Chapter 5 - Level Up!

Tal stood with the sword in his hands facing off against the tiger creature. Doldahr swayed by his side, reeking of alcohol.

Beast Profile

[Common]

Species: Tiger

Stats:

Level: 3

Health: 240/250

Primary Attributes:

Dexterity: 9

Agility: 14

Strength: 17

Constitution: 14

Intelligence: 5

Wisdom: 6

Charisma: 5

The beast stared down Tal, gravelly growls escaping row after row of its serrated teeth. Tal gulped, grateful for the collar still around its neck.

“Oh cheer up, Buttercup. I’ll be here if you need me”.

Tal turned. “Seriously, you're just going to send me at that thing by myself? I won't last a second.” I’d like to see how you go against it yourself.

“Oh, don't be such a drama queen. You’ll be fine” Doldahr replied. Then cocking his head, “Look, it's easy, I’ll show you”. The dwarf staggered forward, flagon still in hand. The beast finally turned its attention from Tal to his companion. The full might of its form loomed down over the both of them, eyes glittering with a certain sense of eagerness. Doldahr motioned to Jordain who began to slowly remove the collar from around the beast's thickly corded neck.

It didn't take long for the beast to burst free from its shackles. Pouncing on its first target. It was at that moment that Doldahr tripped, falling to the side just in time to avoid being crushed under the weight of the creature. That didn't stop either of them for long though as they both recovered swiftly. Doldahr took a swig, instantly spitting the liquid out toward the creature as it was pulling a clawed paw back for a would-be-dangerous swipe. Of course, it didn't get that far. The creature recoiled at the spittle, hissing like it was some sort of poison. Which, Tal supposed, it was.

That didn't stop it for long though and it once again charged the dwarf. Doldahr was by no means staying still though. Indeed, he was floundering about, poking into his drink and pulling out some unseen contaminant. He looked up just in time to see a gnarled set of teeth closing in around the hand holding the precious drink. That's when things got serious.

“No one gets to steal a sip from my baby!” Faster than thought, his hand withdrew a safe distance. Then the dwarf struck out with his flagon, missing the head of the creature by mere inches. That didn't seem to bother him though, as he moved his drink down. A satisfying bonk echoed around the chamber. The creature paused, its eyes swirling.

Where Tal would have pushed the advantage and finished the creature off, Doldahr withdrew. “That should do him. See? easy” he puffed.

Tal wasn’t so sure. From his end, it looked like a mixture of luck from a person with much higher stats than his. He didn’t tell his friend that though. Groaning and muttering under his breath “Son of a b-”. Tal’s friend decided that was a perfect moment to, not so much pat his back as push him, toward the now recovered beast, staring daggers at its attackers. The idiot just got this thing riled up for me…

Tal took a deep breath. If he was going to survive against this thing it would take a clear head. He could think about how much he so sorely wanted to sucker punch the dwarf later. He raised the sword up and pointed it outward toward the monstrous tiger. His idea was to keep the sword between himself and the creature, and hopefully, it would spear itself on it. It was definitely too heavy to keep swinging for an extended period of time, so his plan was the best his muddled mind could think of.

Tal circled the creature. Now cautious, it didn’t immediately attack. Instead, it eyed Tal off, flicking its eyes down toward the sword he held in both hands and revealing an intelligence he had previously discounted. There was an awkward moment where neither party made a move. Then, it ended. All too quick.

Tal took one step toward the mass of thick muscle. Seeing its territory encroached upon, the beast matched his step, and then one. It stalked toward Tal with a series of menacing growls. Tal adjusted his grip under his now sweaty hands. His arms already starting to ache from holding the pointy slab of metal. He had to move now, while he still could.

Pulling from previously untapped reserves, he charged the beast, sword drawn outwards. The beast met the clash with abandon. It’s maw closed around the sword - ripping it fully out of Tal’s outstretched hand. But Tal couldn't stop now. He swung his hand around in what he thought was a mean uppercut. The creature tanked the blow heartily but that didn't stop it from releasing its grip on the sword previously enclosed in its jaw. Tal scrambled like a madman diving to the floor for it. In return, the tiger roared, leaping at its preoccupied prey. Tal turned, but not quick enough. The beast's claws found purchase into the soft skin over his ribs, digging in farther than Tal thought possible. The creature yanked its paw backward, leaving a thick red trail of blood, dripping from its stained claws onto the unforgiving dirt.

Tal fell back to the dirt with sweat stinging his eyes. Surprisingly, the pain in his stomach had not quite hit him yet, though he knew it wouldn't take long. He only had one more trick up his sleeve. He snaked his hand around on the dirt and waited.

The beast pounced on its prey. Intent on finishing it where it lay. It was surprised, then, when Tal suddenly yanked his sword upward, bracing it against his already torn ribcage. The beast let out a high-pitched, but short-lived yelp. Both parties looked surprised when they looked down. The silvery-blue sword impaled the creature from its upper chest and faintly poked out its lower back. His plan had worked after all.

Level Up!

You have…fought - and bathed in the blood of your enemies. For defeating a creature this quickly you have gained extra exp.

Your level has increased from level 0 to level 2.

+8 Attribute Points.

Due to being a sentient being, these points are distributable at your discretion.

Tower Of Judgement

You have defeated your first creature. Note that a number of factors are considered when you are engaging in the trials of the tower. One of which includes how you defeat your opponents.

You have ignored grievous wounds fighting against a higher-levelled creature and emerged victorious

+1 to the Secondary Attribute: Determination

Tal snorted at the snarky prompt, but it was done. He had done it. What he hadn't considered, however, was the folly that was bracing the attack against his already threatening wound. Tal blinked. His eyes did not open for some long time later.

***

When Tal jerked awake it was from the comfort of a small bed inside a stuffed room. A worried face bent over him, instantly recoiling when it noticed he was awake. “You sure know how to scare someone, don't you” Hogarth fussed. “I’ve been waiting here all day for you to wake up!”

“You wouldn’t believe the number of people trying to get up here to congratulate you on your on your first kill” a voice sounding like the female dwarf he had met earlier spoke. And I still don't know her name Tal thought. “How would you know that was my first kill” he replied. “Oh please, even If I couldn't see your status sheet, your actions in the pit spoke for themselves”.

Tal blinked the spots from his vision, sitting up slowly. Trying to ignore the fact that for some reason, yet another person had access to his status sheet. Still, understanding the intricacies of the system could wait. The first thing he did was ignore the overly-fussy dwarf and company, patting his body down tenderly to get a feel for the damage. He wasn’t surprised, judging by how he felt, to find perfectly unblemished flesh. Still, it was something he had to check. The next thing on his mind, naturally, was securing his safety.

He opened up his player sheet. Noting the new changes as per his rewards in beating his foe.

Player Profile

Name: Tal Cael

Species: Human, Male

Stats:

Level: 2

Health: 100/100

Primary Attributes

8 distributable points remain

Secondary Attributes

Traits

Survivability was the first thing on his mind. He mentally selected the Primary Attributes header. He had 8 points that he could distribute among dexterity, agility, strength, constitution, intelligence, wisdom and charisma. What categories he would put his points into however was something he hadn’t considered. On one hand, points in intelligence and wisdom might mean he was less likely to find himself in the stupid situation he had after just a few drinks. On the other hand, however, the other categories excluding charisma would help him directly in a one-on-one fight

Strength was something he had always been naturally lacking in, and while shoring up his weaknesses was one approach, the fact remained that he felt much more comfortable, increasing the areas he already thought were developed.

Tal dropped 4 points into dexterity, 2 points into strength, and the remaining two points into constitution. He looked back at his Primary Attribute sheet with a satisfied smile. So I get 4 attribute points per level huh. About time to see some changes. He couldn’t wait to get some more.

Primary Attributes

Dexterity: 14

Agility: 10

Strength: 12

Constitution: 12

Intelligence: 10

Wisdom: 10

Charisma: 10

Tal peeked at his overall status sheet again. There was one final section he had yet to venture into. Tal selected the Traits option and peered at the results.

Traits

Perfect Spiritual Pathways

Where others have spent their years and wealth obtaining spiritual pathways conforming to their chosen path, always at a certain cost. You will find yourself unrestricted in the pursuit of any avenue you desire.

While it didn’t tell him much, it told him enough to know he had some sort of advantage. And seeing the gap in power between his friend, drunk, yet effortlessly dodging the creature that had nearly spelled his end had only reaffirmed how far he had to go. If it meant escaping this Tower alive, he had a long way to go.

That reminded him of how he owed his friend a what-for. But before he could think any further a dark corner in the shadow chuckled, startling Tal out of his stupor. “You really suck with that thing you know” Doldahr motioned toward the sword, now lying by his bed. “I actually feel bad enough for you after that performance that I’m going to have to show you a few things. You won’t last a week here as it is”.

“Please,” Tal said. “Teach me”. If this is what it feels like to have power, I need more.