Jebediah Trapper
Unclassed, Level 10
Body 5
Myst 25
Nerve 8
The amount of discomfort seemed to be relative. Going from zero to fifteen had knocked him out, fifteen to twenty one was a major headache, while twenty one to twenty five was just uncomfortable.
The star burning inside him had grown larger as he had focused on breathing Myst in and burning it, circling the star’s corona of gas back into the ball of energy instead of siphoning it, growing its size as quickly as possible.
“You’re going to need to get physically stronger, too, what’s the point if you get tired before you finish all of them off?” Jess said.
In response, Jeb siphoned out a bit of energy and infused the spear with it, similar to the way he moved dirt. He’d realized that telekinesis was more effective on a given object if the Myst was penetrating through it, rather than wrapped around it like a human hand.
Jeb let go of the spear, directing it to continue stabbing kruskers.
“Look ma, no hands.”
Jess watched the spear finish off a few squealers by itself, her eyebrows raised, objectively impressed, but then her brows lowered, and she looked back at Jeb.
“But can you outrun them?”
“Ummm..I could probably ride the spear like a broom?” Jeb said, holding onto the spear and lifting himself off the ground.
Physics be damned.
It wasn’t the fastest mode of transport. Lifting Jeb’s hundred and seventy pounds off the ground was a strain, and he lost a lot of speed as a result.
They both knew that it wasn’t a viable mode of transport, yet.
“If you’re going to keep dumping everything into Myst, you’re going to need Accolades and Rewards.”
“What?”
“Didn’t you hear the announcement when we started? Higher difficulty, higher rewards? George killed a miniboss in the north woods and he got a fruit that gave him a permanent plus ten to his Nerve.”
“That’s like ten levels!”
“Exactly. You’re way too physically weak to survive even a few seconds without your magic. The raptors to the west took people’s heads off without them even noticing. If you’re gonna survive for any length of time, I’ll have to…
Jess sighed and put a hand over her face.
“Power-level me?”
“Yeah, basically.”
“Acorn!” Jeb shouted, making Jess jump in place before scowling at him.
“You wish to barter, M&M-Lord?” Acorn said, flitting up to him.
“Yeah, why didn’t anyone tell me about accolades and rewards and such and stuff?”
“You didn’t ask, M&M-lord.”
“Who are you talking to? What are you talking to?” Jess asked with a frown.
“Shh.” Jeb said, not looking away from Acorn. He couldn’t afford to show weakness here. “I’ll give you twenty M&M’s to map out all the minibosses and rewards and such.” Jeb rattled his bag of candy.
“What?” Jess said, her eyes wide.
“We don’t like M&M’s any more,” Acorn said, crossing his arms. “Our pupae have already hatched, and we have no more need for your devilish sweets.”
“Oh really?” Jeb asked, pulling out an M&M and eating it in front of the fairy leader.
The little person stuck his nose up, seemingly uninterested.
“So, it’s come to this. Fine. I guess I’ll have to enjoy this Baby Ruth all to myself,” Jeb said, opening the wrapper on the candy-bar.
“Try all you like, tempter, we are no longer controlled by our sugar-lust. We must build nests and clothing for our young.” As he spoke, Acorn became gradually more and more fixated on Jessica’s brilliant orange-blonde hair.
He landed on her shoulder, unbeknownst to the assassin, fixated on the individual strands and running his tiny finger through them.
Hmmm….
“Two inches,” Jeb said.
“All of it.” Acorn fired back.
“Is there something on my shoulder?” Jessica asked.
“Not a chance. You wouldn’t get any without my help, two inches is plenty for you.”
“Not true,” Acorn said, bracing himself and yanking on a single strand.
“Ow!” Jess swatted her side, but Acorn was already out of the way, holding up an orange-gold strand in the air and cackling as he buzzed above them.
“We can get plenty without you, M&M-lord, but if we give you these secrets, you will no longer need us.
“Hey Jess,” Jeb said, glancing back down at the assassin. “What’s your rock bottom for the shortest hairstyle you’d be willing to have? In exchange for a map of the forest with notes on where to find rewards and minibosses?”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Jessica asked with a tone that seriously questioned Jeb’s priorities. “I don’t care about my hair. I’d go bald if it gave us a map with every possible way to boost our stats.”
“HAH! The pathetic female herself has agreed to the deal! We have an accord!” Acorn crowed victoriously.
“Map first.” Jeb said, eyeing him. “Every possible way to boost stats.”
“Shit.” Acorn cursed, deflating.
“I think I saw a razor in the supply cache,” Jeb said, glancing back to Jessica.
***
Naturally, the fairies didn’t know every possible way to raise stats, but they did their best, and the map was pretty darn comprehensive.
With Jessica clearing the path of monsters in front of him, they were able to find their first quarry: The Krusker Lord. The minibosses in the other cardinal directions were a bad fit for Jeb, so they’d decided to push for the Krusker Lord.
Stupid, slow and heavy was Jeb’s ideal target.
“There it is,” Jessica said, consulting the map, her newly shaved head pale white against her freckled face. In the distance, a massive Krusker was snuffling through a big green glowing bush, crunching on the roots. Crackling
