As it turned out, Lark was more than just an accessories merchant. He was a seasoned adventurer who had reached the peak of tier three but hadn't yet woven his braids. Additionally, he had a bit of a shady side, not because he stole or harmed anyone, but because he violated Valor’s trade laws by selling everything in his shop.
"Now that I’ve spilled my little secret, how about you return the favor? Give me some info so I can help you gear up," Lark requested. "I can do a lot more when I have more to work with."
Zion mulled over the request, weighing how much he could trust Lark. The orc had been surprisingly open with him so far, but there was always the possibility that he was just a skilled swindler. Yet, something inside him urged him to trust Lark, a small voice whispering in his mind. Eventually, his suspicions relented, and he shared a copy of his status with Lark. "But keep this between us."
Lark nodded casually as he received Zion's status. However, his demeanor changed dramatically as he scanned the information. "What in the world are you, kid?! A new race, an unknown class, and these stats are off the charts!" he exclaimed, pacing behind his counter. "How many young people have stats like these? If that's not a sign from Creation, I don’t know what is!"
"Wait, did you say you've seen others with similar stats?" Zion blurted out, the news hitting him like a thunderbolt. Were there others like him?
Suddenly, a quest notification appeared in Zion's vision.
Quest acquired:
Find the Chosen and convince them to join you.
0/2 Chosen recruited.
10 hours remaining.
Well, that answered that question. However, Lark was still absorbed in Zion's status, seemingly unaware of Zion's inquiries. "Hey, Lark, I know those numbers are insane, but I really need to know about the others you saw," Zion pressed, urgency in his voice. "No need for names; I’ll track them down myself. I'll also need that other gear we discussed; I have to find those people in ten hours."
"Ahh, so you've got a quest from your Goddess, huh? I can't spill too many details, as I made them the same promise. What I can say is that they were quite thirsty," Lark replied with a wink. "Now, let's get you some top-notch starting gear. I think I've got just the pieces for you."
Thirty minutes later, fifteen hundred gold lighter and with a promise to return, Zion finally departed from the Hidey Hole. He had to admit, his instincts had been spot on today. Lark had been a true master of his craft, selecting items that fit Zion perfectly. Glancing at his inventory, Zion's face lit up with excitement at his newfound gear.
Mana Spike Buckler (Uncommon): Fashioned from sturdy steel and embedded with 30 small mana stones, this unimposing buckler boasts both defensive resilience and magical augmentation.Effects: By channeling mana into the buckler, the wielder can manifest small spikes that protrude from its surface, enabling offensive capabilities even while blocking. Uses 1 mana per spike. Durability: 100/100.
Chestpiece of the Rocky Tortoise (Uncommon) - Crafted from the robust shells of the Rocky Tortoise, renowned for its remarkable resilience against physical harm, this armor offers unparalleled protection to its wearer. Effects: Bestows the wearer with 4 additional points in Endurance, enhancing their ability to withstand physical attacks and endure prolonged battles. Durability: 100/100
Onyx Bane (Rare) - Crafted from the core of an Onyx Reaver, a formidable creature known for its resistance to magical assaults, this blade strikes fear into the hearts of spellcasters and magical beings alike. Effects: Once per day, the blade can be activated to absorb a magical attack of tier three or lower, rendering the wielder immune to its effects and converting the absorbed energy into a temporary boost of arcane power.
Lark had certainly delivered an incredible haul, with the blade being Zion's favorite addition. The once-a-day limit was a bit disappointing, but the ability to nullify a spell could be a game-changer in a fight, especially if mana was running low. It could easily save his life. Plus, the shortsword looked stunning with its sleek onyx-colored blade and bone-white handle. It would fit right in at a haunted mausoleum.
While Zion was already pleased with the equipment, Lark had gone above and beyond by procuring some strings of power, albeit with a limited selection. According to Lark, finding strings that resonated with someone's path was a rare occurrence. Typically, they had to be obtained through quests or dungeons. Lark even expressed hope that Ki’ would grant Zion something suited to his future.
The orc had managed to find two strings he believed would complement Zion's build: a movement skill called Kinetic Dash and a blade ability known as Rending Slash.
Kinetic Dash (Active): Harnessing the latent kinetic energy generated during combat, this skill empowers the user with the ability to execute lightning-fast dashes, covering a distance of up to 20 yards in an instant.Effects: Allows the user to dash instantaneously, enabling simultaneous attacks during movement. The skill can store kinetic energy for up to 5 dashes, ensuring swift and agile maneuvers in battle.
Rending Slash (Active): Unleashes a devastating wave of solidified air from the blade, propelling it forward until it collides with an object or dissipates over distance.Effects: The slash travels in a straight line, diminishing in effectiveness the farther it extends. Upon impact, it inflicts slashing damage to targets in its path and costs 30 mana per slash.
They weren't top-tier abilities, but Zion needed a movement ability and something to complement his mana bolt. Lark had confirmed that Arcane Edge would synergize with Rending Slash, giving him another option for ranged damage. He hoped Ki would eventually lead him to more powerful spells, but for now, he needed something immediate.
Lark had also answered a question that had been nagging at Zion: why were all abilities and spells so mana-intensive? Lark explained that stats affected those numbers, and since Zion's affinity was so high, the damage was scaled to match. This meant the mana cost was increased to balance the heightened potency, effectively putting Zion at a tier two level rather than tier one.
With his needs met by Lark, all Zion had left to do was meet these Chosen and purchase some basic supplies like a sleeping mat or rations. He had been directed to a general goods store for the latter but hadn't received any more information about the former. Zion wasn’t upset; he respected Lark's discretion. He took the one hint given and set off for the tavern and inn street he had spotted during his morning exploration.
As he made his way down the bustling street, lively voices spilled out from open doorways. Zion had never been to a true Adventurer Tavern before; his father had always said that was a reward for when he grew up, likely because he didn't trust Zion not to do something reckless. Given his lack of knowledge about these establishments, Zion decided to check out each one, embarking on what promised to be a lengthy task.
From the Roundy Orc to the Buckling Gnome, Zion entered every bar, scanning the patrons for the individuals he was supposed to meet. He was unceremoniously ejected from two of them, the owners stating they only allowed registered adventurers. In one instance, he was even forced to consume two mugs of mead he didn’t enjoy after being told he couldn’t just stare without ordering.
After visiting about seven taverns, Zion found himself standing in the doorway of the Drowned Mana Rat, a tavern that lived up to its name. The floors were covered in muck and filth, and the patrons looked like they had just come from a brawl. Despite the grim atmosphere, Zion's hunger drove him to take a seat at the bar.
The bartender, an elf covered in scars, greeted him gruffly. "What can I get you?"
Zion placed a gold coin on the counter and politely requested, "Could I please get one mug of ale and two chikury legs?"
The bartender smirked mockingly as he took the coin. "Of course, young sir, right away," he replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm as he headed to the kitchen.
As Zion waited, he observed the patrons, hoping to spot someone obvious. Suddenly, a sly voice from his side interrupted his thoughts. A skinny human clad in dark leather had taken a seat beside him, grinning with black teeth that matched his outfit.
"Who you looking for? Maybe I can be of assistance," the man offered, his gaze fixed on Zion.
“No one in particular, just taking in the new sights,” he told the man, trying to ignore the pinpricks the man's stare was causing as he glanced around. But the man didn’t quit looking, his face locked on Zion’s.
“Oh rubbish, a rich one like you ain’t gonna just eat in this fine establishment. Definitely not,” the man concluded with a gross smile that he clearly thought was endearing.
“Really, sir, I’m okay. Don’t need any help finding someone, just here to enjoy a good meal,” Zion lied through his teeth. There was no way someone like this Donny could assist him anyway.
“Fine then, suit yourself, brat,” Donny sneered before lunging forward, his dagger aimed at Zion's neck. Zion activated his arcane shield just in time, deflecting the dagger. He pushed off the bar, rolling back onto his feet.
“Don’t want my help; I'll take your gold another way,” Donny hissed before disappearing in a blast of gray smoke. Zion quickly equipped his sword and buckler, scanning the crowd for signs of the ratty man. But he didn't sense Donny's presence until it was too late – a green dagger slid into his back, causing him to howl in pain.
Despite the pain, Zion managed to bash Donny with his buckler, using a slight expenditure of mana to expand spikes into the man's arm. Donny cursed and vanished in another puff of gray smoke. As Zion scanned the crowd, a burly man swung a large cudgel at him from the front. With no time to parry, Zion activated his ability again, summoning a blue shell that blocked both strikes.
Donny growled at the newcomer, “He's mine, Francis. Go find your own target.” The large man chuckled and advanced toward Zion. But both men stopped as Zion's hood slipped from his head, revealing his face to the entire bar, which fell silent at the sight.
“What in the bloody Devastation is wrong with your face?” Francis demanded with his dopey voice. “Why you look bluish?”
Dammit! Zion thought. Literally remained hidden for less than a day! He wasted no more time, using the distraction of his appearance to slash backward at Donny. Donny slipped under the attack just as Zion had hoped, allowing him to channel a mana bolt into Donny's face. Zion then brought his knee up into Donny's gut, causing him to drop his dagger and collapse.
Zion wasted no time in knocking Donny out cold with his shield, but the victory was short-lived. A cudgel struck him hard on the head, sending bright stars dancing in his vision. Despite his increased stats, Zion felt the tier gap in power as Francis, a blurry figure, approached with a wicked grin.
Zion managed to summon an arcane shield, but each swing of Francis's giant stick ate through his mana, leaving him vulnerable. He needed his head to clear so he could focus on countering.
Before Zion could retaliate, a large spear pierced Francis's arm from behind, pinning him to the floor. “I think that's enough for today, big guy unless you're really ready to meet the deities today?” came a husky voice from the figure behind Francis.
His savior pulled the red blade from Francis’s arm, allowing the giant to collapse. The figure then approached Zion, muttering a quick word. Zion's vision cleared, and he saw the person clearly now.
It was a tall woman decked out in crimson red armor, her curly raven hair tucked beneath a full helm. Her ruby eyes sparkled as she extended her hand. “Looking for me, bluey?” she asked, her husky voice and gorgeous smile sending tingles down his back. A pinging sound confirmed what he had expected.
Quest updated:
Find the Chosen and convince them to join you.
1/2 Chosen found.
0/2 Chosen recruited.
7 hours remaining.