Chapter 38: Testing the Waters
The faint glow of the chamber's runes pulsed gently, a sharp contrast to the violent chaos of the battle they had just endured. The air was cooler now, calming, as if the Forge itself had granted them a moment of respite. The group sat scattered across the chamber, their weapons resting nearby, exhaustion etched into their faces.
Ethan leaned against the wall, staring at the faintly glowing fissure where the monster had been moments earlier. He was still catching his breath, but his mind was buzzing. "Okay," he said, his voice hoarse, "I have to admit, that was a bit too close. I don't think I've ever been that close to being squished."
"You came out alive," Lucas said, his tone calm but firm. "That's what matters."
"Barely," Ethan shot back, rubbing his ribs. "I feel like I've been hit by a truck."
"You've got Renewal Surge now," Naomi said, sitting cross-legged on the floor as she inspected her bow. "Why not try it out?"
Ethan hesitated, pulling up his system interface. The glowing blue screen flickered to life, displaying his stats and abilities. He scanned the description of Renewal Surge, his lips curling into a curious smirk. "All right, let's see what this magic thing is all about."
---
Ethan's Current Stats and Skills:
Strength: 16
Agility: 19
Vitality: 14
Intelligence: 12
Perception: 10
Skills:
Shadowstep: Phase through space to dodge an attack.
Ravager's Pounce: Leap toward a target, dealing extra damage.
Unyielding Strike: Damage increases based on missing health.
Renewal Surge (New): Heal a target for a moderate amount of health, scaling with intelligence.
---
Ethan focused on the new spell, holding his glowing pipe in one hand while he extended the other toward himself. A faint green light began to shimmer around his palm, growing stronger as he concentrated. "Here goes nothing," he muttered.
The light surged forward, wrapping around him like a cocoon. The aching in his ribs faded almost instantly, and the cuts and bruises along his body began to disappear. He let out a surprised laugh, flexing his hands. "Okay, this is... amazing. Why didn't we get this earlier?"
"Because the Forge doesn't make things easy," Karis said from across the room. She stood with her arms crossed, her knife sheathed but within reach. "It gives you tools when it decides you're ready for them."
Ethan rolled his eyes. "Right. 'When we're ready.' Sure feels like it's just waiting to see how close we get to death."
---
Naomi leaned back against the wall, pulling up her own interface. "Let's see how we're all doing," she said, scrolling through her stats. "I feel like the last fight bumped us all up a bit."
---
Naomi's Current Stats and Skills:
Strength: 12
Agility: 21
Vitality: 12
Intelligence: 15
Perception: 20
Skills:
Phantom Shot: Fires an arrow that ignores obstacles and targets weak points.
Silent Precision: Increased critical chance when attacking from stealth.
Renewal Surge (New): Heal a target for a moderate amount of health, scaling with intelligence.
---
"Looks like my intelligence went up," Naomi said, her tone thoughtful. "Makes sense, considering the new spell."
"You're already deadly with that bow," Ethan said, grinning. "Now you can keep us alive too. Talk about multitasking."
"Don't get used to it," Naomi replied with a smirk. "I'm not babysitting you every fight."
---
Lucas sat on the ground, his shield propped up beside him, and pulled up his own screen. "All right, let's see where I'm at now."
---
Lucas's Current Stats and Skills:
Strength: 20
Agility: 14
Vitality: 23
Intelligence: 13
Perception: 10
Skills:
Iron Resolve: Reduces stamina cost when blocking attacks.
Shield Slam: A powerful strike that stuns the target.
Renewal Surge (New): Heal a target for a moderate amount of health, scaling with intelligence.
---
"Vitality's up," Lucas said, nodding in approval. "And now I've got some healing power. Should help keep the pressure off when things get rough."
"Does this mean we're all healers now?" Ethan asked, raising an eyebrow. "Because that feels... weird."
"It means we have options," Lucas corrected. "The more tools we have, the better our chances of surviving."
---
Karis finally pulled up her own screen, her expression unreadable as she scanned her stats. "Let's see where we stand."
---
Karis's Current Stats and Skills:
Strength: 18
Agility: 22
Vitality: 17
Intelligence: 14
Perception: 15
Skills:
Deadly Precision: Increased damage to critical points.
Blade Dance: A series of rapid strikes against multiple targets.
Renewal Surge (New): Heal a target for a moderate amount of health, scaling with intelligence.
---
"My intelligence is climbing," she said, her tone contemplative. "It's clear the Forge is pushing us to diversify. We're not just fighters anymore—we're problem solvers."
"Problem solvers," Ethan repeated, shaking his head. "That's one way to put it. I still feel like glorified cannon fodder half the time."
"You're alive, aren't you?" Karis replied, her sharp gaze locking onto him. "That's what matters."
---
The group spent the next hour experimenting with their new healing spells. They practiced directing the magic toward each other, testing its range and potency. The green light of Renewal Surge filled the chamber, its warm glow a stark contrast to the harsh red of the earlier battle.
Ethan quickly realized that intelligence played a massive role in the spell's effectiveness. "Okay," he said, wiping sweat from his brow, "note to self: stop ignoring intelligence when leveling up. This thing is amazing."
Naomi smirked, firing an arrow at a wall rune to test her precision. "I'm glad you're finally catching on. Took you long enough."
"Yeah, yeah," Ethan muttered. "But seriously, this changes everything. We might actually stand a chance now."
Karis nodded, her tone firm but thoughtful. "The Forge isn't going to hold back. If it's giving us these tools, it means the challenges ahead will require them. We can't afford to waste this opportunity."
---
As the group practiced, the chamber's runes began to pulse faster, their light flickering ominously. The air grew heavier, and a low hum filled the room.
Ethan tensed, gripping his pipe tightly. "Uh, guys? Is it just me, or is the Forge getting impatient?"
"It's not just you," Karis said, her hand moving to her knife. "Whatever's next is coming soon."
The hum grew louder, and the ground beneath them began to tremble. A faint red glow seeped through the cracks in the floor, casting long, flickering shadows across the walls.
"Here we go again," Lucas muttered, raising his shield.
Naomi notched an arrow, her sharp eyes scanning the room. "Stay sharp. Whatever's next, it's not going to be easy."
The red glow intensified, and the floor cracked open beneath their feet. The group stood ready, their weapons raised, as the Forge revealed its next challenge.