The Team

Erik's confusion deepened as he tried to grasp the meaning of the runes' message. What did they mean by "the power within"?

How was he supposed to seek the path of an ancient hero when he barely understood what was happening to him?

He closed his eyes, trying to steady his racing thoughts. "Power within," he muttered to himself. "What does that even mean?"

Taking a deep breath, Erik tried to concentrate. He focused inward, trying to sense any changes within his body, any trace of the power Freya had spoken of. As he concentrated, he felt a strange sensation like a flicker of warmth in his chest, spreading outwards.

The warmth grew stronger, and Erik felt a surge of energy coursing through him. It was as if a dormant part of him had awakened.

He opened his eyes and the runes in front of him began to shift again, rearranging themselves into a new pattern. This time, the runes formed a window that looks like a status screen from an RPG game but imbued with an ancient magical aura.

Erik's eyes widened as he read the glowing text:

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[Name: Erik Miles]

[Title: Reincarnation of Sigurd]

[Level: 1]

[Exp: 80]

[Age: 17]

[Attributes:]

- [Strength: 15]

- [Endurance: 12]

- [Agility: 14]

- [Wisdom: 10]

- [Courage: 18]

[Skills:]

- [Heroic Combat: 10]

- [Rune Mastery: 8]

[Condition:]

- [Health: 85%]

- [Fatigue: 40%]

- [Aether: 50% (Charging)]

- [Injuries: None]

[Special Abilities:]

- [Sigurd's Valor: Unleashes immense strength and courage in the face of danger. (All Attributes X2, consuming 10% of Aether for every second.]

---

Erik stared at the window in awe. This was the power within him, the legacy of Sigurd. He now had a clearer sense of his abilities and strengths.

The words and numbers seemed to pulse with a life of their own and he couldn't help but marvel at how similar it was to an RPG status window from the game he used to playing.

"How thoughtful," he mused, a small smile tugging at his lips. "The gods and goddesses really know how to make things familiar."

He wondered briefly how they knew about this kind of interface but pushed the thought aside.

There were more pressing matters at hand.

Erik turned to check on his friends. Just as he was about to reach out, Liam and Mia woke up with a jolt, their eyes wide with alarm.

"Are you guys okay?" Erik asked, concern lacing his voice.

Liam and Mia both nodded, their breathing heavy as they tried to gather their bearings. Then, almost in unison their gazes shifted, and they looked in front of them, their expressions mirroring Erik's earlier astonishment.

Erik had a strong feeling that they were seeing the same runes he had.

"You see it too, don't you?" he asked.

Liam nodded slowly, his eyes still fixed on the shimmering symbols. "Yeah... what... What is this?"

"It's a status window," Erik explained, his excitement growing. "Like in an RPG game. It's showing our abilities and attributes."

Mia's eyes widened. "This is... incredible."

Erik nodded. "Yeah, it is. But we need to stay focus. We're not out of danger yet."

Hearing Erik's words Mia and Liam immediately snapped back into focus. Although myths and legends were foreign to them they were very familiar with games. The trio had spent countless hours playing MMORPGs together, forming a party and battling various digital foes. Now, seeing a status window reminiscent of those games, they quickly understood its significance.

"This... power, looks like its just like in our games," Liam said, his initial shock giving way to a determined, almost excited look.

"Yeah," Mia agreed, her eyes scanning the floating runes. "We know how this works."

Erik felt a sense of relief wash over him. They might be out of their depth with the mythology, but this was something they could grasp.

"Right. I guess we can say that we've trained for this without even realizing it. Let's use that knowledge to our advantage," Erik said.

"What's your status like?" Liam asked, curiosity piqued.

Erik shared a brief overview of his stats and abilities, and they quickly did the same. Their familiarity with RPG mechanics allowed them to quickly understand their new capabilities and how they could support each other.

Liam spoke first, his voice steady despite the situation after he had found his anchor.

"My title is Beowulf," he said. "I have high Strength and Endurance, and my skills include 'Berserker Rage' and 'Battle Tactics'. My special ability is 'Wyrm's Bane,' which boosts my power when fighting large enemies."

Erik nodded, understanding the role Liam would play in their group. "You'll be our front line, taking on the toughest foes."

Mia then shared her status.

"My title is Brynhildr," she said. "My highest attributes are Agility and Wisdom. I have skills in 'Strategic Defense' and 'Rune Casting'. My special ability is 'Valkyrie's Grace,' which allows me to enhance our defenses and provide healing."

Erik felt a surge of hope as he heard their abilities.

"You'll support us with defense and healing, keeping us in the fight. Your agility and wisdom will help you stay out of direct danger," Erik said.

Liam and Mia nodded in agreement, understanding the dynamic they needed to establish. Their experience as a gaming party gave them a foundation to build upon in this new, real-life adventure.

"We've got the tank, the support, and the damage dealer," Erik said, referring to their usual game roles. "Let's use that to our advantage."

Liam's eyes gleamed with determination. "I'll lead the charge, take the hits, and keep the enemies focused on me."

Mia added, "I'll stay back, providing defensive runes and healing when needed. I can also support with strategic defenses, making sure we have the upper hand."

Erik felt a renewed sense of purpose as they prepared to face the dangers outside.

"Let's move out carefully. Stick to our roles and watch each other's backs. We can get through this," Erik said.

With their plan in place, Erik, Liam, and Mia steeled themselves to go outside.

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