by Arthur Stone
“Ros! You’ll fall in a moment!” Danger Babe yelled.
He ran back as fast as he could. Another lighting missed, and the Bone Sovereign gave chase.
“What are you doing?!” Tangh shouted.
“I’ll kite him around the hall! Heal me!”
The tactic proved effective. The boss could only attack during stops, losing time, and its effective range wasn’t very large. Even if it exceeded the range of the flighting’s healing spells, it wasn’t by much.
Once Ros replenished his HP bar on the run, he stopped, and got back to his usual tricks: Chaos Arrows and Fireballs. This tactic worked three more times before the boss, whose HP was now catastrophically low, changed tactics yet again, spreading his arms and screeching something unintelligible. No debuffs, no damage. However, something unexpected happened.
“Behind you!” Danger Babe all but shrieked.
Ros turned around and saw one of the recently slain thaëns rise from a pile of bones.
“He’s reviving them!” he yelled. “I’m sending the pet!”
The pet attacked the revived mob a second before he could pounce on Danger Babe. The boss spread his arms once again.
“Tangh! Get him! Quickly! Let’s interrupt the casting! Hurry!”
It took the boss a long time to cast his reviving spell, so they had a chance to prevent him from succeeding. But they failed—the undead mage managed to raise another mob. This time things were more serious—they had to face a resurrected lich.
They got lucky. Sleep worked, and the mob froze. Alas, the effect wouldn’t last long.
Ros used up nearly half his accumulated Fury, using a skill he had learned at the Warriors’ Guild before heading off to hunt grass snakes. It seemed like a lifetime ago now… His damage and spellcasting speed increased rapidly for about half a minute. Even though the cooldown time of Chaos Arrow was short at the present level, he still couldn’t just cast one after another, and was alternating them with Fireballs. Several unexpectedly strong hits made the boss stagger. The beast used a stunning ability, but the belt worked and reflected the effect on the boss who grew stiff. It might have been only for four or five seconds, but every little bit helped.
Ros managed to heal his pet. Then, having assessed the situation, he shouted:
“He’s got about thirty seconds’ worth of HP! Burn your Fury, focus fire on him, to hell with everything! Stay alive at any cost! No one heals anyone! Drink your elixirs!”
He commanded the pet to attack the boss, too. They would either win now, or… Ros grabbed an elixir that increased damage from magic attacks. He would have to give it his all now.
The boss fell at the same time as the pet. And Ros. As darkness consumed him, he saw that the creature would fall after another two or three arrows from Tangh’s scrolls, or one of Danger Babe’s sparks of light.
* * *
Ros didn’t expect the beaten-up party to handle the two remaining mobs, and was surprised to see an invitation to resurrect on the battlefield. He rose. Just in time, too. Danger Babe was almost down, and the thaën kept pounding away at her.
“Heal yourself!”
“And you heal Tangh!”
The lich was giving the norder a hard time. In between attacks, the mob kept throwing cascades of black sparks at the boss’s carcass, making the latter convulse.
“Everybody, get the lich!” shouted Ros. “It’s trying to revive the boss!”
They didn’t know whether it was possible, but since they didn’t receive their reward yet, the battle wasn’t over, which meant anything could happen.
The lich fell, and Tangh shouted:
“I’m out of scrolls!”
“I’m raising the pet!” replied Ros, realizing that they would spend a long time whittling away at the well-defended thaën with the kind of damage they did.
It took less than a minute with a shadowcrawler, even though the pet had no buffs.
“You kill the Bone Sovereign of the Forgotten Tomb. XP received: 223,428. You gain a level. Points left until the next level: 602,795. Your Intellect grows by 1. Your Stamina grows by 1. Your Mental Power grows by 1. Your Resilience grows by 1. Your Summoning grows by 1. Attention! You kill the Bone Sovereign of the Forgotten Tomb with a small party! Every member of your party receives a bonus: +3 undistributed primary stat points. Congratulations! This is the first time in the history of Second World that this monster was defeated! Your group did it! And you did it with few resources! Your party has destroyed a monster 80 levels above the party’s strongest player! Achievement earned: Daredevil Killers, Third Degree. Achievement bonus: +55 to Fury. Bonus effect: permanent. Attention! You have killed the Bone Sovereign of the Forgotten Tomb! Your party was the first to do it! No one has ever managed it before! You receive a bonus: the title of Monster Slayers, Fourth Degree. You receive a bonus: +1 to Creation. Title bonus: +2 to all primary base stats. When you join a clan, a party, or a raid, all the members of the respective clan, party, or raid receive half the bonus. The bonus is permanent or lasts until the title is renounced.”
Tangh dropped a smoking gauntlet onto the ground and grunted in a barely audible voice:
“And this is where Danger Babe goes home. It’s really late.”
“Actually, she lives in Russia, and it isn’t late there,” Ros pointed out.
“Oh? I haven’t thought of that… So, she constantly disrupts her daily schedule, doesn’t she?”
“I’m not disrupting anything. It’s just more convenient for me this way. Congratulations to all of us. We’re the best. So, shall we take a peek at the boss before I leave?”
“Sure, how can we do it without you?” Tangh smiled.
No one had any strength left to express their joy at the victory with more emotion. The battle had been too hard, and there were a few times when they had only pulled through by the skin of their teeth. Although there was nothing surprising about it—they knew they would face an impossible task. Even three level 200 players in high-grade equipment would be hard-pressed to accomplish it.
Ros’ Luck must have been working just the way it should, given that they had succeeded. He didn’t mind dying—XP could be replenished.
“An epic class bracelet, an ability scroll, and a random secondary stat scroll,” Ros listed the trophies.
“What does this stat scroll do?” Danger Babe looked puzzled.
Tangh explained:
“Whoever breaks the seal will receive a point to one of their secondary stats.”
“Any stat?!”
“The stat is chosen randomly.”
“I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Of course. Clans never let go of them. You hardly ever see them up for sale. Why didn’t you ask about its price?”
“I’m tired. And I realize in must be expensive. What about the ability?”
“For archers,” Ros replied. “You can learn it at level 135.”
“As far as I know, such abilities cannot cost less than ten thousand in gold,” said Tangh. “Perhaps more.”
“Not bad,” Danger Babe smiled. There’s also the scroll and the bracelet.”
Ros approached her.
“Here, take it. The bracelet is for level 100, and the stats are just what you need.”
“I haven’t reached level 100 yet.”
“The more motivation you’ll have to level up.”
“I keep getting all the good stuff…”
“Haven’t you seen me pick up a staff as well?”
“I’m not in a condition to notice much at the moment. I haven’t.”
“I could use an hour or two of shuteye, too,” Tangh mused. “Tell us what it is, and let’s get some rest already.”
“Well, take a look.”
“The Staff of Bone Sovereign of the Forgotten Tomb from the Locked Lands. Properties: set item, restores durability automatically. If a player has three or more items from the Bone Sovereign of the Forgotten Tomb set, either equipped or carried in non-active
inventory, they are impossible to lose and cannot be stolen. Magic weapon. Physical damage: 88-111 (crushing). Magic damage: 241-268. Special bonus: +2% to damage dealt to any creature except for the undead. Additional stats: +29 to Intellect, +17 to Mental Power, +14 to Stamina, +5 to Defense, +17% to spellcasting speed, +4 to mana regeneration per second, 22% higher chance of reflecting a blinding effect at the enemy, 4% higher chance of resisting Sleep and Stun-like effects. Requirements: Level 129. The item can be subjected to up to three stackable enchantments. Weight: 1.97 kg. Durability: 1199/1280. The full Bone Sovereign of the Forgotten Tomb set includes: Staff of Bone Sovereign of the Forgotten Tomb from the Locked Lands, Bracelet of Despair from the Locked Lands, Fear of Death Necklace from the Locked Lands, Memories of Bloodshed Ring from the Locked Lands, Gloves of Black Revenge from the Locked Lands, Darkness Servant’s Cape from the Locked Lands. Full set bonus: full merging, +45% resistance to Reason magic; +50% to the chance of ignoring effects that lower the resistance to Death Magic; all control abilities affect the target for an extra 4 seconds; 5% chance to blind the target for 5-9 seconds with a ranged attack; 8% reduction to incoming magic and physical damage; 25% probability of stunning the enemy for 1-2 seconds in a surprise attack; upon receiving damage, Stone Skin is cast automatically (the effect lasts 6-8 seconds); +5 to HP and mana regeneration per second; +10 to primary and +1 to secondary base characteristics.”
“A set item!” Danger Babe gasped in surprise.
“As far as I can see, someone has just received extra motivation to level up to 129,” observed Tangh.
Ros shook his head.
“The staff itself isn’t that extraordinary. I’d need other items from the set—five more to go. You don’t find them just anywhere, so the chance of collecting the set is next to nonexistent. Although I am actually collecting a set already. I have two items. But the situation with that one is a bit different.”
“The staff is yours by right,” said Tangh.
“I agree,” Danger Babe nodded. “I sure could do with the money, Ros, but Tangh is right. You cannot sell such things once you started collecting them.”
“Do you have any idea how much it might cost?”
“Such things have no price,” Tangh replied. “You don’t see set items at auctions. There were but a few such cases in the entire history of Second World. You’ll get at least fifty thousand in gold for any item, as long as it’s part of a set, no matter which. And buying a full set would be harder than buying the Notre Dame.”
“All right. This isn’t our last day gaming, and I think we’ll find a way of sharing our loot. Danger Babe, it’s really time for you to go home.”
“All right. See you in the morning, then.”
“Yeah, have a good rest.”
“You have a rest, too. You’ll probably just mine for ore all night long. I know you.”
Once Ros was sure the girl logged off, he grabbed his pickaxe.
“Danger Babe was right. High time to start mining. The best resources are always near bosses, and it would be silly not to take advantage.”
* * *
Apart from the resources, which were indeed valuable, Ros found a few secret caches. One of them was in plain sight. In the middle of the only room in the pyramid, right next to the stone sarcophagus, whose cracked lid lay on the floor, stood a massive ebony chest reinforced with bronze bands.
Ros’ total haul, from the chest and from other places, included a number of nice but inexpensive items, and one that was really impressive: epic gauntlets that would be perfect for the tank. Unfortunately, he’d have to level to 154 before he could wear them without penalties.
They spent three days in the “bubbly caves,” mining for ores and gems and fighting mobs. Ros leveled up again, and so did Danger Babe. He used Clean Slate on Tangh, enabling him to fine-tune his stat distribution.
Ros was reluctant to use it on himself and change his “biography” yet again. What if he failed to complete the quest with a new name? He was really hoping for a handsome reward.
He spent the nights practicing Enchanting and making accessories. Ros stayed away from weapons and armor. They required lots of resources, and the results so far weren’t particularly impressive. He decided he would get into it big time once he got the Transmogrification Cube.
They could have lingered for a while, but Tangh kept dinning in their ears with his sermons about how they should head right back from the caves before the other players started to get hungry. His religion never bothered anyone before, but now Ros was facing its obstinate aspect, and there was nothing he could do about it short of stopping his ears.
But it was true that waiting until the very last moment would be unwise. Something unforeseen could happen on their way back, after all. They could let the mobs kill them the way they did once, but extra time wouldn’t come amiss, anyway.
Apart from that, no one wanted to risk losing their possessions after death. They would carry on at a leisurely pace, mining resources and hunting for loot from high-level mobs. By tomorrow, they would reach Agythric and his boss, Tardath Yrch.
Chapter 30
“Quest completed: Terror of the Forgotten Tomb. Quest success: 100%. Reward: 3,000,000 XP, +500 to reputation among Locked Lands slaveowners, +500 to reputation among Locked Lands mixed factions, +2 to every primary base stat, +3 undistributed secondary stat points, +1 undistributed auxiliary stat point. You gain a level. You gain a level. You gain a level. You gain a level. Points left until the next level: 849,634. Attention! Terror of the Forgotten Tomb is a potentially heroic quest! You’re a hero! Your reward: +2 to primary base stat points, +2 to Disguise. Your party and your clan will receive half the bonus.”
“I’m at one hundred at last. And a hero several times over. Although a noobish one.” Tangh managed to find reasons to avoid sounding excessively optimistic at the most mirthful celebration.
Tardath Yrch heard him grumble and slapped him on the shoulder.
“Congratulations, warrior! I can see that you have become stronger! Let me tell you all—this quest was a test. Once the wall came down and the Locked Lands opened, we met no worthy fighters among you. Even the wild hordes, respected by no one here, did not meet any proper resistance. But when I found out that three lowly slaves managed to achieve so much, I thought, could we be wrong? Perhaps, there are those worthy of respect among the smooth-skinned weaklings who live on the outside? You have just proven it, and now many of us will have to meditate on what to do next. I will leave immediately to give my report to the Supreme Council of the Locked Lands, and I would like you to wait for their decision right here, without leaving the mine.”
“How long would we have to wait for?” asked Ros.
“You will receive your answer in the evening.”
“All right, we’ll wait.”
“Could you release the others?” Tangh pointed toward the resurrection circle. “They all suffer, and they are of no value to you. The monsters in the mine have been vanquished, so you can bring in regular workers. What would you need those prisoners for?”
“Magnanimity, valor, and luck in a single man. You are indeed a great warrior, and your request is so small it bears no discussion, let alone refusal. Agythric! Send all those good-for-nothing layabouts away!”
“What about their stuff?”
“Give their property back to them! We don’t need their junk! I don’t want to see a single one when I come back in the evening! Workers will come tomorrow morning. We need lots of metal! Make place for them!”
Tardath looked pensive, as if trying to remember something, and then slapped himself on the forehead.
“I forgot. You deserve a reward. You get the bag, you get the shield, and you get the cube. Here you go, it’s all here. Wait for the evening. I’ll come back with the decision. I am nearly certain that the Council will have an important errand for you.”
Ros watched the mob go and said:
“We barely manage to complete one quest, and they�
��re already giving us another.”
Danger Babe almost squeaked in delight, paying no attention to his words.
“This bag is something else! And you can even enchant it three times without any risk! Even with my noob-level strength, I can haul some two hundred pounds around easily. Or, maybe, even more. It’s got a lot of room too.”
Her words made Ros take a closer look at his own prize.
“Transmogrification Cube of the Artisans’ Guild Master from the Locked Lands. Unique object: no other copies exist. 64 slots, +50% to the chance of crafting an item successfully, -80% to the chance of damaging an ingredient, +25% to the chance of crafting a new item without a recipe, +25% to the chance of crafting a high-level item.”
