Ezzie said.

she said, right as I started climbing.

Ezzie said.

Ezzie said.

I made it to the top of the hill, where the rise simply ended; fully half its surface had fallen away into what looked like a massive crater. But the walls of the crater were terraced, lending the quarry a strangely geometric shape.

But the real showstopper was the swamp that rested at the bottom of the crater. The water was dark, the color of oil with the same purplish, prismatic sheen, and swarms of orange-lit fireflies bobbed through the willows that rose from the water’s depths.

I spotted a ramp a little ways down the ledge, so I jogged over.

Ezzie said.

I eyed the swamp as I traversed lower, ramp by ramp. Water, trees, curiously shaped rocks. Wait.

Ezzie said.

{Lignite Golem} (Level 8 Construct) (Elite)

HP: 500/500

I said.

Ezzie said.

I chucked a knife as Ezzie had instructed and was promptly rewarded with a zero that popped up above the pile of rocks. The rocks shifted, then, rolling around and abruptly climbing one another, shaping themselves into the form of a seven-foot tall stone construct.

Black moss clung to the golem’s broad shoulders; its eyes were jade, hard as flint. The creature took a long, laborious step forward, sinking knee-deep into swampy ground. Then it took another slow step.

I said, still some twenty feet away.

Ezzie said.

I said, as I circled the creature, easily getting behind it.

Ezzie said.

I said.

Ezzie said.

I said. I circled around to the creature’s back and slashed at it three times in quick succession, prompting three more numbers to drift up over the golem’s head: one, one, two.

Ezzie said.

I hacked away at the creature’s back. I said.

I said, taken aback.

I said. More slashes, similar numbers.

Ezzie said.

Ezzie said.

I tossed the shield aside and gripped my short sword with both hands. Then I noticed the ring on my finger.

Ezzie said.

Ezzie said.

Ezzie sighed through the link.

I activated the skill. A purple glow crept over my weapon, so I leapt into the air and brought the sword down onto the back of the construct’s head.

Ezzie said.

I said.

I looked it over, walking in a slow, counterclockwise circle as the golem struggled to catch me. The edge of my blade was chipped and cracked, so I examined it and found that the durability had already dropped by ten percent.

I said.

I said. Getting instantaneous information was helpful, and would be particularly crucial if Ezzie were to disappear again.

Nineteen Lecherous Strikes later—and a ridiculous amount of time spent in the world’s slowest strafing pattern—the golem finally dropped.

Ding!

Congratulations, you reached level 7!

Your Strength and Dexterity have increased!

Your (3) bonus points have been allocated for you!

Additionally, you have (2) stat points to allocate.

You have (1) Class Modifier to allocate.

Reach level 9 to select a third Class Modifier!

Reach level 10 to receive a class change quest!

This time, I was ready for the wave of bliss, and I took it all in, sighing right alongside Ezzie. I said. I dumped my free points into Constitution and pulled up my stat window.

{Silas}

Level: 7

Base Class: Brawler

Gear level: 38 > 53

Grade: F

Strength: 23 > 28

Dexterity: 13 > 15

Constitution: 12 > 16

Intelligence: 7

Wisdom: 7

Charisma: 8

Physical Attack: 17

Magical Attack: 7

Health: 220 > 260

Stamina: 120 > 160

Mana: 80

Armor: 70 (42% physical mitigation)

Magical Resistance: 5 > 17 (13% magical mitigation)

Frost Resistance: 20 (14% frost mitigation)

Ezzie said.

Reminder: Class Modifiers will heavily influence the Tier I class change quest that you are given at level 10. Class Modifiers cannot be changed.

Given your playstyle, gear, and selection of {Bladed Armor}, you may select one of the following Class Modifiers.

{Magnetic Block I} (Requires Shield)

Description: Upon activation, your shield automatically blocks the next incoming physical attack, reducing its damage to zero. However, if this skill blocks an attack that would have otherwise taken more than 75% of your maximum health, your shield’s durability will be reduced to 1.

Cast time: Instant

Cooldown: 15s

Cost: 10 Stamina

Next level: Skill will block an additional attack.

{Hammer Blow I}

Description: Your next successful melee attack deals an additional 50% weapon damage and has a 65% chance of stunning your target for 3 seconds. This ability causes a high amount of threat.

Cast time: Instant

Cooldown: 20s

Cost: 30 Stamina

Next level: Chance to stun increased to 75%.

{Bloody Blessing I}

Description: Upon activation, your damage dealt is increased by a percentage of your missing health for 8 seconds. (0% increase at full health, 33% increase at 1% health). In addition, when you are below 40% max HP, 10% of the damage you deal while {Bloody Blessing} is active is converted into Health.

Cast time: Instant

Cooldown: 1 minute

Cost: 20 stamina

Next level: 2% of the damage you deal is converted into health at all times.

Ezzie said.

I shrugged.

Ezzie hesitated.

I said,

Ezzie said.

, I said.

Ezzie said, sighing the words.

I selected the Magnetic Block skill and glanced back at my stat sheet. I said.

Ezzie said.

I said.