The assault carried on. Harried in all directions by the Awakened Ferran’s ethereal pack, Dharen’s arms had become anvils weighing him down. Each swing met only air, mocking him with his weakness. His flesh had become crimson ribbons, pouring to the floor.

With arms leaden from overuse, he swung and swung again. The beasts feinted and lunged, snarling with an eerie tone. Though, he speared with Restraint’s spike in the Awakened beasts’ direction. With a cohesive effort, a single apparition formed a defensive wall between Dharen and the beast each time.

Stymied, he withdrew his thrust. However, the synchronization of the creatures provided him with an idea. He stepped backwards, creating distance. Despite immense exhaustion, his great strength allowed him to eat through meters worth of distance. Reaching a small pile of debris, he reached down and gathered a number of stones.

With the equivalent strength of twelve men, he sent a stone hurtling towards the diminutive pack leader. It ripped through the air, moving almost imperceptibly fast. Despite its speed, it was intercepted by a Ferran apparition that threw itself into the projectile’s path.

Though the ghostly beast had managed to protect its Awakened brethren, Dharen couldn’t help but smile widely. Wisped away into nothingness under the overwhelming force of the stone, the spectral apparition disappeared.

Just as I thought, the bonds of Loyalty require that they protect their master. No matter the cost. Hope blossoming, he sent a flurry of stones forward in a ceaseless assault with renewed vigor. The spectral protectors laid down their lives one after another, too focused on defending their leader to consider attacking.

Finally, only Dharen and the Awakened Ferran remained. Breaths heaving from his chest, he grinned triumphantly.

“It looks like it’s just you and me now. I’m sorry for what’s about to happen you. But only the Champion can remain.” He sent out a Challenge. The beast flexed and grew, but as it did so, he sent a powerful blow to the floor with a downward swing. Arcane lights flashed upon Restraint, empowering his assault.

With a mighty smash, he sundered the ground before the Ferran, sending a wave of shrapnel flying. At the same time, a deafening sound rang across the tunnel with thundering intensity.

The beast, momentarily stunned as the sound attempted to rupture its eardrums, swayed. Seizing his chance, Dharen shattered one foreleg and then another - attempting to block out its shrieks of pain all the while. After effectively crippling the beast, he backed away carefully and allowed himself to collapse to the floor. His chest heaved with exertion, his body trembling in exhaustion. He checked the time remaining on the wave.

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Wave 2: Active

Enemies: Ferran

Number: 0

Awakened: 1

Next Wave In: 43 minutes

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Satisfied, he allowed himself a moment to rest his eyes.

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Wave 3: Beginning Now

Enemies: Ferran

Number: 10

Awakened: 1

Next Wave In: 1 hour

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A wave of black light roused Dharen from his unintentional slumber. For a single moment he remained disoriented, but reality soon snapped his mind back into focus. Monsters were coming.

He pulled himself to his feet, his enervated muscles crying out weakly at the strain.

Setting his gaze to his captive Challenged beast, he dragged his feet along, lightly swinging Restraint at the floor as he did so. Despite his efforts, even such light preparation was agonizing. He quickly realised the drawback to his weapon choice - it was agonizingly tiring during a drawn out fight.

Nevertheless, he continued along to his target. Echoing howls and the scratching of claws filled the tunnel. Reaching his destination, he impaled the creature. This time alert and wary of the dangers of a Ferran’s tail, he managed to avoid any new injuries. Just as before, Strength flooded his veins; a portion of his exhaustion was alleviated somewhat.

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Challenge Prevailed!

Strength +50% for 4 minutes and 20 seconds.

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He kneeled down, gathering the beast’s soulseed into his left hand. With an urgent fervor, he willed the energy to follow its course and cracked the crystal. It pierced his hand, flowing through his veins in a burning luster. A bitter cold rose up against it, meeting the coursing energy at the apex of his shoulder. The two energies warred, swirling and crackling. Searing heat and bitter cold mixed in a confusing array of sensation. Thirty seconds later, the energy settled in a slow whirl into his waiting Seed.

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Level

Up

x1!

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

Congratulations! You have reached Fear Level 2 (Rank: Common).

Agility +3, Endurance +2, Luck -1.

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

Name:

Dharen

Awakening:

Fear

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Fear can be many things. To those who have not yet tasted its poison, it can kill. To those who have survived its touch, it can save. Cloak yourself with your fear, that you may never be found. Arm yourself with terrors, that you may strike where others are weakest. Lose yourself not, child, for the fears of this world are merely the prologue to the next.

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

Level:

2 (Common)

Boons:

Shadow Raiment (Common) Rank 0

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- Softstep -

Shadows and darkness have always been a source of fear. Coalesce the shadows around you to bind your feet tightly and grant increased stealth.

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

Name:

Dharen

Race:

Faceless Human

Affiliation:

The Faceless One

Spirit:

31

Strength:

38

Agility:

14

Vitality:

27

Endurance:

11 (11.55)

Wisdom:

1

Charisma:

1

Luck:

2

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

Tower Tokens:

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

7,500

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

After progressing his Seed of Fear to the second level, he felt a whisper of the bone-weary exhaustion that he felt alleviate - an immediate result of his increase in stamina. However, Dharen had no time to ponder his new gains.

With the rubble wall partly destroyed, it had become a much less obstructive hindrance. Rather than slowly digging their way through one at a time with scrabbling claws, the Ferran simply had to walk down a narrow opening.

Fortunately, a narrow opening served his needs quite nicely on its own. Cursing his previous inflexibility in relying on his weapons, Dharen gathered a large number of stones to employ as projectiles. Especially now, while he enjoyed the Strength increases of his Challenge victory, it was important to utilize that strength properly.

And so, rather than rely entirely on his hammer and throw himself headlong into the fray against overwhelming numbers, he chose to rely on greater tactics. Simple tactics, to be sure, but tactics nonetheless.

As the Ferran reached his position, they were assaulted by a brutal, neverending wave of stones. Barbarian-like as the tactic was, it was certainly effective. Funneled into a tight corridor within the rubble, the helpless Ferran fell one by one. Rocks flew imperceptibly fast, brutally crushing bones and cracking skulls.

Even the Awakened Ferran fell under the barrage, not even given the chance to employ its Seed. Ferran crawled across the unforgiving stone with yelps and cries, bones broken and brutalized. Singling out one from the rest, he Challenged it. Despite its now-increased Strength, it remained helpless and defeated. The rest, he finished off mercifully.

Just as before, he gathered the Awakened’s soulseed and absorbed its energy into his seed of fear. A sliver of his exhaustion fled as he increased his level to 3 and gained the inherent attributes along with it.

Yet even that was not enough to prevent him from collapsing again, losing consciousness until he was awoken once more by an all-consuming pulse of black light.

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

Wave 4: Beginning Now

Enemies: Ferran

Number: 5

Awakened: 2

Next Wave In: 1 hour

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

The wave went similarly to the last in its initial phase, highlighted by a merciless barrage of flying stone. This time, however, an Awakened Ferran managed to slip through. Slip through seemed to be a bit of a misnomer, in all truth. It’s gray-furred body was mangled with dents and scars. One horn was broken off at the tip, cracked by a glancing blow. Despite its numerous wounds, it walked proudly and confidently.

Out of his arsenal of stones, Dharen stumbled forward on unfeeling legs to meet it. Each step felt as if he would sink into the floor as his muscles fought to remain functional. As they became closer, the creature’s Seed flashed with a malevolent light. Dharen instantly felt his world torn asunder by pain. Each and every bit of the agony he had inflicted upon the beast turned back on him in turn.

The Seed continued to burn with its eerie light. A Seed of Pain. Now knowing that the monster could turn his attacks back on him in such a manner, Dharen knew that he must finish it off quickly. With the tiny reserve of stamina that he still held within himself, he rallied.

He burst forward in a surprising rush of speed, appearing next to the monster in a flash. Restraint, aglow with power, met the creature’s unexpecting head with obliterating force. Dharen prepared himself for a wave of pain like never before, clenching his eyes shut in dread anticipation.

He could only breathe a heavy sigh of relief when it never came.

After collecting the soulseeds of the two Awakened Ferran contained within the wave, he absorbed them tiredly. He barely noticed the warring energies, with his body numbed deeply by constant exhaustion and pain.

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Level

Up

x2!

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

Congratulations! You have reached Fear Level 5 (Rank: Common).

Agility +6, Endurance +4, Luck -2 (NULL).

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

Boon Granted:

You have received a Natural Boon of Fear!

Spirit +10, Agility +15, Endurance +10, Luck -5 (NULL)

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

Name:

Dharen

Awakening:

Fear

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

Fear can be many things. To those who have not yet tasted its poison, it can kill. To those who have survived its touch, it can save. Cloak yourself with your fear, that you may never be found. Arm yourself with terrors, that you may strike where others are weakest. Lose yourself not, child, for the fears of this world are merely the prologue to the next.

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

Level:

5 (Common)

Boons:

Shadow Raiment (Common) Rank 0

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

- Softstep -

Shadows and darkness have always been a source of fear. Coalesce the shadows around you to bind your feet tightly and grant increased stealth.

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

Shadow Raiment (Common) Rank I

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

- Miasmic Wreath -

Creeping shadows flicker in the depths of the Miasma. Coiling shapes twist and writhe, manifestations of nightmare made reality. Wreathe your figure with Miasmic Fog, wrapping yourself within its cold embrace. Increases defense greatly against mental attacks.

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⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

Name:

Dharen

Race:

Faceless Human

Affiliation:

The Faceless One

Spirit:

41

Strength:

38

Agility:

38

Vitality:

27

Endurance:

27 (28.35)

Wisdom:

1

Charisma:

1

Luck:

1

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

Tower Tokens:

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

7,500

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

Dharen felt the constant edge of exhaustion fall away as his stamina and agility nearly tripled. He felt undefeatable, his every movement becoming more graceful and poised. With renewed vigor, he prepared once more for the following wave. Though he would not have the edge of a Challenge victory increasing his Strength, he felt confident of his victory.

He could not have been more naive.