Chat:
Lionfury: Watch out! They sent a guy to kill you!
Beastman: Hey! Shuttup!
Stargirl: No, we didn’t…
Yolkb4me: seriously?
Lionfury: A guy’s coming to get you.
Sammyggg: ffs…
Viewers online: 5
Desmond stared at the chat in disbelief, his mind swirling with confusion. Why would a group of people be after him? For a moment, he felt torn between believing the warning and dismissing it as a prank. However, his doubts were quickly dispelled as a dark figure emerged from the trees, brandishing what appeared to be a lethal dagger. Above the newcomer's head read:
Arlexior.
Level 3 rogue.
"Um, hello?" Desmond cautiously addressed the mysterious rogue.
But before he could get a response, the rogue simply vanished into thin air.
Chat:
Lionfury: Oh no he’s invisible.
Beastman: seriously dude shut up
Stargirl: Oh ur fkd now!
Yolkb4me: …
Viewers online: 5
Desmond's heart raced, and panic threatened to overwhelm him. He knew he wasn't prepared for a fight. He hadn't figured out a proper attack strategy, and he was still unfamiliar with the abilities of the new orb he held in his possession.
"C'mon, partner, we got this!" Nigel's encouraging words echoed in his mind.
Desmond's internal battle intensified. "There's no way."
"C'mon, I believe in you!" Nigel persisted.
"No, you don't!"
"No, I don't!"
With a frustrated sigh, Desmond refocused on the most pressing matter at hand – survival. He desperately needed a plan. His mind raced, assessing what resources he had at his disposal. Then, he glanced at the timer and felt a surge of relief. The cooldown had finally finished.
Thinking quickly, he sprinted toward the large red barn and, with perfect timing, shouted the words that would determine his fate:
"Open ordinary portal!"
-30 mana.
The magical energy surged through him, spending the mana in an instant. The portal burst open, offering a possible escape route from the imminent threat.
Chat:
Sammyggg: see portals. I told you so!
Lionfury: Ooohh pretty!
Beastman: What the fuck class is this guy?
Yolkb4me: why is the portal pink?
Stargirl: I knew he was a cheater!
Lionfury: Run buddy run!
Viewers online: 5
As soon as the portal materialised, Desmond leaped through it, crouching mid-air, and found himself instantly teleported to the top of the large barn. The thick roof cushioned his landing, and he wasted no time in closing the portal behind him.
"Oh, what the heck, dude! Come back down," a voice from below shouted.
"No way!" Desmond retorted.
"I told you I believe in you," Nigel chimed in.
Rolling his eyes, Desmond wondered about his next move. Before he could plan, a tiny metallic object grazed his cheek, causing a sharp sting.
"Ow!"
-7 Health.
Another object whizzed by, hitting his other cheek.
“Damn it!”
-7 Health.
Chat:
Beastman: Get him!
Stargirl: Knock him off the roof!
Yolkb4me: You got this Arlexior!
Lionfury: Dodge buddy Dodge!
Sammyggg: …Knock him off the bloody box!
Viewers online: 5
The mention of a "bloody box" caught Desmond's attention. He surveyed the barn's roof and noticed a dip in its design. Without hesitation, he had an idea forming in his mind. A plan. Running towards the dip, he swiftly retrieved his Portal Box from his inventory. Placing the box in the dip, he opened its lid and touched the green shimmer of the interdimensional gateway.
“Hey, come back!” shouted the rogue.
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In an instant, the green surface pulled him in, and he found himself thrust into the pocket dimension of his Portal Box.
Chat:
Stargirl: Cheater!
Sammyggg: What the heck?
Beastman: What’s going on?
Lionfury: ummmmmmm….
Yolkb4me: Holy shit…
Viewers online: 5
Desmond glanced up, preparing himself to face the two bandits he had trapped in the pocket dimension. But to his surprise, there was no sign of them. The mass of debris he had collected earlier was also nowhere to be found, and that puzzled him. He had plans for that material, mainly for crafting and experimentation. Instead, all he could see in the green chasm of the pocket dimension was the tower.
“Oh, no, not here again!” Nigel whined.
“Don’t worry,” said Desmond reassuringly. “I won't leave you here.”
“You better not!”
Desmond moved towards the tower, accompanied by his two weapons, the magical soul wand Nigel, and the sparkly Orb of Portals. Though he had no idea how to use them effectively, he hoped to test them on an NPC within the pocket dimension. However, his two bandit practice dummies were nowhere to be seen.
As he approached the tower door, he cautiously peered inside. The room looked tidy, with various furnishings being repaired and polished. Above the large fireplace hung a giant painting of the mad old wizard, but the old man himself was missing, leaving only a strange background in his place.
“Hello?” Nigel whispered.
“Shhh…” Desmond hushed him.
Stepping onto the ground floor, Desmond saw something surprising. At the far end of the entrance stood two figures—Bill and Nev—staring at him. Above their heads were the words 'reformed bandits'. To his amazement, they were now dressed as butlers, their rugged appearances replaced with an air of refinement.
"Ah, welcome, sir," Bill greeted with a courteous bow. "We are your humble servants."
"Indeed," added Nev, his once fierce eyes now gentle. "Please, allow us to assist you in any way possible."
“WTF,” Desmond mouthed, bewildered by the transformation.
Unable to contain his curiosity, Desmond asked, "What happened to you guys? Weren’t you bandits?"
"Ah, yes," Bill began with a wistful smile. "It all started with the kind magical presence of the old miracle worker, Nuecus."
"Nuecus?" Desmond inquired. The changes in Bill and Nev were astounding; even their mannerisms and accents had completely transformed.
"Yes," Nev chimed in. "The very same Nuecus who now only exists as paintings in this tower. He is a kind, yet unforgiving master."
Bill nodded. "Indeed. When we first encountered him, we were nothing more than miscreants causing trouble. But Nuecus, with his extraordinary powers, saw something in us that we ourselves had not recognized – the potential for change."
Desmond swallowed hard, knowing exactly the kind of eccentric character Nuecus was. To bring about such profound change, the old wizard must have done something quite extraordinary to these two poor bandits.
"And so," Nev continued, "he forcefully turned us into obedient workers, bound to serve the tower and its inhabitants. We had no choice but to follow his instructions, for he is the god of this magical realm."
Desmond didn't know whether to laugh or offer a hug to the transformed pair. Their metamorphosis was astonishing.
"But it was not all coercion and servitude," Bill interjected, a glint of gratitude in his eyes. "Nuecus showed us a path of redemption, teaching us the values of hard work and responsibility. He even granted us the ability to mend and restore, using leftover materials to fix the furnishings and tidy up the exterior."
Nev nodded in agreement. "It was like a second chance at life, and we embraced it wholeheartedly."
“I think I’m going to be sick,” said Nigel.
Desmond knew he had to be as supportive as possible, even if he couldn't fully comprehend the circumstances.
"Um, well done," Desmond said. "You both have come a long way from your bandit days."
Bill and Nev exchanged a knowing glance, their expressions filled with a sense of pride. "Indeed, we have," Bill replied. "Thanks to Nuecus and this tower, we found purpose and meaning in our lives."
Chat:
Stargirl: Seriously what’s going on here?
Sammyggg: Where the heck is this place?
Beastman: This is all too much…
Lionfury: Awww I want a magical tower!
Yolkb4me: This is all too stupid.
Sammyggg: Just leave this place so Arlexior can kill you.
Viewers online: 5
Desmond eyed the chat. He knew he need to focus.
His original plan of using the two bandits as target dummies for testing his new orb had abruptly shifted. He no longer wanted to subject them to such a role, feeling a profound sense of responsibility for their transformation.
As he pondered alternative ways to put his magical orb to the test, a brilliant idea struck him like lightning. Turning to Bill and Nev, he couldn't contain his excitement. "Can you two help me with something?" he asked eagerly. "I have this new magical orb, and I want to create a test dummy to test its powers."
Bill and Nev exchanged a surprised look, but their willingness to assist shone through their eyes. "Of course, sir," Bill replied with a nod. "We'd be honoured to help you."
With newfound determination, the trio set to work on crafting the perfect test dummy. Utilizing their expertise in mending and restoring, they gathered materials from the tower and fashioned a sturdy figure to withstand the magical onslaught of Desmond's orb.
In a short span of time, the text dummy stood before them, ready for its unique role in their experiment. Desmond's heart raced with anticipation, eager to witness the full extent of his orb's powers.
"Now, be careful," Nev cautioned, concern etched on his face. "We don't know what this orb is capable of."
Desmond nodded, appreciating their caution. "I'll be careful," he assured them. "Maybe stand back a little."
Gripping the orb tightly in his hand, he focused his mind on the dummy.
“Now what do I do?” Desmond asked.
“I don’t know, maybe throw it?” Nigel suggested.
Desmond stared at the orb, uncertain if it was meant to be used as a melee or ranged weapon. Nigel's playful comment echoed in his mind, and he hesitated for a moment.
Then, a different, older voice echoed through the room. "Try casting a spell on it," suggested Nuecus, who appeared in his painting above them.
“A spell? Are you sure?” Desmond asked, surprised to hear the old miracle worker's guidance.
"It’s my orb, I think I know what it’s used for!" Nuecus retorted with a hint of playful annoyance.
“Wait! Does that mean you’re the dark wizard?” Desmond asked.
“Bah! I’m a thaumaturge not a silly little mage like you!”
Desmond was about to ask another question when he realised, he had no other option but to trust in Nuecus' suggestion. He focused his mind.
“Open minor portal!”
-15 mana.
To his dismay, nothing seemed to happen.
"What now?" he wondered aloud.
Nuecus chuckled, his image in the painting beaming with amusement. "Now do as that useless stick said. Throw the orb at the target!"
“Hey!” Nigel protested.
Unsure but willing to give it a try, Desmond flipped the orb in his hand and, not knowing what to expect, hurled it towards the target. As soon as the orb left his fingers, he felt a drain of energy from his body. The orb seemed to absorb his power and use it to propel itself forward with incredible speed and force.
-10 mana.
The sheen of pink magical energy covered the orb's surface as it flew like a bullet. It smashed into the target, tearing through the wood with astonishing power. Desmond couldn't believe his eyes. The orb had become a formidable weapon, unleashing destruction with a single throw.
Chat:
Lionfury: WOW!
Beastman: What was that?
Stargirl: Cheating!
Yolkb4me: Ummm. Ow?
Sammyggg: …
Viewers online: 5
He was just about to ask how the orb would come back to him when, to his amazement, a tiny pink portal appeared just above his hand, dropping the orb back into his palm.
"Um, what?" Desmond mumbled in astonishment. He had learned his first ever real attack, and it felt incredible. The possibilities with this magical orb seemed limitless, and he was eager to explore its full potential.
Nuecus' image in the painting chuckled once more. "Quite the trick, isn't it?" the old miracle worker said. "The Orb of Portals not only allows you to hurl it at great speed but also summons a portal to bring it back to you. It's quite handy, wouldn't you say?"
Desmond could only nod in response, still processing the newfound power he possessed. He looked at Bill and Nev, who watched with amazement as well. They seemed genuinely pleased to see Desmond embracing his magical abilities.
"Sir, that was truly impressive," Bill complimented with a grin.
"Yes, we've never seen an attack like that before," Nev added.
Desmond's chest swelled with pride at their praise. He had come a long way since his days as a novice. Now, he was a Portal Smith with the potential to become even stronger.
"I couldn't have done it without your help," Desmond replied gratefully. "Thanks guys."
Bill and Nev exchanged a warm smile. "It was our pleasure," Bill said.
Desmond turned his attention back to the magical orb, feeling a sense of purpose and excitement bubbling within him. With this newfound power, he was ready to face any challenges that lay ahead. He was no longer the same inexperienced defenceless player. He had an attack!
Character sheet: Ph0en1x [Title: Genocider]
Health points 51/65 Mana 37/92
(level seven) EXP 36.64%
Class: PortalSmith
Stamina: 14
Strength: 13
Agility: 15
Wisdom: 17
Luck: 8
Charm: 15
Dexterity: 15
Intelligence: 28
Equipped items: Elvish village garb
Soul Wand: Nigel
Olden Ring of Time
Orb of Portals
Location: Miracle Workers Tower