by Rick Scar
Range: 30 feet
Cost: 200 Influence Points
Cooldown: 1 day
Note: No effect on players or non-sapient creatures.
Sounds much like my experience in someone else’s body. Also, what the fuck are Gift vessels?
He closed the messages and, taking a look around, considered his next step. This place was good for summoning the demon.
I hope he isn’t immune to lightning.
Farris was to break from his prison in eight days. The only thing that was making Raven doubt his victory was the fact that he didn’t know what level his opponent was. His plan relied on Salvation but if Farris turned out to be twenty or more levels higher than him, this skill wouldn’t work. And if they failed to drive the demon back into his prison…
Radermin would never forgive me... He sighed and rubbed his eyes. And then a sudden idea occurred to him. What if I do it the other way round? What if I make his level match mine instead of trying to make my level match his? Lemme Google that, see if it’s even possible...
Five minutes later, he was surprised to discover that there was a way to do exactly that — the Little Giant scroll. A very rare item, with its recipe owned by no one other than the Faceless Army.
This scroll could reduce the target’s level by five, enabling you to use level-dependent skills like those he possessed.
Fortunately, he didn’t have to contact the Faceless Army directly and ask for the scroll as they were selling them at the auction, with the starting bid at one thousand gold. Seeing the price, he grimaced.
Seriously, what have I done to deserve all of this? Can’t something, for once, be simple? he wondered. But then he told himself that he had achieved a lot in the game, breathed out, and closed the auction tab. I’d better ask Mollie. She might have one.
After messaging her, he spent the next half an hour waiting for a response.
“Hi.”
As Hade saw him stare into the void blankly, she approached warily and, bending down and almost sniffing him, watched him curiously.
“Again, thank you so much for your b-day gift! =D”
She sounds like she’s in a good mood... he thought as he typed out his request.
“I hear you loud and clear but I can’t help you. Sorry. We need all of the scrolls for tomorrow’s raid. The fucking Army… They’ll keep rising the price if no alternative is offered.”
“I see.” It went without saying that this wasn’t the answer that he had hoped for. “Thanks. By the way, when are you going to accept my sis into your clan?”
“In a day or two. Don’t worry. A couple of very strong players will show her around.”
“Thanks. See you.”
“Before you go: one of my mates got a message from some guy named Malissar. He said that he knows something really important and that he needs to see you about it, but you won’t answer his emails.”
“The name sounds vaguely familiar.”
He rolled the nickname on his tongue for a while, but too many things had happened too quickly that even his memory wasn’t good enough to remember everyone he had met in the game.
“Okay. Answer him. I’ll take a look at his email the first chance I get. Anything else?”
“No. You may run. Bye!”
As he closed the message window, his gaze fell onto Hade’s anxious face. Seeing him staring back at her, lifting his brow slightly, she took a step back, and smiled innocently.
“Are you alright, master?”
“I am,” Raven replied, thinking over what Mollie had just told him.
Malissar. Where could I’ve met him? The Faceless Army? No. Floor Three? The forest? The lake? Have I killed him? No… Ah, right! That guy!
He made a mental note to read Malissar’s email once he got out of the game as he had more urgent matters to attend to at the moment. Opening his contact list, he looked for anyone who could help him get the scroll. His first option was Pak.
After an hour of messaging everyone, he realized that the Faceless Army had monopolized the sale of this scroll. To get one, he had to contact them directly. And hell would freeze over before he did that. Their encounter at the Monarch’s Door had officially brought his relationship with this clan down to zero.
“Back to the drawing board...” Once again, he considered all the possible ways of quickly raising his level. Unfortunately, since none of his current quests could help him with that, he was left with a choice between grinding and killing a mob that was at least fifty levels above his. Unlike in the battle with Farris, he’d be able to retreat and try out different tactics if things didn’t go according to plan.
He had two places marked on his map after his conversation with Lily, but his best bet was the mob on the mountain. He knew that he had too little time to manage such a climb, but he also knew someone who could assist him with it. Unfortunately, that person happened to be a geezer with a temper.
“Okay. We’re going back,” he said to Hade, but she didn’t seem to hear, staring at the bolts of lightning with a dreamy gaze. “Hade?”
No response.
Getting up, he walked over to her and stood by her side. She had behaved like this even before they entered the hidden location.
“Can you feel something?” he asked. Hade’s interest in the bolts of lightning could’ve stemmed from the fact that she now possessed the power of this element.
The development tree she had opened was a combination of Fire and Lightning skills, such as Roaring Volcano or Trampling Thunder. Or the most powerful ones, placed at the ends of their respective branches: The Fire Spirit of Inferno and The Thunder Spirit of Heavens.
She also had some passive skills, such as The Vessel of Fire Sparks or The Vessel of Heavenly Snakes, which strengthened her relationship with the respective element and reduced the amount of mana needed for activating them.
And speaking of mana, it wasn’t until recently that Raven realized that he had succeeded in imposing Mana and Magic Damage attributes on her. No other pet he knew had these. He ought to meet with Zarnitsa to discuss Hade’s recent skills with her.
“I… I’m not sure. I feel like I’m hearing their voices.” She finally turned to him. “Can you hear them, master?”
“I can’t. Sorry.” He smiled feebly and patted her on the head. “We’re going back,” he said again.
“I…” She twitched, as though she was going to say something, but just nodded. “As you say.”
The last flashes of lightning got reflected in her eyes a moment before the two of them returned to the palace. Leaving the portal room, he headed off to meet Lamaniel.
Chapter 282. The Exhausting Climb
T he meeting went much different from his expectations. Despite his relationship with Lamaniel being Neutral and the old man’s apparent interest in the monster, the system wouldn’t let Raven use his help.
When Lamaniel heard his king’s intention to visit the Mountains of the Heavenly Plague, he just let out a bitter sigh and shook his head.
“You’ve come too early, Your Majesty. I haven’t yet kept my word.”
“I don’t understand.” Raven watched the old man pace between his blackboards and tables, making some calculations, measuring and pouring some liquids, and writing down some numbers, signs, and words, just like he always did. “Are you going to turn down an opportunity like this? When I told you about it at our first meeting, I saw thirst for adventure in your eyes.”
“I thought I’d be able to finish my current task by then. But whatever I try, it’s always the same.”
“What are you trying to achieve?”
“It’s none of your business. Too complicated. I’m already close, and I swear I’ll find it. Now leave.”
Lamaniel apparently had a quest, but Raven had gained too little of his trust to get it. And no matter how much he wanted this quest, he just couldn’t spare more time on trying to unlock it. His only remaining hope was that the old man would at least help him with the climb.
<
br /> I don’t want to force him. I’d rather not.
“If you can’t come with me, maybe you can help me do it alone? Is there any way to climb that mountain without spending two or three months on it?” he asked and fell silent, waiting for the answer. He preferred not to use Voice of Truth on the old man, unsure of how Adamarona’s nobility would react to treating the court mage like that.
Thanks to the system, Lamaniel still had some humanity left in him. Curiosity, if nothing else.
“There’s a way. A difficult one. It’ll only help if you have a skill you can use for climbing.” He looked up at the rogue. “Do you have it?”
Instead of answering, Raven activated Wings and flapped them.
“Will this do?”
The gust of wind produced by his wings had nearly swept some papers off the table, which displeased the old man.
“Have you forgotten how to use your tongue, messenger?” he snapped at him, grabbing the papers. “Hide them or get down to your knees and collect everything you’ve dropped.”
“Well?”
“Mind that my help has its price,” the old man said, squinting at his guest. “The item I’ll give you is valuable. I want another in return.”
Rummaging through the inner pocket of his robe, Lamaniel took out a small ball of glass that looked somewhat like Raven’s Mental Energy Sphere, albeit smaller and ruby-colored.
Item received: Blocker
Identification.
BLOCKER
Type: Disposable
Rank: Rare
Description: This item calls to the owner’s blood, generating a stream of energy that enables them to use one of their skills unlimitedly within a particular time.
Limitations:
1) Cannot be used on attack skills
2) No other skill can be activated while this item is being used
Cost: 150 HP per minute
Duration: 24 hours
Debuffs:
Weakness: -50% to all attributes
Slowness: -50% speed
Bloodlessness: -50% HP
Debuff duration: 24 hours
“Fucking hell.” Raven whistled. This item was extremely useful, and probably expensive. “Thanks.”
If he had more such items, he could probably level his best skills to the Grandmaster, or even Legendary rank in no time.
The broad smile on Raven’s face made Lamaniel squint at him, apparently wondering whether he had made a mistake by letting the rogue have it.
“I need none of your gratitude, messenger. Here’s the map.”
“Why would I need it?” Raven asked, taking the worn-out piece of leather from him.
Item received: The Map of the Laka-Mao Clan’s Land
The map showed an unknown area surrounded by deserts.
“Are you deaf or what?” Lamaniel’s brows met at his nose bridge. “I’ve told you that you owe me another item in return. This map will show you the way to the village of Laka-Mao.”
“Who lives in that village?” Raven asked, hiding the map into his inventory and realizing that he had no other choice but to go there. His world map updated automatically, showing this land amidst the dark territory.
Fucking shit, he thought, estimating the distance he’d have to cover.
“Generational adepts of the Bloody Fist Way. Warriors, not wizards. It was them who invented these Blockers.”
Attention! You have been offered a quest: Errand Boy
Description: You have borrowed a Blocker from Lamaniel, the royal elder. Visit the village of Laka-Mao to get another item there and bring it to him.
Reward:
+5,000 XP
+40 relationship points with Lamaniel
Accept: Yes/No?
The reward was meager for such a long journey, but he had no choice.
Having accepted the quest and left the tower, he went to Nanel to tell her that he’d be away for two weeks.
“So long?” She pursed her lips and shook her head. “We’ve just signed that treaty. Do you think it’s a good moment for such a long journey?”
“I don’t. But I must do it to defeat the demon. After we kill him, the world will be a safer place.”
He was sitting across Nanel, feeling guilty for putting the burden of royal duties on her shoulders.
Nanel was strong, but even before their first meeting, she had run away from the palace to escape the court life. Although she had told him she had changed much since then, it was probably her perceptions that had changed, but not her preferences.
“I believe you.” She sighed. “But it should’ve been different. I can’t believe I have agreed to that.” As she stood up and handed her advisor the papers she had just signed, she looked at him. “I hope you won’t forget me during your journeys, my king.” Then she came up and kissed him. “It’s time for you to go.”
“Yeah,” he muttered and, with a parting nod, headed for the exit. The palace teleport was on cooldown, unusable for the next three days.
But first, he had to visit the witches.
He was happy and relieved to know that Nanel would be waiting for him in the palace, but still her words resounded through his mind, producing a vaguely disturbing echo.
What will happen if I meet another woman?
On the next day, he received a message about having reached his destination and, for some reason, checked his inventory again, although he had done it literally an hour ago.
All healing, strengthening, weakening, increasing, and reducing potions he had collected from the witches were in place. He prepared for the worst-case scenario as he took the Blocker out and activated it.
Choose the skill to be blocked.
Wings.
Blocker has been spent.
As this message popped up, his arms were automatically transformed into wings. He heard a strange click inside his body, and then his skin started to warm up, sustaining a small amount of damage with every passing minute. His blood seemed to be boiling; the sensation was really unpleasant. It felt like a swarm of flesh-eating ants was feasting on his insides.
He winced at the biting pain, barely containing an urge to scratch his skin raw. He soared into the air, striving for his goal.
I should’ve guessed that it’d hurt.
The wind, the self-proclaimed warden of these mountains, was taking out its rage on the trespasser, slapping him across the face so hard that Raven had to cover his head.
One flap. Another. His wings carried him steadily toward the peak.
Two hours. Four. Eight.
The ascend wasn’t really difficult. At the beginning, at least. All he had to do was keep an eye on his HP bar, take Healing Potions to prevent it from dropping to zero, and make sure not to get blown off his course by the strong wind.
At a certain moment, he got a bonus reward for his flight. Then two more. And, then, finally…
Title awarded: Rule Breaker
Description: “One who was born to crawl cannot fly,” a man once said and died as he jumped off a cliff to prove that.
You have ascended to 5 miles above sea level.
+4 Endurance
Title awarded: Rule Breaker II
You have ascended to 10 miles above sea level.
+5 Endurance
Title awarded: Wind Spirit
You are the first player who has spent 10 hours in the air.
+20% speed while in the air
Wings upgraded to: Journeyman
WINGS
Rank: Hidden
Active skill: Journeyman
Available forms: 2/3
Description:
First form: Transforms your arms into wings, enabling you to fly short distances.
Second form: Creates four thin, transparent wings behind your back, enabling you to fly short distances.
+3% speed while in the air
Cost: 400 mana
Duration: 18 seconds
Cooldown: 25 seconds
The Second Form loo
ked better, to tell the truth: unlike the first one, it left his hands free so he could use his weapons. But he preferred not to experiment with it right away as it was too dangerous to do so in the air. He had only learned to use the First Form through great effort, and he had no idea how to use the wings growing from his back.
He kept flying along the mountains, ascending higher and higher. The air temperature was ice-cold, but the item he had purchased on Floor Three would make sure that his body didn’t freeze. However, it couldn’t assist with breathing.
The low atmospheric pressure and rarefied air were making breathing difficult. Had he ascended to this height, known among the real-world mountain climbers as the Death Zone, unprepared, he wouldn’t have been able to proceed.
Oxygen deprivation and altitude sickness were hard on the human brain. And they were new to him. He wasn’t sure if his specialization challenge should have something like this in it.
Getting less and less oxygen with each leap, he realized just how badly he had underestimated this journey. Obsessed with his wish to reach the top, he never considered the problems he’d face on the way. Now, barely able to breathe, with his mind getting clouded at times, he looked up and thought of how much more he’d have to fly.
Ascension was a game, but some of its aspects were a bit too much like real life.
The dot on his map seemed to stand still, flashing far ahead like a sunbeam reflected by a mirror in a child’s hand.
On and on…
Up and up…
His temples were aching, his brain swimming so badly in his head that he felt like fainting. The air had become so scarce that the thought of giving up started to seem sensible. But…
…but he flapped his wings again and again, knowing just too well that he wouldn’t get another opportunity like this one any time soon. He had to overcome it.
the pain.
the exhaustion.
the tempting voice in his head begging him to stop.
Enough. Enough. Stop here. You’ve tried, but it’s time to come back.