The white light faded slowly. I blinked my eyes until I could make sense of the chaotic scene laid out before me. I was on my back. The Hexblighter was on its stomach, knocked down by the force of the blowback from its spell being forcefully dispelled. Its bulbous head lolled on its shoulder, a black tongue dangling loosely from its mouth as it raised its head to level its beady eyes at me.

  Total Health reduced by 8%! {Shadow Damage}

  Health Regeneration reduced by 50%{Blight of Shadow}

  I willed the notifications away. Now wasn’t the time to figure out what had happened. I had to stand up. I had to fight! The Hexblighter was thinking the same thing as it pushed itself up with its wiry arms, searching for its lost staff.

  The Hexblighter’s staff lay equidistantly between the two of us. We both saw it at the exact same moment and each of us regarded the other before we both moved to reach the staff before the other. I had finally resisted the effects of the Oozeslinger’s poison, but my Speed still might not be enough.

  I heard Anya chant a spell and Valka was cursing as the tent I had inadvertently set on fire was now completely engulfed in flames. I ignored them both, my eyes fixed on the staff. I couldn’t let the goblin retrieve it. If I could take the blue bastard out of the fight, we would win. It was my efforts that would decide the outcome. It was at the very last second when I realized the Hexblighter would reach the staff before me that I changed tactics.

  With a cry, I used my whole body to smash into the Hexblighter, keeping the staff from his outstretched grasp by a hairsbreadth. We tumbled together on the ground. The Hexblighter, though smaller, was far stronger than I, but I used my legs to tangle him up. It was like wrestling back at the Orphanage, but instead of fighting over a bit of food or an extra blanket I was fighting for my life and the lives of others. I bit down on the greasy bastard’s arm.

  The goblin wailed in shock and pain. It’s fist clobbered me in the side of my head right where the crack in my skull is and it was as if a star exploded behind my eyes. The next thing I knew the Hexblighter was standing above me, its eyes glowing red with rage. It had produced a wicked looking knife from somewhere and I knew I was dead.

  “Get off ‘im ya spawn of Vorganth!”

  Igvild leapt onto the Hexblighter’s back, stabbing into the wound he had already made on the goblin’s neck. Again and again Igvild stabbed deeper and deeper. I rolled away and with a groan pushed myself to my feet once more. I moved to aid my friend, but saw the work was already done.

  The Hexblighter was dead, Igvild’d dagger buried deep enough this time into its throat that all I could see of it was the hilt.

  “Ya’ll right, lad?” The dwarf panted. His face was a mask of thin scars, likely caused by his landing in the thorns.

  “Aye, but Valka and Anya,” I began. No more words were needed. Igvild still had another dagger and my mana was at a little less than half. Dual casting that fire bolt had taken a lot out of me. Igvild moved to get behind the Thornfist and I started throwing single fire bolts at the Oozeslinger, who by luck or by chance was cowering near the Hexblighter’s tent in fear. My spewing of fire which had melted its companion had clearly done the trick of intimidating it straight out of the fight. A fire bolt to its chest and head ended it forever.

  Igvild hamstrung the Thornfist and I burned through a Thornspitter’s hip with another well placed fire bolt. Anya’s morning star smashed a kneecap and Valka finally landed a critical blow against the Thornfist’s skull. The fight ended with all of us bloody and exhausted, but alive.

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  “By the Eye, that was close,” Valka gasped as he stared down at the eviscerated Thornfist. Anya nodded and she cast a final spell upon Igvild, healing the thorn damage he had taken.

  “I need to rest a bit, my mana is nearly spent,” she gasped. Mine was as well and I gratefully accepted the water skin she handed to me. For once, Valka was too tired to argue. He sat down upon the ground near the goblin’s fire pit. The coals smoldered beneath the ashes spent, but I could still sense the flames hidden beneath. I could have given them new life and warmed the area, but I was in no rush just yet. I had notifications to look over as soon as I caught my breath.

  Mage Trait: Dual Casting: Combine and double the power of a spell.

  You have enough XP to advance to Level 3! Please exit current *Dungeon [Bleakthorn Holler] to apply available experience points.

  * Advancing levels within Dungeon zones is not permitted.

  Fire Bolt is able to advance to Tier II. {Minor Upgrade Gem Required}

  “What are Mage Traits and Upgrade Gems?” I asked aloud. Anya raised an eyebrow and she set aside her own waterskin with a sigh.

  “All General Classes, Awakened or Forged, fall into four separate categories. Fighter, Mage, Scout and Healer. From these classes one can learn specific Traits, but it would be better to classify them as sub-traits as they are less powerful than the major traits one can unlock, which are able to completely reshape one’s build. Davros, as you are a Mage type you can only unlock sub-traits other general Mages also have access to.

  “So there are certain abilities all Mages can get?”

  “There are certain abilities all Awakened Mages can learn, but a Forged Mage would likely have to work at it to gain. So it goes with the other general classes I mentioned. For instance, I have the general Healer trait Concentration that allows me to channel healing magic even when I am under attack. It took a great deal of training for me to master that. Years.”

  I nodded my head impressed with Lieutenant Anya’s ability, but I also felt slightly guilty I had just learned a new general trait the first time I had tried doing it! The differences between Awakened and Forged were becoming more and more apparent.

  “As far as Upgrade Gems go, I imagine you received a notification for that Fire Bolt spell of yours I take it?” I nodded. “Not surprising considering you hit every target you aim at, I suppose. Spells and abilities steadily get stronger as you use them to successful effect. Combat situations especially so. In a Dungeon, it isn’t unheard of for it to happen.” Anya stretched out one of her legs and started massaging her left knee where she had been struck by a thorn during the fight.

  Lieutenant Anya wasn’t a tall woman by any means, but her legs, even covered with a protective layer of leather and chain, were still long enough to make Davros wonder if they were as muscular as her arms were. A heat not related to his Mana Core made his cheeks flush red. Anya mistook his reaction for something else when she saw.

  “It’s not something to get too hung up on. The gems do drop in dungeons, but typically only from a Boss. Not using one and still using the spell doesn’t have any negative effects, but your spell won’t advance any further in terms of effectiveness or damage until you find and use one.”

  “I see,” I said, tearing my gaze away from Lieutenant Anya’s legs. “If we do find one…?”

  “It goes to General Torlack,” Valka said firmly, joining the conversation. “He will decide whether or not you receive the upgrade. They are worth a lot of silver, after all.”

  “True, but isn’t one of the reasons we’re even running Bleakthorn Holler right now is to get Davros a level and some combat experience?” Anya countered. Valka made a face and seemed to reluctantly acknowledge that fact.

  “How much experience have you received so far? Are you Level 2 yet?” Valka asked him.

  “I just got a notification that I can advance to Level 3 once we exit the dungeon,” I answered. Both Valka and Anya gasped. Even Igvild looked up from his thorn plucking, suddenly interested in the conversation.

  “Already? How is that possible?” Valka and Anya shared a look, then understanding flashed across both their faces simultaneously.

  “His Fortune attribute.” Anya said and Valka nodded. “It’s always been a rumor that a higher Fortune brings in greater gains from clearing mobs. I guess now we can confirm that.”

  I glanced from Anya to Valka and back to Anya again. They both seemed to be considering something and I felt it best not to interrupt. It was strange just sitting there when there were goblin corpses strewn about us. I thought it best not to say anything or try to apologize about the tent I’d burned down. Perhaps Valka would let it pass?

  “Be that as it may,” Valka began as he stood up after his brief rest. “We need to loot these bodies and search the one remaining tent.”

  So much for that.

  “Igvild, is there anything in there?” A grin slowly spread across the dwarf’s face.

  “Oh aye. There be a chest.”