It was strange. I don’t know exactly when I started to win over the crowd. The first few fights they were nothing but hostile toward me. Somewhere around the fifteenth fight, a spear wielder named Caeso, the mob had begrudgingly started cheering for me. And now, after the thirtieth battle, I had seemed to win them over. It took me a second to realize this was part of pride’s lure. I shook myself free with a little shiver. The wizard was dead, and it left behind a nice little stack of crystals and a scroll, one I knew just from looking at it was a proficiency.
I swept the crystals into my belt pouch, which was rather full now, and picked up the proficiency scroll, holding it up for Asher to examine. I asked, “What is it?”
“Elemental Spirit Manipulation,” Asher answered. “It increases the power of any elemental based soul proficiency. Valuable but not really useful for you.”
I grunted in annoyance as my excitement faded. Still, I opened my inventory and stuck it in an open slot. Then before closing the mental space, I dumped the content of my crystal pouch into the slot with my other tiny crystals.
“Should we keep going?” I asked. I was starting to feel mentally tired. Thirty fights in a row like that was not the easiest thing to endure. I supposed I had fought more than that to clear the first floor, but the first floor didn’t have boss fights like this. Every five fights in the arena spawned a boss. First was Decimus, then Rondus and Sondus, after them was Caeso. Flavius was a golden-haired lion headed demon that wielded a pair of rapiers, it was by far the fastest opponent I’d faced, even faster than Decimus. My twenty-fifth fight was against Tullis, a heavily armored demon with a sword and shield. That fight became a slug fest, the one who did the most damage won, which I obviously did. And then came Magelus, the wizard. That was the first spellcaster I’d fought against in the arena. I had a feeling I would start to see more of those now. As had been the case after each boss fight, I would start to see weaker, unnamed versions of those bosses in the intervening fights.
Asher hummed in thought. “May as well clear the next four, they should be manageable, even if there is a soul proficiency user.”
“Do demons have a soul?” I asked.
Asher didn’t deign to answer.
I stretched a little, letting the crowd cheer and ignoring Glorior’s glare. He looked . . . angrier than I’d ever seen him. Though I supposed I couldn’t blame him for being angry. I was dismantling his champions and fighters, not necessarily with ease, but still . . . I was winning. And now he was losing his crowd. A small part of me questioned if I shouldn’t just call it a day. I’d learned quite a bit about the arena and the fights I’d be facing. A few days of farming would make it that much easier to deal with, right?
Seeing my SE, EP, and HP were all full, I shrugged. If I died, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. Though I wouldn’t necessarily be happy to lose the money that proficiency would sell for.
“Who’s next?” I yelled up at Glorior.
Glorior roared, silencing the mob. Suddenly, the lion headed demon had a large battleax in his hands. With what seemed like no effort at all, he leaped from his box. He landed maybe thirty yards away. With a snarl, he shouted, “Now, you face me!”
“Oh no,” I groaned. I was right, I had definitely pushed him too far.
“Arrows,” Asher said urgently.
I pulled my bow and drew back an arrow.
One of the other pride demons in Glorior’s box stepped forward. “Fight!”
I let go of the string. The arrow flew straight only for the flat of Glorior’s ax to block the shot. I fired twice more, both shots wholly ineffective, before switching to my mace and shield.
Glorior came in swinging. His massive battle ax aiming to take my head off. I chose to duck below the swing rather than block it. It turned out to be a good decision as it meant my shield was in position to absorb the kick that shot forward. I wish I could say that I took the kick like a champ and the giant lion demon failed to move me, but that would have been a lie. I tumbled backward, ass over teakettle, my arm felt numb from just that one hit.
“Don’t get hit again,” Asher warned.
“No? Really?” I asked sarcastically before needing to suddenly roll out of the way of a downward chop from the ax. Then rolling again as the demon tried a backhanded swing.
“Get back on your feet, you buffoon!” Asher shouted in warning.
I wanted to snap back something along the lines of ‘what do you think I’m trying to do?’ but I was too busy for that.
Glorior was relentless. Attacking, stomping, chopping, slicing, and everything else he could think of in an effort to kill me. Getting annoyed, Glorior roared, “Stop running, rat!”
Pausing, even for just that one short statement, was all I needed. I rolled away coming back up on to my feet. I briefly took note of my EP bar, which was down more than I would have thought possible in such a short amount of time. Still, I was better on my feet than on the ground.
That was also the first time I’d really gotten such a close up of Glorior. He stood tall in his box, but I hadn’t fully grasped just how big the monster was. He stood probably eight, maybe nine feet tall. Covered in bulging, rippling muscles that could have made that old movie star, Arny Schwartzen-something, jealous.
Glorior took another big arcing swing. Again, I ducked under it. This time, rather than try to brace for the kick I took a fast shuffle step to the left of the leg. I finally had an opening. I swung hard, burying the flanged head of my mace into the demon’s lower ribs, hearing a satisfying crunch and getting a grunt of pain from the demon. Then he backhanded me, and I was on the ground again.
The hit stunned and dazed me slightly. Still, I rolled with the hit as best I could, coming back up to my feet, albeit wobbling slightly. My head really cleared when I saw an ax blade baring down on me. I raised my shield on reflex, angling it slightly in the hopes of redirecting most of the damage and it worked . . . sort of. Half of my shield was gone but I was inside of Glorior’s defense. I swung hard again, hammering my mace into the demon’s heavily muscled and meaty thigh. I got a grunt of pain but no sounds of bones breaking.
I knew a counter would be coming so I stepped forward and to the side, narrowly dodging the demon’s backhand. I twisted, using the momentum of the turn to swing the mace, striking at the demon’s kidneys. There was a growl of pain this time, as one of the demon’s hands moved quickly to cover the point of impact. I refused to let the opportunity go. I struck again, this time slamming into the demon’s hand, breaking fingers and hand . . . paw bones.
Glorior lashed out with his injured hand, though it was ineffective. Unfortunately, he continued through, spinning in a way that brought the ax around, aiming for my midsection. The demon shouted, “I’ll devour your soul!”
I knew my shield couldn’t take the hit and I was too close to dodge. I mentally braced myself for pain, but it never came . . . well, it did, but not the pain I was expected. It felt like a dodgeball hit me . . . then lifted me into the air and sent me careening across the ground.
Glorior roared, seemingly ignoring me. I did a quick check, but other than a strange charring on my hauberk where I’d been struck, there was nothing. It didn’t make sense. And then it did. Asher was gone. The little ball of fire sacrificed himself for me.
Then there was Glorior, roaring in triumph for the mob. He thought he’d won. And then there was me. Angry and looking to put that demon in the ground. I shucked my broken shield as quietly as I could. I climbed back to my feet and twirled my mace. I started slowly, trying not to make much noise. I built up speed as I ran until my feet were hammering into the sands, jumping at the last possible moment.
Glorior realized too late, he turned, and his eyes widened just in time for the mace to catch him in the face. Bone and cartilage fractured and warped with the impact. The demon dropped his ax as his uninjured hand went to his face.
I landed and slid a little in the loose sand. I turned and charged back in, slamming my mace into th
e back of one of Glorior’s knees, dropping him to the ground. I spun, swinging for the fences. There was a crack and a squish sound as the blunt instrument collided with the side of his head.
Breathing heavily, I finally notice my EP was almost completely drained. I watched with a little worry as Glorior teetered, still on his knees though his arms hung limply at his side. I heard a gurgle from the pride demon but otherwise he didn’t move, unfortunately, that meant he was still alive. I glanced again at my bars as my EP ticked up again. I gripped my mace with both hands and stepped into the swing. There was a spray of black blood as the demon’s skull finally burst.
Glorior fell, hitting the dirt and not moving. The body melted into the sands, leaving behind a large, almost fully intact ram’s horn, a pile of crystals, and his battle ax. All of it went into my inventory then I sat on the sands to recover. It was only as I was sitting that I noticed the roar of the crowd. I was so very tempted to let it grab ahold. I didn’t . . . I wanted to . . . but I didn’t.
Once I recovered, I called Asher back into existence.
Naturally, the first words out of his mouth were those of a complaint. “I don’t ever want to do that again.”
“Me neither,” I agreed with a little chuckle.
Asher bobbed once. “Well, you won. Shall we go?”
I followed his gaze. The gate at the other end of the arena was open.
Sighing, I climbed back up to my feet and strode confidently across the sands. I knew I shouldn’t have felt any pride over what I’d done, but I couldn’t help but feel just a little prideful for what I’d accomplished.
I raised a fist to the crowd and smirked as I walked into the dark, enjoying the roar of the crowd as the world vanished.
I sat up on the morgue table, not nearly as startled as the first time. But like the first time, Ramy was there, sitting on the table across from me.
“Ramy,” I greeted the Dominion with a respectful nod.
“Victor,” Ramy returned the greeting, then smiling slightly. “Congratulations on completing your second floor of Purgatory.”
I returned the smile, “Thanks. It was . . . well, it was horrible.”
Ramy chuckled. “I’m sure it was. It’s not called Purgatory for nothing.”
That was truer than he knew . . . in hindsight, he probably knew exactly how true that statement was. He was the Dominion that watched over Purgatory, so he knew everything that went on there.
“So, how did I do?” I asked.
Ramy shrugged. “About the same as last time. You defeated all challengers, and you did so rather efficiently. You also pushed yourself against superior opponents. Unlike last time where you were probably too powerful for the first floor, this time you were slightly under powered. Plus two to strength and reflex, plus four to constitution and plus four to recovery.”
Those were very solid gains, and it was good to know my efforts would be rewarded. It was also good to know that such effort would be rewarded in the future.
Ramy continued, looking to my guide this time, “Asher, you sacrificed yourself to save your caller. Such sacrifice is to be rewarded and Metatron wishes to see it done thusly, a new proficiency. He also warns that this is a one-time thing, don’t think you can just sacrifice yourself and get free rewards in the future. Keep up the good work.”
I swear I saw Asher blush, a hint of darker red flames on his cheeks but it could have been my imagination.
Ramy looked back to me. “Metatron also wishes to reward you. For inspiring such loyalty in Asher and for working to help him grow, he offers you this,” he paused to present a proficiency scroll.
I accepted the scroll, excited to find out what it was, but Ramy wasn’t done. “For completing your second floor in under six months, you are rewarded two unused points to distribute as you see fit and one hundred thousand experience points.”
That was different. Still, I wasn’t going to say no to unused points.
“For completing your second floor in under three months, you are rewarded three unused points to distribute as you see fit and five hundred thousand experience points,” Ramy finished with a smile.
“Will rewards always increase like this?” I asked.
Ramy nodded. “Success is rewarded. But be careful you don’t become consumed by the rewards and trying to obtain them. If you climb too fast, you risk not having the strength to climb higher.”
The warning was sobering. If the seven deadly sins continued to be my version of Purgatory, I knew in my heart that greed was going to be the worst for me. That was always my issue when I was alive, and I didn’t see why that wouldn’t still be my issue in death.
After giving me a moment to process his word, Ramy spoke again, “I suggest you put that scroll away and find someplace quiet to review your gains.”
I nodded, meeting the Dominion’s eyes. “I will. Thank you for everything. I appreciate it.”
“You’ve earned it. Nothing is ever given, not in Purgatory,” Ramy said with a sad smile. “Alas, I should be going. Good luck with the next floor.”
I nodded again and watched as the Dominion faded from existence as if he’d never been there in the first place.
“Let’s get out of here, Asher,” I said, hopping off the stone table that still reminded me too much of a morgue table.
Asher bobbed and floated along next to me, “Yes, and we should use those free points. There is no telling if they will disappear.”
“They can do that?” I asked.
“Not sure, but do you really want to wait and find out?” Asher asked.
I shook my head vehemently. No, that was definitely something I didn’t want to find out.
Chapter 23 – Celebration: Take Two
“You’re going to need the additional resistance,” Asher argued with me yet again.
I countered, “I know, but we’re setting aside points for that. This is a bonus, a lucky bonus at that. We should take the opportunity to help that luck grow.”
We’d been back and forth over where to put the five free points since returning to my bunk room and spreading open my Scroll of Body and Soul on my cot.
Name: Victor Goodspeed
Highest Floor Cleared: 2
Experience Earned: 781,119
Hierarchy: 4th
Rank: 12th
Title: Sinner
HP: 340/340
EP: 170/170
SE: 100/100
Body
Experience to Next Point: 302,101
Unused Points: 0 (5 Free)
Strength:
17
Reflex:
17
Constitution:
34
Recovery:
20
Soul
Experience to Next Point: 72,214
Unused Points: 8 (5 Free)
Faith:
10
Spirituality:
10
Righteousness:
14
Fortune:
10
Applied Statistics
Health Regeneration:
34
Energy Regeneration:
20
Spirit Regeneration:
10
Attack Power:
34
Divine Power:
20
Speed:
8
Accuracy:
51.70%
Perception:
5
Block:
31.70%
Block Absorption:
17
Critical Strike Chance:
0.50%
Demonic Resistance:
10
Luck:
0.10%
My stat sheet kept getting better. I had plenty of experience points to spend on unused points for my Soul that would get us a lot closer to the next proficiency slot. We had a plan for those points. The idea was to raise faith and spirituality to fifteen each and take righteousness all the way to twenty. That woul
d give me plenty of demonic resistance. However, it left my fortune stat severely lacking. Hence, the argument over where to apply the free points that were now listed in parenthesis on the scroll.
Asher growled. “The resistance matters now. You can use five unused points you earn later, after our goal is met.”
I saw the logic in his argument. But getting those points was due to luck. Increasing my luck was important if I wanted to continue being rewarded so well. “So does luck. Look at all the lucky drops we’ve gotten. That potion and the spirit weapon proficiency. Even though we lost it, that bow was extremely lucky. The elemental manipulation proficiency we can’t even use was a lucky drop, same with Glorior’s ax. Luck matters.”
“We’re going around in circles,” Asher grumbled then sighed. “I understand your feeling, but please trust me in this. Increasing your resistance now will make the next floor easier, especially if you get more of the deadly sins.”
I didn’t like it. “Fine, five into righteousness, right? That’s what you want?”
Asher frowned but bobbed his acceptance, “Yes!”
I sighed but placed the points and the ‘5 free’ that was blinking vanished. Then I looked down the scroll to see my demonic resistance jumped nine up to 13. It was . . . impressive. And hopefully it would be enough to curb whatever the next floor threw at me. I had a feeling I would forever need to improve my demonic resistance. That meant righteousness and faith, a two to one ratio, would forever be increasing.
I was pleased with the increase to my resistance, but as a bonus, my spirit regeneration also jumped up. However, the nineteen irked me. Maybe I was being a little OCD about it, but I asked, “Should I go ahead and spend one point now to get righteousness up to twenty?”
Purgatory: The Devil's Game Page 25
