From the Beginning
Page 10
“Though life was not perfect with your kind around there was balance in it. The beings of power that brought you here did so in hopes that you might restore some of that balance and I wish to help. You see Chief Targith was my hatchmate or as you might call him my brother,” looking over at Dante and smiling before he turned back to the fire continuing his tale. “He made choices that I do not agree with and treated humans unfairly. For this I think his punishment was just and well dealt. Some of our kind may disagree but none are strong enough yet to stand up and do anything about it and I hope that by then the impromptu kingdom you have begun with the remaining humans and imps of Darrin will be enough of a force to reckon with that the headstrong among us would think twice before trying to recreate what my brother had done.”
Pausing as Terrance and Erchik were escorted in with Terrance in a litter of sorts groaning groggily and Erchik keeping by his side growling at any of the imps that got too close. Erchik seeing Dante ran forward and began tripping over his words until Dante quieted him with a friendly hug while Terrance was brought over between Dante and the Imp Wiseman. Nodding to his friend then looking at the legendary beast expectantly Dante waited for him to do as was promised. With a wave of a hand and a mist of green light Dante could see Terrance’s health returning to normal as he slipped into a state of peaceful sleep.
“I do apologize,” the Imp Wiseman spoke up. “He woke too soon from my sleeping spell, and we had to act quickly to subdue him. He’ll need rest now, but he will be fine in a few hours and ready to travel again soon.” Then looking at Erchik his smile deepened. “Brave and strong, I am proud to call you one of our own young imp. I hope you will also forgive me my actions as I needed proof of who this human was said to be.” Bowing his head as he finished speaking.
“You should feel shame for your actions,” Erchik began angrily before his voice softened. “But of what I know about you, you did not do this out of spite or hate and that you must have had reason for doing so. For that I will forgive you so long as you do not do this again to my friends.” Holding his ground and standing tall while staring down the legendary beast.
“So it shall be,” the Wiseman agreed before gesturing Erchik to sit with them as he continued to speak to Dante “You will have many fights and have to overcome hurdles that would otherwise be impossible for anyone other than an Adventurer. You will also shape and mold the world with your actions as you have seen upon slaying my brother and making it impossible for him to return to this world as he once would.”
Taking small wooden bowls from an imp who walked over and handing two of them to Dante and Erchik he took a sip of the liquid before returning to his speech “I am tired, I have been since before the first arrival of the Adventurers and am ready to let my spirit move on to the next existence.”
Choking on the clear mineral rich water Erchik coughed at the words and Dante simply downed the bowl before speaking “I can’t say I blame you. A life of never truly dying, aging, or growing isn’t exactly ideal especially when you were at one point hunted constantly.” Looking the Wiseman in the eyes “Terrifying as it is I can even understand why Chief Targith became who he was before I slayed him, because of the hand he was dealt.” Staring down at the ground in front of him as his voice caught in his throat “Not that it excused his actions or made his punishment any less deserving.”
Raising a large hand and setting it on Dante's shoulder the Imp Wiseman looked him in the eyes “What he did was some of the worst kind of atrocities anyone could have unleashed. But what you did upon slaying him may just right those wrongs going forward and with it may even help others move on.” Hand still on Dante’s shoulder as he looked into the fire speaking in an even tone “You have the gifts of Chaos and Change. The world is molded and shaped by your hands and as much as I hate to lay another burden on you I do wish to ask you a favor.” Turning back to Dante with sorrow filled eyes waiting for a response.
Dante nodded saying, “I will hear you out and if it is within my powers and not against my own beliefs and morals I will do what I can.”
“Lay us all to rest and break the curse of eternal rebirth on the creatures of this world.” The Imp Wiseman said as if grasping at a long-lost dream. “Help allow us to move on from this world so that it may as a whole grow and change as it should have done so long ago.”
Feeling the truth and the wisdom in the words Dante agreed with a simple “Yes” before he was prompted by a new window:
Secret Quest Part 1: Listen to wisdom complete!
Secret Quest Part 2: Breaking the laws of magic!
The Imp Wiseman has spoken to you and offered you a new quest chain to change the laws of this world's magic. He asks you to break the power of rebirth and allow the creatures of the land to die setting their spirits free.
Reward: Unknown
You have accepted this quest
Warning!
The quest Secret Quest Part 2: Breaking the laws of magic! will put you on a path that may cause you to oppose the Higher Beings of this world. Untold consequences may come from your actions.
Are you sure you accept the quest Secret Quest Part 2: Breaking the laws of magic!
Yes/No?
Without thought or worry Dante accepted the second prompt and looked up at the Imp Wiseman “I hope I can do what you ask.”
Dante Alexander: Knight Mage
Level: 31.00
Attack Power:114
Defense Power:296
Health:1674/1674
Mana:812/812
Stamina:611/611
Attack Speed +5
Casting Speed +4
Critical Hit +4
Movement Speed +4
Gear:
Main Hand
+14 Blade of Chaos
Off Hand
+14 Short Sword of Chaos
Helm
+14 Hidden Circlet of Chaos
Armor
+25 Leather Breastplate of Chaos +30% Damage Reduction
Gloves
+14 Leather Gloves of Chaos
Shoes
+14 Leather Shoes of Chaos
L Earring slot Empty
R Earring slot Empty
L Ring slot Ring of Attack +1 to attack speed
R Ring slot Empty
Necklace slot Empty
Belt slot Empty
Skills:
Basic Attack
Swift Strike
Cascading Blades
Scatter Blades
Chaotic Shield
Hidden Power
Cycle of Fate
Chaos Hold
Shadows of Chaos
Intertwined Fates
Chaos Dash
Plight of Chaos
Chaotic Blast
Chaotic Subterfuge
Light of Chaos
Dominion of Chaos
Core Attack: Annihilation
Chaotic Flow
Burst of Chaotic Blades
Leap of Chaos
Companions:
Terrance Walsh: Warrior
Level:25.36
Attack Power:102
Defense Power:242
Health:1642/1642
Stamina:815/815
Attack Speed +2
Casting Speed +1
Critical Hit +4
Movement Speed +4
Erchik: Crossbowman
Level:27.24
Attack Power:97
Defense Power:191
Health:1271/1271
Stamina:658/658
Attack Speed +1
Casting Speed +0
Critical Hit +3
Movement Speed +1
Chapter Seventeen
A broad smile appeared on the Imp Wisemans face as he spoke “I believe you will do just fine Adventurer.” Bowing his head and then gesturing at the imps who were all coming in carrying trays littered with food. “Spend the night with us and celebrate the beginning of this quest. I will perform a ritual once the celebrations are over s
o that I may have your reward ready for you by morning.”
Returning the bow Dante turned to the first of the imps who carried a bowl of fruit and a pitcher of what smelled like a sweet peach alcohol mixed with spices of some sort. Following Erchik’s lead he took a piece of the unknown fruit that looked something like a melon ball and placed it in his mouth and after pouring some of the beverage in his now empty water bowl and taking a sip. As the two fruits mixed there was an explosion of flavor that reminded him of honey mead mixed with freshly picked peaches. Eyes closing and letting out a moan of joy at the taste he hurried and took another.
One after another he downed the mixture of fruit drink and fruit bits. In no time the world seemed to be spinning. The rest of the night going by in a blur of eating and drinking with bouts of laughter and dancing as well. Later when Dante looked back on the night he would vaguely remember staring at the Imp Wiseman as he chanted and gesticulated causing the large fire in the center of the cave to change to an earthy green color before Dante slipped into unconsciousness.
Waking to a gentle shake Dante’s head felt clear and to his surprise it was not throbbing in pain. If he had known any better he would have sworn he’d just spent twelve hours in peaceful dreamless sleep. Opening his eyes he saw a smiling Erchik standing over him with something odd tucked under his arm.
“Time to leave friend,” the imp said thumbing towards a jovial Terrance chatting with imps by the fire.
Looking around Dante saw many imps who were going about their daily business or cleaning up from the night before but nowhere in the area did he see the Imp Wiseman which led him to question Erchik “Where did the big guy go? I don’t remember him leaving or anything last night.”
As his smile became more sad Erchik lead Dante over to where Terrance was and after everyone was settled down enjoying a lite breakfast he explained. “He has moved onto his next existence. The ritual last night that he performed was to imbue a few items with his essence draining him to a point where he was finally able to pass on to the spiritual plane.” Holding out the bundle he’d been carrying around all morning Erchik unwrapped it to reveal three items. “He said that we each could make use of these items to further grow and to help accomplish not only our goals but the quest he set before you.”
Seeing the items for the first time Dante was a little surprised by what he read:
+16 Imp Wisemans Helm +150 HP
Imbued with the power of the Legendary Beast: Imp Wiseman this helm is part of the legendary beast set.
Set effects:
2 pieces: + 1 to casting/ attacking speed
3 Pieces: ???
Full set: ???
+16 Legendary Crossbow of Wisdom
Created by the magical energy of the Legendary Beast: Imp Wiseman this crossbow will never run out of arrows and adds +2 to attack speed.
Attack Power: 143
+16 Legendary Boots of Wisdom +150 HP
Imbued with the power of the Legendary Beast: Imp Wiseman these boots can behave like part of the legendary beast set.
Set effects:
2 pieces: + 1 to casting/ attacking speed
3 Pieces: ???
Full set: ???
Upon picking up the helmet Dante received a prompt:
You have found a piece of the legendary set!
Luck must be on your side! Before you is a piece of the legendary set of gear which has a low random chance of dropping off of legendary creatures. Do you wish to bind it to your current gear?
Yes/No
Congratulations!
Having completed the quest of the Imp Wiseman you have earned the title Legendary Beast Champion
Choosing yes there was a slight green glow and the helm simply disappeared and Dante could feel the added strength of the item infused with his own armor. His own headpiece being invisible he could not see any differences, and he shrugged it off as he thought aloud “Wonder why the Imp Chief's armor didn’t give me a choice and was just absorbed?”
Both Terrance and Erchik shrugged and looked at the two remaining pieces with desire causing Dante to laugh and hand each one a single piece. This caused Terrance to hoot with excitement and Erchik to quickly unload magical arrow after magical arrow into a nearby cave wall as he tested his new weapon.
Pulling something out of his inventory and showing Dante, Terrance held up his own +18 Imp Chief Hide Armor to Dante’s surprise looking at him sheepishly. “This dropped off of the boss and I wasn’t sure if it was really ok for me to equip it since you did all the work…” looking down at his prize before holding it out to Dante regretfully.
“Keep it I got all I needed from that tub of trash when I got the armor piece fused directly into my own armor as I killed him completing a hidden quest.” Pointing at the black bone-like texture covered in runes now outlining the plates of metal that had the wooden texture of the previously infused armor showing the changes the infusions had caused.
With a squeal of excitement he quickly unequipped his normal chest piece and boots and donned his two new boss armor pieces. The shoes took on a gray metallic look combined with hide padding while the chest piece looked like someone had taken the Imp Chiefs skin and turned it into hide adorning it with gray bone plated pieces and shoulder pads. It was rather gruesome looking and as Dante noticed Terrance’s face fall a bit he waved him over.
“Hand me your new and old gear, I think I may be able to do something with it.” Then turning to an imp who was passing by Dante asked “Does anyone around here happen to have a smithing area I can use?”
Dipping its head and helping Dante to his feet the imp lead them to a hot room with an anvil and forge. Seeing the hammer sitting on the anvil Dante prompted Terrance again for the items and Terrance reluctantly handed them over.
Back when this had been a game you could infuse armors with crystals increasing their levels. You could not fuse two non-matching armors but you could use a matching piece of armor of lower grade to repair durability of a higher grade one. Taking into account what the Imp Wiseman had told him last night Dante thought he may be able to bend some of the current rules of magic to his desire. Waving the others to step back he plunged both chest pieces into the forge and once they were both glowing white with heat he used tongs to pull them out.
Placing the new +18 Imp Chief Hide Armor under the +12 Stock Imperial Chest Plate armor Dante slowly began pounding them together with the hammer willing his stamina and mana into the hammer as he did so. At first, it seemed like nothing was happening but after a dozen or so more strikes he noticed the two armors begin to fuse as a purple and black glow started to emanate from them. Not wanting to lose focus he reheated them watching closely and before long was standing before a single cooling piece of armor.
As soon as the armor was cooled off enough to touch Dante inspected it and was pleased to see the new name and stats as well as the following message:
+16 Imp Chief Plate Armor +25% Damage Reduction
Imbued with the power of the Legendary Beast: Chief Targith this chest piece can behave like part of the legendary beast set.
Set effects:
2 pieces: + 1 to casting/ attacking speed
3 Pieces: ???
Full set: ???
Congratulations!
You have discovered Arcane Smithing infusing the essence of powerful artifacts, items, or beasts from one item to another you can create a whole new item.
Reward: +10 Novice Arcane Smithing
Handing it over to Terrance who looked over the gray bonelike metal that had small smatterings of runes that glowed a dim purple Dante got to work on the boots next.
Dante Alexander: Knight Mage
Level: 31.00
Attack Power:114
Defense Power:296
Health:1674/1674
Mana:812/812
Stamina:611/611
Attack Speed +5
Casting Speed +4
Critical Hit +4
Movement Speed +4
Main Hand
+14 Blade of Chaos
Off Hand
+14 Short Sword of Chaos
Helm
+14 Hidden Circlet of Chaos
Armor
+25 Leather Breastplate of Chaos +30% Damage Reduction
Gloves
+14 Leather Gloves of Chaos
Shoes
+14 Leather Shoes of Chaos
L Earring slot Empty
R Earring slot Empty
L Ring slot Ring of Attack +1 to attack speed
R Ring slot Empty
Necklace slot Empty
Belt slot Empty
Skills:
Basic Attack
Swift Strike
Cascading Blades
Scatter Blades
Chaotic Shield
Hidden Power
Cycle of Fate
Chaos Hold
Shadows of Chaos
Intertwined Fates
Chaos Dash
Plight of Chaos
Chaotic Blast
Chaotic Subterfuge
Light of Chaos
Dominion of Chaos
Core Attack: Annihilation
Chaotic Flow
Burst of Chaotic Blades
Leap of Chaos
Companions:
Terrance Walsh: Warrior
Level:25.36
Attack Power:102
Defense Power:242
Health:1642/1642
Stamina:815/815
Attack Speed +2
Casting Speed +1
Critical Hit +4
Movement Speed +4
Erchik: Crossbowman
Level:27.24
Attack Power:97