Unlike in the Grudge dungeon, I wasn't in a spectral form, since Final Gambit triggered almost immediately after I died. The last thing I remember was excruciating pain and the next, standing in the middle of a frozen wasteland, surrounded by awestruck Players.
I fought the wave of nausea down as my vision filled up with system alert messages.
[You have gained 20.5 (x450) experience points.]
[You have gained 9225 experience points.]
[Level up!]
[System alert: 'Even Death Can't Stop Me!' Achievement has been updated.]
[Number of Deaths: 302 | Reduction: 30.2%]
[You have obtained 'Item Box'.]
[Congratulations! You have earned the achievement: 'At Long Last, Victory!']
[You obtained Awakened Herald Sea Serpent God, Levius's Flooded Kingdom Skill.]
As much as I wanted to check out all my rewards and my Status Window, I was quickly surrounded by Players cheering or asking for my autograph. Some of them were already talking about how they had heard stories about me, about how I had been on the list for rising Players, or how many of the famous guilds had started to take notice of me. It was all very surreal and flattering, but I couldn't help but feel a bit guilty. After all, I was just using what prior knowledge I had of the game our world was now based on. That, and my abilities that let me cheat death.
"All Players, please! Mobs are still spawning even though the boss has been killed, so we need to stay on guard!" Gigi's voice cut through the crowd and I saw that she was holding a golden megaphone. Really, she was such an amazing woman.
"Also keep in mind that the 30th floor Safe Zone has been opened! Those who are able to, please venture forth and establish relations with the NPCs as well as coordinate with any GPA personnel who arrive," the Technomancer finished, catching my eye and winking at me.
As the Players who were surrounding me and the ones scattered about the ruined castle changed focus, I was pulled away from the thick of the crowd, finding myself facing the rest of my party.
"Good job, Immortal–"
Celine's words were cut off as my sister stepped up to me, jabbing her finger into my chest.
"The fuck, Lu? You could've told me you were planning to die. I was extremely upset when that shit happened," Aurora glared at me, but there was a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "You're lucky Celine explained it to me, or I'd have killed you myself."
"Ah, sorry, Aurora," I mumbled, uncomfortable with how concerned she was. Sure, I wasn't expecting her to be completely fine with my suicidal ingenuity, but I hadn't thought that she would be this upset. "It's just that I had a plan, and it worked, you know?"
"It's Awra to you, little bro," Aurora stared at me for a moment, then pulled me in for a tight hug.
"I thought I lost you again, Lu," she whispered in my ear, "Don't scare me like that again."
"I... won't..." I replied, unable to grasp what was happening. First of all, I was still bitter towards my sister, and I was sure she knew this. Second, I had never seen this level of emotion from her before, even when we were close as kids. Third, what did she mean when she said she thought she lost me again?
Before I could process everything, Aurora let me go, giving me a punch in the gut. I doubled over in pain because she hadn't held back.
"Better not, Lulu. I'll actually beat your ass."
Yeah, this was the Aurora I once knew.
"We just killed the floor boss, and you guys are already fighting?" I heard the exasperation in Gigi's voice as she joined us. A soothing warmth washed over me, restoring my body. Thank you, Celine.
"If I had a little brother or sister, I wouldn't have done that to them, either!" Phoebe chipped in, causing Aurora to be defensive.
As Gigi tried to mediate between the two, Celine gave me an unreadable expression.
"How are you feeling?" the Saint asked, tilting her head slightly. "Mentally, to be precise."
"Er, I'm okay, I guess," I gave her a weak smile. "I'm used to it, after all."
Celine didn't speak for a moment, simply looking at me with her head tilted. I could feel her gaze digging into my mind, searching for something. After what felt like an eternity, she finally smiled, albeit sadly.
"As someone who's also returned from the other side a few times, I can tell if someone's resurrection greatly affected them. You truly do not think twice about dying, Immortal. I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing." She paused, thinking for a moment. "But... I'm grateful you did what you did. If you hadn't sacrificed yourself, we might have all been in trouble, or even perished there. So, thank you."
"No problem, Saint," I smiled back at her. It was the best I could do in this situation. I was glad that she understood my intentions, even if she was a little disapproving.
Celine nodded, then glanced at the green portal that had cracked open behind the crumbled throne. "Shall we enter the 30th floor Safe Zone now?"
"Yeah, I'm ready to get out of here."
----------------------------------------
The 30th floor Safe Zone was nothing like the 10th or 20th. In fact, it seemed like it was a fully developed kingdom now, with lush green fields, clear blue skies, and a vibrant town bustling with activity. The cobbled roads were now smoothly paved, and the buildings were made of smelted stone and marble instead of wood.
The NPC shops and stalls that were primitive in the previous two Safe Zones were now run by actual NPCs dressed in elaborate attire, offering a wide variety of items. Even the bustling tavern had been transformed, with a proper roof and sturdy tables inside. A massive castle dominated the center of the town, its spires reaching up towards the heavens.
Players were beginning to interact with the NPCs, getting a feel for the new expansion that the 30th floor Safe Zone had over the lower floors. Up ahead, I even saw a couple of banners with various symbols and color schemes being carried into the castle, probably to establish recruitment booths for guilds.
"Seems like the higher we go, the more advanced the Safe Zones become," I muttered to myself, taking in the sight of the bustling town.
"Indeed," Celine nodded, walking beside me. "But don't let the luxury of this place make you complacent. I'm sure that the further you progress, the more dangerous the challenges become."
"I know that very well," I smiled back wryly, when a familiar shop caught my eye.
[!!! Player...]
"Yeah, I got it," I muttered under my breath to Sephera, then turned to Celine, "Hey, why don't you go on ahead? Let my sister and everyone else know that I'm going to stop by a shop?"
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Celine nodded and smiled. "Of course. I'll let them know you're on your way."
I broke away, jogging over to the shop. I entered, feeling a slight nervousness for what I'd face next.
"Hello, dear. I see you've returned safely," Lucinda greeted me once more. The shop hadn't changed much, save for a few new items on display. "How can I help you today?"
"I..." For a moment, I was taken aback. The elderly woman seemed to be... younger? At least, she didn't have as many wrinkles as before, and I could see a more lively spark in her amber eyes. Her white hair had grown darker, too.
"Er, I just had a lot of questions for you," I mumbled hesitantly.
"Oh, of course, dear. Please, ask away," Lucinda said with a kind smile. "I've been expecting you to return with some questions, and I'm happy to help however I can."
I took my Soultaker out of my Inventory. Lucinda didn't seem fazed, as if she knew I didn't mean to harm her with it.
"When you gave me the Cloak of the Guide, this sword was awakened. Did you know that this was going to happen?" I asked the shopkeeper. I had checked her Status Window just to make sure, and Lucinda was definitely an NPC.
Lucinda chuckled softly. "Oh, yes. The sword, or rather its very essence, has always been dormant, waiting for a worthy wielder. You see, your cloak is also special. It's not just an ordinary garb; it's a symbol of hope and guidance. When I gave it to you, I knew that it would come in handy."
The Soultaker that had been silent up until now trembled, as if it was remembering something. "You... I recognize you..."
Lucinda smiled. "I am glad to see that you recognize me. I have been waiting for you to come back, to see how you would grow and change. And you have, dear."
"I don't... fully recall who you are..." the sword shook in my hands. "Why is it that you feel so familiar?"
"Who are you?" I added softly, gazing at Lucinda. "You seem to know my Soultaker, and I have a feeling you know the truth about my abilities."
Lucinda smiled again, her eyes softening. "It is not time for you to know that, dear. When you're ready, you'll know who I am without me telling you."
"Are you... the Soultaker's master?"
The elderly, or I guess not as elderly woman anymore laughed. "No, no. Nothing of the sort. I am merely just a shopkeeper."
"But you know my sword..."
Lucinda made a face. "Dear, you'll know everything in due time. Right now, you are not prepared for that, and you will need to grow much stronger than you currently are."
"But how am I supposed to know who you are if you don't tell me?" I asked, feeling frustrated.
"Dear, it's not that I don't want to, it's that I can't," Lucinda smiled sadly. "My true name is ********."
[!!! I can't hear it, Luquier!]
"I...cannot either," the Soultaker gasped quietly.
I stared at Lucinda in shock. "You're not a true NPC, are you? But you're not a Player either..."
"I am what I am," Lucinda smiled. "And I have been here since the beginning, watching over the world and its inhabitants. I have seen many Players come and go, and I have seen you grow into the person you are now. For now, just keep in mind that I am very fond of you, Player."
The Soultaker seemed to shudder at this, and I could almost feel its desire to reach out to Lucinda, to touch her. But it remained in my hand, as if it was content with where it was.
I swallowed, deciding to just roll with it for now. "Okay... so then why am I here? I have a feeling I'm only able to meet you because it's important."
Lucinda smiled. "Not this time, dear. I simply wished to see you after your endeavors."
[e.e What is this old lady talking about...]
"That's it?" I asked her.
"For now, dear. I will always be here for you when you need me," she assured me. "But for now, you should focus on your training and getting stronger. You have much ahead of you, and the world needs you."
"Oh!" I gasped, suddenly remembering my rewards. "I need to check my stats and stuff."
Lucinda waved a hand. "Feel free to do so in the privacy of my shop. Once you exit, I will see you again soon..."
"Huh? Wait, but I still have so many questions–"
I literally blinked once, and the cozy shop was gone, leaving me standing in the middle of an empty room.
"You said... that was the one who gave you your cloak?" the Soultaker broke the silence, quietly trembling in my hands.
I nodded, looking around the empty room, feeling lost and confused. "Yeah. I didn't even know she was more than an NPC, and she gave me this cloak... and I thought she was just some old lady running a magic shop, but she seemed to know me..."
I shook my head, clearing my thoughts and opening up my Status Window. I'd think about that later. For now, I needed to use the 920460 Stat Points I received and check on all the other stuff I got. Then, I’d rejoin the others.
[Name: Luquier Vaunt | Level: 1240]
[Title: Reckless Immortal (A)]
[Health: 150000 | Strength: 100000]
[Speed: 100000 | Magic: 100000]
[Risk: 40000 | Stat Points: 0]
[Experience: 8%]
I put the remaining 208060 points into my Soultaker via Risk, bringing its damage total up to 1122076. It shivered in my hands, then let out a rather weird noise, kind of like a half moan, half hiss. I immediately stowed it away in my Inventory before it could say anything.
[._. It's only been a short while, but you've grown exponentially strong, Player. I don't know whether to be scared or proud. Or both.]
"Considering that's what you thought before I faced off against Levius, I wouldn't go around saying I'm strong yet. I know very well just how limitless things can be."
[If you say so. By the way, I noticed you put significantly less points into Risk this time around. Why?]
"As much as I'd like the potential of infinite Stat Points, I need to maintain a balance between Risk and the Soultaker," I grimaced, opening up my Achievements tab. "By far, it's the strongest weapon in my arsenal, including my Skills, and it's also the most risky. But keeping too many Risk points might bite me in the ass later, if the pain penalty becomes difficult for my other abilities to handle. And plus…" I trailed off, hesitant to finish my thought about my specter.
[With that kind of Speed? Who would be able to catch you?]
"Anyone who could halve that stat, steal it, or simply just catch me off guard," I replied flatly. "I was faster than the four Levius clones and still had to blow myself up, remember?"
[....Git gud.]
Ignoring Sephera, I tapped on the 'At Long Last, Victory!' Achievement, not really expecting anything based on the name alone.
[Achievement: At Long Last, Victory!]
[Acquired by defeating an opponent previously undefeated.]
[Description: Breaking through the limits of reality, you were finally able to beat the one you never could within cyberspace. Upon sacrificing half of Risk points, allows you to simulate an unknown floor or dungeon within the world of Last Stand. Can only be used once per day.]
[?!?!?!?!]
I didn't realize that my jaw had dropped reading the description. Aside from returning back to the physical realm of Last Stand, the achievement seemed to know the personal struggle I had with the virtual game. Was that even possible?
"H-hey, Sephera..."
[I'm... just as confused, Player. I've never seen or heard of an Achievement like this before. And I've listened to Admins brag about their Player's rarest Achievements.]
"Who... or what exactly is the system?"
[I am... not sure. All I know is, it's the reason behind all of this.]
I swallowed hard. I couldn't shake the feeling that playing the virtual game, getting sucked into the world itself, and now having a system that was aware of this was all connected somehow.
****
[Updating…]
[Name: Luquier Vaunt | Level: 1240]
[Title: Reckless Immortal (A)]
[Health: 150000 | Strength: 100000]
[Speed: 100000 | Magic: 100000]
[Risk: 40000 | Stat Points: 0]
[Experience: 8%]
[Skills]
[Divinity (Passive)]
[Holy Element 1240/1240]
[Death’s Shadow 1240/1240]
[Reap 1240/1240]
[Final Gambit 1240/1240]
[Death Match 629/1240]
[Grim Mantle (Passive)]
[Duplicate (1x) 1240/1240]
[Tough Skin (Passive)]
[Flooded Kingdom (?) 1240/1240]
[Achievements]
[Even Death Can't Stop Me!]
[Pick On Someone Your Own Strength.]
[Untouchable.]
[New Beginnings.]
[Bullying the Weak!]
[Overwhelming Strength!]
[At Long Last, Victory!]
[Items]
[Silver Serpent]
[Soultaker (1122076)]
[Warp Cube (x1)]
[Grudge of the Fallen core (x1)]
[Cloak of the Guide]
[Item Box (x1)]