Annabel and Ethan stood in the battered ruins of what used to be their kitchen, watching three enormous cockroaches fly their way.
"I think we should run, Annabel."
"Fuck that. Those things are practically free XP and there's 3 of 'em."
"It's only free if they can't hit you. Let's just run."
"If they can't hit you… Of course! Thanks, Ethan!"
"Bh- what?"
But Annabel was already singing.
"Ya gotta get out of dodge!
When it's time to dodge
Unless you wanna be a splodge
On the wall of the lodge"
You have learned: Song of Agility Level 1
Annabel resolved to work on her songwriting skills later.
Ethan and Annabel felt their limbs get lighter and their reflexes faster. Agility was the stat that made it easier to run and evade. Ethan already had a big boost to Agiity from his shoes and the bash bat, and with the counter strike bonus he was able to make quick work of the giant roaches.
You have defeated Giant Cockroach x3
Level up!
Annabel hummed to herself, casting Song of Healing on Ethan. Somehow she hadn't even gotten hit once in all this. Ethan looked at her in disbelief.
"How are you keeping your cool in all this? And how are you doing that song thing?"
Annabel shrugged. "I've seen some shit. As for the song, dunno? I tried it and it worked. High Wisdom stat, if I had to guess. It seems to be good for magic."
"Oh, yeah. That would do it. Mine is like... 6."
Annabel didn't say out loud that this explained his cluelessness. "You're probably not a magic user then. It's okay, you look tanky. Decent Endurance, I guess?"
Ethan nodded. "11 is good, right? I have 9 Vitality too."
"Insanely good. You're a big, handsome beast." Seeing him blush, Annabel smirked and took to updating her stats. As much as she wanted to rush Charisma, dodging attacks would be important for someone as frail as her, so she put the 2 points from leveling into Agility.
"Pfft, it was nothing." Ethan grinned.
"Damn right it was nothing. You've got straps bigger than those bugs. I remember." Annabel's comments just made Ethan's blush deepen as he picked up the monster drops.
You have learned: Flirtation Level 1
"Oh." Annabel thought. "This is getting interesting."
Name: Annabel Thorne
Level 4
XP 5/700
Strength: 5
Agility: 8
Vitality: 6
Endurance: 8 (+1)
Intelligence: 10
Wisdom: 11
Bonus stats:
Charisma: 15
Unspent ability points: 0
Title: None
Passive Skills: Unflappable Level 1, Adaptable Body Level 1, Quick-Thinking Level 1, Pain Tolerance Level 1, Bleed Resistance Level 1, Mental Fortitude Level 1, Blunt Weapons Level 1
Active Skills: Song of Healing Level 1, Song of Strength Level 1, Song of Agility Level 1, Heavy Strike Level 1, Light Strike Level 1, Flirtation Level 1
"All right, let's get out of here. I don't think we're gonna get the security deposit back."
Annabel and Ethan made their way out of the ruins of their apartment and into the chaos of the streets. Car alarms were blaring, sirens were going off, and several fire hydrants had been busted open. If it weren't for the corpses, it wouldn't be too different from a good block party.
Ethan looked at Annabel expectantly. "You got a plan?"
Before she could answer, a feathered velociraptor walked out from behind an overturned sedan.
"For now? Run!"
"~You better run for your life if you can little girl, hide your head in the-~" Song of Agility activated, and the two of them practically flew.
Leaping over cars, dodging broken power lines, turning corners at random, the predatory dinosaur had them in hot pursuit. They didn't even know which way they were going. Ethan managed to slay another two giant roaches on the way simply because they were blocking the path - Annabel figured he must have leveled up too and put points into Strength.
A woman they recognized opened a door and yelled "In here!" They ran into the door and fell over panting as the woman barred and bolted the door shut.
You have learned: Sprint Level 1
You have learned: Nimble Dodge Level 1
Song of Agility has leveled up
Warning! Your stamina is critically low.
"I have stamina to worry about too?" Annabel grumbled internally as she panted. "Great."
The woman who had saved them looked them both over. "You look like shit."
Annabel looked up at her. She was tall - 5'9'' probably, with dark brown skin, high cheekbones, and soft brown eyes. Her silky black hair was tied back in a tight braid, and she wore purple slacks with matching low-top sneakers and a white tank top with an enticing hint of cleavage. "No I don't, Esme. I look hotter than ever. Come on." Annabel laughed.
"Can't argue with that. You unlock some kind of hotness stat?"
"Sharp as ever, Ez. Glad to see you're alive. Seems like this basement fortress came in handy after all."
Esme just sighed. "Come on, you two. Killing monsters only gets you so far out there. I'll take you to the books."
Annabel and Ethan both raised an eyebrow and followed Esme into the living room.