(Wooden Spear (Common))
(Steel Dagger (Common))
Name: Rue.
Level: 3 → 5
Race: Human.
Class: Frost Apprentice Lvl 2 → 4
Magic Vein (Wood): 51%
HP:72/140 → 152/220
Mana: 35/72 → 63/100
Strength: 8 → 12
Vitality: 7 → 11
Dexterity: 9 → 12
Arcana: 18 → 25
Mind: 17 → 24
Perception: 10 → 14
-Skill (2/10)-
- Fireball (Common).
- Sword of Frost (Common).
-Passive Skill (1/10)-
-Cold Resistance (Uncommon).
Rue had insisted on going; turns out that was the right decision.
He had recovered most of his Health and Mana during their journey, treading across the slope still dense with grasses. Encountering no danger is quite surprising, given that his last four days have been anything but safe. That might have to do with the Paxwells’ high perception. A couple of times, the archer has taken them on a slightly different path. Rue did not offer any protest; now, Paxwell had also gotten a spear, and he wanted to go first.
Speaking of a spear. Rue clutched his spear tightly, strange pride swelling inside of him. He had beaten the Kobold fair and square and got it; that alone made it more precious. Now that he already has a melee weapon, his sword has become unnecessary. Especially since he has no skill in either, pushing a spear should be much easier, right?.
When he picked up his Ice Sword skill, his thinking was along the lines of a mage who wasn't afraid of getting closer and finishing off his enemy. He wanted a class that had no glaring weakness, which is why the sword made sense.
In other words, he went on a full greed. This could have led him into a completely avoidable danger.
But still, though, the stubborn part of him reminded himself of what Cel had said to him, that classes will shape depending on the skill you take. With Cel’s power, what kind of class will he eventually get if he focuses on both range and melee?
Or perhaps it’ll give him a jack of all trades, good at nothing class? That might not have happened, as Cel is powerful.
Maybe I’m not wrong? Let's not give up on the sword just yet.
“I've been thinking,” Paxwell said suddenly, taking Rue out of his train of thought. “This blue line of yours, does it lead to the lioness? My boar quest certainly did not have anything like that.”
“I’m not lying.”
“Not saying you are a kid.”
“I just assumed so. How else am I supposed to find this lioness?”
“Hate to break it to you, but the system is not exactly accommodating, is it?” Paxwell pointed out. True that, the way the Goblin suddenly attacked them after just one day is a bit brutal. Sure, they could win, Rue sees that now. But back then? When does the collective of fifty people panic? It might be borderline impossible.
“It's still the only thing we have,” Rue shrugged.
After about twenty minutes of silence, the forest whispered to them. Paxwell crouched, motioning for Rue to get down. He did, and scowled at the grass that almost pricked his eyeball.
Rue peeked at Paxwell's eyes and saw the unnerving hesitation in them.
“Kid, is the blue line still going straight?”
“No, it bent toward that way,” Rue pointed to the east, where Paxwell just scouted.
“Rejoice and cry, then,” He sighed. “That way is a camp of Kobolds”
They sneaked, not daring to go beyond the tall foliage. Dirt dug into his skin, and grass scratched him all over until he wanted to rip them apart. Keeping his spear from rustling the grass, especially, is a real struggle. The hardest thing is crawling for this long. He was glad he could plop down and not hold a plank, but they needed to move, as Kobolds patrol in groups of four.
At this point, Rue has fully given his life into Paxwell's hands. He was surprised the older man did not balk away from this. Now, their main objective is to get into a viewing distance to find out what's happening. Preferably, one with a vantage point.
One is available: a large watchtower with a small house on top. Maybe 'house' is an overstatement, since it’s made from flimsy wood that was likely hastily assembled from a wooden beam. Still, it's big enough for about a dozen people. It also overlooks the main camp, although it's still a bit farther than he liked.
“Well? You think we can take it?” Rue whispered.
Paxwell has been counting the number of Kobolds that have appeared around the watchtower area. He has been at it for ten minutes. “Seven at least. If we're going to pull anything, then it's now or never while we have the darkness.”
“Blasting fire is out of the question.”
“Should be fine as long as we put it out quickly. Don’t hold back when it comes to it, kid. We can always run.”
“Can’t you just pepper them from darkness-“
“Kid!” Paxwell hissed, standing up. “I saw Humans.”
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
“What?” Rue squinted, trying to see what Paxwell was seeing. He could faintly see the watchtower. But no Kobolds or even the Humans. “Are you sure?”
“Not going to mistake them for Goblin-. What is this?” He grumbled, his eyes suddenly staring at the sky.
“What now?”
“I got a quest, it's called Aid the Stag. Help the Stag to escape the fighting arena. The reward is called the Frost Chest Uncommon. It also promised one frost-related skill choice during the next skill option.”
Rue blinked, and he tried to see his quest, and his three quests appeared.
(Quest: Trial of Frost)
(Tutorial Quest: Defeat the Goblins and Boar tribe.)
(Quest: Promise Between the Damned}
“I don’t have anything like that,” Rue muttered. He unconsciously tried to refresh the prompt before realizing he didn’t know how to do that.
“Saving a stag. Is that stag of yours trapped there somehow?”
“No, he is too strong for the Kobolds.” There’s no way. But this couldn’t be a coincidence.
“Must have something to do with it,” Paxwell said.
“Probably,” Rue hummed. “Anyway, this is convenient, isn’t it? But this means they had the quest before you got it.”
“Not if they’re trying to be stupid.”
Paxwell stood suddenly, and he cursed a bit too loudly for Rue's liking.
As Rue was about to tackle the man down. Paxwell knelt, nocking his arrow and letting the arrow fly.
“Go, kid! Help them. Those fools are screaming and charging! I will kill any that manage to escape.”
“Fuck” Rue ran forward. He is not one to curse usually. But when he did, it was because the situation called for it. The Watchtower came alive in his vision. A clang of steel echoed. One Kobold tries to run in his direction.
Its iridescent eyes only now registering Rue in front of him. The Kobold tried to react by bringing his spear up, but Rue stepped inside his defense. He drew his dagger, stabbing deep into the creature's chest with both hands.
He met slight resistance from its scaly skin that eventually parted. The Kobolds tumbled back, it dropped its spear and drew a ragged breath. Not wasting any time, Rue took its dagger from the loincloth, he raised it and impaled the side of its cheek with a reverse grip.
(You Have Slain Kobold. Lvl 5)
Drawing both daggers from the death creature cost him a couple more seconds than he would like. Arrow flew above him into the blur of shadow beneath the watchtower. Paxwell Eagle Eye covered quite a long distance; no wonder the old man was confident in going on his own.
He left the second spear on the ground and decided to sheath both daggers at his hip. As he dashed forward, the blurry shadow was replaced with a figure fighting. Rue even saw a chunk of earth thrown, crashing down in a loud crash. He cursed again, wondering if he should just try to find any escaping Kobold instead. The very thought banished from his head as he noticed the Human was losing. There are five of them, and two of them are down against six Kobolds.
By the time he arrived, one of the humans speared through his head, and the young man fell headless to the ground.
“Ronald, no!” One of the humans screamed. Both survivors are young like the death guy. They are clearly unprepared for this.
Memory of the slaughter replayed in Rue’s mind. He gripped his spear in a death grip. He is different now. Only two of them were left against six. Rue noticed two of the Kobolds had arrow wounds, unfortunately, nothing critical.
Rue heaved his spear up and skewered one of the injured Kobolds straight into its neck. Unfortunately, it made a cackling noise, not the clean death Rue had planned.
(You Have Slain Kobold. Lvl 5)
Five yellow eyes turn to him, recognizing a new threat. As if they had already planned it. Three of them change their target to Rue.
He backed away, both hands on his spear. The Kobolds lunged forward, and three spears jabbed at him. Rue warded them off as he backed away. There's really no opening to him. Sweat ran down his forehead, eyes desperate to find a way to break free of the three Kobolds and go to the human.
Just then, a shooting star of blue energy blitzed into a Kobold's shoulder. The kobold bone cracked in a deafening snap. It drops its spear. Rue saw his chance.
He extended his palm. The Kobolds, still distracted, only then realized Rue was trying to cast. A spear snaked toward him, but Rue managed to release his spell first.
Fireball crashed against the Kobold's face, bringing it down in a fiery sizzle.
As Rue tried to bring his spear up, but before he could do anything - another spear stabbed into his abdomen. He gasped as the pain flared like nothing he had felt before. Tear ran down his eye, his vein pulsed with burning pain. He grasped the spear handle, trying to pull it off. The Kobold growled.
Gritting his teeth, he briefly wondered how he still had strength. Rue felt his body slacken as the spear impaled him deeper.
I'm dying?
(You Have Slain Kobold Lvl 7)
(Level Up. General Lvl 5 → 6)
His eye widened, and a new source of strength surged within for him to tap into.
Rue screamed, his hand clenching tightly upon the spear. The handle snapped like a broken twig. The Kobold's jaw slackened, and it tried to shove its stick at him. Rue's hand shot up, swiping away the Kobold's own hands.
With his free hand, Ice coalesced into a sturdy, gleaming sword. Rue leaped forward, and he drove his Ice Sword to the Kobold's chest. This time, its scale did not resist his sword.
The Kobold drew a dying breath near Rue's ear. Its scaly body grew cold, and he could sense the way life was leaving the Kobold.
But the same thing happened to him. His own body is cold; he has never felt this way before. This is not the pleasant chill of the night, not the soft breeze of Cel. This is death.
Rue pushed the Kobold down, looking at his bloodied sword. He fell to his knees, his vision darkened as a black spot appeared.
Name: Rue.
Level: 5 → 6
Race: Human.
Class: Frost Apprentice Lvl 4
Magic Vein (Wood): 56%
HP: 22/220 → 32/300
Mana: 55/100 → 105/150
Strength: 12 → 15
Vitality: 11 → 15
Dexterity: 12 → 15
Arcana: 25 → 28
Mind: 24 → 27
Perception: 14 → 15
-Skill (2/10)-
- Fireball (Common).
- Sword of Frost (Common).
-Passive Skill (1/10)-
-Cold Resistance (Uncommon).
(Skill Option)
(Cold Healing (Uncommon)) (Passive) – Cold is not deadly to you; it is the reverse. Heal your Health and Refill your Mana by surrounding yourself with cold and also soothe your Magic Vein. Regeneration scale with Arcana.
Ice Shard (Common) – An Ice mage's most common and reliable ranged spell. Summon flung an ice Shard. Size scale with Arcana
Ice Point (Common) - Freeze a target by focusing your attention on it. Freeze time will depend on your Arcana progression.
Meditate (Common) - Cut your surroundings and focus deeply within. Increase healing and mana regeneration in meditative state.
Rue managed to read before his vision was gone. There are only two real options here. Should he take Cold Healing? But his body is burning from the pain.
"Meditate," Rue muttered.
"That is the wrong choice." A voice said. Through his dying senses, Rue could make out the familiar voices.
A white ghostly stag appeared like a dying mist. The familiar cold seeped inside his body. His body was nearly invisible, only slightly formed by the fog.
But, Rue knew him.
"Cel?"
"I’m sorry, Rue, I did not expect the system to replicate my past. And such a quest should’ve been too early for you. This is a system error. Luckily, because of that. I manage to wrest a bit of power to interfere."
(Skill Option)
(Time of Obsidian Ice) (Rare) - Ice can stop even time, as it's the conqueror of time. Encase your body with dark obsidian ice, Harder than steel, sharper than blades, tougher than shields. Instill the Ice Obsidian properties into your skills of creating. Stop any wound you receive before casting this spell; keep in mind that any wound merely stops, not heals.
(Frost Forged) (Rare) – ForgeMaster needed to earn their title by perfecting their craft for hundreds of years. But it's not necessary for you. Summon all kinds of weapons imbued with frost property. A mere swipe of your hand will materialize a weapon millions could ever have dreamed of holding.
(Dead Frost Parade) (Rare) – Death is not the end, especially if you require more use out of a dead body. Raise fallen enemies of your own, killing. Imbued frost property onto their remains, they will serve you, fight for you, and sacrifice themselves for you. They’re your own perfect soldier.
(Call of Mist) (Rare) – The most terrifying enemy is one you can’t see, also one you can’t catch even if you do see them. Transform your body into mist. Wrap yourself as you want. Strike your enemy as they’re inside of you. The mist is your very own domain, part of your being, more terrifying than your hands could ever be.
The stag tapped his nose to Rue's hair, enveloping him in ghastly tendrils. "Now is not the time to rest, Rue. You can do much better.” Then Cel whispered, “ Your test is not over yet. But let me warn you, beware of the golden Kobold.”
