I couldn't help but be amazed at myself. The average person had between 1 and 3 capped skills by the time they die and I had a whopping 10! The final tier of a skill is difficult to complete and often takes years. Add to that the necessary stresses and functions of life and most simply don't have the time to take a skill all the way to level 100 more than a handful of times. If I manage to survive I could be a real power in the world.

  After I gauged enough time had passed for the Arnshole to go be about whatever it is he does when not torturing me I stood up and started pacing, psyching myself up. I slapped myself on the cheeks a couple of times and squared up with the door, my back touching the far wall. I could see the door well enough from the faint light coming from underneath the it and used that to keep me on course I burst into motion toward the door. I slammed into it with a colossal crash. The impact was astounding and rang the door like a giant bell. It didn't open but I felt it give a little. I repeated the slam twice more before the wall holding the door moored in place gave and it went flying into the wall on the opposite side of my cell in the hallway.

  I stepped into the same bare hallway lined with cells I remembered from a little over a week ago now and could hear footsteps coming down the stairs. I couldn't give anyone time to get set as I still had no weapon so I ran at the steps. I met two guards at the base of the stairs

  "Oi! Who the hells are you?!" That was Ranas's voice. He had a puffy red face with burst blood vessels that told of a life of hard drinking. He had a flanged mace in hand and with him was a younger guard holding a short sword and both were dressed in leather armor.

  I sped up my run and kicked Ranas in the chest, sending him into the other guard. They went sprawling backwards into the steps and I picked up Ranas's dropped mace. I didnt slow as I stomped on Ranas's head and felt a satisfying crunch then swung the mace down to break the other guard's skull and kept going up. My new strength was astounding as I bound up three steps at a time and came to the next level of the dungeons to see three more guards.

  They stopped and stared for a fraction of a second as I came into view. That cost them their lives. I swung the mace down at the guard in the center who tried to block with his own. I was far stronger and bashed his own mace into his face and shoulder and felt his shoulder break. He went down screaming as the other two swung they mace and short swords at me respectively. I blocked the sword with the haft of my mace and the mace caught me on my left upper arm. It felt like a light punch, like the kind you give a buddy when you're just goofing around.

  I grabbed the mace with my free hand and pulled. The guard kept his grip but was flung into me so I reversed the motion and sent my fist still gripping his weapon into his nose and felt it break. He fell limp and the other guard went at my belly with a thrust of his sword. I bent forward and pulled my middle away from the thrust and sent a thrust of my own into his face with the head of my mace. Again I felt bone crunch and he went down. The first guard I hit was back on his feet and running weakly away, probably for reinforcements when I caught up to him and caved in his skull. I made sure the other two were dead with a bash before moving on. I'd never like the thought of an enemy at my back.

  I ran toward the stairs leading up to the exterior dungeon entrance and was halfway up when I heard guards rushing toward me from the guard station. I'd need to get out or I'd be trapped and eventually worn down with numbers. I just made the top of the steps when the door opened and standing there was the most beautiful sight in the world.

  "Carmen?"

  "Cid?"

  We spoke at the same time, both shocked to see the other here.

  "What happened to y...nevermind. We have to get to the carriage." She grabbed my hand and tried to pull me along and I let her.

  The daylight stung my eyes as we ran across a small courtyard and past some stables, behind us I could hear guards come pouring out of the dungeon shouting. We rounded the back of the stables to see a coach sitting there, Carmen's lady in waiting in the coachmen's seat ready to go.

  "Get in!" The lady shouted and we dove into the open carriage.

  We were off! We could see the guards run back to get on horses and give chase when Arns jumped out of a second story window overlooking the dungeon. He began running and it was clear he'd be able to catch up to the carriage on foot! We pulled back from the window as I said "Stay here."

  Arns was fast enough to catch horses on foot. He was strong enough to rip the carriage apart with his bare hands. And he was coming to kill me here and now. None of this is what pissed me off. He was also coming after Carmen, if not to kill her then to capture her again. This time I'd been the one who broke him.

  I opened the door and went halfway out, putting one foot down onto the step. "Come and get me coward!" I gave him a look that spoke of nothing but violence. He got to within a couple of meters and jumped. I met him midair and we tumbled across the ground.

  We came to a stop grappling with him on top and to my horror he was still stronger than me, just not by nearly as much. He must've seen the shock on my face because he grinned. "It doesn't matter what trick you pulled little rat, I'm still the strongest." He headbutted me and put his hands around my throat. His grip was crushing and I had no hope of getting free. But I could still cheat.

  Mimic activated. Choos...

  I selected Warrior's Might and upped it by a single level. Instantly my strength swelled to three times it's previous level. I figured he had that one capped as strong as he was. Now when I went to pull his hands away from my neck it was like fighting against the strength of a child.

  "WHAT?!" The look of utter shock on his face was beautiful before I bucked my hips and rotated. I pinned him under me and now I was choking HIM. He couldnt get enough air to speak, but that was okay. I communicated with my hands. I squeezed with all the strength and fury I had, using thoughts of the torture and the abuse he'd have performed on Carmen to fuel me. I squeezed in one big burst and suddenly my hands met. I'd decapitated him by crushing his neck like a piece of rotten fruit. His head rolled surged away in a fountain of blood.

  "Cid!" Carmen screamed.

  I looked up and saw the guards coming so I ran back over to the carriage.

  "Did you just kill Arns in a contest of brute strength?"

  "I did. I'll share the details with you when we're safe but first we have to get away. How did you know I was breaking out?"

  "I didn't. I was coming to break you out and flee. My family is evil Cid . They've been preying on their own subjects for generations like vampires, snuffing out lives to take the skills they want. Plus I knew they were torturing you but tonight was as soon as I could arrange a breakout." She was panting and looked heartbroken.

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  "It's okay. I'm fine and I'll protect you. We'll make this right." I hugged her close as the carriage sped away. We stayed like this for a minute, just enjoying each other's presence until I heard a loud crash.

  "What was that?" I went to look out the window and saw flaming barrels rolling across the street behind us.

  "I figured we'd be chased after your 'rescue' and planned accordingly to ensure escape." She gave me a devilish little grin.

  "Oh you're absolutely perfect. Beautiful and brilliant. I'm a very lucky man."

  "And wise to recognize it. Now I'd planned on us escaping to a small village a few hours west and hiding, but there's no hiding you. You're gigantic. How did that happen?"

  "Let me tell you the full story and you'll see. So you know I have Advancement right? Well your brother also inadvertently gave me Mimic when his little contraption sucked it out of that guy and killed him. Once I capped Advancement and Mimic something interesting happened. I picked the perks that triple the strength of the skill Mimic targets. The effect seems to be permanent instead of temporary since I keep the skill indefinitely. Also the numeric effects of other skills like Warrior's Might triple it again once capped with the right perks so my stats are insane. And I can gain any skill a person has once I touch them. Only one at a time but all I have to do is touch them again to get more skills from the same person. That's why I needed you to stall and give me time. I needed to cap Advancement first for all this to work."

  "Balance preserve us. You're a monster." She looked at me shocked.

  "I'm sorry. I know this is a lot and changes things but..."

  "No I meant in power you're simply a monster. You're still the man I love. You're my monster." She kissed me on the cheek and I instantly felt better about life and everything in it. "So what's the plan sice I can't hide?"

  "The only place to hide will be in the woods. We'll have to sell the carriage but we can keep the horses. I took an older one without the royal emblem on it so we should be able to sell it without issue. It was being used by one of our trade representatives. After that we'll have to get you some clothes that fit made." She blushed a bit and I remembered that I was practically naked.

  I went on to tell her about my capture and my time in the dungeon, leaving out the more gruesome bits. I told her about being left alone for a week and slowly taking Ranas's skills and she explained the break.

  "My brother had to go on a diplomatic trip to Mondraste. It had been planned for quite a while. That's why you were left alone for a time. Ferdin took Arns with him as always. I still can't believe Arns is dead. He was a terror to all the serving girls in the castle and made my brother far too arrogant. He thought that with a Paragon around that he was untouchable. I'm glad he's gone."

  "He was a monster in the flesh, that's for sure." I shook my head.

  "His tale is a tragedy. His awakening day came as his village was attacked by a roaming horde of undead. Zombies with a few ghouls mixed in directing them. It was more than his village could withstand so he ran to the temple and prayed for a miracle before touching the skill stone. His prayers were answered and he got the heroic skill Paragon, meant to grant a mortal immense power in order to become a hero. Arns was a skinny little farm boy before that. He came out of the temple and fought like a true champion, slaying undead by the dozen. He fought for nearly a day before the last of them fell."

  "He returned to his home to find his mother and three sister dead. His father had long since passed so he was alone in the world. Most of the village was dead but his efforts led to twenty three souls surviving. He didnt care though. He became bitter and cruel, turning to mercenary work to sate his bloodlust before my brother found and hired him. He could have been a hero but turned into a sadistic monster instead." She shook her head sadly.

  "What a shame. Sounds more like I put him out of everyone else's misery."

  "I suppose you did."

  I didn't like the melancholy feeling seeping into the carriage so I changed the subject.

  "Once we secure me some clothes I would very much like to sneak into a village and wed you in a temple before all the gods. Carmen, will you marry me?"

  She froze for a moment before screaming in joy and hugging me around the neck.

  "Yes! Yes yes yes I'd love to marry you!"

  The carriage came to an abrupt stop and the door flew open. "Princess, are you alright?" The lady in waiting asked.

  "Cid asked me to marry him and I said yes!" She was vibrating with excitement now.

  "Isn't that a bit... premature?" She cast a sidelong glance my way.

  "Oh don't be like that Caera. You know how I feel about him." She was hugging my arm like it was the only thing holding her to the ground.

  "Nevermind that for now, we should plan. We can't go into a village with him looking like a naked giant so we'll have to make camp in the woods. We're at the eastern edge of the Abfelia woods now. They're relatively safe and we should be okay for the night. Tomorrow I can take the carriage to sell it and the extra horse and we can get riding tack for the horses. We'll plan further from there if you approve."

  "That sounds like a good plan. Cid I'd like you to officially meet Caera, Caera this is Cid, my fiancé." She squealed again.

  Sigh. "Congratulations to you both. I'm going to get us moving again." She disappeared and the carriage began rolling forward.

  We traveled for a few hours while Carmen and I talked about everything. Among the first things I asked her where if my friends and family were okay. There was no real love for my parents but I didn't want them dead. Prince Ferdin had had my parents, Gais, and Liv questioned rather harshly but they were all more or less alright. Aurelia was questioned much more politely. Zafas had asked several uncomfortable questions but they ultimately figured out he was fishing and left him alone.

  We cut off into a clearing surrounded by dense bushes and stopped. We got out and looked around.

  "This will have to do for tonight. Tomorrow I'll leave you two here and go sell the carriage and spare horse. We have a tent and sleeping bags as well as other supplies but there'll be no fire tonight." Caera went to the rear of the carriage and began withdrawing everything we needed. Everything was set up with military precision. Caera was very efficient.

  "I'll take first watch, Cid you take second. Princess you can sleep." She handed us some light fluffy bread and a nice rich cheese along with some water skins as she said this.

  "I can actually take the whole night. I don't need very much sleep and have been doing nothing but sleeping for over a week. Well, besides the torture but I'm fine now. I can sleep tomorrow while you're gone. Carmen will be up and fully rested then." There was no need to keep her up half the night when a nap tomorrow would do me just fine.

  "Alright. Eat then sleep. We'll need to be up at first light and get this done as soon as possible." She started eating while scanning the surroundings.

  "Cid, are you sure you don't need more rest than that?" Carmen sounded concerned.

  "I'm sure. I have perks that make med need half as much sleep and I really have been doing nothing but lately. Mostly."

  "If you're sure. I'm going to eat and try to sleep. This has been an exhausting day."

  "Alright. Sleep well my love." I gave her a kiss.

  Once they'd settled in to sleep I pulled up the Warrior's Might I'd taken earlier. Arns had capped it with the Boost tree as I'd expected but I had other perks to claim so I opened the options.

  Power Strike: Increase damage done with weapons by 25%.

  Rock Solid: Makes you harder to move and decreases physical damage taken by 10%.

  Both looked valuable but I did some math. If Mimic tripled the percentages then could I gain complete immunity to physical damage? Let's find out.

  Rock Solid: Makes you harder to move and decreases physical damage taken by 30%.

  Yep.

  Rock Solid: Makes you harder to move and decreases physical damage taken by 60%.

  Rock Solid: Makes you harder to move and decreases physical damage taken by 90%.

  Rock Solid: Makes you harder to move and decreases physical damage taken by 99%.

  So close! Looks like it capped at 99% damage reduction, not that I'm complaining. That left me with one perk free.

  Power Strike: Increase damage done with weapons by 75%.

  The tripling effect didn't actually show up until I selected and confirmed my choice. Weird, but then again none of this was supposed to be possible so I wasn't complaining. After confirming my choices I had 10 more stats to spend. Until I found someone with Lightning Speed for my Dex I was gonna be out of balance. Big and slow. I still planned on keeping them even though so I spent accordingly. In the end my stats looked like this.

  Str: 372

  Dex: 110

  Con: 333

  Wis: 58

  Int: 59

  Cha: 60

  I stood guard feeling sorry for anything that approached.