24 Chapter 25: What Remains (1/2)

Tatiana's body turned to ash and blew away on the wind, as soon as Luca put her down. 2Face's body was nowhere to be seen, likely already absorbed by the dungeon. I didn't want to kill her, but I don't need another enemy running around right now. The boost to my speed her death gave me, and the sword could be the difference between life and death, if not today, then eventually. As he turned and walked towards the ability shop, his steps making the same ones she had just taken, Luca couldn't help but shake his head in disappointment.

He knew that Tatiana and 2Face wouldn't be the only people he would kill, only the first and that many many more would follow. Luca made a vow to himself there and then that so long as he had a choice if it logically made sense, he wouldn't kill. He had no qualms about it, and was otherwise unaffected.

Strangely enough, the forest felt welcoming rather than forbidding as it walked through it alone. Though the canopy above head still rustled with the sounds of monsters milling about, they knew well enough know to leave the strange human with the dark aura alone. It felt.. right to Luca to be rightfully feared and left alone. Power itself was a good deterrent, and he would gather enough of it to himself that nothing again would ever threaten him.

Passing through a nearby clearing, Luca saw signs of the Orc Hoard Tatiana had spoken of, but judging by the look of the rampaging footprints in the dirt, they had cleared out quickly in a panic. Probably when my Nightmare was set loose. Maybe when I'm done here, I'll chase them down. He admitted, smiling to himself, hoping that next time he could see it in action, rather than watch the memory of it through the Obsidian Orb.

The ability shop was less than a half-mile away, and with his boosted speed and high endurance, Luca was easily able to cut into his travel time and arrived within minutes at the base of a large white oak tree. The tree itself wasn't tall by any means, maybe 20 feet at a max, but what separated it from the other trees of the forest was that it was almost as wide as it was tall.

Though the white tree wasn't dead, it was apparent to Luca it was at the end of its lifespan as only a few leaves could be seen sprouting from withered branches. As Luca approached, he saw a black electrical cord plugged into the base of the tree, leading to what appeared to be a vending machine. The closer Luca got, the easier it became to read the letters on the machine, letters that reading ”Ability Kiosk.” He had arrived at the shop, though it was not quite what he expected.

Notification: ”Welcome to the Ability Shop” – Current Location – The Phoenix Refuge, The White Oak's Haunt

Current Spending Balance – Sol: 12265

Please Note - Each ability after it has been purchased doubles in price. This effect is cumulative and does not reset.

Current Ability List

* V – Lesser Fireball (8000 Sol)

* IV – Ice Bolt (6000 Sol)

* III – Corpse Golem (24000)

* VI – Healing Light (8600)

* X – Defend (10000)

* III - Burning Fist (10200)