Cliff - 8

Death, it felt so familiar, a sensation that only occurred in the most desperate of situations.

[-13]

Fluid washed over his face, a mix of both blood and iron, coalescing into a deadly mixture that broke through his defenses. Every moment was agony, washed away by the pain of grit teeth.

Watching from afar were two people, both as heavily injured as the next. But even they stood in awe as he emerged victorious. His face stained with blood, wings clipped into pieces, and a face so pale that the slightest wind would knock him down.

Rage drilled deep into their souls, an emotion holed deep into their hearts, at the death of their friend. And so, foot by foot, finger by finger. 

They grasped at the ground, shaking slightly with every movement. As heavily injured as they were, both still had their wills. 

And vengeance raged brighter than any pain could bring them down.

Golden light poured over the both of them. A hand raised, eyes squinted, all in order to see through the veil.

But it was futile, as by the time their eyes had adjusted it was over. The golem was dead, the core in the hand of the angel.

Red met white, blood met purity. Intermixing to paint a picture of a war torn angel, showered in the blood of their patrons' enemies.

But it only lasted for a second, a second that stretched on for millenia. Only to suddenly collapse and reign in on their awe.

Gabriel held his hand high, an object crushed between his fingers. He looked to the sky, where it shone in the dark of the cave. Only to suddenly twist his grip and slam it into his sword.

It took root and shone with a bright red light. And by the time that it was done it had fully fused into the sword.

[Blood soaked sword]

[Bleed+1]

[1.2(dex)]

Gabriel rose from his kneeling and took upon the sight of his newly crowned sword, the beginning of his ultimate weapon.

It would begin small, a small taint of DNA, locked in the blood. But would soon blossom into various weapons, all locked into the DNA of the weapon itself.

Gabriel smiled and looked to the players and their gazes. They shone with greed, hidden, but greed nonetheless.

But finally, after a moment of silence they turned their greed to the side and to the dead body of their comrade.

…

…

…

Light shone over his body, Gabriel basked in it, over the swampy smell that took hold of his nose, of the danger that rooted through his veins. 

The other two took their own places beside him, but before they could even mutter their goodbye's hollow as they may be, he was gone, merely a feather, draped over the cliff, was left for them.

They crouched, took the feather in both of their hands and nodded to the other. A grimace on their faces as they prepared to report on what had happened.

But even as they did so, Gabriel only flew freely, taking to the skies as an angel should.

He flew over the dank swamp, lit by the sight of fleshy green and murky waters. But soon that turned to light as the swamp gave way to hills.

They were populated by farmers, walled in by the opulent city, giving their harvests, all in return for safety.

A child looked up, waved and gave a smile to the bloodied angel, who responded in kind. Landing close by and giving a nod.

But once that had been done he followed the path, all until the true city gates shown through. The gold and opulent buildings taking way from the farms that littered their territory.

"I-" One of the guards tried to say before he stumbled on his words. 

Gabriel thought that he had been looking to him, but on closer inspection found his gaze further up, over his height and to the back.

He looked back and saw Rosa, her dark curls giving way to a wry smile. 

"Rosa" Gabriel greeted, a smile lighting his face at the familiar person.

She too smiled and picked him up by the armpits, a gesture that he did not mind at all.

"Have a fun day?" She asked, her gaze roaming around the injuries that he had sustained. But the context flew over his head, overjoyed by the contact he felt.

…

…

…

[Gained Uncommon Trait: Drenched in Blood]

[Killed Blood Golem(10)]

[1000 XP gained]

Gabriel gazed at the notification screen, a contemplating look upon his face. There were a couple choices for him to pursue. And those were to grind out some more encounters and hope to gain enough XP to level to level 10.

Or he could hope that he was strong enough and engage the undead tonight.

On the one hand he could gain much by trying to level. But on the other hand it would thin the population too much, and for every subsequent kill of the same species it would decrease the XP gained by half. All until it was too pitiful to even consider.

However he did not feel strong enough to confront the undead, even with his natural advantage.

It was a dilemma but eventually he chose. He was going to go out for another day or two, and with that time, hunt as much as he could without dying.

But for now he opened his status screen, and gazed at the growing list of traits.

[Gabriel]

[4]

(1300/1600)

[HP: 100]

[Mp: 600]

[strength: 1(6)] 

[dexterity: 13(21)]

[vitality: 1(1)]

[intelligence: 1(6)]

[SP: 0]

[Traits:]

[Mythical Trait: One who has traversed the void - a level beyond normal, beyond even extraordinary, a man who has conquered more than a single one should ever be capable of. I gift to thee a boon created with the last vestiges of my life. May it help you grow ever stronger, for the man who had killed me should bow to none, be lesser than none.]

[Rare Trait: Angelic Wings - gain the ability to fly and the beauty of an angel sculpted by a master sculptor. +1 str and int +2 dex for every level]

[Uncommon Trait: Drenched in Blood - gain a second wind upon reaching 20% percent of max HP. Usable every seven days and a three full rests.]

[Normal Trait: Fleet Foot - Your dexterity has passed the realm of human and entered the realm of the supernatural.]