Chương 5: The Nordam Forest Quest 2.1
–Chapter 5
New Skill Acquired:
-Dark Magic Necromancy-
Suddenly, the painful and satisfying feeling was gone. My menu was all dark and I can barely read some words. I just learned a new skill, but I don't recall buying any Necromancer skills, wait a minute...
"Dark Magic? What the hell?" I said.
"What's the difference between normal necromancy and dark magic one?" Aiko asked.
"Necromancy is a skill tree combined of curse magic and support light magic. This on the other hand uses dark instead. But it only seems to have one skill, Cursed Sword?" I said while trying to read the other darkened text.
How did I learn this skillset? Is it through leveling up? No it can't be, maybe it's a reward for defeating a Virus? Or wait maybe it's because of the Virus nearly eating up my Player Soul. That's gotta be it, we have to go to the Grandma--
"Young ones, I have sensed a strong code error in both of you. If you may, please come with me right now. That encounter with a Virus seems to affect both of your Player Data or what you call them Souls." The Grandmaster said. He sensed the code error within us? He must be powerful to sense it.
We then saved our checkpoints for the Save Point and went inside the Respawn Area via portal. The Grandmaster then summoned orbs to scan us.
"I call these orbs, Watchdogs. They help me provide live surveillance among all of you and warns me if something bad is happening to the game itself. They can scan any anomalies and record up to 5000 terrabytes of data." He said.
After the orbs scanned us, it emitted a red color. Then the old wizard guy took the orb and looked at it's screen. His face shows signs of amazement.
"Your encounter with that Virus is the reason both of you had code errors. That Virus seemed to be created into a deeper part of the map. The deeper you go, the less the monsters are and the Viruses grow stronger there. This Moon Succubus, gets her power from Moonlight judging by the name itself." He said.
"What's the difference between Viruses and monsters?" Aiko asked.
"This." He then pointed to other parties who had at least 6 days of respawn time.
"Monsters are game spawned creatures, and only attacks your avatar or temporary body. The Player Soul then replicates the sensation of pain to your brain. Viruses on the other hand are made by Puruz, the final boss. They were coded to attack the souls itself rather than the avatars. Therefore you might die in real life so if possible, avoid them at all costs." The wizard then showed us a screen of our skills.
"Aiko, you may not notice but, the Virus actually stabbed you in the back with her tail and poisoned you. It weakened your magic power but due to your high base stats, it mixed with your current power and that's why you learned the Light Magic skill tree without any magic books."
He then showed me a screen of my skill.
"Young Hitoshi, you may notice that your skill uses Dark magic instead of Light support magic. Necromancy is a rather difficult support build that you mastered in the real world. But this particular skillset was made during the beta phase of the game. The Virus only attacked your skills and items data and luckily it didn't harm anything important. But it caused some malfunction in the system and that's why you learned it." He then closed the screens and showed us a video clip.
It was a video of Elementos:Online but in the real world. It showed a character using a black sword.
"That is the Dark Necromancy Skill. Back then I was using it as my main build, it only consists of one skill which is Cursed Sword but the sword itself holds at least infinite possibilities." He then took my arms and suddenly it glowed dark. Then he used his right hand to also grab Aiko's arm and it glowed light.
"Both of you have powerful skills, that encounter with a Virus made both of you strong. You can actually compete head on with the top 10. Please do your best young ones, you are Light and Dark, Ying and Yang, Aiko and Hitoshi." Suddenly Watchdogs showed us some videos that seem to be the HKP fighting a Rock Golem.
"Go and slay the boss guardians, goodluck to the both of you!" He then gave us Save Points. We nodded and returned back to our camp area.
He specifically said power that can compete head on with those bastard holy knights. Wait a minute...
"HOW DO I USE IT?!"
[The Next Day]
As the sun rises, we also rise. We quickly packed up and crossed the border to the North Wind Fields, our quest menu was updated.
New Objective:
Slay Rock Golem
0/1
Reward:
Boss Dungeon Key
I see, so this is what that old man was talking about. A mini boss before a boss? Cheeky move right there. Our first problem though is getting through this tall grass, last night it took a while to cut it down with my sword. Hmm maybe Doro can do something about it?
"Recall Pet: Doro." I said.
"What is your command Master?" Doro asked.
"Don't call me master, and Morph into a lawnmower, Small size." I said while putting him down on the grass.
He then gave me a look that was showing signs of confusion. I'm guessing he doesn't even know what a lawnmower is.
"Nevermind. Morph into a... er... grass cutter?"
"Okay." Doro then morphed into a blade that looks like a sickle but it had a crystal on it.
"Master, to activate this just send in a small amount of magic power then the blade shall do the rest. Although I only managed to copy 75% of it's stats so do not expect anything." Doro said.
"Magic power huh? Well I know someone who has the power to cut all this grass down, that's your cue Aiko."
"Okay, I'll do it." She then nodded and touched the crystal.
"Small amount. Small amount. Small amount..." She kept repeating those words then her hand glowed. The number 1 showed up in the crystal.
"Okay, for now we'll use 1 magic power only. Master now swing the blade." Doro replied as the crystal glowed.
"Small amount of magic power right? Alright let's make a big swing since it only took in a small portion of i-- nevermind." I said while swinging this death wish. It sliced nearly all the grass down into a path.
Aiko's "small amount" is literally a nuclear explosion packed into a small fire cracker. Her power never fails to disappoint me in fact it scares me what she'll look like once we're high level.
"Alrighty then... Doro Recall. I'll call you later once we see the golem."
"Okay Master." Doro then returned to it's cube.
I grabbed all the tall grass which were actually excellent ingredients for synthesizing. I opened up my synthesizer menu and brewed up some Synthesizing Potions.
(Note: Synthesizers use materials to create new items. They take base ingredients and turn them to Synthesizing Potions which can be turned into healing or other potions)
I'm going go save them until we see the golem. Maybe I'll brew some defense pots or heal pots. But damn this is too much grass.
"Aiko, can you cast something to clear out the items? They're annoying as hell." I said while discarding some.
"I-I'll try." She then took her staff and browsed at her skill menu.
"Water Javelin : Control Form. Broom Lance!"
Suddenly clouds formed above us and formed a giant...broom?
"Control Form? You mean you maxed it out to the point where you can manipulate it?" I asked.
"Eh? Uh it's only level 5, I g-guess it's because of my power?" Aiko said as she controlled the broom to sweep the grass.
Once they were all bunched up into one pile, I then took one Synthesizing Potion and made it into a Brewer's Delight.
[Brewer's Delight:
A forager/synthesizer support item. Once used, it will automatically collect or synthesize nearby materials. This can be toggled on and off via the control menu]
For now, I'll turn them to more synth pots. I managed to make 78 Synthesizing Potions SSS. Alright, let's resume to our quest.
"Nice one Aiko, let's go now."
"O-okay." She then used the rest of her skill to water nearby flowers.
We then walked down the path we created and saw some footprints. I took out my sword and casted Boost on it. These are not player made footprints. They don't have soles, there's not got gonna be one person who would walk bare feet in this environment.
Unless...
"So you noticed? Despite your abnormally low stats, ya are quite the warrior aren't ya?"
A male voice said.
I looked behind us and saw a boy who was wearing a suit. But he was wearing no shoes, and his hat has a hole on it.
"The name's Billy, nice to meet ya!" He said as he reached his arm out waiting for a handshake.
"N-nice to meet you, I'm Aik--" Aiko shook his hand but once she touched it she fell to the ground.
"Hehe, I can't believe it. She has high stats but she didn't even think twice shaking hands with a demon."
"How would she know you're a de-- Wait did you say demon?"
"Mmhmmm. That lame succubus ya killed? She was the weakest amongst all of the Viruses. Oh I see ya even managed to capture the escaped one, the infinity slime. Lucky, but I'm sorry Hitoshi-kun. Ya were careless walking without a Priest Talisman. You will die now, goodbye!"
[Note: Talismans provide different advantages though they're lifetime is low. Priest Talismans repel monsters and weaken Viruses]
He then attacked within a blink of an eye, crap he's fast. I block some of his attacks using my sword but he still deals damage. I quickly casted Glory Shield on myself. He then landed a hard hit on me leaving me with 1% HP. He managed to remove my Glory Shield as soon I casted it.
"Eh? A knight but with those support skills? Ya are an interesting one I'll give ya that." He said as he moved behind me in a split second.
Crap this is bad. He's toying with me now. Should I do it? Should I use the new skill? There's no other choice. I drank a heal potion then opened my necromancer skill menu.
Cursed Sword [15% HP Cost] - Unknown
Just like normal necromancy it uses HP to cast, but it takes too much HP. What's with this sword?
"Come forth, the dark blade of eternity. Cursed Sword, Salem!"
[Note: Necromancy skills must be casted by chanting.]
"Eh? A necromancy skill? What's next, ya also have some party tricks as well?" Billy said as he kicked my foot.
I fell down on the ground but once I did, a black aura appeared on my right arm. It then melted my sword and the aura took form of a longer sword. I grabbed it with both of my hands and suddenly a skill menu popped up. A list of skills showed up. Everything was a Passive ability, which was weird. I then found an interesting one.
"Cursed Sword Salem: Morning Star Form..."
The aura then changed shape from a sword to a morning star. Then another menu opened up, it was asking what element to use. This skill is too complex and requires fast decision making.
"Dark Form..." Then another menu popped up. It never ends. It was asking what battle stance to use now.
"Cheetah stance." Then it was asking confirmation.
"Confirm." Suddenly the morning star spun around me fast. And it even hit the fast moving Billy.
"Wh-what the hell is that?! The boss didn't say anything about someone who can use that skill!" He then crawled over the ground and his face was showing great fear.
He then threw some dirt into my face to distract me (which worked) but the morning star acted on it's own. It's faster than him, it then landed a hit on his head. He then screamed and pixelized. The aura suddenly disappeared and a menu popped up again.
"Completed Action."
Aiko woke up as that kid disappeared. The curse must be attached to him or something, Aiko then looked around and asked.
"What happened to that Benny kid?"
"Billy. I managed to defeat him but this new skill is really stron-- huh? What's the matter? You look like you saw a ghost or some...
thing..."
I messed up. I don't know when but he stabbed me, he stabbed me in my chest. My vision started to blur until I couldn't see anything anymore. All I can hear was her voice screaming for my name and for me to wake up. Crap, is this it? It's too early damn it, I can't go...b...back.....yet....
"Learn Skill: Botany Skill Set! Flower Magic, Healing Petals!"
The pain, is disappearing... Is it me or did Aiko just learn a skill? My vision was returning but it was all blurry.
"Oh God you're awake, you were inflicted with a Wither status ailment. Luckily it missed your Soul. Seriously Hitoshi, don't make me worry and waste some skill points. B-but I'm glad you're okay."
I see. So he missed huh? Nah it can't be... He purposely did that because he saw something in me. That aura sword, there's some secret behind it. He seemed afraid of it but at the same time he looked like he finally saw something that can end that final boss. I don't know what he does to his creations but I don't care. For now I should get some rest and once I'm okay, we'll resume with the quest.
"Oh? The knight has fallen. Look everyone, the knight has fallen hahahaha!" A familiar voice said.
"Oh it's you, the trash knight party. What brings you here?" I said.
"Oh please, okay, because I am a pitiful person, you earn the right to call me by my name Allan, wait trash party?!"
"I see, well Allan, good luck with the boss."
"I don't need your good luck, I just came by to see if the mage wants to join our party since we already found the entrance to the dungeon."
"As I s-said before. N-no, I won't be j-joining you." Aiko stuttered.
"Well not now but the time will come. Come now my party members, let's go." Allan said as he put back his helmet on.
They already found the dungeon huh? Damn it, even with this power we won't be able to catch up. The Cursed Sword seems overpowered but it takes up too much energy. It weakens you, it eats you, until you finally break. I've decided to only use it as my trump card.
"Aiko, I'm better now, thanks. Let's go find the du...dungeon now." I said as I stood up.
"Y-you sure? Just rest a little bit more."
"No, we can't waste anymore time. I can heal myself so don't worry. For now we should find the golem and get the key."
"Wait, H-Hitoshi. While browsing for healing skills, I learned a new Light skill. S-stand back and close your eyes. Light Magic: Flash Point!" Aiko then flashed a beam of light onto the ground and then a shaped glowed into the distance.
"Flash Point is a reconnaissance skill. Only me and you can see it if I cast it and it will make whatever we are finding for glow." Aiko said.
"WOAH! Nice skill! You really are strong, alright let's kill that golem! Recall Pet: Doro."
"T-thank you." Aiko said while hiding her face with her big red hat.
"Master let's go kill that son of a b--"
"Language Doro."
"Pardon me Master. I am sorry."
After that encounter with Billy the Demon Kid, I learned how terrifying the sword is. I didn't tell Aiko about my hand which is beginning to go black now, I guess the more I use the more intense it becomes. Well it's not like I'm going to use it all the time, with our current lineup there will be no need for it. Aiko, Doro, let's go!
— To Be Continued in Chapter 6
Epilogue:
Young Hitoshi, now you know the curse of the Cursed Sword Salem. It will slowly devour your character and that's why I removed it from the real game. It's because that sword was once Puruz's. He was the AI I created to help out players but now he becomes stronger each day and becomes more unstable. HKP, Hitoshi, or anyone out there... Please end his reign and set me free... I beg you.
-Grandmaster
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