31. Web

A stick lay on top of the pillow inside the chest.

It was straight, though slightly warped on one end. It looked like a walking stick. He stared at it for a moment, then picked it up. It had a cooling sensation in his hand. An artifact. He grumbled. It was still a stick. He pushed some mana into it. It flowed like a river, while the stick tried to shape it, make it more effective.

It was the most basic staff he had ever seen. It looked more like a walking stick than a mage’s staff. He lacked one, so it would do the job. It was a high-quality staff, at least compensating for its looks. He still would have preferred coins. At least it wasn’t as useless to him as the dagger had been.

He was still in a bad mood, but he pushed through it and strode toward the second room. It was time to get Clay on his feet before the safe room timer ran out. And to find the scout group that had gone before them.

Also, more treasure chests. He wasn’t giving up on the gold coins.

Clay was in the same spot he had left him, and in a similar condition. He wasn’t sure how much time had passed since they cleared the room, but it was getting close to the two-hour mark. He stopped next to him and touched his forehead. Heal, he cast. The effect was immediate. Clay started coughing up dark blood.

It was his first time using Heal. It would probably increase his level. The mana drain was noticeable, immense even, but he didn’t mind it. They could wait a few hours for his mana to recover. It wasn’t like the beasts had managed to find them before. And Clay needed a break before they continued. The enemies ahead would be stronger, and he would have to be more active in combat.

Clay continued coughing. It gave him enough time to check his status before he had to deal with him. “Status.”

[Status:]
Name: Dareth Wood
Race: Human
Mana: 67/420
Level: 26
Class: Selection Available

[Attributes:]
Strength: 26
Agility: 27
Endurance: 28
Intelligence: 41
Constitution: 26
Attribute Points Available: 5

He had reached level twenty-six, a level above what he needed for class selection, and it was finally available. He was going to get his spatial storage, or whatever it was that everyone else had. And he wouldn’t need to carry the loot he would get from the dungeon on his Ice Sled.

He ran his hands together, a faint grin tugging at his lips.

The last time he checked his status, he hadn’t used his attribute points. Now was a good time. He didn’t need to think about it. He put all of them into Intelligence.

Mana: 67/460
Intelligence: 46

The new skill notifications came next. He skimmed through them.

[New Skill Detected: Earth Wall.]
[Skill Tier: 5]
[Level Increased.]
[Attribute Points Available: 3]

[New Skill Detected: Ice Sled.]
[Skill Tier: 3]

[New Skill Detected: Earth Trap.]
[Skill Tier: 5]
[Level Increased.]
[Attribute Points Available: 4]

[New Skill Detected: Frost.]
[Skill Tier: 6]

[New Skill Detected: Wind Blades.]
[Skill Tier: 5]
[Level Increased.]
[Attribute Points Available: 5]

The dungeon allowed him to increase his leveling rate with the blessing. It forced him to improve. Was that how everyone felt in a dungeon? Probably not. Not everyone had numerous spells; the blessing hadn’t registered. Still, it forced them to improve their skills and their use of them. It felt like a training ground. One that could easily get you killed. But it also rewarded you for your success.

He needed to focus on the present. And that was selecting a class. Now, what was he going to get? There were a few things he liked, and a few he didn’t. One of them was a combat class. He had had enough of combat for three lifetimes. There was no need to choose something like that. The spells the blessing would give him would be meant for destruction if he went down that path.

And he was mostly excited about the spells the blessing gave. Spells that didn’t use mana and were unique to every class. So he had to get a unique class. Or a rare one. Or something even more impressive than that.

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A class focused on enjoying life. It also had to be a mage class, for the additional points it would give him in Intelligence. And for the convenience spells.

Now, how was he supposed to choose a class? He stared at Class Selection Available, but nothing happened. He thought of selecting a class.

A window appeared in front of him.

[Class Selection Available.]
[Evaluating…]
[Your actions have shaped your path.]

“Dareth!” Clay called.

Adolin flinched, the window fading as his focus snapped back.

Clay sat there, propped awkwardly against the cave wall. He studied him, as if he was trying to read his thoughts. “What happened?” Clay asked.

Couldn’t he have waited a few more minutes? He was just about to see what class the blessing would offer him. Literally moments away. And now, how was he supposed to answer his question? Well, probably with the truth. His truth.

“You don’t remember?” Adolin asked, tilting his head.

“Some of it,” Clay said with a groan.

The toxin was still in his system. Heal wouldn’t have removed it. He could have also used Toxin Removal, but he didn’t want to waste more mana. He should be back to normal in a few hours. Well… he could deal with it once his mana recovered.

He hummed in thought. “While I was dealing with the cats in the chasm, you were fighting the five that were already out. I couldn’t pay too much attention at the time,” Adolin said.

Clay looked like he considered it, then nodded. “Then?”

“Well,” he said. “You made a last stand and… melted them. Along with everything in front of you.”

“No wonder I feel like shit,” he groaned. “Did you carry me here?”

Adolin shook his head.

“How much time do we have?”

“Not sure, but the two hours are almost up,” Adolin said. “What happens after that?”