Chapter 45: A Magic of Sorts

I felt the silver marble in my palm turn warm. Just like with the previous Class stone I had absorbed, it melted into my skin. Words appeared in my mind.

You have acquired the psionic Class. The psionic is a versatile psi Class, providing you with equal opportunities for growth in any Mind skill. It comes with neither the restrictions or benefits of more specialized psi Classes. You have gained the trait: metamind. This trait increases your Mind by: +4 ranks. Your level cap for mind-based skills has increased to: 40.

You have gained one basic skill: meditation, and three advanced skills: chi, telekinesis, and telepathy. Meditation replenishes a player’s store of psi, while chi uses the power of the mind to perform extraordinary physical feats. Telepathy allows a caster to subliminally influence others, and telekinesis is used to move objects with the mind.

I closed my eyes and tasted the new knowledge filling my consciousness. The psi skills I had obtained were strangely different from the physical ones I had acquired earlier. Bowing my head, I rubbed at my temples. My mind felt different too.

Fuller. Clearer. Sharp. And full of psi.

I had gained access to a new source of energy, one eager and waiting to be used. I pulled out the charm spellbook and flipped through it.

You have acquired the basic ability: simple charm. This is a mind spell that temporarily overrides the target’s consciousness, forcing them to serve the caster for 10 seconds. This ability can only be activated through direct line of sight. The effects of this ability may be overcome by mental resistance. Beware, taking hostile action against your bespelled minion will break the charm. This ability consumes psi, and can be upgraded. Its activation time is average. You have 3 of 4 Mind ability slots remaining.

I smiled to myself. That was two new abilities I had now, and already I could imagine a dozen different ways to employ them. Clearing out this complex would have been a lot easy if I had them to begin with.

I opened my eyes to find Aira and Oursk staring at me. “Almost done,” I murmured. Focusing on the last item, I willed my desire to the Game.

Lesser attribute gem used. You have gained 1 attribute point.

One last thing to do, I thought and willed open my player profile.

Player Profile: Michael

Level: 18. Rank: 1. Current Health: 95%.

Stamina: 30%. Mana: 100%. Psi: 100%.

Species: Human. Lives Remaining: 3.

Marks: Wolf-friend, Lesser Shadow, Lesser Light.

Attributes

Available: 4 points.

Strength: 0. Constitution: 0. Dexterity: 9. Perception: 8. Mind: 4. Magic: 0. and Faith: 0.

Classes

Primary Class: Scout (basic).

Secondary Class: Psionic (advanced).

Tertiary Class: None.

Traits

Undead familiar: +1 to necromancy rank.

Nimble: +2 Dexterity.

Beast tongue: can speak to beastkin.

Metamind: +4 Mind.

Marked: can see spirit signatures.

Skills

Available skill slots: 4.

Dodging (current level: 23. max level:90. governing attribute: Dexterity. Type: basic).

Sneaking (current level: 35. max level:90. governing attribute: Dexterity. Type: basic).

Shortswords (current level: 29. max level:90. governing attribute: Dexterity. Type: basic).

Two weapon fighting (current level: 25. max level:90. governing attribute: Dexterity. Type: advanced).

Chi (current level: 1. max level:40. governing attribute: Mind. Type: advanced).

Meditation (current level: 1. max level:40. governing attribute: Mind. Type: basic).

Telekinesis (current level: 1. max level:40. governing attribute: Mind. Type: advanced).

Telepathy (current level: 1. max level:40. governing attribute: Mind. Type: advanced).

Abilities

Crippling blow (governing attribute: Dexterity. Type: basic).

Simple charm (governing attribute: Mind. Type: basic).

Equipped

1 common thief’s cloak (+3 sneaking).

2 basic steel shortswords (+10% damage each).

1 common fighter’s sash (+3 shortswords).

Backpack Contents

Money: 1 gold, 3 silvers, and 3 coppers.

31 x field rations.

2 x flask of water.

8 x empty potion flasks.

1 x summon lesser wight spellbook.

1 x minor healing potions.

1 x archer Class stone.

2 x goblin shortbows.

4 x iron daggers.

1 x bedroll.

1 x heavy shields skillbook.

6 x moderate healing potions.

1 x coin pouch.

1 x keyring.

3 x full healing potions.

1 x basic fire-starting kit.

1 x moonstone lamp.

1 x rogue Class stone.

“Excellent,” I murmured to myself. I had four attributes to spare, but given my recent growth in power, I saw no need to spend them yet. Perhaps, it is time I started banking my attributes. I had evolved rapidly in my first day in the Game—has it only been one day?—and I felt capable of taking on any foe I had encountered thus far, even the trolls. Perhaps I should return to their lair and—

I broke off the thought. Now was not the time to fall prey to overconfidence. The dire wolves had a way out of the dungeon, and the least I should do before throwing myself in danger again was to investigate what lay beyond.

I rose to my feet and turned to the waiting wolves. “Let’s go.”

~~~

We did not leave the cavern immediately, of course.

There were still fifty-odd goblin corpses in the hall that I had yet to loot them. But with Aira and Oursk impatient to get going, I limited my search of the dead to their coin pouches. Besides, I didn’t have nearly enough space in my backpack to carry much else.

You have acquired 4 gold and 240 copper coins. Total money carried: 7 gold, 7 silvers, and 3 coppers.

It was only the goblin leader’s corpse that I took the time to inspect more fully. He had carried the bulk of the money I had found: four golds, and it led me to anticipate finding other stuff of value on him. But unfortunately, other than his spiked hide armor and greatclub, the chief carried nothing else of worth. With lots of cursing and tugging, I managed to remove the goliath’s helm. Holding it in my hand, I considered its game data.

This is a rank 1 spiked hide armor helm. This item decreases the damage sustained by: 20%. This item requires a minimum Constitution of 4 to equip.

My brows drew down. The helm’s properties were different from other items I had encountered. It had a rank of its own, and a prerequisite to equip. Thoughtfully, I turned my attention to the greatclub.

This is a rank 2 greatclub, +1. This item increases the damage dealt by: 40% and also bears an enchantment that increases the wielder’s two-handed club skill by +1 rank (10 skill points). This item requires a minimum Strength of 8 to wield.

My frowned deepened. Like the helm, the chief’s weapon also had a rank and prerequisite to use.

“What’s troubling you now?”

I looked up. Gnat was back. “Hmm?” I murmured absently.

“You’re scrunching up your face again,” he said. “Why?”

I gestured to the greatclub resting on the floor. The darn thing was so heavy, I could barely hold one end aloft. “This item needs eight Strength to wield.”

“Oh,” the bat said. “That’s normal. Neary all equipment will have restrictions.”

I glanced at him. “But the equipment sold by the vendors in the Master’s domain didn’t,” I pointed out.

Gnat snorted. “That’s because those were newbie items meant for rank zero players.”

“I see,” I muttered.

“Don’t worry,” Gnat said. “You’ll find items more suited to your current rank and Class in the safe zone,” he said. “There are vendors there.”

My gaze sharpened. “This is the first I’m hearing of it,” I said. “Why didn’t you mention them before?”

Gnat shrugged. “There was no need. You would’ve found out soon enough once you got there.”

“How far away is the safe zone?” I asked. “And what are my chances of reaching it alive?”

“I don’t know,” Gnat admitted.

I sighed. The safe zone and its vendors might as well be on the other end of the world for all the use they were to me now. It would have been nice, though, to be able to spend the gold in my pouch. “Where did you go?” I asked suddenly.

“Why?” The bat looked me over carefully. “Don’t tell me you were worried?” He laughed as if the whole thing was amusing.

“Of course I was,” I replied, my own response devoid of emotion. Gnat hadn’t answered my question, but I didn’t push the matter. I turned back to the chief’s gear. Both armor and weapon were too heavy for me to carry away, and I had no choice but to leave them behind. What a waste.

I turned to Aira. “Alright,” I said aloud for Gnat’s benefit. “Lead on.” And let’s find this exit.