I tried [Capture] more than 300 times before I finally turned Phiona into an egg. Now my throat hurts! (You need to speak the skill name to cast it)
With a blood drop, she reappeared.
And wow you really shouldn't judge people, I mean birds, by the looks!
Phiona looked pretty innocent back there, but she is actually a level 999 boss, the Inferno Phoenix. And she got some serious properties.
<Inferno Phoenix>
Current level: 0
Attack 100-180,
Defense 100,
Speed 230,
HP 800,
MP 1500,
75% chance to ignore defense,
Attacks will carry Pyro Poison damage (20),
Able to use all Fire spells,
Invulnerable to magic,
Special skill [Reincarnation]: Revives after 10 seconds of death (only once per day).
And those are the attributes at level 0! What will they look like when she levels up?
My status window popped up on its own. This usually happens when I level up.
I saw that "reincarnation" property displayed along my own attributes! Then I found out all of my Companions can revive once in every day too. However only Phiona is a "complete revive". The rest of us can only regain 10% of our HP. But this is good enough! A double safe!
"Hey Phiona. So where is your friend?"
Am I appearing too greedy on the looks?
Phiona performed a shiny dance move, turned into a pure white, long tailed cockatoo parrot, and landed on me.
"This way!"
"So you can transform into a little white beauty? Then why did you appear all blackish?"
Now the Phiona on my shoulder is truly a gorgeous creation of the nature.
"This shape looks nice but I can't fight in it! When I go into combat I'll return to my original black phoenix appearance. I can only do this when resting. I heard this is what my grandfather looked like, so I suppose this is the body of an Aurora Heaven Bird? Since I'm with you now I don't need to be in my battle form all the time! Oh and, we arrived!"
"Already?"
Phiona flew ahead and disappeared. This seems the other end of the cave, and full of trees too. Looks like a forest stands over this side of the cave.
But why is every forest so dark??
When I'm looking around, Phiona came back, followed by a...um...
A unicorn? But that's not really accurate.
From all kinds of stories I heard that unicorns are supposed to be creatures of pureness and kindness, usually have white body, and a beautiful horn. (*) But this thing...is pitch black from top to bottom. The only thing that aren't black are its blood-red eyes, which only made it look even more horrible. And that horn...is long, sharp, sharper than any spikes or drills I've ever seen, with a tint of metallic shimmering on it. The only thing I can use to describe this creature is "deadly".
"Greetings. I'm the guardian of this forest, Fallen Unicorn."
It has some manners! Then it should be easier than talking to Phiona.
"Hello, I am--"
"There's no need. I've known everything. Make it quick."
...The cool and non-talkative type?
Since he asked, I'll just start to do the job as quick as I can. He turned out to be even more of a trouble than Phiona, though. 500 attempts this time. My arms almost gave out! Is the system trying to help me train my skill or something??
The good thing is this guy's powers are quite good. He is a level 800 Boss too.
<Fallen Unicorn> (Nightmare)
Current level: 0
Attack 50-60,
Defense 40,
Speed 300,
HP 600,
MP 600,
Attacks will sleep target (20% chance),
Invulnerable to Dark, Light and Lightning spells,
Able to use all Lightning spells.
Talent spell: [Thunder of Punishment], base damage 70, paralyze target.
Attack is quite low but that speed is over the board! Being able to sleep and paralyze target is OP too. I tried it on a random monster, his attack successfully put it into sleep and it won't wake up as long as it doesn't receive any attacks.
So this is what a Nightmare looks like!
He can be a real nice mount, the problem is he need to reach level 150 before I can ride on him. Plus, I don't have [Ride] skill. I can sit on him without the skill alright, but that will cost tons of Stamina and I won't enjoy any mount bonuses. I have pretty long stamina bar and insane Attack though, so there's no need to worry about it too soon.
Then I remembered I'm a permanent red name now. How the heck do I go to the guild and learn that skill?!
Forget it. Wasting brain on it won't help anyway.
After I finished my thoughts, that toad showed up. "Master!! Awesome, you tamed the black phoenix?"
"Not really, I was just lucky!"
Phiona is still on my shoulder now and I surely don't want to say anything that would annoy her.
"Phiona, remove the curse would you?"
"Alrighty."
She called Night Shade (Nightmare's name): "Night Shade, use [Thunder of Punishment]!"
A ball lightning appeared in the sky and landed on the toad, turning him into a roasted toad. Then his charred black shell shattered open, a handsome young man fell out.
"Done!" Phiona fluttered back to me.
"That's how you get rid of the curse?"
Good thing I wasn't the one with the curse!
Domergor suddenly appeared beside me. "Oi little brother! "
"Hey bro. Why are you here? Did I finish the quest?"
"That's right! Mission accomplished!" But he seems a bit unhappy, "Why can't you take a bit longer?"
"...Why would I do that?" I looked at him with an innocent face. "So you don't want me to make it quick?"
"No I don't! I was confessing my love to the Iceberg Goddess. I was about to give her the ring when the system told me you finished the job and dragged me back! You could either finish it sooner, or later, but you did it at the perfect point and ruined my entire plan!"
"Huh? Oh I'm so sorry! If I knew you were busy with your 'business', I'd just live here for a week or two!" I flattered.
"Forget it! I missed it anyway. You just come quickly and go to the next quest, so I can go explain to the goddess!"
"At once! Good luck with it brother!"
He didn't explain anything this time, just teleported me into the a huge hall, with doors all around it. Shoot, a maze again?
"This is your last quest."
"So which door is a correct one this time?"
He glanced at me. "There are a total of one thousand doors here, each with a Boss and a group of minions in it. You need to try them out one by one. Your final goal is the ultimate beast, five-clawed golden dragon. (**) Defeat or capture is your own choice. He will tell you how to get out."
Domergor already summoned a portal and prepared to leave. I quickly grasped him. "Wait! Um, what happens if I enter the wrong door?"
"In that case you will have to clear all the monsters in it, after which that room will disappear and you will be teleported back to this hall. By the way, apart from your goal, all other Bosses and monsters will not give you any EXP or items."
My mouth dropped open. No EXP, and no items??
When he finished he turned to leave. I dragged him back again.
"What now??"
"Oh uh, you didn't give me my reward for last stage!"
"Oh. I forgot. Here!" He threw out a pair of legguards, a tasset and a heavy armor. "Come here." He put his hand on me. After a white flash all my equipments recovered full Durability.
"Ok now, work hard! I'm off to my business!"
I made sure he's gone before I complained: "Yeah right. With a woman, he forgot me."
Still, I got work to do. I checked my reward first.
[Protection of the Dark Dragon Lord] (Artifact), Heavy Armor
Durability 1000/1000,
Growth equipment,
*Defense 1500,
15% damage absorb,
+10% max HP,
Resistant to piercing damage,
Ignores freeze effect,
Passive [Impact Aura]: Damage attackers, damage level dependent on wearer's level.
[Cover of the Dark Dragon Lord] (Artifact), Tasset
Durability 1000/1000,
Growth equipment,
*Defense 700,
+50% max Weight Load,
20% Fire absorption,
Skill [Dark Realm]: Creates a 20-yard wide dark area, enemies inside the area will lose 80% Accuracy.
[Swiftness of the Dark Dragon Lord] (Artifact), Leg Guards
Durability 1000/1000,
Growth equipment,
*Defense 750,
*Movement Speed +50%,
50% chance to perform a second attack, (***)
+20% Evasion.
(Attributes with "*" will grow with wearer's level)
Another three Artifacts! Artifacts are the top-tier gear you could hope for in this game. Those off-scale numbers definitely proved that. And every part of the set follows the same style--showy to the eyes!
I still lack several parts, but at least I don't look like a joke now. Better than that underpants+cape combination anyway.
...Underpants and cape? Sounds like Superman.
Just looking at the one thousand doors makes me feel faint. I'll log off for now.
"Wayne?"
No answer. Maybe still in the game.
Sigh. Gotta look for something to eat. I'm starving.
--------------
(*) In some folklores, unicorns are just as wild and cruel as other beasts, who won't hesitate to kill people, with the exception of a virgin.
(**) Here it goes again, the difference between a western and eastern dragon. I won't call it "lung" or "loong" or whatever cause it doesn't sound right.
(***) The author didn't make it clear what this means. But again, don't have to take it serious.
I found nothing in the room. Then Wayne came back from outside.
"Boss! You're out?"
"Yep." I'm still looking for snacks. "Where were you off to?"
"Military drill of course! Nobody just lies in the dorm from day to night like you, at this time! I haven't played for days, I wonder how many levels people have got beyond me." Wayne complained, "Hey Boss, what about you?"
"Me? I'm only 220." (The EXP reward from recruiting Phiona and Night Shade pushed me there.)
"That's...not what I expected from you. What are you doing all these days?" Wayne must have noticed my slow progress.
"Just...don't ask. You know what I got myself into? Remember that quest I told your before?"
"I do. Why? Wait, you're still trapped in there?"
"Bingo! I'm still in that place. I got some pretty awesome gear and companions, but that place won't allow me to level much. The worst part is that I've come into another big problem. A hall, with a thousand doors, each with a bunch of monsters in it. Aside from my final target they won't drop ANY stuff, or EXP!"
"Man this quest is insane." He drew a cross in front of his chest and said, "God bless you, my poor child."
"Oh screw you." I kicked him out of the room. "I gonna go eat. You coming with me?"
"Sure. Someone is paying so why not?"
"No no I'm not paying for you." We walked outside while chitchatting. "We go dutch."
"Oh come on! You're richer than the whole nation and you're being stingy on a meal?"
"Don't give me that. You're not any less yourself!"
"Well I may have a lot but that's like totally nothing compared to you! Why don't you donate that endless pocket money of you and treat me something?"
"Forget it!"
We "quarrel" 'd all the way to the college dining hall. I came here on purpose. Since Wayne wants me to treat, I chose here -- the worst place you can come up with. Otherwise I was planning to eat out actually!
"Ok this place is good enough. Fill yourself up! It's on me!" I grinned at Wayne.
Wayne gave me an offended face. "Fill up?? I feel bloated just by smelling what's in here! Come on, let's go to the Fortune Grand Hotel!"
At last we started towards the hotel anyway. The main reason is that I can't stand the school dining hall either! But when we reached the gate I saw two men in black suits walking over me.
"Young master."
I know the one walking in front. That's one of the chief manager in my father's company, and his trusted man too.
"Mr. Wang. Something's up?"
"Got some work to do around, and the president asked me to give you something along the way."
Then he took over a silver case from his follower.
I instantly realized this is a lockbox produced by our company. I pressed my finger on a small screen and the case clicked open. The case is pretty big but there's only a watch in it. I took the watch and checked around it, without noticing anything special about it.
So I looked at Mr. Wang. "This is...?"
"That's a key. You have another delivery tomorrow noon, I don't know what exactly either. But the president mentioned that it will be something you've been waiting for a while. Okay then, I'll take my leave. Mr President is still expecting me."
hen he left in a flash, just like how he appeared.
A man of actions.
Wayne snatched the watch from me. "It looks familiar! I've seen it somewhere!"
I grabbed it back. "Just stop. There's no way you'd have seen it."
"How do you know that?"
I showed him the "00000" steel imprint on the back of the watch. "It's a prototype product fresh out of the lab. Someone's gonna be seriously damned if you really saw it before."
We went over the meal with jokes and shoutings as usual. Then we returned to the room and rested. I got up early the next morning, and decided to go to the training and get to know my classmates. I am the loner type but at least I should meet them for once. Besides, I don't think I can concentrate on my game while waiting for my father's "surprise".
So I dragged Wayne to the training site. While he kept asking me if I feel ill.
Dang it.
Though I must admit, this is something rare for me.
When the session started, the students around me just kept glancing at me with various expressions, causing me to goosebump. Even the instructor stared me for a while. Then he walked to me.
"Are you Sairin?"
"Yes sir!"
"You, um," He looked me up and down. "Did you took the wrong form by any chance?"
"Form?" No idea what he's saying.
He passed me a roster, with information of the class written on it, like name, gender, age... I found my entry and checked, everything is fine.
With no response from me, the instructor asked: "Are you sure you're 'Male'?"
...Shit.
"Sir! I'm certain, male from the moment I was born, and not gonna change in the future!"
Wayne spoke on the side: "Sir! I have known Sairin since childhood. I guarantee his maleness. He'd go at any hot girls too, just like other dudes!"
If I can kill people with mere eyesight I'd already done that on Wayne. Is that supposed to be helping me??
Somehow my killing intent affected the instructor as well. "Oh don't worry about it. I'm just making sure."
Then he walked away quickly, while mumbling: "Male? For real?" (*)
Wayne is laughing his tears off now. He patted my back: "You're as fun as ever! Hahahaha! Oh my stomach-- How many times this happened again?"
I grasped his collar and lifted him off ground, then aimed my right hand at where his "little member" is supposed to be.
"Still laughing?"
Since he grew up with me he must know how my father raised me while supporting me with various special treatment. My muscle power is already beyond ordinary people. I don't look big, but my body can produce some serious force. My right punch can easily exceed 300 kilograms. It will kill anyone with a head-on hit, and let's not imagine what would happen if I hit "there". (**)
"Nooooo! Boss! Don't! I won't laugh next time!" His terrible screaming drew the attention of the instructor.
And the instructor obviously flinched upon seeing the scene. He can't understand how someone with my body build can lift Wayne (about 70 kilograms) with just one arm. He wouldn't guarantee he could do that himself.
"Stop it!" The instructor tried to press my arm down, to see how strong I am. And totally out of his expectations, my arm didn't move an inch.
But I still let Wayne go. "Since the instructor ordered. Make fun of me again and I'll make sure you won't 'sweat it' anymore in the future!"
The guys all understood what I meant and began to laugh. That helped clarify my gender as well.
After putting the students under order, we started training. This is no real military training. All we did was just turning around, walking and so on. This is meant to train students' mind rather than their body anyway.
It's noon break. There are too many people so I didn't get to leave soon.
Somehow the crowd began to move backwards. A big truck moved into the training ground. The five-clawed golden dragon emblem instantly gave out its identity as Dragon Fate Corporation's porter truck.
It stopped in the middle of the area, two men dressed as expressmen jumped off. One of them told something to a nearby instructor, who in turn pointed at my direction. Then they ran to us. One asked our instructor: "Excuse me, is this Platoon Two, Seventh Squad?"
The instructor nodded.
"Have you done training? We have a package for Sairin."
"Oh. No problem. We're finished, just waiting for the crowd to clear." Then he called me: "Sairin!"
"Yes sir!"
"Stand out! Go get your package! The rest of you, attention! At ease! Dismissed!"
I asked the delivery: "What kind of stuff did you bring in such a big vehicle? Furniture?"
"We don't know. It's from the company HQ, a really big container. You can just open it here. We're wondering what's inside as well."
Wayne caught up with me. "What's that thing? Is that what they mentioned yesterday?"
"No idea. Maybe?"
Wayne is not the only one following me though. The whole class gathered, all curious about the fuss.
The delivery crawled back into the cab and opened the trunk. Three layers of safes slowly drew open, revealing a big container. What's the deal with all these tight wrap-ups?
"Our duty ends here. You need a special key to open that thing, they said you already got it yesterday."
"Key? Oh. Yeah I got it. Almost forgot it's a key." I moved up my sleeve and revealed the strange watch.
"But, where's the key hole?"
We circled around the container for a while, not finding anything. Some classmates helped searching but came up with no result either. Someone even suggested try climbing on top of it.
Is that even possible?? Who in their right mind would put key holes up there?
I still climbed just in case. It's plain flat, nothing.
Finally Wayne reminded us. "Try checking the watch for a button or something. Maybe it's remote?"
Good idea. I should have thought about that earlier.
I fiddled around the watch. It's not like I can't find any buttons, the problem is, there are too many buttons! I don't know which one is the correct one, it's even possible that I will need to press a combination of them.
I was planning to give up when I received a call from my father.
His face appeared on the screen with a terrible grin.
"Hey dad!"
"You got the delivery?"
"Yeah. But--"
"But you can't open it?"
...I smell a set-up.
"Come on! Just tell me!"
"Hold your horses. Take a guess what's in there. I'll tell you how to open once you get the answer."
--------------------
(*) Just a note, most instructors are other students from military colleges, usually the same age as the trainees.
(**) This is strong but not superhuman, according to some records of pro boxers.
Q: Is the MC being too harsh on Wayne?
A: No. That's their daily playstyle. No one's offended.
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