Fragment of Divinity

by Jamey Sultan

  You have drunk Unfermented Bleufruit Cider.

  +1 Endurance

  You have absorbed 350 Essence from Unfermented Bleufruit Cider.

  Once he'd made sure that a stiff breeze wouldn't kill him, he got to his feet. He stood in the center of a pile of destruction. Massive shards of crystal were scattered around the room and there was no sign of the Lich. He searched the room for the Lich's corpse but found nothing. He tried to move one of the fragments of crystal, but even with his newfound Strength, it barely budged.

  James unsheathed Tyrfing and cut into the crystal, periodically removing pieces in his search for the Lich. It was tedious work, but the promise of loot spurred him on. A spot of darkness among the glowing crystal caught James' eye—a skeletal hand poking out from beneath a nearby chunk of crystal.

  A few minutes of hacking later, James was glaring at what had once been a powerful Lich but was now a flattened tangle of bones and rotting flesh.

  Well, shit.

  When the crystal crushed the Lich, it had also destroyed all of its gear. The only usable item was a single ring from its undamaged hand.

  Cryptkeeper:

  Rank: Rare

  + 50% damage with Ice Mana

  + 50% Damage with Death Mana

  + 10% chance to cause [Horrified]

  You can hear the agonized wailing of trapped souls coming from this ring.

  James shuddered at the evil he felt emanating from the ring. It was powerful, but wrong. He resolved to find someone who could destroy it and save the souls trapped inside.

  You have been given a quest: Releasing the Damned I.

  Releasing the Damned I: Find a mage powerful enough to destroy Cryptkeeper and release the tortured spirits inside.

  Suggested level: 45

  Reward: Unknown

  Penalty for failure: -5 Charisma

  The equivalent of fifty basic stat points was a hefty price to pay for failure, but James accepted the quest. He would free those poor souls no matter what.

  James searched the room for any signs of a treasure chest or exit, but came up empty. After almost an hour of searching he gave up and retreated back to the pit he'd fallen down. He scaled the walls and easily climbed back up to the cage trap where he stared at the bars in exasperation. He wasn't any closer to getting out of this dungeon than he had been before.

  At least I got an interesting quest from that ring. Ring. Wait a second.

  James smacked his forehead and pulled the Cursed Ring of Flowing Thought from his pouch.

  Cursed Ring of Flowing Thought:

  Rank: Epic

  + 1,000 Mana

  + 100% Casting Speed

  -90% Health

  -90% Stamina

  The ring was incredibly powerful for mages but would turn anyone who used it into a glass cannon. Unless they didn't have health. Hopefully the ring would give him Mana without any downsides, because he didn't have any health to reduce.

  When James equipped the ring, he felt its energy swirl around his finger, unable to enter his body. Focusing on the energy present in the ring, James concentrated and cast Slick Skin. The ring vibrated as the energy coalesced and shattered, sending shards of metal into his skin and damaging him slightly.

  A slick substance oozed from his pores as the spell activated. Barely. It was enough though, and James slipped through the metal grate and back into the entry room.

  Once he was sure he was safe, he assigned his points. He had twenty-seven free points to assign. When he reviewed his stats, he realized that he’d become unbalanced, with his highest stat, Strength at 75 and his lowest stat, Constitution at 40. He was becoming too easy to injure, so James converted twenty points into two advanced stat points and placed them into Resilience, before dumping the rest into Constitution. His total Essence had increased with his level and was at 450/2,200.

  James sat down and leaned against the stone. He could use a breather to rest and assign the Ability points he’d been collecting. There were a lot of them.

  With his first two ability points, James brought Arcane Missile to Rank five, which brought its cost down to 50 Essence.

  James still needed more defense, so he used ten Ability points to purchase and fully upgrade Mage Armor. It wasn’t as helpful when he was trapped without a way to recover Essence but would hopefully keep him alive in the future.

  Arcane Warrior I

  Mage Armor (10/10):

  - Use 100 Essence to create a shield that will absorb 150 damage.

  You surround yourself with armor created from hardened magical energies.

  After James assigned the points into Mage Armor, two new Tier II abilities revealed themselves.

  Arcane Warrior II

  Self-Repairing Mage Armor (0/25):

  *Requires Mage Armor 5

  Continually channel Essence to repair damage done to your Mage Armor.

  Arcane Warrior II

  High Efficiency Mage Armor (0/50):

  *Requires Mage Armor 10

  Your mage armor flows as you fight, concentrating its energy where it will be hit. This allows the armor to block more damage for the same Essence cost.

  James put his last nineteen points into Arcane Mastery in an attempt to improve his Essence efficiency. Arcane teleport was easily his most powerful spell and he wanted to increase it as much as he could.

  Arcane Warrior I

  Arcane Mastery (19/30):

  - 19% Essence cost for Arcane Spells and Abilities

  + 10% Casting Speed for Arcane Spells and Abilities

  Your control of Arcane magic increases granting increased control, damage, and casting speed when using Arcane spells.

  When James put the points into Arcane Mastery, he could feel a change in the way essence moved through his body. It almost felt like his Essence was flowing quicker and well, better. His Arcane Teleport Spell now cost 162 Essence instead of 200, and a quick check confirmed that his other spells and abilities had also gotten cheaper. He’d also unlocked the next tier of abilities.

  Arcane Warrior II

  Arcane Vision (0/5):

  *Requires Arcane Mastery 25

  Gives the caster the ability to see ambient magic.

  Arcane Warrior II

  Imbue Arcana (0/35):

  *Requires Arcane Mastery 15

  Gives the caster the ability to imbue Arcane energy into their normal attacks.

  With that, James was ready to leave the dungeon. He approached the stone door that he hadn’t been able to open earlier and placed the tip of Tyrfing against it. The sword bit into the stone, easily slicing small sections that James methodically moved to a pile to the side.

  When James finally managed to make a hole small enough to look through, he could see the room he woke up in when first brought to the dungeon. He finished destroying the door and entered the small chamber, crouching to avoid the low ceiling, and approached another door at the far side of the room.

  James slipped into stealth, watching in fascination as his skin turned translucent. He loved his cloak. With the utmost care, James cracked open the doorway and peered out, ready to pop up if he was discovered. But there was nobody around.

  Shouldn’t there be at least one person guarding the entrance to a dungeon? Did they have that much confidence that I wouldn’t escape?

  Unsure whether he should be insulted or not, James decided to be grateful that he wasn’t going to have to fight his way through a group of guards.

  He silently crept through empty corridors, searching for an exit. Every once in a while, he’d stumble over a crack in the ground or a slightly raised stone—moving while invisible was more difficult than he’d realized

  James passed through creepy chambers filled with cobwebs that appeared as though they hadn’t been used in years. In one room he found an ivory book sitting on top of a small dais.

  The Teachings of Sytar

  Rank: Common

  Durability: 350/350

  A bone-bound copy of The Teach
ings of Sytar, one of the main religious texts for followers of Sytar.

  There was a small coat of dust on the cover, so James blew it away and cracked it opened it to a description of a ritual to honor the dead. He closed the book and put it in his pouch. Based on the book and the fact that he’d been kidnapped by priests of Sytar, he was probably in the Temple of Sytar, in a part that was clearly abandoned.

  Or is it?

  Chanting voices ahead alerted James that there was a group of priests, presumably, headed his way. He crouched in the corner of the room, relying on his invisibility to keep him hidden..

  You have gained 1 Skill Rank in Stealth.

  You are now Skill Rank 18.

  James followed the group, surprised at just how much quieter his movement was. They advanced through the tunnels under the temple, passing by abandoned rooms until they reached a large open area that was gradually filling up with Dwarves, arranging themselves on benches set up around the perimeter of a large circular cavern with a raised dais in the center, where a dwarf read from a thick black book.

  This clearly wasn’t the way out. But if the priests were all praying, there was a good chance he wouldn’t run into anyone else, so James turned around and headed back the way he came. There had to be another way.

  Before he got far, James heard noises coming from down the hallway ahead of him as a new group of priests made their way to the room. James had nowhere to go, trapped between an oncoming group of priests and a room full them. Someone was bound to either be able to see through his invisibility or bump into him if he didn’t do something quick.

  A familiar voice came from behind him “I thought I heard a little mouse.”

  James tried to turn and see who had spoken but couldn’t move. He hadn’t noticed the bands of violet energy creeping up his limbs and encasing them. He was stuck fast, unable to even turn his head.

  Footsteps approached from behind, and a figure stepped into view.

  Chapter 46

  Danforth had his hands behind his back and projected a casual air.

  “Bastard. Where are my friends?” James growled through gritted teeth.

  “Don’t you worry about that. You’ll be joining them soon enough.”

  Two priests roughly grabbed James under the armpits and dragged him through the temple. The violet energy encasing him faded away, allow him to wiggle his fingers a little bit. He pushed against his magical bonds, newfound muscles straining to break free.

  One of the priests grunted with effort as James squirmed. "Feels like he's gained fifty pounds since the last time."

  "Yeah, and why's his skin so slick?" the other priest complained, letting go of James' arm for a second to wipe his hand on his robe. Sensing the opportunity, James twisted like an eel. He was still coated with a thin layer of oil from earlier and quickly slipped from the priests' grasp.

  James pulled back his arm and punched one of the priests in the face. His fist smashed into the dwarf with more force than he'd anticipated, hurling the priest into the wall so hard that the stone cracked.

  You have gained the skill: Unarmed Combat.

  Unarmed Combat (Skill Rank 1):

  + 1% to attack damage and attack speed when fighting without a weapon

  Congratulations, you can flail around with your fists. How barbaric.

  Oops. Didn't expect that to happen.

  The shocked look on the other dwarf's face showed that he hadn't expected it either. But bravely, the dwarf charged towards James, drawing a dagger from his belt. James reached down to grab Tyrfing but realized that he'd been frozen again. This time the bindings were like iron and didn't budge no matter how much he strained against them. His brand, Mark of Sytar, flashed white hot.

  "What is the meaning of this?” an angry voice came from behind James, “Who are you and why are you attacking my priests."

  I'm getting awfully tired of not being able to see who's talking.

  "That won't be necessary, your excellence. This one is with me. I apologize for any inconvenience," Danforth interjected smoothly.

  "He's here to receive his last rites?" The new voice changed from angry to quizzical. James slowly spun in the air until he was facing the speaker.

  Name: Kaster Deathtouched

  Race: Dwarf

  Level: ???

  Class: High Priest of Sytar

  The high priest wore robes of pure midnight, with the faintest of white trimmings around the edges. His hands were adorned with rings on every finger, and a necklace hung around his neck.

  "Actually, no," Danforth replied. "The king requested he receive the Champion's Blessing. One of our fighters seems to have retired early. "

  Kaster's eyes narrowed. "Surely the king can spare one fighter. Perhaps I could take him instead"

  Danforth's voice lowered dangerously "Surely you aren't asking him to."

  The two glared at each other for a second before the high priest nodded. "Very well." He looked at James. "Good luck, champion." He turned back to Danforth and nodded. "Please, after you."

  "We can escort him ourselves," Danforth replied stiffly

  "Of course, of course." Kaster raised his hands defensively. "I just thought I'd offer my services. He did almost escape."

  James tried to move while Kaster was distracted, but his bindings were impossible to shift. He couldn't even talk.

  The two priests grabbed him again and resumed dragging him, accompanied by Kaster, who kept James magically bound. He was lugged to another room where he was placed on his knees in front of a stone basin with his head tilted upwards. Danforth looked at Kaster. When he saw that the high priest wasn't leaving, he reluctantly approached James and drew a dagger from his belt.

  Then he spoke, jaw clenched. "Vither, father to honor, brother to revenge. I ask that you bless this fighter. May he live with honor as his blood stains the sands." Danforth pulled down James' tunic and lightly traced James' right clavicle with the knife. Its razor edge cut into his skin, painlessly drawing a line of blood. "Sytar, father of the damned, mother to the rest. I ask that you bless this fighter. Should he fall, welcome him to your realm with an open heart." Danforth drew his knife against James' left clavicle in the same way. The wo identical lines of blood dripped down his chest and met before falling to the stone basin below.

  You have been blessed with [Champion's blessing]

  24:00:00 duration

  +10% experience gained

  -20% damage taken

  -20% pain

  "Happy?" Danforth snapped at Kaster.

  The high priest gave him a sardonic smile, but didn't reply. He stalked out of the room, snapping his fingers as he did so.

  James fell to the ground, no longer bound by the high priest's magic. Immediately, James cast arcane teleport. He glanced at his essence as he rushed to the edge of the grid. 288 left. One more cast would leave him defenseless.

  James rushed down the hallways of the temple, searching for an exit.

  Or at least he tried to.

  There was a small pinprick of pain at the back of James' neck. A numbing sensation slowly spread up his body and he stumbled forwards, just barely steadying himself with a hand to the wall.

  You have been poisoned with [Potent Paralysis Poison]

  00:30:00 duration

  - unable to move or speak

  Man, you really can't catch a break

  James slowly lowered himself to the ground, unable to support his own weight anymore. Footsteps sounded behind him as Danforth approached. He gestured for his priest to lift James up and they dragged him through the temple to a waiting carriage.

  The sun burned overhead as they exited the temple and James wished he could lift a hand to ward it off. The carriage was decorated brightly, painted a festive green and gold, festooned with matching streamers. It didn't look at all like the type of carriage James would've expected to be kidnapped in. The guards tossed James' limp body inside and closed the door. With a jolt, the carriage started moving.


  As the carriage trundled through the streets, James became aware of a distant roar. As they got closer to the source, the carriage rocked back and forth, as if pushed from outside. Voices screamed in unison.

  Tribute! Tribute! Tribute!

  Above it all he could hear the booming voice of an announcer.

  "Welcome to the arena!"

  ***

  The carriage came to a stop with a jolt and James, unable to brace himself, slid across the floor. There was the sound of a key turning in the lock and he was dragged down a hallway and into a cell.

  “Your match is tomorrow. Rest until then,” one of his captors said before taking James’ sword and pouch. “You can have these back before your fight. No weapons allowed in the cells.” The guard closed the cell door, locking it behind him.

  “James? Oh, my gods, James!” Nidra rushed over to wrap him in a hug. “What happened to you?”