I sidestepped and shoved Cari away as the lizard woman slashed down where I had been standing moments ago, her scimitar digging deep within the earth.
“Jarrod may be willing to let you go, but you ate my favorite knife, you ssslimey fuck!”
“That archer guy's name is Jarrod?! I was expecting something… more?” I said as I extended my razorclaws and barely parried her sword swing. She dove to the side as a huge axe swung down where she’d been. Gregory pivoted and redirected his axe’s momentum as he stepped forward, forcing her to lean back and throw off her balance.
As she did so, a dagger stuck to the hilt into her left leg. Tucker darted in with another, stabbing out as he reached for his thrown knife. The lizard woman yanked out the knife first and threw it, knocking Tucker away with a jerk. She had to leap aside as a bolt of green shot past her. Cari fired off another bolt after the woman, who ran behind one of the nearby buildings to get out of sight. Where her bolts struck, vines extended out to whip around.
A large chunk of the building corner disintegrated as I fired out a Feast Bolt. I, unfortunately underestimated how… efficient my bolt was. The hundred meter tall building groaned as it lilted to one side. Cursing accompanied falling bits of stone as their enemy ran away from the building.
Right into the potent gaze of Cari.
Her movement slowed as her legs began to turn to stone, but the petrification process quickly slowed to a halt. I didn’t hesitate as I charged, retracting my blades as I moved in close.
I reached for her arms with my own, but only managed to get her left, the right with the sword stabbing deeply into my side as I pulled her hand to my open maw. She screamed as she pulled her stump to her side, pulling her sword out as I backed up with a groan. Dark blood flowed from my side as I swallowed her hand.
And, it turns out, three rings she’d been wearing, one of which answered a question I’d had for some time.
You have devoured Ring of Dexterity, Inferior. All stats increased by 5. Consuming magic items does not grant experience.
You have devoured Ring of the Lizard, Inferior. All stats increased by 5. Consuming magic items does not grant experience.
You have devoured Ring of the Flamehart, Common. All stats increased by 10. Consuming magic items does not grant experience.
The wound in my side closed as I felt the rush of energy while my stats all increased by another twenty. I squeezed my hands into fists, feeling the improvement in my musculature. Also, it seemed I was correct in the stats gained by items of increased rarity, as the common ring gave me ten points.
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“You have been naughty, haven’t you?” I said. “You have more than the three magic items given to us during the tutorial. How many people have you killed, and where did you get that delicious Common ring?”
She scowled at me and I noticed her stump already had little nubs where her hand was growing back. She was on the move, dodging swings from Gregory and vines from Cari. Where the hell was Tucker?
He’d been knocked back from a throw of his own dagger by the lizard woman. Our fight had taken us from the area, so he must be recovering from whatever injury she’d caused. I leapt up onto the rubble of the collapsed building to try to get a better look.
Tucker was leaned against a piece of rubble where he’d landed, his own dagger buried to the hilt right between his empty, staring eyes.
Anger filled me. I etched the Strength rune onto my upper armor this time and turned to glare at my next meal. I focused and activated my cloak, darting off the building and out of sight. Gregory and Cari kept her on the move, only taking a handful of cuts from her scimitar as they flicked around the battlefield.
Our foe managed to kick Cari in the chest, sending her sprawling on the ground. Gregory called out in concern, but had to take a defensive position as he barely managed to block the fast cuts of her scimitar. She pushed him closer and closer to the wall of the ruined building, trying to corner him and finally landed a few cuts. Gregory, bleeding from several points, was pressed against the wall as her blade dove in between a parry attempt, pinning him deeply into the wall. Gregory shifted his stance to lock the blade as the wall next to him exploded outward.
With my increased strength, I tore through the wall like it was paper and tackled the lacertilian away from her blade. My hands wrapped around her and I dug my claws deep into her back. She screamed as she tried to punch me away, but my increased strength from the rune removed that possibility. WIth a final angry growl, I opened my mouth wide and closed it over her head as I rent her in two. I didn’t stop until there was nothing left but a bit of spatter on the ground.
You have devoured Level 22 Lacertilian Swashbuckler. Their highest stat was Agility. Your base Agility has increased by 12 points. Bonus stats from eating a Lacertillian Swashbuckler of a higher level than yourself. All stats increased by 6. Bonus experience earned.
DING! Class: Hypocrite Revolutionary has increased from Level 13 to Level 15.
DING! Race: Omnis Vorare has increased from Level 13 to Level 14.
You have devoured Sparrow Scimitar, Inferior. All stats increased by 5. Consuming magic items does not grant experience.
You have devoured Pirate Leather Armor, Inferior. All stats increased by 5. Consuming magic items does not grant experience.
Cari had faced away intentionally as she helped to remove the blade from Gregory’s shoulder. She laid a hand on his shoulder and a green light flashed underneath. When she removed her hand, the wound looked almost fully healed.
“You are truly a terrifying guy,” Gregory said as he stared at me. I looked down to see that I was covered in blood. “Glad you’re on our side.”
“Where’s Tucker? DId he go hide or something?” Cari asked, looking around. She noticed my expression and her own drooped sadly. “She killed him.”
I nodded and walked them over to where he sat.
