The Runic Artist

Kiri moved across the dirt like a ghost, or more aptly, a shade. The Orc she faced off against continued to wade forward like an indomitable tide, taking everything she had in stride as cuts appeared and vanished in a dance of black blood, flashing daggers and red energy. Every swing of its club created new dents in the dirt of the arena floor. So far all she was doing was matching the creature. The Orc was burning its mana to heal the wounds she left while she was forced to burn through her soul energy as she kept One Soul, One Body active. Without it, she was likely to give in to the tiredness taking root in her bones. Sooner or later, one of them was going to give in. She was betting on sooner, and not in her own favour.

So far she had avoided using Soul Shift too much. It just wasn’t worth the cost. It guaranteed she’d score a strike or two. She’d even managed to slit the Orc’s throat once in her three uses of the skill. But the bastard had just regenerated through it and kept coming. The soul energy cost was too high unless it could guarantee a serious wound, or better yet, a death blow.

Growling in frustration, she continued to flash in and out of melee range. While doing so, she kept Soul Drain active. It cost her basically nothing. She thought maybe there was a very slight tug on her mana to keep it active but it honestly felt like it was less than her Mana Absorption. It had the added bonus of managing to snatch wisps of soul energy before the Berserker could heal his wounds. If the fight was going to drag on for a while it might have made a difference but as it was, it was just helping in a small way to offset the cost of having her One Soul, One Body permanently active.

She thought through her troubles for a moment and tried to solve them but gave up. She wasn’t like Nate. She didn’t think her way out of the problems she got herself into. She relied on training and instinct. Training! What had Frick made her do to evolve her dagger skill? He’d made her use it in a way that hadn’t been intended. He’d taught her to apply an affinity to a skill that wasn’t meant to utilise one. One Soul, One Body was restoring her body to its optimal state constantly at the expense of soul energy and mana. But if the two could be linked in such a way, why couldn’t she use it to make herself better than optimal. A boosting skill.

The plan wasn’t without its risks. Using the skill was already burning through her soul energy and flooding more of it into the skill would definitely increase the burn rate. Potentially dramatically. That and she wasn’t even certain it would work so she might be wasting the soul energy for nothing. But she had to break the stalemate. She had to take the chance, however small.

Focusing on One Soul, One Body she started feeding more soul energy into it through her Class Core as she continued to fight. At first nothing happened but she held on, continuing to syphon away her own soul to try and enhance herself. Finally, after three more exchanges, one of which almost resulted in her losing her head to a bisecting swing of the Orc’s club, she got a response from the skill.

A pale white energy started shining through her skin, beginning at her chest it flowed outwards until she was covered by the faint glow. She could feel it now, flowing through every part of her being. She could also feel the drain. She could only keep this up for thirty seconds, at best. Thirty seconds to take her future in her hands, or die trying. She moved forward and felt the dirt under her foot give under the force. Those were thoughts for later. In this moment there was only one thing left to think of and that was the evisceration of the Orc that stood in the way of her dream. He was standing in her Path.

She flashed forward over the dirt, covering the three steps needed to reach the Orc in an instant. The wide eyed look of fear in the creature's eyes was only visible for a moment. Its entire body glowed red in response as it activated whatever boosting skill it had held in reserve. The swings of the club came fast and wild but they might as well have been moving at the pace of a snail as far as she was concerned. Whatever its boosting skill was, it clearly paled in comparison to her own. No surprises there. She knew what she was doing.

They’d have called her a Body Burner if they could see her now but she was beyond that. She was a Soul Burner and let this beast see how brightly she burned. Her blades flashed constantly as she slowly carved her way into the Orc’s chest, her hands outpacing its healing as it backpedalled trying to get away from her. Not a chance. She followed it, stuck to it like a tic as black blood flew and she started carving away at its insides. She’d find out if it could live without a heart or die trying.

The Orcs hand came down, questing for her, trying to get her away from him but it was too late now. Its movements became more and more desperate until it tossed away its club, trying to wrestle her into stopping. It was still stronger than her but that meant nothing when she could slash at its wrists, cutting flesh and tendons until it couldn’t close its hands, couldn’t grab a hold of her. All the while she continued to carve deeper into its chest until finally she had it in her sight. The resounding throb of its powerful heart beating before her, between bone and sinew. Stabbing deep, she slammed her Dagger of the Torn Soul into it and let Soul Drain go to work.

The Orc roared in her face but the red energy covering it was flickering as it struggled to repair the damage she had done. Slowly it sank to its knees as she watched, her own tiredness starting to wash over her as she finally released One Body, One Soul. She felt tired, oh so tired. Soul Drain, all that was keeping her going as she’d drained herself nearly to death to accomplish the task. As she watched the Orc dying, the final flickers of the berserking energy vanished as it continued to bleed out; she smiled in triumph, broken a moment later as its hands, now healed, wrapped around her legs.

With one last grunt of effort, it clenched and she felt the bones in both her calves shatter under the force. She clamped her teeth down to prevent herself from screaming from the pain even as she collapsed onto the dirt alongside the Orc, as death finally claimed the creature. Soul Drain extracted the Orc’s soul energy but even as she funnelled it to One Body, One Soul, she knew it wasn’t going to be enough to heal her injuries and leave enough for her to survive.

She needed to find cover. One of the first things her Father had taught her about the beasts of the forest was that dying loudly just drew more predators. She hoped it wouldn’t be the case here but she couldn’t take the chance that the other goblin riders would find her wounded like this. Thankfully the little arena had what looked like drains. Maybe it actually rained in this Dungeon? Who knew? Either way it was perfect for what she needed and after storing her daggers, she dragged herself across the dirt floor and squeezed into one of the drains around the edge of the arena. It flowed down into the darkness below but there was enough room for her to squeeze herself up against a wall.

She kept trying not to scream as One Body, One Soul realigned her bones. Did her soul somehow remember the shape she was supposed to take? The skill description had hinted that soul magic was related to healing. To distract herself from the pain she brought up the notifications.

Accrued Mana applied to Primary Class.

Level up…

Level up…

Level up…

Level up…

Stats adjusted: +4 Dexterity, +8 Agility, +12 Willpower, +8 Perception, +4 Magic Control,

+4 Mana Reserve, +20 Free Stats

Soul Shift 5 > 6

One Soul, One Body 5 > 10

Soul Drain 6 > 8

Shadow Aligned Dual Daggers 12 > 14

Skills Available! Please Select 1* Skills.

Class Skill Options:

Soul Tether (Rare)

Soul Magic has many uses but of those, the most common is tracking. Mana signatures can be erased, physical tracks obscured and presences concealed but there are few with the capability to manipulate soul magic and so for those in the know, it is the ultimate tool for hunting down your targets. What happens after is up to you. Soul Tether allows the user to attach a piece of their soul to an object or individual. Skill Level increases the distance over which the user can detect the tether. Distance is based on Skill Level * fifty metres. Number of active tethers is equal to Willpower / 20.

Soul Engraving (Rare)

Those who utilise Soul Magic understand that the soul and the body are inextricably linked. This Skill utilises that fact to engrave spells, powers or skills onto the soul. Enhancing them beyond the norm or allowing them to utilise abilities from other paths. Number of Engravings a soul can support is equal to the number of Classes unlocked. The Soulshade can support one additional engraving per ten Skill Levels. Mana cost varies based on Engraving. Engraving lasts for a number of Days equal to Willpower / 3.

Improved Magic Control (Rare)

The more mana one wields, the harder it becomes to control. What is the point of using a spell that summons a firestorm that burns down a forest when you just want it to incinerate your enemies? Those with exceptional Magic Control get more out of their spells and mana. For those lucky few, this Skill increases the user’s Magic Control by 5%. Increases by 0.5% per Skill Level.

Improved Agility (Rare)

When the choice is to go harder or to go faster, the answer is obvious to anyone offered this Skill. Go faster. Leave your enemies in the dust as you run rings around them. When they say speed kills, they're talking about those who possess this Skill. For those lucky few, this Skill increases the user’s Agility by 5%. Increases by 0.5% per Skill Level.

Improved Willpower (Rare)

Willpower is often the most under utilised Stat, only rivalled by Charisma. Most believe it is only of use for those who wish to bend others to their wills. The mentalists and sirens of the worlds, luring all to servitude or their deaths. However, you’ve seen firsthand the power of a strong Willpower as you bend reality to your desires. Walk a path of dominance where your will forges the way. For those lucky few, this Skill increases the user’s Willpower by 5%. Increases by 0.5% per Skill Level.

Reading through her Skills distracted her from the pain in her legs as the bones continued to realign themselves. She was getting close to having to turn the skill off as she was almost down to what she estimated to be around twenty percent of her soul energy remaining. After this, she’d need to try and splint her legs herself and let them heal a little. She was going to be here for days. But that thought couldn’t tamp down on her elation. She’d beaten the challenge. She could look at that Notification right now and see if she’d achieved her goal but she couldn’t bring herself to do it just yet.

First, her new Skill and levels. Glancing at her Free Stats she groaned. She hated to do it but her Father had explained that her Endurance and Constitution should always be close to one and a half times her level. That meant at level thirteen they should be around twenty. Three went to Endurance with six going into Constitution which left her eleven to play with. Her Class was giving her a small amount of Dexterity and Perception so she put three into Magic Control and another three into Mana Reserve. The last five went to her Willpower.

With her Free Stats handled, she moved onto her Skills. The ‘Improved’ Skills looked useful but they would be more useful later, when she was a higher level. For now it was a choice between Soul Tether and Soul Engraving. In the end she chose the latter because she had a crazy idea about how she could use it. Time would tell if she made the right decision. Instead she swallowed and opened the final notification.

You have completed a Dungeon challenge!

Dungeon: Plains of Goivuts

Challenge (Bonus): Defeat the Orc Berserker.

Challenge (Special): Defeat the Orc Berserker while being lower than Level 10.

Challenge (Special): Defeat the Orc Berserker as a party of one.

Challenge (Special): Defeat the Orc Berserker as a party of one while being lower than Level 10.

As a reward for completing a Challenge (Bonus) and 3x Challenge (Special) all reward options are enhanced significantly.

Challenge Rewards (Select One):

1. Status Tome

2. Core Enhancement

3. Equipment

Please select your reward.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she made her selection after reading her three options. Core Enhancement. She wasn’t going to get left behind. She was going to be someone. A hero. Better than that though, and a surprising feeling, was that she was going to be able to do it with Nate.

She’d always been a bit of an outcast thanks to the gift of her Father’s training and assistance with Achievements. Not good enough to compete with the rich merchant’s kids or minor nobility, but better than the average Guilder. In a bigger town that might not have mattered but in Helmfirth it had left her as an outcast, unable to make many friends. Then Nate came along and she had thought maybe they could work together. When he’d revealed his Class rarity she’d known he’d eventually leave her behind. Her first real friend. But now, she could keep up. At least for a while.

That thought worried her. Deep down she knew he was going to keep going up. What was beyond Mythic? Whatever it was, she was sure he’d find it. Or maybe, she could help him for a change? Whatever it was, they’d manage it together. First the Tournament, then the Royal University, then the world, or whatever lay beyond it. Because now she knew there was more beyond it. Pulling some jerky out of the spatial storage she settled in for a few very boring days as she waited for her legs to heal enough to walk. Even so, she couldn’t remove the grin from her face. She had done it! She pulled up her Status sheet with a smile.

Stats

Physical

Mental

Magic

Strength

16 (3)

Intellect

14

Magic Power

13

Dexterity

30

Charisma

16

Magic Control

30

Agility

72 (6)

Creativity

13

Channelling Speed

12

Endurance

20 (3)

Willpower

91 (3)

Mana Reserve

30

Constitution

20

Perception

40

Mana Absorption

18 (6)

Classes

Primary Class - Level 13

Secondary Class - Level

Tertiary Class

Reborn Soulshade (L)

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Skills

Shadow Aligned Dual Daggers (U) Lvl 14

Soul Shift (L) Lvl 6 - (60 metres teleport range)

One Soul, One Body (E) Lvl 10

Soul Drain (E) Lvl 8 - (+9% Willpower)

The Size of a Soul (R) Lvl 3 - (Soul Capacity increased by 30%)

Soul Engraving (R) Lvl 1 - (0/2 Soul Engravings Used)

Spells

...

Status Effects

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