“Quickly!”

Katai’s shout was hardly necessary. They ran after him, Kenemen occasionally swatting aside the Megasoma that managed to catch up.

“I don’t know…how much longer…I can do this.” Emilia wheezed, almost choking out the words as she ran. She was only just in front of the Questor, who had slowed down to protect the rest of the group from the ravenous horde at their backs.

“You have to!” Lariss yelled angrily. Katai looked back and saw the fear in her eyes – she wasn’t angry, she was terrified. As they all were.

Their race through the tunnels was taking its toll on all of them, not just Emilia. Katai could feel a slow burn in every muscle in his body – or at least that’s what it felt like. It was a familiar feeling, that rising heat and the spreading lethargy. His legs slowly turning to jelly.

He’d seen the matching stress on Lariss’ features, the fear and constant attacks wearing her down. Even Kenemen was starting to look a bit ragged as he took the worst of the attacks, his golden aura gradually dimming.

It felt like they’d been running for hours, but Katai knew it must be far less than that. Half an hour maybe? Less?

“We’re nearly there!” Silas called out from the front, still leading them through the maze.

Katai followed hot on his heels, watching for any creatures that might appear ahead of them. The insane number of red targets that followed them was very distracting, but he managed to ignore the growing trail of crimson appearing in his Blood Sense, by looking ahead. He was more concerned with the small spots appearing in greater frequency in front of them and if they were in a connected tunnel or not.

They rounded a corner, and saw a familiar chamber ahead of them, filled with vibrant plants of every colour. Katai’s heart sank when he saw that it was also overflowing with thrashing, snarling Megasoma.

They didn’t slow down of course. They couldn’t. Behind them came an anvil of green monsters, ready to crush them into a fine human paste, smeared against the tunnel floors. The terrifying roar of countless monsters surging through the previously quiet tunnels drove them forward, fear snapping at their every footstep.

What do we do, what do we do? There’s nowhere to go!

Katai’s thoughts turned to panic. He couldn’t think of a way out of the situation.

“We need to punch through!” Silas yelled, ignorant of the situation ahead of them.

Katai however, could see the spreading red in the room ahead. It wasn’t just a handful of Megasoma. It was a choke point that was rapidly filling in multiple directions. Unfortunately for them, the room had a trio of tunnels connecting it to the rest of the cave system and plenty of the creatures seemed to be heading there. Nowhere near as many as was following them, but still enough to slow them down. Enough to get crushed by the horde coming from behind.

Katai gritted his teeth and sped up, brushing past Silas just before they hit the cavern. He might not be able to do much, but he was the reason they were here. He had to do something.

He launched himself into the room, piercing several Megasoma at once, his momentum carrying him into and through a group of them.

Lunge has reached level 8 (Expert).

The creature’s cries rose, almost deafening him in the small space. He wasted no time reacting to the painful distraction however, swinging left and right. His skills flared out, Bash and Lacerate, Lunge, Battle Cry, and even the occasional Parry. He was a whirlwind of activity, combining his attacks and movement in a way he never had before, moving fluidly from attack to defence, and back to attack. It was a scene of carnage in the small cavern, with Katai at the centre of it all.

But still, the creatures streamed in all around him.

The others soon caught up, bringing another, more serious problem – the massive wave of Megasoma that was following them, building up pressure as they blocked the way forward.

Katai was the first to make a move. He pushed into the tunnel Silas pointed at, marking it as their exit. It was also filled with creatures, but there had to be less than what was behind them. Besides, it was the only way they knew to the surface.

“Keep pushing!” Katai heard Kenemen call out, his voice hoarse.

Katai did exactly that, killing and knocking out the green-skinned creatures as quickly as he could. He could feel tiredness creeping into his limbs, even with Battle Cry topping up his stamina reserves.

Will there be an end to this madness?

The waves of Megasoma seemed to be never-ending. Even as he pushed further into the tunnel, more and more of the creatures appeared in his Blood Sense, their wailing cries bringing in more and more of their brethren. The others behind him struggled through, Kenemen in particular was flagging, as he singlehandedly held the horde back from their rear.

Katai knew something had to give. He desperately tried to think of something, anything, that he could do to turn the tide, or to escape. The only skill he hadn’t been using, Bond of Blood, would be much more efficient than using his own life force, but would probably kill Silas after only a few uses.

Sense Blood was also pretty useless at this point.

What about creating a new bond? Can I do that against their will?

Katai continued to hack his way into the tunnel as the thought flashed through his mind. It was worth a try at least. If he could find another source for his blood magic, he could hopefully punch through the creatures in the tunnel ahead of him much more quickly.

The next creature he targeted, he aimed for one its limbs – a task more difficult than it seemed. The carapace-covered creatures had thin, spindly-looking arms and legs. They looked fragile but in reality, they were as strong as his own, probably even stronger with the natural armour that covered them.

On his second attempt, Katai managed to slash a long cut down the arm of one, causing it to hiss with pain and drop its crude club. Before it could retaliate, he leapt closer and grabbed it, his own scratched and bleeding hand closing on its newly wounded arm.

Now to see if this works.

He activated the Bond, targeting the thrashing creature as it beat at him ineffectuality with its free hand. The skill quickly took hold, but he could feel some resistance.

Aha! I can deal with that.

Katai grinned mirthlessly and pushed at the skill. The barrier that held him back seemed to flex, trying not to let his insidious skill from taking hold, but he kept pushing. The barrier suddenly burst and he was in.

He ignored the notifications that popped up in his mind and let go of the creature, pushing it away from him.

It happily scampered back, probably spooked at the strange feeling it had received from the invader. Distance wouldn’t help it now however.

Without hesitation, Katai targeted several Megasoma in front of him and pulled on the new link that he could feel. A flood of energy moved into his body from the link, the crimson power briefly visible to his Sense as it was transported.

The flood of power swept through him in an instant, consumed in a moment by his activation of a half-dozen Lacerates. That single moment was enough of a glimpse into the power of the Bond however.

The power was pure bliss. Much like it had been when he’d drawn in Blood from Silas, the feeling was one of unadulterated life, of growth and change, and a hunger for new experiences. It was a cocktail of happiness and boundless energy.

It was like nothing Katai had ever felt before.

Sure, he’d gotten a glimpse of it when he’d used the Bond with Silas. But that didn’t compare to using it to draw power for six uses of Lacerate – this was a lot more intense.

Imagine what it would feel like if I drew in more power? Katai shivered. He wasn’t sure if he was looking forward to finding out, or frightened by just how much he wanted that feeling.

A change in the sounds around him drew his attention. He looked around and saw the creatures that he’d targeted, wounds dripping from all of them – one was even blinded. That wasn’t what had changed things though.

Katai stepped forward and the Megasoma in front of him wavered, for the first time not attacking him without regard for their own safety. He took another step, and those in front of him backed away fearfully. He shrugged and lunged, cutting one of them.

Surprisingly, it screeched and tried to run away from him. What was going on? They’d been throwing themselves at him and the others in a blind fury, up until now.

He lunged again and grabbed the fleeing creature, once again activating the Bond skill. Without too much effort he pushed through the barrier and established another bond to replace the dead link that he’d used up.

He let the panicking creature go and turned to the others that were slowly backing away, retreating back up the tunnel. He targeted two of them and again activated a flurry of Lacerates.

The anticipated feeling swept through him, disappointingly fleeting, but satisfying nevertheless. Three more bodies dropped to the ground.

Katai looked down at the Megasoma that had briefly been bonded to him. He was shocked at the sight – the body looked like it had been sapped of all colour. The dark green carapace was pale and deflated, all colour lost from its softer skin around its face, neck and joints. All in all, it looked a lot like… the Undead.

What the hell? I’m definitely not becoming a Necromancer – right?

When he looked back up, the other Megasoma were still backing away, their eyes on the greying body at his feet.

They’re terrified… of me? Of what I can do?

He shook his head with disbelief. There’s no time to question why, this only buys us some time. I should head back to Kenemen and see if this works again.

He jogged back to the rear of their group, ignoring the questioning looks on the others’ faces.

When he saw Kenemen, his eyebrows rose. The man was visibly sagging with exhaustion, the toll of holding back the immense horde showing in every line of his body. But he was still going.

Rapid-fire strikes that easily pierced through the tough shells, rained down on the creatures. Though the attacking Megasoma in front of the group had started to retreat, these ones were still in full swing, trumpeting their cries of rage. That wouldn’t continue for long now if Katai’s suspicions were correct.

Katai cried out, bolstering Kenemen’s stamina reserves through Battle Cry and letting him know he was there. Without any other further warning, he lunged into the swarming creatures, cutting two of them before piercing a third. He let go of his sword and grabbed the two creatures, mentally preparing for the break-through.

It was far harder to do two at once. He almost regretted it when it took a half second longer to break through their resistance. The delay could easily have cost him his life. Luckily, nothing else managed to attack him, thanks to the quick-thinking Kenemen. The Questor had quickly realised he was up to something and stepped up to his defence.

Finished with the bonding process, Katai pushed them away and looked around with a smile full of anticipation. He selected his targets and activated his skill.

Five bodies slumped to the ground, two of them greying and utterly lifeless. The effect on the other Megasoma was immediate.

The sound died down, a fearful silence spreading from the front. It was quickly replaced with a keening, the cry of fear spreading down the tunnels and deep into the cave system. It was a sound of despair.

A sudden chill ran down Katai’s neck.

Katai and Kenemen watched in disbelief as the formerly ravenous swarm of Megasoma shrunk back, not completely leaving, but very much keeping their distance. Well, from Katai at least.

“What the hell did you do Katai?” The raspy voice of Kenemen was heavy and tired. The man stared at the two bodies that Katai had drained of life, face set with a deep frown.

“Um, so I used my Bond skill to forge a connection with them.” Katai said hesitantly, “Then I used them to power my Lacerates?” He spoke the words like he wasn’t completely sure of his own actions, but the real thing he was uncertain about was Kenemen’s reaction. After all, the bodies did look suspiciously necromantic.

“Hmm, that does explain the way they look. If I couldn’t see the Classes you have, I might have suspected something a bit more unpleasant. Something I’d have to take care of.” Kenemen’s voice hardened and Katai understood the implied threat. It wasn’t like he’d chosen a skill that seemed necromantic in nature. He certainly wasn’t going to be looking for any Void aptitude or skills, any time soon. Or ever.

The Questor sighed and looked over the watching Megasoma with a critical eye. “It looks like we’ve survived for now. Let’s get the fuck out of here before they decide you’re not so scary after all.”

Katai heartily agreed, turning to see the rest of the party staring at him. He shrugged at the astonished and questioning looks they were giving him.

“They think I’m a Necromancer I guess?”

The trek back was far less eventful after that. They were followed at a distance until they left the tunnels, emerging into the sunlight to find themselves alone at last, the last of the creatures scurrying away into the valley. There were probably a hundred other entrances they’d be able to use to get back underground.

The group was weary and slow to return to their campsite. As they walked, far more relaxed after the harrowing experience they’d just had, Katai couldn’t help but indulge his curiosity.

“So, tell us about your new Class. Did you get what you wanted?” He said, bumping his shoulder against Silas.

His friend perked up and grinned at Katai.

“I sure did. Loremaster, an Uncommon Class!”

Katai smiled happily back at him and nodded. “Well, go on then, don’t leave us all hanging.”

The others were clearly listening in as they trudged along the familiar path.

“Ok, one second, I’ll read out the details…” Silas cleared his throat and started to speak, his dry way of reciting now very familiar to them all. “The diligent Scholar, who has focused their studies on improving their mental acuity and recalling relevant information, may take up this Class to advance their areas of expertise. The Loremaster is a repository of knowledge, most often specialised in one or two chosen subjects, collating and sharing what they have learned during their years of research.”

Katai nodded thoughtfully. It sounded exactly like what Silas wanted.

“The interesting things are the skills and trait of course.”

Katai perked up at that.

“The trait is called Eidetic Memory and it improves my memory a lot.” This didn’t seem all that exciting to Katai, but he shrugged and nodded happily at his excited friend. “There’s a catch though. It lets me keep some memories permanently, at the cost of short-term memory. I guess if I’m worried about forgetting something, I can use that. Not a big fan of losing any memories though. Hmm, what does it even mean, short-term memory?”

He shrugged and quickly moved on, too excited to dwell on the possible negatives.

“Get this though – my skills!” Silas was almost hopping as he walked along, rubbing his hands together with glee, the near-death experience quickly forgotten.

“The first skill is called Appraise. Meditate on an object, gaining insight into its form, function and history.” He read out, his eyes going cross-eyed as he tried to keep an eye on the path in front of him while he read the message. “How good is that? If we find any magical items in here, I can try and figure out what they do and where they came from.”

Katai nodded again, deciding not to raise the most obvious issue with that statement. That is, the complete lack of anything resembling a magic item in the Rift so far.

Unfazed by the lack of a response, Silas babbled away.

“The other skill I chose was a passive one called – get this Katai – Loremaster of the Occult!”

Katai laughed and congratulated his friend again, clapping him on the back in approval. Silas grinned and ducked his head, as if he was embarrassed at his good fortune.

Exactly the kind of skill we would have day-dreamed about as kids. It makes him sound a Wizard! I guess dreams really do come true for some people.

Katai made sure the twist of bitterness that suddenly knotted his stomach didn’t show on his face. It wasn’t Silas’ fault that his life had taken the turn it had. He’d chosen his Class after all, not Silas.

“Basically, it helps me to understand and study the Occult – which means magic! – well, anything unseen and mystical really. Like magic skills, or the elements, or formulas, or… well it’s a pretty big area. I think I might get another specialisation later that narrows it down some more, if I wanted.” He shrugged, happiness leaking from his every movement.

Katai couldn’t help feeling a bit jealous. Even though he’d gotten a Rare Class, and a Mage one at that, he was envious that Silas’ entire Class seemed to be aimed at studying magic. Katai wasn’t obsessive like Silas was, but he still had that wonder and curiosity about magic that everyone seemed to grow out of. What secrets would Silas unlock with his Class?

Wait - he’s your best friend, idiot! Of course he’ll share what he learns. In fact, I’ll probably be one of his first subjects, right? Maybe he’ll even be able to help me explore my Blood magic. I’d really like to know what these weird symbols are that I’ve been seeing.

Kenemen raised a diamond-studded ring to his lips and spoke quietly into the device, his eyes glancing around furtively. A short pulse of light flared into existence.

“My Lord, Questor Kenemen with a report on subject b one.”

The wait was a short one.

“Kenemen, report. How’s our little Blood Mage doing?”

He sighed and shook his head before replying. Aliz had little time for code names and anonymity when communicating via Speaking Stone. Even if it was standard procedure.

“He’s making good progress, My Lord.”

A hissing noise came from the ring and Kenemen hurried to keep talking, realising his mistake. “–uh, I am concerned about one of his skills though. I believe it’s similar to what was used in the Red Moon Massacre.”

A pause.

“Go on.”

“It creates a bond between the Blood Mage and another living creature. I suspect he may have already used it to form a bond with one or more of his companions. But today, when we were in a compromised position, he forced the connection on a wild creature. In less than a second, he’d drained it completely of life and used the power to kill half a dozen of its brethren.”

A short silence descended. Kenemen opened his mouth to speak again, when Aliz finally replied.

“I can understand your concerns.” She said slowly, deep in thought, “I’ll book a meeting with the Grand Magus and ask for any details he has on Red Moon. Actually, while I’m thinking of it, I’ll ask him for any information on Blood magic. He’s relatively trustworthy, so I think we can take the risk. Frankly, this Mage of yours is our best hope at succeeding with the Emperor’s Directive.”

He frowned, trying not to think too hard about that statement. Those experiments had been going on for over a decade now and his accidental discovery was the best lead they had? It was as surprising as it was worrying.

“Yes My L– Aliz. That’s all I have to report.”

He knew he didn’t need to say any more. Aliz of all people would understand why he was worried. The last known Blood Mage, and the reason why Blood magic was outlawed, had used his powers to enslave hundreds of men, women and children. The bonds he’d forced on his victims had given him the power to take on an entire country… and the scary thing is, he’d almost won.