Chapter 9
<>×{|----=[[A Tale of love between the God and Mortal: Summary ]]=---|}×<>
2nd day came as fast as the time chime.The man came back to the meadow to write, to know, and to fully endulge itself to its peaceful life
Time went by, the breeze brushes the man's skin, but the lady never came back, and why would she? The man was waiting for nothing, so he continued on and practice his hobby.
Lunch came as the sun reaches the top, the man ventured further in the woods, and saw a beautiful arch of an old Bridge. So awe by its beauty, the man crossed.
"If you are here to stalk, I ask you to leave"
The man then hurriedly turn his back, and saw the woman she once saw, still gorgeous and stunning as she walked. The man gulped down and spoke
"I wasn't doing so. I was merely walking front, and stumbled to this amazing cross"
"Lies and yet truth, how come you are good at both?"
The woman ask, curious as she was. The man then scratch his head, unknown to what answer should he state. The man cough and strengthen his back, and he voice out a mannerful tone
"I was merely stating what word should I spoke, so I won't dismay her grace allure"
"Tricky is a loss cause if you dare to deceive me, neither flattery, but I shall let your comment slide just for this once"
The woman then walked towards the man. The man then hurriedly step back and went to the side, letting the most beautiful woman he saw pass him and leave.
The man then stared upfront towards the place where the woman vanish. Still awed to her beauty and charm, the man could only hope they will meet again if fate told them so.
- - - - Part 2 END
<>×{|----=[[<×><×><×><×><×><×>]]=---|}×<>
"So why bring the bracelet?"
"Hmmmm? What do you mean?"
"I mean, after I saw that artifact's stats, all I could say is, it's quite inferior compared to the other two. Except for the [Unshackled Will] skill it has, the [Feather Touch] is truly unneeded in our journey, especially when we have [Untouched] and [Flexible Movement], so to say, I mean this artifact is kind of....useless for us"
"Useless things are only useless, when you don't know how to use it"
Puzzled to her words, I asked
"And you mean?"
Lucrane then replied as we went pass through a two giant trees, that are just a bit distance to each other, creating a small pathway with their big roots, that was tangled to with one another.
"[Feather Touch] gives you 50% weight reduction in [Leather Armors], which will give your twice or thrice the speed that the current you could have, and coupled that with [Untouched] that gives you a 40% boost in your speed, and [Invasion] that will make you untouchable for 30 seconds, you will be receiving four fold, or five times the normal speed you currently have"
Frowning to her words, I then spoke as I disagree to her
"[Feather Touch] will give 50% weight reduction, in [Leather Armors] only remember, the [Alors j'étais] is a steel chained armor, which will only gives me 10% weight reduction only"
She then shook her head in complain, and stated
"[Chained Armors] is a well-known armor that being worn, with a [*Gambeson] underneath it"
She then looked at me and continued
"And [Gambeson] is a type of armor, made in leather, or to be precise, one of the materials that could be used to make it"
She then added as she looked back upfront
"With [Gamberson] underneath your [Chained Armor] - [Alors J'etais] - you will be receiving 50% weight reduction for the former, and 10% reduce in your armor's weight for the latter, which will end you up with 60% armor weight reduction"
Flabbergasted to her words, I then retorted
"Wait..... Can we even do that? Isn't that basically cheating?"
"Cheating is when you do something illegal"
"And aren't we doing such?"
She then looked at me as she halted, and made a playful smile as she replied
"We are merely utilizing the efficiency of the armor's flaw, silly"
"..... That is still cheating in my vocabulary, you know"
She then smiled as she turn her gaze back at the front.
"With that speed in hand, combine that with [Swift Nimble] that gives you 1% additional boost in your speed, and [Quick Feet] that lets you sprint 5 meters forward with 2% increase in your reflexes -"
Hearing her words made me frown as I continued listening to her explanation
"With [Quick Reflexes] that boost your speed for 3% in 2 seconds, and [Flexible Movement] that which gives you additional boost in your speed for 25% in 20 seconds, you will be-"
"Are you suggesting me to run away in a fight?"
Can't wait for any more longer as impatience took over me, I asked in a serious tone, with anxious feeling dwelling inside me
"All those skills you are suggesting are merely in speed boost, and nothing more. Lucrane, where are we heading anyway?"
She then halted to my words. A bit of moment of silence, she then slightly turn her head to my side, and spoke
"I'm merely suggesting, the choice is still yours to take"
"What the hell? If you are too much of a worrywart about me being here, then why take me in the first place? You could just let me stay in the tower and level up there, with those monsters we got, isn't that much more in the safe line than here?"
Sigh
She then sigh to my words, and disapprove to it
"If I made you as my [Sub Manager] just to be a house servant, then I shouldn't have picked you in the first place"
She then added as crossed her arms, and completely faced me
"[Monster Drop Items] back in the tower has much more lower in appearance, than here in outside"
"By how much? I think I got a skill my killing those {Goblin Hobbits} back then, isn't it?"
"Yes, you did got a drop item back then, for 10 {Goblin Hobbits} and 1 {Goblin Hobbit Alpha} you took care of, only gave you 1 skill, [Quick Reflexes], which is now you are using, and an old worn shield from their alpha, that can't be sold nor used other than being our firewood"
"Those are merely level 10 monsters, so isn't it expected to begin with?"
She then shook her head and stated
"Tower monsters could only drop there item or skills with 10% ratio, or in every 50 monsters you defeated, you will be receiving only 5 drop items, except if you are dealing with their alpha, which gives you 15%. In here, back in the fight with those {Six Legged Serpents} that ambushed us, all 110 of them, they gave us 22 pieces of [Paralysis Claw], 33 pieces of [Sharp Fang], and 33 pieces of [Swift Nimble] - with 22 pieces of [Poison Vile], which end us up with 110 pieces of [Orb Skill], and 33 pieces of [Worn Knife] as [Monster Material Drop], do you know why?"
Thinking about it for a moment, I then shook my head for not knowing any
"In the outside world, or the outside area from the tower, we get 30% ratio for [Common Class] [C] drop items, 20% drop ration for [Normal Class] [N] items, 10% for [Rare Class] [R] drop item, and only 5% drop items ration for [Uncommon [Class] [UN]. But as for [Special Class] [S] to [Ultra Rare] [UR] drop items, they will only give us a hefty amount of . 5% ratio, while for [Specially Rare] [SR] and [Specially Super Rare] [SSR] drop items, are far worse as they only give us . 01% drop ratio"
"Then how about in the tower?"
"As for the tower, its the opposite here"
"Opposite?"
I confusingly asked
"As the tower is being managed by us, [Tower Manager], the drop rates or drop ratios for each drop item, is quite either unfavorable to us, or it does"
"You mean?"
"[Drop Item Rate] of each drop item in the tower is as followed-"
<>×0[]{×|DROP RATE OF EACH ITEMS IN THE TOWER|×}0×<>
Common Class item - - - - > . 01%
Normal Class item - - - - > . 05%
Rare Class item - - - - > 5%
Uncommon Class item - - - - > 10%
Special Class to Ultra Rare Class item - - - - > 20%
Specially Rare Class to Specially Super Rare Class item - - - - > 30%
<>×0[]{×|=+[{}]+=|×}0×<>
<>×0[]{×|DROP RATE OF EACH ITEMS OUTSIDE THE TOWER|×}0×<>
Common Class item - - - - > 30%
Normal Class item - - - - > 20%
Rare Class item - - - - > 10%
Uncommon Class item - - - - > 5%
Special Class to Ultra Rare Class item - - - - > . 5%
Specially Rare Class to Specially Super Rare Class item - - - - > . 01%
<>×0[]{×|=+[{}]+=|×}0×<>
"..... I don't see any problem with that, Isn't that favorable to us then? Having [Specially Rare Class] [SR] and [Specially Super Rare Class] [SSR] item drop rate goes for 30%, is quite a gift if I say"
"Truly, the perspective for a person who only heard such, and those who experience it are quite different"
Perplexed, I just listened to her
"[Specially Rare Class] [SR] and [Specially Super Rare Class] [SSR] items could only be dropped by high level [Floor Guardians], or high level monster"
"..... And what level are these high level monsters, if I may asked?"
She then shrugged and stated
"Monsters at [Excellent Rank] tower with a level of 2, 501 to level 3, 000, and [Floor Guardians] starting from [High Rank Towers], which designate from level 1, 500"
Speechless to her words, I could only stared at her with my gaze wide open
"To add off, monsters that drop items from [Special Class] [S] to [Specially Super Rare Class] [SSR], only appears every 1 out of 100th monsters"
"... What? I'm sorry but I don't get it"
"Monsters that drops items with a class from [Special] [S] to [Specially Super Rare Class] [SSR], only appears as followed-"
<>[×{} <|MONSTERS APPEARANCE THAT DROP ITEM FROM [S] TO [SSR]|> {}×]<>
Excellent Rank Tower - - - > Level 2, 501 to Level 3, 000 - - - > (drops) [S], [UR], [SR], [SSR] - - - - > 1 out of 100th (1/100 or .01)
Glorified Rank Tower - - - > Level 3, 001 to Level 3, 500 - - - > [S], [UR], [SR], [SSR] - - - - > 1 out of 200th (1/200 or . 005)
Might of Greatness Rank Tower - - - > Level 3, 501 to Level 4, 000 - - - > [S], [UR], [SR], [SSR] - - - - > 1 out of 300th (1/300 or . 0033)
Blessed Tank Tower - - - > Level 4, 001 to Level 4, 501 - - - > [S], [UR], [SR], [SSR] - - - - > 1 out of 400th (1/400 or . 0025)
And so on...
<>[×{} <|GUARDIANS APPEARANCE THAT DROP ITEM FROM [S] TO [SSR]|> {}×]<>
High Rank Floor Guardians - - - > Level 1, 500 - - - > [S], [UR], [SR], [SSR] - - - - > 1 out of 100th (1/100 or . 01)
Great Rank Floor Guardians - - - > Level 2, 000 - - - > [S], [UR], [SR], [SSR] - - - - > 1 out of 100th (1/100 or . 01)
Excellent Rank Floor Guardians - - - > Level 2, 500 - - - > [S], [UR], [SR], [SSR] - - - - > 1 out of 80th (1/80 or . 013)
Glorified Rank Floor Guardians - - - > Level 3, 000 - - - > [S], [UR], [SR], [SSR] - - - - > 1 out of 60th (1/60 or . 017)
Might of Greatness Rank Floor Guardians - - - > Level 3, 500 - - - > [S], [UR], [SR], [SSR] - - - - > 1 out of 40th (1/40 or . 025)
Blessed Rank Floor Guardians - - - > Level 4, 000 - - - > [S], [UR], [SR], [SSR] - - - - > 1 out of 20th (1/20 or . 05)
And so on....
<>[×{} <|×X×X×X×|> {}×]<>
"This is only-"
"W-wait!"
I yelled
"?"
Trying to grasp all the information that she just once again shove at me, like I was some goddamn high specs A. I. Trying to settle my mind down, I then sat down near a small rock, that was laying just a distance from where I was, at my left. I then took a deep breath and stated
"I didn't know gacha will still fucked me up even here"
"..... What?"
"Forget that, so you mean to say that every 100th monsters of Level 2, 501 to Level 3, 000 that I defeated, I mean-if I can defeat them, and among them, only 1 appears that could drop such class of item?"
She then nodded and added
"And every 300th of those monsters, will only drop 3 items with a class from [S], [UR], [SR], and [SSR]"
"..... Whose gacha company is overseeing this world anyway?"
"What?"
She frowned as she puzzlingly asked. As I swyaed my hand to gestured that it wasn't nothing, I then spoke
"Okay I was confused for a bit in this part that you just explained. You are saying that every 100th [Floor Guardians], with a level of 1, 500, would drop [Special] [S] to [Specially Super Rare] [SSR] class items, right?"
She then nodded
"Every 100th of [FLOOR GUARDIANS] that I defeated, will give me those items isn't it?"
"Yes it is"
"Then my question is, how the hell can we defeat 100th of those guardians, if we can only own one in every floor?"
Baffled to my question, she then asked in return, quite perplexed in her tone
"Wait, I didn't tell you about it?"
With a blank expression on my face, I stated nonchalantly, and sarcastically
"Would I asked if you did?"
She then smiled and spoke in a teasing tone
"Maybe I did, but someone is just too insensitive to notice"
".... I hate that kind of attitude of yours you know, it's annoying"
"You are welcome"
She then giggled as she spoke. She then strengthen her posture and replied to my inquiry
"Every [Floor Guardians] in each floor, upon being defeated, will resurrect every 10 days"
"But didn't you said that every floor that is being guarded by a guardian, are either tamed, or someone you raised to become a [Floor Guardian]? So doesn't that mean that you just groomed them to become your source of experience and items? Isn't that kind of brutal?"
She then shook her head and responded
"That is indeed what I said, and apologize for not clarifying that said matter"
"See, what I told you about?"
Ahem!
"To further explain that in detail, [Floor Guardians] are divided into two: the one that is being regenerate by the tower, and the one that you brought, tamed, defeated, or raised by either the [Tower Manager] itself, or by someone that the [Tower Manager] closed with. The former is what we call [Invigorated Keeper], while the latter is what we refer as [Quelled Overseer]"
She then added as she went towards me
"[Invigorated Keeper] are those [Floor Guardians] that was being produced by the tower alone, while [Quelled Overseer] is when a certain monster that was raised, or an [Invigorated Keeper] that was defeated and was tamed than killed, that was turned into a [Quelled Overseer]. [Quelled Overseer] are kind of [Floor Guardians] that has the task to oversee a certain floor they are designated with, unlike the [Invigorated Keeper] that only stayed in one floor. The [Quelled Overseer] roams around the area, and was tasked to keep everything under control, by either silencing the one who are causing the said trouble, or might caused one, or simply repel them off"
She then sat beside me and crossed her legs. She then added
"[Quelled Overseer] aren't just monsters that you tamed, but could be also one of the [Sub Manager] that manage your tower, or the tower that your raided with, and took them as your trophy, a slave, or invited them for their potential"
She then looked at me as she continued
"In simplest term as possible, I can make you guard the ground floor and first floor of our tower, and the next if I wanted to. The guarded floor those [Quelled Overseer] handled, is up to how much does the [Tower Manager] trusted you, and acknowledge your potential"
"I see"
I stated as I made a 'no. 4' sign in my legs, and lean my chin to my right hand, as I placed it to my right knee
"To continue to what I was explaining beforehand, those monsters that drop items from [Special] [S] to [Specially Super Rare] [SSR] class, are quite different from how they drop it from the tower to here, the outside world"
I then looked at her as I asked
"In what way?"
"You can gain items that are class from [Special] [S] to [Specially Super Rare] [SSR] from any monsters outside the tower, as long they reached level 2, 500 and above, with a ratio of 1/80th monsters"
"..... Do God's hate tower that much? Or they just have grudges to [Tower Managers]"
She then smiled as she chuckled
"It just that the [Tower Manager] are already quite feed by the towers blessing, giving them too much wheat can't fully run the Horse for a mile, isn't it?"
I then stared at her for a bit before I look up front, and shrug as I stated
"I don't know, never ride a Horse before"
And two of us just laughed ourselves as we sat down, and relaxed before we continued our long journey.
....
Afterwards, we then further move on. Continuing forward, we then passed through a tattered bone remains of a giant monster, that once roamed this forest. The battered remains of this massive monsters has some of its bones broken, shattered, and missing. Gazing at its gigantic size as we walked pass it, I then asked Lucrane about it
"What kind of monster is this? Never seen such big creature before, excluding some pictures and history books I once read, and seen before"
Without looking behind me, as I keep observing the surrounding area of the said remain
"{Four Horned Elephas Primigenius}"
"{**Elephas Primigenius}?"
I curiously asked as I halted and raised my head up, as I stared at the living remains of the once living creature that roamed this forest. Hearing my inquiry, Lucrane then slowly halted beside the massive creatures bone remnants, and touched it with her right hand, and gazed at it.
"Its a gigantic creature with a size comparable to 3 giant boulders piled up together"
"That huge?"
I perplexedly asked as I was shocked. She then nodded as respond, and continued
"It has a thick black fur that is immune to any physical damages or strikes, but can't fully negate magical attacks, or any non-physical assaults. It has a long 3 and half meters sharp tusk, that are sturdy and hard as a steel armor, and broad rigid surface teeth that they used to grind their food, either meat, vegetables, or fruits"
She then looked at me as turned her body to my direction, and added
"Giant feet that could crashed skulls like a vegetables, and a short two tails. This creatures reached from level 2, 300 to level 3, 200, and quite hard to subdue due to their high defense, and annoying skill sets"
Staring at the gigantic monster's bones, I couldn't help but feel awed on how enormous it must be, with it was still alive and roaming the wilderness
"If this guy is this massive, I just can't fully imagine that [World Turtle] size could be"
"You truly can't, that monster is way above the word big, but it does could compete with the [Yggdrasil] in the east empire"
I then looked at her as I asked
"[Yggdrasil]?"
"A giant tree that could reach above the sky, the only tree among the other that was gifted and blessed by God. It's also referred as [World Tree] by the others, but [Yggdrasil] is a sacred name for the {Elves}, especially for the high ranking ones"
'Oh I know about World Tree, but I never heard of Yggdrasil. Mostly on the Mangas I have read so far, they used the former than the latter more often'
"[Yggdrasil] is a sacred place, a holy sanctuary for u-the {Elves}. A place they could put their faith on, and a haven they could find peace and solitude"
She then stared above the horizon and stated
"Some says that it could reach further than the heavens"
"Can it?"
Staring a bit more for a moment, she then brought her head down, and stared at me as she muttered
"For years, I don't think it can"
She then crossed her arms and faced upfront, and stated
"But its indeed a magnifying, and towering than any other"
She then stared back at me and added
"If you reached a bit higher in level and gained more experience, I will bring you there for sightseeing"
And smiled, which I then agreed on, like come on, this a fantasy world, it's a waste of opportunity if I let this kind of event slide before me.
After that, we then continued further forward.
It was mid afternoon when we reached a giant lake, or a completely massive round lake. As the sun's ray touched the giant lake, it glistened like a thousand silvers were sunk beneath it, glittering below the massive lake. It was truly a mesmerizing place to behold
"Should we camp near here?"
I asked as I turn my head towards Lucrane, who was wearing this serious look as she stared at the lake with a frown. She then turn to her back and stated
"No"
Curious I inquire
"Why? I think resting near this lake with help us acquire food much more easier though"
Slightly moved her head towards my direction, she then responded with a cold tone
"And you are not the only one who is thinking the same"
Staring at her with a baffled expression, she then looked up and added
"It's almost evening, I'll explain everything to you after we find shelter, so let's moved"
Without further asking her any questions, I then followed her from behind. But as weren't that much further from the lake, she then halted and faced me. Stopping just a distance from her, I then saw her summoning something from her ring - [Ring of Equipment] - and offered it on me
"Wear that"
Taking the equipment from her, I then took a closer look to the thing she just gave me.
".... A leather jacket?"
I asked, as the one she gave me does have a feature of a jacket, that was made from leather, the only difference is that this one is quite thinner, smooth, and easy to be maneuver as it was quite stretchable. The design was very simple, a light brown thin leather armor like a plain brown shirt, with no additional colorful design and artworks painted on it. The said jacket reached till my hand which is tight - a bit loosen - to my wrist area, and has a small skirt like feature on it, that went further just a centimeters below my waist.
"To be precise, that is a [Gamberson], much thinner than the one that is being used though, but it still work as fine as the others"
She then summoned another item from her [Storage Ring] and offered it to me. The second one she summoned was the chained mail armor we brought from the [Hesperides Towering Garden], the [Alors j'étais], a [Rare Class] [R] armor with [Tier Class] of Tier V.
"Wear that [Gamberson] underneath this armor"
"Is this for additional support?"
"Yes, and also as chained armors are quite uncomfortable to the wearer, so you be protected against brushes and strains from wearing this chain mail. [Gamberson] is both a cushion and additional relieve for the wearer in battle, or when about to"
I then nodded. I then wore the thin leather jacket that was called [Gamberson], of course I undress myself first so it won't be too tight. I then wore the [Gamberson] just like how you wear a t-shirt at home
[{<><><><>|×××××××××××××××××××|<><><><>}]
Remember, I made the Gamberson here, in this novel, like a plain t-shirt armor so it will be easy to use, but most in the history, you can't just wear it like a casual clothes okay, it's a armor
[{<><><><>|×××××××××××××××××××|<><><><>}]
I then added the chained mail armor, which I didn't realize has a slit at the front, that was covered by the right side of the armor, that was attached to the other side with some kind of sticky something, like a double-sided tape. After I wore them, standing in front of me was Lucrane who was looking at me with discerning eyes
"..... What?"
"Hmmm?"
She then stared at me back, as if she didn't noticed I was looking at her
"What is it? Did I worn it wrong?"
I asked a bit concern. She then shook her head
"It's nothing, I was just-I was just grateful that you're already healed... That's all"
".... Oh, is that so"
"Ahem! Here"
She then stretched her left hand at me, and shown the other items we brought back from tower, a necklace, the [Ethereal Pendant], another [Rare Class] item she bought with a [Tier Class] of Tier III. I then took it from her hand
"Wear that and hid it underneath the armor, so it won't get snatched, neither get lost nor destroyed"
I then nodded which I then wore and placed it underneath the [Gamberson] for safe keeping. She then summoned another item from her [Storage Ring], and offered it at me once again. Quite puzzle to all this sets that she gave at me, I then asked her
"... Isn't this way too much? I already have 3 [Rare Class] items, and 1 [Special Class] weapon on me, so aren't this way too much of overprotection?"
She then hit me with the bracelet she was holding on her left hand, the [Unchained Feather] bracelet that she bought back at the [Hesperides Towering Garden], which has a class of [Uncommon] [UN] and [Tier Class] of Tier II.
"Cautiousness is a must when venturing inside an unknown place, even those that are already explored aren't that much different to those who aren't. So keep that in mind that there is no overprotection in this world, just fools and wise men and women"
She then handed the bracelet at me as she spoke her words. I then wore the bracelet at the left of [Shonin no Omamori], which is the bracelet that we bought at {Henry's} [Item Shop], back at the tower. The bracelet has a [Rare Class] [R] and [Tier Class] of Tier IV. After wearing all of them, she then stared upfront and stated
"Don't get left behind, and follow me closely"
"Wha-"
Swooosh
And just like that, she just then dashed forward with great speed and left me in a dust. Not wasting any more time, I then used [Quick Feet] and [Untouched], as I then sprint forward as I catch up to her
[Untouched] has been used]
[Invasion] has been activated for 30 seconds]
[Feather Touch] has been used]
[Weightless] has been activated]
[50% weight reduction for wearing [Leather Armor]
[10% weight reduction for wearing [Steel Armor]
But even with those two skills I used to boost my speed, couple with the buff I got from [Feather Touch], which is a skill that the bracelet I wore have, I still can't even close the distance between me and her
'What the hell!?'
Truly surprised on how much arsenal she has in hand, as I closely followed her.
Feeling the cold breeze of the deep forest, indicating the change of its atmosphere, I then tried to at least lessen the gap between me and her, as I felt that this atmosphere I am feeling, wasn't just from the wind alone.
Passing through some giant boulders that were like 3 huge eggs, we then came acrossed a long, wide river. Halting as we came near it, Lucrane then looked up and frowned. She then looked at me and spoked in a serious tone
"It's almost evening, let us hurry"
And then dashed forward. Her words were painted with imposing tone, that is mixed with rushness and anxiousness. Noticing that, I then stared at the river before I rushed forward, making sure that I won't get lost or separated from her.
[Invasion] has been diactivated]
As we keep running, we then once again came across a long river, a bit thinner compared to the first we saw. Stopping before we could even get near it, I then saw Lucrane getting impatient as she frowned and crused
"Dammit"
She then stared up, which deepen her sudden changed of behavior. For a moment of silence as she closed her eyes, after she brought her head down, she then looked at me with seriousness imprinted on her expression, and spoke with urgency
"Use your [Untouched] skill and [Flexible Movement], and go up those trees, and looked for any high above ground places"
"How about trees then? These things are huge anyway"
She then shook her head and stated
"Those aren't sturdy enough, we need something much more. Find anything that either a huge rock, or a small hill"
"Got it"
Nodding to words and no further inquiry, I then activated both [Untouched], from the chained mail armor I worn, then [Flexible Movement], which is a skill from my necklace, and [Feather Touch] from the bracelet. Further boosting my movements and reflexes, I then combined [Swift Nimble] and [Quick Feet]. After all preparations done, I then jumped from a huge tree near me, and propelled myself up, after I step on its branch.
Running up or leaping from one branch to another, I then halted just a bit high up, and looked below me, and then saw Lucrane on her battle stance, as she summoned her sword just near the trunk of the tree I was in.
Seeing her a bit aggregate, my concern about this situation we were in, risen up to the point that I summoned my [Mythril Knight Sword], and continued going up.
As I reached the peak of the said tree, I then used [Keen Eyesight], which was boosted by [Unheard Song], from one of the skills of [Alors j'étais], the chained mail armor I was wearing. Peeling my eyes wide open as I observed the surrounding area, all of a sudden
Lalalalalalala~
'!?'
I then swiftly turned my head to where the sudden voice came. Turning my vision to the back of my right, I then keenly discern the area around us, as the voice I just heard was a beautiful soothing melody of a singing woman, which is quite peculiar to be heard in this almost evening time.
Quite scared as chills run down to my spine, I then activated [Unshackled Will] from the bracelet I wore, knowing that this is the only defensive skill I got in hand, which is passive. Though I have [Guard] from [Shōnin no Omamori], but that one is an active skill, which only activate when I sense danger near me to block it.
[Unshackled Will] has been activated. For 30 seconds you will be immune to mind attacks]
So with that I mind, I then turned my gaze back upfront and keep myself in full focus, as I observe the surrounding area, which only gives me 30 seconds, as the duration of the [Unshackled Will] has only half a minute.
Lalalalalalala~
As I peeled my eyes wide open, as I keep looking for any high ground places, the voice that keeps singing behind us is getting closer and closer, and its voice is getting more and more alluring to hear.
[Unshackled Will] has been di-activated]
"See anything?"
"Not yet!"
"Then hurry!"
Anxious to the situation that is happening to us, Lucrane words are getting more desperate, which causing me to become quite shaken.
Lalalalalalala~
And hearing those voices in this chaotic mess we are in, was so heavenly that I wish to settle down, and be caress by such melodious tone.
'.... This is quite nice to he-'
"Get your head out of the gutter now!"
Whack
"Gahh!"
I exclaimed, as out of nowhere Lucrane just thrown a stone at me as she yelled. Angry by it, I then gazed at her while my left hand hold unto my forehead, which was hit by that barbarous woman's straight pitch. As I was about to retort to her words
Lalalalalalala~
"Two little mice caught in a tiny trap, how lovely~"
I then saw Lucrane already on her guard, as we heard that sudden chilling voice, that unexpectedly just spoke at us.
"Vince, get down there, now"
Gripping the sword at my right hand, I then looked behind me and spoke, as I disagree with lucrane's words
"I'll continue observing up here while we run!"
I yelled, as I then leap from the branch I was standing towards the next
Tsk
"Keep your guard up and be vigilant!"
Clicking her tongue in frustration, Lucrane then followed me after.
"Got it!"
Further inspecting the surrounding area as I keep jumping from one branch to another, moving from one tree to the other. Keeping my eyes wide open, as I keep looking from my left and right, and discern what my vision could sighted of.
Lalalalalala~
"Run run run, little mice~"
Not paying any close attention to the voice that keeps mocking us with its vexing voice, I just keep finding the place that Lucrane asked me to find.
"Further away as you sprint~, hiding away as you run~"
'Come on, come on, come on, come on! Where is it? Where is it? Where is it? Where is it? Where is it?'
"But I hope it won't take you long, for your body to be slit~"
'Where the hell is it!?'
"As I will rip your body apart~!"
Kuahahahahah~!
Lalalalalalalala~
'Crazy bitch!'
Rushingly moving forward, I then noticed another river along the way. But rather than a peaceful stream, bluish white light could be seen moving towards us. Closely looking at them with my [Keen Eyesight], I then saw some beautiful women's that was singing as they moved towards us
They all are wearing a loosen dress, that reached till their wrist, that has a hole at each of the their shoulder. Below them was like a bath towel or something, that was just wrapped to their lower body with an open slit to their other leg. But rather than being amaze to those women, I was quite puzzled that their skins were coated in bluish white, with a hint of teal blue, and not just that, but those said women are either walking in half, missing a leg or an arm, o has a hole/s in their body. There was even a woman singing without its head attached, and another was smiling with its head chopped in two.
The situation was becoming quite eerie in every seconds pass, with that knowing, I then made haste to find what Lucrane was looking for. As I keep looking up, I then took a glance towards Lucrane who was just beside the trees I was jumping into. I could see that she was keep looking from her left and right, as she gripped the sword in her hand. Gazing back at the front, I then looked back at her and yelled
"Something is coming from the front!"
"Details!"
I then stared upfront and replied, as I looked back at Lucrane
"Womens in a bluish white light! They are singing their eerily melody!"
I then saw her halting down as she slid her left foot forward, while using her right as an anchor, which made me stopped my tracked just in front of her. She then looked at her right, and dashed forward as she yelled
"Follow me!"
No further hesitation, I then jump at the other tree, which is at her right side, and continued moving forward
"Just keep looking for any high ground!"
"Got it!"
I then went a bit higher, and looked for anything resembling a high ground area.
Lalalalalalalala~
"[Acti Ventis]"
[Sylph's Blessing] has been activated]
'?'
A sudden notification of a certain skills that was used then pops up in front of me. I then gaze down and knew it was Lucrane who did it.
[20% additional boost in your initial speed]
[Fortidue of Trust] has been activated. Any invading skills you owned is boosted for 20%]
[Vinculum Fidei] has been activated. 15% boost in your initial speed has been added]
With the buff we have in hand, we then dashed forward with great speed.
"I shall count from 1 to 10, and I hope you are hidden~. Until the number hits zero, I hope you keep yourself sealed~"
"!! - There!"
"10~"
Not caring about that bitch annoying voice - though it was quite alluring to hear - I then saw a medium sized hill that was just a distance from where I was. It has 2 small trees atop of it.
"8~"
"Lead the way! "
"7~"
"On it!"
"6~"
As she tried to slow herself down, I then took the lead as Lucrane followed me. Running at full speed, I then realized that the annoying voice then suddenly stopped
"Hurry!"
Tsk!
Swaying my mind away from such thought, I then rushed forward as I used [Untouched], [Quick Feet], [Swift Nimble], and [Flexible Movement] combine
[Untouched] has been used]
[Invasion] has been activated for 30 seconds]
[Feather Touch] has been used]
[Weightless] has been activated]
[50% weight reduction for wearing [Leather Armor]
[10% weight reduction for wearing [Steel Armor]
[Perfect Combo! Mastery +3 for [Quick Feet], and [Swift Nimble]
"1~. Ready or not, here I COME~"
'!?!'
Rushing towards the small hill I found, a sudden cold feeling of dread then graze me. Chilling my bones with its eerily touch.
"Don't look back! And just run straight to the top of the hill, and stay there!"
Nodding to her words with no further question asked, I then run straight to the top of the hill. Running at full speed with all I got, I then climbed up the hill I just found. While running atop, Lucrane then went to the right and dashed forward. She then placed something like wards or the likes at the ground around the base of the hill. Not knowing what it is, I just keep running atop.
As I reached there, I then used [Keen Eyesight] as I looked behind me, and stared at my front
"!?!"
And what I saw was totally creepy as hell. These women's that was either cut in half, ripped apart or were merely missing some parts or battered, were now - for those who have their head still attached - smiled like a maniac that just took their drugs, and was completely high as fuck as they looked at us.
"Those bitches are getting way too crazy Lucrane!"
"Just shut up and stay there!"
She yelled. I then went just bit the edge of the hill's peak, as I look at what Lucrane is up to. Looking from below, I then saw her placing 8 different wards around the base of the hill, and one by one she prayed them or something, as she kneeled one of the her legs down while she gaze below - eyes closed - and placed her right arm to her chest, and whispered something at the wards she placed. After that, she then stood up and dashed forward, towards me.
Climbing up, I then took a step back to let her have some space to step in. Arriving at the peak, she then moved towards the center of the hill, between the 2 trees that are like bonsai in Japan. She then stomp her right foot forward and then
"What the"
8 Golden lights then emerged and surrounded us, forming 8 beacons of light at the side of the hill where we at.
"***Sigmund, draconis interfector, pro tua virtute et animo rogo"
The 8 golden light then spread and went above us, and formed 8 tridents with 3 marks at its center each, and a sphere at the bottom to where the 8 tridents connected.
"[Aegishjalmur]"
[Aegishjalmur] has been used]
[Fear thy Wrath] has been activated. 40% reduction in enemy's strength, speed, and defense when they are inside the [Aegishjalmur]
[Guard thy Love] has been activated. 30% boost for physical defense, and mental fortitude for anyone inside the [Aegishjalmur]
[Bless thy Knight] has been activated. 40% boost in speed and strength for anyone inside the [Aegishjalmur]
I then stared upfront as I used my [Keen Eyesight], and didn't further thought on who was Lucrane truly is, as her arsenals of skills were too much to be called top-notch
'And for a level 30 [Hunter] nevertheless'
Gazing upfront, I then saw those creatures suddenly frowning at us, with hatred and disgust painted in their faces as they stared at us, making their ones beautiful faces coated in a hedious mask
"{Siren Wisp}"
Lucrane stated
"Creatures that are already ones dead but returned as a vengeful spirit"
She then looked at me and added
"They are level 190+ creatures that are powerful in mind attack, which they used to charm people"
"Then are these-hmmm?"
As I was about ask something related to this creature's name, I then suddenly saw something behind those creatures, something that lurking behind the shadow of the dim forest, something a bit massive
"What was that?"
"What" what?"
I then pointed upfront and spoke
"I think I saw something massive behind those creature's back, something that was roaming between the shades of the trees"
Lucrane then looked in front and spoke
"That is their mother"
I then perplexedly taken aback, as I frowned and looked at her as I asked
"Mother? Those creatures are its childrens?"
I then stared back at the front and continued
"She's one hell of a woman to give birth this many, it might be swelling down there. I pity the father of course"
Whack
"Guhhh"
Lucrane then smack my stomach with the back of her left fist.
"That mother you are referring is a level 280+ creature"
".... What?"
Speechless to her words, I then stared at her as I forgot the pain I received to my stomach, when I strengthened my posture. Lucrane then stared upfront and muttered
"[Graveyards Melody], its a skill where she can easily summoned any dead creatures from monsters to non-monster as a {Will-o-wisp}, and engrave to them their hatred, grief, and regret, and burn it into a smoldering flame of revenge"
She then crossed her arms as she added
"By doing so, she can easily control 100ths of dead creatures in her wake, with undying resolve of revenge. Those said creatures could only reached 90 levels below their summoner, and will fully follow their summoners word for word"
She then looked at me and spoked in a serious tone
"I don't know if this is a coincidence, or you are just a great source of bad luck, seeing that we meet not just one, but three 100 leveled monsters, after we got out from the tower, and we didn't even yet gotten near to our destination, nor stayed in this place that long, and yet here we are, running at them at almost point blank range, what a great surprise isn't it?"
I then frowned to her words as I complained
"Either I am the source of bad luck, or you are just the embodiment of misfortune itself"
"And why is that?"
She asked as she raised one of her eyebrows up
"Let me remind you who took this bad luck with you here, hmmmm?"
Can't fully disagree with my words, she then clicked her tongue and stared at the front. After a moment of staring upfront, I then gaze above us, and noticed that the sun already set
".... So I guess I'll prepare some fire then ha"
Staring at me first before she looked up, she then muttered
".... I'll prepare the camp then"
She then went over the side before she added
"Build the fire after I finished our camp to sleep in"
"Why?"
She then pointed her finger up, and added without looking above the starry sky
"It's about to rain"
I then looked up as I was quite a bit surprised to her words. As I gaze back at the evening sky, I then realized that there were less to none glittering stars above the horizon, and noticed some dark clouds covering the dark sky
"..... I think this is the first rain I shall experience in this world"
Thud
Placing the log at my top right, Lucrane then spoke
"Then make sure to enjoy it as much as possible"
I then stared back at the front, and saw those creatures still lurking around our base, and utter
".... I think I ordered a peaceful slumber, not a thrilling rest"
Tok
Tik
Tonk
Slow droplets of water then fell down, tapping the roof of our tent as it patter down
Tok Tik Tik Tak Tok Tink Tak
Gradually, the simple droplets then started pouring its downpour, slowly streaming the base we are in, and the ground of the hill where we at.
Swoooosshhh
Splatter Splatter
Pitter-patter Pitter-patter
The rain then suddenly brought its downfall, as it started getting heavier in every minutes pass. Its torment becomes much more intense as it poured its stream.
Strum Strum Strum
Wooosssshhhhhh
Loud fall of the rains droplets then echoed the vicinity, from the ground it fallen into, to the leaves of each tree it touches, and the roof that sheltered us.
"... They are still there, kind of persistent aren't they?"
I said as I use my [Keen Eyesight], and observed those creatures that was hunting us. They were either roaming just a distance around the base, or standing still as they stared at us. It was totally creepy how this guys keep going at it, even in this heavy rainpour. Thankfully we are inside in this sanctuary, or not, those guys surely ravaged us like madman, but the question is
".... How long does this protection last?"
I asked without looking at Lucrane, as I keep my vision peel towards those monsters
"It will last until those wards below won't get destroyed or taken"
I then turned my vision towards her, and spoke in concerning tone
"And you placed them below us? Away from us?"
She then wrapped her arms around her legs, that she lean closely to her body, and rested her head to her right knee, and looked at me
"Don't worry about it, I placed something that will protect it until morning"
"Only until morning?"
She then swayed her head as she rested it on her knee, and spoke
"Those creatures only come out in every evening, or almost evening, and will disappear when the morning sun shines"
Swoooosshh
Thunk Thunk Thunk Thunk
"So they are nocturnal then"
I stated as I stared back at those monsters
"Nocturnal?... I think I've heard about that. Is that what you call back at your world when creatures only come out in the night?"
I then nodded. Moment come pass as we stayed quiet as we just listened to the pouring rain
"Are they scared of sunlight or something?"
"Nmmm?"
"I mean, back at my world, nocturnal creatures only goes outside the night as they are more adept to it than the morning, so about this guy's then? Are they like Vampires?"
She then stared upfront and spoke
"{Vampires} can easily walked in the daylight, especially for the high ranking ones"
She then stretched her legs below and her arms, as she's reaching her knee and she spoke
"[Empress of the Night's Blessing]. A skill where those who believe on her can only walked the night, and are weak or vulnerable in the daylight"
Wooosshhhh
Plunk Plunk Plunk Plunk
"And whenever they tried to change their faith, they will be punished in the more gruesome you can ever imagine, and be judged for all eternity"
Cracked!
A loud roaring lightning then came after. Sighing off, I then stood up and started to take care of our meal. As it was pouring outside and truly breezy in the cold night, eating some hot soup and boiled Potatoes will be good for this time. I really wish we have some Rice field here to make some Rice, what a letdown.
Swwwwiiiiiishhh
Thunk Thunk Think Thunk Thunk Thunk
Craked!
[{<><><><>|×××××××××××××××××××|<><><><>}]
(Author's POV)
Tok Tik Tok Tak Tank Tok
Staring with its hollowed eyes as the raindrops pour down on its massive body, as its hunched back curved and rounded as it raised its head up. Pointy spikes were attached to its curved hedious back, with thin arms and sharp pointed claws. The monsters has a blank expression as its wide, uneven razor pointy teeth smiled, as its gaze didn't even once looked away from the top of the hill
"When the game starts to play, I hope they are ready to meet its end~"
And turned away from the hil where the prey it seek lingers and stayed.
Cracked!
It then vanished behind the shade of the darkness
[{<><><><>|×××××××××××××××××××|<><><><>}]
After the heavy rainfall last night, the sun rises up again, and warmly welcomed us to this new day.
"We will be heading a bit north to our next destination, pass this forest"
"Why? Another [Teleportation Array]?"
I asked as we walked pass the wet ground. As the heavy downfall went through all night, and came to pass before morning, the ground of the forest, even the hill we came down with are still wet. To not get muddy because of the moist ground, we walked across the forest using the green fields, or those areas that aren't soggy.
Lucrane then shook her head and replied, as we took a turn to the right to pass through a bit wide muddy paddle
"What comes after that place is the [Teleportation Array]. The place we are heading to is a little bit a lonesome ground"
.....
After a few more walked down the muchy forest, we then came across a qiute wide plain, but unlike the last one we came across, this one is smaller in term of size, but even so, we still summoned our weapons out, as we transverse the plain meadow.
Soggy sound of our footwear could be heard as we cross the field, thanks to its muddy ground, but other than that, the place was totally quiet, so we were able to crossed it safely.
After the plain meadow, we then came across a giant towering old structure, that was already battered out by time and nature, as the building was completely wrecked and tattered, from inside and out. We just went passed that old structure, and didn't bother looking at it, as it's already about to collapse after that heavy rainfall last night.
Walking through the soggy woods, we then stumbled to a burnt down and ripped off trees. This giant tree was completely taken out from the ground, as the soil that hold it in was completely scooped out, as if a gaint excavator just dug its way in to the ground. The burned trees were just scorched from its leaves to its upper branches, whereas its trunk was just merely brushed with some flame, and nothing more, but as for those medium size to smaller ones, they were truly engulfed by the flame, as they were turned into a charcoal colored one. Some of the trees could be seen being strucked by the lighting last night, as there trunk were like forcibly bended down, causing it to cracked open to its middle area.
Walking pass those stumbled trees, we then continued walking down the muddy forest.
Shraaa!
Krraaa!
Nreaaaa!
Grrrrrrr!
Awooooo~!
Karrrrrr!
As we continued walking down the forest, we then halted just a bit distance to a medium size pond, as we saw two groups of monsters, showing their fangs to their enemy, a [Wolf Pack] and a [Goblin Pack] was on a stand off, readying their claws and weapons as they took their stance, and furiously stared at their enemy. We are scrunching down to some bushes further away from them, while using each of our respective vision type skills to observe them
".... Should we take a detour?"
I whisperedly asked Lucrane. She then shook her head and spoke her reason
"No, we will wait here until the last man stand"
She then stared at me and continued
"And you will strike the remaining one"
Frowning to her word I complained
"Why me?"
She then raised one of her eyebrows and spoke
"Let me asked who among us here is the lowest in terms of level, and needed to get stronger as fast as possible, thanks to his bad luck?"
Annoyed I retorted
"Can't we just wait until they drop some [Exp Orb], and grab it afterwards?"
Sigh
"Drop items aren't chickens that keeps laying egg in every day, you know?"
She then looked upfront and added
"And [Exp Orb] are [Ultra Rare] [UR] class item, that gives you 2x the normal Exp you can gain when killing a monster"
Truly disagreeing to her words, I just frowned as I used the bracelet's features, and checked those monsters [Status Screen]
..
<> [Goblin]
[Name: None]
[Level: 38]
[Exp: 10, 570/ 13, 500]
[Vitality: 18, 700]
..
<> [Gray Wolf Chief]
[Name: none]
[Lv 41]
[Vitality: 21, 300]
[Exp: 9, 000/ 15, 600]
And I didn't yet finished looking closely to their status, but what unrevealed in front of me was truly earth shattering news
'Holy shit!!'
I then hurriedly looked at Lucrane, and spoke in loud whispering tone
"You want me to confront them? Them!? They are thrice the level I have now!"
I said. Lucrane then sighed, and as if she was just pushed to do this because she has to. She then replied as she ruffled my hair
"Alright, alright, I will help out. It's the seniors job to guide their juniors"
Swaying her annoying arm away from my head, I then responded
"And that responsible senior just suggested her junior to commit suicide"
She then just chuckles as we turned our vision back at those monsters, that are bickering each other out. Staring I them, I then closely close the gap between me and Lucrane, and lean my head towards her as I tilted it, and spoke
"I'll bet 10 Potatoes to those {Gray Wolves}, that they could easily ravaged those {Goblins}"
Hearing me, Lucrane then turned her gaze at me, and spoke with a baffled look
"You do realize that we are eating the same Potatoes, aren't you?"
I just shrugged to her words which she then just giggled into. Staring back at the front, she then pointed at the [Goblin Pack], and spoke
"I'll be one [Special Class] [S] armor, that those guys will win this battle, without losing any"
Its my time to turned my head towards her with a surprised look
"How the hell did betting 10 Potatoes turns into a [Special Class] [S] armor in a jipsy anyway?"
Giggling to it, I then turn my vision towards where she was pointing her finger unto
"I know levels can't speak about strength, but having 18 level 41 {Wolves} against 9 level 36, and 1 level 37 {Goblins} can't possibly turn the table on"
"I know, but that guy could"
She then raised her pointed finger towards those trees behind the [Goblin Pack]. Puzzled to her words, I then used [Keen Eyesight], and saw a hiding {Goblin} behind those lush of leaves
"... An archer {Goblin}? That is the first"
I said, which is quite a fact as mostly in all games, mangas, and animes I have seen, {Goblins} only carried small weapon, a sling shot, and a small round shield. There are some who has magic staff and gaint sword, mace, or those wooden bat that are mostly being equipped by those higher ranked {Goblins}, but rarely does a {Goblin} hold a bow and arrows in a fight, due to their small structure
"That's a rare species of {Goblins}, a {Blue Ear Goblin}. They are good at bows with high accuracy and lethality"
She then added as she put her hand down
"Use your [Keen Appraisal], I think we just hit a jackpot"
Without further questioning her words, I then used [Keen Appraisal], a skill that the bracelet we bought from {Henry's} [Item Shop] have, and what I saw at that {Goblin} was the first in this world, as a mini diamond was floating above its head
".... It's blue"
I then slowly turn my gaze towards Lucrane and spoke
"That guy is color blue"
[{<><><><>|×××××××××××××××××××|<><><><>}]
*A gambeson (also aketon, padded jack, pourpoint, or arming doublet) is a padded defensive jacket, worn as armour separately, or combined with mail or plate armour. Gambesons were produced with a sewing technique called quilting. They were usually constructed of linen or wool; the stuffing varied, and could be for example scrap cloth or horse hair. During the 14th century, illustrations usually show buttons or laces up the front.
**Mammoths were first described by German scientist Johann Friedrich Blumenback in 1799. He gave the name Elephas primigenius to elephant-like bones that had been found in Europe.
***Latin translation for Sigmund, slayer of the dragon, I pray for your strength and courage
The Aegishjalmur (Helm of Awe) is also known as Aegir's Helmet and is a symbol of protection and power in the form of a circle with eight tridents emanating from its center. Whoever looked upon the Aegishjalmur was frozen with terror and could be easily defeated. The name is usually translated as "frightening helmet". It may have been carved on helmets or weaponry.
The Helm of Awe appears in the Poetic Edda (Fafnismal section) and Prose Edda (Gylfaginning section) in the tale of the hero Sigurd's battle with the dragon Fafnir. Fafnir originally had the Helm of Awe and credits his success to it. After Sigurd slays the dragon, he takes the Helm of Awe for himself. The trident imagery is thought to relate to the Nordic rune for protection while the repetition of that image eight times in a circle associates it with Odin through his eight-legged horse Sleipnir, thus combining the concepts of protection and power.
In old Norse, Sigurd comes from the name Sigurðr, and means victory and guard. He is well known as a descendant of the Norse god Odin, which aligns with the Völsunga Saga because his family line begins with Sigi, a son of Odin.
Reference: worldhistory.org