บท 21: Not over yet!
Hello, my dudes!
This chapter is where the plot starts to thicken for this part of the world and the plotline of Resko starts to show itself.
If you haven't checked yet, I have already added all previous images into the chapters, you can find everything on my Discord server.
With the exception of the image for the monsters he faces in the Dungeon, I also wanted to make an image of the Dungeon itself but so far, I haven't done them.
It's just too hard to make skeleton enemies without having the AI go crazy with unnecessary details, so I can't really have the feel of it...
Anyway, enjoy the chapter.
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[Your quest has been updated]
[Resko's past
Requirements:
Find out what happened to the old Village of Resko 0/?
??? 0/1
* The Village of Resko is built on top of the ruins of a Labyrinth.
* The Labyrinth is actually the Catacombs of a group known as the Southern Wall Corps.
* Something macabre is happening at the heart of the Labyrinth…
Find out why 0/1
Find out what is happening 0/1
Stop 'it' from manifesting 0/?
??? 0/1
#You heard that this village once held an incredibly precious Icon for the Church of Ju-Arkesios, having once a Cardinal, 2 Bishops, and 12 Priests.
#During its downfall, the Church did not send help and instead just retreated.
#Someone asked you for help at the center of the labyrinth.
]
[Your quest has been updated]
[Rotten Tomb
Description:
…
Requirements:
Find the source of the Miasma and purge it before it's too late 1/1
Find a way to purge the source 1/1
Grab the sword and purge the source 0/1
Time until the Miasma descends to the Village: 0 hours, 7 minutes, 12 seconds…
]
"Haaa..."
Dale couldn't focus on the many systems prompts due to what laid in front of him.
He barely even felt the pain in his fingers, he could only walk forward as his hand ached and his arm throbbed.
It wasn't hard at first, the pain may be immense, but for some reason, he felt his legs move without his consent.
Dale didn't know now, but this was all thanks to his Skills, giving him the willpower to move forward instead of staying still to be engulfed by what was hidden in the dark.
However, the more he walked and the closer he got to the fleshy ball, the stronger the presence on his back became...
As if something was breathing on his neck.
/Gulp.../
He wanted to look back, but his instincts told him that was a bad decision.
"Ur... Shit... Alright."
Dale arrived in front of the stone coffin, there was a large hole in it, as if something had pierced it.
But he couldn't see what lay inside, only ominous darkness was contained within...
Still, this wasn't his objective, so without saying much, he walked past it.
"..."
'Is this truly a sword?'
Dale looked at his reflection in the shiny yet dusty blade in front of him.
It was at this time he noticed his expression.
His eyes were red and agape, he wasn't even blinking...
The rest of his body couldn't be seen due to the Heavy armor he wore, but from the red stains on his right glove, Dale didn't want to know how it looked like...
(Ouch)
"How do I grab this?"
The sword in front of him was almost his height... However, a portion of the sword was stabbed into the rock beneath it.
It was definitely over 2M tall...In other words, it was a berserker style, Ultra GreatSword…
/Shake.../
Shaking his head in frustration, Dale raised his arms and grabbed the hilt, before he used everything he had to pull it up!
"URG!!"
'It's... FUCKING HEAVY!!'
/Shong!/
The sword slid out of the ground easily, as if it had been oiled.
But it was still very heavy.
Just as he removed it from its resting place, the sword tilted to one side with massive momentum, and he almost let it fall to the ground.
Worse, it almost fell with its edge on his foot...
"FUCK!"
Using everything he had, Dale raised the sword and had it in a stance… Saving his foot from a terrible fate.
/Whispers.../
"... Good, you actually had it in you…"
"But the worst is just around the corner."
"?!"
The voice echoed behind him, and through the reflection in the blade, he saw a thin white mist fall atop his body from the darkness of the room.
He felt something was wrong, the room was dark... But was it dark enough for him to not see everything?
Something was wrong... Very wrong.
The voice made him shiver all over, not out of fear, but something more primal within him.
His body understood there was something terrible about this detached voice that shouldn't be messed with...
So Dale gathered all of his courage and asked:
"W-Who…"
"No, we don't have time for those types of questions..."
"So... Kid, I need you to remain as steady as you can, hold that sword tightly in your hands, and focus."
"You just need to slash it as you pour your heart into it."
"Or in other words... Cut that shit into 2!"
/CRUNK.../
/CLANG!/
Dale could barely even lift the sword, every time he tried, the sword fell onto the ground, leaving a gash behind.
He breathed heavily, his right hand still in severe pain, saying:
"I… I can barely even keep the tip of the sword above the ground, much less raise it…"
'Dammit... My hands... Are getting weak.'
'I feel lethargic, there is something pressing my chest...'
'This damn armor feels stuffy... Haa... I need a rest.'
"Is that what you believe? That all of your efforts so far led you to be unable to even lift a single sword?"
"You should be strong enough to do it, and yet you tell me you can't?"
"I thought you were different, I thought your will was bigger than that... But I "
"Or is that everything you've got?"
"..."
"I… I don't have any choice." He mumbled as his grip tightened around the sword
Dale looked at the sword in his hand and inspected it.
[???]
'Dammit… I knew it, this is...'
But as if waiting for this, the voice said:
"Perhaps I was too hasty, so let me help you focus."
"The sword in your hand is called Caladgolg, the Sword that reflects the Stars."
"As long as your heart is steady, it will give you its power… Even if…"
/Silence.../
"Doesn't matter, just swing it, kid." The voice said, this time, its tone a bit darker
"..."
Dale was once again surprised due to the Voice's sudden change of tone, but he focused once again.
[Caladgolg (Legendary Armament)
Rating: ???
The stronger your conviction, the stronger the Sword gets, giving you +1 to all Stats up to ???
???
…
Gives you the temporary Skill, Refracted Starlight ???-Star, ???, ??? …
Requirements: 300 Strength, ???...
*The stronger your conviction the lower the requirements.
Description: ???
]
(Image)
(N1)
As he read the description, Dale felt his face twist into a smile unconsciously, and due to it, the sword became a bit lighter.
Because of this, Dale felt his chest get light, he felt the pressure leave his body...
So he let it all out.
"You know… I came here to get an Icon so that the villagers could be happy and as a means to increase my reputation..."
"But in the end, I was dragged into this dark hole and now I don't even know if I will get out of here alive…"
"It's a crappy feeling you know, is this, perhaps, why they say for you to not be overconfident? To fall due to your own greed?..."
"It truly leaves a shitty taste in my mouth... It could also be the air of this dump... I don't even know anymore."
/Shush…/
Dale raised the sword high in the air and got into a stance. His arms were trembling, but the sword was raised...
"I just have to slash that… Once?"
"... Yes."
"Though be mindful, your time is running out."
"..."
Clenching his teeth, Dale did the only thing that came to his mind...
There was no need to think about it too deeply.
From the start, things were too suspicious.
The voice, the place, the figure, his feelings...
His body was warning him.
And so, this time, he listened to it.
To do the only thing he believed was right in this situation.
/FWOSH!/
"ARG!"
He swung Caldgolg behind him with everything he got, slashing through whatever stood behind him!!
/Light.../
As it cut through the air, the gigantic sword left behind a rainbow-like afterimage.
It was oddly hypnotizing due to how unusual it was...
/CUT!/
/CRUNK!/
The Sword met with something in the dark, slowing down slightly as the sound of testing metal echoed in the hall.
"WOW! Shit!"
/CLANG!/
The momentum of the sword was too much for him to control, and in the end, Dale spun around as the sword hit the ground behind him after his swing.
Not long after that, Dale was quick to reset himself into position for another slash as he raised his head to look at the figure that stepped out of the shadows:
"So that is how you look." He said as he looked at the source of the voice
(Image)
In front of Dale was a massive humanoid creature, it was on all fours due to the height of this room, being too large to fit in normally.
It donned heavy armor just like Dale, but it was so rusted it was impossible to see anything else apart from brown.
As it moved, the sounds of metal rustling assaulted his ears, making him wonder how it had been so discrete before...
Its helmet was like a crown, a fusion of two into one, but it had long lost its glory.
From the empty sockets of where its eyes should be, this unknown being down started at Dale as a long dark gash was made on the armor around its neck.
"Urg!"
Dale raised the sword once again and pointed it at the creature, smiling.
While the creature remained still, touching the spot where Dale cut, saying:
"Impressive, it takes great determination to face the innate fear of the unknown all Humans share."
Its voice started to distort more and more...
But Dale did not move.
"However, this changes nothing."
"Your time is running out and you still need to…"
However, Dale had enough of it.
Instead, he rushed forward and swung the sword at the creature's wound, slashing its head in half!
/CLANG!/
The sword was so sharp and heavy that Dale barely felt any resistance as it split the metal into two.
Though once again, he wasn't strong enough to stop its momentum and the sword crashed against the ground with a mighty clang.
[DING]
[You have slain the Agonizing Shadow]
[No rewards shall be given due to it being a Quest-related Kill]
{'It' opens its eyes in amusement}
/SPLASH!/
Once the creature was killed, the ball of flesh hanging loosely on the ceiling above its head exploded, releasing fleshy bits all around the place like a rain of gore.
Some of which even fell on Dale... Making the latter cringe in disgust.
But despite this horrid experience, the ball's demise revealed what was hidden inside of it.
"AHA! There it is!"
Floating in the air was a miniature golden head, this was the Icon of the Church he was looking for!
Or it felt like it, but Dale assumed it was due to the weak golden light surrounding it.
/Jump!/
Dale jumped after it without hesitation, grabbing the Icon with one hand and the sword with another.
He didn't realize it, but the sword was still very heavy, but he was already somehow capable of holding it with one hand... Not for long though.
As the moment he realized what he had done, he fell onto the ground with the sword like a comet.
/CRASH!/
[DING]
[Your quest has been updated]
[Resko's past
Requirements:
Find out what happened to the old Village of Resko 0/?
??? 0/1
* The Village of Resko is built on top of the ruins of a Labyrinth.
* The Labyrinth is actually the Catacombs for a group known as the Southern Wall corps.
* Something macabre is happening at the heart of the Labyrinth…
Find out why 0/1
Find out what is happening 0/1
Stop 'it' from manifesting 1/?
??? 0/1
#You heard that this village once held an incredibly precious Icon for the Church of Ju-Arkesios, having once a Cardinal, 2 Bishops, and 12 Priests.
#During its downfall, the Church did not send help and instead just retreated.
#Someone asked you for help at the center of the labyrinth. In the end, it was a trap, the creature wanted you to break the holy Icon instead and not to purge the miasma.
]
[Your quest has been updated]
[Rotten Tomb
Description:
…
Requirements:
Find the source of the Miasma and purge it before it's too late 1/1
Find a way to purge the source 1/1
Grab the sword and purge the source 1/1
Time until the Miasma descends to the Village: 0 hours, 2 minutes, 31 seconds…
]
"So that was the source? A ball of flesh..."
"I still don't understand anything but… Wait... Why is the countdown still going?!"
Dale started panicking...
"That is because of the inertia."
Once again, another mysterious voice interrupted him!
"Who is it this time?!" He asked in a distressed tone
"It's me… On your hand." Said the Golden head with a plain expression due to Dale's index finger being almost inside its nose
(Image)
"?!"
Due to this sudden perplexing revelation, Dale dropped the head on the ground as his body froze...
/Bonk!/
"OUCH! GOD BE DANMED! BE CAREFUL FOR FUCKS SAKE…" The head said in an angry tone
But Dale did not move, merely gazing at the head as it rolled on the wet ground...
"Cough... Please… The ground is filthy so please take me away…" It plied in a pitiful tone
"!!"
Dale came back to his senses, quickly grabbing it before wiping the dirty water out of it, but as he did so, he felt immense pain in his hands and body!
"Shit…!" He grunted as he fell to his knees
He immediately took several potions but they only had so much effect.
The golden head saw that and said in a serious tone:
"Forget about your injuries, they won't heal in this place due to this corruption."
"It may be painful, but even if you try to use potions, it will at most prolongue your hand's functionality."
"For now, we need to stop this Miasma from spreading outside."
"Trust me, I am as confused as you but I have a certain understanding of what is going on, so move it!"
Dale found the head rather bizarre to listen to a talking head but he still agreed.
"Fine, just tell me what to do."
'For now... I'll just do as it says, I'm completely out of ideas.'
"Long story short, I don't have the power to stop this anymore, so we need to try and go with plan B."
"We'll stall it until we find another solution."
The Golden Head's eyes moved to the right, looking at the ceiling and then at the ground beneath it.
"See that tomb? Open it!"
Dale ran to the tomb and pushed it open, but it didn't budge…
"PUT MORE FORCE INTO IT KID!"
"FUCK YOU!" He screamed as his muscles tensed and his feet slid on the ground
"Shit... This isn't working... PLAN C!"
/BAM!/
Dale violently swung Caladgolg, splitting the tomb in half.
"... I guess this works…" The head said as its eyelids twitched
"Huh?..."
Dale quickly realized the tomb was actually hollow, leading somewhere deeper…
But the moment he did so, everything changed.
/SHUUUSH!/
Like a Vaccum chamber opening, all of the air in the room started to be sucked into the hole, together with the Miasma!
/CLONG!/
Dale used the Sword as a pole, sticking it on the ground so as to not be sucked into the hole…
"AHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
Rolling on the ground next to him, the Golden Head screamed in desperation.
"DON'T FORGET ME, KID! I AM THE REASON YOU ARE HERE!" It said quickly, trying to make sure Dale did not let it be sucked into the hole
/GRASP!/
Dale held onto it tightly, because he felt everything would end if he were to fall inside it.
But as time went on and his hands started to go numb, the suction force became weaker and weaker to the point that a minute after he could stand up with no problems.
After 5 minutes, all of the Miasma, or at least, most of it had been sucked inside.
And seemingly like magic, the broken tomb repaired itself, sealing its contents once more…
[Quest completed! Rotten Tomb]
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Notes
N1
I tried to make it vague so I have space for change in the future, after all, since I put something of a rather high Level for the Mc to face, then I need to leave it ambiguous as possible else in the future, if I want to make a change, be it by my will or because the story changed over time, than I won't be able to without making some tweaks in the early chapters.
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Now, a few extra things:
Why the sword? Was it needed to be legendary?
Yes for two reasons:
First, this is just how big of a deal this questline is for the continent, I have yet to specify how much so, but that was on purpose.
However, I do not want to make the power level so clear from the beginning of the story, else in the future, I may trap myself in my own work.
Second, I hate when the mc does a quest, and he suddenly has to do a series of annoying things to actually make use of his rewards...
Deeming how I made everything rather realistic, it wouldn't make sense for him to find a great reward only for the system to fall from the heavens and say...
[Need to be Level 99 to use it...]
An example would be to make the sword break after a set number of uses or decrease its ranking because of reasons...
So I simply decided to go with another reason, he simply can't use its full power because he is not strong to do so.
The details of such will go into detail later.
Next, why a sword? Simple, I thought giving him a spear would be too coincidental deeming what his preferable weapons of choice is.
Like... The Mc has a preferable weapon... Sudently the entire world uses the same weapon and every ruin has a better sword then the last?
Come on...
I thought about it and realized it might've been cooler had it been an ax or hammer but oh well, a Sword is fine as well.
I don't have any intentions of using the sword as the ultimate plot tool, it is simply a half reward for completing this mission and I have more ideas as to how to enforce the plot without needing the Mc to rely on something like that...
If a problem arises, he won't be able to solve it just by using the sword.
Besides, even if he had to, he wouldn't be able to because he can't use it effectively in combat at all.
That's all from me, bye!
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