“For all that Awakened view Natives as lesser, they must tread carefully. Awakened arrive with their Unique Skills and are given access to all the innovations of dead worlds, but Natives are born into the System. They mold it, as it molds them.”

-

Ra’hel watched as the very sun itself seemed to dim for a fraction of a second. Then, a great beam of light appeared on the clifftop, sweeping out like an [Executioner’s] blade. Down below, smoke rose from the ground around the goblins like an ethereal mist.

This was their chance.

Ra’hel all but screamed in Bonehammer’s ear, causing the dryad to drop the bullet they were working on.

“Now!”

Acting without hesitation, Bonehammer used electric energy to create magnetic fields, manipulating the [Bullets] coated in Ra’hel [Enhanced Venom] to keep from touching them. Then, they fired them, one by one, into the line of goblins. The little dryad’s aim was indiscriminate, often clipping goblins or missing them all together. That was okay though. In Ra’hel’s experience, wounding a family-unit pack animal often lead to the others protecting it, which consumed more resources than killing them outright.

Her partner was less experienced in such matters.

“Ra’hel,” Bonehammer said, pausing their spell casting. “What if I hit one of our [Assassins]? They are our best-“

“Jussst ssshoot!” Ra’hel hissed. She couldn’t help it. “Caussse chaosss. I will protect you.”

To Ra’hel’s surprise, she meant it. She would defend the little dryad while they sowed mayhem amongst their enemies. The two of them just needed to buy some time for their high-level minders to get them out of this little trap.

With that in mind, she took up position near the entrance to their little alley. Her long, muscular lower body coiled beneath her as she prepared. [Trickster’s Physique] directed incoming attention away from her. She wasn’t invisible, or even that hard to find. Just hard to notice.

She scanned the battlefield, searching for any threats that [Hunter’s Intuition] may have missed. Skills were powerful, but far from infallible. As she did so, she caught a glimpse of Snowflake, her Bunny. He was kneeling down with his pet in his arms. Wretched little thing. Her heart twinged as she saw the hob with the swirling paint looming nearby, but he made no move to slay her Bunny.

Ra’hel scowled, irritated with herself for feeling concern for food. Mother did always say she was far too possessive of her prey. She set about isolating that emotion inside herself and squashing it, but a deep itch in the back of her mind tore her away from the task. [Hunter’s Intuition].

A group of five goblins were heading their way, having found the source of the [Bullets]. Each of them carried a large metal shield that deflected Bonehammer’s shots. Bonehammer, ever the pragmatic one, stopped wasting their scarce envenomed projectiles, and shifted their aim to the goblins scrambling for cover behind the approaching unit.

For not the first time, Ra’hel wished she had taken Honey’s advice about mastering a weapon. A long-range one. She had thought by now she would be at least shooting projectiles if not hurling lightning bolts. Close combat was a non-issue for her, but with so many opponents she could at least thin their numbers before they got to her.

Alas, what was done was done. Besides, she would master the [Bullet] spell after this fiasco. After that, greater magic would be close behind. Besides, she expected a constant stream of levels coming her way. After all, each time she ate, she was fulfilling the requirements of her Class. And she ate often. A girl got hungry.

Soon, the goblins were within reach. Ra’hel, like the rest of her kind, could strike at prey within a radius of about half her lower body length plus her human-esque half. Thankfully, this was not common knowledge. That was the way she liked it. She took great care to downplay her exact size. Her tail alone was twenty feet in length. Anyone who took note and considered it might realize that a carnivore of her magnitude would not be satisfied with the dainty meals a human consumed.

With a single use of [Swift Strike], Ra’hel lunged fifteen feet forward. She was in the midst of the goblins before they could react. They didn’t even notice her until it was too late.

Her first victim died easy, her [Enhanced Venom] pumping into its bloodstream to kill it before it even knew what happened. She caught another one in her coils, using [Weakening Touch] and the raw strength of her scaled half to crush the life from its body.

The remaining three turned to face this new threat. As they did, Ra’hel’s [Sapping Aura] flared to life. Energy flooded her veins as the goblins stumbled from the sudden oppressive onslaught of the Skill. Source drained from their bodies to fuel her Skills. To be quite honest, she was rather impressed with this new Skill. If that was what her Class held at level 15, she could only hope it got better from there.

Ra’hel used the strength of her tail to smash the third goblin into the dirt. She relished the way its little bones snapped. The fourth goblin didn’t survive her second [Quick Strike]. Number five was smart enough to try and run. It didn’t make it far. Ra’hel had worked up quite an appetite from the little struggle.

As the fifth goblin slid down her gullet, Ra’hel felt a soft tremor in the earth through her sensitive underbelly. [Hunter’s Intuition] didn’t trigger, but that meant nothing. A goblin could have a Skill that overpowered or undermined her own.

Ra’hel coiled into position, ready to attack or defend. Instead of the goblins she expected to find, the tremor originated from Snowflake’s little pet. It was now on the outside of the wall that cut Snowflake off from aid. The treacherous little thing must have abandoned its master and jumped over.

Watching the creature mewl, cry, and attack the wall of wind with futile desperation, Ra’hel realized her mistake. Snowflake must have thrown it over the wall and now it was trying to get back in. Her theory was cemented by the way the creature favored one of its legs. Probably broke it in the fall.

Ra’hel checked her Bunny, just to see the hob playing with him again. Now it was pretending to fight a fair fight by using its claws instead of weapons. It started off slow and gradually sped up, just to push her Bunny’s limits.

The creature obviously had not figured this out, with the way they were wailing and attacking that damn wall. Getting back inside would help no one. It either didn’t notice or didn’t care about the group of goblins approaching it to finish it off.

She scowled. Like pet, like master. Stupid. Both trying to save each other just to get wiped out with no survivors.

Ra’hel checked back with Bonehammer. They were firing regular bullets now. Another group of goblins was approaching, this one led by a hob. They were still a decent distance away though, and moving slow for some-

As Ra’hel watched, a pair of knives flew out of the smoke to sink into the hob’s shoulder. The hob ripped them out and hurled them back into the smoke without batting an eye. The goblins were being harried by one of the [Assassins]. That meant she had time.

Cursing under her breath, Ra’hel lunged forward, slithering at full speed to go save her Bunny’s little pet. He would owe her this. This little favor would cost him an arm and a leg.

She couldn’t help but laugh out loud at that. As if she would ever only take an arm and a leg.

***

Kaz’errath [Guardian] and Champion of the Findstone Tribe, known by Kaz, felt a familiar smile stretch and pull at his face as the human swordsman lunged toward him. For the first time since being sent to the Emerald Sea to investigate the disappearances, he was going to face a true challenge.

“[Magnetic Shield],” he said, focusing the energies generated by the Skill on his left hand. It was much more powerful with an actual shield, but a lesser result was all he needed.

The sword, a slim and pathetic compared to the giant blades favored by his people, curved in midair to meet his claw. It bit deep into Kaz’s hand, but he relished the pain. It was a chance to level and adapt. With the restrictions the System enforced here, it was almost impossible to find the challenges he needed to level further.

That would soon change.

Once the [King] heard of the Awakened’s treacheries, he would finally be on the path to Ascension. For this he was thankful. When this so-called ‘Guildmaster’ had restricted their access to the Great Tower and limited their pilgrimages to a mere 50 warriors per year, the [King] had decreed patience in accordance with the Old Texts. Kaz was doubtful at first, those years ago. It was the core of a [Martyr King’s] existence to sacrifice. The very nature of their [King] meant that he sacrificed his chance Ascend the Great Tower and grow in power to stay behind and guide those that came after.

But patience and sacrifice was not weakness. Now, they would bring war to these arrogant Awakened. They would teach them the true meaning of honor, and what it means to be one with the System.

Then, when their enemies were slain, Kaz would climb the Great Tower. Finally, he would be like his father, and his father before him; each a [Blood Guardian] and Champion, the same as he. His heart longed for the day he would be able to reunite with the man he respected most, or lay waste to those that killed him.

Kaz’s hand wrapped around the blade of the sword, [Crushing Grip] allowing him to hold it fast. He pulled and pivoted, using a spear hand strike to impale his opponent. Alas, the swordsman was cunning and quick. He released his sword and sidestepped the blow, his movements full of speed and grace.

The swordsman retreated a few paces before drawing his second sword. A clever opponent indeed. Kaz was glad that he had not finished off the fledging Awakened in favor of waiting for a rescuer. Despite being an honorable enemy and full of promise, he did not present the challenge that Kaz craved. Facing a fully realized Awakened was much more exciting.

Unleashing a flurry of blows, too fast for Kaz’s eyes to track, the swordsman advanced. In spite of their blinding speed, each blow was meant to be a final one. Kaz felt long, bloody wounds open up along his chest, arms, and shoulders, but no lethal strike penetrated his [Defensive Stance] and [Iron Guard]. Even the wounds he did receive were relatively shallow, thanks to his [Bloodborne Physique].

The blood running down his body did not make it far. Kaz’s [Bloodborne Tattoos: Armor], drank his life’s essence the way [Crystal Shamans] hoarded Cores. Awakened from their slumber, his tattoos, often mistaken for paint, writhed and grew. Within seconds, they formed armor that covered his skin. It was if he was covered in blood-soaked thorns

The swordsman’s eyes widen in surprise as the armor burst into being. He drew back to unleash a powerful Skill, but Kaz had been groomed to be a Champion since he was born. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled the swordsman’s own sword at him.

The swordsman knocked it aside with a perfect [Parry], leaving himself wide open to Kaz’s claws. With impeccable footwork, the swordsman avoided a lethal blow but sustained injury. He bled from five vicious cuts that went through his leather armor like paper.

Kaz licked the blood from his claws. He could taste triumph already. The tattoos grew, reaching for the blood on his hands and forming gauntlets as they did. He roared a [Challenge].

The swordsman pressed a hand to his side and grimaced. With a tone of urgency, he called out.

“Snowflake, run!”

Kaz turned to the fledging Awakened. They locked eyes. Kaz hesitated to let him go. The Blood Price was not paid in full. This Awakened, fledging and unblooded though he may be, had killed his lesser kin unprovoked.

To Kaz’s surprise, he seemed to be asking permission. Suppressing the ache in heart at this unblooded warrior’s plight, Kaz shook his head. Then, he spoke in the language the Old Texts decreed his people learn once blooded. Or, ‘reached Core tier three’ as Awakened say.

“Stay. Watch. Leave and die.”

The unblooded fledgling grimaced, but Kaz doubted that he would try to escape. If he was confident that the swordsman would stay to fight to the death, Kaz would have let him go. However, he had no such assurances. What he did have, was supreme confidence in his ability to slay the fledgling if he tried to run.

All three of them knew he could, weapons are no. Nonetheless, Kaz chose to believe that it was honor that stayed the fledgling’s feet.

The swordsman cursed.

“Let him go,” he said after spitting out a few words Kaz did not understand. “There doesn’t need to be any more killing today.”

Kaz laughed at that. He couldn’t help it. It forced its way put from somewhere deep inside him; a frenzied laugh that held no humor. He spoke words that burned with loathing, in a language he was growing to hate.

“You came to goblins. Seeking death,” he said, as clear as he could. Dark fury threatened to consume him. “Death found you. Face it. Like goblin.”

The swordsman met his words with an unflinching gaze and a steady sword-hand.

“Fine. Let us end this.”

He raised his sword in both hands. It began to vibrate so fast that the blade itself was nothing more than a blur. Then, a thin blue line seemed to radiate from the edge. Kaz recognized the Skills as [Vibrating Blade] and [Kinetic Edge]. They were powerful, but hard to maintain at a constant rate for long periods of time, not that it usually mattered in the hands of an expert.

Kaz sank into his [Defensive Stance] and prepared for the coming onslaught with [Iron Guard]. The swordsman took a step forward and did something strange. He pulled his hands apart and the blade split. In his off-hand, he held a perfect copy of the sword in his right. As far as Kaz could tell, it was no [Weaponsmith’s] trick.

Damned Awakened and their Unique Skills.

The swordsman lashed out with both blades in a constant, whirling pattern. Each strike chipped away at Kaz’s defense, drawing blood even through his thorny [Bloodborne Armor]. Lacking range, he tried to create some room to breathe with [Quick Footwork], but the swordsman hurled his off-hand sword at him. Kaz ducked beneath the humming blur of death, but the swordsman already had another perfect copy in his hands and was pressing the attack.

Kaz felt a familiar ache in his cheeks. The grin plastered on his face was beginning to hurt, but he couldn’t stop, even as a particularly close strike lopped tip off one of his long, pointed ear. This is what he lived for.

With each drop of his blood that was spilled, his [Bloodborne Armor] grew stronger. This cycle of destruction and regrowth continued until a nasty series of strikes left Kaz flatfooted with an overhead chop bearing down. It threatened to split his head in half if it landed.

“[Magnetic Shield],” Kaz said, laughter ringing in his ears. He pushed on the Skill, demanding more than it could give as he directed it toward his left hand. Better to sacrifice a hand than to lose a battle.

The swordsman enhanced blade bit deep into Kaz’s gauntleted hand and… caught. Kaz gripped the vibrating blade with his [Crushing Grip]. His armor had finally adjusted to the threat. That was the true power of both a [Blood Guardian] and a Monster Core, they adapted.

“Death has found you,” Kaz said, ripping the sword from the swordsman’s grasp. He made another, but it was too late.

Kaz’errath, [Blood Guardian] and a Champion of his people, waded through the swordsman’s desperate blows. Some made it through his armor, but each one that did made him stronger. To the swordsman’s credit, he did not run when it became clear he was outmatched.

Perhaps honor was not such a foreign concept to Awakened. Alas, it did not save the swordsman when Kaz reached into his chest and pulled out his Core. The blood was still warm when he crunched down the Core with his sharp teeth, fueling the growth of his own Core in the process; as was the way of monsters.

Kaz turned to the fledging warrior, warm blood trickling from the corners of his mouth. He regarded his wide eyed expression and shrugged in way of explanation. The fledgling grit his teeth, the muscles in his jaw working.

“Blood price,” he said, catching Kaz by surprise.

Kaz nodded, glad to see an Awakened that had a basic understand of their culture, even if it was forced upon him under pain of death. The fledgling looked from him, to the corpse, and back again. Then, he began to take a fighting stance. An odd feeling bloomed in Kaz’s chest. It was not enmity like he expected, it was something… else. Warm.

“Go,” Kaz said, the words leaving his mouth without thought. “Grow.”

The fledgling blinked and stood there stunned. After a moment, he nodded and made a fair attempt at a Champion’s Salute. It was recognizable, if not perfect, with his chin lowered to protect his neck, fist covering his Core, and eyes watching the greatest threat. This salute was a sign of great respect. Kaz returned the gesture, admiring the fledgling’s unwavering spirit.

On broken limbs, the fledgling hobbled away to safety. Kaz watched him go, dismissing what remained of his [Arena] to make it easier.

He hoped they might meet again someday. Perhaps as enemies at his city’s gates, or maybe as friends in the lands beyond the Great Tower. It mattered not. Iron would sharpen iron, and he looked forward to it.

With a wild grin, Kaz turned his gaze to where two Awakened, one with wings like snow and one that moved like a shadow, fought to cover the retreat of their fledglings. If he was lucky, he might be able to face death once again today.

Kaz approached them, a skip in his step.