Chapter Eleven: Finishing the Quest.

Drake sat down, crisscross applesauce, as he raised the crystalline stone into the air, inspecting it.

[Skill Stone: Debuff] [Uncommon]

[Unlocks a random skill from the Debuff tree]

[Requirement: Open Skill Slot]

He had gotten a couple more Skill Stones and one Sub-tree Stone from the fight, but this was probably the most valuable out of the bunch. But it hadn't come from the Apes, at least he was pretty sure since it was right outside the hole he had dug for the person when he finally got done and buried the corpse, marking it with the sword that was lying right next to the Stone. So he presumed that people could actually drop stones as well? It was something he would have to think about later, the implications of it not exactly being very pleasant if it was true.

Drake had managed to reach level 7 after the fight and was now only 1 Vampiric Ape away from completing the quest. He hadn't received a new title so not much had changed outside his base stats rising and him uncharacteristically putting his free points into Intelligence, even though he was barely hovering over 30% health.

The sun was now setting but Drake was in no condition to move yet. His arm was actually broken, but he could feel it slowly mending thanks to his large Vitality. The feeling of the bone healing underneath his swollen black and blue arm was unsettling and itchy but he was honestly just happy he wouldn't have to splint it and possibly have to fight with one hand from now on, or at least until he found someone who could heal it. He had also broken a few ribs from the monster's swing but they had healed fairly quickly.

The stats assistance to healing him was amazing but although it healed him to peak condition, there was surprisingly a type of phantom pain from the larger wounds, like he had noticed when Bear had saved him. So he now guessed that he had most likely broken several bones before breaking his current ones.

Drake wasn't going anywhere soon, so he kept himself occupied by staring at the brush-line in the waning hours of the twilight. Honestly hoping something would come out of it so he could at least finish his first quest. He could feel that he was pretty close to level 8 and he would like to see how the reward system worked for these quests.

And as if the system had heard him, out of the tree line walked a singular Vampiric Ape.

Drake smiled. "Hey there, beautiful." Drake whistled at the monster to get its attention, chanting out a Mana Bolt, not bothering to get up from his sitting position. Hitting the monster right through the chest.

[You have defeated Vampiric Ape level 7] [400 Experience Points and 45 Tutorial Points have been awarded]

[20 of 20 Vampiric Apes have been Subjugated. Quest Complete]

[You have been awarded 3,000 Experience Points]

Drake's eyes widened at the experience he was just handed, it was the same as defeating a Warrior Ape, and he nearly died every time he got into a fight with one.

[Congratulations! You have increased to Mage level 8] [14 Free Points have been rewarded]

Drake quickly put the points into Intelligence again, ignoring the blinking message for the moment. Bringing his Intelligence to a whopping 137, now comfortably outpacing his Vitality.

Finishing up his stats, Drake brought up the flashing prompt window in anticipation.

[Vampiric Ape Subjugation Quest Complete. Accept Reward?]

[Yes] [No]

Drake mentally selected yes and another prompt filled the window.

[Reward Accepted. Please roll twice for the Rarity of items.]

Roll for Rarity? Roll what? Drake thought. Then suddenly remembering the black die he was given at the start of the introduction. He willed it into his hand from his inventory and rolled it out in front of him without preamble. Not willing to wait any longer for his sweet loot.

The die jumped and bobbled until it stopped, a 3 facing upwards.

"Fuck!" Drake cursed, picking up the die for his second roll.

Dropping the die again in front of him he began to sweat as it rolled. His head creeped downward as he prayed for a high roll. Finally the die stopped, a 7 glaring back at Drake.

"NOOOOOOOO!!" Drake wailed, as if something had struck him in the chest, dropping onto his back. Two stones materializing above his head, dropping right onto his face.

Drake rubbed his nose incredulously, picking the crystalline stones off the ground next to him.

[Sub-tree Stone: Soul Mastery] [Uncommon]

[Unlocks Soul Mastery Sub-tree branch]

[Requirement: Have one or more empty Sub-trees. Have a Mage based Main Class-tree unlocked.]

[Sub-tree Stone: Weapon Mastery] [Common]

[Unlocks Weapon Mastery Sub-tree branch]

[Requirement: Have one or more empty Sub-trees. Have the Main Class-tree unlocked.]

Drake continued to lay down for a moment while he went over the descriptions. He was really starting to get impatient. Wondering when he would be able to use these Stones and gain some other skills. Mana Bolt had done right by him, but he was ready for some new toys.

Drake glanced at the top left of his vision at his health, it was now hovering above 60% which Drake thought was good enough for him to get going, it would be dark soon and he needed to find a place to hole up.

He put the stones and die into his inventory with the rest of his spoils. Rolling his previously broken arm to get a feel for it. Unfortunately a sharp pain shot up it as he did. It wasn't broken anymore but it was still very tender, the swelling and blue coloration going down.

Drake grunted a bit, not entirely surprised by the pain after he had almost died again. He was sure it wouldn't be the last time either, he just had to get used to the pain he thought. As they said no pain no game.

Drake looked to the grave next to him marked with the sword, and put his hand on the hilt.

"Thank you for the lesson, person I don't know. I'll be sure to live for the both of us." Drake said solemnly.

Walking towards the treeline of the clearing, he looked over his shoulder one more time,

Goodbye my weak old self. I hope to never see your stupid face again. Drake thought, going into the sea of trees that were the forest.

Drake aimlessly walked through the forest for around an hour before he had a resounding thought go through him.

I'm so lost. He cried internally.