(Author: Hello! The chapter mega release is here! As I got in the zone, I wrote a total of 4 chapters for you guys! In most games, it is easy to level the first few until level 20. Aeron discovers a hidden quest to kill the god of a new race trying to kill him and his classmates: goblins. According to the quest description, the god is a false one and he has the option to kill it for the great rewards a hidden quest usually gives. After learning of the false god hiding in the Japanese American National Museum, Aeron heads there to complete the quest. Enjoy.)
-----------Chapter 5: The False God---------------
"Where is the blood golem going?" Frankie asked as he and James returned from zombie grinding.
"My brother sent word. He is going to Little Tokyo," Eddy said.
"Why there? What about the goblin chief in Union Station?" Cindy asked.
"I think he got near the place and he unlocked a hidden quest. He is going to Little Tokyo to kill the god of the goblins. Once we reach level 7, we are to kill the goblins in Olvera Street. At level 8, we attack the goblins in Union Station and kill the chief," Eddy answered.
"Hidden quest? Lucky," Jean said.
"Not so fast. If he sent ordered the golem to return to him, it must be quite dangerous," James frowned. "Hidden quests give great rewards and there are two kinds. One is found through doing abnormal activities and making choices, in the game, that is unorthodox and not done by most players. The other is incredibly dangerous and most people fail to kill a certain amount of monsters or one very powerful, hidden boss. The goblin chief was level 8. I'm pretty sure their god must be higher."
"That makes it a Division 2 enemy, an enemy from level 10 to 19," Frankie gasped. "It's also getting dark soon. We should rest."
"Yeah. If Aeron killed goblins nearby, their security might have increased. We'll kill zombies for the next two days and proceed to kill the goblins," Cindy nodded.
"Huh? Isn't that too long?" Jean asked, tilting her head in confusion.
"We are not facing more powerful zombies. The higher our level, the harder it is to increase it with low level zombies," James agreed.
"We rest for now. Even if we don't get much experience, loots still appear from them. We might even get a storage ring to put all our black coins in. We may have found some empty bags in the various stores and houses, but we can't carry them around," Eddy said.
"Do you think he'll be okay?" Cindy asked.
"Against the goblins, sure. I only hope he can fight the god and win. Hell, I thought we were supposed to gain classes in video games. This may be reality, but it is similar to virtual reality from light novels and stuff," Frankie sighed.
"Let's eat. I found some refrigerated food and carried the microwave into the restaurant," Jean said, everyone following her as they hoped Aeron would return safely.
System AnnouncementAeron Ao is promoted to level 9
3 stat points awarded.
Upon reaching level 10, Division 2 items will have a chance to drop. Division 2 items can be equipped starting from level 10. From level 10 to level 19, six stats will be awarded.
Note: Classes will be unlocked upon reaching level 10. Classes will be given from a race outside the city.
Warning: Not all races will give the same class options.
"After two days of killing goblins, I'm finally level 9. Geez. +2 stats to strength and +1 stat to stamina," Aeron sighed as he ate a Pocky stick, a Japanese snack with chocolate. "I also get a skill upgrade and my golem should get a new skill."
"Are you okay?" a Korean American student, named Junghwa Ye, asked.
"Yeah. It's just draining to kill so many goblins," Aeron grinned as he gave her a stick of the chocolate snack. He had found her as she was attacked by a group of goblins. She and nine others had escaped the school, using their numbers, but didn't level so fast as they always attacked the same zombie with more than one person. She was one of the nine escapees, from numbers 84 to 92, from his school. The nine escapees took the school bus as their means of escape. They separated when the bus ran out of gas and were captured. She was already level 5 before the bus ran out of gas and killed countless goblins before getting captured and rescued by Aeron.
"Let's go back to the Buddhist temple. Tomorrow, I'll escort you past Union Station so you can be with the others," Aeron said but she grabbed his arm, Aeron stopping as he felt a nice softness touch his arm. He stared into her beautiful eyes and shook his head as she touched her long brown hair that were slightly wavy nearing the bottom.
"I am level 9 also. I'm an even better fighter than you. That's why I was able to kill faster and catch up to you. That, and your golem does not give you experience when it kills," she smiled. "You need someone to fight the guards so they don't interfere. Most of them are level 8. Probably not as strong as the goblin chief you talked about, but false god might kill you when you are distracted by his guards."
"You are pretty strong," Aeron admitted.
"I studied kendo and taekwondo since I was four. That's why my body is so fit," Junghwa grinned, smiling as Aeron tried not to look at her so much. "I also have the upgraded sustained tier 4 skill: Shadow Steps. My movements are increased by ten percent, losing 2 SP every five seconds. That means about twelve and a half seconds per stamina. I also have the tier 4 skill: Quake Stomp, using 20 MP to cause the ground to quake and pull enemies to me or push them back."
"Alright, alright," Aeron laughed as she finally let go as he shrugged. "Thanks."
"Just be sure you can kill the god. Hidden quests are optional right? If you can't kill it alone, the golem not counting as it is your summon; then let's escape to where you said your brother and other students are. I also need to add them to my friend's list," Junghwa said, looting the dead zombies and putting them in her blue and orange storage ring. "What will you give me?"
"Huh?" Aeron asked as they arrived in the Buddhist Temple and ate the burgers he got from the NJROTC student store. Other survivors used to live in there and one of the offices had electricity. No doubt, it would have been where the temple monks did their accounting to buy food and other transactions. Temples and churches got subsidies from the government, but they still had to pay something.
"For helping you with the guards," Junghwa said.
"I saved your life two days ago. You would have been cooked and eaten, like the others who weren't shot to death on capture," Aeron laughed.
"You said it was nothing," she smiled.
"I'll find you something in the god's treasures afterwards," Aeron shook his head, chuckling as they went to sleep on sleeping mats that were laid all over the floor.
"How go the others?" Aeron asked as he looked out the window to see two full moons.
"Jean, Frankie, and I are level 7 while Cindy and James are level 8. Frankie got bit by a zombie, but he's fine. I think the vitality stat also includes a regenerative ability. Makes sense though. Some video games have the vitality stat like that also," Eddy answered. "We also checked out the goblin chief as we ran out of Olvera Street when we saw him. We asked the system for an appraisal and he is still level 8 but we could see a title under it now. It said: Tulaga's Champion. I think I couldn't see anything more than his level as I was too weak. It even says the chief's name is Gorganta. System also said its rank was Boss. I'm guessing that's how monsters are classified."
"Tulaga?" Aeron thought as Eddy continued.
"We asked the system about it and Tulaga is actually a griffon. You know, the body of a lion, head and wings of an eagle, and talons as large as a lion's paw. The system also said its highest stats were vitality and strength," Eddy warned. "So long as Tulaga is alive, the chieftain's stats are increased fivefold. It seems system appraisal only tells us of others' names, levels, and titles. Based on the titles, we can learn the stat distribution. When will you kill it?"
"I'll kill it tomorrow. Don't worry. Also, I don't think I'll be able to help you clear Union Station as Junghwa will take me back to the Buddhist Temple to recover after my fight," Aeron said.
"I understand. I'll tell the others. Good luck big bro," Eddy said.
"Thanks," Aeron smiled and fell asleep.
"Good morning," Junghwa smiled, the sun basking her with light and stunning Aeron for a good two seconds when morning came.
"Good morning," Aeron said and they left to a nearby house where they cooked the instant noodles.
"Did you talk to the others? Find anything out?" she asked.
"I found out about the false god. It's name is Tulaga and it is a griffon," he answered, shocking Junghwa.
"Will you be okay? I remember seeing one in a movie. It had amazing strength and often attacked from the sky, using gravity to attack swiftly," Junghwa said.
"I know. I'm going to save my bullets for when it begins to fly. I can trust you to keep the goblin guards away?" Aeron inquired, a grin on his face.
"Of course. Otherwise, I'd say my beauty comes from plastic surgery," Junghwa laughed. Most girls and even guys did plastic surgery if they were unsatisfied with their face or body. Another reason would be that they wanted to go to major companies and many covertly denied people with ugly appearances, even if they denied doing so.
They walked to the Japanese American National Museum and admired the building as it did not seem that damaged from the outside, save for a large hole over the glass roof. There was no doubt that something big flew in. Junghwa squeezed his hand and ran forward, drawing her training sword as the golem appeared behind Aeron while he slowly walked through the entrance.
System AnnouncementWarning
Aeron Ao and Junghwa Ye have entered a God's Domain. While the god (false or not) lives, stats will be decreased as survivors are not worshippers of Tulaga the God of Goblins. Tulaga is a false god preying on the souls of the people it eats. its goblins servants have sacrificed many of their own, zombies, and even Earth survivors to help the griffon attain true godhood.
Temporary Stat Decreases
-3 to all stats
"Status impairment? Fuck," Aeron cursed as he read the box, drawing his axe. He watched as Junghwa attacked the guards, drawing them away from the entrance. Taking advantage, he ran through the entrance and finally activated his energy shield after the golem entered and closed the door behind itself. He easily killed two goblins as his golem pulverized through five, using Diamond Barrage to kill six more that clustered together to fire their flaming arrows.
The golem had a semi-sentient mind as far as fighting was concerned. As he had increased two levels, he noticed the golem add all its stats to vitality, as if knowing Aeron wanted it to be more of a tank. No matter what skill he would get, this blood golem was, no doubt, the best. Aeron hacked another goblin as they headed to the largest room in the museum. There, Aeron knew he would find the nest of the false god. He saw a large next and a white wing over it. He asked the system to appraise it.
System AnnouncementTulaga the Soul Eater
A bird of the sky as majestic as it looks. One wonders why this griffon is alone. Due to its pursuit of power, it not only devours the flesh but also the soul of its prey. Probably an effect due to a mutation. It loves to prey on the weak and became a god due to the worship of the goblins due to fear of being its next meal. It is advisable for those in Division 1 levels (1-9) to flee on sight.
Rank: Fledgling God
Level: 13
Title evaluation: High strength and vitality. High resistance to magic due to mutation ability.
"It is a Division 2 boss. Fuck," Aeron said as he approached the griffon, taking out his Bone Dragon Pistol. "Thanks for exposing your wing. Fighting you, while you can fly, would have been made you a bitch to kill."
Aeron aimed his pistol and fired. The wing shuddered slightly and blood appeared. Aeron kept firing until he saw the griffon rise, a goblin arm falling from its beak as it angrily opened its blue sky eyes. Aeron didn't care and even managed to shoot its tongue as it opened its beak to shriek at him. The ground cracked as a strong wave of wind appeared, knocking Aeron of his feet. He quickly stored his pistol, having to wait five minutes for it to reload, and brandished his axe as he rose to his feet.
"Seriously?" Aeron sighed, seeing the wounds on its wings heal. However, the tongue did not. It seemed injuries on the softer flesh and organs healed more slowly. It flapped its wings and a storm of feathers surged at him, as straight as spears while it flew toward him. The golem stood in front of him, blocking most of the feathers. Aeron's eyes widened as it took massive damage, several holes prominent in its rock body, even the blood diamonds had a few cracks.
"Diamond Barrage!" Aeron cried, as the griffon started charging at him. The griffon stopped and covered its head and body with its wings. Several feathers were cut and some diamonds now became spikes on its chest. The diamonds appeared to enlarge, as if sucking the blood from the bird. It shrieked and turned its body, using its wings as a massive sword. The blood golem made no sounds as its left arm was cut from a little below the shoulder, down.
"Fuck. I know I can re-summon the golem instantly, but it requires all my current spirit per summoning. I should wait until I don't have enough MP to summon it again," Aeron cursed as the griffon looked down on him, as if mocking him. He and the golem entered a doorway into a small hall, but the griffon didn't care and broke through the door and wall. It wanted to kill the human as it slept after eating its morning sacrifices.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
It constantly rolled its tongue, the wound taking longer to heal as if what penetrated into it could not come out. Not only that, its tongue burned a little as the metal pierced it. The bullets fell from out of its wings and the griffon extended the left wing, seeing that it was good as new. Now it glared at the human that had run into the small human hallway. Run? keep running! It was going to take its time killing the human after crushing its little rock pet. How it wanted to crush that thing first. As it had no hands, it could not reach some of the diamonds that pierced its chest near its belly.
Aeron lost his footing as he ran into another hallway, the griffon slipping as it followed him and could not turn its body as it broke through another door and wall too small for its body. Aeron broke through a glass casing, throwing the ancient Japanese vase at the griffon. The vase hit the side of its face, as if it had gotten slapped. Its eyes bulged as it felt insulted. Its talons made one foot holes as it charged at him. It anticipated he would turn left as turning right would lead to a dead end in the next hall. It dipped its beak and thrust it upwards as it broke through two walls and rammed Aeron.
Aeron cried with pain as his left arm fractured while his energy shield shattered. He broke through the wall and roof at an angle, crashing onto the roof. He was dazed and gasped for breath as he nursed his left arm. He rolled around in agony until he used Healing three times to heal his arm. Small bruises remained, but the bones were fixed.
He ran and picked up his axe as the griffon burst onto the roof, missing a left eye as it snapped the golem in two. Hitting his energy shield came at a cost and the griffon was beyond enraged. It had never felt such humiliation and pain. Burns were on its head and beak as it crushed the golem's two halves as it walked to him. Aeron took out his pistol, knowing it should have recharged by now.
The griffon flapped its wings as it took to the sky. It ignored the pain as it shot down at him from four hundred feet, its body as a missile. Two bullets were deflected by its beak while a third struck the wing where it touched its back. Due to the involuntary reaction to twist its body as it got hit on its pressure point, missed Aeron but the blast still sent him flying.
He crashed against a door that led to the roof and groaned as he fell down some stairs. As it was unable to stop, the griffon had bent its beak and its left wing was broken It hung, like a strung doll, at its side as it shook its head. It had meant to grab him with its claws but the filthy human shot at it again! Just one reflex caused it to harm itself more than the human and his rock did!
"Ah, shit," Aeron said, casting Healing to heal his body to full strength. "Dumb bird. Just like a human that missed a flying kick, missing and hurting yourself is the price. it should be hurt enough."
Aeron closed his eyes and summoned his golem. The golem appeared as it was before the accident. It had blood diamonds on its wrists and ankles, but none on its back yet. He ordered the golem to carry two spears in the museum and to hide on the roof. The golem nodded and grabbed the spears and ran up the stairs to await further orders. Aeron checked the chamber and saw three pistols. Two or three minutes should have passed when he first fired.
"That bird brain has caused me enough suffering!" Aeron said and ran into the area where the next of the griffon was. The griffon looked up as he shot two bullets into the broken wing. It cried out as the bone broke and caused the wing to fall from its body as if it was cut off. By now, the diamonds were about the size of a fist and were slowly breaking through its ribs. It shrieked as Aeron charged at it. He slid as the griffon tried to slice him with its right wing, using the momentum of the turn against the griffon to grab its leg.
"Now!" he screamed and the golem appeared from the hole in the glass roof Its arms drew back and slammed forward, thrusting the spears into the griffon's back with the power of its arms and weight. It fell on its stomach, the diamonds digging deeper and breaking bones as a loud thud resounded in the room. It rolled in agony as Aeron hacked at its remaining right eye as he let go of the leg while climbing to the head. He held onto the head as he grabbed the feathers, hacking into its skull as it stood up and tried to shake him off.
However, the spears made the griffon cry out in pain and if finally died as Aeron's axe pierced its skull and destroyed its brain. With very little stamina and no spirit left, Aeron laid back on the griffon's back and panted heavily. The golem merely walked to the bottom of the griffon, draining the blood. Huge spikes of diamonds appeared on its back. Now, it was complete and an axe, with a strange shape, appeared on its forehead.
System AnnouncementAeron Ao is promoted to level 11
Aeron Ao now receives Division 2 awards.
+12 stat points awarded.
+1 skill point awarded.
Class option unlocked.
Blood Golem has learned skill: Lava Breath.
System AnnouncementCompleted Hidden Quest: Kill the False God
Aeron Ao has suffered fractures and bruises. Still, you came out on top and slayed the god of the goblins. Their chief no longer has the blessing of his god and you have saved many lives, even if you don't know how.
Rewards
10,000 black dragon coins
+1 level up
+1 item upgrade: Crimson Black Gloves upgraded.
Glove effect: +10 fire damage, +8 Spirit, +9 Vitality, +20% Fire Resistance.
Glove is now classified Black Flame Lord's Hand.
Storage ring upgraded to 16 feet square ring.
Ring is now classified Ring of the Axe King.
System AnnouncementAeron Ao is promoted to level 12
+6 stat points received.
Total unused stats: 18
Total unused skill upgrades: 1
"+3 to agility and stamina. +6 to strength and resilience," Aeron gasped, unable to believe his eyes as he appeared in the cosmos. He looked around, seeing countless stars in the sky.
"So you killed a fledgling god. Good. Griffons are not creatures worthy to become true gods," a voice rasped in his mind.
"Who are you? What are you?" Aeron asked, looking around and finding no one.
"I am an ancient dragon, my years uncountable by your Earth human classifications. Once that is a true god. You have sparked my interest. Of your round of survivors, only sixty others have aroused the interest of other gods as they reached level 10. However, they did not kill a fledgling god! You will be my champion and I will see the world through your eyes. Your training axe will be upgraded to suite my image. One of my descendants will live in your storage ring, as an egg. When it will hatch, who can say?" the voice laughed. "Know this, it is not suited to water like your golem. Once they are strong enough, water will not affect them. When that is, you will know. Escape the city and choose refuge among two races. Your life, and that of the other survivors, is but a game for us. Do not make me lose by dying too early."
Aeron opened his eyes and leaned up from the griffon's back. In his right hand was an axe that also appeared as the crest on his upgraded Ring of the Axe King. It was about four feet long and had a smooth, manta ray leather grip with a black spike as a pommel. Holding the axe in place where steel chains connected to single-edge, curved axe head. The axe head was a little under feet where it connected to the grip with the chains, the curved edge being a little over three feet wide. The sides of the axe seemed to be made from purple, grey, and black scales mixed together as they were smelted and made into the blade.
[table]System AnnouncementUnlocked title: Phantom Champion
For killing the false god, Aeron Ao met the legendary being known as one of three primordial dragons. You have spiked his interest and was selected to be his champion in this mysterious game. His true goal for you lies in mystery as he upgraded your axe with his own scales. You have been named the executioner on his behalf and the souls of those you kill are devoured by the axe. Non-elemental magic is destruction as no magic can resist it. It gives a clue on the true god that watches you.
Received: Fiend Ghost Axe.
Axe Details: 40-47 damage. Does +10 non-elemental damage. Grants owner ability to use non-elemental magic.
Title Awards
+20 to all stats.
Mark of Destruction.
Egg of the Dragon.
Title stats are doubled upon reaching the next tiers.
Titles: 1
Title spaces available: 2
Restriction: Cannot remove from storage ring until hatching. This title cannot be replaced.[table]
"Holy crap. What a powerful axe," Aeron said, his body growing in power as he frowned. "Level 10 makes you a champion? Maybe my brother and my friends will also get titles like mine, if they survive in the future. Hmm? What's that? The boxes are green now?"
Aeron walked to the head of the corpse and saw a box in its mouth. He opened it and found 1,000 black dragon coins. In it, he found a ring that said: Shadow Killer. The effects was that he was able to camouflage in the darkness and shadows. Only creatures with higher levels, or those who possess night vision, can see you. Item cannot be upgraded.
Aeron decided to test it and equipped it on his left hand, the ring appearing over the chain mail over his left index finger. His left hand did not feel any different, but he could not put more rings on his left hand as a system announcement appeared and told him he couldn't. As he stepped into the shadows, his body began to wrap in darkness and he seemed to be invisible. He deactivated the effect and the shadows disappeared as he stood in the shadows.
"What treasures do you have," Aeron grinned, rubbing his hands in anticipation. He first found a few dozen black dragon coins and a pearl necklace. He would give the necklace to Junghwa as he did not want to wear it and told her he would give her something. To his delight, he found boots called: Griffon's Wings. The effect of the boots was that his movements were increased by 5%! He could also levitate a foot off the ground and move around, if he wanted. The rest of the loot was goblin, zombie, and human body parts.
"Use Lava Breath," Aeron ordered and watched as lava appeared from the golem's mouth and melted the dead body parts and griffon body. Satisfied, he left the museum and saw Junghwa waiting, her level now 10.
"You seem stronger," Aeron grinned.
"You survived. I told you so," she smiled as she hugged him and held his arm. "Did you get me something?"
"This," Aeron said and put the necklace on her.
"It's pretty. It also increases my vitality by 10 and my stamina by 15! Wow. Division 2 items are amazing," she said as they walked back to the temple to rest. "What level are you now? I'm level 10 and got my first title: Fairy Guardian. All my stats increased by 15. However, I don't know when my training sword will be upgraded. What about you?"
"Level 12 and I got a little something for killing the false god," Aeron grinned as dark purple, tribal tattoos appeared from his neck and onto the bottom sides of his face before disappearing. "They appear whenever I fight."
"They look good. How far down do they go?" she asked, mischievously.
"You want to find out? We'll have spend the night in the temple first anyway," Aeron grinned.
"You'll have to be my boyfriend first. Oh and this will be the only time we have sex, for now. I don't want a relationship based on that," she smiled as they kissed.
"I could live with that," he said and they held hands while walking back to the temple.
"Eddy, the god's dead. It was insanely hard. Seeing as how you get 6 stats every level from level 10 on, it's no wonder it was strong. The chief should be weaker, as it is a boss that depended on a title's effect. Work together with Frankie as he has that Rocket Punch skill. Let Jean and James protect you guys and hold off the guards," Aeron said through his friend list. "I'll see you guys at Union Station tomorrow."
"Got it bro. Damn, you're too awesome. See you then," Eddy answered as Aeron was pushed onto the mat while Junghwa sat atop him as they entered the Buddhist Temple..
"Aren't we eager? It's not even the afternoon yet," he grinned as he unbuttoned her shirt as after she took off his.
"It's the one time. Got to make it count. I am a virgin too," Junghwa said as they kissed. "Well, for today."
"What's the news?" James asked as he and the others stared at Union Station from the entrance to Olverva Street.
"He did it. He killed the god. We make our move now," Eddy said.
"Is he coming to help us?" Jean asked.
"No. He said he needs to rest. He'll be back with that new girl tomorrow," Eddy said as he and Jean rushed to attack the goblins.
"Rest. Right," Frankie grinned as he and James attacked the goblins with Cindy racing past all four of them.