I charge forward, shield poised to block any counter attacks! I charge through the group of rats, shoving them away with my shield. The stricken rats parish, but it alerts the others that I am a threat. Now, they’re preparing to strike! As they swarm me, I instinctively block or slash each of them with an array of movements that I had never done before! It almost feels as though I’ve been doing this my whole life! For each one slain, a weird number appears in front of me. I wonder what it means. After killing twenty rats, a light shines around me, startling the remaining rats, and causing them to flee. What was that light just now? It was nothing I had done.

A message of light appears in front of me. It says “Level up!” An array of statistics appear, each saying they’re gaining one to three points. Perhaps this “leveling” is a way to accumulate increased power beyond what armor provides. I hold up my sword, checking the statistics on it. To my surprise, they have! The level has increased, now saying “Level 2+” instead! I think it’s safe to assume that my armor will level as I do! It is amazing bow my comrades can assist me without taking part in combat! I put my sword and shield away before turning to the Wolfen. She quickly jumps up, wrapping her arms and legs around my head, causing me to stumble in surprise. She licks my head excitedly. I can’t tell if she’s tasting my skull, or if she’s grateful for my rescuing of her.

Shortly after, two Wolfen adults charge into the room. They maneuver through the rat corpses, making their way to us. One of them grabs the young Wolfen, cradling her closely. “Are you safe, my daughter?” He says as he holds the Wolfen child. Before I had realized it, the other Wolfen wraps her arms around me and licks across my face. “Thank you, Hero! You’ve saved our daughter from a gruesome fate!” As soon as she released me, I back myself against the wall quickly. That was almost too emotionally stimulating to handle! I’ve never been held by a female before!

As they exit the room together, a number appears in front of me. It says “200XP.” It’s the same as when I was slaying the rats. Perhaps this is something engaged my completing certain actions? I’ll have to investigate this more. “Interesting!” I hear from the entrance of the room. I quickly look up to see the leader standing in the doorway. He enters the room, observing me closely. “It appears as though you’ve grown a level! I’ve never seen it happen in person!” I give a puzzled look to him. He glances at me, then looks away. “I… may know a little more than I’ve let on. I don’t wish to keep you in the dark, so let us discuss this as we search for others in need.”

We walk through the halls, investigating each room that we pass. “You see, my grandfather was a wise, but very old dragon. He told of me a time when humans and monsters were united as one.” I stop and quickly turn to him, surprised by what he just told me. “Now, now. Calm down and let me finish.” I want to just stop and focus on his words, but we really should continue assisting others. “He said that when humans and monsters worked together, they were unbeatable. Humans forges the greatest of equipment, while monsters could apply their power to grant names to said equipment, giving it large boosts in power. It was for the unites goal of a better world.”

As I listen to the leader’s story, I open a door, discovering a large rats nest building on the second floor. I begin slaying the rats, collecting more of those weird points of power. The leader COULD assist, but he is too enthralled by his own story. “However, just like all things, the bond between monsters and humans were easily severed when humans began declaring that monsters were killing them. Betrayal and mistrust fell upon both sides. While the whole thing was staged by one individual who had a distaste for monsters, it was too late. Monsters and humans already had too much distrust in one another to continue living so close.”

As I finished slaying the rats, I managed to gain another level. I destroyed the nest, prompting a message to appear to me that says “1/3 rats nests destroyed.” While it’s nice to know that there is more, I have no way of knowing where they may be. This power is both a blessing, and a curse. However, it is very fun to collect these power points and gain levels. Maybe I’ll do that for a while to make fighting off Heroes easier. The leader seems like he’s enjoying the reminiscing of his grandfather. “My grandfather told me of many locations he had been, and the allies he had made. He had earned the respect of many, humans and monsters alike. Even though I thought this all to be fantasy, I had dreams of getting to enjoy the same life.”

I began searching more rooms as the leader continued to follow and recollect his memories. “My grandfather had taught me many things. That’s where I learned of certain hidden monster abilities, much like yours. He had also taught me of many hero traits and features. It was on his death bed that he taught me how to become a Hero.” I stop and turn to him. Now this may be intriguing to hear! The leader stops and looks around. He then stares at me for a moment. “Ohhh~ I understand! No, you may continue your search as I speak! No need to focus in so hard!” I roll my eyes as I continue to walk. He walks beside me as he continues his story.

“My grandfather told me that to become a Hero, you must help the people. Be virtuous, and defend them. Only then will you ever be able to feel what it’s like to become one. While I didn’t believe his ramblings, I knew that helping monsters was quite important, so I had done just that. I had then built this dungeon, and housed monsters here. However, that alone wasn’t enough to make me into a Hero.” I stop in a doorway as the leader stops talking. I look back to him in anticipation that he had more to say. His expression tells me he is confused. I suppose he’s done talking. I enter the room to discover the last two remaining rat nests. They’re both larger than the previous one, and the number of rats is much greater.

While I stand pondering how I’ll handle this situation, the leader taps me on the shoulder. “Excuse me. If I may.” He grabs my wrist, lifting my hand, and activating my statistics sheet. “Do you see the different panels on the bottom of this page?” He says as he points to them. I hadn’t noticed before, but there appears to be a couple options. The first says “character,” the second says “Skill tree,” and the third says “Quests.” Intrigued, I decide to touch the panel for quests first. The page changes, showing the rat nest hunt message that appeared before. I touch the quest in the list to expand on the details. It says “Rats are infesting this place. Good housekeeping starts with removing pests. Quest rewards: 400XP” I suppose that’s why I received the spontaneous points when I helped the Wolfen girl.

I change the page to the skill tree. It expands out larger than the other two pages, showing a large chain of connecting images that I’ve never seen before. For each one that I press, it tells me a different ability name and the corresponding action it performs. There is one at the very top that is defined in color. I press it, causing it to light up. It is an ability called “Impactful Strike.” The description of it says “Slam your shield forward with immense force, striking all enemies in front of you in a cone.” This… manipulates the air in front of me or something? I’m not entirely sure how this works. I suppose I should try it, though.

After activating that ability in the tree, the next two connected to it become more defined, as the first originally was. These two abilities say “Gushing Wounds: Passive – Causes enemies struck by Impactful Strike to also bleed for 5 seconds.” The other says “Roaring Charge: Rush forward towards an enemy, leaving them in shock for 1 second and striking them for 100% of a basic strikes damage.” Hmmm… while the charge would be helpful, it only targets one. The greater damage to multiple targets seems more useful in this moment. I’ll get Gushing Wounds first. After selecting the skill, it glows in a similar fashion as the first one, but the other has faded to black and white.

The leader grabs my shoulder. “Do not fear. You’ve merely used all of the acquired points, since you’ve only grown two levels. You’ll gain more soon enough.” I hold up my shield and sword, preparing myself for the battle ahead. I run towards the nests. Many rats begin rushing towards me. I slow down and consider how my ability said it works. The strike is a cone-shape outward attack. Therefore, I’ll need as many in that attack window as possible. I start slowly walking backwards, causing the rats to funnel themselves into a group, headed straight for me. As soon as the nearest one reached forward to strike, I slam my shield forward. As I did, some amazing red light in a spiked shape rushes beyond my shield, expanding outward in a cone, and cutting into all of the rats.

The rats stand still, dazed for a moment, then they all fall to the ground. The damage inflicted must have been plenty with the inclusion of the bleeding effect, to Vanquish them all in one strike! I begin destroying the nests. After I smash the first one, I raise my blade to cut the second. The moment I made contact with the nest, a loud screeching sound rings out, echoing in the small room. The nest opening rips apart as a disgustingly large rat drags its massive body from the small exit. It appears to be some sort of queen-like figure, bulging and pregnant with the next generation, ready to repopulate the swarm of rodents I’ve just eliminated. It also appears to be covered in some kind of mucus. A bodily guard of some kind?

The rat runs towards me while making that screeching sound. Such a devastating noise! I hold my head to block out the sound! I-I feel so disoriented! I can barely hear my thoughts! Before I come to, I feel a sharp pain in my leg. The rat is biting me! I swing my shield at it wildly. The rat takes the hit, but just steps away from me while screeching. I take up my combat pose, but I feel myself getting weaker. This bite… it… was venomous?! I don’t have any veins! How can I be poisoned?! I have to finish this! I remember just how far my Impactful Strike reaches, so I get into position! The rat paces around me for a moment. I think it’s waiting for me to succumb to the poison!

I try to think of something I can do! I begin inching closer to it, keeping my guard up, in case it strikes. It moves slowly towards the back wall. As soon as it’s cornered, it can wait for me to kill it, or it can come to me first! As soon as it’s tail brushes the wall, it scampers quickly around to a more open part of the room. This rat is going to wait for me to die on my own! I turn back to the leader, giving him a panicked look. The leader just smiles at me with a calm expression. “Come, now! You must be capable of this much! Besides, I have another test to conduct since you’re a Hero now.” I look back towards the rat. This is so frustrating! I look at the quest panel again. It says the quest is still only two-thirds complete! Perhaps killing the rat isn’t part of it?

I slowly shuffle towards the final nest. As expected, the rat moves away from me, avoiding me at all costs. The moment I got within range of the nest, I used an Impactful Strike, obliterating the final nest! The points for completing the quest were rewarded to me, providing just enough experience to cause me to increase in level! I quickly open my skill tree panel and select the Roaring Charge ability! Immediately as I close the panel, I rush forward with my newly acquired ability! Before I had known it, I was directly in front of the rat! I quickly use a second Impactful Strike, annihilating the rat and any infants it may be preparing to spawn! I-I did it! I defeated the queen of the rats! I turn to the leader with excitement! However, I’m suddenly overwhelmed with aggressive pain, causing my vision to go blurry. I fall over, hitting my head on the ground, and losing consciousness.

…My body feels light… The pain is gone, but… so is any other feeling. I look around to see nothing but darkness. I look down at myself and realize that even I have no form. Soon after, I see another message of light appear before me. It says “You Have Died. Careful of poisons. They’re quite lethal.” I… suppose that leveling would not save me from such ailments. Well… is this it? Death is merely an existence in an empty void with nothing but a message explaining how I had perished? After a short while, a secondary message appears. It says “Would you like to respawn?” followed by selectable choices of Yes and No. I… can come back to life? How… is that possible?

I mean, if I’m being given the option, why would I not return to life? Will I be returned to my poisoned body? Maybe I’ll become someone, or something else? Maybe… no! I can’t continue to second guess my decisions! I will accept this offer! Come what may, I will live again! I can’t see my hand, but I reach forward to press the “Yes” button. It lights up similarly to the skills do. Afterwards, everything turns black once more. I wake up moments later. I’m sitting on the floor in my area next to the leader’s room. Was that… just a dream? No. I most definitely just died. I stand up to inspect myself. I still have my equipment, and my leg is not wounded anymore.

Footsteps sound out as I am checking myself for changes. “I see that what my grandfather told me of Heroes is true!” The leader shouts out as he approaches me. “Heroes do not truly die. They are, essentially, immortal.” We enter into the leader’s room, looking down at the skeleton on the ground from the Hero I had slain. “ This skeleton of the Hero you’ve killed is not simply the Hero’s remains, but a place marker for any to see that someone was vanquished here. Where my kin once lived, there were many skeletons like this. Though, I thought they belonged to normal humans. The truth is… Heroes are slain quite regularly!”