A.N: Hey everyone, here's the new chapter, I hope you enjoy it, feedback is welcome.
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'I need to think about this carefully,' thought Markl, surrounded by the nothingness.
"I understand, boy, but without you, this world will be thrown into chaos." Said the ominous voice that seemed to come from nowhere, yet everywhere, never louder then a whisper but more intense than a scream.
'How so?' Asked Markl, slightly worried at what he was about to learn.
"If the followers of the gods of light try to throw the world out of balance in their favour, then not only me, but all of the dark gods will come down and wage war against them, we won't have a choice, the balance must be maintained. And the gods of light will not simply allow us to kill them, so they will join the war and the entire world will be a battle zone." Replied the Devil, with sadness in his voice.
'Fuck...' Thought Markl, once again bewildered by the Devil, 'but you are the Devil, wouldn't a war be fun for you?' He asked.
"War is fun for nobody, boy, there will be nothing but loss on all sides." The Devil replied with sincerity evident in his voice.
Markl thought over what he was told, he thought about how the shift in the balance would cause unimaginable chaos and all of those that it would effect.
Rani.
'I can't let her be hurt,' Markl thought to himself, 'not when I can do something to stop it.'
"So what say you now, boy, will you join me?" Asked the Devil hopefully.
'I will join you.' Markl replied, his voice full of certainty.
"I'm glad to hear it, boy," replied the Devil, the anxiety had cleared from his voice, "with the book bound in my flesh, my grimoire, you will be given the power you need, you must simply absorb it and withstand the test."
'I assume that the book you're talking about is the book I touched that summoned me here?' Asked Markl.
"Yes boy, that is correct." Was the short reply.
'Two more questions, how do I absorb it and what is the test?'
"On the first page will be a hand print, simply place your hand over it and my energy will be funnelled into you, as well as the knowledge that my grimoire possesses, as for the test, you will see." Was the Devils reply.
'I have a feeling that this will not be pleasant,' Markl thought to himself as he sighed inwardly.
"When has a test ever been pleasant?" Asked the Devil.
'Shush you.' Replied Markl.
Again, the Devil laughed at the Faery, "you truly are entertaining, boy!" he cried in-between fits of laughter.
The Devils laughter finally subsided after some time, "now that you know what you must do, you will be sent back." He said.
As the Devils voice faded, he had returned to standing at the alter that stood at the end of the path that lead between the black pews to the cathedrals entrance.
The familiar grey walls that were illuminated by the magic stones were a welcomed sight compared to the nothingness that he had just escaped.
The smooth leather book was lying atop the alter, its aura pulsating beneath his finger tips.
"Rani!" Shouted Markl as he turned to make sure that she was ok.
Rani was still sitting on the black pew closest to the alter on the right hand side.
"What is it?!" She asked, startled at Markl' sudden outburst, her soft green eyes showing panic.
"How long was I standing there?" He asked the Faery as soon as he was sure that everything was fine.
"What do you mean? You only just reached the alter." She answered, worry tainting her beautiful voice.
'That's odd,' he thought to himself.
"I'll explain later," he told her, "there's something I need to do first."
He turned away from the confused Faery and faced the alter that held the grimoire, he stroked the leather that bound it, feeling a warm tingling sensation as he did so.
He lifted the leather cover of the grimoire, revealing the hand print that the Devil had told him about. The hand print was perfectly centred on the page, it was a reddish brown and gave of a slight metallic scent, Markl assumed that it was the Devils blood.
'It has to be done, otherwise Rani will be.. NO! I will not let that happen.' He thought, banishing any thought of failure to protect his friend.
Markl breathed deeply to calm himself, preparing for whatever was to come.
He lifted his right hand and placed it onto the ancient, bloody hand print.
Markl was once again surrounded by darkness and silence, and surprisingly, a window that displayed his HP.
180 / 180 HP
And then out of nowhere, before he could properly grasp the situation, his entire body burnt as if he were set alight, the pain barely tolerable.
-5 HP
Markl didn't know what to do as he helplessly burnt and watched his HP chip away ever so slightly every second.
-5 HP
He started to panic as he realised the situation that he was in, 'I can do nothing as I burn,' he thought in despair as his HP continued to slowly diminish,
5 HP per second.
-5 HP
The pain turned into agony as time went on, if he could he would cry out in pain until his throat was raw, but he didn't have that privilege.
Time continued moving forward as the heat that racked his nerves increased, inducing more pain than before, a feat Markl presumed impossible.
After a few more seconds Markl checked his HP.
25/ 180 HP
-5 HP
20/ 180 HP
'four more seconds,' he thought.
He started thinking about Rani, how she would giggle at practically everything, how she would always welcome those around her with a warm smile, how, unlike
Markl, there would be no respawn.
10 / 180 HP
-5 HP
The pain and sadness welled up inside of Markl until he felt like he was about to burst, 'no, I refuse to fail, I can't fail.'
He roared with all of his might, the mixed emotions erupted within the guttural scream, tearing through the silence that surrounded him, 'this power will be mine.' Thought Markl as he roared louder and louder and louder, refusing to be defeated by something like a little bit of pain.
Ting!
You have passed the test!
You fought against the pain and darkness and refused to give in, not once did you think of backing down.
The darkness and silence dissipated, the burning agony gone, he found himself standing in front of the alter once more, the book had crumbled into nothing but dust beneath his hand.
Markl looked at all of the messages he had received from completing the test.
New Title: Devils Knight
Devils Knights are similar to demons but far superior; you have been granted power from the Devil himself, you are the Devils sole Devil Knight the others long dead, because of this, you have been made the Devils right hand man.
Effects:
- 100% resistance to Darkness.
- 100% vulnerable to Light.
- Title cannot be changed.
- Mana has been changed to Demonic Energy.
'That resistance to Darkness will come in handy. And Demonic Energy, really?' Thought Markl as he closed the message.
Class Change!
You have been granted the class Dark Designer, congratulations!
'I thought my class was going to be Devils Knight too, what's going on?...' He thought, puzzled at what he saw in front of him, 'the Devil better not have lied to me,' thought Markl, not realising how ironic that thought was.
Due to the title that you have received, Mana has been replaced with Demonic Energy.
New Skill!
You have learnt the skill Dark Birth, congratulations!
New Skill!
You have learnt the skill Sentience Bestowal, congratulations!
New Skill!
You have learnt the skill Latin Mastery, congratulations!
New Skill!
You have learnt the skill Detail Perception, congratulations!
New Skill!
You have created the skill Devils Cry, congratulations!
'That's a lot of new skills..' He thought as he waved the messages aside.
"Show all skills."
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Dark BirthBeginner10%Dark Birth allows the user to create creatures using their mind and conjure them from Darkness.
- Attack: depends on what has been conjured.
- Defence: depends on what has been conjured.
- Demonic Energy consumption: Small = 50 Medium = 100 large = 150
- Maximum number of creatures at a time: 2
- The creature that is conjured does not have a sentient mind, they will blindly follow orders and have no thoughts of their own.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Sentience BestowalBeginner10%Sentience Bestowal allows the user to grant an inanimate object or any creature with no thoughts of their own a sentient mind.
- Each use of Sentience Bestowal costs 1 level.
- The one who bestowed sentience and the one who received it can communicate telepathically.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Latin MasteryBeginner10%Latin Mastery allows the user to understand Latin as well as cast spells and curses, higher mastery allows for higher effect.
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- Can read and write in Latin.
- Beginner level Latin spells and curses can be cast.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Detail PerceptionBeginner10%Detail Perception allows the user to identify and understand details about animals, monsters, weapons, armours and items.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Devils CryBeginner115%Devils Cry is a loud guttural roar that stuns those who are not allies.
- Enemies stunned for 2 seconds.
- Costs 30 Demonic Energy.
"Holy shit," said Markl as he stared at the skill descriptions, "these have the potential to be incredibly powerful." He said in excitement.
"What are you talking about?" asked Rani, curios.
"The skills that I got after I chose my class, they're actually pretty strong." He said.
"Tell me everything."
So Markl explained everything, he told her about the Devil, about how the followers of the gods of light are planning to throw the world off balance and reduce it to a chaotic war zone and how he has been entrusted to stop them.
Rani was shocked to say the least, but that's to be expected when you're told that the entire world is on the brink of becoming a war zone and their savior is only level 5!
Markl decided to check out some of his new skills, he started with Dark Birth.
'Just start with something small,' he thought to himself, pondering on what he should conjure up.
And then he had it, the perfect test creature.
Markl concentrated fiercely on the picture he had in his head, making sure he had every little detail just right.
"Dark Birth."
Markl' shadow began swirling and solidifying as it began to take a form, first there were legs, then the torso and lastly the head.
When the shadows had stopped forming, what stood in front of Markl was a small jet black pig with a human head and glowing red eyes that pierced your soul, it also had wavy black hair and a mouth full of sharp canines.
"What do you think?" He asked Rani as he admired the work of his new found ability.
"It's oddly cute." She replied, giggling as she looked at the weird little creature.
You have created a new creature, would you like to remember it for a faster conjuration next time?
"Yes."
Please set a name.
"Pigbody Personface."
Are you sure?
y/n
"Yes."
Pigbody Personface has been remembered.
'Well, I can control two at a time, I might as well practice.' He thought.
"Pigbody Personface, Dark Birth."
His shadow once again started to swirl and take form, solidifying as it went, and then there were two Pigbody Personface' in front of Markl.
New Skill!
You have learnt the new skill Quick Conjuration, congratulations!
'Today is just the gift that keeps on giving.' Thought Markl with a grin as he learnt yet another skill.
Dark Birth Beginner 1 + 20% experience!
'I'll definitely need to play with this some more.' He thought as he imagined all of the odd things that he could conjure.
Markl was very satisfied with Dark Birth, 'let's try Sentience Bestowal, it may cost a level, but I can get that back easily.' He thought as he started looking for the best rock that he could find, he looked under each and every pew until he found the best one, it wasn't too big, or too small, it didn't weigh too much or too little, it was a good rock. It was flat, grey and smooth, and after the addition of a crude chalk smiley face, it was perfect!
Markl made himself comfortable and held the smooth grey rock in the palm of his hand.
"Sentience Bestowal."
You have used Sentience Bestowal, 1 level has been deducted as well as the stat points that came with it.
Sentience Bestowal beginner 1 + 25%
Markl winced as he read the pop up message, 'too cruel!' He thought.
Nothing happened.
'...... You have got to be kidding me,' thought Markl as he stared at the rock, he drew back his arm to throw the ugly rock at the cathedrals wall, when suddenly a voice caught his attention.
"Please! Master, wait!" The voice cried in panic.
Markl brought his arm back and viewed the rock again, "was that you, Rocky?" He asked, hoping that it was indeed the rock.
"That had better not be my name, Master." The rock said in disgust, his oddly drawn mouth moving along with his words.
"Ok, if you don't like Rocky, what about Balboa?" He asked it.
"Well, it's better than rocky." Said Balboa, not very impressed.
Rani was overjoyed with Balboa, she thought he was adorable!
Markl, to Balboa' displeasure, placed Balboa in his backpack.
"Lets go and finish the quest." Said Markl, standing up from the pew he was seated on.
"Sounds like a good plan." Rani replied with a yawn.
So Markl and Rani, accompanied by the 2 Pigbody Personface' exited through the Hidden Cathedrals false wall.
Markl and Rani walked through the dimly lit mining tunnel, admiring the cold, grey, stone walls.
"Status Screen." Said Markl.
Status WindowName:MarklAlignment:DarknessLevel:4Class:Dark DesignerRace:FaeryGender:MaleTitlesDevils KnightFame:0Infamy:0-Health:160 / 160Health Regen:1 / SecDemonic Energy:330 / 330Demonic Energy Regen:1 / SecStamina:300 / 300Stamina Regen:1 / Sec-Strength:20Speed:15Power:10Dexterity:10Intelligence:10Wisdom:10Leadership:10Luck:10-Attack:25-30Defense:40Physical ResistancesSlashing:-Piercing:-Crushing:-Elemental ResistancesFire:-Water:-Wind:-Earth:-Light:-100%Darkness:100%Status Points:0
'Not too bad.' He thought.
After some time they rounded a corner and came face to face with two goblins, "go and get them Pigbodies!" Said Markl as the two goblins turned to face him.
The two Pigbodies ran as fast as their stumpy little pig legs would take them, their medium length jet black hair fluttering behind them as they darted forth, the first Pigbody jumped at the goblin at the right and sunk his sharp canines into the throat of the unsuspecting creature, the goblin had been pinned to the ground by Pigbody and was unable to move as his health was sapped away, gurgling as his throat was crushed.
The second Pigbody was nipping at the ankles of the goblin to the left, Markl ran forward and slashed with his sword.
-17 HP
The goblin shrieked in pain as it staggered backwards, then Pigbody number two made his move and clamped it's jaws onto the goblins ankle, holding like a vice, the goblin shrieked again as Pigbody violently shook it's head, tearing the flesh and tendons of the goblin, it's black blood spurting on the floor.
Markl thrust his sword into the goblins throat to silence it.
Critical Hit!
-40 HP
Bleeding -3 Hp/sec
After a few seconds the goblins stopped moving and the two Pigbodies awaited Markl' next order.
Markl and Rani continued to walk through the mining tunnel and exterminate the goblins until they got the message that they had been waiting for.
Quest: Don't touch that, it's mine! has been completed! Go and speak to the old man Durin to receive your reward.
"Time to head back." Said Markl as he closed the message.
"It's about time." Replied Rani as she poked out her tongue.