The thing gave no warning or sign as it lurched forward in a sudden, jerky movement. One arm shot out, further than a man’s arm of the same dimensions. The bundles of mycelial threads that formed its pseudo-musculature only loosely adhered to the principles that muscles, tendons and ligaments did. Reinhardt dropped back, flailing the machete at the incoming hand and missing by a solid foot. Magdi, in his normal response to such danger, bellowed a challenge and stepped forward, hammer thrusting out and block splitter swinging. Otto threw the torch at the thing, his hands already forming the somatic for a Spell. Reinhardt was certain he saw the myconid recoil, or at least hesitate, as the flames wafted across its path. Despite the *thump

  The result of this movement and flailing limb was that the axe, lined up decently with centre mass, instead sheared through the forearm of the left arm, slicing through the spongy ropes and lodging in the bone, carrying the arm out wide. Magdi, down on one knee but suddenly finding his opponent with its momentum twisting in the opposite direction, gripped the splitter just below the head, leaping up with a violent uppercut catching the Stanza for his Spell. Both of his hands filled with flame that flared out in noticeably smaller cones of fire, but as both were directed at the head of the myconid, the dull oranges blazed into a sudden gout of yellow flame as they fused in a swirling torrent of seething fire.

  The roaring inferno that was the ’s head leapt nearly to the roof, illuminating the chamber and burning off a huge number of spores. The Thallid, after shrugging off axe blows and hammer strikes with no reaction, certainly reacted to this new development. It went berserk, flailing about wildly and stumbling about on stiff legs. Its writhing left arm, mutilated already - smacked into Otto, who was trying to rapidly backpedal away, whilst keeping the Spell directed at the face of the

  Reinhardt, left to his own devices for the moment, rose up behind the Must have caught him just right,” Reinhardt thought. His questioning look was waved away by the Dwarf, who was glaring suspiciously at the blackened, smouldering skull.

  “I dinnae hear nae bell!” He growled.

  He’s right, Reinhardt realised. The ‘body’ may be inert, and the ‘head’ may be separated from the body, but this wasn’t like a normal, living Human. This was a fungus being, and a DungeonBurning Hands, bathing the pulsating mass with yet more flame. Unprotected by the mass of its cap and the bone of its borrowed skull, the fungus quickly shrivelled up and began to blacken. There was an undefinable moment, but they all felt it - the of the Myconid SoulsEssence of the Enveloper, it felt different - like drinking unsweetened tea, it had a woody, earthy ‘taste’ to it. That was absurd of course, it had no “flavour,” it was just an impression in his Soulalmost undetectable, but they were still there.

  As the benefits conferred by exactly what effect every such twenty possible qualities, aspects or attributes had been identified, either via testing, or by someone showing up with an Enhancing it. So it was known that each of the over what it was.

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  That was another important factor - all Enhancement gained through Augmentation and Spirit was an improvement over what physically exists. A man who has never picked up a bag of flour, yet has achieved SoulTournoi Mondial d'Escrime of 1422 NdK. A competitor with  I continues to compete!”

  As the soul Sequential Progression Scale

  But underneath it all, none of it was a substitute for learning and training.

  At present, Reinhardt’s 3.75% Augmentation didn’t mean much - he had no strengths, ability or talents where such a small boost would matter. But it was the next rung on the ladder, and so soon! Otto and the others had discussed the likelihood of gaining or weapon on the first run, but this was different. The Myconid had accumulated sufficient that it was enough to add adequate weight to their own, to attain the next

  “Absorbed enough to gain a

  “Apologies,” Otto waved his hands in placation. “I am, of course, happy that my companions are gaining strength. But I, also, would like to attain higher levels of power.”

  “I know, Otto.” Reinhardt turned to look for the “straight through” option he knew was the fastest route out of here. “If we got our

  “So let’s git moovin’!” Magdi tapped the heads of his tools together, producing that surprisingly clear, ringing tone. Reinhardt couldn’t help but smile. Magdi would have a +Dungeon

  “Come along Otzi!” Reinhardt fell into step beside the Dwarf, surreptitiously guiding him toward the ‘straight’ path. “The quicker we can get you your next

  “Next time we come through here, let us avoid this place!” he grumbled as he fell into step with the others.

  “Oh yah! Nex’ time, ye ken lead,” Magdi nodded. “Straight thru t’th’kassel, quick like a bunny!”

  Otto brightened considerably at that. Reinhardt felt it would have been a little churlish to point out that wandering the Caves had led both he and Magdi to accumulate the to gain a DungeonsTowers Innate in recorded history. They were rarely found on the path people would take to get to the end of a floor, instead, they were hidden in out-of-the-way places that were challenging to reach. It was a strange thing. Maybe they were hidden to prevent their discovery… or, was it that receiving such items were a for exploring? Did DungeonsDungeon

  The concept that a Dungeon