As he looked over the situation, he saw two possible options to escape the city. On one hand, he could go full stealth with his meager skills when people were explicitly looking for him. On the other hand, he specifically built his character to be focused on speed.
Closing his eyes, he focused on his Mana Sense and began channeling mana into it.
“Lucky, watch my back!” he said as an afterthought.
“Wuff!” He felt the wolf move around him, but then he was distracted by the magic.
He made sure to channel as much mana as he could into the spell as possible, aware that he was very close to collapsing the entire structure by overloading it. Instead, he waited until the last possible moment when he felt the spell structure strain under the pressure and then opened a thin hole in it and let it out in waves.
Slowly and softly, thin pulses of mana went out from his position on the top of the building and began to bounce between the buildings and magical battles, giving him a low-resolution but wide-reaching map of the ruined city.
Hopefully, his spell would be lost between all the noise the battles were generating.
No doubt, there were NPCs that would realize what he was doing, but he sincerely doubted that any of the players had refined their mana-sensing skills enough to discern his low-key spell. Or if they did, they were most likely in a research lab, surrounded by elite guild guards, trying to figure out a way so that the guild leader could cast bigger fireballs.
Slowly, the situation became clear to him as the low-fidelity map began to appear in front of him.
The west was a total write-off, that’s where he could see the most ruins and based on the feedback from his spell, the battles over there, thanks to being home to a lot of mercenary guilds, were the busiest.
If he were to go that way, instead of fearing that somebody would discover him, he would instead need to fear being clipped by any of the hundreds of spells continuously flying back and forth.
North was where the main entrance to the city was and the bulk of the blood mages had set up there after the collapse and seemed to be building up for another gruesome ritual.
‘No, thank you…’
East, on the other hand, seemed to be promising. Mostly because of the nobles’ district and the soldiers Sun Warriors and the like protecting it, made it so that there was a naturally occurring corridor around the edge of the district.
He squinted in the direction and thought about it for a second before shaking his head. If the enemy leader had at least more than three brain cells, they would realize the same thing and set up a trap.
Could he blast through? More than likely, yes. Did he want to? No.
He wanted the fastest route out of the city so that he could return to the Emerald Kingdom to complain to his master about his choice of business associates.
Letting go of the spell and opening his eyes, Sam let out a sigh as he once again beheld the ruined visage of a once beautiful city filled with criminals from all walks of life.
“West it is…” he murmured as he petted Lucky’s head in thank you before sending him back into his shadow.
He spent a few minutes just resting, putting his thoughts in order, and writing a few messages to send as soon as he was out of the area. Apparently, the ruined city still counted as a quest location, thus the ban on communication was still active.
Standing up, he did a few stretches, made sure his equipment was in working order, his poor Moonlight sharpened and his potions were ready to be used.
A path prepared between the most active battlefields, and he was off.
By his calculation, at his top speed – without dipping into his reserves – it would take around half an hour to reach the walls and from there another to leave the area of the battle and thus the quest.
Now he just had to see if the universe would cooperate with his wishes or not.
Running through trashed alleys (both by actual trash and by the explosions) he dodged around – using his little stealth skill and speed – fighting groups as he headed toward his objective.
The first one was a blood mage group doing a desperate retreat against several very angry berserkers with insignias containing an angry, snarling head of a bear, wielding giant slabs of serrated blades, not unlike what Katie preferred.
Based on the yelling, the explosion destroyed something important.
‘Hmm…bear…bear…Ah! The ghost bears! Now I remember,’ Sam mused as he carefully avoided several pieces of bloody debris flying his way and ducking into the next alleyway. ‘They managed to figure out a way to ghost through walls reliably. Nothing better than a suddenly materializing raging berserker in your face. If the attack disrupted the research…’
Making a note for Lucy to reach out and do some fact-finding about them, he continued on his way.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
‘It would be nice if we could recruit them…’ he grinned to himself as the roar of victory sounded behind him.
A few more alleyways, some creeping and crawling through and under rubble, and he was halfway to his destination.
Sadly, the universe, or in this case, the game system, decided to throw a wrench in his plans. As he looked out from behind the corner of his latest alleyway (the city had too many of them, in his opinion) he saw three well-built and well-armed blood mages with clouds of aerosolized blood surrounding them menacing one lone victim. A woman, dressed in mage-like clothes, dirty and trying to scuttle back desperately.
Based on the ‘jokes’ he was hearing, all of them were players.
“…hehe, let’s see what she can do. Her teammates weren’t as impressive, but expect great things from her!” said the one in the lead as he leered at the woman.
‘Is he for real?’ Sam, once again, wondered about the average intelligence of humanity.
She just snarled something unintelligible and raised her hand to cast something, based on the feeling in the mana, but as soon as the first spark of the magic left her hand a patch of blood magic rushed over and sucked it all up, leaving the woman helpless.
Cursing, she spat at them. “Then kill me, you morons, why the theater play?”
“Well, well… it seems she can talk,” came from one of the blood mages. “Don’t worry, sweet cheeks. The ritual we have planned for you is going to be… electrifying.”
Not really wanting to give extra power to the idiots that tried to sacrifice an entire city, he abandoned his ‘hiding’ place and sprung forward with incredible speed.
His presence was felt when his blade went through the heart of the guy in the middle and then was unceremoniously ripped apart by wind. As the blood turned into pixels and the cloud of blood began to lessen, Sam pivoted, bringing his sword straight at the neck of the next guy who was just turning toward him.
Unfortunately for him, not fast enough.
As the head, separated from the body, hit the ground, he heard a thump and crunch, only to see Lucky sitting on the broken remains of the third man, tongue out and looking at him proudly.
Walking over, he patted his head. “Good boy.” He then turned toward the woman, who was looking at him with wide eyes. Instead of saying anything, he winked and vanished toward the alleyway the three idiots were blocking.
Leaving her prone on the ground, surrounded by a small pond of blood.
“You moron, they cursed me! At least help with that!” was the last thing he heard before the rest was swallowed by the general noise of the city engulfed in battle.
Though Sam assumed it was mostly cursing.
The rest of the journey, thankfully, was less interesting.
True, he had to wait out a battle moving through his planned path, but the rubble provided plenty of hiding spaces.
Still, despite those hardships, he managed to reach one of the intact parts of the walls that stood not long ago as a testament to the hardiness of the people of Sunspot. Now, it was filled with holes wide enough to drive through several armies.
Most of those holes were either filled with defenders, keeping out the undesirable elements or attackers streaming into the city to fulfill whatever insane plans their leaders concocted.
‘Can’t wait to see the videos…’
For some reason, the intact walls were only guarded sparsely, with a few token soldiers and such. Taking a running jump, he bounced from roof to roof, rubble mountain to rubble mountain until he landed in the shadow of a small stone building on the top of the wall. Glancing inside, he saw a hastily abandoned game of cards.
‘Guard post,’ he noted disinterestedly.
Looking around carefully, both with his eyes and other senses, he looked for anyone watching. Aside from the general chaos, usual malcontents, and the thick-as-hell miasma in the ether, he sensed nothing.
Nodding to himself, he quietly crept up to the ledge and dropped down silently.
He arrived at the exact moment Lucky emerged from the shadows, landing on the saddle at the perfect moment.
Grinning, he gave the loyal wolf – currently the size of a horse – a scratch on the neck and pointed him toward his goal.
“Let’s go home, Lucky!”
“Wuff!”
And they were off.
While Sam didn’t see or sense anybody, there were several groups stationed around the city whose main job was to make sure nobody stabbed the invading army in the back. Thus, they were too far away for Sam to sense, but close enough, that with the help of several binoculars and spells, they could see him and Lucky speed through the trampled underbrush away from the city.
“Hey, uh, boss?”
“Yeah?”
“Is that who I think it is?”
“Where?”
“C7.”
There was a silence then a small surprised sound.
“Well, I’ll be… What the fuck is he doing here?”
“Should we report it?”
“No, we should fucking ignore it. Yes, go and report that fucking Solar just left the city!”
Instantly, several people rushed away to deliver the messages. With the quest blocking messaging, and the chaotic ether making magical communication fickle, they had to rely on runners.
“Do you think they can catch him?”
Another bout of silence.
“I can’t even see him anymore.”
“I heard he was good, but that kind of speed…”
There were some agreeing sounds all around before someone voiced a question.
“Do you think they’re going to blame us for letting him go?”
All of them looked at each other before wincing.
“Fuck…”
The trip back to the Emerald Kingdom was fast and incredibly tiring. He had Lucky run as fast as he was capable, only stopping when they were both out of mana or hungry and tired. Even then, after they rested the minimum amount of time, they were back on the road.
Well, not on any road, as Sam made sure to avoid any sign of civilization. He didn’t know how wide of a net the blood mages had cast and he had no desire to figure it out.
He arrived back at their newly built town, dirty, exhausted, and more than grumpy.
Ignoring all greetings, he immediately headed for his Master’s workshop.
The guards, thankfully, recognized him and didn’t stop him when he practically kicked in the door as he had no more energy to play nice.
He found Fitzgerald bent over a fascinating piece of runic device – which from a glance, was for some kind of targeting artifact – and he was already talking by the time the older man looked up from their work.
“What the hell, master?”
It took a second for his Master to parse the question before he sent him a commiserating look.
“You too, huh?”
Sam just blinked. “What?”
“He tried to kill you, right?” the man asked, nonplussed while nodding slightly. “He did that to me, too. According to him, a good merchant needs luck. He believes that if they don’t have luck, it is not worth making deals with them. So, if they’re lucky to survive, then he will work with them in the future.”
Sam just gaped as the other man continued.
“For me, it was one of the laces on my boot that came free. I bent down to tie it and avoided a strike aimed at my neck,” the runemaster explained with a dry look.
Sam opened his mouth, but no sound came out. Instead, he let out an annoyed huff.
“Whatever. I delivered the stupid box. Now, I’m going to sleep for a week.” With that, he turned around and headed for the door. He really needed a shower, both in the game and outside of it.
“Come back after you're rested! I need to show you something!” yelled Fitzgerald after him.
However, Sam’s attention was on the people waiting for him outside the workshop.
Lucy, tapping her pristine shoes on the sand and dust-covered ground, Lara grinning ear-to-ear while the rest of his team stood to the side, refusing to look him in the eyes.
“What now?”
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]
[Longing for the sun!]
Failed quests:
[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!]
[Deli-Very!]
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.]