Feyre
My eyes open wide and I scream. Impossible pain hits me as I try to escape it. Hands that I realise are mine claw at my neck, trying to stop the agony wracking my body. I could barely manage to form a coherent thought as I writhed on the ground and screamed.
I didn't know how long it was that I lay there, wailing, begging for it all to stop. Nor did I know how long it had taken for my voice to give out and for me to pass into sleep.
I awoke again, the pain gone. Yet, when I moved my hand to my neck I felt a long and thin scar that creates an almost perfect line separating my head from my body.
[System]
[Notice: Unique Hidden One Time Use Skill: [Like Those That Came Before] has been used automatically upon cessation of life.]
[Dungeon Notice: Tier 3 Dungeon [The Goblin Kingdom of Iftania], has been updated. Dungeon Quests [Kill the Kuryuk King 1/1 and Kill the Kuryuk Elders 12/12 and Clear the Dungeon 0/1 and Kill the Lord of Druatari "Grenmi of the Gallows" 1/1.]]
[Dungeon Notice: You have been heavily assisted in your quest by Grenmi of the Gallows. You have not assisted in [Kill the Kuryuk King] or [Kill the Kuryuk Elders]. You get no rewards for this.]
[Dungeon Notice: You have single-handedly completed [Kill the Lord of Druatari "Grenmi of the Gallows"] using a Hidden Unique Skill. You will be fully rewarded upon Dungeon's completion.]
[Universal Announcement: High Lord of the Druatari, Vanquisher of Hythangir, The One who hung a thousand men, brutal warlord of the Druatari and Duke of the Realm of Undrel has been slain and cannot be Resurrected. Not even the Gods are eternal in Eurani.]
[Skill: [Grit Your Teeth] has Evolved!]
[Skill: [Grit Your Teeth] is now [Temporary Absolute Nullification].]
[New Skill Unlocked!]
[Skill: [Mind Over Matter] Now available to equip into Passive Skill Slot]
[New Skill Unlocked!]
[Skill: [Limitless Body] Now available to equip into Passive Skill Slot]
[You have slain a [Duke]/[Druatari High Lord] Grenmi of the Gallows Level 96]
[EXP gained = 2200]
[Class and Race experience being divided 9:1]
[Class Level Up!]
[Class Level Up!]
[Class Level Up!]
[Class Level Up!]
[Class Level Up!]
[Class Level Up!]
[Class Level Up!]
[Class Level Up!]
[Class Level Up!]
[Class Level Up!]
[Class Level Up!]
[Class Level Up!]
[Class Level Up!]
[Class Level Up!]
[Class Level Up!]
[Class Level Up!]
[Wayfaring Knight has now reached Level: 35 (147/175)
[Stat Bonuses have been Awarded.]
[Race Level Up!]
[You are now Level: 35 (153/175)
[You have earned a Title!]
[Title: "Bane of the Invader"]
[The Title "Bane of the Invader" is available to be Equipped.]
[The Title "Bane of the Invader": Whenever dealing with a hostile which is classed by the System as an [Invader] or is currently attacking a defensive position, gain a stat bonus relative to the number of hostiles and average race evolution or class specialisation/tier.]
[You have earned a Title!]
[Title: "The Underdog".]
[The Title "The Underdog" is available to be Equipped.]
[The Title "The Underdog": When you are thoroughly outmatched, you will utilise your highest stat to equalise and surpass your opponent. (Highest Stat)*2^((Evolutions above you)+(Class Specialisations/Tiers above you).]
[You have earned a Hidden Title!]
[Hidden Title: "An Error In The System"]
[The Hidden Title "An Error In The System" Automatically Equipped to Hidden Title Spot.]
[The Hidden Title "An Error In The System": Hey, it's [REDACTED], I am super duper ultra sorry for that. It isn't my area to keep the Realms from crossing except during summoning rituals but the other guy was busy with a whole Hero Summoning you know how it is I'm sure... Anyway... Uh... basically this Title does some cool things like uh... well, direct communication with me, [REDACTED], through a feature call [System Messages]. You can basically send those little [Notice: blah blah blah] to me and others now... Try not to abuse it please. I don't want to have revoke it... This title can only be seen by the highest level of identify, so... the Administrators and about uh... hang on... ah yes, 15 people, 6 of which are [God]s and one of which is the Saint. Soooo you know... You're safe in that regard. Anyways, enjoy the other features I added too! Like an actually working Stat Page... And also a way to edit it for others.]
I just paused and looked blankly at the great big wall of text in front of me. It was a lot of information all at once and I had to go back to read it two more times before I could fully comprehend what was going on. I almost wondered if this time I was having some sort of dream after I'd passed out from the pain, but I could still feel the slightly bumpy surface of the cave floor digging into my butt as I sat there staring into space like an idiot.
I shook my head and sighed hummed in thought. It wasn't very often that I felt like I had time to relax and since my premature second death which I promptly recovered from I felt a lot less hungry. Worrying, but acceptable. I could have a breakdown about my lack of trauma from my deaths later, I had Kuryuk to exterminate.
I got up and just before I walked off I realised I should probably actually check out my Status or whatever.
[System Status]
[Name: Feyre Agrifiti]
[Title: Venator]*
[Hidden Title: An Error In The System.]
[Race: Magicksli]
[Race Level: 35 (153/175)]
[Class: [REDACTED]
[Sub-Class: Wayfaring Knight]
[Sub-Class Level: 35 (147/175)]
[Stats]
[Free Stat Points: 245]
[Strength: 295 (+2)]
[Speed: 225 (+2)]
[Mana Control: 85]
[Mana Capacity: 120]
[Intuition: 155]
[Charisma: 155]
[Vitality: 225 (+2)]
[Skills]
[Identify]*
[Acting]*
[Temporary Absolute Nullification]
[Mind Over Matter]
[Limitless Body]
[System Messaging]
[Hidden True Status]
[Other-World Magicks]
[False Status]
I whistled as I looked at my stats and skills. I wasn't quite sure how the whole skill slots worked when I couldn't see anywhere to slot them in, but I could use Identify whenever so maybe I just didn't have enough skills for it to be an issue yet. I smirked to myself. I wasn't nearly as weak anymore and that wasn't all. I focused in on the skill [Identify]. When nothing happened instantly I frowned so I focused on it more, and then something finally happened. Stupid System.
[System]
[Skill Notice: Level Forcibly advanced to maximum Level. The only thing that can hide from your sight now is... well... Me. - [REDACTED].]
I furrowed my brows and read back through that extra comment again. Did that idiot actually... Yes. Yes he did in fact just tell me that the only thing I can't identify is him. Does that make him more important than an administrator or was I missing something about that? Again, I wondered if he was more than he was saying he was. Or She, for that matter. I didn't remember seeing anything actually telling me they were one way or the other...
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
I shrugged to myself.
"No way of knowing."
I look back at the one thing from the System I was a bit worried about. That Universal Announcement thing was a touch worrying. I didn't want to be outed but luckily it didn't say where he breached, so now I only had to worry that some big shot out there is on their way to deal with a High Lord of the Druatari dying. I wondered if there was a very powerful guy out there who wanted to get the kill on Grenmi him or her self but I got there first, I kind of hoped not.
With that cheery thought I continued down this tunnel. I could check out what that acting notification is later. Lucius' arming sword, now dubbed my arming sword, was held in my hand as I snuck forever deeper into the Kuryuk Kingdom, as it was called.
Not long later I realised it really didn't matter which of the paths I'd taken because they all came out into a weird cistern type of place. a couple alcoves in the corner spewing water which barely covered my feet. I turned quickly and froze as something in my belt tapped against my hip. I opened it and saw the vial of that godly healing potion perfectly undamaged. If I wasn't currently sneaking I would probably start throwing curses like the air was a dodgeball opponent. Instead I settled for angrily placing it into my inventory and sighing.
I was broken from any possible self loathing by the sounds of grunts and sounds that might be speaking. I stuck my tongue out slightly, just breaking through the barrier of my lips as I thought on the best place to hide if they got any closer. Then, I decided that it wasn't worth the effort and just forged on ahead, quietly.
It didn't take long before I could hear, and smell, the Kuryuk up ahead. I scowled and crinkled my nose as the stench of them wafted down the cave. Not a good time I was having as I crept closer to the group.
I could hear them properly now. There was one there, a bit bigger than the others but not Karyok level. I shuffle until I am behind a Stalagmite. I love these things. They're so useful.
"You horrible, snivelling cowards! Where were you when I was leading our armies against that Druatari Monster, huh!? And where's the hero who vanquished that brute in the name of the late King!?"
I raised an eyebrow. Did they not know that there was an intruder?
This at least confirmed that it was in fact a Universal Announcement and not just another error in the System.
Quick and quiet would be the best way to deal with this, but there was about twenty Kuryuk here and all of them were super close together. I decided to identify the leader.
[System]
[Use Skill: [Identify]? Y/N]
[Notice: Nothing will notice you using it.]
I mentally change so that I will automatically identify everything I want to Identify. After all, if there's anything that will notice a maxed out Identify used against it, then I was probably screwed either way. I wanted not to see the whole status for the boss, stats meaning little to me at the moment, and only a simplified version for each of the smaller Kuryuk.
[System]
[Target Status]
[Name: Ozlik Runtmaker]
[Title: Bootlicker]
[Race: Elite Kuryuk]
[Race Level: 9]
[Class: Kuryuk Commander]
[Class Level: 7]
[Sub-Class: Warrior]
[Class Level: 19]
[System]
[Target Status]
[Name: Kuryuk Mob]
[Average Race Level: 7]
[Average Class Level: 9]
I crouched there as Ozlik kept yelling, screeching and overall just abusing the Kuryuk under her command, until something finally happens.
"Alright, split up into groups of two. Two of you will be guarding me as the others search the tunnels up ahead for any survivors. That Druatari High Lord might've been caught off guard by the Karyok. Well? What are you waiting for maggots!? Get going!"
She smacks a Kuryuk, hard, and the rest run around until they all split off into the tunnels and try to find some survivors.
I held my breath as they walked right past my hiding spot and into the tunnel. They completely didn't see me as I made myself as small and as hidden as possible. Wasn't exactly fair on the little uggos.
As soon as I was sure that the Kuryuk had all left, I sprinted out and opened the storage behind the two guards, silencing them instantly and permanently. The Boss, however, I pointed my arming sword at her throat and smiled. It wasn't a nice kind of smile. It wasn't a Business kind of smile. It was a "I am going to kill you slowly if I am not happy with what you say next" kind of smile. Which I was good at... Probably... because of my Acting skill.
"Hello, Ozlik. How unpleasant it is to meet you!"
She jumped back... Or at least she tried to but I made a tut tutting noise and quickly slashed at her arm.
"I only want to ask a few questions and then you're free!"
She didn't need to know that I meant free from life, that would be a silly thing to tell her.
"I don't know anything!"
"I haven't asked anything yet, dearest Ozlik."
She shuddered as I enunciated the word Dearest a bit too forcefully for it to not have sinister connotations.
"Are your girls out there looking for survivors the only ones left?"
She nodded very quickly. Too quickly.
"Yep! Only ones that weren't dead back behind me! A bunch of scaredy cats them lot. Didn't assist in the fighting of the Druatari... I reckon it was around evolution 3, so I am hoping our Karyok got it and-"
I cut her off.
"I got that three legged freak. Sorry not sorry about that."
She lost control. Like, I could see it as she lost control of her bowels. I could forgive those that died and did it, that was not really up to them anymore. But Ozlik Runtmaker, a name with pretty weird connotations if that System description wasn't wrong, had fear in those eyes. If that meant anything, it meant that she was very much alive and should be in more control!
"Not only do you lie to me... you then... lose control of some major bodily functions. when I'm not even trying to threaten you at that point!"
I quickly cut her throat and hop away, scowling. Right as I do so, two Kuryuk rush me from behind in order to try get the jump on me.
I wasn't ready to dodge but did it anyway. A knife which would've hit my back hits my arm instead, creating a small gash along the bicep and a machete that might have cleaved my head off in one, narrowly misses my neck. I growl and quickly bring my arming sword into a Plow Guard as I jump back and start circling. It's always best to not underestimate the enemies you might face.
I run at one, going for a clean thrust at his centre of mass while opening the storage behind the other and launching a couple shards of Stalagmite at him. My primary target is ran through, her machete barely being raised before she drops it to the floor with a clatter. She seemed to suddenly have a very bad case of "Dead".
The other one, the knife wielder, I wasn't quite so lucky with. I got her with a couple shards but she somehow dodged the others. That's when I decided that I shouldn't over rely on my inventory for easy kills. After all, it did definitely seem to only work some of the time.
I cut her head off as she stumbled from the impacts, the arming sword cutting cleanly through her neck as I swung with quite a lot of oomph.
Her head hit the floor right as about eighteen Kuryuk rushed into the cave.
"What the fuck did you do to Ozlik you filthy Bi-"
She shut up as the machete from the Kuryuk I'd just killed went through her neck.
I am Allll-right"
