Six hours later

{Inventory}

[16/25]

[Bone Knife]

[Sling]

[Pouch Of Stones] (31/64)

[Bone Spear]

[Bone Long Sword]

[Bone Long Sword]

[Bone War Axe]

[Bone War Axe]

[Bone War Axe]

[Worked Acacia Branch]

[Worked Acacia Branch]

[Lesser Venison Jerky] (12/32)

[Sharpened Stone] (2/32)

[Common Guarri Berry] (32/32)

[Common Guarri Berry] (9/32)

Kaine looked through what was available to him as he munched on tasteless jerky, feeding his mind more so than his gut, thinking hard on a plan he had been slowly putting together.

As he hid in the fog of steam, feeling the heat and wetness as he tread at its edge. Moving from cover to cover, and disappearing into the fog whenever he found none.

He watched them, for the past five hours Kaine studied the horde.

Night time is my best chance, they can see decent in the dark but with my Dark Elf passive I should be able to avoid them better. Their hearing is animalistic and keen, but I’m thin and light on my feet. The only issue will be their excellent noses, I’ll have to cover myself with something…

He mused, then glancing at a bush of the same berries he held in his inventory.

Those will do, I guess? It’ll cover my scent, if they even know what a Dark Elf smells like…Better safe than sorry. Weaponry wise I’m not doing bad, the sling doesn’t do all that much damage but its easy ammunition. The Spear on the other hand is damn sharp and thin, a good throw will kill. The axes…not so much. But they’ll serve as weapons for them when I free them, so will the longswords.

Now sure that the horde wasn’t changing direction any time soon, Kaine fully focused on plotting and planning. Moving whilst hidden and keeping up with it, but only paying attention to his general surroundings whilst reading off his windows.

Mainly, an interesting change that came with his new race.

{Dark Elves}

{Drow}

{Dal’Fae}

-Dark Sight; You sense movement within darkness and shadows. Nothing of physical make can sneak up on you whilst you lay in at least shade, to pitch darkness.

-Demon Master; Can [Summon] a link to a demonic entity, forming a {Contract of servitude} with you as the master.

-Corrupt Creation; +15% experience gain to Sigilcraft and Enchanting. Capable of using Curse enchantments.

Summon?...No way…Just like they used to do back in the old game?

He pondered, tentatively inspecting the word and gaining himself more information.

{Summoning}

There are three kinds of summonings.

At your level of the arcane, only one is available to you.

[Link Summon]; Create a mental connection between you and a target, the target will only be physically summoned before you if a contract is then agreed upon.

Requirements: Several items and preparations are needed to cast any summoning, depending on the items different targets will be connected with.

You are {Dark Elf}

Only [Demon]s will accept your [Link Summon] connection.

To link with a [Demon], fresh blood is a must for the summoning circle. Your blood, if you wish to form a {Contract of Servitude}. This will also ensure that a [Demon] of your level or lower only will be connected, as higher [Demon] beings cannot be contracted with.

A mixture is then needed to be burned, incense to cast the summoning.

At least three items need to be added to the mixture before being burned over anything flammable while within the summoning circle, different [Demon]s will also be attracted to your calling depending on the mixture.

It is suggested that two of these items is either the flesh of a small creature, blood from a large creature, or dangerous plantlife.

Kaine took all this mass of sudden information in, briefly startled by how inspecting that one word told him this much.

That’s…What happened to just thinking of summoning a Pit Fiend and the spell just casting itself? Those were simpler days...

Kaine sighed, deciding he had enough time before night came to at least give this a try.

I could use a hand at this anyway…Even a fucking Imp would be of some use.

He mused.

Yeah, an imp would be a good distraction if I need to run…

Evilly he mused as he moved along, searching the ground, bushes and formation of stones on his way through. Trying to find anything that could be of use for this summoning.

As he did, Kaine stumbled upon some strange plants with white trumpet thin flowers, tattered green leaves and spherical spiked fruits. Pausing as he saw them, he crouched down and inspected one.

[Devil’s Snare]; Each part of this plant is highly toxic, mostly the leaves, and the pods hold dozens of seeds from which more of the plant grow.

Uses: A good summoning material for [Demon] class summons.

+1 Herbalist experience gained!

2/100

Carefully Kaine then used his bone knife to collect a few leaves and several more of the spiked pods, refilling his stone pouch with them.

[Devil’s Snare Leaf] added to inventory.

17/25

+2 Herbalist experience gained!

4/100

[Devil’s Snare Leaf] added to inventory.

18/25

+2 Herbalist experience gained!

6/100

[Devil’s Snare Leaf] added to inventory.

19/25

+2 Herbalist experience gained!

8/100

[Devil’s Snare Seed-pod] added to [Pouch Of Stuff] (43/64)

+3 Herbalist experience gained!

13/100

The leaves will do for the first item I guess, I don’t think the pods will count though so I need…two more things?

Thought Kaine as he continued his search, passing by several more strange plants but none seemingly dangerous enough to be considered usable to the system.

When suddenly a hiss caught his attention.

Twisted up next to a formation of rocks, it snarled up at him ferociously as he approached. A long bright golden body with black patches, pale yellow bottom and scales growing into small spikes. The viper’s brown-gold eyes focused upon him, hissing loudly once more and revealing a nasty set of long curved back fangs.

Kaine immediately inspected it.

Male Hairy Bush Viper [Level 1]

Noticing that he had noticed it, the viper approached aggressively, fangs bared and slithering forward with rapid movements.

Kaine loved snakes, but the ferocity with which this thing approached him frightened him.

He backed away, not intent on being bitten by it. At first he thought of unsheathing his sword, but then had a better idea, as he pulled the bone spear out of his inventory. Aiming the sharpened bone blade at the creature, as it suddenly froze with eyes set upon the weapon.

Both stared at one another, unmoving, ready to strike at any moment.

Each, the viper and Kaine just like it, ready to bare their fangs and bite.

Slightly Kaine then moved the spear-tip, and like a spring trap the viper struck.

He lured it, and like the animal that it was, it fell for it.

Striking forth the second it did so and piercing his spear through the top of the viper’s wide open mouth.

You have expertly killed { Male Hairy Bush Viper [Level 1] }

This creature is too low level to gain you any Martial experience.

+ 3 Hunting experience gained!

3/100

Seeing the experience gain towards hunting, this confirmed to him that this skill was at least still the same as it was in the old game. Requiring the quick kill, incapacitation or capture of a lower levelled creature.

Not that it matters, not that it can help at the moment…

Sighing, Kaine then made sure his surroundings were still clear, the horde was nearby after all. Seeing nothing, he faded back into the fog’s edge, inspecting his kill as he moved.

[Hairy Bush Viper Corpse]: Before death, this creature was an apex predator of its size, chasing off creatures even larger than itself with the threat of its highly venomous fangs. Uses: Many parts of this body are usable for [Demon] class summons, including the flesh, eyes and fangs.

Alright so I’ve got multiple choices out of this…Knowing some of the lore, I’d guess that using flesh would summon something that hunts the serpentine but having something serpentine as a familiar would be very useful in this situation…A pit fiend isn’t exactly stealthy. So fangs and eyes it is?

Deciding on what to use, Kaine pulled the viper’s corpse off his spear tip and stored both.

At first, he moved back out of the fog and searched for some firewood, finding some dry branches and tinder he stored them too then stepped back into the pillar of steam. Walking inwards as far as he could till he reached the water.

He couldn’t quite see it, but he heard the quiet rush of the river a few feet before him. As deep into the fog as he was, even his Elven eyes couldn’t see that well. Waving his hands about a bit…somewhat helped…but not enough to find where the river began, and the dry ground stopped.

I guess this will do…

He mused, sitting down and pulling out the snake, bone knife and one of the flat bladed stones. Using the stone as a surface, he carefully pulled out the viper’s eyes and long fangs.

Storing them into his inventory.

Alright…this might go very badly or somewhat good, what do I have to lose right?...

Chuckling to himself lightly, he dug a small pit in the ground and pulled out the firewood and dry leaves, placing them within. Then, he froze.

Ah…wait…how do I light this thing again?...

Kaine went through several stages right then.

Confusion.

Disbelief.

Cringe.

And finally, frustration.

He didn’t know how to light a fire, Jedd had lit their campfire last time...and he hadn’t exactly watched.

“Well, fuck me right?” he mused out loud but still quietly, “Maybe I can find some flint somewhere…Ah, no steel…” Kaine sighed, unsure how to proceed as he stood up and away from the pit, glancing about pointlessly as he couldn’t even make out his own feet through the fog.

When, a thought came to him, as he turned towards the river.

“Err…I’m not sure how to ask this but, can you give me a light?” He whispered, towards where he knew the Gaizedon stood.

“A flame I can give, but unsure I am as to why you require light? Light shall not allow you to see better within my mist.” The beast grumbled in response.

“Ah no, a flame would do fine, I just need this little pit to be on fire.” Kaine tentatively explained.

“Hmm, that I can do, but best it is if you step back some more.” The creature warned, and Kaine did as told, stepping several feet away from the pit whilst trying to keep track of its location.

As suddenly a cone of blazing flame gushed into his view, dispersing much of the fog around him and lighting afire many a bush. Including, his little fire pit.

“T-Thanks…” Kaine stuttered as he spoke, understanding now which creature in this land was at the top of the power ladder.

Then he rushed down to the pit, sitting down and continuing while he still had a clear view of what he was doing. Unsheathing his sword, he carefully cut his palm, grimacing as he did. Kaine then traced a thin circle around the pit, trying his best to make it a full one before his wound stopped bleeding.

{ [Life]: 15/16 }

Successfully doing so, he then retrieved the materials from his inventory, placing the fangs first as venom still barely leaked out, the eyes next which they slowly began to melt away, and the leaves last. Watching as the flame devoured those too, raising a trail of greenish smoke, whilst the fog enclosed on him from all around.

You call forth creatures of true darkness, you demand audience with one being of hell.

Seeing the chant appear, Kaine immediately began to speak it form his own perspective.

“I call forth creatures of true darkness, I demand audience with one being of hell.”

To accept your offering, as payment, for their time.

“To accept my offering, as payment, for their time.”

To hear your calling, and form a contract. To be given passage to the physical, an escape from the pits of damnation…but to enter under your command.

“To hear my calling, and form a contract. To be given passage to the physical, an escape from the pits of damnation…but, to enter under my command.”

This is your offer, now, who shall heed it?

“This is my offer, now, who-” Kaine was about to finish the chant, when he noticed shapes formed through the fog which surrounded him.

Serpents, of many sizes and shapes, monstrosities formed out of the steam. Surrounding him, reaching out towards him, as their voices barraged his mind.

Begging.

Pleading.

To be let out, to be freed.

Hundreds…

Thousands…

Millions of voices filled Kaine’s mind, imploring him for…something. He couldn’t quite make out their words, there were just too damn many voices filling his head and it was starting to hurt. Like a sudden headache, the pain struck him, making him feel delirious and nauseous.

He watched, frozen in fear as the demonic figures slowly enclosed around him.

Their claws.

Their fangs.

Their horns, tails and tentacles.

Each reaching out for him.

Their expressions, if even humanoid and had one, full of agony and drowning in horror.

Everchanging, evershifting into others. No one demonic figure remained the same for more than a second, as the dozens of forms closed in on him.

Kaine though was frozen, confused and completely unsure of what to do, what to even say. Utterly flabbergasted by the sudden sight.

When suddenly, the forms dissipated.

The voices stopped, clearing his head.

But it wasn’t over, as the fog around him had unnaturally stopped closing in, while it took the form of hundreds of snakes flowing through it. Like serpents made of steam now lay all around, but none of their heads or tails showed.

Warning!

A [Greater Demon] has intercepted your ritual!

Destroy the circle now or face the consequences!

That one window, sent chills up Kaine’s spine, as he rushed to scatter what lay before him.

But…he suddenly found that he couldn’t move at all.

A Dark entity has enfeebled your mind. You are stunned for 3 minutes.

Curiousss…Oh how curiousss it isss.

A voice, or more like a deep hiss, then spoke into his mind.

Curiousss that, not only hasss there not been a sssummoning from hell in eonsss…But your kind…Your kind ssshouldn’t exissst anymore.

The voice filled Kaine with utter terror, as if forcing cold fear into his mind, as he trembled, as he took nervous and rapid breaths.

Truly, you tickle my curiosssity…Dal’Fae…Ssso, you wish for a ssservant from this damned void? Many…Oh ssso many wisssh to be given a way out~ Eonsss! Hasss it been sssince anyone hasss made it out…But you are too weak, too weak for me to ssserve. Maybe, sssome other time, I’d heed your call…

A chuckle so dreadful, so wicked, sounded off into Kaine’s mind that for a moment he thought he’d piss himself on the spot.

But for today…Ha!...I’ll give you my finessst~ If, your promissse, to call for me when you become…ssstronger.

The voice offered, as Kaine watched the fog shift before him…

Growing out and taking shape, a massive snake’s head formed before him.

And it stared down directly at him…

What ssshall it be? You, who wasss courageousss enough to even link with hell, will you take thisss oath? For power? Power which I presssent.

You are no longer stunned.

Feeling control of his body return to him, Kaine though remained where he sat, staring at the massive snake’s head with narrowed eyes.

“I’m stuck in a deadly, unpredictable world. Smiled upon by some…wicked gods. My life’s already fucked as it is…So why not?” He said, then standing up but still facing the serpent.

“Why the fuck not? Sure, Demon, show me what you’ve got.” Kaine said, still filled with fear, but fear which he had embraced. Aware of the terror which plagues his heart, his mind though was clear.

Something the demon sensed.

True courage, isss within you…At timesss blind, at timesss ssstuck in the passst…But you know, what courage truly isss. I like you, Dal’Fae, and I don’t usssually like mortalsss.

Again, the horrid laughter filled his mind.

Then through me, you have contract with my ssservantsss. They are at your…calling. And when the time finally comesss…Call for me, free me, for I can sssee a master within you I can one day follow.

The demon said, as the head slowly receded into the fog.

When that day comesss, call my name, call for…

It spoke its name, and Kaine heard it, but at the same time did not. The word briefly appearing in his mind before disappearing entirely from his memory.

Right then, the fog suddenly closed up all around him, blinding him.

He immediately fell to his knees, breathing heavily as the fear finally caught up with him, replacing the dissipating adrenaline. Kaine felt cold, frigid his body felt as he hyperventilated.

He was in full panic mode.

Fuck, fuck, fuck, shit, fuck, son of mother fucking cunt! What the fuck!?

Grasping his head as he swore mentally, clutching and pulling his hair, as he smiled.

A maddened grin on his face while he stared at the empty smoking pit before himself.

Empty, except for the ashes, and what slowly rose out of them.

You have gained a [Demonic] familiar! {Hellbat Cobra [Level 4] } is now your follower!

Kaine watched as the pitch-black serpent rose out of the ashes and stretched out its two sets of leathery black wings. Its two crimson red eyes focusing upon him the moment they opened.

Do you wish to name your familiar?

They have no gender but can if you wish for them to.

They are too old to be given a descriptive age understandable by you.

Their elements are Dark, Fire and Poison.

They are capable of both diving and flight.

Kaine thought for a moment, as he stared back at the creature.

“So, this is the outside huh?” When he suddenly heard a voice speak before him, emanating from the little demon. “It’s…more humid than I thought, damn is it hot. I like it but…Is it normal that I can’t see jack shit either?”

Kaine was still too shocked and confused to respond in any shape, way or form.

A snake is talking to me…Should I check for a scar on my forehead?...I should right?