The locale was quiet except for the sound my wheezing breaths. I check my status and notice that my health is perilously low. It’s sitting still at a paltry 54 out of my 340 health cap. I ache all over and I am still lightly bleeding from several spots. I also notice I have gained a status effect.

Status Effects:

Moderate Bleed

Well that is absolutely no good.

I crouch down and inspect my most recently fallen foe. Its body has a similar consistency to that of its smaller versions whose bodies littered the area.

Rolling the body of the dead elite over I see what I am sure is no small miracle. A tiny Essence Leech has been pressed nearly flat against the skin of the elite and is still alive and wriggling. I hastily grab the leech while being careful to not let it get away or get ahold of me at the same time.

The thought had crossed my mind earlier about the exceedingly irritating title given talent. Now would be the perfect the perfect time to try it out. Looking at the disgusting critter that I would have to concede that I had second thoughts. Scratch that. I had third and fourth thoughts about trying the nasty looking wriggler. I was bleeding out though. Maybe not very quick, but at the end of the day dead is dead.

I brought the Essence Leech to my lips and try to ignore the texture as I take a bite into the middle of it, away from its razor sharp teeth. ACK! That was terrible! This puts an end to the myth that everything tastes like chicken. Hell I would not even feed that to a chicken. Glancing at a notification box indicating the status of the leech which was now deceased, I also checked out my own status again. Small victories! I had lost the bleed effect, and my health had risen back to 84/340 meaning I had gotten 30 health from biting the thrice damned Essence Leech to death.

Taking a moment, I check another of the notification boxes I had been ignoring.

You have slain an Elite ranked monster

Reward(s):

Experience Gained

20 Unallocated Points

1X Upgrade Skill book

4 Levels Gained

Unallocated Points (40)

Seeing the rewards I get my inner greed demon appears and I rush back to continuing my search of the elites body. I easily spot the loot this time. Picking up the presumed skill book and looking at it another box springs up.

Activate Upgrade Skill Book?

(Yes/No)

Finally feeling excited to gain a real tool that could help me I focus on the yes to activate the skill book. The book disintegrates in my hands and I feel a warmth suffusing my entire body.

At last! I am sure this is going to be the windfall I have been waiting for. I focus my mind and summon my status sheet and hurry to divest my 40 unallocated points with the majority 20 going into dexterity I then split the rest between wisdom and intelligence.

Name

Jax Hills

Level

16

Health

84/340

Strength

27

Constitution

34

Endurance

26

Dexterity

32

Intelligence

22

Wisdom

25

Charisma

12

Perception

15

Luck

20

Luckily this time there is no lasting painful trauma drama from my gains. I had actually been worried, but apparently I was worrying over nothing. Getting ready to check out my new skill I concentrate on having my skill list pop up. Strangely after a few moments nothing happened. I had gotten the skill book and activated it so I had no idea what the problem could be.

Feeling suddenly apprehensive I look at the last blue notification box that popped up after I had used the book. I had not paid it any mind before because I had wanted it to be a surprise when I looked at my skill list. Nervously I willed the notification open. I was dreading what I might find and as I began to read.

Error

No Skill Found

Searching for replacement...Substitute Acquired

Skill: Sucker

Synchronization Complete: Status Success

Upgrade Confirmed

Skill: Sucker Acquired

Unique Title Upgrade: Great Sucker: Bonus Status: Active

Bonus: Skill Upgrade: You drain target or targets of their health and all forms of energy.

Energy types not cultivated by user will be gained after sufficent exposure.

Talent Type: Rare

Energy Manipulation Type: Psychic (Unlocked)

Talent Rank: Great

Requirement: Touch

You are the go to on tips for how to be a great sucker.

I reaffirmed my resolution to find out who was screwing with me for shits and giggles. I will get the last laugh.