Successor of Kukulkan

Chapter 11

With a firm snap of his jaws, TJ dispatched the third coyote. The single remaining member of the pack fled into the bushes and left the cooling corpses behind as TJ dismissed the System’s notification that he’d killed three level 2 coyotes. These were what was left of the fourth pack that TJ had found since his encounter with the Anubis-blessed coyote, and he still hadn’t hit level 5 in either his Occupation or Class. That Savage hadn’t gone up wasn’t as surprising, as after the second pack had been slain, TJ couldn’t bring himself to try to skin the corpse. Making it to his goal was more pressing and important than squeezing every last bit of experience out of these mangy creatures. Even so, that Neophyte had yet to reach the juncture of TJ choosing his first Skill probably was more to do with the relative level of his foes than anything else. 

He hadn’t encountered anything beyond a level 4 coyote, and with the additional levels he’d gained in Savage and Human, his Coatl form could dispatch these weaker creatures with impunity. The packs he’d encountered all tried their level best to swarm and overwhelm him, but none were able to breach his scales’ defense. When he’d finally asked the System, the answer shouldn’t have come as a surprise.

Just as all Participants will experience a notable surge in power every five levels, due to the acquisition of a new Skill, other creatures under the influence of the Divine System gain boons every fifth level. Other than the additional alacrity and intelligence bestowed upon the Anubis-blessed coyote, coyotes in your Tutorial grounds will nearly universally be bestowed with a marked increase to their Strength attribute as well as an enhancement to their bite. They are granted a Bite skill which heightens the power of their attacks.

“Guess I should have realized that.” TJ sighed to himself as he picked over the corpses, seeing if there was one that was whole enough to merit his lugging further towards the cabin. The only one he decided to continue with was the second he’d slain, since the only blood spilled here came from its mouth and nose. He’d crushed its spine with a swipe of his tail, so it wouldn’t soak his jacket with blood as he carried it, since his backpack was full. In fact, with the specially prepared pelts and meat filling it, the ripped pack was splitting where it’d been attacked the day before. The black fur spilled out of the pack, and TJ wondered if the pack would make it to his destination.

TJ continued his path onwards, pleasantly surprised by the relative ease with which he could hike. He’d spent months trying to get back into shape, but TJ knew he still was far from the fittest he’d ever been. At least, before the System’s Integration. Now, he could guarantee that he’d never been stronger. Three complete bodies worth of meat and pelt as well as four additional coyotes’ worth of pelts weighed the backpack down. Then, he’d placed the latest one across his shoulders, so TJ would be amazed if it was less than 100 unbalanced pounds he was actively hiking with right now. And he was doing that without breathing hard or stumbling or getting tired.

His steps thudded rhythmically as TJ trotted down a steeper slope and hopped across one of the dozens of two foot wide washes that covered every mountain around here. He didn’t struggle to stick the landing and continue on his path further down the mountain. The old brandless tennis shoes he’d worn for years were close to giving up the ghost, and TJ prayed they too could make it all the way to the cabin. Maybe, once he was there, he could find a new pack and clothes. 

There were no more interruptions on his path to the clearing, and as TJ bulled through the brush between the trees, he stepped into the lightly tended yard of the cabin. It was a pretty standard cabin for the area, as far as he expected it was, at least, wooden paneling and windows, a wraparound porch and a little shed for firewood and maybe a snowblower. Two stories, but pretty small, maybe 2000 square feet total. TJ, for the first time, realized how grateful he was that there hadn’t been any more rain this winter. He’d struggled for water, but if he’d had to walk through the foot of snow that sometimes dropped here, he’d have died of exposure long before he could get an Occupation or Class.

The cabin seemed abandoned, no car or lights on, no movement inside. When TJ drew near and peeked through a window, he saw no fire either. He knocked once, twice, three times. No answer. He banged the door hard. No answer. He tested the knob, and it was unlocked. 

“Hello? Checking in on you. Things are… kinda going crazy out here!” TJ shouted, but got no response. The cabin was a little warmer than outside, but not by much. He stepped in, “I’m coming in, if you don’t want me to or anything, just say so!” Still nothing, so he walked in and shrugged off his backpack and the coyote corpse to the floor. They thumped heavily, and TJ rolled a bit of the stiffness out of his shoulders as he looked for the fireplace. It didn’t take long, since he only needed to take a couple steps forward and look. There it was, with a bucket full of firewood beside it, a month's worth of newspapers stacked up under the bucket. No lighter though.

The fireplace was devoid of any ashes, more evidence nobody had been here in a while, so TJ began

Occupation: Savage has advanced to level 5.

Attribute points allocated: Strength +1, Agility +1, Endurance +2, Vitality +1, Toughness +2, Wisdom +1, Intelligence +1, Perception +2, Willpower +2, Fixation +1, Free Points +1. Additional Free Point available.

Level 5 Universal Occupation Skill: Appraisal granted. Level 5 Skill Selection available.

Not only had he gained the new skill and a level, he got this universal one! TJ wiped his hands on a nearby rag before happily jogging back to the cabin to check out the benefits from this level up.

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