Greg Skeleton Warrior

Level 1

Strength : D+

Magic Power : B

Speed : D-

Defense : C

Difficulty Rating : D

Status : Undead (Should be hard to kill unless you smash their head.)

“Why does a skeleton warrior have B in magic power?” is the first thing Matt thinks, but he brushes that aside. He can’t see if it has spells unless he asks, and he isn’t far enough along to be able to summon liches without ingredients. Besides, the mystery can wait because the Orc is staring down his skeleton warrior, and one swing of its club will remove Matt’s only line of defense between him and a 400 lbs rage monster.

“You can’t fight it head-on. Try to—”

The Orc doesn’t bellow a challenge. It simply swings his wooden club in a lazy under-handed motion that collides with Greg in a crackling explosion. The shock of the swing sends dirt, rocks, and Greg flying into the distance. And only after the shockwave subsides does the Orc laugh. It’s a big jolly sound that will haunt Matt’s nightmares if he lives long enough to experience them.

Greg has received Extreme Blunt Force Trauma.

Pleased and amused, the giant looks down at Matt with a huge smile, showing its rows of ivory teeth and the proper lengths of its massive tusks.

“Run, little magic boy.”

But Matt doesn’t run.

“Magic Grade 2, Acid Arrow!” The spell crackles from Matt’s fingertips as he points a finger gun at the Orc’s gut. The emerald green arrow, which is several times the size of a normal arrow, erupts from its point of origin and is batted out of the air by the Orc’s massive club. The resulting acid splash chews through the club and melts the ground around the Orc but barely touches him.

Orc Warrior has received Minor Acid Burns

Orc Warrior club weapon has deteriorated to D rating from A.

The Orc tosses the club as it melts in his hand and cracks his knuckles and neck, his face a mask of amusement and naked hunger. Meanwhile Matt, having spent 4 of his 6 available Magic Grades, thinks about his next move… though he fears he won’t have time. Because the Orc only needs five large steps to close the distance.

So Matt does the only thing he can do: spam Acid Arrow as often as humanly possible. Unfortunately, these arrows weren’t upgraded to Level 3 but are stuck at Level 1. So the Orc only has to walk leisurely toward the necromancer with one hand out protecting his face as he closes in. Each small arrow lands on Orc’s hand or somewhere inconsequential as the flesh burns and sizzles under the barrage.

Orc has received Minor Acid Burns; the System chimes as the large creature laughs at Matt’s futile attempts to hurt him. Barely half a day’s rest is necessary to recover from such minor wounds, regardless of how many are inflicted. And unlike humans, the Orc’s thick flesh can resist even some Level 2 spells to a degree.

So as the Orc approaches, he laughs and laughs, and his face twists into sadistic pleasure. “You no run spell boy!” he shouted, amused at his own taunt.

“No,” Matt grits but smiles when the Orc gets close enough to grab him,” I wanted you close!”

“Magic Grade 2, Poison Cloud!”

The spell starts as a purple ball inside Matt’s hand before he crushes it and releases a wave of billowing gas in every direction. The Orc grunts in surprise before realizing that the Level 3 version of Poison Cloud can hurt him as the toxic air floods down his mouth and nostrils and burns his little red eyes with an intensity akin to mustard gas. As the Orc chokes, he starts to swing wildly and haphazardly at the little wizard, but his arrogance costs him, as the wizard had run the moment the spell started.

And where the Orc’s normal enhanced senses would have allowed him to sense the puny human wizard, those same senses are now burning. And he languishes inside the inferno as the System chimes his demise.

Orc Warrior has received Moderate Poison Damage

Orc Warrior has received Greater Poison Damage

Orc Warrior has gained status effect Partially Blind

Orc Warrior has received Severe Poison Damage

Orc grunts and cries don’t sound like music to Matt. When he arrived a few moments earlier with a party of four, the sudden ambush by the orcs at the dungeon entrance forced everyone to run for their lives. And that resulted in one man dying in the mad dash to escape; as the Orcs threw rocks at the fleeing adventurer, one unlucky mercenary was hit in the back of his head, causing it to explode. Only quick thinking and a concealment spell gave Matt the courage to recover the body. But three other Orcs are waiting for him, and the dungeon grows more dangerous by the second.

Matt is making his way to the underbrush when he trips over an errant branch. Something large and fast whistles over his head and crashes through the tree in front of him. The young necromancer turns around and scrambles to his feet to realize that the Orc, coughing and wheezing, has left the enlarged Poison Cloud. And also nearly impaled him with the remains of his large club.

This time the Orc bellows a roar, a wheezing, painful roar, but a roar nevertheless and one aimed that follows a direct, no holds bar charge.

Matt sees this and thinks of his Character Sheet…

Matt Bringer Novice Necromancer

Level 2

Strength : D-

Magic Power : A+

Speed : D++

Defense : D+

Difficulty Rating : D+

Status : Going to die Soon (self-explanatory)

…And closes his eyes to accept his fate. Until he hears a rustling from the bushes behind him, and then a white blur bursts out from the wilderness and rams a simple iron sword into the neck of the bellowing Orc. And while, normally, the sword would have not pierced the Orc’s skin, the blind charge carried the metal deep inside the beast’s throat as the shield held up against the face of the charge.

Orc has received Fatal Stab Damage.

Orc Warrior has been slain.

Party has received 250 Exp

Greg Skeleton Warrior has Leveled Up.

Shocked, relieved, and utterly confused, Matt stares up at the skeleton warrior that saved his life.

“How.. how did you?...” But as Matt’s mind reels, his head spins with questions upon questions, and eventually, his thoughts start to whirl with speculations and theories that churn and churn, until eventually, he gives up and looks into Greg’s mana infused eyes—

“I need a short rest.”

And he lies back down.