Tony was in a good mood. He observed something that was a first since he'd landed in the Pits, Hell, a first since he'd landed back on Arach. When he circled to the Pit Boss, the large Padinus informed him that his fight with Rania would be the next day.
"The Arena is undergoing," the Pit Boss clicked his pincers as he paused and thought, "upgrades for tomorrow's fights. I suggest you rest up."
Tony hadn't had much time alone since he'd been a combatant in the Arena and wasn't sure what to do with himself. He could go back to where he and Jak had gotten his equipment and see if there was better there now that it had been... some time.
Walking into the small bazaar on his own was odd. Jak had accompanied him last time and had, in essence, paid for all of Tony’s purchases. He hadn’t kept track of the Arena Points he’d been gaining, focused far too much on just surviving each round in the arena. Tony opened his character sheet and checked the slowly flashing “Currency” tab.
Arena Points: 5,317/10,000
It seemed there was a cap on Arena points that he hadn’t been aware of, and some sort of rate of accumulation that, aside from surviving, he also wasn’t educated on. Tony just shrugged. To him, this was technically free money, he was prepared to go into the fights ahead as he was and felt sure that he could win, but a couple of things that Jak had mentioned were sticking out in his head.
He hadn’t had a meal since the last time he was on Arach for the “engagement ceremony” with Jorogu. The strange cuisine had been enjoyable, but didn’t feel necessary for his continued survival. Tony went to the same armory he and Jak had visited and was greeted by the same, one eyed Padinus that had greeted them before. Tony noticed in this visit that the merchant was without his Sting, which he noted as a question to ask eventually.
“Ah, welcome back, Ascendant. You’ve made quite the commotion, and made me quite a bit of money… what can I get for you?” He rasped.
Tony furrowed his brow, “How did I make you money?”
”Combatants want to buy what the best use, you have been the ‘underdog’ star of The Pits… I have seen a large increase in buyers. For this, I will give you a discount,” the merchant clicked.
Tony smirked, “I appreciate that. I do have a big fight coming up, it should be sensational and I need something equally sensational to wear…”
“Sensational… you say? Hmmmm…” The merchant thought aloud before it clacked its pincers loudly, “I have just the thing for you. Please wait a moment.”
The Padinus skittered into the rear of his shop and the sound of clattering armor pieces and falling weapons sounded. Tony’s eyebrows reached for his hairline as the merchant returned with a set of plate armor on a two-wheeled dolly.
“I have removed the pauldron that would conflict with your artifact, but have left the underlying layer for comfort. I have also noticed that you have other artifacts that are locked. For a small fee, I can unlock them for you,” the merchant explained and offered.
Tony’s mind raced as he circled the armor; the plate was a dark alloy that he didn’t recognize with a golden Divine Beast inlaid over the breastplate and to accentuate the articulations of the set. It certainly seemed to be offering better protection than the scattered pieces he’d been using up until now. His artifacts had been locked by the Archon… and yet this merchant was offering him access for Arena Points. Doubt roiled in Tony’s mind and gut. Could something done in such an otherworldly manner be undone by spending a few points?
”How does that work? Do you unlock them and then I pay the points?” Tony asked, not wanting to throw away his “free money” away for nothing.
“You pay for the first piece up front, and if my work does not convince you, I will only charge half for the remaining artifacts and the armor,” the merchant countered.
“How much for the unlocking?”
“One hundred AP,” the merchant answered resolutely.
Tony nodded, it was a gamble either way. He decided that if he was going to risk a piece, he’d risk one that he couldn’t equip at the moment anyway, handed over the Gjoll Stone Amulet from his inventory, and willed the transfer of 100 AP from himself to the merchant.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
The half-scorpion half-man rolled out an ornate map decorated with sigils and markings and placed the craggy amulet in the center. His eyes glowed with a gentle incandescent light for a moment before the illumination travelled down to his hands and into the amulet. It flashed for a moment and Tony examined it.
Gjöll Stone Amulet - Rarity: Unique - Durability: 99% - Armor Slot: Neck - Type: Artifact - Quality: Exceptional
A carved piece of Magma harvested from the riverbank of Gjöll at the onset of Ragnarök. It is said that this amulet holds the unbound essence of the great Flame-Wolf. Only time will tell.
Effect: Unknown - Status: Unlocked, Attuned, Blocked [Essence Slave Collar]
Tony’s heart soared. He produced The Doomed King’s Helm, one of his remaining Dreadblade Shards, and Covenant. He held onto the bracer for a moment before placing it down. Covenant hadn’t been an artifact that he’d received as a quest reward or something that The Archon had control over, but it had stopped functioning all the same. The mark that Jorogu had given him had continued to function, granting him the poison resistance that he’d leaned on in Serketzi’s “care.” The bracer had just seemed to “die.”
He transferred the hundred AP to the merchant for the Doomed King’s Helm and the same process repeated, freeing the helmet from shutdown.
Doomed King’s Helm - Rarity: Unique - Durability: 98% - Armor Slot: Helmet - Quality: Exceptional
The Armor of a King who led him men into battle, knowing he led them to their deaths.
Defense Rating: +20 - Effect: +5% to Defense Rating vs Projectiles - Status: Unlocked+, Attuned
Activated Abilities: Phyrric Phalanx - Gain a shield with Durability equal to your Defense Rating x your Endurance Modifier. This shield gains Incredible damage resistance against any and all ranged attacks. When this shield breaks the damage absorbed by the shield is granted as bonus damage to the Dread Knight’s next attack. This ability recharges at Dusk and is activated by shouting ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ.
Tony let out a low whistle. He was glad that the activation phrase remained and was pleasantly surprised with the upgraded ability.
I wonder if unlocking them scaled them to my current level instead of when I got them? Tony thought.
“I cannot unlock these…” the merchant muttered, “but I can fuse them using the AP you have already provided.”
Tony pondered for a moment and shrugged, “Why not, got for it.”
This time instead of the glow of an Edison bulb, neon blue light ignited in the “palms” of the merchant’s pincers and swirled around the husk of Covenant and the Dreadblade shard before it flashed and merged the two items into a ring.
Dreadknight’s Covenant Ring - Rarity: Unique (1 of 2) - Durability: 70% - Armor Slot: Ring - Quality: Exceptional
A symbol of a promise made.
Defense Rating: +10% Total Bonus - Effect: Increases Attack Rating by 15% | Increases Oath and Vow bonuses by 50% - Status: Unlocked, Attuned
Activated Ability: Dread Knight’s Shroud - The Fallen is shrouded in a cloak of the Dreadblade's Essence, increasing their combat effectiveness. The shroud is subject to the Fallen's will and can assume myriad forms to inflict damage upon his foes. +20% Damage and Attack Rating, +10% Evasion, +10% Damage Mitigation.
Tony’s spirits lifted even higher. When he had regained his Summon Dreadblade talent, he’s lost Channel Dreadblade, but this ring gave him at least one of the variants of the skill, the very one that had made the crucial difference in his fight with Akmor.
”Now, about the armor?” The merchant clicked.
“Oh, right!” Tony answered, taking a moment to fully examine the armor.
Errant Knight’s Cuirass - Defense Rating +45
Errant Knight’s Pauldron - Defense Rating +20
Errant Knight’s Vambraces - Defense Rating +30
Errant Knight’s Gauntlets - Defense Rating+15
Errant Knight’s Tassets - Defense Rating +10
Errant Knight’s Greaves - Defense Rating +30
Errant Knight’s Sabatons - Defense Rating +25
Set Bonuses are cumulative with the previous tier
3 of 10: +5 to Physical Attributes
5 of 10: +5 to Spirit, +20% Damage Reduction
7 of 10: +10 Melee, +30% Total Defense Rating, Cloak Slot Activated
10 of 10: Perfected Fit Enchantment Activated, Errant Knight Talent
Tony let out a low whistle. The pieces of armor in front of him had double the defense rating, or close to it, when compared to his current armor loadout. His eyes darted between his character sheet and the panes of information in his vision around the armor.
“Where are the other three pieces to this set? Is the Gambesson one of them?” Tony asked.
“The Helmet, Amulet, and Ring are here, but they are not artifacts, like the equipment you currently possess,” The merchant quipped.
“I’d like to purchase them too, I’ll take the whole lot,” Tony declared.
“Are you sure? The helmet I could understand, but the ring and amulet are expensive pieces, even with the discount.”
”More than 4,900 Arena Points?” Tony retorted.
“No, but I would not presume to -“
“Then it’s settled.”
4,250 Arena Points lighter, Tony left the bazaar with the Errant Knight’s set a small bundle of snacks, and what had been declared “An Alchemical Miracle Potion to cure all his ailments” that he hoped would, at the least, help with his Hamaskyr Addiction debuff. He had the rest of the day to just rest and recuperate, Tony hadn’t had a day like this since clearing the dungeon on the Hagh’Tanak.
Just as high as Tony’s spirits had flown, they plummeted. Last time he’d had a day like this he had spent almost the whole of it with Maximus. Despite the surge of growth the dog had experienced, he was still very much a puppy at heart. Tony missed his dog, it weighed on his heart and dragged down into his gut. He paused.
Tony could let this feeling drag him down into it, let it cripple him, let it feed into the rage that lurked beneath.
“I won’t…” Tony muttered, “I’m going to beat the super bitch, I’m going to beat the Champion, then I’m going to take this damn collar off and go get my dog.”
> You have successfully made an Oath! Oath bonuses will apply toward all endeavors to fulfill your promise.