Chapter 12

  Theo got up, stretched with a sigh, finished his morning routine, and headed downstairs.

  “Good morning, Host,” Theo said.

  “Morning, Theo,” the Host replied.

  Theo could see the questions that the Host wanted to say, and curiosity was written on his face, but he didn't ask them. And Theo wasn’t going to answer anyway.

  “So, what's for breakfast today?” Theo asked.

  “Nothing elaborate this time, just eggs, bacon, bread, and orange juice,” the Host said.

  “Sounds delicious either way,” Theo replied.

  Theo spent some time enjoying his meal.

  “Thank you for a lovely breakfast, Host,” Theo said.

  “You’re very welcome,” the Host replied.

  Theo headed outside and toward the warehouse district on the left. Walking in the district right in front of the inn, there was a large warehouse and a substantial building next to it. This pattern continued down the street, with a warehouse followed by a large building on both sides of the street. Keeping with the same theme, all the buildings were made of wood, and they were war-torn, neglected structures that had been abandoned for decades. A picturesque ruined, Theo saw a group of four skeletons heading toward them.

  “Let’s see my new limits,” Theo thought.

  Theo summoned the Spectral Guard. Theo saw a group of 4 skeletons 2 had swords. One had a bow, and the last one had a staff.

  “Well, not sure how easy or hard this will be,” Theo thought, using the Identify skill.

  Skeleton Archer level 16, Skeleton Mage level 16, Skeleton Swordsman level 16, Skeleton Swordsman level 16

  With a mental command, Theo sent the Spectral Guardian forward, and Theo followed from behind. The skeleton archer saw them and lose an arrow at the Spectral Guardian. With one arrow, it dissipated.

  “Looks like I got to go back to the first District and level up the Spectral Guardian,” Theo thought. Theo summoned his cane sword, directing the skill Warden’s Suggestion towards the archer. The archer froze, right skeletal hand in mid-air, holding its arrow close to the bow. The Wizard skeleton cast a black-flamed fireball; Theo dodged, using Warden’s Suggestion against the Wizard skeleton. It only hesitated for a second, then began to cast another fireball. The 2 skeletal swordsmen were not idle during this time; they began to charge Theo, imbuing the sword cane with Cure Wounds and whacking the first skeleton swordsman that got to him, then swiftly sidestepping to the left to avoid another fireball, dodging another swipe from the swordsman, then the second swordsman was on him. The archer was about to release another shot. Theo used Warden’s suggestion on the archer again, summoning the chain on his left hand and forearm. Theo went in for a lunging strike towards the one on his right, then, at the last second, he reached out his left arm; the chain unwound and hit the one on the left, pushing it back. The wizard used the opportunity to fire another fireball. Theo aimed the spell focus at the black fireball with a casting of Target Healing; both of them dispersed, and he aimed another one at the skeleton, hitting a barrier instead of the skeletal mage. The swordsman on his right went for a strike aimed at his torso, attempting to cleave him in half, summoning the chain on his right arm. Theo tried to block the sword. With the makeshift gauntlet, but the sword went through the gap in the chain. Theo just felt a slight twinge as he used a Healing Touch on that spot on his arm.

  Theo lashed out with a kick, kicking the one on the right back a few steps. With a mental command, Theo Connects the sword cane to the chain. Theo imbued the chain and the sword cane with Cure Wounds, lashed out with the sword cane to the one on the left, caught the skeleton off guard, and was able to bash the skeleton’s skull in with the makeshift gauntlet. The archer recovered. At the same time, the wizard threw a fireball. Theo blocked the fireball with another Target Healing. An arrow hit him on his left side. Using Cure Wounds and Healing Touch, he pulled the arrow out and tossed it to the ground while ducking and dodging a sword strike aimed at his head. He knocked the feet out under the skeleton’s swordsman using the chain on his left arm. Using the chain connected to the sword cane, imbuing it again with cure wounds, bashed the skeleton swordsman's skull while was on the ground, focusing on the archer, using target healing to keep the skeleton on its toes. The wizard threw another fireball. Theo dodged it. Theo started to rush the two, keeping the pressure on with Target Healing. Theo used Warden’s Suggestion on the archer, giving him enough time to chug a manna potion and drop it. The mage threw another fireball. Theo ducked, was able to get into the archer’s guard, and smashed its head with imbued Cure Wounds, then unsheathing his sword. Theo rushed the wizard, imbuing it with a Healing Touch. Theo just noticed as he was slicing through the barrier, which was a Lucent black. Theo cuts through the wizard's skeletal neck like butter using another Healing Touch imbued on the sword. And with a thud, the skeleton dropped to the ground.

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  “Now that was a fun fight,” Theo thought

  At the same time, some of the pain that he was ignoring came back to him

  “That's not nearly as much fun. I wonder if there’s a way to have my bloodline on all the time so ignore the pain even after a fight,” Theo thought

  Ding

  you have slain Skeleton Archer level 16, Skeleton Mage level 16, Skeleton Swordsman level 16, Skeleton Swordsman level 16

  Class: Battle Healer Lv. 12 to 13

  You have 2 free stat points to use

  Healing Touch, Common, Journeyman 1 to 2

  Cure Wounds, Common, Journeyman 2 to 3

  Target Healing, Common, Journeyman 1 to 2

  Spectral Guard, Common, Novice 0: to 1

  Warden’s suggestion, Common, Novice 0: to 3

  Theo decided to keep the 2 free stat points and not use them. Theo approached one of the big buildings adjacent to a warehouse and entered. It looked like a merchant’s office. The moment he walked in, the scene was one of disrepair: a flipped-over desk towards the back of the room, torn chairs and benches were scattered haphazardly around the floor, cracked tiles were caked with dust and debris, and the walls were peeling with dull, gray paint. Theo walked into the waiting room. He enters the back of the building and gets blasted with a fireball in the face. Theo felt his eyes burst from the heat, and his face also started to burn. He could feel his skin sizzling and popping. A split-second of fear and pain hit him before his bloodline kicked in. The fear became an annoyance, and the pain became a dull throb that he could ignore. Theo's vision was gone as he used a Healing Touch directed towards his face. He had to focus and maintain the spell to heal the damage. Without seeing his enemy, Theo ducked, which was the correct thing to do. Before his vision returned, he felt the heat from another fireball above his head. Theo charged and summoned the sword cane, unsheathing it. While running towards the skeleton, his vision returned to him, imbuing a Healing Touch to the blade. Theo sliced through the skeleton wizard’s barrier as if it weren’t there, then imbued another Healing Touch, which sliced through the skeleton wizard easily, like cutting through paper.

  Ding

  you have killed a level 15 wizard skeleton

  Physical Resistance, Common, Journeyman 9 to master 1

  “Well, that was unpleasant. I hope I never experience that again. How strong is that fireball for me to increase my Physical Resistance by 2 levels? Theo thought.

  Theo walked to the skeletal mage and kicked its skull, which flew and smashed against the back of the wall. And Theo continued to walk past the skeleton’s body. The room had several offices on either side of the hallway. A staircase led up in the middle, at the end of the hallway. Looking through the offices, Theo saw that the rooms were very run-down and had smashed furniture with nothing of value. Going up to the second floor, there were more offices. Theo heard something moving in one of the offices adjacent to the staircase. Theo saw a skeleton swordsman. Theo cast multiple Target Healing at the skeleton. After the first one, the skeleton started to charge Theo. It took six shots for it to fall. While searching the office, Theo found one manna potion and one health potion. Putting the mana potion in the bandolier and pocketing the health potion, Theo decided to go back to the street.

  Ding

  you have killed a level 15 skeleton swordsman

  Entering the street and walking down a little way, the haze cleared up in front of him. Theo saw one swordsman, two archers, and one mage using the Identify skill.

  Skeleton Swordsman Level 17, Skeletal archer level 18, skeletal archer level 17, and skeletal mage level 17

  “Well, this can be an interesting fight,” Theo thought.