“So,” Eugene began, hands shoved deep into the pockets of his robe, “I’m not saying I’m helpless, but I could really use some practice. I’m not exactly prepared for… whatever nightmare stuff you guys seem to run into on a daily basis. Are there any places I can train? Like, some low-power monsters I can fight?”
Krungus looked up, a sly grin spreading across his face. “Low-power monsters, eh? What do you think this is—one of your Earth entertainments? Maybe you’d like a goblin to politely throw rocks at you until you feel ready for a real fight?”
Eugene rolled his eyes. “You know what I mean, man. I can’t just wing it forever. I almost got myself killed fighting those guards. Also, I probably didn’t need to obliterate one of them to scare them off!”
Cozimia’s voice chimed in from the lantern, smooth and teasing. “Oh, darling, don’t be too hard on yourself. You’re new to this. And besides, that guard… well, he did overstep his welcome, didn’t he?”
Eugene sighed. “Look, I just need somewhere to improve my odds. The next time something with teeth comes after me, I’d like to be ready.”
Krungus chuckled, closing his book with a snap. “I’ve got just the thing for you. There’s a worm colony out in the desert. Perfectly low-risk… unless, of course, you manage to trip over yourself and let them gnaw on your face.”
“Oh, good,” Eugene deadpanned. “Face-eating worms. Exactly what I was hoping for.”
Krungus leaned forward, resting his chin on the end of his staff. His eyes gleamed mischievously. “Don’t worry. If they do chew off your face, maybe Cozimia will give you a new one. Something a bit less… plain.”
Eugene blinked. “Wait, she can do that?”
“Oh, I have no idea, but it wouldn't hurt to ask, eh?” Krungus elbowed him lightly, smiling.
“Anyways boys, the worms?” Utopianna replied softly. “And if Eugene is going into combat, then I’ll be coming along.”
Krungus raised an eyebrow. “You? What for?”
“To ensure he doesn’t end up a meal for those worms,” Utopianna said, her voice steady. “If you’re going to put him through this training, then I’ll be there to oversee it. Someone has to make sure things don’t go too far.”
“Don’t trust me, huh?” Krungus asked, though there was little heat in his voice.
“I trust you,” Utopianna said, stepping closer. “But I also know how you’ve changed. And I care about you too much to let you slip any further.” Her gaze softened, and she gently placed her hand—her real hand—on his arm. “I want to help.”
Krungus hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Alright. You can come. But if the worms swarm him, you’d better not look to me to play hero.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” she said with a faint smile.
Eugene, watching the exchange, raised a hand awkwardly. “Uh, so… does this mean I have two magical babysitters now?”
Krungus rolled his eyes. “Oh, don’t flatter yourself, Eugene. You’re not that important.”
Cozimia’s laughter echoed softly from the lantern. “I think you’ll find you’re in good hands, darling. With these two around, you might just survive after all.”
Eugene sighed and crossed his arms. “Great. Let’s get this over with.”
Krungus stood and stretched, grabbing his staff. “Then pack up your courage, Eugene. We’re headed to the desert.”
Eugene stood at the edge of a desolate desert plain, shielding his eyes from the blinding sunlight. They were on the outskirts of The City, looking away from it, into the ocean of sand and rock in front of them. They had taken Krungus’ airship Reacclimation to get to their destination. He glanced over at Krungus, who stood with his staff planted in the sand, eyes scanning the horizon.
"So," Eugene began, pulling out his fanous and attaching it to the staff Bahumbus had crafted for him, "what kind of monsters are we dealing with here? Something that'll chew my face off, right?"
Krungus smirked. "Screaming Cankerworms. Smaller than your average sand serpent, but louder and twice as irritating."
“Screaming what?”
“Cankerworms,” Krungus repeated with a chuckle. "They’re territorial, fast, and—most notably—very loud. They scream when angry, scream when they attack, and scream for the fun of it."
Eugene groaned. “That sounds... amazing.” He mentally pulled up his interface, hoping for some context.
[Quest Updated: Desert Trials]
Objective: Survive being abandoned in a field of Screaming Cankerworms
Threat Level: Moderate
As soon as the text faded from his vision, Eugene muttered, “Great. Just what I needed—angry, screaming worms. Anything else I should know?”
“They’re burrowers. They’ll come at you from below,” Krungus said casually, already preparing to teleport Eugene to the worms’ breeding ground.
“Oh, wonderful,” Eugene muttered.
Utopianna, observing quietly, stepped forward. “You’ll be fine,” she said, her voice gentle. “But should things go awry... perhaps you could call for help?”
“Nah, this is one of those ‘prove yourself’ moments, isn’t it?” Eugene replied with a weak grin. “Besides, you just want to see Cozimia in action, don’t you?”
She gave a faint smile. “You caught me, Eugene from Cincinnati.”
Krungus rolled his eyes and raised his staff. “Enough talk. Let’s get this over with.”
With a sudden pulse of magic, Krungus and Utopianna were back on the deck of the Reacclimation.
The desert was deathly silent except for the faint rustling of shifting sand. Eugene’s interface flickered automatically as it scanned the area.
[Location Scanned: Screaming Cankerworm Nest]
Hazard: Burrowing Threats Detected
Known Inhabitants: Screaming Cankerworms (Infestation)
Recommendations: Avoid loud noise or vibrations.
Eugene’s foot scraped across a rock, sending a few pebbles tumbling down a nearby dune. The ground trembled beneath him almost immediately. He froze, watching the sand ripple like water. A lump of earth swelled and burst a few feet away, and an ear-piercing screech ripped through the air.
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The worm was hideous, with a segmented body covered in orange and gray patches. Rows of vibrating teeth lined its gaping maw, the source of the deafening shriek. Eugene’s interface automatically scanned the creature.
[Monster Identified: Screaming Cankerworm]
Size: Medium (3 ft. length)
Condition: Aggressive
Threat Level: Moderate
Weakness: Lightning, Blunt Force
Tendencies: Extremely loud, swarming behavior, territorial
“Okay, that’s disgusting,” Eugene muttered, stepping back as the worm lunged. He barely dodged, stumbling over loose sand.
Another worm erupted nearby, its screech harmonizing with the first. The sound rattled through Eugene's skull, nearly knocking him off balance. He tried to blast the nearest worm with magic, but his aim wavered. The bolt struck its side, leaving a smoking scorch mark but doing little to slow it down.
“Focus, Eugene,” Cozimia’s voice echoed softly in his mind. “You’re better than this.”
The worms circled him like sharks, their mouths gnashing and vibrating as they closed in. Eugene fired off another blast, this time striking a worm square in the mouth. It exploded in a spray of orange ichor and shards of flesh. The interface updated with a notification.
[Critical Hit! +20 Understanding]
The other worms screeched in unison, driven into a frenzy by the death of their companion. Eugene stumbled as one lunged at him from behind, its jaws snapping shut just inches from his leg. Another worm burst from the sand to his left, narrowly missing his arm.
"Cripes! They're everywhere!" he yelled, firing another bolt of energy. The shot hit another worm, causing it to convulse violently before splitting apart with a sickening crack. Orange slime splattered across his robe.
[Kill Confirmed. +30 Understanding]
[Condition Update: Slimed – Movement reduced by 10%]
“Great. Slowed down by worm guts,” Eugene muttered as he wiped some of the gunk from his sleeves. Another screech came from behind him, and he ducked just in time to avoid being tackled by two worms leaping simultaneously.
“Any suggestions, Cozimia?” he called out mentally.
“You know the answer, darling,” her voice replied. “Hospitality is not just kindness—it is control. You’ve been scared of using this spell again, don’t be. They brought you out here to avoid that kinda collateral damage!”
Eugene clenched his teeth and reached for the lantern under his robe. Magic surged through him, flooding his senses. He raised both hands, feeling the power build to a boiling point.
“Alright, worms,” he growled. “Time to roll out the welcome mat.”
Golden light burst from his hands in a wide arc as he shouted the incantation for Hospitable Rebuke. The spell detonated with a thunderous roar, sending waves of magical energy surging across the dunes. The first worm caught in the blast exploded instantly, its fragmented body raining down like chunks of molten debris. Another worm was vaporized, leaving only a bubbling crater of liquefied sand.
The largest worm screeched in defiance but didn’t get far. The wave of energy ripped through it, tearing its segmented body apart in a grotesque spray of ichor and shredded tissue.
[Spell Success: Hospitable Rebuke]
[Kills Confirmed: +90 Understanding]
[Level Up! You have reached Level 2]
The notification pulsed brightly in Eugene’s vision, followed by a brief overview of his new status.
[New Abilities Unlocked]
- Mana Efficiency Increased +10%
- Spell Unlocked: Welcoming Ward
- Bonus Attribute: Agility +1
Eugene lowered his hands, panting as the light faded. The battlefield was silent except for the crackling of scorched sand. He surveyed the scene, wiping slime from his face with a grimace.
“Well... that was gross,” he muttered.
Footsteps crunched on the sand behind him. Utopianna approached, her expression serene but slightly amused. “You’ve exceeded expectations,” she said softly.
“Yeah, sure,” Eugene replied, shaking his head. “Exceeding expectations by blowing up worms. A real highlight.”
Krungus appeared a moment later, his staff tapping against the ground as he examined the carnage. “You’re alive,” he remarked, a hint of approval in his voice. “That’s more than I expected.”
“Gee, thanks,” Eugene said dryly. “I’ll try not to let the compliment go to my head.”
Krungus ignored him, poking at a worm carcass with his staff. “These things regroup quickly. We should leave before more come back.”
“Of course they do,” Eugene sighed, rolling his eyes. He glanced at the glowing lantern beneath his robe, feeling the lingering warmth of Cozimia’s power.
“You’ve taken your first real step,” her voice whispered gently. “But there’s much more to learn.”
“Oh! I got a new spell! I gotta check that out.” Eugene pulled up his interface and focused on his spells. He now had 2: Hospitable Rebuke, and Welcoming Ward. He read the description of his new spell, a feature of the interface he didn’t know existed yet.
Welcoming Ward
Cost: 15% of base mana
Description: When cast, the spell lasts approximately one hour (spell needs to be used to gather exact data). For that period of time, when someone tries to attack or harm you, a comforting aura surrounds you, as if an invisible host is protecting their guest. The attacker feels an inexplicable hesitation, like they’ve broken some sacred etiquette rule of hospitality. Weaker attackers will be inclined to pause their attacks in confusion when you have this active. Can also be cast on allies.
Eugene stood amidst the desolate landscape, the remnants of the worm battle still fresh in his mind. The realization struck him like a bolt of lightning: he was living the very adventures he’d once only imagined in tabletop RPGs with friends and coworkers. A newfound determination ignited within him. If he continued to confront these creatures, he could unlock more abilities—spells that might ensure his survival and, perhaps, a way back home. Relying solely on the protection of powerful wizards like Krungus and Bahumbus was not a sustainable plan. For the first time in his life, Eugene felt a profound motivation to take control of his destiny.
“How about a few more rounds with these guys? I feel like I could level up again real quick if we have the time.” Eugene cast his newly acquired protective spell, Welcoming Ward, feeling a subtle yet reassuring barrier envelop him.
“Level up? What slang is this, Calhoun?” Krungus barked, his eyes narrowing in confusion.
“My interface says I’m Level 2 now, and I got this new spell, Welcoming Ward. Oh, and my mana is more efficient now?” Eugene scanned the horizon, alert for any signs of rippling sand that might indicate more worms.
Krungus frowned deeply. “I don’t think that’s something Bahumbus put in there. Since when do people have levels? Wait, what’s my level?” He leaned closer to Eugene, as if trying to peer into the depths of his being.
Curious, Eugene initiated a scan of Krungus using his interface. The display flickered momentarily before presenting the results:
Subject: Krungus
- Species: Human (Enhanced)
- Age: Approximately 9,000 years
- Mana Affinity: Exceptionally High
- Known Spells: Extensive (Detailed list available upon request)
- Physical Condition: Robust, despite age
- Psychological Profile: Complex; exhibits signs of temporal displacement and cultural dissonance
- Level: Data Not Available
Eugene furrowed his brow. “I scanned you, but there’s no level data available.”
Krungus straightened, a mix of pride and irritation flashing across his face. “Of course there’s not. I transcend such simplistic measurements. Your interface likely can’t comprehend the depth of my abilities.”
Eugene couldn’t help but poke at his overconfidence. But was it overconfidence? He was closer to a god than a wizard by Earth standards. “Or maybe it’s just that you’re so old, the system thinks you’re obsolete.”
Krungus shot him a withering glare, but before he could retort, Utopianna stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on his arm.
“Krungus,” she said softly, yet firmly, “remember who you are. The wizard I knew wouldn’t be rattled by such trivial matters.”
Krungus took a deep breath, the tension easing from his shoulders. “You’re right, Utopianna. I apologize, Eugene. Let’s focus on the task at hand. Bring on the Screamers.” And with that, Krungus rapped his staff on a nearby boulder.
“Have fun, Calhoun. We’ll be on the airship. And when you get done, we’ve still gotta track down that baby.” The two maguses disappeared.
“Ah, crap.” Eugene muttered as about a dozen different spots in front of him started to ripple again.