The Awakened stood in a hastily formed line, their faces a blend of determination and fear. Alden, the grizzled former military man, took the lead, his eyes scanning the horde or undead that lay ahead.
"Remember, hold the line at all costs. We can't let them break through," Alden barked, gripping his sword tightly.
Lyria, the newest member of Lleyn’s, stood near the center of the line. She clutched her newly acquired shield and mace, her knuckles white from the pressure.
"Here they come!" someone shouted.
Emerging from the darkness were the undead Awakened, their eyes glowing an eerie blue. They approached with weapons in hand, their movements unnaturally swift and coordinated.
"Brace yourselves!" Alden yelled.
The first clash was brutal. Swords met with shields, and the sound of metal striking metal filled the air. The defensive line held, but it was clear they were struggling. The undead were relentless, attacking with a ferocity that was almost inhuman.
"Lyria, now!" Aric shouted.
Taking a deep breath, Lyria stepped forward and swung her mace with all her might, smashing it into the skull of an approaching undead. The creature staggered back, its skull crushed, before collapsing to the ground.
"Nice hit!" said Elena, who was fighting beside her.
"Thanks," Lyria replied, her confidence growing.
But just as it seemed like the defensive line was holding, a guttural cry echoed through the forest. A group of 10 goblins, armed with crude weapons, joined the undead, charging at the Awakened after ambushing them from the side.
"Damn it, this just got a lot worse," muttered Dorian, parrying an attack from a goblin.
The situation became dire. The Awakened were now fighting on two fronts, and the line began to waver. Alden, realizing the gravity of the situation, moved to the weakest point in the line.
"We can't hold much longer!" cried one of the Awakened.
"Then we make our stand here!" Alden roared, plunging his sword into an approaching goblin.
Despite their best efforts, the line broke. The undead and goblins poured through, cutting down the Awakened who couldn't retreat in time. Alden, fighting valiantly, was overwhelmed. A goblin's blade found its mark, piercing his side. He let out a pained grunt and fell, his eyes looking at Lleyn’s back with regret and resentment one last time before he was swarmed.
"No!" Lyria screamed, tears filling her eyes.
The Awakened fought back desperately, but it was clear they were losing. One by one, they fell, their screams echoing through the village.
And then, as quickly as it had started, it was over. The Awakened who remained were few, only about two dozens of them, their faces filled with a mixture of relief and sorrow. They had held the line, but at a terrible cost.
Lyria looked around, her eyes meeting those of Aric, Elena and Dorian. They had survived, but the weight of those who hadn't was heavy on their shoulders.
"We did it," Elena said softly, her voice tinged with sadness.
"But so many of us died.." Dorian replied, looking at the fallen bodies of their fellow awakened, including Alden.
Lyria clenched her fists, her eyes filled with determination.
"We'll make them pay," she whispered, her voice filled with a resolve that sent chills down the spines of those who heard her.
And so, the Awakened regrouped, their faces set in grim determination. They had survived the night, but as the dawn broke, it was clear that the real battle had only just begun.
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Lleyn burst through the doors of the defiled church, his eyes narrowing as they met the shaman's. The creature was guarded by ten towering figures, their eyes glowing with malevolent intent.
"Ah, a new puppet for my collection," the shaman sneered, his voice dripping with malice.
Before Lleyn could respond, a group of goblins rushed into the church, slamming the doors shut behind them. The shaman's smile widened.
"Thank you for closing the door," Lleyn said, his voice calm. "Now I can go all out without having to worry about anyone seeing me."
Lleyn took a look at his status screen, somewhat of a habit of his before big fights.
Name: Lleyn
Age: 26
Level: 4
Title: Early Awakening Lv1
Health: 327/360
Mana: 330/330
Defense: 7
M. Defense: 7
Exp: 37/250
[Attributes:]
* Strength: 30 +3
* Stamina: 30
* Health: 30
* Agility: 30 +5
* Magic Power: 30
* Dexterity: 20
* Perception: 18
* Luck: 3
Unassigned Points: 45
[Innate Skills:]
* Odin's Judgement (Level 1)
* Lightning Infusion (Level 2) - Channels the potent power of Odin's lightning, allowing its user to infuse objects or even themselves with electrifying energy.
* Clarity (Passive) - Increases the acquisition rate of skill experience by 20%.
* Sword Mastery (Level 2) - Enhances swordsmanship skills, improving precision, fluidity, and reaction time in combat. Allows for advanced techniques and mental clarity. Damage with sword weapons increased by 22.5%
* Ley Line Channeling (Passive) (Level 2) - Constantly channels the power coursing through Ley Lines into the body to increase the power of innate skills by 15% (skills from equipment are not included).
* Magic Circuit Level 1 (Passive) (Level 1): Increased Mana Flow: +10% mana pool. Enhanced Spell Precision: -15% spell failure. Magic Affinity: +10% magical damage. Magic Resistance: -10% magical damage received.
[Equipment Skills:]
* Shadow Veil: Activate to become invisible for up to 5 minutes. Cooldown: 20 minutes. Invisibility ends abruptly if the user attacks an enemy.
* Windblast: Allows the user to unleash a focused burst of air with a quick slash of the dagger.
* Gravitational Grasp: By focusing on an object or enemy, the user can increase its gravitational pull, making it heavier and harder to move. As the skill grows, larger objects or multiple targets can be affected simultaneously. When used on enemies, their agility and strength are reduced by 15%.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
[Quests:]
1. The Strongest (1)
Objective: Come out as the highest ranking challenger in the first phase of the tutorial.
Rewards: 400 Gold, 20 stat points, and the Skill "Eyes of the Strongest. Lv1"
[Inventory:]Silver Reward Box
Gold: 600
The shaman's eyes widened in surprise, but before he could react, Lleyn's body became enveloped in a crackling aura of electricity—Lightning Infusion. With a thought, he activated Gravitational Grasp, locking the shaman to the spot where he stood.
In a flash, Lleyn closed the distance, his sword aimed directly at the shaman's eyes. The creature had no time to react; the blade pierced through, causing it to scream in agony. The ritual it had been performing was disrupted, its concentration shattered.
Lleyn quickly withdrew his sword, turning his attention to the ten guards. They lunged at him, but the Lightning Infusion coursing through his body made him incredibly agile. He dodged a spear thrust, sidestepped a sword swing, and parried an axe attack—all in the span of a few seconds.
One of the guards managed to get close, swinging a massive club at Lleyn. But he was too fast; he ducked under the swing and drove his sword into the guard's abdomen, twisting the blade before pulling it out. The guard let out a guttural cry and collapsed.
Lleyn didn't waste any time; he moved on to the next guard, his sword dancing in the air as he deflected and countered attacks. Each movement was precise, each strike calculated. One by one, the guards fell, unable to keep up with his speed and skill.
Finally, only the goblins remained. They looked at each other nervously, realizing they were now trapped in the church with a formidable opponent.
"Your turn," Lleyn said, his eyes cold.
The goblins attacked in a frenzy, but they were no match for him. His sword moved like a blur, cutting through flesh and bone with ease. One goblin tried to sneak up behind him, but Lleyn sensed it; he spun around and decapitated it in one swift motion.
Another goblin lunged at him with a dagger, but Lleyn sidestepped and slashed it across the chest, leaving a deep wound. It staggered back, clutching its chest before falling to the ground, lifeless.
The last goblin, realizing it was the only one left, tried to flee. But Lleyn was too fast; he activated Gravitational Grasp again, forcing the creature to the ground. With a quick thrust, he ended its life.
Lleyn stood in the middle of the church, surrounded by the fallen bodies of his enemies. He looked at the shaman, who was now slumped against the altar, its eyes still pierced by his sword.
"It's over," Lleyn said, sheathing his sword.
He took a deep breath, steadying himself. The battle may have been won, but the war was far from over. As he stepped out of the church, his eyes met those of his comrades—Elena, Dorian, Selene, Aric, Lyria, and the others. They had survived the night, but at a terrible cost.
Lleyn clenched his fists, his resolve strengthening. They had won this battle, but the real challenge lay ahead.
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The Awakened, still catching their breaths, were startled by a radiant light that materialized in the center of the village square. Auralis, the Observer, appeared, his ethereal form filling the air with a sense of awe and gravitas.
"Awakened, you have survived this night, and for that, you shall be rewarded," Auralis announced.
A holographic screen materialized before each of the Awakened, displaying their levels and contributions. They were ranked as follows:
#1 Lleyn: Level 4, Contribution 300
#2 Elena: Level 2, Contribution 38
#3 Dorian: Level 2, Contribution 32
#4 Selene: Level 2, Contribution 30
#5 Aric: Level 2, Contribution 28
#6 Lyria: Level 2, Contribution 23
#7 Tara: Level 1, Contribution 10
#8 Finn: Level 1, Contribution 8
#9 Mara: Level 1, Contribution 6
#10 Jace: Level 1, Contribution 4
"Your rewards are based on your contributions," Auralis continued. "Lleyn, you will receive a Gold Equipment Reward Box."
A chest of golden hue appeared before Lleyn. Upon opening it, he found a set of armor with magical properties and a new, radiant sword.
"Elena, you will receive a Silver Equipment Reward Box," Auralis said.
A silver chest materialized before Elena, containing armor and weapons tailored to her abilities.
"As for the rest of you, you will each receive a Bronze Equipment Reward Box," Auralis declared.
Bronze chests appeared before Dorian, Selene, Aric, Lyria, Tara, Finn, Mara, and Jace. Each box contained weapons and armor suited to their skills.
The tiny observer then flew to Lleyn's shoulder with a chuckle, "This won't be counted until Phase 1 ends, but you will receive an extra 200 points for killing the Ogre. The other Observers were soooo jealous. I will be counting on you if there is another "accident", he added before flying back to the rest of the awakened.
"Ah! Before I forget again, Phase 1 of the Tutorial will span over seven days. Each quest will last 24 hours, followed by a day of rest." Auralis advised and added before disappearing. "I hope at least a few of you survive to the end of Phase 1 or I will get in trouble~"
With Auralis gone, Lleyn unsheathed the sword, its blade gleaming in the morning light. The craftsmanship was exquisite, with intricate runes etched along the flat of the blade. It felt balanced and light in his hands, as if it were an extension of his own arm.
Lleyn activated his interface to check the details of the sword:
Name: Dawnblade
Damage: 7-9 Physical Damage
Special Ability: None
A smile crossed his lips. The Dawnblade, as it was named, was a significant upgrade from his previous weapon. The damage range of 5-7 physical damage might not seem like much at first glance, much weaker than the dagger he was still hiding, but Lleyn knew that it would be a great asset in the tutorial.
He took a few practice swings, feeling the blade cut through the air with ease. Each movement felt natural, each strike precise. Lleyn could already imagine how this sword would fare in battle, and he was eager to test it out.
Lleyn gathered his team in a circle, his eyes meeting each of theirs. "Let's take a moment to check out our new gear. I'm curious to see what we've all got."
First up was Elena, who held up her crossbow with a modest grin. "Here's mine," she said, showing off the simple weapon. It had a wooden stock and basic metal bolts.
Elena's Crossbow: Woodwind
Damage: 5-6 Physical Damage
Special Ability: None
Dorian's Axe: Stonecleaver
Damage: 1-5 Physical Damage
Special Ability: None
Selene's Spear: Reedpiercer
Damage: 3-4 Physical Damage
Special Ability: None
Aric's Sword: Ironfang
Damage: 2-4 Physical Damage
Special Ability: None
Lyria's Staff: Sparktwig
Damage: 2-4 Magical Damage
Special Ability: Mana Bolt
As the Awakened were admiring their new weapons, Lleyn's eyes caught Lyria's staff once more. He couldn't help but feel a bit surprised that she received it this early in the tutorial. If used well, it would help her grow much faster.
Lyria's Staff: Sparktwig
Damage: 3 Magical Damage
Special Ability: Mana Bolt (300% of magical damage)
"Lyria, that's quite an interesting weapon you have there," Lleyn said, feigning ignorance. "What is this special ability? Would you mind giving us a demonstration?"
Lyria looked a bit surprised but nodded. "Sure, I can try."
Holding Sparktwig firmly in her hands, Lyria focused her energy naturally despite it being her first time. The staff began to glow, its mystical symbols lighting up as it channeled her mana. With a flick of her wrist, she activated the Mana Bolt ability.
A bolt of magical energy shot out from the tip of the staff, flying straight toward a nearby wall. The bolt hit its target, leaving a visible crack in the stone. The impact was accompanied by a small burst of light and a resonating sound that filled the air.
The Awakened stared in awe, their eyes wide with surprise and newfound respect.
"Wow, that was impressive," Elena exclaimed.
"I definitely didn't expect that," Dorian added, his eyes still on the cracked wall. "I can't wait to get a special ability for myself."
Lleyn chuckled before nodding approvingly towards Lyria. "This is amazing, Lyria. That staff is a powerful tool, and in your hands, it's even more so."
Lyria blushed, clearly pleased with the reaction. "Thank you, Lleyn. I'll do my best to use it wisely. I think I can use it about 7 times before my mana runs out."
As the Awakened continued to examine their new weapons and abilities, Lleyn felt a sense of hope and unity towards his. They were a team, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, but together, they could be formidable. Their contribution scores were at least far higher than what he had received in this quest in the past.