Wind whipped at his clothes and leather armor he wore the further he ascended up the mountain. The roars of beasts that made the peaks their home grew closer. The slope of the early mountain climb was nowhere to present as it had gradually transformed into a vertical ascent. During the climb, Aldrin took the time to practice sticking to any surface.

Seeing Regalas, a black unicorn, walking vertically up a mountain like it was walking on straight land gave Aldrin another reality check. He had a feeling that this was going to be one of many oddities he would see the more he ventured out. He constantly heard tales from higher-level adventurers about their encounters and discoveries, as the world still held ancient mysteries. Yet, seeing an oddity himself was an experience, a humbling one, to say the least.

“You can stand, you know,” Regalas said, looking at Aldrin strangely as he scampered up the surface on all fours.

“I am not ready too,” Aldrin admitted, bunching his body together, then leaping over an open passage that was the length of half his body.

Regalas rolled his eyes and flicked his ears. “You’re not going to get blown off, I assure you, Night Lord.”

“You don’t know that! I don’t have magic hooves like you Regalas!” Aldrin fired back.

Aldrin could have sworn if the unicorn could form a cheeky grin, it would as it stared at him. “Sounds like someone is jealous of my majestic nature.” Regalas said, a hint of a smile intoned in his mental voice.

“If I could hit you I would,” Aldrin deadpanned.

“Why don’t you? Hmm?” Regalas goaded him.

“I just told you why!” Aldrin said.

Regalas looked back down the mountainside. “I admit it is a bit of a drop, but I think you would be fine if you fell. Just get a little blood in you and you will be good as new to try again.”

Aldrin stared at Regalas, wondering if the Quest was really worth putting up with a snarky unicorn. “You know what happened in the last thirty minutes? You used to be so respectful.”

“When you slipped and screamed after trying your power to stick to anything the first time, it broke the tension.” Regalas answered, not bothering to look back.

“It was one time!” Aldrin said.

“One time too many for a Vampire. You would be torn to shreds before you can even utter a word among your kind. I am trying to help you by giving you a fighting chance,” Regalas said.

“What makes you think I’m going to die?” Aldrin asked.

“Do you know how Black Unicorns came to be?” Regalas said, changing the topic.

Confused, Aldrin furrowed his eyebrows. “Off topic, but no?”

“The first Unicorn, our progenitor, mated with a regular mare, many mares to be honest. Those mares then gave birth to other Unicorns that went on. One of his daughters sought to lead and thus killed her father, hoping to attain the powers of the Unicorn Progenitor. Instead, a curse transformed her, turning her once silvery white fur and horn blacker than night. Her herd cast her out, but she got what she wanted by becoming the Progenitor of the Black Unicorns.” Regalas said.

System Alert

Lore Seeker Profession Updated

Mystery found and solved!

Origins of Black Unicorns!

“Whoa,” Aldrin reacted to both the story and alert that chimed in his vision briefly.

“I tell you this because any jealous and greedy Vampire will easily see your weaknesses, and will try to kill and absorb you for power,” Regalas answered, stopping to look at him. “I have grown fond of you in this short amount of time and do not wish to see you perish. Please. Take care of yourself.” He said in earnest, never breaking eye contact.

Aldrin had no words at the sincerity of the Black Unicorn and yet a sliver of doubt took root inside of him at the possibility of not being welcomed by his kind. The ones that were trapped at Lor-Vold that had accepted him without hidden intentions spoiled him. He also wondered if it was the right thing to do to let them flee with the rest of the horde that had attacked the city. Nonetheless, time would only tell since the Zombie Giant had assured him that he would take care of the Feral Vampires.

His shoulders sagged before finally answering. “Thank you for telling me and trying to look out for me.” Aldrin said, dropping his gaze.

Regalas simply huffed, turned, and continued to trot up the mountain. They were closer to the peaks now, where the Perytons were supposed to roam. “What else is up here? I have yet to see anything, but I’m hearing a lot of things around and inside the mountain.”

“Juvenile Drakes, Boulder Goats, Burrow Serpents, and of course the Perytons. What you are probably hearing inside are the Drakes and Serpents, fighting for dominance and territory. We are lucky that this area was transformed into a Dungeon before the mother of the drakes returned; otherwise, this would have been a whole different adventure.” Regalas said, his ears swiveling at every little sound.

Aldrin paused at the mention of the Drakes. “You mean baby dragons? Right?”

“Yes. The ones that have yet to earn their wings.” Regalas answered.

“I thought all Dragons were born with wings already?”

Regalas laughed. “A myth to deter any from seeking out the young. Once hatched, the Drakes are born colorless and wingless and earn them from the blessings of their parents. Regardless, they are still dangerous, but not as dangerous as a fully realized Dragon.”

“You know a lot about them,” Aldrin said.

“I once knew a Drake before she became a Dragon.” Regalas wistfully said, a faraway look blooming in his eyes.

Aldrin felt there was a story there, but the look of the culmination of emotions in his eyes gave him pause. “Why not hunt one Drake, then? Surely their hearts would give you a greater boost than a Peryton?”

“The Peryton has the gift of flight and the ability to heal which isn’t among my kind. I shall be the first.” Regalas stated.

That shut Aldrin up, “Fair enough. Let’s hurry then. I’m eager to see one after all this climbing.” He said. “My companions should also be here in a few hours if the fight gets too crazy.” Aldrin felt the tugging growing stronger from the bond with his friends.

Regalas whipped around, fury blazing in his gaze, “Why would you jinx it? Are you mad?!”

Taken aback, Aldrin stood, his hands up in a placating gesture, “I meant nothing by it, Regalas. I’m sorry.”

Regalas turned around once more, grumbling angrily in Aldrin’s mind, which he tried not to laugh at the absurdity of it all.

They climbed and climbed more until they crested the clouds that loomed around the peaks. The air was thin and luckily Aldrin didn’t need to breathe as the wind that blew would have stolen any breath he would have tried to suck in. Once they reached the peak, the mountain above the clouds was an entirely new area. It was a plateau with jagged archways,with stalagmites and stalactites that loomed in the archways like teeth of a massive great beast. Columns of differing sizes with platforms at their top dotted the landscape, with rocky outcroppings sprouting in random groups.

They made their way down from the way they came onto flat ground. Aldrin’s sense sphere pinged to something above him. He looked and saw nothing, then switched to his predator vision and he saw the life-force. It was long and thick, wrapped around the overhang of the archway. Switching back to his normal vision to see it with his own eyes, he couldn’t make it until it slightly moved. It was more like the archway moved as the rocks slithered and bunched together, then relaxed.

“Burrow Serpent,” Regalas sheepishly said, staring at the massive snake that wrapped itself around the archway.

The serpent felt eyes on it, forcing it to open its own sickly yellow slitted eyes. It flicked its long gray forked tongue, tasting the air before quickly snapping its head toward Aldrin and Regalas. “That’s not disconcerting at all,” Aldrin sarcastically mumbled, earning an amused huff from Regalas.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Name: Burrow Serpent

Level: 26

Tier 2

Lore: Often found in tall peaks amongst mountainous areas, Burrow Serpents take on the minerals surrounding it, feeding on both the minerals and prey by camouflaging with the rocks.

The Burrow Serpent untangled and unwrapped itself, falling to the ground with a thud and tremor. It reared up, fanning out oval shaped rocks along its neck, much like a cobra. Hissing like two rocks grinding together, it flashed its three rows of serrated teeth that were the length of a dagger.

“How do we kill it?” Aldrin asked, calling forth Sin-Screamer from his inventory.

“Blunt force to the head like all creatures?” Regalas confusedly said.

Aldrin groaned and rolled his eyes, “If I had known I was going to be fighting a bunch of rocks in this dungeon, I would have brought a hammer or something.”

Aldrin yelped as a sharp sting emanated from the handle of Sin-Screamer, making him switch hands like he was playing hot potato with it. “Ok! Ok! I’m sorry!” Aldrin tried to placate the sword. In his mind, feelings of sourness bloomed, then settled into a simmering resentment.

He looked down at it, seeing the wispy souls of the dead trapped within the blade cry out in voiceless screams. “I promise to feed you.” Aldrin said, earning a sideways glance from Regalas.

The Burrow Serpent demanded their attention once it began to rapidly slither towards them. Aldrin readied himself while Regalas collected dark energy at the peak of his horn. Once it was fully charged, Regalas dipped his head slightly, letting an arc of black energy, reminiscent of lightning, streak across the distance, hitting the Serpent on one of its armored rocky plates.

The damage was minimal but enough to make the Serpent speed up, making Aldrin’s spine crawl. “I hate reptiles.” He dejectedly said, throwing himself forth both out of fear and pride.

His sword was angled to penetrate and pierce through its rocky armor, but paused when the serpent opened its mouth, roaring in defiance at the challenge Aldrin posed.

Aldrin quickly snapped out of it as the Beast inside him awoke from its dormant state. He roared back as more arcs of black energy shot forth overhead. Bunching all the power to his legs, Aldrin jumped forward, becoming a spear aimed at the inside of the Serpent’s mouth.

The Serpent opened its mouth wider to swallow Aldrin whole, which he allowed to happen as he plunged into the belly of the snake. His eyes immediately adjusted to the darkness before burying his blade into the side of the serpent.

Aldrin felt it thrash, worm, and wiggle from the uncomfortableness yet he only twisted and pushed deeper into the fleshy parts of the serpent. It roared again, twisting in on itself in an attempt to dislodge him.

Holding on tightly, Aldrin didn’t relent his grip, and neither did Sin-Screamer. Up was down and down was up as the Serpent thrashed about.

Blood started to slowly seep through the wound that they made. Aldrin inhaled, then quickly wrinkled his nose in disgust. The blood to him smelled rancid and rotted, making his own stomach turn in protest.

“Whatever you’re doing! Keep doing it! My magic is slowly decaying it to weaken it!” Regalas mentally shouted.

With both hands upon the hilt of his blade, he planted both feet against the serpent’s insides, using his new ability to stick and keep firm, he heaved and plunged again eliciting a sharp hissing shriek from the Serpent that made his ears ring slightly. He ignored the disorienting sound and kept using Sin-Screamer like a plunger, sawing it deeper into the flesh of the Serpent.

He grinned, “Sin-Screamer! Feast!” The blade vibrated and whistled as sharp elation bloomed from the blade. Aldrin kept sawing away with his blade and each time, Sin-Screamer fed upon the life force of the Serpent.

Its thrashing weakened until finally it succumbed to the inside wound. The flesh where Sin-Screamer had buried itself was flaking off, allowing the blade to easily slide free. With the tear already formed, Aldrin cut his way out, the dawning sun blinding him momentarily.

Emerging from the belly of the beast, he stood atop the corpse of the Burrow Serpent. The parts where Regalas had hit it with his bolts were decayed and chipped. He looked around to see the furrows left behind from the serpent thrashing about.

Congratulations!

You have defeated: Level 25 Burrow Serpent

Burrow Serpent Fang x5

Burrow Serpent Stone Fragment x22

EXP Awarded

Congratulations!

Sin-Screamer has advanced to a Tier 1 Artefact Weapon

Select One Trait

Return: Call back Sin-Screamer to your hand if lost or thrown

Echoes: Every 5th swing, a phantom blade trails behind

Pierce: Channel your own energy into the point of the blade to deal lethal damage

Harden: The blade becomes more resistant to magic attacks

“That was brave of you,” Regalas said, trotting up to him once he jumped down. There were a few scratches along his body from the shards of rock that shot outward.

He nodded absently as he inspected Sin-Screamer. With it evolving into a Tier 1 Artefact, it no longer looked chipped and scratched. However, the dullness lessened a little as a small sheen of dark metal shined through the muddled spots of rust and grime. The faces of the souls were still screaming as they swam up and down the blade in despair as more became visible.

He also looked over the traits presented to him as each of them would complement well with his cleaving strike skill and his passives from his Class. He leaned more towards Echoes if he could get one swing off first before activating his skill if there were four targets in front of him. If it would even work that way to begin with. It was a gamble he was willing to take since the damage it would cause if the phantom blade sliced through all four opponents as well.

Trait Chosen!

Sin-Screamer

Tier 1 Artefact

Traits-

Echoes: Every 5th swing, a phantom blade trails behind.

Aldrin was pleased by the event of fighting the Burrow Serpent, but he still hated the fact that his first encounter on the peak of the mountain was a reptile, of all things. Stowing away Sin-Screamer, he turned to face Regalas, “It was a short but worthy fight for my blade to grow a tier.”

“That is pleasing to hear, Night Lord,” Regalas respectfully bowed.

Aldrin frowned as he turned back to look at the decaying parts of the Serpent. “Your magic bolts carry a decaying effect?”

Regalas stood proudly, puffing out his chest, “Unlike our counterparts who have a heal over time they cast with their horns, ours is the opposite. Our magic decays.”

“And the healing ability you would get from the Peryton’s heart would give you both healing and decay,” Aldrin said, his brows still furrowed, pondering the implications of such a thing.

Regalas could see the gears turning in Aldrin’s head, which filled him with pride at making the Vampire think.

“It’s important we do this, then. Everyone and everything deserves the chance to save their loved ones. Even ones that the world deems evil.” Aldrin said, facing forward. He switched his vision to see what other lifeforms blared white with another ambush for them, but most of what he saw was in the distance of the rocky plateau. “Come on. We have a Quest to finish,” Aldrin said, striding forward with Regalas close behind.

They blazed through the plateau, fighting herds of 3 to 5 Boulder Goats that were just sheep with round and smoothened rocks around their bodies where wool would have been. They weren’t anything special and if anything they were kinda stupid since they would bleat in surprise, then charge with their corkscrew horns at Aldrin. Their stone bodies that were meant to act as a shield had no effect on Aldrin as he smashed through them. He wanted to laugh because of the vast difference between the Burrow Serpent and Boulder Goats until he saw a large herd of at least 10 of them rush a Burrow Serpent that tried to ambush them.

A few of them had died in the rush, but that didn’t deter them. They curled in on themselves, forming rolling cannonballs that shot forward into the body of the Burrow Serpent that was busy choking down one goat.

The unexpected attack had surprised the Burrow Serpent as one managed to break off a chunk of stone, revealing grey scales underneath. The Goat that had managed the lucky hit uncurled itself, letting out a victorious bleat to the others. It was soon cut short as the Burrow Serpent whipped its tail into the side of the Boulder Goat, sending it hurtling into the nearby rock face.

Enraged at the sudden death of their comrade, the goats’ rocky wool changed into jagged spikes as they became belligerent, charging headlong into the fray, puncturing the armor of the Burrow Serpent.

Aldrin’s fascination with the scene unfolding before him quickly turned to unease as more goats started to ascend from underneath the mountain, chewing their way through the rocky soil, and attacking the underside of the Serpent.

“Are they- Are they eating it?!” Regalas said, more to himself in shock.

“They are,” Aldrin whispered, watching as the goats that came from beneath the Serpent had continued to chew their way through the armor and into the scales.

The Serpent slowed considerably as more goats joined, swarming over the giant rock serpent, eating their way until there were no more rocks left among the carcass of the Serpent, leaving it crippled and immobile. It wheezed as it glared balefully at the goats that surrounded it.

That same unease turned to pure fear once the Goats started moving in concentric circles around the Serpent, slowly coming closer with each loop until they all lunged like a swarm of piranhas. “Oh my god,” Aldrin subconsciously let out, unable to look away at the carnage as blood soaked goats rotated in and out, taking turns to eat the Serpent. The crunch of rocks breaking and flesh tearing grated in his ears. Worst of all were the goats slight humming after each rotated out to let another go in, almost like they were chanting.

“Where the fuck did you take me, Regalas?! You said the goats were harmless!” Aldrin hissed in a whisper, fearful of the goats hearing him after finally being able to tear his gaze away.

Regalas looked between the Goats and Aldrin. “I never said that!”

“Then what is-“ Aldrin stopped his words as the crunching stopped. He slowly looked over to see all the Goats, bloodied and bits of flesh dangling from their mouths, eyeing him and Regalas with their hunger-worn lifeless eyes.

“Sweet mother of black!” Regalas reared back, then bolted in the opposite direction. Aldrin had no time to react to Regalas abandoning him as one goat stepped forward, starting a slow bleating chant that got the others into a frenzy.

Aldrin gave no time to look back as the sound of hundreds of hooves rushed forward behind him. All he could see was the dust ahead of him from Regalas hoofing it away from the Boulder Goats.

“Run, Regalas! Ruuuunnnn!” Aldrin shouted, pumping his legs as fast as he could.

“What do you think I’m doing?!” Regalas shouted back, not bothering to look back nor slow down.