Arwin dove to the ground to avoid the Wyrm’s huge paw as it howled through the air above him. He grabbed a bracelet on his wrist mid-fall, rolling and springing back to his feet as he ripped the bracelet free. [Hasty]: This item was forged hastily and with inferior material that wasn’t brought to its full potential. Its end will resemble its beginning. This item can strike faster at the cost of magical energy, but the chances of it breaking will increase with the amount of energy used. [Brittle]: This item has a chance of shattering on every usage. Upon shattering, the magical power stored within the weapon will be released in an instant, causing a minor magical explosion. The Mesh flickered before Arwin, only lasting an instant before he shoved the entire bracelet into his mouth. It had born the traits of his failed arrow, but they’d serve a new purpose now. A burning heat erupted in Arwin’s stomach and his muscles thrummed in anticipation. The heat was new — but while he’d grown faster, he didn’t feel any more brittle than he normally did. The Maw ate the detrimental trait. Good. The Wyrm’s tail whipped toward Arwin and he sprinted out of the way, throwing himself forward into a roll to clear the tip of the huge appendage. He came up running, pulling yet another bracelet off his wrist even as his limbs pumped at max capacity. Jessen smirked at him and there was a loud whump from behind Arwin. He didn’t need to look to know that the Wyrm had just launched itself into the air and was hurtling for his back. The bracelet shimmered as he brought it to his mouth. Steel Embrace: Rare Quality “No more weapons,” he spat. Jessen smirked. He reached into a pouch at his side and pulled out a bone dagger. Bone Dagger: Average Quality [Splintered Wrath] (2 Charges): This item was forged from the flesh of a living gargoyle, imbuing it with hatred. It leaves a piece of itself behind with every strike to worm into its victim’s bloodstream and seek out their heart. After all charges have been consumed, this item’s magic will be fully depleted, and it will irreparably shatter. “Speak for yourself — just because you don’t have enough energy to keep your weapons around doesn’t mean I didn’t bring a backup,” Jessen said with a cruel smile. “I’ll be returning your gift now. I hope you’ll accept.” Jessen stepped forward and drove the blade for Arwin’s neck. Arwin exploded into motion, throwing himself forward and straight into the blade’s path. Then he activated [Arsenal]. The weapon vanished from Jessen’s hand and formed in his own as he plunged it down for the cracked opening in the other man’s shoulder. It bit home, scraping and shattering as it hit the edges of the hole. Jessen’s fist crashed into Arwin’s chin an instant later, sending him reeling to the ground. The guildmaster ripped the dagger free, grinding his teeth. He drew in a deep, shuddering breath, then let it out slowly. “You didn’t think I would carry a weapon around without certain precautions, would you?” Jessen asked, holding the blade up. “Nasty little thing. It’s not going to kill a high-level Journeyman with just a single blow, though. My body is too resilient for that. Yours, on the other hand, is not.” “Want to try stabbing me with it again?” Arwin asked, giving Jessen a bloody grin. “Your body is stronger, but it’s not immortal. What, are you using magical energy to use an ability that makes your body stronger in that area?” The flicker of unease that passed over Jessen’s face was all Arwin needed to know that he’d guessed correctly. It wasn’t that much of a surprise for a high leveled Journeyman to have some form of boon that made his body harder to damage… but the fragment was still in him, as was the magical crystal. “All I have to do is stall you,” Arwin said. “As long as you can’t dig that out, you’re dead — and you better not lose concentration in the meantime.” Jessen threw the dagger at him. Arwin summoned it back to his hand before it could connect. In the same motion, Jessen stepped forward and brought his arm down on Arwin’s wrist with enough force to shatter it, even through his enhanced defenses. The dagger spun from Arwin’s hand and Jessen grabbed him, wrapping his arms around Arwin’s neck. “How’s stalling going for you?” Jessen snarled, his grip tightening. [Indomitable Bulwark] worked in overtime as it desperately tried to keep Arwin’s esophagus from getting crushed, but it was a losing battle. Arwin wheezed, grabbing at Jessen’s armor weakly with his good hand. Jessen laughed at the feeble attempt, doing nothing to stop him. Stars flashed in Arwin’s eyes and the world started to spin and darken. Seconds ticked by agonizingly slowly. Each one felt like a millennium. Arwin forced his injured hand up, mentally canceling his connection to the bone dagger. His vision shrank until the only thing he could still make out was Jessen’s sneering face. With the last of his energy, Arwin flicked his hand. The last bracelet on it flew through the air in an arc that nearly missed his mouth, but he just barely managed to bite down on it. Metal Bracelet: Average Quality [Toasty]: This item was made with such haste that it forgot to release some of the fire trapped within it. This item can grow hot at the cost of magical energy. Its wearer does not gain any resistances to its heat. Jessen laughed in Arwin’s face. “Your class is interesting. I’ll enjoy seeing what you’ve got left on you — right after the life leaves your eyes and I finish with the rest of my harvest.” The remains of the bracelet fell to the ground before Arwin. His head pounded violently and his body started to warm. He bared his teeth, his other hand still resting on Jessen’s armor. [Arsenal] finally activated, its contact requirements achieved. A temporary connection formed between Arwin and Jessen’s breastplate. He dismissed it. The damaged chest armor vanished with a pop. A surprised hiss of pain slipped out of Jessen’s mouth as Arwin’s skin heated further, going from just warm to molten as Arwin pumped every drop of magical energy he had into the trait he’d taken from the bracelet. Jessen yanked his hands back — and Arwin threw himself forward, wrapping himself around Jessen like a lovestruck monkey. Jessen screamed in pain as the smell of burnt hair and cooking meat filled the air. He thrashed, raining blows into Arwin’s body, but Arwin refused to let go. He clung to Jessen desperately. Pain ripped through Arwin’s broken wrist as he shoved a hand into the bag at his side and ripped out a small orb. [Portable Molt] – A vial stuffed full of magma and sealed with magic… but not very well. Jessen managed to get a grip on Arwin, using his gauntleted hands to pry him back. For an instant, the two of them locked eyes. Jessen’s face was scorched and his cracked lips pulled back into a furious snarl. Somehow, he’d managed to maintain his concentration. “May Hell be a thousand times hotter than this,” Arwin snarled.