Xane focused on his surroundings not having time to deal with the annoying man. He saw sat on a plane looking rickety chair was a similarly blandly dressed skeleton in a brown moth eaten robe. In his grip was a staff that looked brand new and glowed with power. It was fancy but had carvings that looked like termite damage, winding grooves that gave it a nice look.

Behind the skeleton was a small form of a girl that floated in the air. It was the most real looking ghost he had seen with a face and a small dress. Xane inspected both but got the same thing both times.

Gretti and Hymil

Level 25:

Information: These two souls have been bonded together giving them great strength. Gretti was the adopted daughter of a priest named Hymil. Only 4 months after adopting Gretti a plague struck Biu, the village they both lived in. The plague killed young Gretti. Just as she died Hymil begged his god to spare her life. The god never answered. However, a much darker force did. And it had a price. A price Hymil paid. Now both are bound to this land to create hordes of undead and serve this dark entity for eternity. They fight for each other till death…and further.

It had been a while since what Xane was calling lore systemling had done one of these. He wished it hadn’t because he felt bad for the two. He pushed his feelings back knowing Gretti and Hymil weren’t real.

This took only moments and in that time the girl saw Xane a malicious grin formed and quickly turned into a toothy void as she screamed. Xane’s ears felt like they were going to rupture as the girl screamed. That wasn’t the end as wispy blobs were thrown at Xane. His barrier blocked the first ones and then he started to dodge as he shot his own ranged damage at her.

Xane was starting to get used to the attack patterns till it changed. Instead of small balls she launched a hail of smaller versions. Xane tried dodging back early. To then see them change course. He couldn’t move again before a plethora of tiny blobs started searing his armor eating away at his protections.

He would need to dodge the moment they were about to hit him. The attacks went back to the normal projectiles with the odd scream mixed in. Xane, prepared for the disorienting attack, covered his ears best he could. The next volley of homing attacks was neatly dodged with minimal damage.

That was how it went for a few minutes. They both dodged with Xane landing more hits than Gretti. Xane’s projectiles are much harder to dodge. Though he thought that his bullets didn’t do as much damage to incorporeal beings. Her form seemed to weaken after a while. Hymil didn’t move at all, not even a twitch. That changed when the girl jumped into Hymil and his eyes glowed.

Slow and deliberate the skeleton rose towering over Xane. Xane tried to take pot shots at him before he could get up but his mana bullets dissipated on an invisible barrier. It did break under his onslaught with one round hitting the chest of the priest.

Quick as lighting, the skeleton launched towards Xane with a mighty swing. Only the movement speed given from his worm dance saved him from being slammed through the wall. The hit only missing by a small amount. The skeleton seemed to need to reset as before it slowly composed itself. Xane took a few slashes before jumping back.

Again it struck swiftly at Xane. The attack was heavily televised and Xane effortlessly dodged it, dealing more hits. The robe falling apart more than it was already. He did this dance many times only one time having not reacted fast enough and his barrier breaking yet still sending him rolling to his knees. The hit didn’t do too much damage.

Things changed as he fought Hymil. Sometimes the skeleton would swing twice forcing Xane to dodge more and more. His stamina draining from the fight. He quickly learned the new fighting style. Dodge, attack. Dodge, dodge, atack. Dodge, atack, dodge. It was like a choreographed fight with little variation.

After dealing significant damage to Hymil Gretti came out and started lobbing her spectral projectiles again. Xane had to learn to dodge all the attacks at once taking more and more hits. He still felt like he was winning. Xane focused on Gretti since she didn’t seem to have a pattern to her attacks. As well as she would scream at opportune times stunning Xane for a brutal swing. Xane having to drink a potion after a devastating one broke a rib.

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Gretti tried to flee into Hymil again but Xane anticipated this and waited for Hymil to reset himself. Xane jumped up quickly and took quick slashes at the weak ghost, dissipating like the rest. Xane cheered internally but quickly mellowed. Sorry Gretti. I know this means nothing but I hope you have peace someday.

He didn’t have time to reorient himself as midair he was struck from behind. What! He should still be getting ready for his next attack. Hymil’s eyes glowed with rage he could shout as he recklessly swung and jabbed with his staff at Xane. All coordination and restraint was out the window as Xane tried to dodge each attack, the swings getting closer and closer to hitting Xane. They didn’t have the same power as before but the amount would do the same if Xane was caught in the flurry.

For the first time during the fight Hymil spoke. “Foolish thing you don’t understand the grand design.” Hymil breathed heavily as if he had expended all the breath he had before speaking again. “A little worm in the grave. Trying to find its meal. You’ll soon feed the soil you grovel in.”

That was unexpected. Nothing before had tried to talk to Xane. Just wailing and moaning. It didn’t change anything as Xane went back into the fight. Damaged but still ready to fight.

He had to keep it up for 30ish seconds before the skeleton jabbed his staff into a crack in the wall. Calculated by Xane he took that moment to attack. Xane swung hard down on the arm holding the staff. It took 4 hits to sever the limb. A kick at Xane forced him to move back. Even then the fight was over. Xane shot and slashed at Hymil over and over. Losing an arm taking away most of its speed and power behind each swing.

Xane in the end shot the head of Hymil and the skull cracked and shattered from a swing from his blade. The skeleton falling apart spoke again this time wispy, “Thank you.” The see-through mist that lingered from Gretti’s death and Hymil came together and his earnings dropped to the ground. Xane at first was sad to see the weapon that Hymil used turned to smoke but was elated when the mist turned into the staff. As it clattered to the ground Xane ran up to grab his prize.

“Lucky you. You just got the rarest item from this place. I think 5 instances of this have been recorded. Could be more. The last time I've been here was…3 years ago? Unless you want to keep it, I recommend putting it with the rest of the loot and selling it to Zakor. You won’t get the best price but that item is too well known to try and sell it with other means.” It wasn’t the only thing that dropped as a necklace Xane saw Gretti use formed as well. “Seriously….How you got both to drop at the same time? What even is your luck stat anyway?” Xane just gave the man a shrug not wanting to answer that. “Fine, I'm not going to push. But you are telling me you got nothing from that first dungeon. I know there is a vial that drops in that one from sludgelord that gives a permanent 3% poison resistance.”

“No, I got nothing good from that one.” Xane looked over the items.

Hymil’s Walking Stick(Special)

Once a simple walking stick for a priest in his older age. This wooden staff has been heavily attuned with deathly energy. Dealing stamina damage on hit. Leaves a lingering stamina debuff causing all stamina exertion to be increased.

Xane had noticed that he felt drained after being hit. But didn’t notice his stamina was being taken. Xane's attention was interrupted when Lyenn spoke,”I’m usually not into creepy death stuff but keep that for when I get back into my body please. I use a staff to fight with and having one that is strong and readily available when that happens would be nice. Sure but you owe me Xane smiled.

Gretti’s Pain(Special)

A once simple locket of her mother is now a painful reminder of better days. The last scream of pain and suffering from Gretti was put into the locket. Once a day upon opening the locket a loud scratch will come out and stun, with noise and sorrow, nearby creatures. Doesn’t require a creature to have the ability to hear. Doesn’t affect wearer.

Xane kinda didn’t want either of the items the story behind them awful. He knew though that he needed every edge he could get. Everyone else wouldn’t hesitate. Xane stashed both items. Xane just wanted to leave. Lyenn convinced him otherwise. “Psst you should look around for hidden treasure. Things in a boss room are not common but something I’ve seen.”

Xane did so looking around. He saw that under the carpet where the once priest had been sitting was a hatch that went down. Uncovering the carpet he saw just stone. A small hole was left of where he saw the hole. Guessing he took out the staff again and shoved it into the hole. A click could be heard as the stone bricks lifted up to reveal a trap door. Xane felt someone behind him. “One day I hope you trust me enough to tell me what is truly going on. You don’t have to. I’ll understand but one day…”