Death Smith - Book 1 - Chapter 12

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Shaving accidents

One month ago.

February, 14 AR.

United Kingdom, West of Sheffield, Outside Rift 6.

Like it had happened with many Rifts over the last few months, the thick black energy field vibrated violently before it exploded in the blink of an eye, only to implode into a smaller size than it had been before. Where there had at first been just a black swirling mass of energy, there were now several dozen Rifters standing outside of it.

“Back!”

“Jesus, I need a pint after that.”

“Remind me to book a massage after walking around as hunched as that.”

“Stop being so freakishly tall.”

Laughter and the sounds of people working suddenly filled the grounds of site 25-A1. The Rifters that returned were quite vocal, as if to compensate for their absence the last two weeks. Although many of them had plenty of experience writing a Rift, they would always feel a rush of excitement at returning in one piece.

One might have made a mistake and think it was your average construction site if one ignored the spherical safety net and the pulsating black Rift. There was an exterior fence, a small office building and several on site-cubicles where Rifters could store their clothes, shower, and get dressed in private. The Rift leader, Grace Hicks, pulled everyone back into order the minute the excitement had lessened.

“All right! Ladies, line up,” Grace said with a commanding voice that screamed authority. She stood in front of the twenty-five Rifters that had just exited the Rift with her. Grace’s gaze scanning the ten fighters and fifteen porters, checking for wounded. None of them had gotten injured during their stay within the Rift or during the fighting but leaving a Rift could be just as dangerous.

She had an approving smile on her face. A smile that was soured because of the two old scars covering the right side of her face. Blood and dirt covered her oak brown hair, making her green eyes stand out even more so. Even after weeks inside the Rift, her focus remained as sharp and as vigilant as ever.

“You guys know the drill by now. Help store the equipment, drop off your items and return the company uniform, armour and tools before you collect your pay cheque,” she told the Rifters before dismissing them.

The other Rifters were quick to nod and grin at the prospect of being paid. Even a Level 2 Rift like this could be quite profitable for a Rifter that was just starting out. Other jobs or being a freelancer might have offered substantially more, but it also required basic gear and a deeper understanding of a Rift.

Both Lance and Thomas were grinning at the prospect of cashing in, knowing full well that they would spend a sizeable portion of it in a pub or club somewhere in London at a later date if Thomas had anything to say about it. Although money had not been the main reason for them quitting their jobs as nurses and becoming Rifters, they still were happy with the increased pay.

This had been the sixth Rift that they now had under their belt. In doing so, their confidence in their skills and abilities had increased. Their second time inside a Rift had been with Daniel who had pressured them into joining him. Although scared at setting foot inside of a Rift again, they had experienced first-hand just how different the two Rifts were. The former had been a brutal hell of survival, while the second one had been a one-sided slaughter for the monsters, with Rifters cracking a joke while clearing it. Both Lance and Thomas had gotten a quick education about how lethal Rifters could truly be when they had made the correct preparations and proper equipment, let alone work together in a large and well-trained group.

Lance patted Thomas on the shoulder when they had finished placing down the heavy steel crates that they had carried with them when they left the Rift. The crates contained spare tools, camping equipment, and empty food or water containers.

“Come, let’s drop the items next,” Lance said as he began making his way over to the right and waited in line before it was their turn, with both men holding out their hands above large steel containers as they slowly produced items from thin air.

[You have retrieved an item x4]

[You have retrieved an item x1]

[You have retrieved an item x5]

‘Not a bad haul for this trip,’ Lance thought as he watched Thomas dump a similar amount as he had. Each of the steel containers was now filled with lumps of iron and copper ore, coal, monster scales and some bits of glowing rock. The latter glowed blue when infused with Magicka.

The young men then removed their backpacks from their shoulders before retrieving several more lumps of ore and pieces of steel bark that they had retrieved from the local vegetation inside the Rift. Glancing at his own backpack, Lance was once again reminded of his luck.

‘I was fortunate to have kept my backpack on me during the first rift,’ Lance thought, knowing that modern backpacks were expensive items to purchase. There were cheaper alternatives, but Thomas had decided not to go for that option. So, Lance’s friend had to rent a sturdy backpack each time he went in a Rift, reducing his pay slightly because of it. He could have purchased one by now, yet Thomas had insisted that he was saving up for something more practical as well as financially help his parents. ‘No doubt that muscle brain is saving up for a rocket launcher or something like it.’

The aide on the other side quickly went over the items, registering them. He flashed the occasional glance at a more expensive item, such as the infused rocks. When the aide finished, he uploaded the data to the system and handed both Rifters a printed-out sheet of the transaction.

“All right, Lads. Nice haul for this run. I take it we can rely on you during the next run as well?” The aide asked, quickly making copies with his phone of what the items in the container looked like before he sealed them. Although not a Rifter himself, Jack Delby was the onsite Liaison for R.A.M. industries, a shortened term for Rift-based Advanced Metallurgy.

R.A.M. was a metal industry in the UK that had capitalised quite early on when the Rifts first appeared. Before Lance could even reply, Thomas had already beaten him to it. “Hell yeah. You can count on us. I take it we will hear within a few weeks, or do you want us on another site?”

“Probably this one. If something else comes up, I’ll contact you. All right?” Jack asked, entering their names in the electronic ledger he kept on his cell phone.

“Sounds good. Thanks, Jack,” Lance and Thomas replied as they left Jack to process the items from the other Rifters while they would mingle with some of the other porters and Rifters before they would go to their private changing rooms. Although most looked dirty, covered in dried up blood and direly needed a shower, everyone was in good health and spirits.

* * * * *

[Congratulations, you have cleared this Rift.]

[You have been awarded a Level up.]

[You are now level 7.]

[You have unspent attribute points.]

Lance ignored the floating message in front of him for now as he stepped into his own private cubicle. The designers had made them in such a way so that the cubicles could be transported easily by truck. Inside was a shower, a locker to store items, and a small section to get dressed.

Lance took off his R.A.M. issued armour, helmet, thick overalls, boots, and gloves. They were sturdy, protective and made from Rift material. Beyond that, they were as ugly as one could imagine. He, like Thomas, was saving up to buy some decent gear for when they would finally reach level 10. At that point, a Rifter would get their class. ‘I wonder what class we will get?’ Lance thought before he his friend dragged him out of his contemplations.

“Lance, what are you going to spend your new points on?” Thomas asked, shouting from his room to Lance, ignoring the fact that they were probably being a nuisance to the other Rifters.

Lance knew it was best to answer Thomas lest the man raise his voice further. “Earplugs...”

“What? I couldn’t hear you. What are you going to spend the points on?” His friend continued, clearly unconcerned about the volume of his words.

“I don’t know,” Lance said, ignoring the level up status as he turned on the shower and stepped underneath it. He could feel the warm water wash away all the dirt and grime he had collected over several weeks inside the Rift. As the cabin filled with warm steam, the air vent powered up automatically. Even a low budget cubicle like this felt like a five-star hotel compared to roughing it out in a Rift. His mind pondered about his recent growth as a Rifter.

‘Level seven already. Clearing six Rifts awarded six levels up. The other level up I gained when Thomas and myself killed a few rat-like monsters that the main party missed,’ He thought as he made clenched his fist. He could feel the surge of power flow through his veins.

“Lance, we are going to a club or pub tonight, right?” Thomas asked, once more interrupting Lance’s train of thought.

“Er... yeah. Sure. I could use a pint after our last run,” Lance said before he heard Thomas slam his hand against the steel wall, illustrating how pleased he was.

“Now we are talking! How about we visit my parents first? Get some decent food and some padding before we tackle a few pints. Who knows, we might meet some impressionable girls who are into Rifters!” Thomas exclaimed, no doubt intent on dragging Lance on another pub crawl, or worse.

Although Lance enjoyed a pub just as much as anyone, Thomas was practically inexhaustible when it came to going out ever since they had survived the first Rift.

‘It is probably his way of coping with what has happened to us back in the beginning. Perhaps it is better than keep it all bottled up like I have been doing?’ Lance thought as he turned off the shower. The young Rifter then made his way over to his locker to grab a fresh towel and his civilian clothes. Placing them on a small bench, he went over to the mirror to shave. After having been inside a Rift for three weeks, he had now sported a patchwork of unkempt facial hair that needed to be trimmed.

A few minutes later, Lance glanced at his now clean-shaven face. He could now recognise the man he was seeing. The man who had hidden underneath all the stubble and dirt before.

A small drop of blood trailed a small line down his chin where he had nicked himself with his razor. Placing a hand on his face, he concentrated for a second before he used his personal skill. It was the skill that was granted to him when he had gained his first level.

‘Mend wounds’

[You have used Mend wounds lvl 1 at the cost of 10 Magicka]

[Current Magicka 85/95]

A blue light flowed from his fingertips onto his face before coating his entire body in a soft blue light that briefly blinded him before it disappeared. The slight cut on his chin had closed during that time. The skill could not heal larger wounds, only minor cuts, and bruises.

Thomas had noticed the flash of light coming through Lance’s air vent and could smell an opportunity. “Shaving accident again?”

“Shut up, Thomas.”

Thomas then started to laugh loudly, having seen the blue flashing light coming from Lance’s changing unit. It had been bright enough to see the light through both of their vents. Thomas had immediately figured out what had happened.

When the other Rifters heard what Thomas was laughing about, they were quick to join in with the laughter. A few of the Rifters even began teasing Lance, asking him if he had hit puberty or if he needed help to tie his shoelaces afterwards. Although Lance knew what they were doing, he still felt the need to retort.

“Remind me to be ´out of Magicka the next time one of you sprains an ankle or wrist while we are in a Rift,” Lance commented, although that only increased the playful laughter of the other Rifters.

* * * * *

Lance had already passed the main gate and was waiting in the parking lot with a bored expression. After having lost the coin flip, Thomas had been the one who had to return the clothes, tools, and the backpack that Thomas had rented for this Rift. Leaning against Thomas’s motorcycle, Lance peered upwards and summoned the status menu.

´Now, where to spend the points?’ He thought, seeing a blinking number 3 next to a message that showed that Lance had 3 unspent attribute points.

He had learned much these last few months about his new abilities and how levelling seemed to work. All of it, he had Daniel confirm just to be sure whenever they met up.

‘Each Rifter starts out with ten points in each of the attributes, such as Strength, Wisdom or Agility.’

‘Each level up automatically adds one point in all attributes.’

‘With each level up, a Rifter also gains three points to spend however they want. To tailor a build further.’

Daniel had advised both Thomas and Lance to spend their first few points in Endurance, Strength and Agility. That way, they would have an easier time working as a Porter and be able to better defend themselves in the beginning.

‘Well, the last run went rather well. I had enough strength and agility to get the job done. The only thing that remained difficult was finding the rarer resources. Perhaps I should increase those further?’

Due to him being level 7, his base stats were now at level 16, with Strength, Endurance and Agility raised to 22 from additional points. The attributes themselves were quite straight forwards, with most of them like what you found in a classical RPG game.

‘I already increased my Endurance by six additional points to take less damage, while increase my Agility and Strength with the same amount,’ He reasoned. Even with those few points allocated in those three Attributes, he could already notice a sizeable difference from how he had been before.

‘Perception is lacking as of now. Three points should help with my sight, smell and hearing while in the next Rift,’ He thought, mentally pressing three times on a small button next to the Perception stat.

[Perception:] [16] (+3)

‘It might not be much, but it should help with the little things. Or at the very least, make me a bit more rounded, rather than just dumping everything in Strength as Thomas had done as of late,’ He thought as he closed his status menu and noticed Thomas coming up to join him. “All done?” Lance asked before Thomas rewarded him with a sly grin while waving his wallet.

“Nine thousand and seven hundred pounds,” Thomas explained, throwing his wallet up in the air only to snatch it again at the last minute.

“Nice, Thomas. I did not know you could count that high,” Lance teased when Thomas had shared what he had got. Compared to Lance, Thomas was level nine already. This was because Thomas had killed more monsters whenever he had the chance. The higher-level gap also meant that Thomas could hold more items in his inventory, thus get paid higher. Each increase in level meant another inventory slot. There were some porters out there that had a high level and could carry dozens or even hundreds of items within their inventory, making a job as a Porter quite lucrative. Still, most Rifters that had a higher level tended to either work as fighters or join a group and clear Rifts on their own for a higher cash flow.

Looking pleased, Thomas continued their talk. “Should be enough to buy us a few drinks, right?”

“Again, how much were you planning on drinking tonight?” Lance asked, shaking his head at the hangover he would no doubt feel tomorrow morning, or the week after that.

Although Lance was at a lower level compared to Thomas, he got the occasional extra payment after using his ‘Mend wound’ skill whenever an injury had happened.

Healers were a rare breed amongst Rifters. Although the Mend wound skill could only treat minor injuries, it still meant that a person would recover faster. Healthy Rifters meant a Rift would get cleared faster.

Thomas then crammed his wallet back into his pocket before he continued. “You want to stay over at my place afterwards?”

“Sure, if your folks will have me,” Lance replied, watching Thomas lift his motorcycle with ease. It was almost comical, as if he was lifting a children’s bicycle, placing it on the ground so that it faced the right way. That display of strength was all the proof Lance needed to figure out how Thomas had been spending his points.

‘That guy needs to stop spending points in just strength alone,’ Lance thought before he grabbed the spare helmet and got on the back of the motorcycle. Thomas then revved the engine, accelerating quickly afterwards.

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Author: Osirium

Copyright: 2021 OsiriumWrites

Released: 2021