Denizens of the Labyrinth

DING!

A TRIAL AWAITS YOU ALL

…

PIRATES ATTACK YOUR SHIP

DEFEND YOUR LIVES

The system chimed aloud, and everyone rushed back up the stairs, trying to gauge the situation. Jazmel was the last but as he arrived, he heard the clash and scream of battle. Fights were taking place, even as he gained access finally the number of pirates were more than he had expected.

Seekers were fighting for their lives, many of them were already engaged. As his own party came up, a group of pirates were already rushing them. Sadé and Patton rushed into action and Katie swung herself into the air. Ropes flipped up onto the ship. Hooks trapping the ship into place. Jazmel cut through the closest ones to him and before darting off he shouted.

“Bannerman! Cut the ropes off.” Jazmel yelled; Bannerman growled in response but executed heading towards the ship rails. A man yelled and rushed Jazmel, clutching a knife and a bearded axe. Jazmel glided beneath his attack and cut him along the ribs. Before the man could turn, he struck him on the spine and pushed him overboard. Others rushed him but he fought well, striking with his blade and deterring any attacks.

DING

PREPARE

THE PIRATE CAPTAIN IS NEAR

Jazmel felt the system thrum in his mind and gripping his sword he prepared. The pirates that remained were guarding a single rope. One that neither Bannerman nor Jazmel had been able to cut down. A large hand appeared over the railing and then a second pulling the body up onto the ship.

The pirate captain was a great bear of a man, barrel chested and covered in tattoos, he wore a faded admiral jacket and a privateer hat with a loose red feather. His beard scraggly but his eyes were fierce. Jazmel could tell this one was strong.

“KILL THEM ALL!” he bellowed, and the pirates crooned to begin, they charged all the Seekers on the ship and Jazmel fought back surrounded by his party.

Slash!

He struck, and his skill wounded many, they were fighting, and the captain of the pirates was striking the Seekers. Knocking bodies far from him and here and there, even some unfortunate bodies were knocked off the ship, but Jazmel was not happy.

He winced as he fell to his knees, he had been struck from behind. Whirling he protected himself from a second strike and saw it was the man from Katie’s duel. His sword had struck Jazmel from behind. Though the wound was not grievous, it had taken him when he had not been prepared.

DANGER

WOUNDED

…

BLEEDING!!

WARNING

The system chimed and Jazmel gritted his teeth. The man rose to strike him again but was caught by a few pirates who had attacked him. Jazmel survived, rising quickly. He swallowed a health potion and then rose, deflecting a pirate’s attack. He struck deep and killed him. A little shocked to kill a man for the first time, he nearly froze but stopped quickly as others attacked him. He had no time to freeze, others attacked and quickly he dispatched them. There was no time to waste, the man who had attacked him was making his way towards him and before he could move. Jazmel struck. As quick as lightning he struck and without even speaking the blue kite of Mana struck the man in the chest. The look of shock on his face was only overshadowed by the dread of dying.

He could not even wait; he felt the system thrum, but the pirates rushed him again and in three simple strikes. He defeated them all. Patton and Bannerman were fighting the pirate captain while Katie and Sadé were keeping the other pirates back.

He ran forward, joining Patton and Bannerman. He struck deep, striking the knee of the pirate. He yelped but stayed standing and struck a might blow with his mallet against Bannerman. He was knocked aside, and it took everything not to topple over the railing. Next Patton struck in the gut with a Mana sword. The pirate captain grabbed him, but he just drove his sword deeper. Jazmel struck again. This time at the throat of the pirate captain. This drove him down and with a heavier wound Jazmel felt life slip from him.

DING

CONGRATULATIONS

YOU HAVE SURVIVED THE PIRATES

CONTRIBUTION TO BE REWARDED

The system chimed into all their thoughts and Jazmel could not help but wonder what he would gain.

DING

SURVIVED A STEALTH ATTACK

…

STRUCK THE FINAL BLOW ON THE PIRATE CAPTAIN

…

LEVEL UP

+2 STR

+2 VIT

His stats had gone up again.

Name: Jazmel

Level: 16

Species: Human

Rank: Seeker tier I

Health: 370/370

Stamina: 325/325

Mana: 367/367

STR:25 PER:22

VIT:26 END:24

INT:23 WIL:24

AGL:22 DEX:23

Skills:

Sword sense (tier I)

Slash (tier I)

Flight of the Blue kite (tier I)

EMPTY SLOT

Title(s):

FIEND SLAYER

EMPTY SLOT

Unused Stat points: 0

675X GOLD COINS

SHADOW WRAITH

LEVEL 7

PARTY:

5/5

REWARD GIVEN

In his storage space, a relic sword handle had appeared. There was no blade or sheath, but Jazmel could tell there was some deep power within. He did not even check it, he kept it within the storage space.

The other Seekers were checking their stats and moving their points around. Jazmel moved over to Sadé, and she seemed to be busy with her stats. Jazmel looked around and noticed the party with the man he had killed. They were looking for the man, Jazmel turned from them. But kept a hand on his sword just in case. Katie strolled over to stand beside him, and they stood together in silence for a while.

“Taking the life of a Seeker is always hard.” She admitted and he looked at her, surprised she knew what he was feeling.

“You have to remember two things, always.” She said.

“1, you must always protect yourself from harm. No matter where you find yourself in. 2, You must try your best not to take life for just any reason.” She told him and he considered her words for a long while.

“When killing, it can become easy. That is when you will be no better than a beast.” She told him and without another word, she walked away. Heading over to Patton. He stayed alone for a while before Bannerman came over to him.

“Are you okay?” Bannerman asked him, this surprised Jazmel. Bannerman was reserved and rarely showed any emotion, but he was clearly concerned with Jazmel.

“I am alright.” Jazmel started. “Sometimes a fight is more than a fight, but sometimes conflict is about survival too.” Bannerman said and Jazmel nodded, understanding him completely.

“Just keep your focus and ensure that you do not dilute your attention with the ways of other Seekers.” Bannerman told him, before patting his shoulder and moving away to check the railings over the other side of the ship. Sadé came over to him and Jazmel merely enjoyed her silent company. Patton and Katie were heading towards their room and Bannerman followed, Sadé pulled Jazmel by the hand, and he complied to her pulls.