Breakfast time!

Gathering up the eggs that I had used during the fight, I bathed them each one at a time in my flames and checked out the notifications box that presented themselves to me, both looked identical.

Draconic Egg

Durability 50/50 Armor 300 Health 10/10

Single Use Consumable: User may gain a 1 stat increase on random attribute.

Well, at least the question marks are gone, but it did not seem to have accomplished anything else. I absorbed the eggs one at a time and gained another two points in wisdom. Just like the previous egg I had consumed.

"Huh, so much for that. Random my ass." I thought.

I walked over to another nest that held another dozen eggs and started absorbing then all one after another as well. Each egg giving me the same notification for wisdom until I reached the ninth egg.

Absorption Failed...

The egg disintegrated into nothing in my hands, but not wanting to give up on what I could only view as free attribute points I try again and succeed on the next one. Using my absorption ability on the last two I could not stop my immediate frown as each use failed one after the other.

Figuring that this was why the item text for the egg had said "may". I wonder to myself if this might be a case of diminishing returns. Still, I have nothing to carry any of the eggs with so I figure that I might as well try and absorb all the remaining eggs anyway for the possible stat gains. Waste not, want not after all. I checked the notifications I had been ignoring thus far about took a moment to direct my new found gains from the Elite Draconic Ratkin.

You have slain an Elite ranked monster Reward(s):

Experience Gained: 20 Unallocated Points (20 total)

Unique Elite Kill Bonus 4 Levels

Gained 20 Unallocated Points (40 total)

I quickly directed my new attribute points from the elite kill evenly between strength, constitution, endurance and dexterity and immediately felt a surge of energy and power overwhelming all my senses throughout my body. Starting from my core and flowing out to my arms and legs. I watch with glee as my arms which already looked like cords of muscle became even more defined. The sight left me with a feeling of quiet confidence as I continued to feel my body reshaping itself to reflect the increases.

Concentrating, I summon my stat sheet.

Name

Jax Hills

Level

16

Health

400/440

Strength

37

Constitution

44

Endurance

26

Dexterity

42

Intelligence

22

Wisdom

37

Charisma

12

Perception

15

Luck

20

Skills

Draconic: Flame of the Hidden (Identify),

Essence Absorbtion: Sucker.

Titles

Suck and Blow Champion,

Lucky Breaks Unlucky Breaks,

Delver Prime.

Taking a moment to review my attributes, skills and titles.

Still I know I will probably need to increase my intelligence stat next. There is no telling how neglecting such an important attribute could screw me over. Actually, it is like I can literally sense the impending screwing over headed towards me now.

Figuring I had better hurry and finish collecting any possible stat gains from the eggs I approach the next nest. It takes but a moment to reach it, yet as I start to reach for an egg I receive a notification I had not ever seen before. One that I am certain could mean nothing good.

Primary Phase Complete:

Objectives 2/4

Commencing Secondary Phase

System Error: Requirements Not Met

Event Logged Sub-protocol 001 Default Routine Activated.

Without any further warning, I feel a massive tremor shake the cavern and the ground shift under my feet. Moments later, another impact sent several deadly missiles plummeting from the ceiling in exactly the direction I least wanted them to go, towards me. Barely managing to side step a falling stalactite, I immediately decide to give up on the remaining eggs after seeing the impact crater that the falling object made; the thought of remaining here to die in a cave in was not appealing. Being crushed or suffocating both seemed like bad ways to go and I knew that if I stuck around here any longer that it might be the end of me.

Inwardly bracing myself I take off sprinting for the area I recalled the exit being. Continually dodging shards of rock and debris entirely due to luck I would assume considering that I could not see worth beans and the air was basically comprised of dirt at this point.

I swear with my last breath as I trip on something small and unmovable, crashing to the dirt, the ground actually disintegrates under me. This in turn causes the darkness to wrap around around me.

With that I was gone.