*Swimming has reached lvl 5.

*Adapted to cold water. Adapted to lack of air. Adaptation has reached lvl 2.

Pef drew a deep breath and dove under water again.

So far, the quest to evade recapture by these Templar cultists was going great. Also, his efforts at staying mostly under water forced him to adapt and thus benefit even more.

The sun was about to set soon. He could start crossing the island during night, and head towards a distant village, outside the Templar surveillance. It was certain they would keep the capital under watch, and perhaps all the bigger towns.

But they couldn't watch every single village and boat.

Or so Pef hoped. In truth, these Templar guys were here in Malta for 500 years. Time enough to build contacts and spy networks in every village.

He drew under a wooden boat and placed his ear on the hull.

"The Grand Master has ordered everyone on the lookout for a blonde guy and some asian girl. If you see them, call the Knights or the Hunters..." the voices spoke in a distant tone.

"... We'll not get involved in another Hunt, husband. Remember those burned boats two years ago?" a woman voice berated someone.

"But, the Master..."

Pef dove away, and climbed onto the rocky shore just as the dark covered the sky.

He began running, his new body making all effort seem simple and graceful. One hour later, he arrived at the other side of the island, and took in the sight of Mediterranean under moonlight.

A flutter of fabric in the sea breeze, drew his attention towards a huge tent.

He began walking when a cold sensation enveloped him.

*You have entered an Instant Dungeon. This Dungeon is called Megalithic Mnajdra.

*You have learned ID create. Empty Dungeons cost 100 MP to create. Cannot Create when in combat.

*You have learned ID dispel. Dispelling Dungeons cost 100 MP. Cannot Dispel when in combat.

Pef looked up, where the moon had changed and looked blood-red and twice as close.

A moan alerted him of a closing enemy.

Then a shambling zombie, still wearing a bronze helmet and breastplate began heading towards him.

"Observe!" Pef muttered.

*Ġgantija zombie

-Level 5.

- Status: slow, poisoned, infectious.

"ID Dispel!" Pef yelled with some worry.

*Your MP is not sufficient. Command failed.

"What? Why not?" he asked while shooting the zombie in the head.

*Magic attribute too low.

*Zombie killed. 15 Exp. Drop: 1 lesser soul fragment.

Pef drew back a little, while keeping a wary eye for more zombies. He didn't have unlimited ammo.

"Tell me about all the attributes" he asked his game.

"Attributes are how the Gamer interacts with the world:

Strength: - Muscle lifting or pulling power. Also, punching power.

- Endurance : how many repetitions, or days the body can go on without rest.

- Resilience : so your bones and tendons or skin do not break when you flex those muscles. Also, punching through concrete is less fun if you pulverize your hand.

Constitution - how your body reacts to stressors.

Regeneration - natural healing, regrowing limbs, eyes or even your brain.

Immunities - pain, microbes, toxins and poisons, radiation.

Adaptations - to lack of: heat, air, water, sleep, food, company.

Damage mitigation ability(telekinetic field)

Agility - movement speed. Also, attack speed.

- Dexterity : learned movements that become automatic. Acrobatics, sword skills, blacksmithing etc.

- Reflexes: moving too fast won't make you crash into trees or buildings. Dodging too.

- Perception : see fast moving objects, or farther away, infrared etc. Also, danger senses.

Magic - magic strength. Also, spell power.

- mana reserves.

- mana control and shaping speed.

- Magic Intellect : how fast you can learn/create new magic

- Affinities and magic trees. (Fire, Ice, Holy etc)

Mind - wisdom and common sense

- memory and recall

- thinking speed and deduction/inference.

- willpower and mind resist.

Charisma - social presence, how you interact with people.

- charm abilities. (pheromones, also body shape and beauty)

- leadership and management.

- diplomacy and negotiation.

- Fame, influence, respect, fear, intimidation.

Kharma - includes your luck. Also, critical hits and better drops

- fated encounters or events.

- ancient artifact bound to you (can also be spirit, old cultivator, imprisoned dragon)

- prophecy or warning dreams

- a god's blessing or quest

- reincarnation, resurrection, planewalker or other outside help.

Pef read through the attribute descriptions at speed. They made more sense than using Intelligence for magic, and then having super genius magi obliterate the planet at their whim.

"Can I see my own status?" he asked with some trepidation.

*Pef the Gamer

Level 6, HP 140, MP 10

Attributes:

Str: 11

Con: 11

Agi: 11

Magic: 1

Mind: 15

Charisma: 11

Kharma: 9

Pef read his status with concern. "You mean to say my Luck was 1 before I got this new gig?"

*Indeed. If a million pianos fell from the sky one day, at least a thousand would have hit you. And one did." a soft woman's voice replied instead.

"And getting shot in the head?" Pef asked a bit amused.

"Same. You brought a metal table leg to a gunfight. What did you expect would happen?" the woman said with a giggle.

"Right. And stumbling into an ancient dungeon that I have no means to escape from?" Pef asked rhetorically.

*Attribute points not distributed: 15

*The Gamer receives 3 attribute points per lvl up.

*The Gamer has received the Blessing of a Goddess. Seduction rolls gain +10 percent chances.

*Kharma gains +1 attribute.

Pef rolled his eyes at the blatant display of favoritism.

"Send 10 points to Magic and 5 to Agility." he spoke out loud.

*Magic attribute increased by +10

*Agility attribute increased by +5

"Okay, you can leave now. But I advise you to stay. You'll need to loot that drops here." the Goddess spoke with a breathy voice.

"I will need bullets. Tonnes of bullets." Pef whispered to himself.

A Dacian two-handed falx fell from the sky and embedded itself into the ground, next to his leg. Pef poked the weapon curious.

*The Gamer has acquired a rare weapon. Bloody Dacian Falx (Rare quality). Special attribute: Repairs itself with the blood of your enemies. Durability 90/100

With a grin on his face, Pef grabbed the polearm and ran ahead, demolishing bronze age zombies with ease.

"Set your Inventory to auto-loot." the goddess advised him as he spun among zombies, cutting three at once.

"Auto-loot" Pef said, while bashing a zombie's head with the iron pommel on the other end.

*Loot set to auto.

*The Gamer has learned Polearm skill.

*Martial arts has reached level 3.

Hours passed, while Pef haunted the old dungeon, hunting zombies and collecting soul fragments.

Without getting tired, the fighting was actually pleasant, not to mention raising his skills.

Alas, it was not meant to last.

*You have killed 1000 zombies. You gained Gravedigger perk: +1 Constitution. Adapted to zombie virus.

*The zombies are not happy at being crushed. The name Ġgantija, means 'Giants' tower. And you'll now find out why.

To Pef's surprise, the remaining zombies in the field began coalescing into a pulsating mass of organs and limbs.

With moans and squelching sounds, the dead biomass rose, like a towering super zombie, at least 50 meters tall.

Pef sped up, and slashed at the giant zombie's leg. There was a cut, but much shallower than expected.

Then the giant stomped, and Pef had to flee or be crushed between two slabs of rock.

He threw a look behind him, and dodged a huge rock thrown much too far.

"Observe!" he yell, while diving in for another run.

*Observe has reached level 3.

*Zombie Giant

Level 50. 25000 HP, 0MP.

Status: slow, diseased, angry.

Pef began strafing and slashing at a leg, trying to create a deep enough cut to hobble the giant. But as fast as he was with the polearm, the Giant was also regenerating.

Then a mighty hand descended and slapped Pef away, sending him flying into the distance.

-100 HP

*Damage mitigation has reached level 3.

*Regeneration has reached level 7.

Pef glanced at his own status with a frown. A single hit almost killed him.

*Danger sense acquired.

With a snort, Pef returned to the fight, this time more careful. Two falx slashes, then change location, three more hits, dodge again.

Slowly, the hits began piling up, overwhelming the zombie regeneration.

An hour later, the leg fell off and the giant had to kneel in order to keep fighting.

Pef switched targets to the other leg, and after a long fight managed to chop it off as well.

The giant zombie fell on his chin, arms slashing left and right in desperation.

Pef shrugged, running away and coming from behind.

A few jumps placed him on the giants back. He started slashing at a shoulder.

A few hours later, the zombie lay dismembered under his feet.

"Can I store the falx in inventory?" Pef asked curious.

*BDF stored.

It was here that Pef wanted to reach.

Flexing his magic muscles, Pef aimed his palm at the zombie's head.

"Shoot lightning!" he yelled heroically.

"Fireball!" he tried again.

"Turn Undead?" he tried in desperation.

It didn't work. Angrily, Pef punched downwards with his magic held in his fist.

*You have created Aura Fist. Costs 10MP per use. You grab your precious soul in your fist and punch the enemy in his dirty soul. Most magicians would die at first try. I wonder how many times it will take you.

*Your Aura Fist inflicts 900 damage on the Giant Zombie. Its soul crumbles. Gain 5000 Exp.

*You have defeated the Megalithic Mnajdra Dungeon. You gain 10000 Exp.

*You have killed 1000 zombies. Gain 15000 Exp.

*You have received Drain Life Manual. You have received Greater soul fragment. You have received Bronze Breastplate(Uncommon quality), You have received Bronze Helmet(Rare quality).

*You killed an enemy of level 50. You gain the perk Five-O: +50 HP

*The Gamer has reached level 8.

*Free attribute points: 6

Pef pocked the manual with curiosity.

*Learn Drain Life? Yes/Later.

With a smile, Pef pressed Yes, igniting the manual and imprinting the details of this spell into his Magic.

*Drain Life acquired. Range 5 meters. Cause target to lose 10 HP and transfer it to the caster. Cost 10 MP. Can damage immaterial or dead enemies.