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Volume 5
Chapter 27: Red-Eyed White Skull
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1,449,835 Zentra
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Player Items
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1 Land Sword of Monalisa
1 Sparrow Rapier
1 Whale Whisker
500 Plasma Smoke Grenades
500 Spark Grenades
100 Fragmentation Grenades
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General - Special Items
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3 Storage Warehouses
4 House Villas
5 Auricles
4 Hover Boards (two were given to Thorn and Volt)
2 Harvesters
5 Hover Bikes of the original 7
2 Ice Trucks of the original 11
20 Centipedes of the original 100
5 Polar Tents of the original 9
3 Drill Cars of the original 7
…and finally «The Akhenaton»
After unlocking then selling almost everything that Siva had gotten from the event in Dragona, he bought all the supplies that he needed to continue his quest towards Alexandria.
Of the General Items that he bought, perhaps the most expensive one will be the Frag Grenades @500,000 each.
Before, he only had around 10 of them for emergency use but with the danger level and time of his journey towards Alexandria, there are bound to be mishaps along the way that may need of him expending these powerful yet very expensive items.
Also, he even bought 2000 nano-cubes so that he wouldn’t be lacking any when the time comes that he needed to experiment with the «Weapon Building» equipment he planned to bind with his Inventory.
“In the end, I am just too spendthrift when spending my heard-earned money.”
They said that the more money you have, the more things you need to spend them into will come.
“I think it’s true in my case.”
Considering one A-Ranked monster if sold alive and all of the monster items are 3/4 of the original because of the NPC Manager’s processing payment, then Siva would have gotten an approximate amount of 150,000,000 Zentra from his haul. Adding the capsules he sold, he had an average net worth of around 400M Zentra in cash –only––– considering his playing style that relied on items and also buying all of those nano-cubes and as well as the necessary resources to smoothly use The Akhenaton, then of course all that money would burn like it was coal under the fire of his needs.
As he quietly tried to walk in his way, there were sets of eyes in the shadows of the city that were locking in his direction. Of course, given his sensitivity, there’re times that even Siva felt annoyed by the heavy gazes they were throwing at his direction.
“In a place run by real people such as this city, there are bound to be crooks that will come 8 out of ten.”
Although it is true that Walled Cities are generally safe zones and no player will be allowed to die inside of them, robbery and crime is still possible and all the more it is dangerous because you are not allowed to quit in the middle when you are in such a pain.
Thinking about it, Siva recalled a certain person.
“Volt and Thorn said that that female pirate back in Dragona who died during the event was someone who rose to power using her own skills and tenacity in the cities of The North Continent. Too bad I forgot her name.”
A whole level of respect sprout in his Siva’s mind as he recalled that gorgeously dangerous female pirate who was part of the Council of Elders that ruled over the Port City of Dragona.
“But it doesn’t change the fact that I feel poor right now. If only these people would know my hardships.”
Looking around him, Siva glanced at the direction where the heaviest of gazes were coming from and he gritted his teeth as he walked faster and focused his mind on his errands.
Sighing, he tried to brush away the memory of having spent more than 400M Zentra just a while ago.
He sold almost half of the capsules he [found] in Dragona only for it all to be spent away when trying to unlock the items he looted and buying the things that he needed the most –the Spark Grenades and the Plasma Smoke Grenades.
Just one of them cost 200,000 Zentra and for the sake of this long journey, he bought as much of them as he can.
On the other hand, his greatest reward would probably be the two legendary weapons from the two members of the «Elder Council» of Dragona and the familiar sword handle from The Raven whom he killed to get back his items.
You should know that the [LUCK] stat increases the higher one’s highest stat is.
For example: for a Gonn Race player who had put 50% of his FREE stat points into his STR and then put the other half to his AGI, given his race’s stat bonus that emphasizes STRENGTH, then his LUCK stat will be based on his STR points –given that he do indeed focus his career as a player who pursues STR.
Siva, however, had put 100% of his FREE STAT points into his SPR stat thus allowing him to get 20 LUCK.
Also, one should know that the higher the rarity and quality of the item, the higher the chances it is to be stolen, looted, or dropped once the player dies.
In this regard, the drop rate of the item adds with the LUCK stat of the player, thus giving more chances for the said items to be lost once the owner dies.
The «Sparrow Rapier» was the weapon of the female Pirate while the «Whale Whisker» was the Magician Cedric’s wizardry staff.
Siva was still unable to believe that he killed both of them but seeing the videos of his fight against Hagrid and with Volt’s and Thorn’s personal accounts, he had no choice but to actually believe the story instead of trying to force himself to deny that fact.
“And yet… did I really call myself… Mefisto?”
There are just too many things to be confused about but Siva was forcing himself too focus. He doesn’t have the leeway to be dallying around here. With the items he had, and with Janus’ helpful instructions, he had already saved two days’ time so he had to use this opportunity to make up with his lost chances.
“Those two items… there will come a time when I will have a use for them.”
Both have very magical effects and were useful for specific people who use them for their playing style.
Although he still doesn’t have any plans for them right now, it is still worth keeping them just in case he needed them in the future.
Besides the two, perhaps the even a greater reward is the «Land Sword of Monalisa»… a Rune Weapon!
Just thinking about this stuff, Siva was actually trying to consider selling them online.
According to what he knew, Runes are legendary equipments that the Original Terrans left for all their descendants in the Ancient Muan Race.
In the game’s story line, while the Inventions cater to almost all possible technological advances of the Human Civilization, the so called «Runes» are also at the same criteria of inventions, only, their material and creation process was more profound and magical than the purely technology-based Invention Arsenal of The Naturals –the Human Race.
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As his mind tried to get away from this thought, he inadvertently asked himself a question. “Will I be able to one day know what happened in the Human Race and why they are here in this planet?”
His reason for asking this question is because out of the five things he needed to deliver too AG, he had only managed to give him two.
Although saving Baron is his top priority at the moment, he was still concerned as to what will happen after that.
He has yet to complete the deal, after all.
This question… is perhaps one of the greatest puzzles that boggled the players in this game.
At the start of one’s career, there was an option that lets players choose what Racial Tribe they are going to play with. One should know; Terroa has a massive size that is almost twice the size of Earth, according to the story line, and yet its inhabitants had closely resembled that of the earthen race.
Many asked, should a fantasy game like this have the characters look like those of the traditional ones? The answer that Panorama Corp. given at the time made the game famous:
[Terroa is a world based on Humans’ understanding of the planets outside the Solar System. Paired with the current technology that we have, we assumed the Super Nova theory and conducted an uncontrolled event that simulated an entire 800,000 Chaos Cycles of molecular evolution. We then added the existence of our current society’s religious beliefs and the local legends of other countries, and incorporated them in this game to create an entire universe of legends, mystery, and adventure for you players to enjoy. And with that plot in place, we then focus our story in a single planet called Terroa where the players decide the future of this very game itself.]
Players are given the freedom and choice to create their own legends in the game. And with that much liberty given away, the entire horde of curious players were only given the choice to start their own careers on six starting points…
The Five Tribal Races and…
The visitors, The Naturals, the Human Race!
These Tribal Races of Planet Terroa boasts of their own respective specializations:
Gonn, the pirates of the Dead Sea, the children of the barbarians and conquerors
Apollo, originated from the clans of Flowerion who wholeheartedly believed and worshipped the sacred teachings of Avon, God of Beauty and Prosperity
Tekz, descendants of the wise men of the dessert who built the grand cities of the south using their unequalled skills of craftsmanship
Atlas, rumoured valiant children of the God of War, Aries, and was a race who had a pinpointed origin in the City of Atlantis
Maven, said to have come from the bloodline of the Ancient Royal Family, possessing supreme intellectual aptitudes and cognitive capabilities
The five tribes of Terroa… in other MMORPG games, there are certain [Racial Quests] that once triggered may or may not actually decide the balance of power between the game’s races.
“But while the five races have plenty of information in the archives in the library and even online, there are not that too many information when it comes to the fifth race… the visitors… the saviors of Terroa 56 years ago… the Naturals.”
In fact, based on his memories and what the game is giving the first time players when they try to log in for the first time, The Naturals is an extinct specifies that came from Earth.
Aside from that, there was no other information.
“This game’s enemies are the LAGRAM Alliance, the demon invaders…”
Siva couldn’t help but to ponder at this for a bit.
The «Land Sword of Monalisa» is somehow connected to The Naturals but the process and history between the Humans’ [Inventions] and the Ancient Terrans’ [Runes] hangs in the difference of their qualities.
Runes have magical abilities… a built-in set of MODs.
Inventions are purely physically destructive items that can be fixed if one has sufficient stacks of nano-cubes in their persons.
“If my guess is correct, the LAGRAM alliance has a reason why they destroyed Earth and are invading this planet as well. Perhaps this is the biggest reason and mystery of this game.” As he thought of this, Siva glanced down on the thing in his hand again. “This Land Sword will become my offering to that devil!”
Siva then clenched the item in his hand.
Runes can’t be stored in the Inventory as its magical aspects are too powerful for the limited capability of the Inventory Storage Function. As such, there are special items specifically used for these Runes and they are a lot better than even the rare and ultra-expensive Spatial Artifacts.
For the moment though, he lacked that very item.
The «Land Sword» in his hand is now just a handle without its blade, Siva was still confused as to how such normal-looking item was craved by all players who knows its existence.
“I’ll just keep it for now.” He knew how people would even bid a sum just for it but he chose to keep it and add to his own strength. “Besides, these guys are not the kinds who will bid for it anyway…”
Dismissing all other thoughts, looked back at the side to see the shadows of people so what he did is program a nano-cube to morph into a holster set that can hold six knives in his belt.
Such action already cost him a nano-cube bought in a staggering amount of 1,000 Zentra. But he grit his teeth as it was an investment that will last for a very long time.
After letting the handle dangle on his hips, he walked off towards another direction.
Having that conversation with Janus, he felt happy to have saved a few days of time waiting for his gears to be upgraded.
“This time, I just have to download a full database of materials and their effects and relationship to all other known materials and resources.”
His destination was the Enchanter’s Temple.
“When it comes to information about the monsters and their materials, then the best way to buy them is the place where the Terrans all gather their spoils.”
Enchanter’s Temple
In RPG: Terroa, Magic is a concept centering on the existence called [Mana]. Mana is but a unit of energy the Terrans use to calculate the mind’s ability to compute and extract magical runes in a fast manner.
Casting magic consumes that energy and exhausts’ one’s mind and thus replenishing that energy by the Blue Potions are a necessity in the middle of a battle.
Of course, Mana can be gradually recovered in time when not in a battle.
Every Talisman can hold up to one «magical skill» or ability and every Talisman can also become its own upgrade part to work with and enhance another Talisman’s effects. In other words, one Talisman can be the core magical ability of its user while the rest of his Talismans can be the supporting artifacts to boost the [core] Talisman’s effects –or vice versa– where a single support talisman can support many cores…
…as long as the user still has an ability slot available.
Of course, to save limited spaces, the supporting talismans with the core talisman can be combined into one talisman to create a single core talisman.
This can be done up to many times and with the highest known number being a Tier-5 Talisman. If there are Magicians who had managed to gather up the right number and combination of resources and materials to create a Talisman, then perhaps they can even create a Tier-6 Talisman.
But remember that not all high-tiered Talismans are better than the lower ones.
It still depends on the quality of the Magic stored, the arrangement of its core and supporting Talismans, and most especially the way it complements the abilities and style of the user as well.
“Here we go.”
Siva looked back to see that the group that’s been on his tail had increased in numbers so he too increased his pace and proceeded inside the Temple as fast as he can.
“As always, Enchanters’ Temples looks like a Grand Building from the reconnaissance era.”
After entering, Siva was amazed by the delicateness and exquisiteness of the interior design of the Temple. In fact, in its entirety, although it was called the ‘Temple’ by the NPCs, players actually like to call them “mansions” as the atmosphere inside of them are all pertaining to that very thought.
There were paintings in the walls, colorful and fantastically designed armors standing in the hallway like guards, murals in the ceiling, and of course the silent temperament of the Enchanters that walks the carpeted floor with hands clasped behind their robes.
Siva only spent a moment appreciating the scene before he looked at the right side of the main hall.
On the left was a relatively peaceful line of Magicians and Enchanters while the stairs on the right side that led to the upper floor only have a few people.
Siva looked back again to see that of the group of people who had plans to rob him, there were actually only a few who dared to follow him inside.
Clicking his tongue, he proceeded to the second floor through the right stairs.
Bypassing the few people that glared at him because of his actions, Siva went on to one of the rooms with the cubicles meant for customers who had problems deciding to what their materials should be enchanted into.
Gently closing the door, he checked if there are other people in the room.
“Lucky.”
As there were none, Siva then went into one of the middle cubicles and closed the door immediately. In there, he immediately changed gears into his skull mask attire and instead of the guns, summoned the Whale Whiskers.
Not only that, he actually used three nano-cubes to change the outside properties of his white robe and turned it into a black one with its hem even more tattered than that of the Volume Hunter’s grey coat.
“There should be holes in some areas as well.”
After being satisfied with the dark bluish-grey color of the cloak, he used the Black Ender to tear some holes into some parts as a finisher.
“There, done. Dragunov!”
After being satisfied of his work, he quickly pulled out and disintegrated his Dragunov then threw a Plasma Smoke Grenade in the far end cubicle.
Wearing his now black tattered cloak, he opened the door to go outside. But instead of closing it, he turned around and stamped the floor with his staff that he held in his right hand and simultaneously used a spark grenade on it to add as effects.
The resulting phenomena were something to behold.
In his shoulders was some kind of black aura escaping and melding with the air as it escapes his body. The bluish-white electric currents moved around his body like a tamed pet snake.
The other players were startled when he appeared all of a sudden but his next actions paired with his deathly appearance almost gave them the impression that there was some event happening right now.
“You dared right in front of me?!” An angry ghastly voice rung underneath the mask as the staff touching the ground became a conductor that crawled to reach the spark-sensitive Plasma Smoke Screen inside the room.
KASHA!! A surge of electricity spread on the base of the Staff and an explosive bluish-white light followed by the sound of thunder came from inside the room.
It all happened very fast!
When the people following Siva came into the scene, they were all shocked to see what had happened as they inadvertently stared at the domineering look of a ghostly magician in front of them.
Siva, seeing them, sneered behind his mask as he spoke with derision and scorn, “Bastard trying to act like a boss in my presence? Just quit and log out!”
With that, Siva electrified that person inside again.
But not even being contented, he changed his gears into a sword and attacked the person inside.
Those who were planning to rob the man they were following was drawn into that commotion that ended when Siva emerged from inside again and entirely closed the door.
By then, the robbers recovered and then carefully made their way around Siva who only stood there in front of the door, inhaling and exhaling ghastly aloud while looking threateningly at them.
He didn’t say a word but he watched them pass by.
As the Apollo race had a height that was slightly taller than the average Atlas, Maven and most especially of the Tekz Race that just happens to be the races of the people that was following him, him looking down at their group was also something to actually behold.
In fact, one player who runs a blogsite caught it all in camera and was smilingly jeering off that frightened group of players.
Even to the point of moving his head, Siva’s quiet glare to that group of men even scared the ones who are in line for meeting with the Tier-3 to Tier-4 Enchanters in the second floor.
That quiet show of brutality and short-tempered act was enough to alarm even the pro players. The short commotion died as soon as it started.
But although that was the case, one thing is for sure.
It was today that the Battle City “Warjillis” came to know the existence of the Red-Eyed White Skull.
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Another Persona?!
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