As the torches brightened slowly, giving him just enough light to see a bit ahead but not enough to see far at all. Creating a dimly lit hallway with almost deafening silence. If it weren’t for the occasional drop of falling water splatting on the ground he would have thought he’d gone deaf.
A bit eerie. What’s this? Barron touched the black void wall with just the tips of his fingers.
As his hand met the wall, a sharp freezing sting jolts through him with a static ‘zztz’, numbing his hand however it quickly recovers as though he hadn’t done it to begin with.
Checking his status to see he hadn’t lost any health at all. He wouldn’t have cared either way as he still had plenty of the red berries remaining.
Although the Regeneration status wasn’t the best it was very helpful to him. Now noticing the notification that came up.
Would you like to exit?
Yes / No
Clicking on the “no” before turning and stepping onto what should be stone, instead however is a fine powder of sorts. Giving him more traction on the ground, a more comfortable step than the stone had been.
The light flickering for a moment as he walks, only a few minutes later he is able to locate a single piece of ore, although it seems to be wedged into the ceiling much more hidden than he had initially presumed the ores’ to be. By some stroke of luck there seemed to be a rope attached to the ceiling that would bring one right up to it.
Awfully convenient Barron thanked the developers mentally before gripping the rope, hoisting himself up and starting to climb. The ore being almost 15 meters higher than where he had started climbing.
Before reaching the top Barron hears a very faint ‘Chhk’ before a sharp metal bolt flies toward him cutting through the wind, stabbing into Barrons torso. Knocking him off the rope and to Barrons’s disbelief another notification appeared in front of him.
Dark Gnome has dealt 27 damage.
You have died.
The soul beacon has salvaged your soul!
Respawning at the last obelisk.
The surroundings melting down and reappearing around him creating the area he was just in before the mines.
Well, at least I used the obelisk. Barron thought to himself while trying to feel better about the situation.
A few people glanced over however they didn’t really pay him any mind, going back to their business of collecting people or preparing items or entering the mines themselves.
Barron wandered back towards the entrance, the cold wind blowing against him coming from the inside of the mine, still causing chills to run up his spine. The uncomfortable feeling of looking back into the abyss he was just slain in was not very nice in his opinion.
Deciding to take another go as he was just within reach of collecting the ore, the light of determination being lit firmly as Barron made his decision.
Let’s go!
Walking up to the veil although still hesitating slightly before deciding to go in, the veil parting and letting him through before closing up behind him again. Although he had just seen a group going in seconds before, yet now they were nowhere to be seen.
I guess it’s a separate area, like the tutorial. Barron guessed, although he wasn’t sure that did seem to be the case.
The familiar scenery of the cold stone and torches being lit up, stepping onto the soft powered that layered the floor. Walking for a minute before returning to the same spot. The rope dangling from the ceiling with the single piece of iron wedged tightly in the roof.
This time however Barron glanced around his surroundings, not finding anyone in the nearby vicinity. Taking a second precautionary look before starting to climb the rope again, nearing the top. His initial goal of collecting the metal still a primary focus.
Out of the corner of his eye he sees the bright glint of something off in the furthest corner of the room before ‘Chhk’ a bolt flies toward him.
Oh no! Stabbing him firmly in the chest and once again knocking him off the rope. His vision darkening and a notification appearing in front of him again.
Dark Gnome has dealt 29 damage.
You have died.
The soul beacon has salvaged your soul!
Respawning at the last obelisk.
Although Barron was annoyed he had now located the Gnome which had now killed him twice.
Okay this time, I’ll get it. Barron thought, more determined to retrieve the metal now.
Deciding it best to try again. Thinking of a new plan as he walked to the already familiar veil of mist that clouded around the entrance, preventing anyone from looking inside.
Although he was still a bit nervous, it wasn’t nearly as bad as when he first had entered. The veil still gave him an uncomfortable feeling however.
Brushing it to the side as he is walking in, meeting the familiar notification.
Entering The Ruined Mines.
Please wait.
Staff in hand he ducks behind object after object quietly dashing from a bit of crumbled wall to a nearby minecart to hide his advance towards the Gnome, slowly encroaching on the Gnomes position.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
Looking in the corner that he had seen the glint he noticed that it was unusually dark.
So that’s where you’re hiding. Barron laughed to himself, knowing this time he would get the jump on the Gnome instead of the other way around.
Popping out from behind the minecart and casting his Arcane Bolt on the corner. His staff glowing with arcane energy before bursting forth a sphere of light. Slamming into the corner, the little bit of travel time letting him barely see the figure of a person. Albeit a little person.
The ‘Chhk’ of a bolt being shot out and flying towards Barron causes him to panic and rush back towards the minecart. The bolt just narrowly whizzing by and slamming into the ground next to the minecart causing dirt and rubble to be flung into the air.
The first dodge giving him the confidence to prepare another Arcane Bolt and peek out again.
Okay, let’s go! Barron quickly popped his head out from behind the cart.
Expecting it to go the same as the last exchange however he hears the all too familiar ‘Chhk’ and watches another bolt fly towards his face before a series of notifications once again greeted him.
Dark Gnome has dealt 43 damage.
You have died.
The soul beacon has salvaged your soul!
Respawning at the last obelisk.
***
Barron lay on the platform containing the soul beacon, already thinking of a new strategy for his next raid on the Gnome. Sitting up and preparing to go again, greeted by clapping and jeering from those around.
“36!” a woman shouted while clapping like the others around.
“I’ll give it to him, he’s determined,” a fighter said while preparing his gear, nodding in what seemed to be respect towards Barron.
Another fighter by his side followed while laughing, “Just give up already. Whatever you’re doing clearly isn’t working.”
Barron was already used to this and simply ignored them. They had noticed him going in and near instantly dying each time and a few people had started counting after his 20th death or so.
Instead, he focused on his plan to rid the mine of the foul demon that plagued it. Although his initial goal was to collect ore, now he held a grudge toward the Gnome. Barron firmly believed there was no longer any option to reconcile.
Had he only killed Barron 10 or 15 times he may have let it go, but Barron had long since drawn the line. Every extra death just causing Barron to solidify his desire for revenge.
As Barron firmly walked towards the entrance for another go at his newly found enemy – the metal ore that he needed was now a thought at the back of his mind – another player walked up towards him.
“Hey, I’ve seen you going in there quite a few times,” a fighter in blue swordsman garbs had already made his way toward Barron, his equipment looked to be a cut above the rest. His narrow eyes and odd tone made him seem sly, short stature and welcoming smile made him seem much more approachable, “Would you like help with… Well, whatever you’re doing?”
As the man was talking he moved his hand and played with the small transparent screen in front of him, although Barron only saw a blank blue screen he assumed it to be some privacy setting.
True King (Lv: 8) has invited you to their party.
Would you like to accept?
Yes / No.
“Well yea that’d be great. But, I’m only level 1,” Barron said, most people who came up to him simply were looking for a group to help them clear it, something which Barron clearly couldn’t do.
“That’s quite alright, I had presumed that,” True King said while nodding, “I don’t mind taking you through the mine, the monsters are a few levels below me so it wouldn’t be too hard.”
Barron did know that generally, in warlord the difference between a level was a fairly big deal. As the equipment and stat difference would add up extremely quickly. A level 5 could certainly beat a level 6; the problem was it became much harder even for very experienced players as the level between them grew.
Barron was willing to accept the help if that meant he could fight the Gnome finally. Remembering that he could also use this help to collect the metal he needed.
Clicking the ‘Yes’ on the screen Barron agreed and almost instantly on the right side of his vision a small blue bar appeared named ‘True King’. Barron instantly knew it was in reference to his new group member.
Nodding to Barron’s acceptance he looked around, in what appeared to be agitation or worry before ushering Barron into the mine once more, heading in behind Barron.
Stepping through the veil and coming back to the all too familiar sight of the mine, the torches on the walls lighting up and the soft powder under his feet, the scent of mold and stone assaulting his nose, something which he didn’t mind at this point.
Barron started walking while watching his map, something he had been doing the past 10 times he went through. Noting the little changes that happened each time giving him something to do on the walk towards the Gnome.
True King quickened his pace to be walking by Barrons side, “So, when did you start playing?” he asked casually.
“Yesterday, however I think I’ve progressed nicely.” Barron said while smiling, thinking about his level up the day before.
“That’s for sure, I spent at least two or three days before getting to level 1 let alone reaching these mines. The game just had so much to do that I spent most of my time wandering about.” True King laughed while reminiscing, “Speaking of levels. What have you put your point into? Each level you get one if you didn’t know.”
“Ah right! Thanks,” Barron suddenly remembered the skill point he had gotten the day before; his foraging fun had made him forget about it entirely, “I’ve yet to use it honestly.”
Thinking back to his tens of deaths Barron sighed, perhaps he could have found a strategy to beat the Gnome if he remembered he had access to another skill. This realization made Barron excited as he thought of the ways he could combat the Gnome now.
“Well, your damage isn’t going to be very useful, and you’ll only heal me by maybe 4 or 5 points,” he thought for a moment, letting his arm rest on the hilt of his sheathed sword before suggesting an alternative, “Perhaps an enchantment spell would be good? They increase stats by a percentage rather than a flat amount like a damaging spell would deal.”
Nodding along and looking at the skill list, the small number 1 sitting at the bottom of the skill screen.
Looking for a moment and finding there were only 2 spells under the enchantment category:
Empower | Enchantment
Requirement: None
Increase the Strength of 1 target by 1 for 30 minutes.
Fortify | Enchantment
Requirement: None
Increase the Endurance of 1 target by 1 for 30 minutes.
A single point increase didn’t seem like much, in Warlord a status point was very important. Because unlike in other games, they were rarely given out for free.
Barron had already seen in the description of stats that you only gain a single one to put into any stat every 10 levels, besides that unless you’ve gotten an extremely rare quest, or you’ve advanced your class then you wouldn’t be getting many often.
Barron chose the “Fortify” skill as, even when he wasn’t grouped up with someone he would be able to increase his defensive stats. Strength was completely useless to a caster.
Casting Fortify on True King, his staff creating a bit of grey light as a spectral set of grey knight’s armor appeared over True King’s own clothes becoming mostly transparent after a few seconds.
Receiving a thumbs up in thanks before True King began to lead the way, not long before entering the room which held his mortal enemy, the Dark Gnome.
Barron carefully watched the corner that commonly held the Gnome, he had found that occasionally the Gnome would be in other locations. Changing locations sometimes much like the mine itself.
“Be careful over here,” Barron advised, the last few deaths flashing in his mind. Reminding him of the Gnomes craftiness.
“Thanks, but you shouldn’t worry, I’ve ran this dungeon a handful of times already,” he unsheathed his sword before suddenly remembering something and looking over towards Barron, “Right, I forgot to ask. What exactly is our goal here?”