I don't remember what happened towards the end of the fight. As far as I remember, Jax was going crazy and Him kicking me with the system saying 8 of my 24 ribs were broken. After that I remember painfully trying to hold him down before I passed out because of the backlash of using the revolution engine.
So as I Blearily opened my eyes to a tiny beam of light seeming to hit me right in the face I tried to roll over only to gasp and go ridged as extreme pain shot through my ribs.
"Ah you dick, you moved before I could warn you."
Will hissed as inside my head he was also writhing despite his spectral body having no damage to speak of. It took me a moment to even just start breathing normally again as I turned and took a scan of the room. It was my house, where I was laid on the bed. I shifted slowly as I bumped into something that made a small whimper.
"Could you not, my everything hurts, and I feel pain so much worse now."
Came Jax's voice in a pained whisper. I shifted slowly to see Jax was laying beside me, and surrounded by what seemed to be practically a mountain of pillows. I slowly shifted to the edge of the bed where I moved the covers away from myself. My chest was wrapped in what seemed to be a brace made of metal formed around my chest. The entire thing seemed designed to be non bulky and out of the way, but it still made me hold my arms out like I was trying to drip dry after forgetting my town in the tub.
I shuffled my way around the bed to the other side of mount pillow to where I could see Jax's snout and his eyes poking through.
"Hey dude, How are you doing? Everything hurts and life is pain."
Jax said in the casual way one would speak as if ordering from a menu at a restaurant. I looked him over as I went to cross my arms, winced and instead settled for a floating crossed arms of doom and relative comfort as I asked.
"Do you want to explain what exactly happened, like when you broke 8 of my ribs?"
Jax stayed silent for a moment before he said.
"Fine, but I need you to do something for me."
I raised my eyebrows waiting for him to ask however after a moment he said.
"Is, is that a yes, I can't tell if you're doing something with your face to say yes because I can't really see you."
I rolled my eyes and asked aloud.
"And what exactly is this thing?"
"You see that bottle of high end booze on the shelf behind you? Liora put it there as what she described as cruel and unusual torture, and I have been made to stare at it for the past 8 hours because the pain won't let me sleep. Could you like to pour some into my mouth?"
I glanced at the alcohol in question as I turned back to Jax. After I seemed to take too long to begin pouring Jax said in a quieter more pleading tone.
"Please, we are injury buddies after all."
"In case you forgot, you're the one who gave me this injury, remember?"
"Honestly no, I remember getting grabbed through a door, breaking the skulls of two skeletons, getting stabbed and then waking up with everyone angry at me, and living feeling like red hot metal shavings are under my fur."
I blinked at him with a momentary look of confusion before I asked.
"So wait, you genuinely don't remember spinning your own snapped neck back into place, kicking me into a wall so hard I both went into the wall and broke 8 ribs, scratching Selene all to hell while Beatrice had to fix you?"
I asked, putting my hands on my hips. The Jax pillow monster remained silent for a moment before he said.
"Ok, hearing what happened while I was out I now see why everyone was so mad at me."
I took a moment to try and consider if he was lying or not, but considering what had happened the last time Jax almost got someone killed in a dungeon, his mood wasn't matching up. I lifted one of the pillows away so I could see Jax as I saw he was in a similar cast to my own, except instead of his chest, it covered everything to his face, leaving cutouts for eyes, but otherwise leaving only his snout exposed.
"Ok, lets say you forgot here, how did you even survive in the first place, the system announced you were dead and everything."
I said crossing my arms. Jax looked up at me as he said.
"Well, If I hypothetically told you I passed out drunk, woke up in the Dukes Vault, found a weird book on rituals and stuff, found one that would make me stronger and used it to grant myself some neat abilities but the important one being a healing ability that can even keep me alive beyond death as long as I want to live, but makes pain 25 times worse. Would that be ok, or would you get even madder?"
I stared at Jax with this look of absolute confusion and disbelief as Jax mumbled and using his tongue, slowly spun his system screen around.
Jax "Wildfang" Stormcaller
Age: 19Race: Fullblood Beastman (Wolf)Class: Pugilist - LV. 15XP: 6,350/27,000HP: 38/38Ki: 94/94
Stats:
Strength: 32Dexterity: 30Constitution: 14Intelligence: 4Wisdom: 15Charisma: 4
Soul Skill:
Feral Instinct (D)
Passive
Your natural instincts sharpen in combat, allowing you to sense movements and attacks just before they happen. You gain a bonus to Dexterity based saves and dodges and can make perception checks to avoid ambushes, even when distracted.
Skills:
Lifeforce Control (D)
Passive
you can tap into his Ki instead of HP when taking damage, allowing you to withstand attacks without tiring as quickly. This gives you a unique edge in prolonged battles where endurance is key.Ki Disruption (E)
10 Ki
you delivers a precise strike that can disrupt his opponent's energy flow. The target must have a high enough level of Constitution or be unable to use energy-based abilities until the start of their next turn. It's particularly effective against mages and aura users.Martial Arts (D)
Passive
Your unarmed attacks do increased damage with a higher chance of hitting. Your natural combat style is fierce and unrelenting, favoring fast and powerful strikes.Iron Fist (E)
10 Ki
You surround your fist in Ki, enhancing its power and speed. This provides a consistent option for heavier damage when needed.
Commanding presence (E)
Passive
Nearby allies gain a bonus to morale and cannot be forced to flee unless you are unconscious.
Powerful Strike(E)
25 Ki
You focus your energy into your fist, your next strike does extra damage
Ballroom Dancing(E)
Passive
You have learned the art of the ballroom dance, you preform it with more finesse and grace.
Vow of the Heart(D)
Passive
Vow: I will always Aid my friends and Allies
Vow Boon: Allies near you find that they are empowered
Vow bane: if you break your vow, the boon is reversed for 30 seconds
Vow of the Body(C)
Passive
Vow: I will carry their burdens when they cannot
Vow Boon: When an ally falls unconscious in battle, your strength, speed, and durability are increased for a time.
Vow bane: if all allies fall unconscious you feel a high level of fatigue sink in as the Boon is negated for the next week
Vow of the Soul(A)
Passive
Vow: I will always rise, even if the world says stay down
Vow Boon: Your body will mend itself, regrowing lost limbs in seconds, and closing wounds at an unprecedented speed. This healing is not negated by unconsciousness or even death. This healing stops if your will to live stops
Vow Bane: you feel pain 25 times stronger. When you take damage, you undergo extreme mental pressure that if caved into will cause insanity. If killed in this state, this skills ability to heal beyond death is negated.
Relentless Assault(D)
Passive
When you land an attack on an enemy, a path to a potential other attack is revealed.
As I finished reading over his stats, I felt the indescribable urge to punch him as I leaned in with an apparent dangerous look in my eyes.
"Hey Jax oh buddy oh pal. When the fuck were you planning to tell, like any of us about this little walking timebomb of a skill you now have?"
Jax refused to meet my eyes as he mumbled something about eventually getting to it. I stared Jax down as I popped the top of the bottle off with my thumb as a look of hope spread across Jax's face before realization sunk in.
"You, you wouldn't dare? Come on Aiden, it would just hurt."
I gave Jax an evil grin as I tipped the bottle up and began to chug. Jax squirmed weakly, but considering what I now knew, that might as well have been him flailing and thrashing all around the room.
"No, you fiend, how could you? Just a drop man, come on, that a 500 gold bottle there, I don't need much, just a sniff, something man, NOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Jax wailed as I finished the entire bottle. As I finished the bottle I grabbed a bit of water from a nearby pitcher and poured it in, swirling before I finished the last remnants of the pretty good tasting drink. I heavily set down the now clean and void of booze bottle on the bedside table next to Jax as his head laid in a small puddle of tears.
"Your, *sniff* your inhumane man, not cool."
"Well it serves you right for keeping something like this a se-"
I was cut off mid sentence by a system notification.
You have failed to stay sober
I felt myself stumble and I fell back on my butt and a jolt of pain shot through me as I sat up and called out
"Ow, FUCK, Damnit!"
However even now I could feel my words begin to slur as the pain seemed to quickly fade. It could have been a few moments later, or hours, but eventually the front door opened as the others made their way inside.
"Heeeeeeeeeeeyyyy guys, Where dib you go?"
I asked, my words coming out weird and funny.
"What the hell happened to him, we were only gone an hour!"
Beatrice yelled out sounding alarmed as she ran over to where I was sitting on the ground. Selene walked over as Jax said in a huffy voice.
"He drank it, he drank the whole thing, even washed it out so I can't even know the smell up close."
I watched as they seemed to work together to lift Jax as he whimpered quite loudly as Selene and Thalia moved him out the door and to where I could see the front of the vehicle was. Liora put my arm around her shoulder as she helped me up.
"Come on Aiden, we're already a day behind schedule, and from what Peridot said, the medicine would fix your bones by day 3, and Jax's by day 5. For now we need to get on the road."
I Chuckled as I asked.
"But wait, I can't drive while drunk. That's like a big rule."
From outside I heard what sounded to be grinding gears as I saw the vehicle lurch slightly before going into gear as I partially sobered up. I saw Selene in the driver's seat, looking through the owner's manual reading different parts and pressing buttons as I silently gulped in terror for the vehicle's transmission.