¯t the only thing on his mind. Kaius couldn¡¯t get that small flash of mana he¡¯d seen when they had broken into the vault out of his head. For all he knew, it had been an alarm, and there might be a defensive force blocking their exit by the time they arrived. Thankfully, he had a pretty good idea of how to deal with that eventuality. ¡°Ianmus!¡± he called behind him. ¡°Yeah?!¡± the mage called back, panting slightly from the exertion of having to keep pace with more physical classers. Even with a movement focused general skill, it was a hard task for a man whose stats were largely mental. ¡°How much could you overcharge one of your Solar Rays without suffering from mana burn?¡± Ianmus paused for a moment. ¡°With my recent levels, and my eon stone? Enough!¡± Kaius grinned to himself. Perfect. ¡°And how long could you hold that ready, while still being able to run and pay attention to your surroundings?¡± Groaning in response to the question, Ianmus muttered something unintelligible under his breath. ¡°With my Glass Mind, probably fifteen minutes, why?¡± he replied a moment later. ¡°There¡¯s a chance we might have triggered an alarm. If we did, there¡¯s a good chance that they will send a sizable force to investigate¡ªthe dangers of getting pincered in the courtyard will be far too high for them to ignore, and that''s without the value of the rings. Dealing with a crowd in tight corridors like this will slow us down far too much.¡± Kaius explained, skidding to a stop on a small landing as he spun to ascend the next set of stairs. Whoever had built this place had buried it deep. ¡°You want me to burn our way through?¡± Ianmus replied, huffing slightly. ¡°Yeah!¡± In the tight confines of the compound''s corridors, Ianmus¡¯s beams would be devastatingly effective thanks to their incredible range and penetrative power. Any formation of comparatively low level guards might just be wiped out entirely. Speed was of the essence, and they couldn¡¯t get bogged down in the hall. Fighting that many guards head on would burn far too many resources, and he doubted they would be able to avoid a defensive line if they set up around the stairs. ¡°I¡¯ll use invisible-light then, the extra damage will be worth it, especially since my HyperchargedSpell is technically more efficient on a per-mana basis now.¡± Feeling the warmth of solar mana start to surge behind him, Kaius looked back to see Ianmus¡¯s brow furrowed in concentration¡ªanother one of his strange sigilistic discs emerging atop his staff from the murk of the raw gaseous mana the mage was releasing from his pool. In his focus, he slowed slightly¡ªbut was still more than fast enough to suit Kaius¡¯s needs. Kenva stepped in close to Ianmus, her bow held undrawn in hand with an arrow nocked. She gave Kaius a nod. ¡°I¡¯ll keep the lanky one breathing.¡± Acknowledging her with a nod of his own, Kaius returned to his ascent. As another shudder rocked the compound, he rested a comforting grip on the hilt of his blade. Whatever was going on up there had to be truly cataclysmic in proportions.