《Fates of Grenora: Return of the Night》 Introduction Greetings fellow Traveler of Realms, Collector of Legends, and Devourer of Worlds I am presenting you with the world of Grenora and within it, an era that was deemed Return of the Night at the atrocities that ensued, the champions that rose and fell, the love and hate that bloomed along with all the betrayals that come with it, and the rebirth of a race that was long thought extinct. As such, this world has a system for those of you who understand and for those that don''t everything will be detailed as the legend goes on. The legend will unfold before your mind as you consume all there is to offer, to feel the raw emotions presented, the triumphs and victories, the defeats and doubts, and above all the fulfillment of a good story to add to your collection as you and your fellow Travelers run towards Infinite Knowledge. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. However if you have any aversion to brutal deaths and ingenious ways to be killed then the world of Grenora will not be a realm you will want to traverse. There will be no punches held back and no one is safe from death. Hold tight to your loved ones for this world is as dangerous and ruthless as any other without being shy about it. You will live it along with feeling the horror that amounts in your chest as you attempt to tear your eyes away from the page. You have been warned. Now without further prodding, the world of Grenora awaits for you to grace it with your presence. Welcome and I hope you enjoy the legend that will be told of Aldrin. Safe journeys and health to you all fellow Travelers! Chapter 1: Fate Reversed The continuous drips of water resonated through the passageway as two people wandered down a dimly lit passage. The [Potion of Night Vision] helped them see their path. The creaking of rock pebbles tumbling down to the stony floor kept them on edge in fear of an ambush from the creatures that lurked in these tunnels. ¡°Oh my god, I hate this dungeon!¡± A brown skinned burly man echoed out into the cavern, ¡°Why did we get stuck with a C Tier mission again?¡± ¡°Well, Gryph, we were the only ones out close enough for the routine check,¡± A slim pale man with glasses replied. ¡°This is the last time I EVER go this far out AND TO THINK THIS WAS YOUR IDEA OF A GOOD TIME,¡± Gryph said. ¡°You disgust me sometimes Elliot,¡± Gryph added, making Elliot chuckle. ¡°We can regroup with the others soon anyways,¡± Elliot said. The two continued down the winding corridor back to the meeting place where stood two humans and an elf. The group had their backs turned to them as they were hastily whispering between themselves. ¡°What¡¯s got you three in a circle jerk?¡± Gryph announced making the group of three jump in surprise. ¡°We found this,¡± The younger of the two humans stated as he presented them with a cloudy green glowing fist sized orb. ¡°Anton, did you identify this?¡± Elliot asked the group, specifically the older man that had salt and pepper hair and a beard to match. ¡°I tried but my profession as an Arcanist is apparently too low,¡± The older man, Anton said. ¡°Alright well since a Profession check didn¡¯t pass, what do you make of this Phaendral? Elliot asked the lean looking elf, the third person standing next to the two humans. ¡°It looks like a [Key Orb] for a deeper part of the Dungeon,¡± Phaendral smoothly replied. ¡°Well would ya look at that! Finally something to brag about when we get back to base eh Aldrin!¡± Gryph said as he scooped up the younger looking man who had shoulder length wavy brown hair and copper skin ¡°Gryph, please, can¡¯t breathe.¡± Aldrin struggled out. ¡°Gryph put Aldrin down, he is turning blue,¡± Elliot commanded, ¡°Alright so before we proceed we need to do equipment checks, status checks, and distribute our points for those of us who leveled,¡± Elliot continued after Gryph released Aldrin. Aldrin nodded, pulling up his character sheet.
Name: Aldrin Ravindra Skill Points: 4 Defense Value: 20 Natural(Human) + 67 from equipment = 87 Defense Race: Human Level 26
Class: 2nd Tier Cleric Level 27 ¡ú 28 Profession: Lore Seeker Level 22 ¡ú 23
Health: 1750 (Regen: 3.8 Health Per Minute) Magic: 1750 (Regen: 11.3 Magic Per Minute)
Stamina: 1750 (Regen: 3.8 Stamina Per Minute) Locked
Strength: 27 Dexterity: 17.25
Vitality: 25 Intelligence: 27
Wisdom: 18 Charisma: 15
1st Tier Class: Aspirant(Mage) Skills:
Minor Blessing Level 2: Grants the user¡¯s weapon Holy Damage for 5 strikes(Granted) Mana Cost: 25 Level 3: Grants the user¡¯s weapon Holy Damage for 7 strikes (Cost: 6 Skill Points) Minor Healing Level 4: Heal you or an ally for 50% of their maximum health(Granted) Mana Cost: 60 Minor Antidote Level 1: Cure Tier 2 poison and below(Granted) Mana Cost: 30 Level 2: Cure Tier 3 poison and below(Cost: 4 Skill Points) Shield of Hope Level 3: Grants immunity to you or an ally for 9 seconds(Granted) Mana Cost: 90 Level 4: Grants immunity to you or an ally for 15 seconds(Cost: 8 Skill Points) Undead Turncoats Level 1: Control an undead that is a lower level than you(Granted) Mana Cost: 100 Level 2: Control an undead that is 2 levels higher than you(Cost: 4 Skill Points)
2nd Tier Class: Cleric of Dremetica(Mage-Fighter) Skills:
Silence Level 2: Block spellcasting for 5 seconds(Granted) Mana Cost: 20 Level 3: Block spellcasting for 8 seconds(Cost: 6 Skill Points) Dispel Level 1: Break Tier 2 curses or lower(Granted) Mana Cost: 30 Level 2: Break Tier 3 curses or lower(Cost: 4 Skill Points) Sunray of Dremetica Level 2: Cast a Holy ray of light inflicting moderate burns(Granted) Mana Cost: 80 Level 3: Cast a Holy ray of light inflicting major burns and leaves the target with Flames of Judgment(Cost: 6 Skill Points) Armaments of the Dedicated Level 1: Grants you or an ally reduction to Dark elements(Granted) Mana Cost: 20 Level 2: Grants you or an ally Holy Armor increasing damage reduction from all(Cost: 4 Skill Points) Life-Line Level 4: Switch places with your most injured ally, Once switched the injured member gains a boost to regeneration of Health, Stamina, Magic, a shield of Holy Light also ecompasses you both once positions have been swapped, Heals both members by 15% of their maximum health on switch(Granted) Mana Cost: 110
Profession: Lore Seeker Skills:
Exploration Level 1: 10% exp gained for discovering new places(50/50 places needed)(Granted) Level 2: 15% exp gained for discovering new places(77/100 needed) Anatomy Level 1: 5% exp gained for killing monsters(250/250 needed)(Granted) Level 2: 10% exp gained for killing monsters(489/500 needed) Biologist Level 1: 10% exp gained for discovery of new creatures(17/30 needed) Botanist Level 1: 5% exp gained for discovery of new plants(25/25 needed)(Granted) Level 2: 10% exp gained for discovery of new plants(27/50 needed) Book Smart Level 1: 10% exp more for turning in quests(100/100 completed quests)(Granted) Level 2: 20% exp more for tuning in quests(133/200 completed quests) Historian Level 1: 12.5% more exp gained from solving mysteries of Grenora(0/10 needed) Traveler Level 1: 5% Dexterity boosts for walking (1000/1,000) steps(Granted) Level 2: 10% Dexterity boosts for walking (10,000/10,000) steps(Granted) Level 3: 15% Dexterity boots for walking (63,482/100,000) steps
Aldrin debated between getting the next levels of Minor Antidote to cure Tier 3 poisons and lower, Dispel to break Tier 3 curses and lower, or Armaments of the Dedicated to help reduce the damage to all if he decided to invest in that. However, he knew that his stats needed to be worked on but he was also acutely aware of what it was like to have something enticing peeking around the corner when it came to skills. So it was always a gamble; never knowing if the next level of the skill was the one you needed all along to give you an edge. That would change once you got to a 4th tier class then you would start to snowball in skills and stats ultimately changing the playing field again. However at the lower levels and tiers stats or new levels in skills was always the question. The question that often plagued those who were adventurers. In this case, for Aldrin, being the offset tank-healer hybrid they were traversing a regular routine of this dungeon yet found an anomaly in the form of the [Key Orb]. That being said, he would rather have more protection than not if things were going to continue to become weird.
Choice Selected: Level 2 of Armaments of the Dedicated: Grants you or an ally Holy Armor increasing damage reduction from all. Magic Cost: 45
Coming out of the Status Screen stupor, Aldrin looked to see if the others were done as well. As usual, Elliot the 2nd Tier Chromatic Apprentice, their de facto leader for this dungeon run, was the first to be done and eyed the dark passageways that led to this cavern. Gryph, the resident meat sponge and freshly advanced 3rd Tier Behemoth was busy scrubbing his tower shield that looked more like a slab of dense metal with a handle in the middle of it with child-like glee. Phaendral the reserved elf and 2nd Tier Beast Tamer kept a watchful eye on the ceiling and walls for any signs of movement since fire breathing giant insects seem to be a thing in the dungeon now. And lastly, Anton, our 2nd Tier healer, Divine Monk still had the look of Status Screen stupor. ¡°Do you ever get that weird feeling that something big is about to change?¡± Elliot asked as Aldrin walked up. ¡°I haven¡¯t felt it since we had to flee Earth and come here to Grenora.¡± Aldrin bitterly replied. Elliot let out a coarse laugh,¡±I remember that, after searching all that time in the stars for new life we never looked to our oceans and it cost us,¡± He said. ¡°It cost us the planet, our homes, our friends, and family,¡± Aldrin grumbled. ¡°How long has it been since we left Earth again? 20 years ago, right?¡± Elliot asked, scratching his non existing beard. ¡°22 years tomorrow at least,¡± Aldrin said, memories of the escape replaying in his mind like it happened yesterday. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Elliot cursed to himself, "Has it really been that long?" Aldrin nodded back to him. Elliot grumbled to himself, signaling the end of the conversation between the two. Of course, this left Aldrin pondering over thoughts he buried within the deep recesses of his mind. The fear of the large portal he and his family had to walk through, the fear of the unknown. ¡°I have finished,¡± Anton announced, snapping the others out of their vigilance. ¡°I will scout ahead,¡± Phaendral said as he departed down the only passageway that led deeper into the dungeon. ¡°Think we will find anything else that is out of place in the dungeon?¡± Gryph asked, strapping his metal slab of a shield to his arm. ¡°I don¡¯t know but I don¡¯t want to take any chances so be prepared for anything,¡± Elliot replied as they all faced the passageway Phaendral went down. Grim faces was the only answer Elliot got in return. Aldrin and Gryph took point, each with their shields raised and weapons poised to strike. They trekked their way slowly down the passageway, the [Potion of Night Vision] allowing them to see perfectly in the dark tunnel. Hurried footsteps could be heard echoing down the chamber. Phaendral rounded the corner, eyes wide and paler than usual, holding a gaping wound that had his intestines spilling through his fingers. Anton and Aldrin immediately cast Minor Healing on him, engulfing him in white light. The wound healed slightly but then reopened and continued to eat away at his skin. ¡°Tier 5 Poison Curse!¡± Phaendral shouted. Gryph and I opened the shield wall we made as Phaendral came bumbling through to be caught by Elliot. Black blood spilled out of Phaendral¡¯s mouth, squirting some on Elliot¡¯s face that began to eat away at his own skin. Elliot cried out as he furiously and desperately tried to scrub away the acidic blood causing it to spread to more of his face and hands. ¡°What the hell causes Tier 5 Poison and Curse in a Tier 2 Dungeon?!¡± Gryph demanded, eyes wildly searching every crevice and opening of the tunnel. Aldrin kept casting Minor Healing on Elliot as he screamed. Anton used a combination of Healing Hands and Minor Healing on Phaendral but to no avail. The Tier 5 Poison Curse continued to eat its way through his insides. Sizzling and popping could be heard as Phaendral lay there dying by his own acidic blood eating away his skin first before eating away at his flesh. Anton grunted and chugged a [Magic Potion].
WARNING! Magic is below the threshold of 100!
Aldrin¡¯s system notice blared in his vision. ¡°I know damn it! Just give me a minute!¡± Aldrin said to himself, chugging a [Magic Potion] Anton rushed over to help with Elliot, his face pale when Aldrin looked at him. Their eyes briefly met and gently shook his head now. The staccato of marching boots could be heard slowly creeping down the hallway. ¡°Guys what¡¯s the call?!¡± Gryph panicked. Elliot stopped making noises as his hands fell limply to the side revealing a shiny alabaster skull with empty eye sockets. The Tier 5 Poison Curse ate away at the rest of the flesh on his skull making Anton heave out our lunch from earlier off to the side. Aldrin was numb to it all as he lost 2 party members in the span of seconds. ¡°Oh my god,¡± Gryph breathlessly said.
SYSTEM NOTICE: BONEHILL BARROWS Tier 2 DUNGEON HAS BEEN CONVERTED TO MYTHIC Tier: KILINOS¡¯ REALM Tier 6 DUNGEON
Aldrin read the system notice and read again to make sure what he was reading was correct. A whimper escaped Anton¡¯s mouth as the reality of what shithole they stepped in bore its shit eating grin to them. The boots got louder and this time it was coming from the way they came. Torches lit the passage as whatever was marching towards them came their way. Shrieks and guttural growling were being amplified as they echoed off the passage walls. ¡°I¡¯m going to die here,¡± Anton began panicking, ¡°Doing something I never wanted to do!¡± He continued, ¡°I gotta get out of here,¡± He scampered up and ran off back the way they came regardless of what happened. Roars of whatever was headed up from behind us and Anton¡¯s screams traveled back not a moment sooner. Aldrin looked at Gryph who was looking at the bodies of Phaendral and Elliot before finally meeting Aldrin¡¯s eyes. Fear, terror, and anger danced in the Behemoth¡¯s eyes that Aldrin knew all too well. Aldrin picked up the [Key Orb] and did the only thing to do in a moment like this. He looked for any place or indent that would fit the [Key Orb] comfortably. Gryph caught on and started the other wall across from Aldrin. A deep mischievous laugh rattled through the minds of Gryph and Aldrin making them wince in pain. You have been [Disoriented], Your stats are now reduced by 50% until you regain your footing. ¡°I respect those who still in the face of death cling to life. Come I await to greet thee.¡± Said a voice so deep it spoke to your greatest fear. The wall that Gryph inspected moved with a rumbling shift giving access to a large stone door that held the lock fitting the [Key Orb]. Aldrin was the first to notice as the pounding in his head died down. Stumbling over, Aldrin barely managed to pick Gryph off the ground before he inserted the [Key Orb], making the stone door open inwards to reveal a shimmering white portal. Aldrin pushed Gryph through first before he looked behind briefly, catching a glimpse using Identify of what was coming for them.
Lineage: ???
Class: 5th Tier: Hydra Demon Lancer, Level 86
Race: Demon, Level 83
It was burnt orange, lizard scales covered a human like face, however its eyes were pure black with teeth that could easily shred through bone, and small black horns dotted around its bald scaled head. It glared at me before it smirked and brandished its jagged edge glowing red blade.
Warning! You have fallen under the effect: Demonic Mind Domination
You have been [Ensnared] You have been [Dazed] You have been [Fear-Stricken]
Aldrin¡¯s skin crawled as the Demon looked at him and through him. Aldrin knew it would relish using his bones as a snack before whatever feeling wiggled its way up Aldrin¡¯s spine stopped and he could move again.
You have been released from the effect: Demonic Mind Domination
Immediately, Aldrin turned around and jumped through the portal. Passing through the veil, feeling eyes everywhere on his skin before they disappeared altogether. Heat was the next thing that greeted Aldrin, followed by blood curdling screams of agony off in the distance that made his skin raise in goosebumps. He looked around the vast Hellscape to call it. Lava falls dripped into lakes of lava that had other Demons bathing in it glaring at him menacingly. The heat in the atmosphere had turned everything extremely hot and either bright red or orange. Gas vents were sprouted up releasing what had to be toxic vapors into the sky. A mountain ridge could be seen in one direction but a storm of red lightning thundered around its peaks. ¡°Like my realm?¡± The deep voice that saved them said. Aldrin didn¡¯t want to turn around as his body and mind instinctively knew only death awaited him if he did. ¡°Where is my friend?¡± Aldrin stuttered out. ¡°Not brave enough to turn around and ask me directly after I saved you? And not even a thank you? My, I am disappointed, I think I have been away from the Mortal Planes too long,¡± The deep said. A taloned scaled black hand with pulsing veins of lava rested itself on Aldrin¡¯s shoulder in a death grip giving the warning of instant death if he moved wrong. Whether he wanted to or not, the hand gently forced Aldrin to turn around. ¡°There, that¡¯s much better,¡± The voice said. Aldrin came face to face with a chiseled chest of a burnt orange color. Peering upwards into the glowing orange eyes that held the torture of a thousand souls within them was the only thing Aldrin saw first. Both of its arms were the taloned scaled black with pulsing veins of lava that led into its torso. Its legs were normal besides also being taloned scaled black with magma veins. The Demon had a nose that was just two slits, much like a snake. Deadly curved horns that grew out of the side of his head pointed upwards.Thin lips that barely covered his needle like teeth. ¡°Go on, Identify me child,¡± The Demon taunted with a smile that promised pain. Aldrin fought against his rational mind telling him to run or be killed versus listening to the sweet lulling voice of the Demon before him. ¡°Are you going to kill me?¡± Aldrin whimpered. ¡°Is that what I asked you to do?¡± The Demon¡¯s smile grew wider. Aldrin used Identify, horrified by the slew of notifications that came to greet him when he did.
Name: Kilinos
Race: Progenitor Level 100
Class: 6th Tier: Hadean Prince of War, Level 100
Title: First Born of the Condemned
Aldrin¡¯s pale face was all that was needed to make the Demon laugh uproariously with glee. ¡°Now this is what I have missed from mortals! The fear that I give them!¡± Kilinos bellowed out to his audience, getting shrieks and roars of demonic laughter in return. ¡°Bring the rest to me,¡± Kilinos smiled viciously. Aldrin heard four loud thumps behind him, one of which he could tell was alive due to the struggle of grunting. Kilinos continued to eye Aldrin with interest as he watched three bodies and one live one be dragged by his Hydra Demon Lancers. It was a momentous day for him, all his planning and subtle shifts in the mortal plane have finally brought him to this moment. ¡°Now normally I wouldn¡¯t particularly care to concern myself with the likes of you and your kind but I couldn¡¯t let you leave knowing what you saw either,¡± Kilinos began to share. ¡°It¡¯s a trade secret that I am sure your Gods didn¡¯t share! OH WAIT! THEY CAN¡¯T CAUSE THEY ARE DEAD!¡± Kilinos teased. Aldrin stood there silently, looking around the room for any hopes of escape but he was greeted with diminishing hopes as all the demons present here were 4th and 5th Tier classes with Kilinos being the only 6th Tier here. Gryph was thrown down next to Aldrin, his face bloody with one eye swollen, his mouth looked like it had barbed wires sewn through it to keep him from speaking, and his armor was broken in various areas. All in all, Gryph got the shit end of the Demon treatment. The three other bodies were then arrayed around Aldrin in a half circle with Gryph to the left of him and the body of Elliot to the right of him. Aldrin could only assume the two thuds behind him were the bodies of Phaendral and Anton. ¡°I can see the gears of your mind turn,¡± Kilinos said, bringing Aldrin out of reverie. ¡°So I am just going to cut straight to it,¡± He continued, ¡°I am going to enact a ritual which in turn will make you into a herald for me until you gain equal footing in terms of power,¡± He explained, clapping his hands together at the end. ¡°Fitting it would be the healer to end up the one being the taker of life,¡± Kilinos teased again, making the smile that promised pain bloom again. Aldrin¡¯s breath grew short and rapid as Kilinos took two steps back from him, raised his hand with his palm facing toward the red sky of the realm, and enacted a barrier. Aldrin looked around as pillars of flames so hot they were white erupted from the ground. Cowled hunched-back creatures emerged from those pillars of white flames, each carrying a staff that made Aldrin¡¯s skin crawl off and away from him.
Class: Hadean Magistrate Tier 5 Level 88
Race: Demon
Lineage: ???
¡°Begin,¡± Kilinos commanded. The chanting started low and held a primal edge to it that Aldrin desperately tried to cover his ears from. Blood flowed outward from the bodies of the three dead companions, Gryph started having a seizure as his one good eye rolled into the back of his head. Kilinos stood there as he let his Hadean Magistrate(s) do the heavy lifting. Aldrin lost track of time as his consciousness grew hazy. He didn¡¯t know if what he was feeling was a severe case of vertigo or if this is what it felt like to die as his whole body felt like it was doing flips. He felt his skin peeling away, revealing all of his flesh underneath. The pain that came after as a tendril of white flame bathed him burnt away the rest of his flesh only leaving his skeleton intact. He knew he should be dead but something made him cling to life still. Kilinos¡¯ booming laugh was the only thing that reminded Aldrin of where he was as the chanting grew louder and rapid. He felt his bony feet be lifted off the ground. The chanting grew into a crescendo then the realm shook. Streaks of red lightning darted across the sky and the eyes that Aldrin felt when he passed through looked at him again. His mind being unable to handle anymore finally let his consciousness slip away. He awoke to pins and needles running up and down his entire body as his bones were remade. Then there was another round of mind numbing pain that sent him back. The next sensation he felt was the itching, awakening him to see flesh growing back onto his skeletal frame. Aldrin didn¡¯t know how much time had passed as he slipped in and out but the last time he awoke he was sprawled out on the rocky ground. Kilinos stood over him as he began to come to. ¡°Wakey wakey new brother!¡± Kilinos greeted me. Groggily sitting himself up, bleary eyed, and disoriented he remembered where he was when he looked to Kilinos again. He tried to scoot himself backwards fumbling with his limbs as they were not responding as they normally should. ¡°Don¡¯t worry the grogginess you feel now should pass,¡± Kilinos explained as he knelt down beside Aldrin. ¡°Now to complete the ritual!¡± He clapped his hands and a small cup of thick dark red liquid was brought forth. He pushed the cup to Aldrin¡¯s mouth making it slosh back and forth in the cup. A nauseating burning feeling erupted from Aldrin¡¯s stomach as the tantalizing scent drifted upwards into his nose. Aldrin¡¯s notification kept blinking but he ignored it in favor of that sweet dark liquid. Ripping the cup out of Kilinos¡¯ hands he voraciously chugged it down, noticing that the nauseating burning feeling subsided. Kilinos grinned and had another cup on hand ready to go. Aldrin threw that cup away and raced for the second cup that Kilinos held out with a gleeful smile. This lasted for another five cups before Aldrin was able to regain his sanity and the burning feeling in his stomach disappeared. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll find a way to manage that when the time comes or maybe you¡¯ll just cause unfettered destruction,¡± Kilinos quibbed. ¡°What did you do to me?¡± Aldrin said hoarsely. ¡°Gave you a gift so to speak,¡± Kilinos got up to walk around in a circle around Aldrin. ¡°Now that being said, here is what¡¯s gonna happen. You are going to check your system messages, you¡¯re gonna panic, probably pass out from the sudden shock, and then you¡¯ll wake up on the outside of this Dungeon with a quest from me and be on your way,¡± Kilinos stated as he continued to walk around Aldrin with his hands clasped behind his back. ¡°What?¡± Aldrin sputtered. Kilinos sighed and rubbed his eyes, ¡°Just check your system messages,¡± He finally said. Aldrin focused on the blinking red dot in the corner of his vision that held his notifications.
WARNING! RITUAL OF THE CONDEMNED ENACTED! YOUR RACE HAS BEEN FORCIBLY CHANGED! YOUR CLASS HAS BEEN REMOVED! DUE TO YOUR RACIAL AND CLASS CHANGE YOUR PROFESSION SKILL POINTS HAVE BEEN REFUNDED! NEW CLASS SELECTIONS AVAILABLE! VAMPIRE SKILL TREE UNLOCKED! TITLE SYSTEM UNLOCKED! NEW TITLES GAINED!
REJOICE! A NEW PROGENITOR IS BORN! WORLD ANNOUNCEMENT: A NEW PROGENITOR HAS BEEN BORN! THE MASTERS OF THE DARK WELCOME THIS NEW ADDITION TO THEIR RANKS!
¡°What?¡± Aldrin whispered then he pulled up his status screen.
Name: Aldrin Ravindra Skill Points: 23 Natural Defense(Vampire): 100 Race: Vampire Progenitor Level 1
Class: Please Choose Your Class Profession: Lore Seeker Level 23
Health: 1500 Magic: 1500
Stamina: Infinite Titles: First Vampire Chosen of Kilinos Traveler of an Archdemon¡¯s Domain
Strength: 20 Dexterity: 20
Vitality: 20 Intelligence: 20
Wisdom: 20 Charisma: 20
Titles Expanded:
First Vampire: Everybody has to come from somewhere and you are where Vampires come from Reward: +10 to all stats, Vampire Progenitor Skill Tree Unlocked.
Chosen of Kilinos: Few have dared to reach to a demon and even fewer have had a demon reach out to them and have been granted their favor. Reward: Immune to fire, Grants a 20% to spell power, Class Mutation at Tier 4
Traveler of an Archdemon¡¯s Domain: You carry the mark of a person who has been to one of an Archdemon Prince¡¯s Domain and back. Reward: [Intimidation] and [Dread] waft off you subtly helping you in social situations.
¡°What the fuck. . .¡± Wide eyed Aldrin said to himself. ¡°We have great things in store for you,¡± Kilinos said as the change Aldrin went through finally caught up with him, lulling him to sleep. Fear was the only thing that accompanied Aldrin to his slumber. Chapter 2: First Blood ¡°You called for me Grandpa?¡± A young woman with her dark hair neatly pulled into a bun said. The stone fireplace cracked and popped as the woman stepped further into the room. The fire had begun to die down, barely illuminating the room with its dying embers. The green eyes of the woman did a brief scan of the room as she looked for the form of her grandfather. She saw his brown coat draped over his desk before looking towards the window that her grandfather now stood by. ¡°I did Adeline,¡± The white haired old man said, looking back at her with the same colored green eyes, the only resemblance between them. Adeline¡¯s face scrunched up as she took in the office she was in. Her grandpa wasn¡¯t always the most clean but this took a whole new level. The small office was cluttered with old wine bottles, ashes from the fireplace that he refused to sweep up, reports sprawled out all along his desk, books cracked open while others were not put back in the shelf and rested against the bookshelf. A broken [Scrying Glass] lay shattered against the stone wall prompting Adeline to really look at her grandfather. ¡°Grandpa, what''s happened? Is this about the system notice about the new progenitor?¡± Adeline worriedly inquired. Her grandfather¡¯s shoulders sagged like all the weight in the world had finally collapsed upon him. He slightly turned to her, the light from the window behind him illuminating half his face revealing dried tear streaks and bloodshot eyes. Immediately Adeline was up and around the wooden office desk wrapping her grandfather in a tight embrace. He wasn¡¯t a feeble thing anymore since coming to this world. It had given him new purpose and life which translated well into his Vitality points he invested, saving himself from death¡¯s door. However as she held him now, her head buried into the crook of his neck he felt feeble again. ¡°What happened?¡± She pulled back, holding him at arm¡¯s length. ¡°Aldrin, he-¡± He started. Adeline searched his eyes, ¡°Aldrin what?¡± She asked, dreading the answer. ¡°His ring broke,¡± He admitted, putting his head down. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Her voice edged towards breaking. ¡°His ring broke!¡± He looked into her eyes as more tears spilled out. Her own tears threatened to spill out but she knew better than to grieve until she had seen a body. ¡°I will go find his body and hunt down those who killed him,¡± Adeline said, her voice hard and laced with anger. She let go of him and began to pace around the room, her hands clenching and unclenching at the possibility that her brother, Aldrin, might be dead. ¡°I tried to find them already! All I get is darkness and not even a whisper to give a clue to his last moments,¡± He slumped in his chair, defeated. ¡°Last location?¡± She demanded. ¡°He and his group were doing the Bonehill Barrows Dungeon cleanup,¡± He said, running his hand along the many papers strung about on his desk looking for the task team for the run this week. ¡°I will take my seekers and start there,¡± She said as she stormed out, leaving her grandfather. She walked down the elegant white marbled halls of the headquarters for those who serve the light, The Aurora. Priests, Knights, Aspirants, and the few Clerics walked up and down the large hallway in hurried steps, each of them saluting or greeting Adeline. She paid them no mind as she marched to the end of hall to her second in command that was in gleaming silver armor with a white cape that came down to his armored boots. His blonde hair was cropped short to his head, strong gruff looking features greeted her from the many battles he has participated in granting him a scar that ran down the side of his face. ¡°Orders ma¡¯am?¡± Adeline¡¯s Second asked. ¡°Find my brother¡¯s killers and we start at Bonehill Barrows Dungeon,¡± Adeline said without missing a beat. Her second in command stumbled slightly before frowning in rage. ¡°I will rouse the men; they will want to partake in the hunt for Aldrin¡¯s killer immediately,¡± Her Second said before splitting off down another hallway. ¡°And Ingram,¡± Adeline paused. ¡°Yes ma¡¯am?¡± Ingram stopped, turning to look at her. ¡°Thank you,¡± Adeline said, looking him in the eyes. Ingram simply nodded and walked off to get the rest of the men. Adeline kept moving straight down towards the large open stone doors. The glint in her eyes made others move around her avoiding any sort of contact with her. She checked her status one last time, limiting it to show only the basics.
Name: Adeline Ravindra Total Level: 141 Skill Points: 0 Race: Human Level 45
Class: Knight-Templar Seeker Level 44 (Tier 3 Fighter-Rogue) Profession: Tracker Level 52
Strength: 45 Dexterity: 10
Vitality: 55 Intelligence: 10
Wisdom:10 Charisma: 30
Her hunt was on and she was not going to rest until she ran her blade through all of her brother¡¯s killers. ************************************************************************************************************* Meanwhile, outside Bonehill Barrows Dungeon, Aldrin awoke gasping for air. His System Alert dot in the corner of his vision was furiously blinking red. Recollection of the events in the dungeon shot back to him in an instant. He looked around for the bodies of his friends but only the moon illuminated an empty field where they first delved into. There were none and no signs of what really happened as even the dungeon entrance had disappeared like it never existed to begin with. Aldrin whipped his head back and forth albeit inducing a severe case of vertigo looking for even the smallest detail. His head throbbed maddeningly with pulses behind his eyes in rhythm with it. His teeth were sore and hurt to touch with his tongue. The nauseating burning sensation in his stomach came back with a vengeance this time; crippling him as he clung to his stomach in hopes of alleviating some of the pain. With no armor, weapons, or his potions Aldrin stumbled away from the entrance and onto the main road. The nauseous burn in his stomach grew angrier with every step. It kept him from focusing on the more important things like the blazing campfire and the laughter that surrounded it. Subconsciously his body directed itself towards the campfire in hopes of finding help. The laughter and jeering stopped as one of their own called out to point at the shambling corpse looking Aldrin. ¡°Hey fellow! What¡¯s got ya?¡± A man with forest green hair and eyes with pointed ears rushed to him. The others cautiously got up, ¡°Ah Johnathan, he don¡¯t look right,¡± A bald headed woman with tattoos on her face called out to the elf. ¡°What do you mean? He needs help!¡± Johnathan cried out with his back to Aldrin who was only a few steps away. Grunting in pain, Aldrin felt the burning feeling flush out to the rest of his body, igniting the feeling in his body all the way down to the nerve endings. His teeth popped out, filling his mouth with blood as new, sharper fanged teeth replaced his old ones. The little sanity he had left began to slip as the thought of hunger and thirst brayed against his mental fortress as the most enticing smell, the smell of his mother¡¯s caramel apple pie wafted off the elf in front him. Unluckily, that¡¯s all it took for Aldrin to lose the mental tug of war with himself. His fingernails grew into sharpened dull black talons, his ears elongated to resemble bat ears enabling him to hear the smallest pinpricks of the cicada near the campfire, his usual copper skin faded to light gray as his shoulder length brown hair reduced itself to light scruffiness and fuzz on top of his head, and his forest green eyes illuminated as his vision clouded over into dark gray with the people in front of him turning into white silhouettes with a red dot around their chest that thumped in rhythm. Their heartbeats sung to Aldrin, beckoning him to take them in his hands, to gorge himself on their life. Mentally, whatever primal urge and hunger wanted Aldrin to take these innocent people¡¯s lives he fought back against it as it continued to be whipped into a frenzy. His control slipped as the green haired elf stepped closer to him. Johnathan waved off his companions and turned to face Aldrin, ¡°Now friend let-¡± He began to say before Aldrin latched onto his neck with his fangs. His blood tasted exactly like how his mother¡¯s caramel apple pie would taste. Aldrin snarled with contentment as the warm liquid tingled his taste buds. Aldrin adjusted to tighten his grip on Johnathan with his taloned hands holding him in place, draining his life force turning him into a husk. The euphoric feeling pleased both Aldrin and the Beast as they both roared from the thrill of it all when he finally let go of what was left of Johnathan. The companions of Johnathan looked on in shock as his dried out husk of a body fell in the grass with a dull thump. His skin was wrinkled and clung to his bones, his eyes were milky white like he had gone blind, his hair had turned white and fell out in clumps around his head, and no muscle or definition from who he once was left. ¡°A fucking vampire! Quick Identify it!¡± The bald headed tattooed woman yelled out, igniting her battle ax in fire. The others readied their weapons in response. ¡°I can¡¯t! I get scrambled letters whenever I try to!¡± A heavily armored dwarf called out. The tattooed woman looked at her dwarf companion in horror, ¡°Shit! Run!¡± Taking off in a dead sprint away from the vampire. The quick movement alerted Aldrin¡¯s predatory need to chase, fighting against the need he snarled. He looked towards the others around the campfire as another took two steps backward and bolted off in a different direction. Soon the others followed suit without a care to any of their belongings they left behind. Aldrin gave chase to the Bard first, or at least that''s what he thought he was based on the lute slung over his back. He screamed in terror as he heard Aldrin¡¯s growls and snarls behind him grow closer. He didn¡¯t care which direction he was going, he just did not want to die by the thing that was chasing him now. The Bard chose to look behind him from over his shoulder and screamed more as Aldrin was gaining on him, bulldozing his way through all the plant life. He rounded an outcropping of rock hoping the sudden change in direction would alleviate some of the pressure. He kept running until he saw a cave to take shelter in. The cool night air and the sound of his raging heart are all that greeted him. The vampire that was chasing him was nowhere to be seen. He took out a [Scroll of Communication] and tore it in half. White dust swirled around to reveal an outline of a hooded man. ¡°Speak,¡± The hooded man said. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Vampire, scrambled letters, near Bonehill Barrows Dungeon, 1 death so far,¡± the Bard listed breathlessly. ¡°Knight-Templar Seeker Adeline has been dispatched earlier to that area; she will be there. Just hold tight.¡± The hooded man said and cut off the transmission. ¡°Fuck, we aren¡¯t going to make it until she gets here,¡± The Bard ran his hands through his hair. Stomping and curses could be heard as the armored dwarf trudged through branches coming to the opening of the cave. ¡°Finston is that you boy?¡± The dwarf asked, his two hammers in his hands at the ready. ¡°Arlock?¡± Finston said, coming from deeper within the cave. ¡°Thank the Progenitors! I¡¯m glad to have found you!¡± Warlock bellowed back. ¡°Where are the others?¡± Finston asked, stepping out into the cave opening to meet Arlock. ¡°Dunno, got separated as soon as that thing ripped into Johnathan,¡± Arlock said taking in the disheveled appearance of Finston. Twigs and leaves stuck out in multiple directions from his blue-black neatly styled hair, his white and black velvet clothes had holes and tears with green stains or Arlock hoped it was green with the limited light he had from the moons. ¡°It chased me here then I lost it when I found this cave,¡± Finston said, gesturing to the cave behind him. ¡°Well no point in staying here we have to keep moving closer to the nearest outpost,¡± Arlock pointed away from the cave. Finston¡¯s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets as Aldrin stepped out from the copse of trees he ran through earlier behind Arlock. ¡°Arlock,¡± Finston said, his fear barely allowing him to go above a whisper as a shaky finger pointed behind Arlock. Arlock whipped around, his two hammers at the ready as he flourished them towards Aldrin. ¡°Finston, boy, run to the nearest outpost and do not stop,¡± Arlock said, as he began to adopt a fighting stance. ¡°Show them this,¡± Arlock threw his [Seal of Authority] to Finston, ¡°and then head to the Holy Order and report - Well fuck me,¡± Arlock growled out when he inspected the Vampire in front of them again.
Name: Unknown Race: Vampire Progenitor(Reborn)
Class: Unknown Title: First Vampire
¡°Change of plans Fin, run immediately to the Holy Order and report that-¡± Arlock was cut off as Aldrin rushed in, his claws raised, teeth bared, and full of hunger and thirst. Arlock was able to dance around the lunge by a hair¡¯s breadth. Finston saw them blur with movement with the dull lighting, each time however, Arlock looked the loser of the clash. His armored chest heaved up and down as the Vampire eyed him down. Arlock shot a quick sharp look to Finston prompting him to turn tail and run. ¡°Aye, godspeed boy,¡± Arlock watched as Finston disappeared into the brush. The Vampire called his attention back with a snarl that would put a bear to shame. It rushed him again, this time his breath left him as the Vampire ducked underneath his swing to hit Arlock in the stomach sending vibrations throughout his body. ¡°Come on you son of a goat!¡± Arlock bellowed out, rushing the monster and wheezing from the blow earlier. He intended to do a feint but the Vampire smiled greedily as the opening presented itself. It swiped with its claws at the leather gloved hand of the dwarf, severing it from him. The dwarf blinked once, then twice, before looking at the bloody stump that used to be his hand. He felt the phantom of the limb at first, then came the nerve shattering pain as he dropped his other hammer and buckled under the pain of his lost limb. He cradled it with his other hand trying to stop the river of blood that began to flow as he stared wide eyed up at the monster that would take his life. ¡°Please, I have a family!¡± Arlock pleaded as his mortality came upon him. Aldrin or whatever was left of Aldrin gently cupped the Arlock¡¯s face with a clawed hand. Pressing lightly enough on his cheek to draw blood. Freshly cooked french fries wafted off the blood driving the hunger and thirst up the walls. Aldrin gripped the dwarf by the neck, lifting him from the ground while he tore off the chestguard the dwarf was wearing. He plunged into the dwarf¡¯s neck, gulping down the taste of fresh fries and finally his spark of life. He dropped the dried out husk of the dwarf searching for his next prey. Two heartbeats echoed out, signaling the hunt to begin again. Aldrin ran towards them, blurring past trees as he came upon another clearing. The two were in the middle of it looking directly at him like deer caught in headlights. One of them happened to be another Elf that smelled like roast beef but this one was dressed in green priestly robes and held a large staff with an octagon in the shape of a star at the top of it. The other was a human woman that smelled like raspberries; she was dressed in leathers that held a shaky spear pointed towards Aldrin. ¡°You will do no more harm you foul creature! Be- Wait a minute?! What the fuck?! It¡¯s a Progenitor!¡± The Elf stammered before running away leaving the woman to fend for herself. ¡°HEY YOU COWARD!¡± The woman holding the spear screamed at him as Aldrin stalked towards her, indecision plaguing her mind. His blood soaked face held a menacing grin as he closed in on her. He leapt towards her but she held her spear and adjusted to him letting him impale himself. The pain made Aldrin roar, waking the sleeping birds in the trees to flee. He struggled as the spear was stuck in his shoulder from going clean through. The woman lost her nerve and let go of the spear as Aldrin continued to thrash around. Finally, Aldrin snapped the front of the spear and stood hunched over, gazing at the woman as she backed away. The woman blinked and in that moment Aldrin held her heart in his hands. The woman coughed blood then looked down at the gaping hole in chest before crumpling lifelessly to the ground. Aldrin lifted the heart above his head, tilted his head back, opening his mouth in the process, and he squeezed the heart, making all of the blood it contained to be bathed over him. Aldrin threw the remains of the heart next to the woman¡¯s body as he tracked the Elf priest. Luckily it appeared that the elf and another were on a fast track to intersecting each other. Aldrin ran towards them, rocketing himself forward each step. He caught up to the Elf, decapitating him before the Elf even had a chance to scream. Aldrin changed his direction and ran towards the one that was bound to intersect with them. Aldrin stopped at the right point, just in time for the tattooed woman from before to come tumbling out the bushes. She looked haggard and out of breath as Aldrin watched her fall to the ground with her chest heaving up and down. Slowly and quietly Aldrin walked up to her, stepping on a twig on purpose. The snap alerted the woman as she scanned her environment with practiced ease, the tiredness from before nowhere to be seen. She knew she was being hunted and it displeased her as she spat on the ground. She remembered that she is a Tier 1 Warrior Maiden on the path of the Valkyrie and no creature of the Dark will scare her. The tall form of Aldrin revealed itself as he stepped closer to the woman, bringing himself out into the open. The same fire engulfed battle ax from before appeared in her hand. Aldrin¡¯s gaze looked at the flames warily then flicked back to the woman who seemed to grow confident. She lunged, bringing the ax in an overhead swing. Aldrin sidestepped as his reflexes were at their peak, the trailing flame from her ax illuminating his bloodied face that grinned at her. She continued to swing her ax in all directions, each time barely missing and Aldrin¡¯s grin getting wider. However she took him by surprise when she flung a glowing white sword at him that materialized from thin air. It plunged into his stomach, throwing him back and pinning him to a tree. Aldrin let out a vicious roar as the sword of light burned to the touch. The Warrior Maiden charged her way towards Aldrin, her ax glowing hotter and brighter to an almost blinding degree. The Beast that was Aldrin heard his system alert chime, then felt his limbs be torn and shifted into bats before his body became a swarm and his consciousness became the mind of it all. It was a disorienting feeling, he felt his body become phantom limbs and moved them accordingly which made the rest of him move toward that direction. Thinking with that train of thought he moved his swarm self away from being pinned to tree and orient himself at the Warrior Maiden that stopped her charge. If feeling his limbs turn to bats was disorienting then returning to his body was worse. A sense of vertigo came over him as he fell to his hands and knees. The tattooed Warrior Maiden did not waste the opportunity of weakness and charged forward. Aldrin caught her flaming ax by the handle as he heard another system alert chime. He felt his reflexes and strength increase even more. The sense of vertigo eased away as he became more in tune again. He felt thuds against his chest as the woman punched at him. He threw her back a few feet as the sensation of strength finally peaked. The woman turned the throw into a roll as she bounced back up in time to see Aldrin backhand her, dazing her into seeing black spots. Her body worked by instinct but her mind was foggy and sluggish as she tried to reach for the ax. She saw it within reach and tried grabbing it. Aldrin flipped her over and punched her chest slightly denting the armor she wore. She wheezed out as blood spewed out of her mouth from the earlier backhanded strike. Aldrin looked at her as she struggled to clear her head and breathe. A part of his mind screamed at himself that what he was and has been doing is wrong; but the other part, the other part that subsumed control delighted in the hunt. Aldrin surveyed his surroundings looking at the tree trunks until he spotted what he was looking for. He grabbed her by one of her ankles and began to drag her towards a tree trunk that looked thick enough. The Warrior Maiden struggled to feebly crawl away as Aldrin tested the tree trunk. Aldrin didn¡¯t let her struggles go unnoticed as she was beginning to come around. She turned over onto her back and flung another sword of light at Aldrin. It pierced him through his shoulder. Grunting, he stalked forward as she continued to pepper him with swords of light. He grabbed her by her legs and swung her into the tree, the crunch and pop of her ribs resounding pleasingly in Aldrin¡¯s enhanced ears. Her eyes were huge and her mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water as her back attempted to curve around the large tree trunk. Aldrin dragged her away and straddled her, looming above her as her fear began to rise. ¡°Please,¡± She gasped out. He paid no attention to her pleas as he inched closer, his mouth opening revealing the fangs that dripped with saliva. She began to scream and thrash but Aldrin kept inching closer, elevating her fear so her blood would pump faster. Her bloodcurdling scream rang out into the darkness as Aldrin latched onto her neck draining her of life. Her screams died down to gurgling from her drowning in her own blood, to weak attempts to break free, and finally stopped as the strength left her and death welcomed her as Aldrin kept draining her of life. Satisfied, the Beast that took over Aldrin receded making his mind and his features return to normal making him collapse next to the lifeless body of the tattooed woman whose eyes were still open, frozen with the last moments of terror she felt. The night vision granted to him still held as he stared at his shaking hands that were caked in blood and dirt. He tried to wipe them on his tattered clothes that were ruined from the Dungeon and from the swords of light. Tears started to form when his chest began to tighten as he struggled to take in air into his lungs. A hoarse cry escaped from Aldrin¡¯s mouth when reality truly began to sink in. His system alerts chirped at him again from the corner of his vision but he didn¡¯t care about that right now.
SYSTEM NOTICE!
TRANSFORMATION COMPLETE: VAMPIRE PROGENITOR: Congratulations! You have taken your first steps to becoming an apex predator of the night! See to it that you choose your class next as they have been modified then off you go to conquer the living and subjugate the dead! -K
Aldrin curled into a ball, letting the events of the night work their way through his mind. He tried his best to stop the acts that were committed by him but no matter how much he tried to regain control he couldn¡¯t. Whenever he felt like he was making progress he would feel himself meet a brick wall before being pushed back to where he started. A migraine hammered its way into Aldrin¡¯s head, each thump making his body shake in return as his body tried to adapt to new changes. He was sore and his mind frayed at the edges beckoning him to sleep. He wanted desperately to give in but the sun would be up in a few hours and he was in the middle of the woods. He needed to find a cave and fast or else he would turn to ashes. Struggling to stand he took feeble steps forwards without any direction in mind moving on autopilot. ¡°A cave is all I need, then I can rest and recuperate,¡± Aldrin thought to himself. It was the thought that he repeated in his mind like a mantra. Torn clothes, blood everywhere, and a half dead look to him, Aldrin was a walking corpse. Technically by all accounts he was a walking corpse to be exact. Stumbling for however long, his skin began to feel the effects of the sunrise crest the horizon. It wasn¡¯t uncomfortable yet but there was a slight itch to his skin. He continued to trek towards the cave where the dwarf and he fought last and let the Bard escape. Albeit an escapee wasn¡¯t the best outcome but Aldrin was at least glad to be back in control of his mind. By the time he reached the cave, the itchy sensation turned into his skin trying to run off his body as the sun started to shine through the tree canopy. It was an uncomfortable feeling but also a weird feeling, to feel your skin come alive and try to run off on its own. It was a disorientating experience to say the least. Aldrin sat against a rocky wall that was deeper in the cave away from any hint of sunlight. Whatever creature had made this its home probably caught a whiff of Aldrin¡¯s true nature and bolted as soon as it could. Not that they were to blame, as anyone coming face to face with a hungry vampire will do their best to run and hide, animals included. With the cave secured, Aldrin could finally go through his system alerts after he rested. ¡°Finally, I can sleep some,¡± Aldrin groaned before passing out. Chapter 3: New Normal Finston collapsed along the road as he fought to keep air in his lungs. His legs burned and blisters formed on the bottom of his feet from running throughout the night. His mind kept replaying the moments from the massacre of his friends as sleep tried to lure him into its embrace. Each time he felt himself drift off as he got control of his breathing, the brief glimpse of fangs welcomed him in his mind jolting him awake. ¡°Gotta keep running,¡± He told no one, he willed himself up as his body protested the movements. Thundering hooves came barreling down the road alerting Finston to them. He quickly stood and flagged them down. Joy and relief flooded through his body as the realization that the nightmare had come to an end. ¡°Halt!¡± One of the armored riders said to Finston as he rushed up to meet them. ¡°Please sir! I need to get to the Holy Order! I have urgent news!¡± Finston replied. ¡°Well whatever it is you can report it to me as I am a Knight-Templar Seeker,¡± A woman with green eyes and dark hair done up in a bun said as she strode forward in between the ranks. Finston had never laid eyes on anyone he thought more beautiful than the woman in front of him. His jaw went slack and his eyes went wide as his brain turned to mush at the sight of her. She held a no-nonsense aura about her as she stared down at Finston waiting for him to answer. ¡°Well Bard? Say your piece,¡± Adeline said. ¡°Well¡­ uh, there was this¡­ uh vampire?¡± Finston stammered out. ¡°A vampire? Where exactly?¡± Adeline¡¯s hard reply shook Finston out of his trance as she sat forward on her warhorse. ¡°My companions and I were attacked by a vampire that came from the direction of Bonehill Barrows Dungeon,¡± Finston said. ¡°It slaughtered everyone I knew,¡± He quietly added as the horror from the night began to replay in his mind. Adeline looked to Ingram who sat astride his own massive warhorse. The same train of thought could be seen circling in his mind when he looked back at her and then at Finston. ¡°How long ago was this?¡± Ingram asked this time. ¡°Last night sir,¡± Finston said as he subconsciously tucked what little was left of his muddy black cloak for protection and comfort. Ingram nodded at Finston then turned to signal a few men behind him before they all raced forward on their horses. Finston watched them go by, paying no mind to Adeline that continued to stare at him. ¡°You are safe now,¡± Adeline finally said, making Finston''s soul nearly leave his body for the countless time less than 24 hours apart. Finston solemnly nodded as he held his head down. The fear from last night finally leaving his body but not without leaving a little present behind in the form of uncontrollable shaking. Adeline dismounted from her horse to place a hand on Finston¡¯s shoulder. A light from her hands followed by a warm feeling rushed into Finston as the adrenaline abated. He felt the aches and bruises he accumulated throughout the night subside until it felt like they were never there to begin with. ¡°We make camp here until Ingram reports back!¡± Adeline bellowed out, ¡°You, what is your name?¡± Adeline asked him. ¡°Finston ma¡¯am but Fin for short,¡± Finston said, a lopsided grin replacing his gloomy features from the touch of her hand on his shoulders. ¡°Sit with me and tell me exactly what happened and leave nothing out,¡± Adeline said as she guided him towards the rest of her unit as the men began to dismount their horses to look for a suitable campground off the road. Finston¡¯s giddiness was replaced by the fear that overtook him again. ¡°But that would surely take all night and an important woman like you must have important matters to attend to then to talk with me,¡± Finston tried to avoid reliving the nightmare again. ¡°No matter is more important than the sighting of a Vampire on the main continent. It could cause trouble for us all if I let it fester,¡± Adeline said, not missing a step. ¡°Then I will pull out some wine and we can discuss it in your tent tonight?¡± Finston said with hope. ¡°No, we will discuss it here and now without the wine,¡± Adeline said as two men were finishing moving a fallen log into a makeshift seat. She unclipped the sword at her side, unclasped the cloak she wore and sat it down on the log before sitting down herself and crossing her arms and legs. ¡°Begin,¡± Adeline said expectantly. ¡°Shall I sit next to you then?¡± Finston asked with hope. ¡°You are a Bard no?¡± Adeline shot back, a frown beginning to form. ¡°Well, yes-¡± Finston wrung his hands together. ¡°Then you are accustomed to being the center of attention?¡± Adeline pressed. ¡°Yes-¡± Finston meekly replied. ¡°Then we will sit across from one another so everyone within earshot can hear your tale. Begin please if you would,¡± Adeline said without no room for argument. ¡°Can I at least get some food and water then?¡± Finston tried to argue. ¡°Yes, someone will bring you food and water BUT you will stay here and tell me and everyone what happened while they prepare,¡± Adeline gestured towards one of her guards who then ran off to find the stores of food and water. Finston sighed then sat down on the forest floor across from her and began to tell her the events of last night. ************************************************************************************************************* Aldrin awoke to insects crawling over him in the cave he found. He brushed them off of him as a pounding headache threatened to hammer his head in two. Worry coursed through him as the thought of having to go through another mindless killing spree plagued his mind. Slowly standing, he felt great, better than how he was originally. However he knew that was because of his newly altered self. Begrudgingly, Aldrin braced himself for the slew of system alerts that were waiting to be released. He opened his System Interface checking to see if there were any changes to it. However everything remained in the same order luckily, Notifications, Character, Skill Trees, Inventory, Quests, and Settings With a shaky breath, he willed the system alerts to pop up in his vision.
Enemies Defeated: Four Level 5 Tier 1¡¯s killed, One Level 11 Tier 2 killed Total EXP Earned: 273 NOTE: 5% ADDED EACH KILL DUE TO ANATOMY PERK
CONGRATULATIONS! 5 Levels gained in your Race and 1 level in your profession!
RACIAL LEVEL 5: 27 EXP OUT OF 120 NEEDED FOR LEVEL 6 PROFESSION LEVEL: 24: 0 OUT OF 5,000 NEEDED FOR LEVEL 25 WARNING! EXP deferred until a Class is chosen!
NOTICE!
CLASS SELECTION AVAILABLE!* Skill Points available! Skill Unlocked: Shapechange Level 1: Able to change into a fog/mist or into a swarm of bats. Unique Skill Unlocked: Blood Rage Level 1: Boost your stats by 2x for 30 seconds.
Vampire Skills Granted:
Thirst - Passive Ability Level 1: Vampires lust for blood, even more so the newly turned vampires as they are slaves to their thirst. Bite - Passive Ability Level 1: Returns 25% damage as health or mana. Claws - Passive Ability Level 1: Your claws are now able to rend light armors such as those made from cloth and leather. Undead Body Level 1: Bodily functions are turned off i.e. hunger, sleep, energy and the need to breathe no longer affect you. Regeneration - Passive only out of combat Level 1: A newborn vampire is able to heal small cuts and bruises since their body is still considered mostly mortal due to their transition to immortal. Vampiric Awareness Level 1: Night vision is granted; hearing and smell is improved. Vampiric Agility Level 1: Ability to jump further than your pinnacle human. Shapechange Level 1: Able to change into a fog/mist OR a swarm of bats Blood Rage Level 1: Boost your stats by 2x for 30 seconds, leaves you craving for blood
Quest Chain Issued:
Return of the Night(Tier 6): At last, the prophesied Vampire Progenitor has been born and with him comes the return of the night. Reach level 10 Racial Level for the next step.
Reward: Vampire Progenitor Skill Tree Unlocked, Experience: ???
Aldrin took a deep breath as he read over the notifications from the prior events. He sat with himself as he read over the notifications back and forth, the tier 6 quest chain issued sticking out the most. His mind couldn¡¯t comprehend what had happened to him as he then stared at the quest. Dreading the next part, he opened his status to figure out what to do next.
Name: Aldrin Ravindra Skill Points: 55 Natural Defense(Vampire): 100 Race: Vampire Progenitor Level 5(Newborn)
Class: Please Choose Your Class* Profession: Lore Seeker Level 24
Health: 2000 Magic: 2000
Stamina: Infinite Titles: First Vampire Chosen of Kilinos Traveler of an Archdemon¡¯s Domain
Strength: 20 Dexterity: 25
Vitality: 20 Intelligence: 20
Wisdom: 20 Charisma: 20
Titles Expanded:
First Vampire: Everybody has to come from somewhere and you are where Vampires come from Reward: +10 to all stats, Vampire Progenitor Skill Tree Unlocked.
Chosen of Kilinos: Few have dared to reach to a demon and even fewer have had a demon reach out to them and have been granted their favor. Reward: Immune to fire, Grants a 20% boost to spell power, Class Mutation at Tier 4
Traveler of an Archdemon¡¯s Domain: You carry the mark of a person who has been to one of an Archdemon Prince¡¯s domains and back. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Reward: [Intimidation] and [Dread] waft off you subtly helping you in social situations.
Active Boons:
Vampire Progenitor: +10 to all Stats Chosen of Kilinos: Immune to Fire, 20% Spell Power boost, Class Mutation at Tier 4 Traveler of an Archdemon¡¯s Domain: [Intimidation] and [Dread] are active Undead Body: You no longer need Stamina Exploration: 10% more EXP gained for new places Anatomy: 5% more EXP gained for killing beasts, monsters, and humanoids Biologist: 10% more EXP gained for discovering new monsters Botanist: 5% more EXP gained for new plants discovered Book Smart: 10% more EXP gained for turning in Quests Traveler: 25% Dexterity Boost
Aldrin whistled when he got to the end of the notifications. ¡°Maybe there is a cure for me?¡± Aldrin said to no one in particular as he looked onwards.
Personal Quest Issued:
Find a cure for vampirism: You have awoken to a new stage of your life, well un-life to be exact. However, you have hope to rid yourself of a disease you fight so hard to eradicate.
Reward: ???
Aldrin blinked at the personal quest notification wondering why he had never received one before. He added a mental note to ask around about it after he had found a cure for himself. Brushing himself off, he chose not to invest his points into himself knowing that it would be redundant when he learns the whereabouts of a cure. He continued to look at his status in disbelief, more so at the 55 Skill Points he had accrued. He did the math knowing full well his Profession netted him 1 Skill Point, SP for the short version per level which made up for the 24 Skill Points. He knew he had bought both Shapechange and Blood Rage for 4 Skill Points total taking that away from his Profession level. That left him with another 27 Skill Points unaccounted for. His Racial level was at 5 meaning that it gave him 7 Skill Points per level. Aldrin whistled to himself again after doing the brief mental math. ¡°If I didn¡¯t have to eat people to survive this wouldn¡¯t be half bad to have,¡± He said as he continued to stare at his character sheet. He moved to the third tab of his system interface titled, Skill Trees.
Race: Vampire Skill Tree*
Sub-Race: Vampire Progenitor Skill Tree(Locked until Racial Level 10)
Class: Null
Profession: Lore Seeker*
Unique Skill Tree*
Resistances(Locked until Racial Level 10)
Opening the Vampire Skill Tree first, he perused through the skills, letting reality sink in once more. He didn¡¯t realize that unlike Humans, Vampires have their own unique skill tree.
Vampire Skill Tree - 7 SP Per Level:
Thirst - Passive Ability Level 1: Vampires lust for blood, even more so the newly turned vampires as they are slaves to their thirst. Level 2: As vampires transition from newborns to adolescent vampires their bloodlust lessens(4 SP)(Must be Juvenile Rank or higher)
Bite - Passive Ability Level 1: Returns 25% damage as health or mana. Restores 2 Blood Counts Level 2: Returns 50% damage as health or mana. Restores 4 Blood Counts(4 SP)
Claws - Passive Ability Level 1: Your claws are now able to rend light armors such as those made from cloth and leather. Level 2: Your claws are now able to rend medium armors and below such as chainmail and hardened leather(4 SP)
Charming Gaze(Chance to pass increases with Charisma and Willpower) Level 1: Subtly influence sentients and creatures minds(Requires Racial Level 10)
Strength of the Elders - Passive Ability(Reach Racial Level 50 to unlock) Level 1: 5% increase to all stats per level(Locked)
Undead Body Level 1: Bodily functions are turned off i.e. hunger, sleep, energy and the need to breathe no longer affect you. Stamina no longer affects you. Level 2: Resistant to slashing, bludgeoning, and pierce from non magical weapons(4 SP)
Regeneration - Passive only out of combat Level 1: A newborn vampire is able to heal small cuts and bruises since their body is still considered mostly mortal due to their transition to immortal. Level 2: Small appendages now grow back as the vampire ages into a Juvenile(4 SP)
Supernatural Reflexes Level 1: 2 second time freeze if you are about to be killed instantly(2 SP)
Vampiric Awareness Level 1: Night vision is granted; hearing and smell is improved. Level 2: Able to feel minor shifts of displaced air 10 feet around you(4 SP)
Vampiric Agility Level 1: Ability to jump further than your pinnacle human. Level 2: You are now able to stick to any surface(4 SP)
Shapechange Level 1: Able to change into a fog/mist OR a swarm of bats Level 2: Able to shapechange into the form of a direwolf or direbear(4 SP)
Blood Curse Level 1: Create Zombie(2 Skill Points to unlock)
Master of the Night Level 1: Grants communication with creatures of the night(2 SP)
Aldrin began to detest the skills presented to him as he read through them all. It only elevated the further reality that Vampires could not be left alone otherwise their gains in power would become a snowball effect. He shuddered to think about choosing a class and the nasty skills that would come with whatever class he chose let alone whatever the Vampire Progenitor Skill Tree presented itself with. Closing out of the Vampire Skill Tree interface he mentally opened his profession skill tree.
Profession: Lore Seeker - 1 SP Per Level
Exploration Level 1: 10% exp gained for discovering new places(50/50 places found) Level 2: 15% exp gained for discovering new places(52/100 places found)
Anatomy Level 1: 5% exp gained for killing monsters(250/250 slain monsters, beasts, and humanoids) Level 2: 10% exp gained for killing monsters(373/500 slain monsters, beasts, and humanoids)
Biologist Level 1: 10% exp gained for discovery of new creatures(30/30 discovered) Level 2: 20% exp gained for discovery of new creatures(44/70 discovered)
Botanist Level 1: 5% exp gained for discovery of new plants(25/25 harvested) Level 2: 10% exp gained for discovery of new plants(28/50 harvested)
Book Smart Level 1: 10% exp more for turning in quests(100/100 completed) Level 2: 20% exp more for tuning in quests(166/200 completed)
Historian Level 1: 12.5% more exp gained from solving mysteries of Grenora(0/10 solved)
Traveler Level 1: 25% Dexterity boosts for walking and running (1,000/1,000) steps Level 2: 50% Dexterity boosts for walking and running (3,788/10,000) steps
Aldrin breathed in a sigh of relief as his profession skills didn¡¯t reset since to gain the perks of a Profession required actual usage of the perks you wanted. With his Profession being a gatherer, he needed to venture out into the world to gain the perks whereas someone who holds a crafting Profession, a Blacksmith for example only needs to work in a workshop to level the perks wanted. Next on the list was looking at the new sub-tab called the Unique Skill Tree
Unique Skill Tree
Blood Rage Level 1: Boost your stats by 2x for 30 seconds, leaves you craving for blood Level 2: Locked until Racial Level 10
Aldrin blanched when he opened it and read the skill. His stomach chose that time to make itself known as the pinprick feeling from before it started to rear its ugly head again. Without anything around, Aldrin was scared to lose control again to whatever plagued his mind. He wanted to chalk it up to him being a newborn vampire but a part of him knew that whatever lurked beneath his subconscious was always going to be there if he didn¡¯t find a cure. Trying his best to ignore the rising pin prick feeling that was forming in his stomach he moved onwards to view his inventory. His heart froze and despair took hold as he looked at his now empty inventory. Nothing was left, no money, no food or water not that he needed it, none of his own weapons and armor, and to top off the kick in the balls there were no spare clothes to change into from the bloody rags he now wore. ¡°Fuck!¡± Aldrin banged his head back against the cave wall he was sitting against closing out of the Inventory screen. With a deep sigh, he opened Quests from the tab, enabling him to see his two quests he had which were to Find A Cure for your Vampirism and the Tier 6 Chain Quest, Return of the Night. Without a concrete idea of where to start and the quest given to him didn''t have any clues where to begin. He debated on contacting his sister and grandpa to let them know what happened. On the other hand, the more he thought about roping them in he did not want to put them in a position that would ultimately put them in danger; more specifically he did not want to lose control and kill them or have them make the choice to kill him. He sighed into his hands as his first goal was to cure himself and then contact his sister at least. Another realization of horror struck him as the feeling of the cold silver band around his finger was no longer there. Meaning the Enchanted ring that was meant to let each other know if someone was in danger or dies had crumbled leading to the realization that he really did die and was reborn in the body of a monster that looked like him. "Adeline is definitely on her way here and if she finds me or her men find me I am dead for good," Aldrin resigned himself. The system chime alerted him again to a choice he had to make, snapping him out of his depressive thoughts that had begun to spiral and consume his mind.
Please Choose Your Class!
Out of sheer curiosity and nothing more, he chose to view the disgusting new variants of Classes.
Choose your class path; Class paths altered due to your Race change.
Fighter ---> Bloodletter: Ah, the Bloodletters of vampire-kind, they are considered the lowest ranked melee combatant and are often associated with newborns; however once the Bloodletters prove themselves worthy and advance they have the potential to become nightmares for those that stand against them. Preferred Equipment: Heavy Armor, Medium Armor, Light Armor, Blades, and Blunt Preferred Stats: Strength, Dexterity, Vitality Minor Stats: Charisma, Willpower Preferred Use: Health & Stamina
Rogue ---> Stalker: The Stalkers are the vampires that embrace their heritage of being nighttime apex predators and take great delight at being the thing that goes bump in the night, however it will take time to get there if the Stalker survives long enough that is. Preferred Equipment: Medium Armor, Light Armor, Blades, Thrown weapons, Ranged weapons Preferred Stats: Dexterity, Vitality, Intelligence Minor Stats: Strength, Charisma Preferred Use: Magic & Health
Mage ---> Acolyte: The vampire Acolytes are those who take the beginning steps of mastering their vampiric magics that are granted to them upon awakening, growing into the Lords and Ladies of the Night that we have all come to fear with their legions of minions and undead that heed their call. Be warned, the budding steps of the Acolyte path are hard but well rewarded in the end. Preferred Equipment: Light Armor, Blunt Weapons, Staffs, Wands, Spellbooks, Talismans Preferred Stats: Intelligence, Willpower, Charisma Minor Stats: Dexterity, Vitality Preferred Use: Magic
"Oh definitely rest in pieces to me, I''m a dead-er man for sure with these options," Aldrin lamented as he closed out the Class option. Throwing himself a pity party for another five minutes he slapped his cheeks to regain focus. He recalled a city that housed many of the world''s Potion distribution, the floating city of Lor-Vold. His best bet would be to at least start there but the worry of traveling during the day had caused him pause. He would have to wait for nightfall tomorrow and hopefully make it to the nearest outpost town to "grab" some clothes and a weapon. He stepped out of the cave glancing at the three moons that loomed above. His breath caught in his throat as he could see the clarity of distant space and the stars that dotted the dark expanse. Unable to contain it, he began to laugh at the absurdity of it all as once again he was reminded that this was far, far, far, away from the Earth he knew. Judging from the direction and orientation of the moons he assumed it to be at least 3 in the morning. Grumbling to himself, he stomped back into the cave debating with himself if he should scout for the next cave or wait. The burning gnawing sensation in his stomach made the choice for him. He needed to hunt and feed, a thought that made him flinch at the thought of draining someone. He has killed people before, bandits mostly but it was over as quick as it started without much fanfare. The idea struck him as his mind went back to bandits. Aldrin assumed that a few bandits dead wouldn''t harm anybody but instead help as they wouldn''t be causing any problems. His mind set on hunting bandits in the area, he strutted out of the cave with a new found purpose only to be struck with the sudden horror that he had no idea what to do with his new abilities. "I guess it would be just like riding a bike?" Aldrin thought aloud as he explored the new abilities his new race granted him as he began walking away from the cave. Chapter 4: Baby Steps To say that having your senses amplified without any proper preparations was overwhelming. Aldrin''s head was on a swivel as each new noise whether it was from a bug singing their nightly song or from an animal bolting away from him. He had estimated he could hear and see up to a mile away but he assumed that was because his senses were being overloaded. Add to the fact that his new night vision made things look like it was a sunny day made trying to focus an even worse nightmare. Every so often the same silhouette of white with a red rhythmic pulse from one of the animals that were in the distance would draw his attention. He learned that by blinking with the intent to see prey had activated it. Of course stalking an animal was no easy feat since animals could sense when a predator was afoot. Not to mention Aldrin didn''t know shit about tracking to begin with; let alone tracking as a vampire nonetheless. "I wish there was a guide book to this so I at least could survive until I find a cure," Aldrin muttered to himself as his latest attempt to sneak up on an animal resulted in it immediately dashing away from him. With an exasperated sigh, he slumped against a tree trunk as the burning gnawing sensation in his stomach grew more intense. He knew if he didn''t get lucky soon that he would have another episode of "Beast Gone Wild," which he knew he couldn''t last another round. The mental struggle between him and whatever lurked underneath the surface of his face had been exhausting. A twig snapped, making Aldrin''s head whip in the direction. Squinting, his new eyes zoomed into the area of the sound. Seeing nothing there he blinked, activating his predatory vision. The glowing white silhouettes of two upright walking beings shimmered into view. "Well that''s just too lucky ain''t it," Aldrin warily glanced around for a trap. ¡°Are you sure there are more bodies?¡± One of them asked as they stalked around. ¡°You mean more loot? Yes, there has to be,¡± The other answered. ¡°But what could take out five adventurers and just leave all the gear? Hell one of them was drained down to a husk and I know only a few things that can do that. So I¡¯m just gonna say it! it¡¯s a giant spider!¡± One of the bandits said proudly. ¡°Are you joking Jared? A spider? Way out here in undead territory?¡± The bandit stopped, glancing at his partner. ¡°Well what else would it be then Pierre?¡± Jared accused placing his hands on his hips. ¡°Oh gee! I dunno, a vampire maybe!?¡± Pierre gestured around the empty woods. ¡°Like you said we are in undead territory,¡± He emphasized. ¡°Fine, let''s make a bet then,¡± Jared suggested. ¡°I¡¯m listening,¡± Pierre stopped. ¡°Whoever is right gets all the loot on the next body alive or dead,¡± Jared said, wiggling his eyebrows as he stuck his hand out. ¡°Deal,¡± Pierre shook his hand. Aldrin had snuck up on them which surprised himself knowing how well sneaking up on other animals had been tonight. Staying out of view and in the shadows he Identified them first.
Name: Pierre Dumont
Race: Human
Class: Tracker(T2 Rogue)
Level: Unknown
Name: Jared Opul
Race: Human
Class: Hunter(T2 Rogue)
Level: Unknown
They were both dressed in mismatched leather armor attempting to look fearsome but it was obvious that it was all stolen gear. Pierre at least had the decency to keep his blue-black hair pulled back into a small ponytail giving him the air of an aspiring model turned bandit. Jared still talked animatedly waving his hands around as he explained his thought process to Pierre who half listened to him. Jared paused once he figured out Pierre wasn¡¯t listening to him. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Jared asked ¡°There is something here,¡± Pierre said, his deep brown eyes looking around carefully as the forest stilled. Jared ran his hands through his short sandy brown hair, his brown eyes also dotting from tree to tree. ¡°Do you know what it is?¡± Jared asked again. Pierre tore his eyes away from searching, ¡°No, but stay alert because whatever it is made the woods quiet,¡± Pierre warned. Aldrin clicked his tongue, ¡°Well I have to be careful here,¡± He thought to himself before taking a deep breath. ¡°Ah, Hello?¡± Aldrin greeted them hidden behind a tree. ¡°Well shit a brick Pierre! It¡¯s one of them forest spirits talking to us!¡± Jared said, looking around at all the trees in the area. Pierre gave Jared a dead look and shook his head, ¡°It is not a forest spirit it¡¯s literally someone hiding behind a tree talking to us,¡± Pierre said, activating one his skills to pinpoint the general area. ¡°Come out! I have a Skill to see you,¡± Pierre bluffed. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s wise,¡± Aldrin shouted back. ¡°And why not? Friend,¡± Pierre drew his two daggers from his back, nodding towards Jared to get his bow out. Pierre listened and only silence greeted him, not even the leaves danced to the gentle breeze that drifted above. No insects made their chittering known and the air around them felt stiff and cold. Pierre¡¯s instincts told him to leave immediately and looked behind him to see Jared missing and his bow on the ground. ¡°Fuck!¡± Pierre whispered to himself as his eyes scanned everything around him. He picked up Jared¡¯s bow carefully to not make a sound. ¡°I hope you¡¯re a bandit, otherwise this is going to be really awkward,¡± Aldrin said behind him, making Pierre whip around with a slash only to be met with air. Pierre searched around frantically before finally landing on glowing green eyes peering at him from the darkness of trees. Aldrin stepped out, leaving only his face covered in the shadows. Pierre licked his lips as a bead of sweat trailed down the side of his face. He identified the thing in front of him that eyed him like a piece of meat.
Name: Unknown
Race: Vampire Progenitor
Class: Unknown
Level: Unknown
Pierre¡¯s eyes bulged at the line that read his race. Warily taking a step back, the figure in the shadows narrowed his eyes at him. ¡°I would not do that if I were you,¡± The figure threatened, ¡°I am still trying to figure out how to get my impulses under control and you making a run for it will not only make things worse for me but make things ten times worse for you so if you could kindly listen to what I have to say we can all leave here without any bloodshed please and thank you,¡± He added, releasing his predatory vision as he stepped out of the shadows into the little moonlight that filtered through the canopy of trees. Pierre tried to control the slithering feeling that went up and down his spine like a relay race. All of the hairs on his body stood up when his heart threatened to burst out of his chest as the ghastly visage in front of him would haunt his dreams and nightmares for the rest of his life. Matted dark brown shoulder length hair framed a blood smeared face with fangs to match. His soul stopping green eyes met him pinning him in place. What wasn¡¯t covered in blood he could see that the man in front of him had copper colored skin like those who lived in the Sand Sea. The rags of the clothes he wore had dried blood either from wounds or things he killed leaving little to imagine as flecks of the dried blood dotted his hands and forearms. ¡°Please, calm your heart down before I do something we both regret,¡± Aldrin subconsciously licked his fangs unaware of the effect it had on the man in front of him. ¡°What¡¯s your proposition then?¡± Pierre asked, trying to sound confident and strong in the face of a predator, suppressing the shudder that tried to wreck through his body. ¡°All I want is some clothes, a weapon, and for you to forget this meeting afterwards,¡± Aldrin stated matter of factly. ¡°And my partner?¡± Pierre gauged, tensing every muscle in his body to defend himself. ¡°Will be returned to you unharmed,¡± Aldrin scratched the back of his neck unsure if knocking the man out had been considered unharmed. ¡°Do we have a deal?¡± Aldrin pressed. Pierre lowered his weapons but still kept his guard up as he thought over the deal. ¡°What if I can¡¯t do one of those things you ask of me?¡± He asked. Aldrin sighed deeply, feeling a little weird that his lungs no longer needed air to function. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll have to kill you and probably take your gear and the gear of your partners but I really don¡¯t want to do that even if you¡¯re bandits,¡± Aldrin said, taking a step forward. ¡°You are only alive right now because you did not attack first which means you aren¡¯t the cutthroat type of bandits and can be reasoned with- '''' Aldrin stopped as an idea formed in his head that would kill two birds with one stone. ¡°Better yet, take me to your leader as a prisoner,¡± He suggested. ¡°Excuse me, what?¡± Pierre sputtered out. ¡°Take. Me. To. Your. Leader,¡± Aldrin enunciated slowly, cackling to himself on the inside. Pierre opened and closed his mouth as he thought it through,¡±They aren¡¯t going to believe that I captured a sane vampire, nonetheless the Progenitor Vampire at that,¡± Pierre said. ¡°Well we can make it believable can¡¯t we? I can pretend to be weak,¡± Aldrin suggested as he paced back and forth, never taking his eyes off of Pierre. Aldrin eyed the moons above briefly, checking to see how much time he had left, ¡°How far away is your camp?¡± Aldrin asked, looking back at Pierre, tilting his head to the side. ¡°Not far from here but I want to see Jared first,¡± Pierre said, sheathing his daggers. ¡°He is behind me around the tree knocked out only,¡± Aldrin stepped aside gesturing to the tree that hid Jared¡¯s unconscious form. Pierre slowly stepped forward, never taking his eyes off of Aldrin as he rounded the tree seeing Jared¡¯s slumped form. Bending down to place his hands on Jared¡¯s neck while checking his pulse Pierre breathed a sigh of relief as his friend still took in air. ¡°We have a deal Mr. . .?¡± Pierre said, standing up from the kneeling position to face Aldrin. ¡°That does not matter,¡± Aldrin said, flicking his gaze between the two men in front of him. Pierre grunted in response as he picked up Jared¡¯s form and slung him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. ¡°This way then Mr. Mysterious,¡± Pierre said and began to walk away from Aldrin. ¡°Oh thank goodness that worked,¡± Aldrin said to himself, relieved he held onto the little control he had. He knew as soon as he got into camp that he would be able to let loose somewhat or at least get a handle on his new abilities like he had originally planned. His System Alert chimed again, reminding him of the choice he had to make if push came to shove. Ignoring it again he followed Pierre at a healthy distance as they trekked through the woods. Every so often Pierre would gaze back checking if Aldrin was still behind him as his footsteps were silent. He flinched every time he met the glowing green eyes of Aldrin. The aura surrounding him felt cold and dead, fitting the legend about vampires. The sweat kept rolling down his back in rivulets the longer he walked. He wasn¡¯t sure what would happen once he got back to the camp but he knew one thing, he would get himself and Jared the Oblivion out of there one way or another. ¡°Oh no, it was supposed to be an easy life, they said, pillaging and raiding on the outskirts of the kingdom, looting and leveling easily from all the undead in the area. Of course my terrible luck succeeds at dicking me over again.¡± Pierre grumbled to himself as the first of the campfires came into view. ¡°This is your camp?¡± Aldrin inquired at the obvious display of camp. ¡°The campfires are meant to lure unsuspecting travelers, adventurers, merchants, and other things. The rest is hidden behind the wards,¡± Pierre answered, hoping the truth would spare him and Jared. ¡°Interesting,¡± Aldrin rubbed his chin. A sharp whistle sounded out as they got closer to camp signaling they knew who entered into their radius. ¡°Do you have rope?¡± Aldrin asked. ¡°Rope?¡± Pierre repeated. ¡°For my bindings?¡± Aldrin clarified, raising his hands in front of him. ¡°Oh! Uh! Right, let me just place Jared down before we head in,¡± Pierre said, placing Jared down gently afterwards his gaze lost focus as he scrolled through his inventory finding rope and a spear before dumping them both in front of Aldrin. Aldrin inspected the spear before him as he picked it up,
Iron Spear: A simple iron spear made for beginners. Tier: 1 Attack Value: 9-11
Grunting, Aldrin placed it in his inventory for later. Pierre slowly walked up to Aldrin as he gestured for Aldrin to grab the rope not wanting to get any closer than he needed to. ¡°I will not drain you, I am still freshly fed,¡± Aldrin lied. If that was meant to ease Pierre¡¯s fears it didn¡¯t as it only amplified them to new heights as he remembered what exactly stood before him; a monster wearing the face of a man. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. ¡°I am not an idiot,¡± Pierre refuted. ¡°No, but you did lead me back to your camp so what does that speak of you?¡± Aldrin shot back. ¡°As someone who wants him and his friend to live,¡± Pierre said. ¡°Then you will,¡± Aldrin stated as he began to bind himself. Once he got to the point where he could no longer do it himself Pierre timidly stepped forward to finish the rest. Aldrin had taken the moment to glance up at the moons that were beginning to make their way over the horizon as the familiar itch began to permeate his skin. ¡°Not long now until the sun comes up, hopefully I can finish this before it does and not to mention the burning in my stomach hasn¡¯t stopped,¡± Aldrin thought to himself, feeling the burning start to form into gnawing as it knew it was about to feast again. Still trying to play the calm, cool, and collected vampire Aldrin continued to seem unaffected however deep down the beast was beginning to rouse from its slumber and that thought terrified him. With the bindings done, Jared began to stir, making Pierre and Aldrin snap their attention to him one with dread and the other with hunger alighting in his eyes. Jared awoke bleary eyed as he tried to regain his bearings. He attempted to sit up but his limbs protested in response making him stumble back over. Pierre rushed over to him before he could make any noise. ¡°Jared! Stay still and don¡¯t move until I tell you to!¡± Pierre told him. ¡°Pierre? What¡¯s- Ow my head!¡± Jared said as he rubbed the spot Aldrin had hit him. ¡°We may have a bit of a problem but I got us out of it,¡± Pierre reassured him, giving a small smile, placing his hands on Jared¡¯s shoulders to help him sit up. ¡°We have company coming Pierre,¡± Aldrin said, snapping his head in the direction of the footsteps rushing towards them. He blinked again, activating his newfound power of eyesight as glowing white silhouettes dotted around his vision. Pierre¡¯s eyes widened further looking back and forth between the oncoming people and Aldrin as he once again licked his fangs in anticipation. The realization that he had basically led a fox to the hen house was an understatement. Pierre had a choice to make as Jared groaned again, still feeling the spot. ¡°Great grandma¡¯s tits!¡± Jared said, looking at Aldrin as he Identified him. Terror danced in his eye as he tried to scoot back. ¡°HELP!¡± Jared shouted unaware that help, also known as food for Aldrin, was on its way. Pierre clamped his hand over Jared¡¯s mouth as the mounting terror that was about to be unleashed kept him from speaking. The same cold dead wind settled over the area as the trees stopped swaying and the insects stopped singing. The smell of different foods wafted into Aldrin¡¯s nose as his control over himself began to snowball out of control. With a flex of both his wrists the rope that bound them together snapped causing Pierre¡¯s eyes to become saucers. Low growls began to escape from Aldrin¡¯s mouth as his fangs elongated and claws formed at his fingers. The first white light came from the right of them as an Archer came upon them stopping dead in his tracks as he took in the terrified look of Pierre. Jared¡¯s injured head was forming a bruise as he held stock still with Pierre¡¯s hand still clamped over his mouth as his eyes were glued to the last being standing with them. The Archer had no time to react as Aldrin was on him, his fangs plunged deep into the neck of the Archer. Crying out in pain, the Archer pushed off and away from Aldrin, not registering that at the same time Aldrin had pulled back, ripping a chunk out of the Archer¡¯s neck. He gasped as the sudden shock and pain ignited along his body. He shot his hands up to cover the wound and pulled back with wet and bloody hands. He looked at Aldrin who had a similar look of horror on his face. Stumbling backwards he tried to get away but his legs wouldn¡¯t cooperate causing him to fall back. Weak and dying, the Archer gasped for air, his own blood drowning him as he gazed at his last remnants of the night sky. The System Alert chimed again, shocking Aldrin out of his trance. It was one thing to not be in control when he killed those adventurers but it was another thing to be in a little more control this time. It didn¡¯t help that the man in front of him smelled of freshly cooked hamburgers and that included the taste of his blood. The mumbling and squirming of Jared drew Aldrin¡¯s predatory gaze towards them, making Pierre take in a sharp breath and Jared become stock still. "Do not move," Aldrin warned them before stalking off towards the rest of the footsteps. Moving around his fresh kill Aldrin stepped over the boundary that held the wards alerting whoever they belonged to. Aldrin rolled his shoulders as the beast inside him grew more alert. "Alright, let''s see what I can do while in control," He said as more footsteps grew and shouts could be heard off in the distance rousing the camp into alertness. The iron spear he had in his inventory materialized into his hand as he mentally called for it. Giving a slight twirl of the spear he noticed his reactions were improved as it was easy to handle the spear. ¡°I hope to god my little training with a spear is enough,¡± Aldrin pleaded with himself. A group of three were the first to intercept Aldrin. He quickly Identified them as two Fighters and another Archer. "Hey boys, look what we got!" One of the Fighters laughed as he eyed Aldrin. "And he fancies himself a spear user! HA! This is gonna be easy!" The same Fighter added, pulling an identical spear from his own Inventory. Aldrin smirked slightly revealing the shiny pearl fangs that had shown a little. Aldrin activated his Shapechange as the familiar disorienting feeling came over him as he turned into a swarm of bats. The three bandits in front of him gasped in shock when Aldrin flew through them appearing behind them. Transforming back into his body he quickly thrusted his spear through the chest of the Archer. "As I thought, my Strength stat was higher than his Vitality," Aldrin grinned at the same time the beast inside him was pleased at the carnage. The Fighters flinched as the warm and thick liquid sprayed on their back. Aldrin ripped the spear out his victim, lowering it to the two in front of him. The two were in a daze as their companion lay dead at their feet with a gaping hole in the center of their chest. Aldrin took the chance and threw the iron spear in between the Fighters before rushing in with his claws bared. The spear wielding Fighter rolled out of the way of the incoming spear letting it glance off his lone shoulder plate. The other Fighter wasn''t so lucky as Aldrin tore through the leather armor that protected his stomach. A grave slash formed making the Fighter fall to his knees but it wasn''t enough to immediately disable him. The spear Fighter that rolled had recovered and brandished his longsword at Aldrin as he rushed in. He seemed to move in slow motion as he lunged at Aldrin. "My Dexterity is higher than his luckily," Aldrin grinned again. Noticing his spear buried in the trunk of the tree Aldrin rolled beneath the lunge taking out the spear Fighter''s legs. A surprised yelp escaped the spear Fighter as he landed on his back with Aldrin coming up into a dead sprint for his spear. Yanking it out the tree Aldrin whipped around to see the Fighter taking a health potion that immediately began to work on closing the gash on his stomach. Clicking his tongue, he used Shapechange again, blowing past the spear Fighter that was getting up and appeared in front of the other Fighter. Shocked at the abrupt appearance, he had no time to react when Aldrin drilled his spear into the head of the bandit, killing him instantly and stopping his regeneration from the potion. Taking the opportunity the spear Fighter swiped at Aldrin giving him a shallow cut on his leg. Aldrin barely felt it as he turned to the spear Fighter that eyed him warily before breaking off and running towards the rest of the camp. ¡°Shit now why did you have to go and do that?!¡± Aldrin yelled at the runaway, his impulses to hunt and chase overriding any sensible logic. The spear Fighter had barely gotten close to the camp as a piercing pain welled up in his neck making him let out another yelp of surprise and pain. Arms wrapped around him holding him in place as Aldrin drained his lifeforce. Futile attempts to dislodge himself from Aldrin¡¯s grip became weaker as the spear Fighter turned into a dry husk. Releasing him with a thud Aldrin raised his bloody mouth the night sky, letting out an animalistic roar of triumph letting the blood fuel his body instantly regenerating the shallow cut on his leg. Pierre and Jared watched Aldrin take down three of their ¡°comrades¡± with ease. The mounting horror they both felt began to creep up and override any thoughts of running away from the monster. Flinching like they had been slapped in the face, Aldrin stalked towards them making them take an involuntary scoot back. Jared let out a whimper when Aldrin stood in front of them peering down his nose fighting the urge to rip them apart. The three bodies around them had stopped leaking their life onto the forest floor as their bodies began to cool. Aldrin twitched his nose when the excrement from the three began to make itself known. ¡°Get up slowly and walk away from here where I can¡¯t see you any longer,¡± Aldrin growled out, fighting his instincts. Pierre nodded slowly, releasing Jared from the death grip he had him in. Jared on the other hand flooded with fear as another whimper escaped him. Pierre helped him up as best as he could. ¡°Jared, we need to go,¡± Pierre forcefully demanded, jerking Jared back to whatever little senses he had left. Jared let himself be dragged away by Pierre. The green eyes of Aldrin glaring at them with every step making his mouth salivate even more. ¡°Feast on their life,¡± The beast inside him demanded, fighting for control over Aldrin once more. Tearing his gaze away from the two retreating figures he turned himself towards the rest of the camp hoping that he could at least aim where his carnage would begin. A part of him was revolted at how easily he had accepted his new nature. He was no stranger to killing other people but killing them brutally was something he had never done. Picking up the spear he used he stepped further into the camp of bandits as the shouts grew coherent to him. Soon a group of five arrayed themselves in his path. Aldrin identified them briefly; three Fighters, a Rogue, and a budding Mage stood before him. Without further ado, the Mage released a small Fireball in his direction. Panicking, Aldrin rolled to the side right into the Rogue¡¯s daggers swiping at his neck. Eyes bulging at the speed of the Rogue Aldrin used his Shapechange again this time turning into fog as the blades passed harmlessly through him. ¡°They all must be using night eye potions to see this good in the dark,¡± Aldrin thought to himself when he reformed back into his body, thrusting the spear through the leg of the Rogue. The Rogue screamed out in pain at his pinned leg. Aldrin stood angling the spear towards the ground and making the Rogue scream out in more pain. Pushing further into the Rogue¡¯s leg Aldrin felt his spearpoint breach the earth signaling that it was in the ground. Flexing his claws, Aldrin swiped at the Rogue¡¯s neck silencing his screams that turned into gurgling sounds. Violently yanking the spear back out he put it back into his inventory. Quickly grabbing the Rogue¡¯s dropped daggers he rushed towards the three Fighters, two of which were holding the classic sword and shield combo. The third held a great warhammer meant for breaking bones. The Mage that had thrown the Fireball prepared another one, chanting to it as it grew in his hand. Aldrin knew he had to end the Mage¡¯s life quickly or else he would be a newly minted barbequed undead. The Fighter with the great warhammer bellowed out a roar as he thundered towards Aldrin winding up his hammer for a powerhouse hit. Unsure if Aldrin would be able to take it he danced around the wild swing. The Fighter deftly used the momentum of the hammer to go straight into another swing. Ducking beneath it, Aldrin saw the Fireball coming straight for them splashing on the earthen floor washing them both in flames. The Fighter cried out as burns began to mar his skin. Aldrin looked down on himself as the flames licked his body without hurting him. The flames themselves felt like he was taking a nice hot shower back home. The thought of home made his stomach lurch again when he realized that he could never go back there. Shaking his head, the wall of flames that engulfed him and the Fighter blocked the view from the other three alighting the forest. The Fighter had recovered as red marks began to recede from his body. Aldrin sighed internally noting the bandits at this camp were going to be the annoying kind that had potions for every situation. Potions they more than likely looted from their victims over however long they have been set up here. Curious if he could actually take a hit from the Fighter¡¯s great warhammer he let himself be hit square in his chest. A dull ache followed as both he and the Fighter stared aghast at the little daMage he had done. ¡°But how? My Strength is 17?! It should have knocked you on your ass!¡± The Fighter said in disbelief as they both glanced at Aldrin¡¯s chest. ¡°Well that¡¯s both disappointing and relieving,¡± Aldrin said to himself looking back at the Fighter that was beginning to wind up another hit. Narrowing his eyes at the display, Aldrin danced around the Fighter¡¯s swings keeping his eye on the other three as the Mage prepared a third Fireball. ¡°Oh come on, is Fireball the only thing you know?¡± Aldrin glared at the Mage from his peripheral vision. When the Fighter had his back turned towards his companions Aldrin flicked hand, throwing one of his daggers directly in the Fighter¡¯s direction. Barely able to dodge the Fighter jerked his head to the side letting the dagger sail through the air towards the Mage. One of the Fighters with a shield saw it coming and swatted the dagger away letting the Mage continue to concentrate on the Fireball. Feeling like he had got the hang of his new body and stats he went on the offensive, lunging and stabbing at the Fighter. Unprepared for the explosive offensive the Fighter struggled to block as the dagger nicked small cuts on the unarmored parts of his body. Not one to be outdone, the Fighter¡¯s great warhammer began to glow with a threatening red light. With a desperate swing the he landed the blow on Aldrin¡¯s side as his dagger slide in between the chink of his leather armor burying deep into his bicep. Aldrin¡¯s world rolled once before he landed on his back out of the flames. The Fighter jumped out the flames with an overhead strike poised to finish off Aldrin. Using Shapechange again he turned himself into a swarm of bats surrounding the Fighter as he swatted away at them. Aldrin flew up and over the canopy of trees away from the camp hoping they wouldn¡¯t follow. The Mage had thrown his last Fireball at Aldrin¡¯s fleeing swarm of bats missing by a hair. Aldrin had to escape when he heard more of the camp running to the direction of the flames. Way too many to handle on top of the four he had encountered. Vowing to come back the next night he had accomplished what he wanted to do or at least partially what he wanted to do. He had figured out the limits of his new body, a slight grasp on his Shapechange skill, a weapon, subsided the burning gnawing sensation in his stomach, the location of the bandit camp for both free experience to level as well as feeding, however he didn¡¯t manage to get a new set of clothes or at least armor to cover the bloody rags he still wore. Flying in the direction of the cave, his temporary home away from home, he pondered over his new abilities and stats, figuring if he wanted to survive he would at least have to take some Skills that would allow him to do so. The sun had begun to turn the night sky into dawn. He felt weaker and his Shapechange forcefully canceled at the effects of the sun beginning to rise. Falling from the sky prematurely Aldrin did his best to contain the scream that bubbled to escape his mouth. The trees that had flown over began to grow larger again as he plummeted to the forest floor. Unsure what to do, Aldrin covered his face hoping that his body would be able to take some daMage from the fall, hoping that he wouldn¡¯t die. Branches snapped as he fell through them as dull aches and thuds thundered through his body from the impacts. Grunting in discomfort he fell through the trees landing on the compacted dirt floor of the forest. Groaning, Aldrin picked himself up and inspected himself. His body began to heal the bruises that were beginning to form. A slight soreness was present but that also began to recede as his vampiric healing took over. Aldrin stilled when a fire cracked and popped behind him. Turning around slowly, Aldrin came face to face with Pierre and Jared, both of whom were in the middle of enjoying a hot stew. With a spoonful frozen near his mouth, Jared was the first to let out a bloodcurdling scream, throwing his steaming hot stew in the direction of Aldrin and running off in a random direction. ¡°Jared! Wait!¡± Pierre ran after him. ¡°Well that was unexpected,¡± Aldrin said, watching Pierre chase after Jared who ran with utter fear in his bones. Sighing in defeat, Aldrin turned and ran as fast as his body carried him to the cave. Luckily he wasn¡¯t that far but unluckily the morning sun had shone through the trees making Aldrin form small red welts that threatened to become bubbles. The pain that came with it was unlike anything Aldrin ever experienced minus being reborn a few days earlier. Back in the shadows of the cave his skin returned to its pristine condition making his shoulders relieve the tension that held within him. The infamous System Alert chimed again making Aldrin jump at the sudden sound in his head. Grimacing at the deeds he was going to be reminded of Aldrin braced himself for the information dump that was about to begin. Chapter 5: Preparations Deep in the cave, Aldrin huddled against a rocky outcropping bracing himself for the slew of notifications that were going to pop up.
SYSTEM ALERTS:
You have defeated five enemies: Level 11 Tier 2 Archer(x2), Level 9 Tier 1 Rogue, Level 8 Tier 1 Fighter, Level 5 Tier 1 Fighter Total EXP Earned: 508.2 NOTE: 5% ADDED TO EACH KILL DUE TO LEVEL 1 ANATOMY PERK Congratulations! You have earned 3 Racial Levels! Racial Level 8: 64.8 out of 180 for level 9 Profession Level 24: 508.2 out of 5,000 needed for Level 25 WARNING! Class EXP deferred until Class is chosen!(Stockpile EXP: 781.2) Total Skill Points to spend: 70
Profession Perks Update:
Exploration Level 2: 15% exp gained for discovering new places(53/100 places found) needed before unlock. Anatomy Level 2: 10% exp gained for killing monsters(378/500 slain monsters, beasts, and humanoids) needed before unlock. Traveler Level 2: 50% Dexterity boosts for walking and running (3,954/10,000 steps) needed before unlock(Traveling by a swarm of bats does not constitute walking and running).
¡°Holy shit,¡± Aldrin breathed out, looking at his gains but the reality of it all meant that he was slowly slipping further away from his humanity. He glanced at his empty Class slot knowing full well that if he wanted to make a decisive blow to the bandit camp tonight he would have to take one of the classes to give him another edge. His Vampiric Powers would be enough to survive but not enough to turn the tide. Glancing over them he decided he would pick two skills from it. From the brief glance over his Vampire Skills he chose to buy Level 2 of Undead Body and Level 1 of Supernatural Reflexes for a total of 6 SP.
Skill Update:
Undead Body: Level 1: Bodily functions are turned off i.e. hunger, sleep, and the need to breathe no longer affect you(Granted). Level 2: Resistant to slashing, bludgeoning, and pierce from non magical weapons as your body continues to adapt to its change(Granted) Supernatural Reflexes Level 1: 2 second time freeze if you are about to be killed instantly(Granted) Total Skill Points: 64
A wave of reluctance reared its head when Aldrin came back to his empty class slot. If he chose to accept a class presented to him he would be treading further away from his humanity, fully solidifying his new life. However, the thoughts of a cure had pushed that reluctance away and filled him with hope instead. He didn¡¯t care what he had to do to cure himself, he just wanted to return to a semblance of normalcy. ¡°Alright let¡¯s get this over with then,¡± Aldrin said to himself, pulling up his options of classes.
Choose your class path; Class paths altered due to your Race change!
Bloodletter(Fighter): Ah, the Bloodletters of vampire-kind, they are considered the lowest ranked melee combatant and are often associated with newborns; however once the Bloodletters prove themselves worthy and advance they have the potential to become nightmares for those that stand against them. Preferred Equipment: Heavy Armor, Medium Armor, Light Armor, Blades, and Blunt Preferred Stats: Strength, Dexterity, Vitality Minor Stats: Charisma, Willpower Preferred Use: Health & Stamina
Stalker(Rogue): The Stalkers are the vampires that embrace their heritage of being nighttime apex predators and take great delight at being the thing that goes bump in the night, however it will take time to get there if the Stalker survives long enough that is. Preferred Equipment: Medium Armor, Light Armor, Blades, Thrown weapons, Ranged weapons Preferred Stats: Dexterity, Vitality, Intelligence Minor Stats: Strength, Charisma Preferred Use: Magic & Health
Acolyte(Mage): The vampire Acolytes are those who take the beginning steps of mastering their vampiric magics that are granted to them upon awakening, growing into the Lords and Ladies of the Night that we have all come to fear with their legions of minions and undead that heed their call. Be warned, the budding steps of the Acolyte path are hard but well rewarded in the end. Preferred Equipment: Light Armor, Blunt Weapons, Staffs, Wands, Spellbooks, Talismans Preferred Stats: Intelligence, Willpower, Charisma Minor Stats: Dexterity, Vitality Preferred Use: Magic
Each of them offered a slow burn to power, each in their own unique way without giving too much away. While initially a person would start as the basic archetype then be allowed to branch off into different specializations within that archetype Aldrin had a funny feeling that him being a Vampire Progenitor he would not have the same options as others. All he had to do was wait and see what the Tier 2 options were for the classes. Remembering his time as a Tier 2 Cleric of Dremetica he had first chosen Mage and then when he had reached Tier 2 he was presented with either a Priest or Cleric. He had researched in the Holy Order¡¯s archives for the class path of both and found himself drawn to a Cleric as later on they would eventually become Paladins of Dremetica. Thus he began training in close combat with a variety of weapons to get a feel for which he would prefer when he had reached Cleric. Seeing as the Vampire variant of a Mage focused on controlling massive amounts of undead he completely shunned away from it as it would lead him down a path that more than likely would get him killed before he could cure himself. Legions of Undead had a tendency to draw the attention of every Kingdom of Grenora and he did not want to draw any more attention to himself than necessary. He had reviewed the Vampire variant of a Rogue and thought about how easy it would be to sneak in and out of places if need be. Unfortunately they seemed to be easily killed as they needed time to gather their strength to become a powerhouse the Class advertised. Hell it seemed like all of the choices presented to him were meant to be a slow build to power. Lastly, looking at the Fighter variant he understood it was just the up close and personal type of one. Something he was already doing recently. Frowning, he questioned himself why he was even debating between the classes. Ripping the choice off like a band aid he finally chose the class that was going to give him an edge.
Congratulations! You have chosen:
Bloodletter(Fighter): Ah, the Bloodletters of vampire-kind, they are considered the lowest ranked melee combatant and are often associated with newborns; however once the Bloodletters prove themselves worthy and advance they have the potential to become nightmares for those that stand against them. Preferred Equipment: Heavy Armor, Medium Armor, Light Armor, Blades, and Blunt Preferred Stats: Strength, Dexterity, Vitality Minor Stats: Charisma, Willpower Preferred Use: Health & Stamina A new Skill Tree has been unlocked! Deferred EXP Added to Class! Congratulations! You have Leveled your Class to Level 9 gaining you 2 Skill Points per level for a total of 18 Skill Points Added! Skill Point Update: 82
Aldrin took a deep breath as the choice settled over him, then he opened his System Menu and opened up the new skill tree of Bloodletter.
Tier 1: Bloodletter(Vampiric Fighter) 2 Skill Points per level Skills:
Cleaving Strikes(Active): A Vampire¡¯s strength is renowned for being able to cut a man in two. Level 1: Strike through two opponents dealing 25% damage to one that is hit last(2 SP) Blades(Passive): Mastery over blades is a tried and proven skill among fighters of every race. Level 1: 5% damage with bladed weapons(2 SP) Blunt(Passive): Mastery over blunt weapons takes an iron stomach from what¡¯s left in their wake. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Level 1: 5% damage with blunt weapons(2 SP) Combat Prowess(Passive): Since vampires are long lived some tend to master their martial prowess including those outside their preferred weapons. Level 1: 25% proficiency with all weapons(2 SP) Armor Master(Passive): Not much to be said here since after all, Vampires tend to be fashionable even when armed to the teeth(literally). Level 1: 10% damage reduction when wearing a matching set of armor; i.e. all heavy, medium, or light(2 SP)
¡°Huh, more passive abilities than active abilities than I expected. They really do start off as low as they can,¡± Aldrin said to himself, taking the first Level of each skill.
New Level of Skills Added; Do you wish to view them? Y/N Skill Point Update: 72
Aldrin had opted no to view the next level for now hoping that the first of each would be enough to make it through the night. All that was left to do now was distribute at least some of the Skill Points into his stats. Hoping that there was no added information due to his race and class change he reviewed what each Stat meant.
Strength: Increases physical damage dealt, ability to lift objects, weapon requirements, and armor requirements. Dexterity: Increases range damage dealt, critical chance, critical damage dealt, dodge/evasion speed, weapon speed, weapon requirements, reflexes, and precision. Vitality: Increases Health and Stamina, Health and Stamina Regeneration, Disease resistance, Curse Resistance, armor requirements, and density of bones, skin, and muscle, and longevity of life for the mortal races. Intelligence: Increases damage dealt with spells, Increases Magic Pool, Magic Regeneration, spell requirements, weapon requirements, armor requirements, and ability to comprehend and figure out information faster. Wisdom: Increases Spell Critical chance and damage, Magic Regeneration, helps find hidden objects, and helps fend off mind and soul attacks. Charisma: Increases chance to 1% per point to sway people to your side, increases mind attacks by 1% per point, and affects your ability to lead.
Relieved that nothing had changed in the information of Stats, Aldrin proceeded to allocate 40 of Skill points. First and foremost he raised his Wisdom from 20 to 40 hoping it would allow some control over his impulses to kill for blood, leaving him with 20 Skill Points to allocate. He decided to distribute 10 points into Strength raising it from 20 to 30, 5 points into Vitality raising it from 20 to 25, and lastly 5 points into Charisma raising it from 20 to 25. Looking at the rest of his 32 Skill Points left over, ¡±Ah why the hell not? Might as well flesh out my class as best as I can then since I am not going to have it long,¡± He begrudgingly said to himself pulling up his Class skills again for the next level skills.
Tier 1: Bloodletter(Vampiric Fighter) 2 Skill Points per level Skills:
Cleaving Strikes(Active): A Vampire¡¯s strength is renowned for being able to cut a man in two. Level 1: Strike through two opponents dealing 25% damage to one that is hit last(Granted) Level 2: Strike through three opponents dealing 50% damage to the second one hit and 25% damage to the last one hit(4 SP) Blades(Passive): Mastery over blades is a tried and proven skill among fighters of every race. Level 1: 5% damage with bladed weapons(Granted) Level 2: 10% damage with bladed weapons(4 SP) Blunt(Passive): Mastery over blunt weapons takes an iron stomach from what¡¯s left in their wake. Level 1: 5% damage with blunt weapons(Granted) Level 2: 10% damage with blunt weapons(4 SP) Combat Prowess(Passive): Since vampires are long lived some tend to master their martial prowess including those outside their preferred weapons. Level 1: 25% proficiency with all weapons(Granted) Level 2: 50% proficiency with all weapons(4 SP) Armor Master(Passive): Not much to be said here since after all, Vampires tend to be fashionable even when armed to the teeth(literally). Level 1: 10% Reduction when wearing a matching set of armor; i.e. all heavy, medium, or light(Granted) Level 2: 15% Reduction when wearing a matching set of armor(4 SP)
Aldrin chose to focus on Cleaving Strikes, leveling it all the way to Level 3 for 10 Skill Points and then Leveling Combat Prowess to Level 4 leaving for 18 Skill Points leaving him with 4 remaining.
Cleaving Strikes(Active): A Vampire¡¯s strength is renowned for being able to cut a man in two. Level 1: Strike through two opponents dealing 25% damage to one that is hit last (Granted) Level 2: Strike through three opponents dealing 50% damage to the second one hit and 25% damage to the last one hit(Granted) Level 3: Strike through four opponents dealing 75% damage to the second one hit, 50% damage to the third, and 25% to the last(Granted)Cooldown: 45 Seconds Combat Prowess(Passive): Since vampires are long lived some tend to master their martial prowess including those outside their preferred weapons. Level 1: 25% proficiency with all weapons(Granted) Level 2: 50% proficiency with all weapons(Granted) Level 3: 75% proficiency with all weapons(Granted) Level 4: 100% proficiency with all weapons(Granted)
With the remaining 4 Skill Points, he took a look at his Vampire Skills, specifically his Vampiric Awareness he noted earlier to grab if he had leftover points grabbing Level 2 of it.
Vampiric Awareness Level 1: Night vision is granted; hearing and smell is improved(Granted). Level 2: Able to feel minor shifts in the air 10 feet around you(Granted).
Feeling satisfied at his new updates he finally looked at the condensed form of his new and improved overview of himself.
Name: Aldrin Ravindra Race: Vampire Progenitor Level: 8 Rank: Newborn Class: Bloodletter Level: 9 Tier 1 Profession: Lore Seeker Level: 24
Health: 2500 Magic: 2000 Stamina: Infinite Natural Defense(Vampire): 100
Strength: 30 Vitality: 25 Wisdom: 40 Titles: 3
Dexterity: 25 Intelligence: 20 Charisma: 25 Reach Racial Level 10
Hopefully, he was ready for the upcoming battle with the bandit camp. With the sun still high up all he had to do now is rest until nightfall. Closing his eyes he let himself drift off to a restless sleep. ¡°Do you think he is in here?¡± Jared''s worried voice echoed into the cave, waking Aldrin. He was unsure how much time had passed but the burning sensation on his skin that he assumed was like an internal clock for a vampire had dimmed down by a lot. ¡°Well he sure as shit does now Jared,¡± Pierre growled out in response. Aldrin let out a small chuckle making his way towards the two voices. The lighting from their torches gave them away once he got closer. Jared¡¯s head was on a swivel, jumping at every creak and crack from shifting rocks. Pierre tried to hold onto a strong front but from the way Jared kept jumping at every little thing his nerves were on their wits end. ¡°Hey,¡± Aldrin frowned, trying to hold in the laughter that threatened to bubble out after Jared turned around screaming his head off again. Pierre shot Jared with a murderous glare shutting him up immediately. ¡°You are both brave to stumble around in the lair of a vampire,¡± Aldrin said, still playing the calm and collected vampire he presented himself to them as. ¡°We didn¡¯t mean anything by it Mr. Vampire, Sir,¡± Jared peeped out from behind Pierre¡¯s shoulder. Pierre rolled his eyes at Jared, ¡°We came here because we have nowhere else to go. The guys back at camp realized that we were the ones that led you to them,¡± Pierre explained. ¡°And what gave them that idea?¡± Aldrin asked, intrigued by the turn of events. ¡°That was on me, when you dropped from the sky and I took off running and screaming it had led the others straight to me which then. . . led to questions. . . and more questions and then the truth came out,¡± Jared admitted his voice trailing off at the end, looking everywhere but at Aldrin. ¡°I see,¡± Aldrin smirked. ¡°Needless to say we have come to offer our services to you in exchange for protection,¡± Pierre said. ¡°Protection? Why?¡± Aldrin inquired, confused at them both. ¡°Our former partners in crime no longer see us as partners in crime but as traitors,¡± Pierre explained. ¡°And seeing as you are a big bad vampire we figured the enemy of our enemy is our friend which led me to tracking you down to this cave,¡± He added. ¡°Don¡¯t vampires usually have human servants to do their bidding anyways? We would be an asset!¡± Jared said, trying to sell themselves to Aldrin. Aldrin bellowed out a laugh, doubling over at the absurdity of it all. ¡°Wait, let me get this straight,¡± Aldrin said in between his cackles. ¡°You tracked me down to pledge yourselves to me?¡± Aldrin finally asked. ¡°Well, yes, just about sir,¡± Jared said quietly. Aldrin stayed quiet, eyeing them both with equal measure. His gaze on them made Jared break out in cold sweats as Pierre stood stock still. ¡°Ok,¡± Aldrin said, breaking the silence. Jared¡¯s knees buckled at the relief that flooded over him, ¡°Oh thank you master! We won¡¯t fail you!¡± He praised. Aldrin chuckled even more at the turn of events. Pierre looked just as relieved but not by much since he knew that a predator wearing the face of a man still lurked in front of them. ¡°Please do not call me master, it makes me uncomfortable,¡± Aldrin still chuckled, letting them see the brief glint of his fangs in the torchlight. ¡°Wait, what¡¯s a Bloodletter?¡± Jared asked, standing to attention more alert than before. ¡°My class,¡± Aldrin answered, not giving away too much information to his enemies turned allies. ¡°So are the others on their way? It would be stupid of me to just take what you say at face value,¡± Aldrin said. ¡°They do have trackers but we assure you they did not follow us here or are we still working with them,¡± Pierre quickly said, raising his free hand up in defense. ¡°I will believe it when I see it then,¡± Aldrin said, still keeping his distance. The burning sensation of skin had begun to dull down to a tingling feeling signaling that the sun was almost set. Rolling his shoulders, Aldrin walked towards them making them both take a step back. ¡°We attack now,¡± Aldrin declared as he moved past Jared and Pierre. ¡°What? The three of us?¡± Jared sputtered out making Pierre elbow him. ¡°We will follow your lead sir,¡± Pierre covered for them both. ¡°But before we go we bring you gifts,¡± Pierre quickly added. Aldrin''s ears perked up at that, ¡°What sort of gifts?¡± Pierre began to dump pieces of armor onto the cave floor. Aldrin immediately Identified them all.
Cloth Shirt: Simple cotton shirt worn for everyday purposes. Tier: 0 Defense Value: 0
Leather Chestpiece: Typically worn for light protection and traveling Tier: 1 Defense Value: 5
Leather Arm Guards: Made for archers to protect themselves against the twang of the bowstring. Tier: 1 Defense Value: 2
Leather Arm Guards: Made for archers to protect themselves against the twang of the bowstring. Tier: 1 Defense Value: 2
Leather Boots: Basic boots made for walking and comfortability Tier: 1 Defense Value: 1
Steel Longsword: A simple steel longsword Tier: 1 Attack Value: 7-13
¡°Thank you,¡± Aldrin gratefully said, finally ridding himself of the dirty and bloody pincushion rags he wore. Equipping them all together, a System Alert chimed in his mind. Focusing on it he pulled it up,
Bonuses Granted:
Leather Set Equipped: Armor Master Activated(5% buff to Defense Value),Vitality Stat: +25 Total Defense Value: 35.5 + 100 Natural Defense = 135.5 Steel Longsword Equipped: Blades Activated(5% buff to Attack Value), Strength Stat: 30 Total Attack Value: 37.5 - 43.5
¡°Finally, round 2 will hopefully go more in my favor,¡± Aldrin said, gleaming at his new sword before giving Pierre and Jared the cruelest smile he could muster, causing them to recoil back. Chapter 6: Midnight Humbling ¡°What do you want us to do?¡± Pierre asked as they trekked through the woods. The cool breeze that drifted between the trees ruffled Aldrin¡¯s hair, the night encompassing him like an old lover as he returned. Relishing the feeling of his strength returning with the night he let a smile slip across his face. ¡°Well do you guys want levels?¡± Aldrin asked, peering back at them over his shoulder. ¡°Who doesn¡¯t want levels?¡± Jared piped up, laughing at himself. ¡°Then just follow my lead,¡± Aldrin said, refusing to admit he had no plan. Jared and Pierre looked at each other briefly before shrugging their shoulders and following along. ¡°From here, we must be quiet, there are people ahead,¡± Aldrin warned them, pointing to his vampiric ears. A group of the bandits were huddled around the campfire, laughing and eating unaware that a predator and his newly made minions stalked these woods again. Identify labeled the group as having two Level 8 Tier 1 Fighters, one level 12 Apprentice Geomancer(T2 Mage), and one level 11 Tracker(T2 Rogue). Aldrin took one look at Pierre and Jared, nodding his head towards the unsuspecting group. Jared readied his bow, knocking an arrow and taking a stance as a warm green glow began to surround his arrow tip. Pierre unsheathed his daggers, moving up with Aldrin as they stalked towards the group. Aldrin gestured at Pierre to take out the Tracker(T2 Rogue). Aldrin got out his Iron Spear and prepared to throw it at the Apprentice Geomancer. Taking a deep breath he waited for Pierre to strike. In a splash of light, Pierre struck the Tracker in the kidneys causing him to cry out in pain alerting the others to the sneak attack. Jared and Aldrin released their attacks at the same time, Aldrin¡¯s spear ripping through the Apprentice Geomancer. Jared¡¯s arrow struck the back of one of the Fighter¡¯s shoulder bones. With their sneak attack done, Jared knocked another arrow and sent it flying while Aldrin moved up to be with Pierre as he danced around a Fighter that was left unharmed in the initial attack. Bulldozing his way through the trees, Aldrin let out a blood stopping roar causing all the bandits including Pierre to freeze. Raising his blade, Aldrin activated Cleaving Strikes, his longsword taking on a sickly yellow color along the blade, striking through the Fighter that occupied Pierre and onto the next Fighter that stood next to him. The first Fighter was bisected at the waist and the second had his shield obliterated into pieces, his arm a mangled mess of sinew and bone.
Cleaving Strikes is on cooldown for 45 seconds!
Without missing a beat, Aldrin rushed towards the Apprentice Geomancer when his hands glowed with a green mist that started flowing into the gaping hole in his stomach from where Aldrin¡¯s spear went clean through. Healing as much as he could, the Apprentice Geomancer looked up to see a monster trampling towards him. Aldrin used Shapechange to turn into a swarm of bats when the Apprentice Geomancer started to cast and sling rock spikes at him. Terrified of the new threat, the bandits were in disarray as one lay dead already and two were crippled if not outright dying, leaving only the Mage to deal with the threat. Pierre wasted no time as he rushed over to the Tracker that started to uncork a red liquid potion and chug it down as quickly as he could. Tackling him back to the ground, Pierre and Tracker wrestled for dominance, each grunting in exertion trying to gain the upper hand. Jared shot arrows from his cover of darkness turning the Fighter with a mangled arm into a pincushion of arrows. Seeing Pierre in a struggle, he aimed at the two, turning his newest arrow into a brightly lit glowing white arrow. ¡°Cover your eyes!¡± Jared shouted to his comrades. Pierre immediately disengaged the grappling match while Aldrin had flown upwards. Releasing his Blinding Shot, the darkness around them was briefly bathed in searing white light. The remaining two bandits were blinded as they stumbled around. Pierre slit the neck of the Tracker while Aldrin pierced his sword through the heart of the Apprentice Geomancer. Huffing from the adrenaline, Pierre looked around at the carnage. Aldrin slowly walked up, the smell of different foods driving his desire for blood driving his senses crazy. Gurgling could be heard as the Tracker struggled for life still. Within seconds, Aldrin was latched onto his neck, draining him of the little life he had left. ¡°I apologize for that,¡± Aldrin sheepishly said, looking down at the dried husk while wiping his mouth with the remains of the Tracker¡¯s shirt. Jared made himself known again when he came through the bushes with his bow slung over his back, his eyes shone with wonder as he stared at Aldrin. ¡°Oh my gods. . . THAT WAS INSANE! What are your stats Mr. Vampire, Sir?¡± Jared excitedly pleaded running up to Aldrin and Pierre. ¡°Pierre! Did you see how fast he was? AND how strong he was?¡± Jared continued, shaking his friend by the shoulders. ¡°No one is going to be able to touch us!¡± He added in his excitement. Pierre ignored Jared shaking him, looking at the back of Aldrin who still did not turn to face them. ¡°Whatever loot we find on them is yours to keep,¡± Aldrin said, finally turning around to face them after cleaning himself. Aldrin could have sworn he had seen dollar signs briefly glaze over Jared¡¯s eyes when he began to unceremoniously loot the bodies of his once comrades in arms. ¡°Sir, with all due respect, don¡¯t you want some of the loot?¡± Pierre said, lightly kicking Jared to stop him from getting too greedy. ¡°If there is something I like I will but there is nothing here for me already,¡± Aldrin said, not wanting to reveal that he was once again disgusted at himself at how easily he let himself get swept up into the heat of the battle. It was strange to him, Aldrin had thought that once blood was spilled he thought he would lose his mind but apparently the blood of the dead loses whatever tantalizing food smell compared to fresh blood of the living. ¡°Something to definitely think about more in depth later,¡± Aldrin mentally said. Pierre and Jared looted the bodies as fast as they could while Aldrin listened for any patrols of bandits in the area with his hearing. With none in the vicinity, he allowed Pierre and Jared their moment of respite to catch their breath before moving on further towards the bandit camp. ¡°You must be someone who chooses to focus on stats rather than skills?¡± Pierre inquired. ¡°No, my race and class just give me a lot of buffs and passives,¡± Aldrin half lied. ¡°Look, you don¡¯t have to trust us but if we are going to be working together you can be assured that we will not betray you. Not after seeing you cut a man in half without any struggle,¡± Pierre said, flinching at the memory of seeing the man cut in two right before his eyes. ¡°I suppose that¡¯s fair,¡± Aldrin shrugged his shoulders. Turning to them, ¡°My name is Aldrin,¡± He said, sticking his hand out. Pierre and Jared glanced at the hand then at each other, shrugging his shoulder, ¡°I¡¯m Pierre,¡± shaking Aldrin¡¯s hand first, giving him a small smile. ¡°Jared,¡± Shook Aldrin¡¯s hand next and quickly pulled away. Pierre frowned at his friend when he broke off from the introductions. ¡°So what is your goal for doing this?¡± Pierre asked. ¡°Doing what?¡± Aldrin answered ¡°Killing the camp? You¡¯re a vampire right and an ancient one at that if you are the Vampire Progenitor? Not an adventurer so we shouldn¡¯t matter to you,¡± Pierre suggested. ¡°Unless. . .¡± Horror dawned on Pierre¡¯s face. Jared perked up as did Aldrin at the sudden pause, "Pierre? What is it?¡± Jared put a hand on his shoulder. ¡°We are food,¡± Pierre whispered. Aldrin wanted to guffaw at the thought as the truth of matter wasn¡¯t entirely for food but more so for him gaining an understanding at how his new abilities and body operate. ¡°Think about it Jared, we are on the outskirts of where an undead Dungeon is that has never been cleared because the Holy Order uses it for training grounds on new recruits and supplies right?¡± Pierre said, puzzling it out in his mind. ¡°Someone goes in that is not affiliated with the Holy Order, let alone either stupid enough or had another super organization backing them to go against the Holy Order since they have a claim on the Dungeon, clears it and in doing so, released what stands before us now,¡± Pierre gestured to Aldrin. ¡°Which leads to the question of what organization would want to bring Vampires back that aren¡¯t feral because some ritual or potion for eternal life backfired,¡± Pierre tried to piece together the budding mystery. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be any organization that-¡± Pierre started. ¡°Demons.¡± Aldrin summed it up, making Pierre and Jared look at him like he had grown two heads. ¡°What?¡± Jared asked in disbelief. ¡°Demons did this to me,¡± Aldrin admitted. ¡°What do you mean they did what to you?¡± Pierre asked. Aldrin cleared his throat and explained his encounter in the dungeon with his group, meeting Kilinos, and then the ritual that he assumed turned him into what he is. Pierre and Jared stared in disbelief at the whole story. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine that,¡± Jared empathized, warming up to him now that he understood that not too long ago Aldrin was just a human like him. ¡°So what¡¯s his goal then? Kilinos I mean,¡± Pierre asked. Aldrin frowned when he thought about what Kilinos meant about having big plans, ¡°I honestly do not know but all I know is that I am looking for a cure and you guys were unlucky enough to be close enough for me to get a hang of this before I walk into a town and likely slaughter everyone there,¡± Aldrin admitted. ¡°Wow,¡± Jared breathed out. ¡°You guys don¡¯t seem like the typical bandits anyways,¡± Aldrin said. ¡°Well we weren¡¯t even trying to be bandits, they just assumed we were when we came upon them by accident and we have been looking for a way to escape them for a while,¡± Pierre explained. ¡°They just assumed you were?¡± Aldrin questioned the plausibility of it. ¡°When we came here from Earth-¡± Jared said, Aldrin¡¯s eyes widening at the statement. ¡°You guys are from Earth?!¡± Aldrin tried his best not to scream so loud. ¡°Yeah, are you?¡± Pierre asked skeptically. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. ¡°Yeah, but I have been here since I was 8 years old so I guess I am more from here than Earth,¡± Aldrin dimmed down. ¡°We were in college when it happened and it was terrifying to see chunks of the world vanish in flashes of white on the news all of a sudden so I can¡¯t imagine how it must have been for you to see and the Vitality stat does wonders for our skin,¡± Jared rubbed his hands down his face. ¡°Where were you guys when your area vanished and reappeared here?¡± Aldrin asked them, feeling more comfortable now that he found some familiarity with them. ¡°Most of the city we were in reappeared on the island chains of Imawas? I think that is what it¡¯s called?¡± Jared looked to Pierre for confirmation ¡°Yeah, we were in Imawas and of course we were immediately conscripted into the civil war there between the warring clans vying for control of all the island chains,¡± Pierre added. ¡°At first it was fun because the world was like a game and we were gaining levels as they trained us on killing monsters,¡± Jared excitedly said. ¡°Then they took us off of killing monsters and towards killing people and that''s when we really got a taste for the life and the death that resides on this planet,¡± He added quietly. ¡°So we smuggled ourselves off the island to here in the main continent of Dremetica,¡± Pierre picked up as a haunted look formed over Jared. ¡°What about you? Where were you teleported to?¡± Pierre asked Aldrin. ¡°The main continent of Dremetica but we were far from the cities and didn¡¯t know where we were,¡± Aldrin started. ¡°It was my parents, my older brother and sister, and my grandparents,¡± Aldrin said. ¡°Orcs found us and took us in but the initial shock of it all gave my grandmother a heart attack which shattered all of us even more. My grandfather and mom weren¡¯t themselves for a while, we were also under the care of the Orcs so that didn¡¯t really help the situation,¡± He continued. ¡°Eventually the Orcs led us to a human town and dropped us off there but by that time we had already spent two years with them and understood how the world worked and that the system wouldn¡¯t bloom for us until we were of age whatever that meant at the time,¡± He said, losing himself in the memory. ¡°My dad was a Tier 3 Hydromancer and my mom was a Tier 3 Pyromancer that were treated as nobles once we got into town and the populace had asked them to deal with local problems; which they did,¡± Aldrin remembered as a prideful smile graced his face for once. Jared and Pierre were so enthralled by the story that they failed to notice a shadow flit across the top of the trees. Aldrin immediately stopped, his sensitive ears picking up the swaying of the leaves, the scent of a freshly baked chocolate cake drifted into his nose rousing the hunger in his stomach, his fangs elongated again as he sniffed the air. His senses blaring to him that someone was either here or left a second ago. ¡°What-¡± Pierre started then shut up when Aldrin shot him a glare. Aldrin closed his eyes, focusing on his hearing and smell to track the shadow that spied on them. The freshly baked chocolate cake scent had moved away from them. ¡°When the bandits go on patrol how many are there per group?¡± Aldrin asked, eyes still closed. ¡°About 4 or 5,¡± Jared thought. ¡°We missed one then so we need to move. Our element of surprise is no longer to our advantage,¡± Aldrin said, standing and walking to the direction of the scent. ¡°Hey! Wait up!¡± Jared said as he quickly picked up whatever loot was left with the help of Pierre. ¡°We need to hurry and finish the camp before the sun comes up or I¡¯ll be limited to the cave,¡± Aldrin clarified. ¡°Catch up when you can!¡± Aldrin said using Shapechange for easier travel. ¡°That is so cool, kinda scary but still cool,¡± Jared admired Aldrin¡¯s retreating form of bats. Wondering if Aldrin could activate his predator vision while in the form of a swarm of bats he tried it and was woefully surprised that it did work. From his vantage from the sky the usual glowing white silhouettes of living things alighted his vision from the little gaps of trees. Internally smiling to himself he flew straight for the bandit camp noting how spread out the few patrols were. Landing at the warded entrance to bandit camp, Aldrin had a realization that he did not know exactly what he was walking into. The new powers he gained had gone to his head when he heard his sister¡¯s voice in head scolding him for letting the power get to him. Sighing to himself he stepped past the wards, alerting whoever was in the camp to his presence. The air around him shifted to reveal rows and rows of tents that the wards hid. A lodge with antlers above the entrance sat in the middle of the camp. Two guards stood by the entrance, their weapons directly pointed at Aldrin. He Identified them as Level 25 Tier 2 Shield-Warriors. He guessed that their defenses might be higher than what he was ready for judging from their class path that focused on staying alive and taking hits. ¡°Are you what lurks in this forest?¡± One of the guards asked. ¡°I am,¡± Aldrin replied without hesitation. Sheathing their weapons, ¡°The boss wants to see you,¡± The same guard answered, jerking his head to enter the lodge. Aldrin warily stepped past them and into the lodge that was dimly lit with torches that were socketed into the wall at even distances. Taking note that it was filled to the brim of trophies and treasures taken from the people they have preyed on. A hulking brute of a man stood in the center of it all. He was dressed in animal leathers and skins that gave him a primal look. His shaggy blonde hair was matted and dirty, cold gray-blue eyes stared daggers at Aldrin as he in turn observed him. Hefting what looked like an oversized two-handed Iron Warhammer on his shoulder, he stepped forward, the rippling muscles gave room for no imagination that Aldrin did not want to receive a hit from him. ¡°You¡¯re the scourge of the forest?¡± The man¡¯s voice sounded like two stones grinding together as he eyed Aldrin up and down, his scarred mouth dropping down into a frown as he was unimpressed with Aldrin. ¡°I am,¡± Aldrin replied coolly, Identifying him as a Level 34 Tier 3 Hulk-Berserker. ¡°Well I¡¯m dead as dicks,¡± Aldrin mused to himself. ¡°You cost me quite a few of my men, which I don¡¯t appreciate,¡± The hulking man said. ¡°What is your name so I may etch it with your blood on the outside of my lodge,¡± He demanded, taking another threatening step towards him. ¡°Only if you introduce yourself first,¡± Aldrin said, as they started to circle each other, readying themselves for the oncoming violence. ¡°Gyt Vamrson,¡± He introduced himself. ¡°Aldrin Ravindra,¡± Aldrin replied. Eyes bulging at the name, ¡°A Ravindra? Way out here? No matter, I¡¯ll send them your head.¡± Gyt growled out. ¡°You didn¡¯t Identify me did you?¡± A slight smirk found its way across Aldrin¡¯s lips trying his best to exude false confidence. ¡°No need, there is nothing in the forest that can stand up to me,¡± Gyt confidently replied, exploding into motion. Faster than Aldrin thought he would be, his Supernatural Reflexes activated slowing down Gyt¡¯s incoming strike to crawl as a timer with 14.5 seconds appeared in the corner of his vision. Dodging out of the way, time resumed to normal as another timer had a one minute cooldown on Supernatural Reflexes showed itself. A loud crash exploded right where Aldrin used to be as the door turned to dust blowing the two guards outside a few feet away. Gyt looked around as Aldrin looked at the massive crater that used to be the front of the lodge. Not one to be outdone, Aldrin pulled out his steel longsword, activating Cleaving Strikes, he moved in to lash out at Gyt. His blade sank maybe two inches before Gyt turned around, his huge meaty hand grabbing Aldrin by the front of his leather armor and flinging him through the hole of the lodge. Weightlessness greeted Aldrin as he flew through the air. Shapechange saved him by turning himself into fog and pooling around the ground he was going to land at negating the potential damage. Reforming his body, Aldrin whipped around and ran towards Gyt. Their strikes clashed, Aldrin being the loser as the shock and vibration traveled down the sword length into his arm causing it to go numb briefly. Pivoting on his right foot, he used the momentum of the clash to flick his blade around in a diagonal slash causing Gyt to lean back. Aldrin continued to apply pressure to him knowing full well that a Warhammer wasn¡¯t the best at blocking attacks. Blocking with his weapon shaft, Gyt grunted as Aldrin kept dancing around him and striking the same spot on his Great Warhammer. His Charge ability was on cooldown since he used it to open the fight. Tired of Aldrin weaving in and out giving him small cuts, Gyt used his pushback ability, Whirlwind, his hammer taking on a mind of its own as it left his hand to spin around his body knocking Aldrin away at the unexpected ability. ¡°You fight well, I guess the tales of the Ravindras aren¡¯t to be exaggerated,¡± Gyt complimented, a vicious smile forming across his scarred mouth. Using Shapechange he flew above him, knowing the Hulk-Berserker was unable to combat the ability. Reforming in midair, Aldrin plummeted towards Gyt with his sword angled in front of him. Gyt smiled at the challenge and bunched all of the power into his legs as he leapt upwards towards Aldrin, surprising him at the sudden offensive. Before they clashed again, Aldrin activated Blood Rage doubling his stats for 30 seconds as well as Cleaving Strikes letting his blade take on the sickly yellow glow of the skill.
Cleaving Strikes is on cooldown for 45 seconds!
A shockwave resounded out as Gyt and Aldrin met in the air. Bypassing Aldrin¡¯s strike, Gyt¡¯s warhammer shattered Aldrin¡¯s arm causing him to wince as he continued to let his blade sink into the gap in between Gyt¡¯s chest piece and into his neck. Both falling to the ground with grievous wounds, Aldrin¡¯s arm slowly began to piece itself back together. Landing with a loud bang, Gyt stood looking unharmed as blood seeped from the wound on his neck. He held his hand over it as he glared daggers at Aldrin. ¡°It seems you¡¯re a little out of your depth,¡± Gyt cruelly laughed as the wound in his neck regenerated, his skin taking on a reddish hue, his muscles bulging beyond their normal mass, his eyes turning from a cold blue to a seething red.. Aldrin didn¡¯t give a reply, noticing that he had 20 seconds left of Blood Rage. Unsure of how he would win this one he debated fleeing, killing some more bandits and leveling, then coming back to take out the bandit leader. Granted, he should have done that, as once again, power had gone to his head and came back to bite him in the ass. Unfortunately, he wasn¡¯t given that option when Gyt made his move, appearing before Aldrin with his warhammer already raised. His Supernatural Reflexes was just about to come off cooldown so if he could dodge this he would be able to save himself the next time with the skill. Attempting to roll out of the way, Gyt¡¯s smash clipped Aldrin¡¯s ankle turning it to mush. Screaming out in unbearable pain, Aldrin scooted away as Gyt turned his menacing gaze on him, relishing the squirming and fear on Aldrin¡¯s face. With a grunt of pain, Aldrin Shapechanged again, fleeing the battle entirely. ¡°I¡¯ll find you out there and when I do I will break every bone in your body then have one of my guys heal you when you¡¯re on the brink of death so I can do it all over again!¡± Gyt madly laughed at the fleeing form of Aldrin. Looking for any source of blood as he flew as fast as he could away, he picked out a trio that were trekking back towards the bandit camp. Dropping on them from above in his bat swarm, he materialized half his body, gripping one of the panicked bandits as the beast inside of him took over, draining the bandit into a husk. That didn¡¯t stop him as he gripped the second of the group draining him to a husk as well. The third however, had thrashed away with his battleaxe hoping to hit one of the bats. With his arm and ankle healed he reformed part of his leg, kicking the thrashing Fighter knocking him to the ground as he gasped for air. Aldrin then too, drained him replenishing his lost reserves from the Blood Rage and from the healing. Rolling over to his back, Aldrin let the brief brush with death settle over him, letting it humble his mind that he wasn¡¯t as strong as he thought. Replaying the moments of the battle with Gyt he understood that while he was a match for a Tier 2 and Tier 1; he was no match for a Tier 3 yet. Using that math he assumed he would have to get to Tier 2 or at least the middle of it to get new abilities and stats to match. The revelation caused a sour taste to form in Aldrin¡¯s mouth since that would lead him further down the Vampire path. Something he was loathing to even think about. Sitting up, he needed to find Pierre and Jared before Gyt found them first. He Shapechanged filling the night sky with his swarm of bats looking for the two. He had found them cleaning their weapons and looting after taking out a bandit patrol. Dropping down to greet them, Jared let out a small scream before realizing it was Aldrin. ¡°What happened?¡± Pierre was the first to notice the aftereffects of the battle. ¡°Gyt the bandit leader and my own cockiness happened,¡± Aldrin sheepishly said. ¡°So do we need to leave the area then?¡± Pierre pressed. ¡°Probably? Or we could level some more?¡± Aldrin offered. ¡°Either way, I have to get stronger and kill him. I made the terrible mistake of thinking I could beat him and told him my name,¡± Aldrin admitted. Pierre and Jared blanched at the revelation. ¡°Yup, time to go,¡± Jared was the first to start walking in the opposite direction. ¡°Jared, wait, we could level like he said,¡± Pierre tried stopping his friend. ¡°He is a Tier 3 Hulk-Berserker,¡± Aldrin added. Wide eyed, Pierre turned around to gape at Aldrin as Jared began walking faster than before. ¡°And you antagonized him? And lived?!¡± Pierre asked in disbelief. ¡°Kind of?¡± Aldrin said, rubbing the back of his neck. Wordlessly, Pierre followed Jared as they both did not look back to see if Aldrin was following. ¡°I don¡¯t have much time, the sun will be up soon. I feel it on my skin that it¡¯s almost time.¡± Aldrin said, taking notice of the small pin pricking sensation that began to encompass him. ¡°Then I suggest you go back to the cave and lick your wounds and whatever else you need to do then leave when the sun is down,¡± Pierre shot back without looking. ¡°Wait, you guys are leaving?¡± Aldrin asked, standing up to follow them. ¡°We didn¡¯t sign up to be turned into paste so yeah,¡± Pierre spoke for them both. ¡°Well I went in there by myself but if I had you guys with me there might have been a chance,¡± Aldrin suggested. Jared stopped walking to whisper something to Pierre who listened with rapt attention. Aldrin chose not to listen in. ¡°Alright, we will help you take him down AFTER we get you to reach a decent level in Tier 2,¡± Pierre turned back. ¡°What¡¯s the catch though?¡± Aldrin warily asked. ¡°There is none but the treasure that is in the lodge and hopefully an item that Jared needs for one of his quests for a potential mutation class at Tier 3,¡± Pierre explained as Jared kept a lookout. ¡°Those are rare especially for a Tier 3 class,¡± Aldrin commented on the class mutation. ¡°Exactly, so we are hoping that Gyt¡¯s treasures have what he needs,¡± Pierre said. ¡°I can agree to those terms then,¡± Aldrin said. ¡°Great! To the bat cave for plotting and scheming then gentlemen!¡± Jared joked, marching off to the direction of the cave. Pierre groaned and ran a hand down his face at Jared¡¯s terrible joke while Aldrin chuckled as they all walked back to the cave. Hopeful that they could survive the oncoming night. Chapter 7: Fruits Of Their Labor ¡°So we are in agreement then?¡± Jared asked as they finished plotting the demise of Gyt. ¡°I believe so,¡± Pierre assured. ¡°Yes,¡± Aldrin chimed in. The sun was out still, rendering Aldrin useless as they huddled in the cave. ¡°Are you sure the Trackers won¡¯t find us here?¡± Aldrin asked for the third time. Jared chuckled at his worried state, ¡°Even if they do THEY have to come in here to find you which you have the advantage. Besides, Pierre¡¯s passive Counter Track skill allows us to cover our footsteps and ground we covered,¡± Jared reassured. ¡°It¡¯s not them I am worried about,¡± Aldrin quietly said, knowing his sister, Adeline, was more than likely on her way here if not already combing the forest with her men looking for him and his old group. Aldrin¡¯s System Alerts chimed in his mind letting him know he had to go through them as the events of last night replayed through his mind, specifically those that involved Gyt, the Tier 3 Hulk-Berserker. With their newfound plan in place Aldrin was confident that round two with him would not go the same as the first round. With that thought in mind he opened his System Alerts and prepared the best he could.
Congratulations! Various enemies were defeated! Total EXP Awarded: 548.1 Racial Level increased to Level 10, 5 SP awarded! Class Level increased to Level 10, 2 SP awarded! EXP Held until you have chosen your first new Skill! Vampire Progenitor Skill Tree is now unlocked! Vampire Magics unlocked! New Skills Unlocked! Total Skill Points: 7
¡°Oh hell,¡± Aldrin grumbled, placing his head in his hands again, realizing he was descending further and further away from humanity. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jared perked up. ¡°I¡¯ve unlocked another skill tree and magic,¡± Aldrin mumbled. ¡°OH! Which one?!¡± Jared moved closer to Aldrin ignoring the magic part. ¡°My Progenitor Racial Skill Tree,¡± Aldrin still mumbling into his hands. ¡°Wow, even your Race has a skill tree? How come Humans don''t?¡± Jared asked. ¡°Probably because of my Unique Race being a Progenitor,¡± Aldrin shrugged his shoulders, looking up to see Pierre listening in. ¡°Are you going to put points into it?¡± Pierre jumped in. ¡°I am not sure I want to. I am scared it will lead me further away from myself,¡± Aldrin mused. ¡°That¡¯s fair but what if there is something in there to help against our current nemesis, Gyt?¡± Pierre asked. With a loud huff of defeat, he opened his new skill tree.
Vampire Progenitor Skill Tree Warning: Only allowed access to Level 1 of some skills until you gain more power in your next Vampiric Rank. As you progress further down the path of the Vampire Progenitor you will unlock more of your hidden power that will allow you to become a scourge to your enemies and a savior to your allies on Grenora. Current Rank: Newborn Next Rank: Juvenile Daywalker Level 1: Skills and Buffs return to you during the night but you are weakened and can be killed instantly during the day(Granted) Humanity Level 1: You have a reflection(4 SP) Trace Your Roots Level 1: Able to create specialized Vampires(2 SP) Vampiric Ascension Level 1: The living instantly treat you like Nobility(Higher Rank required)
Vampire Magics Due to your Unique Race you are able to learn all Disciplines of Vampire Magics adapted to your Class however you must still choose a specialization to unlock a Level 5 Skill granting a bonus. Specialization: Meet the required Trainer. Hemomancy Level 1: Manipulate your own blood to form weapons(100 Health and Magic Cost)(2 SP) Shadowmancy Level 1: Blend into the shadows of the night(2 SP) Necromancy Level 1: Summon 1 humanoid Skeleton(2 SP)
Staring in disbelief at his new skills he unlocked, his mouth opened and closed as his mind tried to digest what he could potentially become if left unchecked. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You look like you¡¯ve seen a ghost,¡± Jared asked. ¡°These new skills are literally trying to make me an edge lord,¡± Aldrin sputtered in disbelief still. Jared erupted into laughter with Pierre cracking a smile. Aldrin couldn¡¯t help but let out chuckles of his own feeling somewhat relieved to finally have something to laugh at. ¡°Anything worth taking that would give you an edge against Gyt?¡± Pierre inquired. ¡°Combat-wise just the magic that has three branches, mostly the tried and true Vampire magics we usually see but I get access to all of them,¡± Aldrin said as he looked over them some more. ¡°If anything, the Necromancy spell would allow me to summon a skeleton,¡± He added. ¡°An extra hand if things go bad right?¡± Jared joked, trying to cheer him up. ¡°Mm,¡± Aldrin answered. ¡°Take the Level 1 Necromancy,¡± Pierre insisted. Jared and Aldrin looked at Pierre as if he had grown a second head. ¡°Tell me Pierre. . .¡± Jared trailed off, a twisted gleam in his eyes. Pierre eyed him warily, ¡°Tell you what Jared?¡± ¡°Did you want to be a Necromancer and not tell anybody?¡± A smug smile made its way across Jared¡¯s face. Pierre scoffed, looking away, ¡°No I did not.¡± ¡°Uh huh. . .¡± Jared teased. ¡°I¡¯m just saying it would be cool since you already kinda fit the vibe or were you trying to be an assassin?¡± He quibbed. ¡°Listen, hang around him long enough and you¡¯ll see,¡± He nodded his head at Aldrin. ¡°Look, just take Level 1 Necromancy like you both said it would be an extra hand and increase our chances of actually surviving if not outright killing Gyt,¡± Pierre changed the subject. Aldrin bit his lip, drawing blood that made him wince, ¡°Look, if I do this it will unlock the next stage of both my Class and Race which is why I am so hesitant to do so,¡± He said. ¡°All the more reason to hurry up and do it!¡± Jared¡¯s excited twisted gleaming eyes now stared at Aldrin. Pierre threw a pebble at Jared¡¯s head, ¡°Ow! Pierre! What was that for? You know I am still recovering,¡± Jared said, rubbing the spot where the rock had hit him. ¡°Look Aldrin, I know that this isn¡¯t something you want to do but it is something you need to do if we are going to make it outta here alive and find a cure for your vampirism so either you man up or you die before you can even go back home,¡± Pierre¡¯s hard voice echoed out into the cave, silencing any other argument of Aldrin¡¯s. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Determined to head back home he chose the Level 1 Necromancy Skill allowing for everything else to reveal themselves. His EXP finished out his Class and Race signaling another System Alert chime.
Total Skill Points: 5 Congratulations! For completing the Tier 1 Basic Class you now have the option to proceed to Tier 2! Do you wish to do so now? Y/N
Frowning at the nonexistent choice of usually having to pick a Class to branch into he selected yes.
Congratulations! You have advanced to the Elite 2nd Tier Class: Night Reaver, Vampiric Warrior(3 points per level): Few have survived an encounter with Night Reaver, the feared warriors of the Vampires during the Progenitor Wars. These warriors consume their enemies to enhance themselves during the heat of battle. After all, to a Vampire, blood is power.
¡°What the fuck are the Progenitor Wars?¡± Aldrin asked Jared and Pierre, each of whom only shrugged their shoulders.
Mystery Activated: The Progenitor Wars: It seems the World has forgotten a key aspect of its existence and everything that came from it. Find out more about the Progenitor Wars to uncover a millennia spanning forgotten piece of Grenorian history Lore Seeker! Reward: ???, Skill Points, Title
¡°Ok, double what the fuck,¡± Aldrin said again.
Congratulations! You have ranked up from a Newborn Vampire to a Juvenile Vampire! Juvenile Vampire: Your body has adapted to unlife as you transition from Newborn to Juvenile granting you Level 2 of some of your Skills and a new Skill in your Vampire Skill Tree has unlocked.
¡°I just love class evolutions! And look! His Race updated as well!¡± Jared cheered. Aldrin pulled up a brief overview of himself to see the new changes.
Name: Aldrin Ravindra Total Skill Points: 13 Natural Defense(Vampire): 100 Race: Vampire Progenitor Level 11 (Juvenile) - 5 Skill Points awarded for level up
Class: Night Reaver Level 11 (Tier 2 Warrior) - 3 Skill Points awarded for level up Profession: Lore Seeker Level 24
Health: 2500 Magic: 2000
Stamina: Infinite Titles: 3
Strength: 30 Dexterity: 25
Vitality: 25 Intelligence: 20
Willpower: 40 Charisma: 25
Titles Expanded:
First Vampire: Everybody has to come from somewhere and you are where Vampires come from Reward: +10 to all stats, Vampire Progenitor Skill Tree Unlocked.
Chosen of Kilinos: Few have dared to reach to a demon and even fewer have had a demon reach out to them and have been granted their favor. Reward: Immune to fire, Grants a 20% to spell power, Class Mutation at Tier 4
Traveler of an Archdemon¡¯s Domain: You carry the mark of a person who has been to one of an Archdemon Prince¡¯s Domain and back. Reward: [Intimidation] and [Dread] waft off you subtly helping you in social situations.
Shuddering at the new entries to his status sheet he had to make a choice to either dive all in into his new role as a Vampire or perish like Pierre said. He knew he would have to get over himself and the thought of feeding on people like juice boxes if he was to ever survive to get a cure. A part of him knew that once he was cured the memories wouldn¡¯t go away, those would be with him forever and that¡¯s the part that terrified him the most. The look on each of their faces as he drained their life away, the screams would echo in his mind when he would lay asleep, and the fear and terror in their eyes as they knew they were going to die by something inhumane. That is what scared him and kept him from embracing his powers as a Vampire. Closing his eyes, he fell into himself searching for the monster that lurked in the back of his mind, the hunger that coursed through his entire being. Staring, he felt it stare back with a menacing glare shocking him from the dark mental-scape of his mind. One day he would be rid of it and would never have to feel it again. That was all the resolve he needed, it was all for the cure, to end his nightmare and fear of ever becoming a mindless beast again. With 13 Skill Points he now had the options of heading down four Skill Trees,
Vampire Progenitor
Vampire
Tier 1 Fighter: Bloodletter
Tier 2 Warrior: Night Reaver
Opening up his new Tier 2 Class Skill Tree, he was decently surprised at what this one offered.
Night Reaver Skill Tree Dual Weapon Proficiency(Passive): What will make you much more deadlier than you already are? Being able to use two weapons with equal skill. Level 1: 25% damage with off hand weapon(2 SP) Blood Aura(Passive): Some Vampires crave violence and feed off it letting their bloodlust exude through their pores. Level 1: 3% damage boost and chance to stun enemies when fighting five or more enemies(2 SP) Leech Imbuement(Active): What kind of Vampire would you be if you could not imbue some of your Vampiric nature into your weapon? Level 1: 1% health returned to you after each hit(2 SP) Lust for Carnage(Passive) - Stackable up to 60 seconds: There is a certain thrill when a Vampire takes a life whilst in battle. Level 1: 10% to stats during combat when you kill an enemy for 10 Seconds(2 SP) Roar of the Apex(Active): Well, you are considered an Apex Predator so why not add a little extra oomph to your arsenal. Level 1: For 3 seconds, spells and weapon enchantments are locked(2 SP)
Staring wide eyed at his new skills Aldrin didn¡¯t hear Jared calling his name until Pierre poked him in the shoulder. ¡°Huh? What? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Aldrin rapidly asked, his focus shifting to the two. ¡°What happened? You were talking one second, and then you closed your eyes the second second, then jolted awake and got the glazed look people do when they are doing their System stuff the third second, and now you are staring like a fish for the fourth second,¡± Jared counted his fingers. ¡°I think there is more to the world and to the Vampires here than we realize,¡± Aldrin breathed out, before settling in and explaining his changes as well as the alerts he got. Pierre and Jared whistled in astonishment after Aldrin finished filling them in. ¡°I have a theory!¡± Jared proudly said. ¡°What?¡± Pierre and Aldrin asked in unison ¡°I think the reason there is always an immediate action to eliminate any Vampire sightings is probably because if they are not feral but are instead sane like you are, Aldrin,¡± Jared waved his hand to all of him. ¡°Then we can assume that your Tier 1 Bloodletter Class and your new Tier 2 Night Reaver class build upon each other,¡± He paused. ¡°I¡¯m guessing the reason you have so many passives for your Tier 1 is that it¡¯s the foundation class for the rest of the classes going forward maximizing your potential to a scary degree, coupled with your other skills as both Vampire and Vampire Progenitor I would say if left unchecked you more than likely would become a World Boss Monster. . .¡± His thoughts freezing in their tracks when he looked at Aldrin. ¡°And if that¡¯s the case for every Vampire then no wonder they need to die quickly and why so many Kingdoms put aside their differences when it comes to killing anything that¡¯s undead. You guys are literal monsters if given time to advance,¡± He quietly said. ¡°But that is not to put the other races to shame since Vampires have the disadvantage of not having branching class picks like the rest of us do,¡± He picked back. ¡°Furthermore, there is no telling what lies ahead with Tiers 3, 4, 5, and potentially 6 IF you make it that far before we find a cure and let''s not forget the other Class paths you could have taken too,¡± He finished, sitting down to let the thoughts wash over him. Pierre gaped at Jared while Aldrin frowned at the potential revelations of what Jared was saying. ¡°I played a lot of different video games before being transported here, you know this Pierre,¡± Jared defended himself as Pierre continued to stare at him. ¡°The longer we are here on this planet the longer I wonder why you didn¡¯t apply yourself this much in school when we were back on Earth,¡± Pierre finally said, breaking the silence. Jared scoffed, ¡°School stifled my outside-the-box thinking and creativity that has gotten us through some tough times here on Grenora,¡± ¡°I was only in school to appease my family and I also didn¡¯t know what I wanted to do with my life then the world goes to shit and we end up here so far from everything that we find familiar and it has given me a chance to make something of my life,¡± He admitted, looking Pierre dead in the eye. Pierre opened and closed his mouth, ¡°You know what, that¡¯s honestly fair. I am pretty sure I would be dead without your knowledge and creativity,¡± He complimented Jared earning him a big smile in return. ¡°Your thanks is appreciated my friend,¡± Jared answered back with the goofy grin still on his face. ¡°So I think you should take at least Level 1 in all your new Tier 2 Class Skills,¡± Jared turned back to Aldrin who listened to them. ¡°Definitely take all of them which should total to 10 SP leaving you with 3 SP to spare on your own but ultimately it is your choice whether you want to or not,¡± Pierre echoed, Jared nodding in agreement. Aldrin listened and bought the first level of all of his new Class Skills, not bothering to look at the next upgrades until he could afford them. Remembering he had also unlocked a new skill in his Vampire Tree he went to go see the alert for it hoping something he could use.
New Skill: Charming Gaze(Success of the same Tier equates to Charisma + Willpower stat divided by 2) Level 1: Subtly influence sentients and creatures'' minds with minor commands(2 SP)
Thinking it would come in handy for Gyt¡¯s followers, he invested his skill points into Charming Gaze leaving him with 1 Skill Point left. With that one point he put it into Strength increasing it to 31. ¡°Our odds have definitely gone in our favor now,¡± Jared grinned. Pierre chuckled, ¡°Indeed my friend,¡± ¡°I should probably stop being scared to lose control then,¡± Aldrin added to the chorus of voices. The rest of the time in the cave during the day they all talked animatedly about their lives so far on Grenora until the sun set. The three of them stepped out into the night air, Aldrin feeling refreshed as the cool night air welcomed him home like an old friend. Jared and Pierre uncorked their last [Potion of Night Vision] hoping they wouldn¡¯t need anymore for the time being after tonight. Then they set off to kill Gyt and his followers once and for all. Chapter 8: Massacre of the Woods ¡°We have more incoming to our right!¡± Aldrin yelled out, pulling his sword out from the bandit he just killed. ¡°On it!¡± Pierre said, disappearing in Stealth. Jared fired arrows at the two bandits taking cover behind the trees to keep them from advancing as Aldrin moved forward. ¡°Almost out of arrows guys!¡± Jared called out, taking note of having nine arrows left. ¡°Have you gotten to the next level of Trickshots yet?¡± Aldrin said, appearing behind one the trees, trading blows with one of the bandits. ¡°No, I need to level up before I can!¡± Jared said, unleashing another Hunter¡¯s Volley at the other tree where the bandit hid, turning one arrow into ten as it flew towards the tree. ¡°How close?¡± Aldrin landed a grievous wound on the bandit making him grunt in pain before falling to his knees. ¡°Hopefully soon! Too busy to check!¡± Jared watched as Aldrin executed the bandit by quickly thrusting his blade through his chest. Pierre reappeared next to Jared, ¡°It was more than I could handle, I had taken out three of them before the rest could figure out where I was striking from,¡± Huffing from the run back. ¡°They are definitely mad and are on their way,¡± Pierre added, finally catching his breath. ¡°Was Gyt with them?¡± Aldrin asked, executing the last bandit. ¡°No,¡± Pierre said. Grunting, ¡°How long is this going to take?¡± Aldrin asked no one. ¡°Who knows? Maybe he has a plan for us?¡± Jared offered, shrugging his shoulders as he watched the trees for any movement. ¡°I doubt it, he seems to be more of a fight first think later kind of guy,¡± Pierre countered. Jared and Aldrin both chuckled at the thought of Gyt rampaging around before asking who he was supposed to fight. ¡°Either way when he shows we split up and make for the cave then we do phase two,¡± Aldrin said. Pierre and Jared both nodded as another stream of bandits came tumbling through the brush with their weapons raised. For the next hour they would rinse and repeat the process of Aldrin listening for any new groups nearby, Pierre would antagonize them to get them riled up enough to follow him back to where Jared was perched ready to unleash a Hunter¡¯s Volley with Aldrin acting as back up. From it all Aldrin had at least leveled up his Race and Class once unsure of what levels Jared and Pierre were. ¡°HEY wait a minute!¡± Aldrin called for a pause. Pierre and Jared stopped what they were doing to give their attention to Aldrin. ¡°I never once asked you what your guys'' levels were,¡± Aldrin said, looking between them both. Jared chuckled, ¡°I am a level 26 Hunter, level 25 almost 26 in my racial level, and no profession,¡± He said, gesturing for Pierre to go next. Clearing his throat, ¡°I am a level 25 Tracker, level 24 in my racial, and no profession,¡± Pierre said. ¡°No professions? Why?¡± Aldrin asked. Pierre looked at Jared before answering, ¡°Well like we said when we got here we were immediately conscripted and they didn¡¯t allow for conscripts to have professions,¡± He said. ¡°That¡¯s weird,¡± Aldrin puzzled as he thought about it. ¡°How did you get Lore Seeker as a profession?¡± Jared asked. A dark and haunted look glinted in the eyes of Aldrin, ¡°It was my dad,¡± He said, brokering no room to elaborate. Pierre studied Aldrin as Jared shrugged his shoulders and went back to salvaging his arrows from the bodies. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t all this blood be driving you insane right now anyways?¡± Jared looked to Aldrin. ¡°Not if it is from the dead,¡± Aldrin stated. ¡°And what about us? We have been around you for a few nights and you haven¡¯t had any inclination to rip into us,¡± Pierre said. Aldrin opened his mouth to answer then stopped as he thought about it some more. He took a whiff of the air around Pierre and Jared trying to pick up their unique scent but all that was there was the scent of dead blood and forest. ¡°I honestly do not know why? It¡¯s like you guys are dead too since there is no scent coming off of either of you,¡± Aldrin said. ¡°Interesting,¡± Pierre mused as a thoughtful expression came over him. ¡°Probabl-¡± Aldrin stopped when his ears picked up loud thumping tramping their way fast. Pierre ducked into Stealth while Jared readied his Hunter¡¯s Volley. Crazy eyed and fuming, Gyt entered the killing field looking between Aldrin and Jared. ¡°I told you I would find you,¡± Gyt said, letting a cruel crazed smile form as he materialized his Great Warhammer from his inventory. ¡°Hey Aldrin, guess what,¡± A playful smirk rests on Jared¡¯s face. ¡°You got it didn¡¯t you?¡± An equally playful smirk rested on Aldrin¡¯s face. ¡°Yup,¡± Jared said, releasing his Hunter¡¯s Volley followed by his Trickshot: Crippling Arrow. Without looking to see if either of the skills hit both of them bolted away in different directions towards the cave. Using himself as bait, Aldrin made his direction easy to spot as he crunched dead leaves and snapped twigs underneath his rush to the cave. Gyt¡¯s enraged roar bellowed out into the night sky telling Aldrin that they only pissed him off. Smirking to himself he listened for Gyt¡¯s rampaging feet to thunder the forest floor with their thuds hoping he would choose to follow him. Without fail and with the assumption that he was all meathead his thundering footsteps echoed in Aldrin¡¯s ears as he picked it up. Now it was a race to get to the cave before he caught up to him. It didn¡¯t take long for Aldrin to hear the crash behind him as Gyt blasted through a tree with his body alone. Picking up the pace, Aldrin put his improved Dexterity and Undead Body to use and rocketed forward with each step as much as he could. Enraged even more, Gyt¡¯s breathing became labored as he started to sound more like a charging bull than man. Aldrin made the dreaded mistake of looking back at him to see spittle flying from his mouth as his rage overcame his mind. Aldrin passed by a few marked trees that signified he was close to the cave and the trap that was waiting for Gyt. Unbeknownst to Gyt, he paid no mind to the oddly marked trees as his eyes were zeroed in on Aldrin¡¯s retreating form. Occasionally Aldrin would look back and a dash of ¡°fear¡± would dance in his eyes feeding Gyt¡¯s all consuming rage. ¡°This guy needs anger management,¡± Aldrin muttered to himself as he kept running. A sharp whistle blew informing Aldrin that Jared and Pierre were in position. The mouth of the cave loomed in the distance as it grew bigger the more Aldrin ran towards it. Stopping just short of the cave entrance, Aldrin skidded to a stop, spinning on his heel to come face to face with the meat train called Gyt. Emboldened by his prey running to a dead end, he ran full speed and used his Charge ability, closing the gap in an instant. Shock briefly flitted across Aldrin¡¯s face before it turned into a feral grin. Giving Gyt the middle finger Aldrin Shapechanged into fog letting Gyt barrel right through it and into the cave causing a massive thud that shook loose a few stalactites. Jared jumped from the tree he was hiding on, drawing his bow and brightly lit Trickshot: Blinding Arrow letting it fly into the mouth of the cave bathing it in white-golden light. Gyt yelled as the enclosed space allowed for the Blinding Arrow to take full effect. Pierre moved in with Stealth striking a blow to Gyt¡¯s hamstring making him take a knee. Grunting from the blindness and the sudden pain he swung wildly. Jared sighed, ¡°I wish we had explosives or something that would make a big boom,¡± Lining up another Blinding Arrow before firing it into the cave. Pierre danced back in, crippling Gyt¡¯s other hamstring. His body began to take on the red hue glow of his Berserk state letting Aldrin know that it was time. Aldrin sucked air in letting his new Night Reaver skill Roar of the Apex charge up. Releasing the charged up skill, Gyt¡¯s bubbling Berserk state was immediately canceled. Aldrin moved in, igniting his steel longsword with the sickly yellow of Cleaving Strikes aiming for his already crippled legs.
Roar of the Apex is on cooldown for one minute!
The blade bit into Gyt¡¯s leg but not enough to cleanly sever it. Aldrin bounced back towards Jared who lined up another arrow. Pierre went back in aiming for Gyt¡¯s swinging arm but was caught in the chest by his thrashing. Flung backwards out the cave Pierre gasped for air, clutching his broken sternum. Jared dropped his aim and rushed to the aid of Pierre uncorking a [Health Potion].
Cleaving Strikes is on cooldown for 45 seconds!
Aldrin watched as Gyt crawled out the cave, crazed bloodshot eyes darted back and forth in the dark. ¡°When Pierre is up, find cover and bring more bandits here so my Blood Aura will activate,¡± Aldrin eyed Gyt then at the other two. Activating another one of the new skills he gained, the edge of blade began to glow a faint crimson color as he readied Leech Imbuement. Feeling more comfortable with a blade than he has ever felt he flourished it then took a defensive stance in front of Pierre and Jared as Gyt rose to his feet, his injuries healing. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Roaring in a rage worse than a bear, Gyt''s eyes glared daggers at Aldrin. ¡°One of us won¡¯t leave here tonight!¡± Gyt bellowed, using his Charge and Whirlwind in tandem. Slightly faster and ready for it this time Aldrin barely managed to side step the Charge but the tail end of the Whirlwind caught him, managing to earn a pained grunt from him. Quickly brushing the pain off as best as he could he reset his defensive stance but before he could blink Gyt was winding up for another strike. Aldrin danced and weaved his way around the blows, taking a few hits he could not get away from in time. Biding his time until he heard Pierre running through the woods to him, not caring at how loud he was being. Behind Pierre more footsteps could be heard. Smirking to himself all he would have to do is make sure that the other bandits were actively occupied in the battle allowing for his Blood Aura to activate then finally unleashing his Blood Rage. ¡°You are right Gyt, one of us will die here,¡± Aldrin answered back as Pierre came barreling out of the woods followed closely by other bandits.
Blood Aura is now activated giving you a 3% boost to damage! Happy slaughtering young Vampire!
The System Alert flashed briefly over his vision. Now it was time for the final act to even the playing field if not outright dominate the field. Picking his target out of the bandits that began to form up a half circle around Gyt with him at the center all facing Aldrin. Letting himself feel for the inner beast his claws and ears elongated, low snarls began to escape his lips when his teeth, specifically his top and bottom canines grew to sharpened points, his copper skin lost its lustrous color when he began to pale. Blinking, his vision clouded over to his predator vision allowing him to pinpoint all of the bandits arrayed in front of him with Gyt glowing the brightest.
Cleaving Strikes is ready!
¡°You¡¯ve gotta be shitting me. . .¡± Aldrin heard one of the bandits whisper. A sharp intake of breath followed soon after, ¡°I thought they were supposed to be feral?!¡± Another voice whispered. With his full vampiric nature out on display, Aldrin unleashed Blood Rage.
Blood Rage is now activated giving you a 2x boost to your stats!
Roar of the Apex is ready!
Rushing forward in the blink of an eye, he slashed at a group of three on the left of Gyt letting Cleaving Strikes take care of the rest. Cutting cleanly through the first one, grievously wounding the second, and cracking a rib on the third Aldrin then used another Roar of the Apex to silence any budding abilities about to activate.
Cleaving Strikes is on cooldown for 45 seconds! Roar of the Apex is on cooldown for one minute!
Lust for Carnage is now activated boosting your stats by 10% for 10 seconds!
Shapechanging into bats, Aldrin fluttered over to the next bandit grabbing him up in the swarm letting his fangs sink into the bandit. A thud resounded as the bandit dropped to the forest floor. Faster than any of them could react, four of their members had already been killed or seriously injured. Fear started to take hold of the bandits as the predator stood before them. Two arrows flashed past Aldrin, striking into another bandit, killing him instantly as one punctured his brain.
System Alert: Title Activated!
Traveler of an Archdemon¡¯s Domain: Fear and Dread waft off of you!
Aldrin slid his cool calculating gaze to Gyt who slightly flinched then rushed forward. Aldrin responded the same way, meeting him in the middle, their weapons clashing into a stalemate, surprising Gyt more than Aldrin. Wide eyed Gyt found his Strength failing him when he tried to push against the blade. Capitalizing on the brief moment of surprise, Aldrin kicked him in his knee, making it snap backwards. The sudden pain Gyt felt made the last of his strength go as he stumbled back. Quickly glancing at Aldrin, he felt his skin crawl at the way Aldrin had his head cocked at a slight angle watching intently at his knee that started to heal. ¡°You only invested in three abilities?¡± Aldrin gloated. Gyt stood, watching his opponent with his interest, ¡°Who needs abilities when you have technique,¡± He readied his Great Warhammer. ¡°Mm, either you really are an idiot or a respectable warrior,¡± Aldrin hummed. ¡°Show me the rest then,¡± Aldrin said, gesturing with wide open arms. Gritting his teeth Gyt rushed in crossing hilt to blade once more. Aldrin pushed him back, his ever increasing Strength allowing him to go toe to toe with Gyt. Following up the pushback with an upward slash forcing Gyt to continue to be defensive. His acute hearing picked up on the slight creaking of Gyt¡¯s reinforced hilt. Changing tactics from outright brute force to calculated strikes he began to strike at the hilt. Gyt caught on to what Aldrin was attempting to do, disengaging himself from the melee, ¡°GET IN THERE AND KILL HIM!¡± Gyt roared to the bandits that watched the dazzling display. Aldrin let out the best impression of a deep menacing laugh, ¡°No,¡± raising his hand for all to see, blue flames sparked to life in his palm. The beast inside Aldrin purred at looks of terror plastered on the faces of the bandits. ¡°Raise Skeleton,¡± Aldrin shouted, the blue flame in his hand snuffing out as fast as it appeared.
Raise Skeleton is on cooldown for 30 seconds! Other Skills are ready!
Tense few moments went by as everyone waited with bated breath. A few more moments went by before Aldrin began to worry the Skill didn¡¯t work. One of the corpses of the bandits began to twitch, drawing everyone¡¯s attention to it. The corpse began to move erratically before sitting up. The dead gaze of the corpse greeted everyone as it did so. No sound emitted from it when it began to stand up. Wet squelching then accompanied it when it started to peel the flesh off of itself. One of the bandits lost whatever dinner they had eaten as the dead continued to strip the flesh off its face revealing a bloody skull with only its eyeballs left. Sadly the eyeballs didn¡¯t last long when the skeleton plucked them out and threw them at the feet of the bandits making them scream in horror. The skeleton clacked its jaw together before picking up the discarded sword that was next to it. Flourishing the blade it charged at the remaining bandits, eerie blue flames danced in its eye sockets. Fortunately that was all it took for the rest of the bandits to break and run for their lives. Aldrin tried his best not to allow disgust permeate on his face but when it threw the eyeballs, that was the last straw. His face scrunched up as he watched the skeleton give chase to the fleeing bandits. Shifting his focus to Gyt, they both rushed towards each other, each striking and defending. Watching the timer for the cooldown he pushed back from Gyt giving him some space to use his Skill again. ¡°Raise Skeleton,¡± Aldrin said again, the blue flame appeared and dispersed. This time the Skill didn¡¯t take long to take effect.
Raise Skeleton is on cooldown for 30 seconds!
The Mage that had died by Aldrin repeated the same process as the first one, peeling its skin off and plucking its eyeballs out leaving the blue flames to dance. Clacking its jaw madly that resembled laughter it conjured another bright blue fireball. Throwing it towards Gyt, he rolled out of the way letting the blue fireball sail past him alighting the ground on fire. The skeleton continued to clack its jaw together, throwing out another fireball. ¡°Fuck,¡± Aldrin said as he watched the blue flames grow out of control. With no time to rein in the newly resurrected skeleton pyromaniac Aldrin focused on Gyt who eyed him with hate in his eyes. ¡°You can surrender, you know?¡± Aldrin shouted at him, earning a rage induced roar. ¡°Guess not then,¡± Aldrin muttered to himself, rushing in to meet him for the final time. The clash between them was now one sided in favor of Aldrin as he pushed Gyt back. Feeling the air shift around his hammer Aldrin stepped back teasing Gyt at the last second when his hammer swung around. Capitalizing on the momentum of the swing Gyt came back around, releasing his weapon towards Aldrin who was on his backfoot. Surprised at the sudden change of tactics Aldrin turned his back step into a roll, his Vampiric Awareness alerting him to the whoosh of the hammer as it flew over him. The distraction of the flying hammer allowed for Gyt to get in close when Aldrin recovered from his roll. The sudden impact of Gyt tackling Aldrin made him let out a surprised yelp. Raining down blows on his disoriented opponent Gyt didn¡¯t let up as all the rage in his body released on Aldrin. ¡°COVER YOUR EYES!¡± Aldrin heard Jared yell, barely registering what was going on from the hits he was receiving. A bright flash soon followed blinding both Aldrin and Gyt. Aldrin pushed Gyt off him from what he was able to see. Scrambling to his feet, Aldrin looked for his sword, the blinding effect from the arrow making his night vision fuzzy and see double of everything. Gyt fared no better rubbing his eyes trying to get rid of the black dots in his vision. Finding it, Aldrin picked up his sword to come face to face with Gyt who was still blinded. Thrusting his sword forward, he missed, striking at the illusion of the other Gyt. The miss proved to be a mistake when Gyt grabbed the sword by the hilt. Yanking Aldrin in close, he threw a punch with all he could muster hoping to at least graze the right form of Aldrin.. Jerking backwards from the blow that snapped one of his ribs, Aldrin doubled back with an uppercut of his own, lifting Gyt to his tiptoes. They traded blow for blow, each battling for dominance over the other for the sword. Beaten, bruised, and bloodied they no longer resembled themselves. Gyt¡¯s Strength failed him, his grip on Aldrin loosening, giving enough wiggle room for Aldrin to squeeze his wrist. Pop. Gyt hissed in pain immediately trying to resist Aldrin. Emboldened by the turn of events Aldrin applied more pressure, feeling the bones of Gyt¡¯s wrist turn to mush. Desperately clawing and trying to find purchase with his other hand not caring to let go of the sword hilt. Wrenching free, Aldrin raised his sword letting his empowered Stats gather power for his swing. Activating Cleaving Strikes, the edge around the blade glowed its sickly yellow with interlaced with the black and yellow effects of Leech Imbuement Aldrin struck. His blade sliced through the collarbone of Gyt like slicing through toughened meat. Gyt¡¯s screams of rage turned to screams of pain when Aldrin pulled the blade free from Gyt¡¯s mangled shoulder. The taste of eminent victory seeded the air making Aldrin swing his blade into Gyt¡¯s mangled collarbone again. He hacked and hacked away at Gyt, the screams turning into a gurgled chorus as the blood moved in to drown every area it wasn¡¯t supposed to be. Releasing his hold on Gyt¡¯s wrist Aldrin changed into a two-handed grip, continuing to hack away at the Hulk-Berserker. ¡°Aldrin?¡± Pierre gently said. Hack. Unaware that he too was screaming, Aldrin continued to chop at the bloodied mess that was once Gyt. ¡°Aldrin?¡± Pierre said a little more forcefully this time. Hack. ¡°Aldrin?!¡± Pierre screamed this time. Whipping around to face Pierre Aldrin snarled, baring his teeth, ¡°Mine!¡± he growled. Pierre slowly stepped back letting Aldrin continue to hack away at Gyt. The two skeleton summons from earlier came back, both of them dragging a body in each hand behind them. Jared watched from afar when they deposited the bodies next to Aldrin who stopped at the sudden appearance of them. Aldrin let a deep growl rumble towards the two skeletons making them drop like puppets with their strings cut. Slowly, Aldrin¡¯s vampiric features faded along with the boosts to his Stats making him drop to his knees out of weakness. Pierre was the first to take a tentative step towards Aldrin. ¡°Hey, are you alright?¡± Pierre asked slowly, edging his way towards him. Aldrin mumbled something that made Pierre strain his hearing. ¡°What?¡± Pierre took another step forward, still wary of him. ¡°I need blood,¡± Aldrin whispered, not deigning to look at Pierre. Pierre looked back at Jared who looked just as conflicted. Their emotions passed between the two when faced with the choice of willingly sacrificing someone. With grim resolve they both agreed they would do what¡¯s necessary like they have always done. A system prompt flashed in each of their visions.
Quest Issued:
Master and Servant: You have taken the steps to ensure your service to a budding Vampire now the final step is within your grasp. Offer someone up with their blood and gain the benefits of Servant. Choose wisely.
Reward: Servant Options, Skill Points, Experience.
Chapter 9: Spoils for the Victorious ¡°You know when it said choose wisely I didn¡¯t think it meant for us to be dragging a knocked out bandit,¡± Pierre reminded Jared for the ninth time. Jared rolled his eyes, ¡°Well what would you prefer us to do? Sacrifice each other like it probably implied?¡± He exasperated. Pierre kept his mouth shut sneaking glances at the unconscious bandit they dragged by the arms. ¡°It would have been so bad if he didn¡¯t run,¡± Pierre grumbled, changing the subject. ¡°Fair,¡± Jared nodded his head. ¡°And if he didn¡¯t have to run so far,¡± Jared added. ¡°Also fair,¡± Pierre agreed. They marched through the woods in complete darkness after looting a few more [Potion of Night Vision] from the dead bandits. They were in a hurry back to the area where Aldrin had slain Gyt in order to complete the Quest they both were offered. Arriving at the still kneeling Aldrin who shook uncontrollably at their presence, specifically the bandit they dragged. ¡°Hurry,¡± Aldrin wheezed, weakly reaching out for them. Jared and Pierre dropped the unconscious bandit in front of Aldrin whose fangs immediately elongated with saliva dripping off of them. Finally able to let loose the slippery control he had over himself he latched onto the wrist of the bandit. He slurped deeply, awakening the bandit into a screaming fear and pain. Aldrin¡¯s ironclad grip held the bandit from running. Each tug from the bandit made the beast inside Aldrin tug back harder. All it took was one bad tug from the bandit and Aldrin tore the arm off of the bandit cradling it as he sucked the last drops of life from it. The bandit screamed even more, clutching his torn arm. Jared looked away slightly queasy at the sight while Pierre continued to stare stoically at the gruesome sight. Dropping the lifeless limb, Aldrin slowly stalked towards the bandit on all fours unnerving the screaming bandit even more. Lunging at him Aldrin tore the other arm off and flung it away letting the blood splatter over both their faces. His claws grew to sharpened points before he jabbed them straight through the ribcage of the bandit and tore free his heart. Blood ran down his forearm when he raised the heart over his mouth squeezing it for the lifesource inside. Slowly reverting back to his normal self he looked down at the dead bandit. ¡°I know this is what I have to do but it doesn¡¯t make it any easier,¡± Aldrin said to himself. Pierre heard but chose to say nothing when the Quest completed awarding him 5 Skill Points and 1,000 EXP with the choices of Servant unfolding before him. He closed them out wanting to go over them with Aldrin. Sighing, ¡°We go back to the camp and get what we need,¡± Aldrin turned to face them, feeling the tingling on his skin begin. Ignoring the System Alerts for now they rushed back to the bandit camp to pillage it before others could. They arrived at a free-for-all as the bandits that had returned began to kill each other for the right of leader. ¡°They already know Gyt¡¯s dead?¡± Aldrin asked them. Jared cleared his throat, ¡°Well. . . we kinda let one or two get away,¡± He sheepishly said. ¡°Let¡¯s hurry then before a winning side is decided,¡± Aldrin ran into the chaos. Pierre and Jared followed soon after trying their best not to draw eyes on them. Fires raged from the burning tents as horses fled with their dead riders dragging behind them. Over the metal clashing against metal and the battle roars of the victorious or dead came a sound that combined a child screaming with a pig squealing silenced the camp. Freezing everyone in their tracks, all eyes turned to a dark patch of the forest. Streaking out of the first, a pale humanoid shape sprang out landing in a burning tent. It stood on two thin legs that had hooves for feet, it¡¯s arms were gangly and thin that ended in claws that were as long as razor blades that gleamed from the fire, an exposed torso showcased it¡¯s skin as it clung tightly to the ribcage leaving nothing to imagination. The head of it resembled a horse¡¯s skull with jagged antlers adorning the top of it, the mouth of it was serrated bone that had bits of flesh sticking in between them, and worst of all, the empty eye sockets held only the promise of endless hunger and pain. ¡°Is that what I think it is?¡± Pierre stared wide eyed at it. ¡°It is,¡± Aldrin answered, quickly Identifying it for the basic information.
Name: Saloth, the Endless Devourer
Race: Wendigo
Level: 66
Relation: Neutral
Lore: Forever on the prowl for fresh meat it stalks the forest now free from a Dungeon¡¯s influence. It has been following the trail of bodies leading it here to an all you can eat, and eat it will.
¡°We have to go now!¡± Aldrin hissed with no time to decipher why he was able to see the Relation. No need for further prodding, the three of them dodged and weaved through the camp. Meanwhile, Saloth took to gleefully dismembering anything in its path as it chomped away at any loose limbs. The bandits, being bandits either rushed in an attempt at foolhardy glory or ran from the carnage made flesh. Either way, Saloth proved to be a blessing in disguise for the three. Pierre was in the lead with Jared in the middle and Aldrin covering their backs snaking their way through the camp towards the now destroyed main hall of the camp. Arriving out of a cloud of dense smoke Pierre and Jared collapsed, their singed lungs trying to recover. At least grateful for no longer needing to breathe, Aldrin stood guard listening to the screams of those being ripped apart by Saloth. ¡°Ready,¡± Jared was the first to recover, wiping the soot off of him. ¡°Do you know what we are looking for?¡± Adrin asked, ignoring his appearance. Huffing, ¡°No, it just said that it would begin to shine when I was close,¡± Jared informed. ¡°Great,¡± Aldrin deadpanned. ¡°Loot everything then and we will sort it out later!¡± Pierre rose up from his coughing fit. Piles on top of piles of coins and treasure were still ripe for the taking. Aldrin had only seen this amount of wealth one time and it was from the man who killed his mother and turned his father crazy. Shifting uncomfortably, Aldrin shook off the reticent memory threatening to overcome him. Thanks to an empty Inventory Aldrin had no issues taking large swathes of treasure as all of it disappeared into the pocket dimension. Jared whistled, gathering everyone¡¯s attention on him. He pointed to a small inert spherical stone that sat atop another pile of treasure. The stone was barely translucent, letting everyone peek at the small flashes of rainbow lightning streaks that bounced around inside. ¡°I think this is it!¡± Jared called out. Pierre and Aldrin rushed to converge on Jared who grabbed it along with the treasures it was sitting on. The fires outside had managed to make their way over along with Saloth as the terrifying roar of it grew closer. Aldrin briefly Inspected it before Jared put it away in his Inventory.
[Gem of the Lost Arcane]
Taking one last look at the left behind loot still Aldrin¡¯s heart sank. ¡°Don¡¯t get greedy or we will die!¡± Jared surprised both Aldrin and Pierre, clapping them both on the back as he ran by. Running past the threshold of the door, Jared was the first to fly off his feet when Saloth charged into him. Standing to it¡¯s full height at 8 feet, the gangly Wendigo roared in triumph with its arms wide. Pierre was the next one to get knocked away and into the side of a tent, barreling through it. Aldrin wasn¡¯t sure if either had survived just from the brief brush with Saloth. Turning towards Aldrin, Saloth dropped down to all fours, menacingly growling and pacing back and forth. Aldrin¡¯s beast inside threatened to surface to challenge Saloth.
System Alert:
Alpha vs. Alpha: Your nature as a Progenitor threatens the very existence of Saloth as it is unsure whether you are higher on the food chain than it. The vie for control and territory has been initiated.
Rewards: Experience, Title, Friendly with Saloth
Penalties: Experience, Unfriendly with Saloth
Notice: Do you wish to forfeit since your power is not on par with Saloth? No rewards will be achieved and you can come back to challenge Saloth in a year.
Quickly reading the Alert while keeping an eye on the pacing and slobbering form of Saloth, Aldrin came to the conclusion that everything was meant to kill him since he became a Vampire. Knowing full well he barely survived Gyt and that was including his buffs to himself Aldrin knew for a fact that even with all of that he was not going to survive his encounter with Saloth. ¡°I forfeit,¡± Aldrin announced.
System Alert:
Challenge forfeited: Saloth will give you one hour to escape the surrounding lands.
Saloth roared at him before turning and bolting off to find new victims to feast on. Aldrin let out a shaky breath, a habit he had when faced with overwhelming odds when he was human. Now as a Vampire it seemed that it didn¡¯t do much to shake the feeling of dread off him. Inside, the beast raged at the cowardly move that ruptured through Aldrin¡¯s body forcing him to fall to his knees and clutch at his chest. ¡°I''ll come back, I promise,¡± Aldrin wheezed out hoping to appease the monster inside of him. That seemed to abate some of the searing pain that washed over him allowing him to stand up. He struggled to check on Jared first who had barely regained consciousness when Aldrin began shaking him awake. Aldrin helped Jared drink a [Health Potion] that mended the broken bones slowly. Assuring that Jared was going to be alright, Aldrin went to dig for Pierre in the tent he was swaddled in. Finding him bleeding from the side of his face, Aldrin stepped back afraid he would rip into him. Surprisingly, the sight made his stomach revolt at the sight and fill with white hot anger instead that was directed at Saloth. Filing that little tidbit away for later, Jared soon came and helped dig out Pierre. After administering a [Health Potion] Aldrin filled them on the time crunch involving Saloth. Not needing another reason to escape the bandit camp all of them grabbed what they could from where they were at. Assuming the same positions as before with Pierre at the front, Jared in the middle, and Aldrin bringing up the rear, they weaved through the camp. Littered with bodies that were either torn apart by Saloth or simply sliced to death from other bandits it looked more like a battleground than a hidden encampment. Stopping suddenly, ¡°Wait! We have to grab transportation!¡± Pierre shouted. Off in the distance Saloth thrashed through another row of tents, ripping apart more bandits that stood in its path. The three looked in the direction of limbs being thrown in the air. Dreading the answer, ¡°Which way to get transportation?¡± Aldrin asked. Pierre pointed in the opposite direction of Saloth which Aldrin breathed out a sigh of relief. Shifting for another mad sprint to get to the other side before Saloth could rampage through there. They arrived at an area that had a row of carriages from previous ambushes. Scrambling up to the driver¡¯s seat of a plum colored lowkey carriage, ¡°Jared wrangle us some horses! Aldrin secure the inside!¡± Pierre commanded, gathering the straps for horses. Aldrin opened the carriage door looking for any signs of anyone choosing to hide in there. The inside was smeared with dried blood that made him scrunch his face in disgust. ¡°It¡¯s clear!¡± Aldrin called out before hopping in. Jared came back not too long with horses in tow. Hooking them up Pierre hopped in the driver¡¯s with Jared sliding in next to him. ¡°Everyone ready?!¡± Pierre asked, eyeing the destruction incarnate known as Saloth rampage in their direction next. Flicking the reins, the hoses brayed and reared up before peeling off on a turn with the carriage leaning on by two wheels. Aldrin rumbled back and forth in the inside of the carriage. Pierre egged on the horses as they sped past more of the burning encampment. Not bothering to move the curtains inside the carriage to get a good look at the passing carnage Aldrin opted to sit back and enjoy as much as he could. The prickling sensation of Aldrin''s skin grew to pins and needles signaling the sun was about to start looming on the horizon. Hoping and praying to whatever deigned to listen that the carriage would be enough to cover him from the sun. Knowing he had managed to survive all the way to this point only to end up barbequed in the back of some unknown carriage that left remnants of a grisly murder only added to those prayers. The distant triumph roar of Saloth reverberated through the forest as they made their escape. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Slumping down to relax finally, the adrenaline that coursed through his body dissipated leaving only tiredness in his wake. Sadly, being a Vampire that tiredness only lasted for a few seconds thanks to Undead Body. Jared opened the slit from the driver¡¯s seat outside and peered in, ¡°How is it back there?¡± He gave a soft smile minus the bumpy ride. ¡°It¡¯ll be better when we get to Lor-Vold,¡± He said. Chuckling, Jared shook his head and closed the slit leaving Aldrin to his thoughts. Moving the curtain of the carriage window aside he peered out into the looming darkness that retreated from the morning sun. With time to rest and recuperate, Aldrin let the System Alerts unfold before him, letting him see all of his exploits.
Congratulations! Various enemies were defeated! Total EXP Awarded: 8,379
Levels Gained: x4 in Race and Class; x1 in Profession New Level: Vampire Progenitor Level 15, Night Reaver Level 15, Lore Seeker Level 25 Total Level: 55 Skill Points Earned from level ups: 33
Title Earned:
Indomitable: Vampires have been proven to be hard to kill but you have proven to be unconquerable for slaying multiple enemies both above your level and your Class Tier.
Effect: Those that are stronger than you feel the effects of your indomitable spirit and are more wary to engage in combat with you.
Profession: Lore Seeker Update:
Anatomy Level 1: 5% exp gained for killing beasts, monsters, and humanoids(250 needed)(Granted) Level 2: 10% exp gained for killing beasts, monsters, and humanoids(394/500 needed)
Facing the choice once again to either embrace his inherent Racial skills or his Class skills. Knowing full well and basing it off the idea that he more than likely will have to interact with people he would need to see what Racial skills will help him in the endeavor of finding a cure. With that in mind, he began to peruse his options.
Vampire Skill Tree:
Thirst-Passive Ability Level 1: Vampires lust for blood especially the newly turned vampires as they are slaves to their thirst. (Granted) Level 2: As vampires transition from newborns to adolescent and mature vampires their bloodlust lessens.(4 SP)(Prerequisite: Juvenile)
Bite-Passive Ability(Damage grows with Strength and Willpower)(Strength + Willpower = Damage) Level 1: Returns 25% damage as health or mana(Granted) Level 2: Returns 50% damage as health or mana(4 SP)
Claws-Passive Ability(Damage grows with strength and Dexterity)(Strength + Dexterity = Damage) Level 1: Your claws are now able to rend light armors such as those made from cloth and leather(Granted) Level 2: Your claws are now able to rend medium armors and below such as chainmail and hardened leather(4 SP)
Charming Gaze(Success of the same Tier equates to Charisma + Willpower stat divided by 2) Level 1: Subtly influence sentients and creatures minds with minor one commands(Granted) Level 2: Greatly influence sentients and creatures minds that can understand instructions (4 sp)
Undead Body-Improved by Willpower and Vitality(Willpower + Vitality adds to natural Defense Value) Level 1: Bodily functions are turned off i.e. hunger, sleep, and the need to breathe no longer affect you(Granted). Level 2: Resistant to slashing, bludgeoning, and pierce from non magical weapons as your body continues to adapt to its change(Granted) Level 3: Your body is now resistant to magical weapons(6 SP)
Regeneration-Passive only out of combat Level 1: A newborn vampire is able to heal small cuts and bruises since their body is still considered mostly mortal(Granted) Level 2: Small appendages now grow back as the vampire ages into adolescents(4 SP)
Supernatural Reflexes(Increases with Dexterity divided by 2) Level 1: 2 second time freeze if you are about to be killed instantly(Granted) Level 2: 4 second time freeze(4 SP)
Vampiric Awareness Level 1: Night vision is granted; hearing and smell is improved(Granted). Level 2: Able to feel minor shifts in the air 10 feet around you(Granted) Level 3: Blood vision is now granted enabling you to see, hear, and smell prey you mark even if they are through walls and if you are tracking them(6 SP)
Blood Curse Level 1: Create Zombie(2 SP)(10 Health, 10 Magic)
Vampiric Agility Level 1: Ability to jump further than your pinnacle human(Granted) Level 2: You are now able to stick to any surface(4 SP)
Master of the Night Level 1: Grants communication with creatures of the night(2 SP)
Vampire Progenitor Skill Tree:
Daywalker Level 1: skills and buffs return to you during the night but you are still killed instantly during the day(Granted) Level 2: skills and buffs increased by 25% during the night however sunlight harms your stats by 75% if you are active during the day(4 SP)
Humanity Level 1: You have a reflection(4 SP)
Trace Your Roots Level 1: Able to create specialized vampires(2 SP)
Vampiric Ascension Level 1: The living instantly treat you like nobility(Higher Rank Required)
He chose to rank up Thirst to level 2 as that was a no brainer, Charming Gaze to level 2 in case anyone got a little too close to comfort he was hoping the Skill would be able to wipe memories of him, and Daywalker to level 2 if the Skill implied he would be able to walk in the sun. With that bringing the remaining Skill Points from 33 down to 21 he decided to max out the Humanity skill leaving him with 3 remaining that went directly into Charisma bringing it to 28.
New Skill Updates:
Thirst-Passive Ability Level 1: Vampires lust for blood especially the newly turned vampires as they are slaves to their thirst. (Granted) Level 2: As vampires transition from newborns to Juvenile and Mature vampires their bloodlust lessens.(Prerequisite Rank: Juvenile)(Granted) Level 3: (Prerequisite Rank: Elder)
Charming Gaze(Success of the same Tier equates to Charisma + Willpower stat divided by 2) Level 1: Subtly influence sentients and creatures minds with minor one commands(Granted) Level 2: Greatly influence sentients and creatures minds that can understand instructions (Granted) Level 3: (Prerequisite Rank: Mature)
Daywalker Level 1: skills and buffs return to you during the night but you are still killed instantly during the day(Granted) Level 2: skills and buffs increased by 25% during the night however sunlight harms your stats by 75% if you are active during the day(Granted) Level 3: (Prerequisite Rank: Mature)
Humanity Level 1: You have a reflection(Granted) Level 2: You no longer feel cold to the touch as faux warmth floods the surface of your skin(Granted) Level 3: No invitations are needed to enter the homes of the living(Granted)
With everything settled regarding himself he felt a little more comfortable with entering the city of Lor-Vold. Hopefully no one would stare too long at him and if push came to shove he could at least ask Jared or Pierre to inquire about a cure. However, in the back of his mind lingered the fear of seeing his sister before he could acquire a cure. As devout as she was to the Order he worried if he ever came into contact with her how would he explain things. The other side of that is if Adeline would straight up try to kill him thinking he would be a Feral Vampire.
System Alert:
Alpha vs. Alpha: You have escaped to an acceptable distance; Saloth no longer sees you as a threat to his domain.
Aldrin knocked on the slit to get the attention of the two in the driver¡¯s seat. Jared slid it open, peering in, ¡°We are clear from Saloth he won¡¯t be chasing us anymore,¡± Aldrin informed. Jared nodded before closing the slit. Soon after the carriage eased into a comfortable ride now that they were out of the danger zone Saloth presented. Without the threat of life or death hanging over him anymore, Aldrin decided to close his eyes for a bit to let the events so far wash over him, letting himself drift off to sleep with the way of the carriage helping him along. In the deep recesses of his mind Aldrin picked up more thunderous hooves further down the road rumbling in their direction. Immediately bolting up, he was greeted with a System Alert.
System Alert:
Daywalker Active! All Stats reduced by 75% of their actual value!
No time to figure out the limits of the Skill he urgently knocked on the slit again. Pierre was the one to answer this time as they both had swapped seats. The little light that peered in along with Pierre touched Aldrin. Scrambling away quickly before realizing he wasn¡¯t burning he slowly inched his way back to the little stream of sunlight. Choosing to sacrifice a finger if need be, he grazed along the sunlight finding out that it stung like a bad sunburn instead of the instinctual threat of death looming over it. Relieved that the Skill works like he thought he focused on the other important matter. ¡°Hey! We have horses coming towards us!¡± Aldrin spilled out retracting his hand back as he saw the way Pierre gaped at him. Pierre didn¡¯t let the shock go from his face, he nodded and told Jared of the incoming horses as well as the new development with Aldrin. The carriage slowed down to draw less suspicion towards them all. It didn¡¯t take long for the riders of the horses to come upon them either. ¡°Halt!¡± Aldrin heard a deep commanding voice order. ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± Pierre asked. ¡°We are from the Holy Order on an investigation. I am Commander Ingram, is it ok if you answer some of our questions?¡± Ingram said, shifting his horse forward. Inside, Aldrin felt his already cold undead body drop to an uncomfortable degree. ¡°Alright sure,¡± Pierre looked at Jared quickly. Ingram narrowed his eyes, ¡°Have you seen anything out of the ordinary?¡± He questioned. ¡°Yes actually, we were running from a Wendigo when you came upon us,¡± Pierre half lied, gesturing to his disheveled appearance. Ingram nodded at one of the men who then raced off back in the direction they came from. Then he signaled two more of his men to race down the road the carriage was coming from. Ingram shifted his eyes back to the duo on the carriage driver¡¯s seat. ¡°What is your business traveling down this road? This road is often hounded by bandits and the like?¡± Ingram asked, narrowing his eyes. ¡°Our Lord had family to visit and we were already running late to get him back home to Lor-Vold so we decided to take the shortcut through the forest here,¡± Pierre half lied again. ¡°Is your Lord available for questions?¡± ¡°No, the recent encounter with the Wendigo has left him a bit. . . traumatized,¡± Pierre grappled with the word. Ingram noted it as recent shock, ¡°I understand, nevertheless an encounter with a Wendigo is terrifying enough not to mention escaping it takes a toll on the less mentally fortified,¡± Subtly Inspecting them, ¡°I¡¯m also assuming that the rest of the guard wasn¡¯t so lucky to escape the Wendigo then?¡± Ingram inquired. ¡°No, we were tasked with getting our Lord to safety while the rest did their best to hold it back,¡± Jared spoke up this time, feeling Ingram¡¯s gaze piercing every word for inconsistencies. Ingram grunted in response to that, ¡°My condolences for your losses.¡± ¡°May we ask what the Order is doing out here? A usual clean up of the Undead I presume?¡± Pierre changed the subject. ¡°We are on a search and rescue mission actually however there haven¡¯t been any Undead roaming around which is peculiar. Do you two know anything about a missing party or the recent missing Undead in the area?¡± ¡°Sadly we do not but we may think the recent missing Undead may have something to do with the Wendigo loose?¡± Jared offered. Grim faced Ingram thought about it more, ¡°Probably but something here feels different, ancient even like something has been awakened," Shifting his horse Ingram looked down the road to where he sent the other two riders. ¡°My apologies for keeping you, may your journey be safe,¡± Ingram bowed his head slightly. Jared and Pierre returned the gesture before setting off again. Ingram stared at them for a while before turning to one of his men. ¡°Follow them at a distance, just to make sure they get somewhere safe,¡± He ordered but in the back of his mind something felt off about them. Meanwhile in the carriage if Aldrin could sweat he would be dropping rivulets of it. Pierre slid the opening again letting him know that they were in the clear. ¡°Did you know him?¡± Pierre asked, looking at the pale faced Aldrin. ¡°He is my sister¡¯s right hand man,¡± Aldrin whispered out. ¡°Do you think he or she would help you?¡± Pierre gently asked. "I honestly don¡¯t know,¡± Aldrin slumped back into the seat. ¡°I mean it¡¯s your sister I think she would, right?¡± Jared chimed in. ¡°Not until I at least have some evidence that there is a cure for me otherwise who knows what she would do,¡± Aldrin admitted. Grunting in agreement, ¡°Well, we should be hopefully arriving at Lor-Vold in about a week give or take if nothing decides we are easy pickings,¡± Pierre said. ¡°Then in the meantime I will see the loot I gathered and see if anything can be of use to you guys that I swiped,¡± Aldrin said. ¡°We will do the same,¡± Pierre agreed, moving to close the slit. ¡°And Pierre,¡± Aldrin started. ¡°Hm?¡± Pierre stopped himself from closing the slit to look at Aldrin again. ¡°Thanks. . . for everything,¡± Aldrin rubbed the back of his neck. Pierre smiled and gave a slight nod before closing the slit. Pierre¡¯s System Alert chimed again letting him know about the choice he still had to go over with Aldrin but that could wait until they had a more concrete place to discuss things. For now they were all on the road again heading to something that may be real or fake. Regardless of it all, he was just happy to do something other than be aimless in this world. Chapter 10: Arrival The week went by turning dense forest into rolling plains and fields as they got closer to Lor-Vold. It also turned out to be a week of hell yet again for Aldrin. He did not take into account the lack of fresh blood and took for granted the ability of the bandits to present themselves in the usual manner of robbery and murder which absolutely did not happen. Instead what they got was one pack of bandits, a group of three to be exact and mostly Level 5 wolves which Jared promptly took care of. Unfortunately, the one pack of bandits that allayed themselves ended up being a blessing and curse in disguise. Aldrin¡¯s senses had picked up Ingram¡¯s scout tailing them a while back when the bandits first struck so they all had to be extra careful with Aldrin¡¯s Skills in case the scout got a good look at anything. Of course that made them all be caught between a rock and a hard place because they couldn¡¯t outright kill the scout but they also couldn¡¯t outright oust themselves either. During the week''s travel he had also found out that ingesting blood of the dead made him terribly sick and rejected it. However, animal blood had sustained him but the hunger did not abate as much as it did when he drank from humans. So it became a miserable experience for him while Jared had taken the time to hunt during the day to keep Aldrin from becoming Feral and also keeping up with the guise of him taking care of his Lord. With nothing but time to themselves that had all conversed with themselves as well as beginning to outline a plan as to what exactly the goals were. For Aldrin, it was and always has been the search for a cure so he can return home. The more time he spent away the harder it would be to explain what happened to him and that of his party. Jared had to return to the magical floating city of Folos to give the [Gem of the Lost Arcane] to a Apprentice Arcanists for his master in order for a Tier 3 Class mutation. Pierre had decided to inquire about the Alchemist profession while at Lor-Vold. Jared and Pierre still hadn¡¯t broached the subject of the Servant Quest yet with Aldrin either. Still agreeing on waiting until they had a more stable area to even begin to unravel after getting clues about a cure. So at the tail end of the journey to Lor-Vold they had decided to finally split the loot amongst themselves after they had been going through everything since the first night of traveling. Each of them were happy with the amount of coinage that had managed to swipe, letting them all come to a total of 5,000 Imperial Gold coins. The amount lifted everyone¡¯s spirits knowing that they had recently become as rich as the middle level of a nobleman regarding the Queen¡¯s court. Of course they would need to go to a Merchant Guildhouse to exchange the coin ratio as it was distributed between Bronze, Silver, and Gold coins. As such, the ratio was 100 Bronze coins equals 1 Silver coin, 1,000 Silver coins equals 1 Gold coin, 10,0000 Gold coins equals 1 Diamond coin, and 100,000 Diamond coins equals 1 Platinum coin. Luckily the coins could be called out from the Inventory but Aldrin hated carrying this much on him anyways. He was dreading going to the bank and accessing his account to begin with which would set off events that he was not prepared to deal with. Besides the coins there were also a few gear items that came along with the piles. Jared had gained a new enchanted bow that would use his magic to empower his arrows further and boots to help with always having equal footing. Pierre gained a cloak that would better hide him in stealth and a new dagger that had the enchantment called Silence which locked any cries for help and activation of abilities for 3 seconds if the target was unaware. Aldrin was given an enchanted ring that boosted his Charisma by three points even during the Daywalker penalty and an enchanted necklace.
Ring of Sweet Talking: +3 to Charisma
Necklace of Obscurity: Choose what you don¡¯t want others to see
Perplexed, Aldrin wondered how he would be able to do that since he had never encountered an enchantment that allowed a choice. Those types of enchantments were usually reserved for people with Tier 4 or 5 Classes in the queendom or the people who had that type of money to throw around. Thinking about how the necklace answered for him.
Do you wish to bind yourself to the Necklace of Obscurity? Y/N
Aldrin picked yes knowing how rare binding enchantments are rare too. The only way to rid someone of the binding would be to kill them otherwise whatever is bound to the person can never be stolen or damaged. A golden lit briefly flashed, blinding everyone sitting around the campfire.
Necklace of Obscurity is bound to: Aldrin Ravindra
Choose what you don¡¯t want others to see: Name Race Class Profession Level
Finally feeling lucky Aldrin hopped up for joy as he immediately selected his Race to hide.
Choice Selected: Race Cooldown initiated Time until you can select a new choice: 1 week
Beaming, he turned to Jared and Pierre who looked on with puzzling confusion. ¡°Guys, Inspect me,¡± Aldrin said, smiling ear to ear. Jared squinted then sudden shock overcame him, ¡°Whoa! His Race disappeared!¡± he nudged Pierre who then had the same reaction after Inspecting Aldrin. ¡°I hope nobody asks why they can¡¯t see your Race but I also hope that since you look human they wouldn¡¯t mind it much,¡± Pierre added ¡°This means our potential heist just got better and we also don¡¯t have to worry about that scout Inspecting you on the rare time you came out of the carriage!¡± Jared hopped up too, the excitement bubbling over him as well. He started to dance then so did Aldrin after throwing caution to the wind. Pierre cracked one of his rare smiles and shook his head, his blue-black hair waving along with him, watching the two dance out their excitement. For once, Aldrin felt like himself again after the harrowing nightmare he has been going through. It rekindled the hope he had that maybe it wouldn¡¯t be so bad to search knowing he had some way to disguise himself from any prying eyes. Happy to be back to somewhat normal, the rest of the journey was uneventful. The sun was beating down on the rolling plains that gave way to farmlands that were cultivating special herbs for the potions Lor-Vold created. Floating magical plows operated by the Farmers meandered throughout the field, gobbling up the crops that were ready. Initiate Alchemist also had bundles of herbs stacked in their baskets, some of which had been pulling along carts for the amount of stacks they had. Peeking through the curtain of the window of the carriage Aldrin saw a few of them give a wave as they passed by. Lor-Vold soon came into view with its multitude of factories billowing iridescent smoke from their chimneys. They were all ugly brick or stone buildings meant to be packed in for efficiency and convenience. From what Aldrin could see over the stone walls of the city as they crested on top of the hill was that the city was magnificently busy and resembled an ant hill since the people in the town were hurrying back and forth, each of them pulling carts full of potions or ingredients. People, more specifically adventurers and merchants, walked along the road when they finally got to a four way intersection. Unsurprisingly, they didn¡¯t pay any attention to the carriage as they were all wrapped up in conversations amongst themselves. Sighing with relief Aldrin ducked back in the carriage as it slowed to a crawl when it entered the queue to enter the city. The process to enter the city was smooth as the Level 45 High Guards did their routine check on the carriages to ensure nothing forbidden made it into the city. They didn¡¯t care so much for the people but cared for what they were going to be bringing into the city since one wrong reaction to a potion factory would result in the devastation of the entire city. So in a nutshell, Lor-Vold was a nuke waiting for the right catalyst to set it off. Once away from the gated entrance the group of three headed towards the residential district meaning the apartments, inns, and the lone Adventurer Guildhouse that operated in this area of the world. Sadly, being an Alchemist required long amounts of time spent in the factories or their laboratories crafting potions to perfection which left no time for building a home thus when Humans from Earth transmigrated to Grenora those who were dropped off here proposed the idea of the apartments. ¡°I¡¯m assuming we are going to look for an inn?¡± Jared opened the slit, his brown eyes locking onto Aldrin''s green ones. Peeling his gaze away from the various potion shops they went by, Aldrin looked at Jared, ¡°Yeah, I would rather not stir the beehive of Adventurers when my status shows up as dead when I check in,¡± He said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, really I am.¡± Jared sympathized, his downtrodden face added to his sincerity as he ran a hand through his short sandy brown hair. Unable to bring himself to smile, Aldrin looked at Jared hoping to at least convey that it was okay. Leaving the production district and entering the residential district the foot traffic died down by quite a lot as most of the foot traffic centered around the factories, labs, and alchemical shops they recently passed by. Like most inns and taverns the names were outlandish like The Third-Groomed Branch, The Whispering Vainglory, and The Limping Magnurian which was aptly named after the sea people that raided along the coastal areas of the continents. Of course the one that needed to be chosen had to be as low key as possible since drawing unwanted attention could cause potentially deadly consequences for everyone involved. As such they found an inn called The Gleaming Marigold. Leading up the inn entrance was a stone pebble path that weaved throughout the outer courtyard. Outside seating was limited due to the flowers and hedges for privacy among the tables that had umbrellas in the middle of them to block out the sun. The building itself was cream colored with dark wood strappings and a brightly red colored roof giving it an old cottage look. The door was made of the same dark wood that finished the trappings of the building bringing it together as a whole. Of course the stone path didn¡¯t deviate leading up to the door and was outlined with the same waist high hedges as the rest of the courtyard. Adventurers and Merchants sat among the outside tables talking in hushed whispers as a few of them sipped on a rainbow colored drink topped with some sort of cream or foam at the top. Waiters and waitresses dotted to and fro each table bringing refreshments and food. Whenever one of them opened the front door of the inn the chorus of many voices overlapping one another bellowed out. Aldrin couldn¡¯t tear his eyes away as the various scents of food of both the people and the actual food being served filled his nostrils. His claws lengthened to sharpened points as well as his canines growing to accommodate the unfulfilled need of blood. Jared thumped hard against the wood of the carriage making Aldrin snarl in his direction. Jared stood his ground until Aldrin realized that he was borderline losing control of himself. His thoughts had filled with the images of carnage as he ripped apart everyone inside to feed on their lifeforce. ¡°Are you going to be ok here?¡± Jared gestured to the inn. Shame overcame Aldrin realizing what Jared was asking. ¡°Only one way to find out,¡± He replied. Aldrin could tell that Jared didn¡¯t believe him as he looked at Pierre with a look that spoke volumes between the two. Pierre was the first to hop down and enter the inn. Jared chose to stay put and keep a watchful eye on both Aldrin and the people in case one of them got too close. Pierre soon returned with a blonde haired, brown eyed, freckled young man dressed in a nice black button up shirt and slacks to match. Immediately opening the door Pierre threw a cloak at Aldrin, ushering him to put it on. Understanding why Aldrin quickly draped it over himself to cover up the bloodstains. While it wasn¡¯t uncommon for Adventurers to come to inns covered in their recent battles they were often stopped by others who asked to regale them with their fight. However, as they all were trying to be as least suspicious as possible the cloak would only add to the effect of them just being the normal Adventurer group instead of outwardly displaying recent bloodshed. It was a cultural norm among the Adventurers and inns to cover up recent displays of battle until you were cleaned. The young man that had come with Pierre had taken the reins from Jared and assured them that both the horses and carriage would be taken care of. Stepping out now fully cloaked, Aldrin flipped the young man a Gold coin in his direction which made the eyes of the young man light up and did his job with more enthusiasm. Smiling slightly at that he was glad to know that not everything about the world had changed since he became a Vampire. While the outside of the inn looked fairly sizable the inside was a whole different ball game thanks to enchantments that allowed for the inside of a space to allow for more than meets the eye. Magical lamps were placed evenly along each wall giving off a soft orange light that felt welcoming. The floor was polished wood with rugs strewn about randomly dotted the floor of the inn. A long bar that was composed of all different alcoholic mixtures and was being manned by two dwarves was placed in the middle of the back wall. Next to the bar, the entryway to the kitchen was a buzz of activity thanks to the waiters and waitresses continuously going in and out of there. On the other side of the bar there were stairs that one would assume led up to the rooms of the inn. The tables that were able to seat four were placed haphazardly around the inn but that didn¡¯t impede any of the staff from maneuvering through. Along each side of the building¡¯s corners were where the booths were situated. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Pierre had already made arrangements for a table and they followed the pink haired hostess that led them to a corner booth away from prying eyes. Aldrin had taken that chance to look around as all manner of people sat with one another. Combinations you wouldn¡¯t normally see like a Goblin conversing with a High Elf on a potion that would replace your ears for feet. Shortly after hearing that Aldrin immediately focused on something else, more so a heated discussion of an Adventurer group that was composed of a feral looking Bugbear only wearing a loincloth and leather greaves, a Lysmere Orc in enchanted robes which were the more scholarly Orcs unlike their brutish cousins the Hizotul Orcs, the condensed form of a brown haired Giantess by the telltale sign of runic tattoos of Giantese glowing slightly blue, and a good old fashioned red haired human man wearing thick chainmail. ¡°I will absolutely not subject myself to the effects of that potion again!¡± The Lysmere Orc screamed at the Bugbear. ¡°Well why not?!¡± The Bugbear screamed back. A thick vein threatened to burst from the bald Orc¡¯s head, ¡°Because I was shitting purple polka-dots! That¡¯s what they''re called, right? Polka-dots?¡± The Orc asked the Human who was casually slurping down his soup. ¡°Yes,¡± The Human answered, not bothering to lift his eyes from the soup. ¡°SEE! PURPLE POLKA-DOTS!¡± The Orc resumed his screaming match with renewed gusto. The Bugbear got fed up and threw his tankard of ale at the Orc making it thunk off his head splattering on his robes. Smirking unabashedly, the Bugbear stood up as did the Orc. Squaring off, the Orc lunged over the table and tackled the Bugbear as they wrestled on the floor. The other patrons of the inn paid no mind to it making it seem like it was normal. The quiet Giantess stood up as well, walked over to the two squabbling party members and swatted them both on the head knocking them out cold. ¡°Thank you Eive,¡± The Human said, finally looking up from his soup. Eive grunted in response and continued to sip her ale. Nostalgia gripped Aldrin¡¯s mind as he thought back to the many times he and his Adventurer party had come to inns after Quests. Finally seated at their booth, Aldrin took more of a chance to gain familiarity with his surroundings. Merchants were busy handling deals with other merchants or going over their itineraries with their assistants while the Adventurers were either resting and recuperating while they waited for their potion orders to be done. The inn itself reminded Aldrin of home which shot a sharp pang through his not so beating heart. A waiter came by and quickly placed down three tankards of ale and three bowls of soup to which Jared took to without a care in the world. ¡°Oh my god real food,¡± Jared moaned as he slurped down his soup, forgoing the use of a spoon. Pierre sipped on his ale, his face puckering up from the bitterness, ¡°Once again I am reminded why I do not drink what Dwarves make.¡± Picking up his spoon Aldrin was unsure if he could eat and drink normal food. Hesitantly, he scooped up a spoonful of soup and placed it in his mouth. He chewed the meaty chunks in his mouth trying to get a taste for it all which did not happen. Swallowing, he waited with bated breath trying to see how his body would react to the soup. 10 minutes went by and nothing happened which left him disappointed. Jared had been watching carefully as did Pierre, ¡°Well?¡± Jared asked. Sighing, ¡°It tastes like nothing and I feel nothing,¡± Aldrin admitted. ¡°That¡¯s good right?!¡± Jared leaned forward. Aldrin folded his arms and stared down at the soup, ¡°Yes and no.¡± Pierre frowned, ¡°No? How come?¡± ¡°Means I can eat whatever but I don¡¯t taste it and it doesn¡¯t deal with the fact that I am still hungry,¡± Aldrin said, finally looking up at them both. Jared¡¯s excitement dropped as the revelation dawned on him, ¡°So even with the Humanity skill fully upgraded it doesn¡¯t actually give you all the benefits of living again. Damn.¡± He said. Scooting out of the booth Pierre got up and walked over to the bar. They both watched him as he spoke something to the Dwarven bartender who listened intently. The Dwarf¡¯s braided black hair and beard visibly bristled when his face turned beet red from anger. The Dwarf turned around and started grabbing bottles and pouring them all into one large container. Pierre sauntered back after placing two Silver coins on the bar counter, a proud smile gracing his face as he sat down. The Dwarf rushed over carrying the large container and roughly placed it down in front of Aldrin. ¡°I hear ye ain¡¯t got no taste buds,¡± The Dwarf declared. ¡°W-What?¡± Aldrin sputtered, he looked between the Dwarf and Pierre who sat back smugly. That seemed to anger the Dwarf even more, ¡°I said, ye ain¡¯t got no taste buds so drink this,¡± He jabbed a meaty finger in Aldrin¡¯s chest. His anger slightly wilted as he felt his finger meet what felt like a stone wall in the form of Aldrin¡¯s chest. Aldrin Inspected the drink in front of him.
Dwarven Killer
¡°Uh, excuse me but that says-¡± Aldrin began. ¡°I know what it says boy, now drink,¡± The dwarf insisted. ¡°Better yet,¡± The Dwarf then whistled, arresting the attention of everyone present. ¡°AYE LADS AND LADIES WE GOT A NEW CHALLENGER HERE AT THE GLEAMING MARIGOLD!¡± He bellowed to all in the inn. One of the waiters ran out to get the patrons who were sitting outside after hearing the Dwarf¡¯s proclamation If Aldrin could shit his pants in this moment, he would have as all eyes turned to their table. ¡°What happened to being low key?¡± Jared whispered to Pierre who simply shrugged his shoulders. Taken aback by Pierre¡¯s noncommittal answer, ¡°What are you playing at?¡± He tried a different approach. ¡°We want information and the best way to do so here is to see who¡¯s friendly enough to give it out without being too nosey,¡± Pierre said. ¡°But by putting Aldrin on the spot?! Are you mad?!¡± Jared tried his best to stay quiet. ¡°Learned it from the best,¡± Pierre fired back, his smug smirk still lingering on his face. Jared had no response as he opened and closed his mouth at the brazen audacity of his friend. The other patrons in the bar watched expectantly when the Dwarf turned back around with his tree logs for arms folded across his barrel sized chest. Aldrin had been keenly listening to the whispering of Jared and Pierre. He looked at Pierre who subtly nodded in response. Grabbing the large container with both hands Aldrin pulled it towards him feeling the weight of the liquid slosh around in the inside. Uncapping the lid, liquid death greeted his nose that made his eyes water. Trying his best to keep his outburst from squirming its way out of his mouth he held his breath and chugged the container. When the first drop of it hit his tongue it was a sizzling tang at first that melted his tongue before it regrew back. Then the mouthful came that burned the inside of his mouth to nothingness as it worked its way down his throat. Surprisingly, his Undead Body kicked in numbing the sensations entirely leaving only the taste of citrus and vanilla flavored cream in its wake. Eyes widening at the taste he pulled back the container as everyone watched wide eyed and mouths agape. Looking at the container with childlike wonder Aldrin raised it, ¡°I CAN TASTE THIS!¡± He cheered that resulted in the inn exploding in celebration with him. ¡°DRINKS ARE ON ME!¡± Aldrin announced taking another swig of the alcoholic drink. The Dwarf stared at Aldrin still as he gulped down the whole container. Setting it down, Aldrin looked at the Dwarf, ¡°Another please,¡± He held out the container to the dwarf who took it absentmindedly. The Dwarf stared at the container then at Aldrin, going back and forth between the two. ¡°Are you part Dwarf my good sir?¡± He finally asked. Aldrin guffawed, ¡°I am afraid not.¡± ¡°Well you were born the wrong Race,¡± The Dwarf mumbled but Aldrin picked it up and smiled nonetheless. Throughout the rest of the day and into the night, the Dwarf whose name turned out to be Thakheam Blackgrog, continued to pour Aldrin Dwavern Killer while the rest of the inn drank to their hearts desire. A few of the patrons had decided to retire either by force from being passed out drunk or from getting too rowdy and their buddies had to come take care of them. Only a few patrons remained as Aldrin finished his eighth container of the drink. ¡°Do you feel any effects at all?¡± Jared asked. ¡°Honestly no and it¡¯s great! I can¡¯t get drunk which means no hangovers!¡± Aldrin excitedly said. ¡°Oh man. . . I can¡¯t get drunk,¡± He bemoaned, cutting his mood down some. Pierre was nowhere to be found since he had got swept up in the earlier celebration after Aldrin finished the third container permanently giving him an honored guest status at The Gleaming Marigold. ¡°HESH YOU GUSH!" Pierre stumbled into the booth drunk off his ass. Jared looked at Pierre in astonishment, ¡°Pierre. . .¡± ¡°Yesh?¡± Pierre¡¯s half closed eyes ambled around to focus on Jared. Groaning, Jared ran his hands down his face, ¡°You know what! No! We deserve this after the shit we have been through!¡± Slamming his fist down on the table. ¡°Hey Mr. Blackgrog!¡± Jared called to the Dwarf that initially served the Dwarven Killer to Aldrin ¡°Aye lad! I told ye to call me Thakheam!¡± He looked up from the glass he was cleaning. ¡°Are there any pubs open this late nearby still? My friends and I want to do one more round¡± Jared asked. Thakheam frowned pondering the question, ¡°Aye but yer not gonna like it,¡± ¡°Do tell!¡± Aldrin piped up letting his festive mood shine again. ¡°Blackbelly Alley, home of my clan¡¯s distillery and pubs,¡± Thakheam answered. Aldrin looked at Jared who then looked at Pierre who was rolling his head around trying to keep it up. ¡°Shall we?¡± Aldrin asked. ¡°YESH!¡± Pierre jumped up from his seat stumbling for the door. ¡°Come with us!¡± Pierre called to Thakheam as he exited. Jared and Aldrin waited for Thakheam¡¯s answer as he thought about it, ¡°Ah why the fook not,¡± he shrugged his shoulders. Leaving the inn in the hands of the staff the group of four meandered albeit slowly thanks to Pierre¡¯s drunken state over to Blackbelly Alley where the party had only begun. The alley was packed as all manner of people stumbled to and fro the various pubs that blasted music. A few of them bumped into Aldrin who brushed it off but the beast inside him growled every time someone did. What started out as a memorable time turned into a blurry hot mess after Aldrin¡¯s third drink as unfortunately he discovered that he was not all immune to alcoholic drinks. He should have known by the name of the pub called The Ivory Middle Finger which of course had the skeletal hand forming the middle finger gesture. Inside it was dark and dingy with eerie purple flames floating around but that didn¡¯t stop the amount of people clogging up the bar to get drinks as heavy metal music; or at least the Dwarven variation of heavy metal music blared out from somewhere amongst the sea of people. Thakheam had managed to get four shots of the signature drink called the Pale Chariot which was a milky cream colored drink with bits of red flakes floating around. Not caring and caught up in the moment he took the first shot. It was sweet followed by a bitter crunchiness from whatever the flakes were. There was also an addictive quality to it that made him want more which Thakheam wholeheartedly obliged. The second shot made him feel woozy but it was soon shaken off but the third shot made his knees buckle.
Warning! You are poisoned! Heilsdale Flower detected!
That sobered up Aldrin really quick but it was already too late as his knees gave out making him fall flat on his ass. Thakheam laughed as did Pierre but Jared had been pacing himself and saw the scared look of Aldrin. Jared was the first to scoop him up, ¡°What happened?¡± He whispered in his ear. ¡°Poison, numb,¡± Aldrin managed before he felt the rest of his body including his tongue go limp. Aldrin felt himself being dragged as he struggled to keep his eyes open. He heard Jared and Thakheam speaking rapidly or at least it was rapidly to Aldrin as his mind slowed to a crawl and everything moving was a blurry figure. Deciding to shut his eyes for good, sleep called to him and he answered, letting himself drift into its embrace. Loud banging greeted him the next morning, groaning and rolling over in the comforts of something soft Aldrin did not get up. The banging continued, harder this time, until a door opened and voices could be heard speaking in hushed tones. His hearing was still muffled and cloggy so he could not exactly hear what they were saying nor did he want to since whatever comfortable thing he was on molded to fit his body. Two sets of boots thundered along the wooden floor towards him, making him cover his ears even more as his ears struggled to heal and adjust themselves. Then his own door opened making him frown at the sudden intrusion. ¡°He¡¯s in here, he is alive or well un-alive but you get the point,¡± Jared said. Aldrin sat up, the light streaming in from the window blinded him as the two figures that stood in the room blurred together. ¡°What happened? Where am I?¡± Aldrin asked, feeling his senses slowly come into focus. ¡°Long story short we had a good night,¡± Jared chuckled. ¡°Too much of a good night,¡± Pierre said, taking a seat to nurse his raging headache, his usual ponytail nowhere to be seen, letting his hair hang out wildly. ¡°Pierre, we needed it.¡± Jared argued. Pierre waved his hand and gulped down more water that sat on the desk along with a plate of a fresh bowl of jassatil which were marble sized lavender colored fruits. Slowly but surely Aldrin¡¯s vision focused more, taking in the room he was situated in. It was pretty basic with just a bed, a chest for storage, an end table, a desk, and a wardrobe. The walls were painted a soft blue color that contrasted the white wooden furniture with a landscape painting of a jutting mountain surrounded with fields of flowers. ¡°Here,¡± Jared held out a cup of dark red liquid that made Aldrin¡¯s stomach grumble in protest. ¡°Is this?¡± Aldrin asked. ¡°Fresh and it should tide you over until we can at least get you someone to fill you up,¡± Jared said, sitting down on the chest. Aldrin gulped down the blood and felt himself feel immediately better. Thanks to his new level in Thirst the little he had felt like he had drunk at least half a person. Filing that away for later he hoped he no longer had to kill anyone in order to be satisfied. ¡°How do you feel now?¡± Jared asked, eyeing Pierre ¡°Like shit still,¡± Pierre answered, still rubbing his head and eating a jassatil. ¡°We get transported to a magical world and there is no cure for hangovers, what kind of stupid nonsense does that make,¡± He grumbled to himself. ¡°There probably is somewhere out in the world and we just don¡¯t know where to look,¡± Aldrin offered up. ¡°Wait! Are those jassatils?!¡± Aldrin finally noticed. Pierre looked down at the almost empty bowl then looked at Aldrin as he slowly nodded his head. He swallowed, ¡°Do you want one?¡± He offered Aldrin. Aldrin remembered the way the jassatils would send tingles running up and down his tongue to enhance the flavor of the sweet nectar whenever he bit down on the soft fruit. Mourning for the loss of one his favorite fruits he shook his head not wanting to get his hopes up if it turned out to taste like nothing again. ¡°So what¡¯s the first order of business today?¡± Aldrin asked after feeling a lot better than when he woke up. ¡°First things first! We gotta talk,¡± Jared leaned forward, the seriousness of his tone made Aldrin pause all other thoughts making Pierre perk up as well. Chapter 11: The Hunt Begins Aldrin stared between the two as they ate breakfast on the first floor of the inn after each of them washed up and cleaned their armor. Jared and Pierre were still dressed in their mismatched leather armor while Aldrin still kept his own leather armor. A little while later after they had been seated Thakheam had stopped by to bid them good morning by placing a barrel full of water next to their table. Pierre was forever grateful for the gesture then filled himself up with water. Jared had been unusually quiet since he had told Aldrin of the Servant Quest they had completed. Finally gathering his thoughts, ¡°So let me get this straight,¡± Aldrin spoke, getting the attention of both. ¡°You guys got a Quest because you have been helping me survive?¡± Aldrin asked slowly. Jared nodded, ¡°I mean, we weren¡¯t sure how you would feel about it since. . .you know. . . you hate being you,¡± He said with raised eyebrows. Aldrin sat back taking what Jared said seriously, ¡°Look, I don¡¯t hate myself-¡± He started. ¡°That¡¯s a lie,¡± Pierre interjected, placing his water down, ¡°We have been with you for what seems like forever but in reality it has been a week and a half give or take and during that time we have seen how you look after doing what needs to be done to survive.¡± ¡°So when we got the Quest we weren¡¯t sure if we should have shared it with you or not,¡± Jared added. Aldrin took it all in with an open mind, ¡°What changed?¡± He asked. ¡°Pierre believes in fate and believes that we are meant to help you do whatever it is because we had encountered you three times that night,¡± Jared said. ¡°And Pierre is big on the number three, like superstitious about it and while I have gotten us out of some sticky situations with my thinking he also had his moments at being right about certain things pertaining to three,¡± He continued, shoveling a forkful of eggs in his mouth. ¡°I think after coming to terms with that Jared longer than I, we were offered the Quest,¡± Pierre said. Clearing his throat, ¡°So long story short again, you have loyal minions ready to do your bidding!¡± Jared gave a cheeky grin. ¡°And you guys are ok with helping me? Knowing what I have to do to survive?¡± Aldrin asked cautiously. Jared laughed at that, ¡°Aldrin please, you¡¯re a good person at heart and that means you¡¯re winning at controlling your impulses and when you can¡¯t that¡¯s what we are here for.¡± ¡°Honestly, we want to help you, maybe it would atone for the fucked up shit we had to do on Imawas,¡± He added the last part quietly as he pushed around the remaining eggs on his plate. Finally unable to contain it any longer, ¡°What happened on Imawas?¡± Aldrin asked the two of them. Jared visibly blanched as the blood drained from his face. Pierre placed a hand on his shoulder gripping it tightly, ¡°You know how we said when we came here we were in college?¡± Pierre started. Aldrin nodded for him to continue. ¡°When it happened we were in our geology class and our professor at the time had pulled up the news as chunks of the world began to disappear throughout the week. It was supposed to be a special project for the class because no one could figure out what exactly was happening,¡± Pierre informed. ¡°Then the disappearances started to be more frequent and the world began to panic as none of the governments stepped forward to claim responsibility or offer a solution. On the day our university was going to let us go home to our families we were the next ones to be transported here.¡± ¡°It happened really fast, one moment we were on Earth then there was a blinding light and next thing we knew we were waking up on one of the islands of Imawas in the middle of a battlefield,¡± Pierre finished. ¡°I¡¯ve heard rumors of the civil war in Imawas but I just thought they were just rumors,¡± Aldrin admitted. Pierre scoffed, ¡°Oh gods no, it¡¯s between the Fire Giants of Ovran, the volcanic continent to the North and Ice Giants of Vlaslor, the frozen continent to the South. Both tribes had ventured from their homelands looking for new lands to settle and those happened to be the islands of Imawas,¡± He said. ¡°Apparently they think that they each have a right to the islands but neither want to leave it to the other so they fight and they conscript slaves to do it for them.¡± ¡°But why?¡± Aldrin asked. ¡°If the two tribes of Giants go to war it would cause the other two tribes, the Mountain and Hill Giants to pick sides and both of them are friends with both the Fire and Ice tribes. Their laws demand that all tribes uphold a truce for the good of all Giants in order to prosper.¡± Pierre clarified. ¡°But the laws didn¡¯t state that they couldn¡¯t fight indirectly which is where the slaves come from,¡± Aldrin puzzled it together earning a proud nod from Pierre. ¡°117,637 people were left on campus getting ready to go home,¡± Jared shared. ¡°101,029 passed basic training,¡± ¡°99,241 went to war,¡± ¡°17 lived and came home,¡± ¡°5 escaped,¡± ¡°2 are free,¡± He finished, the haunting look he had at the campfire when they first talked about this showed on his face again. Aldrin was unsure of what to say, to hear that so few people lived spoke volumes of the harsh war on Imawas. ¡°We didn¡¯t gain all our levels with the bandits; truthfully we had only gained one level with them. The rest came from Imawas since it was a fight to live and live to eat,¡± Pierre said. ¡°Fight to live and live to eat,¡± Jared echoed, thumping his chest with his fist. ¡°That was the mantra they instilled in us every day,¡± Pierre said, clearing the beginning traces of confusion from Aldrin¡¯s face. Sghing, ¡°We were murderers before we could even experience this world,¡± He added. ¡°Who did you fight for?¡± Aldrin asked ¡°Well the Giants found us and agreed to split us 50/50 after basic training and we got shuffled in with the Ice Giants,¡± Pierre said. ¡°It still haunts us, we rarely get any sleep without us taking shifts to keep watch because not only did we have to watch for our classmates that got roped in with the Fire Giants but also the monsters and beasts that roamed whatever island we were shipped on,¡± Jared answered that one. ¡°So helping you get yourself fixed might help alleviate some of the guilt I feel,¡± Jared admitted. Aldrin looked between the two of them, the raw hurt and memories dancing at the forefront, ¡°Thank you both for sharing it with me,¡± He said, looking them both in the eye. ¡°What are the options for Servant then?¡± He asked. Clearing his throat to keep himself from getting choked up, ¡°Well we can take it as a Class, Profession, or Title each with their own effects but one constant with all three of them,¡± Pierre said. ¡°Undead would consider us friendly no matter what,¡± Jared stated. Aldrin¡¯s eyebrows rose in shock, ¡°That¡¯s a big boon! Speaking of which, I had a relation section show up when I Inspected Saloth. It was neutral but still and to say that this Quest offers a friendly relation with Undead is a lot.¡± Aldrin leaned forward and folded his hands on the table, ¡°So what does each offer then?¡± He asked, excited to learn about new things regarding the system. ¡°Here, see for yourself!¡± Jared shared the Quest.
Congratulations! You have successfully ensured the survival of your new budding Vampire Lord!
Rewards: 5 Skill points, 1,000 EXP, A choice of Servant
Servant Variations: All Undead are friendly towards you! Class: Gain access to a portion of your Vampire Lord¡¯s power and as they gain power so do you! Profession: Allows you to better serve your master by unlocking perks that will help you help ascend your master to greater heights! Title: Gives +5 to all stats in accordance to your master!
Aldrin read over them a few times trying to at least gleam what each is capable of, ¡°The Class seems to be more combat focused.¡± Jared nodded in agreement, ¡°And the Profession I am guessing is more like a supporting role?¡± ¡°Leaving the Title as just that, a title,¡± Pierre clarified. ¡°I mean all of them have a strength and weakness to them but honestly I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going to happen when I¡¯m cured,¡± Aldrin stated. Jared shared a look with Pierre, ¡°And if you can¡¯t?¡± Jared asked. ¡°Can¡¯t what?¡± Aldin asked. Jared took a deep breath, ¡°Can¡¯t be cured? Like what if this is permanent? I mean have you ever encountered something like this before? Something that changes your very being?¡± Stumped, Aldrin didn¡¯t like to think about the possibility that this is permanent and he could never return to the life he had but it was there in the back of his mind. He knew he wouldn¡¯t be able to see his sister and grandfather or the friends he had made back in the capital city of Dawnmar. Images of his dad threatened to surface as well which he promptly beat back leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. ¡°I thought about it and honestly I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m going to do if I can¡¯t be cured,¡± ¡°I got it!¡± Pierre slapped his hand on the table. ¡°We go to the Progenitor Continent if we can¡¯t find a cure here!¡± He said. Jared and Aldrin stared at Pierre who looked like he had announced the greatest plan, ¡°No more drinking for you! You warned me and I didn¡¯t believe you and that¡¯s on me,¡± Jared flippantly said. ¡°I mean it¡¯s not a bad idea,¡± Aldrin supported Pierre Jared whipped his head around so fast it looked like he almost broke it, ¡°ARE YOU INSANE?!¡± ¡°I¡¯M SUPPOSED TO BE THE INSANE ONE! NOT ANY OF YOU!¡± He screamed, pointing at both them with his face turning red at the very thought of going. Pierre rubbed the back of his neck and looked away at Jared¡¯s sudden outburst, ¡°Technically we don¡¯t know what¡¯s there since it¡¯s the Forbidden Continent,¡± ¡°Yeah! Fucking exactly! The Forbidden Continent! Nobody comes back from exploration over there! No one worth talking to at least because they are all crazy!¡± Jared continued his outburst. Standing up, ¡°THAKHEAM! I NEED A DRINK!¡± Jared stomped over to the bar. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. ¡°That could have gone better,¡± Aldrin said, watching Jared down a shot of whatever Thakheam poured. ¡°It¡¯s the only place that might have a cure or at least something that could help. No one has been over there to fully explore and if they do they don¡¯t come back the same. This could be the chance you need,¡± Pierre explained. ¡°I¡¯m on board with the idea, don''t get me wrong but we need to be at a higher level first before we even begin to gear up for the trip.¡± Pierre looked over a Jared again who downed another shot, ¡°I¡¯ll try to convince him but back to the matter we were originally talking about I¡¯ll take the Title of Servant,¡± After Pierre selected his choice a wispy white light shot from him into Aldrin. ¡°Oh whoa, that¡¯s a weird feeling,¡± Pierre said, patting the spot on his chest where the light shot from. Frowning and looking down at the spot the light went into, ¡°What was that?¡± Aldrin asked. ¡°Guess we¡¯ll find out when we need to,¡± Pierre shrugged. Jared came back a few moments later placing his empty shot glass on the table, ¡°IF we have to go to the Progenitor Continent then we head to Folos first before we head to Ebira to take a ship across the water.¡± ¡°Does that mean you are in with Plan B?¡± Pierre asked hopefully. Jared¡¯s tensed shoulders dropped, ¡°Yes I am,¡± He sighed in defeat. ¡°Alright then we start here in Lor-Vold, ask around about any shops that specialize in fighting the Undead, and meet back here around midnight?¡± Pierre suggested. They agreed to the plan and made their way down to the Production District of the city where they first entered. Aldrin donned the cloak¡¯s hood to block out the stinging of the sun as it beat down on them again. A few clouds passed over but thanks to the magical smoke being produced in the city most of the clouds dissipated. Still it didn¡¯t alleviate the effects of Daywalker. If anything happened while in the city when he was this weak he wouldn¡¯t stand a chance he thought looking at his reduced Stats.
Strength: 8 Dexterity: 6
Vitality: 6 Intelligence: 5
Willpower: 10 Charisma: 7
Soon they were thrown amongst the throngs of people going every way, calling shouts of warning as they ran by. There were Humans walking along with fancy dressed Orcs, Dwarves and Wood elves intermingled as they listed the types of potions they needed, a few glimpses of Half-Elves and Half-Orcs could be spotted too. The three had to be quick so they wouldn¡¯t get separated and swept away with the ongoing crowd. People working in shops stood off to the side calling out wares that were for sale. The factories and laboratories made the streets feel more cramped as a few towered over others casting long shadows. The streets themselves were a hodgepodge of dirt paths going into cobbled stone as if someone tried to upgrade and gave up halfway through. Finding an Alley that was devoid of people the three found refuge there away from the busy street. Aldrin had been holding his breath the whole time feeling weird because it felt as natural as breathing. His mind still tried to reconcile that it was no longer necessary to breathe. Knowing if he inhaled, the scents of the living would make him lose his mind especially since he hasn¡¯t been fully satiated. Once again, the fear of civilization creeped in the back of his mind. This was dangerous but the reward of this all would be worth it. ¡°Alright now that we are here I have the first piece of the puzzle,¡± Aldrin announced, ¡°Heilsdale Flower,¡± He said. Jared and Pierre looked at him for an explanation. ¡°It¡¯s a poison either to me or Vampires as a whole,¡± He explained. ¡°That¡¯s what took you out last night? How many drinks did you have?¡± Jared asked, concern laced in his voice. ¡°It was three shots and it was enough to take me down,¡± Aldrin remembered. Pierre huffed, ¡°Heilsdale Flower huh. . .¡± He placed his hands on his hips. ¡°We¡¯ll look for it then,¡± Jared said. All of them stepped onto the road and split up from there. With this being the first time in Lor-Vold for Aldrin he was a bit lost as to where exactly to begin. So he had started walking back towards the entrance gate hoping to hear one of the street vendors advertising something that would be a lead. A part of him wished that Adeline was here with him knowing she had a knack for finding things that don¡¯t want to be found. Of course that also made him shudder because of the scout Ingram that followed them which undoubtedly reported back to Adeline as soon as they entered the city. He knew they had to be quick if they were to escape before Adeline marched into town with her men demanding for the ¡°Lord¡± Aldrin played. Hopeful still, Aldrin walked along bumping into a group of Dark Elves who hissed at him even though they walked into him. Trying to keep himself from ripping into them he hurried away until he saw someone armored like a Paladin head into a shop called The Banished Beast. Intrigued, he window shopped along the street keeping The Banished Beast within sight until he saw the Paladin walk out and disappear among the crowd. The door chimed upon entering, alerting the Hobgoblin clerk who turned around ready to greet the next customer with a toothy smile. Aldrin had to do a double take because the brown scaled Hobgoblin was wearing round black rimmed glasses that enlarged his brown eyes to a ridiculous degree and a checkered patterned black and cyan shirt that made him slightly dizzy if he stared too long. The hobgoblin cleared his meaty throat, ¡°Welcome to the Banished Beast! Where we sell potions fit for a monster¡¯s weakness!¡± Its voice was guttural like its throat tightened up from speaking. Blinking for a second, ¡°Uh hi,¡± Aldrin gave a wave, stepping into the store fully. Glass cases filled with different colored potions were lit up from the inside and lined against the brick walls of the shop. ¡°First time in the city?¡± The clerk asked, noticing Aldrin¡¯s eyes wander to the glass cases.. Aldrin nodded while the Hobgoblin returned a bigger smile. ¡°What are you looking for then? We¡¯ve got poisons, antidotes, oils, remedies, and resistance potions?¡± The Hobgoblin listed. ¡°My village has a Feral Vampire problem and I need to know if there is anything that will help?¡± Aldrin lied. The Hobgoblin tapped his chin with his clawed hand before snapping his fingers. He jumped down from the stool he stood on and ran to the furthest corner of the store where a step ladder leaned against the wall. He grabbed it and rushed back closer to Aldrin, stopping at a glass case that held a murky brown colored oil that was in a glass flask and a silver glowing potion. He gently pulled them both out one by one and sat them on the counter. ¡°These should help,¡± He offered the potions for Aldrin to Inspect.
Flask of Weakness: Reduce the target¡¯s Stats by half on successful strike for five minutes.
Brew of the Moon: Gives immunity to Disease, Poison, and Curses for one hour.
¡°Is there one that cures Disease?¡± Aldrin asked with hope seeing that he was on the right track. The Hobgoblin shook his head, ¡°Only ones that prevent it from happening.¡± ¡°Do you know where I could go for potions like those?¡± Aldrin pressed. ¡°Someone bit?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The hobgoblin flattened his big long tipped ears, ¡°Kill them. No hope for them.¡± Taken aback at the abrupt response Aldrin figured he wouldn¡¯t get any help here, ¡°I¡¯ll look somewhere else then, thanks for your time,¡± He said while leaving the store. ¡°Good luck though!¡± He heard the hobgoblin say before the door closed. Back on the street Aldrin tugged on his hood as a breeze drifted by kicking up some dirt from the foot traffic. Stepping onto the highway so to speak he let himself walk along with the crowd looking at the various shops hoping to see something. For five hours he had walked along his section of the Production District and found nothing but dead ends. What was worse was that his need for blood had grown substantially and by then each person he looked at made his stomach erupt in sharp jabs. He stumbled into one of the alleys between two buildings and sat down as the pain in his stomach grew. ¡°Please, just a little longer,¡± He begged as the sun was beginning to make its downfall into the twilight hours. Determined to keep heading towards The Gleaming Marigold hoping to cross paths with someone he braced himself against the wall and pushed himself back onto the street. Soon he felt strong hands grip both of his arms and dragged him off the street. With Daywalker still active he stood no chance against whoever this was. ¡°You don¡¯t look so good,¡± Pierre addressed once they were off the street. ¡°How did you find me?¡± Aldrin was surprised that Pierre was the one to find him. ¡°I am a Tracker for one, for two you look like a stumbling old man that¡¯s waddling around, and for three I heard you say my name on the wind if that makes sense?¡± Pierre frowned. Aldrin frowned as well, ¡°But I didn¡¯t. . .well not exactly, I was just hoping to run into you or Jared,¡± Then realization bloomed on their faces, ¡°Servant,¡± They both said in unison. ¡°That¡¯s a hidden perk then,¡± Aldrin surmised remembering the wispy light from earlier. A flask with dark red liquid appeared in Pierre¡¯s hand, ¡°Here,¡± Offering it to Aldrin. Aldrin took it and uncapped it, his Thirst compelling him to get every last drop, ¡°Who¡¯s blood is this?¡± He asked after finishing. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it because you would hate yourself even more and besides that, any luck with the cure?¡± Pierre inquired. ¡°Everything is a dead end on my sections. You?¡± Aldrin asked. ¡°Nothing either BUT I did find out more about the Heilsdale Flower and the Alchemist Profession,¡± Pierre said, helping Aldrin to his feet again. ¡°We have to go find Jared though.¡± Together they strode off towards Jared¡¯s portion of the Production district where they easily found him as he too was on his way back to the inn. They exchanged information however Jared had a playful smirk on his face, ¡°Guess what I learned.¡± ¡°What?¡± Aldrin asked. ¡°The Alchemists here have been capturing and experimenting on the Undead,¡± Jared informed. Aldrin stopped walking, ¡°That¡¯s illegal! Do they want to have another outbreak like Vaultstrand?!¡± ¡°What happened in Vaultstrand?¡± Jared asked. ¡°Basically my whole reason for joining the Holy Order to begin with,¡± Aldrin said, still not ready to talk about it. Both of them looked at each other then back at Aldrin waiting for him to explain more. ¡°Vaultstrand was home to a group of Tier 4 and 5 Mage Classes who sought immortality and turned themselves into liches by capturing the souls of the city in some crazy ritual and created a minor zombie apocalypse,¡± He let out to appease their curious looks. Both of their eyebrows shot up to the top of their heads as their mouths hung open, ¡°If the Alchemists here are trying to do the same as the Mages in Vaultstrand then we better hurry and get out of here,¡± Jared said after recovering from his shock. The walk back was silent as each came to the grim resolve that Lor-Vold may be the next cataclysm if things went south. Arriving at The Gleaming Marigold, Thakheam gave them a wave and offered them shots which Pierre vehemently declined before they went to their usual corner booth. The inn wasn¡¯t as crowded as it was last night when they first arrived but the night was still young before people started to return here to unwind. The three of them sat for another hour with them discussing the potential conflict in the Research District with the Alchemists studying the Undead they moved on to their next topic; the Heilsdale Flower. ¡°Apparently the Heilsdale Flower is the only known flora to have an effect against the Undead. It¡¯s instant death if too much is used but little amounts act as a numbing agent for them,¡± Pierre explained. ¡°Can it be used to make a cure?¡± Aldrin asked. Pierre shrugged his shoulders, ¡°Maybe but I would have to take the Alchemist Profession and study it.¡± ¡°Then you would be known as the man that cured Vampirism,¡± Jared joked. ¡°Would that be something you¡¯re willing to do?¡± Aldrin hesitantly asked. Pierre studied Aldrin seeing the hope trying to surface, ¡°I can try but I can¡¯t make any promises,¡± He offered. ¡°Better than nothing so I¡¯ll take it, thank you Pierre.¡± Thakheam had brought ale to the table this time as well as grilled wolf ribs with carrots and green beans tossed in some type of sweet sauce. If Aldrin could cry he would as he wasn¡¯t able to taste any of it as Jared and Pierre voraciously gobbled it down describing the flavors to Aldrin. Finishing up they each paid 55 Bronze coins for it. Aldrin had asked about the fee for the rooms which Jared ensured not to worry about it. ¡°Tomorrow, Pierre gets his Alchemist Profession and then we will see about these rumors about the study of Undead here,¡¯ Aldrin proposed. Both of them nodded in agreement and retired to their rooms. Aldrin went on his own and undressed, dropping his armor on the floor to sleep in his shirt and pants. Closing his eyes, Aldrin got comfy and settled in for the night ignoring the alert of his Daywalker disabling. ¡°Help ussss,¡± A disjointed wispy voice whispered in his ear. Aldrin bolted up, his sword drawn as the full might of his Stats and abilities flooded back to him. He searched the room but found nothing even with his predator vision activated. ¡°Help ussss,¡± The same wispy voice whispered in his ear again. This time Aldrin whipped around facing the window, he tentatively walked towards it, sword angled for a quick lunge. Opening the window he looked around at the street below him but was greeted with only patrolling guards. ¡°Help ussss, pleassseee!¡± This time Aldrin heard the pain in its voice as his gaze locked onto the area where the Research District was located. An intense rage bubbled up and threatened to radiate outwards before it settled back to wherever it had come from. ¡°Shit. . .¡± Aldrin¡¯s tense shoulders dropped as he lowered his sword. Chapter 12: Infestation The night breeze drifted through Aldrin¡¯s curly brown hair as he jumped rooftop to rooftop. The magical fumes rising from the vents from the Alchemist below, brewing their potions obscured his jumping form. Following the tug of whatever called out to him, he stopped, watching as another duo of level 45 High Guards patrolled the empty streets below. When they turned the corner, he waited until the light from their lantern faded. He had been at this game of hide and seek after waiting for the people to turn in for the night. It was an ominous feeling to see a city so vibrant during the day become a ghost city after a certain time of night. Still, learning new things about his Race, he found he made no noise when he landed on the flat rooftops of the factories. Ignoring the hissing from other vents dotted along the top of the buildings, he hurried along, getting a running start and leaping across another gap. The tug in his chest grew as he came upon a walled off area of the city with a gated entrance manned by two High Guards. Beyond the gate, from what Aldrin could see, lined the Research District. The pull was the strongest there he felt when he looked for a way in. His hearing picked up something being dragged on the cobbled road further away headed for the gated entrance. Aldrin waited and soon he met with what made the noise to begin with. A group of five heavily armed and armored men each dragged someone in chains. The captives wore silky black sacks covering their heads, but judging from their clothing, they were a mix of rich and poor. With his eyesight enhanced beyond human limitations, he saw that each of them held an insignia depicting a clawed black hand somewhere on them. Still taking advantage of his eyesight, he used Inspect.
Name: Unknown
Race: Human
Class: Slaver (Tier 3)
Level: 38
Grimacing, Aldrin watched them walk up to the entrance. ¡°Got another shipment. They should be expecting us,¡± A Slaver said, rattling the chains of his captive. One of their captives tried to break free, one of the nicely dressed ones to be exact, but was met with a brutal punch to the head, knocking the captive senseless. Now held and carried on the shoulder of their captor, their resistance stopped altogether. The Slaver promptly returned to the stare down with one of the High Guards who starred with equal contempt. Letting the tension build a little longer, one of the High Guards took out a small silver marble and concentrated on it. Aldrin guessed 10 minutes had gone by and during that time another of the captives fought back and tried to escape. Their resistance was short-lived when they held him down while one Slaver cleanly chopped off his hand. During that entire ordeal, Aldrin came to the conclusion that the silky black sacks over their heads were enchanted to keep them silent no matter what. The sight of the blood from the severed hand made Aldrin grip the edge of the roof tightly as he tried to control himself. Thankfully, the gate soon opened up, allowing for High Elf to strut through. He was tall and thin with golden skin, blonde almost white hair was elegantly done in a topknot to accentuate the trademark features of all High Elves, their high cheekbones. He wore a long draping purple with black phoenix motifs at his shoulders that seemed to meld into one while his hands were tucked inside his robe. The lower part of the robe held black flames that flickered under the dim light when he came to a stop. His robe fluttered briefly in the wind as he looked down from his nose and sneered at the Slavers. Aldrin used Inspect on the newcomer,
Name: Unknown
Race: High Elf
Class: Exotic Sequencer (Tier 5)
Level: 81
¡°You¡¯re short a couple,¡± His voice was sharp and to the point, his golden eyes observing the group in front of him. ¡°Something recently destroyed one of our camps in the area so we had to diverge our resources a bit,¡± A Slaver coolly replied. The High Elf contorted his face, baring his perfectly white teeth, ¡°You will get half the payment then!¡± He challenged, throwing a pouch of coins at their feet. Looking at the pouch of coins on the ground then back at the High Elf, the lead Slaver shrugged, ¡°We will have a shipment of fresh ones next week if you¡¯re still interested then,¡± he said, turning around to walk back, ignoring the bag of coins on the ground. That infuriated the High Elf more as his hands glowed and white glowing sigils began to appear in the air. Goosebumps flared along Aldrin¡¯s body as the magic in the air sucked in towards the glowing sigils. The Slavers barely had a chance to defend themselves before the sigils unleashed beams of light from them that vaporized their intended targets. ¡°Grab them and bring them to my study,¡± The High Elf demanded and walked off. The High Guards obeyed and grabbed the captives that were too fearful to move. Aldrin watched as they all disappeared behind the gate leaving it unattended. Seizing the opportunity, he jumped from the rooftop, landing gracefully as a feather. Once he got close to the barred entrance, he used Shapechange turning himself to fog enabling himself to flow in between the railings. He reformed on the other side, gaping in wonder at the mimicry of a University from Earth. Manicured stone slab paths with magical lamp posts dimly lit the way. Trees and artfully designed hedge bushes interceded along the walkways. The buildings themselves were constructed of stone that looked to be white marble as each were designed to be functional in their shapes much like the rest of the city. From the gate, down the center path stood an octagonal building with a glass roof, to the right a single floored medium sized square building with one light illuminated the doorway, and to the left an oval-shaped arena of some sorts made its presence known where he saw the guards from the gates leading the prisoners along. However, the tug in his chest pulled him towards the direction of the lone single floored building. Deciding he could always follow the tug to lead him back, he however could not lose sight of the prisoners. Using Shapechange for his fog form, he trailed along the ground, keeping his distance. He kept a watchful 360 degree view of his surroundings, which was disorienting at first but like him no longer needing to breathe, the view felt natural. The looming doorway of the arena-like building opened automatically once the guards got closer, allowing Aldrin easy passage. Inside the building, doors of different make lined the corridor, creating intersections at every fifth one. Aldrin could sense magical enchantments oozing off the floors and walls of the place. Blending in with the shadows of the dim lighting, he followed along, passing two intersections and then making a left. They got to the end of the corridor and went up the stairs, with the next floor being the same layout. One of the guards suddenly stopped, fishing out the silver marble from before. He stood still for a moment before looking at his fellow guard confusedly. ¡°We have an intruder? One of the enchantments got triggered?,¡± He said, making Aldrin¡¯s lifeless blood chill. ¡°How? The enchantments at the gate should have alerted us the moment it happened?¡± The other guard asked. ¡°Dunno, probably just another issue with this new system being implemented,¡± He shrugged his shoulders. Groaning, ¡°Let¡¯s just drop these off to Master Tanyth¡¯s study and then deal with the alarm,¡± the guard suggested. Figuring that¡¯s all he could learn for now, Aldrin backtracked towards the entrance, flowing underneath the door since they didn¡¯t open automatically. Before leaving altogether, he went over to the single floored building to take a quick peek inside. As he got closer, the tug in his chest became stronger, but so did an uneasy gnawing begin in his stomach. Reforming in front of the door since there weren''t any seams to enter through, Aldrin pushed it open, revealing the inside to be a library with rows and rows of bookcases. In the center of it all, there was a staircase leading downward to a second sublevel of the library. Aldrin followed it, descending three floors while keeping his senses on high alert. Figuring everyone would either be asleep or cooped up with their experiments, he still took no chances. He keenly listened for any heartbeats or sudden movements in the surrounding air. By the fifth sublevel of the library, there was not another set of stairs to descend. Instead, he was met with magically locked doors. The tug directed him onwards away from the staircase to his right, deeper inside. It reminded Aldrin of what his grandfather described what a storage building would look like on the inside. Traversing the underground maze with the help of the pull, voices were soon heard. ¡°The Queen demands results on your experiments, Tanyth!¡± a nasally voice threatened. ¡°I need more time, but I am close. I am just missing one last piece of the puzzle, and I think this new shipment might help.¡± Tanyth¡¯s sharp voice answered. ¡°Need I remind you that the crown cannot keep sweeping these Slaver raids under the rug much longer?¡± the nasally voice whispered. Tanyth¡¯s perfect eyebrow twitched, ¡°And need I remind you, Councilman Roventa, that should any of these creatures be loose upon the city we will have a situation worse than Vaultsrand?¡± He hissed back ¡°I have taken the necessary precautions, but I still need time to perfect it if we intend to end our Queendom¡¯s enemies once and for all,¡± Tanyth huffed. ¡°I shall convey to the Queen that you are close, she will not be pleased about the matter so I suggest you make haste before she tires of you and wipes any traces of you from existence,¡± Roventa warned before strutting in the direction of Aldrin. Reforming into fog, Aldrin drifted upwards to hide in the shadows of the corner. Watching a short, gaunt looking Dwarf draped in a cloak that hid his features walk by, Aldrin¡¯s worst fear had been realized. Lor-Vold had Undead being kept somewhere and the worst part of it all was that the Queen had a hand in it. Drifting down, Aldrin listened for Tanyth, but quietness greeted him instead. Feeling that was enough for one night, he backtracked again after waiting a few minutes for both culprits to be gone. Once he arrived back on the surface, the grounds were crawling with High Guards running around looking for the intruder. Given this much action for one intruder, Aldrin concluded that the city of Lor-Vold desperately wanted to hide something sinister. Worried that switching to a swarm of bats would attract too much attention and with the lack of clouds in the night sky, his fog form wouldn¡¯t be able to pass for a low hanging cloud due to the lack of clouds to begin with and because his fog form were like shadowy tendrils, he would need to do this with care. Sticking to being a fog, he stuck to the shadows, hoping to use the shadows on the outskirts of the grounds to get by. ¡°It got loose!¡± A High Guard came running from the arena looking building that housed the Alchemist studies. Aldrin heard the loud crashing before he saw it. Adjusting his vision upwards, the glass shattered from one of the windows on the top floor of the Alchemists study. A humanoid fell through the air, twitching and snarling on the way down. It landed on the pavement on all fours, as if gravity forgot to impose its will at the last second. Its clothes were tattered and ruined, much of how Aldrin assumed he looked after his initial Race change. Its skin was as pale as the full moon, and its fingers ended in blackened, dirty claws. As Aldrin looked at the appearance, it too gazed in his direction, making the pull of his stomach react. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. The wispy white hair strands struggled for dear life when the breeze blew, revealing a gaunt face that looked like a bat and a human combined. Large fangs extended out of his mouth, adding another layer of horror to its sunken red eyes. Aldrin instinctively knew what exactly stood yards away, he chose to Inspect it anyway since he was dealing with Alchemists.
Name: ???
Race: Newborn Feral Vampire
Level: 5
Lore: A newly turned Vampire that has lost its humanity by embracing the bloodlust it craves.
¡°Kiinnn. . .¡± It wheezed out, reaching for Aldrin. Something deep inside Aldrin resonated with the word it said, shocking him to the core. Before he could resolve the conflict that dwelled inside of him, one of the High Guard pierced it through the brain, killing it instantly. The flicker of familiarity between them faded away as more of the High Guards assembled around the slain Vampire. Tanyth rushed out from the library, rushing over to the group.¡°What happened?¡± He demanded, coming to a stop when he saw the body. ¡°Master!¡± A young man with a shaved head and pointed ears came rushing out of the building dressed in a dark purple robe much of the same color as Tanyth. ¡°It bit one of the guards and killed the other!¡± The apprentice answered quickly, hoping to appease the tightly wound High Elf. That news immediately improved Tanyth¡¯s mood as he let go of the apprentice, gesturing for him to lead the way. ¡°Clean this mess up before someone sees what they aren¡¯t supposed to!¡± Tanyth ordered as he walked away. The High Guards whipped into action at the order, allowing for Aldrin to sneak past. Reforming a few blocks away in an alley, he let himself slide to the ground. Reeling from the fact that this may be worse than a zombie outbreak. A Vampire outbreak would be ten times as worse. He had only killed one Vampire before, but he had never experienced the sensation he felt when he witnessed the execution. Not only had he felt the flicker of life in the Feral Vampire vanish. It left him feeling hollow on the inside. Now he wondered what he would find at the end of the tug in the locked rooms of the library. Would he find more Vampires or would he find zombies instead? Each could be catastrophic events, especially given the location. He needed to return to the inn and inform Jared and Pierre about the dark underbelly of Lor-Vold and the potential corruption of the Queen herself and her Court. He hoped that Pierre would gain access to parts of the Research District to uncover the secrets held within after acquiring the Profession. With a new threat on the horizon again with hope for a cure as well, Aldrin dreaded if he would have to save the city or save himself. That permeated his mind on his way back to The Gleaming Marigold, pondering the choice presented to him. He thought of what his parents would do and what his brother would do. Both of those thoughts brought painful memories with them, memories Aldrin buried. After avoiding the patrolling guards by traversing the rooftops again, Aldrin made it back to the inn in record time. The sunrise began to crest the horizon, announcing the new day ahead. He paced in his room, thinking about the implications. Soon there was a knock on his suite door. Something inside told him it was Pierre. Opening it, he ushered them in and closed it quickly behind them, getting confused looks from the both of them. ¡°It¡¯s worse! It¡¯s so much worse than we realized!¡± Aldrin began, fumbling with his words. Pierre frowned, ¡°Slow down, what are you talking about?¡± ¡°If they get loose or they can¡¯t be contained, this city is doomed! The world is doomed!¡± He rambled, the reality of the situation lightly breaking his mind. Pierre smacked Aldrin, making Jared gasp at the action, but it got Aldrin to focus as they both stared at each other for a long moment. ¡°Thank you,¡± Aldrin conveyed, blinking a few times. Pierre nodded, ¡°Now what happened?¡± settling to stand next to Jared again. ¡°Feral Vampires,¡± Aldrin said, making both of them stand more attentive. So Aldrin explained his nightly escapade that resulted in the discovery. ¡°What do we do then? We can¡¯t trust the Queen to do something since she¡¯s in on it and we can¡¯t trust city officials because they might be in on it too,¡± Jared reasoned. Aldrin shrugged, ¡°We probably can¡¯t trust anybody.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not jump to conclusions here. It may only be a select few and all the guards at the Research District who know,¡± Pierre placated their thoughts. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure there would have been a huge revolt if the entire city was working on it,¡± He added. Jared crossed his arms, ¡°And if they are?¡± He seeded doubt again. ¡°This country¡¯s leader is letting her people be subjugated into slavery AND allowing crazy Alchemist run experiments on Undead! Vampires nonetheless! You and I have seen firsthand what one can do already! There is no telling who supports her and who doesn¡¯t!¡± Jared argued, jutting his head in Aldrin¡¯s direction. ¡°No offense Aldrin,¡± Jared quickly added. ¡°None taken. If I was in your shoes, I would be worried too. No, scratch that, I am worried actually,¡± Aldrin admitted, running his fingers through his curly brown hair. Pierre sighed, rubbing the bridge of his slender nose. ¡°I¡¯m not saying we shouldn¡¯t do anything. I¡¯m just saying we are the small fish in the ocean right now. Yes, if push came to shove, Aldrin is strong,¡± He pointed to him, ¡°We¡¯re strong,¡± he then gestured to himself and Jared. ¡°But we aren¡¯t taking on a nation strong or even taking a city strong either. It¡¯s out of our hands and I¡¯m sorry. The best we can do is alert someone official who can get it to the Lord or Lady of this province.¡± He finished as each of them looked on. Jared still looked heated at the mention of turning this in, but he understood that they had no power to make a change. Still, Aldrin felt the remnants of a pull from the Research District, but something else, something off in the distance further out from the city, pulled along too. He had wished that being a Vampire came with instructions and how-to¡¯s because he was flying by the seat of his pants hoping for the best when it came to being one. Snapping his fingers, ¡°We tell Adeline, my sister!¡± Aldrin brightened up. Jared perked up as well at the thought as Pierre took the time to think about it. ¡°Would she believe it?¡± Pierre skeptically asked. ¡°In a heartbeat! She fought at Vaultstrand with my brother when the first outbreak happened,¡± Aldrin winced from the memory. ¡°That¡¯s - What? The third time you mentioned your brother? What happened to him?¡± Jared cautiously asked. ¡°He died. That¡¯s it.¡± Aldrin clammed up. Pierre walked up to him, placing a hand on his shoulder, ¡°We understand it¡¯s hard to talk about it but when you¡¯re ready we will listen,¡± He sympathized. ¡°We just can¡¯t let this be another Vaultstrand,¡± Aldrin quietly said. ¡°And we won¡¯t let it. I¡¯ll go see about getting your sister to come while Pierre gets his Profession. I should be back within a few days if I take one of the horses we escaped with,¡± Jared offered. ¡°I¡¯ll learn more about this tugging sensation while you both are gone,¡± Aldrin said. With goals in mind, they set out, ¡°Oh! Here you go!¡± Jared threw another blood vial at Aldrin, who caught it and gave him a grateful smile in return. Now with an empty suite again, Aldrin figured he would need to leave the city in order to tune out the hustle and bustle of it all. Donning his cloak, ventured downstairs to the rest of the inn where he spotted the Bugbear and Giantess from before. Seeing Aldrin come down, they both raised their mugs to him before resuming their hushed conversation. Aldrin caught the brief action of the Bugbear¡¯s hand brushing against the Giantess¡¯ hand when he placed his mug back down on the table. A small smile graced his lips at the intention as he walked past the two, giving a wave to Thakheam on the way out the door. Pulling his hood up to block the uncomfortable burn from the sun, he ventured through the Residential District and onto the busy production streets before finally being let out of the city by the High Guards at the main entrance to the city. He kept his head down as he walked past the various groups of people, eagerly awaiting to get into the city. A few dogs barked at him as he passed a merchant caravan coming to restock on potions. The owners of the dogs apologized to him for their behavior after calming them before going on about their business. He came to the intersection and read the signpost that was pointed in each of the four directions. The sign that pointed back in the direction he came from labeled Lor-Vold. To the left was the village of Karvendal. The right was to the provincial capital of the Western region, Yeshur, and if he were to keep straight, it would be the shortcut to what used to be Bonehills. Closing his eyes, he focused on where the second strand pulled him, which directed him to Karvendal. He needed to see where this strand led him, so he walked along, rationing the blood vial Jared had given him. Luckily, the village wasn¡¯t that far from Lor-Vold and he guessed it was the city¡¯s food production based on the endless fields. A few Farmers were out and gave him a friendly wave, which he returned. As the village entered eyesight, the tug angled in a different direction off to the side, where the rolling plains and hills rolled into one among the horizon. ¡°Why can¡¯t anything ever be easy?¡± Aldrin groaned, dropped his head after looking at the miles of plains and hills before him. Stepping off the path he walked, encountering a few Level 10 Horned Wolves that ran off after getting a good look at him. Unsure if he should be happy or sad that the wildlife didn¡¯t bother him, the pull he was following suddenly stopped. Now more alert, he looked around, only to see nothing but mounds of dirt. Parts of the earth looked disturbed, as if something or someone had been trying to make a hole. There were a few of them all placed at random places to make it look more natural, but whoever attempted to do so failed miserably. Looming closer to one of the mounds of earth on the ground, the tugging pull now began to scream at him that wherever this was, this was where he was supposed to be. Bending down, he touched the earth, feeling that it was still soft after being dug up from the moisturized ground. Hoping that the advantage of having Daywalker active would allow him some protection with the help of the sun, he began to scoop away the dirt mound with his hands. That proved to be unneeded as the mound began to move, forcing Aldrin to jump back in surprise. Not only was the dirt mound he touched moving, but the rest started to move too, forcing Aldrin to call for his steel sword from his Inventory. Being away from the city allowed Aldrin to breathe in fresh air along his little walk to this location. The very same air he enjoyed was soon overlaid with a horrid stench that made his eyes water, forcing him to quit breathing again. A rotten human hand punctured up from the mound first, struggling to find purchase among the earth to drag itself further out. Another hand rose, then another, and another, and soon the mound of dirt was now a pit of wandering rotten hands. The mound of dirt began to shift more and sink inwards, revealing a cesspool of zombies all intertwined. Moans and groans accompanied them as they started to haul themselves out one by one. All of whom were in various states of decay with milky eyes that were clouded over from death. Aldrin lost count after the fifth mound he could visually see, became hidden behind the sea of bodies that dredged themselves out. Flies were soon upon them as they grazed on the flesh of the dead, some of which housed maggots that squelched with each step the zombie took. The tug in Aldrin¡¯s chest quieted down as the zombies looked at Aldrin with interest. ¡°The horde greets thee Midnight Lord,¡± A chorus of voices echoed in Aldrin¡¯s mind, making him Inspect one of the zombies in front of him.
Name: Zombie Runner
Race: Zombie
Level: 13
Lore: Those brought back either by a lingering resentment, fell magic, or a curse these common Undead can be born anywhere.
¡°We have come for our losst brotherss and sisterss!¡± The horde¡¯s unified voice groaned again in his mind. ¡°Will you aid us my Lord?¡±
Quest Given!
Rouse the Horde! As a member of the Undead Race, and a powerful one at that, this Zombie Horde wishes for your aid in freeing their kin.
Reward: 2,000 EXP and 3 Skill Points
Aldrin stared at the new Quest in front of him, sneaking glances at the tamed Zombie Horde that stood at attention. Soon, the ground began to shake. Aldrin turned to see what he thought was a small hill move as dirt fell off in clumps, revealing the form of a sleeping Zombie Giant rising to wakefulness.
Name: Zombie Juggernaut
Race: Zombie
Level: 56
Lore: This one used to be a Giant until it was infected, once an unstoppable force for the living has become a powerhouse for the dead.
Aldrin gaped at the Giant Zombie that was missing half the flesh on its face as it peered down. ¡°I lead the horde,¡± it spoke into the mind of Aldrin. Aldrin took one look at the horde arrayed in front of him as another, Giant Zombie unearthed itself further back, standing tall amongst the horde. ¡°More of us come every day, growing the horde,¡± it spoke again. ¡°How?¡± Aldrin only managed out. ¡°Something changed, thoughts clearer, you,¡± The Giant said, grappling with the mass of thoughts from the horde. Chapter 13: Ties That Bind Unnerved by the amount of zombies gathered, Aldrin didn¡¯t let it show, ¡°How long until you attack?¡± He hesitantly asked. The Zombie Giant moaned thoughtfully, ¡°A month and we will have the strength,¡± it answered, making the zombies howl and groan in anticipation. Taking a hard gulp Aldrin steeled himself, ¡°If I help you I kill the city and possibly cripple the world.¡± All eyes flickered to him, making Aldrin feel smaller than he already was. ¡°You would side with the Living?¡± the horde asked. A few zombies clacked their jaws as if they were preparing to rip into something. ¡°Well, I need the living to live?¡± he tested. The rising frenzy of the horde diminished soon after, ¡°So do we, but the living have made their choice when they declared war on us for trying to live,¡± The Giant replied. Aldrin could not argue with that, knowing that he would be killed the moment he revealed himself, feral or not. ¡°What if I give you specific targets to destroy?¡± he asked. ¡°If it frees those who are captured, we will concede,¡± The Giant spoke for the horde that moaned in agreement. ¡°I will come back a week before a month is up then,¡± Aldrin offered. All the lifeless eyes of the horde flickered to Aldrin, ¡°We accept the terms Midnight Lord,¡± the horde answered before they began to bury themselves again. He watched them all cover themselves, blending into the natural environment. After the last group was buried, he ran, the sunset rays irritating his skin when his hood flopped off in his mad dash. He had to hurry and catch Pierre to adjust their plans as they had decided beforehand to spend quite some time here developing his Profession. The hues of purple and orange intermixed with the blue sky as the sun let nightfall embrace Grenora. Feeling the beginning of his powers brimming to return to him, Aldrin attempted Shapechange, flickering back and forth between the swarm of bats and himself. Once the last rays of the sun dropped below the horizon, Aldrin took off, flying as fast as he could through the air, careful to avoid prying eyes. He knew people rarely looked up, but that still didn¡¯t keep him from being cautious as he traveled over the walled city, fluttering past the still busy streets of people trying to get the last of their shopping done. He aimed for his open window at the Inn, crashing through it before anyone could take a guess at what flew overhead. Reforming, he attempted to call out for Pierre through the Servant bond. Strangely, a pinging sensation was sent down by an invisible tendril, leaving the mind of Aldrin altogether. He waited for a response, so he drank the last of the blood vial and waited for Pierre. An hour went by and Pierre was nowhere to be found still, so he fell into meditation on his bed trying to gleam how many potential zombies were in the Research District. ¡°Help usss,¡± was all he got in return. He couldn¡¯t rightly barge in there as the Research District was restricted to only the Profession or Class of Alchemist. A knock broke his concentration. He hopped up and opened for Pierre to come in. ¡°What¡¯s the emergency?¡± Pierre hurriedly asked. Aldrin told him of the meeting with the zombie horde by Karvendal. Pierre¡¯s eyes widened slightly at the mention of an impending Undead attack in a month. ¡°So we gotta hurry,¡± he concluded after telling everything. ¡°That¡¯s an understatement,¡± Pierre laughed nervously. ¡°I am kind of useless here, honestly,¡± Aldrin stated. Pierre scoffed, ¡°Not necessarily. You¡¯re the only one who can talk to the Undead and understand them in equal measure.¡± ¡°I guess you¡¯re right,¡± he nodded. Looking out the window towards the Research District, ¡°Did you get your Profession by the way?¡± Aldrin asked. ¡°I did, but I have to spend a lot of time making specific potions in order to rank up the Skills,¡± He grinned. ¡°Meaning you¡¯ll be in a lab all day?¡± ¡°When they assign me one, yeah,¡± ¡°How did you have to get it? What was the test?¡± ¡°I had to brew Minor Health and Magic potions to be considered, then I had to do it three more times for each before the System gave me the option to pick it as my Class or Profession.¡± ¡°That sounds like a headache,¡± Aldrin chuckled. Pierre rubbed his forehead, revealing minor red welts of being burned could be seen on his fingers, ¡°You have no idea man.¡± ¡°What will you do until Jared comes with your sister?¡± He thought about it for a little bit, ¡°Probably see what other hidden Vampire tricks I have,¡± ¡°So you have thought about what you will do if you can¡¯t be cured?¡± He scrunched up his face, ¡°No, I haven¡¯t gotten that far yet. I¡¯m still trying to adjust to my life now.¡± He chuckled more. Pierre didn¡¯t speak after that, taking the time to go over his to-do list regarding his Profession.
Alchemist Profession Tree:
Life-Giver: Level 1: Health and Magic Potions heal 5% more(8/50)
Derivative Results: Level 1: Your improvised Potions will be 5% more effective(0/50)
Taste of the Mad (High Vitality Recommended) Level 1: Ingesting ingredients gives you a better understanding of how to use them(0/100)
Alchemical Forger Level 1: 10% success chance for new Potions created(0/10)
¡°OH FUCK YES!¡± Pierre pumped his fist. Aldrin looked at him, making his face go red from the outburst. ¡°I¡¯m assuming it¡¯s something good?¡± He gently asked. ¡°Potentially; and this is not to promise you anything, but I have a Skill that would boost my chances of making a cure for you,¡± Pierre announced. Fully turning around, Aldrin hugged the man that awkwardly patted his back, ¡°Thank you,¡± he pulled back. ¡°No problem,¡± he replied. ¡°Now I just hope Adeline comes rushing to the rescue like usual,¡± Aldrin quipped. ¡°What is she like? You seem to care a lot for her approval, or at least something like that?¡± Pierre asked. Aldrin turned to face Pierre again, giving a sad smile. ¡°She raised me practically, and it¡¯s her voice I hear in my head whenever I am faced with a choice or unsure of which direction to go.¡± Pierre sat back, ¡°And would she be proud of you now?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the thing, I don¡¯t know if she would hug me or kill me thinking I am possessed. She¡¯s an extremist when it comes to the people she loves,¡± He reminisced. ¡°What about your family?¡± Pierre raised his eyebrows. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Jared and I looked for them the first thing we could, but this world is massive and easy to get lost in,¡± Pierre quietly said, looking at the floor. ¡°I will help any way I can,¡± Aldrin offered, staring intently into the brown eyes of Pierre. ¡°Huh, guess it¡¯s my time to thank you then,¡± He nervously laughed off the overwhelming sincerity Aldrin conveyed. ¡°But no, I don¡¯t think I want to find them. We left things on bad terms and I don¡¯t know if I can face them after all these years again, here of all places.¡± ¡°Well, if you ever change your mind, you have my help,¡± Aldrin dropped the subject. ¡°Thanks,¡± Pierre smiled, grateful he had dropped the subject. Pierre¡¯s stomach growled, forcing him to depart to the first floor of the inn. Aldrin promised he would be down in a little bit. Giving a casual wave of acknowledgement, Pierre placed down another blood vial from his inventory. Pierre saw Aldrin¡¯s confused glance, ¡°One day when you¡¯re cured I¡¯ll tell you,¡± He smiled and shook his head. Once the door closed, Aldrin dove deep into meditation again, trying to pinpoint the horde of zombies by Karvendal that constantly sent a pulse back to him. He wasn¡¯t sure if it meant that the horde was ever increasing by the amount or pulses or if they were communicating with him. Choosing to think more about it later he went downstairs walking into a party. Bards and Minstrels sang and danced on tables with their instruments. Thakheam was in full swing as he and another Dwarf worked to replenish the revolving tankards that filled the bar top. That didn¡¯t stop Aldrin from etching his way to the bar. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Thakheam turned around, ¡°AYE ALDRIN MY BOY! Have a drink!¡± He bellowed with a happy-go-lucky smile placing a frothing ale in front of him. It sloshed onto the bar top but Thakheam paid it no mind. The Inn was packed to the brim as Elves, Humans, a few Dwarves and Goblins drank, danced, and sang their hearts out. Pierre was lost amongst the crowd, setting Aldrin on edge as he hoped he wasn¡¯t off having too many drinks. The wrong word of the plans their group possesses and not only would a threat be literally lying in wait outside the city, but the inside would no longer be safe. So Aldrin kept his hearing tuned to listen for Pierre¡¯s soft-spoken voice. The night went on with the party as more tried to squeeze into the inn but failed to do so. Aldrin had to step outside as one too many people bumped into him, making the beast inside rear its ugly head in offense. Choosing to seclude himself away from other people in the courtyard, he hoped no one would bother him as he gained control over himself. ¡°Enjoying yourself?¡± A melodic voice tickled his ears. Picking his head up from staring into his half filled tankard, bright pink upturned shaped eyes filled his vision first. The woman in front of him had glossy amethyst skin that sparkled like she had little rhinestones beneath her skin whenever the light gleamed off her. Long pink colored hair that matched her eyes draped over her petite frame. She wore leather armor much like his own, but the chest guard was silver that made Aldrin¡¯s skin crawl. ¡°I needed some fresh air,¡± Aldrin gave an easy smile, which eased her tense shoulders. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to be so forward about this, but are you some type of Fae?¡± she examined him. Aldrin laughed, ¡°No, no I am not, sorry.¡± he waved her off. ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± she smiled, taking the seat across from him. ¡°I just thought since your skin was glowing that you would be one?¡± ¡°My skin glows?¡± Confusion dawned on Aldrin¡¯s face. The woman¡¯s eyes went wide as saucers, ¡°Well no! Not like actually glow. . .but like shine?¡± she stammered. ¡°It¡¯s just that I¡¯m a Fae,¡± she leaned in and whispered. ¡°Is that why your eyes are pink and you have amethyst colored skin?¡± Aldrin asked, trying to hide the surprise of one of the Fae talking to him. ¡°Oh smooth, let¡¯s just ask the nice woman about her skin,¡± Aldrin mentally kicked himself. The woman gasped, ¡°You can see through my Visage?¡± she whispered again. ¡°Am I not supposed to?¡± Aldrin whispered back. ¡°Only a few Races are able to,¡± she said matter-of-factly. ¡°So what are you, then? A Moon Elf? Dark Elf? A halfling? You¡¯re definitely not part Goblin. . .¡± She trailed off. Aldrin scratched the back of his head, ¡°Uh. Well. It¡¯s complicated.¡± he dodged. ¡°I like complicated,¡± Her eyes glinted with mischievousness. Aldrin nearly spat out his drink. ¡°Oh trust me! You don¡¯t want these complications!¡± He got up in a rush, speed walking away. He maneuvered through the throngs of people to get back to the bar. ¡°Wow, no one¡¯s been able to walk away from me before!¡± The woman sidled up next to him, beaming with excitement. Aldrin laughed awkwardly, ¡°Listen, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to; I can¡¯t.¡± He took another swig, flaring his eyebrows to get Thakheam¡¯s attention, who was promptly ignoring him. She snorted, ¡°Did you think I wanted to. . .¡± she wiggled her eyebrows at him. ¡°You didn¡¯t?¡± he asked cluelessly. She giggled, running her finger around the rim of her cup, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Oh, thank god!¡± Aldrin breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Gee, am I that bad?¡± she teased. ¡°Uh. No. Not at all,¡± Aldrin replied, gulping down a big swig of ale to avoid the awkwardness. ¡°What brings you to Lor-Vold?¡± he asked, attempting to fix the atmosphere between them. She bit her lip, then glanced at him. ¡°I¡¯m looking for someone. Someone important,¡± she answered. Before he could ask who, cheering erupted, drowning out anything else that might have been said. Another upbeat song began to strum as the people in the inn gathered around together to sing along. Aldrin turned his attention back to her, ¡°Loud noises get you or are you worried about someone bumping into you?¡± she asked. ¡°New Skills,¡± He attempted to pass it off. An easygoing smile bloomed on her, ¡°It¡¯s ok, we all have our secrets,¡± she said. ¡°Torvina Palmwings,¡± she offered her pink hand to Aldrin. Aldrin looked at briefly, ¡°Relax, if you don¡¯t want to be found, your secret is safe with me,¡± she reassured with her hand still outstretched. She waited a moment, and he still said nothing. ¡°Well, that¡¯s alright too Aldrin,¡± she teasingly said. He stared as she moved in closer, thinking she was unaware of the danger she just put herself in. ¡°If you are going to kill me, then you¡¯re going to have to kill him too,¡± she gestured to Thakheam. ¡°Then you¡¯re going to have to kill everyone in this inn, then this city, then who¡¯s going to help you?¡± Her smile quirked. ¡°When you are ready to be who you are, call out to me and I will come. Have a good night,¡± she whispered, then gave him a wink and vanished in a puff of smoke no one else seemed to notice, leaving her cup where she placed it. Aldrin quickly glanced around him, seeing if anybody was watching him. He quickly grabbed her cup, bringing it to his mouth to fake taking a drink from it and inhaled deeply. The same chocolate cake scent he smelled in the forest over their first group of bandits to kill Gyt flooded his nose. Thakheam soon came over, switching out Aldrin¡¯s nearly empty tankard for a new freshly filled one. ¡°Where¡¯d the young lass go?¡± he yelled over the blaring crowd. ¡°She¡¯s nearby, I believe,¡± he stared at her cup in his hand. Thakheam chortled, ¡°You can¡¯t win ¡®em all.¡± ¡°Tell me about it,¡± Aldrin flashed a brief smile. ¡°Wait, what did she look like to you?¡± he snapped his head up. ¡°What do ye mean lad? You were lookin right at ''er?¡± ¡°Nevermind, Goodnight Thakheam,¡± Aldrin shook his head, getting up. He ventured back up to his room, leaving the party altogether since his mood soured. Too many major things were happening all at once, first Lor-Vold is corrupt, then the Queen is corrupt, now there¡¯s an Undead assault preparing for a siege, Jared¡¯s getting his sister who would no doubt attempt to save the day, and now the reclusive Fae have made themselves known to him. Aldrin¡¯s mind spun at the kind of life he was now living. All he wanted to do was join the Holy Order and become a decently good Paladin. How he ranged so far from that still boggled his mind. He needed stability and normalcy, desired it above anything but this world wasn¡¯t going to grant him any of that. Not anymore. Restless still, he decided to open his window and do some reconnaissance. He activated Shapechange and flew above the city to get a bird''s-eye view of it all. The three sections of the city blended seamlessly into an L-shape, with the Production district being the entry point to it all. Of course, he needed to know where exactly the Undead were going to strike so he could map out the route. Stopping cold in his train of thoughts, ¡°Am I really siding with them?¡± On one hand they had a point about having a right to live. It was a law that all sentient creatures capable of complex thought rather than base instinct have a right to live. But were the Undead really considered a sentient Race capable of complex thought? He reflected on himself, the cool night air helping him think, the feeling of weightlessness continued to be his partner as he traveled through the sky. He was an Undead, but he was also a normal Human before that, so what changed? A part of him enjoyed the new perks of what it means to be a Vampire, a small part at least. The other part detested the need to feed on the living. He worried one bad day would be enough to give into his bloodlust making him Feral. It was already hard enough as it is not breathing the city¡¯s air because of what might send him over the edge. However, he technically hasn¡¯t had to do the deed himself since Jared or Pierre supplied him for the day to keep him functioning. Would he be ok with staying a Vampire? It would be a hard life to live, not to mention the Queen would probably put a ridiculous ransom on his head to capture him alive for whatever experiments if word got back to her. On the other hand, the powers granted to him offered him the ability to become a force reckoned with. Something he ultimately wanted to be as a Paladin against those that wanted to do harm. Could he still be one? Just for the other side? Maybe both sides? He immediately closed that line of thinking for the moment. A small pulse grabbed his attention that was situated just little outside the city¡¯s gates among the reddish-brown plains. Angling for direction, he flew, reforming away from any prying eyes of the city. He looked around for the sender of the ping, his night vision enabling him to see perfectly in the darkness. Remembering how he had found the zombies before, he looked around for oddly shaped mounds of dirt. Seeing that nothing disturbed, he slowly waded forward. Trusting in his Vampiric Awareness he kept all of his senses attuned to pick up anything. ¡°Well, you¡¯re a bit of a stupid one, ain¡¯t ya? Or are ya a slow learner?¡± A disembodied snarky voice said. Aldrin felt the pin prickle of something stepping into his radius. He shifted around, looking for the owner of the voice, but nothing stood out to him in the darkness. The ghostly head of a Human slowly rose from the earth. He was old and his face was leathered and sun-kissed from the long hours outside. A stab wound could be seen leaking from the neck of the apparition, giving away how he had died. He was dressed in a straw hat, blue overalls with a white linen shirt that covered his potbelly, he was barefoot, and covered in blood from his neck down.
Name: Unknown
Race: Ghost
Class: Soul Harvester (Tier 3)
Level: 47
¡°Oh no, I¡¯m not doing this!¡± Aldrin marched away from the Ghost, who floated along behind him. ¡°I¡¯m yer designated messenger for the big man, so either yer gonna like it or we¡¯re gonna have a problem,¡± The Ghost taunted. Stopping suddenly, ¡°A problem?¡± Aldrin narrowed his eyes at the ghost as he floated in front of him. ¡°A problem short stuff,¡± The Ghost responded, looking at his nails. The hold he had on his Vampiric nature slipped as he growled at the ghost, drawing his steel sword. ¡°And ya don¡¯t even have silver to harm me with? What kind of Midnight Lord are ya anyway?¡± ¡°I bet ya don¡¯t even have the skills to harm me neither. Why couldn¡¯t we get a better Vampire?¡± He rolled his eyes. ¡°I have plenty of Skills!¡± He said through gritted fangs. ¡°Where?¡± He fired back. ¡°Wait! Other Vampires? Like me?¡± Aldrin ignored the jab to his ego. ¡°Whatcha mean like you? What makes you so special?¡± ¡°I am the Progenitor for one,¡± Aldrin stood proudly. The Ghost laughed haughtily, ¡°No ya ain¡¯t.¡± ¡°You¡¯re nothing but scared of who ya could be if ya just let go. It oozes off of ya and it¡¯s gonna get ya killed one day, I can promise you that.¡± Aldrin had no comeback for that as the Ghost hit home. ¡°Now I called ya here to introduce myself seeing as we are gonna be working together. The name¡¯s Hyde Hall,¡± He tipped his spectral straw hat in Aldrin¡¯s direction. ¡°What do I owe the pleasure of calling the Baby?¡± Hyde asked, floating around in a circle observing Aldrin. ¡°Progenitor is fine,¡± Aldrin gritted out. Hyde scoffed, ¡°Yeah. Ok. Baby it is then.¡± ¡°Now what ya got for me so I can report?¡± Hyde rubbed his hands together. ¡°Nothing. I don¡¯t even know how you guys are going to attack.¡± Aldrin answered truthfully. ¡°Oh, we are already surrounding the city,¡± Hyde curled in on himself to make it seem like he was sitting on air. Eyes wide as saucers, ¡°I thought you guys weren¡¯t attacking until a month from now?¡± ¡°We are,¡± Hyde picked his nose and flicked it. ¡°Then why are you surrounding now?¡± ¡°Lots of bodies and I don¡¯t know if you know this or not, but Zombies move kinda slow when trying to organize.¡± ¡°Where?¡± ¡°All around us or are ya blind too?¡± Hyde floated upwards, opening his arms wide. Sighing, ¡°I¡¯ll have something tomorrow night.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell the boss man then. He is eager to begin.¡± Hyde said. Aldrin¡¯s hearing picked up a roar that sounded like nails on a chalkboard as his hands shot up to his ears. Hyde simply floated there and slightly gloated at the fact that it didn¡¯t bother him. ¡°Best get a move on Baby. The others have arrived and aren¡¯t keen on taking directions from someone weak like you,¡± Hyde offhandedly remarked. ¡°Soon I won¡¯t be like this anyways,¡± Aldrin muttered to himself, causing Hyde to laugh so hard his neck wound started to bleed. ¡°A Cure? For a Progenitor? Let me know how that works out!¡± Hyde disappeared into the ground, laughing all the way. ¡°Fucking asshole,¡± Aldrin said then used Shapechange to get a good look of the city again now that he knew what the plan was. Chapter 14: Redirection Four days, Aldrin scoured the city during the day and night, doing his best to map out potential places to attack, of which the number one priority was the Research District. If he could get the Undead to focus on that area of the city, he hoped he could spare as many lives as possible versus the wanton slaughter fest of the entire city. With the help of Pierre, when he could lend a hand, he found three probable places that would hamper whatever experiments the Research District was conducting. One was a laboratory that specializes in progressing Health Potions using regenerative properties of a Troll and Vampire. They deemed it too unstable for public testing for now, but once the Research District, specifically Tanyth, had a breakthrough, it would rocket the Potion to the top of the testing lists. However, it made Aldrin wince at the thought because of how that Potion could be the difference between life or death during battles. The second location turned out to be a store that acted as an entry point for the Slavers to sneak in and out of the city without anyone knowing. This didn¡¯t stop Aldrin from trying to discern how many Slavers trickled in from the dead of night and deposited their ¡°goods¡± in the store for the Apprentice Alchemists to pick them up. The apprentices seemed subdued, like their elders had threatened or beaten them into submission. Aldrin wouldn¡¯t put it past them, remembering how Tanyth was towards his own apprentice. Lastly, the third happened to be all the Research District and from what Pierre said when he finally gained entry there was that everyone seemed to be autonomous, like they were being mind controlled somehow. That little tidbit is what kept Aldrin from passing any of this information to Hyde the Ghost. He knew from whatever connection he shared with the Undead, the Zombies in particular that lay dormant beneath the earth, beyond the walls of Lor-Vold, lurked the army that continued to grow. He wasn¡¯t sure how many there were, but he felt the pulse start to overpower the one that led to the library of the Research District. ¡°I¡¯m having second thoughts about this,¡± Pierre said one night, dropping into their signature corner booth after a day full of mixing and brewing Potions. ¡°This city will be wiped. It¡¯s not as protected as it should be if it¡¯s considered the World¡¯s Potion dispensary hub. It doesn¡¯t make any sense.¡± Aldrin drank another swig of Dwarven Killer. ¡°Well the Queen that is supposed to lead people is corrupt, so there¡¯s that and it¡¯s probably just a misdirection?¡± Pierre shrugged. ¡°How so?¡± ¡°Would the Queen really keep this place undefended?¡± ¡°From my scout missions at night, yes.¡± ¡°We are missing something, something that would make this place deliberately unguarded.¡± ¡°You still haven¡¯t been able to find anything?¡± Pierre frowned before answering. ¡°No, which also makes it weird. I haven¡¯t seen any Master or Grandmaster Alchemist either. It''s been a week and all I have seen are Apprentice Alchemist wandering around the grounds.¡± ¡°And the library is fake.¡± That drew Aldrin¡¯s attention, ¡°Fake?¡± ¡°The books that lined the shelves are all blank.¡± ¡°What about the labs and factories around here?¡± ¡°Those are manned, but like I said, it''s all apprentices running the show, making enough potions to keep the facade going, or at least the ones I¡¯ve been in.¡± ¡°Where are the other Alchemist then?¡± Aldrin pondered. ¡°And what are the Queen and her court up to?¡± he whispered to himself. Seated away from prying eyes and ears as the patrons of the sleepy inn were still hungover from the two nights of partying. Aldrin was jealous that they weren¡¯t burdened with the knowledge of impending doom. A doom that would come swiftly at night. The door to the inn swung open, breaking him from his train of thought, making all heads whip to see who it was. ¡°Jared! Welcome back my friend!¡± Thakheam bellowed, pouring one for the weary traveler, beckoning him over to the bar. Aldrin and Pierre sidled up next to him, watching him chug down the full tankard. ¡°Found your sister.¡± Gulp. ¡°Real hardass, like you said.¡± Gulp. ¡°She¡¯s on her way though.¡± Gulp. ¡°Told her you might be captured by the creepy Alchemist,¡± Jared burped and wiped his mouth, giving Aldrin his best award winning smile. ¡°YOU DID WHAT?!¡± Aldrin screamed. ¡°Okay. I know it sounds bad, but she was dead set on solving the murders of a traveling Adventurer group, the bandit camp destruction, and Saloth¡¯s appearance, who also chased me to the forest¡¯s edge,¡± He listed. ¡°Oh! And looking for you to add on top of all that!¡± ¡°Look, I¡¯m tired and I¡¯m at my wit¡¯s end, so if you both would excuse me,¡± He pushed off the bar and staggered up the stairs. Aldrin and Pierre watched him go, then at each other before Pierre went after his friend. Now left at the bar by himself, Aldrin ran his fingers back and forth through his curly dark brown hair, his stress exponentially growing by the second. Leaving the inn, he stepped outside, feeling the vitalizing night air embrace him like a lover would. A few of the tables outside were occupied by the silver haired and glossy pale skinned Moon Elves that enjoyed their nightly moon bathing. Recognizing Aldrin, they dipped their heads in greeting before resuming their hushed conversations amongst themselves. Starting his nightly walk to the Production District he paid no mind to the few that still roamed the streets still. He took his usual route through the city, eyeing each building with suspicion until finally hiding in the shadows cast from one of them. He stared at a storefront across the street from him called Hexes and Jinxes. It was rustic, sitting against the towering walls of the city, an oddity among the brick and concrete factories that sat on both sides of it. However, as Aldrin came to find out, the Apprentice Alchemist came here for their cauldron enchantments; but at night this was the Slavers way in. He had been watching this building after tailing two hooded robed figures two nights ago during his night of flying. They discreetly left the Research District right when the streets were considered empty, except for a few who were pulling a late night. Curious and ever watchful, he followed them here, to Hexes and Jinxes after its hours of operation. One of them had a key, which they let themselves in and stayed in there for what Aldrin considered being an hour and a half. When they finally emerged, they came with seven prisoners with the same black silk sack covering their heads. They stumbled after their captors as one of the robed figures led from the front, while the other kept up the back, leading the prisoners like cattle back to the Research District gates. Later that same night, the pulse and tug that came from the District slightly grew. After that, he had been coming back here, waiting for the next drop off, determined to get answers. His plan tonight was to wait for the shopkeeper, who was a short cropped blonde-haired, scrawny Human from the looks of him, close up shop and leave. It went according to plan, seeing the shopkeeper walk outside to lock the door. Using Shapechange, he let his fog form crawl towards the Human. He was unable to reform in time, allowing for the shopkeeper to see him materialize from the fog, making his eyes go wide with fear.
Name: Unknown
Race: Human Level 33
Class: Initiate Merchant Level 20 (Tier 2)
Profession: Enchanter Level 13
¡°Don¡¯t scream. I only want answers and then you¡¯ll forget me,¡± Aldrin said, for the first time using Charming Gaze.
Do you wish to charm the target with a 34% chance of success?
Yes or No
Aldrin selected yes.
Failure! The target has resisted!
¡°Ah, shit,¡± Aldrin¡¯s shoulders tensed. Sucking in air, the shopkeeper screamed, forcing Aldrin to dash in, pinning the shopkeeper against the door and covering his mouth.. ¡°Quiet!¡± he hissed, showing his fangs. The intended action had the opposite effect as the shopkeeper fainted. Now limp in his arms, Aldrin heard the pounding metal feet of the High Guards headed this way. Gently setting the shopkeeper against the door, Aldrin picked up the keys that were dropped, unlocked the door, and dragged the unconscious shopkeeper in with him. Inside the now dark building, it was more of a lounge than what he was expecting. Plush dark green velvet couches sat along the wood panel walls for people to sit and wait, a long chiseled stone countertop sectioned off the area where Aldrin assumed the cauldron enchanting would take place, and draping plum colored tapestry hung behind the couches. It was homey, but also polished to adhere to a certain clientele. No time to really admire the interior, Aldrin heaved the shopkeeper onto his shoulder, the Strength granted to him making it an easy effort. Lifting up the part of the counter that allowed entrance to the back of the shop, he ducked down beneath to hide and placed the shopkeeper down. Closing his eyes to listen, the High Guards were almost here. ¡°Came from this way!¡± A gravelly booming voice yelled. Soon, two sets of boots came to a stop in front of the shop. ¡°Do you think it''s part of the kidnappings?¡± another voice chimed in; it was throaty and out of breath. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Normally, I wouldn¡¯t care, but they took one of our own so now it¡¯s personal. Come on.¡± They ran off, their metal boots clanking as they went. Aldrin breathed a sigh of relief, but that was soon disrupted as the shopkeeper stirred. Looking around for something that would keep the man from screaming, he rushed to the back of the shop that was cluttered with diagrams and broken cauldrons. The front door to the shop opened, followed by shuffling feet. Aldrin froze, taking a small inhale to catch a scent. Nothing returned except of freshly baked bread that stemmed from the shopkeeper, making him frown. Slowly, he crept towards the front of the shop. Peering out, he saw the two robed figures from two nights ago standing stock still,still, staring at the shocked Human that awoke mere seconds ago. Fear danced in the eyes again as he held his hands in front of him, forgetting all about his ordeal from before. ¡°Wait-¡± One of them threw a knife that embedded into the chest of the Human. He had enough time to look at the knife in shock before collapsing, crashing against the wood panel behind him. The one that threw the knife climbed over the stone counter to retrieve it. They were silent, each movement was only accompanied by the swish of their robes when they moved. They didn¡¯t talk nor think twice about the body when they walked past it. They felt along the back wall before coming to a stop at a small indention that you wouldn¡¯t be able to see if you were looking straight at it. They pushed it, opening up a dim underground passage. Aldrin waited before following them down the passage. It was angled downward, small, and cramped, leaving no room to turn around. He reached the bottom, opening it up to a maze of cavern paths, each illuminated by magical blue flame lanterns hoisted on the wall at perfect intervals. Rattling chains greeted his ears from the left cavern passage, but also the tug and pull signaled the center. That worried him the most because it meant that the Undead were probably scouting for their own way in to take the city by surprise. The image of all manner of Zombies bursting forth from the shop sent shivers down his spine. If not contained, it would quickly become a survival game to get out of the city; or at least it would be for the living. He followed the rattling chains, positive that his prey also went down the path. He drew his steel longsword, the vampiric side of him welcoming the carnage that was about to ensue. Careful to not make any noise as he approached, the two robed figures stood over their quarry, eyeing them with contempt and silence. Aldrin looked around for any signs of Slavers before he moved. ¡°Time to be a hero,¡± Aldrin psyched himself up. Stepping out into the open from around the bend, ¡°Release them.¡± he ordered, causing the two robed figures to slowly turn around. The precise movement of their actions unnerved Aldrin. He was expecting something witty in return, but was met with eerie silence instead. The robed figures stood at equal height and dimensions, making Aldrin wonder if they were twins of some sort. His question was answered soon enough as they disrobed, revealing themselves to be made of shiny porcelain. They were devoid of a face, any identifiable marks, and moved with jerky steps.
Name: Drone Homunculus
Race: Homunculi
Level: 20
Lore: The first step into making an artificial being, the drones are capable of simple instructions but lack the ability to think and require an active Puppeteer.
¡°FINALLY! I can let off some steam!¡± Aldrin celebrated. Grinning to himself, he rushed in, happy to engage in a fight after a period of stagnation and espionage. Both of them unsheathed a porcelain white dagger as they rushed in to dismember Aldrin. They met in the middle, Aldrin easily deflecting their strikes. The excitement soon turned to disappointment once he realized the Homunculi weren¡¯t going to be a challenge. One of them lunged for Aldrin¡¯s thigh while the other lunged for his head. He narrowed his eyes at the slow movements of the two. Quickly moving his sword to meet the dagger headed for his thigh, he used his free hand to catch the other by its wrist. The Drone he had caught struggled to break free before cocking its smooth head to the side to stare. Confused by the sudden motion, he had no time to think as the other raced to tackle him, forgoing its dagger altogether. Quickly moving his sword to meet the dagger headed for his thigh, he used his free hand to catch the other by its wrist. The Drone he had caught struggled to break free before cocking its smooth head to the side to stare. Confused by the sudden motion, he had no time to think as the other raced to tackle him, forgoing its dagger altogether. Aldrin rooted himself in place, bracing for the impact while still holding onto the struggling one. The Drone knocked into him, forcing him to take a step back. ¡°This is like play fighting with children,¡± He deadpanned, disappointment lacing his whole demeanor. The one he held by the wrist jumped, placing both feet on his chest with little force as it wrestled with Aldrin¡¯s vice grip. ¡°Oh hell,¡± Aldrin rolled his eyes. He crumpled and shattered the wrist of the one he held before grabbing the other one that tugged at his waist by the head. Lifting it off of him,him, he stared at it, wondering if the Puppeteer could see him through their minions. He squeezed the porcelain drone¡¯s head, inflicting spiderweb cracks before he completely obliterated it, leaving one last drone that attempted to shank Aldrin with its dagger it picked up. The blade bit into his stomach, causing him some discomfort. The Drone left it there and punched Aldrin with its one remaining good hand. It felt like he was being punched with a pillow, to say the least. He pushed it away, making it fly back into the cavern wall, sending an echoing thud when it flopped down. Walking over to it, he observed it for any surprised movements. With no sudden movements, he crushed its head as well, ¡°There. No surprises.¡± He dusted his hands.
Congratulations!
You have been awarded: 420 EXP!
Vampire Progenitor Level 15: 919 out of 3,000 needed Night Reaver Level 15: 919 out of 3,000 needed Lore Seeker Level 25: 4547.1 out of 5,000 needed
Turning to face the chained prisoners, counting six, he led them out to the main cavern, slowly but steadily. He made sure to grab the key to unlock their magical handcuffs off of one of the Homunculus¡¯ robes. Going back and forth about removing the sacks over their heads, a part of him wondered if they would blab to anyone given what they went through probably. He already put himself in unnecessary danger once he demolished the drones back there. Who knows who was on the other end or if they could see him? Questions for another time and place, Aldrin felt something skitter towards them from the cavern of the potential Undead. Closing his eyes, he focused on whatever rushed in their direction. What he thought was something small drastically changed into the size of a car. Snapping his eyes open, he looked back at the prisoners, seeing the subtle shaking wreck through their bodies. None of them seemed to be fancily dressed like the first group he saw, but they were, instead, in tattered clothing. He guessed that these had been picked up off the street either forcefully or were offered something they couldn¡¯t refuse at the time. Now, in hindsight, they likely came to regret that choice. Slavery wasn¡¯t uncommon in the Queendom. It was more based on the area you were in, but the Queen had promised efforts to stomp it out, or so he thought. He didn¡¯t even want to begin thinking about the mental psyche of the Queen that let her people be enslaved and experimented on forcefully. Soon the car sized monstrosity presented itself when it came around the corner. The top half was a pale bloated corpse that had eyes running down its torso, while the lower half of it all was a centipede. While he was used to seeing bloated corpses in the form of Zombies; he was not used to seeing the rotten carapace of the bottom half. Its many black appendages reminded him of old locomotive pistons on the wheels as they moved up and down in rhythm. The Human primal urge in him screamed to run as it scuttled in a zig-zag line towards him. Even if he wanted to, he couldn¡¯t outpace the monster, as it finally came to a stop in front of him.
Name: Death Gorger
Race: Zombie
Level: 41
Lore: Regarded as a pest, Death Gorgers are underground nocturnal creatures that eat the corpses of those that have yet to turn. They can often be seen budding heads with other Races that live underground. It is also a rarity for them to get this big, as they are prone to be hunted down with extreme prejudice
Its many soulless eyes wandered over the entire group, searching for something until all of its eyes landed on Aldrin. Its top half leaned forward, adjusting for a better angle. ¡°Midnight Lord brings offerings for the horde? We hunger,¡± It brokenly spoke into Aldrin¡¯s mind. ¡°No, not them, although I do have another offer,¡± Aldrin replied. ¡°Speak. The horde will listen,¡± It scuttled into a curling position, towering above Aldrin still. ¡°A group of slavers use that tunnel,¡± he pointed to the left, ¡°you can eat those to grow your numbers.¡± ¡°Anything that has a black sack over their head is off limits, but the rest are all yours. Do we have a deal?¡± Aldrin stood tall. The Death Gorger¡¯s many eyes blinked one by one, ¡°The horde grows.¡± it conceded.
Quest Update:
Rouse the Horde! As a member of the Undead Race, and a powerful one at that, this Zombie Horde wishes for your aid in freeing their kin. Reward: 2,000 EXP and 3 Skill Points
Secret Objective I Completed: You have killed two birds with one stone! By rooting out part of the city¡¯s corruption with its deals with slavers and by unearthing their secret tunnel, you have given fresh bodies to further bolster their ranks! Reward: 200 Bonus EXP
¡°Interesting,¡± Aldrin mused to himself, reminding him to go back over his other Quest when he had the time to do so. ¡°Do you think the horde could expand these caverns to beneath the place they are keeping the other Zombies?¡± All of its eyes veered around the cavern, scrutinizing every inch with efficiency. It made Aldrin¡¯s sense of danger tick up more by seeing the Undead in a new light. ¡°We shall,¡± it said, before unwrapping itself and scuttling back around the corner. Unsure of whether he made the right choices, he led the prisoners back the way he came from. He had to move the body of the former shopkeeper out of the way so that none would trip over his feet. Thinking of how to release the prisoners without exactly being seen is the part that stumped him. He could give them the key, but they also may have been beaten for moving which would get him nowhere either. Thinking back to the time he was able to reform the upper half of his body in Shapechange with the bats, he wondered if he could do the same with his fog form. Deciding to test it out, he failed the first time because he let himself be too light allowing the key to fall to the floor. He reformed so he could pick it and placed it in his hand again. The second time he thought of himself being more solid, which worked, but instead of the wispy smoke, he usually saw himself as he still saw bits of his skin. The third time he found more success, he envisioned himself being swathed in his black fog but still solid enough to have shape and density. He felt himself constantly trying to sink or float into the air while trying to reform his body all at once. It skewed with his sense of balance, making him stumble forwards in order to stop himself from falling. Smiling to himself for discovering a new aspect of his Vampire abilities, he then peered out of the shop window for anyone on the street. Seeing that it was empty, he rushed back for the prisoners, leading them out of the shop and away from any danger. Finally feeling a suitable distance away, he assumed his new Shapechange fog form. He removed the black silky sack revealing the face of a blind old man, white hair stuck to his head struggling to grow back at the top, his white beard was scraggly with patches of hair missing in some areas. His olive skin was wrinkly and clung to his slightly hunched form. Once powerful hands were now nothing but brittle bone, and his clothes were browned and dirty from sweat. ¡°Are we there yet?¡± He frowned, adding more wrinkles to his forehead. ¡°If I don¡¯t get my promised youth back I¡¯m throwing shit on you like I promised.¡± He attempted to stand taller in defiance. ¡°You want to be here?¡± Aldrin asked in disbelief. ¡°They promised me I could see again and have my youth back,¡± He smiled, showing a few missing teeth. Aldrin yanked off the next one that turned out to be a teenager of no older than fifteen. He was thin, incredibly malnourished from his sunken face, deep blue eyes held the look of lifetimes in them, thin dusty blonde hair was matted down in need of a good wash, and sad of all, he looked like he was used to this. He didn¡¯t jump back in fright when he saw Aldrin¡¯s form either. ¡°Why¡¯d they take you?¡± Aldrin asked the boy. His voice was raspy and he couldn¡¯t go above a whisper. ¡°My family sold me. Needed the money more than me.¡± The boy replied in a monotone voice. Aldrin unlocked his magical cuffs first, making the boy¡¯s eyes go wide. ¡°Free the others and get out of the city in the morning. Do not look back.¡± He dropped the key into the boy¡¯s palm along with two Silver coins for each, making the boy¡¯s eyes grow even wider. ¡°Cheat them and I will know,¡± Aldrin said before fully shifting into fog and dispersing into the air. Reforming on a nearby rooftop with a clear outlook, he watched the boy unlock the rest. Twin Wood Elves with dark green hair and deep brown eyes took their share of their coins and rain off before even saying where. Aldrin had noticed that their eyes had briefly passed over him before leaving. There was also a young woman with short purple hair who decided to stick nearby, her light blue eyes darting in every direction as if she was waiting for something bad to jump out. The last one to be freed and given the coins was a seedy-looking man with slick black hair that Aldrin probably should have not allowed out of those cuffs. He rubbed his wrist and hands together, looking around at all the buildings he could see from the walkway they stood on. Giving a short wave to the remaining group, he ran off, jumping in the air once to click his heels together. Aldrin felt a little better now that he had freed them and set them on their way with a little money, but deep down in his gut he knew it was only a matter of time before Lor-Vold was brought to its knees. He worried about the Undead getting stronger AND smarter by the day as they demonstrated with the Death Gorger. Worry coursed through him, thinking if set loose only on the intended target, would they stay or would it become another Vaultstrand? Chapter 15: The First Strike Awaking to a new day, Aldrin still felt good. The lingering deed had refreshed his mind and body. Feeling rejuvenated, he needed to figure out a way to get past magical locks, and he was in the perfect place to do so. While Aldrin had been mapping out the city, he came across a shop called Rune-Keys. He needed to hurry now that he had cut off the supply from the Slavers. His current plan of action was to hopefully acquire a Potion that would allow him to bypass the magical lock on Tanyth¡¯s study and whatever lies behind the vault-like doors beneath the library. Taking his daily dose of blood, he headed down to begin his new plan. He saw Pierre was up early, getting a head start on the day. He had found a new joy here as he experimented with different ingredients. Lately, he had been working on restocking essential Potions for the road ahead. That very same road looked bleak to Aldrin, since Pierre had yet to find any traces of a cure. However, he tracked down the Heilsdale Flower, saying that it comes from the swampy lands of Eliohend. It was both a stressor and a relief to Aldrin because he was happy to know that the only thing that could harm him came from the birthplace of most of the lethal poisons in the world. However, it also begged the question as to who would be crazy enough to venture into Eliohend for the flower in the first place. But he was soon about to join the crazy list since the longer he spent here, the more it became a dead end. That would make them move to Plan B, the Progenitor Lands which they would need to be drastically stronger for. Luckily, once they got to the coastal mercenary town of Ebira, they could take on Contract Quest, which was people handing out Quests rather than having it assigned to your Adventurer Guild Badge. Jared¡¯s mood was a lot better, to say the least, after a full night of rest in bed. He along with Pierre were at their claimed corner booth eating breakfast. ¡°How was last night?¡± Pierre asked, making room for Aldrin to sit down. ¡°I probably put the city in a lot more danger, but on the plus side, I saved some people last night,¡± Aldrin replied. ¡°Saved them how?¡± Jared skeptically asked. ¡°I gave them their freedom and some money,¡± He nonchalantly answered. ¡°And how do you feel?¡± Pierre asked. Aldrin sat back against the cushioned booth, ¡°Honestly, better than I have since becoming what I am.¡± Both of them smiled softly at him and continued to eat their food. ¡°How did you place the city in more danger though?¡± Jared asked. ¡°Gave the Zombies down there a food source,¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Jared yelled before remembering where he was. ¡°There are Zombies underneath the city now?¡± he whispered the last part. Aldrin nodded, realizing that sooner or later the people of the city will have to know. ¡°What do we do now then? I mean, your sister is on her way so we can wait until she gets here to do something, right?¡± Jared asked after a few moments of silence. ¡°We just kick start it early,¡± Adrin suggested, earning incredulous looks from the both of them. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Pierre asked, his brows furrowed. Aldrin filled them with the entire events of the cave, including the Homunculi being controlled by a Puppeteer, and the Death Gorger. ¡°So today, I am going to see about a Potion that will help us get past the magical locks somehow. Then we storm the castle, so to speak,¡± He said. ¡°So we are siding with the Zombies then?¡± Jared quietly asked. Aldrin gave him a sympathetic look. ¡°Not necessarily. Not unless something crazy happens.¡± ¡°At this point, a cure won¡¯t be uncovered here; not anymore because of whatever the Queen and her Court are doing. So we have to move to Plan B,¡± he added. ¡°When did Adeline say she could be here?¡± He changed the subject. ¡°Counting yesterday, she should be here in about two more days. She had agreed to send half of her forces a day ahead to assess the situation; so expect shiny armored people tomorrow if you go out.¡± Jared answered. Pierre rubbed his chin, his eyes alighting with the plan Aldrin alluded to. ¡°You want to break in the day Adeline gets here, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly it. You said we aren¡¯t city strong yet, but that doesn¡¯t mean we can¡¯t find out more with a little help. Half her forces are already going to be here in case things get out of control and with her arriving later, I am hoping they can contain it. Then we escape during the chaos and make our way to Folos for Jared¡¯s quest.¡± Aldrin grinned, pleased with his idea. ¡°Best case, Adeline can at least hold the line too if she hasn¡¯t already called for reinforcements. Which I¡¯m sure she has, judging that she knows firsthand how bad these can be. Worst case, the city is lost.¡± Pierre simplified the plan. Jared let out a heavy exhale of air. ¡°I thought you were going to love this crazy idea Jared,¡± Aldrin teased. ¡°Oh no, it''s not that! The plan is solid! I¡¯m just thinking about the supplies we will need,¡± Jared answered, forcing on a smile. Pierre laughed, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I already have the Potions ready to go and making more to sell later on. We just gotta get food and traveling kits.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do that and stash the carriage outside of town somewhere so we can get to it,¡± Jared added. They chatted for the rest of their breakfast before parting ways, each with their own mission in mind. Moving through the throngs of people, Aldrin made his way to Rune-Keys. The shop matched the dreary decor of the rest of the city with its concrete foundation and brick walls. Two windows on the front of the store enabled Aldrin to see how busy it was. Hoping to find what he was looking for based on how busy it was, his hope skyrocketed. Opening the front, it was louder than he expected as people shouted for certain potions clamoring to be in the front. It was as drab on the inside, with concrete flooring and bare brick walls with nothing to show for them. Only the usual back room where the stores kept their supplies was the feature that made it feel bigger than what it was. Four clerks, three men, and a woman all dressed in white long-sleeved button up shirts were doing their best defending against the tide, but they were drowning. Aldrin weaved through the people to the front. They subtly shifted out of his way. Some eyes observed him carefully, noticing how unusually graceful he made his way to the front. ¡°Aldrin?¡± A dulcet cultured voice pierced through the noise. Turning to see who had called him, he recognized her as Evie, the Giantess who was secretly with the Bugbear. ¡°Evie?¡± He shouted over the cacophony of noise inside the store. ¡°You heard me over this?¡± She confusedly asked. ¡°Good hearing.¡± He pointed at his ears, giving her a calm smile. ¡°Are you leaving town soon?¡± She asked. ¡°Yes, and you should too,¡± Aldrin warned before a clerk came to greet him. ¡°Potion?¡± The clerk''s powerful voice drew Aldrin¡¯s attention. His black hair was stylishly slicked back with grease, brown eyes conveyed friendliness that paired with his magnetic smile. ¡°I need something to get past magical locks,¡± Aldrin said, watching the clerk nod his head and run to the back. Soon he came back carrying three flasks and placed them before Aldrin to Inspect.
Mimicry Puddy: This sparkling dark green liquid is able to bypass Tier 4 locks and below by shifting to fit the keyhole. Keeps the lock intact. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!
Ashfounder¡¯s Remains: This brightly lit flaming red potion blows up Tier 4 locks and below, leaving nothing but a reminder of what stood before you. Destroys the lock and/or door.
Drilileon Venom: Taken straight from the notorious sand fiend of Eurai¡¯s sandy terrain, its venom is capable of melting Tier 5 locks and below. Destroys the lock.
¡°All of them. How much?¡± Aldrin said without hesitation. ¡°1 gold, 11 silver,¡± the clerk said, focusing on something else in front of him. Aldrin placed the amount on the counter that lit up a green runic symbol underneath.The same symbol then copied itself underneath the Potions allowing for Aldrin to swipe them into his Inventory. He thanked the clerk and headed out, running into Evie who stood waiting with her scarred arms crossed. Long lines interlaced with symbols in Giantese tattooed her light tawny skin from her head down. She was wearing her iron chainmail chest with leather gloves, pants, and fingerless gloves. Her brown hair braided in a wrap atop her head, steel-gray eyes assessed every movement around her, three claw marks ran diagonally across her features, her nose had looked like it had been broken and mended plenty of times, and thin pink lips were pursed into a thin line. Her eyes zeroed in on Aldrin, she moved to stand in front of him. Aldrin could only imagine what her true size would be like if she was already a few inches taller than his 6¡¯0 self. ¡°Your warning. What do you imply? What do you know about the kidnappings?¡± she asked, her voice contradicting her intimidating armored figure. ¡°All I can say is look into the Research District. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll find something there.¡± Aldrin answered smoothly. She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes at him, ¡°Something about you. . .¡± ¡°Evie!¡± a guttural voice barked. Both turned to look at the Bugbear frantically pushing his way towards them. Concern formed on Evie. Her scrutinizing features turned into a scowl. He clutched a cut on his arm ignoring the many stares as people walked by. ¡°What is it Khudar?¡± She asked once the Bugbear got close. ¡°Inkathu and Beltaine got captured!¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°We found the kidnapper.¡± He flicked his dull yellow eyes to Aldrin. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Evie said, sparing a glance at Aldrin before they disappeared among the crowd. Aldrin thought that part of the Slavers were operating within the city, kidnapping the people here to be sold elsewhere. Apparently, he was wrong and someone else entirely was behind it. Luckily, he had chosen not to investigate it at the time, otherwise he would have run into that group sooner. Seeing that Evie was already suspicious only cemented the fact that why wouldn¡¯t take lightly to what he was. Regardless, under the effects of Daywalker, he wouldn¡¯t be any use to them anyway. He had a bigger worry at the moment, one that would eventually decide the fate of the city. With the Potions needed for the upcoming plan, he had wanted to study the walled off area of the Research District to see if there were any other entrances or weak points. At least during the day, he would be less obvious about what he was doing. By the time he had reached the entrance, the sun had moved to be a quarter away from the horizon. He hated being limited by the sun because he wasted so much time being unable to fly through the air. The thought made him stop in his tracks, causing someone to bump into his legs. ¡°Sorry!¡± Aldrin waved off the glaring Goblin that walked around him. He continued walking, coming to the fact that he had admitted to liking a part of being a Vampire. Although it was cool to him, minus the blood drinking part, he just hated how people would react. He wondered if someone else who came from Earth would have liked this better and had an easier time to adapt. It didn¡¯t matter now. He needed to understand and come to the fact that this may be permanent. He walked up and down along the street, discreetly searching for anything that would help avoid any bloodshed to get in, specifically so none of them would have to fight anybody to get out. He proved to be lucky as there was only one entrance and if they caused a distraction somewhere else, they could sneak in through the front. It pleased him to know that another part of the plan worked in their favor. ¡°Now for the long way back,¡± he sighed. He knew by the time he would arrive back at the inn, it would be night. He had also come to find it weird that there was no crime in the city except for the kidnapping. There were too many coincidental things that didn¡¯t add up. There was a glaring puzzle piece missing and he wouldn¡¯t find it in this city. Whoever it is erases their tracks. He also wondered how he got embroiled in this just by looking for a cure for himself. A part of him almost wondered if something more was driving these factors from behind the scenes. He frowned at that thought. ¡°Fate kills people in the first place,¡± Aldrin shook the idea from his brain. Feeling the burning effects of the sun begin to die down on his skin, he felt his usual strength return to him. He no longer felt constricted within his own body and it was an uncomforting feeling. He would almost compare it to losing control of the vampiric monster that lies dormant inside him now. Vampiric Awareness prickled at the back of his neck, telling him that something behind him meant danger. He would confront them once he reached The Gleaming Marigold; he hoped to avoid causing another scene in the city since the first one went poorly enough. He sped walked, irritated at the fact that he couldn¡¯t use any of his abilities without giving himself away. Whatever was infringing on the edge of the ability had stayed within his radar. It also kept pace with him and kept the same constant distance if he sped up or slowed down. He looked at one of the shops, briefly glancing behind him to see the person following him. Noticing Aldrin¡¯s behavior, it stopped following altogether. However, he still kept his senses primed for any oddities. Making it back to the inn, it was a little packed since another wave of Adventurers had entered the city throughout the day. It was also the day that others left, probably assigned a new Quest which Aldrin felt a pang of grief strike him remembering his old group. People were drinking and chatting as usual, giving the atmosphere a jovial feeling of camaraderie. ¡°Dwarven Killer as usual?¡± Thakheam greeted him once Aldrin made it towards the Dwarf. ¡°No, not tonight. Thanks though. Jared or Pierre, make it back yet?¡± Aldrin asked. ¡°Haven¡¯t seen either since the morn¡¯ when they left ¡®ere,¡± Thakheam answered.
System Notice!
Supernatural Reflexes Activated! New Added Effect: Time Allotted: Dexterity divided by 2 Ends in 13 seconds or when instant death passes! Cooldown: 1 Month
¡°What?¡± Aldrin said, briefly looking around to see everything frozen before activating Shapechange turning himself into fog. He took a last look at Thakheam, whose eyes were wide in shock as something reflected off the shine in them. The only thing Aldrin saw next was a flash of white blind him, a concussive blast blowing away, scrambling his orientation of the world.
Title Activated! Chosen of Kilinos: Immune to fire.
He reformed, feeling the cobbled stone grating against his cheek. His vision had black dots throbbing in and out. Screams echoed and sounded far away as he clutched at his head, or at least attempted to as his limbs felt like lead.
Warning! You have been disoriented!
He felt deft hands roll him over. A blurry, unfamiliar figure entered his vision. Aldrin could barely focus to see that the figure¡¯s mouth was moving, then pushed something that faintly glowed red into his mouth. Its bland taste entered his mouth, causing him to spit it out. His senses began to come back into tune thanks to Regeneration and Undead Body. The long black braided hair and ashen skin of a Dark Elf was the first thing he saw. Flickering lights from flames lighted half his youthful face under the night sky. ¡°Are you ok?¡± His hoarse voice asked. ¡°I¡¯m fine. What happened?¡± Aldrin groggily asked, sitting up. ¡°The Gleaming Marigold. .¡±His black eyes looked away. Aldrin looked at what used to be the inn, his temporary home. Something inside him snapped when he saw the ruined building engulfed in flames, along with the buildings that were its neighbors. People screamed either in pain or out of fright. His recovering hearing picked up people rushing in this direction. Looking at the destruction in front of him, his fangs and claws lengthened to dangerous points, making the Dark Elf next to him jump back in surprise. ¡°It is you who we felt that awakened,¡± The Dark Elf whispered as Aldrin stood up. Aldrin turned his furious gaze to the Dark Elf, who bowed in response, ¡°What is your order, Old One?¡± The Dark Elf humbly asked. ¡°Clear the city.¡± Aldrin declared, his rage clouding his control over himself, causing his eyes to turn from their usual green to glowing red. Inside, the vampiric beast purred, knowing it will get a chance to feast again. The Dark Elf bowed and slinked off towards the oncoming panicked crowd. Aldrin found the connection he had with the Zombie Horde within. Mentally taking a hold of it, he sent a pulse towards the other end with one instruction, begin. Chapter 16: Secrets Dont Make Friends ¡°The Horde will do so,¡± The broken whispers of the Zombies tickled Aldrin¡¯s ears. Uncaring to who saw him, he bursted into bats, flying to a nearby rooftop. He felt for Pierre through the Servant bond they shared. It was muffled, almost like there was a blockage. He closed his eyes and pushed past the flimsy barrier that dared to obstruct him. There was a sense of direction returned, then he reformed into bats, headed for Pierre¡¯s location. Down below, he saw people scrambling towards the remains of the inn, trying their best to help. He had also seen some run in the opposite direction with complete fear in their eyes. He stamped down the Human part of him, letting the Vampire take the forefront. In doing so, his emotions for those who would not make it through the night dulled. He arrived in the area where Pierre was presumed to be. It was in a rundown part of the Residential District that he hadn¡¯t fully explored yet. The buildings needed a serious makeover, as most of them were boarded up and in disrepair. He wondered what Pierre was doing in a place like this. The bond he shared went silent, giving him no other direction as to where to turn. Forgoing any restrictions he placed on himself since being here. He inhaled, taking in the scents of the city. Predatory instincts threatened to overwhelm his mind, but he was too angry, too focused to let it cloud his judgment. From what Aldrin could pick up on, there were people in this area and now all he had to do was find the ones he needed. His sense of smell had heightened to a degree that he could pinpoint where clusters of people gathered either inside the buildings and a few streets away. Determined to find Pierre, he tugged on their bond again, receiving a pull to his right. He followed it as it led him to a ruined cottage house that was discreetly tucked away behind more abandoned houses. It was rundown like the rest of the area, dirty and dingy, and parts of it had begun to fall apart. Movement on the roof caught his attention, drawing his eyes to see more robed figures he believed to be the Homunculi. They dropped from the roof landing with a clank and disrobed themselves, revealing their porcelain featureless forms.
Name: Homunculus Drone
Level: 20
Snarling, he dashed forward with Shapechange appearing behind them. Grabbing them by the back of the neck, he squeezed, making them claw at his hands to break free. Their smooth heads popped off not soon after. He whipped around, drawing his sword, and marched up the steps to the rotting wooden door. The door shattered to pieces when Aldrin kicked it. The inside was dusty and old. More Homunculi jumped down from the rafters of the building, obstructing Aldrin from advancing. He made short work of them when he used Cleaving Strikes bisecting them at the waist. His vision saw no white silhouettes in the building, making him wonder what brought him here. Taking his first step into the house, the floorboards creaked under his weight. He cautiously explored around the rundown house. He inhaled again, breathing in the stale air that had a tinge of something else, something familiar. Outside, he could faintly hear the alarm bells beginning to ring, increasing his sense of urgency to find his friends. Going back outside, he went around to the back of the house, finding a latched cellar door. He ripped off the doors and entered the dark cellar. Blood and rotting meat assaulted his nose when he inhaled, which made his stomach groan and do a somersault at the same time. Coming down to the last step, the cellar was filled with large barrels that were used for brewing at one point. The rotten smell emitted from the rows of barrels. Carefully and slowly, he opened the barrel, revealing a butcher shop of limbs; arms, legs, hands, feet, and torso were all thrown in regardless of who they were from. He closed it, the image of the mass of body parts seared in his mind. He had done worse lately, but he never dismembered them piece by piece, or at least not intentionally remembering the last guy he fed on when he took his arm. This act that filled the barrel was intentional and out of sheer curiosity. He clenched his fist, drawing blood as his claws punctured through his tough skin. He checked each barrel, which numbered six, and each of them had body parts or mutilated bodies, possibly from missing people. He looked down to see a caked trail of dried blood lead behind a wall. He frowned, knowing he had no time to find a quiet approach to unlocking this. Balling up his fist, he struck the wall, making the foundation of the house shake and years of dust fell around him on impact. He pulled back, a small spider web of cracks centered around the indentation of his fist. Marveling and appreciating his new Strength, he looked down to his hand seeing that it was unblemished. He continued to strike at the wall until it crumpled, revealing a dark tunnel and the smell of fresh, spilt blood. Vampiric instincts edged him towards a frenzy when the smell wafted in his nose. He fought for dominance against whatever mental entity raged at him. ¡°Don¡¯t let it win,¡± he told himself when he ventured forth into the dark tunnel. It was a windy path with only one way forward. A light began to shine dimly once he rounded the last bend of the tunnel, making him completely stop in shock. Dim lighting from torches that were dying out showed at least eight other people that were hanging on hooks. Each of the hooks was embedded in their shoulders as they hung from the ceiling of the tunnel. Their toes dragged as they swayed, causing each of them to squirm in pain at the discomfort as black sacks Aldrin was familiar with covered their faces. He stepped into the room, wary of anything that deigned to jump out at him. The lighting was barely visible, but to Aldrin it wouldn¡¯t matter. Passing in between the hanging people, careful not to touch them, he made it to the other side of the area. Whoever this was knew they would never get caught from the brazen display of his living victims, which made Aldrin clench his teeth in anger. Gleeful humming echoed further down the tunnel behind a walled off section. Looking back at the people, the dripping blood from their wounds worked tirelessly to tempt Aldrin into giving in. Unveiling one of them, he came face to face with a beaten Evie. ¡°Evie?¡± He worked on the hook in her shoulder. Her face was bloodied and swollen enough that it forced both of her eyes shut. ¡°¡®I¡¯m going to get you out of here.¡± She groaned in response as Aldrin finally got the hook out of her. She tried to hold in her scream through gritted teeth, making the gleeful humming stop. Looking up towards the section of the walled off area of the tunnel, Aldrin watched the door warily then blended into the dark spaces using Shapechange. The door opened, revealing a short, gaunt looking dwarf that hid his features underneath a skull mask. His stature wasn¡¯t as surly or beefed up like other dwarves, but he was more lean and a little slimmer, which Aldrin noted for later.
Name: Unknown
Class: Puppeteer of Flesh(T4 Mage)
Profession: Butcher
Level: 51
¡°Fuck me. . .¡± Aldrin thought once he used Inspect. Still, whatever resided inside him rose to the challenge with malice and ambition. The Vampire demanded blood, and Aldrin wasn¡¯t going to needlessly throw his life away over some whim. Fighting the urge to attack, he waited and watched the Dwarf as he came scurrying towards Evie, rubbing his hands together. ¡°What¡¯s this? You got loose?¡± The dwarf¡¯s jovial voice ringed, coming up to Evie and placing her against the wall. ¡°I needed a new body, anyway. That one in there is going through the finishing touches!¡± He clapped to himself and began humming again.
Continental Alert!
Lor-Vold is under siege!
Aldrin read the alert before a sudden explosion and earthquake followed suit. ¡°What in all Abyss!¡± the dwarf said before scurrying back into the back room. Aldrin took the chance to move into the shadow above the door. Who knew that the age old saying of people not looking up would become his best friend during these times. He watched the dwarf run out of the room, followed by three robed figures Aldrin assumed to be where the Homunculi came from. Waiting until he could no longer hear the footsteps of the four, he dismissed Shapechange, dropping back onto the ground in a crouch. He checked on Evie before he ventured into the back room of the tunnel. The room was filled with tubes leading into an enclosed metal chamber that looked more like a coffin than anything. Bloodied tools were strewn about, as were the strapped chairs that used to keep the unwilling occupants from running. A few of those black silk sacks were hung along the walls, giving the impression that whoever this was had ties with the Research District. ¡°Tanyth.¡± Aldrin growled once he saw the sacks. He dreaded opening the metal chamber as the tubes hissed from the releasing pressure. Unlocking it, Aldrin slowly opened it up as steam clouded his vision. He waved it away and recoiled at the sight of what used to be the Bugbear, Khudar. Half of him was converted into the featureless form of a Homunculus while the other part of him remained disfigured and dissected. The dwarf had keenly butchered him, giving ground for whatever transformation process had begun. Aldrin breathed in trying to see if the Bugbear still held on to whatever little life was left but all he smelled were the chemicals and mixtures. He removed the Bugbear that was strapped with needles meant for whatever injections were taking place. Gently laying him on the floor, Aldrin offered a quick prayer and promised that the dwarf would not get away with this no matter how long it would take him.
Quest Earned! Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Vow of Vengeance: You have sworn justice for those affected by mad experimentation! Right the wrongs so that they may find peace, young Vampire!
Reward: ???
¡°The more I think I know the System, the more it surprises me by letting me know how much I actually don¡¯t know,¡± Aldrin said once he finished reading it. Another explosion from above rocked the ground beneath him as it nearly threw him off his feet this time. He hurried back to Evie, who still sat against the wall, heavily leaning to one side as she struggled to get her bearings. ¡°Hey,¡± he gently said, placing a hand on her that made her flinch away. ¡°Evie,¡± He gently tried again and was met with another flinch. ¡°I need you to take a Health Potion if you have one, okay? I don¡¯t have one on me.¡± He cursed himself for being unprepared, something his whole family would have reprimanded him for. He left her there to focus on regaining at least a portion of herself, since there was no telling what she had been through when they last saw each other earlier. He worked on the other victims, taking them off the hooks that were embedded in their shoulders. A firm hand soon gripped his shoulder. Evie stood, looking down on him, letting the swollenness of her face rapidly recede. They briefly glanced at each other, at least as much as Evie could glance at him due to the low light. Sharing an understanding, they got to work on treating the victims as the explosions up above began to become a frequent occurrence. ¡°We have to hurry. Zombies assault the city,¡± Aldrin informed Evie, who stopped suddenly, then proceeded to hurry by dripping a Health Potion along the backs of the victims to heal them. ¡°How did you find us? I thought we were going to die here,¡± she finally asked, her voice not as bright and airy as it used to be. ¡°I was looking for my friends,¡± Aldrin said. That seemed to appease her curiosity somewhat. He pulled the sacks off the rest of them, breathing a sigh of relief since none of the people were Pierre. The relief also made his stress levels skyrocket with the thoughts of what if¡¯s because neither of them were here. Sadly, that was also true for Evie because none of the people she came here with were under the sacks, meaning only one of two things. The robed figures that left were Evie¡¯s party mates, or they were traded to Tanyth for his experiments. Both options left a sour taste in Aldrin¡¯s mouth. ¡°All this power and I¡¯m still powerless,¡± Aldrin whispered to himself, guiding the rest of the victims back through the tunnel and out of the abandoned house. Finally free, the victims hugged and rejoiced with one another as fresh air filled their lungs. Evie was the only one who chose not to celebrate as she stared at Aldrin. ¡°How many?¡± She sidled up next to Aldrin, away from the others. ¡°Thousands with more inside the city and I¡¯m going to free them.¡± Aldrin stated, allowing crimson glowing eyes to dilute his green ones. Evie¡¯s mouth pressed into a firm line, then she kneeled on one knee with her head tilted down. ¡°What do you ask of me, Vyncari?¡± She resolutely said. ¡°You know you are the second one to bow to me and offer services I did not ask for,¡± Aldrin said. ¡°My tribe was once devout followers of the Vyncari, and to see one here so far from your homeland is an honor.¡± Evie stated, not bothering to look up. ¡°If we make it out of this, you and I are going to have a long discussion about what I am.¡± ¡°Yes my Vyncari.¡± She rose, her head still tilted down. ¡°You can stop. I really don¡¯t know anything about Vampires. I¡¯m still fairly new at this still.¡± Aldrin admitted. Evie¡¯s head snapped up with wide eyes. ¡°You are a new Vyncari? That would make sense. . .¡± She frowned. ¡°Perhaps you can help me understand better?¡± he asked. ¡°It would be my greatest honor and pleasure,¡± she deeply bowed again. A distant roar interrupted their conversation, making Aldrin tug on the strand that was linked to the Zombies outside. ¡°City is infiltrated. Multiple Openings. The Horde rushes forth Midnight Lord.¡± Aldrin heard them speak in his mind, unnerved again by how cohesive it was. ¡°We must hurry. Your best bet is to get out of the city and find Jared if you can. Explain to them what happened and they will take care of the rest.¡± He closed his eyes, finding the strand of Pierre¡¯s link in his mind. ¡°And if I can¡¯t?¡± she asked. ¡°Head to Folos. That is our next destination.¡± ¡°Thank you for trusting me with your nature and for saving me.¡± She bowed once more and turned to help the people they rescued. ¡°Now Pierre, where are you really?¡± Aldrin searched for the tug, still telling him he was in the area. Opening his eyes, he looked at the people Evie led away, who spared him one last grateful look. He nodded to her and jumped up to the roof of the building they recently came out of. He surprised himself more that he could clear it to get to the roof, almost as if it was second nature to him. From his perch, Aldrin viewed the city that was beginning to catch fire in areas close to the entrance wall as alarm bells rang through the city to muster a defense. Along the wall, multiple breaches were opened and, from what Aldrin¡¯s eyesight could see, streams of Zombies poured in. High Guards and Adventurers met the oncoming tide, but from what he could see, it was a futile effort. ¡°How in the fuck did they get so many so fast?¡± Aldrin stared in disbelief as the Horde seemed to be nonstop. It was a losing battle nonetheless, as the Zombies relentlessly charged forth from the breaches. He hadn¡¯t seen any of the Giant Zombies yet, and he worried how the city would fare once they arrived. A bright white light soon materialized in front of Aldrin, that shocked him out of the carnage he could see.
System Alert!
Servant gained!
Curiously, he felt the new connection that was beginning to blossom. ¡°Safe outside the walls. Find me when you can.¡± Aldrin was relieved that it came from Jared. Now, with one less thing to worry about, he put more effort into focusing exactly where Pierre was at. If Pierre could use the connection to follow along to Aldrin, then should be able to do the same in reverse. Of course, his first try landed him in the general area, which proved to be fortuitous, but not exactly what he was after. On the other hand, it gave him some peace of mind that he might be able to figure out what makes him different from other Vampires and if there were more out there somewhere. He tuned out distractions and simply focused on Pierre. It was slippery in his mind and he had to try a few times to grasp it, but when he finally did, he almost leapt for joy. Jumping back down onto the street he followed it leading him to a rundown dilapidated church that had a few onlookers sitting on the ground in front of it. They sized him up but whatever they saw on Aldrin immediately dashed their thoughts of easy pickings. ¡°I¡¯m looking for a man named Pierre. Is he here?¡± Aldrin calmly asked. None of them answered and looked anywhere but at him. ¡°You guys were about to rob me about a second ago. What changed?¡± he almost chuckled. They shuffled closer together and continued to ignore him. Shrugging his shoulders, he moved past them and headed into the church. It was wooden all around, unlike the stone and concrete he had been used to in the city. Three rows of pews on each side sat facing a shrine of a marbled statue of a veiled woman holding, balancing scales in one hand and a sword in the other. ¡°Welcome to the shrine of Dremetica. How may this humble worshiper help you? A priest in dirty, graying robes asked from his left. ¡°I¡¯m looking for a man named Pierre. Is he here?¡± Aldrin repeated the same question. The priest¡¯s eyes alighted with joy, ¡°Is he your friend? He¡¯s been quite helpful lately!¡± ¡°Yes, I need to speak with him. It¡¯s urgent,¡± ¡°Aldrin? What are you doing here?¡± Pierre asked, coming out from an enclosed room that smelled of death making Aldrin¡¯s nose crinkle. ¡°Pierre! We have to talk.¡± Aldrin raised his eyebrows, hoping he would get it. ¡°About what?¡± Pierre confusedly asked. ¡°It¡¯s urgent.¡± Aldrin flatly said. He nodded, and they walked back outside and a few feet away from anyone that could hear them. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Pierre asked once they were a decent deal away. ¡°I started the Zombie outbreak,¡± Aldrin admitted. ¡°How? Why? Wait, what about the plan?¡± Pierre fired off. ¡°It changed when whoever decided to blow up the inn with the people inside.¡± Pierre took a minute to process that, ¡°You are the only one who survived?¡± ¡°I am and in my anger, I started the Zombie outbreak. Right now, they have spilled into the first part of the city and will soon overwhelm the defenders at the breaches. Also, the Giantess, Evie, knows what I am.¡± ¡°Can she be trusted?¡± ¡°She claimed her people and mine used to have a working relationship, so to speak.¡± Pierre grunted in displeasure. ¡°Still, if she is around us, then we have to keep an eye on her until we know she¡¯s good.¡± ¡°I am assuming you are also going to the Research District now?¡± ¡°To put a stop to the Queen¡¯s experiments, yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m coming with you.¡± ¡°No, get out of the city and meet with Jared. He is safe outside the walls somewhere.¡± ¡°But-¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Pierre, but I have to go alone. I have already doomed this city. You guys have been trying to redeem yourselves and I don''t want to drag you down. Get out of the city and meet with Jared. I will find you both when I can.¡± Aldrin bursted into bats before Pierre could argue more. Flying above and looking at the destruction by the main gate, he saw the defenders losing ground as more and more Zombies poured in. A few of said Zombies had maneuvered into storming atop the walls, subduing the Archers present there. Another skin crawling moment was seeing some of the Zombies full on sprint and dive into the defenders with reckless abandon from above at portions of the wall. Loud thumping accompanied not soon after as a Giant Zombie shoulder charged into a section of the wall, bringing it down altogether. It rose from the rubble, letting out a terror inducing roar that whipped the other Zombies into a frenzy. To make matters more dire, the shop, Hexes and Jinxes, where the slavers had their drop point, began to add more numbers to the Zombies as they flooded into the city. Spells from the Mages lighted the pockets of darkness the flames had yet to illuminate as the Adventurer groups banded together to stem the tide. It was no use, however, as a second and third Giant Zombie came through the hole the first made. That seemed to break morale when one of the Giant Zombies grabbed a handful of screaming people and popped them in its mouth like popcorn. Doubts began to fill Aldrin¡¯s mind at the atrocity that he had a hand in committing. He knew if Lor-Vold survived, it would be a miracle and he had yet to see if the Zombies had begun sprouting from the ground underneath the Research District. When that would happen, plus whatever horrible experiments were locked away, were also unleashed, it would only be a matter of time before the city became overrun. Chapter 17: A Budding Conqueror Adeline stared at the alert in front of her about Lor-Vold being under siege, balling her fist in silent rage. The surrounding men were in a flurry of motion as they began to pack up camp and make their way towards Lor-Vold. Cursing to herself, doubts beset her about Aldrin wondering if he was ok. She looked at the blue-black haired Bard soundly sleeping still, as the movement around the camp didn¡¯t bother him. Clucking her tongue together, she lightly kicked Finston, startling him to a wakeful state. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we have to get to the city,¡± she told him. He looked around with sleepiness still in his eyes. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± He yawned and stretched upwards, letting a few pops roll off. ¡°We are going to save a city,¡± Grim determination glared in Adeline¡¯s eyes. ¡°MOUNT UP!¡± she roared, watching the flashes of golden light bathe their camp as the Paladins summoned their warhorses with their Skills. ¡°Don¡¯t stop until we get there! Everyone has their squads and assignments! MOVE!¡± Adeline shouted, watching as her men raced by to get back on the main road to Lor-Vold. ¡°Commander!¡± One of her men in a plume feathered helmet walked up to her. ¡°Yes, Officer?¡± ¡°The other half of our force have been notified and are on their way to Lor-Vold as we speak. Shall we depart as well?¡± He asked. ¡°Meet up with the other half, bring Finston with you so he can buff up their speed.¡± She said as she summoned her own warhorse.
System Alert!
Canidir(Warhorse) has been summoned!
A towering and muscled cream colored warhorse trotted out from the light, raking his hoof on the ground, snorting haughtily. The smile action made Adeline¡¯s face bloom into a smile as she went up and patted the horse on his flank. He sniffed her and then nipped at her hair bun that was at the top of her head. He kneeled down, allowing Adeline to climb and mount him before raising up again. ¡°Your command will be carried out milady,¡± The officer thumped his chest and bowed. Canidir wheeled around and took off, trampling his way through the brush and onto the main road. It didn¡¯t take long for them to catch up to the rest, bringing up the rear as they all raced towards the besieged city of Lor-Vold. Meanwhile, back in the city, Aldrin arrived in the crowded streets of the city as people fended off their Undead attackers. Bodies littered the ground that were both fresh and rotten. People screamed as the Zombies barreled into the shops, tearing the buildings apart from the inside out. More Adventurers surfaced from further inwards of the city as they clashed with the oncoming tides of the Zombies. Aldrin looked around in the mass of chaos as the fires lit up the night sky. The ground rumbled beneath his feet, causing everyone to stumble as Death Gorgers bursted from the ground, showering the nearby buildings with the debris. Adventurers stared at the huge pale bloated corpse that had eyes running down its torso, while the lower half of it was a centipede. More screams rang out into the night sky, but were soon drowned out by the victorious moans and groans of the Zombies as they began striking anything in their path with renewed vigor. Aldrin kept to himself and avoided the Adventurers and guards that began to attack anything that moved wrong. All around him, it was a battlefield, and the Zombies were slowly working their way towards the Research District gate, unbeknownst to the people defending the city. Two Death Gorgers began to keep pace with Aldrin, bulldozing their way through friend or foe, escorting Aldrin to his objective. ¡°IT¡¯S A NECRO!¡± Aldrin heard someone shout above the cries. The mood of the battlefield shifted as the Adventures and Guards reigned themselves in and began to systematically dismantle the Zombie horde in search of the supposed Necromancer. Their effort turned to be in vain when two Giants bursted through an unbroken section of the wall, allowing more Zombies to pile in. Aldrin briefly stared in disbelief at the limitless number of Zombies that seemed to multiply by the second. Overwhelmed by the sudden influx, a few Adventurers began to run in the opposite direction of the battle, igniting the predatory instincts of the Zombies to give chase. Spurned on by the desire to hunt that was filling the air, Aldrin battled his own instincts. Blood splattered across his face when one of the Death Gorgers impaled one of the guards with its forelegs. The taste of cherries inflamed Aldrin¡¯s taste buds when he subconsciously licked the blood that sprayed on him. The freshness and warmth of the blood made Aldrin suddenly stop and savor the sensation. It caused his knees to buckle as he inhaled, the human part of him no longer screaming that it was wrong. The Vampire side of him, delighted in finally being set free as instincts took over making Aldrin succumb deeper into being a Vampire. He began to feel better as his body tensed and untensed, reveling in the anticipation of the oncoming hunt. Slowly, the human part of Aldrin, died, allowing his Vampiric features to take form. The shift in the air was palpable as everyone stopped, including the attacking Zombies. Whispers from the horde tickled Aldrin¡¯s ears, overlapping and saying one thing over, ¡°He has come.¡± Growling emitted from Aldrin¡¯s frame as those closest to hear flinched at the sound that cut through the eerie crackling of the fires and distant screaming. The hairs of the living slowly raised regardless of their level as the very core of them realized that something much worse stalked the desperate defense of the city. Something that made the small animal part of their brains reactivate their primal urge to run. Zombies began clacking their teeth in anticipation, making the living set their teeth on the edge.
System Alert!
For being a Higher Undead do you wish to assume command of this Horde?
Y/N?
That snapped the rational part of Aldrin back to reality as ideas raced through his mind. A chance to mitigate the damage to the city while also having the power to stop the experiments. He selected yes, making time freeze as a hud overlaid his vision.
System Alert!
Temporary Command System Unlocked! Race: Vampire Rank: Juvenile
UPDATE!
Congratulations! For being a Progenitor, you are able to command Legions upon Legions of units.
New Command Status
New Rank: Progenitor
Special Rank: Bulwark: You inspire and lead your troops from the Frontline of any battlefield!
Sound of the Hunt(Active): Gives all units under your command +3 to all Stats for the duration of the battle
Frontliner(Passive): Inspire those in a 1 yard radius around you (0/3 Battles Won for Upgrade)
Current Army Type: Undead - Zombies
Army Special Ability: Hive Mind Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
Congratulations! You have collected a new Army Ability! Hive Mind: Communicate mentally with your troops
Sub-Commanders:
Hyalfnar (Zombie Giant) Ki''Saed (Death Gorger) Hyde Hall (Spector) Magenna (Ecilith)
The string of alerts bombarded his vision making him silently thank it for freezing time. This was definitely a new aspect of the System and added to the pile of mounting questions that were blooming in the face of the System. The other thought that came to mind was if these new aspects were only exclusive to the Vampire Race as a whole. "STORM THE GATE!" Aldrin commanded without hesitation. The Zombies snapped back into action as they disengaged the stunned Adventurers and guards. The two Death Gorgers moved into action, moving in tandem with Aldrin as he beelined for the gate. Arrows, crossbow bolts, and spells flew every which way, creating a haze of magical energy and ash. A bolt of lightning tore through a Death Gorger causing him to explode into a soup puddle. Aldrin hissed, looking further down the road to see a group of lightly armored and robed figures advancing slowly towards the battle. Another bolt of lighting streaked towards the other Death Gorger, causing a blinding flash that forced Aldrin''s eyes shut. "Reinforcements come from the skies to deal with the Mages. Keep pushing," a disjointed voice came through the fog of Aldrin''s mind. Faint screeching pierced through the air emanating from beyond the wall. The mages began chanting their spells as their gazes swept towards the air. Out of the darkness from over the wall, winged centaur Ghouls flew over the wall, shrieking as they descended upon the stunned melee.
Name: Ecilith Lancer
Race: Ghoul
Level: 72
Aldrin watched in both awe and terror as the Eclitith skewered the defenders on their long lances. A few of them still galloped through the air, darting in and out, obliterating the lower leveled Adventurers. The coming of the Ecilith turned the tide in favor for the Zombies allowing the Zombie Runners to sprint forth towards the distracted Mages that were dealing with a few Eciliths. The two Zombie Giants from before marched forth, trampling the city as Zombies swarmed around Aldrin, putting him in the middle of the Horde. He moved with them step by step, gaining ground as they pushed towards the Research District. The Horde didn''t allow for any Adventurers to get close to see Aldrin. He had a sneaking suspicion that the Horde understood that a stray spell could end Aldrin quicker than he could react since his life saving Skill has already been used. They bone rushed the gates, uncaring for their numbers dwindling. While Aldrin had control, it wasn''t direct control, only a suggestion. Henceforth, the rampant destruction along the path they traveled. More roars sounded out behind him followed by another earthquake and explosion as another factory on the other side of the city blew up. Aldrin grimaced at the wanton destruction. "We must defend until the Holy-" One of the Guards attempted before being swarmed and dragged into the waiting horde. Aldrin heard enough to add unnecessary stress to an already stressful situation. If that was the case, then Adeline would come and probably stand a chance for a little bit before being overwhelmed. The stray thought hardened Aldrin''s face. With the little training he had when he was with the Orc Tribe and their skirmishes with other Tribes, he wasn¡¯t used to coordinated attacks. He was thankful he didn''t have to raise a blade against anyone but the Vampire in him still demanded blood. A thought that was sent subconsciously through the Horde. Soon, a badly wounded Adventurer was thrown at Aldrin''s feet making him stumble in surprise. "Feast. Strength has waned." The Horde whispered. The tantalizing scent of oranges enamored his senses, the rapid heartbeat that transported the lively nectar dominated his hearing, and the white silhouette of life engrossed his vision. The Vampire purred in delight at the offering, a forced supplicant that reeked of fear when he stared at Aldrin. "The only way to survive is to embrace it," Hyde floated up from beneath the ground, wearing a smug grin. The sliced neck wound oozed blood onto his overalls, repeating his death. Without further prodding, Aldrin snatched the weakened Adventurer, draining him to a dried husk. The rush of fresh blood overwhelmed any sensibilities he had left as the tether to his humanity finally snapped. He roared, the primal base of it rang out making the Zombies roar in unison, cementing their Horde mentality with renewed vigor. Irritation bubbled forth inside Aldrin at the gruff appearance of Hyde. "What do you want Hyde?" Aldrin bit out after his instincts finally stopped raging through him. . "Just to congratulate ya fer going from Baby to Toddler and to also tell ya that the Horde''s pincer attack, curtesy of ya," he tipped his straw hat at Aldrin, "has infiltrated the inner courtyard. There is heavy resistance and some golden mage that shoots lasers," Hyde spat out the last part. "Tanyth," Aldrin growled. A sly smile replaced his smug smile after watching Aldrin''s reaction. "I see ya got some shit cake with the man?" Hyde leered. "You can''t beat him as ya are anyway. Ya need to be at least a Teenager by my standards to even scratch the man," he teased. Anger flashed in Aldrin¡¯s eyes at the backhanded remark, "I swear-" "Don''t get ya diaper twisted, I''m merely saving ya from getting turned into ashes. Hate to see ya that way as a Ghost," He smirked. "Anyways, saw that ya took command, came by to see what happened that made ya change your mind." He crossed his arms, scrutinizing every inch of Aldrin. "Justice," Aldrin coldly said. "Huh¡­ your kind always had this twisted sense of right and wrong. Some people viewed y''all as protectors and the bridge between life and death. Others thought y''all were a nuisance." The little information Hyde shared abated some of Aldrin''s anger, "And what about you?" Hyde shrugged his shoulders, "Don''t know. Only heard stories from my great grandpappy before he was killed by a Yarxik." The anger he felt flooded back, "You''ve been judging me the whole time with only hearsay knowledge?!" Hyde chuckled, "My great grandpappy was a Chronomancer, he was strong enough to share his memories as movies he called them." He scratched his head, tasting the word. "He was from Earth. I thought we were the first here? Never mind." "Can the Horde stop Tanyth?" He asked. "If we pile onto him, yeah, but that would still be a severe loss to us. At best we can distract him fer ya to get in and out. Hoping our other brothers and sisters will fight with us still," Hyde said. "And if they don''t?" "Then we are in a bigger mess and more than likely will die. Again," Hyde said matter of factly, facing forward floating along with the Horde that continued to swarm forth. For every three people that died, one arose as a Zombie adding more to their ranks. Aldrin could feel when a new one awakened as the pulse that linked him to the Hive Mind of Undead would ping every so often. He worried that if he didn''t make it in time, those left behind would rise again as Zombies would wander off into the rest of the city. Worse, if the Adventurers that initially ran from the fight back the way they came and told anyone that would listen that Zombies were attacking would cause a mass panic. That panic would then cause a stampede straight into the waiting arms of Zombies wanting to eat them. "Well this wasn''t what I expected when I agreed to lead," Aldrin said, shambling along with the Zombies that surrounded him. "Welcome to being a Commander. Your kind is also considered precious as there aren''t too many of you left," Hyde informed. "Can you tell me more about Vampires?" "Whatcha wanna know? Can''t guarantee that anything I remember is fact since when ya die yer brain gets like scrambled eggs about the life ya lived." "I need to know all of it, real or not." "Yer best bet for facts would be looking up the Progenitor Wars from about 700 years ago. So many species went extinct. It''s a damn shame really," Hyde shook his head as he remembered. "What are the Progenitor Wars?" Hyde whipped his head at Aldrin, "Whadduya mean what are the Progenitor Wars? They were what made the world today? They don''t teach that in the big fancy cities no more?" "Queen''s Law not to speak of anything past 500 years." "Well she''s a right and left cunt ain''t she." Hyde spat. The ground shook again, as a stone wall erupted right in the middle of their Horde, effectively cutting it in half. Hyde shot off, phasing through the Zombies to make his way to the front where the earthen wall appeared. The Horde circled around Aldrin, protecting him from any harm at the sudden threat. A magical glyph formation formed above the Horde. The surrounding energy grew as the glyph started rotating, building up power before unleashing a beam that tore through the front half of the Horde. There, floating above the glyph after it dissipated was a golden skinned, tall, and thin figure. Blonde almost white hair was in disarray and bloodied. His long draping purple robe with black phoenix motifs was singed and torn. He peered down from his nose, sneering in disgust at the Horde. Tanyth had arrived with the gleam of a crazed mad High Elf. Chapter 18: Jailbreak
Name: Tanyth Race: High Elf
Class: Exotic Sequencer Level: 82 Tier 5 Profession: Rune-Enchanter Level: 73
Tanyth balefully glared at the Horde that threatened his city. The mass of pale and various states of decayed bodies with milky eyes stared back. All except for one that had brown curly hair and olive skin that made him stand out amongst the Zombies. ¡°YOU!¡± He bellowed loud enough there was a visible shift in the air. Vampiric instincts assailed Aldrin¡¯s mind, forcing him to challenge the threat to his existence. The Vampires were meant to be the predator of predators and no golden skinned High Elf, or anyone else for that matter, would tell him otherwise any longer. ¡°ME!¡± Aldrin shouted back. The Zombies around stood a little straighter at Aldrin¡¯s rise to the challenge. He couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of pride at the display. Hyde floated back towards Aldrin, carefully watching Tanyth float there, mumbling something to himself. With enhanced hearing, Aldrin picked up the incantation for a spell. ¡°Ki¡¯Saed said to stomp on the ground when ya ready fer ¡®im to intervene,¡± Hyde whispered. ¡°Good, because that¡¯s a spell he is about to unleash,¡± Aldrin frowned. The Ecilith charged from all directions towards Tanyth. Golden glyphs appeared and began to rotate around Tanyth, slowly glowing bigger as they accumulated the magical energy from the caster. Aldrin waited for the right moment to signal Ki¡¯Saed to appear. The brightness of the golden glyphs reached the climax, bathing the night sky in warm, white light. The air screamed next, ripping away the revere that came with the enchanting light. The golden light enveloped Tanyth in a sphere of light, then sent a shockwave of light in all directions, incinerating the Ecilith that were closer and burning the ones further away into partial crisps. Aldrin stomped on the ground after seeing the power of it. The shaking he first felt when the Horde attack happened again, rumbling the ground beneath him, and knocking him off his feet as well as the surrounding Zombies. The ground began to crack around one of the factories, making it slowly sink into the ground before completely submerging. Chittering and screeches reverberated from the giant hole. Aldrin looked over slowly, as did Tanyth, his eyes no longer crazed as he focused on a potential new threat. Four massive centipede tentacles lashed out from the hole, each head screeching with a multitude of voices from victims. They found their grips after flattening the nearby buildings. To Aldrin¡¯s awe, they lifted a huge pale blob of flesh that connected each of them at the center. Different colored eyes of various sizes and mouths of jagged teeth sprouted randomly along the pale mass. Human fear washed through Aldrin, reminding him of his insignificance in the face of the monstrosity before him.
Name: Ki¡¯Saed
Race: Death Gorger
Class: Corpse Accumulator Level: 85 Tier 5
¡°They are gaining Classes. . .¡± Aldrin stared at the Status screen next to Ki¡¯Saed when he looked at the monster. Ki¡¯Saed roared once, shattering the windows of the buildings. If the city didn¡¯t know they were under attack, just from the front gates and walls being broken, Ki¡¯Saed ensured everyone knew now. Tanyth didn¡¯t move an inch, refusing to lose the staring contest with the monster that unearthed itself. Ki¡¯Saed was the first to break contact, swiveling his many eyes to observe Aldrin. Ki¡¯Saed¡¯s mind reaching out to Aldrin, ¡°Greetings Sir Vampire, may the night bless your kin¡¯s return to its embrace,¡± a smooth and elegant said. Ki¡¯Saed whipped one of its centipede arms at Tanyth, striking him from the sky before he could react. Aldrin barely had time to register where Tanyth crashed before Death Gorgers of different sizes spewed forth from the hole underneath Ki¡¯Saed when it lifted itself. The scene in front of him would be forever burned into his mind when the nightmarish Death Gorgers stampeded in all directions and through the buildings. Some of the Zombies followed behind them, adding more to the destruction. Aldrin could hear the shouts of people rallying to defend the oncoming Horde. An Ecilith dropped down next to Aldrin, finally allowing him to see what they looked like up close. True to their first appearance, they were winged centaur ghouls. Tall ones at that, as Aldrin only came up to its waist where the humanoid and horse part met. Their top half was storm gray, while their bottom part, that of a horse, was black. A dark glossy full helmet with a black feathered plume designed to resemble a horse¡¯s mane trailed down the back of the helmet. It also had a slit that allowed for its orange eyes to peer at Aldrin. Each part of the Ecilith was rippled with sleek and chiseled muscle, perfected for hunting down its prey through the air or ground. It kept its chest bare and only wore dark metal arm guards and pauldrons. He had a securely strapped dark metal lance along its flank and covered it with its raven black wings, almost similar to how a person would strap a sword to their waist and hide it with a cloak. ¡°Thortix,¡± the helmet it wore distorted its deep rugged voice when it placed its fist towards Aldrin. ¡°A fist bump?¡± Aldrin asked. ¡°Is it not customary to greet other Humans that way?¡± Thortix pulled his fist back slowly. ¡°It¡¯s. . .¡± Aldrin thought for a moment, ¡°No, you are not wrong,¡± he held out his fist now. Thortix gave him a fist bump, his cold and clammy skin leaving a distinct impression on Aldrin. ¡°I am to be your support from the air while you converge on our objective,¡± Thortix informed, sliding back into a militant style of speaking. More questions took root in Aldrin¡¯s head, questions that pertained to everything that fell under the Undead. He thought they were nothing but mindless monsters, but just from the past few nights, he has come to see them in a new light. It worried him a little to know that there were other Vampires out there somewhere, Vampires that weren¡¯t Feral, let alone having the time to fully explore their new nature and abilities. The thoughts of remaining a Vampire surfaced again, making him wonder if finding a teacher wouldn¡¯t be so bad for the time being until he was cured. The remaining Zombies that encircled him had finished picking themselves up after Ki¡¯Saed¡¯s appearance. The hive of Death Gorgers that spilled forth had cleaned out the resistance, clearing a path straight to the gate. Luck was finally on his side. He and his group ran, well shambled, their way towards the gate that was destroyed. Bodies of chewed up High Guards littered the ground, saturating the soil with blood. Magical Earth and Ice spikes were embedded in some of the Death Gorgers that also lay amongst the chewed bodies. Broken vials crunched beneath his feet, making him look closely at Zombies that were melted partially from an acid or poison. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Thortix swooped down, trotting up to Aldrin, surveying the surroundings as he went. ¡°The buildings have been destroyed,¡± Aldrin commented once Thortix came to a stop next to him. ¡°The Zombies will start digging,¡± Thortix said, sending out a mental command to the Zombies making them start to shamble towards the ruined library. ¡°Kiinnn. . .¡± Aldrin felt the familiar twinge of the Feral Vampire he encountered the first time he came here, only there were 25 that whispered in elation into his mind. ¡°Oh my gods. . .¡± Aldrin flinched back as sudden overwhelming hunger leaked over from the 25 Feral Vampires. He felt them underground, beginning to surge toward the surface, to freedom, and to greet their Lord. The Zombies that started moving the stones of the destroyed building stopped, dropping the pieces they had on the ground and stared at the biggest pile. They swayed slightly, feeling their impending victory when the Feral Vampires broke through the gaps. Their sprawling arms reached around to find purchase. Some pushed their way through small openings and widened them to allow for the others to come through.
Name: Feral Vampire
Level: 5
Name: Feral Vampire
Level: 13
Name: Feral Vampire
Level: 9
Name: Feral Vampire
Level: 22
Aldrin identified each one that crawled out of the holes, their features no longer human as pale skin, and bat-like faces with fangs jutting from their mouths took over. Their long, pointed ribbed ears twitched at the slightest sounds off in the distance. Their noses sniffed the air, the wind that carried the food scented blood along with it. Aldrin felt their hunger become tenfold when they stood before him after adjusting to their surroundings. ¡°Thirsty. . .¡± They said, looking at Aldrin expectantly. Their hunger and his desire for blood drowned any rational thought. His focus to fight off the tantalizing smell wavered when their desire mixed with his. Before him, however, innocent people who were turned into monsters because of twisted experiments stood in front of him. This wasn¡¯t his first time nor his fifth time encountering things of this nature since he has been on Grenora. The difference this time was because he was in a position to stop it, unlike the other times. He looked out into the burning city that was being destroyed and swallowed up by the fires. They had now reached the beginning of the Residential District. Nobody was prepared to face a siege by coordinated Undead and nobody was prepared for what Aldrin would do next. The first steps into the foray of justice and vengeance would begin. ¡°Feed,¡± Aldrin commanded the Feral Vampires. The twisted sense of vengeance had pleased his Vampiric side when they all roared in unison, their unearthly, animalistic roars foretelling their coming. He firmly instilled to only let those that run to be spared while those that stayed and fought were fair to eat. He then instilled the command to the entire Horde under his command, he realized accidents were bound to happen. He hoped that the smart ones that were still alive in the town trying to escape would realize that attacking a Zombie would only make them attack back. The Horde acquiesced to the command, as did the Feral Vampires. Aldrin ran with the Feral Vampires, keeping pace with them as they vaulted over the wall and onto the nearby rooftops that were still left slightly intact. There was a sense of thrill and camaraderie as Aldrin hunted with the other Feral Vampires. The tantalizing food scented blood grew thicker, making Aldrin give in more to being a Vampire. They landed on a building near the front lines, slightly obscured by the shadows created by the fires. They watched the carnage and the brave valiant defenders that slowly dwindled down. Aldrin¡¯s hope turned out to be true when he watched a family of four Dwarves snake their way past remnant packs of the Horde that ignored them. He wasn¡¯t the only one watching either when he saw a small tribe of Goblins march their way past the Horde as well. ¡°COWARDS!¡± ¡°TRAITORS!¡± ¡°I KNEW YOU WERE NO GOOD!¡± Aldrin heard various insults thrown around as more caught onto not fighting the Undead, which of course left the stupid and stubborn ones putting up a futile fight. Aldrin inhaled, activating Roar of the Apex.
Notice!
For 3 seconds, your enemies¡¯ spells and weapon enchantments are locked!
There was a lull in the battle as spells petered out or stopped casting halfway. The melee fighters lost their glows around their weapons. ¡°ABOVE!¡± someone shouted, noticing the 26 Vampires staring down at them. They hissed and roared. Their clawed hands gripped areas of the building so hard they cracked from holding themselves back. They waited for Aldrin to give them the signal to attack as he watched the remaining defenders gaze up in horror. The Zombies, Death Gorgers, and Ecilith ignored them when they stopped attacking and continued to destroy the surrounding buildings instead. A part of Aldrin relished in the fear that exuded from them. He knew that it would make their blood taste all the more delicious when he finally sank his fangs into one of them. The Human part of him was quiet now, the incessant need to hold himself back and not draw attention to himself went down the drain when someone tried to blow him up. Not only did the person attempt to assassinate him, but succeeded in murdering other innocents. Tonight, he would feed without restraint. Those who mattered already escaped the city, and those who didn¡¯t were now going to be bones he stepped on to ascend to greater heights. He would be a Paladin one way or another. This city had sealed its fate when it dealt with experiments on the living and Undead. The Queen had also sealed her fate by allowing her Queendom to fall into disarray on purpose. If Aldrin was a feared Progenitor then it was time for him to start acting like it.
WORLD NOTICE!
The last Progenitor has finally accepted responsibility! The Battle for the domain of Grenora has begun!
New Era Entered!
The Era of Retribution has begun! The time for long-lost secrets and revenge has come!
Aldrin read those prompts before another popped up in front of him.
Congratulations Progenitor of Vampires!
You have come to terms with what you must do! You are among the 11 other Progenitors that now stir their banners for war to battle for the ownership of Grenora. Will you win through Conquest, Diplomacy, or Trade?
New Quest!
Find your Kin: You have been given hints that you may not be the only one of your kind that controls their nature! Seek them out and you will gain what you desire the most!
Aldrin would have to sit down later and thoroughly go through the notifications as more continued to sprout in his vision. For now, he was thirsty, as were the others of his brood that hunted with him. The mental hold he had on the Feral Vampires went slack when Aldrin mentally let go of the leash. They shot forward, hurtling towards their prey with hunger driven movements. They were malnourished and angry, which Aldrin could understand. Those that wanted to run no longer had the chance as the Vampires descended upon them, feasting on their companions. Two Ferals had taken upon themselves to split their meal by tearing one of the defenders in half and began eating their entrails. Turning into a swarm of bats, Aldrin flew down, appearing in front of an Adventurer that forgot he had the ability to defend himself as the sudden chaos of the Vampires fractured his will. He gripped the Adventurer by his throat, letting him get a full view of Aldrin. Trying to scream, he only was able to wheeze when Aldrin sank his fangs into the Adventurer''s neck, draining him. He threw the body down and looked for another meal. He zeroed on one that was trying to run away. Grinning to himself, he gave chase, easily tackling his prey from behind and wrestling him to the ground. He instantly snapped the neck of the Ranger and drank from him. All around, his Vampires fed themselves into a blood drunk frenzy that attacked anything that had a heartbeat. Aldrin joined in, uncaring when the blood was beginning to smear across his face and body. He lost himself in the sea of fresh blood that filled him up. Off in the distance, Ki¡¯Saed faced off with Tanyth, who shot elemental beams from his glyphs that formed in the surrounding air. Lor-Vold was falling and soon, it would be brought to its knees without any chance of recovery once the defenders were dealt with. This night would be the first significant moment in the new era since it would mark the return of the Vampires and would be deemed the official declaration of the war for Grenora. Chapter 19: Choice of Kin
WORLD NOTICE!
The last Progenitor has finally accepted responsibility, thus beginning the Battle for the domain of Grenora!
New Era Entered!
The Era of Retribution has begun! The time for long long-lost secrets and revenge has come!
Adeline quickly read when she crested the hill on Canidir. Her once polished silver armor was now tarnished with the blood of Undead she carved through. Her grip tightened on the reins when she saw Lor-Vold in flames with Zombies pouring in through broken segments in the walls. She saw Zombie Giants swat away buildings, roaring as they did so. Flying centaurs swarmed the sky over the city, swooping in and out. Each dive held a skewered person on their lances before they dropped them from above. Some of the Death Gorgers she could see through the gap scuttled around, feasting on the dead of both sides. She took calming breaths, preparing herself for battle once more. She had to decide whether to do her duty and defend the people against the Undead or save her brother that was supposed to be here. The more she watched the city burn from the attack, the more her heart began to harden at the thought of her brother not making it. The rest of her troops soon crested the hill she watched from. Each of their faces morphed to form grim resolve and determination in the face of insurmountable odds. Half of their unit was still on the way from investigating the bandit camp and the missing dungeon. She motioned for Canidir to canter forward, the rest of her troops mirroring her actions. They raced across the small foothills before reaching the plains and switching to a full gallop. The Zombies heard the thunderous hooves, the mass of bodies swerving around to meet the newfound charge. Adeline summoned her great sword to her hand from her inventory. "Dremetica''s Force!" she called out, the runes that ran along her blade glowed orange. Other troops shouted their own buffs, each of their weapons glowing. The Zombies roared in unison when Adeline and her troops were seconds from colliding with each other. ¡°NOW!¡± She shouted, and as one, her and her troops unsummoned their mounts, catapulting them forward from the momentum. Light blue shields enveloped around each of the troops in a bubble shape. Their protective shield lessened their impact when it exploded, sending shards of energy in a 180 degree cone in front of them. With a breath of space, Adeline assessed the Zombies in front of them. Quickly deducting that these weren''t controlled, "Formation Clean Sweep!" she shouted. The ones on the Frontline alongside her pulled large tower shields from their inventories, planting them in the ground in unison, making a large thump heard. Adeline backed into the line as they planted spears between the gaps of the shields. "PRIESTS AND MAGES! PURIFY THE GROUNDS!" Humming and chanting began, aligning the ground in white light. The Zombies that were the first to be exposed to the grounded light burned. Inch by inch, Adeline and her group pushed their way forward, allowing the light on the ground to take out the lower leveled Zombies that didn¡¯t instantly burn. A passing spear killed anything that still lived when the formation moved. As they gained more ground, their tower shields opened, spilling out Paladins that held swords, maces, and axes bathed in the same white light as the earth. Adeline went forward with the next wave of troops that were beginning to disperse the Horde. She swung at anything that dared claw at her. Each swing sliced through them like paper. Horrendous screeching pierced the air, making Adeline look upwards to see Death Gorgers scuttling over the walls on their many legs. With gritted teeth, she tightened her grip on her great sword. The Zombies erratically twitched and pivoted to move out of the way of the many Death Gorgers that were descending the walls. A part of her was briefly in awe at seeing these Death Gorgers because the ones she was used to weren¡¯t as big as these. Magical white arrows soared through the night sky like shooting stars, puncturing the dark carapace bodies of the Death Gorgers with searing fire. That didn¡¯t stop the oncoming charge from the Death Gorgers. They roared and doubled their speed, barrelling through any Zombies that weren¡¯t quick to move out of the way. Without thinking, Adeline charged at them. A few of her fellow Paladins ran alongside her in her mad charge. Roaring right back at them the whole way, building power in their glowing white weapons. Adeline jumped to meet the first one that screeched at her, beheading it in one swift motion. It tumbled at the loss of its head before it twitched and righted itself to pierce Adeline with its many legs. She dodged through each of them, shearing a leg off with each movement. At the moment of its fall with the loss of its legs, Adeline pointed her sword upwards, letting the weight of the monster do most of the work for her as it collapsed. She tore through its abdomen, standing atop the butchered corpse to survey the battle that unfolded all around her. The sickly black blood covered her from head to toe. The flames that engulfed Lor-Vold gave the scene an eerie feeling, as the shadows from the flames attempted to play tricks on her mind. Another Death Gorger screeched at her as it charged and without hesitation, she ran to meet it, jumping off the corpse, letting a war cry bellow out of her lungs. She quickly dismantled the Death Gorger, continuing to carve her way into the breach of the city with her fellow troops behind her. Adeline crested the rubble of the destroyed wall, fully taking in the city that was overrun with Zombies that feasted on the remains of the living. Zombie Giants trampled buildings, causing them to explode, adding more fires to the already burning city. The Death Gorgers moved bodies into piles that were beginning to twitch as another Death Gorger sat atop of it, vomiting black sludge, sending shivers down Adeline¡¯s spine.
Name: Budding Corpse Crawler
Race: Zombie
Level: 30
Loud screeching and chittering drowned out all the other noises, forcing Adeline to cover her ears from the sound. Giant black carapaced centipedes danced through the air like wriggling snakes. A blob of pale gray flesh with many eyes peered down at her briefly before being blasted back by two beams of purple and golden light. Adeline saw a golden skinned Elf in a translucent gold bubble fly after it. Unsure of what Adeline had walked right into, the city was in utter ruin. ¡°This isn¡¯t a normal siege. . .¡± she breathed out. Guttural growls rained from the air, making Adeline look up, seeing the Ecilith dart through the air to and fro. Brief wonder and horror seeped into her at something new to her eyes in the world. In the back of her mind, she knew this world had much to see still, but everything new also had the inclination to be dangerous. Her other soldiers crested the crumbled wall, briefly gasping in shock at the scene. Adeline frowned when she saw a few people who were alive run past all the creatures without being chased or harmed. ¡°HELP US!¡± she heard them shout as they got closer. The Undead whipped their heads towards Adeline and her troop with milky eyes. As one, they all angled themselves and charged forth, their groans and whispered growls filled the night air once more. The Death Gorgers continued to drag bodies into piles at a quicker pace. Whatever they were doing, Adeline knew she had to stop it before it got any worse. ¡°Spears forward!¡± she commanded. Those with spears assembled themselves in a line that plugged their foothold. They angled their spears downwards, bracing for the Zombies that were clamoring up the rocks to get to them. Two spears immediately impaled the first Zombie that got close before being thrown back at a group of Zombies that were making their way up. Those with spears rotated with others at the limited space, defending their foothold against the tide. Adeline watched the skies for any of the flying creatures that noticed the activity. She had hoped that part of the smoke from the flames would at least obscure their vision to give them some more time to prepare a defense. She also kept an eye on the Zombie Giants that continued to wreck their way through the city; and the battle between the golden Elf and whatever he fought.
Name: Ki¡¯Saed
Race: Death Gorger
Class: Corpse Accumulator
Level: 85
Tier: 5 Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
Her heart seized at the thought of Aldrin being lost in the madness somewhere with that rampaging through the city, what was left of the city at least. She briefly noticed the fleeing people stop to watch them defend, too afraid to move any further. She frowned again at the oddity, still keeping a mindful eye on the people in front of her. Her Mages and Priests worked their magic to replenish their resources and heal them from any wounds. White arrows flew overhead still, thinning the Horde further as it continued to throw its mass of bodies towards them. One of her men chuckled, ¡°Free experience guys,¡± he said aloud for others, getting more chuckles in return. ¡°Stay sharp. There is more here going on than we realize,¡± Adeline chided. All of this to her felt too planned, yet meant to be shown as chaotic. Everything was moving like clockwork while the Zombies threw themselves relentlessly at them, almost like they were slowing them down to get any further into the city. Let alone, every creature here should be acting on pure instinct and driven by a mad hunger to devour the living; yet she and her troops presented themselves, and half of the Undead ignored them. ¡°Push further into the city when you see an opening,¡± she said, resting her hand on the pommel of her blade that was embedded into the ground. She wanted to rush forward into the city and search for her brother, but duty demanded her attention first. She needed to secure a safe exit point for any survivors left once reinforcements arrived to help sweep the city. However, that didn''t stop a sense of foreboding from bubbling in her stomach when she saw the Zombies stop. Her men tensed up in alarm when they began clacking their jaws together. The Death Gorgers hurried almost fearfully to scoop up the rest of the bodies.
Notice!
You resist the effects of impending Dread!
¡°Everyone! Ready yourself and prepare for a tight defense! Something is coming!¡± She warned her men, the hairs on the back of her neck beginning to rise. The Zombies turned back to the living and began to slink slowly away to the outskirts of the ruined wall, forming a wide circle. ¡°What in all Abyss is going on?¡± One of the men commented. The cackling of fires was the only thing to break the eerie silence of the dead watching them, anticipating something. Horrible animalistic roars stunned her and her men. She knew only one type of Undead that could make that noise. ¡°FERALS!¡± she bellowed, her men readying themselves without hesitation. They appeared from the smoking rooftops, jumping down and landing without a sound. Bat-like ears and faces were the first to greet her. Glowing crimson eyes scrutinized each of the living. The predatory gaze briefly brushing against Adeline¡¯s psyche. Something was different with the Ferals, she noted. They weren¡¯t recklessly charging forth. This whole disaster spoke of something more and she could not figure out what it was. The few remaining survivors that the Undead chose not to attack shook with uncontrollable fright, more so from not resisting the effects of Dread. She gritted her teeth, worried for what may appear as she scanned her surroundings. ¡°Mages! Barrier us. I don¡¯t trust whatever this is,¡± she ordered, her green eyes darting around, looking for any sign of what''s to come. The Vampires let low growls reverberate in their chest, carefully watching for any sudden movements. Adeline noticed they were struggling to hold themselves back, which worried her more. She knew nothing that could control Feral Vampires which made uneasiness settle over her. They pushed past the Zombies, all 12 of them in bloodied ruined rags that were once clothes. Their mouths and talons were still slick with fresh blood. Her men looked around nervously at each other at the sudden change. Something in the air changed, even with all the fires raging around them. The air chilled, like death had come to greet them. The taste of copper rose in the back of Adeline¡¯s throat, spiking her uneasiness further. ¡°Leave,¡± One of the wispy white haired Vampires said. Shock ran through Adeline, but she refused to let it show on her face. However, her man let their surprise be known by the sudden gasps when it spoke. ¡°This,¡± it wheezed when it waved one of its bloody talons around, gesturing to the city, ¡°is none of your concern.¡± ¡°We won¡¯t attack if you don¡¯t. Orders.¡± It ended in a displeased growl. ¡°From who?¡± Adeline couldn¡¯t help herself. ¡°Our Sire of Sires,¡± It smiled wickedly. ¡°Time for vengeance has come." A sinister smile filled with fangs graced its face. "This city owes a debt, a debt our Sire of Sires has been collecting on our behalf, though not without conditions, of course,¡± he gestured at the hidden people, still grinning enough to show his bloodied fangs. ¡°Why this city?¡± Adeline asked. ¡°Ask your Queen. Now I suggest you leave before He comes around,¡± It waved. ¡°We only want the survivors,¡± Adeline said. A distant boom resounded. Everyone, including the Zombies turned in the direction. From Adeline¡¯s vantage point, she could see one of the walls of the city that was still untouched by the attack engulfed in flames. ¡°A trick?!¡± The Feral Vampire hissed. ¡°No- Wait-¡± Adeline said before the Vampires and Zombies surged forth. Her men summoned the tower shields from before, firmly planting them in the ground with a loud thud. Their shields glowed brightly in the night like stars on earth. The Mages put up compounded barriers while the Priest started consecrating the grounds. Her Archers fired their white arrows that seared the flesh off the Zombies whenever they hit a mark. Adeline observed the Zombies throw themselves against the barrier. Spearmen thrusted through the shield gaps, killing anything they could reach. A deep, unsettling roar froze the battle.
Warning!
You have been afflicted by Roar of the Apex! Your Skills and Buffs have been canceled and locked for 3 seconds!
The barrier flickered like a dying light bulb, as did all the enchantments and buffs they used. Without the safety of the barrier, the Horde surged forth with renewed vigor. ¡°FALL BACK!¡± Adeline commanded, killing a Zombie that was thrown over the tower shields. They slowly retreated through the gap in the wall, taking casualties as they defensively backed into the open field in front of the crumpled wall. When they were pushed back far enough, the Horde stopped and waited at the mouth of the ruins, watching and waiting. The few Feral Vampires scaled the wall, looking up at the sky, almost fervently at something. Something stirred in the clouds that immediately set her on edge. Wispy black fog slowly drifted down from the sky, settling in between all the Feral Vampires. It reformed into the shape of a man, leather armor adorned his body, loose curly brown hair settled just above his shoulders, and worst of all, as Adeline feared, the coldness that descended upon them radiated from him. Vampiric features masked whatever human part of him used to be there, but that didn¡¯t stop the familiarity that tickled the back of Adeline¡¯s mind the longer she stared. The new Vampire roared a war cry that the Zombies and Feral Vampires echoed.
Name: ???
Race: ???
Class: Night Reaver
Level: 18
Tier: 2
More questions spurned in her mind when she looked. This thing that arrived looked like a Vampire but its Race was a mystery. Something in her mind clicked, ¡°FULL RETREAT!¡± She knew she couldn''t retake the city with only half her forces, not unless she wanted heavy casualties for little ground gained again. Her man looked to her for guidance for the new threat that presented itself when they were a safe distance away. Whatever this was, it had her on edge. The new Vampire peered down at them, its crimson eyes filled with hunger, malice, and promise of torment. A few of the other Paladins around her took a step back from the wave of hunger the Vampire eyed them with. She needed to stall for time until the other half of her forces arrived. She stepped forward; the Zombies watching intently. ¡°I seek honorable single combat with the leader of this siege!¡± Adeline announced. The new Vampire jumped down from the high walls, landing with an unnatural grace that didn¡¯t disturb the surrounding terrain. ¡°I am the leader,¡± The Vampire cruelly smiled. The tingle in the back of her mind reared its head again when the Vampire approached to meet her in the middle. This Vampire was different in more ways than one from the fact that it wasn''t a mindless beast that only craved blood. It materialized a longsword, adding more to the absurdity. ¡°A Vampire that has a Class and can use an Inventory,¡± She thought to herself as she walked to her own midpoint. Her man cheered her on as she strode forth, her unbroken resolve to end this as quickly as possible trampled any doubts she had. The closer she got, the more familiar looking the Vampire became, almost as if. . . ¡°Aldrin?¡± Adeline whispered. Her mind halted like it had been struck by lightning. Tears brimmed in her eyes as her mind tried to understand. Chapter 20: The Second Strike Clang! Clang! Clang! The brother and sister dueled in the circle, Adeline with precise strikes while Aldrin kept her in check with ferocity and overwhelming strength. To the outside audience, it seemed Adeline was the better fighter. However, Adeline knew one slip from her controlled movements and the Vampire would cut her in half. It was a humbling yet exciting thought as she hadn''t fought someone of this skill in a while. It was another testament to the Vampire that looked like Aldrin. Both of them had similar fighting styles of trying to overpower with cleverness and guile. Yet, through the hours of countless sparring against him, it usually ended in a draw. She still hadn''t managed effectively to dismantle Aldrin''s fighting style he learned from the Orcs in their youth. The years of refinement on the style only made him more fearsome to anyone that wasn''t used to it. While they would be in the comforts of a training arena, a lethal blow from either of them would be considered a point to reset. In this matchup, there was no magic to instantly heal them from immediate death. Only the looming shadow of becoming another Undead minion or the redeeming light of cleansing the plague. It was not only a fight for her life, but for the life of those who put their trust in her. That factor cemented her mindset to slay the Vampire, even if it meant slaying her brother. Meanwhile, in the depths of Aldrin''s mind, waves of crimson drowned him as he swam through his own consciousness. He was slightly unaware of how he got there. The last he remembered was severing the tether that tied him to the last shred of his humanity. Dark clouds were rife with thunder overhead, roiling with unbridled rage to be let loose. Still, he persisted and swam. The crimson waves threatened to drown him with each swelling wave. The current also tried its best to drag him down under, but he fought with every inch of his breath until he saw a light, a window, to be more exact. A window that showed Adeline standing in front of him, sword raised, her armor bloodied, and her panting from exhaustion. The sight of his sister''s injuries spurned forth the needed strength to continue fighting against the current. With a direction in mind, he swam towards the window that held his sister¡¯s image. Soon the waves gave way to a black sandy shore. Trudging himself onto land, he flipped over to lie on his back, gasping for much needed air that burned his lungs and inflamed the exhaustion of his muscles. Soft footfalls in the sand told Aldrin he wasn¡¯t alone any longer. Quickly righting himself, he stared at the reflection of himself, more so the Vampiric reflection of himself. It was hairless and clammy, with crimson red eyes that exuded an unquenchable hunger and thirst. Darkened gray skin tightened around its frame, accentuating its beastial nature. Fangs jutted from its upper lip when it smiled, already straining its nonexistent lips. ¡°What is humanity to a Vampire? The choices we make? Who we choose to spare or kill? A benevolent dark guardian? Or a malicious leech?¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± It wheezed a sinister wet chuckle, ¡°What you should have been. A Feral.¡± ¡°Could you imagine a Progenitor Feral?¡± Shudders ran up and down Aldrin¡¯s spine at the thought of what it suggested. ¡°Good thing I am not.¡± ¡°What is it you want, then? If you brought me here?¡± ¡°You brought yourself here. I am merely a passenger. For now, at least¡­¡± It grinned it''s lipless smile again. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting to talk with you, anyway,¡± it added. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°You are an interesting host. So much so you inadvertently fractured your mind by separating who you are into what we are.¡± ¡°And if we were to become one?¡± ¡°Then we would be unstoppable and everything you fear that you could become; you will become. Refuse and we die. We are already dying anyway. Your sister is quite the swordswoman. We are only surviving because we can keep up with her.¡± It clasped its hand behind its back, never taking its crimson gaze off Aldrin when it began pacing back and forth, pondering and tasting words that were at the tip of its tongue. It frowned, making it look more menacing than it already was. ¡°Vampires can be good or bad, like any other sentient. It all comes down to choice, something you have been advocating for whether or not you realize it. You have the potential to enact significant change and you have.¡± It lectured. ¡°For example, look at the nearby Undead you have influenced just by being where you are.¡± It waved one of its hands, forming a window to the outside, specifically at the Zombies that stood at attention in the half circle, watching Adeline and him exchange sword blows. ¡°We... you can do better. You can raise us back to where we used to be. All you have to do is rejoin me to become one again.¡± Aldrin thought for a moment, ¡°You know what we face, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°The answers you seek lie in the Forbidden Continent. Once there, things will make sense,¡± for once, Aldrin felt it was genuine. It stuck out its hand that made Aldrin eye it like a venomous snake. ¡°Your sense of self was lost. Reforge it, especially for the coming times ahead.¡± It compounded the offer further. ¡°This isn¡¯t a seduction to the dark side, is it?¡± ¡°Pfft, please. You joined the moment they made you. What you do now is all up to you, but what you have done so far in the short time has planted far reaching seeds that will grow into sturdy roots.¡± ¡°And my family?¡± ¡°Keep that thought tight. It¡¯s what keeps us from becoming fully Feral. Vampires need something to hold their humanity and tether it to the world. Without it, all there is, is blood and the need to hunt.¡± Sighing to himself, Aldrin hesitantly reached for its outstretched hand. Once he gripped it, the Vampire reflection of Aldrin deformed and melded into his skin, the frigidness of death washed over him, time lost its meaning when his emotions heightened along with his senses, and the acceptance that comes with the finality of inner peace settled into him.
Congratulations!
You have bested your inner turmoil and have come out stronger for it; granting you greater innate boosts!
Aldrin snapped back to reality with his sword angled to deflect an incoming strike from Adeline. Quickly pivoting away, he leapt back, gracefully landing in front of the waiting Horde. His sister stared at him in disbelief as the tranquility of peace filled his body. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. ¡°Adeline. . .¡± ¡°DON''T YOU DARE SPEAK MY NAME YOU MONSTER!¡± Aldrin recoiled at the hate filled words that escaped from his sister. ¡°Adeline. Please.¡± Unshed tears threatened to spill from her eyes when she saw the hurt look on his face. ¡°YOU KILLED MY BROTHER!¡± she leapt forth, her sword glowing white. Aldrin knew his sword would break under the weight of her current strike, so he did the next sensible thing. He jumped higher than he ever has before. It startled him at first until he realized it may be part of the innate boosts he may have unlocked. He clung to a loose rock of the ruined wall, barely escaping her sword affecting the ground, shattering into a small gouge. It was enough for Aldrin to silently thank himself for not being stupid for once, thinking he could take the hit. "I don¡¯t want to fight you,¡± Aldrin pleaded. Sadness and rage warred across her face when she looked up. Briefly she thought she had seen the remnant of her brother rush forth. ¡°Your tricks won¡¯t work on me Vampire! You have the nerve to torment me using my brother¡¯s face and then run?!¡± She rolled her shoulders and neck making them pop from the pent up stress. Aldrin¡¯s eyes nearly bulged out of his skull, ¡°Oh shit.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to use your fangs to get the dirt underneath my nails!¡± She jumped as well, the boots of her armor glowing with runes, taking her further up the wall that Aldrin hung onto. Aldrin scampered up the wall as fast as possible with Adeline hot on his heels, ¡°Sister! Wait! We can talk about this!¡± He began throwing loose stones at her, hoping to knock some sense into her. Reaching the top of the wall, he pulled and plucked at any stone to loosen it before she caught up. Finally, one gave way and he dropped it over the edge, careful enough to let it hit her in the middle of the forehead when she looked up. Aldrin¡¯s dead heart thumped when he saw her almost lose her grip. She caught herself only to throw one of her daggers upwards that sliced the tip of Aldrin¡¯s nose. ¡°Oh god, she¡¯s really gonna kill me this time.¡± He bolted away from the edge, headed towards one of the guard towers that was destroyed. Heavy booted footfalls echoed in his ears not a moment sooner. ¡°FIGHT ME LIKE A REAL VAMPIRE YOU OVERGROWN LEECH!¡± Adeline screamed as she chased after Aldrin. ¡°Absolutely not!¡± Aldrin barreled through the rubble. He glanced around for any chance of escape. ¡°Nowhere left to run now, little leech,¡± Adeline stepped into the building. A mad gleam in her eyes made Aldrin rethink any means of negotiation. ¡°You haven¡¯t been going to see the therapist like grandpa said have you!?¡± Aldrin threw a Hail Mary. ¡°Do you require assistance, my lord?¡± One Vampire mentally projected to Aldrin. ¡°No, but once you get everyone who isn¡¯t fighting back out of the city, destroy it and disperse.¡± He thought back. ¡°But-¡± ¡°That is a command.¡± ¡°It shall be done.¡± It grumbled back. The maddened gaze Adeline held dissipated briefly before coming back full force. Her armor glowed blinding white that forced Aldrin to look away. Something heavy collided with him from the front, pushing back into the wall or what should have been the wall when he felt himself falling. Instinctively, he reorientated himself, landing on all fours. His vision cleared in time to see red welts, blisters, and cracked skin flake off him. ¡°That should have killed you...¡± He heard Adeline. Aldrin groaned from the itchy pain as his skin slowly mended itself. ¡°I will not get used to that.¡± He said, resisting the urge to scratch at the itches. Adeline took a step forward, ready to behead him. ¡°WAIT!¡± he shouted, holding up one good hand. It fell on deaf ears when she corrected the angle of the blade, cleanly cutting off Aldrin¡¯s hand. Searing hot pain should have run through Aldrin¡¯s body, but he still felt a connection to his hand. He thought about wiggling a finger to which his severed hand responded, so as if it never left his body. The wrongness he should have felt from it all warred against the familiarity of still thinking his hand connected. After the newfound revelation about himself, it didn¡¯t stop Adeline. Still following through with her momentum, she spun into an upward diagonal slash that cut into Aldrin¡¯s chest. Reddish-black blood seeped from the wound before being reabsorbed. ¡°Well, looks like I have to do this the old-fashioned way... I am going to cut off your head.¡± Adeline thrusted her great sword towards his neck. He barely had time to roll out of the way, scoop up his severed hand, and make a mad dash through the burning streets of Lor-Vold. ¡°Is running all you¡¯re good at?!¡± Adeline chased after him again. ¡°WOULD YOU STOP FOR LIKE TWO SECONDS! I¡¯M TRYING TO TALK TO YOU!¡± He shouted back as he ran for his unlife. ¡°YOU CAN TALK TO ME WHEN I HAVE YOUR HEAD!¡± ¡°Grandpa was right about you! YOU¡¯RE A FUCKING BATTLE MANIAC!¡± A sharp sting bit into the back of Aldrin¡¯s shoulder, making him hiss in momentary pain.
Warning!
You are susceptible to Holy damage!
¡°Ok! yeah! I know! Thank you, captain obvious!¡± He grumbled, running through the streets with his sister on his trail again. Turning down a random street of the compact maze-like city, Zombies turned to greet him, making him stop altogether. Adeline skirted to a stop as well. ¡°Ran to your minions because you couldn¡¯t face me, hmm?¡± She gloated and grinned at the newfound challengers. Aldrin smacked his forehead with his good hand. ¡°No, I was not! You- You know what, no. This is getting ridiculous, Addy.¡± She gasped before a Zombie fell from the sky landing with a sickening crunch. Aldrin looked at the dead Zombie, confused how and why it fell, then looked up at the sky to see more Zombies falling from the roof. Soon another plopped down next to it, ending with the same sickening crunch. Then another, and another not a moment after. It was raining Zombies and before anyone had time to react, the building next to them blew to pieces. The force of it all separated Aldrin and Adeline on opposite sides of the street. ¡°Adeline!¡± Aldrin screamed over the ringing in his ears. He stood and saw her through the flames that separated them. She picked herself up and locked eyes with Aldrin. A part of him wanted to rush to her to help her, but he also knew she would kill him. Loud moans and gnashing teeth grew louder, further away from Adeline. The realization that Aldrin led his sister into the lion¡¯s den spurned him into action. He formed himself into bats, quickly dashing through the fire of the destroyed wall of the building. He reformed in front of her, knowing she could kill him in an instant. A smaller pack of Zombies and various sized Death Gorgers charged towards them, only stopping when Aldrin appeared in front of him. ¡°Not her!¡± he commanded, holding his hand up. They screeched and wailed in disappointment before turning back the way they came in search of new prey and buildings to destroy. Turning around to face Adeline, she watched him warily as he watched her. He opened and closed his mouth, unsure how to assure that it really was him. ¡°Look, I am Aldrin ok? I''m still your brother and there is so much I want to tell you-¡± He reached out for her, making her instinctively flinch back from his taloned hands. He sighed and dropped his hand, letting his shoulders sag as he looked at her. ¡°One day, this will be funny and we''ll laugh about this over dinner.¡± ¡°What happened to you?¡± was all she could manage with her throat tightening. Her brother stood in front of her, or at least a monster wearing the face of her brother. Deep down, intrinsically, she knew it was him still. ¡°I died Addy,¡± he looked away from her, ¡°Just tell grandpa that I¡¯ll be ok for me. You and your men will also be able to safely leave the city. They won¡¯t attack you, so save as many as you can,¡± and with those words, he formed himself into a wispy black fog, letting himself drift away and out of her vision. Even in his fog form, he saw the tears freely fall down her cheeks as she formed a fist in silent anger.
CITY WIDE ALERT!
Queen Tyviona has declared Lor-Vold fallen; thus activating the self-destruct runes!
Ten minutes until detonation!
Aldrin blanched at the sudden intrusion of the alert. "Shit." Chapter 21: Triumph Through Sacrifice ¡°EVERYONE RETREAT! The city is going to self-destruct!¡± Aldrin mentally commanded the Horde, flying over the burning city in his swarm of bats. Dark shadows of various sizes bolted to and fro in a mad dash to evacuate the city. He counted on Adeline to make it out of the city before the explosion. He watched from above as he circled the city, watching the massive Horde clamber over each other in a mad rush to leave. They came and did what they wanted and now, with the city on the brink of destruction, their time had come to an end. An end that Aldrin needed to see. With that, he flew away from the city towards the pull of his two Servants, Pierre and Jared. Flying as fast as he possibly could over the barren plains. Off in the distance, he could see the burning village the Horde first struck. Briefly he thought about checking for survivors, but he knew that the Horde had already left none. A bellowing roar echoed out of the city as Ki¡¯Saed, the largest of the Death Gorgers, disengaged from the Tanyth, the golden skinned Elf. Each of them retreating in different directions. Aldrin tried to reach out to Ki¡¯Saed only to be met by a mental block.
NOTICE!
Your connection to the Horde has been cut off due to the victorious Conquest! Rewards will be received once the city has been destroyed. Well done Young Vampire!
Aldrin couldn¡¯t help but feel slightly bad about destroying the city that was supposedly the World¡¯s leading potion supplier. Thinking back on it, the Queendom of Dremetica probably had more secrets that were bound to be exposed now. A catalyst that will more than likely plunge the world into an all out war. Yet a niggling feeling still tickled the back of Aldrin¡¯s mind that there was more going on than just with this city. He raced across the countryside, feeling the pull start to vibrate as he got closer. He filed that tidbit for later as something to examine. Coming to an understanding now, he really had to take a deep dive into himself to figure out how being a Vampire worked and what it meant. He had also hoped that the Forbidden Continent really held the clues and hopefully other Vampires to what exactly he is supposed to do. Soon he was a good distance away from the still visible burning torch of a city. The pull tugged him into a small underbrush of a patch of trees that began to dot the landscape the further he got. Reforming a few feet away so as not to scare anybody in case other survivors had found a haven with them. Just to be sure, he used his predator vision to pick out five heartbeats, two of which belong to his companions. As for the other three, one was slow and relaxed, the second one was erratic as it jumped at every sound from what Aldrin could tell, and the third was strong and enticing. The heartbeats of the newcomers sang to Aldrin to help ease them to sleep as his thirst battled against his newfound willpower. As he got closer, he recognized Evie and the two others she was with as the ones he rescued from the twisted lab of the Puppeteer of Flesh. That alone made his need to slake his thirst die down. Pierre was the first to notice, nudging Jared toward Aldrin when he entered the outskirts of where the light from the fire swatted away the darkness. ¡°You made it!¡± Jared said, standing to meet Aldrin halfway. Aldrin smiled at the joy that oozed off of Jared, ¡°Barely, after running from my sister.¡± Jared winced. ¡°Yeah, sorry about that. I didn¡¯t think she would get there that fast,¡± he rubbed the back of his neck. ¡°In a way, you both saved me.¡± Aldrin patted Jared¡¯s shoulder, making his way to the rest of the group and settling down in between Evie and Pierre as they made space for him. ¡°Did you get the alert about Lor-Vold?¡± Pierre chimed in once Jared sat back down. ¡°I did.¡± Aldrin answered. ¡°Kind of fucked up honestly. . .people¡¯s livelihoods just gone. . .¡± Jared muttered as he stoked the fire. For a minute, no one said anything as they each stared into the fire. Aldrin turned his gaze towards the burning city on the horizon that lit up the sky as if dawn was approaching.
Warning!
Lor-Vold will self-destruct in:
One minute
Jared sucked his teeth as Pierre whistled. Evie and the others said nothing as they stared off into space. Aldrin stood to get a better view, watching the timer countdown to its destruction. Soon everyone joined him at the last moments of the city as it began to collapse in on itself, forming a black ball of void. They watched in anticipation of what their eyesight could gleam, but none saw it clearer than Aldrin. The ball of void grew to encompass the entire city, then shrunk in on itself, leaving nothing but a crater to remind everyone of what it once was. No piercing screech assailed the sky, no rumbling thunder shook the very earth they stood on, nothing but the eerie song of silence.
NOTICE!
Lor-Vold has been destroyed!
¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Jared whispered in shock. ¡°That¡¯s it.¡± Pierre confirmed, just as shocked. ¡°For a world of magic. . . I expected something more,¡± Pierre quietly added. Aldrin sighed, letting his shoulders sag, then looked at Evie, who was already looking at him. ¡°I suppose we will have time to talk now, right?¡± ¡°As long as you want my Vyncari,¡± she bowed again, making the other two strangers look at her, then at Aldrin in bewilderment. Aldrin held up his hand. ¡°Please don¡¯t bow. I don¡¯t even know what it means to be what I am still, but I am learning and hoping to find the answers across the Filligarian Sea on the-¡± ¡°Forbidden Continent. I know and I will accompany you. I have given my services to you,¡± Evie finished for him. ¡°Allow me to introduce two of those you rescued,¡± she gestured at the humans standing next to her. ¡°This is Eddock Gilsbane,¡± she pointed at the one with a strong heartbeat. He was a powerfully built man that had graying brown hair and a rough look to him. ¡°And this is his brother, Cannor Gilsbane,¡± she gestured at the smaller, twitchy one that held the same graying hair as his brother. ¡°They are going to travel with us until we get to Folos,¡± she finished. Aldrin nodded in greeting to them, but each of them never took their eyes off of him, like a prey would a predator. It irked Aldrin as that would be something he would hope to fix, as he wasn¡¯t going to eat them. ¡°I¡¯m assuming they know, judging from the way they keep looking at me,¡± Aldrin attempted to joke. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°They do and with assurances from me, will not be a problem now or in the future, my Vyncari,¡± Evie said, folding her arms, showing off her runic Giant tattoos. ¡°Well glad that¡¯s settled, because it¡¯s been an eventful day and I¡¯m tired!¡± Jared interrupted. ¡°I¡¯ll take the first watch then,¡± Aldrin volunteered, which garnered no complaints except from Cannor, who didn¡¯t trust a fiendish bloodsucking demon to watch over him. Nevertheless, after a stern talking from Evie, Cannor relented and went to sleep as best he could. Eddock dozed off without a problem, much to the dismay of his brother, who tossed and turned the rest of the time Aldrin kept watch. Jared awoke first to relieve him, pointing in the direction deeper within them to where he stashed the carriage and horses. Thankful for the quick thinking, he clapped Jared on the shoulder and trudged to the carriage and clamoring in to get some much needed rest. He knew he didn¡¯t need to rest or if his body would even allow him anymore, but like Jared had pointed out earlier, the events of the night took a mental toll on him. ¡°The Legions await you, Your Kin awaits you, Conquests await you, Come to us, Awake thee Sire of Sires,¡± Aldrin jolted awake in the moving carriage. He peeked out the curtained window, only to be met with the rude brightness of the sun. Letting out a hiss, he heard a scuffle behind him, whipping around with his fangs and talons ready to rip into the intruder of his domain. Instantly he relaxed as Eddock briefly nodded to him and Cannor was hyperventilating in the corner, pushing himself as far back as he could go. ¡°Sorry about that,¡± Aldrin waved them off, making Cannor pass out. Eddock briefly looked at Cannor, then rolled his eyes and went back to resting. ¡°Is he always that twitchy?¡± Aldrin asked. ¡°Been that way his whole life,¡± Eddock gruffly replied. Aldrin looked between the two, wondering if he would have had the same relationship with his own brother. There was a knock and soon the slit of where the driver''s seat was opened, allowing Pierre to see in. ¡°You¡¯re up. Good. We might have a slight problem.¡± Pierre said. ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± ¡°Refugees.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Aldrin braced himself to face the sun again and pushed aside the curtain to glance out the window to see them passing groups of battered refugees. He grimaced, as the only place these people could have come from was Lor-Vold. A pang of guilt rummaged through Aldrin before being stamped down by the Vampire within him. He wondered if any of the walking refugees would be brave enough to try to take the carriage and if they would, would he need to expose his true nature. Even if he could, he was weaker than most, with the sun still up. However, it was just going to have to be a chance he was willing to take and to put his trust in the people he was currently traveling with. Closing the curtain again, ¡°Has anyone tried anything?¡± Aldrin called to Pierre. ¡°Not yet but Jared has noted a few began to try to keep pace with us as we rolled by,¡± Pierre informed. ¡°Surely they would be no match for a Vyncari of your stature? To think one has achieved to walk during the daylight. How far your kind has evolved.¡± Evie joined, slightly beaming at the praise she had given. ¡°Technically, I am the first,¡± Aldrin conveyed. Evie¡¯s thick blonde eyebrows bunched together, ¡°The first to walk among the day? That is even better!¡± ¡°No. I am the First of Vampires,¡± Aldrin corrected. Evie¡¯s mouth hung open at the revelation. ¡°How? Vampires have been around for thousands of years, and nobody has seemed to find their origin. Only speculation about how they are made.¡± ¡°How were you made?¡± she asked once she collected her thoughts. ¡°A sacrificial ritual of my adventuring party and a host of demon witches.¡± ¡°So you were not born but made still?¡± Evie asked. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°My clan will want to meet you then,¡± Evie pondered as she began to mutter thoughts to herself. Leaving Evie to deal with her thoughts, Aldrin focused back on Pierre. ¡°They¡¯ll probably wait to attack us once we are far enough from stragglers, but also far enough from another pocket of refugees,¡± Pierre said. ¡°Hopefully it will happen during the night so I can be of some use,¡± Aldrin chuckled to himself. ¡°Some of us would like to level up! Thank you!¡± Jared chimed in. ¡°I guess I¡¯m the emergency back-up plan then?¡± Aldrin joked. ¡°Yes.¡± Jared firmly said. Pierre shrugged his shoulders and closed the slit, letting the bumpiness of the carriage ring through the cabin. Aldrin¡¯s alerts blinked in the corner of his vision, signaling a mounting of messages he had to go through. Finding now the perfect time to look through them all, he began his mental trek.
COMPLETED QUEST:
Rouse the Horde! As a member of the Undead Race, and a powerful one at that, this Zombie Horde wishes for your aid in freeing their kin. Reward: 3 Skill Points Secret Objective I Completed: You have killed two birds with one stone! By rooting out part of the city¡¯s corruption with its deals with Slavers and by unearthing their secret tunnel, you have given fresh bodies to further bolster their ranks! Reward: Bonus EXP Secret Objective II Completed: Finding and helping the captive Vampires has given the Horde a boost to their morale, igniting their fury even further! Reward: Bonus EXP
Siege of Lor-Vold: Claim victory over the city of Lor-Vold to deal a crushing blow in the race to dominate Grenora. Reward: 4 Skill Points
NOTICE:
6 Levels gained in Race and Class 3 Levels gained in Profession Total Skill Points Earned from Levels and Quests: 64
¡°Time for the fun stuff,¡± Aldrin grinned when he looked at the accumulated Skill Points he had at his disposal now. He would wait until night to feel the full effect of the changes within him. That left him to go over his current Quests he needed to see.
ONGOING QUEST
Return of the Night(Tier 6): Stumbling blindly through your first steps into Vampirism, you have done well and now with the clues all pointing towards the Forbidden Continent your purpose shall be revealed along with the rest of the Progenitors. Reach Level 30 in Race and Class before venturing there. Reward: Tier 3 Skills and Class
Quest: Vampire Magics: Find a trainer for your specialization as a Vampire! Reward: Level 5 Skill Unlock
Find a cure for vampirism: You have awoken to a new stage of your life, well un-life to be exact. However, you have hope to rid yourself of a disease you fight so hard to eradicate. Reward: ??? Update: Embrace Vampirism: With the finality of no cure and with the acceptance that came with it. You have achieved a balance with your inner beast. However, that does not mean to let your guard down as the beast lurks beneath still.
Vow of Vengeance: You have sworn justice for those affected by mad experimentation! Right the wrongs so that they may find peace, young Vampire! Current Target: Puppeteer of Flesh Reward: ???
Find your Kin: You have been given hints that you may not be the only one of your kind that controls their nature! Seek them out and you will gain what you desire the most! Reward: ???
Fate of Grenora: You are among the 11 other Progenitors that now stir their banners for war to battle for the ownership of Grenora. Will you win through Conquest, Diplomacy, or Trade? Reward: Grenora
Realizing that some of the Quests were out of his grasp now, he at least had a better understanding of where he was headed for the time being. Status Update 1 CHARACTER
NAME: Aldrin Ravindra RACE: Vampire Progenitor Rank: Juvenile Level: 21
CLASS: Night Reaver Tier: 2 Level: 21 PROFESSION: Lore Seeker Level: 28
HEALTH: 3400 MAGIC: 2000
STAMINA: Infinite SKILL POINTS: 0
STRENGTH: 41 DEXTERITY: 31.5(Boosted)
VITALITY: 34 INTELLIGENCE: 20
WILLPOWER: 40 CHARISMA: 28
RACIAL SKILL TREES VAMPIRE SKILL TREE
Thirst-Passive Ability Level 1: Vampires lust for blood especially the newly turned vampires as they are slaves to their thirst. (Granted) Level 2: As vampires transition from Newborns to Juvenile and Mature Vampires their bloodlust lessens.(Prerequisite: Juvenile/Mature)(Granted) Level 3: (Prerequisite: Elder) Level 4: (Prerequisite: Ancient) Bite-Passive Ability Level 1: Returns 25% damage as health or mana(Granted) Level 2: Returns 50% damage as health or mana(Granted) Level 3: (Prerequisite: Mature) Level 4: (Prerequisite: Elder)
Claws-Passive Ability Level 1: Your claws are now able to rend light armors such as those made from cloth and leather(Granted) Level 2: Your claws are now able to rend medium armors and below, such as hardened leather and chain-mail(Granted) Level 3: Your claws are now able to rend heavy armor and below, such as full plate armors up to dawn and dusk steel(Granted) Level 4: (Prerequisite: Elder) Charming Gaze(Chance to pass increases with Charisma and Willpower) Level 1: Subtly influence sentient and creatures'' minds with one command(Granted) Level 2: Greatly influence sentient and creatures'' minds that can understand instructions (Granted) Level 3: (Prerequisite: Mature)
Regeneration-Passive only out of combat Level 1: A newborn vampire is able to heal small cuts and bruises since their body is still considered mostly mortal(Granted) Level 2: Small appendages now grow back as the vampire ages into adolescents(Granted) Level 3: (Prerequisite: Mature) Level 4: (Prerequisite: Ancient) Undead Body Level 1: Bodily functions are turned off i.e. hunger, sleep, and the need to breathe no longer affect you(Granted). Level 2: Resistant to slashing, bludgeoning, and pierce from non magical weapons as your body continues to adapt to its change(Granted) Level 3: (Prerequisite: Mature)
Supernatural Reflexes (Cooldown: 1 Month) Level 1: 2 second time freeze if you are about to be killed instantly(Granted) Level 2: 4 second time freeze(4 SP) Level 3: 6 second time freeze(6 SP) Level 4: 8 second time freeze and combat prowess is improved(8 SP) Vampiric Awareness Level 1: Night vision is granted; hearing and smell is improved(Granted). Level 2: Able to feel minor shifts in the air 10 feet around you(Granted) Level 3: (Prerequisite: Elder)
Shapechange Level 1: Able to change into a fog/mist and a swarm of bats(Granted) Level 2: (Prerequisite: Mature) Level 3: (Prerequisite: Elder) Level 4: (Prerequisite: Ancient) Blood Curse Level 1: Create Zombie(2 SP)(10 Health, 10 Magic) Level 2: Create Ghoul(4 SP)(100 Health, 100 Magic) Level 3: (Prerequisite: Mature) Level 4: (Prerequisite: Elder)
Vampiric Agility Level 1: Ability to jump further than your pinnacle human(Granted) Level 2: You are now able to stick to any surface(Granted) Level 3: (Prerequisite: Mature) Master of the Night Level 1: Grants communication with creatures of the night(Granted) Level 2: (Prerequisite: Mature) Level 3: (Prerequisite: Ancient)
VAMPIRE PROGENITOR SKILL TREE
Daywalker Level 1: skills and buffs return to you during the night but you are still killed instantly during the day(Granted) Level 2: skills and buffs increased by 25% during the night however sunlight harms your stats by 75% if you are active during the day(Granted) Level 3: (Prerequisite: Mature) Level 4: (Prerequisite: Elder) Level 5: (Prerequisite: Ancient) Humanity Level 1: You have a reflection(Granted) Level 2: You no longer feel cold to the touch as faux warmth floods the surface of your skin(Granted) Level 3: No invitations are needed to enter the homes of the living(Granted) This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
Trace Your Roots (Prerequisite: Mature) Vampiric Ascension (Prerequisite: Elder)
Vampire Magics - Specialize in one of the three branches once you meet the required Trainer to attain a Tier 4 Class Evolution
Hemomancy Level 1: Manipulate your own blood to form weapons(25 HP Cost)(2 SP)
Shadowmancy Level 1: Blend into the shadows of the night(2 SP)
Necromancy Level 1: Summon 1 humanoid Skeleton(Granted) Cooldown: 30 seconds
CLASS SKILL TREES
Bloodletter, 1st Tier, Vampiric Fighter Ah, the Bloodletters of vampire-kind, they are considered the lowest ranked melee combatant and are often associated with newborns; however once the Bloodletters prove themselves worthy and advance they have the potential to become nightmares for those that stand against them.
Blades(Passive): Mastery over blades is a tried and proven skill among fighters of every race. Level 1: 5% damage with bladed weapons(Granted) Level 2: 10% damage with bladed weapons(4 SP) Level 3: 15% damage with bladed weapons(6 SP) Level 4: 20% damage with bladed weapons(8 SP)
Blunt(Passive): Mastery over blunt weapons takes an iron stomach to wield after what¡¯s left in their carnage. Level 1: 5% damage with blunt weapons(Granted) Level 2: 10% damage with blunt weapons(4 SP) Level 3: 15% damage with blunt weapons(6 SP) Level 4: 20% damage with blunt weapons(8 SP)
Combat Prowess(Passive): Since vampires are long lived some tend to master their martial prowess including those outside their preferred weapons. Level 1: 25% proficiency with all weapons(Granted) Level 2: 50% proficiency with all weapons(Granted) Level 3: 75% proficiency with all weapons(Granted) Level 4: 100% proficiency with all weapons(Granted)
Armor Master(Passive): Not much to be said here since? Vampires tend to be fashionable even when armed to the teeth(literally). Level 1: 10% Reduction when wearing a matching set of armor; i.e. all heavy, medium, or light(Granted) Level 2: 15% Reduction when wearing a matching set of armor(4 SP) Level 3: 20% Reduction when wearing a matching set of armor(6 SP) Level 4: 25% Reduction when wearing a matching set of armor(8 SP)
Cleaving Strikes(Active): A Vampire¡¯s strength is renowned for being able to cut a man in two. Level 1: Strike through two opponents dealing 25% damage to one that is hit last (Granted) Level 2: Strike through three opponents dealing 50% damage to the second one hit and 25% damage to the last one hit(Granted) Level 3: Strike through four opponents dealing 75% damage to the second one hit, 50% damage to the third, and 25% to the last(Granted)Cooldown: 45 Seconds
Night Reaver, 2nd Tier, Vampiric Warrior Few have survived an encounter with Night Reaver, the feared warriors of the vampires during Progenitor Wars. These warriors consume their enemies to enhance themselves during the heat of battle. After all, to a vampire, blood is power.
Dual Weapon Proficiency(Passive): What will make you much deadlier than you already are? Being able to use two weapons with equal skill. Level 1: 25% damage with off hand weapon(Granted) Level 2: 50% damage with off hand weapon(4 SP) Level 3: 75% damage with off hand weapon(6 SP) Level 4: 100% damage with off hand weapon; Trait Earned: you are now Ambidextrous!(8 SP)
Blood Aura(Passive): Some Vampires crave violence and feed off it, letting their bloodlust exude through their pores. Level 1: 3% damage boost and chance to stun enemies when fighting five or more enemies(Granted) Level 2: 5% damage boost and chance to stun enemies when fighting four or more enemies(4 SP) Level 3: 7% damage boost and chance to stun enemies when fighting three or more enemies(6 SP) Level 4: 10% damage boost and chance to stun enemies, Blood Aura is now constant and only requires two enemies to activate(8 SP)
Leech Imbuement(Active): What kind of Vampire would you be if you could not imbue some of your Vampiric nature into your weapon? Level 1: 1% health returned to you after each hit(Granted) Level 2: 3% health returned to you after each hit(4 SP) Level 3: 5% health returned to you after each hit(6 SP)
Lust for Carnage(Passive) - Stackable up to 6: There is a certain thrill when a Vampire takes a life whilst in battle. Level 1: 10% to stats during combat when you kill an enemy for 10 Seconds(Granted) Level 2: 15% to stats during combat when you kill an enemy for 20 Seconds(4 SP) Level 3: 20% to stats during combat, blood is in the air and now only needs to be activated on hit for 30 Seconds(6 SP)
Roar of the Apex(Active): Well, you are considered an Apex Predator so why not add a little extra oomph to your arsenal. Level 1: For 3 seconds, your enemies¡¯ spells and weapon enchantments are locked(Granted)Cooldown: 1 minute Level 2: For 5 seconds, spells and weapon enchantments are locked(Granted)Cooldown: 1:15 Level 3: For 7 seconds, spells and weapon enchantments are locked(6 SP) Level 4: For 10 seconds, spells, weapon enchantments, and barriers are locked(8 SP)
PROFESSION SKILL TREE
Lore Seeker: There are few that dare to traverse the world to uncover long forgotten myths containing knowledge and even fewer that would seek that knowledge to share. But that is the job of a Lore Seeker, to find and share.
Exploration Level 1: 10% exp gained for discovering new places(50 places needed)(Granted) Level 2: 15% exp gained for discovering new places(53/100 needed) Level 3: 20% exp gained for discovering new places(150 needed) Level 4: 25% exp gained for discovering new places(200 needed)
Anatomy Level 1: 5% exp gained for killing beasts, monsters, and humanoids(250/250 needed)(Granted) Level 2: 10% exp gained for killing beasts, monsters, and humanoids(422/500 needed) Level 3: 15% exp gained for killing beasts, monsters, and humanoids(750 needed) Level 4: 20% exp gained for killing beasts, monsters, and humanoids(1000 needed)
Biologist Level 1: 10% exp gained for discovery of new creatures(3/30 needed) Level 2: 20% exp gained for discovery of new creatures(70 needed) Level 3: 30% exp gained for discovery of new creatures(150 needed)
Botanist Level 1: 5% exp gained for discovery of new plants(25 needed)(Granted) Level 2: 10% exp gained for discovery of new plants(50 needed) Level 3: 15% exp gained for discovery of new plants(75 needed) Level 4: 20% exp gained for discovery of new plants(100 needed)
Book Smart Level 1: 10% exp more for turning in quests(100 completed quests)(Granted) Level 2: 20% exp more for tuning in quests(101/200 completed quests) Level 3: 30% exp more for turning in quests(300 completed quests) Level 4: 40% exp more for turning in quests(400 completed quests) Level 5: 50% exp more for turning in quests(500 completed quests)
Historian Level 1: 12.5% more exp gained from solving mysteries of Grenora(10 needed) Level 2: 25% more exp gained from solving mysteries of Grenora(15 needed) Level 3: 37.5% more exp gained from solving mysteries of Grenora(20 needed) Level 4: 50% more exp gained from solving mysteries of Grenora(25 needed)
Traveler Level 1: 5% Dexterity boosts for walking (1,000/1,000) steps(Granted) Level 2: 10% Dexterity boosts for walking (4,077/10,000) steps Level 3: 15% Dexterity boots for walking (0/100,000) steps Level 4: 20% Dexterity boost for walking (0/1,000,000) steps
MISCELLANEOUS SKILL TREES UNIQUE SKILL TREE
Blood Rage Level 1: Boost your stats by 2x for 30 seconds, leaves you craving for blood(Granted) Level 2: (Prerequisite: Mature) Level 3: (Prerequisite: Elder) Level 4: (Prerequisite: Ancient)
RESISTANCE SKILL TREE: unlocked for reaching level 20 in your Race
Silver Reduction Level 1: 100% damage to you(Granted) Level 2: 75% damage to you(Granted) Level 3: 50% damage to you(6 SP) Level 4: (Prerequisite: Elder) Holy Reduction Level 1: 100% damage to you(Granted) Level 2: 75% damage to you(Granted) Level 3: 50% damage to you(6 SP) Level 4: (Prerequisite: Elder)
Wooden Stake Level 1: Instant death(Granted) Level 2: Comatose until taken out(Granted) Level 3: (Prerequisite: Elder) Magic Immunities Death Unholy Ice Poison Disease Curse Shadow Blood Mind
Chapter 22: Steady Footing Night made its appearance without any incident besides the long drone of listening to carriage wheels turning. With the night came the return of Aldrin¡¯s strength as he felt the weakness of the day recede gradually. With a gleeful smile, he rubbed his hands together when he felt the changes to his stats as well as the new skills imprinting the basic knowledge of how to use them. Excitement bloomed within him, thinking about how to test and use his new powers at his disposal. While he was reluctant to use it on those that just lost their homes and livelihoods, he would have to hold back since it wasn¡¯t their fault about what happened. However, a small kernel of guilt wormed its way into his heart once he thought about Lor-Vold and his hand at its destruction. Ultimately, it was the Queen that doomed the city in the end, but that would not appease his guilt. Only by uncovering the reasons as to why the Queen had been ordering experiments on Undead would resolve some of his feelings on the matter. Considering that he fully accepted being an Undead and a higher tier of Undead at that he would have to be careful going forward when interacting with the living. At least until he stepped foot on the Forbidden Continent, then who knows what he would find. Although he at least had a way to get answers that came in the form of Evie, who he hoped would still be helpful in the coming times. Jared and Pierre were already becoming his closest allies with all that¡¯s going on and he made himself a promise to make sure that he would repay all they have done for him. Eventually, the carriage was pulled over to give the horses a break and let everyone stretch out any stiffness from the ride. Aldrin was grateful that his body no longer had the normal aches and pains that accompanied those around him as he saw Pierre helping Jared stretch out his hamstring that he complained was beginning to cramp up from sitting too long. He had to chuckle at the sight of those two when Jared yelped from the way Pierre attempted to pull his leg close to his head. The two brothers, Cannor and Eddock were busy collecting firewood while Evie was pulling out food rations from her inventory, prepping them to be cooked once the fire roared to life. ¡°It¡¯s too bad we don¡¯t have someone who knows any fire magic,¡± Eddock grumbled as he dumped another set of dead wood into the pile, side eyeing his brother. ¡°I told you to become a Mage and specialize in pyromantics but no. You just had to pick a Rogue starter class,¡± Cannor replied, earning a flat stare from Eddock. Aldrin briefly watched them bicker back and forth between them. It was oddly comforting to see something normal after all he had been through so far. Ignoring them, he went to check on their horses that eyed him warily as he approached. ¡°I¡¯m not going to hurt you,¡± he gently tried to soothe them. Both horses jerked away from him at first as he took another small step towards them. He held out his hands in an attempt to calm them, but that only set them more on edge as they began braying and rearing up. Attempting to soothe them again using Charming Gaze this time helped ease them as his mind subsumed theirs. ¡°Hopefully soon I won¡¯t have to do that to you both,¡± he patted them along their flank.
System Notice!
Do you wish to convert the horses into Vampiric Horses?
New Unique Skill Unlocked: Conversion Level 1: Convert any animal you mentally dominate into enhanced versions
¡°That¡¯s interesting,¡± Aldrin mumbled to himself as he opted no since he was unsure of what exactly that would entail. Not a moment later, Eddock got the fire flickering to life as everyone began to sit around the circle, feeling the warmth against their skin. It was another benefit Aldrin felt that he would no longer take for granted. He understood he lost a lot, but also gained a lot in return. All that was left was getting used to the changes and appreciating them for what they were. He could somewhat control his thirst now and he could also somewhat control his Vampiric side as he adjusted to it. And now, with recently releasing his internal conflict, he felt a weight lifted off his chest and shoulders. ¡°The stars are bright and moons are shining all their glory upon you, my Vyncari,¡± Evie spoke to him, snapping him out of his thoughts. ¡°Perhaps now is the time for answers while we have the time?¡± She prodded, garnering everyone¡¯s attention to the two of them. ¡°What exactly are Vampires? I mean, I know what they are but why do some treat them with respect rather than fear?¡± Aldrin began, ¡°I met a Fae who had an inkling of what I was and then a Dark Elf treated me like one of their Exalted when he checked on me after the explosion at the inn.¡± ¡°During the Progenitor Wars, Vampires were both seen as guardians and envoys between the living and the dead since they were capable of walking both worlds,¡± Evie began. ¡°A terrifying force to be up against as the blood of their foes only fueled them to greater heights.¡± ¡°After the Wars they were supposed to be destroyed as they were considered weapons of war by some nations. However, their creator stepped in before they were hunted down to extinction. Their creator, one of the Gods of Balance, Vearis, took everything that was to be hunted down and sequestered them on the Forbidden Continent by breaking the lands away from this continent.¡± ¡°In doing so, Vearis was labeled to be a Fallen God and thus pushed into becoming one of the Gods of the Dark and aptly named the Condemned Progenitor, Sire of the Extinct.¡± ¡°The Wars started up again but it was more like a purge as the nations that banded together at the time wanted to erase anything of their past to give them a fresh start for a better future,¡± Evie took a breath, ¡°or at least that is how my clan remembers it and has told for generations. My clan leaders should be able to tell us more once we get to them.¡± The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. ¡°When we set sail to the continent, we will be in new territory with things thought long extinct on the rest of the continents.¡± She warned. ¡°Finally! An adventure!¡± Jared chimed in, trying to lift the mood, earning a few cracked smiles. Evie smiled at Jared before continuing, ¡°Each race has a progenitor, some that lived longer than others and eventually those progenitors are the ruling class and monarchies that run the nations that populate the world these days.¡± ¡°For the Giants, our progenitor was an Elemental Giant that split their power between the four clans you see today. The Fire Giants, Frost Giants, Mountain Giants, and the Cloud Giants.¡± ¡°Then do you have a progenitor?¡± Pierre asked. ¡°Every few centuries the clans gather, bringing their most promising kin among them to partake in the Trial of Elements that grant the Progenitor¡¯s Class making them the head ruler over all Giants and right now our ruler is a Cloud Giant,¡± Evie answered. ¡°However, some families within the clans remember their old allegiances,¡± Evie eyed Aldrin. ¡°Not to be too forward, but which kind of Giant are you?¡± Cannor interrupted. Evie turned to the skinny man with an easygoing smile, ¡°I am a Mountain Giant.¡± Cannor nodded in understanding. ¡°So then what makes me different?¡± Aldrin asked. ¡°It¡¯s simple. There never has been a Vampire Progenitor before so it¡¯s a new avenue to explore,¡± Evie smiled as she began stoking the fire. ¡°I only know that some of the Elves, Scalekin, Giants, Beast-Blood, Orcs, and Humans in the most remote parts of the world fought with the Vampires during the wars. At least those that were on this plane of existence,¡± she smirked.
System Notice!
Mystery gained: You have uncovered the beginnings of the Progenitor Wars that have been lost to history!
Speak with leaders of: Dark Elves Moon Elves Wood Elves Jungle Scalekin Sea Scalekin Mountain Beast-Blood Woodland Beast-Blood All Giant Races Hizotul Orcs Exiled Humans Vampire Houses
¡°You got a new Quest?¡± Pierre asked when he noticed Aldrin¡¯s unfocused stare. ¡°A mystery for my Profession actually,¡± Aldrin answered. ¡°My first one to be exact,¡± he beamed. ¡°There will be more mysteries to unravel the deeper we go as I too am interested in where this ends,¡± Evie said. ¡°But Aldrin,¡± she firmly added, ¡°being a Vampire was and is considered being the highest honor among those that still follow the ways of Vearis. The families of those that chose to walk the path between life and death were well taken care of. Oftentimes Vampires were picked from the same familial line based on the merits their ancestor achieved.¡± ¡°Should you continue to walk along the path of the Vampire, it will be filled with strife but also with the greatest accomplishments. I¡¯m not saying it¡¯s easy by any means, especially with how your first meeting with your sister went, but it will get easier.¡± She affirmed. ¡°Any other questions?¡± Aldrin thought for a moment, ¡°Why are there Vampires that lose their mind?¡± ¡°They lose their meaning to live. That is what separates the Ferals from Vampires like yourself. They chase eternal life, power, and control not knowing if that¡¯s all that consumes then that¡¯s all they become,¡± Evie said. ¡°As long as you keep giving yourself meaning to care about those around you, that is what makes a Vampire. To keep yourself grounded and away from the unquenchable thirst that drives you to consume life. It is a slippery slope to walk and not for the faint of heart and weak of mind. The ones that reside on the Forbidden Continent are what Vampires are meant to be. Guardians between life and death.¡±
Quest Update:
Embrace Vampirism: You have given a tidbit in the philosophy of what it means to be a Vampire, a guardian between two planes. Keep moving to make your own philosophy of being a Vampire and you shall never falter in your convictions. The world is your playground and your prison.
Aldrin read the prompt, taking in everything that Evie had laid on his lap. Once again he was thrust into figuring out for himself what it means to be a Vampire in this world. ¡°Now who is hungry?¡± Evie asked as she took out the rations she was preparing earlier and set them over the fire. The rest of the time the group conversed as they ate in silence minus Aldrin who simply enjoyed the atmosphere of being around people who weren¡¯t afraid of his nature. Meanwhile¡­ ¡°Torvina, update,¡± a shadowed figure coalesced into being in front of the pink eyed Fae that was currently hiding from pursuers. ¡°Now? I¡¯m a bit busy with the other mission you gave me!¡± she hissed as she dodged an incoming bolt of earth shaped like a spike. ¡°Is he well?¡± The figure pressed. ¡°Yes, he is on his way as we speak,¡± she said as she conjured an illusion of a troll hoping to throw off her pursuers as she made a run for it and raced through the Elven treehouses. ¡°Make contact with him again. It is imperative he gets to us now with the threat of another world war. That is all,¡± The figure dispersed into shadows. ¡°A simple thank you would be nice every now and then,¡± she seethed at the retreating wisps of shadows. Her illusion had worked well enough to give the Wood Elves pause as she took out a bright, glowing orb. She threw it on the ground letting it smash into little pieces, releasing the energy contained within. The energy then seeped into the ground opening up a hole for her to jump through. In an instant the hole spit her back out on the outskirts of the golden capital of Dremetica as its high ivory towers capped with golden points jutted towards the sky. The palace itself sat above the rest of the city in its own tier, overlooking the quietness while its walls dared any to take it. Those very same walls had visible runes glowing at even spaces that held enchantments that even her Fae eyes had trouble comprehending. After all, it was considered to be one of the greatest feats of Human and Elven engineering. ¡°If only they knew what was about to be unleashed across the sea when the time came. Their walls can only save them from so much.¡± Torvina grumbled making her way to sneak back into the city. Knowing she had to prepare for an imminent departure now that the events have been set in motion thanks to the ones she worked for she headed to her business. She would need to clean out all her accounts and sell anything that could not be packed. A part of her hated having to destroy everything she worked for but in the line of business she dealt, it was inevitable. Luckily when the time came she would be able to restart with a better footing than she originally had. Chapter 23: Unrequited Aggression ¡°Jared, are you sure about this?¡± Aldrin whispered as they trudged through the rolling hills that were dotted with boulders. ¡°Yes. All you gotta do is put on your Vampire face, look menacing like you¡¯re gonna take their souls, and then we simply abscond with their loot,¡± he grinned. Pierre harrumphed in response. ¡°They have lost enough already. Preying on their own is lowly enough.¡± ¡°Besides, you need to feed and we are out of donations.¡± ¡°I still don¡¯t think this is a good idea though,¡± Aldrin said as they slowly crept up to the refugees turned bandits. ¡°We are just returning what they took. It¡¯s simple, with no sweat off our backs,¡± Jared reassured. ¡°Here goes nothing then,¡± Aldrin stood, walking out towards their campfire. ¡°Atta boy!¡± Jared quietly encouraged. Aldrin surveyed the group with his predator vision, letting him pick out at least seven strong heartbeats in the vicinity. The rhythmic sound called to him, beckoning him to consume their life-force as the thirst threatened to take control. He could let it and turn this into a bloodbath, but he reserved that only for a last resort. These people had lost enough already, but now they chose to take things from others that were traveling away from Lor-Vold in order to better their lives. It was already bad enough that these roads weren¡¯t patrolled like they should have been, or at least not by people. The back roads to Folos were mostly patrolled by roving bands of monsters and packs of animals. Unfortunately, being what Aldrin is, those monsters gave him a clear berth as they traveled through. He knew he would much rather tangle with those monsters than the monsters that wore human guises. He chuckled to himself, realizing that he was considered a monster wearing a human-guise too. ¡°You are a monster; be the monster,¡± Aldrin repeated to himself as he got closer. His steps were silent, let alone they wouldn¡¯t even hear him approach based on their raucous laughter from celebrating their latest pillage. Fresh blood that smelt of raspberries wafted into Aldrin¡¯s nose, making his head whip to the source, seeing that the bodies of their victims had died in fear. His self view of justice burned within him as the Vampire called for blood in retribution. A part of his heart broke when he stepped closer to the bodies, seeing it was a family of six that had been slain. The man was gutted while the woman had torn clothes before they slit her neck. Two older boys had also been slain in the same manner as their father. Worst of all, he picked out a set of small hands that still clung to one of the older boys. Upon closer inspection, it was twins, a girl and boy, that died in fear. Clutching his fist, Aldrin released the hold he had on himself, letting the Vampire come to fruition. His fangs grew long enough that they began to poke out of his mouth. His skin took on an almost stoney pale color, and his new claws sharpened to points as they took on a new hue of black. Drawing his sword from his inventory, he wheeled around using Shapechange to fly in a swarm of bats at the group. He flew up above their heads at first, circling, counting out where all seven were before he crashed down in the fire, making it explode outward before being snuffed out. Reforming, he roared, letting the fury he felt within infuse with it, sending fear to those around him that jumped back in surprise. Without warning, Aldrin separated the closest man¡¯s head from his body in an instant. He jumped to the next one, sinking his fangs into him, draining him until he was nothing but a dried out husk. Finally, understanding the gravity of the situation, a third lunged at Aldrin from behind, but that was for naught since Aldrin felt the shift behind him. He pivoted around, sidestepping the lunge and grabbing the wrist of the man. He squeezed, feeling the bones pop and break under his grip. The man yelled out in pain before Aldrin threw him into two others, knocking them over. He jumped high into the air before coming down, pinning two of them together with his sword, killing them instantly. ¡°Only three of you left,¡± Aldrin darkly chuckled as the blood seeped and fertilized the barren earth. One man that was a Mage conjured an ice spike that streaked through the air, impaling Aldrin in the shoulder. He grunted from the impact, but felt no pain as the ice spike shattered into pieces. His wound closed immediately when his system promptly flashed in the corner of his eye. He grinned wide enough to show his fangs that glinted off the moonlight. ¡°SHOOT IT AGAIN!¡± another yelled in panic. The Mage obliged, letting off another ice spike that bounced off Aldrin this time as he stalked forward. The one that was busy trying to get from underneath the two that had been pinned by Aldrin¡¯s sword finally got free, only to be met with an arrow through the neck from Jared¡¯s bow when he stood. Aldrin watched the man gurgle and suffocate in his own blood before turning back to the two in front of him. ¡°Only two left now,¡± he growled out. He rushed at them in the form of his bats, circling them as they each tried to swat away the swarm they found themselves in. Aldrin didn¡¯t let up as he reformed half his body, pulling the Mage to him before jabbing him in the stomach with his claws. The man screamed as Aldrin found what he was looking for and yanked his hand back, pulling his intestines out. He kept pulling as the man screamed and finally succumbed to death with his entrails on display for the other man to finally mentally break. The man fell back on his butt, screaming in terror as he tried to escape Aldrin. He only got so far when Aldrin grabbed him by his ankle, dragging him back and lifting him effortlessly off the ground. He sniffed, smelling raspberries coming off the man that was the strongest out of the bunch. ¡°So, you are the main one?¡± Aldrin asked in disgust. ¡°W-What do you want?!¡± he cried. ¡°I¡¯ll give you anything! Please!¡± Aldrin listened a while longer to his pleas of mercy that fell on deaf ears. The man continued to struggle as Aldrin watched him like a statue. Finally, he dropped him on his head, letting the man crawl and scamper away. Aldrin lunged at him from behind, piercing through his chest to grab his heart with his claws. He pulled back and watched the heart beat one last time before he squeezed it above his mouth as the man fell face first, shock evident on his face from the killing blow. A faint wheeze tickled Aldrin¡¯s ears when he turned back to see the man he had pinned struggling and clinging to life still. Pulling his sword from the bodies, he watched the man take his last breath. ¡°It¡¯s done,¡± Aldrin called out as he regained control of his nature, letting the features recede and the human side of him return. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Jared whistled at the display when they approached. ¡°Personally, I cannot wait to see how you do in a Dungeon when we get closer to Folos.¡± Aldrin quickly read the system prompts, telling him of the experience gained from the kills. It left a bitter taste in his mouth from how little he gained. Pierre went to loot the bodies and scrounge whatever treasures they hid as Jared continued to scout the way forward. A moment later, Evie strode along the road riding the carriage, coming to a stop near the hidden camp of the bandits. Aldrin gave a slight wave as he approached. ¡°An excellent feeding, I presume?¡± she asked, eyeing the blood that marred Aldrin. ¡°They were slightly sweeter this time,¡± Aldrin said before he realized what came out of his mouth. Evie smiled, then hopped down, handing him a wet rag from her inventory. ¡°Clean yourself before Cannor sees and has a heart attack,¡± she winked. Aldrin nodded gratefully before taking it and wiping his mouth from the blood. Eddock opened the carriage door right when Aldrin was reaching for it. He looked for a moment before quickly stepping out, dragging his brother, Cannor, right behind him before he could see. Aldrin stepped in and sat and cleaned himself away from everyone else. A gentle knock on the carriage door alerted Aldrin before Evie opened it and stepped in and sat in front of him. ¡°I have some advice for you, seeing that you are a front-liner. Permission to advise?¡± she asked with a smirk, knowing it would get under Aldrin¡¯s skin. Aldrin groaned, ¡°Evie, I told you, you don¡¯t have to treat me like I am some noble.¡± ¡°I know my Vyncari, but it is fun,¡± she fully smiled at him. ¡°Anyway, Hemomancy will be your best friend. It will help with the cleanup after your battles. Just a thought,¡± she said. Aldrin sighed, ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡± ¡°What is Vyncari, by the way?¡± ¡°In my language, it roughly translates to lord of the between,¡± she lightly laughed when Aldrin gave her a deadpan stare. ¡°It¡¯s just a respectful term for a Vampire and not many know its meaning any longer,¡± she said. She patted his knee before rising to leave. ¡°Evie¡­¡± Aldrin began. ¡°How are you since everything¡­?¡± A dark look overtook her features for a second. ¡°I am an Adventurer. I knew what I was signing up for when I started.¡± ¡°You lost your party and lover. That can¡¯t be easy.¡± ¡°And you lost your party and family. Now that can¡¯t be easy either,¡± she answered before she looked him in the eyes. ¡°I at least can go back home, but you never can, and I know that hurts more than anything.¡± Aldrin looked away, shaking his head. ¡°It¡¯s not the first home I have lost, nor will it probably be the last.¡± Evie opened her mouth to say something, but thought better of it before she bowed deeply and stepped out. Aldrin felt the sun beginning to rise and with it, his power steadily diminished. He wondered how his powers would work in a Dungeon to begin with, anyway. It was something he was both apprehensive about and excited about trying. They all needed to do a Dungeon run to see how well they could work together in tense situations to begin with. Especially if this was going to be the party going forward. Luckily, Folos was rife with Dungeons on the floating land masses that spiraled upward around the city. He heard Jared and Pierre come back shortly after as they climbed into the driver¡¯s seat of the carriage. Cannor and Eddock hopped back in, along with Evie, who decided to sit next to Aldrin. The carriage was then back on the move, ambling towards their next destination. Hours went by in silence before Cannor grunted when Eddock elbowed him. Aldrin opened his eyes from his semi meditative state to quirk an eyebrow at them. ¡°Can you make other people Vampires?¡± Cannor bravely asked. ¡°I¡¯m sure I could at a later time, but right now I am not considered an old enough Vampire by System Standards,¡± Aldrin answered as best he could. ¡°What¡¯s your age then?¡± he asked. ¡°It currently ranks me as a Juvenile Vampire.¡± ¡°Oh! You¡¯re still so new at this? I thought you were older,¡± Evie stated. ¡°Not quite yet,¡± Aldrin chuckled. ¡°And I am unsure what would happen when and if I do make other people into Vampires. That is still a bit of a mystery to me still so I¡¯m hoping I won¡¯t have to do it so soon.¡± ¡°Also, Evie, I meant to ask the other night, but I got a prompt asking if I wanted to convert the horses out there. Do you know anything about that?¡± Evie turned to him with her eyes alight with joy. ¡°Yes, actually! What do you know of Vampiric Steeds anyone?¡± She looked at everyone. Cannor grumbled about him barely knowing anything about Vampires ?while Eddock shrugged his shoulders. Aldrin shook his head, to which Evie took a deep breath, trying to remember the information that was imparted to her. ¡°Vampiric Steeds and animals tend to be what a dog is to man, a boar to a dwarf, a mammoth to a giant, and so on and so forth. They are the companions that bond on an intrinsic level to the ones that made them. While you could make any animal Vampiric in nature, it still limited them to how strong the Vampire was that created them and their potential for growth. For instance, if you were to take those horses out there and convert them now, it would only limit them to a tier above your own. Still strong, but not as strong as they could be if you were to convert a pet.¡± ¡°There are tales of Vampiric pets among my clan of harmless creatures that grow alongside their master into mighty terrors. Sadly, that was an art that has been lost,¡± she finished.
System Notice:
Mystery Quest Issued: Ritual of the Damned Part 1: Find a compatible companion to grow alongside you
¡°But as I said, each animal has a different area of growth. For horses, I know they gain infinite stamina, shadow steps, and have a connection to their master. It would be wise to collect different mounts for different occasions.¡± Evie finished her lecture. ¡°So in a nutshell, I am changing them tonight then,¡± Aldrin laughed. ¡°That would be wise, my Vyncari,¡± Evie joked, causing Aldrin to stop. ¡°I would also advise finding a pet for you to convert as well once we get to Folos,¡± she added at the end. ¡°But since you are the Progenitor, I am unaware how it will affect them, since it will be vastly different compared to a regular Vampire, so my information may not be true for you at all. I am sorry.¡± ¡°No, don¡¯t apologize! You have actually been more helpful than anything!¡± Aldrin reassured her. ¡°Jared!¡± Aldrin called out. ¡°Yes, my evil dark lord?¡± he grinned when he opened the slit. Aldrin gave him a flat stare that only made Evie laugh harder. ¡°I was gonna ask if you wanted to see something cool tonight, but you ruined it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I''ll take it back! What are we getting into tonight?¡± Jared asked, hopeful that Aldrin would accept. ¡°I¡¯m making Vampire Horses,¡± Aldrin proudly stated. ¡°Alright, you got me. I¡¯ll be there,¡± Jared grinned again. ¡°I kinda want to see it too,¡± Cannor piped up, surprising all of them. ¡°What? I like cool stuff too and I¡¯m warming up to all this Vampire business,¡± he shyly looked away. ¡°Count me in too,¡± Pierre joined, briefly glancing back. Aldrin looked at Eddock and Evie, who both nodded their heads that they would join too. ¡°This is a nice beginning to a new party,¡± Jared nodded to himself. Chapter 24: Acceptance ¡°Commander,¡± Ingram saluted Adeline when he entered her spartan-like tent. Only two poles were holding up the cot next to a small end table. Various rugs were strewn about on the ground beneath them. Ingram wondered why she hadn¡¯t taken an enchanted tent more fit for her station rather than this standard tent. She sat on a wooden stool with her back facing him. Half of her armor was thrown around at her feet as she was in the midst of removing it. ¡°How many, Ingram?¡± her voice was hollow, the dim light from the enchanted lantern streaking shadows across her slumped form. Ingram huffed and scowled. ¡°22 officially dead, 53 injured and being tended to, and 7 were able to be resurrected before their souls left the plane. The injured we have are being transported back to the city for proper healing and care, as per my instructions. Reinforcements from the Order are also en route after the report of Lor-Vold.¡± Adeline¡¯s shoulders slumped even more. ¡°Shit.¡± ¡°If I may, Commander, what happened to Lor-Vold isn¡¯t your fault. Your brother isn¡¯t your fault, either. You didn¡¯t know.¡± He reassured her, doing his best to empathize. She pivoted to face him. ¡°No one can know,¡± Adeline sharply replied. Ingram scowled again, the scar that ran down his face making him look menacing. ¡°I would never betray you.¡± She looked at him with defiance blooming in her eyes before deflating again. ¡°I know. . I know. .¡± ¡°If what you faced in town really is Aldrin, then we have to have more faith in your brother. He has survived this long, and he has help if I am making the correct assumptions about the Jared fellow that gave us the warning to begin with.¡± ¡°You should be relieved that he isn¡¯t Feral, and you didn¡¯t have to kill him.¡± He gently added. Anger threatened to rise again from Adeline¡¯s stomach before bubbling back down. She turned away again to finish stripping her armor. ¡°Leave,¡± she commanded. Ingram saluted once more before quickly stepping out, leaving her to her thoughts. His own thoughts mused around his head as he still struggled to grapple with what Adeline told him. He was the one to call for the retreat when he got the alert about Lor-Vold being doomed. The Zombies that had given them a hard time to enter the city simply ignored them. Ingram knew better than to trust that, so he ordered the remaining defenders to collect their dead and injured to retreat to a safe distance. During that time, he worried for Adeline once she began chasing the Vampire through the city. A Vampire that turned out to be Aldrin. Still, he waited for the countdown and for Adeline to emerge out of the crumbling, burning city. Roars and howls still filled the air from the Undead leaving the city. The men were there to defend against the Undead and paid no attention to the refugees running away from the city. The battle would be difficult for Ingram and the rest of the men, but it would also allow more time for survivors to escape. It wasn¡¯t long before Adeline had found them. A distant hollow look filled her face when she trounced upon Canadir. He met them halfway and led them to her tent that was set up. During that time, Finston attempted to pluck his lute to lighten the mood, but none fit the moment. It was there in the tent when she told Ingram about Aldrin¡¯s fate. ¡°How is the commander?¡± one of the Paladins asked Ingram when he walked up to a nearby campfire that was starting to come to life. It had been only two days since they left the crater of Lor-Vold and the sun was beginning to set once more. ¡°She will be alright,¡± he lied. Another Paladin snorted that earned him a furious glare from Ingram. Before he could reprimand the Paladin another did it for him. ¡°Captain Ingram,¡± a recruit raised his hand. He was young still by the way he had yet to adjust to his armor fitting his frame. ¡°Did we lose?¡± he tentatively asked. Ingram grunted in response as the recruit looked around for answers that none dared to provide. ¡°A very serious blow fell upon the Queendom. Zombies organized to attack a city, and now that very same city has been destroyed. Yeah. We fucking lost,¡± a Priest grumbled, answering for Ingram. ¡°And Vampires? Here? They shouldn¡¯t even have been near any cities as large as Lor-Vold!¡± hissed another soldier. Ingram quietly listened to everyone argue back and forth about their failings at protecting Lor-Vold. He picked out the ones that seemed desperate enough to either become deserters or return to the Order. Finston continued to strum notes amidst the argument, adding to the atmosphere. Ingram caught his eye then slightly tilted his head away from the rest of the group that now stood, yelling at each other. Grunting, Ingram subtly nodded, as did Finston as they met up a few feet away from the screaming match. Finston stared at the ground. ¡°Was it the same Vampire that attacked my friends and I in the forest?¡± he whispered. Ingram gave him a hard look that would have wilted him had he been looking him in the eye, ¡°More than likely.¡± ¡°Did she kill him?¡± Finston quietly asked. ¡°No. It escaped her when the city started to burn from the inside out.¡± He replied, omitting a few facts. ¡°Are we going to hunt it down?¡± Ingram took a sharp breath. ¡°There is no we. You are a Bard that was at the wrong place during the right time. I am sorry for the losses you have suffered.¡± Fury embroiled Finston¡¯s gaze when he snapped his head up to glare at Ingram. ¡°Wrong place?! My friends were sucked dry of their life! A city was destroyed because of that very same Vampire! And not just any city but Lor-Vold, the city of Alchemist! Do you know-¡± If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Ingram¡¯s fist felled Finston, making him scramble in pain on the ground. ¡°I am quite aware of the situation at hand. It was a failure of monumental proportions that will be felt all across the Queendom.¡± Ingram sharply hissed. ¡°You forget that you were only allowed here because of the information you carried at the time. Information that is no longer relevant given current circumstances. I suggest you either leave or suck it up and help.¡± He finished, moving away from the Bard that was still huddled on the ground. Finston stayed on the ground a little while longer, rubbing the welt that was beginning to form. He took out his lute and plucked a single note, infusing with a bit of magic that soothed his aching cheek. He stared at the back of Ingram marching back towards the argument that was beginning to descend into a brawl. Then he looked up at the dusky sky that taunted him of the night that his friends were murdered. One way or another, he would get revenge, not only for his friends but for others as well.
Quest Issued:
Pact of Vengeance I: You have sworn in your heart to avenge those wronged by the evil that was unleashed on the fateful night of your first Adventuring Quest. Bards are not known to be fighters, but that has never stopped them from rallying the people to a cause greater than themselves. Find individuals willing to hunt down the Undead Scourge that is beginning to rise! Current Task: 0/10 followers gained Reward: Class Evolution
Finston grinned as he began to make plans and new songs to compose. He took one last look at the camp of the Holy Order, figuring he would start there for like-minded faces. Thus marking the beginning of a new threat within the Queendom. Making his way back to the campfire, he saw Adeline finally emerge from her tent. He watched her as she stalked towards the shouting match. Others noticed her creeping up and began to quiet down, watching her with wide eyes. ¡°Oh fuck,¡± Finston heard one of the Paladins murmur before taking his cup and plate, and making himself scarce by disappearing into a nearby tent. ¡°What. In. The. Abyss is going on?¡± Adeline growled. Ingram took his place next to her as she glared at each and every one. Like children, they all looked away bashfully, embarrassed about being reprimanded. ¡°Commander-¡± ¡°Save it Rolis,¡± Adeline barked to the brown-haired, blue-eyed man. Ingram cleared his throat, earning Adeline¡¯s ire. ¡°The men are upset about the loss, commander.¡± He clarified. ¡°We were all thrown into a situation with only half our forces there, little information, and in the middle of a siege. We were not prepared as much as we should have been,¡± she told the group. ¡°What did we even go there for, anyway? To lose?¡± Someone else piped up. Ingram glanced at her, then bent down to her ear. ¡°Commander, tell them what you can,¡± he whispered. She took a breath as all eyes were on her, ¡°I went to find my brother that was supposedly being experimented on in the city. That is where all the Undead came from; more specifically, the Vampires that we saw. Those were the experiments being run.¡± ¡°Was he there?¡± a Priest asked. ¡°Under whose orders were the experiments being ran?¡± asked a Cleric ¡°No, and I don¡¯t know,¡± she lied.
Warning!
Oath of Truth broken! Oath of Justice broken!
Break one more of your oaths to have your Class forcibly changed to: Fallen Templar
For her brother, she would become Fallen if necessary. She knew most of the answers thanks to Jared after she puzzled together the dizzying tale he spun for her. Sadly, she couldn¡¯t tell the truth without them demanding her brother¡¯s head. She would protect his secret until she could see him again whenever that would be. Telling their grandfather would be a matter all in itself. He would be relieved but heartbroken. The group looked around at each other, wondering who was going to be the first to say something. Yet, none did as they went back to eating in silence. ¡°What¡¯s the mission, then?¡± ¡°We head home, regroup, and report,¡± Adeline answered before turning around and heading back to her tent. Ingram followed her close behind. Finston watched everything unfold, knowing Adeline was lying to the men. Another seed of doubt took root in his mind about trusting Adeline to be his first one to turn. Adeline pushed her tent flap open, ignoring Ingram coming in right behind her. ¡°Lying for now is the best thing to do.¡± ¡°I took an oath, Ingram, and I have broken it,¡± Adeline replied, sharing her notification with him. ¡°When you fall, so shall I, Adeline.¡± His storm gray eyes bored into her green ones after reading it. Her mind froze. ¡°Ingram! I cannot ask you that!¡± ¡°I took an oath to follow you wherever you tread. A life debt to be paid. It is among my people¡¯s customs not to follow the fickle ways of a normal man.¡± Ingram stood straighter. She was about to say something when Ingram held up his gauntleted hand. ¡°You have shared a secret with me, so I too, shall share one of my own. You have never pried into my past and I thank you for that, but now I must share with you before we walk down the path we are about to embark on.¡± He gestured for her to sit on the hammock that was strung up. She followed his lead and sat quietly. Memories flashed behind Ingram¡¯s eyes. ¡°My true past is that of an Exiled Human. Dwarves that deemed us unfit to be within their borders as they expanded and raided my village. They killed all the men and women but left the children alive. They rounded us up to be sold as slaves since they didn¡¯t want to sully their hands and consciousness with the blood of children.¡± ¡°I spent most of my teenage years as a slave before being liberated by the Order. At the time, the Order was trying to expand its reach back into the hearts of Exiled Humans, hoping to bring them back into the fold. They took us, fed us, clothed us, and trained us in the ways of the Order. While I owe the Order for everything I am now, I owe you more.¡± ¡°I have some knowledge that may be of importance to you regarding Aldrin. Should you want to walk the path that will be laid out for you in the coming future, then you must be prepared to give up everything you know. The Progenitor Wars will begin again and with it, your brother will be at the forefront of it all. We must prepare.¡± Ingram finished. He waited for her to say something, but she chose not to. She pulled out two glasses and a bottle of wine from her inventory then poured themselves a drink. ¡°Tell me everything.¡± She demanded, offering a glass to him. Taking the glass from her hand, he sat opposite of her. ¡°Where do you want to start?¡± he asked, taking a sip, and gently smiled at her. He was grateful she had so readily turned a blind eye to his heritage. It was another notch to his belt, confirming she was the right one to follow in the dark times ahead. Now he just needed to see Aldrin and the puzzles the Shamans and Druids of his tribe foretold would begin to make sense. Sides were blooming unbeknownst to the rest of the world that lived in blissful ignorance for now. If Vampires were beginning to move their pieces on the board along with the Undead gaining sentience, then a new era was being ushered in. He hoped he would have had more time to give Adeline and her grandfather a chance to be swayed, but fate had its own machinations on what and when it wanted things to be known. Chapter 25: The Art of Credibility ¡°This feels real cultish,¡± Jared smirked, standing a few feet away from Evie to his left and Eddock to his right. ¡°I don¡¯t know how conversions work! This is my first time doing something like this!¡± Aldrin said, standing in the center of the circle with the two docile horses. He reached out to one of the Horses, gaining a prompt in return.
Do you wish to convert this Tier 1 Horse into a Tier 3 Vampiric Steed?
Aldrin confirmed for it to do so. He felt a pull from the depths of his very soul being dragged to the surface. A black inky substance oozed from the pores of his open hand onto the ground, slithering its way to the hoof of the horse. The horse attempted to back away, but Aldrin calmed it down with his Charming Gaze. The inky substance oscillated, looking up at the horse, then launched itself onto it, attaching to it at the base of its neck. Fear danced in the eyes of the other horse as it watched its brethren be subjected to the transformation. The substance seeped into the horse''s skin, causing its eyes to widen and roll back. It dropped like a puppet with its strings cut, making it spasm violently, kicking out in every direction before finally going still. The black spot that was on its neck spread outwards, claiming every inch of the horse, turning its brown coat into a coat as black as the night. Its mane transformed into a deep crimson that swayed gently with an ethereal breeze. Nature¡¯s symphony died down, holding its breath, when the horse opened its eyes, revealing them to be glowing red. It picked itself off the ground, standing on its new silver hooves that shone with the color of the moon. It reared onto its hind legs, belting out a cry that turned into a hoarse roar signaling its birth upon the world. The molars that once decorated its mouth popped out as new, sharpened, serrated fangs replaced them that were perfect for tearing flesh. Coming back down, it stood taller and stronger than it did before. It neared Aldrin, who still had his hand out in shock. It nuzzled its head into his open palm that instantly bridged a connection between them. He felt the newly transformed horse within himself, much like he did with Jared and Pierre. He petted the horse, feeling the brimming strength beneath its surface, bubbling to be set free.
Congratulations! Due to your Progenitor status, the Tier 3 Vampiric Steed has been elevated to a Tier 4 Vampiric Warhorse!
Vampiric Warhorse(Tier 4): Unlike the Vampiric Steeds, the Vampires often use as a means of travel; the Vampiric Warhorses are only reserved for the Lords and Ladies of the Great Houses. Better fitted for combat and terror, these Warhorses signified status and power among Vampires. They are predators that feed on the living much like their riders that changed them.
Vampiric Warhorse Abilities: Infinite Stamina, Shadow Run, Bloodfire Mane, Minor Regeneration, Armor Proficiency: Medium Barding Trait Gained: Daystrider: Your Daywalker ability has benefitted your mounts! The Sun no longer gives them penalties!
Do you wish to convert the other horse?
Aldrin confirmed again, watching the process happen again with the other. Not a moment later, the other horse was transformed just the same. Jared whistled, admiring the two beauties that stood in front of Aldrin. ¡°Well holy hot damn! Nothing will stop us now!¡± he began to cackle. Evie gently smiled at the display, then looked at the two Warhorses that proudly flanked Aldrin. Pierre, Eddock, and Cannor still looked on a bit warily at them. Aldrin stroked along their necks, both of them enjoying the attention he was giving them. ¡°They are strong and ready to go. They will obey. . . only my servants and myself?¡± Aldrin puzzled out the new sensations emanating from them both. ¡°No time to waste then! To Folos!¡± Jared cheered, walking up to the warhorses without fear. The warhorses switched their attention to Jared, making him pause. They walked to him, meeting him halfway. They started to sniff him and nibble on his hair before they blew in his face. One of them bent his head down to nudge Jared¡¯s hand onto its head. Jared took that as a good sign, letting a small chuckle escape him as he petted them. ¡°We are going to be great friends,¡± he hummed to them to which they snorted in response. ¡°What do they eat?¡± Jared asked no one in particular. ¡°I don¡¯t know exactly. Just said that they eat the living much like their rider?¡± Aldrin directed it to Evie. She shrugged her shoulders, ¡°My only expertise is second and third-hand at best,¡± she answered. ¡°I could tell you that Vampiric Steeds were still able to eat regular things and flesh, but Warhorses are not well known. At least not to my clan.¡± Aldrin thought for a moment, ¡°We will have to see then.¡± ¡°Is that wise? They are Vampire Horses! Keyword, Vampire!¡± Cannor exclaimed, ¡°And you want to wait and see when there are five fleshy beings here!?¡± ¡°Three,¡± Pierre corrected, making Cannor do a double take, looking at him. ¡°What do you mean three?! What the fuck are you?!¡± Cannor asked. Pierre rolled his eyes, ¡°Aldrin said they would only obey him and his Servants who happen to be me and Jared.¡± The color in Cannor¡¯s face drained as the warhorses looked at him hungrily, ¡°H-How do I become a Servant?¡± he quickly asked. ¡°Don¡¯t know. Just kinda happened.¡± Jared shrugged and chuckled again. ¡°He¡¯s not food,¡± he whispered to the warhorses that whined in protest. Cannor pleading looked at Evie, who shook her head. ¡°You don¡¯t know either¡­?¡± She smiled, ¡°I do, but it has to be earned and not because you just want to live,¡± she teased. ¡°But I¡¯ll be dead before that even happens!¡± he whimpered. ¡°Come brother. Only time will reveal it to us. They are no threat to us unless any of those three allow it.¡± Eddock attempted to placate Cannor. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. ¡°But-¡± ¡°No. Besides, we agreed to journey with them to Folos.¡± Eddock firmly replied, making Cannor put his head down. ¡°I want to see what they can do,¡± Jared said, leading them back to the carriage they had left on the side of the road within eyesight. He hitched them to the carriage, feeling them anticipate the coming freedom that would soon grace their hooves. ¡°Oh, they are excited! I can feel it!¡± Jared gleefully told them. ¡°This is so much better than those veterinary classes I was taking before we got zapped here!¡± ¡°You were learning to become a vet?¡± Aldrin asked, surprise laced in his voice. ¡°What¡¯s a vet?¡± Evie confusedly asked. ¡°Oh! Yeah! I love animals! And a vet is someone who takes care and mends animals that have injuries, sickness, and diseases.¡± Jared answered, giddily hopping up onto the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°Truthfully, I¡¯ve been on the hunt for a Beastmaster. I would have taken the Class but the Arcane Orb we found back at Gyt¡¯s camp will let my Tier 3 Class grant me a choice of an Arcane Archer. Mix that with a Beastmaster Profession and, more than likely, I will get something to do with magical beasts and animals as my Tier 4 Class. If I live that long at least,¡± Jared happily answered. ¡°An Alchemist, Beastmaster, and a Lore Seeker,¡± Evie thoughtfully stated, appraising each of the men. ¡°Aldrin, a moment, please?¡± She asked. Aldrin turned to look at her with a raised eyebrow. ¡°I wish to formally join your group. I know I ingratiated myself without asking, but I am asking you now.¡± She said, taking off an indistinguishable wooden ring around her finger. She placed it in her palm, holding it up to Aldrin. ¡°Inspect it,¡± she said.
Ring of Falsehood Effect 1: +5 Charisma Effect 2: Hide Status
¡°What are you-¡± Aldrin started before inspecting her.
Name: Evieanda Ynnlein Race: Mountain Giant
Class: Totemic Mystic Level: 54
Tier: 4 Profession: Transmuter
Before he could say anything, she knelt in front of him, ¡°I, Evieanda Ynnlein, daughter of High Mystic Krofumm Ynnlein and Chieftess Heifr Ynnlein, pledge myself to you, my Vyncari, Aldrin Ravindra. Let the Moon Goddess Phaeyara and her children be my witness.¡±
Notice!
Evieanda Ynnlein wishes to become a Servant of yours, Do you accept it?
¡°You¡¯re a princess?¡± Aldrin asked in disbelief. ¡°Was. I left that life long ago because I am so far down the succession line between my other brothers and sisters I would never even see the inside of where the throne sits.¡± she answered with her head bowed low still. Aldrin looked at everyone who also wore the same expressions of disbelief. ¡°His hidden luck stat must be insanely high,¡± he heard Jared whisper. ¡°Or he is insanely unlucky,¡± Pierre whispered back. Evie looked up into Aldrin¡¯s eyes. A brief flicker of hope and determination flitted between them. Aldrin felt something primal take hold of him, ¡°Show me your true self,¡± he ordered, his Vampiric nature showing itself in return, ¡°as I have shown you what you will truly serve.¡± Evie took a deep breath in and exhaled slowly, her Giantese runic tattoos receding into her skin. She grew in size and mass, the earth beneath her buckling under her growing size until she towered over them all. She stood to her full height, showing Aldrin that he only came up just shy below her shin. They appraised each other as understanding bloomed in their eyes, ¡°I accept,¡± Aldrin said.
Congratulations!
You have gained a new Servant! Evieanda Ynnlein has come into your service and has accepted you just as you accepted her.
¡°She¡¯s almost as tall as those small skyscrapers back home,¡± Jared blurted out, looking up at her as Pierre nodded in agreement. Evie inhaled deeply, the Giantese runic tattoos reforming over her skin like chains, reducing her size until she was only an inch taller than Aldrin. ¡°Giants grow alongside their levels,¡± she informed. ¡°My parents are taller than I am when they grow to their full size,¡± she winked at Jared. ¡°I thank you for accepting me and putting your trust in me,¡± She looked Aldrin in the eye as he let his nature recede too. ¡°You have been nothing but helpful since you came. It is my honor to have you among us.¡± Aldrin bowed this time. ¡°Did I do it right?¡± he asked when he came back up. ¡°Needs work before we see my clan, but it worked well enough for me,¡± she lightly laughed. Cannor and Eddock stood silently off to the side, watching the exchange between them. Cannor looked at Eddock, who shook his head no. His shoulders slumped, then looked on with envy and hope. After it was done and over, they piled into the carriage with Jared at the reins, giddy with excitement like a kid about to play with his new toys. ¡°Jared, if you would do the honors, please?¡± Aldrin asked through the slit. ¡°With the greatest of pleasures, my dark overlord!¡± He madly cackled. ¡°Onwards, my noble steeds!¡± He cracked the reins. The warhorses reared first, then took off in a dead sprint down the road. The weight of the carriage was meaningless to them as they ate up the road before them, finally free to run. Jared screamed and laughed in joy at the rush as everyone in the back of the carriage held on for dear life at the speed they were going. The initial excitement the warhorses felt about running simmered down as they paced themselves into a comfortable sprint. Aldrin looked out the carriage window, seeing the rocky and desolate landscape whirl by. ¡°Almost feels like a car,¡± Pierre said, earning a nod from Aldrin but confused looks from the rest of the group. Pierre then began to explain to the others their methods of transportation from Earth. ¡°We should enchant the carriage when we get to Folos! I know someone who can help!¡± Evie suggested, after listening to Pierre. Everyone then offered their suggestions on what kind of enchantments would mostly benefit the carriage. Aldrin droned them out and thought for a moment about what he would look for gear-wise when they got to Folos. They had enough money to splurge if necessary, including enchanting pieces of armor and weapons. A part of him wanted to raid another bandit camp like Gyt¡¯s so they could plunder whatever riches it held. Still, there was also a small kernel of doubt in the back of his mind about what exactly would entail once they got to Folos. He hoped it wouldn¡¯t be another Lor-Vold incident. The ramifications of the city had yet to be felt, but it was only a matter of time before it happened. With that thought in mind, he sank deeper into his seat when he thought of the Queen and what her next move would be. Nonetheless, he would be better prepared for whatever Folos was going to throw at him, either in the Dungeons or the city itself. He would have to hurry to grow in power more before he even attempted going back to the capital city of Dremetica. Chapter 26: Folos What would have taken them around 2 weeks coming from Lor-Vold had shortened to a week thanks to the Vampiric warhorses. They turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The group had found out the hard way about what they ate when they had camped one afternoon to stretch out the cramps their muscles screamed for. A pack of Mornbeasts had decided they would be easy prey. They had two narrow slitted amethyst eyes to look at their surroundings from their enormous sockets. A mangled snout that rested above its shallow mouth. A mouth that was shaped to have a constant shy smile, revealing rows of curved fangs and an enormous tongue that lapped the air. Broad pointed ears, much like a dog, sat on each side of its small, rounded head, which was covered in rows of small horns starting from two thick spiraled horns protruding from the top. Two beefy muscled arms dangled at its sides, ending in broad hands with curved claws, of which it had 12 in total. Their bodies, which were long and hefty, could alternate between walking on all fours or standing upright. The legs were muscular and bent much like a frog, ending in skinny feet with pointed claws. Its shoulders were broader than its pelvis, giving it a slim aquatic look. Unfortunately for the Mornbeast and fortunately for the group, the warhorses saw them as lunch. As soon as the warhorses caught their scent, they turned to them and ran at the pack of five. Trampling them beneath their weight. They danced and kicked. The screeches of the creatures were short-lived as the warhorses ripped them apart with their mouths. Sharp cracks resounded every time they kicked a Mornbeast that attempted to flee. Aldrin witnessed one of the warhorses take a fleshy bite out of one the Mornbeast¡¯s spine. The mornbeast watched helplessly from being paralyzed as the warhorses ate it alive. That afternoon, everyone was no longer hungry from watching the warhorses gorge themselves on the corpses of the Mornbeasts. Aldrin had felt their contentment once they were done as they trotted back to them. Blood was smeared and strings of flesh hung from their muzzles when they approached Aldrin, nudging him for attention at a job well done. Evie cleared her throat. ¡°Well, at least we know what they eat now, right?¡± she lightly joked. Cannor was rubbing his neck as he looked at them fearfully. ¡°I¡¯m next,¡± he whispered to himself. Jared came around and swatted him on his back. ¡°They just saved us from a pack of Mornbeast. I think you''re good buddy.¡± ¡°Anybody get a look at their levels before they were eaten?¡± Pierre asked, still watching the warhorses from a safe distance. ¡°No, and besides, you have seen worse with me,¡± Aldrin said. Pierre stared at him. ¡°Right¡­ It''s different with you. We know Humans can do some real dirty stuff, but it''s different seeing something you¡¯ve known to never be carnivorous on either planet eat meat without batting an eye.¡± ¡°Not even bones are left! And they missed a piece!¡± Cannor called from the carnage, pointing at a scrap of meat. The warhorses turned to race each other for the last drop. Cannor rushed out of their sight once they reached it, vying for dominance in a game of tug¡¯o¡¯war. It proved fruitful when the flesh tore away, equally splitting in half. Once they were done, they trotted directly back to Jared, who greeted them with open arms. He led them back to the carriage to hitch them in order to get back on the road. They were close to Folos because of the floating boulders that were dancing in the clouds. Cannor warily eyed the floating boulders that blissfully levitated upwards. ¡°Do you think those ever fall?¡± he asked. ¡°No, the magical field that Folos generates around expands outwards little by little with each passing year,¡± Evie answered. Pierre watched the floating boulders gently flow along with the breeze in the air, ¡°How long do you estimate for the field to reach a nearby village?¡± Evie pursed her lips and thought for a moment, ¡°Probably in another five or six years, give or take.¡± A looming shadow covered them as they made their way along the road. ¡°Whoa. . .¡± Aldrin heard Jared whisper. He peeked his head out of the moving carriage, first looking down at the massive shadow, then upwards at what was casting it. Aldrin¡¯s eyes went as big as saucers when he pieced together that he was looking at the bottom of a flying ship. It was a massive galleon that floated in the air. Rainbow sparkles trailed softly behind it as it fluttered along the wind currents. Evie poked her head out next, a large grin forming across her face, ¡°We are close!¡± she giddily yelled. ¡°What is that?¡± Jared asked no one in particular. ¡°Folos¡¯ air navy,¡± Evie answered. Not a moment did she say that the clouds clear revealing a large fleet of ships floating through the air. ¡°The High Elves of Folos have mastered their enchanting and transcribed their discoveries onto their fleets.¡± ¡°That¡¯s amazing,¡± Aldrin whispered in awe, watching the various ships of differing sizes slowly drift by. ¡°We should get this carriage to fly or at least make it more suitable for long distance traveling,¡± Cannor grumbled. Evie slapped Cannor on the shoulder. ¡°That¡¯s a great idea!¡± she beamed at him. They all watched as the ships lazily drifted along the wind currents, paying no mind to the upcoming town that tethered the floating city of Folos. ¡°Uh guys,¡± Pierre called to get their attention, ¡°I think we made it,¡± he breathlessly said. Aldrin tore his eyes away from the ships and looked forward, seeing the town built atop robust hills with giant chains that linked to the tops of the hills. Above the small town, as their eyes followed the large chains, they could make out bits and pieces of a large floating land mass the chains connected to. Each rattle of the chain dimly lit up with runic enchantments that ran along them as the wind moved them. Aldrin had heard stories of Folos being a floating city, but to see it in person was another thing altogether. He had to tear his eyes away from trying to peek through the clouds that covered most of the landmass as they neared the lower part of the city. The High Elves had incorporated their building into the hills, building alongside nature like most of the Elves do. They made the buildings of rock with rounded domes and spires. Flying boats and ships dominated the open edifices of the structures. Earthen bridges connected each of the spires to one another that resembled a spider¡¯s web. With his enhanced vision, Aldrin could see people using them, mostly the High Elven merchants and sky sailors that were unloading cargo into the spires. Further down the spires, towards the middle, more earthen bridges connected to a market area that was bustling with activity from the mixed group of Elves, Humans and Dwarves. As they neared, the natural hills acted as walls for the settlement, which allowed it to perfectly blend into its surroundings. ¡°This is Lower Folos. The fun stuff is on the upper island.¡± Evie pointed to the few ships that were beginning to elevate towards the landmass, disappearing among the clouds. Jared whistled in appreciation. ¡°Hopefully Aldrin doesn¡¯t destroy this city like the last,¡± he joked, earning chuckles from the others and a glare from Aldrin. ¡°I¡¯m more excited about getting some real gear this time. Lor-Vold had decent stuff, but it¡¯ll be nothing compared to Folos and the Dungeons here.¡± Pierre said. ¡°From the few times I have been here, we first have to teleport up to the main island,¡± she pointed at the landmass hidden by the clouds. ¡°Then from there we can either take a sky ship or another teleporter to one of the numerous islands that has been marked for Dungeon delving.¡± Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°Are we renting another inn then, or are we going to rough it?¡± Pierre asked. ¡°The enchanter I know has enchanted tents that act like cabins. Suitable for long adventures.¡± Evie clarified. ¡°We can go see him first before we go shopping for gear.¡± She added. ¡°I¡¯m assuming you¡¯ll have no trouble getting past the security check?¡± she asked Aldrin He shook his head. ¡°Not unless they have enchantments that can glean past my amulet.¡± ¡°Technically, you aren¡¯t lying about anything, so it shouldn¡¯t flare up once you pass the gates.¡± ¡°The Elves here are a prestigious bunch, but they are too prideful to think anything would attack them way out here, let alone face off against their enchanted defenses and sky navy,¡± she finished. Jared chuckled, ¡°Lor-Vold thought the same until this bad boy right here,¡± he jerked his thumb towards Aldrin, ¡°Waltzed through their walls unhindered.¡± ¡°So you really did destroy Lor-Vold with an Undead army?¡± Cannor skeptically asked. ¡°They were already there before I even got there,¡± Aldrin raised his hands in defense. ¡°He is straight up lying!¡± Jared laughed. ¡°He called to them and they answered.¡± ¡°Regardless of what happened and why, we have to be more careful. You are more powerful than any of us truly realize, including you,¡± Pierre interjected, looking at Aldrin. Evie winced, ¡°Which is why being here among Dungeons will give you the best practice without prying ears and eyes.¡± ¡°Speaking of getting past security, our story is that Aldrin is a young Lord tasked by his grandfather to tour the lands and gain worldly experience. The mounts have been in his family for generations, if anyone asks. We are his retainers meant to grow alongside him,¡± Pierre said, looking at each of them in the carriage. Cannor grew paler than normal, ¡°You want us to lie to High Elves? Can¡¯t they detect lies?¡± Evie chuckled, ¡°That¡¯s a lie. They think because they have naturally high wisdom, they are higher than thou. Besides, the ones we only have to worry about are the ones that stay in their palaces and courts. I doubt we will see any of those here. Folos is just an outpost to the High Elves meant to do trade and ferry their goods back to their home continent of Uvron.¡± ¡°Uvron is just a shattered continent of island chains, much like Folos, right?¡± Pierre asked. ¡°Yes,¡± she nodded. ¡°I thought all Otherworlders were meant to learn the basics of this world when they arrived?¡± Pierre cast his eyes downward. ¡°Not all Otherworlders arrive near places that welcome them.¡± Aldrin answered for him. ¡°What-¡± She began ¡°Jared and I arrived on Imawas and immediately drafted in the Fire and Ice Giant civil war,¡± Pierre quietly answered. Evie¡¯s jaw tightened as she clenched her fists. ¡°I am sorry that was your first welcome to this world,¡± she placed her hand on top of Pierre¡¯s. He smiled weakly at her. ¡°Thank you. You are the first Giant we have met that didn¡¯t immediately treat us like we were nothing.¡± ¡°Us Mountain Giants are a lot more accepting than others give us credit for,¡± she tried to lighten the mood. Aldrin looked at the exchange between the two and then deeply at Pierre, who was trying to hide the trauma that threatened to surface. ¡°One day, when we are strong enough, we can go back and put a stop to the civil war.¡± ¡°What are they even fighting for, anyway?¡± Eddock finally spoke up. ¡°Land, power, and pride. The usual weaknesses of Fire and Ice Giants. They have always been at war with each other, but our laws forbid us from ever truly going to war with each other. For us to do so, we have to use others to do it for us,¡± Evie answered. ¡°What happens if those laws are broken?¡± Aldrin asked. ¡°Our base element''s energy can never rebirth us as our souls get destroyed. Fire can''t dance among the sun''s rays, Ice can''t guide the rivers of fate, Earth can''t return to the embrace of the mother to help give life, and Air can''t fill the next generation''s breath.¡± She tapped her chin. ¡°Or at least that what was inscribed by our Progenitor.¡± ¡°Each Race has certain things that are forbidden for them to do that were magically inscribed into them by their own Progenitor. Since you are considered Otherworlders but are still Human, I am unsure if those same rules still apply to you,¡± Evie said. ¡°As for you, Aldrin, we can only go based on stories, and one rule I know for certain is that it¡¯s forbidden for another Vampire to feed on another.¡± Aldrin groaned in response, running his hands down his face, ¡°Great more stuff to figure out.¡± ¡°Nothing worth gaining is ever easy, as they say,¡± Evie smiled at him. She turned her gaze back to Pierre. ¡°I know it isn¡¯t much, but still, on behalf of all Giants that matter. I am sorry for what they have done to you and I will do everything in my power to help free the others that this has afflicted.¡± Jared thumped the carriage. ¡°We are getting close to the entrance, lady and gentlemen. Assume the roles!¡± Jared slowed the warhorses down to a trot and then to a walk once they neared. The High Elven guards were adorned in leather and chainmail. Each of them held a pike and shield with a bow and a quiver of arrows strapped to their back. If Evie was right, everything on the High Elven guards was probably extremely enchanted, despite their unassuming appearance. ¡°Welcome to Folos. State of business?¡± The guard on the right addressed Jared. ¡°We are taking our young Lord to Dungeon Delve per the orders of his grandfather,¡± Jared answered. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the other guard warily eyeing the warhorses. ¡°Sir!¡± the other guard called out. ¡°These are Vampiric warhorses!¡± The guard that was talking to Jared immediately dropped into a fighting stance with his pike raised. ¡°Where and how did you acquire these?¡± he demanded. ¡°Fellas, fellas, fellas¡­ these have been in our Lord¡¯s family for generations,¡± Jared tried to smooth over. The warhorses were unbothered by the turn of events, but Jared knew that if they get too close to them, then he wouldn¡¯t be able to stop them from their next meal. ¡°Mounts such as the Undead nature are banned from the continent per order of Queen Tyviona of Dremetica. I shall ask one more time, where and how did you acquire these banned creatures?¡± he demanded once more. The carriage doors opened before Jared could speak, revealing Evie. ¡°Surely you can see that they are tamed and docile creatures, unlike the myths of old,¡± she said. ¡°Can we look the other way and forget this all happened for a bit of gold? I am sure this is much more than what you would make in a month,¡± she tempted them by flashing a gold coin. The guard briefly flicked his eyes to the coin in her hand, then back at her. ¡°Make it four gold, each, and we have a deal,¡± he relented. ¡°The young Lord graciously accepts your terms,¡± she bowed before producing eight gold coins from her inventory. The guard quickly swiped the coins from her hand before waving them through. Jared gently nudged the warhorses forward once Evie climbed back into the carriage. ¡°Sir, are we sure it was wise to let them through?¡± The guard that called them out asked his senior officer. ¡°Who cares? We became richer because of it.¡± ¡°But sir! Extortion isn¡¯t the Elven way!¡± ¡°You dare question your senior officer after making you richer? Just for that, I am keeping six gold coins to myself. Here, take your two.¡± He threw them on the ground in front of the guard. ¡°Report it and we both go down. I would only get a slap on the wrist while you would be stripped of your honor. Is that what you truly want?¡± He sneered at the other guard that had yet to pick up his coins. Aldrin listened to the exchange as something within him bristled to set things right. ¡°You can¡¯t. Not yet, at least,¡± Evie whispered to him. ¡°I know¡­¡± Aldrin released a breath.
Welcome to Folos young Vampire Let¡¯s see what you uncover this time Power? Justice? A path?
Aldrin read the ominous message, and instead of feeling uncertainty and fear, he felt purpose. A grim determination took root within him, beckoning him forth to seize the power that was thrust upon him. Folos would become his true birthplace for his first steps into his true power of what he could do. Experiments with his abilities began to run through his mind once he realized that he no longer would have to hold back. The Dungeon denizens would not weigh heavily on his mind since they were not considered to be real. Thus, his self training would begin anew, with friends by his side, quest to work towards, and gear to upgrade. The Vampire Progenitor would no longer be idle, running from fire to fire. It was time to make his mark upon Grenora with his own hands. Quick Update(Nothing Bad Story-Wise) Greetings all, Soooo.. yeah, things have happened that has currently upheaved the life of my family and I. We are currently in the midst of moving/trying to secure a place after our first attempts fell through. Usually a wrench is thrown into my plans happens when I find myself in a good rhythm sadly. I haven''t had much time to write given the circumstances and throwing myself into work. Luckily, the story was in a lull point without too much of a cliffhanger. I do have chapters ready to go for when I am in a stable place as I do remember promising to release back to back chapters. I will still hold myself accountable to that and will make it up to you all. For now, I simply just ask for patience. This little dark patch I have found myself in is almost over, thank the universe. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. I profusely apologize for the inconvenience on my end. Safe Journeys my fellow Travelers. Chapter 27: Deals with a Mini Devil Suffice to say, Folos wasn¡¯t as nearly as busy as Lor-Vold was as they strolled through the lower street level. Although Evie had stated that the lower levels were only meant for gateways to get to the higher tiers of the towers that housed the shops, apartments, and other businesses. There was also a tower meant strictly for Adventurers, which held the guild. Unfortunately, they had to steer clear of that at all costs for the time being, since they were unsure how Aldrin would get in unhindered. The protection enchantments would immediately flag him as a threat, thus alerting all Adventurers in the current vicinity. Still, the marvel of how the High Elves seamlessly blended their buildings into the rocky hills intrigued Aldrin. He had suspected that the few Dwarves he saw on their way to various points of the domed shaped buildings caused this. He surmised the way the Dwarves were connected to the Earth and the way the Elves sang to nature to shape what they made were in perfect harmony here. There was still a lot to the world that Aldrin had yet been privy to explore. ¡°When we arrive at Master Waesmenor, I will do the talking,¡± Evie said, bringing everyone¡¯s attention together. Jared partially listened since he was busy trying to navigate the warhorses around people lest they get a little hungry and try to snack on some poor fellow. ¡°He specializes in utility enchantments and specialty gear. He is an old friend of my father from when he used to go on adventures so he can be trusted,¡± she said. ¡°Then that is when we will take our leave,¡± Eddock announced. ¡°Adventuring and Dungeon Delving isn¡¯t something my brother and I have ever had any luck with. So we will meet back up with one of our cousins that do business here to carry us the rest of the way home,¡± he finished. ¡°What does your cousin or cousins do business in?¡± Aldrin asked. Eddock and Cannor shared a quick glance before Eddock shrugged his shoulders, ¡°Simple trading in textiles.¡± ¡°Like materials or crafts?¡± Aldrin asked. ¡°A bit of both,¡± Eddock answered. ¡°So if you ever need anything, just look for a shop or a warehouse called Blue Worthington,¡± Eddock gave a small smile. Evie pondered the name for a bit. ¡°I can¡¯t say that I have ever heard of it.¡± ¡°We deal with select individuals, the motto says somewhere in there,¡± Cannor sheepishly replied. For the rest of the short ride, the group had descended into idle chatter to pass the time. Once Evie had looked out the window of the carriage, she had asked Jared to pull to a stop next to one of the busier spiral towers. Stepping out, Aldrin did not dare threaten to take a breath as the tantalizing scents would overwhelm him. The Elves¡¯ blood often smelled of dessert pies, Humans of different grilled meats, and Dwarves of hearty stews. Realizing he subconsciously categorized what different blood of the Races smelled like; he would need to get a journal to write down the various scents each gave off in order to better understand where his taste lay. Still, he was glad that the streets weren¡¯t packed, although he had yet to see the upper levels of the city in order to fully grasp the situation. Moving from that train of thought, he heard Jared and Evie talk about where to put the warhorses and carriage. ¡°I need you both to be on your best behavior for the time being,¡± Aldrin told the warhorses, patting them along their flanks. They snorted and growled their displeasure at being told to behave. ¡°I¡¯ll try to come see you and bring you any meat for you to try,¡± he bribed them, which they flicked their ears to and sent contentment over their bond. Looking around, Aldrin saw that there were no guards or anything patrolling the streets, which he viewed as strange. There was nothing that sent off alarm bells to him, but he chalked it up to the city being considerably safe. ¡°Cannor and I will stay with the warhorses until you guys get back,¡± Eddock offered. Aldrin nodded to them in thanks before setting off with Pierre, Jared, and Evie, who led the way into the tower. Inside was bigger than what he expected. There were crowds of people using enchanted large flat stones to move from level to level with levitation. Along the walls, slanted ramps shaped along the spiral tower for the people who had carts or didn¡¯t want to wait for the stone platforms to come back. Vendors in alcoves along the ramp were shouting and trying to get people''s attention to buy their products. Oval-shaped windows big enough for decent sized birds to fly in and out of dotted upwards in intervals helped let the light in and keep the haziness from the food stalls cooking ventilate the smoke. Large glowing crystal clusters bobbed up and down every other level that garnered light for the rest of the tower that the windows couldn¡¯t produce. All of this had reminded Aldrin of what an anthill might look like on the inside. Inside, he could see guards that were patrolling up and down the spiral tower. ¡°Is every tower like this?¡± Jared asked in amazement. ¡°More or less,¡± Evie giggled as she continued to lead them towards the ramp. ¡°Master Waesmenor¡¯s shop is on the 17th level of the tower.¡± ¡°How many levels are there for each tower?¡± Aldrin asked. She stopped for a second to think, ¡°I want to say around 40 to 50 levels.¡± She tapped her chin in thought. Jared¡¯s shoulders slumped. ¡°My legs,¡± he groaned. Evie laughed again. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we all won¡¯t be walking. We will take the lifts.¡± She pointed to a queue of people waiting for a platform, making Jared perk back up. ¡°And then we will snake back down to get our supplies,¡± she finished. All of them walked up to the waiting line, taking in the scene, while Evie looked at each of them with a smile. She was used to being around people who already understood the world. For her to be around people who have yet to experience all the world in its entirety was a breath of fresh air. Reaching the front of the line, they all stepped up onto the platform, eagerness to meet the enchanter and acquire gear for themselves could not be contained. Slowly, the platform began its ascent through the levels. It would stop on each floor, letting people on and off before coming to a stop at the tenth, to which Evie told them they would need to take another to get to Floor 17. Each floor was as diverse as the one beneath it. Shops and restaurants filled each floor, each shop was usually catering to at least a few people that meandered inside. Aldrin saw one that held books and wondered if perhaps that he could learn something about Vampires and the Wars but a part of him knew that it wouldn¡¯t be that easy otherwise everyone would have known. However, knowing how Elves were, with their love for knowledge and history because of their long lifespans, there might be something. Evie cleared her throat. ¡°The higher we go, the better shops there are. But Master Waesmenor prides himself on quality at fair prices.¡± ¡°Would he be ok with all of us coming in?¡± Aldrin asked. Evie nodded. ¡°He¡¯s a friend of the old ones, don¡¯t worry. And I doubt that he would care. To him you would be something he would be eager to study given his Profession.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Pierre asked. ¡°Oh, you¡¯ll see,¡± she beamed. Evie was right. The higher they went, the higher the quality of the shops became. Aldrin saw groups of Adventurers coming out of weapon and armor shops with new gear. He saw the excitement bloom on their faces when they shared what they got from the Dungeon runs. Eagerness bloomed in his chest, knowing soon that would be him and his group fawning over their new weapons and armor. Upon reaching the 15th floor, however, supply shops for Dungeons also started becoming more common. ¡°How long do Dungeons take?¡± Jared asked, peering at all the shops that catered to dungeon divers. ¡°Depends on the rank of the dungeon,¡± Aldrin answered. ¡°Rank 1 can range from a few hours to two days, depending on your pace. Rank 2 is a minimum of a day and a half. Any higher, we are looking at weeks for Tier 3, then months and maybe sometimes years for Tier 4 and above. However, Tier 4 and up dungeons require teams of Adventurers to tackle and are reserved for those of equal rank to the dungeon.¡± Aldrin said. ¡°There are cases where wild Dungeons do appear and have to be reported back to the Guild so they can be assessed, but that is rare on this continent nowadays.¡± ¡°Folos only goes up to Rank 3 Dungeons and the Guild doesn¡¯t monitor these. They are free since a lot of crafter and merchant Classes usually come in with paid teams to get materials.¡± Evie added. ¡°Wait, we have to pay to get into Dungeons?!¡± Jared bewilderedly asked. ¡°It depends on the City since it''s a way for them to keep it running. If you are part of the Adventurer¡¯s Guild, it usually is free. Luckily Folos is so busy with trades that they can afford to make their Dungeons free.¡± Evie said as they stepped off on Floor 17. They chatted along the way, paying no mind to the Adventurers that gave them strange looks when they walked by. Then they came to a stop at a literal hole in the wall that said Waesmenor¡¯s with a blue light illuminating the golden letters above it. There was no door or windows, just a simple black hole in the wall. Aldrin¡¯s senses screamed at him not to enter. ¡°Is there a sense of dread for any of you?¡± Aldrin asked each of them, who were all puzzled by his question. Clarity bloomed upon Evie¡¯s face once she understood, ¡°OH! That! It¡¯s meant to detect any magic that hides someone¡¯s true self. Given your duality as a Vampire you¡¯re probably feeling it but don¡¯t worry! I¡¯ll go in first and explain, and then I¡¯ll come get you.¡± She said as she stepped through the inky black hole. The three of them stood around out front, taking in the sights of the portion of Folos. ¡°I wonder what the upper city is going to look like,¡± Jared said as he looked upwards at the other floors. Pierre shrugged while Aldrin let his mind wonder the exact same. ¡°He¡¯s ready for you!¡± Evie said, half of her body sticking out from the door, then disappeared behind it. One by one they each stepped through the door, the feeling of wrongness seeping into their bones as pitch blackness blinded them. They moved forward slowly at first until there was a pop and they were spat out into a multilevel library of sorts. Aldrin peered around, seeing Imps fluttering about, carrying supplies to little cubby holes. Screeching and chittering echoed further in the shop when an Imp bigger than the rest fluttered to them. It was wearing a necktie, rings on each of its four long gnarled fingers, and ankle bracelets that looked like they would fall off any minute from the way they dangled. Pitch black eyes assessed each of them before landing on Aldrin. Its gaze widened in surprise for a moment before it bowed with a toothy grin marring its red scales. ¡°News that Kilinos had enacted the ritual was true after all. Isn¡¯t that right, Master Aldrin?¡± It grinned wider, tilting his head forward. Aldrin¡¯s undead heart seized at the name. Fangs and claws bared, he roared, launching himself at the imp that scuttled back in surprise. Its small wings flapped furiously to escape the reaching grasp of Aldrin. Pierre and Jared lunged themselves after Aldrin in an attempt to restrain him but were swatted away. Alarmed screeches blared as the Imps from their cubby holes began to fly into the air, creating a humming buzz as they gathered in a circle above everyone. The buzzing gave Aldrin pause as he looked up to see the swarm of imps whipping themselves up into a frenzy. Obscene curses were thrown at Aldrin in their guttural demonic language. Waesmenor remembered himself before he floated to be eye level with Aldrin from a safe distance. ¡°I meant no disrespect, but should you take another step towards me and Kilinos will have to wait another century to find a new Progenitor of Vampires.¡± Waesmenor threatened with a sick smile showing all of his needle-like teeth. Evie observed the exchange as she was helping Pierre and Jared off the ground. Aldrin lowly growled at the imp, his red eyes promising pain. ¡°Aldrin,¡± Evie whispered, carefully stepping forward. Aldrin whipped around, growling at her. Surprise briefly flickered across her face before her resolve firmed as she took another step forward with her hands outreached like trying to calm an animal. ¡°It¡¯s ok, he is a friend. I promise.¡± She gently cooed. Pierre nodded to Jared, who carefully and slowly pulled out his bow as they both watched Evie attempt to calm Aldrin down, who eyed them each with a predatory hunger. Waesmenor gleefully cackled behind them, ¡°My, my, my, to hear it through the whispers of the Planes is one thing, but to see it in the flesh is a different entirety altogether.¡± The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Aldrin¡¯s eyes flicked back and forth from all the threats of the room before regaining control of himself. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said to his friends, his Vampiric features slowly receding. Jared and Pierre waved him off while Evie relaxed her shoulders, letting out a huff of breath. Aldrin turned back to Waesmenor, offering the same apology to which the bloated imp cackled again. He called off the frenzied imp swarm in their guttural language, making them disperse back to what they were doing. Waesmenor clasped his long gnarled fingers behind him, ¡°Now that introductions are out of the way, I am Waesmenor. This is my humble abode to which our Giantess princess has taken you to,¡± he gestured all around him. ¡°I know my appearance as a Demon might be off-putting, as most of my kind likes to dabble in chaos and carnage, but there are few of us that can elevate ourselves from our baser instincts, which mine happens to be knowledge and creation.¡± ¡°I guess good and bad is just a manner of perception to some,¡± Jared whispered. ¡°Correct, my young fleshy friend,¡± Waesmenor commented, grinning widely. Waesmenor turned and flapped his tiny wings rapidly until he got to a blackened stone desk, plopping down with a thump behind it. ¡°Now, what can I do for you?¡± ¡°We need a few things,¡± Evie answered. ¡°Specifically, new gear for a dungeon run and enchantments for a carriage.¡± Waesmenor eyed each other, appraising them as they felt small pricks wash over them when his gaze landed on them. ¡°I think I may have items that will be suited for you,¡± he cackled once he finished Inspecting them. A shrill screech escaped his wide mouth that made the other imps buzz in a flurry of motion as they flitted around the shop to different cubby holes. They dropped items in front of them all on top of the desk to which Waesmenor began sorting them into piles for the group. ¡°First up, the budding Archer.¡± He gestured for Jared to step forward. He placed a blackened bow lined with silver and a faded dark brown empty beat up quiver.
Bow of the Fallen Slot: Weapon
Tier: 3 Required Stat: Dexterity - 26; Strength - 16
Lore: Looted from a wayward Captain that had to slay the ghosts of his fallen comrades before killing himself in shame for their deaths. A part of his soul that is filled with regret remained with the bow, imbuing it with the power it has now.
Enchantment Slot 1: Spectral Arrow Effect: Every 3rd shot, a spectral arrow will be automatically nocked and cannot miss.
Quiver of Tricks Slot: Shoulders
Tier: 3 Required Stats: Dexterity - 23; Intelligence - 20
Lore: A wizard got fed up with his friend¡¯s lack of diversity so he made him a gift to compensate.
Enchantment Slot 1: Specialty Arrows Effect: Imbue a small amount of Magic into the quiver to change the arrows to one of three elements: Ice, Fire, Lightning
Jared¡¯s eyes went wide briefly before realizing he wouldn¡¯t be able to use them. He opened his mouth to protest but Waesmenor held up his gnarled long hand, ¡°You can grow into them but you won¡¯t be able to use their enchantments until you reach the required stat to which I am sure you will if you plan on dungeon diving for the time being yes?¡± He shrewdly smiled. ¡°Take them for a favor at a later date.¡± Jared flicked his eyes back and forth between the items and the Imp that was enticing him. ¡°What¡¯s the favor?¡± He tried to sound contemplative, but his greed was winning. ¡°Take them and find out at a later date as you all will owe me if you decide to take the items presented to you,¡± Waesmenor¡¯s smile deepened. ¡°In our world, deals with demons do not end up being the best of ideas,¡± Pierre piped up. ¡°Well, you¡¯re not in your world, are you? You are in mine,¡± Waesmenor fired back, smiling shrewdly. ¡°So take it or leave it.¡± He rushed Jared, shooing him away. Jared grumbled to himself, knowing enchanted items were hard to come by until later levels or from finishing higher tier dungeons. He picked them up and swapped them with his current bow and quiver. ¡°I still need to buy some arrows to go with it,¡± Jared said. ¡°One of my imps will take care of you,¡± Waesmenor whistled and an imp zipped in front of Jared, jabbering and gesturing for him to follow it. Jared looked at the others nervously before heading off with the Imp. ¡°Next, my Princess of the Mountain Giants,¡± He smiled at Evie, who bounded up without a care in the world. He placed a silver necklace that had dark gray beads at equal points. Inside those beads, upon a closer look, swirls of wind danced within them. He then placed a tattered purple book that was burnt around the edges of the cover. A lavender gem sat in the middle, acting as a lock as gilded chains wrapped around it, with the gem being the center of it. ¡°Since you are the only Tier 4 among the group, I figured these would be good for you,¡± He gestured to them.
Amulet of Shifting Winds Charges: 4/4 Recharge once a day. Slot: Neck
Tier: 4 Required Stats: Intelligence - 44; Wisdom - 37
Lore: A small trinket taken during the sacking of the Temple of Davos. Their monks were once considered the greatest anti-mage combatants until the secrets of their items were discovered.
Enchantment Slot 1: Breath of Magic Effect: Boost spells with the latent magic in the air Enchantment Slot 2: Disruption Effect: May interrupt a spell cast
Grimoire of a Hex-Witch of Haven-Yew Slot: Off-Hand
Tier: 3 Required Stats: Wisdom - 30; Intelligence - 22
Lore: Given to the successful witches and warlocks of the Haven-Yew Coven that pass their trials, unfortunately, one of their ¡°supposed¡± own stole this and their knowledge, destroying the coven in their thirst for power. Now, grimoires such as these have been scattered throughout the lands.
Enchantment Slot 1: Inscribe Effect: Once a day, inscribe a person or object with one of your spells
¡°How did you get these¡­ knowing exactly what would help us?¡± Evie asked once she Inspected her items. ¡°Oh please,¡± Waesmenor chortled. ¡°It''s in the air if you know how to listen. Especially for something monumental on the horizon.¡± He quickly glanced at Aldrin, who watched him intently. ¡°Now for our dashing Rogue,¡± he turned his gaze to Pierre. He presented a black wispy cape that seemed to fade into the background, fraying at its edges. Then he fished out a pair of dark blue velvet boots with a gold buckle on the top of the foot.
Cloak of the Forgotten Slot: Back
Tier: 3 Required Stats: Dexterity- 25; Constitution - 21
Lore: It¡¯s not uncanny for a thief to wish to be the greatest there ever was. It also doesn¡¯t help when said thief had a knack for magical enchantments. That was the case for Brun Brunner IV who despoiled his family¡¯s legacy in exchange for pilfering anything and everything without anyone remembering who he was.
Enchantment Slot 1: Fleeting Memory Effect: The user may become a blurred form once a day in front of enemies, thus rendering the user removed from memories in the process
Boots of Obscurity Slot: Feet
Tier: 3 Required Stat: Dexterity - 31
Lore: There were once two lovers who met in secret twice a week under the guise of night. Of course, one had a strict curfew whose mother with sensitive hearing often fell asleep in the living room. With a bit of wishful thinking and help from one of their Adventurer friends, these boots were painstakingly fashioned.
Enchantment Slot 1: Cat Steps Effect: Any noise the user makes is nullified completely unless deduced by magical means
Without fuss, Pierre took them and stood next to Evie, who watched on with interest as to the items Aldrin would receive. ¡°Lastly, for the upcoming dark lord, a gift from Kilinos,¡± Waesmenor grinned wickedly. ¡°Consider these an investment.¡± He pushed forward a dark steel, dull bastard broadsword that was chipped and scratched. A pulse of magic faintly pulsed from it that made Aldrin''s enhanced senses pick it up. Waesmenor then placed an obsidian circlet with a blackened gem at the center of it next to the broadsword.
The Ebony Blade, Sin-Screamer, the Etcher of the Void
Growth Weapon Current Tier: 0 Enchantment Slots 0
Lore: This bastard broadsword is known for imitating the screams of the souls that are trapped in the blade when it is swung. It made a name for itself once it was given to The Condemned Progenitor¡¯s daughter, the Progenitor of Unholy, as she wielded the blade during the Wars.
Circlet of Authority Slot: Head
Tier: 3 Required Stat: Charisma - 37
Lore: Crafted by a vain and insecure Elven prince, the circlet allowed him to bend those who opposed him to his will. Fortunately, the Elven people rose as one to storm his palace, drag him out, then cast him out to sea to drown.
Enchantment Slot 1: Command Effect: Usable on one person or creature, command them to your side until they are dead. Must be equal to or lower than your current Class Tier in order to work.
Warning!
Do you wish to bind the Artefact Weapon: The Ebony Blade, Sin-Screamer, the Etcher of the Void?
Aldrin immediately recoiled at the gifts, making Waesmenor cackle in unbridled glee. ¡°Take them. They are gifts from your patron, after all.¡± Aldrin hissed in response, baring his fangs at Waesmenor that only incited more cackling. ¡°You surprised me the first time, but you will not do so again in my shop, Juvenile. You aren¡¯t strong enough to threaten me yet.¡± ¡°Take them or don¡¯t, but it will be your doom without them. We want you to survive the upcoming events as it has been foretold.¡± Waesmenor informed. ¡°But a favor will still be owed? I cannot imagine what kind of favor will be needed if I take these. . .¡± Aldrin murmured to himself, ignoring the ominous meaning behind his words. Waesmenor patiently waited for the internal conflict to resolve itself as it danced across Aldrin¡¯s features. He licked his lips, feeling the palpable choice that was going to rear its ugly head and indebt the Vampire to him. The chaos and carnage that he would ensue if he left with the weapon alone. It almost felt wrong to him, but Kilinos had given him strict instructions not to sway the young man in any direction. He had merely just given him a tidbit about what would happen if he didn¡¯t take them. There wasn¡¯t a doubt in Waesmenor¡¯s mind that Aldrin had others looking for him already, since he could not have been the only one to sense the awakening of a Progenitor. Unaware of what the imp was thinking, Aldrin heavily debated with himself before accepting the weapon and whatever favor that would come with it. He was already too far deep with indirectly destroying a city, so adding a cursed weapon to his name as well wouldn¡¯t be so bad.
Congratulations! You have been gifted an Artefact Weapon!
Artefact Weapons are those whose names and deeds have been made into legends. Although they start off at Tier 0 once bequeathed to another or have been given up; they have the potential to gain their former power and glory back. All it takes is a few sacrifices and the power to bend the world to your will is yours. Take heed for each Tier unlocks a new ability and a little more history of previous owners. Shape your legend as others have done before you.
Waesmenor wetly cackled in absolute madness when he sensed the shift in power as the weapon bounded itself to Aldrin. ¡°I wonder what unique ability it will acquire when it reaches Tier 6 in the hands of the Vampire Progenitor!¡± He almost popped his existence on the plane with the rush of excitement that ran through him when Aldrin accepted the items. ¡°Yes, yes! Excellent! You have made the right choice!¡± he excitedly clapped his hands, flapping up off his seated position to float in front of Aldrin, who still looked conflicted. ¡°Your arsenal will only grow as you grow in power!¡± Waesmenor said to each of them. ¡°Do not shy away from anything given to you for each has a purpose here or later. With that business done, your carriage will be seen to! Now begone all of you!¡± He clapped his hands. The four of them reappeared outside, varying emotions crested each of their faces as they each held a slip of paper that read, ¡°We shall meet again new friends.¡± ¡°Well, he was eccentric,¡± Jared grumbled, earning nods of agreement from everyone except Aldrin, who stared at the note and the large two-handed sword he now owned. Pierre placed a hand on Aldrin¡¯s shoulder, snapping him back to reality. ¡°We can go test them out in the dungeons, I guess?¡± ¡°Yeah. . . sure,¡± Aldrin half heartedly agreed as he walked away with the others following him. He looked back at where the entrance to the shop would be only to be met with an empty space. ¡°His shop is only found when it needs to be found. We needed it and now we don¡¯t. We will find it again when the time is right,¡± Evie caught his gaze when she looked back at it too. ¡°I¡¯m beginning to dislike the Demons that have an interest in me,¡± Aldrin said, earning a nervous chuckle from Jared. Chapter 28: Dabbling Incursion Jared fidgeted with his new bow, nervously looking between his friends as they walked. ¡°So, are we just not going to talk about it?¡± He probed. Evie shrugged, ¡°Not really.¡± She said, staring ahead. Jared whipped his head to her. ¡°Why not?! I mean, he said some cryptic stuff and to top it all off, all of us owe him favors!¡± ¡°There isn''t really anything we can do at this point. So let¡¯s just do a dungeon for now and figure it out later,¡± Aldrin interjected as they reached the levitating platform to take them further up. Jared opened his mouth to protest but stopped when Pierre gently nudged him, slightly shaking his head. Jared deflated at that and went back to fidgeting with his new bow and quiver. ¡°I still need to drop off the orb to finish my Quest when we get up there, and we also gotta let Cannor and Eddock know that they are okay to leave.¡± He said, changing the topic once they boarded the platform. Aldrin turned to him. ¡°How did you come by this Quest anyway if you were playing along with bandits?¡± He asked, furrowing his brows. ¡°Ah, that, my friend, was granted to me by the System once I eyed the orb from one raid we reluctantly participated in. The bandits just plundered everything they could without really looking through it all. I believe it was the thrill of it all that they liked more, or it could be System fuckery and stuff,¡± he said flippantly. Aldrin rubbed his chin. ¡°Do you think the System is discreetly guiding us in a certain direction then?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Evie asked, stepping onto the platform with the rest of them. ¡°Well, think about it, my random dungeon experience happens to change me and heralds great change, since that is what everyone keeps telling me. Then these two,¡± He gestured to Jared and Pierre. ¡°Are in the same area where I emerge, are also from Earth, AND have a Quest that takes them here. Along the way, we meet your Adventuring group,¡± he then gestured to Evie. ¡°And you already have a feeling something was up with me, thus drawing you into our little group after rescuing you in Lor-Vold.¡± Jared was the first to break the serious atmosphere by chuckling. ¡°When you put it that way, it does sound kind of ridiculous.¡± ¡°My point exactly!¡± Aldrin threw his arms up but quickly put them down when he noticed other groups of people looking his way. ¡°So, my question still stands; do you think the System is discreetly guiding us to some end goal?¡± Evie stared upwards, deep in thought, then took a breath to relax her shoulders. ¡°Probably, or perhaps it''s some Old Gods that came before the Progenitors that are pulling the strings. We won¡¯t know until it is upon us, as usual. All we can do is hope we can hold on long enough to find out.¡± The rest of the slow levitating ride upwards was silent as each of them pondered Aldrin¡¯s question. Before long, the conical top of the inside of the spire came into view. The platform stopped in the middle of the conical tower. Guards were posted around the room at even intervals as they all guarded a circular elevated platform that glowed blue with runic writing around it. They were Elves, of course, in emerald armor that glimmered like scales with golden trim on each differing joint. Much like the other guards that stood at the front gate of the lower city, these also carried a double-bladed war spear and a bow, both of higher quality than the ones below.
Name: ???
Class: Noble Rune Guardian
Level: 70
Tier: 4
¡°Purpose?¡± One guard demanded. ¡°Questing and Dungeons. Also, would it be possible to give a message to our friends down on the bottom floor?¡± Evie answered. ¡°Granted. Recite the message, then step forward.¡± The guard waved them to the elevated platform. He thumped the end of his spear down, igniting the runic writings that ran along the edge, making it glow brightly. ¡°To Eddock and Cannor, they are free to go on with their business here. We hope to see them again sometime soon if our paths cross again,¡± Evie told the Guard, who nodded in askance. She then led the group towards the teleporter. Stepping first, a bright light enveloped her, then she was gone. Pierre went next, vanishing all the same, followed by Aldrin, then Jared. The group appeared high above the clouds in a botanical garden laden with white marbled paths. Butterflies, birds, and an occasional reptile looking creature met their gazes. Each of them colored in bright shades of reds, oranges, pinks, and blues. Taken aback by the beauty, the three young men stared in wonder, their eyes looking back and forth. Evie watched them with a gentle smile. ¡°Come on! You have to see the city!¡± Evie rushed them along as more people appeared behind them from the teleporter. Following along behind Evie like little sheep, they emerged from the botanical garden building and onto a marbled road. Unlike the part of the city below, the upper city had managed to weave their buildings into these massive trees like normal Elves would. Every building had one such tree growing from the middle of it. Their trunks were big enough that smaller buildings that Aldrin assumed to be homes wrapped their way upwards along the trunk, creating small platforms of neighborhoods. Along the branches, Aldrin could make out other buildings that blended into the wood and foliage, making him wonder if the tree were the buildings or if the buildings were the tree. Sunlight trickled through the canopy of pristine green leaves of smaller trees that lined the marbled road that swayed gently in the wind. For the first time in a while, Aldrin felt he was in a magical realm, as the quietness of the upper city added more to the mystique it radiated. A few Elves that walked the streets talked in hushed whispers, carrying scrolls, or were followed by magical orbs that floated a little above their hands. ¡°The Dungeons are past the residential area.¡± Evie said as she walked forward, taking in the fresh, crisp air that rolled along her skin. Jared inhaled, filling his lungs with the sweet air, ¡°The air here. . .¡± he inhaled deeply again, closing his eyes. ¡°One perk of living on a floating landmass among the clouds.¡± Evie said, enjoying the air as well. Pierre was transfixed by nature as he fell slightly behind the group, taking in the wonder of the giant trees. Further ahead, he saw a leafy deer trotting down the middle of the road without a care in the world before darting into a home that held a wide entrance covered by moss and flowers when it spotted the group of four. Jared whistled in appreciation, slowly turning in a circle while he walked, ¡°I have to give it to the Elves. They really know how to make a place feel mystical.¡± ¡°They like prosperity and harmony with nature. One day you should take a trip to see their capital city. However, my home is even more beautiful than this.¡± Evie beamed as she noticed their perked up looks from her words. They made their way to a small building that was overrun with vines and moss, with lilac flowers blooming. Entering the building, they were met with dark wood furniture, miniature versions of the crystal light that lit up the spiral towers, and a chestnut brown haired Elven woman who sat behind a desk. She glanced up from the scribbled notes she was working on, greeting them with a warm smile, ¡°Welcome! Are you here to be teleported to one of our Dungeon chains?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Aldrin answered for them. ¡°What is the level range?¡± The receptionist asked as she pulled out a small white crystal from somewhere underneath the desk. She then slotted it into an open socket that was on her desk. Aldrin looked at Evie being the highest at level 54, with the rest of them being 21 and 22, ¡°At least level 25.¡± ¡°Perfect sir! And the name of your group?¡± She asked, moving the crystal over one slot, making it glow blue. ¡°Uh. . .¡± Aldrin stammered. Pierre stepped forward. ¡°For now, just call us Sunjumpers.¡± ¡°A bit on the nose, don''t ya think?¡± Jared elbowed Pierre, earning a glare in return. ¡°Got it. Team Sunjumpers reserved for the Vault of the Jade Monk. The recommended level is 25.¡± She repeated the information to them, handing the small crystal, ¡°Please take this crystal and place it in one of the doors behind me. It will light up the doorway and teleport you directly to the Dungeon entrance. Once finished with the dungeon, you will be teleported back outside, then please head to the nearest island outpost hub. The crystal will help you navigate. I wish you and your team the best of luck on your run and may the loot rain gloriously!¡± she beamed. ¡°Thank you, ma¡¯am,¡± Aldrin replied, taking the crystal in hand. They moved around her to a door that held a small indent that fit the crystal perfectly. Aldrin placed the crystal, and the door frame glowed with runes. He twisted the door knob, opening it to reveal a vortex of blue energy. He stepped through, appearing in front of a large vault door that was carved into a mountainside. The others appeared behind him not a moment later as the portal quickly dissipated. Together, they walked up to the entrance, and each placed their hands on the vault door.
Welcome Adventurers and Contenders!
Dungeon: Vault of the Jade Monk Level 25-30
Do you wish to enter with the present group? Y/N
Aldrin selected yes and instantly teleported into the dungeon resting area. Wide, smooth stone carved halls met his vision and in the center sat a wide rimmed fountain with glowing crystal blue water. Directly behind the fountain was a gaping, pitch black entrance that pulsated gently. A sliver of anxiety spiked first in his stomach before spreading like fire through the rest of his body. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. ¡°Hey,¡± Evie gently said, placing her hand on his shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s not the same as before.¡± she reassured him. ¡°She¡¯s right. It¡¯s not,¡± Pierre said, nodding his head in agreement. Jared scoffed, ¡°Besides, you¡¯re on your way to being a big bad vampire. Some dungeon monsters shouldn¡¯t scare you.¡± Aldrin smirked at that before taking a shaky breath, ¡°Thanks guys.¡± He tried his best to sound confident, more so for himself since the last time he set foot in a dungeon, his entire team died. ¡°There is also something I need to do when I get out that I will need help with,¡± He added. ¡°I need to take care of my old team¡¯s affairs. Something that I didn¡¯t have the time to do, nor the mindset. They had families and I would like to at least send some coins we gained from the bandits so they can at least live comfortably.¡± Evie nodded, ¡°I will take care of it and also get these two registered officially in the Adventurer¡¯s Guild.¡± ¡°I would do it but you know. . .¡± Aldrin gestured to himself. Pierre looked between the two, ¡°We can¡¯t join ourselves?¡± Aldrin turned to answer, ¡°You can, but it''s a long process and then you would have to take an exam that is both written and a field test. Having someone sponsor you bypasses the long process and field test. Also, depending on who sponsors you and what level you are currently at will also determine what rank you among the Guild.¡± Pierre frowned, a bit embarrassed at not knowing. ¡°A few questions, if you don¡¯t mind?¡± Aldrin smiled, trying to put his friend¡¯s mind at ease, ¡°Pierre, Jared, it¡¯s alright if you two don¡¯t know. I¡¯m not judging you. You guys were thrown into a ¡°civil war¡± between Giants and then escaped. No one taught you the fun side of the world, only the bad.¡± He placed his hand on Pierre¡¯s shoulder, then gave a quick glance at Jared, who nodded. ¡°Besides, you guys have helped me so much already. It would be my pleasure to help you out in return for once.¡± He chuckled. Pierre relaxed a little, letting out a breath. ¡°Thank you Aldrin. It means a lot to us both.¡± ¡°Now what would you like to know?¡± Aldrin asked, stepping closer to Jared to include him. He looked behind to see Evie still standing a bit away, so he waved her over. ¡°You are a higher level than I was before I reset, so you might know more to help them out.¡± ¡°What is the written test? And why does it matter if someone sponsors you?¡± Pierre asked first. ¡°The written test is basically seeing if you know the Guild tenets, rules, and conduct. Sponsorship Adventurers also don¡¯t have to go through the probation period where they are assigned Quests. After the probation period, which is usually about two months, you are then allowed to choose your Quest. The reason being, the mortality rate is the highest in the first two months, confidence is key, arrogance is death.¡± Aldrin answered. Evie spoke next, ¡°The System will assign you a Quest based on your skill level but since you have a sponsor, when you get your plate, it will be transcribed with a mark that lets the System know that you do not need the probation period.¡± ¡°Also, there are six ranks just like there are six tiers of Classes but each rank has three sub ranks and each rank up requires a test from the System. For example, I was Gold Rank 2, and I was preparing to rank up into Bronze Rank 3.¡± Aldrin said. ¡°And these tests come from the System? I mean, how does it know if you¡¯re ready?¡± Jared asked. ¡°You just go to the Adventurer¡¯s Guild, any for that matter, wherever you are, and then you present your plate to the administrator there and tell them you¡¯re ready to rank up. They will transcribe your plate with a new runic line that lets the System know you¡¯re ready. As I said before, confidence is key, arrogance is death. A lot of the new ones do a few Quests and become too sure of themselves from their quick rank ups and challenge above what they are ready for and end up dead still. Luckily, that¡¯s neither of you.¡± Aldrin said, looking between them with a wry smile. ¡°And the reason for no field test for us?¡± Pierre asked. Both Aldrin and Evie chuckled knowingly to themselves. ¡°Look where we are. This is your field test or would be if you were sponsored the official way. But since you¡¯ve been running with this guy,¡± Evie jerked a thumb at Aldrin, ¡°Fighting off bandits and the like afterwards, I¡¯d say you both have been through enough field tests.¡± Aldrin swatted her thumb away, to which she smirked in return. ¡°Normally, you will see four to five in a group. Those are all trained and vetted Adventurers who passed all their trials and tribulations, as the Guild likes to say. Sometimes, a group will pass by with seven or eight people. Those extra three are more than likely sponsorship Adventurers.¡± Aldrin said, ¡°Now there are Adventure Companies which are like subsects of the Adventurer¡¯s Guild. Companies are groups of Adventurers that have banded together under a name that takes on specific Quests. A prime example would be the Holy Order. They specialize in the undead and cleansing.¡± ¡°There are also some groups that deal with wars, infestations, hunters of all the like, dungeon runs, world records, maps, anything that has a worldly effect that the System deems worthy of a Quest. There is a group for it. NOW, that is only how combat classes work. Profession classes go to the Artisans Guild and that''s a whole different area of expertise.¡± He quickly added. ¡°Although, you can still get Quests without being an Adventurer or Artisan, in my case, who and what I am is deemed worthy of the System¡¯s attention. Mercenary work is also another way, but it''s not sanctioned by the System. The person offering the mercenary contract also offers the reward. Whatever experience you get from doing the job will come from what you have to kill or obtain.¡± ¡°I see, thank you.¡± Pierre nodded thoughtfully. Aldrin winced at the glazed look in Jared¡¯s eyes. ¡°Sorry, that was a bit of a lot at once. I can explain in chunks later or if you have more questions. I was just eager to help out.¡± He apologized. Pierre waved him off and Jared regained himself, then rolled his shoulders. ¡°So shall we begin?¡± He asked. Each of them looked at one another and grinned. Together, they walked towards the wide gaping entrance with the pulsating inky black substance. Stepping through, they were now in the middle of the jungle. Birds called to each other as the insects sang their tune, hidden amongst the foliage. The sun above rained down from above through the thick canopy of trees that were littered with vines. Aldrin noticed a large lime-green six-legged lemur staring down at them briefly before it darted off.
System Alert! Your Sunwalker Debuff is waived while in Dungeons due to magical saturation and artificial sunlight.
Dungeon Objectives!
Objective 1: Find the 3 Jade Statues Objective 2: Find the Vault Objective 3: Slay the Monk
Aldrin quickly scanned it, ¡°I¡¯ll draw them to me. Everyone else just kill them as quickly as you can. Evie, do you have any healing spells that your class gives you?¡± ¡°One sustained, and three burst heals,¡± she answered, pulling out her new gear. Aldrin pulled out his new blade from his Inventory. There was a sharp, shrill scream that pierced his mind, making him drop the blade and hold his head. He grunted in pain as the scream echoed, then faded. He warily stared at the dull and chipped dark steel greatsword.
Name: The Ebony Blade, Sin-Screamer the Etcher of the Void
Growth Weapon Current Tier: 0 Enchantment Slots 0
Lore: This Bastard Broadsword is known for imitating the screams of the souls that are trapped in the blade when it is swung. It made a name for itself when it was given to The Condemned Progenitor¡¯s daughter, the Progenitor of Unholy, as a gift during the wars.
¡°Did it speak to you?¡± Evie asked, watching him hold his head. ¡°They say Artefact weapons have personalities.¡± ¡°No, it just screamed,¡± Aldrin answered, massaging his temples. ¡°What kind of scream?¡± Pierre asked. ¡°Painful, like a death scream,¡± Aldrin said. ¡°Granted, it is called Sin-Screamer, but I didn''t think it would apply to me as well.¡± He chuckled as he warily picked up the blade. ¡°Feeeeddd meee¡­¡± Aldrin heard thousands of ghostly whispers in his mind, flinching at first, then chuckled to himself. He stared down at the blade again. ¡°Well, if it''s cursed, what is one more to add to my list?¡± He gripped it with both hands before hefting it over his shoulder. ¡°I say we head deeper in to find a center point of the dungeon?¡± Aldrin offered. They nodded and began their first trek through the dungeon. Distant roars bellowed from further in that were mixed with screeches and shrill screams of monsters they had yet to encounter. From what Aldrin could tell and from how Jared complained, it was humid as any jungle should be. Smaller insects buzzed around, but in Dungeons anything could be lethal, so they kept vigilant in case something small could cause them disease. Jared groaned for the thirty-seventh time, making Aldrin look back as they all took turns leading. ¡°What is it this time?¡± Aldrin asked over his shoulder, trying to keep the annoyance out of his voice. ¡°We forgot to actually get supplies because we were so wrapped up in what the imp gave us,¡± Jared explained his frustration. A blank look crossed Aldrin''s face. ¡°Shit. You''re right,¡± He smacked his forehead. ¡°Everyone, just be extra careful then,¡± Pierre said, his eyes never straying from the skyline of vines above them. Aldrin sighed, ¡°I¡¯ll just have to hunt for you all. They say Dungeon monster meat gives boosts? I¡¯ve never tried it personally, though. How about you Ev-¡± Evie stopped abruptly, putting a hand out beside her to stop Pierre from going forward. ¡°The jungle has gone quiet suddenly.¡± She hissed quietly, crouching low. Aldrin felt a presence within his sphere, then snapped his body in the direction, angling his greatsword to lunge if needed. ¡°Left, on the tree, I think? Something is messing with my sense sphere.¡± He sharply said. The other three turned, their weapons drawn, with Aldrin taking point, Pierre a step behind, Evie and Jared slightly spread out on Aldrin¡¯s flanks. Aldrin used his Predator Vision to gleam any sense of life, but none blared white in his vision. ¡°It''s not a living thing,¡± Aldrin whispered, his grip tightening on his greatsword. A mossy tree broke apart, revealing a malformed man made of Jade that was wielding a crossbow.
Name: Jade Golem Ambusher
Level: 25 Tier 2
Lore: An animated guardian of the Jade Monk meant for ambushes.
It fired three jade bolts before diving behind another tree. The team dove out of the way to avoid the bolts. Aldrin then sensed the Golem appear behind them. ¡°Behind us!¡± He called out before turning into a swarm of bats to head to where the Golem was. When he appeared, he saw the Golem step inside the tree trunk, like it was made of water, and appear to the right, firing a bolt point-blank at Evie. Her reflexes were faster thanks to her higher stats as she quickly ducked, throwing down a stone rune that erected a barrier in front of her and Jared. The bolt bounced off harmlessly as Jared returned an arrow in the direction the bolt came from. After the failed attack, Aldrin felt the Golem disappear from his sphere completely. He rushed back to the group, as they all stayed alert. Each of them eyed the surrounding trees. ¡°I think it''s gone. It failed its ambush, so it probably went to set up another.¡± Aldrin said, feeling for any wrongness within his sphere. ¡°Well, that was exciting,¡± Pierre sarcastically said, sheathing his daggers. They continued their trek at a slower pace than they had started out with. Aldrin kept them updated in case another Jade Golem Ambusher was hidden inside one of the mossy jungle trees. A moment later, they came to a quiet stream. Evie tested it with one of her remaining magical tablets to see if the water was good enough to drink. She gave a thumbs up once the tablet dissolved without a trace. Aldrin kept watch as the other three took turns getting drinks of water and refilling their waterskins. Afterwards, they followed the stream until they came to a lake that was filled with various sized boulders. Understanding that they were probably dealing with golems, they eyed the boulders with extreme scrutiny. Pierre threw a pebble he scavenged from the riverbed at one of the boulders. Of course, the boulders didn''t move, so they cautiously stepped forward. Steadily, they maneuvered around the boulders, coming around to the largest one at twelve feet high to see a miniature Jade Statue of a toad on a pedestal on the largest boulder. ¡°How much you want to bet as soon as we take it, the boulders come alive?¡± Jared teased. Evie looked at him strangely. ¡°It may not even be the boulders that come alive.¡± Pierre was the one to wade through the water, as it came up to his waist the further he went in. He took out his daggers and attempted to jam them into the rock, only for them to bounce harmlessly off. ¡°Magical barrier?¡± Evie yelled at Pierre. Pierre turned to her and shrugged before circling around the boulder. He searched for any signs to grab onto to climb the boulder, yet he could find none. ¡°Aldrin, could you jump this?¡± Pierre called back. Aldrin looked at the boulder for a minute, ¡°Probably, yeah. I could try.¡± He said as he started to wade into the pond. Reaching the boulder, he stood next to Pierre as they both looked up at the jade statue. Aldrin crouched, bunching as much power as he could in his legs, then lifted off. He easily cleared the height difference, landing atop the boulder next to the jade statue. He carefully looked at it as best he could for any obvious signs of traps or enchantments, but saw none. Wiggling the statue back and forth, it came loose as he held it in his hands. It lit up in emerald green flames that didn¡¯t burn him. The flames shot out to all the boulders in the area, making them crack and mold themselves into living toad statues that held the same bright fire in their eyes.
Name: Enchanted Toad Golem
Level: 27 Tier 2
Lore: Long thought for decoration during the Jade Monk¡¯s life, these were one of his many defenses for his territory.
Dungeon Warning!
Jade Golem Ambushers: Active Enchanted Toad Golems: Active ???: Inactive ???: Inactive ???: Active
¡°SEE! Somebody owes me money now!¡± Jared yelled, nocking one of his arrows with his Trick Shot: Explosive Arrow skill. He let it fly, ensuring the start of their first official Dungeon battle. Chapter 29: 9 Piece Combo BAM! THUD! ¡°Aldrin! Are you ok?¡± Evie screamed through the chaos as she threw an explosive runestone at the nearest Enchanted Toad Golem, shattering it into small boulder sized chunks. Aldrin groaned as he lay flat on his back, ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡± he wheezed, black dots filtering in and out of his vision. Three explosive arrows peppered the nearest Enchanted Toad Golem that threatened to smash Aldrin.
System Notice!
Blood Aura (Passive): Some Vampires crave violence and feed off it, letting their bloodlust exude through their pores. Level 1: 3% damage boost and chance to stun enemies when fighting five or more enemies
He rolled away when the smoke from the explosives blinded the Toad. He got up, whirling around with his blade, scratching the Toad Golem that was going to smash him into paste. Eight of the golems were left as Evie¡¯s runestones had destroyed one; and another that was missing its front leg limb from Jared¡¯s opening explosive shot. Aldrin dashed forward, transforming into a swarm of bats. At the last second before coming head to head with the nearest Toad Golem, he transformed back, activating Cleaving Strike, making his dull great sword glow dimly yellow. He slashed across the Toad Golem, causing a deep gouge that made it reel back on the defensive. He glimpsed at the blade, amazed that even when dull, it could cause decent damage to things. However, as these were stone, he wasn¡¯t sure how much damage it could do on an actual flesh being. Focusing back on the fight, the Toad Golem retaliated by lunging one of its stone forelegs at Aldrin, knocking him back again. The pain was a dull thump sensation. It didn¡¯t hurt as much as he thought it would, nor did it cave his chest in thanks to his Undead Body skill, being resistant to blunt attacks. With no time to let out a grunt of pain, he got back up and waded into combat with the Toad, using Cleaving Strike whenever it came off of cooldown. Out of the corner of his eye, Pierre weaved in and out, using himself as a distraction, since his two daggers were of no use to him. Then whenever he could, Pierre used Pierce to cause a crack at a key moment that the others would take advantage of to cause more damage to it. Jared fired off his Explosive Arrows as much as he could as he was being chased by a smaller Enchanted Toad Golem that lunged and hopped after him. Evie stayed as far back as possible, using one of her carved runestones to keep a shield up, keeping an eye out for any of them taking serious injuries while occasionally using a stun runestone to blind one golem when an opportunity arose. She hoped she would not have to intervene unless it was absolutely dire, since she wanted them to get the experience of fighting together. She kept a watchful gaze on Aldrin as he rolled away from one strike, then came to a stop, slashing at a weakened spot on a nearby golem, causing the crack to grow bigger. ¡°I¡¯m a terrible match up against these Golems!¡± he lamented as the Golem wound up for a counterstrike. He turned into a swarm of bats, flying high above the golem, forming back and letting himself freefall on top of the Golem. On top of it, he saw a jade stone in the center of its head. The Golem he was on tried to buck him off. His instincts took over, enabling the use of the next level of Vampiric Agility, allowing him to stick to any surface. He held strong, unsure of how he could. ¡°Guys! There is a jade stone in the center of their heads!¡± He called out, the Toad Golem trying its best to get Aldrin off its head. It began to roll to the side, but Aldrin ran counterclockwise to the roll, keeping perfect balance. Once it was right side up, he angled his sword and plunged it into the Jade Stone. Emerald cracks appeared all over the Toad Golem, making it screech like grinding two stones together, then it exploded into small shards of stone. The abruptness of it all made Aldrin jump away from it, landing back into the waist high pond. All the Toad Golems looked at the pieces, angling themselves toward Aldrin. They inhaled, making their bellies grow with emerald light, then exhaled, belching flaming stone spikes at Aldrin. Quickly reacting to it, he turned into a wispy black fog, letting the flaming stone spikes pass harmlessly through him. He reformed, quickly patting himself down, ¡°Ok, that was weird to actually feel it,¡± He said to himself. He looked to see where the flaming stone spikes had embedded into a nearby tree, lighting it in green flames. ¡°Evie! Jared! Go for the stone if you can! Pierre, keep distracting them!¡± Aldrin shouted, before wading into battle with the next nearest Golem. All of them battled for what seemed like hours but was only minutes after Aldrin had found their weak spot.
Congratulations! 9 Enchanted Toad Golems Defeated!
Loot Gained: 18 Jade Dust 1 Silver, 33 Copper Miniature Jade Toad Statue
Congratulations!
Level 22 Race: Vampire Progenitor - 5 Skill Point(s) Gained Level 22 Class: Night Reaver - 3 Skill Point(s) Gained Level 26 Profession: Lore Seeker - 1 Skill Point(s) Gained Total Skill Point(s) Gained: 9
Aldrin read them, letting everyone else recover. Pierre sat on the remains of a Golem. Sweat matted his hair to his head as he wiped his brow. Jared was busy gulping down water from his refilled waterskin. Evie was beginning to set up a fire as the sun began to crest the horizon. Nervousness wormed its way into Aldrin¡¯s psyche, wondering what the night would entail inside the Dungeon. One other dungeon monster was active and had yet to be seen. Still, he clung to their prize. ¡°Anyone else gain levels?¡± Aldrin asked. ¡°I gained one in my class and close to another level in Race. God, I need to hurry and get my Profession as a Beast Tamer,¡± Jared came back, wiping the little droplets of water from his chin onto his sleeve. Pierre focused his gaze on his notifications, ¡°One and one for me.¡± Evie shook her head, only pinching her fingers together to show the miniscule amount of experience she gained. Aldrin shrugged, ¡°Some is better than none,¡± He said. They moved to the campfire that kindled to life as Evie placed a runestone inside the ring of rocks. She sat close to it, sorting through pebbles and rocks from around the riverbed, then began to inscribe them with magic. She whispered words of power that took the shape of a runic language Aldrin assumed to be Giantese. ¡°Your Class, does it require something all the time?¡± Aldrin asked as he came closer and sat near the fire. Evie paused, ¡°No, it was a Skill I got once I reached Tier 4 and chose my specialization branch.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the same as your father, right?¡± Pierre interjected. A ghost of a smile crested Evie¡¯s lips, ¡°Yes or at least I am on the same path as him. Once I reach Tier 5 I might choose to go a different route if a choice is offered.¡± ¡°Anyone hungry, though?¡± She asked, changing the subject, taking out small rations meant for Dungeons. ¡°I have some leftovers from-¡± she trailed off, a distant look mirrored in her eyes as she stared into the fire. ¡°Well, I had some leftovers, but it doesn¡¯t matter now. I¡¯m sorry guys,¡± she quickly recovered. Pierre grunted in response and waved her off as he began to empty his Inventory of rations. He passed them around to Evie and Jared. Aldrin didn¡¯t partake, knowing full well it wouldn¡¯t sate his new appetite that was still distant. Jared glanced at Aldrin. ¡°Are you feeling thirsty or hungry? Or actually, what does it feel like?¡± he asked. ¡°A bit of both, honestly. My throat feels like sandpaper after not having water and then my stomach has sharp pains, like it''s being stabbed from the inside out.¡± Aldrin answered. ¡°But no, I am not at all, which is strange. I could hunt for animals and see how that would work as I haven¡¯t tried that yet. I know you guys kept me fed in Lor-Vold, but I don¡¯t know what we are going to do here.¡± Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. He stood, dusting his hands off, ¡°Better yet, no time like the present since night time is coming.¡± ¡°Good luck!¡± Jared called out to Aldrin¡¯s retreating back as he ventured off into the dense part of the jungle. Away from the fire, Aldrin¡¯s night vision took over, allowing him to see in perfect clarity. His senses sharpened to inhuman heights, taking in a lungful of air he tasted for anything that would whet his appetite and slake his thirst. He tuned his hearing for the smallest pinpricks. The jungle had quieted down in his presence once its denizens realized there was a predator in their midst. Letting himself cut loose of the tight control he had over himself, he let his Vampiric features show, thus marking the start of his hunt. He flitted through the dense jungle, his eyes scanning every which way for prey. He blinked, letting himself see the white silhouettes of life with his predator vision. From the distance up above in the vines that crisscrossed the trees, he saw a gathering of white blobs. Making his way closer until he could make out what was causing the white blob, he came upon a group of the sleeping six-legged lemurs he saw earlier. He tried to Inspect them but nothing came up as they weren¡¯t classified as a monster or a sentient being. Which meant he found his food for the night. Carefully climbing up the nearest tree on all fours, he practiced sticking to the surface, feeling like a certain hero from Earth that had a similar ability. Once he was high enough and poised to strike at the group of sleeping animals, he pounced, snatching at one of the bigger ones before the rest realized what happened. The lemur squirmed and screeched in his grip as it tried to break free, but Aldrin sank his fangs into the body of the animal, silencing its resistance altogether. Unfortunately for the lemurs and fortunately for Aldrin, draining one lemur didn¡¯t subside the hunger that was threatening to become a problem, but it had the desired effect. He dropped the dried and bloodless husk of the lemur before looking back up at the other lemurs that stared wide eyed and frozen at the predator. Bloodied, he grinned and licked his lips, then showed his fangs, feeling the blood slightly rejuvenate him. Out of the stupor from his action, the lemurs bounded away in different directions, screeching in fear. Unable to pick which direction first, Aldrin zeroed in on a group of three that dashed away. With a small smile etched onto his face, he turned into a swarm of bats, chasing after the group. Feeling the encroaching death, the lemurs broke apart again, but Aldrin had already picked the next one as he caught up to it, reforming in mid air, letting the momentum carry him forward as he grabbed up the lemur. Once again, he quickly drained it, then bolted off after another, zipping from tree to tree in pursuit of his prey. He continued through the night and early morning before the sunrise, hunting down lemurs and practicing with his powers with reckless abandon. Returning to the lake, he stared at his reflection. His bloodied mouth and the front of his leather armor began to dry and cake from the hunt. Disgust no longer invaded his thoughts, but the reality, as this was who and what he was now. It felt like a part of him had awoken while another part had officially died. Shreds of his humanity remained, but not the parts that were revolted at what he had become. Just the parts that kept him tethered to remind him of who he was; his family and his friends, both old and new. He unequipped his armor and clothes before stepping into the lake to submerge himself, letting the water clean off his body before he scrubbed away, then grabbed the rest of his armor and clothes to wash them. Once done with scrubbing as best he could, he reemerged, feeling refreshed. Along the shoreline, he saw Evie staring at him. She was still a mystery to Aldrin about what exactly she wanted, but she had been helpful so far, nonetheless. ¡°Is everyone ready?¡± He asked when he got closer, still partially submerged in the water up to his bellybutton. ¡°What¡¯s it like?¡± she responded, intently focused on his eyes. Aldrin¡¯s brows furrowed, ¡°What¡¯s what like?¡± Letting his hands sway in the water. ¡°Being what you are? What¡¯s it like?¡± She clarified. His brows raised to his forehead this time before the shock of the question wore off, ¡°I don¡¯t know how to explain it.¡± He looked down, staring at his hands that he pulled up from the water. ¡°It¡¯s both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. A whirlwind of emotions, honestly.¡± He quietly answered before staring back into her eyes. ¡°Mm,¡± she said before turning on her heels, ¡°Well come on then, we are ready.¡± He waited until she was gone, then got out, putting his clothes and armor into his Inventory, then pulling them out, freshly dried and ready to go. He trailed after her after putting his pants back on, then put his shirt back on and equipped his armor. ¡°Do you want to be one?¡± he awkwardly asked once he caught up to her. She lightly laughed then shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s not for me. The Earth puts us all here for a certain amount of time to do what we need to do before we must return to her embrace. I have no desire to be here longer than I have to,¡± she sagely replied. ¡°Then why ask?¡± he said while looking around and feeling for any more Ambushers since he found it odd he did not find any during his hunt. She stopped to turn around to face him, her jaw set and her gaze intense, ¡°Because you are starting to become more comfortable and we need that if what Waesmenor said about you being a foretold event is true. I do not know what we will face in the coming days, but Demons don¡¯t get mixed up in this Plane¡¯s affairs unless something big is bound to happen.¡± He avoided her gaze, ¡°Do the Fae count as another red flag? Just asking for a friend,¡± he sheepishly said. Her eyes went wide as she opened and closed her mouth. All the intensity she had doubled ¡°THE FAE ARE INVOLVED TOO?¡± she said through gritted teeth. Aldrin held up his hands in defense, quickly backpedaling, ¡°Only one I know of has visited me!¡± Evie whirled around, throwing her hands in the air, then running them through her hair, ¡°Only one, he says. Just one! HA!¡± she stormed off. Even more confused than what he originally started with, he chased after her. ¡°Wait! Evie! So that¡¯s a yes?¡± He caught up with her, putting a hand on her shoulder to slow her down, but she overpowered him and kept moving like he had barely touched her. ¡°The Fae haven¡¯t been seen on Grenora in about a century. Maybe a century and a half, according to some of my kind.¡± She continued walking, ¡°Aldrin, if they are involved and they have specifically revealed themselves to you, then this is bigger than all of us, especially with whatever is happening behind the scenes.¡± Exasperated, he ran his hands down his face. ¡°I don¡¯t even know what¡¯s happening to begin with! I feel like I was just at the wrong place at the wrong time when all of this happened.¡± ¡°Yet to others, you were at the right place at the right time,¡± she countered. Before he could ask anymore questions, they arrived back at their makeshift camp. Pierre was grilling some kind of meat over the fire that Jared had presumably gone to hunt, as he was busy cleaning the fur of what looked like one of the six-legged lemurs. Evie clapped her hands together, garnering the attention of the other two, ¡°New plan gentlemen! We are going to get you all to level 30 so you can gain access to your Tier 3 Class upgrade.¡± She then turned to Jared, ¡°Jared, we can find you a Beast tamer in the upper city somewhere, probably after we turn in your quest, since that would give you a new avenue to a branch option for you when you level up. I personally recommend gaining a Beastmaster profession, as that would allow you to harness the abilities of the monsters you tame. It¡¯s an upgraded version of Beast Tamer.¡± Jared saluted with a goofy grin on his face. ¡°Arcane Archer with a Beastmaster profession. I can¡¯t wait until Tier 4 then!¡± ¡°We will be a bit late, but the combination with those two plus your Servant title should give you access to something unique at Tier 4 hopefully.¡± She answered, giving him an encouraging smile. ¡°Pierre, I am assuming with your Alchemist profession, you should gain access to a few branches. Do you know what you actually want to focus on?¡± she shifted her focus. Pierre thought for a moment, ¡°I don¡¯t know what comes after Tracker, but I am assuming it could be either a Trapper, Assassin, or Poisoner? If that was the normal without having Servant as a title.¡± Evie frowned, ¡°Well, we will figure it out as we go along and that¡¯s ok! New Classes are always fun to figure out too! Anyway, after we get you three to level 31 for some spare Skill Points, we are heading to Ebira to charter a ship across the Lywyen Sea to get to the Forbidden Continent.¡± ¡°Couldn''t we just go after this dungeon, though?¡± Jared asked. ¡°At the minimum, to barely survive the Continent, you need to be at least level 45. However, since Aldrin has a quest that leads there this early on, then there must be something achievable. That being said, we are going to hire mercenaries and charter a ship from Ebira.¡± Evie stated. Pierre looked at Aldrin, who looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here, ¡°What happened?¡± he cut in. ¡°Why the sudden sense of urgency?¡± Evie took a deep breath to calm herself, ¡°Because!¡± she jutted a thumb back at Aldrin, ¡°He is the key to something big and whatever it is, the Fae and Demons want in on it and Grenora knows when those two want something of the same then it definitely is going to alter the course of this Plane.¡± Jared huffed, ¡°So basically he is walking around with a larger target on his back than we originally knew.¡± ¡°And by extension, that means us, too. His quest all points to heading to the Forbidden Continent to get to the bottom of it!¡± Evie finished. Aldrin stepped forward, ¡°I think we will find the Vampires there. Vampires that can probably teach me things I haven¡¯t figured out yet.¡± ¡°And if the Vampires are anything like the tales from Earth, then you know they won¡¯t be too happy with an upstart claiming to be the leader of them all,¡± Jared said. ¡°Or they might immediately start to worship him,¡± Pierre argued back. ¡°Or they might kill me, hoping to take power for themselves,¡± Aldrin added. Evie stomped her foot, causing a minor tremor of vibration to be felt. ¡°Vampires are hierarchical. They respect power and authority and Aldrin here has both; being what he is. He will be an honored and welcomed guest IF they do reside on the Forbidden Continent. Sure, they may be a few that won¡¯t like it, but we can¡¯t always please everybody.¡± ¡°Alright, so Operation Power Level is commencing then?¡± Jared attempted to lighten the mood, which earned smiles from all. ¡°Yes,¡± Evie said, a determined fire blazing in her eyes. Chapter 30: Releasing a Hound A golden Elf furiously walked the marbled hallway of Queen Tyviona¡¯s autumn palace. Pillars of gold, brown, and red held up the tall ceiling that were painted motifs of nature. Tall frosted glass windows sat in between the pillars, letting the last of the sun''s rays alight the hall in a dull glow. ¡°Lord Tanyth!¡± A middle-aged human butler trailed off the elf that had a permanent scowl marring his face. ¡°Lord Tan-¡± The butler silenced himself when Tanyth abruptly threw open the golden inlaid tall wooden double door at the end of the hallway. Tanyth glared at each of the nobles and politicians that were sitting around the various tables, discussing matters in hushed whispers and gorging themselves on the food set before them. Servants were posted near each table in case of refreshments needed. A sneer of disgust raced across his face as he took in each of their faces. ¡°Ah! Tanyth the Golden!¡± One nobleman stood, raising his drink in a toast, the sun¡¯s rays making his baby blue suit pop, ¡°Welcome! The Queen greets thee on this fine day!¡± ¡°Silence, Mather!¡± Tanyth viciously replied, staring daggers at the slender built yet handsome, chiseled man with brown hair that was slick back. Tanyth couldn¡¯t stand the way Mather used too much oil in his hair as it wafted into his keen sense of smell. Mather chortled, brushing off the accursed glare that Tanyth was sending his way, ¡°My, my! Is that any way to speak to a colleague?¡± Mather moved from his seat, gracefully making his way to greet Tanyth. ¡°Don¡¯t patronize me Mather, I need to see the Queen. It¡¯s important.¡± Tanyth angrily replied, sneering at the outreached manicured hand of Mather. Mather¡¯s smug smile dropped slightly as did his hand, then took a sip of the honeyed berry wine. ¡°She is currently occupied with her studies,¡± he replied, narrowing his eyes at Tanyth. ¡°I can schedule you in for later this week if that would be appropriate?¡± his smile not reaching the corner of his brown eyes. ¡°After all, I¡¯m sure she would love to know why you sent the distress signal to purge Lor-Vold.¡± Mather started, ¡°I¡¯m sure all of us here would like to know why, too.¡± He waved a hand to the rest of the audience behind him that were now watching the exchange. Many others murmured in agreement as Tanyth took a breath, ¡°Undead attacked.¡± He announced loud enough for all to hear. Fits of outrage erupted all over the room as shouts of naysayers called it obscene and ridiculous. Mather held up his hand. ¡°My friends! Calm yourselves!!¡± he said, quieting the building rage that rose incrementally now. ¡°Undead you say?¡± Mather turned his attention back to Tanyth, wresting control back from the crowd. ¡°What proof do you have?¡± he wickedly smiled. Tanyth threw out a pearl ball that blared to life with magical dust leaking from it, taking the form of a gigantic dust cloud that filled the high vaulted ceiling. Inside, scenes of the attack played out from Tanyth¡¯s perspective as he battled an enormous mass of flesh with giant centipedes for limbs. Gasps rang out around the room as others became vocal at the display. Mather glared at the image as Tanyth stood by, smugly looking around as the noblemen and politicians argued and shouted over each other about what to do. ¡°Where do you get off in this little contest of ours?¡± Mather hissed quietly enough for only Tanyth to hear. ¡°When you die,¡± Tanyth hissed back, equally as quiet. Mather visibly bristled before taking a breath, regaining his snotty composure, ¡°I will have the Queen meet with you tomorrow morning at the earliest or by dinner time at the latest. You better have a good explanation than this recording pearl.¡± Mather said, slinking off to calm the nobility. Tanyth turned, his golden robes swishing in response as he strode out of the door past the wide-eyed butler that stared at the recording. ¡°I will take lunch in my room,¡± He said without turning his back. ¡°Y-yes Lord Tanyth! Right away!¡± The butler said before skirting off further down the hall in the opposite direction. Tanyth arrived at his assigned room moments later. It was tastefully decorated in the hues of autumn, much like the rest of the palace. A large oak double bed with silken orange sheets sat in the middle of the room. To both sides of the bed were the hand crafted oak end tables that held inert light orbs since the sun from the balcony window allowed the room to still be flushed with light. There was also a small desk and chair for the room¡¯s guests to use for their personal use, along with a table that could sit two if one were to have refreshments brought to them. Glee radiated from him as he accomplished riling up the nobility to get off their asses. He knew that attack wasn¡¯t normal, but had yet to fully dive into the matter at hand. Needing to get all the facts before he presented himself to the queen, he pulled out a similar pearl orb that had a copy of the recording. The same cloud filled his ceiling as the playback of the fight began to play. Holding the orb in his hand, he rolled his thumb over the surface of it, making the playback fast forward. He replayed the fight, studying and dissecting it for any hints. Pausing at moments by tapping the pearl orb, he found that these Undead had gathered and somehow cloaked their essence. ¡°Curious,¡± he said to himself, squinting his eyes as he took focus on the named Death Gorger. It was fighting to keep his attention on it rather than on the waves of undead that flooded from a destroyed portion of the wall. He stared at the hole from the angle he was limited to. The Undead rushed in without remorse, but also with a goal in mind until it clicked into place. ¡°This was a coordinated attack!¡± he snapped his fingers with a victorious grin. A knock on his door drew his attention away. ¡°Enter!¡± He double tapped the pearl, making the cloud suck back into the orb. The butler from before opened the door, letting a maid enter the room carrying a tray of food. Fruits and vegetables from his home country were tastefully displayed, with a side of his guilty pleasure, the tangy Goblin cutlets. The maid placed it down on the nearest table that would fit before dipping her head and exiting the room. The butler lingered for a moment. ¡°Would that be all, sir?¡± He asked, hesitant to leave. Tanyth waved him away as he moved to the table that had his food. He sat, picking at his food, mulling over his thoughts at what exactly could have made the Undead act in a way. They weren¡¯t mindless in the sense it was a random attack, yet it was still chaotic for it to be a possibility. A dreadful thought took hold of him as he quickly pulled out the orb to replay the event again. Noticing at one point the Undead no longer attacked anything that moved, but only those that fought back. ¡°Another Necromancer?!¡± he bolted upright, knocking his seat over. The Undead were being deliberately controlled instead of what he originally thought as simple coordination. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Rushing out of the room immediately, he made his way back to the room with the nobility up in arms, as he could hear them arguing behind the thick wooden doors. With little care, he threw them open again, ¡°Mather!¡± he shouted, his wild-eyed scowl roving over every face. Mather glared disdainfully at Tanyth, who had left the room in a buzz of activity. ¡°What have you come to do now?!¡± he asked, pushing his way to him through the middle. ¡°There was a Necromancer! At the head of the attack! And a powerful one at that, if they had control of the monster I fought! The Undead stopped attacking people that were trying to escape and only acted in self defense,¡± Tanyth quickly explained. Mather¡¯s disdain slowly turned into disbelief the more Tanyth told him, ¡°They were being controlled, Mather. One that is unassociated with the lunatics of Vaultstrand!¡± Tanyth finished. Mather grabbed him by the arm, quickly pushing past all the people in the room towards a secluded corner. ¡°If what you speak of is true, then the Queen will want this rogue Necromancer.¡± he said. ¡°Come on,¡± Mather walked around Tanyth, who followed closely behind him. They raced out of the room and down the hall, making quick turns that led them down into a dark passage that was lit with inexhaustible torches. ¡°The Queen¡¯s study is just at the end of the steps,¡± Mather said, going first. Tanyth hesitantly looked around, unsure if he was being led into a trap, regardless he readied a spell. They went down the steps, coming to a stop at a sheet of dark metal. Mather placed his hand on it, letting magic red runes scrawl over the edges of it, coming to a stop at where his hand was placed. The runes glowed green briefly, then disappeared, making the dark metal sheet door slide up, becoming one with the wall. From the entrance, Tanyth saw a brightly lit pristine lab with vials atop shelves, test tubes with various colored liquids in them, and tubs and vats filled with misshapen bodies in them that sloshed with liquid. Mather didn¡¯t bat an eye at any of this as Tanyth stared in wonder. ¡°This is the Queen¡¯s study? What is she doing here? These are dark arts!¡± He hissed in disgust. Mather whipped around, pointing his finger in Tanyth¡¯s face. ¡°You will not speak of what you see here! It will be considered treason!¡± he spat. ¡°But-¡± Tanyth began. ¡°No! You are here by the grace of the Queen with information that is beneficial, Elf!¡± he spewed again. ¡°Mather.¡± Rattled a cold, hollow voice that ended in a hiss, similar to the Dwarven or Goblin machinery Tanyth knew of. Mather blanched at the voice, ¡°My Queen!¡± he said, immediately kneeling on one knee with his head bowing. Tanyth did the same, trying to sneak looks as metal heels clicked on the smooth stone floor. He could only see the tips of the Queen¡¯s silver heels. ¡°Why have you bothered me during this time?¡± her voice was wheezy when she was closer, like it was coming out of tubes, yet it still ended in that same steamed hiss. ¡°Your m-majesty, I¡¯ve come with news.¡± Mather fumbled, ¡°A witness, mi¡¯lady Small ticking followed by a steam powered hiss resounded, ¡°Tanyth.¡± her cold metallic voice said. Tanyth bowed his head deeper, unwilling to become a next project of hers that he had heard rumors about. He thought them to be untrue, but those rumors have the truth to them now. ¡°Lor-Vold was attacked by a horde and controlled by a rogue Necromancer.¡± he informed as evenly as he could. Her raspy breathing hitched in her throat. ¡°Find them and bring them to me. I need their services. Convince them anyway you can, whether it be forcefully or peacefully. I need the secrets of the Undead to finish my studies.¡± The Queen commanded. ¡°Fail me and both of you will become my next projects.¡±
System Alert!
Quest Issued: Finding the Dark
You have been tasked by Queen Tyviona to seek out the attacker of Lor-Vold and bring them to her by any means necessary! Reward: ??? Failure: ???
Tanyth read the new quest issued to him with unease. An unknown reward and failure didn¡¯t bring him any comfort, especially if failure meant becoming a project or at least whatever that meant. The Queen turned to leave, her metal heels echoing on the stone floor as she began to walk away. ¡°Mather, you did well to bring me this information; even if it is useless.¡± She said over her shoulder, that same hiss at the end of her sentence, further disappearing deeper into the dimly lit part of the lab where a muffled scream bellowed. Once the echoes of her footfalls were out of earshot, the two of them stood up, Mather shooting daggers of contempt at Tanyth, who eyed him with annoyance in return. ¡°I suggest you start at the scene of the crime.¡± Mather contemptuously suggested. Without waiting for a reply, Mather marched back the way they came, not bothering to wait for Tanyth, who decided to look around briefly. It wasn¡¯t until he heard another unmuffled, blood-curdling scream did he hastily make his way back too. The walk back was met with silence as both men contemplated the Queen¡¯s words. More-so Tanyth grappling with the idea that all of his work he had with the Undead may be helping the Queen. A sudden coldness ran down his spine as he remembered the Feral Vampires he had kept under the campus at Lor-Vold. Uncertainty bloomed in his mind at the thought of the Zombies staging a rescue mission, but who or what could have called out to them plagued his mind. Nothing strong could have that wasn¡¯t tamed or bound magically, as only lesser Undead wandered the outskirts of Vaultstrand. That left his mind with more questions than answers, as he first needed to go back to the crater that had once been Lor-Vold and then to the dreaded place of Vaultstrand to pick up any leads. Tanyth hoped the cold peace with Vaultstrand would still be in effect, otherwise he would need to gather his old team back together in order to assault the place. It was an idea that he wasn¡¯t keen on since they last spoke; they all had serious disagreements about the direction of how he navigated his life. Another sneer crossed his face as he remembered being called a Queen¡¯s Puppet. On the other hand, a sinister thought crossed his mind as he thought that a rogue Necromancer might be the one thing he needed to connect back with his old team. Mather broke Tanyth from his deep thoughts by clearing his throat, ¡°As much as I loathe to do this, the Queen has issued a command, one that I will follow to the utmost of my ability.¡± He ruefully sighed, ¡°Whatever assistance you require, you shall have at your disposal.¡± Tanyth looked at him, trying to find any traces of deceit or plotting, but saw none. ¡°I will need to get in touch with my old team, then. Have them meet me at what was once Lor-Vold. Tell them the Queen has a Quest that they will be interested to hear about.¡± He answered, walking back to his room once they reached an intersection of halls. Mather did not deign to give a reply, but promptly spun on his heel and began walking away. His own thoughts were in a flurry of activity as he wondered what could a rogue Necromancer be planning. Thoughts of another Vaultstrand filled him with terror as the Queen had barely restrained the lunatics that resided there. She had banned anyone from ever going there without explicit instruction and those that did go there with or without her blessing never came back. Relief and hope also took root in his chest at finally ridding himself of his rival, Tanyth, if he chose to go to Vaultstrand. Nevertheless, he would do what his Queen commanded, as it was his rightful place to be her loyal and accountable Servant. Chapter 31: A Reminder Jared groaned in frustration for the 23rd time since being in the dungeon. ¡°We have been here for days! I thought it wasn¡¯t supposed to take this long to complete a simple Tier 2 Dungeon!¡± Evie sighed, ¡°Jared. I will tell you one. Last. Time.¡± She punctuated each word. ¡°We are here to get you to all levels if you survive making it across the sea.¡± ¡°I mean, technically we have already been across one sea. What is so bad about this one?¡± Pierre thoughtfully asked. Aldrin queued in to listen to the answer, ¡°The sea to get to the Forbidden Continent is filled with monsters that would make Aldrin look like a kitten compared to them, for one. For two, Magnurians are said to roam the area. For three, you just need levels to begin with. We have been stagnant, or at least I have been for a while, and I¡¯m beginning to get the itch to level up again.¡± Evie answered. ¡°What are Magnurians?¡± Pierre asked. ¡°Sea people, I suppose? They mostly live undersea, but some are amphibious and live in coastal towns.¡± She said, pushing a low hanging vine out of her way. ¡°And for the record, Jared, one day here is equal to 2 hours outside the dungeon.¡± ¡°WAIT! THERE ARE MERMAIDS HERE?!¡± Jared¡¯s eyes lit up, taking over any form of exhaustion he exhibited. ¡°Well, why didn¡¯t you say so! Let¡¯s hurry up and level!¡± He marched ahead, taking the lead from Evie, who only smirked and shook her head at him. ¡°Is he normally this simple?¡± Evie skeptically asked. Pierre chuckled, ¡°Unfortunately, but fortunately,¡± he offhandedly said. Aldrin looked onwards at Jared, who had taken on a renewed vigor as he power walked to their next encounter. They were close to gaining another level, which Aldrin was excited for as they were nearing their 3rd Tier Classes. Looking back on how he started to current, his mind was clouded from what happened to him versus the discovery and potential that lay ahead of him. Only now, with his mind cleared, could he be excited to rank up and see what he would unlock. That excitement was short-lived when something brushed against Aldrin¡¯s sense sphere, causing him to stop and alert the others. ¡°I think it¡¯s another Ambusher,¡± he whispered, his eyes angling towards the nearby dense bit of brush. The presence in his sphere reacted to him in the same way, as it stopped, mirroring its body towards the group of four, then bolted forward. Aldrin felt it whisk closer in his sphere right ¡°Everyone! Get ready!¡± he readied his sword. It dashed out of the bush at a blurring speed, knocking straight into Aldrin, making him fall on his back. He briefly got a quick look at it before it used its speed to blur off him. ¡°Well, that was fast,¡± Jared said, nocking another arrow. ¡°Did you see what it was, Evie?¡± Pierre asked. ¡°Barely, which is strange that I even couldn¡¯t see it. But here,¡± Evie said as she scrunched her eyebrows downwards, sharing the information when she caught it with Inspect.
Jade Trickster Fox Tier 2 Level 27 Lore: The fox is meant to keep any prying visitors from the Monk
¡°So, is it on our side or not?¡± Jared asked, helping Aldrin up to his feet. Aldrin brushed off the dirt from the impact off his chest, quickly thanking Jared, ¡°I don¡¯t know, but it packs a punch, though.¡± He said, dusting the remaining dirt off him. ¡°Right, note to self, don¡¯t get hit by it.¡± Jared said, eyes scanning the surroundings. Aldrin tried to sense it again within his sphere, but it moved too quick for him to actually pinpoint. ¡°Back to back! It¡¯s too fast for me to actually sense!¡± he commanded. The group heeded the instruction as they formed a circle, swiveling their heads at each bush that moved when the fox ran. Suddenly, the fox vanished from his sphere altogether, causing Aldrin to grip the hilt of his sword tighter. Then he felt something enter above him as the fox was suddenly there, floating with three orbs of jade orbiting around it. They lit up, firing green, searing bolts of energy at them. ¡°Scatter!¡± Pierre yelled, tucking and rolling away from where he once stood as the bolt impacted, scorching the bit of dried leaves. Evie dove away, coming to a stop in a kneeling position before throwing one of her runes upwards at the floating fox. The runestone broke apart, leaking smoke from it that obscured them from the fox. The bolts blindly pierced through the smoke, striking the ground where the group once stood, causing large gouges to be formed. Aldrin looked at where they hit to see the ground sizzle and smoke from them. Part of him instinctively knew that those would harm him, as his Undead Body wasn¡¯t upgraded to handle magical attacks. Through the smoky haze, he felt the fox charge its orbs again. He rushed from his spot under the guise of the smoke, then used shapechange to form his swarm of bats. Furthermore, he flew into the trees, weaving around them as the fox was still focused on his group. Quickly maneuvering himself behind the fox, he flew upwards before the fox could react and finish charging the orbs he reformed in midair. Inhaling, he used the Roar of the Apex to cancel out the charging orbs. The skill also had the effect of canceling whatever ability the fox was using to float in the air as it plummeted to the ground. Aldrin reformed into bats, following closely behind it as the fox twisted and turned in the air to right itself. Jared saw his chance, firing arrow after arrow at the falling fox. Evie quickly rummaged through her pouch at her side, pulling out a light blue gem this time, then throwing it at the estimated area the fox would land. The gem hit the ground, breaking into pieces as it sprung out an electric net that fanned out. The fox, unable to move out of the way, resigned itself to falling into the net as it closed in around it. It tried to wriggle out of it, but each time it did, the net sent shocks that briefly paralyzed the fox. ¡°Is this considered animal cruelty?¡± Jared asked, slowly approaching. Evie scoffed, ¡°No, it''s a dungeon monster, and it tried to kill us.¡± Wordlessly, Pierre walked up to the struggling monster. It eyed him with eerily acute intelligence as it intensified its wiggles. Aldrin reformed next to Pierre as he, too, watched the monster slowly succumb to the net.
Congratulations!
You have defeated: Jade Trickster Fox Level 27
Dungeon Loot Earned! 98 copper gained! 2 Jade fragments gained!
Dungeon Warning!
Jade Golem Ambushers: ActiveThe narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Enchanted Toad Golems: Nullified due to capturing their statue ???: Active ???: Active Jade Trickster Foxes: Active
Aldrin read the new notification, then looked to each of the others, who nodded grimly as they read the same. He knew from here on out that the dungeon was about to get a lot worse. With their heads on swivels, they trekked through the dense jungle, fighting against ambushers that threatened to come up but never being able to defeat as they would run off once their health reached a midpoint. Haggard and jumpy, they stumbled into another clearing with mossy stone buildings that were partially overgrown with vines. ¡°This feels and looks like a mini boss area,¡± Pierre said, eyeing his surroundings carefully. Aldrin wasn¡¯t picking up anything from his sense sphere that encircled 10 feet around him, but that didn¡¯t mean there wasn¡¯t something here to begin with in his mind. Carefully, they strode into the middle plaza of the area towards a tall, pointed obelisk. Evie brushed her hand along the base of it, wiping away some of the dirt and grime that accumulated on it. ¡°Emmerock Village, home of the Jade Carvers,¡± she read aloud. The words set their teeth on edge as they continued to look around for any ambushers, as they knew this would be a perfect place and more than likely where they originated from. A loud crash that sounded like pottery being smashed came from one of the nearby stone abodes, making the group raise their weapons and call forth their magic. Aldrin cautiously stepped forward as something smashed through the vines that covered the doorway, coming to a tumbling stop. Like a puppet on strings, it jerked itself upright. Aldrin figured it used to be human, but now it was a blackened skeleton with sharp jagged jade edges that protruded from its joints, acting almost like armor. Its eye sockets held the similar eerily green flames of the toads. It screeched, like nails on a chalkboard, into the sky, making them all flinch at noise, flailing its arms about as its bony feet slapped against the cobbled stone, running towards them.
Name: Fallen Jade Carver
Tier 2 Level 29 Lore: The Jade Carvers were once renowned golem smiths until their magical craft took them down a dark path as their need for better runes became their obsession.
Evie was the first to act as she threw a glowing red stone that exploded on impact with the Fallen Jade Carver. It splintered into pieces before any of them could react. Unfortunately, the explosion had the opposite effects as more screeches filled the air as more started tumbling from the stone abodes and brutally ripping their way upwards from beneath the broken cobbled roads. Jared gulped loudly. ¡°So this is what the people of Lor-Vold felt like.¡± Aldrin shot him a pointed look in response, but Jared paid it no mind as his eyes were scanning each of the new enemies that dragged themselves out of the abodes and out of the dirt, chattering their teeth in a hungered frenzy. Pierre was the first this time to fling into action as he threw an arc of phantom knives. Aldrin followed closely behind the knives to his first opponent that blocked his strike with its jade armored elbow. It punched in return, forcing Aldrin to block, sending a shock up his arms from its strength. In return, Aldrin pushed back, trying to get it off balance before coming with an overhead strike. The Fallen Jade Carver was slightly quicker on recovery as it swirled around the blade, sending a backhand into Aldrin¡¯s face that staggered him. Arrows whizzed by Aldrin into the oncoming attacking Carver, but to no avail as the arrows harmlessly plunked off it. Dropping Sin-Screamer, he blocked his face again, but the Carver went for a body shot that even he felt through his armor and Undead Body. The sudden realization came from each of the hits that Aldrin was no longer the top dog when facing his enemies. They traded blow for blow as Aldrin ceaselessly fought back, ignoring the cries of his teammates as they, too, fought against their own adversaries. It wasn¡¯t until another Jade Carver joined the fray of ganging up on Aldrin that he thought of retreating. ¡°We have to run!¡± Aldrin said between dodging blows. Evie was doing fine since she was the highest level there, but she could only do so much as more Carvers joined the melee. She quickly took out a grey-colored runestone, threw it on the ground, forcing a dense smokescreen. The surrounding creatures screeched even louder as their vision disappeared. The sounds of battle were cut as the others disengaged from the monsters. Quietly, she slipped away and into the brush, where she waited for any movement to be seen. The smokescreen didn¡¯t last long as it dissipated, revealing the carvers angrily searching and screeching in rage and disappointment. She didn¡¯t see any of the others, so she backed away as quietly as she could. Her plan would be to regroup away from the ruined village and possibly, if need be, to head back to the place they camped at previously. Quickly and quietly she stalked through the brush, avoiding any noise in case the Carvers had acute hearing until she was completely sure she was far enough. It wasn¡¯t long until Aldrin found her, dropping from the sky and reshaping himself from the bats he used to escape. He huffed and gave her a deadpanned look, ¡°That could have gone so much better,¡± he dryly said while rubbing the sore spots on his abdomen. His leather armor he wore offered no protection and in hindsight decided that he would invest in possibly medium if not heavy armor the next time he could. Light armor for him wasn¡¯t cutting it any longer as his body grew more accustomed to its new state. Evie puffed her cheeks in relief, ¡°You¡¯re telling me. Although I could have solo¡¯d all of them if you guys weren¡¯t there. My Class is meant for crowd control and damage after all, but they were too cluttered for me without wanting to risk hitting any of you in the crossfire.¡± Aldrin thought for a moment with the new information, tapping his chin as ideas ran through his head, ¡°Duly noted.¡± ¡°Where are the other two?¡± She asked, changing the subject. Aldrin closed his eyes, searching for the tethers of the Servant bond he shared with them. ¡°That way,¡± he said, pointing in the direction that led diagonally against the village. Opening his eyes, he saw Evie staring at him, a small smile on her face. ¡°You¡¯re really getting better at this,¡± she complimented. ¡°Oh? At what?¡± He asked over his shoulder once they started walking. Evie hummed, ¡°Oh you know¡­ being a vampire.¡± She said, reinforcing her compliment from their lake conversation and eyeing him for his reaction. He stopped mid stride as he pondered on what she said. Evie frowned as she stopped too. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if it''s the levels, abilities I get with SP, or some unknown factor to being one, but it''s coming a lot easier now. It¡¯s kind of scary, honestly.¡± He revealed to her. ¡°To be fair, you have been going from one crisis to another without any time to really come to terms with anything. You have been in constant flight or fight mode since you have been one. I think I know that you have a better handle on yourself. You¡¯re coming out of the darkness that you think,¡± she tapped his chest where his heart was, ¡°that this is,¡± she finished. Aldrin shrugged, ¡°Maybe.¡± he said, then continued to walk along towards his friends. Evie frowned and crossed her arms, ¡°Ok Captain Pessimistic,¡± she muttered to which Aldrin blatantly ignored, stifling his chuckle with a forced cough. They avoided the village as the screeches from the Carvers bellowed outward the closer they got to it. Luckily Jared and Pierre had the sense to keep moving as the tether for them both shortened yet remained at a constant length once they skipped past the village, meaning they were still on the move, albeit slowly. Still, Aldrin and Evie remained vigilant, especially once Aldrin pulled up the Dungeon monster list.
Dungeon Warning!
Jade Golem Ambushers: Active Enchanted Toad Golems: Nullified due to capturing their statue Fallen Jade Carver: Active ???: Active Jade Trickster Foxes: Active
They both wondered what the last monster could be, unsure if it would be another golem or mutated monster. Alas, they finally came out of the thick brush they found themselves into wide open plains of swaying purple cat tailed plants. ¡°Well, that is a sudden change,¡± Aldrin commented. ¡°It¡¯s a dungeon, sudden and random go hand in hand,¡± she laughed, then studied the plains, ¡°Strange though, as I thought cattails only grew near the edges of water?¡± Stepping forward into the waist high plains, Aldrin brushed against them, making the pollen scatter.
Hypnotism effect resisted! Sleep effect resisted! Poison effect resisted!
Before Aldrin could even utter a warning, Evie sneezed, then wrinkled her nose in displeasure. ¡°Of course, the pretty field is dangerous.¡± She said sarcastically. Whatever warning he had died on his lips, then he smirked at her, ¡°It''s a dungeon, sudden and random go hand in hand.¡± he said, echoing her words that earned him a smirk in return. ¡°Alright, fair.¡± She replied, still with a smirk, waving him off. Chapter 32: Faux Elysium ¡°Do you have any runestones for a fireball or something fire related?¡± Aldrin asked as he and Evie trudged through the purple cattails plain. ¡°I might have one?¡± She answered as she rummaged through her pouch that rested on her hip as they walked along. ¡°I haven¡¯t been able to carve out my more powerful runes but I should have a low level one,¡± she replied. ¡°Do you think you could burn the plains?¡± Aldrin asked absentmindedly. Evie whipped her head at him, looking aghast at such a thought, ¡°You would have me burn all of this?¡± Aldrin vehemently shook his head. ¡°No, not right now, at least! Once we find them and if-¡± Aldrin stopped, smacking his forehead with his palm. ¡°Sometimes I am an idiot!¡± Evie wanted to ask but stopped herself once she saw him close his eyes. He scrunched his face in concentration. He focused on the strings that guided him towards Jared and Pierre. In his imagination, the string turned into multiple strands that braided together, creating a spectral blue rope that connected to his undead heart. The spectral rope tugged, pulling him toward at least one of them. Opening them, his green eyes glowed, allowing him to see the faint outline of the spectral rope amidst the open purple fields. ¡°They are that way,¡± he pointed, beginning to walk in the direction. Evie followed closely behind him as they trudged through the fields, keeping an ear out for any movement. They chalked it up to the pollen that kept trying to poison and hypnotize them, had also worked on the wildlife. It was a little way until Aldrin picked up a faint unnatural growl. Evie saw Aldrin tense, ¡°What is it?¡± she asked, sidling up next to him as he surveyed the plain. Aldrin furrowed his brows. ¡°I¡¯m hearing something, but I don¡¯t think it''s an animal or anything¡­ more like-¡± He stopped as he came upon the sleeping form of Jared. ¡°Snoring,¡± Aldrin said, relaxing with a small smile as they both looked down at Jared. Evie crouched down to see if there were any other side effects that weren¡¯t visible. ¡°At least he¡¯s ok,¡± she said. ¡°The poison isn¡¯t too bad for now,¡± she said while inspecting him. ¡°Now to find Pierre,¡± Aldrin answered, turning in a circle to see where the spectral rope would pull him next. It tugged a little further away, but he estimated it to still be in the fields. ¡°Get him out and stay with him. I am going to go find Pierre.¡± Aldrin said, then shifted into a swarm of bats, heading off toward Pierre before Evie could even say anything. He flew at a decent speed, shortening the distance by minutes. He thought about how the two had managed to be separated so far from one another, as that was unlike them. Unfortunately, he soon found out why when he saw Pierre being dragged along by plant-people. Swiftly, dropping from the sky and reforming, he landed a suitable distance away in order to get a better look at them.
Name: Fairymoss Golem Level: 25 Lore: Crafted and conjured by a Chloro-Magus
Name: Fairymoss Golem Level: 25 Lore: Crafted and conjured by a Chloro-Magus
Name: Rogue¡¯s Twig Golem Level: 26 Lore: Crafted and conjured by a Chloro-Magus
The two Fairymoss Golems stood upward with the structure of a normal human coming in around at five feet standing on thick layered root-like legs. It had a large blooming flower as a head, with the petals being purple with pink spots dotted on them. What it lacked in height it made up for in width, as it was rotund, like a barrel made of the same roots as its legs that were earthly brown. The Rogue¡¯s Twig Golem, however, was the opposite. It was light brown, almost dusty or ashy looking. It had spindly twisting shapes that ended its limbs in points. While its head formed a conical shape, pointed like a drill. What made Aldrin tense up was that immediately after landing, they oriented their bodies toward him. Giving up entirely on stealth under the assumption they had some kind of extrasensory sense, much like his own sphere of awareness, he ambled up to them. Drawing out Sin-Screamer from his inventory, he got into a stance, preparing to swing first. The Golems tilted their heads in response as they made no move towards Aldrin. Stepping closer, they still didn¡¯t move to attack. Once he was close enough, Aldrin swung his blade with Cleaving Strike, shattering the Fairymoss Golems and nearly the Rogue¡¯s Twig.
Congratulations! You have defeated: x2 Level 25 Fairymoss Golem EXP gained! Loot Gained: x8 Fairymoss, x1 Fairymoss Nectur
The Rogue¡¯s Twig Golem still did not react to the hit, but violently reacted to the deaths of its companions. It swung its spiral arms blindly to Aldrin¡¯s astonishment. Realization then dawned on him when he assumed the Golems could not see him. Using the newfound advantage, he quickly finished the Rogue¡¯s Twig Golem.
Congratulations! You have defeated: x1 Level 26 Rogue¡¯s Twig Golem EXP gained! Loot Gained: x2 Rogue¡¯s Twig Cap
After reading through the messages, he checked on Pierre, then slung him over his shoulder with ease. Now more alert and aware that plant golems roamed about and could easily camouflage in the plains, he remained vigilant. In doing so, the dreaded thought of walking back versus pseudo-flying back to Evie and Jared gave Aldrin inspiration. Setting Pierre down so he could practice, he attempted to shift part of his body and solidify his shape when he was using his fog form, much like he did back in Lor-Vold. During that instance, it was out of pure instinct, but now to will himself to do it was something else entirely. Knowing that Skills could be functional in a variety of ways if you just had the imagination and innovation. He failed his first attempt as only a part of his leg shifted, throwing him off balance before quickly catching himself. The second attempt wasn¡¯t any better than the first, as he only shifted the other leg. ¡°Ok, I can at least get one leg each. Now I just gotta combine them together!¡± He told himself. The third and fourth attempts were much the same as he caught onto the feeling of only shifting part of himself. The fifth try was progress, because he could shift both legs below the knee. It was a jarring feeling of simultaneously having legs, but not. On the other hand, it was more of a hover sensation, but it also felt like he could still walk if he wanted. He moved around a bit, trying to get the hang of it, then attempted to fly upwards. Much like how he could control how fast he could go when his whole body was a swarm, he figured he could do the same with only a part of his body being shifted. He zipped around above, pivoting, turning, and doing tricks. The last part almost caused him to lose his grip on the power as he tried to do too many things at once. It gave him a brief headache to split his mind into thinking of two different things, but it didn¡¯t last long as his mind quickly adapted. To him, it felt like something unlocked in his brain that made it easier to think about more than one train of thought at once. With the newfound ease of splitting his mind and a new avenue of thought opening up, he wondered if he could combine more Skills to use simultaneously and if it turned out to be true, then it would just make being a Vampire all the more of a cheat. He decided to finish with his experimentation and feeling confident enough to undertake carrying Pierre back. He carefully scooped him up to throw him over his shoulder, then with a thought, he shifted the lower half of his body into his wispy black fog and took off. Deciding to rename the spectral rope to servant strands because of how they tied to where Jared and Evie were, he followed it, relying on the tugging sensations once he focused on it. Aldrin found them on the outskirts of the field where they entered. Evie had Jared¡¯s head propped up on a rolled up bedroll as he snoozed away. Evie had caught sight of him, waved him down, and watched him land with a smile blooming on her face. ¡°Look at you learning something new again!¡± She praised him, earning an embarrassed chuckle in response. Aldrin gently set Pierre down next to Jared, then turned to look at Evie, ¡°There are plant golems in the fields further in. They were dragging Pierre somewhere.¡± He told her. Evie turned to look at the field. ¡°Probably back to their creator. What levels?¡± she asked, looking back at him.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°25 and 26,¡± he answered, stepping next to her. She shrugged her shoulders, ¡°Not bad. Easy experience. The only problem is that you and I are immune. Me for my high level and you for how you are. Those two,¡± she jerked her thumb at the sleeping forms of Jared and Pierre, ¡°Are not so lucky to have the immunities we have.¡± Aldrin thought for a moment, ¡°Well Pierre is an Alchemist by profession-¡± he started before Evie cut him off grabbing him by the shoulders to face her. ¡°He¡¯s an Alchemist?!¡± she fervently asked. Unnerved, he answered her slowly, ¡°Yeah? We didn¡¯t tell you?¡± Her face flushed red before she took a breath. ¡°No, you did not! Or at least I don¡¯t think you did!¡± she shook him then threw her hands up in the air. She crouched down closer to the purple cat tailed plants. She ran her finger up the stalk, allowing the pollen to dye her fingers a lavender color. ¡°Pierre could make a potion that will cancel the effects of this field.¡± She answered, rubbing her pointer and thumb together. ¡°With enough pollen, he should be able to synthesize and refine it.¡± ¡°Were you going to be one, too?¡± Aldrin asked, curious about her sudden knowledge. She stiffened at his question. ¡°No, Stalx was one,¡± she answered gently. When Aldrin didn¡¯t answer, she looked at him and saw pity and understanding. He held her gaze for a moment, then dropped it. ¡°I miss my old team too,¡± he said, eyes downcast. She huffed, shaking herself from the feelings that threatened to spill forth. ¡°We wait. I¡¯ll get a fire going and finish restocking my runestones.¡± Then trudged off into the jungle in search of wood. Aldrin didn¡¯t give a reply and sat. He needed to feed again and soon the burning hunger made its rumbling approach from the liberal use of his powers earlier. He looked at Jared and Pierre, ¡°I wonder how long you two will be out,¡± he spoke to their sleeping forms, after making sure there were no adverse effects from being in the field he closed his eyes, and turned inward to himself. He breathed in once, catching the familiar, home-y scent of his three companions. He breathed in again, this time ignoring the familiarity, and breathed in the jungle air. Aldrin didn¡¯t exactly know what an actual jungle would smell like, but he assumed it would be earthy and thick with humidity, which included the stench of wildlife. However, the scent of the Dungeon jungle was slightly off. It was wrong in a sense, like the air was stagnant but still fresh enough to fool the average person, almost like it was frozen in time. Granted, there were rumors of Dungeons actually being trapped places of time from Grenora¡¯s distant past. A rumor that had yet to be proven true, as Dungeon Studies often contradicted one another on numerous accounts. Still, Aldrin enjoyed it enough that he didn¡¯t wrinkle his nose as the wrongness. Instead, he searched for any tantalizing scents that would mark food for him. He inhaled again, for the third time, ignoring all else except for scents of food. His eyes shot open when barbeque tickled his nose. It was brief, but it was there and it inflamed his hunger to a new degree as memories of his family barbecues resurfaced. His fangs and claws grew as he sniffed again. The scent beckoned him forth, sending a pleasurable buzz down his spine, making him involuntarily shudder. Thoughts of gorging himself invaded any sense he had as the need to consume grew. A startled gasp broke him out of the trance. Irritation and annoyance at being interrupted had left an empty hole by the pleasure of what he smelled and the memories that came with it. He whipped his head to the gasp, finding Evie standing there, quickly collecting herself. She smiled gently, and nervously as Aldrin focused on her heartbeat she tried to control. ¡°Sometimes I forget how-¡± ¡°Monstrous, I look?¡± Aldrin growled, smoothly getting up and tilting his head. She let out a nervous scoff, looking anywhere but into the eyes of the predator before her that glowed a dim green. ¡°No, I was going to say what lurks beneath the mask.¡± That statement caused him to pause, ¡°I suppose it is fair to call it a mask.¡± He said, his features returning to normal. ¡°Are you still learning control?¡± she asked, setting the firewood down, finally looking at him again, careful not to take her eyes off of him. Little by little, clarity was returning to Aldrin as his fangs and claws receded. ¡°It comes and goes. Sometimes I feel like I have it under control and then other times, as you just saw, feels like I don¡¯t.¡± She pursed her lips together. ¡°What caused it?¡± she asked. Aldrin took a moment to think about what caused his minor lapse in control. ¡°It was hunger and memories of my family. The blood of things smells like familiar food I used to eat and it tastes like it, too. This time it was barbeque,¡± He laughed. Evie laughed too as the tension was released. ¡°That¡¯s fair. I would kill for some good yetihana,¡± she dreamily said. ¡°Some yeti what?¡± Aldrin asked, coming closer. She smiled at him, ¡°Yetihana, its an old ancestral dish from my tribe made up of three different meats blended together depending on your choice, some chopped peppers and veggies that you mix in with the meat then you make patties on them and slap them over a metal plate heated by bottled dragonfire. Sometimes people prefer to make a steak out of it or kabobs.¡± Aldrin groaned in frustration, ¡°I wish I could try that,¡± he bemoaned, remembering how meat tasted. ¡°You might not taste it, but perhaps smelling it will appease you?¡± She asked, curiously. Aldrin shrugged, ¡°I don¡¯t know. We could try it one day,¡± he said with hope. ¡°Just another reason to visit my tribe, then.¡± She said casually while smiling. She went through one of her pouches, producing a reddish orange glowing stone. Placing it atop of the firewood, she wiggled her fingers, and whispered a word of power, igniting the stone. Evie looked at Aldrin triumphantly, beaming with pride. ¡°Fire is done,¡± she said matter-of-factly. Aldrin nodded, ¡°I¡¯m going to go hunt now. I will be back as soon as I can,¡± He said, getting up, preparing to shift. ¡°If I hear screams, I am not coming to investigate,¡± Evie said nonchalantly, pulling the rations Pierre gave her earlier from inside her inventory. Aldrin laughed, ¡°Duly noted then.¡± He shifted into bats and flew upwards, doing two circles above the group, sniffing the air through his many noses. Quickly pinpointing the source of the barbeque scent, he took off. Leaving Evie to guard their sleeping teammates. As Aldrin raced through the evening air, he wondered what kind of thing gave off barbeque since it wasn¡¯t any known Race he has encountered yet nor has it been any animal, including the six-legged lemurs he feasted on earlier. The scent took him back towards the village with the golem makers, then further past it towards a distant mountain range. He had hoped that it wasn¡¯t where he needed to go as that probably would take a few hours at best and he would be better off finding more of those lemurs closer to his group. Suffice to say, the Dungeon wasn¡¯t without its denizens as Aldrin flew by. He heard the animals and monsters roaming down below. Hunting and rustling through the dense brush, or getting ready to turn in. Luckily, none of them paid him any mind unless his gaze had zeroed in on them. Then that was when they bolted off to safety. His gaze only seemed to incense the predators as they took it as a threat. Those that dared balk back earned his ire, causing him to turn his full gaze upon them. It shut up the ones that did as they realized death was imminent if they caused any more trouble. Deciding to make a game out of it to entertain himself, he practiced with his two Title Perks.
Traveler of an Archdemon¡¯s Domain: You carry the mark of a person who has been to hell and back. Reward: Intimidation and dread waft off you, subtly helping you in social situations
Indomitable: Vampires have proved themselves to be hard to kill, but you have proven to be unconquerable for slaying multiple enemies both above your level and your Class Tier. Effect: Those that are stronger than you feel the effects of your indomitable spirit and are more wary of engaging in combat with you.
He kept practicing with both until he was granted a new message, one that was an unseen but welcome one,
Ability Gained!
Vampiric Aura(Passive): Through their Vampiric Aura, vampires can emanate their presence to charm, manipulate, or instill fear in others. As you practice, you will discover how to control and enhance your aura, which will become even more powerful as you rise through the ranks of vampirism.
Mentally, Aldrin couldn¡¯t help but let a sly grin form as he thought of the uses of Vampiric Aura and Charming Gaze combined. It scared him briefly at the level of control he could attain but also excited him as he looked forward to trying it out one day. Shortly after the prompt, he arrived at the clearing that held the barbeque. What emitted it wasn¡¯t something Aldrin would have even thought of and gave more credence to Dungeons being frozen places of the past.
Name: Black Unicorn Level: 20 Lore: Considered the ¡°evil¡± twins of regular unicorns, Black Unicorns use their horns to pierce the hearts of their prey, skewering the delicacy as an offering to their mates. The bigger the heart, the bigger the reception.
The Black Unicorn spotted Aldrin. He felt a pressure brush against his mind, then again moments later. Confused, Aldrin fluttered down, reforming in the treeline. The pressure came again with a little more force to it as the Black Unicorn continued to stare at Aldrin. Focusing on it, Aldrin felt another mental slot click into place. ¡°Greetings Dead Heart,¡± a voice that was smooth and elegant said in Aldrin¡¯s mind. Startled, ¡°You are a creature of night too, then?¡± Aldrin asked. A deep chuckle came first. ¡°As are all Unicorns, black or not. Now Dead Heart, how shall I address thee?¡± Aldrin stepped into the clearing, a few feet away from the beast. ¡°Aldrin, Progenitor of Vampires,¡± he said, dipping his head slightly with his hands clasped behind his back. The Black Unicorn reared its head back. ¡°A progenitor? Here?¡± it asked in shock. Aldrin nodded. ¡°I am Regalas, last heir and Lord of the Bleak Herd.¡± It lowered its head in a slight bow. ¡°I humbly request that you do not consume me, but rather aid me in an endeavor?¡± He said, returning to his full height. Its blackened spiral horn, coming into view as it made its appearance known amongst the backdrop of trees. Chapter 33: Darkest of Hearts ¡°What is it you ask of me? Aldrin asked the Black Unicorn. Regalas huffed, ¡°I am in the hunt for a heart that will elevate me amongst my kin so that I may finally wretch control of the mob I am part of. Help me find it and I shall let you consume the beast that houses it. Do we have a bargain, fellow Lord of the Dark?¡±
System Alert!
Dungeon Quest: Change of Hooves By encountering another creature of the night, they have sought your help with their own desire. Regalas wants you to help him obtain a heart. He will help weaken it, allowing you to slake your blooming thirst on a hardy victim so long as he gets the heart. Do you accept?
Aldrin thought for a moment, then thought better of it. ¡°If you could wait for my team, then we will help you. For now, I will offer the help I can give myself,¡± He said, subconsciously beginning to tug on the strings of the Servant bonds. ¡°It is agreeable, Progenitor,¡± Regalas said, slight amusement ringing in his mental voice. ¡°In the meantime, what can you tell me about this Dungeon?¡± Aldrin asked. Regalas shot his head up. ¡°So, it has happened then...¡± he said mournfully. Aldrin¡¯s eyes widened, and his jaw hung open slightly. ¡°You-You didn¡¯t know?¡± he carefully asked. ¡°No, but that would explain why sometimes I feel like I have lived the same days over every time I wake.¡± He answered. ¡°Do you know what happened?¡± Aldrin tentatively asked. ¡°I. . . I can¡¯t seem to remember, trying makes my thoughts grow hazy. The furthest I can remember is running through these exact woods with my mob and then a white light washed over us. Ever since, I feel like I repeat this day over without the sudden white light, but now, since you¡¯ve told me, it would make sense.¡± Regalas answered as best he could. ¡°White light?¡± Aldrin furrowed his brows. ¡°But then that wouldn¡¯t make sense since the people of Earth were summoned. Or were we just separated along the way? Did pieces of earth get turned into dungeons on a different planet? On this planet?¡± He asked, more to himself as thoughts of what could and couldn¡¯t be raced through his mind. Regalas regarded Aldrin, watching him work through many emotions that he did not know the names of, but he understood when the two strips of hair above their eyes angled downward meant something bad and the occasional shift to wide eyed meant something less bad. Aldrin? had a newfound look upon his face. The knowledge of what Regalas had told him added to pieces of the puzzle about what happened with Earth. Something everyone had been trying to figure out since people started appearing here. From what his parents had told him, and even the Holy Order he was once part of, was that people started appearing around areas with heavy populations close by. Whether that population was welcoming determined a lot of fates. With this news, he needed to get the information out there to others somehow. He closed his eyes, taking a breath to calm himself. Granted, breathing was no longer needed, but it had been a habit for so long and in this moment, it fit. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I got off track with the information you told me.¡± Regalas regarded him. ¡°Was it at least helpful?¡± Aldrin took a breath. ¡°I am honestly not sure, but it¡¯s a start to a bigger mystery.¡± He rubbed his forehead. ¡°Now, what are we hunting?¡± Regalas huffed, ¡°Not a dragon or phoenix, that¡¯s for sure. Your kind hunted those to near extinction long ago for the idea of being immune to the sun and fire.¡± Aldrin filed that bit of information for later to ask of Evie to see if it held any truth. ¡°I sure hope not, as I would die before I could even make a move against one of those beasts.¡± ¡°Something more tame, a Peryton. Its heart will allow me to gain wings, elevating me above the others.¡± Regalas said, turning and heading deeper inward to the dark jungle. Aldrin followed closely behind, ¡°They are here? Among all this? Even with the golems patrolling?¡± Regalas eyed him. ¡°Yes, usually at least one and, at the most, three closer to the mountains, where they make their nests.¡± ¡°Wait, are these variant Perytons?¡± Aldrin asked suspiciously. If Regalas could laugh, he only huffed a few times but did not deign to give an answer. They strolled in silence for the time. All the while, Aldrin kept tugging on the Servant bonds, subtly pulling the three in his direction. He understood it was working, judging by the distance and small tugs in response to him. Regardless, he figured they would be here within a day or two since they weren¡¯t able to fly unless Evie had another trick up her sleeve to get them here faster. Knowing her, she probably did. Regalas trotted through the jungle with confidence, making Aldrin have to run alongside him to keep pace. It made him wonder how fast he actually was if he could keep pace with a trotting horse, instinctually knowing he could currently outpace Regalas if he wanted. ¡°So many things to still experiment and try,¡± Aldrin mused to himself. Catching the quiet comment with his perceptive hearing, ¡°In what way?¡± Regalas mentally probed. Unsure if Regalas would have any helpful information, Aldrin let his thoughts fill the air between them. Filling in Regalas of his origin and his age along with his levels. ¡°Surely you jest? No?¡± Regalas amusedly asked. Aldrin used to wish he was, but he was coming around to being a Vampire now. ¡°Unfortunately not, friend. I am still learning all I can do with the freedom to do so here in the dungeon.¡± He replied. Regalas was quiet for a moment before finally saying something that made Aldrin quirk his eyebrow and a wry grin bloom. ¡°Do you want to race, then? It¡¯s been a long time since I have raced a creature not of my kind,¡± Regalas asked, coming to a stop. ¡°Where to?¡± Aldrin asked, his grin never faltering. Regalas dipped his head in the direction they were heading, pointing with his spiraled black horn, ¡°The jungle ends when the rocks jut into the sky closer to the mountains, where we will find our prey. The mountain base is where the finish line will be. However, because I cannot and you want to test your physical abilities, flying isn¡¯t allowed. Are the terms acceptable Night Lord?¡± Aldrin¡¯s grin grew into a smile, ¡°They are fellow Night Lord,¡± he bowed. Regalas chortled in their connected mind space, ¡°I am no Night Lord yet, but soon I shall be and then we will really race to see who¡¯s the fastest once I gain my wings.¡± They took their places next to each other, Aldrin getting down into a runner stance, startling Regalas. ¡°Do you aim to run on all fours? That is peculiar. Has it really been that long in the outside world?¡± Regalas asked, warily side-eyeing him. Aldrin tried to suppress the laughter that threatened to escape. ¡°No, it¡¯s better for me to start out this way. I will still use my two legs to run.¡± "Ah, you had me worried that time had really slipped away from me," Regalas said, holding his own chuckles. ¡°Ready,¡± Regalas started, prancing back and forth in anticipation. ¡°Set,¡± Aldrin said the next part, deepening his stance, and bunching his muscles that felt renewed. ¡°Go!¡± they both said, ?bolting off in a straight line. Aldrin laughed at the freedom as the jungle blurred around him. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Regalas slightly pulling ahead, his black mane whipping in the wind from the speed they were going. Not wanting to be outdone, Aldrin pushed himself harder, and he closed the slight gap beginning to form. Joyous laughter escaped him once he was neck and neck with Regalas, who looked surprised at first but then became determined. Aldrin¡¯s undead heart beat once, which felt foreign to him, but in doing so it gave him a burst of speed as his vampiric nature rose to the surface. He roared, the sound scaring all the onlooking critters back into their hidey-holes. The burst of speed allowed him to overtake Regalas as they both streaked out of the jungle into the rocky obstacle course that was the beginning of the mountains. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Aldrin had to make a last-minute jump over a boulder, easily clearing it without losing any speed. Regalas chuckled in his mind. ¡°I might have forgotten to mention that the rocks are more like obstacles.¡± Aldrin looked over his shoulder in time to see Regalas gracefully leap over another boulder. His stride never breaking. Feeling inspired, Aldrin used the boulders as another form of practice. He jumped, flipped, and kicked off the boulders that were in his way, using them to his advantage. He cackled to himself, realizing he could now do effortless parkour. The base of the looming mountain came into view, obscuring them in deeper shadows as they approached. Aldrin was the first to get there, but only by a second since Regalas was hot on his heels. Both of them skirted to a stop, Aldrin making shallow furrows in the ground to stop himself. Regalas seemed to stop on command, which Aldrin found interesting. ¡°How did you stop like that?¡± Aldrin asked. Regalas regarded him for a moment. ¡°By simply commanding my body to stop?¡± ¡°How?¡± Recognition bloomed in Regalas¡¯ eyes. ¡°You still believe yourself to be human in some areas when you are entirely not. You have a greater degree of control over yourself than you would have when you were living.¡± Regalas approached Aldrin. ¡°Things that would normally cause an enormous strain on your body are now a thought. For instance, you could have stopped yourself by willfully cancelling all of your momentum without tearing your muscles or breaking bones.¡± ¡°So I could swing as fast as I can and still be able to stop it without even harming myself or anything?¡± Aldrin asked. ¡°Precisely, Night Lord. It is a significant benefit to utilize once you get the hang of it. It would save you from bulldozing your way through something thin or becoming a paste on an immovable object unless it is your intention to do so,¡± Regalas informed him. Aldrin looked down at his hands and formed them into fists as promises of power subtly flowed from his arms down to his fingertips. His whole body flowed with untapped and unbridled potential that seemed to be limitless once he learned to feel it whenever he harnessed himself more. It was something he wanted to throw himself into without a care in the world, but the world, his world to be exact, had many cares he needed to deal with at the moment. ¡°Come, Night Lord, our prey awaits at the top,¡± Regalas said, walking over to the mountain that loomed over them now. His acute hearing picked up screeches of monsters above and a quiet rumbling from within the mountain. The things that went bump in the night greeted him, but now, where he stood, he was one of those things that would join, and soon, they would learn to fear him, too. Relishing with the thought, he took the opportunity to fully grasp his latest addition to his abilities. The ability to stick to any surface to ascend the mountain. Aldrin wondered how Regalas was gonna traverse up the mountain and was about to ask how until he saw his black spiral horn ignite with a black flame. Regalas tapped his flaming horn close to the ground, making the flames jump from his horn to his hooves, bathing them in the same blackened fire before receding to a faint, deep violet glow. ¡°Ready?¡± He asked Aldrin, not bothering to wait for a reply as his hooves found purchase among the rocky outcroppings. Aldrin shrugged and trudged to the mountain. He tentatively placed one foot on the base, not needed to use his new ability yet. He figured he wouldn¡¯t need it until the upward slope became vertical at some point if it did. Slowly but surely, they traversed the mountain. Aldrin¡¯s strength aiding him in the endeavor while Regalas seemed to walk along as if there wasn¡¯t a care in the world. ¡°You do not use your ability to ease the journey?¡± Regalas finally said, breaking the silence. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if it will tire me or something yet, so I¡¯m saving it until I actually need it.¡± He answered. ¡°I used it once when fighting Toad Golems, but not long enough to know the effect on me.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to get a test of it now before we come upon enemies that use this environment to their advantage?¡± Regalas fired back. Aldrin thought it over for a moment before shrugging and answering, ¡°I¡¯m a quick learner.¡± Regalas chortled. ¡°Another benefit of your kind. I am slightly jealous.¡± ¡°On the surface, or outside world, I should say, any information about Vampires is strictly about how to kill them or what to do if encountering one. So I¡¯m still figuring out my limits.¡± Aldrin said. ¡°That¡¯s a shame your kind has fallen so far,¡± Regalas said wistfully. Grasping at any bread crumb of information, Aldrin pressed, curious at what he could learn this time, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Vampires were guardians between life and death. Shepherding those close to death to a peaceful transition that was quick and painless or the most excruciating pain possible on their enemies.¡± Regalas started. ¡°Jealousy among the Races had turned your kind from the most feared and respected to the most hunted within a century. From the little of what the Earth spoke, it was a band of Races that formed to wipe out all traces of your kind on the continent.¡± Aldrin huffed, ¡°Well, that isn¡¯t something I haven¡¯t already been told.¡± ¡°From what I remember, a few Ancients, some Elders, and their progeny fled the continent to some distant land, their birthplace, if I am correct.¡± Regalas added. ¡°The Forbidden Continent?¡± Aldrin asked. ¡°If that is what it''s called, then it is more than likely that you will find your kind there. What remains of them, I am unsure of.¡± Regalas said. "I was already on my way there, but thank you for confirming it for me." Aldrin nodded gratefully. ¡°Anything for a Night Lord. You would be amazed at the unexpected friends you will find in the dark when you need them most. Remember that, and it will save you if you ever need help.¡± Regalas sagely said. They chatted back and forth about mundane things. Aldrin learned Regalas was a treasure trove of knowledge about his time outside preceding his Dungeon transition. He had told him of kingdoms that once existed, while Aldrin told him of the new kingdoms that took their place. Creatures that roamed the planet that are now myths of legends told to scare children into being good and doing what they are told. Aldrin then informed Regalas that Vampires are considered to be myths of legends themselves once they got onto the topic, as at one point they could walk through the night unhindered. He also learned how they handled the bad ones, which was swiftly taken care of by other Vampires who wanted to remain in good standing with the public. After all the information told to him, the picture of what he was filled out more in Aldin¡¯s mind as he was told the two facts. Regalas then asked what his plans were for after the Dungeon. ¡°My friends and I are going to a mercenary port town called Ebira. From there, we hope to charter a boat to take us across the sea to the Forbidden Continent,¡± Aldrin said. ¡°What do you wish to find there?¡± Regalas asked, gracefully jumping over a divot in the mountain. Aldrin thought about it before answering, ¡°Truthfully, in the beginning I was hoping to find a cure, but now I just want to learn how to live with this and possibly control it more so than I already do. Maybe find some of those Ancients or even Elders to help teach me.¡± Regalas chortled again, ¡°You would end up dead if you were to come face to face with an Ancient. Progenitor or not, Vampires follow a strict hierarchy and if you choose to lead them, then you must beat their leaders into submission or impress them enough to follow you. Some would bow to you, but I would not advise that until you are an Elder yourself. A few of your abilities, from what you have told me, grant you the strength necessary to be one Tier above your own. Although it is only as someone who had just reached the Tier and not someone in the middle or end of the Tier.¡± ¡°Are the Ancients really that fearsome, then?¡± Aldrin curiously asked. ¡°Do the Ancients not roam still?¡± Regalas asked in surprise. ¡°No? At least I have never heard of one.¡± Aldrin answered truthfully. ¡°Count yourself lucky then. Depending on their specialty, how many under their command, and their goals. Within three weeks, they could conquer our continent if they wished,¡± Regalas said. ¡°Then why did they leave if they were so fearsome?¡± Aldrin asked. ¡°They had no time to scheme and plot. Like all long-lived races, they became complacent with the status quo, a fault that all seem to share once reaching past a certain age. Their self superiority blinded them. They thought that none would challenge them. That way of thinking became their weakness, that lessened their hold and brought them toppling down. Their blindness that led them to not notice was ?happening until it was too late. Then, when the other Races rose up, their once trusted allies, and friends betrayed them, too.¡± Regalas said, quieting at the end as a memory bloomed. ¡°I remember when I was still young to be around my mother, she was friends with a Kor¡¯Tal, one of the more beast-like vampiric bloodlines. He came to her wounded and in need of aid, but his injuries were so severe that nothing could be done. So my mob gathered around him in his last moments to bring him some form of comfort. When he died from his wounds, he turned to ash, and the wind scattered his remains. My mother mourned to herself for days, as did most of the mob. He befriended us, treating us as equals, not as beasts he would dominate or consume. He was the last I saw of any Vampire before the news of them being hunted down and killed or fleeing got around to us,¡± Regalas said, letting the memories replay at the forefront of his mind. Aldrin felt the deep sadness and pain that formed in Regalas¡¯ voice. It was a pain of losing something precious, something that he knew well, with how many he has so far. Yet in the back of his mind, there was always the voice saying that he would only lose more. ¡°I am sorry for your loss, Regalas. Truly I am,¡± Aldrin said, stopping his ascent. ¡°It was a long time ago from what you have told me about the passage of time,¡± Regalas said. ¡°It may have been long ago for anyone else but for you, it still was years ago?¡± Aldrin gently asked. ¡°Unfortunately,¡± Regalas said in a clipped tone, signaling the end of the topic. ¡°Come, we must hurry before the sun rises and my abilities will be diminished.¡± He hurried along the ascent. Aldrin followed closely behind, pondering what could have been so wrong that the Races turned on beings that co-existed in what seemed like harmony with everyone else. More questions than answers were beginning to pile up concerning who and what he was meant to do now as the Progenitor. Not to mention the issue with the current Queendom kidnapping its own people for whatever reason. He even went a step further to think about who else was involved in the kidnappings or if it was just the Humans. ¡°I need to get stronger and quickly,¡± Aldrin whispered to himself, looking down at his hands than at Regalas, who confidently strode forward ahead of him. Chapter 34: The Serpent and The Goat Wind whipped at his clothes and leather armor he wore the further he ascended up the mountain. The roars of beasts that made the peaks their home grew closer. The slope of the early mountain climb was nowhere to present as it had gradually transformed into a vertical ascent. During the climb, Aldrin took the time to practice sticking to any surface. Seeing Regalas, a black unicorn, walking vertically up a mountain like it was walking on straight land gave Aldrin another reality check. He had a feeling that this was going to be one of many oddities he would see the more he ventured out. He constantly heard tales from higher-level adventurers about their encounters and discoveries, as the world still held ancient mysteries. Yet, seeing an oddity himself was an experience, a humbling one, to say the least. ¡°You can stand, you know,¡± Regalas said, looking at Aldrin strangely as he scampered up the surface on all fours. ¡°I am not ready too,¡± Aldrin admitted, bunching his body together, then leaping over an open passage that was the length of half his body. Regalas rolled his eyes and flicked his ears. ¡°You¡¯re not going to get blown off, I assure you, Night Lord.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know that! I don¡¯t have magic hooves like you Regalas!¡± Aldrin fired back. Aldrin could have sworn if the unicorn could form a cheeky grin, it would as it stared at him. ¡°Sounds like someone is jealous of my majestic nature.¡± Regalas said, a hint of a smile intoned in his mental voice. ¡°If I could hit you I would,¡± Aldrin deadpanned. ¡°Why don¡¯t you? Hmm?¡± Regalas goaded him. ¡°I just told you why!¡± Aldrin said. Regalas looked back down the mountainside. ¡°I admit it is a bit of a drop, but I think you would be fine if you fell. Just get a little blood in you and you will be good as new to try again.¡± Aldrin stared at Regalas, wondering if the Quest was really worth putting up with a snarky unicorn. ¡°You know what happened in the last thirty minutes? You used to be so respectful.¡± ¡°When you slipped and screamed after trying your power to stick to anything the first time, it broke the tension.¡± Regalas answered, not bothering to look back. ¡°It was one time!¡± Aldrin said. ¡°One time too many for a Vampire. You would be torn to shreds before you can even utter a word among your kind. I am trying to help you by giving you a fighting chance,¡± Regalas said. ¡°What makes you think I¡¯m going to die?¡± Aldrin asked. ¡°Do you know how Black Unicorns came to be?¡± Regalas said, changing the topic. Confused, Aldrin furrowed his eyebrows. ¡°Off topic, but no?¡± ¡°The first Unicorn, our progenitor, mated with a regular mare, many mares to be honest. Those mares then gave birth to other Unicorns that went on. One of his daughters sought to lead and thus killed her father, hoping to attain the powers of the Unicorn Progenitor. Instead, a curse transformed her, turning her once silvery white fur and horn blacker than night. Her herd cast her out, but she got what she wanted by becoming the Progenitor of the Black Unicorns.¡± Regalas said.
System Alert
Lore Seeker Profession Updated Mystery found and solved! Origins of Black Unicorns!
¡°Whoa,¡± Aldrin reacted to both the story and alert that chimed in his vision briefly. ¡°I tell you this because any jealous and greedy Vampire will easily see your weaknesses, and will try to kill and absorb you for power,¡± Regalas answered, stopping to look at him. ¡°I have grown fond of you in this short amount of time and do not wish to see you perish. Please. Take care of yourself.¡± He said in earnest, never breaking eye contact. Aldrin had no words at the sincerity of the Black Unicorn and yet a sliver of doubt took root inside of him at the possibility of not being welcomed by his kind. The ones that were trapped at Lor-Vold that had accepted him without hidden intentions spoiled him. He also wondered if it was the right thing to do to let them flee with the rest of the horde that had attacked the city. Nonetheless, time would only tell since the Zombie Giant had assured him that he would take care of the Feral Vampires. His shoulders sagged before finally answering. ¡°Thank you for telling me and trying to look out for me.¡± Aldrin said, dropping his gaze. Regalas simply huffed, turned, and continued to trot up the mountain. They were closer to the peaks now, where the Perytons were supposed to roam. ¡°What else is up here? I have yet to see anything, but I¡¯m hearing a lot of things around and inside the mountain.¡± ¡°Juvenile Drakes, Boulder Goats, Burrow Serpents, and of course the Perytons. What you are probably hearing inside are the Drakes and Serpents, fighting for dominance and territory. We are lucky that this area was transformed into a Dungeon before the mother of the drakes returned; otherwise, this would have been a whole different adventure.¡± Regalas said, his ears swiveling at every little sound. Aldrin paused at the mention of the Drakes. ¡°You mean baby dragons? Right?¡± ¡°Yes. The ones that have yet to earn their wings.¡± Regalas answered. ¡°I thought all Dragons were born with wings already?¡± Regalas laughed. ¡°A myth to deter any from seeking out the young. Once hatched, the Drakes are born colorless and wingless and earn them from the blessings of their parents. Regardless, they are still dangerous, but not as dangerous as a fully realized Dragon.¡± ¡°You know a lot about them,¡± Aldrin said. ¡°I once knew a Drake before she became a Dragon.¡± Regalas wistfully said, a faraway look blooming in his eyes. Aldrin felt there was a story there, but the look of the culmination of emotions in his eyes gave him pause. ¡°Why not hunt one Drake, then? Surely their hearts would give you a greater boost than a Peryton?¡± ¡°The Peryton has the gift of flight and the ability to heal which isn¡¯t among my kind. I shall be the first.¡± Regalas stated. That shut Aldrin up, ¡°Fair enough. Let¡¯s hurry then. I¡¯m eager to see one after all this climbing.¡± He said. ¡°My companions should also be here in a few hours if the fight gets too crazy.¡± Aldrin felt the tugging growing stronger from the bond with his friends. Regalas whipped around, fury blazing in his gaze, ¡°Why would you jinx it? Are you mad?!¡± Taken aback, Aldrin stood, his hands up in a placating gesture, ¡°I meant nothing by it, Regalas. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Regalas turned around once more, grumbling angrily in Aldrin¡¯s mind, which he tried not to laugh at the absurdity of it all. They climbed and climbed more until they crested the clouds that loomed around the peaks. The air was thin and luckily Aldrin didn¡¯t need to breathe as the wind that blew would have stolen any breath he would have tried to suck in. Once they reached the peak, the mountain above the clouds was an entirely new area. It was a plateau with jagged archways,with stalagmites and stalactites that loomed in the archways like teeth of a massive great beast. Columns of differing sizes with platforms at their top dotted the landscape, with rocky outcroppings sprouting in random groups. They made their way down from the way they came onto flat ground. Aldrin¡¯s sense sphere pinged to something above him. He looked and saw nothing, then switched to his predator vision and he saw the life-force. It was long and thick, wrapped around the overhang of the archway. Switching back to his normal vision to see it with his own eyes, he couldn¡¯t make it until it slightly moved. It was more like the archway moved as the rocks slithered and bunched together, then relaxed. ¡°Burrow Serpent,¡± Regalas sheepishly said, staring at the massive snake that wrapped itself around the archway. The serpent felt eyes on it, forcing it to open its own sickly yellow slitted eyes. It flicked its long gray forked tongue, tasting the air before quickly snapping its head toward Aldrin and Regalas. ¡°That¡¯s not disconcerting at all,¡± Aldrin sarcastically mumbled, earning an amused huff from Regalas. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Name: Burrow Serpent Level: 26 Tier 2 Lore: Often found in tall peaks amongst mountainous areas, Burrow Serpents take on the minerals surrounding it, feeding on both the minerals and prey by camouflaging with the rocks.
The Burrow Serpent untangled and unwrapped itself, falling to the ground with a thud and tremor. It reared up, fanning out oval shaped rocks along its neck, much like a cobra. Hissing like two rocks grinding together, it flashed its three rows of serrated teeth that were the length of a dagger. ¡°How do we kill it?¡± Aldrin asked, calling forth Sin-Screamer from his inventory. ¡°Blunt force to the head like all creatures?¡± Regalas confusedly said. Aldrin groaned and rolled his eyes, ¡°If I had known I was going to be fighting a bunch of rocks in this dungeon, I would have brought a hammer or something.¡± Aldrin yelped as a sharp sting emanated from the handle of Sin-Screamer, making him switch hands like he was playing hot potato with it. ¡°Ok! Ok! I¡¯m sorry!¡± Aldrin tried to placate the sword. In his mind, feelings of sourness bloomed, then settled into a simmering resentment. He looked down at it, seeing the wispy souls of the dead trapped within the blade cry out in voiceless screams. ¡°I promise to feed you.¡± Aldrin said, earning a sideways glance from Regalas. The Burrow Serpent demanded their attention once it began to rapidly slither towards them. Aldrin readied himself while Regalas collected dark energy at the peak of his horn. Once it was fully charged, Regalas dipped his head slightly, letting an arc of black energy, reminiscent of lightning, streak across the distance, hitting the Serpent on one of its armored rocky plates. The damage was minimal but enough to make the Serpent speed up, making Aldrin¡¯s spine crawl. ¡°I hate reptiles.¡± He dejectedly said, throwing himself forth both out of fear and pride. His sword was angled to penetrate and pierce through its rocky armor, but paused when the serpent opened its mouth, roaring in defiance at the challenge Aldrin posed. Aldrin quickly snapped out of it as the Beast inside him awoke from its dormant state. He roared back as more arcs of black energy shot forth overhead. Bunching all the power to his legs, Aldrin jumped forward, becoming a spear aimed at the inside of the Serpent¡¯s mouth. The Serpent opened its mouth wider to swallow Aldrin whole, which he allowed to happen as he plunged into the belly of the snake. His eyes immediately adjusted to the darkness before burying his blade into the side of the serpent. Aldrin felt it thrash, worm, and wiggle from the uncomfortableness yet he only twisted and pushed deeper into the fleshy parts of the serpent. It roared again, twisting in on itself in an attempt to dislodge him. Holding on tightly, Aldrin didn¡¯t relent his grip, and neither did Sin-Screamer. Up was down and down was up as the Serpent thrashed about. Blood started to slowly seep through the wound that they made. Aldrin inhaled, then quickly wrinkled his nose in disgust. The blood to him smelled rancid and rotted, making his own stomach turn in protest. ¡°Whatever you¡¯re doing! Keep doing it! My magic is slowly decaying it to weaken it!¡± Regalas mentally shouted. With both hands upon the hilt of his blade, he planted both feet against the serpent¡¯s insides, using his new ability to stick and keep firm, he heaved and plunged again eliciting a sharp hissing shriek from the Serpent that made his ears ring slightly. He ignored the disorienting sound and kept using Sin-Screamer like a plunger, sawing it deeper into the flesh of the Serpent. He grinned, ¡°Sin-Screamer! Feast!¡± The blade vibrated and whistled as sharp elation bloomed from the blade. Aldrin kept sawing away with his blade and each time, Sin-Screamer fed upon the life force of the Serpent. Its thrashing weakened until finally it succumbed to the inside wound. The flesh where Sin-Screamer had buried itself was flaking off, allowing the blade to easily slide free. With the tear already formed, Aldrin cut his way out, the dawning sun blinding him momentarily. Emerging from the belly of the beast, he stood atop the corpse of the Burrow Serpent. The parts where Regalas had hit it with his bolts were decayed and chipped. He looked around to see the furrows left behind from the serpent thrashing about.
Congratulations! You have defeated: Level 25 Burrow Serpent Burrow Serpent Fang x5 Burrow Serpent Stone Fragment x22 EXP Awarded
Congratulations! Sin-Screamer has advanced to a Tier 1 Artefact Weapon
Select One Trait Return: Call back Sin-Screamer to your hand if lost or thrown Echoes: Every 5th swing, a phantom blade trails behind Pierce: Channel your own energy into the point of the blade to deal lethal damage Harden: The blade becomes more resistant to magic attacks
¡°That was brave of you,¡± Regalas said, trotting up to him once he jumped down. There were a few scratches along his body from the shards of rock that shot outward. He nodded absently as he inspected Sin-Screamer. With it evolving into a Tier 1 Artefact, it no longer looked chipped and scratched. However, the dullness lessened a little as a small sheen of dark metal shined through the muddled spots of rust and grime. The faces of the souls were still screaming as they swam up and down the blade in despair as more became visible. He also looked over the traits presented to him as each of them would complement well with his cleaving strike skill and his passives from his Class. He leaned more towards Echoes if he could get one swing off first before activating his skill if there were four targets in front of him. If it would even work that way to begin with. It was a gamble he was willing to take since the damage it would cause if the phantom blade sliced through all four opponents as well.
Trait Chosen! Sin-Screamer Tier 1 Artefact Traits- Echoes: Every 5th swing, a phantom blade trails behind.
Aldrin was pleased by the event of fighting the Burrow Serpent, but he still hated the fact that his first encounter on the peak of the mountain was a reptile, of all things. Stowing away Sin-Screamer, he turned to face Regalas, ¡°It was a short but worthy fight for my blade to grow a tier.¡± ¡°That is pleasing to hear, Night Lord,¡± Regalas respectfully bowed. Aldrin frowned as he turned back to look at the decaying parts of the Serpent. ¡°Your magic bolts carry a decaying effect?¡± Regalas stood proudly, puffing out his chest, ¡°Unlike our counterparts who have a heal over time they cast with their horns, ours is the opposite. Our magic decays.¡± ¡°And the healing ability you would get from the Peryton¡¯s heart would give you both healing and decay,¡± Aldrin said, his brows still furrowed, pondering the implications of such a thing. Regalas could see the gears turning in Aldrin¡¯s head, which filled him with pride at making the Vampire think. ¡°It¡¯s important we do this, then. Everyone and everything deserves the chance to save their loved ones. Even ones that the world deems evil.¡± Aldrin said, facing forward. He switched his vision to see what other lifeforms blared white with another ambush for them, but most of what he saw was in the distance of the rocky plateau. ¡°Come on. We have a Quest to finish,¡± Aldrin said, striding forward with Regalas close behind. They blazed through the plateau, fighting herds of 3 to 5 Boulder Goats that were just sheep with round and smoothened rocks around their bodies where wool would have been. They weren¡¯t anything special and if anything they were kinda stupid since they would bleat in surprise, then charge with their corkscrew horns at Aldrin. Their stone bodies that were meant to act as a shield had no effect on Aldrin as he smashed through them. He wanted to laugh because of the vast difference between the Burrow Serpent and Boulder Goats until he saw a large herd of at least 10 of them rush a Burrow Serpent that tried to ambush them. A few of them had died in the rush, but that didn¡¯t deter them. They curled in on themselves, forming rolling cannonballs that shot forward into the body of the Burrow Serpent that was busy choking down one goat. The unexpected attack had surprised the Burrow Serpent as one managed to break off a chunk of stone, revealing grey scales underneath. The Goat that had managed the lucky hit uncurled itself, letting out a victorious bleat to the others. It was soon cut short as the Burrow Serpent whipped its tail into the side of the Boulder Goat, sending it hurtling into the nearby rock face. Enraged at the sudden death of their comrade, the goats¡¯ rocky wool changed into jagged spikes as they became belligerent, charging headlong into the fray, puncturing the armor of the Burrow Serpent. Aldrin¡¯s fascination with the scene unfolding before him quickly turned to unease as more goats started to ascend from underneath the mountain, chewing their way through the rocky soil, and attacking the underside of the Serpent. ¡°Are they- Are they eating it?!¡± Regalas said, more to himself in shock. ¡°They are,¡± Aldrin whispered, watching as the goats that came from beneath the Serpent had continued to chew their way through the armor and into the scales. The Serpent slowed considerably as more goats joined, swarming over the giant rock serpent, eating their way until there were no more rocks left among the carcass of the Serpent, leaving it crippled and immobile. It wheezed as it glared balefully at the goats that surrounded it. That same unease turned to pure fear once the Goats started moving in concentric circles around the Serpent, slowly coming closer with each loop until they all lunged like a swarm of piranhas. ¡°Oh my god,¡± Aldrin subconsciously let out, unable to look away at the carnage as blood soaked goats rotated in and out, taking turns to eat the Serpent. The crunch of rocks breaking and flesh tearing grated in his ears. Worst of all were the goats slight humming after each rotated out to let another go in, almost like they were chanting. ¡°Where the fuck did you take me, Regalas?! You said the goats were harmless!¡± Aldrin hissed in a whisper, fearful of the goats hearing him after finally being able to tear his gaze away. Regalas looked between the Goats and Aldrin. ¡°I never said that!¡± ¡°Then what is-¡° Aldrin stopped his words as the crunching stopped. He slowly looked over to see all the Goats, bloodied and bits of flesh dangling from their mouths, eyeing him and Regalas with their hunger-worn lifeless eyes. ¡°Sweet mother of black!¡± Regalas reared back, then bolted in the opposite direction. Aldrin had no time to react to Regalas abandoning him as one goat stepped forward, starting a slow bleating chant that got the others into a frenzy. Aldrin gave no time to look back as the sound of hundreds of hooves rushed forward behind him. All he could see was the dust ahead of him from Regalas hoofing it away from the Boulder Goats. ¡°Run, Regalas! Ruuuunnnn!¡± Aldrin shouted, pumping his legs as fast as he could. ¡°What do you think I¡¯m doing?!¡± Regalas shouted back, not bothering to look back nor slow down. Chapter 35: Investments ¡°Did we lose them?¡± Regalas asked, sounding tired in Aldin¡¯s mind. Aldrin peaked his head out from their hiding spot, scanning the horizon. ¡°I think so?¡± He whispered, slumping back down, letting out a quiet chuckle to release the tension. ¡°Never in my hundred years would I have imagined those goats being the hunter instead of the hunted. Truthfully, I would rather face a Drake than those monsters.¡± Regalas said, twitching his ears for any noise of hooves. ¡°It¡¯s probably the work of the Dungeon. Everything becomes a predator; even the harmless-looking things we saw a few moments ago. I¡¯m just curious why they didn¡¯t do the same when we fought them?¡± Aldrin asked. ¡°We aren¡¯t their choice of diet clearly,¡± Regalas flatly said. ¡°Funny,¡± Aldrin deadpanned. ¡°At least they only saw us towards the end of whatever that was,¡± he added. ¡°From now on we avoid the Boulder Goats at all costs,¡± Regalas declared, moving to see around the corner this time. Aldrin hopped over the rocky outcropping, ¡°Agreed. I don¡¯t want to get swarmed and eaten alive. I¡¯m not sure if I can even come back from that,¡± He nervously chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. ¡°Do you know where the Perytons are?¡± He asked after a moment of looking around. Regalas looked upwards, trying to find a high point that would allow for easy take off or dense clusters of rocks. ¡°Anything that can be easily defensible and easy to fly from,¡± He finally said after trying to decipher the best place. Aldrin hummed and clicked his tongue, then switched his vision again, this time avoiding anything that was even remotely goat shaped. He looked upwards along the ridgeline and then he saw it. ¡°There!¡± He patted the flank of Regalas, getting him to turn in the direction he was pointing. Flicking his ears and snorting, Regalas happily trotted in that direction. Aldrin followed close behind, keeping an eye out for anything that would cause them trouble. He could not go through this flippantly as he had been, or at least until they had a better advantage. ¡°Aldrin?¡± Evie¡¯s voice brushed against his. He stopped in surprise. ¡°Evie? How?! When?! Better yet, thank fuck you¡¯re close. I may have bitten off more than I could chew,¡± He admitted. She mentally scoffed, ¡°When don¡¯t you?¡± She playfully added. ¡°We are close. Where exactly are you?¡± Grinning to himself, ¡°On top of the biggest mountain.¡± Regalas side eyed him when Aldrin laughed to himself as Evie let out a string of curses through his mind. ¡°You¡¯re lucky I have a runestone to get us up there,¡± she said after calming down. With a shit-eating grin, he replied, ¡°Trust me, it¡¯s gonna be worth it when you see why! Also, avoid the goats!¡± Aldrin warned her. ¡°Goats? What goats?¡± Evie asked. Chuckling more to himself, he ignored her questions as she continued to pester him about what he meant. She gave up soon after, leaving Aldrin and Regalas to themselves. ¡°They are close,¡± Aldrin informed. ¡°Did you tell them about the goats?¡± Regalas asked. Aldrin shrugged with a smirk. ¡°I gave a hint, but nothing more.¡± Regalas snorted. ¡°I will admit, a certain deviousness does not skip among your kin.¡± Aldrin clutched imaginary pearls. ¡°I am not devious, Regalas! I am offended that you even think so,¡± He said, turning his nose up playfully. ¡°Surely you jest? No?¡± Regalas asked in all seriousness. Taken aback, Aldrin sputtered until Regalas laughed too. ¡°You are not the only funny one,¡± He said, grinning. ¡°Sometimes I think you¡¯re not really a unicorn,¡± Aldrin said. ¡°I am almost not a unicorn in but a few moments.¡± Regalas gleefully said. Aldrin noticed there was a giddiness to Regalas¡¯ steps that had not been there before. He assumed the closer they got to the Perytons, the more anxious and excited he became. It was a weird thing to see a human reaction come from a Unicorn that has a completely unique body language. Fortunately, that giddiness was infectious, as Aldrin gave a slight smile at the excitement. It didn¡¯t take them long to reach the place where Aldrin pointed out. Reaching there, it turned out it was a cliff with an open-mouthed cave. Regalas wasted no time, conjuring the same energy into his horn, then tapping the ground in front of his hooves to make them glow. This time, Aldrin decided he would walk upwards instead of crawling. He planted his foot on the rock wall, feeling the ability to maneuver the gravity around him as it shifted, then planted the other foot, allowing the ability to fully take hold. A case of vertigo assaulted him briefly, but it vanished as quickly as it came. The odd sight of a man and Unicorn walking vertically up a rock wall would have given anyone questions, but to those two it was a simple stroll among nature. Upon reaching the top, both of their abilities stopped and Aldrin¡¯s night vision kicked in so he could peer into the looming cave before them. It was tall enough to fit another two or three of him on top of his shoulders and wide enough to walk in a line of four as they both cautiously walked inside. Tufts of silvery grey fur with a subtle sheen littered the floor, along with similar quality feathers and an odd-looking nest mostly made of animal bones and discarded fur clumps. Yet there were no signs of the Perytons that had come so far to hunt. Regalas stomped his two front hooves in frustration, then walked deeper into the cave, sniffing and snorting at anything that didn¡¯t give him the clues he wanted. ¡°They must be here somewhere!¡± He finally said, returning to Aldrin¡¯s side as he too scanned the area for any signs. ¡°They must be out hunting or grazing? Actually, what do they even eat?¡± Aldrin curiously asked. ¡°Much like us, they are omnivores, but they aren¡¯t hunters. More like scavengers, vultures really,¡± Regalas sneered at the last part. ¡°And you want to eat them? Why? Wouldn¡¯t that make you a bigger vulture?¡± Aldrin teased, to which Regalas did not deign to answer and only sidelong glare at him. Aldrin was getting ready to tease him again when he heard the distinct sound of flapping wings at an even, steady gait, only they sounded much larger with a lot more force to them. He snapped his head toward the sound, his eyesight zooming to get a clearer picture of the most majestic beast he had ever seen. The Peryton flew towards them at a leisurely pace. It was a large buck, silvery feathered wings of an eagle with the tips of each feather glistening white, golden antlers that curved upwards, almost meeting in the middle like an eccentric halo. Gray wooly fur decorated its neck, stopping only once it met the body to which it tapered off into thin hairs that swayed with the breeze. Its black hooves that were slightly pointed on their fore edges galloped through the air in cadence with the beat of its wings. What added even more beauty to it was that it came with the morning sun. The slight white glow surrounding it almost made Aldrin weep. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± Aldrin whispered breathlessly.
Warning! You have been Charmed!
Aldrin ignored the alert that popped up, pushing it away mentally so he could continue to stare glassy eyed with a stupid grin at the Peryton. Regalas looked revolted at the comment and distanced himself. ¡°Don¡¯t be swayed by its charms! It¡¯s a defense mechanism!¡± He chided Aldrin. ¡°But how could we ever kill such a thing?¡± Aldrin¡¯s glassy gaze never left the Peryton as he continued to stare, not wanting to miss any second of the creature. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. ¡°I¡¯m sorry friend, but I have no choice and this is going to sting a little,¡± Regalas said, gathering up black energy into his horn, then firing it at Aldrin¡¯s back. Stunned from the hit, Aldrin spasmed, then fell, sputtering on the ground as the energy rushed through him. ¡°What the fuck Regalas?!¡± He shouted, clarity coming back to him before it dawned on him that he fell under a charm. The fury that was directed at Regalas was now directed at the Peryton that still came to them at its leisurely pace without a care in the world. ¡°It charmed me! How could it have done that? I thought I was immune to charms?!¡± Aldrin furiously asked, gnashing his fangs that sprouted. ¡°Inspect it,¡± Regalas said. Aldrin then looked, using inspect and did a double take.
Name: Mountain Peryton Level: 30 Tier 3 Lore: One of the fabled beasts of Wood Elven society, the Perytons are guardians of nature, travel, and wind. The Wood Elves often leave offerings whenever they must go on a distant journey in hopes of being protected by these winged beasts.
¡°It¡¯s a Tier higher than me,¡± Aldrin whispered, noting to himself to be careful of charms from higher Tiered beings in the future. Still, it gave some clarity on his power scaling and concluded of not being completely overpowered as he thought. At least not to charms for now. ¡°Kill it!¡± Regalas demanded, zigzagged toward it and only stopped to fire off his energy bolts from his horn before moving to a different location. Aldrin needed no other incentive as he used Roar of the Apex to silence the Peryton¡¯s magical abilities. In doing so, the Peryton¡¯s flight stalled. It flapped its wings as hard as it could, only to glide down to the ground. ¡°Magical flight?¡± Aldrin murmured to himself before jumping down to engage the Peryton in melee combat. However, the Peryton wasn¡¯t as helpless as it seemed even though Regalas¡¯s magic bolts now penetrated it, it still showed no signs of slowing down once Aldrin got into its range. It charged, antlers pointed towards him like many spear points. Unsure of how strong it actually was, Aldrin sidestepped the charge, swiping quickly, scoring a shallow cut. He clicked his tongue in annoyance, noticing its fur was denser than he originally thought. Still, Regalas shot his energy bolts while Aldrin took point. The Peryton bellowed, screeching like an elk. It glimmered once more, then flapped its wings, taking flight again. Aldrin contemplated throwing Sin-Screamer, but he risked missing and losing the weapon. He mentally kicked himself in the ass for not taking Sin-Screamer¡¯s return trait, since that would come in handy now. Gripping his weapon tightly, he could only wait for his roar to come off cooldown so he could ground the Peryton again. ¡°Regalas! Aim for its wing joints!¡± Aldrin shouted. Regalas wordlessly agreed as he aimed at its wing joints, but the Peryton danced through the air, dodging 2 out of 3 shots that Regalas rapidly fired. ¡°It¡¯s too evasive! We gotta distract it!¡± Regalas said, racing down the cliff face this time. Aldrin quickly raced down his ability list of his Class and Race, looking for some sort of power that would help. He sped through his abilities until bouncing back to the Necromancy Tree with Summon Skeleton. Unsure if there would be any use to the skill, he threw caution to the wind. He activated it, remembering the Skill from before. He held out his hand as a marble sized black blob fell, seeping into the ground. The area pulsed with a black circle once, then faded. Cursing to himself, he quickly rolled away from the beam of light the Peryton shot, searing the ground where he once stood. Aldrin called out to Regalas, ¡°I tried something!¡± He rolled again, dodging another beam, ¡°But I don¡¯t know if it worked!¡± He said, coming to stand and readying himself to block a beam with the blade of Sin-Screamer. He grunted from the impact as it pushed him back with more force than he expected, forcing him to cause grooves in the dirt from digging his feet in. Sin-Screamer¡¯s blade had turned molten red from the intensity of the beam. It made its displeasure and discomfort known when it let out a shrill scream in Aldrin¡¯s mind. It almost forced him to drop it but had to reaffirm his grip as the Peryton grew frustrated and dove straight for Aldrin. Regalas capitalized on the opportunity by aiming at the hind legs of the Peryton. His bolts were weaker because of the sun rising, but he hoped it would be enough of a distraction. The bolt struck, sending a slight twitch up the hindquarters of the Peryton. It had done what Regalas wanted, which was turning the ire of the Peryton onto him and away from Aldrin. Aldrin felt another connection snap into place in his mind. Something long forgotten had latched onto his Necromancy ability. The ground where the ability had penetrated shifted as a blue crystalized skeletal hand clawed its way out. It was another Jade Carver, but instead of the usual green crystals that jutted out of its body, they were now sapphire blue, reminiscent of the Undead nature. It whipped its head around, screeching in primal fury, drawing the attention of all. Aldrin grinned wildly while Regalas looked like he wanted to run, and the Peryton balefully glared at the new challenger.
Name: Summoned Jade Carver - Undead Variant. Level: Level 22
The carver broke off a piece of itself, then sharpened the Jade into a javelin. It hurled it at the Peryton, forcing it to quickly maneuver itself for the least amount of damage. The javelin missed, but that didn¡¯t seem to perturb the Carver as it let out a short gruff growl. Aldrin watched in awe as the javelin curved back around, piercing the Peryton through its wing joint, crippling it. It tried to flap its one good wing to stabilize itself from the fall, but it couldn¡¯t in time, hitting the ground with a loud thud. Aldrin and his Carver Summon raced to the impact. He switched his vision to see the white outline of the Peryton through the dust but was blinded by the Peryton¡¯s radiant energy as it exploded outward in a dome. Sensing the danger the Carver pushed Aldrin away but not hard enough as the dome of energy seared his arm off, forcing him to drop Sin-Screamer as he clutched the pit where his arm used to be. Aldrin expected it to hurt a lot more than it should have, yet no pain came, only the sensation of having a phantom limb. The human side of him wanted to scream out at the sudden loss, but the vampire side of him simply shrugged it off and pushed to fight harder. ¡±Aldrin! Are you ok?¡± Regalas mentally asked, shooting more bolts of black at the Peryton that was still obscured by the dust. The Peryton wasn¡¯t idle in the meantime, it blindly and randomly fired off beams in all directions. One beam clipped the flank of Regalas, earning a brief snort from the Black Unicorn. Aldrin dove to the ground to avoid any more stray beams until the dust settled. Once it had settled, Aldrin saw the Peryton still looked normal minus the crippled wing it kept trying to use. Seeing Aldrin only incensed the anger that billowed forth from the Peryton. It bayed a long note that changed in undulating octaves. ¡°It¡¯s calling for backup!¡± Regalas said, fearfully looking upwards in case of an attack. Aldrin felt the pit of his arm at his shoulder that was charred flesh. It only briefly stung when he touched it, but something more sinister now bloomed. The loss of an arm meant the loss of blood, and the loss of blood meant that hunger would consume him. It didn¡¯t take long for the sharp jabbing in his stomach to begin the telltale signs of it. Sin-Screamer was within arm''s reach, but he started shaking as the beast demanded blood. His skin turned ashen gray, his hair no longer the wispy white and thin but held the dull brown of his normal hair. Blackened claws grew from his fingernails, and his fangs grew. He was no longer a gaunt-looking vampire but a slightly malnourished with slight definition. His eyes turned a blazing green as he roared. He charged at the stunned Peryton, closing the distance in three blinks, then lunged. The Peryton swiped at him with its antlers, skewering him through his chest and leg. That didn¡¯t stop Aldrin as the beast urged him to push forward, and so he did. Taking hold of the antlers with his remaining good arm, he pulled himself closer, the hunger and need for sustenance driving him to ignore the discomfort he felt. Regalas didn¡¯t sit idly by taking the chance to charge up the energy in his horn while the Peryton was distracted. He watched on, cautious of Aldrin as he kept turning more feral as his prey grew closer with each tug. Blood ran down his body and dripped onto the ground, but it didn¡¯t stop him, ?which set a fear inside Regalas at the monster. Regalas¡¯ horn glowed a dull black that warbled the surrounding air. Knowing what he had to do as the Peryton began to thrash and rear, Regalas swiftly appeared beside it but far enough away to not catch a stray hoof to the face. He angled his head in time to let loose the concentrated bolt of energy at the Peryton¡¯s antlers. The dark energy of Regalas¡¯ horn and the bright lights of the Peryton¡¯s antlers clashed with Aldrin caught in the middle. The two energies fought until the resulting explosion blinded everyone. When Regalas regained his vision, a smoky crater remained. ¡°Aldrin!¡± He mentally called, searching for his friend, through the haze. A weak groan got his attention that he ran, too. Regalas came upon the smoldering and burnt form of Aldrin. His armor was in tatters, as were the clothes underneath. His hair was singed, leaving random bald patches. Another weak groan came from him as his eyes tried to flutter open. Regalas turned, frantically looking for the Peryton in order to heal his friend. Yet anywhere he looked, he saw nothing that moved. ¡°Hang on friend! I¡¯ll be right back!¡± Regalas tried to comfort Aldrin before racing off to get a better look inside the crater. A further from Aldrin, Regalas saw parts of the shattered antlers. Their luminous glow slightly dimmed by the minute. They called to him, alluring him into consuming them, to which he greedily obliged. They were crunchy, like chewing on the root vines of a lyce tree he used to eat with his mother. The crushed antlers burned going down, but then they settled in the pit of his stomach waiting for something else before moving on. Ignoring them for a moment, he returned to his search for the Peryton, knowing he had a portion of its power he was eager to consume the rest of it that remained in its heart. Deeper inside the cratered pit, he heard the sorrowful bellows of the dying beast. Hurriedly, he rushed to it. He saw it, mangled, beaten, and bloodied. It was trying to drag itself out of the crater and away from them. He charged up his horn again, then fired, hitting the pitiful fleeing beast in its spine. It bellowed in pain before Regalas turned to drag Aldrin back to the beast. He stopped short when he saw three more humans hovering over Aldrin. One of them was frantically pulling stuff out of thin air, much how Aldrin¡¯s sword materialized before. With cautious steps, he approached until one of them, the one who had a bow, heard him and shot an arrow that landed in front of him with a ringing thud. Regalas stopped short, eyeing the three. ¡°Evie! Pierre!¡± The bowman said, turning their attention towards him, who then pointed at Regalas. The woman gasped in shock while the other looked warily on. ¡°Fri¡­end¡­¡± Aldrin wheezed, forcing Jared to put his bow down. Chapter 36: Feathered Twilight It took a bit of work to get the group to carry Aldrin to where the dying Peryton was that Regalas led them to. They were still cautious, but more so because of what roamed the mountain than from the Black Unicorn. Jared whistled when they reached the Peryton that now crested the ridge of the pit. It was wheezing with shallow breaths that bellowed hot air from its nostrils. Regalas warily approached the wounded and dying beast, carefully walking around it until he stood almost nose to nose with it. Its dark eyes narrowed and mirrored Regalas¡¯ red ones. They stared at each other before the Black Unicorn stepped back to allow Jared and Pierre carry the crispy body of Aldrin forward. They set him down near the beast and Evie cupped her hands in the blood that dripped steadily from the open wound on its side. Gathering enough blood in her hands to overfill them, she then moved her hands to hover over Aldrin¡¯s mouth. Pierre was by her side not a moment longer as he knelt down. Gently and with slow movements, he opened Aldrin¡¯s mouth, his fangs on full display as the need for blood forced his vampiric nature to show. Evie uncoupled her hands, letting the blood of the Peryton slowly leak down Aldrin¡¯s opened mouth. His green eyes shot open, then closed in blissful peace as patches of skin rapidly healed. His brown curly hair grew back to its usual shoulder length and the pieces of his leather armor that melted onto him flaked off, leaving him stark naked. Jared quickly threw a blanket on Aldrin to cover him up as he slurped down the blood. The two men and the Black Unicorn backed away when Aldrin twitched, signifying his awakening once more. Evie got another handful of blood and repeated the process, bringing little bits of life back to him. Soon the blood Evie was supplying wasn¡¯t enough when Aldrin regained a small amount of consciousness as inched closer to her hands looking for more. Pierre noticed and was the first to help Aldrin sit up and move closer to the Peryton. His need for sustenance consumed his mind as he sank his fangs into the mangled beast. It attempted to thrash, but it was too weak to do anything as it simply accepted its fate. Regalas took the distraction to pierce his spiraled horn through the rib cage of the beast, skewering the heart once the blood had turned cold and Aldrin released his grip. Evie approached and helped him scoot away from Regalas when he jerked his head back in an attempt to dislodge and free the heart. It took a few forceful tugs, but the heart pulled free and sat atop the horn. Regalas looked to the three minus Aldrin, who was still healing. ¡°If you can, tell them to approach and pull the heart free from my horn,¡± He mentally told Aldrin. ¡°Pull heart off,¡± Aldrin coughed, testing his newly healed vocal cords. Jared warily stepped to Regalas, his hands outreached but making no sudden moves as Regalas lowered his head to give better access. The heart easily slid off the horn with a wet squelch, then Jared placed it in front of Regalas before stepping back near his friends. Regalas gazed in disbelief for a moment, then greedily chomped it down. His heart thumped loudly, threatening to burst as the power rushed through his body and then into his stomach. The energy mingled with the antler¡¯s energy he had eaten first, greeting it like old friends, then they combined, swirling into a vortex that pulled Regalas¡¯ own energy. The darkness from him and the light from the Peryton coalesced briefly before shattering, sending waves of the mixed energy throughout the rest of his body. Regalas felt it pulsate outside body, the battling energies of light and dark wrapping around him. The four had to cover their eyes from the glowing Black Unicorn as warmth and coldness washed over them. They heard the flap of giant wings and Regalas neighed triumphantly. When they uncovered their eyes, no longer was there a unicorn but a horned Pegasus. Curious, they all used Inspect to see the new creature before them.
Name: Regalas Race: Horned Twilight Pegasus Level: 55 Tier: 4 Lore: Birthed from a forceful union of Peryton and Black Unicorn energies, the Horned Twilight Pegasus are a rarity. First seen during the Second Age called the Age of Dreams, these creatures were an accidental mutation by an ancient order of Chimeric Knights meant to balance destruction and restoration.
Questions he wanted to ask formed in Aldrin¡¯s mind that he filed away for later so he could refocus his attention on Regalas. Marvelling at the new form, he couldn¡¯t help but appreciate the moment he found himself in. Large black feathered bird wings with golden edges on the end glittered like metallic dust. The spiral horn was no longer black, but a pale yellow that now was smooth like a lance. His hooves had also turned from the silver color to the golden color that matched the glittering golden edges of its feathers. For easier flight, Regalas'' once-chiseled body had compacted and lengthened itself. He was still at least a head taller than Aldrin¡¯s six-foot frame, but Regalas now fully exuded a noble feeling that complimented his new status. When he finally looked into the Pegasus'' shimmering yellow eyes, he felt like his soul was being scrutinized by the vast wisdom and intelligence that poured outwards from Regalas, ¡°Aldrin,¡± Regalas gently spoke into his mind, making Aldrin flinch at the deep baritone voice. Still recovering and wounded, Jared and Pierre helped him stand when they saw him attempting to pick himself up, tightly clutching the blanket that draped his body. Evie stood by, eyeing the Pegasus while feeling for the runestones in her pouch. ¡°It¡¯s fine Evie, he¡¯s still a friend,¡± Aldrin said, noticing and feeling her unease through their shared bond. The tension she held slowly released once Aldrin moved closer. He ignored the blinking notification in the corner of his vision as he placed a hand on the newly formed Pegasus. Regalas dipped his head lower to allow Aldrin to pet him. ¡°Thank you, friend,¡± Regalas gently said, closing his eyes. Aldrin smiled, ¡°No problem, friend,¡± he said, letting his hand drop back to his side. Regalas unfurled and flared his wings, reared on his back hooves, then gathered light energy at the tip of his horn. The group had to cover their eyes again as the brightness intensified. There was a sudden pop, then they felt warm energy wash over them, healing any aches, bruises, and injuries. Aldrin uncovered his eyes, seeing a bright yellow bubble envelope them with star-shaped glimmers raining down on them. They were absorbed into their skin and Aldrin could see his skin return to its normal healthy looking self without needing to feed to finish healing. It itched in places where his skin grew back, but he felt rejuvenated, more so than he ever would with fresh blood in his system. He even felt the need for blood slowly fade away to nothing with the healing. Everyone else slowly uncovered their eyes, marveling at the sight. Pierre rotated his left arm in a circle, feeling along his shoulder. His eyes widened in shock as he realized that an old ache was no longer there. He looked at Jared, who also looked shocked, then gave him an encouraging smile and a thumbs up. Evie was still skeptical, but she could feel the effects of the healing, taking deep roots into old injuries that had never quite healed properly. ¡°So this is the famous healing of a Unicorn everyone always says,¡± she said to herself. Aldrin turned back to her, smiled and shrugged at her. Finally having a moment, he checked on his notifications that blinked in the corner of his vision.
Congratulations! You have defeated: Luminous Peryton For defeating one of the secret dungeon mini bosses extra rewards are granted!
You have gained 1 level to Class and Race You have gained x10 Luminous Feathers(Crafting Regent) You have gained x6 Luminous Hoof Chips(Crafting Regent) You have gained x8 Tufts of Luminous Fur(Crafting Regent) You have gained blueprint: Feathered Luminous Boots (1 of 4 Luminous Set)
Congratulations! This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Level 23 Race - Vampire Progenitor - 5 Skill Points gained! Level 23 Class - Night Reaver - 3 Skill Points gained! Total Skill Points: 17
Aldrin was ecstatic at the loot gained but also mentally slapped himself on the forehead for forgetting he had points to spend still. His brother would have undoubtedly given him an earful for forgetting such a thing. Remembering his brother, he felt remorse, but the feeling quickly gave way to feelings of accomplishment and reward for his dungeon effort. If anything, it felt like it had been ages since he had gained something worthwhile. So he read his next notification, clinging to the feeling of accomplishment.
Congratulations! Quest Completed: Change of Hooves You have helped Regalas ascend to new heights and in doing so have helped solidify his bid for power amongst his mob!
Rewards: x2 Twilight Pegasus Feather(Crafting Regent) x1 Drop of Twilight Pegasus Blood(Alchemy Regent) Horn of Twilight Sanctuary
All the items appeared in his inventory. Once again, excitement overtook him as he quickly opened up his inventory to inspect the items. As he thought, the rewards from the Peryton were specifically for crafting, but the Twilight Pegasus feathers were a catalyst for any sort of crafting to give the item an extra boost or effect. The blood granted him 36 hours with no need to feed, which was a tremendous boon considering he estimated he needed to feed every four hours at his current rank. Then he came upon the last two items, the blueprint and the [Horn of Twilight Sanctuary].
Feathered Luminous Boots(Blueprint) Grants the wearer with the ability to hover using the small wings on the ankles. +2 Dexterity +1 Constitution
Horn of Twilight Sanctuary The Horned Twilight Pegasus has imbued a portion of his healing ability in this horn. Blow it and a healing bubble will surround you and four other allies within the vicinity. Cooldown: 10 minutes
Regalas pulled him from his thoughts as he approached them. ¡°Our agreement has been concluded, Night Lord, I thank thee once more,¡± he bowed his head. ¡°Now I must return, but before I go, I can take you all down the mountain.¡± ¡°Thank you, Regalas,¡± Aldrin said out loud, then relayed what he was told to his friends. Jared had stars in his eyes as he stared in wonder at Regalas. With tentative steps, he approached him. Regalas lowered himself to allow Jared to climb up. Unsure where to grip, he held onto a handful of Regalas¡¯ mane of black hair. Then Regalas stood back up on powerful legs, turned in a circle, looking for the best strip of land to take off from with the added weight. Finding it, he reared up, then started galloping, gaining speed and unfurling his wings to take off. Jared hooted and whooped the entire way and then shortly turned into minor screams of fear once they left the ground, struggling to keep his grip. Aldrin couldn¡¯t help but smile at the sight as Regalas proudly swooped around, getting used to having wings. It seemed like he had always had wings from the way he quickly adapted to the new limbs. Pierre strained his eyes to get a better look while Evie shook her head with a wry grin at Jared¡¯s hollering. Soon enough, they dove over the mountain and this time Jared¡¯s small screams turned into large screams. ¡°Well, that will be something he will always remember,¡± Pierre said with a grin. Evie chuckled, ¡°Oh yeah, he¡¯s never gonna let this go until he probably gets one of his own or something.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t say that I blame him. Who is going next, though?¡± Aldrin asked. Pierre looked at Evie, who shrugged her shoulders. ¡°I¡¯ll go,¡± he said, stepping forward. ¡°Then I¡¯ll fly down with you Evie. I want to see how fast he actually is,¡± Aldrin laughed. Evie looked at him skeptically. ¡°What do you mean how fast he is?¡± She narrowed her eyes at him. ¡°Oh, nothing at all.¡± He looked away, rocking back and forth on his heels, trying his best to hide the smirk on his face. He could still feel Evie glare daggers at him, forcing Pierre to stifle a laugh. A moment later, Regalas dove back down towards them. Aldrin pointed him out for a distraction, then gestured for Pierre to step forward when Regalas swooped down, batting his wings furiously as he landed in a trot before coming to a stop in front of them. ¡°How does it feel?¡± Aldrin asked Regalas as Pierre waited for him to lower himself so he could climb on. ¡°Freeing. My mother would be proud of me,¡± Regalas solemnly said. Aldrin sighed and looked down. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Do not be. It was a long, long time ago.¡± Regalas said, slightly adjusting himself to make it easier for Pierre, who was busy climbing on. Once he was on and felt as secure as he could, Regalas took off. Aldrin could see Pierre''s white knuckling Regalas¡¯ mane once they were in the air. Unlike Jared, he didn¡¯t scream however, he didn¡¯t dare peek over and look down, which Aldrin found peculiar. ¡°I think Pierre is scared of heights,¡± Aldrin told Evie. She looked at the fleeing figure of Regalas and Pierre and saw what Pierre was doing. ¡°I think it¡¯s true,¡± she said, nodding along. ¡°So what¡¯s the next step after this?¡± she asked once Pierre was out of sight. Aldrin frowned a bit, ¡°Probably tackle the fields to take out the Golem Maker mini boss if the Peryton was anything to go by. Hopefully we can get Pierre to craft potions for him and Jared.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve collected some, but not enough. We will see how long the potion lasts when he makes it,¡± she said. Aldrin nodded, letting the silence fall over them as they both watched the sky for Regalas¡¯ return. During that time he looked over his Skills to see what else he could gain and if he found nothing then he would invest them in his stat points. Mentally berating himself for forgetting to distribute his points from his last level up, he had chosen three new Skills to contemplate on, but in the end he invested 2 points to unlock the first level of Shadowmancy enabling him to blend into the shadows opening up another avenue of hunting and attacks. He would need to try it out whenever the sun was setting and cast its burgeoning shadows among the foliage. With Shadowmancy unlocked, he had 15 points to spend. He figured the ratio for now would be to at least get an ability or upgrade a current one per level; perhaps two if he had the points for it like he had now, then use the rest to distribute among his stats. For his other Skill he wanted to unlock, he chose to do the first level of Hemomancy, which allowed him to form weapons from his own blood at the cost of 25 HP. It wasn¡¯t a steep price, but he figured it might be limited to what he could create. It was also something he would need to experiment with when he had the downtime. He let out a groan at the piling list of things to do and practice with, but also delighted in the challenge it presented. Evie looked at him with a quirked eyebrow, then started to speak, but Regalas¡¯ wingbeats interrupted her. Landing again in a running trot, he stopped and lowered himself to allow Evie to climb on. She was nervous at first, but then shot a glare at Aldrin, who smiled mischievously. ¡°Hey Regalas,¡± he said slowly, which made Regalas perk his ears. ¡°Want to race?¡± He said, switching his gaze between Evie¡¯s horrified look and Regalas¡¯ contemplative one. Regalas turned his neck and head to look one eye at the fuming Evie that sat on his back. ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll just walk,¡± she said through gritted teeth, moving to get off. ¡°No, please Evie, we will go slow,¡± Aldrin placated her, putting on his best disarming smile. ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t trust you,¡± she shot back with a mischievous grin of her own, but before she could even step one foot onto the ground, Regalas blared his wings and took off in a dead sprint. Between the wingbeats and the wind, Aldrin¡¯s laughter was whisked away from her. She tightly shut her eyes and gripped his mane for dear life once she felt the weightlessness of them leaving the ground. Scrambling for any purchase, Regalas slightly tilted to help her adjust to a better position. She dared to open her eyes but only managed a quick glimpse, seeing the clouds race by then, her belly dropped as Regalas folded his wings, turning their once straight as an arrow flight into a steep nosedive. She screamed all the way, mustering all of her strength to hold on tight. Smaller, fast-paced wingbeats came from her left. Opening her eyes was a mistake, as she only saw a black blob of flying mass from her watery eyes and dizzying flaying hair that came loose from her bun. Fortunately for her, it was over as quick as it started. ¡°That was not fair, Regalas. There was no countdown,¡± she heard Aldrin chastise. Regalas snorted in response, then lowered himself down. ¡°Evie, you can let go now,¡± Aldrin said, trying to stifle a laugh. She squinted one eye, then opened the other to see that she was close to the ground again. Rage replaced her hesitation as she jumped down and stormed up to Aldrin, looking him eye to eye with a finger pointed under his chin. ¡°You are lucky it was quick,¡± she threatened through gritted teeth, then turned on her heel to face Regalas. ¡°And you!¡± She stomped over to Regalas. ¡°You are lucky you¡¯re considered an endangered species, otherwise you would be excellent experience to have. You might even give me a level.¡± Jared and Pierre came up soon after, looking between the fuming Evie that had her arms crossed while tapping her foot, Aldrin, who was trying his best not to laugh, and Regalas, who seemed content to dig in the dirt with his hoof. ¡°What happened?¡± Jared asked but was immediately silenced by the baleful glare Evie shot his way. That was all it took for Aldrin to let loose the laugh he had been desperately trying to hold in. Chapter 37: Sometimes the Truth Hurts and Lying Heals ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan again?¡± Jared asked once they reached the outskirts of the purple cat tailed fields. The trek back hadn¡¯t been overly long with the help of Regalas leading them. ¡°Set up camp around here AWAY from the fields, so neither of you gets trapped in them again. Then Evie and I are going into the fields to gather as much pollen?¡± Aldrin looked at Evie, who nodded her head. ¡°To get as much pollen for Pierre to craft potions that would make you immune to the effects of the field,¡± He said, looking back at the two. ¡°And then?¡± Pierre asked. ¡°And then we are probably going to face down another mini boss of the dungeon.¡± Aldrin finished. With the new plan in mind, they moved counterclockwise along the edge of the fields until they came to a copse of trees that gave them cover. Settling down, they made camp, keeping a careful eye on the fields for any more Golems that might sneak up on them. ¡°We have to be careful when we rest. I can¡¯t sense them since they aren¡¯t a living thing,¡± Aldrin said. Evie took out four black stones with white runic carvings on them. ¡°I can place a ward around us that will alarm me if anything gets too close.¡± ¡°Some extra security is always good,¡± Pierre chimed in, pulling out his Alchemist Kit from his Inventory. He set the bowl down first, then took out the mortar and pestle, and lastly held a hand outreached for the collected pollen that Evie collected earlier. She placed it in his open hand and he took it without looking up, staring intently at what could only be a menu screen of potions he could make. ¡°How does it work? Your alchemy?¡± Jared asked, peering over Pierre¡¯s shoulder, watching him pluck ingredients from his Inventory and dropping them into the mortar. ¡°I have a list of known potions I can make, potions I specifically know, and unlearned potions.¡± He said, moving over to turn on a small flame on the contraption of the kit. ¡°For potions, poisons, and elixirs, a menu is presented to me and tells me what ingredients I need to make it. The downside is it doesn¡¯t say how long they will take to make.¡± He said, beginning to use the pestle to turn the ingredients in the mortar to a goopy paste. ¡°Which are you making now?¡± Aldrin chimed in. Pierre hummed for a moment, ¡°Potion of the Insomniac Jester,¡± he mumbled. ¡°The what?¡± Jared asked, stifling a laugh. ¡°The Potion of the-¡° Pierre began. ¡°No, I know what you said. I just didn¡¯t think it would have that kind of name,¡± Jared interrupted Pierre. Pierre huffed, ¡°It gives immunity to sleep and hypnosis and lasts for 5 minutes. The dosage is 4 per vial.¡± ¡°So we have 20 minutes per vial for you two while in the field looking for the golem maker,¡± Aldrin said, bringing a hand to his chin. He was quiet for a moment until he snapped his fingers, bringing all eyes to him. ¡°I can search in the air for any movements. Granted, I don¡¯t know how expansive this field is, so I¡¯ll keep it to 5 minutes in every direction until I see something. Evie, lay down the defensive measures, Jared, see if you can pick up any unusual marking along the edges of the field, and Pierre, keep focusing on the potions. I suggest giving you and Jared enough to last an hour and if you need more pollen, just ask Evie to get it since she¡¯s immune.¡± Aldrin said, looking at each of them. He got affirmative nods in response as the three of them sprung into action. He finally turned back to Regalas, who was grazing on the tall purple stalks. Aldrin had found it odd that he had been so quiet amongst everything, but he kind of understood, as what they were doing was still foreign to him in a way. ¡°I suppose this is where we part ways, then?¡± Aldrin asked out loud. Regalas twitched his ear once, ¡°Aye Night Lord, it is time. You have given me an immense boon in both knowledge of the outside world and my new status. I have debt I can never repay but hope to always remember.¡± He bowed his head and knelt in front of Aldrin, ¡°From the deepest of my black heart, you have my utmost thanks and gratitude Aldrin Ravindra, Progenitor of Vampires and fellow Night Lord. I hope your future remains fortuitous and filled with contentment.¡± He humbly said, filling each word with his respect and appreciation he felt towards Aldrin. Touched by his genuine words, Aldrin bowed deeply in return, ¡°It has been an honor Regalas of the Twilight.¡± Both of them rose back to their full height, gazing at each other one last time. Regalas was the first one to break away as he turned and raced off, furiously flapping his wings and gaining altitude with each flap. Aldrin watched him go, headed back towards the mountain peaks in the distance, then he jumped high into the air then transformed into a swarm of bats heading off deeper into the fields. He had hoped he would find something in the center first. From the vantage point he had, the fields were still, almost like a predator lying in wait for its prey to wander by and drop its guard. It gave Aldrin a chill down his spine to think of it that way as he compared the Golems to teeth and the Golem Maker as the stomach. The field was just to lure the unsuspecting into the trap. It was clever in a diabolical way, but nothing they wouldn¡¯t be able to handle once he found out where the ¡°heart¡± was. Back at the camp, Pierre was busy steadily working on the potions for him and Jared. Evie was busy placing her runic stones at even spaced intervals, forming a half circle alarm that sat in front of their little den they made. ¡°Pierre, when you get a chance, I need you to do something for me.¡± Evie finally said, returning to join him as he worked. ¡°What is it?¡± He said without looking up. ¡°If you make a cure, keep it to yourself for now.¡± Evie said, gravely and quietly. That broke Pierre¡¯s concentration from the bubbling small cauldron that sat over the fire on a metal grated table. He looked at her with his eyebrows raised and mouth slightly parted. ¡°What do you mean? Why would I do that?¡± He finally said, after staring at her, trying to process what she said. Evie took a shallow breath. ¡°He can¡¯t get distracted. Hells, look at him. He¡¯s damn near catching onto being what he is. It¡¯s just when we get to the Continent, things are going to change rapidly.¡± She hesitated on the last part. Pierre narrowed his eyes. ¡°What are you not telling us, Evie?¡± She was about to answer until her alarm tripped by vibrating a stone she wore around her neck and then she heard Jared cursing. She glanced back at Pierre, who gazed at her?. Shaking her head and mouthing the word ¡°later¡± she stood and went to free Jared. Pierre stared at her back as thoughts circulated around in his mind. They returned not a moment sooner. Jared was grumbling to himself about the alarm, but Pierre interrupted him by asking if he''d found any tracks. Jared shook his head. ¡°However, I found some markings that are worth looking at whenever you¡¯re done,¡± he replied. Pierre hummed in response and continued to focus on his potion making. He snuck glances at Evie, who blatantly ignored him, only choosing to focus on keeping the fire going. ¡°Alright, what¡¯s going on?¡± Jared asked, darting his eyes back and forth between the two. ¡°You two are being weird. Are you two sleeping together? I mean, there would be no judgment here personally-¡° ¡°NO!¡± both of them said in unison, cutting off any further sentences that were forming. Jared clamped his mouth shut, then twiddled his thumbs. ¡°So what is it, then?¡± He asked again, warily glancing at the two. With a heavy sigh, Evie pulled her knees to her chest. ¡°I asked Pierre not to tell Aldrin of the cure when and if he figures it out,¡± she said. Jared looked at Pierre, whose face was stoic. He gave a simple nod for confirmation, then Jared looked back at Evie, who stoked the fire, making it roar with life once more. ¡°Why would you ask that?¡± Jared asked, raising his eyebrows. ¡°Because look at him. He¡¯s accepting the possibility that this might be permanent, which it is-¡° Evie started. ¡°How? How is it permanent?¡± Jared questioned again. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. "Since his creation wasn''t the result of being turned, he was instead remade into the Progenitor. Vampirism can only be fixed if a vampire turns you. If you¡¯re born one which is extremely rare for them, or turned into one from a ritual, curse, or a potion, then the cure is death or, in their words, true death.¡± Evie said, burying her head lower into her knees, showing only her eyes watching the fire. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to tell him because he had so much hope of being normal again that I didn¡¯t want to crush that.¡± Both Jared and Pierre sat back, processing the information Evie dropped onto their lap. ¡°So that means he¡¯s stuck like that?¡± Jared quietly asked, to which Evie nodded her head, not deigning to give a verbal answer. ¡°And there is nothing we can do?¡± He pressed. ¡°Nothing,¡± she repeated. ¡°He is who he is meant to be.¡± ¡°Then why will things change once we reach the continent?¡± Pierre asked, steering the conversation. ¡°Because that¡¯s where the Gods battled for dominance long ago. It is a place of power for those with ties to them. Vampires originated on that continent; it is their ancestral homeland, and they will recognize his presence the moment his foot touches the soil.¡± Evie said. Pierre flicked his eyes back to the bubbling small cauldron that sat over the fire, then back at Evie, ¡°You know, for someone who claims to not know much, you sure know a lot.¡± He said. Evie chuckled, the sound breaking the tension that loomed over the revelation. ¡°I know little compared to others who have lived since the time of Gods.¡± ¡°Wait, can we live that long?¡± Jared asked, changing the subject. ¡°I told you, after Tier 3, things start getting a bit weird. From what my parents have told me, Tier 1 to 3 are basically the foundation of what direction you want to go in with limitless potential. Tier 4 is when you start to solidify that direction. Tier 5 is your time to consolidate and learn, and finally, if you make it to Tier 6, that¡¯s when you are considered a Demigod if not an outright God.¡± Evie explained. ¡°So why don¡¯t we see a bunch of Tier 5 and 6 running around?¡± Jared asked. ¡°Oh they are around. Trust me. Most are only reserved for severe cases such as infestations, plagues, wars, or anything that will cause mass casualties. Tier 5 people are usually roaming the world, chasing the dream of achieving Tier 6. It¡¯s hard work, especially if you mess up during your foundation Tiers.¡± Evie said. ¡°Tier 6 people are also shadow leaders of whatever noble house helping their family reach the same Tier as them. Sometimes they are still out adventuring the world or have traveled to a different plane of existence in search of something above Tier 6?. Although, should things ever escalate negatively and they are called upon, their presence will be like the first Progenitor Wars all over again.¡± ¡°So in a nutshell, Aldrin is stuck as he is, but as soon as we get to the Forbidden Continent, whoever lives there will instantly know who and what he is. Then, to top it all off, we have to get him to Tier 6 in order to fend off other Tier 6? All the while trying not to die ourselves?¡± Pierre surmised. ¡°Yes,¡± Evie said.
System Alert! Quest Issued: Fate of Grenora You have chosen to aid in the ascension of a Progenitor. In doing so, you have forsaken all other oaths and paths available to you. In exchange, you will be granted other opportunities to help you grow alongside your chosen Progenitor. Reward: Unique Tier 5 or 6 option granted.
¡°Ah¡­ well¡­ Shit.¡± Jared said, after reading through it. Evie groaned, ¡°This is what I was afraid of happening.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Pierre asked. ¡°A world war is in the works and we have chosen our side for the coming conflict. Which also means that pretty soon everyone will be leveling up faster than before because the monsters and quests will be ramping up. Adventurers will eventually have to disband and return to their respective homes to take part in their homeland''s defense.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t the Adventurers Guild exempt from World Wars?¡± Pierre asked, carefully eyeing the potion he was making. ¡°They are, but people can still leave to go defend their homes if need be. The Guild won¡¯t hold you back from doing so. You just forfeit all ties and benefits the Guild offers during wartime. Those who choose to stay can take Quest deemed as Mercenary Work,¡± Evie said, taking a breath. ¡°Is there always war?¡± Pierre asked. ¡°Yes, and no. War propagates fast growth and an outlet to cull the populations of the world. There are some races that engage in light skirmishes throughout the year to strengthen themselves, but there hasn¡¯t been any open war in some time now.¡± Evie informed them. ¡°Sounds a lot like our world,¡± Jared said to Pierre, who nodded. ¡°Back to the matter we were talking about before,¡± Pierre said, earning the focus of the two sitting before him. ¡°So Vampires are on the Forbidden Continent. We have found no evidence to say yes or no, but we are under the assumption they are,¡± he deduced. Evie carefully looked Pierre in the eyes,¡±Yes, if Waesmenor was correct in what he alluded to, then yes.¡± ¡°Are we going to need protection from them?¡± Jared jumped in. ¡°No. A Servant is considered a high honor among those that make use of them. We are basically Aldrin¡¯s inner circle, and since he is the Progenitor, he would be seen as royalty automatically. Hence, we would also be above other Servants we would encounter.¡± Evie told them. ¡°But Aldrin is also not a sufficient rank yet either. Hell, we don¡¯t even know what¡¯s after Juvenile.¡± Pierre said. ¡°Well, what¡¯s after Juvenile in our world? Mature right? Or an adult? Since Juvenile is that weird gap between pre-teen and teenager to adult?¡± Jared asked. Pierre thought for a moment, tapping his chin, ¡°It would be our best guess.¡± ¡°As I have said, I know little of their culture except for the tales handed down to me,¡± Evie said. ¡°Which is why I¡¯m in such a hurry to rush you guys to a decent level, so we do stand a chance to run if we can¡¯t fight back and that¡¯s if we encounter any unwelcoming Vampires. Hopefully, they still follow a strict hierarchy, much like the shapeshifters.¡± ¡°Whoa whoa whoa, time out lady, you¡¯re talking about werewolves now? There are werewolves here?!¡± Jared stood up. Evie looked at him like he had grown another head like the Ettins she knew little of, ¡°If there are Vampires, why wouldn¡¯t there be Werewolves too?¡± She drawled. Pierre sighed, ¡°He¡¯s deathly afraid of werewolves even though they weren¡¯t real in our world,¡± He emphasized the last part. Evie gazed back at Jared, who turned pale and held a thousand-yard stare. ¡°Jared?¡± She called him. Pierre stood up to move next to Jared, gently tapping him on the shoulder and waving a hand in front of his face. ¡°Huh, no reaction. Yeah, he went down a rabbit hole. He will be back in a few minutes,¡± he said, sitting back down. ¡°He is a strange man,¡± Evie said while looking at the still frozen Jared. ¡°Jared¡¯s head has always been in the clouds and so when the reality you have in your head becomes the reality you live in,¡± he gestured to all around them, ¡°For him, in this case, his desires and fears manifested themselves. He may also have the abilities and tools to fight against them, but only if he can overcome himself.¡± Evie stayed quiet as she listened to Pierre speak. She looked at Jared in a new light, realizing that this was still new to him, especially coming from the Civil War between the Fire and Ice Giants. ¡°I¡¯m still sorry for your first experience with my kind. We aren¡¯t all like them,¡± she said softly, looking down at the ground between her and the fire. ¡°I know and it¡¯s ok. We all have our things we gotta deal with eventually,¡± Pierre said, turning back to finishing the potion. Evie was about to say something else when Aldrin fluttered down, reshaping into his body just outside her alarm circle. ¡°Can someone let me in?¡± Aldrin asked, feeling a force stopping him. ¡°Sorry! We can¡¯t let any monsters in!¡± Evie called back with a smile. ¡°Very funny Evie, now let me in. Please.¡± Aldrin deadpanned. Chuckling to herself, she got up, ¡°I¡¯m coming, hold on,¡± she said in between her giggles. When she got to where Aldrin was, she leaned down to one of the runic rocks and whispered a word, opening up a passage for him to slip through. ¡°Thank you,¡± he grumbled to her, stepping into their makeshift camp. He saw Pierre still concocting the potions and Jared fiddling with his bowstring. Evie came up behind him, giving him a pat on the shoulder. ¡°So, what did you find?¡± She asked, getting comfortable on the ground in front of the fire. Joining the circle, he sat down too. ¡°I think they are underground. I saw another group of three burrow themselves out from underneath, then cover it back up.¡± ¡°What sort of Dungeon is this? This doesn¡¯t feel like a Tier 2 Dungeon at all.¡± Jared said. ¡°It is. I told you, the higher Tier Dungeons start getting more elaborate and expansive.¡± Evie said. ¡°Something to also keep in mind, Regalas had confirmed that Dungeons are indeed snippets from the past,¡± Aldrin said to the group, weighing their stunned reactions. ¡°So it really is true that these places are glimpses into the past where something significant had happened. But what could have happened here to cause it to become a Dungeon?¡± Evie whispered while she stared into the fire. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but whatever it was, we just gotta stay on our toes,¡± Aldrin said. Just then, the bubbling of the cauldron stopped as Pierre looked up. ¡°It¡¯s done. I can make a second batch, just in case.¡± ¡°Better safe than sorry,¡± Jared replied, to which Aldrin and Evie nodded. Pierre got out the rest of the ingredients Evie had collected for him, then set to work on the second batch. Jared rested a bit while they waited and Evie went back to making more Runestones, specifically ones for healing and curse breaking. Aldrin felt something was off with the group but didn¡¯t bother to address it currently, as he was listening for any of the Golems to wander by. Aldrin watched her do it, curious about how the magic worked. She carved a symbol then whispered into it, making it light up briefly before becoming inert, then she set aside in its correct pile. It wasn¡¯t long after that Pierre finished and Evie had a nice stack of both runestones. Choosing to rest and ready themselves for their next mini boss, Aldrin kept watch. The need to sleep no longer having the allure it once held to him.