We’ve returned to Limbo twice to sell off the excess creature meat. Each time, I wait outside with Drazuul while Vorondil handles the business. The dragon has shared a few battle stories in that time. As he tells it, he was once a force of absolute terror on the battlefield.
But Vorondil? I haven’t learned much about him yet. He’s kind, reserved. It would be nice to actually speak with him—to understand him.
I wonder if there’s a way to learn his language.
Beep.
A wide grin spreads across my face.
I’ve grown to like the sparring sessions, and I think Vorondil enjoys them too. He smiles the most when he’s showing me new stances and maneuvers.
I pull up the silver screen to check my quest progress.
GROW YOUR STRENGTH:
OBJECTIVES:
INCREASE ALL SKILLS TO LEVEL 10 [5/6]
REACH LEVEL 10 [1/1]
REWARDS: BLESSING
Just one skill away.
I can barely contain my excitement—I need to know what this blessing is.
And as a bonus, I’ve been holding back on claiming the passive skill I unlocked at Level 10.
Every time I unlocked a new skill, the quest requirements increased, so I didn’t want to make it take even longer.
I flick my hand, pulling up my class menu.
CLASS: ERROR [49,095/79,401]
TIER [1]
LEVEL [10]
AVAILABLE STAT POINTS [0]
AVAILABLE ACTIVE SKILLS [0]
AVAILABLE PASSIVE SKILLS [1]
MAX HP [50]
MAX STAMINA [200]
STAMINA REGENERATION [0.1]
MAX MANA [6,000]
MANA REGENERATION [5]
STRENGTH [10]
AGILITY [9]
ENDURANCE [23]
INTELLIGENCE [36]
WILLPOWER [35]
PERCEPTION [12]
LUCK [1]
ACTIVE SKILLS [3/10]
TIER 1
MANA GEYSER [23/100]
CAUSES A MAGICAL EXPLOSION USING PURE MANA.
DAMAGE: 1 per MANA USED × SKILL LEVEL [23-138,000]
RANGE: 1ft × SKILL LEVEL [23ft]
COST: 100% CURRENT MANA
MANA BOLT [10/100]
FIRE A CONDENSED ORB OF MANA FROM THE PALM OF YOUR HAND.
EFFECT: DEAL 64 DAMAGE [(5 × SKILL LEVEL)+(20% INT AND WIL)]
RANGE: 40ft [20+2 PER LEVEL]
COST: 50 MANA
MANA SENSE [24/100]
ALLOWS THE USER TO SENSE ALL SOURCES OF MANA WITHIN RANGE.
EFFECT: SENSE MANA UP TO 240FT [10×SKILL LEVEL] AWAY.
COST: UP TO 24 [1×10ft] MANA PER SECOND.
PASSIVE SKILLS [2/10]
TIER 1
MANA VAULT [12/100]: MULTIPLIES MAX MANA BY 1 × SKILL LEVEL. [500×12]
MANA CONVERSION [17/100] WHEN MANA POOL IS FULL COVERTS 17% MANA REGENERATION INTO HP.
GENERAL SKILLS [1]
TIER 1
MACE PROFICIENCY [9/100]
GAIN BONUS DAMAGE WHEN YOU ATTACK WITH A MACE. [45%] AMBIENT MANA GUIDES YOUR MOVEMENTS WHEN USING A MACE. [9% EFFICIENCY]
My stats have increased significantly, even though I’ve only put eight more points into Intelligence and Willpower.
And my skills? They’re finally getting strong—really strong.
I can’t even begin to imagine what would happen if I activated Mana Surge at full power.
…No, actually, I can.
An image of a smoking crater flashes through my mind.
I chuckle to myself.
Sweeping myself to my feet, I dust the straw off my cloak.
It’s a deep black fabric, patched in places with red squares, stitched with care but little precision.
I pull on my chain shirt and lace up my new leather boots.
Time to train.
I leave my crumbling house and make my way to Vorondil’s.
Normally, Drazuul would be lounging somewhere in the clearing between our buildings, but I don’t see him.
Must already be out hunting.
I knock lightly against the empty doorframe before stepping inside.
Vorondil sits in his worn chair, carefully carving something into a small piece of wood.
The moment he notices me, he turns and nods.
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Without a word, he sets the carving face down, stands, and fastens his sword to his hip.
As he steps past me, he pats my shoulder lightly. A silent acknowledgment.
I follow him outside into the clearing and draw my mace.
Vorondil keeps walking.
He doesn’t turn.
He simply draws his sword.
He’s giving me the first strike.
I shift my stance carefully, aligning my footwork with what he’s taught me.
Every step, measured. Every movement, deliberate.
His hair floats in the still air.
For a moment, I wonder why it does that.
Then I push the thought aside.
I need to focus.
I only get one free strike.
I hesitate for just a moment—then lunge.
My mace swings wide toward his side.
Vorondil takes a single step forward.
Just one.
My strike whiffs through the empty air.
Before I can react, his sword flashes upward—
A sharp slice across my bicep.
Pain flashes through my arm. My hand loosens instinctively, and I nearly drop my weapon.
No.
I force my grip to tighten and wrench my mace’s momentum into another strike.
Fast. Wild. Desperate.
Vorondil drifts past it effortlessly.
A flicker of steel—his blade taps my shoulder.
Not deep, but sharp enough that I feel the wound open beneath my chain mail.
I grimace.
I swing again—
And his boot slams into my chest.
The air rushes from my lungs. My mace flies wide.
I stumble back.
But Vorondil doesn’t let me recover.
His blade carves across my leg, arm, and side in a seamless combo.
I jump back, panting.
He doesn’t follow.
Just stands, sword in hand, watching.
I tighten my stance.
I can already feel my wounds closing.
Since I haven’t used mana, my Mana Conversion is already kicking in.
The cuts sting, but the pain is fading.
I lower my mace, feinting.
Vorondil moves.
The moment he lashes out, I jerk my wrist up.
Steel clashes.
My mace meets his sword, and for the first time—he doesn’t dodge.
The impact rings through the air.
I grin.
Then—
He’s already past me.
I don’t even see him move.
A sharp kick to my knee—
I drop.
My leg folds beneath me, the ground slamming up into my side.
I reach for my mace—
A blade presses against my neck.
Silence.
Then, soft laughter.
Vorondil’s.
I laugh as well, breathless, as Vorondil reaches out a hand.
I take it.
He pulls me to my feet with ease. His smile is warm, and joy flickers in his emerald eyes.
For a moment, I forget my aching limbs.
Then—heavy footsteps shake the ground.
We turn.
Drazuul emerges from the fog, his massive jaws clenched around a writhing creature.
It’s bigger than anything he’s brought before.
Vorondil tenses, a hand drifting to his sword.
Drazuul shakes his head violently, sending blood spraying across the dirt. Then, he drops the beast.
"I pulled this one from the dungeon," he rumbles, his chest swelling with pride.
"It should push you much higher."
---
The creature stirs.
It struggles upright on six legs, its movements sluggish but deliberate.
Its front four legs frame a broad, low-set torso, covered in smooth chitinous armor.
Deep gashes mar its body. Blood seeps steadily from ragged holes.
It limps away from Drazuul, sweeping its faceless head from side to side.
I can’t tell if it sees me.
Then—
It locks onto me.
And lowers its stance.
I grip my mace tightly.
---
"It would be best to keep your distance," Drazuul says, almost bored.
"One hit from the hound would probably kill you."
I nod stiffly, not taking my eyes off the beast.
It growls, a low, wet sound.
The plates on its face shift.
Teeth.
Far too many sharp, serrated teeth.
And then—
A blur of motion.
A barbed tongue lashes out faster than I can react—slashing across my leg.
Pain flares.
The tongue coils around my calf and yanks me forward.
I stumble.
My arms move on instinct.
I swing my mace downward.
It bounces off uselessly.
Damn it.
I change tactics.
Mana floods my hands.
I fire a Mana Bolt straight at its head.
The blast cracks against its armor, and the tongue recoils.
I gasp in pain as I tear free, flesh ripping from my leg.
I'll have to wait for my mana to fill before I can heal.
I won’t give it another chance.
I drop my mace.
I fire again.
The hound leaps aside, barely dodging—but lands heavily on its side.
Perfect.
I fire another Mana Bolt, aiming for its exposed flank.
The Mana Bolt slams into its side with another crack.
But I don’t stop.
I fire again.
Then another.
And another.
The hound staggers, struggling to stand. Its limbs tremble.
But it growls with with fury.
It whips its head toward me.
The remains of its tongue flicker out—straight for my face.
I don’t have time to dodge.
I have to strike first.
But I’m too slow.
Mana crackles at my fingertips, but the Bolt won’t make it in time.
I grit my teeth—bracing for impact.
Then—
A flash of silver.
A blade slices through the tongue effortlessly, sending it whipping to the side.
Vorondil steps back, sheathes his sword, and nods.
I exhale sharply.
Then nod back in thanks.
He gestures toward the hound.
It’s still alive.
Its mangled tongue lolls from its mouth.
Its armor plates are scorched and fractured.
It shudders, struggling to rise.
I won’t allow it.
I fire again.
And again.
I don’t stop until the growls fall silent.
Drazuul rumbles with a chuckle. "About time. I was starting to fall asleep."
I smirk, my breath still ragged.
"What was that thing?" I ask, bending down to grab my mace.
Then—
The world lurches.
I stumble.
And face-plant into the dirt.
Drazuul roars with laughter.
I roll onto my back, dizzy but grinning.
Vorondil kneels beside me, concern flickering in his emerald eyes.
"The experience flooding into you will take a few moments to stabilize," Drazuul says, still trying to stifle his laughter.
Vorondil stands.
He turns toward Drazuul.
And then—
I hear an audible gulp from the dragon.
Beep.
The silver screen flickers into view.
I smile.
Then pull up my quest reward.
QUEST COMPLETE YOU'VE BEEN AWARDED A BLESSING.
BLESSING OF THE FINAL BREATH: CONDITIONS NOT MET. BLESSING INACTIVE.
My smile falters.
Then slips completely.
"What? Why is it inactive?" I mutter, scanning the words again. "Final Breath? Do I… need to die to activate it?"
I frown at the screen.
Then shrug.
If it won't tell me, I'll just have to wait.
I glance toward Vorondil and Drazuul.
The dragon's head is lowered.
Vorondil is standing over him, arms crossed, speaking in low, clipped tones.
Even though I can't understand the language, it's clear—
He's really tearing him a new one.
I laugh quietly and pull up the silver screen again.
AVAILABLE PASSIVE SKILLS:
MANA REINFORCEMENT: Reduces physical damage taken by 1% per skill level.
MANA DEFLECTION: Reduces magical damage taken by 1% per skill level.
MANA ECHO: 1% chance per skill level to reactivate a mana-based skill at 50% efficiency.
I scan the choices, my smile returning.
Mana Echo is tempting—but I disregard it.
I need something defensive.
Physical or magical defense…
I haven’t been hit with magic yet, so my hand drifts toward Mana Reinforcement.
Then—
I hesitate.
"If I take Mana Deflection… would it work on my own skills, too?"
I tap Mana Deflection immediately.
A cool trickle pours through my body, and I exhale.
Then I stand and stretch.
Time to join the others.
I stride toward Vorondil and Drazuul.