Daverius was training to use his new powers in the valley that housed Modok’s castle. He was able to rapidly scale sheer cliffs and lift enormous boulders for short bursts of time. Being an Elite rank did not make his body stronger, faster, and more durable, but rather he now had another energy source that he could tap into.

  Ziplocke told him that his Elite abilities were fueled by his Spirit. Not only could Daverius use his Spirit to enhance his physical abilities, he was able to enhance his Will and Rune casting. It was possible for him to manipulate native aspects. It was still extremely difficult, but it was possible. Like with his Will and physical strength, his Spirit could be fatigued and it needed to be trained up.

  “You are improving,” Graul observed.

  Leandria snickered. The two Greater Goblins were searching for Essence Springs in the murky streams and rivulets that meandered through the valley. Modok’s territory was ripe with hidden resources, and it was a wonder why the fat Greater Fiend was never able to advance to Lord.

  “Do you know what other abilities I have?” Daveirus asked.

  Leandria arched an eyebrow and responded, “Like what?”

  “Can I shoot energy blasts?” Daverius asked.

  The two Greater Goblins fell over with laughter. After a moment, they sat up and struggled to compose themselves.

  “Yes,” Leandria said, but she was snickering.

  Graul, his face turned bright red as he tried to contain his laughter, added, “If you focus really hard, you can shoot beams of power.”

  Like an erupting volcano the two Greater Goblins exploded into more laughter. Daverius narrowed his dark eyes. He wiped back his long dark bangs.

  “I don’t trust you two,” he observed.

  “But it’s true!” Graul shrieked.

  Leandra chimed in. “He is right. You just need to hold your breath and hop up and down.”

  Her remarks caused Graul to fall over a second time with laughter. Daverius threw his arms up in the air.

  “I should have known not to ask you two anything!” He snapped.

  “Every Elite ability is different depending on the catalyst that pushed you to the higher rank,” Ziplocke said as he appeared upon an onyx boulder that stood over a stream.

  Shadows fell away from the Goblin Lord like mists. This caused Graul and Leandria to yelp in surprise. Daverius’s hand was by the handle of his sword at his hip.

  “Gah! I forgot how sneaky he can be!” Leandria cursed.

  “By the hells, he gave me a fright,” Graul added.

  Ziplocke cackled with glee as he pointed a long-nailed finger at the two. Daverius steadied himself with a deep breath. Have patience, he told himself. For weeks now, he has been among the Goblins, and to call it infuriating would be an understatement. At least I am enhancing my Will and patience, Daverius reflected. Perhaps I can become a sage or a monk when this is all said and done.

  “Catalyst?” He asked.

  “The Gem, you knucklehead!” Graul teased.

  Daverius took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “What abilities do I get with the Gem of Magnificence?”

  “You have seen them yourself,” Ziplocke answered.

  Daveirus tapped his chin. “I estimate that I can double or even triple my strength, speed, and durability.”

  “Ding dong!” Leandria exclaimed.

  Graul laughed.

  Daverius had no idea why she said that, but he learned quickly to not question the madness of the Goblins.

  “You can also heal yourself,” Ziplocke added.

  That was true, Daverius reflected. Earlier, he had fallen off a cliff and broke several bones. What would have taken many months to heal, he recovered in under an hour.

  “My injuries healed on their own,” Daverius pointed out.

  Ziplocke shrugged. “Of course they did. Your body wants to remain whole, but with practice, you can speed up the healing process by having more control over your body and powers. You can even improve your enhancements to your strength and speed.”

  Daverius narrowed his eyes and asked the Goblin Lord, “Didn’t you consume a Gem of Magnificence?”

  Ziplocke answered, “I did.”

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  “What powers did you get from it?”

  “It’s different for us,” Graul explained.

  Leandria added, “We are magical beings. When we advance in rank, it is the same for all of us.”

  “Magical beings?” Daverius asked.

  Graul glanced at Ziplocke. “Are all Humans this slow?”

  Ziplocke shrugged and explained. “We are magical beings, and as such, we have the Runes embedded in our blood. Watch.”

  The Goblin Lord held up his green arms and faint Runes flared red and floated along his skin as if they were in water. Daverius recognized the Fire, Affliction, Earth and Darkness aspects.

  “That’s why I never seen you guys use Channeling Tools,” Daverius observed.

  Leandria snickered. “So primitive.”

  “That’s for you losers from the Material plane,” Graul teased.

  Ziplocke let the Runes fade back into his body and shrugged.

  “Can you cast other aspects?” Daverius asked.

  “Why would we want to? We are innately attuned to the best ones,” Graul answered.

  “Yeah? Why would we go through the trouble?” Leandria asked.

  Ziplocke stated, “But we can.”

  “So, for Humans, the catalyst determines the powers we get at Elite rank?” Daverius asked.

  “Pretty much, but not just Humans. All non magical beings, or beings from the Material planes,” Ziplocke answered.

  “There are other Material planes?”

  Graul snorted and said to Leandria, “This guy thinks he is unique.”

  The green-eyed Goblin giggled and batted her eyelashes at Daverius, “So special.”

  He scowled at her and asked Ziplocke, “Do you know what powers the Gem of Magnificence grants to non magical beings?”

  “Energy blasts,” Ziplocke stated. His face was flat like a still pond.

  Daverius arched his eyebrow. “Forget, I asked.”

  “Really, you should be able to shoot energy blasts,” Zipocke repeated.

  Leandria and Graul appeared to be holding their breath. Daverius shook his head, but looked up.

  “Really?” He asked.

  Ziplocke crossed his arms and nodded. Daverius studied the Goblin Lord with narrowed eyes. No emotion showed on Ziplocke’s green face.

  “Do you want me to show you?” Ziplocke said.

  “I don’t believe you.”

  “Suit yourself. But they do not call me the Prince of Darkness for nothing, you know,” the Goblin Lord stated.

  Leandria whispered, “No one calls him that.”

  Daverius ignored her and asked Ziplocke a second time, “Really?” Shooting energy blasts would be awesome! He thought to himself. Rune magic took too much time.

  Ziplocke nodded.

  “Okay, show me.”

  “It’s all in your breath. You need to inhale rapidly like this. Haaaah!” Ziplocke did a sharp intake of air.

  “Haaah!” Daverius copied him.

  “Hold your hands out and then exhale rapidly. Like this, Dooooo!” Ziplocke explained.

  Daverius did the motions and the breathing.

  “Good,” Ziplocke said and told the Human the final component.

  Daverius arched an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”

  “Do you want to blast your enemies with energy or not?”

  Daverius complied. Nothing happened.

  “You have to be louder,” the Goblin Lord explained.

  Daverius focused and extended his arms. “Hah Do Ken!” He cried.

  Nothing happened, but the three Goblins erupted in laughter.

  “I can’t believe you convinced him to do that!” Leandria shouted.

  “You truly are the Prince of Darkness!” Grual exclaimed and bowed.

  Ziplocke’s chest heaved as he laughed so hard he fell on his back.

  “I hate you,” Daverius growled.

  A smaller Goblin scampered down the hill toward them from the castle. The tiny creature moved fast.

  “Lummox, what are you doing here? You’re supposed to be spying on Lord Ash!” Graul demanded.

  Leandria thumped the bald Goblin on the head. “Portal arches! You remember? Lummox can travel to and from much faster.”

  Graul rubbed his head and muttered. “It was my idea!”

  Lummox came over and talked rapidly to Ziplocke. The smaller Goblin talked so fast and in a high-pitched voice that it reminded Daverius of a family of baby birds chirping for food. Ziplocke’s smile melted away from his face.

  “What’s happening?” Daverius asked.

  “It’s time,” Ziplocke answered.

  “Time for what?” Graul asked.

  “For us to head into the Stronghold,” Ziplocke answered.

  “What are you blabbering about? Ash and Char have literal armies guarding the Monster Portals,” Leandria pointed out.

  Lummox handed Ziplocke a folded Rune-covered whip. Graul’s eyes went wide.

  “Oh,” the bald Goblin said.

  “Is that a whip? What’s going on?” Daverius demanded.

  “The forces guarding the Monster Portals are in chaos. It is now or never,” Ziplocke explained.

  Leandria and Grual snickered while they rubbed their hands together.

  “How are they in chaos? Was it his doing?” Daverius asked and pointed at Lummox.

  The smaller Goblin shrieked and ducked behind Ziplocke’s leg.

  “No, It was the Human Cultists,” the Goblin Lord answered.

  Daverius narrowed his eyes, “Why?”

  “For power, you moron!” Leandria cried.

  “Power?”

  Graul shook his head. “To free Misery, the Fiendish Lord trapped in the Stronghold.”

  Ziplocke added, “We must leave now before the forces around the Monster portals reorganize.”

  Daverius nodded. “I’m ready. I’ve waited a long time for this.” He glanced off into the distance with his broad shoulders squared and back was straight.

  “Especially with your new power,” Leandria joked.

  “Hah do ken!” Graul mimicked.

  Ziplocke clapped his hands and laughed. “Why was he even looking in that direction?”

  “The Monster portals are that way!” Leandria said and pointed away from where the Human was looking.

  Daverius took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Soon, I will be back home. He thought to himself. His three companions snickered and laughed as they pointed at him. Soon, he reminded himself.