The Cyclops' massive body was covered in thin shadow tendrils undulating with an absent wind, and they became more active as we closed in on him.

I was right. There was no definite number of tendrils he could summon, but one thing was clear, and it became clearer the closer we got; Aisha noticed it with me at the same time I did.

"Those tendrils are weak! They are just for show!"

Yes, they were numerous, but none of them as strong and thick as the one that had almost destroyed my clock-arm.

I didn't know if the Cyclops' shadowy appendages were strong enough to grab me and hold me in place while they were split in such large numbers. Still, there seemed to be no easy way to get up close and personal with him.

I might have tried to whittle him down If only I had any more arrows, but I did not have them.

I realized that if I had chosen Shadow Shot, I would have been able to summon Shade-made ammunitions.

However...

Yes! There was still something I could do, its success was bound to luck, but it was the only thing I had left.

Yet, before that, I had to check my whispers. But I had to do it with speed.

Loki has leveled up to 10.

Constitution + 2, Strength + 1, Willpower + 1.

Loki (Juvenile Golden Netherlion) (Titan) has earned 187412 Soul fractions. Soul fractions for next level 10000/10000.

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.

.

Loki has leveled up to 15.

Agility + 1, Strength + 2, Perception + 2.

Loki (Juvenile Golden Netherlion) (Titan) has earned 122412 Soul fractions. Soul fractions for next level 15000/15000.

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.

.

Loki has leveled up to 20.

Agility + 6, Strength + 2, Focus + 2.

Loki (Juvenile Golden Netherlion) (Titan) has earned 1565 Soul fractions. Soul fractions for next level 20000/20000.

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.

.

Loki has leveled up to 22.

Constitution + 3, Strength + 2, Perception + 1, Willpower + 1.

Loki (Juvenile Golden Netherlion) (Titan) has earned 11412 Soul fractions. Soul fractions for next level 11412/22000.

Those were a lot of level-ups, but it had to be expected. I also noticed how the Attribute points my lion gained increased by one point every five levels.

You've earned 181.425 + 156.589 Soul fractions. Soul fractions for next TechnoHunter level: 330.000/330.000

Class TechnoHunter has leveled up to 34. You have gained 1 Attribute point. Where will you invest it?

Now wasn't the time.

You've earned 158.588 + 156.589 Soul fractions. Soul fractions for next TechnoHunter level: 315.177/340.000

I was that close to level up to thirty-five and unlock another Class Perk; maybe it would have made the difference in the fight.

You've earned 187.412 Soul fractions. Soul fractions for next Tamer level: 29000/29000.

Tamer has leveled up to 30.

Willpower +1.

You have gained a Skill Perk: Animal Instincts, Major Perk.

Well, it did not specify what the Perk did, but at least it was already something. Now I could know which Perk I had unlocked. But would I have time for what came later?

You have reached Sub-Class level 30. Choose your Advanced Sub-Class.

Blue Tamer:

Class Perk: Your bond with your pet lets you borrow one of their abilities for your own use (one-day cooldown). The ability can be changed at will, but it lasts for an entire day, and it does not take a Skill slot.

Your understanding of the nature of your pet will expand, and you will gain a Skill that will enhance your bond with it.

Bonuses: Con + 3, Foc + 3 , Will + 3, For + ☆

I took a tight turn around the creature, shouting to my companions, "Take time, retreat if you have to! I'm going to try a couple of things!"

I was taking my time to analyze the Advanced Sub-Classes at my disposal, but they didn't necessarily need to know that.

It was folly, but as long as I got the Cyclops' attention, it was good.

I kept my distance, trying to get a feel for his maximum attack range.

Blue Tamer boosted Constitution without abandoning Focus and Willpower, which was a good thing because I would be able to increase them without spending points from TechnoHunter.

However, what I always asked myself when I thought about the Blue Tamer Class was, "What need was there to use an ability that your pet would already be able to use? Why not just let them use it whenever you need it?"

That was the reason why I was holding back from taking it right away. There were still two choices waiting for me, and I was thankful that I had not been called back into that world of darkness with that light that barely made sense when speaking.

Green Tamer:

Class Perk: Your bond with your pet lets your pet borrow one of your abilities for their own use (one-day cooldown). The ability can be changed at will, and it does not take a Skill slot.

Your pet's understanding of your nature will expand, and you will gain a Skill that will enhance your bond with it.

Bonuses: Agi + 3, Foc + 3 , Will + 3, For + ☆

That was something I wasn't expecting.

There were many implications with the nature of this Sub-Class, but enough to say that it was so rare that I had barely ever heard of it.

It made the pet directly stronger. However, it required a determined setup.

A mage with such a Sub-Class would have a pet capable of replicating his Skills, adding even more power to already devastating firepower plus the inherent ability to distract the opponent. But what could I offer Loki that would make this ability worth it? Could he throw objects fast enough to be considered shot and leap around with them? I doubted it; he had paws. Trace? What would he do with Trace?

No, as much as this Sub-Class could be immensely powerful, it was not for me.

If I had Aisha's Class, I might have gained a pet that could spit damn fire from his mouth, but I was not Aisha.

So I discarded it right away, I hoped the last option was the right one for me.

Red Tamer:

Class Perk: Your bond with your pet lets you borrow an Attribute from your pet (one-day cooldown). The Attribute can be changed at will, and it is counted as Bonus Attribute.

Your pet's understanding of your nature will expand, and you will gain a Skill that will enhance your bond with it.

Bonuses: Str + 3, Foc + 3 , Will + 3, For + ☆

I knew my decision was set the moment I saw the Class Perk.

Congratulations, you are now a Red Tamer.

You have gained a Skill Perk: Frenzy - Major Perk

I had no idea what Frenzy was, but it didn't seem to be doing anything right now. However, that didn't matter; what mattered was that if now I could borrow an Attribute from Loki, then I could formulate a plan accordingly.

I Traced Loki's Attributes then.

Loki (Juvenile Golden Netherlion), (Titan), Level 22 (11412/22000)

Health: 100%

Stamina: 85%

Strength: Phantasmic State, Senses

Weaknesses: None

Abilities: Ghastly Senses, Phase

Agility: 18

Constitution: 24

Strength: 20

Focus: 17

Perception: 22

Willpower: 17

He was coming up good; however, even if I were to borrow his Constitution, it would still not have enough of it to defend from the Cyclops' vicious grip. Also, Constitution without Strength did not allow me to shake free from the monster’s tendrils.

Strength, if I borrowed it, I would reach around the forty points of Strength, which, doubled with Trick Shot, would get me to eighty.

Now, eighty was a big number, even if it mostly belonged to the Bonuses. Still, even with that alone, the Cyclops' response to my attack had been fast enough to block my previous direct stab before I could bring it to fruition, so Strength without Agility was meaningless.

The same could be said if I borrowed his Agility. Although around forty points of Agility were almost thrice what the Cyclops could ever hope to have, yet if I did not kill him in one strike, he would shred me to pieces.

Only one option really remained.

I would have to borrow Loki's Perception.

I had noticed that my ability to gauge my target's next possible movement became more precise as my Perception increased. However, to make that really matter, I would have to find an arrow, an intact arrow.

The only intact arrows that might have remained were the first three I shot. If they were still good, I could find them encased on the ceiling.

"Alright! I've got it! But you all must cooperate with me! You've got to distract him by actually going there and fighting him up close!"

"Just say, Alistar, go there and get bullied! Wasn't that easier?" He shouted back.

"Yeah, that's practically it! Aisha, shoot your fire once to distract him, but the second time you shoot you must wait for Roana's signal! Is that clear?"

"Yes," she was suddenly more confident.

"I'll try to tame him while I direct the battle. Do your thing, and try not to get us killed, okay?" Roana suggested.

"Will try!"

At that point, seemingly bored, the Cyclops shouted some sort of taunt at us.

It seemed that if we weren't going to come toward him, he would really come to get us. Keeping our momentum was the ideal thing to do.

"Let's go!" I ordered.

Alistar departed with a battle cry, followed by the others, while I, swinging around with all my might, threw my knife toward the ceiling, trying to reach as far high as I could.

The cave was massive, really massive, so it took me two throws to reach it.

I was in mid-air now, and my gaze was scouting the entirely not bright enough ceiling for an arrow.

Before I found it, I had started falling back down. But then I saw it.

Amid two broken arrows, a still intact projectile was encased in the rock.

I threw my knife in its direction, then transferred.

The moment I arrived, I stabbed my knife inside the ceiling's bulwark, and I was left dangling from on top of it.

Putting my bow momentarily around my head, I carefully removed the arrow from the rocky mantle that made the cavern's ceiling and inspected it.

The arrowhead had been flattened, but at least the shaft was intact. I would be able to fix the arrowhead enough to make it usable, but first, I needed to find the best location for shooting.

Extracting my knife with a push from the ball of my feet, I followed by throwing it somewhere that would put me at the Cyclops' back.

I found myself on a slightly tall high-ground, a few meters above the Cyclops.

I stood on a huge rock, and my eyes couldn't help but follow the exchange going on between my companions and our enemy.

Alistar could barely reject the tendrils because of their sheer numbers and lower density, with the help of his new Perk. However, he would tire much faster than the Cyclops.

I could hear Roana shout words of restraint that hindered the adversary. However, they were barely having an effect; I guessed they were only slightly delaying his moves.

As my clock-hand's fingers started pinching the arrow's head together with my knife's edge to shape it back into something that had the resemblance of an arrow, I could see an intense flash of light.

The tendrils made of shadows utterly vaporized for a few seconds, but the creature had seen it; he could predict the enemies moves, like my Tracking Perk.

We really had only one chance at this.

I gave the Cyclop time to feel more at ease with the flow of the battle before I took my aim; then my gaze focused on her, on Roana, and somehow she knew.

After a barely perceptible nod, she turned back to the fight. Then I pulled on the bond that tied me to Loki and wished to borrow his Perception. It was hard, it felt forced. Maybe I was too distant from him at this point, but slowly I could feel him grow confused as my Perception slowly expanded.

As it seemed he wasn't left without it, I had just borrowed some form of advantage from him.

Still, everything became much clearer; Synesthesia exploded in forms, colors, and smells of the world around me; but most importantly, the predictions I could see of the many tendrils moving around the Cyclops' body halved; no, they lessened even more. And I could finally see a few red spots, the best one of them all right near his jugular.

I had to aim there, to his neck.

When Roana shouted, and the flare lit the cave as if the Sun had risen at its center, I released my arrow.

I could feel everything perfectly at that moment.

I had become the arrow.

I felt on my skin the air resistance being shredded by the arrow's body, the slight waving of the shaft, and even the only thing that I really wished to feel: the Cyclops' flesh being ripped apart.

Yet I did not feel it because there was no impact.

When the arrow reached up to the monster's neck, he had moved away and was turning toward me with a satisfied grin.

For a short moment, I felt the entire world crumble on top of me.

I had disappointed my companions, likely made them join a battle they couldn’t win… condemned them to-

No.

No, I would not let it end like that.

If somebody had to pay for my mistakes, that would be me.

I transferred through the Trick Shot's tail, I started my swing even before my body had passed entirely through the arrow's shadow, my knife already aiming in an ascending arc for the Cyclops' chin.

But that attack as well, never connected.

The last thing I knew, the last thing I felt before darkness took me, was a ripple in the Shade around the Cyclops.

The ripple, its speed slowed by my Perception, rising from his feet, turned into a wave of solid shadow that reached up to his eye level then exploded forth like a burst of wind.

It washed over me, and I felt my bones break, probably all of them.

But when I felt the wind whip on my back, and I shot to the distant walls of the cave with what was likely the last thing I would ever see, my eyes closed on an image of a bloodied blade in my hands.

I had hit him.

I might have saved them after all.

That was why even if I knew I was dying, I managed to smile once more.

When I opened my eyes, I knew that I wasn't really opening them.

The world around me was pure darkness, except for one single point in the distance, a little star, the Sun of this imaginary universe.

"Hey, Loke. Welcome back," said the light.

"You did not handle that as well as you could have, right?"

I felt… fine in here, although outside of this place, my body was likely broken.

Yet, I tried focusing on the matters at hand. The last time I felt like this was when the voice wanted me to choose my Class, to stay alive.

"Did I die?"

"You might. I don't really know. I'm not that omniscient."

"So, am I still alive?"

"Yes, but not in the best conditions; however, that really depends on your luck. Or I should say on your companions."

"How are they!?" I shouted, just remembering about them.

"That attack took a lot out of the Cyclops; he's slowly becoming weaker and weaker; you did cut his jugular, after all, didn't you?"

"So, I did it…" I realized, looking at my empty hand, the knife that was supposed to be there was nowhere to be seen, but so was my bow and quiver.

"If they win, you might get to live, Loke. Skill Perks usually unlock based on need. Right now, you are definitely about to die but also about to level up."

There were a few moments of a long silence in which I didn’t speak but nor did the little Sun, until...

"Oh, there it is! Good luck, Loke. And treat that girl well; she might be able to help you on your quest. Don't you think so?"

"What? No, wait! Don't go! What does that mean!?"

"... I can't cauterize that; it would just kill him," said Aisha's barely audible voice.

"You must do something!" Roana shouted.

"Let me take him; we'll bring him to the nomad's; they might have a healer!" Said Alistar.

"What are you doing! You'll just kill him if you move him…"

I had no idea what was going on, but I could feel the whispers, although it was clear that I could not feel my body.

You've earned 112.530 Soul fractions. Soul fractions for next TechnoHunter level: 340.000/340.000

Class TechnoHunter has leveled up to 35. You have gained 1 Attribute point.

You have 2 Attribute points to place. Where will you invest them?

I guess… I should go back to raising Perception. Too many melee fights are hurting my judgment abilities, I thought to myself.

You have gained a Skill Perk: Technomantic Body, Minor Perk.

Soul fractions for next TechnoHunter level: 87707/350.000

But Attributes and level-ups didn't really matter now; I knew there was something I could do to help myself out of this situation.

The voice said that I could live, even if I was dying from my wounds, but how could I do that?

I let my ego delve into any opening, any flux of Shade around me, inside and outside of my body; if I could feel the presence of Shade to that degree, I could guess what my new ability would be able to do.

Rarely did Minor Perks not use Flow or Shade, especially if not Promoted.

It wasn't long when I felt a connection, something that there surely wasn't before.

Traces of Shade connected me and my implants. I had a Skill that boosted my Constitution based on the number of tech-parts I had installed in my body, but that didn't require Shade or Flow or anything, really to work.

Usually, it was Flow that boosted clock-tech, but what I was feeling was something else; Shade. Which could mean only one thing; it meant that my new Perk tied Shade and my clock-tech parts together.

So I pulled on that thread of Shade, and my Willpower helped me through the burst of pain I felt.

That wasn't right? What was going on?

I needed to verify, so I tried to pull again, but this time, only one bit at a time. I decided to pull the thread of Shade that was tied to my clock arm.

It was clear right away that if I pulled near the implant zone, it would hurt, but if I pulled down near the fingers, it did not hurt at all.

So I started tugging at them, and what I felt was baffling.

I felt… relief.

I felt better; however, as weird as it sounded, I could not feel the fingers of my clock-arm anymore, like they had melted away, disappeared in thin air.

"What's going on? Look!" Said someone, but I did not let myself be discouraged. I continued on my endeavor.

I wanted to feel it again, feel better again, so I kept pulling on the thread of Shade connected to the extremity of my clock-arm.

The thing went on for a few long seconds until, when I could almost feel the shoulder joint of my clock-arm, I stopped feeling better. I felt… normal, and my eyes shot open.

My companions were looking at me, baffled; even Aisha was, although she looked like crap.

"Loke? Are you okay?" Roana asked.

What in the Abyss was that!?" Said Alistar.

"What was what?" I asked back.

"Your wounds, hummie… you were ravished by the cavern's ceiling, and I think your bones were, like, all broken, then your clock-arm started… vaporizing, and your flesh started knitting together. It was disgusting."

"I see you are really pleased I'm alive, thank you… wait, your arm, Star, what happened?"

Alistar shrugged, "Yeah, the fucker disarmed me, literally ripped it apart. But it'll grow back, given time."

Kobold lost a relatively low amount of blood when they lost appendages. However, Alistar seemed to have barely bled, surely courtesy of his Constitution.

Alistar released a long-held-back sigh before letting himself sit on the ground.

"Thank the Sun, you are okay, Loke. What would I have said to your sister? Sorry, I let your brother die? I can't allow for something like that to happen again, Nope," he said, taking another deep breath.

"Now, please, don't disturb me; I'm choosing my Advanced Class," he added, sitting straighter and closing his eyes.

Talking to Alistar, I couldn't help but ignore Roana's red eyes; it was just a few moments later that, without even saying anything, she launched at me, taking me into a hug.

"I thought I had lost you," she whispered into my ear.

I couldn't help but comfort her, patting her back; "I'm not going anywhere," I whispered back, yet she did not let go. We spent a few long seconds like that until we heard a thud.

Aisha had fainted, yet by the way she started snoring, we understood that she was just dead-tired. And when Roana started laughing uncontrollably, I understood that she was too.

Even though my Stamina recovered better in a Shade-filled environment, I couldn't hide that I was tired too. The regeneration had taken a massive toll on my reserves. I just wanted to rest.

It had been one Abyss-long day, but Loki had other ideas; he could just not stop fawning over me.