Book 2: Chapter 36 (Patreon)

Leanthun drew his khopesh and twirled the curved sword in one hand. He reached his free hand behind his back and drew a small vial out.

“Before we begin, I don’t want you to hold back during this fight. Come at me as if I was your enemy. If there is an accident and you are hurt, we will need to get this down your throat as quickly as possible. It’s a very high-level healing potion and will cure almost any injury you might have, short of lost limbs.”

The elf moved across the path they’d been following and placed the glass bottle in Madi’s hand.

Orrin used [Analyze] and saw that he was telling the truth.

[Potion of Moderate Healing]

“It’s good,” Orrin said, nodding at Madi.

Leanthun’s brow momentarily creased. “Of course. I’ve already given my word. I have no need to poison him.”

“We’ll make sure to heal you up, too,” Orrin promised.

Leanthun’s smug smile prompted Orrin to max out Daniel’s stats. He used [Identify] to check out his friend’s stats.

Name:   Daniel

Hero   (Level 15) 1385/6000

HP:   400/400

MP:   80/80

Strength:   24 (100)

Constitution:   20

Dexterity:   15 (100)

Will:   8 (100)

Intelligence:   10 (100)

That bastard beat me to level fifteen.

The afternoon sun was on its journey toward the mountains. Orrin knew that within the hour, the sunset would set the sky on fire with a blaze of oranges, reds, and purples brighter than any of Earth’s sunsets. Daniel stood in the middle of the path, with Gertrude held in a vertical guard. Leanthun stopped ten yards from him and held his sword horizontally.

“When you are ready, you may attack.”

Daniel flashed across the field, bringing his oversized sword down in an overhand chop that sent small rocks and chunks of dirt flying into the air. When the dust cleared, Leanthun was standing mere inches from the sword with his own blade at Daniel’s neck.

“Again.”

The next ten minutes were eye-opening to Orrin. Despite Daniel’s maxed-out stats, he never landed a single blow against the elf. His movements were perfect, his blade sent gusts of wind hurtling at him and Madi, and every attack seemed for all the world as if this would be the one to hit Leanthun. Yet, at the moment, Daniel was panting with sweat dripping from his face and the elf was waiting. No blood had been drawn but the fight was so one-sided that Orrin was worried.

If Leanthun was an enemy, could he [Teleport] them out in time?

“Your basic attack patterns are very well done. I’m assuming you have [Sword Proficiency] at level two? You’ve also put in the work to override the basic System forms. I’m impressed. You are obviously using a boosting skill, as well. We’ll have to train you up with that. You have the increased stats but you haven’t grown into them enough to fully utilize the speed and strength to full effect.”

Orrin opened his mouth before he could think. “What do you mean? His stats are maxed out.”

Leanthun glanced at Orrin to answer just as Daniel activated [Shooting Star].

[Shooting Star]- Upon activation, you can move in straight lines at incredible speeds for two minutes. Speed increased by Dexterity.

Daniel was a blur. Orrin didn’t see what happened because everyone else moved so much faster.

Daniel was straining with Gertrude caught in the khopesh’s curve. Leanthun had caught his attack while still looking at Orrin.

“Artificially increased stat points only grant the possibility of that effect. For instance, the [Hero]’s strength is currently higher than mine. However, as you can see, I’m holding off his two-handed attack with one arm. How is that?”

Orrin waited, thinking Leanthun was going to continue. When he didn’t, Orrin realized the elf was trying to teach them something… while holding off Daniel’s attack.

“Um…”

“You have a skill that negates his strength?” Madi guessed.

Leanthun twisted his wrist and sent Daniel flying into the dirt.

“No. But some do have skills or spells that can reduce stats, although that is rare. Let me ask in a different way. When you last received a stat increase, how long did it take you to learn to handle your new strength or dexterity?”

Madi gasped and nodded her head. “It takes a few days before our bodies acclimate to the new boosted power. Are you saying Orrin’s buffs need time for us to acclimate too?”

“Orrin’s buffs?” Leanthun’s brow creased again. The smallest wrinkle on the elf’s otherwise perfect skin was the only tell he seemed to have. “This is not a power of Daniel’s?”

He bent down and studied Daniel, who was spitting dirt from his mouth. When he noticed how close Leanthun was, he scrambled back and got to his feet.

“I’m not done. Let’s go.”

Leanthun waved his hand. “We’ll have plenty of time for that later. What is this buff that Orrin has?”

Madi flashed a smile. “You don’t honestly think we’d give you that information.”

“Hmmm.” Leanthun ran his free hand over the symbols on his leathers. When Daniel ran at him from behind, he side-stepped and tripped the [Hero]. “You three were traveling toward my home. Am I right to guess you have a Quest relating to the current conflict?”

Orrin was pulling Daniel out of another small crater that he’d created when tripped. He was covered in dirt. Orrin ruffled his hair and created a small dust cloud.

“We are traveling to the elves to see if we can offer any assistance,” Madi deftly answered.

Thank God we brought her. Orrin had no doubt that he’d have spilled the beans five times over by now.

“I’ll accompany you. You wouldn’t be able to reach more than the outer villages we trade with. Our forest is on lockdown until we’ve repelled the invaders.” Leanthun announced this without any trace of doubt they’d reject his proposal. He slipped his sword back into his belt. “I’ve left my pack a few miles out. I’ll meet back with you before sundown.”

Before Madi could answer, the elf had disappeared.

“I really don’t like that guy,” Daniel said, spitting mud from his mouth. “I should have gone all out and used a few more skills. I almost had him when you distracted him, Orrin.”

Orrin patted his friend on the shoulder. “Yes. You were so close. He’ll go down fast next time.”

“Yeah… next time.” Daniel started walking the path again.

Madi slipped close to Orrin. “He doesn’t have a chance, does he?”

“Nope,” Orrin answered as they followed behind.

Daniel fumed and walked ahead of them for nearly an hour. Madi and Orrin exchanged small talk as they walked but Orrin’s mind was elsewhere.

“What do you think he meant about acclimating to my buffs?”

Madi chewed her lip. “He might have been lying to get more information out of us but I don’t think that’s the case. I’m not really sure how to explain it though.”

“Can you try?” Orrin kicked a loose rock and it almost hit Daniel. He scowled at them over his shoulder. Madi waved.

“I’ll try.” She took a minute to collect her thoughts. “We just got those new points for dexterity from the dungeon, right? Have you felt any change in the way you move?”

Orrin thought back over the day. “Not particularly. Should I? I’ve usually only focused on my intelligence and will.”

Madi clipped her spear to her belt. It had a tiny ring attached to the base and in its smaller form, she didn’t need to carry it all the time. “That is the point. When you increase your physical stats, you don’t grow stronger or faster right away. The accepted timeframe is a week or two before noticeable measurements can be made. There are ways to speed that up but that’s another topic.”

She glanced at the setting sun. The colors bounced off the mountains and the plains stretching out from them. “I’m not an expert in this at all. My father strongly discouraged me from taking any path that might lead to a self-boosting class, so it was not something I looked into heavily. I think Leanthun was talking about synergy with the buff.”

“So, I need to buff you guys more and let you practice? That’s not too bad. We can do that.”

“I’m not sure it’ll be that easy,” Madi sighed. “That will help a little, but it’s the difference between living with a few extra points every minute of every day and being buffed for what… ten or twenty minutes? You could use [Utility Ward] on us every morning, but then what would happen? What if you leave or something happens to you? Would we get so used to it that it could have a negative effect?”

They walked for a few more minutes. Orrin bent and scooped up a few small rocks. He threw one at Daniel, missing him just slightly. Madi chuckled. Orrin handed her half a handful.

They spent some time messing with Daniel until he turned around and confronted them. Madi’s laughter cooled any anger he had before he actually yelled at them.

“Should we set up camp?” Daniel searched the area until he pointed to a divot in the tall grass. “We could set up there.”

“I really wish Orrin could just [Teleport] us to his village. We could avoid camping and walking and camping and walking,” Madi complained.

“It’s not there anymore,” Orrin said tearfully, trying his best to sell the lie. “I couldn’t… I don’t want to….”

“Hey, hey. It’s okay. Some light camping will be good for us.” Daniel put his arm around his shoulder. He muttered, “Too much. Tone it down.”

Orrin coughed and started pulling a tent out of his [Dimension Hole]. Madi gave him space and didn’t mention his village again. Before long, they had set up camp and brought the heater box out. Madi set a few of her butterflies to sit in a ring, lighting the area in the dark.

They ate in silence. The dungeon, running into the elf, and the full day of hiking had worn them out.

“I’ll take first watch,” Orrin offered.

“Rock, paper, scissors for third shift?” Daniel asked Madi. Nobody wanted the middle watch.

“What’s that?”

Daniel explained the game and lost immediately to Madi.

“Good night boys, wake me up when it’s my shift.”

“How did you lose? She’s known the game for exactly two minutes?” Orrin chided his friend as he got into his sleeping bag.

“I think she cheated. Either she knows the game already or she actually has mind-reading powers.”

“You’re a doorknob,” Madi said through a yawn. “It’s a given you’d choose rock. Me crush things with big rock.”

Orrin laughed and Daniel grunted as he turned over, ignoring them both.

Madi’s butterflies eventually disappeared as she fell asleep or their internal timer ran out, Orrin didn’t know. He kept his eyes from closing by re-reading his new Administrator options over and over. Each new skill had a price next to them and some cost hundreds of Administrator Points. He had ten to work with. He probably should have tried to walk with Daniel and talk to him about them today but he could do that tomorrow.

A rustling from the grass in the distance alerted Orrin before he saw anything. He summoned a [Ice Sword] and stood between his sleeping friends and the noise. He approached the patch further away from the camp.

“If you’re a monster, you picked the wrong camp. If you’re human, just walk away.”

“What if I’m an elf?”

Leanthun stepped out from the grass, hefting a bag as big as his body over his shoulder. “Can I come closer or are you going to stab me?”

Orrin lowered his sword. “Come on in but be quiet. They’re both asleep.”

The elf made no noise as they crept back. He rolled out his own blanket and laid on his back, watching the stars.

“Not going to offer to take a watch?” Orrin taunted.

“Nothing out here will attack us tonight. I struck a few beasts at random intervals in a circle around us. We should be safe until dawn.” He closed his eyes.

Orrin watched the elf but his breathing seemed to slow.

“Like we’d just take your word for it,” he muttered.

He spent his turn listening and watching, but nothing else stirred. When he woke Daniel, he had to hurriedly explain the elf sleeping in their midst. Then he curled up and went to sleep.

The morning sun woke Orrin before Madi did. She was talking with Leanthun, who had supplied a few scrounged-up eggs and a loaf of bread with fruit strewn through it for breakfast.

“They look chummy,” Orrin said to Daniel. His friend was rolling his sleeping bag up and grunted.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Didn’t.”

“Didn’t sleep well or sleep at all?” Orrin noticed the dark circles.

Daniel grunted again and tossed his tied-up bag to Orrin for storage. “Can you make some coffee?”

Orrin’s face split into a grin and he pulled out everything he’d need. “Of course! What kind do you want? I have –-“

As Orrin gave options, Daniel just raised his hand and shook his head. “I just need the caffeine.”

Orrin’s smile wilted. “At least appreciate the coffee.”

“I want lots of sugar, too.”

Orrin’s lips turned down into a grimace. “How did we ever become friends?”