The players reveled in the carnage and fought them while laughing and jeering at the weak monsters.
Sam instead focused on keeping the foul winds tainted with the magic of the undeath away from the transport vehicles as the magic in the wind tried to eat away the materials it was made out of.
He watched as limbs and other body parts went flying as the players threw themselves at the horde with gusto and couldn’t help but feel it was suspicious.
This amount of undead, especially this type – low-level workers, miners, and such – was not a challenge to a group like this. Hell, he alone could have dealt with them.
Sadly, in this game, this didn’t mean that the encounter or the event was badly designed but that something was afoot.
His thoughts were soon validated.
“Don’t falter!” came the cry from the friendly healer he sat next to, urging everyone to keep up the good work. Then she stepped next to Sam and began talking quietly enough that only he could hear over the noise of the carnage. “This happens almost always when a bigger expedition enters the depths. The desperate and unfortunate are sent against the living.”
“I assume a lot of people try their luck going down…” he murmured as he channeled mana into his shield. The foul wind visibly sparked with a sad display of gray-colored sparks as it continuously hit the outer edges of his shield.
She nodded sadly. “And end up as fodder for things that call this accursed place their home…”
As she fell silent, a cheer went up amongst those who were on the frontline. Apparently, the undead army was destroyed.
He was quickly instructed to drop the shield and return to the carriage – though the healers made sure his aura was on- and the caravan continued on their way, ignoring as black smoke wafted off the ground where the undead fell to their second demise.
Now that he had time to look around, Sam noticed that while their carriage was pristine, aside from the wear and tear of time, most of the carriages – especially those at the front of the caravan – were in a much worse state. Sam could see discolored wood, cloth turning into grayish-yellow rags, and a few spots of rust peeking out from joints.
Naturally, his companion instantly noticed where his eyes wandered and let out a small chuckle.
“Now you understand why your skills were so important. Down here, even the very air is our enemy.” She let out a sigh. “And we’re not even deep…”
“Why not enchant the equipment and tools?”
She let another sigh. “Why do you think?”
Sam didn’t really have to think about the answer. “Money?”
She nodded while staring at the walls of the passageway they were cruising through. The shadows from the torches and other light sources created a rather mystical (and creepy) shadow show on the smooth walls. When seeing it on the edge of his vision, Sam could have sworn he saw figures watching them with unnaturally wicked grins. But as soon as he turned his eyes it was all just a jumbled mess of shadows dancing, mirroring the fire in the torches.
“Money. The basic – cheap – enchantments work against this kind of wind, but the deeper you go, the better enchantments you will need. Nobody was willing to invest that amount of money when buying new vehicles is much cheaper.”
“Well, I’d like to say I’m surprised, but…” Sam replied wryly as he shook his head. ‘Sometimes, this game is too realistic…’
The next stretch of the journey as the caravan headed deeper and deeper, became somewhat a routine.
They would travel for anywhere between half an hour and an hour, then the expedition would be beset by increasingly grotesque-looking undead hordes. Sometimes, just like the first time, it was only one wave, but other times they had several waves with some bigger undead – usually ‘made’ from other undead being fused together – acting as the mini-bosses.
Meanwhile, the wind kept blowing, rotting away the wood transporting the players.
Thanks to the tireless work of the healers and his own shield, most of the important carriages carrying the healing supplies were intact, but during the journey, they had to abandon several carriages as they became too damaged, or in one case, the poor lizard-thing tried to eat one of the appendages that flew off in the frenzy of fighting and choked on it before anyone noticed.
A lot of players were forced to walk or hang off the sides of the still-intact carriages as the remaining six-legged lizards trudged forward a little slower. Naturally, the NPCs were the first to get new seats when the wooden contraptions broke down.
Still, nobody really complained, as all of these things were expected and Sam suspected that just as he did, most of the players had some alternative way to get around, but were waiting to unveil them at an opportune moment.
More importantly, Sam still hadn’t seen one fight between players.
Not over loot – no matter how meager it was; the undead were not the highest level but occasionally there were some diamonds in the rough for the discerning eyes – and not even over women.
There were a few beautifully dressed mercenaries here and there, surrounded by their entourage of slightly less beautiful women wearing armor and scary-looking weapons, but none of the musclebound idiots tried to start anything.
Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.
That, above everything else, hit the red on his weird-o-meter.
They were who knows how deep and after at least two dozen undead invasions, where at the end the monsters were more shadow and simply bulk meat slapped into something resembling shape than humanoid monsters and there was still no sight of anything that would help Sam qualify for meeting the Herald.
Still, the chats with the healer – named Asa, born with the first light of the new year’s sun – were mighty interesting. After joking and complaining about his lack of healing skills, the woman instantly began to teach him some basic things.
Enough, that by the time they stopped for a longer break, he gained a new skill.
[Field Healer: Level 0/25 (0%) (Passive) You gained enough experience with healing to not kill somebody. Probably. You also know your body better so you are able to take better care of it. Every action aiming to heal somebody is 1% stronger per skill level. Grants you 0,1 health point regeneration per skill level.]
Not something to brag about, but it was still nice. Plus, based on how the other NPCs behaved around Asa, she was probably important enough in the city that she could help him out if he asked nicely.
Sam hoped that with a few lectures and some experience, he would be able to upgrade it into something usable.
They were getting off the carriages, mostly to stretch their legs, but also to build a sort of forward camp for the expeditions. Apparently, there were some survey reports that the people on the topside wanted to confirm.
Asa gave him a little wave and with an entourage of two other healers left to have a meeting with the quartermaster as Sam helped unpack some equipment from their still pristine carriage while in the background one of the wooden supports on one of the other carriages gave up the ghost and crumbled under the weight it was carrying.
The sound of the crashing transport vehicle echoed around them, soon joined by the curses of those who were still on it and the laughter from who were on time getting off.
Sam just shook his head in exasperation and found a spot where he could sit down for a little to check things over. All around him, people walked aimlessly, talking with each other or doing odd jobs as they set up the forward base. Some went even so far as to stand guard. Truly, the pinnacle of mercenaries.
The first thing he did was to make sure Lucky was all right. After a few seconds of directing his senses at his loyal companion, he was satisfied that the wolf was having the time of his life and returned his focus on his own improvements.
[Perfect Mana Core is now Level 13!]
[Mana Weaving is now Level 3!]
[Unknown Sight is now Level 2!]
[Mana Architecture is now Level 27!]
[You gained the Solid Foundation subskill!]
[Solid Foundation: Level 0/5 (0%) Your skills with mana provide you with a solid foundation. Your creations are more solid and stable. Decreases mana cost of maintaining them by 5% for each skill level.]
[Advanced Clean I is now Level 5!]
[Purification Aura is now Level 22!]
[Pure Body is now Level 10!]
[Cleaning Affinity is now Level 52!]
[You gained the Precise subskill!]
[Precise: Level MAX (MAX%) (Passive) No matter how small or big, you won’t miss it.]
A great amount of growth in his cleaning skills. Sam was still somewhat surprised at how effective those skills had become. He knew, from his inherited memories that they were important, but to this extent? Or was this just his own skills showing their worth?
[Wind Mana Manipulation is now Level 95!]
[Greater Wind Affinity is now Level 87!]
[Wind Sense is now Level 5!]
[Steady Mind is now Level 3!]
[Adamant Spirit Link is now Level 5!]
[Spirit Protection is now Level 42!]
[Bleedover is now Level 5!]
He was glad to see that Lucky’s effort was paying off with the skill growth. He suspected that soon those same skills would become mighty useful. With the way they were losing transportation capabilities, he felt that soon the harmonious existence would be over.
[Physical and Magical Resistance is now Level 3!]
[Illusion Resistance is now Level 38!]
[Corruption Resistance is now Level 42!]
[Blood Magic Resistance is now Level 33!]
Well, if nothing else, these few level-ups told him that his thoughts were correct. The bloody blood mages were here and ready to rumble. Sadly, his mana sense was still curtailed by the dense walls of the underground. Sometimes he thought he sensed something, but then it vanished like an enticing smell on the wind.
[Lucky is now Level 7!]
Sam just smiled. His little wolf was growing stronger and stronger.
A few minutes later, he noticed Asa returning with her aides, looking visibly distressed. She cut through the area toward Sam, hurrying while looking around anxiously. He let out a sigh, patted his own knees, shaking off a little dust that settled on them while he sat there and stood up, cracking his neck.
The healer arrived and spent a moment just taking deep breaths, before quietly whispering.
“I-I think something is wrong with the Quartermaster!”
“Oh?”
“I went to talk with him, but he kept repeating the same thing. It looked like…”
“Mind control?” Sam asked as he made sure to spread out his senses as he talked to his newly made friend.
“More like cactus juice,” Asa replied. “If you harvest it from the wrong one, it has a hallucinogenic effect that leaves the consumer susceptible to suggestions. Nomads use it for spirit journeys…” she explained worriedly.
As he processed those words, he suddenly felt several spots where the mana began to flare. Then, in the next second, he also felt the mana of the surrounding people – while the mana of the NPCs stayed tepid and calm – swirl with excitement.
He looked up, then around as Asa continued to expand on the effects of the cactus juice nervously and watched as all the players present were looking in his direction.
Well, his and the healers.
“Well, Asa, that’s fascinating and I hate to interrupt your explanation, but would you mind looking up?” Asa’s head snapped up as she looked around wildly, her eyes widening with realization.
Sam sent a call-back message to Lucky and chuckled a little. “It seems we have been surrounded.”
One of the mercenaries grinned savagely, yanked off something from their armor, and threw it away into the dirt. Sam was instantly hit by the disgusting ‘smell’ of blood magic. Instantly, everybody followed the first guy, artifacts hitting the ground one after another as the cloying blood magic began filling the passageway.
“Ma-master Samuel, I do hope you have a plan?” Asa asked, trembling, as she shuffled behind him. “I’ve never been keen on violence.”
“That depends. How do you feel about an incredible amount of violence?” he asked absently as he measured the enemy forces arrayed against him and prepared for a fight.
“Well, if it means I get home to my grandchildren, then I’m all for it!” she declared vehemently while still whispering from behind Sam.
“Good. Because I doubt we’re going to solve this peacefully,” he stated as one of the players grinned and began to laugh.
“It is time my friends to complete our task! Let the blood…FLOW!”
Owed bonus chapters: Three (3)
Titles:
[Apprentice: You are an apprentice learning under a master. Increased experience point gain in the key skill of the apprenticeship.]
Magical Items:
[Ring of Minor Health Regeneration: A small ring, made from subpar materials, with a low-quality magical gem. As long as the gem holds mana, it aids with health regeneration. Can hold 100 Mana Points, and regenerates 10 Health Points for every point of mana consumed. Current Mana: 100/100.]
[High-quality Troll Leather Armor: Created by a journeyman crafter employed by your own company. They worked extra hard to make sure to return your goodwill. Excellent quality, given the materials and the crafter. Enchanted to decrease the sound it makes during movement, as well as has increased durability. Thanks to the substance it was impregnated with the troll leather it lacks its customary weakness to fire.]
*Not actually bottomless.]
[Ring of the Shadow Fang: Made from shadow metal and accented with white moon-silver, this ring allows the wearer to summon a dagger made from shadow. The strength of the dagger depends on the wearer’s shadow mana control. The distance the dagger can move from the wearer depends on the mana control of the individual.]
Quests:
Active quests:
[Just walk in there!]
[Prove yourself!]
[Peaceful land, peaceful mind]
[Deli-Very!]
[Friendlessly into the depths!]
Finished quests:
[Monster Parade!]
[Topping the tree!]
[Reap what you sow!]
[Seaside opportunity]
[Another seaside opportunity]
[The booty of mystery!]
[Demonic demonstration!]
[The Test of the Survivor!]
[To the city you go!]
[Eternal Vigilance!]
[Returning Champion]
[Volatile Valley]
[Ride forward to be not killed in nasty ways!]
[Location, location, location!]
[Call to action!]
Skills:
Mana Skills:
[Mana Body: Level 7/100 (21%) (Passive) Your mana permeates your body, enhancing and improving it. The better your control of your mana is, and the more mana you have, the bigger the effect is. For every 100 Mana Points, it grants you 1 Base Health gain. For every skill level, it increases the Health Regeneration by 0,1.]
[Mana Shield: Level 99 (99%) Using mana, you can form a simple shell around yourself, which decreases the damage you take. Damage decrease depends on the amount of mana invested. For every unit of Mana invested in the spell, the shield will protect you from 9,9 (physical) damage.]
[A/N: Currently: WIS: 55 / MAG: 50 = 1,1 --> +2,1 Mana Regeneration per skill level]
[Mana Flux: Level 10/10 (MAX%) (Passive) The resonance between your skills is enough that if you cast more than one spell or use more than one skill at the same time, then they may induce each other. This induction allows your mana to gain a unique property. This property allows your spells to slip through magical shielding. Effectiveness depends on the strength differences between you and the target. Your spells gain 1% True Damage per skill level.
[A/N: Currently: WIS: 55 / MAG: 50 = 1,1 --> +3,1 Mana Regeneration per skill level]
Neutral Mage skills:
[Mana Unraveling: Level 14/25 (19%) (Active) You can spot even the smallest imperfection in the weave of the mana. If your control is better than the one who wove the spell, then you can attack those imperfections and unravel the spell or magic in front of you.]
[Spell Matrix: Level 40/100 (4%) (Passive) You mastered layering spells as very few have before. You can layer ( or connect any other way) together as many spells as you can. The cost of this action is increased by 5% (cumulative) for every two layers or spells.]
[Solid Spell Foundation: Level 5/5 (MAX%) (Passive) Your foundation is solid and unshakeable. The stability of layered spells is increased.]
[Mana Construct: Level 84/100 (22%) (Active/Passive) You can create mana constructs over your weapons. These constructs cannot be separated from your weapon. You have total control over their shape and size. For every level in the skill, the mana cost is decreased by 1% and the damage inflicted by the skill is increased by 1%]
[Simplicity: Level 5/5 (MAX%) (Passive) The simpler your creations, the less mana it costs.]
[Infusion: Level 5/5 (MAX%) (Passive) Infusing different mana types into your mana constructs becomes easier.]
[Complexity: Level 1/5 (11%) (Passive) The complexity of your creations doesn’t detract from it. Usually, mana cost would rise when the complexity of your creation increases. For every level of this skill this increase in mana cost becomes less and less.]
Elemental Mage Skills:
Wind Mage skills:
[Wind Blade III: Level 9/10 (99%) (Active) A spell that allows you to launch a blade of wind. The cutting power and speed of the blade are increased. You have greater control over its movement after creation. Allows you to slightly control its path after launching the wind blade.]
[Wind Blade Storm: Level 6/10 (7%) (Active) A spell that unleashes a storm of wind blades around you. The damage of the released Wind Blades depends on the Wind Blade spell and your mastery over it.]
[Wind Bullet III: Level 9/10 (99%) A spell that allows you to launch a bullet made of concentrated wind. You have excellent control over the projectile’s speed, size, and path.]
[Wind Explosion: Level 3/10 (21%) A spell that allows you to create a singular bullet of wind mana, and then fire it, which will, upon impact, detonate. The strength of the detonation depends on the amount of wind mana channeled into the bullet and your mastery over the Wind Bullet spell!]
[Wind Movement: 39/100 (19%) (Active) You can use your mastery over wind to move in any direction you wish. Your movement speed is increased significantly. This speed boost is increased by 1% for each skill level.]
[Wind Edge III: Level 9/10 (99%) (Passive) A spell that allows you to enhance the edge of any bladed weapon you wield with the wind. Thanks to the spell, the speed of your strikes will greatly increase. The power and reach of the blade will be greatly increased further.]
[Wind Affinity: Level 61/100 (17%) (Passive) You have a good affinity for the wind. Beings born of the wind will be more favorable to you. The cost of the Wind-type spells and skills is reduced and their power is increased by 0,5% for each skill level.]
- Wind Flurry
- Wind Bullet Barrage
- Healing Wind
- Wind Jump
- Wind Drill
- Wind Blade I-III
- Wind Blade Storm
- Wind Bullet I-III
- Wind Explosion
- Wind Movement
- Wind Edge I-III!
Utility skills:
Companion skills:
Shadow skills:
(Shadow Cloak triggers this benefit.)]
[Shadow Affinity: Level 30/100 (14%) (Passive) You have a good affinity with the shadows. Beings born of the shadows will be more favorable to you. The cost of the Shadow-type spells and skills is reduced and their power is increased by 0,5% for each skill level.]
Physical skills:
[Basic Armor Mastery: Level 91/100 (6%) (Passive) You learned the basics of wearing armor. Decreases the Stamina consumption slightly while wearing any kind of armor.]
[Clean Armor: Level MAX (MAX%) (Passive) Your mana got used to a certain spell, so the waste mana radiating from you will, over time, permeate and clean your armor.]
[Resistant Armor: Level 5/5 (MAX%) (Passive) Thanks to your practice, you can fully utilize everything that your armor provides, granting you increased resistance against the environment. Grants 2% increased environmental resistance per skill level. Environmental resistance protects against environmental effects only.]
[Durable Armor: Level 0/5 (0%) (Passive) You learned how to roll with the punches. This includes knowing when your armor can take a hit and when it can’t. Increased durability for any armor you wear from incoming damage from non-environmental sources.]
[Epic Breathing Technique: Level 9/10 (99%) (Passive) You breathe, and the world breathes with you. You move along your own rhythm. Decreases stamina consumption even more during any activity and further increases stamina regeneration when not in a fight. Gain +2 Stamina Regeneration for every skill level.]
[Tranquil Heart: Level 11/100 (54%) (Passive) Your heart beats to the same rhythm as your body. It’s efficient and harmonious. You have an even easier time resisting mind-altering effects and a portion of of those effects are reflected back to the source. The portion is 1% per skill level. You also radiate an aura of tranquility that confers the resistance portion of the skill to your allies near you.]
[Flow: Level 77/100 (9%) (Passive) Thanks to being a natural sensor, you can read the flow of the mana. Increases your stability and the bonuses any movement or martial art skill provides by 1% per level in the skill.]
[Focused Flow: Level 5/5 (MAX%) (Passive) When focusing on any enemy beyond what is normal, your ability to read their flow becomes clearer and more precise.]
[Controlled Flow: Level 5/5 (MAX%) (Passive) Your read of the flow is more controlled, allowing you to see the flow much better. Increases the flow visibility by 20% for every skill level.]
[Immersed Flow: Level 0/5 (0%) (Passive) When you start reading the flow a counter starts. After every ten seconds, the effect of the Flow skill increases by 1% for each skill level. Maximum 600 seconds.]
Parry: Level 24/100 (13%) (Passive) Decreases the stamina consumption of defensive weapon movements. It allows you to more efficiently and accurately parry incoming attacks. Decreases the damage of the blocked attack by 0,5% for each skill level at the moment of blocking.]
[Cleansed Body: Level MAX (MAX%) (Passive) Your body has been cleansed of impurities, giving you a more charming aura. NPCs and players will treat you slightly differently depending on their tastes. Gives a flat increase of +3 to STR, AGI, END. You can upgrade this skill by further cleansing your body.]
Resistance skills:
General skills:
[Dwarven Language: Level 5/10 (1%) (Passive) You managed to learn the basics of the Dwarven language.]
[Elven Language: Level 7/10 (8%) (Passive) You managed to learn the basics of the Elven language.]
[Dark Elven Language: Level 5/10 (1%) (Passive) You managed to learn the basics of the Dark Elven language.]
[Sarkan Language: Level 3/10 (42%) (Passive) You managed to learn the basics of the Sarkan language.]
Crafting skills:
Pet skills:
[Strong Jaw: Level Max (Passive) The jaw of the wolf is strengthened.]
[Lucky Aura: Level Max (Passive) Those who are in the same party as the wolf receive a buff to their luck. It depends on their luck how big the increase is.]
[Animalistic Mana Control: Level Max (Passive) The wolf controls the mana inside him based on animalistic instinct.]
[Animalistic Shadow Control: Level Max (Passive) The wolf controls the shadows around him just as easily as it breathes.]
[Shadow Spirit Body: Level Max (Passive) The body of the wolf is part shadows and part spirit, which makes it much more malleable.]
[Shadow Strike: Level Max (Active/Passive) All attacks started from the shadows receive bonus damage, and the wolf can clad itself in shadows, making its entire body into a weapon, while striking at an enemy increasing its range of attack.]
[Shadow Jump: Level 20/20 (MAX%) (Active) The wolf gains the capability to dive into your shadow and emerge from a different shadow. Range: 200 meters. Cooldown: 30 seconds.]
[Shadow Dash: Level 20/20 (MAX%) (Active/Passive) Wherever the wolf steps, he can leave small pools of shadows that the wolf can use to jump into. When diving into the shadows, the wolf can travel at an even greater distance with his speed increased by 2% for each skill level.]
[Shadow Claws: Level 20/20 (MAX%) (Active/Passive) Your companion’s claws are infused with the shadows. There is a low chance to leave behind shadow mana with each attack of their claws. Alternatively, they can actively increase this infusion of shadow mana and strike at their enemies with giant shadow claws.]
[Shadow Bite: Level 20/20 (MAX%) (Active) Your companion enhances their bite with shadow mana, increasing the area and strength of the bite.]
[Shadow Steed: Level 21/50 (3%) (Passive) Your companion has learned how to run while being ridden. Stamina consumption is decreased when being ridden and can carry bigger loads.]
[Shadow Bleed: Level 41/50 (8%) (Passive) Your companion’s claw has been enhanced by a chaotic shadow field which rends the area where the claws strike, causing extra bleeding.]
[Weakening Strike: Level 15/50 (21%) (Passive) Every strike of your companion's claw weakens the enemy's armor. The maximum stack of the effects is 3+1 per 5 skill level.]
[Shadow Heal: Level 21/50 (37%) (Active) Your companion can absorb the shadows hiding them to heal itself.]
[Runic Weapon: Level Max (Passive) The wolf’s claws and teeth are clad in runes that grant him a certain amount of ability to pierce through the impenetrable. Grants a 13% chance to do True Damage with the claws and teeth.]
[Runic Strike: Level 20/20 (Active) Lucky gains the ability to channel mana into the runes of his claws and teeth to enhance the damage theydo. The damage type depends on the type of mana he channels into it. Current natures are available to use: no attribute, shadow, or spirit.]