STRENGTH: 14
Another fist to my stomach.
STRENGTH: 15
STRENGTH: 14
Each hit boosts my strength and then one falls off as the thirty seconds from a previous buff falls off.
I drag myself up out of the snow and hit Debbie back with the one active ability I have, my fist striking her jaw with mySplinter Strike. Surprisingly, she stumbles back, howling in pain, so I strike again, but it lacks the same oomph and I quickly realize I can only use theSplinter Strikeonce every thirty seconds. Still, my fists do more damage than the hammer had thanks to my other passive skill, theBrawler’s Instinct. For every hit I land on Debbie, she hits me back just as hard, boosting my strength with each hit. Stupid. I’d been so stupid. I haven’t even thought about using my skills before now. Neither of us have.
It’s the longest thirty seconds of my life. My bones are aching. I’m pretty sure I have at least a few cracked ribs judging by how hard it is to breathe. I’m bleeding from various cuts and injuries. My nose feels broken and blood drips from it onto the white snow. We’ve created a grotesque painting across the white powder with our fight.
I raise my fist, swaying on my feet a little, prepared for the next painful hit, when Steve appears in front of me.
TEMPORARY SKILL BUFF GRANTED: Guardian Angel
I slump, my body screaming at me to sit down, but I can’t. We still have to fight. We still have to win.
Realizing that she can’t beat me to death again, Debbie turns back faster to Vesper who’s preparing herself to battle with her own blade. The wind whips her cloak around her, her hair blowing in the same breeze, and as I lean back in the closest snow bank, I realize I’ve never seen anything more beautiful.
Even as Debbie disappears in the falling snow, Vesper turns with her, sensing where she is thanks to her mask.
“There will be a loot crate dropping before you in ten seconds,” Cipher says out loud.
I tilt my head back. “Breaking rules again?”
“Finding loopholes,” he replies. “The two of you are currently the top favorites of a very powerful woman in Luxe. She has generously donated a sparse loot crate to ensure your survival. I simply made sure she sees the two of you most often on the programming.”
I cough and there’s blood on my hand when I pull it away. I wipe it in the snow. “It’s hard to hate you when you do shit like that, you know.”
“Allow me to help your hate return,” he mocks. “I did it only to save Vesper. You are just a benefiting bystander.”
I grin even though he can’t see me. “Much appreciated,” I laugh. “Thought I was going to have to start liking you.”
“Rest assured, there is no need, player three million, six hundred and seventy-three thousand, five hundred, and seventeen.”
Vesper screams as Debbie sends her flying through the air. I can hear Svetlana shouting something about heads as Vesper lands in a particularly deep snowbank and disappears beneath the snow. A small parachute appears from above and lands in the red-stained powder before me. A small box is attached that I quickly pick up and open.
NEW INVENTORY AQUIRED
ONE ARCTIC SMITE
Weapon, battleaxe, common
The cold steel of this axe’s blade shines like cracked ice.
ABILITIES INCLUDE:
FROST FURY. When attacking with this weapon, all medium size enemy creatures within ten feet have a chance to take ten cold damage and are frozen, paralyzing them for three seconds. Normal effect is one cold damage, as well as adding plus two to strength. The buff will be represented in your stats.
ONE SHARD
TEN HARROW COINS
“Oh, fuck yeah,” I say, as the Shard and Harrow Coins automatically add to my inventory. Normally, I’d have to add them myself, but whatever Cipher must have done took out any of the extra work. I drag out the Arctic Smite battleaxe. As I hold it, the head of it crackles with ice, and small snowflakes dance around it as I move it. The wooden handle lights up with strange blue symbols I don’t know as I hold it, and a zing of power flows through me.
“STRENGTH: 14,” flashes across my notifications before I close it and brace myself.
