Second Skin: Unified: A litRPG Adventure (Second Skin Book 3)

by M Damon Baker

  I was still staring at the previous message when the next level-up notification stopped the scrolling. It was clearly written for me, but lacked any of the indications of the Gods’ typical taunts or bits of sarcasm. Could it really have been generated by the remains of the game interface? If so, that software remnant was not only paying a great deal of attention to me, but it was damn insightful as well. Either way, the encouraging tone of the message was at least a helpful reminder that I really wasn’t the total failure I’d been feeling like.

  I put my point in Strength, and when I continued to focus on the Attribute, a second point slid into it. I’d unintentionally applied one of my discretionary points from the Sintári bonus, allowing me to increase a stat by more than a single point for the first time ever. Clearly, this was going to require some careful consideration, and I contemplated just where to put my remining two points for a while.

  I was already ridiculously strong, even though I rarely flexed my muscles, so to speak, and my Charisma was even higher. Although my other stats were keeping up well enough, thanks in part to the Amulet, my focus on the future, and my choice of the Warlock Mastery made me consider my other options even more closely.

  I eventually decided to put the other two points in Dexterity and Intelligence. My new Entangle Spell used Dexterity as one of its modifiers, and I hoped that my investment in Intelligence would pay off in the long run. It was a guess, but I thought it might help with my future spellcasting. My other choice in that respect was Wisdom, but I had a hunch that Intelligence would eventually prove more valuable.

  You have gained a level! – You have earned sufficient experience to advance to level 42.

  You have gained three Attribute points. Two of your points have been automatically assigned to INT and CHA. You may assign the remaining point to any other Attribute as you see fit.

  This time I did hedge my bet, placing the lone point I’d gained into Wisdom, and the scrolling finally came to an end.

  I intended to train Líann with daggers at first—they were relatively straightforward and easy for her to conceal, even while wearing one of her favored ball gowns. I knew this first-hand, as I’d worn a pair strapped to my thighs on nearly every occasion I’d been forced into one of the formal garments. So, I placed every single proficiency point Saibra had granted me into that talent, giving me a second weapon mastery.

  I was surprised that I was able to place the entire 5% Weapon Master quest reward into my Bow talent. That Skill was already over 60% proficiency, and I thought that the same limitation I had with Saibra’s points might apply, but it didn’t. Advancement would be even more difficult after reaching master rank, or at least I anticipated that it would be, so I was glad to be able to allocate my points there.

  That was it—I’d made all my adjustments, and it was time for another look over my sheet.

  Dreya Dae

  Sintári Female

  Titles: Sintári, Empress

  Level - 42

  730530/751200

  Health - 385/385 Aura - 1012/1012 Endurance - 385/385

  Sintári – Sintári interact with their surroundings in unusual ways. The effects of these interactions can be unpredictable

  Class – Warden – Wardens gain a 10% bonus to skills associated with nature or which have natural effects

  Specialization – Protector

  Mastery – Warlock

  STR - 50 (+5)

  CON - 32 (+3)

  DEX - 30 (+3)

  INT - 28 (+2)

  WIS - 27 (+2)

  CHA - 58 (+5)

  Abilities

  Ignore Armor – Your next arrow will ignore a portion of the target’s armor. Cost – 20 Aura. – 36%

  Stun – Your next arrow has a chance to stun its target on hit. Cost – 20 Aura. – 35%

  Block – You may attempt to use your bow to parry a single melee attack. Cost – 20 Endurance. – 20%

  Swarm – Your next arrow duplicates itself in flight. Cost – 20 Endurance and 20 Aura. – 47%

  Flurry – Perform three rapid strikes with a bladed weapon. Cost – 30 Endurance. – 42%

  Parry – Chance for your blades to block next melee attack targeted at you. Cost – 20 Endurance. – 43%

  Hamstring – The next arrow fired has a chance to cripple your opponent. Cost – 20 Aura. – 32%

  Hilt Bash – Stun your opponent with a successful hilt strike from your bladed weapon. Cost – 30 Endurance. – 41%

  Blood Price – Your arrow inflicts a damage-over-time bleed effect. Cost – 30 Aura. – 37%

  Blind – Your next arrow has a chance to inflict blindness on a successful hit. Cost – 30 Aura. – 37%

  Achilles Strike – Cripple your target with a slash of your bladed weapon. Cost – 30 Endurance. – 41%

  Penetrator – Advanced Ability – Your arrow pierces through armor easily. With increased proficiency it may penetrate through even greater barriers. Modifier – Strength. Cost – 60 Aura. – 20%

  Disable – Advanced Ability – A successful strike of your blade to an extremity renders the affected limb completely useless until healed. Modifier – Strength. Cost – 60 Endurance. – 41%

  Shockwave – Advanced Ability – Your arrow explodes on contact, dealing minimal damage but generating a stunning Shockwave in a radius around its detonation. Size and scope of this effect increase with proficiency. Modifier – Strength. Cost – 120 Aura. – 32%

  Sintári Abilities

  Natural Affinity – The Sintári’s unique connection with the natural world may manifest itself in random ways at times. While these effects are generally beneficial they are also typically outside the direct control of the Sintári. Modifier – Charisma.

  Control – Effect varies, applies to all Sintári Abilities. – 68%

  Protector Abilities

  See Truth – Twice per day, the spoken words of your target become visible to you, allowing you to see the truth held within them. Strength and duration of this effect increase with proficiency. Cost – 60 Aura. Modifier – Wisdom. – 44%

  Spells

  Enhanced Sight – May be cast on self or ally. Improves visual acuity of the recipient in dark or obscured conditions. Cost – 20 Aura. – 52%

  Create Trap – Place a magical trap upon an area. Size, type, and trigger of traps is determined by your proficiency. Cost – 40 Aura. – 53%

  Elemental Arrow – Your next arrow is imbued with elemental energy and causes additional elemental damage accordingly. Cost – 30 Aura. – 28%

  Spike – Launch Ice Spike(s), delivering bonus cold damage on a successful hit. Cost – 40 Aura. – 20%

  Bolt – Release a Bolt of pure Lightning at your target(s). Cost – 40 Aura. – 27%

  Find Weakness – Highlights vulnerable points on the target. Modifier – Intelligence. Cost – 80 Aura. – 20%

  Summon Elemental – Summons an Elemental creature. If you succeed in binding it to your will, the creature will serve you faithfully until the spell’s expiration. Modifier – Charisma. Cost 100 Aura. – 40%

  Shield – May be cast on self only. Manifests a forward-facing barrier against incoming projectile attacks. Duration and resistance of the barrier are based on proficiency and modifier value. Modifier – Constitution. Cost – 80 Aura. – 24%

  Entangle – Create an area of entangling vines that will hold any foes caught within its radius. Area of effect, the distance you may cast the Spell, and the power of your vines will all vary based on your Abilities and proficiency. Modifiers – Strength and Dexterity. Cost – 150 Aura. – 1%

  Compel – Force a sentient creature to answer a single question. If you successfully dominate their will, the target will reply with a truthful answer to one question you ask. Modifier – Charisma. Cost – 80 Aura. – 1%

  Skills

  Bow – 66%

  Critical Hit – 51%

  Blades – 51%

  Long Sword – 50%

  Short Sword – 53%

  Dagger – 60%r />
  Critical Hit – 44%

  Two-Handed – 57%

  Pole Arms – 14%

  Spear – 23%

  Armor – 44%

  Medium Armor – 46%

  Perception – 56%

  Environmental – 57%

  Identify Enemy – 54%

  Identify Person – 54%

  Combat Dodge – 26%

  Subterfuge – 41%

  Stealth – 41%

  Find Trap – 20%

  Disarm Trap – 20%

  Set Trap – 20%

  Manipulation – 55%

  Persuade – 67%

  Barter – 40%

  Survival – 24%

  Tracking – 27%

  Identify Creature (Beasts) – 19%

  Skinning – 16%

  Field Dress – 15%

  Alchemy – 19%

  Herbalism – 31%

  Potion Craft – 27%

  Lore – 8%

  Identify Magical Item – 14%

  Opening my full personal sheet let me see the description of Compel for the first time. As I read it, a warning appeared in my vision. One I’d never seen before.

  **Note: Use of this Spell treads the fine line between interrogation and corruption. Invoke its powers with care, lest it pull you over that edge.

  Yeah, thanks for the warning—it was a little late for that. My questioning techniques had been walking along that razor’s edge for a quite a while now.

  But other than that somewhat belated note, everything was looking pretty good. While some of my stats were lagging, none were truly lacking for my actual level. It was only the fact that my Strength and Charisma were so imbalanced that made it seem that way. So, while those gave me some distinct advantages, I really didn’t have any glaring deficiencies.

  I also had more talents than I knew what to do with. Some I’d thought to be truly important when I’d acquired them, but was never called upon to use them like I thought I might. Others, like my bow talents, were being displaced by the gear I had. Ignore Armor, for example, lacked any real appeal when compared to a God-powered ice arrow.

  Then there were my two new toys: Entangle and Compel. I could practice one and get it up to 20% fairly quickly, but the other was another matter entirely. Compel required certain particular circumstances before I’d even consider using it, and those were rare enough as it was. Still, if we captured another assassin, they’d be getting some rather special attention from me for sure.

  Overall, as I closed the last screens, my mood was somewhat better. We’d still suffered tremendous losses, and they weighed heavily on my heart, but we had also taken out a huge threat that could have stricken defenseless villages across Eória and Olóra—perhaps even in both Kingdoms. Kingdoms whose citizens were mine, and who were under my protection. It was far better, even considering the terrible price we paid, that the beastkin horde had attacked our Army instead, and been eliminated in the process.

  I was able to fall asleep on my own that night before Tási came back to our tent to join me, something that hadn’t happened in weeks. I even slept well, despite my concerns. The battle had drained me completely, and I took solace in the words of my Sintári bonus message, choosing to take them as an omen that Líann was alright. I didn’t quite manage to convince myself of that fact, but I let myself believe the lie I told for a time at least.

  When we finally emerged from the forest and into the wide-open space outside the Garrison wall, my sense of dread and anticipation had not only returned but had also risen to an almost intolerable level. The feeling of reassurance I’d talked myself into after reading the notification hadn’t lasted very long, and Tási had actually begun to worry about my well-being, as I could only fall sleep at night if she helped me, and even that had become a challenge.

  News of our victories had preceded our arrival, and our Army was received with a great deal of enthusiasm and fanfare. As much as I appreciated it and put on a fake smile as I waved at all the people who’d come to welcome us home, I was utterly consumed inside by my concern. Absolutely nothing would make me feel better until I saw Líann again and made sure that she was alright.

  When we finally reached the Palace, I jumped out of my carriage and took the steps in bounds. I expected to see Líann waiting atop them to welcome me home, and my heart clenched up tightly when I saw Thelmé’s troubled face instead. I stood there, frozen in place, scared to death to hear what the pained look she had on her face meant, until I felt Tási take my arm and gently tug me forward.

  “Come on,” she coaxed me. “I’ll be right there with you.”

  “Where is she, Thelmé?” I asked shakily when Tási dragged me the last few steps.

  “It’s okay, Thelmé. I know about them,” Tási prompted when the woman hesitated to answer me.

  “She’s not been well without you, Empress,” Thelmé answered, obviously reluctant to discuss her Queen’s condition with Tási present. “The last few weeks have been very difficult. She’s resting in her chambers at the moment. We both thought it best that she wait for you inside.”

  “I’ll handle everything else—go to her,” Tási prompted me as soon as Thelmé finished her answer.

  I didn’t need her to tell me twice, or even once for that matter. I was off before she’d even started speaking, and as I ran ahead, I heard Tási calling my guards back, keeping them from following me as I darted inside the Palace.

  The soldiers keeping watch over the Queen parted before me, and I headed straight for her bedroom. When I burst through the door, she was sitting up, leaning against the headboard, and a thin smile crossed her lips when she looked up at me. Her response was somewhat underwhelming, but only because that was probably all she was capable of.

  Líann’s skin always had an almost glowing quality to it, an effect that lent her pale tone it’s nearly ethereal quality. That tone was gone, replaced by an almost death-like pallor, and her haggard look with dark circles under her eyes spoke volumes about the ordeal I’d put her through. I looked at her in shock, and she did not miss the expression on my face.

  “I know,” she replied softly. “I look terrible.”

  Her stark assessment broke me out of my trance, and I hurried over to sit beside her.

  “I’m so sorry, Líann,” I apologized profusely. “I didn’t realize how bad it would be. I won’t let this happen to you ever again. I’m taking you with me everywhere I go from now on, I promise.”

  “Feed me, Dreya,” she replied weakly, reaching out her thin fingers towards me as she did.

  I had no illusions about what she required from me, and it wasn’t any kind of food that Líann needed to satisfy the desperate hunger that she felt. But Líann wasn’t in any condition to receive my darkness in the usual, and very rough, way I typically fed it to her, so I improvised.

  I placed my hand beneath the covers and laid it across her chest, just above her heart, and winced as I felt the outline of her bones protruding slightly where before there’d only been soft, smooth skin. Every sharp angle that I felt as I pressed my hand against her cried out to me accusatorially, letting me know the fullness of the damage I’d done to her.

  But I pushed my guilt aside to tend to her, and finally begin to relieve Líann of the burden I’d forced her to bear. With my mind focused only on my task, and no longer dwelling on my shame, I sent myself inside her delving into Líann for the first time.

  Unlike Ella or Tási, she’d never needed my healing talent, so there’d never been a need for me to even try this with her before. But the situation seemed to dictate my actions, and I sought out the place where I knew her hunger originated—her core. What I found when I reached it made me pause for a moment, but I should not have been surprised by what I saw.

  A familiar-looking sphere of swirling colors floated in the vastness that surrounded me. Fire raged across most of its surface, but there were also areas of deep calm. It was so much like Tási’s core that I mistook the calmer areas for the same deep wate
rs she possessed. It was only when I drew closer that the difference became more obvious.

  The vast patches of what I had mistaken for smooth water were, in fact, patches of darkness, but that darkness was sickly and impure. Instead of being tinted in deep, rich tones of blacks and grays, it had become pale and ashen after being neglected for so long. This was the darkness that I’d awoken in Líann, and she had suffered greatly in my absence, withering away from the inside out when I’d denied her what had become her most basic need.

  I couldn’t give Líann what she required the way I always had in the past; she was beyond the point where that was even possible. I needed to feed her my darkness directly, so that’s what I did. I sent a tendril of my own darkness directly into her, connecting both our cores with the thread of black shadows. Her response to my tendril was both immediate and intense.

  I felt her hunger the second Líann’s core began siphoning off my darkness from me. The deep, hollow emptiness of it was almost like a living thing, tearing her apart from the inside out, and for a moment at least, I experienced a portion of what I’d done to her. As I fed her more, Líann pulled at me desperately, ripping away at my own store of shadows to satisfy her yearning need, until she threatened to drain me completely, and I could let her take no more.

  When I knew that I’d reached my limit, I cut off the tendril I’d sent her and withdrew my presence from inside her. I only hoped that when I opened my eyes, I’d recognize something of the woman I loved again.

  While my efforts had not produced the dramatic transformation I’d hoped, the difference in her was noticeable, nonetheless. The dark circles under Líann’s eyes were gone, and although she still looked far too thin, some of the color had returned to her skin. I may not have healed all the damage I’d done, but Líann was far better off than she’d been just a few moments before.

  “Thank you,” her voice returned with some of its former strength. “I don’t know what you did, but I feel much better now.”

  “Don’t thank me,” I replied bitterly. “You’re only in this situation because of me.”