"Zedd!" Garnet shouted as she rushed back towards the library. Garnet had learned about the Exchange feature from Assad. She now needed to gain levels as quickly as possible in order to restore Riley. The problem was that it needed a lot of Garnet's levels, levels that she did not have. Ten levels for Riley's memories, twenty levels for Riley's body, and thirty levels to send Riley back home. That was the total price.
"What's the matter?!?" shouted Zedd as he rushed towards Garnet worried.
"I need you to make me an Instance Dungeon," Garnet requested.
"Aren't you strong enough to make your own now?" Zedd asked.
Zedd was right. Garnet had the prerequisite of ten thousand mana needed to make her own. However, Zedd's would have much more powerful creatures. They were also higher level and would make it easier for Garnet to gain levels. "I need strong enemies," said Garnet. "Even if I made my own, it's not enough."
"You do realize that the creatures in my Instance Dungeon are much stronger right?" said Zedd.
"Yes," Garnet confirmed. "That is exactly why you must be the one to open it."
"Can I ask what the problem is?" Zedd asked.
"I need levels to perform a miracle," said Garnet.
"Hmm…," said Zedd as he pondered quietly. "If that is the case, let me help you."
"How?" said Garnet.
"I'll weaken the enemies and you land the finishing blow," said Zedd. "Would that work?"
"I'll have to try it to know," said Garnet.
"Instance Dungeon Creation!" Zedd created a silver colored portal and stepped through it. "Be prepared for what you're about to witness."
Garnet took a deep breath and stepped inside Zedd's creation. The sky inside Zedd's Instance Dungeon was a blood red. As Garnet looked up into the sky, the moon was shattered into numerous small pieces and what could be seen as an asteroid belt floated above. The land itself was barren dirt, no signs of grass, trees, or foliage anywhere. All around, she could see terrifying creatures. They ranged from small lizards to creatures the size of mountains. It was a truly terrifying sight. "What is this?!?" Garnet shouted in surprise.
"Welcome to my Instance Dungeon," said Zedd.
"I mean what is that thing!" Garnet shouted as she pointed to the mountain sized monster.
"That was something I encountered during an Invasion," Zedd explained casually. "The Instance Dungeon contains everything I have ever encountered before."
Zedd had truly seen some terrifying things in his life. There were unspeakable horrors. There were mutated birds with snake like tongues, monstrous people with large balls of flesh sticking out of their bodies, and even a ten headed hydra. If Garnet had not experienced the numerous undead and the various other monsters she had seen before, she could have fainted from the shock of such a sight. It was still difficult for someone like Garnet to wrap her mind around. The warped humanoids were the most frightening to her.
"Relax," said Zedd. "You may encounter creatures like this in the future, so this might not be a bad experience."
"I can see now why you are always so calm and collected," said Garnet as she slowly recovered from the experience.
"So I will deal a mortal wound to the enemies, but you have to hurry up and finish them off," said Zedd.
"Okay," Garnet confirmed.
Zedd flew up and began to look down at some of his targets. He activated his Mana Armor Overlay. "Just follow me," said Zedd as he dived towards the first enemy, a large rock creature shaped like a lizard.
Name: Magma Lizard
Level: 96
Class: Beast
Sub-Class: Earthen
Stats: High Agility
CREE. The Magma Lizard screamed as Zedd slashed its neck, causing it to bleed. The lizard's blood touched the ground and ignited, setting the barren soil on fire. Garnet dove for its head and thrusted her sword into its eye, instantly killing it.
You have leveled up!
It was a level for a single kill and very little work thanks to Zedd. Garnet realized now why Zedd was able to fight off so many members of the Grey Ghosts and level up rather quickly. He could down an enemy at his level in a single strike.
Zedd looked at Garnet and spoke, "Good job."
"It worked," said Garnet. "I gained a level from that."
"How many do you need?" Zedd asked.
"Sixty," Garnet replied. "I can do them in small intervals, but it doesn't change the amount needed."
"Then we'd better get to work," said Zedd. "All these creatures that you see will also be added to your own Instance Dungeon once you make one as well, just keep that in mind."
Garnet had a terrifying thought about what her own Instance Dungeon would look like. Zedd's already seemed like it was an end of the world situation. If seeing these added them to her own, it would be even worse. Nonetheless, she needed to push on. The only way to restore Riley's memories right now was to gain the levels needed so that she could spend them in the Level Market. The time that Garnet, Riley, Zedd, and Serena spent in the library looking for a way proved to be fruitless so far.
The next creature was a large black hydra with ten heads. Each head had a fin on its back and fangs. "Earth Pike!" With a single spell, Zedd knocked the hydra off its feet.
BOOM. The ground shook as the massive creature hit the ground. "Sword Rain!" Zedd followed up with two dozen or so swords made of stone, pinning the heads of the creature to the ground. The entire thing was immobilized in seconds thanks to Zedd.
Garnet stabbed it in the crystal that composed its heart, instantly shattering and killing the creature.
You have leveled up!
You have leveled up!
You have leveled up!
Three levels for such a creature. Dragon like creatures have given more experience. They were probably stronger than other similar leveled enemies. All of the creatures within Zedd's Instance Dungeon were extremely powerful and if Zedd had used this place frequently, he could have been even stronger.
One by one, Zedd crippled the large enemies, letting Garnet finish them off. A giant titan like creature had its legs slashed off in an instant.
You have leveled up!
A golem made of ice had its body shattered, leaving only its heart. Zedd had clear knowledge of how to defeat each and every single enemy in the Instance Dungeon.
You have leveled up!
Six levels down, four to go. "Four more should do it for now," said Garnet.
"Alright," said Zedd.
You have leveled up!
You have leveled up!
You have leveled up!
You have leveled up!
"Okay, it's enough for now," said Garnet as she opened up the Exchange Menu. She scrolled down to wish. "Return Riley's memories to her."
A system dialogue message appeared: 10 Levels to grant this wish.
Yes/No
Garnet pressed yes. "AH!" she screamed as she suddenly felt a huge amount of strength leave her body. She fell to the ground on her knees.
"Are you okay?!?" Zedd shouted.
"Yes," said Garnet. "It was sudden, but I think it worked."
"Let's get out of here," said Zedd as he opened the silver portal.
"Yeah that's a good idea," said Garnet as she stumbled her way through. The Exchange was a price to be paid for something that could not be obtained through normal means. However, it was also something that made the impossible possible.
The moment they were out, Zedd immediately collapsed the Instance Dungeon. "Do you feel better now?" Zedd asked.
"Yes," said Garnet. "I just felt a moment of weakness after using the ability."
"Next time, move to somewhere safe first," said Zedd.
"Let's go see Riley," said Garnet.
As Zedd and Garnet headed back to the library, Serena came running out. "Riley collapsed!" she cried.
The three of them rushed over to Riley who Serena had placed into a bed. "Did anything happen?" Garnet asked.
"She cried out 'Lucy' just before she collapsed," Serena replied.
It was likely the rush of memories flowing into her head. Garnet remembered the experience that she had as her own memories clashed with Riley's. She only acquired fragments of Riley's memories and it was already bad. To restore all the memories would have been much severe. "Let's wait a while and hope that she recovers," said Garnet.
There was something worrying though. The wish itself was divided into three parts. "What if the wish to restore the body was necessary so that she could handle the rush of memories?" It was always a possibility.
After a while, Garnet could hear a voice. "Ugh," Riley groaned.
"You okay?" Garnet asked.
"Yeah," said Riley weakly. "What happened?"
"Do you remember?" Garnet asked.
"Remember what?" Riley asked.
"Anything from your old life," said Garnet.
As Riley laid down there, she began to think. She remembered. "Lucy," said Riley. "That's the name of my sister."
If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
"So you can remember," said Garnet. "That's a relief." It was proof that the Exchange worked.
Right now, Garnet needed fifty more levels in order to help Riley. Twenty to give her old body, thirty more to send her back to her old world. Riley was left weak by the ordeal. "I need to head back to the Instance Dungeon," Garnet said to Zedd. "I have to do all of them."
"Why?" Zedd asked.
"I think the three parts of the wish are tied together," Garnet replied. "The first wish is to grant Riley her memories back. But, she also needs a body that can handle it, which is her old one. Lastly, it is possible her body cannot survive in this one, which is why she needs to be sent back to her old world. When I did only the first part, this is what happened."
"That means since we started the process, we have to finish it," said Zedd.
"That is correct," said Garnet. "So we have to worry. I'm afraid that something bad will happen if we don’t."
"Keep an eye on Riley for us," said Zedd. "We'll be back soon."
Garnet took out all her remaining bottles of potions and handed them to Zedd. "You might need the mana," she said.
"Thanks, but I have something better," said Zedd as he revealed a small white vial filled with a clear liquid.
Name: Limitless Mana Potion
Quality: Mythical
Effect: +1000 mana per second for 1 hour, mana regeneration down 80% for 24 hours afterwards. Cannot be used again within 168 hours.
"One hour is our limit huh?" said Garnet as she looked at the clear liquid.
"That is correct," said Zedd. "But the question is whether or not you can keep up. Instance Dungeon Creation!"
Garnet's new mana regeneration ability was far superior to her old one. It gave her an immense flat rate of recovery on top of being able to restore missing mana. "I will," said Garnet. "Transformation: Queen of the Night!"
There was no more pain when Garnet transformed. All the time that she spent transformed had helped her get used to the feeling. "You're different," said Zedd.
"There's been some improvements," said Garnet. "We have to do this quickly. Not only do I need enough levels to help Riley, I also need a few more in order to be stronger as well."
The two of them walked into Zedd's Instance Dungeon. Zedd stood on the ground as he began to channel his mana into creating a magic circle on the ground. With a sword in hand, he prepared extremely powerful spells. "Meteor Rain!"
Numerous chunks of rocks in all shapes and sizes began to fall from the sky. Zedd drank the mana potion. "Keep an eye on them and pick off the survivors," he said.
The numerous chunks of rocks falling through the air reminded her of the Miracle Class spell that she was able to obtain from Assad. However, Garnet did not have the mana to keep it up like Zedd. She had to fly to her targets and attack. Nonetheless, the enhanced abilities of the Queen of the Night transformation was more than enough. She was able to cut through the bodies of the creatures without much trouble.
New Feature Unlocked: Party
Allows you to share some benefits of the Hero System with another non-summoned entity. Experience can be shared between members if they are within a certain distance.
"Wait!" Garnet shouted as she flew towards Zedd.
"What is it?" Zedd asked as he stopped channeling the spell.
Garnet pressed the Party feature and pushed in the name Zedd.
"What?!?" said Zedd surprised.
Garnet saw the Hero System provide Zedd with a pop up box confirming the party. "It's to ask you to join my group," said Garnet.
"So this is the Hero System," said Zedd as he pressed "Yes."
Garnet could see that his name appeared just below her own health and mana. She could see Zedd's health and mana as well. "Continue the channeling," said Garnet.
Zedd started the spell again. "Meteor Rain!"
You have leveled up!
It was clear that the effect was working. "I don't even have to deal the killing blow now," said Garnet.
Garnet could see that even Zedd leveled up from doing this. He was now up to level 97. Three more and he would hit 100. The "You have leveled up!" messages appeared in large numbers. The massive area effect of Meteor Rain was killing numerous creatures. The only reason Zedd could do this was thanks to the mana potion that he drank. Garnet realized that Zedd had done this in the past. This was the only thing that could explain his sudden rise in levels from the time that she left to the time of the civil war in Antium.
Within ten minutes, Garnet had enough for the next wish, but worrying about the consequences, she decided to wait until she can complete both remaining parts at once before she would do the Exchange. However, she noticed that the level up process was slowing down. It was because as you leveled up, it required more experience and it was now taking multiple enemies for a level up. When Garnet hit 70, it slowed down even more. This was where she had to use the wish now. If she did not, they would not make it within the time limit.
Garnet opened the Exchange and spoke her wish, "Restore Riley's body."
A system dialogue message appeared: 20 Levels to grant this wish.
Yes/No
Garnet pushed "Yes" and could feel the strength draining from her body. The Exchange was also physically taxing.
Quest Failed: Vessel
Garnet had failed to create the proper body for Riley, so she was unable to obtain the resurrection spell. There were always different ways to approach a goal.
"Are you okay?" Zedd asked.
"Yes," said Garnet. "I had to do it otherwise we would not make it within the hour."
"Be careful, you look pale," Zedd warned.
The amount of strength that was being gained and drained at the same time was starting to heavily tax Garnet's body. Even with her enhanced physique and the Hero System helping her, the Exchange was something was a heavy price that she could not use frequently. In the future, it would be something that should only be used in an absolute emergency. For now, saving Riley was what needed to be done. There was no telling what would happen if the process was not done.
Minutes before the potion was to expire, the thirty levels were acquired. "Continue channeling," Garnet said to Zedd as she opened up the Exchange feature.
Zedd nodded in response. Garnet spoke her wish, "Send Riley back to her world."
A system dialogue message appeared: 30 Levels to grant this wish.
Yes/No
Garnet pressed "Yes." "Ugh!" Garnet groaned as she collapsed onto the floor. A huge amount of her strength was sucked out of her body.
Skill Lost: Call: Riley
Zedd held onto Garnet as she fell. He could see the sweat from her forehead as her transformation was automatically cancelled.
"Garnet!" Serena shouted as she came running in.
"Don't worry, she's okay," said Zedd.
"That's not the problem, Riley disappeared after she changed into a man!" Serena shouted.
"That's what our Hero wanted," said Zedd. "It's alright."
"It worked then," said Garnet. She slowly recovered her strength, but even then, she was fatigued from having her levels drained from her. The Exchange system was definitely capable of miracles, but the price of it was extremely high. "I was able to send her back and keep my promise."
To Garnet, this was still the right thing to do. She lost all the levels that she would have gained with Zedd, but to her, it was okay. Riley and her promise to Riley was more important. After several years of being unable to do anything, Riley was finally able to go home.
With Riley gone, Garnet could now focus on the other pressing matters of Constantinople. The immediate threat was the Dark Mages. The long term threat was going to be Anzio and its allies. Somewhere further down the future was going to be the Invasions.
But, for every action, there were consequences. Even sending Riley back home would have its own consequences, one that Garnet would not realize for a long time.
Shortly after, Garnet received a message of some kind. In her view was an envelope icon from the Hero System. As she pressed it, the message appeared.
From: Riley-872 [World-P3X-774]
To: Garnet-192 [World-M35-117]
Message:
Thank you
There was no option to reply. No matter how much Garnet looked, she only had an Inbox and could only receive messages. However, Garnet realized something. If Riley was able to send this, she had become a Hero as well. The Hero System had spread to another world.
Spoiler :
No overall change to stats, all gains were lost thanks to Exchange