“Remember the plan,” Alden called. “Now!”
Justin didn’t have the luxury of hesitating or wondering just how "the plan" would work when he no longer had access to Vorthak's Flame.
He just had to hope he could get the Dazzling Display off before the drake decided to end him.
His heart pounded as he considered activating Dandy’s Swagger while still partially hidden behind the column. The thought was tempting—let the move work its magic while he remained safe.
But deep down, he knew it wouldn’t be effective unless the drake saw him fully. The whole point was to draw its attention, and that meant stepping into the open like a beacon.
He swallowed hard, taking a quick glance at Rimefang’s massive form from around the column. The drake’s crystalline scales gleamed with frost, each breath sending curling clouds of icy mist into the air. Its glowing blue eyes watched with a predatory intelligence that made Justin’s stomach twist. The thing was taking its job of guarding the key crystal quite seriously, not leaving anything to chance.
Justin could only hope it didn’t have enough energy for another frost breath attack yet.
“Showtime,” he muttered under his breath, straightening his top hat.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped out into the drake’s full view and activated Dandy’s Swagger.
He executed a cheesy sideways shuffle, twirling his cane like a vaudeville performer. The absurdity of the move sent a rush of nervous energy through him.
Justin kept his eyes on the drake, watching for any reaction—a moment of hesitation, confusion, anything other than outright aggression.
To his relief, Rimefang paused, its head tilting slightly as if trying to process what it was seeing. Justin had risked that his frost breath wouldn’t come for him immediately, and for now, the risk was paying off.
He felt a surge of confidence from the skill. His steps became lighter, and his movements more fluid.
But now he was completely isolated, fully exposed.
Rimefang’s hesitation didn’t last. The drake let out a piercing screech that echoed through the chamber, its massive wings pulling back.
“Uh-oh,” Justin muttered.
The drake slammed its wings forward, sending a mighty wind hurtling toward him. Justin braced himself, reading a Gentleman's Sidestep, but before the force could reach him, a shimmering Righteous Shield materialized before him. The barrier absorbed the brunt of the wind, holding firm as ice shards rattled harmlessly against it. It collapsed, its magic spent.
That was when Lila’s voice cut through the chaos, bright and lively. She had broken into Bardic Inspiration, her song an upbeat, jaunty melody that seemed absurdly cheerful given the circumstances. The incongruity would have made Justin laugh if he weren’t so focused. The rhythm was strangely familiar—something that reminded him of those Irish Riverdance videos his fourth-grade teacher had shown in class years ago.
The buff hit him almost immediately. Energy coursed through his veins, his confidence swelling. Without thinking, he found himself tapping to the rhythm of Lila’s song, his feet breaking into a tap-dance routine that he hadn’t realized he remembered.
A radiant smile spread across his face as he moved, his cane twirling in precise arcs. The drake’s massive head swayed slightly, its glowing eyes locked onto him. Was it entertained? Confused? Either way, it wasn’t attacking—for now.
Then, a second wave of magic hit him. Alden’s Heroic Aura burst forth, a shimmering halo of white-gold energy that enveloped Justin. The effect was instantaneous.
Power surged through him, every part of his being invigorated. His muscles felt stronger, his senses sharper. His mind seemed to expand, as if clarity had been poured into his thoughts. Even his movements grew more precise, as though his body had become perfectly attuned to his will. The boost to Charisma was the most profound, making him feel as if he could sway even the stars to his side.
For the first time, he truly understood what it meant to command attention with nothing more than his presence.
And to his delight, Rimefang seemed to agree. The drake swayed slightly, entranced by his movements. The drake’s aggression was momentarily stilled.
Justin’s grin widened. “Time for a little...razzle-dazzle."
With a single thought, he activated Dazzling Display.
The power hit him like a tidal wave. It wasn’t just a skill—it was a force, an inevitability. Justin felt as if he were at the center of the universe, everything drawn toward him like gravity. Confidence surged, transcending anything he’d ever experienced. He could do anything. He could charm anything.
Even a Level 32 Ice Drake.
In previous uses, Justin had instinctively channeled the essence of charismatic actors and musicians he’d seen, drawn from the copious amounts of media he consumed.
But now, his mind conjured someone entirely unexpected—someone he had met in real life.
The image was that of Sarah McCallister, captain of the color guard at Enid High. She had been his unrequited crush, and though that was a decade ago, her graceful, lithe form twirling batons of fire during halftime shows had mesmerized him as a teenager. He’d watched her from the bleachers, captivated by her poise and flair, the way she moved with an effortless confidence that seemed almost magical. Though he had noticed the beauty of women before that moment, such had been the effect of that performance that it had awakened something within him a bit more...primal.
The memory burned bright, and Justin drew on it fully. His movements became a dance of fire, his cane spinning in intricate, flaming arcs. He floated slightly off the ground, his body surrounded by an aura of shimmering yellow magic.
Rimefang’s gaze never wavered. It was completely enthralled.
Justin moved with the grace of a performer at the peak of their craft, the echoes of Sarah’s fiery routines blending seamlessly with his own improvisation. Rimefang’s massive head lowered slightly, its glowing eyes softening, entranced by the beauty of Justin’s movements. For a moment, it seemed as though the drake had forgotten its predatory instincts.
From the corner of his eye, Justin spotted Alden stealthily maneuvering into position, Starlance blazing in his hands. The drake was none the wiser, even letting out a low croon, an oddly melodic sound that sent chills down Justin’s spine. Its frosty veil of magic, the same one that needed to come down, shimmered as it edged closer, the icy energy radiating from it in waves.
Justin swallowed hard. As the drake sidled closer, its lithe movements seemed almost too...affectionate. He couldn't help but feel this was a Donkey and Dragon situation from Shrek.
Before Justin could debate the question further, Alden launched into action. With a tremendous leap, the spectral warrior brought Starlance down in a fiery arc, slamming it into the shimmering frost veil. The barrier cracked and hissed under the intense heat, and the drake’s trance broke with an ear-splitting shriek.
Rimefang whipped its tail with deadly force, aiming for Alden, but the ghostly warrior flipped forward, dodging the attack. The ghost struck again, flames erupting from the lance as it tore through the veil. The fiery assault burned away the icy shield in a cascade of mist.
“Now!” Alden boomed.
Justin’s Dazzling Display ended as his feet touched the icy floor. Rimefang turned his head to glance at him, and for a fleeting moment, Justin saw something he never expected—confusion and heartbreak. The drake let out a mournful bellow, a sound so raw and sorrowful that it tugged at Justin’s chest.
He would have felt bad, but there was no room for pity. The drake roared and turned on Alden, charging with claws outstretched. But with Starlance extended, the drake changed course, leaping into the air, its massive wings beating to get it aloft.
Lila darted forward, her song shifting to enhance the party’s Coordination. The melody quickened, its lively tempo seeming to add additional agility to Justin’s limbs, even as the effects of his Heroic Aura faded.
The drake circled high above. Justin and Lila scrambled for cover as it passed overhead, focusing its attacks on Alden. The warrior spirit stood firm, tanking a blast of icy breath with a perfectly timed Righteous Shield. He retaliated with a bolt of Harmony magic, the white-hot projectile striking one of Rimefang’s wings and eliciting a screech of pain.
“This is going exceedingly well,” Justin said, watching as Alden continued to hammer the drake. “Time to sit back and let Alden do his thing.”
The drake, however, had other plans. It circled again, this time lowering its claws as it swooped toward Lila. She tumbled away just in time, while Justin dove forward, though the drake wasn't even close to touching him.
As Rimefang ascended once more, Justin realized the drake hadn’t been targeting him at all, even though he had been closer. It had gone straight for Lila.
Was the drake still under the effects of Justin’s charm? Or was it even trying to protect him?
Alden conjured another Wall of Flames, attempting to catch the drake mid-flight, but Rimefang rose above it with majestic grace. Its scales glittered with an otherworldly beauty, silver and blue hues refracting the light from the ethereal well.
Justin jogged a few steps, deliberately stumbling and letting out a panicked scream. “Help! It’s got me!”
Instantly, the drake veered off course, circling back and landing heavily in front of Justin, far faster than Justin would have guessed. This was a terrible idea, but it was already too late. Rimefang’s massive neck arched above him, though it made no move to hurt him. Clearly, the beast was still smitten, his aim to protect Justin.
Justin took a deep breath, his pulse pounding in his ears as he raised his cane. He knew what he to do, but still felt like a bastard doing it. Alden had mentioned the underbelly was a weak spot, and Justin had direct access.
He steeled himself for what came next. “The first love is always the sweetest, but the first cut is the deepest.”
Justin activated the cane’s blade extension and plunged it into the drake’s exposed underbelly. Black blood gushed onto his parka, steaming as it hit the cold air.
Rimefang leaped into the air, a piercing scream of both pain and heartbreak escaping its maw. As it fled, Lila unleashed a flurry of knives, several finding purchase in its wide wings. The drake faltered, its once-proud movements now sluggish and labored.
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
But as it circled back, its serpentine eyes were filled with icy fury.
With startling speed, it unleashed a devastating combination of a powerful wingbeat and frost breath. The icy blast tore through the air, aimed directly at Justin.
Desperately, he activated Gentleman’s Sidestep, not entirely sure how it would work since he had no safe space to withdraw to. But to his astonishment, he slid smoothly forward, a protective bubble of space forming around him to deflect the freezing winds.
Lila, however, wasn’t as fortunate. She screamed as the drake’s massive form collided with her. Though a Righteous Shield softened the blow, it couldn’t protect her from being hurled across the icy floor. She slammed into a pillar and crumpled to the ground, motionless.
Justin’s shock turned to rage. Gripping his cane tightly, he charged at the drake with a roar.
Rimefang whirled to face him, its icy jaws opening to reveal a glowing orb of frost magic. A Righteous Shield materialized in front of Justin, but it wouldn’t last long.
With an exaggerated strut, Justin activated Dandy’s Swagger and followed it with Poison Barb. “What’s wrong, Snowflake? As if you ever had a chance with me!”
The insult struck home. Rimefang froze, the glowing orb in its mouth dissipating as it stared at Justin, momentarily stunned.
[Poison Barb refreshed.]
Justin didn’t hesitate. He charged forward, unleashing a flurry of strikes with his cane. Alden joined in, spreading flames along the drake’s battered body with Starlance.
The drake screeched, its wings too damaged to lift it off the ground. With a final, desperate swipe of its tail, it struck Justin, sending him flying toward the same pillar where Lila lay. All he felt was white-hot pain searing his ribcage.
A Righteous Shield flickered into place as Justin hit the ground, his cane spiraling a few feet away. The impact was jarring, but no additional harm was done. Gasping for breath, he managed to crawl toward Lila, never minding his own pain. He just had to trust Lathalon's Grace to cure him...slowly. But for now he was out of commission.
Pressing two trembling fingers to her neck, he found a faint pulse.
“Alden!” he rasped, his voice hoarse and desperate.
The spectral warrior turned, standing between them and the drake, which was preparing for a final, devastating attack.
“This is the end,” Alden said, his voice steady. He cast a circle of white-gold magic around them and then cast another healing spell on Lila. “That’s all the healing spells I have left. But by the grace of Seraphis, we won't need any more."
With those words, Alden turned back to face Rimefang, his ethereal form blazing brighter than Justin had ever seen. He raised Starlance high above his head, the fiery weapon igniting with a radiant golden flame. The air around him grew charged with golden energy.
Despite their best efforts, Justin knew Alden had cast Heroic Demise.
Justin watched in awe as the faint outline of a figure appeared in front of Alden, between him and Rimefang—a towering, regal presence cloaked in shimmering light. Time seemed to slow as the godlike presence floated in the air.
Somehow, with no prior knowledge, Justin knew who it was. It was Seraphis, the God of Harmony itself. The deity’s form radiated an overwhelming sense of peace and strength, his expression serene. Seraphis extended his hand toward Alden, and the golden light around him intensified, pouring into Starlance like a waterfall of divine energy.
As Seraphis faded, the aura around Alden exploded outward, engulfing him in a blinding halo of light. Alden’s once-translucent form now shimmered with solid golden hues.
The oppressive cold of the drake’s presence was no longer biting; the warmth of Seraphis’s blessing filled the air instead. Even Lila, regaining some strength from the healing spell, lifted her eyes to watch.
Rimefang roared, its wounded form trembling with fury, but Alden was already moving. The spectral warrior leaped into action with a speed that defied logic, Starlance trailing arcs of golden flame as he struck.
The drake swiped with its claws, but Alden phased out of existence just before the blow landed, reappearing in an instant on its opposite side. He delivered a series of rapid strikes, each one tearing through Rimefang’s scales and sending showers of molten frost scattering across the atrium.
Alden’s voice boomed: “For Elara!”
Rimefang howled in agony, its tail lashing out wildly. Alden caught the blow mid-swing with Starlance, deflecting it effortlessly. He raised the lance high, summoning a pillar of golden fire that engulfed the drake. The flames burned with divine intensity, reducing the creature’s icy armor to steam and ash.
Justin could only watch in awe. Alden’s every movement was like watching an unstoppable force in motion. Each strike was precise, each spell perfectly timed. The drake, for all its ferocity and power, was utterly outmatched.
It took less than a minute for Alden to deliver the finishing blow. With a final roar, he plunged Starlance deep into Rimefang’s chest. The drake’s body convulsed as a massive explosion of light erupted from the weapon, scattering frost and ice across the chamber.
Rimefang’s lifeless form crumbled to the ground, its body dissolving into glowing particles of ether that spiraled upward into the light of the ethereal well.
Alden turned to Justin and Lila. The golden aura around him flickered, dimming with each passing moment. He had only seconds left.
“I don’t have much time,” Alden began, looking at Lila. “Starlance is yours now.”
He released the weapon, and it hovered in the air before Lila. She reached for the lance, her hand trembling as she grasped it. Alden smiled faintly, his form beginning to fade.
“My protection is with you in the spear,” he said, his voice growing fainter. “The challenges ahead are greater than you know. But stay true to the Path of Light, and you will overcome them.”
And with that, Alden dissolved into a cascade of golden light, his spirit returning to the Ether Realm.
The chamber was silent, save for the faint hum of the ethereal well. Rimefang’s remains had completely faded, leaving only faint scorch marks on the stone floor.
Justin staggered to his feet, clutching his ribs as the pain from his injuries began to fade thanks to Lathalon’s Grace, sped along by the healing circle, which was already fading.
He turned to Lila, who was grasping Starlance, her expression a mix of awe and determination. The flame along the spear flared to life at her touch.
Her green eyes were alight at the weapon’s flame. “To think a down-on-her-luck girl like me would ever get to wield such a weapon.”
“You’ve got the Starfire blood,” Justin said. “And to be honest, I’m starting to feel a bit like the sidekick here.”
Lila flashed a smile. The spear disappeared from her hand, then reappeared. “This is amazing. I don’t even have to carry it around. It will follow me everywhere I go.”
Their conversation was interrupted when the light of the ethereal well shifted. Within the glowing column, a new shape formed. It became very clear exactly what it was.
Its icy blue metal shimmered faintly in the glow. As it floated toward Justin, he could see that its top was fashioned in the likeness of a drake’s head, with twin sapphire eyes. The mouth was slightly agape.
No scryer's lens was necessary for him to read the details; it seemed the System wanted him to see them without impediment.
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Weapon: Cane of the Drake
Tier: Platinum
Class Restriction: Socialite, Diplomat
Enchantments:
Drake’s Majesty: The majesty of a drake commands awe; even the heavens bow before its will. While wielded, the Cane of the Drake grants +6 to Charisma.
Rimefang’s Bite: A single bite from the frost-bound drake can freeze even the fiercest warrior. While wielding this cane, all strikes deal bonus ice elemental damage, with a 10% chance to inflict Freeze on the target for 5 seconds. The chance increases to 20% when the bone blade extension is activated. +2 to Power.
Drake’s Breath: From the maw of the drake, winter’s wrath descends. Release a cone of frost from the drake’s head, dealing significant ice damage. Inflicts Slow for 5 seconds. Cooldown: 5 minutes.
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Utility Enchantments:
Adaptive Glow: In dark places, the Cane of the Drake will glow with a cold blue light at its master’s discretion.
Featherweight: This cane is deceptively light, allowing for fluid movements and precise strikes.
Psychic Extension: The boneblade extension, made of pure drake bone, will extend and retract at the owner's will. It will never go dull and will pierce all armor of Gold quality or less.
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Justin approached the floating weapon, his eyes wide as he clasped it.
[Would you like to bind the Cane of the Drake to your core?]
As Justin accepted, a soft frost spread across his hand. Rather than being uncomfortable, it felt right. The sapphire eyes of the drake’s head seemed to glow as they gazed at Justin. The countenance looked incredibly like Rimefang. With a thought, the sharp drake bone extended about one foot from the mouth. It returned just as fluidly.
“Quite the prize,” Justin said.
Lila smiled, hefting Starlance with ease. She gave the weapon a few experimental twirls, her movements graceful. By now, Alden’s residual magic had completely healed her.
“That’s a deft hand you have there,” Justin said.
“Well, I get Advanced Spear Proficiency while wielding it,” she said. She turned to watch him. “What you did with Rimefang. I can’t be sure, but he almost behaved like he—”
“—was in love with me?” Justin smiled. “Well, it wasn’t what I expected. But it was what we needed at the time.”
“Either way, he wanted us dead,” Lila said. She smirked a bit. “Justin Talemaker, Charmer of Drakes.”
“Even I didn’t know my talents extended so far,” he said, puffing out his chest.
She gave him a playful punch. “You’ve got your weapon, and I’ve got mine. Ready for the next step?”
It was at that moment that a System message populated Justin’s ethereal interface.
[Rimefang the Frostbound has fallen. The Tower of Skaldarn has been cleared, and its bounty has been claimed.]
[Two of the three checkpoints of this Vault have been cleared, but the ultimate challenge remains. Do you wish to continue your adventure and claim the Star of Elara, or return to the surface?]
And after this was something Justin had never seen before in this world: a timer counting down from one minute.
“Holy hell,” he said. "Can we return to the surface?”
Lila’s face paled. “It seems like it.”
And more than this, they had to make the decision quickly.
Justin considered. It was definitely wrong to leave with Eldrin, Kargan, and even Ryak stuck in the Vault. Would they get the same opportunity to leave? At some point, Justin had lost the ability to see the other party members on his interface. Even now, when he checked, they weren’t there. It probably worked by proximity. Either that, or they were dead.
But for some reason, Justin didn't think they were dead. If he and Lila left now, it was likely dooming everyone else to remain.
“What do you think?” Lila asked.
Justin shook his head. “I can’t leave them behind as long as there’s even a chance they’re still alive.”
Lila sighed. “I was afraid you might say something like that.”
“You can’t seriously be considering leaving.”
Twenty seconds.
“It’s tempting,” she said. “And I’ve never claimed to be the honorable one. But Alden trusted me to finish the job. There’s a chance this Starlance might give me bad luck if I try to escape this place.”
Ten seconds.
“So, is it a yes?” Justin asked.
“Yes,” Lila said.
Justin directed his thoughts at the System. “We’re staying.”
[You have chosen to continue your adventures within the Vault of The Star of Elara. May courage guide your steps, Brave Adventurers.]
[7,000 Experience gained. Level-up available!]
Justin felt the departure of the System.
Justin gasped at the raw amount of experience. From Lila’s shocked expression, it seemed she had gotten something similar.
“7,000,” she said. “Is it the same for you?”
Justin nodded shakily. “Yeah. That’s enough for another level up. Maybe two.”
“I didn’t think it was possible to get experience before the end of a Vault,” Lila said. “Maybe it’s different with these checkpoints.”
“It said two out of three checkpoints had been cleared,” Justin said. “What was the first one?”
“The basilisk Alden killed, I assume. Either that, or Valdrik and the rest have been busy.”
“They were supposedly heading here,” Justin said. “We’ll have to be on the lookout for them.”
“Let me check out that cane,” she said.
Justin handed her the scryer’s lens so she could take a look.
“This is powerful,” she said. “I guess this is what it’s like when you enter a Level 35 Vault.”
“And this isn’t even the grand prize,” Justin said. “There’s more to come.”
“Assuming we survive, of course.”
He once again examined his new weapon. The +6 bonus to Charisma was incredible on its own, and he was only two more level ups away from another point in every stat. With that amount to experience, it was hard to imagine not being Level 13 soon.
He wasn’t sure how much the 7,000 experience would carry him, but he was going to be stronger all around. Much stronger.
It also gave him an additional 2 in Power. Combining that with the armlet he bought in Windfall, along with the bonus of his Amulet of Equilibrium, he was up to 16 in Power, meaning he would hit much harder than before.
And that wasn’t to mention the sheer utility of the weapon. With the Drake’s Breath enchantment, he had some crowd control capability, while every hit of his cane had a decent chance to freeze his targets.
All in all, it was an exceptional cane, with the side effect of also looking badass.
He wondered what would happen if he hit a creature with it that happened to be immune to frost damage. Did the cane do less damage, or was it just like a normal hit? Only time would tell.
"Let's get out of here," Justin said, after strapping his old cane to his back. It would be useful to sell down the line, or perhaps keep for old time's sake. "If we're going to enjoy our prizes, we have to get out of this alive."
----------------------------------------
Name: Justin Talemaker
Class: Socialite (Gentleman Focus)
Level: 11
Experience to Level 12: 7,027/2700 (Level-up available!)
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Attributes:
Power: 16
Coordination: 14
Endurance: 15
Intellect: 13
Perception: 13
Charisma: 29
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Stat-boosting Equipment:
(Weapon) The Cane of the Drake: +6 Charisma, +2 Power
(Chest Piece) The Coat of Highcliff’s Elegance: +1 Endurance, +1 Coordination.
(Arm Piece) Squire’s Armlet: +1 to Power.
(Foot Piece) Invari Ambassador Boots: +1 to Endurance.
(Accessory) The Amulet of Equilibrium: Divides your highest Attribute by six, then applies the result to all other Attributes. Attribute cap lifted. Highest base Attribute: Charisma (Base 22): +3 to Power, Coordination, Endurance, Intellect, and Perception.
----------------------------------------
Stat-boosting Skills:
Stately Presence: +1 Charisma