《Don't Fear the Reaper》 Suggestions, criticism, stats and skills Hey guys, I wanted to give you a place where you could check the stats and skills in case you need them during a chapter or if you''re just curious. So I made this post. Also I''m always open to your ideas, suggestions and any criticism, so dont hesitate to post here or send me a PM Skills Hall Spoiler :
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Bad Moon RisingBeginner233%
Your enemies shall tremble in fear. Your opponents shall gravel in the dust beneath your feet. Nothing may stand in your way as you tear through every obstacle. Darkness will fall and only the light of death shall illuminate your battles and bear witness to your power. Effects: -1% accuracy for enemies -5% stats for enemies -10% movement speed for enemies -15% health, stamina and mana regeneration for enemies Effects doubled if an enemy stands alone against you Effects reduced depending on the enemies will Range:20m
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
The Sound of SilenceBeginner10%
The explosion of your soul energy in your chains, combined with the sound wave, produced by their impact when striking, creates a deafening blast. Every sound within the impact zone will be silenced. Can only be used if chains are shorter than 4m. Enemies, as well as allies are affected. Effects:
  • Causes silence within the blast radius of 5m
  • Causes deafness within the blast radius of 5m Cost: 90mana
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
In my Time of Dying (passive)--100%
If your health drops below 10% you gain strength through your proximity to death. Effects:
  • +100% Willpower
  • +30% to all stats
  • +30% speed
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Ain¡¯t no Grave can hold my body down (Subskill of In my Time of Dying,passive)--100%
As you are affiliated with it, death holds no fear for you. Be aware though, those who underestimate death will suffer greatly. Effects:
  • Should you die, you can choose to rise again within 5min
  • You will be revived under the effects of In my Time of Dying, the effects will last for 10min after your revival
  • Should you die during the same battle you will lose 3 levels and the corresponding stat points, your willpower will also drop by 5 points
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Keep me in your Heart for a While (Subskill of In my Time of Dying,passive)--100%
Those who oppose you shall remember your promise of vengeance Effects:
  • You will remember the soul energy of those who kill you and can track them down within a range of 25 miles
Duration: 1 month
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Soul PerceptionBeginner611%
Through continuous training and concentration you are able to sense the energy that the souls around you carry. Through affiliation with death, soul perception is now more effective and can read if the soul is pure. Effects:
  • you are able to see your own soul energy
  • you can sense the souls of people and animals around you
  • you can sense the stream and the remnants of soul energy
  • you can sense if a soul is pure or burdened with sin
  • you can sense the strength and the state of a soul to a certain degree
Range: 10m Cost: 4mana/sec
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Soul Pressure (Subskill of Soul Perception)Beginner321%
Exuding an immense amount of pressure with your soul energy can overwhelm an opponent Effects:
  • can confuse, harm or even kill weak willed enemies around you
Cost: 50 mana / sec, 25 stamina / sec
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Soul ChainsBeginner791%
The cursed chains that bound you, yielded to your will and now obey your command. After being affiliated with death the chains are imbued with its power. Effects:
  • incorporeal chains can be imbued with the power of your soul, allowing you to wield them
  • chains are invisible to others as long as they are not imbued with soul energy
  • current length: 2.5m
  • current speed of charging the chains with soul energy: 1.8 m/sec
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Mana Drain (Subskill of Soul Chains)Beginner379%
If you wrap your chains around an enemy you are able to drain him of his mana Effects: drains 1.3%, but not more than 30 of the enemies mana per second The chains have to be corporeal while the skill is active
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Soul Distortion (Subskill of Soul Chains and Soul Perception)Beginner292%
Because you can sense a souls properties you are able to distort the balance of your enemies soul energy with your own while your soul chain is in contact with them Effects:
  • Enemy is confused and may go into a Berserker state, not being able to differentiate between friend and foe
  • For every second the skill affected an enemy, the duration of the aftereffects will increase by 31 seconds.
  • Very weak willed enemies can be killed
Aftereffects: Speed -15% Defense -15% Health-, mana-, and stamina regeneration stopped Cost: 9 mana/sec Only enemies with a weaker will than you are affected.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Hells Bells (Subskill of Soul Chains)Beginner239%
Your soul resonates with Lilith¡¯s heart, you chains with her voice. Together with her you create a special sound, a unique melody instilling terror in the hearts of your opponents. Effects:
  • Fighting Spirit / Willpower of the enemy is reduced
  • chains cause 10% more damage
  • the stamina consumption of the enemy is increased slightly
Can only be used in combination with Lilith''s skill Voice of the Soul Effect is increased by 30% if Lilith is in her corporeal form Chains have to be corporeal. Cost: 3 mana / sec
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Judgement (passive)--100%
With the power over death you are able to judge a soul in its last moment Effects:
  • killing sinful beings won¡¯t raise your infamy
  • killing someone with more infamy than fame won¡¯t raise your infamy
  • killing someone with a pure soul will cause you to receive 3 times the amount of infamy
  • destroying people and objects that oppose death will raise your fame and depending on their strength may give you additional stat points
  • a soul you reaped will find its peace and can¡¯t be raised as an undead or trapped in this world
[*]freeing trapped and cursed souls will grant you fame and depending on their strength may give you additional stat points
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
I¡¯m Still Standing (passive)--100%
Unyielding in the face of agony, unwavering if pain torments you. No matter how often you fall, there is nothing that keeps you from rising defiantly to your feet. Effects:
  • Endurance raised by 5%
  • With every 10% health you lose your damage increases by 0.5%
  • Attacks directed at your mind will have a likeliness of 10 % to fail
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Watching over Me--100%
Even though they aren¡¯t with you anymore, your loved ones continue to protect you. Effects:
    Passive:
  • Sneak and stealth (close and ranged) attacks won¡¯t cause any additional damage
  • Attacks from the back won¡¯t cause any additional damage
  • One second before incoming damage, your perception of time will be changed (instead of 4:1 to 16:1) until you receive the attack or half a second later if you evade. (time dilation will accumulate to a maximum of 6 perceived seconds, meaning you will experience 6 seconds while 1.5 pass) Does only apply once, at the beginning of combat. Activation: The next incoming negative effect will be nullified (for example damage or curses) If 10 seconds pass after activation without any effect, the boon will expire Cost: If activated as a passive skill it will consume 10% of your maximum mana and won¡¯t refill past the 90% mark Activation won¡¯t use any mana, but it will consume the protection granted to you. New passive activation can only be granted after 6 hours. Mana consumption by the boon is disabled during this time.
[*]
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Death¡¯s Grimoire (passive)Beginner119%
Knowledge is power! Currently weak, this tome can be filled with information and wisdom, granting great power to its partner. Effects: Damage of skills related to Death (class skills) increased by 1.5% Range and effect of skills related to Death increased by 1.5% Defense against skills related to Death increased by 1.5%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Turn the PageBeginner10%
Carrying the grimoire that is bound to your soul grants you strength. Grimoire has to be equipped in one hand. Skills of familiars and pets are also enhanced. Effects: Damage of skills related to Death (class skills) increased by 15% Range and effect of skills related to Death increased by 15% Defense against skills related to Death increased by 15%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
AmbidexterityBeginner369%
Through constant training your left hand becomes a lot stronger and more skillful Effects:
  • +11% left handed damage
  • +2.1% agility
  • the stamina consumption with left handed attacks is reduced
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
IdentificationBeginner575%
Allows you to identify items with special properties.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Down with the SicknessBeginner229%
You possess knowledge to cleanse blood as well as the soul. The higher the skill, the more you¡¯ll be able to affect your target. Effects:
  • Able to cleanse tainted blood (including many poisons and diseases)
  • Able to lift blood curses
  • Able to cleanse tainted souls
  • Able to lift curses caused by soul energy
Casting Time: Depending on the target Mana Cost: 40 mana / sec
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Blast TyrantBeginner238%
A deafening roar filled with anger and despair but also with the promise of defiance. Effects:
  • Enemies are confused and their morale will be reduced depending on skill proficiency and enemy strength
  • Allies are filled with new hope: health and mana regeneration doubled for 10min one negative effect is lifted randomly
Cost: 50 mana
[*]
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Soul WeavingBeginner10%
The art to create, process and combine artifacts imbued with soul energy and influence the world around you with the power of your soul. Effects: Can temporarily combine items already imbued with your soul energy
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Under Black Flags We MarchBeginner10%
The souls you saved offer their bodies in gratitude In exchange for your life force, your blood, you will be able to control them for a short amount of time Effects:
  • Awaken the bodies of the enemies whose souls you have cleansed
  • To give them life, you have to sacrifice yours (every hit point they gain, you will lose. Lost health can only be restored once the Awoken perishes)
  • Awoken bodies lose their intelligence, 50% attack power and 50% speed
[*] Duration: 10 min Cost: 100 mana / Awakening Limited to 3 Awoken Requirements: Needs ¡®The Blood Counts Last Will¡¯ to transfer life force
Weapon Mastery skills:
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Chain Mastery (Subskill of Soulchains)Beginner642%
Constantly training with the chains around your wrists and even jumping into battle armed with nothing more than those, you have gained control over them and are now able to wield them with frightening skill. Effects:
  • Damage increased by 19%
  • Speed increased by 7.5%
  • can be varied from zero to three times its original length
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Sword MasteryBeginner383%
Constantly training with the sword increased your proficiency in combat. Effects:
  • Damage increased by 11%
  • Speed increased by 4%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dagger MasteryBeginner328%
Constantly training with the dagger increased your proficiency in combat. Effects:
  • Damage increased by 11%
  • Speed increased by 4%
[*]
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Scythe MasteryBeginner10%
Constantly training with the scythe has increased your proficiency in combat. Effects: Damage increased by 10% Speed increased by 3%
Skills Lily Spoiler :
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Soul Meets BodyBeginner568%
After restoring part of your soul you are able to regain your body for a short amount of time. Effects:
  • You can affect your surroundings
  • You are able to deal physical damage
  • You are able to receive physical damage
  • Invisible and untraceable until corporeal
Cost: 11 mana / sec
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Angels don¡¯t killBeginner489%
To avoid harming innocent souls you are able to create mana chains that pin down the enemy without harming them. You are able to conjure four chains at the same time. Effects:
  • Mana chains have 500 health
  • If the mana chains are destroyed they will cause a shockwave stunning the target for 2 second without dealing damage
Range: 30m Duration: if not destroyed a chain has a lifespan of 4min Cost: 80 mana / chain
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Spiritual HealingBeginner338%
As a spiritual being you are close to death. Having a contract with the Harbinger of Death allows you to transform mana into health. Effects:
  • transforms 1 mana into 1.4 health point
  • transformation rate 9 mana / sec
Cost: 9 mana / sec (will be transformed into health) Spell has to be channeled
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Voice of the SoulBeginner79%
Your voice gives your allies strength. In times of despair you can give them hope. In times of grief comfort and in times of battle courage. Effects:
  • Allies can only hear you if you are corporeal
  • Your soul bound partner can hear you anytime
  • Effects are increased by 7%
Cost: depending on the subskill used Only one song bonus can be active at the same time
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
The Sound of Perseverance (Subskill of Voice of the Soul)Beginner258%
In dire situations this song will grant the strength to persist when others fall. Effects:
  • Willpower (Fighting Spirit if Willpower stat is not available) raised by 8.5%
  • Endurance is raised by 6%
Effect duration after the song is finished: 10min Cost: 90 mana
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
I will follow you into the Dark (Subskill of Voice of the Soul)Beginner498%
Although betrayed before, you are finally able to trust again. When you sing only for the one who thawed your frozen heart you lay bare your very soul for him and only he will be able to hear your voice. Effects:
  • Stamina consumption is reduced by half
  • Endurance and Willpower is raised by 13%
  • Strength increased by 3%
Effect duration after the song is finished: 10min Cost: 155 mana
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Prayer for the Dying (Subskill of Voice of the Soul)Beginner139%
In the midst of battle there is always hopelessness and fear. Those dying cry out for salvation which you can grant. Effects:
  • Allies gain courage and a higher morale even if confronted with great obstacles
  • Enemies that hear your song will have a reduced will to fight
Effect duration after the song is finished: 10min Cost: 65 mana
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Tears of HeavenBeginner331%
You had to endure incredible hardships, your soul was tormented, your heart felt sorrow and your companion was punished for staying by your side. The souls of the dead cry for you. A rain of tears will fall from the heavens and annihilate your enemy. Effects:
  • devastating Area of effect damage
  • Area of effect can be controlled with a maximum radius of 2.3m
  • will only hurt those that you see as an enemy
Range: 25m Casting time: 25 sec Cost: 125 mana / sec for every meter of radius Spell has to be channeled
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Velvet ThornsBeginner13%
To protect what you care for most, to guard the one you share a bond with and help him retaliate against his foes you will let vines of energy spread over and entangle him. His energy will allow your vines to grow thorns, threatening those that mean harm. Can only be used on soul bound companions (currently: Hall, Harbinger of Death) Effects:
  • -10% received melee damage
  • -5% received magical damage
  • 10% melee damage will be reflected to the attacker
Duration: 15 min or until 2000 damage was absorbed. Cost: 200 mana
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Garden of Thorns (passive)-1-
If your most precious, the one you tried to protect, perishes in battle, these thorny vines will use its remaining energy to overgrow the surroundings, guard the remains and protect it from all enemies. Effects:
  • Activates upon death (only when no option of revival exists)
  • thorny vines will overgrow an area within a radius of 2m
  • -50% movement speed within the field of thorns
  • 50 dmg for one second, damage doubles each second
Duration: 120 min
[*] Skills Moira Spoiler :
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Angels at my Gate (passive)--100%
Every cleansed soul that leaves its body after death, will leave a part of its knowledge and experience with you. Effects: Knowledge from souls (only when cleansed)
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. [*] As of Chapter 29: Status Window Hall: Spoiler :
Status Window
Name:HallAlignment:Death
Level:68Class: Harbinger of Death
Race:HumanGender:Male
Title:Somewhere I Belong
Fame:1134Infamy:0
-
Health:4240 / 2925Health Regen:5.1/ Sec
Mana:0 / 2990Mana Regen:5.3 / Sec
Stamina:1130 / 1130Stamina Regen:7.1 / Sec
-
Strength:200+90Agility:162+95
Vitality:98+20Endurance:89+10
Intelligence:120+20Wisdom:120+20
Willpower:163+10Luck:40+10
-
Attack:45+40Defense:27+245
Magical Resistance
Fire:10%+10%Water:11%+10%
Wind:11%+10%Earth:11%+10%
Lightning:10%+10%Illusion:40%+5%
Light:10%+5%Darkness:40%+5%
+ 30 added to all stats + Willpower stat raised by 80 points + Magical Resistances raised by 10% + Resistance to Illusion and Darkness Magic raised by an additional 30% + Enables you to equip certain items or equipment specialized for this class + Increases attack power for attacks with soul energy + Unable to learn most crafting professions + Skills that use soul energy will be 10% more effective and will gain experience 50% faster + Strayed from the path of humanity. Your appearance causes fear or hatred in NPCs. + Unknown
[*] Skill Overview Hall: Spoiler :
List of skills
Bad Moon RisingBeginner LVL3 (37%)
The Sound of SilenceBeginner LVL3 (45%)
Under Black Flags We MarchBeginner LVL1 (0%)
In my Time of Dyingpassive
Ain''t no Grave, can hold my Body downpassive
Keep me in your Heart for a Whilepassive
Judgementpassive
I''m Still Standingpassive
Watching over mepassive/active
Death¡¯s GrimoireBeginner LVL2 (68%)
Turn the PageBeginner LVL1 (0%)
Soul PerceptionBeginner LVL8 (3%)
Soul PressureBeginner LVL3 (63%)
Soul ChainsBeginner LVL9 (81%)
Soul WeavingBeginner LVL2 (11%)
Mana DrainBeginner LVL4 (21%)
Soul DistortionBeginner LVL3 (14%)
Hells BellsBeginner LVL3 (27%)
AmbidexterityBeginner LVL5 (86%)
IdentificationBeginner LVL5 (75%)
Down with the SicknessBeginner LVL4 (57%)
Blast TyrantBeginner LVL4 (27%)
Chain MasteryBeginner LVL8 (19%)
Sword MasteryBeginner LVL4 (31%)
Dagger MasteryBeginner LVL4 (2%)
Scythe MasteryBeginner LVL1 (17%)
[*] Equipment Hall: Spoiler : Weapons: Main-hand:
Gutwrencher
Damage:35-55Durability:35/35
Quality:RareType:Dagger
A knife made to kill in few strikes. Heavy, sharp and difficult to master. Effects: +10 Strength +15 Agility +15% Critical Damage +Bleeding Effect (50% of strike damage over 10sec) Deals significant amount of damage when ripped from the wound it caused Reduced damage if handled poorly Requirements: Level 60 Strength: 110 Agility: 140
[*] Not equipped:
Harvester of Sorrow
Damage:0-100Durability:-
Level:21 (11%)Quality:Unique
A truly terrifying weapon. Although incomplete, this blade carries the ability to cut deep into the very soul and devour the darkness that lies within. It will grow with the energy it gathers and with the one that wields it. Effects: -60% damage against enemies without grave sins -60% damage against enemies without a soul +60% damage against enemies with an enslaved soul +60% damage against enemies kept alive through a foreign soul Ignores 55% of the enemies armor If lodged into a soul it causes 41 damage / sec, reduces recovery and incoming healing effects by 55% Damage increases with the weight of the sins Damage reduced by the enemy¡¯s willpower Cuts through divine protection (15%) Requirements: Class Harbinger of Death Willpower: 150
[*] Armor Chest:
Bleeding Soul Guard
Defense:90Durability:120/120
Quality:UniqueType:Chest
An incredible piece of armor created from rare materials by a craftsman at the peak of his trade. Made especially for the Death¡¯s Harbinger, Hall, it can¡¯t be used by anybody else. Only after being infused with his soul energy, it shows its true power. Effects: +15 Strength +10 Agility +10 Intelligence +10 Wisdom +10 Vitality + 2 sockets Effects when infused with soul energy (dependent on amount): +1-50% resistance to armor penetration +1-50% Reduction in physical damage received +1-50% reduction in magic damage received +1-25% resistance to divine power Requirements: Strength: 150 Agility: 100 Intelligence: 100 Wisdom: 100
[*] Legs:
Woodland Warrior Greaves
Defense:55Durability:65/65
Quality:MagicType:Leg Armor
Basic equipment worn by experienced warriors traveling the dense woods of Arabur. Fine threads of steel interwoven with hard leather will protect the wearer. Effects: +15 Strength +20 Agility Requirements: Level 65 Strength: 80 Agility: 120
[*] Gloves:
Woodland Warrior Gloves
Defense:35Durability:50/50
Quality:MagicType:Gloves
Basic equipment worn by experienced warriors traveling the dense woods of Arabur. Fine threads of steel interwoven with hard leather will protect the wearer. Effects: +10 Strength +15 Agility Requirements: Level 65 Strength: 80 Agility: 120
[*] Boots:
Woodland Warrior Boots
Defense:35Durability:50/50
Quality:MagicType:Boots
Basic equipment worn by experienced warriors traveling the dense woods of Arabur. Fine threads of steel interwoven with hard leather will protect the wearer. Effects: +10 Strength +15 Agility 8% reduction of slow effects (movement speed only) Requirements: Level 65 Strength: 80 Agility: 120
[*] Back:
Armored Cloak of Ella¡¯s Heritage
Defense:30Durability:12/90
Quality:UniqueType:Cloak
An armored cloak made from rare dragon spider silk. It is harder than steel and at the same time almost as light as linen. An incredible piece of work improved by generations of craftsmen, imbued with powerful magic. Effects: +5% Resistance to elemental magic (Fire, Earth, Water,Wind,Lightning) Cloak will apply a low level form of stealth, diverting the attention of others +5% Chance to evade, deflect or divert an enemy attack Strong feelings of affection and gratefulness blessed this item: +5% damage against beings you deem evil If your health drops below 50% the material of the cloak hardens, doubling its defense for 10 min Requirements: Extremely high intimacy with Ella, blacksmith apprentice of Gelt Strength: 100 Agility: 100 Wisdom: 80
[*] Rings: [td2]Quality:
Ring of Ogre Strength
Type:Accessory[/td2s]
Magic
A ring made for the chiefs of ogre clans as a bribe. Effects: +15 Strength +1.0% melee damage Requirements: Level 40 Strength 150
Gold Ring of a Blade Dancer Novice
Type:Accessory
Quality:Magic
A ring given to those that chose to become blade dancers and pass the initial test of the dancers guild. Effects: +5 Strength +10 Agility +1.5% Chance to Dodge Requirements: Level 40 Strength 60 Agility 110
The Blood Count¡¯s Last Will
Type:Ring
Quality:Unique
Allows the usage of the skill ¡®Under Black Flags We March¡¯.
[*] Necklace:
Pendant of the Soul Weaver (incomplete)
Type:Accessory
Quality:Unique
An incomplete pendant covered by shadows. Can only be worn by those that have control over soul energy. Effects: +10 to all stats +5% to all resistances +unknown Requirements: Willpower 140
[*] Active Quests: Spoiler :
Quest: Carry on my Wayward Son ¨C Part 2
After lifting the curse, Lily¡¯s soul is still not complete. Dravan, who made the curse, still holds part of it after draining her soul energy for so long. Rip it from him. Difficulty: C Quest requirements:
  • lift the Grand Curse of Shattered Trust from you and Lilith
Rewards: Unknown Failure: abandon Lily
Quest: No Sympathy for the Devil
The great mage William Henley asked you to hunt down his disciple, Dravan, the last one of the Sorian people. Dravan rules over a land of darkness unbeknownst to mankind where he controls an army of evil. Difficulty: C+ Quest requirements: Be cursed by Dravan, survive the curse and find the scroll of his master Rewards:
  • Restore what was broken, find what was lost and return what was stolen
  • Additional rewards depending on your actions
Failure: exceed the time limit of one year
[*] Completed Quests: Spoiler :
Quest: Rest for the Wicked
Quest complete The quest that was given to you under false pretense and that was part of the ploy to betray you and leave you to die was deemed impossible to solve. Against all odds you did it. The Banshee¡¯s soul found peace at your side because you set her free and gave her the ability to trust again.
Quest: Carry on my Wayward Son
Quest complete You and Lilith managed to lift the Grand Curse of Shattered Trust and to leave the area after destroying the tower. Quest Part 2 Unlocked
Quest: Peace of Mind
Quest failed. Because you refused to bow to the will of the gods of light you will be punished. Your relationship with the churches of light deteriorates.
Quest: Follow the Reaper
Quest complete You exceeded Death¡¯s expectation and decided to join her as a companion.
Quest: Master of Puppets
Quest complete Not only did you destroy the goblins inhabiting the abandoned mine, hindering them from creating more undead animal servants, but you also destroyed the cause of the dark magic. You also released the souls of those imprisoned by darkness and gave peace to the souls of the dead villagers.
Quest: Mama liked Roses
Quest complete You gave Ella a little peace of mind and a chance to bury her beloved mother. Furthermore you destroyed the cause of her grief.
Quest: The Witch¡¯s Promise
Quest complete: You chose to destroy the witch, releasing her prisoner, hindering her from summoning a great blood demon that would have terrorized the kingdom.
[*]
Quest: Alice in Chains
Quest complete: Facing gruesome trials, overcoming your inner turmoil and defeating unimaginable darkness, you entered into a contract with Moira, Death¡¯s Grimoire.
Quest: The Running Man
Quest complete You found several documents implicating Bredon¡¯s royalty with The Cattle Hunt.
Quest: They can''t keep us down
Quest complete At great personal risk you stirred up the emotions of Roselake¡¯s nobility and shattered their trust in the king to protect them. You proved to the resistance, that you are worthy of joining their cause.
Quest: The Running Man ¨C Part 2
Quest complete You decided to give the evidence connecting the royal family and the cattle hunt to the merchant Jorn and the resistance.
Event Quest: Whispers in the Dark
Quest complete You cleansed all specters and returned peace to their tortured souls.
Event Quest: Kadaverstern
Quest complete You destroyed a horde of Nachtmahre, denying them the possibility to spread. Be careful, when one camp of those creatures exist, there might exist more.
Quest: Man in the Box
Quest complete You destroyed the darkness that threatened to overwhelm the labyrinth under Roselake and saved the Nephesh-Tova and their gathered knowledge.
[*] Available Titles: Spoiler :
Title : Paranoid
The betrayal of your friends scarred you for life but you learned a lesson to choose careful who to trust and are now a little bit tougher than before. Effects when equipped: People think you¡¯re insane because you are frowning all the time
Title : Solitary Man
For breaking a curse of betrayal you will be marked by dark powers to keep you alone in this world Effects: When in a party you deal 15% less damage for every party member Familiars and Pets are not included Effects are applied even if the title is not equipped
Title : I Stand Alone
For breaking a curse of betrayal you will be marked by dark powers to keep you alone in this world Effects: When in a party you receive 15% more damage for every party member Familiars and Pets are not included Effects are applied even if the title is not equipped
Title : Damaged beyond Repair
You damaged your own soul irreparably and because you forcefully destroyed the connection between cursed chains and it¡¯s source the remaining dark magic will taint your soul. Effects: Relationships with the churches of light suffer and can¡¯t advance beyond friendly Effects are applied even if the title is not equipped
Title : Losing my Religion
The gods punish you for refusing them. The seven churches of light of the continent Akreton declare you a Persona non Grata, an unwelcomed person. Effects: Your reputation with the churches can¡¯t advance further than unfriendly. You are not allowed to enter the churches premises. Healing fees are tripled. If a member of one of the seven churches of light kills you, he will not gain infamy Effects are applied even if the title is not equipped
Title: The bigger they are¡­
For defeating a unique, named quest boss more than 40 levels above you, you are granted with knowledge of how to deal with experienced and dangerous foes, bigger and stronger than you Effects when equipped +5% damage against named monsters +5% damage against monsters bigger than you
[*]
Title : Somewhere I belong
You stood up to gods and devils, to angels and demons, and with your soul at stake you formed a contract, binding your being to another. By forsaking your humanity you gained a powerful ally that you saved from vanishing into nothingness. After giving part of your very soul to your familiar, you now shared it a second time, bringing light to the hopeless and forgotten. Effects when equipped: Your trusted companions, those inseparably bound to you will benefit from the home, the purpose, you give them (includes familiars, contractors and pets) +5% range of skills +5% effectivity of support magic +5% resistance against all magic Heightened resistance against crowd control effects +5% experience gain
Title: Jawbreaker
You have killed 1000 skeletons. The knowledge over their weaknesses allows you to dispose of them easier Effects when equipped: +5% damage against skeletons
[*] Stat Window Lily: Spoiler :
Status Window
Name:LilithAlignment:Death
Level:68Class: Familiar of the Harbinger of Death
Race:Human (Spirit)Gender:Female
Title:-
-
Health:0 / 1270Health Regen:3.7/ Sec
Mana:12605 / 9615Mana Regen:50.2 / Sec
Stamina:-Stamina Regen:-
-
Strenght:32Agility:40
Vitality:55Luck:35
Intelligence:422Wisdom:431
-
Attack:4Defense:-
Magical Resistance
Fire:10%Water:10%
Wind:10%Earth:10%
Lightning:10%Illusion:40%
Light:10%Darkness:40%
+ 15 added to all stats + Intelligence and Wisdom stat raised by 20 points + Magical Resistances raised by 10% + Resistance to Illusion and Darkness Magic raised by an additional 30% + Unaffected by physical attacks if not in corporeal form + Increases magical damage if the target is affected by the magic of the Harbinger of Death + Soul bound to Hall, the Harbinger of Death + Unknown
[*] Skill Overview Lily: Spoiler :
List of skills
Soul Meets BodyBeginner LVL6 (12%)
Angels don¡¯t KillBeginner LVL7 (3%)
Spiritual HealingBeginner LVL5 (11%)
Voice of the SoulBeginner LVL8 (68%)
I will follow you into the DarkBeginner LVL6 (54%)
Prayer for the DyingBeginner LVL2 (39%)
The Sound of PerseveranceBeginner LVL3 (29%)
Tears of HeavenBeginner LVL4 (21%)
Velvet ThornsBeginner LVL4 (32%)
Garden of Thornspassive
[*] Chapter 1 - The Road so Far Hi everyone, :hi: As this is my first fanfic and English isn''t my first language I''m allways open for suggestions, criticism and ideas. Be it regarding story, spelling or grammar. I also don''t have a proofreader, so if you point out any mistakes I will try to correct them. You can always post in the "Suggestions, criticism, stats and skills" thread or just at the end of each chapter. So please enjoy. P.S.: I put a bunch of quotes and references in there, hope you like it^^ ------------------------------------------------------------------- Don''t Fear the Reaper Chapter 1 ¨C The Road so Far He was nervous. More nervous than he wanted to admit and a lot more nervous than he showed to the world. The girl he had a crush on asked him for lunch today. She was his childhood friend, he was almost embarrassed how much of a stereotype that was. Still, he liked her since they were kids. During the time they were in elementary school and after that, when they lived next to each other. They went to the same school after that and still spent a lot of time together. It happened when he just started his second year in High School, shortly after his fifteenth birthday. While visiting some friends his parents died in a car crash. He took it hard. Of course that''s no surprise, he was just a kid who lost his parents, his only family and the people who cared for him most in this world. Taking it hard may be an understatement. He was devastated because he lost his place in life. He was placed in an orphanage across the county and of course nobody adopted him at his age. Something that suited him just right. Unfortunately he also lost all his friends, his home and everything he ever knew. Never though did he forget his parents and honored them the only way he knew. He aced pretty much every class in school and worked when he didn''t have to study. His family wasn''t rich and the death of his parents left him penniless. Although he didn''t have to pay for food and housing in the orphanage he still needed money. So he did physically demanding jobs. Nothing horrible or abusing but it still cost him most of his free time and in addition he closed himself off from the world after the death of his parents. All that prevented him from developing close relationships with his classmates and colleagues. In the orphanage he was by far the oldest and most kids didn''t stay very long. Those years were incredible lonely ones. When he watched himself in the mirror after graduating from High School he almost cried as he always imagined celebrating with his parents. His eyes were a little dim and the dark circles under them were proof of a difficult time. He also lost a lot of weight. The small chubby (rather fat) but happy and friendly kid that always ran his mouth changed into a solemn and silent guy. He was a lot taller at around 190cm, his fat changed into lean muscle. Not bulky or overly broad as he never really trained. But he usually only ate much when he was happy or bored and that just didn''t happen that often anymore. In addition the hard work helped him develop a decent muscle tone. After graduating High School he wanted to enroll in a famous university but of course he didn''t have the money as he was now an adult and was pretty much kicked out of the orphanage. After thinking hard about it he joined the Army and spent two years serving his country. Well more like saving up money. He actually enjoyed most of the time there. He saved a lot of cash as he took almost any extra shift possible, worked long hours and took advantage of every program and service the army offered. Through camaraderie and a new purpose in his life he slowly regained the light in his steel blue eyes. He more or less came to terms with his parents¡¯ death and became a lot more open and gained a lot of close friends in his unit. As the army paid for almost everything, he stayed on top of things academically through various programs and classes. The physical training helped develop his stamina. He even joined a close combat class. It was by far the most enjoyable time since his parents died and although it was great he knew he had to move on. So with a glowing recommendation from the army, a decently filled bank account and his amazing marks in school he actually got a scholarship and could finally enroll in his first choice university that was close to the town he lived in while his parents were still alive. He got quite a couple of stares in his first engineering course. Without himself noticing he transformed into quite the looker. As he never had contact with a lot of women he didn''t really know how he should handle their glances. His black hair was short and had a military cut, he was cleanly shaved and wore a simple black t-shirt which was a little bit too tight around his biceps (new stuff was expensive) and although you couldn''t see it, the muscle tone below the shirt was pretty impressive. He still wasn''t really bulky but you couldn''t deny he was well built. He barely grew during the last two years but still was among the tallest in the room. On this day he met her again in the cafeteria. She was studying chemistry and became even more beautiful than he could have imagined. Her long black hair was like velvet and her skin so flawless it reminded him of precious porcelain. When he approached her his heart was pounding hard. "Jane, it''s you right, do you remember me?" She was used to guys approaching her. She was always beautiful so she usually had a flock of men behind her. Be it school, the year after that she spent traveling or her first university year. In recent years her father made quite a lot of money and so her social standing changed fast. Although she never noticed, this resulted in her becoming quite arrogant and her friends, who were mostly rich and likewise beyond pretty, had similar shortcomings. So when someone approached her on the first day of her third semester with a lame line she just wanted to send him off as she usually did. Her friends looked equally bothered. When she saw him she closed her open mouth, furrowed her brows and thought about how she knew the familiar looking boy. He was casually clothed and was obviously pretty poor. Good looking, tall with a decent muscle tone, a face with sharp edges and steel blue eyes. He could seem scary if he wasn''t smiling broadly. After a couple of seconds she knew and widened her eyes. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. "Frank, is that you? Is that really you?" He was incredible happy she actually still remembered him. He didn''t even notice the glares of the guys on her table. It was a mix of hostility and disgust. Looks that clearly rejected his presence as he didn''t belong with them. And although Frank didn''t notice, Jane did. So she took him away from her friends to catch up. They talked for hours about what happened after Frank had to move away. How they both regretted not keeping in touch (he didn''t tell her how he often thought about her over the years). Their school life, travels, university, his time in the army. Although she mostly talked and he listened. From then on his life was pretty good. Classes, although highly advanced, were pretty easy for him and he usually stayed a couple of weeks ahead in every subject, just to be sure. Many sport teams and extracurricular groups tried to recruit him. In the end he joined an army sponsored group where they learned about warfare, historical and modern, strategic movements and planning. They had to study about battles and logistics of troops and also had to train in different types of combat. He even tried to fight with different blades and really enjoyed it. Frank made a couple of friends in his classes, dormitory and extracurricular activities and stayed in contact with his buddies from the army. Every now and then he met Jane, but she seemed to be rather busy. So time went by and we arrive at the day Jane asked to meet him in the university cafeteria. When he arrived his mood took a dive because he saw she wasn''t alone. Another girl and three guys were sitting at the same table. He really couldn''t stand those arrogant pricks. Especially that one guy, Steve, tall, blond hair, number one member of the swimming and tennis team, rich bastard and grade A asshole. His eyes seemed to be filled with contempt for pretty much anyone who had a lower social status than him. Most of all Frank hated how Jane sometimes looked at Steve. While grinding his teeth Frank sat down. What was most irritating was how the others where kind of friendly to him which meant they didn''t look like they wanted to kill him. Though Frank just thought he may have to thank Jane for that. After some awkward silence he asked with blatant annoyance. "So, what am I doing here?" Jane looked at everyone and then started talking. "Frank, I''m sure you know about Novus Vita. ¡° He nodded, of course he knew. Everyone knew. The first real VRMMORPG ever. There were TV channels and radio shows, weblogs and magazines about it. A game that was bought by over 200 million people within the first three months. It was a phenomenon, the greatest thing since the internet and it spread like wildfire. A fantasy world with dozens of races and hundreds of classes, a world for the taking. Undiscovered continents to explore and kingdoms to conquer. Frank loved the idea of it and he desperately wanted to play. Unfortunately it was rather expensive, well actually he could easily afford it, he was just cautious when it came to money. Frank was not stingy or cheap, anything but actually. Still, two weeks ago he couldn''t resist anymore because he really wanted to play and he was sick of everyone talking about it without being able to join them and so he ordered a capsule which arrived today and if Jane hadn''t asked him a for a meeting a couple of hours ago he would be playing right now. Though he wanted to meet Jane, he really looked forward to Novus Vita, fighting valiantly against monsters, saving gorgeous damsels from evil dragons and maybe trying magic. He even thought about making some money. As his bank account was far from empty, even though the purchase of his new capsule made a little dent in it and his scholarship was a sure thing he wasn¡¯t in immediate need of money, but a couple of hundred dollars a month extra wouldn¡¯t be so bad. In addition he would have the feeling of earning money and not only playing around. Maybe he would just be tricking himself but it eased his conscience and that was enough for him. After he nodded Jane continued talking. ¡°And do you play it?¡± He wanted to shake his head but then hesitated. ¡°I just bought a capsule so I guess I will start today.¡± A smile appeared on her face. ¡°That¡¯s great, you see we are currently doing a quest and we need six people for it and we are currently only the five of us.¡± He looked at each one of them nodding and agreeing. ¡°I understand but why do you ask me? I would just be level 1 and not be of much help to you, just the opposite I would just be baggage.¡± As if she was expecting the question she continued. ¡°It is a special quest and we want someone with us we can trust would you help us please?¡± She even went so far as to put her hand on his and looking deep into his eyes her lips slightly trembling. ¡°Pretty, pretty please¡­.¡± Crap, how could he say no to that? ¡°Alright, just give me an hour to get home and set up my capsule, then come and pick me up, I don¡¯t think a level 1 can go where you need me to be.¡± Jane¡¯s face showed a relieved smile and before Frank could stand up and leave she told him ¡°Great, thank you so much, please start in the Bredon Kingdom in the West, in a town called Fostein, we¡¯ll wait for you in the city square next to the big fountain.¡± As he left he had mixed feelings, he planned on playing with Jane, but he also knew she and her friends played almost since release of Novus Vita so he wanted to catch up to them as not to seem like a total weakling. Shrugging and forgetting about it he went to the dormitory and installed his capsule (it was surprisingly easy). His exams were already finished so he didn¡¯t have to worry about that and he handed in every paper for the next two months. His schedule was clear, his classes just formality for the next three weeks. Excited and a little bit nervous he switched off the lights in his room and lied down inside the capsule, closed it and switched it on.
Do you want to connect to Novus Vita?
YesNo
Chapter 2 - Bad Company Chapter 2 ¨C Bad Company The complete darkness that surrounded him changed into a soothing white color and a warm light filled the ceiling of a room without walls. A gentle female voice began to talk. "Welcome to Novus Vita, the scan of your iris and vein has determined that you are an unregistered user. Do you want to create a new account?" "Yes please" he answered without hesitation and the female voice continued. "Please choose your name." "Hall" It was the first name of his father, he always liked it and he thought it would fit well. "Please select your gender, you may choose male, female or neutral." "Male, I want to talk about the game with other people and really don''t want to be called a weirdo." "Novus Vita contains a great number of races, at this point you can choose between twelve different ones with a variety of benefits and drawbacks." Of course he knew them all, damn, he waited two weeks for his capsule and he read almost everything he could get his hands on, about how skills can be created by either being taught, by acquiring skill books or by performing the skill and gaining it after enough practice. Depending on your real life abilities you could gain skills pretty fast, a great chef would get the cooking skill very fast and a skilled swordsman would acquire sword mastery with lightning speed compared to someone without an ounce of talent who never held a sword before. Raising your skill could be done through gaining experience with it, that means if you would repeat the same move every time or cook only the simplest of dishes your skills would barely rise and after a while you wouldn''t gain any experience by it at all. That made sense to him, a chef who would always cook scrambled eggs would never achieve greatness. So if you fought difficult battles in unknown environments or learn and improve constantly, your skills will rise. Higher stats could be gained through leveling or doing certain activities. One could even do weight training like in real life to raise the strength stat. Although training with weapons or running with weights could also raise stats and would usually rise others as well and even give experience for skills. So naturally many posts in a variety of forums would recommend to do combined activities to raise different stats at the same time. Although the training should fit the person or the time you invested would just be wasted. So of course he knew about the different races, but he didn''t really care for the different types of beastmen, the female types were pretty cute, but that was about it. Undeads weren''t his cup of tea. Elfs were out of the question as he really wanted to excel in close combat and most elf subraces had a penalty on using different types of melee weapons and though he really liked the female elfs, the males, well, were too feminine for his taste. Dwarfs wouldn''t fit size wise, it would just be weird to be over half a meter shorter than usual. He was interested in draconians but he couldn¡¯t'' choose them as their starting place would be in the far south and it would take months to reach Jane. Demonic races were shunned by most kingdoms and as he wanted to sell stuff he needed entrance to as many towns as possible. The only reason to choose orcs would be to see their capital. New Orc City, also known for its big chapels, which were built by humans before the orcs conquered the city centuries ago. He heard it would look incredible with millions of orcs swarming around, but orcs weren''t really popular with other races and he could visit their capital some other time. Luckily there existed an incredible amount of races and subraces that were still undiscovered and if you were lucky enough to discover them, you could change your race accordingly. If others were to discover a new race though, you still had a change of acquiring it by solving a rather long chain quest. So he was left with a simple, be it boring, choice. "Human" He thought about the next step often in the last two weeks. "You may alter your appearance according to your wishes" In front of him he saw himself in his underwear slowly turning on the spot to show him his backside as well as the front. "Wow, so that''s what I look like from behind, not so bad if I may say so myself." It really was more than decent, he had broad shoulders and his back formed a visible V and you could clearly see well developed muscle on his shoulder and his back. "Could I get a little bit of red in my hair? Not too much, yes, great thanks, now make them little longer please, awesome" His now over shoulder long hair stayed black but with the right light you could see a red glow, he really liked it. "Great, now I''d like to have a beard. No, not that much, more stubbles, think not shaving for 5 days, exactly like that." He thought the red glow, his black hear and his blue eyes fit really well and it was probably the first time in a very long time he really looked at himself. He read about being able to visit barber shops inside the game to change the hairstyle and the beard, but determined it shouldn¡¯t be necessary for at least a while. "Now reduce the hair on my chest by let''s say 30%, fortunately I don''t have any on my back, but please also reduce the hair on my legs by 40%, wait just for fun, please remove all my hair below my neck....wuah nonono I look like a freaking doll, that¡¯s horrible, please return me to the state before my last request. Puh that¡¯s better" he nodded and smiled, happy with the result. "Ok, that¡¯s done, next step please." "Please choose your starting location?" "Fostein, Bredon Kingdom" The light got slightly brighter or maybe his eyes just played a trick on him in anticipation of his new life, well that¡¯s at least what was advertised, a new life, in any case he was excited. "You can gain your skills and a class according to the way you choose to play, do you wish to complete the tutorial? In the tutorial mechanics on how to play are explained as well as the lore and history of your kingdom and starting location?" He was really interested, at least about the history part, but he was pressed for time. "Skip" He said with a little bit of regret. "Your avatar has been created, please enjoy your time with Novus Vita." The light got even brighter and he couldn''t see anything. As it faded he saw his surroundings. He had hoped for a bright and shiny medieval town but was a little disappointed to see only a lot of pretty broken down buildings surrounding the central square. The fountain barely held any water and the people around seemed depressed and gloomy. The weather fit the situation perfectly. Thick, grey clouds hung deep in the sky, the promise of rain lay in the air and from far away you could hear thunder roaring. Thanks to his time in the army he had already some experience with virtual reality, so Novus Vita didn''t completely overwhelm him. Still, the grade of realism was incredible, he could even taste the moisture in the air and felt the rough clothes on his skin. Jane and her friends were already waiting for him. She was even more beautiful than in real life. Her black hair had a flow like ocean waves and she was wrapped in blood red cloth that seemed to shine even in this dim light. The dress was simple but effective and it took his breath away. Her slender arm held a long staff that was magnificently crafted out of the darkest wood he had ever seen and on top was a fist size ruby cut like a flame which seemed to contain a flickering light. The other girl was similar impressive, although she couldn''t hold a candle to Jane. At least in Franks mind. Her robe was black, embroidered with white gold and he even saw diamonds shining in her earrings and rings and a large golden necklace. Two of the guys looked exactly the same, they were twins in real life and chose to also be twins in the game. Their armor wasn''t that impressive, at least on first glance. It was made out of brown leather which seemed to reflect the light as if it was polished steel. When you looked closer you could see an amazing craftsmanship was necessary to complete these pieces. On each side they carried an arm long dagger that glowed green and practically screamed poison. The last guy seemed to play in another league, he was even taller and broader than in real life and he changed his brown eyes to a blue tone but kept his blond, short hair. His armor seemed to be made out of gold and silver but even from afar you could see it was strong enough to take direct hits from giants. The gauntlets and boots were made out of the same material and were decorated with a ridiculous amount of engraved pictures of battle scenes. Frank was even more annoyed when he saw the huge two handed sword Steve carried on his back. It looked like some kind of treasure with emeralds on the hilt and the guard shaped like wings. With clenched fists Frank moved in their direction and Jane greeted him. "Hey Frank, nice of you to join us. I like your hair." He blushed slightly but thanks to the red tint in his hair it didn''t show. "Please call me Hall in here." She nodded, not recognizing the name. "Yes, you are right, in here I¡¯m Belinda, the pretty girl next to me is Salena and the twins here are Ryan and Nayr" Frank rolled with his eyes, mirrored names for identical twins, morons. Of course he didn''t say anything and let Jane, no Belinda, continue. "And I''m sure you are already burning to know about this hunk" ''I think I''m gonna puke'' thought Frank. "That¡¯s Bale, we¡¯re all between level 80 and 90 and have a mage, myself obviously, a priest" she pointed at Salena "two rogues and a warrior." Those classes were pretty obvious, although he was sure there was more to it. There was no way someone with their level, not that it wasn''t impressive, would be able to get this kind of equipment. So they surely had some kind of rare classes at least and probably invested more than a small amount of real money to buy items. He also really hoped to get a special class. As far as anyone knew there were the normal classes which could be gained in guilds or through apprenticeship. Then there were the rare classes, usually gained through difficult quests or special NPCs. Hidden classes were practically unknown, there were only a handful and nobody was really sure how to get them. Only a rumor so far were the unique classes. Nobody knew of a unique class so far and according to the gossip they were seriously strong. It was even possible to change classes, at least to some extent. One could become a warrior through the guild, then join the Knights and then rise to Paladin and then maybe get a rare class, he heard about some kind of Templar class, through a quest. Those classes weren''t necessarily stronger than the other as it was more important to find a class that suited you and the way you played. But Frank, well Hall now, didn''t want to question Belinda so he just accepted what she said and asked. ?Should I get something before we leave, maybe a weapon, some armor or at least food and water?" She shook her head. "No, our destination is not that far away and we will protect you so you don''t have to worry." He felt kind of naked leaving the city without further preparations but he trusted Belinda so he thought he would just get what he needed after the quest was done. There was even some hope he might get something special as a reward. He knew newbies shouldn''t travel outside of cities for a while to get accustomed to the game, but he didn''t want to stay in this hole that barely deserved to be called town. "Show status window." He just wanted to take a look before he left.
NameHallPrimary ClassN/A
Health100Mana100
Level1
Health Regen/Sec0.1Mana Regen/Sec0.1
Strength10Agility10
Wisdom10Intelligence10
Stamina100Vitality10
Luck0--
Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Hall just shrugged, he didn''t know what he expected as he knew exactly how his stats would look like. "All right, I''m good to go, what is this quest about and what do you need me to do?"
Quest: Rest for the Wicked
Inside a forgotten tower deep inside the woods belonging to Fostein resides a Banshee. The soul of a poor woman transformed by darkness and despair. Let her rest in peace. Difficulty: E Quest requirements: Has to be completed in a group formed by trust Rewards: Unknown Failure: upon death, unable to free the tormented spirit
''How the hell does the AI of the game know when you trust somebody? That''s incredible, does that mean it''s not only important what you do, but also what you feel? Good to know'' Although the quest description didn''t tell any backstory, saving a poor soul with a group formed by trust didn''t seem too bad. Though he didn''t really trust Belinda¡¯s friends and they sure as hell didn''t trust him. But Hall believed in Belinda, which should be enough. "Alright, seems good"
Quest accepted
You joined Belinda¡¯s party
Belinda and her friends smiled as she waved to him and pointed down the road. "There''s the gate, we have to travel for around two hours and the quest shouldn''t take more than an hour." Hall nodded. "Show Inventory" He grabbed his canteen, filled it at the fountain and followed the group outside the city. Soon enough he was panting. ''Damn, what''s up with that speed and why the hell am I already tired, are those stats actually interfering with my real life performance?'' Belinda seemed to notice his troubles. "Sorry Hall, we want to get there fast, someone took his sweet time joining us and a cook is preparing our dinner at a set time." She smiled broadly. He didn''t want to show weakness so he stepped up his pace while grinding his teeth. ¡®Stupid rich kids, who the f**k needs to hire a f***ing personal chef for their f***ing dinner in a god damn cafeteria'' Cursing and killing that bastard Bale in his mind over and over again he ran after the rest. Bale ran at the front and grinned like a demon while being completely aware that he was torturing the new guy he hated so much. Hall at least hoped for some stat increase, but when they arrived after three hours, ''two hours, yeah right'', he didn''t even gain a single stat point. He almost fell down gasping for air but grabbed the gate of a withered stone wall that surrounded a tower that was so clearly inhabited by evil that he would have laughed if he wasn''t dying from leg cramps. After a sip of water and a couple of bites of rye bread, ''tastes like cardboard, damn it'', from his inventory he sat on the ground to regain his stamina. If Hall wasn''t so caught up in his own pain he would have noticed the others were breathing very heavy, even Bale wasn''t unfazed and clearly angry. ¡®How did that cockroach keep up, damn, he should have dropped after half an hour tops with his beginner stats'' Bale calmed himself, the quest had the highest priority and they needed Hall, but he still wanted to humiliate him. A couple of minutes were enough for Hall to catch his breath which seemed to surprise his new team. The twins even seemed a little bit impressed. Selena''s face didn''t change at all and she kept her indifferent expression. Only Belinda seemed happy. "Good job Hall, now let''s go, it''s time to complete the quest." Bale opened the rusty gate with a firm push and as they walked through it a gust of wind blew toward them carrying screams with the promise of death. "Leeeaaaaavvveeee.....ooonlyy suffferiiing awaaaaaiits youuuuu...." Hall shivered and felt a cold touch on his neck. ¡®Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap, this feels so real''. Belinda and Selena grabbed their staffs so hard their knuckles turned white and the guys took out their weapons and prepared for the worst. The path to the tower door was barely visible and overgrown with weeds and brushwood. Crows sat on the bare branches of barren trees and picked on the corpse of what looked like a rabbit. Or a cat. Or something. Hall averted his gaze and saw a couple of gravestones in a sea of brown plants and weeds and shrugged his shoulders. ''hm, even among death there is life, that''s kind of cool''. It really was creepy but he was so excited because it all felt so intense, incredible, amazing, he couldn''t help but smile. ¡°Shiny!¡± With Halls remark the heavy silence was disturbed and Salena winced pitiful which made him grin even more. ¡®Looks like Ms. Freeze here isn¡¯t so impenetrable after all¡¯. After a few steps they heard a moaning and rattling in the area of the gravestones and they watched several skeletons crawl their way out of the earth. Rising their head to the sky they let out a sound similar to a tortured cat in a bathtub and somehow Hall was a little underwhelmed. ¡®They look pretty cool, that¡¯s a given, but why do they seem so¡­weak?¡¯ The skeletons weren¡¯t armed, only covered in a couple of rags and moved slowly in their direction with a speed that reminded him of a crawling baby. Still they caused movement in the group and Belinda took charge and yelled. ¡°Hurry, everyone inside the tower. Ryan and Nayr you two cover us and delay them until we finish the quest.¡± Surprised by her orders Hall followed them inside. ¡®Why would a couple of rogues with their daggers be a better opponent for those bone sacks than a mage or some big guy with a huge sword? Ah, whatever, I¡¯m new and this quest is still pretty much a riddle, they will know what to do.¡¯ When everyone except the twins were inside the tower Belinda closed the old door in a hurry and the party spread out to secure the dimly lit room. On first glance the strongest enemy seemed to be dust. ¡®hmm, I wonder if you can have allergies in this game, that would kind of suck¡¯ Hall shook his head, concentrating on the situation at hand. He couldn¡¯t see the ceiling of the tower as it was at least 30m tall and it seemed to have only one floor. On the walls he could see shelves filled with books beyond old, some even rotting. Those shelves seemed to even reach the ceiling. In the middle of the tower there were spiral stairs going up, probably to reach the books. The tower seemed somehow larger inside than from the outside, although less threatening. It was around 10m in diameter and on the opposite site of the door stood an old pedestal with a single book on it. Everyone was still looking around anxiously when the rattling of chains rang in their ears. They stiffened immediately and faced the direction of the sound. Out of the pitch black area under ceiling approached the figure of a woman. This was probably the banshee mentioned in their quest. She reminded him of a ghost, only the upper body visible, a white and torn dress covered in darkness and blood, her hair was a chaos of spiraling disarray and her face was completely contorted. The rattling sound had its source in the chains around her arms and the one stuck in her chest. Hall couldn¡¯t see where they were secured. What shocked him most weren¡¯t all those things, no, what made him stop in his tracks were her eyes. He expected them to be wild, tainted by evil and clouded by insanity. But he was wrong, everything he could see was pain. Pain and sadness. He knew those eyes. They were similar to his after his parents died. Shivers ran down his spine as she looked directly at him and stretched her hand in his direction. Still, he wasn¡¯t scared. She opened her mouth. ¡°Flee, now, before ¡­¡± A spell hit her straight in the chest and threw her against a shelf causing several books to fall down or crumble to dust. He didn¡¯t even notice Belinda casting a flame bolt. ¡°Mana cage¡± Salena cast her own spell which seemed to trap the banshee in a prison made of shining blue energy. Belinda spoke to him pointing at the pedestal he noticed while entering the tower. ¡°Quick, open the book and read the first page while we are keeping her busy.¡± He saw the pleading look in the Banshee¡¯s eyes and had a strange gut feeling, every alarm clock in his head went off, screaming at him that something wasn¡¯t right. Still, after he looked at Belinda in a fighting stance he decided to follow her. He stepped up to the pedestal and lay his hands on it the book. It felt disgusting, like dead, moist skin and looked equally appalling. It even had a repugnant stench to it. ¡®This is supposed to be a book to fight evil. Damn, it¡¯s more likely to summon an army of darkness. I just hope it won¡¯t bite me.¡¯ He opened it and although the book should be hundreds of years old the blood red letters seemed to be written recently. Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath he started to read. When he began, the banshee went into a frenzy and tried to break free from her cage with all her might, clawing and punching a transparent wall. Her eyes seemed to scream at him and he could have sworn he saw tears rolling down her face. After a couple of minutes he reached the bottom of the page. He didn¡¯t understand anything anymore. The text he read was a story about two lovers reaching a tower. The man betrayed the woman that loved him so much, cursing her for eternity. Was it the story of Banshee? He finally arrived at the last words. ¡°¡­for trust is a fickle thing.¡± In a flash of light the words in front of him seemed to melt into a new story. He skimmed over the new story in two seconds and his blood froze as he realized what it was about. It told a tale of a young adventurer betrayed by those he trusted most in the world and tricked into walking into his doom. The last sentence flashed before him. ¡°Trust is for the weak, my spilled blood shall be proof¡± With this he raised his head and saw a picture he wouldn¡¯t forget for the rest of his life. The banshee, finally released from her prison, rammed into the paralyzed Hall without him grasping what happened to him. A huge sword cut the air at the place where he just stood and leaving a large gash in his chest. The blood from the tip of the sword dropped on the pages of the book and was greedily devoured by the bone colored paper. *Ding*
You have been cursed
Slowly dawning on him what happened he looked at the different windows popping up. His face lost all color and with disbelief in his eyes he looked at the smiling Belinda.
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---------------------------------------------------------------- Author''s Note: Here''s my second chapter, I really hope you like it. Suggestions and corrections are always appreciated, as I already mentioned, English isn''t my first language so the chance for mistakes is pretty high P.S: What kind of references can you discover? :grin: P.P.S: The third chapter is almost done, should be up either tonight or early tomorrow Chapter 3 - Back in Black Chapter 3 ¨C Back in Black *Ding*
Grand Curse of Shattered Trust
A grand curse created aeons ago by the darkest of minds. Can only be cast if deep trust is abused in the name of greed and selfishness. Effects: Chains will bind the target, taking away his freedom and burning his flesh with the memory of a betrayal so deep he will carry it for the rest of his life
*Ding*
You have gained a new title
*Ding*
Title : Paranoid
The betrayal of your friends scarred you for life but you learned a lesson to choose careful who to trust and are now a little bit tougher than before. +50 hp +5 wisdom When equipped: People think you¡¯re insane because you are frowning all the time
*Ding*
You have gained a new skill
*Ding*
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Chains of Sorrow (passive)Beginner10%
Betrayed by those you trusted most a curse binds you to the place that shattered what you believed in. Effects:
  • You cannot leave the walls surrounding the tower
  • Your hands are bound by chains
  • Severe reduction in speed due to imprisonment depending on skill proficiency and strength (currently speed -90%)
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Shackles of Sorrow (passive)-0/100-
Betrayed by those you trusted most a curse binds those who carry the same fate Effects:
  • Your soul is bound to the Banshee
  • Pain and Suffering is shared between those connected
  • As the Banshee has no hitpoints you take damage if she is harmed
  • You lose all your mana as the Banshee drains you of it unwillingly
  • Unknown
A black chain drilled itself into Halls chest and linked him to the ghostly woman. The shackles didn''t reflect any light but glowed in a sickening purple shade and oozed black sludge that would make ones skin crawl. Out of nowhere shot the same dark chains winding themselves around his arms pulling him down to the ground with a force he was helpless against. Hall was still in a daze. The wound on his chest hurt and blood seeped out but he hardly felt it. In front of his eyes Bale grinned like the devil. Salena didn''t even look in his direction. What caused him a stabbing pain in his heart was the sight of Belinda. She looked happy, threw him just one pitiful glance and walked to Bale. "It worked, haha, amazing, I can''t wait for the reward." Bales grin became even darker. "Yeah, I can''t believe that sap fell for it. You did really great Belinda, couldn''t have done it without you." Belinda became even happier and even blushed, already forgetting about the bleeding Hall. Bale went over to him raising his huge sword. "And of course I have to thank you too you piece of s**t. Hope you got the message, know your place and stay away from us." But the banshee that was still at Hall''s side let out a scream that pushed Bale back several feet. He made a grimace but then he shrugged indifferent. "Well, have fun bleeding to death, let''s go guys." In the meantime Ryan and Nayr joined them to check on everything unfold and showed insane grins on their faces, happy to see the guy they hated suffering. Salena was already nowhere to be seen. Before Belinda could leave he was able to press a single word over his lips. "Why?" She stopped, turned around for a second, shook her head, her eyes filled with a mixture of contempt and pity and blew air through her nose. Without saying a word she left him lying in his own blood while he slowly felt the cold creeping into his weak limbs. ''Damn damn damn, why, god damn it.¡¯ The sadness and pain, the loneliness and confusion, the sorrow and suffering, everything accumulated inside of him. It started to boil into a hot, burning lump inside his chest. He felt glowing hatred and flaming anger surging inside of him. It all was just too much. Overwhelmed he opened his mouth and let out an otherworldly, bloodcurdling scream. Even the banshee took a few steps back. No, the word scream didn''t come close, it was the release of so many emotions, so much wrath and despair. It wasn''t just because his avatar in the game was now practically worthless. It was the loss of his oldest friend. The betrayal of the women he loved, of the girl he thought about during his darkest hours. The light he held so dearly burned his soul and heart. He just couldn''t take it. Dust all over the tower, not touched in decades or centuries, was raised and dispersed all over the dilapidated floor and furniture. Even Belinda and the others outside the tower started to shiver and Salena had to stop for a few moments after getting soft knees. It was a scream that would raise millions against oppression and injustice. *Ding*
You have gained a new skill
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Blast TyrantBeginner10%
A deafening roar filled with anger and despair but also with the promise of defiance. Effects:
  • Enemies are confused and their morale will be reduced depending on skill proficiency and enemy strength
  • Allies are filled with new hope: health and mana regeneration doubled for 10min one negative effect is lifted randomly
Cost: 50 mana
As he looked at the new skill he started to laugh hysterically. ¡°Am I a lucky guy or what? Getting such a cool skill hours after starting the game, too bad I DON¡¯T HAVE ANY F***ING MANA TO USE IT¡± He realized he needed to calm down and get a clear head. The woman he loved tricked him. He prayed it was only a bad joke, a prank, because she thought it was only a game. It shouldn¡¯t mean anything, right? But he knew better. Her attitude after what had happened to him. Her indifference and her smile. Oh that smile, her happiness over his pain. This image would probably haunt him for a long long time. Taking deep breaths he slowly regained control over his emotions and was able to think straight again. ¡°Wait, why am I not dead?¡± The wound he received from Bale should have killed him or at least the bleeding effect should have. ¡°I closed the wound while draining your mana, guess it cauterized or something, oh and sorry for taking it, but I can¡¯t really do anything about it.¡± Surprised at hearing a female voice next to his ear he jolted up looking around with wide eyes. ¡°Forgot I was here, hm? That¡¯s not very nice.¡± It was the banshee. He blinked a couple of times. ¡°Cat got your tongue lad?¡± He cleared his throat and looked at her. ¡°Sorry for that, I was told you were an insane spirit captured by evil and only looking to destroy anything living. Guess I was misinformed.¡± She started to pout but then looked at him understanding. From close up she was rather pretty, at least for ghost standards. Her nose was petite and her lips full. He thought she looked really cute. Though her sad eyes almost made him tear up. He looked down at his chest and at the chain connecting the two. ¡°Do you mind explaining to me what exactly happened to you and me? I¡¯m still really confused¡­ and angry. Don¡¯t forget angry.¡± Although she felt anxious, it had been ages since she really had a conversation with someone after all, she eased up a little bit thanks to his somewhat unconstrained attitude. She even smiled a little bit, also the first time in decades, even if it didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°Yes, but it¡¯s a long story so please listen calmly.¡± He nodded, sat himself up and looked her in the eyes. ¡°As you already figure out, the Banshee you mentioned is me. My name is Lilith and as you read the story in that cursed book over there¡± she pointed at the pedestal ¡°you also know what happened to me. The man I loved most in the world, the man I was supposed to marry, betrayed me, killed me and chained my soul to this cursed place, it has been so long ago I can¡¯t even remember why he did it. But you know, after a couple of decades you just fall into a deep slumber. As a matter of fact I just woke up a couple of days ago when your ¡­ well they are not your friends anymore I guess, those guys from before, walked into my tower, looked at the book and found out they had to trick someone who trusted them and spill his or her blood on the accursed writings. I guess you would know as it just happened to you. You are lucky you are still alive, as you can see I was killed back then. Over the years I tried to find out how to break the curse. The answer should be in the books around us, but it took me too long to learn the runes and the language. My soul was drained of its energy and fell asleep for a very long time. Guess I was lucky, living centuries alone and awake, I don¡¯t think I could have kept my sanity. That was the short version, do you have any questions?¡± Hall thought about it a moment. ¡°Can I call you Lily?¡± After a couple of seconds she started to laugh, she laughed so loud and hard she started to shake. Tears rolled down her face and she started sobbing but started to laugh again. Only after a minute she got a hold of herself again. ¡°Thank you, I needed that, I really did.¡± Her smile changed, when it reached her eyes and the sadness was pushed back it was like her face was glowing and he felt a pinch in his chest. *Ding*
Your skill Shackles of Sorrow leveled up
He lifted a brow. ¡°Show information¡±
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Shackles of Sorrow (passive)-5/100-
¡®Well, whatever, this character is broken anyway. I¡¯m sooo going to delete it.¡¯ Though he really hated the idea of that as it would mean acknowledging his defeat and stay down where those bastards put him. He also looked at the Banshee, no, at Lily. What would happen to her if he would disappear? She was only a NPC, not real, but still, the pain in her eyes just seemed so heartbreaking. Could he really just abandon her? Wouldn¡¯t that put him on the same level as those douche bags that stabbed him in the back? This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Yes, you may call me Lily.¡± She said still smiling and interrupting his train of thought. So he decided that for now he would look around the tower to maybe find clues on the curse. ¡°That¡¯s good, so guess we should find some clues on how to break the curse.¡± She looked surprised and was speechless for a moment. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Well you and I are cursed, we are chained to this place and can¡¯t do a lot more than to find a way to solve this crisis or do you have another idea?¡± The shock was still obvious in her face. ¡°No, it¡¯s just, you¡¯re not the first voyager to come here, I mean you are a voyager right?¡± That was the term NPCs used to describe the Players, so he nodded. ¡°There were a handful over the last year, but it¡¯s more like a dream as my slumber wasn¡¯t disturbed, they usually just ran away as soon as they got here, guess their trust in their companions wasn¡¯t strong enough.¡± Hall laughed without a hint of humor. ¡°Yeah, good thing we are different and didn¡¯t stop believing in the people we put our trust in.¡± She just put on a bitter smile and continued. ¡°Anyway, I was surprised you decided to stay, as I know voyagers live by different rules.¡± Now it was his turn to be surprised. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind me asking, the voyagers should have appeared around a year ago and you have been imprisoned for centuries. How do you know about them and that they are different?¡± ¡°We were told a long time about their arrival, as the gods foretold that one day people from another world would join us, able to change the fate of the world. Some would be strong enough to rival armies others may even challenge the gods themselves. Some would be devils, others angels.¡± ¡®Well I don¡¯t think that will happen anytime soon.¡¯ As the game was designed to last for decades and the gods were powerful AIs the world wouldn¡¯t change so fast. He made up his mind. Filled with confidence and determination and just a little bit of malice a grin appeared on his face as he responded to her pleading. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t abandon you. So let¡¯s get to work, I don¡¯t want to stay here longer than really necessary and I have a lot of payback to dish out.¡± Lily¡¯s eyes lit up and at least a flicker of hope started to burn inside of her. ¡°Thank you so much.¡± *Ding*
Quest: Carry on my Wayward Son
You refuse to give in even if the situation seems hopeless. Not only do you want to break free in the name of vengeance but you take responsibility for the one cursed beside you and promise to break her chains that bind her to this wicked place. Difficulty: C Quest requirements:
  • your absolute trust was betrayed
  • survive the Grand Curse of Shattered Trust
  • you refuse to accept your fate
  • promise Lily to free her
Rewards: Unknown Failure: abandon Lily If you die while chained you will spawn inside the tower, penalty is still applied
¡®Wow a level C quest, although that¡¯s probably because I have to accomplish it alone.¡¯ He nodded with grim determination.
Quest accepted
Before standing up he grabbed a half-eaten bread from his inventory and started to chew it while drinking some water. Lily made a face of disgust. ¡°What the hell are you eating, it tastes horrible.¡± ¡°Huh, how can you taste it?¡± Hall asked surprised. ¡°Did you forget the properties of Shackles of Sorrow already? We share pain and suffering.¡± ¡®Wow, so eating this bread is some kind of torture? Who knew?¡¯ ¡°Sorry about that, I don¡¯t have anything else and if you don¡¯t want me to drop dead you have to put up with it for a while and I also need to fill up my health¡± She nodded a little dejected but accepting. ¡°Just so you know, outside the tower are a lot of smaller animals and some edible weeds, even that should taste better than whatever you ate just now and I think there is also a small well for water.¡± He was quite relieved to hear that as he only had around half a canteen of water and a couple of loafs of bread to quell his hunger. Though he didn¡¯t know how to hunt anything as he didn¡¯t have a weapon. ¡®Guess weeds it is, great¡¯ ¡°Alright, Lily please get me a couple of the books you used to learn the language and the runes. I guess you need to teach me before we can start solving this predicament we found ourselves in. I will start looking around if I can find something useful.¡± As he stood up, the chains around his wrists and the one in his chest started to rattle with a sound that made him tremble after he almost forgot about them. ¡®Wow that sounds like it comes straight from the grave, creepy.¡¯ He took a couple of quick steps and was yanked back so hard he fell on his back and rammed his head so hard on the ground that he saw stars and had to gasp for air.
-5hp
Shaking off the dizziness he felt from falling so hard. ¡®Stupid chains, shouldn¡¯t I be able to walk inside the wall surrounding this damn tower?¡¯ He stood up again and tried to take one step after the other but a lot more careful this time. Soon enough he felt harsh resistance and needed to put in his whole weight to gain even a couple of inches. Funny enough it didn¡¯t pull him back when he stopped. It wasn¡¯t like a rubber band. No, it felt like there were huge weights at the end of the chains he had to carry with him. The chains went directly into the ground beneath him, so he thought they were anchored to the floor somehow and as the length wasn¡¯t changeable he couldn¡¯t even raise his arms above his waist. It was horrible. After a couple of steps he was already out of breath. It would take forever to get around this way. He tried grabbing the chains but his hands went right through them. ¡®What the hell?¡¯ Lily saw his wasted efforts. ¡°You have to concentrate on the chains, they are partly made by the curses magic but also contain the very essence of your soul. Focus and feel that energy and you should be able to touch the shackles. Though you should be careful, touching a part of your soul is painful beyond almost anything else.¡± Nodding he tried to calm himself, he closed his eyes and focused on something that was different about him. As he thought that he didn¡¯t have any soul energy in real life, there should be an abnormal feeling. After a couple of minutes he could sense some kind of warmth leaving his body. He still couldn¡¯t get a clear image so he continued for what felt like a couple of hours until he could faintly see a stream of blue light leaving his wrists flowing into the ground beneath him. He slowly let out his breath and opened his eyes causing the light to vanish. *Ding*
Your skill Chains of Sorrow leveled up
¡°Show Information¡±
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Chains of SorrowBeginner217%
Additional Effect: You can now see your soul essence that is entangled with the chains of sorrow
These weird skills surprised him again. ¡®That was fast, what is up with those weird skills, guess it¡¯s because they are related to the curse¡¯ Hall didn¡¯t even notice Lily facing him and almost dropped on his behind when he saw her face only a couple of centimeters in front of his. ¡°You¡¯re pretty good, I think it took me half a year until I could see my essence.¡± She admitted impressed. ¡°Now try touching the chains while focusing on your soul energy but be careful.¡± Nodding he closed his eyes again and tried to repeat what he just achieved. Within a minute he saw the stream of light again. A serene blue, lightly pulsating. Hall let go of his breath and grabbed both chains with one hand each. He should have been more careful. Gruesome pain flared up in his chest and his wrists were burned by the fires of hell. ¡°AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH¡­¡± A scream filled with heart shattering pain came over his lips and his eyes filled with tears. ¡®Isn¡¯t this supposed a game? Why the hell does it hurt so badly?¡± Hall barely could stay conscious and fell on his knees. Lily rushed to him and hugged him in an attempt to ease his suffering. ¡°It¡¯s alright Hall, you don¡¯t have to hurt yourself on my behalf, please, it¡¯s enough already. You can leave. I¡¯m already thankful you just stayed with me today.¡± After she released him from her arms he saw in Lily¡¯s eyes how hard it was for her to say those words. Tears were streaming out of them and he knew she felt for him and although she couldn¡¯t bare the loneliness anymore, she still urged him to quit so he didn¡¯t have to suffer. He was glad the pain from the soul itself wasn¡¯t transferred through the shackles that bound them together or else the following words wouldn¡¯t be so easy for him. ¡°What are you talking about Lily? This much is nothing.¡± He tried to laugh but failed miserably. She looked at him unconvinced, her head looking at the ground. ¡°It may just be as that cursed book said. Trust is for the weak and I guess we are weak.¡± Now it was his turn to grab her shoulders to give her the courage she lacked. ¡°No Lily, put your faith in me and I will show you, trust is not for the weak!¡± And he added with a terrifying grin ¡°But mercy may just be, at least for those who wronged us...¡± His heartfelt words reached her and when she raised her head she could see in his eyes and feel through their connection that he was serious. *Ding*
Your skill Shackles of Sorrow leveled up
But he ignored the message and with a roaring promise he raised himself from the ground. ¡°I swear to you, we will get out of here. Together! But first I have to disturb some brats at their dinner table.¡± This time his grin was filled with resolve and blatant malice against those who betrayed him. ¡°Wait for me, because here and now I promise you: NO POWER IN THE ¡®VERSE CAN STOP ME! ¡° While looking in her tearful eyes that started to shine with hope he said smiling. ¡°See you in a couple of hours, Log out!¡±
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------------------------------------------------ Author''s Notes: Here you go, chapter number 3, I hope you will enjoy it, it actually riled me up a bit while i wrote it^^ Again, I''m always grateful for suggestions and corrections as I always try to improve my writing A really small spoiler: Spoiler : for those worried our hero is a pansy, don''t be, he is far from it :grin: I just started writing the fourth chapter and hope it''s finished by tomorrow evening Chapter 4 - Cold as Ice Chapter 4 ¨C Cold as Ice The lights of his capsule went dark and he opened the lid just to be welcomed by the darkness of his room. Instead of getting up he just lay there for several minutes in complete silence breathing in and out. The blinking standby-LED of his capsule painted surreal shadows on the wall. ¡°What the hell just happened?¡± It was one of the most intense experiences of his life. He could barely get a hold of himself. Though it wasn¡¯t quite what he wanted it to be, it was, no doubt, exciting. With a grim, though determined expression he stepped out of his capsule, flipping the switch on his wall, turning on the lights. He had a task he had to complete, something that was necessary if he wanted to move forward without regret. He took a look at the clock and was surprised to see that it was only 6pm. ¡°Guess they weren¡¯t kidding, the time conversion is really four to one.¡± Fortunately that left him with enough time for a quick shower. He thought about putting on his best clothes but he wasn¡¯t on his way to impress anybody. He was out to get some answers and he wouldn¡¯t get them by playing nice. Putting on a simple blue shirt and his jeans, he picked up his keys and wallet before leaving his dorm room. Those that saw him walking out of the building in the direction of the university cafeteria got shivers from locking at him. It was almost as if the pressure around him was higher than usual, making everyone subliminally lowering their head in front of him before getting out of his way. That wasn¡¯t his usual behavior, far from it, but on his way to face his new found foes he played out what happened to him over and over again in his mind, which caused him to get angrier by the minute. Though he was boiling on the inside, his face was a mask of calmness, making him all the more intimidating. Without looking left and right, immersed in his anger, Frank went straight to the cafeteria. Of course Jane and her friends weren¡¯t sitting among the rows of tables for the normal students, but had a separate, be it open, room with furniture more luxurious and fancy. The main room and the one they were currently occupying were separated by two large pillars thus allowing the average Joe a glimpse into a world they could only dream about. Hell, they even brought one of their security guards (yes some were not only rich but also had important families) to act as a bouncer and made the poor guy stand between the two pillars. He looked somewhat miserable, a trained professional being used as a common bouncer. When Frank approached the separate area that same guy tensed up slightly seeing a clearly agitated man approaching him. ¡°Sorry I can¡¯t let you through here.¡± Frank thought about throwing a punch, although he never started a fight in his life, that¡¯s how angry he was. But that guy didn¡¯t look like a pushover, so he wasn¡¯t sure he could take him on. Also he really didn¡¯t want to hurt someone who didn¡¯t do anything wrong and just did his job. Noticing an unusual pin attached to his collar Frank eased up and took out his wallet, showing the man the same pin he always carried around at which the man dressed in typical black also relaxed visibly. The pin is only awarded to those that complete a special military program known as ¡°Guidance and Training beyond Military Basics¡±, GTMB. It sounded harmless enough, but those who knew about it called it ¡°Hell¡¯s Mayhem¡±. Only those with numerous recommendations and in supreme physical condition were even allowed to try it and the drop-out rate was still above 90%. Two weeks of insane, mind breaking, physical destructive training. There were only about twenty people a year who could call themselves graduates of Hells Mayhem and they were instructed to always carry around their awarded pin, called Hell¡¯s badge, because if you ever met someone who also carried it you knew you dealt with a brother in arms. Of course that¡¯s what they told you. After you get used to civilian life it¡¯s of course different and you start to think all that was just some talk by uniformed men who forgot how the normal world worked. Still, a part of you always remembers and in this situation it helped Frank to get what he came for. ¡°Nice to meet a fellow survivor.¡± Frank started to talk. ¡°So when did you graduate?¡± The man in front of him showed a smile on his face. ¡°Been a while for me, 15 years ago, what about you, you seem really young for someone carrying Hell¡¯s badge. ¡°15 years ago? I heard that was a rough year.¡± Of course he had no idea if that was true, but military men always prided themselves on being the hardest of the hard. ¡°I just got mine around a year ago, I guess I joined early.¡± Actually he was one of the youngest and lowest ranked to ever graduate from the GTMB, as he was only about a year into his service time. Normally you had to at least be part of the army for two years to be even allowed to participate in the training, but as he worked harder and more than anyone he knew, he was given a chance. And he barely made it through. He wasn¡¯t the strongest, but he was strong. He wasn¡¯t the fastest, but he was fast. He wasn¡¯t the best shot, but he was good. If there was anything he was the best in, it was his perseverance. Where others gave up, he stubbornly pushed forward. Were others fell, he stood up again. No matter how often he was knocked down, he rose and rose again until he was the only one left. Because he knew, in the end, no one was stronger, no one was faster and no one was better than the last man standing. Frank had to smile as he thought about it. Being knocked down seemed to be a common occurrence in his life and here he was, on the ground again. But he was determined to rise another time, because that was just who he was. ¡®Guess I¡¯m a stubborn fool.¡¯ ¡°Listen, I just need to have a few words with a... friend of mine. I¡¯ll be gone in five minutes, I promise.¡± After a little bit of hesitation the man nodded and allowed Frank to pass. ¡°But only talking, wouldn¡¯t want to have a fight with a fellow graduate.¡± He said it only half-jokingly as he was still doing his job, but Frank just smiled and thanked him. ¡°Same here.¡± He didn¡¯t think he had to face this kind of trouble just to get into a part of the cafeteria, damn, what was wrong with this university. ¡®Maybe I shouldn¡¯t have enrolled into a private academy, weird rules and preferential treatment everywhere.¡¯ Finally he was able to do what he came for. So he walked straight up to the table a couple of meters ahead. It was placed under a huge window, allowing the sunset¡¯s dying light to enter. It would have been rather pretty if it hadn¡¯t been for all the electric lights destroying the atmosphere and a couple of treacherous bastards sitting there. Immersed in their food they only noticed him when he was almost at their table and their feelings were obvious to him. Salena, well Anna, if he remembered correctly, looked outside the window. ¡®You don¡¯t care at all? Well good for you.¡¯ The twins Humpty and Dumpty, or something like that, smiled maliciously, Jane seemed rather annoyed and Steve¡¯s face showed nothing but contempt. Frank stopped in front of Jane¡¯s chair. He tried to not let his anger show too much and kept his voice as calm as possible. ¡°Do you have something to tell me?¡± Instead of her Steve spoke up, his voice filled with hatred and mockery. ¡°Still haven¡¯t learned your lesson you¡­?¡± Frank didn¡¯t let him finish. ¡°SHUT UP F**KFACE!¡± He roared directly at him. Everyone around them fell silent and he heard the security guard chuckle behind him. ¡®Guess he hates Steve too, can¡¯t blame him.¡± More surprised than intimidated Steve closed his mouth and stared dumbfounded. The others at the table were likewise startled. After two seconds Jane regained her composure and stared at him, now not only annoyed but angry too. ¡°What do you want Frank?¡± He didn¡¯t waver. ¡°Answers, why did you do it? I thought we were friends.¡± This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. She didn¡¯t seem to think so. ¡°Friends? Why? Because we knew each other when we were kids? Please, I knew of bunch of people back than and that¡¯s in the past. We don¡¯t live in the same world Frank. Get that through your thick skull. You approaching me all the time, calling and starting to talk so familiarly, that¡¯s only an annoyance, I really don¡¯t need a pet. Well I have to admit, you were kind of useful today and now that you have done your duty be a good doggy and waggle your tail somewhere else.¡± Now it was his turn to be completely aghast and it took him a moment to take in what he just heard. Meanwhile the three guys on the table regained their smug grins that made him so angry he just wanted to smash them. Without him noticing Anna was fidgeting uncomfortably. ¡°Just what happened to you Jane?¡± He shook his head in disbelief. He didn¡¯t know if he should be angry or sad, so he went for confused. ¡°I grew up Frank, maybe you should too and realize where you belong as it¡¯s certainly not here.¡± He still couldn¡¯t fathom what she said and continued clenching his fists. Letting out his breath he grabbed a golden chain around his neck and yanked it off. He held it in front of her, showing her the golden pendant picturing the face of a saint. ¡°Do you remember this?¡± Her eyes widened slightly but after she looked at Steve she shook her head. ¡°I have never seen it before, it¡¯s rather tacky.¡± Frank just sighed sadly. ¡°It¡¯s Petrus, patron of the shipwrecked. It belonged to your grandfather and you gave it to me at my parents¡¯ funeral as I was lost in a sea of grief. You told me back then I just had to close my eyes, hold the pendant and think of my parents or think of you and I would feel better.¡± He smiled bitterly. ¡°And so I did. You know, over the years when I lay in my bed in the orphanage, thinking I was all alone in this world, without a place where I belonged, when it was all just too much, I held this pendant tight and thought about the kind girl who gave me so much joy. I was hoping to see her again almost every day.¡± He dropped the necklace into her lap. ¡°It¡¯s unimaginable sad that the beautiful girl I liked so much is gone and I will never be able to meet her again and tell her how much she helped me. So take the pendant and lay it next to the grave of that girl.¡± It should have been beyond embarrassing for him telling her all this, but it felt alleviative as he wanted to leave this whole ordeal behind him. Jane fell silent as her gaze rested on the pendent. He didn¡¯t even want to look at her anymore so he turned to leave just to hear Steve say. ¡°Should we be impressed now or what?¡± Frank just smiled eerily as he faced him. ¡°No, you shouldn¡¯t be impressed, you should be scared. I promise you, as soon as we meet in Novus Vita I will make sure you suffer a cruel death, worse than you could imagine in your most horrifying nightmares.¡± Those almost whispered words gave Steve and the twins a chill despite the claim being quite ridiculous considering their state in the game. Jane still looked silently at the pendant on her lap. Anna had her fists clenched under the table and continued to watch outside the window while slightly shivering. Frank didn¡¯t see any of it as he left right after he finished talking. On his way out he put his fingers on his head giving a casual salute to the overqualified bouncer who did the same while smiling broadly. The people in the main room couldn¡¯t really hear anything of the conversation he had but they understood that he had a fight with Steve and his crew. Frank was pretty well liked by many students as he was very easygoing and friendly. Despite his good grades and more than decent looks he wasn¡¯t arrogant and helped anyone who was in need. Still, he didn¡¯t have any really close friends, only acquaintances he nonetheless called friends, pals and whatnot. He just didn¡¯t open up enough to form close bonds. So it wasn¡¯t surprising no one approached him as he left the cafeteria and instead pretended to be busy eating. Additionally everyone knew you shouldn¡¯t mess with Steve and his guys. Not only were their parents vastly influential, he had a whole lot of wannabe goons he kept on arm¡¯s length but close enough to use them. One of the few who didn¡¯t know or simply didn¡¯t care was Frank. Feeling relieved he left the university. The people who were intimidated when he came, were now surprised to see his smile. In his head he already formed a plan on what to do next. He went to the local supermarket and bought enough instant meals to last him for two weeks with the occasional order from the delivery service. Since he started to enjoy his, as he called it, life of freedom (no orphanage, no army, no one to tell him what to do, eat and think) he just didn¡¯t want to abstain from eating his beloved pizza every now and then. Feeling a little bit guilty he also bought a couple of apples just to put a little bit of color in his shopping cart. Along with those he got some toilet paper, tooth paste and basically everything he needed so he wouldn¡¯t have to leave his room for at least a while. When he finally got home he sat down in front of his computer and wrote a couple of emails telling his friends he wouldn¡¯t come to class for two weeks and that they should inform him if anything important came up. Also that he couldn¡¯t make it to the gym or basically anything that wasn¡¯t an emergency. Cleaning his room, placing his dumbbells beneath his sandbag in the corner, he looked at his watch. It was almost 8pm. Instead of having the usual 24 hour day he could just switch to a 30 hour rhythm and if he kept his blinds shut the sun wouldn¡¯t screw with his inner clock, as he didn¡¯t have one and could function at pretty much any time. Two hours of training, some martial arts or weightlifting, every second day and a quick 20 minute workout on the others should be enough to keep the status quo. He needed another hour to eat and to take care of what needed to be done, well more or less. Of course he also needed to sleep around six hours if he was awake for 24 hours. That left him an average of around 22 hours of gaming out of his 30 hour day. Or he could just forget about his plans and play as much as he wanted until he would collapse, though he knew his body and mind could take some abuse. He once studied 60 hours straight, stubbornly refusing to give in into sleep. After acing the exam he slept for sixteen hours. If the goal was important enough and he wanted to reach it at any cost, the way he got there was sometimes not very pretty, but he was alright with that. So here he was, standing in front of his capsule with a grin on his face and a goal in front of him. He already knew, it might get messy, it might be painful and he might have to kick major ass but he looked forward to one of those and was ok with the other two. Still smiling as he looked forward to seeing Lily again, he lay down inside his capsule and shut the lid. ¡°Connect to Novus Vita.¡±
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----------------------------------------- Author¡¯s Note: Hope you like the new chapter, I decided to give our hero a little closure and so the story didn¡¯t progress ingame, hope you don¡¯t mind, but the next chapters will be mainly or maybe even exclusively about his progress in the game. As always, I¡¯m grateful for suggestions and if you find any mistakes. The next chapter is at about 40-50% done, so it should be online by tomorrow, it will also be a little bit longer than this one. Chapter 5 - Long, Long Way from Home Chapter 5 ¨C Long, Long Way from Home ¡°Welcome back.¡± A relieved smile greeted him, she probably wasn¡¯t convinced he would return. ¡®Guess Lily still has some trust issues, can¡¯t blame her though.¡¯ ¡°Yes, I¡¯m back.¡± Hall answered with a smirk. ¡°Did I miss something?¡± ¡°I located the books I need to teach you, you just have to gather them and we can start and before you ask why I didn¡¯t collect them¡­¡± She put her hand on one of the books laying around and it passed right through. ¡°It¡¯s been like that since I woke up but at least I can fly around.¡± Trying to hide the concern in her voice with humor she flew in circles. Hall wasn¡¯t sure but she seemed to have lost some of her presence. Part of her lower body was missing to begin with and her figure was somewhat transparent, he thought it was just because she was a banshee, but now he wasn¡¯t so sure anymore. To complicate things the walls of the tower seemed to be imbued with the same magic as the tower grounds, so Lily couldn¡¯t pass through them to look outside. And his chains wouldn¡¯t extend further than a meter or so which meant he couldn¡¯t get books that were placed higher than that. So she couldn¡¯t leave the tower and touch nothing beside him thanks to their soul bond. And he could walk inside the walls surrounding the tower, but was ridiculous slow and couldn¡¯t reach higher than his waist. Unfortunately all that made his plan of her gathering edible plants and getting water fall apart. Simple tasks, which would take forever with the chains around his wrists. But brooding over it wouldn¡¯t help. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s start gathering books.¡± He put his weight against the resistance that held him back and took one step after another. Slowly but steadily they gathered different books, scrolls and a bunch of candles. He had to take several breaks. After around two hours he was completely exhausted and fell to the ground gasping for air, at least this time his effort wasn¡¯t in vain. *Ding*
You have gained status points +1 Strength +10 Stamina
Well it¡¯s not much but I guess it¡¯s something. Lily looked worried though. ¡°I guess those books should suffice for now, let¡¯s start practicing.¡± He nodded, still panting. She started by teaching him the foreign alphabet. It seemed to be derived from some kind of cuneiform but with connected lines. Additionally it was made up of mainly vowels with only a handful of consonants. Within another three hours he had a pretty firm grasp on the alphabet and was able to read the language, even if he had no idea what it meant. *Ding*
You have gained a new skill
¡°Sweet, show information¡±
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Ancient LanguagesBeginner10%
There are languages long forgotten by the people of this world, only known by those who try to keep the past alive or practice ancient magic. Effects:
  • You are able to read a small part of the heritage of ancient languages Additional effects will be added if you gain further knowledge
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Sorian Language (Subskill of Ancient Languages)Beginner10%
The people of Soria were masters of the dark arts, specializing in curses and black magic. Their doom came by the hands of several churches as they were deemed evil. Effects:
  • Able to read the Sorian language
Additional effects will be added if you gain further knowledge
*Ding*
You have learned your first language skill +5 Intelligence +5 Wisdom
¡®Wow, awesome¡¯ Lily seemed satisfied. ¡°Amazing, you learn beyond fast. If you practice this and maybe other languages your skill will rise and if you get it high enough you shouldn¡¯t only be able to understand but also to talk and even use magic based on them.¡± He had absolute no interest in ever using this accursed language after they got out of this tower but still nodded. ¡°Alright, now to the next step, it¡¯s time for some pain.¡± It was what he dreaded most and explained to Lily. ¡°You know I have to do something about those chains, so I will try touching them again.¡± Lily looked at him dumbfounded. ¡°Are you serious? Did you forget the pain last time?¡± Hall just laughed. ¡°No, how could I, but it¡¯s necessary, this kind of training raises my level of the skill connected to the chains and with that my understanding of it and the curse.¡± She still didn¡¯t like it, but as she saw how determined he was, she refrained from saying anything else and instead stood behind him putting her hands on his shoulders. ¡°I can¡¯t help you but I want you to know that you are not alone in this.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more than enough, thank you.¡± He showed her a genuine smile. It has been a while since he heard words like these and they truly helped him. Feeling her hands on his shoulders he closed his eyes and calmed himself breathing slowly. This time he could see the glowing stream of his soul essence within seconds. This time he was more careful putting only a single finger on the now corporal chain. Again pain surged inside of him. This time he expected it, only let out a small gasp and kept his finger on the chain. The pain didn¡¯t subside but after a minute he touched the second chain with a finger from his other hand. The agony increased but he still wouldn¡¯t let go, breathing heavily now, he only let go after five minutes before he fell to the ground, Lily clinging to him and talking trying to comfort him. *Ding*
You have created the status Endurance
Endurance:
  • reduces the physical damage as well as the pain inflicted upon you
  • Decreases stamina usage
Status point distribution is not possible
¡®I¡¯m so going to increase that stat.¡¯ He thought while lying on his back still feeling the after effects of the pain he just suffered. Nonetheless, he was surprised, it should take a whole lot longer to gain this stat, especially as he didn¡¯t get that hurt physically and he only was out of stamina a couple of times. His best guess was that the pain inflicted upon the soul is somehow regarded as special and so the endurance stat is awarded as not to torture players for too long. It was also not normal for a new player to receive this kind of pain, as damage to the soul energy itself was incredibly rare so most players will probably never hear about it. Lily was again close to tears so Hall tried to console her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it will be easier from now on and it looks worse than it is.¡± It was a bad lie but the intention behind it made Lily feel a little bit better. He stood up and continued with the training, extending the time he was able to touch the chains and also increasing the contact surface. He made at least some progress at the cost of his mental health as the pain slowly took a toll on him. After two hours he managed to put two fingers on each chain and hold it there for around fifteen minutes. He even gained one point in endurance and managed to increase his progress with the chains of sorrow skill, unfortunately he didn¡¯t manage to level it up. ¡°Alright, that should be enough for now.¡± Unable to continue as he was mentally exhausted, he lay on his back chewing on another loaf of rye bread and taking a couple of sips from his water bottle. ¡®The canteen should be empty by now, it¡¯s probably magically enhanced to hold a lot more water than usual. I guess that makes sense, it would be kind of annoying to carry around tens of liters of water just to travel a couple of days.¡¯ Lily seemed at least a little bit relieved at his declaration but she knew that it wouldn¡¯t be the end of it. Hall had eight loafs of bread left which should last him around two days. During his next break he would have to check online how much water fit in a beginner¡¯s canteen, just to be sure he should fill it up as soon as possible. Stretching and clearing his head Hall sat down and picked up a book Lily has pointed out as being pretty easy to understand. ¡°Good, now back to studying, I need to learn the language, there are a gazillion books we need to read, I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll find a way to break that curse.¡± Lily pointed at a large book she seemed to have written. It contained thousands of words, phrases and grammatical rules. ¡°It took me over a decade to complete it, with this you should be able to learn the Sorian language a lot faster.¡± So he took the big dictionary and began to translate one of the easy books word for word, remembering the words as he went on, slowly raising his skill Sorian Language. After three hours he gained a bonus point in wisdom and proceeded to level his Chains of Sorrow. This time he managed to withstand the pain for over three hours without breaking down thanks to his endurance stat. He was actually able to grab both chains with his hands this time, even if it was only for a couple of minutes. His skill went up to beginner level 3 though he didn¡¯t attain another point in endurance. Again he lay on his back trying to push the pain away. He so didn¡¯t look forward to doing this for the next days. Still, it had to be done. Steeling his resolve, he swallowed another loaf of bread and picked up the books around him to continue learning. Switching between agonizing pain and annoying studying he slowly rose his skills and managed to gain two points in each intelligence, wisdom and endurance. It took him a whole day though and he had only two loafs of bread left. ¡®Damn, I miscalculated, I need to restock.¡¯ ¡°Lily, I have to go outside, I need some food.¡± She nodded understanding. ¡°Alright but be careful and don¡¯t forget the shackles that bind us together. The chain can¡¯t be extended for more than five meters and I can¡¯t leave this tower so you don¡¯t have too much elbowroom out there.¡± Hall sighed and slowly moved to the door. When he arrived he was already breathing heavily. Leaving the tower for the first time since being betrayed by Belinda and the rest he was happy to see natural light again, even if the atmosphere was still rather creepy and dark. He would have loved to hunt a rabbit and would even settle for a crow but he had absolutely no idea how he should manage that with his current speed and without any weapons. Looking around he saw a couple of bones lying on the ground. ¡®That¡¯s probably the skeletons the twins killed. They didn¡¯t even gather what their prey left behind.¡± He wasn¡¯t surprised though as the loot only consisted of a couple of bones and teeth. He shrugged, pocketed them anyway and continued looking for the well he needed to fill his canteen. Although Lily described to him where it was, it still took him a couple of minutes to spot the well and he wasn¡¯t surprised he didn¡¯t see it when he entered the area the first time. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. The stones barely reached his knee and were overgrown with moss. The rusty bucket next to it was toppled over and he wasn¡¯t sure the rope attached to it would allow him to carry a lot of water seeing how withered it was. He approached the well breathlessly and filled his canteen and took a couple of sips of the water as he didn¡¯t trust it completely seeing the old well. *Ding*
You drank water from a well placed on cursed ground -5mp
¡®Well that could have been worse.¡¯ He chuckled as he didn¡¯t have any mana anyway. His thirst quenched he started to search for edible plants around the well and found a couple of berries, roots and what looked like thorny nuts. ¡®I bet they are poisonous, I really need the Identification skill, guess I have ask Lily before taking a bite.¡¯ Unfortunately he couldn¡¯t reach the gravestones. There grew a couple of red and black flowers he wanted to pick but he had to give up on them for now. Wandering around, pulling the chains behind him while panting violently, he picked dozens of plants and put them in his inventory and after a couple of hours he finally got a message that made him smile. *Ding*
You have gained status points +1 Strength +10 Stamina
Satisfied with his progress he stepped back inside the tower where a worried Lily greeted him. ¡°You¡¯ve been out there for hours and you overdid it again, you know I can tell.¡± Seeing her pouting face he couldn¡¯t help but smile. She was really the only thing that kept him going. ¡®Unbelievable that she¡¯s an artificial intelligence.¡¯ Being inside he put everything he gathered out in the open for Lily to inspect except for the bones and teeth. ¡°Lily I hope you know something about plants and poison.¡± She nodded. ¡°A little bit, I grew up in these woods so I should be able to tell you a couple of things about the vegetation.¡± The next few minutes she was busy inspecting anything he took out of his inventory. ¡°Well most of it is edible though you won¡¯t like the taste very much. These grey berries are actually antiseptic, so they are used to treat wounds. These though.¡± She pointed at the suspicious thorny nuts, they have a somewhat unique ability. If you eat them raw they will give you a reduction in speed, something you probably can¡¯t afford in your current state. They will also cause some damage, reducing your health. If you cook them though their properties change and they will give you a little bit of mana.¡± ¡®Great.¡¯ He thought. ¡®They can counteract the water, not that it matters anyway.¡¯ So he took a large pot that probably wasn¡¯t used in centuries and cleaned out the dust. He started to make a fire in the chimney that looked like it was designed for cooking. Filling the pot with water from his canteen. ¡®Wow, there¡¯s really a lot in there.¡¯ ¡°Lily, how are your cooking skills?¡± He asked hopefully, but she only shook her head. ¡°Pretty much nonexistent, I know enough about plants to survive if I¡¯m lost in the woods. I can also cook some meat over a fire, usually burning half of it in the process of course. Sorry I can¡¯t make you breakfast anytime soon.¡± Both started laughing and even though they were in a dark and dirty tower, both cursed, far away from home and scared because they didn¡¯t know what their future held, they somehow managed to be happy together forgetting their sorrows for a moment. Still smiling he thought about what he could do with the food, then just shrugged and threw everything together in the pot. He even tore up the remaining bread and put it in because he thought it might thicken the broth. Lily stared at him with wide eyes. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure that¡¯s not how you are supposed to do it and did you put the berries in there? You don¡¯t eat them, you make a paste out of them and put it on the wound.¡± But Hall just pushed her worries aside. He had to eat something after all and it couldn¡¯t be much worse than the bread, he just hoped it wouldn¡¯t be poisonous. While the broth was cooking he continued to train his Chains of Sorrow skill. It was as agonizing as ever, putting more force on the chains increased the pain and made him shiver and twitch. During his breaks he stirred the food, watching his satiety bar slowly drop. He had actually no idea how long it would take for the makeshift stew to be ready and he just hoped it would be soon. ¡®Maybe it wasn¡¯t the best idea to put everything I had in there.¡¯ But he could do nothing about it now so he closed his eyes, concentrated on his soul energy and continued with his training. Through his pain he barely heard the sound he hated and loved at the same time. *Ding*
You have created Dubious Broth May the gods have mercy on your soul
¡®Well that¡¯s not very encouraging now, is it?¡¯ But he couldn¡¯t really deny the questionability of the food. The color was greyish with a hint of green, the smell was not really appetizing but thankfully not appalling either and seeing how it poured from the ladle back into the pot it somehow reminded him of really overcooked porridge. ¡®Well, here goes nothing.¡¯ He used the ladle to eat directly out of the pot and gulped down whatever it was he made. The taste wasn¡¯t even so bad, as it was rather bland with a hint of bitterness. It was the texture that made him almost vomit, as he tried to swallow the slimy mass. ¡°Oh my god, this is terrible.¡± said Hall with a distorted face. Lily just shook her head but also had a disgusted look as she shared his feelings. ¡°Told you so. I can¡¯t believe you have to eat this for the next few days.¡± She was right, he put in all he had and it was enough to keep him going for at least three or four more days. Sighing deeply he ate another ladle full of the mysterious goo and another one after that until his satiety bar was full. Forcing himself to keep the food down he sat on the cold floor. *Ding*
temporary status change (30min): +30% mana regeneration -30% health regeneration
He couldn¡¯t help but chuckle tiredly while lying down and closing his eyes. ¡°You have been working hard, how about a taking a break for a couple of hours.¡± Lily approached him and put a hand on his head, it was so cold it almost made him cry. It was just wrong for someone like her who was so kind to be this cold. So instead of following her well-meant advice he shook his head, sat up and took the books lying around to continue to study. ¡°Not yet, I can still go on.¡± Another day passed with him training his Chains of Sorrow and Sorian Language Skill. If his satiety bar dropped too low he reluctantly forced some of the food down his throat and if he was thirsty he drank from his canteen. Lily was always by his side, comforting him, motivating him, teaching him. She stopped trying to convince him to take it easy and instead did what she could to make him get through his draining exercise and studying. It was already two and a half days game days since he logged in which meant he hasn¡¯t eaten anything or went to the toilet for over thirteen hours and so he decided to get a bite of real food to eat and take of certain needs. ¡°Lily I¡¯ll be back in a couple of hours, so don¡¯t worry alright?¡± This time she nodded without a doubt in her eyes, the days they spent together showed her, that she could trust him. ¡°See you soon.¡± He logged out, stepped out of his capsule and began to stretch. ¡®They really should invent something so your body trains while you¡¯re inside of this thing, at least I wouldn¡¯t have to worry about my body then.¡¯ Yawning he put an instant meal in the nanowave oven and went into the bathroom to relieve himself. As usual he ate his meal in front of the computer but this time he browsed the internet for information instead of watching some action series or anime. ¡®Would you look at that, the small beginner¡¯s canteen can actually carry 25 liters of water, not bad.¡¯ Unfortunately he found absolutely no information on soul essence, the Sorian language or any grand curses. Instead he found something rather unsettling. The kingdom of Bredon was really far in the west with his starting city being even farther in the same direction. ¡®Did those guys have some kind of teleportation scroll? This is ridiculous, how am I supposed to get into any decent town like this.¡¯ He didn¡¯t even know where the tower was as he just followed his party. The whole area was covered in woods and pretty much unexplored and so he was very sure he wouldn¡¯t find Fostein again. ¡®Well one problem at a time, the first step is to get out of the tower.¡¯ The only good thing was that the area around the town was pretty low level, but because it was in the middle of nowhere not many beginners started there. Usually most newcomers checked where famous guilds, as well as important NPCs that could teach different crafts, were located to get their classes and jobs as fast as possible. He also reread some stuff about skills and stats which gave him an idea to improve his training. Surprised he noticed a new article and bend over to read it properly. It was something that seemed to be known for a while but there weren¡¯t confirmed reports as most players kept it to themselves to either have an advantage over others or by orders from their guilds. The article was about passive skills. There seemed to be different kinds as some were able to be leveled up through special actions and others that would remain the same throughout the game making them more like traits than skills. Some skills, passive or active, were removable by the players while others had to be removed through quests, by NPCs or with the help of special items. Those passive skills were often highly desired as they didn¡¯t cost any mana or stamina but could increase ones fighting capability significantly. Afterwards he skimmed through some news. A handful of new hidden classes have been discovered. A couple of people managed to reach intermediate in a profession. The first person reached level 100. Although it seemed that the game would become significantly harder from then on out. All this was far away from him right now. So he closed his eyes and listened to his favorite rock song, the same song he always listened to before exams or other difficult task. He just loved those old songs, guitars, bass, drums and a good singing voice. He just couldn¡¯t get into that computer generated stuff. Too bad he couldn¡¯t sing or play an instrument. ¡®I have to ask Lily to sing something for me.¡¯ With this thought he lay down inside the capsule. ¡®Enough idle thoughts, back to training.¡¯ ¡°Connect to Novus Vita.¡±
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--------------------------------------------- Author¡¯s Note: Just as promised, another chapter, hope you like it It¡¯s mainly about training and the relationship between Lily and Hall, so there¡¯s not that much progress, but I think it¡¯s important to build up the characters even if it isn¡¯t incredible exciting, hope you agree As always, I¡¯m grateful for advice, suggestions and for pointing out mistakes. P.S: The next chapter will almost certainly be released tomorrow (or the day after that if I don¡¯t have the time) :bye: Chapter 6 - Beat the Devils Tattoo Chapter 6 ¨C Beat the Devil¡¯s Tattoo He really could get used to being greeted with a bright smile. ¡®I wonder if it¡¯s like that if you have a girlfriend¡­ah I guess that will stay a dream for a while.¡¯ They had a little chat, then Hall decided to try out his new training method after telling Lily about it, though she wasn¡¯t particularly thrilled with the idea. By now he didn¡¯t even have to close his eyes anymore to see the stream of light coming out of his wrists and entangling the chains, he just had to concentrate a little and his shackles would become corporal. *Ding*
You have gained a new skill
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Soul PerceptionBeginner10%
Through continuous training and concentration you are able to sense the energy that the souls around you carry. Effects:
  • you are able to see your own soul energy
  • focusing allows you to sense soul energy in a small radius around you
For achieving a closer understanding of souls and the power they carry you are rewarded with + 2 Intelligence and +3 Wisdom
¡®Maybe I can use this for detecting enemies, guess by leveling it up I should be able to increase the range, right now I can¡¯t even sense Lily even if she is right next to me. This could actually be really useful. Well there¡¯s time for that later.¡¯ Grabbing the chains carefully with both hands he grinded his teeth, feeling agonizing pain again, luckily he was almost used to it by now especially since it was reduced by his endurance stat. He proceeded to wrap the chains around his arms, increasing the pain even more. But he kept at it, not backing down. Taking a deep breath he took a step forward, pulling the chains with all his might. In an instant he dropped to his knees letting go of the shackles he held tight, the torment was just too much this time. He rammed his fist in the ground angered by his own weakness. Meanwhile Lily put her hands on his clenched fist, trying to sooth his suffering. With a roar he stood up, repeating what he just did, only to fall again. Over and over he rose and fell and rose again. Lily was close to tears seeing Hall tormenting himself. Finally he managed to take a step with the chains wrapped around his arms, with grim determination he took another one and another. Slowly, unsteady, as the pain was taking his balance and his reason, but unwavering he took one step after the other. Lily stood in awe as she observed the fire in his eye, his muscle bulging under the weight and most of all she was captivated by his unyielding will. *Ding*
You have gained a new skill
*Ding*
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
I¡¯m Still Standing (passive)--100%
Unyielding in the face of agony, unwavering if pain torments you. No matter how often you fall, there is nothing that keeps you from rising defiantly to your feet. Effects:
  • Endurance raised by 5%
  • With every 10% health you lose your damage increases by 0.5%
  • Attacks directed at your mind will have a likeliness of 5 % to fail
As if it was the bell after a fifteen round boxing match he went down without stopping his fall, planting his face straight into the ground. Within a second Lily was upon him, turning him around, hugging him and breaking into tears. ¡°How long¡­ how long do you have to torment yourself like this?¡± His voice was weak but held resolve. ¡°As long as it takes.¡± She cried silently on his shoulder until he gently pushed her away to stand up again. He wasn¡¯t done, not by a longshot. After Lily calmed down, he continued for another hour, significantly increasing his speed by pulling the chains, before devoting himself to studying. Gaining a stat point in intelligence he stopped to eat and to quench his thirst, noticing that his food wouldn¡¯t last much longer. ¡°Lily I have to gather some plants, could you do me a favor?¡± She eagerly nodded, glad to be of use. ¡°I know this comes out of nowhere, but could you sing something for me and don¡¯t worry about the song, anything is fine?¡± If a ghostly presence could blush, Lily just did and shyly nodded. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m good enough but I will give my best.¡± Hall grabbed the chains, wrapped them around his wrists to get better leverage and began pulling while walking outside. Despite the agony, despite the torment, he started to smile as soon as he heard Lily sing. Her song carried a warmth he hasn¡¯t felt in a long time. A sad, yet comforting sound washing like a wave of comfort over his tortured mind. ¡°It''s been a long cold winter without you I''ve been crying on the inside over you Just slipped through my fingers as life turned away It''s been a long cold winter since that day¡± He reached the well to refill his canteen and began to gather plants, berries and nuts. ¡±It''s hard to find Hard to find Hard to find the strength now but I try And I don''t want to Don''t want to Don''t want to go on and speak now Of what''s gone by Cos no matter what I say No matter what I do I can¡¯t change what happened No matter what I say No matter what I do I can¡¯t change what happened¡± Panting heavily he returned to the tower, lying down on the ground to recover his stamina. ¡°You just slipped through my fingers And I feel so ashamed You just slipped through my fingers And I have paid¡± With closed eyes he lay there, Lily beside him singing from the bottom of her heart. ¡± Cos no matter what I say No matter what I do I can¡¯t change what happened No matter what I say No matter what I do I can¡¯t change what happened No no I can''t change Just slipped through my fingers And I feel so ashamed You just slipped through my fingers And I have paid.¡± With a smile on his face he stood up. ¡°Thank you, that was beautiful.¡± A simple compliment that still made her incredibly happy, so they both continued working together. Luckily language skills were easier to raise than weapon skills as usually you would only use a few weapons but if you studied languages you would have to have knowledge of many different one. So he finally got what he wanted after around four days. *Ding*
Your skill Sorian Language (Subskill of Ancient Languages) leveled up
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Sorian Language (Subskill of Ancient Languages)Beginner711%
Additional Effects:
  • Able to understand the Sorian language
His Ancient Languages skill also leveled up to beginner level 2 though he didn¡¯t really care about that. Lily was excited he achieved something within days where she needed years. ¡°That¡¯s not surprising Lily, after all I had someone to teach me, you had to do it all by yourself.¡± At last he could start reading those damn books and find an answer on how to get rid of this curse. But before that he had to do something else and walked over to the now empty pot, filling it with water. Instead of just throwing everything in there he wanted to cut the ingredients into smaller pieces but couldn¡¯t even find a single knife lying around that wasn¡¯t so corroded it turned to dust after a single touch. As he had no other idea he just proceeded to rip the grasses into small pieces with his bare hands, throwing them in the kettle. He mashed the berries, nuts and roots and also added them. Then he stirred and continued reading a thick, old book that seemed to fall to pieces in his hands. *Ding*
You have created Mysterious Broth Just because it¡¯s different, doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s good
¡®That¡¯s not really better is it?¡¯ Still he just shrugged and started to eat. He barely believed it, but it was even worse than the one he made before. The viscosity was pretty much the same, vomit inducing and beyond disgusting. Unfortunately it tasted horrible too. ¡°Guess I won¡¯t become a master chef anytime soon¡± Hall said tiredly, he was now online for around four days and needed some sleep. ¡°Lily this time I¡¯ll be gone for a little more than a day, alright?¡± She just nodded a bit sad but also relieved he would finally take a break. After logging out he took his clothes off on his way to the bed and was asleep before his body hit the covers. He slept six hours, got up, spent an hour lifting weights and another one practicing his close combat skills on his sandbag, constantly thinking about his next steps ingame. After a snack and a quick shower he logged back into Novus Vita, where again he was greeted with a bright smile that made his day more pleasant in an instant. This time he noticed something was wrong instantly. Lily again had lost some of her form, it was as if she would fade away slowly. ¡°Lily what is happening to you? Please tell me.¡± She first wanted to deny his claim that something was wrong, but seeing his concerned eyes she decided to tell him the truth. ¡°It¡¯s the chains, they drain my soul energy. You are not affected because you have a body to restore your energy but as I am a spirit, mine is slowly drained. I probably fell into deep slumber as my power was almost exhausted. But as I am awake now I¡¯m slowly fading away.¡± Hall was completely taken aback. Horrified he stared at her. ¡°How long do you have left?¡± There was no need to ask her why she didn¡¯t tell him, he already knew. ¡°Maybe a week, but I don¡¯t think I can last longer than ten days.¡± He nodded, his face showing determination and resolve. He wouldn¡¯t let her disappear, never. He tried something he avoided until now. He approached the cursed book on the pedestal, as it seemed to be the item carrying the curse, it should tell him something about it. The closer he got, the slower he became as if the tower wouldn¡¯t allow him to get to the book. With a grim look on his face he pushed forward but simply couldn¡¯t get closer than a meter. No pulling or charging at it helped, it was almost as if there was an invisible barrier. ¡®Damn it, back to the other books then.¡¯ He read dozens of books without a break, he read when he ate, when he drank and he even wrapped the chains that bound him around his arms multiple times, increasing the pain manifold. But he didn¡¯t care. He scrapped his plan about sleeping and training in real life and just logged out to eat and drink something once a day. After eight days in the game Lily was barely able to talk anymore. Her form was almost completely transparent and he could feel her end coming. He slowly felt despair crawling up on him. He read hundreds of book so far. Books about soul energy, about how it can be corrupted or cleansed. There were books about simple curses and dark magic. About spells evil beyond imagination and about how to counter them. Hell, there were even books about alchemy and poisons. He even gained the Ancient Knowledge skill and its subskill Sorian Knowledge, which allowed him to use what he read if he decided to acquire certain classes or professions. It would have been paradise for a dark mage who specialized in potions but for him it was useless. The only thing he gained was a noticeable stat bonus in wisdom, intelligence and endurance as he always kept his chains in corporal state and wrapped around his arms several times while sitting on the floor. By now he barely noticed the pain anymore. His raised language skills allowed him to read at double the speed by now, yet he just couldn¡¯t figure out how to break the curse. ¡®Damn it, damn it, damn it, I promised her I would get her out.¡± Hall felt anger, at himself, at the tower and at the one who made the curse. After another day he felt it, the shackles between Lily and him were becoming lighter. They became transparent and he just knew, her demise wasn¡¯t far away. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. He wanted to scream, to curse, to cry, but nothing would help and then he finally found it, something he needed, something that gave a new spark to the dying flame of his hope. The ancient scroll, almost completely rotten by time and the ink withered away, seemed to be written by a certain William Henley, it said:
I was wrong, blinded by the hate I felt for the churches that destroyed my people I taught my pupil spells too dark and too evil to comprehend. He wasn¡¯t ready, his mind became corrupted by darkness and greed and he tried to destroy me to increase his power. He made this curse to kill me, but it was strong enough to remain for centuries. So if you read this, it is likely you were affected by the curse. This scroll was written with the power I took from the tower as it was all I had access to in my spirit form. So if you weren¡¯t connected to the magic of this tower for a while, you wouldn¡¯t be able to read this. I am deeply sorry for the fate my pupil bestowed upon you. Yet there is a way to lift the curse. Ancient magic words, powerful enough to destroy the chains that bind you.
He was excited, finally he found it. His tired mind was wide awake again. Hunger, thirst, pain and despair washed away.
Before I bestow upon you the words that will free you I have to ask you, no, I beg you to right my wrongs as I am too weak after decades of imprisonment. Destroy the book that contains the curse and hunt down my disciple. He has amassed enough power over the darkness to escape even death and is stronger than you can imagine, so it pains me to request this of you.
Quest: No Sympathy for the Devil
The great mage William Henley asked you to hunt down his disciple, Dravan, the last one of the Sorian people. Dravan rules over a land of darkness unbeknownst to mankind where he controls an army of evil. Difficulty: C+ Quest requirements: Be cursed by Dravan, survive the curse and find the scroll of his master Rewards:
  • Restore what was broken, find what was lost and return what was stolen
  • Additional rewards depending on your actions
Failure: exceed the time limit of one year
A grim smile spread over his face. ¡°Gladly.¡± He didn¡¯t even notice what was asked of him and only saw his chance at vengeance.
Quest accepted
To release you from the chains that bind you, you need to read the words I left behind and that took decades for me to create. They contain magic that can overwhelm the evil in this tower and to hide it from the eyes of my disciple there was only one place I could find that would cover its presence. Using magic I carved them into the pedestal. To reveal them, touch the wood under the book and speak ¡°Invictus¡±. Good luck, may the gods be with you.
¡®DAMN, WHY, I WAS SO CLOSE.¡¯ He roared furiously as he still hadn¡¯t found a way to approach the pedestal. He thought it might be possible for spirits and that¡¯s why the mage was able to carve the words in there. But one look at Lily showed him there was no way she could do it, she was almost gone, her eyes closed, her hands barely visible, only part of her chest and her head left. He could already look through her as if she was made out of dirty glass. He felt it, he knew, she wouldn¡¯t last more than an hour. So he rushed over to her, grabbing her shoulders, he tried to reach her. ¡°Lily, Lily, wake up, listen, I almost have it, please, just hold on a little bit longer.¡± At the end he almost screamed at her. She opened her eyes. Even though she was almost gone, her eyes still held a lot of warmth as she looked at him bringing a transparent hand up to his cheek. ¡°It¡¯s all right Hall, you did more than anyone could ever ask from you. I¡¯m glad I was able to meet you, the last two weeks were among the happiest I can remember in my life. Thank you, I will miss you¡­¡± Her voice died down and with a faint smile on her lips she closed her eyes. Tears were flowing over Hall¡¯s face. Why wasn¡¯t he faster, why wasn¡¯t he better, why wasn¡¯t he stronger, why couldn¡¯t he save her. He shook her shoulders to get a reaction. ¡°NO PLEASE, LILY, you can¡¯t leave me too¡­AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH¡± With a roar that shook the foundations of the tower he stood up, grabbed the chains and charged at the pedestal. ¡°YOU WON¡¯T TAKE HER FROM ME!¡± Again, it was like running into a wall, the chains burning into his flesh, weighing him down. He didn¡¯t care. He wrapped them around his arms pulling like a madman, pushing forward, the pain surging inside him. He didn¡¯t notice. He got one step closer than ever before without realizing, the chains glowing purple and exuding black smoke, overwhelming his soul essence causing excruciating agony. He didn¡¯t mind. The chains were screaming, they screeched and wailed. Anger, weariness, grief, sorrow and pain, everything accumulated inside of him. Maddening wrath and boiling rage filled his very soul as he took another step. The soft blue colored light of his soul essence that was intertwined with the chains was almost completely covered by the sickening purple glow. His screams filled the air as he released his rage, tearing at the chains. His face showed no signs of yielding, his stance was one of defiance. He put every ounce, every little bit of willpower he had left into his wish to save her. As he was close enough to almost touch the book, the purple glow completely covered the chains, black smoke was creeping up his arms, his knees became weak and his head slowly sunk to the ground. Only at the last moment he caught himself, his head still bowed. A brutal shout, one you would expect from a monster, not a man, found its way out his throat. His muscles bulged, a fire burnt in his eyes as he yanked his head in the air. Grabbing the chains with the power of a demon, or an angel, he pushed forward. The chains seemed to explode in burning red light, his soul energy, not blue anymore, were filled with unimaginable will, turning it into glowing flames that would burn the devil himself. The appalling purple light was washed away, as was the black smoke, burnt by Hall¡¯s power. With a sound as if hell¡¯s gates were forced shut, a metallic bloodcurdling scream of agony, the chains that bound Hall were torn from the ground, throwing him against the pedestal. *Ding*
Through pure will of force and while suffering unimaginable agony you changed the properties of a skill Chains of Sorrow changed into Soul Chains
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Soul ChainsBeginner10%
The cursed chains that bound you, yielded to your will and now obey your command Effects:
  • incorporeal chains can be imbued with the power of your soul, allowing you to wield them
  • chains are invisible to others as long as they are not imbued with soul energy
Through your actions you gained the stat Fighting Spirit
Fighting Spirit:
  • Decreases the pressure that NPCs and other players can give off due to having a higher level than oneself
  • Possible to cower creatures of a lower level than oneself with a glare
  • Temporally call on superhuman strength
Status point distribution is not possible.
Rise and Rise again like the Phoenix from the Ashes until the Lambs become Lions: Through your actions you gained the rare stat Willpower
Willpower:
  • reduces the duration and the impact of movement impairing effects
  • reduces the duration and impact of damage over time effects
  • Decreases stamina usage
Status point distribution is not possible
You are the first player to gain the rare stat Willpower Rewards: Initial points doubled
The stat fighting spirit was integrated into the rare stat willpower and will have double the value of the willpower stat
You are the first player to change a skill by force and without help Rewards: +2 Strength +3 Endurance +5 Willpower
A satisfied, be it tired grin spread over his face and with the rusty taste of blood in his mouth he stood up, tossing the cursed book from the pedestal like the piece of trash it was. ¡°Just wait a little bit longer Lily, I will get you out of here.¡± Raising his burnt arms he placed his hand on the pedestal. ¡°Invictus¡± Immediately blue runes appeared on the polished surface. He took a deep breath and after a glance in Lily¡¯s direction he started to read. ¡°Out of the night that covers me, Black as the Pit from pole to pole, I challenge whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds, and shall find, me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll. I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.¡± When nothing happened he thought he made a mistake and watched Lily anxiously. Then a blue glow started to emit from the ground, illuminating the whole tower before it faded away and left nothing but eerie darkness behind. *Ding*
Because the magic words lost most of their power with the passage of time you are only able to shatter three indestructible chains, negating their penalties in the process as well as protecting you from the aftereffects of breaking the curse
So he finally made it, weeks of suffering found their end, here and now. He watched the chains dangling from his wrists and the one in his chest. He could start over. He could play the game with decent stats and without penalties if he destroyed the chains around his wrists. Smiling he let out a relieved breath and he didn¡¯t even have to think about what to do next. ¡°Shatter the Chains that tie Lilith to this wretched place.¡± A glowing light surrounded Lily, engulfing her in warmth, dismantling the chains on her arms and slowly returning her body and soul. He ran to her, taking her in his arms and with a bright smile he watched her opening her eyes. ¡°Welcome back.¡± Lily was overjoyed seeing his face before hers and with a smile she buried her face in his chest shedding tears of bliss. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m back.¡±
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----------------------------------------------------------------- Author¡¯s Note: Well, chapter number 6 is out, hope you enjoyed it I thought about ending it before he freed Lily, but I didn¡¯t want to leave you with a cliffhanger ending as I¡¯m pretty sure I won¡¯t be able to release the next chapter by tomorrow, but it will probably be done the day after Our hero will soon start his adventure outside the tower, don¡¯t miss it :grin: Oh and as always, please tell me your opinions, suggestions and point out any mistakes you find, I appreciate the support :bye: P.S: if anyone is curious, the song Lily sang was A Natural Disaster by Anathema Chapter 7 - Death whispered a Lullaby Chapter 7 ¨C Death whispered a Lullaby *Ding*
You have released someone from the Chains of Sorrow
Your skill Shackles of Sorrow leveled up
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Shackles of Sorrow (passive)-99/100-
The curse is still active
While he held Lily he just waved the messages away. Slowly they separated, still smiling as he looked at her. Her long legs were barely covered by the white dress she wore. She was still pale and a little transparent, yet she was stunningly beautiful. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t look at me like that.¡± Blushing and mumbling an apology he shifted his gaze away. Lily started to giggle seeing the man in front of her fidgeting embarrassed when a couple of minutes ago he destroyed a great evil with his bare hands while looking like a berserker from the tales she read as a kid. Now that Lily was safe, Hall¡¯s muscles began to ache. His limbs burned like fire and too weak to stand he had to sit down. The fatigue hit him like a hammer. His mind and his body were forced far beyond their boundaries and now it all washed over him. ¡°Lily, I think I have to go for a little while, all right?¡± Seeing Hall¡¯s tormented body that practically screamed of weariness she nodded. ¡°Alright, please get some rest, I¡¯ll wait for you¡­and Hall, Thank you.¡± She quickly gave him a kiss on the cheek and with faint red cheeks, which were only visible because of her white skin, she waited for him to leave. A little perplexed, but happy, he logged out, drank a whole bottle of water in one go and, barely able to take off his clothes, he fell onto his bed, drifting into a deep slumber, dreaming about what was to come. When he woke up after over ten hours his stomach growled as if it wanted to yell at him for neglecting to eat. So he took care of all necessities and logged back in. Seeing Lily sleeping peacefully on the ground left him with a warm feeling in his chest, he was glad he used the magic words to save her. He looked around, they had to leave the tower so he put bunch of books in his inventory. They were mainly about countering dark magic and potions. He skimmed through the books he couldn¡¯t reach before which took him several hours. Lily soon woke up and greeted him. ¡±You know I haven¡¯t had a good night¡¯s sleep in a long time. The slumber I fell in after my soul energy was almost gone really doesn¡¯t compare.¡± Stretching she flew around him. She still wasn¡¯t corporeal, but now she could touch her surroundings if she really concentrated. So they both continued to search the books for those that were especially valuable or of use. In the end he took a few dozens of books. He didn¡¯t care much for their content as the higher he went up the tower the more the shelves seemed to be filled with books about history, towns and people long gone. But it just felt wrong for him to leave the books behind after all he had some ¡­final plans with the tower and destroying books, well, he didn¡¯t like it. He found a couple of spell and recipe books, some simple ones, others more advanced. One was about making an improved mana potion based on a wild fern combined with a glowing mushroom which only grew in caves with mana rocks. Among all those texts he even found three skill books. One was about gaining temporary resistance to curses and illusion magic by expanding his soul energy and overwhelming the dark magic aimed at him. Unfortunately he needed a way higher level than his own. The other two were spells he would just sell in the auction house that dealt with real money. They weren¡¯t great but should fetch him a fair amount of money. Although he first had to reach a civilized place so he could give them to a buyer. Unfortunately most books were already rotten by time, so there was no need to check them. He also took the pot, the ladle and some tools for making fire. Apart from that the tower was completely devoid of anything useful. Now came the part that made him anxious and he pushed away by searching the tower for a whole day. ¡°Lily, we have to talk.¡± He pointed at the chain between them. It still looked like black steel, coated in some disgusting dark substance that reflected the pulsating purple glow it showed at some spots. Hall was still able to break one chain and he intended to let it be the one that bound them to each other. He somehow knew after that Lily would be gone for good. Though her soul wouldn¡¯t be consumed by the tower, but set free, whatever that meant in this world. ¡°Before you are free we still have to destroy this last chain, with that you will finally find peace.¡± She looked almost as sad as at the moment they first met and it broke his heart to see her nod with tears in her eyes. He had a lump in his throat. ¡°Thank you Lily, without you I wouldn¡¯t have made it through the last weeks.¡± His eyes wet, but with a smile he hugged her. ¡°Goodbye Lily.¡± She clung to him sobbing. She shed tears of happiness for the time they shared and tears of grief as they had to separate. ¡°Farewell and thank you Hall, thank you, thank you...¡± Her voice broke down as she wept, her face buried in his chest. He could feel her tears on his chest as they were soaked up by his rough linen shirt. His hand rose as he wanted to give the order to break the chain. ¡°You could come with me you know?¡± She looked up to him, surprise on her teary face. ¡°I mean only if you want, I understand that after such a long time you desire some peace but if you¡¯d like...¡± ¡°YES.¡± She didn¡¯t even let him finish, tear drops flying from her face as she nodded furiously. ¡°I mean, yes, I would love to come with you, but are you sure you want me on your journey? I will only be a burden, you can¡¯t use your mana and as a banshee I don¡¯t have any skills that would be helpful to you.¡± A glimmer of hope made her sad, wet eyes sparkle, she wanted to stay with him, but she didn¡¯t want to weigh him down. He put his hand on her head, slowly stroking it. ¡°Don¡¯t you worry, that way I have someone to fight with and to fight for.¡± Her lower lip started to tremble. ¡°Yes, please, take me with you, please.¡± Her tears started to flow again and this time she didn¡¯t try to hold them back as she smiled so bright he knew that he made the right choice. A warm glow started to spread from the smiling Lily, it seemed to envelop her and started to spread to the shackles that tied them together. The same light seemed to emit from the wound the chain in his chest caused as it slowly closed, leaving unharmed skin. The intensity rose and the chain was engulfed by a blinding radiance of various colors that seemed to origin from both of them. The colors seemed to interweave and intertwine, pushing away the darkness of the shackles, erasing the purple glow. Slowly the radiance faded and left two people holding each other. The once black chain, thick as a forearm, causing a horrible wound in his chest was gone. Instead there was a brilliant glow, emitted by a beautiful, elegant string. It shined like a golden chain and it wasn¡¯t thicker than a finger. *Ding*
You have formed a contract with a Spirit
Lilith¡¯s class was changed from Banshee to Familiar Spirit
Your skill Shackles of Sorrow leveled up
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Shackles of Sorrow (passive)-100/100-
Though betrayed and left behind to die, you and Lilith didn¡¯t give in to despair. Your mutual trust and faith in each other changed the properties of the skill Shackles of Sorrow
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Bonds of Trust (passive)-.100%
Cursed shackles changed by trust into a connection between those that chose to share the same fate Effects:
  • Your soul is bound to your familiar spirit Lilith
  • Pain and Joy can be shared if allowed
  • As Lilith has no hitpoints you take damage if she is harmed
  • You gain all hitpoints Lilith should have as she shares them with you willingly
  • You lose all your mana as Lilith drains you of it unwillingly
  • Unknown
You destroyed the Chains of Sorrow that bound the Banshee Lilith to the Tower and by forming a contract of trust you shattered the Shackles of Sorrow. You managed to free Lilith from the Grand Curse of Shattered Trust and protected her from the aftereffects. For breaking a Grand Curse without protection you are punished by the magic the creator of the curse left behind +100 Fame for lifting a Grand Curse
Title : Solitary Man
For breaking a curse of betrayal you will be marked by dark powers to keep you alone in this world Effects: When in a party you deal 15% less damage for every member in the party besides yourself Familiars and Pets are not included Effects are applied even if the title is not equipped
You destroyed the Chains of Sorrow that bound you to the Tower and by forming a contract of trust you shattered the Shackles of Sorrow. You managed to free yourself from the Grand Curse of Shattered Trust. For breaking a Grand Curse without protection you are punished by the magic the creator of the curse left behind +100 Fame for lifting a Grand Curse
Title : I Stand Alone
For breaking a curse of betrayal you will be marked by dark powers to keep you alone in this world Effects: When in a party you receive 15% more damage for every member in the party besides yourself Familiars and Pets are not included Effects are applied even if the title is not equipped
Title : Damaged beyond Repair
You damaged your own soul irreparably and because you forcefully destroyed the connection between cursed chains and it¡¯s source the remaining dark magic will taint your soul. Effects: Relationships with the churches of light suffer and can¡¯t advance beyond friendly Effects are applied even if the title is not equipped
In the beginning the messages Hall received were few and far between but now he opened his mouth in disbelief as he was bombarded with them. He still didn¡¯t completely realize what had happened with Lily. Her appearance changed even more than before. The pale unhealthy tone of her skin changed into a beautiful light brown complexion as if she had sunbathed for weeks. She now wore a simple black dress with a somewhat low neckline that stopped shortly over her knees. Her delicate feet were shoeless and her platinum blond hair with streaks of red, matching the red tinge in his own hair, flowed like water until it ended between her shoulder blades. To put it simply, she was breathtaking. If he wasn¡¯t just hit with a barrage of penalties he would have stared at her for a while, but now his anger took control of him as he let go of Lily looking for the source of all this evil. He found it lying beside the pedestal where he threw it to the ground and with a contorted face he picked it up to rip it to shreds. Hall put in all his strength and yet it didn¡¯t tear. ¡®God damn it, I will destroy you even if I have to throw you into the fires of hell you stupid accumulation of paper¡¯ As he released a roar of wrath the book slowly started to give in and when his arms almost couldn¡¯t take the strain anymore the first pages were torn releasing enormous amounts of blood and dark magic. When the magic exploded it hit Hall right in the chest, lifting him from the ground and throwing him into the shelves behind him. Slightly dizzy from the impact and breathing heavy he rose and assured the worried Lily that everything was alright. *Ding*
For destroying a strong cursed object with your bare hands you are rewarded with +2 Willpower
Suddenly dust and pieces of wood started to fall from the ceiling as the tower started to shake, slowly first but soon books started to fall out of the shelves and it was hard to keep the balance. ¡°Lily, I think we should get out of here, the magic inside the book I just tore to bits was probably the only thing keeping this tower from falling apart.¡± Running into the open they turned around when they reached the point halfway to the gate of the wall. The sight before them was an incredible one. The tower that imprisoned them, slowly decayed in front of them, it was as time ran tremendously fast. Centuries ran by in minutes, the wooden roof caved in and shortly after the stone walls weren¡¯t able to keep their weight anymore and collapsed, leaving only a dust cloud and withered ruins. But instead of enjoying the show he heard a sound that made him role his eyes. ¡®Great, what now?¡¯ *Ding*
Quest: Peace of Mind
The gods of light are grateful to you for destroying a great evil. The annihilation of the cursed tower was even felt in their realm. They will reward you greatly after you fulfill their conditions. As your soul is tainted you are not worthy to receive their blessings. Additionally they ask of you to revoke the contract you made with the spirit Lilith for she is a cursed being, only able to remain in this world because of you. Difficulty: Unknown Quest requirements: Break the Grand Curse of Shattered Trust and destroy the tower the curse calls his home Form a Contract with the cursed Banshee inside the tower Rewards: Your soul will be cleansed You will be rewarded with a rare class Failure: go against the will of the gods You cannot refuse the quest. Failing will result in a deteriorating relationship with the gods of light
He stared incredulous as he couldn¡¯t believe he was getting a quest like that, he could even gain one of the rare classes. After a second he lapsed into hysterical laughter, he laughed so hard he had to hold his stomach, but it wasn¡¯t filled with humor or joy. When his laughter subsided he put on a grim expression, clenched his fist and let out a booming voice. ¡°ARE YOU SERIOUS? You let me rot inside this tower after not doing anything about it for centuries and after finally destroying that wretched place without the help of you, the so called gods of light, you ask, no, you demand of me to betray the only one who stood beside me this whole time? Because she is a cursed being in your eyes? Because I am unworthy?¡± He shook with anger, spitting out words filled with rage, not caring that he insulted the most powerful beings of this world. ¡°I will not. You even threaten me after what I have accomplished and try to bribe me to betray the one by my side. NEVER. If the gods of light are like this I¡¯d rather choose to not follow you nor will I bow to you. You aren¡¯t worthy of the title gods.¡± His voice became calmer as he let out a sigh. ¡°You aren¡¯t even worthy of my anger.¡± Lily looked at him with wide eyes. Because they had a soul bond she could also read the messages that appeared before him. She couldn¡¯t believe what she just heard. With conflicted feelings, happy he chose her, guilty of what he went through because of her and scared as he cursed the gods, she waited for the god¡¯s reaction. *Ding*
Quest: Peace of Mind
Quest failed. Because you refused to bow to the will of the gods of light you will be punished. Your relationship with the churches of light deteriorates.
Title : Losing my Religion
The gods punish you for refusing them. The seven churches of light of the continent Akreton declare you a Persona non Grata, an unwelcomed person. Effects: Your reputation with the churches can¡¯t advance further than unfriendly. You are not allowed to enter the churches premises. Healing fees are tripled. If a member of one of the seven churches of light kills you, he will not gain infamy Effects are applied even if the title is not equipped
He shook his head angrily. The penalties from breaking the curse were bad, but he decided to play alone most of the time anyway so he could live with that. But being declared an unwanted person by the church was something he couldn¡¯t just brush away. Even if he wasn¡¯t marked as an enemy and there weren¡¯t orders to hunt him down. Most players affiliated with the churches would try to kill him. He sighed deeply at his future prospects. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Hall, it¡¯s my fault.¡± Lily was dejected, she not only caused him to be penalized after breaking the curse without protection from the magic words but she was also the reason the gods stood now against them. Hall just shook his head. ¡°No Lily, it¡¯s not your fault, it¡¯s theirs and no matter what is to come, we will stand together, even if the world will become our enemy.¡± Though she still felt guilty, she blushed after hearing that. Any girl in the world would if a man declared he was willing to go against the world for her. *clap,clap,clap* The sound startled him as he didn¡¯t hear anyone approaching them, although he was admittedly preoccupied. As he had no weapon he decided he would use the chains around his wrist, infusing them with his soul energy and slamming them into the enemies. Right now they were wrapped around his arms because even if they were incorporeal he and Lily could still touch them and if they were dangling around they irritated him. So as he turned to face the source of the sound he untangled them and let them fall to the ground, while preparing to infuse them with his energy. He wanted to wait because an invisible weapon, even an improvised one, was pretty much the only trump card he had right now as he still didn¡¯t know if Lily had gained any combat skills with her new class. So he took up a fighting stance, grabbing the chains he prepared for battle. What he saw surprised him. It was a beautiful woman, with a pale complexion, dressed in a black suit. With crossed legs she sat on the remnants of the wall surrounding the area where the tower stood, clapping slowly while smiling. An eerie, dark aura surrounded her. Not evil or menacing. It was more like a nightfall after a busy day or a deep forest after a snowfall. It seemed peaceful somehow. Still smiling she jumped off the wall and approached them. ¡°Hey, no need to keep that frightening face, I¡¯m not here to harm you.¡± Hall believed her and relaxed, wrapping the chains around his arms again. It was not only the peaceful aura that convinced him. He could also feel a bit of her power and he instantly knew there was no way he could stand against her. It was like standing in front of a mountain that reached the skies, simply overwhelming. ¡°Now that is better.¡± She stopped in front of him eyeing him closely before her glance switched to Lily. Of course normal people couldn¡¯t see her but she was obviously far from normal. ¡°I have to admit, you are intriguing me. Not only did you manage to break a Grand Curse, something that hasn¡¯t been done in a very, very long time, you were even able to free someone else along with you. You also chose to protect someone else while suffering greatly for it. And as if that wasn¡¯t enough you stood against the demands of the gods, throwing away a chance for a great reward and instead you took their punishment. I think I didn¡¯t utter these words during the last century, but I am impressed by you Hall.¡± He didn¡¯t wonder why she knew his name, she obviously watched them for a while. ¡°Glad I was able to impress you, but who are you?¡± She opened her eyes in surprise and chuckled. ¡°Oh where are my manners, I had so much fun meeting you I completely forgot to introduce myself.¡± She took a step back and tipped her head. ¡°It is very nice to meet you. I am Death but you can call me Grim.¡± Well, that took him by surprise and he stared at her with an open mouth and wide eyes. The woman who called herself death pouted jokingly. ¡°Hall, didn¡¯t anyone tell you it¡¯s not nice to stare at a lady, people will think you¡¯re a pervert.¡± Lily was just as confused as Hall, but he regained his composure faster. ¡°So, you are death, that¡¯s¡­unexpected and what do you mean by death, the god of death? And what do you want from me?¡± Grim shook her head. ¡°No, there is no such thing as a god of death. There are gods of the underworld, gods of the demonworld and unfortunately over thousands of years there were a bunch of beings that gained an immense power over black magic, gathered believers and started to call themselves god of death. But I am no god, I am death. Not on the side of light, not on the side of darkness, neither good nor evil, not an enemy of the gods and no friend, I just am, for I am death itself.¡± He nodded as for some reason he believed her, it was somehow obvious she wasn¡¯t lying. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s just say I believe you, what do you want with me?¡± She fell silent for a few seconds, her mood somewhat dampened. ¡°As I already said, there are beings in this world that claim to be the god of death. Not only that, there are always those that seek to hide from me. I cannot be overpowered by mere mortals and even the gods can¡¯t rule me, though the price I have to pay for this power is a grave one, as I can¡¯t directly interfere with the world. That¡¯s the reason I also couldn¡¯t help you. This tower and the curse within was one of the things in this world that interfered with my power as I was not able to reap the souls of those that died here. It has been a thorn in my side for centuries and I am grateful you destroyed it.¡± She smiled and her pleasant mood returned before she continued. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, I won¡¯t take Lily, I only mind if souls are forced against their will to remain after their deaths. Like this tower there are places and people in this world who interfere with my work and that is something I cannot allow. Some are evil and crawl under the earth or hide in towers tall as mountains, others act under the cover of the churches trying to deceive me by gaining the gods favor. Still, as I said I am unable to interfere no matter what, so I need mortals who will help me with this cause.¡± Hall nodded. ¡°So you need mortal servants?¡± She shook her head, disagreeing with his claim. ¡°No, I am not in need of servants. I don¡¯t want mindless drones that can be controlled so easily. What I desire are those few talented individuals that stand out even among the strongest of the strong, those that won¡¯t bow their head to anyone, not even the gods.¡± Hall looked at her confused and asked. ¡°And you want me to be one of those few? Aren¡¯t there others better suited? I¡¯m weak, haven¡¯t even gained a single level yet, why would you choose me?¡± If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. The woman giggled and though she looked mature and powerful before when she spoke about herself, she now looked like a cute young girl in her late teens. ¡°You should really think more highly of yourself. I saw hundreds more powerful than you, thousands of times more powerful, strong enough to rival entire armies, be devoured by curses. Consumed by power and absorbed by greed. Though never in the thousands and thousands of years I remember have I seen someone like you. Defying curses, torment and the gods themselves although you are as weak as you are. That¡¯s why I want you to help me, not as a servant, but of your own free will. You witnessed yourself what these curses can do, so I ask of you, will you help me?¡± *Ding*
Quest: Follow the Reaper
Death itself asks you for help. When you pass her test you will be allowed to carry a part of her power. Difficulty: Unknown Quest requirements: Impress Death Rewards: Hidden Class Failure: fail the test Failing will have no consequences
¡®Wow, a hidden class and no consequences for failing, she seems a lot better than those gods.¡¯ ¡°Alright, but what kind of te..¡± Before he could ask about the test, a wall of pressure hit him and pushed the air out of his lungs. Her crushing power forced him to his knees before he even realized what was happening. Despite being a spirit, Lily was unconscious in an instant. Though Hall was on his knees, he had no intentions of remaining there. He clenched his teeth and with trembling arms he kept his body above the ground, taking a small step and with a roar he stood up again. The moment he stood up his soul energy broke through his skin and pushed against the pressure, allowing him to breath. It happened so fast, Death took a surprised step back and unconsciously increased her power. Because she didn¡¯t think he would be able to stand up, let alone push her pressure back, she put in too much strength. This time Hall was forced to the ground so fast he wasn¡¯t even able to stretch his arms out to catch himself and was crushed so hard he saw stars. Although the pressure was gone in instant it still took him a few moments to shake of the aftereffects. Meanwhile Grim was laughing, beaming with happiness and with a wide grin on her face. ¡°Sorry for that, you actually managed to impress me again.¡± Hall slowly stood up, still trying to regain his balance. ¡°What are you talking about, I couldn¡¯t withstand your pressure at all after you increased it.¡± She was still giggling. ¡°That was not the test dummy. The test was how long you could stay conscious while experiencing the pressure I exuded at first. I was so surprised you actually managed to push back, I accidently increased it too much. It¡¯s a miracle you stayed conscious, well it¡¯s a miracle you stayed alive. You know, I had a lot of helper over the millennia, people of enormous power, by far stronger and more experienced than you and yet you little human are the first one to actually stand against my power, even it was only a tiny piece of it.¡± Hall smiled at the compliment and was curious what would come next. ¡°So Hall, you passed the test and exceeded my expectations by far. If you decide to join me in my cause you will not have to follow my orders but I expect you to help me if I come to you. You will gain a piece of death¡¯s, of my power in exchange for that promise. I will not help you along your way because I cannot. I will give you no weapons, no armor and no gold. I will not hold your hand as I need someone strong enough to take care of himself. But you will gain a part of my power, which means a class and the skills that come with it. So, will you follow me?¡± Hall just nodded. *Ding*
Quest: Follow the Reaper
You exceeded Death¡¯s expectation and decided to join her as a companion.
Grim showed a wide smile. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I had a mortal by my side. Remember though, I won¡¯t be watching over you all the time, but don¡¯t worry, I will visit every now and then if I feel like enjoying your company.¡± Chuckling she winked at him but got serious again after a moment. ¡°Listen good now, you will be alone most of the time, death and its companions are avoided, hated and feared. You will experience many hardships along your way. Many battles are to be fought, many life¡¯s to be taken. You will suffer torment and pain, loneliness and woe. But always remember, you are one of death¡¯s representatives in this world. You do not bow down to anybody. Not to nobles or kings, not to monsters or darkness, not even to the gods themselves. You will have no place to call home. You won¡¯t be part of society. You are above the system. Over it. Beyond it. I will give you a special gift, one I have not bestowed on anyone until now. From today on you are not only one of my companions. You will be THE companion. Congratulations, you are now the Harbinger of Death, my first Apostle and I expect great things from you.¡±
You have gained a unique class: Harbinger of Death
For gaining a unique class you are rewarded with a bonus of +5 to all stats and +200 Fame
Achievement : Death¡¯s Confidante
For the first time Death grants the title of her first Apostle, the Harbinger of Death, to a mortal. +200 Fame
Now he was glowing from happiness, he didn¡¯t even dream about getting a unique class. All the penalties and handicaps he had to deal with from now on were gone from his mind as he was thinking about his new class. Grim looked at him in anticipation. ¡°Now go on, show me your status and skills. I only give you some power, the combination of your own personality and that power is what creates the skills.¡± Hall nodded and opened his mouth, trembling slightly with excitement. ¡°Show detailed status window.¡±
Status Window
Name:HallAlignment:Death
Level:1Class: Harbinger of Death
Race:HumanGender:Male
Title:Solitary Man
Fame:600Infamy:0
-
Health:1125 / 775Health Regen:1.3/ Sec
Mana:0 / 1015Mana Regen:2.7 / Sec
Stamina:510 / 510Stamina Regen:3.1 / Sec
-
Strenght:53Agility:45
Vitality:45Endurance:72
Intelligence:61Wisdom:64
Willpower:137Luck:40
-
Attack:17Defense:19
Magical Resistance
Fire:10%Water:10%
Wind:10%Earth:10%
Lightning:10%Illusiion:40%
Light:10%Darkness:40%
+ 30 added to all stats + Willpower stat raised by 80 points + Magical Resistances raised by 10% + Resistance to Illusion and Darkness Magic raised by an additional 30% + Enables you to equip certain items or equipment specialized for this class + Increases attack power for attacks with soul energy + Unable to learn most crafting professions + Unknown
¡®Wow those stats are incredible, though I guess that¡¯s mainly because of the class bonus and with a higher level the bonus shouldn¡¯t be this significant. And what¡¯s up with the unknown property? It¡¯s also too bad I don¡¯t get any additional damage like the warrior profession but whatever, I¡¯ll make it work somehow. Not being able to craft items is not a big deal, have to check later what I can learn, I hope I still can get the cooking skill. Now let¡¯s look at the skills I got.¡¯ ¡°Show class skills.¡± He would check the other ones later. Class skills:
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Marked for DeathBeginner10%
Marks an enemy with the promise of death filling him with fear. Effects:
  • -5% stats for targets
  • -10% speed for targets
Only one target can be marked at the same time Duration: 3min Cost: 50 mana
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Death to Everyone (Subskill of Marked for Death)Beginner10%
Everyone around you fears for their lives as they see you as death itself Effects:
  • -3% stats for enemies in range
  • -10% speed for enemies in range
Range: 3m Cost: 7 mana / sec
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
In my Time of Dying (passive)--100%
If your health drops below 10% you gain strength through your proximity to death. Effects:
  • +100% Willpower
  • +30% to all stats
  • +30% speed
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Ain¡¯t no Grave can hold my body down (Subskill of In my Time of Dying,passive)--100%
As you are affiliated with it, death holds no fear for you. Be aware though, those who underestimate death will suffer greatly. Effects:
  • Should you die, you can choose to rise again within 5min
  • You will be revived under the effects of In my Time of Dying, the effects will last for 10min after your revival
  • Should you die during the same battle you will lose 3 levels and the corresponding stat points, your willpower will also drop by 5 points
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Keep me in your Heart for a While (Subskill of In my Time of Dying,passive)--100%
Those who oppose you shall remember your promise of vengeance Effects:
  • You will remember the soul energy of those who kill you and can track them down within a range of 25 miles
  • If you face those who killed you again, they will suffer from the effects of Marked for Death
Duration: 1 month
Notification: Your skills Soul Chains and Soul Perception were assimilated by your class and reset to level 1
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Soul PerceptionBeginner10%
Through continuous training and concentration you are able to sense the energy that the souls around you carry. Through affiliation with death, soul perception is now more effective and can read if the soul is pure. Effects:
  • you are able to see your own soul energy
  • focusing allows you to sense soul energy in a small radius around you
  • you can sense if a soul is pure or burdened with sin
Range: 5m Cost: 2mana/sec
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Soul Pressure (Subskill of Soul Perception)Beginner10%
Exuding an immense amount of pressure with your soul energy can overwhelm an opponent Effects:
  • can confuse, harm or even kill weak willed enemies around you
Cost: 50 mana / sec, 25 stamina / sec
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Soul ChainsBeginner10%
The cursed chains that bound you, yielded to your will and now obey your command. After being affiliated with death the chains are imbued with its power. Effects:
  • incorporeal chains can be imbued with the power of your soul, allowing you to wield them
  • chains are invisible to others as long as they are not imbued with soul energy
  • current length: 1.5m
  • current speed of charging the chains with soul energy: 0.5 m/sec
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Mana drain (Subskill of Soule Chains)Beginner10%
If you wrap your chains around an enemy you are able to drain him of his mana Effects:
  • drains 0.02%, but not more than 10 of the enemy¡¯s mana per second
The chains have to be corporeal while the skill is active
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Soul distortion (Subskill of Soule Chains and Soul Perception)Beginner10%
Because you can sense a souls properties you are able to distort the balance of your enemies soul energy with your own while your soul chain is in contact with them Effects:
  • Enemy is confused and may go into a Berserker state, not being able to differentiate between friend and foe
  • For every second the skill affected an enemy, the duration of the aftereffects will increase by 30 seconds.
  • Very weak willed enemies can be killed
Aftereffects: Speed -15% Defense -15% Health-, mana-, and stamina regeneration stopped Cost: 9 mana/sec Only enemies with a weaker will than you are affected.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Judgement (passive)--100%
With the power over death you are able to judge a soul in its last moment Effects:
  • killing sinful beings won¡¯t raise your infamy
  • killing someone with more infamy than fame won¡¯t raise your infamy
  • killing someone with a pure soul will cause you to receive 3 times the amount of infamy
  • destroying people and objects that oppose death will raise your fame and depending on their strength may give you additional stat points
  • a soul you reaped will find its peace and can¡¯t be raised as an undead or trapped in this world
  • freeing trapped and cursed souls will grant you fame and depending on their strength may give you additional stat points
Hall was torn, he was still incredibly happy because those skills were amazing. He also thought that the incorporation of his chains was pretty handy, he planned to fight with them anyway. But unfortunately he didn¡¯t get any real combat skills so he would have to learn how to fight with chains. What really made him anxious was the mana cost of his skills. Grim had wide eyes and looked like a girl who just got her first pony. ¡°Amazing, you continue to impress me young one. I¡¯m really glad I found you before someone else snatched you away.¡± She got serious in an instant. ¡°But remember, there is still room for growth, with time and with your own decisions your class can adapt and new skills will be created and now please tell me why you have such a weird facial expression. You should jump around in circles because you just got immensely powerful.¡± He agreed with her, it was amazing, but he still had to sigh. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m deeply grateful for the trust you put in me and the class you awarded me with, but ¡­ I don¡¯t have any mana, it¡¯s been like that since the curse bound Lily and me with the Shackles of Sorrow.¡± The woman in front of him just started to laugh which made him feel like a fool and he started to frown a little. ¡°Haha, sorry young one, I forgot you are just a newcomer in this world and don¡¯t know a lot, ah, but even if you lived here all your life you wouldn¡¯t know I guess. I¡¯m just glad you still show me you aren¡¯t all grown up, that would be boring. So listen. Like you, this chain that symbolizes the contract you formed, is rather special. Usually a familiar and its master just fight side by side and while the familiar is bound to the master, it¡¯s more so to stay in this world than anything else. The bond between you and Lily here is different. You actually fused your souls and because the base for the contract was a grand curse, some properties of it remain, even if it was cleansed.¡± Hall understood all that, but it didn¡¯t solve his problem. ¡°Alright, but how am I supposed to use magic without mana¡­.oh and don¡¯t call me young one, it feels weird to be called that by someone who looks younger than me¡± Again she was giggling like a teenage girl. ¡°Oh my, aren¡¯t you charming, but alright, I¡¯ll explain it further. As you may have already noticed, you gained the health points of Lily while hers were reduced to zero, but if she is damaged your HP will drop, that means you share the same health pool. Now let¡¯s see if you can figure it out yourself, your mana points were transferred to Lily, what do you think would happen if you would use magic?¡± His face showed surprise and then a happy grin, while Grim nodded. ¡°I see you got it. As you share a health pool, you also share a mana pool. This can be a great advantage if you fight well together but can also lead to your downfall if you can¡¯t communicate properly or don¡¯t trust each other unconditionally. Oh and a small hint. Healing spells, bandages and potions will only restore your own health or mana, the rest has to be gained through natural regeneration by Lily.¡± Hall couldn¡¯t believe it, though he had accumulated a fair amount of penalties, he now had real hope that he could kick some serious ass. So his grin became even broader as he looked forward to his first real battle.
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------------------------------------------------ Author¡¯s Note: Well, it¡¯s finally done, that took longer than expected, hope you like it :grin: I know there are a lot of message windows, but it was necessary in this chapter As always, please tell me your questions, opinions, suggestions and point out any mistakes you find, I appreciate the support I¡¯m not entirely sure when I¡¯ll be able to release the next chapter so bear with me please :bye: Chapter 8 - Swinging the Chain Chapter 8 ¨C Swinging The Chain Meanwhile Lily woke up, though she was left speechless after seeing the status and skills of Hall. She couldn¡¯t believe that she was now part of something that would be worth writing books and songs about. She was a little scared but mainly excited and incredibly happy she met Hall. When she heard Grim¡¯s explanation about their shared mana pool her heart jumped in joy. She wouldn¡¯t hold Hall back and could even fight together with him. When Hall noticed that Lily was awake he went up to her. ¡°I hope it is ok with you that I accepted the class and the responsibility that comes with it.¡± Of course she was, so she nodded furiously with an excited glimmer in her eyes. ¡°All right, then please show me your status window and skills.¡± She was a little worried her skills wouldn¡¯t hold up to his, still she also was curious if she had somehow changed. She wanted to, badly, she was sick of being weak, wanted finally to be able to really support Hall. ¡°Show Status window and skills.¡±
Status Window
Name:LilithAlignment:Death
Level:12Class: Familiar of the Harbinger of Death
Race:Human (Spirit)Gender:Female
Titles:Lady in Black
-
Health:0 / 350Health Regen:0.5/ Sec
Mana:7030 / 6015Mana Regen:29.8 / Sec
Stamina:-Stamina Regen:-
-
Strenght:32Agility:34
Vitality:25Luck:29
Intelligence:261Wisdom:311
-
Attack:3Defense:-
Magical Resistance
Fire:10%Water:10%
Wind:10%Earth:10%
Lightning:10%Illsuion:40%
Light:10%Darkness:40%
+ 15 added to all stats + Intelligence and Wisdom stat raised by 20 points + Magical Resistances raised by 10% + Resistance to Illusion and Darkness Magic raised by an additional 30% + Unaffected by physical attacks if not in corporeal form + Increases magical damage if the target is affected by the magic of the Harbinger of Death + Soul bound to Hall, the Harbinger of Death + Unknown
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Soul Meets BodyBeginner10%
After restoring part of your soul you are able to regain your body for a short amount of time. Effects:
  • You can affect your surroundings
  • You are able to deal physical damage
  • You are able to receive physical damage
  • Invisible and untraceable until corporeal
Cost: 8 mana / sec
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Angels don¡¯t killBeginner10%
To avoid harming innocent souls you are able to create mana chains that pin down the enemy without harming them. You are able to conjure three chains at the same time. Effects:
  • Mana chains have 200 health
  • If the mana chains are destroyed they will cause a shockwave stunning the target for 1 second without dealing damage
Range: 30m Duration: if not destroyed a chain has a lifespan of 3min Cost: 60 mana / chain
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Spiritual HealingBeginner10%
As a spiritual being you are close to death. Having a contract with the Harbinger of Death allows you to transform mana into health. Effects:
  • transforms 1 mana into 1 health point
  • transformation rate 5 mana / sec
Cost: 5 mana / sec (will be transformed into health) Spell has to be channeled
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Voice of the SoulBeginner10%
Your voice gives your allies strength. In times of despair you can give them hope. In times of grief comfort and in times of battle courage. Effects:
  • Allies can only hear you if you are corporeal
  • Your soul bound partner can hear you anytime
Cost: depending on the subskill used Only one song bonus can be active at the same time
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
The Sound of Perseverance (Subskill of Voice of the Soul)Beginner10%
In dire situations this song will grant the strength to persist when others fall. Effects:
  • Willpower (Fighting Spirit if Willpower stat is not available) raised by 7.5%
  • Endurance is raised by 5%
Effect duration after the song is finished: 10min Cost: 80 mana
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
I will follow you into the Dark (Subskill of Voice of the Soul)Beginner10%
Although betrayed before, you are finally able to trust again. When you sing only for the one who thawed your frozen heart you lay bare your very soul for him and only he will be able to hear your voice. Effects:
  • Stamina consumption is reduced by half
  • Endurance and Willpower is raised by 10%
Effect duration after the song is finished: 5min Cost: 120 mana
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Prayer for the Dying (Subskill of Voice of the Soul)Beginner10%
In the midst of battle there is always hopelessness and fear. Those dying cry out for salvation which you can grant. Effects:
  • Allies gain courage and a higher morale even if confronted with great obstacles
  • Enemies that hear your song will have a reduced will to fight
Effect duration after the song is finished: 10min Cost: 60 mana
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Tears of HeavenBeginner10%
You had to endure incredible hardships, your soul was tormented, your heart felt sorrow and your companion was punished for staying by your side. The souls of the dead cry for you. A rain of tears will fall from the heavens and annihilate your enemy. Effects:
  • devastating Area of effect damage
  • Area of effect can be controlled with a maximum radius of 2m
Range: 25m Casting time: 25 sec Cost: 100 mana / sec for every meter of radius Spell has to be channeled
Silence spread between them as they were all speechless. Her stats weren¡¯t that surprising, her intelligence and wisdom were off the charts but she spent decades in a tower with nothing to do but study and read. Back then the now destroyed books must have been intact and who knows what kind of knowledge they contained. It was the skills that let them stare in wonder. Grim was the first one to speak. ¡°This is¡­unusual, familiar spirits shouldn¡¯t be affected to this extent by the class of their contractor.¡± But then she sighed and smiled while shaking her head. ¡°I guess I shouldn¡¯t be surprised anymore when it comes to you two.¡± Hall and Lily had to agree, those skills were pretty amazing and Lily was glowing with excitement. She would be more than useful this way. Meanwhile Hall was already thinking about ways of fighting together. It was almost as if there was one more player by his side, of course he would only gain half the experience from killing mobs as the other half would go to Lily but that was a price he¡¯d pay gladly. After they regained their composure after what had happened these past minutes Grim looked a little bit sad. ¡°It¡¯s time to part ways now, as I said, I will monitor your growth and I will visit again when my duties permit it, for now I have something to ask of you. North of here there is an abandoned mine. Over a thousand years ago it was used by the Sorian people as a testing ground for their alchemy and a variety of dark spells. After the churches ordered their destruction there was no one left to keep the experiments in check so the magic ran rampant. When a group of goblins made the mine their new home they were corrupted by the dark powers left behind. They began to use black magic to turn the wild animals of the forest into undead slaves, something I cannot allow.¡± *Ding*
Quest: Master of Puppets
Corrupted and changed by darkness a group of goblins killed and enslaved the souls of countless innocent animals of the forest turning them into mindless beasts. Show them who really rules over death. Difficulty: D Quest requirements:
  • kill all goblins in the abandoned mine
  • free the enslaved souls of the undead creatures
Rewards: Closer relationship with nature Failure: abandon quest Failure will result in increased activity of the goblins. If left alone for too long they will attack the nearby villages.
This would be a good opportunity to test his skills and as the enemy seemed to use dark magic he would have an advantage with his high resistance. ¡°Of course I will help you, though could you tell me a little more about the location of the mine? It would also be really helpful to know if there is a village nearby, I really should get a weapon and maybe some armor.¡±
Quest accepted
Grim seemed relieved, another problem would be taken care of, even if it was only a miniscule matter considering the state of the world. But she had to be careful, no matter how impressive her new confidante was, he was still very weak. ¡°Thank you, as I said the mine is north of here, if you follow the road leading away from the tower you will find a crossing within a few hours, follow the dirt road that leads straight north. It¡¯s easier than running through the forest. After around three days you will come across a small village of hunters and farmers. The mine you seek is around five days further north, you just have to follow the road. The people there will probably know about the mine so you could ask them for a map.¡± With a smile on her face and a little sadness in her eyes she started to wave at them. ¡°Now then, goodbye and Godspeed my friends, oh and you should take care of those before they get too close.¡± She pointed at three skeletons crawling out of the graves beside the tower ruins. They finally respawned after getting destroyed by the rogues in Belinda¡¯s party weeks ago. Hall welcomed them with a grin, but before that he had to say goodbye to Grim. ¡°I hope to see you again soon Grim, I¡¯m really grateful for your help and I will do everything in my power to not disappoint you.¡± Lily also smiled as she said her goodbyes and waved at Grim before they both turned around to face the skeletons. Meanwhile the girl who was death showed a somber smile, happy she found such amazing companions and sad for what she had to put them through. ¡®I hope you won¡¯t curse me Hall, I¡¯m sorry but I need you¡­¡¯ With this thought she disappeared like a shadow in the sun. Meanwhile Hall unwrapped his chains and imbued them with soul energy. The dull black chains, thick as a forearm and each link around the size of a fist, started to glow in a blue light, pulsating as if alive. Every now and then there was a spot of black, soiling the somewhat beautiful sight. Hall wasn¡¯t sure but guessed it was because his soul energy was tainted by the remaining magic of the tower, he just hoped it wouldn¡¯t interfere with his power. ¡°Lily, bind the two skeletons in the back with your mana chains, I want to try to fight a single one first.¡± They were around ten meters away when Lily used her spell and yellow glowing chains shot from the ground entangling the feet of her targets and making them unable to move. When the third one was close enough Hall used his Soul Perception skill, trying to get some information on the skeleton. He felt¡­nothing. Although clearly standing before him it was as if no one was there. It seemed like the skeletons weren¡¯t undead bound to this world but just a bunch of bones tied together by magic. ¡®Interesting, I guess not all undead have a soul.¡¯ He started to swing his chains, waiting for the skeletons to come closer. When it reached the range of his improvised weapons he swung it with full force aiming from the top, trying to crush the skeleton¡¯s skull and missed it by half a meter. ¡®Guess it won¡¯t be that easy, hm?¡± This time he swung the chain on his left arm from the side, aiming at the chest area. It hit. With the force of a full swing it crashed several bones, smashing the skeleton against of what remained of the tower walls, resulting in a rain of bricks falling on the skeleton on the ground. He felt slight pain the moment the chain imbued with soul energy hit the enemy, but it wasn¡¯t so bad and at least he could raise his endurance not only when defending but also while attacking, even if it was only by a little. Its legs were shattered, the arm that was hit by the chain was nothing but bone dust and half of its skull and its thorax caved in after being hit by the falling stones. Yet it still tried to move forward, his remaining hand clawing the ground before him, moving inch by inch closer to him while moaning pitiful. He felt almost bad, so when he approached the half destroyed enemy he swung with both chains at the same time, trying to crush it from above. And missed again, pummeling the broken bricks into dust. After another failed attempt he slowly got the hang of it, so he adjusted his stance and let the chains fly, not only gaining force from his arms but from his whole body. When both chains hit the skull and the rest of the skeleton at the same time he heard a brutal smashing sound. The remaining bones were shattered into bits and scattered into all directions by the pressure wave caused by the combined force of the chains. ¡®Alright, that¡¯s not so hard, I think I got it.¡¯ He signaled Lily and as soon as the mana shackles disappeared she cast them again on only one of the remaining skeletons. It again only stood unmoving as the chains bound it. A mindless tool to kill, not even trying to free itself. Hall used the other skeleton as target practice again but without delivering crushing blows as he wanted to get used to the chains. When countless cracks appeared on most of the bones and it could barely move anymore, he set out to finish it off. ¡°Lily, how about a song, you are not using a lot of you mana right now and leveling your skills is just as important as leveling mine.¡± She nodded and started to use her Voice of the Soul while he continued. It had an obvious effect on him and although it was not necessary he felt even more determined to fight. Again he swung both chains at the same time closing in on the skeleton from different sides. While the left chain wrapped itself around the skeletons legs, the right chain was winded around its neck. ¡°Mana Drain.¡± It showed no effect as the skeletons probably had no mana and he couldn¡¯t drain the magic that was used to keep them moving, not yet anyway. He suspected he found a downside to his skills. After Mark of Death and Soul distortion also failed he was sure. Without having a soul, without the capability to fear, an enemy would be immune to many of his skills. ¡®It¡¯s alright as long as they are this weak but I have to be careful if I meet stronger types.¡¯ Hall didn¡¯t know the skeletons he fought were almost twenty levels higher than himself, but his powerful class allowed him to toy with them. Shrugging with his shoulders he yanked the chains in opposite direction, ripping apart the heavily damaged skeleton, again scattering bones everywhere. He nodded barely noticing and turned to Lily while pointing at the last skeleton. ¡°Alright Lily, please let me see your Tears of Heaven skill.¡± She nodded, closed her eyes and started to cast her strongest attack spell. When she was almost done Hall opened his mouth in awe as he watched her. She was floating a meter over the ground with her arms stretched to the heavens, a white glow seemed to radiate from her, while her mouth formed the last syllables of the spell. She looked so peaceful. Like an angel praying for those that died in battle. He had to tear his eyes off of her to observe the effects of the spell. In a small area around the still chained skeleton the cloudy sky seemed to be torn asunder while glowing drops of light rained down on the monster. Every time a drop hit the enemy a magic explosion shook the skeleton, breaking bones and shattering its skull in front of their eyes and after only three seconds it was completely destroyed. The last drops rained down on the scattered ribs, skull, legs and fingers and continued to damage the lifeless bones. It was shocking view. Beautiful, sad and cruel. ¡°God job Lily, we¡¯ll train that skill, but you should be careful. It¡¯s incredibly powerful, but also drains your mana very fast.¡± She agreed as she trembled slightly after she saw what kind of devastation she just caused, she didn¡¯t even want to think about what would happen if she would unleash it on a wider area full of people. When all skeletons were destroyed Hall picked up a few bones they left behind as loot and looked around. He gathered a few berries and nuts just to have some food for emergencies. He looked at the rusty gate he came in with Belinda and her friends. It wasn¡¯t even that long ago, still it almost felt like another life. He had to remember that this was a game, he seemed to forget that sometimes. Before they left the area he logged out again after telling Lily and this time actually took two hours to train his body. He ate and showered and even thought about leaving his room for the first time in several days but decided against it. The plans concerning time management he made before he started playing were gone, so he would just go with his gut. He took a nap before checking online for new information he might have missed but didn¡¯t find anything that made him gasp. He read something about rare stats other than his own as there was nothing written about willpower. There seemed to be more common ones, usually accompanied by a class, like Honor or Art and rarer ones like Perception or Finesse. There was also barely anything about those. So when he didn¡¯t find anything interesting he ate a snack, logged back in and greeted Lily who was happy as always to see him. Hall was already about to head to the gate when he remembered the weird flowers he saw at the gravestones, so he went to collect them and although Lily had no idea what they were, he still put them in his inventory as they seemed¡­special. When he approached the gate to leave this cursed place he felt excitement. He would finally go out into the world. When he arrived at the wall he noticed a fidgeting Lily and asked her if there was something wrong. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. She looked at him a little nervous. ¡°You know, it¡¯s the first time for me to see the world outside the tower for centuries. My family long dead, no place to call home, I think I¡¯m a little scared¡± Hall sighed and turned to her, thinking what a fool he was for not thinking about her. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry Lily, as long I¡¯m here you always have a place in this world as well as a family.¡± Lily smiled with wet eyes, nodded and even went ahead of him. When they actually crossed the threshold between the cursed land and the world they wanted to travel they let out a deep breath. It was as if they were letting go of their worries and their pain, like finally breathing fresh air after spending too much time underground. It was liberating and elevating. *Ding*
Quest: Rest for the Wicked
Quest complete The quest that was given to you under false pretense and that was part of the ploy to betray you and leave you to die was deemed impossible to solve. Against all odds you did it. The Banshee¡¯s soul found peace at your side because you set her free and gave her the ability to trust again. Reward: Because you not only completed the quest but also broke the curse, those that profited from the betrayal will have their benefits revoked. You have leveled up! You have leveled up! You have leveled up!
Hall and Lily looked at each other and started to laugh. They laughed so hard they he had to sit down and so loud they chased away any animals around them. *Ding*
Quest: Carry on my Wayward Son
Quest complete You and Lilith managed to lift the Grand Curse of Shattered Trust and to leave the area after destroying the tower. Rewards: Part of your soul has been cleansed. Soul Energy has become stronger. You have leveled up! You have leveled up! You have leveled up! You have leveled up! Quest Part 2 Unlocked
*Ding*
Quest: Carry on my Wayward Son ¨C Part 2
After lifting the curse, Lily¡¯s soul is still not complete. Dravan, who made the curse, still holds part of it after draining her soul energy for so long. Rip it from him. Difficulty: C Quest requirements:
  • Succesfully lifted the Grand Curse of Shattered Trust from you and Lilith
Rewards: Unknown Failure: abandon Lily
Without hesitation Hall accepted the quest, they had to defeat Dravan anyway, so this was like killing two birds with one stone. Maybe he could even get another quest concerning Dravan from Death. Although it would probably take a while for them to get to Dravan so it was better not to think about it now and concentrate on the task at hand. So they followed the dirt road leading into the forest. Hall hoped for some battle with wolves or foxes as he read online those were some of the animals you met inside a forest but for some reason they didn¡¯t find a single one no matter how hard they looked. When he asked Lily why that was she at least had a good guess. ¡°That¡¯s probably because animals have far better instincts than most humans, they feel you possess power that is beyond them. That¡¯s a little different from the people who try to hide from us in the bushes over there.¡± She pointed at the crossing ahead. ¡®Probably the one Grim mentioned, wait, people?¡¯ Hall didn¡¯t notice them as the crossing was still around fifty meters away. ¡°How do you know Lily?¡± It wasn¡¯t like he didn¡¯t believe her, he was just curious. ¡°You do know I fly in the air right? I can see them ducking behind some bushes, I can see three but there are probably more.¡± Of course he saw her floating about a meter above the ground, so he rolled with his eyes as he thought it was something a little bit more special. ¡°Alright, them hiding means probably that they are bandits.¡± ¡®Isn¡¯t this a pretty worn out stereotype? Meh, doesn¡¯t matter.¡¯ ¡°Just have to destroy them then, hope you don¡¯t mind Lily?¡± Although he was very low level he was sure he could take out a couple of bandits in some backwater kingdom. He might even get some weapons and armor. Lily shook her head, she always hated those that did bad things to other people for their own gains. After what happened to her she was even more convinced. Evil must be punished. Knowing what was to come they stepped into the crossing. The leaf cover of the trees surrounding them let them glimpse into a bright blue sky. Hall hadn¡¯t seen the sun in quite a while and for Lily it had been longer by far. So although there was some around the area of the tower it had somehow seemed dimmer than usual. So they both enjoyed the rays of the sun, smiling, while in front of them four men in shabby leather armor lined up after crawling out of the bush work. Hall was disappointed, there was no way he would wear clothes and armor this dirty, who knows what they did with them. He could also hear a few people coming up from behind, but couldn¡¯t really tell how many as they were out of his Soul Perception range. ¡°Three from behind, so seven in total.¡± Thankfully Lily told him. One of the bandits that seemed to be the leader stepped closer to him. He was half a head taller than Hall, who was already pretty tall, his clothes were stained with blood, dirt and more stuff he didn¡¯t even want to know. His hair long and unkempt. His leather armor was mismatched as is was obviously put together without much thought and was already seriously damaged. The only imposing thing beside his height and his figure was the huge rusty two-handed sword on his back. His appalling grin showed dirty and partially rotten teeth. ¡°Well, hello there young traveler. All alone in a dark forest? That is not very safe you know, there are unruly fellows in these woods. You are lucky you met good folk like us who will escort you to the next village for just a small fee.¡± Hall rolled with his eyes again. ¡®Soooo clich¨¦d¡­¡¯ He looked around and noticed that all seven of them hadn''t pulled their weapons yet. So they were pretty confident in dealing with a single man. Of course they didn''t know he wasn¡¯t alone. Compared to their leader the rest of the men seemed to be even dirtier and worse equipped, even when Hall had no idea how they managed that. It was almost like they soiled them on purpose. When their leader spoke his men chuckled, it seemed to be something of a joke to them. Though they wouldn''t laugh much longer. Still, Hall had to be careful, he was very powerful for his level but he couldn''t tell how strong his opponents were. They seemed to be used to battle as their weapons showed traces of use, they were cheap, had notches and jags all over but they also were covered in dried blood. When his men stopped their laughing the captain continued to talk with an evil grin. ¡°Now then, why don''t you drop everything you have on you and I can almost guaranty you, you won''t be killed by cruel bandits within the next hour.¡± After he activated his Soul Perception to sense the bandit''s soul in front of him he started to frown. It was somewhat disgusting, he couldn''t get a clear grasp as his skill level was still too low, but it was enough. It was as if a mix of red and black sludge was oozing out from the man''s body. It felt like death and suffering, but not a tormenting one, it was as if he could hear evil laughter and smell blood. He was sure, this man enjoyed spreading pain. ''Let''s see how he likes to experience it.'' When the other bandits entered his range of Soul Perception he could feel similar things from them, pain, hatred, torment, hostility and overall lay the joy in dominating others by bringing them pain. It was revolting and made him angry. Lily knew from looking at Hall and felt it from their connection. Today they would become death. Their bond was useful as there was no need to talk in front of others, no need for explanation. Only during battle they still needed some coordination as they just weren''t used to it yet. Hall let the chain on his right arm drop to the ground while the left one remained wrapped around his hand and his forearm. He wasn''t sure he could coordinate two chains while watching out for seven men at the same time, so he decided to use one chain for defense and the other to attack. ¡°Now, why don''t you drop everything you have right now or do you want me to help you with it?¡± The leader stepped closer to him, releasing a decent amount of killing intent. A normal person would probably be impressed and intimidated but Hall didn''t even flinch. The big man was irritated and started to get angry at the still motionless Hall. ¡°You little punk, you ignoring me hm? I''ll show you...¡± He released even more killing intent, enough to make a decent fighter tremble in fear. Though Hall still wasn''t fazed, he thought he should take him more seriously. Someone with that kind of aura had probably done his fair share of killing. The other bandits also took out their weapons, although they didn''t show any tension, as Hall was alone. Instead they started to grin, expecting to get some fun out of torturing and killing another victim. Lily looked at them in disgust. Hall got ready to fight and whispered. ¡°Lily, put some shackles on the boss here and the two next to him, then pick a nice song, please use your heal if my health drops too low.¡± Without waiting for Lily''s confirmation he put a Mark of Death on the bandit closest to his back and imbued his chains with energy. Within the blink of an eye the serene forest transformed into hell. Hall turned around and jumped, swinging the thick glowing chain with his right arm at the enemy and smashing it in his confused face. Blood and teeth painted the bandit next to the headless body into a bizarre red figure. The bandits eyes went wide and the moment they realized what happened Halls left fist, strengthened by the chain around it, slammed into the jaw of another bandit, breaking it, every single tooth and the neck in the process. It was a frightening scene. A man clothed in nothing but cheap linen, a man they considered a victim, suddenly summoned frightening chains around his arms and just killed two of their comrades in the blink of an eye, but it wasn''t their first battle. They soon regained their composure and started to attack coordinated while covering each other. Hall knew that, so he purposely picked those weakest looking to reduce their number and inspire some fear. It was a little bit of a bluff, hitting a standing target is one thing, but during a fight it would be different. The leader and two others didn''t notice the mana chains at their feet, so they stumbled and fell flat on their faces when they tried to run to him. Only one of the four approached him with a raised sword and at the same time the bandit beside him that was left out of the group of three that tried to close in from behind started to attack him with a mace. Hall ducked under the spiked club, slamming his left fist into the bandit''s gut,forcing him to the ground. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw a sword cutting the air beside him. Barely managing to raise his left arm he blocked the swing with the chains around his arm. It hurt as his soul energy blocked the strike, but it didn''t do any damage as soul energy couldn''t be cut through worldly means. Still, Hall grunted under the force of the swing. He may have a lot of health for his level but he was almost unprotected and an attack like that would take a good chunk of his HP. He barely had time to think about the enemy¡¯s level as from behind two other guys approached. They had cut the mana chains and were now approaching him quickly. ¡°Lily when your song is done, tie down the arms and legs of one of them with all three chains and recast them when they are broken.¡± Right now they had enough mana left and he couldn''t fight against all of them at once. Their leader somehow decided to not join the fight although he already cut his chains. He was still confused where those shackles came from and looked around for Hall''s companion. In the meantime Hall managed to put some distance between himself and the sword fighter. It didn''t look too god for him. One enemy was luckily tied and out of the fight for now, another one lay one ground vomiting blood, but far from dead. The leader checked the surroundings and two other guys were attacking him. He was dodging left and right, blocking their attacks when he could. Only defending he got irritated and made a mistake. Thinking he saw an opening he shifted his stance to gain more momentum for a full swing. In the same moment the second vagabond launched at him from a deep stance, burring a dagger deep in his side.
-200 hp
''Crap!'' The pain was bad, but nothing he couldn''t handle. Jumping back he unwrapped his left chain. Both were tangling from his arms while he looked at the grinning bandits who thought they got him where they wanted. ¡°Give up boy, those chains won''t do you any good, just let us cut you to pieces.¡± He licked the knife with Hall''s blood and shivered with excitement. Instead Hall looked at them with piercing eyes. His chains slowly swinging by his side. It was almost like the bandits heard a melody that moment. Hall, captivated by Lily''s song, swung his chains lightly, in the rhythm of the melody. They started to resonate, exuding pressure of their own. It was a different song from Lily¡¯s, darker, more threatening. Hall noticed the effect but now was not the time to think about it. The bandits frowned after feeling fear creeping up on them, fear they couldn''t explain. Hall decided. Now or never. ¡°Soul Pressure!¡± He jumped at the two, raising both chains at the same time, overwhelming them with his pressure. They lost all their color. Their lips trembled. They thought death was coming to take their souls. Weeping and soiling themselves they raised their weapons without any power or conviction. Halls chains crushed them both at the same time. They came from above like the hammer of the gods, shattering their weapons, their skulls and spines as Hall put in all his force. He noticed, his chains could deal incredible damage if he put in enough strength, but if he hadn''t or without the proper aim, he would hurt the enemy''s limbs at best. But overwhelming the enemy''s mind with his pressure, freezing them for a second, gave him the means to deliver a fatal blow. Before the bandit leader could stomach seeing two of his men be utterly annihilated in a second, Hall swung his chain to crush the one that almost recovered from his body blow and splattered his brain all over the ground. Well, he couldn''t really tell if it was the brain, the realism stopped there to not attract the wrath of moralizers and whatnot. Hall just liked to think of it as the brain, after all, where the head should have been, there now was his chain rammed in the ground, covered in red. Hall exhaled after he took a deep breath. Lily was still singing while he looked around. The mana chains on one of the bandits just disappeared and he looked at Hall with wide, fearful eyes, trying to get on his feet to run away. The leader was nowhere to be seen. Of course Hall could, thanks to his skill, feel his presence in a bush four meters on his right. He probably waited for an opportunity to ambush him again. Hall just shrugged, he had won the battle, now it was time to clean up the rest. He ran to the now fleeing bandit, swinging his chain. When he let it fly it was wrapped around the bandit¡¯s leg, yanking it back with full force, crushing bones and muscle. The man fell square on his face, screaming from pain. Hall approached the wailing bandit slowly, using his soul pressure to instill fear and terror. The man''s face grew even paler, his screams of pain changed into pleads for mercy, tears and snot ran over his face. Hall stood over him like death ready to reap a soul. ¡°Pitiful, a murderer and a thief, tormenting others for his own enjoyment and now look at you, you make me sick.¡± His face contorted in disgust as he raised his arm to finish the miserable creature. ¡°W..wa..wait, do.. don''t kill me, I''m a so...so...soldier of the ki..king.¡± Sobbing he tried to extend his life and seeing Hall hesitate, he continued talking. ¡°Yes, you know what happens to anyone who attacks a soldier of the king.¡± Lying on the ground he grabbed something inside his chest pocket and gave it to Hall now with a glimmer of hope inside his eyes. At the same time a throwing knife pierced his throat. Hall, surprised, threw himself around, instinctively ducking under another knife aimed at him. He saw the leader leaving the bushes, holding two new knives in his hands. ¡°Man that fool, going against orders and spilling the beans just because he''s a little scared. Because of him I had to give up on surprising you with a cute little knife in your neck, not that it was necessary.¡± The man didn''t seem to be saddened by the death of his subordinates, instead he put away his knifes and drew his big sword from his back and stepped in front of Hall. Hall meanwhile frowned at the man who just killed one of his own without so much as a bitter face. Still, he took up a fighting stance again, wrapping the left chain around his arm and grabbing the right one. The leader just stood there, casually holding the huge sword, letting it rest on his shoulder. ¡°Now before we continue, why don''t you give me that thing you got from my subordinate? I''m afraid I can''t let you have it.¡± Hall was a little bit irritated at the calm and casual demeanor of the guy. Didn''t he just witness his men being annihilated? Something was wrong, but it didn''t change what he had to do. He swung his chain without hesitation to crush the bandit leader who leisurely sidestepped the attack and ducked under the next one. Hall, now close enough, threw a punch, connecting with his chin. The punch, which before killed a guy now only caused the bandit to grin. He stepped back, brought his hand to his face and wiped away a little blood that trickled from his lip. ¡°Not so bad kiddo, no wonder you dealt with my men so easily, but you really should have tried to run.¡± Now Hall was asking himself why this guy ever bothered to hide at all. ''Maybe he wasn''t hiding, have to check it later... if I survive that is.¡¯ Hall barely noticed the sword coming from above and dodged only by a centimeter. Jumping back he tried to sweep the blade with his chain but just hit the flat side of the metal, leaving a nasty gash in it. The man frowned. ¡°What a crappy weapon. I''ll have to have a serious talk with some people when I get back.¡± Hall was angered. Mostly with himself, he had an amazing class, a great helper and still couldn''t deal with trash like this. His Mark of Death at least slowed him down a little bit. Irritated over his drop in speed the bandit swung the sword now faster and stronger, without leaving any breathing time for Hall until finally he couldn''t dodge anymore. Instead he received the blade with his chain wrapped arm, blocking a blow that would kill him certainly. It still threw him back several meters, his arm was throbbing with pain. Although the chains protected him, he still lost over 200 hp blocking the heavy sword. His soul energy may be impenetrable, but blunt damage through sheer force still could harm him. Still dizzy he saw the bandit running at him with ridiculous speed. Barely able to react he raised his left arm again. Three devastating blows rained down on him. Again he received serious damage with each hit.
-196 hp
-209 hp
-188 hp
¡®Ah crap, I still have over 10% health, but he''ll kill me with the next blow, so my last resort skill won''t kick in.'' Lily tried to heal against the damage but it dropped insanely fast. With a last ditch effort he swung his chain at the enemy''s legs. The man didn''t bother to stop it as he raised his sword for the killing blow. Hall''s weapon wrapped around his legs a second before his sword would make contact. ¡°Soul distortion.¡± Through his Soul Perception he figured out how to throw him off and managed to distort his soul balance as soon as his chains made contact. The bandit screamed more in surprise than from pain and diverted the sword so it pierced the ground next to Hall¡¯s head. He was a lot stronger than Hall had given him credit for. Just because Hall had a great class now he thought he would be invincible, what a fool he was. Still, he was determined to win this battle. Who cares if the odds were against him? Lying on the ground he kicked the tall man''s chest with both legs and all the force he had left, pushing him a meter away. Hall let the left chain unwrap and swung it at the unbalanced vagabond, winding it around his neck. ¡°Mana Drain¡±. Grinning he sucked the mana out of the fuming man, who approached him with a roar. He was furious, Hall made a mockery out of him. He who was one of the strongest of his clan, he who never lost a battle. But Hall used Soul Distortion again, throwing him off balance and by pulling the chains he knocked him to the ground. He actually wanted to question him, but he was too dangerous to be left alive. Instead he whispered coldly. ¡°Death found you, as it will find all evil. Lily, let tears fall.¡± Hall wasn''t sure his chains could damage him fast enough so he decided to play it safe. The bandit started to struggle as he saw Lily casting her spell, but it was useless. As soon as he was almost up, Hall just knocked him back down. He was screaming, squirming and roaring in rage. When he fell on his back again, drops of light started to fall on him. He stopped struggling as he watched the beautiful sight. When the first drop touched his face his eyes went wide, he tried to fight the chains again and his mouth opened, screaming in agony. The tears falling from the sky continued to damage the bandit each time they touched him. Soon enough he stopped struggling, then he stopped screaming, stopped moving and in the end he stopped breathing.
You have leveled up!
Hall let his chains disappear and breathed heavily, lying on the ground while Lily stood over him to restore his health. ¡°That was way too close for comfort, Lily, I wonder what level they were...and what did that one guy say? They were soldiers of the king?¡± Before getting the loot he took out the parchment given to him and started to read. His eyes went wide in shock and then he started shaking with anger.
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------------------------------------- Author¡¯s Note: Really hope you liked the new chapter Well, we got our first fight and it was also the first time I ever wrote a fighting scene, so I¡¯m sure it¡¯s far from perfect but I¡¯ll try to improve, promise :grin: Next chapter we¡¯ll find out what the bandit meant and our hero will arrive at the village and maybe a little bit extra^^ Oh and as always, please tell me your opinions, suggestions and point out any mistakes you find, I really appreciate your support :bye: Chapter 9 - The Evil that Men do Chapter 9 ¨C The Evil that Men do
Orders from King Baltan the III., Monarch of Bredon Kingdom, concerning The Cattle Hunt In the name of the king you are to guard these nobles while robbing commoners and travelers. For every person they rob, they will pay 200 gold coins into our treasury. For everyone they kill, they will pay 2000 gold coins. The belongings of the people will become property of the king. Protect them while they are entertaining themselves. Should they be harmed you will pay with your life. Do not arouse attention! You will be equipped with purposely soiled armor and clothes to make it look like you are bandits. Don¡¯t attack other nobles, only peasants are fair game. Destroy this message under any circumstances!
*Ding*
Quest: The Running Man
The kingdom seems to entertain their nobles by robbing, tormenting and killing the common people in exchange for money. It may even involve the king himself. Investigate! Difficulty: E Quest requirements:
  • find the orders of the king concerning The Cattle Hunt
Rewards: Increased intimacy with the common people Other Consequences, depending on your actions Failure: ignore the quest.
''Well it does say investigate, not stop or do something, so the difficulty seems accurate.'' Lily was trembling with anger while Hall was shocked. His mouth open and closing without making a sound. ¡°Lily, what the hell?¡± She still couldn''t compose herself. ¡°I don''t know Hall... I don''t know, but....I...we should do something...¡± Hall nodded and accepted the quest. Considering the strength of the one he just fought, he had to become a lot more powerful first. He started to loot the corpses of the fake bandits but mainly found cheap weapons and dirty, damaged armor. Until he inspected the bodies of the two guys he killed first. No wonder they went down like a lead balloon, they weren''t even trained in combat. But Hall felt no guilt, when he sensed their soul, he knew they deserved what he did to them and they should be thankful for their quick deaths. In their pockets he found a couple of keys with identical crests engraved in them. He had to find out who they were so he could get their riches. Considering they even now carried a pretty decent bag of gold each, they should have a lot more stashed away somewhere. When Hall opened the two leather pouches his eyes went wide again. He seemed to be surprised pretty often lately, he really should get used to the unexpected. In each of the bags were at least 50 gold coins and a couple of other ones. He took everything. For a level 9 player his fortune of 107 gold, 18 silver and 10 copper was almost ridiculous. Usually it took until level twenty to get the first gold together. Of course he played long enough by now to reach level 30 under normal circumstances. He didn''t even bother with the armor and clothes, instead he took a dagger into his left hand so he didn''t have to punch people anymore. It felt alright, but not special. It wasn''t imbued with magic, runes, jewels or had any raised properties, so there was no need to identify it.
Simple Dagger
Damage:6-9Durability:7 / 15
Quality:Common
A common dagger without any remarkable properties, but without any great flaws. It seemed to have been damaged on purpose, reducing its quality and durability.
Before he left for the road he remembered to check the place where the leader of the fake bandits was hiding. There wasn''t much, but under a rock he found what looked like fresh earth, covered in leafs that looked suspiciously out of place. The man seemed to be rather smart, hiding this even though he was so much stronger than his opponent, it was Hall''s luck he was underestimated or else ...well, the result would have been painful. He dug up a metal badge with a crest on it. It was a lion with the head of an eagle standing on top of a shield. The words ¡°By the authority of the Royal Guard¡± were inscribed.
You found a clue related to the quest ¡°The Running Man¡±
It looked like the even the King''s personal guard was involved. Hall had to be careful on how to get information when solving the quest. He probably shouldn''t trust too many people with this, if it went up this high there was a lot of money involved. And where there was money, there was greed and betrayal. For now he pocketed the small fortune, the badge and a couple of throwing knifes, the dagger and three common, but dirty swords. ¡°Hey Lily, do you have an inventory too?¡± She nodded surprised, seems like that was new for her. ¡°Yes, that''s really handy, it might be because of the contract with a voyager.¡± Hall nodded, it made sense¡­kind of. So he gave her all the books he got from the tower. Even though there were so many, it didn''t make him any lighter. His best guess was, that the weight would only come into play after he surpassed a certain threshold. He even found a bag with some dried meat and bread. Enough to last him until he reached the village. Nodding satisfied Hall and Lily continued their journey. To pass the time they started to talk about their lives so far. Lily told him how she grew up in a small village of farmers and craftsmen called Howe, a couple of weeks away, although she didn''t know exactly where it was. It was a simple life, but she had a loving family and she enjoyed life. Well, until the man she loved betrayed her. Hall told her about his life, about his parent''s death, about his years at the orphanage and his time in the army, of course he tried to make it sound like it all happened in a fantasy world. He told her about Belinda, how he always liked her, how they lost contact and then met again, only for him to be betrayed too. Hall just talked to pass the time, but Lily looked at him with compassionate eyes, grateful that though he had a hard life, he still remained so kind at heart and strong of character. They talked about how Lily liked the stew her mother made with tomatoes, potatoes, beef and the herbs behind their garden. How she preferred plain dresses over the frilly ones and how she always loved sunflowers. When she was talking it was like she was dancing through the air, brimming with glee. It made Hall happier than he was in a while. After a couple of hours they took a break on a clearance that was crossed by a small stream. It was almost like he was dropped into a scene from a picture book. Serene and peaceful. When they went on Hall wanted to try something. ¡°Lily, please sing for me.¡± She nodded and when she started, Hall concentrated on her voice. He began to swing the chains according to the rhythm he felt. They started to resonate with Lily''s voice, changing the song again, becoming darker and more terrifying. He continued keeping his chains in a resonating state, first he walked with them beside him. They walked for hours like that, the melody from his chains became clearer, darker. But he liked it, it was somewhat like a promise to protect the things he loved. It was dark and dangerous, but also calming. A threat for those that opposed him. A promise of a merciless end, planting fear and terror in the hearts of the enemy. It was like he played the instrument accompanying Lily''s voice. After a few hours he started to swing the chains with more strength, still following the road north. He started to attack with both chains, keeping them resonating, adapting his swings to her melody, getting faster, more accurate, more deadly. The song kept going and he kept striking. If someone met him right now, they would run fast and run far. It was like he fell into a trance, swinging left and right. After he invested all points he gained from leveling up into strength and agility, he hit harder and more precisely. He was so fast by now the fight before seemed like a joke where he moved like a new born baby. On another clearance ahead there were two goblins closing in on a fox. The perfect target for his new found ability. He approached them with a melody of death surrounding him. Usually Hall was the only one capable of hearing Lily but as they wanted to train her Soul meets Body skill, she stayed corporeal when they were alone, but never draining her mana too much. Now she disappeared again, leaving behind the melody created by the resonating chains. When Hall was around fifty meters away, the goblins as well as the fox froze up, and slowly turned to face him. When he got closer the melody from his chains penetrated their weak minds, they were by far less powerful than the fake bandits before. Their feeble green bodies trembled, their loin clothes were soiled as they couldn''t control their body out of fear. After over half a day of training he finally got what he wanted, although he wasn''t completely sure it was even possible. *Ding*
You have gained a new skill!
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Hells Bells (Subskill of Soul Chains)Beginner10%
Your soul resonates with Lilith¡¯s heart, you chains with her voice. Together with her you create a special sound, a unique melody instilling terror in the hearts of your opponents. Effects:
  • Fighting Spirit / Willpower of the enemy is reduced
  • chains cause 10% more damage
  • the stamina consumption of the enemy is increased slightly
Can only be used in combination with Lilith''s skill Voice of the Soul Effect is increased by 30% if Lilith is in her corporeal form Chains have to be corporeal. Cost: 3 mana / sec +5 Willpower
Grinning he kept the skill active while swinging his chains, aiming at one of the shivering goblins. It was a gruesome sight, the chain crashed into the goblins side, lifting it up and smashing it into a tree two meters away. The goblin didn''t stand up again. His arm and chest were nothing more than a mash of reeking red blood, torn green skin and broken bones, the light in his eyes gone the moment the chain made contact. Before the goblin hit the tree Hall''s other chain was already buried in the head of his companion. The body was held only in place by the chain and the moment Hall pulled it back, the headless body fell down in front of him. *Ding*
You have gained a new skill!
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Chain Mastery (Subskill of Soulchains)Beginner10%
Constantly training with the chains around your wrists and even jumping into battle armed with nothing more than those, you have gained control over them and are now able to wield them with frightening skill. Effects:
  • Damage increased by 15%
  • Speed increased by 5%
  • length can be varied from zero to three times its original length
+3 Strength +2 Agility
''Finally!'' He was satisfied, not only did he gain another interesting skill but he also got the mastery skill to improve his fighting style. Although he planned to use some kind of weapon, he still wasn''t sure which one. The goblins didn''t drop any loot and he let the fox escape, it seemed somehow wrong to slaughter it, after all it did nothing wrong and who knows what those goblins did. After sensing their soul they definitely weren''t innocent. Although he thought by now that some mobs may just have been created with dark souls, without doing anything. Of course there was no way to check his theory for now and he didn''t mind, he needed enemies. He preferred it if they were evil, but after all it was still a game. Afterward they moved on, coming closer to the village Grim mentioned. On the way they continued to train their skills. They even found some mobs every now and then, but they weren''t a challenge and only used for skill training. He managed to level up his Soul Chains, which allowed him to imbue them faster with his soul energy, the length was also extended to two meters. Together with his Chain mastery he was now able to fight with two six meters long chains. Hall grinned at the thought. Invisible chains, extendable to six meters, a frightening weapon. Lily leveled up her Voice of the Soul and her Soul Meets Body skill. Hall was now level 10 and Lily reached level 19. Shortly before they arrived in the village after a little over two days Hall logged out to sleep, eat, train and shower. When he logged back in, they entered the village. Hall was rather excited, when he started he didn''t really spent any time talking to anyone, so he looked forward to dealing with NPCs and maybe a couple of players. His excitement was somewhat dampened when he looked around. The atmosphere was bleak, the wooden fence surrounding the village was partially rotten and broken in several spots. The decaying tooth of time took its toll on many buildings. The wood damaged by the seasons and the stones discolored by the decades. As it hasn''t rained in days the street transformed into a cracked surfaced of dried mud. The rotten food and other trash laying around in the radiating sun gave off a repulsive smell. There were almost no people walking on the street. Grim wasn''t wrong to call this a small village, it had maybe a few dozen buildings. There were no kids playing around, no business being done in the small market place. If it was dark it would probably be pretty scary, but right now it was just depressing. The only building that at least seemed busy was the blacksmith. A sign above the door showed an anvil and a hammer, it gave off even more heat than the surroundings and one could hear the clashing sound of metal hitting metal. Because it seemed the best option, he went there. In there was a huge guy, with arms like logs and a gut like a barrel. He was passed out drunk, snoring, his head laying on the table while his beard was soaked in sweat from the heat and cheap wine. Instead a young girl, maybe seventeen, swung the hammer, slamming it against a horseshoe on top of the anvil. She was pretty cute, not quite tall enough to reach his shoulders, her blond hair was bound to a ponytail behind her head. Sweat dropped from her pristine skin as she slammed down the hammer again and again, so captivated by her task she didn¡¯t even notice Hall knocking and entering. When Hall cleared his throat to make her notice him she jumped up in surprise. He had to try not to laugh as she stepped back, tripped over a couple of tools and dropped on her behind. Smirking he went up to her and reached out to help her get up. ¡°Hello pretty lady, I¡¯m sorry I startled you, may I help you up?¡± Usually he couldn¡¯t really talk to women in a casual way. He wasn¡¯t antisocial and he had no problems talking to them in general. He was just a shy guy without a lot of practice. Maybe it was because she was so young or because she was a NPC, it didn¡¯t matter. She pouted, looking a little angry, but mainly embarrassed. Here was a handsome guy in her backwater village and she had to act like an idiot. She accepted his hand, getting up and dusting herself off she taxed him. Still chuckling a little bit he offered his hand again, this time in greeting. ¡°My name is Hall, I¡¯m just passing through on my way to ¡­ I¡¯m on a mission.¡± Maybe he shouldn¡¯t reveal his target just yet, in the end she would think he was a dark magician. She nodded and looked a little dejected. ¡°Welcome to Gelt, a beautiful village in the most serene forest of the Bredon Kingdom.¡± Her voice was oozing sarcasm, but hiding underneath was a grave sadness. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my name is Ella, daughter and apprentice to the blacksmith of this village.¡± She grabbed the ends of her simple blue skirt, which was covered by a thick blacksmith apron to protect her from the forge¡¯s heat, and performed a quick curtsey. ¡°I know what you must think about our village, but please believe me when I say, it¡¯s not like this normally, it all started¡­.¡± She stopped talking, shaking her head. ¡°No, I¡¯m sure you had a rough journey yourself, you are covered in a lot of blood after all and you certainly don¡¯t want to hear about our trouble.¡± She lowered her head dispirited, packing up her work as it was probably around time to close the shop. Hall stepped closer and asked her with honest compassion. ¡°How about I invite you for some cold drinks and a warm dinner and you tell me about what happened here?¡± She met his gaze, looking confused. When she realized what he said her head became red like the coal in the forge and then nodded quickly while looking on the ground. ¡®Man, she is really cute.¡¯ Hall laughed inside while he missed the pouting Lily behind him, while she had daggers in her eyes staring at his back. Instead he looked down at himself, seeing blood stained clothes and skin. ¡®I didn¡¯t even notice.¡¯ ¡°Ella, could you tell me where I could get some new clothes and leather armor? I¡¯d like to freshen up a bit before our dinner.¡± After Hall cleaned himself with the water in the canteen, he followed her recommendation and went to the store next door. It was a simple shop, the counter was dusty and the clerk looked bored while stitching some buttons on a shirt. He didn¡¯t seem to be the tailor who made the armor and was just selling them instead. That was a relief for Hall, he didn¡¯t feel comfortable wearing armor in battle if it was made by someone who didn¡¯t enjoy his craft. Still, the offered clothes and leather armor weren¡¯t anything special, but it was better than nothing. He still wasn¡¯t sure if he should ask Ella for armor plating or at least chainmail, but using chains he had to be able to move freely, so heavy armor would only hinder him in battle. Instead he would take a look at her weapons later, he needed something other than the tiny dagger or the crappy swords. Not really happy he bought some sturdy linen pants and shirt, both black to fit his image. They didn¡¯t offer any protection but it would feel a lot more comfortable when wearing armor. The leather armor he chose was comprised of a chest piece without any decoration, the boots were made from sturdier material to travel the rougher parts of the forest and the pants were similar to the chest armor while at least the gloves seemed to be of better quality. They didn¡¯t raise his stats but at least gave him some halfway decent protection of around fifty points while not hindering his movements. He even paid a little extra so the clerk would dye the pieces black. All together he paid not even fifty silver. A small amount but he wasn¡¯t even close to being able to wear the more expensive stuff, his level was just too low. Hall had some time before the tailor was done with his work so he refilled his canteen and bought enough rations to last him for at least two weeks. Additionally he walked around the village and used Soul Perception on everyone he came across to improve his skill and finally leveled it up. What he sensed made him even more depressed. Most people had a really cloudy aura around their souls, like a grey veil laying on top of a light. He didn¡¯t know what happened here, but it affected the whole village. When he picked up his order from the tailor he threw his old clothes away. They were pretty torn up and dirty. Instead he looked at his reflection while wearing the new clothes and armor. He looked pretty sharp. Although it looked plain, the dark leather made him look like an assassin or a hunter of the night. The black outfit would hide him in the forest and in town it may keep nosy people away. Though he would really like some kind of hood or mask to hide part of his face. When the sun set he met Ella for dinner in the local inn. There weren''t many people around, just a couple of old hunters and craftsmen joylessly sitting around while drinking in silence. She was already seated at a table and had cleaned up really nicely. Her hair was now open and looked like a wave of the sun''s radiance when it reflected the candles dim light. She wore a pretty blue dress and a thin golden necklace. Her nervous fidgeting and her red cheeks when she saw him made her look incredibly adorable. Smiling he greeted her and sat himself down on the same table, though this time he could almost feel Lily''s cold glares between his shoulders. After they ordered their food and exchanged some pleasantries he started to ask about what was wrong with the village and its people. She fell silent for a few moments before looking into his eyes. ¡°Do you know about the mine in the north?¡± When Hall nodded she continued. ¡°We always had a goblin problem in this forest, but they usually were weak, one of our hunters could take out a whole group. Around two decades ago things changed when they settled in the abandoned mine a couple of days up north. They became stronger, darker and undead creatures started to roam the forest. Every now and then some of them came close to our village and it ended in a few battles, but we tried to keep our distance and they rarely bothered us. Until about a year ago that is, when a few voyagers showed up. They claimed they would destroy the goblins, but instead the attacks became more frequent. More brutal. More devastating.¡± Her voice became almost a whisper and her eyes seemed far away. ¡°Instead of an undead beast, every couple of weeks parties of goblins attacked us and took people away. They come, destroy part of the village and take whoever they can find. We are powerless against them. They already killed most of our hunters and took so many people. My mother among them.¡± Her eyes became wet and she clenched her fist. ¡°You saw my father, he has been like that since that day half a year ago, I''m sure she is dead by now as are the others they took. We begged the king and the bigger villages for help, but nobody came. Even worse, those that tried to get away or looked for help were robbed or killed. These forests were always a little dangerous, because of the cursed tower to the south and because it used to belong to the Sorian people, but lately it has been unbearable. If my father wasn''t a useless drunk I would be gone already.¡± Now she sounded dejected, bitter, but when she remembered where she was and who she was with, she composed herself while slightly blushing. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. ¡°I''m sorry, I got all riled up, you have been so kind to me and all I do is complain.¡± Hall shook his head, looking at her with compassion. ¡°It¡¯s all right Ella, I asked you to be honest and I was on my way to the mine anyway. A...friend asked me to clean up there.¡± She started coughing after she choked on a bite of stew. When she calmed down she still looked at Hall with wide eyes. ¡°Are you serious? You probably aren''t even level 20 yet and alone too. The weakest goblin in the cave is at least level 40. I don''t even know how high the level of the strongest one is. Then there are the undead bests and who knows what happened to the voyagers. There should be a small army you know, what would make you think you can go there?¡± Hall understood, she was depressed and disappointed and barely knew him, why should she trust him. But it didn''t stop Hall from trying. ¡°You know I''m level ten actually but I never said I was alone.¡± Ella raised an eyebrow. ¡°Who are you talking about?¡± Hall smiled. ¡°Let''s just say I have help. To show I''m serious you can check the cursed tower in the south, it is no more. I also took care of a couple of bandits in its vicinity.¡± This time she fell silent for a minute, eyes widened by surprise and shock after he so casually told her while eating his stew calmly. She had to admit, the man in front of her made an imposing figure, not only tall and muscular but he also made a reliable impression, eyes filled with resolve and sympathy. He was only level 10 but looked like he could take on the world and she couldn''t say why, but she believed what he said, without a doubt. She sighed and continued to eat. ¡°Mind telling me a little bit about how you destroyed the tower and what happened with the bandits?¡± Hall nodded and started to talk, but didn''t say anything about Lily or Death. It wasn''t like he didn''t trust Ella, but he still preferred to be careful, he didn''t know how people would react, so he also didn''t ask her about the kings orders for The Cattle Hunt, it was too early. In the end he even showed her his chains to prove the story, it wasn''t a big secret, everyone who saw him fight would know about them. She was speechless again so he continued. ¡°You know, I really could use some halfway decent weapon, the bandits only had trash with them and I want these chains to be a surprise.¡± She nodded, thinking about it. ¡°You know, I have some good swords and daggers, but you have to gain at least thirty levels to use the weakest one. How about you show me what you got from the bandits and I''ll see if I can find something better for you?¡± Hall agreed, so they finished eating, of course he paid. ¡°Ella, I don''t get to have a nice dinner with a pretty girl that often, so at least let me pay.¡± Nodding, she stared at the ground with a bright red head. He chuckled, her reactions to his teasing were just too cute. Lily''s reaction on the other hand was...rather frightening, he thought shuddering. Out of habit he controlled his surroundings with his Soul Perception skill every few minutes. For the first time since they arrived he felt a soul out of place. Someone who wasn¡¯t there before, a rogue from the looks of it, sat at the table behind their own. He had no idea how he got there, but it made him nervous. From the looks of it his level was a lot higher than his own and his soul indicated high infamy. He wasn¡¯t sure if it was a NPC or a player but decided to ignore it for now. When they arrived at Ella¡¯s home he heard loud snores from the backroom. She moved to the counter and pulled out some basic swords. He actually hoped for something special, but he was in a backwater village and only level 10 to boot, so of course there wasn''t anything to get excited about. In the end he exchanged the weapons he got from the bandits, except for the dagger he kept, for a decent longsword he could handle with his right hand. When he wanted so say his goodbyes, Ella spoke up again, it was almost a whisper. No matter what she said, she still was a child that missed her mother. ¡°Listen Hall, if...if you find anything about my mother, would you mind telling me?¡± *Ding*
Quest: Mama liked Roses
Ella, the daughter of the Blacksmith of Gelt asked you to find out what happened to her mother. Difficulty: E Quest requirements:
  • show interest in Ella and her story
  • convince Ella you are someone trustworthy
Rewards: Increased intimacy with the people of Gelt Additional reward possible
Of course Hall agreed to help her, even if the reward wasn''t that amazing, but he just couldn¡¯t turn her down. After they talked a little longer she allowed him to train with the new sword during the night. They had a special room to test their weapons. He was kind of happy he finally could train like everybody else. He stood in front of the scarecrow and looked at the sword.
Steel Sword
Damage:14-17Durability:35 / 35
Quality:Common
A common steel sword without any remarkable properties, but made by a talented craftsman with diligence and care. Requirements: Level 10 Strength: 40
It really wasn''t anything special, but decent enough for a beginner''s weapon. He equipped it in his right hand and used the dagger in his left. It had been dark for a while and some people wondered about the noise coming from the smith. Hall attacked the scarecrow again and again. Struck with his right, ducked under an imaginary attack while sidestepping the scarecrow and ramming his dagger into its side. He attacked while jumping, while crouching and while running. After a while he got the hang of it. He also tried to defend even if he wasn''t attacked. Thanks to his chains he had a long reach, but with additional weapons he wouldn''t be that vulnerable in close combat. So the combination of a dagger for parrying and stabbing and a sword to cut and gain distance if necessary was a smart one. He admitted, it wasn''t as special as his chains, but sometimes common was good and it wasn''t as easy as it looked. His real life experience with knives helped him a lot. Meanwhile Lily looked at him from the outside, gave him pointers and helped him improve his stance and speed. She also trained her skills by singing and becoming corporeal, as long as she made sure no one saw her. So after several hours of constant training, only taking a break if his stamina dropped too much, he heard the well-known sound. *Ding*
You have gained a new skill!
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
AmbidexterityBeginner10%
Through constant training your left hand becomes a lot stronger and more skillful Effects:
  • +10% left handed damage
  • +2% agility
  • the stamina consumption with left handed attacks is reduced
+5 Agility
After days of fighting and training with his two chains and then the night with the two weapons he managed to create a quite useful skill, one that could improve even further. Slowly he managed to gain different damage bonuses, though he still couldn''t compensate for the missing boosts for not having a combat class. That would usually give him a bonus of 50% close combat, range or magic damage depending on his choice. The skills he gained so far could be gained by almost any class, so it wasn''t an advantage. What actually helped him was the increased damage of his chains. Imbued with soul energy they dealt crushing blows. That gave him an idea. He sat down, concentrated and manipulated his soul energy. He let it flow into the dagger he held with both hands. The pulsating blue light slowly crawled up the metal and after a minute in enveloped the whole weapon, causing it to brim with energy. Satisfied with the result he started to attack the scarecrow again. Where he could barely scratch the doll before he now left deep gashes and brutal cuts. The dagger was a lot stronger than before. After the fifth blow, Lily screamed out in surprise as the knife exploded into hundreds of little metal fragments that pierced his newly bought leather armor and managed to scratch his skin. His health went down by a point or two for each cut so it wasn''t dangerous. Still, his new armor was already damaged and lost a couple of durability points, especially his left glove was torn to shreds. He had to repair it before he left. Dejected his idea was a bust and his only dagger was gone he started to train with the sword. It dealt more damage now that he used both hands, but he lost a lot of speed and versatility while fighting. So he decided to get another dagger from Ella. When the sun came up Ella found him still training but frowned at his damaged armor and the broken pieces of metal scattered on the floor and could only shake her head when he told her what happened. When they went back to the showroom where she sold the weapons she picked a nice dagger for him and before he could say anything she took the sword too, took out a whetstone and started to sharpen both weapons. When she gave him the dagger he nodded approvingly.
Steel Dagger
Damage:10-14Durability:35 / 35
Quality:Common
A common steel dagger without any remarkable properties, but made by a talented craftsman with diligence and care. Sharpened, damage increased by 10% until the effect wears off. Requirements: Level 10 Strength: 15 Agility: 35
The effect was pretty decent. He read about it and it would wear off after a while, depending on your actions, meaning parry, attack, cut or stab. After that she signaled him to take off his armor, he handed it to her and she repaired it. Hall thanked her thoroughly and wanted to leave before he remembered something. ¡°Ella, I know we barely know each other and you have no real reason to trust me, but would you mind teaching me the repair skill?¡± She hesitated and after a long silence he shook her head. ¡°I''m really sorry, if you were a blacksmith or a tailor it would be possible, but I can feel you won''t be able to learn these crafts. I''m not even sure you can learn the repair skill. Even if you could, it would take weeks of training.¡± She looked unhappy when she told him and looked sadly to the ground when she saw his disappointed face, though he expressed his understanding. It was probably a result of his class. Not having the repair skill was pretty disadvantageous for a solo player. He was surprised NPCs would know if he couldn¡¯t learn something but at least he wouldn''t have to waste time trying to learn a skill he couldn''t gain anyway. After a second her eyes lit up again. ¡°I can offer you something else though, something even more valuable. Dad said I shouldn''t grant it to any voyager, because they were ungrateful and didn''t care about us. But not only did you kill the bandits that harassed us, but you also destroyed the tower that loomed over us for centuries. I also believe you when you say you will help us. I will teach you the Identification skill if you are willing to learn it.¡± Hall was ecstatic, he grabbed Ella¡¯s hand, shaking it with gratitude and smiling into her bright red face. She really couldn¡¯t deal with Hall, Ella admitted to herself embarrassed. The next two days she explained him how to identify different items. She explained how to recognize the material, the crafting technique, its origin and also if it was imbued with magic or some kind of power or curse. She showed him how the decorative value can be increased by adding gems or different colors. She also told him about engravings and enchantments, how to spot the different kinds and how to differentiate between cheap and expensive ones. During all the time he paid close attention, making swift progress, absorbing her teachings like a sponge. She was an amazing teacher and he was a diligent pupil. After two days he finally heard what he wanted. *Ding*
You have gained a new skill!
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
IdentificationBeginner10%
Allows you to identify items with special properties. +5 Wisdom
He gained a quite rare skill. Usually players had to pay a fee for identifying items. Some craftsmen taught it to their students but only at the end of their apprenticeship, so they would know the worth of it and wouldn¡¯t go around spreading the skill. It wasn¡¯t exactly rare but not too common either as besides craftsmen many mages learned it too. He was simply lucky the blacksmith was passed out drunk and his daughter took a liking to him. Additionally she knew how to teach the skill not only because she was his apprentice but precisely because she was his daughter. He spent a lot more time in the village than he planned to, but it was well worth it. After another promise to Ella to return with good news he left after he stored the books from the tower, except for the skill books, in her house. He didn¡¯t want to carry them around and didn¡¯t really know if they were worth anything but he took them only because he didn¡¯t want them to be destroyed. Still, he would pick them up again¡­probably. With a whole lot of room in his inventory, decent armor, two weapons at his side and his chains around his arms he followed the road north. Lily continued to improve her skills and leveled them up a bit over the last few days. Although it looked like it slowed down a lot. Skill progression was dependent on new experiences. That meant if it was a difficult battle or a new situation the experience gained would increase manifold compared to just using it casually. Still, even a little progress was better than none. Leaving the village and closing in on the mine the forest slowly became darker, goblins appeared more frequent and in bigger groups, but they all seemed pretty weak so he slaughtered them without using his chains. He tried to at least maintain a halfway decent rhythm to get some sleep and to eat in real life. Hall still had a couple of days left before he had to visit classes. After three days his ambidexterity gained a level as well as Lily¡¯s mana chains. He was around one day away from the mine when he also reached level 11. There he met his first undead creature in this forest. It was a wolf, or used to be. Its grey flesh was rotting on its bones, the teeth lay bare and no fur covered its oozing wounds. When it closed in he noticed there was nothing left of the sharp eyes a wolf should have, no instincts or thought. Simply mindless slaughter remained in the dim eyes. Through his Soul Perception he sensed a dark, mutilated soul. Years of torment completely destroyed what was left of the wolf and bound its soul to the decaying corpse. It felt simply wrong and he felt tainted only sensing it. Though somewhere deep down, under layers of anger and hatred, under a veil of dark emotion bringing out evil, he felt something else. He felt unimaginable pain and it made him pity the poor beast. A soul, chained and tortured, mutilated by darkness. And he knew Lily felt the same as she grabbed his hand for support. They silently swore to punish who was responsible for this crime. Although it used to be a simple wolf, dark powers made it stronger but it was still alone. So Lily bound it with her mana chains, while Hall quickly killed it with a few well-placed strikes and cuts, giving its soul peace with the help of his Judgement skill. He wasn¡¯t sure, but the moment it died, Hall thought he saw something like gratitude in its eyes. And although nobody could see it except for him, it was like the chains that bound its soul were destroyed and it finally found rest.
+1 Fame
He remembered that releasing a soul could grant him fame under special circumstances even if it wasn¡¯t much. During the next day he met more of those undead wolves, sometimes small groups, sometimes even bears or boars. But nothing he couldn¡¯t handle. Finally, shortly before arriving at the mine fighting with sword and dagger all the time paid off. *Ding*
You have gained a new skill!
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Sword MasteryBeginner10%
Constantly training with the sword increased your proficiency in combat. Effects:
  • Damage increased by 10%
  • Speed increased by 3%
+5 Strength
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dagger MasteryBeginner10%
Constantly training with the dagger increased your proficiency in combat. Effects:
  • Damage increased by 10%
  • Speed increased by 3%
+5 Agility
Now he was prepared to attack the mine. He logged out to take a nap and eat something. When he got back he discussed his strategy with Lily. Unfortunately his idea of a frontal assault, annihilating anything and destroying whatever came their way was shot down by her. Instead they observed the entrance. It was guarded by several goblins. But they were different, taller and more muscular with a menacing aura surrounding them. He had to be careful fighting a whole group of them. Every group seemed to have two undead animals with them. Some goblins were as tall as Hall, they wore dark robes covered in dried blood and he could almost smell the stench coming from them. Many among them carried magic staffs and different weapons and armor. He continued to watch for several hours, groups came and left, taking in several animals, sometimes leaving with corpses, sometimes with new undead slaves. When he wanted to retreat he saw something that made his skin crawl. Two players, he knew they weren¡¯t NPCs from the way they talked, walked among the goblins and everyone they passed lowered their head in front of them. Hall guessed they were the players who were sent by the village to kill the goblins but instead they seemed to have joined them. No, they were leading them. He saw some goblins carrying a corpse out of the mine. A human girl, not much older than Elsa. She probably belonged to one of the surrounding villages. Her blood still was flowing, she wasn¡¯t dead for long. A black necklace that let out a dark glow was placed around her neck. He couldn¡¯t tell exactly what it was but it was powerful because he could feel its dark energy even though he wasn¡¯t close. She was placed on some an altar made out of thousands of bones, a circle of flames surrounding it. It was covered it rotting blood, darker than black, poisoned by evil. It made him sick. They player who looked like a mage raised a black dagger. It was almost as long as a forearm. Curved and engraved with glowing red runes. It exuded a sickening purple glow and appalling black mist that reminded him of his chains before he managed to lift the curse. Even though he was too far away for his Soul Perception, the moment the mage stabbed the dagger in the corpse he saw her soul, that glowed white and green, be engulfed in the same mist that surrounded the dagger. It was like chains formed, tying down the soul, hiding it under a veil of pain. When the body rose, it was a puppet, an undead slave, nothing more was left of the young girl and in time her flesh would rot and decay and so would her soul. Hall could hear her soul scream in agony and it killed him on the inside. If it weren¡¯t for Lily he would have taken up the sword and jumped straight in the middle of it. But she put her arms on his shoulder, comforting him, calming him. He knew a blind, headless attack wouldn¡¯t help anyone. So he planned, carefully, diligently. He let the wrath surge inside of him, he didn¡¯t push it away, but welcomed it. His soul energy slowly started to turn red. Not the sickening red of dirtied blood, but the color of flames strong enough to burn all evil. Flames that would punish those that opposed him and bring final judgement.
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------------------------------------------------- Author¡¯s Note: Woho, chapter 9, almost made it to the double digits, hope you like the new chapter :grin: Next chapter we¡¯ll have some action deep down in the mine^^ Oh and as always, please tell me your opinions, suggestions and point out any mistakes you find, I really appreciate your support :bye: Chapter 10 - Carnival of Rust Chapter 10 ¨C Carnival of Rust Hall observed them walking around satisfied. They just transformed the corpse of an innocent girl into an undead slave and they celebrated it. His rage boiled inside of him, but still he observed. He clenched his fist, his nails digging into his own flesh, but still he observed. He grinded his teeth, his eyes spewing fire, but still he observed. Until he heard them say their goodbyes. The mage logged off saying he would be back in one real life day, meaning 4 days game time. The other one, who looked like a rogue, told him he would call him on the phone so they could log in together. Overhearing this made Hall grin. He would make sure he would greet them properly. So he waited for their bodies to disappear after logging out and watched the goblins relax visibly after they were gone. There were still two groups with four warriors, two undead beasts and a mage each outside the mine. He guessed inside would be a small army of undead and goblins. It would be difficult, he still didn''t have any real combat skills, so he would have to use his greatest weapon, fear. With a rock he caused some noises and lured one of the groups deeper into the forest. It was simple, but effective. The dark magic seemed to have raised not only their strength but also their intelligence, a bit, as he heard the tallest goblin growl and was surprised they could speak that well. "My group follow me... rest stay here... will look if surroundings clear...you watch entrance." With that command one of the groups followed the noise caused by Hall. He lured them for several minutes until the sounds of battle wouldn''t alarm the others. Hall''s plan was simple, he used his chains to entangle the feet of two goblins, while Lily bound the arms of the remaining two warriors to the ground. Thanks to her skill progress she was able to use four instead of three mana chains. He marked the mage for death and used his Death to Everyone skill to put pressure on the whole group. Lily''s song raised his willpower and increased the effect of his pressure. While the mage shivered in fear Hall attacked the undead wolfs, dodging their claws and teeth, cutting into their rotting flesh with cold steel. Every now and then he pulled his chains or used his Soul Distortion skill to confuse the two goblins and to keep them from fighting. When he was close enough he stabbed the mage who still shivered and threw manabolts that missed him by arm length. It wasn''t enough to kill him as they all were pretty high level, but he was able to deal some damage. After a few minutes he finally managed to kill the undead wolfs by decapitating them. The warrior goblins were roaring angry despite his soul pressure. They were angry they couldn''t join the fight and struggled with the chains binding them. Pulling on one of the chains, the entangled goblin was dragged over the ground. When it stopped in front of him he used soul distortion to confuse the monster. Within the moments it took the goblin to regain its senses it was already stabbed and cut a dozen times. Bleeding excessively its wild eyes dimmed and with a fatal strike Hall ended its struggle. Now that his chain was free he started to thrash on the other goblin warrior he bound. Breaking bones and spraying blood with each slash he killed him within half a minute. Without renewing the mana chains, Hall attacked the other two fighters while Lily shackled the mage with her skill. He kept fighting while using Mana Drain and dodging the clubs of the goblins. He parried and retaliated. Dodged and stabbed. It took too long for his taste but soon enough the last warrior dropped dead to the ground. Now the mage was the only one left. He trembled in fear, his comrades dead and in front of him a man he could do nothing against. But instead of killing the enemy outright, Hall kept draining his mana so he could fight without taking a break. When all lay dead in front of him, cut, stabbed, smashed or decapitated, he took the loot and without hesitation approached the mine and dealt with the other group in the same manner. It was even easier than before and didn''t even take him ten minutes.
You have entered Abandoned Sorian Iron Mine
When entering the mine Hall soon encountered another group and again he disposed of the goblins and undead monsters. If he was hit, Lily healed him and if they ran low on mana he drained it from the enemy. It wasn''t even a real fight, more like a beautiful choreographed slaughter as Hall mowed down the goblins with his chains and blades while Lily''s beautiful voice underlayed every swing and every strike. While moving farther inside the mine they met bigger groups of enemies, but that didn''t stop him. Hall used his Hells Bells and his other fear inducing skills constantly, disrupting the enemies flow, destroying their balance, causing them to falter and fall. Hall simply cut them down like he was death himself. His and Lily''s level climbed slowly but surely. If he got hurt, Lily healed him and he drained mana so there was no need to stop. If his stamina fell too low he chewed some food and drank from his canteen while lying on the ground panting. Because there were so many narrow passages he could use Lily''s Tears of Heaven skill while he pinned down the group with his chains slamming into anyone who got too close, throwing them back. This way they could annihilate an incredible amount of enemies in a short amount of time. Hall reached level 20 after a little less than one day of constant battle against monsters more than twenty levels above him. He had three more days left and planned to use every minute of it. The only break he would allow himself would be to eat and drink something in real life. After Hall distributed his status points in strength and agility he continued to fight his way down into the earth. Soon enough he found the first human undead. It was the girl from before. She was already far beyond saving, her eyes dull, saliva running down the corner of her mouth and her reaction to seeing him was nothing but a pitiful moan. He clenched his fist again. Beside her was only one of the mage goblins. He watched Hall in surprise, but soon enough he regained his composure, sent the girl to attack and started to throw mana bolts at him. Halls eyes still lay on the girl so he just lashed out with his chains. When the bolts hit them in midair the weak magic just dissipated as his soul energy wasn¡¯t only impenetrable by physical attacks but could also block magic. If he blocked it too close to his body, the resulting explosion would still hurt him, but because it was still a few meters away, it just vanished into nothingness. Instead of raising his blades, Lily simply chained down the poor girl while Hall grabbed both chains. With brutal force he threw them straight ahead. They flew like two arrows and penetrated the chest and abdomen of the goblin. He looked incredulous at the holes in his body and at the blood dying the floor beneath him. After a moment he dropped to his knees and died. Hall barely noticed, instead he approached the shackled girl. The dress she wore was stained by her own dried blood and her shoeless feet were cut by the rough ground. Her arms and legs were bound to the ground but her motionless eyes looked straight at him. Foam started to appear on her lips as she tried to bite him though he was still meters away. When sensing her soul he could tell she suffered incredible pain as the darkness slowly clawed its way into her glowing essence. Grinding his teeth Hall took out his dagger, closed the distance between them and held her head down with one hand. ¡°I¡¯m sorry little one. For all the pain you suffered, for all the torment and your tears. I promise you peace, it may not be much, but it¡¯s all I can offer.¡± With these words he slit her throat and rammed the dagger through her back into her heart. The two critical hits were enough to kill the girl, her level wasn¡¯t high to begin with, even if the darkness that swallowed her gave her strength. Hall still held her head, this time gentle and with care. He saw her soul be released from its shackles of darkness and only stood up after it found its way into the afterworld. ¡®I have to ask Grim what happens with these souls.¡¯ He gently placed her body into a corner as he had no time to properly burry her. From then on he frequently met undead humans. They were accompanied by more goblins than before, but he continued to slaughter them. Lily got really quiet ever since they met the girl, though there was no need for her to talk, she and Hall both felt the same and each other¡¯s company was enough to comfort them. She put her emotions into her voice and sang for Hall, she sang for the girl and for every imprisoned and mutilated soul in this cruel place. After two days the enemies became stronger but so did he. Because goblins were generally weak willed creatures his skills caused mayhem and he often slaughtered enemies even without resistance but also without mercy. He saw what they did when he looked at the undead puppets, felt what they caused when he sensed their souls and he was in no mood to deal in mercy. No, cold revenge and brutal justice was his business. He was judge, jury and executioner. His chains were the law, his blade was the path and death the only way out. He thanked Grim for giving him this class over and over again, how else could he annihilate groups of mobs twenty level stronger than himself. He only needed hours to gain the same experience others needed days for. Usually you would need a group of level 40 players to clear the mine. He did it alone thanks to his own abilities, his class and of course because of Lily. After three days he was so deep down it became hard to breath, the fights became tougher and he had to take longer breaks between them. He was almost level 30 now, his and Lily¡¯s skills leveled up quite a bit and he finally reached what looked like the end of the mine. Until now the mine was nothing more than a simple tunnel, around two meters wide with stone or earthen walls. Every now and then pillars were used to stabilize the ceiling. A couple of rooms were carved into the stone used as sleeping accommodations, storage rooms and dinner halls. The mine was mainly lit by torches, candles and oil lamps but it still was mostly dark and gloomy. There weren¡¯t many valuable items, the furniture was cheap, the food bad and the tools crap. The last hallway was different though, instead of crude rock the walls were covered in mosaics and polished, black marble. Artistic engravings in the marble showed eerie scenes of battle and brutal sacrifices. A few pulsating red lights along the corridor caused the shadows to come alive, devouring each other, creating appalling images. The sickening hallway led Hall and Lily into a huge room. It was by far the largest in the whole mine, at least thirty meters long and twenty wide. The room was covered in the black marble he saw before and was dominated by the stairs that began twenty meters into the room and lead to a giant black throne at the end of it. Seated on this abomination of a throne in this nightmare of a throne room was a single man. At least that¡¯s what Hall thought. It had two arms and two legs, but was at least a meter taller than him and he needed to double his own shoulder size to even come close to the giant. He sat next to one of the pulsating red lights so Hall could see a dark plate armor, it looked just like the marble the throne was made out of. He even could see the countless engravings on the armor although he couldn¡¯t make out what they pictured. Though he wasn¡¯t hiding it, Hall somehow couldn¡¯t make out his face, it was like it was covered in black mist. He just sat there, unmoving, an eerie aura enveloping him. Before entering the direful area there were runes glowing bright enough to alarm even the most careless person. When Hall stepped closer he could read them with his Sorian Language skill.
Sealed away in this cave lies a peril to the world, a menace to its inhabitants and a threat to all that is good. A creature created by us but beyond our control. Once a man, now a demon. If left alone it consumes those alive and devours their very souls. Turn and walk away, beyond this threshold nothing but death awaits you.
But that wasn¡¯t all, someone carved words beneath it into the wall. Not in the Sorian language but in a modern one.
After a long time of research I found a way to unseal the one shackled on his throne. He needs the souls of the living, but as he is weak in his sealed state, he can¡¯t rip them from their bodies. I created magic that ties a soul to its host even after their death. If you use it you can control their bodies and let their souls be devoured. It will take time and the sacrifices will be great and many, but you shall be rewarded greatly. I myself am too old to gain anything so I hope you will benefit from my studies. A word of advice, if the unsealing process, the feeding of soul energy, begins, don¡¯t step into the throne room. Lead the undead puppets to him. Every living being will awaken him in a weakened state. The dead will let him rest until he regained his lost strength to rule at his rightful place.
It seemed like the goblins found the magic to create undead puppets but probably stayed away from this room because their feared it too much or their life force wasn¡¯t strong enough to wake the sealed man. Hall was very sure they wouldn¡¯t be able to learn the Sorian runes and language but the research was probably written in a modern language. After their intelligence was raised by the dark magic they figured out how to strengthen their forces with undead animals. When players came along they probably thought they could gain great rewards by unsealing the demon and started to kidnap NPCs to sacrifice their souls. Hall showed a wicked smile while thinking about crossing their plans after what they have done. As soon as Hall stepped one foot inside the bloodcurdling room he could feel the temperature drop instantly. The black mist around the man started to twist and twirl and red circles that could only be eyes focused on him. Hall had to gather all his will and courage not to turn around and run, even Lily became pale like she was a Banshee again. Starting to shiver, she quickly grabbed his hand for support. ¡°¡­what is¡­that?¡± Hall could only shake his head, he had no answer. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but it¡¯s evil, cold and dark. What have they done¡­? Still, we have to destroy it.¡± Lily swallowed and despite the fear in her eyes she nodded her head with determination. They slowly approached the stairs when a roar came out of the shadows that hid the man¡¯s face and made them freeze up instantly. The roar changed into a sinister laughter, filling the silence in the room, resounding from the walls and the ground. ¡°Welcome human, I am grateful to you for breaking my seal, was it you that fed me all these delicious souls?¡± Hall clenched his fists and steeled his will. ¡°No, I don¡¯t know who or what you are, probably nothing but a failed experiment. Yet those fools still try to awaken you and in the process kill innocents and mutilate and torture their souls. I woke you without finishing the unsealing process properly and I will kill you here and now. You won¡¯t see the light of the sun ever again and you won¡¯t lay your hands on another soul. I promise you this.¡± Silence spread in the dark room when a hysterical, infernal laughter erupted from the sinister figure. ¡°Lowly human, you are certainly entertaining, though I won¡¯t allow anyone to mock me. My little puppets will rip you apart.¡± The darkness around Hall started to move, moans and the rustling of clothes was hearable as dozens of figures slowly moved into the pulsating light. There were so many. Men and women of all ages with dim eyes. Their skin in different shades of grey with rotting wounds in their decaying flesh. Most had barely any hair left while their blood stained clothes stuck to their appalling bodies. The sight and the stench were vomit inducing and Hall had to clench his fist and grit his teeth. Not because he was scared, not because he was disgusted, but because he was angry. Angry for what was done to those unfortunate people. Angry because he knew how their families must feel. It was just a game, it wasn¡¯t real, but somehow it didn¡¯t matter right now. Using his soul perception he saw the mutilated and tortured souls of the humans, shackled to their corpses, coming out of the shadows. From their chests a stream of floating lights made their way through the room to the dark figure sitting on top of the throne. Only a few souls glowed bright as most were drained for weeks or even months. Some were so dim they barely were visible in the eerily lit room. The bodies containing the drained souls were barely able to move anymore and only staggered slowly closer to him. The few with brighter souls were quicker when they approached him baring their teeth. Hall knew he had to battle the monster on the throne, so he couldn¡¯t exhaust himself fighting the people even if he would like to send every soul away separately. He knew it would be enough to destroy their vessels, their rotting bodies, his Judgement skill would take care of bringing them peace in the end. He didn¡¯t bother with his fear inducing skills, they wouldn¡¯t work on these mindless puppets and he could feel the man in front of him was a lot stronger than anything he faced until now. He had to rely on his fighting skills and on his weapons, so he quickly apologized in his head to all the people around him and began to imbue his chains with his energy while he could hear Lily¡¯s voice behind him starting a song, giving him confidence and promising support. Hall let out a deep breath and started to swing his chains with incredible force obliterating three bodies with the first swing. Minutes and minutes went by while Hall swung his chains in circles, rotated them and smashed it into the groups of people. It was a gruesome sight. The pulsating red light painted a picture in blood. Limbs were ripped from bodies. Heads splattered, chests crushed and bones shattered. Each one of Hall¡¯s attacks was devastating, annihilating several undead slaves at once. They might be swallowed by darkness and had a pretty high level, but their rotting bodies were weak and as Hall obliterated dozens and dozens within minutes he gained ridiculous amounts of experience. When he could feel no more of the unfortunate souls around him he took deep breaths to regain his stamina. While Hall stood there unmoving he saw glowing lights around him slowly dissipating as the imprisoned souls finally regained their freedom and their peace. He was surprised he didn¡¯t get any fame points because before he got one or two every several kills. Though that was probably because it was a boss event. At least he reached level 30. After several seconds he heard a grumbling sound originating from the top of the stairs. ¡°You are interesting human, destroying my fine little puppets so quickly while I am still so very hungry.¡± Standing up he was even more frightening as another wave of pressure washed over Hall. He still didn¡¯t even flinch, not giving the creature of darkness the pleasure of seeing him yielding to fear. ¡°Most impressive, others fled in terror or fell unconscious just from my presence and yet you stand defiant. You are worthy of knowing my name, the name of the one who will be your doom. I am Azmodan, but for you I am death.¡± His voice roared through the room covered in blood and rotten flesh as he walked down the stairs. Any normal person would cower in front of this monster, but Hall started to laugh. His laugh cast away the wariness and the seed of fear inside Lily¡¯s chest. He shook his head, still laughing causing Azmodan to stop a couple of stairs away from the ground. He was now a lot closer and his presence was terrifying. The engravings in the black plate armor showed scenes of torture and executions. His face, now finally recognizable, showed only confusion after seeing the laughing Hall and then distorted in rage. ¡°You dare mocking me human?¡± Hall still chuckled and waved his words away. ¡°Haha, no, it¡¯s not that. Well, maybe a little bit. You know, I met death before and compared to her you aren¡¯t even a fly. You aren¡¯t worth calling yourself death and I will show you because the closest you will ever come to meet death itself is ME. Now pay for your crimes.¡± By now Azmodan was shaking with anger, he started to materialize a huge sword inside his right hand. It seemed to be made of shadows as darkness gathered inside his hand. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. Before the sword was complete a chain rammed against his head, making him lose balance and his eyes spewed fires of wrath at the defiant human standing up against him. ¡°Human I will make you regret being born.¡± He raised his left hand throwing dark waves of magic against Hall without needing a second to cast. Shaking his head again he slammed his chains against each wave, dispersing the magic without it ever reaching him. As the last waved approached him his aim was off and instead of dispersing it completely he just diverted it and it partially hit Lily who twitched as the dark wave hit her leg after she tried to evade it.
-150 hp
¡®Crap!¡¯ Hall was careless. It barely touched Lily and despite their resistance to darkness magic it caused significant damage. A frontal hit without any resistance might kill him. While he shook off the damage, Azmodan approached him with incredible speed raising his sword and cutting down on him. He barely managed to dodge it and as the sword hit the ground an explosion of darkness destroyed the marble floor beside him. The moment the shadow blade struck the ground, Hall flew past the demon that once was a man and rammed the dagger he pulled from his belt into Azmodan¡¯s lower back. Azmodan roared but the moment the dagger penetrated his black armor it was swallowed by dark mist. When it touched Hall¡¯s skin it burned his hand that held the dagger, causing him to let go of it and scream in surprise after he took some damage. Hall knew his worldly weapons wouldn¡¯t be of use, so he grabbed his chains and swung the left one at the enemy to put some distance between him and the huge black sword. Expecting it, Azmodan caught the chain as it was about to smash in his side and wrapped it around his hand. Grinning he exuded dark mist from his hand. It slowly crawled up the chain, tainted the glowing blue light it emitted and caused excruciating pain to Hall. Azmodan started to grin infernally at Hall¡¯s pain distorted face. ¡°Feel my touch, because I will devour your soul, now bow before me and wither in agony.¡± Hall¡¯s knees became weak, his legs lost their strength and his breath became erratic. From behind he heard Lily as she sang in her beautiful voice. He knew she would follow him into the dark, so even if it was only for her, he couldn¡¯t fall here. As his willpower and defiant, some would say stubborn, traits kicked in, his muscles bulged. He used his Blast Tyrant skill and with a roar his blue soul essence slowly was colored in a flame red tone, burning away the black mist. Azmodan was now beyond confused and angry as his hand was burnt by Hall¡¯s energy. ¡°What are you mortal to be able to stand against my darkness?¡± After a while his Soul Perception was finally able to read Azmodan¡¯s soul properly. It was, as he expected, made up of pure darkness. Though his power was obvious as sensing it alone made Hall almost falter. It was a mass of twisting and twirling wickedness, an evil so abominable it threatened to swallow everything around it. While Azmodan was still shocked at the ineffectiveness of his attack Hall used Soul Distortian although before he was sure it wouldn¡¯t work. The effect was negligible but the fact that it had an impact at all when used on someone of Azmodan¡¯s strength, even if he was unprepared, was enough to throw Azmodan even more off. Hall started to use Mana Drain because his mana was now below half as Lily still used her voice and the fight was already longer than it took him to take care of the undead puppets. Azmodan noticed and started to roar again, trying to free himself, almost going insane at the thought of a mere mortal daring to take away his power. While the second chain crashed into his armor again and again Azmodan slashed away at the chain that now forcibly entangled his left arm. He barely noticed the smashing against his side, his legs and his head as it slowly chipped away at his health. After he finally managed to free himself he rushed Hall with his sword raised aiming for a one hit kill. Hall barely managed to pull back his chain, catching the sword. But he wasn¡¯t able to completely block the strike as the explosion of dark energy scorched his face, severely hurting him. His health was down to half and although Lily tried to heal him, the incoming damage was too much for her. Azmodan went into a frenzy and swung his sword at an insane speed only barely missing Hall with each strike. Hall couldn¡¯t even think about retaliating as each strike left a trail of darkness that burned his skin even though the blade didn¡¯t touch him. His mark of death and soul pressure was useless and he slowly lost health as out of nowhere Azmodan threw a giant ball of pure darkness against him. Again he tried to disperse it with his chains and managed to take away the biggest part of the damage but the explosion its impact on the chain caused, threw him back two meters, forcing the air out of his lungs and causing dizziness.
-317 hp
In my Time of Dying has been activated
  • +100% Willpower
  • +30% to all stats
  • +30% speed
With the last attack Hall¡¯s health dropped below 10% and his last resort skill kicked in. A surge went through him and his dizziness was blown away. He grit his teeth and was about to jump back to his feet. Azmodan regained his composure as he saw the human lying in front of him, his skin scorched and his armor in tatters. His own health was still above half despite the dozens of strikes he received before and the mortal was close to death. He was sure of his victory now and enjoyed the picture in front of him. In his hubris he didn¡¯t even notice the change in Hall after his skill kicked in. Hall¡¯s eyes had fire in them again and although he knew it wasn¡¯t a great idea during a normal battle he didn¡¯t have much of a choice. He grabbed his sword while Azmodan looked at him with hatred. This time he filled it with his soul energy. Not with a blue, calm, pulsating light, but with a flaming red burning through the metal. When it was brimming with energy Hall jumped up and a lot faster than before he leaped at the monster in front of him ramming the sword deep inside his chest. The black mist pouring out of the wound was overwhelmed by his raging soul energy that radiated from the sword. Azmodan just stared in shock at the glowing sword inside his chest that pierced his armor so easily and caused his health to drop significantly. Hall didn¡¯t stop there. After Lily almost broke into tears as she saw him lying on the ground covered in wounds, she now was excited and shivered in inner turmoil as she saw the still badly hurt Hall up again, stronger than before. Instead of healing him she continued to put all her feelings into her voice as Hall rammed the sword even deeper and with the same movement gained some distance between him and the armored figure. Before Azmodan could recover, the chains, now also brimming with a red energy that looked like cleansing flames, were again brutally raining down on him delivering crushing blows. Although the attacks before barely damaged the armor and caused only little damage, his strikes now cracked the armor with each hit resulting in massive damage. With each blow Azmodan¡¯s health dropped and before he could regain his fighting stance, pieces of his armor started to fall off, laying bare a dark mass below that didn¡¯t look like skin and seemed to be composed of shadows. For the first time since his time as a human he felt an emotion he thought he was only able of causing. Fear. This human, so close to death, overwhelmed him with his pressure and managed to deal blow after blow, crushing his body along with his mind. Azmodan was confused, scared, helpless. The blade in his chest caused insufferable pain and the chains raining down on him stripped away his health. He knew he was about to die. ¡°Human, I won¡¯t allow you to be my death, I will choose the way I leave this world and I will take you with me, know your death was named Azmodan.¡± Within the blink of an eye, the remaining black armor cracked and exploded, releasing all the soul energy Azmodan drained and stored over the last year. The corrupted essence of hundreds of souls, tainted by darkness and soiled by evil discharged into a giant explosion ripping apart the demons body and rushing over Hall in a wave of darkness. ¡°Hear my judgement and be cleansed, leave this world and find peace in death as it was refused to you in life. Rest now, that¡¯s all I can do for you.¡± His own pressure build up a wall and as Azmodan was finally defeated, Hall¡¯s soul energy returned to the calm blue tone, cleansing the souls that tried to overwhelm him, granting them rest.
You have leveled up
After all was said and done Hall collapsed where he stood. His beaten and burnt body hurt everywhere and the only thing that kept him conscious was Lily that grabbed his hand, slowly restoring his health. Again no words were needed between them, they knew exactly what they felt. Still, Lily whispered while touching his cheek gently. ¡°Thank you¡­ for not giving up¡­for helping them¡­for being¡­ you.¡±
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-------------------------------------------- If you want to see the current status window and skill progress of our MC please use this link there''s also a quick skill progress overview without any details: Spoiler :
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Marked for DeathBeginner332%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Death to Everyone (Subskill of Marked for Death)Beginner37%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
In my Time of Dying (passive)--100%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Ain¡¯t no Grave can hold my body down (Subskill of In my Time of Dying,passive)--100%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Keep me in your Heart for a While (Subskill of In my Time of Dying,passive)--100%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Soul PerceptionBeginner422%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Soul Pressure (Subskill of Soul Perception)Beginner292%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Soul ChainsBeginner68%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Mana Drain (Subskill of Soul Chains)Beginner341%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Soul Distortion (Subskill of Soule Chains and Soul Perception)Beginner281%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Hells Bells (Subskill of Soul Chains)Beginner29%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Judgement (passive)--100%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
AmbidexterityBeginner333%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
IdentificationBeginner329%
Weapon Mastery skills:
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Chain Mastery (Subskill of Soulchains)Beginner59%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Sword MasteryBeginner338%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dagger MasteryBeginner34%
------------------------------------------- Author¡¯s Note: Yay, double digits, chapter 10 is here and we got a big battle on our hands, hope you liked it, I still feel I should improve my fighting scenes in the future, so stick with me :grin: Sorry it took so long, I¡¯m really busy these days, but I won¡¯t stop anytime soon, so don¡¯t worry And because so many of you asked regarding our MCs weaponry (DON¡¯T click if you don¡¯t want to know^^) Spoiler : Yes, he will get a some kind of scythe sooner or later, I¡¯ve already decided on that from the beginning, the question is what kind of scythe it will be ¡­so keep reading if you want to know^^ p.s. it wont be an actual scythe, like a stck and a curved blade, would be rather boring^^ Oh and as always, please tell me your opinions, suggestions and point out any mistakes you find, I really appreciate your support :bye: Chapter 11 - Any Means Necessary Chapter 11 ¨C Any Means Necessary *Ding*
Quest: Master of Puppets
Quest complete Not only did you destroy the goblins inhabiting the abandoned mine, hindering them from creating more undead animal servants, but you also destroyed the cause of the dark magic. You also released the souls of those imprisoned by darkness and gave peace to the souls of the dead villagers. Rewards have been slightly increased because you completed a high level quest by yourself with an overwhelming level difference. Rewards: Affinity with nature increased Earth Resistance raised by 1% Water Resistance raised by 1% Wind Resistance raised by 1% Intimacy with Gelt and seven undiscovered villages raised. For granting peace to hundreds of tormented souls you are rewarded with +200 Fame You have leveled up! You have leveled up!
For standing up to a much stronger foe, to a demon causing terror by his sheer existence and for defeating him after he experienced true fear you are rewarded with +2 Willpower
You are the first player to clear Abandoned Sorian Iron Mine. The unique boss monster Azmodan will be replaced by Goblin Chief +50 Fame
Title: The bigger they are¡­
For defeating a unique, named quest boss more than 40 levels above you, you are granted with knowledge of how to deal with experienced and dangerous foes, bigger and stronger than you +2 Strength +3 Willpower +25 Fame Effects when equipped +5% damage against named monsters +5% damage against monsters bigger than you
The rewards were pretty awesome and finally he had a title that actually granted him benefits, so he immediately equipped it. But before he could deal with the players that caused all this, he still had something to do. First he approached what was left of Azmodan to check for loot. There wasn¡¯t even a corpse after he dissipated into mist. The shattered armor turned to ash but there was something different. A handful of black crystals of different sizes lay on the ground, so Hall picked them up and used his Identification skill on them. He managed to level it up a little bit since he got it. Usually you didn¡¯t need to use it on common items to use them as they didn¡¯t have any special properties. If you would use it on them nonetheless you could gain information on the time of its production or some of its history. It could raise its value, because as there were collectors in the real world, there were also people collecting all kinds of stuff in Novus Vita. Some collected swords made in a specific period of the past, others looked for decorative items or art by some craftsmen, well, all kinds of things. Often they looked like common items but you needed a decent skill level in identification to gain all the information possible. To use rarer items with special properties it was necessary to identify them first. Although the items he got during his journey through the mines were pretty crappy, usually torn clothes, damaged armor or cheap weapons, he always used his Identification skill. Yet it wasn¡¯t high enough because he barely got any information on the crystals.
Soul Shard
Quality:Unknown
-
Hall just shrugged and pocketed the four shards that were around the size of a thumb. He was curious what they were but he really liked what was lying beside them. It was the large two-handed sword Azmodan wielded and almost crushed Hall with. When he grabbed the black handle the shadows spread, twisted and reformed. Instead of a giant, crude blade what was left was a somewhat elegant longsword. One side had a sharp, black edge. It didn¡¯t reflect any light and just seemed to swallow it all. The backside of the blade looked more liked black flames, shadows of candlelight, flickering in the wind. The blade was slightly curved while the handle looked like it was made of dark wood. It was a simple sword without engravings or gems. While Azmodan held the sword it wasn¡¯t only a lot bigger, it was frightening, brutal, like a weapon for slaughter. Now it was more dignified, more graceful. An elegant weapon for a more civilized age. ¡°Identify.¡±
Blade of the Soul Weaver (incomplete)
Damage:44-57Durability:87/90
Quality:Unique
An incomplete sword covered by shadows. Can only be wielded by those that have control over soul energy. It is cursed after it has been corrupted by centuries of dark soul essence being stored inside it. Effects: Ignores 30% of the enemies armor Ignores 30% of the enemies endurance Slight chance to confuse or stun the enemy Wounds caused by this sword won¡¯t bleed If cut by this sword the effect of all healing spells are reduced by 50% +10% Darkness Resistance +20 Strength Area of Effect damage around the sword (5% of hit damage, Range: 10cm) (Curse effect) Stamina consumption doubled (Curse effect) Speed reduced by 80% Requirements: Willpower: 130 Strength: 100 Agility: 80
Hall was impressed to say the least, although the curse made the sword pretty much unusable, its effects were incredible. The curse was peculiar as he could feel traces of soul energy covering the blade. It felt like Azmodan¡¯s, but also something else, something older. When he saw the charred remnants of the sword Ella gave him he had an idea. So he sat down and started to concentrate on the black weapon in his hands. He let his soul essence flow out of his hand, pushing back the foul energy. It was a battle of will, as the darkness clawed itself onto the sword, not giving a hairsbreadth without the exertion of incredible amounts of energy. Hall couldn¡¯t relax for a moment, when he did, the darkness reclaimed inches that took him minutes to gain. The more his own pulsating blue light covered the blade, the harder it was, the more he needed to push and the more the black energy twisted to not lose more ground. In the end, with a single last effort, he overwhelmed the darkness and when there was nothing left, he finally relaxed. The sword still was black and gave of a similar feeling, but now dark blue lines were drawn trough the blade and disturbed the darkness, barely visible, but he guessed they¡¯d serve a purpose and it looked pretty cool.
You have cleansed the sword Blade of the Soul Weaver (incomplete) from its curse
You have gained a new skill
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Soul CleansingBeginner10%
Although your own soul may be tainted your honest intention and your will allows you to push away the darkness that corrupts the souls of others. Not only are you able to cleanse these unfortunate souls but you can cleanse objects soiled by the soul essence of evil beings. Effects:
  • Able to cleanse tainted souls
  • Able to lift curses caused by soul energy +2 Intelligence +3 Wisdom
Hall was glad, the skill was pretty good, he cleansed souls before, but he probably also had to lift a curse to finally gain the skill. That made him think. There also had to be a skill related to the imbuing of weapons with his soul energy, though there may still be something he didn¡¯t figure out yet. After the curse was lifted from the weapon he equipped it with a huge grin on his face. The weapon was incredible, the requirements were pretty high and usually you needed a rather high level to use it, thanks to his class though he could equip it anyway. ¡°Identify¡±
Blade of the Soul Weaver (incomplete)
Damage:44-57Durability:87/90
Quality:Unique
An incomplete sword covered by shadows. Can only be wielded by those that have control over soul energy. Remnants of soul essence mark this sword as property of Hall, the Harbinger of Death. Effects: Ignores 30% of the enemies armor Ignores 30% of the enemies endurance Slight chance to confuse or stun the enemy Wounds caused by this sword won¡¯t bleed If cut by this sword the effect of all healing spells are reduced by 50% +10% Darkness Resistance +20 Strength Area of Effect damage around the sword (5% of hit damage, Range: 10cm) If imbued with soul energy, damage can be increased (max. +50%) Requirements: Willpower: 130 Strength: 100 Agility: 80
Considering the name of the weapon he had the feeling the term Soul Weaver also held some meaning and the fact that the weapon was incomplete made him wonder if it could be improved even further. For now he was glad to have such a strong weapon by his side in addition to his trusted chains. Both the dagger and the sword he bought in Gelt were gone and his chest armor and pants reached zero durability points and were useless while his gloves and boots barely held together. The remnants of the human corpses didn¡¯t have any loot as the two players probably looted it all after killing them. He left this sickening place full of splattered bodies, blood and limbs. After he left the eerie hallway behind his gaze fell on something he missed before and that looked like a crack in the wall. After closer inspection it seemed to be something like an entry to another room. Illuminated by a flickering red light Hall saw a crude wooden table and a chair of the same material. When he lit the oil lamp on the table he could see the rest of the room. Half the walls were covered with shelves filled with research material on Azmodan, several books about Sorian runes and language and texts on how to tie souls to their dead bodies. Hall took them all and stored them in Lily¡¯s inventory. He would read through them if he had time and either sell or destroy them depending on their content. Shackled to the raw rock wall opposite to the shelves were several corpses. A note on the wall above them read.
Failed Subjects
. Looking at several papers on the table he realized they were sacrificed like the puppets he fought, though they couldn¡¯t control them and instead of just killing them they tried to figure out why.
These people we sacrificed can¡¯t be controlled and their souls can¡¯t be drained. No matter the pain, they don¡¯t seem to break and the shackles we put on them seem to weaken.
It took months but after the chains that bound their soul to their corpses weaken sufficiently, they seem to leave the body, what¡¯s left is useless meat. We have to take them out sometime or another.
Upon closer inspection the corpses seemed to be in a better condition than those he met so far. The magic didn¡¯t seem to work properly and the dry air inside the cave preserved the bodies. One of the bodies was a woman¡¯s, her blond hair reminded him of Ella and because these bodies weren¡¯t looted he found a golden necklace on her. The locket on it was a beautiful crafted golden heart. When he opened it, he found a picture of Ella in one half and one of a young, smiling couple in the other, probably Ella¡¯s mother and father. Hall¡¯s heart was heavy, he knew deep inside Ella¡¯s mother was dead, but because he really liked the girl and he was grateful for all she did, he would have loved to give her better news. ¡°Lily, I don¡¯t think we should leave her down here like this.¡± Lily nodded in silence, the body was in good condition so she could still have a funeral. It would be nice to do this with every single body, but considering the sheer mass that were in the mine it would be an endless task. He destroyed the chains of Ella¡¯s mother, put her on a blanket and after a moment of hesitation carried her with both arms. He then ran out of the mine, not having to fight at all it only took him two hours, and placed her in a safe spot a good distance away from the entrance. Then he ran back, grabbed every single barrel of lamp oil he found in the mine and doused every human corpse from the beginning to the pile of crushed bodies at the end. He coated the walls and hallways in the sticky substance after putting out the torches to not set the oil on fire. After several hours the task was done and he sat on a rock in front of the mine after starting a camp fire to his left. The trail of oil ended a meter to his right. He put on a cloak he found in the cave. It wasn¡¯t anything special, just thick dark linen with rough edges. It didn¡¯t give any protection, but together with the ripped armor it made him look like a vagabond and would make people underestimate him. So he waited and rested a little. The fire warmed him, he ate some of his rations he brought along and drank some water from the canteen. The smoke from the fire suppressed the obtrusive smell of the lamp oil and the warmth made him tired. Again he talked with Lily to pass some time. It seemed like back when she was living with her family she had a real sweet tooth and liked to paint even though she was clumsy and always got dirty. Because the small village didn¡¯t have a school she also tried to teach the neighbor¡¯s kids how to read and some basic math. Hall really loved to see her talk about her past with the shine of excitement and nostalgia in her eyes. Shortly before his four day deadline ran out he put away his food and water and again checked his weapon and then covered it with his cloak. He knew the two players were dangerous, otherwise they wouldn¡¯t be able to lead the goblins. Still, mages and rogues usually didn¡¯t have very high fighting spirit and together with Lily he surely would be able to take care of them. He still needed to be careful, it was possible he misjudged them and even if he didn¡¯t, just killing them wasn¡¯t enough. Hall also wanted to know if they worked alone or belonged to a bigger organization. He somehow had to grin at the idea of destroying an evil group of players. He calmly waited for several more minutes, poking at the fire with a stick trying to look like the laid back ranger characters from the stories he knew. Finally the two players returned at pretty much the same time. It looked like they really timed it. Instantly they were alarmed. There weren¡¯t any guards in front of the mine and a suspicious stranger sat at a fire. The rogue clad in dark brown leather took out two short swords within the blink of an eye and took up a fighting stance while eying the dubious stranger that looked like a hobo or a hunter, a bad one. Hall noticed from the soul energy that both players had insanely high infamy rates and even though they didn¡¯t have player killer marks, there was no way he would get punished for killing them. At least not with a gain in infamy. He also noticed that the rogue was the same he saw in the inn in Gelt so Hall had to make sure he wasn¡¯t recognized by him or else he might look for Ella afterwards. Or he just had to teach him what fear meant. The mage took a few steps back, he was dressed in a dark robe and in his left hand he held a short black staff that looked like a crude wooden stick with a skull on top. The right hand held the dagger he used to sacrifice the girl with, but he instantly put it away in his inventory and took out a glowing red orb instead. As soon as Hall saw the blade, he clenched his fist not to jump up and give away his intentions too fast. The silence and tension became unbearable but Hall continued to ignore the two players and just calmly played with the fire until the rogue couldn¡¯t take it anymore. ¡°Who are you? This is a dungeon claimed by the Shadow Wraiths, the largest guild in the Kingdom of Bredon ¨C show guild banner¡± The rogue pulled out a banner from his inventory depicting two swords piercing a skull from above on red ground. Banners were used as proof of membership so one couldn¡¯t cause chaos and claim to be part of a well-known guild. Well, now Hall had a name and he didn¡¯t even need to ask. He actually read about their guild before. It was true, they were the biggest guild of players in Bredon and probably one of the biggest chaos guilds in the game. The major reason was that Bredon was a small kingdom without a considerable force to deal with a bigger group of players. Additionally most nobles and guards were corrupt so if you had enough money you could get away with anything. Still a guild with around five hundred members was a force to be reckoned with. Their level wasn¡¯t too high with around 50 in average from what is known. But they were ruthless and could deal serious damage because they didn¡¯t care about slaughtering NPCs and this way destroying access to quests and goods. The bigger kingdoms had guilds with thousands of players, whole armies that could change the structure of a kingdom. In the future guilds would only grow, fusing, destroying and swallowing of guilds would become more common. Right now their guild had an infamous reputation, not too well known outside of Bredon, but because of some assassinations and thefts some knew their name. With the power of Azmodan, after he had regained his strength, and an army of undead they would pose a serious threat. Still, Hall didn¡¯t lose his composure and just smiled instead. ¡°Well, that¡¯s a shame, I didn¡¯t know, sorry about that.¡± The rogue slightly relaxed but his tone was a somewhat threatening although still a polite one. ¡°Well, no harm done, unfortunately we can¡¯t allow you to use it as a training ground, so please leave.¡± Hall was surprised, he thought they would attack him or try to use threats. It looked like they were so desperate they didn¡¯t want to antagonize him to not take the chance he might come back with a notion of revenge. Now Hall raised his head and showed them a broad grin that didn¡¯t spread to his eyes. ¡°Oh I don¡¯t think you heard me right. I wasn¡¯t apologizing for being here, I was apologizing because I already cleared your little dungeon.¡± Both of them lost all color as their faces twitched and their lips trembled with their mouths wide open, speechless from what he just said. The mage was the first one to regain his composure. ¡°How deep did you venture into the mine? What did you see?¡± His voice trembled with anger and fear. Hall just continued to grin as he took a stack of paper out of his inventory, showing it to the mage. It was some of the research he found that was made by the players and not part of the backstory. Hall didn''t think it was possible, but the man lost even more color when he saw his research in the stranger''s hand, while the rogue tensed up again. ¡°Impossible, there is no way you could have completed this dungeon by yourself.¡± Both of them tried to reassure themselves. If they lost the mine their guild wouldn''t be too pleased with them and the Shadow Wraiths weren''t too kind with those that failed them. With an even broader grin filled with malice Hall slowly stood up and set the papers on fire. Before any of them could react Hall threw the burning research material onto the trail of lamp oil which instantly caught fire. The same moment Hall activated his chains and threw them around the player''s necks. They both opened their eyes wide in disbelief and trembled as Hall activated his Soul Distortion, Mark of Death and Soul Pressure. Within a second they were on their knees and shivered in fear as if death itself was upon them. Lily bound their hands to the ground, just to be sure, while Hall moved behind them and whispered. ¡°You miserable punks, we''ll start this punishment by showing your work of the last year go up in flames. Enjoy the party, because I''m sure I will.¡± While he heard Lily''s voice, raising his willpower, he started to drain their mana and kept them in a constant state of confusion and fear while they had to watch as the fire crept inside the mine, slowly first but accelerating fast. After it entered the mine there wasn''t anything for a while, no sound, no light, until they could hear a deep growl. A devastating explosion shook the ground, scorching the earth, greedily devouring oxygen and burning down everything in its way. The two players still shivered as their eyes reflected the red hot flames exiting the cave. Slowly they seemed to realize what happened, as they also should have gotten messages by now that their quests have failed. They started to struggle against the chains binding them. Anger pushing away the fear. Their level was higher than Hall''s, but with his particular skillset he had no problems keeping them down. ¡°Now, now, if you start to struggle I have to kill you quickly and that will spoil all our fun.¡± Hall whispered cruelly, as he slowly pulled the sword with his right hand. He had no intention of showing mercy. They had to be stopped from even thinking about hurting the NPCs in these villages. Lily didn''t really disapprove but still reminded Hall. ¡±You know, we just have to scare them.¡± Hall just continued to smile. ¡±Pain is scary.¡± With these words he started to place shallow cuts on both of them, slowly chipping away at their health. Although it was painful and he wanted it to look like torture of some kind, his real goal was so destroy their armor and clothes. They started to scream in pain as their skin was scorched by the dark blade Hall swung. ¡°No please, stop, we''ll do anything.¡± They started to plead and sob as Hall mercilessly cut their armor to shreds. Hall didn''t say anything. ¡°Please, wait, we have money, here, just please¡­stop.¡± They threw several gold pieces on the floor, trying to stop his blade. By now Hall asked himself why they didn''t log out. Was their armor really worth all this pain? Their bodies wouldn¡¯t disappear as they were still in combat but they wouldn¡¯t have to deal with the pain anymore. Shrugging his sword flew a couple of more times until both their clothes fell off their bodies in tatters, leaving only the underwear that wasn''t removable. The answer to his question was actual different. They simply didn¡¯t think about it, confused and afraid as they were, but Hall wasn¡¯t done with them. ¡°Now, oh so powerful members of the mighty Shadow Wraiths, why don¡¯t you tell me a little something about what you were doing here and I really want to know a bit more about your guild¡± Hall asked with the face of a demon and they didn¡¯t even think about holding anything back. They sang like a couple of drunk sailors, spilling the beans on everything they knew. How their guild planned countless assassinations, how they bribed politicians, nobles and guards and how they were preying on the common people and villagers. They even told him about a secret guild layer in the capital¡¯s slums. ¡®I will so get my hands on anything in there.¡¯ Hall rubbed his hands greedily in his mind. After all the information he got, he thought about making a video and posting it online, just to mess with the Shadow Wraiths. They would probably hunt him from now on and now he had some leverage. After answering his questions, their health should be close to zero. To finish it, Hall tightened the chains around their necks, choking them. At the same time he put his hands on both their heads and poured his soul energy into them. ¡°If you hurt even one NPC of these villages again or if I even see you, today will be a pleasant memory compared to what I will do to you then, never forget that.¡± They tried to scream but they couldn''t, they wanted to cry but they wouldn''t, they begged to die, but they didn¡¯t. Finally Halls glowing blue soul essence overpowered their beings and as light started to pour out from their eyes and mouths for half a minute (Hall held a lot of his power back) their bodies went limp.
You have attacked and killed two players, you have been marked as a player killer Because of your skill Judgement the time you carry the mark has been reduced to 25%
''That means 6 hours, not so bad. Still, if they attacked me I wouldn''t have been punished at all.'' Hall wasn''t exactly sure if the time increased if one killed more people or players of a lower level, but he was pretty sure it would be the case.
For killing two players you have gained: +50 infamy Because of your skill Judgement the infamy you gained was reduced to 0
¡®That should frighten them sufficiently, I¡¯m just curious if their guild will come after me, oh well, not like they know my name, time to check the loot.¡¯ Killing two high level players gave pretty decent experience, not enough to level up, but still¡­. Beside their disappearing corpses were two items. The first was the black dagger with red runes the mage dropped and that was used for the sacrifice. He didn¡¯t like it, but still picked it up. ¡°Identify.¡±
Short Blade of the Soul Weaver (incomplete)
Damage:32-44Durability:67/75
Quality:Unique
An incomplete dagger covered by shadows. Can only be wielded by those that have control over soul energy. It is cursed after it has been corrupted by centuries of dark soul essence being stored inside it. Effects: Ignores 50% of the enemy¡¯s armor if the dagger is used to stab Ignores 50% of the enemy¡¯s endurance if the dagger is used to stab Slight chance to confuse or stun the enemy Wounds caused by this dagger won¡¯t bleed If cut by this dagger the effect of all healing spells are reduced by 20% If stabbed by this dagger the effect of all healing spells are reduced by 40% +10% Darkness Resistance +20 Agility (Curse effect) Stamina consumption doubled (Curse effect) Speed reduced by 50% (Curse effect) Can be used for ceremonial purpose even without fulfilling the requirements Requirements: Willpower: 130 Strength: 80 Agility: 100
¡®Awesome, a set item and it goes along with my sword.¡¯ Even though it felt disgusting right now after being used to kill so many innocents, after the curse was gone it would be different. At least Hall hoped so, because it didn¡¯t change its form like the sword did before, but that might be also an effect of the curse, they are different weapons after all. The item the rogue dropped was a necklace that seemed to be made of the same material as the weapons, though it had a pendant with a crystal in the middle The stone was completely dim and exuded a little bit of the black smoke Hall remembered well. ¡°Identify¡±
Pendant of the Soul Weaver (incomplete)
Type:Accessory
Quality:Unique
An incomplete pendant covered by shadows. Can only be worn by those that have control over soul energy. It is cursed after it has been corrupted by centuries of dark soul essence being stored inside it. Effects: +10 to all stats +5% to all resistances (Curse effect) Stamina consumption doubled (Curse effect) Speed reduced by 50% (Curse effect) If worn without control over your soul, your body and mind will be overwhelmed by darkness Requirements: Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.Willpower: 140
¡®I really have to find out what a Soul Weaver is.¡¯ Hall cleansed both objects with his new skill and after it was finally done the dagger had the same bonus as the sword when it came to imbuement of soul energy. The pendant had additional unknown effect as he wasn¡¯t able to completely identify it after the curse was lifted. Still, he equipped both items. The dagger really looked different than before. It was a lot shorter, barely longer than a kitchen knife. Instead of only one sharp edge, like the sword, both edges looked like black hard steel, while the flat looked like dark flames were burning on it. All three items were imbedded with dark blue lines that could hold his soul energy without damaging the pieces themselves. The crystal in the pendant changed from a dim black to a weakly pulsating blue you could almost see through. It was actually quite beautiful.
You have equipped three items of unknown origin that belong together, for your lack of knowledge you won¡¯t be rewarded with any bonuses
¡®Too bad, now I REALLY want to know what a Soul Weaver is.¡¯ ¡°Quite the show you put on, very enjoyable.¡± Hall jumped up, surprised by the voice and threw himself around to face it. He relaxed instantly as he saw a pretty young woman dressed in a black suit sitting on his spot next to the fire. ¡°Hello Grim, didn¡¯t think I would see you again so soon.¡± After he saw her raise an eyebrow he added. ¡°Of course it¡¯s a very pleasant surprise.¡± She smiled again and in his mind he brushed away some sweat. ¡°Well to be completely honest with you, I wasn¡¯t planning on coming back so soon. I just came upon an interesting piece of information I thought you might want to know.¡± She looked around, nodding quite pleased, then chuckled and shook her head. ¡°Really, I didn¡¯t think you would be done here already and you accomplished even more than I asked you to.¡± She then stood up and stepped closer to the corpses on the ground. ¡°Foolish humans, meddling with things beyond their grasp.¡± Approaching Hall she stood on tiptoes and quickly kissed him on the cheek. He could have sworn she blushed slightly while he just stood there dumbfounded barely able to hold in a grin. Meanwhile Lily stood behind him pouting, but not saying anything. ¡°You seem to have made great progress my confidant, therefore you have earned a new step to being a real Harbinger, but don¡¯t forget, the way ahead is still long.¡± *Ding*
You have unlocked a new character trait + Skills that use soul energy will be 10% more effective and will gain experience 50% faster
Hall was impressed and more than happy and when he showed Grim she nodded, approving with a little bit of pride in her harbinger. ¡°Now for the information I came to give you. There is an item I have been searching for, for quite a while now acutaly. It is a grimoire, a book of spells and knowledge on all kinds of topics. Well, to call it A grimoire might not be completely right, it¡¯s more like THE grimoire, MY grimoire. Until now none of my mortal helpers could make a contract with it, or even read it for that matter. You just might be different, at least that¡¯s what I hope. Well, anyway, trying won¡¯t hurt¡­ probably. As soon as you find it you just have to touch it and pour all your soul energy at once into it. The more, the better. If you are worthy, a contract can be established if both parties consent. Simple enough isn¡¯t it? Hall nodded, not completely convinced. ¡°All right. Where do I find it and if it¡¯s yours how come you had to search for it?¡± For a second Grim seemed to scowl a little bit before sighing. ¡°You know my mortal helpers rarely have a peaceful life nor are they granted a peaceful death. One of them was ambushed while performing the ceremony to establish the contract and the book was stolen. You know I can¡¯t interfere, so the book was lost over the centuries. Until now that is.¡± Smiling again she walked, almost danced, around him while telling her story. ¡°Under the castle of Bredon¡¯s capital is a dungeon several stories deep, it¡¯s long forgotten by the people living above it. You¡¯ll find the entrance in the oldest part of the catacombs under the grave of one of the kings of old. Gantardan XVII, he died over a millennia ago, so there will be bones left at best. By now the dungeon is probably crawling with skeletons and all kinds of monsters, who knows where they all came from. So just go down there, clear it and take the book, simple, just as I said.¡±
Quest: Alice in Chains
Death¡¯s Grimoire is hidden deep inside a dungeon under the castle of Bredon¡¯s capital Roselake, long lost, long forgotten. Form a contract with it after pouring your soul energy into it to show you are worthy. Difficulty: C Quest requirements:
  • Be Death¡¯s Confidant
  • Be able to use Soul Energy
Rewards: a contract with Death¡¯s Grimoire Failure: fail to form a contract
Hall just rolled his eyes. Simple. Sure. Well, he was headed to the capital anyway. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do it. One question though. Have you ever heard of a Soul Weaver or soul weaving?¡± He showed her his two blades and his necklace. Grim stopped, surprised with his questions. Her eyes sparkled when she saw his weapons and the pendant. She chuckled. ¡°As expected of my confidant, you are already gathering ancient artifacts. But unfortunately I cannot say as it is not permitted. Though you might find what you seek in my grimoire, it¡¯s somewhat of a backdoor to some rules, you know, bending them instead of breaking them.¡± Grim grinned broadly as she stated that fact so leisurely. Hall was a little dejected but didn¡¯t complain and instead pulled out the dark crystals, the soul shards, he got from Azmodan. Grims just continued to smile, giving him the same answer. Although she dropped the hint that they might be connected to his other question. ¡®So they are connected to soul weaving.¡¯ Hall couldn¡¯t do anything against Grim¡¯s good mood and instead shook his head, smiling too. She seemed a lot more approachable than before, somehow more familiar. Although she was one of the most powerful beings in this world, he felt comfortable around her. ¡°Lily, I¡¯m also glad you are doing well. I wasn¡¯t sure you would be able to¡­adjust¡± When Grim approached Lily, they both smiled, somehow understanding each other without needing many words. ¡®Woman¡¯s intuition I guess.¡¯ Hall thought to himself. Grim disappeared after saying her goodbyes, promising they would meet each other soon. After a few moments Hall started to gather the gold coins the two players threw at him in desperation and in the false hope it might keep him from hurting them. ¡®Twenty-three gold coins, not bad.¡¯ Afterwards he sighed while looking at the remnants of the mine and walked to the entrance. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I would have liked to give you a better grave, but that¡¯s all I can do for you, so rest in peace.¡± Hall tipped his head, walked to gather the body of Ella¡¯s mother and returned to Gelt to complete the quest and prepare everything before leaving for the capital Roselake.
PREVIOUS CHAPTERBack to Main PageNEXT CHAPTER
-------- Detailed view of Hall¡¯s and Lily¡¯s status windows and skills: Here Quick overview: Spoiler : Hall:
Status Window
Name:HallAlignment:Death
Level:33Class: Harbinger of Death
Race:HumanGender:Male
Title:The bigger they are¡­
Fame:912Infamy:0
-
Health:3005 / 2055Health Regen:4.4/ Sec
Mana:0 / 2105Mana Regen:4.7 / Sec
Stamina:815 / 815Stamina Regen:6.2 / Sec
-
Strength:108+30Agility:96+30
Vitality:78+10Endurance:78+10
Intelligence:92+10Wisdom:98+10
Willpower:142+10Luck:40+10
-
Attack:30+45Defense:24+18
Magical Resistance
Fire:10%+5%Water:11%+5%
Wind:11%+5%Earth:11%+5%
Lightning:10%+5%Illusion:40%+5%
Light:10%+5%Darkness:40%+25%
+ 30 added to all stats + Willpower stat raised by 80 points + Magical Resistances raised by 10% + Resistance to Illusion and Darkness Magic raised by an additional 30% + Enables you to equip certain items or equipment specialized for this class + Increases attack power for attacks with soul energy + Unable to learn most crafting professions + Skills that use soul energy will be 10% more effective and will gain experience 50% faster + Unknown
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Marked for DeathBeginner333%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Death to Everyone (Subskill of Marked for Death)Beginner38%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
In my Time of Dying (passive)--100%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Ain¡¯t no Grave can hold my body down (Subskill of In my Time of Dying,passive)--100%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Keep me in your Heart for a While (Subskill of In my Time of Dying,passive)--100%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Soul PerceptionBeginner422%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Soul Pressure (Subskill of Soul Perception)Beginner294%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Mana Drain (Subskill of Soul Chains)Beginner342%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Soul Distortion (Subskill of Soul Chains and Soul Perception)Beginner285%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Hells Bells (Subskill of Soul Chains)Beginner210%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Judgement (passive)--100%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
AmbidexterityBeginner334%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
IdentificationBeginner336%
Weapon Mastery skills:
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Chain Mastery (Subskill of Soulchains)Beginner514%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Sword MasteryBeginner339%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dagger MasteryBeginner34%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Soul CleansingBeginner137%
Status Window
Name:LilithAlignment:Death
Level:36Class: Familiar of the Harbinger of Death
Race:Human (Spirit)Gender:Female
Title:Lady in Black
-
Health:0 / 950Health Regen:3.5/ Sec
Mana:9420 / 7315Mana Regen:38.8 / Sec
Stamina:-Stamina Regen:-
-
Strenght:32Agility:40
Vitality:55Luck:35
Intelligence:334Wisdom:359
-
Attack:4Defense:-
Magical Resistance
Fire:10%Water:10%
Wind:10%Earth:10%
Lightning:10%Illusion:40%
Light:10%Darkness:40%
+ 15 added to all stats + Intelligence and Wisdom stat raised by 20 points + Magical Resistances raised by 10% + Resistance to Illusion and Darkness Magic raised by an additional 30% + Unaffected by physical attacks if not in corporeal form + Increases magical damage if the target is affected by the magic of the Harbinger of Death + Soul bound to Hall, the Harbinger of Death + Unknown
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Soul Meets BodyBeginner385%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Angels don¡¯t killBeginner426%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Spiritual HealingBeginner312%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Voice of the SoulBeginner63%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
I will follow you into the Dark (Subskill of Voice of the Soul)Beginner414%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Prayer for the Dying (Subskill of Voice of the Soul)Beginner112%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Tears of HeavenBeginner289%
--------- Author¡¯s Note: Hope you liked chapter 11 :grin: I think this is a decent point to end Volume 1, I might add a real life chapter or a chapter with viewpoints of different people if anyone is curious, something like a chapter 11.5 If there is interest I could make something like a Volume 1 PDF to read offline, though people reading this note will already have read this FF, so that¡¯s not really necessary, well what do you think? I also really want to thank you all for your suggestions concerning Halls skills and weapons, I liked them a lot but of course can¡¯t use them all, hope you understand, some might find their way into this fiction though^^ Furthermore I¡¯m really grateful for pointing out some mistakes/flaws in the skills I came up with, so I changed them slightly (e.g. Tears of Heaven and Mana Drain) As always, please continue to tell me your opinions, suggestions and point out any mistakes you find, I really appreciate your support and am grateful for every comment :bye: Chapter 11.5 - A well respected Man Chapter 11.5 ¨C A well respected Man View Hall/Frank: For years when he was alone, he woke up in the morning by himself. He went to school alone and never bothered to make a lot of friends or relationship with anyone in particular. It took him long to adjust to his new environment. He had no one to call family and no place to call home. So he just threw himself into work. It was something that didn¡¯t require him to interact with anyone. He didn¡¯t have to deal with his feelings, didn¡¯t have to think about his parents, he just had to solve equations, learn facts and understand theories. It took him until he was in the army to open up a bit. It was true, time healed all wounds, even if scars were left. He still threw himself into work. He was the first one up in the morning, took every shift possible and if he wasn¡¯t busy he went for some training or more studying. But as he was forced to work with others he eventually got to know them and their stories. There were guys like him, people who lost their loved ones. Others had it even worse, abandoned, forgotten, wounded in body and mind. Everyone had a story and not every tale was a pretty. He had an instructor, all in green he screamed at them. ¡±DOOOOODGE¡± That¡¯s what he yelled while throwing balls, metal pieces and even knifes sometimes. He probably got hit on the head one too many times, or shot, or stabbed. Another story untold. After a bumpy road he made it to university. He chose engineering because he liked to solve problems and riddles with his mind alone. Give him a pen and paper and he makes the world go round¡­in theory. Advanced mathematics, applied mechanics, thermodynamics, computer science and a bunch of other subject he excelled in. Dedication and interest, that¡¯s all he needed. By then he changed himself. He now had at least some people he called friends. Even though he didn¡¯t share a lot about himself he liked them and they liked him. What threw him back was the betrayal of the girl he liked a lot since they were kids. Separated and reunited she changed so much. But by then he was strong enough to handle it without drowning in sadness. He even found another thing to dedicate himself to. Novus Vita. Although he was kicked down, he stood up again and against all odds managed to achieve something great. And his story is far from over. View Belinda/Jane: She never hated her life, but she always knew there had to be something else. She grew up in a decent neighborhood with a couple of friends and loving parents. But she knew she was destined for greatness. As she grew older she learned to twist guys around her finger with her looks alone and when her father sold his company and made some smart investments they had enough money to finally get the living standards she wished for. The standards she was convinced she deserved. After smooth sailing through her years in private schools she decided to travel to all the nice places she wanted to see. First class flights around the world, eating at the best restaurants and sleeping in the best hotels. Her friends from private school, at least their parents, were all either absurdly wealthy or immensely influential, usually both. So with enough money it wasn¡¯t a problem to get into the best and most prestigious university. She just loved it, her group was the source of attention. Gazes of envy everywhere. Being with them was a reward for catering to their whims, those they didn¡¯t like were made social outcasts. They were the most beautiful girls and the coolest guys. She especially liked to be with Steve. He didn¡¯t make her heart skip a beat, but when she was with him she felt even more attractive, more important. When he said move, others jumped. His family was one of the most influential in the country and he was rich beyond believe. No one even dared to cross him out of respect or fear. That was until she met him again. Frank. She almost forgot about him. She hadn¡¯t seen him since his parent¡¯s funeral as he was taken away to an orphanage across the country. She barely recognized him, he was tall, his muscles visible through his shirt and with eyes that were almost mesmerizing. She hated to admit, she did feel intrigued. But what she hated was that he reminded her of a past she left behind. A past where she was nothing, a past she didn¡¯t want to return to, a past she didn¡¯t even want to think about. Every time he talked to her, every time he called her or even waved at her she was reminded of those days. Even worse, he was so far below her and didn¡¯t even care or notice. He wasn¡¯t impressed or intimidated. She didn¡¯t blame him for being poor, but she blamed him for treating her as she was too. He just didn¡¯t fit with them. Her friends, especially Steve, agreed as he was most annoyed with Frank. He was the only one who didn¡¯t care about his stature. Frank acted even as if he was superior to Steve, looking at him with a mix of disgust and annoyance all the time. One day they heard about Frank getting a capsule for Novus Vita and Steve had a great idea so she wouldn¡¯t have to deal with him anymore and he could even be of some use. They needed a sucker to curse for a while and now they had the perfect one. All agreed with the plan. Of course Anna didn¡¯t say anything, but that wasn¡¯t surprising. The twins were loving it as they hated how they always were ignored and silently ridiculed by Frank. It was easy enough, he trusted her without reservation and so it was almost ridiculously simple to use him for their quest. When she saw him dying, lying in his own blood, a look of confusion and deep sadness in his eyes she somehow didn¡¯t feel as great as she thought she would. *Ding*
Quest: Friends and Traitors - Part 6
Chain Quest complete After a long and perilous journey you chose to betray the one who trusted you most in this world by laying a grand curse on him and leaving him to die. Several gods of darkness are full of joy after witnessing your despicable actions. Reward: Blessed by Darkness, Skills with darkness attribute deal 15% more damage Several Churches of Darkness will view you as friendly (would you like to know more? View additional information) Rewards from the Church of the Fallen God of Betrayal Aeneas You have leveled up! You have leveled up! You have leveled up! +200 Infamy
You have gained a new title
Title: Black Widow
Only few people would have a heart cold enough to betray someone who trusts you enough to follow you to the ends of the world. You not only left that person to die, but cursed him with one of the few grand curses of this world. +50 mana +5 wisdom When equipped: +5% Resistance to light magic NPCs are less likely to trust you Players in your party get 0.5% less experience from killing mobs while you get their lost points
She was a little annoyed because the game treated her like she was a despicable person. In the end she just dealt with a problem in the quickest way. She and her friends weren¡¯t really chaotic players, they just didn¡¯t really care what others thought. They each invested enough money in their characters to buy good cars or a little apartment and they had no gold problems. So the increased prices the NPCs asked of them didn¡¯t really matter. Additionally they also had a huge amount of fame because they could do quest most others couldn¡¯t because of their equipment and teamwork which mostly canceled the infamy out. She was still glad about finishing the quest as they were on it for weeks now. So they left and by now she didn¡¯t feel too bad anymore as she was happy after seeing the reactions of her teammates. With a last look at the still confused avatar of Frank she closed this chapter of her life for good. She didn¡¯t think he would be at their table within a few hours and trying to make her feel guilty. He even threatened Steve and what¡¯s worse, he was intimidated by Frank, which was the first time she saw him like that. When he pulled out the necklace it was almost like he punched her in the gut. She completely forgot about it and when she saw it, it was like a thousand memories washed over her at once. She grit her teeth to push them away but it took her long to regain her composure, after his words cut her deeper than she would like to admit. When he was gone they sat in silence, Anna was the first one to leave without a word but she barely noticed. Steve started to dispute with his bodyguard before storming off angry. What got her back on track was the students around her whispering while throwing glances at them. It was different than usual, no envy was in their eyes, no jealousy in their posture. It was spitefulness she felt and malicious joy that someone finally dared to shake up the established hierarchy. Where she was filled with confusion and uncertainty before, the humiliation she just suffered blew it all away. ¡®I won¡¯t forget that Frank, I will make you pay.¡¯ But she didn¡¯t see him the next days and had no idea what he was up to. The next time she heard something from, well more like about him made her gasp in surprise and with her mouth wide open she was left speechless. View Bale / Steve: He hated him. He hated him. He hated him. That damn bastard, coming into HIS University, talking to HIS girls, ignoring him, making a fool out of him. He hated him. He hated him. All his life people had to dance to his tunes. His parent¡¯s word carried enough power to destroy or improve the future of others and his word had enough bearing with his parents so they would grant him his wishes. Well actually his father usually wasn¡¯t around and just gave him his no-limit credit card as a sign of his affection. His mother was doting on him as she had nothing else in her life and so she never said no to him and since he was a kid there were no rules or regulation that applied to him. But here that guy was. Frank, who wasn¡¯t intimidated by him. It was actually the opposite. Steve would never admit it, but deep down he knew. Frank had something he would never have. His presence could fill a room, even if people didn¡¯t know who he was they would turn around and eye him at least a little impressed. That¡¯s why he hated him. A man without a name, without influence and without wealth, while Steve had to throw around all that to gain the same reaction? Ridiculous! That¡¯s why he was ecstatic when they finally could get rid of him. It was glorious, Frank¡¯s reaction when his blade cut him open made him happier than he was in a long time. He would have loved to finish him off, but he didn¡¯t want to mess with the banshee because he didn¡¯t want to lose face in front of the others as he wasn¡¯t sure what she could do and the guy would die anyway. Additionally he loved the idea of leaving him dying in a puddle of his own blood. It was his kind of poetry. His kind of justice. The rewards of the quest were great. He didn¡¯t really care for the infamy and the relationship with the dark churches would get him insanely good items and quest. The title was more of a bonus.
Title: A Touch of Evil
You were able to persuade someone to betray the trust of a close confidant and were able to put a grand curse on your sorrowful victim. +5 leadership When equipped: NPCs are more likely to be deceived by you -5% prices by NPC merchants
He was brimming with joy and pride but that changed to anger and shock after Frank came to their table at dinner. Steve was sure Frank, scared after what happened, would keep his distance. But he couldn¡¯t be more wrong, Steve was frozen up, trying not to show how intimidated he was by Frank even after he left. ¡®Crap!¡¯ ¡°CHRIS, come here.¡± After regaining his composure he yelled for his security guard that shouldn¡¯t let anyone trough. ¡°Chris, why the hell did you let him approach me?¡± Chris looked at him, suppressing a smirk. ¡°He said he was your friend and he would just need to talk with you guys here. Don¡¯t worry, I always kept my eyes on him so he wouldn¡¯t harm you, you were absolutely safe the whole time.¡± Steve¡¯s head was red with rage as he noticed the people around him making fun of him. ¡°Go after him, do it now, bring him back and hold him while I punch the living shit out of him.¡± It was unsightly as Steve let saliva fly out of his mouth, foaming with rage. Chris, the military trained bouncer who actually quite liked Frank just looked at him with pity. ¡°I¡¯m sorry sir, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t do that.¡± Now Steve¡¯s eyes almost fell out of his head. ¡°You work for me you piece of s**t, get him now.¡± Chris just sighed. ¡°No sir, I work for your parent¡¯s and my first and foremost duty is to protect you. If you try to hurt the young man who just left here I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t come out unharmed, not even with your friends here.¡± He looked at the twins with a face that said everything. ¡°Sir, let me advise you not to challenge the kid, the only thing you gain will be pain and more humiliation.¡± Because Anna was long gone he was the second one to storm off. Leaving the others behind he kicked chairs and smashed glass to vent his anger. Of course he would ignore the advice from his useless bodyguard. He wanted to confront Frank, humiliate him in front of everyone. Steve knew Frank wouldn¡¯t dare to harm him, not if he didn¡¯t want to be expulsed from university. At the same time he didn¡¯t want Frank to be kicked out. Steve was no idiot, he knew he wouldn¡¯t have a chance in a fight against Frank, even though he was in good shape. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.Who knows what that guy would do if Steve was the cause for his expulsion. No, he would make Frank¡¯s life a living hell, that would be far more enjoyable that causing him to leave for good. Unfortunately he didn¡¯t show up for several days. When he was online with his group again he got a message that made him roar in rage while the others lost all color in their faces and were left speechless. *Ding*
Notification: The Deathship Has a New Captain! Despite being betrayed, your victim did not give up and managed to crush and lift the grand curse you lay on him. For allowing him to do so your benefits and rewards will be revoked. You are not blessed by darkness anymore Churches of Darkness will view you as neutral The Church of the Fallen God of Betrayal Aeneas will hunt you until you return the rewards they gave you and a substantial amount of compensation.
Oh god how he hated him. View Salena / Anna: She felt terribly guilty for what they were about to do and tried not to look at the poor guy and hid her feelings. She was already used to it, so it wasn¡¯t that hard for her. All her life she pushed her feeling to the back and in return was called ice queen, frozen, cold. She learned from early on from her experience that it was better this way, you wouldn¡¯t be disappointed, you weren¡¯t vulnerable, nobody would hurt you. It was always the same story, she tried to make friends, but as soon as they learned who she was they avoided her or tried to take advantage of her. Some never called her anymore, if she tried to talk with them they were fidgeting around and lied to get away. Others were even worse, lying about caring for her but just using her name and money to bully others and try to exploit her good will. In the end she stayed with the people who lived in her world. Rich, pretty, influential. She often didn¡¯t like how they spoke with others or how they acted but she never said anything because she was afraid of being alone again. When Frank approached Jane one day she hoped he would be added to their little group. Although she stayed away from him because she didn¡¯t know him, she was instantly interested and that was something she didn¡¯t experience in several years. He wasn¡¯t impressed by their wealth or power and acted like they were all on the same level. She should have known that wouldn¡¯t work in their group. Steve whom she mostly ignored was their leader and of course he hated everyone who would threaten his standing. Still, Frank didn¡¯t notice or care and she was happy to see him every now and then. Even though she still hasn¡¯t shared a single word with him she planned to every time they met and yet she always acted like she didn¡¯t notice him, scared the others wouldn¡¯t approve. She thought with time things would change but when Steve and Jane talked about what they were about to do she couldn¡¯t believe it. Jane had something Anna herself had always dreamed about. Someone who liked her unconditionally. Anna wasn¡¯t stupid, she knew her group wouldn¡¯t even look at her if she was from a common family. Frank on the other hand was different, he didn¡¯t care about upbringing, about money or status. Anna couldn¡¯t understand how Jane could just throw him away. She promised herself she would tell them to stop or at least warn Frank. But what if they threw her away afterward? What if Frank would hate her for talking about Jane like that? In the end she just did what she always does¡ªnothing. So when she saw Frank¡¯s bleeding avatar on the ground, a look of confused sadness on his face, it almost broke her heart, but instead of speaking up she just left and accepted her reward in shame. *Ding*
You have gained a new title
Title: Tales of thy Spineless
The Only Thing Necessary for the Triumph of Evil is that Good Men Do Nothing By going against your own will out of cowardice you allowed the placement of a grand curse on a trusting soul you thought highly of. When equipped: +10% bonus from leadership effects +5% bonus from buffs -3% resistance to fighting spirit
Anna had to swallow hard. She usually wasn¡¯t called out on her cowardliness and the game had her all figured out. She had to get away from the others or they would see her shiver. She never before hated herself this much and when Frank showed up at the table she was barely able to control herself so she looked outside the window, closed her eyes and tried to keep her composer. Of course she could still hear him, she even felt his presence, intimidating and filled with justified anger. When he returned the pendant he got from Jane she almost broke down crying. Anna had to get out, clenching her fist to hold back her tears she waited for Frank to disappear and left shortly after, trying to seem composed. The others barely noticed her leaving and they would only think she simply didn¡¯t care, that was the person everyone thought she was after all. When Frank managed to break the curse they put on him, she was actually happy and although she was punished along with the rest she wasn¡¯t sad about it, after all she thought they more than deserved it. Still, she was curious what Frank did to lift the curse, especially because of the notification. In these last weeks she somehow felt more turmoil than in a long time and her frozen surface started to crack. View Alexa: Alexa was sick of it all. She was annoyed again, like she was so often these weeks. Although she was only 19, she already had her university degree. Gifted, that¡¯s what people usually called her. She hated the term, it made it sound like she didn¡¯t put any work into her achievements. But she sacrificed almost anything for her education and her future. Because her family wasn¡¯t rich, she wanted to find a job but her parents wouldn¡¯t allow their daughter to neglect her life as a kid. So she did the next best thing, she made sure she would be able to work as soon as possible. Alexa finished school with sixteen and then went to university on a scholarship. But because she didn¡¯t know any important people she just got accepted into a public university, her second choice. Actually she tried to get into the private one in the same city. Both academies were really close to each other and even shared a few buildings, but they had mostly different professors, different classes and different support and mentoring. She hated the fact that those rich kids strolled over the campus without a care in the world while she had to study every minute to keep her scholarship and in the end they still would have a better degree than her. After almost three years full of hard work and sacrifice she finally managed to get a degree in computer science with an emphasis on media studies. Alexa immediately was hired by the biggest company there was. Sphinx. International, diversified, powerful. They had research facilities, power plants and factories around the world. Everything was built by their own construction companies, stocked by their own suppliers and run by their own people. They covered the fields of pharmaceutical goods, food, car parts, computer chips, they had software engineers and build their own hospitals. It was by far the most important employer in the world and had a massive revenue. Yet it had an excellent reputation. Their factories, even in poor countries, had all safety measures, people had insurances, very good pay and were happy. People were always trying to work for them and so was Alexa. She was especially interested in their newest and probably their biggest project. Novus Vita. Initially she wanted to work as a programmer, but they didn¡¯t hire people to work on the game that didn¡¯t have experience within it. Instead they hired promising people and let them get experience before putting them into their desired position. People always told Alexa she was extraordinarily pretty. With not even 155cm height she was on the small side and with her cute face, long blond hair and pale complexion she looked like an incredibly well-made doll. Still, she never cared for it, she was always busy with studying and had no time for stuff girls her age were into. So when she was offered a job at the TV station SGTV 1 (Sphinx Gaming TV), Sphinx very own TV channel focused on Novus Vita, she was surprised at first. There were actually a lot of TV stations around the world centered on gaming and considering Novus Vita was about to launch there would be a lot more. Sphinx estimated that within half a year Novus Vita would have surpassed football in terms of players. So it they started early to build up a TV program on several channels built around their new game. Alexa didn¡¯t know at first that she had to work as a reporter for about a year or two but of course couldn¡¯t refuse as it was necessary to get experience in the game to work as a software engineer. What annoyed her to no end was the way she was treated. She was the kid in the company, just a little pretty girl without anything to say and without any way to complain if she was left out. Several reporters were assigned to different territories. The most experienced ones were placed in the central kingdoms or in other important places with a lot of players and even more action. She on the other hand was assigned to Bredon Kingdom where barely anyone started out and pretty much nothing interesting ever happened. Of course she had no experience as a reporter so she started out gathering information and material, videos and stories. Others reported it, sometimes. On one hand she didn¡¯t mind, she had absolute no interest in appearing on TV or on becoming famous, the opposite actually. On the other hand, if she had a name in the company it would be easier to climb the ladder and get the job as a software engineer she desired. She just had to be careful, the pretty dumb blonde in front of the camera wasn¡¯t something she aimed for, even if it was popular among mainly male players. If this image stuck to her it would be difficult to be taken seriously. After a few months there didn¡¯t seem to be a reason for worry anyway. As it stood after the first months Bredon Kingdom was as unpopular as ever. No decent hunting grounds, no well-known dungeons or players, a corrupt government and not even famous craftsmen. One of the few things she every now and then could collect was material about the actions of the Shadow Wraiths. A few assassinations and thefts. What also made her mad was her last assignment. She traveled the kingdom with a few bodyguards from the company and visited cursed places that had an eerie atmosphere and made for great shots. Documentaries like these were popular enough but usually didn¡¯t run on Sphinx¡¯s main gaming TV channel. The main travel destination was supposed to be a rumored tower deep in the forests. Stories told it was there for centuries and no one dared to get close to it out of fear of being cursed along with the souls of the unfortunate that were swallowed by the tower. Alexa wasn¡¯t sure if anything of it was true, around half of the supposedly cursed places were either regular abandoned buildings or just didn¡¯t make for good video material. But the story of the tower was famous and it was supposed to harbor the worst curse in all Bredon. As her luck would have it, the tower lay in ruins as she arrived. Only a fraction of the walls remained and the eerie atmosphere was disturbed by the sun that started to break through the clouds. You could feel something was different, out of place. It was like a sprout finally grew on a barren field. Like a dead tree growing leaves again. It was quite the fascinating feeling. But unfortunately one you couldn¡¯t record on video. So she was disappointed and disgruntled after she made the long journey. But she couldn¡¯t do anything about it, so she left for the capital Roselake to make a different report. She even forgot about what, that¡¯s how excited she was about it. By now she wished she could simply play the game, as she loved it very much, but her job just kept her so occupied. She hoped something exciting would happen when she began her journey to Roselake. Though Alexa didn¡¯t expect what was about to come.
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------------------------- Author¡¯s Note: Well, this chapter is a little different, we have no story progress It¡¯s more of a retelling of what happened from different perspectives with a little insight on the side characters, I decided to show a little of Frank¡¯s/Hall¡¯s real life at a later point We also get introduced to a new character that will be part of a storyline to make our MCs role a little more prominent, it may not be an incredibly original idea, but I liked the reporter/tv part in LMS Anyway, hope you enjoyed the new chapter even though it may be a little different:grin: Next will either be a short epilogue or a normal chapter, not sure yet I want to thank you all for your comments last chapter, they really help me to make my story better and they encourage me to continue writing And as always, please continue to tell me your opinions, suggestions and point out any mistakes you find, I really appreciate your support and am grateful for every comment :bye: Chapter 12 - Season of the Witch Chapter 12 ¨C Season of the Witch After logging out, some sleep, eating, this and that, he logged back in and continued on his way to Gelt. There were almost no monsters crossing the abandoned road, so there weren¡¯t really a lot of battles. Still, he gained a level and he even managed to get some stamina by continuously running. When he entered the village at noon it seemed as deserted as he remembered it. Instead of hoping for a grand welcome after destroying the cause of their misery, he headed straight for the smithy. The dead body in his arms was wrapped into several blankets to not disturb Ella even further. Hall knocked, entered and was welcomed by a wave of heat and the sight of a focused girl that hammered a piece of steel repeatedly. He really didn¡¯t look forward to what would come next. After Ella noticed him, her eyes opened wide and after she noticed his sad look and what Hall carried in his arms she slowly put her tools away, approaching him. She tried to control herself, pushed some tears away and put on a strained smile. ¡°Welcome back, I¡¯m glad you are alright, even if you looked a little bit roughed up¡­so¡­what news d..do you ha.. have?¡± In the end she barely was able to keep her composure. Hall carefully put the body in his arms on a crude table in the corner. When he turned back to Ella he took her hand and put the golden pendant that was around her mother¡¯s neck in her palm. He didn¡¯t look away and held her gaze. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, there wasn¡¯t anything I could do for her. But be sure, something like this won¡¯t happen again and those responsible were destroyed and punished.¡± Ella stared at the necklace in her hand for several moments without showing a reaction. When she looked up at him, her eyes filled with tears again and this time she didn¡¯t try to stop them. Instead she put her arms around Hall and broke down crying. He held her for several minutes, comforting her for her loss. When she calmed down, she let go of him and stepped back a little bit, trying to dry her tears. ¡°Please tell me everything.¡± They both sat down and he started to tell her what happened these last days. About the players, goblins and even about Azmodan. After hesitating first, he told her the reason for all the abductions and he could see the horrified look in her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, your mother didn¡¯t become a puppet, unlike most.¡± She swallowed hard. ¡°Did she have to suffer?¡± Hall sighed, before answering while frowning. ¡°It wasn¡¯t an easy end, but no matter the pain, she didn¡¯t give up. She was a defiant and unyielding woman hm? Wish I knew her.¡± Through a veil of tears she smiled at his words. ¡°Yeah, you would have liked her and she would also have liked you.¡± After Ella regained her composure she took a deep breath. ¡°We can give her a burial now and the villages around are little safer. Thank you so very much for this. You did more than anyone could have asked.¡± *Ding*
Quest: Mama liked Roses
Quest complete You gave Ella a little peace of mind and a chance to bury her beloved mother. Furthermore you destroyed the cause of her grief. Rewards: Increased intimacy with the people of Gelt Gift of gratitude from Ella You have leveled up!
¡°I¡¯m sure my father will recover now that he gets some closure and so will the village. I want to give you something, give me a couple of hours before coming back.¡± Although he wanted to decline she didn¡¯t want to hear anything about it. As he offered to take care of her mother¡¯s body she just told him her father would surely want to do it himself. So he left the store to get himself some new armor to replace his destroyed pieces. Again it wasn¡¯t anything special, only some leather armor of decent quality.
Hardened Leather Chest
Defense:30Durability:60/60
Quality:Magic
Leather armor of good quality made by a skilled craftsman without any special features. Effects: +5 Strength +10 Agility Requirements: Level 35 Strength: 50 Agility: 80
Hardened Leather Pants
Defense:30Durability:60/60
Quality:Magic
Leather armor of good quality made by a skilled craftsman without any special features. Effects: +5 Strength +10 Agility Requirements: Level 35 Strength: 50 Agility: 80
Hardened Leather Gloves
Defense:15Durability:45/45
Quality:Magic
Leather armor of good quality made by a skilled craftsman without any special features. Effects: +5 Strength +5 Agility Requirements: Level 35 Strength: 50 Agility: 80
Hardened Leather Boots
Defense:15Durability:60/60
Quality:Magic
Leather armor of good quality made by a skilled craftsman without any special features. Effects: +5 Strength +5 Agility Steps are muffled slightly Requirements: Level 35 Strength: 50 Agility: 80
Hall paid around six gold after dying the armor black, but after selling all the loot he gathered from the mine he even made a small profit. Afterwards he bought several weeks¡¯ worth of supplies for his journey. Meanwhile the village seemed to become livelier as people ran from door to door. They spread the news about the death of their people and the end of the abductions. People were sent to other villages to tell them what happened and some were even organizing the reconstructions. Hall just ignored it all and entered the smithy. Ella greeted him with an honest smile. ¡°I see you got yourself some new armor. Not bad but you really don¡¯t like to stand out hm?¡± She was right, the armor was of decent quality but without any decoration or ornaments. Hall had to find out if clothes and armor could have some effect in combination with his fear inducing skills. ¡®If there is a correlation I might want to get something a little more impressive.¡¯ Hall looked around but couldn¡¯t find the body of Ella¡¯s mother so he guessed they took care of it already. Ella also seemed a lot happier than before, even if her eyes still were a little bit read from crying. ¡°You know, the village wasn¡¯t this lively in a long time. It¡¯s all thanks to you. So please take this. It is a cloak that has been handed down in our family for generations, but for we are craftsmen and not warriors, there never was a use. Instead we learned from it, improved it, every generation added to it and I just finished my part. I¡¯m sure you will use it well.¡± ¡°Identify.¡±
Armored Cloak of Ella¡¯s Heritage
Defense:30Durability:90/90
Quality:Unique
An armored cloak made from rare dragon spider silk. It is harder than steel and at the same time almost as light as linen. An incredible piece of work improved by generations of craftsmen, imbued with powerful magic. Effects: +5% Resistance to elemental magic (Fire, Earth, Water,Wind,Lightning) Cloak will apply a low level form of stealth, diverting the attention of others +5% Chance to evade, deflect or divert an enemy attack Strong feelings of affection and gratefulness blessed this item: +5% damage against beings you deem evil If your health drops below 50% the material of the cloak hardens, doubling its defense for 10 min Requirements: Extremely high intimacy with Ella, blacksmith apprentice of Gelt Strength: 100 Agility: 100 Wisdom: 80
The cloak she handed to him was incredible. Usually cloaks didn¡¯t offer any defense at all, but this would protect him like a piece of armor would. The black fabric barely reflected any light, though it still flowed like water when he let it run through his fingers. There was a barely recognizable arrangement of different tones of black, like a net, reminding him of the organic pattern of Damascus steel. It wasn¡¯t heavy but still had some weight to it and he had to practice fighting in it. Ella told him dragon spider silk would get different properties depending on the kind of treatment it received, that¡¯s why the outer layer barely shined but that made it more resistant to the elements. It seemed to be a procedure copied from the spiders themselves, using their stomach acid combined with the oxygen in the air. The inlay was made out of thin, interwoven strings that seemed like shining black steel but that was probably the differently treated dragon spider silk, something he actually never heard of before. When he would put on the cloak and pull the hood over his head, he would be unrecognizable and melt into the darkness of the night. As it was only a cloak and not a robe it didn¡¯t have sleeves and was completely open in the front, so he still could use normal armor. Luckily the cloak was wide enough to cover himself completely, protecting him from gazes as well as the cold if he would ever have to venture into harsher climates. He thanked Ella profusely, hugging her, grateful for the amazing gift, making her blush in the process. Hall wanted to tell her about the cattle hunt, the robberies and murders of common people, paid for and practiced by the nobles to fill the pockets of the king. Instead he decided to keep it to himself. Ella suffered enough, the whole village did. If he would pile more on them it was possible they would lose all hope for good when they just regained a little faith that the future may hold some light. He was determined to deal with the problem at all cost so they should be safe soon, but until then he had to make sure nothing happened. ¡°Ella, I need you to make me a promise. There is still something bad going on in these forests and I will take care of it, but just to be sure, don¡¯t travel more than an hour or so away from Gelt for half a year. By then you should understand why I asked this of you, trust me alright?¡± Hall was sure it was more than unlikely any more fake bandits were around, it was a huge forest and the capital, the place where most nobles resided was very far away. It was better to be safe than sorry though. Ella didn¡¯t know why Hall would ask something like this of her, but she trusted him unconditionally by now, so she nodded at his request. There was enough to do within the village anyway to keep her busy for a while. ¡°Alright, but you have to promise to visit again¡­please?¡± Her voice softened at the end, almost pleading him while staring at the ground. Hall could just smile. ¡°Of course, as soon as I can, but it might take a while.¡± He wasn¡¯t sure when he would be able to. After all, he had a lot of quests and honestly, he wanted to leave Bredon Kingdom, too many things weren¡¯t too pleasant here, but he couldn¡¯t tell Ella all that. Still, if there was a possibility, he would definitely visit again. With tears in her eyes she hugged Hall, this time without blushing, as it would be the last time they saw each other for a while. Even he was a little sad, though they were NPCs, it felt real and although he would NEVER admit it to anyone, he wasn¡¯t that immune to sad story developments and had to suppress a couple of tears on more than a few occasions. He remembered a show he watched a while ago in his bed in the orphanage on his tablet. It was a classic, a pretty old anime and although he didn¡¯t remember the name and although it wasn¡¯t a very original story, it was incredibly emotional, and the After Story was even worse. He had to always make sure no one saw him while watching. So swallowing hard not to show too much emotion he hugged her back and with his things gathered he took road to Roselake. There would be a celebration in the evening, he heard of it from Ella while he was picking up the books he left with her before, but Hall decided to leave before that, as he had no intention on being the center of attention. He was a little disgruntled because he had to walk the whole way as there was no available horse in Gelt. At least not one suited for travel and he couldn¡¯t take a work horse from them as they needed it desperately and it wouldn¡¯t be able to quickly cross a greater distance anyway. So he started to run at a moderate pace, slowing down if his stamina was dropping too low. He still continued to use his chains while running to level up his skills, combining training and progress on his journey. He knew the guards, especially the higher ranked Royal Guard inside the city, would be of different caliber than the fake bandits he faced before. Hall needed to become stronger. He needed to be faster. He needed to be better. To begin with he constantly kept his Soul Perception active so he felt all kinds of impressions around him, of course humans usually gave off the strongest signals if there weren¡¯t some kind of ancient beings around. By now his skill level was high enough to pick up even weak signals in quite the distance. So he felt it if rabbits hid in the ground, even if the earth somewhat hindered his skill. Hall could feel the squirrels and birds in the trees and other small animals running into the forest as they felt his presence. He even sensed weak impulses from insects and the plants around him. It was a lot of information he had to deal with and if it wasn¡¯t a gradual evolving skill it would be absolutely overwhelming, even now he had to tune it down sometimes to not lose his focus. But it was also a quite beautiful effect. He could feel the energy around him flowing, carried by all that lived, it was like a stream of different colors, barely visible but unable to miss at the same time. The forest was breathing around him, one living organism, connected through its very soul. So he kept his skill active while improving his combat abilities. He kept the sword and the dagger sheathed for now because his next goal was to raise his Soul Chains to intermediate, which meant he had to reach beginner level 10. He slashed at trees, trying to hit single leaves instead of branches or the trunks. Jumping and letting the chains fly in a circular motion, creating a deadly tornado that would crush anything in range. One of his new techniques was especially impressive. He wrapped his chains around a branch that could carry his weight while in motion and catapulted himself in the air with a swinging motion. While being at the highest point he swung his chains above his head, gaining full momentum and while he fell he smashed both chains together at the same spot while concentrating as much soul energy as possible at the contact surface with the floor. A crushing impact was the result, leaving a huge scar in the dry, hard ground. The deafening blow swept through the forest, blowing away every sound in a radius of several meters, causing a high pitched whistling noise in Hall¡¯s ears and even disrupting his balance for a moment. Lily and Hall looked at each other in surprise. They both tried to speak but not a sound left their mouth what made them frown in confusion. Only after a few seconds were they able to hear their surroundings again. Hall repeated the attack and got the same result. When he changed the technique slightly he used one of the chains like a whip, cracking it with great force. At the moment it would make its characteristic snapping sound, it hit the ground or target with a concentrated amount of soul energy, expanding and pushing the air away at the moment of contact. The attack wasn¡¯t as impressive as before but the sound still was enough to make him flinch. While he walked along the road he tried it over and over again and if the center of the burst was too close to him, he again lost his balance and was unable to speak for a moment. The most important thing seemed to be the combination of the force of the swing and the explosion of expanding soul energy. The whipping movement wasn¡¯t that important and it didn¡¯t work really well considering he was using chains. ¡®Experimenting seems to be pretty important, have to remember that.¡¯ Of course he knew how useful an attack like this could be, especially because it could be used as an additional effect to a normal attack, so he hoped there was a skill to it. After a few hours he had no luck, but was completely exhausted and had to take a break instead. The forest was incredibly serene and peaceful. Hall slowly regained his stamina while breathing calmly and eating a couple of bites. Lily just floated beside him, taking in the atmosphere, relaxing after several stressful days. That¡¯s when they heard a sorrowful wailing, carried by the wind through the woods until it reached their ears. When Hall looked up he saw a faint green glow between the trees from the same direction, so dim it was only visible because the sun almost set and the forest was covered in a blanket of approaching darkness. He got up and went straight into the direction of the light while trying to make out his surroundings. The light seemed to get farther away and even though he picked up the pace, the sound barely got any louder. It was a miracle he and Lily heard it over such a distance. After a few minutes he noticed he was lost. He couldn¡¯t see any stars through the thick leaf canopy above him and didn¡¯t even know if the road was behind or in front of him. When he left a row of trees the dim light disappeared completely and he saw a little pond on a small clearing in front of him. Next to the pond sat a young girl, around twelve years old, crying while hugging her legs. Hall quickly checked the area around him for any enemies and approached the weeping kid. She was dressed in a plain white dress, her shoeless feet covered in dirt. Her face was buried in her legs as she hugged her knees, pulling them to her body and covering them with her silver hair that was glowing in the moonlight, shining from the leafless sky over the clearing. Hall approached slowly, trying not to scare her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong little one?¡± ¡®God I do not know how to talk to crying girls.¡¯ The girl raised her head, her grey eyes were reddened and filled with fear as tears were running down her face. ¡°A..are you one of the m¡­men who took my ma..ma¡­mama away?¡± Hall frowned and shook his head. ¡°No, I¡¯m Hall, what¡¯s your name little one and why don¡¯t you tell me what happened to your mother? I may be able to help.¡± She wiped some tears away with her right arm, calming down a little bit. ¡°I¡¯m Elisabeth, but my mama calls me Beth. We were taken away by a witch and two of her men. The witch said she would use mama and me as a sacrifice for setting free a great demon, when they weren''t looking I managed to run away, but mama was in chains.¡± As she finished speaking, the girl started to sob again and more tears formed in the corner of her eyes. ¡°Mister, is mama dead and will I be next when the men come after me?¡± *Ding*
Quest: The Witch¡¯s Promise
A witch deep in the forest abducts people sacrificing them with the intention of unsealing a great demon. Difficulty: unkown Quest requirements: find out about the witch Rewards: Depending on your actions Failure: upon death
''Interesting, it doesn''t say anything about killing the witch.'' This was another reason why this game felt so real. He could also choose to ally with the enemy, gaining different rewards. Of course he had no intention of doing so. ¡°Don''t worry Beth, just take me to your mother and we''ll get her back, but first things first.¡± Thankfully he had his Soul Perception active the entire time. So he turned around and drew his sword and dagger. ¡°Come out of the forest, you breathe so loud I could kill you in the dark.¡± ''No need for them to know how I found them.'' Their soul energy was clouded by red and black. By now he could not only tell that their souls were burdened by sin, but he could somewhat read their intentions and feelings, even if it was a bit uncertain. ¡°Why don''t the two of you come with us or else we have to cut away a leg or two until you are more...cooperative.¡± A toothless grin spread over the man''s face as he eyed Hall while drawing a long dagger with his right hand. They were covered in dirty leather rags and he could almost smell the blood on them. Hall knew he could follow the trail they left behind but he wanted to be sure. ¡°Beth, do you think you could find the place you were held?¡± Beth nodded, not letting the men out of her sight, while hiding behind Hall. ¡°Yes, I just ran straight until my legs gave out, I think I can find my way back.¡± Hall was glad. ¡°Then there''s no reason to keep them alive.¡± The men looked surprised as Hall leapt forward. He swung down the black sword in his right hand fast enough so the black flames, that covered the blades back, left a trail of shadows in the air. The one who spoke had barely enough time to move his head to evade the strike. While the blade cut down, the dark flames burnt the right side of his face and opened a gash on his chest, cutting through clothes and skin alike. He fell down, grabbing his wound in agony while the other guy jumped forward, slashing with his long dagger at Hall''s face. He parried the strike without a problem using the sword and sidestepped the man, ramming the dagger deep into his side. The weapons cauterized the wounds, leaving them alive even though their health was close to zero. Their level wasn¡¯t too high, so Hall with his powerful class could destroy them quickly without even using any skills. Now there was only panic and fear left in their eyes as the lay on the ground, trying to move again. The first guy was almost up, stretching his hand out in Beth¡¯s direction, opening his mouth. Hall didn¡¯t wait, he rose his sword again, decapitated both men and collected the few silver and the crappy daggers they dropped. Beth looked at him with wide eyes and a little smile appeared on her face. ¡°Mister, you may be able to save my mama.¡± Hall showed a grin. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll deal with that witch, I promise you that. So let¡¯s go.¡± They walked into the direction the men came from and started to retrace their steps while Beth every now and then corrected Hall. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Lily still just floated next to Hall, singing a song every now and then to keep his buffs up, but as they discussed before, they didn¡¯t interact in front of others. It wasn¡¯t really necessary, they usually understood each other. Most of the time anyway. After walking for around an hour they left the forest. A small castle was located on the hill in front of them. It was completely dark and only visible because the moon shined bright, enveloping it in an eerie atmosphere. They came closer and he noticed the castle doors weren¡¯t closed. The walls were made of dark grey stone, deteriorated by time and weather they still seemed very impressive. The moment they stepped through the wide doors inside the dark building the gates closed behind them and the candles in the cast iron wall mounts and in the chandelier started to light up, illuminating a long hall. A blood red carpet and dark, heavy furniture dominated the scene. Huge paintings were visible on the wall, portraying several sickening scenes of torture and battle. Demons slaughtering farmers and their livestock. Monsters annihilating human armies and devils tormenting innocents. Hall had to swallow hard and grit his teeth. The biggest painting was on the end of the hallway, a giant portrait of a young woman clothed in a big, frilly dress with a large collar. It was red and white and adorned with several pearls. On her fingers she wore several rings, an expensive necklace was visible on her neck and on her head was a red cloth hat. Carved in the wooden frame was her name. Bathory. Hall blew air through his nose as he read it. ¡®Well, that makes sense.¡¯ When they reached a staircase, they went down and the light almost instantly changed to oppressing darkness. The walls were made out of the same material as before, but there were only a few torches on them. Instead of old, wooden furniture he saw dozens of torture devices, covered in old and fresh blood. Hall had to clench his fist as he noticed countless bones laying around. There were ripped open corpses hanging from the ceiling, their feet pierced by meat hooks. It wasn¡¯t completely realistic, but the darkness led him to believe to see guts and innards spilled on the floor and limbs lying around. It was still horrible and he was glad this game was only playable if you were over 18 and if he was correctly informed the game even showed scenes like these only after the AI decided you could stomach it. Still, by now he wished he would have a quest to pull some weeds from a field during a sunny day or maybe feed some cows. Hall slowly grew tired of constant darkness and mutilated corpses. ¡®Man, as soon as I¡¯m done with this kingdom I¡¯m looking for some sunshine and lollipops.¡¯ There were several more dead bodies and all showed signs of torture and were often missing limbs or other parts. On a shelf on the wall to his left were large jars with some kind of luminescent liquid in them, giving off an uncanny light. Stored inside were mostly human heads, though some were from elves, dwarfs or beastmen. They were displayed like trophies while under them on the floor were huge amounts of bones with some residue flesh on them. Hall constantly shook his head as he walked through the basement that looked more like an actual dungeon. Somehow the space seemed too big for the small castle and as he reached the end of the dungeon he opened two huge metal doors. They sealed off another large room that seemed to be carved into the stone. The room was illuminated by a giant fire pit at the end of it. In the middle, around five or six meters away from Hall was a magic circle that seemed to be drawn with blood. He couldn¡¯t identify the runes but they were probably imprisoning the beast inside of it. A huge monster, shackled by dozens of chains hanging from the walls and the ceiling, was in the middle of it, letting out steaming breath as blood trickled down its teeth. It was covered in green scales, its eyes were glowing red orbs that focused on the incoming Hall. The claws, half a feet long, were clicking on the ground as bones were crushed under it. A few corpses and limbs were scattered around the room, blood flowing out of them. The red fluid made its way to the magic circle under the beast, forming streams as new runes were created and the circle thickened. Hall was pretty sure this was just a game mechanic, meaning the AI created this place with the corpses just for the quest, as he didn¡¯t think this many people were actually abducted around here. This would cause a huge uproar even in this kingdom. It made Hall feel a little better, thinking those were not NPCs that had a family and friends, but simply things created for the atmosphere. ¡®Yeah, I¡¯m sure it¡¯s like that, has to be, must be, it¡¯s definitely like that...¡¯ Beth was shivering beside him as the monster eyed them. ¡°Please Mister, please kill the monster. You promised¡­please.¡± Hall nodded, taking out his sword. He turned to her and smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I promised didn¡¯t I? I will deal with the witch and kill the monster in this room.¡± When he finished the sentence, he looked her in the eyes, ramming the sword deep into her stomach, penetrating even her back with all the strength he could muster. ¡°And I always keep my promises.¡± Elisabeth¡¯s eyes went wide with shock and surprise as Hall whispered the last words into her ear.
Critical Hit! Damage Multiplier x3 (Channeling disrupted, weakened defense as a spell side effect) Stun effect applied You have dealt 2724 damage
Her form twisted and the surroundings flickered. Hall¡¯s eyes seemed to play tricks on him as the light was distorted inside the room. The body of the little girl in front of him contorted and grew, within seconds the kid in front of him changed into the young woman he saw on the portrait in the hallway before. Because Hall somehow hesitated before stabbing her as it just felt wrong for him to attack a little girl, she was still far from dead. She was several levels above Hall¡¯s and as she was a named boss, she had a lot more health left. Instead of attacking, she continued to stare in shock, unmoving. It was the result of her illusion breaking down. A long stun effect if her spell was forcible canceled by an enemy. Black blood trickled down the corner of her mouth. ¡°H..How did you know?¡± Hall¡¯s face showed disgust and anger as he imbued the chain on his left wrist with soul energy, swinging and wrapping it around Beth¡¯s feet without her even noticing. Hall started to use his skills on her. He marked her for death, used Mana Drain and Soul Distortion while pouring more energy into the sword, burning the flesh around the wound, causing her health to drop slowly, but constantly.
You have dealt 125 damage You have dealt 164 damage You have dealt 89 damage You have dealt 119 damage
Combined with the shock of Hall¡¯s attack and the effect of his skills she lost the color she had left and didn¡¯t notice her dropping health. Hall just smiled, his lips showing an infernal grin. ¡°I saw through you from the beginning. I can see right into your soul¡­and it¡¯s rotten to the core. I will burn you and this place until nothing is left of you but a bad memory and ash.¡± Her eyes almost fell out of her head as she realized what he said. She started to struggle, trying to pull out the sword of her chest. She wanted to step back, but the chains around her feet hindered her. When she noticed them Beth started to panic. ¡°What are you?¡± Hall just let out a dark laugh. ¡°I told you, didn¡¯t I? I¡¯m Hall, the one who will destroy the witch and it just so happens that you are her.¡± After a few moments she stopped to struggle, she noticed her plummeting health, the stun was lifted, but the aftereffects were still bad and Hall¡¯s skills almost overwhelmed her. She knew she would die. Hall held onto the sword and the chain to keep her in place and now raised his dagger to finish the job. So she saw only one way out. Hall hesitated as a smile spread across her face. ¡°Congratulation, but my death will also be yours.¡± She spoke a single word, one he had never heard before, but the effects were immediate. Before his dagger could reach her neck, her skin cracked and he could see the dark light of her soul spread inside the room, slipping into corpses and entangling bones. After the illusion magic wore off, what looked like a frightening beast before, now turned into a giant black horse. It was at least eight feet long, and if it wasn¡¯t lying on the ground it would easily stand two feet taller than him. Hall was sure it could look majestic, incredibly so. Right now though it was breathing heavily, dozens of cuts on his body with infected wounds where the chains shackled it to the walls and ceiling. Its fur was dirty, dried and fresh blood staining the black hair that held no shine to it. The black eyes of the horse were different though. They held life and an unyielding will. A fire was burning in them, emanating its desire to survive. After it saw what happened in front of him, it rose its head. Filled with hope, after seeing the witch that imprisoned him being stabbed by Hall, he now looked frantically around him as corpses rose and bones formed into skeleton soldiers. The witch sacrificed herself on the verge of death to at least take the both of them with her. Of course Hall had no intention of fulfilling her wish. The horse couldn¡¯t protect itself, bound and wounded it tried to stand up but his hind legs gave in and it crashed on the ground again and again. Hall approached it, put his blades away and with both chains swinging left and right, he delivered crushing blows to the weak skeletons. In her panic the witch made a rash decision and chose poorly. If she had used her spells to attack him, she could have dealt some serious damage to Hall, even with his resistance to darkness magic. She was a powerful witch and could have killed him if he wasn¡¯t careful. But after separating her soul energy into dozens of bodies and using it to bind hundreds of bones, the power of her soul was greatly reduced. Thus her servants, the puppets she created, were relatively weak. They could have overwhelmed a group rogue or melee fighters that were specialized in single target combat. Maybe even some weaker mages and players who decided to play as a supporter. But Hall was not only able to fight single targets effectively, thanks to his chains he could also deal with larger groups of weak monsters. These skeletons were barely able to slow down the momentum of his chains. They just blew them apart as they struck and continued on their deadly path. The moving corpses were different and he had to dispose of them one by one. The monsters almost reached the helpless horse in the middle of the room so Hall signaled Lily to use her area of effect magic on the group around the wounded animal. Lily started to chant while Hall kept the undead away. Then the ceiling was covered in light and drops of energy fell from the sky, annihilating dozens of monsters in a round circle. The magic left the black horse unharmed as Lily didn¡¯t perceive it as an enemy, but the skeletons and moving corpses were mercilessly slaughtered by the devastating attack. She continued to use the spell until their mana was almost gone and Hall simply had to finish off the remaining enemies. It barely took him three more minutes. The injured animal in the middle of the magic circle relaxed slightly and with wide, intelligent eyes it looked at Hall in wonder. ¡°Who are you human?¡± Hall looked concerned, its voice was weak and it seemed gravely exhausted and drained of energy. So he approached the still fidgeting horse, not trying to scare it. ¡°My name is Hall and this witch tried to trick me into attacking you. Do you know why she imprisoned a horse in this magic circle?¡± It still couldn¡¯t stand up, but looked insulted and offended, his voice sounded reproachful. ¡°I am no mere horse you dimwit, my name is Arion and I belong to the noble race equui. The witch wanted my body as a vessel for a blood demon she was about to summon. And she didn¡¯t want you to kill me, she just wanted to sacrifice you here. It¡¯s more effective if the victim doesn¡¯t know it¡¯s about to get killed. Something about the magic in the blood. Anyway, the magic circle not only drains me of my strength, but fueled by blood it calls the demon to invade and destroy my mind. I have no idea how someone like you could have defeated a witch of Bathory¡¯s caliber but I would be grateful if you could destroy these chains, their magic hinders my natural regeneration. I am strong, but I am about to die.¡± Hall nodded and using his sword, imbued with soul energy, he cut the chains that survived Lily¡¯s tears of heaven like they were made of paper. The horse seemed to regain his strength rather quickly and could soon stand up. Still, the wounds were only healing slowly as Hall continued to cut the shackles from Arion¡¯s limbs with his dagger. On their way out of the dungeon Hall picked up a few crystals from the witches corpse and identified them. Soul Shards, just as he thought. Arion looked back at his prison as soon as they arrived at the stairs. ¡°What do you plan to do with this place?¡± Without looking back and with a cold voice Hall just said. ¡°Burn it to the ground.¡± ¡®Well, this seems to become a habit.¡¯ *Ding*
Quest: The Witch¡¯s Promise
Quest complete You chose to destroy the witch, releasing her prisoner, hindering her from summoning a great blood demon that would have terrorized the kingdom. +50 Fame Reward: Anything in Bathory¡¯s castle You have leveled up! You have leveled up!
When they reached the hallway from before, Hall decided he should do something else before burning down the castle. ¡°Arion, I know you have many questions about me and I have my own about you.¡± It was true, Hall had never heard of his race or even of talking horses before, so he was curious and wanted to talk with him. ¡°But could you wait for me outside, I want to look around here first, maybe there is something of use.¡± Arion nodded, while suppressing his own curiosity about Hall, his chains and how he slaughtered the woman that could imprison him. The large horse walked out the door as it didn¡¯t want to spend a second more in this god forsaken building and he yearned for fresh air and the open sky. Meanwhile Hall licked his lips with a greedy light in his eyes. That wasn¡¯t really one of his character traits, but who wouldn¡¯t love to be left alone while rummaging through an empty castle, pocketing everything he wanted. Aside from the disturbing paintings on the walls, the first floor looked pretty nice. He found a kitchen, a few smaller rooms and something that probably was a living room with a large fireplace, some comfortable looking chairs and couches and a few shelves with decorative objects and some books. He took everything that was of any value, silver cutlery, expensive looking vases, glasses and cups made from all kinds of precious metal. Hall even broke off gold ornaments from the furniture and removed gems from paintings and decorative weapons that had no fighting capability. Of course he identified everything he found, raising his skill quickly. Lily¡¯s inventory was already full, while his was more than half filled and he wasn¡¯t even in the second floor yet. Luckily Lily¡¯s inventory was pretty large, almost double of what he had, else she wouldn¡¯t be able to carry all the books he found. He just couldn¡¯t bring himself to let them be destroyed. It was baffling, he slaughtered enemies by the dozen, but couldn¡¯t bring himself to burn a simple book, even though both were bits and bytes in the end. Still, who knows if there are other books like those he had left in this world. What if he would burn the last one and the information would be gone for good? So he continued to take all books with him, he would just sell them or store them at a safe place. It looked like Bathory wasn¡¯t too fond of reading, there were just a few books so he wasn¡¯t too burdened by them. The second floor seemed to be occupied by a large bath and a couple of bedrooms. As the bathroom was empty there was almost nothing of value. He simply broke of the faucets as they were made out of solid gold and continued with his search. Most bedrooms weren¡¯t that impressive, he took some golden candle holders and a few high quality clothes, mostly expensive dresses. He even found something for himself. A set of black pants and a black shirt were stored away in an inconspicuous cupboard. Their quality was simply astounding. They were better than the best ones he could buy in Gelt and those would have cost over 10 gold. They were soft to the touch and still seemed to be very durable. ¡°Identify.¡±
Bloodcount¡¯s Silkshirt
Defense:5Durability:35/35
Quality:Rare
Black shirt made of high quality silk by a skilled tailor for high nobility. Effects: +10 Agility +10 Intelligence Armor worn over the shirt will lose its durability slightly slower Requirements: Level 60 Agility: 100 Intelligence: 100
Bloodcount¡¯s Silkpants
Defense:5Durability:35/35
Quality:Rare
Black pants made of high quality silk by a skilled tailor for high nobility. Effects: +10 Agility +10 Intelligence Armor worn over the pants will lose its durability slightly slower Requirements: Level 60 Agility: 100 Intelligence: 100
His level wasn¡¯t quite high enough to equip them yet. At least not with the ¡°equip item¡± command, but he could put them on the old fashioned way. Of course he wouldn¡¯t get the positive effects, but they still looked pretty awesome. It took him a few minutes to put them on, luckily he could put his armor on the easy way or it might have taken forever. Lily turned her back towards him with a red head as he dropped his pants, but couldn¡¯t help herself, so she peeped between her fingers as she covered her eyes with both hands. She blushed even more as she liked what she saw. When Hall noticed her gaze, he looked at her with a smirk and as soon as she noticed his expression, she quickly turned around, pouting in embarrassment, which made him chuckle in return. In the end he took a few pillowcases and put one into the other until they were strong enough to carry some loot because his inventory was completely full. Fortunately they were made with high quality fabric, so they could carry some weight. There was only one room left, the master bedroom. It was well-lit thanks to the crackling flames in the fireplace and a few candles. It was surprisingly empty. Nothing but a bed on one side of the room, a large cupboard covering half of the wall to his left, an old table and a single chair filled the room that was way too big for the small amount of furniture it contained. There were no paintings, no carpets and no interior decoration. The loot was pretty impressive so far and he would make a few hundred gold after he sold everything. This was an mind-boggling amount for one person below level 50. Hall didn¡¯t know it, but he was ridiculously lucky with this quest. Well, it was about time he would come across some good fortune. The witch was considerably weakened from her attempt to summon a great demon. He also attacked her while she channeled a complicated illusion spell, impairing her strength even further. In addition her servants weren¡¯t in the castle at the time. To kill the witch in open battle after she had time to prepare, it would have taken ten players of Hall¡¯s caliber, at least. If she was able to summon the demon they would have needed a small army. So the loot for dozens of players was gathered by a single one, making him incredibly wealthy. But something felt off for Hall, there was something missing, something that would really blow his head off. An amazing and super rare item. So Hall looked around, thinking he might have missed something, but there was so little in the room, there was only one thing that was out of the ordinary. It was quite obvious actually. The only candle in the whole castle that wasn¡¯t on fire was placed on a wall mount beside the bed. He firmly grabbed the cast iron mount and tried to move it. He was able to turn it to the right and the sound of stone grinding on stone was audible. Looking around he couldn¡¯t see a change in the room. So he just stood there, observing everything. After a while ne noticed something was off. The dust that was flying around without aim and direction before, now seemed to be pulled to the cupboard. It seemed like the slowly warming air inside the room was traveling to a colder place behind the closet. Hall put his shoulder against the dark wood and pushed. Without much resistance the cupboard moved away from its spot, exposing a small opening in the wall. He heard a clicking sound as the closet seemed to have triggered a slightly elevated stone in the ground. A small room past the opening became visible as half a dozen candles within a small luster on the ceiling lit up after he heard the sound. There wasn¡¯t much in there, but enough to make his eyes sparkle. A single chest, reaching his waist and over a meter wide, stood at the opposite wall of the room. Rubbing his hands with a huge grin on his face and dreams of gold and legendary items, he approached the chest. ¡®Who cares about Bredon kingdom, I¡¯m gonna go build my own kingdom, with¡­.¡¯
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----------- Author¡¯s Note: Woo, chapter 12 is out, I just wanted to get a little more action and progress in before our MC reaches the capital Hope you enjoyed it :grin: Spoiler : I thought about making Arion a pale horse, but then decided against it^^ I also thought about ending the chapter with a cliffhanger after Halls first strike against the witch, but then I thought¡­meh... and continued to write^^ Next chapter will probably contain another status/skill overview. Again, thanks for your comments last chapter, if your work is appreciated it always helps and is encouraging, especially when I¡¯m tired or not really in the mood for writing :grin: As always, please tell me your questions, opinions, suggestions and point out any mistakes you find, I appreciate the support and every comment :bye: Chapter 13 - Setting Fire to sleeping Giants Chapter 13 ¨C Setting Fire to sleeping Giants Rubbing his hands, with a huge grin on his face and dreams of gold and legendary items, he approached the wooden chest. The moment his right hand touched it, a ripple went through the chest and it released a white mist that glued his fingers to the wood. ¡®What the hell?¡¯
A mimic has revealed itself to you.
Mimics were monsters that changed their shapes into inanimate objects. When someone or something were to touch them, they would held them with a powerful adhesive, clubbing their prey to death with fists they formed from their body. The older and stronger the mimic the more limbs it could form. Before Hall realized what happened, the mimic already raised his arm, striking down at him. In the last moment he heard a voice from behind. ¡°Mana Chains. Mana Chains.¡± Two glowing chains materialized, yanked the mimic¡¯s arm back and bound him to the ground. But the monster had a higher level than Hall and Lily, so within a second it had broken through the chains. Because the short stun from the mana explosion delayed the mimic, Hall finally managed to regain his composure. ¡®Come on, I just want some loot and the one time my Soul Perception wasn¡¯t active this happens¡¯ ¡°Thanks Lily, that really took me by surprise.¡± Lily just looked at him with an impish smile. ¡°Tztztz, what would you do without me?¡± Hall could only chuckle. The exchange of words only took a moment, but long enough for him to get battle ready. His right hand was still stuck to the chest and in his left he held the dagger. Both chains were wrapped around his arms, so he imbued them with his energy, using them as means to defend himself. He couldn¡¯t gain momentum to use them as weapons anyway. Lily continued to cast Mana Chains, which were broken just as fast as they materialized. But it left him with enough time to mark the mimic for death and use his soul pressure to slow it down. Their mana dropped fast as Hall stabbed its skin repeatedly. Mimics seemed to take on many properties of the objects they duplicated. So its wooden surface took serious damage as it was stabbed by the dagger covered in black flames. He had to stab dozens and dozens of times while simultaneously he was unable to free his right hand. The mimic still didn¡¯t die and when their mana hit zero Hall took the first blow. He barely managed to raise his left arm, blocking the monsters fist with his chain. Even though he thought it would be bad, he underestimated the mimic. The blow threw him back, completely knocking him off his feet. As his right hand was still glued to the fake chest his flight was cut short and he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder. Because this was only a game and thanks to his endurance stat, the pain wasn¡¯t so bad, but it felt uncomfortable enough.
-483hp Your shoulder has been dislocated Speed with your right arm -50% for 5min
¡®Wow so you can target joints and different body parts, creating specific effects, that¡¯s awesome¡­well, not that awesome right now.¡¯ His arm was unusable in the fight anyway so the effect wasn¡¯t really an issue. Before he could regain his stance, the mimic¡¯s fist came down a second time. This time he wasn¡¯t able to block it and took a full swing to the chest.
-921hp
It pushed the air out of his lungs and he lost his balance as he stumbled to the ground and before he could regain get up a third hit came in. Luckily this time he was kneeling, so he quickly rose his arm, only to receive a crushing blow that pushed him down even further.
-370hp
After the fight so far was completely one sided, more than half of his health was gone within a few seconds. ¡®Change of plans.¡¯ Thankfully they regained enough mana, so there were chains holding down the mimic¡¯s arm again. It gave Hall enough time to grab the chain around his right arm with his left hand, unwrapping it and throwing it around the monsters arm. His skill Mana Drain had no effect because mimics had no mana, as the shape shifting was a natural ability. Soul Distortion at least slowed it down and its arm was tied to its body after Hall made the chain around his right wrist as short as possible. Without taking a breath Hall continued to stab the main body of the fake chest with his dagger, chipping away at its ridiculously large health pool. But the mimic wasn¡¯t defeated yet. Its arm, while being bound by the chains, seemed to melt and was absorbed into what probably was its torso¡­ or head, well, the lid of the chest. Within a few moments a new arm was formed and he barely avoided another hit. Lucky for Hall the mimic was only able to create one limb at the time, so while Lily bound it again, he entangled it one again with his right chain and continued the stabbing. ¡®This is ridiculous, die already damn it.¡¯ As the arm melted again, no new one was formed and as Hall continued to attack a spear shot out of the front of the mimic. Hall could avoid a fatal injury, but his right shoulder was pierced and his health dropped to 20%. It seemed the mimic also changed its tactic. As the spear again was absorbed by its body, nothing happened, but Hall was cautious. He only slowly attacked and as another spear came flying at him he was able to bring his chain clad arm in front of him, blocking the damage, reducing it significantly. His chains were an amazing defense against cutting and stabbing weapons. Blunt force damage was still a big problem though, thankfully he managed to contain that issue for now. So the fight continued for minutes that seemed like hours, while Hall continued to stab and block. Lily, out of other options, sang to support him and used her heal spell to transform what little mana they had into health points. Finally, as his stamina almost hit zero, the mimic gave off cracking noises before melting in front of him, only leaving a puddle of sludge. Hall fell to the ground next to it, breathing heavily. ¡°Why the hell is a battle against a powerful witch easier than against a gorram wooden box?¡± Lily looked at the exhausted Hall. ¡°Well, you were at a huge disadvantage from the beginning. If you weren¡¯t tied to the mimic you would have dealt with him easily. When fighting Bathory she was in a much worse situation at the beginning than you just now so you were pretty lucky at that time.¡± Hall nodded while watching his stamina bar slowly rose. ¡°And what about my loot?¡± Lily chuckled and rolled with her eyes, feigning annoyance. ¡°You know, girls don¡¯t like it if guys are greedy.¡± She floated to the mass of mimic goo, became corporal and picked up a grey key from the ground, placing it on Hall¡¯s open palm. ¡°Guess we have to find the keyhole where this fits.¡± He just sighed while scratching his head. ¡°Guess it can¡¯t be easy for a change.¡± Lily, incorporeal again, floated over his stomach, sitting in a cross legged fashion poking his chest impatiently. ¡°Come on, I want to see what it unlocks.¡± Hall looked at her with raised eyebrows. ¡°Who¡¯s greedy now?¡± Lily grabbed his nose between her thumb and index finger and pulled while Hall couldn¡¯t help but laugh at her pouting face. ¡°I¡¯m just curious.¡± He still smiled while sitting up. ¡°Yeah, yeah, me too, so let¡¯s look for our reward.¡± They started to look around the small room, finding nothing for a while. They had to check stone for stone and after an hour they finally found a small hole left of the entrance. Hall pushed the key into it and the wall, where the mimic leaned against before, disappeared as it sank into the floor. His eyes shined golden as the reflected light of countless coins hit them and caused him to put on a huge grin. He wanted to rush forward but remembered what just happened. So he activated his Soul Perception, scanning his surroundings.¡±Puh, safe, now then, time for some presents.¡± They both approached the small mountain of loot and started to check everything. There were thousands of silver and copper coins, but also several hundred gold ones. He stored them all inside his inventory and almost fell over giggling after he converted the silver and copper coins into the higher currency, gold coins. Meanwhile Lily ran around, corporeal again, smiling like a child on Christmas, picking up necklaces and rings. She put several of them on her fingers and she chose a white gold necklace with diamonds on them to wear. It formed a beautiful contrast with her tanned skin while the red rubies on her fingers broke the candles¡¯ flames, scattering rays of red light. She threw a silk dress over her body, an elegant piece of crimson and black with silver embroidery. She looked stunning as she slowly danced in circles while a gleeful smile spread on her face. When Hall noticed her, his jaw dropped and he even forgot about the loot in front of him. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Lily heard him and turned around, slightly blushing. ¡°Do you like it?¡± Hall just could nod, with his eyes wide open. ¡°You look ¡­wow.¡± ¡®Am I a genius with words or what? Better try that again.¡¯ ¡°Lily, you look¡­you know¡­wow¡± ¡®Good job moron.¡¯ But Lily just giggled at his speechlessness and blushed even further while she spread her arms, slowly spinning and enjoying the moment. When she stopped, her face still showed a warm smile, one where you couldn¡¯t help but feel joy if you just saw it. It wasn¡¯t different for Hall. Then Lily deactivated her Soul Meets Body skill and became incorporeal again. It was as if she flipped a switch. The rings and the necklace, as well as her dress, fell through her body, dropping to the floor. The precious metal and the gems hitting the floor sounded like bars, falling into place and locking a metal door. The falling dress gave the impression of last dying leaves falling to the ground before winter. No more light shined from Lily, her smile gone and replaced by sad eyes as they followed the falling pieces hitting the ground. His heart ached, seeing her like that and he stepped forward, grabbing her hand, trying to put on an encouraging smile. ¡°Hey, listen, we¡¯ll take back what has been stolen, I promise.¡± Lily pressed his hand, grateful for Hall being at her side. ¡°Yeah, I know, thank you¡­¡± Blushing again slightly she looked at her feet and asked with a soft voice. ¡°Will you go dance with me then, not just for a couple of minutes, but a whole night?¡± Hall¡¯s smile widened. ¡°Of course.¡± They stood like that, without uttering a word for a while before separating and then continued to pick up the loot. There were dozens of jewels and gems that had to be worth a fortune.
Small Ruby
Quality:Common
A small ruby, can be used to imbue magic or as a decoration. Additional Information: A stone of minor quality
Cloudy Sapphire
Quality:Common
A blue sapphire, can be used to imbue magic or as a decoration. Additional Information: Cloudy and dim its worth is reduced.
Cut Diamond
Quality:Rare
A diamond cut and polished by a skilled jeweler, can be used to imbue magic or as a decoration. Additional Information: High Quality Diamonds can be imbued with every magic, changing their colour
Using his Identification skill he put the gems destined for sale into his inventory and instead took out some less valuable items, tossing them aside. He didn¡¯t really know how much jewels were worth in this game, but he was sure he could afford some pretty awesome equipment by now. But looking at the ground it might be not necessary to buy that much anymore. He picked up several rings, identifying them. Many were just common pieces without any special properties, but there were also some useful ones among them. The game allowed four rings to be worn at the same time, so Hall had to choose carefully.
Blood Countess¡¯ Bone Ring
Type:Accessory
Quality:Rare
A ring made of black bone, adorned with a blood stone and imbued with unholy magic. Effects: +30 Intelligence +5% damage added to curses and damage-over-time (DoT) effects with darkness attribute Requirements: Level 75 Intelligence 210 Wisdom 140
That one wasn¡¯t suited for him, so he continued identifying the others.
Blood Countess¡¯ Sapphire Ring
Type:Accessory
Quality:Rare
A golden ring with a sapphire that encloses a drop of Bathory¡¯s blood. Effects: +16 Intelligence +18 Wisdom +3% damage to ice magic Requirements: Level 80 Intelligence 220 Wisdom 145
¡®Sigh.¡¯ Another useless one. Luckily in the bunch there were also some that were useful for him, now or in the future.
Blood Count¡¯s Insurance Ring
Type:Accessory
Quality:Rare
A ring to protect the Blood Count from his wife¡¯s antics. Effects: +2,5% Resistance to darkness magic +2,5% Resistance to illusion magic +5% Resistance to curses +250 hp Requirements: Level 70 Strength 100 Intelligence 100 Wisdom 100
¡®Hm, these rings being here and the count nowhere in the castle probably means they weren¡¯t enough to protect him.¡¯ There were two of those rings. They were only useful if he was fighting against enemies with darkness attribute, but from his experience this would happen pretty often. So he would definitely keep them ready, even if right now he couldn¡¯t wear them. His problem was, that he still didn¡¯t really know how to develop his character. His class was still evolving and right now he seemed to be a melee combat class with an emphasis on debuffing and weakening the enemy, while Lily buffed him and could also interfere with the foe on certain levels. So he would profit from strength and agility to hit harder, hit faster and to evade. Though he also needed intelligence and wisdom for his mana pool and regeneration. Although he wouldn¡¯t put any points into them for the foreseeable future as Lily¡¯s share of the mana pool was by far greater and his regeneration was only a fraction of hers. Still, every stat would help him in different areas and at the same time he had a problem. He would profit less from strength, agility and vitality than combat classes, while intelligence and wisdom had less of an effect than if he was a mage. But he wasn¡¯t completely sure of the information he had as it was all collected by players. Sphinx never made the effects of the attributes public, so in the end it was all just an estimation. Additionally, right now his skill level was decent at best, but thanks to his class he usually caught his enemies off guard, making him a fearsome foe. So he put on a ring he found that raised his strength. [td2]Quality:
Ring of Ogre Strength
Type:Accessory[/td2s]
Magic
A ring made for the chiefs of ogre clans as a bribe. Effects: +15 Strength +1.0% melee damage Requirements: Level 40 Strength 150
Soon enough he would fulfill the requirements. It was the same with the other ring he found and put on his finger.
Gold Ring of a Blade Dancer Novice
Type:Accessory
Quality:Magic
A ring given to those that chose to become blade dancers and pass the initial test of the dancers guild. Effects: +5 Strength +10 Agility +1.5% Chance to Dodge Requirements: Level 40 Strength 60 Agility 110
There was one more ring. It didn¡¯t seem special at first. A simple metal ring, crimson colored, without any gems or engravings. Upon closer inspection it seemed like the color was moving like a stream, like blood pumping through a vein. Its effect was hypnotic but eerie at the same time. ¡°Identify.¡±
Blood Count¡¯s Last Will
Type:Ring
Quality:Unique
A ring activated by blood. Powerful and often considered evil, but in the end just a tool that will follow the wearer¡¯s intention and adapts to his very soul. Effects: Unlocked after the wearer¡¯s blood is drawn. Effects depend on the user, his personality and traits, his character and class, Requirements: Strength + Agility + Intelligence + Wisdom + Vitality = 700 (base value, without items) Activation by blood has to be done before level 100
The ring intrigued him. Not only because it adapted to the user, meaning he could increase the effectiveness of his class, but also because of its requirements. A level 100 player gathered 500 stat points, not necessarily distributing them in those five attributes. Meaning one had to gain an insane amount of stat points before reaching level 100, something that under normal circumstances was incredibly difficult. Additional attribute points could be gained through training or as rewards for titles, quests and class gain. Points from items wouldn¡¯t count of course, at least not in this case. Luckily Hall worked incredible hard the first two weeks and after, gaining several points and through acquiring his class he had quite the advantage, so he put the ring away for later use. He was amazed after looking at the riches he gathered so far, there were still some weapons left on the ground, but he already had 2191 gold, 12 silver and 19 copper coins in his inventory. All the jewelry and other stuff he collected should be worth at least the same amount again. ¡°Lily, you know, we should really visit some of those vile nobles and punish them and as part of their sentence take everything from them.¡± Hall tried to sound convincing while doing a really bad job at covering up his real intentions with somewhat false nobility. Well, he wanted to punish those that did wrong, but was undoubtedly thinking of others things after gaining this much from one castle. Of course Lily saw right through him and rolled her eyes. ¡°Really? You aren¡¯t satisfied with all this?¡± Hall just continued to smile. ¡°Come on, you know, we could buy some land, build a base to withdraw every now and then from all the mayhem we seem to face. Oh and if it would be a big farm we could send people there that lost their homes and need a place to stay.¡± He could almost see the wheels in Lily¡¯s head turning while her eyes gained some of the same shine Hall¡¯s had ¡°I always wanted a nice big house and if we punish evil in the process it¡¯s even better. Oh and if we use the money we take from bad people to help good ones it should be alright.¡± Now even Lily was justifying what could be called robbery, but although it wasn¡¯t completely out of selflessness, both really meant it when they said they would help others. Though those plans were future ones, for now there were other things to be done. He grabbed the three remaining weapons lying on the ground, two long swords and a larger two-hander.
Fine Steel Sword
Damage:24-37Durability:45 / 45
Quality:Magic
A fine steel sword, made for soldiers serving in the Bredon Army Effects: +10 Strength Requirements: Level 30 Strength: 80
Fine Damascus Steel Sword
Damage:27-39Durability:50 / 50
Quality:Magic
A well-made sword, crafted for low ranking nobles serving in the Bredon Army Effects: +15 Strength Requirements: Level 30 Strength: 80
Nothing special, but the two-handed weapon was different.
Faithkeeper
Damage:65-89Durability:105 / 105
Quality:Rare
A mighty claymore given to the Paladins that swore eternal loyalty to Uthar, god of light and fame. Effects: +55 Strength +20% damage against enemies with the darkness attribute +10-15 light damage Requirements: Level 90 Strength: 250 Fame: 500
There weren¡¯t too many people who could use a weapon like this, so he would hold on to it for a while before selling it for what he hoped would be some serious money. On their way out he took the candles from their holders, burning beds, curtains, paintings and carpets and when he left the castle he felt the raging flames warming his back. He walked to the waiting Arion only to turn around and watch as blazing hot fire consumed even the grey stone and let the castle crumble and fall.
When Rain turns to Blood - The Downfall of House Bathory Lady Elizabeth Bathory slaughtered her whole family and countless innocents after being corrupted by lust for power and tainted by darkness. She became the Blood Countess. A cruel existence obsessed with torture and pain. As she was on the verge of gaining the might to subjugate the surrounding villages and rival the force of an army you chose to stand against her when no one else would. You stopped her and annihilated all evil left behind by yourself. Nothing more than ash will remain. You have gained experience (level progress at 87%) +3 Willpower +2 Endurance +25 Fame
While his eyes were still reflecting the flames engulfing the castle Arion began to speak. ¡°Good, now that you satisfied your greed puny human, I order you to tell me how you were able to overwhelm the witch.¡± Arion¡¯s eyes weren¡¯t filled with the gratefulness Hall expected but with what he though was hostility and disgust. ¡®What the hell, I just saved your hide, but oh well, have it your way.¡¯ Hall had no plans of killing the black horse as his soul was pure, but that didn¡¯t mean he wouldn¡¯t scare him a little. So he frowned while his voice became cold. ¡°Now listen horsie, I just kept you from becoming a meat suit for a demon, how about some humility and gratitude. First of all we¡¯ll start with your story.¡± Arion¡¯s eyes widened, in his centuries of life he never met a human this insolent, even Bathory treated him with some kind of respect. Still, he did save him, so he swallowed his anger and while grinding his teeth decided to answer for now. ¡°Very well, I will forgive your impudence as you don¡¯t seem to know what I am and because you indeed rescued me from my predicament. So hear me human.¡± Whenever he used the word human, he seemed to spit it out in disgust. He obviously didn¡¯t hold them in high regard, to put it mildy. ¡°As I already said, my name is Arion of the race Equui. We are divine beasts, blessed by the gods.¡± Hall heard about them. Different from beings like Grim, gods were allowed to interfere with the world of the mortals freely. Although they had to be careful, because if one god would become too powerful, others would interfere. Balance was important. Of course every now and then there were those gods that saw it different, sometimes young, sometimes arrogant, but usually hungry for power or influence. They could be affiliated with darkness, light, nature it didn¡¯t matter. Gods could be as imperfect as mortals. They would try to increase their control over the world, their influence. If they actually managed to succeed it could change small areas, kingdoms or even continents. Minor gods could become greater ones and they could fall as well. Sometimes the world wouldn¡¯t even notice. Just like in the real world, even if management changes it just might be business as usual at the bottom. But even the gods didn¡¯t appear too often in the realm of the mortals. Instead they used servants. Humans, Demons, Elves and other races. They would follow different gods that gave them power in exchange for loyalty. They would rally the masses, promising salvation and glory and in their name conquest and slaughters would happen. Over millennia countless wars were fought in the name of faith. Usually only the greater gods with more power would interfere like that. There were also others, often minor gods that didn¡¯t have the desire or the capability to acquire more might. They sometimes were gods of forests, of rivers or of mountains. They ruled over different animals or plants. They were the source for crafts or ores. To influence the mortal world without the need to descend to the lower plains they blessed a certain number of members of a race. The greater the power of a god, the higher the number of blessed subjects could be. If the god was only a minor one he usually would choose a few animals to do his bidding. Those beings are called divine beasts. They had a fraction of the god¡¯s power, making them more than a mere mortal, but less than a deity. That''s how gods were completely different from beings like Grim, who didn''t really care about territory or power and also couldn''t directly influence the world. Grim had to bend the rules to even call upon a single companion and it was only to keep the balance, not to spread her influence. So Arion continued his explanation. ¡°Millennia ago Aranyani, the goddess that rules a big forest in the south east, created us. The animals in the forest worshiped her. And our ancestors, wild horses, roaming woods and plains, were chosen to carry her name to the humans that built cities and villages in her territory. She created other divine beasts. Blessed wolfs to protect her flock and a few other animals to even help the humans. In return they started to worship her. They prayed for droughts to end and for plentiful harvests and they were happy. The blessed animals were part of their culture, their children played with us and they offered us food and gratitude. But over centuries you humans became conceited. Instead of being grateful you took us for granted. You humans took Aranyani for granted. Instead of offering your gratitude, you cursed her name for every mishap, for every accident and for every harm that befell you. Soon enough they tried to even hunt the divine beasts. And because Aranyani loved your race so much, she forbade us from attacking humans. In return most of us were slaughtered. Our skin used for armor, our teeth for accessories and our bones for alchemy. It broke Aranyani¡¯s heart. She withdrew herself and even abandoned us. We were without guidance, without aim, without a purpose. Many of us were killed by your people. Some of us started to fight back, slaughtering whole villages, losing themselves in blood and carnage. The few that were left, spread around the world. While roaming this forest I activated an ancient magic trap created to kill divine beings. You humans really never cease to amaze me, creating magic dark enough to even harm gods and their servants. Luckily the magic slowly dissipated over time so I was only badly injured, but weakened enough for Bathory to capture me for her purpose. Usually demons have their own bodies. But there are those that committed crimes so atrocious it escapes any reason. Their punishment was to roam the underworld without a body, stripped to their bare souls, suffering intolerable pain for eternity. To hold the soul of a powerful demon you would need a vessel to withstand its might. Where a normal body would crumble, that of a divine beast could contain it. Now you know my story puny man and the reason I despise you insufferable humans so much. Greed, lust for power and no sense of moral or decency. Just holding this conversation makes me sick. Still, as I shared my story with you I now demand to know yours.¡± Hall listened carefully. He could understand Arion¡¯s feelings. It might very well be possible he was the last of his race, the others slaughtered by humans. Still, he needed something of him, so he couldn¡¯t allow Arion talking down to him. Well, he also didn¡¯t really appreciated to be treated like this in general. It reminded him of Steve whom he tolerated because of Jane. But he had no reason to tolerate Arion¡¯s behavior. So he unwrapped his chains, signaled Lily and activated their Hells Bells ability. Slowly approaching Arios, he used his Soul Pressure and Fighting Spirit to create an atmosphere of incredible tension. Arios felt as if a weight was pushing on his chest, making it hard to breathe. His knees became weak as the human, dressed in black leather and a dark cloak, approached him slowly, while swinging chains that sounded like they would open the gates to hell. The divine beast had to grit his teeth to keep himself from taking a step back. Confusion and anger spread inside of him. And something worse, fear. Fear of a single human. Hall stopped a meter in front of the animal and without deactivating his skills he started to talk in a deep, dark voice. ¡°My name is Hall, I am the Harbinger of Death, the first Apostle, voice and sword of the reaper in this world.¡± Arion¡¯s eyes went wide with shock at what he just heard. He didn¡¯t know if he should run away or kneel. He didn¡¯t think Death actually existed but he knew the man in front of him said the truth. After a few moments Hall deactivated his skills. Arion could finally breathe freely again and Hall¡¯s voice returned to normal. Behind him he could hear Lily giggle at his tough guy act. When the divine beast calmed down he ordered his thoughts before starting to talk. ¡°I see, then you are closer to me than you are to one of your own kind. If that is the case I can hold up my head up high as I wasn¡¯t saved by a mere human.¡± ¡®This guy really hates humans, but let him think I¡¯m something different for all I care, as long as he does me a favor.¡¯ ¡°Now, hum¡­, Hall, Harbinger of Death, for releasing me from certain death I will grant you a favor. Do you want riches? I can give you location of treasures centuries old. Weapons? I know places you can find them. Although right now you won¡¯t be even close to reach those, you have to become a lot stronger.¡± Hall was intrigued, but he already knew of places he could get a fortune, he just needed to arrive and he didn¡¯t want to take weeks to get there. He still hadn¡¯t forgotten that he had a time limit on his Quest No Sympathy for the Devil, the quest to kill Dravan. He still had almost a whole year left, but he needed the grimoire first. The Cattle Hunt and Hall¡¯s involvement will probably cause an uproar in the kingdom, but that will take time. He had no leisure to go treasure hunting in lands far away, no matter how intriguing it may sound. ¡°Arion, I need you to carry me to Roselake, the capital of this kingdom.¡± The divine beast kept his silence and Hall could have sworn it furrowed his brows, looking at him in outrage. ¡°You want to ride me like a common horse?¡± Hall stayed unconcerned. ¡°Correct, should be simple enough or is a divine beast such as yourself not capable of covering a great distance in the blink of an eye?¡± It was an obvious ploy and even though he saw through it, it hurt Arion¡¯s pride and as he was a very prideful being he couldn¡¯t let it slide. ¡°You may be affiliated with Death, but if you pull my mane I swear I¡¯ll throw you off and trample your face.¡± Because he was only half serious, Hall chuckled a little bit, only half amused. So he climbed up on Arion¡¯s back, tying the improvised bags full of loot to his own body, while he crossed his chains under the divine beast¡¯s belly and used them as makeshift reins. Hall nodded. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go Mr. Ed.¡± Arion and Lily looked confused for a moment, but shrugged it off. When the giant horse took off, Hall almost fell off its back. Barely able to hold on to his chains he was pulled forward with an incredible speed. Hall only hoped Arion knew the way to Roselake, because he himself had no idea where they were right now. The surroundings just flew past them as they were traveling at what felt like almost sonic speed but was probably closer to half of it. Still, every time an insect hit his face he lost one or two health point. He was sure he swallowed at least a handful of bugs after the first hour and he even had to laugh when he saw his satiety bar go up a little. While doing so he swallowed another fly. ¡®Well, it¡¯s not as bad as the stew I had the first weeks¡­¡¯ Lily grabbed the cord that bound her to Hall as she was pulled at a velocity she was completely unfamiliar with. After another thirty minutes they left the woods and crossed green meadows as the landscape slowly became rockier and the roads steepened. It became a lot colder and Hall tried to keep away the sharp wind with his cloak. Soon enough there were barely trees left and they stopped at a small stream to take a break. Arion still hadn¡¯t completely recovered from his injuries, so he needed to drink and rest a bit. Hall was a little shaken, he never sat on a horse before, especially not one moving at the speed of a car. Their surroundings had changed drastically. He barely noticed, but they were climbing slowly but surely until there were only a few spots of grass and even less bushes and trees between rocky grounds. As the sun still wasn¡¯t up it was insanely cold and Hall had to make a fire to keep himself warm. ¡°Arion, how do you know the way?¡± The horse just looked up and answered with a tired voice. ¡°It is in the direction I came from a long time ago and as I said I have been roaming these woods for many years. Additionally I, as well as many other divine beasts, have the ability to communicate with most animals. Not all of them can talk, but many are far more intelligent than mere beasts, so in the end they can guide me.¡± Hall was a little worried about Arion, who still hadn¡¯t caught his breath and was panting heavily. ¡°Good to know, we¡¯ll make camp for a few hours and then we¡¯ll travel a little bit slower or else I¡¯ll freeze to death in these temperatures.¡± Of course that wasn¡¯t true. Hall had no problems tolerating the wind and weather for a few more hours, which were enough to cross the small mountain range and to almost reach Roselake. But half a day more or less wouldn¡¯t matter and he didn¡¯t want to torment Arion, who lay down next to the fire and closed his eyes to get some sleep. Meanwhile Hall took some of the books he gathered from Bathory¡¯s castle and started to read them. Several were just about the families of nobles in Bredon, nothing he really cared for. He skimmed over them and tried to identify the crest he saw on the keys he took from the nobles that were among the fake bandits he killed shortly after escaping the tower. He couldn¡¯t find it anywhere so instead he picked up another book. It seemed to be a medical one about blood but it also included magic in its topics and themes. Hall didn¡¯t really care but read it anyway and another one similar to it. After that he read something more special. It was about blood and magic again, but this time the book also included the application of curses. It was a whole compilation actually.
Blood Curses I ¨C Blood on my Hands
Blood Curses II ¨C Bleed for the Ancient Gods
Blood Curses III ¨C Bleed for the Devil
Blood Curses IV ¨C Once sealed in Blood
Blood Curses V ¨C Blood Red Skies
Blood Curses VI ¨C With Blood comes Cleansing
It took him almost three hours to read through the thick books and he felt somewhat sick and sad as the content was pretty¡­well¡­ bloody. *Ding*
You have discovered and read the complete Blood Curses Compilation. +3 Intelligence +2 Wisdom You may choose between an offensive and a defensive skill related to blood curses.
¡°Defensive.¡± Hall really didn¡¯t want to be affected by another curse, so an ability to avoid them would come in handy. *Ding*
You have gained a new skill!
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Blood CleansingBeginner10%
Through gaining knowledge about blood and what role it plays in the application of curses you are able to heal or ease afflictions connected to blood. Effects:
  • Able to cleanse tainted blood (including many poisons and diseases)
  • Able to lift blood curses +2 Intelligence +3 Wisdom
Your skills Soul Cleansing and Blood Cleansing fused and created the skill Down With The Sickness
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Down with the SicknessBeginner10%
You possess knowledge to cleanse blood as well as the soul. The higher the skill, the more you¡¯ll be able to affect your target. Effects:
  • Able to cleanse tainted blood (including many poisons and diseases)
  • Able to lift blood curses
  • Able to cleanse tainted souls
  • Able to lift curses caused by soul energy Casting Time: Depending on the target Mana Cost: 40 mana / sec +3 Endurance +2 Wisdom
¡®Awesome.¡¯ Hall was amazed, but instead of resting on his laurels he continued to read book after book, gaining another point in intelligence. Eventually the sun came up. The small fire he built using the few bushes and dead trees he found in the surrounding area, died down. With the night gone, it got slightly warmer and as the dew formed on the grass around them, he could taste the moist air on his lips. ¡®This game is incredible.¡¯ The sun was already high in the sky when Arion woke up and found Hall still reading his books. The divine beast stretched his back and already seemed to feel a lot better after a good night¡¯s rest. Seeing Arion wake up, Hall took a part of the supplies he bought in Gelt and shared it with him. The animal was suspicious at first but then the hunger won and it ate through a week¡¯s worth of rations in the blink of an eye. Soon enough they continued their journey. They traveled through snowy plains and dark chasm before starting their final descent. He heard Bredon was a small kingdom, but thinking about it, it would take a week to travel from the south borders to the northern ones by foot. Getting from east to west, the path they just used for the most part, would usually take around three weeks. Of course that was considering one would travel by day and rest by night. Still, if Bredon was considered a small kingdom he would have to find a different way of travel than to simply walk. He knew there were scheduled caravans and ships traveling between towns. Those were fast and reliable but they usually didn¡¯t stop at the smaller villages and in Bredon there were only few and far between. There were also teleportation platforms between bigger cities and sometimes temples or forts. It took a small fee< to use them but it was a convenient way to get around fast. At the beginning Hall thought he had to reach an area with many players but he found enough to do anyway. Found enemies and friends, new experiences, good and bad. So in the end it didn¡¯t really matter where you were. This world was full of life. The central kingdoms, the backwater ones like Bredon or even lands beyond the highest mountain or largest deserts, lands unexplored and maybe even uninhabited. Hall was excited when he thought about all the possibilities this new world held. While thinking about all this they entered and left smaller forests and continued their way to Roselake. They didn¡¯t meet any foes along the way, either thanks to their speed or their presence, so they finished their journey shortly after noon. When Arion stopped at the side of the road, Roselake still wasn¡¯t in sight. ¡°That is how far I will take you, soon enough the roads will be used by humans and I don¡¯t wish to meet them. If you follow this path, you will arrive in less than three hours.¡± The divine beast hesitated for a moment. ¡°I still don¡¯t think my debt to you was paid Harbinger, so take this. If you seek assistance I will find you, but be sure to use it only if you are in dire need of my help. It is no small insult to call me for trifle tasks.¡± ¡°Identify¡±
Arion¡¯s Pearl
Quality:Rare
A white pearl filled with divine energy. If crushed, the energy will notify the divine beast Arion of your position. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Requirements: Intimacy level friendly with Arion
¡®My intimacy level is friendly? Wow, I don¡¯t want to know how he talks to those he doesn¡¯t like¡¯ They thanked each other again and Arion stormed off into the nearby woods and was out of his view within seconds. Lily, who kept silent for a while, not knowing if a divine beast had the ability to sense her, looked at Hall. ¡°We came a long way, didn¡¯t we?¡± He could only nod. He couldn¡¯t believe it was only a little over a month ago he was betrayed, cursed and imprisoned. Not even ten days in real time. Only a few days were left until he had to tend to his responsibilities in the real world again. ¡°Hall, do you think it¡¯s possible for me to walk around the city in my corporeal form?¡± She asked with a pleading look. She hadn¡¯t talked to anyone besides him for so long and she barely remembered the last time she visited a town. Hall hesitated for a moment. ¡°Alright, but let us first survey the city and walk around a while to make sure it¡¯s safe. Then we¡¯ll go visit a few stores and I¡¯ll buy you something nice.¡± She hugged him with a bright smile, thanking him and when she let go she hummed a merry tune while Hall ran on the dirt road at high speed. Instead of three they only needed a little over one hour to reach Roselake. They met several people on the way. Some were merchants, riding on their carts. A few soldiers and also farmers, bringing in their grain. There were also players, but they mostly ignored Hall, just like the NPCs did. It was probably thanks to the cloak Ella gave him, but he didn¡¯t mind, quite the opposite actually. The walls of the capital were impressive and they could see them from far away. At least six meters with towers that reached even higher, they dwarfed their surroundings. The open field only added to the impression the walls and the guard towers conveyed. But Hall couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that instead of protecting and safe, these walls seemed¡­threatening, uninviting. It reminded him more of a prison than a town and the heavily guarded gatehouse, that was the only way into the town from this side of the wall, and the haggard men and women trying to get into or out of town did nothing to alleviate the impression. Hall tried to disappear in the crowd, but the soldiers eyed the large bags he carried with suspicion. ¡®Weird, should a town gate be guarded like this for no reason, especially in a game?¡¯ The bags were filled with books by now, so when he showed them to the soldiers that guarded the giant wooden door, strengthened by metal braces, the men waved him through. Hall, with a mixture of relief and astonishment, walked up to a guard a few houses away, that leaned against his halberd with a bored expression on his face. With the best fake humble tone in his voice he could muster, he asked the guard. ¡°Good sir, I am but a simple traveler seeking some shelter and work in this town, might I inquire of you what the reason is for the heavy presence of soldiers and the controls at the gate?¡± The guard looked at him, whose clothes were still covered in dirt and dried blood, with a mix of pity and annoyance. ¡°You must come from far away if you haven¡¯t heard. It¡¯s the bonfire festival. We are celebrating the king¡¯s reign and his victorious battle against those that would poison the people¡¯s minds and souls. The bonfires will be lit on the market place but the whole town will celebrate. I can¡¯t wait until my shift is over.¡± Hall couldn¡¯t really figure out the reason for the bonfire festival. He thought it was just something arbitrary the king made up to increase his popularity with the common people, while he robbed them blind behind their backs. After Hall asked for directions he went to sell some of Bathory¡¯s loot at a nearby merchants street that lead to the main market place. He used his Soul Perception and tried to detect an honest merchant, or rather one with a relatively pure soul, which took him surprisingly long. But then he entered a small store at the corner of the side street. It was rather dark and the merchandise seemed to be of minor quality. It seemed like honesty didn''t pay off for a merchant. An older man in plain, but colorful clothes and a visible bulge where his stomach was, greeted him from the counter with a smile. ¡°Welcome dear customer, how may I help you?¡± Hall approached him while taking a few things out of his inventory. ¡°Good day sir, I would like to sell some items I procured recently.¡± The man used spells to identify the items and additionally took out a magnifying glass to look at the surface and details of several pieces Hall handed to him. After he looked at every one of the dozens of valuable items spread on his counter, he frowned and eyed Hall with suspicion. ¡°Lad, where did you get those?¡± Hall thought about lying, but because he chose an honest merchant it wouldn''t feel right to reward him with anything but the truth. ¡°Let''s just say I rescued them from a fire.¡± He had a smirk on his face, which caused the merchant to chuckle. ¡°Bathory is dead?¡± Of course he would know, most items had her family''s crest on them, so anything else would be a surprise. Hall nodded. ¡°She tried to kill me, so I returned the favor.¡± The merchant just shrugged. ¡°Well that crazy bitch had it coming. Even the king was scared of her. Still, you shouldn''t announce your deed too freely, killing a noble is not a crime they look lightly upon in this kingdom. You are lucky you came to me, although I somehow don''t think it was all luck, anyway, my name is Jorn and what are you called my new friend?¡± They introduced themselves and exchanged a few pleasantries and some information. ¡°Alright Hall, you seem rather trustworthy and you also don''t seem to like the current leadership very much so I''ll tell you something special. It may not look like it, but I can easily buy everything you bring me, so if you every somehow come across ¡­ similar merchandise I would be happy to take it off your hands.¡± Hall was sure by now, Jorn was way more than a simple merchant. Not only declared he his opposition to the king but also pretty much offered to buy stolen treasures from others nobles he killed or robbed. Considering his words, Hall took out the remaining gems, save two diamonds, and the other things he deemed too valuable for this store before. Jorn smirked and shook his head. ¡°You are really full of surprises, wouldn''t have thought that witch would have amassed this many treasures. You want to sell them all?¡± Although money wasn''t really an issue for him right now it was definitely better than carrying around all this stuff cluttering his inventory. So he sold everything he had except for the items he would auction off for real money, two rare diamonds, the things he had on his body and the books he gathered. When Jorn noticed the books in the bag he raised an eyebrow while pointing at them. ¡°What do you intend to do with those books?¡± Hall didn''t really know what it was to him but had no reason to not tell Jorn. ¡°I gathered them during my travels. I seem to have a talent for stumbling across places that somehow end up being burnt down and I just couldn''t let them fall victim to the flames or to destruction.¡± Jorn was silent for a moment before he burst into laughter which left Hall in wonder. ¡°Sorry lad, but you really came during a bad time.¡± He fell silent for a moment, frowning and his voice sounded a little sad, but there also seemed to be a glimmer of hope. ¡°Or maybe it''s the right time after all. Do you want me to keep the books for now? I can find a proper place for them.¡± Hall nodded grateful, he kept the dangerous and valuable books, as well as those he hadn''t looked at yet and gave the rest of them, by far the bigger part, to Jorn, while putting the remaining ones and the now empty bags into Lily''s inventory. The merchant whistled impressed. ¡°Those are some rare books you got there, don''t worry, I will take good care of them. Two more things, first you should visit the market place where the bonfire festival takes place, it will make the current situation of this kingdom clear to you. Secondly, if you want to continue the path you chose with the death of Bathory you should find a way to prove yourself while wandering the shadows. I will talk to some people, people you want to know, believe it. If you should prove yourself worthy you will gain several benefits.¡±
Quest: They can''t keep us down
There are those in Bredon that can''t tolerate the oppression and injustice. They hide in the shadows and plan their actions carefully. They often live a dangerous and short live, but won''t back down. Prove to them you are worthy of their trust and you will gain their support. Difficulty: E Quest requirements: Gain the trust of one of the members of the resistance Rewards: Support and information from the Resistance Failure: Betray the resistance by revealing them to the king
Of course Hall accepted, but he still wanted some information, so he took out a key he got from the fake bandits he killed and showed Jorn the Crest on it. ¡°Do you know which house this belongs to?¡± Jorn clenched his fist, and almost spit out his words. ¡±House Keslak, young nobility. Cutthroat merchants that threaten suppliers and kill the competition. They bought their titles and now are pretty much untouchable for us normal merchants. An old, but merciless man and his two sons, who are beyond sick in their heads¡± It took him a moment, but then his eyes went wide as he looked at Hall and his lips showed a huge smile. ¡°Don''t tell me... HAHAHA, you are a special kind of great boy. You want to tell me how exactly this key came into your possession?¡± Hall just said that he probably killed the two sons, then stayed silent and put the remaining keys, still covered in the nobles¡¯ blood, on the table. Next to them he put the note concerning the Cattle Hunt and the badge of the royal guard. Seeing the badge Jorns smile faded. ¡°Those are issued to the lowest ranks of the royal guard, the higher ranked ones have different engravings and are made of more precious metal. Still, even the lowest ranked royal guards are formidable foes and they have a squad of regular soldiers at their disposal.¡± When he picked up the note, his face continued to grow paler and his eyes widened in disbelief. He read it repeatedly and when he put the piece of paper down he was shaking with anger. ¡°Those bastards..., listen Hall, I need to talk to some people, so I''ll close the store for now. Someone will contact you soon enough and come back if you have something to sell.¡± Hall nodded and left Jorn''s dusty store with an empty inventory and a full purse. He amassed almost 5000 gold, an insane sum, but he was far from satisfied. Before walking to the market place he bought several health, mana and stamina potions. He also wanted to buy some kind of defensive gear for his head, but couldn''t find anything that suited him. He only visited a small part of the stores before the sun began to set. As the shadows slowly crept into the dirty streets Hall felt an eerie atmosphere creeping up on him. He could almost feel the suspicious eyes of the people. It was difficult to describe. The men and women, even the kids, looked haggard and malnourished. Their clothes were old and cheap. It was a somewhat depressing view. By now he ventured into a poorer part of town, although he didn''t know yet that most parts of the city looked like this. Still something wasn''t right, the people were walking around with bent backs and slumped shoulders, but didn''t seem too sad or depressed. They also weren''t hopeful or full of joy despite their sorrow. No, their eyes seemed dull, their body language spoke of defeat. They were used to oppression, like sheep they accepted their fate without questioning it. Even their children were raised to bow their head and shut their mouth. Hall just walked down the road while lightly shaking his head until he reached the market place. The buildings, made of gray stone and withered, dark wood, which surrounded the marketplace were illuminated by a roaring fire that seemed to reach the sky. Hall stopped as if he hit a wall. His eyes went wide in shock and reflected the scorching hot flames that burned in the middle of the market. Giant stacks of books were set ablaze and people were cheering around them, throwing more and more books into the fire that greedily devoured the dry paper. ''So that''s how they are celebrating their victory over those that poison the mind and soul?'' He grit his teeth and clenched his fists while Lily beside him held her hand in front of her open mouth, staring in disbelief. Little kids were running around the market, laughing and playfully tossing books into the flames while soldiers were parading in straight lines in front of what looked like a giant town hall and men and women were yelling and screaming at the burning piles in joy and ecstasy. On the balcony of the ridiculous luxurious building a figure stood, looking down upon the masses, while waving or just looking at his people. The king of Bredon. Hall shook his head in horror as he took in the whole scene while eerie shadows danced on his face. ¡°Lily, we are pilgrims in an unholy land.¡±
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------------------------------------------- Status Window Hall: Spoiler :
Status Window
Name:HallAlignment:Death
Level:37Class: Harbinger of Death
Race:HumanGender:Male
Titles:The bigger they are¡­
Fame:987Infamy:0
-
Health:3045 / 2095Health Regen:4.4/ Sec
Mana:0 / 2145Mana Regen:4.7 / Sec
Stamina:815 / 815Stamina Regen:6.2 / Sec
-
Strength:128+50Agility:96+60
Vitality:78+10Endurance:81+10
Intelligence:97+10Wisdom:105+10
Willpower:145+10Luck:40+10
-
Attack:32+45Defense:24+120
Magical Resistance
Fire:10%+10%Water:11%+10%
Wind:11%+10%Earth:11%+10%
Lightning:10%+10%Illusion:40%+5%
Light:10%+5%Darkness:40%+25%
+ 30 added to all stats + Willpower stat raised by 80 points + Magical Resistances raised by 10% + Resistance to Illusion and Darkness Magic raised by an additional 30% + Enables you to equip certain items or equipment specialized for this class + Increases attack power for attacks with soul energy + Unable to learn most crafting professions + Skills that use soul energy will be 10% more effective and will gain experience 50% faster + Unknown
Skill Overview Hall: Spoiler :
List of skills
Marked for DeathBeginner LVL3 (33%)
Death to EveryoneBeginner LVL3 (19%)
In my Time of Dyingpassive
Ain''t no Grave, can hold my Body downpassive
Keep me in your Heart for a Whilepassive
Judgementpassive
I''m Still Standingpassive
Soul PerceptionBeginner LVL5 (12%)
Soul PressureBeginner LVL3 (21%)
Soul ChainsBeginner LVL6 (98%)
Mana DrainBeginner LVL3 (53%)
Soul DistortionBeginner LVL2 (92%)
Hells BellsBeginner LVL2 (23%)
AmbidexterityBeginner LVL3 (51%)
IdentificationBeginner LVL5 (61%)
Down with the SicknessBeginner LVL1 (0%)
Blast TyrantBeginner LVL1 (79%)
Ancient LanguagesBeginner LVL3 (2%)
Sorian LanguageBeginner LVL9 (11%)
Ancient KnowledgeBeginner LVL1 (49%)
Sorian KnowledgeBeginner LVL2 (89%)
Chain MasteryBeginner LVL5 (93%)
Sword MasteryBeginner LVL3 (52%)
Dagger MasteryBeginner LVL3 (19%)
Equipment Hall: Spoiler : Weapons: Main-hand:
Blade of the Soul Weaver (incomplete)
Damage:44-57Durability:87/90
Quality:Unique
An incomplete sword covered by shadows. Can only be wielded by those that have control over soul energy. Remnants of soul essence mark this sword as property of Hall, the Harbinger of Death. Effects: Ignores 30% of the enemies armor Ignores 30% of the enemies endurance Slight chance to confuse or stun the enemy Wounds caused by this sword won¡¯t bleed If cut by this sword the effect of all healing spells are reduced by 50% +10% Darkness Resistance +20 Strength Area of Effect damage around the sword (5% of hit damage, Range: 10cm) If imbued with soul energy, damage can be increased (max. +50%) Requirements: Willpower: 130 Strength: 100 Agility: 80
Off-hand:
Short Blade of the Soul Weaver (incomplete)
Damage:32-44Durability:67/75
Quality:Unique
An incomplete dagger covered by shadows. Can only be wielded by those that have control over soul energy. Effects: Ignores 50% of the enemy¡¯s armor if the dagger is used to stab Ignores 50% of the enemy¡¯s endurance if the dagger is used to stab Slight chance to confuse or stun the enemy Wounds caused by this dagger won¡¯t bleed If cut by this dagger the effect of all healing spells are reduced by 20% If stabbed by this dagger the effect of all healing spells are reduced by 40% +10% Darkness Resistance +20 Agility If imbued with soul energy, damage can be increased (max. +50%) Requirements: Willpower: 130 Strength: 80 Agility: 100
Clothes Shirt:
Bloodcount¡¯s Silkshirt
Defense:5Durability:35/35
Quality:Rare
Black shirt made of high quality silk by a skilled tailor for high nobility. Effects: +10 Agility +10 Intelligence Armor worn over the shirt will lose its durability slightly slower Requirements: (not fulfilled!) Level 60 Agility: 100 Intelligence: 100 Pants:
Bloodcount¡¯s Silkpants
Defense:5Durability:35/35
Quality:Rare
Black pants made of high quality silk by a skilled tailor for high nobility. Effects: +10 Agility +10 Intelligence Armor worn over the pants will lose its durability slightly slower Requirements: (not fulfilled!) Level 60 Agility: 100 Intelligence: 100
Armor Chest:
Hardened Leather Chest
Defense:30Durability:60/60
Quality:Magic
Leather armor of good quality made by a skilled craftsman without any special features. Effects: +5 Strength +10 Agility Requirements: Level 35 Strength: 50 Agility: 80
Legs:
Hardened Leather Pants
Defense:30Durability:60/60
Quality:Magic
Leather armor of good quality made by a skilled craftsman without any special features. Effects: +5 Strength +10 Agility Requirements: Level 35 Strength: 50 Agility: 80
Gloves:
Hardened Leather Gloves
Defense:15Durability:45/45
Quality:Magic
Leather armor of good quality made by a skilled craftsman without any special features. Effects: +5 Strength +5 Agility Requirements: Level 35 Strength: 50 Agility: 80
Boots:
Hardened Leather Boots
Defense:15Durability:60/60
Quality:Magic
Leather armor of good quality made by a skilled craftsman without any special features. Effects: +5 Strength +5 Agility Steps are muffled slightly Requirements: Level 35 Strength: 50 Agility: 80
Cloak:
Armored Cloak of Ella¡¯s Heritage
Defense:30Durability:90/90
Quality:Unique
An armored cloak made from rare dragon spider silk. It is harder than steel and at the same time almost as light as linen. An incredible piece of work improved by generations of craftsmen, imbued with powerful magic. Effects: +5% Resistance to elemental magic (Fire, Earth, Water,Wind,Lightning) Cloak will apply a low level form of stealth, diverting the attention of others +5% Chance to evade, deflect or divert an enemy attack Strong feelings of affection and gratefulness blessed this item: +5% damage against beings you deem evil If your health drops below 50% the material of the cloak hardens, doubling its defense for 10 min Requirements: Extremely high intimacy with Ella, blacksmith apprentice of Gelt Strength: 100 Agility: 100 Wisdom: 80
Rings: [td2]Quality:
Ring of Ogre Strength
Type:Accessory[/td2s]
Magic
A ring made for the chiefs of ogre clans as a bribe. Effects: +15 Strength +1.0% melee damage Requirements: (not fulfilled!) Level 40 Strength 150
Gold Ring of a Blade Dancer Novice
Type:Accessory
Quality:Magic
A ring given to those that chose to become blade dancers and pass the initial test of the dancers guild. Effects: +5 Strength +10 Agility +1.5% Chance to Dodge Requirements: (not fulfilled!) Level 40 Strength 60 Agility 110 /td100]
Necklace: [td100]Pendant of the Soul Weaver (incomplete)
Type:Accessory
Quality:Unique
An incomplete pendant covered by shadows. Can only be worn by those that have control over soul energy. Effects: +10 to all stats +5% to all resistances +unknown Requirements: Willpower 140
Active Quests: Spoiler :
Quest: Carry on my Wayward Son ¨C Part 2
After lifting the curse, Lily¡¯s soul is still not complete. Dravan, who made the curse, still holds part of it after draining her soul energy for so long. Rip it from him. Difficulty: C Quest requirements:
  • lift the Grand Curse of Shattered Trust from you and Lilith
Rewards: Unknown Failure: abandon Lily
Quest: No Sympathy for the Devil
The great mage William Henley asked you to hunt down his disciple, Dravan, the last one of the Sorian people. Dravan rules over a land of darkness unbeknownst to mankind where he controls an army of evil. Difficulty: C+ Quest requirements: Be cursed by Dravan, survive the curse and find the scroll of his master Rewards:
  • Restore what was broken, find what was lost and return what was stolen
  • Additional rewards depending on your actions
Failure: exceed the time limit of one year
Quest: The Running Man
The kingdom seems to entertain their nobles by robbing, tormenting and killing the common people in exchange for money. It may even involve the king himself. Investigate! Difficulty: E Quest requirements:
  • find the orders of the king concerning The Cattle Hunt
Rewards: Increased intimacy with the common people Other Consequences, depending on your actions Failure: ignore the quest.
Quest: Alice in Chains
Death¡¯s Grimoire is hidden deep inside a dungeon under the castle of Bredon¡¯s capital Roselake,long lost, long forgotten. Form a contract with it after pouring your soul energy into it to show you are worthy. Difficulty: C Quest requirements:
  • Be Death¡¯s Confidant
  • Be able to use Soul Energy
Rewards: a contract with Death¡¯s Grimoire Failure: fail to form a contract
Quest: They can''t keep us down
There are those in Bredon that can''t tolerate the oppression and injustice. They hide in the shadows and plan their actions carefully. They often live a dangerous and short live, but won''t back down. Prove to them you are worthy of their trust and you will gain their support. Difficulty: E Quest requirements: Gain the trust of one of the members of the resistance Rewards: Support and information from the resistance Failure: Betray the resistance by revealing them to the king
Completed Quests: Spoiler :
Quest: Rest for the Wicked
Quest complete The quest that was given to you under false pretense and that was part of the ploy to betray you and leave you to die was deemed impossible to solve. Against all odds you did it. The Banshee¡¯s soul found peace at your side because you set her free and gave her the ability to trust again.
Quest: Carry on my Wayward Son
Quest complete You and Lilith managed to lift the Grand Curse of Shattered Trust and to leave the area after destroying the tower. Quest Part 2 Unlocked
Quest: Follow the Reaper
Quest complete You exceeded Death¡¯s expectation and decided to join her as a companion.
Quest: Master of Puppets
Quest complete Not only did you destroy the goblins inhabiting the abandoned mine, hindering them from creating more undead animal servants, but you also destroyed the cause of the dark magic. You also released the souls of those imprisoned by darkness and gave peace to the souls of the dead villagers.
Quest: Mama liked Roses
Quest complete You gave Ella a little peace of mind and a chance to bury her beloved mother. Furthermore you destroyed the cause of her grief.
Quest: The Witch¡¯s Promise
Quest complete: You chose to destroy the witch, releasing her prisoner, hindering her from summoning a great blood demon that would have terrorized the kingdom.
Available Titles:
Title : Paranoid
The betrayal of your friends scarred you for life but you learned a lesson to choose careful who to trust and are now a little bit tougher than before. When equipped: People think you¡¯re insane because you are frowning all the time
Title : Solitary Man
For breaking a curse of betrayal you will be marked by dark powers to keep you alone in this world Effects: When in a party you deal 15% less damage for every party member Familiars and Pets are not included Effects are applied even if the title is not equipped
Title : I Stand Alone
For breaking a curse of betrayal you will be marked by dark powers to keep you alone in this world Effects: When in a party you receive 15% more damage for every party member Familiars and Pets are not included Effects are applied even if the title is not equipped
Title : Damaged beyond Repair
You damaged your own soul irreparably and because you forcefully destroyed the connection between cursed chains and it¡¯s source the remaining dark magic will taint your soul. Effects: Relationships with the churches of light suffer and can¡¯t advance beyond friendly Effects are applied even if the title is not equipped
Title : Losing my Religion
The gods punish you for refusing them. The seven churches of light of the continent Akreton declare you a Persona non Grata, an unwelcomed person. Effects: Your reputation with the churches can¡¯t advance further than unfriendly. You are not allowed to enter the churches premises. Healing fees are tripled. If a member of one of the seven churches of light kills you, he will not gain infamy Effects are applied even if the title is not equipped
Title: The bigger they are¡­
For defeating a unique, named quest boss more than 40 levels above you, you are granted with knowledge of how to deal with experienced and dangerous foes, bigger and stronger than you Effects when equipped +5% damage against named monsters +5% damage against monsters bigger than you
Stat Window Lily: Spoiler :
Status Window
Name:LilithAlignment:Death
Level:38Class: Familiar of the Harbinger of Death
Race:Human (Spirit)Gender:Female
Titles:Lady in Black
-
Health:0 / 970Health Regen:3.5/ Sec
Mana:9670 / 7535Mana Regen:38.9 / Sec
Stamina:-Stamina Regen:-
-
Strenght:32Agility:40
Vitality:55Luck:35
Intelligence:344Wisdom:359
-
Attack:4Defense:-
Magical Resistance
Fire:10%Water:10%
Wind:10%Earth:10%
Lightning:10%Illusion:40%
Light:10%Darkness:40%
+ 15 added to all stats + Intelligence and Wisdom stat raised by 20 points + Magical Resistances raised by 10% + Resistance to Illusion and Darkness Magic raised by an additional 30% + Unaffected by physical attacks if not in corporeal form + Increases magical damage if the target is affected by the magic of the Harbinger of Death + Soul bound to Hall, the Harbinger of Death + Unknown
Skill Overview Lily: Spoiler :
List of skills
Soul Meets BodyBeginner LVL4 (2%)
Angels don¡¯t KillBeginner LVL3 (38%)
Spiritual HealingBeginner LVL3 (21%)
Voice of the SoulBeginner LVL6 (54%)
I will follow you into the DarkBeginner LVL4 (69%)
Prayer for the DyingBeginner LVL1 (37%)
The Sound of PerseveranceBeginner LVL2 (57%)
Tears of HeavenBeginner LVL3 (12%)
For detailed explanation on the skills you can check the stats thread, they are not up to date right now, but the details stay the same Chapter 14 - The Canyon behind her Chapter 14 ¨C The Canyon behind her Sometimes she hated her job. After Alexa heard that she would report on the bonfire festival and what it actually was, she wished she could have stayed in the backwater villages. She even tried to convince her superiors of a story she wanted to report. It wasn¡¯t much, but at least it would keep her out of Roselake. After she saw a slight change in the people of Gelt, a village she visited after she left the cursed and broken down tower, she asked what happened. They told her that there was a single man that destroyed the tower she was supposed to report on. The same guy allegedly also killed the bandits that were plaguing the area and was now on a mission to stop the abductions. Alexa couldn¡¯t confirm the reports as the origin of the stories seemed to be the drunk blacksmith she tried to wake up to repair some equipment, but failed. She still wanted to research the reports as the tower was standing for centuries and for a single person to destroy it would have at least been a nice addition to her documentary about the cursed places of Bredon kingdom. But the bonfire festival would start soon and even with their expensive horses she and her bodyguards would take a few days to arrive. Her higher ups barely even listened to her proposal before dismissing it and ordering her to continue on her journey to Roselake. She wasn¡¯t even the main reporter who would talk to the king and nobles, but the one who would present the different kinds of foods and drinks that were sold. Honestly, she didn¡¯t even mind. As soon as she saw those piles of burning books a shiver ran down her spine and a lump formed in her throat. Books were always her companions. Because of her work ethic she never had many friends. She didn¡¯t like to read on screens and loved the feel of paper in her hands. How it smelled and even how it sounded when you turned a page. All her life she had books at her side. And now her heart ached as she saw them disappear in flames under the cheers of the masses. So she tried to keep the burning piles at her back while she talked about dozens of dishes halfheartedly, when out of the corner of her eyes she noticed some commotion. A couple of players and NPCs were having an argument that looked like it would escalate any minute. ------------------- Hall stood rooted to the ground while the spectacle continued. Dozens of food stands sold all kinds of local and international cuisine. ¡®Guess burning books makes you hungry.¡¯ While he remained speechless he saw a young boy grabbing a book from an unburnt pile and running in the direction of the street behind him. As the kid almost reached him, Hall saw the boy¡¯s bedraggled state. He didn¡¯t wear any shoes and his linen pants were cut shortly below his knees. His shirt had holes everywhere. If their color was brown to begin with or if it was just all the dirt, Hall couldn¡¯t tell. His hair was a mess as it reached his shoulders. The kid was around 8 or 9 and as he ran, he clung to the book like it was driftwood in a storm. The boy¡¯s suspicious behavior must have alarmed a few others. He wasn¡¯t completely sure but he thought it was a player that approached him. His armor was somewhat mismatched and his hair color and tattoos on neck and face all pointed in that direction. He was clad in various silver and grey pieces of heavy plate armor with a crest engraved on his chest. A wingless griffon standing on a shield. The handle of a large two-handed sword was visible over his shoulder. Hall¡¯s Soul Perception allowed him by now to at least estimate the level of others if they were not too far above him. The young man, who looked like a beginner knight or an armored swordsman, was probably between five and twenty levels above Hall. His short brown hair and stern eyes made him look like a diligent soldier. He wasn¡¯t evil, not really, Hall could tell from his soul essence. He would guess the man¡¯s infamy only was slightly higher than his fame. Hall didn¡¯t know it yet, but the soldier had actually no infamy at all. It was the things he did to gain fame that caused his soul to become tinged in a light red and spots of black. If the government was corrupted you could even gain fame for assassinations or for burning down homes and stores, while deaths would be acceptable casualties. One wouldn¡¯t gain infamy, but Hall¡¯s ability went beyond just simple numbers, he saw the very soul of a person. The moment the kid passed Hall, the knight grabbed him from behind, yanking him back and pushing the child to the ground. ¡°Boy, you are going against the king¡¯s orders, these books are to be burned to prevent them from spreading falseness and lies.¡± When the young man tried to take the book the kid clung to, the boy struggled, trying to evade the hand coming for him. ¡°Let me go, this is the only book I have left from my father. You already destroyed the rest, when you burnt down our house two months ago. You killed my parents you bastards.¡± Tears were streaming down his face but his voice was firm. The soldier hesitated and frowned. ¡°Two months ago¡­ I remember, there was an order like this. Your parents were criminals, plotting against the king, a cancer to society and they got their just punishment.¡± The boy shook with anger as tears stained his face. Anger at the person in front of him, anger at himself and his helplessness and anger at the whole world. Hall remembered seeing those eyes, those expressions. He wore them himself many years ago. So he couldn¡¯t help but care and although he didn¡¯t want to raise any suspicion, he acted before he thought about it. ¡°Hey, why don¡¯t you just let him go?¡± The man looked at Hall in surprise. ¡°The orders of the king are absolute and every offender I arrest brings me some fame points, you¡¯re a player right?¡± Hall nodded. ¡°Then you can relate.¡± This time Hall shook his head. ¡°I can understand your motivation, that doesn¡¯t mean I will allow you to do it.¡± Still grabbing the boy, his attention now shifted to Hall and he straightened up, showing a smirk. ¡°Listen man, I am a knight of the king, promoted to the royal guard, I have absolute authority here. I just want to arrest the kid and get my reward, so how about you don¡¯t make my life unnecessary complicated.¡± Hall scratched his head under the hood that buried his face in shadows, making him unrecognizable to his surroundings. He sighed while signaling Lily with a nod. ¡°Counterproposal, you let go of the kid and I won¡¯t kill you.¡± His voice was calm and cold, causing the man to shiver slightly. But instead of backing down, he grabbed the boy harder with his left hand while going for the sword on his back with his right one, drawing it in a single motion. ¡°A threat against a soldier of the king is like a threat against the king himself, an offense punished with execution.¡± They already caused quite the commotion. An armored knight grabbing a boy while holding a large sword in his hand and mysterious cloaked man facing him. Of course the few people who noticed them saw a knight of the king protecting a boy from a dangerous criminal. So what they witnessed next shocked them all and clouded their joy over the festivities. Hall just sighed again. ¡°Well, I warned you.¡± Shrugging he drew his dagger and sword while mana chains shot from the ground, binding the man who didn¡¯t even realize what happened. He was sure the man in front of him was a rogue, a ranger or something similar. Leather armor, close combat weapons. But out of nothing magic was cast without any chant and the weapons seemed to exude dark flames, while glowing blue light formed a path along the blades. Without batting an eye, Hall rammed the dagger into the knight¡¯s heart while his sword slashed his throat, casting an arc of blood as the blade left the neck and black flames closed the wound.
Critical Hit! You have dealt 631 damage
You have dealt 437 damage
Before the knight could blink, a sixth of his health was gone and as his hands were bound he couldn¡¯t even retaliate. Before he could free himself by forcible pulling the chain apart with his superior strength, the sword was rammed into his abdomen. Hall didn¡¯t even bother with his skills. A single knight, their level not that far apart, surprised and bound. It was pretty much two versus one, so Hall just continued with his routine. The sword in the man¡¯s stomach continued to burn his flesh, while Hall repeatedly rammed the dagger in his chest. Soon enough he dropped to his knees, overwhelmed by shock and pain, his arms still bound to the ground. When he fell, Hall finally pulled the sword out of his gut. The moment his knees touched the ground, Hall stepped beside him, sheathed the dagger, took the boys hand and stabbed the man¡¯s back with his sword.
You have dealt 579 damage You have dealt a fatal blow!
You have attacked and killed a player, you have been marked as a player killer Because of your skill Judgement the time you carry the mark has been reduced to 25%
For killing a player you have gained: +25 infamy Because of your skill Judgement the infamy you gained was reduced to 0
For killing a soldier of the king, a member of the royal guard, a bounty of 5 gold has been placed upon you. Because your face was not seen and your name is unknown, the chance of detection is low. The bounty will be lifted if you pay 5 times the amount of the bounty to the king¡¯s treasurer This is the first time a bounty was placed on you, so you will receive further information The higher the bounty is, the faster and from further away the guards will notice you. If your name and face is known, you have a higher chance of being arrested. The chance of you being recognized depends on your crime and your level, your skills and the information that is available on you. If you haven¡¯t been caught for a certain period of time (depending on the height of the bounty), you will not be wanted anymore. If your bounty exceeds a certain amount or your crime was too severe your bounty will be kept up indefinitely. The duration and the height of the bounty depend on your level as well as on your crime.
Screams, were emerging from the people who saw what happened. Shocked faces and yells for guards surrounded him. ¡®Better get out of here. Fast.¡¯ He grabbed the kid, who gaped at him with an open mouth. Then he picked up the loot the dead knight dropped and ran back into the dark street, looking for a way to escape the soldiers and players who were alarmed by the screams. With the player killer mark above his head he was open game for everybody and he really didn¡¯t want to cause any more mayhem than necessary. Right now it was time for stealth, he wasn¡¯t ready for the sledgehammer. His level was too low, the foe too numerous. With the kid in his arm he sprinted into dark alleys, ran around corners and climbed over fences until he didn¡¯t hear anybody coming after him anymore and only the silence of the night surrounded him. Panting he came to a halt and put the kid down. The boy stepped away from him, suspiciously eyeing the blood covered Hall, while still clinging to the book of his father. ¡°Thanks for helping me, but you know you signed your death warrant by killing a royal guard?¡± Hall just waved it off and smirked. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he was a voyager like me, he¡¯ll come back and even if he didn¡¯t in this corrupt kingdom a little gold would take care of every problem.¡± Hall¡¯s somewhat carefree attitude caused the kid to chuckle, which in return made Hall frown. ¡®Even the kids are used to death and seem unfazed, that¡¯s just wrong.¡¯ So he got to his knees and cleaned the blood of the boy¡¯s cheek with the tip of his cloak. ¡°So kid, what¡¯s your name?¡± He tried to push Hall away, while shaking his head, trying to escape the cloth on his face. ¡°I¡¯m no kid, I¡¯m Ralk.¡± Hall smiled at the twisting and twirling child. ¡°Well, it¡¯s nice to meet you Ralk, I¡¯m Hall. Is there a place I can take you to?¡± The boy stopped moving as Hall stood up again. ¡°I live at the orphanage in the southern slums, but you don¡¯t need to take me there, I can get there myself.¡± Ralk straightened himself up while puffing out his chest, trying to look confident. Hall could just shake his head with a smile. ¡°Ah come on, I don¡¯t have anything to do anyway and what do you mean southern slums?¡± With a surprised look Ralk watched him for a moment. ¡°I guess you aren¡¯t from around here, there''s a large slum area in the south of the town. Most of it isn''t too bad, but there are some places you might want so stay away from. Even the soldiers try to avoid them, except to collect bribes of course.¡± His eyes were dejected and carried sadness when he talked about his home town like this, but they also held anger. So Hall took the lead as the boy pointed out the direction. They barely made it to the next alley when a figure jumped from the roof and landed a few feet in front of them. The person was clad in a tight dark crimson leather suit that emphasized her curves and didn¡¯t leave much to the imagination. At least it completely covered her body, making it different from the ridiculously revealing armors he saw so often in other games before. Of course Hall noticed her a few moments ago, thanks to his Soul Perception, but that didn¡¯t mean her flashy appearance wasn¡¯t a surprise. The moment her feet touched the ground, she released an aura that reminded him of flames that spread from her back. It was a somewhat pleasant, glowing red, different from the bloody color he often saw on tainted souls or on his clothes after killing the ones that contained those souls. Through her visible aura she exuded an incredible fighting spirit and if the one standing in front of her would be someone other than Hall, he would drop right to his knees. Because it was directed at him, it didn¡¯t affect Ralk, but the kid still hid behind the unfazed Hall. Although he wasn¡¯t affected, he recognized her strength. Not only through her fighting spirit but mainly because he couldn¡¯t even guess her level, even though he carefully scanned her soul essence. That in itself wasn¡¯t an issue, because together with Lily he could kill a single opponent of a far superior level. The problem was her soul was absolute pure. Not a single speck of darkness stained it and there was no way Hall¡¯s Judgement skill would forgive her death. More than that, he did not want to kill her. He had no desire to slay those who did not deserve it. The woman seemed surprised he didn¡¯t falter, but simply brushed away her long, wavy, crimson red hair and with piercing violet eyes she seemed to look straight into his heart. ¡°Evil know thy enemy has a name. I am Himoto and I will grant you the painless death you don¡¯t deserve if you let the kid go.¡± Hall just raised an eyebrow. ¡®Looks like we got ourselves a hero.¡¯ The thought was filled sarcasm, but somewhere not too deep inside of him he felt a little bit of envy. Of course, if somebody asked, he would never admit it. Back when he lost his parents, he often read comics and books about superheroes, fighting for what is right, fighting for those who couldn¡¯t help themselves, fighting for those who lost everything. Before he started to play Novus Vita he thought he might have a chance to do exactly that. But now he knew, that was not his role. He was not the one in the spotlight, not the one being thanked, not the one with the flashy appearance. He was a shadow, he was darkness, he was death. So when Himoto dropped in front of Hall, he just shook his head after he pulled up his hood again before she could see his face. ¡°Listen up firecracker, I¡¯m way too tired right now, so I¡¯m bringing the kid home. Then I¡¯ll get something to eat and some well-deserved rest, so if you would kindly step out of the way...¡± Wrinkles formed around her delicate nose as she distorted her face in anger and her full red lips trembled. She couldn¡¯t believe Hall¡¯s attitude at seeing her. She worked hard over the last weeks to make herself a name in this town. She was feared by bandits and robbers and even corrupt nobles were afraid of her. Scarlet Fire they called her, if they dared to speak her name at all. She was a vigilante, a figure of justice, her flames burnt for righteousness and all that was good. Well, at least that¡¯s what she thought. Himoto even tried to avoid killing if it wasn¡¯t absolutely necessary, especially NPCs. So she couldn¡¯t stand by when she saw a knight getting slaughtered and a child being abducted. And now the man who did these atrocious acts stood there belittling her. ¡°I guess I have to teach you scoundrel some manners.¡± She took the whip on her belt into her right hand and it instantly burst into flames as she unrolled it. Her left hand unsheathed a dagger that glowed white hot and seemed to distort the air around its edges. Even her eyes seemed to spew fire. ¡®She¡¯s way too into this. Is she really a player?¡¯ Hall again just shook his head, now slightly annoyed. He was online for quite a while now and he was actually really tired and just wanted to get some sleep. It wasn¡¯t his proudest moment, but he thought about attacking her for a second. But he dismissed the thought instantly. Still, he had to be careful, he felt her power even though she was several meters away from him. So he decided he would try a different approach for a change. Talking it through. The moment he opened his mouth though, he saw a stream of flames approaching him and only then did he hear the loud crack of her whip. He didn¡¯t even have time to grab his weapons or to get his chains ready as the flaming lash wrapped around his neck and excruciating pain spread in his chest. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. The air was pressed out of his lungs and as he was forced to his knees as the girl clad in red approached him. He could have sworn he saw flaming wings on her back as his view slightly blurred. Lily screamed in shock and cast mana chains to stop Himoto¡¯s steps but before they could even touch her they crumbled away in the surrounding flames. Before she could try again Hall shook his head while looking at her, signaling her to not interfere. He also didn¡¯t use his chains just yet as the flames around his neck caused him agony but didn¡¯t do any actual damage. When she stopped in front of him she wore a smirk on her face and as she looked down on his kneeling figure she lifted her dagger. ¡°I can feel the darkness in your heart. I can see it as clear as day. Shadows clawing into it, tearing it apart and causing pain to your surroundings. So I will cleanse it with the blazing fire of my heart.¡± When she spoke those word the heat and brightness of her flame increased even further. But he grit his teeth and instead of screaming in agony he looked her straight in the eyes and with unyielding will he lifted one leg, placing it in front of him, unsteady at first. With the use of Blast Tyrant he released a roar while pushing himself up and standing firm, gasping for air, but with his eyes still fixated on a baffled and aghast Himoto. ¡°My heart may hold darkness and shadows may reside in it. But don¡¯t be fooled, thinking they make me weak or that I will bow down to evil. I am stronger than you. Not because I am pure, but because I challenge the darkness every day. Not only the darkness that lives in others, but the darkness that dwells inside my heart and when it gets stronger, I will grow too, so I can control it, defeat it, now and always.¡± As he spoke the woman seemed shaken, not only because of his words, but because he could defy her flames. Slowly the fire around Hall¡¯s neck dimmed as it was overtaken by a blue, pulsating glow that seemed to suffocate the scorching blaze. ¡°I will show you how my soul stands up against your flames, thwarting them, overwhelming them and I will make you see: It¡¯s not only those pure of heart that can stand up against darkness, but also those who chose to, despite the shadows that might haunt them.¡± The now completely bewildered girl took a step back as her eyes darted between the unyielding Hall and her retreating fire. Hall put his whole will into the blue light that he exuded as his soul energy slowly pushed back the flames around his neck. With determination he grabbed a hold of the whip with both hands and in a flash of glowing blue light the blazing whip was extinguished and replaced by his soul energy that approached Himoto¡¯s hand. She started to panic as she saw her flames disappear and the blue light approaching her. She felt the power and yet she couldn¡¯t let go of her whip. She was afraid. Afraid, she was too weak once again. Scared she didn¡¯t conquer her flames. Frightened of another defeat. A second before the light reached her she closed her eyes, expecting a crushing blow against her weakened heart. Scarlet Fire, nothing more than a flickering candle, extinguished by a gust of wind, not even able to illuminate a shadow and now smothered once again. But the blow never came. When she opened her eyes she saw the tip of her whip lying on the ground. She watched the man in front of her rubbing his neck and her eyes were filled with confusion and incomprehension. With weak knees she fell on her behind, looking up at the criminal she just wanted to execute so proudly, who was now staring at her without any maliciousness in his eyes. She just noticed he took off his hood as she stared in eyes like steel that still held kindness. In her state of shocked she could just utter single word. ¡°Why?¡± Hall was surprised too. Surprised by her reaction as he just put out her flames. He didn¡¯t attack once and yet she was on the floor, looking at him as if he just took all she had. She was still stronger than him by far and he wasn¡¯t sure he could defeat her even if he were to pull all the tricks he had up his sleeves and yet it was she who was now on the ground. The single word she spoke brought him back. It reminded him of the time he was knocked down, asking the same thing and he would make damn well sure she wouldn¡¯t get the same answer he got. So he slowly approached the girl, who still sat on the dirty earth. ¡°Why? Why I could annihilate your flames? Simple, they hold no conviction. You don¡¯t believe in them yourself. With your act you convinced everyone you are a hero, everyone but yourself. So your wavering heart never stood a chance against the power of my soul.¡± His words were harsh, but they were true. He didn¡¯t want to insult here and yet his words shook her to the core. ¡°If you want to know the reason why I didn¡¯t attack you¡­¡± Hall shrugged, smiled and reached his hand out, offering to help her up. ¡°I only kill those that deserve it and you¡¯re one of the good guys.¡± She couldn¡¯t straighten her thoughts and the words she heard confused her even more. Still, she grabbed his hand and stood up, her legs still weak. ¡°Th...thank you¡­¡± Her voice was so soft, he barely heard it. There was nothing left of her confidence and pride. In front of him stood a confused and frightened girl. Hall could just sigh seeing her like that. ¡°Listen, you are strong, very much so. Stronger than me, stronger than most. Yet you lack faith and conviction. Trust in yourself and your flames won¡¯t be smothered this easily. And I mean really trust, not your mask of confidence you put on for everyone to see. Don¡¯t lose hope just because you meet a powerful foe. That¡¯s when you should fight even fiercer with your fire burning all your obstacles and carving out a path for you to tread.¡± When he said what he wanted to, he stepped back, took Ralk by the hand and walked past the trembling Himoto. ¡°Goodbye.¡± It took her a minute but she finally regained her composure and turned around, seeing Hall and the boy about to walk around the alley corner. ¡°Wait, what¡¯s your name and ¡­¡± She hesitated as he slowed down while turning his head. ¡°Do¡­ do you want to be fr¡­friends?¡± Hall just chuckled and as he turned around again, he spoke to her while walking away and raising his left arm, waving slowly. ¡°My name is Hall and sure, why not, just message me if you want.¡±
Himoto has been added to your friends list
¡®My first friend!¡¯ They both had the same thought as they separated, smiling. After a while of walking in silence Ralk looked up to Hall. ¡°That was pretty awesome. I think she was Scarlet Fire. Even the worst criminals in the slums fear her and you just took her out and then even became her friend. You are the best.¡± Meanwhile Lily was pouting a little over the fact he befriended another girl so easily but was glad at the same time as she would have done the same. Ralk lead him through various mostly pitch black streets and alleyways. Barely any lights were illuminating the night and instead of casting away the shadows they just seemed darker, harder, more threatening. Hall continuously used his Soul Perception to check his surroundings so they wouldn¡¯t get ambushed. Since he arrived in town the skill has increased significantly, but he had to tone it down a bit so he wouldn¡¯t get overwhelmed by the sheer number of people. Instead he focused on a single person at a time, sensing their sins, their intentions, their strength. He also sensed the town, at least the part around him that was in range. It was vastly different from the forest. No calm, soothing atmosphere and no serene glow surrounding him, twisting and twirling like a stream of lights. Instead there was chaos, grey clouds shifting and moving in an unrecognizable pattern. It felt eerie somehow and made him a little nervous. Though he slowly got used to it, it didn¡¯t mean he liked it. After walking through parts of the city that seemed dead as a graveyard, they finally arrived at the orphanage. It looked like an old church with stairs leading up to two massive wooden doors and dozens of stain glass windows, several of them shattered. The orphanage was one of the few stone buildings surrounding them. Though it was completely run down. Many of its roof tiles were gone while weeds and moss grew on its walls and water was leaking through its cracks. Although it was in dire state, the houses around them were in even worse condition. Mostly made of wood and straw they were rotting away under the influence of the elements and had to be constantly repaired by their inhabitants to not fall apart. Ralk pulled Hall by the hand and led him up the stairs of the building with an excited look on his face. ¡°I can¡¯t wait for you to meet father Shep, he is the priest who watches us orphans. He¡¯s bit grumpy sometimes but he¡¯s the only one who really cares for us. I haven¡¯t been here for long, but the others told me stories about him. How he defeated whole gangs to defend the orphanage, he even stood against the nobles who wanted to tear down the building after they were bribed by the criminals. You know, I was lucky he took me in or else I would have landed on the street, dead by now or forced into joining one of the gangs.¡± Sadness spread on his face but after he shook his head, Ralk knocked firmly on the dark wooden door. First there was no reaction, but soon enough there was a commotion and even through the thick door he heard a barrage of curses that even made him raise an eyebrow. The man who opened the door stood a whole foot taller than Hall who had to take a step back as the man dressed in a brown robe eyed him with blatant suspicion. But without as much as a word to him his bald head turned to face Ralk and through his thick, brown beard he yelled at the kid. ¡°Boy, I told you to be home before the sun sets and why the hell did you bring this guy with you. Damn, he¡¯s surely not someone I have to take care of. What are you even thinking?¡± His gaze fell upon the book in Ralk¡¯s arm. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me¡­You went to the bonfire even though I told you not to and took your father¡¯s book. What if the soldiers would have arrested you or followed you here.¡± Hall wanted to say something, but Ralk jumped in front of him and started to talk in excitement like a waterfall. ¡°Shep you should have seen it, that one soldier grabbed me and then Hall here dealt with him like it was nothing and before anyone could get to us, we ran like crazy and then we thought we were safe but, you won¡¯t believe it, Scarlet Fire showed up because she thought I was kidnapped. She attacked Hall, but he defeated her without pulling his weapon and instead of hurting her, they actually became friends. It was so awesome so please let him stay.¡± The kid spoke without taking a breath and talked himself into a hype until he had to gasp for air. The tall man¡¯s face turned into a frown while he taxed Hall carefully and when the boy finally stopped babbling he used a deep but calm voice to question him. ¡°So you defeated Scarlet Fire?¡± Hall just shrugged at his question. ¡°Not really, took her by surprise, she still can¡¯t use her full strength, especially when she¡¯s shaken up.¡± Shep nodded as if to approve of Hall¡¯s deduction and continued with his question. ¡°How did you get rid of the soldier?¡± Again Hall only shrugged. ¡°Killed him.¡± No reaction was seen in Shep¡¯s face. ¡°Did he deserve it?¡± A simple nod was Hall¡¯s answer. ¡°Alright, get in you two.¡± Ralk¡¯s eyes went wide at the priest¡¯s reaction. He was sure he would scream at them and maybe smack Hall right in the face. Some kind of reaction in any case. But not that he would just let them in. The priest, who was dressed like a monk, sent Ralk to bed while signaling Hall to follow him. Before he walked away, the boy jumped at Hall, hugging him. ¡°Thanks, thanks for saving me.¡± Without looking back he ran out of the room into the back. The two men were left alone in the entrance room of the orphanage. It looked a lot nicer than the outside indicated. The walls were covered with wood and cloth, pictures drawn by children were hanging from them. The furniture, a few cupboards, shelves with books and a large table with a bunch of chairs, was made out of light brown wood. Cheap, but nicely crafted. Thick blue and green carpet covered most of the grey stone floor. A few religious symbols were hanging over the doors, Hall didn¡¯t know which god they signified and it didn¡¯t really matter to him. There was no second floor and the room was rather high with an impressive chandelier hanging from the ceiling, spreading warm light while a huge fireplace at the opposite wall warmed the room, keeping out the cold of the night. Next to the fireplace he saw a door to a hallway with several more doors where several kids poked their head out, watching who would knock at this time. Shep¡¯s voice roared through the whole house after he saw them. ¡°Everybody back to bed. NOW!¡± Without delay they all scurried away and giggling as well as the rustling of blankets could be heard. Signaling Hall they both went into the room left of the entrance. It seemed to be Shep¡¯s private quarters. Besides a small bed in the corner, a large cupboard and several shelves filled the room. A desk was placed in the middle and it had dozens, if not hundreds of different papers spread on it. When they entered Shep took off his brown robe and threw it in the corner. ¡°Damn, this thing is so uncomfortable, but it helps keeping up appearance.¡± Under the brown cloth he hid a body that didn¡¯t really suit the image of a priest. His chest was like a barrel with arms like tree trunks. He was almost all muscle and on his belt hung two daggers. The armor he wore was made of some kind of leather, but one Hall never saw before. It was brown, but with intricate designs, which were incorporated into the dark leather. There were worlds between Shep¡¯s and his own armor. Hall made a mental note not to cross him anytime soon. The priest that now looked like a full-fledged, experienced and most of all, dangerous warrior sat down at his desk, taxing Hall from top to bottom again. ¡°I smell something on you. Something I know very well. It is Death.¡± Hall raised an eyebrow in surprise which caused Shep to smile. ¡°I may look like this boy, but I am a priest. Of course I don¡¯t serve any god anymore, yet I still have faith and I know death, as I caused it and I guided many souls on their way into eternal darkness. Stood by their side when they took their last breath. Trust me boy, I know death and you are closer to it than any living man I have ever seen. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t ask you any details. Everyone is entitled to their secret and I know you aren¡¯t one to cause mayhem and the death of innocents and above all you saved one of my kids, when you had no obligation to. I thank you for that.¡± After a moment of silence his face had a dejected and slightly troubled look. ¡°Unfortunately I cannot give you any rewards. Every coin I have goes into food and clothes for the kids. We barely have enough firewood to survive the next winter and our storage room is empty. This city is dying, as is the kingdom. Slowly rotting away from the inside.¡± He grabbed his bald head in sorrow. The man who looked like a monk at first, then turned into a warrior with scars on his bare arms and clad in dark leather, now changed into something else. A troubled man. Worries about those he cared for probably kept him awake most nights. His skin had an unhealthy tone and his eyes lost focus as he thought about the orphanage¡¯s situation. Because of his past Hall had a soft spot for orphans. So he felt sadness and anger creep up into his heart. But it also fueled his determination to shake up the very core of this kingdom. After a minute Shep seemed to have pushed his worries away for the moment and focused on Hall again. ¡°I think you should stay here for the night. Usually there is a curfew in place. Nobody is allowed on the streets after an hour past sunset. Today, because of the festival, the time was pushed back until midnight, which is approaching fast. If you should be found you will be fined or imprisoned for the night.¡± Hall nodded at his suggestion and instead had something to discuss. ¡°It¡¯s alright, I don¡¯t need a reward but I have a question, have you heard about the Cattle Hunt?¡± As with the merchant before he was sure he could trust this man and put the note and the badge he took from the fake bandits on the desk in front of him. At the mention of the hunt, Shep¡¯s face became darker and even before he had to read the note he clenched a fist. ¡°I heard rumors but I wasn¡¯t sure they were true. Even I didn¡¯t want to believe our kingdom was this rotten. It seems I was wrong. What do you plan to do boy?¡± Without any hesitation and without raising his voice, Hall answered calm. ¡°Find those guilty and punish them.¡± The way he said this would make most people flinch in fear but Shep simply smiled while his eyes glowed with joy and anger. ¡°Right now you are too weak to do anything against it. Go and become stronger, when you return I will have names for you. I know the underground of this city like only a few others do and word travels, there has to be information somewhere. With this you can carry out your sentence.¡± Shep smiled because he knew the sentence. Death!
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-------------------------------------------- Author¡¯s Note: Another chapter done, hope you liked it :grin: Sorry I can¡¯t get them done faster, unfortunately I just don¡¯t have that much time right now. I¡¯m really happy about all the comments last chapter As always, please tell me your questions, opinions, suggestions and point out any mistakes you find, I appreciate the support and every comment :bye: P.S: After last chapter the rating of my story took a serious dive, so I would be grateful for some advice to make it better and I¡¯ll try to put some more effort into it so you can continue to enjoy it :grin: Chapter 15 - Fear of the Dark Chapter 15 ¨C Fear of the Dark After talking a little more about the town and the situation of its people Hall logged out and stretched his joints tiredly before falling into bed and sleeping for several hours. He had lost all feeling for time and when he checked his phone after waking up, he saw it was Friday morning. Monday he had to return to class, so he had a weekend, almost three days of playing left until reality would have caught up with him. When he checked his messages he was a little disappointed to see the lack of interest his absence generated. It seemed the scene he caused in the cafeteria caused some rumors to fly around the university but he didn¡¯t really care. Only three people asked how he has been and he quickly answered by telling them everything was alright. While eating instant noodles with some cheap meat, he checked a few videos of Novus Vita. It seemed the news of a player reaching level 100 a few days ago for the first time was false as there was evidence of others reaching greater levels already. Although those people tried to keep their achievements hidden for now. Frank was happy reading this, as it meant it wasn¡¯t impossible to reach higher levels faster. It probably depended on the class and the time invested in the game. Of course luck and determination also had something to do with success, just like in real life. Now that he arrived in a major city he could finally take care of another goal he had from the beginning. Even if Bredon was a backwater kingdom, there were still hundred thousands of players residing in it with several thousands of people in the capital alone. So he checked the official site for selling items in exchange for real money. The prices were alright. A rare level 30 sword would bring around a hundred bucks, armor and accessories a little less. Most offered items were of magic quality, but even they would fetch some decent money. The prices for items peaked between level 50 and 90, most ambitious people seemed to be around there so the demand was high. He even saw an level 75 epic bow that would be sold soon for over a thousand dollars. It was the standard currency that was used to trade and if you bought something, there would be no exchange fee, no matter the country you live in. Of course you could display the prices in your own currency too. Frank did some more research and a smile appeared on his face when he thought about finally making some money, even if the stuff he sold was only magic or rare. The currently known ranking of item quality was common, magic and rare, followed by epic and legendary. There also was talk about the artifact quality, but there was no evidence so far. Of course an item¡¯s worth not only depended on its quality but mostly on its level. A level 50 magic item would be better than a level 30 rare one. And while legendary items only existed from level 100, epic ones started at level 60. In the whole auction house there were only seven legendary items offered. The prices were ridiculous as it was mostly about the prestige of owning such a thing, not about the actual use. He almost choked on his food as he saw a legendary sword being sold a few days ago for the staggering sum of 14.000$ and after some research he found that the first legendary item ever found, with a video as proof, was sold for almost a million. Their worth would plummet as the game would progress and hundreds and thousands of more legendary items would be found, so in his mind it was complete insanity to pay this much. He didn¡¯t even want to think about the first artifact that would be found. There was also the category of unique items. They seemed to be, as the name implied, rather special. The usually strict requirements made them useless for most people, so their value wasn¡¯t too high, if they were sellable at all. Of course there were exceptions. It seemed to be a category existing beside the usual ones. He read that these items were connected to quests, classes or professions and there would only exist a single one at a time. It didn¡¯t mean they were useful, they were simply unique. Contrary to his initial assumption he didn¡¯t have to register his auction on the site directly, but while logged into the game. He had to hand the item to an auctioneer in one of several towns. People could then bid ingame or on the auction site until it was sold. They could pick up the item at any auction house on the continent and the money would be directly transferred to his account as soon as the bidding ended. So he quickly jumped into his capsule and logged in. It seemed to be early in the morning and the children, as well as Shep, still lay in deep slumber. Hall was away for a little less than eight hours in real life, so it was probably around five in the morning ingame now. To not disturb anyone he left silently but with the intention of returning. The sun wasn¡¯t in the sky quite yet and only a few rays of scattered light illuminated the misty morning. It was freezing and the heavy air carried moisture that immediately clung to his coat which Hall wrapped tightly around his shoulder to keep the damp cold away. Without too much noise he made his way through narrow alleys and dirty roads until he reached the market place where the town hall stood tall and dominated the surrounding houses. One of the few buildings that was open around the clock despite the curfew was the auction house, so Hall made his way there. He was pretty sure it was allowed to walk the streets by now. There were others doing so and he couldn¡¯t imagine how the soldiers would enforce the curfew anyway when hundreds or even thousands of players would walk around at night. So he entered the building that had a sign with an auctioneer¡¯s hammer on it and approached one of the open counter windows. The clerk looked tired but was friendly when he greeted Hall and explained how it all worked. Putting a duration of three days on his auction would cost him 3% of the sale value. One day would have been cheaper at 2% but more time allowed more bidders to make their offer. He could also choose the option of one week which would cost him 5% but he was a little too impatient to wait that long. There were also additional costs at the beginning of every auction as to prevent players from putting in every bit of loot they found. Even with the sales of items alone Sphinx, the company behind Novus Vita, made many millions. Beside the auctions for real money, there were also those for the ingame currency. What came as a surprise was the announcement of the prohibition of the exchange of real money and gold. Yet it was also to Hall¡¯s liking because if you could easily use gold to get money he would always feel a little guilty for spending the ingame currency. Of course it was possible to buy items with gold and sell them for real money, but along the way much of its value would be lost to the auction house, especially since the fee for selling items for gold was incredibly high due to taxation. Really good items were usually sold for money anyway. Before leaving Hall put the two rings, the two magic swords and the rare one, all items he found in Bathory¡¯s castle, up for auction. He also remembered the two skill books he found in the cursed tower, which he couldn¡¯t use because of their class restrictions. Skill books usually fetched a fair amount, especially if they were rare ones. So, when he stepped out onto the huge market place that didn¡¯t show a trace of the bonfire festival anymore, he hoped for a decent payday. Several voices from merchants, who sold various commodities, were hearable and a lot of players ran around, buying and selling their loot. Because he already stocked up on all necessities he was thinking about his next step. Shep¡¯s words stayed with him to level up before dealing with the Cattle Hunt and he had to agree. He could probably deal with a few guards, even one or two of the elite ones at a time. But he was up against an army of soldiers, knights and guards and even if he fought in the shadows there was bound to be some problems. So the next option left to him was the catacombs under the city. He had high hopes for the progress of his class if he found the grimoire, though he wasn¡¯t sure he could tackle the dungeon alone but he couldn¡¯t ask anyone because nobody knew about him yet. He thought about asking Himoto, well Scarlet Fire, but their difference in level would make it impossible for him to get any decent experience. Some players already figured out that later in the game the level differences had less impact. If a level 90 player fought together with a level 100 it wasn¡¯t that big of a deal, but a level 30 with a level 40 made all the difference. Himoto was a lot more than only 20 levels above him so it wouldn¡¯t be wise to ask her just yet, though he was sure a weekend of serious grinding with barely any sleep would help him to make some decent progress. Lily agreed with his assessment and so they slowly went to the royal graveyard while taking in the scene of a city that was on the verge of waking up. Merchants walked around with their wares and carts, forges started to heat up and the smell of freshly baked bread and cooked food spread from inns and bakeries. The royal cemetery was lightly guarded as there was nothing to steal and the only reason for security was to protect it from vandalism or the homeless sleeping there. Yet it was meticulously tended to by gardeners, at least at the entrance. Beautiful flowers and giant marble gravestones and statues marked the graves of the royal family. Not only from the current one but from centuries ago. The further he went inside the cemetery, that was a lot bigger than he thought, the more trees surrounded the almost ancient graves. He searched for an hour before finding the resting place of Gantardan XVII, the grave that was supposed to lead him to the catacombs. The guards rarely walked by these old tombs and the trees and plants gave sufficient cover for what he was about to do. Hall infused the chains around his arms with soul energy and unfurled them. The blue glow was a lot brighter than at the beginning of his journey and the pulsating light made them look alive. After he looked around for any disturbance, he swung his chains with full force and let them both smash onto the granite cover of the dead king¡¯s grave. He flinched at the crushing sound and although he expected it, he was surprised by the volume and quickly looked around if any guards noticed him. ¡®Guess they are too far away, well, or they just don¡¯t care¡¯ Hall shrugged before putting all his strength into his swings again. Each strike slowly chipped away at the ridiculous durable stone. It was as if it was protected by magic to remain for eternity. A thought not too farfetched as the graves of the royals were protected by ancient spells and they were only accessible with the king¡¯s seal. It took over two hours but finally, after countless blows, the old stone crumbled and broke apart, giving way to dusty stairs leading into the dark. *Ding*
You have defiled a grave on the royal cemetery Your bounty was raised to 30 gold. Because there is only little known about you the chance of detection is low, but there are more people on aware of your presence and on the lookout for you.
He could just sigh and shake his head as there was nothing he could do about it and he didn¡¯t expect his bounty to remain low anyway. By now the sun fully reached the sky and slowly drove off the cold air, yet it didn¡¯t seem to penetrate more than a meter into what looked like a bottomless abyss promising nothing but darkness. It felt like a warning to stay out and he could have sworn he heard moaning and muffled cries of sorrow coming from the grave. Asking himself what places others got to visit in this vast game he yet again ventured into another wicked hellhole. ¡®I did not sign up for this¡­ oh wait, I did¡­ crapbaskets!¡¯ In an attempt cheer himself up, he looked at Lily who dropped her shoulders and returned his gaze. ¡°Hall, I want to go to the beach next.¡± He chuckled and took a step down, into the darkness. ¡°Alright, as soon as we are finished with this city I¡¯ll take you to the ocean.¡± Lily nodded and after gathering her courage, she followed him into the pitch black catacombs.
You have entered Roselake¡¯s Forgotten Catacombs You are the first one to discover this dungeon +25 Fame Experience from enemies will be doubled for one week Item drop rate doubled for one week
¡®Well, almost two more days of no sleep to use these seven to their fullest.¡¯ Hall already took out a torch he bought in one of the stores and set fire to it while taking one step at a time. Before he was enveloped by darkness the torch in his hand lit up and flickering light illuminated the brown stones of the staircase that led deep down into the earth. The temperature around them dropped significantly and when they finally reached the bottom of the stairs he could see his breath form clouds that rose to the low hanging ceiling. His hair almost touched the top of the room as he looked around at the writings that were carved into the stone walls of the narrow passage that lead in a straight path further into the earth. The letters on the walls were easily readable but he had no idea what they meant and Lily only shook her head after he asked her if she could translate. Out of other options he followed the tunnel carefully for half an hour before he reached a fork and the way parted into two different directions. A stone tablet was attached to the wall in front of him with runes on it that seemed to dance before his eyes. Faintly glowing they transformed and twisted and yet were hypnotic as if following a certain pattern. Before he knew it, Hall touched the tablet and the glow became stronger, the runes began to gain structure and words he could read formed before him.
RIGHT IS NOTHING LEFT ¨C LEFT IS NOTHING RIGHT ¨C CHOOSE YOUR PATH
The riddle was not really a tough one. If he chose the right path he would probably walk into little resistance, yet that way he would not reach his goal. So he turned left and headed straight into the unknown darkness barely lightened by a single torch in a sea of shadows like a lone star in the eternal pitch black universe. The beige stone walls, that were surrounding him, separated further and further, yet he barely noticed as he walked for hours and hours and slowly he began to question his choice of way. Even though claustrophobia was never a problem for him, he soon felt as if he was buried and lain to rest as the color of stone around him slowly became darker and finally turned into a glossy black that reflected the light of his torch and at the same time seem to add something to it. More than once he could have sworn something moved in the walls as shadows seemed to scurry in the corner of his eyes and disappear completely as soon as he turned his head. He tried to start a conversation with Lily, but they soon turned silent again and the tense atmosphere returned, heavier than before, making it hard to breath. ¡°Lily, something feels wrong.¡± Hall stopped, blinking and slapping himself, trying to regain his senses. His words and actions snapped them both out of what almost felt like a trance. Shaking his head and rubbing his eyes to gather his thoughts he leaned against a wall. Then he noticed. The black stone was pulsating similar to the tablet on which the riddle was engraved. Yet it was much more subtle, the pattern almost invisible, but it somehow influenced the reflection of the light and thus making it hypnotizing¡­and dangerous. ¡°We have to be careful, monsters seem to be not the only danger we¡¯ll encounter down here.¡± Hall nodded in agreement as Lily warned him and although they haven¡¯t seen a single enemy yet, he knew they were here. They had no idea how much time passed as they walked through the tunnel that dulled their senses and now that they knew the trick they kept each other from falling for the trap again. After another hour they saw holes in the floor they had to evade. Holes they would have fallen in if they had continued to walk in trance. Holes they couldn¡¯t even see bottom of and when they dropped down a pebble there was no echo, no sound, just a terrifying silence. Swallowing hard they proceeded and finally they reached a large chamber. Hall almost forgot to check for dangers as he breathed in deep because they could leave those damn tunnel behind for now. The moment they crossed the threshold into the room, a large stone door fell from the top, closing off the entrance and their only way out. At the same time hundreds of torches lit up to their left and right, forming a path, guiding them to the center of the room. A beam of white light emerged from the high ceiling and illuminated a pedestal right where the trail of torches ended. It seemed to be made of dim cast iron, swallowing the light. A heavy book was placed on top of it, a view which made Hall cringe as he was reminded of his start in Novus Vita. Yet the book gave of a different feel. Instead of an appalling feeling of disgust he felt a grave presence, heavy with sorrow and solitude. He just knew the tome was important, much more important than a simple book with a dark ebony colored cover and bright white pages. He was sure this was the grimoire he was supposed to find, but he looked around the room suspiciously. ¡®This is way too easy, so where¡¯s the catch?¡¯ While keeping an eye on the shadows surrounding them he followed the path marked by flames and the moment he wanted to touch the book bright light blinded him. When he could see more than blurred shapes again, the round room, was soaked in green, soothing light. At one side of the large stone chamber, the one opposite to the entrance, a grand golden throne was visible. In a circle around him, a meter from the wall, stood seven figures looking at him with smiles on their faces. They all looked regal, noble, like kings and emperors of tales told to kids. One of them took a step into his direction. The tall man was clad in shining plate armor and held a large shield in front of him. His brown hair and full beard were well groomed and his blue, honest eyes looked at him with kindness and curiosity. ¡°Welcome mortal, you are the first one to enter our realm for a very long time and you chose to venture into these depth all alone. We are guardians of these halls, charged with the duty to only let those pass that prove themselves worthy. So to achieve your goal and to leave alive you will experience what we have to share.¡± Although Hall¡¯s Soul Perception was active he couldn¡¯t read those around him at all. It was as if their souls were covered in thick mist, as if they would belong to another world or time. The shield bearer stepped closer to Hall. ¡°My name is Humitas and I will share my story with you first.¡±
The Seven Trials of Lives long gone The seven guardians of the forgotten catacombs below Roselake will share their stories with you. Your actions won¡¯t alter the past and yet they will have consequences for your future. If you exceed the time limit of seven days to finish all stories you will be buried under the collapsing ceiling and tons of rock and earth.
Hall was a little disappointed it wasn¡¯t a quest. He wasn¡¯t sure how much enemies he would get to fight and as his goal was to gain some experience to level up, he was unsure of how useful these stories would be. If he wouldn¡¯t need the grimoire he might as well simply train his stats, although by now they were incredibly hard to raise. His speed of acquiring bonus stats has slowed down considerably as he already got a more than decent amount. So it was necessary to raise his level first before picking up additional training. That way he could increase his attribute points a bit faster. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡®Might as well enjoy it a bit, I guess I was a little too focused on my progress and I forgot this is supposed to be a game.¡¯ So he waited while the man who called himself Humitas began to glow and the light spread through the whole room as he looked straight at Hall. ¡°I told you my name, now you will see parts of my life as a second prince, a paladin and a leader¡­ and what followed.¡± His voice faded as blinding light enveloped Hall and swept away his senses. Only a few moments later it felt like he was racing through a brilliant white nothingness as pictures and scenes rushed past him, showing him bits and pieces of the life of a growing boy. From early childhood, as he was tutored inside a large castle with his siblings and as he played with them afterwards. The boy would pretend to be a knight and with a wooden sword he would rescue the princess, a doll his parent¡¯s gave one of his sisters, from the evil dragon, played by his butler. Days he enjoyed were followed by days of sorrow as his grandparents got sick and died. It was a good way to grow up. He was taught well, his mind and body shaped by the best teachers the kingdom had to offer. His parents loved him as they loved all their children. To prevent a dispute over the crown his father sent him to become a knight of the church. He hated it at first, cried rivers, threw tantrums and cursed his parents. Of course in the end he gave in and became a great knight. His swordsmanship was outstanding and his sharp mind helped him climb the ranks and gain a large following among the members of the church and parts of the army. Hall slowly became dizzy as the images kept passing by him and showed Humitas leading battalions of soldiers onto the battlefield, gaining victory after victory, increasing the number of those supporting him inside the kingdom. After the war was over and people focused on their lives again, they noticed the miserable state the kingdom was in. Hunger and death was everywhere, no men to cultivate the fields, to hunt or fish. Despair spread and it gave birth to anger. Anger over the king, over the senseless war and over the decadent nobility. And people remembered. Remembered the one who lead them during the war, during times of suffering. Remembered who bled beside them while their king hid behind high and heavy walls. Humitas had no desire to be king but his elder brother grew anxious. Scared he hid in his throne room, surrounded by his men, only hearing reports and whispers of treason and rebellious thoughts. He was afraid his younger brother would take his kingdom away. His parents dead, his family exiled and only those around him that wished to gain from the fragile state of his mind, he was convinced Humitas was planning a revolution. Imprisoning and executing countless citizens over a non-existent plan to overthrow his reign, he fueled the fires of rebellion and after an order to execute his brother, Humitas saw only one way to end the suffering of the kingdom¡¯s people. He didn¡¯t want a battle, but he was prepared for one. He raised his banners and thousands followed his call. Farmers, Fishers and Veterans flocked to him, armed with pitchforks and hatchets. Those who didn¡¯t have to give up their weapons and armor after the war, sold them for a few loafs of bread or some vegetables and pieces of meat to feed their families. The only decently armed unit was composed of defectors from the army, following their former leader or being fed up with the current one. It wasn¡¯t an army. It was a nation. Men, women and children, hungry and desperate, they demanded the king¡¯s head as they marched to the castle, Humitas at the front. He never wanted it, dressed like the ones behind him he looked like a commoner and he lost the taste for luxury long ago. He avoided the festivities after the war and never accepted the medals and lands he was supposed to receive. Yet he couldn¡¯t ignore the suffering of his people and put himself at the tip of the rebellion. When they arrived at the king¡¯s palace he screamed for his brother, wanted to convince him to step down, choose exile over a fight. When the king stepped out on the balcony Humitas didn¡¯t recognize him. Deep furrows were carved into his hollow face and lack of sleep and fear made his eyes hazy and unfocused. His high pitched voice reached the ears of the people beneath him. ¡°Fools, this is my kingdom, MY KINGDOM, I won¡¯t allow you nor anyone to take it from me, not my kingdom¡­my kingdom¡­¡± His voice slowly died down as he repeated himself over and over and turned around to enter the palace again. At the same moment the large palace gates opened and an army of foreign looking soldiers poured out. Dozens of archers appeared on the roofs around them and even a few cavalry troops left the stables next to the large castle. The king used his dwindling funds to hire mercenaries from foreign countries and even gave away lands and titles to gather troops. The people behind Humitas clenched their weapons and many trembled at the sight of the soldiers. They were only a few hundred, yet they were well armed and organized. The atmosphere was tensed and Hall¡¯s mind raced as he took in the scene. He heard screams and saw an arrow leave the bowstring of a soldier when time around him slowed down. His sight became blurry as he was pulled into the image before the arrow struck a woman¡¯s neck, causing a bloodbath to unfold. Before Hall could realize what had happened, he was in the middle of the battle. A large kitchen knife in his right hand and what looked like the back of a chair as an improvised shield in his left, he stood among the men and women who were attacked by the foreign mercenaries. Confused he looked around. He saw scenes that were gruesome to behold. So far he witnessed several battles and killed his fair share of monsters, yet it was different now. Children riddled with arrows, women chopped to pieces and men crying for their parents. And just so much blood. He felt helpless. His arms and legs trembled, clinging to his makeshift weapons. Lily wasn¡¯t by his side and he had no power to speak of. That¡¯s when he heard it. A blasting roar rolled over the forces in front of the palace and caused everyone to pause for a moment, even in midst of all the bloodshed. Humitas stood among several mercenary corpses and his imposing figure shone like a beacon of hope for the desperate masses. ¡°Do not falter! Do not fall! Raise your arms and fight for your families, for your friends, for your country. I will give my life for you here and now and I ask of you, join me in this battle to free our homes and to release you from despair.¡± Those words seemed to inspire the ones around him. Their backs a little straighter, their eyes a little brighter, they now faced their enemies with new hope. Even Hall seemed to be a little inspired by it, maybe he just needed something to shake him out of his confusion. At that moment he saw a flash out of the corner of his eyes and when he yanked up his left arm an arrow pierced the piece of wood he held and almost penetrated his shoulder. Throwing away his improvised shield he ran up to a mercenary who¡¯s sword was about to stab a woman that lay on the ground with an arrow stuck in her leg. With precise movements he sliced his throat and rammed the knife in his hand into the soldier¡¯s heart. Scenes similar to Hall¡¯s were happening all over and surprised screams of the enemies were music to his ears as they were surprised by the sudden resistance. After he quickly confirmed that the woman was alive, he grabbed the sword of the man he just killed and looked around for more opponents. His cheap knife was useless as the handle broke off after it was lunged into the enemy¡¯s chest. Although it turned from a slaughter into a battle, they were still inferior to the mercenaries. If they managed to push them back, arrows were sent flying, breaking their advance and crippling their assault. The pattern repeated itself and made it impossible for them to win the battle. So Hall made a decision. He ran past dozens of fighting men and women, slashing and stabbing left and right, killing or wounding several foes. Even if he couldn¡¯t use his skills and he dearly missed his chains, he was not defenseless. Running into an alley it looked like he was fleeing, just as several others already did, yet he turned around and climbed the roof of a large building beside the place in front of the palace. The wooden roof was creaking under the feet of half a dozen bowmen that fired into the crowd. Without delay Hall sneaked up at them from behind and slit their throats silently as to not alert the others. They weren¡¯t wearing armor and their level was low, a critical hit with the multiplier from a sneak attack instantly dropped them. His experience increased significantly as he jumped from roof to roof, slaying dozens of archers. Only after he was discovered he had to slow down and evade several arrows. Still, his interference caused the arrows, which killed so many of the unarmored people, to stop falling from the sky and the few archers that were left now focused on him. Instead of confronting them on the open roof he dropped down into the alleys and appeared behind them, killed one or two and dropped down again before any arrow could pierce his skin. The mercenaries tried to stop him, but now, without the support from higher grounds, they were pushed back by the desperately fighting men and women under Humitas¡¯ command. Hall was tired sooner than he liked. He killed over thirty mercenaries by himself and his stamina almost hit rock bottom as he was weaker than usually by far. Yet the battle was not over. So he jumped from a roof after killing the last archer and ran to the men that fought by Humitas¡¯ side. Together they sliced through the enemies and picked up several of their own people that were struggling and close to being overwhelmed. Their forces grew and they now formed a real formation, pushing back the mercenaries and overwhelming them with sheer numbers. The tides of battle changed with the death of the archers and in the end, victory was theirs. Soon enough the remaining enemies and the king, as well as several nobles, were dragged out of the palace and were executed on the spot as they were crying, screaming and cursing. It was unsightly, yet nobody bat an eye. Thousands of corpses surrounded them. Their rebellion was successful, yet the price they paid was a grave one. Again Hall was pulled from his body and he saw several days pass by in a few flashes and when he was back in the body he just fought in, he was in a throne room, standing in front of Humitas. Around him he saw several others he remembered from the battle. They stood on the same stairs as him and down in the room were hundreds of well-dressed people applauding. Humitas gave them a warm smile as he stood in front of a throne on top of the stairs, a meter away from Hall. ¡°Thank you for your service, without you, all of you, we would not be stranding here as free men today. So as a reward for your service, I will grant you titles and land you can call your own. But remember, protect your people with the same passion you used in the battle.¡± While more applause was audible from the ranks of nobles and most of the ones being rewarded smiled happy, Hall could just sigh. He had no interest in titles and he wanted to get on with the story to get to the grimoire. ¡°I am grateful for this reward, yet I have to decline, I hope you understand.¡± Most of the people in the room stared at him in shock and incomprehension. Humitas was the only one smiling. ¡°I understand and for showing not only showing smart tactics and a great fighting ability, but also modesty you will be one of my closest guards from now on and my acting right hand.¡± Hall was surprised to say the least, he had not expected this development but before he could react, he was pulled out of his body again and was thrown back into snow white surroundings. More pictures raced past him as he saw the passing of time. The man he was possessing, Hall couldn¡¯t think of a better word, remained at Humitas¡¯ side through several years. The kingdom seemed to have a bright future with the new leader, the harvests were plentiful and the people happy. Yet over time, people seemed to be alienated as their savior disappeared from their sight and further melted into the distant figure of a king. The nobles that wanted Humitas off the throne tried to gain more influence and with enough bribes and lies they slowly managed to stir up some people. A few members of the royal family returned after their eldest brother was killed and tried to consult the new king, who became more and more stubborn during his years of leadership. The empty treasury and the question of legitimate lordship gnawed on his mind. Several smaller conflicts erupted on the borders, many of them instigated by rich nobles who wanted to weaken the king and other nobles. After over fifteen years Humitas¡¯ youngest brother, barely twenty, tried to take the crown, yet Hall¡¯s counterpart in this world killed him and suffocated any thoughts of rebellion. All these events took their toll on the king¡¯s mental health. He became paranoid and isolated, surrounding himself with his guards and Hall¡¯s body remained by his side always. Yet he saw the look in Humitas¡¯ eyes when his alter ego turned his back to him. He didn¡¯t trust him, almost expected betrayal. So the years passed and the situation worsened. Droughts caused hunger and hunger caused despair. Some might find a sense of irony in the events unfolding, but Hall could not laugh as schemes to replace the king were formed and whispers of treason were shared behind closed doors. Over two decades passed and Humitas had aged considerably, his face hollow, his eyes unfocused, sometimes confused, but always scared. Hall remembered this look, the same look he saw on the king¡¯s brother. As history likes to, it repeated itself. Now Humitas stood on the same balcony he screamed at so many years ago, looking down at his people with twitching eyes and a high pitched voice. ¡°Fools, I was the one who saved you from tyranny and you want to take my kingdom away from me now? Never, I won¡¯t allow it, it¡¯s mine, MINE, MY KINGDOM¡­my kingdom.¡± The saddened Hall looked at his counterpart who had nothing left in his eyes but pain over seeing his old friend, the king he believed in, in this state. Overlooking the crowd in front of the palace he saw thousands of men, women and children. Hungry, dirty, many unarmed. They were rebelling with torches and shovels. Hall could only shake his head. The moment the gates opened and he saw hundreds of soldiers leave the palace, he was forced into the same body as before. A sense of dread overcame him as he had to witness the king¡¯s army approach the terrified people. He didn¡¯t want to see a scene like last time. Never. So with a heavy heart he raised his sword and rammed it into the king¡¯s back, piercing his heart, as the man turned to leave. Humitas¡¯ eyes filled with surprise and hate as he moved his lips without voicing any words. The king¡¯s level was pretty high, but it seemed like he was severely affected by his mental state and Hall¡¯s body was a lot stronger than he remembered, probably even significantly stronger than his original one. So it only took him a single strike to immobilize his lord. With the next one he decapitated him and through a mighty roar, filled with sorrow and anger, he stopped all movement below. Everyone looked at him as he stood in complete silence, the king¡¯s head raised high for all to see. It seemed like nobody had the desire to sacrifice himself for a dead king, so they all just looked up to Hall, expecting him to act. But he simply dropped the severed head on the tiled balcony, painting the white, polished marble in a deep red tone and raised his voice. ¡°This kingdom is yours, do with it whatever you want, I don¡¯t want it.¡± Breathing in deeply, he turned his back on the thousands below him and stepped into the palace or he planned to as he was yanked back and his mind left the borrowed body. This time there was complete darkness instead of the white light and only slowly did his vision come back. He had returned to the torch-lit room in the catacombs below Roselake. His heart pounded and while breathing franticly, he made sure he was in his own body again and Lily was beside him. After confirming everything was alright, he looked at the man in front of him. Only now he noticed the faint line on his neck where he had cut him with his sword. ¡®Was that scar there before?¡¯ Humitas¡¯ eyes were harder than he remembered and Hall could not read them at all. ¡°So you made your choice mortal. Tell me, why did you not take the crown?¡± Shrugging with his shoulders, he thought for a moment. ¡°I have no desire to be king, no desire to rule and no desire to have others bow to me.¡± With unmoving eyes, the man he just killed in another world or another time or maybe both, taxed him unsatisfied. ¡°Yes, but we all have our roles to play in this world. I always thought of myself as the puppeteer, deciding the lives of others, yet at the end I was the one dangling from strings others pulled. Was it humans? Gods? Fate? Who knows! But what about you?¡± This time Hall thought about it longer before answering with a stern look on his face. ¡°I won¡¯t allow anyone to make me his puppet and I have no desire to play with the fate of others. You can see me as the one who cuts the strings, just as I cut yours.¡± The tall man, who still held on to his shield, nodded. ¡°Interesting answer, we¡¯ll see how you will fare with it, but remember one thing. I was a good man once, as was my brother, but we were afraid. Afraid of losing our power, afraid of what lurked in the shadows. It was fear that clouded my mind and it was fear that drove me into the darkness, so if you want to learn something from my story, don¡¯t be afraid and keep fear at bay.¡± At those words Hall could just shake his head, saddened by Humitas¡¯ lack of understanding. ¡°Even after centuries you are not more prudent than the moment I took your head, if that¡¯s what happened to you back then. It was not fear that killed you, it was the way you faced it. Fear is not an enemy we have to fight, but it may be an obstacle we have to overcome. It is something that can control us, overwhelm us and destroy us. Something that breeds cruelty and hatred. Yet it is also something that can guide us, help us on our way to become stronger, to become wiser and in the end, to become kinder. And I for my part refuse to be ruled by it.¡± He wasn¡¯t sure it was the smart thing to go against these guardians, but he had no idea what to do anyway. A story was not the kind of trial he expected and he couldn¡¯t do anything against it, so he simply followed his instincts. Again Humitas didn¡¯t look pleased when he directed his words at him. ¡°Very well, the second guardian will take my place now.¡± He stepped back and the light surrounding his body dimmed while the figure next to him became brighter and placed himself before Hall.
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---------------------------- Author¡¯s Note: Took me some time, sorry for that, been really busy this last month, but not to worry, I am still continuing my story :grin: So I hope you like the new chapter Next one will be out in a week (almost sure^^) I know seven stories seems like a lot, but it was a choice I made for a reason. The other stories will be much shorter than this one and I will probably finish the trials next chapter, so if you wait for more progress, a little more patience please ;) Thank you for all your comments last chapter, it is really encouraging to see so many people take an interest in this story and are even thinking about how to make it better So please continue to tell me your opinions, suggestions and point out any mistakes you find, I really appreciate your support :bye: Chapter 16 - Space Oddity Chapter 16 ¨C Space Oddity It was an old man, thin grey hair only covering the sides of his head and a wooden cane in the right hand. He walked slowly, as if he had all the time in the world and wasn¡¯t rushed by Hall¡¯s impatient glare. When he stood before him, the old man, barely reaching his shoulders in height, opened his mouth and talked even slower than he walked. His behavior caused Hall to be forced to breathe slowly to stay calm. He had a deadline to meet and had no idea how much time was left until the ceiling would cave in and bury him. Even the thought gave him goosebumps. It was somehow worse than being stabbed, shot or set on fire by magic, he didn¡¯t know why exactly but that¡¯s just how he felt. ¡°My name is Patienius and now I will observe your reaction to what I show you.¡± Again the light overwhelmed his senses and before he knew it, he was back in a bright, endless space. Pictures of a young boy raced past his eyes. A human born into slavery. Used by a magical race, smaller, weaker, yet infinitely more powerful thanks to their abilities. For generations humans, who weren¡¯t able to use magic, were under the thumb of their cruel lords, without any hope of better times to come. As Patienius grew up, he witnessed the brutality his people had to suffer. He waited, thought it was part of life and never harbored any desire to strike back. Instead he was taught to forgive those that wronged him and show mercy. It all changed when his mother fainted from overworking and instead of letting her rest, they used whips to torture her for hours. She died after days of suffering. Patienius was barely fourteen and his whole world changed. The light of his life extinguished, he only saw death, sorrow and agony around him. Over the following years his rage festered inside of him like a disease, consuming him and making him forget everything he was taught. He found others who felt the same and they formed cells of resistance. Yet they couldn¡¯t do much against the magic of their lords. Still, they tried, lurking in the darkness, planting traps and using poison. After a few successful hits the reaction was gruesome. Their groups were flushed out, their families publicly executed. It was a bloodbath that fueled his rage and made his determination even firmer. After years they finally got a chance they never thought they would get. The mana well that supplied their country dried up and the nation was in disarray. It was the moment the humans and Patienius waited for. Without magic their lords were powerless against their physical superior bodies and in one night the streets were colored in thick, almost black blood that flowed from countless wounds of the magical race, they systematically slaughtered. Patienius laughed as he tore thin limbs from small, grey bodies, cracked skulls and broke bones. The rage in him took over and a curtain of read covered his sight as he butchered even women and children. In a few days a whole race was drowned in their own blood. At the beginning Hall was glad when he saw the humans taking up arms and grasping their freedom. Though soon enough he frowned. His face was distorted as he saw the mayhem unfold and he had to swallow hard to keep his stomach from rioting. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t turn his head away or close his eyes. After a while he even thought about logging out, yet he persevered and wished he could scream at Patienius to just stop the slaughter. Justice was long served. Revenge taken. What he witnessed was genocide. The collective punishment of a whole race for the crimes of a few. Sure, the tolerance of slavery was abominable, yet a nation could learn and change for the better if the cancer that poisoned it was removed. Hall had no problems with punishment and revenge. On the contrary, he still sometimes dreamed of the moment he could smash in the faces of those that wronged him. But this was simply too much and he was thankful when he finally was surrounded by darkness again and soon was back inside the room, standing in front of the old man. Patienius¡¯ facial expression barely changed when he raised his head and looked into Hall¡¯s eyes. ¡°So what did you see young one?¡± Lily remained silent as she observed Hall, she knew he was in turmoil, but she didn¡¯t know what to do in this situation as she didn¡¯t see what he did. Sighing he shook his head. ¡°Old man, you forgot what you were told! By your deeds you loaded guilt onto your people coming generations would have to carry. Inextinguishable for centuries. You became something you never wanted and your mother, the only good thing, the only light in your life, would have turned away from you in anguish. Tell me, do you remember her face? Her voice? Do you even remember her name?¡± Silence and the grinding of teeth was the answer he received as the old man turned around without another word and stepped away while the light around him dimmed. Even though he didn¡¯t really expect a great speech, he was surprised Patienius simply remained silent, but just shrugged it off. He still didn¡¯t really like the situation. The pictures he was shown were bloody and sad, his time was ticking and he barely got any experience or skill gain for a while now. Furthermore he didn¡¯t trust the figures around him, so he couldn¡¯t even talk to Lily without giving her presence away. A few meaningful glances and Lily¡¯s hands on his shoulders were the only thing he had to support him. Still, it was enough. The third figure stepped forward while Hall took some sips of his canteen and ate a part of his rations. A young woman, dressed in plain ocher brown cloth. She seemed modest. Her bronze colored hair was bound behind her head and her delicate hands were resting on her thighs as she bowed lightly to greet him. ¡°It is a pleasure to meet you, brave adventurer. My name is Temperia and I ask of you to experience my story.¡± He did not look forward to another tale, though cursing didn¡¯t help and he couldn¡¯t do anything but wait for the bright light to envelop him for another time. Almost wishing for another dark dungeon full of goblins to smash, images started to flash past him. Just like before they showed a young child growing up. A girl, from a poor family, raised on thin broth and stale bread in the slums of an old, dirty city. Yet she was always humble, took never more than she needed or her family was able to spare. Even when hungry she could control herself and never stole or forgot about those that were in an even worse state than herself. Always covered in dust and mud she never wore clean clothes until the funeral of her parents when she was in her early teens. Yet luck was on her side as she was adopted by a couple of wealthy merchants who weren¡¯t able to have a child of their own. It was the first time she ever had something she could call her own and she loved it, every second of it. There was more than she needed, more than she could ever use, simply more. Yet somehow, inside her there was something missing. Since the day her family was no more, she felt¡­ empty. Her adoptive parents were trying hard, but they were an older couple that just never really connected to her and tried to show their love with opulent meals and valuable goods. But it wasn¡¯t enough. It never was. While watching her grow up, somewhere between her sixteenth and twentieth birthday he felt a familiar pull and suddenly Hall looked around, seeing tables that bent under copious amounts of food. He also noticed his petite hands and the smooth skin. ¡®Oh great.¡¯ A state he was not familiar with and felt very comfortable in. The blinking satiety bar was the only thing that distracted him from the fact that he seemed to be a girl now. Almost unbearable hunger and countless different dishes in front of him made it hard to think straight. Without waiting any longer he grabbed some meat and took a large bite out of it. Buttered bread, chocolate cake and pork cutlets were all scooped up and landed inside his stomach followed by sizeable amounts of sweet tea and lemon soda. His satiety bar barely filled no matter how much food he devoured, the gold and jewels around him hardly satisfied him. There was a deep pit inside his stomach and it was too painful to let it remain empty. Every bite, every bit of riches made it a little better but after a moment without them he felt the emptiness grow larger again. Hall felt disgusted with himself as he stuffed more and more food inside his mouth. He wanted to stop, tried to, but his body just wouldn¡¯t listen to him. It felt as if he was imprisoned inside his own body while it was controlled by a stranger. The irony was not lost on him. Dizziness and nausea were the results of him resisting, the result of his attempt to stop. Of course that was no reason for him to give up. Instead he welcomed the sickening feeling. It meant there was an effect, a reason to continue. Unyielding. Relentless. With an inner grin he let out a dark laugh as he put his whole mind and soul into resisting the control that was put on him. His small, trembling hands stopped moving and it almost tore him apart as his satiety bar dropped until it was finally empty. With a roar of determination and tenacity he took a chair and smashed the ebony wood into the plates and pots, scattering pieces of meat and porcelain and covering expensive cloth in dark sauces. A high pitched scream inside his head hit him like a sledgehammer and he almost blacked out as he noticed the crying noises of a small girl beneath the deafening shriek. The moment he thought his mind would be torn asunder all his senses shut down. The last image he saw was a young woman, not as young as he recalled though, but five times the size he remembered. Breathing heavily and sweating while eating, she sat in her own filth, covered in luxurious clothes and jewelry. Her tears were the last thing he saw before everything turned dark and he was back inside the large chamber where Lily and the seven figures waited. Temperia stood before him, a single tear rolling down her cheek and without uttering a single word she turned around and left him in silence. Meanwhile he had to breath in deeply not to vomit, although he didn¡¯t know if it was possible while in the game. It certainly felt like it. His stomach was turning and he was shivering slightly. The sickening feeling didn¡¯t last long and when he felt better again, another man stood a few steps away from him. The rimless glasses and the short cut grey hair together with the neat blue trousers and vest and the grey shirt of above average quality made him look diligent and earnest. Hall would feel compelled to give him his watch to repair or ask him for a train ticket if he¡¯d see him in the real world. His back was slightly bulged and his hands showed calluses. Although he seemed a little exhausted, his eyes were wide awake and it was as if Hall was judged when they taxed him carefully. He didn¡¯t wait long before he spoke. ¡°My name is Industius, let us get to work.¡± No time was wasted as the familiar blinding light enveloped him. This time he didn¡¯t stay in the endless white but was thrown into a body immediately. No images flew past him, no scenes of Industius as he grew up or went to school. ¡®Very efficient, no problem here.¡¯ When studying his surroundings, he saw an insufficiently lit room. A workshop filled with tools for woodworking and pieces of lumber scattered everywhere. The window showed a sleeping town in the depth of night. At this hour the workshop should have been empty, yet he saw a younger version of Industius sitting at one of the tables, carving a piece of wood, that was about the size of his head, into a sculpture of a knight. There were already dozens of little statues on the table and when he finished his piece he picked up another chunk of wood. Lifting his knife and placing it on the chestnut lumber, he noticed the gawking Hall. ¡°Who are you? Whatever, get to work or get out, we have an order to fulfill and the due date is approaching quickly.¡± Although he had no experience carving wood, he sat down on the opposite side of the man¡¯s table. In his mind playing around with a pocket knife and a stick as a child did not count as experience in commercial wood work. ¡°Where is everyone when there is so much to do?¡± He took one of the carving knifes in front of him while Industius sighed a little dejected but without any accusation in his voice. ¡°They are at home with their families, probably sleeping by now. It can¡¯t be helped, it is my workshop and I carry the responsibility to finish an order I accepted.¡± Hall nodded, it was an attitude he could get behind. He grabbed a piece of wood but before he started to work he took a closer look at the carving knife.
Fine Carving Knife
Damage:4-7Durability:75 / 95
Quality:Common
A reliable tool for carving wood. Requirements: -
It was, as the description implied, absolutely common. He had hoped for some special knife that would increase his carving ability. Starting anyway, his hopes weren¡¯t too high. Yet he still surprised himself as he witnessed his complete lack of talent. It actually made him a little sad, he never wanted to carve wood but it would be nice to know he had the ability to. ¡®Oh well, can¡¯t have everything¡­¡¯ Industius didn¡¯t seem bothered with his utter failure. It was probably because it was a part of the story and the only important thing was that Hall did anything at all, so he gained approving nods as he misshaped and blemished the expensive wood. A crime against artists and craftsmen alike that would make any real sculptor sob thick tears. Shrugging he continued to transform chunks of wood into slightly rounder chunks of wood. Of course he also added cuts and furrows into it, completely intentional. A few hours passed by, but as he raised his head he was surprised to see it had to be years. The man sitting opposite to him was an aged Industius and he wasn¡¯t carving anything, just sitting on a larger, comfortable chair, staring into the air. The whole workshop changed. It was a lot larger. A lot meaning it was a factory hall. ¡®Guess he made the order and then some.¡¯ Although the place was filled with expensive machines, it was completely devoid of any worker. Cobwebs and dust were covering most surfaces and the only one in the factory other than Hall was Indiustius. ¡°What happened? Why aren¡¯t you working? Why isn¡¯t anybody here working?¡± It took several seconds for the now older man to realize what Hall asked. He slowly turned his head to him and with half closed, tired eyes he answered while yawning. ¡°So tedious. Work. Payments. So tedious¡­ just¡­ so¡­ tedious.¡± He had no idea what happened but the man that used to work so diligently turned into a lazy sack of meat, falling asleep after speaking a few words, without even forming whole sentences. Looking around he hoped to find a clue what to do, then he noticed there were still a few chunks of wood left on his table, the only pieces he could see anywhere. ¡°Industius, let¡¯s finish them. Our last order.¡± But the man just snorted at him, making no effort to even open his eyes. Sighing Hall could only shake his head. It was not his style to leave something unfinished, so he picked up the lumber and carved it into weird forms, resembling nothing at all. He already confirmed this body had the stats of a newly made character and no skills at all. Because of his class he couldn¡¯t learn any crafting skills but he hoped to gain the dexterity attribute he read about or maybe some kind of deft hands skill. Unfortunately it seemed he either hasn¡¯t spent enough time carving or there were additional hurdles he had to overcome to acquire these abilities. There was also the possibility he just wasn¡¯t cut out for fine and delicate movements that required a high level of dexterity but he hoped that was not the case. He would have to look into it sometime because he saw videos and pictures of passive and active skills that required a certain amount of dexterity. They would increase his chance of critical attacks, their damage and the chance to evade an attack. Right now he had to concentrate on other things though. When he put the last finished piece down he was rewarded with what he had hoped for. He was back in the round room, Industius, now awake again, watching him closely. ¡°Why did you finish the work? A work you had no talent for? Something others long gave upon.¡± Thinking about it for a moment Hall gave a simple answer. ¡°I don¡¯t believe in luck and talent only gets you so far. Without hard work you will never achieve anything of worth and if you start doing something, you better finish it.¡± Swaying his head, neither nodding nor shaking it, Industius turned his back on him while the fifth figure stepped up, shining brighter by the second. He was used to the spectacle by now. This time a tall young woman stood before him. Her blond hair at shoulder length and the red linen dress gave her a modest yet beautiful look. With an enchanting smile she raised a hand to greet him. ¡°Hello young man, Benvoleia is my name, I feel grateful you will bear witness to what I have to show. I know you must be exhausted so I will try not to be a burden.¡± Her cheerful expression disappeared under the bright radiating light that enveloped Hall and once again threw him into an empty space where pictures paced past him. A beautiful but plainly dressed girl whose parents died early. She was barely sixteen and had to take care of her two siblings and her bedridden grandmother. It was hard, but she managed. Her parents left her a good deal of money and it was enough to bring her two little brothers through school, pay for food and medicine and buy a few clothes every now and then. She rarely complained as her friends bought expensive clothes, went to the theater or the opera. Of course it gnawed at her, yet she knew she had no right to complain as there were those that had it a lot harder. As an employee of the city she often worked with those less fortunate. The poor, the sick, the homeless. Sometimes she brought food or worn out clothes from her brothers, helping out where she could. Smiles and laughs were reward enough¡­ for a while. It simply bothered her when she got older and her friends got married by showing their best side to the young noble sons. Yet she was stuck in the same building every day, helping out her family, helping out others. She loved them all, but what about her? Didn¡¯t she deserve something nice? Wasn¡¯t she entitled to it? Those were thoughts she tried to avoid. Though no matter how hard she did so, they always seemed to creep up on her. When she ate and observed the busy street or when she lay in her bed, tired from a day¡¯s work. Hall somehow knew, he shared her feelings, her guilt over them and her hidden desire for their fulfillment. Although he only saw her like a spectator, it was as if he was part of her. Experiencing the feelings of others and your own at the same time. Certainly a confusing and unpleasant experience and after a while, an overwhelming one. Soon it was hard to differentiate which feelings belonged to whom. Why should the other women get what she was entitled to? Resentment grew in him. Animosity and bitterness. Hall was convinced, Benvoleia had the right to some nice clothes or to some good food. She deserved it, more than the others. He shook his head violently in his bodiless state. ¡®Get out of my head, damn it!¡¯ It took all his concentration and will to withstand the intrusive thoughts smashing against his mind like a tidal wave of corrupted emotions. It was hard for him. Jealousy was an emotion he knew well as it accompanied him many years. It was others that had a family, friends, a home, but he beat these feelings once and he was not to be defeated now. Before he knew it, the kind eyes of Benvoleia turned cruel, her compassion was swept away by resentment. A pitiful sight that made it easy for Hall to defy the voices in his head. The moment the unusual battle was decided, he returned to the waiting, kinder and more sympathetic looking Benvoleia. A woman not devoured by jealousy. Yet she seemed hurt by his blatant disapproval. However Hall did not really care and used the time in his own body to drink and eat a bit before he was gone for an undetermined interval again. Forgetting his manners, he talked with a full mouth. ¡°You know, you should have really concentrated more on what you have than on what you were missing. You could have had a really happy life.¡± She wanted to say something, but instead remained silent and turned around. He just shrugged while packing away his rations. ¡°Can anyone tell me how much time I spent in this chamber so far? My inner clock seems to be out of tune.¡± He was not graced with an answer immediately, only when the sixth figure stood in front of him, he received one. ¡°We are not at liberty to say. The uncertainty is part of your trial.¡± Hall nodded at the man¡¯s words but his eyes remained on Lily. To the seven it looked like he was simply staring into the air, but he was signaling Lily to talk to him. ¡°Three days. Three long days you did not move from that spot and were mostly gone. I am so bored right now, it is unbearable, so you better get on with it and then you¡¯ll better show me something nice.¡± Her eyes sparkled a little bit. ¡°Some battle would do too, an exciting one, we against an army of evil or something like that.¡± Hall had to force himself not to chuckle at Lily¡¯s outburst, but he couldn¡¯t hold it against her as it had to be terrible monotone for her to just sit around while he witnessed all these stories. Considering he still couldn¡¯t talk to her openly without giving her existence away, he simply gave her a quick smile and an unnoticeable nod for support and turned towards the man who spoke before. The one standing before him was impossible to read. His age, his expression, he wasn¡¯t even sure it was a man, but it was easier to think of him that way. His blue clothes, accurately cut and well fitting, almost seemed like a uniform. His arms behind his back, he was standing straight and unmoving. If not for his words, in a voice as neutral as his facial expression, he might as well be a statue. ¡°My name is Caritius and I hope you will be part of our endeavor. Our task, our obligation, was a simple one. We wanted to spread prosperity and knowledge. Peace was our way, we even gave up our lives in the hope of reaching the hearts of those that bared their fangs at us.¡± After the light, which enveloped him, slowly died down he woke up in confusion.
Sixth Trial During the period of the sixth trial all notifications will be deactivated. Experience, stat points, skills and skill increase will be applied when you return. Mana, health and stamina will be invisible Status, skill window and item informations can¡¯t be displayed Private chat and log out menu available You are allowed to take a single item with you, choose wisely!
Barely noticing the message, he turned around and now lay on his back. The narrow bed under him creaked as he rubbed his tired eyes and stretched while pushing the rough woolen blanket away with his feet. ¡®What a strange dream¡­wait¡­¡¯ He tried to make sense of the situation. Remembering the trials and that he was not actually waking up took him several moments and the siren ringing in his head did not help. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. It took him another moment to notice the siren was not inside his mind, but actually resounding through the room he was in. The nerve wrecking sound was accompanied by a flashing red light above a metal door on the opposite side of the windowless room. With a single glance he took in every detail of the small room he woke up in. Beside the bed there was only a white metal desk with a single chair next to it. The cupboard next to his bed was of the same color as the table and the lamp that hung from the ceiling, which had turned on by now and spread surprisingly warm light. Next to the door was a small sink with a mirror above it and a simple towel on a grey rack. Even though the furniture barely covered the basic needs, it made the tiny room seem cramped. ¡°This is the captain speaking, this vessel is under attack, everyone to their posts, this is not a drill, I repeat, this is not a drill.¡± The roaring voice drowned out the siren and contributed to Hall¡¯s confusion. ¡®What the hell is going on?¡¯ His mind was in disarray, but he remembered Caritius saying something about spreading prosperity, though he didn¡¯t imagine he would wake up on a ship in the middle of the sea. What added to his bewilderment was the lack of wood surrounding him. It looked more like a metal alloy and was cold and hard to the touch. He wouldn¡¯t get any answers if he continued to sit on his bed, so he stood up and noticed he was dressed in dark blue clothes that reminded him of the ones Caritius was wearing. On the left side of his chest he noticed letters, saying ¡°HALL¡±. The last time he had clothes with his name on them it was the uniform he wore in the army. His boots were made of hard black leather and his shoulder marks showed a single golden sun cross on each side. Well it might as well be a plus with a circle around it but to him it looked like a sun cross. He assumed it was a military rank though he had no way of knowing if it was a high one or on the low side. Only now he noticed a wide, silvery bracelet on his left forearm which was blinking fervently. A flashing green button with the picture of the silhouette of a head and the word ¡°bridge¡± beneath it was shown on what looked like a screen. Although he was confused by what seemed to be futuristic technology he pressed the button and the face of on older man, maybe in his fifties, with a white, well groomed beard appeared. ¡°Lieutenant, damn it, I need you on the bridge¡­now!¡± The connection was terminated and Hall was left somewhat lost and overwhelmed by everything happening. The siren was still penetrating his eardrums while the flashing red light from the lamp above the door together with the one on his ceiling almost caused dizziness. The excited voices outside his door got louder and the repeating message of an incoming attack made him nervous. As he decided to leave the room his gaze fell on the mirror that now showed his face as he was not on his bed anymore, but standing next to it. His eyes went wide in surprise and he raised his hands, examining his face, making sure he wasn¡¯t imagining it. In the stories before, he was thrown into the bodies of others, new ones were created for him or he simply observed the actions people took. Now he was in his own body. The face that looked at him in the mirror was his. It was not the one he used in the game, but his real one. His hair had no tinge of red and he looked a little younger than he was used to. Right now he was probably around the age when he finished school, maybe a little after joining the army, which would make him around 18 or 19. Still, he looked different than he remembered. A little less exhausted. His eyes sparkled a bit more and there were no deep circles around his eyes. The small picture that was clamped between the right side of the mirror and the wall explained why. It was a picture of his parents and him on what looked like graduation day. He wore a uniform similar to his own, yet it was in grey and not dark blue and there were no markings on his shoulders yet. So he probably visited a military academy and his parents never died. Closing his eyes for a moment he shook his head and clenched his fists. ¡®I don¡¯t know if this game is cruel or if it¡¯s a nice thing to see something like this.¡¯ Fighting with his emotions as he looked at the picture and swallowing hard, he didn¡¯t even think about how the artificial intelligence was able to create the image. Of course a machine as advanced as the AI that controlled Novus Vita had no problem to comb through social media sites, articles in newspapers and even police reports. It was a widely known fact that before the game was created the AI already existed and was designed to gather and work through incredible amounts of data. Probably every single book written in the last 100 years was read by it and it was informed about every known event in history dating back to the beginning of the universe. So it was no coincidence the game would hold familiarities. They were used as references for movies or books the player loved or maybe to historic events he learned about in school or wished to know more about. Of course the biggest part was newly created material but it should be no surprise for someone who likes Shakespeare to stumble upon a king who walks disguised among his people to learn what they think of him. Although Hall also knew this, the image of him with his deceased parents came as a shock. Breathing deeply, he grabbed the picture and put it in his chest pocket. The moment he turned to the door, it opened by sliding to the side and a young woman rushed in, slightly panting as she seemed to have been running to get to his room. ¡°Hall, come on, you will be late again, this is our first mission and you are an officer now so get going already!¡± Hall was completely taken aback and gaped at the girl with wide eyes. She was around his age, her black hair bound behind her head and a smile on her lips. Her face was a beautiful and familiar one. Even though he remembered her only younger and older, as he never saw her around the age she was now, he was sure he wasn¡¯t wrong. ¡°Ja¡­¡± His gaze fell on the name on her chest before he could finish. ¡°Belinda¡­¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to look so shocked, who else were you expecting? I¡¯ve been making sure you were on time for years now, right?¡± She put her hands on her hip and pouted playfully. Only now Hall noticed the urgency in her voice and the flippant act to cover up the fear she felt wasn¡¯t keeping her from trembling slightly. It still took him a moment to shake off the new surprise. This story was getting really intense. When he moved in her direction, she stretched out her hand, stopping him. ¡°Don¡¯t forget your mana gun and your shield, seriously, are you still half asleep?¡± With her other hand she pointed at top drawer of the table that stood beside him. After he pulled it out he saw several items. One was a silvery bracer that had rails at the top and bottom edges. It looked like they would perfectly fit unto the wrist band that was already occupying his left forearm. When he put it on top of his wrist it connected to the device on it. The top of his forearm was now covered by the bracer which held a thumb size blue crystal in the middle of it. Faint lines, cuts not deeper than a hairs breadth were drawn through the metal and seemed to melt into the crystal. Although he didn¡¯t know how to use it, he assumed it was the shield she mentioned. He could still access the screen on his wrist band that was visible on the inside of his arm. The next item he picked up really resembled a gun. It reminded him of the half automatic pistols he used in the army. The metal it was made of was similar to the shield¡¯s material, although it was slightly darker and didn¡¯t reflect that much light. He also noticed faint lines running through the material. Engraved on the grip was the same symbol that was sewn to the upper right arm of his uniform. Three five pointed stars under a bridge. Two clips of ammo lay right beside the weapon. Instead of the bullets he almost expected, it was filled with small glowing crystals that contained blue light. There were sixteen crystals in each magazine and a few dim and lightless ones were scattered at the bottom of the drawer. Shrugging, still more than confused, but somehow dealing with the situation, he put the pistol into a holster made of black leather and attached it to the right side of his belt. It seemed to be standard equipment as Belinda had the same armament on her. There was still another item in the drawer. A sword with straight blade of almost a meter in length with a triangular tip. Its backside was dull and thicker than usual while the sharp edge looked like it could cut paper. What really impressed him was the pitch black color of the metal. It wasn¡¯t dull but at the same time didn¡¯t reflect any light, instead it seemed to swallow it. There were deep cuts drawn through it, similar to the other equipment, yet there were no crystals to be found. Without thinking too much about it he sheathed the blade and attached the scabbard, which was made of the same leather as the holster, to the left side of his belt. When Hall was finally done Belinda was already looking at him impatiently and urged him to move faster. ¡°You know, I think you are the only one in the army who¡¯s younger than seventy and still wearing a sword. Doesn¡¯t matter now, let¡¯s get going, the captain already called me before because he knew I had to get you again.¡± It barely had been five minutes since he was confronted with the unbelievable development of the story and he could only shake his head in disbelief. ¡®This game is just too much.¡¯ Following the impatient girl he left his room and ran through a well-lit corridor with doors on either side. The walls were made of the same metallic alloy he found in his room and as he walked by the largest door he saw so far, he noticed a sign that labeled the room behind it as the engine room. The door opened and a man, only wearing half his uniform and franticly yelling orders, ran into it. What he saw inside did nothing to ease his amazement. Five people stood around a crystal which was integrated in the wall in the back of the room. It was a large piece, at least the size of a human. A part of it would probably emerge from what looked like the rear of the ship. It was glowing in a bright blue light and the people around it were continuously pouring their energy into the crystal. So far it looked like these crystals were some kind of mana repository, storing energy that would be released at a later time. With this, the crystals in the magazines of his gun and the one in his shield made sense. Energy for attacking and for defending at the same time. Though he did not really understand how it worked, it was a start. They took the stairs next to the engine room and went up, passing a large window. As Hall went past it, he came to a halt as if he hit a wall. With wide eyes he slowly turned around and opened his mouth in disbelief. He expected to be on a ship in the middle of an ocean. What he saw though made him beyond speechless. He was on a ship that much was true. Contrary to his initial guess it wasn¡¯t on the sea though. There was endless darkness outside of the window, yet he could see countless stars shining in the distance. What made him gasp was the giant green and blue ball ahead of them that filled out a big part of the window. ¡®A planet¡­ a freaking planet¡­¡¯ He was on a spaceship. In space. On a ship. Although he was in a game it felt overwhelming. This was supposed to be a fantasy game, but there were guns and spaceships and giant planets. There was also another ship not too far from them that fired massive energy beams into their directions, only missing them by a hairbreadth or grazing their hull, causing violent shaking in their ship. The sirens, the emergency lamps and the flashing beams painted a terrifying picture. Their ship was slowly pulled from its orbit by the planet¡¯s gravity as the engine tried to fight the violent force. After several hits by the enemy¡¯s weapons their ship was in pretty bad condition while the other spacecraft looked completely unharmed. Hall had to grab onto a rail on the wall to not fall as another beam grazed them. Desperate screams were audible as wounded and scared people ran around helplessly. Bursting pipes caused liquid oxygen, cooling fluids and water to leak out and black oil seeping out from mechanical parts transformed the hallway into a dangerous path. It was still not clear to him what was happening, but right now there was an enemy in front of him which made him almost glad as he knew what he had to do. Fight! Belinda rushed the now determined Hall through another corridor and they finally arrived at the bridge, the command center of their vessel. Utter confusion dominated the scene. People were yelling with fear and urgency in their voices, trying to drown out the others, begging for orders. ¡°Commander, all outgoing communication is down, we can¡¯t call for help¡­¡± ¡°Report from the engine room, propulsion is down to 15%, captain, we can¡¯t maintain orbit¡­¡± ¡°Sir, our shields won¡¯t hold much longer, the mana crystals are almost depleted and we don¡¯t have enough mages to refuel them¡­¡± ¡°Medic bay reports two dead, eleven wounded¡­¡± ¡°Our portal generator was hit, unable to make the jump¡­¡± The only one remaining calm was the captain of the ship, the older, bearded man Hall saw on his communicator before. From what he gathered the captain held the rank of commander, which seemed to be represented by a triangle in a circle, the markings visible on his shoulder. Shadows of sorrow were spread on his face because he felt helpless and all he could do was to endure. His gaze fell on Hall as he entered the bridge. ¡°Lieutentant Hall and Ensign Belinda, about time you got here, you know what to do, get to it.¡± Actually Hall had no idea what to do, but Belinda rushed to one of the consoles and replaced the person operating it who was in utter despair, unable to cope with the situation. Within moments the angle of the ship shifted slightly, now facing the planet, yet they were also heading straight at the enemy vessel. The front of the bridge was a large screen that directly projected everything happening outside and most people on the bridge gasped sharply as they changed their course. Though it was probably to adjust the angle of entry into the planet¡¯s atmosphere so they wouldn¡¯t suffer a fiery death. Still, the sight of the enemy¡¯s spacecraft becoming larger in their field of view was a terrifying one. Hall simply approached the captain of the ship with fast steps. ¡°Commander, why aren¡¯t we returning fire?¡± The old man in front of him looked incredible tired as he sighed and shook his head. ¡°We are on a mission of peace, if it were up to me these ships wouldn¡¯t be armed at all.¡± He brushed a few hairs out of his face with his left hand. ¡°It is a very sad thing¡­ all this, our whole alliance of planets, and the task of spreading knowledge in a peaceful way, it was a noble goal and even though we suffered so many setbacks, it was the right thing to do. Now, if there is a rich planet, wealthy tribes and peoples with valuable resources or maybe even new technologies our own ships attack us to get there first, blinded by greed.¡± Hall stared at the man in shock and remained silent for a moment. ¡°We are attacked by our own people? Why¡­isn¡¯t there some kind of rule?¡± Shrugging the captain¡¯s voice was filled with grief. ¡°Of course, but in the end nobody will intervene. Out here we are on our own, but we are not the only ones who will suffer. They won¡¯t kill us, probably, but simply force us to land and then claim they had to rescue us. Then they will proceed to either take the riches of the planet in exchange for scraps or even attack its inhabitants claiming they were defending themselves.¡± Again the old man sighed heavily. ¡°In the old days our people would die before striking down others, but now they are the ones to attack. I fear this universe has no more room for good deeds or¡­¡± Before he could finish, he was hit with another energy beam, but it was worse than before. The impact caused a violent jolt running through the ship. Hall himself was blown away right into the captain¡¯s chair that was right next to him, keeping him from being injured. Many others weren¡¯t so lucky. Screams of agony were resounding through the ship, even drowning out the sirens. Shaking his head, he tried to put his senses in order and looked around. Most crew members, including Belinda, seemed alright as they were sitting at the time of the impact. A few others were smashed against walls, or instruments. Blood streamed from their wounds, many limbs broken. The captain was among the victims. One of the men called the medical bay for someone to take care of the wounded. Others already looked after them, checking for life threatening injuries and getting them out of the way. Several eyes rested on Hall who just regained his composure after hitting the captain¡¯s chair hard. He saw the Commander lying on the ground, unconscious with a bleeding head wound and two people taking care of him. ¡°Who¡¯s in command?¡± A few of the crew exchanged worried glances. ¡°Sir, this is a small ship, there are only a few officers on board. Aside from a handful of ensigns, there is only you and the commander. So you are in command Lieutenant.¡± He could only gawk at the man who uttered these words. ¡®Oh damn, might as well¡­¡¯ Nodding determined he sat down in the captain¡¯s seat and with a firm voice he made a decision. ¡°I don¡¯t know about you, but I won¡¯t be taking a beating lying down and watch my subordinates die while others get away with a fortune. No, I will stand and I will fight. Who is with me? We will remove this obstacle and we will prevail. Everyone not willing to fight can leave the bridge now and move to the escape pods, there won¡¯t be any consequences.¡± On his way to the bridge he saw several doors labeled with signs that said emergency escape pods, so he knew they existed. Apart from that he just used his knowledge from books and movies to make things up and hoped it would be the right decision. After a few seconds nobody even moved an inch from their posts, instead their faces, fearful and helpless before, showed grim determination and the will to resist. Hall¡¯s words gave them hope and another option than simply waiting for the end. Nodding, his gaze returned to the ship on the screen they were slowly approaching and he continued to give his orders. ¡°Shift manpower from the engines to the weapons systems. The only people left at the engine should be there to correct our angle of entry, we¡¯ll go down either way, so we may as well go with a bang.¡± He could have phrased that one better. Not entirely sure of his orders, he just hoped he understood the system correct. Before, he saw the mages fueling the crystal that was a part of the engine and then he heard others were imbuing the crystals that were used to sustain the shields. So he assumed most elements of the ship, like weapons and shields, were separately maintained by a number of crew members. Shifting personal should allow him to increase efficiency of certain systems at the cost of those that weren¡¯t their priority right now. ¡°What¡¯s the probability of us destroying their weapons in a single shot?¡± Several of his crew were already working with renewed vigor and he had the numbers in seconds. ¡°We don¡¯t have experienced attack mages on board, our men only went through basic training. So right now the chance of completely disabling their means of attack is below thirty percent. If we approach them a distance of 0.001 light seconds, we¡¯ll increase our chance to over 90%, this will be the case in around four minutes. From then it will take us five more minutes to enter the planet¡¯s atmosphere. Our likelihood of survival is at around 40%.¡± ¡®They might as well shoot us out of the sky instead of playing with us. Well, they¡¯ll regret it¡­¡¯ Calming himself, Hall controlled his breath and closed his eyes for a moment. ¡°All right, abandon all shields except frontal ones, keep those at full power, we are heading straight for the enemy. Ram them for all I care, but I guarantee, they will evade us. As soon as we are close enough to destroy their weapons with a chance of 90% we attack with everything we got. Afterwards switch fire to portal generator and engines. Then proceed to attack the bridge. Give them hell. Payback for our lost friends. Show them what you are made of!¡± A loud roar went through the crew as they clenched their fists in anger and their blood boiled in anticipation of fighting back. The other ship was a lot larger than their own, still, he could only see one beam cannon. Just to be sure he asked his crew and his observation was confirmed, there was only a single gun mounted on the ship. It was probably true, that these vessels were based on an old code of avoiding violence and only slightly altered in recent times. He was sure though, the people on the other spacecraft would be vastly superior in a battle on the planet¡¯s surface. ¡°Every non-essential personal has to find shelter in the emergency pods and to immediately evacuate the ship as soon as we destroyed the enemy¡¯s weapon systems. At the same time allocate the energy to the other shields so we increase our chance of survival during the atmospheric entry.¡± An infernal grin appeared on his face as he put his chin on his folded hands while his elbows were placed on the armrests of the chair in the middle of the bridge. ¡°No more running, I aim to misbehave.¡± ¡®I always wanted to say that.¡¯ As Hall quoted the movie that followed up on his favorite show he seemed calm on the outside but was tensed within and his thoughts were running wild at what was happening around him. After giving orders to deactivate the alarm throughout the ship, he made sure the wounded and those not that were not needed for the operation, were safe. Then he simply stared at the enemy vessel as if his gaze would penetrate its hull and bring down death and destruction. It became deadly silent on the ship, nobody yelled or screamed. The creaking metal, as liquid oxygen leaking from the pipes froze it, could be heard, as well as the grinding of teeth. The bridge, just like the whole vessel, was mostly veiled in darkness and the eerie light from the occasional passing beam, fired from a large mana cannon, created shadows that danced for seconds before disappearing as if they were signs of things to come. A timer appeared on the screen that counted down the last moments until they were within range to destroy the enemy¡¯s weapon. ¡°Make sure the aim is correct and prepare to fire at full power.¡± Hall watched the countdown carefully trickle down and breathed in deeply. ¡°Fire in 5¡­ 4¡­ 3¡­ 2¡­ 1¡­ FIRE!¡±
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---------------------------------- Author¡¯s Note: New chapter, hope you like it :grin: I decided to expand the story, especially the last one, so the trials will probably take another chapter, hope you don¡¯t mind^^ I¡¯m not sure I can make the release next week, as many of you may have noticed, the birthday of RoyalRoadL is coming and to celebrate there are several contests. Birthday party Maybe some of you want to participate or simply enjoy the content offered, have fun :D Thanks for the comments last chapter and please continue with your advice and suggestions, I¡¯m grateful for your support :bye: Chapter 17 - From the Hands of Sinners Chapter 17 ¨C From the Hands of Sinners A single stream of blue energy emerged from the cannon mounted below their bridge and devoured the darkness of space as it approached the foe and found its target a second later. The impact almost instantly lead to an explosion, destroying not only the large cannon that bombarded them with energy beams but ripping apart the enemy¡¯s hull. Their attack tore through metal and either killed everyone inside the adjacent room in an instant or exposed them to the cold dark vacuum of space, granting them a far slower and more painful death. ¡°Lieutenant, incoming transmission from the enemy ship.¡± Hall smiled, now a lot more relaxed. ¡°Put it on the screen, recharge weapons.¡± It took a while to reload the energy for another shot so before he could give the command to fire a second time an image appeared on the screen. A tall man, so thin it almost looked sickly, with foam on his lips screamed at the top of his lungs. ¡°What is the meaning of this? I demand to speak to your commander.¡± Hall chuckled slightly which infuriated the man only further. ¡°You are speaking to the commanding officer of this vessel. The one you attacked, now you have two options.¡± The hostile captain trembled in anger and while his face changed colors from pale to blood red he cursed Hall in colorful terms. ¡°Option one, give yourselves up, prepare to be boarded, imprisoned and trialed.¡± Putting on a dark grin, Hall looked like a predator about to devour his prey as he continued. ¡°Option two, resist, try to escape and you die.¡± Silence fell over the raging captain, also a commander by rank, identifiable by his shoulder markings. A few people could be seen running behind him, assessing the damage done by their retaliation. Though the attack was a devastating one he was far from giving up. ¡°I planned to give you chance and let fate decide if you manage to land but now you better make your peace. I promise, your ship will become your grave and the blood of your men will be on your hands... auxiliary weapons fire at will, shoot them to bits.¡± Surrendering was not on his mind as he gave the command to attack. It surprised Hall who presumed their fighting capability was gone. Instead small spheres, bullets of blue light, emerged from the ship¡¯s wings where two hatches opened moments before. A hidden turret ascended from each one and let out a barrage of energy shots. They were hitting their hull, causing slight shocks throughout the ship. Thankfully their shields withstood the attacks, but they wouldn¡¯t hold very long. ¡°Damn it, terminate communication and do not launch the escape pods. Keep the frontal shield at maximum.¡± Hall was furious, how did he not think those bastards would have hidden weapons on their ship. Although they weren¡¯t nearly as strong as the beam cannons, the constant rain of mana bullets would drain their shields sooner rather than later. Even worse, they were close to the planet¡¯s atmosphere and their shields could never endure an attack as well as the strain of atmospheric entry. ¡°Aim for their left turret cannon and blow it away. Fire as soon as the target is locked.¡± He spoke fast as the constant hail of bullets chipped away at their shield¡¯s strength. ¡°Sir, many of the mages are hurt, the energy level of our weapon barely reached 50%, a shot will most likely not penetrate their shields.¡± Simply waving it off Hall ordered to fire. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, we just have to destroy their weapons. They have to be installed outside the shield or they would hit it from within.¡± Hall assumed the shield would encase the crystals that powered the turrets, similar to the one he saw before that was used for the engine and the weapons then would be placed on the outside. ¡°Commence firing, use all available power and reload immediately. Should you get no other orders, open fire on the second turret as soon as the energy storage inside the weapon crystal reaches 50%.¡± Another energy beam emerged from their mana cannon, dispersed the darkness in complete silence and melted the metal of one of the turrets that spewed bullets of light. Drops of melted steel and metal alloy soon lost their red hot color as they drifted away into the freezing, endless nothingness of space. Even though the weapon was destroyed, the enemy¡¯s shield just started to glow as it received the incoming damage without giving in. Instead a ripple of blue light spread through it as if a stone hit the surface of a calm lake. Their speed only increased as they did not have the propulsion to counteract the planet¡¯s gravity. While they still prepared the next shot the continuous shower of bullets not only weakened their shield but chipped away at the crew¡¯s mental state. The mages who had to keep up the shields and weapons reported the first cases of fainting due to exhaustion and blood loss. Their situation was dire and they were now close enough to the enemy vessel to see the crests painted on it. The same he wore on his sleeve and on his gun. ¡°How¡¯s the status of the weapon crystal?¡± Hall grew impatient and tapped repeatedly with his fingers on the red leather of the captain¡¯s chair. He tried to appear calm, reassuring, but his facade slowly crumbled as the impacts of the attack shook the ship more and more and he could only wait for the shields to fail. ¡°Sir, we are at 29%, we can¡¯t compensate for the loss of personnel, we need another two minutes to reach 50%, I¡¯m really sorry¡­¡± The voice of the man reporting sounded dejected as he began to lose hope. Hall¡¯s mind was racing as he tried to predict the movement of both ships and how long they could endure. There was no way they could last two more minutes. Mainly because they would reach the enemy¡¯s evading ship, which tried to avoid a collision by adjusting their course. This would result in their right side, which was not covered by mana shields, being exposed to the hostile fire. The unprotected hull could not withstand the onslaught of energy bullets. ¡°Adjust our angle of approach by twenty degree starboard and redirect 30% of the energy to the starboard shields. If the hull is breached, immediately seal off the affected areas. Fire the weapon in exactly one minute, no matter the level of energy.¡± He paused for a moment as his crew tried to execute his orders. If he delayed the attack any longer, their foes would blast them out of the sky and if he fired too early, they would not destroy the weapon and instead would be shot down while entering the planet¡¯s atmosphere. Still, it was a gamble, one he had to make. ¡°If our attack is not effective, eject the occupied emergency pods and evacuate the ship after moving it into position to cover the launched pods from enemy fire. If we succeed in destroying their weapon, immediately shift angle for atmospheric entry. Mages from the weapon section are to support the shields, we won¡¯t fire on the enemy ship, our survival has priority. Godspeed Ladies and Gentleman, I hope we see each other on the surface.¡± With these words he fell back in his chair, hearing excited but coordinated yells from the crew that surrounded him and observed the ship that now almost filled half the screen in front of him. By now he could make out mountains, forests and rivers on the planet¡¯s continents. Vast, deep blue oceans separated them and white clouds covered large parts of the land and the sea. If it weren¡¯t for the purple spots and a giant, almost black maelstrom that spread over half of an ocean it would be very similar to Earth. It was magnificent, breathtaking, a view he so far could only dream about. He did not think it would be this intimidating though. Clenching his fist, his gaze shifted back to the enemy¡¯s ship. As their spacecraft shifted slowly, the impact from the hostile fire increased and shook the ship to its core. The shield, already weakened by the skirmish, had to cover larger parts of their hull and barely endured the attack. Counting down the seconds until they would fire, Hall heard something that made his skin crawl. A number of explosions rattled the ship and the ghastly sound of creaking metal and escaping air was audible for what seemed like an eternity but lasted only a moment. ¡°Sir, our hull was breached in living quarters four to nine, area has been sealed off, flames have been extinguished and leakage is contained, no casualties, but we can¡¯t take much more of this.¡± Hall knew that much himself. Even now the strained metal around them screeched as it barely kept the vacuum of space away. The chance of their survival dropped with every bullet that hit their flank, with every light that dispersed at their shield and with every ounce of mana his crew had to pour into this fight. Although he put up a front of confidence, the situation took a toll even on him and it cost him a lot of his strength to stand straight while others looked to him for guidance. The remaining seconds slowly faded away as sweat dripped from the faces of his crew that showed their exhaustion and anxiety. He took one last breath and one last gaze at the men and women surrounding him. ¡°FIRE!¡± A beam of blue energy rammed the enemy¡¯s ship and although it hit their weapon turret, the metal withstood the impact of the blast and continued to fire spheres of light into their direction. The shots were fewer and weaker, yet they continued to come. Gasps went through the ship because everybody knew what it meant. They failed, there was no time for a second shot and their hull couldn¡¯t take much more. Explosions shook the ship as their rear was hit by the enemy attack. ¡°Lieutenant, we didn¡¯t destroy their weapon, our shields are barely holding, but we already have breaches of the hull in several locations. Our engines are down, weapons lost energy, please Sir, we need orders.¡± An uncanny calmness took a hold of him as he analyzed the situation. If he hadn¡¯t ordered to retaliate they might have been able to land. Maybe fewer of his crew would have died or sustained injuries. Though there was no use pondering on it now. The time for blame and guilt would come, if he managed to make it out of here. ¡°Abandon ship! Do as ordered before, use all energy left to move our vessel in between the enemy and the launched pods. I repeat, abandon ship, everyone to the escape pods. We will regroup on the planet¡¯s surface.¡± His subordinates followed his words without a complaint and without a single glance of blame. They simply left their stations and entered the pods closest to the bridge. Hall was behind them and last to board a capsule. Although he thought about going down with the ship, he decided against it. After causing the vessel to be destroyed, he had the responsibility to take care of the crew that hit the ground. It all felt so unreal to Hall. A battle in a space ship, an evacuation and now they were about to fly toward a planet and crash on its surface. He still couldn¡¯t shake the feeling while his own pod descended to the ground. Behind him, through a small window in his pod¡¯s white wall, he could see their own ship, riddled with small explosions. The grey hull slowly breaking apart, scattering pieces of metal and glass into space, some falling to the planet and destined to burn up in its atmosphere. At some point all flames were extinguished and the remains of the destroyed ship almost looked like the carcass of a large animal, drifting on a lake of black water. Only moments later though a light emerged from its core, small at first but expanding at a frightening rate. A large explosion of bright white light swallowed what was left of their spacecraft and spread through the darkness. When the wave of light hit him, his pod was shaken violently and although he tried to endure while grinding his teeth and tensing his muscles, he blacked out, helpless against the force that pushed back his consciousness. After what only felt like a single second he slowly opened his eyes and was welcomed by a dark wooden ceiling and warm candle light. His body was covered by bandages and he felt a stabbing pain in his side. ¡°Yar a lucky one aren¡¯t ya? Didn¡¯t think ya¡¯d gonna make it.¡± The warm voice with a thick accent broke his daze. A young woman sat next to him and was wiping his head with a cool, wet cloth. ¡°Ya didn¡¯t wake up for months. Already wanted to bury ya. Pops told us not to.¡± She seemed kind, yet not all that bright. Hall slowly tried to get up, but before he managed to he noticed the metal chains that bound his wrists to the bed he lay on. ¡®Well that didn¡¯t take long, it seems I have a certain attraction for chains.¡¯ The girl noticed his confused stare and giggled slightly, wrinkling her freckled nose and showing a somewhat cute smile. With the small gap between her front teeth and the straw-hat on her dirt blond hair he wouldn¡¯t be surprised if she were to take out a banjo and start singing some folk songs. ¡°Did ya think we¡¯d let ya walk free after what ya people do everywhere? Don¡¯t know what happened and where ya came from. Pops said to keep ya locked up, so that¡¯s what we do.¡± Hall was still confused and had to concentrate to follow the girl¡¯s words. First he was surprised and angry when he heard he had missed the months after the landing because he planned to lead his crew to safety. Now she told him that his people did something and from the chains on his arms it probably wasn¡¯t good. Though it was not a surprise, the enemy ship should have landed soon after them. It was astonishing he wasn¡¯t caught by them. Once again he was in awe over the game. The AI created a whole new reality with its own magic system, planets and its people for a simple side story, it was beyond impressive. So much so that he began to think there might be something more to this world, to this whole galaxy. There might exist connections he wasn¡¯t aware of. Though he could only speculate so his thoughts soon returned to the problem at hand. His best guess was that his pod was somehow pushed away from its initial trajectory and crashed where the inhabitants of the planet found him. Before he could think of anything else, the door opened and light poured into the small wooden hut. A bright smile appeared on the girl¡¯s face as she jumped up, grabbed the tips of the skirt, that barely covered her knees, and gave a quick curtsy to the man who entered. He simply nodded and she left without another word. ¡°So you finally woke up. It was about time. Let me welcome you to our village, although I might as well welcome you to our planet.¡± The man in front of him couldn¡¯t be more different from the girl who just left. Tall and dark haired, he wore an amber cotton suit and his deep voice sounded educated when he explained his situation to the still befuddled Hall. ¡°You have been critically injured and your landing device was severely damaged. Even with magic and my medical skills I barely managed to save you.¡± He continued to chant a few spells while casting green rays of light on Hall¡¯s bandaged wounds. ¡°Thank you for that and I''m sorry for the trouble.¡± As he apologized the man only shook his head. ¡°I didn¡¯t do it for you. You should know we also captured several of your people but be at ease, those who survived the initial days are alive and we are treating them well.¡± While brushing over the fact that several of Hall¡¯s crew were dead and many imprisoned, he looked directly into Hall¡¯s eyes for the next part, his gaze, cold as ice, also held a lot of worries. ¡°Something I can¡¯t say about your people who already plundered several villages and are now on their way to us. Be aware though, if they try to take what we are tasked to protect, it may spell doom for them and most of us will follow them into the abyss.¡± A doubtful frown showed on Hall¡¯s face. An expression that the man noticed and sighed as a glow surrounded his fingers which he brought to Hall¡¯s forehead. ¡°There is no time to convince you, so I will show you. Be warned, it can be a rather... agonizing experience.¡± With a stabbing pain between his eyes, images and information flooded his mind. Pictures of an oath sworn generations ago. A promise to guard the door to the greatest power the planet hides. A power so dangerous, if its seal was broken, it would shake the earth and burn the air. Though he was shown the implications, the secret itself remained hidden. All he saw was a long golden sword, piercing a relief that covered the wall of an ancient temple buried under a small town. The lock that was not to be broken. It took a moment for his heartbeat to settle after the images disappeared and although they were strange, Hall knew they were true. ¡°I assume it is what we protect here that your people search for.¡± The middle aged man showed him a wrist device similar to his own where a map was visible as well as a blinking dot in the middle of it. ¡°This is a very interesting piece of technology your people created. One of your men explained it to me and I have to admit, it¡¯s no surprise whole villages didn¡¯t stand a chance against a few armed men.¡± After he put away the device he grabbed the mana gun he brought in a dark blue pouch and lifted a glowing, bullet sized crystal to his eyes. ¡°Fascinating, using different types of metal to conduct magical energy and using it to cast spells. To guarantee sufficient supply and protect it from supercharging and destroying it in the process you use a crystal which can be fueled and drained at will. This way you can use communication, information storage, transportation and a thousand other application. I even saw you fly in a giant ship. Really incredible.¡± His gaze was full of awe while watching the pieces of technology he held, but it turned to stone once he looked at Hall. ¡°Yet instead of sharing it with others or trading it, you take things by force. How do you justify that?¡± Hall took his time answering while being scrutinized by a reproachful glance. ¡°I won¡¯t justify it. As a matter of fact we had a slight disagreement with them too and in the process our ship was destroyed. You could say we have a common enemy and I still have a debt I need to collect.¡± While the man still eyed Hall with suspicion the door was pushed open violently and what looked like a guard, armed with shield and spear and dressed in blue and yellow, stormed into the room. ¡°My liege, the enemy has been spotted. They are on the move and will be here in a few hours.¡± With a wave of his hand the man in front of him sent the guard away and looked at Hall with a questioning look. ¡°If I read your intentions correctly you not only wanted a chance for retribution but also to right the wrongs committed by your people.¡± He was not wrong. Although Hall didn¡¯t consider them his people, he felt it was partially his fault they were now invading the settlements on the planet. If he could have taken care of them in space, the problem would never have arisen. ¡°If you want my help I have a few requests. I need my men, my equipment and¡­¡± Before he could finish, the device that still stuck to his wrist started to vibrate and a flashing name appeared on the screen. He was so surprised he still had the piece of technology, he pressed the button on reflex. The pretty face of his childhood friend appeared and showed a concerned expression. ¡°Hall, are you alright? Thank god, I just picked up your life signal. We were looking for you for months, I¡¯m so glad you¡¯re alright.¡± Her emotions seemed honest, so honest they caused a stabbing pain in his chest. ¡°Listen, we picked up a few of the crew of our crashed ship and are continuing our mission. I can see your signal on the digital map. We are heading right for you. You are at a village we wanted to trade with. As soon as we arrive, I need you to let us in, just in case they close the gates.¡± After Hall agreed and he had to promise her he was alright a few more times before she finally ended their call. The man in front of him remained silent during the exchange even though his gaze revealed his feelings. A single sigh left Hall¡¯s throat. ¡°Well, she may have found the survivor¡¯s you missed and followed our initial ideal of peaceful exploration and the sharing of knowledge¡­¡± They talked for a while more and Hall swore to help them to protect whatever was sealed away inside the village. Partially because he wanted to, but also because he knew it was part of the quest and he felt it was the best choice he had. He wasn¡¯t sure if the game would react differently if he was completely sincere compared to him also having other motives. In the end though he couldn¡¯t help himself, logical thinking was one of his strengths. It took them almost an hour, but they finally had a plan of action and when the two of them were about to leave the small house, they wouldn¡¯t call each other friends, but they developed some respect for the other. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I didn¡¯t introduce myself yet, my name is Jacob and this small settlement is called Vacht. This country is a rather peaceful one, so we don¡¯t have much fighting experience but we¡¯ll keep our oath, even if it means our death.¡± He moved closer with the intentions of unshackling him, though Hall simply shook his head and showed a fierce smile. ¡°Just open the locks on the bed and leave the chains on my arms, I¡¯m used to them by now.¡± Even though Jacob looked surprised, he nodded and did as asked. The freed Hall slowly lifted himself from the bed and stretched his tired joins, rusty from the long rest. Because many game elements were disabled inside this story he put on the uniform, which rested on a small table next to his bed, like he would in the real world. Usually he could instantly equip clothes and armor with a command, though with swift fingers it barely took him a minute to put on the cleaned clothes. After wrapping the chains around his arms and covering them with the sleeves of his uniform he couldn¡¯t help but welcome the familiar feeling. The chains he once cursed were now almost a part of him, just like Lily who he missed during his travels through the stories of the seven figures in the catacombs under Roselake. Attaching the sword and his mana gun onto his belt and connecting his shield to his wrist device he was ready and followed Jacob to see his men. When they left the tiny wooden house, the bright light that greeted him blinded him for a second, yet he welcomed the momentary pain as it felt he hadn¡¯t seen the sun for quite a while. Breathing the fresh air in deeply, he looked around while still walking beside Jacob, taking in the serene picture the small town offered. The open place they crossed was surrounded by stud work houses with tall chestnut trees in front of them. They promised relief from the burning sun, and dogs as well as horses found some rest in their shade during the hot noon hours. Few people, compared to the number of animals, were walking the streets and they seemed tense as they were carrying bundles of swords and armor. Their faces showed anxiety as they greeted Jacob when they passed them. ¡°Everyone is scared of what¡¯s to come. I can¡¯t blame them though, most haven¡¯t fought for years. Those who won''t be part of the battle were already moved to other villages, this town is pretty much empty.¡± With a worried look on his face he led Hall into a wide street that stopped after a while in front of a rather large gatehouse that was the only way through the wooden palisades that surrounded the village like a wall. On it several archers and mages already looked into the distance while a number of towers along the palisades were slowly filled by more soldiers, dressed similar to the guard that stormed into the house Hall woke up in. The open area between the wall and the houses was mostly unused and the reason why they didn¡¯t have a stone wall was something he couldn¡¯t comprehend. Especially when what they protected was as important as he was led to believe. A few more soldiers were gathering and armor and weapons were distributed so they at least looked battle ready even though they were still nervous. He could see their hands trembling while they equipped swords and spears. It was time to begin their preparation. Hall signaled Jacob and they called not only a group of the town¡¯s soldiers but also gathered the men who survived the destruction of the ship. They were armed though their wrist devices were removed. It didn¡¯t take Hall a lot of words to explain the situation and convince himself of their absolute loyalty. After a few hours all preparations were completed and when the sun slowly set figures were visible on the horizon as they approached the town of Vacht. Jacob¡¯s gaze wandered between Hall and the group that slowly advanced toward them and even though he tried to hide it, his voice carried slight trembling. ¡°Are you sure this is the right thing to do? Isn¡¯t there any other way?¡± Hall scratched his cleanly shaven chin in silence. Either someone shaved him while he was unconscious or he couldn¡¯t grow a beard in this story. ¡°It¡¯s probably not the only one, but it is the best I can think of.¡± Jacob nodded, more reaffirming himself than Hall and raised his voice while turning around. ¡°They will soon be here, everyone knows the details, get to your positions.¡± In complete silence Hall waited at least a hundred steps away from the now open gate to greet Belinda and the rest inside the town. Only a few barrels and crates were placed between him and the gatehouse and not a single man was visible on top of the wooden towers. He breathed calmly while the shadows grew longer and the temperature dropped significantly. The wind picked up and scattered dust over his dark boots while he made sure all his equipment was in reach. It didn¡¯t take long for them to arrive. They used the local means of travel, meaning a handful of covered wagons, large grey horses pulling them, passed through the gate and stopped a few meters in front of Hall. He could only see faces that seemed familiar amongst the men and women who sat on the benches of the carriages while their cargo areas were masked by stained canvas. With strained expressions their eyes darted around nervously, taking in their surroundings while their hands rested on their belts. Only Belinda, who rode on the first wagon, had a large grin on her face as she jumped down and ran towards Hall. Her hair wasn¡¯t tied anymore and flew in the wind like a veil of black velvet. She hugged him and her scent made him feel nostalgic. For a moment he faltered and he had to grind his teeth and dig his nails into his palms not to be charmed. ¡°I¡¯m really glad you¡¯re ok and ¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡± While still holding him, her left hand swiftly grabbed hold of his mana gun and pulled it out. With three quick steps she distanced herself from him and pointed his own gun at his head. ¡°You know, I really am happy to see you again but there is something I have to confirm before we can go forward. I''m sure you know there is a faction among our federation that does not agree with the way things are currently handled. There are riches and powers beyond imagination out there and yet all we do is give away what we have, only diminishing our own strength, our own value. Though to be honest, all this talk about leadership and politics is something I don''t care about. What I am interested in is the reward they offer for those that find them the power they need to take control. You can be part of this you know? Share in the reward, it would be enough to split with the crew and still live a luxurious life without any worries. Am I right Commander?¡± She yelled the last sentence and as if waiting for the command the covers were lifted from the wagons. Dozens of soldiers were hidden amongst large wooden crates and steel containers and jumped down to the ground, their heavy boots causing the dry earth to tremble slightly. The one who jumped from the first wagon and now approached him caused him to clench his fist in anger. The captain of the enemy ship stepped forward with a vicious grin, his posture straight, while bathing in what he believed was certain victory. ¡°Very true Ensign Belinda. Lieutenant, are you even aware of the riches this planet holds? Not only ores and minerals, we are talking about weapons and armaments that increase magical potential without the risk of overloading it. No more need for magic crystals to ensure the safe operation of our technology. The possibilities are limitless. We can expand our territory into the vast reaches of the galaxy and all of us will be rich beyond our wildest imagination. I could use someone with the guts you showed, so what do you say Lieutenant?¡± The silence that ensued was only disturbed by whispers of the wind and the sound of Hall who cracked his sore neck by turning his head left and right. He let go of his breath slowly, ignoring the meaningless words the Commander uttered. His eyes fixated on Belinda who already lost sight of him and instead her gaze seemed distant as she was enchanted by the promise of wealth beyond reason. Would she really have turned out like this? Couldn¡¯t he have made a difference? Did the game simply take her current personality to create this Belinda or was it the inevitable outcome? Those were questions that plagued his mind but he had to shake them off. In the end there were no answers to be found and he had to focus. Yet it was easier said than done. Since he met Belinda on the ship these ideas gnawed on him, making him restless. His mind was tired by now, his mental barriers weakened. He played for over a day now and only logged out two times to drink a little bit and to go to the bathroom. He was simply exhausted after two weeks of strenuous playing, body and mind were worn out and he still had ways to go before he could get some sleep. He reacted to the betrayal by his old friend, the one he thought about so often when alone and desperate, with anger and resentment. His determination and unyielding will drove him forward and the rage he felt only fueled his tenacity in the face of resistance. Though the wound that was dealt to him was not one he could just brush away. In the end it festered beneath the surface and the game itself dealt him a blow he hadn¡¯t seen coming. The game he played as a way to get his revenge had also become his means to cope with the loss he once again felt. His anger was a way of handling feelings he didn¡¯t want to experience. Novus Vita offered him a valve for his emotions, in his rage he could actually achieve greatness whereas in the real world all it could breed was grief. It may not be the healthiest way of dealing with the turmoil in his heart but he didn¡¯t want to blame himself and didn¡¯t want to drown in an abyss of sorrow. He walked that path before and it was a dark one. Even though he wasn¡¯t certain the road not taken, the one he didn¡¯t choose all those years ago, was a better one, but it simply was the only way he saw at the moment and he followed the fire in his chest. His fatigued mind was now once again confronted with Belinda. Though after days of austerity he simply was too tired for his burning anger to suffocate the emotions that tried to claw their way back to the surface. Yet the ember of wrath that lingered inside him would not be extinguished so easily even if it was drowned out for a moment. He would get his revenge, sooner or later. Another question was if the game knew what was going on inside of him? Did the artificial intelligence witness what was done to him and how he reacted now? Was the AI just messing with him or did it try to help him by confronting him with his inner demons? More questions he couldn¡¯t answer. While he regained his composure he saw the soldiers who jumped out of the wagons relaxing slightly after they hadn¡¯t met any resistance. His gaze focused back on Belinda who was still dreaming about the riches that awaited her while the Captain, who just made him an offer he thought to believe tempting, impatiently waited for an answer. One he would get. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Hall closed his eyes for a moment. The rattling of heavy metal chains broke the silence as he let the shackles on his arms untangle and they hit the ground hard, raising fine dust off the bone-dry earth. It was this sound that started it. Without waiting for any reaction Hall swung the chain on his right wrist dexterously with precision and force. It was a little shorter than he was used too but he still smiled faintly at the familiar feeling. In the heat of battle he could suppress his emotions and despite his boiling blood he remained calm. The metal links wrapped around the delicate neck of the stunned girl that looked so much like his childhood friend. Before she realized what happened, he yanked back the chain and pulled her off her feet with all his strength, causing her to crash into ground beneath his feet. The mana gun she aimed at him was knocked out of her hands and landed right before him and he picked it up without hurry. The situation changed in a heartbeat as soon as the sound of his chains striking the ground resounded around him. Though it was instantly buried under noises of dozens of men and women appearing behind crates, on walls and on towers. Hall ordered them to hide from view and only to show on his sign. So now there were almost one hundred people pointing guns, bows and staffs, who gave off sparks of magical energy, at the soldiers that entered the town. Not only his own men, but Jacob¡¯s troops, mages as well as regular guards, were standing tall with weapons in their hands, aiming carefully while awaiting Hall¡¯s orders. The Commander¡¯s face distorted in anger and his men showed surprise and fear as they didn¡¯t know how to handle the ambush they walked into. While Hall took a step forward and now stood over the pale Belinda, who was still coughing violently after her neck was almost crushed, he yelled in the direction of the convoy in front of him. ¡°I order my men to return to my side, take the weapons of the Commander¡¯s troops and tie them up. If they resist, shoot them¡­try not to kill them though.¡± He decided not to shoot on sight. He didn¡¯t want to risk killing innocents if there were some among them. He would have liked to end this story by now. It was so incredibly difficult to deal with the girl that lay before him. Even though she wasn¡¯t real and he expected exactly what happened, he again felt a stabbing pain in his chest, but this time it was not him that was on the ground. ¡®Fool me once¡­.¡¯ He shook his head while looking down at her. Belinda avoided meeting his eyes and instead lowered her gaze. Shock, pain, confusion and fear, those were the expressions he could read on her face. He wasn¡¯t sure, but he could have sworn there was shame too, but maybe the wish was just the father to the thought. ¡°This is your idea of trading I see. Want to tell me how many you already killed on your way here? What if I wouldn¡¯t have agreed, would you have added me to the pile of bodies you left behind?¡± Not a single word left her mouth, not a single apology, not a single attempt to explain. ¡°Alright, if you don¡¯t want to speak you don¡¯t have to. Though I hope you are aware what you did cost not only lives of the inhabitants of the planet but also those of our crew.¡± This time she opened her mouth, even if her voice remained soft and she still stared at the ground. ¡°If you just hadn¡¯t retaliated, they all would still live. We would have landed here, repaired the ship¡­and then¡­and then we could have¡­why¡­why¡­?¡± Tears filled the corner of her eyes as she rubbed the marks his chains left on her neck. Moments ago he thought about killing her on the spot. She lied to him, again. She used him, again. She betrayed him, again. Now his heart was in turmoil once more. Anger and sadness, loneliness and grief, it all swept over him as he was reminded of what happened two weeks ago. He obviously hadn¡¯t really dealt with it and it hit him harder than he would ever admit. Now the images of Belinda overlapped each other. The Belinda laughing at him together with those that stabbed him in the back. Those who he longed to take revenge on and who he dreamed of dragging to the doors of hell and then roasting them over its flaming pits. On the other hand he had the image of her crying, ashamed, so small and frail. She deceived him too and yet he felt almost helpless and at a loss on how to react. There was no way he could kill her now. The one in front of him was not the one who really hurt him, she went behind his back yes, but she simply fulfilled his expectations. He wouldn¡¯t get any peace of mind by murdering her. He breathed in deeply as it seemed a weight was lifted from him and some of the confusion inside his mind dissipated. There was still rage and sadness in his heart but there was also the prospect of moving on. Of course it wouldn¡¯t happen within a day or two but someday maybe, someday he might find some peace. Until then he would teach those that wronged him what it meant to mess with the Harbinger of Death. While working through his emotions he almost missed the change that happened before him. The hostile commander was foaming with anger as he stepped, ignoring the conversation beside him and before Hall¡¯s crew could disarm the enemy soldiers a small explosion shook the ground. An impact hit a large metal crate and penetrated it from the inside, destroying the lock that sealed it. Everyone¡¯s movements ceased as they watched what rose out of the almost three meters high box. Grey and silver metal, two legs and a wide torso, its right arm ended in a five fingered hand and the left one was armed with a rotary cannon, several barrels arranged in a circle. Hall¡¯s eyes went wide at the giant robot that stood against them. ¡®You got to be kidding me, they brought a god damn Mech?¡¯ Unfortunately he barely had any time to be surprised as the cannon aimed at a group of his men that tried to take cover behind a pile of rocks and barrels. ¡°Jacob, you deal with the Commander, I take the machine.¡± Although he was far from convinced he could stand up to his claim, he was prepared to try. His yell reached Jacob¡¯s ears who was leading a small group of his men and was currently taking cover several meters away from him. ¡°ATTACK¡­¡± Hall¡¯s desperate scream didn¡¯t fade away before the first mana gun was fired. Streams of blue light, magic flames from the town¡¯s mages and even arrows filled the air. Flesh was charred, metal screeched and bones were crushed. His crew as well as the hostile soldiers quickly deployed the shields they had attached to their wrists. Even though he didn¡¯t know how to do it, Hall decided to follow their example. It took him a few moments to figure out how it worked, but all he had to do was to concentrate for a moment and the device followed his will. The metal sheet on his forearm performed a circular motion with his elbow as the center and formed a round shield, covering an area slightly larger than his torso. A glimmer covered the thin, grey steel as if it was a dark road on a scorching hot day. The moment he was ready, the Mech¡¯s cannon started to spray a rain of energy bullets blasting away any cover Hall¡¯s troops hid behind. Dozens of shots per second cut apart stone, wood and flesh. The shields that could stop dozens of energy bullets fired from the mana guns, were practically melted by the Mech¡¯s barrage and the men who tried to protect themselves were ripped apart mercilessly. Within seconds he shot several enemies, the weight of the pistol and the feeling of pulling the trigger still familiar. His men and Vacht¡¯s troops decimated the surrounded opponent and if it weren¡¯t for the robot it would have turned into a one sided slaughter. Now it was a slaughter on both sides. The Mech ruthlessly butchered everyone he aimed his cannon at. The townsfolk¡¯s magic as well the mana gun¡¯s shots dissipated ineffectively on the machine¡¯s shields. Glowing ripples spread from hundreds of impacts, coloring it in a bright blue shade. It couldn¡¯t have been more than a few minutes and barely anybody was left standing. Some were wounded, others fled, but most were dead. Limbs and charred bodies scattered on the open field. Every cover, every crate and every barrel shot to pieces. The horses long gone, the wagons trampled by the heavy machine, along with those that weren¡¯t fast enough to escape its crushing steps. By sheer luck, Hall evaded the Mech¡¯s bullets and the few times a soldier fired at him he managed to block it with his shield and instantly returned precise shots until finally his ammo was gone. He didn¡¯t know it but there were two different types of mana crystals. Those used in the ship or in the Mech were rechargeable, differently from the bullet sized ones inside the magazine of his pistol. Those could only be used once before their crystal structure was changed irreversibly, making it impossible to store energy again. Only a single crystal, imbedded in the gun¡¯s grip, was rechargeable, making it possible to fire a shot every few seconds. While he stood not even a meter behind the Mech, trying to remain unseen and out of range of the enemy¡¯s weapon, he desperately attempted to use his mana to fire more shots at the machine¡¯s back, which he hoped was not as heavily armored as its front. It took him too long to notice nothing happened, he couldn¡¯t refuel the gun or the shield. It was infuriating, but not surprising. He never actually learned how to do it, it was that simple. Never giving away his position to the pilot of the Mech, he tried to think of another way to solve the situation while his men, even the wounded and fleeing ones, were mowed down brutally. Desperate, he grabbed his sword and chopped away at the robot¡¯s metal legs. The black steel was repelled by the shield without making so much as a scratch in the armor. The whole situation drove him mad beyond reason. It was as if this story was somehow cursed. Again he misjudged the situation. Again he got his people killed. Again he failed. With each strike he let out his anger. With each blow the shield glowed brighter under his assault. Before he knew it, a red glow surrounded his hands and slowly crept up his pitch black blade. The light filled the gaps and crevices in the metal and made it look alive. He immediately understood. Even if he couldn¡¯t use his mana to fuel the technology of this world, the black sword he carried somehow reacted to his soul energy. It was similar to the blades of the soul weaver and it glowed brighter and brighter the more of his will and determination he poured into it. Soon enough the bright shield grew dimmer while Hall¡¯s blade only increased in brightness as he continued to swing his blade with all his strength. The machine¡¯s pilot seemed to notice him because he circled around Hall, trying to crush or shoot him. Of course his Mech was not constructed to stand in single combat against a swift and small target. The robot¡¯s movements were slow and predictable while Hall never stopped, never stood still, never ceased to strike. Yet it was an unbalanced fight, a single sword against a large machine, its armor thicker than the blade was long. All he could do was bide his time, hoping his stamina would last longer than the mage¡¯s mana who controlled the robot combined with the energy inside the crystals that fueled it and keep it busy until his men could get away. He cursed and yelled, rushing them, ordering them to take the wounded to safety. It was pure chaos as the Mech¡¯s energy bullets missed him and instead tore up the ground beneath and the wooden palisade around them. Even houses dozens meters away were falling apart under the constant shower of the powerful shots. Although not more than a few minutes passed since the Mech stepped out of its crate Hall was already exhausted. Using his soul energy while jumping and running like a madman to evade bullets and steel limbs drained him of his strength quickly. Focusing on the enemy in front of him, he tried not to be distracted by the scene of carnage that surrounded them. They fought, almost danced, locked in a deadly standstill, neither of them gaining the upper hand. It cost him so much of his concentration he barely noticed the shaking ground, thinking it was the machine¡¯s doing. Only when the heavy leg of the robot was swallowed by the arid earth and a spreading crack formed, splitting the ground, he knew something was deeply wrong. His foot was caught in a forming fissure and while stumbling the Mech¡¯s enormous hand caught his shoulder. Crushing bones and throwing him back several meters, he crashed into the ground, landing hard he was barely able to breath. The broken bones in his arm and his leg made it impossible to stand up, instead he tried to crawl away from the rifts that seemed to devour everything around him. Even the large Mech, the opponent that towered over him, powerful enough to kill him in a moment of carelessness, was unable to lift its massive body from the hole that formed under his leg. Instead it disappeared with desperate motions, trying to save himself before it fell into the bottomless darkness. Screams and shouts were emerging from those running and from others who were too injured to flee as the earth split everywhere, swallowing corpses, rubble and whole buildings, greedily devouring anything that couldn¡¯t get away in time. He knew what happened. Neither Belinda nor the Commander was anywhere in sight. The Mech required his full attention and even though he gave Jacob the task of handling the enemy leader, it was more an act of desperation than a clear plan. Now lying on his back, his bones shattered and pain clouding his mind, his head filled with agonized screams, he couldn¡¯t do anything but contemplate the mistakes he made. What if he hadn¡¯t attacked the ship? What if he would have attacked the convoy instantly? What if¡­? He felt his body getting weaker as numbing cold seeped into his joints and limbs. When he already made his peace with his fate, a pillar of blinding white light broke through the ground dozens of meters away from where he lay. The earth around it crumbled and disappeared as it followed the rubble and corpses that vanished before. As the light grew dimmer he could make out ruins of what looked like an old temple, standing on a stone plateau that was surrounded by nothing but darkness. A sea of shadows, a bottomless pit. Even though the walls of the temple were over ten meters high, they were still far from the surface and in the middle of a roofless building he saw two people. He didn¡¯t know how they got there but one of them held a long golden sword while they stood in front of a huge relief that covered the whole wall. Jacob showed it to him before. It was the lock, opened by the Commander. The hostile leader had Belinda with him as he held the sword high and laughed hysterically. Though it was hard to hear his voice over the destruction of the city, as it sunk into the ground, Hall heard him yell. ¡°Witness the power of the gods, I shall become unstoppable.¡± It was the last he heard of him as the man greedily laughed while caressing the regal blade with his claw-like fingers. The light grew brighter again, swallowing him, Belinda and the whole ruin. Although there was no heat emitted by the bright radiance that enveloped them, Hall had trouble keeping his eyes open. His fractured bones and the blood loss from inner wounds, the cold spreading inside of him, the knowledge from having failed, all of proved to him, this story neared its end. He watched while the town, the palisades, whole hills and forests, even mountains in the distance split, sunk and vanished and he himself remained at the edge of rift that didn¡¯t seem to extend. It was as if the game wanted to rub it in, show him his failure, the result of his hubris. He wanted to, but couldn¡¯t avert his eyes at the spectacle before him. No matter how frightening it was, it was also incredibly impressive, a sight he wouldn¡¯t forget for the rest of his life. One thought ripped him from his trance. He remembered the message at the beginning of the story. It mentioned he was allowed to take back a single item. A chance he didn¡¯t want to miss. His first thought went to the pitch black blade, the sword that helped him keep the Mech at bay. Though he decided against it as he already had a more than adequate close quarter¡¯s weapon in his possession. The shield would make more sense, but it wasn¡¯t that different from the ones he saw before. Additionally he would sacrifice mobility and the shield would get in the way of his chains. The mana gun was what interested him most. So far he had no real ability for ranged combat and a gun was something he had not seen in the whole game yet. So his choice was simple, out of the three items he acquired, the pistol was the best option. Of course he dropped the weapon when he was blown away by the Mech¡¯s hand and lost sight of it when he lay dying, his bones crushed and his flesh torn. If it rains, it pours. So he looked around frantically, feeling his consciousness slowly fade away. He grit his teeth and forced himself to carefully observe his surroundings. It didn¡¯t take him long to find the gun. He was not in the least surprised to see it lying on the end of a ledge, hanging over the endless darkness. Its edges were slowly crumbling away, threatening to swallow the pistol he desired. Ignoring the pain and swallowing wails of agony, he pushed himself with his healthy leg and clawed his way forward to the edge. His hand was bleeding as it tore up the ground in his attempt to retrieve the weapon. Just a bit more and he would reach it. While the world around him burned, while people died and while his actions jeopardized the future of a galaxy, he crawled, beaten and battered, trying to get a single gun. One he wouldn¡¯t get. He was sure, the moment he came too close, the ledge would break off and drag him down into a dark grave. With an almost hysterical chuckle he bumped his head against the ground before he turned himself on his back. Out of ideas he smiled while watching the setting sun and low hanging clouds that reflected the fire raging on the ground. The sky, covered in shades of red, seemed almost calm and serene. It was a nice last view while he waited for the end and darkness encroached the edges of his field of view. He missed Lily. It hasn¡¯t been long since he first met her but she gave him more comfort than he received in years. Meeting Belinda again and the turmoil inside of him, all that would have been easier with her by his side. ¡®I really do owe her.¡¯ He hesitated a little to admit it as in the end she was a program, an artificial being, but he had to acknowledge it. Right now she was the closest thing he had to a family. While those thoughts occupied his mind, he contemplated to just go for the gun and try to grab it while falling to his death. This was simply a story, there was nothing he would lose and there was nothing that would change, probably. When he was ready to put it all on the line, Lily crossed his mind again, together with a single thought. ¡®Family¡­¡¯ He chuckled and even laughed, but his body ached so much he could only grit his teeth. Finally he found the answer. There was no need to give in to his greed, he already possessed the most precious item he could ever gain in this world. Opening the pocket of his uniform he took out the picture he put there. The picture of him and his parents, smiling happily, of a reality denied to him, was something more valuable than any weapon he could hope to gain. If it weren¡¯t for all the distractions he would probably have chosen it from the beginning. Now there was one more thing he had to thank Lily for. Without her he wouldn¡¯t have remembered. With a smile he took another look at the picture and while his surroundings grew darker and he lost his consciousness, he mumbled a few words, unheard by anybody in the dying world. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what I¡¯ll take with me¡­¡± It was a surprisingly tranquil end to a hectic, confusing and at times painful story, but it was also one that gave him some peace of mind and helped him to find a little bit of relief. Within moments his vision returned to normal and he was back in the room where Lily jumped and hugged him out of nothing, causing him to stumble back in surprise. ¡°Thank god, you have been gone for so long¡­¡± Hall could only smile faintly while he tried not to raise any suspicion. Blushing slightly she separated from him. ¡°Welcome back¡­it has been more than a day.¡± Looking at his satiety bar he knew it was true. It was deep in the red and while he ate and drank to fill it, he noticed a message. *Ding*
You have leveled up!
¡®About time!¡¯ He assumed he would get a lot more experience from finishing the trials but it had been a while since the last level up and he was getting impatient, but even a single level wasn¡¯t so bad for now. The next messages were far more interesting though *Ding*
The item you chose will be adjusted to this world!
The message at the beginning of the story neglected to mention this special feature and even though he was curious what he would have received if he had picked any other item, he was glad he didn¡¯t. A warm glow filled the hand in which he held the picture and within a few moments it disappeared into hundreds of particles of light, swarming around him before rising to the ceiling and slowly dissipating. It was an incredible sight as they danced around his arms and chest, formed patterns and broke them and even though he felt sadness from losing the picture, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a comforting warmth spread through him. *Ding*
You have gained a new skill!
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Watching over Me--100%
Even though they aren¡¯t with you anymore, your loved ones continue to protect you. Effects:
    Passive:
  • Sneak and stealth (close and ranged) attacks won¡¯t cause any additional damage
  • Attacks from the back won¡¯t cause any additional damage
  • One second before incoming damage, your perception of time will be changed (instead of 4:1 to 16:1) until you receive the attack or half a second later if you evade. (time dilation will accumulate to a maximum of 6 perceived seconds, meaning you will experience 6 seconds while 1.5 pass) Does only apply once, at the beginning of combat. Activation: The next incoming negative effect will be nullified (for example damage or curses) If 10 seconds pass after activation without any effect, the boon will expire Cost: If activated as a passive skill it will consume 10% of your maximum mana and won¡¯t refill past the 90% mark Activation won¡¯t use any mana, but it will consume the protection granted to you. New passive activation can only be granted after 6 hours. Mana consumption by the boon is disabled during this time.
The skill he got was pretty amazing and highly unusual in its mechanics. The reduction would only affect his mana pool while Lily¡¯s remained untouched, making it a good trade when in return he gained a significant advantage at the beginning of every fight. Additionally it gave him a comforting feeling of safety, at least a bit. By now the warming lights that remained of the picture he took with him, had disappeared and he had to fight against his tired mind that was deprived of a good night¡¯s rest for too long. It this state it took Hall a moment to notice the difference in the room. He couldn¡¯t see the grimoire anymore. His mind instantly sharpened, taxing his surroundings for change and anything suspicious. The color of the light changed as he looked around, the calm forest green that painted a tranquil atmosphere yielded to a glow of red and violet that got slowly darker. It felt eerie, somehow threatening and it caused him to raise his alertness. The figures were now harder to make out as they were standing at the circular wall of the room where the light barely reached them. Their names were carved around him in the ground, each one about a meter away from him and another two from the name¡¯s owner. Even though he was sure they hadn¡¯t changed their position, their silhouettes, their movements, their being, it felt off. He couldn¡¯t describe it but somehow he knew and moments before his hands were about to grab the once cursed chains he had gotten so used to, the last, the seventh figure walked out of the darkness. With every step the woman took the ground shook a little more. Small rocks and unsettling amounts of dust started to fall from the ceiling as the tremor continued even after she stood before him. It hadn¡¯t been close to seven days yet, but he was warned not to believe everything he was told. He also had no idea how he fared so far on the trials as he was not issued any kind of evaluation that would assure him he passed or tell him he failed. At least he was still alive and only one more figure was left. So even if the situation around him changed, even if the ceiling was about to cave in and even if every fiber in his body told him to be on high alert, he was determined to get the grimoire. When he eyed the woman in front of him he was rather surprised by her appearance that seemed out of place in the now uncanny atmosphere of the room. The clean white robe that covered her body and the simple wimple of the same color that concealed her neck and her hair reminded him of the habits some nuns wore. Though even these clothes barely managed to hide her beauty. Full red lips and dark eyes that held a depth he rarely saw before, it was as if her face was drawn by an artist. Her pure voice rang like a bell on a clear night. ¡°You have made it far young traveler. My name is Castitia and instead of telling you my story, I shall give you the possibility to gain what you seek. All you have to do is follow my words.¡± *Ding*
Let the truth guide you What you search for hides under a lie, If you seek the true name: think, Its start is at the beginning of the galaxy and it waits for us at the end of every living thing. In every grain it''s the first you see part of burglar, beggar, yes, even of the king. If you want to see the end: you need, what ends all cold and starts the dawn. It is in the wind and the ground, in every adult and child, in every body and mind. Yet you won¡¯t find it in yourself or anyone, but in all mankind
¡®Great, a riddle and good thing I have so much time.¡¯ The ground shook beneath his feet and larger chunks of rocks began to fall from the ceiling while Hall tried to focus on solving the word puzzle he was given. As he read the message window Castitia took off her wimple, the cloth that covered her hair, and released it by shaking her head while smiling at the concentrating Hall. If he could analyze the situation from a distance, he might figure out the solution in the blink of an eye, but it was a different thing altogether if he was in the thick of it. He had a dozen things to consider, the stories he experienced, the riddle and the distractions around him and the accumulated exhaustion took a toll on him, all this was weighing on his mind. Another distraction was about to manifest itself before him as the gorgeous woman, who he guessed was in her mid-twenties, stripped off her long, snow white robe and revealed a short dress, deeply cut and very revealing. Her fair skin gave off a noble air and the contrast to her black clothes only deepened the impression. As her delicate hand gently brushed against his cheek, he felt a shiver of excitement and her scent completely captured his senses. She was a promise of bliss and ecstasy, a dream of rapture and paradise. Her voice held the beauty of a thousand songs. It was so enchanting he barely missed the words she spoke. ¡°I offer you the pleasure of the gods and your every desire shall be fulfilled. You can attain the greatest satisfaction, simply indulge yourself in lust.¡± He couldn¡¯t tell afterwards if it was the brutal kick to the head he received from his angry companion, who was foaming while he almost drooled over Castitia, or if it was the last word he heard her say. It didn¡¯t really matter though. It was as if the last piece of a puzzle fell into place. The stories, the changes around him and the behavior of the seven people he met, it all made sense, even their names. ¡®Oh god, the names, how could I not see it¡­¡¯ It was all so obvious now. Putting on a wide grin his attention shifted from Castitia whose face distorted in displeasure at Hall¡¯s reaction and without another word he grabbed both of his chains and turned around.
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------------------------ Author¡¯s Note: Well, that took longer than intended, but the chapter 17 is out, hope you like it I have to apologize again for taking so long, life has its means of getting in the way :grin: Anyway, the trials are pretty much over, next time we''ll get on with the rewards and the story, and the grimoire... ^^ I won¡¯t give you a release date for the next chapter because I¡¯m not sure if I can keep it, but just so much, the story will continue, so no worries there^^ I also have to thank everyone for their support, for their ideas and for pointing out mistakes, Also thanks for all the new ratings after the old ones were deleted It¡¯s great and ecouraging to see so many people enjoying my work and I will make sure to continue :grin: Well, as always, if you find any mistakes or have suggestions, please share them with me The problems with the server migration (editor, bbcode, chapters cut after 65k characters) have been mostly fixed by now and I hope you like the new design, I personally think it¡¯s great. It¡¯s focused on fiction now and supports us authors, so yay admins for their hard work ;) We are waiting excitedly for comes next P.S: Another reason for the delay of this chapter was the birthday contest and my entry in the onshot competition. If you want to read the first oneshot I wrote, check out the link, if you already read it, I hope you enjoyed it and thanks for the votes there too^^ http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=4332 You could also check out the other oneshots if you haven¡¯t already. :bye: PPS: Detailed Skill / Stat next chapter, these last chapters wasnt enough progress to warrant an update Chapter 18 - Dead Heart in a dead World Author¡¯s Note: (PLEASE READ) You have certainly noticed that more and more fictions are getting covers. So I wanted to create some kind of Cover Contest, let¡¯s call it Don¡¯t Fear the Cover Contest I want to ask everyone interested to send me their creation of a cover for this fiction. Be creative, make it fitting, and have fun making it. [th_092_.gif] If you want to make something but don¡¯t have an idea, you can ask me for some thoughts. The resolution is supposed to be 200x300 and the picture has to be an original, Meaning you have to own the rights to it. Upload it on imgur (or something similar) and send me the link via PM or chat. I will choose the best entry and use it as a cover for my fiction and I¡¯m sure I can find a purpose for the others. Hopefully I will get some nice entries, I¡¯m counting on you :grin: Well then, on to the chapter, I hope you will enjoy it ---------------------------------------------- Chapter 18 ¨C Dead Heart in a dead World The names carved in the ground were not only those the figures gave him, they were derived from the Latin names of the seven virtues. The virtues they once embodied themselves. Though calling them virtuous now would simply be a lie. They fell, they stumbled, they gave up or gave in. Time and circumstance was what changed them and they let it happen. So all that was left, was sin. When he looked at the riddle it was quickly clear to him that the first answer was the letter g, meaning the true name, the sin that hid what he desired, began with that letter, leaving only two possibilities. The answer to the last part of the riddle would reveal the end of the sin he looked for. It was the letter d. He turned to the man who called himself Caritius. Once representing Charity, only greed for power and wealth was left. Greed, the true name that hid what he looked for. Grabbing his chains, he acted quickly, his time was running out as crevices started to form on the dark ceiling. With great force he swung both chains at the same time and the impact on the name, the lie, ¡°Caritius¡±, which was carved in the ground before him, was strong enough to shatter the rock and reveal what was hidden beneath it. A small compartment was dug into the earth, a shallow hole covered by stone. Its walls were covered by runes and magic circles. He couldn¡¯t read any of it, but he understood enough to recognize their importance. In the middle of a ring of runes lay the black book he saw when entering the room, its corners touching the magic circle. By now he wasn¡¯t sure if it was the real grimoire he saw before or just an illusion, a trap to give him a false sense of security. With a faint smile he grabbed the tome and perceived a slight, but not uncomfortable surge of energy run through his body. It almost felt alive and despite it being Death¡¯s grimoire it was surrounded by a comforting warmth. ¡°Who is it that wakes me from my slumber?¡± Hall flinched and almost dropped the book when he heard a loud voice in his head. ¡°What the hell?¡± ¡°Very rude I have to say. I have nothing to do with hell, I am Death¡¯s grimoire and who are you if I may ask, again?¡± It took him a moment to regain his composure after a book just talked to him. ¡°My name is Hall, I am the First Harbinger of Death, tasked with the retrieval of Death¡¯s grimoire. I passed the trial of the seven guardians and have now earned the right to lift the seal placed upon you.¡± Hall sighed a bit inside. Without himself noticing it had become a habit of him to actually take on the role of his character. Sometimes he forgot he was playing and became the Harbinger and although it made him worry a little, he also enjoyed it, even if his choice of words could be corny at times. After a moment of silence the tome spoke back to him. He barely noticed when the trembling ground came to a standstill. No more dust and rocks fell from above and the forming cracks ceased to spread. He was safe, for the moment. ¡°Interesting, so Grim finally found someone who she deemed worthy.¡± Although her words were spoken with pride, the grimoire sounded like a young woman, maybe a girl even. The slight tone of arrogance in her voice seemed almost childish and made him smile. ¡°Though you seem to be mistaken on one thing Harbinger. It was not me who was sealed away. Quite the opposite, it has been my power that was used to seal a being of great danger. The trials were placed by me. I used the very soul of the being sealed away and created a test to let only those pass that would be able to stand against it. Unfortunately my power is dwindling, slowly seeping away through the cracks of time and I could not sustain the seal much longer. I hope you are prepared to fight Hall, First Harbinger of Death. Show me if you are worthy of entering a contract with me.¡± If he was honest with himself, he was not prepared. He was tired, his body and mind exhausted. When he looked to Lily she only watched at him in confusion. It seemed that he was the only one who could hear the grimoire¡¯s voice. Breathing in deeply he nodded while looking at his companion to warn her. ¡°I am ready to fight.¡± *Ding*
Event Notification ¨C The Origin of Sin An ancient demon who feeds upon the souls of sinful mortals was sealed beneath Roselake. By removing the power source of the seal you allowed him to break free. Centuries of imprisonment left him weakened, but should he feast on the souls of the city¡¯s inhabitants, he could endanger the lives of countless innocents. If you pray for forgiveness for your sins before battle, the gods of light may hear your plea and grant their protection to you.
Hall could only laugh at those last words. ¡°As if I¡¯d bow my head to them.¡± Still shaking his head he looked at the sentient tome in his hands. ¡°Can you tell me anything I should know?¡± After activating his Soul Perception he sensed a shift in the energy of the seven guardians. Even though he still couldn¡¯t read them, they were somehow slowly drained of their power which was transferred to the golden throne that was veiled in shadows by now. The voice of a young woman inside his head broke his concentration as he received his answer and a slight insult at the same time. ¡°I¡¯m sure there is a whole lot you should know, but that¡¯s a problem you can work on another time. The demon you are about to face was not always the corrupted being it is now. Once he was a symbol for hope, a child of the gods, his name Benmal¡¯ach. But he lost sight of what was good and right and in the end he fell and only darkness remained. He became a fallen one, a demon, attracted to souls heavy with sin. His mind clouded, he did nothing but devour and gain strength. The gods, blinded with grief over the loss of their beloved child wouldn¡¯t take action despite the sorrow he caused.¡± While listening to the grimoire he continued to observe his surroundings. The soul energy still was pouring into the large throne and several torches increased the intensity of their flames, throwing more light at the large throne and allowing him to notice the cracks forming in the gold it was made of. Shrieks of tearing metal and wails that emerged from the deepest parts of hell almost drowned out the voice inside his head. Thick shadows oozed in and out of the gaps in the golden throne and slowly engulfed fragments of the precious metal, turning them to black ash that scattered in the air. ¡°If the demon was that strong, how did he get trapped down here and how exactly did you become part of the seal?¡± It was a fair question, but the grimoire took a while before answering. ¡°It is a complicated matter. Before establishing our contract, a Harbinger, just like yourself, was asked for support in defeating the fallen one, Benmal¡¯ach. He was a menace to the souls of the living and their peace in death, so she chose to follow the plea for help, as was her duty. Unbeknownst to her, those who begged for her assistance used hundreds of criminals as a sacrifice to lead the demon beneath the city. When she arrived, she could do nothing but witness a brutal, mindless slaughter and the gluttonous devouring of souls. She was appalled. Even though their souls were burdened with sin, they had a place to go, a destination, and a fate that was disturbed. Maybe she was just a bit too soft for the life of a Harbinger, too gentle at heart.¡± The sorrow in its ¡­ no, in her voice surprised him. She was more than just an ancient book, the emotions in her voice clearly proved it. Outrage and sadness, a young voice carrying the memory of a lost friend. While the large throne in front of him crumbled away, the somber voice in his head continued. ¡°Their battle, fierce and relentless, raged for hours until she finally managed to pierce Benmal¡¯ach¡¯s chest, binding him to the ground, restraining him with the weapon she received from Grim herself. When those, who begged for her help, saw her fight, they were terrified and full of fear she would turn on them one day. So instead of thanking her, mages attacked the weakened Harbinger, close to death after the fight. Spells and all the power they had rained down on her until she finally fell, tears on her face after being betrayed by those she wanted to protect.¡± The soft voice trembled and he swallowed hard. Without noticing he gently stroked over the warm leather of the grimoire in an attempt to console her. ¡°With her gone they used me as a source of magic power to seal away the wounded Benmal¡¯ach, who was unable to move and couldn¡¯t defend himself as Death¡¯s weapon still penetrated his torso. For centuries the seal drained my energy and at the same time the demon got weaker as he tried to break free. The seven guardians you saw were souls he consumed, accumulation of sin, personified and split from him to diminish his strength. Yet they still held his will and their task was to corrupt those that entered these catacombs and fuel his power to unleash him from this prison. It took me decades to set up these trials, working around the poisoned mind of Benmal¡¯ach, letting those live that were able to withstand the fallen one¡¯s corruption. If you had been too slow or if your soul was on the verge of giving in, I would have collapsed the ceiling, destroying you and the hope you held of defeating what was left of a child of god. I¡¯m glad you passed, even if it was barely. Those too weak, too wicked or even too pure wouldn¡¯t have stood a chance. In the face of this evil, this corruption, innocence can only falter.¡± During these last words the remaining metal of the once golden throne turned to dust and a gust of wind carried the black ash into the darkness that rose from the ground. ¡®Why would they build a throne here? A casket would have made more sense! Oh well, maybe it¡¯s a religious thing¡­¡¯ While Hall¡¯s thoughts wandered for a moment, black smoke and a great amount of soul energy gathered in front of him. Where before his Soul Perception skill had failed to give him an answer when reading the seven guardians, he was now almost overwhelmed when he observed the amassing darkness. He perceived dark souls before, rotten after loathsome crimes and he thought of them as evil. How clueless he was! What he saw before couldn¡¯t be compared to what stood before him. It was nothing. A glance was enough to make him almost physically sick and before he had to take a step back, he deactivated his skill, even if it meant a disadvantage in battle. A figure peeled itself out of the shadows and stretched its limbs as if shaking off a long night¡¯s rest. In an instant Hall knew it was Benmal¡¯ach. He could almost smell the corruption as the demon took a step forward but was still held by a large blade that pierced his heart. Hall¡¯s forced his breath to remain calm while he put the grimoire in his inventory and confirmed he could still communicate with her. His fingers tensed around the chains while his eyes remained on the fallen one before him who gave off bloodcurdling moans and terrifying wails. Echoes resounded inside the round room and made it sound like it was filled with vengeful spirits. Even though he wasn¡¯t easy to frighten, he had to put in all his will not to take several steps back. Facing the imposing figure in front of him he almost forgot about the seven guardians that still lurked in the shadows. Though nobody would blame him. The blade inside his chest barely took away any of his threatening appearance. At over two meters and with defined muscles he looked like a statue carved from flawless marble. His grey skin wasn¡¯t covered by clothes and black lines that twisted and moved formed shapes and patterns on his flesh. He looked male, but there was no organ to confirm it. When the shadows at the demon¡¯s back exploded, Lily shrieked and retreated with wide eyes, trying to get to the safest place she could think of, behind Hall. With trembling hands she grabbed his shoulders for support and her shallow breath tickled his neck. The shadows behind Belmal¡¯ach formed wings, giving him the impression of a dark angel, a fallen child of god. Though instead of a clear image of feathers they only saw twirling shade, coiling and spinning, creating wailing faces, hands grabbing in despair and countless snakes. Innumerable, they crawled through the darkness. They hissed, snapped and kept their obsidian eyes on the two intruders that dared to challenge their master. When the demon spread his wings a gust of wind swept ash and dust into their eyes, blinding them for a moment. Being three meters wide, they swallowed the light that originated from the cracks in the wall behind him. Tears of cloudy mercury fell from his dim eyes and even though his face showed no emotion, it was a sorrowful sight to behold. Hall wasn¡¯t sure if he should feel fear or pity toward the fallen angel. Myriads of snakes continued to dig through his formless wings and thick, dark ooze dropped from them, evaporating in a sizzling sound as soon as it touched the ground. An atrocious scream left his lips as he tried to step forward. The blade that pierced his chest had a wide end and stuck several centimeters out of his heart. Where it left his back, the metal bent and got thinner until it penetrated the ground, restraining the demon¡¯s movements. It was the blade of scythe. A scythe large enough to mow down giants and even though there was no shaft, Hall could imagine its former scale when looking at the blade that measured around one and a half meters. It was a terrifying weapon and even in the face of an enemy as powerful as the fallen one it remained impressive. Although Benmal¡¯ach couldn¡¯t move forward, his scream echoed from the stone walls, causing dust and small rocks to fall from the cracks. Out of the corner of his eyes Hall saw movement in the darkness and before he could react, time around him slowed down. If he hadn¡¯t activated his skill Watching over me, he would have been in trouble. Even so, he instantly dropped to the floor and barely evaded a stream of green liquid. As time was slowed down, drops of the fluid fell to the floor and on his armor, burning its way through leather and stone. ¡®Great, acid.¡¯ While his armor lost a small fraction of its durability, he turned to the source of the corroding attack. On the spot where the young woman, who introduced herself as Temperia, should have been, stood a figure that bore no resemblance to the pretty girl. Decaying flesh under rotting, pale skin that was covered in festering wounds and an appalling stench created a repulsive image. Mountains of rancid fat caused her overburdened bones to creak and her gaping, toothless mouth seemed ready to swallow him whole. ¡°Benmal¡¯ach is far from full strength, so he can only control one of his puppets at the same time, be careful though, he is still a formidable enemy, one you should defeat while he remains immobilized.¡± Hall nodded at the grimoire¡¯s calm voice, now carrying a hint of arrogance again, and before he hit the ground, he threw a chain, aimed at the demon¡¯s head. Even though the time was running slower, it was running out. While the first chain flew straight like an arrow, he put his strength into his other arm, twisted his body and swung the second chain at the monster he now knew was Gluttony incarnate. Then the time was up. His movements, the velocity of his weapons and everything around him returned to normal speed. The moment he hit the ground, his chain was about to collide with Benmal¡¯ach¡¯s body. But in the blink of an eye his wings contracted and covered his body in a cocoon of shade and darkness. The sound of the impact was swallowed by the swirling shadows that formed his wings and the chain recoiled, barely inflicting the slightest bit of damage. Luckily Hall¡¯s other chain smashed into Gluttony¡¯s legs with tremendous force and with the sound of a snapping branch of a dead tree her bones gave in, causing her to fall forward. A gurgling noise left her throat as she choked on the acidic liquid she prepared to spit at him. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation Hall swung his chains over and over again. His speed and strength a sight to behold, he let a brutal hail of strikes rain on the immobilized target while he dodged streams of acid with swift movements. Bones shattered under the heavy blows and putrid skin burst open while her large health pool dropped steadily. Slowly the movement of the abominable monster ceased and Hall prepared to deliver the finishing strike. Only moments before his next attack would have hit, Gluttony went limp as if all strength had left her. His surprise caused him to pause. ¡°Watch out, behind you.¡± Lily¡¯s warning was followed by magical blue chains that shot out of the ground as she used her skill Angels don¡¯t kill to conjure bindings to hold the warrior who was about to strike Hall with a rusty long sword. His trust in Lily allowed him to simply react to her words and without hesitation or even a single glance he jumped to the side, rolling on the dusty ground, evading a crushing blow that split apart the stone where he just stood. The glowing mana shackles around the armored man¡¯s feet stopped him from going after Hall who quickly regained his stance and inspected the new opponent. It was Humitas, or what was left of him, Pride. His sword and armor was on the verge of crumbling, his wrecked shield discarded where he stood before. With precise swings he took care of the chains that bound him in an instant and instead of casting new ones, Lily focused on her song to increase Hall¡¯s strength. Pride closed the distance between them in a second and Hall barely evaded the next strike. In close combat his chains lost a lot of their advantage, so he quickly used the one around his left wrist as a shield by wrapping it around his arm and tried to coil his right one around the enemy¡¯s leg. Unfortunately the tall man with the frenzied look in his eyes dodged it with a speed his stature should have made impossible and as the attack flew past him, his sword already collided against his left arm. The damage was minimal but even though Hall already took out his sword and dagger he couldn¡¯t do anything but defend against the barrage of strikes. While breathing heavily, he pressed a few words through his grinding teeth. ¡°Lily, bind him.¡± A moment later a blue glow rose from the ground and chains of mana pinned down Pride¡¯s left leg. Before she could cast a second chain to tie down his other leg, he already broke free by violently yanking up his foot, ripping apart the shackles that bound him. But it was enough. A moment, not even half a second, but it was enough. The short distraction allowed Hall to shift his weight and ram his sword into Pride¡¯s gut. He pierced the rusty armor as if it was cloth and the dark flames that covered the back of his blade entered the body of the enemy with the sizzling sound of burning flesh. Hall furrowed his brows. He scored a clean hit, but barely caused any damage. Shrugging he continued the assault, together with Lily he created a pattern of taking away the enemy¡¯s balance, attacking and quickly retreating. It worked, but the constant creation of the glowing bindings began to drain their mana pool. His left arm throbbed after blocking several incoming swings and his attacks still inflicted far too less harm. Dozens of strokes shattered what was left of the corroded armor and revealed the enemy¡¯s heavily damaged body. His skin, dry and thin as paper, was burned by the sword¡¯s attacks and the wounds in his flesh were deep. Insects, worms and maggots, dug their way through the mangled body and with each step and each hit, they dropped to the ground to scurry away before they were trampled in the violent exchange of blows. Among the grey flesh, the black burns and the crumbling armor only one thing stood out. The scar on his neck. Even though it was only faintly visible when the abomination in front of him was still a man, it was almost impossible to miss now. ¡®Might as well try it, it worked the last time I killed him.¡¯ With grim determination he aimed at the scar and brought his sword down, yet he only cut air. In an impossible motion the enemy twisted his body to evade the blow. The sound of breaking bones resounded in the lithic chamber and with a broken neck Pride took a step back, creating some distance between them. Before Hall could overcome his surprise the foe¡¯s body faltered and stopped moving. Only a moment later he felt a stabbing pain in his right leg.
- 156 hp You have been crippled: -25% movement speed for 30 seconds
He was careless, while he hesitated, Benmal¡¯ach used Gluttony, who he already thought of defeated, and her acidic spit. The damage wasn¡¯t too bad, but he needed his speed to evade Pride¡¯s attack. With a roar he turned around to finish off the monster who harmed him, but any signs of life in it already ceased and instead Pride jumped forward with a rusty sword raised above his head that bounced without the support of his neck. ¡°Lily, change of plans, continue to tie him down, don¡¯t worry about the mana.¡± Though his strength was still a large threat, countless wounds and broken bones reduced his speed and hindered his movements but Hall knew, he couldn¡¯t survive if he fought one enemy after the other. Besides, a quick glance revealed motions inside Benmal¡¯ach¡¯s cocoon of shadows and whatever happened inside, it was likely the battle against the seven guardians was only a distraction. Thankfully the room became a lot brighter after the fight began as the cracks in the walls, which formed before, now leaked copious amounts of bright light that illuminated the chamber sufficiently to perceive every single one of the guardians, though it was barely reflected by the dull steel of Pride¡¯s battered sword. Instead of blocking the stroke, Hall sidestepped the attack and with a roar on his lips he rammed his fist, clad in chains, into the monsters back. The powerful blow threw his foe into a struggle for his balance and without letting him gain his footing, Hall used his heavy boot to kick his sacrum and send him flying for a meter until he crashed in the middle of the room. With a quick nod he gave Lily a signal and shackles rose from the ground, binding the limbs of the struggling monster. He probably could have finished him off then and there. But the next opponent would just step up. Instead he quickly swallowed one of the mana potions he bought in town. They weren¡¯t cheap and even though he had the money, he didn¡¯t buy many, but for his plan to succeed he needed a large amount of mana. The monstrosity that once depicted Humility stopped his struggle for a moment and raised his weapon while still lying on the ground in anticipation of Hall¡¯s attack. One that never came. Instead a sinister grin spread on his face. He knew he wasted enough time with the battle against two of the seven guardians, his health hasn¡¯t dropped too much, but he was already exhausted. Roaring, he let his chains fly and with remarkable precision they wrapped around two of the figures that still stood unmoving in a circle around him. He secured his stance and pulled with all the strength he could muster. Lucky for him the creatures weren¡¯t able to resist, their bodies weak without control. Resembling the monsters he fought before, they still had their human forms, but they were only husks of what they used to be, their bodies foul and decaying, a mirror of their soul. As they crashed on top of Pride, who seemed surprised, even though it was an emotion his mangled face shouldn¡¯t be able to portray, Hall already untangled his chains and sent them flying again. Timing and speed was essential, so he didn¡¯t hesitate and the moment his shackles grasped two more necks, he again grinded his teeth and put all his strength in his arms while his boots almost cracked the stone beneath him. There was a pile of five bodies in the middle of the room, a lump of rotting meat, a mass of repugnant stench. Only now did Benmal¡¯ach react to Hall¡¯s unconventional actions and even though he had different options, he chose to move the last standing figure. A smile appeared on Hall¡¯s face; it was within his expectations. If the fallen angel he was about to face would have used one of the bodies on the ground before him, it would have been a bigger problem, though he didn¡¯t forget the grimoire¡¯s words. Benmal¡¯ach¡¯s mind was clouded, his senses dull, weakened and hungry his only desire was to devour and the easiest piece to move was the one Hall left standing till the end. Industius. Sloth. His haggard body was nothing more than sick, pallid skin and weak bones that trembled even though he couldn¡¯t weigh more than a child. Before Hall could react, the monster''s eyes widened, it raised his head and let out a bloodcurdling shriek. Lily gasped, pressed her hands on her ears and dropped down to the ground and without the sound of an impact, she struggled to even move.
Curse of Lethargy As long as the voice of Sloth lingers, everyone in its range will be under its spell -90% overall speed (attack, movement, regeneration) Paralyzed for 20 seconds
Due to your resistance to curses the speed penalty will be reduced by 30% Duration of paralysis reduced by 50%
¡°You call that a curse? Don¡¯t make me laugh!¡± Hall could have sworn his taunting words caused a ripple in the shadows that surrounded Benmal¡¯ach. Despite the resistance, the paralysis effect made it impossible to retaliate. The monster that moved forward with sluggish steps was soon upon him and if the curse¡¯s duration wasn¡¯t reduced, he¡¯d surely be hit by sharp claws. Instead an infernal grin showed on his face when he slowly raised his sword. For an outsider it might actually be an amusing sight, two opponents moving at greatly reduced speed. Though in the end, Hall was quicker. Accompanied by the sound of tearing flesh and ripping skin he slowly pushed his blade into Sloth¡¯s convulsing neck. For Hall, who was used to swift movements in battle, it was as if he was penetrating the lethargic enemy in slow motion. His decisive strike was rewarded by a gurgling, almost pitiful noise that left his opponent¡¯s throat and the restrictions on his movements were instantly lifted. With a heavy blow Hall sent the monster flying and it crashed on the pile of decaying bodies. ¡°Duck!¡± Lily¡¯s warning wasn¡¯t a split second late. Following it, he avoided another stream of stinking, acidic liquid. While turning around he glanced at the trembling Lily. Though it wasn¡¯t fear she showed. Her eyes held fire and she clenched her fists hard. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I was taken out this easily, how shameful.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Hall said with a mischievous smile. ¡°You¡¯ll pay it back tenfold, for now, keep them on the floor.¡± After he fought an exhausting and long battle against Pride, he now completely overturned the situation before him within less than a minute. As if he was swatting an annoying fly, he let his chain crash on Gluttony¡¯s disfigured head. Taking away the last of its remaining health, he cracked open its skull and splattered its contents on the ground beneath. A wave of appalling stench caused him to wrinkle his nose in disgust. Weak bones cracked and its chest caved in as if something was pulling from the inside. A silent explosion of darkness enveloped the mangled corpse for an instant and the shadows dispersed as quickly as they formed. Hall¡¯s Soul Perception wasn¡¯t active, so he couldn¡¯t see it himself, but just now he destroyed one of Benmal¡¯ach¡¯s sources of power. The energy stored inside the guardian was released before he could consume all of it and being denied a meal after he was starved for so long, caused the black cocoon that surrounded him to shiver in fury and irritation. ¡°Time to finish the first course¡­¡± With a menacing glance he observed Lily who managed to keep the pack of six bodies from dispersing. Thankfully none of them had the same speed or strength as Pride and Hall only needed a bit more time. He swallowed a stamina potion and readied his chains. ¡°Lily, let them all burn.¡± After hearing these words she chuckled slightly. ¡°With pleasure.¡± Hall smiled when he heard her menacing tone. He knew, she was a lot more gentle, a lot more caring, but this place, these monsters, it was as if both of them felt their death was an absolute necessity, their obliteration the only right way. Standing in front of Lily as if protecting her, Hall carefully observed the mass of bodies only a few steps away from him. He had to keep them from separating, by any means. The moment one of them moved, turned, tried to untangle their limbs, he let his chains fly. Devastating blows landed on skulls, arms and backs. Mercilessly he let pain fall upon his enemies. They were tough opponents, their health pools large, their strength immense, yet now, facing him, they seemed helpless. The demon, the fallen angel, clad in darkness, roared under its cover of shadows. His hunger unquenchable, his corporeal need to devour fueled his wrath and the movements to free himself from the blade that bound him became desperate. It was something Hall noticed with satisfaction while his back was doused in comforting warmth. White, radiant light enveloped him as he continued to rain sorrow and destruction upon those lying before him. Her tender voice was chanting a spell, her words of grace contradicting the carnage in front of them. An angel and a reaper, bringing salvation and doom. A divine being, a pledge of mercy. A grim warrior, a promise of death. Soon a silvery glow spread on the room¡¯s ceiling, casting a glistening light on the rotting bodies beneath it. It was brighter than he remembered, more dazzling and it took longer to cast. He didn¡¯t know why, though maybe Lily unconsciously changed it to match the great evil they faced. Finally the first drops of azure light appeared, setting the air ablaze. Their brilliance caused him to smile and their radiance gave him hope in the upcoming battle against a fallen child of the gods. When it touched the flesh of the abominations, the husks of what once was good, their skin and bones were scorched by the brilliant tears of heaven. The beings Benmal¡¯ach controlled not only received Halls brutal blows but squealed as its decaying limbs began to melt under the rain of light. Glowing teardrops burned away the foul flesh they touched and slowly annihilated the monsters that suffered under the terrifying power. Meanwhile Hall had to swallow two potions to restore the mana Lily¡¯s attack consumed at a considerable speed. He could have used more, but potions had diminishing return effects. That meant if a mana potion was swallowed, Hall had to wait at least five minutes before consuming another one. If he didn¡¯t, the effect would be halved after each potion. Though those diminishing returns were only applied to potions that refilled the same resource, so he quickly used another stamina potion. The consumption of each elixir took several seconds, so using it in a close quarter battle was unthinkable, but Lily¡¯s magical onslaught kept the enemy busy, so he had some time to breathe. Already saving his strength for the next fight, he tried to hold back on his attacks. Explosions of darkness signaled the demise of the guardians. One after the other they fell, annihilated by the mighty spell and the divine power it held. When their mana finally ran dry an eerie silence spread inside the room. Almost invisible mist drifted over the scattered remains of the once terrifying monsters. Their charred bones, their scorched flesh, it was a pitiful sight. The stench was almost too much to endure. A movement caught his eye and he carefully approach its source. It was Pride, most of his limbs torn apart and his body obliterated, yet still under Benmal¡¯ach¡¯s merciless control. Shaking his head, Hall didn¡¯t even feel pleasure at finishing off the pitiful sight before him. He stepped on the frail arm that was raised as he came closer and the weakened bones crumbled under his adamant step. He was at the bottom of the pile, which was the only reason he survived, be it by a hair¡¯s breadth. After a deep breath Hall grabbed the head of the mutilated monster and with a swift stroke he cut it off its body, separating the link it had with the demon that was draining its stored power.
You have leveled up!
Hall ignored the windows as well as the following expansion of darkness that left him unimpressed and with grim determination he stood up and turned his gaze to the last remaining opponent. Under his forceful grip the dry skin tore and the battered skull cracked. With a wide motion he threw the head he held, smashing it against the shield of shadows the demon created around himself. Of course it caused no damage, but it was enough enrage him further. Wrath, a basic emotion. Anger, desire, hunger, not much intelligence was needed to perceive those, and even a mind as clouded as the fallen one¡¯s held them. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to teach you fear.¡± His resolve ironclad, he grabbed both chains hard enough to turn his knuckles white. ¡°Lily, we wait.¡± It was a decision he made reluctantly, but their mana hit rock bottom and if they could leave the combat state, their rate of regeneration would increase manifold. So he waited, grinding his teeth, as the seconds passed and his mana and health bar filled slowly while Lily put her hands on his shoulders, waiting patiently behind him. Her presence was comforting and in a place like this, filled with darkness and sorrow, he couldn¡¯t wish for a better companion. It took painfully long for their mana to refill, not that his mindless beating on the powerful barrier would have yielded much result, but simply standing in front of an enemy, watching him break free, was something Hall could barely stomach. Then the time came. When their mana was full, Lily initiated her song, her voice increasing Hall¡¯s strength. He swung both chains at the same time, aiming for Benmal¡¯ach. He knew his fear inducing skills were worthless, they didn¡¯t even effect the guardians, representatives of sin, so they would be of no use now. Though it was no surprise, an ancient evil that consumed countless souls and feasted on their power, could hardly be overwhelmed by him alone. An instant before his chains met their target, the black wings split and the hissing of snakes filled his ears. A wave of pressure violently pushed away his chains and when it hit him, he barely kept his stance. Before him stood Benmal¡¯ach, his wings spread wide, ashen steam left his mouth as he gnarled at Hall. A gaping wound adorned his heaving chest after the blade that held him was violently torn out and still stuck in the ground behind him. Thick, black blood seeped from the hole in his flesh and the snakes, their bodies formed by shadows, stretched from his wings, tried to devour it, fighting each other over every drop. ¡°Well, at least we know he can bleed and if he bleeds, we can kill him.¡± Hall¡¯s words to ridicule his opponent didn¡¯t have any effect, he probably didn¡¯t even hear them. His breathing was heavy and it took him a moment to control his shaking legs, the imprisonment and the wound he received drained much of his strength, though his eyes held a greedy fire, a desire to consume and fury towards those that stood in his way. The one who presented the biggest obstacle was of course Hall. The monster¡¯s delicate hands, unfitting for an abominable demon, formed claws while he slowly stepped towards him which almost caused Hall to instinctively back away. Another wave of pressure hit him, different, not physical, but filled with Benmal¡¯ach¡¯s emotions, intentions and will. It was overwhelming. Lily behind him covered her mouth to muffle a scream and it took her a few seconds before she started to sing again, slowly getting rid of the hesitance in her voice. ¡®I wonder if that¡¯s how others feel when I active my skills.¡¯ Shaking his head he tried to dispel the oppressive feeling. He was reminded of the tower¡¯s essence, of its profound darkness. An evil power, strong enough to extinguish any light too weak to wander through endless night. It was similar to Dravan¡¯s curse. The mage who created the trap inside the tower and was now ruling over an army of demons was an enemy they had yet to face. Though Benmal¡¯ach had a different presence, it was evil too, certainly, but on a more basic, a more savage level. It was as if an animal was eying him, one made entirely by darkness. There was no higher purpose, no plan or intricate thought, it was pure, uncontrolled evil, a wickedness beyond measure. But he came too far to turn around now, so he strengthened the grip around his chains again and faced the terrifying monster with fierce determination. His absolute resolve gave courage to the faltering Lily. He didn¡¯t notice the grateful glimmer in her eyes as she looked at him. The one who stood by her side when nobody else would. The one who even defied the gods and made the world his enemy. With new vigor her dazzling voice resounded in the gloomy room and filled Hall¡¯s heart with strength. A growl to push away the darkness formed in his throat and he used his skill Blast Tyrant. A deafening roar left his throat and without any more hesitation he swung down the chain in his right hand. The blue glow intensified, their light grew brighter and in a small explosion of brilliant shards of frozen flames his chains collided with a wing Benmal¡¯ach raised. But this time it didn¡¯t simply recoil. He didn¡¯t know if his chains were stronger or if the demon was weaker, maybe it was an ability he possessed to form an unmoving wall when he stood still, though in the end it didn¡¯t matter. His chains still didn¡¯t do much damage, but the moment they touched the shadows of the fallen one¡¯s wings, a battle between Hall¡¯s soul energy and the darkness surrounding it began. Hall used Soul Cleansing, which was part of his skill Down with the Sickness, but it was as if he was trying to put out a raging fire by spitting on it. He burned away the shadows. It melted under his brilliant glow, yet the moment he lost contact twisting and twirling snakes reclaimed their lost territory. While stepping back he continued to rain down brutal blows on the enemy, each one enough to shatter bones and mangle flesh. But not one of them broke through his defense, not one made him falter. Soon Hall felt as if he was toyed with. The demon before him was the predator that played with his prey before devouring it. Maybe he wanted to show his superiority, maybe he desired revenge after what Hall did to his guardians or maybe he just didn¡¯t care enough to end it quickly. Instead of wide swings he attacked by throwing his chains like arrows, partially penetrating Benmal¡¯ach¡¯s defense, creating bleeding wounds on his dark skin and scorching his flesh. But it wasn¡¯t enough, not even close. Strangely though the demon hadn¡¯t made any moves to attack yet. He probably wasn¡¯t used to defiant prey, but Hall remembered the grimoir¡¯s words and the battle she described, so he was carefully observing, waiting for his opponent¡¯s retaliation. The battle dragged on and soon the continuous striking took its toll on Hall, his arms became heavy, his strikes weakened. Lily used her strongest song, so their mana dropped slowly but steadily. He needed a different approach. Feinting two strikes he leaped forward and with immense speed he let his left chain fly, wrapping it around Benmal¡¯ach¡¯s thick neck who didn¡¯t seem to notice and continued his approach. Only when Hall used his Soul Cleansing skill, he stumbled, even if it was only for a moment. Hall used this one instant and attacked with his other chain and wrapped it around the monster¡¯s left biceps. Soul Distortion was useless as Benmal¡¯ach was far too strong, though at least he could drain him of some mana to replenish his dwindling reserves. But more importantly, he could finally use an attack that showed some effect for a prolonged time. Soul Cleansing. The skill he gained to extinguish the corruption sin causes to the soul. Usually he needed to be close to the one he intended to use it on, though with the help of his chains it was possible to extend his reach. Against an enemy like the one he was facing, it was an absolute necessity. New hope surged up inside of Lily and Hall as they saw the effect of the attack. The glowing blue light of his chains burned into the demon¡¯s flesh and a deep snarl rose from his throat. The sickening stench of torched filth penetrated his nose and with grinding teeth he grabbed his sword and his dagger while his chains continued to scorch the enemy. His whole being was sin, his flesh, his bones, his skin. So Hall¡¯s skill was an enormous advantage in this battle, though he still doubted it was enough. It was a shame he couldn¡¯t materialize his chains while they were in solid matter, or else he could have burnt the abomination from the inside. Raising both blades, preparing to strike, he slowly approached Benmal¡¯ach. The weapons of the soul weaver he carried began to glow, becoming brighter with each step as he infused them with his energy. ¡°If I can¡¯t beat you to a pulp, I¡¯ll just have to cut you apart.¡± His voice and eyes filled with malice, he was prepared to follow up on his words with deeds. As the blazing light of his blades was reflected in the demon¡¯s dark eyes he could have sworn he saw something move deep down, but before he could think of it, his enemy abandoned his lethargy and within a heartbeat he grabbed the chain around his neck. The sizzling noise of burning meat was loud enough to drown out the monster¡¯s growling and traces of ashen smoke left his hand. With mammoth strength he yanked the chain before Hall could react and he was pulled toward Benmal¡¯ach with tremendous speed. Although he instantly disintegrated his chains, it was too late. He was already airborne and was about to collide with his opponent while Lily yelled his name in panic. Somehow though he twisted his body as he kept an eye on the enemy¡¯s raised arm, ready to strike him down and step on his mangled body. Brutal pain flooded Hall¡¯s brain when his shoulder was mauled under Benmal¡¯ach¡¯s assault, his claws razor sharp and hard as steel. But instead of dropping to the ground, his face distorted in pain, Hall put on a forced grin. He succeeded in avoiding a fatal blow and took the force of the strike and let himself be pushed aside like a doll. He hit the ground a handful of meters away from the roaring demon. Chuckling, Hall spit out a mouth full of blood. ¡°Was that fear I saw in your eyes there?¡± Laughing caused him to sharply breathe in as pain surged up inside of him again, so he stopped his act of mockery. It was mostly tactic anyway. The hit he took was a brutal one and the window in front of him confirmed it.
-723hp Your left arm is disabled for 3min Bleeding effect: -5hp / sec for 20 seconds Effect will be lifted if fully healed or specifically countered
How could he have forgotten to buy bandages? Well, he had no time to apply them anyway and his damaged arm was of greater concern for now. ¡°Lily, use Spiritual Healing, we¡¯ll sacrifice some mana, but I need to get back some health if we want to face that monster head on.¡± She nodded at his calm words and began to transform their mana into health points. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was something. With trembling legs he pushed himself off the ground. Never losing sight of Benmal¡¯ach, a faint smile showed on his face. A deep, long gash stretched over the demon¡¯s chest and an awful wound, penetrating his arm, cost him even more of his strength. Hall had rammed his dagger into the flesh and used the force of the enemy¡¯s attack to gain momentum and cause horrible damage. He paid a high price for it. Both of them were covered in blood and had suffered great damage. But Hall was certain he had an advantage, he only had to stall for a few minutes and his shoulder would be healed again. Carefully, as not to alarm his opponent, he put away the blades and grabbed his chain with his working hand instead. Benmal¡¯ach began to move again, slowly approaching him. Spiritual Healing was a skill that needed to be channeled, so he couldn¡¯t get to far away from Lily while she chanted it. Instead he planned to lead the monster before him in circles until the healing was complete. The swings of his chains started to clash with the demon¡¯s wings yet again, this time showing an immediate response. Benmal¡¯ach¡¯s staggered under every blow as the blue soul energy combined with his Soul Cleansing skill afflicted devastating damage. As he fell into a rhythm of raining brutal strokes on the weakened demon he almost missed the dimming light around him. It was as if it was sucked away and a chill spread inside the room. Hall formed puffs of white steam when he exhaled his warm breath and noticed how there weren¡¯t any when Lily calmly breathed while focusing on her spell. The change in the chamber caused him to hesitate, just so slightly, and destroyed the flow of his attacks, not that it mattered. In an explosive motion the scarred Benmal¡¯ach lifted his wings and let darkness charge at them. A wave of twisted shadows washed over Hall, drowning him and Lily in a sickening torrent of black mist that gained structure and form. Dark snakes, full of malice, dug their fangs into his flesh. His arms were pierced, his neck, his back and legs. The leather armor offered no protection against the incorporeal attack the fallen one used. Pain surged up inside his whole body as if he was set ablaze. Lines dark as ink trailed through his skin. If he swatted after the beasts that gouged into his skin, they returned to mist and attacked at another spot. It was as if he was trying to catch smoke with his bare hands.
You have been affected by Benmal¡¯ach¡¯s soul energy, your body will be corrupted -75hp/sec for 30seconds -50% speed
Hall widened his eyes in horror. It was a devastating attack and his health dropped rapidly. It took him only an instant to realize why. Behind him lay Lily, her face distorted in agony. Dozens of snakes sank their teeth into her and injected their corrupted energy. Her skin slowly turned grey while her damage was transferred to Hall. ¡°Don¡¯t worry Lily, if it¡¯s about strength of the soul I won¡¯t lose to anyone, especially not against these puffs of smoke.¡± He hoped his words held more confidence than he felt as he took two steps and let himself fall beside her. Putting all his focus on his skill Soul Cleansing he surrounded himself with an aura of purifying energy. Compared to using it on a small area it consumed his mana at dangerous speed. So he grabbed Lily from behind and put his arms around her, holding her tight, pressing her against him. It only took a few moments for the brilliant light he emitted to disintegrate the black snakes that Benmal¡¯ach used. The blazing glow of his aura pushed away the shadows and only seconds later his and Lily¡¯s skin was free of darkness. Clenching his fist, he cursed the demon. This single attack took almost half of his remaining health, but when Hall observed his opponent, there was a noticeable change. He seemed smaller, weaker, panting and trembling slightly, he lost part of his strength. It was obvious the attack took a large toll on him. Within the energy he used was his very own soul, torn from him and used to overwhelm and destroy his prey. To a normal enemy it would be a disastrous blow, a vicious attack few could survive. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. It seemed Grim sent Hall for a reason. His unique skill gave him the opportunity to deal with this particular enemy. His considerable resistance to magic with the attribute darkness did its part. Though only at great cost, he still lived, ready to retaliate. With gentle movements he let go of Lily. She had recovered from the attack and blushed slightly as Hall held her from behind. After a few deep breaths she continued to cast her healing spell, slowly building up the health they lost. Meanwhile Hall faced the monster once again. Despite its loss in strength it was an enemy he couldn¡¯t hope to defeat without full focus and every bit of strength he could find inside his battered body. Benmal¡¯ach hesitated, only once had he met an enemy that was able to withstand his powerful darkness. Hall could see it in his dark eyes as he readied his chains, doubt, uncertainty and maybe, just maybe, fear. ¡°Stay right behind me Lily, forget the healing for now and use a song to buff me.¡± They lost a lot of health and couldn¡¯t take many more of these attacks, but Lily¡¯s healing spell didn¡¯t allow her to move and he could only protect her when she was close to him. Without hesitation, putting all her trust into his words, she searched for protection behind him. Once again she saw how wide his back was, comforting, and even when facing the abominable demon, the fallen angel that rained down terror on the people of this world, she felt strangely safe as long he was with her. ¡°I will follow you into the dark.¡± She meant it. He was still unable to use his left arm. So he continued to swing his right chain, slowly chipping away at the monsters health. This time he knew what would follow as the light dimmed and the temperature dropped to the point of freezing. The moment Benmal¡¯ach spread his wings for another calamitous attack, Hall used the opening presented and wrapped his chain around the demon¡¯s neck. Before the tempest of darkness drowned them, Hall quickly surrounded himself with a purifying aura, protecting even Lily with his skill. His mana dropped fast, though he could slightly compensate by draining it through his skill while his weapon burned the flesh from his opponent¡¯s neck as he tried to recover from the attack he used. Hall and Lily remained mostly unscathed as they approached Benmal¡¯ach and the dark creatures that dug their teeth into them were quickly devoured by Hall¡¯s brilliant glow. Now, finally rising his other arm, he wrapped his second chain around the monster¡¯s biceps again. With a blasting roar he charged at the surprised beast who was still recovering from the attack. While running Hall grabbed his blades, tensing his grip as their tips pointed down instead of up, and imbued them with energy, spreading blazing blue light. His chains scorched filthy skin, his heavy steps raised dust from the floor and he lifted both his weapons over his head. Benmal¡¯ach showed a confused and angry expression on his once blank face. His prey resisted. It hurt him. It happened again. Although he lost a lot of strength, he was far from beaten and raised both arms, dashing forward to receive Hall¡¯s charge head on. Lily¡¯s song reached a climax, her voice carried a tune, almost drowning out the moment the two enemies clashed. Hall activated his bright aura, cleansing the darkness before him. Benmal¡¯ach flinched, pulling back just so slightly, tripping only for a heartbeat, losing focus, losing power. With a fierce smile Hall rammed his blades into the demon¡¯s hands, piercing them and penetrating the shoulder with his sword. A blazing glow surrounded Hall and his weapons. The light pushed away the darkness. Devouring it. Burning it. Obliterating it. ¡°Burn¡± Hall yelled, screamed at the fallen angel in front of him. His blades digging deeper into the corrupted flesh. The monster¡¯s dark skin boiled under Hall¡¯s assault. The stench of filth and torched waste almost made him retch. And just so slightly, he pushed him back, one small step at a time, diminishing the beast¡¯s immense health at an amazing rate. But if you push a wounded animal, it will bite. With a terrifying growl Benmal¡¯ach raised his head and sank his fangs deep into Hall¡¯s unprotected neck. A fountain of blood was the result, covering the dark figure into an eerie red mist. The light Hall emitted dimmed and he was pushed back several steps. The damage was brutal, his health points blown away. Grinding his teeth all he could do was clench to the blades that still dug into the demon. With every passing second Hall lost copious amounts of health in the form of crimson blood that dyed the hard ground red. Tearing at each other they remained in a lethal lock, fangs mangling soft flesh and blazing light burning away darkness. It didn¡¯t take long until Hall saw the expected window, a curse and a blessing. Close to death he gained new strength.
In my Time of Dying has been activated
  • +100% Willpower
  • +30% to all stats
  • +30% speed
A surge of power ran through Hall and the brilliant glow around him intensified as he pulled the blades down, slowly cutting through the demons body. Severing muscles and scorching bones, he spilled gallons of vile blood. A loud wail, full of agony, left Benmal¡¯ach¡¯s throat as he let go of Hall¡¯s neck, his face scorched by the painful blazing light his prey emitted. Lily clenched her fists and tears formed in the corner of her eyes. She witnessed the violent battle before her with horror. Her feelings were obvious, her expression an open book. Seeing Hall getting wounded, hurt, brought to the edge of death yet again, filled her heart with sorrow. Yet she could see it in his eyes, every injury, all the torment, it was something that didn¡¯t stop him, didn¡¯t hold him back. Relentless, unyielding he pushed through, no matter the obstacle, no matter the suffering. It was as if he forgot that others could care for him, sense the pain he ignored, feel the anguish he hid. Almost gently Benmal¡¯ach dropped to his knees. The torched skin, the burned flesh, it turned to dust as his movements ceased. The blades Hall still held tight, left the body as it fell on his back, turning to ash, dust and mist. A gust of wind carried away the shadows and the room around them brightened and was bathed in warm torchlight. Absolut silence surrounded them. It was an almost peaceful end as the horrifying demon, the fallen angel Benmal¡¯ach crumbled away like a lifeless sculpture made of sand.
You have leveled up!
¡°We did it Lily, we really did it¡­¡± His hands trembling, his legs unsteady, he gulped down a health potion as not to die from his bleeding wounds. Still behind him, Lily wordlessly clutched his shoulders and chanted her healing spell. His exhausted mind screamed for sleep, though he couldn¡¯t lie down just yet. Instead he closed his eyes and breathed calmly. The end of the fight was not much more than a blur to him. He fought on pure instinct, on pure will. But in the end it was him who remained standing. *Ding*
You have survived the Seven Trials of Lives long gone Throughout the trials you struggled with the darkness within you, not pure or absolute virtuous you never gave in, never allowed yourself to forget what is important. Controlling the shadows is far more difficult than ignoring them. +6 Strength +2 Agility +3 Vitality +6 Endurance +8 Intelligence +9 Wisdom +10 Willpower You have leveled up!
You successfully completed the event Origin of Sin The evil in the catacombs below Roselake has been annihilated. Only few know the danger they escaped and only those will know of your heroic deeds. The public, nobles and royals will never come to realize the terror you kept away from them and they won¡¯t reward you for saving them. Though if you find those who know of your actions, you will gain something more precious than coin. +2 Endurance +3 Willpower You have leveled up!
Finally he gained some rewards for his effort. The stat bonus alone was worth several levels and there was still the loot left. First he investigated what the seven guardians left behind. He was a little disappointed to only find a shirt and another item that looked like a hand mirror. Nevertheless he picked the items up and identified them.
Gluttony¡¯s Stomach Cover
Defense:1-10Durability:35 / 35
Quality:Rare
This repulsive shirt once belonged to an abomination, a righteous person that fell into the pits of despair. Special Abilities: 10 Defense if satiety bar is filled, -1 Defense for every 10% drop in satiety Sacrificing 25% of your satiety bar will allow you to turn the contents of your stomach into acid and then fire a stream of it on your enemies. You will receive 10% of the damage you caused. Requirements: Level 65 Endurance: 125
¡®That is disgusting. Though someone will surely buy it.¡¯ He had no intention of ever wearing the shirt, but that didn¡¯t mean it was useless to him. Mildly curious he identified the hand mirror. At least it looked valuable. Its grip was made of ornate silver and small gems were placed on its back.
Mirror of the false Princess
Damage:0-1Durability:5 / 5
Quality:Rare
Its origin is unknown but using this beautiful mirror will make others see you in a new light, even if it may be a false one. Special Abilities: When dealing with NPC merchant you can charm them with your beauty and get a discount. Cutting the prices too much will result in a small gain of infamy Requirements: Level 65 Charisma: 150
¡®Well, that goes on the sell pile I guess.¡¯ Sighing, he hoped at least Benmal¡¯ach had dropped something decent. He collected a handful of soul shards off the ground. Even though he still didn¡¯t know what he needed them for, he was not about to leave anything behind. Next he picked up a plain, grey ring. It was made of simple steel, no silver inlays or embedded gems. [td2]Quality:
Ring of the Fallen One
Type:Accessory[/td2s]
Rare
Although it looks plain, it carries the gods¡¯ power which was changed by centuries of magical influence. Now it will cloak the wearer like its power is hiding within the metal. Effects: +15 Intelligence +10% Light Resistance +slight protection against the gods¡¯ power Special Abilities: Cloaks the wearer in shadows Effect stacks with similar ones Requirements: Level 70 Three different stats over 175 Neutral or worse relationship with the gods of light
A wide grin spread on his face. ¡®Finally something useful, though it will take me a while to use it.¡¯ There was one more item on the ground. Hall picked up the book and brushed off black ash that stained its ebony binding. ¡°Identify¡±
Identification failed!
¡°Damn. Identify!¡±
Identification failed!
Sighing, he shook his head. ¡°Identify.¡± [td2]Quality:
Skill book: Dark Wings
Type:Skillbook[/td2s]
Rare
??? Requirements: Level 70 Intelligence: ??? Wisdom: ??? Resistance: ???
¡®I hope it is what I think it is. But I guess I need to increase my identification skill first.¡¯ The items he got ranked between useless but interesting and amazing but out of his league. He was especially excited about the skill book and though he was pretty sure there was no such thing as a flying skill, at least he never heard about it, he had high hopes. Using the palm of his right hand he rubbed his tired eyes. With slow steps he dragged himself to the scythe¡¯s blade that still stuck in the ground. Its dark metal seemed unaffected by the corruption Benmal¡¯ach emitted. It felt familiar and as he touched it and carefully swept along the edge, he knew why. It gave off the same air, the same presence, Grim had around her. Sighing he sat down and leaned his back against the blade, closing his eyes for a moment before taking out the grimoire. ¡°So, how did I do?¡± His voice attested to his deep exhaustion while he held the warm, dark book. ¡°You did well Harbinger, Hall, I hope you will be able to form a contract with me.¡± Her tone was that of a young girl, but her words were honest and he was glad to her them. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± he asked the book who answered slightly surprised. ¡°It¡¯s Moira, though you would have known anyway if we will share a bond.¡± Hall chuckled, his limbs heavy, his mind weary. ¡®Death¡¯s grimoire, Grim Moira, seriously, the AI of the game creates worlds out of nothing and then it chooses names like this.¡¯ He gestured Lily to sit beside him and wordlessly they rested beside each other until Hall interrupted the silence. ¡°I¡¯ll be gone for a bit Lily. And Moira, as soon as I¡¯m back, we¡¯ll form a contract and leave this place, I promise.¡± After they agreed, he spent the attribute points he gained through leveling up. Then he logged out and as soon as he dropped on his bed, he fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
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-------------------------- Status Window Hall: Spoiler :
Status Window
Name:HallAlignment:Death
Level:42Class: Harbinger of Death
Race:HumanGender:Male
Title:The bigger they are¡­
Fame:987Infamy:0
-
Health:3195 / 2175Health Regen:4.5/ Sec
Mana:0 / 2315Mana Regen:4.9 / Sec
Stamina:860 / 860Stamina Regen:6.4 / Sec
-
Strength:144+70Agility:108+70
Vitality:81+10Endurance:89+10
Intelligence:108+10Wisdom:116+10
Willpower:158+10Luck:40+10
-
Attack:33+48Defense:25+120
Magical Resistance
Fire:10%+10%Water:11%+10%
Wind:11%+10%Earth:11%+10%
Lightning:10%+10%Illusion:40%+5%
Light:10%+5%Darkness:40%+25%
+ 30 added to all stats + Willpower stat raised by 80 points + Magical Resistances raised by 10% + Resistance to Illusion and Darkness Magic raised by an additional 30% + Enables you to equip certain items or equipment specialized for this class + Increases attack power for attacks with soul energy + Unable to learn most crafting professions + Skills that use soul energy will be 10% more effective and will gain experience 50% faster + Unknown
Skill Overview Hall: Spoiler :
List of skills
Marked for DeathBeginner LVL3 (33%)
Death to EveryoneBeginner LVL3 (19%)
In my Time of Dyingpassive
Ain''t no Grave, can hold my Body downpassive
Keep me in your Heart for a Whilepassive
Judgementpassive
I''m Still Standingpassive
Watching over mepassive/active
Soul PerceptionBeginner LVL5 (23%)
Soul PressureBeginner LVL3 (21%)
Soul ChainsBeginner LVL7 (67%)
Mana DrainBeginner LVL3 (79%)
Soul DistortionBeginner LVL2 (92%)
Hells BellsBeginner LVL2 (23%)
AmbidexterityBeginner LVL3 (61%)
IdentificationBeginner LVL5 (69%)
Down with the SicknessBeginner LVL2 (7%)
Blast TyrantBeginner LVL2 (19%)
Ancient LanguagesBeginner LVL3 (4%)
Sorian LanguageBeginner LVL9 (11%)
Ancient KnowledgeBeginner LVL1 (53%)
Sorian KnowledgeBeginner LVL2 (89%)
Chain MasteryBeginner LVL6 (33%)
Sword MasteryBeginner LVL3 (81%)
Dagger MasteryBeginner LVL3 (28%)
Equipment Hall: Spoiler : Weapons: Main-hand:
Blade of the Soul Weaver (incomplete)
Damage:44-57Durability:77/90
Quality:Unique
An incomplete sword covered by shadows. Can only be wielded by those that have control over soul energy. Remnants of soul essence mark this sword as property of Hall, the Harbinger of Death. Effects: Ignores 30% of the enemies armor Ignores 30% of the enemies endurance Slight chance to confuse or stun the enemy Wounds caused by this sword won¡¯t bleed If cut by this sword the effect of all healing spells are reduced by 50% +10% Darkness Resistance +20 Strength Area of Effect damage around the sword (5% of hit damage, Range: 10cm) If imbued with soul energy, damage can be increased (max. +50%) Requirements: Willpower: 130 Strength: 100 Agility: 80
Off-hand:
Short Blade of the Soul Weaver (incomplete)
Damage:32-44Durability:56/75
Quality:Unique
An incomplete dagger covered by shadows. Can only be wielded by those that have control over soul energy. Effects: Ignores 50% of the enemy¡¯s armor if the dagger is used to stab Ignores 50% of the enemy¡¯s endurance if the dagger is used to stab Slight chance to confuse or stun the enemy Wounds caused by this dagger won¡¯t bleed If cut by this dagger the effect of all healing spells are reduced by 20% If stabbed by this dagger the effect of all healing spells are reduced by 40% +10% Darkness Resistance +20 Agility If imbued with soul energy, damage can be increased (max. +50%) Requirements: Willpower: 130 Strength: 80 Agility: 100
Clothes Shirt:
Bloodcount¡¯s Silkshirt
Defense:5Durability:30/35
Quality:Rare
Black shirt made of high quality silk by a skilled tailor for high nobility. Effects: +10 Agility +10 Intelligence Armor worn over the shirt will lose its durability slightly slower Requirements: (not fulfilled!) Level 60 Agility: 100 Intelligence: 100 Pants:
Bloodcount¡¯s Silkpants
Defense:5Durability:23/35
Quality:Rare
Black pants made of high quality silk by a skilled tailor for high nobility. Effects: +10 Agility +10 Intelligence Armor worn over the pants will lose its durability slightly slower Requirements: (not fulfilled!) Level 60 Agility: 100 Intelligence: 100
Armor Chest:
Hardened Leather Chest
Defense:30Durability:43/60
Quality:Magic
Leather armor of good quality made by a skilled craftsman without any special features. Effects: +5 Strength +10 Agility Requirements: Level 35 Strength: 50 Agility: 80
Legs:
Hardened Leather Pants
Defense:30Durability:34/60
Quality:Magic
Leather armor of good quality made by a skilled craftsman without any special features. Effects: +5 Strength +10 Agility Requirements: Level 35 Strength: 50 Agility: 80
Gloves:
Hardened Leather Gloves
Defense:15Durability:41/45
Quality:Magic
Leather armor of good quality made by a skilled craftsman without any special features. Effects: +5 Strength +5 Agility Requirements: Level 35 Strength: 50 Agility: 80
Boots:
Hardened Leather Boots
Defense:15Durability:52/60
Quality:Magic
Leather armor of good quality made by a skilled craftsman without any special features. Effects: +5 Strength +5 Agility Steps are muffled slightly Requirements: Level 35 Strength: 50 Agility: 80
Cloak:
Armored Cloak of Ella¡¯s Heritage
Defense:30Durability:72/90
Quality:Unique
An armored cloak made from rare dragon spider silk. It is harder than steel and at the same time almost as light as linen. An incredible piece of work improved by generations of craftsmen, imbued with powerful magic. Effects: +5% Resistance to elemental magic (Fire, Earth, Water,Wind,Lightning) Cloak will apply a low level form of stealth, diverting the attention of others +5% Chance to evade, deflect or divert an enemy attack Strong feelings of affection and gratefulness blessed this item: +5% damage against beings you deem evil If your health drops below 50% the material of the cloak hardens, doubling its defense for 10 min Requirements: Extremely high intimacy with Ella, blacksmith apprentice of Gelt Strength: 100 Agility: 100 Wisdom: 80
Rings: [td2]Quality:
Ring of Ogre Strength
Type:Accessory[/td2s]
Magic
A ring made for the chiefs of ogre clans as a bribe. Effects: +15 Strength +1.0% melee damage Requirements: Level 40 Strength 150
Gold Ring of a Blade Dancer Novice
Type:Accessory
Quality:Magic
A ring given to those that chose to become blade dancers and pass the initial test of the dancers guild. Effects: +5 Strength +10 Agility +1.5% Chance to Dodge Requirements: Level 40 Strength 60 Agility 110 /td100]
Necklace: [td100]Pendant of the Soul Weaver (incomplete)
Type:Accessory
Quality:Unique
An incomplete pendant covered by shadows. Can only be worn by those that have control over soul energy. Effects: +10 to all stats +5% to all resistances +unknown Requirements: Willpower 140
Active Quests: Spoiler :
Quest: Carry on my Wayward Son ¨C Part 2
After lifting the curse, Lily¡¯s soul is still not complete. Dravan, who made the curse, still holds part of it after draining her soul energy for so long. Rip it from him. Difficulty: C Quest requirements:
  • lift the Grand Curse of Shattered Trust from you and Lilith
Rewards: Unknown Failure: abandon Lily
Quest: No Sympathy for the Devil
The great mage William Henley asked you to hunt down his disciple, Dravan, the last one of the Sorian people. Dravan rules over a land of darkness unbeknownst to mankind where he controls an army of evil. Difficulty: C+ Quest requirements: Be cursed by Dravan, survive the curse and find the scroll of his master Rewards:
  • Restore what was broken, find what was lost and return what was stolen
  • Additional rewards depending on your actions
Failure: exceed the time limit of one year
Quest: The Running Man
The kingdom seems to entertain their nobles by robbing, tormenting and killing the common people in exchange for money. It may even involve the king himself. Investigate! Difficulty: E Quest requirements:
  • find the orders of the king concerning The Cattle Hunt
Rewards: Increased intimacy with the common people Other Consequences, depending on your actions Failure: ignore the quest.
Quest: Alice in Chains
Death¡¯s Grimoire is hidden deep inside a dungeon under the castle of Bredon¡¯s capital Roselake,long lost, long forgotten. Form a contract with it after pouring your soul energy into it to show you are worthy. Difficulty: C Quest requirements:
  • Be Death¡¯s Confidant
  • Be able to use Soul Energy
Rewards: a contract with Death¡¯s Grimoire Failure: fail to form a contract
Quest: They can''t keep us down
There are those in Bredon that can''t tolerate the oppression and injustice. They hide in the shadows and plan their actions carefully. They often live a dangerous and short live, but won''t back down. Prove to them you are worthy of their trust and you will gain their support. Difficulty: E Quest requirements: Gain the trust of one of the members of the resistance Rewards: Support and information from the Resistance Failure: Betray the resistance by revealing them to the king
Completed Quests: Spoiler :
Quest: Rest for the Wicked
Quest complete The quest that was given to you under false pretense and that was part of the ploy to betray you and leave you to die was deemed impossible to solve. Against all odds you did it. The Banshee¡¯s soul found peace at your side because you set her free and gave her the ability to trust again.
Quest: Carry on my Wayward Son
Quest complete You and Lilith managed to lift the Grand Curse of Shattered Trust and to leave the area after destroying the tower. Quest Part 2 Unlocked
Quest: Follow the Reaper
Quest complete You exceeded Death¡¯s expectation and decided to join her as a companion.
Quest: Master of Puppets
Quest complete Not only did you destroy the goblins inhabiting the abandoned mine, hindering them from creating more undead animal servants, but you also destroyed the cause of the dark magic. You also released the souls of those imprisoned by darkness and gave peace to the souls of the dead villagers.
Quest: Mama liked Roses
Quest complete You gave Ella a little peace of mind and a chance to bury her beloved mother. Furthermore you destroyed the cause of her grief.
Quest: The Witch¡¯s Promise
Quest complete: You chose to destroy the witch, releasing her prisoner, hindering her from summoning a great blood demon that would have terrorized the kingdom.
Available Titles: Spoiler :
Title : Paranoid
The betrayal of your friends scarred you for life but you learned a lesson to choose careful who to trust and are now a little bit tougher than before. When equipped: People think you¡¯re insane because you are frowning all the time
Title : Solitary Man
For breaking a curse of betrayal you will be marked by dark powers to keep you alone in this world Effects: When in a party you deal 15% less damage for every party member Familiars and Pets are not included Effects are applied even if the title is not equipped
Title : I Stand Alone
For breaking a curse of betrayal you will be marked by dark powers to keep you alone in this world Effects: When in a party you receive 15% more damage for every party member Familiars and Pets are not included Effects are applied even if the title is not equipped
Title : Damaged beyond Repair
You damaged your own soul irreparably and because you forcefully destroyed the connection between cursed chains and it¡¯s source the remaining dark magic will taint your soul. Effects: Relationships with the churches of light suffer and can¡¯t advance beyond friendly Effects are applied even if the title is not equipped
Title : Losing my Religion
The gods punish you for refusing them. The seven churches of light of the continent Akreton declare you a Persona non Grata, an unwelcomed person. Effects: Your reputation with the churches can¡¯t advance further than unfriendly. You are not allowed to enter the churches premises. Healing fees are tripled. If a member of one of the seven churches of light kills you, he will not gain infamy Effects are applied even if the title is not equipped
Title: The bigger they are¡­
For defeating a unique, named quest boss more than 40 levels above you, you are granted with knowledge of how to deal with experienced and dangerous foes, bigger and stronger than you Effects when equipped +5% damage against named monsters +5% damage against monsters bigger than you
Stat Window Lily: Spoiler :
Status Window
Name:LilithAlignment:Death
Level:43Class: Familiar of the Harbinger of Death
Race:Human (Spirit)Gender:Female
Title:Lady in Black
-
Health:0 / 1020Health Regen:3.5/ Sec
Mana:10170 / 7855Mana Regen:39.7 / Sec
Stamina:-Stamina Regen:-
-
Strenght:32Agility:40
Vitality:55Luck:35
Intelligence:359Wisdom:369
-
Attack:4Defense:-
Magical Resistance
Fire:10%Water:10%
Wind:10%Earth:10%
Lightning:10%Illusion:40%
Light:10%Darkness:40%
+ 15 added to all stats + Intelligence and Wisdom stat raised by 20 points + Magical Resistances raised by 10% + Resistance to Illusion and Darkness Magic raised by an additional 30% + Unaffected by physical attacks if not in corporeal form + Increases magical damage if the target is affected by the magic of the Harbinger of Death + Soul bound to Hall, the Harbinger of Death + Unknown
Skill Overview Lily: Spoiler :
List of skills
Soul Meets BodyBeginner LVL4 (7%)
Angels don¡¯t KillBeginner LVL3 (51%)
Spiritual HealingBeginner LVL3 (32%)
Voice of the SoulBeginner LVL7 (4%)
I will follow you into the DarkBeginner LVL4 (92%)
Prayer for the DyingBeginner LVL1 (37%)
The Sound of PerseveranceBeginner LVL2 (57%)
Tears of HeavenBeginner LVL3 (31%)
For detailed explanation on the skills you can check the stats thread, they are not up to date right now, but the details stay the same ------------------------ Author¡¯s Note #2: Well, chapter 18 done, hope you enjoyed it As always please follow, favor and rate, it means a lot :grin: Next chapter will come, no worries there, I¡¯ll probably post here a few days before I will release it Thanks for the patience and support you guys give me, it¡¯s very encouraging, And I will try to continue to improve my work, so please keep giving me your opinions, suggestions and point out mistakes :bye: Chapter 19 - A Change of Seasons Chapter 19 ¨C A Change of Seasons He awoke in complete darkness. Only a small red light on the side of a large capsule illuminated the room. The piece of technology seemed out of place in his plain room. Rubbing his eyes and stretching his tired limbs, he shook off his sleepiness and turned on the lights to clear his mind. When he fell into his bed, he never checked his watch. He felt as if he had barely closed his eyes, even though the clock told him it was Sunday evening. ¡®Damn, I have class tomorrow.¡¯ It would not be the worst option to simply turn around to catch up on some lost sleep, but he heard his stomach growl. It was a signal for his body to remind him of what he neglected. Thirst, hunger and the dire need to visit the toilet forced him to jump out of his comfortable, soft bed. Smelling himself, he decided to take a quick shower. Of course he was completely awake and ready to take on the world when it was time for everyone else to get rest for the next day. Shrugging, he decided to go for a run. His stiff muscles yearned for some exercise after he discarded his initial plan concerning cooking, sleeping and training almost instantly. Though he didn¡¯t feel bad about it. It has been the same before. An important task at hand will always take most of his attention. Planning, managing his time and balancing his life; those weren¡¯t his strong points. Instead he focused, pushed forward and would reach whatever was ahead of him. Nobody taught him how to achieve his goals, so he did it his way and if necessary he would pave the path he decided to take. Unfortunately that meant missing what lay past that road, be it people, relationships or simply a beautiful view. Only at rare moments did he manage to forget. Forget everything, cast out his demons, his worries and all his thoughts. So he ran through the chilly night, breathed in the cool air and let drops of sweat drip from his face. The city around him was already covered in the darkness of the night and the streets were empty, only few people hurrying home, rushed by the dropping temperatures of the season. Frank ignored them as he entered a park that was close to his home. It wasn¡¯t huge, but it had a small lake and lawn used to relax or to hold a barbecue during the warm months of the year. There was even a playground that was always full of yelling children throughout the day. Running was all he ever did in the park. Sometimes he scared away ducks that waddled between the trashcans and the lake, or drew the gazes of playing kids and tanning girls. Of course he was focused on his training and his thoughts were far away. Now though he always kept an eye on his surroundings, almost expecting goblins or skeletons to hide behind trees, their weapons raised and ready to attack. A strange feeling crept up on him, neither eerie nor frightening, but somehow unnatural, a sensation he felt before. Experiencing a breathtaking story or a magnificent tale and then returning to reality. In some way it made him feel out of place. Everybody around him just went on with their lives as if nothing had happened, and yet there was this whole other universe where marvels and wonders occurred. One that only he alone knew. This time the feeling was stronger, more tangible and difficult to shake off. After around two hours, he entered his small apartment and hung his wet clothes out to dry before taking another quick shower. There was about half a day left until he had to show up at his university. So without wasting any more time and with a wide grin on his face, he logged back into the game he could not get enough of. When the darkness around him faded away, he was greeted by a smiling Lily. The room around them lost all traces of menace it carried during the battle. Apart from the blade that felt slightly warm against his back, there was no trace of the carnage that occurred not too long ago. Even the cracks in the stone walls disappeared along with the blood and stench that filled the chamber. Shrugging, he stood up and grabbed Moira who began to talk inside his head. ¡°It took you long enough to return, I hope you are prepared.¡± Hall couldn¡¯t help but imagine a young woman puffing her cheeks, her hands on her hips and tapping her foot impatiently. ¡°Oh forgive this worthless one for resting after only defeating one measly fallen angel, it won¡¯t happen again.¡± He chuckled and heard a loud sigh inside his head. ¡°All is well, I waited for centuries and so few more hours won¡¯t matter.¡± Hall nodded and carried the book to the empty pedestal that stood in the middle of the untouched room surrounded by torches that spread warm light. Lily approached the pedestal from behind and lightly nudged it with her fingers without any result. ¡°How is it talking to you? Why can¡¯t I hear it?¡± Before Hall could answer her, another voice appeared interrupted him. ¡°I still feel the presence of a familiar beside you, even if I can¡¯t see it. It seems you are not talking to yourself, how comforting.¡± Hall shook his head and sighed. ¡°You two, please keep it quiet for a moment. Moira tell me, how do we form a contract?¡± Lily was not happy that she had to be left out for now, but the advancement of their classes and the gathering of strength was of utmost importance. So she waited patiently, observing Hall as well as their surroundings. Especially inside a dungeon where danger was always near. ¡°Very well, it¡¯s simple, but you should listen carefully. Place your hand on me, concentrate all the power you can gather and pour it into me. It will take an enormous amount of your soul energy to establish a contract, even¡­ in my state.¡± Moira hesitated and her dejected voice softened. After centuries she was weakened, her strength seeped away and the power necessary to form a contract was reduced greatly. ¡°Though your energy has to be not only plentiful but also pure and it has to be transferred fast. Which means you can¡¯t hold back, not even slightly, as you only have mere moments to establish the contract.¡± Nodding, he stroked over the grimoire¡¯s leather binding. ¡°What if I fail?¡± After a moment of silence her voice returned, carrying the sneering tone Hall grew to find annoying. ¡°Are you already certain your strength is insufficient? Perhaps you should be more worried about the consequences of an established contract.¡± Personally Hall never understood how asking for possible ramifications could be considered a sign of weakness. It was a matter of being prepared for every possible outcome, so he waited for Moira¡¯s answer. ¡°If you fail to form a contract with me you will die, there won¡¯t be another chance for you and I will probably cease to exist soon after.¡± The consequences were grave and he would put Moira¡¯s very being at risk but he didn¡¯t plan to back down, not after all that happened. ¡°And why should I be worried about the ceremony¡¯s success?¡± Hall asked when Moira didn¡¯t continue to talk. There was only silence, but he waited patiently until she answered, her voice filled with a hint of sadness. ¡°We will form a link between our souls. As I will take in yours, you will take part of mine. The price for a connection such as this is a harsh one. You already left the path of humanity, Harbinger, and this will lead you further down the road to become¡­ something else. Something others will fear, even hate. You will be shunned by society and alone you will face darkness and evil. Instead of the gratitude you deserve, you will be rewarded with gazes of terror and hostility. So I ask of you, Hall, First Harbinger of Death, here and now, will you forsake your humanity?¡± Breathing in deeply, he closed his eyes for a moment and pressed his hand on the book¡¯s cover. There was no need to think, no need to contemplate. He already chose his path and even now he felt Lily¡¯s presence. From here on out he also had Moira beside him. He was not alone, not anymore. He remained in this position for several seconds before pulling back and lowering his arm. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Moira asked surprised and even Lily stared at him in confusion. Without uttering a word, he undressed his upper body and drew the blade of the soul weaver from his belt. It happened before, when he was close to death or when Lily sang for him. His energy increased, his power grew. His strength was tied to his will. Furrowing his brows, he raised the blade and while grinding his teeth he rammed the dark sword in his stomach. The shadows formed black flames that licked his bare skin and scorched his flesh. Moira and Lily let out screams, but instead of explaining his actions, he pulled out the blade and cut open the skin on his arms and chest, reducing his health with each strike until he saw the message he waited for.
In my Time of Dying has been activated +100% Willpower +30% to all stats +30% speed
¡°Lily, would you mind singing for me?¡± Hall¡¯s request cleared away her confused look. The properties of her song allowed him to raise his willpower and together with his last resort skill, it would increase the strength of his soul energy considerably. The moment Lily¡¯s voice resounded in the torch lit room, Hall placed his palm on the grimoire again. He focused on the pulsating warmth Moira exuded and his hand began to give off blue radiance. Without transferring the energy he accumulated, he charged up his body. Releasing the seal as if breaking a dam, Hall let blazing blue light rush through him and channeled it to his hand. It entered, invaded, overwhelmed the grimoire and soaked its pages, its mind and its very soul. Moira moaned as she was enveloped by blinding light and took in all his energy. Centuries of drought left her parched, countless years of starvation made her forget the joy of forming a bond with another soul, of not being alone. She had not felt like this since she gave herself to Grim. The sensation of warming light showering her skin let her cry out in joy. Not her pages nor her leather binding, but the body she once had, the body she still felt, was enveloped by Hall¡¯s comforting embrace. Simultaneously Hall¡¯s senses were flooded with images, he remembered movements he never learned, abilities he never had. He forgot things he knew and learned what had been lost in time. It was an intense rush and when he shook off the overwhelming feeling of disorientation, the light around him dimmed. A long sigh inside his head and a deep breath from him signaled the end of the ceremony. Several moments passed and the tension among them rose. Hall counted the seconds while clenching his fist until he relaxed after finally seeing the anticipated message. *Ding*
You have entered into a contract with Death¡¯s grimoire, one of the 72 Revered Tomes of Power created by gods, devils and beings beyond. Due to your connection, the grimoire cannot be dropped, lost or stolen. As long as you share a soul bond, it will always find its way back to you.
You chose to forsake your humanity and to follow the path of Death, Non Player Characters will be initially terrified or feel threatened by you. Gaining their trust will be difficult. Merchants may refuse to do business with you or raise their prices exponentially.
¡®This could become a problem¡­¡¯ Hall furrowed his brows while he flipped through the windows.
Your skill Ancient Knowledge has been consumed by the grimoire!
Your skill Ancient Languages has been consumed by the grimoire!
Your skill Sorian Knowledge has been consumed by the grimoire!
Your skill Sorian Language has been consumed by the grimoire!
You have gained a new skill!
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Death¡¯s Grimoire (passive)Beginner118%
Knowledge is power! Currently weak, this tome can be filled with information and wisdom, granting great power to its partner. Effects: Damage of skills related to Death (class skills) increased by 1.5% Range and effect of skills related to Death increased by 1.5% Defense against skills related to Death increased by 1.5%
Moira already mentioned she lost most of her might, but it still was a surprise to Hall. Even after consuming the knowledge he gathered, which took him considerable time, Moira still only gained a fraction of her power back.
You have gained a new skill!
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Turn the PageBeginner10%
Carrying the grimoire that is bound to your soul grants you strength. Grimoire has to be equipped in one hand. Skills of familiars and pets are also enhanced. Effects: Damage of skills related to Death (class skills) increased by 15% Range and effect of skills related to Death increased by 15% Defense against skills related to Death increased by 15%
Your skill Marked for Death has been consumed by the grimoire!
Your skill Death to Everyone has been consumed by the grimoire!
You have gained a new skill!
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Bad Moon RisingBeginner212%
Your enemies shall tremble in fear. Your opponents shall grovel in the dust beneath your feet. Nothing may stand in your way as you tear through every obstacle. Darkness will fall and only the light of death shall illuminate your battles and bear witness to your power. Effects: -1% accuracy for enemies -5% stats for enemies -10% movement speed for enemies -15% health, stamina and mana regeneration for enemies Effects doubled if an enemy stands alone against you Effects reduced depending on the enemies will Range:20m
Hall couldn¡¯t wait to test this skill. He had to give up two of his abilities that affected his opponents with debuffs, negative effects, but it was more than worth it. The darkness created would significantly weaken his enemies, even reducing their accuracy while fighting. Though how exactly the system calculated evading and missing, accuracy in general, was still a secret of the developer, Sphinx. Players debated it vividly on different forums. Many assumed the AI worked in the background, using the player¡¯s stats to influence battles to a certain degree. It remained speculation and even after testing it out by experimenting only few reported of noticeable changes after equipping gear that increased the correspondent stats.
You have gained a new title!
Title : Somewhere I belong
You stood up to gods and devils, to angels and demons, and with your soul at stake you formed a contract, binding your being to another. By forsaking your humanity you gained a powerful ally that you saved from vanishing into nothingness. After giving part of your very soul to your familiar, you now shared it a second time, bringing light to the hopeless and forgotten. +5 willpower When equipped: Your trusted companions, those inseparably bound to you will benefit from the home, the purpose, you give them (includes familiars, contractors and pets) +5% range of skills +5% effectivity of support magic +5% resistance against all magic Heightened resistance against crowd control effects +5% experience gain
Quest: Alice in Chains
Quest complete: Facing gruesome trials, overcoming your inner turmoil and defeating unimaginable darkness, you entered into a contract with Moira, Death¡¯s grimoire. Rewards: Contract with Death¡¯s grimoire and all resulting consequences You have leveled up! You have leveled up!
You are the first player to establish a contract with one of the 72 Revered Tomes. +3 Intelligence +2 Wisdom +50 Fame
The bombardment of messages finally ended and left Hall with mixed feelings. He gained levels, stats and skills, but Moira didn¡¯t understate the toll it took. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! It would be a lot harder from here on out to establish trust with NPCs. Support, quests, equipment, from now on it would become difficult to acquire those. ¡®There is time to worry about that later, we should get out of here first.¡¯ Before he could motion Lily to follow him, a voice resounded in his head. ¡°I honestly didn¡¯t expect you to achieve this feat and I assume congratulations are in order and¡­ thank you¡­ so very much.¡± Hall almost didn¡¯t catch the last part. Her voice softened until he could only hear a faint, exhausted, but also relieved sigh. His lips formed a smile when Lily rushed at him with big eyes. ¡°What was that voice? Is that who you¡¯ve been talking to? It¡¯s the book right?¡± He couldn¡¯t blame her for being curious. For a while now she¡¯s been patiently waiting for an explanation. ¡°Yes Lily, her name is Moira, from now on she¡¯s our companion and will travel with us. Moira, let me introduce Lily to you.¡± It felt somewhat strange to introduce a spirit to a book, but Hall already came to terms with uncommon occurrences inside Novus Vita. ¡°Now I can see her too, your familiar spirit is quite the beauty Harbinger, and she shows a lot of skin. Why am I not surprised?¡± Moira¡¯s shyness and timidity was already gone and was replaced by a considerable amount of haughtiness. While Hall only rolled his eyes, Lily wasn¡¯t about to let the comment slide. ¡°Hey, what is your problem? It¡¯s not like I can change the things I wear.¡± She snapped at Moira who answered in an instant. ¡°Well and I¡¯m not a book, I¡¯m a grimoire, that¡¯s different.¡± Hall could imagine her puffing her cheeks while quibbling with Lily. ¡°Just get along you two.¡± His attempt on calming the waves was completely ignored and with a loud sigh he put the grimoire in his inventory. Before they began their ascent to the town above, he had one more thing to do. Hall approached the blade that pinned down Benmal¡¯ach while his two companions continued to bicker. It was still stuck in the ground and though not even the powerful demon could free the scythe, he still had to try. Again he perceived the familiar sensation, the feeling of comfort, as he touched the black metal. After all these centuries, it was still sharp, still lethal, but he didn¡¯t feel threatened. It was as if the blade belonged to him. Ignoring the noise around him he focused a small amount of energy in his fingertips and poured it into the weapon. Without any resistance it was absorbed and the blade emitted a faint aura of darkness, shadows so thin they were easy so miss. With a smile Hall pulled the scythe blade out of the stone that imprisoned it for so long. No resistance, no struggle, it waited for him, all these years. ¡°Identify.¡±
Identification impossible!
¡®That¡¯s new, shouldn¡¯t it say failed?¡¯ Scratching his head he tried again, but the result didn¡¯t change. ¡°Hey Moira¡­¡± ¡°Not now! Listen to me familiar!¡± ¡°I told you my name is Lilith.¡± They were still at it. Without any regard for Hall¡¯s problem his companions continued to squabble over every little thing. No amount of yelling or pleading could get their attention. Slightly annoyed, he shook his head and finally left the torch lit chamber. Hall began to miss the silent descent as he ran faster and faster, almost flying through the tunnel, only wanting to get out of this place where there was nothing but darkness and conflict. Where he needed several hours before, it didn¡¯t even take him two now and although he was completely exhausted when he arrived at the crossing, he felt relieved. Yet he hesitated before going further and leaving the catacombs. It was possible the desecrated grave was guarded and he didn¡¯t want to risk a lengthy battle. ¡°Ladies, I shall take my leave again and when I return, we really have to work on our communication.¡± The only answers he received were irritated noises and so he logged out. The exchange between the two was more exhausting than the battle against Benmal¡¯ach and he wanted to catch some sleep before class. Without wasting any more time he brushed his teeth and went to bed. As he slept in his underwear anyway and developed the habit of wearing nothing else while playing Novus Vita, he didn¡¯t have to wash a lot of clothes before going back to university. He soon fell asleep and dreamt of being assaulted by sonic attacks until his head burst into a thousand little pieces. It wasn¡¯t a pleasant dream. -------------------- Although it was the middle of the night, Alexa couldn¡¯t afford the luxury of sleep. A veil of nervousness covered the city, tension so thick it was almost palpable and even the cold night did little to cool the heated atmosphere. For weeks and months many people, NPCs and players alike, were unsatisfied with Roselake¡¯s government and its reign over the city as well as the kingdom. Those who spoke up were quickly silenced, either with the help of bribes or using less civilized means. The city was in bad state even before the players, the voyagers, arrived. Now with more parties involved, the situation became even more complicated. The pressure, the tautness inside the city built up, slowly affecting everyone no matter the social standing. The nobles rarely left their part of the city, the curfew caused resentment amongst the general populace and the slums became even more dangerous. Yet something changed. Reports of nobles slaughtered, royal guardsmen massacred and the rumor of a forming resistance turned the city from a mass of disgruntled murmur into a powder keg. All it would take was a single spark and the whole city would be drowned in the fire of rebellion. A civil war was not out of the question any more. That¡¯s why she was still awake. Ever since an unknown player killed one of the royal guards during the bonfire festival, media attention has risen. The king increased the amount of soldiers on duty and punished even small crimes without mercy. A kingdom on the brink of tearing itself apart. War, blood, death, that¡¯s what people want to see, that¡¯s what they always wanted to see. Alexa herself had mixed feelings about the situation. She wanted things to change in Bredon and Roselake, but she feared the consequences, the chaos that would swallow the kingdom and the immense death toll. Of course that was only her viewpoint as a player, but things weren¡¯t less complicated when she looked at it as an employee of SGTV, Sphinx Gaming TV. The job right now was nothing more than a step on her way to the top, but she was sick of mundane and boring reports, tedious interviews and meaningless articles. Now that the media coverage finally shifted towards Bredon, she could get her foot into the door, make some headway and get noticed by her superiors. Her avatar in Novus Vita was sufficiently different from her real appearance so only her close friends, of which she had none, would recognize her. It was something she already considered while creating her character. A yawn escaped her while she planned her next moves. She had to contact her sources in the underground, the royal court, as well as the merchants and bar tenders who always heard the latest gossip. There was also an interview scheduled with high level players who currently stayed in Roselake. Their reputation was questionable, but their success couldn¡¯t be denied. That was something she didn¡¯t look forward to, not one bit. She already knew they were some spoiled rich brats. Not only did they want an interview inside the game, but one in person too and instead of coming to the station they insisted the reporter would come to them. Unfortunately, these players seemed important, both in the game and outside, and so they got their will. Just like rich brats always do. She sighed as she rubbed her tired eyes. The interview was scheduled for tomorrow evening. The players were actually attending the private university she couldn¡¯t visit due to monetary reasons. The same university she saw everyday while she went to the public one next to it. She clenched her fists and grinded her teeth at the mere thought of the next day, but it was part of her job. At least she was able to attend the university party where the interview was supposed be conducted. She never was interested in parties, drinking or going out in general, but it was something that was on her list. So far in her life she has always been too busy with work, studying or finding excuses and as a result her private life was nonexistent. At least she didn¡¯t have to do the interview herself. However due to her close proximity to the school, she was chosen to accompany the reporter as part of the crew. She closed the message window in front of her. It showed a journal containing her plans, tasks and appointments. A handy little feature of the game most players never used. Sighing loudly, she leaned back, her old chair creaking, and gazed at the spruce wood ceiling of the room she currently rented. She closed her eyes and her thoughts wandered to the stranger she saw on the day of the bonfire festival. Terrifying, merciless, but also without fear, he left a deep impression on her. ¡°I¡¯d really like to interview him¡­¡± -------------------------------------- Frank tried not to show the annoyance on his face. Because he overslept, he didn¡¯t have time to check the prices his auctions were about to fetch as they were only two hours from closing. Hurrying, he forgot his cell phone at home and by now his items should have been sold, but because all sites dealing with Novus Vita were banned on the university computers, he couldn¡¯t look it up. Additionally the gazes he received were filled with either pity, surprise or spite. Tapping his fingers on the keyboard before him, he waited for the professor to show up. Instead two of his friends, at least the closest thing he had to friends, approached him. ¡°Finally, you¡¯re back. Damn it, Frank, are you alright?¡± The one who asked him was one of the few guys who he kept in more or less regular contact with. He met Tom during student orientation and he was the first one who approached him. Except for his sharp mind, he was an ordinary guy. Average height, average looks, average hobbies. It was thanks to his intelligence and his parents¡¯ management position at Sphinx Pharmaceuticals that he was able to study at an expensive private university. Behind him stood his little brother Levi, a quiet kid, half a head smaller than Tom. He was not only clever, but brilliant, which allowed him to enter the same classes as his older brother. Though already 17 years old, he looked a lot younger thanks to his frail figure and blond hair which he kept at shoulder length. Usually shy, he looked up to Frank, who was never intimidated, never afraid. Now he seemed honestly worried and waited for a response to Tom¡¯s question. Frank only raised an eyebrow in surprise. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I be alright? I told you I¡¯d be gone for a bit.¡± An uncomfortable moment of silence spread between them before Tom finally continued. ¡°Yeah, I didn¡¯t really ask before, but rumor has it you were shot down by Jane. Brutally and without mercy. But did you really lash out against Steven and his crew? I mean, that would be awesome, but you really should be a bit more careful.¡± Frank sighed and put his forehead on the table. The rumor wasn¡¯t new, but he hoped it would have been forgotten by now. ¡®Guess that stares the glances I¡¯ve been getting all day¡­¡¯ With a quick motion he raised his head again and looked at Tom and Levi, trying to sound calm. ¡°No reason to be worried, really. They just screwed me over in Novus Vita and I didn¡¯t take it so well. I¡¯ve written to you that I¡¯ve been playing the last two weeks, you guys really shouldn¡¯t be this surprised.¡± Their eyes and mouth wide open, the two brothers gaped at him for a moment before Tom began to laugh and even Levi joined him while Frank could only shake his head. Before they settled down, the professor entered the lecture room and they were forced to leave Frank alone for now. ¡°Hey, I want to hear what happened in detail, you know we play too, so let¡¯s talk later.¡± Everyone had an assigned seat and a personal computer, additionally the classes were small to guarantee a close relationship between both students and teachers. Unfortunately that also meant Frank¡¯s long absence didn¡¯t remain unnoticed by the professor who stared at him with piercing eyes. It wasn¡¯t necessary to attend lessons, but it was recommended, especially because some teachers didn¡¯t take it well if their students bailed on their classes. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you¡¯re feeling better Mr. Arms.¡± Frank furrowed his brows. ¡°Sir?¡± ¡°Well considering you accumulated an absence streak of now¡­¡± The professor looked inside the little book he always carried around. He was one of the few people who still used paper to keep notes. ¡°Two weeks, I just hope it was nothing serious. We wouldn¡¯t want your grades to drop.¡± Frank swallowed hard. Professor Dreer was well known and feared, even among other teachers he held a special position. He held a lot of respect for the man, also because Dreer may be strict, but he was always fair and missing classes could easily be compensated with two things, knowledge and understanding. ¡°Thank you for worrying about me Professor, but I¡¯m alright.¡± A few people around them grinned in silence. Not many dared to speak to Dreer in the impish tone Frank just used. ¡°Great, then you won¡¯t mind telling me how scientist solved the problem of stagnating processing power of microchips in the early 21st century when Moore¡¯s law lost its validity.¡± It was the topic of today¡¯s lesson, The History of Computer Science, so the students wouldn¡¯t know it yet. Of course Frank was prepared, he studied the recommended reading material even before the first day. Leaving the army and having months before university started left him with nothing but time. ¡°After the limitation of silicon based microchips slowed down the progress for a long time, scientists came up with several different alternatives. The technologies that prevailed were the replacement of silicon with single layer graphene as well as the use of lasers that used photons instead of electrons to represent the flow of data, so called optical computers. Several years later the implementation of quantum microchips as part of common computer systems paved the way for a fast progress in technology.¡± Dreer nodded while Frank talked and without looking the slightest bit impressed he addressed the whole class. ¡°Correct, now let¡¯s begin, does anybody know why the use of quantum microchips was preferable to quantum computers in the late 2020s?¡± Frank sighed in relief as he escaped the scrutinizing gaze of his teacher. The rest of the lesson was nothing new to him, but it was fairly interesting so he paid attention. When it was over, he heard a few whispers about him. How he seemed fine, even though he was supposedly dumped. How he clashed with Steve. How he was an arrogant bastard. ¡®Well, I hope the rumor soon disappears and¡­ wait, who said that last part?¡¯ Lost in thought, he flinched slightly when Tom and Levi showed up behind him and looked at him with questioning eyes. ¡°What is it?¡± They only had a few minutes until the next lecture, so he didn¡¯t want to waste any time. ¡°Come on, tell us about your character in Novus Vita. I¡¯m playing a guardian class and Levi here is a cleric, we¡¯re around level 85 and are currently questing a couple of days west of Heideborg.¡± Raising an eyebrow Frank turned his full attention toward them. Gaining 85 levels since launch wasn¡¯t easy and they chose classes that fit their personality. He shouldn¡¯t discard the idea of some teamwork down the road, even though they were still far away from him. Heideborg was the capital of Norland, a vast country that shared a boarder in Bredon¡¯s eastern part, massive mountains that were difficult to cross. With a width of over 1000 kilometers and covering the land between the north ocean and the south sea, it was one of the larger monarchies. Different from Bredon¡¯s ruler, the king was appointed for 5 years by the lords of the 9 biggest cities. ¡°That¡¯s not too shabby guys, I¡¯m only in my mid-forties, playing a warrior class. Well, not exactly, but close enough. As I said, it was a rough start, but it¡¯s alright now. My starting kingdom is actually next to yours, Bredon. I just arrived in its capital Roselake. So if you guys are around, give me call.¡± The two brothers hesitated for a moment while they exchanged worried glances. ¡°I guess you haven¡¯t heard?¡± Frank slowly shook his head, waiting for Tom to continue. ¡°Looks like things are heating up in Roselake, I only heard a little, but it seems the king is recruiting players in Bredon, and not only the good kind. He offered pardons and rewards to several members of the Shadow Wraiths in exchange for their service in suppressing the kingdom¡¯s enemies. I assume you have heard of them? You know, the chaotic guild in your kingdom, even the officials in Norland try to avoid them.¡± It was new information to him and it didn¡¯t help to improve his mood. He closed his eyes for a moment and exhaled heavily. ¡°How do you know?¡± Tom let his gaze wander through class before answering with a softer voice. ¡°Alright, listen, I only heard it today, but I did myself, so it¡¯s not just some rumor. Jane and Steve were recruiting people in the cafeteria this morning. They never hid where they started so there were actually a lot of students who followed them to Bredon and are in or around Roselake now. I think they just began their enlistment of players, but I guess whatever they are up to, it happens soon, so be careful alright?¡± The next class was about to start and the news he just received left Frank with little room to focus on the teacher. He had to adjust his plans. Targeting nobles, acting out of the shadows, striking when nobody was expecting it, it all just got a lot harder. The resistance would be fierce, his allies scarce. After another lecture he was finally done for the day, his thoughts already in the world of Novus Vita, but before he could leave the class, Tom caught up to him. ¡°Hey, how about you come to the university party this evening? It¡¯s in the cafeteria, it won¡¯t be too wild, because there are classes tomorrow, they canceled the first one by the way, but you haven¡¯t shown your face a lot, so what do you say?¡± Usually Frank would just turn him down, friendly and with a smile of course. It was time for the annual winter celebration. The holiday season was about to start and soon everything would be decorated nicely, jolly music would sound from store fronts and radios and even the university would be closed, except for the library. He wasn¡¯t much of social butterfly and preferred to drink alone, yet he hesitated. For years he spent the holidays in solitude. He only saw the joy and love others shared, it was a time for families after all and although he knew how petty he was, he couldn¡¯t help feeling jealous. To his own surprise though, there was no resentment in him this year. He had a place to be, plans, a purpose, even if it wasn¡¯t in this world. The corners of his mouth showed a faint smile, easy to miss for those around him. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡±
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------------------ Author¡¯s Note: Another Chapter done, hope you enjoyed it, a bit more real life this time :grin: As always, please rate, follow and favor, it means a lot When you discover any mistakes, have suggestions or just want to ask something, I¡¯m always happy to listen (PM, posts, chat) Thanks for all the ideas and comments I get from you guys, it helps a lot and thanks to Miner and Nijus for helping me by proofreading this chapter I hope you all had nice holidays and I wish you a happy new year, hope to see you all in 2015 :bye: Chapter 20 - Day and then the Shade Chapter 20 ¨C Day and then the Shade After he evaded countless annoying stares, Frank finally arrived at home. Still chewing the burger he bought at a food stall close to his apartment, he turned on his computer and soon forgot to close his mouth again. The auctions that recently finished left him speechless. The two magic swords barely got him 20$ each, but the rare blade was sold for a little under 200$. The two rare rings he had gathered from Bathory¡¯s mansion, before burning it to the ground, fetched a bit more than the sword and one of the skill books brought in at a little under 400$. Almost 1000$, enough for a student to live on for a while, and considering he didn¡¯t focus on collecting valuables, he couldn¡¯t complain. The last item, the second skill book he sold, astonished him. It required a high amount of intelligence and wisdom and was restricted to mages and similar classes. The spell taught would allow the caster to enchant a weapon temporarily with a minor increase in damage. Though the effect held some merit, Frank didn¡¯t think he¡¯d get over 1000$ for the book, especially because it wasn¡¯t classified as rare. He pushed the disturbing news he received about Steven and his attempts to recruit a small army to the back of his mind, swallowed the rest of his cold burger, and prepared to log into Novus Vita. --------------------------- ¡°Have you two calmed down?¡± Hall took the silence for confirmation and climbed the dirty stairs, following the dim light that barely illuminated his ascent. A freezing gust and a grey, clouded sky welcomed him. Snowflakes fell softly and lay a white veil over the graveyard. No guards were waiting for him as he stepped onto the ground, the undisturbed snow muffling his movements. The smell of winter, cold air, unsoiled by the various odors civilization brought with it, entered his nostrils and made him smile unconsciously. ¡°That¡¯s a good look for you my friend.¡± The voice of a young woman resounded through the empty cemetery. Hall spotted a pretty girl, her skin white as the falling snow, sitting atop a gravestone. Dressed in the black suit she always wore, she chuckled as she saw him. ¡°Nice to see you Grim, I expected you earlier.¡± His smile widened as he saw her, still grateful for the role she played in his growth, in the game and outside. Lily also beamed at her arrival and they exchanged a few nice words before Grim jumped to the ground in a fluid motion. ¡°Congratulations, Hall, I¡¯m really happy you were able to bond with Moira, it means a lot.¡± Her words carried honest gratitude and Hall accepted them gladly. ¡°Do you mind handing her to me for a moment?¡± Hall raised an eyebrow. ¡°I really don¡¯t mind, but you won¡¯t break any rules right?¡± Grim giggled at his concern. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s just another way of bending the rules a bit. Moira is my grimoire after all and she carries part of me. Besides, I am able to guide you on your path as a Harbinger, it is part of my responsibility which I take on with pride.¡± He sighed while handing over the thick grimoire, which was surprisingly light. ¡°You are not making this up as you go along, right?¡± The tome in his hands pulsated, giving off faint light as if awaiting a reunion with Grim. ¡°Moira, it¡¯s been so long, one day you just disappeared¡­ but I¡¯m glad you¡¯re in safe hands now. It seems you lost most of your power though, you aren¡¯t even able to maintain a body.¡± Sorrow softened her voice, but she held on to her merry tone. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll grow stronger, you have someone courageous by your side, someone who will accompany you on your path.¡± Her delicate fingers gently brushed away the snowflakes that landed on the grimoire¡¯s dark leather. ¡°I¡¯ve been missing you Grim, thank you for finding me. The one you sent seems¡­ to possess a lot of potential.¡± They continued to talk for a few minutes and Hall didn¡¯t interrupt them. The schemes of cruel men separated them for many years and they deserved some time to talk. Giving them some privacy, he inspected his equipment which had suffered under Gluttony¡¯s acid and Benmal¡¯ach¡¯s ferocious attacks. Although parts of his armor lay in shreds, it wouldn¡¯t be too expensive to fix. All in all, he was very lucky. What worried him more was his cloak, Ella¡¯s gift. The young blacksmith gifted him her precious family heirloom and he treasured it greatly. ¡°Hall, would it be alright if I asked a favor?¡± Lily approached him while he was inspecting the damage to his equipment. ¡°Of course, what is it?¡± Hall looked up curiosuly, but could only see her profile as she watched the scenery with longing eyes. ¡°Is it alright if I use my corporeal form? It has been so long since I felt snow.¡± Her hand grazed the needles of tall fir trees while she took silent steps. Yet she left no footprint behind, no trace or sign she was a part of this world, every snowflake passing through her, every branch ignoring her touch. He clenched his fist and the pain inside his chest almost caused him to turn away from the lonely sight. A figure walking in solitude, surrounded by white nothingness. Shivers ran down his spine as he shook his head to dispel the image. ¡°Of course, there¡¯s no reason to hide right now.¡± He promised her some time in her physical form and even if someone saw them, it would not matter. Without hesitation she used her skill Soul Meets Body, and her bare feet sunk into the snow. This small sensation, something so ordinary that most would not give it a second thought, turned Lily¡¯s graceful features into an expression of bliss. Her eyes beaming, she stroked the green needles of nearby conifers, formed balls of snow and spun around in ecstasy while flakes of snow danced around her. For a moment she was bathed in a brilliance that rendered every diamond in the world worthless and paled even the rays of the sun and the moon. ¡°Beautiful, isn¡¯t it?¡± Grim, still carrying Moira, stepped closer to him. ¡°You found some good companions, Hall.¡± He nodded and looked into the grey sky, grateful to those who gave him strength when he lost his. ¡°But I also hope you know that your journey just began. There will be great challenges ahead of you. Some will require all you have to offer, they may demand more than you are willing to give, because there exist those that don¡¯t care if others suffer.¡± A cheerless chuckle left his throat. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m used to life taking more than it gives and I¡¯m sick of it, so I¡¯m done making sacrifices. I¡¯m done letting go. Maybe it¡¯s selfish, maybe it¡¯s arrogant, but I¡¯m done taking a beating. It¡¯s time to take down those who spread pain and torment for their own gain. I will drown them in their own filth and blood.¡± His fingernails dug deep into his palm while his voice darkened. Images, long forgotten, flashed before his eyes as well as those still vivid in his mind. Years others looked down on him, used him for cheap labor and shoved the orphaned boy away when he inconvenienced them. Scars and fractures on kids younger than him, caused by parents who were supposed to protect them. Damaged gears in the engine of society, unwanted, unloved, uncared for. ¡°Just don¡¯t lose yourself Hall¡­¡± Though her voice was soft, her words reached him. ¡°But this character trait of yours makes you an exceptional Harbinger, because it will leave you unwavering in the face of cruelty. The tasks I gave you were only part of the duty you took upon yourself. Soon the burden you have to shoulder will increase. I am sorry, I really am.¡± Hall simply nodded again. He had agreed to her conditions, wished for the strength she offered him and was more than willing to stand by his decision, stand by Grim. ¡°I won¡¯t betray the trust you put in me.¡± A smirk sneaked onto his lips. ¡°Hit me with your best shot.¡± He didn¡¯t push away his responsibility, instead he welcomed it, accepted it and gladly lightened the weight Grim had to carry. Straightening her back and lifting her downcast gaze, she relaxed and looked him in the eyes. ¡°You already freed several enslaved souls, undead, forced to follow the will of vicious creatures. This will remain one of your tasks. Remember though, I¡¯m not talking about all undead. There are countless familiar spirits who choose to stay in this world out of their own free will and as long as they remain untainted, unsoiled, you don¡¯t have to intervene. You have my trust, so I leave the judgment in your hands.¡± Hearing her words, he glanced at Lily who still enjoyed herself after being deprived of the smallest joys for so long. He had to judge others like her, souls left behind, souls bound to this world by force, by grief, or by a sense of duty. It was an obligation he did not look forward to. ¡°Hall, so far you only cleansed souls that were corrupted by outer forces. Your abilities allow you to give them the peace that was denied to them. But it¡¯s different for those that cause this corruption. With your current power you might hurt them, but you won¡¯t be able to cleanse the darkness that infected their soul.¡± Hall raised an eyebrow, a questioning look on his face. ¡°I didn¡¯t know there was a difference?¡± ¡°There is, an enormous one.¡± Grim conjured a sphere of light within her palm. It was barely larger than an apple and floated over her open hand, steady, calm. ¡°Think of this as a human soul, energy, untainted, a blank page.¡± A shadow rose from her palm and enveloped the sphere, swallowing the light it emitted. ¡°It can be forced to fall into darkness, chained into slavery, to follow the will of another. By now it¡¯s not really a soul anymore. Its consciousness vanished, gone, its container, the body it held, already dead. Only pure energy remains, but it still carries the strength of a soul, a great power many desire.¡± With a motion of her other hand she dispelled the darkness and only the glowing ball remained. ¡°You have the ability to wash away the blemish on the outside, but if the owner of the soul decides for himself to carry out atrocities¡­¡± She didn¡¯t finish the sentence. Instead a dark seed took root in the center of the sphere. Within seconds it spread, extended dark tendrils, caused the light to retreat and turned it into an orb of black tar. ¡°Will is a powerful force, it can overcome mountains and canyons, can create kingdoms and tear them down, it can spread light or drown the world in darkness. Those who cause suffering out of their own volition, those who choose to commit sinful acts, will carry their choices with them.¡± The sphere before her disappeared without a trace and their eyes met again. ¡°Vanquishing this darkness will be one of your responsibilities.¡± Silence spread between them as Hall pondered over the ramifications of Grim¡¯s words. ¡°You told me you were neither on the side of darkness, nor on the side of light. Why do you need me to cleanse darkness?¡± With a deep sigh she answered his question. ¡°Indeed, I don¡¯t favor one side in particular, because I¡¯m not allowed to. You also should remember that darkness and evil aren¡¯t necessarily the same thing. Most dark gods, as well as their followers, aren¡¯t causing great havoc, instead they prefer not to be bound by worldly laws or morals. Some follow chaos, some nothing at all. Truthfully, there are those among the churches of light that commit far greater crimes in the name of their gods.¡± Her gaze went past him, into the distance, to the grey clouds and beyond. Hall almost felt the weight she carried in her memories by looking into her hazy eyes. Within a second she regained her composure and continued, her voice unwavering. ¡°While the goal of most gods is to gain power, the objectives of¡­ beings like me is balance. When a human, an elf or an orc, any living being, is born, their souls form out of an enormous pool of soul energy and when it dies, this energy returns.¡± Hall nodded, the concept made sense. ¡°Every good deed, as well as every sin a person commits, at least those of a certain gravity, during their lifetime will reflect upon that person¡¯s soul. Amassing good deeds will cause the scale to topple to the side of light, while if a soul corrupted by sin joins the pool, it will cause it to darken. ¡°If new souls are created out of that energy, some will be predestined to do good, others not. Most souls are in balance, especially those of sentient races. A dark soul in monsters and animals will cause them to be aggressive and cruel. Hunting them is considered a good deed, so they spread darkness, while those protecting others from them create light. ¡°Of course, there are also races out there that are often gifted with pure souls and killing them would create darkness all the same. But as I said, most sentient creatures are bestowed with neutral souls and have their free will to do good or evil. In the end this system had one purpose, keeping the balance, harmony, an equilibrium between darkness and light. It existed even before me, before the gods and any of the races present in this world. But it has one flaw.¡± A bleak chuckle rose from Hall¡¯s throat. ¡°Evil is winning, right?¡± By now Lily turned back to Hall and approached him, still a wide grin on her face. About to throw a ball she formed out of snow, she felt the heavy air, the somber atmosphere around him and dropped the idea. Instead she approached them in silence and listened to their conversation. Seeing her approach, Grim put on a wry smile. ¡°Right, evil is winning! Mortals are so easily corrupted and in their greed for power they taint their souls and those of others. It¡¯s not the basic sins that cause the scale to tip, not theft or even murder. No, it¡¯s the blatant disregard for all that is decent and good. The willingness to cause sorrow and grief for millions and the resulting spiral of violence and corruption. ¡°As I said, the balance won¡¯t be shattered by common war, famine and murder. It¡¯s the acts of single beings that throw the world into chaos, and with it the balance. These individuals have to be hunted and their souls, so evil, even in death, they won¡¯t find peace, and instead continue to corrupt everything around them, have to be cleansed. ¡°The arrival of the voyagers only increased the disorder and if this continues, at some point this world will suffocate, drowning in chaos, death and blood.¡± It was a lot of information to take in at once. The effect of the corrupted soul energy and the game mechanic Grim described was something Hall never read anywhere before and he was doubtful many knew about it. Of course there was no way to confirm the results of such an event until it happened. Maybe it would cause some grand event, throwing the world of Novus Vita in turmoil, maybe it would take decades or maybe nothing at all would happen. ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± It was a task Hall had no qualms about. ¡°But you said yourself, my current skills won¡¯t suffice. How am I supposed to cleanse the evil deep within the soul?¡± Snapping her fingers, a large, curved blade appeared before Grim. She grabbed it with both hands and placed it on her open palms. ¡°You will cut it out, slice it out and rip it out. Tear it to shreds, burn it to cinders and devour it all.¡± A sinister smile spread on her lips and Hall shivered slightly. ¡®Good thing I¡¯m on her side.¡¯ The blade had vanished from his inventory and rested in Grim¡¯s hands. ¡°I couldn¡¯t identify it or use it in any way, what exactly is it?¡± Hall asked the still smiling Grim. ¡°I¡¯m really happy you found this, but I shouldn¡¯t be surprised. It belonged to the same Harbinger who was supposed to form a contract with Moira. It is one of the few blades in this world that can cut through a soul and its energy. If it weren¡¯t for this, I might have waited to tell you what I told you today.¡± She never lifted her eyes from the metal in her hands while she talked to Hall. ¡°This weapon is beyond killing mere mortals. If swung by someone strong enough, it can even cut through your chains and into your very soul. I created a terrifying weapon, but also a necessary one. You can probably tell that this is by no means an ordinary scythe. It will possess a consciousness, even if right now it lacks life. It gains strength through absorbing the corruption that fuels souls fallen into darkness. Devouring this energy will allow it to grow.¡± She looked up and winked at him, an impish sparkle in her eyes. ¡°I have to warn you though, its thoughts might be a bit violent or vulgar, but it simply follows its nature.¡± Though not utterly thrilled, he nodded and asked Grim. ¡°But how am I supposed to use it?¡± The blade should be connected to a shaft and as it stood, he couldn¡¯t handle it properly, much less wield it. ¡°Ah yes, while I constructed the blade to last for centuries and millennia, it is nothing but a shell, a body for a consciousness. Only when it carries a soul, will its true power be revealed. But the soul has to be created with the wielder in mind and it perishes together with its Harbinger as it will grow with him.¡± While she spoke the last sentence, her eyes closed and a bright light emerged from her chest. A dance of shadows and brilliant radiance, merging, separating and fusing again until a sphere of light hovered over the dark blade in her hands. Although barely larger than a marble, its intensity dwarfed the orb Grim showed him before. Hall felt the power it carried, the potential it held. As if breathing in, she drew on his soul energy. Blue mist, interlaced with almost invisible specks of red, a cloud of glowing drops of light rose from his chest and surrounded the sphere. The different sources of power and life slowly melted into each other, forming a strong bond and creating a new existence. Grim exhaled, exhausted after binding a soul to the weapon in her hands and tying it to her Harbinger. ¡°Treat it well and it will return the favor.¡± As she handed him the blade he accepted it gingerly. She bestowed a great treasure on him and he would make sure to give it purpose.
Harvester of Sorrow
Damage:0-100Durability:-
Level:1 (0%)Quality:Unique
A truly terrifying weapon. Although incomplete, this blade carries the ability to cut deep into the very soul and devour the darkness that lies within. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.It will grow with the energy it gathers and with the one that wields it. Effects: -50% damage against enemies without grave sins -50% damage against enemies without a soul +50% damage against enemies with an enslaved soul +50% damage against enemies kept alive through a foreign soul Ignores 50% of the enemies armor If lodged into a soul it causes 20 damage / sec, reduces recovery and incoming healing effects by 50% Damage increases with the weight of the sins Damage reduced by the enemy¡¯s willpower Cuts through divine protection (10%) Requirements: Class Harbinger of Death Willpower: 150
¡°Thank you Grim, but¡­¡± She stopped him before he could finish. ¡°I know, it¡¯s incomplete¡­ the blade shouldn¡¯t be without its shaft. It¡¯s a conductor for the soul energy of the wielder and of the weapon, and so it can¡¯t be replaced easily. The material needed is beyond rare and I imagine looking for the shaft itself would be faster than forging a new one. For now this is all I can give you, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Her words of regret were unnecessary. Hall nodded and thanked her again, before storing the weapon in his inventory. Equipping it would draw unwanted attention as in size it could compare to a claymore and its intimidating appearance would turn heads. ¡°I¡¯m sure you will find a way Hall.¡± A smirk spread on her face and he couldn¡¯t help but laugh and shake his head at her confidence in him. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll make it work somehow.¡± With a sigh she grabbed the grimoire that still hovered beside her and handed it to Hall. ¡°Take good care of her and I hope to see you again soon.¡± The warmth in Grim¡¯s eyes would betray any expectations of those who knew of her as Death. Before she let go of Moira a dazzling light spread between them and enveloped Hall and his companions. ¡°A farewell gift for Lily, she earned it.¡± A smile spread on the face of the girl behind him as the glow surrounding her increased. Within moments it became impossible to look at her and when the blazing light faded away, Grim followed it with parting words on her lips. ¡°Be aware of the shadow in the north, whatever closes in from beyond the sea escapes my sight. A dark omen, calling for chaos, battle and bloodshed. Good luck.¡± Her words of warning resounding in his ears, she disappeared from the desolated graveyard, leaving only silence and the distant noises of a busy city. ¡°Lily, what did you get?¡± He turned around while storing the grimoire in his inventory, this way he could still talk to Moira and his hands would be free. ¡°¡­ besides a change of clothes.¡± Before him Lily still stood on the ground, her feet buried in the cold snow. The color of her dress changed with the fading light. The black color vanished and was replaced by a brilliant white that even the untarnished blanket of snow which covered the graveyard could not rival. Her lightly tanned skin formed a nice contrast to the bright colors of her hair and her plain dress. She carried an air of modesty and grace around her that was almost swallowed by Hall¡¯s dark and threatening presence. ¡°A new skill, have a look.¡± When she spoke a few words, a window popped up before him.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Velvet ThornsBeginner10%
To protect what you care for most, to guard the one you share a bond with and help him retaliate against his foes you will let vines of energy spread over and entangle him. His energy will allow your vines to grow thorns, threatening those that mean harm. Can only be used on soul bound companions (currently: Hall, Harbinger of Death) Effects:
  • -10% received melee damage
  • -5% received magical damage
  • 10% melee damage will be reflected to the attacker
Duration: 15 min or until 2000 damage was absorbed. Cost: 200 mana
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Garden of Thorns (passive)---
If your most precious, the one you tried to protect, perishes in battle while your Velvet Thorns are active, these thorny vines will use its remaining energy to overgrow the surroundings, guard the remains and protect it from all enemies. Effects:
  • Activates upon death (only when no option of revival exists)
  • thorny vines will overgrow an area within a radius of 2m
  • -50% movement speed within the field of thorns
  • 50 dmg for one second, damage doubles each second
Duration: 120 min
Hall let out a whistle after reading the message windows Lily showed him. A useful skill, especially because it could be applied before battle. ¡°Alright, time to go back to the city. There is some unfinished business we have to take care of.¡± Lily asked to remain in her physical form and Hall had no reason to deny her request. With swift steps they left the royal cemetery. By now the sky had darkened and torches as well as magical lamps illuminated the busy streets. Tension dominated the scene. No liveliness or curiosity among children lightened the mood and not even rowdy drunks or heated bartering cut through the thick air. Despite the amount of people in the streets, the atmosphere lacked any uplifting spirit. Maybe it was the large number that gathered in Roselake that only increased the anxiety in the city. The quantity of people, especially those looking ready for combat, skyrocketed over the last few days. Different sides tried to hire soldiers in their attempt to keep or to disturb the status quo. Uncertainty, mistrust and doubt infected the city and turned shadows into threats. Most around Hall and Lily tried to finish their business quickly. Guards eyed everyone with suspicion and were in return showered with hostile glares. Yet it seemed the moment Hall stepped into one of the merchant streets, lined with stores of all kind, the frosty surroundings experienced another plummet in temperature. Either other NPCs evaded him until now or he didn¡¯t notice them. The congested streets suffocated any thought of a quick getaway. Instead many of the city¡¯s inhabitants gasped at Hall¡¯s appearance. Patrolling guards put their hands on their weapons and tensed up while children tried to squeeze themselves through tall legs to get away. The change only affected NPCs, but their behavior alarmed every player in the vicinity. Within seconds Hall, was the center of attention. A quick glance in the reflection of a store window gave him a good idea of what they thought. His hood shrouded his face in darkness, only a faint red glow greeted those that dared to look him in the eyes. He didn¡¯t choose this feature in the character generation, but Moira had warned him that he would forsake the path of humanity. A change in appearance was no surprise but an expected consequence. His heavy cloak concealed most of his body, but that made him appear even more threatening. Lily¡¯s corporeal form caused the golden string between them to be visible, at least half a meter of the part that extended from their chests. The flickering lights of torches ever so often reflected from the golden surface of the invisible string, which allowed onlookers to guess the existence of a solid, but hidden cord. Of course nobody missed the beautiful girl walking behind the intimidating figure. Whispers erupted from groups of players as they pointed at Hall and his companion. ¡°Look at the reaction of the merchant, I think he¡¯s going to wet himself.¡± ¡°You think that¡¯s an event NPC?¡± ¡°What do you think his level is?¡± Others strived for more creative ideas. ¡°You think she is his slave or something?¡± ¡°Damn, where can I get one of those? I mean that. I mean her.¡± The attention annoyed him to no end and made him painfully aware of their vulnerable position. A sizeable bounty still hovered over his head and though his description remained unknown, he should avoid the spotlight¡ªfor now. Hurried steps carried him to the nearest armor store. The few people in the shop rushed out, almost running, within moments and left only the vendor behind. Pale and trembling he stared at Hall with wide eyes. ¡®This is so not convenient.¡¯ Sighing he turned around to Lily, who showed no concern for the glances they received. ¡°Lily, I¡¯ll stay here and you¡¯ll talk to the guy behind the counter, I doubt he has any desire to talk to me and I need my equipment repaired.¡± He whispered to her. A mischievous grin appeared on Lily¡¯s face as she walked past him. Without looking back she addressed him with an imperious voice. ¡°Servant, you wait at the door and make sure nobody enters the store.¡± Baffled by Lily¡¯s acting, Hall had to force down a chuckle and followed her instructions. ¡°What a strange relationship you have. I don¡¯t think I have ever seen a familiar and her master acting quite like you two.¡± Moira mumbled, astonished at her new companion¡¯s attitude. Hall shrugged at her comment and responded quietly. ¡°She¡¯s not my servant, but my comrade and partner, the same applies to you.¡± The store clerk relaxed slightly at the prospect of dealing with a petite woman instead of a terrifying stranger. ¡°Ho¡­How can¡­ can I help you?¡± His voice wavered as his eyes darted between Lily and the demon clad in dark leather and cloth. Despite the chills running down his spine, beads of sweat formed on the man¡¯s forehead. ¡°My servant¡¯s armor was damaged and is in need of repairs, I assume that¡¯s not a problem?¡± Her domineering tone allowed no refusal or opposition. ¡°Yes, of course, please let me see it.¡± With a quick glance he gauged the damage to Hall¡¯s equipment, who removed his armor when Lily ordered him to. An expression of surprise flashed over the man¡¯s face. The low level equipment and the threatening air that surrounded Hall didn¡¯t match. Keeping his mouth shut, the vendor gave Lily his appraisal. ¡°Repairing the armor will cost 24 silver.¡± Said the store clerk, wiping away sweat from his brow. The number rendered Hall speechless for a moment. He anticipated an increase in his expenses due to the nature of his class, but he never expected it would be this bad. The shopkeeper more than doubled the amount it should cost to fix his leather armor. He gathered more than enough to pay for it with ease, but if the rise in repair cost stood as an example for what he had to expect from now on, he would bleed money. Ella, back in Glent, would have charged a fraction, but she lived half a kingdom away. Novus Vita offered several possibilities to lower the prices merchants and craftsmen asked. Raising intimacy, as he did with Ella, was usually the most effective way. Charm through slick talk or with the help of stats, skills and attributes also helped to a certain extent. Unfortunately, Hall¡¯s odds of bewitching somebody dropped to the level of his chance to establish a healthy relationship with the Bredon¡¯s royalty. Threat and intimidation lowered the prices but the resulting gain in infamy would make NPCs even more wary of him. Especially merchants and guards reacted to a high infamy. When they left the store, Hall¡¯s concealed face showed a sour expression. Fixing his clothes cost another 16 silver and he lost one whole gold when he asked the shopkeeper to mend his cloak. He paid another gold for the repair of his two blades. The maintenance cost depended not only on the items quality and level, but also on its rarity. Unique items, even when useless, would always require a lot of money to repair. As a result, many preferred to equip equally strong, or even weaker items that were more common. The moment they stepped into the streets, hostile, frightened and curious gazes followed them on their way to a less busy alley. After he made sure nobody watched them as they stopped in front of a small store, Hall turned to Lily. ¡°Please cancel your skill Soul Meets Body. I still don¡¯t know if we can trust that man¡¯s group and I¡¯d like to keep a secret or two.¡± Word of the cloaked man with the girl in white would soon spread. Hall¡¯s presence alone alarmed many and caused rumors and the added detail of an angel by his side provided even more gossip. He never intended to make Roselake his home anyway but the recent developments meant he needed to act faster and travel with more care. ¡°Sorry Lily, but no more strolls for a bit.¡± Hall stated with a firm tone. The girl in the white dress pouted slightly but understood. ¡°Well, at least I had some fun. You should let me order you around more often.¡± Her cheerful attitude returned within moments and Hall couldn¡¯t help but smile with her as she turned incorporeal again. A small bell rang when he pushed open the door to the dark store and Jorn, the merchant he met the first time he entered Roselake, looked up from a ledger. The threatening effect he had on NPCs would only be applied if they saw him, but even those who knew him before, reacted. Jorn took a step back and swallowed hard, then drew a sword out of nowhere. He overcame his surprise and took up a battle stance. His glance showed no hesitation, his posture displayed calmness but also a willingness for bloodshed. His behavior didn¡¯t resemble the last vendor¡¯s in the slightest. Hall confirmed his lingering suspicion, Jorn was no mere merchant. ¡°Oh it¡¯s you Hall, thank the gods, you scared me half to death.¡± He said relieved. Though he never appeared scared, not for a moment. ¡®So if a person is strong or experienced, they don¡¯t inevitably feel fear. The reaction varies.¡¯ Hall continued to study his class and his effect on those around him. The gathered knowledge may prove useful in the future. ¡°I don¡¯t exactly know what happened to you, but you sure look different. I bet we can use that.¡± Jorn suggested in a menacing voice, a grin on his face. ¡°Before we get to more serious matters though, tell me if you need anything,¡± Hall already prepared a list of several items he needed to purchase and bought them all from the merchant. With a sigh of relief he handed several coins to Jorn. The intimacy he gained canceled out most of his class¡¯ effect and the prices barely increased. In the end he paid three gold coins for several potions, bandages and food rations, enough to last him a while. ¡°Boy, listen, I talked about you with Shep.¡± Explained Jorn, his voice muffled while he looked out of the window. Hall raised an eyebrow. It wasn¡¯t too surprising the merchant with ties to the resistance knew the head of the orphanage in one of the slums. ¡°Shep seems to trust you, and I trust him and I like your attitude. But before I introduce you to a few others, I¡¯ll need you to do something for me, for us.¡± His tone became even quieter and Hall had to lean in to understand every word. ¡°In case you came here first, Shep gave me a letter. He wants you to pay a visit to certain individuals. I assume you know what that means?¡± The eyes of the man behind the counter darkened as he spoke. This matter, the Cattle Hunt, angered and enraged him. His people were slaughtered by greedy and vicious monsters, nobles, thinking themselves above the common folk. ¡°They killed whole families, women and children. Don¡¯t show any mercy and no more secrecy, it¡¯s time to make this public. Let their blood soil the streets.¡± Jorn clenched his fists and his voice trembled in fury.
Quest: They can''t keep us down
UPDATE: To gain the resistance¡¯s trust, punish those responsible for great crimes. Kill the nobles mentioned in Shep¡¯s letter and make it public. Difficulty: E Quest requirements: Gain the trust of one of the members of the resistance Rewards: Support and information from the Resistance Failure: Betray the resistance by revealing them to the king
There was no need for an answer, no requirement for any words. Hall left the building while he opened the letter. The pages inside listed the names of two families, as well as their members. Among the sheets of paper he also found a map that showed their homes in the noble district. ¡°Lily, Moira, I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t take a break just yet.¡± He declared with an infernal grin and proceeded to open his friend list. Hesitating just so slightly, he clicked on the only name available and chose the option to send a personal message. ¡°Himoto, do you have some time?¡±
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--------------------------------------- Author¡¯s Note: Chapter 20 is finally out, hope you enjoyed it :grin: As always, please rate, follow and favor, it means a lot I¡¯ll try to release the next one in two weeks. I want to thank everybody for their continued support, I¡¯m really grateful for every comment, for every suggestion and for pointing out mistakes and I hope you guys continue with it :bye: P.S: Thanks to Zelthias for proofreading Chapter 21 - Now I Lay Thee Down Chapter 21 ¨C Now I Lay Thee Down Himoto never imagined her fragile dream would be shattered so soon. The tower she erected, the pedestal she created for herself, lay smashed before her. The result of building with glass. In mere seconds her aloof attitude, the fake confidence she showed others, was broken apart and reduced to dust. Though the humiliation hurt her, it was a necessary lesson. She never shone the brightest. All her life she belonged in the background, while others garnered the spotlight. Yet, the slightest breeze would be enough to extinguish a flickering candle, no matter how dazzling. She played Novus Vita with the ambition to step out of the shadows, to glow brighter than before. Instead all she became was another shooting star, consumed by its own heat. Himoto didn¡¯t dare to complain about her life, at least not loudly. Her parents loved her, she made a few friends who shared her hobbies and nobody harassed her. Just like that she lived her quiet little life as a quiet little girl. So, at least once, she wanted to stand out. To not back down and to shout at those that ignored her. However, she soon realized how wrong her wish was. The attention never mattered. Instead, she yearned for the strength and courage to stand up for herself. The crushing defeat at the hands of another player, a figure in the dark, made her realize it. He suffocated the sparks of her spirit, but allowed her to find the blazing inferno she dreamt of. Though she carried resentment towards him, who brought her to her knees, she also admired his strength. And even if it happened in the spur of the moment, adding his name to her friend list made her happy. During the last few days she often thought about writing him. The loss gnawed at her and she wanted a rematch, but she always shied away at the last moment. Luckily the rising tension in Roselake offered enough distraction, so she rarely thought about Hall. Overlooking the city from a rooftop, she furrowed her brows. The claws of anxiety tightened their grip around the town and though she tried to help, nothing changed. A drop of water on a searing piece of metal. A short relief before it would reach its melting point. Crime ran rampant, bodies piled up and the weak and unfortunate suffered most. Meanwhile, guards protected the central and upper parts of Roselake and rarely bothered with the expendable elements of the population. Bredon became her starting kingdom because of her friends. They followed a group of students from their partner university. Although she couldn¡¯t really stand them, her friends idolized the two girls and swooned over the three boys, especially over the blond leader of the group. Himoto carried no resentment towards those who surpassed her in wealth or social stature. She would rather search for faults in herself than in others. It was their attitude, their behavior, she disliked. Of course she kept quiet, but at the same time, she tried to stay away from them. So, while her friends desperately tried to chase that particular group in levels and strength, she stayed in Roselake and played the game the way she wanted. Himoto would never admit it, but the memory of this first step towards a more courageous self still brought a smile to her face. With time she got to know the citizens of Roselake. Simple people living in the poor parts of town, surviving with what little they had. They were NPCs, but in her eyes it didn¡¯t matter. She cared for them all the same. She laughed with them and cried with them. When they were threatened she intervened. When thieves and thugs tried to harm them, she prevented it with fiery wrath until she was rewarded with a hidden class. Honokai, goddess of flame and vigilance blessed her with the power to carry out her own justice. On that day Scarlet Fire was born, a name she received from those she wished to protect. A good name. A strong name. One that she wanted to carry with pride. Even now she still strived to live up to that name. At one point she brandished it like a flag. Until she met Hall. He showed her how unfit she was to carry such a powerful title. Now, as she stood on a rooftop, overlooking the city, she felt as powerless as she did on the day of her overwhelming defeat. Those she swore to protect, suffered before her. People who used to smile at her whenever they could, and even when poor and hungry, they shared love and empathy. Was there nothing she could do? The sound of a bell woke her from her thoughts and a letter appeared at the bottom left of her view.
Hall is calling you, do you want to answer?
YesNo
Himoto licked her dry lips and, after a long glance over the city below, she whispered. ¡°Yes!¡± --------------------------------------- Darkness hung over the town and heavy snowfall devoured the light of torches and magic. A white curtain in the black night prevented curious glances as three figures met behind a small chapel. ¡°Could you repeat that?¡± asked one of them. Her facial expressions changed from nervousness to surprise and to blatant disbelief when the man, clad in a dark cloak, had explained why he messaged her. Hall only met the girl, wearing red leather, once before and while he had a good feeling about her, he couldn¡¯t trust her just yet. Her untainted soul gave him confidence in her, but in case she acted together with others, he would disclose the bare necessities. ¡°I¡¯m telling you again, I wouldn¡¯t involve you if I didn¡¯t think it would be the right thing to do. I¡¯m not going to lie, it won¡¯t be pretty and there will be death, but I firmly believe it¡¯s for the best of the city and its people. I can¡¯t tell you more than that, but please trust me for now.¡± A sigh escaped his lips and he lifted the hood that covered his face. ¡°Not many in this city have seen my face. I hope this will serve as a sign of good faith.¡± Her reaction startled him. Though she tried to conceal it, her eyes widened. She sucked air between her teeth, surprised by what she saw. His appearance shouldn¡¯t have an effect on players, but he kept silent and with a motion of his hand signaled her to decide. Her astonishment disappeared and she contemplated his proposal. In itself his request barely qualified as a crime, but not only would it put Himoto at risk, it opened up a lot of possibilities for further wrongdoings. However, he didn¡¯t lie to her. He asked with sincerity and honesty. In the end she nodded, though still unsure, she decided to trust Hall. ¡°I will do it, but I expect you to keep your word. For the good of the people.¡± Her firm voice left no doubt she would hunt him down if he were to betray her faith in him. ¡°And I want an explanation as soon as possible.¡± A silent figure observed the two. Brighter than the surrounding white, she furrowed her brows at Himoto¡¯s words. It was Hall¡¯s turn to nod. ¡°Alright, we start in twenty minutes, don¡¯t get caught. Oh, one more thing. I don¡¯t know if you heard about it, but the king is hiring players, so it¡¯s not only NPCs who may hunt you down.¡± In a swift motion he lifted the hood over his head and turned to leave. ¡°Thank you and be careful.¡± The veil of falling snow swallowed his words as he stepped into the darkness. Only a crimson haired maiden remained, shaking her head, still unable to grasp what she heard and saw. ------------------------------- Only minutes before the agreed upon time Hall and Lily monitored the side entrance of the wall that surrounded Roselake¡¯s noble district. The blanket of snow silenced their steps and the darkness hid them from the guards¡¯ sight. Their level exceeded his by far, so a direct confrontation was out of the question. The high stone wall formed an unclimbable obstacle for him and the gates were locked tight during the night. ¡°Are you sure we can trust her?¡± Lily sounded doubtful as she mulled over Hall¡¯s plan. ¡°More or less. Worst case scenario, we run.¡± He murmured, careful not to alarm anybody around them. They closed in on the gate, walking along the wall, until they halted a few steps away. Hall¡¯s skill Soul Perception only revealed the two guards before them, so he signaled Lily to take up her position. ¡°This is not a very elaborate plan. Shouldn¡¯t you have thought about it a little longer?¡± Moira¡¯s criticism didn¡¯t even distract him for a second. ¡°Not like I had an overabundance of time and it¡¯s not like you thought of something better right?¡± he hissed, his words lost in the snowfall. ¡°I haven¡¯t been in this town for centuries. The layout changed considerably and I lack information, how can you expect me to work like this?¡± With her pride under attack, Moira lapsed back into the role of a moping child. Ignoring her, Hall concentrated on the task at hand. The time came. From beyond the wall, behind the heavy gate, an outcry emerged and small fists hit the door¡¯s wood. ¡°Help me, please, oh god, she will burn me alive.¡± The pleading scream tore apart the silence of the night and startled the bored guards. If all went well, Hall needed to compliment Lily on her acting. After she flew over the wall in her incorporeal form, she used her skill Soul Meets Body and set their plan into motion. For years now the sentries stood before this side gate, defending the noble district from the unsavory elements among Roselake¡¯s people. The men changed, the time changed, but the danger always came from the outside. Hearing the desperate wail from inside the safe zone, they unlocked and opened the gate before they fully grasped what was happening. In a praiseworthy performance Lily¡¯s face showed fear, relief and terror as she raised her hand and pointed behind the guards. ¡°She jumped over the wall and is waiting for me, help me, please!¡± The panic in her voice and her desperate motions prompted the two guardsmen to turn. What presented itself to them let them stagger back and shriek in terror. Half a dozen flaming spheres crashed before their feet and turned the white snow into clouds of steam. Their surprise wore off quickly and they recognized their assailant. ¡°It¡¯s Scarlet Fire, after her.¡± Yelled one of the guards and drew his sword. Both men ran before one of them broke off the chase. Curses and swearing left his mouth. The gates had to be secured at all times, even a moment of negligence could endanger the safety of the noble district. Hall used that single moment. Like a shadow he slipped past the distracted guards and disappeared through the gate into the curtain of white. The falling snow hid his figure and orbs of fire melted his footprints into puddles of water. Questions would be asked, but he bought himself the time he needed. At least he hoped so. Behind the wall he still saw flashes of light until they faded away into the distance. The combination of Lily and Himoto worked just as planned. ¡°Thanks a lot. We are inside. I owe you and good luck with your escape.¡± He whispered a personal message to the girl who helped him out. Despite his limited options, he couldn¡¯t have wished for someone better for the job. Her deeds in Roselake earned her not only a reputation, but an astronomical bounty. Hall counted on the guards to be susceptible to those factors and it paid off. ¡°You are right, you owe me big time for this. Tell me later what happened, I need to shake that guard off, he¡¯s still chasing me and I think he called for reinforcements.¡± Her panting voice disappeared as she ended their conversation. Although a little worried, he smiled. After Himoto¡¯s distant and wooden attitude vanished, she opened up to him and let her thoughts slip. ¡°Where to now?¡± asked Lily. Hall pointed towards one of the streets ahead. It led away from the open square that separated the wall from the first houses. ¡°We have to be careful. Soldiers will patrol the area, so we have to keep as quiet as possible.¡± Motioning her to follow, he marched toward his destination with silent steps. His skill Soul Perception had reached a level that allowed him to sense living souls within a decent enough range. So, despite the terrible visibility, he would spot anybody long before they could see him. Luckily the streets of the noble district seemed devoid of life. Not even patrols crossed their path. In a way Hall could sympathize with them. Cold nights, heavy equipment and freezing metal on bare skin, he shuddered at the mere memory. Days in the army could be harsh and nights even harsher. After a few minutes they opened a rod iron gate that led to a sizeable two story building. Darkness and snow prevented a better view of the luxurious house. Its size couldn¡¯t be compared to a country estate or a royal manor, but in the capital it signified a high rank in society. ¡°This isn¡¯t one of the houses marked on the map, is it?¡± asked Moira in surprise. Hall shook his head and whispered. ¡°No, but it¡¯s our first target, House Keslak.¡± When he had met the two sons of House Keslak, they died by his hand and according to Jorn¡¯s information,only their father remained. ¡°You actually managed to infiltrate the noble district, really impressive, but how do you plan to get into the buildings.¡± Moira¡¯s question was justified. An entry by force would alarm the guards and his ability in picking locks equaled his skill to breath under water. But it was not the question that annoyed him. ¡°Could you not make it sound like I¡¯m a dog that just learned to pee outside?¡± The grimoire paused for a moment. ¡°No!¡± Sighing, he grabbed a key from his inventory. Its last owner had no more use for it. The key opened the lock and without making a sound, Hall entered the dark building. Only a flickering light in one of the rooms on the second floor disturbed the darkness. On his way up the stairs he navigated effortlessly through the almost pitch black mansion. Even before, the night barely hindered him. Ever since they emerged from the catacombs, things changed. This time, they changed in his favor. Thick carpet covered the floor under his steps as he entered the room where a single man sat behind a large desk. A single candle illuminated shelves filled with books and numerous papers scattered on the table. Devoid of a personal touch, the room told the story of a life dedicated to a single purpose. Work. Now, all the achievements, all the profit and wealth, the results of a lifetime of single minded devotion in the absence of morals, vanished in the face of death. Riches, nobility, power, nothing. The lone man¡¯s eyes widened at the sight of Hall, but simultaneously his tensed body seemed to relax. ¡°I have been expecting you.¡± he expressed in a trembling voice before standing up. ¡°And finally you came for me¡­ Death.¡± A deep bow followed his words. Hall raised an eyebrow. Behind him Lily confirmed his suspicion. ¡°I don¡¯t think he¡¯s sane anymore.¡± Agreeing, Moira spoke up. ¡°That seems like a safe assumption. But he is flattering you, Harbinger. You should thank him.¡± Instead, Hall stepped forward and asked in his deepest voice. ¡°How come you were waiting for me?¡± A giggle emerged from the old Keslak, sparks of madness glimmering in his eyes. ¡°It was time, my time. You came for my sons, killed them. Took them first. I saw their mangled bodies. Now it¡¯s me, my time has come.¡± From one moment to the next, his laughter stopped. ¡°What I have done... what we have done, needs punishment. Oh I lived with the darkness and passed it on to my sons. Can you believe I killed my wife, killed my mother and father? And I killed children of others, caused the death of their families. So much blood soils my hands. Can¡¯t you see it? Claret dropping from my fingers, my clothes stained¡­¡± He continued to ramble incoherent words. Fragments of sentences formed a tale of cruelty and suffering. Several moments passed until his gaze regained focus. His shoulders dropped and a deep sadness overwhelmed his voice. ¡°I wish I could do it all over¡­ start anew, without greed, without pain¡­ do it already, please, I¡¯m just so tired.¡± Without a word, the blade of large scythe appeared in Hall¡¯s hands. Few steps separated both of them and Hall closed the distance in a second. The incomplete scythe proved difficult, even impossible, to handle. At least in battle. Now he faced an old and sick man, begging for death. A dark soul, wishing for light and Hall would grant his desire. In a fluid motion he lifted the scythe blade and rammed it into Keslak¡¯s chest. The dark metal penetrated the flesh without resistance and cut apart the corrupted soul it held. Relief soon replaced the pained expression on the dying man¡¯s face. Within a moment, the darkness of his soul vanished as the blade seemed to devour it. Now only an orb of pulsating light remained and dissipated with the life in Keslak¡¯s eyes. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Not a trace of blood stained the black steel when Hall pulled back the scythe¡¯s blade and returned it to his inventory. Looking at the corpse before him, Hall felt no sense of victory, only a sad emptiness. Destroying evil, cleansing darkness, that was what he expected, even enjoyed. But this situation felt wrong. The execution of a mad men, riddled with guilt, brought him no joy. Keslak deserved it, his soul was proof of the sins he piled up in a lifetime. Yet, here and now, in this silent night, Hall shook his head. Lily sensed his trouble and laid her hand on his shoulder in an attempt to console him. To show he stood not alone. Even Moira spoke words of comfort. ¡°You did good Harbinger. His life contained only darkness and suffering. His soul will thank you.¡± A weak smile appeared on his face. His responsibility as a Harbinger contained more than battle, more than mere mayhem. It required more than destruction. His tasks demanded for him to leave his comfort zone, face the darkness in others and maybe deal with his own. ¡®This game really knows how to push my buttons.¡¯ However Lily and Moira stood by his side and Grim watched over him. He was not alone. Hall swallowed hard and, determined, he ripped his gaze from the corpse and turned to the pages on the desk. It took him a few minutes, but he found a handful of papers, linking the nobles and royals to the cattle hunt. Most of the other sheets contained information on trade or city affairs, nothing that concerned him. A few reports looked interesting though. They included demonic activity around a fort up north. The current lord holding the fortress requested resources, men and other necessities for war. But, whoever built the stronghold, constructed it in no man¡¯s land, on the north coast between Bredon and Norland. The king, of course, denied any help. The land so close to the sea was rugged and so were the few people who made it their home. They never accepted any outside rule, so nobody would come to their rescue. Warning bells rang in his head. Only a few hours had passed since Grim warned him about a danger closing in from the north and he stumbled upon reports of demonic presences. ¡®Is it a coincidence?¡¯ His latest confrontation with a demon, Benmal¡¯ach, showed him his lack of strength. Right now, he might intimidate the inhabitants of this city, but against an army of demons, he didn¡¯t stand a chance. Hall¡¯s gaze fell on Lily. He promised her to restore her soul and so far he failed. No, he didn¡¯t even try. Never even once did she ask him about it and he never brought it up. It was a painful topic. The information before him could very well be the clue he needed. The quest he received to destroy Dravan, the dark remnant of the Sorian people, the creator of the curse that bound him and Lily to the tower, spoke of an unknown darkness and an army of evil. ¡®Could it really be?¡¯ His thoughts raced. Dravan, demons in the north, Grim¡¯s warning, for now all this had to wait. The quest granted him a time limit of one year game time, which allowed him to grow stronger. For now, he had other business to attend to. ¡°Let¡¯s go, there are unfortunate souls waiting for us.¡± Words meant more for himself, than for his companions. He needed to focus. They crossed enemy lines and he couldn¡¯t risk their exposure, not yet. ¡°What do we do with the body? The merchant said to make it public¡­¡± Lily said, hesitating. Hall paused for a moment. ¡°We¡¯ll leave him be. His servants will find him and bury him. He showed honest remorse. That should count for something.¡± Already moving to the door, a menacing tone sneaked into his voice. ¡°Besides, we have other targets.¡± Grabbing the candle from the desk, Hall searched the rooms of the house, but his findings disappointed him. For wealthy merchants they kept only items of little value in their homes. A few decorative pieces, some cheap jewelry, nothing extraordinary. He pocketed what he could sell and left, unseen and unheard. The night hid them on their way to the next destination. A red circle on the map showed him the spot. According to Shep¡¯s letter, the noble family who lived in the two story house, more luxurious and larger than the last one, consisted of three brothers in their twenties. Hall knocked on the door and waited for someone to appear. ¡°Do you really think they will let you in? At least take your hood off!¡± hearing Moira¡¯s voice, he could picture her frowning and chiding him. To his surprise, he already created an image of her in his head. So he couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the picture of a cute girl, maybe two or three years younger than him, her index finger shoved in his face while she rebuked him. He sensed three beings inside the house and he didn¡¯t plan to leave any alive, so he followed Moira¡¯s advice and lifted his hood. Finally, somebody opened a little window in the wooden door. ¡°Who in the hell knocks so late. I swear, if it isn¡¯t important¡­¡± The man swallowed his next words and paled at the sight of Hall. Though obviously intimidated, the short, bald man¡¯s gaze lingered on the badge in Hall¡¯s hand. The badge of a Royal Guard. ¡°How can I help you at this hour?¡± The man¡¯s attitude changed and his polite words showed the respect the nobles carried towards the ranks of the Royal Guard. ¡°I need to speak to the members of the Somero household, by the orders of the king.¡± Hall¡¯s firm voice left no doubt in his words and as soon as he lifted a random paper with the words ¡®Cattle Hunt¡¯ in them, the door swung open. When he entered the extravagant building, he heard feet scurry as the man, who let him in, called for his brothers. Their tanned skin indicated their foreign descent. According to Hall¡¯s information, their father sent them as ambassadors, in name only though. Even back in their home country they caused mayhem. Bredon¡¯s king though accommodated them in exchange for gracious gifts from their family. When the three men finally assembled, they panted in anticipation of news concerning the Cattle Hunt. The tall one drooled as he tried to glance at the papers Hall still carried. Hall wrinkled his nose in disgust at the three men¡¯s euphoria when he offered them to slaughter innocents. Their eyes carried the darkness he felt in their souls. Greed, desperation, an overwhelming longing for blood and death. ¡°I¡¯m glad you are making this easy for me.¡± Confusion turned to fear as Hall infused his chains with his soul energy. In the blink of an eye he incapacitated two of the men and rammed his scythe blade into the third. Only strong in name, their levels and power couldn¡¯t compare to somebody with actual battle prowess. Against Hall, their strength was insignificant. The night swallowed their screams and pleas for mercy. Within seconds he tore the darkness from their souls and watched their life fade away. It was a slaughter, an execution. Their broken bodies lay before him. He picked them up, one by one, and placed them besides the entrance door. Hoping for a better result than in the Keslak¡¯s home, Hall began to look for treasure. Tonight he killed the targets others gave him and then looted their homes. Though his victims deserved that and more, it troubled him. It became more and more difficult to think of Novus Vita only as a game. At the same time there was method to his madness. His tasks were difficult, he needed allies and funds, and he never claimed to be a saint. Steeling his resolve, he rummaged through the rooms in the large mansion. He found more halfway decent items, decorative jewelry, a few books he might sell, only few things of real value. At least he discovered some weapons. The sword he picked up resembled a mix of epee and longsword. ¡°Identify!¡±
Basic Toledo Cavalry Sword
Damage:35-55Durability:45 / 45
Quality:Magic
A good sword made by a fine blacksmith. Perfect for fighting on a mount. The long and slim blade grants the wielder superior speed, but at the cost of reduced impact. Effects: +20 Agility +10 Charisma when mounted +10 Strength when mounted Requirements: Level 55 Strength: 80 Agility: 130
There were three of them, probably sent by the men¡¯s father. Hall was not surprised to see dust covering the blades, not after he saw the Somero brothers. What caught his eye was the large crossbow sitting on a table in one of the hallways.
Heavy Ice Arbalest
Damage:100-135Durability:100 / 100
Quality:Rare
A heavy, modern crossbow. Enchanted with ice magic, its bow made of steel. A terrifying weapon with enough power to penetrate thick armor. Due to its size and weight it shines in defensive battles. Effects: +15 Ice damage Ignores 50% of the enemies armor 50% chance of freezing the target, reducing its speed by 30% for 5 seconds -50% movement speed when equipped Requirements: Level 75 Strength: 200
¡®I really don¡¯t want to be on the receiving end of that thing.¡¯ The crude design hid immense power, one he intended to transform into cash, along with the swords. By now he sensed three more souls in the backyard of the house, simple, free of ill intent. Running past expensive art and heavy furniture, he left through the backdoor and found three horses. The regal, black animals seemed fit to serve as parade horses, but trembled in the cold of the night. Lily didn¡¯t even wait for his permission and activated her skill Body Meets Soul. Two minutes later she had covered the horses in blankets to keep the worst cold away. Stroking their shiny fur, Lily threw a reproachful look at him. Sounding unsure, Moira guessed. ¡°I think she wants you to do something for those horses.¡± Hall could only shake his head. ¡°And what am I supposed to do with them?¡± But the girl, still petting the large animals, only sharpened her glare. ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll think of something, satisfied?¡± Monsters and demons may fall before Hall, but Lily achieved an easy win. The backyard that housed the horses led to a smaller, wooden building. When Hall opened the large gates, he saw a carriage. ¡®Guess it was more important to them to protect this thing from the cold, than the horses. Oh well, karma¡­¡¯ He pulled the heavy carriage out and panting, he turned around and gestured Lily to bring the horses. ¡°We¡¯ll come back for them soon, until then, the shed should offer some shelter.¡± A satisfied Lily smiled and nodded before she followed Hall. There was one target left. Again they didn¡¯t run into anybody on their way to one of the largest mansions in the district. Family Gorti, only a woman, far past her prime, and her grandson in his thirties, belonged to a group of ancient nobles. For generations they pulled strings in the shadows and aside from the king, not many held more influence. Now they approached the brink of extinction. They retreated to their home and rarely showed themselves in public. Even the guards were cast out of the house. Time and misfortune reduced the once blessed family to an old hag and a grown man who still soiled his pants. Hall felt at least four people inside the mansion, which was too large for his skill to cover. Not all carried sin, so he left his hood in place and knocked. A young woman opened and her pale skin lost all color when she saw Hall. Her maid outfit identified her as a servant, but the clothes lacked the length to hide several bruises. Hall grinded his teeth and raised the badge of the Royal Guard that got him into the Somero¡¯s house. Entering the three story mansion, he met another servant, a young man. Fresh and older wounds covered his face and he limped while he approached the girl. ¡®Guess I¡¯m the karma police today.¡¯ The state of the servants sparked Hall¡¯s anger. So far his heart wasn¡¯t completely into the quest, but the display of cruelty fueled his desire for retribution. ¡°Leave now and don¡¯t turn back.¡± They looked at each other, trembling at Hall¡¯s words, and tears formed in the girl¡¯s eyes. ¡°We can¡¯t, we are bound to the mistress¡¯ life¡­¡± she pointed at a steel ring around their ankles. It emitted a faint, violet light and a humming tone. ¡°Please don¡¯t kill us.¡± They embraced each other, expecting Hall to slaughter them on the spot. ¡°Then leave as soon as the magic dies. Take this and flee, far away from this nightmare.¡± He placed a handful of coins on the table beside the entrance, enough to survive a few weeks. The amount of gold was nothing to Hall and it gave him some peace of mind, a good deal.
An Act of random Kindness Good deeds don¡¯t go unnoticed
¡®That¡¯s rather vague, but considering my luck, I¡¯m in for a nasty surprise¡¯ The two stood stock-still, frozen in shock. Not only would they live on, the devil offered them a future, something they stopped dreaming about. Hall didn¡¯t blame them for being skeptical or afraid, but neither did he stay to explain. They would be gone once he returned, free from more torture and that was good enough for him. His Soul Perception only picked up two more beings, his targets. Even from afar he felt their darkness, their corruption. When he approached them, the impression only increased. Yet, compared to Benmal¡¯ach, the fallen angel, they evoked no fear, only anger and the wish to end their existence. An appalling stench filled his nose when he advanced through the main hallway. He ignored the stairs, as well as the doors to his left and right. The short corridor ended in two massive, wooden doors. The snow on his boots melted and merged with red and brown stains that covered the marble floor. Hall pushed open the large doors and stepped into the huge room. A wave of foul odor swept over him. Blood, rotting flesh and human waste, mindless death. The impressions of a human made hell assaulted his senses. Lily shrieked in horror and even Moira gasped at the image before them. ¡°Are they even human?¡± The dim, red light in the shadows beneath his hood turned into an infernal flame. Clenching his fist, he stepped forward, crushing bones beneath his feet. ¡°Humans, demons, monsters, it doesn¡¯t matter, I¡¯ll slaughter them all the same.¡±
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------------------------------------- Author¡¯s Note: Alright, Chapter 21 is done, hope you enjoyed it :grin: Few things I want to mention, first of all I want to thank Kana for creating the cover I¡¯m currently using, I really like it and I hope you all do too. Of course I¡¯m grateful to everyone who made the effort to create a cover and sent it to me, if you don¡¯t mind, I might use it as fan art/in chapters at some point (if you want to keep it secret, please write a PM) Next is a point concerning all of RoyalRoadL. I¡¯m sure a lot of you have already read it, but it would be a great help for the website if you¡¯d deactivate your AdBlock while surfing here. With the growing site, the maintenance becomes more costly (money and time), and it would help the admins greatly. Also, thank you for the comments, suggestions and for pointing out mistakes, keep it coming ;) Alright, as always, please rate, follow and favor, it means a lot Oh and I¡¯ll post an answer in this thread once I¡¯m two or three days away from the next release, think that¡¯s something that I will do generally from now on. :bye: P.S: Next Chapter I''ll put in a stat update, although he hasn''t gained much experience since last time ##################### Chapter 22 - False Knight on the Road Chapter 22 ¨C False Knight on the Road No sunlight would ever brighten the vast, windowless room that spread before them. Instead, oil lamps fought a losing battle against the surrounding darkness. Once again Hall thanked the shadows for hiding most of the ground¡¯s surface. Countless bones of all shapes and sizes, pieces of rotting flesh and unfathomable amounts of blood covered the floor. The retched stench of decay threatened to impede his thoughts.
You have been affected by the area effect: Putrid Air -50% Movement Speed +25% Casting Time -10% Stats Your class and resistances allow you to resist 50% of the effect.
This is worse than in Bathory¡¯s dungeon. ¡°Moira, do you know if this is magic or an environmental effect?¡± Hall asked the grimoire. It took her a second to answer. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but I think it¡¯s both. Somebody cast magic to enhance the environment and use it against their enemies. But this magic is¡­ it''s evil. Be careful, Harbinger.¡± He felt it too. Different from Benmal¡¯ach, not as ferocious or primal, but filled with malice and invoked by the desire to cause pain. The sound of splintering bones and tearing flesh drew his gaze to the end of the room. A small table with a single tea cup on it, a bowl with pastries next to the pretty, little teapot, all of it seemed out of place. Behind the table, the only chair in the room seated an old woman. Countless wrinkles and sunken eyes revealed her age. She remained unmoving and cobwebs in her thin, grey hair gave the impression that she had died long ago. But Hall sensed her very soul and she was far from dead. The sounds that disturbed the eerie silence in the graveyard that once was a room, came from the ground beside the table. Again, he could perceive the soul in the mountain of a man who sat on the filthy floor. Yet, his senses should have told him more. His skill level climbed high enough to gather more information. He could feel the wickedness in them, but something impeded his perception, counteracted his ability, made it hard for him to see. But the figure on the ground pushed away his concerns. A man, as tall as himself, though three times as wide and only wearing an oversized diaper, sat on a pile of bone and flesh. The colossal amounts of fat on his massive body wobbled while he devoured something that looked disturbingly similar to an arm. Blood and pieces of flesh fell from his open mouth as he stopped chewing and his beady eyes focused on Hall. ¡°Mama.¡± He said. ¡°Who is that man?¡± Spitting scraps of flesh over himself, he spoke to the old woman. A slapping sound echoed through the room and the man¡¯s cheek turned red. ¡°Baban, my dear, I told you, if we have company, call me grandmother or Lady Gorti. Anyway, I do not know my little baby boy, they are not welcome here.¡± she lectured the man lovingly. As if she hadn¡¯t used it in a while, her voice resembled an unoiled hinge. The lips of the disgustingly obese creature trembled, but instead of crying, he just grinned while drool trickled from the corner of his mouth. ¡°Can I have him grandmama? I¡¯m so hungry.¡± Viciousness crept into Baban¡¯s infantile tone as the old Gorti¡¯s hand patted his bald head. ¡°Yes my dear baby boy, have fun.¡± Speechless, Hall watched as the giant baby struggled to stand up. His knees almost gave in under the enormous weight. Baban¡¯s hands, stretched before him, opened and closed while he took large, unstable steps towards Hall. A large, middle aged toddler tried to eat him. His grandmother watched him in silence, her face distorted in a mix of bliss and hatred. Images of gore and slaughter surrounded them. It was just too surreal. When Baban reached him, Hall swung his fist and a bone shattering punch clashed with the bald man¡¯s jaw. The giant buried pieces of dead bodies under himself as he crashed to the ground. He sat up and blinked at Hall, uncomprehending of what just happened. His lips trembled, tears formed in his eyes and a bloodcurdling wail erupted from him. The old Gorti¡¯s face twisted in rage and she screamed, ¡°You dare to hit my boy?¡± Her anger vanished and a cold, calm voice replaced it. Her words sucked out what little light and warmth the room held. ¡°I¡¯ll give your soul to my little boy and make a puppet out of your corpse.¡± A wave of darkness emerged from the tip of her fingers and washed over the whole room. The blood on the ground evaporated as soon as it came in contact with Gorti¡¯s magic and the scattered pieces of flesh turned to dust. Hall reacted in an instant. His skill ¡®Watching Over Me¡¯ kicked in and slowed down time, giving him the chance to step in front of Lily. He imbued his chains with soul energy and cut through the shadows that threatened to swallow them. ¡°Aren¡¯t you full of surprises? You are able to manifest the power of your soul.¡± Gorti said in astonishment. ¡°No matter, with that you are entering my personal field of expertise. You will make an excellent toy.¡± The old woman overcame her surprise in an instant and a grin spread on her face. Movements in the dark caught Hall¡¯s eye. Six figures rose from the ground and staggered towards him. Guess the guards weren¡¯t just sent away. All six walking corpses wore the same armor and carried long swords. Thick metal chains tied their necks to the wall. Their souls had already disappeared from their bodies and only traces of foreign magic remained. ¡°Sorian magic, am I right?¡± Hearing Hall¡¯s words, Lady Gorti raised an eyebrow and replied. ¡°Why, yes, you are right.¡± She confirmed. ¡°I¡¯m beginning to think it would be wise to keep you around, though of course your soul will still belong to me. Now get him my puppets!¡± Hall chuckled for a moment before he strengthened the grip around his chains. ¡°Your darkness cannot stand before me. My own will devour it.¡± Raising his chains, he swung them at the undead. Their lack of speed and coordination proved the casters lacking ability. But even under Hall¡¯s repeated blows, they didn¡¯t die. Bones shattered and flesh burst. Broken limbs and tattered clothes remained after numerous attacks. Yet they rose, again and again, and moved towards him. They still only posed a minor threat to Hall. It was the witch Gorti who he needed to deal with. While he kept the walking corpses at bay, she fired black flames and blades of shadows at him, slowly shaving away his health. Lily supported him with song and the occasional heal. Unfortunately they needed to move often. Gorti¡¯s spells covered whole areas, making it impossible for Lily to stay in one spot which interrupted her channeled healing. The battle dragged on and though Hall remained calm and careful, he gritted his teeth in frustration. It shouldn¡¯t be this difficult, why won¡¯t those zombies fall and what¡¯s with that hag¡¯s speed? The few attacks Hall unleashed at the old woman always missed, or rather, she dodged with quick movements that seemed to contradict her appearance. He ducked under dark flames, fired from withered hands, and stumbled backwards, barely avoiding a heavy blow the undead to his left threw at him. ¡°The chains around their necks.¡± Moira almost yelled. ¡°I sense a¡­ flow of energy coming from them. Look at them, really look, not just with your eyes.¡± Damn it, easier said than done. Swords and magic filled his field of view, but he waited patiently for an opening. With two wide swings he pushed away the closest undead and Lily shackled half of them with the mana chains she used to buy him room to breathe. It allowed him to focus on the witch. It had been a few days since he tried it, but he needed it to work, now! Hall put all his strength into the next attack and let both his chains rain down on the puppeteer before him. Laughing, she evaded the strikes by an inch. Moments before his chains crashed into the ground, Hall flicked his wrists. Like a whip, his weapons followed his motion. The cracking sound of the chains, together with the exploding marble floor, created a blast that pushed away the rubble and ash covering the ground. Yet it was the ringing in his ears that caused him to grin. It worked! Lady Gorti¡¯s eyes widened in surprise and shock as no words left her mouth. But Hall wasted no time to gloat and used ¡®Soul Perception¡¯ to investigate the metal that bound the undead. Even now something interfered with his abilities. At least I know where to look at. Moira¡¯s discovery helped greatly. After a moment he could sense the energy in the steel shackles. He felt a flow of power between the wall and the undead. ¡°So you supply them with strength, that¡¯s why they don¡¯t die.¡± Horror replaced the surprise on Gorti¡¯s face. Though shaken, she still held the upper hand. The silencing effect already wore off, so she prepared another chant. Hall evaded her magic as well as the strokes of the undead and drew his sword. ¡°Do you really think you can sever my chains?¡± She scoffed at him. Standing close to the wall, he raised the blade over his head and smiled. ¡°I do!¡± Blue light clawed its way through the dark metal in his hands and with a brutal strike, Hall cut the shackles that tied one of the undead. The puppet collapsed as its strings were slashed. Before Gorti could recover from the shock, Hall severed two more chains. An atrocious scream emerged from the witch as she sent wave after wave of dark fire at Hall. Damn, how long can she keep this up? Though he tried to evade or cut through the magic, his health dropped at the continuing storm of flames. Gritting his teeth, he took a stand. The brunt of the fire hit him, but he endured it to prepare the attack he unleashed at the raging witch. The same he used before and, again, he welcomed the ringing in his ears. While he received one more blow from an undead, Hall severed the remaining chains and robbed Lady Gorti of her shields. She stood alone and realizing it, her face distorted. The silencing effect wore off faster than before. The mechanic called diminishing return not only reduced the effectivity of repeatedly consumed potions. It also affected the duration of negative effects on targets if they are applied again within a short amount of time. Yet, it still proved fatal for the magic wielder. Now, Hall stood before her, bloody, but the burning fire in his eyes reached deep into her soul and dragged out her darkest nightmares. Unlike her undead puppets, she possessed no immunity to his fear inducing skills and her resistance only dropped during the battle. Gorti¡¯s fa?ade cracked. Her shoulders dropped and the defiant spark in her eyes vanished, replaced by dull fog. Chains wrapped around her neck and she fell to her knees. ¡°Who are you?¡± she asked crestfallen. A dark scythe blade appeared in Hall¡¯s hands and he leaned forward to whisper in her ear. ¡°I¡¯m Batman.¡± He spoke and rammed the metal into the old woman¡¯s chest, tearing the darkness from her soul. An uncomprehending look in his eyes, Baban watched his grandmother die. As if unaware of Hall¡¯s presence, he tumbled towards her corpse and sat beside it. Without a sound, tears streamed down his face. He grabbed the fingers of the only family he had and opened his lips. Yet instead of speaking, he lifted the hand towards his mouth. Hall closed his eyes for a moment and sighed. ¡°Pitiful creature.¡± The scythe blade pierced the crying giant¡¯s flesh and took another life. When silence returned to the mansion, Hall looked through the messages that popped up after the battle.
You have leveled up!
You have been gained a new skill!
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Sound of SilenceBeginner10%
The explosion of soul energy in your chains, combined with the sound wave, produced by their impact when striking, creates a deafening blast. Every sound within the impact zone will be silenced. Can only be used if chains are shorter than 4m. Enemies, as well as allies are affected. Effects:
  • Causes silence within the blast radius of 5m
  • Causes deafness within the blast radius of 5m Cost: 90mana +3 Strength +2 Agility
Finally! Even though the limited range reduced its use and the drawbacks couldn¡¯t be ignored, the skill could prove invaluable against casters. The fight against Lady Gorti showed it. Kneeling, he checked the corpses for items. Unfortunately enemies rarely left behind the equipment they carried, so the dead puppets gave him no loot. At least the old witch dropped an impressive jewel.
Soul Gem
Type:Accessory
Quality:Unique
A flawless crystal that can not only hold, but also transfer soul energy. Has to be used in combination with another item designed for the purpose of transferring energy. Effects: +5 to all stats +2% to all resistances Requirements: Can only be inserted into a predesigned socket by a master.
The plumb sized stone resembled the soul shards he found before. ¡°This is all rather cryptic.¡± Hall said. ¡±Moira, do you know something about it?¡± She seemed to hesitate, so he began to search the room. ¡°I know... knew it.¡± She answered. ¡±But¡­ my memory is hazy.¡± She sounded dejected, but mostly frustrated with herself. ¡°I think it can be used to transfer energy to other stones.¡± Hall grabbed a soul shard, dim black crystals that accumulated in his inventory, and lifted it in front of his eyes. ¡°Stones like this?¡± ¡°Yes, exactly like that.¡± A trace of excitement entered Moira¡¯s voice. ¡°You see, normal material can¡¯t handle soul energy, it either remains unaffected or it gets destroyed by it. Then there are things than can conduct and profit from the power of a soul, take your sword for an example. ¡°These stones though have the ability to store the energy of a soul for an extended period of time. Unfortunately¡­ I can¡¯t remember how, but I still know where you can gain that knowledge. The knowledge of soul weaving.¡± ¡°Amazing!¡± Hall¡¯s expression brightened. ¡°Thanks, Moira.¡± Though she tried to conceal it, her tone carried happiness when she spoke. ¡°That¡¯s the very least Death¡¯s Grimoire should be able to do, no need to be impressed.¡± ¡°Alright, alright.¡± He chuckled, but refrained from retorting. ¡°Then let¡¯s wrap up this mess, it¡¯s getting late.¡± Aside from the corpses, the sparse furniture and the lamps, the large room was empty. Leaving through the thick wooden doors, scarred by countless scratches, he continued his hunt for bounty. Houses, no matter the size, rarely held unfathomable riches. Bathory¡¯s treasure was already considered extraordinary. Else, a group of thieves could hit a few noble houses and bathe in gold for the rest of their lives. So, as to deter bandits, players as well as NPCs often trusted banks with their fortune. Banks, similar to auction houses, stood as a constant in the world of Novus Vita. They were¡ªquite literally¡ªuntouchable. Of course most mansions still contained a vast amount of valuables. Thieves¡ªambitious or brazen enough¡ªcould even steel the furniture if they secured some carriages beforehand. Unfortunately the Gorti Family thwarted Hall¡¯s hopes for a nice payday. Paranoid due to her age, the old witch locked most doors and purchased magic to protect them from damage. He only cursed as he attempted to break the wood and barely left a scratch. At least he gathered a few pretty pieces around the house, but far less than he imagined. Lily watched him in worry and Moira flicked her incorporeal tongue. ¡°A harbinger shouldn¡¯t care for worldly needs such as gold. It¡¯s below your rank.¡± He simply shrugged off their objections. ¡°A man has to eat.¡± Only when they entered one of the last rooms, did his mood change for the better. Not because of the countless, common books that filled the shelves or the dusty coins that wandered into his pocket. But because of the papers that covered the large desk that dominated the small study. One page in particular caught his eye.
Purchase Order of the Gorti Family concerning the Cattle Hunt By royal decree the Gorti Family has purchased seven heads of cattle and shall retain their prey. All royal guards and soldiers of the king are to comply with the bearer of this document.
The paper alone would not suffice to prove anything, but together with others he found, it painted a gruesome picture of guilt. The sound of a bell and a message window confirmed his opinion.
Quest: The Running Man
Quest complete You found several documents implicating Bredon¡¯s royalty with The Cattle Hunt. Rewards: Increased intimacy with the common people of Roselake and Bredon Quest Part 2 Unlocked
Quest: The Running Man ¨C Part 2
Roselake, the capital of Bredon, is on the brink of a civil war. You discovered something that might tip the scale in the conflict. The decision how to use the information lies in your hands! Difficulty: F Quest requirements: complete Part 1 Rewards: Depending on your actions Failure: impossible
Impossible to fail the quest? Does that mean even if I do nothing, I help one side by not using what I know? Hall barely received any experience for completing the first quest and the raised intimacy with Roselake¡¯s people didn¡¯t count for much. Shrugging, he left the study and returned to the room he left the corpses in. Jorn¡¯s quest demanded more than just killing the nobles connected to the cattle hunt. So he grabbed the chains that still bound the corpse of the guards who once protected the Gorti family. ¡°Harbinger, those chains aren¡¯t made of common metal.¡± Moira pointed out as he collected all six of them. ¡°I thought as much. They transferred that witch¡¯s energy after all. So, can I reuse the material somehow?¡± Hall asked, hoping he found something useful. Though Moira shattered his hopes without a shred of remorse. ¡°No. The metal is imbued with rather precious ore that allows soul energy to flow through it. They probably received it from hidden soul shards in the walls. ¡°The power in the metal is mostly gone, but it will be immensely difficult for a blacksmith to separate the valuable and common material. There¡¯s also the high probability of destroying its transferring properties should it be recast. ¡°Honestly, if you want to keep them, use them for what they are¡ªchains. As they are, they won¡¯t be easy to cut and have several times the strength of common steel.¡± For a few moments, Hall contemplated on his options while he held the heavy chains in his hands. Might as well use them. The grey metal reflected the light of the oil lamps as he stored four of the chains in his inventory. He wrapped the other two around the necks of the two corpses that represented the end of the noble house Gorti. The silence of the lifeless mansion weighed on him as he worked on the cold corpses. Sometimes the game felt too real. While the game usually prohibited players from doing it, NPCs could move and handle corpses. After all, countless people inhabited the world of Novus Vita. They celebrated births and mourned their dead. Funeral procession and cemeteries added to the whole picture. Often monsters, animals and even bandits just vanished after their demise, only to appear, to spawn, again after some time. Different from those, the people who populate cities and villages lived real lives. Or as real as it can get in a digital world. So it was only logical that death was a part of their lives. Their bodies never simply disappeared. They would remain at the site of their demise until someone took care of them, or until their bones turned to dust. Hall¡¯s quest allowed him to use the corpses before him and though¡ªin theory¡ªthey consisted of ones and zeros, the dead, pale skin under his fingers felt authentic enough. Gritting his teeth, he finished his grisly work and pulled the bodies behind him, out of the mansion and into the open. The weakened snowfall allowed Hall to see the facades of the luxurious stone houses that lined the narrow street he chose. More than that, he sensed people, sleeping in their warm beds. Yet, some, not many, stood not far from the windows. Maybe they heard screams from the Gorti mansion or maybe they experienced battle in the past and perceived the presence of a threat. ¡°Lily.¡± He whispered, just loud enough for the girl beside him to hear. ¡°This time I won¡¯t be surprised again, cast ¡®Velvet Thorns¡¯ on me please.¡± She nodded and her voice filled the empty streets. A few seconds that turned snow into brilliant flakes of light, dancing around the delicate figure of a girl in white. Glowing vines tangled around Hall¡¯s body, around his limbs and torso. Their dazzling warmth soon changed into a threatening glimmer as ebony thorns sprouted from them. Where Hall walked, the corpses he dragged behind turned the white snow crimson and, accompanied by the rattling of chains, only the sound of dead bodies grinding on cold stone filled the air. Movement behind closed doors, muffled screams and quickly extinguished candle light followed him through the streets. Might as well go all out. Hall placed a camera icon on the ground before him to adjust the angle of the video the game continuously recorded. He waited a few moments for the wind to die down. An eerie silence spread over the whole district. Hall grinned and his words cut through the night and reached the ears of those hiding behind windows and walls. ¡°I can sense your sins, your cowardice and fear! But you don¡¯t know real terror. I will show you fear. I will show you earthquakes and lightning! I will show you, a Bad Moon Rising!¡± A hint of red crept into the sparse light the street lamps spread. The falling snow seemed to turn into a rain of blood as a crimson moon broke through the cover of clouds and loomed over the dark figure who dragged the dead through the street. His skill caught several people in its range as he passed dozens of homes. All they saw was a demon, clad in darkness, adorned with thorns. His fists tightened their grip around the chains he used to pull their neighbors to hell. The nobility of Roselake, dragged by the very shackles they forced upon the common people. A fist, raised in defiance, grasping the chains of suppression. Pure horror filled many hearts that night. Nobody would forget, no matter how much they wished to do so. Those with a reason to be afraid, those with tainted souls, those would remember¡ªforever. Hall panted heavily when he reached the Somero mansion where three more corpses waited for him. ¡°Lily, get the horses.¡± He instructed his companion when they entered the backyard. ¡°So?¡± Moira asked. ¡°What are you standing around for?¡± Scratching his head, he admitted. ¡°I may have forgotten that I don¡¯t know how to hitch the horses to the carriage¡± While Lily failed to hide a giggle behind her hands, Moira just sighed and murmured. ¡°Unbelievable.¡± ¡°Let me do it.¡± Lily suggested. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, but¡­ there, all done.¡± It only took her a few seconds to attach the horses¡¯ harnesses to the carriage. The darkened windows prevented anybody from looking into the wagon, so Hall stored the five bodies inside it. The soldiers, guarding the main gate into the noble district, greeted them with harsh words. Yet a look into Hall¡¯s glowing eyes and the papers he presented to them changed their attitude in an instant. Lily showed him how to properly guide the horses through the cold night that wouldn¡¯t last much longer. Soon the first rays of sunlight would brighten the sky and uncover their crimes. For now they rolled through the dark streets of Roselake. The patrols lost the ability to enforce the curfew, so they remained undisturbed. Few people crossed their paths and it never took more than a single glance from Hall to persuade them to carry on. Well, at least for tonight it¡¯s handy. The snowfall picked up again as their carriage drove onto the deserted market place. Book burnings or merchants may pull in crowds, but now it felt like a graveyard. He deactivated his skill ¡®Bad Moon Rising¡¯ long ago and ¡®Velvet Thorns¡¯ expired soon after. Invisibility trumped intimidation, for now. ¡°No guards around.¡± Hall said. ¡°Guess this place is as good as any, well, better than most actually.¡± He hauled the corpses out of the wagon and piled them at the base of an iced up fountain. In the summer, the beautifully crafted bronze statues filled the base pool with clear water and offered refreshment for playing children and hard workers. The wintry night however, froze the water in time and created a sculpture of metal and ice. Magnificent, but cold. Elegant, but fragile and hard. Hall fastened the first chain to the highest statue in the middle of the fountain. At around five meters it towered the whole market place. Now the carcass of a noble dangled from the bronze figure that portrayed an angel with spread wings. He asked Lily to keep watch. His ¡®Soul Perception¡¯ reached farther than her field of view, but his hands were already soiled. No need to taint her. He shouldered the darkness gladly. For over an hour he continued his gruesome task. By then the cadavers of the Somero brothers adorned the fountains central column. The old Gorti¡¯s body hung from the angel¡¯s sword while her grandson¡¯s corpse, which was the first he strung up, dangled beside her. His enormous weight almost broke the statue. The rigid carcasses slowly bled over the ice and colored the crystal formation into a crimson nightmare. Blue and red icicles and the stench of death added to the horror. Without another word, they climbed onto the carriage¡¯s driver seat and left the scene. Hall gazed at his work one last time, closed his eyes and shook off the image he created A frozen fountain, decorated with blood and flesh. A piece of art, spawned from hell. A reminder that¡ªno matter how mighty, no matter who¡ªthey no longer lived in safety. Punishment awaited them. When they exited the market, a string of messages appeared before him.
You killed several nobles, desecrated their remains and caused great disturbance to the public order. Your bounty has been raised to 250 gold. Guards are ordered to kill you on sight. While your name remains unknown, your description has been spread. The chance of detection is very high for the next 28 days (will be reduced over time). Tread carefully!
The outrageous bounty meant Roselake turned into enemy territory. The offered sum could sustain a normal family for months, maybe years and Hall couldn¡¯t trust on his charm to win over the general populace. ¡°Moira.¡± He said. ¡°I think after we visit Jorn, I might need that location we talked about.¡± The next message evoked mixed feelings. But he gritted his teeth and swallowed his uncertainties.
Quest: They can''t keep us down
Quest complete At great personal risk you stirred up the emotions of Roselake¡¯s nobility and shattered their trust in the king to protect them. You proved to the resistance, that you are worthy of joining their cause. Rewards: Support and information from the resistance Reward and quest by Jorn, one of the leaders of the resistance You have leveled up!
What¡¯s done is done, time to collect my blood money. He put his unspent attribute points into strength and agility and took a glance at his status and skill progress while the street around him got busier. Wordless, their hearts heavy, they drove into the dawn as screams of terror and panic emerged behind them.
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----------------------------- Author¡¯s Note: Alright, Chapter 22 is done, hope you enjoyed it, I added the status, skills (overview and descriptions), equipment, quests and titles below, so if you¡¯re interested, check it out. Now, a few people approached me over the last weeks and asked if they could donate. (Which is really awesome, wouldn¡¯t have even dreamt about it^^) I was hesitant at first, but now that the admins created the option I thought, why not :D So, I won¡¯t offer any extra chapters or milestones (I generally don''t hold any chapter back). I can only guarantee that I will continue to do my very best to improve myself and Don¡¯t Fear the Reaper. And please only donate if you can really afford it. I will continue to write regardless of the result. All I hope for is that I can put a little more time into writing this story. Well, if you spot any mistakes, have suggestions or questions, don¡¯t hold back :grin: Oh, and as always, please rate, follow and favor, it means a lot, until the next chapter :bye: ----------------------- STATUS WINDOWS, SKILLS, EQUIPMENT, QUESTS, ETC. Spoiler : Status Window Hall: Spoiler :
Status Window
Name:HallAlignment:Death
Level:46Class: Harbinger of Death
Race:HumanGender:Male
Titles:Somewhere I Belong
Fame:1037Infamy:0
-
Health:3295 / 2235Health Regen:4.6/ Sec
Mana:0 / 2375Mana Regen:5.0 / Sec
Stamina:910 / 910Stamina Regen:6.4 / Sec
-
Strength:157+70Agility:120+70
Vitality:81+10Endurance:89+10
Intelligence:111+10Wisdom:118+10
Willpower:163+10Luck:40+10
-
Attack:34+48Defense:25+120
Magical Resistance
Fire:10%+10%Water:11%+10%
Wind:11%+10%Earth:11%+10%
Lightning:10%+10%Illusion:40%+5%
Light:10%+5%Darkness:40%+25%
+ 30 added to all stats + Willpower stat raised by 80 points + Magical Resistances raised by 10% + Resistance to Illusion and Darkness Magic raised by an additional 30% + Enables you to equip certain items or equipment specialized for this class + Increases attack power for attacks with soul energy + Unable to learn most crafting professions + Skills that use soul energy will be 10% more effective and will gain experience 50% faster + Strayed from the path of humanity. Your appearance causes fear or hatred in NPCs. + Unknown
Skill Overview Hall: Spoiler :
List of skills
Bad Moon RisingBeginner LVL2 (33%)
The Sound of SilenceBeginner LVL1 (0%)
In my Time of Dyingpassive
Ain''t no Grave, can hold my Body downpassive
Keep me in your Heart for a Whilepassive
Judgementpassive
I''m Still Standingpassive
Watching over mepassive/active
Death¡¯s GrimoireBeginner LVL1 (19%)
Turn the PageBeginner LVL1 (0%)
Soul PerceptionBeginner LVL6 (11%)
Soul PressureBeginner LVL3 (21%)
Soul ChainsBeginner LVL7 (91%)
Mana DrainBeginner LVL3 (79%)
Soul DistortionBeginner LVL2 (92%)
Hells BellsBeginner LVL2 (39%)
AmbidexterityBeginner LVL3 (69%)
IdentificationBeginner LVL5 (75%)
Down with the SicknessBeginner LVL2 (29%)
Blast TyrantBeginner LVL2 (38%)
Chain MasteryBeginner LVL6 (42%)
Sword MasteryBeginner LVL3 (83%)
Dagger MasteryBeginner LVL3 (28%)
Equipment Hall: Spoiler : Weapons: Main-hand:
Blade of the Soul Weaver (incomplete)
Damage:44-57Durability:89/90
Quality:Unique
An incomplete sword covered by shadows. Can only be wielded by those that have control over soul energy. Remnants of soul essence mark this sword as property of Hall, the Harbinger of Death. Effects: Ignores 30% of the enemies armor Ignores 30% of the enemies endurance Slight chance to confuse or stun the enemy Wounds caused by this sword won¡¯t bleed If cut by this sword the effect of all healing spells are reduced by 50% +10% Darkness Resistance +20 Strength Area of Effect damage around the sword (5% of hit damage, Range: 10cm) If imbued with soul energy, damage can be increased (max. +50%) Requirements: Willpower: 130 Strength: 100 Agility: 80
Off-hand:
Short Blade of the Soul Weaver (incomplete)
Damage:32-44Durability:75/75
Quality:Unique
An incomplete dagger covered by shadows. Can only be wielded by those that have control over soul energy. Effects: Ignores 50% of the enemy¡¯s armor if the dagger is used to stab Ignores 50% of the enemy¡¯s endurance if the dagger is used to stab Slight chance to confuse or stun the enemy Wounds caused by this dagger won¡¯t bleed If cut by this dagger the effect of all healing spells are reduced by 20% If stabbed by this dagger the effect of all healing spells are reduced by 40% +10% Darkness Resistance +20 Agility If imbued with soul energy, damage can be increased (max. +50%) Requirements: Willpower: 130 Strength: 80 Agility: 100
Not equipped:
Harvester of Sorrow
Damage:0-100Durability:-
Level:1 (2%)Durability:-
Quality:Unique
A truly terrifying weapon. Although incomplete, this blade carries the ability to cut deep into the very soul and devour the darkness that lies within. It will grow with the energy it gathers and with the one that wields it. Effects: -50% damage against enemies without grave sins -50% damage against enemies without a soul +50% damage against enemies with an enslaved soul +50% damage against enemies kept alive through a foreign soul Ignores 50% of the enemies armor If lodged into a soul it causes 20 damage / sec, reduces recovery and incoming healing effects by 50% Damage increases with the weight of the sins Damage reduced by the enemy¡¯s willpower Cuts through divine protection (10%) Requirements: Class Harbinger of Death Willpower: 150
Clothes Shirt:
Bloodcount¡¯s Silkshirt
Defense:5Durability:35/35
Quality:Rare
Black shirt made of high quality silk by a skilled tailor for high nobility. Effects: +10 Agility +10 Intelligence Armor worn over the shirt will lose its durability slightly slower Requirements: (not fulfilled!) Level 60 Agility: 100 Intelligence: 100 Pants:
Bloodcount¡¯s Silkpants
Defense:5Durability:35/35
Quality:Rare
Black pants made of high quality silk by a skilled tailor for high nobility. Effects: +10 Agility +10 Intelligence Armor worn over the pants will lose its durability slightly slower Requirements: (not fulfilled!) Level 60 Agility: 100 Intelligence: 100
Armor Chest:
Hardened Leather Chest
Defense:30Durability:58/60
Quality:Magic
Leather armor of good quality made by a skilled craftsman without any special features. Effects: +5 Strength +10 Agility Requirements: Level 35 Strength: 50 Agility: 80
Legs:
Hardened Leather Pants
Defense:30Durability:59/60
Quality:Magic
Leather armor of good quality made by a skilled craftsman without any special features. Effects: +5 Strength +10 Agility Requirements: Level 35 Strength: 50 Agility: 80
Gloves:
Hardened Leather Gloves
Defense:15Durability:44/45
Quality:Magic
Leather armor of good quality made by a skilled craftsman without any special features. Effects: +5 Strength +5 Agility Requirements: Level 35 Strength: 50 Agility: 80
Boots:
Hardened Leather Boots
Defense:15Durability:60/60
Quality:Magic
Leather armor of good quality made by a skilled craftsman without any special features. Effects: +5 Strength +5 Agility Steps are muffled slightly Requirements: Level 35 Strength: 50 Agility: 80
Cloak:
Armored Cloak of Ella¡¯s Heritage
Defense:30Durability:89/90
Quality:Unique
An armored cloak made from rare dragon spider silk. It is harder than steel and at the same time almost as light as linen. An incredible piece of work improved by generations of craftsmen, imbued with powerful magic. Effects: +5% Resistance to elemental magic (Fire, Earth, Water,Wind,Lightning) Cloak will apply a low level form of stealth, diverting the attention of others +5% Chance to evade, deflect or divert an enemy attack Strong feelings of affection and gratefulness blessed this item: +5% damage against beings you deem evil If your health drops below 50% the material of the cloak hardens, doubling its defense for 10 min Requirements: Extremely high intimacy with Ella, blacksmith apprentice of Gelt Strength: 100 Agility: 100 Wisdom: 80
Rings: [td2]Quality:
Ring of Ogre Strength
Type:Accessory[/td2s]
Magic
A ring made for the chiefs of ogre clans as a bribe. Effects: +15 Strength +1.0% melee damage Requirements: Level 40 Strength 150
Gold Ring of a Blade Dancer Novice
Type:Accessory
Quality:Magic
A ring given to those that chose to become blade dancers and pass the initial test of the dancers guild. Effects: +5 Strength +10 Agility +1.5% Chance to Dodge Requirements: Level 40 Strength 60 Agility 110 /td100]
Necklace: [td100]Pendant of the Soul Weaver (incomplete)
Type:Accessory
Quality:Unique
An incomplete pendant covered by shadows. Can only be worn by those that have control over soul energy. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.Effects: +10 to all stats +5% to all resistances +unknown Requirements: Willpower 140
Active Quests: Spoiler :
Quest: Carry on my Wayward Son ¨C Part 2
After lifting the curse, Lily¡¯s soul is still not complete. Dravan, who made the curse, still holds part of it after draining her soul energy for so long. Rip it from him. Difficulty: C Quest requirements:
  • lift the Grand Curse of Shattered Trust from you and Lilith
Rewards: Unknown Failure: abandon Lily
Quest: No Sympathy for the Devil
The great mage William Henley asked you to hunt down his disciple, Dravan, the last one of the Sorian people. Dravan rules over a land of darkness unbeknownst to mankind where he controls an army of evil. Difficulty: C+ Quest requirements: Be cursed by Dravan, survive the curse and find the scroll of his master Rewards:
  • Restore what was broken, find what was lost and return what was stolen
  • Additional rewards depending on your actions
Failure: exceed the time limit of one year
Quest: The Running Man ¨C Part 2
Roselake, the capital of Bredon, is on the brink of a civil war. You discovered something that might tip the scale in the conflict. It is up to you how to you use them! Difficulty: F Quest requirements:
  • complete Part 1
Rewards: Depending on your actions Failure: impossible
Completed Quests: Spoiler :
Quest: Rest for the Wicked
Quest complete The quest that was given to you under false pretense and that was part of the ploy to betray you and leave you to die was deemed impossible to solve. Against all odds you did it. The Banshee¡¯s soul found peace at your side because you set her free and gave her the ability to trust again.
Quest: Carry on my Wayward Son
Quest complete You and Lilith managed to lift the Grand Curse of Shattered Trust and to leave the area after destroying the tower. Quest Part 2 Unlocked
Quest: Peace of Mind
Quest failed. Because you refused to bow to the will of the gods of light you will be punished. Your relationship with the churches of light deteriorates.
Quest: Follow the Reaper
Quest complete You exceeded Death¡¯s expectation and decided to join her as a companion.
Quest: Master of Puppets
Quest complete Not only did you destroy the goblins inhabiting the abandoned mine, hindering them from creating more undead animal servants, but you also destroyed the cause of the dark magic. You also released the souls of those imprisoned by darkness and gave peace to the souls of the dead villagers.
Quest: Mama liked Roses
Quest complete You gave Ella a little peace of mind and a chance to bury her beloved mother. Furthermore you destroyed the cause of her grief.
Quest: The Witch¡¯s Promise
Quest complete: You chose to destroy the witch, releasing her prisoner, hindering her from summoning a great blood demon that would have terrorized the kingdom.
Quest: Alice in Chains
Quest complete: Facing gruesome trials, overcoming your inner turmoil and defeating unimaginable darkness, you entered into a contract with Moira, Death¡¯s Grimoire.
Quest: The Running Man
Quest complete You found several documents implicating Bredon¡¯s royalty with The Cattle Hunt.
[td] Quest complete At great personal risk you stirred up the emotions of Roselake¡¯s nobility and shattered their trust in the king to protect them. You proved to the resistance, that you are worthy of joining their cause. [td]
Quest: They can''t keep us down
Available Titles: Spoiler :
Title : Paranoid
The betrayal of your friends scarred you for life but you learned a lesson to choose careful who to trust and are now a little bit tougher than before. Effects when equipped: People think you¡¯re insane because you are frowning all the time
Title : Solitary Man
For breaking a curse of betrayal you will be marked by dark powers to keep you alone in this world Effects: When in a party you deal 15% less damage for every party member Familiars and Pets are not included Effects are applied even if the title is not equipped
Title : I Stand Alone
For breaking a curse of betrayal you will be marked by dark powers to keep you alone in this world Effects: When in a party you receive 15% more damage for every party member Familiars and Pets are not included Effects are applied even if the title is not equipped
Title : Damaged beyond Repair
You damaged your own soul irreparably and because you forcefully destroyed the connection between cursed chains and it¡¯s source the remaining dark magic will taint your soul. Effects: Relationships with the churches of light suffer and can¡¯t advance beyond friendly Effects are applied even if the title is not equipped
Title : Losing my Religion
The gods punish you for refusing them. The seven churches of light of the continent Akreton declare you a Persona non Grata, an unwelcomed person. Effects: Your reputation with the churches can¡¯t advance further than unfriendly. You are not allowed to enter the churches premises. Healing fees are tripled. If a member of one of the seven churches of light kills you, he will not gain infamy Effects are applied even if the title is not equipped
Title: The bigger they are¡­
For defeating a unique, named quest boss more than 40 levels above you, you are granted with knowledge of how to deal with experienced and dangerous foes, bigger and stronger than you Effects when equipped +5% damage against named monsters +5% damage against monsters bigger than you
Title : Somewhere I belong
You stood up to gods and devils, to angels and demons, and with your soul at stake you formed a contract, binding your being to another. By forsaking your humanity you gained a powerful ally that you saved from vanishing into nothingness. After giving part of your very soul to your familiar, you now shared it a second time, bringing light to the hopeless and forgotten. Effects when equipped: Your trusted companions, those inseparably bound to you will benefit from the home, the purpose, you give them (includes familiars, contractors and pets) +5% range of skills +5% effectivity of support magic +5% resistance against all magic Heightened resistance against crowd control effects +5% experience gain
Stat Window Lily: Spoiler :
Status Window
Name:LilithAlignment:Death
Level:47Class: Familiar of the Harbinger of Death
Race:Human (Spirit)Gender:Female
Titles:-
-
Health:0 / 1060Health Regen:3.5/ Sec
Mana:10510 / 8135Mana Regen:40.6 / Sec
Stamina:-Stamina Regen:-
-
Strenght:32Agility:40
Vitality:55Luck:35
Intelligence:369Wisdom:379
-
Attack:4Defense:-
Magical Resistance
Fire:10%Water:10%
Wind:10%Earth:10%
Lightning:10%Illusion:40%
Light:10%Darkness:40%
+ 15 added to all stats + Intelligence and Wisdom stat raised by 20 points + Magical Resistances raised by 10% + Resistance to Illusion and Darkness Magic raised by an additional 30% + Unaffected by physical attacks if not in corporeal form + Increases magical damage if the target is affected by the magic of the Harbinger of Death + Soul bound to Hall, the Harbinger of Death + Unknown
Skill Overview Lily: Spoiler :
List of skills
Soul Meets BodyBeginner LVL5 (68%)
Angels don¡¯t KillBeginner LVL4 (89%)
Spiritual HealingBeginner LVL3 (38%)
Voice of the SoulBeginner LVL7 (9%)
I will follow you into the DarkBeginner LVL4 (98%)
Prayer for the DyingBeginner LVL1 (39%)
The Sound of PerseveranceBeginner LVL2 (58%)
Tears of HeavenBeginner LVL3 (31%)
Velvet ThornsBeginner LVL1 (3%)
Garden of Thornspassive
Skill Descriptions: Spoiler : HALL:
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Bad Moon RisingBeginner233%
Your enemies shall tremble in fear. Your opponents shall gravel in the dust beneath your feet. Nothing may stand in your way as you tear through every obstacle. Darkness will fall and only the light of death shall illuminate your battles and bear witness to your power. Effects: -1% accuracy for enemies -5% stats for enemies -10% movement speed for enemies -15% health, stamina and mana regeneration for enemies Effects doubled if an enemy stands alone against you Effects reduced depending on the enemies will Range:20m
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
The Sound of SilenceBeginner10%
The explosion of your soul energy in your chains, combined with the sound wave, produced by their impact when striking, creates a deafening blast. Every sound within the impact zone will be silenced. Can only be used if chains are shorter than 4m. Enemies, as well as allies are affected. Effects:
  • Causes silence within the blast radius of 5m
  • Causes deafness within the blast radius of 5m Cost: 90mana
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
In my Time of Dying (passive)--100%
If your health drops below 10% you gain strength through your proximity to death. Effects:
  • +100% Willpower
  • +30% to all stats
  • +30% speed
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Ain¡¯t no Grave can hold my body down (Subskill of In my Time of Dying,passive)--100%
As you are affiliated with it, death holds no fear for you. Be aware though, those who underestimate death will suffer greatly. Effects:
  • Should you die, you can choose to rise again within 5min
  • You will be revived under the effects of In my Time of Dying, the effects will last for 10min after your revival
  • Should you die during the same battle you will lose 3 levels and the corresponding stat points, your willpower will also drop by 5 points
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Keep me in your Heart for a While (Subskill of In my Time of Dying,passive)--100%
Those who oppose you shall remember your promise of vengeance Effects:
  • You will remember the soul energy of those who kill you and can track them down within a range of 25 miles
Duration: 1 month
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Soul PerceptionBeginner611%
Through continuous training and concentration you are able to sense the energy that the souls around you carry. Through affiliation with death, soul perception is now more effective and can read if the soul is pure. Effects:
  • you are able to see your own soul energy
  • you can sense the souls of people and animals around you
  • you can sense the stream and the remnants of soul energy
  • you can sense if a soul is pure or burdened with sin
  • you can sense the strength and the state of a soul to a certain degree
Range: 10m Cost: 4mana/sec
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Soul Pressure (Subskill of Soul Perception)Beginner321%
Exuding an immense amount of pressure with your soul energy can overwhelm an opponent Effects:
  • can confuse, harm or even kill weak willed enemies around you
Cost: 50 mana / sec, 25 stamina / sec
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Soul ChainsBeginner791%
The cursed chains that bound you, yielded to your will and now obey your command. After being affiliated with death the chains are imbued with its power. Effects:
  • incorporeal chains can be imbued with the power of your soul, allowing you to wield them
  • chains are invisible to others as long as they are not imbued with soul energy
  • current length: 2.5m
  • current speed of charging the chains with soul energy: 1.8 m/sec
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Mana Drain (Subskill of Soul Chains)Beginner379%
If you wrap your chains around an enemy you are able to drain him of his mana Effects: drains 1.3%, but not more than 30 of the enemies mana per second The chains have to be corporeal while the skill is active
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Soul Distortion (Subskill of Soul Chains and Soul Perception)Beginner292%
Because you can sense a souls properties you are able to distort the balance of your enemies soul energy with your own while your soul chain is in contact with them Effects:
  • Enemy is confused and may go into a Berserker state, not being able to differentiate between friend and foe
  • For every second the skill affected an enemy, the duration of the aftereffects will increase by 31 seconds.
  • Very weak willed enemies can be killed
Aftereffects: Speed -15% Defense -15% Health-, mana-, and stamina regeneration stopped Cost: 9 mana/sec Only enemies with a weaker will than you are affected.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Hells Bells (Subskill of Soul Chains)Beginner239%
Your soul resonates with Lilith¡¯s heart, you chains with her voice. Together with her you create a special sound, a unique melody instilling terror in the hearts of your opponents. Effects:
  • Fighting Spirit / Willpower of the enemy is reduced
  • chains cause 10% more damage
  • the stamina consumption of the enemy is increased slightly
Can only be used in combination with Lilith''s skill Voice of the Soul Effect is increased by 30% if Lilith is in her corporeal form Chains have to be corporeal. Cost: 3 mana / sec
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Judgement (passive)--100%
With the power over death you are able to judge a soul in its last moment Effects:
  • killing sinful beings won¡¯t raise your infamy
  • killing someone with more infamy than fame won¡¯t raise your infamy
  • killing someone with a pure soul will cause you to receive 3 times the amount of infamy
  • destroying people and objects that oppose death will raise your fame and depending on their strength may give you additional stat points
  • a soul you reaped will find its peace and can¡¯t be raised as an undead or trapped in this world
[*] freeing trapped and cursed souls will grant you fame and depending on their strength may give you additional stat points
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
I¡¯m Still Standing (passive)--100%
Unyielding in the face of agony, unwavering if pain torments you. No matter how often you fall, there is nothing that keeps you from rising defiantly to your feet. Effects:
  • Endurance raised by 5%
  • With every 10% health you lose your damage increases by 0.5%
  • Attacks directed at your mind will have a likeliness of 10 % to fail
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Watching over Me--100%
Even though they aren¡¯t with you anymore, your loved ones continue to protect you. Effects:
    Passive:
  • Sneak and stealth (close and ranged) attacks won¡¯t cause any additional damage
  • Attacks from the back won¡¯t cause any additional damage
  • One second before incoming damage, your perception of time will be changed (instead of 4:1 to 16:1) until you receive the attack or half a second later if you evade. (time dilation will accumulate to a maximum of 6 perceived seconds, meaning you will experience 6 seconds while 1.5 pass) Does only apply once, at the beginning of combat. Activation: The next incoming negative effect will be nullified (for example damage or curses) If 10 seconds pass after activation without any effect, the boon will expire Cost: If activated as a passive skill it will consume 10% of your maximum mana and won¡¯t refill past the 90% mark Activation won¡¯t use any mana, but it will consume the protection granted to you. New passive activation can only be granted after 6 hours. Mana consumption by the boon is disabled during this time.
[*]
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Death¡¯s Grimoire (passive)Beginner119%
Knowledge is power! Currently weak, this tome can be filled with information and wisdom, granting great power to its partner. Effects: Damage of skills related to Death (class skills) increased by 1.5% Range and effect of skills related to Death increased by 1.5% Defense against skills related to Death increased by 1.5%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Turn the PageBeginner10%
Carrying the grimoire that is bound to your soul grants you strength. Grimoire has to be equipped in one hand. Skills of familiars and pets are also enhanced. Effects: Damage of skills related to Death (class skills) increased by 15% Range and effect of skills related to Death increased by 15% Defense against skills related to Death increased by 15%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
AmbidexterityBeginner369%
Through constant training your left hand becomes a lot stronger and more skillful Effects:
  • +11% left handed damage
  • +2.1% agility
  • the stamina consumption with left handed attacks is reduced
[*]
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
IdentificationBeginner575%
Allows you to identify items with special properties.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Down with the SicknessBeginner229%
You possess knowledge to cleanse blood as well as the soul. The higher the skill, the more you¡¯ll be able to affect your target. Effects:
  • Able to cleanse tainted blood (including many poisons and diseases)
  • Able to lift blood curses
  • Able to cleanse tainted souls
  • Able to lift curses caused by soul energy
Casting Time: Depending on the target Mana Cost: 40 mana / sec
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Blast TyrantBeginner238%
A deafening roar filled with anger and despair but also with the promise of defiance. Effects:
  • Enemies are confused and their morale will be reduced depending on skill proficiency and enemy strength
  • Allies are filled with new hope:
  • health and mana regeneration doubled for 10min
  • one negative effect is lifted randomly
Cost: 50 mana
[*] Weapon Mastery skills:
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Chain Mastery (Subskill of Soulchains)Beginner642%
Constantly training with the chains around your wrists and even jumping into battle armed with nothing more than those, you have gained control over them and are now able to wield them with frightening skill. Effects:
  • Damage increased by 19%
  • Speed increased by 7.5%
  • can be varied from zero to three times its original length
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Sword MasteryBeginner383%
Constantly training with the sword increased your proficiency in combat. Effects:
  • Damage increased by 11%
  • Speed increased by 4%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dagger MasteryBeginner328%
Constantly training with the dagger increased your proficiency in combat. Effects:
  • Damage increased by 11%
  • Speed increased by 4%
[*] LILY:
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Soul Meets BodyBeginner568%
After restoring part of your soul you are able to regain your body for a short amount of time. Effects:
  • You can affect your surroundings
  • You are able to deal physical damage
  • You are able to receive physical damage
  • Invisible and untraceable until corporeal
Cost: 11 mana / sec
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Angels don¡¯t killBeginner489%
To avoid harming innocent souls you are able to create mana chains that pin down the enemy without harming them. You are able to conjure four chains at the same time. Effects:
  • Mana chains have 500 health
  • If the mana chains are destroyed they will cause a shockwave stunning the target for 2 second without dealing damage
Range: 30m Duration: if not destroyed a chain has a lifespan of 4min Cost: 80 mana / chain
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Spiritual HealingBeginner338%
As a spiritual being you are close to death. Having a contract with the Harbinger of Death allows you to transform mana into health. Effects:
  • transforms 1 mana into 1.4 health point
  • transformation rate 9 mana / sec
Cost: 9 mana / sec (will be transformed into health) Spell has to be channeled
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Voice of the SoulBeginner79%
Your voice gives your allies strength. In times of despair you can give them hope. In times of grief comfort and in times of battle courage. Effects:
  • Allies can only hear you if you are corporeal
  • Your soul bound partner can hear you anytime
  • Effects are increased by 7%
Cost: depending on the subskill used Only one song bonus can be active at the same time
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
The Sound of Perseverance (Subskill of Voice of the Soul)Beginner258%
In dire situations this song will grant the strength to persist when others fall. Effects:
  • Willpower (Fighting Spirit if Willpower stat is not available) raised by 8.5%
  • Endurance is raised by 6%
Effect duration after the song is finished: 10min Cost: 90 mana
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
I will follow you into the Dark (Subskill of Voice of the Soul)Beginner498%
Although betrayed before, you are finally able to trust again. When you sing only for the one who thawed your frozen heart you lay bare your very soul for him and only he will be able to hear your voice. Effects:
  • Stamina consumption is reduced by half
  • Endurance and Willpower is raised by 13%
  • Strength increased by 3%
Effect duration after the song is finished: 10min Cost: 155 mana
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Prayer for the Dying (Subskill of Voice of the Soul)Beginner139%
In the midst of battle there is always hopelessness and fear. Those dying cry out for salvation which you can grant. Effects:
  • Allies gain courage and a higher morale even if confronted with great obstacles
  • Enemies that hear your song will have a reduced will to fight
Effect duration after the song is finished: 10min Cost: 65 mana
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Tears of HeavenBeginner331%
You had to endure incredible hardships, your soul was tormented, your heart felt sorrow and your companion was punished for staying by your side. The souls of the dead cry for you. A rain of tears will fall from the heavens and annihilate your enemy. Effects:
  • devastating Area of effect damage
  • Area of effect can be controlled with a maximum radius of 2.3m
  • will only hurt those that you see as an enemy
Range: 25m Casting time: 25 sec Cost: 125 mana / sec for every meter of radius Spell has to be channeled
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Velvet ThornsBeginner13%
To protect what you care for most, to guard the one you share a bond with and help him retaliate against his foes you will let vines of energy spread over and entangle him. His energy will allow your vines to grow thorns, threatening those that mean harm. Can only be used on soul bound companions (currently: Hall, Harbinger of Death) Effects:
  • -10% received melee damage
  • -5% received magical damage
  • 10% melee damage will be reflected to the attacker
Duration: 15 min or until 2000 damage was absorbed. Cost: 200 mana
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Garden of Thorns (passive)-1-
If your most precious, the one you tried to protect, perishes in battle, these thorny vines will use its remaining energy to overgrow the surroundings, guard the remains and protect it from all enemies. Effects:
  • Activates upon death (only when no option of revival exists)
  • thorny vines will overgrow an area within a radius of 2m
  • -50% movement speed within the field of thorns
  • 50 dmg for one second, damage doubles each second
Duration: 120 min
[*] ###################### Chapter 23 - She Likes To Hide Chapter 23 ¨C She Likes To Hide Alarmed by distant screams, many peeked through their windows and doors. Guards, players and other NPCs ignored him as they ran towards the source of the ruckus. Some glanced at the figure on the carriage and kept their distance. Most missed him, distracted or still tired after waking up at the break of dawn. Hall tightened the cloak around him, keeping the cold, as well as unwanted stares, at bay. He climbed into the dark carriage to escape curious and terrified glances while Lily steered the horses effortlessly. Soon they arrived in front of an inconspicuous store that, despite the rising sun, still lay in darkness. The merchant and one of the leader of the resistance, Jorn, waited for Hall. Beside him stood a man in a monk¡¯s robe that hid the body of a warrior. ¡°Ah, Shep.¡± Hall greeted him. ¡°Glad to see you here, how are the kids?¡± The grim look on the bald man¡¯s face softened. ¡°Nice seeing you too. The kids are good. Ralk only talks about you. You¡¯re a celebrity at the old church.¡± He hesitated a second as his smile vanished. ¡°And I see you got stronger, in a way. I¡¯m truly sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Hall shook his head. ¡°I made the choice and I don¡¯t regret it.¡± Shep sighed and looked ten years older all of a sudden. ¡°Boy, I pray that won¡¯t change.¡± ¡°Stop the gloomy talk.¡± Jorn interrupted them. ¡°Today is a good day. Hall, I may have had my doubts, but you really came through for us. I mean, the reports I¡¯m getting in¡­¡± He roared, slamming his fist on the counter. ¡°Listen!¡± The merchant continued. ¡°We are planning something. Something big. Change this whole town¡ªthis whole kingdom¡ªbig. And I want you to be part of it.¡± Before Hall responded, he turned to Shep ¡°Are you going to fight too?¡± The old warrior looked concerned. ¡°No.¡± He answered. ¡°My fighting days are over. My responsibilities lie with my children and with the weak. I¡¯ll take them out of the city. Protect them or die trying.¡± Jorn gave a disapproving glare but urged Hall to speak. ¡°Listen, what you did this night will spread through the city like wildfire.¡± A dark grin appeared on his face. ¡°We¡¯ll make sure of it. Just having you on our side will make a difference.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Hall nodded. ¡°But I have to lay low for a few days, a month if possible.¡± Jorn just waved his concerns aside. ¡°No worries, we have a lot to plan out. We¡¯ll meet in the basement of my store.¡± He reached below the counter and gave Hall a small, unremarkable key. ¡°Go down into my cellar. At the end of a longer corridor you¡¯ll find a grandfather clock. Open it with the key and walk through it. From there you¡¯ll be able to get into hundreds of hideouts, warehouses and homes we control.¡± A map appeared in his hand which he also handed over to Hall. ¡°Take this, you¡¯ll need it. It¡¯s a damn labyrinth down there. It¡¯s also dark, wet and filled with rats, but the king¡¯s men rarely go down there. It¡¯s our world.¡± Hall¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change despite his suspicion. A resistance group this organized and connected clearly didn¡¯t form within the last few days, weeks or months. It would have taken many years and a lot of men to map out this underground labyrinth. And taking on a whole city demanded manpower beyond a motley crew of merchants and old warriors. Hall couldn¡¯t see the whole picture and he didn¡¯t like it. For now Hall played along. He smiled and pocketed the items after giving them a quick inspection.
Old Key
Quality:Common
A worthless old key. Whatever it opened is probably long rusted shut. Might as well throw it away. Seriously, just throw it away.
Not suspicious at all¡­
Map of Roselake¡¯s Underground Labyrinth
Quality:RareType:Consumable
Over centuries different parties used and created ways to travel under Roselake¡¯s streets. Now, thousands different routes form a labyrinth impossible to navigate. Good thing you have this map.
¡°Good, I¡¯ll come back in a month, maybe a bit sooner, but before I leave,¡± Hall dumped a huge stack of stolen goods onto the counter before him. ¡°I¡¯d like to sell some stuff.¡± Finding a dealer for robbed merchandise proved to be a challenge for many players. At least when the items could easily be connected to their previous owners. A merchant who dealt with those special kind of commodity needed to be well connected, usually outside of town. Of course, already stolen items, hidden in some dark corner of a mansion, lost in time, could be sold without trouble. The same applied to general goods like food or basic resources. Sometimes simply waiting was enough to trade it without any trouble. Selling rarer products, precious jewelry or clothes, maybe even marked items, was more difficult. It often came with a sizeable loss in value as a chunk of profit went into the fence¡¯s pocket. Hall¡¯s increased intimacy with Jorn helped to ease the loss and he managed to sell his stolen loot for a staggering sum of close to 3000 gold. The carriage and the horses only brought him 160 gold coins, less than half their value. They belonged to a rather famous household and now¡ªthanks to Hall¡ªa bloody tale made it impossible to sell them in a civilized part of Bredon. Satisfied, he looked at the amount of money he had gathered. Almost 8000 gold. A mind-boggling sum. ¡°Good, now that this is done, I have something more for you.¡± Hall said as he grabbed several pages and documents from his inventory. ¡°This should prove the existence of the Cattle Hunt and implicate the royalty.¡± While Jorn¡¯s expression darkened, he barely reacted. Shep¡¯s eyes however widened. He clenched his fist and gritted his teeth. ¡°We have something.¡± Jorn said as he lay his hand on the old warrior¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Finally, we have something.¡± Shep nodded and breathed in deeply to calm down. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Demons of the past.¡± He explained to Hall. The pages disappeared in Jorn¡¯s pockets. ¡°This will be of great help convincing those who are loyal to the king.¡± The merchant said.
Quest: The Running Man ¨C Part 2
Quest complete You decided to give the evidence connecting the royal family and the cattle hunt to the merchant Jorn and the resistance. Rewards: Items Increased support among the populace.
¡°I have something for you.¡± Jorn said. ¡°Let¡¯s call it a little reward for your effort.¡± He placed a small bag on the counter and motioned Hall to take it. ¡°Thank you.¡± Hall grabbed the pouch. ¡°I¡¯ll be off then.¡± When he approached the stairs in the back of the store, Shep grabbed his shoulder and gave him an intense stare. ¡°Before you come here next time, visit me in the orphanage. It¡¯s important.¡± He whispered. ¡°Now get going and be careful down there.¡± Nodding, Hall descended the stairs. The old wood creaked under his weight. He ignored the barrels and half-filled shelves and went straight for the grandfather clock at the end of a long hallway. I doubt it¡¯s a good idea to steal from those guys, at least not yet. Nothing really valuable anyway. Well, let¡¯s see what we got. Only a single lamp illuminated the dim cellar, but Hall navigated the sizeable basement easily and peeked into the bag he received.
Smoke Bomb (medium)
Quality:MagicType:Consumable
Creates a large amount of smoke. Impedes sight and scent.
Flash Bomb (medium)
Quality:MagicType:Consumable
Creates a large explosion of light and sound. Impedes sight and hearing. Causes confusion and disorientation.
The bag contained five of each. Hall took out the small, grey balls and placed them in his inventory. They formed two stacks with the number five in the top right. ¡°You should be careful with them.¡± Moira mentioned. ¡°Those can be useful, but they can harm you as much as your enemy.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m quite proficient with¡­ similar devices.¡± He assured her with a smile. ¡°Anyway, this looks like a safe spot. I have something to take care of, so I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± --------------------------- Can¡¯t believe I¡¯m doing this. After a quick nap and a shower, he took a peek in the mirror. He almost expected to see pale skin and dark veins around his glowing eyes. Instead, his somewhat tired face greeted him. Unsure of what to do, he fiddled with his hair and changed into another shirt. For Frank, clean clothes usually equaled good clothes. And while he could determine a weapon by sound alone, the facets of fashion always eluded to him. Shrugging, he put on a pair of dark jeans and a black button down shirt. I think I lost a few pounds, good thing there¡¯ll be free food. When he left his apartment, the sun had long disappeared behind the horizon. He put on a woolen hat he kept in the pocket of the grey leather jacket he bought with his first salary. At least no snow fell as he stepped into the cold evening. He walked past other apartment buildings and a few smaller shops and restaurants that brimmed with customers. Some picked up food after work, others spent a nice evening with friends. Soon he arrived at the university. A few figures strolled in the darkness, but nobody bothered him. An AI, together with security staff, surveyed the grounds at all times. Today, additional personnel patrolled the area, just to be sure. The ID he carried, identified him as a student. But any unauthorized visitors would be dealt with¡ªsilently. Frank had to admire whoever transformed the cafeteria of the university into a first class party location. He passed numerous cast iron torches that lit the way to the large gothic style building. Floodlights illuminated its front and gave it the impression of an almost divine place. Contrary to that, the people on the inside carried relaxed smiles and danced enthusiastically. Students forgot exams and classes and enjoyed themselves. Electronic dance music assaulted him when Frank entered the party. Dazzling light shows drew pictures and patterns on the walls as they followed the melody. Frank greeted a few guys he knew, ignored others and headed straight for the bar. The invitation said free drinks and he intended to exploit that offer. ----------------------- He found himself a nice place in a somewhat quiet corner. Three full and two empty bottles of beer and a stack of pizza slices showed his intentions for the evening. He chewed on a mouthful of cheese and salami when two people sat down on the opposite side of the table. Tom, one of his few friends, greeted him with a wide grin. ¡°You actually came! Awesome!¡± His breath carried the scent of cherry and vodka. ¡°But you¡¯re so late. We¡¯ve been here for hours.¡± Frank raised an eyebrow but chuckled at the sight before him. ¡°It¡¯s not even ten yet.¡± He poked at Tom¡¯s head. ¡°What happened here?¡± The boy drew back and protected his brown hair with his hands. ¡°That¡¯s the latest fashion you know.¡± He wrinkled his nose and wiped his palms on his trousers. ¡°Alright, might have gone overboard with the hair gel.¡± Frank pointed at Levi who sat silently beside him and only nodded. His smile was even wider than Tom¡¯s and his usually pale face was flushed red. ¡°What happened there?¡± Tom just waved him off. ¡°Might have spiked his juice a bit. Experiments you know. We are scientists damn it.¡± He said and slammed his fist on the table. Taking another sip of his beer, Frank shook his head while chuckling. ¡°Try to explain that to your mum.¡± His friend, who wore an expensive three piece suit that looked a bit too classy for him, paled slightly. ¡°Guess I haven¡¯t thought it through yet.¡± Shrugging, he snatched one of Frank¡¯s bottles and drank. ¡°Man, I don¡¯t get how you can drink that.¡± He grimaced. ¡°It¡¯s so bitter and not yummy at all.¡± Again, Frank only sighed and took his beer back. ¡°You do the same thing every time. Shouldn¡¯t you know by now that you don¡¯t like it?¡± ¡°I told you. I¡¯m a scientist and as a scientist I need to do experiments.¡± Tom said, slurring his speech a little. ¡°And I won¡¯t be stopped by petty bitterness.¡± ¡°But you know what Einstein said about doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result, right?¡± Frank asked. Nodding in slow motion, Tom raised a finger. ¡°Ah yeah, but at some point I might like it.¡± He said while standing up, stroking his chin and pointing at the ceiling. ¡°On that day, I have to ask myself: Did the beer change or did I change?¡± ¡°That¡¯s really deep,¡± Frank said and shoved another slice of pizza in his mouth. ¡°Yes, I have a very deep personality.¡± Tom agreed, and grabbed his little brother. ¡°And now excuse me good sir. I have to get this guy on the dance floor. With his cuteness he will be the perfect bait for the ladies.¡± ¡°Not only a deep personality.¡± Frank said. ¡°Also a great brother.¡± Levi stumbled behind the persistent Tom who raised his hand. ¡°You know it.¡± He yelled before turning around again. ¡°Oh and a little down the corridor there,¡± His friend pointed at the doors close to his table, ¡°are some people you might want to avoid. Jane, Steve and their gang are getting ready for an interview or something. Cameras, microphones, the whole nine yards. No idea what it¡¯s about though. ¡°Oh well. Don¡¯t sit around here all night ok? See you.¡± Frank furrowed his brows. ¡°Interesting.¡± He mumbled. A few minutes later he took the last sip of his beer and chewed on the final slice of pizza. Well-fed and tipsy, he felt rather comfortable and though he wished for a different kind of music, he didn¡¯t mind too much. The relaxed atmosphere and the warmth in his limbs weighed on his eyelids. After his life in the army he almost had too much time on his hands and so he had been generally well rested, something that couldn¡¯t be said about the last weeks. Though he finally felt some sense of accomplishment again. No, not only accomplishment, the excitement of a challenge. A goal to achieve. At the university he experienced interesting subjects and some classes demanded a lot of his dedication. Yet, he never even considered the possibility of failure. He studied, worked hard and put in the necessary effort. It was only himself he had to blame if he wouldn¡¯t get the result he expected. But a different kind of challenge awaited him in Novus Vita. Not only couldn¡¯t he grasp the situation he was in, the whole world around him was a mystery that waited to be discovered. He hadn¡¯t been this excited in a long time. After he got himself another beer, he headed for the exit. He reached for the door, but stopped himself. Scratching his head, he sighed and turned around. Frank always had trouble letting go of grudges. It¡¯s wasn¡¯t his most attractive quality, but he liked to call it persistence. Even now, years later, he still remembered the name of everyone who ever paid him too little, who smacked him or who just did something bad while he was around to see it. Of course most he forgave, some he didn¡¯t care about, but a select few¡ªthose either recent or bad enough¡ªhe couldn¡¯t let go. It was one of the curses he carried with him. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Maybe it was the injustice of losing his parent. Perhaps his experiences in the following years affected him in that regard. But Frank always felt that everybody should get what they deserved. Be it good or bad. And if fate, or karma, or god wouldn¡¯t interfere, maybe people had to. That¡¯s why humanity created laws and a system to punish those who overstepped them. So Frank took another sip and walked through the doors Tom pointed out. When they shut behind him, the music¡¯s volume dropped considerably. The transparent glass walls he passed were white during the day and separated the class rooms. He preferred them clear though. Less constricting. Down the hallway a group of people surrounded a circle of chairs that was illuminated by spotlights. A handful of cameras shot different angles of the scene as a young reporter interviewed Steve, Jane and the other three. Except for Anna, whose face might as well be carved from ice, they all carried satisfied smiles. Cheerfully, they answered the girl¡¯s questions and talked among themselves. The people around the group listened closely. Their eyes sparkled as they watched the live interview. Most obviously admired Steve¡¯s group and their faces glowed being allowed to witness their rise to a bit more fame. Frank was surprised nobody stopped him when he mingled with the spectators. He had seen many of them at some point during his days at the university, but never had bothered to learn their names. Though he spotted some unhappy faces among the crowd. They don¡¯t look too glad to be here. Guess they were dragged along by their friends. The interview approached its end as they discussed the current affairs of Roselake and the kingdom of Bredon. --------------------------------- Alexa hid her annoyance under a false smile. First those brats delayed the interview for hours. Then the scheduled reporter had spent the wait by chugging one drink after the other until he fell asleep. At least the crowd of students around them had thinned out. She had to swallow several curses when one of the producers pinned a microphone on the collar of her grey business jacket and told her she had to do the interview. Now she sat on a red leather armchair, the five players to her right and several cameras positioned around them. The interview proceeded without a hitch. The writers prepared the questions beforehand and with some charm and acting, she delivered. ¡°Over the last decades the importance of a virtual presence increased significantly. How do you¡ªas young adults¡ª feel about that?¡± Alexa asked the group. ¡°That is definitely true.¡± The tall, blond boy named Steve answered. His sharp, black suit tightened around his broad shoulders as he picked up the glass in front of him. He chose every single motion and every single word with care. ¡°While it is and always will be important to maintain a presence in the real world, the virtual reality has become almost equally significant. ¡°Relationships, personal or business, can be cultivated no matter where one lives or works. And because no information is ever really lost or forgotten, the pressure, especially on young people, can¡¯t be neglected. ¡°For example, this university, my parents and even future employers could, without too much trouble, follow my every step since birth.¡± Alexa nodded and pretended to be interested in his slick words. Or your daddy puts down a bundle of cash and your white vest stays clean. ¡°What role do games like Novus Vita play in your life then?¡± She asked instead. Now it was the gorgeous girl beside Steve who answered. Alexa had introduced her to her audience as Jane. She brushed her pitch black hair behind her ear and showed a perfect smile. ¡°Honestly, the value of those games can¡¯t be overstated. Novus Vita is only the latest example. Similar games, even if nowhere near as immersive, have existed for as long as I can remember. It is probably one of the few places in this world where you can be free. It is, and I mean this very literally, a second life for a lot of people. The numbers speak for themselves I think.¡± ¡°Yes, they certainly do.¡± Alexa interjected. ¡°The sales of Novus Vita reached 250 million this last weekend and the demand is not slowing down. While we are on the topic, why don¡¯t we talk about the event you¡¯re currently participating?¡± She winked at the group. ¡°Or should I say leading?¡± I think I¡¯m gonna be sick. They all laughed together, except for Anna who was urged to speak by Alexa. ¡°We are currently gathering supporters for our campaign in Roselake.¡± Her brief words caused Alexa to sigh mentally. The girl proved to be a tough nut to crack. No matter the question, the answer remained polite, but blunt. She barely even moved during the whole interview. Her light blond hair that fell over both shoulders, and the ice blue dress only emphasized her somewhat cold words. It also created a severe contrast to the other girl, Jane, whose short, scarlet dress wouldn¡¯t hurt their ratings. Yet together they seemed to still cover all the bases and share their information. When Anna remained silent, the twins picked up where she stopped. Both wore simple, but well made, brown suits and Alexa, who couldn¡¯t tell them apart, avoided using their names. ¡°We are following the king¡¯s request.¡± Either Dirk or Rick¡ªthat much she remembered¡ªsaid. The other one added. ¡°We are to protect the city and keep the peace.¡± They both nodded in sync. ¡°And without revealing anything to your enemies,¡± Alexa continued, ¡°can you tell us a little more?¡± ¡°We are confident in our strength.¡± Steve said. ¡°Not only are many NPC soldiers under our command, we have recruited a lot of players and even a few guilds declared their support. After the king offered us an event quest which we could share, many volunteered.¡± He leaned back and waited for the reporter to ask for more. ¡°How do you respond to accusations that state you¡¯re recruiting chaotic players? There are even rumors of collaborations with chaotic guilds like the Shadow Wraiths.¡± The trace of a shadow fell over Steve¡¯s face, but it disappeared so fast only few even noticed. ¡°Some players made mistakes in their past, that¡¯s only natural. Bredon¡¯s king Malreg announced pardons for those who are prepared to support him, the rightful ruler. Those willing to fight the subversive elements that threaten the peace will be rewarded. I think that¡¯s only fair.¡± Trying to avoid the question, huh? She pushed a bit further. ¡°And what about the general circumstances in Roselake? The book burnings, the inequality between the rich and the poor?¡± Alexa leaned forward and smiled dangerously. -------------------------- That bitch! Steve¡¯s facial muscles tensed up for a second. But one little reporter wouldn¡¯t get him riled up. He was too good for that. Guess I underestimated her. The smiles, the questions and her giggling, from the beginning he assumed she was just another fan. He was wrong. But he remained calm. For days they prepared for the interview. And those questions didn¡¯t come too unexpected. ¡°Are we really allowed to judge that?¡± He asked in return. ¡°This kingdom existed for centuries. We are only guests so far. And I can tell you, while we are protecting the city and its people, others spread death and chaos. So, I think everybody knows we are right.¡± --------------------------- That slick bastard. Of course they all had prepared themselves beforehand. It looked like she had to use something they weren¡¯t ready for. ¡°True, true.¡± She began to set up her question. ¡°Do you know of anybody who could interfere with the success of your event quest?¡± This time Steve hesitated for an instant. No matter his answer, Alexa would follow with another question. He tried to regain control over the flow of the interview. ¡°There are some parties that will try to interfere.¡± He admitted. ¡°Mostly NPCs though. Maybe a few players who could even have quests to stop us. But the game¡¯s forums don¡¯t indicate any coordination that would be necessary to oppose us. The city is under our control and that won¡¯t change.¡± His firm tone left no doubt he believed in his words. ¡°I understand.¡± Alexa said. ¡°But I don¡¯t know if you heard about the latest development. There has been a¡ªlet¡¯s call it disturbance¡ªin your controlled city. It only happened a few hours ago, so you may not know yet.¡± Steve grit his teeth as and narrowed his eyes. ¡°We know of it.¡± He said. ¡°A cowardly attack on low level NPCs in the middle of a snow storm. Hardly something I¡¯d call a slip of control.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Alexa acted surprised. ¡°Our information tells us that the victims were among the noble population that were under protection in their own district. Not only did the perpetrator intrude on guarded ground, he also killed nobles that were presumed to be involved in horrendous crimes.¡± Shaking his head, Steve struggled to keep calm while the others remained silent. ¡°Even in a game there exist laws. Vigilante justice just breads chaos and death. And as I said, whoever did this, won¡¯t be a threat, he doesn¡¯t even have a name.¡± Alexa wouldn¡¯t let up. ¡°Ah, but he already has quite the reputation among the common people. They hail him as a hero who punishes those above the law. And I think you¡¯re wrong in one point. He does have a name.¡± Jane, Steve and the twins exchanged worried glances before the girl asked. ¡°What name?¡± Tension replaced the comfortable atmosphere. A fun, but boring interview finally became exciting. Alexa¡¯s lips showed an impish smile when she answered. ¡°They call him Killchain - The Reaper of Roselake.¡± A laugh erupted from somewhere among the spectators, but due to the spotlights she couldn¡¯t locate its origin. Instead, she enjoyed the twitching in Steve¡¯s face. The others paled but remained silent until their leader cleared his throat and put on a smile. ¡°That¡¯s quite a creative¡ªbe it an exaggerated¡ªtitle. It doesn¡¯t matter, a single person is no threat. But because we want the city to be safe,¡± Steve raised his voice and looked into the camera. ¡°we offer a reward of 500 gold coins to whomever delivers this criminal to the guards so that he can rot in jail for some time.¡± A roar burst from the spectators. Applause and cheers followed their idol¡¯s statement. In this situation it took a lot of effort from Alexa just to keep up her smile. But Steve wasn¡¯t done. His face beamed and he waved to his fans. He enjoyed the attention. ¡°I will personally guarantee,¡± He shouted, ¡°Roselake will remain safe.¡± The cheers grew louder around them as they reacted to his words. Until a single voice cut through the noise. ¡°Roselake will burn!¡± Thank you kind stranger. Alexa didn¡¯t mind the interruption of the interview. Steve included the spectators, so opposition should be expected. He seemed to disagree and his fa?ade cracked for a moment. ¡°Who said that?¡± He yelled. A figure already distanced itself from the crowd and walked down the corridor to the party area. Whoever it was raised an arm and waved, his back turned to them. Despite the distance, his voice reached them. ¡°The one with the matches.¡± Alexa suppressed a giggle while most stared in shock. Nobody tried to stop him. ¡°Things heat up in Roselake.¡± She announced into the camera for the world to see. ¡°We even have something akin to a declaration of war. Will the government keep order or will we see the outbreak of the first civil war in the history of Novus Vita? If you want to know more, keep us company here on Sphinx Gaming TV or look us up online. I wish everyone a good night and as always, keep playing.¡± That was more fun than expected. ------------------------------------- Not a smart move. His emotions got the better of him and he alarmed the enemy of his presence. Not that it mattered. Despite that, Frank grinned as he left the gawking crowd behind. A good shepherd once said, ¡®If you can¡¯t do something smart, do something right¡¯. And it felt right to Frank. Who knows, maybe I got a few people to fight against them. He closed the doors to the hallway behind him, stepped toward the bar and ordered another drink. The evening turned out nicely. -------------------------------------- Anna checked her makeup in the mirror as a girl hugged her from behind. ¡°Calm as always, aren¡¯t you?¡± Jane said. ¡°Well, we went through a bunch of possible questions, so we are prepared. We both look stunning. So I guess there¡¯s really nothing to worry about. Now let¡¯s get some more fans.¡± Jane withdrew from the classroom they used to get ready. Left alone, she let out a sigh. Anna had stopped biting her nails years ago, but today the old habit returned. She even drank two glasses of champagne to calm down. Of course Anna couldn¡¯t tell anybody, but she was nervous. During the interview, her friends answered the questions without a problem. Anna on the other hand stayed brief and blunt. She felt horrible to be so rude, but more than a sentence and her voice gave in. Yet, her expressionless face revealed nothing of her inner turmoil. Only when the interview came to a close, she relaxed. Not everyone among the spectators agreed with them. Steve¡¯s reaction of promising a reward when he was cornered by the reporter invited criticism. That was no surprise. Her eyes widened however, when she saw the figure that walked away. Anna sat in the last chair and few lights obstructed her vision, so she caught a glimpse of him. And though she barely heard his voice, she might have been the only one of the group who recognized Frank. The interview ended with a bang and they retired to the classroom they had used before. ¡°This little punk.¡± Steve slammed his fist on a desk and ripped his tie off. ¡°Did anybody see who that was?¡± They all shook their head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we got our point across¡± Jane put a hand on his shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m more annoyed with that reporter girl. She clearly had it out for us.¡± Steve and the twins agreed. But the interview was over and the damage done. Anna shrugged. ¡°Alright, that was exhausting. I¡¯m getting something to drink and then head home.¡± ¡°Your driver picking you up?¡± Jane asked, a lot less formal than in front of the camera. ¡°Or should I call my own. I won¡¯t stay too long either, it¡¯s rather boring out there.¡± ¡°Thanks, but you know my father. I¡¯m pretty sure a driver has been waiting outside for hours.¡± Anna explained. ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll log in tonight, if not, I¡¯ll see you tomorrow in class. Bye.¡± She didn¡¯t wait for an answer and left the room. Her hands trembled and her heart beat faster than before the interview. A knot formed in her stomach as she walked through the doors to the party in the cantina. Her eyes wandered around the room until she spotted a tall, dark haired figure at the bar. Anna breathed in deeply. Her face was flushed, she approached Frank with firm steps. She intended to do something she hadn¡¯t done in a long time¡ªthe right thing.
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---------------------------------- Author¡¯s Note: Another chapter done, hope you liked it :grin: First I want to thank the people who donated their hard earned money. I¡¯m really grateful to you guys. In return I promise to work especially hard to improve myself as a writer so I¡¯ll prove worthy of your trust. Next time I¡¯d like to mention you by name (first name) as a thank you (if you want to stay anonymous, please write me a PM). If you find any mistakes, have suggestions or criticism, I always have an open ear. My thanks to alex-jnl at this point for proofreading. And as always, please rate, follow and favor, it means a lot! :bye: Chapter 24 - Beyond the dying Light Chapter 24 ¨C Beyond the dying Light The first beer of the evening always tasted best. Frank lifted his seventh bottle off the bar and let the cold lager run down his throat. It still tasted good. Especially in a room warmed by people dancing and enjoying themselves. Fog machines ran on full throttle and lasers painted shapes and pictures onto the moving vapor. The scented smoke covered up the smell of food and spilt drinks. A girl approached from the parting fog. Frank raised an eyebrow when Anna stopped next to him. Though she fidgeted, he didn¡¯t turn toward the girl. He had nothing to say to her. Yet her behavior seemed odd, it irritated him. She scratched her arm, opened her mouth and closed it again. ¡°What is it?¡± Frank sighed. Anna swallowed. She tried to speak, but the music drowned out her voice. Instead, the girl in a pretty blue dress pointed at the door and gave him a pleading look. Seconds passed where Frank observed her with doubt in his eyes. It¡¯s a trap! The large fish head from his favorite classic movie screamed in his mind. Wouldn¡¯t that be too obvious though? Her peculiar behavior threw him off and almost convinced him of her sincerity. Almost. His curiosity got the better of him, but he remained alert when he followed her outside. The cold air assaulted him and he put on the jacket he carried under his arm. ¡°So, what is it?¡± Frank¡¯s words held as much warmth as the snow that fell around them. A thin white blanket covered the ground and their steps left tracks in the untouched surface. Despite her red face, Anna shivered. For a moment he wanted to give her the jacket, but hesitated. Damn manners. Instead, he clenched his fist, sighed and led her towards one of the decorative torches placed outside. ¡°Thank you.¡± Her faint voice barely reached him. Standing behind the flames she seemed different. Smaller, less proud, almost vulnerable. A snowflake about to descend into a fire. Beautiful, but lonely. Frank shook his head to get rid of the image. ¡°I repeat, what is it?¡± He asked, still wary of their surroundings. The girl breathed in deeply. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± She looked at the ground while her face reddened further. Frank raised an eyebrow and stared at her, gaping. ¡°Come again?¡± He must have misunderstood. There was just no way. I didn¡¯t drink that much, did I? He waited for her to continue. ¡°I mean¡­ you know, for what happened¡­¡± Her attempts to apologize ended in a mess. Frank, baffled by her behavior, let her mumble on. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­they wanted to and I simply¡ª.¡± She swallowed hard and clenched her trembling fists. Raising her head, she looked straight into his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry for what we¡ªfor what I¡ªdid to you.¡± After she overcame herself, the words poured out of her. ¡°I just went along with it. I mean, I knew it was wrong, which makes it even worse. I was just so scared. We never talked much before, and you have no reason to trust me. But I¡¯m really sorry.¡± Her mind seemed to catch up with her words as her eyes widened and she lowered her head. Frank remained silent. His cold gaze lingered on her. Seconds passed as Anna stared into the fire that emerged from the cast iron torch before her. Yet no answer put her at ease. With a painful expression she turned around and slowly walked towards a car not too far away. Damn, damn, damn. I¡¯m such a wimp. Frank ruffled his hair and grit his teeth. ¡°Prove it!¡± The girl turned her head and threw him a questioning look. ¡°Prove you¡¯re sorry,¡± Frank explained himself. ¡°We both know, there¡¯s a war coming. You¡¯ll have your chance. Show me you¡¯re sorry. Show me you can be better.¡± A smile lit up her face. ¡°I will.¡± She nodded and hurried to her waiting car. An older man in a dark suit greeted her and opened the door of the black limousine. Frank only sighed as he watched the expensive car drive into the night. Well, that was weird. ----------------------------------- When he finally walked home, Frank decided against logging into Novus Vita and chose to catch up on some sleep. The next day his classes passed by uneventful. Most students suffered from a hangover or just skipped the lectures altogether. Tom and Levi were among the latter. It took a long shower and a hearty meal to get his head straight again. It wasn¡¯t the drinking that proved to be a problem; the early morning messed him up. The clock struck noon when his headache finally disappeared and soon after, he walked home. A faint smile appeared on his face as he enjoyed the cold air and the bright day. The blanket of snow that covered the town reflected the sun and many people spent their time just strolling through the streets. The numerous holiday decorations looked lovely when covered in white. Kids and their parents¡¯ alike savored hot drinks that tasted better in the cold of winter. The atmosphere was certainly festive. Frank sighed and shook his head, his smile slowly dying. The scenes of happy children and families warmed his heart, but at the same time they made it heavy. So he hurried home, lay down into the silver capsule and logged into Novus Vita. ------------------------------------ Almost three ingame days passed since he had left, but the damp basement hadn¡¯t changed. Hall greeted his companions, opened the front of the grandfather clock and stepped into the dark. Hall didn¡¯t know what to expect, but the long corridor before him appeared remarkably plain. A tunnel that led into the unknown. ¡°You should get the map,¡± Moira advised him. ¡°I¡¯m fairly certain I¡¯ve been in this maze before.¡± ¡°Fairly certain?¡± He raised an eyebrow and stepped forward carefully. The darkness around them wasn¡¯t absolute, so he waited until his eyes adjusted to their dim surroundings. ¡°Yes.¡± The grimoire admitted with a small voice. ¡°It has been centuries and yet¡­ I remember being here, but I can¡¯t recall the way. Be careful, it¡¯s only a testament to the danger you may face down here.¡± Hall nodded and grabbed the map from his inventory. ¡°Use map.¡± After he spoke, the paper in his hands emitted bright light and disappeared within seconds. A bell rang and a message window appeared before him.
You can now display the map of Roselake¡¯s Underground Labyrinth
When he called for it, a small map appeared in the top left corner of his field of view. His own position was marked in the middle with a red dot. In an unknown location, darkness would surround him. But thanks to the map he received, countless paths, crossings and stairways were displayed. Hall scratched his head, a confused expression on his face. The number of possible ways was too much. Even though Roselake was the capital and thus a huge town, the labyrinth beneath surpassed it¡ªby far. And only when he zoomed out and took a look at the entire map, he understood the whole picture. Thousands and thousands of crossings, tunnels and paths. Different levels, connected through stairs or holes in the ground. Even large rooms were carved into the stone. Centuries of digging turned the ground beneath Roselake into a nightmare for every city planner. How in the world¡­? Moira interpreted his confused silence correctly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, with this information and the knowledge I have of the surface I should be able to navigate through this place.¡± ¡°Should, huh?¡± Hall sighed. ¡°Well, lead the way then. Show me where to learn about soul weaving.¡± Of course she couldn¡¯t really lead him, but guiding him was the next best thing. While the two discussed their path, Lily concentrated on their surroundings. ¡°Do you hear that?¡± She asked, a strained expression on her face as she listened intently. ¡°Hear what?¡± He turned towards Lily and threw her a curious glance. ¡°Shush.¡± His floating familiar motioned him to hush. Shrugging, he followed her example and focused on the sounds around them. They passed a few junctions already and the silence around them disappeared a while ago. He expected the labyrinth to be quiet as a grave. Instead, a variety of noises surrounded them. Dripping water, scurrying rodents, even the sounds of the city reached their ears. They formed a white noise, not unlike the sound of river. It was difficult¡ªalmost impossible¡ªto pinpoint their source, so Hall didn¡¯t even try. After a minute he shook his head and opened his mouth but Lily¡¯s eyes widened. She moved her hands, telling him to listen. Shrugging, Hall complied. Something was there, something above the noise. He nodded towards Lily and closed his eyes, concentrating on that peculiar sound. Is it¡­? ¡±Voices?¡± Hall suggested, hesitation in his tone. ¡°But I don¡¯t know what they say.¡± Lily nodded and listened for a bit longer. ¡°They are voices, yes. I think they are pleading for help.¡± She pointed toward a crossing ahead and urged him to hurry. ¡°There! Quick now, they sound desperate.¡± Still unsure, Hall followed his familiar. ¡°Tread carefully,¡± Moira warned him. ¡°This labyrinth is more than an aggregation of tunnels and holes.¡± ¡°Of course it is.¡± Hall sighed. His ¡®Soul Perception¡¯ didn¡¯t pick up anything out of the ordinary. Thick walls hindered his skill and all he could sense were insects and rats a few meters ahead and behind. Yet at the edge of his sensory field, something felt¡­ different. Lily, still following the voices, approached the source of the abnormal sensation fast and he ran after her, taking turns, rushing through the dark. But no matter how far they ran, the voices never came closer and the weird feeling remained at the edge of his skill range. ¡°Wait!¡± In the middle of a crossing he stopped their chase. ¡°This is wrong. I don¡¯t think there is anybody.¡± They both cast worried glances into the darkness around them. ¡°You¡¯re probably right,¡± Lily agreed. ¡°But¡­I can still hear them.¡± Hall shook his head, trying to ignore the voices, but now that he knew they were there, they were difficult to push aside. They lost an hour chasing shadows. ¡°Moira, I hope you know where we are, because I certainly don¡¯t.¡± Of course she answered with a snotty comment. ¡°That¡¯s what I expected. And yes, I know where we are, just follow the trickle of water in the cracks of the floor. It flows into the right direction.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± They picked up the pace again. ¡°Moira, what can you see and how?¡± The question just popped into his head after she described the ground. It wasn¡¯t the first time she knew about their surroundings, but he never asked before. ¡°That¡¯s a rather insensitive question to ask a lady.¡± Moira sulked. ¡°It is?¡± He didn¡¯t even have time to look surprised when he stepped into a puddle, lost his footing and fell straight on his face. ¡°God damn it!¡± Lily tried hard not to laugh, but Moira made no attempt to hide her amusement and giggled happily. ¡°Ah, if it isn¡¯t karma.¡± Cursing in silence he got up and tried to clean his front, but only managed to spread mud and dirt to the unblemished parts of his clothes. ¡°Well, if I got my punishment anyway you might as well answer right?¡± ¡°I agree.¡± Her cheerful tone made him frown, but he let her have the win and listened. ¡°I can see everything you see, everything your familiar sees and more. Whatever you perceive, all your senses and hers. Our souls are connected and though I can¡¯t read your thoughts we can communicate telepathically.¡± If a situation required stealth or if they needed to discuss a sensitive topic, he could talk to her through the ingame message system. Still, receiving information on everything he and Lily sensed, no wonder Moira was always on top of things. The three continued their happy banter as they wandered through dark tunnels and walked down several stairs. With each step the temperature around them dropped slightly. At first it was barely noticeable, but soon Hall saw clouds form each time he exhaled. The air tasted like metal and smelled of raw iron and earth. At some point their conversation died down, along with most sounds around them. Only the voices that called for them remained, whispering in the back of Hall¡¯s head. ¡°Are you sure this is the way?¡± Hall trusted Moira¡¯s guidance, he just hoped she might have made a mistake. But her response left no doubt in him. ¡°No, this is the right path. It¡¯s probably one of the oldest parts of the labyrinth. Yet, I don¡¯t remember it like this. It shouldn¡¯t be this cold. It shouldn¡¯t be this¡ªfor the lack of a better word¡ªeerie.¡± So far the maze felt just like another dungeon, but the low ceiling, covered in icicles, and the frozen walls turned it into a cold grave. Hall carried torches with him, but the walls emitted a faint glow that allowed him to see. No, not the walls. Unconsciously he rubbed his hands together as he examined the source of the light. ¡°Runes.¡± Though they were covered by a layer of ice, he could still make them out. More than that, he could read them¡ªfor the most part. ¡°Lily, look at that. Aren¡¯t those Sorian runes? The same as in the tower we met in.¡± The fabric of her white dress, though incorporeal, fell like silk. Hall shivered at the sight of her thin clothes. Yet the cold didn¡¯t bother her. She didn¡¯t even seem to notice as her fingers brushed over the frozen wall. ¡°Similar, yes, very much so. But not the same. They look, I don¡¯t know, cruder?¡± Lily muttered while she inspected the runes carefully. ¡°They feel different too. The light they emit, it¡¯s not as threatening as I remember. But they are Sorian, no doubt.¡± ¡°Correct.¡± Moira interjected. ¡°And they are old. They¡¯ve already been old when I came here centuries ago. I think their purpose was to prot¡ª¡± A bloodcurdling scream emerged from the darkness behind them. Hall had deactivated his ¡®Soul Perception¡¯ hours ago and now froze at the horrifying screech. Luckily, the unknown enemy triggered his passive skill ¡®Watching over me¡¯. Time slowed down and an instant before the blade of a rusty sword penetrated his chest, Hall dropped to the floor.
-160hp You have resisted Shadow Sickness
The jagged blade left a shallow wound on his left shoulder. Though the damage was surprisingly high for the minor cut, Hall had no time to think about it. The dim runes around them exploded with blinding light and turned the dark corridor into bright day. Another scream, this time filled with pain, emerged from the figure above him. The skeleton arm of his attacker dropped its weapon and it fell to its knees. Hall felt no heat from the light in the tunnel, but thick, black smoke rose from his enemy. A torn, dark cloak, charcoal rags and battered metal armor covered its large body. But in mere seconds the rune¡¯s light burned the skeletal attacker and bones, along with cloth, crumbled and left nothing but ash behind. ¡°They are getting closer every year.¡± A voice came from the other direction. Hall turned towards it, but the light around them disappeared together with the attacker and the tunnel seemed darker than before. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Hall asked, his hand on the grip of his sword. His eyes needed a few more seconds to adjust and he couldn¡¯t make out the man who spoke. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s a surprise.¡± The man continued as he approached Hall. ¡°I welcome you, young Harbinger, in the depth of the labyrinth, in the remnants of the Sorian civilization.¡± He heard the rustling of dry fabric and saw the faint outlines of a figure bowing. ¡°Wait, how do you know? And remnants? I thought they were all gone?¡± Hall asked in confusion. ¡°And what was that, the light, the skeleton?¡± He swallowed his next words and forced himself to calm down. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The man before him chuckled. ¡°You have a lot of questions. But that¡¯s good. I like curiosity. For now follow me. The cold is hurting my old bones.¡± Without waiting for Hall, the stranger turned and walked into the darkness. ¡°You should go after him.¡± Moira advised him. ¡°If I¡¯m correct, and I usually am, he¡¯s one of the keeper.¡± Still wary, Hall followed the man deeper into the labyrinth. ¡°Keeper?¡± ¡°Yes. I came here with the last harbinger. They gather and protect the knowledge of the Sorian tribes that once roamed Bredon and its neighboring countries,¡± Moira explained while they walked through frozen tunnels. ¡°Down here nobody disturbs them because it¡¯s almost impossible to find. Even your map has no information about this place. But I still remember most¡ªwell, some¡ªof it.¡± ¡°Comforting.¡± Hall furrowed his brow. He gave up on memorizing their path long ago. They hadn¡¯t followed the man for more than fifteen minutes and he already lost track of the turns they made. The man himself remained silent and ignored Hall¡¯s questions. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. No matter how long they walked, the same string of runes covered the walls. Throughout this level of the labyrinth they seemed to be the only source of light. After a few steps the alignment of runes always repeated, in every corridor, on every wall. Twenty-eight runes. No exception.
If -- will not bow to kindness, it will bow to fire.
He couldn¡¯t understand the second word and neither could Lily. ¡°It¡¯s as if new runes were carved over older ones. It says Nephesh-Ra,¡± Moira told them. ¡°But I don¡¯t know what it means.¡± They traveled further through the dim maze. Sometimes the ice on the walls and ceiling broke and reflected the light from the runes. Flickering glow and dancing rays of light. Flames frozen in time. On those rare occasions the icy hell showed a fascinating, even beautiful side. After another hour they finally left the tunnel and entered a large cavern. Thousands and thousands of runes covered walls and ceiling and plunged the chamber into a dazzling glow. Though far from bright, he could see the other side of the dome-shaped room or at least the runes on the wall. Several hooded figures that looked like the man who led them, turned towards the small group. Hall sucked in cold air between his teeth, quickly activated his ¡®Soul Perception¡¯ and grabbed the invisible chains. He only relaxed when he sensed no malice from the group. Quite the opposite. Their souls carried no darkness, not even a trace of sin. The most peculiar thing though was the shape of their soul. As if fused with their bodies he could see glowing bones and skin. No, not fused. They were the same, one being. ¡°What are you?¡± Hall murmured. Everybody, except for their guide, continued with their work. Some carried books, others wrote new ones or carved characters into stone and wood. ¡°We are Nephesh-Tobh, young Harbinger.¡± His face lay in the shadows when he finally broke the silence. ¡°We are what is left of the once powerful Sorian people. Caretaker of knowledge and protectors of secrets.¡± He raised his arms and a humorless laugh accompanied his motion. ¡°Truly, we are the cemetery keepers of a once glorious civilization that now rots in this crypt. Once spread over thousands and thousands of miles, dozens of tribes in every corner of this kingdom and the bordering ones. Our magic was powerful and sought after. But our own blindness, our greed and the envy of others caused the downfall of the Sorian people. But I¡¯m digressing. Though we are one, call me Shom. It¡¯s easier that way.¡± ¡°And how do you know what I am?¡± Hall had a hundred questions but forced himself to be patient. ¡°I can see it.¡± Shom said as if it would explain everything. But Hall didn¡¯t give up that fast. ¡°How? Nobody else noticed it and in this darkness?¡± ¡°You¡ªbetter than most¡ªshould know we don¡¯t need eyes to see.¡± With a sigh he lifted the hood off his head. Lily gasped and covered her mouth. Even Hall had to swallow hard. If he hadn¡¯t seen Shom¡¯s soul, he would grasp for his weapon. A hairless skull, covered by thin, grey skin stared at him from empty eye-sockets. Narrow lips couldn¡¯t disguise the broken teeth in his mouth. The ashen cloak hid nothing but bones and dead skin. ¡°I know what you are Harbinger. I also know about your companions. A familiar and the same grimoire that was here before yet now bound. How very intriguing.¡± Shom snickered without a tongue. ¡°And you are not the first of your kind I met.¡± His voice grew colder. ¡°No, not I, not this body, but we. The Nephesh-Tobh always had a good relationship with most harbingers, but especially Death¡¯s. Until your predecessor that is.¡± ¡°My predecessor?¡± Hall almost missed something important. ¡°Wait, other harbingers?¡± ¡°Of course there are others. But because of the Sorian magic¡ªits connection to the soul¡ªwe have always been close to death. In the past.¡± His tone indicated he wanted to move on, but Hall needed to know more. ¡°What happened?¡± He wanted to avoid aggravating Shom. Hall didn¡¯t know enough about the bizarre¡ªbe it pure¡ªsoul and the group in the cavern. All he sensed was that they were vastly more powerful than himself. Angering them sounded like a bad idea. His intimacy with them seemed low too, so they wouldn¡¯t tell him too much. ¡°What was done, was done. Let¡¯s just say things didn¡¯t go well, for all of us.¡± His fragile hand drew a line in the air. The topic was done. ¡°And don¡¯t ask about the other harbingers. It¡¯s not my place to tell you. Now speak, why are you here?¡± Hall scratched his head. Didn¡¯t the guy say he liked curiosity? ¡°I¡¯m here to learn about soul weaving,¡± Hall stated with a firm voice. The hooded figures around them stopped their movements for a moment and Shom¡¯s eyeless gaze lingered on him. ¡°Soul weaving? Yes, you already have found central pieces of its heritage.¡± The frail man pointed at Hall¡¯s weapons and the amulet around his neck. ¡°But certainly you don¡¯t expect us to simply offer you one of the greatest secrets of the Sorian tribes?¡± ¡°For souls as pure as theirs, they sure don¡¯t act very welcoming.¡± Moira mumbled in the back of Hall¡¯s head. ¡°For now, can you tell me what exactly soul weaving is?¡± Hall decided to start small. Shom hesitated, but nodded. ¡°Soul weaving¡ªat the beginning¡ªallows you to use your soul energy to temporarily connect things already in tune with your soul. The higher the rank, the stronger this bond and the less strict the condition for the bonding itself. Among other things. But know, control over soul energy on a deep level is a powerful, but dangerous thing. You should be certain if you strive for this ability.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll deal with the fallout,¡± stated Hall. ¡°But what would it take for you to teach me?¡± Shom scratched his chin. A sound as if he rubbed two pieces of paper together. ¡°There are still countless Sorian artifacts scattered in the world. In the wrong hands they can create havoc. Enslave souls, corrupt or bind them. As you can imagine it¡¯s difficult for us to leave this place.¡± He shrugged. ¡°Currently there¡¯s a more pressing issue.¡± The thin man gestured them to follow. He led Hall and his companions past high shelves filled with books, vials and a number of odd artifacts. Shom grabbed a map from a pile of documents and spread it on the table. ¡°This is the level of the maze we¡¯re on. But only few know there are passages to mines, to caves and dungeons all over Bredon, hundreds of miles away. We used them to gather the Sorian heritage left in the world.¡± His voice grew heavier. ¡°Remember the thing that attacked you before? We call those revenants.¡± ¡°Hard to forget.¡± Hall nodded. ¡°Is that what Nephesh-Ra means? Revenant?¡± The frail figure sighed again. Where he seemed like a monster before, he now looked incredibly tired. ¡°Well, revenant is just that special type of enemy. They are Nephesh-Ra, but that¡¯s not what it means,¡± Shom explained. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. This is difficult to explain, it¡¯s been centuries since any of us used your language.¡± Hall watched the keeper add a heavy piece of wood to the fireplace behind him. ¡°Then what does it mean? I couldn¡¯t translate it and neither could my companions.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not surprised.¡± For a moment Shom stared into the flames as they devoured the log, but left the ice on the walls untouched. ¡°The Nephesh are¡­different¡ªunnatural maybe. Honestly, we aren¡¯t sure. The Sorian researched the soul further than anybody. Obviously. But a lot of it was lost over time. ¡°The soul as you know it is something separate from flesh, from your mortal shell. Yet one of our tribes managed to fuse the two. A soul and its body became one. A unity, one being. The Nephesh were born. It only worked if a soul was forcibly purified and enhanced. The death toll was enormous. Immense power and a long life came with it, but the price was high.¡± He stretched his arms towards them. What little of his flesh remained, decayed under the crumbling skin. Like twigs about to snap at the slightest touch. Lily soon averted her eyes, but Hall¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t wander. ¡°So how is all that connected to the revenants?¡± Shom covered his arms again and returned to the desk. ¡°They are Nephesh. Just like us. Their souls are fused with their body.¡± Hall raised an eyebrow. ¡°Wait, aren¡¯t Nephesh supposed to be pure?¡± The skin tore around Shom¡¯s joints as he clenched his fists. But the wounds disappeared when he opened his hands and put them on the table. He shook his head slowly. There was pain in his voice. ¡°They are. You haven¡¯t looked at him have you? They are as pure as we are. Pure darkness. Pure sin. They don¡¯t even have a mind of their own. Only the desire to destroy.¡± ¡°Are they created by Sorian magic too?¡± Shom flinched at the question. But Hall needed the information. ¡°We don¡¯t know. We had problems with corrupted creatures before, but something like them. Something like the Nephesh-Ra.¡± He shook his head again. ¡°No. They appeared a few centuries ago when¡ª.¡± For a moment Hall felt a reproachful glare. ¡°Anyway. Ever since then we fought a losing battle. And today we lost the last exit from this level of the maze.¡± Wait, then I¡¯m stuck? Well, worst case I still have my respawn point. If a player died, he would have the option to revive at the next graveyard or at one of the spawn points he chose beforehand. Reassured, Hall focused on the conversation again. ¡°What about the runes? I saw their effect, shouldn¡¯t they keep you safe?¡± ¡°They were enough before the Nephesh-Ra appeared. Then we had to change them. But they are fueled by our own strength. Only two centuries ago there were hundreds of Nephresh-Tobh. There are less than two dozen left and we still had to give up most tunnels.¡± He breathed in deeply. ¡°I doubt we¡¯ll survive more than a year. There are just too many of them and too few of us.¡± His head hung deep, his shoulder slumped. He had resigned himself to defeat. They all did and just performed their tasks without hope for salvation. ¡°That¡¯s where I come in?¡± Hall guessed. Lily, fascinated by the cavern and its contents, wandered off during the explanation, but remained in hearing distance. Despite their knowledge of her, the hooded men either couldn¡¯t see his familiar or ignored her. ¡°Correct,¡± Shom confirmed. ¡°There aren¡¯t many left with grasp over soul energy. In exchange for your help, we¡¯ll teach soul weaving. What do you say?¡±
Quest: Man in the Box
You are trapped in a maze together with the Nephesh-Tobh. They are the keeper of Sorian heritage and stand at the brink of extinction. Find and defeat the darkness that threatens to overwhelm them. Difficulty: D+ Quest requirements: None Rewards: Skill Soul Weaving Failure: the last Nephesh-Tobh dies
¡°That¡¯s a tall order.¡± Still, he needed the skill. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do it.¡± Hall agreed.
Quest accepted
A flicker of hope showed on the Nephesh¡¯s face. ¡°Good. I marked the location where the first Ra showed up.¡± He held the map towards Hall who grabbed and used it without putting it away first.
Your map of Roselake¡¯s Underground Labyrinth has been updated
¡°But be careful.¡± Shom warned him. ¡°Revenants are only the first, and weakest enemies you will encounter.¡± Hall looked around the cavern and his gaze stuck to the myriad of books. Despite the ice and cold they seemed unscathed. ¡°Do you have some information for me? About the maze, about its obstacles? It would help a lot in supporting the Nephesh-Tobh.¡± Hall¡¯s words carried truth, but they also hid selfishness. Knowledge would help Moira to grow and getting the same books on the surface could be impossible. Hall¡¯s low intimacy caused Shom to hesitate. But he groaned and nodded. He needed Hall to succeed. ¡°Very well. I¡¯ll give you what we know about the labyrinth.¡± Though nobody called for him, another man, face and body covered, approached them. He carried a small notebook, more of a journal than a tome. ¡°This is one of our treasures. It is connected to the magic that protects our library. You can read what we allow you to access from anywhere as long as this place¡ªthese books¡ªexist.¡± Good thing I asked. Hall hoped to hold on to the book and maybe get the permission to more knowledge. But he kept his mouth shut¡ªfor now. Dravan, the one who still held part of Lily¡¯s soul, and his army of darkness. The Sorian artifacts in the world. His own stained soul. Hall had so many questions. But the Nephesh-Tobh would tell him more if he finished the quest. So, with a smile, he accepted the offered journal. ¡°Identify,¡± he murmured.
Linked Pocket Book (connected)
Type:Book
Quality:Rare
An old journal, magically linked to the library of the Nephesh-Tobh, protectors of Sorian knowledge. Effects: Access <1% of the library Requirements: Permission by the Nephesh-Tobh
Hall never heard about anything like it. Moira needed knowledge, but he couldn¡¯t carry hundreds of books while he traveled. Libraries would tie him to one place and he would lose too much time. But if there were other books, other items, that allowed him the access to knowledge from afar, he needed to look into it. Though his grimoire didn¡¯t say anything, he felt her excitement. She suffered most from her lack of strength. ¡°Thank you for this gift. I¡¯ll put it to good use.¡± He barely managed to suppress a wide grin. The inconspicuous notebook, bound in plain, brown leather, pages sticking out, wandered into his inventory. ¡°I¡¯ll be going then.¡± Shom followed him to the exit of the cavern and waved as Hall stepped into the dim corridor. Before entering it, he turned around and casually, as if unimportant, he asked. ¡°The voices in the maze, do you know anything about them?¡± ¡°No.¡± Shom sounded surprised and concerned. ¡°We rarely leave here nowadays, but I can¡¯t say we heard or saw anything.¡± Interesting. Hall scratched his cheek. Despite their extensive knowledge, they didn¡¯t know. And he doubted they would lie. So he shrugged and, breathing in deeply, raised a hand and waved goodbye. The light of the cavern soon disappeared and Shom¡¯s parting words disturbed the silent dreariness. ¡°You are entering the darkness. May your soul¡¯s light guide you, Harbinger.¡± A shiver ran down Hall¡¯s spine. The Nephesh-Tobh didn¡¯t expect him to succeed. But he didn¡¯t plan to fail. He had one week left until all hell would break loose in Roselake. His current strength wasn¡¯t enough. He needed more.
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------------------------------------- Author¡¯s Note: Hey guys, Hope you enjoyed the new chapter. Sorry it took so long, the last weeks have been insane. Work kept piling up and I simply didn¡¯t have the time to sit down and write. I¡¯ll try my best to get the next chapter done faster. Well, after I put in the donations button, a few of you asked me what I plan to do with the money. I kind of plan to get a real cover art at some point. If I split the fiction up in more than one volume, I might need two or three. It would also literally buy me some time I can put into writing and maybe get stuff done a bit faster. So while we¡¯re at it, I¡¯d like to thank the guys who donated so far: Brian, Jonathan, Martijn, Thomas, Fernando, Theodore, Kevin and Thomas again, thanks a lot, you guys are awesome :D I¡¯d also like to thank those who keep making suggestions and point out mistakes, that¡¯s really great :) And as always, please rate, follow and favor, it means a lot Until next time :bye: Chapter 25 - Black Winter Day Chapter 25 ¨C Black Winter Day Hall panted heavily. He evaded the blow of a two-handed sword, ducked under bone claws swung at his face and thrust his own chipped blade into the revenant¡¯s chest. The shadow hardly twitched. Steel proved ineffective against the Nephesh-Ra. His soul energy did little more than slow them down. When he poured it into his weapon, it cut deeper, scorching their bones, but that didn¡¯t stop them. Worse, his strength seeped out of him at an alarming rate. Every time his energy burned ashen flesh and bones, it was consumed by darkness, leaving him weakened. So, instead of large amounts of soul energy, he only used enough to penetrate the skin and activated ¡®Down with the Sickness¡¯. An atrocious screech left the jagged lips of the monster before him when bright light poured from Hall¡¯s sword. The health bar above his enemy¡¯s head dropped, but his aim lay somewhere else. ¡®Down with the Sickness¡¯ could cleanse souls and against a Nephesh-Ra it was a brutal attack that left it stunned for precious moments. Glowing chains shot from the ground and tied down its limbs. It could easily rip apart a single mana shackle. Once stunned though, Lily could bind it long enough for Hall¡¯s final attack. He put away his sword and dagger and grabbed hold of the large scythe blade he carried with him. Without hesitation, he rammed the dark metal into the revenant. As if impaling its natural enemy, the scythe devoured the struggling Nephesh in seconds. The high pitched screams soon ceased and silence returned to the maze.
You have leveled up!
Hall sat down, exhausted and bruised. The scythe blade on his lap felt heavy. He leveled up twice since he began fighting in the labyrinth, but the hours he spent battling the Nephesh-Ra took their toll. The first encounters were brutal and he almost died several times. Their fast strikes ripped his equipment to shreds and their high damage robbed him of potions and food. His chipped blades bore witness to how long it took him to find a strategy against them. ¡°Damn it! If this goes on, we won¡¯t make it till the end of the day.¡± Hall slammed his palm against the frozen wall. The durability of his armor had dropped by half and his sword didn¡¯t fare much better. ¡°Well, even if you had to fight naked, you¡¯d still have your chains.¡± Lily sat beside him and giggled at the picture of an exposed Hall swinging his chains. Hall sighed but smiled when he saw her happy expression. ¡°Sure, but don¡¯t forget it¡¯s really cold down here.¡± He refrained from using his chains in the narrow passages of the maze. And because they were fueled by his soul energy, every contact with the Nephesh-Ra drained his strength. ¡°Harbinger, let her read. Lily, could you continue please?¡± Moira asked. What¡¯s with the difference in tone? But he understood her impatience. She could finally grow. Unfortunately, she didn¡¯t have a body yet, so somebody needed to read for her. Soon after they left the cavern, Lily had begun to read aloud from the ledger they got. Hall had hoped to gain a few points in intelligence. But while he could read the ledger himself, it was different when he only heard the Sorian language. Especially when Lily read it at ten times the speed he was comfortable with while he fought against enemies around level 60. So his familiar read in silence and Moira with her. At least it allowed them to bond. Hall scratched the back of his head. Their progress had been rough, his fighting style messy. Most of his skills had little to no effect on the Nephesh-Ra. They knew no fear, the strength of their soul¡ªtheir unity of body and soul¡ªrivaled his own and they threw themselves at him without regard for their lives. In the beginning, the battles were few and far between, but as they advanced further into the dreary tunnels, more and more revenants showed up. By now, he could defeat one with relative ease. More though would push him to the brink of death. Of course he always kept ¡®Velvet Thorns¡¯ up, as well as the buffs¡ªthe positive effects¡ªhe gained from Lily¡¯s skills. They were most effective during the song, but even after she completed it, he still received a stat increase for several minutes. A slower progress would be safer, but his foes and allies prepared a battle somewhere on the surface above him. He needed to be as strong as possible when facing off against the king¡¯s forces. And then, there were more personal reasons. He breathed in deeply, took a sip from his canteen and pushed himself from the ground. ¡°Enough rest!¡± Hall put the attribute points he gained into strength and agility and looked over his stats. He really wanted to use the ring he got from Bathory¡ªor rather from her husband. Looks like I have miles to go before I sleep. Lily followed him as they pushed through the darkness. The continuous usage of ¡®Soul Meets Body¡¯ and ¡®Soul Perception¡¯ kept their mana pool well below full. It was a risk, but a calculated and necessary one. Hall let his senses reach into the darkness ahead and made sure they wouldn¡¯t be surprised. Because he focused entirely on the enemies ahead, he almost missed the change in the faceless voices that accompanied them. First they intensified, but soon their volume dropped and minutes later they disappeared completely. Now only silence remained. Even the glowing runes barely gave off any light and the cold became worse with every step they took. Whatever they were approaching, it had driven its claws deep into the labyrinth. ¡°Something¡¯s coming!¡± Lily put the ledger away and turned incorporeal again. ¡°It¡¯s not a revenant.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Hall strained his eyes to pierce through the darkness. ¡°I can¡¯t sense it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± Lily said. ¡°And it¡¯s not good.¡± He pulled his sword and infused the chain wrapped around his left arm with energy. It would at least serve him as a shield. Seconds later he sensed it too. ¡°You¡¯re right, it¡¯s not a revenant, but¡ª¡° He didn¡¯t finish. The enemy barely entered his range of perception and the passive effect of ¡®Watching over me¡¯ triggered. Time around him slowed down, but he barely managed to cross his blade and chain clad arm in front of him. Fast¡­ Without a sound, a figure, tall and covered in thin grey cloth, shot out of the darkness. No, not cloth. Its edges merged with the surroundings. Shadows drifting in and out of existence. Even his ¡®Soul Perception¡¯ picked up nothing but a fleeting form of black. Hall caught little more than a glimpse of it before the figure crashed into him.
-109hp
He put in all his weight, but the impact drove the air from his lungs and almost broke through his defense. Hall grit his teeth and a deafening roar left his throat. His skill ¡®Blast Tyrant¡¯ echoed through the dark passages and cracked the thick ice around them. Icicles fell from the ceiling and shattered on his leather armor, causing minor damage. Hall put his strength into his sword and pushed the monster away with a wide swing. But his blade passed through the figure as if he tried cutting a shadow. ¡°It¡¯s a specter!¡± Moira yelled, alarmed. ¡°The ledger contained information on them. Be careful. They are Nephesh-Ra, but between level 70 and 90. Not only are they almost immune to physical damage, they¡ª¡° ¡°Damn it, how do I kill them?¡± Hall screamed back as formless claws ripped through his flesh. His health already dropped below half. He could take on humans or animals of the specter¡¯s level with ease, but the Nephesh-Ra were different. They rendered many of his attacks useless. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± She sounded panicked. ¡°Try the scythe?¡± Hall blocked another blow. ¡°This thing is way too fast and tears through Lily¡¯s chains as if they were nothing. Damn it, shouldn¡¯t I have better skills for this? Isn¡¯t this the task of the Harbinger of Death? What is Grim thinking?¡± His sword pierced the specter¡¯s chest, but even infused with his energy, it dealt no damage. Instead, it only reduced his own strength as the Nephesh-Ra devoured his power. ¡®Down with the Sickness¡¯ pushed the monster back for the fraction of second, but it seemed more surprised than wounded. ¡°Grim wouldn¡¯t allow you to encounter these kind of enemies this early. Souls fused with flesh. Becoming one being. They are way too resistant to attacks directed at the soul and then there¡¯s the level difference. I just¡­ I¡¯ve never seen anything like it.¡± Moira¡¯s voice became desperate. ¡°And whatever these specters are. Nephesh-Ra, yes, but they don¡¯t even have a body. I don¡¯t¡ª?¡± ¡°Get a hold yours¡ª¡° A shadow moved in the corner of his eyes. That was all the warning he received before a vicious strike to the side of his head blew him away.
-309hp You are dizzy: Impaired vision for 5 seconds Speed -30% for 5 seconds
¡°Hall!¡± ¡°Hall!¡± Two voices screamed in his head as he instinctively raised his arms¡ªsword still in hand¡ªto soften his collision with one of the labyrinth¡¯s frozen walls. The black flames of his sword cut through the ice and the metal screeched as it dug into the stone beneath. He felt his strength drain through the sword, but the specter charging at him demanded his attention. Blinding light, emerging from the wall he smashed in, distorted his blurry vision even further. ¡°Why is it so bright?¡± He grit his teeth at the expected attack. But it never came. ¡°Look!¡± Lily grabbed Hall¡¯s arm and steadied his stand. ¡°The light is pushing away the Nephesh-Ra.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the runes,¡± Moira said. ¡°Your soul energy flowed through your sword when you rammed it into to the wall. So that¡¯s how the Nephesh-Tova keep them at bay, they sacrifice their soul and body to protect the Sorian heritage. We can use that.¡± ¡°Yeah, sure.¡± Hall coughed and wrinkled his nose at the metallic taste in his mouth. ¡°No wonder they are dying. This is hard.¡± He couldn¡¯t keep pouring his energy into the runes or he wouldn¡¯t be able to go on. But the moment he cut the connection, the specter would attack again. ¡°Damn it, I¡¯m all out of fresh ideas.¡± The dark blade of a scythe appeared in his left hand. Its weight drove the tip into the ground and Hall leaned on it to catch his breath while his right arm continued to fuel the rune¡¯s magic. ¡°Lily, let¡¯s try it with your chains, maybe I can reach the enemy.¡± When Hall fought the revenants, his familiar shackled them right before him. He left them no chance to escape. The specter stood several meters away though, at the edge of the light Hall created¡ªlurking for his prey. He tried to lure it in by reducing the intensity of the runes, but it didn¡¯t fall for it. Lily focused her gaze on the specter and blue light emerged from the ground. In that instant, Hall poured all the energy he could muster into his sword and the runes. The Nephesh-Ra tried to get away as the burning light carved into its essence. But Hall aimed for the moment it would be overwhelmed by the purifying runes. Blue and white chains of mana rose from the ground to tie the specter down. They wouldn¡¯t hold long. He released the grip of his sword and jumped toward the specter. Darkness returned and only Lily¡¯s chains illuminated his enemy. He crossed half the distance when the Nephesh-Ra threw himself into the shackles. Its faceless head split open and a wide, toothless mouth¡ªa gaping empty hole¡ªformed. The scream that followed etched itself into Hall¡¯s brain. Shivers ran down his spine and he stumbled, scythe blade pointed forward. Moira cried out in confusion and terror while Lily paled. She winced and tried to back away. The mana links of her chains tore apart and when Hall almost reached the specter, he fell to his knees. The monster charged at him, the nightmarish scream still in his ears. ¡°Damn it!¡± Hall cursed. ¡°Not like this. We stood up to worse. I won¡¯t fall here.¡± From deep within he grabbed a hold of his frustration and let it go in a roar that tore through the darkness. His ¡®Blast Tyrant¡¯ pulverized the ice surrounding them and turned the falling icicles into harmless shards. He pushed forward and raised the scythe blade in his hands. For the first time he felt tingling on his skin when he touched the dark metal. As if the blade knew what would come and waited for it¡ªexited, hungry. This time he didn¡¯t guard, he didn¡¯t block, he didn¡¯t soften the blow. The ferocious collision drove cold claws deep into Hall¡¯s flesh, but he didn¡¯t budge from the spot of the impact.
-989hp You have resisted Shadow Sickness
Hall breathed heavily, but swallowed the coppery liquid in his mouth where he bit his tongue and a wide grin spread on his face. ¡°Got you.¡± The moment before they collided, he had raised his scythe. Though he had taken severe damage, he had driven the blade into the enemy. Hall¡¯s tired chuckle filled the silence as the specter crumbled to dust. His scythe¡ªThe Harvester of Sorrow¡ªdevoured it whole. ¡°Hall, are you alright?¡± Lily rushed to his side. She still trembled, but concern pushed away the fear in her voice. ¡°I am, but man, it¡¯d nice if they would drop a bit more than just these soul shards.¡± Hall scraped the dim crystals from the hard earth and put them into his inventory, adding to the dozens he had collected so far. ¡°You got lucky there. Really lucky,¡± Moira said with a worried tone. ¡°Please be more careful.¡± ¡°Are you worried about me?¡± Hall asked with a smile. ¡°Of course not, I¡¯m worried about our mission.¡± He chuckled and pushed himself from the ground. ¡°Alright, replacing the buffs, filling health and mana and off we go.¡± Hall sounded enthusiastic, but threw a concerned look at the nicks in the blade of his battered sword. They marched forward. Day and night had no meaning here, so he thought in real time instead of game time. Hours passed, but the battles remained fierce and more than once Hall had to flee to escape death. Luckily specter¡¯s seemed to be rare and so he leveled up two more times. Hall stretched his beaten body and ate a handful of dried meat to recover the health he lost in the last fight. The black flames that danced on the metal of his sword had disappeared after the last battle. Its durability dropped to zero and cracks formed when he forced his soul energy into it. He put it away in his inventory. ¡°Guess this is useless now.¡± When an item¡¯s lost all its durability, it became close to worthless. It wouldn¡¯t grant stat bonuses or effects and damage. Its defense would drop to zero as well. And though it could still be equipped and used, doing so came with the risk of the item¡¯s destruction. Even the best craftsmen would have trouble restoring it then. Hall sighed and pulled his dagger. He hadn¡¯t used it much since they entered the labyrinth because of its length, but he was left with no choice. ¡°I think we have a problem,¡± Lily said. She stood close to a wall and inspected the runes. The dagger wandered back to his belt and Hall stepped closer to his familiar whose hands brushed over rough ice. ¡°Only one?¡± ¡°One more then.¡± She put her index and middle finger on two of the runes. They barely gave off any light now. ¡°These haven¡¯t been changed like the ones before. I think this is the original sequence¡± She stretched out her arms and pointed at the opposite wall and at the tunnel before them. ¡°Only one in three sequences have been modified to oppose the Nephesh-Ra. The rest will have little effect. They are for the original threat, whatever it was.¡± Hall narrowed his eyes and cursed at the new situation. ¡°I doubt adjusted the runes more often deeper down the maze.¡± Lily looked down and shook her head. ¡°No, we can assume the changes will disappear completely and soon after all runes will follow.¡± ¡°No wonder they don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on. They stopped looking any deeper,¡± Moira said. Anger and frustration tinged her words. ¡°Then their invisible walls crumbled and now we have to fix their mistakes. Great.¡± ¡°At least these monsters give a lot of experience. Even if they don¡¯t drop any decent items. Oh, and the scythe blade leveled up once.¡± They would have to spend much more time in the darkness of the maze. The situation irritated him as much as it did Moira, but they needed to push forward. He struck down a revenant they encountered a few hundred meters further into the maze. If they faced only one, he could crush it without too many problems. But he fought with care. Despite the cold, he already stored the cloak he got from Ella¡ªthe young blacksmith apprentice from Gelt¡ªin his inventory. Deep tears and dried blood turned his once sturdy leather armor into rags. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Damn, one day and the durability is down to a quarter. Usually only players with heavy armor would directly confront the enemy. Their sturdiness exceeded leather or cloth by far. Hall could have purchased repair kits, but their high prices deterred him from buying some. Using them on something else than high level equipment seemed liked a waste. Hall sighed regretfully. He didn¡¯t even know a player who had the repair skill, especially not somebody willing to travel hours to meet him. ¡°Guess I just have to be careful not to get him.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good advice in general.¡± Lily raised a thumb. ¡°You should write it down so you won¡¯t forget it.¡± ¡°Nah, I don¡¯t need to. You guys will remind me anyway.¡± In the next hour they met two more specters and three small groups of revenants. The last one attacked them from a small cavity in the wall. As good a place as any to spend the night. ------------------------------- Before he went to bed, Frank checked up on the current news in the online forums. The discussion about the situation in Roselake split the community. For most people Novus Vita had long surpassed the boundaries of a simple game. It was their second life and many found friends, allies and more among players and NPCs. If anybody threatened their way of life, it was similar to an attack on their workplace or their family. So people reacted. They argued, they fought and only few held back. Some wanted things to remain as they were in Bredon. They found a place among the ranks of soldiers, among the merchants or mercenaries. Others couldn¡¯t endure the oppression or the treatment of the people, so they riled under the banner of rebellion. The volatile situation attracted many viewers from other kingdoms, so blogs and articles covered all angles of the conflict. Yet one figure eluded hobby reporters and headhunters alike¡ªKillchain. Hall giggled when the name popped up every now and then. That sly merchant. I bet Jorn came up with that. The clock in the corner of his computer screen reminded him of the time and¡ªafter setting his alarm¡ªhe went to bed. His mind though still wandered the labyrinth. -------------------- ¡°Well, that was boring.¡± Frank stretched his tired joints after his classes finally ended. ¡°What are you complaining for? You spent half the time eating while I didn¡¯t get what the professor said. I swear, if it wasn¡¯t for the Virtual Reality Tutoring Programm, I¡¯d flunk half of our classes.¡± Tom, one of Frank¡¯s few friends, continued to curse while they strolled over the campus. Levi kept quiet as usual. He never had trouble with the courses, but didn¡¯t want to rub it under his brother¡¯s nose. If their roles were reversed, Tom wouldn¡¯t hold back ¡°So, what¡¯s your role going to be in Roselake? I¡¯ve read a bit since you said you were there. Seems things are getting hotter by the minute. Fighting for the king? The people? Yourself?¡± Tom¡¯s voice wavered between curiosity and concern. ¡°Somewhere between resistance and myself I guess. I¡¯m still hoping for a nice quest. My current equipment is a bit¡­ let¡¯s say, overused.¡± Frank bit in an apple he pulled from his bag. ¡°You can still eat? How are you not fat?¡± ¡°Effective use of time. I¡¯m walking anyway, may as well eat. Although I¡¯m spending a lot of time in Novus Vita. But who isn¡¯t, right?¡± Frank shrugged. ¡°But can¡¯t forget about other stuff.¡± An elbow nudged him in the side and a grinning Tom winked at him. ¡°Other stuff. I get it.¡± His brother¡¯s face reddened slightly. ¡°Pervert.¡± ¡°Ah come on Levi,¡± Tom ruffled the smaller boy¡¯s hair. ¡°You¡¯re old enough now. Need to get with the program. Not like you don¡¯t have the offers, with that god damn cute face of yours.¡± Tom pinched his brother¡¯s cheek, who blushed even more. ¡°They just think I¡¯m like a doll. It¡¯s annoying.¡± ¡°Ah, you hear that Frank? Levi wants to be seen as a real man. Make him your disciple.¡± ¡°The first thing I¡¯d teach him is how to kick his brother¡¯s butt.¡± They continued their happy exchange of verbal blows until they separated at the campus entrance. All three had somebody waiting for them at home. Even Frank. -------------------------- It had been hours since they last saw runes on the labyrinth walls. Their absence turned every battle against even a single specter into a ferocious struggle for survival. ¡°You¡¯re getting hit too much. You gained a good deal of experience,¡± Moira said, ¡°but their level is still far above yours.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Hall wiped his bloody hands on the tattered leather of his armor. ¡°Believe me, I know.¡± It was him who took the beating after all. The necessity to carry a torch in the absolute darkness of the maze slowed their progress even further. ¡°There¡¯s a light up ahead.¡± Lily stood a few meters ahead him. Oh god, what is it now. So far the labyrinth offered little that lead him to believe in a positive development. ¡°What the hell?¡± Hall stared wide eyed at the scene before him. ¡°Is this the exit?¡± ¡°No, we¡¯re still in the maze, but this place isn¡¯t on the map we received.¡± Moira hesitated for a moment. ¡°But whatever it is, the source of the Nephesh-Ra is out there.¡± The cavern that opened up before them seemed to stretch on for miles. Hall turned his head, but he saw neither walls, nor ceiling. I can¡¯t believe we¡¯re underground. Thorny vegetation that grew from the hard ground emitted dim light and illuminated the enormous cavern. Some rose tall as buildings, others barely outgrew flowers and grass. ¡°Gaping won¡¯t get us anywhere, let¡¯s get going.¡± Hall walked forward and placed his palm on a treelike structure. Cold. It felt like touching stone. But despite the freezing temperature, no ice coated the surface. Mist covered the ground and clung to his torn clothes. The sound of cracking rock cut through the eerie silence and Hall turned towards the noise. Several revenants crawled from behind hills of frozen grass and slowly approached them. ¡°What¡¯s this? Not just rushing in? Interesting.¡± Lily looked at Hall and shook her head. ¡°You know, there¡¯s also a lot more of them than usual. I guess you find that interesting too?¡± ¡°Little bit. But you forget.¡± Hall poured his energy in both chains and let them drop to the floor. ¡°We finally have some room.¡± He heard Moira¡¯s sigh in his head. ¡°You know, you¡¯re complaining, but in the end you still fight smiling.¡± Hall chuckled and greeted the first monster with the roaring of ¡®Blast Tyrant¡¯ and the heavy impact of a chain against its skull. His soul chains dealt brutal blows and as soon as Lily shackled a revenant, Hall finished if off with the blade of his scythe. It didn¡¯t take too long and Hall stood amidst piles of ash and bone. His body bloody and beaten, panting and out of breath, but a wide grin on his face.
You have leveled up!
That¡¯s level up number six down here. The experience is really not bad. He avoided the use of his blades during the battle. While the dagger had some durability left, it had suffered almost as much as the sword. A figure in the corner of his eye caught his attention. It stood outside the range of ¡®Soul Perception¡¯ and tried to hide behind a thick, grey vine that grew into the sky. As if by coincidence, Hall walked toward a spot that would bring him close enough to use his skill to sense it. He sucked in air between his teeth. ¡°That¡¯s one dark soul, but it¡¯s not a Nephesh-Ra,¡± Hall whispered. ¡°Worse.¡± Moira¡¯s voice trembled slightly. ¡°This thing. It shouldn¡¯t exist. Why is it here?¡± Hall swallowed hard. He never heard Moira this shaken up before. ¡°Come on, it¡¯s just one and it¡¯s so small. It¡¯s even hiding.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that. It¡¯s what its presence here means. I might¡ª¡° She stopped herself. ¡°No, I need more information before I jump to false conclusions.¡± ¡°Tell me already, what is this thing?¡± ¡°A Nachtmahr.¡± Hall scratched his chin. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m going to need a bit more.¡± ¡°Demons. Feared by all, even their own kind. Abominations that should have been purged from the face of the world.¡± ¡°Are they that strong?¡± The figure still lurked behind cover, but Hall slowed his advance and grabbed the dagger on his belt. ¡°No,¡± said Lily. ¡°Their race is physically weak and cowardly. They attack from the shadows if their prey sleeps.¡± Hall relaxed slightly. ¡°Then why are they so feared.¡± ¡°They possess one ability. Granted by a mad god. It¡¯s a curse for them as much as for the world, because it¡¯s the reason they¡¯ve been hunted to extinction. Or so everybody thought.¡± He tensed up again and swallowed hard. ¡°From what I feel, their extermination would be no real loss.¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s harsh, but it¡¯s an absolute necessity. Because they can separate a soul from its body. An ability not even you as First Harbinger¡ªor most gods¡ªpossess. A soul ripped from its body before death can¡¯t return to its source and is damned to wander the mortal plain until it¡¯s consumed by darkness¡­ or worse.¡± A shiver ran down Hall¡¯s spine as he listened to her words. ¡°So, how do I fight it?¡± ¡°You are the First Harbinger of Death. One of the very purposes of your class was to eliminate Nachtmahre and you still possess that strength. I beg of you, in the name of Death, in the name of good, even from my own heart, terminate with extreme prejudice. Kill them all.¡± ¡°With pleasure.¡± A frightening grin spread on Hall¡¯s face and even Lily clenched her fists. They turned and rushed toward the enemy. ¡°Let¡¯s go all out.¡± With an angry scream the Nachtmahr jumped up and ran from them. But his short legs kept his pace low and the grass¡ªsharp and hard as broken pieces of stone¡ªcut into his feet. A glowing chain wrapped around his neck and his escape came to a sudden halt. A gargling sound escaped his strangled throat. Nasty yellow eyes, filled with hatred, stared at Hall who leaned over the naked, grey monster. Despite his situation the demon grinned viciously, showing broken, black teeth. It raised its hairless arms and a purple mist emerged from them. For an instant Hall felt something pulling at his insides. But it was like a child playing tug-of-war with a mountain. The Nachtmahr¡¯s smile turned into an expression of terror. ¡°Guess you don¡¯t know who you¡¯re dealing with.¡± Hall raised his chain-clad fist and let brutal strikes fall upon his enemy. ¡°Well, I¡¯m not going to tell you.¡±
Event Quest: Kadaverstern
Nachtmahr¡ªscourge of the world. Thought extinct, but far from it. You discovered an area where they live. For the sake of the world, destroy them or let them be and see them spread horror and despair. Warning: Whoever is responsible for their appearance might be watching you and act depending on your choice. Difficulty: D Quest requirements: Interact with a Nachtmahr Rewards: Unknown
That was some interaction. If his brain wasn¡¯t mush, he wouldn¡¯t forget it for the rest of his life. Hall collected the soul shard from the corpse and shook his hands to get rid of the thick, black blood. Its stench clung to his fingers, but he burned it away with his soul energy. He took out another torch from his inventory. Icy cold replaced darkness as a grave problem, but Hall would rather freeze than risk the destruction of the already damaged cloak in his inventory. Luckily he felt no attachment to the armor he bought for a few gold, but the personal gift meant a lot to him. ¡°Too bad those plants don¡¯t burn.¡± Hall shivered and lowered the torch. ¡°A campfire would be nice.¡± They followed Moira¡¯s intuition and walked past hills of high rock grass, flowers and trees that looked like they were made of steel and even small streams. Instead of water, they carried a liquid that appeared to be mercury. But its repugnant smell polluted the air and¡ªdespite the numbing cold¡ªwas present in large parts of the cavern. Attacks from revenants and specters became more frequent. But for some reason they acted differently than before, less feral. Their blows came slower, their movements seemed almost sluggish, uncoordinated, as if they hadn¡¯t full control over their body. Hall didn¡¯t mind. He slaughtered them all. His chains blew apart their bodies and his Harvester devoured their darkness. The occasional Nachtmahr they met was ground into dust by his fists and consumed by his scythe to further its growth. It was a massacre. That makes four levels yesterday and six more today. The monsters here are weaker than in the tunnels, but they give less experience. Still great progress. Grinding may be annoying, but it¡¯s paying off. ------------------------ The following day started out the same way the second one ended. They moved forward, killed whatever stood in their way and continued towards the darkness. Luckily nobody watched them. Hall would feel embarrassed fighting almost naked, only covered by underwear and some remaining rags. ¡°They are back.¡± Lily raised a hand, signaling him to hold. Hall threw her a questioning glance. ¡°The voices. Listen closely!¡± During the battles, the screams of Nephesh-Ra and Nachtmahre disturbed the silence around them. But even afterwards, they could hear the cracking of the plants, loud as shattering stone. Or the noise of the underground streams. And because Hall felt the monsters before they attacked, he stopped paying attention to the sounds around them. Only now did he shift his focus. ¡°There¡¯s something,¡± Hall said. ¡°It sounds like¡ª¡° ¡°It¡¯s crying. They are crying in pain and despair.¡± Lily clenched her fists in powerless frustration. ¡°But why now? Why here?¡± He observed their surroundings. ¡°I think we¡¯re very close,¡± Moira said. ¡°Whatever is causing all this, we¡¯ll arrive soon.¡± Their relaxed grinding mood disappeared and a heavy, tensed atmosphere spread between them. They hadn¡¯t forgotten the close encounters they suffered in the tunnels of the maze. A death at this point would be a disaster. Lily stood behind Hall, renewed her ¡®Velvet Thorns¡¯ and started to sing. The clear voice, full of sadness and hope, warmed the air around him. He breathed in deeply and walked toward the hill ahead of them. At its top, he came to a violent halt. He forced himself not to avert his eyes and if he could, he would have stopped his familiar from following him. Moira winced and couldn¡¯t find any words fitting to describe the sight before them. The song on Lily¡¯s lips died and she clung to Hall¡¯s arm, trembling. His warmth protected her, kept her sane. A tall tree, black as the night, grew in the middle of crater of glass. Not a single leaf adorned the barren branches. Yet it still carried fruit. Corpses of men, women and children hung from thick vines that pierced their skin and flesh. Most barely resembled humans anymore. Revenants!
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---------------------- Author¡¯s Note: Hope you guys enjoyed the new chapter :grin: First of all a quick adjustment: Nephesh-Tobh will from now on be Nephesh-Tova. Nephesh is Hebrew and it means soul. In the old testament of the bible there was no concept of an immortal soul separate from the body, so it referred to the unity of body and soul (says google). Tobh means good, but the correct form is tova because nephesh is female (so is tova). I have obviously no idea of the Hebrew language, so sorry for the mistake :) Next I¡¯d give a special thanks to Thomas, David and Jonathan for donating, you guys are awesome! Also a big thank you to Meisterjohnny who took the time to proofread my old chapters and GunSeraph who wrote half a novel on interesting future developments to discuss it with me :D Thanks a lot for all the support to everyone out there, it means a lot. ;) And I¡¯m always open for criticism, questions and ideas, so please don¡¯t hold back :bye: Chapter 26 - An Attempt to tip the Scales Chapter 26 ¨C An Attempt to tip the Scales ¡°This is it,¡± Moira said with a trembling voice. ¡°The tree, its roots and branches. This is the source.¡± Hall¡¯s grip tightened around his chains. ¡°But, how?¡± The crater before them spanned a diameter of several hundred meters. Black glass covered its surface and in the center towered the terrifying abomination of a tree. About a dozen hunched, grey figures swarmed around the black trunk. A pair of Nachtmahre carried the body of a woman and lifted it toward the branches where thick vines pierced through her seemingly lifeless limbs. With cackling laughter, one of the monsters raised his arm toward the woman¡¯s limp body. Purple mist emerged from the Nachtmahr¡¯s fingertips and pervaded the white flesh. Glowing light emerged from her chest, weak at first, and within seconds the body stiffened. The woman¡¯s eyes snapped open and a silent scream emerged from her throat. With a brutal jerk, the shapeless light separated from the body and the glow in her eyes died. The tree¡¯s black vines began to pulsate as they lifted the corpse toward its branches and dark specks formed where it touched her skin. Spreading, growing, changing her. Just like the woman, others lay on the cold ground. Men, women and children. Hall grit his teeth at the picture before them. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Moira yelled, imploring him. ¡°Don¡¯t just rush in. They are already dead, you can¡¯t do anything for them.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°I am,¡± she said. ¡°Their souls are already disconnected from their being. They are just stuck to the flesh. The body is alive, but the mind is gone. Nachtmahre use it to lead their prey away from their homes. They are too weak to carry them alone, so they make them walk by themselves.¡± Her voice trembled, but she paused only for a moment. ¡°But this amount of people. It¡¯s just too much, even for so many of those monsters.¡± Dozens of men, women and children lay around the massive tree and countless more hung from its branches. Fruit of the poisonous tree. ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t think they¡¯re doing it for themselves.¡± Hall swallowed hard. ¡°The quest text said that somebody is behind this.¡± Lily remained silent during their conversation. Her hands clung to Hall, her eyes stuck to the dark figures in the treetop. Suddenly thick vines dropped one of the bodies to the ground and retracted, ripping grave wounds into the now black flesh. The mutated body, once human, rose and a bloodcurdling screech emerged from its throat. ¡°They are creating revenants, but how?¡± Hall asked. The monster took an unsteady step forward. Not used to its body yet, it staggered to the edge of the crater, slowly growing more accustomed to its limbs. Moira¡¯s gasp tore Lily and Hall from the frightening sight. ¡°Look! The ground! Beneath the darkness.¡± The dark glass swallowed what little light illuminated the cave. But beneath its obsidian surface, runes formed in the stone. Countless symbols, cryptic and ancient, formed a pattern that stretched through the crater. Hall quickly shook his head and Lily wrinkled her nose. ¡°I can¡¯t read it. It¡¯s not Sorian. Similar though.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a lot older,¡± Moira said. ¡°The language of the ancient gods.¡± She hesitated. ¡°I can¡¯t read it either. Grim surely could though. But I know what it means.¡± A hint of desperation entered her voice. ¡°I should have known before. I should have remembered.¡± ¡°Calm down.¡± Hall¡¯s patience slowly ran out. He wanted to crush the Nachtmahre in the crater. ¡°Just tell us.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a tear in this world¡¯s fabric. That¡¯s the only explanation how this much darkness can exist here and it¡¯s the reason for the runes.¡± She grew frantic. ¡°They should seal the rip. The last harbinger was down here, she should have sealed it. But it¡¯s so¡­ much. I don¡¯t¡ª¡° ¡°Wait,¡± Hall stopped her rambling. ¡°What do you mean, a tear in the world¡¯s fabric?¡± ¡°Right, sorry.¡± The grimoire steadied her voice. ¡°Grim already told you about the imbalance between darkness and light. Sometimes, to correct this imbalance, darkness seeps through to this world.¡± Though they listened to her explanations, their eyes returned to the black tree. ¡°That is a tear in this world¡¯s fabric. Usually it influences the surroundings, poisons the ground, taints animals and even sentient beings. But if the tear isn¡¯t in a large city, it¡¯s mostly no problem. Grim seeks them out and her harbinger seals them until the darkness fades.¡± ¡°And why is it still here if the last harbinger came to this place?¡± Hall furrowed his brows. ¡°I don¡¯t know. And that¡¯s not all. This tear is too powerful. I think it was artificially enlarged. It even swallowed its seal.¡± Hall widened his eyes in understanding. He tightened the grip around his chains even further. ¡°So that¡¯s what they are doing. They tear away the souls and fill the bodies with darkness. That¡¯s how they are making Nephesh-Ra¡¯a.¡± Lily shivered at the thought. ¡°But why?¡± she asked. ¡°To create an army.¡± Hall cracked his neck and stepped forward. The monsters in the crater still hadn¡¯t noticed him. He picked up speed and descended upon the gruesome spectacle. Heads turned as they heard Hall¡¯s ¡®Blast Tyrant¡¯. The savage roar froze their bodies and they could only watch in despair as glowing chains viciously struck down and crushed their weak bodies. Screams of terror and pain filled the crater as Hall massacred the wicked creatures. A scene of carnage, accompanied by Lily¡¯s elegy for those who lost their lives at the hands of evil. Soon, Hall¡¯s figure, clad in rags, stood panting within a pool of grey blood, torn flesh and mangled Nachtmahr bodies. They were unprepared. Unprepared for the real darkness. For something darker than black. He wrinkled his nose at the stench and stepped over the corpses toward the lifeless humans. Lily¡¯s song ended with the battle and only the cracking of fragile bones could be heard. Hall and Lily stood over the captured people, pity in their eyes. ¡°What will happen to them now?¡± Lily threw a pleading gaze at Hall. He grit his teeth, but didn¡¯t turn away from her. Yet he could only shake his head. ¡°Please. Help us.¡± A faint voice echoed through the crater. Hall instantly turned toward the source and raised his thick chains, ready to strike. The distorted image of a middle aged man raised his arms. ¡°We need your help¡­ please.¡± His body vanished for a moment, before the ghostly presence appeared again. Desperation and pain twisted his face. Hall couldn¡¯t help but think of Lily¡¯s appearance when he first met her, shackled to the tower. His familiar didn¡¯t hesitate and approached the spirit. ¡°Tell us, what¡¯s going on? Who are you?¡± The man¡¯s flickering form stabilized slightly and a tired smile spread on his face. ¡°Thank god, you can hear me,¡± he said and pointed at the abominations the tree created within its crown. ¡°I¡¯m one of them. A soul ripped from the body. We were crying for help for so long, but somebody has finally answered us¡± He raised his palms to his face to cover the tears. Sobs disrupted his words. ¡°We tried to get away, some of us left to other levels. But most can¡¯t make it past those glowing runes that cover the walls. They burn us. It hurts so much. Help us. I beg of you.¡± Hall and Lily furrowed their brows, but didn¡¯t interrupt the spirit who stood amidst unconscious bodies. ¡°But staying here hurts too. Close to that tree. He whispers to us. Dark thoughts. Of blood and fire. Of sweet death.¡± Shivers ran through the incorporeal figure. ¡°It changes us. We try to resist, but in the end, we¡¯ll become his. His soldiers.¡± ¡°Whose?¡± Hall asked. But he received no answer. The man simply stared into the distance, his eyes unfocused, his body trembling. ¡°He sees us. Sees everything. He calls us.¡± His expression softened. ¡°So tired. I think¡­ yes, I should just sleep.¡± The man¡¯s eyes closed, just briefly. Then they snapped open, showing nothing but black. His transparent body turned into a dark shadow and a violent screech left his mouth where rows of sharp teeth formed. ¡°Specter!¡± Moira yelled in panic. But Hall had already lifted his scythe blade and rammed it into the turning spirit¡¯s chest. The scream transformed into a groan and the black inside the man¡¯s eyes vanished. ¡°Thank you,¡± he whispered before the metal in Hall¡¯s hands devoured the darkness that infested the soul and granted it peace. ¡°Turning bodies into revenants and souls into specters...¡± Hall shook his head in disbelief. ¡°Let¡¯s burn it down.¡± Lily turned toward him with a wry smile and poked his forehead. ¡°That¡¯s not always the solution you know?¡± ¡°Well, it works more often than not.¡± ¡°Your familiar is right,¡± Moira said. She sighed and continued in a patronizing tone. ¡°On one side you have a big, evil tree that probably won¡¯t burn, on the other hand you have a weapon that devours darkness. Now, what should you do?¡± ¡°Alright, alright already. I get it. No fire.¡± Hall pouted, but cracked up and chuckled at Lily who waved her index finger in front of his face. His smile turned solemn when he looked at the humans before them. ¡°Their souls are still in their bodies. Let¡¯s send them off.¡± Lily pressed her lips to a thin line, but she didn¡¯t look away. Instead, she nodded and stepped closer to Hall, fully intent on staying by his side and supporting him in his gruesome task. The warm blood didn¡¯t soak into the hard ground and instead formed crimson puddles around the bodies. At least their souls were at peace now. The moment Hall pulled the scythe from the last one, a semi-transparent message window appeared.
Event Quest: Whispers in the Dark
Darkness infested the labyrinth beneath Roselake. The souls of kidnapped humans are turned into abominations¡ªspecters¡ªto serve an unknown foe. Find the remaining specters and cleanse them. Difficulty: D Quest requirements: Offer peace to the souls of the kidnapped humans that haven¡¯t been transformed into specters yet Rewards: Unknown
Hall narrowed his eyes. He always welcomed quests, especially when he planned to do the task anyway, but it came with the same condition as the one to destroy the Nachtmahre. The large labyrinth could harbor hundreds of these monsters and it could take days to get through it all. Guess I need to hurry. I just hope the reward is worth the trouble. They renewed their buffs and refilled their mana and health. The heavy metal in his hand sent tingles through his skin as if to express its excitement. Hall breathed in deeply and took a step back. He raised the scythe blade and¡ªwith full force and a roar on his lips¡ªrammed it into the trunk. The wood, hard as stone, cracked under the blow. Hall drove the weapon deeper and was rewarded with screeching noises and sparks, flying toward him. Hall and Lily just stood next to each other, their gaze stuck to the scythe he had thrust into the tree. He had expected fire and brimstone, thunder and lightning. But what he got was¡­ nothing. Absolute silence surrounded them. Seconds stretched to eternities and with tense muscles, his eyes jumped from the crater¡¯s edge to the scythe and back. In the utter silence the bell sound of a message window startled him and a loud curse slipped from his lips. Hall chuckled for a moment. He shook his head and looked at the message.
Event Start: Cleansing
Time left: 10 minutes 9:59 9:58
He immediately got ready for battle again. ¡°We have a countdown. Ten minutes till this tree is down, let¡ª¡° Lily¡¯s hand gesture cut him off. ¡°Do you feel that?¡± Hall knew better than to question her. He didn¡¯t need to wait long. Slight vibrations found their way through his leather boots. Countless tremors created small waves in the puddles of blood as if small stones fell on a smooth surface. Screams followed the trembling earth. Quiet first, carried by the wind. But soon enough, they filled the air. Cracking stones, painful screeches and the sound of feet hitting the hard ground. A stampede approached them from all directions. ¡°Get ready! We need to defend the scythe!¡± Hall grabbed his chains and Lily soared above the blade, her bare feet almost touching it. The black ground at the edge of the crater retreated slowly and the weapon, lodged in the tree, throbbed as it began to devour its rich meal. ---------------------------------- Suspicious glares followed her. The TV station had doubled her guards after a few close calls during the last days. They couldn¡¯t afford to lose her at this point. Alexa sighed at the attention. She preferred to run solo. How would she get any information if she traveled with a small army? But her superiors insisted and after hours of discussion and a small raise, she agreed. The interview of the top players in Bredon increased her popularity many times over. Though considering her fame before was close to nonexistent, it still didn¡¯t mean much. And though her excitement over the new situation remained limited, she was smart enough to use it for her benefit. Her goal hadn¡¯t changed. She wanted to rise within Sphinx and the way through their gaming division proved to be a shortcut. If need be, she¡¯d play the cutesy reporter a while longer. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Despite the high level guards, her eyes darted from one dark alley to the next. The once quiet nights in Roselake had turned dangerous. Many citizens had already left and while during the day craftsmen, merchants and ordinary people still dominated the streets, the night belonged to the warriors. Both sides prepared for war. Bandits and knights, mercenaries and mages, players and NPCs roamed the city. Small fights and assassinations became a common occurrence. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. As long as we¡¯re here, nobody will dare attack you,¡° an old knight said with a wide smile. Alexa let go of the breath she unconsciously held and tried to relax her tense muscles. The atmosphere got to her. She forced out a small smile. ¡°Thank you.¡± The guards consisted of hired, but trusted NPCs, players, and a few colleagues from work. One of them, her newly appointed assistant, looked at her with a thin smirk. ¡°Maybe the lady just doesn¡¯t like the dark. It¡¯s really scary after all.¡± Alexa rolled her eyes. She had endured the man¡¯s snide remarks all day. Some big shot got his son an apprenticeship at her gaming TV station and somebody thought it was a good idea to make him her assistant. Unfortunately the kid had neither manners nor respect. He already failed college once and was now between schools. And he really tested her patience. She opened her mouth to rebuke him, but a slight tremor beneath her feet interrupted her. ¡°Did you feel that?¡± Everybody looked at her questioningly, but soon their eyes widened in surprise and shock. ¡°Earthquake?¡± Panic entered her assistant¡¯s voice. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Yelling and screaming emerged from Roselake¡¯s streets as the ground trembled. The old guard shook his head at Alexa¡¯s gaze. ¡°I don¡¯t know miss, something like this has never happened before. It could be magic, but something of this scale?¡± He shivered at the thought. Another guard, clad in full metal armor, scratched his grey beard and turned toward Alexa. ¡°An army,¡± he said with a worried expression. ¡°An army?¡± Her face darkened. The man simply nodded. ¡°When hundreds and thousands of soldiers march, the ground shakes beneath their feet,¡± he swallowed hard, ¡°I still remember a battle at the walls of this city. The earth trembled just like now. I don¡¯t know why, but the ground beneath transmits the tremors far better than any battlefield I stood on.¡± ¡°What would an army do here?¡± Alexa asked in confusion. ¡°We should have heard of it. Did they come here to join one side? Or is it a third party?¡± ¡°Hey, you¡¯re the reporter, shouldn¡¯t you know?¡± her assistant said, trying to cover his nervousness. Alexa ignored his remark and quickly opened her journal and different message windows to contact her sources. ¡°To the walls!¡± she ordered her group while she continued to send and receive messages. But before they arrived, the tremors had dwindled and vanished as quickly as they had come. ¡°What the hell?¡± Alexa wrinkled her nose. ¡°My reports say that there¡¯s nobody at the gates or walls.¡± She scratched her head and cursed silently. A few of her guards chuckled at her unladylike behavior. ¡°Alright, back to the city center. Guess we¡¯ll do a report from the market place.¡± She peeked at the clock in the corner of her field of view. Ten minutes? No, a little less I think. Wonder what happened... Her last interview crossed her mind. The man who interrupted them. His broad shoulders as he left. But especially his promise. She searched the dark sky for signs of flames and smoke. ------------------------- Anna¡¯s days after the interview had been busy, but some people could have sworn they saw her smile sometimes. A few even asked her if something had happened. Of course she had denied it, her expression as cold as ever. But she felt a little bit happier, she just didn¡¯t want to share it, afraid somebody would take her little joy away. She just logged into Novus Vita and met with Belinda and the rest. The hectic yelling around her caught Salena off guard. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± she asked a scowling Bale. ¡°Not sure. Probably an earthquake. Lasted a little less than ten minutes. No damages though. I¡¯ve send Ryan and Nayr out to ask the NPCs.¡± Several mercenaries carrying torches approached them. ¡°Sir Bale, we couldn¡¯t find the quake¡¯s cause. What are your orders?¡± The king had hired hundreds of warriors and made sure they knew the chain of command. Currently, Bale was in charge. ¡°Continue to investigate.¡± He shooed them away. ¡°We can¡¯t be sure, maybe it was the enemy. A spell of sorts. We¡¯re almost ready for battle and I don¡¯t want to take any risks.¡± The soldiers bowed slightly, but Bale, Belinda and Salena had already walked past them. With their expensive equipment and powerful weapons, they looked like generals walking among their men. And many thought of them like that. Salena observed the bustling rows of men and women moving back and forth. They worked on their equipment, trained their skills and prayed to their gods. They prepared for war. But as they walked through the streets, other images burned themselves into her mind. Crying children, dragged out of their houses by their parents, only carrying the bare necessities. Many had left their homes. Few held hope to return. Over a hundred thousand people lived in Roselake and many more came from the surrounding villages to trade or work. But during the last days, the number had dwindled. The group of three passed a few kids, their eyes red, their clothes dirty. An old woman led them toward the city gates. Their hopeless faces burned a hole in her chest, but her expression remained frozen. ¡°Good thing they¡¯re leaving on their own.¡± Belinda gave the fleeing people a dismissive glance. ¡°They¡¯d only be a hindrance during battle. It would be annoying if we killed them by accident and got infamy for it.¡± Bale shrugged. He had never cared much for infamy. Enough churches could sell you a clean slate after all. As long as the infamy wasn¡¯t too high, getting rid of it in exchange for gold was easy enough. They would even overlook a few more heinous acts, with the right incentive. After all, it¡¯s hard to chase somebody if your pockets are full of gold. ¡°We¡¯ll ask the king for more money, just in case.¡± Bale rubbed his hands together, a greedy smile twisting his handsome face. Salena trembled slightly. His virtual face was so similar to his real one. She never liked either. Belinda pushed past a group of fugitives who desperately tried to avoid them. ¡°So, how are the numbers?¡± ¡°Pretty good. The damn king really gave us a fortune. Hiring players and NPCs was a breeze.¡± He moved his hand in a wide motion and laughed contemptuously. ¡°Most fight for a handful of gold and a quest. We have a core group of somewhere between eight hundred and a thousand with levels beyond 70. All players. We didn¡¯t get control over the city¡¯s troops though,¡± he spit on the dirty ground, ¡°but we have an additional three hundred from Shadow Wraith.¡± Belinda nodded slowly. ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem like much.¡± ¡°It¡¯s difficult to level up in Bredon, Most people are still around level 50.¡± Bale shrugged. As if to emphasize his words, he pushed two players out of the way. They dropped to the ground, but neither of them dared to say anything. ¡°But we have another three thousand player below 70. Another ten thousand NPCs fight under the king and his men. So, on our side we have around,¡± he scratched his chin, ¡°fifteen thousand. Give or take.¡± Shivers ran down Salena¡¯s back. She didn¡¯t dare to imagine the battle capacity of that many soldiers. The city would drown in blood. But neither Bale, nor Belinda seemed concerned. Instead, the girl in a long, red robe grabbed an apple from her inventory and bit into it before she continued. ¡°What about the enemy?¡± Bale grunted unhappily and kicked a pebble on the dirty street. ¡°Conflicting reports. Between one and two thousand players in total¡­ probably. They have a quest to stop us.¡± ¡°And the NPCs on their side?¡± ¡°Four thousand, maybe five.¡± They stepped onto the market place and numerous people saluted them. The king¡¯s troops still held a firm grasp on the central areas of the city. ¡°But they are no army. Just a bunch of bandits and rebels. Different factions, no coordination. I don¡¯t want us to be careless, but honestly, there shouldn¡¯t be too much trouble.¡± Salena pushed her anxiety down and kept her voice emotionless. ¡°I guess there¡¯s no way to avoid a fight?¡± Bale raised an eyebrow. ¡°Hell no. If necessary, I¡¯ll start it myself. The planning took us weeks. Weeks we couldn¡¯t raise our levels. Not since that asshole Frank,¡± his face twisted in anger, ¡°canceled that useless curse. And we still have to return the items and gold we got from Aeneas¡¯s priests. Fallen god of betrayal my ass. Just a damn cheapskate. Not our fault the damn curse broke and¡­¡± He talked himself into rage, but Salena stopped listening soon. Around them, soldiers sharpened their swords and tended to their equipment. Some even brought horses they needed to take care of. Craftsmen constructed barricades and weapons while merchants sold arms, alcohol and other necessities. Recently, the economy in Roselake stagnated, but now the money flowed once more. For wine and war, for every day could be their last... -------------------------- Himoto could barely raise her tired eyelids. She already missed a handful of classes this week. She wanted to log out, but every time she tried, she heard crying, pleading and begging. Roselake was in a state of chaos. Even under normal circumstances, few soldiers bothered to protect the poorer parts of town. But now, at the brink of a civil war, nobody cared for the unfortunate. She still contemplated on which side to join in the conflict. The king ruthlessly oppressed his citizens. They suffered under his unjust and cruel reign. But not a small part of the rebel force consisted of thieves and bandits. Under the disguise of a justified revolution, they killed and stole as they pleased. So she helped those that had lost so much already flee from the upcoming battles, lest they lose what little they had left. Himoto tightened the grip around her flaming whip and grit her teeth. Anger pushed away her exhaustion when hooded figures emerged from a dark alley and stealthily approached a group of fugitives. Cold steel flashed in the moonlight and quick steps echoed throughout the streets. A figure raised a rusty blade, but a flash from the sky interrupted the strike. Flames and ash rained on the bandits and consumed their flesh. Himoto barely registered their pleas for mercy. Soon enough the screams ceased and only burnt corpses remained. A young boy among the fugitives raised his head in shock and pointed at the woman in red leather that stood on the roof beside them. ¡°It¡¯s Scarlet Fire.¡± Though the sudden attack scared them, they all bowed to their savior, but the girl disappeared without a word. Another scream cut through the night. --------------------------
Time left: 9:27 9:26 9:25
The seconds trickled away, but they felt like hours. Terrifying screams and vicious roars resonated within the gigantic cave and merged to a cacophony of horror, loud enough to shake the earth. Countless feet hit the ground and Hall had to steady himself not to stumble. Until finally, the first figure appeared at the edge of the crater. A hundred more stepped to its side. Dozens and dozens of revenants flooded toward them. Specters followed behind, a few at first, but more and more joined their ranks. Even Nachtmahre, discarding their weakness, rushed at them with madness in their eyes and foam on their lips. Like locusts they swarmed over the edge. More and more. A wave of shadows and darkness. Unceasing. Endless. ¡°Dear god¡­¡± Moira cried out. Her voice quivered and broke. Lily dropped her raised arms and stared at the dark flood with a blank face. She shook her head slowly, struggling to make sense of the scene before her. Hall¡¯s chains nearly slipped from his fingers. By now, hundreds of monsters filled the crater and charged at them with mindless desperation. He opened his mouth, but not a single word left it. He closed his eyes for a moment and let go of his breath. The end came in the form of a thousand demons... and he had nowhere to run. ------------------------------------------------ Hey guys, Well that took a while, I¡¯ve actually written a bit further, but this situation had a certain¡­ tension I didn¡¯t want to waste, hope you enjoyed it :D As always, please let me know of any mistakes and if you have suggestions, I¡¯m always grateful for input. Thanks to all those who helped out (thanks to Requizition for proofreading) and a special thanks to Thomas, Sophie and Janardan for sponsoring this chapter ;) :bye: P.S: If you guys are interested in some scifi (with a little extra), you should check out the current May Short Story Contest (news on the main page), these contests always produce a heap of nice stories. Maybe some of you even want to participate :) P.S.S: Nephesh-Ra changed to Nephesh-Ra¡¯a, same reason as last time, I¡¯m really not very proficient with Hebrew ^^ and there will be a detailed update on skills and stats next chapter (probably ;) ) Chapter 27 - Set Fire to the Hive Chapter 27 ¨C Set Fire to the Hive Hall, his eyes closed, pushed away the sounds of the approaching horde. Pushed away their screams and their stamping. He ignored the stench of mercury and sulfur and stopped feeling the trembling earth or the freezing air on his exposed skin. He stood in a sea of black, an ocean of nothingness. His soul a flickering candle, a beacon in the night. Hall steadied the flame, fueled it with defiance and will, fed it his grim determination. A roaring fire expanded in his chest and extended to his limbs. A calm smile appeared on his lips and, just for a fraction of a second, the world seemed to halt. His eyes snapped open, an inferno burning deep within. He tightened the grip on his chains and their unsteady glow exploded into a stream of blue fire. Lily shook off her daze and her widened eyes met Halls¡¯. His booming voice drowned out the demons of hell. ¡°Protect the scythe! Let them burn!¡± The girl shook her head fiercely and smacked her palms against her cheeks. She raised her arms and a radiant chant left her lips. The seam of her white dress danced in the flakes of light that twirled around her. Hall felt almost bad for destroying the image when he activated his skill to welcome the Nephesh-Ra¡¯a. ¡°Bad Moon Rising!¡± He didn¡¯t raise his voice. He didn¡¯t need to. In an instant, a blood red veil covered the world around them. Even the ground, in a radius of ten meters, seemed to form puddles of blood. The monsters kept coming. When they finally entered the range of his skill, they hardly showed any reaction. Their fearlessness and the strength of their soul made them resistant to the effects of ¡®Bad Moon Rising¡¯. But not immune. In an explosive strike, Hall swung both chains at the closest revenant. They struck its skull, cracked it open and scattered grey matter on the ground. Its legs kept moving. One step and another, before its disfigured body dropped. Where it fell, another revenant stepped on its corpse. It was the first casualty of the battle. It wouldn¡¯t be the last. Hall¡¯s ferocious roar, his skill ¡®Blast Tyrant¡¯, struck the waves of monsters and his chains followed. They clashed left and right, shattered bones and burnt away dark flesh. Fast and precise, they annihilated enemy after enemy. But for every revenant he slaughtered, for every specter his soul energy extinguished, for every Nachtmahr that fell, a dozen took their place. A revenant¡¯s body hit Hall¡¯s shoulder. He flinched at the numbing pain, but raised his arm again to let his weapon fly. But the revenant rushed past him. They all did. Not one of the Nephesh-Ra¡¯a even looked at him. Their eyes focused on the scythe, the blade in the tree. Behind him, Lily finished her chant and drops of light descended from the sky. The ¡®Tears of Heaven¡¯ brightened the area around the obsidian tree. But their usually brilliance changed. In the crimson glow of Hall¡¯s skill ¡®Bad Moon Rising¡¯, the dazzling light transformed into a red nightmare. The bloody rain melted the skin, flesh and bone of their enemies. Where Hall¡¯s chains destroyed one body after the other, Lily¡¯s magic annihilated every enemy in a small radius around the scythe. Bloodcurdling screams of pain emerged from the dying monsters. They staggered, stumbled and fell, taking down their own with them. The stench of tainted blood filled the air and the corpses began to pile up. But the earth never ceased to tremble. The enemy still ran at them. Hall couldn¡¯t take them down so easy anymore and their mana pool slowly dwindled, as did his health. Enemies crashed into him. Carelessly swung blades cut into his limbs and passing specters took large chunks of health points every time their incorporeal claws tore his flesh apart. Hall panted and clenched his teeth. By now, he stood in a puddle of his own blood, his view hazy, his ears filled with screams. The chains¡¯ blue light dimmed and couldn¡¯t keep the darkness at bay. ¡°Watch out!¡± Moira¡¯s panicked voice yelled in his head. He never saw the rusty axe coming. The revenant¡¯s weapon bit into his stomach and the taste of warm copper filled his mouth. ¡°Damn.¡± His knees hit the ground.
In my Time of Dying has been activated +100% Willpower +30% to all stats +30% speed
A dozen monsters passed him, but Lily¡¯s crimson drops of light obliterated them before they reached the scythe. Hall renewed the grip around his chains and stepped forward. But the black mass of bodies swept over him. Heavy steps crushed his limbs and his blinking health bar emptied. He wanted to avert his gaze from the large message window, but the game didn¡¯t allow it.
YOU ARE DEAD!
All color disappeared from the world and only shades of grey remained. Lily¡¯s eyes widened and tears streamed down her face. She bit her lips and, while sobbing silently, she continued to chant her spell. Colorless drops of light still formed a barrier to protect the scythe. But her strength approached her limit. Her arms trembled and her tears left her eyes red. Hall tried to call out to her and Moira. But no sound left his mouth. No sound reached his ears. Silence dominated the grey world. He stood next to his corpse, but had no hands to grasp, no voice to speak and no legs to run. Helplessly, he watched the endless flood of monsters run against the shivering Lily. Do I activate ¡®Garden of Thorns¡¯ and hope it will stop them? Hall threw away the thought. It wouldn¡¯t be enough. But if he used ¡®Ain¡¯t no Grave can hold my Body down¡¯ to rise again, he would just fall once more, with a hefty penalty. Damn it! Too weak! He looked down at his mangled corpse and cursed himself. What do I do? What do I¡ª Only then did he notice the change around him. The Nephesh-Ra¡¯a slowed down. Not only their steps, but all their movements. And not only the monsters, even Lily¡¯s tears fell slower. Time stretched. Undetectable at first, the rampaging army soon slowed to a crawl. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Hall.¡± Hall¡¯s gaze turned toward the solemn voice. A young girl kneeled beside his corpse, her right hand placed on his own. Her black suit glowed in this purgatory and stood in stark contrast to her pale complexion. ¡°Hello, Grim.¡± For some reason they could talk, but it didn¡¯t surprise him. She never raised her head and smiled at him where he lay. ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry.¡± The pain in her eyes drove a stake into Hall¡¯s heart. He hadn¡¯t seen her like this before. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. I was too weak.¡± ¡°No.¡± She closed her eyes for a moment. ¡°All of this. This is my fault. I was¡­¡± She trailed off and, despite the desperate situation, Hall didn¡¯t dare to push her. Lily¡¯s magic finally collapsed and the Nephesh-Ra¡¯a broke through. The first revenant rushed toward the scythe. In slow-motion its withered hand grabbed for the blade. ¡°You know, when we first met, I wasn¡¯t completely honest with you,¡± Grim said. Lily slowly stepped away from the blade and soared over the hordes of dark figures. Hall remained silent. ¡°I told you that I never recruited another Harbinger because there was nobody worthy.¡± Her shoulders slumped. ¡°The truth is¡­ I wasn¡¯t.¡± The instant the first revenant touched the scythe, its fingers detonated and only left behind black ash. Every specter, every revenant that tried to pull it out, suffered an agonizing death, their darkness devoured, their bodies and souls shattered. The monsters threw themselves against the scythe. And though they all fell, with every death, with every sacrifice, the blade dislodged from the black wood¡ªeach time a little bit more. Grim raised her head and glanced over the myriads of raging shadows, the black tree and the mutilated corpses in its branches. ¡°This is where it began,¡± she bit her lower lip and shook her head, ¡°no, that¡¯s not right. I guess this is where it ended.¡± ¡°Your last Harbinger?¡± ¡°She was my friend,¡± she almost whispered, ¡°but the darkness was too much. I was too much. Always asking the impossible and never hearing her pain.¡± Her head turned toward Hall¡¯s corpse. ¡°And now I¡¯m doing the same again:¡± Her trembling hand tightened around his own. Not a single Nephesh-Ra¡¯a came close. They rushed around Grim and his body, like a mountain parting the sea. ¡°So it was her after all?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not surprised?¡± She sounded a little hurt. ¡°Not just anybody could do it. And there were clues. It¡¯s the whole affair with Benmal¡¯ach I don¡¯t quite get. Why did she try to destroy him?¡± ¡°Not destroy. Recruit. But she failed and barely escaped with her life.¡± Grim sighed. She seemed smaller than he remembered. ¡°Back then I had lost her already.¡± ¡°You warned me of a shadow from the north. Is she part of it?¡± Urgency crept in Hall¡¯s voice. More and more monsters threw themselves against the scythe and it already lost a lot of its grip on the tree. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I meant it when I said I lost her.¡± She clenched her left hand to a fist. ¡°But she is out there, that I¡¯m sure of.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind, but¡­ why are you here?¡± Grim hesitated and opened her mouth before closing it again. ¡°I¡­ I wanted to make sure this wasn¡¯t too much. I couldn¡¯t¡­ not again,¡± she rambled. Despite their situation, Hall couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. So even she can feel insecure, huh? ¡°I told you, I would fight.¡± He couldn¡¯t grasp her hand, but he could put his conviction in his words. ¡°Even if it¡¯s all the darkness of the world. All the evil and wickedness. I won¡¯t back down. I won¡¯t leave.¡± He glanced at the scythe that barely held on to the black tree. He looked at Lily who arrived at the left side of his corpse. She kneeled and grasped his hand. Her lips formed thin lines and tears trickled down her face, each one falling slowly. Then his eyes wandered to the timer.
Time left: 6:12 6:11 6:10
¡°But I have to say, it doesn¡¯t look too good right now,¡± Hall said. ¡°I¡¯m sure you will find a way.¡± A faint, but warm smile spread on Grim¡¯s face. ¡°Yeah¡­ I¡¯m happy about your faith in me, but I¡¯m afraid faith won¡¯t be enough. Not today.¡± For the first time she raised her head and looked at him, not at his corpse. The pain in her eyes, though not gone, was pushed behind a spark of mischievousness. She licked her lips and winked at him. Once again, she rendered him speechless. What is she up to now? Grim lowered her head until her own face hovered over his. Before he could say anything, she pressed her lips on his forehead. Warmth spread from her touch and even after she pulled away, his forehead tickled. A mark, a vertical line and a curve at its top, remained for a short time, but its red glow soon disappeared and left no trace.
You have been blessed! You have gained a new skill!
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Divine Runes (incomplete)Beginner10%
Written in the language of the gods, divine runes hold great power. They tell secrets forgotten by men and can bring life, as well as death, to those who have the ability to use them. Effects: Usage of divine runes unlocked
Your skill Divine Runes (incomplete) has been consumed by the grimoire!
¡°For now, this is all I can give you. Even this¡­¡± ¡°Is bending the rules?¡± Hall suggested. ¡°Something like that. I wish I could do more.¡± He nodded and breathed in deeply. His gaze swept over the waves of darkness. The dark abominations trampled each other in the attempt to sacrifice themselves. ¡°Thank you. This is enough.¡± With a last look at both girls by his side, he raised his voice. ¡°Ain¡¯t no grave, can hold my body down!¡± Blinding light filled the world and when he opened his eyes, he saw an army of vicious beasts surrounding him. Screams and the smell of burnt flesh assaulted his senses. Time returned to its normal flow. Lily gasped, and though her features relaxed, her tears didn¡¯t stop. Hall wanted to comfort her, but time ran out. He couldn¡¯t see Grim anymore, but felt her hand on his own. For Death, she was surprisingly warm. Hall pushed himself to his knees. The cold ground still trembled, but he felt the power of the runes beneath him. He pulled out the blades of the soul weaver, the sword in his right, the dagger in his left. Lily refused to let go of his hand and he still felt Grim¡¯s touch. Both followed his movements. The labyrinth had taken its toll on the dark blades he held and their durability reached its limit. Thin cracks and notches in the metal showed their condition. Hall grit his teeth, but he was out of options. ¡°Moira, I¡¯m gonna need your help on this one.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She cleared her throat, but still wavered. ¡°You don¡¯t necessarily have to target a specific spot in the rune array, but for a somewhat better result¡­ the circle shaped one slightly to your right and¡­.¡± Desperation entered her voice. ¡°The one that looks like a cross in a star. Left of the first one. Hurry!¡± The runes below him had gained a luster that made them stand out from the obsidian ground. Within moments, Hall found the runes Moira pointed out. Lily rubbed her red eyes and calmed down. Her voice, weak at first, rose above the screeches of the dying and lifted a weight off Hall¡¯s shoulder. ¡®I will follow you into the Dark¡¯ added to the effect of ¡®In my Time of Dying¡¯ and the blue energy he poured into his blades grew ever brighter. The scythe, as if unwilling to let go, still clung to the tree and consumed its darkness. After a last glance, Hall raised his arms. He closed his eyes and filled his lungs with cold air. ¡®Blast Tyrant¡¯, a powerful roar, swept over the fields of enemies and, with terrifying force, he rammed his blades downward. New cracks formed on the weapons when they penetrated the ground. Like water, the energy flowed along the engraved lines of the divine runes. An explosion of light erupted beneath Hall. It coiled around him and Lily, swallowed them, and rose to the heavens. And it spread. The glowing runes detonated and beams of light emerged from the ground. The Sorian runes in the labyrinth had stunned the Nephesh-Ra¡¯a. But the divine runes¡¯ light tore the flesh off their bones, ripped apart their innards and incinerated the shreds of remaining skin. Revenants and Nachtmahre wailed in utter terror before their bodies turned to dust. The specters screamed in panic, but they couldn¡¯t hide from the blazing rays that burnt away their essence. Hall¡¯s strength seeped through the blades and into the ground. His vision became blurry, sweat formed on his forehead. A cold numbness spread in his limbs, but he grit his teeth and poured even more energy into the runes. The overwhelming brightness turned the crater into a deathtrap for the dark beings, but no matter how many perished, more rushed over the crater¡¯s edge.
Time left: 4:28 4:27 4:26
A dull haze entered Hall¡¯s eyes and the light around him flickered. A handful of specters charged through the weakened seal, but Hall shook his head fiercely to clear the daze that surged inside of him. The seal stabilized and burned away whatever entered its range. ¡°Focus, Harbinger.¡± Moira yelled. ¡°I wish I could do something, help somehow. But please, don¡¯t give up.¡± Hall¡¯s upper body swayed slightly, but he clung to the blades in his hands. And he wasn¡¯t alone in this fight. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Sweat poured from his pale face and he showed his clenched teeth in an attempt to smile. ¡°This is nothing.¡±
Time left: 3:34 3:33 3:32
The handles in his grip still trembled together with the earth. More and more cracks appeared on the few inches of metal that stuck out of the ground. And then, with a sound clear as a bell, both weapons shattered. Hall¡¯s energy proved too much for the battered blades and they exploded into hundreds of shards. The sharp fragments pierced his hands, arms and body. Blood flowed from a dozen wounds, but Hall never felt it. The light retreated from the edge of the crater and allowed the dark flood to reconquer their lost ground. ¡°Damn it, what now?¡± Hall shouted. He tried to stand up, bus his tired legs gave in. Numbness paralyzed his limbs and only with great effort could he move his arms. ¡°Hall, your blood!¡± Moira urged him. Hall only nodded and forced his palms on top of the shards of metal that still stuck in the earth. The first specters almost reached them, but Hall showed no signs of panic. He groaned and pressed his hands down. The blade shards pierced his palms and burning pain overwhelmed the cold paralysis in his arms. The blades¡¯ black flames had disappeared with their destruction and Hall¡¯s blood warm gushed out of his hands. It filled the small cracks in the metal, flowed around the fragments and entered the ground. He forced his soul energy through his blood and into the runes. Another explosion of light annihilated the Nephesh-Ra¡¯a who almost reached the scythe. A wave of nausea hit him, but he compelled himself to look at his blood and poured more and more energy into it.
Time left: 2:23 2:22 2:21
Hall¡¯s health bar slowly emptied and he tasted metal on his dry tongue. The earth still trembled under the enemy charge. ¡°Only a little more,¡± Moira pleaded. Hall nodded and spit out a mouthful of blood. ¡°No problem.¡± Pain and fatigue clouded his mind. The screams of the dying monsters faded and Lily¡¯s voice, her song, took their place in his consciousness. His breathing grew shallow, his vision misty. His beating heart droned in his ears and cold sweat covered his skin. He lost track of time and seconds turned to eons. Hall barely reacted when a hand gently shook his shoulder. ¡°You can stop now.¡± He needed a moment to process Lily¡¯s words. He raised his head and saw no more dark figures at the edge of the crater. The earth stood still and dead silence ruled the frozen cave.
Time left: 0:37 0:36 0:35
¡°You did it,¡± Moira whispered. ¡°You really did it.¡± She laughed softly, but sobs of relieve found their way into her voice. ¡°Yeah, we did.¡± Hall closed his eyes and pulled his mangled hands from the shards. The remnants of the once powerful blades had taken on a red shade and the faint cracks glowed crimson. He tried to move his numb legs, but they refused to obey. His upper body swayed before it fell on its side and his shoulder hit the ground. Lily slowly turned him on his back and rested her hands on his arm. Her eyes wandered along his body. His armor was torn to pieces, his weapons were shattered. She stroked his battered skin, careful not to touch the wounds. Lily bit her lower lip, but couldn¡¯t stop her tears from falling. She lowered her head when a hand reached for her cheek. Hall smiled at his familiar. He could guess his state from her red eyes and disheveled hair, and it took most of his strength to raise his arm. ¡°Silly girl.¡± His thumb brushed her tears away. ¡°You know these wounds will heal. And even if we voyagers die, it¡¯s not for long.¡± Lily sobbed and pressed her hands against his chest. ¡°Do you know what it feels like to see the one¡­¡± she pressed her face into his palm, ¡°you¡­ foolish, stupid¡­¡± ¡°Why?¡± Moira asked. ¡°You¡¯re a voyager, aren¡¯t you? All this pain. All this suffering. Why?¡± Hall didn¡¯t answer right away. He stared at the sky where the ceiling disappeared in the cave¡¯s dim light. ¡°There are worse things than pain.¡± His health bar slowly recovered and his wounds disappeared one by one. And then the timer finally ran out.
Time left: 0:02 0:01 0:00 The event ¡®Cleansing¡¯ ended successfully. +50 Fame +5 attribute points You have leveled up!
Too bad those kills didn¡¯t give any experience. That would solve a lot of problems. With Lily¡¯s help, he got up and stumbled toward the black tree. It had lost its threatening aura and the once oppressive air around it tasted of ash. The disfigured corpses in its crown had fallen victim to the runes¡¯ light and only torched branches remained. Hall placed his left palm on the trunk. The wood crumbled under his touch and stained his fingers. He took a deep breath, grabbed the scythe with his right and pulled. The weapon had barely held onto the tree and came out easily. ¡°Too close.¡± Hall shook his head. ¡°Way too close.¡± ¡°Master.¡± A sharp voice resounded in the crater and a jolt ran through Hall¡¯s arm. ¡°What the?¡± He stared at the scythe in his hands. ¡°Master.¡± ¡°It grew a lot,¡± Moira explained. ¡°It was destined to gain a consciousness sooner or later. But don¡¯t expect too much, it will take a lot more before it develops a real personality.¡± Hall took a closer look.
Harvester of Sorrow
Damage:0-100Durability:-
Level:21 (11%)Quality:Unique
A truly terrifying weapon. Although incomplete, this blade carries the ability to cut deep into the very soul and devour the darkness that lies within. It will grow with the energy it gathers and with the one that wields it. Effects: -60% damage against enemies without grave sins -60% damage against enemies without a soul +60% damage against enemies with an enslaved soul +60% damage against enemies kept alive through a foreign soul Ignores 55% of the enemies armor If lodged into a soul it causes 41 damage / sec, reduces recovery and incoming healing effects by 55% Damage increases with the weight of the sins Damage reduced by the enemy¡¯s willpower Cuts through divine protection (15%) Requirements: Class Harbinger of Death Willpower: 150
¡°Not bad.¡± He patted the weapon and felt a pleasant tingling. ¡°It will probably need a name at some point,¡± Moira said with a soft voice. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll think of something.¡± He swung the heavy scythe and, like an axe, it bit into the trunk. The dead tree offered no resistance and Hall cut through it in single swipe. The black abomination trembled and slowly toppled over. Even before it hit the ground, its branches turned to ash and gusts of wind carried it away. Soon, only an obsidian pole stood in its place. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Hall inspected the arm long rod.
-?-
Quality:Unknown
An old curse corrupted this item, altered its purpose and allowed centuries of darkness to accumulate in it.
¡°This is a powerful item,¡± Moira said, surprised. ¡°To distort it like this, requires a equally powerful curse. You¡¯re not strong enough to purify it alone.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± Hall smirked and drew on his soul energy. He activated the purifying properties of his skill ¡®Down with the Sickness¡¯ and drowned the black glow of the metal pole in his blue light.
Purification failed!
¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Told you.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll put it away for now and we¡¯ll try later.¡± He didn¡¯t mind the eerie glow or its nauseating aura too much and both disappeared when the item entered his inventory. Hall turned and tightened the grip around his scythe. ¡°And what can I do for you?¡± Hundreds of illusionary figures¡ªmen, women, and children¡ªfilled the crater behind them. Most carried weak smiles and some held hands. An old man stepped forward and bowed. The others followed his example. An army of ghosts bowed their heads before Hall and his companions. ¡°We will never be able to thank you enough, not in this world.¡± The old man¡¯s body flickered. ¡°May your soul be blessed.¡± A faint glow emerged from the purified spirits and their figures slowly dissolved into particles of light. ¡°Harbinger, take me out.¡± An excited undertone entered Moira¡¯s voice. Hall raised an eyebrow, but did as she asked. He put the scythe into his inventory and held the heavy tome in both hands.
Event Quest: Whispers in the Dark
Quest complete You cleansed all specters and returned peace to their tortured souls. Rewards: Special Skill for your Grimoire You have gained a level!
Thousands of little lights ascended into the sky. They twisted and merged until a single stream of glowing energy flowed toward Hall. ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Moira said. Hall hesitated, but relaxed when he heard his grimoire¡¯s words. The stream of light entered the book, flowed through it and emerged from its backside. The energy of hundreds of souls surged through the old pages and Hall trembled at the feeling of the accumulated strength. That¡¯s the pure power of souls? Quite frightening really. After a minute, the light finally vanished and Hall put the grimoire back. ¡°Let¡¯s see what skill you got from this, it looked impressive enough.¡± ¡°Oh it is. It really is.¡± Moira beamed with excitement.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Angels at my Gate (passive)--100%
Every cleansed soul that leaves its body after death, will leave a part of its knowledge and experience with you. Effects: Knowledge from souls (only when cleansed)
¡°This is amazing, we can get your strength back up a lot faster,¡± Hall said. ¡°Let me have a quick look at your progress.¡±
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Death¡¯s Grimoire (passive)Beginner287%
Knowledge is power! Currently weak, this tome can be filled with information and wisdom, granting great power to its partner. Effects: Damage of skills related to Death (class skills) increased by 2% Range and effect of skills related to Death increased by 2% Defense against skills related to Death increased by 2%
¡°I¡¯m really grateful for this, thank you, Hall.¡± He waved her off. ¡°What¡¯s there to thank for. We don¡¯t have too many people in this world we can rely on. So we rely on each other.¡± Hall turned to Lily. She took his hand and nodded. His gaze wandered to the spot where he had lain, the spot where he died. ¡°Really only a few. But we¡¯ll do what it takes.¡± He walked toward the countless shards that once formed his blades of the soul weaver and his face twisted when he picked up the fragments. ¡°Great, no swords, no armor. Good thing we¡¯re done here.¡± Hall stretched his limbs and cracked his neck. His health and stamina slowly refilled and, even though blood and ash still covered his body, he felt a lot better after a few bites and some water. ¡°Let¡¯s get going. Those Nephesh-Tova guys owe us a big reward.¡± Now that the battle was over, the cold air assaulted his exposed skin and he wrapped his torn cloak tighter around his body. Unfortunately he still couldn¡¯t wear the only clothes he possessed. Even if he put them on again, they would only serve decorative purposes and give him neither stats nor warmth. Hall stepped over the edge of the crater and almost missed the twitching mass on the ground. ¡°Oh I forgot about you guys.¡± A grin spread on his face. ¡°But you can¡¯t really blame me now, can you?¡± A Nachtmahr, or what was left of him, dragged himself away from Hall. The monster¡¯s legs were charred and a trail of his grey blood lead away from the crater. The creature of nightmares screeched at the sight of Hall. It clawed into the frozen ground and pulled his mutilated body away, desperate, frantic. ¡°Are you scared?¡± Hall stood in front of the Nachtmahr, cutting off his escape route. He placed his boot on the monster¡¯s head and glared into the large cave. ¡°Do you see this?¡± Hall yelled. ¡°If you¡¯re watching, this is what will happen with the rest of your army.¡± He put pressure on his boot. The Nachtmahr¡¯s weak bones gave in and the skull exploded like a ripe melon. ¡°I¡¯m coming for you.¡±
Event Quest: Kadaverstern
Quest complete You destroyed a horde of Nachtmahre, denying them the possibility to spread. Be careful, when one camp of those creatures exist, there might be more. Rewards: An unknown foe has noticed you Report your achievement to the Nephesh-Tova and expect compensation You have gained a level!
The corner of Hall¡¯s lips twitched, but he stayed quiet. Instead, he picked up the pace and ran through the wide cave, past frozen vines and large rocks. He jumped over streams of mercury and evaded fields of rock grass to spare his boots the same fate that his armor suffered. Before, he spent days fighting through the cave and through countless corridors. Now, he rushed through it all, only stopping to rest when his stamina ran low. Nobody stopped him when he ran through dark hallways and past rune covered walls, until he finally stood in front of another cave that looked tiny compared to the one he fought in. He still left the status points he got from his last three level ups undistributed, so he could make a better decision when he received the quest rewards. ¡°Lily, how is your progress with the journal?¡± Hall asked his familiar who still read the ledger to increase Moira¡¯s knowledge. ¡°I think I¡¯m about halfway through. Maybe we should only return it once I¡¯m done with it.¡± ¡°As if we¡¯d give it back.¡± Hall chuckled and shook his head. ¡°We saved their white behinds. If anything, they should increase our access to their library.¡± The familiar blue glow greeted them and the frail figures of the Nephesh-Tova worked on various tables. ¡°You have returned.¡± ------------------------------------------------------------- Author¡¯s Note: Hey guys, Hope you enjoyed the new chapter, Took me long enough, I¡¯ll make sure the next one will be out a bit faster :grin: As always, I¡¯m grateful for every comment, for ideas and for pointing out mistakes (posts, PMs, chat), and thanks to those who did it and do it :D Special thanks to Ricky, Trent, Max and Sophie for sponsoring this chapter, you are awesome and I¡¯ll get the next one done faster ;) :bye: Status Window Hall: Spoiler : Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.
Status Window
Name:HallAlignment:Death
Level:59Class: Harbinger of Death
Race:HumanGender:Male
Title:Somewhere I Belong
Fame:1134Infamy:0
-
Health:3755 / 2520Health Regen:4.8/ Sec
Mana:0 / 2585Mana Regen:5.1 / Sec
Stamina:1030 / 1030Stamina Regen:6.6 / Sec
-
Strength:177+35Agility:140+25
Vitality:90+10Endurance:89+10
Intelligence:112+10Wisdom:118+10
Willpower:163+10Luck:40+10
-
Attack:37Defense:25+45
Magical Resistance
Fire:10%+10%Water:11%+10%
Wind:11%+10%Earth:11%+10%
Lightning:10%+10%Illusion:40%+5%
Light:10%+5%Darkness:40%+5%
+ 30 added to all stats + Willpower stat raised by 80 points + Magical Resistances raised by 10% + Resistance to Illusion and Darkness Magic raised by an additional 30% + Enables you to equip certain items or equipment specialized for this class + Increases attack power for attacks with soul energy + Unable to learn most crafting professions + Skills that use soul energy will be 10% more effective and will gain experience 50% faster + Strayed from the path of humanity. Your appearance causes fear or hatred in NPCs. + Unknown
Skill Overview Hall: Spoiler :
List of skills
Bad Moon RisingBeginner LVL3 (12%)
The Sound of SilenceBeginner LVL1 (12%)
In my Time of Dyingpassive
Ain''t no Grave, can hold my Body downpassive
Keep me in your Heart for a Whilepassive
Judgementpassive
I''m Still Standingpassive
Watching over mepassive/active
Death¡¯s GrimoireBeginner LVL2 (57%)
Turn the PageBeginner LVL1 (0%)
Soul PerceptionBeginner LVL7 (78%)
Soul PressureBeginner LVL3 (49%)
Soul ChainsBeginner LVL9 (4%)
Mana DrainBeginner LVL4 (21%)
Soul DistortionBeginner LVL3 (14%)
Hells BellsBeginner LVL3 (11%)
AmbidexterityBeginner LVL5 (23%)
IdentificationBeginner LVL5 (75%)
Down with the SicknessBeginner LVL4 (57%)
Blast TyrantBeginner LVL4 (12%)
Chain MasteryBeginner LVL7 (91%)
Sword MasteryBeginner LVL4 (31%)
Dagger MasteryBeginner LVL4 (2%)
Equipment Hall: Spoiler : Weapons: Main-hand:
Blade of the Soul Weaver (destroyed)
Damage:44-57Durability:0/90
Quality:Unique
An incomplete sword covered by shadows. Can only be wielded by those that have control over soul energy. Remnants of soul essence mark this sword as property of Hall, the Harbinger of Death. Effects: Ignores 30% of the enemies armor Ignores 30% of the enemies endurance Slight chance to confuse or stun the enemy Wounds caused by this sword won¡¯t bleed If cut by this sword the effect of all healing spells are reduced by 50% +10% Darkness Resistance +20 Strength Area of Effect damage around the sword (5% of hit damage, Range: 10cm) If imbued with soul energy, damage can be increased (max. +50%) Requirements: Willpower: 130 Strength: 100 Agility: 80
Off-hand:
Short Blade of the Soul Weaver (destroyed)
Damage:32-44Durability:0/75
Quality:Unique
An incomplete dagger covered by shadows. Can only be wielded by those that have control over soul energy. Effects: Ignores 50% of the enemy¡¯s armor if the dagger is used to stab Ignores 50% of the enemy¡¯s endurance if the dagger is used to stab Slight chance to confuse or stun the enemy Wounds caused by this dagger won¡¯t bleed If cut by this dagger the effect of all healing spells are reduced by 20% If stabbed by this dagger the effect of all healing spells are reduced by 40% +10% Darkness Resistance +20 Agility If imbued with soul energy, damage can be increased (max. +50%) Requirements: Willpower: 130 Strength: 80 Agility: 100
Not equipped:
Harvester of Sorrow
Damage:0-100Durability:-
Level:21 (11%)Durability:-
Quality:Unique
A truly terrifying weapon. Although incomplete, this blade carries the ability to cut deep into the very soul and devour the darkness that lies within. It will grow with the energy it gathers and with the one that wields it. Effects: -60% damage against enemies without grave sins -60% damage against enemies without a soul +60% damage against enemies with an enslaved soul +60% damage against enemies kept alive through a foreign soul Ignores 55% of the enemies armor If lodged into a soul it causes 41 damage / sec, reduces recovery and incoming healing effects by 55% Damage increases with the weight of the sins Damage reduced by the enemy¡¯s willpower Cuts through divine protection (15%) Requirements: Class Harbinger of Death Willpower: 150
Armor Chest:
Hardened Leather Chest (destroyed)
Defense:30Durability:0/60
Quality:Magic
Leather armor of good quality made by a skilled craftsman without any special features. Effects: +5 Strength +10 Agility Requirements: Level 35 Strength: 50 Agility: 80
Legs:
Hardened Leather Pants (destroyed)
Defense:30Durability:0/60
Quality:Magic
Leather armor of good quality made by a skilled craftsman without any special features. Effects: +5 Strength +10 Agility Requirements: Level 35 Strength: 50 Agility: 80
Gloves:
Hardened Leather Gloves (destroyed)
Defense:15Durability:0/45
Quality:Magic
Leather armor of good quality made by a skilled craftsman without any special features. Effects: +5 Strength +5 Agility Requirements: Level 35 Strength: 50 Agility: 80
Boots:
Hardened Leather Boots
Defense:15Durability:7/60
Quality:Magic
Leather armor of good quality made by a skilled craftsman without any special features. Effects: +5 Strength +5 Agility Steps are muffled slightly Requirements: Level 35 Strength: 50 Agility: 80
Cloak:
Armored Cloak of Ella¡¯s Heritage
Defense:30Durability:12/90
Quality:Unique
An armored cloak made from rare dragon spider silk. It is harder than steel and at the same time almost as light as linen. An incredible piece of work improved by generations of craftsmen, imbued with powerful magic. Effects: +5% Resistance to elemental magic (Fire, Earth, Water,Wind,Lightning) Cloak will apply a low level form of stealth, diverting the attention of others +5% Chance to evade, deflect or divert an enemy attack Strong feelings of affection and gratefulness blessed this item: +5% damage against beings you deem evil If your health drops below 50% the material of the cloak hardens, doubling its defense for 10 min Requirements: Extremely high intimacy with Ella, blacksmith apprentice of Gelt Strength: 100 Agility: 100 Wisdom: 80
Rings: [td2]Quality:
Ring of Ogre Strength
Type:Accessory[/td2s]
Magic
A ring made for the chiefs of ogre clans as a bribe. Effects: +15 Strength +1.0% melee damage Requirements: Level 40 Strength 150
Gold Ring of a Blade Dancer Novice
Type:Accessory
Quality:Magic
A ring given to those that chose to become blade dancers and pass the initial test of the dancers guild. Effects: +5 Strength +10 Agility +1.5% Chance to Dodge Requirements: Level 40 Strength 60 Agility 110 /td100]
Necklace: [td100]Pendant of the Soul Weaver (incomplete)
Type:Accessory
Quality:Unique
An incomplete pendant covered by shadows. Can only be worn by those that have control over soul energy. Effects: +10 to all stats +5% to all resistances +unknown Requirements: Willpower 140
Active Quests: Spoiler :
Quest: Carry on my Wayward Son ¨C Part 2
After lifting the curse, Lily¡¯s soul is still not complete. Dravan, who made the curse, still holds part of it after draining her soul energy for so long. Rip it from him. Difficulty: C Quest requirements:
  • lift the Grand Curse of Shattered Trust from you and Lilith
Rewards: Unknown Failure: abandon Lily
Quest: No Sympathy for the Devil
The great mage William Henley asked you to hunt down his disciple, Dravan, the last one of the Sorian people. Dravan rules over a land of darkness unbeknownst to mankind where he controls an army of evil. Difficulty: C+ Quest requirements: Be cursed by Dravan, survive the curse and find the scroll of his master Rewards:
  • Restore what was broken, find what was lost and return what was stolen
  • Additional rewards depending on your actions
Failure: exceed the time limit of one year
Quest: Man in the Box
You are trapped in a maze together with the Nephesh-Tobh. They are the keeper of Sorian heritage and stand at the brink of extinction. Find and defeat the darkness that threatens to overwhelm them. Difficulty: D+ Quest requirements: None Rewards: Skill Soul Weaving Failure: the last Nephesh-Tobh dies
Completed Quests: Spoiler :
Quest: Rest for the Wicked
Quest complete The quest that was given to you under false pretense and that was part of the ploy to betray you and leave you to die was deemed impossible to solve. Against all odds you did it. The Banshee¡¯s soul found peace at your side because you set her free and gave her the ability to trust again.
Quest: Carry on my Wayward Son
Quest complete You and Lilith managed to lift the Grand Curse of Shattered Trust and to leave the area after destroying the tower. Quest Part 2 Unlocked
Quest: Peace of Mind
Quest failed. Because you refused to bow to the will of the gods of light you will be punished. Your relationship with the churches of light deteriorates.
Quest: Follow the Reaper
Quest complete You exceeded Death¡¯s expectation and decided to join her as a companion.
Quest: Master of Puppets
Quest complete Not only did you destroy the goblins inhabiting the abandoned mine, hindering them from creating more undead animal servants, but you also destroyed the cause of the dark magic. You also released the souls of those imprisoned by darkness and gave peace to the souls of the dead villagers.
Quest: Mama liked Roses
Quest complete You gave Ella a little peace of mind and a chance to bury her beloved mother. Furthermore you destroyed the cause of her grief.
Quest: The Witch¡¯s Promise
Quest complete: You chose to destroy the witch, releasing her prisoner, hindering her from summoning a great blood demon that would have terrorized the kingdom.
Quest: Alice in Chains
Quest complete: Facing gruesome trials, overcoming your inner turmoil and defeating unimaginable darkness, you entered into a contract with Moira, Death¡¯s Grimoire.
Quest: The Running Man
Quest complete You found several documents implicating Bredon¡¯s royalty with The Cattle Hunt.
Quest: They can''t keep us down
Quest complete At great personal risk you stirred up the emotions of Roselake¡¯s nobility and shattered their trust in the king to protect them. You proved to the resistance, that you are worthy of joining their cause. [td]
[td] Quest complete You decided to give the evidence connecting the royal family and the cattle hunt to the merchant Jorn and the resistance.
Quest: The Running Man ¨C Part 2
Event Quest: Whispers in the Dark
Quest complete You cleansed all specters and returned peace to their tortured souls.
Event Quest: Kadaverstern
Quest complete You destroyed a horde of Nachtmahre, denying them the possibility to spread. Be careful, when one camp of those creatures exist, there might exist more.
Available Titles: Spoiler :
Title : Paranoid
The betrayal of your friends scarred you for life but you learned a lesson to choose careful who to trust and are now a little bit tougher than before. Effects when equipped: People think you¡¯re insane because you are frowning all the time
Title : Solitary Man
For breaking a curse of betrayal you will be marked by dark powers to keep you alone in this world Effects: When in a party you deal 15% less damage for every party member Familiars and Pets are not included Effects are applied even if the title is not equipped
Title : I Stand Alone
For breaking a curse of betrayal you will be marked by dark powers to keep you alone in this world Effects: When in a party you receive 15% more damage for every party member Familiars and Pets are not included Effects are applied even if the title is not equipped
Title : Damaged beyond Repair
You damaged your own soul irreparably and because you forcefully destroyed the connection between cursed chains and it¡¯s source the remaining dark magic will taint your soul. Effects: Relationships with the churches of light suffer and can¡¯t advance beyond friendly Effects are applied even if the title is not equipped
Title : Losing my Religion
The gods punish you for refusing them. The seven churches of light of the continent Akreton declare you a Persona non Grata, an unwelcomed person. Effects: Your reputation with the churches can¡¯t advance further than unfriendly. You are not allowed to enter the churches premises. Healing fees are tripled. If a member of one of the seven churches of light kills you, he will not gain infamy Effects are applied even if the title is not equipped
Title: The bigger they are¡­
For defeating a unique, named quest boss more than 40 levels above you, you are granted with knowledge of how to deal with experienced and dangerous foes, bigger and stronger than you Effects when equipped +5% damage against named monsters +5% damage against monsters bigger than you
Title : Somewhere I belong
You stood up to gods and devils, to angels and demons, and with your soul at stake you formed a contract, binding your being to another. By forsaking your humanity you gained a powerful ally that you saved from vanishing into nothingness. After giving part of your very soul to your familiar, you now shared it a second time, bringing light to the hopeless and forgotten. Effects when equipped: Your trusted companions, those inseparably bound to you will benefit from the home, the purpose, you give them (includes familiars, contractors and pets) +5% range of skills +5% effectivity of support magic +5% resistance against all magic Heightened resistance against crowd control effects +5% experience gain
Stat Window Lily: Spoiler :
Status Window
Name:LilithAlignment:Death
Level:60Class: Familiar of the Harbinger of Death
Race:Human (Spirit)Gender:Female
Title:-
-
Health:0 / 1190Health Regen:3.6/ Sec
Mana:11640 / 9055Mana Regen:48.9 / Sec
Stamina:-Stamina Regen:-
-
Strenght:32Agility:40
Vitality:55Luck:35
Intelligence:402Wisdom:411
-
Attack:4Defense:-
Magical Resistance
Fire:10%Water:10%
Wind:10%Earth:10%
Lightning:10%Illusion:40%
Light:10%Darkness:40%
+ 15 added to all stats + Intelligence and Wisdom stat raised by 20 points + Magical Resistances raised by 10% + Resistance to Illusion and Darkness Magic raised by an additional 30% + Unaffected by physical attacks if not in corporeal form + Increases magical damage if the target is affected by the magic of the Harbinger of Death + Soul bound to Hall, the Harbinger of Death + Unknown
Skill Overview Lily: Spoiler :
List of skills
Soul Meets BodyBeginner LVL5 (89%)
Angels don¡¯t KillBeginner LVL6 (21%)
Spiritual HealingBeginner LVL4 (65%)
Voice of the SoulBeginner LVL8 (38%)
I will follow you into the DarkBeginner LVL5 (87%)
Prayer for the DyingBeginner LVL2 (11%)
The Sound of PerseveranceBeginner LVL3 (21%)
Tears of HeavenBeginner LVL3 (79%)
Velvet ThornsBeginner LVL3 (29%)
Garden of Thornspassive
Chapter 28 - Obedience Thru Suffering Chapter 28 ¨C Obedience Thru Suffering ¡°Hello Shom, you seem surprised.¡± Hall raised his hand to greet the approaching Nephesh-Tova. ¡°We are never surprised.¡± He motioned Hall to follow. ¡°But your success is still rather¡­ unexpected. The change has already affected our community. You have our gratitude.¡± You don¡¯t sound very grateful though¡­ Most of the white figures ignored Hall when Shom lead him to one of the shelves. ¡°Here is your reward. Our debt has been paid.¡± The Nephesh¡¯s voice held no trace of warmth.
Quest: Man in the Box
Quest complete You destroyed the darkness that threatened to overwhelm the labyrinth under Roselake and saved the Nephesh-Tova and their gathered knowledge. Quest requirements: None Rewards: Skill book: Soul Weaving You have leveled up! You have leveled up!
Hall took the small book from Shom¡¯s fragile hand and, after hesitating, put it away. ¡°There¡¯s something else I need from you.¡± ¡°Speak, Harbinger.¡± ¡°I would like more access to your library.¡± Shom¡¯s haggard face showed no reaction, but his words emitted frost. ¡°I think we¡¯ll just take the ledger back.¡± A thin voice interrupted him. ¡°Wait a minute, brother.¡± Another Nephesh-Tova approached them. He leaned heavily on a cane, his skin almost transparent. While all Nephesh-Tova looked old and fragile, this one seemed ancient. ¡°I think we should be a bit kinder toward our savior.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about kindness, elder. This is about our task. We are not at liberty to give this knowledge away. Maybe an unrelated weapon or some treasure we picked up. Gold or jewelry. But our knowledge?¡± Shom waved his hand and raised his voice. ¡°There is no room for debate.¡± The elder remained unfazed. ¡°This human not only vanquished the darkness in the labyrinth, but also defeated Benmal¡¯ach. You know we¡¯ve been fearing his return for centuries. There has to be something.¡± Hall had listened carefully and waited for the moment Shom¡¯s resolve weakened. ¡°How about a trade?¡± Both Nephesh-Tova turned toward him, their eyeless gazes looking at him in expectation. Hall summed the soul gem from his inventory and handed it to the old Nephesh. ¡°I took this from an old noble woman who controlled several enslaved undead with it. You said your purpose was to look for the Sorian heritage. I assume there¡¯s more out there and a lot of it equally problematic.¡± Both nodded slowly. ¡°Then how about a deal? In exchange for access to your library, I¡¯ll send you whatever I find.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± asked the elder. He sounded uncertain. ¡°Despite what my brother says, we owe you more than we could ever repay.¡± Shom¡¯s hand trembled slightly when he picked up the soul gem. ¡°Yes, this trade seems beneficial. We won¡¯t lose knowledge, but come closer to achieving our goal.¡± ¡°It¡¯s surely beneficial to you.¡± Hall shrugged. ¡°But I need that knowledge. And not only what you have on the Sorian heritage, all of it. History, monsters, war and kingdoms, current and past. Whatever you have.¡± ¡°Certainly.¡± Shom almost waved him off and quickly put the soul gem into his pocket, as if afraid Hall would take it back. ¡°Send everything to us, even if you¡¯re unsure. We¡¯ll return it if it doesn¡¯t concern us. You can access our storage from every city with a branch bank.¡± ¡°Deal! And don¡¯t hold back, I bet others would pay too.¡± Shom pressed his thin lips together, but only nodded. ¡°Great, now that that¡¯s taken care of¡­¡± Hall scratched the back of his head and carefully said, ¡°Do you remember the blades I wore before?¡± ¡°Yes, magnificent weapons of great power. An irreplaceable ancestry worth preserving for millennia to come.¡± Indifference returned to Shom¡¯s expression after his short lapse. ¡°About that.¡± Hall removed the shards of metal from his inventory and held them in his open palms. ¡°They kind of¡­ broke¡± Shom and the elder replied with silence and Hall could have sworn it got even colder in the cave. ¡°They broke? They broke?¡± While Shoom had discussed the death of his comrades calmly, his voice trembled when looking at the shards Hall had presented. ¡°I know it¡¯s a longshot, but can they be repaired?¡± Hall asked. ¡°Brother, why don¡¯t you return to our tasks and let me take care of the young harbinger?¡± The older Nephesh placed his frail hand on Shom¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Yes, elder.¡± His skin almost cracked over what little muscle still remained stuck to his bones. ¡°Harbinger, I thank you for your service. But never forget your responsibilities toward this world or be doomed to suffer the fate of those before you.¡± The elder¡¯s features softened for a moment and he shook his head at the leaving Shom. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. The Nephesh-Tova are very single minded and we don¡¯t have a lot of room for compassion or understanding.¡± ¡°No problem,¡± Hall said. ¡°But I¡¯m curious, why is that? Your souls¡ªor at least what I see¡ªare pure white, shouldn¡¯t you be saints, or angels, walking on this world?¡± ¡°You¡¯re too young, Harbinger.¡± The elder led Hall toward the edge of the cave where a large workbench leaned against the rune covered wall. Countless tools and materials occupied every inch of its dark surface. ¡°I hope you don¡¯t think this world is so simple that you can just separate it in black and white. No, not even in shades of grey. This world is¡­ complicated and its beings even more so.¡± ¡°What about the Ra¡¯a, they seemed pretty straight forward. Evil, simple as that.¡± The elder chuckled and shook his head. ¡°They may be pure darkness, but they are mindless. So, are they truly evil? If a flaming inferno destroys a city and claims the lives of thousands, can it be called evil? It is within its nature, it consumes.¡± He picked up a piece of coal from the table and crushed it in his palm. ¡°And so are we, the Nephesh-Tova. An extreme, unable to go against our nature. We exchanged compassion for dedication. Empathy for strength. We are but drones of a greater will, unable to do evil, but unwilling to help evil. And if you¡¯re pure light, everything around you is darkness.¡± Coal dust fell from his fist and a breeze picked it up, scattering it on the floor. ¡°We are a testament to the flaw perfections brings. This is why you imperfect beings rule the world, while light and darkness fight to gain your allegiance.¡± Hall let the elder¡¯s word sink in, but for now, he could only accept them. ¡°Then what about you?¡± The old man¡¯s lips formed a smile, but it only hid pain. ¡°We Nephesh aren¡¯t made to grow so old. I¡¯ve seen so many years, so many battles. Maybe the scars left some shadows on my soul, but I¡¯ve lost my place among my brothers long ago.¡± He lightly touched an old wound on his chest and fell silent for a moment. ¡°Listen to this old man babble,¡± he said and rubbed his hollow cheeks. ¡°Why don¡¯t you let me take a closer look of what¡¯s left of the blades?¡± He made some room on his workbench and Hall placed the metal shards on it. The veins in the fragments, almost invisible before, now clearly stood out and Hall still felt a trace of his soul energy from them. ¡°Interesting.¡± The elder picked up a piece and let it slide through his fingers. He felt its edges, smelt its charred marks and tasted the soul energy that engraved itself into the steel. ¡°Truly interesting. Yes, I think we can work with that.¡± Hall¡¯s face brightened. ¡°You can repair it?¡± ¡°Heavens, no.¡± The Nephesh shook his head and chuckled. ¡°You did well in preventing that. If you wanted to destroy it, I doubt you could have done it any better.¡± ¡°He¡¯s a lot more talkative than his friends,¡± Moira said. She sounded annoyed and Lily added a nod. ¡°Then what can we do?¡± Hall asked. ¡°I might be able to¡­¡± Various powders and tinctures appeared out of nowhere and the old Nephesh spread them on the smaller pieces. ¡°No, not that.¡± Hall and Lily watched in silence. Minutes passed and the elder¡¯s expression finally lightened. ¡°Yes, this will do.¡± ¡°What will?¡± ¡°As I said before, the swords can¡¯t be restored, but I should be able to use these shards to craft you a new armor.¡± He pointed at Hall¡¯s chest. ¡°You could use one.¡± The loss of the two blades struck a heavy blow to Hall¡¯s fighting capabilities and, compared to his cheap armor, replacing them would be difficult. But he had destroyed them and salvaging what little benefit he could get sounded a lot better than just cutting his losses. ¡°That would be great, thanks,¡± Hall said, his features brightening. ¡°Not so fast.¡± The elder raised his palm. ¡°I need a lot more equipment and it will take me a while to get this done.¡± Jorn and Shep expected Hall in Roselake, but only at the end of the week in real life, which gave him a little less than 3 days. ¡°What do you need?¡± ¡°The soul gem you gave Shom, there are smaller ones, very similar, but far less powerful.¡± He picked up a small crystal from his table and showed it to Hall. ¡°These are called soul shards, I need a lot of them.¡± Lily and Moira giggled, but Hall didn¡¯t even twitch. ¡°I may have picked up a few here and there. How many is a lot? I assume they are quite valuable.¡± ¡°The more, the better. And I wouldn¡¯t call them valuable. There won¡¯t be many places you can sell them. Only few can gather them, but even fewer can use them. They are similar to elemental shards in that regard.¡± ¡°What are elemental shards?¡± Hall asked. The Nephesh put the soul shard away and grabbed a handful of different crystals. Their color ranged from red and green to yellow and blue, but they all carried a spark of light within. ¡°The crystallized energy of the elements. Though, like soul shards, only those with special affinities can collect them, there¡¯s a significant difference. Everybody can use the common elemental shards. They just have to be placed in sockets to improve items or can be used as basic material,¡± the elder explained. He let the crystals fall through his fingers and one by one they dropped to the ground, reflecting the cave¡¯s cold light on their smooth surface. Hall had never heard of anything like it, but the game still held so much mystery that he was not surprised, but curious instead. Might want to look that up online. In the next few seconds dozens of soul shards piled up on the workbench until none remained in Hall¡¯s inventory. ¡°Is this enough?¡± ¡°This¡­ is a lot.¡± The elder coughed to dispel his surprise. ¡°Looks like you were busy.¡± Hall only smiled. ¡°What about the other materials?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take care of that. Just come back in around 10 days.¡± The elder waved him off. ¡°Think of it as a gift for your deeds. Especially taking care of Benmal¡¯ach. I wanted to reward you the moment you defeated him and I¡¯m glad I can do it now.¡± After expressing his gratitude, Hall and Lily left the cave behind and returned to the dark tunnels of the labyrinth. Hall narrowed his eyes. ¡°Hey, have you guys seen the old one the last time we¡¯ve been here?¡± Lily hesitated, but shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t know. They all look so similar. Why?¡± ¡°No real reason. What about you Moira?¡± ¡°Maybe, after all, I must have. But I¡¯m not sure.¡± Hall scratched the back of his head and stared into the darkness. Did the game create him only to reward me for defeating Benmal¡¯ach? Or is it just a coincidence? The game¡¯s AI couldn¡¯t have guessed I¡¯d come here, right? Maybe it just took the resources available and made the best out of it. But once again, he could only make assumptions and that wouldn¡¯t be of any help to him. So, he took out the skill book he had worked so hard for¡ªsoul weaving. ¡°Finally,¡± Hall brushed over the cracked binding, ¡°Learn!¡± A bright light enveloped him and illuminated the dark tunnels around them. But it faded quickly and left an even deeper darkness behind.
You have gained a new skill!
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Soul WeavingBeginner10%
The art to create, process and combine artifacts imbued with soul energy and influence the world around you with the power of your soul. Effects: Can temporarily combine items already imbued with your soul energy +3 intelligence +2 wisdom
It¡¯s a start I guess. ¡°So,¡± Lily looked at him expectantly. ¡°What can you do?¡± ¡°Maybe¡­¡± He took out his scythe, held it with his left hand and grabbed the end of his chain with his right. ¡°This.¡± Hall closed his eyes and he could immediately tell a difference in the energy he poured into his chains. Nothing changed in terms of its strength, but he felt it more clearly as if he could actually grasp it. The energy flowed through the chain on his right wrist, slowly, so he could sense its path, its aura and its will. And he could reform it, guide it forward and back, thicken it and force it out. Thanks to the skill, his level of control had reached new heights. Tendrils of light emerged from the chain¡¯s end and closed in on the scythe blade. The dark metal greeted it with a brimming glow. Bright vines intertwined, coiled around the steel and formed a solid connection. When the light dispersed, a new link had formed between the chain and the blade, connecting them. A smile spread on his face and with a wave of his hand, Hall dispelled the link and separated the two again. ¡°That¡¯s handy, though it seems a bit restrictive.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Moira said. ¡°This is only its first application. There should be a lot more this skill is capable of.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Hall nodded and connected his chain and scythe once more. ¡°For now, the chain will replace the grip. Let¡¯s see what we can do with this.¡± Hall grabbed the end of the chain where it connected to the scythe and let the glowing links slip through his fingers. A heavy thud resounded in the tunnel as the blade hit the ground. He tightened the grip around his chain, strengthened his stance and swung. Energy coursed through his arm and flowed into the chain and scythe. A wide grin spread on his face as the weapon rotated faster and faster and cut through the cold air. His energy stiffened and reinforced the chain, keeping the weapon from straying off its path. The buzzing sound grew louder and Hall¡¯s arm trembled until he couldn¡¯t hold on anymore. The chain slipped through his fingers and the blade clashed with the low hanging ceiling. Lily screeched and dove to safety when the recoiling weapon headed toward her. ¡°Hall, be careful.¡± ¡°Sorry, sorry.¡± He chuckled. ¡°But I doubt it would have hurt you.¡± ¡°Still,¡± she looked at him reproachfully, ¡°you don¡¯t throw big scythes at frail maidens.¡± ¡°True, let¡¯s find us some more suitable targets. Moira, I bet the Nephesh¡¯s map has some nice hunting grounds, so how about you tell us where to go?¡± So, they once again entered the labyrinth¡¯s dark tunnels, this time in search for experience and training. After all, a decent weapon requires mastering. ----------------------------------- ¡°Young master Steven, your gentlemen friends have arrived to accompany you to school,¡± an old man in a butler suit said, bowing. ¡°Good,¡± Steve straightened the tie on his neck, ¡°Tell them I¡¯ll be there in a minute. Father wanted to see me.¡± He walked down luxurious hallways, past expensive paintings and vain decorations he never even looked at. His footsteps echoed through the vast mansion, but nobody was there to hear them. A heavy door made of dark wood lead to his father¡¯s study. He placed his hand on the door handle, but hesitated and knocked instead. ¡°Father, it¡¯s me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re late.¡± He entered the large office and, as always, his heartbeat quickened in front of the massive desk. For as long as he could remember, his father had just sat there on the other side, a disapproving look in his eyes. No matter how much he had grown, that fact had never changed. ¡°Apologies. The war preparations for Roselake are taking up more time than I thought.¡± Steve put his hands behind his back and clenched both fists. His father looked up from his documents and took off his reading glasses. ¡°I entrusted you with this important task. I hope you won¡¯t disappoint me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we will own the city soon.¡± Steve forced himself to return his father¡¯s piercing gaze. ¡°No matter the outcome.¡± ¡°Good. That¡¯s what I¡¯ve taught you. In a situation where two forces collide, control both.¡± ¡°Yes, father. The king is already dependent on our troops and has given us command of what little force he has left. If he gets in our way, we¡¯ll dispose of him.¡± ¡°We put enough funds in it, so that is to be expected.¡± The man in his fifties looked down again and scribbled a few numbers on a sheet of paper. ¡°What about the rebels?¡± ¡°We bought most leaders and our men infiltrated their ranks. Everything is in place, both sides are about to tear each other apart,¡± Steve stated in a firm tone. For a while now, these conversations had been the only time he got to spend with his father and it felt like talking to his superior. ¡°Well, we spent enough money already. It is time we get something out of it.¡± His father¡¯s hard face revealed none of his thoughts when he looked up again. ¡°I assume nobody knows of our plans?¡± ¡°Only my squad: the twins and the two girls. You¡¯ve met them¡ªthey won¡¯t betray us.¡± The pen in his father¡¯s hand stopped moving. ¡°Fool, you don¡¯t know that. But you better make sure they would regret it if they ever did.¡± ¡°Yes, father. I have also instructed a few people to survey the situation in Norland. There are a few larger cities, but the capital, Heideborg, seems to have been almost captured by another family. However, there are still others contesting them. I don¡¯t believe we could currently establish a foothold there.¡± ¡°Of course not. Bredon is an insignificant kingdom, but Norland is different. Most of the large families and companies will try to gain power there. But they underestimate the minor countries. To obtain a base, be it a small one, is better than losing a fight over a big city.¡± He turned his gaze toward the map on one of his computer screens and nodded. ¡°Son, do you know why we need Roselake?¡± Steve hesitated. ¡°To establish a base in the world of Novus Vita?¡± ¡°That is only the first step. A means to an end,¡± the man in his late fifties said. ¡°To what end though?¡± ¡°Influence.¡± Steve¡¯s father nodded again. ¡°Something money won¡¯t buy you so easily. Control. Influence. Something we are currently losing. Tell me why.¡± That¡¯s what always happened. In every conversation. No words of comfort or encouragement. Progress at any cost. Preparation for Steve¡¯s future as the head of the company and family allowed no room for warmth and required constant questioning and study. ¡°After the last great war, the New Nobility¡ªheads of the largest companies¡ªtook many rights, duties and liberties from the governments and people. A new social class was created and, in a time of need, most gladly gave up their rights for security and comfort.¡± Steve kept his hands behind his back and recited his answer, as if prepared for the question. Of course he was. He expected it. He always did. ¡°And what changed?¡± His father regarded the university¡¯s education as insufficient, so he taught his son what the schools couldn¡¯t. Knowledge necessary to stand above others. ¡°The world did,¡± Steven said. ¡°Or more accurately, another world came into existence. From different virtual worlds to the current dominating one. Novus Vita. Sphinx established a second world and people accepted it. A world where the new nobility lost all control, all influence.¡± ¡°And I still can¡¯t believe Sphinx doesn¡¯t take advantage of their situation.¡± The white haired man shook his head. ¡°Maybe they can¡¯t. We don¡¯t know their goal, but they are the largest company in the world as it stands and, for now, we have to fight for the scraps from their table.¡± Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Steve¡¯s face twitched. ¡°For now it doesn¡¯t matter. We¡¯ll take control of Roselake and thus over the second life of thousands of people. When we control them in this world through the flow of money and in Novus Vita through guiding their behavior, it will give us a firmer standing among the New Nobility. Others have already fallen from our ranks, but we won¡¯t let that happen.¡± ¡°Good.¡± His father tapped a few numbers into the keyboard next to him. ¡°I¡¯ll transfer some funds to your account. Plan out your next steps and as soon as you control Roselake, make sure to get a firm grip on the city.¡± Steve bowed and turned to leave, but hesitated at the last moment. ¡°Mother asked for you again, she¡­ she isn¡¯t well. Maybe you should go see her.¡± His father¡¯s hand stopped moving. ¡°I¡¯ve just seen her,¡± his voice trembled almost unnoticeably, ¡°I¡¯ll visit her again when I have time.¡± Steve tightened his grip around the door handle. ¡°It¡¯s been over three months since you¡¯ve went to the hospital. The doctors¡­ you should see her.¡± A heavy fist struck the table and a spark of madness entered his father¡¯s eyes. ¡°I said I¡¯ll see her,¡± he yelled. ¡°Now leave!¡± For a moment, only the patter of rain against the window could be heard in the office. Steve opened his mouth, but then only grit his teeth and left, his words unspoken. His mother hadn¡¯t left the hospital in years and got weaker by the day. He hadn¡¯t heard her say more than a few sentences these last months and she always asked to see her husband. Steve¡¯s fingernails dug into his palms and he grimaced at the thought of the woman who once raised him. Or what was left of her. A hollow shell, only seeking for the man she loves and who once loved her. She forgot about her son, barely recognized him, her mind regressed and stuck in the past. Stuck with the memory of a man who didn¡¯t exist anymore¡ªthe man his father used to be. Steve shook his head violently to get rid of memories of what once was and thoughts of what could have been. He straightened his back and walked toward Rick and Dirk who waited for him in the lobby. ¡°Let¡¯s go. We¡¯ll meet a few of the captains of the royal army at the university. We need to make sure they know what¡¯s at stake.¡± His lips formed a cruel grin. ¡°They shouldn¡¯t forget who¡¯s in control in both worlds.¡± --------------------------------
You have leveled up!
¡°So tired,¡± Hall said and dropped on his behind. He leaned against a dead tree and took a sip from his canteen. ¡°But I actually reached level 67.¡± ¡°You fought like a madman these last days. It¡¯s no wonder you made so much progress.¡± Lily sat cross-legged, hovering in the air beside him, and looked at him with concern. ¡°Take a break.¡± ¡°Once we¡¯re done in Roselake, we¡¯ll take a break.¡± The tasteless rations he chewed increased his health regeneration and the cuts and bruises on Hall¡¯s unarmored skin slowly began to heal. ¡°I promised to take you to the beach after all, though that might take a while.¡± ¡°That can wait. Just don¡¯t overwork yourself.¡± She bit her lips and her fingers twitched. ¡°If I could just¡­¡± Hall smiled at the fidgeting girl. When was the last time somebody was so concerned when he overworked himself. The most he had gotten was a curious glance when he spent day and night in the library or when the rings under his eyes had turned pitch black. But true concern? He couldn¡¯t even remember. Slowly, the bones of the skeletal warriors and mages he had defeated began to disappear around them. The scythe¡ªthough not the best weapon against skeletons¡ªproved effective enough and in combination with his skills and second chain, he could annihilate them by the dozen. His skill ¡®Sound of Silence¡¯ made the fights against the mages almost too easy and their relatively low level¡ªbetween 45 and 65¡ªturned them into easy prey. He had only taken breaks in order to sleep a few hours and attend class, just so he could grind his way up to a higher level. Hall had felt the tense atmosphere in the university. He hadn¡¯t realized how many of the students, professors and even administrative personnel were actually involved in the situation in Roselake. Wherever he went, people would talk about their preparations and the strategies in the upcoming battles. Lily interrupted his thoughts when she asked, ¡°Are we going to leave soon? I kind of miss the sky. First the labyrinth, now this underground graveyard. It¡¯s really depressing.¡± ¡°I would have liked to get three more levels, but we don¡¯t have the time. We¡¯ll return to Roselake in a few hours where Shep is expecting us. We¡¯ll have to visit our Nephesh friends first though.¡± Hall moved his arms to push himself off the ground, but stopped. ¡°Let me take a quick look at the message windows first. I ignored them these last days, but I know there were a few nice things there.¡± He flipped through several windows announcing he leveled up. Seems like killing enemies of the same level makes more sense than struggling against stronger ones. The experience gain doesn¡¯t increase linearly or exponentially with the level. It¡¯s more than likely a logarithmic growth.
You have gained a new skill!
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Scythe MasteryBeginner10%
Constantly training with the scythe has increased your proficiency in combat. Effects: Damage increased by 10% Speed increased by 3% +3 Strength +2 Agility
Reminder: Due to the current use of your main hand weapon (combination of chain and scythe), the experience gained will be distributed between ¡®Chain Mastery¡¯ (80%) and ¡®Scythe Mastery¡¯ (20%)
You have gained a new title
Title: Jawbreaker
You have killed 1000 skeletons. The knowledge over their weaknesses allows you to dispose of them easier +3 attribute points When equipped: +5% damage against skeletons
¡°Levels really don¡¯t mean everything,¡± Hall mumbled. ¡°Skills, titles, events and simple training, you¡¯ll get attribute points for a lot of stuff.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Moira said. ¡°Judging an enemy by his level alone is foolish, but don¡¯t forget, it still means a lot.¡± Hall nodded and scratched his chin. I should check for a list with titles and skills that are easy to get. There has to be something online. But for now, he opened his character window and put the attribute points he gained into his stats. ¡°This should¡­¡± He quickly added up his stats and his face brightened. ¡°Yes, it really is.¡± ¡°What is?¡± Lily asked. ¡°This.¡± Hall grabbed a plain, crimson ring from his inventory. The ring he found in Bathory¡¯s castle. He had carried it for a while now and finally he fulfilled its requirements.
The Blood Count¡¯s Last Will
Type:Ring
Quality:Unique
A ring activated by blood. Powerful and often considered evil, but in the end just a tool that will follow the wearer¡¯s intention and adapts to his very soul. Effects: Unlocked after the wearer¡¯s blood is drawn. Effects depend on the user, his personality and traits, his character and class, Requirements: Strength + Agility + Intelligence + Wisdom + Vitality = 700 (base value) Activation by blood has to be done before level 100
The ring¡¯s red metal lit up for a moment when Hall put it on his finger. ¡°And?¡± Lily watched him curiously. ¡°Not sure.¡± Hall hesitated. ¡°Nothing changed.¡± ¡°Your blood,¡± Moira said. ¡°It should work then.¡± ¡°Right, makes sense.¡± Countless rusty swords and sabers, mostly scrap metal, littered the scant earth. He picked up one of them, cut his fingers and the moment a drop of blood touched the ring¡¯s metal, a sharp pain shot through his hand. The ring bit into his flesh and dug deep, only stopping when it hit bone. An explosion of red light drowned out their surroundings and a freezing touch grasped for Hall¡¯s chest. The grip tightened and even froze the pain that clawed its way up his arm. Lily gasped and rushed toward him. She clasped to his arm and tried to pull off the ring, but to no avail. More and more blood rushed into the ring and Hall¡¯s face lost all color. ¡°You have to endure.¡± Moira¡¯s voice resounded in his head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Hall pressed the words through his clenched teeth. ¡°I was just surprised. It¡¯s uncomfortable, but the pain isn¡¯t too bad.¡± Those words calmed his familiar, but she didn¡¯t let go of his arm. Hall¡¯s vision blurred and his temperature dropped as the vampire ring continued to suck his blood. The crimson brilliance around Hall thickened and tiny drops of light formed, hovering in the air. Every breath he took held the scent of blood and a metallic taste coated his tongue. Seconds became minutes and when the light finally disappeared, the ring returned to its plain form. Cold, crimson metal. Flawless, but unremarkable.
You have gained a new skill!
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Under Black Flags We MarchBeginner10%
The souls you saved offer their bodies in gratitude In exchange for your life force, your blood, you will be able to control them for a short amount of time Effects:
  • Awaken the bodies of the enemies whose souls you have cleansed
  • To give them life, you have to sacrifice yours (every hit point they gain, you will lose. Lost health can only be restored once the Awoken perishes)
  • Awoken bodies lose their intelligence, 50% attack power and 50% speed
Duration: 10 min Cost: 100 mana / Awakening Limited to 3 Awoken Requirements: Needs ¡®The Blood Counts Last Will¡¯ to transfer life force +5 Intelligence
¡°Awesome.¡± A relaxed smile appeared on Hall¡¯s face, the pain slowly vanished and warmth returned to his limbs. He flexed his fingers, cracked his stiff neck and pointed at the skeleton bones scattered before him. ¡°Let¡¯s give it a try¡­ Awaken!¡± Skills could be activated differently. Either through action, through the name of the skill itself, or with the help of a short command. But even after Hall spoke the command, nothing happened. The bones remained lifeless. Hall raised an eyebrow and tried again, but the result remained the same. Before he could try for a third time, a sigh interrupted him. ¡°Those creatures were given life through magic,¡± Moira said. ¡°They have no soul that could offer their body to you.¡± ¡°Damn, guess we¡¯ll try later.¡± Hall took another look into his inventory. The countless bone fragments and few pieces of old equipment wouldn¡¯t get him many coins, but the experience gain more than compensated for the lack of profit. ¡°Ah well, better than nothing. Let¡¯s go.¡± They left the underground graveyard behind and returned to the tunnels. The prospect of leaving the cold labyrinth for good lifted their spirits and they talked casually among themselves. Lily chattered happily about gathering herbs in the spring, about biscuits and cake, and about her memories of family celebrations. Hall only listened. All the battles they had fought, all the darkness they had seen, it was good for Lily to shift her thoughts toward the light. ¡°What about you Moira?¡± Lily asked after talking about a Sunday picnic in her village. ¡°Do you remember your past?¡± Hall narrowed his eyes, but kept quiet. He knew very little of Moira, but the way Grim treated her, there was a story. ¡°I¡­¡± Moira hesitated. ¡°Sorry,¡± Lily hurriedly said, her eyes widening. She put her hand in front of her mouth and looked to the ground. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have asked.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s alright.¡± Moira tried to cover the sadness in her voice. ¡°I¡­ I remember a little. Images of my parents. A small house, old, but cozy. A fence surrounded it and weeds grew at the edges of our garden.¡± Her voice brightened for a moment. ¡°It was at the edge of a forest where I used to play and my mother would always call me when father came home and we would eat together.¡± She stopped for a second and swallowed. ¡°But I also remember fire, screaming and then¡­ nothing. I¡¯m not sure. I want to remember and I try, but I can¡¯t. I just can¡¯t.¡± Lily bit her lower lip while Hall scratched the back of his head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll find out,¡± he said. ¡°Of course we will.¡± Lily¡¯s face brimmed with resolve as she swung her fist and nodded. ¡°Thanks,¡± Moira said quietly. The darkness in the labyrinth around them lost a little of its menace and the cold air felt less stifling. After a few hours they found their way back to the cave of the Nephesh-Tova and, while the frail figures ignored Hall, the elder greeted him with a wave of his hand. ¡°Welcome back, Harbinger.¡± He stood behind his workbench and polished a dark piece of chest armor. ¡°I¡¯m about done here and I have to say, if I weren¡¯t a Nephesh, I¡¯d be proud of my work.¡± He presented the armor on the table and his thin lips almost formed a smile. Hall¡¯s hand brushed over the peculiar material. ¡°It doesn¡¯t feel like metal, but it¡¯s not leather either.¡± The dark chest piece almost swallowed the surrounding light, its surface somewhat rough to the touch and shards of steel placed in its center and on its side. ¡°See these fragments?¡± The elder pointed at the pieces of steel. Despite their different sizes and forms, they seemed perfectly symmetrical as if creating a path through the armor. Hall recognized the crimson lines carved into the metal. ¡°That¡¯s what is left of your blades. ¡°And you¡¯re right,¡± the old Nephesh said and moved his fingers toward the rougher parts of the armor. ¡°This is neither metal, nor leather. It¡¯s gravewood, a millennia old, grown on a graveyard of gods.¡± Hall raised an eyebrow. ¡°Sounds rare.¡± ¡°It¡¯s more than rare.¡± The elder¡¯s hands stroked over his work. ¡°That¡¯s why I had only small pieces, none large enough to actually create plates.¡± When Hall looked a little closer, he noticed a faint needle pattern on the armor. ¡°I shredded the gravewood I had left into thousands of tiny splinters. Then I ground up the mass of soul shards you supplied, added a few more materials and a whole lot of craftsmanship and formed protective plates.¡± Hall picked up the armor and nodded. ¡°It¡¯s so light.¡± No lavish carvings or luxurious decorations adorned the chest piece, instead it looked as if blood seeped from it. ¡°Not only light, it also offers decent protection.¡± The elder observed Hall¡¯s reaction closely. ¡°But all these materials I used were for another purpose. Pour your soul energy into it, not too fast though, and watch carefully.¡± Hall only hesitated for a moment before he did as the Nephesh had asked. Energy flowed from his hands and entered the armor and, making its way through the metal fragments, it then grew into a dim, red glow at the center. Once it flowed into the parts made from gravewood and soul shards, their surface gained a dark brilliance, completely different from the blue shine of his chains. Hall smiled widely and the elder nodded, pleased with the reaction. ¡°Because your blood and soul energy was deeply engraved into the blade shards, nobody but you will be able to use the armor. And because it¡¯s made for you, your energy will strengthen the armor greatly. But be careful, if you push the armor to its limits, it will consume your strength rapidly.¡± ¡°This is really impressive. Thank you.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t close to enough to repay you, harbinger, but it¡¯s all I can do for now.¡± The old Nephesh bowed his head slightly. ¡°But if you should have any trouble, I will do my utmost to support you.¡± They said their goodbyes, but before Hall left the cavern¡¯s light behind, he put on the equipment he could finally use. The blood count¡¯s silk pants and shirt, deep black clothes of high quality, covered his pale skin. Surrounded by white, his dark veins stood out even more. The clothes fit well and if Hall would have owned a pair of nice shoes, he wouldn¡¯t stand out in a nice restaurant, that is, if you disregarded his glowing eyes and terrifying aura. He gave the new armor a closer look, fastened it over his shirt and hung his torn coat around his shoulders.
Bleeding Soul Guard
Defense:90Durability:120/120
Quality:UniqueType:Chest
An incredible piece of armor created from rare materials by a craftsman at the peak of his trade. Made especially for the Death¡¯s Harbinger, Hall, it can¡¯t be used by anybody else. Only after being infused with his soul energy, it shows its true power. Effects: +15 Strength +10 Agility +10 Intelligence +10 Wisdom +10 Vitality + 2 sockets Effects when infused with soul energy (dependent on amount): +1-50% resistance to armor penetration +1-50% Reduction in physical damage received +1-50% reduction in magic damage received +1-25% resistance to divine power Requirements: Strength: 150 Agility: 100 Intelligence: 100 Wisdom: 100
¡°Neat.¡± Hall pulled the armor into place and motioned Lily to follow him. ¡°Let¡¯s go back. Can¡¯t have them start the fun without us.¡± ------------------------------------- Author¡¯s Note: Hope you enjoyed the new chapter. I was like 80% done a month ago, but unfortunately I got sick and am still recovering. This sadly means that with all the stuff that piled up this month, I¡¯ll be busy these next weeks, sorting out and taking care of all that. Meaning there probably won¡¯t be another chapter for a while (around same waiting time as this chapter). I apologize for that, but it¡¯s really unavoidable. Still, this story won¡¯t get dropped, so no worries, it will just take a bit longer :D Thanks to Requizition for proofreading and a very special thank you to Trent, Ricky, Thomas, Mitchell and Cole for sponsoring this chapter, you guys rock :) As always, if you guys find any mistakes, have questions or suggestions, just let me know, either through comments, via PN or in the chat. But because I¡¯m so busy right now, it may take a bit until I answer^^ Thanks for sticking with me, even if my update speed is atrocious :bye: Chapter 29 - A Wolf Amongst Ravens Chapter 29 ¨C A Wolf Amongst Ravens ¡°Harbinger,¡± the old Nephesh¡¯s voice stopped Hall in his tracks. Already about to leave, he turned toward the frail elder who had followed him into labyrinth. ¡°I forgot to tell you something about your armor. It¡¯s better not to show it to anyone.¡± Hall raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Unfortunately some of its materials, especially the gravewood, is outlawed by most churches. After all, it¡¯s considered heresy to steal from the grave of a god. Few people know about it, but if someone who does, would take a closer look,¡± he shrugged, ¡°let¡¯s just say it would be better to keep it close to you.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Hall wrinkled his forehead. ¡°Guess it will be a pain to repair any damage then.¡± ¡°Not necessarily,¡± the elder said and pulled a worn hammer from the pouch he carried. Scratches covered the wooden grip and traces of rust on its head laid testament to its age. ¡°This is something we picked up over a century ago in a Sorian ruin. Take it as a reward for dealing with the Nachtmahr infestation.¡± Oh right, the quest reward, forgot about that. Hall received the battered tool with reservation. It resembled a common hammer, but he gave it a closer look.
Wieland¡¯s Spare Hammer
Damage:1Durability:-
Type:ToolQuality:Unique
This ancient tool once helped form an empire, but¡ªlike its creation¡ªit fell into ruin and lost its former glory. Despite its desolate state, it retained some of its power and under the right circumstances, it might be able to recover more. Effect: Each item struck by it¡ªup to legendary quality¡ªwill be repaired for one durability point per hit. Can be used up to ten times a day. Requirements: -
¡°Impressive.¡± The doubt in Hall¡¯s mind had vanished. ¡°Let¡¯s give it a try.¡± He took the cloak off his shoulders, folded the torn cloth over his arm and raised the hammer in his right. Each strike of metal against cloth cast a flash of light on the dark material of his cloak and slowly raised its durability. Small tears closed, rips vanished and after the last hit, the light disappeared. ¡°Well, it¡¯s still pretty shredded, but it will be useful in the future. Thank you.¡± Hall pocketed the hammer and said his goodbyes once again before he ventured into the labyrinth¡¯s darkness. While he rushed through the hallways, Lili read the ledger they had taken from the Nephesh as Moira guided him through narrow passages, past holes in the ground and stairways that lead nowhere. The stale air around them grew warmer and puddles of water formed on the earthen ground. There has to be a way to travel faster, this is just ridiculous. Some areas and cities allowed the use of teleportation devices or different means¡ªships or zeppelins¡ªfor fast travel, but Hall had never seen one. ¡°Hey Moira, is there some kind of portable teleporter? Any kind of magic, maybe a scroll?¡± ¡°Of course there is,¡± the grimoire said. ¡°Both actually. Rune stones that allow teleportation to a specific location are pretty common from what I remember. Though I wouldn¡¯t know how to get one. Ask in town.¡± Hall nodded and his lips curved to a smile. Even though Moira had become less conceited, almost a bit tame, she still couldn¡¯t help but sound haughty every now and then. But he didn¡¯t mind her cheeky attitude, especially when he remembered the memories she shared and Grim¡¯s expression when she had mentioned Moira¡¯s past. ¡°Alright,¡± Hall waved toward the darkness ahead. ¡°Let¡¯s find an exit close to the market place. I need to sell a few things and replace some armor.¡± Time flew by as they rushed through dim tunnels and, after several hours, the city¡¯s noise finally reached their ears. It took almost four hours, but in reality, not even one passed. I¡¯m still not used to it. Guess few are, but it sure will shake things up. ¡°The next right should lead to a warehouse, at least that¡¯s what the map indicates,¡± Moira said. A metal door, coated with rust, blocked their way. Hall pressed down the handle, but the heavy door didn¡¯t move an inch. Even using his full strength, he couldn¡¯t sway it. ¡°Is it jammed?¡± Lily asked. ¡°No,¡± Hall pressed through his teeth with his shoulder still pushed against the metal. ¡°The rust is only a deterrent since the handle is well oiled.¡± He took a step back and scratched the back of his head. ¡°I¡¯d say somebody blocked it. My guess is, the kingdom¡¯s forces want to limit the rebels¡¯ movements. Maybe lure them into a trap, but I doubt they¡¯ll know every exit. Let¡¯s look for another one.¡± They advanced toward the next exit, but another blocked door greeted them. Exit after exit had been sealed and after one more hour, they stood in front of another door. But its rotten wood barely budged when Hall pressed against it. ¡°Oh come on.¡± Wide cracks in the door revealed boards and various pieces of scrap somebody had used as a barricade. Hall pressed his palm against the wood and sighed. ¡°Moira, how far to the next exit?¡± ¡°There aren¡¯t any close to the market. The next one¡­ maybe ten minutes.¡± Without another word Hall took the scythe from his inventory and rammed it into the door. The weak material offered little resistance and split under the onslaught. Again and again he slammed the heavy blade against the blocked exit until he stood on a pile of shredded wood and panted heavily. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Lily had taken a step back and watched Hall¡¯s frantic hacking with raised brows. ¡°You really showed that door.¡± The stairway before them lead into an empty warehouse that stored nothing but rodent feces and dust. Cold air had seeped through cracks in the wall and few rays of light shone through broken windows. This time nothing stopped them from entering the streets of Roselake. Hall and Lily took a deep breath and smiled at each other. ¡°Finally, fresh air.¡± Lily hovered above the ground, turned toward the setting sun and closed her eyes.
Notification: Martial Law
Martial Law has been declared in the city of Roselake. Thus, Roselake is in a state of war and corresponding rules are applied within the city walls. Effects: Kills against players won¡¯t be punished with infamy. After dying, players are teleported outside of the city and can¡¯t enter until the state of war has been lifted Harming civilians will result in punishment Players are constantly in a combat state. Only safe zones will allow the ¡°out of combat¡± state.
Few people hurried through the street around them and threw nervous gazes at the dark figure that stood in the middle of the road. They pressed themselves against the walls to get as much distance between them and Hall, but he shrugged it off and walked toward the market place. The cities atmosphere dampened their euphoria quickly. No children or elderly walked the streets and everyone carried at least one weapon. Some wore badges or uniforms while others concealed their faces or hid in the shadows. Hall¡¯s boots left deep prints in the dirty snow slush that covered the ground. The cracked leather barely protected him from the elements, but he didn¡¯t slow his steps. He ducked into a side street, entered a dark alley and, circling around, returned to the road leading to the market place. Lily had stayed silent during their detour. Now, back to where they had started, she asked, ¡°What was that about?¡± ¡°We are being followed,¡± Moira said. Lily¡¯s eyes widened and turned toward Hall. He only nodded and kept moving. ¡°Four of them. I wasn¡¯t sure at first, but they are definitely after us.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Lily asked as her eyes darted into dark corners. ¡°Don¡¯t know.¡± He shrugged and furrowed his brow. ¡°But¡­ they are voyagers.¡± Thanks to his ¡®Soul Perception¡¯ Hall managed to differentiate between players and inhabitants of Novus Vita. Mostly because the souls of those growing up in this world had far more complex souls. Deeper shadows, brighter light. A player¡¯s soul reflected their actions, not only their infamy, but even small acts of kindness or evil. So, after spending little time in this world, how much could a soul really show? ¡°They are a good distance away, but judging by their soul energy, none of them have a lot of infamy,¡± he shook his head, ¡°they look normal to me. White vests almost. Guess we¡¯ll have to wait and see.¡± Hall had spent more time under Roselake than in the city itself, so he barely knew its streets. Yet at this late hour, few still went after their business, so finding an abandoned ally proved easy enough. When only empty houses and stores remained besides them, he stopped and took out his scythe blade. Without materializing his chains, he used soul weaving and tied one to the scythe. ¡°You know, the voyagers we met don¡¯t seem to like you very much,¡± Moira said. ¡°To be fair, most inhabitants of this world don¡¯t go crazy over me either. Oh well... you can come out now!¡± Hall raised his voice and yelled into the shadows. ¡°There are more than four.¡± Lily pointed at a figure in the back of the players who stepped into the light. Hall narrowed his eyes. Even now he could barely perceive the cloaked man. What is he? At the front of the group stood an armored knight, carrying a heavy shield and a longsword, his eyes fixated on Hall. Behind him, a man in leather pulled two daggers from his sheathes and stepped in front of a girl wearing a white robe. Another woman, dressed in red cloth, brandished a heavy staff made from black wood. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s him?¡± A deep voice came from the knight¡¯s helmet. The girl in white tightened her grip around a short staff she carried. ¡°He looks scary. Do we really have to fight him?¡± Hall¡¯s ears perked up, but he stayed silent and listened. ¡°It¡¯s him.¡± The cloaked man loomed in the background of the group. ¡°Be careful, his level is somewhere between 65 and 70, so he¡¯s stronger than you. Especially that priest girl of yours.¡± Lily shifted her position and drifted behind Hall. ¡°There¡¯s something wrong with that guy.¡± ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t know how he knows my level. Or how and why he found me. Weird,¡± Hall whispered. ¡°The pin on his chest.¡± Moira¡¯s voice resounded in his head. ¡°I¡¯m sure it means something, but I can¡¯t quite remember what. Be careful though.¡± The golden symbol on the cloaked man¡¯s chest stood out like a drop of blood in the snow. A cross with an eye in its middle, an ominous symbol that seemed almost alive and pulsating. ¡°Don¡¯t forget,¡± the man garbed in a black robe hissed. ¡°Finding him was my job. Fighting him is yours.¡± ¡°No worries.¡± The knight waved his sword toward Hall. ¡°Even if his level is a bit higher, we¡¯re still four and he¡¯s alone.¡± Hall glanced at Lily beside him and stroked the scythe in his hand. Its tip dug into the frozen ground and vibrated in anticipation. ¡°Kill,¡± the weapon¡¯s quiet voice resounded in his head. ¡°Are you sure you want to do this?¡± Hall¡¯s voice echoed through the abandoned alley. ¡°You seem like decent people. If possible, I don¡¯t want to fight you.¡± ¡°To be honest, I would prefer not to fight either.¡± The light of a single torch colored the knight¡¯s armor in flickering red. ¡°But the price that rich guy put on your head, together with the king¡¯s reward, is just too good.¡± He nodded his head toward the cloaked figure. ¡°Also we need to pay him for finding you. It wasn¡¯t cheap and took way too long. So, I¡¯m sorry, but you¡¯ll have to die here.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t let that happen.¡± The last ray of sun light had disappeared and with it any remaining warmth. Icy air rose from the ground and formed thin mist that curled around their legs. With nightfall, a blanket of silence enveloped the two parties. For a moment longer, Hall stayed quiet, before he raised his hand and infused his armor with soul energy. The throbbing veins in the gravewood exuded black light and his burning eyes beneath his hood pierced the darkness. ¡°I¡¯ll warn you one last time, leave.¡± Lily¡¯s wailing song brought a freezing wind to the street. The four players sucked in the air through their teeth and chills ran down their spines when they heard the sounds of chains that threatened to tie them down like lambs for the slaughter. ¡°Do we have to fight?¡± The priest girl¡¯s voice broke and she took a step back. Streaks of blond hair fell into her delicate face and obstructed her vision. The moon turned blood red and veiled them all in menacing light. ¡°It¡¯s gotten cold,¡± the woman, a mage several levels below Hall, said. ¡°I don¡¯t like this. He hasn¡¯t moved, but I¡¯ve already gotten messages about negative status effects.¡± She swallowed hard and like the rest of her friends, her hands trembled in the face of the sole enemy. The shadows they had used to hide, now turned against them, shrouding their former prey as if bowing to his will. ¡°And I can¡¯t dispel them.¡± The girl in white frantically drew runes in the air and cast spells, but to no effect. ¡°Enough.¡± The knight slammed his sword against his shield. ¡°They are just area of effect debuffs and you can¡¯t dispel them because your level is too low. Get a hold of yourselves and attack.¡± He lifted his blade and charged at Hall. Right behind him ran the other man, both daggers raised. Golden flakes of light surrounded their weapons as the priest waved her wand and cast support spells on her party. Hall materialized his chains and observed calmly. ¡°Guess there¡¯s no other way.¡± He shifted his stance, put his full weight behind his chain and threw it toward the knight. The collision stopped him in his tracks, but barely left a dent in the shield. ¡°Not bad, but with this you can¡¯t defeat us.¡± ¡°First rule,¡± Hall said. ¡°Kill the healer.¡± ¡°What¡­¡± A shadow darkened the moon¡¯s light and, lifting their gazes, they saw a large scythe falling¡ªfalling toward the girl in white. While Hall had attacked with his left, he had swung his right chain in a wide arc above his head. The priest¡¯s eyes widened and she raised her arm in defense. ¡°Protective Barrier,¡± she yelled. A blue sphere formed around her before the scythe blade impaled her. The dark metal crashed into the barrier and for a moment an expression of relief slipped on her face. But it disappeared together with her shield. The scythe shattered the barrier and its blue shards of light mixed with red blood as the weapon dug into her skin.
Critical Hit! You have dealt 252 damage (reduced due to the target¡¯s nature) Target stunned for 4 sec
Though it took less than half her health, she dropped to her knees and the mage in the party rushed to her side. ¡°Damn you!¡± She lifted her staff and shot a globe of flames toward Hall. ¡°Lily, tie down the melees.¡± Transparent mana chains broke through the ground and wrapped around the charging men¡¯s limbs. It stopped their onslaught, and damned them to watch Hall walk between them toward the two girls. A chain slammed into the ground in front of the mage and the skill ¡®Sound of Silence¡¯¡ªeven though weakened¡ªinterrupted her spells. They struggled against chains and silence, against the darkness and fear that took hold of them. Heavy footsteps on the snow accompanied the grim figure that seemed untouchable. ¡°I really hate to do this.¡± Hall stopped in front of the priest girl. Mud covered her white dress and her trembling fingers covered the gashing wound in her chest. ¡°Taste bitter. Don¡¯t want¡­¡± the scythe¡¯s voice resounded in his mind. The weapon was created to cleanse evil, to destroy darkness. Killing the innocent didn¡¯t suit it. ¡°I know, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Hall closed his eyes for a moment. He raised the scythe over his head, infused it with a large amount of soul energy and struck down twice. Her white robe had turned red as had the snow around her. I the scythe won¡¯t serve me any good against them. The connection between chain and scythe dissolved with a thought and the blade disappeared in his inventory. ¡°Damn it, look what you made me do.¡± He grit his teeth and struck down the mage with few blows of his chains. The sound of ripping mana shackles caught Hall¡¯s attention. The two men charged at him. This time, they blindly rushed forward, desperate screams rising from their throats. Again, Hall reacted calmly. He wrapped the chain around his left arm and blocked the warrior¡¯s sword. The heavy strikes left him unfazed. The knight¡¯s group wasn¡¯t weak. But their level was low and their coordination poor. They had underestimated Hall and paid dearly. Both attackers slashed and stabbed their blades at Hall, but he either blocked them or ignored the damage. ¡°What are you?¡± The knight¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°Our equipment, our weapons, everything is enchanted with the light attribute. Why aren¡¯t you weakened by it?¡± ¡°Who says I¡¯m darkness?¡± ¡°Then what are you?¡± The knight panted and the tip of his blade hit the ground. He lost all strength to fight. ¡°That¡¯s not important anymore, goodbye.¡± Without resistance, Hall struck them both down.
You have leveled up!
¡°I haven¡¯t forgotten you.¡± Hall still showed his back to the cloaked man. ¡°And what are you going to do?¡± ¡°I think I¡¯ll kill you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome to try.¡± A dry chuckle followed the man¡¯s words. Hall gripped his chain and swung it toward his target. Almost too fast to follow with the naked eye the weapon slashed through the body. But there was no resistance, no collision, as if it cut through a shadow. And nothing but hollow laughter remained. ¡°Shit.¡± Hall clenched his fist and looked at the bloodbath he caused. The scent of copper rose from crimson puddles of melted snow. Lily had turned away from the image, but he forced himself to watch a little longer. A bitter taste covered his tongue as he left the mangled corpses behind. --------------------------- Despite the tense situation, nobody had closed the auction house yet. So, Hall put in the few items of worth he owned. The cavalry swords he had gathered from the nobles¡¯ mansion, as well as the items he had brought from Benmal¡¯ach¡¯s dungeon. He kept the arbalest. A powerful long range weapon might prove useful and it required far less practice than a bow. Hall sold the remaining items, mostly worthless, for a handful of gold coins and counted himself lucky. Almost all merchants in the large auction Hall shivered when Hall approached them. Only the auctioneers themselves seemed unimpressed. ¡°Slow day?¡± Hall asked the man behind the counter. ¡°People are scared.¡± The man rubbed his eyes and suppressed a yawn. ¡°Bad for business. Need anything else?¡± ¡°Please show me leg armor only those that have the option to buy them right now.¡± Hall browsed through dozens of windows and picked new gloves, new boots and armor for his legs to replace his old one. 24 gold coins bought him decent enough items. The auction prices weren¡¯t affected by his character traits. He would pay obscene sums when buying from a merchant, but at least he could afford new items without relying on them.
Woodland Warrior Gloves
Defense:35Durability:50/50
Quality:MagicType:Gloves
Basic equipment worn by experienced warriors traveling the dense woods of Arabur. Fine threads of steel interwoven with hard leather will protect the wearer. Effects: +10 Strength +15 Agility Requirements: Level 65 Strength: 80 Agility: 120
Woodland Warrior Boots
Defense:35Durability:50/50
Quality:MagicType:Boots
Basic equipment worn by experienced warriors traveling the dense woods of Arabur. Fine threads of steel interwoven with hard leather will protect the wearer. Effects: +10 Strength +15 Agility 8% reduction of slow effects (movement speed only) Requirements: Level 65 Strength: 80 Agility: 120
Woodland Warrior Greaves
Defense:55Durability:65/65
Quality:MagicType:Leg Armor
Basic equipment worn by experienced warriors traveling the dense woods of Arabur. Fine threads of steel interwoven with hard leather will protect the wearer. Effects: +15 Strength +20 Agility Requirements: Level 65 Strength: 80 Agility: 120
They were a little expensive for their quality rating, but they offered good protection and didn¡¯t weigh him down. He put his new pieces of armor on and a smile crept on his face. Before, his lacking equipment made him nervous. Now, he at least had bought himself some safety. ¡°One more thing.¡± The last fight showed him how lacking he still was. His main weapon, his skills, they were suited to hunt enemies with high infamy. But fighting good people or normal players was a given, especially in the upcoming battles. ¡°Let¡¯s look at daggers and knives suited for combat.¡± A long list of weapons appeared before him and only after several adjustments did he narrow them down. ¡°This one.¡±
Gutwrencher
Damage:35-55Durability:35/35
Quality:RareType:Dagger
A knife made to kill in few strikes. Heavy, sharp and difficult to master. Effects: +10 Strength +15 Agility +15% Critical Damage +Bleeding Effect (50% of strike damage over 10sec) Deals significant amount of damage when ripped from the wound it caused Reduced damage if handled poorly Requirements: Level 60 Strength: 110 Agility: 140
The dagger resembled a combat knife in weight and form. Its wide blade¡ªsingle edged and saw teeth on its back¡ªwould leave terrifying wounds. He fastened the knife¡¯s sheath around his waist and made sure he could pull the weapon at a moment¡¯s notice. At least now he could offer a clean death to those who didn¡¯t deserve to suffer. ¡°Almost ready,¡± Hall mumbled and opened his inventory. Besides the arbalest, he also owned the smoke and flash bombs he got from Jorn for supporting the resistance, but only a small number of potions. Additionally, his canteen contained little water and his rations had dwindled. After he had spent twelve gold for his new weapon, he invested another ten in potions and food. Many craftsmen offered their goods in the auction house, so he stocked up while he could access it. ¡°All set, let¡¯s visit Shep.¡± They stepped into the empty street again where the cold night hid enemies and allies alike. He couldn¡¯t tell them apart, so he avoided them all. At least nobody bothered him until he knocked on the gate of the old church that served as an orphanage. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± A rough voice asked. ¡°It¡¯s me, Hall, you asked me to come before meeting up with Jorn.¡± ¡°Not so loud.¡± The door opened and a hand reached from the inside. It grabbed onto Hall and pulled him into the dimly lit entrance hall. ¡°We don¡¯t know who¡¯s listening.¡±
You have entered a safe zone.
¡°Some grip you got there.¡± Hall grinned and massaged his shoulder. ¡°Na, you¡¯re just sensitive.¡± Shep stroked his bald head and motioned Hall to follow him. The monk robe he wore hid his figure in the dark room, but his shoulders hung deep and he dragged his right leg. ¡°What happened here, Shep?¡± The large man growled and shook his head. ¡°Trouble. But nothing I couldn¡¯t handle.¡± ¡°What about the children?¡± ¡°We tried to get everyone out of the city, but it was difficult. We ran into, well, trouble.¡± He clenched his fist and candlelight revealed his scabbed knuckles. ¡°Still, by now most of the civilians are out. By tomorrow the slum should be empty. Same goes for most parts of town. I¡¯ll take the last group of kids myself tonight. So, from tomorrow, whoever you see on the street is fair game.¡± ¡°Even my allies?¡± ¡°Allies, huh?¡± He almost spit out the word. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t count on anyone. I don¡¯t even know which side has worse scum fighting for them.¡± A long sigh left his lips and his shoulders dropped. ¡°Just try to be careful. I know you voyagers don¡¯t die like we do, but¡­ there are worse things than death.¡± The sound of shattering glass echoed through the quiet hallway. Hall yanked the dagger from his hip and whirled around, but Shep acted even faster. The burly man darted toward the sound, his arms raised. Faced with the charging Shep, a muffled screech emerged from a young boy as he dropped on his behind. Shards of a broken vase lay to his feet, but his big eyes focused on the bald giant in front of him. ¡°Damn it Ralk, you should be in bed.¡± Shep helped up the orphan and brushed the dust off him before he picked up the pieces of glass. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s the kid you saved,¡± Lily said. ¡°Guess he wanted to see you.¡± After he stood up, Ralk straightened his clothes and took a step closer to Hall. But his eyes widened and his face lost all color. His small hand grasped for Shep¡¯s robe as he hid behind the man¡¯s wide back. ¡°What¡¯s with him?¡± Lily cocked her head. ¡°He¡¯s scared,¡± Moira said, her voice holding a hint of sadness. ¡°Of what?¡± ¡°Of me.¡± Hall said, his expression blank. Lily opened her mouth, but after a moment, she lowered her head and stayed quiet. ¡°Go on ahead, Hall.¡± Shep lay his big hand on the child¡¯s head. He showed an apologetic look. ¡°I¡¯ll bring him to bed and be with you in a few minutes.¡± Hall nodded and with a last glance at the frightened Ralk, he walked into Shep¡¯s office. ¡°Hello there.¡± A familiar figure greeted him. ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t expect to see you here.¡± --------------------------- ¡°The king will see you now.¡± The guard saluted the man who waited in front of the throne room. ¡°Finally.¡± He made no attempt to lower his voice in front of the guard. His chin rested on the grip of a large two hand sword, but his eyes never ceased to scan the room. ¡°Bale, we have news.¡± Another man in a dark leather armor approached him. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Sir,¡± the guard nervously interrupted them, ¡°the king is expecting you.¡± ¡°Let him wait,¡± Bale sneered and turned toward Nayr, one of the twins, who carried a stack of documents. ¡°So?¡± The blond rogue handed the most important ones over and Bale looked through them without hurry. The guard bit his lips, but remained silent. Most of the documents contained information about troop movements and the supply situation. ¡°Oh, what did they find?¡± The letter Bale opened carried the symbol of a cross with an eye in its middle. He raised an eyebrow and a grin formed on his face. ¡°Got you.¡± At first, Bale hadn¡¯t really cared about the figure people called Killchain. He had killed a few nobles, spread some fear, nothing to worry about. But he ridiculed him in an interview, for everyone to see. Though Bale had no proof, he knew it was him. It wasn¡¯t his pride that took a hit. Pride meant nothing, just a useless sentiment. But the armor of intimidation he carefully manufactured through threats and fear was scratched. And public spilling of blood would fix the damage. ¡°Nayr, send men to the old church in the southern slums. Our friend found refuge there.¡± He hesitated. ¡°No, better hire a few of the stalkers.¡± He pointed at the symbol on the letter. ¡°They won¡¯t be detected. Let them follow him for now, I want to take care of him myself. And let someone keep an eye on the people in the church,¡± he licked his dry lips, ¡°we might find a use for them.¡± ---------------------------- Author¡¯s Note: Hope you enjoyed the new chapter :grin: As always, I¡¯d be glad to hear your input, ideas and suggestions as well as any advice toward mistakes I made. My gratitude to those who help me out with my story. Thanks to Requizition (Author of Prism here on RRL) for proofreading. And a very special thanks to Trent for sponsoring this chapter, you¡¯re the best :D :bye: Status Window Hall: Spoiler :
Status Window
Name:HallAlignment:Death
Level:68Class: Harbinger of Death
Race:HumanGender:Male
Title:Somewhere I Belong
Fame:1134Infamy:0
-
Health:4240 / 2925Health Regen:5.1/ Sec
Mana:0 / 2990Mana Regen:5.3 / Sec
Stamina:1130 / 1130Stamina Regen:7.1 / Sec
-
Strength:200+90Agility:162+95
Vitality:98+20Endurance:89+10
Intelligence:120+20Wisdom:120+20
Willpower:163+10Luck:40+10
-
Attack:45+40Defense:27+245
Magical Resistance
Fire:10%+10%Water:11%+10%
Wind:11%+10%Earth:11%+10%
Lightning:10%+10%Illusion:40%+5%
Light:10%+5%Darkness:40%+5%
+ 30 added to all stats Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.+ Willpower stat raised by 80 points + Magical Resistances raised by 10% + Resistance to Illusion and Darkness Magic raised by an additional 30% + Enables you to equip certain items or equipment specialized for this class + Increases attack power for attacks with soul energy + Unable to learn most crafting professions + Skills that use soul energy will be 10% more effective and will gain experience 50% faster + Strayed from the path of humanity. Your appearance causes fear or hatred in NPCs. + Unknown
Skill Overview Hall: Spoiler :
List of skills
Bad Moon RisingBeginner LVL3 (37%)
The Sound of SilenceBeginner LVL3 (45%)
Under Black Flags We MarchBeginner LVL1 (0%)
In my Time of Dyingpassive
Ain''t no Grave, can hold my Body downpassive
Keep me in your Heart for a Whilepassive
Judgementpassive
I''m Still Standingpassive
Watching over mepassive/active
Death¡¯s GrimoireBeginner LVL2 (68%)
Turn the PageBeginner LVL1 (0%)
Soul PerceptionBeginner LVL8 (3%)
Soul PressureBeginner LVL3 (63%)
Soul ChainsBeginner LVL9 (81%)
Soul WeavingBeginner LVL2 (11%)
Mana DrainBeginner LVL4 (21%)
Soul DistortionBeginner LVL3 (14%)
Hells BellsBeginner LVL3 (27%)
AmbidexterityBeginner LVL5 (86%)
IdentificationBeginner LVL5 (75%)
Down with the SicknessBeginner LVL4 (57%)
Blast TyrantBeginner LVL4 (27%)
Chain MasteryBeginner LVL8 (19%)
Sword MasteryBeginner LVL4 (31%)
Dagger MasteryBeginner LVL4 (2%)
Scythe MasteryBeginner LVL1 (17%)
Equipment Hall: Spoiler : Weapons: Main-hand:
Gutwrencher
Damage:35-55Durability:35/35
Quality:RareType:Dagger
A knife made to kill in few strikes. Heavy, sharp and difficult to master. Effects: +10 Strength +15 Agility +15% Critical Damage +Bleeding Effect (50% of strike damage over 10sec) Deals significant amount of damage when ripped from the wound it caused Reduced damage if handled poorly Requirements: Level 60 Strength: 110 Agility: 140
Not equipped:
Harvester of Sorrow
Damage:0-100Durability:-
Level:21 (11%)Quality:Unique
A truly terrifying weapon. Although incomplete, this blade carries the ability to cut deep into the very soul and devour the darkness that lies within. It will grow with the energy it gathers and with the one that wields it. Effects: -60% damage against enemies without grave sins -60% damage against enemies without a soul +60% damage against enemies with an enslaved soul +60% damage against enemies kept alive through a foreign soul Ignores 55% of the enemies armor If lodged into a soul it causes 41 damage / sec, reduces recovery and incoming healing effects by 55% Damage increases with the weight of the sins Damage reduced by the enemy¡¯s willpower Cuts through divine protection (15%) Requirements: Class Harbinger of Death Willpower: 150
Armor Chest:
Bleeding Soul Guard
Defense:90Durability:120/120
Quality:UniqueType:Chest
An incredible piece of armor created from rare materials by a craftsman at the peak of his trade. Made especially for the Death¡¯s Harbinger, Hall, it can¡¯t be used by anybody else. Only after being infused with his soul energy, it shows its true power. Effects: +15 Strength +10 Agility +10 Intelligence +10 Wisdom +10 Vitality + 2 sockets Effects when infused with soul energy (dependent on amount): +1-50% resistance to armor penetration +1-50% Reduction in physical damage received +1-50% reduction in magic damage received +1-25% resistance to divine power Requirements: Strength: 150 Agility: 100 Intelligence: 100 Wisdom: 100
Legs:
Woodland Warrior Greaves
Defense:55Durability:65/65
Quality:MagicType:Leg Armor
Basic equipment worn by experienced warriors traveling the dense woods of Arabur. Fine threads of steel interwoven with hard leather will protect the wearer. Effects: +15 Strength +20 Agility Requirements: Level 65 Strength: 80 Agility: 120
Gloves:
Woodland Warrior Gloves
Defense:35Durability:50/50
Quality:MagicType:Gloves
Basic equipment worn by experienced warriors traveling the dense woods of Arabur. Fine threads of steel interwoven with hard leather will protect the wearer. Effects: +10 Strength +15 Agility Requirements: Level 65 Strength: 80 Agility: 120
Boots:
Woodland Warrior Boots
Defense:35Durability:50/50
Quality:MagicType:Boots
Basic equipment worn by experienced warriors traveling the dense woods of Arabur. Fine threads of steel interwoven with hard leather will protect the wearer. Effects: +10 Strength +15 Agility 8% reduction of slow effects (movement speed only) Requirements: Level 65 Strength: 80 Agility: 120
Back:
Armored Cloak of Ella¡¯s Heritage
Defense:30Durability:12/90
Quality:UniqueType:Cloak
An armored cloak made from rare dragon spider silk. It is harder than steel and at the same time almost as light as linen. An incredible piece of work improved by generations of craftsmen, imbued with powerful magic. Effects: +5% Resistance to elemental magic (Fire, Earth, Water,Wind,Lightning) Cloak will apply a low level form of stealth, diverting the attention of others +5% Chance to evade, deflect or divert an enemy attack Strong feelings of affection and gratefulness blessed this item: +5% damage against beings you deem evil If your health drops below 50% the material of the cloak hardens, doubling its defense for 10 min Requirements: Extremely high intimacy with Ella, blacksmith apprentice of Gelt Strength: 100 Agility: 100 Wisdom: 80
Rings: [td2]Quality:
Ring of Ogre Strength
Type:Accessory[/td2s]
Magic
A ring made for the chiefs of ogre clans as a bribe. Effects: +15 Strength +1.0% melee damage Requirements: Level 40 Strength 150
Gold Ring of a Blade Dancer Novice
Type:Accessory
Quality:Magic
A ring given to those that chose to become blade dancers and pass the initial test of the dancers guild. Effects: +5 Strength +10 Agility +1.5% Chance to Dodge Requirements: Level 40 Strength 60 Agility 110
The Blood Count¡¯s Last Will
Type:Ring
Quality:Unique
Allows the usage of the skill ¡®Under Black Flags We March¡¯.
Necklace:
Pendant of the Soul Weaver (incomplete)
Type:Accessory
Quality:Unique
An incomplete pendant covered by shadows. Can only be worn by those that have control over soul energy. Effects: +10 to all stats +5% to all resistances +unknown Requirements: Willpower 140
Active Quests: Spoiler :
Quest: Carry on my Wayward Son ¨C Part 2
After lifting the curse, Lily¡¯s soul is still not complete. Dravan, who made the curse, still holds part of it after draining her soul energy for so long. Rip it from him. Difficulty: C Quest requirements:
  • lift the Grand Curse of Shattered Trust from you and Lilith
Rewards: Unknown Failure: abandon Lily
Quest: No Sympathy for the Devil
The great mage William Henley asked you to hunt down his disciple, Dravan, the last one of the Sorian people. Dravan rules over a land of darkness unbeknownst to mankind where he controls an army of evil. Difficulty: C+ Quest requirements: Be cursed by Dravan, survive the curse and find the scroll of his master Rewards:
  • Restore what was broken, find what was lost and return what was stolen
  • Additional rewards depending on your actions
Failure: exceed the time limit of one year
Completed Quests: Spoiler :
Quest: Rest for the Wicked
Quest complete The quest that was given to you under false pretense and that was part of the ploy to betray you and leave you to die was deemed impossible to solve. Against all odds you did it. The Banshee¡¯s soul found peace at your side because you set her free and gave her the ability to trust again.
Quest: Carry on my Wayward Son
Quest complete You and Lilith managed to lift the Grand Curse of Shattered Trust and to leave the area after destroying the tower. Quest Part 2 Unlocked
Quest: Peace of Mind
Quest failed. Because you refused to bow to the will of the gods of light you will be punished. Your relationship with the churches of light deteriorates.
Quest: Follow the Reaper
Quest complete You exceeded Death¡¯s expectation and decided to join her as a companion.
Quest: Master of Puppets
Quest complete Not only did you destroy the goblins inhabiting the abandoned mine, hindering them from creating more undead animal servants, but you also destroyed the cause of the dark magic. You also released the souls of those imprisoned by darkness and gave peace to the souls of the dead villagers.
Quest: Mama liked Roses
Quest complete You gave Ella a little peace of mind and a chance to bury her beloved mother. Furthermore you destroyed the cause of her grief.
Quest: The Witch¡¯s Promise
Quest complete: You chose to destroy the witch, releasing her prisoner, hindering her from summoning a great blood demon that would have terrorized the kingdom.
Quest: Alice in Chains
Quest complete: Facing gruesome trials, overcoming your inner turmoil and defeating unimaginable darkness, you entered into a contract with Moira, Death¡¯s Grimoire.
Quest: The Running Man
Quest complete You found several documents implicating Bredon¡¯s royalty with The Cattle Hunt.
Quest: They can''t keep us down
Quest complete At great personal risk you stirred up the emotions of Roselake¡¯s nobility and shattered their trust in the king to protect them. You proved to the resistance, that you are worthy of joining their cause.
Quest: The Running Man ¨C Part 2
Quest complete You decided to give the evidence connecting the royal family and the cattle hunt to the merchant Jorn and the resistance.
Event Quest: Whispers in the Dark
Quest complete You cleansed all specters and returned peace to their tortured souls.
Event Quest: Kadaverstern
Quest complete You destroyed a horde of Nachtmahre, denying them the possibility to spread. Be careful, when one camp of those creatures exist, there might exist more.
Quest: Man in the Box
Quest complete You destroyed the darkness that threatened to overwhelm the labyrinth under Roselake and saved the Nephesh-Tova and their gathered knowledge.
Available Titles: Spoiler :
Title : Paranoid
The betrayal of your friends scarred you for life but you learned a lesson to choose careful who to trust and are now a little bit tougher than before. Effects when equipped: People think you¡¯re insane because you are frowning all the time
Title : Solitary Man
For breaking a curse of betrayal you will be marked by dark powers to keep you alone in this world Effects: When in a party you deal 15% less damage for every party member Familiars and Pets are not included Effects are applied even if the title is not equipped
Title : I Stand Alone
For breaking a curse of betrayal you will be marked by dark powers to keep you alone in this world Effects: When in a party you receive 15% more damage for every party member Familiars and Pets are not included Effects are applied even if the title is not equipped
Title : Damaged beyond Repair
You damaged your own soul irreparably and because you forcefully destroyed the connection between cursed chains and it¡¯s source the remaining dark magic will taint your soul. Effects: Relationships with the churches of light suffer and can¡¯t advance beyond friendly Effects are applied even if the title is not equipped
Title : Losing my Religion
The gods punish you for refusing them. The seven churches of light of the continent Akreton declare you a Persona non Grata, an unwelcomed person. Effects: Your reputation with the churches can¡¯t advance further than unfriendly. You are not allowed to enter the churches premises. Healing fees are tripled. If a member of one of the seven churches of light kills you, he will not gain infamy Effects are applied even if the title is not equipped
Title: The bigger they are¡­
For defeating a unique, named quest boss more than 40 levels above you, you are granted with knowledge of how to deal with experienced and dangerous foes, bigger and stronger than you Effects when equipped +5% damage against named monsters +5% damage against monsters bigger than you
Title : Somewhere I belong
You stood up to gods and devils, to angels and demons, and with your soul at stake you formed a contract, binding your being to another. By forsaking your humanity you gained a powerful ally that you saved from vanishing into nothingness. After giving part of your very soul to your familiar, you now shared it a second time, bringing light to the hopeless and forgotten. Effects when equipped: Your trusted companions, those inseparably bound to you will benefit from the home, the purpose, you give them (includes familiars, contractors and pets) +5% range of skills +5% effectivity of support magic +5% resistance against all magic Heightened resistance against crowd control effects +5% experience gain
Title: Jawbreaker
You have killed 1000 skeletons. The knowledge over their weaknesses allows you to dispose of them easier Effects when equipped: +5% damage against skeletons
Stat Window Lily: Spoiler :
Status Window
Name:LilithAlignment:Death
Level:68Class: Familiar of the Harbinger of Death
Race:Human (Spirit)Gender:Female
Title:-
-
Health:0 / 1270Health Regen:3.7/ Sec
Mana:12605 / 9615Mana Regen:50.2 / Sec
Stamina:-Stamina Regen:-
-
Strenght:32Agility:40
Vitality:55Luck:35
Intelligence:422Wisdom:431
-
Attack:4Defense:-
Magical Resistance
Fire:10%Water:10%
Wind:10%Earth:10%
Lightning:10%Illusion:40%
Light:10%Darkness:40%
+ 15 added to all stats + Intelligence and Wisdom stat raised by 20 points + Magical Resistances raised by 10% + Resistance to Illusion and Darkness Magic raised by an additional 30% + Unaffected by physical attacks if not in corporeal form + Increases magical damage if the target is affected by the magic of the Harbinger of Death + Soul bound to Hall, the Harbinger of Death + Unknown
Skill Overview Lily: Spoiler :
List of skills
Soul Meets BodyBeginner LVL6 (12%)
Angels don¡¯t KillBeginner LVL7 (3%)
Spiritual HealingBeginner LVL5 (11%)
Voice of the SoulBeginner LVL8 (68%)
I will follow you into the DarkBeginner LVL6 (54%)
Prayer for the DyingBeginner LVL2 (39%)
The Sound of PerseveranceBeginner LVL3 (29%)
Tears of HeavenBeginner LVL4 (21%)
Velvet ThornsBeginner LVL4 (32%)
Garden of Thornspassive
Chapter 29.5 - Artificial Light Chapter 29.5 ¨C Artificial Light ¡°We are live.¡± The director gave a signal to the reporter in front of the camera and retreated into the shadows of the studio. ¡°Welcome back to Sphinx Gaming TV¡¯s prime time show, Game Talk.¡± A woman in her early thirties smiled into the camera and folded her hands in her lap. ¡°We have a very special guest today. August Thompson, developer of Novus Vita and one of the wealthiest men on our planet,¡± she turned toward the older man who sat in the black leather chair beside her, ¡°welcome to Game Talk, it¡¯s such an honor to welcome you here.¡± ¡°Glad to be here.¡± He leaned back in his chair and nodded toward the camera. His neatly trimmed beard and white hair, along with the black suit he wore, stood in stark contrast to his smile and the spark in his eyes. ¡°Our topic tonight shouldn¡¯t surprise anyone,¡± the reporter said. ¡°But before we get started, Mr. Thompson, so far you have declined most requests for interviews and yet, you¡¯re here today. What changed?¡± ¡°Are you complaining?¡± ¡°Of course not, it¡¯s just a pleasant surprise.¡± August chuckled and took a sip from the glass of water on the table in front of them. ¡°There¡¯s really no specific reason. I felt like it was id time. People have gotten more used to this new world. I thought they might be curious as to how it was created.¡± ¡°They certainly are. And I¡¯d like to address a rumor that has been floating around for months.¡± She leaned a little toward August. ¡°I know it sounds unbelievable, but the rumor says you programmed the game all by yourself.¡± He pressed his palm against his stomach and laughed. ¡°Yes I heard that too. It¡¯s of course false. No human alone could do it.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± she said. ¡°But please tell us, just how many people were necessary for the creation of the world we know as Novus Vita.¡± ¡°None.¡± He stated the word with absolute confidence. The reporter raised her eyebrows and cocked her head. ¡°Excuse me, none?¡± ¡°Yes, not a single person worked on the creation of Novus Vita.¡± Whispers of the confused staff sounded from behind the cameras. ¡°Then¡­ how?¡± ¡°As I said, no human alone could do it. But to be honest, even a thousand couldn¡¯t hope to come close.¡± ¡°But somehow you did it, right?¡± ¡°No,¡± he said. ¡°Eva did it all.¡± The reporter hesitated for a second before her eyes widened. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the game¡¯s AI?¡± ¡°Correct, it¡¯s the name I gave her.¡± ¡°I¡ªmost of us I guess¡ªassumed she was the Artificial Intelligence that governed the game. But you mean to say she actually designed it too?¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­ a little more complicated,¡± August shrugged, ¡°and I don¡¯t want to bore your viewers.¡± The director in the back of the room waved frantically and motioned to continue. ¡°No, please, this is exciting,¡± for a moment it seemed like she had forgotten the cameras, ¡°go on.¡± ¡°Alright, alright.¡± A mischievous smile showed he knew exactly what people wanted to hear. But the corner of his lips fell when he started his story. ¡°You know, the development probably started long before you were born. Back then we were fresh out of university. Still wet behind the ears. And unfortunately we had to put our dreams on hold, well, most had to.¡± August lowered his gaze and looked at his hands. ¡°The war started.¡± ¡°Were you enlisted?¡± He nodded slowly. ¡°Young, highly educated and way too idealistic. They scooped us up the moment we held our degrees and put us in some lab to develop the newest tech.¡± This time he stayed quiet for a little longer. ¡°And we did,¡± he finally said. ¡°We developed marvels of technology. Modern wonders that pushed us years, decades, ahead in research. We were so proud.¡± His lips formed a smile that didn¡¯t reach his eyes. ¡°And so dumb.¡± Those in the room listened with open mouths, barely daring to blink. ¡°Of course they used our research. That¡¯s what we were there for. We just didn¡¯t see it. Didn¡¯t want to see. And so¡­ many¡­ died.¡± His words made many recall images they tried to forget and a brief silence spread between everyone. ¡°When the war finally ended, most of us had realized what we had done. Many of us ignored it, pushed it away. They forced themselves to forget. Others broke. Drank themselves to death or gave in to insanity.¡± ¡°And you?¡± The reporter asked almost unconsciously. ¡°Me?¡± He looked older than before, his eyes glancing into the past. ¡°I was either amongst the best or the worst of the lot. ¡°We saw what we did and accepted it. More than that. After the lab was closed and the research abandoned, we took what was left. We salvaged the technology those in charge distanced themselves from. And we continued our work.¡± ¡°And nobody stopped you?¡± the young reporter asked. ¡°Nobody cared enough to. There was chaos. A world to fix and rebuild. But we didn¡¯t have any other place to go, so we continued.¡± ¡°So what kind of research did you do?¡± ¡°Well, we came together from many different fields. Physics, chemistry, biology, engineering and computer science. And the longer the war lasted, the more difficulties arose in assessing the situation. Too many variables. Too little time. A whole planet, its orbit, asteroids and colonies. No group of humans could keep up.¡± ¡°So you created an AI?¡± ¡°That was the plan, yes. But despite all our achievements it still proved impossible to create an artificial intelligence. A real one. Not like the ones that control our houses and cars. ¡°Anyway, after the war ended, our funds dried up and you can¡¯t do research without cash. But luckily we had tons of modern tech the world needed. So we founded a small company and named it Sphinx. You might know it. As you can imagine, we made a whole lot of money. Unimaginable amounts of money. Of course I didn¡¯t really care about it at the time. ¡°Most of us wanted to atone for our sins in the only way we knew, continuing our research. We were holed up in our labs while others were in charge and made the decisions. To be clear, that was probably before you were born. A lot of things changed since then.¡± ¡°Technology of course,¡± she said. ¡°Less than you might think.¡± August took another sip of water. ¡°Almost all of the research was, and continues to be, controlled by the new nobility and their companies. They had their thumb on progress, easily controlled people and governments. Few remember, but it was different before the war.¡± He sighed and shook his head. ¡°We were freer, you know. We worried less and cared more. And¡­ we didn¡¯t scare so easily.¡± He rubbed his forehead and brushed over his white hair. ¡°But I¡¯m digressing. You have to excuse me, once I start reminiscing, I tend to feel my age again. So, where were we?¡± ¡°I believe you were telling us how you founded what today probably is the biggest company in the world. And I¡¯m almost ashamed to say but until today I didn¡¯t know you were its founder,¡± the reporter said. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not exactly a secret. But Sphinx likes to hide it and I personally don¡¯t care,¡± he stared right into the camera, ¡°but they know, even if I have no rights in making decisions, I still own ten percent of their whole company. ¡°But to be fair,¡± he leaned back in his chair, ¡°Sphinx, amongst the current leaders in our economy, is probably still the best you can find. Otherwise I wouldn¡¯t allow them to be involved in Novus Vita.¡± In the back of the room a young man rushed toward the director. He swallowed hard and used his sleeve to wipe the sweat off of his forehead. ¡°Sir, we have dozens of calls demanding we stop the broadcast.¡± ¡°Are you insane?¡± The director scoffed at his employee. ¡°Not only are we having over 80 million people watching, this man is not someone you get to interview every day.¡± ¡°But sir, we have CEO¡¯s, their lawyers and spokespeople for countries on the phone.¡± ¡°Really? That¡¯s interesting.¡± A wide grin appeared on his face. ¡°So, we cancel the program?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. Let the man talk, I like what he has to say.¡± The director folded his arms in front of his chest and the young man beside him could only stare at him helplessly. ¡°Anyway,¡± August continued. ¡°We had started developing our AI during the war and continued afterwards. For many years we got nowhere. And people started to leave. We started out with two dozen people. After two years three left, after five, only half remained. I can¡¯t really blame them, we got nowhere after all.¡± ¡°That¡¯s hard to imagine,¡± the reporter said. ¡°And even harder to live through. Twelve years after we began our dedicated work, the last one said his goodbyes and I was the only one left.¡± ¡°So, what did you do?¡± ¡°What else? Continue. By that time, I had the money, what I lacked was a breakthrough. So I gathered all the research we had done. Over a decade of work from the most brilliant people in the world. Outside, the world changed, but I barely noticed.¡± He chuckled without any joy. ¡°Guess I hadn¡¯t learned anything.¡± ¡°But in the end you did it?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± he said. ¡°It took me a little over twenty years. But I did it. Two decades until I figured it out.¡± He shook his head, laughing a little. ¡°You created the first real AI.¡± ¡°I did.¡± ¡°And since then you¡¯ve been working on the game?¡± August cocked his head and laughed again. This time, a tiny spark returned to his eyes. ¡°No dear, not for a while. I had just created her, the first real AI. I mean real. Imagine her as a newborn. On that day, New Year¡¯s Day twenty-two years ago, I named her Eva and the world changed without anybody knowing.¡± ¡°And yet you didn¡¯t publish your results, right?¡± she asked. ¡°No, she was a newborn. Far too easy to influence, far too easy to take advantage of. So I taught her. I had the means and I had the time. Ten years I watched her learn, watched her develop, watched her¡­ grow up.¡± ¡°She was more than a program to you, more than a computer, right?¡± She tried to sound as respectful as possible and formed her question with care. ¡°Well, not initially, or intentionally. I used to be a bit old fashioned in that regard. I could never understand an emotional bond with something that wasn¡¯t alive.¡± ¡°But that changed?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure, maybe it was just my definition of alive that changed. I mean, I had been around artificial intelligences my whole life, but this¡­ was different. From the very first moment. She was so curious¡­ so happy to be taught, but I could only do so much.¡± He exhaled deeply. ¡°How do you teach someone empathy, describe colors or the scent of flowers.¡± ¡°But, was there a need for her to learn all that?¡± ¡°She wanted to know, wanted to learn. It was me who didn¡¯t know how to teach her.¡± The reporter placed her chin on her fist. ¡°And how did you solve it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s where we are closing in on Novus Vita.¡± Her eyes widened. ¡°Oh, right¡­ but how?¡± The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°She couldn¡¯t experience it in our world, so I showed her how to build her own. That was around ten, maybe fifteen years ago. We started out small. A room, a house, a garden. But as you can imagine, she developed fast. Soon she found a way to bring me into her world. ¡°Virtual reality existed already after all, but her improvements on the current technology were astounding. That day,¡± August looked at ceiling and formed a smile, ¡°might have been the most amazing day of my life.¡± More people joined them in the studio to listen to August Thompson and nobody dared to make a sound. ¡°The first time I saw her¡­ It was like the image in my head took form.¡± A glaze covered his eyes and a peaceful smile brightened his face. ¡°For a while we just spent time together, played games, talked. I helped her shape her world and we experienced it together. For a while, I forgot about work, about the past and just¡­ lived. ¡°But real life caught up with me. I opened my eyes again and saw what happened while I had hid myself in my lab. I didn¡¯t like it too much and, to be honest, I was somewhat clueless as to what to do next. There was nobody I trusted with Eva. So, together we came up with a plan. A world not under the thumb of the current leaders. A new start, for everyone.¡± ¡°And so you created the world of Novus Vita?¡± the reporter asked. ¡°It was a little more complicated.¡± August stroked his white beard and pushed his glasses back. ¡°I actually wanted to do it like that, but Eva had other plans. She found a solution to a problem we had stopped working on. Something that allowed her to develop a new world. Something responsible for the time difference we experience.¡± ¡°Ah yes.¡± The reporter excitedly nodded. ¡°Honestly, everyone I know uses it in some way. Meetings, hanging out with friends or just relaxing. It¡¯s just convenient to have so much extra time. But,¡± she leaned closer to August, ¡°is it really safe? I mean there have been tests and it¡¯s been approved, but I don¡¯t really get it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± he raised his palms, ¡°there¡¯s no danger. Two words are key¡ªimaginary time.¡± ¡°Never heard of it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­imagine time as a straight line, from left to right. Now, imaginary time runs up or down. It is, contrary to its name, very real and you experience it as such.¡± ¡°But that sounds like it would only be a theory, math, without a place in the real world.¡± She sounded doubtful. ¡°Have you ever fallen asleep, and you dreamt for what felt like hours? Experienced so much and yet, when you open your eyes, mere minutes have passed?¡± ¡°Well, of course.¡± His fingertips traced over his forehead and even though he felt hot, no sweat had formed. It was thanks to the special lights used in the studio. He usually avoided public speaking, not because he wasn¡¯t good at it, but because he didn¡¯t like it. But today he did. Today, he had to. Even if his body disagreed with him. ¡°That¡¯s very similar, but I¡¯m digressing again. We created a world where everybody started on the same terms. Nobody is forced to suffer, nobody is forced to feel pain or to be a subject to anybody. There¡¯s always a choice and most important of all, there¡¯s always a new start. As many new beginnings as you like.¡± ¡°But aren¡¯t big companies and powerful people already setting up shop? How is that fair, won¡¯t it end the same way as it did on this world?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a possibility,¡± August said. ¡°But I never did say it was a charity or a peaceful dream of equality. It¡¯s a new chance, if people don¡¯t take it and just complain, maybe they don¡¯t deserve any better.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ a little harsh, don¡¯t you think?¡± She tapped her fingers against the leather of her chair. ¡°I mean, it¡¯s just a game right?¡± The old man chuckled, but shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s marketed as one and Eva allowed a few changes to accommodate us intruders into her world¡ªauction houses, recording function and such.¡± ¡°The skill system?¡± ¡°No, that was her idea,¡± he shrugged, ¡°she liked the concept and implemented it from the start. But still, from the beginning, Novus Vita was never a game. It is a new world and those who will accepts it as one and embrace its inhabitants as real¡ªjust as real as the people in our world¡ªonly those will really thrive in it.¡± The young woman kneaded her fingers and bit her lips. ¡°I hope you don¡¯t mind me saying, but I myself still don¡¯t understand. Isn¡¯t it just data in the end? Programs, a computer, well... a game?¡± ¡°For some it might be difficult to accept,¡± August said. ¡°But aren¡¯t we made of basic information too? Every emotion, every sensation and action is based on chemical and electrical reactions in our body, in our brain. What if we break them down further? You get on cellular level, on molecular and atomic level. Even further. Electrons, protons and photons. Both worlds rely on the same elements, same ideas and, with exceptions, same laws. It¡¯s basically impossible to distinguish them.¡± ¡°That sounds incredible.¡± She pursed her lips and furrowed her brow. ¡°But even when it has the same base, how can an artificially created, new world compare to ours?¡± ¡°You have to understand, the world of Novus Vita was maybe created only ten years ago, but it existed far longer.¡± ¡°Forty years?¡± ¡°No,¡± he said. ¡°That¡¯s just the current flow of time. It¡¯s suited to us, so our brains aren¡¯t overburdened. Eva doesn¡¯t have that problem. So what if the time ratio wasn¡¯t one to four, but to ten. Or to a hundred. To ten million. What would that mean?¡± She hesitated. ¡°More time to develop?¡± ¡°A lot more. We don¡¯t even know how much, but the consequences are clear. Millennia of history. Of rising empires and fallen civilizations. And each named NPC, not counting mobs, has a life, a past and a future. One you¡¯ll take if you kill him or her. You won¡¯t only erase ones and zeroes. You may destroy decades of education, of parental love or bring grief to children and friends.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± she narrowed her eyes, ¡°so every NPC I killed actually grew up? Even animals and monsters?¡± ¡°Not necessarily. As I said, there are enemies solely created with the purpose of being killed. They spawn like in a normal game. But many don¡¯t, they are born. Made from genetic material, just like we are. They grow up, they have children of their own and they die. Of course, Eva can create pockets of sped up time where she can cultivate NPCs for certain purposes, but they still experience a life.¡± He snickered and the back of his hand brushed over his beard. ¡°But then again, Eva makes the rules and she doesn¡¯t always tell me. But currently that¡¯s how Novus Vita works.¡± ¡°So this new world really doesn¡¯t need us, does it?¡± ¡°Need?¡± He looked up, contemplating. ¡°No. But neither does our own. The world exists and we can carve out our place in it. Form relationships, find our way and change it. For better or worse.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a lot of new information. And unfortunately our time is already up. Thanks a lot for being our guest tonight Mr. Thompson.¡± ¡°It was my pleasure.¡± He bowed his head slightly toward the camera. The reporter turned away from August and put on her usual smile. ¡°And we are happy to announce that we¡¯ll be talking to Mr. Thompson once more next week. Then we¡¯ll discuss if his AI could not only govern her own world, but threaten ours.¡± After a few more memorized words, she ended the broadcast, but didn¡¯t get up from her chair. Everyone just remained where they stood and thought about what they had heard. About what they did in Novus Vita and what it meant in light of what they knew now. --------------------- ¡°Off.¡± The screen disappeared and, for a moment, Tom and Levi sat silently in front of the white wall. ¡°That was¡­ interesting,¡± Tom said. Levi stared ahead. ¡°I don¡¯t¡­ I didn¡¯t know it was like that.¡± ¡°Yeah, me neither.¡± Levi turned toward his big brother. ¡°Maybe we shouldn¡¯t have killed all those bandits in the mountains.¡± ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure they actually just spawn for quests. So we¡¯re good on that front. But what if those generic mobs would have killed actual citizens?¡± He shook his head helplessly. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m more confused than before.¡± ¡°Hey,¡± Levi said. ¡°Can we check if they are bringing something about Roselake?¡± ¡°I honestly doubt you¡¯ll see Frank there, but why not.¡± Tom knew his little brother admired their friend from university. While Tom never had problems fitting in, his brother was different. Always shy, always the odd one out and always insecure about himself. So, seeing Frank gave him an ideal to strive for. The guy usually stood out. Not necessarily his looks or reputation. But he had almost something like¡­ an aura around him. Something that distanced him from others, almost like a wild animal. But Frank never seemed bothered and stood straight, no matter what. Like Levi, he didn¡¯t quite fit in. For his little brother, he put a lot of effort into befriending Frank and, though slowly, he made progress. ¡°You know, maybe you should call him,¡± Tom said. ¡°Tell him about what the guy said in the interview. He¡¯s going to be in a civil war and maybe he wants to know what he¡¯s killing.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Frank only kills bad guys.¡± Levi¡¯s small fists punched the air. ¡°He is trained, he is ready and he. Is. Dangerous. Better watch out, scum!¡± Tom rolled his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re just too shy to call him.¡± ¡°Am not.¡± But his reddening face gave him away. ------------------------------- ¡°Mena, honey, have you taken out the trash and finished all of your school work?¡± ¡°Yes, mom. And it¡¯s university, not school.¡± She couldn¡¯t wait to get back into her capsule. Into a world where people knew her as Himoto, Scarlet Fire. She had helped evacuate most people out of Roselake, but that had made the city only more dangerous. That¡¯s why she had decided to hunt during the nights. Unfortunately, most of her targets had relied on the safety on numbers. Maybe I should call that Hall guy. But she decided against it. Last time he had dumped a bunch of guards on her and she still hadn¡¯t quite forgiven him. They had chased her for hours after all. ¡°Yes, yes, honey. You¡¯re a big girl.¡± Her mother, a round and happy woman, chuckled and raised her hands in front of her. ¡°But don¡¯t forget, we made a deal. You want to spend the whole weekend in that game of yours, and in exchange you agreed to help around the house.¡± ¡°I know, I know.¡± She sighed and grabbed the vacuum. ¡°Honestly, why do we still have this old thing?¡± ----------------------------------- Author¡¯s Note: Hope you guys enjoyed this side chapter, next time we¡¯ll return to Hall :grin: As always, if you spot any mistakes or have suggestions, just let me know Thanks to Requizition (Author of Prism here on RRL) for proofreading. And a very special thanks to Trent and Anton for sponsoring this chapter, you guys are awesome :D :bye: Chapter 30 - Call to Arms Chapter 30 ¨C Call to Arms A young woman sat on the desk at the back of the office. ¡°I was close by, so I came to make sure you¡¯re not getting in anymore trouble.¡± She brushed a strand of her black hair behind her ear and pushed herself off the table. ¡°Nice to see you too, Grim.¡± He gave her a tired smile and dropped into the chair next to her. She cocked her head and rubbed her chin with her thumb and index finger. ¡°Wow, you look exhausted.¡± He pressed his face into his palms and said through his fingers, ¡°Little bit.¡± Grim sighed and the mischievous spark in her eyes was replaced by a heavier gaze. She put her hand on Hall¡¯s shoulder and pressed her lips together. ¡°I know I¡¯m asking a lot,¡± her head turned toward Lily, ¡°from all of you.¡± The familiar only shook her head and Hall waved her off. ¡°Please, this is nothing. You should have seen me back in the army after commando training. I was so exhausted that I missed a camouflage exercise because I fell asleep in the woods. Was even awarded because they couldn¡¯t find me.¡± Grim and Lily both gave him a strange look and Moira remained suspiciously quiet. ¡°Anyway,¡± Hall coughed, ¡°weren¡¯t we just comforting me?¡± ¡°That moment¡¯s passed.¡± Grim leaned against the desk and Lily soared next to her. ¡°Totally killed it,¡± his familiar said, folding her arms in front of her chest. ¡°Alright.¡± Hall smirked, stood up and took a metal rod out of his inventory. Instantly, a black glow, accompanied by a sickening aura, emanated from the staff. Grim¡¯s eyes widened and she snatched the pole from his hands. ¡°Where did you get this?¡± ¡°You remember the tree down in the labyrinth? The big, black and scary one? Well, once it had crumbled to dust, this thing was left stuck in the ground.¡± She groaned and lifted her hand to her forehead. ¡°That makes sense. I should have known, but¡­,¡± she gave the pole a closer look, ¡°whoever did this has power and knowledge beyond any mortal I can think of.¡± ¡°Not to stir up old wounds,¡± Hall said carefully, ¡°but the last harbinger should be involved, maybe it was her who did it? Whatever it was.¡± After a moment of contemplation, Grim shook her head. ¡°She didn¡¯t have the power. This is¡ªor was¡ªan artifact I gave her. But somebody cursed it, distorting its purpose.¡± She furrowed her brow and looked down. ¡°What a terrifying thought,¡± she murmured. ¡°Last time it took a fallen angel and decades to corrupt one of your tools,¡± Hall said, suppressing a tone of concern. ¡°Yes, but the scythe was merely stained.¡± She tightened her grip around the pole. ¡°This is a perversion. It actually created a rift in our world and forcefully drove the darkness toward us.¡± ¡°What was its original purpose?¡± Lily kept her distance from the black glow and her narrowed eyes darted between the staff and the one who carried it. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ complicated,¡± Grim said. She licked her lips and turned the metal in her hand. ¡°It creates a powerful area effect.¡± A shadow rose from her hand and enveloped the artifact. Within seconds its eerie aura had disappeared, replaced by Grim¡¯s dominating but gentle air. Her expression softened and she dispelled her magic. Yet in an instant, the oppressive glow returned, even stronger than before. Lily gasped and Grim furrowed her brow. ¡°This might be harder than I thought.¡± She raised her eyes toward Hall. ¡°I¡¯ll return this to you once it¡¯s cleansed. As it is now,¡± she said, shaking her head, ¡°it would cause only harm.¡± Hall nodded and grabbed a portion of dried meat from his inventory. He offered some of it to Grim, but she declined and instead took out some sweets. The black wrappers held small balls of hard candy which she threw in her mouth. ¡°Sour,¡± she squinted her eyes and trembled, ¡°but delicious. Have some.¡± She pressed a handful of sweets into his palms and then quietly ate her own candy. ¡°Grim¡­ why did you come?¡± She lowered her head and dropped her shoulders. ¡°Why? Can¡¯t I visit just because I¡¯m in the mood?¡± She hadn¡¯t raised her gaze and still stood close to Hall. ¡°You could, and I¡¯d like you to,¡± he placed his hand on the head of the girl in front of him, ¡°but today you aren¡¯t, right?¡± Grim exhaled deeply and chuckled. ¡°You are a brave and daring man.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a harbinger after all. And not just any.¡± ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right.¡± She took a step back and, for a moment, they said nothing as only the wind howling outside the old church could be heard. The thin glass windows did little to keep the warmth inside and a little stove in the corner of the room fought its hardest against the freezing night. Grim straightened her back and grabbed a pawn from a chess board sitting on the desk. The wooden game had seen better days, its worn figures barely recognizable. ¡°They say war is like chess.¡± She stared at the small figure between her fingers. ¡°Strategy and tactics. The ability to think ahead and see your enemy¡¯s movements. But I never really liked the comparison, because people forget another thing it represents.¡± Hall leaned against the armrest of his chair, his eyes resting on Grim. ¡°Sacrifice,¡± she said. ¡°Unquestioned, undoubted sacrifice and the deep faith that those at the top are better. Of a higher value. Worth the lives of their subjects. Queen, pawns, knights. How little, or how much their lives count.¡± She closed her palm around the piece, showing Hall her small back. ¡°If I have learned anything over the millennia, is that no matter if beggar or lord, every life, every soul counts. I¡¯ve watched so many be sacrificed in the name of gods and kings. And what¡¯s even worse than people believing in their superior value, is that there are those who believe in their own inferiority.¡± The girl placed the chess piece back on its board and turned around, a solemn look on her face. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean that we won¡¯t take lives. It doesn¡¯t mean there aren¡¯t those who don¡¯t deserve the life they have been given or those who have forfeited the right to it. There will always be those asking who gives you the right to judge. The right to decide.¡± Her gaze pierced him. ¡°Remember, I granted you that right. You have the responsibility, the duty to use it wisely or it will be taken away. And you will have to carry the weight of those you kill with you, because their lives, no matter how they lived them, still count.¡± After a few tense seconds, Grim relax and her gaze softened. ¡°I¡¯m telling you this because tomorrow, even more so than before, you will have to face your responsibilities. You may doubt, you may hesitate, but trust in yourself and know that I have faith in you.¡± ¡°No worries.¡± Hall suppressed his exhaustion and showed her a small, but confident smile. ¡°And thanks.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t thank me.¡± She stepped toward the window and peered into the night. The first snow of the night fell on the empty streets and abandoned homes. ¡°I wish I could tell you that we are going to save this city, protects its people, but¡­,¡± she turned toward him, ¡°I am death and you are my harbinger.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°No,¡± cold moonlight illuminated her figure, ¡°you don¡¯t. But for now, it¡¯s alright. I want you to be careful though. There may be other parties involved in this conflict. More¡­ powerful individuals.¡± ¡°Sorry to keep you waiting,¡± Shep called from the hallway. ¡°Lily, Moira, keep this guy safe and I hope we¡¯ll meet again soon,¡± she whispered. Distracted by Shep, Hall had only looked away for a second, but Grim had already vanished and left an empty spot beneath the window. ¡°Were you talking to somebody?¡± Shep entered the office, carrying two cups. The scent of coffee spread through the room and the bald man handed Hall one of the cups. ¡°Coffee with a little something extra. Made it myself.¡± ¡°Thanks. Was just talking to myself.¡± Hall took the cup and sipped from the brown liquid. The warmth dispelled the labyrinth¡¯s lingering cold from his bones. But Shep¡¯s little extra soon kicked in. Hall¡¯s eyes widened and he sucked in air. ¡°Smooth,¡± he pressed through his teeth and coughed once. ¡°I know, right?¡± Shep swallowed half of his coffee and shook his body violently. ¡°So refreshing.¡± Hall placed his drink on the table and sat down again. ¡°So, what¡¯s the matter? Why am I here? Not that I don¡¯t appreciate a safe zone.¡± He could have sworn Shep¡¯s monk robe swallowed the moonlight when the bald man circled around his desk and sat down. ¡°Listen, I don¡¯t think you can save this city.¡± His deep voice fit the room¡¯s grave atmosphere. ¡°That seems to be the general opinion,¡± Hall said and when Shep raised an eyebrow, the harbinger shook his head. ¡°Forget it.¡± ¡°Not just you. Nobody. I don¡¯t believe this city can be saved.¡± The metal cup in his hand dented under his grip. ¡°Damn, I¡¯m not even sure if it should be saved.¡± ¡°I take it you won¡¯t return?¡± Hall asked. Shep leaned back in his chair and shook his head, eyes fixated on the cup he held. ¡°This is no place for children to grow up. Not anymore. A few people in the surrounding villages owe me a favor or two so we¡¯ll be fine. Should have left long ago anyway.¡± The silence between them grew deeper and, for a moment, Shep seemed lost in thought. ¡°You know, it wasn¡¯t always like that.¡± He gazed into the past and his voice grew solemn. ¡°This city was safe once. Hard to believe, but the former king was a just man¡ªunlike his son. He was cruel too, but never without reason. He rewarded those that served him well and punished those that failed him. And his son, the current king, failed him often. Back then¡ªbelieve it or not¡ªI was a member of the royal guard. A captain even. Had my own command.¡± He chuckled weakly. ¡°Damn, I was so proud to serve.¡± ¡°So, what happened?¡± ¡°The inevitable, I guess.¡± Shep shrugged and put his coffee down. ¡°The former king¡¯s son snapped. Hired a small army and laid a trap for his father and his closest knights. I was the only one to make it out alive.¡± ¡°And everyone just accepted it?¡± ¡°Most didn¡¯t know the truth. Of course some suspected it, but there was no proof and my word didn¡¯t matter compared to his. The people were ignored and the nobles supported the son. The former king held a firm grip on them, but his son¡­ not so much. And from then on, things became worse.¡± ¡°So, you were a knight once, huh?¡± Hall scratched his chin, grinning. ¡°Hard to imagine.¡± Shep only snorted and waved him off. ¡°That was a lifetime ago. My point is, this city is not worth dying for. But if I can¡¯t keep you away from the battle, I might as well ask you a favor. Give you something worth fighting for.¡± He opened a drawer and took a golden badge from the bottom. ¡°I want him dead. I made my peace long ago, but after all he did, the king needs to die.¡± He placed the badge on the table in front of Hall. ¡°Our old knight¡¯s symbol. Show it to him before he dies.¡±
Quest: Kill The King
Shep has asked you to kill Bredon¡¯s king, Malreg. Before doing so, show him shep¡¯s memento. Currently the king resides in his palace in Roselake and is surrounded by his personal guard. Difficulty: B Quest requirements: High intimacy with the former knight captain, Shep Rewards: Unknown Failure: The king survives Not present when the king dies
¡°Be careful though,¡± Shep said. ¡°Malreg may be mad, but he¡¯s no fool and he will sacrifice all his men in an attempt to save himself. I don¡¯t care how he dies, just make sure he knows why.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Hall took the badge and placed it in his inventory, ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± ¡°Good.¡± A hint of of relief showed on his face, but Shep¡¯s serious demeanor returned immediately. ¡°You¡¯ll meet up with Jorn soon and I want you to be prepared. You probably already know, but he¡¯s more than a simple merchant. I doubt you could take him in combat.¡± ¡°Good thing he¡¯s on my side then.¡± ¡°He is.¡± Shep scratched his chin and leaned back, the chair groaning under his weight. ¡°You helped and if nothing else, he¡¯s grateful. As are many of those fighting by his side. But their loyalty lies with themselves and the city. And don¡¯t get me wrong, but your presence might frighten them more than the royal guards¡¯.¡± ¡°Uncle Shep,¡± a tiny voice outside the office said. ¡°I can¡¯t sleep.¡± The dark bags under Shep¡¯s eyes told a story of constant struggle. He rubbed his closed lids and stood up. ¡°I¡¯ll be there in a minute, go to bed.¡± Hall heard the patter of small feet on the wooden floor. ¡°Do you need any help? Getting out of town I mean.¡± ¡°Thanks, there¡¯s no need though. But listen,¡± Shep grabbed an oil lamp from a shelf and used a flint to light its wick, ¡°you have to take care of yourself. Be vigilant, and watch your back. You¡¯ll fight alone.¡± He walked past Hall and stopped in the office¡¯s entrance. ¡°You can stay as long as you want. I¡¯ll go take care of the children and then catch two or three hours of sleep myself.¡± His grip tightened around the wooden door frame and, with his back turned to Hall, he lowered his head. ¡°Good luck.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not very reassuring,¡± Lily said. She watched the oil lamp¡¯s light disappear around the corner of the hallway and wrinkled her nose. ¡°I really hope he¡¯s wrong.¡± ¡°Me too,¡± Moira¡¯s voice carried little optimism, ¡°but considering Grim¡¯s words and that man¡¯s warning, I¡¯d say we have a few exhausting days ahead of us.¡± ¡°We should get some rest then.¡± Hall stood up and left the office. Only the moonlight illuminated the hallway, but the darkness posed no obstacle to him. On his way to the entrance hall, a warm glow spread from a room from which he could hear Shep¡¯s voice. ¡°Alright children, one story and then you¡¯ll go to sleep.¡± Hall¡¯s gaze met Lily¡¯s and they both chuckled. The scarred giant, former captain of the royal guard, now told bedtime stories to orphans. It was a nice thought. He quietly passed the bedroom, trying not to disturb the children. ¡°A long, long time ago, before grass grew on the earth, before water ran in our rivers and before night changed to day, there was a goddess. The first and the greatest. All powerful and all knowing, but¡­ all alone,¡± Shep began his story. ¡°Wait a second,¡± Moira said. ¡°I think I¡¯ve heard this story before.¡± Hall halted in his step and listened. ¡°She was lonely,¡± Shep continued, ¡°and so she split her strength among her children. One was pure light, the other dark, darker than any night you¡¯ve ever seen. They could only exist together, in a balance. The goddess was happy to see her children create their first world. They split their reign in day and night and shaped life itself. Her children¡¯s kin in turn ruled the races inhabiting this world. These gods had many names and many powers.¡± Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Hall leaned against the wall next to the bedroom door and listened to Shep¡¯s steady voice that carried through the dimly lit orphanage. ¡°The great goddess loved all of them dearly, but most of all she loved her first two children. But darkness grew envious of its sibling. It didn¡¯t understand that their mother could love them equally. So darkness tried to conquer light. Its children went to war and the world drowned in blood.¡± Hall raised an eyebrow. ¡°That¡¯s one hell of a bedtime story,¡± he mumbled. ¡°And the great goddess cried.¡± Shep¡¯s voice grew heavy. ¡°Grief and anger overwhelmed her when she saw what had become of her children and in a fit of rage, she swallowed the heavens and the earth, the gods and all the races. Even her own children. And when she realized what she had done, she cried for a thousand years. ¡°But when her grief subsided, she followed her children¡¯s wishes and created another world, similar to the one before. Our world. And because she couldn¡¯t forget her two children, she placed a small piece of them in each and every soul.¡± He stroked the children¡¯s hair and showed them a warm smile. ¡±So there¡¯s a little light and a little dark in every one of us.¡± ¡°But why not make everyone out of light?¡± The girl from before asked with a sleepy voice. ¡°Because she knew there needed to be balance. In her, in the world and in everything. But she also gave us free will. Choices. And the balance is tipping. So there need to be brave heroes out there. Heroes who fight for us. Fight against the growing darkness.¡± ¡°Tell us about them.¡± ¡°Another time, children. Sleep for now. Tomorrow will be exhausting.¡± Blankets rustled and the lantern¡¯s light vanished. Hall left them to rest and sat down on a wooden bench in the entrance hall. ¡°Moira, did it sound about right for you? The story?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a famous tale, widely regarded as the story of our creation. Or one version of it. It probably holds a kernel of truth. Grim told you, didn¡¯t she? The balance is threatened and if it isn¡¯t fixed¡­ bad things happen,¡± Moira said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Lily hovered around Hall, ¡°we have the light on our side.¡± But he only laughed quietly. ¡°I don¡¯t see any knights joining our ranks. No priests rushing to help us. We stand alone in the shadows.¡± Lily sank to the ground, but Hall didn¡¯t sound dispirited. ¡°At least that way they won¡¯t see us coming.¡± He logged out and after a few bites to eat and a shower, he went to bed. Sleep soon overtook him and, even though it wasn¡¯t even midnight, he fell into a deep slumber. Only hours later did his alarm clock wake him up. The sun hadn¡¯t risen, but if it had, the silence in his neighborhood wouldn¡¯t have been disturbed. Saturday mornings tended to be rather quiet after all. Frank stood up with a groan and rubbed his face. He stretched his arms and switched on the lights. These last few weeks, he had neglected to clean the place and it showed. A pile of worn clothes and dirty dishes screamed for his attention. But they had to wait a little longer. ---------------------- Once again he was summoned before the king. Bale swallowed the curse on his lips and entered the throne room. Polished marble reflected the light of candles and lamps and gold and silver ornaments painted a picture of exuberance. The king leaned above a massive table and brooded over countless maps and documents. ¡°Come closer, we¡¯re almost ready.¡± Bale approached him and glanced over scattered papers. ¡°Your troops are in place?¡± ¡°They are,¡± the king nodded, ¡°and so are yours, right?¡± He looked up and eyed Bale. You know they are. Malreg was a nuisance, but he was careful. His spies had followed Bale, at least when the warrior had allowed it. ¡°Of course, your majesty. I moved my troops according to our plans.¡± At least those you know about. ¡°Good, good.¡± He nodded frantically. ¡°The streets are empty. We secured the market place, the noble and trading districts. The slum and parts of the commoner areas are locked down. I say, let them come.¡± ¡°Indeed, we are prepared. But even though the slums are under lock and key, there will be resistance. Their soldiers want to fight.¡± ¡°Soldiers.¡± Malreg spit out the word. ¡°Rebel scum. They want to take my city from me. My kingdom. But we¡¯ll silence their incessant cries. They¡¯ll only plead for their mothers when their guts spill from their ripped stomachs and when they choke on their own blood.¡± He licked his lips and giggled, a glint of madness flashing in his eyes. Bale stayed quiet. Madness turned men careless, but also unpredictable. And lately Malreg¡¯s outbursts had become more and more frequent. ¡°Everything is taken care of. Now we just have to let it play out.¡± ¡°Yes, yes.¡± Malreg downed half a cup of wine, dyeing his beard red as he spilled the other half. The corners of Bale¡¯s lips twitched as he imagined it to be the king¡¯s blood that painted his neck. ¡°Remember, Bale, if you succeed in suppressing the rebellion, you¡¯ll be rewarded with land and riches. Should you fail,¡± his voice darkened, the wine still dripping from his beard, ¡°I¡¯ll have your head and the heads of your friends. You won¡¯t be safe anywhere in this world. No matter how often I have to kill you¡­¡± He growled and green mist rose from his fingers. Bale could only sneer at Malreg¡¯s threat. The king¡¯s level was high and his skills formidable, but Bale had seen him fight. He had little experience in battle and his knight¡¯s lacked loyalty and numbers. ¡°Of course.¡± Bale bowed his head, suppressing a mocking laugh. ¡°Then go and conquer the slums. Take back my city and,¡± he gestured at the sword leaning besides the throne, ¡°use this to make an example of those opposing me.¡± Bale walked toward the throne and picked up the large blade.
Roselake¡¯s Brutal Executioner
Damage:90-120Durability:200/200
Type:Two Hand SwordQuality:Unique
Having been in possession of the royal family of Bredon for generations, this sword has become the symbol of law. For centuries it has been used to execute criminals and enemies of the kingdom. Effect: Within Roselake¡¯s market place it can kill with a single strike Requirements: Royal permission 300 Strength
¡°That¡¯s¡­ quite the sword, thank you,¡± Bale said, never taking his eyes off the blade. But the king didn¡¯t react to his words. Instead, he had lost himself in his maps and papers again. ¡°Works for me.¡± Bale shrugged, bagged the sword and left the throne room. The two girls and the twins awaited him outside. ¡°So, what did the old fart want?¡± Balinda asked without any regards for the poisonous glances of the guards around them. They walked down the wide hallway of the castle, past rows of soldiers ready for their orders. ¡°Nothing important,¡± Bale said. ¡°Get your men ready, we¡¯ll attack in two hours.¡± ------------------------- When Hall logged back in, almost a day had passed in the world of Novus Vita. The sun had already set and a layer of fresh snow covered the deserted city. Silence reigned in the empty orphanage, only disturbed by the freezing wind that struck the windows. He grabbed the iron handle of the massive entrance door and turned to Lily. ¡°We¡¯re about to go into battle. We might have to kill those not necessarily evil and maybe not only voyagers.¡± She halted for a moment, but nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll trust your judgement.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Hall pressed down the handle, ¡°you too Moira?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the grimoire said. ¡°I won¡¯t run from our fate.¡± He pushed the door open and walked into the night. Even now only few sounds reached their ears. Flickering lights behind several windows in the decaying buildings of the slums showed that not everyone had left. Many warriors¡ªrebels that stood against the king and his army¡ªfound shelter in the abandoned homes of Roselake¡¯s civilians. Hall tightened the heavy cloak around his shoulders and pushed through the cold. The darkness helped them evade the guards and they soon reached Jorn¡¯s store. The moment he stepped in, a dozen armed men standing around a table greeted him with drawn swords. ¡°Stand down,¡± Jorn said in the background. ¡°He¡¯s one of us.¡± The men¡¯s eyes scanned Hall and though they carried doubt and irritation, they showed no fear. Their faces, worn from weather and scarred by battle, remained tense. ¡°This is Hall,¡± the merchant said. ¡°I told you about him. He¡¯s the subject of the latest rumors. We have to thank him for decorating the market place fountain in such a colorful way and for bringing us the documents from the oh-so noble house Keslak.¡± The men chuckled and their expression relaxed¡ªslightly. ¡°So you¡¯re the one the people of Roselake call a hero. Sure don¡¯t look like one,¡± a tall man clad in dark leather said. ¡°Though others call you a cold blooded killer anyway. More fitting if you ask me. Celebrated and hated. In any case, you sure made a name for yourself. I¡¯m curious to see if and how your name will be mentioned after all this.¡± ¡°Hall, these are my officers,¡± Jorn moved his arm in a wide arc, ¡°they will lead my soldiers in the upcoming battles. I¡¯m unsure if you can tell, but three of them are voyagers, just like you.¡± The group split and allowed Hall to approach Jorn. ¡°Old merchant, you¡¯re more than meets the eye. Actually leading these troops. Impressive.¡± ¡°You¡¯re one to talk.¡± Jorn¡¯s grinned and placed his hand on Hall¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Boy, look at this.¡± He pointed at the large map city on the table in front of them. It showed Roselake in detail while red markings displayed troops and movement routes. The city itself was arranged in a circle with its streets aligned like the grooves of a fan. They began at the city¡¯s edge and met up dead center¡ªright in the middle of the market place. A main road led from the west entrance to the east and from the south to the middle. Most of the city¡¯s north was painted red. Noble districts, luxurious shops and the castle itself. Gardens and entertainment for the nobility. But many red spots also marked the trading districts in the center and in the east and west. The king¡¯s troops had established a firm hold on the city. Only the fairly large slum and commoner area in the south was marked with black and grey symbols¡ªrebel troops or neutral points. ¡°Hall, you¡¯ll accompany Kron here,¡± Jorn slapped one of his men on the back. ¡±You¡¯ll conquer the commoner areas in the east. Then you¡¯ll make your way through the trade areas, leading up to the noble districts up north, and push back the enemy. Meanwhile we¡¯ll advance from the south and east. Once we create a buffer zone, we¡¯ll circle back,¡± he said, slamming a dagger into the middle of the map, ¡°and meet in the market place. The king currently resides in a royal estate at the north edge of the city¡¯s center. We¡¯ll strike hard and crush him once and for all.¡±
Event Quest: War of Wrath
After decades of oppression, those willing to fight for their freedom have risen against Bredon¡¯s ruler and his army. Support them in their fight, repel the king¡¯s troops and conquer Roselake. Difficulty: B+ Quest requirements: - Rewards: Based on your actions Failure: The uprising fails
--------------------- They then discussed more detailed plans, but Hall had already fallen deep in thought. He was unfamiliar with the area assigned to him, but it didn¡¯t really matter. However, the men who would be fighting by his side worried him. His ¡®Soul Perception¡¯ revealed darkness in the souls of the men around the table. Yet the one appointed to him carried so much more darkness than light. Guess I have to make it work somehow. Hall possessed little sway with the rebel forces, so he had only made little suggestions to adjust Jorn¡¯s plans. The situation seemed dire. They were outnumbered, their soldiers outleveled. But Hall had his own goals in this fight and one of them was Malreg¡¯s head. ¡°Listen, men,¡± Jorn raised his voice, ¡°today we¡¯ll take back our city. All our suffering. All our despair. We¡¯ll put it into our blades, into our shields and we¡¯ll obliterate the king and his forces.¡± The men around the table roared and smashed their fists against their chests. ¡°By all means,¡± Jorn continued, ¡°we¡¯ll fight. And if necessary, we¡¯ll die.¡± Grim expressions appeared on the faces around Hall as they drew their weapons. ¡°Let¡¯s march!¡± Jorn yelled and together, they left the store. Kron, the man who Hall was supposed to accompany, motioned him to follow behind. In a side street, thirty men awaited them. Most wore simple leather armor and old blades. A handful carried bows, but none of them wore any metal protection. ¡°Those are not soldiers,¡± Moira said with disdain in her voice. ¡°They are thugs.¡± Lily nodded and followed behind Hall, regardless. He would have liked to say something, but they spoke the truth. His ¡®Soul Perception¡¯ told him enough about them. ¡°They are scum,¡± Hall whispered. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean we can¡¯t use them. Fight fire with fire and such. We¡¯ll see about cleansing them later.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Kron raised his spear and pointed toward the darkness ahead of them. ¡°I guess it¡¯s time to go to war.¡± Hall waited for the group to march on. Only when they vanished around a corner, did he follow them. The snow silenced his steps and the shadows of the night soon swallowed him whole. The cold wind carried the sounds of clashing steel, of barking dogs and screaming men. A scent of blood filled the air and murders of crows sat atop the city roofs, waiting for the start of their feast. -------------------------- Author¡¯s Note: Hope you enjoyed the new chapter :grin: As always, if you spot any mistakes, have suggestions or questions, just let me know Thanks to Requizition (Author of Prism here on RRL) for proofreading. And a very special thanks to Anthony for sponsoring this chapter :bye: Chapter 31 - Kindly Bent to Free Us Author¡¯s Note: Hey guys, This chapter took a little longer, sorry about that, but I had to finish a short story first :D I think it turned out pretty well, if you want to check it out, you can read it here Well, hope you enjoy this chapter. If you find mistakes or have suggestions, questions or ideas, please post them or send me a pm. Also in case you have forgotten the effect of some of the skills, I posted them here. They aren¡¯t all up to date, but you¡¯ll know what they do. As always I¡¯ll post their progress in an overview every few chapters (last one at the end of chapter 29 ) Special thanks goes to Requizition (Author of Prism here on RRL) for proofreading. Check out his fic guys, he¡¯s been gone for a bit, but he¡¯s back to writing ;) I wish you all happy holidays and a happy new year, relax a few days and eat some good food :grin: *********************************************** Chapter 31 - Kindly Bent to Free Us They had left Jorn¡¯s store and the narrow side streets behind. Their breath formed clouds and most of the men shivered, some affected by the cold, others agitated by the prospect of battle. ¡°Gather at the pyre up ahead.¡± Kron waved his spear toward a pile of burning wood. Someone had built dozens of pyres, each a few dozen feet away from the next one, to illuminate the wider streets. A gust of wind fueled the flames and countless shadows of lingering men danced on the walls of the surrounding buildings. ¡°Alright, listen,¡± Korn said. Jorn had given the tall man command over the unit, but Hall still doubted his ability. ¡°Down that road,¡± he pointed toward the row of pyres that lead down the street, ¡°we¡¯ll find the enemy. Hold nothing back. ¡° More people had joined them, among those many players. Several groups huddled around the fires and rubbed their hands together to keep their fingers warm. After all, a chill debuff could decrease their damage in battle and only a few had bothered to buy winter clothes. Orders echoed through the night and almost a hundred people began to move. They drew their bows and swords, readied their staffs and prepared their spells. Some showed wide grins, faces glowing in a frenzy while others seemed concerned, but determined. Small groups of players laughed and incited each other, along with those around them. A few men stayed a handful of steps behind the larger group and took out flutes, drums and lutes. Their first attempt at a coherent melody failed, but soon they found their rhythm and a wave of excitement ran through the men and women gathered. The bard class could raise their allies¡¯ strength, improve their defense and even heal them, similarly to Lily¡¯s songs. The road ahead was blocked. As their march slowly came to a standstill, more than two dozen soldiers in heavy armor rammed their large shields into the ground. Wet snow splashed against their metal boots and the flames¡¯ flickering light bathed them in shades of red and black. ¡°Don¡¯t falter!¡± A man close to Hall yelled and raised his blade. He charged forward and with him, twenty more. A lute¡¯s melody, accompanied by a shaky voice, began its tune and more musicians followed its lead. A handful of fireballs and lightning bolts flew past the charging men and clashed against the shield wall. But the soldiers withstood the magic as well as the first volley of arrows that rained from above. Hall watched them carefully. He wasn¡¯t eager to be in the first wave attack wave, unlike Kron and many of their initial group. They rushed in and slammed their weapons against the soldiers. Screams emerged from the enemy. Swords cut into their armor and skill shots bashed into their formations, but the enemy held their ground. Behind the line of shields, a blue flag rose and one of the soldiers yelled. ¡°Archers.¡± Almost inaudible, scratching noises came from the roofs around them and several figures appeared on top of the buildings. A hail of arrows, many imbued with magic, shot toward them and struck the first wave of attackers. ¡°Healers!¡± Somebody to Hall¡¯s left cried and two people started to chant. A yellow glow surrounded the robed men, but before they could finish, arrows buried themselves in their chest and neck. ¡°Damn, protect the casters!¡± Uncoordinated yells emerged from the men as they tried to establish order. Lily hovered beside Hall and watched the events unfold. ¡°Doesn¡¯t look too good.¡± He shook his head, but raised an eyebrow. Kron and four of his men hadn¡¯t clashed with the soldiers and seemed to defend their position at the front. ¡°What are they up to?¡± Kron gave his men a signal. They surrounded him and raised their shields. An orange glow gushed from his spear and the weapon grew in size. Arrows and magic clashed against the shields, but the men around him clenched their fists, knuckles turning white, and endured the attacks. ¡°Get ready,¡± Kron pressed through his teeth and, from behind, Hall heard the drums increase their speed. Three men lifted staffs they had hidden and smashed their crystal tips together. A flaming ball formed around the crystals and continued to grow as they chanted their spells. ¡°Oh, looks like that rebel merchant hid a few unexpected surprises among his men,¡± Moira said. Kron attracted most of the archer¡¯s attention, so the casters in the background remained undetected. He rammed his spear between two of the enemy¡¯s shields and, with a scream, shoved it deeper into the wall of steel. He jumped back as the spear tip exploded. A wave of fire and shrapnel ripped the shield wall apart, throwing the soldiers into disarray. ¡°Fire!¡± The fireball conjured by the mages, now a meter in diameter, shot toward the gap Kron had created. The king¡¯s soldiers desperately ran and shoved others in an attempt to avoid the magic projectile. But it exploded in their midst and obliterated a handful of men on impact. The flames engulfed over two dozen more and left them in dire state. ¡°Now, charge!¡± Kron and his men were the first to rush in, merciless in their assault as they killed the wounded. The rebels around Hall swarmed over their enemy like locusts. Both sides exchanged arrows and magic. Agile fighters flashed past heavily armored foes and stabbed at weak points while healers drained their mana reserves in a futile attempt to keep their companions alive. The snow soaked up the unending streams of blood and turned the street into a crimson lake. More and more fell to blades and spells and the initial charge slowed down. Until shouts resounded from the end of the road. Kron and his companions panted heavily and their gazes wandered to the commotion. They cursed and fell back. ¡°Retreat.¡± Wounds covered most enemies. Their mages and archers were riddled with arrows or killed by magic. Few still stood. But the rebels fared little better. Kron and his troops had prevented their destruction, but only twenty men were left under his command. ¡°You.¡± Kron pointed at Hall and threw one of his men over his bleeding shoulder. Despite his scrawny figure, his strength and fighting prowess couldn¡¯t be underestimated. ¡°Time to show why you¡¯re here. Buy us two minutes, that¡¯s all I ask.¡± ¡°Guess he¡¯s more than just a thug,¡± Lily said. ¡°At least he cares for his men.¡± Hall nodded. So far he had only observed. Not because he didn¡¯t want to fight, but because he didn¡¯t know the situation. And rushing blindly into battle never turned out well. Now though, it was time for him to take action. ¡°Alright,¡± Hall turned to the few people still standing by his side¡ªmostly range supporters¡ªand gestured toward the wounded. ¡°Pick up whoever you can carry and fall back.¡± ¡°So, how do you plan to face them?¡± Moira asked. Hall let the chains from his wrists drop to the ground. ¡°I¡¯ll improvise.¡± His mind raced. He couldn¡¯t take on more than a handful of the soldiers at the same time. ¡°Well, I only need to buy a couple of minutes. Should be manageable.¡± Kron and his men dragged the wounded past him as the enemy reinforcements arrived. ¡°Chase! Crush them!¡± a man on horseback yelled. He wore a red velvet cape and no blood or mud stained his shiny armor. Hall stepped forward and, standing in the middle of the street, glanced over the approaching troops. The enemy drew their wounded back, but he still faced about thirty men. They hesitated. Hall¡¯s glowing eyes beneath the shadows of his hood drilled into the soldiers¡¯ minds. ¡°From what I¡¯ve seen, they aren¡¯t too strong.¡± Despite Moira¡¯s condescending voice, she sounded worried. ¡°Your scythe won¡¯t do you much good. Those guys aren¡¯t too evil. Bad enough though.¡± ¡°Lily, let¡¯s show them a little fear.¡± Hall grabbed his chains and the soft sound of distant bells sounded through the street. They accompanied Lily¡¯s voice as she sang of judgement and fear. Of death and despair. And of a sole reaper, coming for their lives. The soldiers took a step back. They looked at each other, searching of confidence or words of comfort. Hall slowly closed in on them. He showed neither hurry nor any trace of doubt that he could take them on by himself. He simply sought to buy time. For them, however, their actions in these seconds would decide over life and death. It didn¡¯t matter if they could overwhelm him with numbers; the feeling of certain death weakened their resolve. Their legs trembled and their grips softened. ¡°What are you doing? It¡¯s just one man. Follow your commander¡¯s order!¡± The man on the horse drew his sword and rammed his boots into the animal¡¯s flanks. But the horse shied away from the approaching Hall. Its rider pulled the reins, but it only struggled fiercer. He slammed the flat side of his sword against the animal¡¯s rear and finally regained control over it. But by then, it was too late. Hall swung his chain, wrapped it around the man¡¯s neck and yanked him from his horse. His body slammed to the ground and silent dread spread among the soldiers. The man whimpered and, through his daze, clawed at the chain around his throat. His legs flailed around as he desperately gasped for air. But Hall slowly pulled him in, like a fisherman reeling in his catch. The man¡¯s armor scratched against the soiled cobblestone. He let go of his sword and his bloodshot eyes looked toward the soldiers, pleading them to act. But not one did. They only turned their heads, avoiding his gaze. ¡°Nobody will help you,¡± Hall said, his voice raspy. Almost leisurely he grabbed the dagger from his belt and got on one knee. He leaned in and rammed the dagger into the man¡¯s back. The chain¡¯s grip around the young commander¡¯s neck loosened and a bloodcurdling scream left his throat. A scream that turned into a miserable gurgling as Hall slit his throat. Two critical hits, that¡¯s all it took to get his first kill this night. He lifted the corpses¡¯ cape and wiped his blade on a crest stitched onto the velvet. Not a single soldier had moved and only the far-away sounds of battle disturbed the oppressive silence. Hall chuckled, but the street¡¯s echo had turned it into malicious laughter. He turned around and strolled away, exposing his unprotected back to the enemy. No one tried to stop him. Neither arrow, nor spell chased after him as he disappeared into the night. ¡°Impressive,¡± Moira said. Lily nodded in approval. ¡°Don¡¯t sound so surprised.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that I expected you to...¡± Moira searched for words. ¡°Be flashier?¡± Lily suggested. ¡°Exactly,¡± Moira agreed. ¡°I guess I could have jumped them all, flung my chains around and used my skills.¡± He shrugged. ¡°But I got the same effect with less effort. Also I¡¯d probably look like those guys in front of us if I had made it out.¡± They had caught up with the remnants of their troops and Kron ordered his men to barricade the narrow side street behind them. They had prepared their retreat beforehand and pulled a construction made of wood and metal from a nearby warehouse to block the road. ¡°You useless bastard.¡± Kron ran toward Hall, his face twisted and his fists clenched. ¡°You just watched us getting slaughtered. Weren¡¯t you supposed to be some great hero of the rebels?¡± He spit on the ground. ¡°What good are you?¡± Hall raised an eyebrow. ¡°You fought on your own territory, but you rushed straight into a defensive formation without securing the area. I¡¯ll fight to free this city, but I won¡¯t follow you into death.¡± Kron grit his teeth and gestured toward his men. Only three of their original troops sat on the ground, leaning against an old house. Twelve more from other groups tended to their own wounds or just stared into the night sky. ¡°If one more of my men dies while you just sit around, ¡°he grabbed Hall¡¯s coat, ¡°I¡¯ll swear I¡¯ll gut you myself and sent your corpse to the king.¡±
Quest: Warm Thoughts of Warfare
Kron and his men have suffered great losses in their initial assault. Only three of his companions survived and he blames you. Prove your worth and support their advance while not a single of his men dies until you arrive at the market place. Difficulty: D+ Quest requirements: The first attack in the battle for Roselake gets repelled and most of Kron¡¯s men fall Rewards: Unknown Failure: Kron or one of his three remaining men dies Fail to conquer your assigned areas
Hall shoved Kron¡¯s hand away. ¡°If we don¡¯t charge in blindly, I¡¯m in.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Kron glared at him a moment longer and turned toward the rest. ¡°You guys are now all under my command. Rest up; treat your injuries. We¡¯ll meet up with another group and try again.¡± A few men complained, but they had made their choices. The city gates were closed and the sides picked. If they didn¡¯t want to hide, they had to fight. The remaining mage distributed health or mana potions, but his limited supply only sufficed to heal those close to death. That meant their regeneration was severely slowed and they had to rely on external means to get back into fighting shape. Most bandaged their wounds or ate dried rations to restore their health. Because they remained in the war zone, their combat status never disappeared. At least not until they reached a safe zone. ¡°Let¡¯s hope we¡¯ll find a healer among the other groups,¡± Kron grumbled. Hall glanced toward him. ¡°And this time, we¡¯ll keep them alive.¡± Most of the town¡¯s healers¡ªpriests, clerics and paladins¡ªrelied on light magic and belonged to one of the churches. They had declared themselves neutral and would treat everyone. But a few exceptions¡ªmostly players¡ªas well as the town¡¯s alchemists, apothecaries and those with more uncommon classes that happened to possess healing abilities, chose sides and became key resources in the war. Resources Kron had squandered in his first attack and the dark expression on his face revealed that he knew it. Hall walked toward an abandoned horse wagon and brushed the snow off the wooden driver seat. He felt the cold despite his armor and a numbing chill crawled into his feet. His boots were soaked and their leather heavy. ¡°Should have bought winter boots, damn it.¡± He observed the remaining men. Like beaten dogs they huddled around a small fire and licked their wounds. ¡°We won¡¯t win like this. I¡¯ve been too passive so far.¡± This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. ¡°Well, we have a king to kill,¡± Moira said. ¡°You can¡¯t fall until then¡­ and if possible, not afterwards either.¡± Lily soared from the ground and sat down next to him. Her white hair seemed to reflect what little moonlight reached them. Even in this darkness, she seemed to carry a light. And though he sat so close to her, not one ray reached him. ¡°She¡¯s right.¡± Lily grabbed the corner of his sleeve. ¡°You have to be more careful. You should fight like today, smarter. Not like down in the labyrinth.¡± Her small hand trembled. ¡°You¡¯re always fighting against so many. And all alone. Let others do the fighting for a change,¡± she looked up to him, ¡°please.¡± But he couldn¡¯t bring himself to meet her eyes. ¡°Sorry. You¡¯ve seen what happened before. This quest is difficult for a reason and we haven¡¯t even fought any strong enemies yet.¡± She turned away again and looked down toward her shoeless feet that still left no trace in the snow. ¡°But we will. We always do.¡± ¡°Yeah, we always do.¡± Hall stared into the darkness and listened to the distant cries of dying men. ----------------------------------- ¡°Bale,¡± Ryan yelled. He and his twin brother approached the steel clad warrior in the backlines of the clash between their men and the rebels. ¡°So, how is the situation?¡± Bale never looked away from the battle. It gave him no pleasure to watch the men die, but neither did it bother him. He observed with a blank face, his eyes cold, calculating. ¡°As expected.¡± Ryan said. The twins had gathered the reports from the group leaders and gave orders where Bale wasn¡¯t present. ¡°The fights are brutal. Four out of five fighters are warrior classes. Very few mages, more archers, barely any support. No surprises.¡± Bale nodded. They knew the troops¡¯ numbers, as well as their composition¡ªon both sides. The king of Bredon had driven the mage guild out of his capital and few mages had stayed behind. Even fewer taught apprentices or players. Range combat classes or their instructors had found places outside of the city¡ªto hunt or study nature¡ªor belonged to the army itself. A good number of people picked up the corresponding classes, but city streets and alleys made an awful battleground for archers. ¡°Good,¡± Bale said. ¡°But there will always be surprises. No way do we know every class out there.¡± He finally turned away from the slaughter in front of them and walked closer to a fire pit in the backyard of a small bakery. The wind didn¡¯t reach them in the walled area where cooks prepared meals for the fighters and the wounded waited for treatment. They had prepared places like these beforehand. Places where now the scent of blood mixed with that of grilled meat, and the wails of dying men accompanied the last meals of those about to fight. Bale checked on the men and gave one of them orders to retrieve another crate of healing potions. ¡°A battle might be fought on the front, but it¡¯s won in the background.¡± ¡°Sounds like something your father would say,¡± Nayr absentmindedly mumbled. He glanced back to the front of the battle and his hand tightened around the blade on his belt. Even now, green liquid dropped from the dagger and burned through the snow like molten iron. Explosions and magical attacks reflected in his dull eyes. It seemed to stir something awake deep within them. He licked his lips and his breathing hastened. Bale raised an eyebrow, but didn¡¯t say anything. Instead, Ryan coughed and rammed his elbow into his brother¡¯s side. ¡°It seems they split into smaller troops, each of them attacking through different streets.¡± ¡°Just as we expected. They avoid fighting in bottlenecks that way.¡± Ryan nodded. ¡°But it still forces us to split our troops thin.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. How are the casualties?¡± Ryan scratched his chin and stared into the fire. ¡°A lot. We¡¯ve kept our best fighters back and roughly matched the strength of their attackers.¡± ¡°Good. A high death toll will mean anger and grief. They¡¯ll resent their leaders for letting their friends and families die. And I¡¯ll offer them¡­ an alternative.¡± Nayr bent his knees and picked a bloody bandage from the ground. He kept it a moment¡ªa moment too long¡ªand threw it into the fire. ¡°It¡¯s like a meat grinder, Bale. You should try it too.¡± ¡°When there¡¯s time. Maybe. Go on, Ryan.¡± ¡°Salena and Belinda are holding the west part of town. Or observing the battle to be more precise. They¡¯ll report any changes. But they seem to think if we don¡¯t reinforce the front, the rebels will break through eventually.¡± ¡°What about Shadow Wraith?¡± Bale asked. They had paid a sizeable sum to the players of the chaotic guild and he intended to use them. Their conniving nature limited their usage in direct combat, but in terms of disrupting the backline and pinpoint assassinations, there was hardly any group more suited. ¡°There¡¯s around eighty of them. They¡¯re about to slip past the enemy and will wait until they can strike from behind.¡± Bale nodded. He had ordered them to strike the enemy support once he gave the command. ¡°Sir,¡± a soldier ran up behind him. Blood flowed from a cut above his eye and more of it from a wound in his left shoulder. ¡°They¡¯ve broken through to the main street on the south and are closing in on the market place.¡± ¡°Are they progressing?¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°Fools. Instead of waiting for the stronger east and west groups to advance, they push forward by themselves.¡± ¡°That¡¯s faster than expected, guess they found themselves a few high level helpers.¡± Ryan sneered and placed a helmet on his head. Intricate metal ornaments decorated the hardened leather and formed tribal patterns that seemed to move in the flames¡¯ flickering light. ¡°Get yourself patched up.¡± Bale dismissed the soldier and turned to Ryan. ¡°Take Nayr with you. Push them back. Don¡¯t overwhelm them though, can¡¯t have their spirit broken too soon. There¡¯s still a lot of dying to be done. On both sides.¡± ------------------------- Finding another group of rebels turned out to be fairly simple. Hall, Kron and the fifteen men had followed the noise of clashing steel and raging spells and ran into an ongoing battle. Both sides had fought to a standstill. Two dozen men and women from each side clashed in close combat while healers and ranged attackers launched their skills into the fray. Flames and ice arrows surged toward the enemy. But the archers and mages stayed out of each other¡¯s range and while attacking, they took caution not to hit their allies. ¡°Nobody on the buildings this time it seems,¡± Lily said. Hall shook his head. ¡°The roofs are too steep. And with this snow, I doubt they¡¯d get off any good shots. Hell, they¡¯d probably only break their neck.¡± They arrived in the backline and Kron approached an exhausted mage who chugged down a mana potion. ¡°Where¡¯s your leader?¡± The man wiped his forehead and dropped the empty bottle to the ground where several more already lay in the snow. He raised his thumb and pointed a few meters to his right. There, a body lay, sprawled in the gutter, its face burnt away and its chest caved in. ¡°He charged in first and got blown up.¡± The mage shrugged. ¡°Some poor lad dragged his corpse here and got two arrows in the back as a reward. Should be lying somewhere else.¡± ¡°Alright, you¡¯re under my command now,¡± Kron said. The mage only shrugged again and stretched out his arm toward the enemy. A globe of blue light formed in his palm and, after a moment of concentration, it shot forward. The glowing ball bolted away and struck one of the enemy fighters square in the chest. Like he¡¯d been struck by a hammer, the heavy armored warrior flew backwards. His heavy body crashed on the ground, but after a few seconds, he already stood up, shook his head and looked for the mace he had dropped. The mage clicked his tongue. ¡°They¡¯ll have that healed up in no time.¡± ¡°Keep firing,¡± Kron ordered. He turned toward a man in a white robe who sat on the side, his back leaned against a knee-high wall. ¡°You the healer of this bunch?¡± ¡°That I am.¡± The man looked up and his bloodshot eyes wandered over the wounded group behind Kron. ¡°Hope you don¡¯t expect me to fix you lot up. I¡¯ve been out of mana for an hour.¡± ¡°I got you some potions.¡± But the man waved him off. ¡°Already used those. Diminishing return effects make them useless. For a while at least.¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t the potion work in full if the diminishing return effect isn¡¯t triggered for five minutes?¡± Hall asked. The man brushed some snow off his robe. Patches had been ripped from his chest. Signs of a rogue priest who had left the church¡ªor was forced out. ¡°To a certain degree, yes, but if you chug them like cheap brandy, you¡¯ll get a debuff that negates the potion¡¯s effect. Give me an hour. Till then I can¡¯t heal much more than a few scratches.¡± Kron looked over his men and grinded his teeth. He glared at Hall. ¡°You¡¯ll go to the front, relieve whoever can¡¯t stand anymore. I don¡¯t expect you to win the battle, but at least hold the line until this healer can get my men into shape.¡± Moira hissed. ¡°Who does this mongrel think he is? Ordering a harbinger.¡± Her voice grew louder in his mind. ¡°Show him what it means to be so presumptuous.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you ordering him too?¡± Lily cocked her head and giggled. ¡°That is¡­ different,¡± she stuttered. ¡°We are companions after all and I meant it for his own good.¡± Hall chuckled at her struggle for words. ¡°It¡¯s alright. We go along with him. For now.¡± He nodded to the rogue priest and approached the raging battle. At the center of the frontline, three of the king¡¯s soldiers, equipped with heavy shields and short spears, threatened to overwhelm the rebels. ¡°Guess we¡¯ll start there.¡± Hall needed to be careful with his chains. He had never fought alongside others, at least not in the world of Novus Vita, and he didn¡¯t like the thought of harming them. Two of the three men that had caught Hall¡¯s attention shoved their shields into the rebels. The third one jumped into the small corridor the others had made, discarded his shield, grabbed the spear with both hands and stabbed at unprotected sides and backs. The rebels stumbled backwards and enlarged the hole in their formation. A roar came from the soldiers and two more of them pushed into the collapsing line. Hall stepped forward. Now, he only had enemies ahead. He raised both chains, swung them over his head and slammed them into the ground. The new foe caught the charging soldiers off guard. Hall¡¯s chains fell upon the gap and crushed the helmet of the first man they met¡ªalong with his head. The soldiers looked shocked, but their training showed its effect. The moment, Hall¡¯s chains slammed down on them again, they raised their shields and received the attack. But they had underestimated the power behind them. Each chain struck a shield and left deep dents in the metal. The men behind them groaned in pain and fell to their knees. Those who had charged into the gap, retreated again and allowed the rebel¡¯s line to reform. A few of his allies nodded toward Hall, tired smiles on their faces. His actions had slowed down the fighting even more. Many stood on weak legs, their breathing heavy and their cracked shields raised. Their weapons seemed to weigh a ton, and their sore arms struggled to keep them up. A small group of four broke from the enemy¡¯s backline. Three of them dashed forward and bridged the twenty meters that separated them from the front within seconds. One man strolled after them, unfazed by the battle. They wore mismatched pieces of clothing and armor. None of them seemed to be under direct command of the army. ¡°Those guys look like voyagers,¡± Lily said. Hall didn¡¯t use ¡®Soul Perception¡¯ during the battles. Mana was a valuable resource and there were just too many people around. But Lily¡¯s assumption made sense and he preferred killing players over the soldiers anyway. The three leaped over the fighting men and women. One of them drew two short swords from sheaths on his back and swung them down evenly as he leaped toward Hall. ¡°Moron.¡± Hall shook his head. He wrapped the chains around his forearms and crossed them in front of him. The two blades struck his chains and he felt a stab of numbing pain, but ignored it. Instead, he roared and activated the skill ¡®Blast Tyrant¡¯. The man seemed dazed as if the impact had left him in worse state than Hall. His two companions landed behind him. One of them¡ªthe only woman in the group of four¡ªdrew two daggers and the other lifted a heavy mace from his back. Before they could charge him, Hall unfolded his arms. He pushed against the two swords and his stunned enemy mustered little resistance. His stance broke and he slipped on the trampled snow. Hall grabbed the knife on his belt and before his enemy regained his step, he shoved the blade under his chin and drove it upwards.
Critical Hit! You have dealt 715 damage
He pulled the knife from the skull and rammed it into the man¡¯s chest. Once, twice.
Critical Hit! You have dealt 523 damage Critical Hit! You have dealt 541 damage Your target died.
The woman¡¯s eyes widened. Only in the light of the surrounding pyres did Hall notice her pointy ears and slender figure. An elf. She had to have traveled for a while to reach Roselake. ¡°Impossible. Tram was a level fifty warrior.¡± ¡°He was a glass cannon, not a tank.¡± The fourth man had finally reached them and looked at the corpse of his friend. It lay face first on the ground and dyed the snow red. ¡°Still,¡± he stroked his black chin beard, ¡°his leap initiation should have had more of an effect.¡± Compared to the other three, he was a little older and his equipment slightly better. Despite his heavy steel armor, he moved easily and though he showed a little concern, he made no effort to pull the large sword from his back. ¡°What now, coach?¡± the elf asked. ¡°Well, either you attack like we have practiced or you run. Making the decision is part of your training.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather die, than run. And our level is higher than Tram¡¯s.¡± A dark glow spread from her daggers and tendrils of smoke rose from her arms. The other man that accompanied her nodded as white light emerged from his war hammer. He raised the weapon and smashed it into the ground before him. Snow splashed against his iron leg guards and the street trembled beneath them. Hall raised an eyebrow. Nothing happened. ¡°Below you!¡± Moira yelled, panicked. He instantly jumped backwards and time slowed down when the effect of ¡®Watching over me¡¯ kicked in. A spike of light broke through the ground and pierced the air where he stood a moment ago. But before he could sigh in relief, the spike detonated. The shock wave took hold of the falling Hall and flung him back even further. Back first, he crashed onto the street. Lily gasped and rushed to his side. He rolled back, pushed himself off the ground and raised his arms, ready for the next attack. But none followed. ¡°Kid,¡± the man behind the attackers said, ¡°you shouldn¡¯t underestimate those two. They might be young, but I¡¯ve personally trained them and brought them here to look for worthy opponents.¡± It had been years since he had used his knife in real combat. The heavy grip in his hand, the approaching enemy. It felt so very familiar. A grin spread on Hall¡¯s face. ¡°Come.¡± Dont Fear the Reaper - Christmas Special Don¡¯t Fear the Reaper ¨C Christmas Special Hey guys, thought I¡¯d give you a little something special for Christmas, hope you enjoy it :grin: For those who read this without being familiar with my story, be mindful that there are a few spoilers. **************************************************** Carol of the Bells Twas deep in the night, in the city of Roselake. All silent and white, not a good soul awake. But the streets were not empty, for shadows appeared. They ran and they hushed, into windows they peered. Cracked open the glass and took what was prepared For Christmas Eve with the children to be shared. The king¡¯s men did nothing, had no mercy to spare For the people of Roselake, and their allnightly mares. Yet there was a dark figure that had more than enough Of too little joy, pain, and life that was rough. Almost all people feared him and screamed at his sight But still he protects them with all of his might. Tis the Harbinger Hall who brings them much joice, The sugar cane scythe his weapon of choice. With him are winter veil Lily, Moira and Grim, Three little fairies far from proper and prim. Hunted by evil their prospect is dire, A thorn in the side of king and empire. ¡°Go find him and catch him and strike him down! No one goes against me in my own town¡± ¡°Send one or send ten, send one hundred men. We¡¯ll meet them and beat them and judge them then.¡± So if you¡¯re hungry or cold, if you curse the whole world If you suffer injustice, see sorrow unfurled Have no turkey, no pudding, no bells and no choir Have not even chestnuts over the fire Find hope in the thought that you¡¯re not alone Cause they¡¯ll shield you from harm, to marrow and bone And if you feel warm and ate more than your share Drink chocolate in safety, love the clothes that you wear Think of those who tremble from the winter¡¯s cold Fear demons and bandits, fear morality sold It¡¯s important for all to know and remember There¡¯ll always be darkness, in June or December But this is the time to be reminded Not by fear and anger to be blinded Of those in the darkness that fight for the light Fight during this day and this merry night Fight without reward or glory or wages Fight like Hall, for you, children of all ages The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. ************* ¡°Big sis, is he real? Really, really real?¡± A girl among the group of children asked. They sat in a dimly lit room, huddled together for warmth. ¡°Of course he is.¡± A young woman smiled at her, her pale skin shining in the flickering candle light. The dark suit she wore stood in contrast to the children¡¯s torn and dirty clothes. Some had rags tied around their feet. Bags had formed under their eyes, but they glanced around nervously, as if not daring to fall asleep. A bit of straw lay on the hard stone floor of the cellar they had chosen as a hideout. They looked up to the young woman, but one of the boys lowered his gaze. ¡°Nobody is out there to help. We¡¯re alone.¡± He clenched his tiny fists and suppressed a sob. ¡°Papa said they¡¯d protect us. Mama said so too. But they¡¯re gone now. Everyone¡¯s gone.¡± More children began to sniffle and rubbed their eyes with their stained sleeves. In the streets above them, steel clashed and magical explosions rocked the ground. The scent of burnt flesh and blood made them sick and the screams of the dying filled them with terror. Nobody had bothered decorating the streets this year. There was no fireplace or smell of freshly baked cake in the warm house. No singers, no presents, no, not even games in the snow. This year, there were only tears. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± The woman went down to one knee and put her hand on the shivering boy. ¡°My friend is up there. He¡¯ll push the fighting away so you can escape. And once you¡¯re outside the city, you¡¯ll be safe. I¡¯ve seen the others waiting for you.¡± ¡°Really?¡± The boy¡¯s lips trembled. He seemed like he wanted to believe her, so very much. The woman smiled once more and nodded. ¡°If you listen closely, you can hear him even now. Hear the sound of his chains.¡± The children¡¯s ears perked up and they glanced toward the ceiling. A small window allowed them to glimpse at the full moon and a handful of snow-covered roofs. After a while, through all the fighting and death, the faint sound of bells reached them. ¡°There it is, kids. He¡¯s out there.¡± The little girl who spoke up first pulled on the woman¡¯s sleeve. ¡°He¡¯s a good guy, right?¡± ¡°Of course he is.¡± ¡°How do you know?¡± The boy grimaced, still unconvinced. ¡°Simple.¡± The woman chuckled. ¡°He¡¯s my harbinger after all.¡± ********************************************** With that I wish all of my readers, new and old, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I¡¯m really grateful for your continued support and hope you¡¯ll come back next year, because I certainly will :D