The fields leading to the woods were graced by the sudden rising of the sun. Within minutes the sun was high in the sky illuminating the landscape. Not very realistic dawns either. The thought toyed on the edge of Tyr's mind, but passed quickly as he took in the scene before him. A creek running along the edge of the nearby hill, cutting into the sediment, and working its way into the woodland beyond. The open feeling of the wide, blue sky. The birds filling the air with the sound of their songs, warming the fields with their melodies.

The trek to the forest passed by quickly, yet uneventfully. As they made it into the woods they were disappointed to find nothing of interest to them. The underbrush was thick, making movement slow. The sounds coming from the woodland were as one would expect; insects chirping, leaves rustling, and even an occasional hoot from an owl. However there was nothing to fight, no monsters. As the duo pressed deeper through the underbrush it occurred to Tyr that the monsters may not spawn during the day.

"Hey Brutus do you think-" Tyr was cut short as a deafening shriek pierced the air. The temperature dropped uncomfortably fast, and he could see his breath lingering in a small cloud. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. For the first time since coming to this realm, he felt fear. Fog surrounded them in a speed that was as unnatural as the drop in temperature that preceded it. Brutus took a sharp stance while drawing his sword. The misty fog began to take form, and from it a face appeared. The creature that formed had sharp skeletal features mixed with rotting flesh. The creature emanated death and decay. A title appeared above the monsters head, and the monsters data hovered now in Tyr's peripherals.

Enemy: Banshee

CLASS: Monster

Level: 20

HP: 2,200 / 2,200

MP: ?? / ??

POW: 25

INT: 95

WIS: 40

DEF: 20

AGI: 20

The creature writhed through the air, moving as though it was crawling rather than flying through it. The banshee was immediately on the offensive, hands outstretched, a black ball of energy forming between its fingers. The black ball of energy formed into a sphere and the banshee hurled it forward. It ripped through the air at them. The black bolt barely missed either of them as they rolled away from one another. Brutus jumped to his feet, simultaneously swinging his sword directly at the banshee's head. As his sword was on verge of connecting the creature faded into the mist it had summoned. He found himself stumbling forward as the sword cut through the air unchallenged. The creature reappeared behind the warrior, raising its hand as another sphere of black energy began forming.

"Flames!" Tyr yelled, his hands outstretched as heat raced just over Brutus' head. The banshee shrieked as it was bathed in a stream of fire. The creature turned abruptly, letting loose a flurry of small black bolts. They tore viciously through the air. Without hesitation Tyr raised his hands reactively. Flames enveloped his fingers as a ball of fire erupted. The ball of flames met the first black bolt directly, resulting in a small explosion.

NEW SKILL: Fireball

The message flashed in Tyr's peripherals, but he didn't waste time acknowledging it as his hands instinctively reacted to the remaining bolts. The last one exploded just in front of his face causing a flash of blinding light. In that moment a sharp claw reached through the smoke smashing into his chest. The impact was so sudden it forced him to gasp for air, even as his breath escaped him. The banshee clutched to his shirt and raised its other arm to strike again. A flash of silver crossed his line of sight, accompanied with Brutus' yell echoing in the fog. The arm which was about to strike Tyr was severed mid-swing. The limb hung uselessly from the misty garments of the creature. The monster turned its eyes towards Brutus, loosening its grip on Tyr. In that moment, Tyr thrust his own hand against the side of the banshee's head.

"Fireball!" The flames erupted from Tyr's hand, manifesting within the skull of the creature. In a brilliant flash the banshee's head separated from its body. Both the body and the fog faded as the monsters head rolled away. Brutus and Tyr collapsed as exhaustion entered their limbs. Their loot drop screens flashed, indicating the creature was dead.

"H-h-how?" Brutus mumbled, "There is no way we took down all of its HP that fast." Tyr shook his head in disbelief. He's right, but what else could have caused it to die that quickly?

"Maybe the kill itself was skill based?" Tyr suggested while still shaking his head. Brutus looked at him, but the look in his eyes revealed fear more than surprise.

"Skill base means that no matter what we do we'll always have to be on our guard and fight at 100%. Because if something happens that you wouldn't normally be able to survive..." He let his words trail off. The meaning was evident. You'll die.