The sun streamed through an open window onto Wraith's face. Slowly his eyes fluttered open. He rolled out of bed and went to wash his face. It wasn't to clean himself, since in Royal Road it was literally impossible to get dirty. He did it for the feeling of cold water on his face, the brisk chill waking him up.

Once he had woken up fully, he walked to his bed and sat down. He took in a deep breath and prepared himself. Now he was going to find out the full benefits of his new race, class, and what will come from his growth period. He was nervous, since there wouldn't be another chance at a do-over. At the same time he was excited, as he couldn't wait to see his new abilities.

He was probably the only person to discover both a hidden race and a hidden class, which would likely give him skills that have never been heard of by other players. When he had calmed down, he said “stat wi-.” He stopped himself before he could finish calling it up. He realized that he should probably do this with Fenella.

He walked out and looked for her. He didn't have to search for long, since she was also looking for him. “There you are, I've been...” she trailed off as she looked at him, seeming to be stunned by what she saw. “Well, this was unexpected. So tell me what you think of you're new-found abilities.”

“Well, I didn't look at my stats and skills yet. I figured that after all you've done for me, the least I could do was to share it with you.” He said this while fidgeting with embarrassment.

He couldn't look at her in the eyes while he said that. When Fenella didn't say anything, he looked back up to see what was wrong, and was shocked to see that her eyes were swimming with tears.

She took a deep breath to compose herself and finally started talking. “I'm sorry that I let you see such an embarrassing side of me, I was just touched by the sentiment. I was sure of my own feelings towards you as a mother, but I didn't know how if you reciprocated them.”

Since he didn't know what else he could say to this, he decided not to say anything and simply let her regain her composure. Shortly afterwards, they sat down to eat. Once they had finished, it was time for him to find out his new stats and skills. Before he could do so, Fenella spoke up. “I take it you haven't noted the changes that have happened to you. Well no matter, you can take a look with my hand-mirror.”

He took the mirror from her and took a good look at himself. He was stunned to see that his hair became snow-white with hints of silver streaking through. His eyes mirrored his hair, as they had each become a glowing silvery-white hue. He also saw that he had several markings on his face and body. He had four diamonds, each an inch high running from each corner of his lip to his each of his cheekbones. They gave him a fearsome appearance, like a row of fangs running across his face. He also had a mark pointing up above his eyebrow and down his temples.

The whole design looked like a wolf's face. It was demonic, and terrifying. At least now he understood why NPCs would be hostile towards him. If I ran into someone that looked like I did, I'd probably toss holy water on them.

On his body he had a solid band around each of his wrists and his neck, with designs looking like chains starting from them and wrapping around his limbs and chest. They were short lengths of chain, only about a foot long in length. Besides these, there were also several other marks on the rest of his body, looking like claws and fur.

Even his body seemed more muscular and fit than it did before. After having seen all these dramatic changes, he was excited to see how they would be reflected in his stats and skills. “Stat window.”

Status WindowNameWraithAlignmentDarkLevel10ClassIncarnation of the Chaos BeastTitleNoneReputation0Health2000Mana500Strength71Agility124Stamina127Wisdom34Intellect37Luck0Leadership0Attack28Defence8Endurance10Killing Intent14Unassigned Stat Points50Magic ResistanceFire0%Water0%Earth30%Black Magic50%

* All stats increase by 20% at night

* Holy weapons and magic do twice as much damage

* Gained the ability to equip class specific items

* All NPCs will look upon you with caution, and will be less likely to give you quests. Cities with a strong Church of Freya presence might be openly hostile

* Restricted from gaining fame or land with other mortal races

* Relationship with wolves at maximum

* Relationship with other churches at minimum value, might be considered an enemy by paladins and priests

* Will not be attacked by werewolves unless provoked

* Can understand the speech of other monsters

* Prohibited from using any form of weaponry

* Can learn Tailoring and Alchemy skill to the level of a Master

* Can learn secret skills related to class

This was more than I expected. The race and class give great advantages, but they also come with terrible weaknesses. Unlike the hordes of players that would gather together and form guilds and parties, he would be forced to stay in the wilderness. The only times that he would be able to go into cities would be to purchase or sell goods, or if he was to pillage and attack it.

The worst part of it was the restriction on gaining any fame with other races. That particular restriction would have a myriad of consequences, ranging from quest availability to not getting discounts when buying equipment. He could forget about quests with a difficulty of D and up, and even many of the lower level quests would be held back from him.

He saw that he had yet to distribute his stat points. Though the most important stats seemed to be strength, agility and vitality, he held off on assigning any points until he had a better grasp of his class. He was suddenly struck by the realization that he had yet to check his skills. “Skill window.”

* Tailoring (Lv.3 2%) Enables you to create cloth and leather armour.

* Alchemy (Lv.3 4%) Enables you to to create potions, elixirs, and transmutations.

* Unarmed Combat Mastery (Lv.5 11%) Increases unarmed attack power and speed, as well as defense.

* Claws of the Beast (Lv.1 0%) Summons claws to the fingertips, increasing attack power and speed when active.

* Form of the Wolf-King (Lv.1 0%) Shape-shifts to a wolf-like form. Various effects applied. Mana consumption: 200

* Loki's blessing (Lv.1 0%) While in the Form of the Wolf-King, the chains that used to bind you will become your armor

When he looked at his skills, he was pleasantly surprised to note that all of his skills, even the tailoring and alchemy skills, had increased somewhat. He already knew that he would get the Claws of the Beast Skill, though he didn't expect to get the other skill. He had no idea what it was, and what effects it would bring.

“Information: Claws of the Beast”

Claws of the Beast

Transforms the tips of your fingers to vicious two-inch long claws. Can be maintained indefinitely until the skill is cancelled. Can be reformed after breaking.

* Durability at 10

* Attack power rises by 2%

* Attack speed rises by 1%

* Can only equip specialized gloves or gauntlets

Satisfied with this new race-related skill, he looked at his only class skill. “Information: Form of the Wolf-King.”

Form of the Wolf-King

Releases the blood of the wolf that lies dormant within your body. Can be maintained indefinitely until the skill is cancelled.

* Strength rises by 5%

* Agility rises by 3%

* Life rises by 10%

* Mana reduced by half while in this form

* Claws of the Beast automatically applied with no mana cost, with 2% higher attack.

* Cannot equip any armour except for pants

* Will be considered a monster by all NPCs, will be attacked on sight. Other players will not be penalized for killing you.

After seeing this incredible combat form, he was also curious about what Loki had blessed him with. “Information: Loki's Blessing”

Loki's Blessing

Only applicable while in Form of the Wolf-King. While in regular form, the chains are present as markings. However, when in the Form of the Wolf-King, they take shape. The higher the level of the skill, the chain will become longer and thicker, yet curiously still not weighing more than a strand of ribbon, providing more protection. Can be reformed after breaking.

* Defence rises by 8

* Durability at 20

Although the blessing itself didn't seem that impressive at first, he realized that at intermediate level, his defence would rise by 80 points. Once he masters the skill, his defence would comparable to other heavy chest plates. The only difference would be that his movement sped wouldn't be hindered by the weight.

He had thought that Fenella might be surprised by all this, but she was remarkably composed. It was as if she already knew that this was going to happen. She suddenly stood up and told him, “come with me.”

“Where are we going?” Though he was confused by her abruptness, he followed her out of the dining room and back to the main temple.

“To the inner sanctum. It's a place where only a select few of our race may enter. When you get there, you'll learn about what you've become, and what lies in store for you.” Saying that, she walked to the altar and stood before the three statues carved into the wall. “Each of these statues represent the three noble lineages of our race. They are also the gateways to our respective sanctums.”

She pointed towards the statue of the giant wolf on the left. “Stand before it and ask it to open.”

He did as she directed. “Um, open up...?” He was surprised to see the statue glow and swirl into a portal. He turned to Fenella and looked in askance at her, wondering if she was coming.

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“The only ones that can pass through the portal is you, or someone of the same class. Like I said, each of the statues are a portal. The middle is for my class, and the right is for Daciana's. Go through it and learn all about yourself.”

He did as she asked and went inside. On the other side of the portal, he found himself in a large circular room, with walls that seemed to be made of polished obsidian. In the centre of the room was a small stand rising from the floor, made from the same material as the rest of the place.

By the walls, there were a number of statues, again made from the same material as the rest of the room. Looking at the statues, he saw the finely detailed features of the face. They were too precise, and too real to be made by any sculptor. On the base of the statue, there were names carved into the stone.

He made his way around the walls, looking at the statues. He saw men and women, all armored and well-muscled. Though the clothes they wore, and the appearance they had were different, they all had the set of warriors.

The one similarity between them all were the marks on their face, identical to his own. As he walked around taking in the different statues, he counted eleven different people. When he came to the twelfth and final statue, he was completely floored by what he saw. It was something so finely crafted that there could be no doubt as to what it was.

It was him. If he was covered in black paint, it would almost be impossible to differentiate between him and the statue. With such fine work that isn't possible by any living being, as well as the fact that he was apparently the only one allowed access to this chamber, there was only one possible explanation.

The chamber itself was magical. It was one of those rare places which can change it's environment, with complete control over its territory. It must have sensed that he acquired this class, and formed a statue of him in anticipation. Having taken stock of the rest of the chamber, he went to the stand in the middle of the room. It was the only thing remaining to be observed, and thus the item with all the answers.

When he looked down on it, he saw a large rectangular slab on top of a pillar. The slab was engraved with text, which he started to read.

Millions of souls were born into our race. With the thousands of jobs and classes filled by brave, hard-working men and women, we flourished in our exile. Of all those classes, three stood out from all others. In each of these three, the blood of our ancestors runs strong and true.

The Matrons of the Underworld were born in the image of Hel, the keeper of the dead. Though frail of body, they were strong of mind. Their great magic and spiritual powers marked them as healers, priestesses and guides for our people. They are the most beloved of our people, with powers beyond that of any mortal race.

The Guardians of the Earth, were born in the image of Jormungand, the serpent that circles the world. Though they are the avatars of acid and poison, their fangs lay bare to protect us. With their power they command the earth in times of war and peace, to swallow their enemies into the bowels of the earth, and to erect walls and new homes.

Then there were us. We were few, the rarest of the rare. We existed for but one reason. We were the avatars of destruction. Born in the image of Fenrir, the giant demonic wolf that devours all. Our fangs and claws exist to shred the enemy to pieces, and bath in their blood. We are not warriors, fighting by a set of foolish rules, we are beasts in the guise of man, and thus we fight like them.

Revelling in the slaughter, we sow the seeds of chaos, leaving only death in our wake. Those who see us call us mindless beasts, but we kill to protect and to survive. We are the mighty and the victorious. Let all who see us tremble before our strength, for we hold no mercy against those who stand against us.

Though our legends have long since been forgotten, we left our mark on this world. It is time for you to unearth the forgotten stories of your brothers and sisters, and take up the mantle of The Destroyer.

The Forgotten Tales

For millennia the brothers and sisters of the Incarnation of the Chaos Beast have left their mark on the world, tossing the world into turmoil. It is your task to unearth those legends, and learn from them.

Difficulty level: B

Quest requirements

Have the Incarnation of the Chaos Beast class.

Quest rewards

???

A B level quest would be difficult to complete. Most people would wait until they were at least past level one hundred fifty before even attempting it. Unfortunately for him, he had no other choice since it was related to his class. “Well, this seems difficult, but alright, I'll do it.

You accepted the quest.

When he accepted the quest the stone slab rippled like the surface of water and rose upwards. Slowly the stone took on a shape. When it finished moving, he saw a necklace that had a circular ring on the outside, and another smaller ring on the inside. The design allowed the inner circle to rotate freely in the horizontal direction, and given the arrow engraved on it, it suggested that it was a type of compass.

Wraith took it with him and left the chamber. When he came out of the portal, he saw that Fenella was there waiting for him. “So, now you know what your class will bring you. It's not an easy path to take. Its one that requires you to throw yourself into danger, more often than not all alone. You'll suffer, struggle, and be feared and hated. While our race may respect your class and be held in awe by you, no one would wish your destiny on their own child.” She said this with a sad smile on her face. There were the faint glimmers of pain in her eyes, but seeing how she wanted to hold it back, Wraith didn't say anything.

“I don't regret choosing this class. I know just how hard it'll be, but I also know that despite what happens, I'll never truly be alone. After all, I've still got a loving mother, don't I?”

This struck Fenella to the core, causing her tears to spill out, as she happily said, “always.” She hugged him then, holding him tight.

When she finally let him go, he told her of his plans. “I only have about two weeks left to prepare myself, so I need to learn all I can during that time.”

“Alright then. You can keep practising with Calder for your fighting skills. For alchemy, there is someone that I know who might be able to help you, but I wouldn't get my hopes up.”

“Okay then, I'll go and practise with Calder for now and worry about tailoring and alchemy later. Where is he anyway?”

Fenella gave him the directions to see Calder, and then he set off in search of him. It was his first time in the city, and since it was still fairly early in the morning there weren't many other people outside. It gave him a chance to look at the buildings, seemingly carved from sandstone. He could feel the temperature start to rise from the nighttime chill.

As he walked to the training area Fenella directed him to, he felt the grains of sand below his feet. Recalling the text he read earlier, he could understand why the city was built in a desert. If Daciana and others of her class could manipulate the earth, it was an ideal location to defend from.

When he got to the training area, he saw that it was quite large. There were stone blocks of varying sizes in the sand, along with thick corded rope and wooden posts stuck into the ground. The actual ground varied in texture, some places loose soft, others packed and hard.

He saw Calder practising against a wooden post. When he noticed Wraith coming towards him, he stopped, stunned by what he saw. “You,you...I can't believe it. I knew you were going to be a fighter, but this is far beyond what I expected.”

“Yeah, it kind of took me by surprise too. So instead of dwelling on what I've become, lets start training.”

“About that, I had a training plan for you thinking that you were going to become a regular warrior, but with your class being what it is, that won't do any good.”

“What do you mean?”

Calder sighed and said, “normal warriors practise over and over again to learn how to fight. Over time, they instinctively know what move to use when. The fact that you received that class means that you don't need that. Getting that class means that you were judged to already have a predator's instinct. Instead of fighting by rote and memory, you rely on your innate senses.”

“That sounds well and good, but what should I do then?”

“Simple, you have to fight. Throw yourself into the heart of battle and hone your skills. You already mastered the basics, so simply gain some experience and rediscover your muddled instincts. In fact I have an idea about how you can do it.” Saying that, he walked over to a nearby building. He stood before what seemed to be a cellar door. It was bound with many thick, rusty chains.

Calder opened it and beckoned for Wraith to follow him down the stairs. The air inside was musty and thick with dust, suggesting that no one had been down there for a long time. “This used to be part of the training arena for our warriors. It was shut down about two hundred years ago because it was deemed too effective.”

“What does that mean? I didn't think it was possible for training to be too effective.”

“Well, the people that passed the training were turned into warriors beyond compare. Unfortunately they were also the few that managed to survive. As you can imagine, most people weren't happy with a training that had a seventy-five percent chance of death. Even though it was voluntary, they still deemed it too dangerous and sealed it up.”

“If that's the case, can i really make it through? And won't everyone be mad at you?”

“Well I went through it when I was about the same age as you, and you're much more talented than I was at that age. When everyone finds out who you are, they'll see why I had to open this up.” He then opened the heavy steel door and gestured for him to go inside.

“There's only one rule here, keep moving forward. The enemies will eventually grow stronger the deeper you go, but if you make it through, there's a reward waiting for you at the end. Good luck, and don't die.”

Wraith stepped inside, hearing the door slam shut just moments later. I wonder how long this will take. With no other option but to try to reach the end, he started walking down the corridor. Seeing a steel golem with a sword, he activated one of his skills. “Form of the Wolf-King.”

Now with his body resembling a silvery-white werewolf with chains wrapped around his arms and shoulders, he launched himself at the golem, to improve both this and the Claws of the Beast and the Blessing of Loki skills at the same time. Having the element of surprise, he quickly managed to kill the golem. When he looked up, he saw that three more golems had come in. Well, this is going to take a while, he thought to himself, just before they charged at him.

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