“Level up!” Gorm’s sing song voice bursts out. Followed swiftly by his huge body from his lasso perch.

“Congratulations!” Graem yells back to him while stepping away from the latest goblin corpse.

Laela cheers too as she strolls over before crouching down to cut the ears off the goblin.

“Wait? How did Gorm level?” I ask.

“From the goblin we just killed.” Graem grins at me. “You know the same way you level.”

“What? No, I mean… Has he always been sharing the experience with us?”

Graem laughs. “Yes, every time he lasso’s a goblin he deals a little bit of damage. As long as we kill it before it has time to fully heal he receives a portion of the experience.”

“So then why isn’t he higher level than all of you?”

“Experience isn’t divided equally. It depends on the percentage of damage you deal to the monster before death.” Graem calmly explains. “Goblins are worth five experience, you and I just got two. Where did you think the other experience point went?”

“I don’t know I didn’t really think that deeply. I just didn’t think that Gorm might be receiving a share of the experience too.”

“Of course, he does. Otherwise, we would also take turns lassoing the goblins.”

I rub my hand through my hair. “I see, I thought maybe Gorm was the only one strong enough to do it.”

Before Graem can respond Gorm proudly raises his fist. “I levelled Jaed.”

Jaed, now approaching from the cavern entrance, smiles and gives him a thumbs up.

After the interruption finishes, I turn back to Graem. “Anyway, don’t worry now I know.”

In response Graem nods while turning his attention to Jaed.

“So, break time?” I ask.

“Not yet.” Graem shakes his head still watching Jaed. “I’m also close to levelling which means it won’t be long till everyone else does. We push through till we’ve all levelled.”

“Till we’ve all levelled?” Laela asks visibly confused. “Reed too?”

“Yes, Reed too. If we push on everyone should be able to level before the day’s out.”

“What’s your experience at Reed?” Laela asks with interest.

‘Experience.’

Experience: 358/400.

“Three hundred and fifty-eight”

“Wow, you really are close! We really might all level today!”

“Only if we keep things moving,” Graem replies while passing his spear to Laela. “Oh, and Gorm. Stay focused. You can wait a bit longer to pick your skills.”

Gorm snorts in response before moving back to his hiding spot. Graem begins jogging towards the entry point from which Jaed arrived.

I take Graems words seriously and focus on speeding things up. After all, just twenty-one more goblins until I level up. I’m not alone in my efforts, the same vigour seems to fill everyone. We speed through the following rounds of lasso the goblin and Jaed levels next. Our efforts paying off only further spurs my enthusiasm.

It’s honestly nice. The lasoo goblin farming strategy, is safe and effective, but it’s also becoming stale and routine. After all what’s the point of improving if all I need to do is stab tied up goblins all day. Being forced to fight harder and faster is adding a little bit more of that pressure I need to keep myself from atrophying. And I need that fire or I’ll never catch up to Fraeya, killing tied up goblins. No, I need to improve.

I don’t know if the others are thinking the same. I don’t even know what their true capabilities are really. They said they’ve been down to the second floor. I doubt you can mess around with the monsters down there like this. Besides, I’m nearly level four and there’s no way I could face hobgoblin with the same ease they showed. They’re stronger than me, far more capable, and the magical rules of this world are common sense to them. If I don’t work hard, it won’t just be Fraeya leaving me behind.

That’s why I can only keep fighting.

Goblin after goblin falls to my spear. I should be tired but I’m not. I’m full of potential like a geyser about to burst. Every kill is one fewer until we can all go outside and sort out new skills and abilities.

Graem levels next. Then Laela.

Just one goblin left. My spear flies forward piercing its chest

Dealt 12 Health Points: Piercing damage.

Awarded 2 experience points for assisting in the defeat of a goblin.

Experience threshold reached.

Level Up!

+1 Statistics Point

+1 Ability Point

New Abilities available.

“I levelled!”

“Well done Reed!” Graem beams sweat clinging to his skin.

Laela and Gorm approach from the other sides of the cavern with weary excitement.

“Thanks.” I feel exhausted and exhilarated at the same time.

Gorm’s palm slams into me almost knocking me off my unsteady feet.

Jaed’s loud puffing can be heard from the cavern entrance.

“We’re leaving Jaed. Reed levelled.”

Leaning on the rocky walls of the cavern to support her weight Jaed shoots me a beaming smile before continuing a tottering march towards us.

“We’ll head back to the Guild and have dinner. We can discuss our choices there.”

“Let’s go!” I laugh releasing the last remnants of my excitement and energy.

It is mercifully empty in the Adventurer’s guild hall. So, empty that we manage to find a large enough table to comfortably fit Gorm without leaving anyone squished and located in an area quiet enough that I can even hear Jaed speaking at a normal volume.

“I’ll be back with some wine,” Laela says while pushing her chair out.

“Food too.” Gorm nods.

Graem shakes his head. “Just the wine sis. We can feast after we’ve discussed our abilities.”

“Just the wine. Sorry big guy.” Laela shrugs then saunters of to the bar.

“Graem.”

“Hmm. Yes Reed?”

“It’s been plaguing my mind since I first opened my ability choices menu upon leaving the dungeon, but how come I can’t find the Second Wind and Lesser Healing abilities?”

“Ahh.” Graem breaks out into a coughing fit as he chokes on his drink. Finally, the coughing settles and Graem looks at me awkwardly. “Well Reed, the starting ability choices disappear once you choose two.”

“Wait. They’re no longer available to me!?”

Graem squirms in his chair. “That’s...Correct.” His voice cracks.

I sigh. “So will any other ability options disappear if I don’t pick them.”

Graem shakes his head. “As far as I am aware, other possible abilities shouldn’t ever disappear as options.”

“Okay.” I sigh. “Well, even if I had known it wouldn’t have affected my previous choices anyway. But are there any other hidden dangers? Ability points or statistic points won’t disappear either if I don’t use them”

Graem shakes his head. “No, they won’t. I also hope we are past the point of any more surprises.”

Right then, I guess it’s again time to examine my options.

‘Ability Choices.’

Ability Choices:

Great Slash – Slash mightily at a foe. Deal an extra 100% damage on a single slashing damage attack. Cost 25 mana. 10 second cooldown.

Fire Bolt – Launch a projectile of fire mana at a target. Damage and set ablaze the area impacted. Base damage equals 130% of Charisma statistic. Cost 10 mana. 30 second cooldown.

Ice Bolt – Launch a projectile of ice mana at a target. Damage and freeze the area impacted. Base damage equals 120% of Charisma statistic. Cost 10 mana. 30 second cooldown.

Laela’s voice interrupts my thoughts. “I’m back.”

I close the screen as she places a bottle of wine and five cups on the table, before roughly pulling her chair across the guild carpet and sitting.

“Great then let’s get started.” Graem replies. “Has anyone decided on a skill they absolutely must have?”

Gorm grins widely and looks around at everyone else at the table with the same outward confidence as when he dual wielded mutton legs. “Crushing Blow.”

“I can’t convince you to take another defensive skill?” Graem laughs nervously.

“No.” Gorm opens up his huge hand before squeezing it into a tight fist. “Crushing blow.”

“Alright.” Graem shrugs. “I suppose Stalwart Défense is enough. Anyone else?”

Laela says, returns to the table at this exact moment. “I want to take Lacerate. I need an offensive skill.”

“What about Eviscerate?” Graem asks.

“I plan on taking it too, but I’ll take it after I get the Detect Weakness passive. The risk isn’t worth the payoff until then.”

“Reasonable,” Graem replies. “Reed? Jaed? Either of you have any ideas.”

I turn to Jaed and see her patiently eyeing me from behind her glass. We stare in silence for a while before I realise if I don’t speak first this accidental standoff will never end. “I’m thinking of taking Ice Bolt. Being able to freeze limb joints or something seems more useful than setting things ablaze. Besides, I don’t have a weapon capable of using Great Slash and you said I can pick it later.”

“You definitely can. Although technically you can use Great Slash with a spear, it’s just tricky. I agree with you that Ice Bolt is a good choice overall. Though a warning it will take a lot of practice to hit a targets limb with any consistency. Potentially as tricky as using Great Slash with a spear does that affect your choice at all?”

“No.”

“Okay great, and you Jaed?”

Jaed stops pouring the wine bottle she was using to refill her glass and squirms her hands under the table. “Not sure. I want to hear from you first.”

“Well, from the sounds of everyone else’s choices and from our most recent fight with the hobgoblin I am leaning towards Grasping Vines. It has become abundantly clear that we need some form of crowd control. Although Fireball also has some crowd control benefits and I could use the damage.”

“In that case I could take Charged Mana Wave? Then you could take Grasping Vines?” Jaed whispers hesitantly.

“Excellent idea. Charged Mana Wave synergises extremely well with Grasping Vines.”

A shy smile appears on Jaeds face and her eyes dart around wildly as she turns away and begins playing with the wine bottle. Then she starts pouring wine into her cup again. Wait, is that her third glass?

Jaed looks up again her cheeks tinged red. “So, what’s our plan moving forward?”

“Go back to floor two.” Gorm cries while slamming his mug down. Wine splashes across the table.

Graem’s smile turns wan. “It’s too early, we should at least let Reed catch up to level five before moving down.”

“Even then would be too early. We still have next to zero combat experience especially working together as a group,” Laela coldly adds.

“Hmm. Then I suppose our next moves are to continue boosting Reed with captured goblins until level five. Then we can practice fighting together.” Graem nods.

“Why not fight now? I tire of rope trickery.” Gorm grumbles.

Graem shakes his head. “Not yet Gorm. Soon.”

“We’ll be able to afford better weapons soon anyway. And that will help a lot on the second floor. You want a shiny new hammer right Gorm?” Laela smiles cheekily.

Gorm lifts his large cup to his mouth and takes a big dismissive gulp.

“So, are we all in agreement that the abilities we have chosen are sensible and acceptable?” Graem asks drawing us back to the topic at hand.

I sit forward and nod. Around the table my posture is mirrored in the rest of my companions nodding faces.

“Right, then that’s settled.” Graem leans back leisurely and finishes the wine in his cup. “Then if there’s nothing else. Jaed can you pass me the bottle.”

Jaed looks up shocked and puts down the bottle in her hand. “Ahh.” She stands up jerkily placing a hand on Graem’s shoulder for support. “I’m going to get more wine. Would anyone like anything?”

“Meat.” Gorm grins.

“And other types of food too.” Laela smiles warmly.

Jaed smiles widely and nods then staggers off to the bar. I pick up the wine bottle she left behind. Empty? But we just got here?