Not wanting to halt any progress, or stay in this somewhat creepy dank place Dante moved quickly but cautiously down the corridor and further into the cave systems. After a good twenty minutes Dante came to a fork that led to the left and right. The cave up until now was winding and slowly descending so he had no clue which path to take. He turned around and thought a moment about walking back and seeing if Brother Gregory might have a map or directions but as he turned he thought he saw a small figure with a long black tail run into the left pathway. Knowing when he was being led Dante shook his head and smiled and took off down the left path which wound further and further into the mountains.
After what felt like an eternity Dante came to a door much like the one he had seen outside the entrance to the cave though this one did not seem to have a visible lock or handles. Taking stock of the moment feeling that there was some sort of symbolism to it Dante pushed the doors open to reveal the room beyond. Not knowing what to expect Dante was shocked to find intricately carved decorations from floor to ceiling all depicting wars or fighting either among large groups or small bands of people. The only common theme was the picture of a man shrouded in gray and purple crystal showing up in almost every picture.
“Took long enough Adventurer” a voice rang through the cavernous hall.
It was simple work to find the source of the deep voice as the being was a large human-like creature wearing little except for a simple bit of fabric covering his lower body and armor plating on his hands and head with rough leather boots whose texture was much like the stone of the floor around them. His eyes through the slats of the armored headpiece spoke of wisdom and power as they pierced Dante.
“Sorry,” Dante said shrugging and pretending nonchalance “Would have been here sooner but I was only dragged to this world a little while ago so I’ve had a few stops on the way.” Looking around again though not letting his eyes wander too far from the legendary beast Dante spoke up “I like the place, very colorful. This wasn’t an area we Adventurers could access when we were here last. Was always kind of curious what was behind the doors.”
Nodding and standing up the Crimson Keeper waved Dante over to a chair next to his throne “We have a bit to discuss before we proceed and I would prefer my last opponent to be comfortable before we face off.”
“So I will be fighting you?” Dante asked as he walked over drawing weapons in preparation.
“That was the deal I made with Malum when she told me to arrange everything you’ve seen here on the mountainside all those years ago. A final worthy challenger before I rest and my soul moves on to its next vessel or plain of existence” the Crimson Keeper confirmed waving away the weapons as he took a seat and waited for Dante to do the same.
“Malum,” Dante said as he sat though not letting his guard down so close to a legendary beast. “They are a God of the darker pantheon aren’t they?”
“Yes and no, simply a part of the balance of this world. You see she had overheard that Tarrok was planning to bring an adventurer to this world to reap chaos in a world that no longer entertained him. As the trickster God Malum doesn’t like anyone completely getting their way so she let a few others in on the news and they formulated a plan. Now obviously Tarrok succeeded in his plan but the fact that you are here and not destroying the world as a whole means that his plan was thrown awry” chuckling a bit as he said it. “I was one of the few key pieces meant to make sure you followed a very particular path. Now Tarrok has his own followers and powerful creatures who may throw a wrench into plans set by the others but you seem smart enough to deal with that. All the legendary beasts have their role whether they know it or not we are your key to finding out what you need to know and gaining the power you’ll need to become as great as the Adventurers of old. Possibly more so if you do things right.”
“So what’s the point of all this?” Dante asked as his curiosity peaked.
“Order, change, growth and advancement for a world otherwise forgotten by the other worlds. If changes aren’t made entropy would settle in and even the Gods don’t want to see that happen. The old laws of the world need destroyed and the world reset to a standard of rules that will allow for self-growth and advancement to make sure that all the beings of our world don’t simply fade away from existence.”
Dante shook his head in awe “Wow, that’s some heavy shit dude.”
“Yeah,” the Crimson Keep agreed. “Now it would seem I have enlightened you and held up my end of the bargain so I think it is time we move on to the fun bit. I have an arena of sort’s setup in the other room.” he said pointing a metal hand at another door set in the wall to their right. “We can go take care of business in there. Just know that though I want you to win and to help our world. I also don’t like to lose so expect the worst young one” with a hearty laugh he led Dante to the arena where yet again Dante would face another legendary beast of this world.
Dante Alexander: Knight Mage
Level: 33.47
Attack Power:134
Defense Power:326
Health:1697/1697
Mana:843/843
Stamina:624/624
Attack Speed +5
Casting Speed +5
Critical Hit +4
Movement Speed +4
Gear:
Main Hand
+14 Blade of Chaos
Off Hand
+14 Short Sword of Chaos
Helm
+19 Hidden Circlet of Chaos +150 HP
Armor
+25 Leather Breastplate of Chaos +250 HP and +30% Damage Reduction
Gloves
+14 Leather Gloves of Chaos
Shoes
+14 Leather Shoes of Chaos
Set effects:
2 pieces: + 1 to casting/ attacking speed
3 Pieces: ???
Full set: ???
L Earring slot +20 Earring of the Enchantress +50 Mana/Energy, +20 Attack, +20 Accuracy
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
Evasive Blade Stance
Companions:
Terrance Walsh: Warrior
Level:30.74
Attack Power:121
Defense Power:312
Health:2078/2078
Stamina:1167/1167
Attack Speed +3
Casting Speed +2
Critical Hit +4
Movement Speed +4
Erchik: Crossbowman
Level:31.21
Attack Power:143
Defense Power:191
Health:1472/1472
Stamina:820/820
Attack Speed +2
Casting Speed +0
Critical Hit +3
Movement Speed +1
Chapter Twenty-Four
Plain stone from floor to ceiling lit by large fires around the walls in the circular room was what Dante was presented with as the arena for their fight. Not wanting to be caught unsurprised he quickly looked over the information of the legendary beast using his inspection skill.
Legendary Beast: Crimson Keeper
Level: 78
Health: 202,000/202,000
Letting out a small cough of surprise at what he saw the Crimson Keeper ignored Dante as he limbered up and stretched a bit while taking his spot on the opposite side of the rin
g. Dante had expected a higher level knowing that the Crimson Keeper had just about taken over the known world before settling in here. Cracking his neck and joints and relaxing his muscles Dante knew better then to expect anything less than the toughest possible fight from this opponent so he wanted to be ready for anything.
“Alright Adventurer give me a good fight and try not to disappoint” the Crimson Keeper said before he smiled and vanished and reappeared next to Dante saying in a low quiet tone. “To slow” lashing out with a metal fist striking Dante and knocking him across the room.
In that one blow Dante was down more than a quarter of his health and stumbling from the stun effect of the attack. He was unable to attack for another ten seconds but not wanting to get hit like that again he began randomly rolling around in odd directions to throw off his opponent as he waited for the stun to wear off completely. Before the stun was gone though he had taken a small glancing blow from the legendary beast who laughed as Dante kept moving around.
Now that he could attack and move freely, Dante went into action and began striking out with wild attacks knowing that there would be no pattern in his opponents attacks which led him to believe his best chance was to keep his own attacks wild and stay as far away from the legendary beast as possible when not attacking. He activated any and every skill he could that would allow him distance and was surprised that when he triggered his Shadows of Chaos skill the Crimson Keeper was still able to track his every movement.
With all his mana and stamina nearly spent Dante had only taken down about forty percent of the Crimson Keepers health. He knew that he could not win against his opponents speed or powerful strikes. His class was a bit of a glass cannon that relied on quick movements and masterful resource management to survive. At that moment though he didn’t have either going for him, and it was making Dante angry that he was failing so epically.
“Gotta do better than that if you want to beat me” the Crimson Keeper laughed as he landed another glancing blow on Dante who was distracted by his own failure.
Roaring in anger Dante forgot in that moment everything he knew about the games mechanics, forgot how the worlds laws worked and he began to move faster and faster landing hit after hit with depleted mana and stamina somehow still fueling him as he continued. He used attacks otherwise not existing in the world let alone to the class he played as he pummeled the Crimson Keeper down to a small percentage of health. The further the legendary beast’s health plummeted the faster he moved, the more brutal his attacks became, and the more he laughed and whooped in excitement at such a powerful enemy who could match his own abilities.
About to parish at the hands of the Adventurer the Crimson Keeper decided he wished to speak once more before he fell but knew that he could not simply stop the bout without dying in the process so using all his speed and strength he got behind Dante and grappled him shouting “Enough,” breathing heavy. “You win, now calm boy before you hurt yourself” only releasing Dante when he was sure that he had come back to his senses.
Dante was shocked, his mind was still in an almost animalistic state thinking out attacks and strategies to defeat his opponent but when he looked up at the Crimson Keeper he was met with a warm and friendly smile which drove that beastly mindset back into hiding and caused Dante to laugh heartily at the situation. “What the hell happened?” Dante asked breathing heavy through his words.
Looking around and eyeing the destruction of the room as huge chunks of stone were obliterated by their bout leaving gouges in the walls, floor and even a few in the ceiling the Crimson Keeper shook his head and slumped down laughing. “Seems like you’re pretty beastly yourself young one.”
Plopping down next to the Crimson Keeper and eyeing him now as a friend instead of an opponent as the man’s metal hand struck out and patted Dante on the back knocking him forward. “But how?” Dante asked. “How did I do all that, and even with my mana and stamina hitting zero I was able to keep going. Those attacks too…” he trailed off a bit “They were not my normal attacks.”
Shrugging the Crimson Keeper spoke calmly “Best guess would be that you tapped into the power of chaos when you realized you were outmatched and went well past the limits of the world or the laws that govern it. I was lucky to be able to stop you before you completely destroyed me.”
Dante nodded. “Though I don’t really know why you stopped me. I thought you wanted to be defeated by a more powerful opponent?”
“Oh I did and I think I have been in a way I never expected to be, but I also wanted to impart some words before you finished me off” the Crimson Keeper responded. “First don’t let your anger get the better of you like that. You need to learn to control and harness it otherwise you’re going to go into a berserk mode like that again and if you have comrades you care about you’re likely to do them as much harm as good. Next,” he took off his metal gauntlets and tossed them to Dante while flexing his hands, “I wanted to you to have these. As a reminder. I know they won’t work as a weapon or gear and should appear as somewhat of a trash sell item I think is what you Adventurers called it but I think a friendly reminder couldn’t hurt to remind you of someone whose own anger almost cost them people dear to them.” Standing and offering a rough bare hand to Dante.
“Thank you,” Dante replied storing the gauntlets.
After a friendly bro-hug as Dante would call it in his world the Crimson Keeper cleared his throat. “Now I think it is time I rest and you move on. I see you have some parts of the set already but these babies,” pointing at his boots, “will help deal with your speed issue and the whole getting hit thing. When you finish me off they should be all that is left. I thank you for the battle, it was even more amazing then anything I could have expected. Hope I can meet you again in the next life.”
Nodding and smiling Dante lashed out with his blades and removed the last few health points of the legendary beast’s health bar promoting notifications.
Congratulations! You have completed the hidden quest: Messenger of the Gods!
Having received the information set by the Gods you have found out more of the story about your arrival in this world.
Reward: 7,000,000 exp and the title I know more than you do!
Congratulations! You have defeated the legendary beast: The Crimson Keeper
Though a powerful battle of wills you have faced a tough opponent and come out on top.
Reward: 2,000,000 gold and 5,000,000 exp
Congratulations! You have killed another legendary beast! Earning the title: Legendary Beast Destroyer
Warning!
Upon picking up Shoes of the Crimson Keeper it has instantly fused with your uniquely magical armor and added its stats and abilities to your armors current stats and abilities.
Dismissing the prompts Dante set back out towards the entrance and his friends who were anxiously waiting on news from him.
Dante Alexander: Knight Mage
Level: 36.04
Attack Power:134
Defense Power:378
Health:1782/1782
Mana:962/962
Stamina:954/954
Attack Speed +5
Casting Speed +5
Critical Hit +5
Movement Speed +4
Gear:
Main Hand
+14 Blade of Chaos
Off Hand
+14 Short Sword of Chaos
Helm
+19 Hidden Circlet of Chaos +150 HP
Armor
+25 Leather Breastplate of Chaos +250 HP and +30% Damage Reduction
Gloves
+14 Leather Gloves of Chaos
Shoes
+18 Leather Shoes of Chaos +250 stamina, +87 to evasion
Set effects:
2 pieces: + 1 to casting/ attacking speed
3 Pieces: +1 to critical hit
Full set: ???
L Earring slot +20 Earring of the Enchantress +50 Mana/Energy, +20 Attack, +20 Accuracy
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
Evasive Blade Stance
Lashing Chaos
Burst of Chaotic Blades
Leap of Chaos
Companions:
Terrance Walsh: Warrior
Level:32.01
Attack Power:121
Defense Power:312
Health:2103/2103
Stamina:1184/1184
Attack Speed +3
Casting Speed +2
Critical Hit +4
Movement Speed +4
From the Beginning Page 14
