[You have reached Level 12. You are learning that this world and its secrets run far deeper than you thought...]
Justin frowned at the ominous note, realizing the System’s messages weren’t always the most encouraging. The phrasing seemed less like a reward and more like a warning—a reminder that every answer only uncovered more mysteries.
[As a Level 12 Gentleman, you have unlocked two upgraded boons and have one Attribute Point to distribute.]
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Advanced Cane Competency (Tier 3 Boon)
Your skill with the cane improves. You have unlocked unique disarming techniques and more complex attack patterns. Your cane attacks now have a chance to interrupt enemies mid-action.
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Add Injury to Insult (Tier 2 Boon)
Deal 100% bonus damage to enemies under the influence of your Poison Barb, with a 10% chance to inflict Stun for 2 seconds.
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Justin nodded at both upgrades. He had unlocked his first Cane Competency boon at Level 4, and it had auto-upgraded at Level 8, and now again at Level 12. He appreciated the steady growth. Being able to interrupt an enemy’s attack mid-motion was a game changer, even if the chance was small. It made him more effective in the tank role he was falling into.
As for Add Injury to Insult, it made him all the deadlier. The first tier, unlocked at Level 6, had granted only a 50% bonus damage with no stun effect. Now, the synergy between his boons, skills, and gear was transforming him into a genuine battlefield controller.
With his improved cane techniques, Poison Barb, and the Cane of the Drake's ice powers, he could lock down enemies while others dismantled them.
He suspected that the Socialite/Gentleman combo wasn’t supposed to be this strong at his level. But thanks to his mix of gear and abilities, he was becoming a formidable force. His ability to dodge was quite high, while his new Ring of Renewal and Lathalon's Grace gave him passive healing. It meant he could both dodge and tank hits. And this was to say nothing about the fact that his total Attributes were more in line with someone who was Level 20 with a decent bit of gear.
[You have one Attribute point to distribute.]
Justin willed it into Charisma.
[Your Charisma is now: 23. May courage guide your steps, Brave Adventurer...]
With a start, Justin realized his base Charisma was one point shy of 24. He was one level away from raising all his other Attributes by 1, thanks to the Amulet of Equilibrium. That alone would be worth celebrating. And as his Attributes climbed, so would his evasion, thanks to his Essence of a Gentleman boon.
Justin opened his interface to check his progress toward the next level.
[Experience to Level 13: 4,327/3,500. Level-up available!]
As he had guessed, he had another level in the bank. It would be well worth it to get another sleep in before meeting up with the others, if possible. The new skill unlock alone would be worth it.
Another thought struck him. If Rimefang had awarded 7,000 experience points, how much would his mother, Vorthyrn? It made him giddy to think about, but of course, he had to survive the encounter first.
“The numbers are starting to go brrr,” he said with a smirk.
Lila gave him a flat look. “The numbers are what now?”
He glanced at her, realizing she wouldn’t get the reference, even if he explained the intricacies of quantitative easing and Jerome Powell. “Never mind. So, Level 11?”
She nodded. “That’s right. Just unlocked a new skill: Disappearing Act.”
Justin raised an eyebrow. “Intriguing! What does it do?”
Lila grinned, pleased. “I can create a flash of light that blinds all hostiles in a five-foot radius for five seconds. What's more, I become completely invisible to hostiles for ten seconds. I can use the skill to reposition or escape. Or even set up an ambush."
Justin whistled low. “That’s impressive. What's the cooldown?"
"I can use it once every five minutes."
"Sounds useful. A way to keep yourself safe if things get dicey."
"Definitely would have come in handy in the last fight. Just glad to have it in my arsenal."
"As long as you don't prank me with it."
Lila smiled. "Well, that's not off the table, but let's get out of here alive first."
Without further ado, they removed the barricade, and Justin opened the iron door. It squeaked on rusted hinges, the sound echoing down the stone corridor. He peeked out, using his new cane to light the way with its faint, icy glow. Nothing stirred in the hallway. There was only the oppressive silence of the dungeon.
Justin motioned for Lila to follow as they made their way back to the staircase since there was no obvious exit to the outside on this level. The climb up was uneventful.
The next level had the same utilitarian design as the one below, with subtle differences. The walls were carved with oceanic motifs: tentacles, waves, and strange, serpent-like creatures. A slight dampness clung to the air, as if seawater had seeped through cracks in the rock. The magical lighting here flickered, casting eerie shadows that seemed to shift on their own.
"This level seems more promising," Justin whispered. "Can't you smell the salt in the air?"
"We'll have to explore," Lila answered.
They combed through the rooms one by one. It became quite obvious that the place was a crypt of some sort. They encountered a few ghostlike entities that were quite weak, at least at first glance. They always flew solo and instantly attacked Justin on sight, who was in the lead. Thankfully, they were quite slow, and they went down in a few hits. It was hard to believe they were high enough level for this Vault. That was until one of the things actually managed to slip by his advanced cane work and claw at him on the shoulder.
Justin felt nothing more than a faint coolness, but a System notification told him why these things were to be feared.
[Instant Death resisted by Lathalon's Grace!]
The blood rained from his face as he turned back to Lila. "Do not let those things touch you! They have Deathtouch."
It was at that moment that one appeared right behind Lila, wandering in from the corridor.
"Lila! Behind you!"
A flash of light burst forth as Lila became a shadow and maneuvered away from the ghost. The ghost went still, floating without direction. Justin realized the entity was blinded, while it couldn't see Lila at all.
As Lila appeared beside him, Justin stepped forward and dealt with the threat with a few good thwacks of his cane. The weapon's enchantment slowed the creature and even froze it when he stabbed out with the bone blade extension. A few more solid hits saw the creature shatter in midair.
"This new skill is already paying off," she said.
"That was too close," Justin said. "Just try to stay away from these buggers. I have immunity."
"Noted," Lila said. From the unconcerned expression on her face, Justin felt as if she wasn't taking the threat seriously enough.
"One hit is all it takes," he said. "Promise me, Lila."
"Okay, I promise. Can we move on now?"
"We should wait here until your cooldown on Disappearing Act refreshes. We need to be careful with these ghosts. One room at a time."
"Makes sense."
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Once the five minutes expired, they proceeded with much greater care. Over the next couple of hours, they unearthed five Bronze-tier items: a rusted blade, a pair of fur-lined boots, a heavy iron shield, and two trinkets that gave minor Attribute boosts. None were of much use to their party, but Justin deposited them in their packs to sell later. Their packs' size enchantments seemed to be reaching their limits. While Justin's pack expanded to even allow the shield in, it was getting tougher to squeeze more stuff in there. The leather straps were starting to bite into his shoulders.
They also found a decent bit of gold. They didn't even stay long to loot everything, but the low-hanging fruit added an extra seven gold to each of their enchanted coin pouches.
It was toward the end of their exploration that they found something truly good. On a stone pedestal in the center of a chamber larger than the other rooms, rested a crystalline core, pulsing with whorls of blue and violet light.
"A class core," Justin said, his eyes going wide.
"Let's check it out," Lila said.
But when Justin held up the scryer’s lens, he discovered it wasn't a class core at all, but something else entirely.
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Item: Cryoshade Core
Summon: Cryoshade (Frost Demon)
Affinity: Death/Ice
Class Restriction: Summoner
Description: Bound to this core by powerful magic, the Cryoshade is far from the frozen plane of the Nether Realm. It is a haunting reminder that the cold claims all things in time. What it lacks in speed, it makes up for in bulk, might, and dread.
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Boons:
Frost Eater: Absorbs all ice damage as health.
Spectral Dread: Increased chance to inflict Fear status.
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Immunities:
Poison, Death, Fear, Stun, Freeze
Weaknesses:
Life, Fire
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Skills:
Frostbound Grasp: Deals moderate ice damage with its claws, applying a Slow status to the target for five seconds.
Nether Shroud: Becomes incorporeal for 5 seconds, completely impervious to physical attacks. Cooldown: 1 minute.
Cryohex: Deals significant ice and death damage. If the target is under the Fear status, it deals double damage. Cooldown: 2 minutes.
Spectral Howl: Emits a wail that inflicts Fear on nearby enemies for 5 seconds.
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Lila leaned over Justin’s shoulder, her eyes scanning the description. “A demon? This thing has some serious bite.”
"Too bad we don't have a Summoner in our party," Justin said. "The Affinity restriction makes it even harder to use."
"Well, not that I'd recommend it, but any Summoner can use this. But like that Deathkiss Dagger, it could have some nasty side effects over time. Any new summon starts at Level 1, but as it grows more powerful, it will become more difficult to control. Unless the Summoner themselves is quite powerful."
"I see," Justin said, disappointed. "So, we can't use it at all."
"Well, not exactly. Sometimes, other classes can get access to summoning skills, even if they are not Summoners. Especially advanced classes. There are also pieces of gear you can buy that can give you access to a summon, but expect to pay a lot for it. Of course, you will never be able to use it as well as a Summoner could, since all their skills and boons are built around summoning. Personally, I'd sell it. Might be worth fifty gold or more."
Justin considered this. Assuming they could sell this one day, it was a good deal of money, and it wouldn't take much room in their pack. But if the Baron ever discovered it, he might want it for himself, especially if he could use it.
Justin made every effort to squeeze it into his pack. It could barely fit. “Glad we’re not dealing with this thing directly. Either way, my pack is full."
"Mine, too," Lila said. "Let's find the way out."
They continued exploring to the other side of the floor until they reached a long, dark hallway that gave Justin a sinking feeling. The end of the passage was lost to darkness, but it had grown colder while a thin layer of ice coated the stones. Justin could hear the howl of the wind.
"Looks like we found our exit," he said.
But as they approached, the light of Justin's cane revealed something most unwelcome: an ice elemental. Its translucent form shimmered like a jagged shard of frozen glass. The cold aura surrounding it was so intense that frost began creeping along the stone floor where it stood.
Justin's cane would not be good against this enemy.
"Let me lead this one," Lila said, summoning Starlance to her hand in a blaze of fire and light.
Lila charged, and within seconds, she had conjured a roaring wall of flames on top of the entity. The elemental let out a bone-chilling shriek, its form flickering as the fire consumed it. It floated back into the open night, still aflame, until it succumbed, leaving only faint scorch marks on the ground.
"Well, that was easy," Justin said, lowering his cane.
He checked his interface. Only ten minutes remained until Vorthak’s Flame was once again available.
“Let’s take a breather while we wait for my Affinity to come back,” he said.
They used the time to reorganize their packs, securing their loot and discarding any unnecessary weight. As the timer on his interface hit zero, Justin activated Vorthak's Flame.
[Affinity Chosen: Vorthak’s Flame.]
The Affinity's comforting and familiar warmth washed over him as the mystical flames sprang to life along his body. The chill of the icy environment melted away, leaving him refreshed and renewed. It felt good to be warm to his bones again.
"Praise the Six," Lila said, stepping closer to share the warmth. "Try not to switch it out again, will you?"
“I’ll do my best,” Justin said. “Let’s move.”
They headed down the corridor and onto the dark ice beyond, where the wind swirled snow in chaotic patterns. Above them, the sky stretched vast and clear, filled with stars and ribbons of shimmering aurora. The rocky island loomed behind them, crowned by the Tower of Skaldarn. Without the bridge for reference, Justin could only guess that they had emerged on the northern side of the island.
Justin scanned the frozen expanse, his cane’s glow cutting through the dark. The wind howled, but Vorthak’s Flame kept him warm. Lila walked beside him, her eyes vigilant. Their boots crunched through the frozen crust as they trudged along the steep shoreline.
After about fifteen minutes, they reached the ruins of the bridge. Its shattered remains jutted out over the frozen sea, the fractured stone like jagged teeth. On the main island, Justin spotted a staircase carved into the cliffs, winding its way upward toward the city ruins.
“That’s our way back up,” he said. “Stay close.”
The climb was grueling, but within half an hour, they emerged into the cavernous halls of the Palace of the Elements. The ruins felt more foreboding than ever. While the Vault had promised more treasures, Justin had no desire to push their luck further. Their packs were pretty much full anyway.
Navigating back through the ruins felt like threading a needle. The elemental wraiths patrolling the city had not disappeared with Rimefang’s death. Justin and Lila picked their battles carefully, engaging only when necessary.
Justin’s new Cane of the Drake proved especially effective against Earth Elementals. Their solid forms made them vulnerable to the cane’s Freeze effects, which left them brittle and easy to shatter with Lila’s precise strikes.
They encountered a lightning wraith lurking near a crumbled archway. Justin struck first, channeling the cane’s icy magic into a wide sweep. The wraith froze mid-attack, giving Lila the opening to hurl her knives into its core. With a shriek, the creature dissolved into ethereal mist, leaving behind a faint shimmer of dust.
By the time they reached the city’s main gates, the day was almost spent. Beyond the city lay the wide entrance of a cavern, its opening framed by jagged stone that made it look like the open mouth of a dragon. Deep within, a molten glow illuminated the darkness.
“Looks like this leads to the magma area,” Justin said.
“Should we backtrack?” Lila asked. “Try to find that tunnel Alden led us down from?"
Justin scanned the slopes above them, but their original path was nowhere in sight. The winding ruins had brought them to a different part of the city.
“Well, we know Alden cleared the magma chamber,” Justin said after a moment’s thought. “Maybe there’s a shortcut back to the main cavern.”
“And what about finding the others?” Lila asked.
Justin hesitated. “Let’s get out of the elements first. Once we’re inside, I’ll switch to Elea’s Whisper. As long as they’re within a mile, I can reach them.”
Lila nodded. “Fair enough. Let’s move.”
They entered the glowing cavern. The air grew hotter, thick with the smell of sulfur, as the passage widened to reveal a molten river snaking through the stone on their left. The oppressive heat was making Justin sweat, and he wished there was room in his pack to stash his parka.
“Switching Affinity,” Justin said. “I think we’re done with the outside part… at least for now.”
[Affinity Chosen: Elea’s Whisper]
Justin closed his eyes and focused, reaching out mentally toward Eldrin. The sensation was strange, like casting a line into a vast, unseen sea. But after several moments, he felt no response. He tried Kargan and Ryak, too, but neither of them answered. He didn't want to try any of the others.
“They’re not close,” he said.
“Valdrik mentioned they were checking out the city first,” Lila said. “Do you think we missed them?”
Justin frowned. “It’s possible. The city’s pretty big. It's easy to imagine us passing them without realizing it.”
“Or,” Lila said, “they could be at the barrier waiting for us. If they got the same notification we did when Rimefang died, they might assume we have the key crystal. That would be the best place for them to wait.”
It was a solid point, though Justin wasn’t convinced. Then again, they had no better leads.
Justin felt exhausted, but trying to camp out in this place seemed like suicide. The main cavern would be much safer.
"We should try to push through this area for the main cavern," he said. "This area is much too exposed anyway, and the main cavern has a better opportunity for shelter."
"I agree," Lila said. "I hope this doesn't take too long. I'm beat."
“Let’s try to find our way back there, then,” he decided. “If things look too dangerous..."
But Justin realized their retreat was cut off. He had switched to Elea's Whisper. That meant a twenty-four-hour wait for Vorthak's Flame.
He berated himself for not thinking of that, but at the time, the risk had seemed worth it.
"No going back now," Lila said, finishing Justin's original thought. "Let’s hope this place isn't a literal frying pan."
With the molten river lighting their way, they pressed on toward the cavern’s depths.
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Name: Justin Talemaker
Class: Socialite (Gentleman Focus)
Level: 12
[Experience to Level 13: 4,327/3,500. Level-up available!]
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Attributes:
Power: 16 (10 + 6)
Coordination: 14 (10 + 4)
Endurance: 15 (10 + 5)
Intellect: 13 (10 + 3)
Perception: 13 (10 + 3)
Charisma: 30 (23 + 7)
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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 base Attribute by six, then applies the result to all other Attributes. Attribute cap lifted. Highest base Attribute: Charisma (Base 23): +3 to Power, Coordination, Endurance, Intellect, and Perception.
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Stat-boosting Skills:
Stately Presence: +1 Charisma