A soft breeze wound its way through the stand of gently swaying trees that perched on the slope of a large knoll. It continued on, circling the open clearing that sat on top of the protruding mound of rock and earth, before snaking its way between three curious-looking creatures. Wisps of the gentle wind were dragged away, absorbed into the bodies of flesh as it caressed each one of them. The breeze didn’t take any notice of the loss, of course, simply ruffling hair and clothes before continuing on its intrepid journey.

“Now describe the Blood Mage skill, Bond of Blood.” Kenemen instructed the younger man with a bored tone, as he read from a tattered book.

Silas scrunched up his face as he tried to recall what Katai had told him the day before.

“…Bond of Blood creates a magical bond between you and a chosen person?”

Katai didn’t even need to say it was incorrect. The attempt by Silas to fudge his way through was a poor one, even by his standards.

“Again.” The monotone from Kenemen made it clear he didn’t care either way. He was simply ensuring the rules he’d laid down were followed. He didn’t really have any stake in Silas gaining a second Class after all, other than to satisfy his own curiosity.

Without argument, Kata and Silas stood, taking up their weapons. With a nod from Silas, Katai attacked with a cry, activating Battle Cry to extend their sparring time.

A short time later, the two collapsed back down on the ground. They gulped down a few mouthfuls of water each before Katai dutifully recited the description of his skill to Silas again. Hopefully he’d remember it next time.

“I still don’t get how we can read our Class and skill descriptions, when we can’t read anything else.” Silas muttered, frustrated at the laborious training method. The Class had better be worth it.

“You know why. The Class selection and notifications aren’t really words – they’re our brains translating the knowledge we’re granted in a way that’s easy to communicate.” Katai parroted what Kenemen had told them already.

“I still don’t get it, alright. I know what he said.”

Someone’s grumpy, thought Katai, a little amused. The pressure was off him for now, the training emphasis on Silas to get his Class unlocked. Once it was done though, Katai was sure he’d bear the full brunt of Kenemen’s training. Even so, Katai still had Kenemen breathing down his neck, making sure he was working hard on his Blood-related skills. So while Silas struggled to recite the exact descriptions of various skills, Katai kept some blood under his control, manipulating it while he listened.

Twisting, rolling, and pulling at the glob of crimson liquid had been his main focus up until now. His earlier break-through had given him some insights however, the memory of that green tide of Life energy enough to guide him towards exploring the less physical side of his blood. He felt that he could manipulate it well enough now, within the physical limits of the liquid. But there was only so much he could do before he was forced to activate its innate magical power.

Now that he knew what to look for, he was spending most of his time eagerly examining the arcane depths of the liquid and the hidden layers that it contained. Well, when he wasn’t helping Silas train anyway.

While he wasn’t normally as curious as Silas was, when it came to Classes and skills, the discovery of this new level of Blood magic had filled him with a hunger for more. It was a desire for learning that had been missing from his life since that… event happened. Even now, his mind shied away from thinking too closely about the events of that day in the village. It was too easy to lose himself in the terrible memories and the aching grief that scarred his heart. Better to think of other things.

Like the power he was still learning the basics of.

Intertwined threads of some unknowable, eldritch language teased his mind with their hints of forbidden knowledge. Glyphs of power had begun to take shape, slowly seeping into his mind as he focused on unravelling the secrets bound within the tiny droplets of his own blood.

He had yet to articulate any of the knowledge he was gaining, but he could practically feel something taking shape in the dark recesses of his mind. It wouldn’t be long before he had something to show for his efforts.

“Again.”

Silas groaned in response.

Squashing his own annoyance, Katai rose once again, dumping the droplet of blood onto the ground.

The smell of cooking meat wafted past Katai’s nose. He salivated, his nose twitching at the heavenly smell, distracting him with thoughts of their first fresh meal in quite some time. It had been a long week of colourful Rift fruit and dried meats – usually wild boar or deer, that had been thoroughly salted and dried until it was a struggle to chew. Certainly it lasted a long time, which was the point, but the rock-hard jerky left a lot to be desired.

In stark contrast, he could tell today’s meal would be a much appreciated feast. He could hear drops of fat spattering and fizzing against the hot stones. It was almost enough of a distraction to throw him off his training.

He blocked and threw back Yoto’s blade, almost contemptuously, then lunged forward with a thrust that would have skewered the man straight through the chest if he’d not been aiming to the side.

They stepped back, gave each other a nod of respect, and then lowered their blades.

Yoto wasn’t a bad swordsman, but it wasn’t his first preference. He was a hunter of beasts, first and foremost, his bow and skinning knives the man’s most prized possessions. He didn’t seem to mind losing another bout either, quietly looking over his blade’s edge for nicks. Katai on the other hand was getting bored.

How long is this Class unlock going to take? He looked over to see Silas mumbling with his eyes screwed shut, still trying to memorise whatever Kenemen had assigned him. He said Scholar was a very easy unlock, like a day or two, if you could read and write. But if this is going to take a few days, what am I meant to do? He frowned thoughtfully. Sparring with someone like Yoto or Lariss wouldn’t do anything for him now. He was too far ahead of them on stats alone. Which left either going on an expedition outside the camp, or training his Blood Mage skills.

Well, I’m already training my Blood skills every spare moment I get. Perhaps I could convince Yoto and Lariss to come with me on an expedition? Or I could join Yoto on his next hunting trip. That would be a lot more interesting than waiting around here for Silas to get his second Class. It’s not like I could really help him with it.

He wandered over to the entrance of their camp and ducked through the small entrance, looking over the unnaturally smooth wall appreciatively. It was pretty amazing what Emilia had managed to do in only a couple of days. Admittedly, they’d done a lot of the grunt work, but her powers were what allowed the earth to be shaped and compacted into something useful. Without her, they would have needed to find something to bind the dirt together, or make the wall three or four times as thick.

Looking out over the valley on the far side of the new wall, Katai had a pretty good view of things. It was a jumble of trees, spires of rock and earth, and winding ravines that snaked their way through the area. He could see glimpses of movement too, creatures he didn’t recognise moving around in the distance. None of them looked like the giant that Kenemen had slain though. Thankfully.

I can take on a single Gyas, maybe two if I use my Blood skills, he thought, as he scrutinised the area carefully, but I’m definitely running away if I see one of those.

His gaze travelled over dark patches of dense trees and thick, overflowing brambles. Protruding rock formations and the deeper valleys also attracted his attention – they could be hiding any number of things. He mentally marked the locations, hoping he’d be able to recognise the landmarks when he was deeper into the valley. Perhaps when Silas gains his Class, he’ll be useful for something like this? Memorising a map and the relative location of key landmarks would actually be a very handy skill.

Satisfied with what he could see, he turned back to the camp. Now came the hard part – convincing Kenemen to let him head out and do some real training. Katai wasn’t too worried about that part of the plan though – he could be very persuasive when he wanted to be. Maybe because he’d always been good with people. It’s what had gotten him and Silas out of trouble, time and time again, when they were younger. That was when they were dealing with the village Elders, a motley group of opinionated craftsmen and farmers. This time, it was with a Questor. Someone who had the weight of the Emperor’s Authority behind them.

In the end however, it was an easy request. Once he explained what he wanted to do, Kenemen consented without any hesitation. The real difficulty ended up being Silas.

“But what am I going to do here? Just sit on my ass and recite skills to myself?” Silas said sarcastically. He sounded angry – surprised and hurt that Katai would be heading out on a hunting trip without him, while he had to stay and work on unlocking his Class. In fact, it seemed like everyone but him was going.

“You can spar with Lariss, and learn about her skills.” Kenemen responded evenly.

In the end, the two of them, Silas and Lariss, were the only ones staying behind. Everyone else was going on Katai’s expedition.

Which reminded Katai – he hadn’t seen much of Lariss since they’d made camp. She’d been staying in relative seclusion, hidden within the stand of trees that surrounded the entrance to their camp. Kenemen occasionally visited her, undoubtedly instructing her in some kind of magical theory. She had expressed a keen interest in unlocking a magical aptitude, so that’s probably what was going on. Probably.

Katai snorted at his thoughts – whatever they were doing in private was their own business.

If Katai were honest with himself, he was also very interested in unlocking more magic types, but he had his hands full just training with Blood magic. If he only had more time to dedicate to training both his physical and magical skills… even just improving his Water magic would be pretty great. He didn’t really have a lot of interest in a hybrid Water-Warrior Class, but it might have some interesting Class advancements. Besides, if anything was going to synergise, a Water-based Class seemed like a pretty close relative to Blood. That was his guess anyway. He wasn’t going to delude himself into thinking he knew anything about other magic types – for all he knew, Water and Blood could mix like water and oil.

He’d have to spend some time thinking about his Water aptitude and what he wanted to do with it. Maybe ask Kenemen if he knew anything, when they got back from this trip outside.

In no time, the group were ready to depart. Silas hung back, still fuming about being left behind, while Lariss was nowhere to be seen. Still working on whatever she’s trying to unlock I guess. He shrugged and checked the blade strapped to his belt, one last time, before he looked over at the Questor, waiting for him to lead them off.

Surprisingly, Kenemen gestured for him to lead them out. But he wasn’t going to be the one in charge, right? Surely, Kenemen would be the one calling the shots.

Katai led them out, crouching to fit through the small entrance in the earthen wall. When they reached the bottom of the hill, he looked at Kenemen and waited for the man to say something.

To his surprise, Kenemen just raised his eyebrows at the unspoken question, as if to say ‘what are you waiting for?’

But, surely the slave shouldn’t be in charge? He doesn’t treat me like a slave though... I wonder, is it just him, or have the stories been exaggerated? Admittedly, the only thing Katai had heard about slavery in the Empire was that it was rare, but some of the Noble families ran mines or plantations completely driven by slave labour. He had a vague recollection that they were mostly criminals, sentenced to a life of servitude.

Which matched with his own impromptu conviction, at the hands of the Questor. However, he had assumed that slaves, especially if most of them were serious criminals, would be treated very poorly. At the very least, he’d be given the most menial tasks.

But his experience so far had been quite the opposite. The worst Kenemen had done, was to order him to fight off a bandit attack. Not exactly a menial task, that was for sure.

So why am I being treated so well? To what purpose – ah, maybe that’s it! Hmm. Kenemen had demonstrated how powerful his Blood magic was against the Undead. He was treating him well, because he could be used as a powerful distraction against the Necromancer.

Katai was actually not too upset at that thought. He would happily act as a distraction, or as executioner, if it meant he could destroy the repulsive Necromancer. Not to mention, the Undead they’d raised.

I’m sorry Salah. I will lay you to rest, I promise.

He shook his head, trying not to get sucked back down into that well of sorrow and rage. He couldn’t afford to disturb those waters. Not yet anyway. He’d been keeping it all bottled up for the last week and he was determined to keep doing so until he’d squeezed the last drop of blood from that monster’s lifeless body.

Focus Katai. Think about getting stronger.

It wasn’t easy, but he managed to tamp down on his feelings, breathing deeply as he looked around. Pretending to consider the many pathways leading away from their campsite was enough to distract him from his turbulent thoughts. He needed to focus if Kenemen was trusting him to lead the group on a foray into dangerous territory.

Kenemen, Yoto, and Emilia followed him as he silently lead the group along the escarpment, the latter with some trepidation. Katai was fairly certain the main reason Emilia had joined them was to build up her confidence. If it was her choice, he was sure she’d rather stay back at camp. Unfortunately for her, Kenemen had told her in no uncertain terms that she was going along with them. In Katai’s opinion, it was absolutely necessary for her. The Dirt Mage was the lowest level of any of them, by a long way.

Watchful eyes flittered over the landscape, examining every nook and cranny as they explored the unknown path. Katai was fairly confident now in his Blood Sense to warn him of any Gyas that might try to ambush them, but there were other creatures out here that might prove more elusive and deadly then those ambush predators.

It was a tense exploration, but even with the nervous energy, Katai was filled with curiosity and more than a little excitement. What creatures would they battle? What else would they find out there? It was a completely unknown and unexplored space, there could be anything hidden away. Maybe something intelligent living in one of the coves that littered the valley? There would almost certainly be lairs of some kind. Which meant he’d have more opportunities to level.

Another intersection of three possible paths appeared, but Katai barely slowed. The others exchanged curious glances when he confidently chose the middle path, striding ahead of them.

Soon after that, they had their first encounter. A single Gyas tried to attack Katai from behind cover, launching itself from behind a tall standing rock.

Knowing the creature was there, Katai unleashed a flurry of skills – a cry split the air, as he activated Parry, followed by a single use of Lacerate. Finally, a Lunge finished the creature off, easily penetrating the weak exterior of the fast, but fragile, Megasoma variant.

A quick and easy battle, but one that taught Katai something important. He could still use his Bond of Blood to power his Blood magic, even when his bonded was quite a long distance away. Silas had been sullen when Katai asked about testing it, but reluctantly agreed.

Katai left him with a clap on the shoulder, promising to take him on the next trip – as soon as he gained his Class. Silas sighed at the obvious attempt at motivation and nodded with a half-hearted smile, trying not to look too put out as the group gathered and quickly departed.

The group didn’t stop for long after the first encounter, moving along once Katai had taken a quick breather. The sun had fully risen by this point, reaching its peak and beaming down on them. Warm sweat dripped from openings in their dirt-caked clothing, the combination of constant low-level stress, exercise, and the heat of the sun, enough to have them all breathing heavily as they trekked through the twisting valleys. Thankfully, frequent stops were required to climb over sections of broken earth, or down into deep crevices that blocked their way forward. At least it’s more interesting than the flower plains, he thought, just before he scraped his knee painfully on a protruding rock. He winced and clambered over the length of cracked stone, his sturdy leather shoes crunching on a layer of loose rock.

A huffing Emilia followed him, red in the face and slick with sweat. “So…” she gasped out, “do you have a destination in mind?”

He was about to answer her when he was distracted by a flash of red appearing in his vision. His Blood Sense had activated, showing multiple figures quickly approaching them.

Gyas? No, they’ve only tried to ambush us. Juvenile Megasoma then, or something else? The thoughts raced through his mind, before he realised the vulnerable position that they were in.

“Hurry up – we have a group approaching right ahead of us.” Katai called back, not taking his eyes off the path in front of them. Yoto grunted from somewhere behind him, as he and Kenemen tried to quickly clamber over the blockade that stretched across the path.

With Emilia hovering uncertainly next to him, Katai knew that he was going to have to take the brunt of whatever was coming at them. An inexperienced Mage wasn’t going to be of much help, particularly with her lack of combat skills or experience.

Looking down the path, Katai noticed a small sliver of darkness cut into the mountainside. Nestled between two of the largest mountains, the entire area was cast in shadow, hiding the dark slash from Katai’s initial search. Now though, he watched with wide eyes as creatures burst from the cave entrance.

There were a lot. And they weren’t juveniles.

As the throng approached, Katai took the short opportunity to study them. They weren’t rushing at them wildly, like the Gyas would. They also weren’t mindlessly staring about, like juvenile Megasoma, attacking anything that got too close. Rather, these creatures seemed to be something different again.

They moved together like a swarm of angry bees. Constantly shifting but staying close enough that they couldn’t be picked off one at a time. Some kind of pack mentality, or are they simply smarter? Katai wondered.

Also unlike the juveniles, they were armed with weapons that Katai recognised. Spears for the majority, wooden but still deadly enough – and giving them a lot more reach. Reach that they would need, as they were shorter of limb and body than the average human. There were also a lot of clubs, simple but brutally effective weapons. Katai thought he even spotted a stone-headed axe amongst them.

Primitive tools, but still effective. Especially in numbers.

Katai stepped forward, giving himself some room. He sucked in a deep breath and shouted, going through the motions of battle prep that were quickly becoming second nature. While his body moved into position, his mind accelerated, reacting to the threat with crystal clarity.

Five, eight, ten…fourteen! Shit.

His thoughts shuddered to a halt at the number.

From behind, he could hear the others approaching the top, Kenemen swearing as he scraped something against the bare rock.

A trickle of sweat ran down his neck, but Katai barely noticed. His focus was narrowed on the charging Megasoma as they howled out strange, ululating cries.

Definitely Megasoma then.

There was no mistaking that cry. It was worrying here in the valley, what that cry could mean. Out in the forest, or on the plains, there were so few juvenile Megasoma about that even if they had been calling for help, it wouldn’t really affect anything. Now though, if that was a call for reinforcements and not simply a battle cry, they could be in a seriously bad situation.

His left foot moved forward, gently tracing the hard earth until his legs had settled into an aggressive duelling stance – his body side-on and ready to rush forward. His shoulders tightened, blade held at the ready, pointing at the approaching attackers. He breathed deeply, and entered the battle with a calculated gambit.

Lacerate struck the first line of Megasoma, each one targeted with a single strike. He activated the skill as quickly as possible, trying to stagger their charge. Katai aimed for the eyes, hoping to blind at least one of them, but didn’t hold out hope that he’d succeed. Whatever he hit would at least be distracted, that much was certain.

His plan was to launch himself at them while they were recovering from his strikes. However, he’d failed to account for one simple thing; the effects of the rapid skill use on his own body.

He almost doubled over, his stomach clenching involuntarily into a painful ball. How had he forgotten about this? He’d been practising Lacerate so much recently. Never so many uses all at once, of course, but he didn’t think it’d be thisbad.

Before he had a chance to panic, helpless for a split second, an arrow whizzed by, passing close enough to ruffle his hair. He smiled at the sound, though his roiling stomach turned it into a grimace. Yoto and Kenemen had made it up.

The arrow bought him the half a second he needed. With another cry, Katai threw himself back into the fray, striking left and right with his blade. He could also see the flicker of a blade on his left as Kenemen languidly dispatched creatures.

His own attacks weren’t as effective as he’d come to expect. He shouldn’t really have been surprised when his blade barely pierced the shell-like skin of the Megasoma, but the weak defences of the Gyas had lured him into false expectations. These Megasoma were much like their younger brethren, but bigger and tougher. Probably smarter too, given their weapons and tactics.

Katai winced as he blocked a strike, the club sending a shockwave of force down his arm. He risked another casting of Lacerate at a spear-wielder, beating it to the punch as it looked to target him in his exposed position. He flicked his blade, pushing the club aside, and thrust with all his might.

You have defeated Megasoma - Mature (level 9).

His blade had barely sunk into the creatures body, but it must have been enough to hit something vital. Without hesitation Katai yanked the blade back out, desperately activating Parry to deflect a pair of spears thrusting towards him.

He practically danced as he avoided more simultaneous attacks. His focus narrowing onto the closest Megasoma as they tried to box him in, forcing him to dodge and parry for all he was worth. That didn’t stop him from using his Blood magic however.

Blood pumped in his ears, each savage beat of his heart empowering his body. Ducking and weaving, he didn’t hesitate to use Lacerate, even with the churning that he could still feel in the pit of his stomach. They needed to thin the group down quickly, otherwise they’d be overwhelmed by sheer numbers.

Each time he used the skill, he watched for an opening. Most of the time the Megasoma would jerk back in surprise, or if he got one across the eyes, they’d stumble about, at least partially blinded. Those he eliminated with a carefully timed Lunge, or a normal strike that he put maximum force behind. The defences of these humanoid bugs was no joke.

Katai lost himself in the rhythm of battle. The fight swirled back and forth as the Megasoma pushed him, before he managed to strike one or two of them dead and pushed them back. More of the creatures stepped forward, deaths allowing other fighters to push into the gaps.

After some time, the sounds of battle gradually died down. Katai abruptly came back to reality, realising that his blade was embedded in the chest of the last living Megasoma. It gave one last twitch and collapsed, his sword still in its chest and absolutely covered in green blood.

He straightened back up, suddenly aware of his body. He was panting, his body slick with sweat and green ichor. His heart raced as if he’d climbed a mountain and his stomach was a ball of churning, hot fury – he’d pushed it a bit too hard with his liberal use of Lacerate.

With the battle focus wearing off, it was no surprise to Katai that there were other injuries he hadn’t noticed. His heartbeat started to slow as the self-inflicted pain rose up within his body. Energy sapped from his extremities, leaving him feeling dizzy. His head grew sluggish and his stomach continued to grow hotter and more painful.

Without warning, his body decided it’d had enough. All of the effects peaked and he flopped to his knees, his strength fleeing as his body heaved. A noxious mess spewed from his body, splattering the ground at his knees, splashing his pants with goopy red liquid.

Eurgh! Blood spew. His head pounded with the after-effects. The stench almost made him gag and he didn’t fight it, letting another fountain of rancid liquid come forth. It left him feeling mostly better. He groaned and spat on the ground, trying to clear the acrid taste from his mouth.

“Here,” a deep voice said quietly. Katai turned his head to find a water skin dangling next to him. Wordlessly, he accepted it. The refreshing liquid was heavenly, washing his mouth and throat out, clearing the coppery taste from his tongue. He nodded gratefully at Yoto as he handed it back.

He remained kneeling as the knot in his stomach started to unravel. He closed his eyes and focused on his breathing, trying to calm himself down. Soon enough, the pounding in his ears started to subside and his heart-beat returned to a semblance of normality. With a sigh of relief, Katai took a quick look though his notifications, curious at what he might have gained from the tough battle.

You have defeated Megasoma - Gyas (level 18).

Bond of Blood has reached level 5…

You have defeated Megasoma - Mature (level 9).

…

You have defeated Megasoma - Mature (level 28).

Congratulations! You have gained 1 Warrior and 1 Blood Mage level.

3 Attribute points awarded for reaching level 20 Blood Mage.

Battle Cry has reached level 7.

Lacerate has reached level 2.

Wow, three skills increased from that fight – and both his classes levelled! The rewards definitely helped to calm his body, the relief at surviving overshadowed now by a certain amount of glee at the battle rewards. He’d have to wait to distribute the points however, the middle of an expedition was not the time.

With a groan, he stood slowly and looked around. It was a small massacre around his position, a bundle of green bodies spread out in a semi-circle. A handful had crowded around behind him, probably dispatched by Kenemen. Emilia and Yoto had helped him during the short and brutal fight as well, peppering the creatures with projectiles and keeping him from being overwhelmed by sheer numbers. He certainly wouldn’t have survived without them.

“Is everyone ok?” Katai tried to speak normally, but his voice was strangely hoarse. He tried again after clearing his throat, his hands still shaking from the energy of the battle.

He looked around, catching Yoto and Emilia’s eyes as they nodded sombrely at him. They were all strangely subdued, apart from Kenemen. He was smiling as he looked at Katai.

“Why so glum? We’ve certainly found something here!” Kenemen said, sweeping his arm towards the shadowy entrance at the end of the path. He barely glanced at the Megasoma at his feet, walking straight over the corpses and puddles of blood and guts. Katai glanced incredulously at the others, before they all followed after him, gingerly trying to avoid stepping on the bodies.

It looked like Katai’s suspicions had been correct after all – the biggest mountain near their camp did have something beneath it. He’d been aiming for the biggest cluster of mountains, hoping that there might be something interesting nearby. The dark opening that disappeared into the mountainside certainly counted as interesting. That’s where the Megasoma came from.

Katai's Status

Katai D’Castro

1st Class: Warrior – level 34 (+1)

2nd Class: Blood Mage – level 20 (+1)

Skills - Warrior

Lunge (Expert) – level 7

Parry (Expert) – level 4

Bash (Proficient) – level 3

Battle Cry (Novice) – level 7 (+1)

Skills - Blood Mage

Sense Blood (Proficient) – level 4

Lacerate (Proficient) – Level 2 (+1)

Bond of Blood (Novice) – Level 5 (+1)

Attributes (+3)

Strength: 18

Dexterity: 19

Constitution: 29

Intelligence: 15

Wisdom: 16

Charisma: 17

Magical Aptitude

Blood (Life): 65%

Water: 9%

Resistances

Blood (Life): 65%

Void: 31%

Spirit: -16%

Wither (Life): -16%

Traits

Internal Blood Savant:

Health regeneration increased by 400%.

Bleeding damage received reduced by 50%.

Poison damage received reduced by 50%.

Immune to all external healing magic and potion effects.

Bleeding Edge:

Attacks that cause bleeding, increase damage and length of effect by 50%.

Relentless:

Increase total stamina and stamina regeneration by 40%.

Thanks to Whale, and the troop of Patrons supporting this story. You give me so much motivation, knowing people are willing to give me money to share my work. I just wish I had more time to write!

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/walt3r