Writer's Note: Here's the last of the four chapter release. Until next time. Enjoy.
Chapter 7: The Sky Continent
"Aerolas..." Aerogan said sadly as they entered the dark tunnel. "It should have been me. Should have been me."
"Am I a moon elf now?" Maybelle asked, feeling her the strands of silver hair among her blonde hair.
"I don't think so. Perhaps having this silver hair will allow us to pass into the sky continent," Lajakel answered. "What worries me now is the final trial."
"Well, we're about to find out," Zamiel said as they appeared in an open field, seeing an ancient, damaged ruin behind them. "I think we're outside. There's an inscription above the cave passage opening."
"Hozul kirol nusa dahaj, Aerolas. Wisa cuja kirolu halasafo. The final trial is for the one left behind, Aerolas. You already passed the trials and are free to go," Aerogan said, stunned.
"So the fourth trial is for Aerolas? That damned dragon," Lajakel spat.
*Ping*
Congratulations
You survived the trials and made much sacrifices. You are the 7th to finish your first quest and leave the starter area. You have arrived in the Sky Continent, a fusion of North America and another continent from New Earth. Canada has fallen to the orcs and Mexico has closed itself off from the world. America is currently attempting to maintain order while fighting the invading orcs.
Normal weapons do not kill, only injure, the creatures from New Earth below level 10. Normal weapons do not have any affect on monsters level 10 and above save for knock backs. Regular players have ten times the experience requirement to level but do not have to cultivate. However, Beta Players are also applicable to the normal weaponry restrictions. Only ranked weapons and skills can harm Beta Players level 10 and above.
For reasons science cannot explain, certain parts of the land broke off into the sky, floating in the sky by some invisible force. Your mother is on one of those floating islands, lands surrounded by the open skies. Mysterious vines have grown all over the land, some thicker than corporate building connecting the land to the floating islands like a bridge. Find the moon elves. Convince them to stop the high elves from taking over the High Council.
*Ping*
Zamiel is now level 9
*Ping*
Zamiel is now level 10
*Ping*
Unlocked Talisman Abilities
Due to reaching level ten, the Red Wyvern Bracelet grants the first and second ability.
Qi Blade: Able to create a red, flying qi sword from the bracelet to pierce the enemy. Costs 1 spirit per use.
Qi Barrier: Make an absolute barrier of qi that will block all damage and attacks for three seconds. Restriction: 3 times every midnight.
"That's so awesome!" Zamiel cried as he chose to randomly add the stats for both level ups, resulting in ten random stats. They were +1 strength, +2 agility, and +2 spirit for the first level up to 9. The level up for 10 gave him +4 agility and 1 stamina. His stats were pretty balanced over all.
Name: Zamiel
Level: 10
Race: Blood Elf (Demigod variant)
Class: Chaos Knight
Cultivation: Middle Spirit Knight
Titles: Jurassic Survivor; Samurai Vanguard
Stats
Strength: 15
Vitality: 9
Agility: 12
Spirit: 15
Stamina: 11
Speed: 5 (1+4)
Toughness: 7 (2+5)
Attributes: 47% Fire; 35% Darkness (item); 14% Thunder; 8% Chaos
Equipment
Weapons: Rank 7 sword (Caliburn); Legend Rank dagger (Royal Adamant Dagger)
Armor: Rank 1 Sea Wood Guard (heavy armor)
Pets: Magical beast dinosaur (Proto)
Items: Legend rank ring (Black Heart Ring); Unique rank bracelet (Red Wyvern Bracelet)
"Demigod? It must have been that weird orb from the dragon when it named me," Zamiel realized, eyes widening. He closed his eyes to visit the special space in his mind. It was as if he appeared standing atop clouds as if it were the ground, a blue sky above him with more clouds overhead. Before him, he saw three red wyverns in deep slumber around a black pearl with pale blue flames burning all over it.
Then he saw it, the white sphere of energy. It had become a white sun in the special space. There was something inside, but the white sun was too bright. Green lightning crackled as it traversed the sky above, traveling through the clouds. Zamiel surmised that the pale blue flames around the black pearl and the green lightning were two of his three affinities. Darkness was not really his, given to him by the Black Heart Ring. The chaos affinity had to have increased because he was a Chaos Knight.
However, he left the special space in his mind as he did not know what to look for to represent chaos. As he opened his eyes, he heard a familiar ping.
*Ping*
Global System AnnouncementBalancing the Ranked Items
Due to many complaints to the system, items are now unable to be worn above their rank. Those who are levels 1-10 can only use rank 1 items. Levels 11-20 only use rank 2 items. Levels 90-99 use legend rank items. Level 100 use God rank items.
Items obtained via main quest or quests during the Beta Phase are exempt from this restriction.
Items that are not exempt have been modified to weight and class.
"So that explains why my armor became so heavy," Zamiel said as his leather armor became plate armor. He decided to auction off his regular dagger, sword, and hunting bow as he did not need them. Armor, besides potions, were bound to be very expensive.
He had level 2 blacksmith so he could make his own armor and weapons. Carpentry was still useful to make the leather grips for swords and daggers as well as some parts necessary for the heavy armor. Using a sword and heavy armor, Chaos Knights really were great. Heavy armor looked cooler, in his opinion, and he loved swords.
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"This is the Sky Continent?" Aerogan frowned, seeing floating islands in the distance. Around them, there were several vines and vegetation growing all over modern apartments. Zamiel may not remember being Jin Portman, but the knowledge was still there. When he saw a street sigh with Chatsworth and another with Tampa, he knew he was in southern California. More specifically, he was a few blocks away from a mall.
"There's movement up ahead," Lajakel said, drawing an arrow from his bow. "Aerogan, you have higher sensitivity to mana. What do you see?"
"....humans. They carry weird weapons. They are fighting...orcs! There are orcs!" Aerogan cried out.
"Are you certain? You've never fought on the patrols," Lajakel asked.
"I'm sure. Their skin is mostly black or pure black. They wear jagged, black and dark grey armor and have yellow eyes. The weapons the humans are using are strange. They fire projectiles at massive speed, but do no damage to the orcs, not even breaking the skin. I sense no magical properties in the weapons or projectiles.
"Those are guns," Zamiel said, the others turning to him. "Most humans depend on those to kill each other. However, more of them are without magic. They could shoot you at point blank range and it would not harm you, probably only knocking you back due to the momentum of the projectiles. Those are called bullets. Think of it as a bow with automatic reloading to a certain extent."
"Do we help them?" Maybelle asked.
"If we do, we might be taken to their camp for questioning. They'll have many questions for us," Zamiel said. "We're without allies here."
Zamiel decided to inspect the three wood elves. Lajakel leveled up once, to level 38. Aerogan was now level 12. Maybelle also leveled up, now level 7. He knew Lajakel would be lucky to level up once, with his high level. However, Maybelle did not fight at all. Aerogan did, but reached level 12. He suspected Maybelle and Aerogan leveled up due to surviving the dungeon ruins. It would also explain how such a high level NPC, non-player character, leveled up once to 38.
In video games, completing dungeons gave more experience than a boss fight. Lajakel must have been nearing level 38 as the level difference was too high. Having Lajakel around was great as Lajakel was a great swordsman. Although Lajakel used two swords, he had tremendous fighting experience.
"I always wanted to kill an orc. I doubt the humans will harm us if they see us save them," Aergoan said.
"Okay, but I know humans. You all must follow exactly what I say. We cannot trust them completely and may eventually be betrayed," Zamiel said, the other three nodding as Maybelle sat beside Proto. "Lajakel, Aerogan, and I have storage rings. These are too rare and will invite trouble. We will need to carry items physically, storing our important items away. Lajakel is beyond powerful to them, so he does not need to hide his armor and weapons. We cannot speak about Sea Wood City, at all. We are just stranded wood elves, searching for more wood elves as we were separated from our wood elf tribe. Speak nothing of moon elves."
"Right. If they know information, they could use us as pawns and delay giving us information. If they don't know anything, they can still pretend that they do and make sound arguments that would make us believe them," Lajakel nodded. "What about your hair color?"
"I will call myself a Beta Player. Simple version: let's just say that I was once human and got reborn," Zamiel said.
"And the real version?" Aerogan asked.
"You're not going to like it. You might even assume I am lying as it is too shocking," Zamiel answered. "With those two words, they will not harm us. Furthermore, most of them are much weaker than us. Look at yourselves. Because of going with me into the ruins, you got stronger much faster."
"It is true," Aerogan said. "I feel like I got years worth of training in such a small time frame. Maybelle still looks like a child, but she is much stronger than I was at her age."
"It has to do with being a Beta Player?" Lajakel asked.
"Yes. I don't remember being my human self, as it was one of the sacrifices Jin Portman made. However, I have knowledge of what he learned, saw, and experienced. I just don't remember doing it. I am Zamiel, truly," Zamiel answered.
"Yeah. You are Zamiel," Maybelle smiled, giggling as Zamiel patted her head.
"They cannot kill us. However, they can harm only Maybelle. The omniscient being the dragon ghost referred to is known as a game system to most of the humans. It gauges our strengths in levels. For example, I am level 10 and Aerogan is level 12. Lajakel, you are level 38," Zamiel continued.
"I knew he was a monster," Aerogan said. "He was the best warrior."
"So we are judged by levels. Hmm. You say they cannot kill us, but they can harm Maybelle. Why is that? This real truth you speak of, does that mean we weren't real?" Lajakel asked, stunning Maybelle and Aerogan as Zamiel nodded.
"Impossible. That can't be true!" Aerogan said. "We are here, together."
"You were not real before. You are real now. Your world and Jin Portman's world fused together. I do not know how, or why. As for the earlier question, it is because Maybelle is below level 10. Anyone can be hurt by non-magical weapons, weapons from Jin Portman's world, below level 10. If you hurt someone enough, they can die without you finishing them off personally," Zamiel answered.
"Lajakel will protect me," Maybelle said, moving behind Lajakel.
"So, do you wish to help them? Then, remember my words," Zamiel said.
"How are our world's items ranked?" Lajakel asked.
"I am assuming it has to do with sharpness, durability, and magical effects. Aerogan's short swords are rank 1. My Caliburn is a rank 7 sword. If my sword has magical effects, they might be locked. However, my sword cannot be broken by Aerogan's short swords at his level. Whether or not I can break his depends on my own strength. The rank of the item does not mean that my sword cannot cut through his with ease. That is my assumption based on my observations," Zamiel answered. "Like most warriors say, "The weapon is only as strong as the warrior who wields it.""
"I see. These rankings are based off real life, to them," Lajakel said, Zamiel nodding in agreement. "If it breaks, can you repair it?"
"Not yet. My blacksmith is only level 2. If I reach level 7, I can create and repair rank 7 armor and weapons," Zamiel sighed.
"Oh! So that's how you learned them so fast!" Maybelle cried. "That's cheating."
"I agree. We spend so much effort and he learns it naturally," Aerogan nodded. " What about skills? Can they learn it instantaneously too?"
"I don't think so. As far as I know, only Beta Players can learn a skill from a skill book. Also, players cannot learn apothecary unless they know healing magic and are Beta Players. I assume this is how the game system regulates the world and prevents it from being too chaotic," Zamiel replied.
"Then let's help the humans. If they are trouble, we got Lajakel," Aerogan declared.
"Yeah. We got Lajakel!" Maybelle giggled.
"I cannot be negligent to my training, you two. Look at Zamiel. If all Beta Players are like him, then we might meet really strong people in the future that I may not be able to defeat," Lajakel said, the two wood elves staring at him.
"Oh, and don't speak of apothecary at all. Humans value potions very highly. They cannot know I can make them." Zamiel said, the wood elves nodding as they turned their attention ahead.
"Let's go kill some orcs," Aerogan said, charging ahead while brandishing his short swords.