The Wildlands sprawled out like a living labyrinth, occupying roughly 35% of the map’s total area, an untamed territory with no safe zones in sight. As I ventured deeper, the monsters began to respawn, dotting the landscape with scattered clusters of hostility. I pushed through them relentlessly, grinding experience as I went, my movements flowing seamlessly thanks to the game’s advanced movement engine. Vaulting over obstacles, twisting mid-air, and weaving around creatures with precision, I cut a path through the wilderness until, at last, a massive, decaying castle loomed on the horizon.
This had to be it—the Necromancer’s domain.
A faint glow encircled the castle, a shimmering holy barrier, as if daring me to step inside. When I touched it, a doorway appeared, opening as though it recognized my intent. Taking a steadying breath, I walked through. My HUD lit up with Player Instance 3, suggesting that I was alone for once—just me and whatever horrors the Necromancer had waiting within.
I ascended the dilapidated stone steps, the eerie silence punctuated only by the distant howling wind and the faint creak of ancient wood. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows—an armored specter with empty, haunting eyes and an aura that pulsed with malevolent energy.
Dullahan. The monster’s name appeared, along with its stats: high defense, strong magical resistance, and a formidable HP bar. A voice, disembodied and cold, echoed through the hall.
“Join my army of the dead,” it called, the words dripping with an unnatural malice.
I smirked. This was going to be interesting.
Quickly, I checked my inventory:
Inventory:
* 3x Potions of Motion
* 15x Healing Potions
* 16x Mana Potions
* 5x Regeneration Potions
* 5x Cure Poison Potions
* 5x Cure Disease Potions
* 5x Cure Curse Potions
* 5x All Remedy X Potions
Satisfied, I downed a Potion of Motion, boosting my speed and activating Light Step, which allowed me to move over trap floors without triggering them. My sword gleamed in the dim light as I charged forward, clashing with the Dullahan. Steel met steel in a resounding clash, sparks flying as I forced it back.
The Dullahan swung a colossal, jagged blade in a wide arc. I leapt, narrowly dodging as the blade carved into the stone where I’d stood. Mid-air, I activated Arcanic Blast, a surge of dark energy bursting forth from my weapon, shattering through the Dullahan’s defenses and chunking its HP by half. With a final twirl, I drove my sword through its chest, piercing the core of its cursed armor. Its death brought a satisfying Level Up! notification as my experience bar shot up.
I barely had a moment to savor the victory when the echoing voice returned, now tinged with a sinister amusement. “You may have bested my sentinel, but you won’t leave here alive.”
Pressing forward, I finally reached the castle’s main chamber. The air was thick with dark magic, crackling like static, and there in the center stood the Necromancer—a skeletal figure draped in tattered robes, eyes glowing with unholy fire. Behind him, hundreds of skeletal hands seemed to claw out of the ground, an endless army ready to spring forth at his command.
“Welcome, brave adventurer,” he sneered. “I’ve been expecting you.”
The battle began in an instant. The Necromancer raised his staff, summoning waves of skeletal minions that rushed at me like a tidal wave of bone and rusted armor. I ducked and weaved, cutting through them, each slash of my sword cleaving multiple skeletons at once. But for every one I defeated, two more took its place.
Realizing I was getting swarmed, I activated Shadow Step, briefly phasing out of sight and reappearing right in front of the Necromancer. I unleashed Dark Pact, imbuing my weapon with shadow energy, and struck at his core. But he was fast, almost preternaturally so, deflecting my blow with a shield of dark energy that sent me skidding back across the floor.
“Is that all you’ve got?” he taunted, raising his arms as a vortex of necrotic energy swirled around him. The devs must have been watching this because the mechanics in play felt like something out of an intense action anime—every move precise, every strike calculated.
The Necromancer’s spells came faster now, volleys of dark fire and poison blasts filling the room. I sidestepped a fireball, barely managing to block a shadow tendril aimed at my torso. My health was dropping steadily, and I chugged a Healing Potion as I regrouped.
Time to kick it up a notch.
I activated Ethereal Guard, an advanced skill that bolstered my defenses and added a reflective barrier. As the Necromancer cast another poison cloud, I charged through it, unaffected thanks to my All Remedy X buff, and closed the gap between us. With a quick series of slashes, I broke through his shield, each hit chipping away at his HP.
Suddenly, he unleashed his ultimate move—a dark ritual that summoned a massive skeletal dragon from the floor, its hollow eyes blazing with fury. The beast roared, and I knew this was the final test.
Dodging its initial strike, I aimed for its exposed ribcage, launching an Arcanic Blast that shattered part of its bones. But the dragon retaliated, swinging its tail and sending me flying into a wall. My health dropped dangerously low, and I barely had time to drink another potion before the dragon was upon me again.
Drawing on all my skills, I combined Fade Step and Blade Dance to weave around its attacks, slashing at its joints and weak points. Bit by bit, I wore it down until, with a final thrust, I plunged my sword into its skull, watching as it dissolved into ash.
The Necromancer staggered back, his power drained, his skeletal form crumbling. “Impossible...” he rasped, his voice fading as his body disintegrated into dust.
As the last remnants of his magic faded, a treasure chest appeared in the center of the room. Legendary Loot Drop! flashed on my HUD. Opening it, I found a set of rare equipment and a weapon unlike anything I’d seen before—a cursed blade that seemed to pulse with dark energy. Although I was the wrong class to use it, I had to sell this thing as a set which could net me a rather cool million gold which would set my gear up for awhile.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Smiling, I took the sword and sheathed it. The Wildlands had been conquered, and the spoils of victory were mine.
With a glance back at the ruined castle, I headed for the exit, ready for whatever challenge awaited next. Returning to Twilight City was surprisingly smooth. The trip back was quiet, a peaceful run through familiar terrain without a single player or NPC trying to waylay me. Twilight City, with its sprawling markets and bustling auction house, was my next stop. I had a feeling about the gear set I’d looted from the Necromancer’s domain—something told me it’d be worth checking the Auction House for.
When I found the same set listed, I nearly choked. 100 million gold! The listing had sat unsold for at least two years, gathering virtual dust. No one seemed interested at that price. I shrugged and decided to test the waters myself. Posting it for a more reasonable 10 million gold, I watched as, almost instantly, it sold. Gold filled my account in one quick transaction, and I couldn’t help but laugh at the simplicity of it.
With newfound wealth, I turned my focus to finding an armor set that would actually suit my level and my hybrid Warlock/Fighter build. Scanning through endless pages of equipment on the market, I felt the frustration build. Nothing within my level range synergized with the skills I was developing. If I wanted something powerful, it was clear I’d have to craft it myself.
Heading over to the crafting forums, I dug into the intricate process of creating custom Warlock gear. My gold was about to be put to good use. With gritted teeth and a determined spirit, I invested in crafting materials, leveling up both my Leatherworking and Swordsmithing skills as I went. Reaching level 50 in both disciplines was no small feat, but soon, I was ready to dive into specialized Warlock recipes tailored for Dark Pact abilities.
While searching, I stumbled across something interesting—a skill book with an "upgraded" label. The item description read: "Use to increase your Dark Pact skill and Arcanic Blast by 15% damage." There were thousands of these skill books in the auction house, and no one seemed to be talking about them. Either they didn’t realize their value, or it was some obscure find I’d lucked into. With a sly grin, I purchased a few of these mysterious skill books, equipping my character with an extra boost.
With my Leatherworking underway, I began crafting the Epic Dark Pact Warlock Armor set, focusing on amplifying my Dark Pact and Arcanic Blast skills. Each piece of armor increased my Dark Pact and Arcanic Blast damage by 30%. With the skill book boost, that meant a total 70% damage increase. Combined with my build’s other attributes, my character was starting to look incredibly dangerous.
Next, I set my sights on a weapon that would complement my new power. I began forging the Adamantine Sword of Epic Wounding, a weapon that allowed bleed effects to stack on themselves. This meant that each consecutive strike would cause an exponential increase in bleeding damage—a perfect match for my offensive Warlock/Fighter build.
With my armor and weapon nearly complete, I opened up the Atlas of Power. The massive skill tree unfurled before me, and I began to invest points in the Warlock path. Damage, defense, and stacking abilities illuminated as I unlocked new skills, crafting a build that would be both resilient and deadly.
WARLOCK SKILLS UNLOCKED:
1. Ethereal Step - Allows me to briefly phase out of reality, bypassing physical obstacles and avoiding enemy attacks.
2. Dark Pact: Life Drain - Deals damage to enemies while healing me for a portion of their lost health.
3. Dark Pact: Stamina Drain - Siphons stamina from enemies with each strike, replenishing my own.
4. Dark Pact: Mana Drain - Absorbs a portion of the enemy’s mana, refueling my own reserves.
5. Arcanic Blast: Cone Shape - Unleashes Arcanic Blast in a wide cone, hitting multiple enemies at once.
6. Arcanic Blast: Chained Enemy - Chains the blast across several enemies, similar to a Chain Lightning effect.
7. Arcanic Blast: Elemental Fury - Modifies Arcanic Blast to cycle through different elements, adding versatility in combat.
FIGHTER SKILLS UNLOCKED:
1. Iron Grip - Grants immunity to disarm effects, allowing me to hold onto my weapon no matter what.
2. Parrying Riposte - Automatically counters a successful parry, dealing damage to the attacker.
3. Switch Hit - Allows me to switch my weapon hand mid-combo, confusing the enemy and adding a feint to my strikes.
4. Overwhelming Strike - A powerful attack that breaks through enemy defenses, dealing significant damage.
5. Achilles Sweep - A low, sweeping attack that targets the enemy’s legs, reducing their movement speed.
6. Enduring Fight - Increases my health and stamina by 15%, improving my endurance in prolonged battles.
7. Warcry - Boosts my damage by 5% for a limited time, rallying me into a powerful, aggressive stance.
8. Final Stand - A last-resort ability that converts all remaining mana and stamina into a defensive barrier that blocks all incoming damage, though my HP gradually drains while it’s active.
My stats were now refined, tuned to perfection. The Warlock and Fighter skills complemented each other, and with each unlocked ability, my build transformed into a truly dangerous hybrid—a character capable of handling hordes of enemies while sustaining high damage output and maintaining solid defense.
I tested my new skills in a nearby combat zone, unleashing Arcanic Blast: Cone Shape to clear swathes of enemies in a single strike. The Chained Enemy effect allowed the blast to leap between targets, decimating groups that tried to swarm me. When things got hectic, I activated Ethereal Step, phasing through enemies and positioning myself for a surprise counterattack.
With the Adamantine Sword of Epic Wounding in hand, I closed in for melee combat. Each swing stacked bleed damage, forcing enemies to take continuous health damage even after I’d moved on. The combo of Dark Pact: Life Drain and Stamina Drain meant I could sustain my health and stamina even in prolonged battles, making me nearly unstoppable.
Twilight City’s crowded Auction House and bustling streets had faded into the background. All that mattered was the thrill of battle, the feeling of invincibility that came with each skill activation, and the satisfaction of seeing my enemies crumble before me. It felt like the devs had created this world just to let players push the limits, to create scenes of combat so intense they felt ripped straight from an anime. And I had built a character that could live up to that vision.
With a final check of my gear and a smirk of satisfaction, I headed back out of the city, eager to test my build on something bigger, something worthy of the power I now wielded. Rumors abound about a new Tomb of the Ancients that had spawned. The Loremaster exp bonus activated but I was now extra careful as I would enter Crossbones' nonsense and Skullhead's personal vendetta. I double checked my gear and skills, the Dark Pact skills had no limit on what could be stacked up, I activated all 4 skills as the skill icon on my skill bar was now glowing indicating continued use. Every minute that ticked by 4 MP was being used but with every hit on an enemy the MP drain would be negliable. The Tomb stood before me as an audio log started playing 'The Ancient Tomb of the Hero Gurlax, a Barbarian Chief who was the first on the frontlines against the enemy. His bravery and command of the earth allowed his golems to run over the hordes of the enemies, Gurlax was murdered by an assassin in the final days of the war, his tomb is a monument to his bravery and mastery of the earth' Golems.. great, they were a problem even in Royale Online as the most powerful was a Neutron Golem, hit it once and it explodes. I wondered what kind of golems this place had.