The Lord Protector turned and walked toward the entry point to the building as Baelor, Zanger, and Adam followed. Once at the main entrance, the Lord Protector turned to Adam and, “Do you need any armor or weapons?”
“These robes will do. I need to find my way without being given gifts upon arriving. Next time, I might not appear with such esteemed and courteous company,” Adam said.
The Lord Protector guffawed, “Too true, once we knew the Mother Tree was the site of a reincarnation we took steps to protect her but otherwise such acts by the gods are better left uninterrupted.”
“And the show of force?” Adam asked.
“There if necessary, but as you say a show,” The Lord Protector said as he pulled out a green crystal and spoke, “Helos, if you’d please”
Immediately, a portal formed in front of the Lord Protector where a young man was obviously concentrating on it from the other side. Wasting no time, The four stepped through and the portal closed behind them. Adam looked around and noticed that he had stepped onto a hilltop. A forest spread off to his left and right behind him as far as he could see while before, and below him, a field of battle that could only be measured in the thousands was on full display. There were doglike creatures that Adam was sure were Gnolls. He also recognized Goblins, Orcs, Ogres, and farther back, almost a mile away, giants.
Adam looked over the battlefield and immediately saw that a group of elves was having issues with an inordinately strong group of Gnolls supported by what had to be cultivators. There was one Gnoll that looked to have metallic skin just decimating the front lines of the elves while a second was throwing ranged fire-based attacks. It looked like there were cultivators in the elvish ranks as well and the fire projectiles were being mostly negated. The metallic gnoll was becoming a real problem as he killed one elf after another with the halberd he was wielding. Just as the Lord Protector was about to issue an order to his commanders, Adam was already rushing forward.
***
The Gnoll Ashrok laughed manically as he smashed another elf’s skull. He couldn’t believe his luck. Since he’d found his fourth Quintessence he’d been nigh unstoppable. Who would have thought that a convergence of Water, Earth, Fire, and his focused Quintessence Metallic Skin would be so much fun? The first three had improved his Strength Endurance and Stamina to Medium while his Metallic Skin made him immune to attacks that were one step lower than the rank of the Metallica Skin or his Endurance. Since his Endurance was at Medium he had immediately become immune to all low-level attacks.
Ashrok was also skilled with the halberd he was wielding and with his strength also at medium a strike from him decimated any elf he hit. It was beautiful. The elves would move in to attack thinking they could hurt him not knowing that it wasn’t the leather armor that he wore that protected him. This allowed him to focus on those elves that seemed to be more skilled. Those he had to watch out for because their attacks could overcome his Metallic Skin and cause him real damage. Luckily his Endurance and Stamina were both at medium as well which allowed him to stay in the fight longer.
Ashrok wasn’t stupid. This war was going to last for days, if not weeks so he had been pacing himself. With Adler supporting him and ensuring none of the truly powerful enemies could focus on him when he stepped in, he had free range. He might only be a Class F Cultivator with two Quintessence but his fire quintessence had provided him with a ranged attack that couldn’t be ignored. Conversely, Ashrok’s Elemental quintessence provided close-range attacks. His Earth Quintessence allowed him to stomp, staggering his enemies while his fire quintessence allowed him to shroud himself in flames doing fire damage to anyone that was within melee range.
Ashrok wasn’t using his fire ability in this battle because every time he’d activated it the warriors had backed away and ranged attacks had tried to pepper him. So he’d left it off and waded into the battle to show these punny elves his true capabilities. Still, he wasn’t reckless. He’d attack until his stamina was about depleted then fall back to allow one of the shamans to heal him. They were only Glass G cultivators but their ability to heal from their Life Quintessence was much appreciated. Once healed, he'd wade back into the fight and kill some more elves. This slow and steady process had allowed him to reduce the elves on their army’s right flank. If he could just break through, his army would sweep through the opening and destroy the elvish lines from two sides.
A flicker of energy drew Ashok’s attention as a portal opened on the hill where the enemy commander stood. The Lord Protector had returned with two elves and a human in brown robes. What was a human doing here? These elves were notoriously xenophobic. What would cause them to allow one in their midst unless this one followed the druidic path, a fellow cultivator? Ashok allowed his aura to reach out and felt many low-grade cultivators in both armies. Adler behind him resonated and he felt the presence of the Lord Protector but other Cultivators at least his rank or higher, he felt none. The Human above was no threat and the Lord Protector would not step in until he had to. Ashrok returned his attention to those in front of him and focused on the elves in front of him.
That was why he was completely surprised when he felt a breeze wash over him and looked to see his Halberd stop in mid-swing just before cleaving down into the shoulder of an elf. His eyes followed the hand holding his halberd to the face of the human who’d been on the hill a moment before. The human winked then snapped the metal shaft of his halberd by flexing his thumb. He even understood the human as he said, “That worked.” In elvish.
A couple of Gnoll warriors beside him tried to take advantage of the human with attacks of their own. None seemed to have scored a hit as the human easily sidestepped every attack. Even the elves in the area were flabbergasted as they backed away from the human. Ashrok heard the Lord Protectors’ voice call out in elvish,
“The Human is an ally, do not interfere and support when you can,”
Ashrok was having none of that and yelled back to Adler, “Kill the human!” The other Gnolls in the area all backed away from the human which caused him to pause for a moment and look up as Adler unleashed a focused fire attack at the mortal. The Human just smiled and stood there as a column of flame shot from Adler into him. Adler had been behind Ashrok on a hill so the flame had come downhill and looked like a gout of flame that a fire drake or dragon might shoot down at someone on the ground. Adler must have recognized the threat because Ashrok quickly understood that Adler had held nothing back and was channeling all of his mana into this attack.
Ashrok watched as the flame hit the human burning away his clothes instantly and singing off any hair he had. Still, the human stood there with closed eyes as if waiting for something. Four seconds later Adler’s flame attack ended and the human opened his eyes. Completely nude, the human looked to Adler and then in complete surprise to everyone said, “My turn,” in Gnollish.
To fast for Ashrok to follow, the human was up the hill and had delivered a single punch into the skull of Adler, who had not even been able to move to defend himself. From there the area became a complete zone of chaos. For the next half hour, the human methodically killed gnolls, goblins, and orcs as Ashrok tried to chase him down and stop him. Ashrok noticed throughout that half hour that the human seemed to be utilizing different ways to kill as he went from target to target. He’d picked up clubs, daggers, swords, polearms, spears, and even halberds from those he killed and utilized them on his next target.
The human never used more than two strikes on any single enemy. It looked like he was honing how he killed. It didn’t happen often, but every once in a while his first attack wouldn’t kill his opponent and he’d follow up with a very specific kick or open-hand attack that either crushed a throat or caved in the targets head. Finally, Ashrok had enough. He’d finally realized that while he’d been focused on trying to stop this human, he’d been drawn away from the front. As he stood in a field of his dead brethren there was no reason to be careful so Ashrok ignited his body with his flame ability and started making his way back toward the elvish lines. He’d only taken three steps toward the elves when the naked human appeared out of nowhere before him and then held something out for Ashrok to see as the flames surrounding him flickered and died.
Ashrok couldn’t understand why he couldn’t breathe anymore and suddenly felt as if something very bad had happened. He allowed his eyes to look down to what the human was holding then realized it was a heart that had been singed but was still beating. His gaze dropped further until he noticed that there was a fist-sized hole through his chest as he heard the human say,
“Didn’t know if that would work. I’m not as strong as I once was. By the way, it took you long enough to realize…oh forget it you’re about to…” were the last words Ashrok ever heard before his mind went blank and he felt himself beginning a fall he’d never rise from.
***
Adam looked at the heart in his hand and dropped it. He quickly looked back to the top of the hill where the Lord Protector still stood, slack-jawed. He’d killed roughly three enemies a second for the last half hour which was roughly 5,400 combatants. Which was still not even a dent in the scope of this army. This wasn’t a war this was one of those epic battles like from Lord of the Rings where the forces of evil and good were fighting. How the hell were the elves supposed to withstand that? If there had been more cultivators in the enemy army.
Adam’s thoughts were interrupted as he felt an overwhelming sense of danger from behind him. Without hesitation, Adam did a standing backflip over and behind a dark-skinned creature that he’d never seen before that appeared out of exploding shadows to strike right where his heart had been a moment before from behind. Adam lazily reached forward as he landed and snapped the creature’s neck, almost ripping its head off.
Adam felt an overwhelming sense of dread three more times and killed three more elves. As he looked down after the fourth sneak attack he noticed that each one of these weird creatures had disappeared and that there was a single clear crystal sitting where the first dark elf had been. Adam checked his surroundings and noted that no one was within 100 feet of him before he moved to the crystal and picked it up.
Congratulations! You have discovered a Looting Specific Quintessence! This quintessence creates an ability that will allow you to quickly loot treasure from fallen enemies. There are various looting abilities. This is a must-have Quintessence for any Adventurer
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As a being of Chaos, you may directly absorb and activate any Quintessence you touch. Would you like to absorb the Looting Specific Quintessence, Yes or No?”
Adam chose “Yes”
The quintessence crystal in his hand turned to dust and then floated away on the breeze as if it had never existed as Adam felt energy coarse into his body. The process only took a moment before a new prompt appeared.
Congratulations, You have activated the Ability Treasure Renderer. Treasure Renderer removes all items from a creature you have recently killed and neatly piles them beside the corpse. If you have a dimensional storage item or power this ability will instead place the items into the storage location of your choosing at activation. Note: If this ability is utilized on a Cultivator it guarantees that a quintessence crystal of one of the unlocked Quintessence of the target will be added to the treasure.
Mana Cost: Medium
Scaling: As this ability improves the quintessence it can create will also improve. Quintessence Crystal level is limited to ability level though General, Focused and Specific Quintessence Crystals can be created.
That was very interesting. Adam’s thoughts were interrupted as yet another wave of dread entered his mind. He jumped as he’d been doing only to feel the wave of dread spike to an overwhelming level as a ballista bolt sailed out of the air to strike him center mass. Even his Legendary endurance was hard-pressed to ward off the damage as he felt one of his ribs crack though the bolt had not broken his skin which had transferred all of the energy into him and sent him flying into the forest behind the elvish forces. It only took a moment for him to recover his senses and twist in midair so that he was able to utilize his feet to alter his trajectory against a few trees, slowing down each time, until he lightly dropped to the forest ground.
Adam had to admit that the attack against him had been a perfectly timed and executed sneak attack. He opened his status screen and noted that the damage that he’d taken had already been healed. Checking the combat log he noted that the ballista had been shot and had struck him as an Elite weapon. He moved over to where the ballista bolt had landed and checked it. It didn’t look any different from any ballista that he’d ever seen before. Maybe bigger weapons stepped up damage categories? That would make sense.
Adam quickly made his way back to the Lord Protector. Another elf handed him another robe as he walked up. Adam quickly put it on.
“Not even scratched by the Ballista Bolt? The Lord Protector asked.
“Oh, It hurt, don’t let how I look now fool you. My regeneration rate seems to be pretty high as well.”
“If I might ask, were you going all out, or were you testing yourself clinically?” The Lord Protector asked.
“I was checking to see if the skills I knew before being reincarnated still worked. It is weird, I can perform them flawlessly and feel like there should be an additional effect of some kind but it doesn’t happen. Also, my hand-to-hand strikes are much more powerful than any strike I’ve made with weapons,” Adam said.
“That is unsurprising. If your attributes are as you say, which I am now inclined to believe, there are very few weapons and armor that will withstand your attacks,” The Lord Protector said before he asked, “Are you going to step back into the field?”
“Yes. I think I have a feel for how skills progress and how to utilize the skills I know. Also, I had to get my rhythm back. The last half hour was methodical, this next little bit will be shock and awe,” Adam said.
“Do be careful, there are some very strong Cultivators in their command ranks,” The Lord Protector said.
“I hope so!” Adam said as he rushed off toward the front line.
Over the next hour, the Lord Protector watched as Adam decimated the entire front line of the enemy force. The enemy tried to ambush Adam multiple times but he somehow always knew when an attack was about to happen and had moved on as their strikes came in. Twelve hours later only the rear support lines of the enemy were visible on the other end of the battlefield. The Lord Protector had noticed that a few cultivators had already departed but there were three that had stayed.
Adam had no idea what the Lord Protector was thinking. He checked his clock and noticed that twelve hours had gone by as dusk was starting to set in. That meant the days were longer than 24 hours here but that didn’t matter right now. Adam had systematically gone back and forth across the front line of the army killing as quickly and efficiently as he could. Goblins, orcs, hobgoblins a few ogres, and even some humans littered the field. He knew he’d been lucky to this point. The overwhelming sense of dread he sensed right before a fatal attack acted like a kind of sixth sense for him.
He’d come to rely on that danger sense quite a bit. That’s why he hadn’t fled when a being wearing two swords across his back had walked from the back lines of the enemy toward him as if out on a Sunday Stroll. As the being moved closer Adam noticed that he had emerald green eyes and fangs. Adam looked back to see that the sun had set so it was possible that he was looking at a vampire.
“I believe you owe us reparations,” The stranger said as he came within 20 feet of Adam
“And how do you figure that?” Adam asked.
“My master will be very displeased, though I believe I can turn this around if I make an offering.”
“Are you a vampire?”
“Yes. I am Kyren. I once belonged to the forces you fight for. I believe I will best serve my master by converting the pith of your soul to our forces.” Kyren said.
“I think you’ll…” Adam started to say before Kyren had moved faster than even Adam could follow, drawn his weapon, and pierced his heart. The suddenness of the move and the loss of feeling in his lower legs let Adam know that his spine had been severed. Even then his body’s regeneration rate was trying to overcome the damage until he felt fangs pierce his neck. Some form of poison entered his body and tried to hijack his normal healing by converting his life force into something else.
That attack had been fast, so fast. It seemed that Adam had a lot more to learn about how magic worked in this world, though he now understood that Kyren must be a Legendary creature unto himself with legendary skills and probably a legendary quintessence that allowed him to attack so swiftly. While there might not be an official category above Legendary the synergy of the various parts of his attack had been above what his danger sense could detect, his perception could perceive or his agility could dodge.
Adam’s thoughts were interrupted as a Prompt appeared in his vision.
WARNING Your body is NOT compatible with Death-based sustainment. You have also received catastrophic damage. Death-based energies have created a limbo of sorts that will trap you in this state until corrected by an external force. Astral Link allows you the option to release this body and reincarnate. Would you like to Reincarnate, Yes or No?”
“Kyren is it?” Adam asked as he felt the vampire feeding on him. “Go Fuck Yourself!” Adam said as he chose “Yes.”
Everyone watched as Adam’s body suddenly turned gaseous and evaporated into nothing. Kyren looked around quickly as if expecting an attack then stood and walked back toward his army.
The Lord Protector had heard what Adam had said to Kyren and understood that Adam had used an ability. He watched as Kyren, his fallen pupil called for a retreat and the army of darkness turned and started leaving the field of battle. Only after everyone had turned to go did he send his troops down to clear and recover all items and gear with strict instructions to bring any quintessence crystals to him. He had a feeling Adam would be back and he’d need those crystals to better prepare him for his next confrontation with Kyren.
***
Adam woke in the dark, naked and cold. Above him, he could see what he at first thought were stars but almost immediately recognized as bioluminescent moss. As he moved around he felt his hand brush across a small crystal.
Congratulations! You have discovered Dark Quintessence (General)! This quintessence creates an ability based around darkness. Anything from seeing in the Dark to Shadow walking is possible.
As a being of Chaos, you may directly absorb and activate any Quintessence you touch. Would you like to absorb the Dark Quintessence (General), Yes or No?”
Adam considered everything for a moment then focused his mind on one goal. The ability to see in the Dark as he chose “Yes”
Congratulations you have activated the ability “True Sight.” This ability morphs as needed so that you can always see out to 100 feet away from you at Low rank. As the ability increases in Rank the range increases. As this ability utilizes multiple senses you may see in the darkness, murky water and fog. At Medium you will be able to activate thermal vision at a cost of Low per minute. At High Rank, you will be able to activate X-Ray vision at a cost of Medium. Each level above that reduces the cost by one level for each additional sight mode.
Adam had felt the energy enter his body and focus on his eyes. Moments later he opened them to find himself able to see normally. He covered his eyes with his hand and noted that he could still see the room though it turned into more of an outline than actual sight. If he were a betting man he had gained something like the way Daredevil could see, kind of like a sonar vision. He’d have to test that out at some point and see if loud sounds messed with his vision. Now he was just grateful to have arrived on an altar with a crystal that helped him see his surroundings.
Adam looked around and noted that he was naked and now sitting on an Alter. It was a natural cavern with a single exit at the back. Also, on the ceiling approximately fifty feet up he could something hanging from the ceiling that was slowly inching its way along the roof as it tried to move above him. He’d noticed it because his vision showed him a circulatory system as blood was pumped through the body. Concentrating for a moment his vision reverted to normal and the room went dark. A moment later he could see again and the creature was clearly visible.
It was ironic, now that he was thinking about it. This creature was something like a Trapper, a creature described in the very first game he ever played. Trappers crawled along a ceiling waiting to drop on an unsuspecting adventurer. When it did drop, it allowed its weight and flesh to crush and smother the creature it landed on. Though he didn’t know what this creature was called. He needed to get was an Analyze type skill, something that would help him identify creatures and items.
Adam looked around the room and found something that might work. On the floor in the center of the room was a set of rusted-out armor and a short sword. It looked like the creature’s previous meal had left some presents. Without hesitation, Adam stood moved, and tumbled grabbing the sword as the creature on the roof let go and tried to trap him. It missed.
The next couple of seconds was anticlimactic as he proceeded to slash and poke the creature repeatedly and as fast as he could. It had a very high regeneration rate so Adam had to maintain his attack speed and continuously do more damage than the creature could regenerate. When the creature was finally dead Adam reached over and touched it, activating “Treasure Renderer.” Immediately the creature desiccated and three items appeared beside the creature’s dried-out desiccated body. That was a pretty cool ability. No more stinking corpses.
Adam moved over to the pile of items and found three quintessence crystals. He checked his message log and found,
Congratulation! The Ability Treasure Renderer has converted the trace amounts of Quintessence left in the
Three quintessence? That was interesting. This creature must have been a little more powerful than Adam had thought. He’d also be able to find out if his attempt to influence the outcome of the absorption of quintessence had worked. If it only worked once out of four times that could be a coincidence, twice a fluke but if it worked three or more times, that would indicate that some of his previous abilities concerning chaos and the ability to influence chance might still be in play after all. Now what abilities based on the three elements he had did he need the most right now?