Fighter Level 4 > Fighter Level 5

  These Elites are strangely different than the normal imps. Their body shape is thicker, and their scales are less like skin and more like ceramic.

  I pry one off the dead Elite and turn it in my hands. It's not very heavy. I hit the scale with the butt end of my dagger, and it breaks cleanly into four uneven pieces. I let them fall, looking over to the other dead Elite.

  Neither of them had been allowed to live long enough to flex whatever Skills they may have had. I look at the face of the Imp I am mounted over. I can see the muddy earth through the hole where its eye used to be.

  I pry another scale and begin cutting deeper into the Imp’s chest. I bite my lip and squint my eyes as I reach deeper into its chest cavity, searching for the core within. My fingers find and discard organs and veins, working deeper. With my other hand, I tap on the Imp’s sternum. Trying to give my submerged hand a hint using vibrations.

  It helps. I pull the core out with a half-smile, tossing it from one hand to the next, relishing the view of holding it in my three-fingered left. I've paid the Imps back for their initial transgression.

  I toss the core back to my whole hand and stand, moving to the second Elite. But I pause at an unexpected sight: the Keeper.

  The red bird isn't looking at me, instead casually preening the feathers under one wing. Its talons are latched onto the shoulder of the Elite Imp. The perch seems natural, like a bee on a flower. The Keeper continues to pretend I'm not there, focused entirely on his critical task of cleaning his flawless wings.

  "Fuckkk! You again"

  He looks up at me and tilts his head. He says nothing.

  "Does this mean I passed?" I wait.

  "No," he says, smiling from his Imp perch. "Though you're pretty impressive. Strong. Not of body, not yet, at least. But your Spirit and Will are formidable.

  "You know I'm here to impress.” He doesn’t respond. "So, on to the second floor? Can I grab my pack and stuff?"

  "No." He responds quickly.

  "I brought all that gear with me; it should come with me. I came prepared. That should be rewarded."

  "Hah, sure it should be. You’ll keep your pack, but you're not finished with the first floor."

  "How many floors are there, again?"

  "Three.”

  "Shit," I look down at my left hand.

  "These," I hold the hand up. "Will I get these back?"

  "You’ll get the chance, sure, but why? It’s only a scratch."

  "They’re my fingers…"

  "Right, fingers. Not arms." He replies. His tone is that of a disappointed teacher. "If you want to survive and grow stronger, you’ll have to give up some things along the way. You’ll lose a few feathers." He shrugs.

  "Yeah, feathers and fingers. Not sure they’re the same.”

  "Sure they are. You lose a few, and it sucks, but you can still use the limb. Lose too many, and the limbs become just meaty stubs," He says confidently, then changes the subject. "Aren't you curious why I am offering you this break from your little blood orgy?"

  "Blood orgy?! You fucking designed it."

  "Right enough. Don't you want to know why I'm here, though?" He asks again teasingly.

  I voice the question that rings loudest in my mind.

  “Why now? Why are you here?”

  “I am here to congratulate you!” He says cheerily.

  "Thanks," I reply.

  “Earlier, you said you wanted an accelerated trial. Does that still hold?" His voice grows serious.

  “Isn’t that what we’ve been doing?” I ask, looking into the beady black eyes of the Keeper, who shakes his head. No.

  “This is the normal pace.” I realize it out loud. He nods, continuing.

  “You needed to build a solid foundation. That can’t be rushed.”

  “This hasn’t been rushed?!” I gesture around myself to encompass the entirety of the world around me. He smiles sadly.

  “You aren’t happy with your progress?” He asks.

  The question makes me pause. I am happy with my progress. I couldn't stand before Nyce a week ago when she dissolved a simple skill. Now I'm plucking the core out of a muscled monster with a wide hole in its head.

  “I know it’s been a tough week," The Phoenix continues, having read my silence accurately. "But you’ve grown quite a lot, and I’m impressed. I’m here today to reward you.”

  “What kind of reward?” I ask. The Keeper smiles at the avarice in my eyes.

  He remains silent but extends his wing. The killing ground responds to the motion, the brown earth flowing like water until I’m looking at three stone chests that seem to have grown from the barren soil.

  I look to the Phoenix, a question in my eyes.

  “Go ahead, have a closer look. But touch nothing until you’ve made your decision.”

  “My decision?”

  “Yes. Each chest contains two items that may help you survive longer. You need to decide which chest will suit you best moving forward. You can only claim one.”

  I move closer, peering down into the lidless troughs.

  In the first chest rests a suit of armor. Leather and steel are woven together into a beautiful tapestry of safety. On top of the armor rests a helmet, simple in its design.

  Fighters Armor Set (Uncommon) – A custom suit built to protect while providing flexibility.

  Helmet of Sight (Rare) – A rigid self-repairing helm that enhances the wearer's peripheral view.

  In the second chest, there is a rope coil. It is strange to the eye, thicker than I would expect, and short. It's not a very good rope for climbing. I look closer and see that it looks more like a vine. I see knots and whorls in the wood. A second item is next to the vine and still in the box—a small egg, about the size of two fists.

  Vine Spear (Uncommon) – A sturdy, sharp weapon. Dual forms, a simple straight spear, and coiled vine.

  Familiar Seed (Rare) – A mysterious familiar resides within—one suited to your needs, an equal’s bond.

  The third chest contains a shield. A single-leaf shield of silver and the attached armbands are dark oiled leather. Beneath the shield rests a small marble. Its light green color shifts and bends as the verdant energy whirls inside.

  Shield of Silver (Uncommon) – A shield with liquid qualities. It can be altered to fit the user's needs.

  Bead of Restoration (Rare) – Consuming this bead will cure all ailments. You will regrow limbs, dispel any curses or poisons, and repair malformations.

  The bead of restoration draws my eyes immediately. If it regrows limbs, it will undoubtedly fix my missing fingers. I flex my left hand thoughtfully, feeling the gaps where my pinky and ring finger used to sit; when I look back at the other crates, I see real treasure. Items that would help me survive this place and return to my home.

  Unbidden, the words of the Keeper ring through my mind. If you want to survive and grow stronger, you’re going to have to give up some things along the way. You’ll lose a few feathers.

  I need to make a decision that will improve my survival. Regrowing two fingers feels like a waste of a rare item, and each chest only has one rare item and one uncommon item. To waste a rare on my fingers wouldn't be wise. But what if I lose an arm or an eye down the road? Having the bead in my pocket in that moment could be the difference between life and death.

  I look at the other item in the chest, the shield. Its usefulness is apparent. I can see myself fighting with it on my left; stabbing with my merchant’s dagger, and protecting myself with the shield. It would help me maneuver the battlefield and manipulate my opponent. I can see myself slamming the edge into an imp skull, sending fragments flying—defense and offense in one.

  I move to the next chest, the spear, and the ‘seed.' A spear would give me greater reach, and It’s compatible with my Pierce skill. The seed looks like an egg to me. It is oval, and its color is black. The spear is uncommon, and the egg is rare. The egg is the greater prize, yet its contents are a total mystery to me. What is an equal’s bond?

  When I visualize myself fighting with the spear, I remember how it felt to use the staff in combat against little Cynthia. Using both hands to direct my strikes, my whole body moving behind the length of wood felt right.

  I go to the last chest, the first chest I opened. Armor and a helmet. The outfit must be heavy, the leather and steel look sturdy, and the helmet is simple, yet I know its effect could be game-changing with the ability to fight in close combat without worrying about my safety.

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  With my Merchant Dagger, protection, and enhanced vision, I could live in the thick of the battle, shrugging off deathblows and landing my own with my dagger. It would bolster my current style immensely.

  Three chests. Three choices. The Keeper told me to choose well. The challenge will only grow greater. I will consider my options carefully.

  My first instinct is to take the chest with the Bead of Restoration. The itch to feel whole again is nearly overwhelming. But the Keeper's words still ring in my head; he called it a scratch. And he’s right. Regrowing my two lost digits won’t help me survive what’s coming.

  It might help to have a cure-all in my back pocket. But if I can beat the first floor, I will earn the Cinderfruit anyways. The rare Cinderberries have incredible restorative properties, I imagine the fruit will be able to do even more. I look up at the Phoenix, and he gives me a knowing look.

  “Not this one,” I tell him.

  He nods, and the chest sinks back into the earth. I move to the box with the armor and helmet.

  These feel the most like me. They let me keep my current fighting style and will help me develop into a Rondell-wielding warrior. But there are downsides; I don't like trusting my safety to my armor. It would also affect my maneuverability, which has been key to my survival since day one.

  I look at the final chest. The spear will be helpful. I can use my Pierce Skill, and there may be a way to dual-wield with the spear and the dagger. I can see it raising my offensive potential, and then the rare ‘seed’ is a mystery. But the idea of no longer being alone seals the deal.

  “This one,” I reach inside it. Barely conscious of the other chest sinking into the ground.

  I take out the vine spear; it is loose like a rope. I can feel the energy flowing through its length. At an unspoken command, it coils into a small bundle, then falls loosely again, then I mold it into a hoop. Then, finally, a spear. It makes a solid cracking sound as it snaps into a straight line.

  Its diameter is consistent throughout; it only grows slightly thicker, close to the pointed head. It looks natural like it has grown to be this, a spear. I turn it back into a hoop and loop it over my shoulder.

  I reach down to scoop up the egg and feel a shock run up my arm and into my core. It's like a spark of electricity. It rattles between my cores and then jumps through muscles and veins in a cycle around my body. Then it shoots back down my arm and into the egg again.

  I gasp as my body unfreezes. The egg looks different now. It’s changed from a smooth black spheroid into a deep blue-purple color with a texture like polished stone. It feels heavy as I lift it. There is no second jolt of energy.

  Instead, I receive a notification.

  Shopkeeper Level 9 > Shopkeeper{?} Level 10

  Profession Evolution Available

  The Phoenix is smirking at me.

  “You’re growing quickly, hatchling.”

  “Thank you,” I say numbly, still shocked by the sudden change.

  “Look at me, girl.” He says, his voice growing heavier.

  When I meet his gaze, I find my eyes locked there again. I can’t look away.

  “You’ve proven that your spirit is resilient. This barren wasteland hasn't broken you, and it won’t. So, I’ll restore this land to its true form. I hope you enjoy it while you can. You will have one day to rest, and then the waves will arrive: unending waves. You will break them, or they will break you.”

  As he speaks, I see the world alter in my peripheral vision. But my focus is on those eyes and his words. Unending waves. When he finishes, my vision snaps and the blurry landscape becomes distinct. The Phoenix flies away.

  Tears fall from my eyes, and my knees hit the ground. Where once there was a dead brown hill surrounded by a wasteland, now there is green. My lush, verdant hill is surrounded by a forest bursting with life. The sound of birds and bugs is deafening. I hadn't noticed their absence until now. I'm on my knees, my fingers moving through the grass. My body shakes as I sob with relief. The Sun beats down on my skin with a steady heat.

  I fall forward onto my stomach, relishing the Sun's heat and the sounds of life all around me. I dig my fingers into the soil and rub them across my tear-streaked face. The earthy scent makes my chest ache. I feel my muscles relax into the soft earth.

  When I wake, it happens slowly, lazily. My eyes are focused on my nearby hand as I blink the sleep from my eyes. A few ants march over my knuckles, neat and orderly. One of them is carrying a leaf fragment. As new ants follow these first few, a whole trail has chosen my hand as part of their path home.

  I watch the ant trail change slowly with the minor adjustments of individual ants. Each tries to pick a slightly better path than the ant before them while following the greater trail. Over time, this causes the line of ants to migrate from walking over my knuckles to over my thumb until one ant seems to recognize that they can avoid the tanned obstacle altogether.

  The other ants follow, and I am no longer part of their terrain. I roll to my back and stretch; it is late in the day, and the elongating shadow of the Cinderfruit tree has cut off the warmth from the Sun. I stand, and my hand rests on the pommel of my dagger. I survey my new short-term home.

  The boulder is still there, my backpack and campfire are still there, and nothing has changed. Except that everything has. Lichens and grasses cover the top of my boulder. The fresh, untrampled grass lives throughout my camp, thick and wild. Small white flowers are blooming across what was once my killing field. The air smells fresh and alive.

  My new spear is looped around my chest, knotted onto itself to hang like a bandolier. The mystery egg lies in the grass, forgotten during my peaceful nap. Its blue color looks like a dark purple in the fading light. The grass around it bent and dented to form almost a nest for the large spheroid.

  I scoop it up and carry it to my campsite. I place it in an exceptionally soft, thick bed of grass near enough to the fire that it will feel the heat but not so near that I have to worry about hurting whatever creature lives within the sturdy shell.

  My Profession reached level 10. So much happening so quickly had nearly jostled the thought from my mind entirely. But my core feels different, brighter, too full. Like I had eaten an enormous meal, it's an uncomfortable feeling and a reminder that I still have a decision to make.

  Profession Evolution Available

  Traveling Merchant – A Direct Evolution. You have broadened your horizons and find the changing landscapes suit you. Take your business on the road.

  Monster Hunter – A Complete Divergence. You have learned that the shop is not for you. You are driven to hunt, collect, and sell your prey. (Warning: All skills will be lost)

  Instinctive Delver – An Indirect Evolution. You have delved into the depths of a Crucible. These depths hold great treasures to be discovered if you are willing to risk death. (Warning: some skills will be lost)

  There are three options: a direct evolution, an indirect evolution, and a complete divergence. The direct evolution option is what I would've expected, a merchant class, slightly changed by the flavor of my experiences—the other two options point in a different direction entirely.

  I've heard of the Monster Hunter profession. Its Skills are focused on tracking, trapping, and harvesting beasts in the wild. A group of people with this Profession could become quite wealthy if they found a safe and steady source of desirable beasts.

  Instinctive Delver is entirely foreign. There are people whose careers are focused on killing monsters in dungeons. My mom and dad did this until the dungeon unexpectedly burst, setting hundreds of wolfen creatures into their small town in the dead of night. But I've never heard of a Delving profession. The description mentions explicitly delving into a Crucible. It could be something that can only be unlocked if you have challenged one.

  In the end, it depends on how I view them. Traveling Merchant might be the best fit for me, considering my history. But that assumes I can make it out alive. I should think about which of these might help me make it out of this Crucible. I'm unlikely to meet potential buyers and sellers on my grassy hill.

  Similarly, Monster Hunter might help me track down food in the wild. But harvesting the most valuable parts of a beast is unlikely to help me unless I also know how to process them into helpful tools, weapons, or elixirs. No. Either of these Professions would be beneficial if I were out in my own world. But my Map Ability shows me that wherever I am, it is not on the same chart as my hometown of Summerfall.

  I need to pick a Profession that will help me now. For this reason, and admittedly the fact that I've never heard of anyone with this specific Profession, I am selecting Instinctive Delver.

  Instinctive Delver – An Indirect Evolution. You have delved into the depths of a Crucible. These depths hold great treasures to be discovered if you are willing to risk death. (Warning: some skills will be lost)

  As I select it, I feel the energy in my Professional core swirl faster, pushing the shell around the core. For a moment, it becomes malleable, this shell. And the dark blue energy pushes it out in every direction until it is nearly twice the size. Then the energy slows; with more room to move, there is no more pressure for the shell to expand, and the energy within eases back into its calm and familiar rotation. The density is reduced; it is a sky-blue, gently rotating pond of potential energy.

  Shopkeeper Level 9 > Instinctive Delver Level 10

  Appraise (Common) > Assessment (Uncommon) – Skill Upgraded

  Perceive the value in the world around you, and treasures reveal their secrets more readily.

  Read Emotions (Common) > Gut Instinct (Uncommon) – Skill Transformed

  Read the room. Feel the shifting mood in the atmosphere. Sense danger before it arrives.

  Shroud Intent (Uncommon) > Shroud Self (Rare) – Skill Transformed

  A dome masks your presence, and the perceptive will notice you. But most will not.

  New Instinctive Delver Skill Attained!

  Harvest (Uncommon)

  Isolate the critical components of a whole. Sense the best method of harvesting various resources.

  New Instinctive Delver Ability Attained!

  Delvers Storage (Rare)

  A Delver carries the treasures of the depths. Items will be dropped on death.

  Too much information all at once. Too much change. From receiving rewards from the Keeper of the Crucible right into a Profession upgrade. It will take me a moment to adjust to all this; luckily, a little birdy told me I would have a whole day off. Apparently, I’ll need it to prepare?

  Luckily, with a moving Sun, I can figure out that I've probably only napped for a few hours. From when the midday sun was intense until it started to sink beneath the distant mountains. Six hours? Nine at the most.

  I need to adjust quickly. My ability to survive the coming waves hinges, at least partly, on using the Skills in my arsenal. I also have a new weapon to assimilate: my spear. I've learned to use my Merchant Dagger with my Fighter class but never used a spear in combat.

  I look at my new status and shake my head in awe; it seems foreign. It's like I'm getting a rare glimpse at a skilled stranger's status page. I am blue-ranked.