Continuing down the path it was only a short way down the path when I heard the telltale grunts of kobolds speaking. Slowing down, I continued alongside the path keeping low to avoid being spotted. A few steps later I spotted what looked like two warrior kobolds stood in front of a cave in the side of a cliff, and a quick use of [Analyze] proved this to be true.
[Kobold Warrior Level 9 (Uncommon)(Reptilian)]
[Kobold Warrior Level 9 (Uncommon)(Reptilian)]
One of the two had a hammer like the first kobold warrior I fought while the other had a spear and looked more lithe than its counterpart. The two were in a heated argument with each other over what looked like a half-eaten piece of meat of some kind. Opening with a sneak attack will be even easier if they keep arguing.
Continuing to sneak through the trees I made my way toward the cliff face that the cave led into. I then slowly slid my way along the wall toward the cliff face, slipping behind the two oblivious kobolds. Striking at the two, a knife for each, I effortlessly slid my left dagger into the neck of the hammer wielding kobold, but my right dagger unluckily skipped off the scales of the spear wielding kobold.
Quickly stepping back from the kobold, I had to parry a clumsy thrust from the kobolds spear. Lunging back in I slashed diagonally from right to left with my right dagger. I only managed to leave a scratch on the thicker scales in the kobold’s chest, barely deep enough to draw blood. I quickly stepped back while using both daggers to defend against a sideways swing from the kobold using its spear like a quarterstaff.
Slowly circling the kobold, I baited an attack in order to force an opening for an attack that would punch through the kobold’s scales. The opportunity came as the kobold fully committed to a thrust. I used my left dagger to redirect the spear as I lunged in, followed up by a quick second lunge into a thrust with my right dagger. The dagger plunged deep into the kobold’s chest, but not deep enough as the kobold quickly brought its spear around in a downward swing.
I quickly sidestepped to the right to dodge the downward swing and was almost too slow as I felt a rush of wind on my back. Pivoting, I lunged back at the kobold and plunged both my daggers into the kobolds side. The kobold didn’t get a chance to attack again as it dissolved into motes of energy. As it finished dissolving, I sighed to myself and pulled up the notifications that came up during the fight.
[Level Up! Analyze Is Now Level 3]
[Critical Hit!]
[Level Up! User Is Now Level 7]
Grabbing the few handfuls of tiny shards, still no more small shards, I tossed them into the bag on my hip with the others. As soon as the last shard fell into the bag there was a bright flash, and my pouch was a little more than 100 tiny shards lighter. Opening my bag, I had mixed feelings as I pulled the skill out. The skill would be of immense help if it was useful but if it was the typical common skill the tiny shards would’ve been worth more unfused. The skill had a light blue colour and shimmed gently as I tilted it side to side, I focused on it and quickly used [Analyze].
[Mana Edge (Common)- Is a (Magic) skill]
Not the most useful description ever, but the skill sounds good enough for a common. It’s a magic skill too and those normally unlock mana and that’s always good. I thought to myself as I used the skill.
[Mana Edge (Magic)(Common)(Upgradable) Level 1: Allows User to coat the edge of a blade in mana to improve sharpness. -This skill unlocks mana]
[Achievement Obtained! Magically Endowed – Unlock mana, Skill: Internal Mana Manipulation - Gained]
[Internal Mana Manipulation (Magic)(Common)(Upgradable) Level 1: Allows User to sense and manipulate mana reserves inside their body]
Mana edge is pretty good, especially since it did unlock mana. The achievement and extra skill are just icing on that cake. [Internal Mana Manipulation] sounds a lot like the rare skill [Mana Manipulation] and will probably upgrade into it in the future.
Drawing one of my daggers and testing [Mana Edge] my dagger was coated in a thin layer of mana that felt slightly draining. Trying to activate [Internal Mana Manipulation] I couldn’t manage anything except for a vague feeling in my chest. There will be time for experimenting with it later, worst comes to worst I can ask Albert. Sighing as I turned towards the entrance to the cave, I assigned my free points to agility and checked my status.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Name: Ariel Romilas
Level: 7
Ascension Tier: 1
Strength: 18
Agility: 52
Perception: 18
Constitution: 16
Luck: 12
Intelligence: 18
Acuity: 21
Sense: 11
Willpower: 14
Spirit: 16
Free Points: 0
Core Skill: Over Achiever
Achievements: Nepotism, Foe Feller, That’s Pretty Rare, Magically Endowed
Skills: Analyze Level 3, Inventory Level 1, Mana Edge Level 1, Internal Mana Manipulation Level 1
Traits: Foe Feller
Pretty good if I do say so myself. Nothing left to do but fight whatever floor boss the system threw in this cave.
Advancing into the cave it wasn’t the pitch black I expected it to be. There was bioluminescent moss and mushrooms along the walls and ceiling of the cave giving off enough light to see clearly. The cave really just ended up being a straight tunnel into large room. Inside were a few makeshift buildings likely meant for the kobolds. They system usually sets up floors in a realistic manner where the monsters of the floor have a living space. On higher floors and higher towers, you will even find monsters mimicking society in towns and villages.
As I entered the room I quickly crouched behind a fallen wall from one of the makeshift structures. On the far side of the room was the biggest kobold I had seen up to this point and I didn’t hesitate to use [Analyze] on it.
[Kobold Chieftain Level 10 (Rare)(Boss)(Reptilian) Highest Attribute: Strength]
A rare boss on the first floor must be a record for difficulty, [Analyze] adding in the highest stat is a positive at least. The kobold was facing away from the entrance of the room as it appeared to be studying some kind of picture on the far wall.
I once again thought it would be best to open with a sneak attack and began sneaking towards the kobold. Managing to get within striking range I activated [Mana Edge] and lunged into a thrust at the kobold chieftain back. Despite the power I put into the attack my dagger barely scratched the scales of the kobold.
The kobold reacted quickly, hitting me with a spinning backhand and drawing a steal sword with its right hand. The hit came faster than I expected and sent me stumbling back, I had barely recovered when the kobold followed up with a downward diagonal slash. I tried to parry with my left dagger, but the kobolds strike was too hard and slammed my dagger out of the way. Reacting quickly, I stepped back just in time for the kobolds to only leave a thin cut along my torso.
I continued to step back to prevent the kobold from delivering another follow up attack. Sidestepping around the kobold I went towards the side not holding the sword and feinted a cut towards its neck with my right dagger. When the kobold moved to block the cut, I pushed more power into [Mana Edge] and stabbed my left dagger into its left thigh. This time my stab punched completely through the kobold’s scales. The kobold swung its sword down at me once again, but this time I want caught off guard and managed to dodge.
Seeing that the kobold standing unsteadily on its left leg I said. “Not so tough after all you scaley bastard!” The kobold looked enraged by my words, not understanding what I said only that it was meant as an insult. It squinted at me as its legs and sword began to glow. Shit it has a skill! I barely finished the thought when the kobold was right in front of me with its sword pierced through my stomach. Fuck, I couldn’t even see it move. I thought as I coughed up some blood.
The kobold shoved me off its sword as I began to fall. Shit, I’m going to die here. The kobold raised its sword before pointing it towards my heart and stabbed down. As the sword came down the world slowed around me as my life flashed before my eyes. I had a good enough life. Albert always made sure I had everything I could have wanted. The sword grew closer. Maybe… Maybe I lived long enough. I already did better than anyone expected after all. With that final thought I closed my eyes and accepted my death.
Inside my chest there was a pulse. NO! Another pulse. This is not where I give up! More pulses. If I’m going to die here, I’ll take this system damned scaley faced bastard with me! The pulses began to roar for satisfaction. I sprang up at the kobold impaling my heart on the kobold’s sword. Catching the kobold by surprise I plunged my left dagger into its right eye. The kobold and the sword impaling me immediately began to disperse into energy.
Falling to ground with blood pooling around me, my consciousness began to fade. At least I managed to take the scaly bastard with me. I waved away the few notifications that came up after the kobold finished dissolving. The last thing I noticed before the world faded into darkness was a warm feeling on one of my fingers.
~ ~ ~
Somewhere outside of the tower
“You don’t usually take interest in Unascendeds, or anyone these days, why the interest in this one?” A 12ft tall bare-chested man, who’s muscles appeared to have muscles, asked in a voice like rolling mountains.
“When this one entered the Tower, it pumped her full of Time-Space Energy” an obscured figure who was staring intently at a projection of Ariel’s fight with the kobold chieftain.
“Not unusual for one born Un-Awakened” The mountain that had somehow grown legs replied.
“Correct, except she entered the Tower filled with so much energy that she should have Awakened with a legendary core when she was born.” finally turning away from the screen and toward the humanoid mountain after Ariel plunged her dagger into the brain of the chieftain the figure continued. “After being pumped with a second dose of energy that would’ve awakened her to legendary upon entering the tower, her body began to break down. Once said breakdown began the system contacted me to assist before a hole was blown in the side of the tower, all I could manage was compressing the energy down into a semi-stable state.”
“That alone would have crippled her by forming a corrupted core, so how the hell is she able to kill a level 10 rare boss solo at level 7? Secondly how the hell is there a level 10 rare boss on the first floor” The mountain in disguise asked.
“The answer to the second question is rather simple, the system has balanced my assistance out by greatly increasing the difficulty of the tutorial, the answer to the first is more complicated. Once I had the energy compressed something took over and formed a core so pristine it could only be mythic.” The still hidden figure replied.
“Damn, so are you going to offer her a blessing?” The compressed cliffside waited a few minutes before following up with “The fact you haven’t outright rejected it means you’re still considering.”
“When she completes floor five and finishes the tutorial, I shall offer her a blessing. Even if I wanted to offer her one before then the system would make her tutorial truly unbeatable” the obscured figure replied.
“You sound awfully certain that she will get through it.” The gargantuan meat wall commented.
Swiping away the projection of Arial checking her system notifications the figured released the darkness that was obscuring her body. The woman had deep purple hair and silver eyes that if one glanced into, they would say they felt a blade against their neck. Turning her body in full towards the goliath next to her she said, “Let us go make preparations for the Thousand Blade Sovereigns return.”
