"Look about the rocky soil below that has been walked upon by several gods before you, what do you see?"
~~~
In most grievous of moonlights, shines the face of one so weary. A visage so worn, so tired, so battered; and torn.
With this countenance of old, but yet young; he ran. He ran through the halls of flesh, his feet threating to fail at any second, but he knew; he knew his fate was sealed.
With every step he took, he fell two behind; for all is forever limited. He cocked his head to assess the predicament, but was met in the shade of a glowing red halberd that flew right through his skull.
"If you had killed me when you had the chance, you might still be alive; you just had to be a little more... open minded." Chuckled Imogen as she pulled her halberd out of the wall, and watched as little chips of rock fell to the floor.
*𝐘𝐨𝐮'𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐀: Young Vampirm
~~~
𝙏𝙬𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙜𝙤...
"It seems another fly has fallen into 𝘮𝘺 cave, has gotten their little feet; tangled in 𝘮𝘺 trap." Cackled an unknown voice emanating from behind Imogen.
"Your neck is ever so faintly pulsating with life, isn't it just beautiful; almost makes me want to bite it." Whispered the voice while slightly caressing Imogen's neck.
"But don't worry, I wouldn't bite what's already mine... so take my hand, and I'll take yours; join me." Cajoled the creature as he moved his hand down to Imogen's.
"No thanks, but you can take this halberd to the gut; I'm sure you'll enjoy it." Grinned Imogen while shoving her halberd into a strange, meaty substance.
"YOU FOOL, can you not see your own predicament; I own the darkness!" Hissed the creature as he moved deeper into the Stygian shade.
"Well... I wouldn't say that, you just flutter around in it like an idoit." Smirked Imogen while straining her eyes to see any bit of light in the all consuming darkness.
"No I-."
"-Yes you do."
"Well I'm-."
"-A complete dolt."
"Fucking stop that!" "You're filling me with such rage that I had not thought it possible!" Snarled the creature as he tore through Imogen's left shoulder muscle.
"Fricking hell, I swear to god I'm going to throw my halberd right through your diseased face for that!" Raged Imogen while swinging blindly through the tenebrous cavern.
"Which one, for there are many; many to ignore your plea!" Crooned the creature as he poked at Imogen's shoulder, toying with her.
"Face the facts, this is my domain, my area of triumph; do you really think you have even the slightest chance of winning."
"Man, you sure like to talk... not that I don't too; but you're extra chatty." Mocked Imogen while slightly grazing the meaty creature with her halberd.
"JUST SHUT UP!" "I'm going to plaster your screaming face onto my wall, and smile everytime I look at it!" Snapped the creature as he took out a dagger.
With deadly precision the creature stabbed at Imogen's left eye, but because of the darkness; Imogen was caught unaware. She wasn't able to catch sight of the knife until it was too late, too late to dodge the attack.
All Imogen could do, was try; and redirect the killer blow. So with agility even a cat would envy, Imogen moved her head just in time for the dagger to scar across her face.
"Ho ho ho, I can see bone there; maybe I should make a skeleton out of you instead." Laughed the creature while flipping his dagger around in his hand.
*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲: Oh... I think I forgot to give you these skills when you became an adult, 𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘐 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 - Heightened Smell, Eyes Born Of Fire, and Sixth Sense
*𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐥: Most ticks on The Strait have poor eyesight, and because of this they've evolved to have a greater sense of smell than most; guiding their way to prey - This is a Passive Skill
*𝐒𝐢𝐱𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞: Over the course of centurys, non-attuned; or non-adult ticks have found their own way to access mana. Using pure luck, and an unknown method; the first ticks of The Sighted Generation found a way to baptize themselves in mana. This caused them to be slightly favored by all things of magical origin, meaning they could somewhat tap into the Mana Rupture; and use a small amount of its mana before attunement. But this also caused the ticks of The Sighted Generation to gain what can only be called a sixth sense. With this skill, you'll always somehow manage to find "prey" no matter where you go - Replaces 70/50 Luck, and is a passive skill
*𝐄𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐧 𝐎𝐟 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞: Ticks all over have always been able to sense heat, picking up even the slightest difference in temperature; but what if they were able to see it. After the first of The Sighted Generation tapped into mana, they could see it in all living creatures, causing some questionable decisions; and so very much death. But after centurys of misuse, the skill degraded into what it is now; only a fragment of its former glory. With this skill you'll be able to see the heat of any creature magical in nature, you just have to blink twice; and make sure that nothing without magic is blocking your view - This is a Semi Passive Skill
"You know... I don't think I'll be one dying tonight, better start running!" Sniggered Imogen as she inhaled deeply.
"Do you really think I'll fall for that bluff, looks like someone's getting desperate; time for me to put you out of your misery." Chuckled the creature while feeling his right arm get sliced off.
"Oops, 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 you need a new arm; better run before I get the next one!" Sneered Imogen as she ran at the fleeing creature wishing her agility stat was higher.
~~~
𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙏𝙞𝙢𝙚
"Hmm... I really need to work on my halberd skills, I almost missed him." Sighed Imogen while looking down upon the rotting corpse in disappointment.
"Actually, I'm suprised I hit him at all; with my Halberd Mastery being in the condition it is." Frowned Imogen as she wiped the blood off her halberd.
"You've cheated me system, I haven't got a single reward yet for completing The Successor Races; what the hell!"
*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: You technically didn't complete the races, because they didn't give you a reward for winning; so you failed the quest
"Oh please system, just shut up for one second; and give me the darn reward!" Fumed Imogen while putting her halberd back in its sheath.
"No answer huh, well at least give me a new mission; or two as a refund." Scowled Imogen as her sheath broke apart.
"Well what the hell, it seems like everything's going wrong; my sheath even broke!" Pouted Imogen while pulling her halberd out of the tattered remains.
*𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭: Get out of this cave system within 12 minutes, or receive the unlucky death of being crushed by a boulder
*𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭: Put an end to Auden's charade, and save your 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 friend, or he along with many other; will die by tomorrow
*𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭: Advance your skill level to Adept Halberd Mastery within the week, or accidentally cut your hand off in a practice session
*𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭: Your love life is barren, cold; and dead. So chase after the mortal superstition of love, and experience the first kiss you've ever had before you reach godhood; or should I say... if
"Very funny system, it seems you've now added penalties; mind explaining." Growled Imogen as she smelled the air around her.
*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐀𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫: You've failed your first quest, and now I know your not a dependable trustee, so to ensure your wholehearted efforts; I've Included penalties should you fail. And nothing ensures completion like stress, fear; and pain.
"Your sense of amusement is twisted system, I can't even see in this cave; am I supposed to smell my way out!"
𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦'𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: Yes, and because of your uncooperation; I've added two more quests
*𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭: Take care of your gear, your tools of bloodshed; they need dedication to last. So clean, sharpen; and prepare your gear after every battle. Armor, and weapons don't work so well after being caked in blood for days; they need your care
*𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭: Make more friends, as of now you only have one person that you can truely call a friend; and that's sort of sad. Plus, I want to see your face contort in sorrow everytime one of your friends die; for such are the joys of the mortal plane.
"I don't know what I expected, both of these quests don't have an actual end in sight; and one... one was just mean." Suspired Imogen while watching a a small heat signature run past her.
*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦'𝐬 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐚: Did you know that you only have 8 minutes left to escape, better get going; or you might just end up dead
"Well crap, I only have eight minutes left; and I see what could only be called a giant rat a little ways off." Mumbled Imogen as she stared at the outline of a seven foot tall rat creature blocking her way.
"My life's never simple, now is it." Muttered Imogen while watching the outline open its mouth.