Undying Blood - Beta - Chapter 07 (Patreon)

[ Physical Changes Underway ]

[ Stat Increases Acquired ]

[ Mutation Has Occurred ]

[ New Skills Acquired ]

[ Blood of the Undying - Error ]

[ Power Set Doesn't Match ]

[ Blood of the Undying - 100 Sage ]

[ Berserker Rage - 11 Novice ]

[ Undying Activated ]

The sound of the morning bell rang early today, the sun barely showing above the mountains far to the east. Light wasn't even streaming into their open window as each boy heard the call to pain and training for the day.

"It's earlier than usual," Michael grunted as he sat up, their room mostly shadows from the lack of light. "What gives?"

Pain like nothing he could remember wracked his body.

"Francis! What's wrong?!"

Blinking over and over in the darkness of the room, he could see Michael bent over the bed, worry written all over his expression.

"You're.... You're alive..."

"Uh yeah... why wouldn't I be?"

His brother stood back, studying him, cocking an eye, obviously not sure what he was talking about.

"Did you have some bad dream or something?

There in his vision were those blinking notifications.

Focusing on them, Francis felt his eyes widen.

[ Status ]

Francis Mudaburg

Age 17

Strengths: 13

Endurance: 17

Agility: 12

Wisdom: 12

Perception: 10

Magic: 10

Skills

Swordsmanship - 17 Novice

Shield Use  - 14 Novice

Tracking - 10 Basic

Stealth - 7 Basic

Traps - 3 Basic

Rock Throwing - 5 Basic

Mental Resist - 14 Novice

Blood of the Undying - 100 Sage

Berserker Rage - 11 Novice

He blinked again. And then about eight more times as he took that information in.

Blood of the Undying? Berserker Rage? Did... Did I really die?

Michael still had a concerned expression, and he was biting his lip, which meant he was really not handling his behavior.

"What... what just happened?"

"The bell, it's early.  Phillip is waking us up way too soon and then you went all crazy on me, asking if I had died."

Shaking his head, Francis sat up.

"Sorry... I... I had a bad dream."

"Well, forget that dream. Things are going to get bad if we don't bust our asses and get dressed now.  We'll probably be the last ones and end up punished for it."

Nodding, he watched as his older brother got dressed in a moment, seeing the torn clothes, smelling the same old smells, but the truth was, he noticed more.  His eyes saw more details.  Little things like the stitch in his boot and where it would eventually come undone.

When I'm running with it wet... but if that's the case, then did I dream it all? No... that's not possible.  My stats have increased as have my skills... the only way that could have happened... and then that new skill.

[ Skill Check ]

[ Blood of the Undying - 100 Sage: You have evolved in ways no human could ever imagine.  Now your blood carries with it the power over death.  A point has been set. Upon each death you shall return here, carrying over all skills and stat changes.  Each death will cost one point of your skill. ]

Does that mean I can die one hundred times?

"Hurry up moron!" Michael exclaimed as he pounded his feet into his boots. "I'm not going to hang around any longer."

"Yeah... sorry."

Going into auto mode, he got dressed, running out the door a minute after his brother, earning a glare from Phillip for being the last one.

***

"Good news! I was just told we'll be moving out in two days! Five days earlier than expected!"

Francis listened and watched as murmurs came from the line of seventeen youths.  He remembered that two had run away and one more would today.

Everyone stood at attention, ready for whatever Phillip was going to toss at them.

"As such, we will leave today! The town of Macenburg is three hours away.  We'll run there and get measured for your armor! Don't expect some custom engraved piece of work. You'll be getting the basic leather, designed to keep the enemy from gutting you with their breath, nothing more!"

Francis barely held back a snort as he watched Phillip do the same thing as always, glaring at them all individually as he moved down the line.

"You'll be put up in a tent there, fed actual food and given a chance to rest. I suggest you make do with that."

This time he saw the pouch the old man had swapped from his left hand to his right hand, having known it was going to happen.

"In here is five silver. Each of you will receive the same amount.  Spend it on some drink, buy something nice, possibly find a woman who is willing to spend some time with your ugly faces, but know that when the bell sounds in two days, any of you who are not ready to leave will find yourselves on the list.

"I do not want to remind you of what the last one on the list endured," Phillip stated, his misshapen teeth making his smirk look even worse. "Or perhaps I should.  Who wants to have each of their fingers and toes cut off, set on a stump for the birds to pick while you're tied up and forced to watch them fight over them? Or perhaps when they cut off your hands and feet? Even worse... your manhood."

Phillip tossed his head back and started to laugh, cackling for a moment as walked back down the line.

"Who are we joking? None of you have a manhood worth the early bird getting up for. Now then!" Exclaimed Phillip as he clapped his hands. "Let's make this fun.  Last one to Macenburg only gets three silver! The first gets two more! Now go!"

Francis stood still, watching as everyone took off running.

He watched and waited, seeing Malcomb move in his direction and then the oldest boy paused, seeing that he wasn't moving, tripped Henry instead, leaving the teen on the ground as he took off.

Moving forward, he helped his fallen friend and accepted the thanks as Henry took off after the pack.

"Content with being last?"

Francis turned and saw Phillip standing there, arms crossed and looking him up and down.

"No, just giving them a chance.  I'll be first anyway."

Laughing just as hard as he had a minute ago, Phillip's ever present smirked appeared.

"Oh, I doubt that boy."

"Willing to bet? If I win, I get ten silver. If I lose, you get my silver."

The bastard of a trainer cocked his head as he moved to stand before Francis.

"You feeling lucky sheet stain? Well, do you?"

"I'd bet more, but I don't have enough."

"Tell ya what," Phillip replied, poking his finger into Francis's chest. "You win, I'll give you fifteen.  You lose... well, let's just say you'll have to do something I ask and if you say no I'll gut you."

The smirk turned almost down right evil looking, but Francis just shrugged.

"Sounds like a bet.  I guess I better get started."

Taking off at a pace he was known for, Francis looked over his shoulder at the older man who was grinning from ear to ear, making that scar look very wicked.

"Take the forest! Let's see if it helps!"

Focusing on the trees ahead, Francis felt amazing. His body and stats were completely different and, based on how things were looking, he was about to be fifteen silver richer.

***

"I made a bet and I'll honor it," growled Phillip. "How you managed to win by that much I don't know, but we'll see how much all this helps you when we reach the front line."

With that, their trainer turned and strode off.

Michael stood in awe next to his brother, watching as their leader moved away and into town.

"Time to pay up!" Malcomb shouted as he moved to where Francis was. "If you don't give me any lip, I'll let you keep two."

Sighing, Francis shook his head.

There’s no way he can win now… I mean… my stats are beyond what they were before.  He’s still tired and I feel great.

"If you try, I'll take all but two of yours.  No, go away, asshole."

Everyone who was nearby stood there with mouths open, watching the taller and older teen get in the younger and smaller ones face.

"Oh, you think you're so tough? Why I'll--"

The next sound was Francis's fist in Malcomb's jaw and then the older teen falling to the ground.

A few gasps and curses escaped the fifteen spectators, and Francis turned slowly at the rest.

"He asked for it? Am I right?"

Everyone nodded, taking a step back.

When they did, Francis bent down, took the pouch from the bully and withdrew three silvers. He tossed two of them to their last place finisher and then tossed one to Henry.

"He was a dick for tripping you. Now then, who wants to go get a drink?"

Everyone roared in agreement and they moved as a pack into town, leaving the older one lying by himself on the ground.

***

"What in the kingdoms has gotten into you? Like first you stood up to him and second you dropped him in one punch! Have you been practicing or working out when I'm not around?"

"Something like that. Now let's make a deal.  No visiting the bathhouse and no being stupid.  I want to buy some armor and see what I can learn before we leave."

Francis watched as his older brother studied him, chewing on his lip.

"You're really different.  Did something bad happen in that dream?"

"Besides you dying? Nothing too bad... then again, it was because you went into a bathhouse and got something really horrible."

Michael started laughing, leaned back in his chair, and grabbed his crotch.

"It'd have to be something god like to take this out."

Groaning, Francis picked up his drink and finished it.

"If you don't mind, I'm going to turn in early.  I'm still a bit tired from all that running."

"Whatever, but I'm drinking your other mug!"

Squeezing Michael's shoulder as he moved past him, he grinned.

"Just make sure someone carries you to the room, then."

***

"Tom, I'd really like a chain coif if possible, but I doubt I could afford it.  Are you willing to give deals?"

"Deals? What the hell does this place look like? A charity? No I don't give deals and besides you don't have enough coins to purchase a chain one.  Maybe a padded one."

Frowning, Francis was trying to figure out what had changed.

Did I approach it wrong?

Trying to remember what he had done the first time it hit him, he hadn't asked for a deal.  He simply had made the statement of needing a helmet and the conversation went there on its own.

"Let's look at those, I guess.  I'm just afraid that what I'm going to face will cause me to be sliced open as the rumors of those beastkin continue to grow."

A large frown appeared as the older man studied him.

"What the hell do you know about beastkin boy? Those aren't things most people talk about, and I somehow doubt you're picking up information that you're sharing at the tavern.  Spill what you know and don't lie to me or so help me. I'll go find that asshole you call Phillip and tell him the crap fest you're spinning."

Ok... so this has gone wrong in so many ways...

Having won fifteen gold couldn't have changed this conversation, could it?

"Are you listening?"

"Oh sorry, I was just trying to remember exactly what I knew. Just that there is something like a puma that stands and runs like a man, but with claws.  It seems far-fetched but I mean, why else would all the kingdoms be working together?"

A grunt came as Tom crossed both his arms.

"Either the person you heard that from has been there or they know stuff they shouldn't.  If I were you, I'd keep that information to yourself, otherwise you're going to find your neck in a noose or worse.  You understand?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Good, now if you want, I'll sell you a padded cap for five silver. What do you say?"

"It will have to do."

***

"You're serious about those beastkin... like absolutely certain."

Francis nodded, knowing how he needed to steer this conversation.  

I can't afford to mess up on this again.

Remembering how it had gone before, he did his best to ensure his brother didn't freak out too much.

***

"So what happens if someone touches one of these feathers?" Francis asked loud enough to fill the space they stood in.

"For the love of the kingdoms, don't do that!" exclaimed the guard from across the tent. "Doing so would cause this place to be filled with dangerous smoke that could kill us.  Surely someone told you about this, right?"

Phillip cocked his head and shook it.

"No one said a word about that."

"Must have slipped their mind," the guard replied. "Now then, it's been enough time you can all leave."

It took every ounce of willpower Francis had to not push the issue and ask Phillip if he thought someone had intentionally held information from him.  Doing so could go badly and everything changed so fast with a single variable.  It was hard to know what would affect one thing and tomorrow he needed to be beside his brother.