I focused on a memory from my childhood. I remembered waking up one spring morning after a particularly violent thunderstorm the night before. When I went outside, I saw the downed tree branches and other signs of a storm, but what my eyes gravitated to was just how green the grass looked. To my child’s eye, the grass hadn’t been that vibrant the day before.

  I remembered asking my mom about it and she told me that something about the lightning was good for the grass. Her answer wasn’t very technical and so I had tried to find out more about it myself. My understanding was still rudimentary, but I learned about the bursts of nitrogen which were created by the lightning bolts and how that acted as a type of fertilizer for the grass. To a child it had seemed so wondrous.

  As I continued, I became more attuned to the subtleties of the lightning mana. It had a rhythm, a pattern amidst its chaos. It was like listening to a symphony of thunder, each crackle and spark a note in a larger melody. I began to anticipate its movements, to flow with it rather than against it. The key was seeing the life giving power of lightning. That got me through the first part.

  The physical sensations were intense. My muscles twitched involuntarily, reacting to the electric current coursing through them. My skin felt hot, flushed with the energy I was channeling. I could taste the sharp tang of electricity on my tongue, a flavor that was both alien and invigorating.

  Inside, the sensation was even more profound. My heart raced, pounding in my chest like a drum. My mind was alight with energy, thoughts racing like lightning across a stormy sky. I felt alive, every cell in my body buzzing with the raw power of the storm.

  But it wasn’t just physical. There was an emotional aspect to it as well. The lightning mana was exhilarating, filling me with a sense of power and potential. It was like holding the reins of a wild horse, a thrilling mix of danger and excitement. It was like the thrill of a first kiss combined with the victory of winning a hard race.

  As I continued to meditate, the mana began to settle within me. It was becoming a part of me, intertwining with my essence. The storm inside me calmed, the chaotic energy finding its place. Yet there was something more that I needed. Life mana was part of a cycle. Death was a part of it too and as I realized that, I experienced the next level of awakening in my body. Lightning was deadly, it could fertilize the grass or it could destroy with equal ease.

  Accepting all that the lighting was, led me to feel a sense of completion, of fulfillment. It wasn’t so much that I had tamed the storm, as much as I had learned how to exist within it, just as the lightning was slowly becoming a part of me.

  There were notifications that popped up, but I ignored them. They were only telling me about how my attunement with lightning was going. Somewhere around the time that I caught the scent of dinner being cooked, I passed the 10% mark. I could have stopped there, but it called to me, so I kept going.

  Point by point my attunement ticked up, and I gained more familiarity with the violence and vitality of lightning. It was fast and surged through me, but it also lingered to dance over my skin. My nerves were starting to feel raw, but I held on until I finally hit 20%. I’d already decided that while I might attune to it more later, for now, I wanted to leave it open in case any other type of mana seemed compatible.

  When I finally opened my eyes, the world seemed different. Colors were more vibrant, sounds more distinct. I checked the last of my notifications.

  Stat gains as a part of attunement: Agility +8, Vitality +4, Perception +2.

  Your Agility Stat has surpassed the first threshold. You now possess an Agility stat 10 times greater than the average human. You are the 7th human to reach this threshold.

  Title Gained (based upon local nomenclature): Hear the thunder, Ride the lightning. Agility +10% effectiveness. This is the uncommon version of the title.

  I bounced up from the ground. Standing still seemed impossible. I flitted over to the food and quickly scooped up some for myself. My body craved the nutrients, and I needed to do something. A second later, I felt Samvek’s hand on my back. “Welcome to the clan again. You’ve joined us in another way, I know it’ll seem like you have to keep moving, but don’t let the lightning control you. It is another tool you have to master.”

  I understood what he meant. This sensation in me was one which didn’t want to be contained. The electrical current going to all my nerves was greater than normal. My sense of everything around me was sharper. My skin tingled, my muscles pulsed. This was being alive in a way that I’d never known. It was almost as intense as when I was inducted.

  But I forced myself to take slow bites of the stew. It reminded me of my mother telling me to chew slowly. It helped and little by little; I managed to gain enough control so that I could sit down. The power still pulsed in me, but it only made me feel alive. I knew I needed some sleep to fully lock in the benefits I’d gained, but I wasn’t sure how I’d ever slow down that much.

  Then Nevin started asking me questions about it. Half an hour into that, I was yawning and ready to take a nap.

  Crag slapped his friend on the back. “See, you can even put lightning to sleep.”

  I didn’t really care though as I tuned them out and lay down to dream.

  Chapter 19- Just What Can This Do?

  I slept for a solid six hours, which was quite a bit for me now. If I had any dreams, I didn’t remember them and the uncontrollable urge to move like a two-year-old hopped up on sugar was gone. I still felt a bit of tingle and my steps felt a bit lighter, but some of that was excitement for battle or rather for more loot and XP.

  Samvek praised our ingenuity with the traps before, but urged us to just fight the three remaining monsters in this plot at the same time. He said, we wouldn’t always be able to control the terrain and needed to see how we handled multiple threats at one time.

  As before, Dora and I scouted out the enemies. There were two armored undead Darje drones like before. One wielded a mace and the other an axe. Behind them, there was once again, a larger Darje. Rather than robes, this one wore leather armor and wielded a pair of kama. They were sickle like weapons wielded in one hand and matched with what Identify showed me about this monster.

  Undead Darje Reaver (Uncommon) Level: 47

  Threat: Serious

  Status: Psychotic, Linked Recipient, Mini-Boss Variant

  It was two levels higher than the Smolder, which we took to be the effects of the dungeon overload, as the drones were also a level higher. We discussed that and formulated a strategy. These monsters were positioned at the edge of the plot with the reaver’s back up against a wall. We debated whether it would be good to bring him out into the open or if a monster like that would be better pinned down. In the end, we decided to go with the pinned down strategy.

  We positioned ourselves, buffed up, and I even re-summoned Urg so that he would share in my attunement to Lightning. Then we went for it. I led off the attack with a firebolt from my wand which I fired off against the reaver. At the same time, Nevin activated the control ability granted by his new crown. None of us were sure what to expect. We certainly had a hope on how it would work, but the targets, which were the tanks, hadn’t moved yet.

  Unhallowed Command

  The air vibrated with a dark energy as Nevin shouted out, “Attack the drones!”

  For an instant, time stood still, and we didn’t know if it had worked. The reaver was burning but not moving. Then the fire went out, and it leapt toward us, clearing the drones in a single bound. Both Crag and Urg stepped up to fight it, and I stood behind them, conjuring shields.

  A second later and the air seemed to settle as the magic took effect and the two drones attacked one another. The two undead Darje drones, once allies, now clashed with a silent ferocity that only the unliving could muster.

  The drone wielding the mace moved with a brutal, relentless force. Each swing of its weapon was like a thunderclap, the mace whooshing through the air with deadly intent. Its opponent, armed with an axe, was no less formidable. The axe cut through the air with lethal precision, aiming to cleave its enemy in twain.

  The sound of metal striking metal rang out, echoing through the graveyard like the bell tolls of doom. Sparks flew with each collision, illuminating the grotesque dance of death they performed. The mace drone's blows were powerful, crashing against the axe drone's armor with enough force to dent and crack the ancient metal.

  Despite the ferocity of their attacks, neither seemed to gain the upper hand. They were locked in a vicious cycle, their movements so rapid and frenzied that it was almost a blur. The axe drone's agility allowed it to dodge and weave, its blade slicing through the air, aiming for gaps in the mace drone's armor. But the mace drone's brute strength meant that even a glancing blow could be devastating. I could only keep one eye on them, as the reaver was proving to be even more powerful than the smolder.

  Their movements were unnaturally quick, devoid of the hesitation or fear a living creature might exhibit. They fought without regard for self-preservation, their undead bodies impervious to pain or fatigue. Each strike, parry, and counter-strike was executed with a mechanical precision, enslaved to the magic of Nevin’s crown.

  The mace drone landed a hefty blow on the axe drone's shoulder, the impact sending a shudder through the axe-wielder's frame. But the axe drone retaliated swiftly, its blade slicing a deep gash across the mace drone's torso. Black, viscous fluid oozed from the wound, a macabre imitation of blood.

  The battle raged on, the clanging of their weapons was less of a grim symphony and more like the frantic pounding of a dying soul. The ground around them was marred by their conflict, upturned earth and shattered gravestones demonstrated the intensity of their struggle.

  As I watched, I saw Dora ready to intervene if necessary and Nevin locked in concentration, trying to maintain his control. The sweat ran down his face and he trembled, but held on to the magic which bound both of them. That crown was going to be a game changer for us when we started to clear the inner plots.

  The turning point came unexpectedly. In a moment of ruthless efficiency, the axe drone managed to maneuver behind its opponent. With a swift, upward swing, it drove its axe deep into the mace drone's back. The force of the blow was such that the axe cleaved through bone and sinew, shearing dead flesh from bone and embedding itself in the core of the mace drone.

  There was a momentary pause, a stillness in the air, as if the world itself was holding its breath. Then, with an eerie finality, the mace drone collapsed, its body crumbling to the ground in a heap of broken armor and decayed flesh.

  The axe drone, now victorious, turned in its confusion. The command had been fulfilled and the magic holding it started to break. I braced as I saw its gaze turn towards us, its red eyes burning with an unholy light. Crag and Urg already were having trouble keeping up with the reaver. It raised its axe in a silent challenge, ready to turn on us, but its movements were hindered. The battle had left it with a broken leg and crushed bones in its body.

  An instant later, Dora landed on its back. She immediately activated her Execution ability and removed the head from the drone. It was almost comical to watch the system mess with physics as her small dagger managed to cut through the thick neck of the drone.

  Then all of my focus was back on the reaver. It was moving in smooth circle patterns, weaving deadly strikes in front of it. Crag had wisely switched out to his sword and axe to fight this creature, as I don’t think he would have been able to block some of those blows with just his shield.

  Tendrils of life giving power ran from me to both the tanks as I activated Symbiotic Healing. I needed every little bit of healing power. Urg was being cut up like a chopped salad. Even as fast as I put up shields, the reaver always seemed to get around them. I cast my upgraded Lingering Grace on both of them and with Symbiotic healing it was enough to keep them up.

  Dora leapt in to join the fray, but was almost bisected by a wide cut from the reaver. I shouted, “Stay back. Ranged attacks only unless you’re sure you have an opening.”

  Even that little distraction allowed the reaver to get around one of my shields and cut deeply into Crag’s shield. If he hadn’t moved it in time, he would have been gutted.

  Then an ice bolt hit the reaver from the side. Nevin might not be able to control this monster, but he could still contribute. I called out, “Duck on three.”

  Urg could almost read my mind, but I had to trust that our time training together would show Crag what I needed him to do. Dora started the countdown, so we were all on the same page. When she hit three, both tanks moved at the same time to the side, leaving a clear path for the reaver to come straight at me, which, of course he did. Who wouldn’t want to take out the healer if they could, but the opening wasn’t just for him.

  It was a clear shot for me.

  Persistent Frost Cone

  Waves of super chilled air along with spikes of ice roared from my upstretched hand. I focused my mind on making it as cold as possible. This spell wasn’t intended to do serious damage, although hopefully it would do some. Rather, I was trying to slow or even freeze the reaver.

  The ice formed over the reaver even faster than he could bring his axe to bear. Crystalized particles and then a solid coating. His movement slowed even if only by ten percent, every bit counted. The ice shards shredded much of his armor and the sheer cold froze the dead flesh on his bones until it cracked and broke away as the monster continued to move.

  I pushed two of my shields together and focused all my attention on them as they moved into place, blocking the descending blades. The shields didn’t do as well against the piercing damage of the tips and so he cut deep into my shields, but that was okay. I flexed my mental focus and twisted each of the shields, turning them outward and nearly ripping both kama away from him. At the same time, I pushed for the lightning mana that was now a part of me to transfer into the shields.

  The charge made his dead muscles spasm further, weakening him even if he couldn’t feel any pain. The ice acted as an insulator and kept the electrical current focused on his bony hands. Bones seared and popped with the rapid temperature change, but he still managed to keep his weapons.

  Even though he held on, he was exposed and my team didn’t need a better invitation. Dora activated a strike and drove her blade into his back, Crag brought his axe down on the wrist closet to him. The bone was already cracked from Silas’ two spells. One of ice and then lightning. That was enough for the warrior’s blade to cut deep and then with his new feat he sheared the hand completely off.

  Urg didn’t have as much luck, but he was able to lock up the arm on his side. That left another opening. I focused my mind on the next shield I conjured. Rather than a square, I envisioned a triangle like a spearhead. As it took shape, I drove it forward into the monster with all the mental energy, I could muster.

  The tip pierced through armor, dead flesh, and then bone. With my focus on the form of the shield, I missed hitting the neck like I’d wanted to, but the blade still drove deeply into his chest, cutting the spine. He might not need it in the same way a living creature did, but the backbone was still necessary for support and to allow for the transferal of force through his limbs.

  I wasn’t the only one. The rest of the team was hacking into him, but the monster refused to drop. I could admire that type of determination, but wasn’t really a fan as he bore down on me. His body drove me backward, and I almost stumbled before managing to shift my weight and turn the crystal blade into its spear form with a thought. As I went back and he came forward, I drove the tip up under his jaw and into his skull.

  “Clear.”

  I realized after I shouted that non-humans might not get the meaning of that word, but it was too late as I pushed a surge of electricity through the crystal and into that head. It blasted out his eye sockets as the red flames were extinguished.

  Then he collapsed forward over me, his momentum enough to carry me to the ground. I started to push with all my strength, but then the XP hit me and all I could do was grin. Another level was very welcome now.

  Chapter 20- Pushing On

  You have gained 916 XP. You have reached level 43.

  I looked up at the ruined remains of the monster which had fallen on me. The black ichor of its blood was draining down onto me. I had to turn my head and twist my body to keep blood from dripping all over my face. I might have to bathe in the blood, but that didn’t mean that I wanted to taste it.

  At least this blood didn’t burn my skin and give me a rash the way the smolder’s blood had. Crag dropped down to a knee and peered underneath the monster. “Comfortable?”

  “Not exactly, but at least I’m getting my bath.”

  He just chuckled and mumbled, “Forerunners.”

  After a few minutes under the corpse, I got the notification I’d been waiting for.

  Blood Bather Darje Evolution- 80%

  That was the point I was planning on stopping at. My idea was that I wanted to get a boss variant by finishing the evolution off with whatever was in the core plot. Judging from how strong this monster had been, I was beginning to think that it might even be a rare.

  I activated my loot ability and the corpse on top of me turned into so many motes of light as it dissipated, leaving only the thing every adventurer and gamer alike yearned for: loot.

  This time it looked like we got even more than before. The challenge level had been a bit higher, and we hadn’t used a trap, but the battle also felt more decisive. I didn’t know which of those factors played a part in improving the loot drops and when I asked Samvek he simply said, “All of them and none of them. The system can be fickle. Just enjoy being a Forerunner.”

  So I did as I went through the loot. The potions were easy to divide up as before and this time we got some better stuff.

  Ability Evolution Stone (rare)

  Haste Imbuement Charm (rare)