A crowd had gathered within a few minutes when Clarissa dashed into the Adventurer's Guild shouting, “Karas is going to race another horse! Come watch!” To which many of those who had ventured with the pale giant knew of his prowess when it came to speed.

“Another one?” rumbled a jovial Dwarf with black hair and a red beard, who was ironically called Redbeard the Black, “Bah. Which one of the young 'uns do we haf ta dig uh grave fer this time?” To which Karastak smirked at the short fellow who was many times his senior, and even wore the iconic platemail whilst carrying a large axe wherever he went. Not only this, but he was the town's broker, and had books on everything to do with gambling, both illegal and benign.

When he pushed his way through the crowd, the short man squinted up at the giant in his faded blue robe, then towards a frowning Korin. “That one?” he asked slowly, pointing a thick finger off towards the black stallion and his rider. Upon receiving a nod, he turned towards the crowd in order to bellow out, “Alright! Yeh know the rules! Left hand for the kid, right for our Giant and his magicks!”

“What?!” growled the Human, who pushed his steed forward in order to glower down upon the other, “Who says he's going to use magick to cheat?”

“Boy,” frowned Redbeard, who then gripped the Human's ankle before giving it a brief tug. Whereupon the man was quickly pulled from his stirrup, and fell to the hard packed earth, much to the delight of onlookers. “If ye think usin' magicks is cheatin', then ye'd better get off yer high horse and start runnin'. Unless ye'd be too chicken to try an' outpace uh half-Giant who knows his way through uh town like ours?”

To which the other responded with only a few muttered grumbles as he stood tall whilst brushing his trousers free of the dust. However, these few unknown words caused the Dwarf's ears to burn with fury. Thus causing the Human to leap back as a battle axe slammed into the earth a few centimetres from his right foot. “Boy, ye watch yer tongue, or I'll serve it back to ye in my special, white sauce.”

Korin quickly glanced around, searching for someone to help, but found only the women in his party gaping off towards the crowd who was looking elsewhere than at the scene in front of them. For it appeared to their eyes that they desired not to be a part of the scene, and this baffled them.

Whereas Karastak gripped Tanin's right arm with a strength the Elf did not believe was there. For he had grown too strong over the last few hundred years, but as a caster. Therefore, his STR was capped at 120 points, as was his DEX, whilst his CON was capped at 200. The rest of his stats were still growing, though at a slow rate of one point each per year. As this giant squeezed his arm, he felt, for the first time in a long time, unease. Unease that such a low Level 18 could produce such strength, and for the unknown factors of his hidden stats.

“Release me, Karas,” he frowned, trying to shake the other off, but only felt 10% of freedom gained from the shake before it was removed.

“I will not,” Karastak's voice was hollow, smoldering, “and you will not disturb our Master-at-Arms's lesson in respecting the heritage of Dwarves. Even if you were to shake my grip off, and begin to peal Korin away from his lessons, everyone here will not help you when he turns on you. Matter of fact, we will rush to our Master's aid in dispatching you and the four, regardless of the consequences.”

It was here that the elderly Elf turned and saw the growing crowd's eyes, and the iron weapons each were drawing. Not only this, but the vast majority were Copper Rankers and Silver Rank A's who had taken up arms in anticipation to defending the town's favoured Dwarf broker. Although he had confidence he could easily beat back them all, he was less so from the unknown variable which still gripped his arm.

Thus leaving him to frown as his eyes ventured back towards Korin, and the verbal and psychological abuse the Dwarf was giving him.

*

“Hmph,” grunted Redbeard after thoroughly thrashing the Human with his words and practiced near misses. Though, several times he had to change the trajectory of his axe due to the stupidity of the one before him, “Boy, get yerself up.”

Korin, on the other hand, had curled up after being slammed betwixt his legs by the hard head of the Dwarf. This was from him trying to strike back, only to leave his stance too wide when he came for the short man with a scimitar drawn. Thus leading to him falling down with a squeak when the other leaned back and head butted the one place a man should always protect if they ever want to piss straight or produce offspring.

Which led to Priscilla and the twin Wolfwomen to rush over and help their compatriot. After helping him up, the Halfling blushed as she touched his swollen crotch as she chanted a healing spell. Once completed, she whirled in anger towards the Dwarf, ready to begin her verbal tirade, only to find his back turned to her as he trudged towards Karas with a sigh.

“Dunno if ye'll be having yer race, boy,” Redbeard called out to the Goliath, a finger in his nose, “Doubt he'd be able ta win, though. Ye know our town's ins and outs.” He extracted the finger and flicked a pale yellow nugget towards the group with a shrug.

“It matters little, Master Red,” rumbled the giant as he released Tanin so that the Elf could scurry over to the group of four, “He will soon see that I am much faster than himself and his horse, regardless. Though, I doubt very much he'd want to race currently, and will whine about how I cheated before the race even began so that our wager was nulled.”

“What was the wager between ye?” he asked whilst handing the axe over to the robed Goliath, “Ye mind? Me joints ache after teachin' the pup some manners.”

To which he just shrugged to the former before answering with, “I don't mind,” and pointed a finger towards the Dwarf, “.” After which a spiral of golden light appeared around the shorter man's feet, then spiraled around his body before disappearing upon the top of his head.

Whereas, in Karastak's hand, he produced an Enchanter's Stylus, and began to ply his magicks into the shaft of the axe. With each letter written, he heard Azazel question, “[Ten mana per letter? Really?]”

“Mmm,” he hummed monotonously, and continued to work. However, when he felt a tad light headed, he enacted the ability through his feet so as to not cause a stir, and took the energy of the earth. This allowed him to continue with his writing, and once finish, sighed slowly as he absorbed more of the ground's energy until he was topped off.

Though a few, including the Elf, felt something off, there was little evidence Karastak was involved in it. For the ability which all Mages had since Level 15, called did not affect himself, only show that there was less mana in the surrounding areas.

In any case, the giant passed over the axe back to Redbeard, who stared with widened eyes at the letters emblazoned upon the shaft. Of which read as REGENERATION, and glanced up at the Goliath with an unknown look. “Boy, do ye know what ye've created?”

“A Battle Axe of Regeneration,” shrugged Karastak, who reached down and lifted his duffel bag over his shoulder once more whilst summoning up his staff once more, “The charges should be 120, ten for each letter used, so use them wisely Master Red.” After which he excused himself, walking over to his new group, who glared at him reproachfully, before the whole of them turned and set forth towards the North Gate, and into the mountainous region known as the Crown of Heaven.

Whereas Redbeard stared at his axe, feeling the energies stored within, and gently stroked his favoured weapon. “No,” he whispered softly, gazing at the retreating back of the robed Goliath, “ye don't know what ye've created, but others need ta hear of it,” and left to find a messenger bird. For good, or for ill.

*****

Three days and nights had passed without much complaint, save for Karastak's prediction of Korin's whining about the Dwarf's abuse, and how he'd teach him a lesson if he ever saw the midget. To which the giant smirked at such a statement, knowing it would be the opposite if their paths ever crossed again. For all pretense and purposes, Redbeard was a Gold Ranker, and had more than enough strength to show the Human a “good time”.

In any case, it wasn't until the following day that they ran into a predicament. For a pair of Trolls were spotted along the path by Elena, who was frantically whispering, “They're at least Gold Rank. What should we do, Tanin?”

“What else?” grinned Korin, “We fight and kill them all.”

“And how would you do that, Human?” sighed Karastak, “Trolls are notorious for their ability to regenerate 10% of their health after every hit they receive. Not to mention these are most likely Mountain Trolls, and these can eat rocks and stones to regenerate an extra 10% of health for every kilo devoured.”

The group, save for the Elf, stared at him agape, and he shrugged with, “When you've lived in the mountains for a time, you tend to pick up on what to kill and what to avoid pretty early on.”

“We-well, then we'll have you use your fire magicks to-,” began Priscilla, who was interrupted by an upraised, large pale hand.

“Tanin forced me to be a part of this group, but I will still choose my battles. This one will not benefit me in the least.” In so saying, he leaned back against a boulder with his arms crossed and bag and staff lying next to his feet.

“But-”

This time, the Elf was the one to interrupt her with a raised hand, “If he does not wish to be a part of this Party, then he will not get a share of the Experience, nor Loot,” he then pointed at the Goliath, “You will have to find your own way to feed yourself and fend off any night predators from now on.”

He spoke thusly, hoping for the other to bow and scrape and wish to return, but it was for naught. For Karastak smiled a malevolent smile with eyes briefly glowing a bright crimson and violet before vanishing. “Good. I'm glad we agree,” and turned and left the group with bag and staff in tow towards the pair of Trolls who were meandering upon the path through the mountains.

“Azazel, change my title to , please.”

“[Right!]” she called out, appearing atop his head as he reached up there in order to detach Little Mother from his scalp, “[Done!]” After which she hopped down off his body just as the little bat took off into the air with a joyful squeak as she waved at his retreating back, desiring to watch from afar, “[Have fun!]” Thus leading the Karastak to growl a low and feral growl as he dropped the bag in order to speed off towards the fight.

Within moments, the Mountain Trolls, each with a shape of a hideous combination between an old hag and a decrepit Elf, but stretched to the height of a Goliath, turned towards this new foe with elongated claws. Of which one then charged the approaching threat, whilst the other stayed back.

When it was within a few dozen metres, he slid to a halt, pointed his staff, and shouted, “!” After which a forty-five degree cone full of twenty bolts of dark crimson lightning lashed out from the tip of his staff. Each struck a part of the Mountain Troll's body, which screeched in pain as it fell over, possibly dead or from shock.

The other Troll, upon hearing its fellow fall, turned sharply towards a grinning Goliath in a faded blue robe, and howled in response. Of which led it to charging towards his position, but leapt into the air with the intent of grappling him to the ground before tearing his body to pieces.

However, this proved to be a fatal mistake, as Karastak pointed the staff high, shouting once more, “!” Twenty head sized orbs of red-orange flame launched themselves from the tip of his staff in another forty-five degree angle. However, of the twenty launched, only a dozen struck the Troll's body. The rest exploded behind it either immediately after the fact, or after traveling a good distance further.

Regardless, this one, too, fell to the ground either dead or in shock. The other which was on the ground, was groaning a little, before the body of its fellow, and a knee, crashed into the creature's head, smashing it into pulp.

“Now then,” grinned Karastak, as he slowly moved towards the bodies, and allowing his ability to flow into his eyes, causing them to glow a bright crimson. He then used them to find the creatures' heart, but frowned when he spotted two. “Why do they have two, Azazel?” he asked quietly, hearing the approach of both hooves and feet on loose gravel.

To which she responded with a grin, and hands behind her head as Little Mother squeaked whilst landing upon the back of the fallen Mountain Troll. She gave him her most adorable, pleading eyes, begging, “I can has food?”

Whereas the little ethereal girl laughed at the image before her, “[Trolls have two because one keeps their blood flowing, and the other allows them to regenerate their bodies faster. Think of it as a magickal heart, and one a Vampire can eat without worry. Though, I suggest you hurry and do that before they get here.]” After which she turned her head towards the rest of the Party, revealing Tanin to be wary, Priscilla stunned, the twins excited, and Korin was frowning with barely concealed anger at being outplayed.

“Very well, Little Mother, you can have one,” which caused the little bat to squeak happily, buzzing around his head before diving into the body of the Troll which sustained fire damage. The other Troll, on the other hand, was dragged out from under the burned one with some strained effort. Whereupon he extended the claws of his right hand, after laying the staff on the ground nearby, and tore open the chest.

Brackish, green blood splashed outwards and onto the ground, leaving himself immaculately clean. His other hand also extended its claws, and shoved them under the chest cavity in order to remove the precious organs within. Before pulling them out, however, the lungs had to be removed, all four of them. Of which caused him to raise an eyebrow in Azazel's direction, who shrugged as she ticked his title away from and towards .

She did not wish to have the world know of the newly born Energy Vampire just yet.

In any case, after pulling out the lungs, laying them upon the abdomen, he reached further up into it and ripped free the pair of hearts. These were then brought into the world of the living and light, causing the others to gasp and gape at it with some delight. However, their delight turned to horror as they watched him open his mouth, and bite down into one heart, then the other.

After swallowing the pieces of meat, the Goliath, at the behest of the girl in his head, leaned his head back whilst squeezing the rest of the blood within the organs into his mouth and down his throat. Once completed, he devoured the shriveled meat with a grin, and stood tall whilst snapping his fingers. A muffled, but joyous, squeak answered the snapping, and a green coated Little Mother shot out of the back of the flame grilled Troll's back before diving into the other body.

The action caused the Human and Halfling to be relieved of their breakfast, whilst the twins stared at the scene with horror etched into their features. Tanin, on the other hand, just frowned with a complicated look about him, but said nothing. Instead, just watched the scene play out before him, noting the blood of the Mountain Trolls just falling away from his body and robe, leaving him far too clean.