Chapter 14: Culg City
I was quickly jogging through the Dark Forest. I've had another few hours of running before I'll reach the city.
While travelling I've met some Salamanders, but quickly killed them using my Lightning Spear. I was a bit disappointed that the spell didn't receive any kind of Shadow Energy Upgrades, but it was still powerful enough to one-shot monsters lower than Lv. 5.
< Fire Salamander x4 Killed! >
< LOOT >
1️⃣ 80 EXP
2️⃣ Salamander scale x9
3️⃣ Fiery meat x7
While fighting against Salamanders I've gotten two notification informing that my Passive Skill and Spell Leveled Up.
< UPGRADES >
1️⃣ Lightning Spear <Lv.3> → <Lv.4>
~ +5% Magical Damage
~ +2% To Inflict Status Effect
~~~~
2️⃣ Mana Regen <Lv.3> → <Lv.4>
~ +100% Mana Absorption
-- 30 MP per minute
Lightning Spear and Mana regen would gain a massive Upgrade upon reaching Lv. 5. Unfortunately, It takes a lot of time to Upgrade Skill's or Spell's level to 5. Some players even said that it would take a week of continuous spell usage to achieve it, but I knew otherwise.
To Upgrade a Spell or a Skill to Lv. 5 one needs to defeat a powerful monster with it. If I were to defeat the Dark Prince while my Lightning Spear was Lv. 4 its level would rise to Lv. 5. You can call it a quest or a challenge to see if one's worthy enough for the upgrade.
There are also Passive Skills like Mana Regen, to raise its Level there's no shortcut. You just have to continuously use it.
While I was thinking about whom to fight to upgrade my Lightning Spear, I heard some branches break behind me. Stopping in the tracks I slightly turned my head to see what's behind me.
< BASILISK'S LACKEY >
~ A Lackey of a Great Reptilian Beast
~ Water Type Beast that lives near the Basilisk's Nest
~ Carnivore; Aggressive
~ Immune to Poison
< ATTRIBUTES >
Lv. 6
HP: 300
MP: 50
STR: 70
AGL: 80
PDEF: 60
MDEF: 50
INT: 21
~~~~
< ACTIVE SKILLS >
1️⃣ Leap < Lv. 4 >
-- Leap at your enemy within a distance of 15 meters
~ Single Target Damage
~ Cost 5 MP
~ 8 seconds cooldown
~~~~
< PASSIVE SKILLS >
1️⃣ Poison Blood < Lv. 3 >
-- Your Blood is poisonous disallowing enemies to eat or bite you
~ No cost
~ No cooldown
~~~~
< SPELLS >
1️⃣ Poisonous Spit < Lv. 2 >
-- Spit acidic Poison at your enemies
~ True Damage
~ AoE Damage
~ Cost 5 MP
~ 10 seconds cooldown
2️⃣ Slithery Flight
-- You'll be able to move in the air... Scary!
~ Cost 20MP
~ 2 minutes cooldown
~~~~
The Snake wasn't that powerful, but my eyes were glued to its Spell < Slithery Flight >. I'm really not a fan of snakes, I even felt shivers run down my back while reading the Spell's description.
Gulping down the fear I recalled that there's a Hidden quest in the city that involves one fighting against a Basilisk - Huge Snake.
Conjuring a Shadow Blast I saw the snake doing some strange movements when suddenly it started levitating in the air. Clenching my teeth I forced myself to calm down and finish chanting the Shadow Blast. It seems that I have severe Ophidiophobia.
#Author Note; Ophidiophobia - an extreme, overwhelming fear of snakes.
My spell was launched towards the Snake, but it barely avoided it by stopping in its tracks. Fortunately its flight skill had reached the Limit and the snake fell to the ground. Unfortunately it still had time to spit on me.
I dodged the Poisonous spit by rolling to the side. Turning my head towards the place where Poison landed I saw ground and grass around immediately corroding.
Conjuring another Shadow Blast I threw it at the Snake which was slowly slithering towards me without its Flight Spell.
- 240 Magical Damage!
~ Basilisk's Lackey has suffered from Status Effect < Blindness >
~ Temporary Blind
~ Duration → 5 Sec
~ Basilisk's Lackey has suffered from Status Effect < Fear >
~ Temporary loss of will to fight
~ Duration → 10 Sec
~~~~
The Snake's eyes were clouded and a sense of fear crept inside its narrow mind. It felt that its body was severely hurt and death was approaching while its eyes were useless. After a few seconds the Snake's eyes were once again fully functioning, unfortunately the last thing it saw was a palm covered in white flames.
< UPGRADES >
1️⃣ Demonic Flame <Lv.1> → <Lv.2>
~ +5% Magical Damage
~ +2% Corrosive Ability
~~~~
< Demonic Flame devoured a normal monster! >
~ +0.1% Magical damage
~ +0.1% Cooldown reduction
My Demonic Flame's level was raised while it was devouring another monster. I've also used it on the 4 Salamanders I killed, but the progress was so miniscule. It shouldn't even be counted, but still, it was progress!
< Basilisk's Lackey x1 Killed! >
< LOOT >
1️⃣ 50 EXP
2️⃣ Basilisk Fang x2
3️⃣ Poisonous Meat x1
Leaving burnt ashes of a Basilisk's Lackey I collected the Loot and continued on travelling through the forest. Soon the forest trees started being more and more spread apart, quickening my pace and I strolled towards the north.
While I was quickly walking a hologram appeared.
< Welcome to the Culg City! >
I've reached the starter city! Walking towards the city I saw two guards with full metal armor guarding the gates. Opening my Status I quickly checked what color was my name.
One can travel into the city if his Nametag is Green, White, or Light Orange. The Color of the Name means how many people you've killed.
Green → None; Allowed to Enter into the Cities
White → 1 - 5; Allowed to Enter into the Cities
Light Orange → 5 - 10; Allowed to Enter into the Cities by paying.
Dark Orange → 10 - 20; Not Allowed to Enter into the Cities, hunted by Mercenaries
Red → 20 - 50; Not Allowed to Enter into the Cities, hunted by Knights
Black → 50 - ∞; Not Allowed to Enter into the Cities, hunted by Royal Knights
Name Tag could be cleansed by killing various Monsters around the city's territory or simply waiting for it to automatically regain its color. It is said that time can dull everything.
Right now My name Tag was White, hence I was allowed to pass through the gates without any problems, except a guard giving me a Suspicious look.
A huge city was before my eyes with a lot of NPCs walking back and forth doing their things. I didn't see any players, hence removed my hood revealing my crown. I probably won't have another chance to do this in a while.
It's Dangerous... But Exciting!
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone