Chapter 13
Theo walked towards the four skeletons; at this distance, all he could make out were four shadows outlined and four sets of green, glowing eyes through the haze as he got closer. He walked down the street, dilapidated warehouses and merchant halls on either side of him. There was trash and debris on the cracked cobblestones. The skeletons became more visible through the haze. One was dressed in ratty, hole-riddled robes with a gnarled wand in its skeletal right hand that was gathering tendrils of dark magic that was the same color as the haze, and the black tendrils were condensing, into black flames started to lick from the wand; two were dressed in cracked and stained leather armor, and they both had bows in their left-hand that were aimed at him and at that moment both skeleton archers are reaching down to their quivers that are on the right side of their hips to grab an arrow; the last one in rusted half mail and half leather, a longsword held in a two-handed grip and a stance with the right leg forward. Even in death, those bones remain skilled in their craft. Theo, with chains wrapped around his arms and legs, wore leather armor, including a chest piece, helmet, and leggings, and his sword glowed with a faint pink light. His mind was clear, and the noises faded away, leaving him focused solely on the four in front of him. Breaths came steadily, sweat glistening off his forehead, and a few drops ran down his face, creating lines in the dirt and grit that caked his face.
The skeletons knocked their arrows about to fire, and simultaneously, the wizard released a black-flamed fireball. Theo went from a walk to a zigzag jog, avoiding the fireball and still heading toward the group of four; the skeletal swordsmen also charged. The two archers loosed their arrows. Theo sidestepped to the left, his left shoulder forward, making a smaller target and avoiding both arrows as he closed in on the skeleton swordsman, who was still charging at him. The skeleton slashed at Theo. The long sword clashed against the sword cane. Theo went in the same direction as the sword strike. With the momentum of the sword strike, Theo passed the swordsman, aiming for the wizard. The skeletal swordsmen followed as the archers and the caster resumed firing. Theo looked back and positioned his body between the range combatants and the swordsman. As the fireball and arrows were launched at him, Theo jumped to the right, dodging the projectiles. They hit the skeletal swordsmen. The arrows quickly pierced the half-plate of leather, and the black flames engulfed the skeleton’s head. The black tendrils of flame wrapped around the skeleton's head seemed not to cause any harm to the undead; the only thing visible through the black flames was the eerie green light glowing from the skeleton's eye sockets.
“In hindsight, that was not a good idea,” Theo thought.
Glancing back at the mobile campfire, Theo shot multiple Target Healings behind him, hitting the skeleton swordsman. In his focus on the skeleton behind him, he didn’t register that the archer had loosed an arrow, hitting him on the thigh, and he felt a dull ache where the arrow had struck. Theo continued closing the distance between himself and the archers. Theo got close enough to extend his left arm, and the chain unwound, thrusting itself at the closest skeletal archer. The chain wrapped around the skeleton’s legs, tossing it towards the flaming skeleton swordsman, knocking it down. Theo took the opportunity to strike at the archer, who was still standing, and the archer raised its bow. Using Warden’s suggestion to stun the skeleton, he imbued Cure Wounds on his sword; he cut right through the bow, and Theo went for a follow-up strike toward the skeleton’s skull. At that same time, the skeleton wizard released a black fireball. Theo was too close and, in mid-swing, swung toward the skeleton archer to dodge; the black flames roved over his body, burning with an icy cold wherever the flame hit the skin; his flesh sizzled and popped. Theo channeled a Healing Touch on himself multiple times, and, at the same time, he completed the strike, severing the skeletal archer's head and heading to the mage to cut it down. An arrow struck him in the upper back, near the shoulder. Theo ignored the throbbing discomfort from the arrow and focused on the mage, got close enough to cut through the barrier, and the skeleton in one fell swoop. Theo turned towards the archer and the swordsman, bringing up his sword cane just in time. Theo blocked the overhead strike from the still-on-fire swordsman. The flames had a weird effect; instead of being hot like a normal fire, they were cold like the icy grip of death.
“I wonder why the flames are still alight on the skeleton's head. The fireballs that hit me didn’t last nearly as long; they were out in a few seconds,” Theo thought.
The skeleton and Theo struck, parrying and blocking each other’s blows. Theo tried to keep an eye on the archer, dodging the arrows that went his way or using the swordsman's body as a shield. The flames finally died as the fight dragged on for a few minutes. Theo went in for a lunging strike toward the skeleton’s right side, extending the chain on his left arm. Theo tripped the skeleton swordsman, causing it to fall on its back. Theo charged the archer. As the archer tried to shoot, Theo used Warden’s Suggestion and cut its head off in one strike, focusing back on the down and getting up swordsman. Theo kicked it, causing it to flip. Using that moment, he imbued his sword with Cure Wounds. Theo stepped towards the downed skeleton and cut through the rusty helmet, causing the eerie green glow in its eye sockets to fade to nothing.
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Theo yanked the sword from the skeleton’s skull and then unsummoned the chains and the sword cane. Theo began to take out the arrows. Blood started to leak from the wounds, and he used a Healing Touch and Cure Wounds on himself. The holes started to heal rapidly before his eyes as his health neared full, and fatigue began to set in. Theo looked at his notifications for a few seconds to calm down.
ding
You have killed Skeleton Swordsman Level 17, Skeletal Archer Level 18, Skeletal Archer Level 17, and Skeleton Mage Level 17.
Human F-Grade Lv. 18 to 19
Class: Battle Healer Lv. 13 to 15
Warden’s suggestion, Common, Novice 3 to 4
Sword Mastery, Common, Journeyman 3 to 4
Physical Resistance, Common, master 1 to 2
You've acquired a new skill, Club Mastery.
Club Mastery: Club mastery is a skill that gives the knowledge and understanding of how to wield a club more efficiently.
“Yeah, that track. I’ve been using the sword cane a lot as a club. No surprise I got this one,” Theo thought.
Theo decided to look at his status to see all the changes.
Theodore Thompson
Race: Human F-Grade Lv. 19
Class: Battle Healer Lv. 15
Profession: Warden Lv.25
Health: 460/460
Mana: 80/780
Stamina: 450/650
Stats:
Vitality: 46
Strength: 59
Endurance: 65
Agility: 61
Intelligence: 78
Wisdom: 68
Willpower: 89
Perception: 43
Free Points: 7
Class Skills:
Healing Touch, Common, Journeyman 2
Cure Wounds, Common, Journeyman 3
Target Healing, Common, Journeyman 2
Sword Mastery, Common, Journeyman 4
Healers Intuition, Common, Novice 0
Club Mastery, Common, Novice 0
profession skills
Wardens’ Knowledge, N/A: Warden Site, Common, Novice 0: Universal translator, N/A: Spectral Guard, Common, Novice 1: Warden’s suggestion, Common, Novice 4: Wardens Command, Common, Novice 0: Warden’s Key, Common, Novice 0: Summon Handcuffs, Common, Novice 0
General Skills:
Inspect, Common, Novice 1
Bonded Skills:
Respond and Chains of Gehenna
Titles: Warden of Gehenna
Bloodline Skills:
Mental Resistance, Common, Novice 5
Physical Resistance, Common, master 2
Soul Resistance, Common, Novice 5
Bloodline: Fortitude
Bonds:
Galaxy Trade Store tablet, Chains of Gehenna, the Prison Gehenna, Sword Cane Rare
I’ve noticed that Inspect never really goes up in level; that's another question to ask the Host. With that, I think it’s time to take a break. Anyway, I feel a little bit puckish,” Theo thought.
Theo backtracked and headed back towards the inn, entering it and then taking a seat at the bar. At the same time, the door from the kitchen opened.
“Hello, Theo. Are you done for the day or just came in for a bite to eat?” the Host asked.
“Just for a bite to eat, then I will be out again, “Theo said with a smile
“All right, just give me a minute now to whip up some grub,” the Host said
As he returned to the kitchen a couple of minutes later, he walked out with a salad, steak, and a beer. Theo gobbled up the meal pretty quickly.
“Delicious as always,” Theo said.
“Thank you,” the Host said.
“Before I leave, I have a question: why does the Inspect skill level go up so slowly?” I’ve used it a lot,” Theo asked.
“Good question. This is because it’s a challenging skill to master for anyone. Inspect provides general knowledge at lower levels. For more information, you need to study and learn about various topics related to the skill to gain a better understanding. Most people buy a skill book instead of learning the old-fashioned way,” the Host said.
“And, of course, I can’t do that until I complete the tutorial, or points will be deducted.” There's another thing: why don’t I see the points I earn for a kill, or how many I have in total? Theo said.
“In past eras, when the system did that, many people became fixated on the number of points they had and focused on accumulating more. “That’s not the purpose of the tutorial, and before you ask, the primary purpose of the tutorial is to develop your new power and learn the fundamentals of using the system,” the Host said.
“Thank you for the information. I’ll take my leave and train some more,” Theo said.
“Have a wonderful rest of the day, Theo,” the Host said.
“All right, let’s head to the first District to work on the skill Spectral Guard, as well as Warden Command and Warden’s Suggestion,” Theo thought.
With that, Theo walked outside of the inn.
