[ You've failed your quest. Applying penalties. ]
(Vitality) -15
(Strength) -15
(Agility) -15
(Intelligence) -15
(Dexterity) -15
(Piety) -15
(Luck) -15
[ Countdown till penalties are alleviated 90 days, 00:0.00 ]
The penalties continued to stack in a very disrespectful manner. If this was going to happen I would've rather not get a quest at all, but it couldn't be helped. I had to tend to kaish and kryse's well being before all else.
In this case, I was justified for failing the quest, but be that as it may, it left me in a terrible predicament. I'm not sure I even had a chance to escape in the first place, but with these penalties it was now utterly impossible.
In general, that would've been the case had kaish not done something amazing. As the last particles of his being disappeared, and the annoying penalty notifications faded, a new message appeared.
'Kaish you...!!!'
[ A legendary being has willingly given you his body and soul. ]
[ Due to the essence of the legendary beings body mixing with your own, your body is beginning to go through an evolution. ]
[ Your evolution is complete. You are now a perfect hybrid between human and ghoul. ]
[ You have acquired the Emperors body. ]
[ Your body has been strengthened with the blood of an ascended ghoul who had the potential to become an emperor. As a ghoul-human hybrid, immense strength courses through your veins. ]
[...!!!]
Depending on the type of species, peoples rate of growth is often times more or less than another's. This was due to that fact that genetic make ups naturally were more inclined to certain traits. A good example of this would be the elves being some of the best mages to exist.
Due to their genetic make up, mana was more easily controlled by them. In this case, an elves body came with its own benefits, and this even transferred over to human-elf hybrids. So what could be said about other types bodies and hybrids?
[+ 0.5 stats per point.
+ 5 HP/sec Health regeneration
+ 1 ST/sec Stamina regeneration
+ 1 MP/sec Mana regeneration
+ 20% damage reduction
+ 20% damage dealt
[ The emperors body allows you to learn new skills much quicker. ]
[ The emperors body allows you to read the strength of your opponents. ]
[ The emperors body grants you the emperors armor skill. ]
[ The emperors body grants you the greater me skill ]
My ears grew long and sharp like that of a ghouls, and I could feel energy coursing through every part of my body. Even though kaish told me not to, I felt like I could take on all these guards. I could sense they were far weaker than I.
'I'll take care of your sister.'
Her body was nearly frozen stiff so I had to be especially careful when I picked her up. The guards surrounded me and shouted words I couldn't understand. They tried to force my arms open which would've caused kryse to fall, but I didn't let go.
When they realized I wasn't going to comply easily they simply began to take me away, and I knew where they were taking me.
It wasn't long before I entered the emperors throne room followed by hundreds of guards. They threw me in front of him causing me to catch myself on my elbows and knees. The scrapping felt terrible, but kryse was still safe in my arms.
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I glared up at the emperor with all the hate my heart contained, but he simply smiled at me condescendingly.
"How amusing." He mumbled. "I thought I killed you, no I certainly did, and yet - here you are crouching before me with a corpse in your arms."
"..."
"And you are no longer fully human either... fascinating."
His gaze was hard to read, naturally it made me feel uneasy, but now there was something else contained within it. Something akin to fondness, like the way a person looks at a pet. It was strange to see those eyes from someone who previously killed me, but I was expecting it.
Before Kaine faded away he told me about the emperor, and his past, and why my only chance to escape was to let myself get captured.
More than a dozen centuries ago - he too, was once a lesser ghoul. One with an intelligence mutation, and a odd curiosity for humans.
He spent most of his early days watching them from afar, hidden within the darkness of the woods, until one fateful evening he met a human. A woman mage who also found him fascinating. They studied each other, and in that time developed a friendship, and a friendship into relationship.
Until that was taken advantage of by the wanderers who sought to extinguish him and his family. He naively listened to their sweet words and led them to his nest. Unfortunately this resulted in the slaughtering of all his brothers, and even his love who attempted to stop them.
Somehow he alone managed to escape, and he ran as far as he could until he found himself within this crystal mine. There he started a new family, far away from the likes of humans.
"Tell me, why do you hold so desperately onto the corpse of that girl?"
"..."
Swoosh..!
A powerful pressure erupted from the emperor. I couldn't easily speak in his presence, but I had no choice.
"I won't ask again."
"...She was my friend, and died because of me. Her and her brother... I promised him I'd bury her. I owe them everything, but at least that."
"But let's face reality, they're just monsters aren't they?"
"We can all be monsters depending on who's point of view where looking through."
The emperor eyes widened for a short moment, enough for me to catch that he resonated with what I said. Perhaps in the moment, he saw someone else in me through those words. Someone truly dear and missed by him.
"General Runnel."
"Yes your majesty."
"See to it that every man, woman, guard and knight who in this nation knows not to attack this man. Immediately."
Runnel's mouth gasped open in surprise. "But your majesty..-"
The emperor put his hand in the air, signaling him to be quiet. All the while keeping eye contact with me.
"Kaine was a traitor, but also the most loyal. One day he could've taken over my position. If he deemed you good then so do I. Go and bury his kin, and create a grave for him as well. No one will cause you harm."
"Your majesty I can't accept this. All human must die for what they did to you-!"
Swoosh
"Keuk..!!!"
Thud
General Runnel's head fell to floor with a face full of surprise and terror. His body dropped down soon after.
"Does anyone else dare speak against my word?" The emperor asked, but the knights were all silent. "Very well then, go on."
I said nothing and continued to glare at him with resilient eyes before turning away and dashing out. This is the best chance for me to leave this place and I won't wait another moment to take it.
With gritted teeth I ran, and ran. A plethora of mixed emotions ran through me. I was relieved that I was let go, I was anxious about whether the emperor would change his mind, I was sad that kryse had to die, but above all else I felt unsure.
'I wanted to be a wanderer for so long, but I didn't think it would be like this. Is this the true reality of being a wanderer?'
These were questions I never asked myself before. I was always so focused on the fact that I couldn't level up that I failed to consider what it would be like once I could.
Thoughts like these continued to taint my mind until I reached a place I thought was fitting for kryse's grave. Looking a little closer, the mushroom trees were particular beautiful here and there was a clearing where I once sat.
'This should be good.'
The place where I awakened, met kaine, and finally met kryse. She stumbled through the bushes nearby so full of life and wonder. I'll make sure this area continues to honor her.
A couple hours passed since I begun digging their graves. The first thing I did was place the monster repellant plants all around, and place their seeds in various areas so this place would always be protected. I also found some nice stones that would serve as their headstones.
I fiddled with kaines headstone for a little while before it was just right. Then, for the first time in a while a smiled spread across my face.
"Just like in life, you guys will always be with each other."
For the first time I could remember in this cave, a wind breeze blew, and with it came a overwhelming feeling of longing. Suddenly, I felt someone touch my shoulder. I quickly turned around and was pushed back by a kiss.
"...!!!"
I realized it wasn't my imagination, when I saw kaine behind her standing there extremely annoyed. She then went to kaine's side and waved to me with the sweetest smile. It told one hundred truths, but the clearest was that they were at peace.