In the shadowed groves of Ancladon, where Layla's screams clashed with Khirtis' silence, chaos unfolded. Loras, torn between action and inaction, stood beside his wagon.
"Loras, please!! Help!!" Layla's scream tore through the air, her desperation visible. Khirtis, on the other hand, was occupied with survival. "Of all souls, why is it targeting me!?" Layla cried, her tears shooting through her eyes.
As the group journeyed to Ancladon, Loras recounted his battle with the toudaes. He described them as formidable birds with beaks large enough to crush their prey. Cloaked in feathers as dark as tar, with golden talons, and their gradient endowed beaks, they were the embodiment of beautiful terror lurking in the skies.
"They sound cute!" said Layla, a naive smile gracing her lips.
"Loras forgot a crucial detail - They're giants." quipped Khirtis.
The giant toudae drove its face into the earth, its massive beak a vertical hammer ready to crush anything on its way. In a singular, fluid motion, its beak swept the ground with a force that felled trees.
In unison, Layla and Khirtis leaped aside, narrowly evading a crushing end, but the sight of a tree, now sundered by the toudae's assault, sent Layla crying once more, all of it directed at Loras.
"I am dying, Loras, help me!"
Bound by the System's edict, "Quest Conditionals", Loras hesitated to act. The conditionals are enforced into NPCs, rendering them to the narrative of a quest they are part of. In this case, both Layla and Khirtis acted as guards, sworn to protect his carriage of goods which meant that Loras will automatically choose to be passive and be on the side lines instead of jumping in.
But there are levels to these conditionals, and that is why Loras armed his crossbow. Defying the quest's constraints, he prepared to intervene.
"Duck, Lady Layla!" he shouted, releasing a bolt, this time surrounded by a cerulean vortex. But as it neared its target, the toudae flapped its wing, creating a wind barrier, halting the bolt mid-flight.
[Helix's Insight]
Toudae used a skill! --> ??? (1/3)
Loras, Merchant of Byrales used a skill --> ??? (1/5)
Khirtis' keen eye kept track of the happenings during the battle. But he wasn't able to see through the toudae's level or details. In place of its level were questions marks, similar to how it was with Loras.
-Extremely high-leveled target-
Yet, Khirtis understood another aspect of his skill - his eye would unveil the secrets of his targets through observing them multiple times. "I must reason with Loras. We should wear it down until I figure out its weakness." he thought. His strategy was to discern a vulnerability with his [Eye of Helix] and conspire a method to victory. Even amidst the heat of the battle, his mind worked methodically.
"Why am I calm?" He asked himself, then casting the thought aside, he turned his gaze to the merchant. "Loras! We must-" But before he could finish, Loras launched another bolt, now pulsing with a fierce, oceanic hue. The toudae, still aloft, summoned its defensive barrier again, yet the bolt trajectory completely missed its target.
That's when Khirtis' jaw slackened in disbelief. The bolt, as if turned to rubber, bounced off a tree trunk, its speed redoubled. It found an unguarded flank of the toudae and struck true, piercing its right wing and beak.
The creature plummeted as it lost its ability of flight, and its beak fragmenting upon the dirt path. Though still alive, it was gravely injured. It's current state unlocking a new aspect of Khirtis' eye.
-State: Extremely Weakened! Access: 100%-
-Toudae - Lvl. 26-
HP: 93/1143
These avian giants were canopied by the dense trees of the forest, hiding them within. Toudaes are known throughout the southern reaches of the Anthroterr for their lethal beaks. Yet, their natural weapon was also a curse, for it never ceases to grow. Age would eventually render them flightless, abandoned to a solitary fate. (Insight: Elder Toudaes, that are grievously impaired, are part of random event encounters which a player can come across. They are laden with XP, and potentially good loot, making for a beneficial encounter.)
[Helix's Insight]
These creatures favor the ground for battle, maximizing the size of their beaks in confined spaces. In the open, they take to the skies, only to descend with crushing force - a tactic that risks damage to themselves. Though not monsters, they can wield magic, specializing in wind.
Toudae are not known to be pets but taming these avian beasts is possible. (Taming Mastery required)
-Skills-
Toudae's Wind Barricade: With a beat of its wings, the toudae conjures a wind barrier, thwarting ranged attacks. Projectiles suffer diminished force [Dmg -35%]. A slim chance to deflect such attacks entirely [5%]
The Toudae reared on its hind legs, its tongue dangling from the maw of its shattered beak. "Shoot it again, Loras! Quick!!" Layla yelled, but Loras had already put away his weapon. His act of rebellion against the quest's conditionals reached its extent.
"We're on our own, Layla! Run circles around it!" Khirtis' strategy nearly lost amidst the creature's cries. Layla began orbiting one flank while Khirtis mirrored her movements on the other side - their dance coordinating a web of confusion on the beast.
"This must work!" Khirtis thought, eyeing the Insight window.
-Weakness-
Toudae's are narrow focused, fixating on a singular target. A coordinated attack can inflict [Confusion] and disorient them.
Like a duo of mischievous Gemini, Layla and Khirtis sent the giant bird into a frenzy. It lunged, only to be distracted and switch targets in a hopeless cycle. "I'm exhausted, Khirtis!" Layla called out as her eyes began to widen as saucers when the toudae's attention snapped to her. It attempted to strike, just as before, slamming its head on the ground and sweep it. But its strike met only air, its once deadly beak now just a case of a phantom limb.
"...I am in one piece!" Layla gasped, noticing her intact body.
Seizing the moment, Khirtis punched on the beast, his knife in one hand.
"H & V: Cut!" His skill tore into the beast, the damage piling despite the difference in levels.
"Tch, its defense is high." Khritis noted, maintaining his assault. Just as he was about to deal the final blow, the toudae shook him off.
-Toudae Inflicted - 15 DMG!-
Although sustaining damage, Khirtis nimbly rolled to his feet, and held his momentum. "I won't give it time to breathe," he declared, activating [Eye of Helix] once more to reveal its health.
HP: 24/1143
The toudae being on the verge of death, Khirtis coiled like a spring and sprang forward, his intention to put an end to this fight. But in that moment, he noticed the glint of a knife approaching from one side.
"Die!" Layla awkwardly threw her knife, surprisingly reaching and burying itself inside the beast's eye.
Super Critical Hit! - 13!
The toudae reeled in pain, its movements loss of any rational thought. Khirtis held the bird's feathers tightly not to fall but the creature crashed into a weakened tree, which splintered under the impact. Khirtis immediately let go before the it crushed the beast beneath.
Player (Varmin Layla) Vanquished a Toudae!-
- Distribution Verdict: (Varmin Layla) - 70% & (Khirtis) - 30%-
-Shared XP: 2344!-
-XP Received: 703!-
"That's not fair! I did most of the damage!" Khirtis protested, his voice riddled with disbelief. "You literally stole my kill from me!"
"I don't know what you're talking about, my little skunk. The System clearly says I contributed more. Or are you saying the system is wrong?" Layla's laughed in rhythms, her smile coupled with a golden shine around her body, marking a level-up.
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Loras joined the duo and offered an apology. Layla's brow furrowed, her voice defeated, "I could've died. And for real. You can easily kill that thing." A tear escaped her eye.
He remained silent, not from shame, but constrained by the game's mechanic from acknowledging concepts relating Yvestell to a game, instead of a real world. Khirtis, interpreting his silence as remorse, defended him, "Are you forgetting who actually did most of the work. If we couldn't finish it off at that state, then we might as well quit playing."
Luckily Layla wasn't too hard on the merchant, forgiving him on the spot. The trio turned their attention to the fallen beast. "Should we butcher and stuff?" Layla said, eyeing the butcher window.
"I wish, but we lack mastery to do so." Khirtis replied.
Loras, nearing closer with wagon, said "I would've harvested its beak for you... If I hadn't gone overboard with my attack."
Overboard? Khirtis pondered the merchant's true strength. His level still hidden behind question marks, Khirtis expected him to be close to triple digits if he was able to fend off an entire flock of those beasts.
Khirtis (Lv. 4) --> (Lv. 5)
Varmin Layla (Lv. 2) --> (Lv. 6)
*
*
*
"The path grows steeper." Khirtis observe, his gaze fixed on the winding trail ahead. "Ancladon's crown will soon be visible. It's perched upon a rising in the land - the only bridge to the draugr domain of Helfet." Loras added, guiding the steed with a firm grip on the reins.
The forest's density began to wane, giving away to the steep path ahead. The soon setting sun cast a golden hue, heralding the end of their journey. Once they exited the forest to the ridge, their vision adjusted to the light, revealing the land beyond.
"Is that... the town?" Layla asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
In the distance, the silhouette loomed defying simple labels like 'town'. Its stone ramparts soared high, bristling with the promise of defense and strength. Spikes crowned its walls with intent, and to the east, a tower stood above all other structures.
"...a fortress" Khirtis quipped, also in disbelief.
Loras nodded, "You arrived at the truth, Khirtis. Welcome to the southern edge of our kingdom."
Khirtis eyed the cliffs that flanked Ancladon, confirming its status as the sole passage to and from Helfet. "It really is the only pass to their domain." he affirmed.
"Helfet? What is that?" Layla curiosity piqued.
"That's what the land of draugrs is called. They are adventurers same as you but of a different sort, mostly nestled deep within the Great Canyon of Valles." Loras answered, his words painting a vague picture of the lands beyond.
"Draugrs? Valles?" Layla's mind spiraled in confusion.
The men collectively sighed as Layla ignored her curiosities and leapt from the wagon and danced through the fields of golden hay, her laughter trailing behind.
"Stop playing around, Layla!" Khirtis' call was met with more laughter. "This girl is a toddler..." His palm met his brow in exhaustion.
Behind the party, directly to the north, a marvel of Anthroterr was hidden due to the forest's dense ceiling. The first person to notice was Layla, "Guys... what is that?" Her voice was riddled with pure astonishment.
Khirtis turned his head around towards the sky and announced, "That's... Yggdrasil."
A stellar marvel draped across the sky, its branches weaving a web pulsating a kaleidoscope of colors and its leaves shimmering with hues mirroring the cosmos. Even from afar, at the furthest reaches of the human kingdom, its presence was as palpable as the fabric they adorned.
"The forebearer of worlds, Yggdrasil," Loras quipped, his gaze fixed on the path ahead. "At the very bottom, where the roots grow wild, lie our formidable capital, Cianca."
"Woah... I've never seen a tree that big." Layla said, persisting with her childish antics. " But isn't that tree from the game manual?" she wondered.
"Manual? What're you talking about?" Khirtis asked.
"You know! The end goal? Aren't we supposed to conquer it or something like that?"
Khirtis' eye twitched in remembrance as he recalled the original game's manual, which listed Yggdrasil as the 'Endgame', requiring players to conquer the 'nests' of the tree of life. This was before First Contact and the transformation into current Yvestell which harbored elements of real life.
"You're right but this was before, way back when it was just a game. Now it's only another dungeon to conquer." he clarified.
"A scaringly formidable dungeon, to be sure," Loras added. "Thus far only three of those nests have been conquered."
"How many are there?" asked Layla.
"Nine in total. I wonder how difficult it is. I've heard rumors that it's out right impossible." Khirtis mused.
Leaping back onto the wagon, Layla's eyes shone with determination. "I want to go there!" her finger pointing at the majestic giant in the distance.
Khirtis could only shake his head, "Good luck with that," his voice slightly condescending, "There have been less than confirmed players who reached Cianca. The capital is a mystery."
Loras, gripping the reins, spoke to Khirtis, "Fortune favors the bold, and Layla is determined as you can see. It's not beyond reach."
Khirtis let out a chuckle at his remark, but Layla's eye shone even brighter. "I would know. It only took me a month to arrive here. From Cianca." added Loras.
"From the capital, you say!?" Khirtis exclaimed.
"Quite so. The name 'Byrales' might ring a bell. I come from the many tribes that dwell at the roots of Yggdrasil." Loras revealed, leaving the duo surprised.
Layla, curiosity piqued again, peeked behind the cloth in the wagon's rear and asked, "You're merchant, right? What did you bring from there?"
A smile equipped across his face, Loras responded, "Ah, that's a secret I cannot tell even you, Lady Layla." Meanwhile, Layla's eyes remained fixed on the cargo wrapped in a veil hiding its contents.
Before Khirtis could dive deeper into the conversation, Loras spoke again, "We are finally at the gates."
As they neared the large gates of Ancladon, sparse crows of players and NPCs alike sat and stood around idly, their murmurs polluting silence. Most of the players were higher leveled, and they equipped armor and weapons beyond the reaches of newbies.
"Are these real players?" Layla asked, the sight of players in battle gear stirred excitement in her.
"Clearly yes, but why are they-" Layla's thundering voice interrupted his inquiry, "I am Varmin Layla! Remember the name!" which prompted Khirtis to grab her and muffle her voice with his hand.
Loras chuckled as he hoped onto the ground, meeting the guards who were imposing and steadfast.
"State your business!" yelled one of the guards.
Loras presented a fluorescent pendant, his passport into Ancladon. "I am here on official orders."
"My apologies! Get ready to open the gates!" the guard yelled at the men stationed beyond the gates.
"And these individuals?" asked the guard.
"They guarded my goods. Adventurers I met along the way." Loras answered.
"The guard, who was an NPC, settled his gaze on the duo who wore puzzled expressions. "Regrettably, Ancladon is currently at maximum capacity. We're not accepting any adventurers at this moment."
"Wait what!" exclaimed Layla and Khirtis in unison. "We've only started, and we even have a quest explicitly directing us here!" protested Khirtis.
The guard offered another shake of his head. A player lounging against a nearby post chimed in, "Give it up, there's no chance they'll let you in."
Layla closed the distance between them, invading his personal space, and demanded an explanation. "You two are fresh newbies... Ancladon is under siege by draugrs, at least the opposite side. It's
Layla jumped to him and invaded his personal space and asked why. "You guys are newbies... Ancladon is being besieged by the draugrs. On the opposite side at least. Its in a state of war."
"That makes sense now. That explains our unlucky start. The assholes are hoarding all the wartime XP." Khirtis remarked.
"I'd be among those assholes racking up the XP if I hadn't been slow. Yet here I am, waiting for any opportunity," FalloutZ responded with a hint of regret. "You need to be graced by luck itself to get in now."
-Forests of Ancladon-
Quest Completed!
Rewards: 1000 XP, Ticket: The Forge
-Escort: A Bryales' Repentance-
Joint Quest Completed!
Rewards: 500 XP, 200 C
Loras stepped forward, presenting each of the duo a small pouch filled with copper coins as token of their time. "The gates are now opened. It grieves me that I alone can pass through. Do not fret though, it's not for long. The closure will end in mere days. I pray for the shroud of patience to befell you."
"Take me with you!" Layla cried out, lunging toward him, but the guards intervened, seizing her by the waist. She wildly flailed her limbs in a futile struggle against their grip but wasn't able to break free. Suddenly, a piercing scream startled the crowd, tilting everyone's attention skyward to the source of the noise.
Khirtis was the first to spot it - a figure plummeting from the heavens, heading into the eye of the crowd. It landed with a loud thud, grasping player's and NPC's gazes alike. As the veil of dust settled, a silhouette emerged, towering and ominous. The System chimed across the vicinity to most players, alerting them to a new discovery.
-Species Discovery! Draugrs of Valles!-
Its skin was a tapestry of frostbite marks and decay, tinged with a gross green over its deep blue flesh. Where a nose should be, only a vertical slits could be observed, and its bulging eyes, devoid of lids, popped out more. Clad in spiked armor, the creature, clearly wounded, surveyed the crowd with a menacing gaze. The draugr clenched its dual axes, and unleased a howl that sent shivers down the spines of most onlookers.
Yet before the draugr could press forward, the guards jumped him, confronting the threat.
"Layla, stay close - this creature is a... player," Khirtis spoke, his voice laced with alarm.
"I'll attempt to flank him, and you keep those knives ready to fly." Khirtis instructed, but when he turned, Layla was nowhere to be seen. At the gate, a glimpse of her blonde hair caught his eye as she clung to Loras' wagon, slipping through the gates.
"Hold up! Are you sneaking in!?" Khirtis yelled, noticing that all the guards were busy handling the draugr. "Argh! Damn it all!" he yelled again, dashing after her through the gate.
Guilt struck Khirtis' heart as he bolted into the city, his eyes shut tight against his hasty actions. But his momentum came to complete stop when he collided with the back of Loras' wagon.
"You tagged along after all! I half expected you to greet that thing back there." Layla quipped with a chuckle.
Panting, Khirtis managed to reply, "We trespassed! Illegals, Layla, we are illegals! We should leave before we are caught. I can't be a criminal on my first day!"
Loras rested a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Calm down, Khirtis. Entering the town isn't a cause for alarm. You can still register your names at the town center. The count is only an illusion to outsiders, not those within." he assured, then glancing at Layla, who was amusing herself with the horse, he added, "In fact, I believe you should thank the young lady for her remarkable... fortune."
Regaining his composure, Khirtis approached Layla. "We should head to the town center to register before something unexpected happens. We were supposed to do that if we had normally spawned here."
Layla turned to Khirtis, pressing a button at her side of the screen.
-Party Disbanded-
"I'll do that later, maybe. For now, I am sticking with Loras!" Layla declared.
Before Khirtis could respond, she continued, "You did promise me to guide me here, so you were an honest stalker after all, Kris!"
-Friend Request - Varmin Layla-
"Consider it a stroke of luck having me as friend, so you better accept."
"Ha, maybe it is." Khirtis let out a laugh as he hit the accept button. "I guess I will see you around, Layla. It was fun!"
"Yeah, see you soon! Loras, let's go!"
With a nod to Khirtis, the merchant departed with Layla, leaving Khirtis alone. The sense of solitude enveloping him snapped him back into the scenery around him. The roar of cannons, the battle cries from the ramparts, and the march of armored patrols filled the air. Yet amidst the cacophony of war, the townspeople moved with a serene indifference, as if the very notion of conflict was a lie.
-Location Discovery! The Humble Fortress - Ancladon!-