“See! Are ya happy now, ya bloody princeling!” Donoma yelled at Saelak as she tried to shift her position and get free from the circle of quicksand they found themselves slowly sinking into.

“How is this my fault?! There’s no way that just saying something about Aster’s luck will cause it to trigger!” Saelak retorted angrily as he began casting.

Saelak cast the spell: Drench.

You are no longer sinking.

The water Saelak had summoned to the area soaked them as well as the quicksand which turned to mud. They weren’t sinking anymore but they were still stuck.

Donoma rolled her eyes dramatically as she said sarcastically, “Brilliant, now we can die wet.”

Aster interrupted, “Now’s not the time you two. Somebody set this trap, we may have enemies upon us!”

Saelak huffed, “The system didn’t say we entered combat with anyone. If they are here then they’re remaining hidden.”

Aster responded simply, “For now.” His point taken, the other two began squirming again, trying to free themselves. Aster became more and more on edge the longer they were there without being attacked. While they were trapped and helpless would be the time to strike, he thought, but there was nothing. No movement to be seen nor sound on the wind to indicate any attackers were near them. There wasn’t much place to hide either despite it being rather hilly. The shrubbery was so sparse and windswept, the ground becoming more and more rock laden the closer they got to the mountains. Silence was the only thing that greeted his ears though.

Donoma finally got free, cleverly utilizing a small climbing pick and some rope from the pack on her back, and then helped pull the other two out with the rope. As Saelak used his Water Bending to wash their lower halves and Aster practiced his Air Bending to dry them, they spoke openly about what might have happened. They all came to the conclusion that their most perceptive member should lead and that they should remain more vigilant for traps as this might not be the only one. They couldn’t figure out if they were targets or just casualties though. Who just leaves traps in the middle of the road for anyone to fall into and not attack?

The most logical thing any of them could come up with was similar to their previous odd encounter: bandits who changed their mind when they realized the potential power level of their targets.

They continued down the road with Donoma leading the way now. They all took turns activating their Sense Danger technique now, which slowly drained their Qi pool, but they were able to bypass a few more traps waiting in the middle of the road. Aster took the time to disarm them despite his friends' protestation that they were wasting time. Aster couldn’t leave them, however, to potentially endanger someone else.

Congratulations!

Skill Rank Up: Trapping (Tyro 1, 0%)

Your Wisdom increased by 1.

You gained 360 experience.

Crimson Destiny gained 180 experience.

Skill Rank Up: Perception (Initiate 1, 0%)

Your Wisdom increased by 1.

New technique is unlocked.

You gained 480 experience.

Crimson Destiny gained 240 experience.

Aster was pleased to see both his trapping and perception skills rank up, he even unlocked the same Heightened Senses technique that Donoma already had. It was a little reassurance that all this time spent wasn’t just to prevent a potential accident for someone else and when he told the others they stopped their grumbling. It turned out that being a good person usually resulted in personal benefits whether that was the goal or not. Saelak gave a little chuckle though, “Always needing to gain more skill levels, Aster?”

He gave his friend a grin and replied cheekily, “Always. We are the sum of our efforts after all.”

After disarming the 20th trap they came across he got another message that he hadn’t been expecting and didn’t bother mentioning to the others since he wasn’t quite certain how it had happened.

Your Karma increased by 1.

It felt a bit odd when he got this kind of message. How did the system determine what karma was, he wasn’t even positive how karma affected things and most people seemed to have trouble explaining it to him. As far as he could tell, when he did “good” things his karma went up and “bad” things would make it go down. But how much good or bad he had to do seemed exceptionally hard to calculate and how the system determined what was “good” or “bad” just sent him spiralling down a philosophical debate with himself and the multitude of Earth philosophers he could remember reading about. He decided not to dwell on it but he found his mind ponder it all from time to time. Perhaps the Grand Library would have some interesting tomes on the topic?

It was almost midday when they finally hit a wall. Literally. There was a giant earthen wall blocking their path between two steeper hills. Aster turned to his companions and asked, “Does this count as a trap?”

Donoma snickered and Saelak shook his head a bit exasperated, “No alert, no trap. How do you propose we get passed? Up and over or back and around?”

Donoma gestured a thumb towards her back pack, “I got climbin’ gear for da up and over and it might be some good practice if we be findin’ ourselves needin’ ta climb in da future.”

Aster thought it over before nodding at her and as she rummaged in her pack they got the message they had been waiting for hours for.

Alert! Combat initiated with Cainen, level Unknown class Unknown!

Cainen cast the spell: Entomb.

The ground rose up around them suddenly and as Aster followed its movement upwards he saw the figure standing on top of the wall in their path: the Autumn elf from the road that spoke of the Bulette. Aster gritted his teeth as he flung his arm forward, shouting “Fireball!”

You cast the spell: Fireball.

Fireball missed the target.

Aster ground his teeth even more, swearing to practice aiming that more if they survived this. The earth sealed over them and they were plunged into darkness for a brief moment before Donoma raised a hand with a ball of light floating slightly above her palm.

“Well, I guess we found our trappers.” she said. “Any bright ideas, princeling?”

Saelak blinked at her for a second before saying, “I’m not going to respond to that.”

She laughed and Aster cut them off, “Not the time. Saelak, can you bust through the earth with some ice? I feel like my Blessings are ill suited against an Earth Mage, if that’s even what they are. Why can’t I see their level or class?”

Donoma answered, replacing her laughter with a more serious tone, “Some people can gain an ability or technique ta hide da information, I’m not sure exactly how ta unlock it but a lot of da more stealthy types seem ta get it at some point. Could also be a class feature, might be a couple different ways, honestly.

He nodded, putting that aside to ponder later, and looked back to Saelak who responded promptly, “I might be able to force my way through but we’re not sure what might be waiting on the other side now. Do we pursue this Cainen person?”

Aster thought for a moment, “This might be our best chance. I’m not sure what their goal is to just be slowing us down like this, they haven’t actually attacked us with anything that’s damaging.”

“Reinforcements, mayhaps?” Donoma asked.

Aster nodded, “Most likely. That would definitely mean attacking now before they outnumber us is the way to go.” He nodded meaningfully at his friend, “Bust it, Saelak.”

He nodded and gestured for them to get behind him as he lifted his hands into the air, palms facing the curved wall. Spears of ice began to form in the air around him and Aster recognized the spell as the same one that he had rescued him with earlier in their journey. He had not seen the end result before however and his eyes widened as the spears began pelting the wall quickly, pummeling their way through it.

Saelak cast the spell: Ice Lance Flurry.

Ice Lance Flurry deals 24 damage to Earth Wall.

Ice Lance Flurry deals 21 damage to Earth Wall.

Ice Lance Flurry deals 26 damage to Earth Wall.

Ice Lance Flurry deals 23 damage to Earth Wall.

Ice Lance Flurry deals 24 damage to Earth Wall.

Ice Lance Flurry deals 27 damage to Earth Wall.

Ice Lance Flurry deals 22 damage to Earth Wall.

Ice Lance Flurry deals 25 damage to Earth Wall.

Ice Lance Flurry deals 23 damage to Earth Wall.

Ice Lance Flurry deals 26 damage to Earth Wall.

The wall crumbled away and they cautiously walked out to find themselves alone with the large wall still looming in front of them, blocking their path. Cainen nowhere to be seen.

Aster glanced at Saelak again, “Think you can just bust through this one as well?”

Saelak gave a grin, “Guess we’ll find out.” He lifted his hands again and sent an even larger shower of ice lances at the wall, drilling a hole straight through it.

They were actually a bit surprised to find the three people on the other side, weapons drawn with slightly strained looks on their faces. The one that initially spoke with them on the road before gave a wry smile as he said, “This is as far as you go now.”

Alert! Ryden, level Unknown class Unknown, joined combat!

Alert! Sylven, level Unknown class Unknown, joined combat!

Aster couldn’t stop himself from asking them, “Why are you doing this? Why all the traps?” as he quickly triggered his technique and drew Crimson Destiny from the scabbard from his belt on his left.

You used the technique: Quick Draw for 10 qi.

Aster couldn’t help the small smile that came to his lips, he would finally get to use his overpowered enchanted sword on an actual opponent! Ryden just shook his head though and then Aster found himself and his companions surrounded by a vortex of wind.

Ryden cast the spell: Cyclone.

Aster reflexively tried covering his ears as the sound was overwhelming his senses. He thought he heard Donoma yelling at them but he couldn’t make out the words. Though the wind whipped around ferociously, making him squint his eyes, Aster never looked away from his enemies. There was a flash of light and a spray of red as the wind ceased and everyone stared in confusion as Ryden’s body slumped to the ground, headless.

Alert! Level 39 Metal Dirlagraun, joined combat!

Metal Dirlagraun used the technique: Steel Swipe.

Metal Dirlagraun critically strikes Ryden in the neck for 243 physical damage and 243 Metal damage.

Ryden dies.

You gained 504 experience.

Crimson Destiny gained 252 experience.

‘Oh! Come on! I didn’t even get to use the sword!’ Aster thought outraged. That was when Aster realized what that flash was. It was the sun reflecting off the shining metal coat of the sleek Dirlagraun which Aster felt slightly horrified at seeing, not to mention the slight nausea he felt knowing that attack would have been dangerously close to killing him as well.

The Dirlagraun was a feline looking creature, like a panther, he thought, but it had six legs instead of four and on its back were two long tentacles with spade-shaped ends holding spikes on the front side. It stared at them for a moment before pouncing after Aster’s other two enemies as they turned to flee down the road away from his group.

Aster felt hands grab at him to pull him back towards the earth wall they had come through and he could feel the fear radiating through their mental connection as Saelak urged them to flee, trying not to draw the monster’s attention.

Even Donoma was silent as they quickly moved down the road, unsure if they would be able to escape or if the beast would be distracted with feeding.

Sylven dies.

You gained 180 experience.

Crimson Destiny gained 90 experience.

Cainen dies.

You gained 414 experience.

Crimson Destiny gained 207 experience.

That message fueled their terror as their adrenaline surged and their pace quickened even further, Aster pacing himself with Saelak so as not to leave his friend’s lacking dexterity to result in the elf’s death, as Donoma trailed ahead of them. They weren't fast enough it seemed as they heard the dull clunk of metal on dirt and Sealak dared the glance backwards only to yell, “Aster!” as a second later the half-elf felt himself impacted in the back causing him to trip and sprawl forward on the road. His companions turned and Donoma was quick to fire an arrow that the large cat seemed to just flick away with one of its tentacle things.

Aster rolled over and looked up to see the beast hover over him, its grey eyes staring into him before he felt a rough wet tongue slide against his face and he felt the forced pull into his soul space.

He heard the slight gasps come from the three Soul Bonds behind him as they took in the sight of the sleek monster towering in front of them. Hitsuki even stepped behind Imbratisa slightly, a bit of fear in her eyes. They knew this was a formidable creature.

“I am Aster.” He began, taking a deep breath to steady himself and giving into the now familiar cadence of the ritual.

“I am a Metal Dirlagraun.” Aster was thrown off by the sultry feminine voice that filled the room.

“With this bond, you are no longer your own, our lives intertwine, we are more than we’ve known.” He continued as the light purple chain came out of his chest once more.

“With this bond, our blessings combine. You grant me your blessing and I grant you mine.” The Dirlagraun replied as a normal looking iron chain surged out of the beast’s chest to connect them.

Aster’s nerves seemed to calm now as he said, “I share with you my Spirit. In return you will share-”

“-My Metal.” The feline finished and the purple mist transformed the creature into a lightly tanned voluptuous woman with sleek curves and long wavy raven hair covering her ample bosom. Grey eyes stared at him as luscious red lips smiled before saying, “I thank you for your Blessing and my name: Rosabella.”

Then what appeared as liquid metal flowed from her across the chain and into him before his senses abandoned him.

A Metal Dirlagraun triggered your ability: Soul Bond!

Congratulations!

Soul Bond Acquired: Rosabella the Metal Dirlagraun

Rosabella shared their Blessing of Metal from the Crafter.

Your body will now undergo Acclimation to Metal.

You are petrified.

You are unconscious.

Combat ended.

Saelak and Donoma stared at him dumbfounded as it looked like the monster first melted into him before that liquid metal seemed to coat his body. The following messages they got about combat ending at least made them relax a bit that the immediate threat of death had ended but they weren’t sure how to deal with a statue for a party member.

Donoma looked at Saelak for a moment before saying, “I know I usually complain ‘bout dis happenin’ all da time but I’m pretty sure his ability just saved our lives.”

Saelak nodded, “I’m pretty sure you’re right. Is he able to breathe like that?”

Donoma knelt down to check, “Yeah, I can feel da air movin’. We should go take care o’ da bodies before they attract more monsters and try ta find somewhere safe til he’s done acclimatin’,” she said as she brushed the dirt off her.

They split the work, Saelak digging shallow graves and Donoma requisitioning anything of value.