Luke groaned as something wet and soft rubbed against his head. He tried to push it away with his hand, but something licked it.
"Gah," Luke gasped as he woke up.
He opened his eyes and found … A horse? Staring down at him as it nuzzled his hand like he was an old friend.
"Hello there," Luke muttered as he petted the horse's head.
His shoulder hurt. He rolled himself to his feet.
"Where am I?" he muttered to himself.
He looked around, realizing he was in a barn—a horse stable, more accurately. How did he get here? Where were his friends? Where was his sword? He dug around in the warm straw, looking for his sword. His hands touched the cold hilt of his sword. Pulling it up, he found what remained of his sword. The blade had been snapped in two, turning his master sword into a short sword.
Luke was sad, even though it was just a replica of the master sword from the Legend of Zelda and really wasn't meant for actual combat. It had kept him alive since the beginning of the system, which was admittedly only two days ago, but still. He stuffed the broken blade into its [Storage] as the notifications arrived.
<[Master of Death] has Reached Level 9>
<[Master of Death] has Reached Level 10>
<[Greek Tragedy] has Reached Level 6>
<[Greek Tragedy] has Reached Level 7>
<...>
<[Greek Tragedy] has Reached Level 10>
<[Poseidon's Sea] has Reached Level 5>
<[Poseidon's Sea] has Reached Level 6>
<[Endless Brawler] has Reached Level 9>
<[First Labor] has Reached Level 12>
<[First Labor] has Reached Level 13>
<[First Labor] has Reached Level 14>
<[Second Labor] has Reached Level 2>
<[Divine Assistance (Guide)] has Reached Level ErR0R#4!!*!%!$>
<[Third Labor] has Reached Level 2>
<[Third Labor] has Reached Level 3>
<...>
<[Third Labor] has Reached Level 11>
<[Forth Labor] has Reached Level 2>
<[Forth Labor] has Reached Level 3>
<..>
<[Forth Labor] has Reached Level 7>
<[Fifth Labor] has Reached Level 2>
<[Fifth Labor] has Reached Level 3>
<...>
<[Fifth Labor] has Reached Level 10>
Blinking away the notifications, he walked out of the stall with his new horse friend close behind him. He found Sam and Gareth just outside of the door, sprawled out across the barn, groaning.
"I really wish I could cast magic," Luke muttered. Unfortunately, he needed at least 1 in WILL, but he wouldn't get any points in WILL until level 10, according to Theo.
Sam and Gareth rose from the ground, groaning as they cradled their heads like they were nursing a massive hangover.
"What happened?" Sam asked as she stumbled to her feet. "I feel like my brain just went through a blender."
"I don't know. Theo just told me to grab hold of you, and he would do the rest," Luke muttered.
"Where is the little shit?" Gareth groaned as he pulled himself to his feet.
"Don't know," Luke said, looking around. I haven't seen him since I woke up."
Sam looked at him and froze.
"Jesus Christ, Luke. Did you go to the spa or something when we were knocked out?" she asked.
"What?" Luke asked, confused.
"Well, um, you just." Sam stuttered.
"You are objectively hotter than you were this morning." Gareth cut in. "no homo."
"What?!" Luke asked.
"It's kinda like when you got that charming skill, whatever it was called. The one where it talks about Theseus killing some guy and fucking his daughter." Gareth said.
"[Second Labor: The Charming of Sinis]?" Luke asked.
"Yeah, that one. This is kinda like that when you get really pretty practically overnight."
"But I didn't… no wait. Theo said I needed to get an extra level before I came for you guys, and then I got some skills. I didn't get the chance to read it in all the confusion."
"Well, let's see it," Sam said.
[Heir to Bellerophon]
Skill - [Legacy of Misfortune] - (Legendary)
* Bellerophon led a life of misfortune. When he was younger, he killed his brother Deliades. As a man, he was falsy accused of raping Queen Anteia, by Queen Anteia, before being shot out of the sky by Zeus. In the end, Bellerophon's downfall resulted from his immense beauty and oversized ego. Nevertheless, bellerophon always managed to avoid death right up until he pissed off a god. Now, you, too, can optimize these traits.
* Your attacks will now inflict [Kinslayer], allowing you *3 damage against your own type: [Humanoid]
* You may also now activate this skill once per day to escape up to 1 mile per skill level away from your current position.
* +5% bonus to both CHA and EGO stat
"Well, that explains why you keep getting better looking," Gareth said, punching Luke in the shoulder.
"This just isn't fair," Sam complained.
"It doesn't seem that useful," Gareth said. "I mean, what does EGO even do?"
"No idea, but I'm pretty sure this is what we used to escape," Luke said. "I still don't understand what happened to Theo."
"I think I do," Sam said, biting her lip.
Gareth and Luke turned to her.
"This says you can escape once per day, not you and your friends. I don't think we were supposed to come with you. Whatever Theo did must have let us cheat. I think he's still back at the park with the lions," Sam said.
"Do you think he's ok?" Luke asked.
"I think he's fine. I'm more concerned about us." Gareth said. "Where are we?"
Luke moved towards the barn's exit. Pushing open the door, he quickly found a sign covered in freshly fallen snow.
"The pegasus stables," Luke said, chuckling. "I'm kind of surprised there isn't an actual pegasus here."
"You realize we have phones, right?" Gareth asked, holding up his own phone. "We are about seven miles from Hopkins. It's going to take forever."
"Yeah, but now we've got horses," Luke said.
"You can't be serious. I don't know how to ride a horse." Gareth said.
"I used to go riding as a kid," Luke said, "and I know Sam goes riding on the reserve at least once a year."
"This is a terrible idea," Gareth muttered.
Luke ignored his friend as he grabbed one of the nearby saddles and started to hook up the horse that had been following him. He was slightly embarrassed to admit he had checked, but it was a she. She stayed perfectly still, allowing him to hook her up. He absently noticed that one of the straps had been cutting into her shoulder, so he adjusted it for her.
<[Kin of Horses] has Reached Level 2>
"How did you do that?" Sam asked.
"Do what?" Luke asked as the mare he decided to call his horse Hope. Hope nuzzled her head against his as if agreeing to her unspoken name.
"Saddle a horse. I didn't know you knew how to do that. When did you learn how to do that?" Sam asked.
Luke froze.
"Um, I didn't. I just knew." Luke said.
It was creepy. He hadn't even realized he was doing something he shouldn't have known how to do. It all felt so natural. Even if he knew it was because of [King of Horses], it was still weird.
"Doesn't your dad have something to do with horses?" Gareth asked.
"My dad?" Luke asked.
"Poseidon. The god of the sea. Father of horses. The reason we have to deal with Theo?" Sam asked
"Right," Luke said. "Honestly, I've been trying not to think about it. It just feels unrealistic. You know what I mean?"
"As compared to living in a video game?" Sam asked, one eyebrow raised in amusement.
"Believe it or not, that is the most realistic part of my week," Luke said with a soft chuckle.
He was just about to mount Hope when he felt something. Sadness: The other horses were sad that they were leaving and staying. They didn't want to stay here alone. They wanted to come with him.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
<[Kin of Horses] has Reached Level 3>
<[Kin of Horses] has Reached Level 4>
He moved over to the horses' carrales and opened the doors, letting the horses exit their homes.
"What are we doing now?" Gareth asked.
"Um, well, they wanted to come with us," Luke said apologetically.
"And how did you know that?" Gareth asked.
Sam rolled her eyes, and she started shoveling the horses' tack, bridles, saddles, and even the stacks of hay into her [Vault].
"What are you guys going to do with your new levels?" Gareth asked as they gathered up everything of value. "I'm level 5 now."
"I'm level 10 and have three new skills. I grabbed [Snatch], [Legendary Strength], and [Hidden Treasures]. [Snatch] lets me teleport small objects into my hand. But [Legendary Strength] gives me +4 to AGIL and +10% to my strength."
"Why all this emphasis on strength?" Luke asked.
Sam looked at him like he was dumb.
"Have you ever practiced archery? It's a strength-based sport. I can have all the accuracy in the world, but if I can't draw back that bowstring, I'm worthless."
"What does the other skill do?" Gareth asked.
"[Hidden treasures] lets me loot dead bodies for … loot." Sam said with a shrug.
"Can't you do all that already?" Luke asked. "I've seen you skin animals before."
"It wasn't my idea. Tom said that it was one of the skills I needed to get. Something about magic cores? I can't really remember. He also said I needed [Legendary Strength] because it helps you even out your STR and AGIL while being able to commit to one or the other."
"Well," Gareth began. "I finally got the [Rage]."
"And?" Luke asked.
"And now I have Hulk smash powers, dude," Gareth said. "Hulk smash. power"
Luke rolled his eyes as he finally mounted Hope. The moment he was in the saddle, he found himself adjusting the way he sat to ensure that he and Hope would be comfortable.
<[Kin of Horses] has Reached Level 5>
Sam leapt onto her horse with practiced ease, while Gareth leapt onto his horse with the grace of a beached whale. He flopped around for a full minute before he managed to get his leg on the other side.
They left the warm barn and moved out into the softly falling snow of the third day of the system apocalypse. Luke's good mood was almost instantly ruined as they approached the ranch, where they thought the actual owners of these horses might be.
"Oh my god." Sam covered her mouth in horror.
There weren't any bodies, but the building was half destroyed, pools of blood so large that there was no way any single person could survive donating that much blood.
"What happened here?" Gareth asked.
"I don't know," Luke said.
Luke could feel the horse's anxiety and sadness. They knew these people, and losing them hurt, but now the horses were on the verge of bolting. Luke didn't really understand how, but he pushed calmly towards the horses, trying to keep them steady.
<[Kin of Horses] has Reached Level 6>
"Let's get out of here," Luke said as he pushed for the horses to move on.
The horses didn't even need much of a push as they immediately started moving away from the scene of death.
They headed north. They chose to go north once they realized that the blood trail moved south. They were carefully and steadily making their way through the suburbs when Luke finally spoke up.
"What do you think happened to Theo?" he asked.
"No idea. Maybe the lions ate him?" Gareth asked half-jokingly.
"I don't think so. He acted like he was breaking some kind of rule or something," Luke said.
"Let's ask Tom when we get back," Sam suggested. He understands all of this stuff."
"Yeah, that's a good idea, lets--" Luke was cut off as a blood-curdling scream spit the morning air.
Luke turned his head, urging Hope up to a gallop as he raced down the street. He turned the corner immediately, spying on the problem.
A group of what he thought were Orcs and a troll were harassing a group of people in Renaissance fair outfits. The Renaissance guys weren't doing badly—quite the opposite. They were going toe-to-toe with the orcs, giving as good as they got. But the troll was the problem.
The 9-foot-tall, gangly, warty green skin was facing off directly against a guy in wizard's robes. He was ducking and dodging the troll attacks, but he didn't have a single opening as the troll pressed him. Instead, he didn't seem to be able to do more than dodge.
Name: Duncan (Coffee House)
Titles: Beta-Tester, First
Class: Settler MAX
Level: 20
Race: Human
HP: 1400
MP: 4000
Stamina: 1800
Personal Skills: Pusuite Hunter, Storyteller, Storage, Mapping, System Wiki, Zen Master
Settler Skills: Fang of Man, Aura of the Sun, Weather the Storm, Forman, Heartseeker Legendary Strength, All-Seeing Eye, Quest Giver, [Empty], [Empty] Create Settlement
Luke blinked. Another beta-tester? He shook his head as he charged forward, Hope gliding across the ground as they closed the distance with the troll. Luke drew his sword and immediately remembered it had been split in two.
"[First Labor]," Luke said, his sword growing to what it had previously been instead of the two-handed weapon he was used to [First Labor] creating. But it would do.
He brought his sword around as he reached the troll, slicing into the beast's upper thigh and causing the troll to stumble forwards. The troll turned to him, its bloodshot eyes sending a chill down his spine.
BOOOM
Luke and the troll flinched as both of them looked down at the troll's torso. Duncan had apparently used the troll's moment of distraction to leap in close, press his hand against the troll's chest, and then he blasted a nearly four-foot hole in its chest.
<[Kin of Horses] has Reached Level 7>
<[First Labor: ] has Reached Level 15>
<[Master of Death] has Reached Level 11>
The troll toppled over dead. Duncan didn't even say a word before turning towards the orcs and unleashing a blast of wind magic, knocking over the orcs and allowing the rest of the people to stab the orcs to death as they lay on the ground.
"Thanks for the help!" Duncan called out to him. "Much appreciated."
"Um, ah sure," Luke stuttered.
Any question about whether or not this man was like Tom and the rest had been answered. Why the fuck were all the beta-testers so fucking terrifying? He thought his legendary class was supposed to be badass. But he had no trouble admitting to being a rank amateur compared to this guy.
"You really shouldn't be out here on your own, by the way. The orcs and goblins are attacking anyone they can get their hands on, and you should, " Duncan said.
Luke looked back at the people in Renaissance outfits. They had already mopped up the rest of the orcs and were now looting the dead while people cast healing spells on the injured.
"Luke, what the hell …" Sam's voice cut in before fading out as she and Gareth came around the corner.
"What the fuck? I thought these guys were in trouble." Gareth asked.
"Less than you think, more than we like," Duncan said.
Luke noticed it wasn't just the combatants. Further behind are a crowd of non-combatants, six adults and 13 kids, and at least a dozen people with actual weapons. He traced his [Vision of Sciron] across them. Most of them hadn't even reached level 6 yet.
That was amazing,” Gareth muttered as he got off his horse and approached Duncan. How did you do it?"
"It's not that hard. [Kitchen sink] for a mana boost and then a Pyroclap at point-blank range. Since fire is a troll's bane, it's pretty effective." Duncan happily explained, and then a frown crossed Duncan's face.
"Unfortunately, I didn't have enough agility to really make it work. But then you all showed up. I have to thank you for your assistance. Good form," Duncan said, taking off an imaginary hat toward Luke.
"Hey, Duncan, we need to move," one of the members of Duncan's group said.
Luke realized they had finished looting the dead orcs. Fresh chain mail and cream-coloured weapons now adorned everybody.
"Here, you guys helped, so at least allow us to give you some proper gear," Duncan said.
"Um, thanks," Luke said as he got off of Hope.
Luke quickly found himself in a chainmail shirt and a cream-colored long sword to replace his master sword. It was a bit smaller than the master sword, but this one was clearly made for combat and not to be hung up in his room.
Gareth grabbed a large cream-colored ax. While Sam had gotten herself a new bow and quiver full of arrows.
"That's a moonstone sword," Duncan explained as Luke held up the cream-coloured blade. It's kind of like steel, only a lot weaker. Still, it's better than pig iron."
"Thank you," Luke said, giving the sword a few test swings.
"Ok, we need to head back to base now before the orcs attack again. Do you want to come?" Duncan asked.
"Sure," Luke said, unsure.
"Great, come along then," Duncan said as he started leading the group northwards. Luke followed after Duncan. Some of the kids gravitated to the horses that followed after Luke, petting them as they walked. Samem took it upon herself to put the slowest among them on horseback to help them keep up the pace.
"What are you guys doing out here?" Luke asked.
Duncan let out a sign. "The goblins have been kidnapping people all over Newton. We've been trying to gather up as many people as possible and get them to Ridge Secondary School. Unfortunately or maybe fortunately, we're finding a lot of children. Unfortunately, we're a bit too close to the goblin's stronghold. We're going to need to move soon, or we're going to be under siege." Duncan said.
"How did this happen?" Luke asked, aghast.
Duncan looked at him as if he were a moron. "Where the hell have you been?"
"I was in Surrey. We got cornered by dungeon monsters, used an escape skill, and ended up over here," Luke admitted sheepishly.
"Dungeon monsters? By the fragging gods, this is getting chaotic," Duncan said, rubbing his eyes.
"You know, when I woke up with the status on my face, I was a little excited. You know, this system is actually based on a game I used to play—at least as far as I can tell."
"The Legend of Noralon?" Luke asked.
"You played it?" Duncan asked excitedly. "It was a great game, a little over-complicated for a multiplayer game, but honestly, until the goblins showed up. This was freakin great."
"Uh, no." Luke admitted, "But my friend Tom did and ---"
Luke was cut off as Duncan spun to face him. A serious look on his face.
"Tom? You mean like Alex, Tom, Abaddon, and Skippy?"
Luke stared at him in shock. "You know them?"
"Know them? I'm their bloody crafter." Duncan laughed. "Now, why don't you tell me exactly what the hell you've been through? And more importantly, what the hell have those four assholes been up to." Duncan said cheerily.
Name: Luke Graceson
Race: Demigod
Type Humanoid
LVL: 8
Subrace: Human
Age: 18
Health: 520
Stamina: 1000
Mana: 700
Health Regen: 6.0 per hour
Stamina Regen: 7.6 per min
Mana Regen: 1.6 per min
Titles: Awoken Myths Member
Immune
N/A
Resistances
Physical 3%, Elemental 3%, Mental 2%
Weakness
N/A
Bane
Manslayer, Godslayer
Classes: Heir to Theseus 7, Heir to Beleiraphone 1
Total
STR: 88
AGIL: 0
DEX: 24
CON: 44
END: 16
PER: 35
INT: 35
WILL: 0
SPIRIT: 16
EGO: 8
CHA: 36
LCK: 0
Base
STR: 80 +10%
AGIL: 0
DEX: 24
CON: 40 +10%
END: 16
PER: 32 +10%
INT: 35
WILL: 0
SPIRIT: 16
EGO: 8 +5%
CHA: 32 +15%
LCK: 0 +10%
Personal: +4 PER, +3 STR, +3 DEX, +2 CON, +2 CHA
Racial: +3 CON, +2 STR, +2 END, +2 SPIRIT, +2 CHA, +1 EGO
Bloodline: +5 STR, +5 INT
Bloodline:
[Bloodline of Poseidon] - Legendary: Your father is Poseidon, the god of the sea, the earthshaker, Stormbringer, the father of horses, the guy you named the eighth planet in your solar system after. As the son of the sea god, you gain the following Benefits.
- [Power of the Sea God] - Level 1
- [Poseidon's Sea] - Level 4 >> Level 6
- [Kin of Horses] - Level 1 >> Level 7
- [Born Sailor] - Level 1
- [Natural Born Leader] - Level 3 >> Level 4
- [Master of Death] - Level 8 >> Level 11
- [Greek Tragedy] - Level 5 >> Level 10
- [Divine Assistance (Guide)] - Level 4 >>> ErR0R#4!!*!%!$
- +5 STR per level
- +5 INT per level
Skill Slots 08/60: 1 Free Skill Point
Personal Skills 02/??
- [Endless Brawler] - Level 8 >> Level 9
- [Storage] - Level 10
Heir to Theseus 04/11
- [First Labor: Periphetes' Crippling Strike] - Level 11 >> Level 15
- [Second Labor: The Charming of Sinis] - Level 1 >> Level 2
- [Third Labor: Hunter of The Crommyonian Sow] - Level 1 >> Level 11
- [Forth Labor: Vision of Sciron] - Level 1 >> Level 7
- [Fifth Labor: Father of Wrestling] - Level 1 >> Level 10
Heir to Bellerophon 1/6
- [Legacy of Misfortune] - Level 1 >> Level 2