The group of adventurers parted from the corpses as they determined who received what items from the loot dropped. They gleefully shared smiles of joy as they each received things of great value, their group strengthening in turn. This particular group of adventurers had been close friends for many years, sharing the same dream of becoming adventurers to supply their family with the coin that was gained from the death of monsters at their blades and magic.

As they had designated who received what, they began to converse with one another in what was called small talk as they parted from the area.

“Hey, you heard of the the rumors about the royalty up in Azrathe? I heard they summoned some of those arrivals.”

“Yea, around 5 I heard. Caused quite an uproar apparently, although I don't know why...”

As the two people conversed, the two women, earth mage and thief, began to show more enthusiasm regarding the subject to be cut short as the men ahead of them. Paladin and spearman, halted at the barely discernible sight of a corpse laid to rest along the ground. They took out their weapons and got into stances as they slowly approached the body.

The sight of a group of orcs and goblins, cold corpses, scattered along the corridor, caught them by surprise. Blood and gore, spread among the display of carnage, it was a slaughter. The mage held an expression of disgust and revulsion as she scanned the battlefield. The rest of the group trying to disguise the bare hints of emotions similar to what the mage beared, as their years of violence on the frontlines fortified their minds in contrast to the gore and blood that plagued the hall. As they wondered what monster could possibly have caused this.

The sounds of bile hitting the floor reverberated from the mage behind them. They swerved their heads to see what made her so revolted to display that kind of reaction. They looked to where she faced, an indistinguishable body, mangled and disfigured, was stuck into the wall. Cracks covering the surface around it as the guts, eyes, and limbs, dangled from the wall it had been compressed into. They too scrunched up their faces at the corpse of what seemed to be a goblin.

They prepared themselves as they inspected their potions which provided additional effects that rejuvenated their health and mana. Their equipment also held at the ready as they walked over the numerous corpses at their feet. They walked past, easing across the rest of the corridor as they carefully and attentively looked round for what the source of the carnage was. They neared a corner, a orc at its base, as they walked around it.

They turned towards their right to look on in disbelief as they saw a scene of the same plagued corpses that littered the corridor. Although this time, it was more visually gruesome and vulgar. The scale of the bloodshed also being of a larger amount as what littered the floors were around 20 orcs in total. Mangled bodies covering the hall as the battle seemed more brutal and vicious in essence.

In response, the bile that filled their throats scattered along the ground. The scene of gore from the massacre that took place filling their minds as they unintentionally backed away.

It was dreadful, so painfully so.

*Nicholas, a few minutes beforehand*

In the middle of the scattered bodies stood Nicholas, his body dyed in a red vibrant liquid as light reflected off it from the dim torches that lit the hall and slaughter before him. His body covered head to toe in cuts and wounds that fatefully held no fatal repercussions. Although it dwindled his health massively as they accumulated over time.

He looked down into his hands as his vision blurred from the mana left in his body. He stood there, eyes closed as he took deep breaths, enveloping the scene before him as he regained his calm mind.

As a demon, he held a great deal of bloodthirst. This leading to why the demons loved the notions of violence and combat as much as they did. It was natural. But not to the extent where you would lose track of yourself during battle and slaughter everything in sight. It seemed the amount of bloodthirst his type of demonic race held was unique in itself. Demons usually, as he heard during his ride to Novac, were combat based races, the bloodthirst they released usually being within their control aiding them massively in battle. But for Nicholas, it was not something he could control as of now.

It was a liability.

He studied the scene before him. Limbs and mangled bodies were strewn upon the floor. Faces holding expressions of pain and fear were apparent along the majority of orc corpses present. Nicholas sighed, this was a problem if he couldn’t control it, he would not be able to make use of his great intellect that was filled to the brim with tactics that could adapt or be adapted to different scenarios. But if he could not properly think, what was the use of it?

He evaluated the problem before being reminded of what one of the stat points that he possessed did. Wisdom allowed you to control the flow of mana more clearly. If that were the case, perhaps it would not be a bad idea if he placed points into it, he could perhaps control his bloodthirst that consumed him during battle if what he had presumed to be right.

He thought this as he held a belief that stat points were similar to skills in some aspects. Sometimes, they had things that were not explained as thoroughly or not at all. This being evident in the limit at which Shadow Manipulation had, it was not stated in its description, yet there was a clear limitation apparent.

Maybe it would be the same for Wisdom, and if it were wrong, it would not be a waste as it was one of his chosen stats for the build he decided to create. But before he did that, he collected the accumulated drops the mobs had left behind as if it were their will. Picking up a dagger or two before placing them at his belt. It would be nice not having to expend mana for when he didn’t need to. There was a also a pair of bracers that were ragged and barely useable as he identified the properties of both pairs of equipment.

Orc Bracers

10 to defense

Durability: 12/20

Level Requirement: 7

Description: A pair of bracers worn by an orc, it is of poor quality.

Goblin Shortsword

15 damage

Durability: 14/20

Level Requirement: 8

Description: A short sword held by a goblin. A size optimal for a dagger in the hands of a human, it is of poor quality.

After having killed so many orcs, he amounted to 2 short swords, a pair of bracers, and at least a silver and 52 coppers. It was appalling in contrast to what the previous group had racked in. He was confused as to why his luck was so awful. But then it came to him.

‘Luck…’, Nicholas had came to the conclusion that luck influenced the quality and droprate of items from monsters. Although he didn’t need any items as of the moment due to the equipment he already possessed, it would have been nice to get a good drop or two. But Nicholas felt those points, if spent on luck, could be better used on things like agility and wisdom. So he forgot but a second later.

He quickly requested the system to display notifications that had appeared during battle. The amount of notifications that appeared before him were refreshing.

Kills

Orc x 25

Goblins x 7

*Congratulations! Upon the absorption of mana from your fallen foes you level up!*

*Level up* x 6

Agility has gained a point through constant movements and great loss of stamina.

Constitution has gained 3 points through constant harm and depletion of health.

Intelligence has gained a point through great loss of mana and exertion of the mind.

Skill Shadow Footwork has leveled up! x 3

Skill Combat Knife (Dagger) Mastery has leveled up! x 4

Skill Shadow Manipulation has level up! x 2

Skill Assassination has leveled up! x 1

Skill Fear Aura has been obtained, lvl has been updated to lvl 6 through past accomplishments and experience

The God of Death has became minorly interested in the accomplishments you have made upon your arrival in this new world and wishes you good luck on your endeavours.

After having reached level 10, you may obtain a class from the list provided that best suits your style. This class will provide additional benefits upon level such as stats and skills at certain intervals that correspond with the class chosen.

Having read through the columns of notifications, he viewed the message that notified him of a god, a being of myths. Having taken minor interest in him, specifically the God of Death. Nicholas was never one to believe in gods but in his own capability to survive and thrive in the world of battle. Even though the notification notified him of this self proposed God of Death, and the fact these notifications have never failed to display incorrect information. He still held a great belief that gods were not of reality, but of myth, and would continue to do so until he had substantial proof regarding the matter. He disposed of the thought before focusing on the next most interesting notification, the one regarding the class he could now choose.

Nicholas had been wondering slightly about the empty space in his status that could now be filled. He responded with a quick yes to the question that stated whether he wanted to appoint his class as of now.

A list of choices appeared before him. He scrolled through, his eagerness now overly apparent as he looked on in great anticipation.