Civilization

Appearing from the ground, next to Andud, towering over the bone wall, is a white skeleton giant. Grasping onto a similarly gigantic femur, the giant slowly stomps around the bone wall. Two green flames burn brightly within its eye sockets as it gazes in Devel's direction. Trailing in front of the giant, and regrouping with the skeleton warriors, were 3 skeleton mages, dressed in black robes and holding onto long wooden staffs.

As the bone wall disintegrates, Andud could be seen sitting on his armchair once more, resting his head on his hand. Even without being able to see his facial features, I could tell he was bored and disinterested as he looks at this battle. However, we couldn't show the same disinterest. Devel steps off the ground, making a small indent with his feet as he charges at the nearest skeleton.

Defending itself with its sword, the skeleton braces for impact as Devel quickly slashes at its torso. In the meantime, the mages behind each hold out their staffs as purple magic circles appear in front of them. Purple electricity sparks around the magic circles, as dark indigo balls, shoots out, zooming through the air, locked onto Devel. Seeing the incoming projectiles, Devel hesitates for a moment, before jumping headfirst into them.

Surrounding himself with the skeleton warriors, Devel brings his forearms in front of his face as the monsters proceed to attack him. Swords and axes, aim for his neck and face whilst the spear attempts to pierce through his chest, but to the monster's dismay, Devel stands still, unmoving. With each blow, cut, thrust, or strike, Devel's body glows blue slightly, growing stronger with each subsequent blow.

Reaching the battlefield finally, the skeleton giant lifts his weapon up high, bringing it down onto Devel. Seeing the approaching bone club, Devel braces himself for impact, tensing his body as the attack smashes into his head, however, instead of breaking his body from the attack, Devel lifts his arms up, stopping the blow. At the same time, the glowing of his body peaks.

"COUNTER PULSE!" - Devel

Sending a translucent blue shockwave outward, Devel's skill eliminates the skeleton warriors that were surrounding him, while knocking back the giant, making it fall to the ground with a thunderous thud. Quickly, Devel accelerates to the skeleton mages, holding his sword to the side as he dodges the incoming indigo balls. Reaching them within the time it takes to breathe, Devel smashes his sword through their torsos, killing each one swiftly.

Watching the fight unfold from his chair, Andud, remains the same. Unmoving and unflinching at the sorrowful sight of his summons dying, Glancing between Andud and the giant, Devel hesitates as he decides on his course of action.

"Devel! Go for Andud, David and I will handle the giant!" - Rebecca

"Okay! On it." - Devel

"Come, David. Let's help him out." - Rebecca

"Stay behind me still okay, Becca? I don't want anything to happen to you. Ian would kill me if something did." - David

"I will don't worry." - Rebecca

Sprinting toward Andud, Devel's sword glows brightly, revealing the insides of the sword slightly as the rocks surrounding it juts out, connected by the electrical strings that bound it together. Waving his bony hands in the air, purple magic circles appear in front of Andud. Emerging out of them, were similarly dark indigo balls, but not only were they larger, but they were also faster.

Zooming toward Devel at lightning-quick speeds, he narrowly dodges the first few, as they explode onto the ground, creating a small purple shockwave, but there was a group that blocked his escape route. Bracing himself, Devel swings downward as the indigo balls fly to him, creating a large purple explosion.

In the meantime, the skeleton giant stands up, staring at Devel. Grabbing its Femur Club, it proceeds to move to Devel, however, David and I stood in its path. Banging his knuckles together, David charges at the skeleton giant, engulfing his body in flames. Burning as bright as the morning sun, David leaps off the ground, dodging the incoming attack as the skeleton giant slams its club onto the ground.

The sheer force of the attack, rocks the ground, making it hard to stand but, that didn't affect David as his fist slammed into the giant's skull. A small crack forms, bursting into flames and searing the area black before David carefully lands on the ground. However, his mistake was stopping, as the skeleton didn't feel any pain from the attack, and instead follows David, swinging the club along the ground.

Tearing through the ground, picking up pieces of the floor along with the club, the skeleton lands a decisive blow on the unsuspecting David, but I knew he will be okay. Instead, I start to sprint toward the skeleton, making a pair of dice appear in the air as I do. Casting it forward, I let it bounce in the air, waiting for the good news as I trust in my Luck stat.

[The dice have been cast… Total… 10! Boost deserted stat by 100%. Which stat would you like to increase?]

Smiling to myself, as I read the result, I calmly exhale, as I speak quietly.

"Boost Agility." - Rebecca

[Agility has been chosen. Agility 51 -> Agility 102]

Feeling the wind behind my back, I accelerate toward the skeleton, looking for any weak points I could take advantage of while glancing at David to make sure he was okay. Seeing him, grabbing onto the club after the small explosion occurred when it hit him, a small wave of relief washed over me. While I trusted his ability to tank damage, there was a little part of me that was still worried about his safety.

Gritting his teeth, David yells at the top of his lungs as he yanked the club from the skeleton's arm, taking the hand along with him as he tosses the club to the side. Observing this interaction, I realize that all the joints in the skeleton can be disconnected, of course, it might require a huge force to do it. However, I glance near the ankles and the wrists looking carefully, to see thin light blue strings connecting each bone.

If I wasn't looking carefully, I was sure I would have missed it, but now that I was it was like looking at a whole new world. A web of blue strings, stretches over each bone, connecting every large and small bone together, like muscles. As they were slightly transparent, anyone could have easily missed this detail, but with this newfound knowledge, I realize that it was the skeleton's weakness.

"David, there are blue mana strings that attach to each bone. When you pulled on the club before, you tore the mana strings that connect the wrist and the hand. We can defeat the skeleton giant, by just tearing it apart!" - Rebecca

"How do you want me to go about that? I don't have a weapon anymore." - David

"You don't need it! But first, we need to topple the giant! Aim for its left leg, I'll grab its attention. You push or pull on the leg to make it fall to the ground." - Rebecca

"On it!" - David

Holding onto the goblin knife tightly, I circle around the giant, to the front, while David circles to its back. Its eyes were still locked onto David as it starts to turn around. Seeing this, I quickly change directions, rushing to the giant as quickly as possible. Leaping up, I grab onto its kneecap, and using the remaining momentum, I pull myself up further, grabbing onto its rib cage. Stepping off one of the ribs, I bounce up to its head, stabbing its cheekbone with the knife.

While I knew the knife wouldn't do any damage to the skeleton, I saw that the flames in its eye sockets turn to me. Smiling at my successful taunt, I flip backward, landing softly on the ground below. Glancing up, I saw the monster lift its right leg preparing to stomp on my body, but this presented us an opportunity of a lifetime.

Dashing from behind, as he notices the giant lifting its leg, David crashes into the left leg, knocking it off the ground. Unable to balance itself, with both feet off the ground, the skeleton collapsed to the ground below. Sprinting forth, I yell at David to start the attack on the monster.

"Pull on its feet! Try to tear it apart from its ankle! I'm going to see if I can cut the strings near the head!" - Rebecca

"Why don't I just try to pull the head from the neck?" - David

"Good point! Come!" - Rebecca

Both of us quickly rush to the head of the skeleton, reaching it within a matter of seconds. The flames in its eye socket move slowly to us, as it attempts to lift itself off the ground, but David, quickly jumped onto its shoulder, cracking the bone and pushing it to the floor. Seeing that the network of strings was darker around the back of the neck, I slide to the ground, flicking a coin up at the same time.

[Successful Coin Flip! Doubling Random Stat… Strength has been selected! Strength 44 -> Strength 88. Will you flip again?]

"NO!" - Rebecca

I wasn't even sure if it will work, but instead of thinking and planning I thought why not just try…? Cutting the mana strings would work to separate the neck and the head but on the off chance it did nothing then I guess I gave the skeleton a good scratch along the bone. Sliding underneath the head, I slice upward, as I see the nest of blue strings, but to my dismay, the goblin knife phases through it, creating a deep white mark along the bone.

Disappointed, I exit from under the skeleton on the other side. Seeing my failure, David hurriedly, grabs onto the chin of the skeleton, pushing it upward while kicking its neck. Each kick created more and more cracks along the bone, which sparked another idea. BRUTE FORCE!

With my increased strength, I was somewhat sure that my strength would be similar to David's, and meeting my expectation, my fist punches a small hole into the bones of the skeleton giant.

Time to break some bones!