Zeroth

I, the Demon King, Will Summon My Own Damned Heroes!

PixieSlime Party

"Wut heel?" Momma Slime started to ask, but Ardur was already experimenting with the mandible of the Flak Beetle. When he cast his Shield I spell on the object, the aura surrounded it just like it normally would any other target. But as he focused, the aura seemed to compress until it was only skin-thin, yet highly concentrated around the mandible...and as he envisioned the mandible's structure growing harder, its edge sharper, the energy of the shield seemed to just...sink into the black, chitinous matter. But other than that, he couldn't really tell if it had made any other difference in the mandible's cutting ability...

While he chewed on various pieces of meat he could strip from their kill, however, the System informed him that he was, somehow, at least learning something.

You are experiencing a Fast Rate of Skill Progression.

System:Ardur

Asura reached out with a stretched tendril to relay new information to Momma Slime, who gurgled thoughtfully in response before she rolled over towards the beheaded body of the deer. Steve had succeeded in liquifying one of the front legs enough that she had now taken it off completely and wrapped it in a bundle of webbing. She was beginning the process on the other front leg, though she couldn't wrap it as far up because the body was turned on that side. As Momma Slime rolled up to the corpse, the spider stopped to watch warily.

With a "schlurp," Momma Slime tried to attach herself to the neck stump. Her blue body soon turned purple as she began draining the Bowhorn Deer of all its blood. Steve made a slight hissing noise, then ran over to Ardur. With her furry forelimbs she began to tap on his leg, pointing with the others at what Momma Slime was doing, then indicating the other leg she hadn't yet been able to separate from the body.

Meanwhile, Asura continued to try and improve his Slime Shell. He used his own body first, attaching to the jawbone underneath all of the flesh, and found he was able to work the hinge simply enough. It took a concentrated effort, enough so that he probably couldn't move or fight while doing this, but he was definitely able to move the jaw in a simplified up and down, open-close motion. However, when he began testing the muscle fibers he found them...difficult. For one thing, they seemed like they were hard to stick to for some reason. Maybe it was the blood, fats, and natural oils of the flesh. For another thing, there were too many of them. He couldn't pull on just one and make the whole thing work, the muscle had to work together as a single mass. And lastly, he just didn't have much room. Even with better shapeshifting it was hard to get between densely packed fibers in order to manipulate them--like not being able to reach a piece of machinery you were working on because your fingers were too fat. Compared to the solid jawbone, which he could adhere himself to almost like glue, trying to use the muscle fiber seemed inefficient...

---

Ghost Party

Normally, Danny wouldn't have stood a chance against this larger creature in physical combat. However, unlike the Wisps in the cave, he had Transformed into a Poltergeist--and compared to a "natural" Poltergeist, he had the Faster skill. His dash surprised the frog, and as he used Point Strike to drive his sharpened sliver of stone right into its eye the attack took on a crackling red glow! In a spray of dark blood he plunged the sharp stone, and his fist, deep into the frog's eye! Its mouth opened on reflex, but it hadn't finished preparing its attack in time and the liquid poison dribbled down its front to burn away the grass beneath their feet. An instant later, Jason shoved invisible appendages into its eyes as well. When he released his Transparency ability--which was accompanied by a LOW MP Warning--the recoil caused him a slight pain but obviously did much more to the huge frog. Being punched in the eye from inside one's own body had to be a whole new level of pain, especially if one of the eyes you're being punched in has already been carved out by a jagged, sharp rock.

Blood spattered the Poltergeist's tiny fist, and the frog went down on its back. It thrashed blindly, one eye completely gone and the other currently damaged. Its croaks became much higher in pitch, almost pitiable. Jason seized on its soul, and its thrashing grew more intense.

Dark, warm, tight, too tight, had to break free. Eggshell. Danger, scatter! Sand, hide! Prey, bite! Wait. Prey poisoned. Prey paralyzed. Feed. Eat. Hunt. Find shelter. Find water. Find mate. More eat. More hunt. Defend territory. Stronger. Grow. Change. New form. Not enough food in cave. Into the forest. Find food. Find shelter. Find water. Find mate. More eating, more hunting. Day after day...I am Jason.

But Jason didn't find this target so easy to devour as his others, even if he resisted the pull of its personality. It was too strong, too healthy--he was taking bites out of it, but the creature now flopped back over onto its belly and got its legs under it. It started to turn towards Danny, once again spitting out a huge glob of purple acid at the tiny magical monster--!

I, the Demon King, Will Summon My Own Damned Heroes!

Rat Party

Obtained Loot!
Flint and Striker x1
Greatclub x1
Hand Hatchet x1
Clay Jar x1
Tanned Leather x1
??? Eye x1
??? Horn x1

System:Rat Party

The rats chose to take everything with them, but at least they made the choice quickly. With all this weight they couldn't move very fast at all, and were slowed even further by the need for Stealth. However, it seemed they might make it yet...

Until Asteria paused for a moment.

You used Monster Analysis II!
---Elder Human Female, Magic User(?)---
Humans are not technically considered Monsters. They are of the Enlightened Races, highly evolved creatures considered truly sentient, though this may depend on definition. Nonetheless they are an advanced race with a fully functioning civilization, a varied history, and distinct cultures. This one is an elder, and appears to be performing some activity of magical or religious significance...WARNING! VERY DANGEROUS!

System:Asteria

The pudgy woman had completed her walk around the packed-earth circle, and stopped her chanting. She stooped down at one of the little shrines, and there must have been a striker or flint or something because she soon rose with a burning wick made from oiled rope. Using this, she light a small opening at the top of the shrine. As smoke slowly curled into the air, she began to repeat her circling, with new lines of chanting...

"Hey, what was that?"

Time to go. The Rats, with their bounty in tow, Muffled their way into the long grass...

"What was what?"

"Thought I saw something moving over near that shed."

"Moving as in, something we actually need to worry about, or a loose Cluckel? Don't freak out just cause you've been up all night."

"Well I don't know then! Go check it out."

"You saw it, you check it out."

By the time the human guard approached the shed, the rats were a good distance away. He entered, and of course not being the one who owned the shed or put the items there, he didn't have any idea of what might be missing or out of place. So he turned and began to leave...but then?

The rats didn't have the time nor the inclination to turn back and look...or did they? Would they just continue on and hope they hadn't been spotted, or turn back and risk discovery to satisfy their curiosity? By this point they were far enough away that their Beast Senses weren't picking up any more voices, or footsteps...

They did, however, pick up the sound of something up ahead crashing through the grass, around their camp. And a shrill squeak.

---

Ghost Party

You used Monster Analysis II!
---Flak Beetle---
An aggressive insectoid that emerges after a Lamp Worm molts, known for the glowing sac hidden under its shell. The shell hides a gland in the bug's thorax that, similar to a firefly, contains a substance that produces light but is also highly flammable when exposed to open air. Unlike the firefly, the Flak Beetle can use this substance as a weapon, firing it with explosive force from either end of its body. The amount of fluid used, and the amount of pressure it is under, affects the strength of the blast. It also has strong jaws, capable of cutting through leather given enough time. Despite its tendency to viciously attack almost anything, it only eats plants.
---Analysis Complete!---

Skill Gain: Mana Vision I (1.0)!
Concentrate MP in your eyes to see the fluctuations of Mana. The level of detail and other qualities of your Mana Vision depend not only on the Rank of this Skill, but also on your physical sense of sight. Depending on the strength of your concentration, having a lesser sense of vision may also consume Stamina when using this Skill. At your current Rank, you can only see strange fluctations of magic energies and shapes that are not easily understood...

Skill Gain: Point Strike I (1.0)!
With a discerning eye, take aim at an oppenent's weak point and concentrate your own power into a single point of attack. Slightly increase the power of any attack, and gain an increased chance for a Critical Hit. Using this Skill in conjunction with other attack Skills, however, may cause it to lose effectiveness.

Skill Gain: Muffle I (1.0)!
This skill grants you the ability to be just a little bit better at being stealthy, with a focus on reducing the sound of your movements.

You are attempting to Craft without the requisite Skill.
Your crafted items are heavily degraded.
Processing Items: Sharp Stone + Hard Stone
Sharp Stone's cutting capacity has increased, but its durability has heavily decreased!
Hard Stone was destroyed in the processing!

System:Danny

Skill Rank Up: Spiritual Awareness I (1.75) > II (2.05)!
Your awareness of the duality of this world grows. -You are Undead, which changes the nature of this Skill. Under these conditions, at this Rank you can expend MP to detect the influence of other Spirits-.

Skill Gain: Mana Sense I (1.0) > (1.25)!
You have sharpened your mental and spiritual senses! By focusing upon a single creature or object, you will be able to sense its magical nature in some fashion. Different creatures may perceive this in different ways--some may see a colored aura, others may catch unique scents, etc. This is not an Analysis skill, though it may synergize with some of them. The range of this skill is limited to that of your other physical senses, though in some cases a mana signature may become easier or more difficult to detect depending on factors such as strength, amount, etc. By touching an object or creature, even if they are somehow suppressing their magical power, you have a chance to learn whether or not magic is present. At this rank you must activate this skill in order for it to take effect. While active it will consume MP.

Skill Gain: Shield I (1.0) > 1.05)!
The most basic of defensive support spells. An aura effect reduces incoming damage, but no physical barrier or counteractive forces are generated. Only natural resistances to damage are reinforced. Can be cast on objects.

You used Shield I on yourself! Defenses increased!

You used Mana Sense I!
---??? Tree---
You feel a growing, natural Mana and a rigid, woody Mana, and it is fairly strong at least compared to your own MP.
---Atmosphere---
You feel a constant fluctuation of an amalgamation of Mana. It is vast, but you cannot reach even a portion of a portion of it--what you feel is less than a particle within the universe.
---Sunlight---
You feel a faint, wispy, light Mana. It burns you, it rejects your being.
---Shadows---
You feel an empty, void Mana, but it really isn't Mana. Yet as a vacuum is a lack of matter and still creates forces within spatial existence, this Mana applies the "force of lacking."
---Earth---
You feel a solid, heavy, earthen Mana. It tends to remain, not move, to collect and to withstand. It is vast, but you cannot delve into its depths. What you feel is less than a pebble upon a mountain.

You used Mana Drain I!

You attempted to use Monster Analysis. Attempt Failed. Monster Analysis is currently Locked.

System:Jason

Danny had to search for a bit, but was able to dig up a Sharp Stone and Hard Stone in their surroundings after several minutes. Unfortunately, between a lack of coordination and strength, his attempts to hone the edge of the Sharp Stone were less fruitful. The Hard Stone cracked, crumbled, and finally broke apart into little more than dust and gravel bits, and while a few flakes broke away from the Sharp Stone, it also didn't have much of a handhold left either. Plus, the blade was actually so razor-thin as to be more fragile than glass. This wasn't obsidian either, so it wasn't like he had a self-sharpening scapel...just a very sharp, very brittle, chunk of rock that likely wouldn't last too long.

Using Lesser Force II, the Poltergeist had a little more luck than just using his bare hands. Still, he couldn't quite get the force necessary to cut into the Flak Beetle's shell. He was able to cut out its exposed underbelly, opening it up so that the rest of it could be scooped out, but if he wanted to break apart the actual shell or break off the bug's mandibles, he would need to figure out another method.

Jason's experiments with his new abilities were enlightening in some respects, as he learned more about the Mana around him. When he cast Shield, the pain indeed seemed to go away...but he was still no more visible to Danny than before as of yet, and he could feel that the Shield spell was being whittled away at a slow, yet constant rate. Casting it had also cost him more MP of course...as did every usage of his Mana Sense. Combined with the new shield, that was six spells he had cast in rapid succession. The system notified him that his Mana Overflow had ceased, and his Mana Density was back to a "normal" level, whatever that meant...and he could feel that he had spent a large chunk of his energy, though not quite enough for the System to get him a Low MP warning. Staying still and using Mana Drain...wasn't as effective as he had hoped it would be either. Using Mana Drain seemed to be like trying to draw Mana into himself via a straw. On a closed container of sorts, like another Monster whose body contained its magical energy, it was quite useful. On the ambient energy all around him, however, it was like trying to use that same straw to draw water out of a cloud. There was a difference between Mana Drain and Meditate, then, and they couldn't be used at the same time...but, if he Meditated again, would he lose sight of Danny like before?

As Danny went about harvesting the Flak Beetle, however, something rustled in the bushes. Undaunted by the presence of the Poltergeist, a large creature suddenly bounded out of the underbrush and croaked. A frog. However, no bull toad on Earth could ever reach this size--the creature's dull blue and gray speckled coloration gave it the appearance of a stone, and it was big enough to pass for one too. It was probably the size of a medium dog, but much, much fatter and stockier. Its enormous legs still seemed to possess enough power for it to hop. Another odd feature was that it had a tail--a stubby one, but a tail nonetheless.

The frog looked at Danny, and blinked one eye at a time with three different eyelids. It then tilted its head to look at the beetle, and repeated the blinks but in the opposite order. Its throat sac bulged, and became a dark purple color.

I, the Demon King, Will Summon My Own Damned Heroes!

Monster Party

You used Magic Analysis I!
---Minor Heal I---
The most basic of healing spells. In most cases, only surface level wounds are affected. Cannot cure diseases. May even accelerate certain conditions not healed by the body's natural recovery. Cast upon a single target within eyesight.
---Analysis Complete!---

System:Digbie

As Digbie analyzed Ash's spell, the Pygmy Drake sent forth the healing energies to Torrent. Somehow they found the Lesserwurm despite her constant movement as the Giant Slime rolled, and the System informed her that her HP had fully recovered--at least until the next rotation. Oberon began to channel his Mana, again shaping a Fireball into something more like an arrow or javelin, but in the time it took him to do this Digbie ran towards a higher vantage point and Torrent made her own move. Again the Fireball blossomed into being--around the reptile's body. She pushed and it expanded, but the Fireball was already in contact with the Giant Slime. As Torrent went around one more time there was a WHUMPH underneath the slime, and the blast threw it off balance. It lurched to one side, just as Digbie's Earth Wall sprang up to stop it cold.

Almost simultaneously, Ash and Oberon let loose their attacks. Venom and flame pierced the gelatinous membrane--luckily missing Torrent--and the creature let out one last screech as its acidic innards leaked from the piercings like blood. The Giant Slime "let go" of Torrent, as its entire membrane began to lose cohesion. It began to deflate with a sizzling sound, its color growing dull and dead just like autumn leaves...

Skill Rank Up: Sacred Ground I (1.9) > Sacred Ground II (2.1)!
HP Recovery Speed increased. Enemy Damage Resistance Increased. This skill now also slightly boosts resistances to Status Effects.

LEVEL UP! Your combined experiences have culminated in new power! You are now Level 8! You gain Skill Points to distribute as you like!

Unspent Skill Points: 10

Current Skills:
**Use Light Equipment (--)
Tremor Sense III (3.2125)
-Soil Manipulation II (2.8)
Stone Shot II (2.0)
Taboo I (1.0)
*Stronger I (1.5)
**Sacred Ground II (2.1)
Rock Spire II (2.2)
Earth Affinity I (1.3)
Meditate I (1.5)
Earth Vein II (2.25)
-Spell Chant I (1.025)
Monster Analysis I (1.075)
Material Analysis I (1.125)
Plant Analysis I (1.1025)
*Mental Resistance I (1.0)
Fortify I (1.1)
*Mana Orb (1.5)
**Shield II (2.25)
Overwork I (1.75)
Mana Affinity I (1.0)
Magic Analysis (1.275)
Analysis (--)
**Earth Wall I (1.8)
<UNUSABLE>
Quake (0.5)
Crafting (0.5)
*Point Strike (0.6)
*Smash (0.6)
Throw Item (0.2)
Charisma (0.1)
*Mana Strike (0.3)
Focus (0.1)
Stone Fist (0.6)
*Stone Breaker (0.2)
Intimidate (0.2)
-Scribe (0.2)
*Fire Resistance (0.3)
Demon Affinity (0.25)
Underground Movement (0.5)
Guidance (0.8)
**Use Medium Equipment (0.1)
*Minor Heal (0.4)
Faster (0.1)
Alert (0.1)
Dual Cast (0.1)

System:Digbie

LEVEL UP! Your combined experiences have culminated in new power! You are now Level 8! You gain Skill Points to distribute as you like!

Unspent Skill Points: 12

Current Skills:
Minor Heal III (3.0)
Lesser Flight II (2.65)
Shield IV (4.02)
Magic Analysis IV (4.27)
Mana Orb II (2.55)
Mana Shape II (2.75)
Lesser Status Heal (1.2)
Mana Dart I (1.55)
Alert I (1.65)
Monster Analysis II (2.5)
Meditation III (3.07625)
Light Ring I (1.25)
Gather Light I (1.75)
Fireball I (1.7)
Plant Analysis I (1.0)
Material Analysis I (1.0)
Sacred Ground I (1.0)
Mana Slice I (1.05)
Overwork I (1.75)
Keen Sight (1.1)
Minor Heal All I (1.0)
Spiritual Awareness I (1.0)
Minor Regeneration I (1.0)
Spell Chant I (1.1)
Focus I (1.1)
Mental Resistance II (2.25)
Sensory Resistance I (1.0)
<UNUSABLE>
Wall (0.6)
Faster (0.5)
Charisma (0.9)
Light Affinity (0.8)
Fire Resistance (0.2)
Spell Cancel (0.1)
Mana Puppet (0.5)
Earth Wall (0.1)
Aqua Sphere (0.3)
Mana Drain (0.1)
Wind Break (0.1)
Flame Lance (0.6)

System:Oberon

---

PixieSlime Party

With the Bowhorn Deer slain, the party began to divide the spoils. Momma Slime slowly ate her way through the connection of its back leg while Steve injected her webbed portion with her spider-venom. It wouldn't spread to the rest of the body, since the creature's heart was no longer beating, but its purpose wasn't really to poison the meat anyway. It would break down the proteins and reduce the flesh to a type of mush, which the arachnid's mouth parts could then slurp out through the holes her fangs made in the webbing. When Asura began chopping off the head, however, Steve shrank back to a safe distance and tilted her head. Momma Slime had weakened the back leg enough that she began to pull it the rest of the way off, with a loud meaty crunch and tear. Storing the back leg inside her membrane for later, she watched as Asura finished cutting off the head then turned towards Ardur.

As Ardur healed up Asura, restoring the red slime's HP to full, Momma Slime lurched over slowly. She seemed curious, but also wary.

"Ahdoo. Wat dat? Wat do Ahsoowa?" the monster asked the Hipixie while he began to carve the deer with a broken mandible from the Flak Beetle. It was rather hard to do--the mandible was sharp, but also brittle and not really designed for this kind of work. He would have to small cuts over and over again, "digging" deeper into the hide and meat before he could make any real headway.

If the fairy chose to explain his spell, while he was doing that Momma Slime took the opportunity to quickly grab whatever intestines and other organs he removed from the deer. She didn't seem disturbed by the smell and if she could taste anything within the offal it didn't seem to bother her. Steve went back to her poison leg "smoothie" while Asura began forcing himself into the Bowhorn's skull.

The Amorphous Slime's liquid body made use of his Limited Shapeshift skill much more fluidly than he had before, when he tried to use a Dire Rat's corpse as a hiding place. Surrounding tendons and muscle, working his way between flesh and bone, his body itself almost became a mold for the material under the deer's hide and allowed him to better understand its structure. He stuck himself to the severed ends of every blood vessel and began to drain it all out--the innards of the deer shrank as they were emptied out completely. Red flesh became a much lighter pink, and the hide just below the fur began to sag. But what Asura had taken in he replaced with himself. The head filled out again, even bulging in places as he worked his way in. But even with Limited Shapeshift increased in rank compared to his previous attempt, he just wasn't able to force all the mass of his body into such a limited space. The smaller veins and capillaries would simply burst. He was able to work extensions of himself into the major arteries though...and once he had traveled through those, reaching the brain and eyes, he ate his way through and cleared a path to the brainpan.

Pseudopods wrapped around the tendons of the jaw like rubber coating on copper wires. Muscles couldn't push, they always had to pull. They had to be anchored on the bones. And when one set of muscles pulled, the opposing set had to relax...

Skill Gain: Slime Shell I (0.7) > (1.0)!
A skill Unique to Slimes that have gained a shapeshifting skill. By forming themselves into an appropriate shape, they can infiltrate some of the oddest objects and use them to protect themselves. Much like a species of crab may force a mollusk out of the shell, then use it for itself. As this skill increases in Rank, the complexity of the shell and the strength of the Slime's bond to it grows. Currently, you may have only one Shell of relatively simple design. You possess the skill Cling I--the strength of your shell's bond is boosted.

Slime Shell Acquired: Bowhorn Skull
The decapitated head of a Bowhorn Deer. It has one remaining joint: Jaw. Operation of this joint is not fully functional at this Rank, it grants no Sub-Stat Enhancements. This Shell has not been fully bonded; you feel tougher when wearing it but it is slowing you down. Fully bond the Shell to remove Negative Sub-Stat Enhancements and increase the effectiveness of positive Enhancements.

System:Asura

Ardur tossed Asura the liver of the deer just as he was figuring out his new skill. If Asura watched, he would join Momma Slime and Steve as witnesses to a gruesome scene. Ardur cut out the deer's heart, an organ almost as big as the Hipixie's own head. In imitation of some grisly ritual, he drank its blood and held it up to the sky as he began to pray...

"“An offering to those that helped us. To those who we met and are now gone, to those who made us stronger and survive, to those that watch over us, I praise." Somehow the silence seemed deafening. Like when one tries to speak in a crowded room, yet for some reason all conversation suddenly stops the moment they begin to shout over the volume. "For the protector, who helped us defend our home from the unknown." The blue light of dawn was fading. The sun rose, and its rays spilled over them as they stood around the corpse whose heart Ardur held aloft. "For the king, who helped us lead and work together." The warmth of these new yellow and red rays tickled the skin. A southerly breeze began to blow. "For the mother, who has rewarded us with a fine gift." A stray cloud, blown by the wind, passed over the sun. But soon it had moved on, so the light merely blinked for a short moment. "I praise you and offer this sacrifice. The heart of the beast, may you take its strength and let it join you to find peace.”

The wind picked up. The cloud was driven further away. The sun's light seemed brighter in the now-clear blue sky. Ardur focused on his hands and cast Fireball I without the intention of letting it fly but simply to burn the offering in a sort of ritual sacrifice. The heart, being fresh and full of fluid, steamed and sizzled as it began to char and blacken. The smell was like cooking pork, and it began to drift up on thick smoke. The breeze carried it southward, a trail of succulent scent. The morning light was now catching the snowdrifts atop those high mountains, reflecting in some places along the western slopes like glittering gemstones. But these gems were set high, high atop the mountains, in the snows that ringed their peaks...like crowns of wrought ivory reflecting a fiery light. And like the wind, the sunlight's refraction seemed to bounce away among the rocks and crags to the south...

---

Rat Party

You used Monster Analysis I!
---Adult Male Human ???---
Humans are not technically considered Monsters. They are of the Enlightened Races. Nonetheless they are an advanced race with civilization, history, culture. WARNING: DANGEROUS!
---Adult Male Human ???---
Humans are not technically considered Monsters. They are of the Enlightened Races, considered truly sentient. Nonetheless they are an advanced race with a fully functioning civilization, a varied history, and distinct cultures. WARNING: DANGEROUS!
---Analysis Complete!---

System:Ed

You used Monster Analysis II!
---Cluckel---
An interesting example of a Monstrous Beast that has been Domesticated, and thus degraded somewhat to a more Mundane creature. Some say that Cluckel's primitive ancestors were actually related to the Cockatrice or even other Avian-class Monsters like Rocs. In truth, this could be the case for either ancestor depending on what subspecies of Cluckel one is talking about. Humans raise Cluckels for their feathers, their meat, and their eggs.
---Analysis Complete!---

System:Asteria

As the rats searched the woodshed, they would find a few items left here for the sake of storage, but nothing incredibly valuable...well, unless they could make something of it for themselves, perhaps. Ed found a small wooden box on top of one of the jars that contained a piece of flint and a piece of steel, as well as some woodchips and grass--a flint and tinder box. And he also found a weapon, perhaps intended as a spare or in case someone was out at the shed at night and suddenly got attacked. It was about four feet long, made of hard wood, and while the first half of its length had been sanded down smooth and wrapped with leather strips, the latter half remained about as big around as a baseball bat and had been studded here and there with bits of metal. The Greatclub actually wasn't too heavy for Ed to be able to lift...but given its length compared to his height, even with his enhanced strength stats he just couldn't seem to hold it well enough to actually use it. Would he leave it, or risk dragging it with him if it meant possibly learning to use it later?

Asteria got luckier, as the jar she grabbed and stuffed the scroll into also seemed to have something else already in it. What was more, the scroll wasn't a scroll of parchment--it was a tanned leather hide that hadn't yet been put to some sort of use. The material seemed relatively freshly dried, so it was still quite flexible, but hard and thick enough to serve any purpose that leather could be put to--so long as there was enough of it for the given task. The other items in the jar were some kind of antler or horn from some creature--it was an unusually vivid purple color, and Asteria's nose picked up an unpleasant odor not unlike the Fanged Lizards from the cave. There was also what looked to be an actual dried eyeball of some kind...or maybe it was a bead, given how it rolled and rattled inside the jar. They might have to examine these objects more closely to really understand what they were...but for now, they wanted to move.

Asteria wanted to find some sharp tools if possible, but as the rats prepared to grab their loot and go, it looked like one of the guards was coming too close to the destroyed pen to risk it. That pen was also further inside the village as well, in plain view from several huts, so right now it wouldn't be prudent to risk it. Here inside the shed, only one tool could be found besides that Greatclub Ed had found.

It was a small hatchet, even smaller than what one usually thinks of when they think of a small one handed axe used for wood cutting. Maybe its shaft had broken off at some point, or maybe it was only meant to split really small wood for kindling. But even a human child could have easily handled it. Its head was made of stone, however, and not iron--it would be somewhat heavy.

If they left immediately they could probably make it out unseen, the same way they had come in--but would they take everything and risk being slowed down? Or would they quickly select the most valuable items? The lightest? The ones that would make the least noise? They had only moments--!

---

Ghost Party

Physical Damage Resistance I (1.0)(0.1)
Warcry II (2.175)(0.1)
Stone Shot II (2.6625)(0.1)
Rock Spire II (2.075)(0.1)
Tremor Sense II (2.425)(0.2)
Soil Manipulation I (1.15)(0.2)
Telepathy II (2.725)(0.5)
Material Analysis I (1.2)(0.1)
Magic Analysis I (1.55)(0.4)
Monster Analysis I (1.55)(0.2)
Mental Resistance I (1.55)(0.4)
Charisma I (1.15)(0.1)
Focus I (1.3)(0.5)
Limited Shapeshift I (1.6)(0.3)
Mind Wave I (1.2)(0.2)
Spell Chant I (1.3)(0.3)
Bounce I (1.15)(0.1)
Faster I (1.05)(0.1)
Blunt Resistance I (1.0)(0.1)
Spiritual Awareness I (1.75)
Transparency I (1.25)
Taboo I (1.9)
Levitate (--)
Guidance I (1.15)
Mana Drain I (1.45)
Meditate I (1.6)
<UNUSABLE>
Earth Affinity (0.7) <CANNOT BE INCREASED BY SKILL POINTS>
Wave Shock (0.1)
Swift Swimmer (0.1) <UNUSABLE WITH CURRENT ABILITIES>
Aqua Sphere (0.7)
Alert (0.1)
Smash (0.5) <UNUSABLE WITH CURRENT ABILITIES>
Cleave (0.3) <UNUSABLE WITH CURRENT ABILITIES>
Blood Drain (0.7)
Muffle (0.1)
Crafting (0.3) <UNUSABLE WITH CURRENT ABILITIES>
Magic Resistance (0.7)
Agriculture (0.3)
Plant Analysis (0.3)
Acid Spit (0.5) <UNUSABLE WITH CURRENT ABILITIES>
Fire Resistance (0.4)
Fortify (0.2)
Sensory Resistance (0.45)
Mana Orb (0.7)
Shield (0.5)
Alchemy (0.4)
Air Read (0.4)
Keen Sight (0.2)
Point Strike (0.2) <UNUSABLE WITH CURRENT ABILITIES>
Doze (0.1)
Acid Resistance (0.1)
Rabid Fit (0.3)
Pierce Resistance (0.8)
Lesser Cleanse (0.2)
Dextrous (0.2)
Quicken (0.3)
Earth Wall (0.1)
Stone Breaker (0.1) <UNUSABLE WITH CURRENT ABILITIES>
Iron Gullet (0.1) <UNUSABLE WITH CURRENT ABILITIES>
Slash Resistance (0.2)
Earth Vein (0.5)<UNUSABLE WITH CURRENT ABILITIES>
Mana Sense (0.8)
Mana Shape (0.2)
Possession (0.35)
Lesser Force (0.1)
Spell Cancel (0.1)
Curse Word (0.1)

Mana Density: The degree of compactness of a given amount of magical energy in a container of a given size.

System:Jason

As Jason lunged at the beetle, upon thrusting his essence into its body and seizing hold of the soul inside he found that the "bubble" didn't pop. Rather, he felt it as if he were holding onto a water balloon only partially filled. The gray light within the beetle surged as it seemed to detect that something was attacking it--without knowing, without seeing, the insect began to buzz angrily and tried to open its wings. Danny, from his perch on the tree, could see a soft blue glow coming from underneath the creature's abdomen. He prepared a Mana Orb, and the projectile crackled with more powerful surges of magic with its second rank. The beetle looked up and suddenly paused, as if it had just realized Danny was even there.

Jason's misty pseudopod fully engulfed the beetle's soul. Its memories flooded him--

A worm, digging in the dark and the wet. The sun, bright and blinding. Plants, roots, life giving water...Growth. Feeling tight and restricted. Growing too big. Curling up. The skin hardened. Organs liquified. Sleep. A long sleep. Cracking. Breaking free, in the dark and the wet. The sun, bright and blinding. Plants, roots, water, smaller insects. Burning inside. Using this. Attack the not-me. Eat. The pull of nature. Seeking a mate...Fighting for food. Fighting for territory. Fighting for mates. Predator. Pain. Injured. Need shelter. Need food. I am Jason.

Like the slime, this creature had no real sentience. Its intelligence was entirely limited. The experience of being this creature confused and consumed Jason, almost as if his own will had been temporarily stripped and he had been reduced to a machine that simply made conclusions from information. But ultimately, it was shallow. It could not drown him. He emerged, still himself.

But as he was draining the last of the Beetle's soul, the creature itself was not going down without a fight. Looking at Danny, the only other creature nearby and thus the only creature that might be attacking it right now, the beetle opened its mandible. Something bright and fiery burned in the depths of its mouth--so, seeing that it was about to attack, Danny would launch his own. The Mana Orb crashed into the bug's face with a bright flash. Jason "felt" its soul go limp in his grasp.

The Ectoslime devoured his next soul, and felt his mana grow. Danny watched the bug's body twitch as its mandibles cracked, and it flipped over onto its back. It seemed to instinctively curl in on itself, much like a spider, as it died.

LEVEL UP! Your combined experiences have culminated in new power! You are now Level 8! You gain Skill Points to distribute as you like!

Unspent Skill Points: 10

Current Skills:
Physical Damage Resistance I (1.0)(0.1)
Warcry II (2.175)(0.1)
Stone Shot II (2.6625)(0.1)
Rock Spire II (2.075)(0.1)
Tremor Sense II (2.425)(0.2)
Soil Manipulation I (1.15)(0.2)
Telepathy II (2.725)(0.5)
Material Analysis I (1.2)(0.1)
Magic Analysis I (1.55)(0.4)
Monster Analysis I (1.55)(0.2)
Mental Resistance I (1.55)(0.4)
Charisma I (1.15)(0.1)
Focus I (1.3)(0.5)
Limited Shapeshift I (1.6)(0.3)
Mind Wave I (1.2)(0.2)
Spell Chant I (1.3)(0.3)
Bounce I (1.15)(0.1)
Faster I (1.05)(0.1)
Blunt Resistance I (1.0)(0.1)
Spiritual Awareness I (1.75)
Transparency I (1.25)
Taboo I (1.9)
Levitate (--)
Guidance I (1.15)
Mana Drain I (1.5)
Meditate I (1.6)
<UNUSABLE>
Earth Affinity (0.7) <CANNOT BE INCREASED BY SKILL POINTS>
Wave Shock (0.1)
Swift Swimmer (0.1) <UNUSABLE WITH CURRENT ABILITIES>
Aqua Sphere (0.7)
Alert (0.1)
Smash (0.5) <UNUSABLE WITH CURRENT ABILITIES>
Cleave (0.3) <UNUSABLE WITH CURRENT ABILITIES>
Blood Drain (0.7)
Muffle (0.1)
Crafting (0.3) <UNUSABLE WITH CURRENT ABILITIES>
Magic Resistance (0.7)
Agriculture (0.3)
Plant Analysis (0.3)
Acid Spit (0.5) <UNUSABLE WITH CURRENT ABILITIES>
Fire Resistance (0.4)
Fortify (0.2)
Sensory Resistance (0.45)
Mana Orb (0.7)
Shield (0.5)
Alchemy (0.4)
Air Read (0.4)
Keen Sight (0.2)
Point Strike (0.2) <UNUSABLE WITH CURRENT ABILITIES>
Doze (0.1)
Acid Resistance (0.1)
Rabid Fit (0.3)
Pierce Resistance (0.8)
Lesser Cleanse (0.2)
Dextrous (0.2)
Quicken (0.3)
Earth Wall (0.1)
Stone Breaker (0.1) <UNUSABLE WITH CURRENT ABILITIES>
Iron Gullet (0.1) <UNUSABLE WITH CURRENT ABILITIES>
Slash Resistance (0.2)
Earth Vein (0.5)<UNUSABLE WITH CURRENT ABILITIES>
Mana Sense (0.8)
Mana Shape (0.2)
Possession (0.35)
Lesser Force (0.1)
Spell Cancel (0.1)
Curse Word (0.1)

System:Jason

LEVEL UP! Your combined experiences have culminated in new power! You are now Level 6! You gain Skill Points to distribute as you like!

Unspent Skill Points: 10

Current Skills:
Mana Orb II (2.475)
Lesser Force II (2.825)
Levitation (--)
Monster Analysis II (2.75)
Meditate I (1.4)
Mana Shape I (1.3)
Aqua Sphere I (1.2)
Magic Analysis I (1.7)
Mana Dart I (1.05)
Blunt Resistance I (1.05)
Focus I (1.0)
Faster I (1.05)
Plant Analysis I (1.05)
<UNUSABLE>
Mana Strike (0.5)
Mana Shell (0.1)
Point Strike (0.8)
Suppress Presence (0.8)
Muffle (0.7)
Spell Cancel (0.1)
Aqua Stream (0.1)
Magic Dash (0.2)
Spell Chant (0.1)
Material Analysis (0.5)
Mana Drain (0.1)
Alert (0.2)
Fire Resistance (0.1)
Charisma (0.2)
Spiritual Awareness (0.6)
Mana Vision (0.5)
Stronger (0.1)

System:Danny

With the Beetle dead, it seemed like nothing else was around to disturb the ghostly slime and the Poltergeist. They couldn't hear Trent chopping trees anymore...in fact, something, maybe their animalistic senses, told them that the humans probably were not nearby anymore. They knew that the goblin tribe had gone to the east--but who knew how far they had traveled by now? They might risk going back to the cave, if they wanted to try running in and out of the dungeon video-game style to see what loot or experience they could get. But they could also go west to the mountains, or east to...whatever was out there. Maybe south. Anywhere they desired, really...what were their goals, from here on out?

---

Orchid's Tribe

”OI! Quit hollaring! So you all got stronger. What of it? We still gots lots of work to do if we wanna survive out here. Hunters, make sure you get skills that’ll help you fight. I’m sure some of you might be tempted to pick something like smash or slash, but if you can get something that’ll help you throw or shoot. Being goblins, the chances of us surviving a fight against a big monster ain’t big, even if we’re working together. Better that we can hit em hard from afar.”

Orchid's goblins stopped celebrating as she raised her voice. And as they processed what she said, they began to look confused...all except for Crispy.

"Get skillz? How we do dat, Boss?" Bigs asked, scratching his head.

"Yeah, ya can't just pick skillz!" Wej said, nodding like someone who doesn't really know but wants to look smart anyway. "Everybody knows, skillz is da blessins from da Old Gobs! Dey just shows up when dey shows up! Is all misty-airs!"

”Crafters need crafting skills of course. And learn more about what you’re working with, whether it’s plants or monsters or what. And gatherers need similar skills, maybe something that’ll also help you move faster or stronger so you can carry more stuff. If you can learn magic then do it.”

"M-magic?" Yoona looked at Crispy, then at Orchid, then down at himself. "B-but, we can'ts do no magic! Only yous and Crispy got it, and yous da only one talked to Big Demons! Crispy just got burnt! I dun wanna get burnt!"

"OI!" Crispy broke in, shouting over the others before any more protests could be made. "Da boss means, go practice yer hurtin'! See who can make da loudest bang on da trees wif yer clubs, or who can stick the most leaves on da enda dey spear when ya stabs it! Ya buncha dums!"

Given the look on his face, the other goblins scurried away from Crispy and left Orchid to her crafting and cooking. Jezee began gathering up wood for the bush-turned-campfire, but she wouldn't go out of sight of Orchid and kept looking around the dark woods nervously. Clod sat down with his back against the tree and began examining the stone blade of his sword for any chips or cracks. If he found them, he used some of the stones that had been gathered during the trip to try and hone the edge. Sqwal had run off with Wej and Bigs, and their arguments over who was better at what could be heard by the rest of the group. Yoona helped Crispy re-apply the last of the healing herbs to his arm, solely because the other goblin ordered him to...although, Yoona seemed a little out of it. Whether he was just tired, or something had happened during the fight, he had grown sluggish and drowsy.

Tiddies sat down not far from Orchid, but also kept her back to a tree. Like Yoona, she seemed to be crashing...but she kept her eyes locked on Orchid, carefully watching what the other goblinette was doing with all the parts of the Armored Badger and the food.

Skill Rank Up: Charisma I (1.6) > II (2.0)!
Your ability to convince others has subtly increased. This Skill still won't work on those with strong Wills even if they're below your level. The effectiveness of leadership-type buff skills will be boosted by Skill Synergy.

Skill Gain: Warcry I (0.9 > 1.0)!
In the heat of battle, you can unleash an echoing roar of fury. At this rank, it might hurt someone’s ears, but its real effect is to cause enemies to focus on you for a short amount of time.

Skill Gain: Fire Resistance I (0.8 > 1.0)!
This damage resistance skill applies to both magical and natural flames, as well as higher temperatures in general. If other elemental resistances are gained, skill synergy may occur. Having this skill may make using certain types of fire magic or other fire oriented skills easier. - You possess the Hellish Fiend's Protection (Petty). Your total Fire Resistance is Rank II -

Skill Gain: Defender I (0.7 > 1.0)!
Expend Stamina to harden the muscles in the body and reduce damage taken while blocking an attack. If used with a shield or armor, the effect is boosted. If used without a solid footing, the effect is diminished.

You looted the Armored Badger!
Obtained Items:
Badger Hide (Bad Quality) x1
Tough Hide Plate (Poor Quality) x3
Fresh Badger Meat (30 pounds edible)
Fresh Badger Offal (9 pounds)
Small Monster Bones (Average) x4
Small Monster Ribcage (Average) x1
Small Monster Bone Plates (Average) x4
Small Monster Spine (Average) x1
Armored Badger Skull (Poor) x1
Armored Badger Fangs (Average) x2
Armored Badger Claws (Average) x8

You used Crafting V!
Green Switch + Fresh Badger Meat + Fresh Badger Offal + Fire
Repeat Process x9

Fresh Badger Offal + Blue Argeps + Green Argeps + Fire

You created Badger Kebabs (x9)!
Made with chopped up bits of liver, kidney, and the gamey, earthy meat of an Armored Badger roasted over an open flame and speared with a fresh green piece of wood, this is a surprisingly filling meal for such simple fare.

You created Badger Berry Tripe!
By putting fresh Argeps into an Armored Badger's stomach sac, the acidity of the berries helps tenderize the leathery membrane and their sweetness overcomes the powerful offal flavor. Once roasted over the fire, it's a chewy meal that bursts with fruity flavor in every bite!

21 pounds of Fresh Badger Meat remain.
3.5 pounds of Fresh Badger Offal remain.

System:Orchid

The smell of cooking food soon drew the other goblins back to the fire, and several of them were yawning now as well. The sun was good and truly down now, and the stars were twinkling up above. As the goblins finally made to settle down in their little camp, Orchid spoke up again.

”Didn’t get much done as far as weapon crafting. Fuck, took us the whole damn day just to make some goddamn rope and one spiked club. I can’t be da only one crafting if we wanna raid the farm with more than just twigs and bushes. Wej! Crispy! Tomorrow we’re gonna focus on making shit for the tribe. Ready or not we’re gunna attack the farm at night, when they least expect it. Hunters, make sure you get us food and learn how ta hit hard with whatever ya got. Gatherers, get rocks and sticks wherever you can. But for now, we eat!” Orchid proudly displayed the badger kebabs. They weren’t anything too fancy, but a step up from eating raw fruit and meat. The goblins looked at them in awe for several moments before finally digging in--and once the first batch of kebabs had disappeared, everyone wanted to make their own. As most of them didn't possess Orchid's skill or "sense" for what cooked food actually was, their own attempts mostly consisted of finding a tree branch, spearing some of the badger meat or offal on it, and then holding it in the fire until they either couldn't stand the tasty smell anymore, or noticed that it was starting to turn black. The new battle cry of "HASHAFASHASASH" was heard several more times that night as the goblins tried to stuff themselves before the meat had even stopped burning. Orchid had used a good deal of the meat herself, but by the time everyone had eaten their fill only 10 pounds of Fresh Badger Meat was left, and all the Fresh Badger Offal had been eaten.

”After we done eating we’ll go to sleep. Biggs, you got first watch. Den Sqwal. Third will be Wej, den wake me up so I can get the day started for us.” Now that they were truly full and satiated, for possibly the first time in their entire lives, the goblins brooked no argument with their new boss. Even Crispy had nothing to say as he settled down on a pile of leaves, carefully adjusting his injured arm. Clod had fallen asleep before he even finished eating, his last kebab clutched tightly in his hand with only half of it bitten off. Tiddies, too, was in a deep, heavy slumber, as if she were dead. Yoona had curled up in a fetal position up under a bush, and though the ground was cool the brush kept the wind off of him and the fire's warmth was nearby.

The night passed...

[[Orchid's Tribe enters Day 5]]

"AAAAAAAAAAGH!"

The sun hadn't come up yet, everything was still blue and misty and damp and chilly. But when Orchid told Wej to wake her up, she was pretty sure she hadn't told him to do it by screaming his head off...yet here he was.

"BOSS! BOSS, BOSS, DERE'S STRANGE GOBS HERE!"

Jumping up and down and pointing, the fat goblin gestured until Orchid was on her feet. Then, holding his spear in trembling hands, he slowly edged forwards toward the tree and reached out with the butt of the weapon.

The sleeping Redcap dropped his badger kebab with a snort, and without opening his eyes groped out and pushed the spear away. Wej poked him again, and the Redcap rolled over with a grimace. A third poke provoked a snarl from the monster, and he grabbed the stone sword lying next to him and whirled. Wej squealed as his weapon was knocked from his hand, and the Redcap stood to a full height just over four feet, but fairly broad of shoulder and chest even compared to the pudgier goblin.

"WEJ YA DUM, QUIT POKIN' ME OR I'LL CUT YA HEAD OFF!"

"What's goin' on, shaddup all dat fuggin noise!" Crispy stood up, wincing as his arm throbbed after not moving all night. And behind him, two other figures jumped up on unsteady feet. They each stood at four and a half feet, and their skin was a darker shade of green. Their proportions, and their facial features, had become much more sophisticated. Their ears were still long, and they still had sharp teeth, and their noses were still thick. But their hair had grown and their bodies had developed. To someone who couldn't see skin color, they might have passed for stunted, extremely ugly, human teenagers.

"...Why errybody smalls?" asked the male, as he looked around and blinked with wide eyes--then gasped and jumped in shock when he laid eyes on the other Hobgoblin. "T-t-t-TIDDIES!?"

"Yoona, dat you? And...dat red gob over dere, dat's Clod?" Tiddies' hair, especially, had lengthened significantly and her proportions had grown more noticeably than Yoona's. They were likely the oldest goblins in the group besides Crispy, but unlike him had not transformed up until this point for some reason. As the now much more mature looking female looked over at Orchid, Tiddies seemed both confused and thoughtful. Gears were definitely turning in her head. The other goblins also turned to Orchid, but they didn't seem to know what to think at all.

I, the Demon King, Will Summon My Own Damned Heroes!

@Lucius Cypher Sounds like someone wants all the Damned Heroes to only have Fire/Fighting evolutions from now on.

@ReusableSword How dare you.

I, the Demon King, Will Summon My Own Damned Heroes!

@Duthguy Unless they start in the dungeon, no, they'll have the same options. Unless there's a riot over that or something. I figured you guys would want them to start under basically the same circumstances you did so there wouldn't be any hard feelings about someone getting to be something that you would have wanted to be if you had the options at the time, etc. Plus they're just in a different part of the forest, so it's not like it's a completely new environment with 150 brand new Pokemon to catch.

I, the Demon King, Will Summon My Own Damned Heroes!

Those that have expressed interest in joining, I know it's been a while without an update on the possibility of that so apologies. With most of the group getting into Day 5 (chronologically day 12, but we started our counter on the day they "awakened" and their bodies were mature enough to start being independent) I have been working on a modified character sheet and stuff. Within the coming weeks, I'll be posting that and include a notification to all the people who either didn't get to join before we closed, or expressed interest recently.

At the moment, the plan is going to be having the new players start in a different area of the same general region. Unless there's a big issue with it, newbies will be starting in the "Deep Forest" some distance north of the original Cave. You'll have your own Boss to deal with and several other...obstacles. ;)

The only other option besides that to make sense at this point in the story, and also keep you guys from being worlds apart with the other players, would be if you were to start inside the Dungeon itself as an Undead, under the control of the Dungeon Core. Your story at that point would become one of somehow breaking free of the Core's control before you could explore the outside world. However, that option is very limited and leaves you with pretty much only zombies, ghosts, and skeletons of various creatures to work with.

I, the Demon King, Will Summon My Own Damned Heroes!

PixieSlime Party

The deer squealed when Asura drove his body, in spike form, into the bottom of its jaw. He broke the skin, and pierced deep as blood coated the creature's fur, but couldn't get into the bone. As the creature struggled to free itself it inadvertently cut its own neck further, and the bloodflow thickened as it bleated pitifully--

Luckily, Ardur cut its suffering short as he dropped like a rock from above. Right along that shaft of the morning sun, he struck precisely along the vertebrae of the Bowhorn Deer's neck and spine. With his new skill and all the momentum behind the attack, he felt it shatter under his weighty blow. The deer dropped immediately--though its legs weakly kicked, and its body shuddered with a last gasping breath, the light was gone from its eyes.

"Ahsoowa! Big fud!" Momma Slime bubbled as she let go of the deer's antlers. She rolled around to one side and immediately started to envelop one of its meaty haunches. "Ahdoo, gud!" Meanwhile, Steve reacted with something that might have been alarm, waving several legs at Momma Slime before the Oculus Spider began trying to spin a web around the front leg it had pinned. Perhaps she was afraid the big slime would eat the deer before she got a chance to do so herself.

With this threat addressed, Asura and Ardur were now free to do...whatever they wished. The cave was back to the east, but so far they hadn't heard any more of that chopping noise, or anything from those goblins. Maybe that tribe had finally moved on? The smoke from last night was all gone as well...something had put those fires out. Back to their west, there was still that mountain, and that nest of Dire Rats perhaps...Up north, they would be following the base of the mountain range, but heading into the forest. If they went south, they would have to skirt around the edges of the mountains to get over the hills and cliffs where the cave was, but then they might be able to go...who knew yet?

They had secured some food to refill their bellies after last night's rest, and they were full on their health, stamina, and magic. They had recently leveled up, and their non-human allies were still proving quite good teammates. The only thing to limit them now...was their own imagination.

---

Rat Party

You attempted to use Monster Analysis!
...Analysis Failed. Even with Beast Senses II, Target is still too far...
---???---
Due to the creature's size, despite the distance you can tell that, whatever it is, it has at least two wings and a long tail. Its body is very large--it seems to have at least one set of limbs.
---Analysis Failed---

You are attempting to Process an Item.
You do not have the Crafting Skill, the Item will degrade.
Gnarled Stick + Rough Stone

You have Processed the Item successfully!
Gnarled Stick > Short Cudgel!

You feel this weapon can swing slightly faster than the Gnarled Stick. However, this weapon doesn't feel very tough at all.

System:Ed

You used Plant Analysis I!
---Healing Herb---
This green herb does not thrive on sunlight, but on ambient Mana. With good nutrients and clean water in its surroundings, it will synthesize pure healing energy. Low-grade item.
---Analysis Complete!---

You used Crafting I!
Your method of crafting is highly advanced given the nature of your materials and species.
You possess the Dextrous I skill, increasing your ability with your tools despite your species limitations.
Crafting is boosted.

Bugward Flower + Kilm Blossom + Indented Rock + Rough Stone
New Item Created!
Obtained: Medicinal Salve!

This item has disinfectant and pain inhibiting properties, and seems to increase the natural healing rate for an affected area. Restores a small amount of HP, equivalent to half of a Healing Herb from your experience. This batch is thoroughly mixed--its healing properties are boosted.

You used Crafting I!
Your method of crafting is highly advanced given the nature of your materials and species. Your Dextrous skill increases your ability with tools. Crafting is boosted.

Medicinal Salve + Nullven Cone + Indented Rock + Rough Stone
New Item Created!
Lost: Medicinal Salve
Obtained: Antidotal Salve!

This item has disinfectant, pain inhibiting, and antitoxin properties! It seems to increase the natural recovery rate for an affected area. Cures Low-rank Poison and temporarily increases Poison Resistance. This batch is thoroughly mixed--it will also restore a very small amount of HP!

Skill Rank Up: Crafting I (1.8) > Crafting II (2.0)!
Crafting Complexity Increased. Stamina Requirement Decreased.

You are experiencing a Fast Rate of Skill Progression.

System:Asteria

When Asteria ground the Bugward Flower against the rock, its petals were quick to fall off. The majority of the juices that mixed with the fibrous matter to make the paste came from the dark center of the plant. The body of the paste, on the other hand, came mostly from the stem. Though the plant was longer than Asteria's body, it only provided enough gooey matter and juice to make a small amount of paste--it probably wouldn't have covered more than a bandaid on a regular sized human. The Kilm Blossom's sour smelling sap mixed in easily, though as she ground the roots they seemed to be more powdery or starchy. As the two substances mixed, the paste turned a minty green color and the sour smell faded in intensity, instead turning a little sharper and more acrid, like strong toothpaste. Her tests using a small scratch on her tail, along with her Crafting Skill, told her everything she needed to know--this mixture would indeed work as medicine.

When she broke up the Nullven Cone as well, it came apart in crumbly flakes. Once these were mixed into the original salve, the minty green color began to look like some kind of mint-chocolate chip ice cream, save that the chips were purple in color. And of course, it wasn't nearly as appetizing in appearance. Again, her tests proved successful--and she got a skill rank increase to boot.

However, given that she had used only one of each plant--and only half the Nullven, at that--she didn't have enough salve to last beyond her original tests. Maybe it was better that way anyhow. She had nothing to carry such a salve in, and given how sticky it was she would probably need some kind of container that would keep it from getting mixed with dirt or any other items.

With that done, she instead spent her time trying to obtain the Meditate skill. Her Mana Sense couldn't tell her much...she could feel the energies around her like feeling water in the air after a hard rain. But the magic was just...there. No feeling of danger, yet no comfort either. There were slight differences between the Mana she felt in a breeze, or from a fresh blade of grass, and from the exposed dirt...Nonetheless, she could feel it buzzing across her skin. Rolling over her and through her, being drawn in with every breath...In this world, magical energy seemed to flow like blood through one's veins.

After Ed took his place on the watch and attempted to craft a wedge or point onto his Gnarled Stick, it seemed the system didn't think highly of his attempt. But even without a Skill it wasn't impossible--all he was doing was trying to sharpen the stick, right? Though the stone didn't have a good edge, and the knotty stick wouldn't shave evenly...It took some time, a great deal of effort, and there were a few times when the stick would crack or splinter, but eventually Ed had at least smoothed the surface of the stick out and formed a narrower edge along the striking surface. It didn't come to a point and wasn't fine enough for a blade, but it had made the stick a little smoother in the hand and better balanced for his swing. Maybe swinging it faster would help increase the force of impact, driving it into the smaller surface area along the wedge.

Ed
Your Stamina is Full.
Your HP is Full.
Your MP is Full.
You are Peckish.
You are Thirsty.

Asteria
Your Stamina is Full.
Your HP is Full.
Your MP is Full.
You are Peckish.
You are Thirsty.

System

[[Rat Party is now on Day 5]]

Once the sun was up, the rats made their decision to investigate the village. When Asteria tried to use Telepathy and tell Mother Rat to stay in the shelter, the elder rat looked confused. She creeped out of the burrow, and put her nose to the ground. Making one circle around it, she looked back at up at Asteria and squeaked...but the other two rats were already heading off.

Mother Rat looked back the way they had come, and her ears flattened against her head. She crouched at the mouth of the burrow, watching the surroundings intently...she only paused to glance back at the bug parts that were left, sniffing at a piece of the Myrminor for a moment before she turned back to her watch. Her fur bristled.

Ed and Asteria slowly drew closer to the village. As they did, they could now see more detail about the villagers themselves...

The guards wore a mantle or cloak of some sort made from the grass of the plains, simply woven together and tied with string. A few of them wore shoes that looked to be made from straw as well, but then others wore shoes made from proper leather, even with laces. All of the guards were men, and wore pants made from canvas cloth or spun wool. Their shirts were the same, but the majority were sleeveless--only one man had a tunic that looked to be of a better material. Knitted belts wrapped around their waists, the ends hanging down in front of their groins like loincloths. Given the mixed nature of materials, the widely varying quality, and the patterns on some of their clothing...it wasn't clear whether this was a primitive village or something more advanced. Did they live out here similarly to Native Americans or other tribal peoples? Maybe they had gotten the other clothes or different materials through trade?

Most of them were deeply tanned, but their musculature tended towards lean. They were still much bigger than the two rats, but none of them looked burly. Still, they held proper weapons with steel blades--spears for the most part, and long knives.

The village was laid out in a circle for the most part. The thatched, rounded cottages were of varying sizes, but the smallest seemed to be about 10 feet high and probably about that large in diameter. Here and there wooden posts had been hammered into the ground to make rough fences, mostly for keeping in livestock--though it seemed only a few chicken-like creatures were currently poking about their enclosures. One pen a little further around the village from where Ed and Asteria creeped looked like it had been trampled recently--it was broken open and a few things that looked like tools and scraps of cloth were scattered about.

The wooden shed was a simple A-frame hut, with no walls. Its roof was made of thatched grass, and on each side reached all the way down to the ground. Its triangular shape, open at both ends, gave it the appearance of a tent. Inside, there were several stacks of firewood. They had been cut and stacked in a square fashion, each layer perpendicular to the other, so that they would dry out more efficiently and bugs or rot wouldn't get in between the logs. There were also several large clay jars, a few with lids, and some woven grass baskets. Up on a wooden shelf made from lashed sticks, there were a few rolls of something colored pale beige...it wasn't paper, but something thicker.

Ed and Asteria were able to creep up under the lip of the shed, and it seemed no one at all had noticed them...would they continue to investigate the village and try to learn more about these people? Would they attempt to steal some of these items and then head back to the burrow?

As they considered this, more villagers began to leave their huts. Several of these were women, and their style of dress was similar to the men save that they only wore dresses and skirts, no pants. They did, however, wear jewelry that looked to be made of woven flowers...and bits of bone that clattered and jangled. None of them carried any weapons either, but some had primitive brooms or other such tools.

One elderly woman with a pudgy build walked to the center of the village. Here a large dirt circle of some kind had been designated, and built upon a mound of packed earth. The circle's border was marked by thick woven rope, far too big to serve any practical purpose tying things down, so it must have been made specifically to mark out this circle for some reason. On four sides of the circle, forming the corners of a square that fit the ring in that mathematically perfect way, were small structures that seemed like shrines or displays of some kind. The pudgy woman walked around these four objects, chanting something in a low voice.

Smoke began to curl towards the sky as fires were lit, both inside and out of the houses. Fires would mean that wood was needed...But if they were getting ready to cook, that would mean food might appear soon as well...

---

Ghost Party

You used Monster Analysis II! You used Magic Analysis I!
Slimes are amorphous creatures more similar to undeveloped egg yolks, yet they are able to move on their own and digest prey. Their bodies are highly resistant to physical damage and malleable. Slimes can sometimes store objects inside themselves or change the shapes of their bodies. When they become too large, they reproduce by division. Slimes usually do not have any magical abilities. This Slime has much lower MP than you do and no magical skills. Its MP is currently being drained by Jason...
--Note--
As a Spirit-class Monster, Jason is consuming the soul of this creature and its magical power. Without this sustenance, most Spirit-class creatures quickly pass on.
---Analysis Complete!---

You used Plant Analysis I!
---Kao Tree---
A hardwood tree common all over the world within the temperate ranges. They produce a woody nut that is somewhat edible, though it requires processing and has low nutritional value. When dried and treated the wood is very sturdy, so it is commonly used as building and crafting material. The leaves and bark of this tree contains a sort of acid that isn't harmful to most creatures, but simply deters some kinds of predators.
---Analysis Complete!---

System:Danny

After finally finding a safe place to settle for the night, Jason and Danny were able to get some much needed rest. Though Jason couldn't really sleep, once there were no more threats he was able to deeply submerge himself into meditation. The "trance" of sorts let him pass the time almost as if he were asleep, with just the barest sensation of awareness. There was, at different times, something unusual...a growing and sudden sense of dread? The feeling of something pressing in all around him? A pulling sensation, or a dull roaring sound? Whenever he sunk into trance and his "awareness" grew dark, he somehow knew...that black, monochrome, empty world of the void was still waiting for him. The first chance it got, it would take him back...

[[Ghost Party now enters Day 5]]

Morning came. The black slime corpse had deflated, and it looked like its own digestive juices were eating at the membrane of its body. Trying to pick it up from the bottom of the tree hollow would probaby be like trying to handle a very fragile water balloon...filled with acid. Other than that, nothing had changed for the Poltergeist and Ectoslime's little camp. The trees rustled in a gentle morning breeze. The dew glistened and dripped from leaves and branches alike. The soft, misty blue hues of early dawn brought with them a slight chill.

Jason was brought out of his last trance by an odd prickling sensation all over his body. It was like when a limb had gone to sleep, and the "static" and numbness had reached that uncomfortable point. But it was all over him, no matter what form his mist took or what he was "touching..." Right now it wasn't painful, but...was it him, or was his Mana depleting just a point or two faster? Nonetheless, he had filled himself to the brim and then some over the night, so right now it wasn't really a problem for him.

Danny
Your Stamina is Full.
Your HP is Full.
Your MP is Full.
You are Famished.
You are Thirsty.

Jason
Your MP is Overfull. Mana Density has increased.
Your Mana Burn has subsided. Natural Mana Regeneration returns to Normal Levels.
Your MP is being affected by environmental factors.
You experienced a Fast Rate of Skill Progression.

System

A sound would immediately draw attention in the quiet forest morning. Something had come along and started to dig around the roots of the hollow tree. It was...a bug of some kind? A big black beetle, with snapping mandibles...but it looked like it had been injured recently. One of its legs dragged, and the shell over its wings was cracked. Jason could see its soul, smaller than that of the Dire Rat or the Slime...yet there was also an outline of sorts around it, as if the gray light was inside a soap bubble. As it began to chew on one of the tree roots, tearing away the bark with its mandibles, the gray light flickered like a candle and grew a little bigger within the bubble...

I, the Demon King, Will Summon My Own Damned Heroes!

Monster Party

Torrent, covered in the shining aura of a boosted Shield II, stood her ground as the Giant Slime tried to crush her. Once again, she used her combined stream of poisonous fumes and flame against the creature, this time attempting to cut off the pseudopods like a blow torch. Meanwhile, Oberon and Ash both continued to use their analysis skills--Oberon targeted their enemy, while Ash was looking at Digbie's Sacred Ground spell. She was able to analyze it just in time, but she couldn't see the "shape" of the Mana through her vision, at least not clearly enough to understand it. The Demiblin had put his hands back on the ground and activated Earth Vein again, but at the same time he inadvertently deactivated his Sacred Ground--he still couldn't maintain another active skill while using Earth Vein at the same time! The temporary Mana overfill had subsided, now that he had cast a couple of spells, but the system almost immediately dinged to tell him that he was full on MP again.

You used Monster Analysis I! You have Analyzed this Monster before with a different skill!
---Giant Slime---
Giant Slimes have simply grown bigger, and their membranes have increased in strength so as to hold more mass without causing their bodies to split. Their digestive fluids also become stronger, but as a result of these advantages they require more food. Giant Slimes have little to no magic to speak of; they have only slightly above the bare minimum of Magical Power for a Monster. They have no elemental affiliation by nature, though Slimes that live in environments rich with ambient mana sometimes take on properties better suited for their habitat.
---Analysis Complete!---

System:Oberon

You used Magic Analysis II! You are attempting to use Mana Vision at the same time!
---Sacred Ground---
Rank I. By marking an area, channel Mana create a safe zone. HP will recover slowly for allies, and damage taken will slightly decrease. This Spell consumes MP for as long as it is active. The larger the zone, the more MP required.
STRUCTURE:
!INCOMPLETE ELEMENTAL FUSION COMPREHENSION!
N₃E₇I₃W₁
---Analysis Complete!---

System:Ash

All of this happened at once, and thus when Torrent's attack tore through one of the pseudopods, Oberon and Ash appeared to simply be watching as the other false limb came down hard on top of her before she could cut through it. The first pseudopod, as well, kept going with its built-up momentum and also struck the Lesserwurm, though not so hard. Still, Torrent was driven into the ground and felt every bone in her body shudder as the huge masses of gel pressed against her. Like a boxer that has taken a knockout blow, her ears rang and her vision swam--her limbs felt like lead and she couldn't seem to catch her breath...

She could vaguely hear Digbie calling out as he pointed at her and snapped his fingers. Another Shield appeared around her, though oddly not as strong as that last one that the slime's attack just broke. Maybe it was because Digbie was also trying to use Sacred Ground at the same time, but the Demiblin would feel the flow of mana balking within him. Almost like the involuntary halt of one's body when they run at an obstacle in an attempt to hurdle over it, then realize it is too high. Only when he finally put all of his focus on Sacred Ground could he make it work again.

Oberon had begun to shape his Fireball, attempting to make a modification using his experience with Mana Dart. Ash observed as he did so. The Giant Slime was still reeling in pain, but again it lurched towards Torrent. It rolled over her just like it had Digbie in the beginning of their encounter, causing the severed limb to stick back to its membrane and slamming her deeper into the earth. Her shield hadn't broken again yet, but from the sputtering and fizzling coming off the aura it seemed any followup blow might do it. The Giant Slime sat on top of her, keeping her pinned--without air--as it now shifted and raised a larger pseudopod in Digbie's direction...

You used Magic Analysis II! You are attempting to use Mana Vision at the same time!
---?Fireball?---
The basic magical fire attack. With roughly the same power, range, and MP consumption as a Mana Orb, it has the unique property of being able to inflict a burn on the target. However, elemental properties render it harder to use in certain circumstances. Non-flammable or elementally opposed targets, for example, will be much less effected. Oberon seems to be altering this spell...
STRUCTURE:
!INCOMPLETE ELEMENTAL FUSION COMPREHENSION!
F₁
---Analysis Complete!---

System:Ash

This time Ash saw more. That first structure, at the very center of Oberon's fireball--a deep golden square, almost black, and two oscillating lines extending towards towards another square on each side. But this time...those squares weren't red? They were light green...and so were several other squares, appearing as Oberon poured more energy into this spell. These new structures began to orbit around the first, taking shape naturally as Oberon held the Fireball in his hands in preparation to shape it. The green squares couldn't come too close to the golden one, they were being repelled...and as they were repelled around it, they came together in clusters of three, and two of each trio would turn a light blue instead--and now they were suddenly drawn back towards the center!? The two oscillations on either side of the gold-black core now began moving at a much higher frequency! At the moment the new structures touched the old, there was a flash of neon purple and the two squares on either side of the gold one became fully three-dimensional cubes instead, once again bright red! It was at this point that the Fireball in Oberon's hand was fully formed and began to put off heat, vapor waves and colorless smoke--and then he began to shape it! New squares began to blink into existence in Ash's sight, but they were colorless and had no oscillations--

Again, she couldn't help but blink.

At the speed of thought, such things passed. The Giant Slime was on top of Torrent, pinning her down, she had been beaten hard and couldn't breathe, and now it was turning to Digbie--!

Oberon's Fireball shot through the air like a thrown javelin. It struck the Giant Slime dead center, and penetrated just a finger's length into that thick membrane. Only the tail end flash of the flame spread over its outer surface, but inside it the heat expanded and turned its orange body red, then yellow hot around that point. They could see its insides actually bubbling as the creature boiled. With a screech, it abandoned the attack on the Demiblin and now turned for the hills--it was retreating!

But it was trying to take Torrent with it, as its membrane gripped her at every point in contact...!

---

PixieSlime Party

You used Monster Analysis I!
---Bowhorn Deer---
This species of deer has absorbed magical energy from the forest and the plants, causing its horns to become more like saplings than bone. They're still plenty sharp and tough, but have an added flexibility that makes them valuable to bowyers and other craftsmen. As it grows older, sometimes the horns even sprout blooms or fruit of some sort, varying based on the creature's diet and habitat.

System:Asura

With his shapeshift ability Asura was able to dart between the Bowhorn Deer's hooves as it came back to earth. Whether it was just trying to scare him away or actually stomp him wasn't clear, but before it could do anything else he Smashed its knee--or technically, given the bone structure of most quadropeds, its ankle. There was a crunch, but it didn't sound like a breaking bone. Nonetheless, the animal stumbled and went down part of the way, as if it were bowing its front end low. At this same moment, Ardur was giving orders to the two non-reborn and taking flight. Momma Slime let out a burbling "wat?" but then headed towards the fight anyway--helping Asura had been her intention from the start. Steve understood the order through Ardur's Taming link, however, and as soon as Momma Slime was out of the way the Spider launched a Web Spit at the deer's other leg.

At almost the same time the sticky goop covered its hoof, Momma Slime suddenly lashed out with one of her pseudopods a little faster than usual. She caught hold of one of the creature's horns and pulled--at the same time drawing another pseudopod back, balling it up on the end like a fist!

"MASH!"

Maybe she was imitating Asura or something she had seen in one of his thought transmissions, or maybe she was getting smarter again and had figured out a better way to attack. But for all intents and purposes, the best way to describe the attack was this: Momma Slime had grappled the deer, and then straight-up punched it right in the face. Blood spurted from the creature's nostrils, and it thrashed its head back and forth wildly with wide, panicked eyes--it could barely budge Momma Slime's weight, however, and while its back legs began to lash out and kick with those sharp hooves, it wasn't in much position to be any kind of threat...

From above, Ardur had a perfect shot at the creature--through the treetops above, a single ray of the early morning sunlight even fell through, putting a spotlight right on the base of the creature's neck.

---

Rat Party

Asteria's attempt at crafting was...not quite so successful as she might have hoped. She was able to find a fairly large rock without a great deal of trouble, but her chisel was much too small and hadn't been knapped well enough to stand up to that kind of abuse. Dire Rats were strong, but she wasn't quite strong enough to actually chip into the larger stone, even when using another smaller rock to try and hammer her blade in. The knapped stone chipped further, becoming a nigh-usless sliver. When she used her own teeth, she was able to make chips and cracks here and there and then scrape them off a little at a time...but ultimately, her attempt at making a bowl would probably take much, much longer, and either better tools or a more suitable body. Still, she had made some sort of indent. And the stone was of a size that at the very least it could be used as a cutting board of sorts--basically, it wouldn't have held water, but smashing plants into paste on top of it was still very doable.

You used Plant Analysis I!
---Bugward Flower---
These flowers produce an oily smoke that repels many insects when burned. It grows between four to thirty inches, with about one hundred ray-like petals that range from a vivid blue to darker grays and blacks towards the center. If a fresh stem is cut or the plant is mashed to paste, the juice can disinfect wounds.
---Kittail Plant---
A tall plant stalk that produces a seedy head, which are ripe when they become bright red. These cause them to hang over like the tails of a Kitsune, as their namesake. Originally imported from a foreign land, this plant can sometimes be found growing wild but more often is a food crop. The seeds can be ground into a flour and used for a variety of baking recipes.
---Kilm Blossom---
This herb produces blue and yellow blossoms in the spring. The green, unpleasant smelling sap attracts many kinds of pollinating insects. Ancient tribes used it as an all-purpose salve or to make tea, and grinding its roots releases a pain inhibitor of some sort.
---Nullven Cone---
This flower has deep purple petals that hang down, and can be between two and three feet tall. There are some anti-poison properties in its extracts, though it seems to boost a body's immune system rather than negate or destroy poisons directly. It can also treat acne, rash, and fever.
---Wasp Thorn---
This plant bears thorns of an interesting design. If you are pricked by them, it is better to disengage slowly. Some advocate running through most brambles quickly to get the pain over with, but in the case of the Wasp Thorn this causes the thorns to hook and tear painfully into whatever they have caught. A substance the plant produces causes the pain to linger for some time, possibly days if one is sensitive to it. Its leaves are also covered in thorns, but can be used to make diuretic tea.

System:Asteria

After the rats ate their fill, Asteria would take first watch while trying to make something from these plants. While she stayed outside, that left considerably more room in the burrow, and Ed would actually be able to fit. Albeit cramped, he and Mother Rat would soon be asleep. When he switched out with Asteria, he would find that the plains seemed relatively peaceful at night...save for an occasional, distant howl from some creature or another. And at one point, a large shadow that circled under the clouds, and over the mountains to the west...

A whole new world was out there, after all. Full of unknown creatures, no doubt many of them quite threatening. But for now, the rats slept...

And in the morning, they were the first to see the sun as its gaze swept across the grass...

The village was much more visible now. The huts had a very primitive look to them, but at the same time there were definitely signs of civilization. Rugs and blankets were being aired out after they were slept on all night, and as they hung out the window one could tell from their colors and patterns that this society was far past the cave-man level.

Just like Ed had predicted, the few villagers--no more than four, perhaps--on watch were yawning and trudging along their routes. Some even leaned against walls, their heads nodding. One sat near a fire that had burned low hours ago, its coals barely smoldering. At the moment, none of them were near that woodshed over there...

---

Ghost Party

Danny was able to grab the black slime, and keep it from hitting him full force in the face. However, it was too heavy for him, and hard to hold onto. It continued to squirm in his grasp, once getting a pseudopod out for a hefty punch to the Poltergeist's face. Surprisingly it didn't hurt as much as it might have--his Blunt Resistance coming into play, no doubt--but it was still a hard knock that he felt deep in his newly-formed bones.

But then the creature suddenly seized in his hands--not an attempt at escape, but rather an actual seizure! Or something very similar to it. The slime let out a pitiable creening cry...but it seemed vulnerable!

Unseen by Danny, Jason had cut off his meditation early. Even as he narrowed his focus to only those two souls, the System again informed him as he rushed towards them that he had low MP. But as the warning flashed brightly in his mind, he made that last ghostly lunge and latched onto the Slime. He shoved a Transparent pseudopod into it and then released the technique, causing that violent rejection that gave him nausea but also seemed to hurt the slime. Then, trying to form his insubstantial mist into a ripping, grasping hand, he went for the Slime's soul and activated his Mana Drain--!

--Nothing nothing nothing not nothing! Thing, thing not nothing, thing good more thing some thing bad! Some bad thing HURT, thing hurt me! Me. Me not me. Me thing good good me not hurt me. Eat. Me find thing, eat thing, eat good thing, eat bad thing bad thing good me. Need eat. More eat. Hard thing. Soft thing. Warm thing. Cold thing. Not me thing. Me....I. I am Jason.

It was easy to separate the Slime's memories from his own after the first few instants--they had both begun life in that cave and made a meager living as Slimes do, simply moving from place to place and eating whatever they found while avoiding whatever presented danger. Concepts like light, heat, cold, shelter, and just about everything else were beyond the Slime, and there was almost immediately a point where Jason could clearly recognize and draw a line between their two different levels of sentience. It didn't threaten to pull away his identity the way other souls had.

The black Slime was still seizing in Danny's grip, and Jason was still draining Mana from it...

I, the Demon King, Will Summon My Own Damned Heroes!

Monster Party

The near miss was so close that the wind from its passing nearly spun Oberon in place, but the Sprite managed to recover and buzz up higher, out of reach of the growling slime. The monster seemed to be collecting itself for an attempt at jumping, but before it could do so it recoiled in shock. Oberon's hand had erupted in flame, and he hurled the Fireball. The slime squealed as the magical attack struck it, short-lived flame spreading across its membrane and leaving a charred spot in its wake. The slime began to move away from the Sprite, rolling to hide its wound from the other enemies...

As Ash activated her Mana Vision, her eyes would visibly glow within their pupils. As she watched Oberon's Fireball arc through the sky, where it left its hand--the "center" of the flame--she could see a single square like those she had observed before. Two oscillating lines were connected to it, one on each side, and at their ends were other squares...It became more difficult to make out details, as the flame hurtled towards the slime. But there were a few other structures within the flame, shifting and moving and changing. The single structure she had already observed had only one other feature that stood out. The square in the center was a deep, metallic gold color--so deep in fact that maybe calling it gold was inaccurate. Was it a dark brown instead? Maybe even a black? Then why did it seem to glow like that? The two squares connected to it by those oscillating lines, however, were red and vibrant like the flame itself...

Just as the slime began to roll away from Oberon, the Sprite saw the lightshow as Ash cast Shield I on him. He had already dodged the first attack, but maybe now he could risk getting closer for a followup--

Torrent suddenly attacked from her hiding spot, completely blindsiding the Giant Slime. This attempt at a Stealth Kill caught it completely off guard, and her combined Poison Breath II and Fire Breath I unleashed a powerful blast. Thanks to her new Dual Cast skill, she suddenly found it much easier to maintain and control this attack--whereas before it didn't last more than an instant and rapidly expanded, now she could keep it concentrated just like the Fire Breath. The flames turned dark, almost purple, and actually pierced through the Giant Slime's membrane! Its insides rapidly began to bubble and steam, and the creature's squeal of pain rose to an agonized, screaming wail like that of a crying infant--and they only rose higher as Torrent immediately dove into the blast hole she had created, slashing and tearing with her claws and fangs. The slime's insides were beginning to darken as well--she had Poisoned it! With this, however, came a self-defeating side effect--the Slime suddenly reared up, then, for lack of a better word...vomited.

Torrent was thrown to the ground, covered in a sizzling concoction of her own poison and concentrated stomach acid. Her body burned all over, though not quite as badly as that time she had literally charred her entire skin--but Fire Resistance wasn't doing much to mitigate this, and she could feel her scales beginning to crack as the acid ate away at them--!

The System informed Digbie that his MP was already full as he tried to keep using Earth Vein--but it did seem that he had gained something called "Temporary Mana Overfill," and he felt full to bursting with energy--some of which he put into a Spell Chant to cast an enhanced Shield II on Torrent. She was already taking some damage, but as the Shield increased her body's natural defenses, the acid seemed to burn less and the wounds weren't progressing as quickly. Then Digbie activated his Sacred Ground ability, trying to catch the entire party in its radius. Oberon, being in the air, wasn't affected. Ash and Torrent felt the shift in the ground underneath their feet as healing Mana began to flow through them.

But the Giant Slime was desperate to survive, and didn't seem ready to give up on its prey just yet. The monster rose up above Torrent, then brought two psuedopods slamming down--!

---

PixieSlime Party

ERROR. You have not yet met the conditions to develop the skill Better.

System:Asura

INVALID COMMAND.

INVALID COMMAND.

System:Ardur

As the group was quite rudely awakened, Asura was the first to act. Per his norm, the immediate reflex was to attack with all his might. Now that he had recovered his Stamina, the only limit on his Smash was the relatively small space he had in which to build momentum. Nonetheless his blow sent the creature reeling--dragging him with it as he Clung to its snout!

The creature pulled Asura out and up, shaking him back and forth. Now that he was in the light and out of the burrow, he could see what it was--a large deer of some sort? It had a deer's shape, but its fur was a grayish blue the color of twilight mist. Its hindquarters were speckled with darker spots of green and a dash of black. Its horns had an elegant curve, almost like looking at a recurve bow drawn to full tension across its skull, but they had only four points--two near the "middle" on either side of the skull, and the other two at each tip.

Ardur chanted behind Asura as the buff fairy cautiously approached. Momma Slime seemed to be having trouble getting back out of the burrow, as she had "uncompressed" in her sleep--and Steve was stuck behind her, chittering anxiously with waving legs.

With a muffled snort as Asura tried to suffocate it, the animal turned towards a nearby tree and charged, lowering its head. The red slime was slammed into the sturdy trunk with an impact that echoed like a drum beat. Even through his Blunt Resistance and Physical Damage Resistance, he felt that like he would have felt a blow as a human. Specifically, one of those blows in a boxing match that hits you right center of the face, drilling an impact that feels like it went all the way through your skull and rattled your brainpan. Such was the force that it dislodged him from the creature, and as the two separated the deer backed up, shaking its head. It reared up in a threatening display, kicking its hooves out as it made some kind of bleating sound...

---

Rat Party

Aside from a few scrapes due to the general roughhousing during the encounter, Asteria found herself little the worse for wear. No blood had been drawn, and the bug's stinger hadn't made contact with her. When the lights drew her attention, she tried to use her analysis and sensory skills to figure out what exactly was happening. However, the System would only inform her that, at this distance, she couldn't make out enough about the magic for the skill to draw any conclusions. Whatever it was had stopped, and in the process it had either put out or severely dampened the flames those Goblins had started. If some creature had done that intentionally, perhaps its goal was only to put out the fire before it could be whipped across the grasslands by the next strong wind. It didn't seem like any more flashes of light were forthcoming.

The humans from the village had quieted down, but they were still milling around in groups. They might be discussing what had just happened, but regardless they hadn't noticed the rats yet and likely wouldn't, given the distance and the rapidly falling night. Asteria relaxed for the moment and distributed her skill points.

Skill Gain: Telepathy I!
Channeling Mana through thoughts creates Psychic-type abilities. At Rank I, this skill can only be used when you are in physical contact with another creature. This skill can only send simple thoughts or emotions. This skill is currently only one-way transmission. This skill is an Active Non-Offensive Spell and consumes MP.

Skill Gain: Plant Analysis I!
Basic field knowledge of botany. At this Rank, using this skill only grants you "generalized" information.

System:Asteria

After testing her new communication skill on Ed, Asteria moved over to Mother Rat in the hopes that Telepathy would finally allow her a full-proof method of getting information across to the non-human-souled Monster. Rather than any fully formed sentences or concrete thoughts, Asteria sent her mother simple, pure emotion. Affection, Calmness, Soothing, and Concern for the other beast's wellbeing. Mother Rat gave a start, hopping as her fur bristled and she turned towards Asteria. With a curious squeak, Mother Rat stood on her haunches and began running her tiny forepaws over Asteria's face and snout. Finding nothing out of the ordinary, she then ran in circles around Asteria while occasionally sniffing her. When she again found that nothing had physically changed, she squeaked again and calmed down. Mother Rat paused long enough to scratch one ear with her hind leg, then waddled over to Ed and began a similar inspection. Meanwhile, Asteria now moved to examine the dead Bloodingfly.

Though it took very careful handling to avoid pricking herself on the barbed stinger and the probiscus, Asteria was able to use her claws and teeth to pry away pieces of the insect bit by bit. When it got difficult or she didn't want to risk directly handling the body, she searched around for a bit until she found a small flat rock. With her teeth she was able to knap out a rough blade, and using this to hack off the more dangerous bits of the dead monster was much safer. Before she started another dissection on the ant, she analyzed it for more information.

Skill Rank Up: Dextrous I (1.9) > Dextrous II (2.0)
Despite the limitations of your species, you have continued to develop skill and coordination in your digits! You can now manipulate small things, relative to your size, just as well as a human hand or comparable limb with opposable thumbs. Slightly larger objects can be manipulated the way small objects could at the previous rank, but only if you have high enough physical stats to do so. Learning Equipment skills with certain weapons or tools is now less difficult despite your species' limitations!

You used Monster Analysis II!
---Dead Myrminor Scout--
Myrminors are a low-tier species of insectoid monsters, though despite this they produce several different subtypes to fulfill various roles in the species. Digging enormous underground tunnel networks, some larger than a city sewer system, Myrminors behave much like mundane ants and have only grown to such a size and threat due to absorbing large amounts of ambient Mana. The Scout Myrminor is the weakest of the subtypes, and its only purpose is to gather food, explore territory, and sacrifice itself in waves against enemies. A Scout leaves a trail as it travels that other Myrminors can follow to find resources. It has strong magical senses that lead it to Mana-rich resources.

This Myrminor Scout is dead, apparently struck by multiple blunt force blows and torn apart once a crack in the exoskeleton formed. It has been this way for less than an hour, so its trail is still fresh.

System:Asteria

Asteria quickly shoved the various monster parts and plants into the burrow, further reducing what little room they had for Ed. The Rat Man, during this time, had to think for a few moments about his new Skills. He had saved up quite the number of points...and as the System notifications rang out one by one in his mind, he also heard the rumble of his stomach. He began to tear off pieces of the two bugs to eat, finding the flavor somewhat like shrimp or crawfish but with a slightly more acidic flavor and almost greasy texture. As he had to use his claws and teeth without any tools, figuring out how to get at the succulent bug meat inside the shells was a matter of trial and error--though, perhaps it might be useful to remember what weak points he could figure out and think about the bug's body structure...

Skill Gain: Faster I (1.0)!
Your base physical speed is increased! By gaining the skills Harder, Better, and Stronger, Skill Synergy will occur and you will gain one rank of Physical Conditioning.

Skill Gain: Harder I (1.0)!
Clenched muscles or hardened flesh can be an effective shield--your base defensive stats increase! By gaining at least one rank in Faster, Stronger, and Better, Skill Synergy will occurr to increase the rank of Physical Conditioning.

Skill Gain: Dynamic Eye I (1.0)!
A Special Vision skill, Dynamic Eye expends Stamina to allow the user to sharpen their kinetic vision. For a single instant, time seems to slow, granting better reactions against incoming attacks--especially projectiles traveling over a distance--or allowing the user to better respond to other things. At this Rank however, no other Skill can be used in conjunction with Dynamic Eye if it is not a pre-established passive skill, such as using a buff beforehand. It uses much more Stamina than one might expect.

Skill Gain: Smash I (1.0)!
A Physical Skill that consumes Stamina instead of MP. One blunt type attack deals increased damage!

Skill Gain: Dextrous I (1.0)!
Your practice with fine manipulation and using your forepaws, as well as the natural physical strength of a Dire Rat, has earned an unusual skill for your species! Your paws can now be used to manipulate small objects and tools, though you still aren’t strong enough yet to “wield” weapons or pick up very large things.

Skill Gain: Monster Analysis I (1.0)!
Gain basic biological information about a monster by actively observing it.

System:Ed

It seemed the villagers were soon heading back to their homes as the stars began to appear in the sky. A few vague figures were still moving around, perhaps watchmen. Maybe the magic from earlier had put them on alert. Would the rats decide to attempt finding somewhere among the huts and sheds to hide, or would they stay with their burrow? It still didn't quite have enough room for all of them, but maybe if Ed was just mostly hidden something wouldn't come along and bite off the exposed parts of him...

---

Ghost Party

Danny searched among the dark forest for a place to hide...and luckily for the Poltergeist, it turned out that not too far away was a great hardwood that, at some point, must have been split by lightning or something. This split had dry-rotted, and been worn away by time and the weather, creating a hollow opening into the wide trunk. It was just big enough for the toddler-sized Monster to climb into...except, if he attempted to do just that, a sudden black shape lurched at him!

The Slime lunged, spreading its mass wide to try and catch its prey--!

Despite wanting to protect Danny, Jason had been so weakened and disoriented by Bonie's treachery that it took him some time to even work up the energy to shout in fury. By this time Danny was gone--though it wouldn't be hard to follow his trail, since Jason could see souls. However, this ability was currently dimmed. Jason didn't have "eyes" to close, but he was focused on his Meditation. While zoned in on the task at hand, recovering his mana, he didn't have any idea where Danny had gone. As the Poltergeist traveled a short distance, found the tree, and then also found the slime, Jason spent the whole time trying to recover his power...It would be at least half an hour, however, before his MP was completely full. Not only did his state between life and death continually drain his energy, but on top of this his Meditation's effectiveness was reduced by his Mana Burn. It had taken quite a lot of Mana absorption to finally get rid of the Mana Disorder, and it would likely take a similar recovery process to get rid of the Burn...Still, by minimizing his movements and actions like this, almost as if he were sleeping, it seemed he could mitigate a great deal of the natural MP drain...

I, the Demon King, Will Summon My Own Damned Heroes!

PixieSlime Party

Skill Gain: Meditate I (1.0)!
By concentrating and calming oneself, increase the regeneration of Magic Power and Stamina. This skill cannot be used in battle. Any distractions in the environment will drastically decrease the effectiveness of this skill. This skill cannot be used in conjunction with other skills.

Skill Gain: Point Strike I (1.0)!
With a discerning eye, take aim at an oppenent's weak point and concentrate your own power into a single point of attack. Slightly increase the power of any attack, and gain an increased chance for a Critical Hit. Using this Skill in conjunction with other attack Skills, however, may cause it to lose effectiveness.

Steve learned Web Spit II (2.0)!
Stamina Consumption of this skill has decreased. Range of this skill has increased.

Steve learned Thread Control I (1.0)!
Manipulate threads, wires, hair, etc with unnatural skill by channeling power through it. At this rank, only one simple manipulation can be passed through a single medium, for instance causing a strand of web to change direction once. Depending on the quality of the material, this skill may cause it to break or degrade.

System:Ardur

Skill Rank Up: Overwork I (1.8) > Overwork II (2.0)!
Stamina consumption increased. Self-Buff increased. When Stamina is fully consumed, this Skill can be kept active by sacrificing HP. This skill will automatically de-activate when HP reaches dangerously low levels.

Skill Gain: Mental Resistance I (1.0)!
Take less damage from Psychic type spells or skills, and have a better chance of resisting mind alterting affects such as confusion or hypnosis. This counts as an Elemental Resistance for the purposes of Magic Resistance.

Skill Gain: Stronger I (1.0)!
You have grown physically stronger, increasing your base power stats!

Developing Skill: Slime Shell
This Skill appears to progress when you enter the corpse of another monster, though it may possibly have an effect when you attempt to use a hollow object as a container or shelter.

System:Asura

With Asura's digging and Steve's webs spread over the ceiling of the burrow, they were able to progress quite fast without worrying about collapsing the earth up above them. Momma Slime couldn't fit inside the entrance at first, but began to gather up the loose dirt the others were shoveling out and deposited it somewhere else before shuffling back to the burrow. Ardur meditated until his MP was finally restored, feeling the unique sensation of Mana in the atmosphere entering his body. It felt like fresh blood pumping into his veins, like the exhiliration of working out but without the increase in heart rate and the soreness of a muscle. It was short lived, but once he had his magical power restored he could tell a definite difference. Like breathing fresh air after emerging from the cave. Once he rejoined the digging effort things went even faster, and soon the burrow had been enlarged enough that Momma, once she used her own Limited Shapeshift skill to compress herself, was able to get in. It was still a tight fit--but maybe sleeping this close together would help ward off some of the chill from outside, as night fell deep and black. Back towards the cave, it sounded like someone was...chopping wood? Nonetheless, the quartet soon drifted off...

[[PixieSlime Party now enters Day 5]]

Asura
Your Stamina is Full.
Your HP is Full.
Your MP is Full.
You are Peckish.
You are Thirsty.

Ardur
Your Stamina is Full.
Your MP is Full.
Your Mana Burn has subsided. Natural Mana Regeneration returns to normal levels.
Your HP is Full.
You are Peckish.
You are Parched.
Your Tamed Creature is Hungry.
Your Tamed Creature is Thirsty.

SYSTEM

The next morning, they could hear the chirp of birds as they awakened. The rising sun had yet to fully emerge over the horizon, but a few rays of its golden glow spilled around the tree trunks. The air smelled clean and clear--being outdoors seemed like it certainly beat the heck out of the cave, when it came to simple pleasantries like this. As dew dripped somewhere, Momma Slime trembled lightly and then split her "mouth" wide open with a burbling yawn.

Then something big stuffed its face into the hole.

A long snout, tipped by a big black nose, poked into the burrow. Moments later a large foot, toes tipped with a hard, black covering, pushed through the dirt and began to paw and dig. Was it reaching for one of the group? The creature huffed and snuffled with the purpose of something looking for food--!

---

Ghost Party

"Oi, wat you be talkin' bout, Ja-Soo--"

Jason offered a prayer to the earth spirits, and focused his will. He wanted Bonie to leave--he wanted to split them apart. He wanted the earth to take her--he wanted to seal her up. He wanted to force her to pass on. He wanted her gone.

Sudden cold swept through Jason's being. The churning, nauseous sensation he felt during those moments after his death, the flash of memory as he had been tossed about between the mists of fading souls in that black and white void...it now returned with a sudden vengeance, a lightning bolt of ice splitting him in half.

The Ecto Slime's body ruptured, and from within it spilled two masses of gray, swirling vapor. Just like the forms he had seen in that realm of the dead, the forms within the fog struggled to take their own shape. An old, wrinkled arm, spattered with paint and carved with tattoos, pulled another form from the mass.

WARNING! YOUR MP IS LOW!

System:Jason

Jason drifted down against the ground, feeling as if the breath had been driven from his lungs. As if from a hundred miles away, he heard a shrill scream.

Their flesh was translucent, constantly shifting between leering skeletons and twisted imprints of their former selves. They were blurry, indistinct, and losing cohesion. Bonie held Teef by the top of her head, long nails digging into the other goblin's eyes.

"Sorry youngling, but it Ja-Soon's fault. Let's both curse him."

And she tore out the other spirit's throat with her teeth. Like taking a deep breath, Bonie devoured the wispy remains of Teef's incorporeal body, and her own form became more concrete. She had no lower body, and the details of her form were nowhere near as clear to the eye as before, when Jason met her in the cave. To describe her as a shadow would have been accurate, though her form was still silver-gray in color just like Jason's.

"Ya think ya so smart, it make ya dum, Ja-Soon." The spirit hag grinned, her eyes glinting red as she drifted backwards, away from the Ecto Slime who only now began to regain his senses. "But even old Gob like me lern a few tings. Gud luks to yas!"

And she raced off through the forest--passing through Danny as she did so.

The Poltergeist had been meditating while Jason inadvertently released the other spirits he had amalgamated into himself. He had fully recovered his MP, and looked towards the last direction he had seen Jason. Using his Magic Analysis repeatedly, he tried to detect something from the Undead without using the Source Crystal Shard...

You used Magic Analysis I!
---No Target---
You only pick up the ambient magic in the area. There are few sources of raw magic here. Most of it is concentrated within living matter.

You used Magic Analysis I!
---No Target---
You can only pick up the ambient magic in the area. There are few sources of raw magic here. Most of it is concentrated within living matter. You can sense a subtle shift in Mana somewhere...

You used Magic Analysis I!
---No Target---
You can only pick up the ambient magic in the area. There are few sources of raw magic here. Most of it is concentrated within living matter. You can sense a subtle shift in Mana. Something you can't see is happening, there is a change in ambient Mana levels...

System:Danny

Though he couldn't see him, he could tell from different spots that felt cold that Jason was at least around. He asked whether the spirit wanted to stay here for the night, or if they should keep moving. He had just started walking towards the East.

And then a cold gust of wind suddenly whirled around him. It felt like someone had just grabbed hold of his heart and squeezed. His body reacted instinctively, moving away from...whatever this was. Was it Jason? Was Jason attacking him? Whatever it was, it followed him--and then it was gone.

Some of your MP has been Drained.
Your MP is Low.

System:Danny

By this time Jason had gotten "back to his feet" and used Mana Drain on his surroundings--once again, it seemed like it was slow going to get back his MP, considering that just the act of existing as a spirit ever so subtly expended it. He saw the last flicker of Bonie's spirit disappear towards the West...

---

Orchid's Tribe

At Orchid's shout, Jezee and Tiddies rushed to help Bigs and Wej put out the fire on their bodies. It wasn't too bad since Crispy's explosion didn't have the kind of raw heat to make things flash-ignite, and they weren't wearing a great deal of clothing or equipment that would catch from the flames. Unfortunately it looked like Wej would finally lose that scrap of shield he had left, but other than that the two were quickly brought back to their feet.

Meanwhile, Orchid met the Armored Badger's claw with a two handed swing of her club. The creature's plated forearm clashed with the weapon, stone shards digging into the scaly hide and drawing blood. It roared as it pressed forward with its greater weight, almost overcoming Orchid's enhanced strength--

The Sigil of the Hellish Fiend lit up like a beacon, and Orchid felt its burn spreading throughout her hand. She pushed back, and the badger's stubby legs began to lose their balance. It snarled, snapping at the air in front of the demiblin's face. When she drew back her fist, it was able to press harder against her one remaining arm, and it lunged to try and tear out her throat with its fangs--

Her fist burst into flames that seemed to trail up her entire arm. Orchid's punch seemed to grow larger and brighter as it exploded forward. She thrust almost half her forearm into the beast's jaws, and even as she felt teeth scrape her arm protector and tear it, she felt the intense heat reach her own skin even through her Fiend's Protection and the thud of flesh against flesh. The Armored Badger fell back, still on two legs. It screeched and writhed in agony, front paws swiping the empty air. Flames shot out of its mouth and smoke singed its nostrils. It thrashed from side to side, but its eyes were still bright and full of rage--

"Slaaaaaash!"

Yoona darted in from the side with his Stone Knife, and its edge glinted with crimson light as he ran past the Armored Badger's back. He cut another furrow across its hide where Clod had originally scarred it, drawing a deeper spray of blood! Sqwal leaped at the badger's legs, slamming his wooden club into its knees with both hands. The creature turned to try and swipe at him, but it was too blinded by the flames still scorching its face and now spreading to its chest. It fell over, and Clod actually rushed forward and jumped on top of it, driving the breath from its belly with both feet.

"SLASH!"

He brought his stone sword down with a berserk gleam in his eyes, right down on the badger's snout. The bright red flash intensified the puff of embers coming out of its fur. The badger's last roar was cut off by a wet gurgle, and as Clod wrenched his sword free of its face and throat the blood spattered across his chest.

"WE KILLED IT! KILLED DA BADGER!" Crispy crowed, throwing up his good arm with a cackle.

"KILLED DA BADGER! KILLED DA BADGER!" The cry was soon taken up by the whole tribe. Clod held his sword by each end and pumped it up and down over his head, stomping on the corpse and screaming. Yoona jumped in circles around the fallen beast and whooped, slashing with his knife at the air. Sqwal began to beat on a tree trunk, the thumps echoing loudly into the night. Tiddies and Jezee were chanting from around the burning bush Orchid had set alight, tearing other nearby plants out of the ground and tossing them into the blaze to make a proper campfire. Bigs and Wej high fived each other with both hands in a game that soon turned into a slapfight when one of them missed.

"KILLED DA BADGER! KILLED DA BADGER! KILLED DA--"

LEVEL UP! Your combined experiences have culminated in new power! You are now Level 6! You gain Skill Points to distribute as you please!

Unspent Skill Points: 10

Current Skills:
Use Light Equipment (--)
Pacify Animal I (1.3)
Stronger II (2.025)
Crafting V (MAX)
Material Analysis II (2.1)
Monster Analysis I (1.3)
Smash I (1.6)
Charisma I (1.6)
Taboo (0.3) <REQUIRES RESTORATION>
Faster I (1.0)
Fireball I (1.3)
<UNUSABLE>
Muffle (0.9)
Deception (0.7)
Charm (0.3)
Alert (0.6)
Stone Shot (0.4)
Throw Item (0.4)
Slash (0.8)
Warcry (0.9)
Pierce Resistance (0.7)
Blunt Resistance (0.3)
Slash Resistance (0.1)
Blood Drain (0.4)
Skewer (0.4)
Mental Resistance (0.4)
Mana Orb (0.2)
Focus (0.2)
Magic Analysis (0.2)
Overwork (0.4)
Intercept (0.3)
Defender (0.7)
Rabid Fit (0.5)
First Aid (0.3)
Intimidate (0.7)
Counter (0.5)
Shield Slam (0.6)
Poison Resistance (0.1)
Fire Resistance (0.8)
Dust Blow (0.1)
Magic Resistance (0.3)
Spell Chant (0.3)
Fire Fist (0.3)

System:Orchid

"Oi!" Bigs called out. "Any udda gob just ding!?" Affirmation followed from most of the others--Clod grew strangely quiet very quickly, looking straight up at the sky and blinking rapidly. The goblins looked among each other in slight confusion for a bit--and then went right back to screaming and dancing.

"WE DINGED! WE DINGED!"