657 Days
24,282/21/3 Kills
Why are my days numbered? And who, pray tell, is keeping track of the deaths I've caused?
This brown maned horse and I travels alone among wild nature, with the sky as my blanket and the stars to keep me company. The howls of wolves music to my ears, though not quite so for this horse I refuse to name... For days we gallop through plains and hills, through the sun and wind. During darkest nights, we settle before a fire, while the river of time flows unhindered.
Misfortune befell all bandits that stand in my way. The first of them; a mere hundred weaklings I cut to feed the lands. Their treasure I claim and their weakened horse I care for and procure to help carry my now significant burden. Let it be a gift for Sun Ce! Upon my second encounter with these pests to human kind, a group much well off. Occupying a crumbling village, and numbering in the thousands—Tens of thousand have fallen in my hands, what is a mere thousand more… Soon, I watch these cowards flee from the safety of their broken village; finding for myself yet more treasures to procure, one of which being a mightier horse within their pen; a warhorse at the peak of its life, and weak hostages. Two men, three women; 5 pitiful innocents who unprompted, sworn themselves to serve me, these people begged for me to take them under my wings. By now, after days of travel, I could do with some company on this lonely journey.
621 Days
24,924/21/3 Kills
—
"ALERT! ALERT!" Came shouts from the walls, the moment I came within sight of Sun Ce's camps. By now, I had an entourage of 3 carts and as many as 20 followers, all liberated from the numerous bandits that call the wilderness home. 8 of whom begged to train under me, whereupon I pass on to their mind and soul the art of war and the heart of a virtuous leader.
"HALT! WHO GOES THERE?" Came an inquiry from the lead guard that man the camps defenses, even as we approach, more and more people converge to help protect their camp.
"I AM ZANE ZHANG! HERE UNDER INVITATION FROM SUN CE TO ASSIST HIM IN HIS CAMPAIGN TO BRING HONOR IN THE NAME OF HIS FATHER AND MY GOOD FRIEND; SUN JIAN!" I announced with pride!
Soon after, the crowd of soldiers were dismissed in exchange for a delegation led by a man whose face partly resembles my old friend. They rode forth and stopped before me, "Welcome uncle Zane!"
"What uncle!? I may be your old man's good brother, yet, I am not as old as he." I chuckle.
Mirrored in kind by Sun Ce, "that is true. Please, like my beloved father, allow me to call you brother. I am sure he would not mind."
"Yes! Well met brother Sun!"
Together, joined by Ce's cousin Sun Jing. We crushed Wang Lang at Kuaiji Commandery. Followed by the fall of Yan Baihu, his group of bandits and Chen Yu. We did not stop until Sun Ce gained control over the six counties west of Jing County and fully secured three commanderies in the Jiangdong region. Alas, one day, our ally Yuan Shu declared himself emperor. Prompting Sun Ce, Liu Bei, Lu Bu and various warlords to gather under the banner of Cao Cao, they march to bring an end to that treasonous villain!
The war has gone on for a year now, Lu Bu turned traitor, and I personally chased after but failed to behead the vile creature; who fled from me like chickens before a pack of wolves!
250 Days
49,284/63/5 Kills
—
I flowed from one conflict to another with relish. Sometimes under the command of my fellow warlords, other times in command of my own troops and generals. But always the victor! Claiming tens of thousands of lives throughout the year, both by my own hands or by proxy, through the people under my command. Until the day we march for Xiapi, under the command of Cao Cao and Liu Bei, we march on a campaign to cleanse the world of Lu Bu once and for all.
The battle was fierce, but our assaults were relentless and their morale low. Unfortunately our troops, too, are tired from the long march and prolonged battle. Thus, to boost their morale and end the battle; deep into the night. I, leading a select few trusted elites, sneaked into Xiapi to open the gates and allow our troops easy access into the city. With my Skills, I Flowed up the walls as I was well known to do, making use of any imperfection or protrusions I may find. Once above, I silently dispatched the two soldiers on guard then tied several ropes and threw them down to give my fellow infiltrators access. My eyes cannot help wander as I await for them to ascend.
6 Days
82,817/89/9 Kills
I feel that the end is near… Whatever it is this end entails for me. Nonetheless, I take pride in all the deaths I have caused to my enemies and the victories I have won for myself.
Our party encountered no mishap, dispatching any guard or patrol along the way between the eastern walls and the closest city gate. We know deep down that our reinforcements are ready beyond these closed gates. Unfortunately, the mechanism used to open the heavy gates were located on both sides of the thick walls and we were thus forced to separate into two teams. I and a few other much more agile fighters volunteered to cross the open fields as hastily as possible to open the further mechanism… I offer my prayers to the gods above to ward off any following misfortune, for we stumbled across Lu Bu himself just as the last of us hurried across the field.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
"INTRUDERS!!" He roared, alerting his troops. The situation had gone from bad to worse.
"You guys go on ahead while I keep them occupied!" I yell to my fellow soldiers. Midnight has come to pass.
5 Days
82,817/89/9 Kills
Better I die a warrior's death here than wait to expire come 0 days. I control myself from throwing anymore glances at that mysterious countdown to roar at the enemies gathering before me. "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!!"
I smirk, unknowing of the reason behind why I find such sentence; comical. Before me Lu Bu held his weapons high and commanded his gathered troops. "CHARGE!! ELIMINATE THIS OBSTACLE AND THE RATS THAT HAVE INVADED OUR HOME!"
Their yells drown out all sound and the charge of hundreds of men is the only thing I register before my eyes. Flowing Slash Smash Stab! A diagonal sidestep, and my Guandao flashes as the Skill pushes me sliding forward, with one swing of my weapons; two of my enemies find their bodies separated horizontally, while three others find their ribs smashed mercilessly. My Guandao finally ends up within the neck of an unfortunate soldier before it is pulled out to bring more misfortune upon my opponents. It felt to me like the battle continued for hours, my body evermoving and my weapon never stopped claiming the lives of my assaulters. I felt the bite of sword and arrows upon my back, roars of pain and the laughter of bittersweet victory… My roars of pain? Turning my head to the side, I find Lu Bu laughing uncontrollably, a conflict of emotion on his face…
His weapon is stabbed deep in between my ribs… Unwillingness, anger, defiance! Clarity… I can feel a well of power deep within me, untapped potential awaiting release. So release! The power surged through my Soul, through my bones and arms, and into my beloved Guandao. As a parting gift, I swung what I believe to be the embodiment of power and unstoppable might at Lu Bu. Seeing the fear on his face, I cannot help but declare my last words. "HAHAHAHA, COME JOIN ME AND FOREVER WE SHALL DANCE IN NEVER ENDING STRIFE!"
… The world darkens…
Wake up! I have to wake up!!
"Roaahhhh!" I fall onto an unnaturally smooth floor; stone? "This… I'm in a Dungeon? Where is Lu Bu and his men?"
Taking a better look of the sight before me, I find myself within a familiar enclosed cavern… So very familiar?! I turn and behind me, a Dungeon portal swirls magically.
** DING **
Survived for 745 days, kills:
82,974 Soldiers
89 Generals
9 Heroes and Leaders
578,870 experience awarded
63,096 Guanzhong Points awarded
You are now level 29
7 skills fused with Slash Smash Stab
5 skills fused into Flowing Art
Skill obtained Flowing Art 20
Skill level up, Fear Resistance 12 > 24
Skill level up, Slash Smash Stab 19 > 58
Level 20 threshold breached
Skill level up, Shield Proficiency 24 > 42
Skill level up, Fire Resistance 23 > 24
Skill level up, Flowing Art 20 > 61
Level 25 threshold breached
Skill level up, Parry 45 > 52
Skill level up, Battle Command 4 > 19
Skill level up, All-Weapons Proficiency 31 > 49
Skill level up, Unarmed Combat Proficiency 42 > 50
Skill level up, Pain Resistance 24 > 38
Level 25 threshold breached
Skill level up, All-Armors Proficiency 24 > 48
Level 25 threshold breached
Skill level up, Taunt 36 > 47
Skill level up, Intimidate 39 > 52
Skill level up, Teach 14 > 19
Skill level up, Tracking 29 > 40
Skill level up, Poison Resistance 17 > 31
Level 25 threshold breached
Skill level up, Sneaking 42 > 55
Title awarded Exalted Cultivator
Ahh, my memories of Zane Fair Prayoga gradually fused with those of Zane Zhang. System integration is real, going to war in ancient china—not real. Yeah, alright. Yeah, that was truly something. And these skill levels are something else, such incredible improvements… Two levels in one run! So many Skill thresholds were breached in a mere 4.5 hours?—It seems time ran differently within the Dungeon—One important thing I have noticed so far is how Skills, unlike spells, give us a level of understanding of how they work; what their Threshold or Bonus do included. This is why their description almost never changes and their use much easier—very instinctive, but are therefore generally limited to within their purpose.
Spells on the other hand are much more flexible, but their usage requires all users to deepen their understanding of each and every Spell in their arsenal. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Of course, there are skills out there made to be infinitely profound and spells that are so simple they have no other uses besides what they were made for. But before I delve any deeper into my Skill upgrades, which could be done pretty much anywhere. I mentally clicked to expand Guanzhong Points, it just feels like the correct way to use it.
The System dinged internally within my mind and a shop interface blinks to existence before me. Only, this time, the items for sale only consist of combat or strategical Skills and war provisions; including weapons both mundane and magical, siege instruments, as well as foods, materials and the likes… I have enough combat Skill for now, rather, I need time to understand the ones I have now after all that has happened within the Dungeon, before even thinking about getting some more. So I ain't even gonna look. And as I have grown to enjoy the use of a Guandao, I decided to buy the most expensive one I can afford with these Guanzhong Points. Call me biased after more than 2 years of experience with one, but a masterfully made weapon is much better than their conjured counterpart after all. Thus, with a slight push of my mind, the shop filters out everything but my weapon of choice.
32,500 Green Dragon Crescent Blade
18,500 Skies Overlord
12,750 Charred Rhino
2000+ Elemental Guandao
1,000 Guandao
100 Old Guandao
Not much options, and even the most expensive would only cost almost half of my points. Said item being Guan Yu's weapon—he had always been a charismatic character in various games and stories… So~ purchase!—Unprompted, the store flashed, now displaying various selections of enchantments that I may have applied onto the weapon. Well, I cannot help but find a few very interesting, especially when they are displayed before me like so.