The Great Demon Invasion an excerpt from the Book of Heroes.

Once in the land of Yor, we were invaded by the hordes of demons. This war was unlike any others as Demons could not truly be killed but temporarily banished back to their realm. The Demons had acquired a relic of great power that allowed them to enter all worlds freely. A relic so powerful even the High Gods could not damage it at all. The high God of Death could not end it, Nor could the God of space banish it. The God of time could not wither it and the God existence could not understand it. This relic was simply a bridge between worlds and realms and yet it was more. It was as if it both did and did not exist all at once. All one needed to do was walk through its doorway and they would find themselves instantly where they desired to be. It simply existed in two places simultaneously. It did not teleport itself or its user neither did it fold space. It defied all known logic of science and magic.

With this item in their possession, the demons could appear back in a world mere minutes after banishment. It was an unwinnable war and all worlds that existed faced this threat. It was only a matter of time for some worlds invasion. Yor was one of the first to be attacked. The Goddess of light convinced the system and the High gods to summon 4 otherworldly Heroes. These four and one other who already held the title of hero in this world stood against the invasion. They are known as Brigga the pure, Cloud the white wolf, Kren the vengeful, Augre the brave, and Orith the Orc champion. They held the line until another world had somehow against all odds managed to get rid of the demons transportation. Unfortunately, the loses were harsh as only our native Hero Orith and Cloud survived. Orith was permanently crippled losing an arm and an eye. Cloud's loss is more tragic as he had been an ordinary small grey Dog before being summoned to this world and was transformed into a magic wolf known as a Fenrir. It's said he still waits for his friends to return not knowing that they are gone forever.

I awoke to intense hunger. Bursting out of my tent towards the canopy where we prepare our food. The hunger made me dizzy and fuzzy or confused. Had my thoughts been clear I would have noticed that my footsteps were way heavier. Having rushed out my tent I didn't even put the rest of my clothes on. I was simply unaware of giggles from others around me about being in only my underwear.

Thankfully the elves who were cooking breakfast had started early this morning and not many from our village had come to eat yet. I ate several bowls of mashed potatoes, beans, carrots, berries, etc. It felt like my stomach would never be full. Once I was finally finished eating my wardrobe issue became known to me and I fled back to my tent.

Having changed into something appropriate I prepared to head out and grind some more in one of the nearby dungeons. As soon as I exited through the flap of my tent my Dad was there grinning at me. "Morning son!" my dad greeted cheerfully.

"Hey dad what's up", I replied without much thought.

"Quite a lot actually", My father said lifting a polished buckler from his side and holding it towards me.

I was shocked by my appearance in the reflection. The man in the mirror was not thin and slim like I had been till now. He was broad-shouldered and muscular. His muscles were extremely well defined. I recognized that this is what I had looked like in my dream when I met Arcway the god of dreams. Looking at my father Ileor exasperatedly I asked: "How?"

He simply replied, "Check your skills".

Taking a quick look I discovered a had 3 new ones. [Dwarven Thick Skin] [Dwarven Sturdiness] [Dwarvin Strength]

These skills were normally Dwarven racial traits but had somehow become skills. From Grillo's explanations to me before it looks like the bonus to stats was halved. All of them giving me a 10% boost instead of the usual 20% a Dwarf started out at. Also normally the harder they train the more those traits bonus goes up. Dwarves traits being one of the rare few that can level up. The bonus doesn't go up much after a certain point. like once one reaches a 25% bonus a level gives a .01 increase per level. My skill version was labeled as having a level 1 cap. So it is a nice bonus but there are no future paths branching from it.

Having waited for me to read the descriptions my father gave me a sudden big hug, "Son I think we should have a beer with Grillo to celebrate". I'm not much for morning drinking but I couldn't bring myself to say no. If my dad and godfather wanted to spend bonding time together who was I to say no?

No sooner did we get to the hut that we kept alcohol at did I see Grillo sitting on a stool at a barrel being used as a table. There were 2 more stools around the barrel and 2 more beers on the barrel. I took my seat that Grillo offered and the ale brew that the old dwarf offered. No sooner than I took a big swig did both Grillo and my father say "Nice to see you finally got some!"

I choked on my beverage the bubbly brew getting into my lungs and nose. I started coughing uncontrollably. I lost all composure and if my face wasn't blue from lack of oxygen at this moment it was certainly red. I'm not sure but it may have appeared purple.

The two of them were laughing so hard. Grillo gave me a big slap on the back, "Well done my lad you've made an old dwarf proud".

"How did you know?" I wheezed out.

"You mean aside from the fact I knew Emma's wanted you for a long time and yesterday was her 18th birthday? " Grillo grinned. "I lied when I said that rune wasn't magical. I knew that when you become a man it gives you some of my races traits as limited skills. I don't know how it does this but that it does it all the same" The old Dwarf said with a facetious grin.

"Wha? Wh... Why didn't you tell me and why didn't it take effect when I was 15? How does that tell you I'm not a virgin anymore?" I stammered rapidly.

" 15 is when you are old enough to get the mark but Dwarven manhood is determined by something else. I didn't tell you because I knew it would be more fun this way." The Dwarf gave me a knowing grin that made me a bit sick to my stomach.

Seeing my expression Pop's concerned asked "What's wrong? You Okay?"

"No!" I jested back, "that means that some poor individual once upon a time slept with you"

Thunderous Laughing could be heard for several more hours that day.