Evan panicked after receiving the notification, and tried to get out of the way. A large crater had formed around the center of impact, and Brig was all but dead. Richard pulled him out using some kind of telepathy, and started healing him.

FUCK! Why did I get a crit during a spar! Shit, please tell me he's alright!

[Is he ..... going to be fine?]

Melinda didn't seem panicked, and calmed Evan down.

[Yes child, he is going to be fine. Richard could resurrect him even if he had died, so don't worry too much.]

[Oh thank god! I thought I had just killed him!]

Brig was slowly regaining some health, and it was apparent to Evan that he would soon recover. With a reluctant look on his face, Brig grunted and reprimanded Evan.

[You scare easy. Hrumpphh, Brig .............fine.]

Evan shut him up.

[Sure buddy, tell me when you're healed.]

...........................................................................................................................................................................................

A day or so later the dynamic duo were both back to full health. The resident older couple had reprimanded both parties for not knowing how to hold back, and Richard forced Evan to practice his metal slam for a week straight, before he was allowed to meet with Brig again.

Congratulations! Your skill Metal slam has reached (lvl5)

Congratulations! Your skill Corrupted crash has reached (lvl2)

Congratulations! Your skill Ancient copper armor has reached (lvl5)

Congratulations! Your skill Minute mana pulse has reached (lvl7)

Evan was surprised at the amount of skill level ups he had gotten from the previous few fights. Metal slam especially, had leveled up from the week of training. It only evolved at level 20 though, so he still had a ways to go.

Evan and Brig met for the first time in a while, outside of the cave near the river bank.

[So uuhhh big guy ...... we cool?]

[What ....... is cool?]

[Are we friends still, is what I mean.]

[Yes, but we better friends if Evan give Brig berries.]

Brig had fully healed, Evan could tell.

Well I guess I owe him that much, at least.

[Let's go get you some berries from home, and then we'll go hunting.]

...........................................................................................................................................................................................

A 30 minute walk later, they had arrived at their home. Richard's lair wasn't bad, but it didn't supply the same privacy. Evan told Brig to wait outside because of his size, and entered.

I'll have to expand these tunnels at some point, so Brig can sleep near his berry bush. I will get larger too, as I level up, so it's inevitable. Expansion can wait for now though; we've got bigger fish to fry.

As Evan reached the clearing, he found an old friend.

Small fungus crawler(lvl10)

The grasshopper's bigger brother! It had been a while since Evan had seen one of these! Last time he nearly died to this greedy locust piece of crap! This time Evan was better equipped, however. He flew forward, channeled a metal slam and busted the hopper's head open before it could even react.

You have slain small fungus crawler(lvl10)! You have received 0 exp.

Damn, I have grown a lot stronger huh. What seemed like such a behemoth previously is now like an ant before me. But I still have such a long way to go if I want to be a worthy king ......

Evan threw the headless body to the side, and gathered a few berries. About 20 minutes later the duo set off for the marsh, Brig fully satisfied and Evan fully forgiven.

[Let's go hunt some lizards, Big guy!]

Brig, still chewing, consented.

[Uumph!]

...........................................................................................................................................................................................

Half an hour later, the two arrived at the march. They traveled along the wet bog, Evan floating slightly above it, and Brig digging underground. The lizards didn't seem like the type that could be caught unawares though. Halfway through the marches, Evan was ambushed. A bunch of darts shot out from the tree branches as well as from the mud and bushes.

Warning! Lizardmen stalker (lvl13) has attacked you using blowpipe arts! You have taken 0 Dp (-25 due to ancient copper armor)

Warning! Lizardmen captain (lvl15) has attacked you using blowpipe arts! You have taken 0 Dp (-25 due to ancient copper armor)

Warning! Lizardmen stalker (lvl13) has attacked you using blowpipe arts! You have taken 0 Dp (-25 due to ancient copper armor)

Warning! Lizardmen stalker (lvl12) has attacked you using blowpipe arts! You have taken 0 Dp (-25 due to ancient copper armor)

This pack is better equipped and higher leveled than the goblins. They even have a level 15 leader! Maybe the monsters in the marches are stronger? I wonder what these lizards are used to fighting.

Evan wasted no time, and commanded Brig to use earthen spike-rupture from underground. Evan used a metal slam on the tree from which the dart had come.

Sure enough, the first 2 were impaled and killed by Brig in one shot, while the last two fell out of the tree. A few attacks later the guerilla-pack was annihilated.

You have slain lizardman stalker(lvl13). You have earned 0 exp.

You have slain lizardman captain(lvl15). You have earned 0 exp.

You bonded familiar Brig has slain lizardmen stalker(lvl13). You have earned 0 exp.

You bonded familiar Brig has slain lizardmen stalker(lvl12). You have earned 0 exp.

Well, that was a waste of time. What's the point if they don't give exp? Oh well, let's hope the exp bonus for stronger monster pays off.

Evan and Brig continued, and a while later they stopped, surprised by what they saw. In the middle of the clearing a big lizard behemoth stood, the same size of Brig. It was completely alone, by the looks of it. In its hands it was carrying dual stone scimitars, gleaming in the sun due to their sharpness. It looked at Evan, then looked below him, and gestured upwards with his hand.

Small titan-lizard chieftain(lvl35)

He wants Brig to come out? ........

[It's ok buddy, let's take this guy head-on. Watch out for an ambush, however. This just smells like a trap.]

Brig appeared wordlessly, next to Evan. The lizard croc Got a determined look in his eye, and charged forwards like a boar.

[Brig, you deal with his charge! I'll counterattack!]

Brig stomped his feet, and the ever-familiar trail of 2 meter tall spikes appeared, and zigzagged towards their opponent. The lizard dodged to the side, but had to stop his charge. Almost immediately, a mana bolt flew towards him. It missed all vital organs, but left a deep rash on his side.

You have attacked Small titan-lizard chieftain(lvl35) using mana bolt! You have dealt 26Dp! (-9, unknown resistance)

The lizard regained his bearing, and slammed down with his swords, sending some kind of quake in Brig's direction. Brig lost his balance for a moment, and the trail of spikes stopped. Their opponent saw the opportunity and charged towards the still-growing drake.

Oh no you don't!

Evan charged up his metal slam and intended to hit the lizard with a crit, but the lizard twirled around using the weight of his scimitars, and met Evan's strike head on.

You have attacked Small titan-lizard chieftain(lvl35) using metal slam! You have dealt 21Dp! (-19, unknown resistance)

Warning! You have been attacked by Small titan-lizard chieftain(lvl35) using akimbo blade-dance! You have taken 12Dp (-25)

Brig stabilised himself, and used impact charge, chasing the lizard to the right. Evan positioned himself behind the lizard, giving him nowhere to run. Another clash of metal slam and the lizard's scimitars occurred. Only this time, Brig used his fire breath in tandem. The lizard wasn't ready, and got hit by 4 shots of lava. The battle ended a few moments later.

You have attacked Small titan-lizard chieftain(lvl35) using metal slam! You have dealt 17Dp! (-19, unknown resistance)

Warning! You have been attacked by Small titan-lizard chieftain(lvl35) using akimbo blade-dance! You have taken 16Dp (-25)

Your bonded familiar Brig has attacked Small titan-lizard chieftain(lvl35) using fire breath! He dealt 64Dp (-9, unknown resistance)

Your bonded familiar Brig has slain Small titan-lizard chieftain(lvl35) with your assistance! You have earned 1050 exp. (350 base exp {due to level 35} X (12 x 0.25) {due to level difference (23-> 35) and extra exp per level bonus}.

Congratulations! You have reached level 25! You have earned 2 skill points, reaching 20 skill points total. Your exp sits at 388/600

Would you like to synthesize a tier two Skill point from 20 tier one skill points? (You can do this later as well)

System, what are tier two skill points?

Tier 0 skills require tier 1 skill points to evolve. Tier 1 skills require tier 2 skill points to evolve. Your metal slam, mana manipulation and imbue corruption are tier 1 skills for example, while minute mana pulse is still a tier 0 skill. The higher the skill tier, the longer a skill takes to level up, and the higher the tier of the next skill point must be to evolve. At a certain level, the user will gain tier 2 skill points naturally by leveling up. (requirements: unknown.)

Interesting. Hold off on synthesizing for now system.

[Anyways, Brig. Did you get the feeling that that guy was too weak as well? And why was he alone? Doesn't he have an entire tribe to back him up? Maybe there is some kind of warriors code we don't know about. Let's go check out the village either way.]

[Brig think...... big lizard look desperate, scared. Maybe they hiding berry?]

[Scared? Hmm... I don't think they have berries, Brig. But it certainly is strange. Let's keep going.]

...........................................................................................................................................................................................

The duo continued, and after another 10 minutes they finally reached the village. It looked like a collection of caves, carved out of the rocky surface of a cliff. Ladders and wooden walkways led to the different caves, which were higher up and lower down, connected by rope bridges. They seemed more civilized than the goblins for sure. Only problem is, there were no lizardmen to be found. Only corpses, of both young and old, male and female lizardman.

Someone got here before us? This seems pretty cruel. They didn't even put up a fight. Only a few of them are holding weapons.

Each corpse had a horrified look on his face, looking like they had just seen a ghost. Some were snapped in half, others burnt to a crisp, and some were oozing with a purple bite mark in their neck, which seemed to be a venomous marking.

In the center of the rocky wall, a single cave was larger than the rest. It had a trail of blood leading inwards.

That trail should lead to our mystery slaughterhouse.

[Brig, stay on your toes. We're dealing with a strong one here.]

The two went inside. Luckily this cave was large enough for Brig, and the dirt was soft, so he would be able to dig and then ambush their opponent. They followed the trail for a while. A while later, they heard a shriek, and then silence. They arrived into an open clearing in the cave, with marsh water up to Brig's shoulders. In the center of the pool, bubbles were slowly rising.

Evan shot into action, and tasked Brig to shoot lava balls at the bubbles, and then to hide himself underground.

The balls landed, and turned the surrounding water to steam. 3 snake heads, each the size of Evan, appeared from under the newly formed pool of lava. They shrieked from the pain, a visible wound on their heads.

Threeheaded-marsch hydra(lvl48)

A hydra in a marsh. How original. It should be a pseudo dragon like Brig. Let's see if this thing is as resilient as he seems!

Evan charged forward using corrupted crash.

Good thing I saved this one in the battle against the lizard.

The cave seemed abundant with corruption, since a storm of it soon gathered around Evan. He slammed into the stronger looking middle head, thinking that would be the physical attacker.

You have attacked Threeheaded-marsch hydra(lvl48) using corrupted crash. You have dealt 33 phys Dp (-29 due to unknown resistances) and 0 corrupt Dp(Threeheaded-marsch hydra(lvl48) is immune to corruption due to bloodline ability 'mutated heart')

Hydra is regenerating at 3 Hp per second.

The center head reeled back, but what Evan didn't foresee ws that the other two heads wouldn't be stunned. They looked at Evan. One of the heads spread a poisonous mist throughout the cave, and the other used a state of the art fire breath on Evan, almost melting his armor.

Warning! You have been attacked by Threeheaded-marsch hydra(lvl48) using fire breath! You will take 5 Dp per second! (-4 due to wisdom stat)

Warning! You have been attacked by Threeheaded-marsch hydra(lvl48) using poison mist! You will take 2 Dp per second! (-4 due to wisdom stat)

Evan dodged out of the range of the fire breath, but the poison seemed unavoidable at this point, since they were in a cave. This fight would have to end quick. Luckily Brig wasn't one to sit still. During the short exchange Evan had with the hydra, Brig had created little holes underground, and filled them with lava. They were ready to burst out. He then used earthen spike rupture, which pierced through the balls of lava, and then into the Hydra.

Damn! Brig used a combo like I did during our spar! Now those wounds won't heal, and the hydra's regeneration is rendered useless! Good job buddy!

The hydra shrieked, and writhed like a snake in a fire. It had been punctured in multiple locations, leaving scorching hot wounds.

[Brig, give me a boost using Impact charge! I'm slamming the fire head!]

Brig shot out of the ground, and propelled Evan forward. Evan readied his favorite attack, and lurched down on the head that spewed fire before. He lobbed of the head in one clean stroke. It fell to the floor, and splashed in the marsh water.

[Brig, burn the stump, so it won't regenerate!]

Brig did as told and shot a fire ball, scorching the stump before a new head could grow back. Evan backed up, and waited for the hydra to attack. This time, it charged towards Brig, ready to snap at his head with the bigger, physical attacker of the three headed team. Evan readied three mana bolts, and shot them at the main head. Brig used impact charge at the same time, and that was the end of the second head. This one was burned as well, and only the weakest poison head remained. By now, both Evan and Brig were looking worse for wear, the poison had done a number on both of them, leaving them with 1/3 Hp.

The last head resigned itself to its fate, but it wasn't willing to go down alone. It ignited some kind of blue spark in its mouth, and all the poison ignited in turn, filling the cavern with a raging storm of blue flame. Brig quickly dug underground, and Evan used his mana bubble, a skill he hadn't had to use much since he gained his first skill set. Both hoped to dear God they would survive the blast.

Warning! You have been attacked by Threeheaded-marsch hydra(lvl48) using ignite poison mist! You have taken 19 Dp! (-25 and -10 due to mana bubble)

Warning! You are at critical Hp!

Warning! Your bonded familiar Brig is at critical Hp!

You have slain Threeheaded-marsch hydra(lvl48). You have earned 2760 exp.

Congratulations! You have reached level 29. 402/720 exp. You have earned 4 tier 1 skill points.

Congratulations! Your bonded familiar Brig has reached level 32.

Yeah, maybe we should heal up first......., before we go challenge another pseudo-drake at level 50.....