"I want that one," Talax declared, pointing towards the far end of the room where a suit of armor had captivated his attention. It exuded an undeniable coolness, crafted from polished white metal that gleamed like the sun. The intricate details etched onto the metal resembled scales, and the helmet boasted dragon wings on each side.
As a string of mana flowed into his newfound ability, a small panel materialized in his vision.
Ceremonial Armor of the Dravoc Empire
Defense:
+50
Class:
Rare
Type:
Heavy Armor
Durability:
250/250
Traits:
None
"Your taste is... perplexing. Why don't I make the decision? I'm sure I can find something more suitable than that garish garment," Aria replied inside his mind with a condescending tone.
"What are you talking about? It can't get as badass as that armor! I want that one!" His eyes remained fixed on the shining armor, lost in fantasies of epic battles on massive battlefields, wielding his sword, and instilling fear in his enemies.
His daydreams came to an abrupt halt with Aria's scoff. "That's more of a piece of art than armor. You need something that will boost your mana, health, or magical abilities. If we're lucky, we might find something for your level that enhances your attribute points too. Although most offerings were crafted to inspire wonder and admiration, utility wasn't the primary focus. So, most of the equipment we find will have absurd requirements, making our choices quite limited."
Talax wasn't too bothered. Surveying the wealth within the room, he remained confident that they would stumble upon something both awe-inspiring and powerful. His gaze fixed on another armor, elegantly presented on a mannequin. Its metal exuded a deep blue that seemed to morph with the changing light, from a profound sapphire to an emerald green and even shades of dark indigo. Intrigued, he activated his analyze ability, captivated by the armor's beauty, and another panel materialized before him.
Neptunian Raiment
A suit of armor forged from the mysterious metal thalassite, said to be harvested from the deepest trenches of the ocean and imbued with the power of the sea itself. Gifted by Ataaw, the God of sea, himself as a token of his appreciation to his champion Herles for slaying a monster that brought ruin and devastation to the God’s domain.
Defense:
+2500
Class:
Relic
Type:
Heavy Armor
Durability:
4800/4800
Traits:
Chameleon's Embrace
Oceanic Harmony
Tidebound Endurance
Aquatic Resilience
Requirements:
Strength
220
Constitution
350
Dexterity
200
Willpower
300
Talax's jaw hit the floor; he didn't even know what to comment on first. The armor's formidable defense that turned its wearer into a walking fortress? The traits that suggested whoever owned it could become the ruler of the deep? And what about those requirements? Who could possibly meet such high statistics?
"Um..." The elf woman's hesitant voice echoed inside his mind. "Your tastes are quite extravagant. Why don't you let me take the lead from now on?" Still in shock, Talax could only nod mutely in agreement.
"That armor..." he finally muttered. "It's... its..." A hum interrupted his stammering. "It's a piece of history, a relic of unimaginable value that even the gods would vie for, especially Ataaw." Talax could see why.
"But how did it end up here?" he questioned. The idea of someone parting with such a remarkable and unique creation seemed unfathomable, even if he couldn't use it himself.
"Oh! I know that! A sister confided in me that a descendant of the champion Herles came to the temple, seeking Ha’arun's favor. He pleaded for his favorite pet to have a second chance in life and offered the unique relic as a desperate attempt to gain Ha’arun’s attention. The God was more than happy to get his hands on such a unique relic in exchange for helping the man's dear pet."
Talax chuckled as he listened to the story. "A pet?" he asked incredulously, and Aria replied sternly, "A pet can become as dear as any family by blood. Do not mock the man's despair." Talax's chuckle died down, and he tried to appease the ghost. "Fine, fine." With a last wishful sigh, he turned around.
Walking amidst the mountains of loot, his heart brimming with greed, Talax felt a sense of urgency that left a sour taste in his mouth. The fear of something unexpected happening and losing all the treasure gnawed at him. But how could he carry all those mountains of coins and gems? Then, he remembered Franny's dimensional bag and frantically searched the treasury for such an item.
"What's wrong?" Aria asked, sounding worried. Talax, momentarily forgetting about his quest for new armor, focused on finding an enchanted bag. "I need a dimensional bag," he announced. "How am I to carry all this loot?"
"Oh, I'm sure you'll find something in here." Talax searched for half an hour, fighting the temptation to pick up and examine all the weird and precious items around him. He had a particularly hard time ignoring a curled, ancient horn emitting a soft light, promising dominion over a large army. Aria had to talk him out of picking up the artifact, warning that at his current level, the horn's magic would destroy his mind and reduce him to a simpering fool.
Among the treasure trove, Talax came across a gilded mirror emitting an astounding amount of mana. According to its description, the enchanted mirror allowed its owner to manifest wishes and materialize desires into tangible reality. Aria cautioned him, however, that wielding such power came at a steep price, and the outcomes weren't always favorable.
After some searching, Talax finally found what he was looking for on a shelf. Bags of various kinds were squeezed together above enchanted belts and peculiar cloaks. He used his analyze ability until he identified the best bag; some weren't enchanted to hold things but offered other effects, such as making the wearer appear more professional or increasing their chances of success in a professional deal.
With a goofy smile, he read the description of the bag he had been seeking.
Mystic Satchel of Dimensions
A deceptively compact bag crafted from supple dark leather, adorned with shimmering arcane symbols. Its interior is an ethereal expanse that defies space and volume, accommodating countless items while maintaining a lightweight and portable form.
Class:
Epic
Durability:
180/180
Traits:
Interdimensional storage
Talax let out an elated laugh and immediately infused mana into the bag to claim it as his own. He felt a connection between the item and his core, and a dark expanse appeared in his vision. "That is so awesome!" he murmured in awe. He promptly unslung his old, tattered backpack, extracting the few belongings he had managed to accumulate and placing them inside his new enchanted bag.
The salamander heart-filled jars, bedrolls, and various trinkets found their places. As he organized his possessions, his eyes lingered on a forgotten jar, and then they shifted to his dagger of necrotic damage. An idea struck him, and with a few swift yet careful movements, he implemented his plan. After stowing all his belongings in the new bag, his eyes swept over the treasury, anticipation building within him at the prospect of collecting all the shiny loot surrounding him.
"You won't find a better bag of holding than this," agreed Aria. "It does have its limitations. The space is not inexhaustible, but I don't think there are many crafters on Helios who could make a bag as impressive as this."
Talax was already walking as the ghost of the high priestess continued speaking. Finally, she demanded, "Where are you going?" With greedy glee, Talax slung the bag across his torso and headed back to the unique armor. When Aria realized his intent, she gave a forlorn sigh.
"Well, I can't fault you for wanting to possess such an item. But we must focus on finding something more appropriate for you." Talax grabbed the shiny gauntlet and, after a few tries, managed to remove it from the mannequin.
Neptunian Gauntlet
Defense:
+400
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Class:
Relic
Type:
Heavy Armor
Durability:
800/800
Traits:
Oceanic Harmony
Requirements:
Strength
220
Dexterity
200
He marveled at the exquisite craftsmanship of the gauntlet, mesmerized by the way the blue metal seemed to move and flow like the currents of the sea. After a few moments, he carefully placed it inside his new bag, watching as the item vanished into its bottomless depths. Talax touched the connection with his enchanted satchel, confirming the gauntlet's presence within the black expanse.
Satisfied, he began to dismantle the impressive armor, piece by piece, each element finding its place inside his bag. First the helmet, followed by the breastplate, greaves, and lastly, the boots. He had some trouble putting the massive breastplate inside his satchel, but the magical item seemed to heed his will, unfolding like a flower to accommodate the impressive bulk.
With a sigh of pure bliss, he turned to address Aria, who had remained silent during his obsessive efforts to stow away the armor. "Okay, now let's go find an armor that I can actually use." He heard the ghost's voice, as if she were gritting her teeth, respond, "About time!"
As they walked through the chamber, inspecting every armor they came across, Talax swiped coins and gems, depositing them into his bag. Aria's patience reached its limit when Talax stopped to examine an armor set called Verdant Guardian, which bestowed control over plants.
"Can you please focus on our task!" she all but screeched inside his head, making him wince. "You can steal whatever you wish until we find you something to replace those rags you are wearing!"
He grimaced, knowing the ghost woman was right. With a chastised expression, he muttered, "You're right. I'm sorry." The allure of the riches had momentarily overridden his sense of purpose.
"I wonder if we should find you a mage's robes," Aria suggested. "Your levels are still low, and your spell collection is too slim. But in the future... maybe you should focus more on your magical abilities and less on your combat skills." The proposal sounded reasonable, but Talax immediately dismissed the idea. He valued the versatility of his capabilities, enjoying the freedom to switch between being a caster, a warrior, or an archer.
"You know, we've barely known each other for an hour, and you're already trying to change me!" he tsked mockingly, and the woman chuckled. "Have it your way. It was merely a suggestion. However, in the future, you may come to regret this decision."
"Why is that?" he questioned, confused. Aria explained, "In order to progress in all paths, you'll have to distribute your stat points across all attributes, making you weaker compared to another caster, for instance, who invests all his points in willpower, making his spells more powerful."
Talax stopped, alarmed. He hadn't known that evenly distributing his points among all attributes could eventually make him weaker. Sensing his agitation, Aria tried to reassure him. "It's not as bad as it sounds. You are unique in the sense that you get more points with each level. Few races receive as many points as you do. Most races, such as elves, gnomes, and humans, get five points to distribute. Only a handful of races, touched by some god or created by them, get more points. But those are rare exceptions. So, you see, even though it is unwise to spread your attribute points, you are in a unique position that allows you to afford it."
Talax felt a wave of relief listening to the soul fragment, realizing that having her by his side was indeed a valuable asset. She was what she had promised him to be, a fountain of information, filling in the blanks in his knowledge and guiding him on a better path.
He nodded his thanks, still mulling over what he had heard. With a clearer head, he recognized the wisdom in her assessment. He would become a weaker caster and warrior if he continued on this path. Yet, another facet of his approach emerged, he would always have a weapon to fight with, be it spells, a sword, dagger, or bow. His unpredictable combat style would keep opponents guessing, one moment a sword-wielding warrior, the next a spell-slinging death mage.
Yes, his path might not be optimal, but it was the one he chose. Besides, he relished unlocking new spells and abilities, regardless of the skill or element they originated from. It was so satisfying that it became addicting, and he eagerly anticipated his next level up to use one more token.
"Maybe I should use my tokens..." Talax muttered to himself, and Aria, upon hearing it, said, "You have recently leveled up; I may be able to influence the points to distribute them to a desired location. Would you like me to do it?" Talax was surprised; he hadn't even noticed his level up, likely occurring when he lost consciousness after the defeat of the giant arachnid.
His character sheet popped up, and Aria said with excitement,
"Congratulations! You have reached level 14!"
Talax shared her excitement, and a small smile bloomed on his face. "How would you like to distribute your attribute points?"
Name: Talax
Health points: 171/220
Mana: 190/274
Level: 14
Race: Human (Voidborn)
Age: 25
Profession: None
Class: None
Humans stand out as the most populous and adaptable race. While some races may possess inherent magical abilities, superior strength, or extraordinary longevity, humans rely on their inherent versatility to navigate the diverse landscapes and challenges of Helios. Their broad affinities and capacity for learning quickly have allowed them to thrive in nearly any environment or occupation.
Attributes: +5 per level (+3 Voidborn)
Strength: 19
Constitution: 22
Dexterity: 25
Willpower: 21
Intelligence: 27
Charisma: 23
Talax looked at his character sheet, but before making a decision, he needed some clarifications. "What's the difference between willpower and intelligence?" Immediately, Aria's tone picked up an informative aspect that sounded eerily like Franny's.
"Willpower determines your mana regeneration. The higher the attribute, the quicker you will replenish your mana pool. It also affects resistance to various elements of magic. Also, it may enhance your magical prowess, making your spells hit harder and have a greater effect. Intelligence, on the other hand, is directly related to your core. The bigger the attribute, the more mana you can hold. It also augments your mental resistance, making you better at handling mental attacks."
Hearing her detailed explanation, Talax realized he needed more mana. With his new spells, his mana pool seemed inadequate. If he wanted to sling spells more frequently, he needed a bigger stock of magical ammunition.
Although his highest stat was intelligence, he decided to spend two of his points on the attribute. He didn't feel any change in his body, but immediately saw his mana points increase by 20. Seeing the sorry state of his strength attribute, he invested four points into the stat, attempting to even things out. This time, there was a noticeable change. He felt his muscles contract, as if he were cramping, and a slight twinge of pain, as if he had been working out for hours, overcame his body. Debating where to place his remaining two points, he decided that constitution was the answer. It was always good to have more health points. A sense of well-being coursed through his veins, and he let out a blissful sigh. Satisfied, he inspected the latest changes.
Name: Talax
Health points: 171/240
Mana: 190/314
Level: 14
Race: Human (Voidborn)
Age: 25
Profession: None
Class: None
Humans stand out as the most populous and adaptable race. While some races may possess inherent magical abilities, superior strength, or extraordinary longevity, humans rely on their inherent versatility to navigate the diverse landscapes and challenges of Helios. Their broad affinities and capacity for learning quickly have allowed them to thrive in nearly any environment or occupation.
Attributes: +5 per level (+3 Voidborn)
Strength: 23
Constitution: 24
Dexterity: 25
Willpower: 21
Intelligence: 31
Charisma: 23
"That's better," he murmured as he dragged his battered body to a corner where he spotted two plate mails. Upon closer inspection and analysis of the armor sets, he realized he had finally found something he could wear. There was a small problem, though, they were medium and heavy armor, and using them would incur a severe penalty to his magic.
"Open that chest," Aria urged, and Talax spotted a chest positioned between two dummies. He opened the lid and discovered another set of armor. This time, upon reading the description, a big, satisfied smile graced his face.
"Finally!" he muttered, and Aria's happy laughter echoed inside his head.
He began examining each piece with interest.
Luminescent Visor
Defense:
+10
Class:
Rare
Type:
Light Armor
Durability:
50/50
Traits:
30% to night vision
The helmet had a simple design with a few swirling details on top and seemed to offer little protection. Crafted from glossy, black metal, it only covered his eyes, with a guard for his nose while leaving the rest of his face exposed. However, when Talax put on the helmet, everything around him brightened as if it were noonday. The dimly lit treasury, previously illuminated only by flickering torches, now appeared bathed in sunlight.
Stalwart Chestguard
Defense:
+25
Class:
Rare
Type:
Light Armor
Durability:
75/75
Traits:
20% health regeneration
The chestplate, following the same ebony motif as the helmet, was meticulously fashioned from supple black leather. Its exquisite craftsmanship was evident in the intricate embellishments that adorned its surface, forming a mesmerizing tapestry of patterns. Gilded accents, reminiscent of molten gold, traced sinuous lines and delicate filigree, infusing a luxurious feel into the otherwise simple design.
Berserker's Grip
Defense:
+12
Class:
Rare
Type:
Light Armor
Durability:
50/50
Traits:
+2 to strength
The gauntlet was an amalgamation of the two previous pieces, crafted from both metal and leather. It looked like a long, black glove that reached up to his elbow encased by a metal carapace on one side, offering protection while giving him the freedom to move his hands as he wished. The only decorations were stitched details on the glove, keeping the design simple yet elegant.
Fleetfoot Striders
Defense:
+15
Class:
Rare
Type:
Light Armor
Durability:
60/60
Traits:
+1 to dexterity
10% projectile evasion
The pants continued the design from the breastplate. The comfortable black leather that felt soft yet durable to his hands held the same simple luxury. Finally, Talax pulled out the last item from the chest and began to analyze it.
Stalwart Steps
Defense:
+10
Class:
Rare
Type:
Light Armor
Durability:
50/50
Traits:
20% resistance to knockback effect
The black leather boots reached up to his knees, and the shiny metal that embraced his legs protected his shins, tapering to a pointed end with a line of painted gold. The combination gave the item a blend of comfort and protection.
Talax started undressing, feeling a little self-conscious with the woman inside his head, and began putting on his new armor. The leather squeaked slightly, and he grunted as he struggled to don the breastplate. After an intense few minutes filled with grunts and swears, he finally managed to equip all the pieces. Adding the worn cloak he had found earlier, which provided a 20% bonus to concealment, he walked over to the mirror he had seen earlier.
Congratulations you have equipped the Twilight Sentinel Set!
Unique ability:
Eclipse Dash: Once all five pieces of the Twilight Sentinel Set are worn, the warrior gains access to the "Eclipse Dash." This ability allows the warrior to perform a swift dash, leaving behind a shadowy trail. During this dash, the warrior becomes immune to crowd control effects for five seconds.
He heard Aria’s voice and was astounded by the new ability but when he looked at the mirror, all thoughts about abilities vanished. When he gazed at himself, he was left speechless. He looked like a true warrior. The black metal and leather added an air of mystery to his presence, and the gold details dotted all over his armor made him appear distinguished. His unshaven face and black eyes peeking out from behind the helmet only added to his roguish look.
He chuckled and winked at himself, impressed with his transformation. "A little too full of yourself, aren't you?" Aria snickered. "Well, if you looked like me, you would make a fool of yourself too!" Talax shot back as he made a circle to take in the full effect of his new gear.
"Awesome!" he exclaimed but then turned serious. "Now, what can you tell me about void magic?"
Aria sighed. "That is a long conversation."