Chapter 21

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[Floor 2 – Day 40]

[Total Days in Trial: 81]

[Status]

Name: John

Attributes

Class: Disciple – Skills: 4/7

Titles:

Perks:

Strength:

15

-

Lesser Analysis

Dexterity:

13

Archery 8

Constitution:

22

Resist Poison 18

Intelligence:

10

-

Wisdom:

14 [+2]

Meditation 10

Lesser Heal 7 - (Miracle)

Wise man of the Mountains

Charisma:

10 [+5]

-

Ambitious [ACTIVE]

I awoke from my meditation, to find a creature waiting on the edge of my pond.

Seven paces long, half as many tall: with skin that was of blood and tar, and fit with two empty eyes of deep black. It lingered beside the water, claws of tainted ivory waiting on the sand and stones of the shore. As my own eyes fought to focus, Lesser Analysis provided additional information, though it need not have bothered.

[Demon]

The obvious floated by, as the screen faded.

So, they had finally come for me.

I stared back at it, as it sat there in silence. The creature did not move. Instead, it seemed content to remain on the shore, still and frozen like a statue carved from obsidian. Those unblinking eyes watched me, void and empty, as if waiting for something.

Yet, it did not approach me.

On the border of my pond, barely thirty paces away from where I sat, it waited... Not breathing, not shifting: perfectly still. The thought of my bow did cross my mind, but I could not help but acknowledge how pointless it would be. Even if I could pick my weapon up, nock and arrow, and draw back the string: I already knew how pointless a gesture that would be.

No arrow of mine would slay that creature.

It was simply death.

Death, waiting in the distance.

So, I was thankful that it seemed we were content to wait. As time passed, the demon remained perfectly still. As did I, for the rare breath of air needed to fill my lungs. The demon did not approach me, and I did not make any effort to do so either. Not to attack it, nor move from where I sat.

To do so, would be pointless.

Closing my eyes, I let a calm peace in my mind settle back over the feelings of concern. I let my breathing pattern continue, as the miracle I'd been saving for my nightly meal, was cast early. Flowing out through my flesh and blood, sinking down into the boulder beneath me, and the water beyond it.

Soon, I imagined. Soon, it would end.

One way or another, it would end.

As evening fell into shadows, and the mountain seemed to loom, blocking the sun with its presence: I continued my feverous meditation. Deep in my chest, I felt the power settling, efforts of my practice allowing and Lesser Heal rush through my body, and out into the stone. I felt the power I could not guide soak into space around me. Reaching out, all the way towards the distant edge of the pond far beyond my sight, in the dark of a moonless night beneath the mountains.

As night fell in truth, and the light of day was gone, I continued my meditation. I continued to gather the mana I could, reaching down to what felt like my very soul, to prepare the next Miracle. Fumbling with the power I could not truly see, only sense in the most distant of ways.

In the darkness, my fears crept in. What I could not see, tortured me, as I waited for the sound of splashing water. I waited for the sound of claws on stone. I knew if the creature crossed that threshold, there would be nothing I could do. Death would come for me, with empty eyes.

Yet, the night passed into morning, and the sun rose again.

And as it did, that lone demon had been joined by hundreds more.