“Good, did you learn ‘Resist’?” Harrison asked.
Rose groaned in a combination of tiredness and irritation. Even with the muted pain, she had been forced to endure so many repeated beatings. Still, she scrolled through her system messages until she spotted the skill he was looking for, and she had gained a good number of levels.
You’ve learned the skill ‘Resist’
Resist
Level: 18
Experience: 78.97%
Skill Effect (Passive): You have suffered greatly, so much so, that you have started to become numb to the pain. Resist -18-HP physical damage received. Resist -18-HP poison damage received. Resist -18-HP elemental damage received.
If Rose wasn’t so exhausted, she might have whistled for the skill. That was fairly impressive.
“Good, now, we need to get both of those to level 50 and we can really start working you over,” said Harrison, sounding way too gleeful about the beating he was delivering.
Class Quest Alert: Shield Maiden in Training 2
Your mastery over ‘Shields’ is growing, and you have proven to be at least a little proficient. Improve your skill even further and prove your dedication.
Reward: Experience, Sigil of the Goddess Lilith
Do you accept this Quest?
Yes
No
“I hate you,” groaned Rose, feeling nothing but spite for the patrolman that had battered her around and planned to continue to do so. Still, she accepted the quest, she would be stupid not to.
“One-hour, 22-minutes,” cheered Pratch. “Hah, I won the bet. Told you it would be over an hour but under an hour and a half.”
Harrison grumbled. “I will pay you when we get paid for this.”
“Yeah, sure, maybe I will convince you to make another bet and you can win it all back . . . or end up in even more debt to me. Both work I suppose, though I think we both know which I prefer,” stated Pratch, thinking aloud.
Rose barely had time to raise her shield as Harrison slammed into her again, sending her careening across the floor of the ring.
“Well, looks like the shield has finally had enough,” laughed Harrison.
Rose was slightly confused as her head was still ringing from the hit. Finally, she glanced down at the shield she was holding, or rather the strap she was holding with just a little chunk of wood hanging on to it for dear life.
It took a moment for Rose’s concussed brain to comprehend but when she did, she cussed irritably.
Rose wasn’t sure what would happen now that her shield was toast. She didn’t know she would need to bring an extra shield or shields at this rate.
“Got a spare?” Harrison asked.
“No,” Rose answered, grinding her teeth angrily.
“Banks, you got something her level?” Harrison asked, looking to his mute comrade.
Banks was already going through the sack he kept at his waist, his entire arm disappearing inside the tiny bag, eventually pulling back out with a round shield, studying it a moment, shaking his head and sticking it back in the bag. He did this a few more times with different style shields before he finally pulled out one he deemed acceptable.
“Is Banks really his name? Or a nickname?” Rose asked, accepting the shield.
“I do not think Banks even knows his real name anymore. He has just been Banks for as long as I have known him,” answered Harrison.
“Well, thank you, Banks, I appreciate the loaner,” said Rose, equipping the new shield without really looking at it too closely. When she did, she nearly fainted, it was Mythic class.
Shield of the Undying Weakling - +500-Armor, +2,000-HP, +250-Damage Absorb – Unbreakable – Cannot be used if level above 10
The shield was a monster. Rose could sell this for millions of gold on the auction house right now and retire, set for life. She could afford to buy real, honest to goodness, land. Like, real world land.
“Do not go getting any ideas,” said Pratch, his eyes narrowed as he studied Rose. “Banks allows anyone who trains with us to use anything in his bank.”
Rose cringed, she was honestly tempted to steal it for a moment. But if it was for training only, then she could accept that.
“You could have given that to her sooner you know,” complained Harrison. “We would have been done already.”
Banks just shrugged and shook his head.
“Right, she would not have gained as many levels as quickly. Oh well, round two,” Harrison said, turning away from Banks and Pratch, charging Rose again.
This time, Rose took the hit and barely slid backwards, also inflicting damage to drop her health just 12%.
“Okay, now we are cooking with fire,” said Harrison, pulling one of his shields from his back. He charged again, this time he didn’t lower his shoulder. Instead, he led with his shield edge aimed in front of him like it was a sword.
Rose took the hit on her borrowed shield and went tumbling, her HP dropped precipitously, her more than doubled HP was down to just 21% remaining and her arm was ‘Crippled’ again.
“Hmm, that might have been too much,” said Harrison, rubbing his chin.
“You think?” Rose snapped, slowly climbing back to her feet. A quick heal from Pratch fixed her shoulder but it took two more heals between Pratch and Banks to restore her total lost HP.
Another hour of punishing attack after punishing attack battered against Rose, constantly being brought to the brink of death only to be healed back up again.
“And where are you now?” Harrison asked, stopping his assault again, if only temporarily.
A quick check of her skill list showed ‘Shields II’ was level 47 and Resist was all the way up to level 71. She quickly relayed the numbers.
“Back to the grind then,” said Harrison, slamming into Rose, yet again. After ten more attacks he asked Rose to check again.
Class Quest Alert: Shield Maiden in Training 2 – Completed!
Your mastery over ‘Shields’ is growing, and you have proven to be at least a little proficient. Improve your skill even further and prove your dedication.
Reward: +5,000-Experience, Sigil of the Goddess Lilith
“Yes!” Rose cheered, happy for the completed quest notification and the end of her beatdown.
“Finally,” Rose said, happy to see ‘Shields II’ at level 50, if just barely.
Shields II
Level: 50
Experience: 0.11%
Current Defense Modifiers
Block Chance: +7.50% Damage Absorbed: 150-HP + Equipped Shield Armor
Critical Block Chance: +3.75%
Subskill: Shield Slam
Damage: 76-78 Effect: Interrupt Chance to Stun on Critical Strike: 10.70%
Skill Stamina Cost: 220
Subskill: Shield-Counter
Block Chance: +35.00% Cooldown: 30 seconds
Skill Stamina Cost: 100
Rose was happy for her gains but also slightly puzzled. ‘Shied-Counter wasn’t getting any stronger any more. Figuring, Harrison would be the best one to ask about it, she did just that. “Why isn’t ‘Shield-Counter’ getting any better?”
“Caps as +35%,” Harrison answered. “I would not worry about that too much, or any of those skills really, if you go through with this training you are going to lose them all anyway.”
“What do you mean?” Rose asked, suddenly worried about losing her hard-earned skills.
Pratch snickered. “This is my favorite part, the moment the trainee realizes the costs,” he commented, rubbing his little hands together like he was about to get a treat of some kind.
Harrison just rolled his eyes at his comrade’s behavior, it was nothing new to him.
“What does he mean?” Rose asked, looking back and forth between Harrison and Pratch.
“What he means is, this is the part where most people quit after deciding the cost is too high,” Harrison answered.
“And what is the cost?” asked Rose.
“All weapon and shie
ld skills, completely gone, and you get to start your new ‘Shield-Wall’ skill from level 1, Rank I. If that is not enough, then you also are forbidden from learning any other weapon skill unless you want to give up ‘Shield-Wall’, and once again, start over at level 1 of whatever skill you do pick up,” the orc answered. “So, are you still interested?”
Class Quest Alert: Shield Maiden in Training 3
The final challenge lies ahead of you. Will you face it or balk before the overwhelming cost? The Goddess Lilith is watching with rapt attention, waiting to see what you will do. Do not disappoint her.
Reward: Experience, Sigil of the Goddess Lilith, Loss of skill ‘Shields’ & ‘One-handed Swords’, Skill ‘Shield-Wall’
Do you accept this Quest?
Yes
No
Rose was struck silent by that, barely even noticing the quest notification. All that getting beaten and battered, just to lose all of her hard-earned levels to ‘Shields’, to lose her ‘One-Handed Swords’ skill. To never be able to learn to use another weapon again. And even if she did get the new skill, she would be starting it over at level 1. How far would that set her back?
“If I go through with this, will you help me train it up to a decent level?” Rose asked.
Harrison grinned. “I think I might be starting to like you. Yeah, you take on the challenge, I will help you get it up to where you started with ‘Shields’ today. Any higher than that, and you have to pay for my time. Deal?”
“Deal,” answered Rose, committed to learning ‘Shield-Wall’ and accepting the quest.
Pratch though cursed. “Why? Why say yes? Do you have any idea how much money you just cost me?”
“Another bet?” Rose asked, with a raise eyebrow.
“Yeah,” answered Pratch, handing a sack of coins to Banks.
“Thanks for betting on me, Banks,” said Rose, grinning for her mute supporter.
Banks could only smile and nod in response, happily tucking the bag of coins into his seemingly bottomless bag.
“Well, I guess we should get started,” said Harrison. “Return that shield to Banks first.”
Rose returned the shield, sad to let it go, especially when her armor and HP totals dropped like a rock.
“You will need these,” said Harrison, holding out a single large kite shield, confusing Rose. He smiled a little seeing the confusing on Rose’s face. He moved his hands apart showing it was actually two halves.
Rose grinned a little, appreciating the little joke as she happily accepted the two shields.
Kite Shield Wall (Left) - +35-Armor, +20-Endurance, +5-Stamina – Durability 70/70
Kite Shield Wall (Right) - +35-Armor, +20-Endurance, +5-Stamina – Durability 70/70
Rose was happy as she equipped her two new shields, making sure each was in the correct hand.
“Looks alright on you,” complimented Harrison.
“So now what?” Rose asked.
Harrison did even bother to reply in any way verbal, he just attacked, slamming into Rose’s shields repeatedly, knocking her to the ground. She would get healed back up and need to defend herself again and again. Harrison didn’t hold back much, if at all, he was constantly attacking the center of the shield-wall, where the two halves were supposed to join, more often than not, he broke right through and nearly killed her for it.
“What am I doing wrong?” Rose demanded.
“Nothing,” answered Harrison. “Learning ‘Shield-Wall’ is about one thing and one thing only. Sacrificing everything to protect, and I am not just talking about protecting yourself. Shield and Wall.”
Rose was annoyed, why couldn’t Harrison just tell her the secret. Why did he have to go all old-world, mystical monk of mysterious ways? Did all trainers have the ability? Was it a hidden skill?
“Right, shield and wall,” snarked Rose, climbing slowing back to her feet. She looked again at her attacker, preparing to defend herself when she noticed something she hadn’t paid attention to before. He wasn’t looking at her. Harrison wasn’t focused on her at all, it was like he was looking past her. Rose dared to look behind her, worried there was some kind of monster waiting to attack her but there was nothing there. She wondered then, why was he looking behind her? Then she thought about what he said, shield and wall. A shield and a wall were meant to keep something out or to stand in the way, to offer protection against whatever was outside of those walls. So, what was Rose protecting? And that was the key. It was her job to be shield and wall for those standing behind her, the ones who followed her into combat and danger. They were the ones she was supposed to protect.
Suddenly, Rose was eight years old again, trying to stand between her father and her mother. Trying so desperately to protect her mother from the angry drunk. Rose didn’t have many fond memories of her father. Her happiest memories were of him playing with clay and teaching her his chosen art.
The world outside of the game was not dystopian but it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows either. Jobs were extremely hard to come by. Most people lived off the government or became artists in one form or another in the hopes of becoming famous and making real money. That was her father’s dream, to become a sculptor of renown.
Problem was, he wasn’t a very good sculptor. In time, he grew bitter, then he started drinking. Drinking caused an accident that hurt his hands, so he drank more on top of pain pills. Rose was maybe 6 the first time she saw her father strike her mother. Even then, she stood between them, trying to shield her mother. She remembered vividly the look of horror and self-loathing on her father’s face that first time, it didn’t last. As he fell deeper into the bottle and the pills and let his anger grow and fester he stopped caring so much. When she was eight, he went too far.
Rose came home from school to the sound of a loud crash. Rushing inside, she was quick to stand between her father and mother. He had never struck Rose before and she honestly thought he never would. She was wrong. Rose remembered being hit and then waking up against a wall, her cheek and eye swollen painfully. She remembered seeing her father beating on her mother, not holding back. She remembered tackling his leg, trying to stop him. The next thing she remembered was flashing lights and a lot of pain. A few days later she was a on a plane going west and meeting her aunt for the first time. She vaguely remembered the funeral a few days after that. The one thing she remember crystal clear, was the promise she made to herself. She promised to become strong enough to protect those she loves, no matter what.
“Hmm, I see resolve finally, I think she might finally be getting it boys,” said Harrison, blurring from sight, slamming against Rose’s shield wall, breaking through again, but not without a little more resistance than the previous attempt.
Rose grinned as she felt her wall stand stronger if only for a moment. “Come at me,” she shouted, eager for more.
Harrison obliged, assaulting her repeatedly, breaking through her wall over and over again, each time it would get a little stronger until finally Rose had a system message pop up in front of her.
A ‘Shield-Wall’ is one who is resolved to protect all those who stand behind. Are you willing to sacrifice all known Weapon and Shield skills to learn ‘Shield-Wall’?
Yes
No
This is was it. Everything she endured was all for this moment. Rose accepted.
You’ve forgotten the skill ‘Shields’
You’ve forgotten the skill ‘One-Handed Swords’
You’ve learned the skill ‘Shield-Wall’
Shield-Wall
Level: 1
Experience: 0.00%
Current Defense Modifiers
Block Chance: +0.10% Damage Absorbed: 2-HP + Equipped Shield Armor
Critical Block Chance: +0.05%
“Congratulations,” said Harrison. “Now comes the real work.”
Class Quest Alert: Shield Maiden in Training 3 – Completed!
The final challenge lies ahead of you. Will you face it or balk before the overwhelming
cost? The Goddess Lilith is watching with rapt attention, waiting to see what you will do. Do not disappoint her.
Reward: +10,000-Experience, Sigil of the Goddess Lilith, Loss of skill ‘Shields’ & ‘One-handed Swords’, Skill ‘Shield-Wall’
Rose grinned. She still didn’t like Harrison, but maybe . . . just maybe . . . knowing what she did now about what it took to learn ‘Shield-Wall’ . . . she respected him. She also wondered, just who he wanted to protect.
“Right, I promised to get you back to level. You will have to learn some skills on your own or pay me to teach you. I will offer you one piece of advice, get your ‘Charge’ skill to Rank II,” said Harrison. “Now, back to work.”
Rose barely grinned, making a mental note to do exactly that, before Harrison slammed into her ‘Shield-Wall’ again, her shields not budging an inch, despite the damage she still received from the impact.
***
When I met back up with Rose she looked battered and beaten. Her armor was dented and dinged and barely holding together in some places. But she had the biggest smile on her face.
“Go alright then?” I asked, smiling for her.
“Yeah, not bad,” Rose replied, studying my state up and down.
I was sure I looked just as battered as she did. That little dwarf Vari may not be very high level, but boy did she pack a punch with that spear of hers.
Still, it was time well spent.
Two-Handed Polearms II
Level: 3
Experience: 59.14%
Current Damage Modifiers
Damage: +51.50
Critical Strike Chance: +5.15%
That’s right, I earned Rank II for ‘Two-Handed Polearms’. But that wasn’t my only big gain from training against Vari. ‘Shift’ improved a bunch.
World Tree Online: The Duchess of Hammers: 2nd Dive Begins Page 21
