Kapitel 162: Traveling...
The door swung open.
Dimitrin looked at Travis, a rare smile on their face, "You're... alive."
Travis grinned, "Surprised?"
Dimitrin turned serious, "Come, Lord Flinnder will wish to see you."
Travis held up a finger, "Ah wait a minute. I wanted to thank you, if it weren't for your teachings I wouldn't be here right now. So... thank you, truly."
Dimitrin folded their arms, "How many times must I say this, it was for Lord Flinnder. However... you're welcome. Now come."
Travis walked down the hall into Flinnder's office. Upon entering the room he kneeled. Flinnder looked up from some papers, "Well... if it isn't my Champion."
"Lord."
"You truly gave me a fright, to think that the title of Duke was going to be given to Marquees Giften of all people."
Travis remained silent.
A smile formed on Flinnder, "You haven't failed me. Because of you I am now a Duke with a lot more responsibilities. My strength has grown and so has my territory. As a Duke, I thank you."
Travis asked, "May I say something? It might not be kind."
Flinnder was in a good mood anyway, "Go on ahead."
"I wasn't given a choice, I did as you asked."
Flinnder's grin faded, "Indeed you did, you have paid back what you owe severalfold. So thus I ask you, what is it that you want as a reward?"
Travis was silent for a while. However he had gained a lot from this. More than he imagined. After a moment he responded, "I... am not sure."
Flinnder raised an eyebrow, "Oh? I hold power as one of the top Royals of the Abyss. There isn't much I cannot grant, yet you are unsure?"
"I... have obtained a lot during this. Much more than I had originally planned. I honestly do not feel like I require a reward, it has already been given to me."
Flinnder grinned, "Good answer! Then I shall pick for you. First, you may keep all that I invested into you. I have no need for such items, perhaps it could assist you. Secondly, you are free from my control. You may go and return to your realm. It is quite gloomy here I must say. However these are minor, not truly a reward. Thus I shall present you with an option. Become part of us, an individual of the Abyss."
A notification appeared:
<The individual Duke Flinnder (Level: ???) is granting you the opportunity to change race.>
<If accepted player's race shall change into Abyss Being.>
<Race (Abyss Being) will increase all Abyss rank skill effectiveness and damage. In exchange the player will take extra damage from the Holy element.>
<Accept..?>
Travis hesitated, he still wished to obtain the race Cosmic Trace. However this race seemed to be tailored made for his new skill set.
A voice sounded, 'Take it you fool! Do you know what you are being granted?!'
Travis remembered this voice, "Yeah, I know."
Travis accepted the notification, "I accept your offer Lord."
Flinnder grinned, "Good! Welcome to the Abyss!"
A dark energy swirled around Travis. Slowly he felt the energy poke and prod at him. His skin turned grey, his pupils pitch black. Travis felt the Abyss run through him, he felt his own strength increasing further.
Flinnder smiled, "That's not all. I grant you the title of Baron, perhaps in time you can become a Viscount. If your interested in that of course."
Shock filled Travis, he was going to become a Royal?! Such a title would only bring endless benefits!
He looked up, "Thank you lord!"
Flinnder waved a hand, "Nonsense, this is well within my power. Besides it isn't uncommon for new Dukes to grant their Champions the title of Baron. Bring the Abyss glory."
The benefits Travis gained was immense. Since Royals were powered by the Abyss Travis gained another 15% to all stats from holding the title. Because he was a player this strengthening effect was watered down, but it was still great. Moreover he now had a bit of territory in the Abyss. Lord Flinnder claimed that he would have an underling manage it for Travis, however if Travis wished to take it into his own hands he could. Finally he gained another title, Royalty (Baron). This would provide him with Baron level prestige in all cities, giving him access to stuff ordinary players don't.
As Travis was about to leave Flinnder called out, "That reminds me, I never quite knew your name. After all you were merely 'candidate' and 'Champion'."
Travis looked back, "It's Travis..."
"Well, do come visit us sometime Baron Travis."
Travis smiled, "I will."
Looking over to Dimitrin he smiled, "When I grow stronger I shall challenge you. One day I shall surpass you."
Dimitrin was impressed at the bold statement, "Oh? I'll look forward to it."
...
Travis was in front of the portal back to the main realm. He twirled his mask in his hand before putting it on. A smile crept on his face, "I'm back..!"
———————————————————————-
The party was relaxing in the living room. They were all called here by Kan'na.
She paced back and forth, "I have called you all here today for a very important reason. I assume we are all stuck on the same bottleneck?"
Everyone nodded, after a few months of grinding they have reached level 249, however their experience stopped and a singular quest was automatically given to them.
[Break your Limits!]
You have reach a threshold that you seem to be unable to breakthrough. Is this your limit? If so... smash through it!
Objective: Surpass your limit...
Difficulty: ???
Time limit: None
Reward: Increased Level Cap
There was no hint on how to complete the quest. When the party searched the Forums the people who finished the quest had different ways. It was strange..
Kan'na nodded and continued, "Thus, I propose a plan. For quite some time I have been working on a project, one that is essentially completed. I wish to take you all with me to explore what is behind it."
Akiol asked, "I think I speak for us all here, what is 'it'?"
"Some oversized barrier, the thing was incredibly complex. It was quite interesting to decipher... but I wish to take us and see what it is protecting."
Wrock asked, "What if the thing it's protecting is dangerous?"
Kan'na shrugged, "We'll take it down or die I guess."
"Great..."
"Regardless, the place it's located is quite difficult to reach. Especially without my special 'steps'."
"How long will it take?", Yielya asked.
Kan'na shrugged, "I have no clue! However I have some essentials for the trip, it should only take a few hours... I hope."
The rest of the group said the same thing, "You hope?!"
...
A few hours later they were at the foot of a giant mountain. It's top was covered by clouds and fog. Kan'na pointed upwards, "It's up there."
Jarvis retorted, "Do you want us to fly?!"
Kan'na made a playful smile, "That would make things easier. Regardless I trust you guys can make the trip."
"We might die of exhaustion before then.", Tilia added.
"Don't worry about that, I told you I have the essentials. Which reminds me, slap this on your back."
Kan'na handed everyone strange feeling paper. There was a rune inscribed onto it. Wrock and Akiol nearly tossed the paper. Akiol timidly asked, "What is this?"
Kan'na rolled her eyes, "It's tested, it's supposed to keep you warm. After all it is a mountain."
They sighed in relief. Wrock literally slapped it on his back and asked, "How does it work?"
Kan'na examined it before snapping her fingers, "It simply combusts the oxygen and disperses the energy and heat around you. Though it took me about a week before I could properly optimize the cost and the outcome. Now one of these can last for three hours!"
"I assume you have a lot?"
"Indeed."
Akiol took a breath, "I am going to have to ask Torch to make a car, or helicopter. Besides that, let's get marching!"
Yielya frowned, "Who's Torch?"
...
Six hours later they continue to trudge through the snow. They were only slightly cool, their body temps were still far better than what it normally would have been.
Wrock whistled as he walked, "Gotta say, this has been quite interesting. Definitely feel my limits shaking right now."
Kan'na shocked him with a spell in annoyance, "No sarcasm, when the barrier proves to have some world changing item you can thank me."
"That item can change my limits."
Kan'na shocked him again.
...
Eight hours past and the fatigue of the party, besides Akiol, had almost reached their limits. Kan'na sighed, "This was much longer of a trip I had planned."
Akiol asked concerned, "Will you have enough warming scrolls?"
Kan'na opened her inventory and did some quick mental math, "If this goes on for a while longer, maybe not."
Wrock commented, "Should have brought a library's worth. We could melt the whole mountain."
Kan'na formed a small magic circle and aimed it at Wrock, "Want to get shocked again?"
Wrock held his hands up, "No thank you."
Akiol sighed, "Why are you guy's bickering? Why must you always bicker?"
"It's a comedic show to past time and lift spirits.", Wrock answered.
"How much of that is true?"
"I don't know."
Akiol made a straight face, "Okay..."
Jarvis pointed to a relatively flat area on the mountain, "We can rest there."
Yielya nodded, "Indeed, the snow is quite the comfortable bed. When it's not ice that is."
"Do you sleep in snow in your past time?"
"No."
AUTORENGEDANKEN 
UnableToOpenDoor
UnableToOpenDoor Seatbelts everyone! We’re going on a field trip!
Alas, the party takes the scene again!
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein