As Blake and Harry entered the City Hub, they were immediately struck by the bustling atmosphere and the grand architecture. The central area was an enormous, circular space with high ceilings and intricately carved pillars that supported a beautiful glass dome.
Moonlight poured in, casting a cool glow over the room, and illuminating the many clerks who attended to challengers and residents alike. The floor was paved with polished marble, and in the center stood a magnificent, ornate fountain that seemed to symbolize the lifeblood of the city.
Various counters and booths lined the periphery of the City Hub. Behind them, clerks dressed in crisp, New Meridia uniform attire managed quests, missions, jobs, and other administrative tasks. The air hummed with activity.
Approaching one of the counters, Blake and Harry were greeted by a young female clerk with short, chestnut hair and a warm, welcoming smile. Her eyes widened in astonishment as she listened to their tale of defeating one hundred stone golem monsters in a single afternoon.
Skeptical, she double-checked the figures on her screen and, still unconvinced, called over a manager to verify their claim.
The manager, a stern-looking middle-aged man with graying hair and a neatly-trimmed beard, scrutinized the data on the screen with a critical eye. His brow furrowed as he checked and rechecked the numbers for discrepancies and errors.
Eventually, he nodded, acknowledging that the figures were indeed accurate, and that the massive reward the duo had earned was well-deserved.
The clerk’s face broke into a genuine smile, her initial disbelief transformed into admiration. She congratulated Blake and Harry on their impressive feat, commenting on how rare it was for challengers to achieve such a monumental victory in such a short span of time.
With great satisfaction, she handed them their hard-earned reward and wished them the best of luck in their future endeavors.
The moment the credits hit Blake’s account, the numbers just kept climbing. The total reward of 25 credits per monster, with the pledge to kill 50 each, equated to a staggering 1,250 credits per person.
That sum didn’t even take into consideration the value of all the loot they’d gathered, or the incredibly valuable gem heart sitting securely in Blake’s backpack. Once he collected his earnings, he eagerly headed out into the marketplace to try and get the best price he could for the monster loot.
The marketplace was a lively place, filled with rows upon rows of stalls and shops offering an array of goods and services. The air was thick with the aroma of spices and the chatter of merchants, customers, and passersby, creating a cacophony that was both chaotic and exhilarating. Vibrant colors adorned the various tents and awnings, and a multitude of languages could be heard as people haggled over prices and bartered their wares.
Blake soon realized he wouldn’t be able to find a single shop where he could offload all his valuables. However, after some investigation and negotiation, he was able to empty his backpack and fill up his credit balance even more by visiting three different stores. He sold all the monster parts to either the Card Synthesis Store or the Enchanters’ Emporium.
Card synthesis, the act of empowering cards with other cards, required material components. So, if Blake wanted to upgrade a Stone Fists card with another Stone Fists card, he would need to use some form of Earth element-aligned reagent to bridge the two cards and allow them to combine their powers.
All the stone shards and chips he’d collected from the defeated stone golems could serve this function.
At the Card Synthesis Store, the owner, a middle-aged woman with a keen eye for detail, examined the various stone shards and chips with great interest. She marveled at their potency. After some bargaining, Blake managed to strike a deal that left both parties satisfied.
The Enchanters’ Emporium, a veritable treasure trove of magical wonders, took everything else Blake had collected except for the gem heart.
The shop was a fascinating place, filled with an assortment of magical trinkets, potions, and artifacts, as well as various materials and tools used for enchanting. The walls were lined with shelves overflowing with books, tomes and scrolls. The dimly lit interior had a mysterious atmosphere, and the scent of incense and exotic herbs permeated the air.
This emporium served an intriguing function as well. It specialized in altering or enhancing the effects of any given card.
The enchanters employed there were capable of modifying cards to better suit the individual needs and preferences of their customers. One of the examples that the shopkeeper, a charismatic man with an impressive knowledge of enchantments, had given Blake was what they could do with a Stone Sword card.
The enchanter explained that they could convert the Stone Sword card into whatever weapon the person preferred. This alteration would only change the function of the card marginally, but it would have the effect of transforming the normally equipped longsword into a two-handed greatsword, a rapier, or even something more exotic, like a scimitar or a whip.
To begin the enchantment process, the enchanter would first study the card in detail, taking note of its inherent properties and structure. This would be followed by a careful selection of the appropriate reagents and materials, based on the desired outcome.
The enchanter would then prepare a specialized enchanting workspace, which often included a complex pattern of runes and symbols drawn on the surface, as well as various enchanted tools and devices designed to aid in the manipulation of magical energies.
Once the workspace was set up, the enchanter would place the card at the center of the pattern and begin the enchantment ritual. This could involve the recitation of ancient spells, the manipulation of magical energy through the use of enchanted tools, or even the application of physical techniques, such as etching new runes onto the card or infusing it with the chosen reagents. The entire process could take anywhere from a few hours to several days depending on the complexity of the enchantment and the skill of the enchanter.
As Blake listened to the shopkeeper’s explanation, he wondered if this kind of function could work for his cards, given that they all became monsters. Maybe he could alter what kinds of swords manifested on his Stone Slasher Golem using an enchanter?
The possibility of customizing and enhancing his cards to better suit his needs was an enticing prospect. He wanted to return in the future to try this out for himself.
Blake discovered a small, intriguing shop called Curiosities of the Ether that specializes in rare and unique goods. Intrigued, he decided to try his luck selling the gem heart there.
The store was dimly lit, with an eclectic collection of strange and wondrous items scattered throughout the space. Glass cases displayed strange artifacts, peculiar trinkets, and other one-of-a-kind objects, each exuding a sense of mystique and otherworldliness. It made Blake feel like some of these items had been pulled through from another world.
Behind the counter stood the vendor, a middle-aged man with a twinkling eye and a silver goatee. He introduced himself as Thaddeus, the proprietor of the store. His eccentric demeanor and quick wit made him an interesting character, and he seemed to possess an encyclopedic knowledge of the rare items he sold.
“Ah, a Stone Colossus Gem Heart!” Thaddeus exclaimed as Blake presented the gem. “A fine specimen indeed! These are quite rare, you know. The energy contained within can be harnessed in a multitude of ways, which makes them highly sought after by collectors and practitioners of the power card arts.”
Blake raised an eyebrow, impressed by Thaddeus’s knowledge. “So, what kind of price would this gem fetch in a place like this?”
Thaddeus inspected the gem heart closely, holding it up to the light and admiring its radiant glow. “Well, given its exceptional quality and the rarity of such items, I’d be willing to offer you 2,500 credits for it.”
Blake’s eyes widened in surprise. That was double what his mission just earned him!
Thaddeus chuckled, “Ah, my young friend, the world is full of surprises, and it seems you’ve stumbled upon a particularly valuable one.”
Blake handed over the gem heart, and his credit balance swelled with the infusion from Thaddeus.
With his backpack finally empty and his credit balance substantially increased, Blake took a moment to marvel at his newfound wealth. These credits would go a long way in improving his abilities and equipment, further preparing him for the challenges that lay ahead in this world of monsters and magic.
Thaddeus gave Blake a knowing smile. “Remember, fortune favors the bold. Use your wealth wisely, and who knows what other marvels you might encounter in your journeys.”
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Blake nodded, grinning. “Thanks, Thaddeus. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Stepping out of the shot, Blake felt a renewed sense of purpose and excitement, eager to face the next challenges that awaited him.
The moment Blake received his credits, he knew exactly where to start investing them. He made his way back to his Lair, made sure he wasn’t followed, and purchased the highly anticipated Monster Battle Arena upgrade. The system confirmed that the new addition would be available shortly, and Blake eagerly awaited the completion of the construction. A huge new section of Lair appeared as a construction zone, which increased the available space by quite a bit.
The upgrade consumed nearly half of the credits Blake had accumulated. Considering what it bought, Balke thought it a bargain. He could leave his monsters to battle against each other in the arena and they would gradually grow stronger, preparing him for the upcoming Rank 3 exam.
But Blake’s excitement wasn’t just about the arena. What piqued his interest even more was his new card, an intriguing combination of the two elements present in this system: earth and fire. He was eager to discover the true capabilities of his new monster and the potential it held.
As the construction of the battle arena neared completion, Blake could see the various components coming together to form a state-of-the-art facility. The arena boasted a reinforced structure, with a versatile battleground that could accommodate various terrains and environments, pushing his monsters to adapt and evolve.
Within the arena, a complex network of sensors and monitoring systems ensured a safe environment for his monsters, while also providing Blake with valuable data on their progress and growth.
This would allow him to fine-tune their training, maximizing their potential in preparation for the challenges that lay ahead.
Once the construction was complete, Blake put his monsters to the test.
At the interface, Blake discovered two sections where he could insert cards. The system also provided him with the option to choose the type of environment he wanted his monsters to fight in.
The kicker was that he needed to have unlocked that particular environment through different power cards. For now, he decided to begin with a blank arena, eager to see its standard appearance.
First, Blake placed his Stone Slasher Golem card into the first monster slot. The creature materialized before him in the arena. It swung its dual sword arms menacingly, showcasing its strength and agility as it patiently awaited the arrival of its opponent.
Next, Blake took the Meteor Strike card from his deck and slid it into the second slot.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then, a brilliant light erupted above the arena as a meteor blazed from the sky. It slammed down with such force that Blake could feel the ground shake beneath him. A fiery wreath of flames lingered around the impact site as the meteor slowly stood up, revealing itself as a colossal monster.
Flames danced across the surface of the giant meteorite monster, its form both imposing and awe-inspiring.
The Stone Slasher Golem, roughly the same size as Blake, paled in comparison to the Meteor Colossus, which stood at least twice as tall and far wider. Flames licked the shoulders of the colossal creature, while two deep, burning pits of coal smoldered within its eye sockets. Blake inspected the monster and was shocked to see that it was already at Level 8!
Monster: Meteor Colossus
Level: 8
Evolution Stage: Advanced
Affinity: Earth/Fire
Strength: 190
Toughness: 200
Agility: 120
Magic Power: 170
Personality: Dumb, but powerful.
Traits:
* Dual Element
* Stone Body
* Stoic
* Colossal
Past Evolutions: Meteor Golem (Falling Star)
Future Evolutions: Unknown
The battle commenced with the Stone Slasher Golem charging headlong toward the Meteor Colossus, determination etched on its stony face. It attempted to inflict damage on the towering behemoth, but the diminutive swords at the ends of its arms barely scratched the colossal foe.
The Meteor Colossus gazed down at the Stone Slasher Golem with a look of curiosity, its underbite giving it a contemplative rather than aggressive demeanor.
Finally, the Meteor Colossus decided it had enough scratching. With an air of weary annoyance, it reached out and swatted the Stone Slasher Golem away like an irritating mosquito. The sheer power behind the blow sent the smaller monster tumbling across the arena.
Despite the cracks snaking across its charred body, the Stone Slasher Golem struggled back upright.
Witnessing the might of this newly acquired card, Blake felt an urge to enter competitive duels to obtain even more cards. More cards would mean more opportunities for experimentation or sales, ultimately leading to further upgrades for his lair.
As Blake considered his options, he realized that revealing his possession of such a powerful monster could be detrimental. He had been warned that should he expose too much about his arsenal, the city lord’s men would undoubtedly attempt to seize it from him.
Thus, he found himself in a predicament.
He could easily triumph over numerous duelists in the nightly battles, but doing so would draw unwanted attention to himself and the true nature of his cards.
Blake sent Harry a message through New Meridia’s chat system. “Hey, Harry! Up for another monster hunting adventure tomorrow?”
Harry replied almost instantly, “Absolutely, Blake! Didn’t I say that earlier? But let’s save any important discussions for face-to-face encounters. You never know who might be listening in or snooping around the chat logs, you know?”
“Good point, man. Can’t be too careful, I guess. Same time as today?”
“Perfect. I’ll meet you at the City Hub, and we’ll see what missions are on offer. See you tomorrow!”
Relieved that they hadn’t divulged any sensitive information through their chat thus far, Blake couldn’t help but think of the countries he’d heard about, where authorities monitored social media and conversations for troublesome or hazardous keywords.
It wasn’t far-fetched to assume that similar surveillance could be occurring in New Meridia.
Before leaving his lair, Blake conducted a series of epic battles between his monsters, pitting them against one another in various combinations. The arena roared with the thunderous sounds of clashing forces and raw power as the monsters locked in fierce combat.
However, it quickly became apparent that neither the Slasher Golem nor the Berserker Wolf could hold their ground against the indomitable Meteor Colossus. This monstrous behemoth towered over its opponents, its immense size and formidable strength proving too much for the other creatures.
The Meteor Colossus’ unique combination of stalwart defensive abilities and searing damage over time flame effects always tipped the scales in its favor, ensuring its unchallenged dominance in each battle.
In contrast, the clashes between the Slasher Golem and the Berserker Wolf were more evenly matched and showcased a stunning display of agility, strength, and skill.
The two monsters moved with surprising grace and speed, weaving around each other in a captivating dance of ferocity. The wolf held a slight edge in agility, its nimble movements outpacing the golem’s more deliberate, yet powerful, strides.
Both monsters dealt impressive damage, their attacks landing with incredible force, and their reach seemingly equal. The Berserker Wolf’s strikes appeared to deal marginally more damage when they found their mark, but the Slasher Golem’s dual-wielding capability offered twice the opportunities for its deadly attacks to connect.
The arena trembled with the energy of their relentless combat, each clash a breathtaking spectacle that showcased the incredible potential of Blake’s monsters.
The slasher had a couple of attacks which it seemed to rely on in combat. Firstly, it crossed the swords over its chest to block any incoming damage from attackers, and this even held up against a direct strike from the massive double-bladed ax his Berserker Wolf wielded.
The Stone Slasher Golem also had a few different combo moves that it used, comprising of three and seven hit combos, as well as an attack that reminded Blake of a helicopter’s blades. The golem spread its arms wide out from the shoulders and spun around like a cyclone for a few seconds before falling into its normal battle pose again.
The Berserker Wolf showcased a unique set of attacks and skills in battle, differing from the Slasher Golem's arsenal. One notable ability was its inability to block attacks like the Slasher Golem.
Instead, it employed a nimble backstep maneuver, leaping several meters backward to evade incoming strikes skillfully. However, this technique demanded excellent timing and a keen sense of the opponent's attack patterns.
Initially, the Berserker Wolf needed some time to adapt to the Slasher Golem's moves before it could effectively dodge them using the backstep. As the battle progressed, the wolf began to anticipate the golem's attacks more accurately, allowing it to evade and counter with increasing precision.
The Berserker Wolf displayed several combo attacks too, each consisting of fewer but more powerful strikes. One particularly devastating attack involved the wolf shaking its head in one direction before swiftly sweeping the ax in the opposite direction, dealing significant damage to its opponent.
An even more impressive variation of this attack included a somersault following the initial two hits. As the wolf flipped through the air, it landed a third, even more destructive blow on its target.
Another tactical maneuver in the Berserker Wolf's arsenal was a low sweep attack aimed at taking out its opponents' legs. The wolf would sweep the ax head at ankle level to topple the enemy and potentially incapacitate them.
Blake really wanted to test what it would look like if all three of his monsters could battle at the same time, but a message appeared, informing him that further monsters can be summoned at the same time in higher ranks of the monster training arena.
Blake had thought that he might just be able to leave his monsters battling it out against each other while he went out and did other things, but he had no such luck.
Each monster battle was self-contained and required him to physically place the cards down to start a new fight. He got access to basically limitless anima to do this, and his monsters were always healed after every bout.
Their experience totals did grow slowly, though the experience total of the Meteor Colossus advanced at an absolute crawl. Despite it winning all of the duels against all of his other monsters, it was gaining roughly one experience for every ten experience his other cards gained.
Blake sent a quick query office off to his AI assistant to ask why this was happening.
She explained experience gain depended on the actions that a card was used for, or the strength of the enemies that they faced. If the card fought an enemy far beneath its power level, then it would earn a reduced amount of experience.
That explained exactly why the Meteor Colossus wasn’t gaining much experience. The other monsters were too far beneath its power level to be considered a decent challenge.
Blake found himself facing a difficult decision. He could either withhold using Meteor Colossus to maintain its secrecy, or actively seek powerful opponents to ensure its growth in power.
For now, Blake opted to keep the existence of his Meteor Colossus a secret, at least until circumstances forced him to reveal all his cards in the dueling arena.
He knew he could trust Harry and could use the card in his presence without worry. After all, Harry also had a vested interest in keeping the true nature of his own cards confidential, especially now that he possessed the powerful Gargoyle's Fury card.
Overwhelmed by the day's events, Blake decided to forgo returning to his apartment on the surface and spent the night in his Lair instead. With food in his pack and spare clothes available, he could comfortably stay in the Lair and directly commence sewer patrol upon waking up the next day.