by Rick Scar
Chapter 23. The Scroll “Back and forth”
The elf of the eighth level, playing for the magician's Arcanum (archon wizard), cleaned a small vault, where 12 level jellylike Slugs lived.
They had resistance to any magic but they are considered to be vulnerable to physical assaults. So he played a role of an observer more and a support wizard a bit. Hidden caves were found buy their company near the distant town Lucky-An two days ago.
The location turned out to be a bit higher level, but there were eight people from eight to ten level, so their company did very well in.
The in-game name was Dey-Ghard. He bought the game more than a week ago and as a huge fan of fantasy worlds devoted himself 100% to the game.
One more slug fall down from the ceiling in front of them and gurgled something about the group of gamers, spat out a piece of his own body into the tank, standing ahead of them all.
The leader of the group was a young girl – Aykal. It is a race, based on managing the magic of creation. They were able to create small walls behind an enemy so he could not dodge a blow, jumping back. More difficult spells became available with the rising level.
Ladders for rising to hard-to-reach spots, bridges for transition over abysses or as means to come off enemies then to destroy it. They were Support Wizards, and help of one of them with great abilities was considered valuable. Functional of their spells and a fevered brain could help any team.
“Kirt! Don’t let him reach the healer with his spit. We were nearly to wipe due to it last time,” – said the girl to the tank, and created a wall in front of the healer, who could hide behind it at any case.
The problem was that those slugs were meant to fight against those wizards. Spits, falling on them, sucked mana points, and aa healer without mana is just a simple bag of bones and meat.
“I remember, Alteya!” grumbled through teeth Kirt. “ Then everything spinned out of control a bit.”
“Well, be careful this time!” The girl sighed. “Parsek and Angry Fox, shoot him faster, if one more comes, it won’t be funny!”
“Got it, Boss!” a bro and a sis answered together.
The brother was a tiefling with his Two-Handed Sword but the sister was a sniper with a longbow.
Time passed. They cleaned methodically the dungeon. The thief opened and searched chests, found small traps, and in some hours later they came to the boss’s den.
After restoring forces, they discussed the strategy and came into a cave with high ceilings, in the middle of which there was a 14-footer bulk of Mother Slug.
“Mother Slug: 14 Level
Health: 1600.”
Fighting was long, several times they nearly merged a game, but thanks to fast actions of their leader, where there was a put in time wall and a suddenly appeared small hole, so they coped. The mother slug called three 7 level slugs for help but they were killed by two melees Baltar and Snake of temptation.
At last the mother drew last breath, spread on the ground, left instead of her a sack with loot. As Dey-Ghard could help nothing with this raid, he collected everything that had dropped out from monsters.
Having run up to the sack, he dipped hands into it, and all its contents were removed in his ring.
“What’s there?” asked him Alteya.
“Well, well... Four gold and thirteen silver coins, a silver belt… Wait! Earrings with a gold rank! Lucky we are! Leader, catch characteristics. There are some phiale of the muck which they spat out but it is only marked that this substance is of Mother Slug. Wow! We’ve got the topaz of the third class, plus three to magic.”
“Wow! -the team chorused their approval, such stones were a rarity. They were used for incrustation in outfit, weapon or jewelry.
“And the last: some unknown roll.”
“So identify!” The leader looked at him and did not understand why he was hesitating.
“Well, there are exclamation marks instead of interrogative ones here. It’s very suspicious!”
“Gimme!” Alteya gave a hand, awaiting the scroll.
“Yes, it is very fine, I understood. Well, what to do, I’ve always been careful. Just a minute, I’ll check.”
“Do, please at last!” the girl said between her teeth.
Their company was waiting for the result, but suddenly the portal flashed, and the wizard Arcane was tightened directly in it.
“Here …” That was all they could hear from him:
“You used the Scroll “Back and forth”. You were removed on the other floor for a day . You can either hide and wait for comeback or explore and open something new. Make up your mind, Dey-Ghard. Fortune favors the brave!”
Chapter 24. Reserving "a little table"
As you are on the other floor, you cannot use the group chat. You may use game mail for connecting.
Dey-Grey was not able to open his eyes because of the bright flash of transition. It was the first time he used a teleport in this game, but against his will. The price was too high for their company. Having read the message, he looked around.
An elf was on one of ledges of the big mountain. There were some loud sounds of blows from somewhere below. He approached the edge, sat down, and stuck his head out carefully. Either two monsters or NPC were fighting down the mountain. They often faced and jumped away from each other. A man with black short hair was standing not far from them and watched. Then he bent down as if looking out for or preparing for something.
“Who’s that?” thought Dey-Grey. “I‘ve to write back to the Leader.”
He opened the mail, described the situation with the scroll and kept watch over developing events down, meanwhile he checked their level.
The distance to them was less than forty meters, but due to the battle and the fact he was on top, they did not pay attention to him. At least, the young man very much hoped for it.
“???Level???
Health???”
There was no information about both of them. It sent a chill down his spine.
“White RAVen 6 40 level
Health:1220”
“So little health? I see his level unlike two others. Is he NPC or a gamer? Damn, it is too far to make out an identification ring".
While the elf was thinking about, he capturing it on video, suddenly the events down began picking up steam pretty quickly. The guy, who was standing aside, darted sharply off and appeared near white-skinned NPC. He stood still for a moment, like making sure and then he probably activated one of his skills.
What occurred further was similar to some nonsense. Dey-Ghard who was completely plunging into the world of game perceived everything very close. Some monster was getting visible behind the fighter with a pick axe. His poorly visible figure started to be condensed, forming a mosquito like monster. For the sake of future audience the elf activated identification right there.
“???Level???
Health???”
The young man, who had exposed something, stepped back and started to sink into the shadow. The elf had been play different games for a long time but he had never met such a skill before. The monster was nearly to kill the guy who was morphing into a shadow, but he was rescued by the second fighter in time.
After five minute fighting, the fighter with the pick axe joined them. The beast was reeling off, so were the white skinned fighters. But everything came to its end, curiously enough, by the gamer’s dagger, which was thrown into the making a rush at him monster. “It definitely will add glory to my channel on "Videoworld"
…
Alteya was reading a letter, which she had received lately. So it is possible to get on the other floors not only through the gates. Sensible players could benefit from it but for a short. She and her team were in the clan “Rollin’ Dice” , so she wrote back to her clan leader.
The found dungeon with the simple name Grotto of slugs could be visited by one grout at once. When the group was there, nobody could come in. After an hour there were gamers of Alteya’s clan with the one task
: to farm the teleport scrolls.
Nobody knew how many times they had to kill Mother Slug before they could get a scroll. As likely as not, it was a single loot, and next time it should be expected absolutely in the other place.
Alteya answered Dey-Ghard that she with the team went to the decay gorge located near Lucky-An, but from the North side.
Actions of «Rollin’ Dice» drew attention of their rivals, and those began to nose out information. But their attempts failed one by one. The credible players were sent to the grotto, and Alteya’s team was ordered to be silent about it. The only thing that enemies got to know was the place and name of the dungeon. The clan Rollin’ Dice definitely reserved this "little table".
Chapter 25 . Owe
It was possible to adjust the notification for one or several players in options of rating. The option was generally useless, being made at the request of those who planned to monitor progress of the professionals they liked in order to avoid monitoring the rating every time. Or watch a perspective newcomer. But it was impossible to look for that uncut diamond among millions.
Kingmaker had never thought she would use a similar function. But a mention call of the chosen player’s changes had disturbed her more than five times for the last two days. It was the sixth time.
She closed her eyes and kept thinking only one thing: “One, two or three levels… hm … I'm betting on two. … Damn! Only one?”
“Is he relaxed there?” - whispering with sarcasm, she asked herself.
“But 41 level… Crimson Berserker is only 29 level. Where are you, “monster”? Where…?
“Congratulations! You’ve killed the monster of a baron class. Your actions became decisive in this fight!
Awarded the title: "Single".
You fight desperately, without looking at the enemy’s level, and come out the winner.
+3 Luck
+7% Chance to stun high level enemies for 5 seconds.”
“Awarded the title From Baron to Viscount
You’ve killed Baron and Viscount rank monsters, 40+ levels above you , by small forces
+5 %Physical resistance to Baron rank monsters
+3% Chance of unique drops when killing Baron”
Without hesitating, Will dipped hands into a corpse and withdrew contents. Ghikor's voice did not allow him to look through that he had got.
“Your actions to be brave, RAVen saved horghs.” Looking at the young man, he handed him the sword, which was held of the blade. “To take in your hand, hold it.”
At first Will thought that the horgh presented it for help. But after communicating with Lekhor for the last two days, he caught the meaning of what was said. The guy was keeping the Sword's hilt while the horgh was passing his palm across the blade. He wounded his hand a bit.
“You to take voluntarily my blood by my sword. It is a ritual. Now I to you owe with the size my life. I to pay back it till I to die.” It was the first time when Will looked at the digital personage seriously. Once his army friend had made a similar oath. There had not been any rituals but words. The words being told after he had walked him out of the hot zone.” I owe you”.
The sense of this phrase was clear to both of them. But the service passed, and they, who did not want to shed more blood of people, returned from that war.
He did not tell his family about it. But when a larger sum than one, being paid to ordinary soldiers, aroused their interest he said that he had served in the special troops.
As a result the friend repaid the debt not life, but work. Thanks to him Will could get a job in a really good company and support the sister.
“How humanely it is”, thought RAVen.
“I’ve heard you, the fighter from the horghs tribe.
“You owe me and once I’ll come back to collect. Be careful, don't die before this day!” - Then he smiled and gave the sword back.
Lekhor did not stand aside too, the guy did not understand how he managed to cut a hand with a pick, but did it and made a similar oath.
“You’ve saved life to soldiers and miners from the tribe horghs. If you need help during your difficult travelling, they will not forget the oaths.
Current relationship with the horghs tribe 45/100 neutral.”
Until the evening monsters did not attack any more. During this time Will managed to look that had dropped out from the crimson runner. Useful items were ten gold and gloves, unfortunately, not for his rank.
“Crimson trace (gold)
Description: The gloves were created by Lagaonius the vampire rejected by a nest. With their help he could suck blood of his victims, merging with their aura.
+ 102 physical resistance
Regeneration +12 %
+30 Stamina
+6% Chance to block one physical attack
Skill “Merge”
Active, allows the owner to merge with other people and to withdraw health from them at the moment of vital danger.
Duration: 3 hours
Cool down: 3 days
If these gloves are seen by the vampire from the former nest of Lagaoniusa, you will not manage to avoid his attention.
Requirements: 65 level
Class requirements: Warrior ,Berserker, Vampire.”
“I will put the price hundred twenty gold. It is unlikely somebody can afford them, but I am able to wait … He-he".
While he was thinking his own thoughts, waiting for being attacked the elf, of whom he did not suspect, kept sitting at the top. He was considering whether it was worth going down or not. His curiosity haunted him, but his care constrained his rush to look for a way to go down.
He was already dreaming of what furor will be created by video. After hearing the sound of a received message, his face became wan and drawn at once.
“Dear Dey –Ghard,
If you‘re shooting video, I exactly know you are, I’m for you, but be informed that Kingmaker warned us to keep silence. You understand to share video is the worst that can be done. In addition, she asked to send all the material you’ve filmed. Yours,
Alteya”
“What on God's earth? » The elf swore quietly and inhaled heavy.
“I got it…” – wrote he back.
Chapter 26. Welcome to Latakhorgh
Glancing at slowly floating clouds, the sun that without hurrying slid off down the sky, Will was considering his further actions. It was true that he leveled up quicker than the other gamers. Thanks to the successful combination of circumstances, the error of system and the suspicious shelter in the warehouse, he came in top place. But whether for a long time? According to his initial plan, he had had to move to the deafest places and there, after leveling, to start grabbing lands depending on circumstances. When by word and deed, and when by force and money.
From the very beginning he wanted to settle on the land chosen by him and develop it. And Will perfectly knew that this process would take neither a month nor two months. A year at least. And now he was one step closer to his far purpose. At that moment he had the highest level, an epic chain of tasks (which in the long term would give a lot of bonuses), and an opportunity to become one of the adepts of the Shadow Order and get a specialization. RAVen did not know yet how he would achieve it, but if only a ring had such surprising skills, what would he expect from being an adept?
As a result, the young man decided to remain with horgh to level up to the forty fifth, and move further towards the Alvian Mountains.
“White Raven?” the guard interrupted his consideration.
“What’s up, Lekhor?”
“We soon go home. Do your want at our place?”
“Well, why not?”
“Plans are perfect, but to get support of the tribe of strong soldiers never will damage.”
“The tribe like your , I assure you.” The horgh slapped his stomach to confirm the words he told.
***
The group of horghs and the rogue were walking towards the wood located almost in two miles. Gikhor w
as ahead of them, scanning the area for regarding danger, while RAVen and Lekhor were keeping a lookout back. After coming in the forest, suddenly Will got a message.
“You are welcome in Taargada Forest.
“Congratulations! You are the first gamer to visit this place.
+4% Luck in that area for 30 days;
+1% Speed.”
“Taargada?! Is that so huge?”
Opening the map, RAVen looked at the open areas he had visited and, having orienting, drew a mental line from the village of Skiavra to the wood he had seen earlier seen near it, and later from that point to this place. The view of the alleged territory aroused fear. And he wouldn't dare to get his hopes up for the happy end of it. Out there in the darkness of the map he had not opened, something much more extensive was waiting for him.
“How is it there? Should I find a casket in Taargada forest? I think, the adepts of a Shadow Order cannot wait for me in the nearest future..."
They had been walking for twenty minutes before when there were high stone walls more than 150 foot. Estimating their extent, Will gave a whistle quietly.
“Is this fortress your place?” - turning to Lekhor, he specified.
“Our home! Our tribe! We to defend our family from any monster. To build wall that for many years.”
“I get it, I get it. You are the best and so on. Right?” - The guy grinned, entering the opened gate after them.
