Darian shoved his electrified blade into the zombie’s chest, rotten blood spilling from the wound. The skeleton beyond it turned toward Fria, tendrils of shadow writhing beneath it like nightmarish tentacles. Bolts of black energy split the air, crackling as they crashed right where Fria had been standing. I have to help her. Darian gritted his teeth and pulled his blade free, his summoned minion bashing into two zombies with its shield. But the undead surrounded him, their physical strength and durability far greater than the skeletons he’d been fighting. Even after striking one with [Arcane Blade] it still lumbered after him. He tried backing away and using his speed, but the scythe welding skeleton was also on the move, the darkness swirling beneath him somehow boosting his speed.
“Die intruder.” Another bolt of dark energy flew from its palm, the scythe in its hands starting to glow a deep purple.
Darian managed to hit him in the shoulder with [Flare], finally drawing the monster’s attention. It spun and raised its scythe, a wave of energy spilling from the blade and enveloping the zombies. They jerked to life, their speed increased. Darian hacked an arm free but one of them managed to bite into his shoulder. He stumbled back, a chunk of flesh ripping free. Then another zombie was on him, its yellowed teeth snapping.
Grabbing its face, Darian cast [Corrosive Touch] and sent an empowered slash into its guts. But despite its face melting off and its stomach being split open, the creature still advanced. I have to take out the summoner. While he couldn’t be sure, Darian had played enough games to know that when the summoner died his summons usually went with him. But the zombies were forming a circular barrier around their master, a bolt of flame now leaping from his palm.
Ducking, Darian just barely managed to avoid the spear of fire. But then another followed, the onslaught of ranged attacks keeping him at bay. His summoned skeleton managed to kill one of the zombies, but it fell to the ground and evaporated soon after. Fria was still sending her arrows in, but the shadows around the skeleton seemed to be knocking them from the air. He had to get in close, but how?
I have to try dashing in, but he keeps staying just out of range. The zombies came at him again, four staying by their master’s side. Stepping back, Darian slashed across one of the creature’s throats. Blood spewed from the wound, its head nearly coming off. But as he was hacking at another, a searing bolt of fire smashed into his arm. The pain was immense, and Darian fell to one knee. One or two more of those and I’m dead. He went ahead and used the remaining summon in his ring, this time having a skeleton archer appear beside him. Not really what I need right now, but it can at least distract them for a second.
The zombie with the slashed neck stumbled forward, dark blood still oozing from the wound. It was as Darian drove his sword through its chest that he remembered. He pulled his blade free and cast [Swarm]. From the shadows of a nearby rock came a horde of small black bats. They surrounded the zombie, weeping cuts appearing all across the creature’s flesh. Darian kicked a lunging zombie away and then cast [Blood Shield] on the bleeding zombie. The blood pooled from its many wounds, coming to Darian’s side as a floating disk.
Using his mind, he lifted the shield up just as another bolt of flame was coming his way. The fire smashed into the shield, but it held. With it floating by his side, Darian slipped between two zombies and advanced on the scythe wielder. But he was still too fast, moving just out of reach for a dashing attack. There has to be a way to close the distance better. He looked over to a crystal about halfway between himself and the skeleton. Don’t know if this will work, but I might as well try. He lowered himself and activated [Dash Strike], designating the crystal as his target. His body catapulted forward, speeding past the clutching hands of the undead. His sword smashed into the crystal and Darian turned on his heels, eyes on his true target.
Activating [Dash Strike] a second time, Darian sped toward the summoner. I don’t know if I’ll get another chance like this. I have to make it count. He not only activated [Arcane Blade] to imbue his sword with electricity, but he also added the weight of [Determined Strike] to blow. The skeleton tried bringing his scythe around to block, but Darian had caught the monster by surprise. His shimmering blade crashed into tis ribs, splitting bone and flashing with arcane power. He slammed his open palm onto its face and cast [Corrosive Touch] followed immediately by [Shocking Grasp]. The shadows around the monster faded and it attempted to pull free, but Darian still had a grip on its face.
“Enough!” an immense force exploded from the skeleton’s chest and Darian was sent spiraling back. A boiling ball of flame then appeared in the skeleton’s hand, the bright orb hurtling at Darian a moment later.
But he still had his blood shield. He brought it around as he jumped to his feet, the shield shattering but nullifying the spell. A flaming arrow struck the monster in the back and Darian jumped forward, his blade arcing down. The force of the blow carried his sword through the skeleton’s head, and it fell to the ground, skull shattering against the dirt.
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Enemies Defeated
Adenion Lv. 13
Bonus - Rival’s Companion killed: + 50 Class XP
Class XP Gained: 110
Progress to Class Lv. 6 (171/175)
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Adenion? Was that its name? And what’s this about a rival’s companion? Darian turned to find the summoned zombies had disappeared.
“Sorry I wasn’t much help,” Fria said, resting against one of the crystals, her breath coming in ragged spurts. “Those damned shadows kept blocking my arrows.”
“Not much you could do about that,” Darian said with a smile, the rush of victory washing over him.
“You wouldn’t happen to—” Fria hissed through clenched teeth, her bow clattering to the ground.
“Fria?” She collapsed. “Fria!”
Darian rushed to her side. “Your arm.” Her left shoulder and much of her arm was seared black, most likely from one of the skeletons energy bolts.
“I’ll…live,” she said trying to grin through the pain.
“Here.” Darian gently placed both his palms on the wound and cast the [Greater Heal] he’d gained from drinking Jorg’s blood. The black burns swirled in golden light, replaced by pinkish flesh. “How is it now?”
She tested her arm. “Still stings but I can deal with it.” Her face scrunched up at him. “How’d you know that spell?”
“Jorg’s blood,” Darian said helping Fria to her feet. “I gain temporary bonuses when I drink blood. His gave me access to a healing spell.” He looked her over, frowning at seeing her still in pain. “I have another use, if you need more healing.”
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She chuckled. “I’m fine, but are you telling me you haven’t noticed the giant burn on your shoulder?”
Darian followed her eyes to the length of charred flesh on his upper arm. Looking at it immediately made the wound start stinging. “I guess I should use it on myself.”
Fria grinned. “Yeah, probably.” She picked her bow back up as Darian cast the healing magic on his wounds. “But that means we’re out of healing now, doesn’t it?”
Darian nodded. “Unfortunately.”
She sighed. “If only Jorg wasn’t such a righteous bastard. Having him here with us would be a great boon.”
Thinking about Jorg made Darian see Carver’s face, reminding him of how horrified the boy looked when he saw Darian’s mouth dripping with blood. “We don’t need him. We just have to be more careful.”
“As long as we don’t encounter another like this one, we should be fine.” Fria nudged the dead skeleton with her boot. “What was he doing down here anyways?”
Darian dropped to one knee, smiling as he found a keyring inside the creature’s robe. “Don’t know but he has a set of keys on him.” He hoped the scythe would remain, but it was gone. Guess it was a summoned item like the zombies. But he didn’t leave the battle empty handed. “What’s this?” He tugged on the length of steel. A necklace?
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Item Obtained: Necklace of Meager Constitution
[Equipment]
* Effect: +8 Constitution
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He brought the necklace up. It was rather plain, the only remarkable thing about it being the small green stone dangling from it. Darian couldn’t equip another magic item without suffering ill effects, so he took off his Chain of Mist and handed it to Fria.
“For me?” She said taking the silver chain.
“It’s an enchanted item,” Darian said slipping his new necklace on. “It will let you summon mist twice a day and give you a small perception boost. Might come in handy if you need to make a getaway.”
“Thank you,” she said, slipping the chain around her neck. “You might be the first person to give me a gift that wasn’t one of my parents.”
“Don’t get used to it,” Darian said with a smirk. “I think it’s time we try that door. But first.” He walked over and inspected the crystal the skeleton had been hammering. Chunks of it sat all around, a cloth sack nearby. Guess he was taking these somewhere, but why? Darian activated his skill [Detect Magic] and sure enough, the crystals were magical.
He gathered a bunch of them up and put them inside the sack. They weren’t very heavy, so when the sack was full he shoved the whole thing into his inventory. With that complete, he and Fria made their way back through the darkness.
Fria kept one of the glowing crystals for herself and used it to light the darkened portion of the tunnel. Darian didn’t mind, if the light did give them away, he was pretty confident they could take on whatever spotted them. Plus, he didn’t particularly like using [Minor Transformation] and so he was happy to avoid needing it again.
Once they reached the door, Darian produced the keyring from his inventory. There were three keys on it, two rusted and one newer, the metal glinting in the torchlight. Doubt it’s the newer one. The first rusty key he tried clicked and he was able to open the door.
The door was still heavy enough that Darian grunted as he forced it open. Beyond it was a wide stone staircase that spiraled upward, torches flickering along the walls.
“Well, after you.” Fria said, giving Darian a pat on the back. “The first Nether Gate awaits.”
But he wasn’t afraid. Indeed, a fresh wave of excitement washed over him. Doing this, testing his body and beating the odds, that was living. Years spent confined to his bed had whittled away his will to live, but now, even faced with death itself, he found his heart racing. This was no game, and yet he relished his next battle. Life and death, risk and reward. Those were what drove his body up the stairs.
Whatever was waiting at the top, he was ready. His new life had been hard, but he wasn’t going to let anything stop him. He would destroy the gates and gain power. Power enough that creatures like Gershank could no longer threaten him. After that he would explore this world, its sights, smells, and sounds—even its darkest depths. He would discover all the things he couldn’t in his old life.
He smiled, his future for once holding hope.
***
Victoria crouched before the summoning sigil, her body bursting with excess negative energy. She channeled this power into the sigil as she recited the incantation. Within moments the power left her, and a horde of new minions stood within the circle.
“Reinforce my position in the swamp,” she commanded, the shambling mass rattling and twisting. “Wait there until Oliver instructs you otherwise.”
The skeletons, each wielding a sword and buckler, marched down the hall and toward the crypts exit. Victoria watched them go, her limbs growing weak. She settled into a nearby red leather chair and ordered one of her skeletal servants to fetch her some wine. Summoning such weak fodder was tiring, but it was slowly advancing her Divine Skill [Grave Lord]. After a few more weeks, she could up the level of her permanent summons, and then she would march on Ulsfel and then all of Lonelen soon after.
“Those damned Justicars will suffer.” She smiled, no warmth or joy in it. Only her vengeance kept her going now.
She jumped, a notification blinking to life before her eyes.
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Companion Slain: Adenion Silverweave (Lv. 13)
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“What?” She rose to her feet, fists clenched.
Adenion was weak but he had potential. And she’d just sent him off from the crypt to farm XP near the eastern fort. “How could he have died?”
Her servant appeared, wine in hand. She took the cup and drained it, slamming it down on a nearby desk as she checked her party screen.
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Current Party
* Bartrand Iverson Lv. 11 (Dead)
* Valmier Viceria Lv. 16
* Randel Von Lon Lv. 8 (Dead)
* Oliver Swink Lv. 18
* Adenion Silverweave Lv. 13 (Dead)
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She slumped back in her chair. She still had no idea how to get [Divine Essence] and without it, she couldn’t dismiss her dead party members. But I still have Valmier. Him she could rely on. But what inside this low-level zone could have killed him? The only creature within the woods that was high enough level was that bumbling fool of a Warg Gershank. But with his cursed collar on she would know if he attacked one of her minions. Maybe the surviving Justicar? She snapped her fingers and ordered more wine.
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Quest Added: Preemptive Deicide
Objective: Kill Darian Carmine
Bonus Objective: Kill Fria Von Rostcliff
* Reward: Triumph unlocked – [Slayer of Aspirants]
* Bonus Reward: +1 [Divine Essence]
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She blinked at the screen.
"Another Aspirant has come for me, it seems." She slumped into her chair, the screams and flames of that night playing in her mind. "But it looks like I know who Killed Adenion."
But she had to warn Val.
"Lora!" she called. "Summon the generals. The fort is in danger."
She turned and marched down the hall, fear and rage swirling in her rotting heart.