Ardur The Pixie

Under attack > Trying to save a life /// Adventuring day 4 // Morning / Location - Cave

Ardur watched as his fire ball soared through the air striking his slowed target. The pixie was relived at this and would remember that his friend’s webs where flammable. He thought the wisp would put up more of a fight, but he wasn’t about to go out of his way to find another fight. Looking back down toward the slimes the buff pixie furrowed his brow. The one he remembered being called Jason had used some sort of chant that brought up some weird symbols.

The spell he used seemed to be over in an instant but Ardur still watched for as long as he could be trying to figure out what just happened. He could hear him yelling about mind something? Was that a combination attack? Could it be something similar to how he was using shield and fireball? More than a few good questions he would try to remember later.

AS for the here and now, the big slime was badly injured and the others looked like they were beginning to retreat. A ping of sympathy filled the back of his mind as he watched Asura try to comfort the larger slime. All he could think of was how he would react if something like that happened to Steve. “Steve follow me if you can, we are going to help that big blue slime. If you can’t follow go back to the mouth of the cave and wait for me.” With that command the Buff pixie used his strength, lesser flight III, and angle to dive towards mama slime.

He didn’t even try to slow down on his landing. Tumbling and rolling past the shivering blue mass Ardur was quick to get back on his feet and towards the large slime. Stopping at its side he could hear it moaning and groaning in pain. Hesitantly Ardur reached forward at the leaking mass of blue. “Easy now I’m a friend, I’m here to help you.” He was trying to be soothing and careful but ultimately even if she did lash out at him he would continue to try to get to her.

“Wounds mend, Scars fade. Pain vanishes and nerves calm.” The pixie reached forward to press his hands onto the quivering slime. Trying his best to envision her skin and membrane healing itself. “Merciful Sky father, spare this child of the sun from her suffering. Stabilize her wounds and help her grow, so she may be as mighty in your eyes as she is in mine… Minor Healing III.” He wasn’t yelling like he was before, this time it was almost a whisper.

With this, the buff pixie was also trying something new. Casting Shield I on the mother slime but not so she was protected. Instead Ardur would attempt to invert the shield as too keep as much of the slimes fluids inside it. Somewhat like a bandage.

@Zeroth
@Kazemitsu

---

Digbie smiled at the reassuring members of the party. "Really? Well shucks, thanks guys. I guess I'm not so bad after all..." He rubbed the back of his neck embarrassingly. He was commended for his efforts by not only Ash, but also by Mourningstar! Ash always seemed like a more friendly comrade, but Mourn commending him was a big deal. Maybe she was fit to lead after all.

He was so caught up in his emotions he almost forgot that Ash was also trying to make his acquaintance. "Digbie's the name. I'm good at diggin', and that's... actually about it. Mournin'star and Oberon can speak for that firsthand." Alright, this is starting to be a real party. Digbie was just fine with that.

When the group came to the stream area, talk of settling down and establishing a base went around the group. Mourn wanted to assault the frogs and whatever was in the burrow, while Ash went with a more pacifistic route. Digbie was more with Ash. The group was in a risky situation right now, and they really didn't need to get into another fight until they had a decent area to rest. "I don't mind helpin' to dig the base out. I have a pickaxe I stole from a goblin earlier before we fought Rattleskull, and I also have this neat shovelin' rock to do it with too. Settin' up a base, gettin' clean water to drink, and healin' off our wounds should be our concern, though. We don't need to hurt the frogs or the burrow dwellers for food yet, since we can eat some of the nearby plants to satisfy our hungers."

Digbie thought for a moment before something came to his mind. "... there was also somethin' I wanted to try. I saw it go on during the explosion, but I didn't know what it was at the time. Too busy tryin' to make sure Torrent was okay." With that, Digbie pulled his Ratskin pack over next to a good area for a shelter, a nice slope and hill, before he went over to a small patch of dirt that was loose and able to be drawn in.

"So... wasn't it a circle first...?" Digbie guessed as he drew a circle in the dirt, his knees on the ground and his mind clearing. He looked over at a dying flower in the vicinity and grabbed the small clump of dirt under it, lifting it up off the ground with {Soil Manipulation} and moving it to the middle of the circle. After that, he held his hands out and focused all of his energy into the circle. Quietly, he began to chant the first thing that came to his head. "Heal the Earth, save those who are weak. Heal the Earth, save those who are weak. Heal the Earth, save those who are weak."

---

---

---

Asteria quickly blinked in surprise several times at the magnificent sword that appeared. She’d come here to try and find help, but of course the water spirit had its own ideas, and had apparently been active even before she’d contacted it. “I hope you understand that I will need a summarization of the risks and consequences of your proposed action before I can even consider agreeing to it. Otherwise, I am afraid I will have to decline until I have more information,” she stated, though privately wondered why the spirit was asking for her permission, of all things. Since she had not managed to gain much information on the water spirit from her dream, Asteria attempted to analyze it once again.

She was starting to get antsy to return to Jason and help in his fight; though she didn’t agree with all his actions, and didn’t particularly desire to fight Asura, as manic as he was turning out to be, she was still technically on Jason’s side. Wary as she was of sharing any further information with the water spirit, Asteria nonetheless explained the current situation to it, in hopes that it might be more inclined to cooperate than it had been in her dream. “You see, as it so happens, a fellow Reincarnator of mine made some sort of contact with this cave dungeon’s core, and I am concerned destroying the core might harm or disadvantage him. He is currently in a conflict with yet another reincarnated human, and I dare say they are intent on destroying each other. At the very least, I ask that you withhold altering the dungeon until I prevent any unnecessary deaths. Then, if he’s still alive by that point, I will bring the current core’s master to speak with you.”

While waiting for the water spirit to make any kind of remark, Asteria gathered all the nearby healing herbs (but not more than 5), and stuffed them beneath the vine belt she still had wrapped around her body. If she really was soon heading into such a dangerous conflict, she’d need a bit of insurance. I can’t believe we managed to turn to infighting so soon after practically exterminating the cave…Figures. Sure as hell wish I knew more about the core too. This fancy sword might have just made things worse.

The journey away from the Goblins was, thankfully, fairly uneventful until they reached the creek. Along the way they passed by a number of plants, some of which Oberon had already seen and a few he hadn’t; he used Magic and Monster Analysis on the Blue Argeps and the Purple Ferns, still using the skills as a replacement for a true plant analysis ability until he managed to obtain one. Once he was sure the Argeps were safe he plucked a few from the bush and ate until he didn’t feel so empty anymore. With his small body that didn’t take very long.

At one point Ash discovered a fragment of the Flak Beetle on the ground, a piece of its mandible by the looks of it, and picked it up with what must have been Lesser Force. Aside from this there didn’t seem to be any signs of life in the forest, everything in the area probably being driven off by the explosion, until they found both a set of footprints and a tuft of fur caught on a branch; something had been through here fairly recently. Oberon used Monster Analysis on the footprints and the fur, curious to see if his skill would give him any information on a creature from those clues alone.

Overtime they began to reach parts of the forest that showed no signs of Goblin activity, going beyond the range of their expeditions to collect wood or food. Digbie said something, asking if he was a bad as the other Goblins, and while the Sprite wanted to reassure him that this wasn’t the case, that he had healed Torrent, helped them fight Rattleskull and so much more, by the time he had turned back to say anything Mourn and Ash were already there; the two former-humans had already said everything he was going to and Oberon couldn’t help but smile contentedly as the words seemed to have a positive effect on Digbie’s mood.

Once again their journey progressed without incident until they reached a small clearing and Oberon began to feel a tingle at the base of his neck. Turning around the Sprite scanned the trees around the clearing for creatures but saw nothing, or at least not directly. If he didn’t look directly at the branches he could almost make out a shape among them, a hanging tail or a serpentine body, but how much of that was real and how much was humans ability to see patterns where they didn’t exist he wasn’t sure. They walked a bit further and as they passed another bush laden with those blue berries a deer-like creature sprang from the bushed and disappeared before he could get a good look at it, seeing only curved horns and a blue-hide.

Whatever it was he was pretty sure it wasn’t the thing from the clearing however.

When they reached the creek it seemed like that would be their stopping point for now, allowing them the opportunity to gather fresh water and maybe even make this their shelter for the time being. Oberon used Magic and Monster Analysis on the frogs and stayed far away from the burrow that seemed to contain a rather irritable creature before returning to join the others.

“I agree with the others on this Mourn. There’s no need to pick a fight and we don’t know anything about what’s in that burrow to begin with; a lack of information is what led to that mess with the Flak Beetle. Look, I used an analysis skill on it right before it blew up, none of us expected that thing to explode when Torrent hit it with a fireball, but the Beetle was filled with an explosive chemical that it uses to shoot projectiles at its prey. The creatures in this world aren’t like those back home, we can’t make any assumptions about what they’re like and we shouldn’t be attacking anything without finding out as much as we can about it first.” Oberon turned to face the Pygmy Drake before making one last point. “And to be fair, the beetle attacked us. We didn’t pick that fight.”

Ash suggested building a shelter upstream from where they currently were and Digbie agreed to help. “I can heal us at least. Give me a chance to recover my mana and I’ll patch us up; speaking of which I just learned an ability that can speed up mana recovery and I think we should all learn that as soon as possible. I haven’t seen anything like a mana crystal out here so far.” As Digbie began digging out a circle in the dirt in an attempt to recreate what he had done earlier and Mourn flew up to get a better view of the area, Oberon decided to do what he had done earlier and scout the local topography. “I’ll fly up and see where we are. I think we were heading north so we should be closer to the mountains now.”

Oberon craned his head back to try and see which of the trees nearest to them was the highest and flew up towards it, this time not bothering to stop on every bough but instead push upwards, only stopping to rest if he felt himself start to tire. Like before, if the tree he had picked wasn’t the tallest he would move over to the next until he was sitting atop the tallest tree in the area, holding on to it as he turned full circle and scanned his surroundings.

While he was there, basking in the sunlight above the tree layer that otherwise covered the forest floor in shade, he decided to try and learn more about the Gather Light skill he had found out about earlier. He closed his eyes and focused on the warm feeling of the sunlight on his skin; so far he had absorbed light as a kind of side effect of using his mediation skill, opening himself up to the ambient mana around him and coincidentally opening himself up to this other source of power as well. Now he tried to focus on just the sunlight, to ignore the ambient mana around him and absorb just the energy from the sun’s rays.

If he could feel this working then he would then move on to the next step and try to use this energy to cast a spell. Since Mana Orb was the Sprite’s simplest spell as well as being neutral in terms of affinity, Oberon began to create an orb between his hands, attempting as he did so to use only the power he had gathered from the sun.



@Zeroth@floodtalon@Gardevoiran@Old Amsterdam@Rune_Alchemist

---

When Digby posed his question, Torrent had been about to answer when the others handled it for her. She closed her mouth again, focusing on the trek.

This world really was beautiful, she decided. Even as something darted past them and the weird thing bounced off faster than she could run. She was mildly intrigued by the thing in the burrow, but she was captured by the water.

Rushing forward to the stream she started drinking greedily, trying to sate the torrential thirst and dryness that permeated her body. Once she'd had enough, now full and quenched, she made her way back to the group to catch the tail end of the conversation.

"I agree. I have superior digging abilities now. Prefer stealth than a straight fight. Not repeating being blown up." she shuddered. "Tell me where, and we can dig our own burrow. Also, two messages from the thing that brought us here."

She paused momentarily to watch Digby while she thought. As he finished his chanting she spoke again.

"He said to stop praying to him, though I don't know who was trying to pray. I wanted answers. And when I died there it was like when we were born. Or when I was born. Whatever. And he spoke, saying we were chosen because we could become strong. For what it's worth."

She glanced back at the burrow warily, thinking. "I only know killing. Sneaking and killing. I need to know more. I'll help people understand fireball if you'll help me learn to be better."

Going by how the system called the female Goblin unusual she probably was a fellow reincarnator, while it was interesting Danny also guessed she didn't want him to help since she warned everyone not to interfere with the duel. Silently he decided to deal with everyone who ignored her warning form his hiding spot. Wanting to make sure no one saw him he carefully examined his surroundings and noticed what looked like a Lesserwurm, though he was sure it couldn't be Flood.

He wasn't sure but it looked like the Lesserwurm was trying to cast Fireball, despite his doubts that that was the case he still tried to analyze the skill in hopes of at least learning Magic Analysis before the duel started.

Just as he refocused his attention on Crispie and the challenger he heard a truly horrifiyng scream coming from where he saw Jason and the amorphous Slime. Despite his desire to see the fight in hopes of seeing the Goblin leader fall he couldn't ignore it and left to check it out, focusing more on stealth than speed, since being seen most likely meant he was dead.

3x Argeps (leftover from eating, gathered by Oberon)
1x ??? Deer Fur (gathered by Mourningstar)
1x Antidote Fern (gathered by Ash)
1x Beetle Mandible (gathered by Ash)

You used Alchemy II! You used Magic Analysis I!
---Antidote Fern---
This purple fern contains a natural antibiotic chemical and also promotes the immune system, making it useful for fighting off certain sickness-inducing status effects. It is Fibrous, Organic, Flammable, Fragile, Water Absorbant, and Waxy. It has some residual magic energy. Reactive with water. Reactive with heat.
---??? Fur---
This black, stiff fur came from a creature you aren't familiar with yet. It is Organic, Flammable, Insulating, Slightly Water Absorbant, Silky, and Slightly Lustrous. It has high residual magic energy. It seems like it might be highly reactive with other magical materials.
---Rubber Frog---
ERROR. This target has not been harvested, dissected, or otherwise broken down into useful components. Without more Analysis Skills, at its current rank the Alchemy Skill is unable to analyze the traits of this target or its reactivity.
---Analysis Complete!---

Skill Gain: Monster Analysis I!
Gain basic biological information about a monster by actively observing it.

Skill Rank Up: Soil Manipulation I > Soil Manipulation II!
MP Cost increased. Carrying capacity increased to 10 pounds of loose soil. Range remains within a 10 foot radius of your body. Using this soil to create a shape or exert a larger amount of force still consumes more MP, but takes only 20 seconds at a minimum. At this rank, created shapes cannot consist of more than one part, or be more complex than quadrilateral structures. At this rank, created shapes cannot change the quality of the soil (sharper, harder, etc) nor its color or texture.

You are Fed.
You are Dehydrated.

You are recovering HP slowly.
Your HP is full.

LEVEL UP!
Your many experiences have culminated in new power! You are now Level 5! Your Max MP has Increased! You gain Skill Points to distribute as you please!

Unspent Skill Points: 9

Current Skills:
Use Light Equipment (--)
Tremor Sense II (2.55)
Soil Manipulation II (2.0)
Stone Shot I (1.35)
Taboo 1 (1.0)
Stronger I (1.05)

<UNUSABLE SKILLS>
Quake (0.5)
Rock Spire (0.9)
Crafting (0.1)
Fortify (0.3)
Point Strike (0.6)
Smash (0.6)
Throw Item (0.2)
Monster Analysis (0.2)
Charisma (0.1)
Guidance (0.1)
Mental Resistance (0.4)
Mana Strike (0.3)
Focus (0.1)
Stone Fist (0.6)
Stone Breaker (0.2)
Spell Chant (0.4)
Intimidate (0.2)
Sacred Ground (0.4)
Scribe (0.2)
Fire Resistance (0.3)

YOUR BODY IS BEGINNING TO CHANGE! You are undergoing Transformation! Based on your life experiences, your ability to survive, and the strength of your will, new paths have appeared! Choose carefully--there is no going back! WARNING. THIS PROCESS WILL LEAVE YOU TEMPORARILY VULNERABLE.

OPTIONS (* Indicates Suitability, - Indicates Unsuitable):
**(Adult) Goblin (Guaranteed Variant Chance/Medium Variant Chance) - Goblins stand between three and three-and-a-half feet tall on average, and while their physical strength isn't to be underestimated, they are much like human children. However, their natural cunning and viciousness is far more vile, and while they can use tools they have a limited intelligence. They tend to form savage tribes with little in common save for the constant drive to survive, and a lack of emotional control that causes them to do whatever they feel necessary to satisfy any primal craving they happen to feel at any given moment. They aren't typically capable of long-term planning and have difficulty with abstract concepts.

• Slightly increase all base-stats
• Increase HP
• Increase Potential

****(Immature) Svartblin (Medium Variant Chance) - An unusual monster that some consider to be on the boundary between the Englightened and Monstrous races. Its height and general proportions are roughly the same as goblins, but Svartblins tend to have broader shoulders and chests, thicker arms and legs, and much greater intelligence. The males tend to be bald, and their skin is a stony gray in color. They favor deep tunnels, often going for long periods without sunlight, and have a disposition for mining.

• Slightly increase all base-stats
• Increase Tremor Sense (reduced)
• Increase Earth Affinity (reduced)
• Gain Access to Job System: 0th Tier

**(Immature) Hobgoblin (Guaranteed Variant Chance/Medium Variant Chance) - These advanced goblins develop darker skin colors, their former green bodies turning a shade of the forest or changing tint slightly to blues or browns. They are a foot taller than goblins on average, and while their proportions are similar their extra mass shifts towards a more wiry, muscular form. With greater intelligence but about the same level of maturity, if Goblins can be compared to vicious children then Hobgoblins could be mean-spirited teenagers. Their faces become slightly less ugly, and they grow more hair much like various humanoids.

• Increase all base stats
• Gain Medium Equipment Skill (reduced)
• Gain Access to Job System: 0th Tier

*(Immature) Bluecap (Guaranteed Variant Chance) - These are goblins who have been changed by magical energies. Their skin changes hue to various shades of blue, and their hair grows in more fully thus granting them their namesake. While their defensive stats won't increase as fast, they are still a relatively balanced monster and may have various spells to add to their previous form's versatility. Their increase in intelligence often puts these -blins in a good position to control a tribe or advise a boss.

• Slightly increase base strength-and-speed stats
• Increase Mana Orb (reduced)
• Increase Shield (reduced)

(Immature) Gremlin (Guaranteed Variant Chance/Medium Variant Chance) - These lanky-limbed, hunched creatures are often blamed by superstitious villagers for all sorts of mischief. More predatory than normal goblins and preferring solitude to tribes, these creatures often form small groups of two or three in the deepest tunnels, and stalk the darkness for prey. They are quite a bit faster than Goblins, but not much stronger or more durable. Because they have adapted for life in caves they have trouble outdoors.

• Slightly increase base strength-and-defense stats
• Increase speed stats
• Increase Dextrous (reduced)
• Increase Muffle (reduced)
• Gain Sunlight Vulnerability

-- (Immature) Bugbear (Guaranteed Variant Chance/Low Variant Chance) - Bugbears are an evolved form of the Goblin. Less suited to the natural cleverness or deftness of their smaller cousins, they more than make up for this with their toughness and strength. Their thick fur allows them to venture out from their caves or huts into many different environments. Their strength allows them to use larger types of equipment, and they'll often bully other goblins around as the leaders of small tribes. They can almost never work together with other Bugbears, as the species is highly aggressive and competitive.

• Slightly increase speed-and-defense stats
• Increase base strength stats (reduced)
• Increase Medium Equipment skill (reduced)
• Increase Stamina

*(Immature) Demiblin (Guaranteed Variant Chance/Low Variant Chance) - Goblins that have been influenced by demonic energies, often committing acts that even make their brethren pause or else being influenced by a greater demonic being. They are roughly the same size as normal goblins but tend towards the taller and more muscular side of the average. Their skin darkens until it becomes almost ink black, and they often develop strange magical sigils on their skin. They show increased aptitudes for magic.

• Slight increase to base stats.
• Increase Demon Affinity (reduced).
• Gain Access to Job System: 0th Tier.
• Taboo Offering

You used Magic Analysis III! You used Monster Analysis I!
---Blue Argeps---
This is not a Monster, it is a Plant. It has no magical properties. This Argep has become a ripe shade of blue and looks juicy.
---Antidote Fern---
This is not a Monster, it is a plant. It is somewhat magical, and this magic is of the Nature element.
---??? Prints---
These prints were left by a monster. It seems like it might be wet or slimey, and like it was hopping in great bounds from place to place. The prints imply it's pretty large.
---??? Fur---
This black, stiff fur came from a creature you aren't familiar with yet. It has high residual magic energy of the Curse element. It seems like it might be highly reactive with other magical materials.
---Rubber Frog---
This frog's magical evolution certainly took an odd turn somewhere. The elasticity of its form, from its skin to its bones, is ridiculous. With a tongue that will stretch it has no trouble snagging flies, and it can expand its mouth wide enough to swallow many things whole. To intimidate predators it sometimes puffs itself up to an enormous size. It has no magical abilities and its MP is much lower than yours.
---Analysis Complete!---

You are experiencing a Fast Rate of Skill Progression.

You are Fed.
You are Hydrated.

You are recovering HP slowly.
Your HP is full.

Skill Gain: Fire Resistance I!
This damage resistance skill applies to both magical and natural flames, as well as higher temperatures in general. If other elemental resistances are gained, skill synergy may occur. Having this skill may make using certain types of fire magic or other fire oriented skills easier.

LEVEL UP!
Your many experiences have culminated in new power! You are now Level 6! Your Max HP has Increased! You gain Skill Points to distribute as you please!

Unspent Skill Points: 9

Current Skills:
Stun Fang II (2.225)
Poison Spit I (1.6)
Muffle II (2.75)
Poison Glob I (1.25)
Poison Breath I (1.65)
Fireball I (1.15)
Stealth Kill I (1.0)
Minor Recovery I (1.0)
Fire Resistance I (1.0)

<UNUSABLE SKILLS>
Crafting (0.2)
Alchemy (0.4)
Alert (0.4)
Warcry (0.3)
Poison Fang (0.1)
Blunt Resistance (0.5)
Smash (0.2)
Rabid Fit (0.9)
Scale Shift (0.2)
Magic Break (0.1)
Suppress Presence (0.2)
Overwork (0.2)
Mental Resistance (0.3)
Spiritual Awareness (0.3)
Soil Manipulation (0.1)
Underground Movement (0.3)
Tremor Sense (0.2)
Prehensile Tail (0.1)
Fire Breath (0.2)
Spell Cancel (0.1)

Mourningstar's various attempts to use Blood Drain on things that didn't have blood bore some...interesting results, however it wasn't quite enough to trigger the skill it seemed. She did, however, discover more about how it might work. For one thing, she couldn't just command it to happen like a magic spell. She had to bite into something, but once the juices began to flow it felt almost like she was sucking it through a straw despite never having such a thing.

The Kele tasted like sucking onion juice straight from the source, immediately causing the Corpselight to recoil in disgust. The sweet and juicy Argeps helped to remedy that, though the pulp stuck to her teeth and turned them bright blue. Sucking the sap out of the tree was like trying to drink liquid rubber or glue.

After the group discussed their next move, Oberon and Mourningstar went upwards into the trees to try and scout the area. To the weight they could see the mountains even more clearly now, as they rose up along the forest's age. In the bright daylight now they were your typical picturesque, gray stone mountains with pointed peaks capped by ice and snow. The smoke trail Oberon had once spotted had diminished almost to the point it couldn't be seen anymore towards the southeast. The cave had entirely disappeared from view, though they could partially pick out breaks in the canopy where they thought it might roughly be. Up to the north, they could only see more and more forest...although, the landscape did seem to gradually dip in that direction. And if they followed the mountains along that northern line, they would be able to see just the slightest sparkly from water falling along the mountainside. So more than likely there might be a river to a north, because for that water to be visible from this far there probably had to be a lot of it.

Other than that and the trees, however, there wasn't much to see. The group was quite far and alone out here.

As Oberon practiced his skills, he would note that the higher up in the tree he was and the more direct sunlight he was under, the greater the effect of his solar-powered mana conversion. Without Meditation it was barely noticeable that his MP was increasing, however. When he tried to channel the light into the Mana Orb, it turned bright white and gained a prismatic, shifting aura around the edges...it also seemed like it was trying to expand within his hands, yet as it did so its center seemed as if it were becoming transparent for some reason...

---

Obtained Items: Healing Herb x5

Asteria quickly blinked in surprise several times at the magnificent sword that appeared.

“I hope you understand that I will need a summarization of the risks and consequences of your proposed action before I can even consider agreeing to it. Otherwise, I am afraid I will have to decline until I have more information,” she stated.

I mean only that I may be able to destroy the core, as I said. However, when I attack it, every monster under its control will swarm the area to protect it, and it has already selected a master. A Dungeon Boss will typically be much stronger than its minions. Without a contracted Master I won't be able to use my full power, but you don't meet those requirements. Our only choice will be to fight alongside one another.

Asteria nonetheless explained the current situation to it, in hopes that it might be more inclined to cooperate than it had been in her dream.

“You see, as it so happens, a fellow Reincarnator of mine made some sort of contact with this cave dungeon’s core, and I am concerned destroying the core might harm or disadvantage him. He is currently in a conflict with yet another reincarnated human, and I dare say they are intent on destroying each other. At the very least, I ask that you withhold altering the dungeon until I prevent any unnecessary deaths. Then, if he’s still alive by that point, I will bring the current core’s master to speak with you.” The blue eyes shook back and forth in chilly denial.

If this former human you speak of has bonded with the Core, he is likely a lost cause. Dungeon Cores exert their influence over the monsters in the dungeon in order to protect and expand themselves. And I have no interest in squabbles between monsters, so long as the innocent are not caught up in it. I am not the right choice to act as a mediator.

---

As Asura shoved Healing Herbs at Momma Slime, she quickly took them and one began to dissolve inside her center. Ardur, upon hearing the pained cries, had launched himself down at the ground and made a rather rough landing.

“Easy now I’m a friend, I’m here to help you.” he said, trying to approach in a gentle manner. Momma Slime couldn't seem to muster up enough coordination to move away, but bobbed back and forth in distress.

"NOT HURT ME, NOT HURT!" she bawled, but as Ardur began to chant she seemed to feel the healing energies coming from his hand. She still shivered in fear, but Ardur was able to get close without being attacked.

“Wounds mend, Scars fade. Pain vanishes and nerves calm..."

By this time Asura had undergone a terrifying transformation and was already charging after Jason. The Mage Slime scarfed down two Mana Crystals, and the time it took to do this allowed Asura to close the distance unimpeded. The Amorphous Slime struck his "brother" a vicious blow, but thanks to his Bounce skill Jason was able to convert the momentum into a super spring that sent him hurtling across the cave.

Still, that blow had almost hurt as much as the one Rattleskull hit him with. And unlike before he wouldn't have one of the pixies around to cast Shield on him. Jason quickly took on his travel form and spun out across the cavern--

Skill Gain: Faster I!
Your base physical speed is increased! By gaining the skills Harder, Better, and Stronger, Skill Synergy will occur and you will gain one rank of Physical Conditioning.

With this new burst in speed Jason was able to maintain the distance at first...But Asura had the advantage in raw speed, he also had the Faster skill, the better Shapeshifting skill, and the Overwork skill. All of these things combined meant that even as Jason hurtled across the rocky ground at top speed, the red menace was still steadily gaining on him. Then came the projectiles. The Poisoned Needles went first, but most of these missed as Asura wasn't as close when he began firing them. Still a few would strike their mark, and though Jason's defenses were relatively high and he had Physical Damage Resistance, he could still feel their pricks and cuts. As he got closer Asura got more accurate, and now a few stones began to pelt him from the side. Still, no major damage yet and nothing to make him change course.

Skill Gain: Throw Item I!
Using an item from your inventory, you hurl it at the opponent by expending Stamina. Different items may have different effects and some are more suited than others as projectile weapons. At this rank, the chance to destroy the thrown item is very high. Damage type depends on the item.

The next pebble Asura threw crackled with red energy, and when it hit Jason felt a sting not at all dissimilar from his own Stone Shot spell's first rank. It caused the green slime to falter, and the red slime got even closer...

The distance between them was roughly 20 feet...then 15...

“Merciful Sky father, spare this child of the sun from her suffering. Stabilize her wounds and help her grow, so she may be as mighty in your eyes as she is in mine… Minor Healing III.”

As the green sparkles coated Momma Slime, she wobbled back and forth and then seemed to shiver. Between the Healing Herb and Ardur's spell, she soon re-inflated to her usual size. Compressing herself to one side as if she were "blinking" she then began to turn this way and that.

"Wha happun?" she asked, as Ardur cast his Shield. The effect he wanted didn't seem to happen, as Momma Slime had already been healed completely, but as the shield covered her, underneath it there was a momentary glitter of green sparkles. He could feel his MP getting a bit low again, these chanted spells seemed to consume quite the cost.

You used Monster Analysis II!
This is a new type of monster to you! This used to be a normal Fanged Lizard, but it has transformed! Lesserwurm: Related to dragons, but still a cold-blooded reptile, this creature burrows through the earth and fills the enclosed spaces around its prey with poisonous fumes. Its lengthy body is quite fast and deceptively strong, and its ability to shed its skin somehow allows it to heal more quickly. This one is unusual.

Meanwhile, as Danny observed Torrent's Fireball, his Magic Analysis skill still wouldn't trigger yet. But he noticed that because she was firing it from her mouth, the flames seemed more concentrated--rather than lighting up gasoline fumes, it was like watching a fire with solid fuel grow brighter and hotter. And this contained fire had taken a spherical shape, much like his own Mana Orb. Upon hearing the commotion from the entrance however, he headed back that way to see Momma Slime and Ardur after the healing session--and, along with those two, also saw Leonidas and the remaining Ghost Wisp suddenly turn tail and head back towards Jason's cave as the two slimes chased each other further away.

They might also see Ed and Mother Rat attempting to make their getaway while the getting was good...

Asura was annoyed as he missed so much but the closer he got the more accurate he got. Some of the bone shards hit, but it was the stones he hurled that seemed to hurt more. Probably because he was applying Smash to them. He was gaining on Jason but it wasn't as fast as before, but still. Progress was progress. Those eyes littering his form seemed to get a joyful look with each time he struck the stone based slime.

Then he got a new skill. Throw Item I. Did that make him more accurate? He didn't care, he just continued to pick pebbles and stones up to launch them as hard as he could with Smash I. "You're on borrowed time, boy!" He roared as he shoved himself to go as fast as his body would let him go. Soon his body was eating at the stones, sharpening them while letting some remain blunt. Sharp disks of stone flew like frisbees, minus the arcing they normally did.

Asura was honestly surprised he hadn't been hit by a magical attack, nor by a System Message saying his Stamina was low. So he continued with his ravenous pace while also continuing to act like vacuum cleaner. Sucking up literally everything at this point. Sediments, algae, mold, lichen, rocks, twigs, insects. The sediments, plant life, and insects were pulverized by his acidic body. The stones were continued to be throw at a rapid pace. As it entered, he ate away at its surface to smooth it, before launching it with a wet crack.

---

@Zeroth@Kazemitsu

Even with his new [Faster] skill, Jason found his pursuer still gaining on him, as the angry red mass surged after him, lightning streaking across it's membrane. This raging flood of liquid Asura seemed to consume everything in it's path-- but for what reason? Perhaps to regain some stamina from eating like Jason had done with the dire rat the day before? Honestly, that wasn't a bad idea, but now he need to worry about a whole new problem; PROJECTILES!

Shards of bone whizzed through the air and struck the fleeing slime mage! though Jason's defenses were relatively high and he had Physical Damage Resistance, he could still feel their pricks and cuts. However, he couldn't let these minor scrapes slow him down as Jason did his best to ignore the pain. But then, something unexpected happened.

The next pebble Asura threw crackled with red energy, and when it hit Jason felt a sting not at all dissimilar from his own Stone Shot spell's first rank. It caused the green slime to falter, and the red slime got even closer...

With how intently focused Asura was on Jason, he could see that the green slime was panicking, deeply afraid for his life. Like a Gazelle running from a predator.... And like any fleeing animal, Jason had an ace up his sleeve.

Popping a healing herb (not willing to chance himself dying), Jason used [Stone Shot II] on himself to go faster once again, in his attempt to outrun Asura.

---

It was time.

Digbie got a wide smile on his face as he turned to the rest of the crowd. "Uh... guys?! I'm about to evolve!!!" He fist pumped before going over the rest of his arsenal for skills. {Sacred Ground} seemed to be the skill he was trying to learn, so that's what he was gonna try and invest into first, pouring four points into it. {Rock Spire} seemed cool, too, so he dumped one point into that. It all left him with two points. He decided {Mental Resistance} might be a good idea for later down the road, in case something was trying to mess with him psychologically, so he dumped the rest into Mental Resistance.

Then, it was time. He looked over his evolutionary path, and he settled on Demiblin. The offering of being a general to a Demon King as a demonic Goblin was just too cool. Plus, Digbie wanted to find out what it would be about.

He stepped into the center of the circle, placed the dying flower in his hands using {Soil Manipulation I}, and said one last thing to his friends.

"Hopefully I'll be able to keep up with you all now!"

---

It seemed his acidic body wasn't strong enough to work the stone as fast as he moved it through his body. Still it was covered, which was good enough since he was causing more damage. He recognized those bruises on Jason's membrane, he had sported them before to work on his own resistances. A system message that his Stamina was getting low lit up in his mind which made him snarl internally. To mitigate this drain, aside from eating, he stopped using Smash and he simplified his form into that of a ball. Simple, useful, and he was familiar with it.

The red blob was still hauling ass, and while he watched Jason he could see how he was acting. And that he had healed some. Probably from an herb, which Asura had none of. Then again I've used only four these past few days. He thought. Starting to think more Asura stopped using Item Throw I, conserving more of his Stamina and even shut down Overwork. He knew he'd out last Jason who had gone down a magical path. Whereas Asura has gone down the physical.

Their chase went a little longer before they wound up in a little arena of dirt mounds. The fuck was making these? Was it undead 'pods'? He didn't know what was going on in the cave really, he had meant to be leaving the cave damn it. Whatever, he could hit Jason from here. A pseudopod shot straight out at Jason who was still trying to out run him.While they tore across the ground Asura was still extremely mindful of the ground. Stone Shot hadn't been killing shots previously so he knew he could take some of them. He hadn't experienced that Rock Spike or whatever it was, but he had seen it used enough times to know what to look for.

As they hit the opposite slope in the little 'arena' it'd take Jason longer to scoot up that than Asura would take going across flat ground. Another Slime Whip rocketed out to try and hit the other Slime. It probably wouldn't hurt as much as a Smash nor just a full force blow since he wasn't able to get the momentum to make it stronger. But even tinks could kill giants if you were smart enough. Or persistent enough.

---

Antidote Fern? Oh, that'd be very useful against venom and poison. The analysis skills didn't give her much else in the way of it, but she did gain something new - Monster Analysis! Excellent. Good, the more information she could gain about something the better. Immediately, she looked back over to the frogs and activated her new Analysis skill before returning back to the others.

"People were...praying to the demon king...?" And did they just assume for some reason, someone with that title, would accept prayers? These people...Ash sighed lightly, though did't comment on it. She had more important things to think about. Seemed Digbie was about to Evolve. Well, that was good for him at least. Still, what was she going to do? Torrent asked to be taught, and it did seem as though she was at least mildly eager to learn.

But then, what could Ash even teach her?

She was quickly coming to understand her knowledge of science and logic was not going to be helpful in the slightest in this world. She really didn't even know the first thing about magic, aside from her self experimentation. All she could potentially teach was just some words on thinking a bit before actually doing something reckless. To be quite honest, she was tired of putting up with all of them, just a bit. She was quickly missing her lab, computers, just being able to work without interruption.

She really did know nothing, didn't she? She always learned through books, reading, experimenting...but she couldn't do that here, could she? Yet taking a look around at everyone else, it seemed they were doing exactly that to an extent.

...

She hated feeling this...powerless. This useless. This pathetic. She ground her teeth together. She really didn't understand, that's what people always told her. She'd just have to fix that as soon as she could.

"That is good, Digbie." Ash said, moving away from the group slightly. "Again, I perhaps would suggest making the burrow upstream a bit, away from whatever it is that lives in there...ah, wait a minute." Ash interrupted herself. "Would anyone happen to still have a Mana Crystal from the cave? I would like to experiment on one, if possible."

---

@Zeroth@Kazemitsu

As Asura chased Jason into the 'arena' of dirt mounds, Jason immediately activated [Tremor Sense II], finding exactly what he was looking for near instantly. And as Asura launched his [Slime Whip] to hit the slime mage as he attempted to climb over the opposite slope of the 'arena'; something completely unexpected happened.

Jason abruptly stopped, throwing himself backwards so that the long pseudopod grazed him, consuming his other 2 crystals. And in that moment of contact, the slime mage had a direct connection into Asura via the slime telepathy, and proceeded to launch a [Mind Wave I] directly. As Asura's slimy limb retracted, Jason loosed a mighty [Warcry II], "ALL UNITS- ENGAGE THE INTRUDER; USE RANGED ATTACKS ONLY!!!!"

A slight, slimy smirk spread across Jason's 'face'. He was never afraid. He wasn't running for his life. It had been a plotted scheme the entire time.

Asura had just been played.

Ardur The Pixie

Trying to save a life > out of the frying pan /// Adventuring day 4 // Morning / Location - Cave

He was relieved that the big slime didn’t strike at him as he approached. The spell seemed to work just fine, in fact a little better than he hoped. However, it would seem adding chants to these spells did increase their mana. He just hoped it would work for all his spells.

After the spell had completed, Mother Slime looked as good as new. If not a little confused.

“Wha Happun?” the large slime asked.

Ardur hesitated for a moment, he didn’t think the slime could talk. Perhaps Asura had spent more time then he thought with her. “The small green slime used magic to hurt you, and I used my magic to heal you. I think the green one did it to get to Asura.” The buff pixie looked back towards the area the two ran off into. He didn’t want the shimmer of the shield spell to be wasted.

Holding his last mana crystal in his hand, Ardur crushed it and breathed in the dust as he absorbed the mana from it. “Come on we need to find Asura and get him out of here. I don’t think we can win against all of the creatures here, at least not right now.” Again he paused and looked her over for a moment. “If you’re strong again let’s go and help him, but stay away from that green slime so he doesn’t hurt you. Take out its minions first. Just remember to run away when we do.”

Warning: Mana Low
You used a mana crystal.
Mana Restored to 90%.
You have no mana crystals remaining.

He smiled at her and started to head off towards where the other slimes rolled off to. Honestly, Ardur hadn’t realized until now home much he missed running. It did seem like his body was more attune to flying and running now felt a little awkward. It was something he would work on later right now Asura might be in trouble. So as Ardur reached what he assumed was the fastest he could run he took off into the air staying low, flying fast, and using Muffle I to hide his approach. He didn’t really care if the big slime followed, but was curious. Curious to see if Steve showed up again or followed his command to go back to the entrance.

@Zeroth

The attempted analysis of the aborted fireball didn't tell Danny nearly as much as he hoped, but he did learn that concentrating the flames probably made the skill stronger as unsurprising as it was. It was more than he knew before hand and it would do for the moment.

When Danny arrived on the location he thought he the scream come from, he saw nothing at first. After looking around for a bit though he saw a Slime he thought was called Mother Slime and a pixie in the distance. Having no better leads he flew in their direction, confident enough that the Goblins were all focused on the duel to stop sneaking and just go as fast as he could.

As he got closer he saw yet another strange Wisp and one of the Skelebins heading to the Core's cave, following what looked like two Slimes moving as fast as they could. Curious and a little worried he tried going as fast as he could, even using Lesser Force II and Mana Shape I to try and change the airflow around so that it resembled a teardrop in order to increase his aerodynamics despite not having a clue if that was possible.

---

Torrent hissed in surprise as she got the level up skill. Unsurprisingly she had gained fire resistance from nearly dying. What was surprising, however, was these magic break and cancel spell skills. She supposed that's the second might be from her cancelling her fireball skill? It was the only thing she could think of.

But more importantly she had begun developing fire breath!

"YES! 8 points into Fire Breath, one point into Rabid Fit, system," she said clearly. "After Digby is done I have a skill that I need to test. Fire breath. Unfortunately I don't have a crystal for your, Ash. I'll stand guard, though, while Digby evolves," she said while she dug a small little trench around the goblin as he conked out. She didn't really know what she was doing, but after seeing all those circles from Jason and then that one from Digby she was convinced that circles were some kind of special symbol. So she made this one with the intent to help protect the little guy.

She curled herself inside the circle, partially around Digby, as she kept her eyes on the burrow.

"I want to leave as soon as he's ready. A safe place would be appreciated, and having that unknown creature at our doorstep isn't ideal. Ash, you're a smart one. I trust you. If you think upstream is better then upstream I'm willing to go."

Even without using meditation it was possible for Oberon to feel his reserves of mana slowly filling up as he absorbed the sun’s rays; it was barely a trickle, far less than what his simple meditation skill could recover, but enough to be noticeable and more than his natural regeneration alone gave him. It seemed that the intensity of the sunlight made a difference, as was to be expected, and this high up he could feel that power more strongly than he had ever felt it before.

The Mana Orb easily took in the light he fed it, beginning to burn with a bright white light as a shimmering aura began to surround it, the halation around the orb taking on a shifting, prismatic quality. More than that, it seemed to want to expand in his hand, growing larger and wider, pushing against his attempts to confine it and developing a transparent hole in its centre as it did. Rather than fight it Oberon decided to see what would happen if he allowed it to continue; it didn’t seem to be running out of control, but instead wanted to take on a new shape so he let it.

As the orb continued to expand, growing in diameter, the Sprite activated his Magic Analysis to try and understand what he was holding.

A simple blast of Energy elemental magic with a range of 30 feet. At the moment it only does as much damage as a strong punch on average, unless the enemy is weak to magic. As it gets stronger it becomes a generic, non-elemental energy blast. Due to its simple nature and lack of elemental properties the Mana Orb spell is easily malleable into other spell forms. This Mana Orb is currently being filled with Light element Mana, causing it to transition into the Light Ring spell.

“Light ring?”

Although the orb was expanding, it wasn’t increasing in volume. Instead the orb had stretched as it had expanded, the transparent space in its centre also widening as the outer edges of the orb thinned and flattened to form a ring. Once it reached a certain size it seemed to stop changing, or at least slow its transformation, and Oberon used Mana Shape to help the ring hold its form. This left him holding between his hands a ring of solid light; or light-infused mana at least.

To be perfectly honest, at this point he didn’t really know what to do. The Sprite had expected to create an orb infused with light, a variant of the Mana Orb spell with a new elemental quality, not a new spell entirely. He wasn’t even sure if this thing was supposed to be an offensive ability or not. With no better ideas forthcoming, Oberon released the ring from his control and pushed forward with both hands at the same moment, thrusting the ring away from himself in the same manner he did with his Mana Orb and Mana Dart spells.



@Zeroth

Once Digbie had made his decision, he suddenly felt a deep fatigue come over him. He didn't even remember falling to his hands and knees, then curling into a ball, but the next thing he knew he was on the verge of consciousness, curled up on the ground. He clutched the tiny flower close to his chest, and lay within the circle of minorly enchanted ground he had created. As he drifted to sleep, the mana supplying the circle was cut off and its meager HP recovery ceased...and the flower that had temporarily perked up wilted once more.

Digbie could see EVERYTHING.

Not in crystal clarity, of course. But he drifted upwards, out of his body, rising enough that he could look out over the forest. He could see the mountains to the west, and they stretched both north and south forming a wall between two lands. He could see the forest stretching out for miles to the east, broken by a series of square clearings where a large house of stone, wood, and thatch sat calmly puffing smoke. To the south, he could see the cave where all of this had begun, and the barest hint of a great, grassy plain...

"Traitor of thy kin...Slayer of thy father..."

Digbie rose higher, but something felt wrong. Fear began to creep around his heart and up from his toes. He could see further to the south where wave upon wave of grass spread over the plains, towards a place where the sun beat down upon the earth. Further to the east, a large body of water glistened with the rays of the morning sun. Upon its shores sat a vast city of wood and stone, banners flying from castle towers. To the north, a thundering river spilled out of the mountains and down into a great valley, and further beyond that another thick forest grew, darker and colder than this one...

"To kill is to eat, to carve hides is to fashion leathers...but for what this desecration? Ineptitude alone? No..."

He rose higher. To the south beyond the grassland, deserts and canyons, windstorms sweeping over dunes. Further to the east, a bright light cutting a path to safety for those in need of guidance. Over the mountains, to the southwest, a grand city stretching for miles. Still in the west, but far further north, a tower like a mighty tree reaching up to the heavens with roots stretching deep, deep into the earth. So far to the east that it became west again, a lonely, cold, desolate island where red lightning split the sky. Here, Digbie felt an eye upon him, and the fear that gripped him threatened to choke him. Spreading up from the tips of his fingers he felt an icy burn...

"You would pray to a Demon King? Swear your allegiance to one whose existence is forbidden? Are you a fool...or do you, too, despise the World?"

He rose higher. A world, a planet, rotated thousands of miles an hour, yet from this distance appeared as no more than a soap bubble, as if it would pop if he but brushed a fingertip against it. The lured him, cried out for him. The island's red skies held him in sway...

And unseen hands grabbed him, turned him to look away from that world, and into the Void.

The moon and stars? Outer space? A galaxy, a universe? In this void there was nothing...and between the nothing, they were. Dark clouds of matter that did not exist. Heavier than gravity, they passed between atoms. Negative numbers, fraying strands of time and space, they did not exist.

"Yet despite all of these things, you only stand before us because you chose to take on the Taboo. Few in this world would do such a thing. Though you are ignorant of this world and its ways, ignorant of us and even of your Demon King, is that truly any excuse? Could you not feel the menace of such a thing? Does a man who stands next to the fire, who can feel its heat, truly need to thrust his hand into the blaze 'just to know what it feels like?' If you could somehow save a moment in space-time, and freely return to it...Would you kill everyone in sight, and then return them to life none the wiser? Would you steal until you got caught, and then try again until you succeed? Such hubris...we shall reward it."

The Abyss gazed into Digbie, and though he no doubt wanted to blink as terror strangled him he could not shut his eyes.

You have 1 Offering. To gain greater Offerings you must commit Taboo.

With your available Offerings, only these have taken pity upon you:

Ashen Fiend's Protection (Petty) - Increase resistance to the powers of the Earth. (1 Offering)

Ashen Fiend's Gift (Petty) - Increase your powers of the Earth. (1 Offering)

Dedication to the Ashen Power - If you dedicate yourself to the Ashen Power, you shall be marked. You may no longer make offerings to other powers or receive their favor, but the favor of the Ashen Power towards you shall increase. Please the Ashen Power, and you may Quest in their name... (1 Offering, Cancels out any non-Ashen Favors, Displeasure may result in Infernal Torment)

Chaos Fiend's Protection (Petty) - Increase resistance to the powers of the Dark. (1 Offering)

Vengeful Fiend's Protection (Petty) - Increase resistance to the powers of the Curse. (1 Offering)

Wrathful Fiend's Gift (Petty) - Increase your powers of Physical Destruction. (1 Offering)

Wrathful Fiend's Brand (Petty) - Increase your Strength. (1 Offering)

Digbie was given several choices. But as the unseen hands let him go, an unheard voice beckoned to him.

He did not have to make this choice. He could still turn back. If he sought forgiveness, the Taboo could be lifted from him...

Slowly, he felt himself being pulled back towards the world below...

---

The upraised areas of dirt were not sleeping undead--at least, probably not all of them--as Asura surmised. Jason had been following the cave wall on one's right when facing the entrance. In terms of overall orientation, the cavern's mouth faced south--when one entered the cave, they were walking to the north. So the right-side wall was the eastern wall. And along this eastern wall, there was an area where the earth had been upturned into the raised areas. The reason being that the cave's denizens shoved this dirt out of their tunnels and lairs.

Jason and Asura were in the Nesting Area, where Fanged Lizards and Dire Rats dug their burrows. It had been Jason's intent this whole time to lead Asura into this area for one reason alone--he knew that the Dungeon Core had assimilated at least a few of those creatures, and the Fanged Lizards could use their poison spit from range.

Asura's pseudopod shot straight out at Jason, who was still trying to outrun his brother. Jason, having felt the presence of a few monsters with his Tremor Sense, abruptly stopped and hurled himself backwards. The blow only grazed him, and Jason tried to use Mind Wave through the telepathic connection the two monsters shared--

But Mind Wave didn't work like Telepathy. The wave shot out from Jason, but as his "aim" was at that telepathic connection, thus at the pseudopod connecting himself and Asura, the mental wave simply blasted the extended limb. Asura would feel a sudden pang "behind his eyes" somewhat like the start of a migraine, and his "limb" suddenly felt abuzz as if it were on pins and needles ater falling asleep, but that was all the damage he took from it. Much like Jason, it was the equivalent of a graze, and the next moment the feeling was gone.

"ALL UNITS! ENGAGE THE INTRUDER! USE RANGED ATTACKS ONLY!" Jason let loose his Warcry.

You are out of Stamina. You will soon experience HP Drain without rest.
Your MP is Low.

A slight, slimy smirk spread across Jason's "face."

Another Slime Whip from Asura rocketed out and smacked his brother across the "face."

And at that same moment, three figures appeared over the edges of the dirt around them. Two Fanged Lizards, their eyes glowing an eerie violet, hissed before launching two lobs of Poison Spit. One arc was coming at Asura from each side. Behind Jason, a very angry Dire Rat had been drawn by Warcry, and it leaped towards the Slime Mage's back with fangs bared.

Meanwhile, Ardur had explained himself to Momma Slime. It was questionable how much she understood, but at the mention of Asura's name she blurbled excitedly.

"Ahsoowa! Want Ahsoowa!"

When Ardur headed towards the battle she followed him, rolling into a ball and then thundering along as usual. The Pixie gained quite a bit of ground on her, especially once he started flying, but as long as she could see him she would follow. Using Muffle, Ardur was able to move unseen by enemies--but it seemed at the moment there weren't really any enemies to be seen by. Leonidas and the Ghost Wisp had disappeared back towards Jason's Cave and the Dungeon Core, and it didn't seem like most other creatures were even out and about at the moment. Not that there were that many of them left in this part of the cave anyway...

Danny's attempt to make himself more aerodynamic seemed to work, or at least it felt like he was going faster. He soon overtook Momma Slime down below, who was too focused on where she was rolling to notice him, and was coming up on Ardur's six as the pixie would no doubt slow down once he was above the battleground.

They arrived just in time to see the aftermath of the Fanged Lizard and Dire Rat's attacks on the two slimes, and then...

---

You used Monster Analysis I!
---Rubber Frog---
This frog's magical evolution certainly took an odd turn somewhere. The elasticity of its form, from its skin to its bones, is ridiculous. With a tongue that will stretch it has no trouble snagging flies, and it can expand its mouth wide enough to swallow many things whole. To intimidate predators it sometimes puffs itself up to an enormous size.
---Analysis Complete!---

Skill Rank Up! Magic Analysis III > Magic Analysis IV!
Gain more detail about observed magic skills, objects, etc. Lose less effectiveness when using this skill on other things, even if they aren’t magically inclined. When analyzing a spell or creature you have analyzed at least one time before, you may learn information such as its elemental affinities and weaknesses and its magical abilities' elements and functions, depending on different factors.

You are experiencing a Fast Rate of Skill Progression.

Skill Gain: Fire Breath I!
Inhale to gather oxygen, then use magic to ignite it as you breathe outward. At this rank this spell can only take one form, a cone that widens as it extends from the user. Your range is roughly 10 feet. This skill has roughly the same MP Cost as Fireball, but its damage depends on the target's range. A target at the edges of the cone will take less damage than they would from Fireball, whereas one that is in the center and close to you will take a fair amount more.

Skill Gain: Rabid Fit I!
This skill will activate once you meet certain battlefield conditions, and afterward may be toggled at will. Fly into a mindless rage, and destroy the enemy! A sudden burst of fury grants you increased strength and damage, but you’ll become more vulnerable to damage yourself.

---

Digbie heard the voices call to him. They promised him power if he lived to commit the sins of the world. The strength to crush what lies under his feet like mere beetles and bugs. He could be a ruler, live as himself, probably able to use his strength to terrify and destroy the Demon King himself, even. Such power, such strength, it was really tempting to the goblin. He fawned over the choices before he heard the voice behind him.

They promised him forgiveness, and a way to be lifted from the Taboo he had been offered. He saw the way out here, he saw the freedom of the Taboo he had been cursed with investing into. That was tempting as well.

He was faced with options. Many options. Does he decide to continue down the path of power, or does he try to get by without such alarming strength?

In the end, he went with his gut.

He turned around, and went towards the forgiveness. He didn't even care what he evolved into now, he just wanted to get out of this situation. He wanted to get by with his own strength, and he didn't need a demon to help him get by.

---

Asura didn't even grunt when Jason lunged back and used a point blank touch Mind Wave on him. He was curious as to why he had used a Warcry and that was answered soon enough. A pair of hisses rung out at the crest of the hills. "Not only do you attack my child you subjugate other living beings for your own purposes." He said, his voice frighteningly void of emotions. Another hiss and a Dire Rat was going for Jason, it seemed he hadn't taken over every being in this cave.

The red slime rolled back while simultaneously going to push Jason towards the Rat. Trying to get the two to engage while he avoided the poison blobs flying through the air He'd let the pair fight while he digested what he had absorbed from the ground. He wasn't being lazy either, he was watching Jason, the ground, and the pair of Fanged Lizards. As pissed off as he was he was keeping his focus on what he truly wanted. He refused to let his rage take him over completely, just enough to enhance, not enough to lose his mind completely.

I take no joy in using that Rat, but I've never been a fair fighter either. He thought. Even if it died instantly that was resources that Jason couldn't use against him. He had noticed just how many mana crystals all the magic users had plowed through. Mana didn't recharge rapidly here like it did in video games. Stamina seemed to go the same way, he had to eat to make it refill. But as per usual the Stamina charged slow while magic zipped up in a single go.