Uru’s Blessings, Root! You have reached level 22.
You have 2 unassigned points.
New Spells and Abilities are available to you. Choose wisely.
Level twenty-two. Ruwen stared at the notification.
Rami? How?
Congratulations. The short version is there were four enemies of level fifty or higher down there. They massively increased your experience. All together you gained four hundred twenty-eight thousand one hundred fifty experience, and your twenty percent Tutor Banner bonus made it five hundred thirteen thousand seven hundred eighty. You are already eighty-four percent to level twenty-three.
Ruwen opened his Profile in disbelief.
Experience: 212,705/253,000
Strength and Stamina had automatically gone up a point with each level, and Ruwen had gained eight unassigned Attribute Points to distribute. Following the process he had decided on already, he added two points to Stamina, Dexterity, and Intelligence, and one point each to Wisdom and Charisma.
Best of all, Ruwen’s spell points had climbed by six to nine, and his Ability Points by four to ten. He wanted to think a little more about those before assigning them.
That was beneficial but messy, Rami said.
I know.
I can’t believe you built a bridge in the sky.
Ruwen grinned. I can’t believe it worked.
I actually stopped and backed up all my queries. I thought we were dead.
Once again, hard work saved us. Last Breath gave me the time to think and your gentle Step training provided enough tumbling skill to survive the fall.
That was the worst tumble ever.
Yeah, I hope nobody saw that.
Oh, Whiskers did. I already copied his memories. Everyone back home will love it.
You wouldn’t.
With the Savage Seven and now this, before long you’ll have your own special: Ruwen’s greatest hits. You’re definitely the most interesting Librarian we’ve ever had.
They crossed into Uru’s Blessing, and Ruwen relaxed even more. Now if he died, at least he’d remember what had happened here.
Whiskers slowed and then stopped in front of a large boulder. Ruwen jumped down and looked around for Shelly. The map showed Sift just in front of him, so Shelly must have cloaked herself like the surroundings, like what she’d done in the sky. He crept forward until he touched the rock, and Shelly’s foot appeared.
Ruwen climbed up Shelly’s leg and Whiskers shot by him, the cat now in his small urban form. Out of curiosity, he triggered Analyze on Shelly.
Target: Ancient Mother (Elder Star Tortoise)
Type: Creature (Divine)
Strengths: Gravitational Warping, Indestructible, Transformation, Cloaking
Weaknesses: Ground State (Absolute Zero), Gravitational Singularities
Disposition: Neutral
So far, Analyze had displayed four different types: resource, creature, humanoid, and structure. But this time the type had included a Divine designation, which shocked Ruwen. Did that mean Shelly was a Divine creature like Blapy? From the alchemy he’d studied, he recognized absolute zero as a freezing state. Elemental Mages could almost reach it and some Craftsman required a temperature that low for their creations. His dimensional math had discussed singularities, but he didn’t know gravity could create one, which fascinated him. Shelly certainly contained a lot of mystery.
Careful not to look down, Ruwen slowly made his way up to the door. Stepping into the turtle’s large shell, he found Sift, laying in a pool of blood.
Chapter 21
Ruwen ran to his friend, confused that Sift’s group portrait showed no damage. As Ruwen kneeled, Sift opened his eyes.
“I hate you,” Sift whispered.
“What happened?”
“Your stupid form happened.”
“Sorry, I kind of lied about the pain, but I swear I didn’t bleed.”
“Kind of lied? That is the worst pain I’ve ever felt, and I’ve had to run naked through a Lasher herd.”
Ruwen had never seen a Lasher, but the way Sift named things, Ruwen figured it probably hurt.
“Why do you always end up naked?” Ruwen asked.
Sift looked over Ruwen. “Like wearing a cape makes you better?”
“I have underwear on, and there was an explosion, and acid, and–”
Sift interrupted. “Well before the Lashers, an Oozing Leaper puked on me.”
Sift’s eyes widened and he nodded slowly, as if Ruwen knew what any of that meant.
Ruwen shook his head. “Never mind. Are you okay? We need to get Shelly up in the air before the company arrives.”
“What company?”
Ruwen shrugged. “Some new friends I made.”
Sift pushed himself up with a groan. “Well, if they like you as much as the rest of your friends, we’re probably in some danger.”
“That is a safe bet,” Ruwen said, standing as well.
“Shelly, take us into the clouds please.”
Ruwen didn’t feel a shift or any movement, but the rock field disappeared and in seconds clouds surrounded them.
“I’m going to need more Spirit,” Sift said.
The blood on Sift’s Cultivator garb, the special clothes a gift from Blapy, dripped off without leaving any stains and the blood on the floor disappeared.
Ruwen grabbed Sift’s hand and fed him Spirit. “Seriously, I don’t remember bleeding.”
“That form struck my Lead body like a thunderstorm of knives. I couldn’t use the Suffocation Vambrace as I’d already reached my limit.” Sift grabbed his chest and quickly let go of Ruwen’s hand. “That’s enough Spirit. Thanks.”
Ruwen noticed Sift’s grip had firmed. “You leveled your Water Meridian.”
Sift grinned and waved a hand over his body. “This fine body is now one hundred percent Copper.”
“Seriously? That’s fantastic.”
“Thanks, I pushed myself.”
Ruwen grew serious. “I can see that, and your suffering brings me joy.”
Sift punched Ruwen’s shoulder and then shook his hand in pain, but this time none of his fingers broke.
Ruwen laughed. “I mean your progress will help keep you alive, and that’s what matters.”
Ruwen strode to the edge of the platform, laid on his stomach, and inched his head forward until the ground came into view. Shelly had stopped about five hundred feet in the air, and Ruwen’s stomach turned.
Sift walked up next to Ruwen, looked down, and shook his head. “You need to get over your fear of heights.”
The terror of falling hundreds of feet remained fresh in Ruwen’s memory. “I think it’s getting worse, actually.”
“You just need more exposure.”
“No, I don’t think it works like that.”
“Those your friends?” Sift asked.
At least thirty people fanned out below them, and they moved slowly as they searched for Ruwen.
“Naktos had a base by the oil,”
