by John Nest
Smoke turned around and went to his makeshift kitchen. He created a large clay-pan with his Earth Manipulation and lit the flames below with his Fire Manipulation.
"You were very sneaky hiding that Fire ability of yours," said Xantana, as both her and Chouchou watched him cook.
"But that old man was way sneakier than any of us," added Chouchou, refering to Ouragan. "Who could have known he could control Water?"
"Yeah, he really got me good," said Smoke, while putting on thick slices of bacon on his clay-pan. He cooked twenty-kilos of it in order to feed his men. He did not skimp on the ingredients as King Kajou had prepared a hefty cart of food supplies for him. All of which were from high end market places of the capital.
Moving with blitzing speed, Smoke removed the crispy bacon from his pan and placed them on several plates. With the clay-pan now greased with bacon-oil, he cracked dozens of eggs to go with their bacon.
'Guess this is one of the perks serving under the King,' thought Smoke, as he was used to eating only what he hunted. He licked his lips at the tasty breakfast before him.
"Alright, Everyone, grab a plate!" yelled Smoke to his Warrior Guards. "You too," he said to Xantana and Chouchou.
"Mmm, this is really tasty," said Chouchou. "I didn't know Duke Fiable was this rich."
Smoke did not respond to the Lioumerean's clear fishing attempt to find out his benefactor, and resumed enjoying his bacon and eggs.
"Faux, why do you do this?" asked Xantana. "Why feed your men the food that was just meant for you?"
"Food tastes better when shared," said Smoke in between mouthful of bacon.
Both the LightElf and tiger Lioumerean remained silent for the rest of their meal, and enjoyed the simple pleasure of savoring the tasty dish.
When they were done, the two of them prepared to leave.
"How about this? We help you out in this mission, and in return you help us out with Prime Wizard Trottel?" Xantana asked Smoke.
"Thanks for the offer, but I don't think I'll be needing your help on this one," said Smoke. "Maybe, some other time?"
Thinking about the menial task of guarding the temple, he planned to set up these Warrior Guards there, increase the defenses around it, and then return to the city.
"Really? Are you sure? Aren't you about to go rescue a village or something?" asked Chouchou. "What with all these Warriors here?"
"You would think that, but no," replied Smoke. He paused and thought about their problem. He truly wanted to help them out, and he thought he might have found a solution. "Tell you what," began Smoke. "After I'm done here. I'll ask the man I'm working for, to look into your situation."
"Hmm. A Duke of a city should have some sway," said Xantana. "But I'm not sure if he could influence the Prime Wizard of a different city."
"Don't worry about that," replied Smoke. "He definitely has authority over Trottel."
Both Xantana and Chouchou looked at him with a bewildered expression.
"Alright, I'll trust you to do that," said Xantana. She then turned to her Lioumerean lover. "Honey, can you please bring out our other offering for Faux."
Chouchou nodded and got out a simple wooden box.
Smoke wondered what offering the two of them brought. His eyes widened when he saw the treasure hidden inside the humble container.
The tiger Lioumerean then took out three books bounded by thick leather. Smoke slanted his head to the side and read 'Flame Arrows,' 'Flame Shield,' and 'Comet.'
"As you now have control over Fire, I thought that something like this would be useful to you," said Xantana.
By manipulating his fireballs, Smoke had made his own variation of the Flame Arrows. Yet, he was curious if there was any difference to this ability tome.
"You're giving all of this to me?" confirmed Smoke.
"Yes, think of it as an early thank you gift," replied Xantana. "I trust that you will do good by what you said."
"Wait, I can't guarantee how effective talking to my current boss would be," said Smoke, and stepped backwards from his beloved ability tomes.
"We know that, Faux, but we're hopeful that it will be," added Chouchou and gave all three books to him.
"Well, if you guys are sure about this," said Smoke and thanked them.
With that, Xantana and Chouchou left Smoke's encampment. They had left as quickly as they arrived.
After seeing them disappear over the horizon, Smoke quickly got out one of the ability tomes.
A notification window popped up as soon as he touched the tome entitled 'Flame Arrows.'
! Conflicting Abilities !
You already have an existing ability similar to this tome.
Do you want to override current ability? [YES/NO]
'Should I?' he wondered. He would have preferred to compare both abilities, but there was no way for him to know the information inside the ability tome, unless he acquired its knowledge.
'Well, the current one is still only Beginner Level 8. Besides, it won't take me that long to reach that level again,' debated Smoke with himself.
He then clicked the 'YES' button and a new notification window popped up.
+ Learned Ability: Flame Arrows
Active
Level: Beginner Level 1
Experience: (0/1,000)
Effects:
> Upgrades ordinary basic fireballs to flaming arrows.
> Damage: 3,000
Notes:
> Speed and Damage increases as level increases
> MP Consumption increases as level increases
> MP Consumption: 300 MP
"Yes!" shouted Smoke. He clenched his fist in victory.
'It has twice the MP consumption of my own version, but it also has twice the damage,' he observed, pleased with his decision.
Next, he quickly grabbed the next ability tome. A leather book entitled 'Flame Shield.'
'This must be the barrier that Xantana used,' he surmised.
+ Learned Ability: Flame Shield
Active
Level: Beginner Level 1
Experience: (0/1,000)
Effects:
> Creates a barrier made out of flames.
> Deflects both basic magical/physical attacks below intermediate level
Notes:
> Size and Durability increases as level increases
> Deflection performance increases as level increases
> MP Consumption: 2,000 MP/second
Eager to see the ability in action, Smoke whispered to his metal orb. "We're going to have to Synergize."
Igniz then let out a faint purple light of acknowledgement.
Purple smoke emitted out from his DarkElf skin, and Smoke extended his right palm as he activated the Flame Shield. A disappointing flat-circular flame with a diameter of less than half a meter appeared.
Smoke's shoulder shrank and he guffed after he tried out the Flame Shield ability.
'This defensive ability can't even hold a candle against my Manatl,' he discerned, as he compared the two abilities.
'But who knows, maybe it will come in handy someday,' he hoped, trying to be an optimist.
He then grabbed the last of the three ability tomes.
+ Learned Ability: Comet
Active
Level: Beginner Level 1
Experience: (0/1,000)
Effects:
> Calls down a large comet from the heavens,
and creates a deep crater with residual flames.
> Damage Calculation:
* 50,000 on direct impact
* 300 per second of burning damage from residual flames
Notes:
> Size and Damage increases as level increases
> MP Consumption decreases as level increases
> Casting time may be reduced by high Dexterity stat
> MP Consumption: 300,000 MP
"Now, this is what I'm talking about!" he said out loud after learning the Comet ability.
'This shoul
d be perfect against mobs,' he thought, as he remembered Crucibelle's own dastardly attack.
He would have wanted to try it out, but that would require him to move farther away from the Warrior Guards.
'There will be other times to test this out,' he thought.
With all three ability tomes consumed, Smoke then called out to Bon. "Alright, let's pack up, and move out."
* * * * * *
After two more days of riding through barren deserts, Smoke and the Guard Warriors spotted greenery.
He expected to see pomegranate trees, but was surprised to see that he was wrong. Colorful yellow flowers that grew out from the thick bushes greeted them into the forest.
+ Entered the Forest of Malentendu
A serene and peaceful forest in the heart of the Sawtorn Continent.
Seeing the lack of information about resident monsters or level requirements, Smoke assumed that this was a safe place.
"We're almost there," said Smoke to his party of Warrior Guards.
Enlarging the window of his map, he double checked the direction of where they were headed. "This way," said Smoke, as he lead his party forward.
Without a large sword at his disposal, he asked two Warriors to walk in front of him. He needed them to hack off the thick vines and wide palmera leaves blocking their path.
He estimated that it would take them half an hour to reach the temple, but the abundant plant-life in the forest impeded their advance.
It was a solid hour before they finally caught a glimpse of the temple.
Mesmerized by the three-story monument, Smoke stopped to take in all of its beauty. It was mostly made of pure white marble, but the two golden torch stands, which stood over three-meters, accented the gold linings and decorative etchings on the temple.
'It looks more older than five-hundred years,' observed Smoke. 'Didn't Kajou's Grandfather lived less than a hundred years ago?'
He led his men forward, towards the white building.
As soon as Smoke stepped on its marble floor, another notification window popped up.
+ Entered Temple of Xantico
A symbol of peace and cooperation between the Kingdoms of Vitzytl and Thanotl.
There, at the center of the temple, were wide marble steps which led to a blocked doorway all the way to the top of the third floor.
From far away, Smoke used his Telefax Vision to see the golden phoenix embossed at the center of the blocked passage. This structure reminded him of the ancient Mayan pyramids, only smaller and paler.
"Alright, I want a five-hundred meter perimeter check around the temple," said Smoke. "Bon, you oversee everything from the ground floor."
"As you Command," replied Bon and started to leave. "But what about you, Commander? What will you be doing?"
"I'm going to look around the temple," replied Smoke. "You know, so I could check if there are any boobytraps."
"Of course," said Bon, and saluted him before disseminating his orders to the other Warrior Guards.
Free to move around the temple, Smoke ran up its steps and went closer to check on the blocked passage.
The golden phoenix embossed on the marble door looked similar to the brooch he had on.
'Looks like the goddess Xantico, alright,' thought Smoke.
Then, he noticed a writing etched on the lower right corner of the door.
"Your outlook will change when you change your perspective," read Smoke out loud.
'Does this mean change my point of view?' wondered Smoke to himself.
Then, Bon arrived to give the Warrior Guards' update.
"We've done our preliminary search of the area, and found nothing suspicious," reported Bon.
"Very good," replied a slightly startled Smoke. "Why don't you tell everyone to make camp at the foot of the temple."
"Yes, Sir!" replied Bon. "By the way, Commander Faux, what exactly are we doing here, anyway?"
"You are going to defend this place," replied Smoke. "The fate of the entire kingdom depends on your guarding prowess."
"Defend it against what, Sir?" asked Bon.
"Robbers!" replied Smoke, and turned around to study the blocked door again.
"What? But there's no one here?" questioned Bon. "I'd safely claim that we're the only souls here in the forest."
"Then, you and your men are up for an easy job," replied Smoke, and dismissed the Warrior Guard.
Left alone, Smoke returned to his musings on the temple writing.
"Change my perspective, huh?" he mumbled to himself.
Since the Warrior Guards were busy setting up their camp, Smoke thought he could risk taking an aerial view of the temple.
'Besides, I already have over 80 Intimacy with most of them,' he thought with assurance.
Using his Hyper Jump ability, Smoke propelled himself upward and stuck his Claws of Chiroptera to one of the tall trees near the temple.
He thought about gliding, but the forest canopy obstructed his view. So, he settled for hanging on top from a tree instead.
From above, Smoke saw that the temple resembled a phoenix with its wings tucked tight. The obstructed entrance was actually the tail of the magnificent edifice.
'This can't be it,' thought Smoke, examining the the marble structure. 'There has to be something more than this.'
He removed his Paradox Mask and tried to wipe the frustration from his face. Yet, it proved to be ineffective.
Scratching his head for ideas, Smoke decided to study the phoenix temple some more, searching for a connection on what was written on the blocked doorway.
'I have to change my perspective...' he repeatedly thought in his head.
'A change in perspective means to change one's view,' he surmised. 'But what if...'
Using the evolved ability of his Cunning of the Dire Fox - Extra Sensory, Smoke focused all of his mana into his eyes.
It was a costly ability at 100,000 MP per use and additional 10,000 MP per second after activation.
At once, his eyes turned golden and became that of a dire fox's. As he could see the energy flowing out of the temple, it appeared as if the white phoenix came to life. Its eyes twinkled
and he knew that he needed to get a closer look.
Excited, Smoke leapt down from the tall tree and rushed towards the phoenix's eyes. Upon inspection, he realized that the eyes were actually receptacles. He touched it and triggered a notification window.
- Requires: [1] Florissant Brooch & [1] Nanti Pin
"What?" asked Smoke out loud. 'Why would Florissant's Brooch be involved in this? Didn't King Gagnant XIII create this temple himself?'
Removing his Journeyman Emblem, Xantico's Inheritance instantly faded out of his equipment. The red flaming luster disappeared from his brown cloak and pants, and now they looked even more tattered. He then placed the brooch into the right eye of the phoenix.
CLINK
Smoke grinned widely after he heard the distinct sound of a perfect fit.
'Now, what in the world is a Nanti Pin?' he wondered.
Putting back the Journeyman Emblem on him, the flames of Xantico's Inheritance reappeared on his worn items.
'I need to learn more about this temple,' thought an excited Smoke. He welcomed the distraction of a new development after his bust with finding the real Magietrois Florissant.
With his inspection of Xantico's Temple completed, Smoke began planning on how to improve the defenses around it.
On the next day, after he fed the Warrior Guards, Smoke created a square earth-wall around the temple. It was four-meters tall and two-meters thick. He made good use of the thick trees and blended his wall well.
Afterwards, he created pit traps with long sharp spikes on the bottom. He scattered it outside the perimeter of his earth-wall.
Completing a day of heavy Earth Manipulation, Smoke scaled the same tall tree and appreciated the fruits of his labor.
Seeing the defenses around the Temple of Xantico, he marveled at his own work and gave out
a smirk.
As he planned to leave that night, Smoke rushed back down to start making his final supper for the Warrior Guards.
It took him less than thirty-minutes to whip up a delicious meal fit for royalty. His hundred man party huddled around him as they ate together.
Suddenly, Bon got everybody's attention.