Dark: Fearless Pioneer (Dark LitRPG book 1)

by Arthur Stone

  “Well, silly mortal, do you understand the benefits of reading now?” the Ancient Evil asked, as condescendingly as a retired professor.

  “Will it be the same with any scroll?” Dark clarified eagerly.

  “That varies from scroll to scroll. But for a sorry fool like you, nearly anything is beneficial. And you’re the only player here, so everything you read will be the first time it’s read in modern history.”

  Dark hastily grabbed the next sheet. It was a recipe for a Stamina Regeneration potion. Another +6 progress points to Knowledge.

  The third sheet was a rough map with a cross in the middle of it. After looking for it a minute, Dark received the message.

  Note: You have studied an ancient map and now know the location of a low-level hiding place. Received quest: Ancient Treasure. To complete this quest, inspect the contents of the ancient hiding place. Quest Reward: contents of the treasure, +350 Perception progress points.

  Note: You have discovered a new location: Lower Level of the Omertis Copper Mine. +1 Pioneer skill level. +1 Perception, +1 Luck, +1 Charisma, +1 Simplicity. This is the fourth location you have discovered. Congratulations!

  Wait—he could discover new locations without even traveling? All he had to do was read ancient maps and bask in the rewards?

  Well, sure, assuming he could find more of these maps. This was the only one in the tower.

  He got 250 distributable craft skill progress points. What a day! He no longer had to waste precious level points on all a wide number of level 0 skills.

  Plus, his craft level would go from 0 to 2 instantly, thanks to his pumped Smithing and Carpentry. For many players that would be no achievement at all, but for Dark it was quite the accomplishment.

  The final sheet of parchment showed a schematic depiction of a strange, snake-like creature being brutally dismembered. He hardly had time to properly examine the picture when the next message appeared.

  You have examined Schrass Whip Sling.

  Note: This is the first blueprint you have learned! Bonus +1 to any craft skill.

  Note: No one else in the modern history of X has encountered a blueprint for a sling made of a Schrass Whip. You have discovered a forgotten weapon of Ancient Ethria. Bonus +1 Enchanting skill level! Continue rediscovering ancient knowledge for valuable rewards.

  Dark couldn’t believe his eyes. He looked over the rest of the sheets of parchment to make sure they were empty. “I just got a whole craft stat level. Not a skill level. A stat level. Enchanting. How can that be?”

  “This is X. That is far from the wildest thing to happen here.”

  “I didn’t know how I was going to pump Enchanting. Figured I would have to use distributable points on it. Otherwise I could only learn it by studying books or asking someone to mentor me. But with this, boom, one whole point. It’s a bonus point, too. Calculated separately from skills. All of my skills for that stat are still 0, as before. That’s nice. Listen, Evil, are there more towers in Ethria with parchments like this?”

  “Ethria has many things,” the cloud equivocated.

  “Where is one of these things?”

  “If I were in need of ancient manuscripts, books, and scrolls, I would likely start at a library. But you are miserably stupid, even for a mortal, so you will not think of that.”

  “Where is the nearest library?”

  “Not in the meadows, that’s for sure.”

  “Of course not. But can you give me more details? I saw some kind of ruins beyond the meadows on my first day in Ethria. They looked like a city. Is there a library there?”

  “Impudent being! I am the Ancient Evil, not a tour guide! Go find out for yourself!”

  “I thought you were interested in me developing more quickly?”

  “So? That doesn’t mean I have to hold your hand. I did not sign up for that. That is simply degrading! But if you are looking for advice, well, I would be wary of any ruins, if I were you.”

  “I like these ruins. Rats were the only danger I encountered in the mine.”

  “Ruins, though—you never know what you may find there. Mortal, the bad weather has subsided. It is time for me to continue my search for those things I shall never find.”

  “I’ll head to the city tomorrow, probably.”

  “Go, then, if you are weary of living.”

  “Is it really that bad?”

  “It seems you will find out soon.”

  Chapter 35

  In Search of Ruin

  Total stat levels: 33.

  Character level: 5

  Mastery level: 2.

  Circling yet another hesh’ell swarm, Dark sighed. At his level and with his abilities and equipment, he could easily exterminate all of the creatures within a few hours and earn a pile of experience. Perhaps it was too early for him to go on a quest for the ruins. It was much more practical for him to squeeze everything he could out of this place and save the rest of the bonuses for exploring Ethria for later, when his progress began to slow.

  But perhaps these glades were not so beneficial. They were easy to grind in, yes, but perhaps a few miles away there were mobs that were both simpler and more profitable to kill. Plus, he was getting a little bored of this place. Destroying hesh’ells day after day would become soul-crushing toil. He needed a better grip on the region, so between hunting and working days, he would explore.

  First, Dark went to the pillar that had served as his respawn point just before he discovered the mine. He patiently examined each rune inscribed on it. That earned him one measly progress point to Perception.

  Thankfully, that was only the beginning. Orienting himself, he moved along the destroyed paved road. It moved in the general direction of his aim, and he might discover more such pillars along the way.

  He soon deduced that they stood approximately four hundred yards apart. Six more pillars rested on his path, each giving him one more Perception progress point.

  As he left the final pillar, he stopped to read new messages.

  You have left the Outer Omertis location. Welcome to Ruins of Omertis. The great warrior Go’adzas fought for Omertis to the bitter end. They say he remains faithful to his fallen city, even after death.

  Note: You have discovered a new location: Ruins of Omertis. +1 Pioneer skill level. +1 Perception, +1 Luck, +1 Charisma, +1 Simplicity. This is the fifth location you have discovered. Congratulations!

  Dark saw nothing in the area that might be called ruins. Just the same groves on either side of the road, interspersed with meadows of emerald grass. Another swarm of hesh’ells could be seen between the trees in the distance.

  In general, though, visibility ahead was poor. The road followed an upward inclined that seemed to level off about a hundred paces further.

  As he crested the hill, Dark saw the ruins at last.

  He caught his breath.

  The traces of some tragedy long ago were eloquently painted in rocks and rubble. And bones. Dark nearly stepped on them, in fact; three skeletons lay sprawling on the sides of the road at the edge of the hilltop. Remarkably-preserved arrow shafts jutted out of their rusted armor in places, along with dents from powerful blows and even the signs of melting in places.

  He called up information about the nearest victim.

  Ethrian Skeleton. This warrior took the side of the schismatics and fell in fierce combat at the walls of Omertis. His enemies did not loot his corpse. You may collect all valuables which have stood the test of time.

  There weren’t many “valuables.” A few pieces of common steel armor, including a helmet with just 1 Durability; a rusty sword; a single arrow stuck between the man’s ribs; an Ethrian Bone; a leather purse with a few copper coins inside; and a wooden spoon.

  From the other bodies, Dark collected a pile of similar loot. There was no sense in carrying all of it, so he dug a hole beside the road and created a small hiding place.

  Then, he carefully examined the scene two hundred paces down the road.

  Th
ese were the ruins of Omertis.

  It looked like a medieval city, or even an ancient city, abandoned long ago. Those were the days when the rulers of cities tried to enclose them in high walls. This particular wall had been impressive, at least thirty-five feet tall from its base to its spiny top. Its composition was of yellowish-gray blocks—exactly like the sandstone from his favorite cliff. Many towers lined the perimeter, higher than the wall and jutting out strongly to loom over the empty but still swampy moat.

  Some of them were badly damaged, and in a few places the walls had been clearly breached by some unknown ancient siege weapon. Those gaps did not look like the destruction of time—none of the blocks had fallen outwards, only inwards, towards the city. The road led to a gate which had been thrown open, though the doors still hung on their hinges. Before them, the city drawbridge was lowered, and the chains that could raise it were broken and now snaked along the ground.

  The most interesting part of the scene was between Dark and the bridge. It was the backbone of some colossal beast, larger than the one which had been resting in the river. Around that skeleton lay more dead warriors. Once again, he would need to collect the loot and stash it in a hiding place.

  He touched the monster first.

  Remains of a Ferocious Verr. Elite Mob. Level 164. Base skill progress points: 4920. Base distributable skill progress points: 820. Detailed stats: unavailable. Abilities: unavailable.

  A monster slain by unknown heroes in the days when darkness and chaos struggled for domination over the world. This beast died by the walls of the city it was attacking, and time has left only its bare skeleton. The unknown heroes did not claim the loot that was rightfully theirs; now anyone who finds a path to these forgotten lands may seize it.

  Pulling up the loot panel, Dark counted fifteen items in all: a sword named Glory of Omertis, a fancy breastplate and boots, a Shield of superb-quality steel, a Large Crystal of Essence, four Lesser Modifiers of Essence, one Medium Modifier of Essence, an Agility Buff Potion, a Greater Potion of Healing, three flasks of Mana Potion, one Level 164 Soul Essence, a small Diamond of superb quality, four Furious Verr Claws, two Furious Verr Fangs, and six Furious Verr Bones.

  The first item was the most interesting. Named items were often mentioned on the forums. If this item was unknown to all players thus far, as it likely was, Dark would get a good bonus for discovering it.

  That blueprint of a simple low-level sling had given him a whole craft skill level. This sword was likely to give him much more.

  Of course, if he collected the loot, the skeleton would crumble to dust. Not that he cared. He wasn’t in the middle of a river, where he might crash into the depths and lose all of the heavy items collected.

  His bag was soon full with the many trophies, bones, and fangs. Three of the claws didn’t fit and clattered onto the pavement.

  Feeling the skeleton shake, Dark dove away from it. It disintegrated, only its spine crashing to the ground, as he expected.

  Note: You have discovered a new creature: Ferocious Verr. Elite Mob. Level 164. Base XP: 4920. Health: unknown. Mana: unknown. Stamina: unknown. Aggression: unknown. Magic abilities: unknown. Poison level: unknown. Chance of valuable loot: high. Description: a huge, unpretentious beast that prefers straight paths and can easily crush impressive obstacles along them.

  No player in the history of X has ever encountered a Furious Verr! You receive +2500 Knowledge progress points. Bonus +1 level to any basic skill. You also receive 1500 distributable craft skill progress points. The leaders of the Explorers League may present you with a reward for adding creatures you have discovered from your personal bestiary to the league archives. Congratulations! Keep discovering new things to unlock more generous rewards!

  Note: You have found the sword Glory of Omertis. No player in the history of X has ever held this sword. You have discovered a forgotten weapon of Ancient Ethria. Bonus +1 to any base stat! You also receive 5000 distributable craft skill progress points. Continue rediscovering ancient knowledge for valuable rewards.

  Dark was unable to hold back a smile. The bonus was excellent, as he had hoped. Now he could boost any of his base stats by a whole level, and he had an impossibly huge mountain of progress points to distribute to craft skills.

  This was before he had even entered the city!

  Maybe a couple of streets would be enough for him to find a hundred levels and a box of assorted teleport scrolls. Then he would curse himself for all the time he spent stabbing beavers and chopping rocks.

  Once he hid his treasures in another hiding spot, he would explore to his heart’s content.

  Chapter 36

  Evil Ethrians

  Total stat levels: 33 +1.

  Character level: 5.

  Mastery level: 2.

  The citizens of Ethria had lived large in the olden days, but not in luxury. Each house was huge, with vaulted ceilings—and looked like the gloomiest solitary confinement cells of a maximum-security prison. The building materials chosen aggravated this impression: gray stone, sometimes black stone, and dark wood. Roofs jutted out over the streets, multiplying their claustrophobic effect. The cloudy weather had already been depressing enough.

  Time had treated the city surprisingly well. Some of the windows had lost their glass, and vines had taken root in the walls and roofs, resulting in cracks here and there, but none of the damage was serious. The many worked stones sitting in the streets were a mystery. After all, the city was only a ruin in name. Most of the houses were still habitable, even in their time-worn form, and if he were to spend some time on minor repairs, it would be impossible to suggest they had been abandoned for centuries.

  Some skeletons lay on the cobblestone roads. Those not in the familiar-style armor were in rags that could never have been rich robes. Dark was tiring of robbing remains, so he let them lie for now.

  Buildings were more up his alley.

  He looked into the windows of the nearest. Entering, he spent half an hour inside, searching each of its numerous rooms. There was a large number of dishes, including metal ones which he could disassemble into raw materials. He also scored many different items of clothing and pairs of shoes, plus salt, sugar, and spices preserved in the kitchen.

  Only two sheets of papyrus were found, both containing recipes for simple meals. “Reading” them gave him +125 Cooking progress points and 50 distributable craft skill progress points. Not a huge prize, but at least it wasn’t a waste of time.

  After inspecting the last room, Dark exited through the back door. It led to a paved courtyard which had once contained a tiny garden surrounding a fountain lined with shiny black stones. Untended, the trees had filled the space and now fought each other for the sunlight. The ground underneath was littered with rotting branches and bright green ferns, and the paving cracked in places.

  The neighboring building also had a door to this courtyard, and Dark headed for it. But then he saw movement: in the fountain, a shape he had thought was a pile of garbage shifted.

  It rose slowly, and Dark realized that its form was humanoid. This man looked to be in bad shape.

  Impossibly bad shape.

  Only in a tomb would he have expected to find something so disfigured. So dilapidated, so desiccated. In many places, bones poked out of its clothing, beneath which they poked out of its skin. Sluggish as its wrinkled eyes were, they still managed to look infuriated. The abominable creature seemed to be in no hurry.

  Slowly stepping over the side of the pool, it confirmed Dark’s suspicions by quietly moaning as it stretched as its arms and approached him. The threat posed by this creature was breathtakingly puny. It even seemed to move as if it was acting on some will that was not its own.

  Dark pulled his bow from his back, bent its staff with all his strength, straightened, and nocked an arrow.

  You deal 8 damage to Zombie Ethrian. Note: Zombies, skeletons, liches, mummies, and other undead opponents are generally not highly susceptible to piercing weapons or e
ven physical damage.

  He had suspected as much without the note. The damage dealt was just too small, a fraction of what it would be against a hesh’ell.

  Stepping back, he fired two more ineffective arrows before drawing an ax with a long handle. He had no desire for the enemy to draw close enough to claw and bite at him. After all, the forum had many complaints regarding the bites of the undead: not only did they deal damage, they could also have long-term negative effects. Debuffs.

  Dark let the zombie approach to within range, but still slowly retreated, swinging the ax as he went. He took off a few of its fingers. At that, the ghoul moaned more loudly and increased its speed. Dark followed suit and dealt another attack as he continued moving away. This enemy was too slow, but the damage that the ax was dealing was far from impressive. Perhaps its level was high, not just its Physical Defense. In that case, Dark didn’t mind leading it on a long chase around the courtyard, since the rewards would be well worth it. Taking significant damage from a zombie seemed possible only if he willingly offered his throat to it.

  He declined that option. As his retreat continued, Dark hacked off its hands, then wounded both of its legs, further reducing its mobility. He became more brash then, rolling and jumping, attempting to get behind it and hit the back of its head. That was the most vulnerable spot on a zombie, at least in the TV shows. And apparently the developers had taken inspiration from those very shows.

  Note: Personal victory! Zombie Ethrian killed! Common mob. Level 8. Location sensation level: 30%. Personal sensation level: 80%. Note: this was an undead creature. 1.5x experience! +265 progress points received. Note: this was an undead creature. 1.5x distributable progress points! 53 distributable progress points received. The following skills played a significant role in this battle: Athletics, Heavy Weapons, Physical Attack, Acrobatics, Ranged Weapons, Physical Evasion, Speed, Accuracy, Physical Critical Hit.