Mason crept through the next doorway, peeking out to see a bubbling river of dark water. It ended in a kind of beaver-like dam, a pool of murky water under several platforms that looked like dwellings. Or maybe prisons. He flinched as he realized gnolls waited on each platform-the first much like the creature Mason had killed, a taller, thicker cousin of the tar-clawed gnoll guards. Above him was basically a larger version, like the whole apparatus was some kind of Russian nesting doll arrangement except with dog monsters. At the very top lay a massive, maybe unconscious beast with a swollen belly the size of a car. Tending it stood a hunched gnoll with a staff and bits of tattered cloth that might have once been a kind of robe. As Mason stood there staring in disgusted horror, it removed a mewling newborn pup from the mother, then dropped it almost ten feet into the pool.
Mason stared as if at a terrible accident before the closest gnoll sniffed the air, and raised its claws. Then he nearly turned and fled down the corridor, but forced himself to stand his ground. It was time to learn how fast he could shoot.
He led with a Crippling Strike, following with a series of regular broadheads, the second damn near loosed before the first arrow struck. All he had to do was space his fingers correctly, draw the string with enough strength, and aim. Frankly he didn't much care if he missed the occasional shot anymore, and focused on pure speed.
The creature howled and leapt from the platform, growling as every shaft struck and buried itself in its arms, legs and chest. The claws on its feet tapped on the wooden floor with every stride, blood leaking from wound after wound as Mason filled it full of arrows. When it finally got close enough he could smell the blood and sweat, he turned and ran.
Well, sprinted. The creature was even larger than he'd anticipated, and it ducked beneath the seven or eight foot roof, almost squeezing into the corridor to give chase. Mason's heart pounded, but he turned again at the end of the corridor and loosed three more arrows, the final being a Power Shot. Still the beast lived, and charged.
Mason at last dropped his bow, drew his dagger as he summoned his sword, and activated Shield as fast as he could.
Despite the dozen or more arrows in its body, it hurled itself with considerable strength at its prey. The beast connected with Mason's shield, the magical barrier exploding with dull blue light. The force wasn't entirely absorbed, and Mason slid several paces back but kept his feet. Then he dropped the shield, and leapt forward, a Predator's Strike followed by a series of slashes and stabs at the beasts's arms and chest. His enemy sagged to a knee, blood pooling at its feet, but still managed to swipe once with its bear-like claw, smashing Mason into the wall. He felt ribs and maybe an arm snap, crying out at the agony. But there was no time for pain. Crippling Strike had re-charged and he slashed the gnoll's leg then staggered away. Still it followed, dragging itself along with one claw, its other arm hanging all but useless. A few paces from Mason's position, its eyes rolled as it growled, then slumped to the floor
[Killed Gnoll mutant! Experience awarded (major)! You have earned enough experience for level seven. Please select which power to enhance, or one will be chosen for you.]
Mason's vision blurred, and he fell to a sit. For all he knew he was bleeding internally. Would regeneration fix a damaged organ? He had no idea. As he fought to stay conscious he pulled up his player profile, trying to choose a power to enhance before he passed out and maybe lost his chance. He should enhance regeneration, he realized, to be sure it would save him. He tried to look at the menu but couldn't seem to see straight. The ghostly menu of words blurred and mixed with some strange combination of numbers and symbols. He saw the list of his powers, or at least he thought he did, but he saw too something that resembled computer code flickering behind.
[Anomaly discovered. Escalating analysis tier. Referral to Admin subsystem. Standing by… … … Unique enhancement approved. Implementing.]
He stared in confusion as his vision got smaller, and smaller, failing to select a power before he felt the cool wooden wall smack against his cheek, then darkness.
* * *
Mason woke with a groan, sword gripped in his hand and ready to kill before he remembered where he was, or why. His chest ached dully, and he looked at the corpse of the giant gnoll at his feet before remembering and calming his breath. He instinctively pulled up his profile.
Mason Nimitz
Level: 7
Class: Ranger
Strength:7
Dexterity:9
Vitality:8
Intellect:4
Will:7
Presence:2
Luck: 4
Titles: Killer, Early Lead, Soloist
Powers: Power Shot, Crippling Strike (upgraded), Regeneration, Predator's Strike, *Nature Affinity, Ranger's Claw, Endless Quiver
He was still alive. So that was good. But the damn timer had apparently run out. It no longer showed that he had a level to apply, and he had to search his powers to figure out which it had automatically enhanced. Regeneration? No. Shit. Predator's Strike. No. Power Shot. No. Well what the hell could it even…he saw a small asterix next to Nature Affinity, and almost groaned. What could that possibly be?
A little text box read: Apex Predator. He blinked and read the description a few times, not quite sure he understood.
[Apex Predator: Unique Enhancement. Gain, ignore, or produce the advantages and restrictions of any affinity in a small radius, whenever it benefits you.]
Mason squinted, trying to figure out exactly what that meant. He'd been able to move through those vines because of nature affinity. Did that mean if he'd hit some kind of similar trap but for some other affinity, like fire, or whatever the hell they were, it wouldn't hurt him?
[Tutorial query: correct.]
Mason raised a brow at that. It was the first time he'd seen a tutorial query without the formal language, though he had no idea what that meant. 'A small radius', did that mean the power could affect the affinity of others if they were close enough?
[Tutorial query: correct.]
Mason near jumped at the voice this time, though he was getting a little more excited. He realized that possibly meant he could run one of those damn giant gnolls into the vines, and with Apex Predator cause them to intervene despite the creature's likely normal immunity. It was sure as hell worth a try.
He decided to try and drag the big dead gnoll away into another corridor, but found he could hardly move the thing. He was forced to hack off some limbs and other parts and make one hell of a mess before he could cart it away in pieces. But his wounds seemed more or less healed by the time he was finished, so he steeled himself for another round against the even bigger damn gnoll, and walked back to the pool room.
Nothing had changed. Which was kind of weird, actually—like they didn't care that the big guy ran off and didn't come back. Staff guy was still messing with the pregnant gnoll queen, or whatever the hell it was. Mason was worried about this creature and decided it should probably die first. He sure wished he had that Sniper power now, but one had to play the cards in their hand.
When nothing came roaring and charging in his direction, Mason took a breath, lined up a shot, and loosed a Power Shot straight at the gnoll with the staff. It struck, and the creature yowled like a wounded dog. It lurched and yapped as it dropped the staff, then growled what might have been a command.
Shit. Not dead. Doesn't matter. Adapt.
The remaining huge gnoll was already in motion. It leapt down from the platform and charged straight at Mason, and he loosed a Crippling Strike into its thigh. Still it loped forward, albeit at a reduced speed, growling with its huge claws held straight ahead. Mason loosed arrow after arrow into his torso and legs, turning at the last moment to flee down the hall. This time he wasted no time trying to take more shots.
With the beast hot on his heels, he fled at full speed straight to the vine room and ran on through. Moment of truth, he thought, hoping the 'short radius' of Apex Predator extended at least across the room, at last turning and dropping to a knee as he summoned another arrow and prepped a newly recycled Power Shot.
The giant hit the wall and scrambled on without a hint of concern. He'd ripped out the Crippling arrow in his leg and moved again at full speed, and if the vines didn't slow or stop him he'd reach Mason in seconds.
His heart pounded as he loosed his Power Shot, which staggered the creature but didn't stop it.
Mason didn't trust his luck and life with the vines. He dropped his bow and summoned Predator's Claw, and the beast lumbered into the room with head bowed slightly, triumph in its eyes. The vines snapped into action. From every angle the plants whipped like falling rope, lashing around the gnoll's limbs and chest and neck. It roared in confusion and tried to keep moving, but made it only another two steps.
Mason wasted no time celebrating. He banished his sword and again lifted his bow, taking shot after shot as he stepped forward to point blank range. It bellowed in rage and pain and helplessness, straining against the vines and even snapping a few. But it wasn't enough. Mason sunk his arrows into its exposed face and neck, and soon the creature slumped and died.
[Killed Gnoll mutant. Experience awarded (moderate).]
Mason smiled, sliding a hand along the bloody vines affectionately as he walked past. This time he hadn't taken a scratch. Now it was time to finish this thing, and find out where Blake was.