I’m sprinting through the dungeon. I’ve distributed the rest of my points. 3 went into Agility and Endurance respectively and I put 2 into Strength and Soul. I put extra into Agility and Endurance because while I was tripping balls, Eva managed to put a large distance between us.

  I look down at the bundle of large mushrooms I’m carrying. I really wish I had a bag to carry these in. I didn’t have anything on me when I got summoned.

  I started to get into minimalism so I got rid of most of my things. I thought the idea was interesting so I was trying it out. I didn’t even bring my purse or phone to the studio because I thought that ‘Oh! I’m just going to the studio and back to my apartment, I don’t need these distractions on me!’

  “Stupid Hipster lifestyle!”

  I sigh. I need to focus on what to say when I reach Eva “Hey Eva! I got some medicine that will repair your sanity. A warning though, it will make you see some shit. So… Have fun, I guess.”

  I frown. This isn’t going to work, is it? There is no way she would trust me enough to eat these. As I think this, a welcome distraction blocks my path.

  It looks to be a small ball of fur sitting stationary in front of me. It doesn’t look to have a soul and doesn’t have any other features whatsoever.

  (???/???)

  I step back as a chill runs down my spine. The ball of fur shudders slightly and two chicken-like legs stretch out of its side and relaxes to the ground.

  Is it sleeping? Good. I take another slow step back with my eyes trained on it.

  Suddenly a large sphere of transparent brown rock appears surrounding the monster.

  (Magical Aura Perception) has leveled up! (4 → 5)

  That’s its soul? It’s huge! It’s over 5 times the size of mine. It's so big it overlaps the entire monster's body. Instead of being made of fire, like all other souls I’ve seen so far, it's like a bundle of rocks forced together.

  My instincts are screaming at me to run, but in spite of that I continue to slowly back away. I step behind a corner and start stepping away to put as much distance between me and the monster as possible.

  As I see its soul near the edge of my perception, I pick up the pace until I’m in a full sprint. I run for a long while until I finally feel a modicum of safety.

  It was only then I realized how much I was sweating. “What the hell was that thing?”

  Using Magical Aura Perception I triple checked that I couldn’t sense that monster's presence. That was intense! if that thing was awake, I think I would have died instantly.

  I look around to find Eva’s soul once more. I see it off to the distance still moving at a steady rate away from me.

  The problem is that I can’t run directly to her. This dungeon is basically a giant maze with intersecting paths everywhere so I can’t just go straight to her.

  I sigh as I start walking to find a path that goes roughly in Eva’s direction.

  As I walk, I focus on Magical Aura Perception and feel around me. From what I can tell, the range goes to about 400-500 feet out from me now. A thing I also noticed is that this skill lets me vaguely sense the emotions of others.

  I can see two souls to my left through the walls. I think I recognize them as Abominable Moles. I wonder if the moles always come in pairs?

  I see another to my right and its soul is a deep blue flame. It’s about the same size as mine, but I’m still very wary of it. I remember with the Roach Brood Queen that soul size does not equate to how many levels it has.

  I’m about to make a detour towards the Abominable Moles, but I stop myself. I look back at the blue flame. I shouldn’t, it’s far too dangerous with the limited knowledge I have.

  “I wanna though.”

  Against all better judgment and reason I find a path towards the blue flame and start jogging towards it. My smile deepens as I draw closer to it. “This is such a bad idea.”

  My pace slows as I get to the edge of a corner. I quietly peak around the corner to get a glimpse at the creature.

  I find a large snake-like monster, covered in fur. It has two heads and at the other end it splits into five tails. I would say it’s a little bit smaller than the roach queen.

  (Abominable Serpent / level 19)

  I break into a grin. I whisper “I could take it.” Fortune favors the bold I presume.

  I start plotting on how I want to engage the monster as the serpent rolls over in its sleep like a cat. I think I can get the jump on it and crush one of its heads before it wakes up.

  I think about doing this for about half a second before deciding otherwise. I drop the bundle of mushrooms to the side.

  “Nah!” I jump out behind the corner “Wakey wakey, big boy!” I think it would be way more fun if I did this!

  It immediately uncoils itself and both of its heads snap towards me. Its soul brightens considerably and it lets out a battle cry that sounds like a mix of a hiss and a howl.

  I charge at it and reciprocates in kind. I feel a change in its soul and I manipulate my aura to my leg and kick off the ground with Aura of Strength.

  I fly over the beast as a large cone of frozen air blasts where I was just standing. Huh, so like the mole, it also has elemental breath. I guess I should have seen it, considering that they are both ‘abominable.’

  As soon as I land behind the Abominable Serpent, it slaps me with one of its tails. I block it, but I’m still catapulted at a wall. I crash into it and get the wind knocked out of me.

  I take in a deep breath and pull myself out of the wall. “Ow.”

  I can’t believe that just happened and I only got a couple bruises on me. I think I want to increase my durability even further when I get new points. I kinda like the idea of being a tank.

  An idea crosses my mind as the serpent charges at me again. Using my aura on my legs I jump out of the way as one of its heads crashes into the wall.

  Its other head swings towards me and its soul-

  Changes color-

  Its soul burns a bright orange as flames shoot out of its mouth. I try to move out of the way but I’m still partly caught in the fire breath. I let out a scream as flames ravage my left arm and part of my chest.

  The clothing burns away almost immediately and I feel my skin peeling. I use Frost Breath on my own body to put out the fire. I wince as my left arm becomes completely useless now.

  For a brief moment I’m overcome with fear, my mind is filled with doubt. This hurts so goddamn much. But as I look at the serpent, at the Abominable Serpents soul, now burning blue again. My fear is washed away by something far more potent.

  Pure rage-

  My body bursts into black flames. That bastard snake pauses as it studies me for a moment.

  I split a piece of my soul and manipulated it into my right hand. I force the soul fragment through my palm and out of my body. An aching pain bursts into my right arm and my total mana reserves drop by a few percent.

  A ball of black flames hovers in my right hand and I turn my attention back at the Abominable Serpent. “Alright fucker, lets dance.”

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  I start sprinting at it and it howls/hisses back at me. One of its heads releases a blast of frozen air at me. I avoid it entirely and when its Frost Breath ends, it finds me standing right in front of it.

  I throw the SoulFire fragment into its still open mouth and I use Magical Aura Manipulation to force it down its throat.

  Its other head slams into me, sending me flying at another wall. When I crash into the wall I feel a few ribs break.

  I look back at the serpent to see the head I threw the fire into thrashing around and the other staring at me with hate filled eyes. I don’t think it realizes I’m not done yet.

  I reach my hand out towards my soul fragment and with Magical Aura Manipulation- I ball my fist and crush it.

  The SoulFire fragment shrinks to a point then detonates. One of its necks explodes in blood and black fire. Its head is sent flying in a random direction. Its other head shrieks in pain as blood and embers splash onto its face.

  I’m not in any better condition either. As soon as the soul fragment exploded, it felt- wrong.

  My intense emotions don’t let me dwell on it though as I look back at the monster. I want to kill it.

  I jump off the wall and start running at it. I want to kill it. It fires a cone of fire at me and I meet it with a cone of frost. The attacks cancel each other out and it slaps me with its tail again. I want to kill it.

  I’m sent skidding across the ground. I dig my feet in the rock and upright myself. As soon as I look up, it’s in front of me and then its tail sends me to another wall. I want to kill it.

  I pull myself out of the wall and cough up blood. The Abominable Serpent charges at me again. It swings its body around as it intends to crush me into the ground. I want “you to stop fucking hurting me!”

  I raise my charred arm into the air and my aura rushes to cover it. The serpent's tail crashes into my forearm and its tail-

  Snaps-

  Congratulations, you have unlocked a class skill

  -

  (Aura of Durability)

  Alert / (2) Class Skill slots remaining

  The Abominable Serpent squeaks in pain as I shift my aura to both of my arms. I grab onto the broken tail and I twist and pull. I rip the tail off with ease.

  It tries to squirm away, but I use Frost Breath on its unprotected back. Its remaining head snaps towards me and a cone of fire blasts to me. My heart jumps as my aura shifts to my legs and I launch myself into the ceiling.

  In the brief moment my momentum pushes me into the roof of the dungeon I decide what I want to do next.

  I kick off the ceiling and let gravity do the rest. I fully manifest my Aura of Durability and crash into the back of the Abominable Serpent.

  Its back crunches and explodes in a shower of viscera. As the serpent's body splits in half, my body imbeds itself into the rocky floor.

  You have slain a (Abominable Serpent/level 19)

  -

  More experience rewarded

  You have leveled up! (15 → 16)

  -

  You have earned (5) stat points

  (Quick Thinking) has leveled up! (2 → 3)

  (Pain Tolerance) has leveled up! (2 → 3)

  (Pain Tolerance) has leveled up! (3 → 4)

  (Magical Aura Manipulation) has leveled up! (3 → 4)

  (Aura of Strength) has leveled up! (3 → 4)

  (SoulFire) has leveled up! (2 → 3)

  (SoulFire) has leveled up! (3 → 4)

  (Aura of Durability) has leveled up! (1 → 2)

  I pull myself out of the crevice I created. “Ouch.” I rub my temples as my headache slowly subsides. I look around at the carnage I created.

  There are broken rocks everywhere. Puddles of fire and frost are spotted around everywhere. Blood is sprawled out in every direction. I’m covered head to toe in the stuff. Literally ankle deep in pooling monster blood.

  I manifest my aura and activate Aura of Vitality. I’m hit by an immediate sense of relief, but I think it’ll take hours to fully recover.

  I slowly limp over to retrieve my mushrooms and look back at the work of art I created. Did I have fun?

  “Humph.. Some low points, but enjoyable nonetheless.”

  I smile to myself as I replay the fight in my head. I pause and my eyes widen as I make a realization. My eyes darted around the room, but I couldn't find it.

  My voice is slightly shaky “Status!”

  Name (Tiffany Day) / Age (23) / Race (Human)

  Alignment (Chaotic Neutral)

  Class (Monk) / Level (16)

  Stats / Stat Points (5)

  Strength (24)

  Durability (45)

  Agility (10)

  Endurance (10)

  Intellect (18)

  Soul (28) (-2)

  Intrinsic Status

  Vitality (34%)

  Stamina (48%)

  Sanity (85%)

  Mana (18%) (max 93%)

  Traits

  (Interloper)

  (Serial Killer)

  (Ydri’s Jester)

  Skills

  (Quick Thinking) level 3

  (Pain Tolerance) level 4

  (Observe) level 2

  Class Skills

  (Obscene Presence) level 1

  (Magical Aura Perception) level 5

  (Magical Aura Manipulation) level 4

  (Aura of Strength) level 4

  (Frost Breath) level 3

  (SoulFire) level 4

  (Aura of Vitality) level 1

  (Aura of Durability) level 2

  My eyes are trained on my Soul stat. “Fuck, I hope that's not permanent.”

  I sigh and look at my mana. its new max is stuck at 93%. I can’t help, but think of that mysterious note in the SoulFire description. Is this what it was warning me about? Who even is that?

  “Rage really is dangerous.”

  I gulp dried saliva. To shake me from my worries, I look at the new class skill I got. Aura of Durability, I thought about trying to get something like this part way through this fight, but I didn’t expect to get it mid battle.

  Aura of Durability / Level (2)

  (Through spite, you have forced the structure of your aura to change. You looked upon your failing body and demanded ‘No More’)

  Expend Mana to increase your Durability stat by (27%)

  “Through spite?” The other ‘Aura of’ skills always started with ‘Through focus.’ The description of this skill is a bit unique… I like it!

  I dump my 5 new stat points into Durability bringing it to 50. I decided I want to go all in on the tank build. I feel my gamer brain squeal with joy!

  This gets me to start thinking about the nature of the system. Why is it built like a video game? I mean, I’m not complaining. I’m having a lot of fun with it. Do the people in this world even know what video games are?

  As I get distracted by speculation, my Magical Aura Perception picks something up. My head snaps to their direction.

  I found five deep red souls. I instantly connect that they are very similar to Eva’s and the other cultists before I killed them. That isn’t what gets my attention though.

  There is a sixth soul leading them and it’s colored completely black.

  (Aura of Vitality) has leveled up! (1 → 2)