《Re-Awakening: I Became a Pay To Win Boss Monster》 Chapter 1 1: Lucky Gacha Roll "Rael, do you know why I called you here?" A bald man in a fancy suit asked, leisurely holding a pistol in his right hand. Fucking prick wants his tribute money early again, doesn''t he? Rael grumbled before putting on a soft smile. "Why? Do you want me to polish your gun or something? You know I don''t swing that way." Rael''s response made the bald man furrow his nonexistent brows and aim the gun at him. "You think this is funny?" he said in a cold tone before continuing, "Sketa Online was our main source of income¡ªour items, everything... And what did you do? You went ahead and fucking gambled it all!" "Can you blame me? Did you see the item that can drop?" Rael replied, amusement flickering in his eyes, as the man scooted closer, his anger practically oozing into the air. Alright... Maybe I should stop. He seems pretty cranky today. "Carl... Listen, that shit was too good to pass up," Rael stated, pulling out his phone. "Just fucking look at this! 10 billion Trell to the person who can get the item first? Of course I took that gamble!" Carl looked at him as though he was some sort of idiot before patiently saying, "Did you win?" "Well... No, but I¡ª" "Then shut the fuck up!" Carl slammed the gun''s handle into Rael''s forehead, sending blood trickling down. Has he lost it? Rael put a hand to his forehead, wiping away the blood before it could drip into his eyes. "I don''t have insurance, you fuck!" Carl froze. "Are you serious?" "Well, yeah? 80 Trell wasn''t something I wanted to spend haphazardly every month," Rael answered with a tilt of his head. "You spent 50 million Trell on gambling..." Carl sighed and pressed the gun against Rael''s temple. "24 hours," he said before emphasizing, "I am giving you 24 hours to make that money back, whatever it takes. If you fail to do so, well..." Suddenly, Carl brought his finger onto the trigger, causing Rael to flinch. "I will kill you and harvest your organs to make up for the loss, even if just a little bit. Do not test me," Carl finished, smacking Rael in the head with the gun again¡ªthis time, lighter. Fuck... How am I supposed to get 50 million Trell in 24 hours!? Rael thought as panic finally began to set in. However, before he could ask for a lighter punishment, the car''s door swung open, and a man in an equally fancy black suit picked Rael up and slammed him onto the ground. Groaning in pain, Rael turned toward the car, meeting Carl''s cold gaze. "24 hours." With those words, the bodyguard that had slammed him onto the ground a moment ago got into the car and immediately drove off. Rael collapsed onto the cold, hard ground, looking at the night sky above. "I am fucked..." How am I supposed to make that much money so fast... he pondered, seemingly losing all hope. Just then, he remembered something. He spent a total of 50 million Trell to get 10 pulls. However, he only used 9 of them, saving the last one for when he was drunk to lessen his depression. Now was as good a time as any to open it¡ªwhat did he have to lose anyway? He could always get one of the other expensive items. Standing back up, Rael immediately sprinted toward his apartment, which just so happened to be a few blocks away. It took him only a few minutes before he dashed up the stairs to the 5th floor and entered his apartment. Looking around, he spotted an energy drink and immediately downed it before walking up to the blue VR pod and lying down inside it. Closing it after himself, he was greeted with the familiar sensation of his body relaxing before, finally, he grew sleepy. Yet in the next moment, Rael opened his eyes, finding himself in the luxurious 10,000 Trell-a-night room, which he had to admit might have been a bit overboard. Nonetheless, he opened his status screen. ?¡ª¡ª¡ª? [Status] Nickname: Quarterpounder69 - Race: Human - Class: Earth Evoker (Uncommon) - Level: 209 - Experience: 27,800 / 302,148 ?¡ªBalance: 29 Trell¡ª? ?¡ªInventory¡ª? Storage Space¡ª[17/50] ?¡ªTitles¡ª? The Unyielding (Common): Grants +10% Health Regen when HP < 20% ?¡ªPerks¡ª? Inspect [Special] ?¡ªStats¡ª? Health Points (HP): [16,000 / 16,000] Mana Points (MP): [101,000 / 101,000] Strength: 200 Agility: 200 Constitution: 400 Intelligence: 2,525 Wisdom: 1,500 Charisma: 400 ?¡ªAdvanced Stats¡ª? Attack Power (AP): 450 (+50) Movement Speed Increase: 100% (+80%) Critical Hit Damage Increase: 175% (+100%) ?¡ªSkills¡ª? Earth Manipulation: [Level 49 | 3,450/34,300] {Common} Stone Wall: [Level 16 | 1,232/6,400] {Common} Quake Strike: [Level 88 | 11,696/82,551] {Common} Quagmire: [Level 100 | MAX] {Common -> Ready to Evolve} ?¡ªEquipment¡ª? Weapon: [Larique''s Earth Staff (Rare)] Head¡ª[Magic Lancer Latisha''s Helmet (Uncommon)] Chest¡ª[Earthborn Royal Robe (Rare)] Legs¡ª[Elder Jester''s Pantaloons (Uncommon)] Boots¡ª[The Only Radical Boots In The Game (Common)] Gloves¡ª[Thief''s Gloves (Common)] ?¡ªAccessories¡ª? Cloak¡ª[Red Fairy Cloak (Common)] Neck¡ª[Night Owl Necklace (Common)] Ring¡ª[Flaunder''s Ring of Traps (Uncommon)] Ring¡ª[Magic Amplifying Ring (Rare)] Belt¡ª[Empty] ?¡ªQuests¡ª? Active Quests¡ª17 Tracking Quest¡ª[Troll Vengeance (Level 100) | Progress¡ª60/250] Total Quests Completed¡ª[456] ?¡ª¡ª¡ª? He zoned in on the inventory and, after just a few moments, pulled out a purple orb the size of a soccer ball before taking a deep breath and preparing to open it. However, Rael stopped himself, putting the orb down on the table. I need luck... fuck. He let out a sigh and headed over to the telephone, ringing up the reception. A seductive voice rang out. "Send a girl to room 433. I need one with massive jugs. Put it on my tab," Rael explained with a straight face. The receptionist trailed off. "Great, thank¡ªoh, she hung up." Rael chuckled and sat back down. After just a few minutes, his doorbell rang, and following that, a hot and busty woman walked in, sporting no clothes. "Hello, customer. How may I be of service today?" Lisa spoke with a soft smile. "Sit down. You''re going to be my lucky charm today," Rael said, pointing to the bed. Lisa seductively strided over to the bed, lying down and putting herself on full display But that was not his main interest currently, as, after all, if he fucked this up, he''d be gutted in the real world. Picking up the orb and sitting down on the bed, he gestured for Lisa to come closer. She began taking off his pants; however, Rael stopped her. "None of that today. Sit down on my lap." "Okay?" Lisa stopped, confused. Soon, she sat on his lap. As she did, Rael grabbed hold of her massive tit, holding onto it as if his life depended on it¡ªwhich it did. "Aah..." She let out a soft moan, which he ignored. Fucking give me that item. Rael prayed and took a deep breath before clicking the lone button on the purple orb. Soon, a system interface appeared before him, rolling through the hundreds of items inside the orb. But there was one in particular he was looking for. Eye of the Beast. It was an item that really did not have much information circulating around. The only thing the community knew was that it was an extremely rare, one-of-a-kind item, which the developers of Sketa Online called revolutionary. Yet, in the eyes of most¡ªespecially Rael¡ªit was just an opportunity to make money. He truly could not give a shit if it was rare or even unattainable¡ªas long as it could pay off his debts, it was worth it. Rael saw the icons of different kinds of items flashing, their colors varied. However, there was one color in particular that flashed more than he initially expected. Black. The highest Rael had ever seen was Mythic, and it was pink in color. Whatever that black rarity was had never been seen in any of the Sketa Online community forum posts. But... Fuck yeah. Black... Black... Come on! Rael exclaimed with a grin, clenching his hand and grasping Lisa''s massive tit with even more strength. However, this gacha roll was taking longer than usual, most lasted about ten seconds. He sent another prayer dedicated to Lisa''s tits, and soon, the gacha interface began slowing down. At the same time, black appeared a couple of times until, eventually, the gacha roll stopped square on the black rarity item, leaving him shocked. ...What? Rael was speechless as the miniature congratulatory firework show began, followed by a loud voice coming from the sky. This was followed by a message only he could see. A notification appeared, followed by another one. Reality what now? Rael stared, puzzled. But he felt a strange sensation in his chest as though his heart was being compressed. The same went for the rest of his body, and soon, he toppled over onto the bed, his consciousness waning. Am I dying? Why does it feel so... realistic... Rael trailed off. Soon, the final system message fell. How am I still conscious? Rael tried moving his arms, yet to no avail. He was there¡ªbut also not there at the same time. The only thing he was able to see was the system interface calculating possibilities, alongside the message that changed his role¡ªwhatever that was. Though, I wonder¡ª Rael''s words were interrupted by a sudden jolt in his body before another bout of notifications appeared. <...> Uh, I don''t know? 69... hmm, no, that''s stupid... Rael thought absentmindedly, still not fully grasping the situation. Pardon? I didn''t type anything in¡ª His words were interrupted when, all of a sudden, a flash of light entered his eyes¡ªsoon replaced by constant dimming¡ªuntil eventually, the only thing he could see was the massive glowing stalactite off in the distance. Get this shit out of my face, you''re blinding me! Rael exclaimed inwardly as the indecisive system kept flashing before his eyes. However, it soon stopped, and the only things present were something like a skill¡ªbut not quite like them. Perks. -Premium Leveling [Special-Unique] ¡ªThe user is able to use currency to level up or raise their stats. -Premium Evolution [Special-Unique] ¡ªThe user can evolve infinitely by spending currency. -Premium Shop [Special-Unique] ¡ªThe user can spend currency to acquire any item or skill. Chapter 2 2: I Became a Pay to Win Boss Monster? "...What?" Rael stared at the system messages with shock. He was not even sure if he was in the game anymore¡ªit all felt so vivid. The wind hitting his skin, the need to eat something. Especially the need to eat something. Fuck, I''m hungry... Rael thought, and as he did, a system interface popped up in front of him. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Nourishment/Food ?¡ªBalance: 0 Trell¡ª? ? Suspicious Stew (Common): 1 Trell ? Stale Bread (Common): 5 Trell ? Not So Stale Bread (Common): 10 Trell ? Lamb Porkchop With a Side of Honey and French Fries (Common): 100 Trell That seems pretty cheap, I''ll just¡ª Fuck. Rael wanted to slam his head against the ground. He had completely overlooked the top of the interface. But upon seeing the very bottom of the interface, his hopes were restored. Yep. He pressed the "Yes" button, when all of a sudden, a neat bento box appeared before him, plopping down onto the cold, hard ground. It emitted a faint light, and only then was he able to see his hands. They were more slender than he remembered, and to top it all off, he felt much weaker as well. Is this not a dream? Am I really inside some sort of cave? Rael thought, with a frown. He had read one too many books to know that the theory of reincarnation was bullshit, yet it still existed in fiction. However, there was a high chance he had found himself in the exact same bullshit situation, or perhaps the thugs sold his organs and threw him in the cave to die. But that made even less sense, as he was seeing the system screen, just like in Sketa Online. Is this Sketa Online? No way, right? he pondered with a chuckle before opening the bento box. What greeted his sight was a few rolls of sushi, chicken, rice, and seaweed. He was not a big fan of seaweed and was about to throw it aside, but Rael halted. Wasting food when I''m broke? Am I stupid? Without further ado, he immediately gobbled everything up. Yet, as he finished eating, his delusions finally faded. I''m not on Earth, and I''m not in a game. Rael pondered and glanced into thin air before saying, "Status." Immediately, his eyes widened at the sight. [Status] - Name: Unnamed - Age: 18 - Race: Human [+] Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. - Boss Monster Variation: The Pay to Win Boss [Unranked] - Level: [1] -Experience: [0/100] [+] ?¡ªBalance: 0 Trell¡ª? ?¡ªTitles¡ª? Heavenly Attraction (Divine): 500% increased affinity with NPCs. ?¡ªPerks¡ª? - Premium Leveling [Special-Unique] The user is able to use currency to level up or raise his stats. - Premium Evolution [Special-Unique] The user can evolve infinitely by spending currency. - Premium Shop [Special-Unique] The user can spend currency to acquire any item or skill. ?¡ªInventory¡ª? Storage Space¡ª[0/50] ?¡ªStats¡ª? Health Points (HP): [20/20] Mana Points (MP): [100/100] Strength: 1 Agility: 1 Constitution: 2 Intelligence: 10 Wisdom: 5 Charisma: 100 ?¡ªAdvanced Stats¡ª? Attack Power (AP): [2] Movement Speed Increase: [0.5%] Critical Hit Damage Increase: [0.25%] ?¡ªSkills¡ª? Empty ?¡ªEquipment¡ª? Empty ?¡ªAccessories¡ª? Empty ?¡ªQuests¡ª? Empty ?¡ª###¡ª? Time until V1.0 Release: 150 Days ?¡ª¡ª¡ª? Hmm... My character was completely reset, and now I''ve become a boss monster whose stats are even worse than a normal level 1''s... Rael lay down in disbelief. These last few hours were too hectic. But there was one thing that had caught his attention the most, and that was the message at the very bottom. Rael could recall Sketa Online''s V1.0 update releasing on New Year''s Eve, and if that really was the case, then that meant he was back in the past. In fact, nearly 10 years back. Sketa Online was a hit right off the bat, with hundreds of millions of players playing daily, and he was obviously one of them. What now, though? The only thing I can see is a massive stalactite and... a rat. Rael was immediately alerted and stood up to his feet. His stats were measly, and he was a mage back in Sketa Online. However, a rat like that was just a weak level 1 monster. Therefore, under the dim light of the stalactite in the distance, Rael approached, holding his breath and minimizing the sound of his footsteps. The rat was unaware, and since there was only a single one, Rael decided to go all out with the first attack. Taking a deep breath, he wound up a kick and sent it right at the unsuspecting rat. -10! Critical Hit! A blue damage number appeared right above the rat, and right after¡ª "Screeee!" It let out a pained screech, flying off and colliding with a wall. -2! "Piece of shit rat, come here!" Rael taunted with a grin as the staggered rat got back up on its feet before dashing at him. Twisting his body, he was about to dodge, but due to his low agility, Rael was bitten. [HP -4! 16/20] Shit... Yep, this is not a game. It did not take him long to confirm his suspicions, as the pain was most definitely real. Nonetheless, the rat was now holding onto his leg, digging its teeth in further. [HP -1! 15/20] But despite his HP decreasing, Rael kept up the same strategy¡ªjust this time, he hit the rat with his fists. -1! -2! It finally clung off his leg, and as it did, Rael turned on his heel before sending out a straight kick right at the rat''s head. -4! Why does it have so much HP? he grumbled, yet the rat was visibly hurt. Picking up a rock off the ground, Rael threw it straight at the rat, and it collided with the side of its body. -1! <+10 Trell Acquired> 10 Trell for all that hard work... Rael thought and felt a sharp sting in his leg. [HP -1! 14/20] You have got to be shitting me. A headache was forming, and there were no antidotes or anything of the sort in sight. Meaning, there was only one option left to not die. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Utility/Healing ?¡ªBalance: 10 Trell¡ª? ? Band-Aid (Common): 2 Trell ? Empty Syringe (Common): 5 Trell ? Low-Level Poison Antidote (Common): 10 Trell ? Low-Level Healing Potion (Common): 100 Trell How convenient. Rael pressed on the third option, and soon, a tiny vial¡ªgreen contents swirling inside¡ªappeared in his hands. Without even waiting for a moment, he drank it, and immediately, the system messages appeared again. <+1 Constitution> Huh? I can get stats passively? I thought I could only get them after leveling up... He straightened his back, a serious expression appearing on his face. This changes a lot... Rael rubbed his temples in frustration. He had barely slept the night before, and now he had to deal with this amount of new information. I should probably just take a nap... He glanced around, trying to find somewhere safe. But instead, he was met with a rat charging straight toward him. "Scree!" Letting out a sigh, he got into his makeshift combat stance. Not like I wanted to nap anyway... Chapter 3 3: Leveling up A few hours had passed, and during that time, Rael killed quite a few rats roaming around. This time, he did not get hit once. <+50 Trell Acquired> <+1 Constitution> <+3 Agility> <+2 Strength> Now, he only needed to kill one more, and he could finally level up. However, he had a thought. I can use money to increase my experience... So how much would that cost? Clicking the [+] button right next to his experience, a new window suddenly popped up. <10 Experience needed to level up!> A 1:2 ratio... Not too bad, Rael thought with a nod before pressing "No." He was better off killing rats for now and saving the money for more important things. But his curiosity wasn''t satisfied yet, so he pressed the [+] button beside his race. Just like with experience, it had a cost, and it was much more expensive. However, there were extra options that he found interesting. Hmm... How about a dragon? he thought. ...How about something along the lines of an elf? Rael nodded in satisfaction¡ªthere were reasonable prices too, apparently. Nonetheless, he put that aside for now¡ªhe''d simply reach level 2 before thinking about what race to pick. However, he did need something. Therefore, he opened up the premium shop and looked for an item that could help him fight. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Combat/Weapons ?¡ªBalance: 50 Trell¡ª? ? Tactical Military Knife (Common): 25 Trell ? Machete (Common): 100 Trell ? Copper Saber (Common): 275 Trell ? Steel Katana (Common): 750 Trell As much as he''d regret spending money, he pressed the first option, buying a tactical military knife. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In an instant, it appeared in his hands. It was small, like one would expect, but it was incredibly sharp despite the cheap price, and the stats were even better. ¡ªTactical Military Knife (Common) Durability: 250/250 Damage: 15-21 +25 Attack Power (AP) +2 Agility +1 Strength Killing rats will be so much easier now... Rael trailed off with a grin, glancing to the side. Coincidentally, there was one not too far ahead. Rael approached with confident steps, and soon enough, it took notice of him. It swiftly dashed at him. However, due to his increased stats, it was easy to sidestep its attack. Before it could even stop its momentum, Rael brought the knife down onto its neck, cleaving it clean off. -52! Critical Hit! <+10 Trell Acquired> <+100 Trell Bonus> Hm? Where are my stats? Rael furrowed his brows. After each level-up, players would get some stats they could put wherever they liked. However, instead of that, what he got was money. Nonetheless, he decided to open up his status to double-check. [Status] - Name: Unnamed - Age: 18 - Race: Human [+] - Boss Monster Variation: The Pay-to-Win Boss [Unranked] - Level: [2] - Experience: [5/283] [+] ?¡ªBalance: 135 Trell¡ª? ?¡ªTitles¡ª? - Heavenly Attraction¡ª500% increased affinity with NPCs. ?¡ªPerks¡ª? - Premium Leveling [Special-Unique] The user is able to use currency to level up, or raise his stats. - Premium Evolution [Special-Unique] The user can evolve infinitely by spending currency. - Premium Shop [Special-Unique] The user can spend currency to acquire any item or skill. ?¡ªInventory¡ª? Storage Space¡ª[0/50] ?¡ªStats¡ª? Health Points (HP): [20/20] ¡ú [40/40] Mana Points (MP): [100/100] Strength: 1 ¡ú 4 (+1) Agility: 1 ¡ú 6 (+2) Constitution: 2 ¡ú 4 Intelligence: 10 Wisdom: 5 Charisma: 100 ?¡ªAdvanced Stats¡ª? Attack Power (AP): [2] ¡ú [33] (+25) Movement Speed Increase: [0.5%] ¡ú [3%] Critical Hit Damage Increase: [0.25%] ?¡ªSkills¡ª? Empty ?¡ªEquipment¡ª? Weapon: [Tactical Military Knife (Common)] ?¡ªAccessories¡ª? Empty ?¡ªQuests¡ª? Empty ?¡ª###¡ª? Time until V1.0 Release: 150 Days ?¡ª¡ª¡ª? I guess I won''t be getting stats per level... Though, my stats should be much easier to increase now. A smile appeared on his face before he decided to move a bit deeper into this cave, which, after several hours, he deduced was some sort of dungeon. Nonetheless, he had to clear it first. Soon, he encountered another rat, which he quickly dispatched with a slice through its spine. -49! Critical Hit! <+10 Trell Acquired> Rael let out a sigh. This was way too easy. However, the moment those thoughts fell, he suddenly felt a searing pain in his thigh. [HP -9! 31/40] [HP -3! 28/40] Looking down with a frown, he noticed an arrowhead sticking out, which he quickly broke off and pulled out. Not even a moment later, another arrow flew toward him, which he just barely evaded. Yet once his eyes landed on the one behind this, he saw an ugly green dwarf¡ªa goblin holding a bow with an arrow already nocked. Rael did not waste any time. Bearing through the pain, he positioned himself lower, making it more difficult for the goblin to hit him. Despite the limp, he was able to get close to the goblin. However, as he did, the goblin suddenly shot an arrow at him point-blank, hitting his shoulder. [HP -7! 21/40] Gritting his teeth through the pain, he pulled his arm back and hurled the military knife at the goblin, hitting it square in the face and piercing through its brain. -55! Critical Hit! He didn''t back down and approached, bearing through the pain as the system messages kept flashing in front of his eyes. [HP -6! 15/40] How is it still not dead?! Rael''s eyes widened as the goblin staggered back and shot another arrow his way. However, in the heat of the moment, he caught it, turned it over, and tossed it back toward the goblin. Since his military knife was still embedded in the goblin''s head, it couldn''t react to the incoming projectile, and soon... -37! Critical Hit! <+49 Trell Acquired> <+1 Constitution> <+1 Strength> Chapter 4 4: Buying Stats Rael did not waste much time and opened up the shop. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Utility/Healing ?¡ªBalance: 194 Trell¡ª? ? Band-Aid (Common): 2 Trell ? Dirty Bandage (Common): 15 Trell ? Normal Bandage (Common): 50 Trell ? Stolen Panties of a Great Sage (Uncommon): 696 Trell ...Scammers. Rael grumbled before purchasing the [Normal Bandage.] It appeared in his hands like the military knife, and he immediately applied it. The second arrow was a pain in the ass to remove since it did not go through his body, but he figured it out. [HP -1! 14/40] Barely. <+2 Constitution> Finally. Rael plopped onto the ground, tired. He had only been in this strange dungeon for a few hours, but he''d already nearly died. Therefore, it was about time he made some investments. Rael opened his status window and focused on his stats when, all of a sudden, another interface appeared. Strength: 10 Trell Agility: 10 Trell Constitution: 10 Trell Intelligence: 10 Trell Wisdom: 10 Trell Charisma: 10 Trell ?¡ªBalance: 144 Trell¡ª? Hmm... A bandage is 50 Trell, and detox is 10. Spending 100 Trell seems reasonable enough. Rael thought, nodding to himself before quickly distributing his stats. ?¡ªStats¡ª? Health Points (HP): [21/40] -> [81/100] Mana Points (MP): [100/100] Strength: 4 (+1) ¡ú 5 (+1) ¡ú 8 (+1) Agility: 6 (+2) ¡ú 10 (+2) Constitution: 4 ¡ú 7 ¡ú 10 Intelligence: 10 Wisdom: 5 Charisma: 100 ?¡ªAdvanced Stats¡ª? Attack Power (AP): [35] -> [41] (+25) Movement Speed Increase: [3%] -> [5%] Critical Hit Damage Increase: [0.25%] ?¡ª¡ª? Constitution increased his HP, Agility increased his natural reflexes and dexterity, and of course, Movement Speed. Lastly, Strength increased his general strength and, of course, Attack Power, which added a flat damage bonus to all his melee and ranged attacks. Magic was excluded, simply because of how overpowered it can get, so the developers balanced it out. Nonetheless, these were the most important stats at the moment. As for Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma, he would focus on them once he improved a bit more. Either way, currently... ?¡ªBalance: 44 Trell¡ª? He was broke. Again. Nonetheless, he wanted to check something out, so he opened the store again. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Skills/Inspection ?¡ªBalance: 44 Trell¡ª? ? Inspect Monster Level (Common): 200 Trell ? Inspect Secret Item Properties (Common): 350 Trell ? Inspect Runes (Uncommon): 1500 Trell ? Inspect Buildings (Uncommon): 2150 Trell Others are shit for now, but the first one is affordable... I''ll buy it next time. Rael thought, noting it down in his mind as he stood up. After putting some money into Constitution and raising his HP, he felt a lot better, even with the 19 missing HP. Now that his stats were much higher, he would go around hunting the monsters, which, for some reason, were all gathered under the dim light of the stalactite not too far away from him. It seemed like some kind of hotspot, but he did not feel too confident taking all of them on just yet. But as he was preoccupied with the other monsters, he spotted that the goblin archer''s body had not disappeared, and neither had its weapon. The usual case in Sketa Online was that after a monster was killed, it despawned alongside its loot. Though... Rael walked over and picked up the bow from the ground. ¡ªShabby Wooden Shortbow (Common) Durability: 28/150 Damage: 2-14 [Degraded] +35 Attack Power (AP) +5 Agility Rael shook his head and pressed "No" before putting the bow inside his inventory. Its stats weren''t bad, and if he repaired it, he could sell it for way more than 15 Trell. As for using it? He was shit with the bow, so he wouldn''t even try. Nonetheless, Rael walked over to a rat and threw his military knife at it. -58! Critical Hit! <+10 Trell Acquired> What Rael found out was that he was very good at throwing things, so he''d likely purchase a throwing skill later. But for now, it was time to solo farm some monsters. *** A whole day went by, with him killing the rats one by one, until eventually, there was not a single one left. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. By the looks of things, the monsters he killed didn''t respawn, which meant that after clearing out the entire dungeon, he could claim it for himself. Nonetheless, his progress was pretty solid for a single day''s work. <+530 Trell Acquired> <+200 Trell Bonus> <+7 Constitution> <+12 Agility> <+8 Strength> But before he could open his status screen and check out the changes, he felt a soft breeze steadily approach. Rael instinctively moved his head to the side as an arrow shot past, striking the dungeon''s wall. He glanced at the perpetrator and spotted a goblin archer, preparing yet another arrow. Yet this put a massive smile on his face. "Round two, motherfucker." Another arrow flew toward him; however, he merely slashed the military knife downward, slicing the arrow into two. At the same time, Rael began sprinting toward the goblin archer and stabbed the military knife into its neck. -72! Critical Hit! Even then, it wasn''t dead, as it suddenly lashed its head at him, trying to bite his neck off. But before it could do that, Rael twisted the military knife, took it out, and cleaved straight through the goblin archer''s jaw. -75! Critical Hit! Not even a moment later, it fell to the ground, lifeless, and with that, came the system messages. <+49 Trell Acquired> That was much easier than last time. Rael scoffed before picking up the bow and tossing it into his inventory. Yet as he did so, he spotted something that put a smile on his face. ?¡ªBalance: 833 Trell¡ª? It''s time to do some spending. Chapter 5 5: Overpowered Cheap Skills The first thing on the agenda was obviously the most important skill. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Skills/Inspection ?¡ªBalance: 833 Trell¡ª? ? Inspect Monster Level (Common): 200 Trell This was the first skill he purchased, and it soon appeared inside his status screen. Next up was a skill that would come in handy during battle. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Skills/Melee ?¡ªBalance: 633 Trell¡ª? ? Basic Weapon Mastery (Common): 500 Trell It was expensive, however, it was one of the best skills one could get this early on. Therefore, Rael bought it without hesitation. Without wasting much time, he glanced at their descriptions. Inspect Monster Level: [Level 1 | 0/100] (Common) View the level of any monster within 10 levels of the user. Basic Weapon Mastery: [Level 1 | 0/100] (Common) Increases attack accuracy by 10% and damage by 15% for all weapons. Oh? I could do that? A wide smirk appeared on his face as he made his way through the dungeon. Despite spending a whole day killing, Rael obviously had made himself a makeshift base camp. And it did not take long to arrive, as there was a makeshift bed made out of rat skin in a small, dark crevice. While he could admit it was damn disgusting, the comfort far outweighed the disgust. But his days seemed like they would be quite plain. He''d wake up, fight monsters, get money, and sleep. This cycle would repeat until, eventually, he''d get tired of it. However, Rael put those thoughts aside since even if he whined about it, nothing would change. He had to get stronger to finally escape this shitty dungeon either way. But before he went on another excursion, he''d first check his newfound stats. [Status] Name: Unnamed Age: 18 Race: Human [+] Boss Monster Variation: The Pay-to-Win Boss [Unranked] Level: [2] ¡ú [4] Experience: [5/283] ¡ú [185/800] [+] ?¡ªBalance: 133 Trell¡ª? ?¡ªInventory¡ª? Storage Space¡ª[2/50] ?¡ªTitles¡ª? - Heavenly Attraction¡ª500% Increased affinity with NPCs. ?¡ªPerks¡ª? - Premium Leveling [Special-Unique] The user is able to use currency to level up or raise his stats. - Premium Evolution [Special-Unique] The user can evolve infinitely by spending currency. - Premium Shop [Special-Unique] The user can spend currency to acquire any item or skill. ?¡ªStats¡ª? Health Points (HP): [100/100] -> [170/170] Mana Points (MP): [100/100] Strength: 8 (+1) ¡ú 16 (+1) Agility: 10 (+2) ¡ú 22 (+2) Constitution: 10 ¡ú 17 Intelligence: 10 Wisdom: 5 Charisma: 100 Attack Power (AP): [41] -> [57] (+25) Movement Speed Increase: [5%] -> [11%] Critical Hit Damage Increase: [0.25%] ?¡ªSkills¡ª? Inspect Monster Level: [Level 1 | 0/100] (Common) Basic Weapon Mastery: [Level 1 | 0/100] (Common) ?¡ªEquipment¡ª? Weapon: [Tactical Military Knife (Common)] ?¡ªAccessories¡ª? Empty ?¡ªQuests¡ª? Empty ?¡ª###¡ª? Time until V1.0 Release: 149 Days ?¡ª¡ª¡ª? Good, everything went up. Rael nodded to himself with satisfaction before swiftly making a fire and cooking up a rat. It was pretty delicious if he ignored the disgusting texture, of course. But there was a flaw in his thinking, as he had killed every single rat in the dungeon, and now no new rats would respawn. In turn, if he did not clear this dungeon within 2¨C3 days, all the food reserves would decompose, and unless he bought from the Premium Shop, he''d die of starvation. As for water... ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Nourishment/Drink ?¡ªBalance: 133 Trell¡ª? ? Bottle of Water (Common): 1 Trell It was very cheap. Nonetheless, after Rael was finished, he made his way back to the Stalactite, and upon spotting a monster, he used his inspection skill. Goblin Archer [Level 4] [69/100 HP] Wait, its HP is pretty low. Rael pondered, approaching slightly closer. Yet he couldn''t get too close, as the very next moment, the Goblin Archer spotted him, shooting an arrow straight toward his head. He swiftly evaded the arrow and dashed at the Goblin Archer. However, just as he thought it would be an easy kill, another goblin approached him rapidly. Goblin Warrior [Level 5] [122/150 HP] Shit. Rael''s eyes widened as the goblin warrior''s shabby steel sword narrowly missed him. Despite that... [HP -29! 151/170] [HP -3! 148/170] He was hit with an arrow in the abdomen, and by the damage alone, Rael could tell this bow was definitely not damaged, meaning its base damage was high. I''m just glad monsters can''t use the Attack Power stat, or else I''d be dead earlier. Rael thought, maneuvering around in a way that would bring him closer to the archer. In the midst of the Goblin Warrior''s shabby attacks, Rael got a hit in, slashing its forearm. -72! I''m just glad the stat works on me... though I need to raise my Critical Damage Increase stat. The damage barely differs from normal hits. Nonetheless, the attack was able to stagger the Goblin Warrior long enough for Rael to approach the archer. It shot an arrow at him, which he split in half before he walked up to it and slashed its neck. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. -78! Critical Hit! <+49 Trell Acquired> Putting the kill notification aside, he focused on the Goblin Warrior, who, after the Goblin Archer''s death, had grown a bit ferocious. But due to that ferocity, it was much easier to predict, as all he had to keep doing was dodge. [HP -3! 145/170] However, he couldn''t dodge forever since the bleeding ailment was still active. Getting a good hit in seemed a bit difficult; therefore, Rael tried out his usual approach. He backed away, making distance between himself and the Goblin Warrior. As he did, and the Goblin Warrior began approaching him, Rael simply chucked the military knife right between its eyes. -81! Critical Hit! <+64 Trell Acquired> Rael smirked at the results. [Basic Weapon Mastery] really is overpowered. Chapter 6 6: Gearing up for the Boss Fight After bandaging himself up, Rael was ready to go for more. Two kills¡ªand two very big chunks of experience. Yet, sadly, he didn''t get any bonus stats like the last couple of times. He assumed it had something to do with him gaining a tolerance, or perhaps he had already acquired as many stats as possible for his level. Either way, he was both strong and fast enough to deal with any of the monsters present in this dungeon. All but the boss monster, which, if his guess was right, should be a mix between a rat lord and a goblin king. Both of those monsters were weak, mere level 10s; however, their status differed. Each monster¡ªespecially named boss monsters or elite monsters¡ªhad ranks. Since Rael was a boss monster as well, he should have a rank, yet the sole reason he didn''t was simply because he hadn''t been named yet, whatever that meant. Nonetheless, he was [Unranked], and the lowest rank for a boss monster was [Rare], which meant that if he fought them now, he''d be killed in an instant. Fuck though, how am I supposed to get strong enough to kill it? It''s probably hiding inside that massive hole behind the stalactite. Even if the bosses combined into one entity, both of them would be massive, which, in turn, made them much easier to hit. And that was exactly the kind of weakness Rael would take advantage of. Therefore, after healing to full health, he decided it was about time he finished up with this dungeon. Two entire days of fighting, and only now had he realized that the food problem would likely be no issue. After all, the amount of money he got from killing goblins was beginning to add up splendidly. <+1176 Trell Acquired> <+2112 Trell Acquired> <+400 Trell Bonus> <+5 Constitution> <+3 Strength> <+6 Agility> Yet, the most important part of this entire haul was the fact that, with the last of his kills, he had finally managed to clear every single goblin in the dungeon. Rael looked around the entire place just to make sure, and that was indeed the case. While he was at it, he searched for an exit, but there was nothing. My guess is, the exit is in the same room the boss monster is hiding. Rael pondered before glancing at his military knife. ¡ªTactical Military Knife (Common) Durability: 1/250 Damage: 1-2 [Degraded] +20 Attack Power (AP) +2 Agility +1 Strength The stat bonus was still there, but with such shabby durability and damage, it was more worth it to sell it off. 5 Trell... He let out a sigh before pressing "Yes," and with that, Rael decided to buy something nice for himself. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Combat/Swords ?¡ªBalance: 5176 Trell¡ª? ? Sharpened Steel Sword (Common): 1000 Trell ? Fiery Katana (Uncommon): 2800 Trell ? Dashing Blade (Uncommon): 4550 Trell ? Blade of the Forgotten Swordsman Replica (Uncommon): 5000 Trell Rael pondered for a moment. Each choice looked great; however, the last one in particular seemed interesting. Instead of wishing to buy it, he merely thought of inspecting it, and soon, its stats appeared before his eyes. ¡ªSword of the Forgotten Swordsman Replica (Uncommon) Durability: 1000/1000 Damage: 95-142 +125 Attack Power (AP) +15 Strength +15 Agility +25 Constitution +25 Wisdom +1% Critical Hit Damage Increase "What the fuck?" Rael''s eyes widened. It was a genuine Uncommon item, and only now had he noticed that none of these items had equipment or stat restrictions, meaning as long as he had the money, he could equip and use them. I won''t buy it since it''s so expensive. Plus, the others might be just as good... Rael thought, clicking on another sword. ¡ªDashing Blade (Uncommon) Durability: 500/500 Damage: 45-76 +50 Attack Power (AP) +6 Strength +6 Agility +5 Constitution Seeing those stats, he couldn''t help but feel disappointed. They were less than half, and the price was practically the same. As much as it hurt his wallet, Rael knew what he had to do. The amount of stats the other sword gave triumphed over anything else he could buy, unless he invested everything he had into his stats. Nonetheless, after a few minutes of hesitation, his shaking finger hovered over the most expensive sword he could afford¡ªthen, with a click, it appeared in his hands. "Fuuuuuck! These fucking scammers!" Rael expressed, gripping the sword tighter. "But hey... at least I have you now... my new expensive..." He trailed off before letting out a deep sigh. I''m going crazy... Rael thought before checking out all the changes to his status. [Status] Name: Unnamed Age: 18 Race: Human [+] Boss Monster Variation: The Pay-to-Win Boss [Unranked] Level: [4] ¡ú [8] Experience: 185/800 [+] ¡ú 422/2,263 [+] ?¡ªBalance: 176 Trell¡ª? ?¡ªInventory¡ª? Storage Space¡ª[50/50] ?¡ªTitles¡ª? Heavenly Attraction¡ª500% Increased affinity with NPCs. ?¡ªPerks¡ª? - Premium Leveling [Special-Unique] sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The user is able to use currency to level up or raise his stats. - Premium Evolution [Special-Unique] The user can evolve infinitely by spending currency. - Premium Shop [Special-Unique] The user can spend currency to acquire any item or skill. ?¡ªStats¡ª? Health Points (HP): [170/170] ¡ú [470/470] Mana Points (MP): [100/100] Strength: 16 (+1) ¡ú 33 (+15) Agility: 22 (+2) ¡ú 41 (+15) Constitution: 17 ¡ú 47 (+25) Intelligence: 10 Wisdom: 5 ¡ú 30 (+25) Charisma: 100 Attack Power (AP): [57] ¡ú [191] (+125) Movement Speed Increase: [11%] ¡ú [20.5%] Critical Hit Damage Increase: [0.25%] ¡ú [2.50%] (+1%) ?¡ªSkills¡ª? Inspect Monster Level: [Level 7 | 55/1,852] (Common) - View the level of any monster within 10 ¡ú 16 levels of the user. Basic Weapon Mastery: [Level 7 | 1186/1852] (Common) - Increases attack accuracy by 10% ¡ú 16% and damage by 15% ¡ú 27% for all weapons. ?¡ªEquipment¡ª? Weapon: [Sword of the Forgotten Swordsman Replica (Uncommon)] ?¡ªAccessories¡ª? Empty ?¡ªQuests¡ª? Empty ?¡ª###¡ª? Time until V1.0 Release: 147 Days ?¡ª¡ª¡ª? After checking all his stats, Rael couldn''t help but let out a sigh of disbelief. I am overpowered. Nonetheless, he gathered himself and headed toward the massive hole behind the stalactite. Once he arrived, the sight of an ugly green rat standing on two legs, sniffing the air, greeted his sight. ¡ªMutated Goblin Rat (Rare Boss) [Level 10] [5500/5500 HP] But... why does it have so much HP!? Chapter 7 7: It Evolved? ¡ªMutated Goblin Rat (Rare Boss) [Level 10] [5500/5500 HP] It didn''t take long for the massive, ugly Goblin Rat to spot Rael, and soon, he stretched out his sword. Rael never truly practiced swordsmanship or anything of the sort. Just a couple of times messing around in the shower, that kind of deal. Nonetheless, this sword was of the longsword variant, meaning he had to hold it with two hands. It limited his mobility, but his loose fighting style would not do much in the long run. With no actual defenses, he was nothing more than a sitting duck anyway¡ªbut if he could be a strong sitting duck, all the better. "Well, you massive lump of shit, it''s time to¡ª" Rael''s taunts were interrupted when, all of a sudden, the Goblin Rat boss took out its festering eye and threw it straight at him. It wasn''t fast, so he merely evaded to the side. Yet once it hit the ground, the eye burst, covering half the room with some kind of mucus. And he didn''t need to wonder for long what it was, since... [HP -10! 460/470 (Rot)] His eyes widened at the ailment. Rot? Shit... It''s one of the most overpowered debuffs since its damage increases the longer it stays on you... Nonetheless, that only meant he had to speed up this fight, since after throwing its eye, the boss''s HP decreased by a slight amount. ¡ªMutated Goblin Rat (Rare Boss) [Level 10] [5000/5500 HP] But from the way it moved, he could tell it wasn''t too affected. Therefore, Rael burst off the ground with his sword raised in the air, attempting to attack the boss. However, before he could, it swung its tail around in an arc, hitting him squarely on the arm. [HP -122! 338/470] That took away a fourth of my HP in a single hit... Rael thought, warily backing away. As he did, he finally took notice of his arm, which was bent at a weird angle. Finally, the pain hit. "Ugh... Right, this isn''t a game, is it?" he chuckled to himself and quickly bought a potion. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Healing Utility ?¡ªBalance: 176 Trell¡ª? ? Low-Level Healing Potion (Common): 100 Trell A red potion appeared in his hands, and he swiftly downed it, not even reading the description. [HP +100! 438/470] Surprisingly, his HP was restored by a fair amount and, in turn, his arm returned to normal. Rael looked at the massive Goblin Rat, who, by now, was staring at him tauntingly, wagging its ugly tail. But he now knew how he could dwindle down its HP. Therefore, Rael put on a massive grin and soon ran forward¡ªjust this time, with more controlled steps. Like earlier, the rat tried swinging its tail at him. However, Rael merely stepped backward before perfectly timing his sword slash and neatly cutting off a chunk of its tail. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. -424! Critical Hit! Holy shit... Now that''s an improvement. "Screeee!" The Goblin Rat let out a screech and stared at him menacingly, hatred clear in its single eye. But just then, he got a genius idea. The only eye left was massive, so what if he simply poked it out? He approached closer, watching its movements for anything that could potentially insta-kill, before eventually arriving right before it. Out of instinct, the Goblin Rat attempted to swing its now-severed tail at him, but taking advantage of that, Rael kicked off the ground and stabbed it square in what he assumed to be its heart. -393! He was wrong. The only thing Rael managed to do was make it angry, as all of a sudden, it twisted its head at an irrational angle before some green blob began flowing out of its mouth. ¡ªToxic Slime [Level 1] [1/1 HP] A slime...? Rael tilted his head in confusion, but he did not need to wonder for long, as more blobs emerged from its mouth in rapid succession, not giving him any opening to attack. The troublesome part was, all of the blobs were heading into the slime from earlier, and now, it was massive. ¡ªToxic Slime (Elite) [Level 10] [1000/1000 HP] At least it''s not named... Rael let out a relieved breath. For some reason, he wasn''t able to see the Goblin Rat''s name, only the title. But that did not matter, as he decided to ignore the slime and push onto the boss. It was staggered; therefore, Rael swiftly ran up to it and swung sideways, severing both of its comically small feet in an instant. -373! -411! The Goblin Rat toppled down, scrambling around on the floor. Only now did he realize that, despite looking threatening at a glance, it was just a low-level rare boss monster. I definitely overthought it. Rael let out a chuckle. However, the next tick of damage from Rot came in. [HP -20! 418/470 (Rot)] His eyes widened at the damage, and he truly hoped that instead of the damage doubling each time, it was merely increasing by 10. But on the off chance it was, he needed to finish this fight fast. "Alright, you fat rat, you''ll make a nice rug." Rael taunted and was about to strike down. However, he felt something eerily sticky under his feet, and as he glanced down, he saw a green substance enveloping him up to his knees. [HP -50! 368/470 (Poison)] A level 2 poison? From this thing? How in the¡ª Rael''s thoughts were interrupted when, all of a sudden, he got yanked backward, colliding with the nearby wall. [HP -21! 347/470] With a groan, he got back up and glanced at the sight ahead. The Toxic Slime slowly began covering the fallen Goblin Rat''s body until, eventually, it had enveloped the boss whole. And in the very next moment, Rael watched in shock as the boss monster stood up, green goo replacing its legs. ¡ªEvolved Goblin Rat (Rare Boss) [Level 15] [7500/7500 HP] You''ve got to be shitting me... Chapter 8 8: Killing The Boss [HP 347/470] Now... How am I supposed to compare with this? ¡ªEvolved Goblin Rat (Rare Boss) [Level 15] [7500/7500 HP] Rael felt pretty hopeless, and running was not an option either. Glancing to the side, he noticed the entrance he had come through was sealed by green, slimy goo¡ªmeaning his only option was to either slow it down or become fast enough to dodge. And for that, he decided to use his emergency fund. ...Yes. Rael swiftly agreed, and in the next moment, everything from his inventory was sold. However, he didn''t dwell on it for too long, as he could tell the boss monster would soon attack. Therefore, he opened up the Premium Shop and searched for a particular skill. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Skills/Movement Speed Increase ?¡ªBalance: 2,575 Trell¡ª? ? Phantom Step (Common): 1,000 Trell ? Blinkstrike (Uncommon): 2,500 Trell ? Shadow Flicker (Uncommon): 2,950 Trell ? Storm Step (Uncommon): 5,000 Trell Not really giving me many options here... Rael grumbled and checked the options of the skills he could afford. However, both of them were nothing but disappointments, which forced him turn to his last resort. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Equipment/Boots/Movement Speed Increase ?¡ªBalance: 2,575 Trell¡ª? ? Roger''s Pink Slips (Common): 500 Trell ? Great Shadow Beast''s Feet (Uncommon): 1,500 Trell ? Enchanted Banana Peels (Uncommon): 2,000 Trell ? Boots of a Linguistic Connoisseur (Uncommon): 5,000 Trell His stomach churned at the prices, but he clicked through the ones he could afford. Just as Rael finished, he froze. ¡ªEnchanted Banana Peels (Uncommon) Durability: 999/999 Special Option: Damage Reduction 1% +30 Agility +25 Constitution +15% Movement Speed Increase Out of everything... Why are these the best boots? No... Can I even call them boo¡ª Rael''s thoughts were interrupted as the boss monster began growling while slowly approaching. "Fuck..." Rael said through gritted teeth and immediately bought the Enchanted Banana Peels. In an instant, they appeared over his shabby socks. While he was expecting the actual banana peel texture, what he got instead was the feeling of wearing slightly uncomfortable sneakers. Alright... Not too shit, I can work with this. Rael fixed his gaze on the boss and, without hesitation, dashed in. However, the speed increase was larger than he initially thought, so he crashed into the boss''s slimy leg by accident. -191! [HP -4! 593/720] His Attack Power stat alone was responsible for all the damage. However, he swiftly picked himself up and kicked off the floor, dodging the boss monster''s leg, which had slammed down where he had just been. But after this one blunder, Rael had a better idea of how fast he was. Therefore, he slowly began walking, then picked up his pace. The boss responded in kind, stretching out its rat arm and summoning a slimy green scythe. It swung down toward Rael, but with a last-second burst of speed, he dodged and slid right under the boss. "My apologies..." Rael said his prayers in advance before slashing in between the Evolved Goblin Rat boss monster''s legs¡ªpresumably where its balls should have been. -430! Critical Hit! Ouch. A shiver went down Rael''s spine as he visibly noticed the boss monster flinch. Nonetheless, while it was stunned, he took advantage of the opening and attacked. -425! Critical Hit! -411! Critical Hit! -415! Critical Hit! He was only able to get four good hits in before the boss recovered itself and attempted to sit down and crush him. Nonetheless, he was able to get out of there pretty quickly, and as he did, he received a shocking system message. ¡ªBall Crusher: 5% increased damage when attacking the testicles of an enemy. Are you serious? Rael''s eyes widened as he jumped up, dodging the sweep of the scythe, and checked the boss''s HP. ¡ªEvolved Goblin Rat (Rare Boss) [Level 15] [5,628/7,500 HP] It was great progress, but he too had some problems to worry about. [HP -30! 563/720 (Rot)] And not long after, another status effect. [HP -50! 513/720 (Poison)] Unlike last time, Rael no longer had the luxury of strolling around while the boss prepared itself¡ªhis attack had driven it into a berserker-like state. Suddenly, the Evolved Goblin Rat de-summoned its scythe and instead pulled out what appeared to be a bow, aiming it directly at Rael. I have a bad feeling about this¡ª His thoughts were interrupted. The moment the bowstring was let go, the slimy arrow approached, and he, in turn, attempted to evade. But to his dismay, it was homing onto him perfectly. However, in that split second, he also had an idea. Turning toward the boss monster, Rael picked up his pace and once again dashed right under its legs. The arrow was about to slip neatly between the boss monster''s legs and hit him. However, Rael cut its calf, making it fall down, if only for a moment. -394! Nonetheless, the very next second, the slimy arrow made contact with the boss monster, sending out balls of ooze everywhere. But upon seeing its HP, Rael couldn''t help but smile. ¡ªEvolved Goblin Rat (Rare Boss) [Level 15] [3,234/7,500 HP] If that had hit me... I would''ve died... But since this idiot rat shot itself, I can now finish it off while it''s staggered, hopefully. Rael thought, then immediately dashed toward it, jumping on top of its head. Without hesitation, he brought his sword down again and again, stabbing deep into its skull. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. -429! Critical Hit! -422! Critical Hit! -404! Critical Hit! It tried to shake him off. but Rael stabbed in deeper, holding on for dear life. -399! Critical Hit! The boss monster finally stood up and began extending some sort of weapon out of its arms. However, it was too late. -378! Critical Hit! -421! Critical Hit! -388! Critical Hit! ¡ªEvolved Goblin Rat (Rare Boss) [Level 15] [393/7,500 HP] "Fuck you." Rael brought down the sword for the last time and cut deep into its skull. -420! Critical Hit! <+2,250 Trell Acquired> <+100 Trell Bonus> Rael read with satisfaction. However, as he finally arrived at the bottom, he tilted his head. There was a plus sign beside the clearance message, and out of curiosity, he pressed on it. Chapter 9 9: Unexpected Gains Hmm? My possessions? Rael raised a brow before pressing the "Yes" button. "You do that," he chuckled and went over to the Premium Shop. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Healing Utility ?¡ªBalance: 4,925 Trell¡ª? ? Enchanted Band-Aid (Common): 200 Trell ? Tear of a Scamming Walrus (Common): 696 Trell ? Medium-Level Poison Antidote (Uncommon): 1,000 Trell ? Medium-Level Healing Potion (Uncommon): 1,500 Trell Ouch... The price tag is a bit... Rael held back his sour expression but nonetheless bought the Medium-Level Poison Antidote. Since it was a Level 2 poison, it would naturally require a higher-level potion. At the same time, the rot would be cured, as it fell into both the curse and poison categories. After drinking the potion, the notifications soon followed. <+10 Constitution> "This one tasted like apple juice," Rael mused aloud¡ªthough paying 1,000 Trell for magical apple juice didn''t sit right with him. Nonetheless, he glanced at the initializing bar and saw that it now displayed a percentage of its progress. So it''s going to be done in a minute. Nice. Rael hummed in excitement and waited patiently. "By now, he had already returned to camp and sat on the comfy rat-hide bed. Finally, the notification he''d been waiting for arrived. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Oh? Rael''s eyes widened. I can manage this dungeon? He thought of doing so, but nothing happened. Looking all around, he eventually spotted it at the very bottom of his status screen. [Status] Name: Unnamed Age: 18 Race: Human [+] Boss Monster Variation: The Pay-to-Win Boss [Unranked] Level: 8 ¡ú 9 Experience: 422/2,263 [+] ¡ú 2,029/2,700 [+] ?¡ªBalance: 3,925 Trell¡ª? ?¡ªInventory¡ª? Storage Space¡ª[0/50] ?¡ªTitles¡ª? - Ball Crusher - Heavenly Attraction ?¡ªPerks¡ª? - Premium Leveling [Special-Unique] - Premium Evolution [Special-Unique] - Premium Shop [Special-Unique] ?¡ªStats¡ª? Health Points (HP): [470/470] ¡ú [613/820] Mana Points (MP): [100/100] Strength: 33 (+15) Agility: 41 (+15) ¡ú 71 (+45) Constitution: 47 (+25) ¡ú 82 (+50) Intelligence: 10 Wisdom: 30 (+25) Charisma: 100 Attack Power (AP): [191] (+125) Movement Speed Increase: [20.5%] ¡ú [50.5%] (+15%) Critical Hit Damage Increase: [2.50%] (+1%) ?¡ªSkills¡ª? Inspect Monster Level: [Level 7 ¡ú 8 | 138/2,263] {Common} View the level of any monster within 16 ¡ú 17 levels of the user. Basic Weapon Mastery: [Level 7 ¡ú 9 | 907/2,700] (Common) Increases attack accuracy by 16% ¡ú 18% and damage by 27% ¡ú 31% for all weapons. ?¡ªEquipment¡ª? Weapon: [Sword of the Forgotten Swordsman Replica (Uncommon)] Boots: [Enchanted Banana Peels (Uncommon)] ?¡ªAccessories¡ª? Empty ?¡ªQuests¡ª? Empty (NEW) ?¡ªDungeons¡ª? Dungeons in possession: 1 Active Dungeons: 1 Manage Dungeons [+] ?¡ªOfficial Launch¡ª? Time until V1.0 Release: 147 Days ?¡ª¡ª? The option showing the official release had become clearer, and above it, the Dungeons section appeared. Clicking the [+] icon beside the Manage Dungeons tab, he was immediately greeted with a wide screen. ...They are laundering my money. Rael grumbled, but since these were the only options he had for now, he went through with it and paid the 1,000 Trell. In an instant, the entire dungeon shook, and soon after, a new interface appeared. This time, it had more information. Basic Monsters: - Slightly Large Rat [Level 1] (x120) [+] - Goblin Archer [Level 4] (x40) [+] - Goblin Warrior [Level 5] (x40) [+] Elite Monsters: - None [+] Boss Monsters: - Gregory, Mutated Goblin Rat (Rare Boss) [Level 10] (x1) [+] Noticing the plus signs beside the monsters, Rael couldn''t help but click on one of them. Two options appeared¡ªone was to add more monsters, while the other was simply to upgrade. He chose the upgrade. - Slightly Large Rat [Level 1] (x120) ¡ú Large Rat [Level 5] (x120) No. Rael immediately shook his head. You''re not bringing me into debt. I need something cheaper... It was a pity he could only do bulk upgrades, and there seemed to be no option to upgrade each rat individually. But even then, it would still cost him 250 Trell per rat. Nonetheless, Rael soon placed his eyes on the Elite Monsters section, which just so happened to be empty. Yet, it still had a plus sign beside it, which he pressed without hesitation. In an instant, a menu detailing a few options appeared. - Goblin Mage (Rare Elite) [Level 10] (x1): 1,500 Trell - Festering Rat Thing (Rare Elite) [Level 10] (x1): 2,000 Trell - Goblin Swordsman (Rare Elite) [Level 10] (x1): 3,500 Trell The prices were certainly steep¡ªbut not as bad as what the system had tried pulling earlier. However, despite his curiosity, he wasn''t exactly sure what benefits this dungeon would bring. If anything, it seemed like he was throwing his money down the drain But just as he was about to abandon this waste of money, he suddenly glanced at the very bottom of the massive interface and saw something that made him freeze in place. What...? How does this work? He clicked the number, and it suddenly expanded. - Slightly Large Rat [Level 1] (x120): 120 Trell Daily - Goblin Archer [Level 4] (x40): 160 Trell Daily - Goblin Warrior [Level 5] (x40): 200 Trell Daily - Gregory, Mutated Goblin Rat (Rare Boss) [Level 10] (x1): 1000 Trell This is... A gold mine...? Rael''s eyes widened in shock as he read the information. If this was true, then every single day, as long as these monsters were alive, he would gain 1,480 Trell. Rael went back to the previous category where it showed the monsters, and instead of upgrading, he clicked on the add more monsters option. - Slightly Large Rat [Level 1]: 10 Trell A chuckle escaped Rael''s mouth as he glanced at his balance. ?¡ªBalance: 2,925 Trell¡ª? I''m going to have fun with this. Chapter 10 10: Arriving At The City ?¡ªBalance: 5 Trell¡ª? I''m broke. Rael sighed before glancing toward the menu. But... Basic Monsters: - Slightly Large Rat [Level 1] (x262): 262 Trell Daily [+] - Goblin Archer [Level 4] (x40): 160 Trell Daily [+] - Goblin Warrior [Level 5] (x40): 200 Trell Daily [+] Elite Monsters: - Goblin Mage (Rare Elite) [Level 10] (x1): 500 Trell Daily [+] Boss Monsters: - Gregory, Mutated Goblin Rat (Rare Boss) [Level 10] (x1): 1,000 Trell Daily [+] Not bad. I could''ve waited a day or two to get more, but I''m pretty sure I can upgrade it while I''m outside of the dungeon. Rael thought with a hum before proceeding to walk back toward the portal. Along the way, he encountered a bunch of monsters, and just like the system had said, they did not attack him. Near the stalactite, he spotted the Elite Monster he had purchased¡ªthe Goblin Mage¡ªand funnily enough, it was holding a tiny wooden wand with a small blue gem embedded in it. Nonetheless, he walked past it and arrived in the boss room. The Mutated Goblin Rat was merely fiddling around with the mud on the ground, the green blood from earlier still present. However, since he was no janitor, he left it be. Protection-wise, however, he decided to sort the dungeon out a little. Therefore, Rael walked up to each and every monster, giving them commands on where to stay. And of course, he moved the boss from the portal since it wouldn''t be great if his main source of income died right as the people of this world, or the future players walked in. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After a bit of rearranging, he made sure the rats were the closest to the portal. Following that, 30 Goblin Archers and 30 Goblin Warriors were placed beside the stalactite, ready to attack. At the very end of the dungeon cave, he placed the boss monster. Guarding it was the Goblin Mage, alongside 10 Goblin Archers and 10 Goblin Warriors. Rael heaved a relieved sigh, finally done. Now, all that awaited him was stepping outside to face the shining, welcoming sun. Approaching the swirling blue portal, he felt a bit uneasy, but that unease was soon replaced with excitement as Rael finally stepped through. In an instant, his vision shifted, and he felt like he was floating for a moment. It felt much different than it had in the game, as in Sketa Online, there was a short cutscene. Despite feeling like he was about to throw up, Rael persevered until, eventually, the fatigue faded, followed by his vision finally restoring. However, while he wasn''t expecting a grand welcome, what he got instead was a forest, through which he couldn''t even see the rays of the sun. But he knew for a fact that it was daytime. As for which continent or what forest he was in? No idea. Trial and error. Though first thing''s first, I need to find a city. Rael thought before picking a random direction and walking forward. The entrance to the dungeon he had come out from looked like any ordinary tree, just slightly darker, so someone finding it was unlikely. Rael was expecting to encounter some monsters, but even after walking for over an hour, the only thing he managed to find was a river stream. As soon as he did, he changed direction and headed downstream. However, even after walking for nearly six hours straight, it seemed like he wouldn''t see the end of the river. Coupled with that, he noticed the sun¡ªwhich had been high in the sky just earlier¡ªhad completely disappeared. This is too spooky. If I get ambushed, I''m fucked. Rael thought and began jogging. But midway through his jog, a message appeared before him. Good... I''m no longer broke. Rael let out a sigh, taking a glance at his newfound balance. ?¡ªBalance: 2,127 Trell¡ª? To think he would be getting this much daily was certainly unbelievable. However, Rael, of course, wanted more. Go for it. Rael immediately agreed, and his daily earnings increased once again. The more I can make while I''m slacking off, the happier I''ll be. He hummed in satisfaction, not paying attention to where he was going. Soon, he felt a massive breeze brush past him, causing him to halt for just a moment. And as Rael did and glanced around, his eyes widened. In front of him was the end of the river he had been following. However, what truly surprised him was that instead of there being some sort of peaceful village awaiting him, he was met with a massive cliff instead. "Fuck you, nature," Rael exclaimed and walked over to the edge, his Banana Peel boots slightly squeaking by now. But just as he was about to go to the premium shop and toss a grenade down the cliff, he halted once again. To his right was a wooden mountainside elevator. And the moment he saw it, the gears inside his mind clicked as he finally realized which place this was. Dralgur Continent, the starting continent of sorts... And I''m right next to the Ancient City, Celestara, which was built inside a massive crater... Rael thought in wonder and approached the elevator. There was a single lever, which he swiftly pulled down. Immediately, the mountainside elevator made its way down slowly, slightly wobbling and making Rael''s fear of heights resurface. Nonetheless, he held on, trying to recall if anything important had happened a couple of months before release. After all, Sketa Online had released several trailers, some of which displayed this particular area. There''s nothing... It just looked cool, with a parade going on¡ª he froze, recalling the event in greater detail. The only reason that trailer was made was to show the coronation of a new queen, Zafira Sutekh. She was also one of the main bosses in Sketa Online''s campaign. "My luck... It''s not that shit, right?" he exclaimed to no one. And as the elevator neared the ground, he noticed a few people scrambling to decorate the trees with all sorts of fancy ornaments. And with that, the voice of a young girl. ¡ªHey, put it up properly! Miss Zafira will scold us if we mess up her coronation! Hearing that, Rael accepted his fate, letting out a deep sigh. I''m just an innocent pay-to-win boss... Why did I spawn next to the main boss!? Chapter 11 11: Banana Juice Inn Now, I can either rent a property or sleep in the trees... Rael pondered, but not even a moment later, he let out a sigh. The choice was obvious, he just didn''t want to accept it. All around him was greenery, trees of all different colors, but they all had one thing in common. Their size¡ªthe trees were simply colossal, and if not for the barrier blocking out prying eyes, he would have seen them from the top of the cliff. Nonetheless, the Ancient City, Celestara, gave off an elf-like feeling, with its people living in nature. However, he remembered the inner-most part of the city being quite modern¡ªthat was, of course, where the queen lived. Screw it. Rael decided to approach the two red-haired girls decorating the trees and introduce himself. "Excuse me, is there any¡ª" His words were interrupted when, all of a sudden, a side kick struck his abdomen, sending him flying into a tree. [HP -320! 520/820] "What gives?!" Rael shouted through gritted teeth, blood dripping from his mouth. "Oh, sorry. I thought you were some sort of pervert... with how you''re dressed." the girl said, wiping away her foot, which had made contact with him. What''s wrong with how I''m dressed... Rael looked down and saw that the gray jeans he had when he came into this world were dyed nearly black from the blood. And, of course, the signature Banana Peel boots¡ªwhich certainly did not help him build rapport. "I''m not a pervert. I just want a place to stay for a while." "Linlin, show him inside. I''ll finish up," the slightly older woman stated. "Fine, Mom, don''t overwork yourself too much. I''ll be back in a minute," the attacker, Linlin, replied and turned toward Rael, her brows furrowed. "Come, I''ll lead you to an inn." "How mighty gracious of you." Rael rolled his eyes and stood up with a groan. Though the one over there is a mother? Hot damn. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It felt like his ribs had been broken by none other than some girl who looked his age. Nonetheless, he put the grudges aside, as he truly could not care less¡ªnot yet, anyway. All he wanted for now was a good night''s rest. Linlin led him through the trees as the path became wider and wider, until eventually, he saw a faint outline of light in the night sky. And as he looked closer, Rael spotted a single blue star¡ªthe main attraction of this entire city in the first place. This was the only place where this star could be seen, as, according to legends, the formation of this crater was due to debris from that same blue star above. It really is beautiful, though. Rael remarked inwardly and finally entered the streets. All around him were shops, street booths, people walking around and chatting... flirting. But quite a few of them shot glances toward them¡ªLinlin in particular. Despite that, it was safe to say he liked this place, but once the new queen ascended to the throne, his peace would be short-lived. Eventually, they arrived before a particular inn, and when he saw its name, a frown appeared on Rael''s face. "...Banana Juice Inn?" "It''s nice inside, despite the name." Linlin shrugged teasingly. "Do you have any money?" Rael raised a brow. "Are you offering to lend me some?" "No," she immediately refuted. "I can take you to a homeless shelter instead¡ªit''s just a block away." "Yes, I have money, you dunce." Rael shot back and walked in front of the inn''s doors. But before he opened them, he glanced back toward Linlin. "Before I forget, your shirt''s see-through. You should probably wear a bra next time, stupid redhead." "Huh?!" She looked down in surprise and immediately covered herself up. Linlin had sweated a lot while putting up those decorations, and now, she could only wallow in embarrassment, tears welling up in her emerald-green eyes. In the meantime, it was about time he enjoyed himself as he went inside the inn and arrived before the innkeeper. I wonder how buying stuff here works? Rael thought. But soon, he found out. "You''re new around here, no?" The innkeeper spoke with a strong accent. "Fear not¡ªour banana juices shall provide you with nourishment. Take your pick." Rael raised his brow at the analogy, however, an interface, much like his premium shop, soon appeared before him. ?¡ªBanana Juice Inn Menu¡ª? Category: Food ? Pork Cutlet with Potatoes: 25 Trell ? Spicy Ramen: 15 Trell ? Mac n Cheese: 20 Trell ? Pizza with ingredients of your choice: 35 Trell ?¡ªBalance: 627 Trell¡ª? Affordable food... Fuck you, premium shop, and your 100 Trell potatoes. Rael exclaimed in his mind and pressed on the Mac n Cheese option. "Coming right up, lad," the innkeeper affirmed and walked to the kitchen. In the meantime, Rael was slightly confused. I thought they''d have actual currency... Do they also have status screens or something? he thought. When he was playing the game, he did not question it. However, he was not inside the game currently. He was in real life¡ªwhich just so happened to be where the game world was. Confusing shit... Seriously... How did I even end up in Sketa Online''s world in the first place? Did it always exist... Rael leaned inward, resting his head comfortably on the inn counter. I guess I''ll find out in the future. He sighed, and after a few minutes, his food finally arrived. The Mac n Cheese looked even more delicious than he was anticipating, therefore, within seconds, he gobbled everything up and let out one massive burp. "Enjoyed it, did ye, lad?" The innkeeper asked with a smug look. And Rael couldn''t help but nod. However, the question from earlier was still lingering inside his mind. "Hey, do you have currency? I mean, where is all this money going?" Rael pointed toward the virtual menu to his side. "Where else? Inside my status screen, lad," the innkeeper replied with a chuckle, as though it were obvious. "Need anything else? Seconds, perhaps?" "No... That''s fine." Rael shook his head. "Do you have any available rooms?" "Hmm..." The innkeeper fell into thought before seemingly pressing something in the air. And soon, another interface appeared before Rael. ?¡ªBanana Juice Inn Menu¡ª? Category: Housing ? Single Bed Room: 50 Trell per night ? Single Bed, Toilet Room: 75 Trell per night ? Single Bed, Toilet, Bath Room: 100 Trell per night ? Double Bed, Toilet, Bath Room: 150 Trell per night ?¡ªBalance: 607 Trell¡ª? Illusion of choice... Rael sighed and selected the third option. "Great. Here you go, lad. Find your way." The innkeeper gave him a key with the room number 6. Rael thanked the innkeeper and walked over to the stairs, before finally arriving in front of his room and swinging the door open. It looked simple and shabby, but for a temporary stay, it was a great deal. Lying down on the hard bed, Rael looked up toward the ceiling, lost in thought. But he soon began closing his eyes, the fatigue finally kicking in. For the love of God... please don''t have your coronation tomorrow. Chapter 12 12: Inner Court "Wake up, everyone! The Queen''s coronation is about to start!" The innkeeper''s loud voice suddenly rang out, startling Rael from his sleep. Yet as he looked through the window, he noticed it was already bright outside. Shit... come on. He grumbled. First day as the queen, that woman is going to make citizenship stricter. I''m fucked. From what he remembered, she was someone in her early twenties. However, she killed the king, and funnily enough, no one cared. The only thing they wanted was her on the throne since she was strong, smart, and, of course, beautiful. But from the constant abuse he suffered at her hands while he was playing the game, the only thing Rael felt was repulsion. Though it would be a fun event to attend. Rael thought with a sigh, taking off his clothes before heading into the bath. Yet as he glanced at the reflection in the water, his eyes widened. Instead of his black hair and green eyes, he found himself with shoulder-length silver hair¡ªalmost platinum in color. At the same time, his eyes were now completely red. "What the fuck..." As for his face, he still looked exactly the same as before. Nonetheless, despite being a bit flustered, Rael showered and bought himself a pair of clothes from the Premium Shop. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Clothing/Clothing Kits ?¡ªBalance: 507 Trell¡ª? ? 1 Black Clothing Kit (Common): 250 Trell Scamming me as per usual. Rael remarked and put it on. It consisted of basic socks, shoes, underwear, pants, and, of course, a shirt. All of it was black in color, and finally, Rael was ready to head out. Going downstairs, he saw that aside from the innkeeper, everyone was out already. "Damn lad, you are pretty late," the innkeeper chuckled. "I assumed someone with your looks would try to woo the queen herself." Rael froze. "You think I could?" "Hahaha, fuck no." The innkeeper let out a laugh before pointing toward the door. "Though it''s a once-in-a-lifetime event, lad, I wouldn''t want to miss it." "Then why aren''t you going?" Rael asked. "Too lazy." The innkeeper shrugged. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "..." Rael made his way out speechlessly and followed the crowd. Everyone was hurrying forward, each one faster than the other. In the meantime, all he could think about was money. As it seemed, he only received his dungeon money at midnight. But before he could ponder further, someone bumped into him. "Clumsy bast¡ª" Rael trailed off as the bastard in question turned out to be the same girl from yesterday¡ªLinlin. "How''s it going, nudist? Wearing a bra today?" "I''d punch you in the face if there were fewer people." Linlin stated, her cheeks slightly red. "Can''t you forget about that? It was an accident." "I''m sure it was," Rael chuckled before proceeding to completely ignore her as he walked forward. However, it seemed like she was following him. He turned around, frowning. "Listen... I couldn''t care less whether you flashed your tits or not. All I want to do right now is see this coronation." "Me too, that''s why I''m heading in the same direction, you stupid prick." Linlin lashed out. "Oh, right." He facepalmed and continued walking through the dense crowd in silence. But she was sticking a bit too close for comfort. They passed through a few courtyards, and he saw multiple mansions scattered all around. Rael turned around out of curiosity, and he noticed that the gates had been closed off, which meant he got here just in the nick of time. Off in the distance, the massive palace was visible, and that''s exactly where he was headed. But he soon arrived in front of another gate where a single guard stood. "I need to see your ID, both of you." "Uhh¡ª" "Here you are." Linlin pulled out a card and showed it to the guard. "You may pass," the guard stated before turning to Rael. "You?" "I don''t suppose 20 Trell would be enough to pass?" Rael asked with a sheepish smile. "I see... Stand there for a moment." The guard said before walking over to Rael and placing some sort of heavy cuffs over his arms. "For the crime of attempting to bribe a guard, you are hereby to be thrown into the palace''s dungeons." "It was a hypothetical scenario..." Rael remarked with a sigh before accepting his fate. At least he''d get to see the coronation if he walked slow enough. "Hah... Idiot." Linlin let out a laugh before heading inside. But so did he¡ªjust with less comfort, as the guard did not exactly adjust the weights. "Though I do have to congratulate you," the guard said out of nowhere. "You will be Her Majesty''s first prisoner." Rael tilted his head. "...It''s an honor?" They soon entered the inner court of the palace, and that was where all of the people were scattered around. There were so many, in fact, that if he accidentally slipped away, chances were, the guard would not even notice. "Look, Her Majesty Zafira is there!" Rael yelled, grabbing everyone''s attention as he pointed toward a nearby bush. The guard fell for the trick as well, and that was when Rael sneakily walked into the crowd¡ª "What are you doing?" "Nudist girl..." Rael narrowed his eyes. "It''s Linlin, you prick," she corrected with a scoff before taking an amused glance at his cuffs. "Are you seriously trying to run away?" "Nope, the guard just forgot to unlock the cuffs. I''m going over there, and then I''ll¡ª" Linlin cut him off by grabbing his wrists. Her hands felt really soft to the touch, which almost made him look past the fact that she acted like a bitch. However, as her hands traveled down to his fingers, she suddenly tightened her grip. As she did, Rael''s thumbs were dislocated. [HP -15! 805/820] In the very next moment, she pulled the cuffs downward, freeing him. However, the pain was a little too much, as Rael was trying his best not to scream like some baby. "You''re welcome, and you now owe me one." Linlin stated with a soft smile before walking away and disappearing into the crowd. Rael didn''t stay long either, he too walked further from the guard until he was in the opposite corner of the inner court. But the cat-and-mouse game soon finished when, all of a sudden, a fierce pressure enveloped him as well as the other people present, making everyone quiet down. In the very next moment, the announcer''s voice rang out. "Her Royal Majesty, Zafira Sutekh, has arrived!" Chapter 13 13: Temporary Captivity There she is. Rael glanced toward the voice, and as he did, he saw a woman who was beautiful beyond belief. Her completely white hair flowed down to the back of her knees, and when she walked forward, he could see her breasts swaying ever so slightly. Despite wearing a fancy golden robe, her hourglass figure couldn''t be hidden¡ªnor could her beautiful crimson-red eyes, which overlooked every single person present. Hot fucking damn. Rael whistled inwardly. She''s more gorgeous than I remember... But there was one thing that worried him, and that was the fact that their appearance was oddly similar. His hair was silver, but in the right lighting, it could come off as white. And this was that lighting. Some people stared at him, but he ignored them¡ªuntil, eventually, Queen Zafira took a stand, clapping her hands to gather everyone''s attention. "I am very happy all of you managed to make it," she said, her enchanting voice sending shivers down Rael''s spine. "Frankly, the coronation already took place as I had some work to do. But now that I''m free, I''ll be holding an informal one to celebrate," she added, earning shocked gasps from the people. ¡ªShe''s such a hard worker... ¡ªI wish I could be as busy as her... Rael raised his brows at the comments of these people. Are they stupid? She clearly overslept. He glanced toward Zafira just as she raised her arm in an attempt to wave. But instead, her goal was to yawn while no one was looking. Cheeky tyrant. Rael thought, focusing on the guards who were walking toward her in a curt line. And in the very middle was a makeshift crown made of silver, which one of the queen''s maids picked up and placed right on Queen Zafira''s head. Immediately, loud cheers resounded, all sharing the same excitement. However, that was not the case for Rael. In fact, he was left disappointed. What a shabby performance... They didn''t even try making it dramatic. He critiqued inwardly and was prepared to get out. But before he could, Queen Zafira spoke again¡ªher words making him halt. "As thanks to everyone who showed up, I would like to personally shake each and everyone''s hand." ...I''ll just go¡ª "No exceptions," she finished, and that''s when he knew that unless the guard who had taken him over here had some brain damage, Rael was screwed. Nonetheless, the people formed several lines before heading toward the queen, and right after, they were escorted out by the guards. Rael would be among those in the middle, and by his estimations, he had timed it so the guard would be escorting someone else. After a few more minutes of the crowd shaking the queen''s hand, it was eventually Rael''s turn. To his relief, the guard was not there, which meant he was in the clear. Approaching the queen, she stuck out her hand, which was covered in an almost see-through black glove. Rael reciprocated the handshake and felt the softness of her touch. He was prepared to move away; however, for some reason, the queen was not letting go. "I watched what happened earlier. It was a sly move," Queen Zafira remarked with a chuckle, narrowing her eyes. "But I''m sorry to disappoint¡ªyou will need to be taken in for questioning." As she finished speaking, the guards stepped forward and locked the heavy cuffs back onto his wrists. All the while, Rael stood there, stunned. My luck just can''t get any shittier, can it? he exclaimed inwardly as the guards began leading him further and further away from the inner courtyard¡ªuntil, eventually, he arrived in front of some kind of building that looked like a shed at first glance. The guards walked forward and pushed open the door. Immediately, the sight of a long downward staircase entered his vision, causing him to audibly gulp. "I don''t suppose I can wait outside?" he bargained. "Drinks on me?" S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They did not even entertain his suggestion before bringing him down the stairs. Several cold-looking iron prison cells appeared all around, and Rael could even spot a skeleton in one of them. Before he could protest, they tossed him into a random damp cell, locked the door, and walked away. "Seriously... You pricks didn''t even leave a flashlight." Rael grumbled and opened the premium shop. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Utility/Matchstick ?¡ªBalance: 257 Trell¡ª? ? Pack of matchsticks (Common): 15 Trell Rael swiftly purchased it and lit one matchstick up, the dust in the air visibly pissing him off. I knew coming here for the sole purpose of seeing Zafira Sutekh''s tits was a bad idea. Rael sighed and lay down against the wall. Guess I''ll have to wait for a few days¡ª His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of distant footsteps clacking down the stairs. It was a familiar sound, and once the person responsible finally arrived before Rael''s prison cell, he couldn''t help but let out a groan. "Queen Zafira... A pleasure to meet you." "Are you a spy?" she asked coldly, cutting straight to the chase. "If you are, admit it, and your death will be painless." "I''m just a normal guy," Rael shrugged. "I''m not a spy, nor do I want to die here, so can you just let me out already?" Noticing his bluntness, Zafira furrowed her brows. "What''s your name?" "Rael." "Affiliation?" Rael tilted his head. "Myself? I''m not exactly affiliated with anyone or anything." "I see..." Zafira fell into thought. "So you are some vagabond who intruded into my city and even got as far as into my inner court. Concerning..." "I''d blame the guards for that, Your Highness," Rael remarked and stood up, walking toward the iron bars. He placed his hand on them and stared straight into Zafira''s eyes. "Now, Your Highness, could you let me go? I haven''t even had lunch yet." She stared back at him for a moment before unlocking the prison cell. Just as relief washed over him and he prepared to take his first steps as a free man, Zafira suddenly grabbed his wrist with a determined look on her face. "You''re coming with me, Rael." Chapter 14 14: Queens Friend "Pardon...?" he asked, shocked. "I still haven''t finished my questioning," Zafira stated, gripping his wrist tighter. "We will finish our talk in my chambers." "Are you trying to kidnap me¡ª" Rael''s words were cut off by her fierce glare. "No objections," she added, then began dragging him up the stairs and into the massive palace. He silently followed, but deep down, Rael had some concerns. And those concerns only grew when they traveled through the palace''s wide hallways until, eventually, they arrived in some sort of dining hall. Two chairs were already set, and Zafira led him to one before taking the other seat which was conveniently right beside him. "Now, prisoner Rael, are you willing to talk?" "I already told you I''m not a spy. I don''t know what you expect," he shot back, grabbing a fork. The food on the long table looked too good to pass up; therefore, he dug into the first dish, practically devouring a piece of pork cutlet. "I can see that, Rael," Zafira said, then dug into her own food as well. After a few bites, she continued, "I''m interested in why you are so relaxed around me. Do you not know who I am?" "You are the queen," Rael stated the obvious before saying, "If I might be so blunt¡­ you need something from me, don''t you?" She nodded. "I want you to be my spy." S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "What...?" Rael''s eyes widened. "You do realize that if I get caught as an actual spy anywhere, I''ll be killed in an instant, right?" "You are blunt and, in a way, cautious," Zafira added before standing up, walking behind him, and placing a hand on his back. "I don''t have many pawns in the palace, so what do you say to becoming one?" "I politely decline," Rael replied instantly. Quickly finishing his food, he stood up, glancing toward the queen. "I want nothing more than to have freedom, Queen Zafira," he stated. "I''m open to deals, especially ones involving money. However, I draw the line at people trying to use me." Instead of the frown he was expecting to see, Zafira merely smiled. "Good. You pass." He tilted his head. "Pass what?" "That was a test, and you passed with flying colors," Zafira said, chuckling. "I need someone who doesn''t try to blow smoke up my ass with each word they speak, and I believe you might be that certain someone." "An advisor?" Rael deduced. "I don''t dabble in politics on the daily, Queen Zafira." "Not exactly an advisor..." She fell into thought, placing a finger on her chin. "More like a friend?" "...A friend?" His eyes widened. "You do realize you just threw me into a dungeon a few minutes ago, right?" "It''s because I thought you were a spy." Zafira shrugged before putting on a serious expression. "So what do you say? Do you want to be my friend?" "No strings attached?" he asked. And she affirmed, "None." A hot queen my age who''s also my friend? What a glorious combo... Rael chuckled inside his mind before flashing Zafira a wide smile. "Very well then, Queen Zafira. I''ll be the friend who doesn''t blow smoke up your ass and tells you the truth as it is," Rael said with a comical bow. "At ease." She giggled and added, "Let''s not use formalities between friends, shall we? Call me Zafira." Rael immediately changed his tune. "Alright, Zafira." "Good!" Zafira replied with a joyful expression, sat back down in the chair, and began eating her food. He did the same, as free food always tasted better anyway. However, during their supper, she asked quite a lot of questions¡ªalmost like someone who never had any friends. "Do you play any games? Like chess or checkers? I heard those are fun." "Neither, I suck at both," Rael replied and stabbed the pork meat before lifting it up and pointing it toward Zafira. "You?" Perhaps she misunderstood, because instead of answering, Zafira leaned in, took a bite out of the meat, then sat back as though nothing had happened. But to Rael, it was like a new discovery. The queen likes to be pampered... "I don''t play often... I suck at those games too," she said after a long pause. "But I''m pretty good with warfare strategies. If you combined all my properties, you could probably call it a whole country." "Sounds fun," Rael added before bringing another piece of pork meat to her, which she gobbled up absentmindedly. "I didn''t expect you to be so laid-back, with how hardworking you say you are." "Hardworking? I work for three hours and sleep for twelve¡ªthat barely counts as work. But it''s fun. The people like me despite the rash decisions I''ve made." "Like killing the king?" Rael said, half-joking. "Yep." She nodded. "The odds were stacked against me. If I hadn''t killed him, he would''ve waged war on an entire nation¡ªand wiped us out." "He was a foolish king, honestly. He probably just wanted to have his name written down on a book somewhere." Rael said with a chuckle, and Zafira giggled. It felt strange¡ªhe hadn''t known her for long, but talking to her felt so simple and effortless. Even despite the fact that she was a level 150 main boss and could snap him in two like he was some kind of twig. "Hey Rael, could I get your opinion on something?" Zafira asked, and he nodded, all the while stuffing his face with food. "There''s a nearby country that wants to ally with our city. But... I believe their offer is too good to be true." As her words fell, Rael froze. Could it be...? "Which country?" "Yrgon," she replied before suddenly pulling out a document and showing it to Rael. He was a bit surprised that she even showed it to him in the first place, but nonetheless, he read through it. And his earlier suspicions were confirmed. This is the deal that made Celestara a beginner-level city... Chapter 15 15: Talk and Quests "Zafira." Rael took his eyes away from the document. "This is a joke." "What?" she tilted her head. "Political matters such as these are never a joke, but as I said, the deal does seem too good to be true." "Because it is," Rael affirmed. "Ygron wants to station its military on the outskirts of Celestara, which might not seem harmful at first and could be downplayed as a training exercise, but given Ygron''s long history, that''s likely not the case." "I''m aware," she replied with a nod before pointing to a particular clause near the bottom. He read through it, and his opinion did not differ. "They promise huge amounts of money and military aid whenever you might need it, no strings attached," he summarized, a frown forming on his face. "Now, let''s say you go out to war, and while you''re away, Ygron''s stationed troops invade your city and take over." There was also one interesting part in particular that made him scoff in disgust. "Zafira, the agreement is issued for only a single year. Do you think they did that just for training and assisting purposes? Something will happen, and once it does, they will seize this city." "Hmm..." Zafira murmured, looking conflicted, before pocketing the document. "Thanks for your opinion, Rael. I''ll run it through my advisors later." "Happy to help. I expect a feast next time I come here,," Rael said with a chuckle and stood up. "I think I should get going now, Zafira." "I''ll see you out," she stated, and after wiping her mouth with a napkin, she proceeded to lead the way. Now that he was no longer under the tension of possibly being killed, Rael was able to truly admire the palace. The paintings on the walls could easily fetch him a decent sum of Trell if he were to sell them to the Premium Shop, and as for the golden vases scattered around aimlessly, he''d become a millionaire overnight. "Oh!" Zafira halted and turned toward him. "Before I forget, here." She tapped on the air a few times, making him raise a brow. But in the next moment, he found out the reason why she was doing that. A blue system screen appeared, and with that, a message he was not expecting to see. Huh? Rael''s eyes widened as he hit the "Yes" button. "We can chat together now whenever we want. I''ll text you later," Zafira said with a warm smile. "I have some business to attend to now. I''m sure you can find your way out from the inner courtyard, right?" "Of course." He nodded. "Good luck, Zafira. Talk to you later." With that, she turned around, and his eyes lingered on her curvy departing figure for only a few seconds before he, too, made his way out. It was safe to say, going to the coronation¡ªeven if it was complete bullshit¡ªturned out to be the right choice. Thankfully, he truly had no ulterior motives in coming here. Definitely. But now that it was all over, he wanted to make some arrangements to earn much more money, and the first thing on his agenda was to go to the adventurer''s guild. It was one of the main ways to gain quests, as each request was stamped onto the board, and all he had to do was walk over and place his hand on the parchment to accept. I didn''t expect NPCs to have a friending function... Rael thought with furrowed brows. I guess they are no longer NPCs¡ªthey''re humans just like me. He made his way through several courtyards until, eventually, Rael made it out of the palace grounds and arrived in the outer part of Celestara. The size of this entire city was overwhelmingly large¡ªhe almost wished he had a car to get around quicker. But... ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Transport/Cars/Cruise ?¡ªBalance: 242 Trell¡ª? ? Two-Seater Sedan (Common): 50,000 Trell ...Right. He was not surprised at the price. Nonetheless, he walked through the paved streets and navigated using his memory. Finally, he arrived in front of a large rustic building with the words "Adventurer''s Guild" written on the very front. Not wasting any time, Rael walked inside, and the scent of sweat immediately entered his nose. I''d barf if the palace''s dungeons didn''t smell worse. Rael thought and finally arrived before a massive board. On it were a lot of stamped quests, most of which were simply too difficult for him. However, there were a few he could definitely attempt. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡ª ¡ª These two quests in particular were convenient, as he could do one while also completing the other. Therefore, Rael placed his hand on those two pieces of parchment, and soon, his interface lit up. Great... Let''s see... Rael pressed on the Skeleton Maze Dungeon quest, and immediately, a compass appeared in his hands, with the arrow pointing straight north. Works the same. He heaved a relieved breath before clicking on the boar quest. Thankfully, the arrow was also pointing north, making it perfect. Since Rael still had plenty of time before midnight and nothing pressing to do, he decided to start the quest immediately. But... He glanced toward the arrowhead. North was on the opposite side of where he was. Therefore, the walk toward the other side of outer Celestara and then up the mountain would take a while. Nonetheless, he began slowly moving over, since if he was correct... The Skeleton Maze Dungeon would be a massive boon. Chapter 16 16: Massive Upgrades "Four hours." Rael stared down at the city as the mountainside elevator slowly took him up. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It had taken four whole hours to get here, and frankly, he already wanted to sleep. However, the thought of money on the horizon soon woke him up as he patiently waited. Finally, the elevator reached the top, and once again, he faced the annoying forest¡ªjust like yesterday. But this time, he had a purpose. When he clicked on the Skeleton Maze Dungeon quest, the compass appeared, its arrow pointing slightly west¡ªmeaning the dungeon wasn''t far away. Yet just as he thought that, a particular animal appeared within his line of sight¡ªthe boar. ¡ªHorny Boar [Level 5] [69/150 HP] ...That explains its heavy breathing. Rael thought, a shiver going down his spine. Nonetheless, he pulled out his sword, and while the stupid animal had its horny back turned toward him, Rael snuck up on it and thr¡ªstabbed his sword straight through its back. Rael flung the blood from his blade in a quick motion, then glanced at the interface. -381! Critical Hit! <+64 Trell Acquired> He was faster and much stronger than it, therefore, this quest would be a snooze fest. But of course, the money and experience it gave were too good to pass up. *** <+3136 Trell Acquired> ¡ª Nope. Rael replied with exhaustion. It had taken him around two hours to finish this quest¡ªafter he massacred 30 boars, the rest went into hiding. Regardless, his upgrades were massive. <+600 Trell Bonus> Rael did not press anything, as he decided it was the perfect time to use some of his currency to buy stats. Strength: 10 Trell Agility: 10 Trell Constitution: 10 Trell Intelligence: 10 Trell Wisdom: 10 Trell Charisma: 10 Trell He had already bought some last time, so now, he bought them as so: <+7 Strength> <+6 Agility> <+7 Constitution> <+10 Intelligence> <+10 Wisdom> <+10 Charisma> He nodded in satisfaction. There was only one thing left to do: buy another piece of equipment. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Equipment/Chest ?¡ªBalance: 3542 Trell¡ª? ? Queen Rebecca''s Used *CENSORED* (Uncommon): 1500 Trell ? Chestplate of Courage (Uncommon): 2,500 Trell ? Drunken Sentinel''s Chestpiece (Uncommon): 3,000 Trell ? Large Jar (Special-Uncommon): 5,000 Trell Rael rolled his eyes at the names before looking through all the ones he could afford. And unsurprisingly, the most expensive option was the best. ¡ªDrunken Sentinel''s Chestpiece (Uncommon) Durability: 2000/2000 Special Option: <+25 Agility> <+25 Strength> if intoxicated. +20 Strength +5 Agility +50 Constitution +20 Wisdom With a sigh, he purchased it, and immediately, a green leather chestpiece materialized on his body. It had this distinct smell of... rum. But for his own sake, Rael decided to ignore it, taking in the massive increase in stats as he took a look at his status screen. [Status] Name: Unnamed [+] Age: 18 Race: Human [+] Boss Monster Variation: The Pay-to-Win Boss [Unranked] Level: 9 ¡ú 11 Experience: 2,029/2,700 [+] ¡ú 1,317/3,648 [+] ?¡ªBalance: 542 Trell¡ª? ?¡ªInventory¡ª? Storage Space¡ª[3/50] ?¡ªTitles¡ª? - Ball Crusher - Heavenly Attraction ?¡ªPerks¡ª? - Premium Leveling [Special-Unique] - Premium Evolution [Special-Unique] - Premium Shop [Special-Unique] ?¡ªStats¡ª? Health Points (HP): [820/820] ¡ú [1,390/1,390] Mana Points (MP): [100/100] ¡ú [200/200] Strength: 33 (+15) ¡ú 60 (+35) Agility: 71 (+45) ¡ú 82 (+50) Constitution: 82 (+50) ¡ú 139 (+100) Intelligence: 10 ¡ú 20 Wisdom: 30 (+25) ¡ú 60 (+45) Charisma: 100 ¡ú 110 | Attack Power (AP): [191] (+125) ¡ú [245] (+125) Movement Speed Increase: [50.5%] (+15%) ¡ú [56%] (+15%) Critical Hit Damage Increase: [2.50%] (+1%) ¡ú [4%] (+1%) ?¡ªSkills¡ª? Inspect Monster Level: [Level 8 ¡ú 9 | 138/2,263 ¡ú 450/2,700] (Common) View the level of any monster within 17 ¡ú 18 levels of the user. Basic Weapon Mastery: [Level 9 ¡ú 11 | 907/2,700 ¡ú 249/3,648] (Common) Increases attack accuracy by 18% ¡ú 20% and damage by 31% ¡ú 35% for all weapons. ?¡ªEquipment¡ª? - Weapon: [Sword of the Forgotten Swordsman Replica (Uncommon)] - Chest: [Drunken Sentinel''s Chestpiece (Uncommon)] - Boots: [Enchanted Banana Peels (Uncommon)] ?¡ªAccessories¡ª? Empty ?¡ªQuests¡ª? Active Quests¡ª2 Tracking Quest¡ª[The Skeleton Maze Dungeon (Level 10-20) | Progress: Incomplete] ?¡ªDungeons¡ª? Dungeons in possession: 1 Active Dungeons: 1 Manage Dungeons [+] ?¡ªOfficial Launch¡ª? Time until V1.0 Release: 146 Days ?¡ªFriends¡ª? Total Friends: 1 ?¡ª¡ª? I''m ready. He nodded to himself. His stats were off the charts, especially for a mere level 11. At this level, most people would still be at a combined total of 280 stat points since they all started with 10 points in each stat as well as 20 stat points they could adjust right away. After that, the leveling process was linear, giving 20 adjustable stats per level. Rael, excluding his Charisma stat, now had a grand total of 361. Players didn''t stand a chance since, to buy overpowered gear, they needed money first¡ªand second, they had to meet the level requirement, the one thing Rael was exempt from. Safe to say, I''m pretty fucking set. I just need to keep this momentum going. Rael thought with determination before mentally preparing himself for his so-called naming ceremony. He didn''t know what to expect, but without hesitation, he pressed "Yes." Immediately, his vision flickered for a few moments as the colors began darting around until eventually, he found himself in some wide-open grassy plain. The wind was aggressively hitting his face, which made him a bit confused. Is this like a trial...? Rael looked around, finally spotting a single monster. ¡ªPacifist Killer Rabbit [Level 1] [25/25 HP] Rael absentmindedly walked up to the cute rabbit and gave it a gentle kick. -255! Critical Hit! He furrowed his brows. No experience...? Stingy much? But just as he thought something was broken, he heard rustling beside him, and as he turned to look, there was another monster. ¡ªTrustworthy Evil Fox [Level 2] [40/40 HP] It''s level 2... Rael thought, his eyes widening. Don''t tell me... Chapter 17 17: Naming Ceremony Rael walked over to the fox, who, unlike the rabbit, immediately went in to attack him. But since it was a mere level 2 monster, he simply twisted his body to the side before sending yet another kick. -255! Critical Hit! That was over, yet he still gained no experience. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Difficulty-wise, he felt like this so-called naming ceremony was merely playing around with him. However, he knew that the true objective here was to test his limits¡ªto see how far he could go before a monster beat him. Soon, his suspicions were confirmed. The bushes rustled, and as he turned toward them, he was met with yet another monster. It looked like some kind of frog with spider legs¡ªthe sight would easily make him purchase a flamethrower if he wasn''t broke. ¡ªWebbed Frog [Level 3] [65/65 HP] As it took notice of him, the weird spider frog suddenly opened its mouth, and instead of the usual frog tongue, what came out was a sharp web that headed straight for his neck. But just as it was about to make contact, Rael summoned his sword, and with a mere flick of his wrist, severed the web in two. The spider frog seemed startled for a moment as it reopened its mouth to shoot out another web. However, the moment it did, Rael threw his sword like a javelin, piercing right through the Webbed Frog''s forehead. -499! Critical Hit! The difficulty is increasing, Rael pondered. While it wasn''t anything he couldn''t handle, in just a few more levels, he would actually begin to struggle. Nonetheless, he waited for a monster to appear from the grass, but even after several seconds, nothing happened. But just as he thought the trial bugged out, he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up as he suddenly ducked. Immediately, a sharp claw skimmed past his cheek, and as it did, Rael used the downward momentum to send a kick toward the attacker. -245! An eagle? Rael looked down, and it was indeed an eagle... just blue. How original. But now that he figured out monsters could come from above, he no longer let his guard down. Instead, Rael felt the trembling of the earth, and following that, a mole appeared out of the ground, trying to aim for his feet. ¡ªKobold Molerat [Level 5] [150/150 HP] Like before, he took his time to line up the attack before sending a clean kick to the mole''s side. -245! Rael continued doing the same for the next few minutes until eventually, he reached his own level. ¡ªCrimson Werewolf [Level 11] [660/660 HP] This one would be much tougher than the previous opponents since, until now, his damage was solid enough to deal with them pretty easily. But now... Rael tilted his head, dodging an incoming claw from the werewolf. It didn''t stop there¡ªit attempted to sweep his legs, but he dodged by kicking its leg in return. -245! [HP -150! 1240/1390] He managed to knock its momentum off course for a slight moment, which in turn gave him enough time to bring his sword down onto its furry body. -543! Critical Hit! First time taking damage. Rael sighed. While he did fight a bit recklessly, it was a calculated risk since, if he hadn''t done what he just did, the werewolf would have likely managed to land a free hit on him. But of course, he couldn''t keep doing it this way. After exactly five seconds, the next enemy appeared¡ªan aerial-type monster at last. ¡ªInnocent Hornet [Level 12] [780/780 HP] Innocent? Seriously... Rael sighed at the system''s naming sense. Unlike most of his fights, he waited for the hornet to make its move. And soon, it did. Its basketball-sized body dove down in an attempt to pierce him with its stinger. But since this monster only had a single movement trajectory, dealing with it was pretty easy. Therefore, he waited until it was right about to sting him, then he brought his body backward, leaning slightly, which caused the hornet to become confused as it suddenly dived downward. That was when Rael kicked off the ground. Using the momentum, he thrust his sword forward and slashed straight through its entire body in a heartbeat. -780! Instant Kill! That''s a new one, he thought with a tilt of his head. However, despite how easy it seemed, he knew that by level 20 at the latest, he''d run into serious trouble. Nonetheless, he blitzed through the monsters, not being hit once, until finally, he reached his first milestone after killing the level 15 monster. "No shit." Rael scoffed. "So much for a cool-sounding name. I''ll be a laughing stock among the other boss monsters if my real name is my boss name..." While he was a bit unhappy, all that mattered in the end was that he would become a Rare-Ranked boss monster after this naming ceremony was finished. For that... ¡ªGray Wolf [Level 16] [1360/1360 HP] I really need to beat a couple more of these, don''t I? Rael grumbled, entering a defensive stance. It was like any ordinary wolf¡ªjust many times bigger, and of course, gray. But its canines seemed sharper and much longer. Therefore, he had to stay vigilant. Yet as those thoughts fell, the Gray Wolf suddenly dashed toward him, its speed surpassing everything he had dealt with up until now. However, Rael was half-prepared. As he brought his sword forward, he attempted to block its head-on approach with a stab. -489! The stab just barely landed on its front foot, but in return... [HP -477! 763/1390] A pair of sharp teeth gripped his arm, shaking it violently and threatening to rip it off. "You fucking mutt." Rael groaned in pain and rotated his body, putting the Gray Wolf in a headlock. "Yeah? What now, you sack of flea shit?" He knocked it over the head with the side of his sword. -511! Critical Hit! "Not looking pretty now, are you?" Rael threw the whimpering wolf to the side as a menacing look appeared on his face. "I''ll show you why I earned the title , you damn mutt." "...Arf?" Chapter 18 18: The Beast ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Utility/Healing ?¡ªBalance: 542 Trell¡ª? ? Low-Level Healing Potion: 100 Trell Hmm... I really have to buy it, don''t I? Rael glanced at his HP. [HP: 221/1390] If he were to buy a few of them, his HP would be restored to somewhat safe limits. However, even if it worked, the problem was the monster in front of him ¡ªRock Golem [Level 20] [3100/3100 HP] (+1000) It just had to be a Rock Golem, a monster known for its high physical defenses. On the other hand, it was slow, so Rael felt like the fight might be doable. Therefore, he bought exactly three health potions and swiftly chugged them. [HP +300! 521/1390] Now I won''t be one-shotted. Though if it breaks my arm or something, then I''m fucked either way. Rael grumbled as he readied his sword. Yet the Rock Golem seemed to not want to move, as it merely stared at him. That was why he decided to make the first move. Rael dashed in swiftly, bringing his sword down onto its massive foot. -138! Noticing the number, his eyes momentarily widened, and he suddenly took a step backward, dodging its rocky palm. "You rock piece of shit. Why do you have a 75% physical damage reduction, huh? Do you think it''s fair?" Rael complained out loud. "What is this trial in the first place, huh? I''m meant to kill you while I''m 9 levels down. Not balanced. Not balanced at all." As if hearing his complaints, the Rock Golem suddenly stuck its hand into the ground and tore out a massive patch of grass before throwing it at Rael. "What the f¡ª" Rael dodged out of instinct, his eyes widening. "You are out of line..." He trailed off, spotting a peculiar sight. As the golem took a step forward, a faint glow appeared right where its mouth was, but it disappeared the moment it stopped moving again. I see... Here I was thinking this is a summoned Rock Golem. Turns out it''s a natural one if it has a core. Rael thought with a wide grin. Now all he needed to do was simply close the distance and destroy the core. Simple enough. Therefore, he kicked off the ground, aggressively appearing before the Rock Golem. He stopped just as it was about to crush him with its arms. Letting the Rock Golem''s fists impact the ground, Rael leaped up, traveling alongside its arm until finally, he reached the very top of its head. "Alright, open up, motherfucker." -133! -99! -113! -87! After hitting its head four times, it finally showed a reaction as it crouched down and tore out another chunk of the earth before throwing it at its own head. However, just as it was about to hit, Rael jumped off, watching the Rock Golem stagger backward with its head cracked open. A blue crystal appeared in Rael''s sight, yet the surrounding rocks quickly began to encase it again. But before it could, Rael heaved a deep breath, extended his arm forward, and sent his sword flying straight through the core, shattering it in an instant. -2030! Instant Kill! Nice... Rael sighed. That was tiring. His thoughts were soon interrupted by a row of messages. Oh shit? It''s corny... But it has some real potential now. He thought with satisfaction as he brought his guard up. Yet after five seconds, instead of a monster, the system interface appeared. Yep, give me a moment. he thought, before plopping down on the warm grass. Rael was a bit broke, but nonetheless, he purchased a nice fizzy drink for 25 Trell." Since there was no time limit on when he could accept, Rael waited for his HP to fully restore, which took exactly 6 minutes. While out of combat, his HP restored at a rate of 10% per minute, and MP restored at the same rate, though he had no use for it yet. Now, he was finally ready, and with no clue as to what the final trial could be, he pressed "Yes." Immediately, his vision shifted slightly faster than the previous time, and he soon found himself in some sort of dreary area, with the stench of blood assaulting his nose. "Ugh¡ª" He held himself back from vomiting as he took a glance around. And as he did, several lifeless human and elf corpses appeared in his sight, followed by a distant roar. Rael turned toward it and saw a colossal creature. The white scales and wings of a dragon, the golden mane and paws of a lion, and the multiple dark green heads which looked like they belonged to a hydra. It was fighting against the humans and the other races, who were badly losing. However, there was one thing in particular that caught Rael''s attention. It was the black eyeball that looked eerily similar to the one he had eaten, the same one which caused him to appear in this world in the first place. Soon, his suspicions were confirmed. [04:59] [04:58] The timer... is already ticking? Rael thought with furrowed brows, an uneasy feeling welling in his heart. And it appeared rightfully so when all of a sudden, the ground shook, and in the very next moment, Rael saw countless bodies fly past him. In the distance, he saw the Beast, which looked nothing short of an Eldritch horror. Just this time, it had its completely black eyes set on Rael, as it suddenly outstretched its white wings outward and leaped into the sky. It immediately disappeared from Rael''s sight, even as he tried peering beyond the clouds, there was nothing. But the occasional gusts of strong wind reminded him that the beast was still there. [04:33] [04:32] Heaving a shaky sigh, Rael looked around the battlefield and soon came to the natural conclusion: I''m so fucked. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 19 19: Hidden Intentions Where am I even supposed to go? Rael glanced around. There wasn''t any cover¡ªit was quite literally a flat battlefield, likely flattened by the beast itself. However, Rael spotted something: a group of soldiers running in a particular direction. Therefore, he made haste, running toward them. They were pretty slow, so it didn''t take long for Rael to catch up. He appeared beside a soldier, startling him. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Heya, how you been?" Rael asked, and the soldier began tugging on his sword. "W-Wait! I''m not here to fight¡ªI want to run away too." "You insensitive little shit. It can hear us, so quiet down," one of the burlier soldiers said. "Yes, boss," Rael replied with a salute, causing the soldiers to grow speechless. Nonetheless, it seemed like he found a hint about the quest¡ªwhere he had to go¡ªso that was something, at least. But... He glanced toward the skies and noticed a faint silhouette traveling past at lightning speed. That thing is going to be a massive fucking problem. "New kid," one of the guards whispered. "You''re not a soldier¡ªthen how did you end up here? The civilians were all evacuated months ago." Rael tilted his head. "I... accidentally arrived here, I guess? " "..." The soldiers looked on speechlessly. However, their moment of banter was broken when a giant black fireball came crashing down, incinerating a few of the soldiers who walked in front of him. Out of instinct, he took a few steps backward and ran. Not even a few seconds later, he saw another fireball crashing down on the same place¡ªjust much bigger this time. [03:11] [03:10] These are the longest five minutes of my fucking life! Rael exclaimed inwardly and dashed to the side, dodging a smaller fireball. Nonetheless, he wasn''t safe. Therefore, he continued running forward, trying to still his breathing as he spotted another batch of people. They seemed to know what they were doing more than the previous group, so he began approaching them. But again, before he could even get close, a massive black fireball annihilated them. W-What is happening? This was just like a game a few minutes ago... Rael thought with a grim look. The difficulty had shot up by a landslide, and he was in the very brunt of it all. Furthermore... <50% Movement Speed Reduction!> <90% Decrease in all stats!> Just great... It can''t get any worse than this¡ª Oh, fuck off. Rael exclaimed as he began running even faster. But one thing was a bit strange. He was out in the open, and the beast could easily kill him at any moment. However, the only thing it had done so far was spit out fireballs at the groups he was with. Getting an idiotic idea, Rael slowed his pace to a walk. And just as he expected, the fireballs¡ªalthough aimed at him¡ªwere narrowly missing him. "So it doesn''t want to kill me... but is it trying to do something?" Rael thought. Yet as he did, a ring of black fire suddenly appeared around him, circling him in the very middle. In the very next moment, a black system interface appeared. <###: Don''t commit a foolish action and follow the questline.> "And if I don''t?" Rael said, his gaze directed at the clouds. <###: You shall die.> "Bullshit," Rael scoffed. "If you wanted to kill me, your aim wouldn''t be so shit." Getting a stupid idea, a grin appeared on Rael''s face as he suddenly stopped, standing completely still. "Kill me then," Rael said, spreading out his hands. The penalties¡ªwhich should have killed him¡ªdid not do anything. Instead, he merely stared at the sky, holding eye contact with the massive black eye that was hidden behind the gloomy clouds. "Let''s cut to the chase." Rael shrugged off the dust from his clothing. "What do you want from me?" <###: I don''t need anything, foolish human.> Rael tilted his head before pointing to the charred battlefield. "Then what''s with the scenery? If you truly didn''t want anything, then why not take me to some cozy beach instead?" <###: There are restrictions. You are talking to a fragment of my younger self.> So that''s what it meant when it said it was supposed to be a long-term quest. Rael nodded as a grin appeared on his face. "If it''s nothing, then could you perhaps compensate me for the five minutes you took from me?" <###: I don''t understand how someone as foolish as you was chosen to be the successor. You are getting a reward, and it will happen the moment the timer ticks down to zero.> "Seems a bit anticlimactic, don''t you think?" Rael asked with a raised brow. But the beast didn''t answer, and the timer slowly began ticking down. [0:41] [0:40] <###: One last thing. This is the first and last quest where I will have consciousness. If you try to pull what you did earlier against the future me, you will die, foolish human.> "Sounds like a deal, beast..." Rael trailed off. "What''s your name?" The beast remained silent for a while, and Rael finally clocked what it was trying to do. [0:02] [0:01] <###: It''s...> That motherfucker... Rael grumbled as his vision suddenly shifted. Soon, he found himself in the forest¡ªthe same one right next to Celestara. The boars were still dead, and after taking out the compass, he could tell it was still working. Nonetheless, that was a terrifying experience. Had he paid less attention, he''d probably be haunted by nightmares of that giant beast. But the only thing it seemed to want to do was make him pass the main quest. Soon, Rael found out the reason why. He clicked on the prompt, and the moment he did, his eyes widened. Chapter 20 20: Name and Upgrades "..." Rael looked at the name he was given, and he nearly shed a tear. It''s so shit... The Platinum Overlord? What am I supposed to do? Give my enemies money? Safe to say, he wasn''t happy. On the other hand, however, the other rewards were up to par. ¡ªFragment of the Beast''s Eye (Rare) (Soulbound) - A fragment of the [Supreme Beast Set.] Once all fragments are collected, you shall receive the item: Core of ### (Supreme) (Soulbound). Current Progress: 1/10 Fragments Collected. Supreme rarity, huh? I wonder if that''s the one above Divine. Would be pretty cool. Rael pondered and looked around at the weird glass-like black blob in his hands before putting it in his inventory. Nonetheless, there were still more rewards waiting. ¡ªPremium Override [Special-Unique] Spend currency to cancel or steal an enemy skill. ¡ªPremium Regeneration [Special-Unique] Spend currency to increase MP or HP regeneration. ¡ªPremium Dodge [Special-Unique] Every time the user is attacked, spend currency to automatically dodge the attack. Now this looks interesting. Rael glanced over his options and immediately crossed out the second. The skill''s uses were good, obviously, but soon, the amount of money he''d have would allow him to buy as many potions as he wanted. If anything, he could just buy an alchemy shop. Nonetheless, there were two options left¡ªPremium Override and Premium Dodge. After weighing the pros and cons of each one, Rael soon decided on the first. Skills were expensive, even for him. However, there was one thing players had that he didn''t: a starting class. Since this game favored gacha, the players had to choose a single random blank card out of hundreds on the character creation screen. And, of course, each class had rarities¡ªmeaning if he were to steal the skills of someone with a Legendary class, then... "...Hahaha, yeah, they are fucked." I kind of expected there to be more, but oh well¡ª Rael''s hum was interrupted by another system interface that sprang out of nowhere. Finally... This is the one thing I was waiting for. He wanted to leap into the air in joy, however, he refrained. He felt lighter now, but that was probably because he had nearly shat himself while running from the beast earlier. Either way, it was time to take a look at his status screen¡ªas, after all, the Skeleton Maze would not clear itself. [Status] Name: Rael, The Platinum Overlord Age: 18 Race: Human [+] Boss Monster Variation: The Pay-to-Win Boss [Rare] Level: 11 Experience: 1,317/3,648 [+] ?¡ªBalance: 317 Trell¡ª? ?¡ªInventory¡ª? Storage Space¡ª[7/50] ?¡ªTitles¡ª? Ball Crusher Heavenly Attraction ?¡ªPerks¡ª? - Premium Leveling [Special-Unique] - Premium Evolution [Special-Unique] - Premium Shop [Special-Unique] - Premium Override [Special-Unique] ?¡ªStats¡ª? Health Points (HP): [1,390/1,390] ¡ú [13,900/13,900] Mana Points (MP): [200/200] ¡ú [2,000/2,000] Strength: 60 (+35) Agility: 82 (+50) Constitution: 139 (+100) Intelligence: 20 Wisdom: 60 (+45) Charisma: 110 Attack Power (AP): [245] (+125) Movement Speed Increase: [56%] (+15%) Critical Hit Damage Increase: [4%] (+1%) ?¡ªSkills¡ª? Inspect Monster Level: [Level 9 | 450/2,700] (Common) Basic Weapon Mastery: [Level 11 | 249/3,648] (Common) ?¡ªEquipment¡ª? Weapon: [Sword of the Forgotten Swordsman Replica (Uncommon)] Chest: [Drunken Sentinel''s Chestpiece (Uncommon)] Boots: [Enchanted Banana Peels (Uncommon)] ?¡ªAccessories¡ª? S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Empty ?¡ªQuests¡ª? Active Quests¡ª3 ¡ï Long Main Quest¡ª[Find the Beast (Level ???) | Progress: Incomplete] Tracking Quest¡ª[The Skeleton Maze Dungeon (Level 10-20) | Progress: Incomplete] ?¡ªDungeons¡ª? Dungeons in possession: 1 Active Dungeons: 1 Manage Dungeons [+] ?¡ªOfficial Launch¡ª? Time until V1.0 Release: 146 Days ?¡ªFriends¡ª? Total Friends: 1 ?¡ª¡ª? There weren''t a bunch of changes, but the sheer amount of HP he had now was more than enough to raise his confidence. Now then... Rael pulled out the compass and noticed it was pointing straight west. He began walking forward; however, not even a moment later, the compass pointer twirled around, now pointing behind him. Puzzled, he turned and looked around, seeing nothing out of the ordinary. Is this bugged? Should I contact the developers¡ªmy ass. Rael cut himself off as he stomped on the ground, and the moment he did, he felt mush¡ªalmost as if he had stepped in shit. However, that was not the case. Instead, the mushy stuff he stepped in was moss. He moved his foot around, scraping at the moss until, finally, a blue light came out of the little crack. Bingo. Rael thought with a grin and began using his hands to dig. Finally, there was a hole big enough to fit one person, and he went inside. As he did, he dropped a few meters until he landed on what felt like a paved stone surface, and ahead was the shining blue portal. However, he was a bit confused. This was a quest that was placed on the main board, meaning people saw it very often. He had taken note of the date too, and the quest had been posted several years ago. So why had no one come down here when the compass specifically pointed toward the portal? That was extremely suspicious. But, of course, Rael would go in anyway¡ªsince even if he went through the portal and was hit, he wouldn''t be instantly killed anymore. Approaching the blue portal, Rael stepped through, and the moment he did, cracking sounds rang out from the bottom of his feet. Looking down, he saw several humanoid skeletons scattered across the dark room. The only ray of light came from the crimson sun, which he could see through the window. I still don''t understa¡ª "Mhm." Rael nodded to himself, letting out a defeated sigh. That seems more like it. Chapter 21 21: Skeleton Maze So what am I supposed to do now? Rael glanced around. Frankly, there weren''t any hints, and the darkness wasn''t helping either. It was supposed to be a maze¡ªat least, that was what the system said. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It lied again. Nice. Rael let out a sigh and began trying to navigate the dreary room toward the only window present. When he reached it, he attempted to break it, however, the window merely bounced him back as though it were jello. Yep, that''s not going to work, Rael remarked inwardly and decided on something else entirely. Since there was light and it only lit up a portion of the room, that meant he had to find something in that specific portion. Therefore, he searched, and within minutes, he found an oddly shaped lever made of bones. Unsurprisingly. He pulled it, and immediately, the window¡ªwhich had felt like jello¡ªopened up. Rael glanced around in case there was some other exit, but once he found out there wasn''t, he went straight through the window. The moment he did, he noticed three peculiar blue symbols on the ground, and all of them had numbers in the very middle of them. Is this some kind of trick? There''s 1, 2, and 3, he pondered. The natural assumption would be difficulty; therefore, two would be the safest option. Since he had no better ideas, Rael chose number two and walked up to the weird symbols. Leaning down, he placed his hand on the number two, and the moment he did, a system interface appeared. Fuck you too¡ª His complaints were cut short when, all of a sudden, his vision warped, and he felt like he was teleported elsewhere. He closed his eyes and reopened them, and his vision finally set back in. As it did, he saw the narrow walls around him, which menacingly stretched out into the dark clouds. Added to that, there were multiple stains of dried blood scattered all around the stone ground. To top it all off, Rael heard cracking sounds from the distance. As the red sun shined down to just barely illuminate the place, he spotted a single monster and immediately used the (Inspect Monster) skill. ¡ªSkeleton Warrior [Level 20] [2100/2100 HP] It was just a simple skeleton, dragging a shabby sword across the ground, but since it was a level 20 monster, Rael did not dare underestimate it. Though, it is just a bag of fucking bones. If I land a solid hit, it''s dead... actually dead. Rael thought as he tapped his sword on the wall a couple of times and then sneakily made his way backward. The Skeleton Warrior, instead of staring at him, rushed toward the last spot where he had made a noise, which meant that it was blind. Inwardly scoffing, he picked up a rock off the ground and threw it directly under the Skeleton Warrior, making it strike the ground with its sword. The moment it did, Rael approached, and without even giving it a second thought, smacked the Skeleton Warrior over the head. -551! It hadn''t died in a single hit but was now on the defensive, wildly swinging its sword around. But Rael didn''t panic, as he merely stepped backward before kicking a rock at the nearby wall. The sound it made was enough for the Skeleton Warrior to turn, and Rael proceeded to attack again, hitting the same spot he had earlier. -551! Oh? The damage is fixed at what I can dish out at the maximum against them... This makes things a lot easier, Rael thought with a grin as he repeated the process of tricking the Skeleton Warrior and attacking it. Finally, he dealt the last hit, and the Skeleton Warrior crumbled to dust, leaving behind its sword. And of course, the juicy experience and money. <+313 Trell Acquired> He walked up to the sword and picked it up. ¡ªBasic Copper Sword (Common) Durability: 77/250 Damage: 53-87 +50 Attack Power (AP) +5 Agility +5 Strength It''s not half bad. Rael nodded to himself before checking out the potential profits. It wasn''t bad, but it wasn''t great either, therefore, he threw it into his inventory, keeping it as an emergency money stash. Nonetheless, as he thought he was free, a peculiar sight greeted him. A few more Skeleton Warriors appeared, and each one of them walked with their bony hands alongside the wall, trying to find Rael. In total, he could count 15. Simply, a bunch of experience and money. But as he was prepared to go at it and start killing them, an idea popped into his mind. Skeletons are very vulnerable to blunt damage, so what if... Rael mused, opening the premium shop. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Weapons/Blunt Weapons ?¡ªBalance: 630 Trell ? Goblin''s Blunt Toothpick (Common): 50 Trell ? Massive Pleasure Toy (Common): 200 Trell ? Big Bonker (Common): 500 Trell ? Basic Steel Mace (Uncommon): 1000 Trell Fuck those names, first of all. Rael grumbled and checked through each one of them. Frankly, the only one that was good and would do what he had in mind, was the Basic Steel Mace. And yet he couldn''t even afford it. If he wanted to afford it, he had to kill two more Skeleton Warriors. Letting out a low sigh, Rael decided it was best to not waste money on garbage and simply kill two more. Therefore, he walked up to the wall and sent one large and loud slice across it, drawing the attention of all the Skeleton Warriors present as they began running toward the noise. Rael waited for them to approach, then slipped toward the rear¡ªwhere three Skeleton Warriors lagged behind. Since the walls were narrow, the skeletons ran side by side, allowing Rael to line them up perfectly and slice his sword across their backs. -551! -551! -551! Before the Skeleton Warriors could lash out, Rael sent a barrage of fast attacks, as the strength behind them didn''t matter much. After all, his damage was fixed. -551! -551! -551! -551! -551! -551! Now with only one hit remaining, and the Skeleton Warriors closing in, Rael swiftly stabbed, piercing through each of the Skeleton Warriors'' skulls. -551! -551! -551! <+939 Trell Acquired> And of course, he soon made his purchase. ¡ªBasic Steel Mace (Uncommon) Durability: 500/500 Damage: 51-102 +50 Attack Power +30 Strength After quick calculations, Rael realized his max flat damage was 302. However, as the Skeleton Warrior approached, Rael swung the mace down, shattering the Skeleton Warrior''s bones into bits. -2100! Instant Kill! <+313 Trell Acquired> Safe to say, the max flat damage didn''t mean much when you had a weapon that could counter your opponent. And of course, the grin on Rael''s face was nearly as big as his soon-to-be-filled pockets. It almost seemed like his greedy gaze sent shivers down the skeletons'' spines. But that was impossible. Probably. "My walking money bags... Come here!" Chapter 22 22: Cursed Ring and Elite Monster <+3443 Trell Acquired> <+400 Trell Bonus> Rael let out a sigh, just barely hiding the grin that had formed on his face. The mace was definitely a good choice, and now he had become much, much stronger than before. And, of course, richer. ?¡ªBalance: 5,301 Trell¡ª? Sadly, he couldn''t do much with that amount of money yet¡ªaside from increasing his stats, of course. Instead, Rael wanted to buy some better gear. The best option was obviously to go for a pair of leggings or a helmet. However, he had something a bit different in mind. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Accessories/Rings ?¡ªBalance: 5,301 Trell¡ª? ? Black Oath Ring (Uncommon): 1500 Trell ? Miniature Halo Ring (Uncommon): 2000 Trell ? The Forsaken Ring (Uncommon): 3000 Trell ? Ring of the Hollow King (Cursed-Rare): 4500 Trell Oh boy... My wallet is going to be... Hm? Rael looked through the options and eventually landed on the bottom-most one. It was the first Rare item he had seen¡ªand one for so cheap at that. But there was a small problem. It was cursed. ¡ªRing of the Hollow King (Cursed-Rare) Durability: Infinite +30 Strength +30 Agility +100 Constitution +50 Intelligence +50 Wisdom Curse: [King''s Bargain] ¡ú At any point, the wearer can choose to give up the ring in exchange for one guaranteed Epic rarity item. However, the wearer will become the target of the Hollow King''s eternal pursuit. If only it were a Hollow Queen... Rael trailed off before swiftly snapping back into focus. Right. It''s a good item, and the stats are more than lucrative. The problem is, I have no idea who the Hollow King is. As greedy as he was, he also didn''t want to get killed. But that was the catch¡ªif he never took the deal, then the curse wouldn''t even activate. So I can just throw the ring into a ditch... Or get a player to take the deal and steal the Epic rarity item. Safe to say, he was getting that ring. Therefore, with a mere press of a button, he became broke again¡ªwhile at the same time gaining an immense amount of stats. And it showed. ?¡ªStats¡ª? Health Points (HP): [13,900/13,900] ¡ú [23,900/23,900] Mana Points (MP): [2,000/2,000] ¡ú [7,000/7,000] Strength: 60 (+35) ¡ú 90 (+65) Agility: 82 (+50) ¡ú 112 (+80) Constitution: 139 (+100) ¡ú 239 (+200) Intelligence: 20 ¡ú 70 (+50) Wisdom: 60 (+45) ¡ú 110 (+95) Charisma: 110 Attack Power (AP): 245 (+125) ¡ú 305 (+125) Movement Speed Increase: 56% (+15%) ¡ú 71% (+15%) Critical Hit Damage Increase: 4% (+1%) ¡ú 6.5% (+1%) Yep... Rael did some quick calculations inside his mind. If he were to use his sword, his maximum per-hit damage was now a whopping 662. In exchange? He simply had to not press the giant, definitely-not-lucrative button to consume the curse. Easy. However, despite getting stronger, he was still only at the start of the maze. Therefore, he had to get a move on. Rael walked along the walls, in whichever direction seemed to make the walls extend outward. But it got him thinking. This was a level 25¨C40 difficulty quest, so where were the strong monsters? So far, so go¡ª His words were cut off by him stepping onto some sort of pressure plate. Rael instinctively took a step backward, narrowly dodging a pike that shot out of the left wall. Okay... Now that''s going to be a bit of a problem, he grumbled inwardly before checking between two of his options. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Utility/Dungeon/Mixed ?¡ªBalance: 801 Trell¡ª? ? Dungeon Map [One-Time Use] (Common): 1000 Trell ? Trap Detection [Skill] (Common): 1500 Trell While he couldn''t afford either of them, the Dungeon Map item seemed pretty worth it in this scenario. Therefore, Rael proceeded to make his way carefully through the maze, occasionally stepping on a trap. However, as if by sheer reflex, he always managed to dodge. Until he didn''t. [HP -900! 23,000/23,900] He narrowly avoided the attack, yet it still dealt 900 damage to him. I''d be fucked if I hadn''t become a rare boss monster. Rael let out a relieved sigh before finally encountering a group of monsters. Five in total, with one of them dressed in a black robe. ¡ªSkeleton Warrior (x2) [Level 20] [2100/2100 HP] ¡ªSkeleton Archer (x2) [Level 20] [2100/2100 HP] ¡ªSkeleton Fire Mage (Rare Elite) [Level 25] [16,250/16,250 HP] Well shit. Rael grumbled. Even with his mace, he would not be able to kill that mage in an instant. But the amount of EXP and money it would give would simply be overwhelming. Steeling his resolve, Rael threw a rock at the wall, distracting both the Warriors and the Archers. Giving bows to blind skeletons wasn''t a great idea. But oh well. -2100! -2100! Instant Kill! <+616 Trell Acquired> Free experience was free experience. However, as he lifted his mace from the broken bones of the Skeleton Archers, a massive fireball appeared in his sight. You''ve got to be kidding me. Rael straightened his back and suddenly pulled out his sword. The fireball was soon released, scorching the bones of the nearby skeletons as it traveled directly at Rael. Since he had no way to dodge, Rael swung his sword down in an attempt to slice the fireball in half. However, all that managed to do was make it miss his face. As for the rest of his body... [HP -7521! 15,479/23,900] [HP -500! 14,979/23,900 (Burning)] That took a third of my HP in a single hit, jeez. Rael let out a pained groan, trying his best to keep it together despite the searing pain. He noticed the Skeleton Fire Mage beginning to cast again. Therefore, he dashed toward it. However, Rael encountered two Skeleton Warriors, narrowly dodging them before caving in their skulls with his mace. -2100! -2100! Instant Kill! <+616 Trell Acquired> The Skeleton Fire Mage seemed startled by the close proximity, and before it could finish casting, Rael swung the mace directly at its head. -5500! Critical Hit! It was sent tumbling down to the ground face-first, its black robe ripping against the floor. But just as Rael was about to swing down again, the mace in his hand suddenly trembled before falling into pieces. ¡ªBasic Steel Mace (Uncommon) Durability: -1/500 Rael glanced between the system interface and the Skeleton Fire Mage lying on the ground, staring vaguely at him, puzzled. Yet the confusion didn''t last long, as it soon began casting a massive fireball. With shaky hands, Rael reached into the Premium Shop and bought himself another Basic Steel Mace, gripping it tightly. "You made me waste money, you bony fuck." He dashed in, slid under the massive fireball, and landed behind the Skeleton Fire Mage, thwacking it over the head with the mace again. -5500! Critical Hit! With one more hit remaining, Rael confidently threw the mace at the Skeleton Fire Mage''s torso, splitting it in two. -5500! Critical Hit! Rael let out a sigh. Since it was only a mage, it was way too easy to deal with. Soon, the system messages began appearing one by one, showcasing the unreal amount of experience and money he got from a single monster. But there was one message in particular that stood out. ¡ªBasic Steel Mace (Uncommon) S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Durability: -1/500 Bruh. Chapter 23 23: Skeleton Staff and Fireball <+2390 Trell Acquired> <+200 Trell Bonus> Only a single level up? Rael thought with furrowed brows. After all that work, and all that¡ª [HP -500! 14,479/23,900 (Burning)] Shit, right. He quickly stopped himself as he opened the premium shop. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Utility/Fire/Extinguish ?¡ªBalance: 3,623 Trell¡ª? ? Fire Extinguisher (Common): 50 Trell Oh my... For the first time since opening the premium shop and receiving a freebie, he encountered a normal deal. Therefore, he bought it and quickly sprayed himself until the fire was completely gone. <+7 Constitution> A stingy amount, but he would take it. Now, he could finally make the purchases he wanted. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Utility/Dungeon/Mixed ?¡ªBalance: 3,573 Trell¡ª? ? Dungeon Map [One-Time Use] (Common): 1000 Trell He bought it and, for now, kept it in his hand as he picked up the items on the ground. Yet as he did, he noticed the robe, along with the colorful staff the Fire Mage had held, scattered on the ground. Rael walked up to it and inspected the two items. ¡ªBasic Skeleton Elemental Staff (Uncommon) Durability: 922/1000 Special Option: Unlock skill: Fireball (Common) +50 Constitution +75 Intelligence That''s very convenient, though I wonder if a common Fireball is enough to kill these skeleton fuckers. Rael pondered before moving on to the robe. ¡ªShabby Robe Crafted From Dung (Common) Durability: 19/100 +5 Constitution No thank you. Rael threw the robe onto the ground before wiping his hands on the wall. Still, the staff did interest him, so he decided to try it out in the next fight. Also, it was about time he used the dungeon map scroll. Rael took it out of his pocket and ripped it apart, revealing an interface in front of him. It displayed the entire maze, as he would expect. At the same time, it showed the location of all the monsters present. Rael glanced around for a few moments, playing around with the map, and by accident, clicked on a red dot. ¡ªSkeleton Brute (Rare Elite) [Level 30] [23,250/23,250 HP] Oh... my monster inspection skill works like this? Rael thought with interest as he began clicking all around the map until, finally, he narrowed down all the Elite monsters. ¡ªSkeleton Abomination (Rare Elite) [Level ??] [41,500/41,500 HP] (+10,000) ¡ªSkeleton Knife Thrower (Rare Elite) [Level 30] [23,250/23,250 HP] In total, there were three. However, the number of regular monsters numbered in the few hundreds. It was safe to say that if he cleared this entire place out, the amount of money and experience he''d earn would be massive Nonetheless, he didn''t give up on checking the map out, as he eventually found an orange dot. The moment he checked it out, Rael''s gaze sharpened. ¡ªSkeleton King (Rare Boss) [Level ???] [82,200/82,200 HP] Fuck... My inspection skill can''t even see their levels, but they aren''t too far apart for me not to see their HP. Rael pondered. Killing them would be difficult, and for that, he definitely needed a plan. Is it actually time to introduce magic? If he did, then it might actually be doable. Skeletons were made out of bones, so they were naturally weak to fire. Rael equipped the Elemental Staff by merely putting it in his second hand, and soon, he was able to see the stats of the skill. Fireball: [Level 1 | 0/100] (Common) ¡ªCast a fireball, dealing 250¨C750 Fire Damage and inflicting enemies with the Burning status ailment. Enemies set on fire by the skill take 150 damage every 10 seconds. Cost: 300 MP That''s pretty decent. Rael whistled absentmindedly. However, something appeared in the corner of his vision, making his eyes widen. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Huuuh? Rael couldn''t believe what he was seeing. The developers had removed magic-enhancing stats, as they were... A grin appeared on Rael''s face. The game hasn''t released yet... That meant he''d just gotten a massive buff. ?¡ªStats¡ª? Health Points (HP): [23,900/23,900] ¡ú [29,600/29,600] Mana Points (MP): [7,000/7,000] ¡ú [14,500/14,500] Strength: 90 (+65) Agility: 112 (+80) Constitution: 239 (+200) ¡ú 296 (+250) Intelligence: 70 (+50) ¡ú 145 (+125) Wisdom: 110 (+95) Charisma: 110 (NEW) Spell Power (SP): 290 Attack Power (AP): 305 (+125) Movement Speed Increase: 71% (+15%) Critical Hit Damage Increase: 6.5% (+1%) So it''s double my Intelligence stat, similar to the Strength stat. Rael nodded to himself and let out a satisfied sigh. He was definitely going to abuse this to the maximum extent. Since he was impatient, Rael navigated toward the nearest Rare ranked Elite monster. ¡ªSkeleton Knife Thrower (Rare Elite) [Level 30] [23,250/23,250 HP] It seemed the easiest to deal with, as it looked like the skeleton of a goblin. However, it had several small bone knives strapped to its wrists, coupled with the protection of a few more monsters. ¡ªSkeleton Warrior (x5) [Level 20] [2100/2100 HP] No archers this time, which made it perfect because Rael could simply use his skill from the sidelines. Taking a deep breath, Rael extended the colorful staff forward, and in the very next moment, cast the skill, Fireball. [MP -300 14,200/14,500 (Fireball)] Just as the prompt of his mana being used appeared, a massive ball of fire shot out from the tip of the colorful staff, heading straight toward the skeletons. Rael''s eyes widened as the fireball sped toward the unsuspecting skeletons, soon making contact. -2100! -2100! -2100! -2100! -2100! Instant Kill! -15,000! Critical Hit! Holy fuck. Rael exclaimed, watching as the Rare Elite monster was set on fire, confused about what was going on. It tried throwing knives all around, but they obviously missed Rael. And soon, he cast the skill again. [MP -300 13,900/14,500 (Fireball)] -15,000! Critical Hit! <+1565 Trell Acquired> <+3000 Trell Acquired> <+400 Trell Bonus> Well... Rael let out a sigh of disbelief as he checked his balance. ?¡ªBalance: 8,538 Trell¡ª? There was one thing in particular he was really close to getting, something he had thought about earlier. And that was, Chapter 24 24: Preparations For The Boom Now that he had rested up a little bit and finished preparations, it was about time Rael began clearing this maze out. With that, however, came the skill upgrades as well. Fireball: [Level 1 ¡ú 8 | 1,852/2,263] (Common) ¡ªCast a fireball, dealing 250¨C750 ¡ú 600-1800 Fire Damage and inflicting enemies with the (Burning) status ailment. Enemies set on fire by the skill take 150 ¡ú 325 damage every 10 seconds. Cost: 300 MP ¡ú 475 MP The damage increased by a lot, and frankly, it made his good melee weapon seem insignificant. However, both magic and physical combat had their pros and cons, which Rael would explore later on. For now, however, he looked over the map, swiftly counting each and every one of the monsters present. In total, aside from the two elites and the boss, only 101 skeletons remained. But just thinking about the amount of experience he would get was more than enough to get Rael excited. That was why he decided to try one genius idea out. The walls are made of stone... but... Rael approached the wall and stabbed his sword into it. A small gash was formed, but definitely not big enough for what he wanted to do. Therefore, he turned to the big-boy weapons. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Utility/Explosives ?¡ªBalance: 8,538 Trell¡ª? ? Hand Grenade (Common): 2000 Trell ? Thermite Charge (Common): 2500 Trell ? Stick of Dynamite (Common): 4000 Trell ? Cryo Bomb (Uncommon): 8000 Trell Hahahaha.... Fuck... Rael''s hands shook as he glanced at the Cryo Bomb. ¡ªCryo Bomb (Uncommon) Durability: 1/1 Ice Damage: 5,000-15,000 Special Option: Remote detonation. Upon detonation, trigger the skill: Frost Nova (Rare) Frost Nova (Rare) ¡ªCover a 100-meter diameter with frost, dealing 1,000 Ice damage per second to enemies within it. Duration: 30 Seconds Without wasting a second, Rael bought it. His plan was to bait all the monsters to one location and then detonate the Cryo Bomb, effectively killing all of them. An 8,000 Trell investment sounded pretty lucrative when he would get multiple times that in just a couple of minutes. The grin that had formed on his face couldn''t be hidden as he dug at the wall, until finally, a hole just barely big enough formed. He was in a fairly open space, so all that was left to do was simply put the explosive in the wall and bring the monsters over to it. For a menacing bomb, it was surprisingly only the size of a hand grenade, but despite that, Rael trusted in the description before placing it inside the wall. Taking a deep breath, he checked the map and figured out a looping path that would bring him back to where he currently was. But just before he went, there was something he had to do, even if it was minor. Strength: 20 Trell Agility: 20 Trell Constitution: 20 Trell Intelligence: 20 Trell Wisdom: 20 Trell Charisma: 20 Trell Agility: 112 (+80) ¡ú 130 (+80) Movement Speed Increase: 71% (+15%) ¡ú 80% (+15%) A little more speed is always best, Rael thought with satisfaction and glanced at his balance. ?¡ªBalance: 18 Trell¡ª? He almost felt like crying, but the gains would be massive either way. Therefore, Rael finished his preparations and glanced around, making sure he didn''t forget where the bomb was. And soon, he began running, narrowly dodging the traps that shot out of the wall, as he arrived before the first group of monsters. "Fuckers! Come get some of this!" He yelled while dragging his sword across the ground, making sure they would follow him. And they did, much faster than he expected, in fact. He sped up, arriving toward another group, and then another, until finally, he ran into one of the Elite monsters. ¡ªSkeleton Brute (Rare Elite) [Level 30] [23,250/23,250 HP] It was one massive skeleton, almost like what he could expect to see from an ogre. Rael took a deep breath before jumping upward and landing right on the Skeleton Brute''s bony shoulders. "Heya, what do you say we¡ª" His words were cut short by the onslaught of arrows flying toward him, which he blocked by using the Skeleton Brute''s body. Nonetheless, that seemed to be enough to anger the massive thing as it turned to where Rael was and began running toward him. Taking that as a success, Rael continued throughout the maze, making as much noise as possible, until he finally made it to the second and final Elite monster of this maze. ¡ªSkeleton Abomination (Rare Elite) [Level ??] [41,500/41,500 HP] (+10,000) Honestly, he didn''t even know what to make of it. It was a skeleton, sure, but its bones were fully black, and they were all in weird positions. Coupled with that, he could see strange black ooze dripping from its bones, sending a shiver down his spine. Rael proceeded to carefully guide around it before slamming his sword on the wall a couple of times. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As he did, the entire area he was in turned toward him, and, followed by the already-following shit ton of monsters, he moved on. There were only a couple more areas left, excluding the boss. The boss area just so happened to be a separate room, so if he went inside, he would be sandwiched by the other monsters behind him. Nonetheless, Rael ran up to another group and tagged them before swiftly checking his map. That''s all of them, he concluded, and soon made his way back to where he placed the bomb. The ground was shaking from the number of monsters that were still behind him, but aside from a grin and his pockets practically begging for money, he felt pretty calm. Soon, he arrived there and stared at the blue bomb before glancing backward. Monsters were swarming in, and now all that was left to do was get to safety. Rael had made a few holes in the wall, and by jumping upward, he jammed his sword in them, climbing as high as he could, until finally, he was nearly 20 meters above the ground, overlooking all the skeletons. They were trying to climb toward him, some standing practically in front of the bomb. Therefore, Rael made sure his leverage was solid enough not to fall, as he looked to the side. He pressed "Yes" without hesitation and waited for the explosion to kill them all. However, nothing happened, which made Rael tilt his head. Huh? Is this shit broken¡ª ¡ªBOOOOOOOOOM Chapter 25 25: A Wide Selection Fuck! Rael exclaimed inwardly, barely holding on to the shaking sword. The only thing he could hear was the clattering of bones as they began clearly dissipating, and with that, a bunch of messages. -2100! Instant Kill! (x101) -41,500! Instant Kill! -23,250! Instant Kill! Thankfully, the messages all combined into one, else, he''d probably be blind by now. Aside from that, though, he wasn''t left unscathed either. [HP -5000! 24,600/29,600] What a stingy fucking bomb. A level 2 Frostbite status effect. From something like that, I expected Level 3 at minimum, Rael grumbled despite the situation. However, all of a sudden, everything stopped. The sounds halted, and his feet, which had been feeling cold since earlier, were now at normal temperature again. Yet as Rael glanced downward, the only thing he saw was heaps of dust scattering in the wind. But that was not all he saw, as the main attraction was none other than the several system interfaces. <+19,093 Trell Acquired> <+12,520 Trell Acquired> ¡ªSkeleton Abomination (Rare Elite) [Level 35] Killed! Experience: +6,385> <+3,645 Trell Acquired> ¡ªSkeleton Brute (Rare Elite) [Level 30] Killed! Experience: +5,265> <+3,000 Trell Acquired> <+1,700 Trell Bonus> "Pfft... Hah..." Rael held himself back as he gently dropped down to the ground, still processing this new heap of experience and money. He was rich, even if only for a bit. First thing on the agenda, however, was getting rid of the Frostbite status effect. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Utility/Potions/Frost ?¡ªBalance: 39,976 Trell¡ª? ? Frost Cleansing Potion (Uncommon): 5,000 Trell Fuck... Rael grumbled, but purchased it nonetheless, before swiftly chugging it down. <+25 Constitution> It was not a stingy amount this time, which made him relieved. Nonetheless, now he had something else he wanted to do. Rael made his way over to the wall and sat down before opening his status screen and clicking on his race. He clicked on it again and soon, a row of options appeared. 1. Frostborn (Uncommon) ¡ªEvolve into a being who is heavily resistant to frost but is greatly weakened against fire-based attacks. +50 To All Stats +50% Damage Increase to all Frost-based attacks. +15% Reduced Damage from Frost-based attacks. -75% Damage Resistance to Fire Gain Skill: Minor Frost Manipulation (Common) 2. High Human (Common) ¡ªEvolve along the same path, increasing base stats moderately. +20 To All Stats +10% Damage Bonus to All Attacks and Spells Gain Skill: Sword of Valor (Common) 3. Goblin (Common) ¡ªEvolve into a greedy goblin. -50 All Stats New Stat: Midget Thievery New Stat: Greedy Luck Rael looked through his options with a frown on his face. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The last evolution path was definitely the system''s way of saying "Fuck you." But aside from that, Frostborn seemed interesting, yet it limited his options by making him vulnerable to fire. As for High Human... It was just simple, and not as exciting. But since that was the only option, Rael''s fingers hovered toward it. Yet just before he pressed on High Human, a certain popup entered his sight. It had already cost him 10,000 Trell just to view those shitty options, and spending another 10,000 seemed even worse. However, he couldn''t help but consider it. And after just a few more moments, Rael let out a sigh before testing his luck. ?¡ªBalance: 14,976 Trell¡ª? Rael stared speechlessly at his balance, wanting to slam his head into the wall. But since he hadn''t had dinner yet, he refrained. Finally, the new races appeared, making his eyes widen. 1. Beastkin (Common) ¡ªEvolve into a humanoid with animalistic traits, offering physical boosts at the cost of finesse. +100 to Strength +125 to Agility -1000 to Intelligence -500 to Charisma Gain Skill: Beast''s Senses (Common) Gain Stat: Animal Instincts (Common) 2. Naturekin (Common) ¡ªEvolve into a being with a strong connection to the natural world, granting minor control over plants and the environment. +100 to Intelligence +100 to Wisdom +15% Damage Increase to Nature-based Spells +10% Increased Healing from Nature-based Sources -10% Damage Resistance to Fire Gain Skill: Vine Growth (Common) Gain Skill: Nature''s Favor (Uncommon) 3. Crystalweaver (Rare) ¡ªEvolve into a being able to manipulate and craft weapons from living crystals, offering versatile utility in battle but weaker physical attacks. +250 to Intelligence +25% Increased Crystal-based Damage +15% Resistance to all types of Magic Damage -15% Reduced Physical Damage Dealt Gain Skill: Crystal Weaving (Rare) Gain Skill: Gemstone Shield (Common) Holy shit... Wait a second... Rael paused, reading through all of them. Right off the bat, there were many more options to choose from, but in the end, there was only one obvious choice. Crystalweaver. It reduced his Physical Damage by -15%, However, Rael had plenty of items backing him, and frankly, the effect would be minor considering the skills which he would get. There was one concern, but as he looked at the very bottom of the interface, he found his answer. Rael took a deep breath and clicked on the Crystalweaver race. Immediately, another popup appeared. So many instructions... Rael felt like his head was spinning. So if I evolve 5 more times, I can choose to become a dragon who shoots out crystals and crafts items... That sounds fun. Nonetheless, after all his overthinking, the deciding button appeared. A grin appeared on his face as, without wasting even a moment, Rael pressed "Yes." Immediately, he felt his knees grow weak, arms heavy. Heavy to the point where he plopped down onto the ground, his vision slowly darkening as he was met with two final system messages. Despite his consciousness fading, he only had a single thought on his mind. I should''ve bought a pillow... Chapter 26 26: Crystal Weaving "Ughh..." Rael got up groggily, leaning against the wall as he inspected his body. Aside from the sweat¡ªor he hoped it was sweat¡ªhe was fine. His eyes did feel a little strange, but that was in the race-changing description, so he didn''t think much of it. Nonetheless, the interface he had seen earlier appeared before his eyes again. Crystal Weaving: [Level 1 | 0/100] (Rare) ¡ªAllows the manipulation and shaping of crystalline structures to create weapons, armor, and constructs. Base Cost: 10,000 MP Increases crafted item durability by 20% S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Increases crafted item stats by 10% Reduces MP cost for maintaining crystal constructs by 5% Gemstone Shield [Level 1 | 0/100] (Common) ¡ªCasts a crystal gemstone shield around you or an ally, reflecting 20% of damage taken back to the attacker. Cost: 5,000 MP Both skills seemed overpowered¡ªespecially Crystal Weaving, which let him create whatever he wanted for a measly 10,000 MP, an amount he could regain in minutes. As for the Gemstone Shield? It was something he could find many uses for, but that would only be the case in the future. For now, he let out a relieved breath since it was over, and opened his status screen for the first time in a while. [Status] Name: Rael, The Platinum Overlord Age: 18 Race: Crystalweaver (Rare) [+] Boss Monster Variation: The Pay-to-Win Boss [Rare Boss] Level: 16 ¡ú 23 Experience: 9,470/11,030 ?¡ªBalance: 17,598 Trell¡ª? ?¡ªInventory¡ª? Storage Space¡ª[44/50] ?¡ªTitles¡ª? Ball Crusher Heavenly Attraction Explosive Maniac ?¡ªPerks¡ª? Premium Leveling [Special-Unique] Premium Evolution [Special-Unique] Premium Shop [Special-Unique] Premium Override [Special-Unique] ?¡ªStats¡ª? Health Points (HP): [29,600/29,600] ¡ú [32,100/32,100] Mana Points (MP): [14,500/14,500] ¡ú [39,500/39,500] Strength: 90 (+65) Agility: 112 (+80) ¡ú 130 (+80) Constitution: 296 (+250) ¡ú 321 (+250) Intelligence: 145 (+125) ¡ú 395 (+125) Wisdom: 110 (+95) Charisma: 110 Spell Power (SP): 290 ¡ú 790 Attack Power (AP): 305 (+125) Movement Speed Increase: 71% (+15%) ¡ú 80% (+15%) Critical Hit Damage Increase: 6.5% (+1%) ?¡ªAdvanced Stats¡ª? +25% Increased Crystal-based Damage +15% Resistance to all types of Magic Damage -15% Reduced Physical Damage Dealt ?¡ªSkills¡ª? Inspect Monster Level: [Level 9 ¡ú 13 | 4,322/4,687] (Common) Basic Weapon Mastery: [Level 11 ¡ú 12 | 249/3,648 ¡ú 969/4,157] (Common) [+] Fireball: [Level 8 | 1,852/2,263] (Common) Crystal Weaving: [Level 1 | 0/100] (Rare) Gemstone Shield [Level 1 | 0/100] (Common) ?¡ªEquipment¡ª? Weapon: [Sword of the Forgotten Swordsman Replica (Uncommon)] Off-Hand Weapon: [Basic Skeleton Elemental Staff (Uncommon)] Chest: [Drunken Sentinel''s Chestpiece (Uncommon)] Boots: [Enchanted Banana Peels (Uncommon)] ?¡ªAccessories¡ª? Ring: [Ring of the Hollow King (Cursed-Rare)] ?¡ªQuests¡ª? Active Quests¡ª3 ¡ï Long Main Quest¡ª[Find the Beast (Level ???) | Progress: Incomplete] Tracking Quest¡ª[The Skeleton Maze Dungeon (Level 25-40) | Progress: Incomplete] ?¡ªDungeons¡ª? Dungeons in possession: 1 Active Dungeons: 1 Manage Dungeons [+] ?¡ªOfficial Launch¡ª? Time until V1.0 Release: 145 Days ?¡ªFriends¡ª? Total Friends: 1 ?¡ª¡ª? That Spell Power increase is... Damn. I also got my money from the dungeon... Rael let out a haggard breath, but then his gaze landed on the Basic Weapon Mastery skill. It had a plus beside it, which he immediately pressed. Nope. Rael quickly shot the system down. It was a skill he would upgrade, but definitely not when he was this broke. As for his race, which still had the plus beside it, the story was a bit different. The options were nearly the same, but now, the race change would no longer be random, and it also cost more. After playing around with the system for a bit, he decided it was time to put his Crystal Weaving skill to use. He focused on it, and a small interface appeared. Available MP: [39,500/39,500] Tilting his head, Rael pressed on the option, and another interface appeared, asking which piece he wanted. Pants were pretty important, so he went for that, and soon, a few popups appeared with multiple sliders. Rael input the bare minimum, which was 10,000 MP, before simply agreeing with the recommended style and lastly, the material infusion. It seemed interesting, so he pressed "Yes." However, he was sadly shot down. Oh Right... Rael let out a sigh. He was definitely not going to spend more money on an item he could make every few minutes. Finally, the last panel appeared. He pressed "Yes," and immediately saw his MP being drained, followed by a pair of blue, almost leather-like pants appearing in his arms. [MP -10,000 29,500/39,500 (Crystal Weaving)] Rael ignored those messages as he inspected these so-called leggings he crafted. ¡ªCrystallite Leggings (Common) Durability: 120/120 (+20%) +11 Strength (+10%) +11 Agility (+10%) +11 Constitution (+10%) +16 Intelligence (+10%) +5 Wisdom (+10%) No special options and the durability was low. However, for an armor piece so easy to make, these stats were unbelievable. So, he swiftly put the leggings on. Yet, as he did, he also noticed something in the corner of his vision. Crystal Weaving: [Level 1 ¡ú 3 | 117/520] (Rare) ¡ªAllows the manipulation and shaping of crystalline structures to create weapons, armor, and constructs. Base Cost: 10,000 MP Increases crafted item durability by 20% ¡ú 30% Increases crafted item stats by 10% ¡ú 14% Reduces MP cost for maintaining crystal constructs by 5% ¡ú 7% Alright, this is actually overpowered, Rael remarked before turning his gaze to the map he had. There was only one more monster left, and he immediately began heading toward it. After a few minutes, he finally arrived. ¡ªSkeleton King (Rare Boss) [Level 40] [82,200/82,200 HP] It was a skeleton roughly the same height as Rael, wearing a full black armor set and leisurely sitting on an imposing throne made of bones. So far, this was the strongest monster he had seen, but instead of feeling fear, Rael was excited. After all, it would give him more money than even the elite monsters. "Oi!" Rael yelled to get its attention, pointing the Elemental Staff right at the boss monster. "Let''s play, shall we?" Chapter 27 27: The Skeleton King Boss Monster The Skeleton King stood up from its throne and extended its hand. As it did, a massive bone javelin manifested. Before Rael could question it or attack, it was sent flying right at him. He narrowly dodged, his banana peels almost slipping off his feet. Cheap item. I should''ve just crafted boots instead. Rael grumbled, glancing at the Skeleton King. The next moment, he began casting, and soon, a massive fireball flew toward the Skeleton King, striking its black chestpiece. [MP -475 40,625/41,100 (Fireball)] -2455! Huh? Rael''s eyes widened. That barely even made a dent in the Skeleton King''s HP. Where did my chunky 10,000 per hit go? he complained and was met with another bone javelin. This time, it managed to slightly graze him. [HP -1550 31,650/33,200] Hmm... Rael hummed in thought for a moment before coming to one simple conclusion. This won''t be easy. One way to get the desired effect was to strip down the Skeleton King''s armor. However, that Fireball from earlier only managed to leave a small scorch mark. That meant he could do two things: one, get a better staff, or two, get a better skill. Therefore, he quickly opened the Premium Shop and searched through his possibilities. Finally, he stumbled upon one interesting skill. ¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Skills/Crystal/Armor Piercing ?¡ªBalance: 17,598 Trell¡ª? ? Fractured Prism (Uncommon): 10,000 Trell It was expensive, sure, but the description more than made up for it. Fractured Prism: (Uncommon) ¡ªSummon a floating prism that fractures over time, releasing crystalline shards that deal 8,500 Crystal Damage every 4 seconds to all enemies within range. The shards explode in a concentrated blast, dealing an extra 1,500 Crystal Damage and stripping armor. Radius: 10 Meters Duration: 12 Seconds Cost: 5,000 MP He pressed on it with hesitance, and soon, a new skill appeared in his system screen. However, as he noticed the Skeleton King summon yet another javelin, Rael immediately used the new skill. [MP -5000 35,625/41,100 (Fractured Prism)] A large crystal shot out of the ground, refracting what little light there was around him. But not even a moment later, he heard a loud crack, followed by a small rainbow crystal projectile embedding itself into the Skeleton King''s chest. -11650! sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That was not all, as before the Skeleton King could even react, the rainbow crystal lit up in a bright light and exploded silently. -3414! Critical Hit! Yet despite it being silent, it was certainly deadly, as a small hole appeared in the Skeleton King''s armor, slightly revealing its bones. However, before Rael could get too excited, the Skeleton King suddenly dashed away back to its throne, getting out of range from his skill. Yet that was not all, as the Skeleton King materialized a javelin, and instead of throwing it toward Rael, stabbed itself through the chest. What is it doing...? Rael tilted his head, when all of a sudden, the Skeleton King lit up in a red light. And with that, a new popup: ¡ªAwakened Skeleton King (Vice-General Class Boss) [Level ??] [255,000/255,000 HP] Rael''s eyes widened at the boss''s rank. It was Vice-General class, meaning it was one rank above Rare. That meant the boss was now at least Level 50. But aside from the rank, its stats were basically double what they had been a few moments ago, and at Vice-General and up, Boss Monsters really start to become troublesome. Still, this pissant will give me that much more experience now. Rael thought with a sly grin, which froze upon meeting the Boss Monster''s red eyes. It could see now, which made the fight that much harder. Nonetheless, Rael''s mission was pretty simple. Break its armor, kill the boss monster. Easy. The Skeleton King manifested a javelin again, just this time, many times faster, then threw it directly at Rael. He sidestepped, with only his clothes being ripped. However... [HP -7100 24,550/33,200] "How... You bony fucker..." Rael glared at the boss monster before using his new skill. [MP -5000 30,625/41,100 (Fractured Prism)] [MP -5000 25,625/41,100 (Fractured Prism)] [MP -5000 20,625/41,100 (Fractured Prism)] [MP -5000 15,625/41,100 (Fractured Prism)] The Skeleton King didn''t see this coming, and since Rael planted the prisms in the middle of the boss room, they all shot straight toward the boss monster, who couldn''t approach Rael at all. -11650! -11650! -11650! -11650! It lit up like earlier, followed by: -3414! Critical Hit! -3414! Critical Hit! -3414! Critical Hit! -3414! Critical Hit! Finally, an opening became visible, and the area where the Skeleton King had stabbed itself earlier finally crumbled, revealing its entire chest. It''s time... Rael prepared himself with a grin and waited for the Prisms to fracture again, until eventually, they did. -12436! Critical Hit! -12436! Critical Hit! -12436! Critical Hit! -12436! Critical Hit! Just before they exploded, Rael used his Fireball skill. [MP -475 15,150/41,100 (Fireball)] -15000! Critical Hit! And soon, the prisms lit up, before detonating. -3414! Critical Hit! -3414! Critical Hit! -3414! Critical Hit! -3414! Critical Hit! Rael felt like his progress was good, so he checked the boss monster''s HP again. ¡ªAwakened Skeleton King (Vice-General Class Boss) [Level ??] [116,344/255,000 HP] He had managed to dwindle its HP down quite a lot, and frankly, it seemed like he was about to win any second now. However, a sudden popup made him stop. The fuck do you mean ''unavoidable''!? Rael thought in panic as he extended his arm forward, preparing the perfect timing¡ªwhich was in exactly a second. -12436! Critical Hit! -12436! Critical Hit! -12436! Critical Hit! -12436! Critical Hit! The rainbow crystals embedded themselves into the Skeleton King''s glowing red eyes. At the same time, Rael began spam-casting Fireball. [MP -475 14,675/41,100 (Fireball)] [MP -475 14,200/41,100 (Fireball)] [MP -475 13,725/41,100 (Fireball)] [MP -475 13,250/41,100 (Fireball)] -15000! Critical Hit! -15000! Critical Hit! -15000! Critical Hit! -15000! Critical Hit! Huh? Why can''t I¡ª ¡ªBasic Skeleton Elemental Staff (Uncommon) Durability: -1/1000 "Piece of shit item." Rael scoffed, and despite his momentary worry, the rest of the embedded crystals soon exploded, destroying the Skeleton King''s skull in the process. -3414! Critical Hit! -3414! Critical Hit! -3414! Critical Hit! -3414! Critical Hit! ¡ªGabriel, The Awakened Skeleton King (Vice-General Class Boss) [Level 50] Killed! Experience: +48,500> <+28,660 Trell Acquired> <+1200 Trell Bonus> Rael didn''t accept right away. Instead, he stared at a particular number that had caught his eye. I cleared the second dungeon... And there were three symbols at the start... A massive grin began spreading across his face as he let out a sigh and pressed "Yes." "I''m going to be so fucking rich." Chapter 28 28: Large Skeleton Maze And Significantly Richer After a few boring minutes of waiting, it was finally done. Good shit. They even began using my new name, Rael thought before proceeding to the more money-oriented stuff. It was more expensive than last time, but who gave a shit? After all... ?¡ªBalance: 36,258 Trell¡ª? He had enough, and the amount that this dungeon would bring in daily would be astronomical. Therefore, he swiftly revived the monsters, and like before, the full list appeared. ¡ªBasic Monsters - 3,800 Trell Daily Skeleton Warrior [Level 20] (x95) [+] Skeleton Archer [Level 20] (x95) [+] ¡ªElite Monsters - 6,000 Trell Daily Skeleton Fire Mage (Rare Elite) (x1) [Level 25] [+] Skeleton Brute (Rare Elite) (x1) [Level 30] [+] Skeleton Knife Thrower (Rare Elite) (x1) [Level 30] [+] Skeleton Abomination (Rare Elite) (x1) [Level 35] [+] ¡ªBoss Monsters - 4,000 Trell Daily Gabriel, The Skeleton King (Rare Boss) [Level 40] (x1) [+] He let out a breath of disbelief, however, something irked him a little. Why is the boss not Vice-General class? The same happened last time, however, he didn''t question it too much. But now he was losing too much money. Just as he was about to randomly click buttons until something worked out, a pop-up appeared in front of him. "But what about my Vice-General class boss..." Rael thought, looking disappointed. "Oi, you heard me, didn''t you? You know, when I find you..." he took a deep breath, calming down, then pressing "Yes." Ignoring that, he turned his attention back to the merging, and frankly, he was a bit unsure. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But as if reading his mind, the system responded. "Oh." A look of understanding appeared on Rael''s face. "Say less then." He would lose out on a couple of levels, however, in the end, it didn''t really matter. His main damage skills leveled up a lot from killing this boss monster, and he achieved this much in less than a day. Now that Rael was stronger, he could go pillage another dungeon instead. But that wasn''t what he wanted to do. Instead, he had to prepare for the beta test. If he wasn''t mistaken, it should be happening in 5 days¡ªexactly 140 days until the game''s official release. It would last only 20 days, so he didn''t waste any time and pressed "Yes." That fast? Rael tilted his head, and the next moment, the ground shook, knocking him off balance. "Come on..." He let out a sigh as the rumbling finally stopped. Yet, as he was about to stand up, he saw a hand outstretched toward him. It was bony, and black armor was covering it. Nonetheless, Rael accepted and stood up, only to be greeted by two more skeleton beings. One was holding an axe and wearing barely any armor. On the other hand, the second had a full-blown mage robe and an almost cute-looking twig for a wand. ¡ªEnraged Skeleton Marauder (Rare Boss) [Level 40] [82,000/82,000 HP] ¡ªPrecise Skeleton Warmage (Rare Boss) [Level 35] [63,000/63,000 HP] And of course, the one who held out its hand. ¡ªAwakened Skeleton King (Vice-General Class Boss) [Level ??] [255,000/255,000 HP] The sight of these three already set the tone for what was in store. If his pockets weren''t full by tomorrow, this entire shit was a scam. But as he checked the management interface, a cracking grin appeared on his face. ¡ªBasic Monsters - 15,240 Trell Daily Skeleton Swordsman [Level 30] (x129) [+] Skeleton Ranger [Level 30] (x129) [+] Skeleton Worker [Level 15] (x500) [+] ¡ªElite Monsters - 18,500 Trell Daily Skeleton Thief (Rare Elite) (x2) [Level 25] [+] Skeleton Fire Mage (Rare Elite) (x4) [Level 25] [+] Skeleton Brute (Rare Elite) (x3) [Level 30] [+] Skeleton Knife Thrower (Rare Elite) (x2) [Level 30] [+] Skeleton Abomination (Rare Elite) (x2) [Level 35] [+] ¡ªBoss Monsters - 17,500 Trell Daily Gabriel, The Awakened Skeleton King (Vice-General Class Boss) [Level 50] (x1) [+] Alkanso, The Precise Skeleton Warmage (Rare Boss) [Level 35] (x1) [+] GurrGurrBrr, The Enraged Skeleton Marauder (Rare Boss) [Level 40] (x1) [+] "Pfft... Hahahaha..." Rael couldn''t help but let out a laugh. With both of his dungeons combined, he was making nearly 55,000 Trell daily. And with that, he could finally leave this place. But of course, not before assigning some work. He made the Skeleton Workers work on the dungeon, which unsurprisingly, tripled in size. As for the rest? They were all in groups of at least 30, with half of the Elite Monsters in the boss room. The other half, he stationed beside the dungeon''s entrance, which he himself made to be in the farthest place in the maze. Safe to say, whoever entered would be instantly killed. Finally, Rael took a deep breath and walked out, his banana peels squeaking loudly. Unlike when he entered through a hole, there was now a whole round monument with a single swirling blue portal in the middle. Rael noticed it was already dark out, so he began running back to Celestara. Yet in the middle of his return, his system interface buzzed as a new screen appeared. Oh shit? Rael raised his brow, his excitement still at an all-time high. However, the moment he opened the message and began reading it, he froze in place. "You''ve got to be fucking kidding me." Chapter 29 29: Rael Sutekh? Rael barged into the throne room, with no one stopping him. If anything, the guards let him through, which wasn''t strange, considering the context of the message he had received. Zafira was leisurely sitting on her throne, eating an apple. However, that pissed him off even more. "Zafira... What the fuck?" "Rael, I know how you must be feeling, but I promise you won''t have any obligations," Zafira replied, her expression firm. "I believe marriage should be political or out of love¡ªthis is neither," Rael shot back. Of course, the message that caused him to lose his shit was a marriage proposal by none other than Queen Zafira Sutekh herself. He was flattered, sure. But... S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. What the fuck is she thinking? "Would you rather have me marry some old man?" Zafira asked with a tilt of her head. "There are many who seek my hand in marriage, but all of them see me for my status, while you, on the other hand, don''t." "Are you serious? Come on, Zafira... I don''t have a title, nor do I have any standing in your city. To be frank, I don''t even have citizenship," Rael replied with a sigh. "If anything, I believe you''re being irresponsible." "This is what I mean, Rael." She stood up, a wide smile on her face. "You''re blunt and say the truth. I will grant you citizenship and more if you accept." Taking a moment to process, Rael decided to ask the real questions. "What''s the real reason? Does it have something to do with Yrgon?" Zafira shrugged. "It does. I talked with my council regarding their offer and also gave them your stance. The best idea they came up with was if I had a husband. If I did, it would negate a lot of legal proceedings that Yrgon would potentially take in order to seize our land, one of which is my hand in marriage." "So now, instead of asking for your hand in marriage directly, they would have to kill me first," Rael finished. "I guess I underestimated you." She giggled softly. "I''m sure you won''t mind a few enemies in the shadows when you have the Sutekh name backing you. Also, as I already said, you won''t need to do any husband or king duties." Why am I tempted to accept? Rael thought with furrowed brows. Zafira Sutekh would become a huge figure by the time Sketa Online releases. Now, if he had that influence and used it to scam other players, then... "Zafira, can you guarantee my freedom?" he asked. She nodded in response. "I give you my word. The documents have already been drafted¡ªdo you want to take a look?" "Sure," Rael replied, and as he did, she took out a simple document from seemingly her inventory before handing it to him. He read through it, mostly interested in the benefits he would get. However, despite this, he found something that confused him. "No time limit?" "In Celestara, it''s easier to break those types of contracts. I can just claim I can''t bear children, and the divorce would happen the day following that," Zafira affirmed, making him let out a groan. It was a delicate matter, and one he certainly didn''t expect. But in all honesty? If he was free to do whatever he wanted while also having a backing, then it was worth it. "I see. Zafira, I accept," Rael stated, stretching out his hand awkwardly. "...I suppose you don''t do marriage handshakes." "No..." Zafira replied, scratching her chin as she pulled out a pair of amethyst wedding rings from her inventory before handing him both. "You usually¡ª" "I think I got it," Rael cut her off, clearing his throat and dramatically getting on one knee before staring straight into her crimson eyes. "Zafira Sutekh, will you marry me?" With a smile, she extended her hand forward, parting her fingers. "I will." Hearing the obvious confirmation, he slipped one of the amethyst rings on her ring finger while doing the same for himself. The moment he did, a few system messages popped up in front of him ?¡ªBalance: 60,120 Trell¡ª? Fuck yeah. A smile beamed on his face as he turned toward Zafira, who was simply standing there awkwardly. "Zafira, what do I call you around others?" She tilted her head in thought. "I think the lovey-dovey approach would work well. You can stick to calling me Zafira in public, and I will still call you Rael. How''s that?" "Sounds convenient," he said with a nod. "Now then, Zafira, as much as I would love to stay in the palace, there''s some stuff I need to do. I hope you don''t mind." Zafira shook her head. "Not at all. But... you will have to move into the palace at midday." A fancy room right next to a hot wife? Yes, please. Rael thought inwardly. "Okay, see you later, Zafira." With that, she waved him off, and he finally left, the guards bowing from time to time. He kind of grew excited¡ªhowever, with this amount of money he received, there was only one thing to do. And that was to buy some property, set up shop, and prepare for the beta testers to arrive. While this wasn''t a starting city, it was extremely close to one¡ªYrgon. There were a few main quests leading here, and for the players who had brains, he would have the perfect chance to test stuff out¡ªand obviously, exploit them. Of course, he should start with the obvious, and that was gear. But just as he was about to craft, a message popped up that made him furrow his brows. Of fucking course it is... That''s what I get for gathering shit I don''t need. He sighed before getting rid of his outdated emergency fund. Yep. He swiftly agreed, and in the next moment: Now that that was over with, it was time to begin stocking up. Chapter 30 30: Stocking Up And A Stalker? [MP -40,000 1,100/41,100 (Crystal Weaving)] The stats of the other pieces were the same as the leggings he had on, with only a few extra stats due to his skill leveling up. Nonetheless, this wasn''t efficient, and for now, he would make a little teeny-tiny investment. Strength: 20 Trell Agility: 40 Trell Constitution: 20 Trell Intelligence: 20 Trell Wisdom: 20 Trell Charisma: 20 Trell Intelligence: 411 (+141) ¡ú 471 (+141) Mana Points (MP): [1,100/41,100] ¡ú [7,100/47,100] <12,600 Trell Spent!> Rael nodded in satisfaction. Of course, he wasn''t done, as the basic stats were only the start. What he had in mind was a simple yet effective piece of mage equipment. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Equipment/Helmet/Intelligence + MP ?¡ªBalance: 49,620 Trell¡ª? ? Pent Up Wizard''s Used Hat (Cursed-Uncommon): 20,000 Trell ? Squeaky Clean Frog Hat (Common): 25,000 Trell ? The Talking Hat (Rare): 30,000 Trell ? Archmage''s Pineapple Fedora (Uncommon): 35,000 Trell What are these names...? Rael thought with a sigh. But of course, the rarity differences began showing. Since he was a boss monster, he could bypass level requirements, that meant he simply had too much gear to choose from now. Of course, a level 100 Uncommon sword would be better than a Level 50 Legendary sword, but the price would simply bite him in the ass. Which means... I''ll have to look around a bit more... He checked each of the current options, but none satisfied him. They were good, sure, but Rael knew he could get better, so he simply pressed the expand button. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Equipment/Helmet/Intelligence + MP ?¡ªBalance: 49,620 Trell¡ª? ? Actual Halo (Cursed-Common): 40,000 Trell ? Demon Infused Horns (Cursed-Uncommon): 40,000 Trell ? Replica of the Shattered Crown (Epic): 45,000 Trell ? Robe turned into a hat because a procrastinating magician overslept (Rare): 50,000 Trell His choices didn''t look good at first glance, but once his eyes landed on the shattered crown, his curiosity immediately piqued. The moment he inspected it, Rael knew this was the one¡ªthe perfect item that he could use until he was at least level 80. ¡ªReplica of the Shattered Crown (Epic) Durability: 10,000/10,000 Special Option: MP +100,000 +50 Strength +50 Agility +150 Constitution +200 Intelligence S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. +300 Wisdom Yep... I''ll just buy a property tomorrow. Rael clicked on it without hesitation and bought it. Immediately, a slim silver crown appeared in his hands. It had a glowing red crack down the very middle, but since it didn''t affect the durability, he didn''t mind it much, as he finally put it on. And the moment he did, he couldn''t help but glance at his stats. ?¡ªStats¡ª? Health Points (HP): [32,100/32,100] ¡ú [48,200/48,200] Mana Points (MP): [7,100/47,100] ¡ú [131,800/167,100] (+100,000) Strength: 90 (+65) ¡ú 151 (+126) Agility: 130 (+80) ¡ú 191 (+141) Constitution: 321 (+250) ¡ú 482 (+411) Intelligence: 471 (+141) ¡ú 671 (+341) Wisdom: 110 (+95) ¡ú 415 (+400) Charisma: 110 ¡ú 1,100 Spell Power (SP): 820 ¡ú 1,342 Attack Power (AP): 305 (+125) ¡ú 427 (+125) Movement Speed Increase: 80% (+15%) ¡ú 110.5% (+15%) Critical Hit Damage Increase: 6.75% (+1%) ¡ú 21.75% (+1%) Nice... Rael thought with a smile, and soon began crafting some more gear. His interface suddenly stopped, and with that, an interesting message popped up. Neat... Rael flashed a grin and made exactly two sets. <(x2) Crystallite Set (Common) has been crafted!> [MP -100,000 31,800/167,100 (Crystal Weaving)] The set surprisingly appeared in a box, meaning he could store it as a single item inside his inventory. And of course, the skill increased by a lot too. ¡ªCrystal Weaving: [Level 3 ¡ú 8 | 117/520 ¡ú 1,857/2,263] (Rare) Increases crafted item durability by 30% ¡ú 55% Enhances crafted item stats by 14% ¡ú 24% Reduces MP cost for maintaining crystal constructs by 7% ¡ú 12% Now then, since he was out of mana and obviously out of money, he would go wander around while crafting items every couple of minutes. In total, he could get another 40 sets worth of gear inside his inventory, as he had some other important stuff in there. Yet as those thoughts fell, Rael suddenly halted. Urgently, he opened the premium shop. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Inventory/Space ?¡ªBalance: 4,620 Trell¡ª? ? +1 Inventory Space: 10,000 Trell ? +5 Inventory Space: 45,000 Trell ? +10 Inventory Space: 90,000 Trell ? +20 Inventory Space: 180,000 Trell Hahaha... I was right. Rael thought with a smile. He was a pay-to-win boss monster for a reason. It was only natural he could buy anything he wanted. Later... Closing all the tabs, he decided to take a stroll toward the Banana Juice Inn. Despite its weird name, the food was too delicious. However, in the middle of his walk, he felt like he was being followed. Rael took a detour, walking into a nearby alleyway, before jumping up to a random balcony. But of course, his luck wasn''t that great... Kind of. "Kyaaaaa!" "Fuck... hey, I didn''t... you know what, I''ll just leave," Rael said in a panicked tone, then jumped back down into the alley. Seeing a nude woman who just got out of the bath was definitely erotic, but he wouldn''t want to be known as the king who was accused of sexual harassment 10 minutes after marrying the queen. However, that small bit of chaos he accidentally stirred up managed to draw out the person following him. Red hair, annoying and assertive posture. "Nudist girl~" Rael teased. "It''s been what, a day since we last saw each other?" "It''s Linlin," she replied with a scoff, as a serious look appeared on her face. "Rael, I need to have a word with you." She''s not going to offer me her hand in marriage too, is she? Rael thought warily, before nodding. "What''s up?" "Remember when I freed you in the palace''s courtyard? I want to cash in that favor now," Linlin stated flatly. Rael''s brow twitched. "...You do know I was caught like 5 minutes later, right?" But upon seeing her unwavering, silent look, he let out an exhausted sigh. "Fine... the least I can do is hear you out." Chapter 31 31: The Request "Great..." Linlin nodded before continuing, "You see, I noticed you''ve been going to the palace quite frequently¡ª" "No." Rael cut her off. "I''m not going to incriminate myself." "Hear me out." Linlin shot back with an annoyed glare. "It''s nothing like that, I just need you to get a message across to someone." Rael tilted his head. "Sure?" As long as the message she wanted delivered wasn''t anything outrageous, he could bring it up to Zafira in casual talk. "I started an organization... But I want to make it into an Order," Linlin said, making his brows twitch. Is she crazy? She wants something on par with the royal knights? "To form an Order, you need at least 500 people. Do you have that many on board?" Rael asked, giving her the benefit of the doubt. "There are eleven people in my organization," Linlin replied flatly. "But I can assure you, all of them are skilled, intelligent, and, of course, ready to help Celestara in its time of need." Rael let out an exhausted sigh. "I can''t help you. You know the rules. Despite my relationship with the queen, I can''t risk sabotaging everything over some random whim of yours." "It''s not a whim!" Linlin stated. "I''m serious about this, look..." As her words fell, a system prompt appeared in front of Rael. Hmm...? Rael''s curiosity was immediately piqued upon seeing the name. However, a moment later, his eyes widened. Radiant fucking Dawn? The same powerhouses who numbered less than 20 and controlled an entire continent? They were a ragtag group, and even without his interference, they would be recognized as an Order within a year or so. But of course, they wouldn''t be tied down to Celestara. Nonetheless, he put those thoughts on hold and clicked on the pop-up. Immediately, it displayed all of their main achievements, while neatly hiding the names of the other 10 members. <(x109) Level 150+ Dungeons Cleared!> Despite seeing only three, Rael was convinced. The level scaling back in the game was massive, and the higher you were, the higher you could go. While he was still level 209 and messing around, some players had already reached the late 1000''s. But still, for Linlin and her newly formed group, this was impressive. "How new is this group of yours?" Rael asked. "I formed it two months ago, during the time when the former king of Celestara and the current queen were still going at each other''s throats," Linlin explained patiently. "The people in my organization are those I trust with all my heart." "I don''t doubt that..." Rael grumbled inwardly before narrowing his eyes. "You know freeing me in the courtyard isn''t enough for this kind of favor, right?" "I''m aware..." Linlin said, falling silent. "I''m sorry for acting tough with you, but I really need this. I''ll do anything." "Anything?" Rael asked with a raised brow, causing her to flinch. "I''m just kidding. I don''t need any sexual favors. But I want you, or rather, this group of yours, to owe me one." "That''s fine." Linlin replied with a relieved sigh. "We''ll back you in case something is up... Of course, that''s only if you succeed in convincing the queen." "I''m aware, nudist girl." Rael said as he walked past her. "Whether it works or not, I''ll let you know later." Just as he was about to leave, a thought struck him, and he turned toward her. Zafira managed to send him a friend request somehow, so he tried replicating it. Instead of tapping something in the air, he focused on Linlin''s eyes, thinking of sending a friend request, and it seemed that was all it took. "Hm?" Linlin tilted her head, her eyes widening, before pressing in the air. "See you later." He waved with a teasing smile and began walking away, leaving her in the alleyway. It seemed like a bit more work was added to his nightly routine, and he might as well finish it now. Checking his friends list, he pressed on Zafira Sutekh. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Immediately, a messaging interface popped up. Rael didn''t waste any time and began detailing his encounter, while also trying to convince Zafira why this was a good idea. Which, frankly, seemed stupid and selfish as he finished writing, but he still hit send. He paced around until finally, his system dinged, and with that... A smile tugged at his lips. With that, he decided to break the news to Linlin. There was a moment of complete silence, but it was soon broken by her message. "Pfft..." Rael held back a chuckle as he finally arrived at the banana juice inn. "Ready to get some banana juices inside you¡ªOh, it''s you. Welcome back." The innkeeper nodded at Rael, who merely sat down and ordered a pizza. In the meantime, he checked his messages, as Linlin sent another. Bruh. Rael couldn''t help but facepalm. He could only laugh at her awkwardness, but at least that was settled for now. A strong ally was always valuable, and if things went right, he would have some end-game protection. But for now, he would focus on setting himself up for the beta release instead. <(x3) Crystallite Set (Common) has been crafted!> [MP -150,000 17,100/167,100 (Crystal Weaving)] It''s time to pull an all-nighter. Chapter 32 32: Before The Wedding <(x33) Crystallite Set (Common) has been crafted!> "Fuck this," Rael said through a massive yawn. It was worth it, of course, as the skill leveled up significantly. He could keep doing this as long as he wanted, but he started getting bored midway through. But I really do need to step my shit up. Once I reach level 50, the 10% MP and HP out of combat will drop to a mere 2%. Rael thought with a grumble as he got off the bed. Thankfully, he still had a long way to go before reaching level 50. He felt like shit, so Rael swiftly showered and bought himself some fancier clothes. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Clothing/Clothing Kits/Royal ?¡ªBalance: 4,595 Trell¡ª? ? Male Royal Garments [Night Black] (Common): 1,000 Trell 1,000 Trell for clothes is simply crazy. Rael thought with a deep sigh. There was also a neat setting he found while playing around with the interface during the night. He wasn''t a genius, but it was obvious the wedding would be very formal, so he didn''t want to show up in ripped black clothes and banana peel boots. But marriage... It kind of scared him. What if he stared at her chest for too long? Would that count as treason? Focus... He took a deep breath and put on his new pair of clothes before heading out of his room and going downstairs. The innkeeper flashed him a strange look. "You are into some serious roleplay if you''re wearing that in this shithole." "I''m feeling quirky today," Rael said with a shrug. "Did I miss anything? Any big announcements?" "I guess you could call it big," the innkeeper remarked, wiping a mug. "The queen is getting married in an hour." "Oh yeah? Sounds interesting," Rael replied with a smile. "I wonder who''s the lucky man..." the innkeeper added with a sigh. Haha... Alright, I got my daily dose of an ego boost. It''s time I get moving. Rael thought with a grin as he waved his goodbyes to the innkeeper and made his way out. The streets were busy as per usual, but of course, there was a carriage waiting outside, with a neat-looking butler bowing at him. "Greetings, Your Majesty," the butler said, and before the curious crowd could react to what was happening, Rael was escorted inside the carriage, comfortably sitting down. Ahh... Is this the rich life? Of course, this wasn''t his money, but his soon-to-be wife''s, but still... Before I forget... Rael glanced into the premium shop. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Miscellaneous ?¡ªBalance: 3,595 Trell¡ª? ? The rarest perfume made out of mithril powder and strawberry (Common): 250 Trell Absolutely no conscience. Rael purchased it and tested it out. Not bad, it''s definitely just strawberry and no mithril powder, but I can work with this. Finally, Rael felt like he was ready, and as he looked out the little peephole of the carriage, he saw the palace not too far away. However, unlike last time, it was fully open to the people. And of course, there was a massive crowd this time, gathering all the way up to the inner courtyard. But that was not where he was heading. Instead, there was an estate beside the palace with a massive balcony. So that''s where we''ll announce it. He nodded to himself, and soon, the carriage stopped. Rael could hear all sorts of murmurs but proceeded to ignore them as he confidently stepped out and began walking toward the estate. No one approached him. Frankly, no one even cheered his name. Why? No one knew who Rael was. It didn''t take long for him to be led inside as he went up the stairs to the topmost room. Finally, he stood before the door, took a deep breath, and swung it open. Zafira was merely sitting on the bed beside the balcony, playfully swinging her legs. Yet the moment she noticed Rael, she stopped, putting on a confused look. "Those aren''t the clothes I had delivered to you." "Was I supposed to get something?" Rael asked with a tilt of his head. He tried recalling, and soon, he facepalmed. That oddly well-wrapped box beside his room wasn''t takeout, but a suit. Rael glanced into her eyes. "...Will it be a problem?" "Nope. Celestara is pretty loose with attire. Besides, they won''t even notice the difference from below," Zafira assured as she stood up and walked over to him, flashing a smile. "Let''s practice." "I''m pretty well-versed in holding hands, Zafira," Rael replied, making her let out a giggle. "Not that, silly. Since you didn''t pick up the garments I had given you, then that means you also didn''t get the prepared speech." Hearing that, Rael froze. I fucking hate speeches... Seriously? "Do I have to?" he asked with reluctance. "Don''t worry, you only have three lines," Zafira assured, passing him a note. He read through it, his brow rising. "I''m glad to be married to the greatest woman on the continent...? Till death do us part? I wish her children... reflect on the future of Celestara? What kind of bullshit is this?" "I know how it sounds, but it''s what the people want to hear," Zafira said with a shrug as a grin appeared on her face. "Is someone embarrassed? Here I thought your boldness was limitless." Rael rolled his eyes. "I''m only bold when it comes to women and money. I don''t really like talking with thousands of people watching my every breath." "Well, that''s how I have to deal with the world every single day," Zafira said firmly. "But I understand. I won''t force you if you don''t want to." "No, it''s fine. Fears are meant to be conquered," Rael replied, cringing at what he had just said. "Yeah, I can tell you''re nervous," Zafira said, giggling before stretching her hand out. "Anyways, let''s practice our lines. Ready?" S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He let out a deep sigh before nodding. "Ready." Chapter 33 33: The New King Finally, it was time to head out to the balcony. "Well... Let''s hope you don''t improvise like earlier," Zafira stated, rubbing her temple. "Come on, you have to admit it was pretty good," Rael chuckled, before approaching her and grabbing her hand. "Let''s go out, missus." Zafira flinched. "Don''t call me that... and don''t you dare say that during the speech." "Yes, ma''am." Rael saluted playfully and led her outside. ¡ªThe queen is here! ¡ªThe new king too! ¡ªWho is he though!? Come on... Rael held back his annoyance as Zafira confidently approached the edge of the balcony and began her speech. "Greetings, everyone. I''m sure all of you know who I am by now, so I''ll cut straight to the chase," she gestured with a wave. And the moment she did, the flag of Celestara dropped down like a banner, representing a white star with a blue sky surrounding it. "I got married, and now, this day will mark a new beginning in Celestara''s history!" Zafira stated with a wide smile, earning cheers all around. She flashed him a small glance, which meant it was his time to go. Despite the social anxiety he was feeling from being stared at by thousands of people, Rael walked toward Zafira and gently wrapped his hand around her waist. "I believe introductions are in order," Rael said calmly, before continuing, "My name is Rael Sutekh, and I shall be your king from this day forth." ¡ªWoah! He has a name! ¡ªHot king! ¡ªWho said that!? "Of course..." he trailed off. "I vow to forever be faithful to the greatest woman on the continent, Zafira Sutekh, and will carry her burdens as though they were mine." Rael''s palms grew sweaty as nervousness kicked in. However, Zafira placed her warm hands over his, comforting him. That was enough to let him continue. "I vow to remain together with my wife until death do us part," Rael''s brows furrowed at the upcoming line. "And obviously..." Rael leaned in, delivering a kiss on Zafira''s cheek before turning toward the crowd below. "May our future children continue our legacies." As the last of his words fell, silence ensued. For a moment, he thought he messed something up. However, the ground suddenly shook, as loud cheers resounded. ¡ªKing Rael Sutekh! ¡ªIs this the dawn of the golden age!? ¡ªZafira, can I get your autograph? He ignored most of the bullshit they were yelling and stepped back, making sure his eardrums didn''t burst. "How was it?" Zafira asked, a warm smile on her face. "I feel like I never want to do that again..." Rael replied honestly. "But I can''t say I hated that feeling." "It''s how I felt too, back when I wasn''t the queen yet," Zafira said with a giggle. "But you''ll get over it. I for sure did." Rael shrugged and took a deep breath before waving at the crowd of people once more and going back inside the room. Zafira followed right behind him, and soon, they were all alone, standing in silence. But that silence didn''t last long as Zafira spoke. "Can you call that girl you told me about? I want to hear what she has to say." "Hm? Yeah." Rael nodded and sent a message. He got a response instantly. "...She says she''s at the door," Rael said with a tinge of disbelief. However, Zafira''s eyes were already narrowed toward it as she walked up to the door and swung it open. Immediately, Linlin''s carefree figure appeared, as she twirled her red hair, almost out of boredom. Is she trying to act cool or something? he thought, as he noticed something interesting. Her hands were shaking. "Linlin Xu?" Zafira asked flatly. "That''s your name, yes?" "Yesh¡ª" Linlin replied, biting her tongue as her cheeks flushed red. "Pfft..." Rael held back a laugh before heading to the door. "I''ll wait outside." "Very well." Zafira nodded as she gestured for Linlin to come in. She did just that, and just as Zafira was about to close the door, she stopped. "Rael?" Zafira called out. "I saw you tinkering around with weird armor, so if you want, you can ask the guards to escort you to the production grounds." Rael tilted his head slightly. "Production grounds?" "It''s where all production-related stuff is placed. The smithy, alchemy tables, leatherworking. Everything." Zafira explained, making his curiosity pique. "Are there any private chambers I can take for myself? Storage-wise, I mean." "Of course. You can do anything you want, up to a certain degree," she replied, as she glanced back inside the room, then at him. "I''m going to talk with her now, Rael. See you later." "Good luck," he waved her off with a smile before going downstairs. There were a pair of guards, and he explained where he wanted to go. Immediately, the pair of guards quickly turned into sixteen guards, who acted like a massive barricade while leading him to the carriage and then driving him to the production grounds. They were in the inner part of the palace, and aside from a few people, it was empty. However, his main objective was the private storage rooms. Rael went through a white archway by the side of the production grounds, and, as though he had been teleported, appeared inside a long, lit up fancy hallway. "Excuse me, you can''t be here," a voice rang out from the side, belonging to a guard. As Rael turned around and the guard saw his face, the story began unfolding a little differently. "Y-Your Majesty, Rael Sutekh, my apologies for not recognizing you." "It''s alright," Rael replied with a chuckle, as a small grin tugged at his lips. "Can you show me to the biggest private storage room here?" "Of course." The guard nodded, and as Rael thought he would be walking somewhere, the guard merely opened the door closest to them. "...?" Rael stared at the guard in confusion, who soon explained. "All the storage rooms are the same size, Your Majesty." "Oh. Fair enough. Let the queen know I will be spending a few days in here, okay?" Rael stated. "Of course, bring me food if you can. In exchange, I''ll make you a cool sword. Deal?" The guard''s eyes lit up as he saluted. "Y-Yes, Your Majesty!" With that, Rael went inside, closing the steel door behind him. The storage room, despite being empty, was clean, smelled good, and had not even a speck of dust. Therefore, Rael decided he would do what he had wanted to do in the first place. ?¡ªOfficial Launch¡ª? Time until V1.0 Release: 144 Days Four days until beta releases, so technically five days of free time until the players start swarming this city. Rael grinned at the thought of money flooding his pockets as he bought himself a fishing chair and took out all his Crystallite Set boxes, before placing them on the ground. It numbered 39 in total. But by the time the players arrive, he would add at least another zero to that number. Rael rolled his sleeves back as a determined look appeared on his face. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Let''s fucking do this. Chapter 34 34: Massive Skill Increase And A Distant Land? Finally. Rael plopped onto the ground. Or was about to, anyway, instead, he hit one of the Crystallite Set boxes. He had actually spent his time working for once, and as he looked around, Rael wasn''t disappointed. And of course, the total number of boxes he had gathered in four days had come with many notifications. <(x1310) Crystallite Set (Common) has been crafted!> ¡ªCrystal Weaving: [Level 8 ¡ú 93 | 1,857/2,263 ¡ú 80,310/89,686] (Rare) Increases crafted item durability by 55% ¡ú 480% Enhances crafted item stats by 24% ¡ú 194% Reduces MP cost for maintaining crystal constructs by 12% ¡ú 97% With the amount of upgrades he got, Rael changed his leggings and equipped a pair of gloves from the latest batch. ¡ªCrystallite Leggings (Common) Durability: 480/480 (+480%) +29 Strength (+194%) +29 Agility (+194%) +29 Constitution (+194%) +44 Intelligence (+194%) +15 Wisdom (+194%) ¡ªCrystallite Gloves (Common) Durability: 480/480 (+480%) +44 Strength (+194%) +44 Agility (+194%) +44 Constitution (+194%) +29 Intelligence (+194%) +15 Wisdom (+194%) Rael didn''t get the uncommon variant since he was lazy, but despite that, if he hadn''t been overgeared and strong earlier, now he was. Oh, and of course. ?¡ªBalance: 218,543 Trell¡ª? I''m rich. Rael grinned and stood up. These boxes wouldn''t carry themselves. But of course, that was not what got him excited in the first place. Instead... That''s a lot for a simple beta release. Rael remarked inwardly before proceeding toward the door and calling for the guard. It was the same chap from last time, and just like Rael had ordered, the guard delivered food too him. And now, it was time to give him the promised reward. "Here," Rael said with an outstretched hand, a blue crystal sword materializing and startling the guard. "It''s for you, just like I promised." "Y-Your majesty!" The guard bowed. "I don''t deserve it!" "Yeah? I''ll keep it for myself then," Rael replied in amusement. The guard visibly flinched, and seeing that, Rael let out a chuckle. "Don''t be an idiot, kid. Just accept the gift and move on. If you do well, I might even give you more gifts." "Yes, your majesty!" The guard saluted and graciously accepted the sword. In the meantime, Rael decided to send a few texts. As if noticing something was up, she replied with suspicion. Before he could send some flattery bullshit, she sent another message. Read me like a book. Rael snickered. Seeing that, he froze. How does that even work? They were NPCs in the past, nothing more, nothing less. But now? They could see a literal pop-up that exposed his old world. Rael let out a relieved sigh. So she gets half the story then. He wasn''t against telling her, but what was the point? Therefore, he got back on track. Running those rich bastards dry is going to be fun. Rael held back a laugh. But he didn''t feel guilty. In fact, the players would thank him. All of those boxes had the same gear pieces, but the quality was different, which meant Rael could set up a gacha shop. How many...? Rael glanced back, a shiver going down his spine. The boxes compressed the items inside, but despite that, a single carriage would at most fit 100 of the boxes. With the 40 or so that he could keep in his inventory... Unsurprisingly, a moment of silence ensued, as he tapped his foot on the ground. But soon, she replied, and he could practically feel her disbelief in the way she wrote. With that, he began taking each box out of the storage room one by one and bringing them outside with the help of the guard, of course. It took them nearly half an hour to take them all out, which was rather fast, and the moment they finished, 13 massive carriages arrived, much bigger than he expected. If they were so big, I only needed five or something... Rael thought, sighing. Then, with the help of the nearby guards and the coachmen, he packed his gear sets inside and headed toward the Arifaz Boutique. Arifaz Boutique... he tilted his head. Zafira Boutique... She literally just switched the order. The atmosphere in the city felt lively, almost as if they were still celebrating his marriage. Finally, he arrived, and the boutique was at least four times the size of the Banana Juice inn, surprisingly. Nonetheless, with more people helping out, he brought all his gear sets inside and merely plopped them on the ground. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After another half hour, he let out an exhausted breath before glancing toward the guards. "That''ll be it. Thank you all for the help. I''m going to take it from here, so you may go." "Yes, your majesty!" they yelled in unison and dusted the boutique off on their way out. Finally, some peace and quiet. Rael thought, sitting down on a stack of boxes. The shop was dusty, and the wallpaper was in tatters. But of course, he was way ahead of schedule and had plenty of time to clean everything up. Therefore, Rael pulled his interface up and, with a hum, clicked on a particular option. Chapter 35 35: The Platinum Gacha Boutique Is Ready I can''t see the description this time... Rael thought, sighing. Despite that, he pressed "Yes." The moment he did, Rael felt his body heating up rapidly. But unlike last time, he didn''t fall unconscious, and he no longer needed to wait 12 hours. Real shit, Rael thought with a snicker. Who didn''t like saving time? But... My body is a little too hot... It felt as though he was inside an oven, and the heat kept increasing. Should I get ice cubes? No... That won''t do much, Rael thought, groaning as the pain began intensifying. He noticed that people were gathering around the boutique in curiosity, so he ran to the back, inside the public toilet. And the moment he did, Rael noticed how squeaky clean it was. Almost like someone was using it... Daily. Nonetheless, he gritted his teeth, bearing through the pain. Finally, it began alleviating, and with that, a new pop-up appeared. Shardmancer (Epic) ¡ªEvolve into a master of crystalline warfare, able to forge greater weapons, armor, and constructs from living crystals, enhancing both offense and defense. +150 Strength +150 Agility +250 Constitution +500 Intelligence +25% ¡ú 50% Increased Crystal-based Attack Damage +15% ¡ú 20% Resistance to all types of Magic Damage -15% Reduced Physical Damage Dealt Gain Skill: Gemstone Creation (Epic) Oh shit? Rael looked on with widened eyes. His stats increased by a ton, and his percentage damage increases were upgraded. With that, also came the long-awaited upgrade to his most used skill. Crystal Genesis: [Level 93 | 80,310/89,686] (Pseudo-Legendary) ¡ªCombines the mastery of crystal shaping with the creation of gemstones and living, sentient crystalline constructs. Base Cost: 100,000 MP Increases crafted item durability by 480% ¡ú 960% Enhances crafted item stats by 194% ¡ú 388% Reduces MP cost for maintaining crystal constructs by 97% ¡ú 100% MAX Grants a 1% ¡ú 93% chance to enchant each item created with a special effect. Once the threshold passes above 100%, anything extra will contribute to a second special effect. Ahahaha... Rael read in wonder. Nearly a Legendary rarity skill? Are you serious? It was overpowered. This new skill combined his previous skill with the one he got from evolving. And, of course, he could already see the possibilities. But one thing did irk him a little. The base cost increased... That meant he would need to invest in mana again, but that would be for another time. Rael stepped out of the public toilet, and, with renewed motivation, got to work. He didn''t even want to check out his stats. Instead, he put his full focus on cleaning this entire joint. However, not even a few minutes later, he halted and reread the description of his skill. I can summon a construct...? Can''t I? Rael immediately pulled up his new skill, glancing at the Miscellaneous section in particular. Available MP: [222,800/222,800] He pressed it, and a search bar appeared. Since Rael was unsure of what to write, he merely typed in a simple phrase. The moment he did, the same sliders from before appeared, and like last time, he selected the lowest possible amount. Then, another pop-up appeared, slightly different. Tilting his head, Rael pressed "Yes." Immediately, a gacha-like interface appeared, displaying his percentage to get a special effect. Since it was 93%, he obviously got it, but sadly it didn''t display what it was. Nonetheless, he finalized the craft and was asked to give a name. A name...? Hmm... He was pretty good at naming things, so Rael swiftly entered the name, and finally, it was done. [MP -100,000 122,800/222,800 (Crystal Genesis)] Rael glanced at the slim, golem-like crystal construct. It had a broom in its hand and was a tad shorter than him. "You''re employed, Dirt Vader. Clean this entire place, okay?" Rael said, and Dirt Vader, with its gem-like eyes, nodded in turn. But as he made eye contact with it, an interface suddenly appeared. Name: Dirt Vader Race: Summoned Crystal Construct Level: 25 Health Points (HP): [2,000/2,000] Mana Points (MP): [100/100] Strength: 15 sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Agility: 25 Constitution: 200 Intelligence: 10 Wisdom: 1 Charisma: 100 ¡ªSpecial Effect: Cleaning (Common) Every time you clean, you have a 5% chance to clean an extra spot nearby! Woah... Dirt Vader... You''re pretty amazing, aren''t you? Rael thought with wonder, as he glanced toward Dirt Vader. It perfectly avoided the boxes on the ground while also sweeping the dust clean and mopping the floor in the process. For everything it lacked, like a hammer to fix the floor, it created it from its own crystal body. Safe to say, it was a worthwhile investment. And, of course, he made another one. [MP -100,000 22,800/222,800 (Crystal Genesis)] It looked the exact same, and sadly, their skills were the same too. Nonetheless, Rael left the cleaning to them and began organizing the boxes themselves. He was still a bit unsure of how he''d go about selling them, but he''d figure it out. After all, the beta testers start with 5,000 Trell to loiter around with. And of course, he would ask for only slightly more than half. 4,500 Trell seems like a reasonable price, he nodded to himself as he got the lights working and the desk set up for money-making. Of course, the only thing left was a sign. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Miscellaneous/Signs ?¡ªBalance: 118,543 Trell¡ª? ? Empty Doodle Board For Toddlers (Common): 1000 Trell Scammers, Rael groaned and purchased it, ignoring the name. Thankfully, it came with a marker. He swiftly wrote some catchy lines down, a grin appearing on his face. Alright, Rael walked over to the front of the store, and on the window, placed the massive white board down. Taking a good glance around, he noticed the two cleaning constructs had finally finished their cleaning and were now sitting idly by. At a glance, they looked pretty cute, which sparked an idea. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Miscellaneous/Ears ?¡ªBalance: 117,543 Trell¡ª? ? Kitty Ears (Common): 500 Trell He purchased two pairs, put them on the constructs, and took a few steps back, admiring his genius. "Yep, the degenerates are definitely going to like this," Rael noted with a smile, before pointing toward the window where he placed the board. "Sit down there and wait for further instructions." They nodded and did as they were told. In the meantime, Rael took a deep breath and walked back to the desk, kicking his feet up. It''s time to get rich. Chapter 36 36: On The Other Side "Kyle, if you don''t pull up your pants, I''m going to cut it off." "Come on, Lauren, it''s not even real, look¡ªAAAH!" Idiot. "Motherfucker! That actually hurt!" Kyle exclaimed, pointing accusatorily toward him. "Also, don''t call me Kyle. Let''s use our nicknames. Ain''t that right, Crouching Tiger?" "Be quiet..." The two were currently on their way to some random city they noticed in the beta instruction guide. It was just a simple map with information, and Lauren couldn''t be bothered to read it fully. But there was one thing he was certain of. Celestara seems like a good starting zone for me... Lauren thought, tapping his tooth-shaped claymore on his shoulder. He got the Berserker class, and frankly, he thought it was bad at first glance. But when he read up on the rarities, he realized (Epic) was actually pretty rare and not many people had gotten it. So, he flaunted it to his friends, who were still leveling in the starting zone. As for Lauren? He was already above them. [Status] Name: Crouching Tiger Race: Human Class: Berserker (Epic) Level: 10 Experience: [332/3,162] ?¡ªBalance: 5,000 Trell¡ª? ?¡ªInventory¡ª? Storage Space¡ª[2/50] ?¡ªPerks¡ª? Inspect [Special] ?¡ªStats¡ª? Health Points (HP): [600/600] Mana Points (MP): [100/100] Strength: 155 (+25) Agility: 60 (+10) Constitution: 60 (+10) Intelligence: 10 Wisdom: 10 Charisma: 10 Attack Power (AP): [310] Movement Speed Increase: [30%] Critical Hit Damage Increase: [0.5%] ?¡ªSkills¡ª? Enrage: [Level 5 | 28/1,118] (Common) Ground Slam: [Level 3 | 52/520] (Common) ?¡ªEquipment¡ª? Weapon: [Harriet''s Tooth (Common)] ?¡ªQuests¡ª? Active Quests¡ª0 Total Quests Completed¡ª[9] ?¡ª¡ª? A level 10, likely the first person to do so out of all beta testers. And this idiot beside him? ¡ªSausage Handler [Level 7] [1,500/1,500 HP] "Why do you keep maxing out your Constitution stat?" Lauren grumbled. "You''re just being a meat bag right now." Since he wasn''t responding, Lauren added a little nudge at the end. "...Sausage Handler?" "That''s me." Sausage Handler nodded smugly, but just as he was about to speak, he tripped, falling face-first to the ground. "Pfft... Haha, idio¡ªWoah..." Lauren''s eyes widened in awe. They had been traveling through a dense forest moments ago, but now, there was giant crater before them. Moreover, an elevator by the side. Since he had read the guide somewhat, he knew this was Celestara. Damn... This game looks really realistic. Lauren thought, grabbing his friend by the collar and dragging him back to the elevator. He pressed a few buttons, and they began heading down. Even though Lauren was new to games, he was skilled in combat, having been a former Marine. Kyle here was one of his old squadmates. But of course, a bullet to the knee cut his career short, and he had to rely on his family to support him. Not anymore, Lauren sharpened his gaze. I will become a top ranker, get rich, and fix everything... "Yo, Crouching Tiger, can you give me a healing potion? It feels like my balls are on fire," Sausage Handler asked. "Fat chance, idiot. Shouldn''t have stuck your junk out like that... But who knew you could do that? It''s pretty realistic for a game," Lauren commented. "I know, right? They even got the size right," Sausage Handler said with a chuckle, making Lauren roll his eyes. They finally arrived at the bottom, and there was one long pathway leading into the city. All sorts of ornaments were scattered on the trees, and a bunch of people had gathered everywhere. No one greeted them, but Lauren went around inspecting them. ¡ªSarah Badock [Level 5] [50/50 HP] S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Oh, so I could''ve masked myself as an NPC. Chance lost... Lauren thought as he strolled through the streets. There were murmurs of some new king, which had caught Lauren''s interest. But not for long, as he wasn''t much into the lore of games. "Sausage Handler, this is pretty peaceful. Don''t you think?" Lauren asked. "I expected a bit more from an area marked as extremely dangerous." "You look for shit, you get stuck in the ass, I suppose," Sausage Handler remarked. "Not that I''m saying this place looks like shit¡ªin fact, I like the aesthetic. "Yeah, you''re still shit with metaphors. Let''s just find a quest or something," Lauren said as he made his way to the most obvious spot where a quest would be. The city center. He kept inspecting the people until, eventually, he stumbled upon a guard. ¡ªThomas Jacker [Level ??] [???/??? HP] Lauren''s Inspect skill could only reveal a person''s level if they were within 30 levels of him. However, if the stat difference was too great, it wouldn''t work even if their level was close. The guard shot him a knowing glance before turning away. They can detect me...? That''s the least of what I expected from the guards. Good. I can ask one of them to teach me and trigger a quest. That was his plan anyway, but as he arrived in the city''s center, the only thing he found was a giant fountain surrounded by people and barely any guards. However, as he thought this would be a waste of time, Kyle suddenly halted, his eyes glowing. "What''s up?" Lauren asked before following Kyle''s gaze over to a certain store. It looked like an empty boutique from a distance, but upon closer look, there was a sign in the window, with two weird kitty-eared crystal dolls sitting beside it, their arms raised cutely. The Platinum Gacha Boutique? ...Gacha? Isn''t that like gambling? Lauren thought, and before he could say a word, Kyle grabbed him by the hand and practically ran inside the boutique. "Sir!" Kyle called out. "My name is¡ª" "Sausage Handler," a cold voice finished. Lauren looked to where the voice came from and saw a white-haired man wearing a cocky grin. His clothes seemed a bit too fancy for someone running a run-down boutique. Out of habit, he used his Inspect skill. The moment he did, Lauren''s eyes widened, and his hands started trembling. What the...? ¡ªRael Sutekh, ??? (???) [Level ???] [ERROR/ERROR HP] Whose fucking store did we just walk into!? Lauren''s hair stood on end, but his oblivious friend walked over to that man and began talking. The man tapped a few times in the air, testing stuff out, until finally, a smile beamed on Kyle''s face as he said a few words and walked to the corner of the store. I can''t hear them... Shit... I need to calm my breathing¡ª "Pleasure doing business with you, my dear customer," the man''s voice rang out as he glanced toward Lauren and signaled him to come over. Almost by instinct, Lauren did so, his body not listening to him. "I''m Rael Sutekh. You can call me Rael if you become a repeat customer," the man said with a chuckle before suddenly tapping in the air. As he did, an interface appeared in front of Lauren. ?¡ªThe Platinum Gacha Boutique¡ª? Category: Gacha ?¡ªBalance: 5,000 Trell¡ª? ? Crystallite Set (Common): 4,500 Trell "This is...?" "It''s an armor set. It would be immensely helpful to you right now as it doesn''t have a level requirement," the man added. "You can get some good stuff, or you can get something shit. Either way, you''re getting something way above your level." Is he supposed to know so much about this...? Lauren tilted his head before falling into thought. If he were to buy¡ª "Ah, I don''t have much time. Are you buying it or not? You''ve got five seconds," the man said sternly, making Lauren momentarily panic and press the buy window, which seemingly floated toward his finger. ...Yes. Lauren nodded with a defeated sigh. A flash of light appeared, followed by five items materializing in his inventory. He glanced inside, and the moment he saw the item''s stats, his eyes widened as he turned toward the grinning man. "Pleasure doing business with you, my dear customer." Chapter 37 37: Automation And Heading Out To Grind [Rael''s POV] What a bunch of pushovers. Rael scoffed. Their names were stupid, but at the very least, he could get some money from them. The first one was definitely a gacha addict. As for the second, he seemed like some old man. Nonetheless, he had to get them to leave somehow. "Enjoy the item. Remember, you can come and purchase the same lootbox as many times as you want. The quality will vary," Rael said, shooing them away. But Crouching Tiger seemed to be an idiot. "W-Wait a second... Sir Rael Sutekh, could you give me some work to do? I''d be happy even if it isn''t paid. I just want to get to know you better." Rael looked at him coldly. "I''m sorry, but I don''t swing that way. You can take your fetishes and get out." "Sir, how about we get a discount on the next thing we buy if we advertise the store to, let''s say... 10 people?" Sausage Handler offered. "That way, you get more customers, and we get a currency called experience." "If you can advertise the store to 100 people, then I might consider giving you some chores to do," Rael replied, shooting their attempt down. He could probably give them a quest, but what was the fun in that? If the players became too overleveled, who would buy his gear? "100 people? Do you promise to consider us then?" Sausage Handler asked, a sparkle in his eye. "Yeah, yeah, get out," Rael said, and finally, they began leaving. However, as they approached the door, Crouching Tiger suddenly reached for one of his crystal constructs. The moment he did, Rael stood up, appearing right behind him. "One pat is 500 Trell." "..." Crouching Tiger speechlessly took his hand back and finally left alongside his friend. As for Rael, he was pretty happy. An hour in, he had already made 9,000 Trell. But of course, he still had around 1,347 sets left to sell, adding up to slightly over 6 million Trell in total. Safe to say, if he could sell everything within 20 days, he would be rich. However, this was very boring. In fact, it was so boring, Rael decided to get a replacement. Available MP: [222,800/222,800] Like before, he pressed it and typed in something slightly different. He selected everything necessary, but this time, instead of pouring in the bare minimum of his mana, Rael put in all 100%. [MP -222,800/222,800 (Crystal Genesis)] Immediately, a neat-looking crystal construct appeared, resembling the others a tiny bit. But of course, this one served a different purpose, so Rael naturally gave it a goofier name. Name: Xavier the Almighty Race: Summoned Crystal Construct Level: 45 Health Points (HP): [2,500/2,500] Mana Points (MP): [2,500/2,500] Strength: 50 sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Agility: 50 Constitution: 250 Intelligence: 250 Wisdom: 1 Charisma: 500 ¡ªSpecial Effect: Haggling (Common) If stationed as a receptionist, the construct has a 1% chance to successfully raise the asking price by up to 10%. A scamming robot, perfect. Rael nodded in satisfaction and commanded him to stand by the desk. And of course, a little trick he had found out. He pressed "Yes," and now, Xavier could deal with basic shop operations and sales. Of course, stealing was close to impossible, as all the guards nearby were much higher level than the players. Not to mention, he was the king. Nonetheless, his automation was done, and with that, he headed outside, breathing in some fresh air before sending Zafira a message. Tapping his feet on the ground impatiently, he soon received a reply. How did she...? Rael''s eyes widened. It would give them money, and the players wouldn''t exactly mind. If they saw something locked behind a paywall, they would naturally be curious about what was behind it. "Pfft... Hahahaha!" Rael let out a loud laugh, startling the passersby. His damage had increased massively, and now what he needed most were levels. If he could reach level 50, Rael could become a Vice-General class boss. A lot of traveling opportunities would open up, as his stats, with all the equipment combined, had long reached the level 100 threshold, and with the Vice-General class buff, it would be even greater. But it seemed like Zafira''s reaction wasn''t that calm. Sorry, Zafira. No can do, Rael thought with a sigh before closing the interface, leaving her on read. With that, he went to the adventurer''s guild, and along the way, finally finished his quests. ¡ª Yep. Bruh. ¡ª He pressed on it, and like the last quest, he received the money. The payout was a joke, but either way, he finally arrived at the adventurer''s guild. After a few moments of looking around, he picked out the perfect quest. ¡ª Rael accepted it without hesitation, waving innocently at the people gathered around, staring at him in awe. He pressed a few more buttons, and soon, a compass appeared, pointing west. The players would only truly start arriving a day or two later, so during that time... I need to catch up on some long-awaited grinding. Chapter 38 38: Overpowered Pay-To-Win Boss? Not doing anything but crafting for close to a week really took a toll on his boredom levels. Therefore, Rael made sure to sprint as fast as he could, arriving in front of the elevator in what felt like moments. The guards tried to chase after him in worry, but he evaded them with some quick turns. He took the elevator up to the west side of the forest and began running straight ahead, following the compass. Finally, after several more minutes of boring travel, Rael arrived in front of some kind of cave leading downward. It smelled terrible, but since the compass was going pointing down, he knew this was the right spot. "You wolf bastards really need to learn how to clean your shit up," Rael grumbled and began descending into the cave. There was dried blood and bones of all kinds of animals scattered around. But most importantly, there was the swirling blue portal in the deepest part. He took a deep breath, nearly gagging in the process, before stepping inside. His vision shifted like before, but it made him less nauseous this time. Surprisingly, the inside looked squeaky clean. He couldn''t even see any dust, let alone blood or bones. It just seemed like a more maintained extension of the cave he had just entered from. ¡ªAwoooooo And of course, the howling of wolves, meaning he was definitely not lost. But Rael came in prepared, as he crafted one item in particular. [MP -222,800/222,800 (Crystal Genesis)] ¡ªGemstone Staff (Uncommon) Durability: 1060/1060 (+960%) Special Effect: 5% Critical Hit Damage Increase +244 Constitution (+388%) +488 Intelligence (+388%) +488 Wisdom (+388%) Since its stats were focused on only a few areas, he got that much more out of it. So, before he went in, he decided to take a glance at his stats one last time. ?¡ªStats¡ª? Health Points (HP): [54,400/54,400] ¡ú [103,800/103,800] Mana Points (MP): [172,800/172,800] (+100,000) ¡ú [271,600/271,600] (+100,000) Strength: 213 (+188) ¡ú 363 (+188) Agility: 253 (+203) ¡ú 403 (+203) Constitution: 544 (+473) ¡ú 1038 (+717) Intelligence: 728 (+398) ¡ú 1716 (+886) Wisdom: 440 (+425) ¡ú 928 (+913) Charisma: 1,100 Spell Power (SP): 1,456 ¡ú 3,432 Attack Power (AP): 551 (+125) ¡ú 851 (+125) Movement Speed Increase: 141.5% (+15%) ¡ú 216.5% (+15%) Critical Hit Damage Increase: 23% (+1%) ¡ú 52.4% (+6%) ?¡ªAdvanced Stats¡ª? +25% ¡ú 50% Increased Crystal-based Attack Damage +15% ¡ú 20% Resistance to all types of Magic Damage -15% Reduced Physical Damage Dealt The skill he wanted to test was none other than Fractured Prism. Fractured Prism: [Level 1 ¡ú 16 | 4,852/6,400] (Uncommon) ¡ªSummon a floating prism that fractures over time, releasing crystalline shards that deal 8,500 ¡ú 12,250 Crystal Damage every 4 seconds to all enemies within range. The shards explode in a concentrated blast, stripping armor and dealing an extra 1,500 ¡ú 2,250 Crystal Damage. Radius: 10 Meters Duration: 12 Seconds Cost: 5,000 MP ¡ú 12,500 MP Finally, he was done checking out all his upgrades. It was time to actually proceed into the dungeon. Therefore, Rael took a few steps forward and immediately stepped in shit. "..." That was not there before. Gently wiping it on the moss, he proceeded forward, his dignity somewhat renewed. After a few minutes of descending further, he realized it wasn''t getting any darker. Instead, it became brighter and brighter until the brightness finally remained fixed. He was no longer descending, and now, in front of Rael were multiple pathways leading in different directions. The cave seemed stable at a glance, and with no sharp objects around, Rael could move more freely. But just as he was about to pick a path, he noticed a few wolves emerging from his right, a total of six, with the one in front being significantly larger than the rest. ¡ªFrenzied Wolf (x5) [Level ??] [10,350/10,350 HP] ¡ªFrenzied Wolf Alpha (Vice-General Class Elite) [Level ???] [191,250/191,250 HP] Now that''s a big leap. The bastard is almost as strong as the Skeleton King, Rael thought warily, before shaking his head. Doesn''t matter though... It''ll fall just as easily. Since it wasn''t a boss monster, it could be instantly killed, but even then, that was not his objective. Rael aimed his staff to where they were about to step, and in the next moment, used his skill. [MP -12,500 259,100/271,600 (Fractured Prism)] It appeared in an instant, and the moment it did, it shot out multiple rainbow shards, all of which seemed much sharper than before. -10,350! Instant Kill! (x5) -35,849! Critical Hit! The regular wolves practically exploded into bits on impact, and the elite wolf wasn''t faring any better. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. One rainbow shard embedded itself into its eye, and Rael could visibly see the alpha panic. However, since it was a monster that wouldn''t hesitate to kill him, Rael merely grinned and gave it the middle finger treatment. -12,989! Critical Hit! The shard exploded, taking half of the elite''s face with it. He was honestly surprised it was still alive, but even then, it couldn''t even see him anymore. Damn, I feel kind of bad... Maybe I should buy it a treat¡ª Another rainbow shard flew toward the alpha, and before it could even react, the shard hit the alpha''s throat, making it expand as its head fell clean off the neck. -142,412! Instant Kill! "Oh." Rael glanced down at the wolf head that had rolled toward his feet. "Well, I''ll be damned. Two hits, and you died." It felt great, sure. But... Wasn''t this a bit too easy? I mean, it''s a Vice-General Class Elite, after all... After a moment of thought, Rael simply narrowed it down to having caught it off guard. If he fought it normally, it would''ve been much more troublesome. Probably. Despite that, he glanced toward the row of pleasant messages. <+6,220 Trell Acquired> ¡ªFrenzied Wolf Alpha (Vice-General Class Elite) [Level 50] Killed! Experience: +36,375> <+21,495 Trell Acquired> <+900 Trell Bonus> Rael whistled in excitement, and soon, another pack of wolves appeared in the distance. They didn''t have an alpha this time, but that didn''t stop Rael''s grin from forming as he began approaching them. Free experience... I''m coming. Chapter 39 39: A Slightly Strong Frost Wolf <+39,808 Trell Acquired> <+1,200 Trell Bonus> "Hmm..." Rael glanced up at the cave''s ceiling, seemingly lost in thought. He had been going around, killing those wolves, and now he had earned a decent amount of money. ?¡ªBalance: 198,166 Trell¡ª? But of course, he was still 16 levels away from reaching level 50. There was also one more thing he noticed. I''m a bit overpowered... but I don''t think that''s going to last long. Monsters had ranks, but there was also basic balancing which occurred every 50 levels. Starting at level 51, their HP would begin to increase at a much higher scaling¡ªand so would their strength. Of course, the one thing he was most worried about was the elite and boss monsters. So far, their HP and MP scaling was roughly 1:15 and 1:20, and there was a very big chance that at level 51 and higher, they would get the same scaling as Rael. Which, of course, was 1:100. He had begun smelling blood a while back, but now, it felt like it was quite literally in front of him. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And as he turned the corner, Rael halted, his brows furrowing. There was a single white wolf in the very middle, eating the flesh of a Frenzied Wolf. All the while, it had its large back turned toward him. But that was not what concerned him. Instead, it was this. ¡ªFrost Wolf (Vice-General Class Elite) [Level ??] [2,595,000/2,595,000 HP] Haha... Fuck you too. Rael scoffed. This just meant he had to get much stronger, much faster, since these dungeons should normally be cleared in groups of five or more. Nonetheless, he had no plans of teaming up anytime soon. He aimed his staff at the Frost Wolf and, of course, used his favorite skill. [MP -18,000 253,600/271,600 (Fractured Prism)] The rainbow prism appeared and soon shot out a fragment, heading straight for the wolf. However, unlike the rest of the cannon fodder he had killed, the wolf evaded out of instinct before its glowing blue eyes landed on him. Okay. This motherfucker is a bit bigger than I thought. Rael gulped, but he wasn''t done yet. After all, if one skill didn''t work... [MP -18,000 235,600/271,600 (Fractured Prism)] [MP -18,000 217,600/271,600 (Fractured Prism)] [MP -18,000 199,600/271,600 (Fractured Prism)] [MP -18,000 181,600/271,600 (Fractured Prism)] [MP -18,000 163,600/271,600 (Fractured Prism)] Then how about five? ¡ªGrrrr "Hungry? Come closer, then¡ªI have a treat in my pocket here..." Rael taunted the cautious wolf as he began walking closer. Of course, he didn''t leave the range of his skill, otherwise, he''d become wolf food. "Were you the one who took a shit near the entrance?" Rael pointed to his boots. "You know some people could step in that, right?" At this point, he was just taunting the wolf into a corner. After all, while this cave was fucking massive... "You know what...?" Rael stopped as he turned toward the premium shop. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Miscellaneous/Dog Toys ?¡ªBalance: 198,166 Trell¡ª? ? Tennis Ball (Common): 5 Trell Cheap... A grin spread across Rael''s face. Immediately, he began spamming the button, the tennis balls flying out of his hands and falling onto the cold, hard ground. After a few seconds of spamming¡ªand spending roughly 2,000 Trell¡ªthere were now hundreds of tennis balls scattered everywhere. Rael glanced toward his skills, which soon began deactivating when they found no enemies nearby However, that didn''t matter much, as the wolf''s attention was on the balls instead of Rael. So he picked up a ball and kicked it to the corner of the cave. ¡ªArf! The wolf dashed toward it like a dog, and with that, Rael approached, kicking more balls and making sure its escape path was completely cut off. Finally, the wolf realized what was going on, but as it turned around, the only thing it was met with was Rael''s sadistic grin. "Who''s a good boy?" [MP -18,000 145,600/271,600 (Fractured Prism)] [MP -18,000 127,600/271,600 (Fractured Prism)] [MP -18,000 109,600/271,600 (Fractured Prism)] [MP -18,000 91,600/271,600 (Fractured Prism)] [MP -18,000 73,600/271,600 (Fractured Prism)] The wolf looked around in panic before suddenly locking its gaze on Rael and opening its mouth. "...Are you hungry¡ª!?" A massive bolt of frost shot out from its mouth, traveling at a speed that gave him no room to block. However, that didn''t mean he couldn''t react at all. [MP -5,000 68,600/271,600 (Gemstone Shield)] A glowing, radiant barrier appeared around him, and soon, the frost bolt made contact with his body¡ªshooting straight through Rael''s abdomen, leaving behind a giant hole. [HP -39,997! Critical Hit! 63,803/103,800] [HP -5,000! 58,803/103,800 (Frostbite)] [HP -3,000! 55,803/103,800 (Bleeding)] Rael''s eyes widened at the damage, and the ailments that would kill him in under ten minutes. Of course, his gemstone shield managed to reflect a portion of the damage back, but it wasn''t anything too great. -7,999! Unfortunately, it didn''t stack with his damage increase, but that was fine, as for a small moment, the wolf''s mouth closed. Everything happened in less than a second, and soon, the rainbow shards shot out, embedding themselves one by one all over the wolf. -42,136! Critical Hit! -42,136! Critical Hit! -42,136! Critical Hit! -42,136! Critical Hit! -42,136! Critical Hit! A good chunk of damage in one hit, however, due to Rael not commanding the shards, they didn''t hit its eyes or neck. Nonetheless, the explosions soon came. -15,671! Critical Hit! -15,671! Critical Hit! -15,671! Critical Hit! -15,671! Critical Hit! -15,671! Critical Hit! This isn''t enough... Rael thought with a frown as he glanced at the premium shop, his eyes landing on a particular skill. It''s time I rebuy an old skill of mine... Chapter 40 40: Killing The Frost Wolf And Defensive Skill ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Skills/Fire ?¡ªBalance: 196,166 Trell¡ª? ? Fireball (Common): 2500 Trell It was an easy choice, as he only needed a little damage to balance out his other skills. Also, while he was at it... Yes. I''m being eye-fucked every four seconds. Rael scoffed, and soon, the next rainbow shards shot out again. This time, they headed for the wolf''s vitals, and one of them for flew toward one spot in particular... Its balls. -212,786! Critical Hit! (5x Fractured Prism) ¡ªAwooooooooo "Sorry, pal, no hard feelings." Rael prayed in the wolf''s stead and purchased the fireball skill. Fireball: [Level 8 | 1,852/2,263] (Common) ¡ªCast a fireball, dealing 600-1800 Fire Damage and inflicting enemies with the Burning status ailment. Enemies set on fire by the skill take 325 damage every 10 seconds. Cost: 475 MP Seriously? It didn''t level up even a single time in the skeleton maze? Fuck off... He grumbled and pointed his staff at the panicking wolf, timing his fireball alongside the explosions. Now! [MP -475 68,125/271,600 (Fireball)] -81,606! Critical Hit! (5x Fractured Prism) -43,118! Critical Hit! (1x Fireball) It seemed like the basic scaling was roughly a 500% damage increase to enemies who had conflicting elements, which was why fire shined here. But of course, the wolf wasn''t happy as the explosion decimated its balls into... well, nothing. It glared at him, weakly opening its mouth. "Thanks for the assist," Rael nodded at the wolf, and in the very next moment, another bout of shards flew by, every single one of them going into the wolf''s mouth and embedding themselves deeply inside its body. -210,680! Critical Hit! (5x Fractured Prism) He could see blood pouring from all over, which was why Rael backed off slightly. After all, no matter how strong you were, five bombs detonating inside your body would kill you. "Good fight, doggo. Next time, don''t do¡ª" [HP -5,000! 50,803/103,800 (Frostbite)] [HP -3,000! 47,803/103,800 (Bleeding)] "...That," Rael finished with a sigh. His entire body stung, and he felt a fair deal weaker. However, because of his boss monster physique, he was holding up fine for the moment. In a last-ditch effort, the wolf opened its mouth again, and Rael could immediately see a frost bolt forming. But this time, he was prepared, as in the next moment, a fierce fireball shot out straight into its mouth. [MP -475 67,650/271,600 (Fireball)] -41,539! Critical Hit! (1x Fireball) Its mouth blasted open, with what remained hanging low. Not even a moment later, the shards inside the wolf began glowing, so Rael quickly ran back, and soon... -1,708,237! Instant Kill! (5x Fractured Prism) The Frost Wolf exploded, its innards flying everywhere but where Rael stood. After all, that was why he had stepped back in the first place. He didn''t waste any time and purchased two potions. His bleeding was too severe to be bandaged, so naturally, Rael bought a strong health potion. <+28 Constitution> <+5 Strength> <+33 Constitution> Finally, he was safe for the time being, and with that, Rael''s gaze traveled toward the experience and money, which after the scaling... was simply insane. ¡ªFrost Wolf (Vice-General Class Elite) [Level 55] Killed! Experience: +91,938> <+45,969 Trell Acquired> Level: 34 ¡ú 38 <+1200 Trell Bonus> Rael looked up at the cave''s ceiling, nearly shedding a tear. "Thank you, stupid developers..." At this pace, he might really reach level 50 before finishing the dungeon. However, he nearly died, and if not for his 20% magic reduction, he would''ve been in far worse shape. But since it was over, Rael plopped down on the floor for some well-deserved rest. That was a bit close, he thought with a sigh, his feet over a dull boulder. I need a defensive skill, a life-saving defensive skill... ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Skills/Defense ?¡ªBalance: 230,835 Trell¡ª? ? Void Cloak (Cursed-Common): 95,000 Trell ? Aura of Devotion (Uncommon): 120,000 Trell ? Giant Rubber Bubble (Common): 150,000 Trell ? Parry (Rare): 200,000 Trell As much as he hated spending money, it was either that or his life. So he glanced through his options, with one of them literally being a giant condom. Aside from that, Aura of Fortitude seemed great, but so did Parry. Can''t I just roll a dice? Rael grumbled. He went through the options again, and this time, he froze as he finished reading Void Cloak''s description. Void Cloak (Cursed-Common): ¡ªSurround yourself in an ethereal cloak of void energy, giving you a 50% chance of avoiding incoming damage and reducing all damage taken by 25%. Cost: 50,000 MP Duration: 10 Seconds Cooldown: 1 Day It was a great skill, but it had one flaw... Curse: This skill does not have the capability of leveling up. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But despite that, Rael purchased it without even blinking an eye. Why? He was a pay-to-win boss. If there was a skill he couldn''t level up regularly, then he''d simply brute force his way with money. Nonetheless, he bought it and would only use it in an emergency since It had such a long cooldown. Finally, Rael stood up, stretched his back, and began walking. There was no point in buying a map since he noticed all the crossovers led to the same place eventually. As for Elite monsters? He planned on encountering all of them anyway. But one thing was obvious. If he were to fight the boss in his current state, then he would be killed. However, as he was in the midst of his thoughts, he suddenly encountered an annoying situation. There were two wolves, one with completely red fur, while the other, black. They shot blasts of magma and earth at each other, with each blow making blood spill everywhere. ¡ªMagma Wolf (Vice-General Class Elite) [Level ??] [1,133,274/2,970,000 HP] ¡ªGravity Wolf (Vice-General Class Elite) [Level ??] [1,955,198/3,405,000 HP] Hmm... Rael scratched his chin, a grin appearing on his face. This is an opportunity. After all... One kill steal a day keeps the... fuck, I don''t know, away... Chapter 41 41: Not So Sneakily Kill Stealing But... how am I supposed to get in there? Rael thought with furrowed brows. Sure, kill stealing was definitely possible; however, unlike the Frost Wolf, which he had cornered, these two seemed on a completely different level. The Gravity Wolf literally made each of the Magma Wolf''s attacks sink to the ground before sending out a reversed gravity attack of its own. He simply had to wait for their health to get much, much lower. However... ¡ªMagma Wolf (Vice-General Class Elite) [Level ??] [884,275/2,970,000 HP] ¡ªGravity Wolf (Vice-General Class Elite) [Level ??] [1,142,001/3,405,000 HP] The Magma Wolf was making a comeback, as every single time it was hit, it grew stronger. Damn, I really feel like a commentator right now. Should I buy a microphone? Rael seriously pondered for a moment before shaking his head. No. Kill stealing first. They were obviously fighting for territory, and if he were to pop up, he''d get ganged up on. Despite that, Rael felt like the timing was right. He began sneakily making laps around them and used his skill in a radius that would reach both wolves. [MP -210,000 61,600/271,600 (x10 Fractured Prism)] Finally, he finished preparing and stepped back behind a giant rock. Not out of fear, of course. He just didn''t want to get hit by his own shards. Soon, damage numbers began appearing in front of him. -182,260! Critical Hit! (4x Fractured Prism) -273,390! Critical Hit! (6x Fractured Prism) The hits were pretty balanced despite him not seeing them. But of course, they would''ve been much bigger if he had hit their balls. Rael paused and glanced toward them from the rock¡ªspecifically, their lower parts. ...I guess I wouldn''t be getting that ball damage increase, he thought with a sigh. They were female wolves. Nonetheless, their fight continued for a few moments before something finally threw them off. -65,700! Critical Hit! (4x Fractured Prism) -98,550! Critical Hit! (6x Fractured Prism) The loud explosions rang out, and he immediately heard their fighting stop. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He quietly peeked over the rock, glancing at their HP. ¡ªMagma Wolf (Vice-General Class Elite) [Level ??] [114,988/2,970,000 HP] ¡ªGravity Wolf (Vice-General Class Elite) [Level ??] [401,524/3,405,000 HP] Hmm... even after most of those attacks landed on the Gravity Wolf, the Magma Wolf was getting domesticated either way, Rael thought, rubbing his chin. Suddenly, he felt the gravity around him increase drastically, making it harder for him to breathe. At the same time, he was now breathing in hot air. However, before he could be absolutely demolished by the elite monsters, his skill once again triggered. -114,988! Instant Kill! (3x Fractured Prism) -318,955! Critical Hit! (7x Fractured Prism) One of them fell¡ªthe Magma Wolf¡ªbut as that happened, the gravity suddenly intensified even further. [HP -40,000! 69,900/109,900] Fucking bastard crushed my arm. Rael glanced at his arm, which was like spaghetti, and his leg wasn''t any better. Basically, he was fucked. Sike. -82,569! Instant Kill! (7x Fractured Prism) The explosions detonated, each causing catastrophic damage, as the gravity finally restored to normal. He had killed them both without even seeing them directly. It was quite a feat, but... I can''t move my arms, Rael thought with a sigh as he decided to rest on the ground until he passively regenerated¡ªwhich should be in only four minutes. In the meantime, he checked his boons. ¡ªMagma Wolf (Vice-General Class Elite) [Level 57] Killed! Experience: +95,964> <+47,982 Trell Acquired> ¡ªGravity Wolf (Vice-General Class Elite) [Level 59] Killed! Experience: +100,019> <+50,009 Trell Acquired> Level: 38 ¡ú 45 <+2600 Trell Bonus> Five more levels. Rael cheered inwardly, his hands flailing slightly. But despite the fact that he had won here, the boss still seemed out of reach. After checking through his skills and calculating the total amount of damage he could output, Rael let out a sigh. Fractured Prism: [Level 33 ¡ú 42 | 1462/27,219] (Uncommon) ¡ªSummon a floating prism that fractures over time, releasing crystalline shards that deal 16,500 ¡ú 18,750 Crystal Damage every four seconds to all enemies within range. The shards explode in a concentrated blast, stripping armor and dealing an extra 3,100 ¡ú 3,550 Crystal Damage. Radius: 10 ¡ú 20 Meters Duration: 12 Seconds Cost: 21,000 MP ¡ú 25,500 MP With his current total MP, he could cast at most 10 of these. And if each one hit and exploded, his total damage would be around 2 million from the shards and roughly a million from the explosions. And then, he would run out of mana and die. So he came to one simple conclusion. I can''t kill the boss. If he were to invest in just his stats, it wouldn''t be enough. Stats could get close¡ªmaybe push his damage to the 3 million range, maybe even 4 million. But by his calculations, the boss would have at the very least 5 million HP in its normal phase and likely more than 7 million in its second phase. Therefore, he was left with two choices. Run. Or... The choice was simple, and he would definitely not back away from such an opportunity. However, he was still around 20,000 experience short. Therefore, the only thing he needed to do was kill a couple more monsters, and he could convert all his money and reach level 50. Rael took a deep breath and finally stood up, before walking deeper into the cave. The surroundings were more intact, and destruction wasn''t nearly as bad as what he had seen earlier. It was almost like the one responsible could actually maintain its own territory. And just as he thought, a completely gray wolf appeared, sitting peacefully while glancing directly at Rael. ¡ªStorm Wolf (Vice-General Class Elite) [Level 60] [3,645,000/3,645,000 HP] "Congratulations, mutt," Rael spread out his arms, flashing a wide grin. "You''re about to be my level-up kill." Chapter 42 42: Reaching Level 50 Naturally, killing it normally would be a pain in the ass. But that was okay since, in the end, this was nothing but an elite monster that he could instantly kill if hit at the right angle. Though, it''s a bit stronger than the two I just killed, and it''s definitely not going to be easy, Rael thought, amused. Amused for the sole fact that despite this monster being strong, there were weak spots he could exploit. On the cave''s ceiling, there were countless stalactites, and if even one of them landed directly on the wolf, it would inflict a fatal blow. Therefore, Rael got moving, and while the wolf still eyed him as though he were food, he ran into its range and unleashed a few skills. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [MP -127,500 144,100/271,600 (x5 Fractured Prism)] They were there just to act as a distraction and they dealt a fair amount of damage, but¡­ -166,365! (5x Fractured Prism) They weren''t even critical hits, as the wolf merely cushioned the attacks with gusts of wind and shattered the shards before they could explode. But that was fine, as the only thing Rael wanted to do was draw its aggro toward him. Also, it was about time he used a skill he had been holding back on. The Storm Wolf opened its mouth, and in an instant, Rael could see thunder gathering. However, he didn''t panic, as he had just the fix for this. Stealing was surprisingly cheap, but if he were to do that, then he would have no more money remaining to level up later. Therefore, he chose the first option. In the very next instant, the thunder that had been gathering in the Storm Wolf''s mouth dissipated, leaving it confused. Rael decided to use that confusion by sending the next five shards directly at its balls. ¡ªAWOOOOOO -261,990! Critical Hit! (5x Fractured Prism) Sucks to have balls, don''t it? Rael snickered inwardly as he glanced above. There was a stalactite right above the whimpering wolf, and by merely aiming his staff upward, he shot out a fireball directly at it. [MP -800 143,300/271,600 (x1 Fireball)] It made contact with the very top of the stalactite, and it immediately crumbled down, its sharp edge heading straight for the wolf''s backside. However, despite worrying about its balls, the wolf managed to dash forward. But of course, it didn''t dodge the attack fully, as it was now pinned by its tail, unable to move in the slightest. Surprisingly, the wolf tried shrinking itself to normal size in order to escape, but that didn''t do much. And soon, the explosions rang out. -90,445! Critical Hit! (5x Fractured Prism) ¡ªAWOOOOOOOO! ¡ªBall Destroyer: 5¡ú10% increased damage when attacking the testicles of an enemy. Rael sighed, ignoring that for now, as he focused on the wolf, which had no way of escaping and whose balls were destroyed. Another round of shards shot out, perfectly piercing its normal-sized eyes. -250,685! Critical Hit! (5x Fractured Prism) Now, he did feel a little hungry, therefore, he began blasting the wolf with only a couple of cheeky fireballs. [MP -53,600 89,700/271,600 (x67 Fireball)] The massive fireballs came flying out of his hand one by one, and each of them impacted the wolf''s skin, until eventually, the first round of damage was finished. -599,421! Critical Hit! (58x Fireball) -44,998! (x9 Fireball) Despite the damage seeming low, the wolf''s skin was literally melted, as the shards inside its eyes began glowing brighter. Almost as if they absorbed the energy from the fireballs. Soon, the biggest explosion Rael had seen by far happened, making him skid backward. [HP -5,664! 104,236/109,900] <Status Ailment: Burning> <Lose 500 HP every 15 seconds until the fire is put out> <You are not able to heal out of combat!> [HP -500! 103,736/109,900] Bruh. Rael grumbled as he began rolling on the ground. No point buying an extinguisher when the only thing on fire were his clothes. <Status Ailment: Burning has been removed!> He stood up, dusted himself off, and prepared to fight the wolf. But as the dust faded, only then did he glance to the side, where a massive chunk of damage was displayed. -2,231,086! Instant Kill! (5x Fractured Prism/Fireball) ¡ªStorm Wolf (Vice-General Class Elite) [Level 60] Killed! Experience: +102,056> <+51,028 Trell Acquired> <Level: 45 ¡ú 49> <+1600 Trell Bonus> That was much easier than I thought... Rael thought as he stretched his back and turned toward his experience bar. <Level: 49> <Experience: 3,382/34,300> Rael took a deep breath as he opened the conversion interface. <Would you like to convert 61,836 Trell into 30,918 Experience? Yes/No> His trembling fingers moved toward "Yes," and he immediately pressed it. Level: 49 ¡ú 50 For a moment, nothing happened, and Rael honestly thought nothing would. But soon... <Long Main Quest¡ª[Find the Beast (Level ???) | Part-2 Available!]> <Note: This quest may be put off, and the user may choose to temporarily forfeit their quest completion rewards in order to receive the Boss Monster bonuses.> "Temporarily forfeit? I won''t lose out on any first-time bullshit, will I?" Rael asked, and just as he thought, the system definitely heard him. <Note: The quest is a memory fragment for the time being, thus it can be done at any time, and no rewards shall be forfeited permanently. It is recommended the user does not delay the main quest for too long as it would have diminishing effects.> He nodded in confirmation and decided to delay it. There was the envoy he had to deal with, and he wasn''t sure how long this quest would take. "I''ll postpone it. Give me my rewards," Rael said out loud, and after a few seconds, several columns of system messages appeared, each detailing the new changes. To his surprise, they were even better than he thought. <Reward: Boss Monster Variation Upgraded!> <The Pay-to-Win Boss [Rare] ¡ú The Pay-to-Win Boss [Vice-General Class]> <Stat Calculations Readjusted!> <You''ve been marked by ???> Huh? Chapter 43 43: Becoming A Vice-General Class Boss Monster <You''ve been marked by ???> What the fuck? Rael''s eyes widened upon seeing that message. It was out of nowhere, and he definitely did not expect to see it now, of all times. However, the one thing it had in common with the current timing was that the main quest had just become available. Out of curiosity, he decided to press on that pop-up, and to his surprise, he got some information. ¡ªYou have been marked by an incredibly powerful being, granting you several effects. 1. Exude a passive aura that makes monsters 30 levels lower than you ignore your presence. 2. You''ve been blessed by a Primordial! <+250 To All Stats!> 3. Your existence has caught the eyes of the gods! <+1000 Charisma!> 4. You will automatically join ???''s faction, and everyone who is against ??? will seek to eliminate you. Special Option: Trust ¡ªYou may, at any time, revoke the mark, leave the faction, and keep the rewards. However, upon doing so, you will forfeit any additional blessings in the future. So a curse, but at the same time a blessing? And I can revoke it whenever I want? Is this primordial an idiot? Rael raised his brow. It was an obvious choice¡ªsimply take the loot and run. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, Rael felt like he shouldn''t do that, almost as if doing so would screw him over. Therefore, he let out a sigh and swatted the mark interface aside before glancing at his newfound stat adjustments. <Stat Calculations Readjusted!> <Constitution to HP Ratio: 1 Constitution: 100 HP ¡ú 1 Constitution: 200 HP> <Intelligence to MP Ratio: 1 Intelligence: 100 MP ¡ú 1 Intelligence: 200 MP> <Strength to Attack Power Ratio: 1 Strength: 2 Attack Power ¡ú 1 Strength: 3 Attack Power> <Intelligence to Spell Power Ratio: 1 Intelligence: 2 Spell Power ¡ú 1 Intelligence: 3 Spell Power> That was what he was looking for. I just got the equivalent of buying an insane item. Rael thought with a grin as he paced around the cave. He didn''t want to check his status, almost as if he wanted to surprise himself with the sheer amount of damage he could do. There was only one thing missing, and that was the perk selection. However, as he glanced around, he finally found the system message displaying some information. <ETA: 12 Hours> Great, awesome, fuck you too. He calmly made his way further into the cave, his MP and HP regenerating rapidly. The corpse of the Storm Wolf was nowhere to be seen, unsurprisingly, as the explosion had managed to wipe everything out. Yet, as the minutes passed, Rael noticed the cave was slightly changing. Earlier, it had been pretty tame, but now sharp rocks were scattered across the ground, and the walls had turned similarly jagged. It almost felt like he was walking into a death trap. But, of course, that was his objective. After all, the moment he got inside the boss room, he would turn that trap into an opportunity. A couple more minutes passed, and finally, Rael noticed the cave''s walls widening outward, meaning he was entering an individual area, just like with the elite monsters. However, this one was much, much more expansive, spanning far into the distance, making the cave seem unnaturally large. Now this is a fucking boss arena, Rael thought inwardly, his blood pumping. The moment he stepped forward, the entrance through which he had come closed up with spiky rock formations. Then, the ground shook, followed by a large figure descending from the ceiling. It was a wolf with white fur and a rainbow tail. "Hmm..." Rael glanced up, meeting its crystal-like green eyes as he began inspecting it. ¡ªElemental Fenrir (Vice-General Class Boss) [Level 60] [4,860,000/4,860,000 HP] It wasn''t as bad as he expected, though it didn''t really matter in the end. After all, his MP had nearly doubled. Despite that, Rael didn''t let his guard down, and rightfully so, as in the very next moment, a streak of lightning hit the ground in front of him, almost taunting him. And like the calm and collected person Rael was, he didn''t fall for it. "You piece of shit wolf, I''ll make that rainbow tail of yours a rug in the throne room," Rael said, and pointed toward the wolf, which finally descended from the ceiling. It could levitate somewhat, but that was no problem for Rael, as he had several long-range skills at his disposal. But if he was going to fuck this wolf up, then he''d need to dual-wield. They had a silent stare-down for a moment, until finally, the wolf broke the silence by sending out another fork of lightning. [MP -15,500 477,700/493,200 (Gemstone Shield)] [HP -15,422! 254,378/269,800] -6,168! (Gemstone Shield) Rael was grazed by the lightning, and his Gemstone Shield skill reflected a portion of the damage back, which now was a solid 41%. Nonetheless, that should''ve been enough to cause an Electrified status ailment to appear. Wrong. Like last time, he had gotten something which every boss monster acquires at some point. And this time, it was... <Boss Monster Exclusive Passive Effect: You are immune to crowd control effects!> Since Electrified would stun him, it now only dealt damage. Rael flashed a mocking grin at the massive wolf. "What''s wrong, doggo? Your lightning doesn''t spark thunder...?" he said and halted. I fucked up the saying, didn''t I? Despite that, he refocused, because instead of firing another spell, the wolf decided to close the distance and thrust its giant paw straight toward him. However, Rael wasn''t flustered. [MP -162,000 315,700/493,200 (x6 Fractured Prism)] Several prisms appeared around him, which quickly shot out shards right into the wolf''s chest. -376,932! Critical Hit! (x6 Fractured Prism) It didn''t react much, as this was barely a dent in its HP, and its paw continued traveling toward him. Therefore, Rael raised his sword upright and stabbed it deep into the wolf''s paw, before jumping back. -2973! Critical Hit! (Melee) ¡ªSword of the Forgotten Swordsman Replica (Uncommon) Durability: -1/1000 <Notice: Your item has been destroyed.> It was a pity, as the sword looked nice, but despite that, it had given him enough leverage to move out of the way as the shards finally detonated. -155,736! Critical Hit! (x6 Fractured Prism) It still had most of its HP left, and Rael had slightly above 50% MP remaining. Therefore, he came to one simple conclusion. I need to steal that fucking dog''s skill. Chapter 44 44: Stealing The Pups Skill Rael narrowed his eyes, focusing on the boss''s next attack. It seemed like a bunch of colors were gathering in its mouth, forming a small marble. Yet, just as it was about to shoot straight at him, Rael used Override. <Would you like to cancel the opponent''s skill? Cost: 20,000 Trell> <Would you like to steal the opponent''s skill [Elemental Diffusion (Rare)]? Cost: 90,000 Trell> This isn''t it, he immediately concluded. A boss monster of this caliber must have an overpowered skill, so this bullshit wasn''t going to slide. Therefore, he directed all the shards toward the wolf''s mouth, closing it for a mere moment. -228,582! (x6 Fractured Prism) Because of its massive head, the only thing those shards managed to do was annoy it, as they barely embedded themselves into its tongue. Despite that, it was enough to get the wolf to bite its own tongue and cancel the attack. 20,000 Trell saved, Rael remarked with a relieved sigh. The moment he did, the wolf flashed a glare at him, its green eyes beginning to swirl. That was when the wolf dashed again, its back feet covered in lightning, giving Rael little to no time to dodge. Or so the wolf thought. However, as it got near him, the shards detonated. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. -154,548! Critical Hit! (x6 Fractured Prism) That explosion gave him enough time to swoop right under the wolf before casting another bout of skills. [MP -108,000 207,700/493,200 (x4 Fractured Prism)] In the very next moment, all the prisms shattered, their shards hurling toward the wolf''s lungs. Since it was massive, it wasn''t exactly hard to pinpoint, and soon... -247,860! Critical Hit! (x4 Fractured Prism) The wolf growled in turn, its eyes shooting a fierce glare at him. Rael took that as his sign to dip, so he simply ran back to where six of his Fractured Prisms were stationed. He could tell the fight was about to take a drastic turn, since, by far, all of the bosses went into phase two around the 25% or 50% HP mark. And so far... ¡ªElemental Fenrir (Vice-General Class Boss) [Level 60] [3,687,203/4,860,000 HP] 76%, Rael did some quick calculations, meaning that once the shards detonated, this pup would likely power up. But while he was lost in thought, he noticed a particular skill being cast¡ªone that was noticeably larger than the others It seemed like a massive lance made of ice, and if that were to hit Rael, he''d be fucked. <Would you like to cancel the opponent''s skill? Cost: 20,000 Trell> <Would you like to steal the opponent''s skill [Frostfire Lance (Rare)]? Cost: 100,000 Trell> That sounds cool and all¡ªWait, Frostfire? Rael''s eyes widened as he glanced back at the massive lance. At the very tip, a small flame formed and began expanding until finally, it perfectly covered the lance without melting the ice in the slightest. "..." <Skill: Frostfire Lance (Rare) has been cancelled!> He might be cheap, but he was not suicidal. Nonetheless, the ice lance fell to the ground and shattered, spreading fire all around. At the same time, the wolf flashed a confused look at him, before explosions erupted inside it. -103,032! Critical Hit! (x4 Fractured Prism) The wolf opened its mouth to yelp, but it no longer could. After all, its lungs were now gone, and its time was running out. But of course, that only lasted for a few seconds, as it finally understood what was happening and decided to transform into phase two. Its fur began turning rainbow, spreading outward from the tail. As for its eyes? They turned completely golden and had weird white crosses in the middle. While Rael was lost in admiration, the wolf''s transformation finally finished, and a golden hue covered its body. He tilted his head in confusion, but quickly snapped to attention as the golden hue suddenly exploded outward, sending him flying into a nearby wall. [HP -32,922! 221,456/264,800] Rael narrowly missed the stone spikes, plopping down on the ground before focusing again. HP-wise, he was safe, and as for the wolf... ¡ªUnleashed Ragnarok Fenrir (Vice-General Class Boss) [Level 70] [9,160,000/9,160,000 HP] Ragnarok? No, first of all, what the fuck is that HP amount? Rael thought, his brows twitching. It was definitely out of his reach now. That was, unless he stole the skill he was waiting for. And to his total surprise, it seemed like the wolf decided to open up with its squad-wiping skill first. It began flying up into the air, its rainbow body emanating waves of mana that seemed to prevent Rael from moving. More importantly, he saw it weaving all sorts of different skills together, whether it was the Frostfire Lance or the skill he''d tried stealing earlier. Therefore, he went for the steal. <Would you like to cancel the opponent''s skill? Cost: 50,000 Trell> <Would you like to steal the opponent''s skill [Frostfire Tempest (Epic)]? Cost: 200,000 Trell> This is it, but 200,000...? Rael glanced at his balance. ?¡ªBalance: 197,218 Trell¡ª? He was almost 3,000 short, which meant he either coughed up the money now, or he was fucked. Therefore, he did the only thing he could do. <Would you like to sell [Drunken Sentinel''s Chestpiece (Uncommon)] to the Premium Shop for 2,000 Trell?> <Would you like to sell [Enchanted Banana Peels (Uncommon)] to the Premium Shop for 1,500 Trell?> <Yes/No> I will miss you, my precious banana peels, Rael performed one final salute for his banana peels and, in the very next moment, pressed "Yes." Now, with enough money to steal the skill, Rael refocused on the boss¡ªspecifically, the skill it was about to unleash. And in the very next moment, he pressed on the Override stealing interface. Surprisingly, the skills it was toying with vanished, replaced by a growling noise as the wolf sent a glare at Rael. But he was preoccupied with something else. <Entity: Unleashed Ragnarok Fenrir''s Skill has been stolen!> <Skill: Frostfire Tempest (Epic) has been acquired!> <First Skill Stolen! +50 to all stats!> Chapter 45 45: Killing The Boss, And Getting A Smooch From Mommy? Rael quickly glanced at the skill''s description, his eyes widening in awe. Frostfire Tempest: [Level 1 | 0/100] (Epic) ¡ªUnleash a storm, dealing 45,000-55,000 Frostfire Damage per second. Enemies inside the storm are slowed by 15% and take True Burning Damage equal to 1% of their total HP per second. Storm Radius: 25 meters Duration: 30 seconds Cost: 100,000 MP Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He couldn''t help but grin. The skill was overpowered, and by utilizing the flat 1% HP damage per second, he could take down this boss pretty quickly. "Yeah, you''re done now, doggo." Rael shot a look at the wolf, and in the very next moment, he used his new skill. [MP -100,000 117,700/503,200 (x1 Frostfire Tempest)] The wolf was still in the sky, but that didn''t last long, as a massive tornado emerged in front of Rael. It was both blue and red, spinning wildly as it grounded the wolf. Oh shit? Rael raised his brow. "Doggo, is it chilly in there?" Despite his teasing, he knew this wolf was just as overpowered as he was. And as a bolt of lightning shot out from the storm, it only further proved that fact. [HP -80,599! Critical Hit! 140,857/259,800] He was unable to react as the lightning hit him square in the chest, piercing straight through his heart. <Status Ailment: Bleeding (Level 4)> <Lose 15,000 HP every 30 seconds until bandaged!> <You are not able to heal out of combat!> [HP -15,000! Critical Hit! 125,857/259,800] That fucking hurts, Rael exclaimed, drawing rough breaths as he tried his best not to collapse on a sharp rock. While he couldn''t be instantly killed even if his vitals were attacked, such injuries definitely weren''t good. But despite that, he didn''t feeling as bad as he expected. Breathing was painful, but aside from missing his entire heart and one lung, Rael felt fine. Though that bitch of a wolf needs to die quickly, or else I''m following it to the grave, Rael grumbled. The damage numbers were still adding up, and from what he could see inside the storm, the wolf was struggling to get out. It wasn''t strong enough to escape the pull of the storm, and now it was basically inside a blender¡ªfire scorching its skin, ice particles slicing open its wounds. Rael hid behind some debris that had fallen from the ceiling. Not because he was scared, of course. He just wanted to sit down for a while, as walking the entire day was pretty tiring. Nonetheless, several spells were shot toward him, which brought down even more debris and gave him greater cover. Now, the only thing Rael had to do was sit back and watch, until finally... -406,300! (1x Frostfire Tempest) -2,526,149! Critical Hit! (1x Frostfire Tempest) -2,748,000! True Burning Damage! (1x Frostfire Tempest) "Holy shit." In 30 seconds, he was able to practically kill the wolf. Even as the storm subsided, the wolf came out in tatters with its feet bleeding and its eyes punctured. Rael stood up and slowly approached the wolf before inspecting it. ¡ªUnleashed Ragnarok Fenrir (Vice-General Class Boss) [Level 70] [3,479,551/9,160,000 HP] One more skill, and it would be dead. And of course, he wouldn''t give it enough time to react. Therefore, he cast it. [MP -100,000 17,700/503,200 (x1 Frostfire Tempest)] The storm appeared just like before, enveloping the wolf and dragging it inside, killing it slowly. But as if he was the unluckiest man in the world, the wolf began covering itself in a golden hue, lighting up the entire storm and attempting to dispel it. Since this spell was basically on its level, the wolf wasn''t able to. However, it did manage to create a single miniature hole in the storm. Just in case, Rael decided to activate his life-saving skill. However... <Insufficient MP to use skill: Void Cloak!> <MP Required: 50,000> <Current MP: 17,700> And before Rael could register what happened, the left side of his face began feeling hot. Better yet, he couldn''t see out of his left eye anymore. He raised his hand, placing it where his eye was supposed to be. Instead, he was met with a massive hole that went straight through his eye socket, narrowly missing his brain. Then he finally noticed the damage window, his eye widening in shock. [HP -77,511! Critical Hit! 48,346/259,800] <Status Ailment: Bleeding (Level 5)> <Lose 15,000 ¡ú 30,000 HP every 30 seconds until bandaged!> <You are not able to heal out of combat!> [HP -30,000! Critical Hit! 18,346/259,800] He immediately felt his body grow weaker as he plopped down to the ground, trying his best to stay awake. Fucking lack of mana... Of all things, the resource I have the most of... Fuck. Rael grumbled inwardly. He could practically hear the wolf laughing at him inside the storm. Nonetheless, he counted the seconds, his consciousness fading by the moment. Finally, just as he felt like he was about to fall asleep, the kill messages fell. -2,926,149! Critical Hit! (1x Frostfire Tempest) -553,402! True Burning Damage! (1x Frostfire Tempest) ¡ªBooger, The Unleashed Ragnarok Fenrir (Vice-General Class Boss) [Level 70] Killed! Experience: +163,726 <+81,863 Trell Acquired> <Level: 50 ¡ú 54> <+2000 Trell Bonus> "Fuck off," Rael exclaimed with the last of his breath as he opened the premium shop. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Nourishment/Healing/Big Heal ?¡ªBalance: 84,581 Trell¡ª? ? Bertha''s Juices (Uncommon): 25,000 Trell ? A healing potion made by a procrastinating magician who forgot to turn the valve off, making the potion turn sour (Uncommon): 45,000 Trell ? Alchemical Mastermind''s Healing Potion (Uncommon): 50,000 Trell ? Mommy''s Healing Smooch (Uncommon): 75,000 Trell <Expand for more> I typed in an extra filter by accident, so it gave me some weird shit again... Rael grumbled, but since he didn''t have much time, he chose the most expensive one. But to his surprise, instead of a potion appearing in his hands, a humanoid figure manifested, taking the shape of a curvy woman. "Hmm? What''s up with you, lad? You injured?" she asked, lifting his chin up. He couldn''t make out her facial features that well, so he simply nodded. "Injured and in need of a heal, I see..." She nodded, lifting him up by the arms. Before Rael could process what was happening, she leaned in and planted a massive kiss on his cheek. What the fuck? Rael''s eye widened, but in the next moment, the vision in his left eye began returning, followed by... [HP +1,500,000! Critical Heal! 259,800/259,800] <Status Ailment: Bleeding (Level 5) has been removed!> <+114 Constitution> Seeing that and feeling much, much better, Rael looked up at the woman and tilted his head. "Thank you for the heal?" "No problem, young lad. Mommy''s always glad to give you a smooch when needed," she teased, blowing him a kiss. "Though I have to go now! See ya!" With that, she suddenly vanished, leaving the flustered Rael behind. But just as he was about to question his sanity, he heard a ding. Then, a notification appeared in front of his eyes. <You''ve received a message from: Zafira Sutekh> Chapter 46 46: Going Back To The Boutique <You''ve received a message from: Zafira Sutekh> Hmm? Does she miss me that much? Rael thought, before letting out a chuckle. Nah, it''s probably just some envoy stuff. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With that, he pressed the button. But despite his certainty, Rael froze. <Zafira Sutekh: What have you been doing? Your HP has been jumping up and down for the last few hours. Are you trying to give me a heart attack?> What...? Rael''s eyes widened as he looked around, making sure Zafira wasn''t secretly stalking him. And once he confirmed that, he grew even more confused. <Rael Sutekh: How did you know?> In an instant, she replied, and he could practically feel her frustration through the way she wrote. <Zafira Sutekh: Click on my name.> Rael tilted his head but did that nonetheless. Immediately, an unexpected pop-up appeared, making his eyes widen. ¡ªFriend: Zafira Sutekh (General Class Boss) [Level 150] [486,120,000/486,120,000 HP] What the fuck is that HP amount? he exclaimed in shock. <Rael Sutekh: You''re... a bit stronger than I thought...?> He knew she was one of the main bosses, as later on, when Sketa Online finally launched, she would become a boss that players could fight. But that was solely because, during the couple of months leading up to the official release, her rule was contested. In the end, she was thrown out, but the players had little to no access to any specific information¡ªaside from the few lines she said during her boss fight which didn''t really make much sense. Back when he fought her, she looked much different than now. Zafira used to have some strange black outlines in her hair, and a cool, yet unnecessary blindfold. Nonetheless, Rael put that aside for now as he sent another message. <Rael Sutekh: I had it all under control, and as you can see from my HP, I''m all better now. I will be coming back soon.> <Zafira Sutekh: You better. Your store has attracted quite a lot of attention, and it seems like the travelers are specifically entering our city just to go there. Good job, Rael.> A smile appeared on his face as he waved the messages away and focused on the main notification. <Dungeon Owner: Unclaimed> <Would you like to assimilate this dungeon into your possessions?> <Yes/No> "Yep." <Dungeon Transferred!> <Dungeon Owner: Rael Sutekh, The Platinum Overlord> <Management Options Unlocked!> Huh? That was instant, Rael thought, pleased. Despite that, he wasn''t really in a position to afford what came next. <Dungeon: Wolf Den> <Revive all monsters?> <Cost: 100,000 Trell> ?¡ªBalance: 9,581 Trell¡ª? Guess I''ll just do it when I''m back. I''ll organize their positions next time, Rael whistled and began slowly making his way back to the entrance. The boss monster''s body was completely destroyed, so getting anything valuable from it was impossible. As he passed through what remained of the elite monsters, he realized that was the case for them as well. Still, he was happy he managed to reach level 50. But now, his MP and HP regeneration had dropped to 2% per minute instead of the usual 10%. It is what it is. I''ll find ways to bypass it when I''m richer, he thought absentmindedly. Finally, he reached the portal and went through it. It was already nighttime, which meant he would get his money soon. Rael sprinted back to Celestara, eager to check his boutique''s performance. After a few minutes, he finally arrived at the elevator, went down, and rushed into the city. The guards didn''t stop him, as, at a glance, they could tell he was their king. But just as he was about to reach his boutique, he received another message. <Zafira Sutekh: Why am I getting reports of you running around half-naked through the city?> He decided to simply ignore her for now as he approached his boutique. Surprisingly, there was a line of players gathered. ¡ªFuckkkk! Do you know how much I''ve sacrificed!? ¡ªDude, chill out. It''s just a game. ¡ªA game? I gambled three times and got jack shit! I''m going to kill the owner of this place! Rael''s brows twitched as he focused on the player. As he did, a nametag appeared. ¡ªxxMonsterGamer_69 (Player) [Level 11] [720/720 HP] "..." Rael was speechless, so he merely pushed the players aside as he entered his own boutique. He saw a couple of girls petting the kitty-eared cleaning crystal constructs, while the receptionist construct dealt with the gacha enthusiasts. But there were a few concerning murmurs going around. ¡ªThat crystal robot sure is scary... ¡ªI know, right...? Its name is Xavier too. ¡ªYeah, it feels like it''s reading our minds or something. "Fuck off to the side already," Rael exclaimed, frustrated. There were simply too many people. He walked to the very front of the line and stood right beside the reception desk before casting a glance at all the customers present. "I appreciate your patronage, but the boutique is closed until tomorrow morning. Scram." "W-What, but¡ª" "No buts," Rael cut off the first guy in line. "Those of you who want to buy loot boxes past closing hours have to pay extra. So unless you are ready to cough up 50,000 Trell for one pull, I''d get moving." The players looked around, startled. Soon, most began heading out, but a few people, in particular, stayed. "You two, what''s the occasion?" Rael nodded at the two players, whose expressions beamed immediately. It was Crouching Tiger and the Sausage Handler. "Sir, we gathered a lot of people, so could we please get some chores to do?" Crouching Tiger asked, practically begging. Rael glanced around the store before looking back at them. "How does janitor duty sound?" The moment he said those words, a system prompt appeared before him. <Would you like to assign the quest: [Cleaning (Level 1-5)] to the players in front of you? Yes/No> Pretty straightforward, Rael thought and pressed "Yes." Immediately, the smiles that had been on the two players'' faces brightened even more as they frantically paced around the store, looking for any sort of equipment. But when they found nothing, Crouching Tiger approached him. "Sir... where can we find the cleaning equipment?" "I don''t own any, but you can figure that out for yourself," Rael said with a smile as he dismissed the shocked Crouching Tiger and turned back to his reception construct, Xavier. As if it knew what he was thinking, it stretched out its hand, and soon... <Would you like to collect the earnings? Yes/No> I should definitely buy myself a metal helmet... Chapter 47 47: Money, Evolution And Envoy <Would you like to collect the earnings? Yes/No> "Yep, give me the money," Rael exclaimed, stretching out his hands. In the next instant, a system prompt appeared, making him halt. <+1,548,000 Trell (344 Sets Sold)> <+30,000 Trell (Haggling Skill)> <+195,000 Trell (Head Pats)> <Total Trell Gained: 1,773,030> <1003 Crystallite Sets Remaining> Rael''s eyes darted around the boutique, and the players looked on with concern. "Sir, are you alright?" Crouching Tiger asked, but Sausage Handler merely hit him over the head. "Don''t bother him, he''s probably going through some mid-life crisis bullshit." "...I hope he''s not bugging out," Crouching Tiger said, concerned, as he returned to sweeping the floor with his greatsword. As for Rael, he fixed his gaze on his total amount of money. ?¡ªBalance: 1,782,581 Trell¡ª? If only he could access the boutique from inside the dungeon, he wouldn''t have had to say goodbye to his banana peels. Despite that, he focused on the important part now. <Dungeon: Wolf Den Dungeon> <Revive all monsters?> <Cost: 100,000 Trell> He confirmed, and in the very next moment, the satisfying interface appeared. <Dungeon: Wolf Den - Estimated Level 95 Dungeon> Basic Monsters - 6,480 Trell Daily Frenzied Wolf [Level 45] (x144) [+] Elite Monsters - 42,150 Trell Daily Frenzied Wolf Alpha (Vice-General Class Elite) [Level 50] [+] Frost Wolf (Vice-General Class Elite) [Level 55] [+] Magma Wolf (Vice-General Class Elite) [Level 57] [+] Gravity Wolf (Vice-General Class Elite) [Level 59] [+] Storm Wolf (Vice-General Class Elite) [Level 60] [+] Boss Monsters - 14,000 Trell Daily Unleashed Ragnarok Fenrir (Vice-General Class Boss) [Level 70] [+] <Daily Trell Production: 62,630> Not bad, a bit underwhelming because of all the effort I went through, but at least my daily Trell production is extremely high now, Rael thought with a hum. With this, he now made 116,492 Trell daily from his dungeons alone. However, he did notice one thing after all the money he had gained. Where do I spend it all... Oh right... <Evolve Current Race: 1,000,000 Trell> This was on the table. Rael whistled, getting the players'' attention. "I''m going to take a massive shit, don''t disturb me." They looked at one another with raised brows before nodding. With that, Rael went into the bathroom, the same place where he had his last evolution. Nonetheless, since he was expecting something anticlimactic to happen again, he didn''t bother preparing, and soon... <Success!> <Race Evolving! ETA: 1 Minute> His body didn''t feel hot like last time, so he simply waited it out, sitting on the toilet until, finally, it was done. Just as he was about to stand up and check the changes, Rael felt like his body had grown heavier. With a tinge of uncertainty, he checked the new race. Celestite Archon (Legendary) ¡ªTap into the greater power of a crystal being, gaining the status of an Archon, and unlocking the potential of your race. Your body is slightly altered to suit the necessary adjustments needed to become an Archon. Stat Gains: +250 Strength +200 Agility +400 Constitution +800 Intelligence Trait Enhancements: Increased Crystal-based Attack Damage: +50% ¡ú +100% Resistance to all types of Magic Damage: +20% ¡ú +35% Reduced Physical Damage Dealt: -15% ¡ú -10% New Skills Gained: Prismatic Bastion (Legendary) Archon Aura (Legendary) "Hmm..." The stats were nice and all, but this was a bit of a different evolution than the rest. His body was visibly firmer, and he even had a full-blown 8-pack now. Better yet, when he touched his own skin, it felt like touching a rock. God fucking damn it, Rael exclaimed inwardly, turning to the mirror. As he did, he noticed his hair had gotten longer and much silkier. At the same time, his eyes had some weird allure to them¡ªwhere the longer he stared into them, the more he felt his head starting to hurt. Therefore, he finally glanced at his skills. Prismatic Bastion: [Level 1 | 0/100] (Legendary) ¡ªSummon a crystalline barrier that absorbs incoming attacks and retaliates with refracted energy blasts. Absorption: Reduces all incoming damage by 50% as long as the barrier is still up. Retaliation: Releases an energy burst dealing 25,000 Crystal Damage per absorbed hit. Barrier HP: 150,000 Duration: 15 Seconds. Cost: 150,000 MP It seemed like after absorbing Gemstone Shield, the Retaliation option appeared, but now... Archon Aura: [Level 1 | 0/100] (Legendary) ¡ªExude the overwhelming presence of an Archon, affecting all entities in range and empowering your crystalline abilities. Mental Strain: Enemies within range suffer 10% reduced focus and reaction speed. Empower Allies: Grants +15% damage increase to all magic attacks. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Crystal Efficiency: Crystalline constructs gain +25% attack speed and damage. Aura Radius: 50 Meters He was kind of excited about the effects of these new skills; however, he still didn''t quite get the Archon stuff. Nonetheless, Rael proceeded to walk out of the bathroom and return to the front of the boutique. Immediately, the players turned toward him, amazed looks on their faces. "You weren''t lying when you said you would take a massive shit," Sausage Handler remarked. "You got taller, more buff, and even your eyes seem weirder." "No need to blow smoke up my ass. I''m not giving you another quest until you finish this one," Rael said flatly before making his way over to Xavier. "I''m not sure whether you understand me properly or not, but you''re going to work shifts now, from 10 A.M. to 10 P.M." Rael stated, surprisingly earning a nod from Xavier in return. "Alright then, as for you two," Rael turned toward the players. "You can finish this quest tomorrow. I need to get going somewhere, so piss off." "Yes, sir!" Crouching Tiger saluted, but just as he was about to reach for the logout button, Rael placed a hand on his shoulder. "No logging out in my boutique." With that, he kicked both of them out and glanced to the side, where a message appeared. <Zafira Sutekh: Sorry to wake you up if you''re sleeping, but the envoy is ready, and I suggest you leave tonight.> Of course the innocent pay-to-win boss can''t even get some sleep... Rael thought with a sigh as he took one last glance at his boutique before exiting. His destination? The royal palace. <Rael Sutekh: I''m cu¡ª> <Rael Sutekh: Sorry, typo. I''m coming.> Chapter 48 48: Gathering, And Finally Leaving To Yrgon "So why exactly are you here?" Rael asked, his chin pointed at Linlin. "It''s not like I wanted to be here, but Her Majesty ordered me to come," Linlin replied with a shrug. Don''t tell me... "Sorry for the wait," Zafira stated as she walked into the throne room. The guards had guided him here, and of course, Linlin just so happened to be here as well. And it was pretty obvious why. "You''re going to be on an envoy with a few of the officials, but since I''ve noticed you''re pretty reckless, I''ll have Linlin come with you for protection," Zafira explained, making Rael''s brows twitch. "I''ll have you know, I don''t like being treated as a child," he complained. Zafira shook her head. "Don''t think of it that way. I was joking when I said that. What I really meant is that Yrgon is not exactly the safest place for a royal to be. Their population is much larger than ours, so unfortunate accidents are bound to happen." "I see... Well, company is always welcome, even if it''s in the form of the nudis¡ªLinlin," Rael said, nearly slipping up with the nickname. But it seemed Zafira caught onto it. "Nudist? Mind giving me an explanation on that?" "I-It''s not important, Your Majesty," Linlin interjected, her cheeks red. "It was an embarrassing accident, and I can''t believe he still uses that stupid nickname." "She was walking around naked," Rael shrugged, and he could immediately see Zafira''s brow twitch. But before she could even say a word, Linlin shot back. "I wasn''t naked! It''s not my fault I forgot my bra!" "Sounds like something a nudist would say¡ª" "Stop it." Zafira cut them off with a hand on her forehead. "I don''t care whether or not you forget your bra, or Rael sees you naked. The only thing that matters here is whether you two will make Celestara look like a bunch of idiots or not." Despite her seeming relaxed and friendly most of the time, she was still a queen after all. "Don''t worry, it''s just a joke between us. I''ll use her real name whenever I have to," Rael assured. "Yes, Your Majesty," Linlin said, performing a curt bow. Of course, her distaste was clear, but Rael didn''t mind it much. Linlin was the type of girl who seemed the polar opposite of him. She had her uses, in the same way he had his uses for her. Rael glanced from Linlin to Zafira, and the moment their eyes met, she looked away¡ªalmost as if she were embarrassed. But before he could call her out on it, a couple more people walked into the throne room, their outfits much fancier than his. Of course, he had bought another pair of royal clothes, as the ones he had previously worn made him seem like some sort of nudist pervert. I''m glad Linlin didn''t see it... Else she''d have some leverage on me, Rael let out a relieved sigh as he greeted the people, whom he could only assume were the other envoys. "Greetings to you all, I''m glad you could make it on such short notice." They looked slightly shocked at his formalities as they glanced at Zafira, who shrugged. "We didn''t have a chance to get you all acquainted," Zafira stated. "Rael, the one in the weird robe is Leeroy the leader of this envoy. The blue-haired wizard girl is Kat, and last but not least, Sylas, the assassin." "Assassin? Not rogue?" Rael asked with a tilt of his head, and Zafira merely nodded in response. "Yes, he will be in the shadows while the four of you travel." "I see..." Rael nodded as he turned back to the envoy. "I''m sure we won''t need to talk much, as you all have your own duties. I''m going there on less formal matters after all." S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "We''re aware, Your Majesty. We will have someone impersonating you, while you may do whatever you please," Leeroy stated as he bowed once more toward the queen. "Our transportation is ready¡ªmay we depart?" Zafira nodded at them. "You may. Good luck." The envoy began walking out of the throne room, and Rael followed suit, with Linlin right behind him. There weren''t many words he could exchange with Zafira, as she seemed to grow more reserved after he mentioned Linlin''s nickname. Grumbling, he decided to clear things up. <Rael Sutekh: About that nickname earlier... It''s something I called her after she led me to an inn my first day here. She was sweating a bunch and had no bra on, so I made a joke about it. Obviously, It wasn''t what you had in mind.> Not even a moment later, he got a response. <Zafira Sutekh: I see. I wasn''t concerned or anything, but thank you for clearing it up. I forgot to say, but the envoy plans to stay there for a week. If necessary, you can request to return early.> Rael whistled as he replied. <Rael Sutekh: It''s fine, I have some interesting stuff to do there. In fact, I can promise you a surprise in a few days¡ªstay tuned.> Oh, and before I forget... <Rael Sutekh: Also, could you make sure no idiot vandalizes the boutique? I''ll get you an extra gift on top of the massive gift I promised.> <Zafira Sutekh: Will do. I''m quite interested in what you''re doing there, so if you ever want to expand, let me know.> A smile appeared on his face as he typed the final message. <Rael Sutekh: Thank you, and see you later.> With that, Rael turned the interface off, and as he did, he was met with a frowning Linlin. "You''ve been grinning for the last couple minutes. Is something funny?" she asked. "I wasn''t making fun of you, if that''s what you were thinking," Rael said with a shrug. "Though, I''m surprised you lashed out like that in the throne room¡ªnot very lady-like." "I''m not lady-like?" Linlin''s eyes widened as she touched her body all over. "Are you blind?" "It seems like I was mistaken," Rael remarked, speeding up his pace. "Those pink panties of yours are definitely lady-like." "Y-You! How¡ª" "I guessed." Rael held back a laugh as they finally approached the carriage. The envoy had gone ahead, as he had been busy texting with Zafira. But aside from that, everyone was here, and they were all ready to leave. However... "Why are there two carriages?" "Your Majesty, it is best we separate," Leeroy said before explaining. "Your guard will be protecting you, and we''ll be up front, acting as decoys." Rael slowly glanced back at the glaring Linlin before letting out a sigh. She''s definitely not going to shut up, is she? Chapter 49 49: The Carriage Ride "Why do you keep making fun of me? Is it because you hate me or something?" Linlin asked, narrowing her eyes. "Or are you just some sadist?" "Neither. I''m just bored," Rael said with a shrug. The carriage was pretty comfortable, and while he could buy a car, that would defeat the purpose of traveling, as he would save that for the future. Even so, he hadn''t made it far before she spoke¡ªso now he was stuck dealing with it. "Then why don''t you just use my name? You do know I can beat you in a fight, right?" Linlin said confidently. Out of curiosity, Rael decided to fact-check. ¡ªFriend: Linlin Xu (General Class Boss) [Level 143] [391,480,000/391,480,000 HP] Yep, she can beat my ass, Rael thought with a sigh. "So what? You do know you still owe me one." "I have limits too. If someone keeps making fun of me, I''ll retaliate," Linlin replied seriously. However, instead of bothering with her, he wanted to check his own progress. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, with his race change, his stats must''ve increased by a lot. [Status] Name: Rael Sutekh, The Platinum Overlord [+] Age: 18 Race: Celestite Archon (Legendary) [+] Boss Monster Variation: The Pay-to-Win Boss [Vice-General Class] Level: 54 Experience: 15,867/39,682 ?¡ªBalance: 682,581 Trell¡ª? ?¡ªPerks¡ª? Premium Leveling [Special-Unique] Premium Evolution [Special-Unique] Premium Shop [Special-Unique] Premium Override [Special-Unique] ?¡ªStats¡ª? Health Points (HP): [259,800/259,800] ¡ú [362,600/362,600] Mana Points (MP): [43,300/503,200] (+100,000) ¡ú [163,843/663,200] (+100,000) Strength: 633 (+153) ¡ú 883 (+153) Agility: 653 (+153) ¡ú 853 (+153) Constitution: 1,299 (+617) ¡ú 1,813 (+617) Intelligence: 2,016 (+886) ¡ú 2,816 (+886) Wisdom: 1,183 (+868) Charisma: 2400 ?¡ªAdvanced Stats¡ª? Spell Power (SP): 6,048 ¡ú 8,448 Attack Power (AP): 1,899 ¡ú 2,649 Movement Speed Increase: 326.5% ¡ú 426.5% Critical Hit Damage Increase: 64.15% (+5%) +50% ¡ú +100% Increased Crystal-based Attack Damage +20% ¡ú +35% Resistance to all types of Magic Damage -15% ¡ú -10% Reduced Physical Damage Dealt ?¡ªSkills¡ª? Crystal Genesis: [Level 93 | 88,472/89,686] (Pseudo-Legendary) Fractured Prism: [Level 45 ¡ú 50 | 18,916/35,355] (Uncommon) Fireball: [Level 30 ¡ú 38 | 21,298/23,425] (Common) Frostfire Tempest: [Level 1 ¡ú 28 | 5,130/14,816] (Epic) <Expand [+5 Skills]> ?¡ªDungeons¡ª? Dungeons in possession: 3 Active Dungeons: 3 Manage Dungeons [+] ?¡ªOfficial Launch¡ª? Time until V1.0 Release: 138 Days ?¡ª? Pretty big upgrades, but then again, he was nowhere close to Zafira''s or Linlin''s level. Nonetheless, he was growing fast, and that was all that mattered. But as for her cheeky behavior... "How''s the group going?" He decided to steer it in another direction. "Radiant Dawn?" She tilted her head. "Why are you so interested? I thought since you didn''t check up on me for almost an entire week, it meant you didn''t care." Before she could pout further, Rael cut her off. "I didn''t even message Zafira since I was too busy crafting items. As for today, I was literally inside a dungeon." He didn''t have to explain himself, obviously. But he also didn''t like misunderstandings. "Oh..." Linlin''s eyes widened. "So that''s why your HP was so low earlier." Rael raised a brow. "Were you stalking me?" Instead of snapping at him, Linlin calmly explained, "Whenever someone on our friend list drops below 25% HP, we receive an alert. Honestly, I thought you were going to croak with how low you got." "I see... That''s a pretty interesting piece of information," Rael replied, as he kicked up his feet. They were sitting opposite one another, and his feet were to her side. His mana wasn''t full yet, but once it was, he''d craft some armor. For now, there was nothing better to do than to get some sleep¡ª "Get your shoes away from me, that''s gross," Linlin expressed. "There''s literally a two-meter gap between my shoes and you," Rael shot back, but upon noticing she wasn''t backing down, he simply decided to change his sleeping position. He kicked his feet onto his own seat, and now, it felt even more comfortable. But just like the previous million times, his peace was short-lived. "My group is doing well. It''s on a trial period of sorts, so we''re not an official order yet... but we''re growing," Linlin explained softly. "I told the others about what you did for us, and they wanted to thank you from the bottom of their hearts as well." "That''s nice. I like people owing me favors," Rael remarked half-jokingly, which made her flinch. "I hope you don''t go around extorting my group in the future," Linlin said warily. "Don''t worry, Linlin. I plan to have good relationships with trustworthy people. Extorting them would not benefit me in the slightest," he stated, and as he was expecting an answer, all he got was silence. Hm? Did she fall asleep? Rael reopened his eyes and was met with her startled look. "What''s wrong? Enemies?" he asked, sitting upright and preparing his staff. However, she merely shook her head, a barely noticeable smile tugging on her lips. "...You called me by my name." "Come on now..." Rael facepalmed. "You don''t need to change your drawers because of that, do you?" That seemed to set her back in her usual mood as she looked at him with a frown. "That''s gross. I can''t believe you put that thought back in my mind." Back? So it was there before? Rael raised a brow but decided not to comment on it. Instead, he closed his eyes and began dozing off. But right as he felt himself begin to drift off, the carriage suddenly shook, nearly making him drop to the ground. "Well, now we have enemies," Linlin remarked as she stood from her seat and looked out the window. In the next moment, she stretched her fingers outward, and immediately, several emerald threads emerged, flying at speeds he couldn''t even track. He did take note that those threads looked the exact same as her eyes, though. After a few seconds, she sat back down, crossed her legs, and flashed a victorious grin toward him. "78 bandits dead. Seems like an organized attack¡ªI''ll let the queen know," she said, before tapping a few times in the air, likely sending Zafira a message. As for Rael? A shiver ran down his spine. After all, despite her looking physically strong, she was a mage. "Well, princess, you may go to sleep now," Linlin said smugly, holding back a giggle from escaping. Rael''s brows twitched. "There''s no way that''s the nickname you''re sticking with." Instead of responding, Linlin began playfully humming as she rocked her feet back and forth, almost as if she was trying to piss him off. "...Wake me up when we get there," Rael said as he rolled on his side. But of course... "Yes, princess." ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Miscellaneous/Noise/Ear Plugs ?¡ªBalance: 682,581 Trell¡ª? ? Premium Gold-Plated Ear Plugs (Common): 1,500 Trell He bought them without hesitation, and, in front of her surprised face, put them in his ears. Peace... at last. Chapter 50 50: Quick Crafting and Buying A Membership Rael was fast asleep, however, he was awoken by someone tapping him on the side. That someone was, of course, none other than Linlin. Groggily opening his eyes, he was greeted by a wave from her and a few system messages. <Congratulations! Your active dungeons have produced: +113,870 Trell> Hmm? Rael tilted his head. Something is missing... And he soon found out what. <Dungeon: Festering Cave> <Revive all monsters?> <Cost: 10,000 Trell> Those fucking players... Rael grumbled, however, he didn''t revive them just yet. After all, the players were likely waiting in a queue to clear it again, and unless he invested a bunch of money into this dungeon, it would be a dud. Therefore, he would leave it for later¡ªwhen he did some remodeling. Nonetheless, he took out his cheap plastic ear plugs, and tossed them outside the carriage. Gold my ass. "We''re here... I''m surprised you keep useless stuff like that in your inventory though," Linlin remarked, as she stepped out of the carriage, before turning to him. "Coming?" "Give me a second, I need to do some stretches, close the door," Rael informed, and with a confused look, Linlin complied. Now, there were some things he wanted to do, some of which included crafting himself some gear. <Crystal Genesis> Available MP: [663,200/663,200] <Any Armor Piece (Uncommon ~ Epic) 100,000 ~ 10,000,000 MP> He input 200,000 MP each, but unlike last time, he changed his style. <Style: Light/Mobile/Offense> <Would you like to roll for additional effects? Yes/No> Rael selected "Yes" like before, and soon... <Crafting Successful! +5,000 Skill Experience> ¡ªPrism Chestplate (Uncommon+) Durability: 2120/2120 (+960%) Special Effect: +5% All Magic Damage Increase +122 Strength (+388%) +122 Agility (388%) +244 Constitution (+388%) +244 Intelligence (+388%) +244 Wisdom (+388%) ¡ªPrism Boots (Uncommon+) Durability: 2160/2160 (+980%) Special Effect: +5% All Magic Damage Increase +123 Strength (+392%) S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. +123 Agility (392%) +246 Constitution (+392%) +246 Intelligence (+392%) +246 Wisdom (+392%) The gear pieces looked transparent, but much sturdier than his previous set, so Rael swiftly put them on and made his way out of the carriage. Immediately, the scent of baked goods hit him¡ªfollowed by Linlin covering him up. "You forgot the disguise..." she said, sighing. "Oh, right," Rael inwardly face palmed, as he leaned over his seat, pulled out a black cloak, and threw it on¡ªnow ready to go wherever he liked. "So where to? I hope you didn''t come here to visit the whorehouse," Linlin said, twirling her hair back. "Not a whorehouse. We''re heading to the Black Diamond casino," Rael replied, making Linlin''s brows furrow. "I''ll put what little trust I have in you and assume you''re not going there to gamble." "I''m not, follow me," Rael said as he began making his way through the crowd of people. His carriage would be handled by the coachman, and the envoy had already headed off to their destination. Now the only thing he needed to do was get to that gambling house. Nonetheless, the city looked much bigger and crowded with people, so even without the cloak, he would likely go unnoticed. Unlike Celestara, which was situated in a crater, Yrgon was far more open, with both icy regions and vast plains within its territory. As for the city he was in? It was the capital of Yrgon, Varnak. But of course, he could admire the rivaling country some other time. Rael knew precisely where to go, as this wasn''t his first rodeo, so after several minutes of walking, he arrived in front of a run-down wooden building with ''Black Diamond Casino'' written across the front. "..." Linlin stared skeptically between him and the building, but before she could speak up, he went inside. There were a few empty, dust-filled tables scattered everywhere, as people obviously had better alternatives. However, Rael didn''t mind, as he approached the casino cashier, and nodded at him. "Mate, if you''ve stumbled into this dump, then you must really be down bad, huh?" the cashier remarked with a chuckle. But Rael had other plans. "I''d like to buy the membership." Hearing that, the cashier''s brow twitched, before returning to normal, a smile on his face. "We don''t sell memberships, but if you''d like to place a few bets, then I''m more than happy to¡ª" "Cut the bullshit," Rael said with a scoff. "I''m here to meet the Faceless One, so if you wouldn''t mind, sell me the membership and go about your day." The cashier''s smile didn''t disappear, but once he began tapping in the air, Rael knew he was in the right place. And the next pop-up only confirmed it. ?¡ª???¡ª? Category: ??? ?¡ªBalance: 796,451 Trell¡ª? ? Basic Membership (???): 15,000 Trell ? Gold Membership (???): 50,000 Trell ? Diamond Membership (???): 150,000 Trell ? Seat Membership (???): 500,000 Trell Just as expensive as I remember, Rael remarked inwardly, and proceeded to buy the most expensive one. Of course, spending money hurt, but that was only the case when it was going to shit. In this case, he was making a huge¡ªand worthwhile¡ªinvestment. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Rael Sutekh," the cashier spoke again, his voice slightly deeper. As Rael turned toward the cashier, he noticed his eyes color changed to pure black, meaning he was in front of the one and only. "You''re the Faceless One? I thought you''re busy this time around," Rael replied, not too surprised. "I make time when needed, and this particular season of travelers requires my utmost attention," the Faceless One stated, before walking over, and grabbing some whiskey, before pouring three glasses. He placed them down in front of Rael, and held one out to Linlin, who accepted it with a puzzled look. But just as she was about to drink, Rael snatched her glass and poured the whiskey onto the ground. As he did, the floor visibly began deteriorating, almost as though there was acid in the glass. "I had it under control..." Linlin muttered. As for Rael, he placed the glass back on the table and, with a smile, looked the Faceless One straight in the eyes. "I have a business opportunity for you, interested?" Chapter 51 51: The One Sided Proposal "A business opportunity?" the Faceless One muttered, puzzled. "My organization is still fairly new, and if you sought me out, you should already know its purpose." "Information is a valuable asset, and I''m willing to sponsor you under certain conditions," Rael said with a smile. The Faceless One narrowed his eyes. "What are these conditions you speak of?" "First condition¡ªyou move your main branch over to Celestara," Rael stated. "Are we still on the same page?" "It is doable," the Faceless One replied with a hesitant nod. "However, I''m starting to believe your sponsorship doesn''t involve money." "Not primarily," Rael said flatly. "Since your organization focuses on high-class intel, I can provide you with intel above that." "That''s impossible¡ª" "No it isn''t, so I''ll give you a minor tip," Rael cut him off with a chuckle. "In a week or two, a royal scouting party heading out of Varnak will encounter monsters which have escaped from a dungeon. Sadly, the scouts will be wiped out, and following their deaths, rumors of war will surface." "That''s not intel gathering... You..." the Faceless One''s eyes widened in realization. "You''ve got some information on future events, don''t you?" No wonder he''s called an anomaly by the players. Rael smiled as he shrugged, before moving on. "The second condition¡ªall intel regarding Celestara is scrambled. Meaning, if an enemy country tries prying something from you, then you redirect them elsewhere. In the same manner, I''d like to be informed on any hostile actions taken against Celestara." "I''m sure you understand, but an information-gathering organization which tells lies isn''t exactly needed in this economy," the Faceless One pointed out. Rael shook his head sternly. "It''s a dealbreaker. However, as an addition, I could tell you which information regarding Celestara you''re allowed to release. I believe it''s a fair trade-off considering the monopoly you''d be getting. And you already know I''m not lying..." A wide grin spread across Rael''s face. "After all, you have a skill that can detect all lies, isn''t that right, Zareth''Null?" I probably butchered the pronunciation, but who cares? I got my point across, he whistled inwardly, and to his surprise, the Faceless One didn''t even show a reaction. Instead, he was merely staring Rael in the eyes, almost as if confirming all the stuff he had said up until now were the truth. Finally, the Faceless One let out a sigh, as he pulled a seat over and sat down. He flashed a conflicted glance toward Rael before signaling him to continue. "Third and final condition¡ªI want you to create a sub-division of shadows, people who could handle dirty work." "That would make us no longer impartial," the Faceless One replied. "Your conditions force us to follow only one path, and that is by becoming your underlings." Instead of replying, Rael''s grin merely widened. But it gave the Faceless One enough of an answer. After all, Rael''s main goal, was to recruit him. He was a hidden NPC whom you couldn''t meet in the game directly due to player restrictions, but there were rumors that he could see everything, including the real world. Some players reported weird crashes to their games, with the lone system log being... <Your Sketa Online session has been forcefully terminated! Anomaly Code#Null> S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It wasn''t something he encountered himself, but after some lore digging, Rael managed to get some of the Faceless One''s information. Or at least, enough to make such demands. "I will take your offer into consideration, Rael Sutekh," the Faceless One stated as he stood up and began walking toward the back door. Before he entered, he flashed one last glance at Rael. "You will hear my answer within a week... Are you open to negotiating the terms?" Rael nodded. "Only if they are reasonable. However, do keep in mind, the offers I''ve given you are dealbreakers¡ªwhat you want to expand within them is up to you to decide." With those words, he stood up, waved, and began walking toward the exit. Linlin was stunned throughout the whole conversation and only just snapped out of it before following him outside. Rael didn''t shoo her away. Getting the Radiant Dawn involved meant their members could join the Faceless One''s shadow division. If that were to happen, then the two organizations'' power would soar. This time, he''d make sure Celestara didn''t get shit on before the game released and Zafira remained queen. He walked through the streets silently, as Linlin trailed close behind. However, that silence was soon broken. "That was intense... Who''s this Zaret¡ª" "Don''t say his name," Rael cut her off. "It''s some voodoo-protected bullshit, so if a random person says it without knowing its implications, their memory of his existence gets erased." A shiver ran down Linlin''s spine. "Spooky... But I assume this is not all you wanted to come here for?" "Nope, acting like a smartass was tiring," Rael replied with a chuckle. "I''m going to relax for the day, and tomorrow, I''ll¡ª" <[Level 100] Emergency Event triggered!> <Special Event: Monster Wave> <ETA: 5 Minutes!> "..." Both he and Linlin stared at the messages speechlessly before she let out a giggle. "Yep, princess, I''m afraid you''re not going to be getting any rest after all." It just had to happen today... Those fucking developers and their stupid events... Rael thought, considering the possibility of knocking his head into a wall to get some rest. Nonetheless, like the sane person he was, he calmed down and nodded at Linlin before jumping up on a nearby building and dashing through the rooftops. Usually, Monster Waves happened in one of the cardinal directions, so he just had to figure out which it would be this time. North, East, West, or South. He sat down on the rooftop and rocked his legs out of boredom, as he would only be able to find out in five minutes. "Hey... I have a bit of a favor I want from you," Linlin said as she approached and stood beside him. Rael raised a brow. "You sure like stacking these favors, don''t you?" "It''s not that bad this time, but..." Linlin let out a sigh as she tapped the air a few times. In the next moment, a system message appeared in front of him. <Linlin has invited you to temporarily join the organization: Radiant Dawn> <Do you accept? Yes/No> "..." Rael silently glanced into her pleading eyes. "Is this a joke?" Chapter 52 52: Beginning of the Monster Wave "It''s not a joke." Linlin shook her head. "You see... the more achievements my group gets, the more Her Majesty will recognize our efforts. I''m only inviting you for a limited time... so could you help me?" Right... Sketa Online had that weird-ass system where achievements were given out to the guilds or organizations who dealt the most damage, or killed the most monsters, Rael thought, letting out a sigh. "You''re going to get some annoying labor after this is finished," he said, then pressed "Yes." He didn''t lose anything by helping her, and the more favors he had, the more he could cash in. <Congratulations! You''ve successfully joined the organization: Radiant Dawn> <Duration: 24 Hours> 24 hours, not bad, Rael thought with a hum, as he turned to Linlin, who now had a smile on her face. "Happy?" "I am, thank you," she replied softly, before typing in the air. Soon, the Radiant Dawn''s chat appeared in front of him. <RD-Linlin Xu: Sorry guys for not saying anything, but a level 100 event popped up. I''ll get us a new achievement soon.> <RD-Qiqi Xu: Don''t worry about it, big sis. Torren and I finished clearing a few dungeons. But why the new guy? He''s only level 54.> The chatroom went silent for a moment before it suddenly erupted. <RD-Dax Wick: Holy shit, do you see his fucking stats? They''re almost as high as mine!> <RD-Mira Virel: Linlin! What the hell is this guy!?> <RD-Qiqi Xu: Whoa... his stats are higher than mine... that''s crazy...> <RD-Torren Lockhart: He seems like a valiant fighter, but I see this is a temporary invitation, correct? All the same, however, welcome aboard¡ªeven if for a few short moments.> One guy who was rough around the edges, two somewhat normal girls, and a poet. There were a few more people here, but it seemed like they didn''t want to talk. Out of curiosity, he decided to check Linlin''s stats. [Status] Name: Linlin Xu Class Variation: ??? (General Class Boss) Age: 21 Level: 143 ?¡ªStats¡ª? Health Points (HP): [391,480,000/391,480,000] (+???) Mana Points (MP): [19,526,400/19,526,400] (+10,000,000) Strength: 15,322 (+5,244) Agility: 17,997 (+4,988) Constitution: ??? (+???) Intelligence: 23,816 (+8,154) Wisdom: 32,183 (+11,002) Charisma: 85,335 It was a bit shocking to see her stats¡ªespecially since they were so much higher than his. But of course, he''d love to figure out where both Zafira and Linlin were getting this amount of HP from. Boss Monsters naturally had their own HP modifiers, but unlike them, he and these girls had their own status screens¡ªso that meant something else was at play. What it was? Rael didn''t know. But god fucking damn, players would only rival her if they reached level 300, considering their modifier increases every 50 levels¡ªsimilarly to mine now, Rael pondered, as he decided to lurk in chat for a while longer. They kept talking about him, making up some weird theories, until eventually... <Special Event: Monster Wave - Started!> <Direction: South> Rael quickly flashed a nod at Linlin, who did the same, and soon the two began heading south. Below, he could see a bunch of players frantically running around¡ªsome already wearing weird tabards, signifying their guilds. Nonetheless, that wasn''t important, as he finally arrived at the edge of the city¡ªand despite him being on top of a building, Rael could feel the ground shaking. And of course, in the very distance, beyond the wall, he saw a massive horde of monsters, which he quickly inspected. ¡ªTroll Warrior [Level 55] [17,300/17,300 HP] ¡ªFlying Flower Pot [Level 58] [21,200/21,200 HP] ¡ªShadow Panther [Level 63] [29,700/29,700 HP] ¡ªWasp of The End (Vice-General Class Elite) [Level 55] [2,595,000/2,595,000] There were simply too many of them to count¡ªbut they had one thing in common. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A fuck ton of experience for me. Rael turned to Linlin, who was preoccupied with her hair. "What are you doing?" he asked, confused. "What do you think I''m doing? Thousands of people will see me fight. If I look like an idiot, then I''ll die of embarrassment," Linlin replied with a slight blush. "Unbelievable..." Rael sighed, but upon noticing her struggle, he decided to help her out. He glanced into the Premium Shop, before purchasing some cheap comb and handing it to her. "Here." "Huh? You carry this around too? Wow, I wonder what else you have in there," Linlin said in amazement, as she picked up the comb and began fixing her hair. After a few moments, she was done, and he was also ready to fight. Looking down, he saw several players rush through the gate and toward the monsters. But it seemed like they didn''t understand the event''s actual purpose. Level 50 monsters would obviously one-shot the players¡ªhowever, if they stuck near the city and attacked from time to time, they could soak up experience and gain some skills. Stupid balancing shit by the developers, just like in the past, Rael grumbled, as he decided to finally make his move. "I''m going, see you later." "Try not to get hurt¡ªprotecting you there will be a bit hard," Linlin said, tying her hair in a bun. However, Rael merely scoffed. Protect? Him? No one''s touching my experience farm. Rael jumped down the tall roof, landing cleanly in the street. Since his cloak was still on, no one paid attention to him¡ªso he merely began running out of the city through its gate, which was about to be closed. "Oi, kid, where the fuck do you think you''re going!" the guard shouted reaching for him. Rael''s brow twitched, but just as the guard was about to grab him, he kicked off the ground and vaulted onto a nearby wall. Before the guard could call reinforcements, Rael used the momentum to send himself out of the city''s gate¡ªjust as it was about to close. He landed on the ground, skidding slightly as he regained his footing. In the distance, there were monsters¡ªbut beside him were a bunch of soldiers, wearing fancy armor and even riding horses. Rael stopped, his intrusive thoughts taking over. Fuck... Can I buy a tank? Chapter 53 53: Huge Level Increase, and Chop-E? ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Transport/Military/Tanks ?¡ªBalance: 295,451 Trell¡ª? ? VLT-09 [Pink Anime Girl Camo] (Uncommon): 15,000,000 Trell That''s the cheapest one? Come on... Rael exclaimed in frustration. Despite that, he sent one small wave toward the flustered soldiers and made his way to the front lines before climbing on top of a massive rock overlooking the grassy, monster-filled plains. And of course, like a gentleman who definitely had no ulterior motives, he used his most innocent skill. [MP -235,000 526,200/761,200 (x1 Frostfire Tempest)] Twice. [MP -235,000 291,200/761,200 (x1 Frostfire Tempest)] The range was just right for the monsters to get caught in it. In the meantime, Rael bought himself a comfortable fishing chair and sat down as a grin appeared on his face. -7,214,951! Critical Hit! (1x Frostfire Tempest) -9,552,059! Critical Hit! (1x Frostfire Tempest) <Troll Warrior (x98) [Level 55] Killed! Experience: +600,664> <+300,332 Trell Acquired> <Flying Flower Pot (x75) [Level 58] Killed! Experience: +489,942> <+244,971 Trell Acquired> <Shadow Panther (x53) [Level 63] Killed! Experience: +382,344> <+191,172 Trell Acquired> <Wasp of The End (Vice-General Class Elite) [Level 55] Killed! Experience: +91,938> <+45,969 Trell Acquired> <Level: 54 ¡ú 82> <+18,400 Trell Bonus> A bunch of damage and kill notifications poured down, making him let out a satisfied chuckle. Now this is what I call leveling. He might not be as strong as Linlin and Zafira yet, but if he was given a few more of these monster waves, he''d catch up to them fast. However, there was one problem. Frostfire Tempest had reached level 71, and its mana cost increased to 450,000 MP. Sadly, Rael didn''t quite have that. [MP: 291,200/761,200] But in situations like these, Rael would compensate for his lack of stats with money and items. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Category: Accessories/Rings/MP ?¡ªBalance: 1,096,295 Trell¡ª? ? Epic Hair Tie (Common): 150,000 Trell ? The O Ring (Cursed-Uncommon): 250,000 Trell ? Ring of Valor (Rare): 450,000 Trell ? Magic Point Ring (Common): 750,000 Trell <Expand for more> Rael carefully looked through his options, and at first glance, Ring of Valor seemed to have everything he wanted. Intelligence, MP, even some constitution. However, what he really wanted was the last ring. ¡ªMagic Point Ring (Common) Durability: 250/250 Special Effect: MP +1,000,000 It was one of those situations where a higher-level item outperformed a lower-level, higher-rarity item. Obviously, Rael wasn''t one to pass it up, so in the very next instant, he bought it and put it on. Now... [MP: 1,291,200/1,761,200] I can spam my skill as much as I want¡ª His thoughts were interrupted by the chatroom once again blowing up. <RD-Qiqi Xu: I''m sure I wasn''t the only one who saw that, right?> <RD-Mira Virel: I had my eye on him ever since he arrived... Even his stats increased.> Rael furrowed his brows before turning one neat little option on. <Status Screen Visibility: Organization ¡ú None> <RD-Mira Virel: He turned it off! He''s lurking in this chat! Rael Sutekh, show yourself!!!> <RD-Torren Lockhart: Calm down, Mira, the man might be shy. We''ve never met him, but since he was the benefactor who made Linlin''s goals come through, the least we owe him is some privacy.> I don''t like this guy... Rael thought with a sigh, as he closed the chatroom and turned his gaze toward the monsters. After what happened, they scattered everywhere but where Rael was. And as for the soldiers... ¡ªJust who is that!? ¡ªHe''s not from our city, I can tell you that! ¡ªDo you think he''s with the envoy party? No way, right? Safe to say, he had stirred up a commotion, and now, Rael had to chase after that experience. But as he stood up from his fishing chair and spotted something in the sky, he dashed off the rock out of instinct, nearly tumbling down. However, he was glad he moved, as in the very next moment, the rock he was on shattered, and black fire erupted from inside. Jeez, I almost got killed there, Rael let out a relieved sigh as he glanced around, looking for Linlin. But she was nowhere to be seen. No way she''s doing her makeup, right? Rael put those thoughts aside and looked around until he eventually spotted the flying thing again. This time, he managed to inspect it in time. ¡ªInfant Drake (Vice-General Class Boss) [Level 99] [32,940,000/32,940,000 HP] A fucking drake? Seriously? Rael''s eyes widened. Bringing it down wouldn''t be hard, but it could very easily break through his Frostfire Tempest and kill him. That thing was definitely out of his league. However, just as he thought he might need to make a run for it, he saw a dozen green threads emerge before shooting toward the Infant Drake and tangling its legs. But that was not all, as in the next moment, those threads yanked the Infant Drake downward, making it collide straight with a rock. Then, from behind him, Linlin walked out¡ªher clothes... ironed? "Did you go to a beauty salon? What is with that getup?" "Shh..." Linlin put a finger on her mouth, her cheeks clearly red as she began whispering. "I''m going for the hero approach... It''s embarrassing, and I''ll have to make the fight against that mosquito look dramatic, so please just go kill the other monsters." "Pfft... Hero? Really?" Rael held back a laugh, as her cheeks grew even redder. Before he could begin teasing her, she suddenly tied the threads around her wrist and then yanked herself toward the Drake, leaving Rael standing idly by. I''m definitely stealing that kill, he noted down, as he turned toward the side. As he did, the monsters which were there all flinched upon seeing him and began scattering away. But of course, he wouldn''t let them run far, so he simply began chasing after them. Though... Rael couldn''t help but glance in the distance, where Linlin was fighting. She was slicing up the Drake like a butcher, and yet here he was, running after some weak monsters. However, as those thoughts fell, he suddenly halted, a grin appearing on his face. <Crystal Genesis> Available MP: [1,291,200/1,761,200] <Miscellaneous (Uncommon ~ Epic) 100,000 ~ 10,000,000 MP> He pressed on the Miscellaneous section, and without wasting any more time, typed in one thing in particular. <Combat Construct> Rael modified it slightly, making it more agile, until finally, it was done. [MP -1,000,000 291,200/1,761,200 (Crystal Genesis)] <Chop-E (Rare) has been crafted!> <Configuration saved automatically!> <Crafting Successful! +10,000 Skill Experience> A crystal, multi-directional rover construct appeared before him, its eyes sharp. He didn''t even need to give it instructions on what it had to do. But as a parting gift... [MP -100,000 191,200/1,761,200 (Crystal Genesis)] <Crystallite Sword (Uncommon) has been crafted!> <Crafting Successful! +1,500 Skill Experience> Rael handed the sword over to Chop-E, who immediately got a feel for the grip and, with a swift salute, rode off toward the monsters. "..." Is this what fatherhood feels like? Chapter 54 54: Accidentally Meeting The Future Sword Saint Rael idly watched the fights happen, and from time to time, he flashed a glance toward Chop-E. To his surprise... <Crazed Wasp (x7) [Level 55] Killed! Experience: +42,904> <+21,452 Trell Acquired> It was killing those monsters easily, even if they were weak. Also, since the construct was the one killing the monsters, he gained experience for both himself and the Crystal Genesis skill. Safe to say, if he were to create a dungeon-clearing army in the future, Chop-E would be their leader. Despite that, he was not left with many things to do, except for watching the fights unfold. Or so he thought¡ªuntil the sight of overwhelmed soldiers greeted him, so he had no choice but to head over to them. ¡ªDeadly Beetle [Level 62] [27,800/27,800 HP] ¡ªLizardman [Level 68] [40,700/40,700 HP] There were a few monsters like that, and since he wanted to deal with them fast, Rael merely ran up to them and used Fractured Prism. [MP -29,500 161,700/1,761,200 (1x Fractured Prism)] A single one was enough to draw their attention¡ªand even kill a few in the process. <Deadly Beetle (x6) [Level 62] Killed! Experience: +42,461> <+21,230 Trell Acquired> <Lizardman (x11) [Level 68] Killed! Experience: +86,970> <+43,485 Trell Acquired> <Level: 82 ¡ú 84> <+1,600 Trell Bonus> As for the others? They ran away once they noticed him. It was an annoying cycle, and there wasn''t much he could do about it. He''d just leave it in Chop-E''s hands instead. "Are you alright?" Rael asked, walking up to the guard. He had a cut on his shoulder, but it didn''t seem that deep. However... "Fuck, I think I''m going to die! That lizard bastard nicked me across my arm¡ªI might have to cut it off!" Rael tilted his head. That cut barely even pierced the skin, though? But he didn''t point that out. Instead, Rael ignored the guards in this post and went to the next. However, midway through, he noticed a particular figure¡ªmaking him stop dead in his tracks. A woman with long golden hair and beautiful blue eyes. She had her hand gently resting on the hilt of her sword as she stared at the fights from the sidelines. Is that fucking Evelyn Ardent? Rael thought, startled. She was the one who would become the Sword Saint in the future, and people would be able to get an Epic-ranked class from her if she took them under her wing. Safe to say, Evelyn was overpowered, but at the moment, she still seemed like an unknown vice-captain of a random Yrgon division. Of course, once an opportunity like that presented itself, Rael would not back away. Therefore, he approached Evelyn and stood beside her, making her slightly puzzled. "Can I help you?" Evelyn asked, as she began looking him up and down. "You''re that guy from earlier, right? The one with those weird tornados?" "That would be me," Rael replied with a nod, before deciding to be straightforward. "What do you think the essence of loyalty is?" Hearing that, she froze¡ªturning to him suspiciously. "Loyalty is gained, not bought... Who are you?" "I''m a very greedy person," Rael replied with a smile, pulling his hood down so his hair would not be as visible. "And I would like to extend a proposal to you. In exchange for joining me, I''ll grant you any one wish that is within my limits." "And what are your limits, mister...?" "Call me Arel. You don''t need to know who I am for the time being," Rael said flatly. "Just think of something, and I''ll get back to you later." Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Can you find the ones responsible for killing my parents? If you can do that, I promise I will consider your offer," Evelyn replied seriously as she tightened the grip on her hilt. Rael almost wanted to laugh. After all... Just how perfect is my timing...? I will have the Faceless One on my side soon. The same person who can dig up the past of anything or anyone... Rael thought, calming his breaths as he nodded. "Any details? Names? Date perhaps?" Evelyn''s brows twitched as she leaned in, whispering. "My mother''s name was Seraphina, and my father was Thalric. Both of them had the surname Ardent, and they died right as I was born¡ªexactly 19 years ago." The Ardents, 19 years ago... Rael noted inside his mind. "The next time we meet, I will have that information ready for you. See you then." With that, he left the stunned Evelyn and returned to the battlefield. The monsters had noticeably dwindled, and Linlin was almost done butchering the Drake. Can I kill steal? Rael pondered before sighing. Can''t get there in time, sadly. His MP was slowly being restored, and in the meantime, he chose to admire his creation. <Dung Frog (x13) [Level 58] Killed! Experience: +97,988> <+48,994 Trell Acquired> <Level: 84 ¡ú 85> <+800 Trell Bonus> Hmm... It''s definitely getting a shower after we''re back¡ª His thoughts were interrupted when, all of a sudden, the tail of a drake entered his sight¡ªliterally hurtling right at him. He didn''t have much time to react, so Rael merely put his hands up to protect his head. Linlin, you motherfucker. [HP -24,225! 435,375/460,600] Rael was sent flying into the city wall by the weight of the Drake. However, he caught himself midway through by stabbing the ground with his staff and flinging himself onto the ground. [HP -500! 435,875/460,600] Of course, his luck made him hit a rock instead¡ªdespite there only being grass around. Nonetheless, Rael stood up, brushed himself off, and glared at Linlin, who began tapping in the air. <Linlin Xu: Whoops, my bad.> His brow twitched upon seeing that. "Don''t ''Whoops'' me. You did that on purpose, didn''t you?" She shrugged, and just as he was about to complain, the drake''s body began crumbling slightly, as a bunch of its scales fell off. Hmm? ¡ªFire Drake (General Class Boss) [Level 105] [2,440,991/82,920,000 HP] <I saw you staring at it like a hawk, so yeah... Surprise?> She just served me experience on a platter... Rael gulped, as he recalled Chop-E and gripped his staff. Even with low damage contribution, the amount of experience he''d get would be insane. Therefore, Rael grinned as he pointed the staff at the Drake... just a little lower. "Prepare your balls, you overgrown lizard¡ªthis won''t be fun for you." Chapter 55 55: Finishing The Boss Monster Off (No Pun Intended) The boss was weakened way too much, and Rael''s MP was still at a decent level. But of course, unlike the last few times, he wasn''t broke anymore. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Potions/MP/Restoration ?¡ªBalance: 483,856 Trell¡ª? ? Mana Point Restoring Potions (Common): 5,000 Trell ? Chug Jug (Uncommon): 10,000 Trell ? MP Injection (Uncommon): 25,000 Trell ? Large Mana Potion (Uncommon): 50,000 Trell <Expand for more> The second option looked appealing, however, he had to go with the most expensive one, as it restored the most MP. Therefore, he bought four and used two. [MP +1,000,000 1,161,700/1,761,200 (2x Large Mana Potion)] In the middle of his chugging, the Drake finally locked eyes with Rael, and in the very next moment, shot out a fiery breath right at him. Luckily, his Agility was high enough to evade¡ªbut it all seemed like a ruse, as the Drake appeared in front of him and slashed its tail in an arc. Rael quickly kicked backward before unleashing his new favorite skill. [MP -450,000 711,700/1,761,200 (1x Frostfire Tempest)] Immediately, a storm appeared exactly where the Drake stood, and its radius was far larger than before. However, the slowing effect didn''t do as much as he''d hoped. Therefore... [MP -126,000 585,700/1,761,200 (4x Fractured Prism)] Immediately, the prism shattered, sending its shards flying straight at the Drake and embedding themselves cleanly in its eyes. -516,452! Critical Hit! (4x Fractured Prism) ¡ªROAAAAAAAA The Drake screeched, clearly in pain¡ªbut the pain was only just beginning. -250,248! Critical Hit! (4x Fractured Prism) Multiple explosions resounded, and for a moment, Rael thought he had killed it. However... <Warning! Fire Drake (General Class Boss) has entered its final phase!> <The boss gains a 100% increase to Strength and Agility, while also gaining invulnerability for the next 15 seconds!> Oh you''ve got to be fucking kidding me, Rael thought, as the damage numbers finally fell. -341,110! Critical Hit! (1x Frostfire Tempest) -1,333,180! True Burning Damage! (1x Frostfire Tempest) That seemed like a lot¡ªbut the boss''s invulnerability completely fucked him over. ¡ªFire Drake (General Class Boss) [Level 105] [1/82,920,000 HP] 1 HP. A single health point¡ªand this lizard bastard was still standing. His Frostfire Tempest soon dispersed, scattering all sorts of particles into the sky. The Drake''s hatred-filled gaze locked onto Rael, and in a flash, it appeared before him. However, Rael was prepared. [MP -150,000 435,700/1,761,200 (1x Prismatic Bastion)] Of course, just to be safe... [MP -50,000 385,700/1,761,200 (1x Void Cloak)] Finally, the Drake''s claw made contact with Rael''s body, sending him skidding backward with blood streaming down his mouth. Fucking lost the 50/50, seriously? Void Cloak gave him a 50% chance to negate all incoming damage, so naturally, he wanted it to not be shit. But it was fine... [HP -200,000! (150,000 Absorbed) 235,875/460,600] His Prismatic Bastion absorbed the attack before shattering and retaliating with only a single hit. -148,214! Critical Hit! (1x Prismatic Bastion) It dealt a fair deal, but the Drake was still immortal. Therefore, Rael did the next logical thing. "Chop-E, fuck him up." The moment his words fell, Chop-E, like a ninja, skidded out of the shadows and appeared behind the Drake. Surprisingly, it aimed for the Drake''s heels and managed to sever both of them. Immediately, the Drake''s advance stopped as it toppled over. Holy shit...? Is Chop-E that overpowered? Rael couldn''t help but think, as he ran back, holding great distance between himself and the Drake. Finally, he recalled Chop-E, and as he did, a system prompt appeared. <Fire Drake (General Class Boss)''s invulnerability has expired!> The boss slowly stood back up, however, it was still on 1 HP. So Rael decided to do a little something... He leaned down and picked up a pebble before playing around with it in his hands. The Drake began making its way toward him, its speed still as fast as before. However, just as it came within 10 meters of Rael, he stared straight into the Drake''s eyes and flashed a grin. "Fuck you, lizard." He flicked the pebble, and it shot out straight toward the Drake''s balls. The pebble connected gently, and in the very next moment, the Drake''s eyes rolled back as it lifelessly fell to the ground. -1! Critical Hit! "Pfftt..." Rael held back a laugh as he looked around. His tornadoes and the Drake''s missed fireballs definitely messed up the grassy surroundings, leaving them charred. But it was fine. After all, this wasn''t his city. Nonetheless, he turned his attention to the kill message, and his brows furrowed immediately. <Flambino, The Fire Drake (General Class Boss) [Level 105] Killed! Experience: +26,633 (5%)> <+13,316 (5%) Trell Acquired> <Level: 85 ¡ú 86> <+800 Trell Bonus> The contribution system... God fuc¡ª Rael took a deep breath, calming down. It''s fine... It''s not like I wanted to get over 500,000 experience. He clenched his fists as he glanced at Chop-E before pointing to the Drake. "Cut that lizard''s tail off¡ªwe''re eating it tonight," he announced, and Chop-E followed through. "That sure was something. I didn''t expect you to do so well against a monster with stats nearly quadruple yours," Linlin said as she finally approached. "You know... If you were going to leave me only 5%, why leave anything in the first place? I felt like I got shot in the side," Rael replied with a grumble as the soldiers began gathering around. He was a bit puzzled at the sight, however, once he looked beside Chop-E, he saw the robe he had been wearing tossed on the ground, a massive hole inside it. Well... Shit. Rael exhaled a sigh. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I''m not really into politics, but I''ll stay behind you. You might need my help," Linlin added cheekily. The moment she did, however, a pair of system screens appeared. <Special Event: Monster Wave - Concluded!> <Contribution Leaderboard> 1. Rael Sutekh 84.83% 2. Linlin Xu 10% 3. The Honored One Guild 4.17% 4. Abyssal Maniacs Guild 1% That''s it? Rael raised a brow. He saw so many players running around and getting themselves killed, but apparently, most were from the two guilds. But that was not what mattered¡ªinstead... <Achievement: [Special Monster Wave (Level 100)] is being given to the organization: Radiant Dawn> <Main Contributor: Rael Sutekh> He saw the chatroom explode again, with even more people gossiping than last time. However, he had to deal with other matters now. "Your Majesty, Rael Sutekh, it is a pleasure to greet you on this unexpected occasion," a man said with a bow, and from the badges on his uniform, Rael was able to tell it was a knight commander. He merely smiled back in return and waved. Flowery bullshit right off the bat... This is going to be a pain. Chapter 56 56: Being Escorted Into The Royal Palace "Can you sign my eyebrow?" "...What?" Rael snapped out of his thoughts, staring at her as though she was an idiot. "I said, do you want a drink?" Linlin replied with a shrug, holding up a cup of wine before taking a sip. The two were currently on a carriage heading toward the Varnak royal palace. Each country had its own royal family, and even though Celestara was a city, it had one too. However, that was only the case on this continent, Dralgur. There were around thirty countries, as this continent was pretty large. But in the end, it was just a beginner continent, and the other continents were much, much larger and many times more dangerous. Nonetheless, he had to listen to the commander''s and the soldiers'' bullshit, flowery praise, and now, the only thing he wanted to do was sleep. His HP was recovering steadily, and he only had internal wounds¡ªso nothing that required a potion. Rael dozed off for a bit, but he was quickly woken up by Linlin, who stared at him with a flushed face. "Hic... Dyou want a drink~?" she asked, slurring her words. "No way you''re drunk off fucking wine, right?" Rael said with widened eyes as he yanked the bottle out of her hands. To his surprise, it wasn''t even wine. It was champagne. "Seriously..." Rael put the bottle of champagne inside his inventory. "You have the alcohol tolerance of a toddler." "Nyo, I don''t," Linlin staggered forward, gently landing on top of him. "Alright, you''re going in timeout," Rael announced, lifting her up before laying her down on the seat next to him, with her head resting on his thighs. "I''m not shwleepy..." Linlin muttered, but despite that, she began slowly closing her eyes. Soon, soft breaths filled the carriage, as she finally fell asleep. What a lightweight, Rael thought as he glanced down at her. She was a future powerhouse, and yet here she was, lying down so vulnerably. Therefore, he would do something every single person would do in this situation. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Miscellaneous/Markers ?¡ªBalance: 297,972 Trell¡ª? ? Premium Black Marker (Common): 500 Trell <Expand for more> "Pfft..." Rael purchased it and twirled it in his hands before uncapping it. He hummed as he began drawing a pair of glasses, a moustache, and even a small beard. Finally, he was done, and coincidentally, the carriage stopped. Rael innocently placed the black marker inside his inventory and gently pinched her cheek. "Five more scheconds..." Linlin slurred, but he didn''t let go of her cheek and only pinched it harder. "Ow ow! Fine, okay!" Linlin shot up from the seat, nearly tumbling over. Rael tried his best not to laugh at her appearance, as the pirate eyepatch fit her better than he thought. "Sober up, we''ve arrived," he stated, making her expression immediately turn serious. In the next moment, she used her mana to expel the alcohol out of her pores. Its smell was even worse than before, but thankfully they had windows in the carriage. Nonetheless, her playfulness from earlier was gone. "Sorry, I didn''t expect them to give me such strong alcohol¡ªforget you saw that," Linlin said as she neatly fixed her clothes and opened the carriage. He stepped out and was met with the commander from before, who merely bowed and began showing them the way. However, despite his serious persona, even the commander couldn''t help but smile upon looking at Linlin. I know Zafira told us to not do anything stupid, but it''s fine... If I bring over the Faceless One and Evelyn Ardent to our side, then we''re as good as set, Rael thought. The walk took a while, and only now were they entering the royal palace''s inner grounds. This palace, unlike Celestara, had a more modern feel, with all sorts of contraptions and equipment doing the work for the people. Rael''s gaze wandered until it landed on a particularly short pair of buff people. They''ve got dwarves¡ªno wonder their production is so great, Rael noted inside his mind. In addition to his previous goals, he now wanted to recruit a dwarven engineer. "This way, your majesty," the commander pointed to the golden staircase before flashing a look at Linlin. "I''m afraid past this point, only His Majesty, Rael Sutekh, is allowed to enter." "I''m his guard, why can''t I go with him?" Linlin asked with furrowed brows. "Are you trying to pull someth¡ª" "Linlin." Rael cut her off, putting a finger up to his lips. "Don''t throw around accusations¡ªthey''re a double-edged sword in our current situation." "Do not fear, we are not allowed to go up this staircase either," the commander clarified. "Past this point, only royals may walk. We''re just here to serve them." S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. What a fanatical view of royalty, Rael thought with furrowed brows before whistling at Linlin to get her attention. "Don''t worry about me, I can handle myself," he assured, and took the first step on this massive golden staircase. "I''ll be there in an instant if anything goes wrong," Linlin said with determination, making Rael stop. He turned around and pointed at his own cheek. "You''ve got a smudge on there. You should probably wash it off." She seemed confused, but Rael ignored it as he began making his way up. From here, he could see the entire palace grounds of Varnak''s royal family. They seemed to like jewelry a lot, as most buildings were decorated in gold, and even the soldiers'' armor had their badges made of gold. The women wore oddly revealing clothing, which he didn''t mind as a man, but still... How can the guards just stand there all day when half-naked women are walking around? He put those thoughts aside for now. After a few minutes of walking, he arrived at the very top, slightly exhausted from the climb. Nonetheless, the sight was definitely worth the climb, as a completely traditional jade palace came into view, with its doors already swung open. Between them, he could see an elderly man sitting on a throne, playing around with a few kids. All of them had one thing in common... Black hair and white eyes, which almost made them look like demons. But Rael didn''t mind their appearance as he approached through the open doors and arrived in front of the man. They hadn''t even spoken yet, but the tension was at an all-time high. However, it was soon broken by the man''s chuckle. "Greetings, Rael Sutekh, King of Celestara, the Savior of Varnak..." the old man trailed off as he sent the children away and stood up, pacing toward him with slow steps. "I wonder...?" he continued, a smile appearing on his face. "Would you be interested in marrying one of my daughters?" ...Bruh. Chapter 57 57: Political Pressure "Sorry, I might''ve been a little insensitive." The old man chuckled. "My name is Halemire Virelorn, the rightful King of Varnak, ruler of Yrgon, and the current patriarch of the Virelorn Royal family." He introduced himself. "I see... It''s a pleasure to meet you too," Rael said with a nod, before tilting his head. "But marriage? Don''t you think you should offer me some tea first?" "Hahaha, I just don''t like beating around the bush," Halemire replied with a laugh. "So? What do you say? I''ve got 11 daughters, with the oldest one being a stunning beauty." "I see," Rael nodded, clearly disinterested. He was already married to one woman due to political reasons, but another one? Fuck no. "Before I refuse your offer, I''d like to¡ª" "Now now, give me a second," Halemire cut him off, and began tapping in the air. No way he''s sending a message right? But it seemed like that was exactly what was happening, as in just a few minutes, a pair of footsteps resounded from the other side of the palace. Rael turned toward them warily and was greeted with the sight of eleven girls, ranging from young, to those around his age. He raised a brow at one in particular. She seemed the most mature out of the group, and even Halemire himself praised her beauty. All 11 of these girls looked exactly identical, with the same black hair and white eyes. Nonetheless, Rael looked back at Halemire. "I appreciate the selection, but again, I''m not interested." "Not even Aria?" Halemire pointed to the oldest. "I''m going to assign her as your tour guide for this palace after we have our talk, will you deny that also?" This old man can''t take no for an answer, Rael grumbled, before nodding. "It''s fine, send them out, let''s talk some business." "Very well," Halemire replied as he clapped his hands. Immediately, the daughters bowed, and began making their way out the back. Rael whistled in amusement. "Sorry for asking, but you wouldn''t happen to have any sons, would you?" Halemire tilted his head. "No, why?" "No reason..." Rael replied with a sigh. 11 times getting someone pregnant, just for a girl to pop out... What are the chances? "Anyways, sit," Halemire pointed at the seat conveniently placed beside the throne. Rael didn''t bother much with royal etiquette aside from basic manners and some stuff he had learned while playing Sketa Online. "I wasn''t expecting you to be with your envoy. From what our intel had gathered, you were running some sort of shop in Celestara. I assumed it took up most of your time," Halemire said flatly. "I had some matters I wanted to attend to before I got so rudely picked up and brought here," Rael stated, falling silent, before letting out a chuckle. "Just kidding, I was going to visit soon even if you hadn''t invited me." "I believe you would have. However, it''s also come to my attention that the negotiations with our country and Celestara were cut short because of your interference. Am I wrong in assuming that?" Halemire asked with a sly look. Rael merely shrugged. "It seems like we have spies in the castle." "A token of gratitude for saving the city, you could say," Halemire added. "I would be lecturing you had you not done what you did. And obviously, the negotiation failure is behind us now." I''ll have to uproot the spy later, Rael noted as he decided to bring up the main topic of conversation. "I''d like to propose a direct trade route between our cities." "Hmm...? Now why would we do that?" Halemire asked with a tilt of his head. "If we gave you any financial leeway, you would expand your trade routes elsewhere, hence rendering us useless. I doubt you''re not aware that Yrgon would be getting nothing from this, right?" Rael nodded, not flustered in the slightest. "I''m sure you''ve seen the recent influx of people appearing, correct? These travelers, once they settle down, they will dominate the markets, and whichever country has more of them would have the advantage." "I believe you''re mistaken¡ª" "No," Rael cut him off. "I''m sure you''ve seen the numbers. How many travelers left Yrgon''s cities for the sole purpose of traveling to Celestara? How many of them came back?" Of course, there was one more important thing he had nearly forgotten to point out. "I''m sure you''ve noticed, but they are immortal. Every time they die, they come back several minutes later as strong as ever. Do you understand the implications of a single country having a monopoly on these people?" Rael said, as he leaned back in his chair. "So now, would you like to hear my proposal?" Halemire''s previously relaxed facade faded, replaced with a serious look. "I understand what you''re implying. However, are you suggesting war between our countries?" Halemire asked, narrowing his eyes. "Or is that just an expression?" S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "All I can tell you is that if we don''t make peace now and come to terms, in the future, it might be too late," Rael finished, a grin appearing on his face. "Make your choice: peaceful negotiations or potential war?" "Let''s backtrack a little," Halemire said. "What did you have in mind for trade?" "Correct me if I''m wrong, but each year, you lose upwards of 190 billion Trell, correct?" Rael asked as he recalled seeing that in the game. Halemire flinched before nodding. "For a country that brings in around 1 trillion Trell yearly, you lose 19% of that during the winters, and with the growing population... By my estimates, that number is increasing by 1% per year," Rael brought up the bigger picture, before finally establishing some grounds. "The only reason you wanted the agreement with Celestara to go through was simply because of the massive forest that surrounds it. So how about this? Let''s renegotiate the prior proposal with a bit more details, shall we?" "For someone so young... you sure are knowledgeable. Yes, since our country doesn''t have many trees left, we are facing a serious shortage," Halemire said, slumping in his chair. "The nearby countries jack up the prices of wood, so we lose a lot of money." Halemire held his forehead as he sighed and turned to Rael. "I''m open to renegotiations." Chapter 58 58: Finalizing The Terms Perfect, Rael thought, as he sat upright. There were many things he wanted, and many things he could give in return without necessarily losing out on anything. The trees were a big part of it, as Yrgon had a shortage of wood, and Celeste could easily solve that issue, as the number of trees surrounding it was simply unbelievable. But of course, he would make it favorable for himself, and give Halemire no choice but to accept. Like it should''ve happened in the first place. "It''s a wise decision," Rael said, as he went straight to the point. "Regarding the wood problem, Celestara would offer you a deal which would be similar to normal market value." "What do you judge as the normal market value? This scale could be very easily manipulated, as you''ve likely already noticed," Halemire stated. "We buy our wood for 1,000 Trell a bundle whenever it''s not winter. During the winter, we pay 5,000 Trell, or freeze to death." Oh? Is he revealing his cards? Rael thought, as he put on his game face. "I''m willing to offer you a flat 2,000 Trell per bundle deal, all year round," Rael said, and before the startled Halemire could protest, he added the catch. "But, you must exclusively buy wood from Celestara. If you breach that term, then we will take back what we gave you in the form of money." Obviously, he didn''t expect Halemire to accept this right off the bat. That was what he thought... But... "I accept," Halemire stated instantly, almost as if the deal was too good to pass up. I was planning to jack the price down much more... Is he that desperate? Rael pondered. "Naturally, we will provide security, and you can get a 5% discount if you come to chop and collect the wood yourselves. However, I will need to see your books, as for all I know, you were bluffing me with those numbers," Rael added skeptically. Halemire nodded before stretching his hand out in the air and pulling out a logbook. He flipped it open, and after searching through it, landed on a certain page. With that, Halemire passed the book over to Rael, who began reading it. 5,291 Trell last year... And 5,221 Trell the year before that, Rael read through it before checking the cover of the logbook. It had the seal of a black lizard with white eyes, signifying the crest of the Virelorn royal family. Of course, there was also the added documentation of the past kings, their changes, everything. It was legit. "Very well, that deal is on the shelf for now. Let''s move on to what Celestara can get from this deal," Rael said with a smile as he cracked his knuckles. "Better write it down by the way. It might be a long list." "That''s to be expected. Nothing is free in life." Halemire nodded. He was a honest, desperate, yet wise king, and Rael could exploi¡ªrespect him. "I want your dwarven engineers and architects to set up those automatic smelting systems and railways between our city and the capital of Yrgon. I would also love it if they could replace our mountainside elevators with a more efficient system for import and export." "So a workforce? That is definitely doable," Halemire agreed. "You would have to talk with the chief dwarven constructor, as he''s in charge of both groups." "That''s fine. As long as we can speed up the work of laborers and make getting into the city easier, then I''ll talk to whoever I need to," Rael stated before moving on to the next topic. "I want to establish a few shops of mine in this city, and of course, I''d love for them to be tax-free." Being the king of Celestara made him exempt from taxes, funnily enough. "That''s a very simple request... okay?" Halemire once again agreed, puzzled. It was a personal request, rather than something Celestara needed. But if he could get more money flowing in, then all the better. Of course, Rael began listing down the basic stuff like not overcharging the citizens of Celestara, and likewise. After going through most of what he needed, an hour had passed. But there was one last request remaining. "I want to station a Celestara embassy in Yrgon''s capital, Varnak," Rael said flatly, making Halemire''s eyes widen. "This gives you too much power over Yrgon, so I''m going to have to politely decline," Halemire stated with a frown. "It''s not about power," Rael replied firmly. "As it stands, your country is more powerful than ours, and if a war were to break out right now, we''d be overwhelmed. I want Celestara to have some wiggle room until we build up some strength. Once we do, we can reopen this discussion about a shared embassy." S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was what he was aiming for from the start. If Rael could disguise the Faceless One''s future shadows as Celestara''s embassy, then Rael would have an entire country in his palm. Halemire held a stoic expression for a moment before looking up at the ceiling. "I would love to decline that, even if it is reasonable, but I assume that would affect your previous terms?" Halemire asked, and Rael nodded. "It''s a deal breaker." "I see..." Halemire let out a sigh, as he took back his notebook and opened a new page before scribbling some stuff down. After he was finished, he showed it to Rael. "These are the terms simplified. I will draft up an agreement soon," Halemire said, as he suddenly scribbled down another term and flipped it over to Rael. "This is...?" A frown appeared on Rael''s face. "You want your eldest daughter to live in Celestara''s palace?" "The wood trade would save us more than you could know, but your embassy term slightly tips the balance in your favor. I''d like my daughter, Aria, to observe you and learn from you," Halemire added, as a sly smile formed on his face. This is literally marriage, but without the marriage part... Rael let out a sigh. "I''m not going to actively teach her anything, and I have the right to refuse to let her follow me around. If that works for you, then I accept these terms." Halemire''s smile turned into a wide grin, as he stretched out his arm. "To a prosperous future, Rael Sutekh." Rael accepted the handshake and stood up. However, as he was prepared to leave, Halemire stopped him. "As a special courtesy, I''ll let both you and your guard stay the night in the palace. But of course, you must let Aria escort you around." Before Rael could protest, he saw the same beautiful figure from earlier emerge. It was the oldest daughter, Aria. She slowly approached, stopping in front of him, and with a smile, bowed. "Shall we get going, King of Celestara?" Chapter 59 59: A Musician? Rael nodded at Halemire one last time before following Aria. It was a one-sided negotiation, as Yrgon didn''t exactly have the best footing. However, there was one more matter that worried him. What if Zafira rejects the proposal? Logically, she had no reason to¡ªdue to the special place the city was located in, they didn''t even have winters. The single shining star from above was almost like their protector. And since we don''t even use the trees that much for architecture, they''re pretty much useless, Rael thought with a sigh, hoping all of the deals he had made here would go through. "King of Celestara, is this your first time in Yrgon territory?" Aria asked flatly. "It is," Rael replied. "I like the technology you have¡ªit makes the lives of others much easier." "That it does." Aria giggled as she stopped and turned toward him. "But do you know one thing? I''ve never even heard of you." Rael didn''t lose his composure. "Naturally. I became a king not too long ago." "That''s not what I meant." Aria shook her head. "There are no records of you ever existing." "I thought you would be escorting me, not berating me," Rael replied with a tilt of his head. "Or is a peaceful walk too much to ask?" "I apologize," Aria swiftly bowed. "I''m a very curious person, so I''m sorry if I offended you, King of Celestara." "Call me Rael, and don''t apologize. I can understand why you''re suspicious," Rael said with a smile. "But for future reference, don''t announce to people that you had them investigated. It makes them very, very hard to trust you moving forward." Aria stared at him for a moment before silently nodding. With that, she continued leading him through the palace halls, and to his surprise, they were quite large. From the outside, this jade palace seemed quite small, but with gardens, training grounds, and everything else decorating the surroundings, it was definitely not small. Nonetheless, he kept walking until eventually, they stopped in front of a massive door. Aria walked up to it and swung it open before pointing inside. "This is your abode until you decide to leave. Shall we continue the tour, or would you like to stop here?" "If you don''t want to do it, then you don''t have to. Let''s stop here," Rael stated firmly and walked past her into the room. It was pretty empty, with only two beds, a couch, and a table decorating it. Rael halted. Wait a second... two beds? He turned to Aria, who was about to leave. "Is my guard going to be stationed inside this room as well?" "That''s correct," Aria affirmed¡ªand the moment she did, her eyes widened. "What''s wrong?" Rael asked. "I-I will be going to Celestara with you? What...?" Aria muttered, her hands shaking. "I worked so hard to stay here, and now I''m being sold off? I can''t believe this..." "I take it you got the memo from your father," Rael chuckled. "I want you to know I didn''t ask for you. Your father added that clause at the very end." S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Despite his explanation, it seemed like his words went over Aria''s head as she stormed off with a furious expression, leaving him alone. For someone who''s supposed to be the eldest daughter, she sure acts like a brat, Rael mused as he went back inside his room and closed the door. Boredom hour¡ªhe literally had nothing left to do. The politics talk was done, the offer to the Faceless One was made, and he even spoke to Evelyn. All he wanted to do here was basically done. But of course, it was time to do some reporting. He opened the friends tab and pressed on Zafira. <Rael Sutekh: There''s a spy in the palace, by the way. Someone''s been feeding information to the king of Yrgon, and even to his daughters. They''re pretty high up, as they even found out that I was the one who gave you that territory suggestion.> He lay down on the comfortable bed and waited for her response until, just a few seconds later, she replied. <Zafira Sutekh: I''m aware. I''ve already dealt with the person responsible shortly after you left. He had leaked some important information, as well as the date of the envoy. It wasn''t very difficult to figure out who it was.> <Rael Sutekh: I see. That''s nice to hear. How are you doing, by the way?> <Zafira Sutekh: Tired. These travelers are buying everything out and asking stupid questions. Also, your store has run out of stock already... I believe they''re looking for you now.> Oh shit? My paycheck is going to be massive then... A smile appeared on his face as he decided to cut the conversation short. <Rael Sutekh: Sorry, something came up. King wants to talk to me again or something. I''ll message you later with some spicy news, see ya.> <Zafira Sutekh: Bye?> She was definitely pissed off from the way she replied, but it was fine. He had a lot of news to share. He just had to wait until Halemire finished up with the agreement and then he could head back home. However, merely staying around his room was getting tiring, and since he had nothing better to do, he decided to go exploring. Rael bought himself a set of clothes¡ªwhich, after thorough filtering, matched exactly what the servants here wore. I wonder where all this premium shop stuff is coming from though? Last time I ordered a literal healer to save me, Rael pondered as he put the servant clothes on and went outside his room. He had a rough idea of the structure, so he merely traveled in the direction Aria didn''t lead him. After a few moments of walking, he arrived near another training ground. Though it seemed empty, one thing stood out, and that was a faint sound, as though someone was playing the violin. Playing the violin in a training ground... seems like they got something confused, Rael chuckled inwardly as he glanced around the corner. There was an old man standing in the very middle of the training ground, holding an oddly shaped violin in one hand and an extremely thin rapier in the other. And in the very next instant, the old man tapped the rapier against a single violin string, and it let out a pleasant sound. What a nice musician, Rael chuckled inwardly, yet as he was prepared to leave, the sound of something hitting the ground made him stop. He turned around, just to see the wooden dummy''s head on the floor, split perfectly into two, and the old man now staring directly at him with narrowed eyes. "It seems like there''s a rat." Chapter 60 60: Invitation To Watch And An Overpowered Weapon "Rat, I''d appreciate it if you showed yourself," the old man began looking around and making it seem as though seeing Rael was just a coincidence What the fuck was that...? A sound weapon? I''ve only heard about them on the forums, but they were deemed as shit, so what was that? Rael thought, confused. There was nearly an infinite number of weapons available in Sketa Online, and this violin and rapier combo was just a bit unique. Rael''s thoughts were cut short when, all of a sudden, a beautiful sound rang out, followed by¡ª [HP -98,411! 362,189/460,600] Huh? Rael quickly checked his body. He was definitely not hit, but the amount of damage he took was simply astronomical. Or so he thought, but he soon noticed a few droplets of blood trickling down his face and landing on the ground. My ears. Rael finally realized, as he brought his hands up to them¡ªand they were tainted with blood. This motherfucker is attacking my brain directly, Rael thought warily, as he stepped out of cover, prepared to run. However, before he could take another step, a few more notes rang out¡ªwhen all of a sudden, Rael felt as though all of his stamina had been drained. His feet nearly buckled, but before he could fall, he felt someone grab his collar and lift him up. It was the old man, turning Rael around to meet his eyes. The moment he did, Rael finally realized something. He''s blind...? He can do that kind of shit while blind? "Hmm? You don''t smell like shit, which means you''re not a spy... what are you doing in this part of the palace?" the old man asked as he threw Rael back down to the floor. Rael tried to balance himself, but instead, he fell flat on his ass. "I got lost," Rael replied, as he scrambled to his feet and stood upright. "Sorry if I overstepped some boundaries, I''m new here." "Being new here is no excuse to go around where others train," the old man said before scratching his beard. "Did you dodge the sound?" "Dodge the sound? I don''t think so," Rael replied, puzzled. "So after I turned your brain to mush and stopped your heart, you''re still standing before me?" the old man said, before breaking into a fit of laughter. "Hahaha, I must really be near my grave to be seeing shit like this." Rael nodded. Yep, you''re definitely crazy. "Anyways, kid, wanna stay and watch me train? I''ve gotten a bit rusty since the last time I did this," the old man suggested. Usually, Rael would get out as soon as he could, as being around such troublesome people would do him no good. However, he was a bit interested in this type of weapon. Therefore... "Alright, but could you lend me a hand? I feel like I''m going to topple over again." The old man smiled before tapping the left-most string, which just so happened to be green. All of a sudden, the disorientation he felt a moment ago disappeared, replaced by a single message which made his eyes widen. [HP +100,000! 460,600/460,600] "All better?" the old man asked, and without even receiving an answer, turned around and walked back to the very middle of the training grounds. In the meantime, Rael was barely keeping his mouth from opening wide in shock. He can heal... with the green, he can damage with the red, and he can even fucking debuff with the black string... Rael glanced at the violin carefully. It has a 4th blue string too... there''s no way it''s some defense barrier, right? "Are you coming?" the old man asked impatiently, Rael immediately made his way over and sat down on a nearby bench. "I usually start my mornings with fine-tuning the violin and then sharpening the rapier. It''s a very boring process, but I can''t imagine starting my mornings without it," the old man stated softly. "Looks like you enjoy what you do. I respect it," Rael praised as he tilted his head. "If you don''t mind me asking, what is that weapon?" "It''s exactly what it looks like, kid," the old man chuckled. "A violin that acts as a medium and a rapier that makes everything you saw a moment ago possible." "I see..." Rael muttered, clearly not satisfied by the answer. "Anyways, stop with the chit-chat and pay attention¡ªyou might learn a thing or two," the old man stated before taking a deep breath and facing the target dummies on the other end of the training grounds. Suddenly, the old man brought the rapier to the right-most string, which just so happened to be the one that made the attacks happen. Rael didn''t even see a flash of light or even the wind parting. The only thing he heard was a faint note, followed by the dummies in the distance having their wooden bodies severed vertically. "Sound at its essence has no form, so it can do stuff like this..." the old man trailed off as he played the same string again. However, unlike the last time, there was no slashing. Instead, a small, nail-sized hole appeared in the head of the dummy. Then, the old man did it again, and instead of a hole, there was a squiggly line traveling through a dummy. Even more strangely, its size was uneven¡ªwide in one place and extremely thin in another "Ah... my youth is simply tingling every time I play this tune," the old man said, as his blind gaze traveled back toward Rael, a sly smile appearing on his face. "Wanna try?" "T-Try? That?" Rael snapped out of it. "I don''t want to accidentally break your violin, so no thanks." "Don''t worry, come here. You won''t be able to break it either way," the old man urged, causing Rael to sigh as he stood up and walked over. "Hold this. I''ll show you what to do next," the old man passed the violin and rapier to Rael, and he couldn''t help but inspect it. Yet, the moment he did, he nearly dropped it in shock. ¡ªStinging Violin Blade Replica (Pseudo-Legendary) Durability: 69,920/100,000 Damage: 14,359¨C59,221 +15,000 Attack Power (AP) +10,000 Spell Power (SP) +2,500 Strength +2,500 Agility +3,000 Intelligence +1,500 Wisdom +150% Critical Hit Damage Increase Red String - Harmonic Slash Strike the red string, dealing a basic attack and adding a stack of [Resonance]. At 5 stacks, your next basic attack is enhanced with 100% more damage. Green String - Healing Wave Strike the green string, and heal the selected person or group for 100,000 HP + Modifiers. Blue String - Silent Barrier Strike the blue string to create a barrier that absorbs 30% of the wielder''s HP as damage. Black String - Mind Blast Strike the black string, unleashing a sound that bypasses physical defenses and directly targets the target''s mind, and inflicting [???] Passive - Requiem Pulse Every critical hit releases a musical shockwave that deals 50% of damage inflicted as magic damage to enemies within 3 meters and applies the [Dissonance] status effect, lowering their casting speed and evasion for 3 seconds. Rael gulped as he turned to look at the man, before flashing a warm smile. "Old man, you wouldn''t happen to be looking for disciples, would you?" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 61 61: Trying Out The New Weapon, And Potential Disciple? "Disciples? Now why would I do that?" the old man asked with a tilt of his head. Yet as his eyes met Rael''s, he let out a sigh. "Boy, you just want my weapon, don''t you?" "Yep." Rael didn''t deny it. "Think about it¡ªif I become a disciple worthy of inheriting your weapon, then... you probably know where I''m going with this." The old man nodded. "You''re very shameless for someone so young, but I don''t like being taken advantage of. First of all, show me what you can do, and then I''ll decide whether you have potential or not." "Sure." Rael grinned as he grasped the violin in his left hand and the rapier in his right. The rapier was just long enough not to feel uncomfortable when hitting the strings, but at the same time, its length was perfect to use as a weapon if he decided to. And, funnily enough, these two weapons were combined¡ªso he would get the stats even if he used them separately. Nonetheless, Rael focused on the wooden dummy in the distance and brought the rapier down on the red string of the violin. Unlike the old man''s beautiful note, what Rael got instead was a hoarse sound. Despite that, Rael saw a white wind-like trace of sound the moment he struck the string, and to his surprise, he could control its trajectory by merely twisting his rapier. Damn... this is pretty fun, Rael thought with a smile, as the wave of sound finally hit the target dummy. The dummy split in two, yet the cut wasn''t clean. It was almost like someone hit it with a massive mace. I mean... it got the job done, but it wasn''t exactly a clean cut, Rael thought, turning to the old man, who had a poker face. "Try again," the old man said flatly¡ªand Rael did just that. This time, he adjusted his grip a bit, making sure the top of the violin was pointed toward the target dummy, as he could speed up the attack that way. He struck the red string again, and the sound was surprisingly pleasant¡ªbut the attack seemed unstable, as he lost all control of it, and the sound wave merely crashed into the palace wall. Before he could sulk, the old man spoke up. "Again." Rael struck it, but got the same result. "Again." This continued for what felt like hours¡ªuntil eventually... A vivid, beautiful sound rang out, and as it did, Rael saw a red line form in front of his eyes. It felt like everything was in slow motion, and he didn''t even need the rapier to control where the sound was traveling anymore. All he needed was a mere thought, and the sound wave turned vertically, horizontally, and¡ªjust as the old man did¡ªerratically. Finally, it made contact with the dummy, slicing it apart cleanly. But as he thought the surprises were all over, the system interface flashed. <Congratulations! You''ve managed to grasp the skill: Resonant Dueling (Legendary)> Resonant Duelist: [Level 1 | 0/100] (Legendary) ¡ªA refined art form born from harmonizing blade and string. This passive art grants deeper mastery over sound-based weapons, allowing them to become more fluid, reactive, and attuned to rhythm and intent. 1. ??? 2. ??? 3. ??? 4. ??? 5. ??? <Note: Skill options are locked due to the low level of the skill!> <Note2: Every 20 levels, you will unlock a skill option!> "Not terrible," the old man remarked with a chuckle. "However, I am a bit curious... are you tone-deaf?" "What...? No?" Rael replied, puzzled. "I just never played any instrument before." S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Even my grandchildren play better than you," the old man stated flatly. Despite that, he didn''t grab the weapon out of Rael''s hands. Therefore, Rael took a deep breath and hit the red string, sending out a slightly less perfect sound than before, but one he could control without the rapier. He tried his best to form it into a single dot and sent it right into the center of the dummy''s forehead. Immediately, another popup appeared. <Resonant Duelist: +50 Experience> 50 for that? Rael raised a brow. "Good job for now. Come here tomorrow," the old man said as he yanked the weapon out of Rael''s hands and began walking away. "Does that mean I''m your disciple now?" Rael asked, hopeful. "Not even close. But I do want to see how long it takes you to grasp the basics," the old man chuckled. "Same time tomorrow, kid." With that, the old man left in the opposite direction from which Rael came, leaving him standing in the training grounds. That was pretty fun... but I do need to practice this, don''t I? Rael thought with a groan. It was surprising, and for a weapon that had so many combat possibilities, it was simply insane. He could use his other skills alongside it, and if he were to boost them with sound, then they''d become simply overpowered. That was why... <Miscellaneous (Uncommon ~ Epic) 100,000 ~ 10,000,000 MP> <Available MP: [1,761,200/1,761,200]> Rael tried his best to come up with something as close as possible to what he just wielded¡ªbut it was pretty difficult. Nonetheless, after a few minutes of rough ideas, he got it. <Style: Light/Mobile/Durable/> <Would you like to roll for additional effects? Yes/No> He pressed on both and rolled for the effects¡ªuntil eventually, it was done. [MP -1,500,000 | 261,200/1,761,200 (Crystal Genesis)] <Crystal Violin Blade (Unique-Rare) has been crafted!> <Configuration saved automatically!> <Crafting Successful! +10,000 Skill Experience> <First of its kind, Unique Crystal Item has been crafted! Base stats greatly increased!> Rael exhaled a satisfied breath as he held the single-stringed crystal violin and rapier before inspecting them. ¡ªCrystal Violin Blade (Unique-Rare) Durability: 10,000/10,000 (+1000%) Crystal Damage: 1,359¨C6,522 (+396%) +1,736 Attack Power (AP) (+396%) +1,736 Spell Power (SP) (+396%) +372 Strength (+396%) +372 Agility (+396%) +992 Constitution (+396%) +992 Intelligence (+396%) +372 Wisdom (+396%) Special Option: Each Red String basic attack adds 2 stacks of [Resonance] instead of 1. Red String ¨C Sound Slash Strike the red string, dealing a basic attack and adding 2 stacks of [Resonance]. At 5 stacks, your next basic attack is enhanced with 50% more damage. A cheap knockoff... but fuck is it good, Rael thought with a grin, as he turned toward the remaining wooden dummies. I wonder if I can hit level 10 with the skill before tomorrow? Chapter 62 62: Resonant Duelist Progress, And Recruiting The Faceless One Well, shit. Rael looked up at the sky and was met with the sight of the moon. He had spent the last six hours practicing, and he only stopped when his daily allowance came in. <Congratulations! Your active dungeons have produced: +113,870 Trell> But of course, he treated it as an alarm clock, which he would use to go back. Not before checking out his progress, though. <Resonant Duelist: +56,000 Experience> <Resonant Duelist Level: 1 ¡ú 18> Last one for good measure, Rael thought, as he turned his Violin Blade toward a target dummy, and with a graceful slash alongside the red string, he sent out a single beautiful note. He controlled it perfectly and made it circle around the dummy''s head before closing in and cutting it clean from the sides. And of course... <Resonant Duelist: +100 Experience (Perfect)> Every time he performed a perfect note, he got extra experience¡ªsimple as that. Nonetheless, he put the training aside for today as he went back to his room. It would also be a great idea to reply to a certain someone. <Linlin Xu: Where are you? I''ve been looking for you all over the palace. Even the servants can''t find you!> <Rael Sutekh: Yeah? And did you think telling the entire Radiant Dawn organization to spam the chatroom would change anything? I can just close it, you know?> <Linlin Xu: So you saw! You could''ve at least told me where you were.> He let out a sigh as he approached the door to his room and flung it open, revealing Linlin, who was lying down on the right-side bed and eating some kind of meat dish. "Surprise, I''m back," Rael said with a grin as he eyed her food. "Did you save me some?" Linlin''s brow twitched. "I did, but come on... where are your royal clothes? You''re walking around like a beggar." Rael approached the food before shrugging. "Believe it or not, these clothes are more comfortable than the royal shit I usually wear." "Anyways," he continued, "did you get any juicy information? Or even a visit, perhaps. I did some negotiations with their king earlier." "Nothing." Linlin shook her head as she began munching on food again. "The palace did seem a bit more lively though as the day passed. Maybe they''re nocturnal?" "Or maybe they''re trying to pretty-up those women so they could seduce me," Rael added as a shiver ran down his spine. "I swear... that king has no filter with how he''s trying to push his daughters onto me." "From what I saw, they were pretty hot, why not accept one?" Linlin asked flatly. Bruh... Rael let out a sigh, before shaking his head. "Zafira is fine, but I doubt I''d be able to negotiate terms that don''t tie me down to this country. Or more like, I''m too lazy to do that." Linlin hummed in amusement. "Must be nice being the king." "It''s not terrible, but I get tied down with too much unnecessary stuff, and after we go back to Celestara, I''ll become much busier than I am now," Rael replied as he stacked his plate full of food and sat down on his own bed. "Linlin, what is the real reason you created your organization?" he asked out of nowhere, making her nearly choke on her food. "Where is that coming from? I told you already¡ªI created it because of what happened between Zafira and the former king," she replied. However, he could notice the faint shaking in her voice. Is it because of all those notes I played today? It''s a bit easier to distinguish what she''s actually feeling now... Rael thought, puzzled. "Sorry for bringing it up," Rael apologized. "But I do hope you can be honest with me one day. I''m a bit curious, after all." Her brows twitched before she simply nodded. Then, silence ensued, and it lasted for a few minutes until he heard a knock on the door. "Room service?" He mused, as he put the plate aside, walked over to the door, and opened it. What greeted his sight was a male servant, who immediately bowed upon seeing Rael. "I''ve come to deliver a message¡ª" "Zareth''Null?" Rael cut him off with a tilt of his head, making the servant flinch. "What is the Faceless One doing in the palace?" The servant''s face scrunched up as a frown appeared. "How did you know?" the Faceless One asked. Rael merely shrugged. "I was just bullshitting. If the servant didn''t know who Zareth''Null was, then I''d have just played it off. But how convenient, eh?" The Faceless One stared at him speechlessly before walking past Rael and entering the room. He flashed a nod toward Linlin and sat down near the food table. "Did you make up your mind already?" Rael asked as he sat beside him. "Or is it some personal visit?" "I agree with your terms," the Faceless One stated. Rael raised a brow. "What''s the catch?" "What happens to me and my organization in the future if I don''t follow you?" the Faceless One asked with a serious expression. "Remember, I can tell apart the truths and lies." Hmm... I can''t say I didn''t expect this question, Rael thought as he looked the Faceless One directly in the eyes. "You thrive," Rael stated flatly, not going into details, as that wouldn''t exactly help him. "How soon?" the Faceless One followed up. "How soon does it take for us to thrive?" Rael fell into thought for a moment before coming up with an answer. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Seven years, four months, and I don''t exactly remember how many days. But that''s when your name would become known," Rael replied. "So, success is guaranteed as long as I follow my current path?" the Faceless One mused. "What do you think a normal person would do in this situation?" "They''d pussy out and come up with some ''you will eventually reach your goals'' bullshit." Rael stood up and approached the Faceless One. "The safe route is for people who don''t have ambition. And I, for one, know you''re not that type of person." Rael raised a glass, pointing it at the Faceless One. "There will be risks, but I can promise you that same notoriety in less than a year. So, what do you say?" Chapter 63 63: Cheesing The Event The Faceless One glanced between the glass and Rael''s eyes, an amused look on his face. "I accept your proposal." "I''m glad. Here I thought you would choose the long route," Rael chuckled as he downed the entire glass of alcohol. "Anyways, what will you name your organization this time? In the future, you named it Everdawn." "Also..." Rael continued. "Can I call you by your name?" The Faceless One nodded. "You may call me Zareth." He turned to Linlin. "You too, girl, I allow you to use my name without facing repercussions." "Your skill is creepy..." Linlin muttered before continuing to eat. She couldn''t exactly chime in on the conversation, as half the stuff they were talking about didn''t make sense to outsiders. "Let''s see... Everdawn is a nice name, but in commemoration, how about I name it something along the lines of Synthex?" Zareth said. "I believe it portrays the essence of my ideals perfectly." "If that''s what you think, then go ahead." Rael shrugged. "I''m not the best when it comes to naming stuff." "Hmm..." Zareth trailed off as he turned serious. "From this day forth, my organization''s name will be Synthex. And since I''ll need to set up a lot of stuff, may I take my leave?" "Zareth." Rael let out a sigh. "Even though I''m recruiting you, think of it as a mutual exchange. We''re partners of similar standing now, so just do whatever you want. I''ll see you back in Celestara." "I see..." A smile tugged at Zareth''s lips. "I shall wait for you back in Celestara. Goodbye to both of you." However, just as Zareth was about to leave, a particular request popped up inside his mind. "Zareth, wait a second." Rael stopped him. "Can you look into Seraphina Ardent and Thalric Ardent? I need to know how they died." "Is this a personal matter?" Zareth asked, and Rael nodded. "Sort of. It ties in with Celestara, so I''d appreciate it if you could help me here." "Very well..." Zareth nodded. "I''ll be staying in this city for one more day, then. I''ll have the information ready for you by midnight tomorrow." With that, Zareth exited the room, and Rael immediately heaved a relieved sigh. "That was close," he expressed as he slumped down on the bed. "If I had said a single wrong word, he would''ve stood up and left." Even though he was talking to himself, Linlin didn''t speak up, which prompted him to turn to her in confusion. "You''d usually call me out on something¡ªwhat''s up?" Rael asked. "Can you tell me what happens to Radiant Dawn...?" Linlin muttered, turning to him. "I don''t have lie-telling abilities like that guy, but could you tell me the truth?" Rael tilted his head. "You live. I''ll tell you the full story when you finally open up to me and tell me why you actually formed the group." I''m a bit surprised she isn''t asking me about my future knowledge, but oh well, it''s not like I would tell her. He chuckled inwardly "I see..." She lay down on the bed and turned her head around. "I''m going to sleep. Good night." Not even a snarky remark? Is it that time of the month or something? Rael mused as he crawled toward the pillows and snuggled up. He decided to close his eyes for a moment, but before he knew it, he fell fast asleep. *** It was now morning. That was only natural to assume, as the sun was in the sky right above him. The problem? He was indoors. Linlin was standing in front of his bed with her green threads readied and scattered around the entire room. "Care to fill me in on what the fuck is going on?" Rael asked calmly. "Someone is attacking," Linlin replied with a shrug. "A small purple rock fell through the ceiling a moment ago. I caught it, but I can''t tell who threw it." Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Hmm..." Rael hummed as his gaze traveled to Linlin''s back. But he noticed something interesting. "Should I start calling you the nudist girl again?" "Shut up..." Linlin shot back. "I took my bra off since it was uncomfortable to sleep in. Now shush, the enemies might hear you." "Sure, sure." Rael stood up from the bed, dusted himself off, and began walking to the door. "What are you doing? Get back¡ª" He cut her words off by swinging the doors open. The moment he did, he was met by the smell of smoke, and the sight of servants running around in panic. "Well, the good news is that we''re not the only ones who got attacked," Rael remarked, as Linlin came up behind him. However, before she could get in front, he stopped her. "You sweat in your sleep." Her cheeks flushed red as she immediately understood what he meant. She didn''t hesitate to run over to her bed, grab her black bra, and head into the bathroom. In the meantime, Rael decided to get a head start as he made his way to where the people were gathered because of the commotion. The moment he arrived, he noticed a massive purple shard embedded into the ground, oozing some purple energy. So this is the party incentive event, huh? He focused on the shard, and a system notification soon appeared. <Starfall Event triggered!> <A mysterious purple shard has crash-landed in the Jade Palace, releasing strange energy into the surroundings and corrupting all monsters within the Yrgon territory. Something special happens when Starfall Cores are inputted into the Shard of the Stars> <Duration: 7 Days> <Objective: Collect 10 Starfall Cores> <Reward: ???> People have to gather in groups, go into dungeons, and kill monsters until one of them drops a Starfall Core, Rael recalled. The funny thing about this event was that the developers messed it up, making the cores have such a low drop rate that even after 7 whole days, the players only managed to drop 8 of them. On the other hand... ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Miscellaneous/Event/Starfall ?¡ªBalance: 411,342 Trell¡ª? ? Starfall Core (Common): 25,000 Trell "Pfft..." Rael held back a laugh as he went ahead and bought 10 of the cores. Soon, 10 small purple beads appeared in his palm, and despite the worried looks of all the people present, Rael walked toward the massive shard, a confident look on his face. The shard began reacting to him¡ªespecially the cores he held in his hand¡ªwhen all of a sudden, all 10 of them flew out and were immediately absorbed into the shard. Nothing happened for a few seconds, which made him raise a brow. Did these fuckers just scam me out of 250,000 Trell? However, the purple shard suddenly lit up, before turning completely red. Then, a single notification popped up, making his eyes widen. <The Shard of the Stars grants you...> Chapter 64 64: The Surprising Upgrade, and Back to Training <The Shard of the Stars grants you an opportunity!> <Special Blessing granted!> <Skill: Primordial Sight (Mythic) has been unlocked!> <Skill: Primordial Sight (Mythic) has absorbed the skill: Archon Aura (Legendary)> What the... Rael looked on in wonder. Whatever the players were supposed to get was definitely some shitty item. Yet here he was, getting a Mythic-ranked skill by none other than the same being who had put a mark on him not too long ago. Of course, his excitement only grew as he checked out the skill. Primordial Sight: [Level 1 | 0/100] (Mythic+) ¡ªAn ancient ocular ability awakened from the core of creation itself. Grants vision beyond matter, and illusion. 1. Clearsight: See through all illusions, concealment, and shapeshifting. 2. Mental Decay: Enemies who meet your eyes feel the pressure of a primordial (Weakened). 3. Empower: All allies in a 100-meter radius have all their damage increased by 35%. 4. Primordial Efficiency: All constructs gain +30% increased stats; increases HP and MP by 100%. 5. Foresight: See 1 second into the future. Toggle ON/OFF <Note: Due to your level being incredibly low, the options of this skill have been greatly reduced!> <Note 2: It is recommended you don''t skip your main quest: Find the Beast (Level ???).> Fine, fine... Rael grumbled as he glanced to the side. The moment he did, he almost felt like he was falling. After all, seeing one second into the future seemed cool and all, but that was definitely not something he could get used to right after getting the skill. Despite the limitations, the skill was definitely overpowered. Though I wonder where I put Chop-E... I kind of forgot him on the battlefield. But since his status screen still displayed that Chop-E was alive, it was fine. A smile appeared on his face before he toggled off the Foresight option. Now, he could see properly. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But he definitely didn''t expect the commotion to quiet down so much. Everyone was staring at him, eyes wide. Soon, Linlin arrived, and as she saw him, she flinched before approaching closer. "You should tone down the pressure," she whispered, making him look away from the crowd of people. I thought only enemies were affected? Bullshit skill as always, but at least it''s good, Rael pondered, as he decided to take his leave. No one stopped him, so he merely passed by them. However, just as he was about to return to his room, he heard a loud crack from behind him. The moment he turned around, he saw the massive red shard shatter into a dozen pieces, before scattering into the air like dust. Uhh¡ª <Special Event: Starfall - Concluded!> <Contribution Leaderboard> 1. Rael Sutekh: 10 Starfall Cores <Achievement: [Starfall (Level 5¨C100)] is being given to the organization: Radiant Dawn> <Main Contributor: Rael Sutekh> "...I don''t even know what to tell you at this point..." Linlin muttered. There were still a few hours left before he would get kicked out, so he merely shrugged. "It''s just a coincidence, I guess," Rael said, and before the servants could give him a hard time, he began running back to his room. Linlin followed close by, and in the corner of his vision, he could see the Radiant Dawn chatroom flashing, so he decided to open it. <RD-Qiqi Xu: Boop> <RD-Mira Virel: Why isn''t he an actual member again? He''s gotten two good achievements for us within the span of 24 hours!> <RD-Dax Wick: Mira, if just any bastard can join, then what''s the point of this group in the first place?> <RD-Torren Lockhart: Dax is right. Rael Sutekh is a great asset, however, I don''t think his motives align with our goals.> <RD-Sophia Ash: Boop> <RD-Dax Wick: Stop fucking booping!> Rael let out a sigh, as the chatroom was pretty much the same as always. Goals-wise, it seemed like the others knew about the actual purpose of the organization, and whatever it was made them not want to invite him. Can''t say I really care that much. Synthex is going to be much bigger than them, Rael thought absentmindedly, as he arrived at his room. It seemed like someone had already patched up his roof, so he swiftly changed into a pair of servant clothes and went outside again. "Where are you going?" Linlin asked. "Don''t you have some kingly duties to attend to?" "Like what? I''ll probably get summoned later either way, so for now, I''m going to go train," he replied with a shrug. "Anyways, are you coming or what?" "Yep..." Linlin nodded with a sigh. With that, Rael retraced his steps to the training grounds where he first met the old man. To his surprise, the old man was there, as the beautiful violin resounded from far away. Rael approached with a wave. Oh right... He''s blind, Rael face-palmed. "Yo, old man. I''m back." "Hm? You''re a bit early, but I like that spirit..." the old man trailed off. "You brought a friend? Are they going to train too?" Rael turned to Linlin. "Are you?" She shook her head. "Nope. The only thing I want right now is some peace." "Suit yourself, slacker." The old man snickered and turned toward Rael. "Anyways kid, are you ready to train?" "Yep," Rael replied with a nod. But just as the old man was about to hand over his weapon, Rael pulled out his own. The moment he did, the old man froze, and almost as if he had eyes, he looked down at the Violin Blade. "How did you get this?" "I''m a bit of a crafter sometimes, so I just copied yours," Rael replied flatly, not trying to hide it. "Can I check it out?" the old man asked, and Rael nodded before handing the Violin Blade over. "Hmm... this really is a replica. A poor one, but it''s a replica of my replica..." the old man remarked in wonder and gave back the Violin Blade. "You may use it. Once you get proficient enough, I will give you mine so you can practice the other strings," the old man stated. "Alright, I''ll start." Rael got into his usual stance, before blasting a few notes into the target dummies with perfect precision. <Resonant Duelist: +300 Experience> Rael looked toward the old man confidently, yet he was met with the same stern look as always. "Again." Of course... Chapter 65 65: The Unfortunate News "You''re a bit stiff," Linlin commented as the two went back to their room. "No shit, I just had my back blasted out by that old man," Rael grumbled. Not literally, of course. The old man just decided it was a good idea to attack Rael a few times to test his defenses before leaving him lying on the ground in pain. But now it was done, and it was dark out. However, the pain didn''t come without gain, as finally... <Resonant Duelist: +89,200 Experience> <Resonant Duelist Level: 18 ¡ú 27> With that came a new option, which was a bit interesting. Resonant Duelist: [Level 27 | 1,043/14,030] (Legendary) ¡ªA refined art form born from harmonizing blade and string. This passive art grants deeper mastery over Sound-based weapons, allowing them to become more fluid, reactive, and attuned to rhythm and intent. 1. Symphony: Landing a Perfect Note Attack grants +2% Critical Hit Damage for 10 seconds, stacking up to 200%. This effect ends once a note is missed, or no attack is made within 10 seconds. 2. ??? 3. ??? 4. ??? 5. ??? <Note: Skill options are locked due to the low level of the skill!> <Note 2: Every 20 levels, you will unlock a skill option!> For a first option, it was pretty good. To stack it up fully, he would need to attack a monster 100 times. Basically, by the time he was done stacking, the monster would have formed a family, gotten married, and lived out its entire fucking life. So, while it was good, it definitely could''ve been better. Nonetheless, they finally arrived back at their room, and there was already someone waiting inside. "Zareth." Rael nodded at him. "I take it you got the information I asked for?" "I have acquired it, yes. Take a look." Zareth walked up and passed Rael a note. Rael skimmed through the contents, a frown forming on his face. "Are you sure?" Zareth nodded. "I have confirmed it." "Hmm..." Rael let out an annoyed sigh. The death of her parents? Overdose. They''d been drunks prior to her birth and had died from an overdose a week after Evelyn was born. Their death was covered up, as the scandal would''ve damaged the reputation of all the nobles. After all, unlike Celestara, Yrgon had the more old-school approach, utilizing hierarchical ranks¡ªalso known as nobility. Nonetheless, Rael couldn''t give less of a shit whether they were random drunks or high-class kings. They died, and now... How am I supposed to break this news to her? "Rael, I''m going to take my leave if that''s alright with you," Zareth stated, and Rael nodded. "Good job with this. Once I''m back, I''ll have an interesting present for you. In the meantime, I''d really appreciate it if you could form the Shadows I mentioned." "I already did," Zareth replied with a chuckle. "I currently have 392 recruits, 25 of whom show potential." "Raise the number by a dozen. We''ll need it," Rael said before putting the note into his pocket. "I''ll go break the news to her somehow." Zareth tilted his head. "You''re talking about Evelyn Ardent, right? She already knows, from what I''ve gathered." So she''s in denial? Rael''s brows furrowed. "Thanks for the heads-up. See you in Celestara." Zareth sent a small wave before making his way out. Meanwhile, Rael flashed a glance at Linlin, who was swinging her legs on the bed, and tapping something in the air. From what he could guess, she was likely typing stuff in the group chat. <RD-Linlin Xu: Boop> <RD-Qiqi Xu: Boop> <RD-Mira Virel: Boop> <RD-Sophia Ash: Boop> Why did I even check... Rael grumbled, as he whistled to get her attention. "I''m going out, you coming?" "Yep, just a sec," Linlin replied, and the moment she did, he saw the chatroom flash again. But for his own sanity, he didn''t open it, and waited for her to finish up¡ªuntil finally, she stood up and accompanied him out. Sadly, leaving wasn''t as easy as roaming around, so he had to show his face to the guards and tell them how long he''d be out. Nonetheless, after all that was over and done with, Rael, alongside Linlin, went down the lengthy stairs. He had a rough idea of where Evelyn was supposed to be¡ªbased on the lore he''d gathered, she always trained in a courtyard alone. Which courtyard? He had no clue. But there was a single hint. The moon shines the brightest, illuminating her steel blade¡ª Rael stopped as he glanced toward a roof in the distance. It was definitely not the highest in the palace courtyard, but it was captivating enough to be noticeable, as its roof was much wider than the other buildings. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And of course, from time to time, he saw a sheen¡ªjust as the lore had described. Rael turned toward the bored Linlin and pointed at the building in the distance, before making their move. After just a few minutes, they arrived and leaped upward, landing on the flat roof and surprising the person practicing. It was none other than Evelyn. "It''s you..." Evelyn''s eyes narrowed. Suddenly, she bowed. "I''m sorry for not recognizing you earlier, King of Celestara, Rael Sutekh." "Drop the formalities," Rael said before turning serious. "You know why I came here, don''t you?" "Yes." Evelyn straightened her back. "So what¡ª" He cut her off by waving a note in the air. "I''d prefer you read this yourself instead." Evelyn nodded hesitantly, picked up the note, then read through it. As expected, her expression worsened with each passing word¡ªuntil finally, she crumpled the note and put it in her pocket. "That''s everything I found," Rael stated. "The information is verified, rechecked, and everything else you can imagine. It''s correct." She remained silent, and despite the uncomfortable atmosphere, Rael still had to say it. "My offer from earlier still stands," Rael said as he turned around. "I don''t count this request of yours as a wish. If you join me, you can ask me for whatever you want¡ªbut make up your mind in the next 5 days. I''m leaving soon." He glanced into her shaky blue eyes one last time and, alongside Linlin, jumped back down and went back to their room. With that, everything was done. The agreement should be drafted by the time he left, the Faceless One was on his side, and even if Evelyn didn''t join him, the progress was good enough. Rael passed the guards and finally entered his room. The moment he did, like an alarm clock, his money came in. <Congratulations! Your active dungeons have produced: +113,870 Trell> A smile appeared on his face, as he took a quick shower and went to bed. Linlin did the same, and after she came back, they did a bit of back-and-forth chatter until she fell asleep. Nonetheless, since all of his main objectives were done... The only thing remaining was the hellish 5 days of training. Chapter 66 66: The Final Day At The Palace Final Day. *** "Old man..." Rael muttered speechlessly. "Have you gone insane?" "Not at all," the old man replied. "Dodge." Soon, a beautiful note rang out. However, to the person on the receiving end... [HP -83,011! 575,989/659,000] It wasn''t so fun. "Come on, just wait a goddamn moment!" Rael exclaimed, pulling out his own Violin Blade. In the very next instant, he struck the string, sending out a perfect note right at the old man. Huh? Rael''s eyes widened, realizing the man wasn''t planning to dodge. Therefore, he redirected the strike upward and glared at the old man. "What the fuck was that? Are you trying to get yourself killed?" "You think you can kill me?" the old man scoffed, letting out a loud chuckle. "Boy, if you hesitate in a fight, you will be killed." Noticing the ominous tone, Rael took a step backward. However, that didn''t do much, as a sharp pain suddenly shot through his thigh. [HP -122,319! 453,670/659,000] Even with his massive HP pool, the hits dealt serious damage. And of course, that didn''t mean he couldn''t be injured, as the only thing that changed after he became a boss monster was the fact that he wouldn''t be instantly killed if his vitals were destroyed. But after this one hit in particular, he decided to take the fight seriously. Rael stood up and pressed the rapier against the red violin string, tapping it three times. However, they were anything but gentle as they flew toward the old man. -185,303! Perfect Note! (x3 Crystal Violin Blade) <Resonance: Max Stacks Reached!> Noticing the old man wasn''t injured in the slightest, Rael tried again¡ªand this time, he aimed for his specialty. The balls. But just as his attack was about to connect, the man sent a Violin Blade note of his own, blocking the attack aimed at his balls. "Boy... No attacks below the belt," the old man stated sternly. "If I ever catch you doing that again, I''m going to make sure you won''t have any children in the future calling you papa." A shiver ran down Rael''s spine as he nodded. "Got it... my bad." "Hahahah." Linlin laughed from the bench, clearly amused. "Oh, my bad. Good luck though." She became a bit more nonchalant around him, which was good and all, but there was one problem now. The old man hadn''t taught him anything new in the last four days, and today was their final bout. Of course, the skill had leveled up significantly. <Resonant Duelist: +232,200 Experience> S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. <Resonant Duelist Level: 27 ¡ú 39> He was now around 20,000 experience away from hitting Level 40. There was just one small problem. Each time his note was imperfect, he no longer got any experience. And better yet, the experience for getting a perfect note was reduced from 100 to 50. "Old man, so how long are we going to waste time here? I get it, you''re strong. But what about me? I literally dream about those wooden dummies from how much I train." Rael complained. But the old man merely sighed. "You don''t get it. I''ve been trying to get you to do one thing, and yet, despite so many close attempts, you always make the same mistakes," the old man stated, making Rael raise a brow. "And those mistakes are?" "They are something you must figure out for yourself," the old man shrugged. "All I''m going to tell you is that you''re still playing the Violin Blade without putting much thought into it. You control the trajectory of the red string, but that''s it. There''s no intent behind those notes." Rael''s brows furrowed as he suddenly grabbed his Violin Blade and struck the string with his rapier. Unlike the previous times, Rael thought of more than simply controlling the trajectory. Instead, he imagined his note having a fiery intent¡ªalmost like the sound alone would burn the person who heard it. To his surprise, the sound which escaped his Violin Blade made the air crackle as it traveled toward the old man, who had a wide smile on his face. And in the very next moment, he saw the sound transform into a pulse of fire¡ªand suddenly strike the old man, who didn''t even attempt to dodge. -417,198! Critical True Note! (x1 Crystal Violin Blade) Huh? What the fuck is that damage? Rael''s eyes widened in shock, but before he could even check up on the old man, a loud laugh resounded. "Hahahaha! Good job!" the old man praised, blood pouring down his mouth, as a hole went clean t through his chest. However, the old man didn''t panic. Instead, he struck the green string a few times, patching up the hole in an instant. "That''s a True Note. An attack you can achieve once you infuse your intent into the weapon," the old man explained, a proud look on his face. "I didn''t expect you to get it right away. It seems like straightforward teaching works best with you." "About that..." Rael scratched his head. "This is my last day in the palace. I will be heading back to my homeland soon." "Oh, I know," the old man grinned. "Halemire told me all about you. It''s why I decided to give training you a shot in the first place. You didn''t disappoint¡ªtruly befitting of a royal." "Wait a second..." Rael''s eyes widened. "When you said grandchildren, did you mean¡ª" "Yep, the current king''s daughters," the old man chuckled. "Nice to meet you, Rael Sutekh. I''m Esteron Virelorn¡ªthe previous king of this shit-hole and the father of the current king." It was now Rael''s turn to be shocked. "Anyways, boy, you have places to be. I heard your envoy is already waiting for you," Esteron stated, stretching out his hand. "It was a pleasure beating you up." Rael grumbled as he accepted the handshake, and after flashing a glance toward the equally surprised Linlin, the two left. The former fucking king? I should''ve known a random old man wouldn''t just be playing a violin in the palace. They silently went toward the lengthy stairs, and Rael soon spotted Halemire, who was waving at him. Rael approached, greeting him with a nod. "I had a lot of fun here¡ªthank you for the hospitality," Rael said politely. "It''s not a problem. Also, here," Halemire shrugged it off and handed him a heavy document. "This is...?" "It''s the agreement. I made sure neither of us could use any loopholes, so it''s a bit long. I''m sure you''ll have as much fun reading through it as I have." "Mhm..." Rael accepted the document and placed it inside his inventory. "I''ll read it when I''m back. See you next time, Halemire." Halemire nodded, satisfied. But just as Rael was about to head down, another pair of footsteps resounded from behind him. As he turned around, he was greeted with the calm-looking Aria. "I apologize for my behavior last time we saw each other. I shall be accompanying you now, if you don''t mind." "Suit yourself," Rael shrugged as he took one last look at the palace and began heading down. At the bottom of the stairs, he saw two carriages¡ªone with the envoys and one for him and the two girls. He entered the carriage and sat on one side, while Linlin and Aria comfortably sat on the opposite side. It was a pity that Evelyn didn''t come, which likely meant she refused his offer. Either way... It was finally time to head back to Celestara. Chapter 67 67: Arriving Back In Celestara Rael hummed in excitement as he was nearly back at Celestara¡ªonly a few kilometers remained. The forest was dense, but there was a little pathway for merchants¡ªbasically the only clean path going in and out of Celestara. Nonetheless, he had taken a small nap, and now it was time to look at a few changes, one of which was the perk he had chosen a few days ago. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was delayed by a day, and the choices appeared around the same time his 5-day hellish training started. He wasn''t dissatisfied with his pick, since out of the three options, only one was a clear winner. Premium Dungeon [Special-Unique] ¡ªCreate a customizable dungeon that can generate resources, loot, or enemies. All upgrades are currency-based. It was an insane perk, and now, he could actually start to create a dungeon for himself. Still, it was a pity... He could create multiple, sure, but only one of his custom dungeons could be active¡ªwhich meant he wouldn''t get anything from the others. I''ll create one after I''m done with the main quest... Rael thought as he looked back at the spar earlier. Perfect Notes gave him 50 Experience, and the True Notes gave him 500. They were far more powerful, but at the same time, they required a lot of focus to perform. Also, his stats were through the roof now. [Status] Name: Rael Sutekh, The Platinum Overlord [+] Age: 18 Race: Celestite Archon (Legendary) [+] Boss Monster Variation: The Pay-to-Win Boss [Vice-General Class] Level: 86 Experience: 11,340/79,753 ?¡ªBalance: 616,822 Trell¡ª? ?¡ªStats¡ª? Health Points (HP): [460,600/460,600] ¡ú [659,000/659,000] Mana Points (MP): [1,761,200/1,761,200] (+1,100,000) ¡ú [1,959,600/1,959,600] (+1,100,000) Strength: 1,128 (+398) ¡ú 1,500 (+770) Agility: 1,098 (+398) ¡ú 1,470 (+770) Constitution: 2,303 (+1,107) ¡ú 3,295 (+2,099) Intelligence: 3,306 (+1,376) ¡ú 4,298 (+2,368) Wisdom: 1,673 (+1,358) ¡ú 2,045 (+1,730) Charisma: 2,400 ?¡ªAdvanced Stats¡ª? Spell Power (SP): 9,918 ¡ú 14,630 (+1,736) Attack Power (AP): 3,384 ¡ú 6,236 (+1,736) Movement Speed Increase: 549% ¡ú 735% Critical Hit Damage Increase: 88.65% (+5%) ¡ú 107.25% (+5%) +100% Increased Crystal-based Attack Damage +35% Resistance to all types of Magic Damage -10% Reduced Physical Damage Dealt Aside from that, his plans were simple now. He would return to Celestara, pawn off all the work to Zafira, and then do his main quest. I just hope she does it fast... I want to recruit those dwarves already, Rael thought with a greedy look. Finally, he could see an opening in the trees¡ªand with that, a massive crater where Celestara was situated. "It doesn''t look as bad as I imagined," Aria remarked. "But it could use smoother roads. I can''t say this was a pleasant journey." Linlin tilted her head. "But His Majesty slept like a baby? Don''t you think you''re just being picky?" Aria scoffed. "Not at all. I just don''t enjoy having a sore bottom after a long ride." "You mean your ass? Yeah, I can relate," Linlin chuckled, earning a glare from Aria. "I told you to stop being so crass..." "Am I interrupting something?" Rael asked, puzzled. These two sure did get close while I slept. "Not at all. Greetings, King of Ce¡ª" "Just call me Rael," he cut Aria off. "Rael," Aria corrected herself. "I''d like to apologize again. I reacted unbecoming the last time we saw each other." "Don''t worry about it. If my parents sent me off somewhere, I''d be pissed too," Rael chuckled. "I''ll talk to Zafira about you, since it would be in everyone''s best interests if the agreement goes through." "I''m glad, but my father has specifically told me to follow you around... if that won''t be an issue," Aria said with a slight fidget. "Hmm... you can start following me in a few days. Right now, I''m going to be busy with other stuff, so I won''t be around much," Rael replied. Soon, they entered the elevator and headed down, then made their way into Celestara. It was as lively as he remembered. In fact, it might be slightly livelier. ¡ªOi! Prick, didn''t you fucking swear you were not going to kill steal? ¡ªMan, I didn''t kill steal shit. You died at the last moment, so I had to finish the mob off! ¡ªGuards! Two naked men near the apple stand! Get their ass! These players sure make everything chaotic, Rael thought, as nostalgia began kicking in. He''d visit his shop later¡ªfirst, he had to head to the palace. There was a lot of noise, and he was sure that by now, most of these players had realized that the Sutekh surname belonged to the royals. I''m definitely going to have an annoying ass time back at the boutique... he let out a sigh as he looked through the window, all the while, Linlin and Aria were chatting with each other. Finally, he arrived, and Zafira seemed to have stepped out personally to greet him. Rael took a deep breath, corrected his posture, and stepped out of the carriage before heading for Zafira. "Rael, I''m gla¡ª" Her words were cut off when, all of a sudden, Rael embraced her in a big hug. "I missed you too, my lovely Zafira," Rael said softly. "..." Zafira didn''t know how to react, so with trembling hands, she hugged him back. Their hug lasted a few seconds¡ªenough to prove that they were actually married. Nonetheless, they separated, and Zafira glanced at the new girl, Aria. But from the looks of things, she already knew her. "Aria Virelorn, I take it? It''s a pleasure to meet you. But what''s the occasion?" "Um...?" Aria tilted her head. "Did His Majesty not tell you about the agreement?" "The agreement?" Zafira''s eyes narrowed as she turned to Rael. "What does she mean by this agreement?" Rael chuckled. "There''s a lot I have to tell you, and there are a few people I''d like to introduce you to as well." The moment his words fell, Rael glanced at one of the guards, who immediately let out a sigh before approaching. "It seems my disguise can''t get past you, even when I''m wearing armor," Zareth grumbled. "Naturally," Rael replied smugly and waved his hand toward the palace. "I believe we should take this talk inside." Chapter 68 68: Warm And Commotion? "So let me get this straight..." Zafira grabbed her head, as though she had a headache. "You negotiated a deal with the king of Yrgon... And you also brought over a person who is an expert at information gathering?" "Yep." Rael nodded, sipping on some tea. Currently, only the two of them were here, as after a bit of chatter, Linlin had accompanied Aria around town to protect her, and Zareth went back to recruiting shadows. Nonetheless, he had explained the general situation, and while he did have his secrets, these events all needed Zafira''s say in the end. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, she was the actual ruler, and he was just a lazy, greedy person. "Okay... great. Pass me the agreement, I''ll look through it," Zafira said with a sigh. A grin appeared on Rael''s face when, all of a sudden, a heavy document appeared on the table in front of him, cleanly breaking it in two. "Here you go. I haven''t read it yet, but I''m sure it''s a fun read." "That old bastard..." Zafira muttered, her hands trembling. "Last time I made a deal with him... I sold him 100 pieces of armor, and he wrote something similar. Why can''t he just write up agreements like a normal person?" "Well, if I were old and had a lot of time, I''d probably want to piss off the young people as well." Rael snickered. "Anyways, Zafira, you''ll find a clause in there for an embassy. I want you to assign Zareth as the leader." "Rael..." Zafira trailed off, looking him straight in the eyes. "I''ll consider it... but please, for future reference, don''t hide these types of things from me." "I can''t promise anything." Rael shrugged before turning serious. "Zafira, I don''t want you to think I''m an enemy, and while I get my role was supposed to be the fake king, I''ll help out whenever I can." He approached closer, grabbing her hand. "I care about you." "I see..." Zafira muttered, and he could feel her hand growing sweaty. However, she merely used his hand to stand up, before hugging him again. "Where''s this coming from?" he asked, but didn''t deny the hug¡ªreturning it in kind. "I just felt like it," Zafira said as she tightened her embrace, then buried her face in his chest. "Thank you." She''s been acting strange ever since I came back... Rael thought, and as he glanced down, he saw her ears, which were slightly red. Oh... Rael hugged her tighter, as he began patting her head. She''s embarrassed... Zafira seemed satisfied, and they stayed like that for a few minutes. However, the sound of the throne room''s doors opening startled the two of them. "Your Majesty, I¡ª" the guard stopped himself, noticing the awkward atmosphere. "Should I leave?" "N-No." Zafira cleared her throat. "What is it?" "There was a commotion at the boutique His Majesty owns... a fight broke out between the travelers," the guard stated. As he finished, the entire room turned cold as Rael slowly began walking up to the guard. "Do you perchance have those fuckers in custody?" Rael asked calmly. The guard nodded, noticing the unusual pressure which made it hard to breathe. "Y-Yes sir... there are five of them in the palace''s dungeons, I believe¡ª" Rael raised a finger to shush the guard. "There''s going to be a blue crystal rover with a katana that will arrive in a few hours. When it does, I want you to escort it into the dungeons, right where the travelers are being held." "A rover with a katana...?" the guard muttered, but as his gaze met Rael''s, he immediately bowed. "Yes, Your Majesty!" With that, he stormed out of the room, leaving Rael and Zafira alone. But of course, the awkwardness from earlier was still there. "I''m going on a little trip. Not sure when I''ll be back, but expect me to be gone for a week at the very least," Rael stated, making Zafira flinch. "You''re not going inside a dangerous dungeon again, are you?" "It''s a bit different..." He shook his head, before flashing her a warm smile. "What do you say to having a drink or two after I get back?" "I''d like that," Zafira replied with an equally warm smile, then sent him a small wave. "Good luck with whatever you''re going to be doing, Rael." Rael nodded at her, and finally left the throne room, heading straight for his boutique. At the same time... Chop-E... If you fucking hear me, get back to Celestara. There are people I want you to teach a lesson to. He just had to hope it would work. Nonetheless, after a couple of minutes'' walk and a change of clothes, he arrived in front of his boutique. Obviously, it wasn''t as crowded as before, but despite that, he saw a broken window, and one of his cleaning constructs missing a limb. These pieces of shit... I''m adding a tax to the next gacha boxes I sell. Rael thought with furrowed brows, as he pushed the players aside and grabbed the broken construct. <Would you like to repair your construct: Dust Trooper? Yes/No> <Cost: 100,000 MP> Yes. [MP -100,000 1,859,600/1,959,600 (x1 Crystal Genesis)] Immediately, Dust Trooper''s crystal limb regenerated, and its slightly beat-up appearance returned to normal. "Oi!" Rael yelled, gathering the attention of the players present. "Because of what happened today, the store will be closed for 10 days. On the 11th, I''m going to be selling limited edition sets which are much better than the ones you bought previously." ¡ªHuh? 10 days...? ¡ªBut the beta test ends in 11 days! ¡ªFuck it, I''m staying in line for the next 10 days, you guys are going to die when I buy his overpowered gear! All according to plan, Rael hummed as he slammed the door in their faces. "Dirt Vader, Dust Trooper, can you clean the glass off the floor? I''m going to fix the window in a moment." The two constructs nodded and got to work. In the meantime, Rael''s gaze landed on the receptionist construct, who was fine, along with two almost lifeless individuals lying on the ground, foaming from their mouths. Nonetheless, he left them be as he approached the receptionist construct, Xavier, who stretched out its arm. And of course... <Would you like to collect the earnings? Yes/No> Chapter 69 69: Bob, And The Main Quest <Would you like to collect the earnings? Yes/No> "Yeppers," Rael immediately accepted, excited. And the moment the income flashed in front of his eyes, he wanted to throw these¡ª <+4,513,500 Trell (1003 Sets Sold)> <+190,000 Trell (Haggling Skill)> <+1,195,000 Trell (Head Pats)> <Total Trell Gained: 5,898,500> <0 Crystallite Sets Remaining> Fucking hell. Rael tried his best to hold back his excitement. Money. He had so much money now. ?¡ªBalance: 6,515,322 Trell¡ª? I can do so much with this... Like¡ª <Evolve Current Race: 10,000,000 Trell> Uhh... Rael''s brows twitched. Since there were 3 evolutions left, that meant he would need to spend 10 million Trell on this one, 100 million Trell on the next, and... 1 billion to evolve for the final time... how in the fuck am I going to get 1 billion!? Rael thought, before taking a deep breath. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It''s not supposed to be this fast anyway... I achieved this much progress in 29 days¡ªwhat''s another month or so? He was definitely not going to jack up the prices of the gear he was planning to sell. Why would he? He wasn''t a scammer. Nonetheless, he decided to do some quick preparations before the main quest, some of which included making a new construct. <Crystal Genesis> Available MP: [1,859,600/1,959,600] <Miscellaneous (Uncommon ~ Epic) 100,000 ~ 10,000,000 MP> <Building Construct> <Would you like to roll for additional effects? Yes/No> Rael clicked through all the effects without wasting time, and finally... [MP -100,000 1,759,600/1,959,600 (x1 Crystal Genesis)] <Bob (Uncommon) has been crafted!> <Configuration saved automatically!> <Crafting Successful! +1500 Skill Experience> Name: Bob Race: Summoned Crystal Construct Level: 30 Health Points (HP): [3,900/3,900] (+100%) Mana Points (MP): [1,300/1,300] (+100%) Strength: 130 (+30%) Agility: 130 (+30%) Constitution: 195 (+30%) Intelligence: 65 (+30%) Wisdom: 1 (+30%) Charisma: 130 (+30%) ¡ªSpecial Effect: Building (Uncommon) 50% increase in build placing speed. Ohh, that''s a good one, Rael thought, as he glanced at Bob, who had a neat yellow helmet on his crystal head. "Fix the broken window, and uhh... paint the walls a nice color? I''ll let you choose." Rael commanded, and with a nod, Bob moved away and began tapping on the broken glass. Surprisingly, wherever it tapped, glass reappeared. A competent builder, nice. Rael hummed and went over to the two people who were knocked out. Crouching Tiger and Sausage Handler. ¡ªSausage Handler [Level 9] [1,900/1,900 HP] ¡ªCrouching Tiger [Level 12] [700/700 HP] Their levels barely moved, but it was their own fault for staying here. "Hey hey, good morning," Rael said with a whistle, startling them awake. "R-Rael Sutekh, you''ve returned, my glorious king of cel¡ª" Sausage Handler began bootlicking, but before he could make Rael more disgusted, Rael pressed a few buttons in the air. <Quest: [Cleaning (Level 1-5)] Has been finished! Would you like to award the players who participated? Yes/No> Rael pressed yes, and then another window appeared, surprising him. <Select Amount of Experience to reward the players!> <Normal: 500> <Hard Workers: 1,000> <Custom> Custom...? Rael tilted his head, as he pressed that option. <Custom Experience Reward Selected!> <Input Experience: ...> He wasn''t sure what to type, so he simply typed in a bunch of zeroes, until finally... <Rewarding the selected two players with: 100,000 Experience each!> "Huh?" Both their eyes widened in unison. "100,000 Experience for cleaning some fucking dust? Holy shit Lauren, you were right! This guy really was the meta!" Sausage Handler exclaimed, grabbing Crouching Tiger by the shoulders and shaking him violently. "You two," Rael called out, getting their attention. "I''m going out for a while, and the store''s going to be closed for the next 10 days. Get out, do some leveling or something." "Are you sure? We could help out with the building and stuff," Crouching Tiger insisted. Rael shook his head. "Nope, you two are already a headache, so just get out. I''ll see you in 10 days¡ªor 131." "Huh?" Crouching Tiger froze. "You know about the release date?" "Out," Rael said fiercely, causing the players to flinch. "Y-Your eyes are even weirder than before," Sausage Handler said as he stood up. "I''ll get going also, could we get a discoun¡ª" -1,900 Instant Kill (Slap) Rael turned to Crouching Tiger, and before he could protest his innocence, he faced the same fate. "Wait¡ª" -700 Instant Kill (Slap) Much better... Rael let out a sigh as he went into his usual spot. The bathroom. He arrived and sat down on the comfortable seat¡ªwhich he totally didn''t spend some Trell to upgrade¡ªand now... <Long Main Quest¡ª[Find the Beast (Level ???) | Part-2 Available!]> <Would you like to start the quest? Yes/No> Rael didn''t hesitate and pressed "Yes." Immediately, everything turned black. Better yet, he couldn''t feel his fingers¡ªor anything else, for that matter. All he could do was think. Don''t tell me it''s going to be some bullshit endurance quest... Rael shivered. But it seemed like he was wrong as in the next moment, he regained all feeling. Of course, that wasn''t all, as his eyesight finally recovered and he was able to see the world around him. It was a wasteland, with a dark, starless sky and a single massive red moon above. There weren''t any corpses like last time, but if Rael knew any better, then shit wasn''t going to be easy. Just as he was in the middle of looking around, a system pop-up appeared, startling him. <Find The Beast - Part 2: Escape the Depths!> Escape the what now...? Rael''s brows furrowed, as an ominous feeling welled up inside him. Something didn''t feel right, but he just didn''t know what. That was until a pair of footsteps resounded from behind him, making him turn with his Violin Blade in hand. However, his eyes widened upon seeing the individual, as it was no monster. Instead, it was another human. An old man, cane in hand, and a shitty posture. "Hmm...? One more?" the old man remarked, puzzled. "Last one was 5 years ago... how fascinating." "While I wouldn''t normally interrupt your incoherent rambling, could you tell me where we are?" Rael asked politely. Could this be some unexplored area? Hard to tell... The old man shook his head. "Call me Roger. And no, young man, I have no clue where we are, nor how we are supposed to leave." "Roger..." Rael approached as the ominous feeling began to grow. "How long have you been in here?" "Been here... Yes," Roger chuckled, nearly choking on his spit. "I don''t remember, six years? No... twenty maybe?" Rael''s eyes widened, but just as he was about to ask something, Roger looked at him with a hopeless look. "Welcome to what we call the Abyss, young man..." he trailed off, glancing Rael right in the eyes and flashing a grin. "Congratulations... You''re just as fucked as the rest of us now." Chapter 70 70: Bye Bye Roger, and Lurking Horror? Rael took a few glances around before narrowing his eyes at Roger. "Is that right...? So, from the amount of time you spent in this place, you haven''t learned anything?" Rael asked skeptically. If he was forced to stay in a spa for a week, he''d probably learn their shampoo recipe. So there was no way this old man didn''t know shit even after spending decades in here. "Hmm... yes, you''re right..." Roger trailed off, coughing a few times. "There are a few rules, I guess." "Rules? Okay, we''re getting somewhere now." Rael nodded with satisfaction. "So what are they?" Roger held his chin, trying to remember. "Don''t stare at the sky for too long? I think that''s one of them. There are two other interesting ones I remember... Don''t accept quests from the Abyss, and don''t follow voices you don''t recognize." So basic stuff, but what''s up with the Abyss quests? Rael thought as he decided to pester Roger more. "Is there a town? Or anything at all? I remember you mentioned ''we,'' so are there more people?" "Head north. You''ll find the Mirefall encampment. Just tell them Roger sent you, they''ll probably let you in," Roger said as he suddenly began walking away. Rael tilted his head. "Aren''t you coming with?" "No, young man. It''s the end of the line for me." Roger chuckled¡ªthen, all of a sudden, he pulled back his sleeve, revealing a black substance squirming on his wrist. He continued, "I''m infected by the Abyss... I''m surprised it took that long, considering the amount of time I''ve been in here. But not everyone was as lucky as me... some get infected within the first few seconds of arriving." Rael nodded, his brows furrowing as he finally realized what Roger was going to do. Nonetheless, he was the pay-to-win boss for a reason. "Roger. I have a way of saving you. Just tell me what kind of status ailment you have, and I''ll get a cure." "Hahaha, really?" Roger replied, amused. "So you''ll get the cure for every single person in the encampment too? And all the people who get infected in the future as well? Yeah? You''ll do that for us?" Rael''s brows twitched as he looked into Roger''s eyes sternly. "Tell me the name of the status ailment." "Fine..." Roger shrugged. "Hollow Touch, Level 6." Level fucking 6? What? Rael''s eyes widened as his trembling hand traveled toward the premium shop. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Potions/Cure/Hollow Touch ?¡ªBalance: 6,515,322 Trell¡ª? ? Unstable Concoction (Rare): 500,000 Trell ? The Cure All Potion (Legendary): 1,000,000 Trell ? Hollow Touch Source Cure (Epic): 5,000,000 Trell ? Body Reformation Potion (Legendary): 25,000,000 Trell <Expand for more> Fuck... Rael inspected each potion, and to no one''s surprise, the only one that could help in this situation was the third option. ¡ªHollow Touch Source Cure (Epic) Cures the Hollow Touch infection. Doesn''t work on individuals infected with Level 7 Hollow Touch and above. This was it, but then again... "From your scrunched-up face, I can tell you wouldn''t be able to help everyone. Thanks for trying, young man, but don''t put a bounty on yourself for this old man," Roger said with one last chuckle as he faced away and began walking into the distance. Rael could do it, he really could. However, this person was a total nobody¡ªsomeone who would likely die from old age in a few weeks. I can''t screw myself over for someone I don''t even know... Rael glanced at Roger''s departing back, and with a deep sigh, headed north. Thankfully, he didn''t need a compass, as his new skill, Primordial Sight (Mythic+), somehow made him very aware of his surroundings. Meanwhile, the skill had been passively gaining experience¡ªnearly 1,000 per hour. I''ll check out the changes later though. For now, I need to get to the encampment, Rael thought. Nonetheless, he slowly made his way, his boots sinking into the wet black soil. After a few minutes, he saw the encampment''s wall, but just as he was about to head toward it, a voice resounded from behind him. "Good job, young man. I knew you could find it." Roger? Rael thought, but he didn''t turn around. "The infection went away, surprisingly, so I''ll follow you if you don''t mind. Just give me a moment¡ªmy cane is a bit wonky lately." Soon, he heard footsteps heading toward him. However, ever since Rael had begun playing the Violin Blade, his perception for sound had gotten so good that he could now tell the weight of someone just from their steps. And whatever this is... it''s much heavier. Rael took a deep breath as he suddenly launched himself forward and swiftly summoned his Violin Blade. In the next instant, he turned around, glancing at the creature that spoke. Yet as he did, his brows scrunched up in disgust. What the fuck is that...? A tall, dark creature with a gaping mouth and thousands of sharp, uneven teeth¡ªits head tilted sideways as it stared right at him. Basically, something he would expect to see if he went fishing while high on drugs. Nonetheless... ¡ªLurking Horror [Level 110] [259,300/259,300 HP] Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A Lurking Horror. Interesting... Rael thought. Suddenly, it lunged at him, and as it did, he got a few system pop-ups. <Your mind is being corroded!> <Lose 1% HP as long as you are making eye contact with the Lurking Horror!> [HP -6,590! 652,410/659,000] Eye contact? Where the fuck are its eyes then? Rael scoffed, yet he didn''t panic. After all, this situation was under his control. Rael tightened his grip on the rapier and, with deadly precision, struck the red string four times. Each note that escaped was a perfect melody, and before the Lurking Horror could get any closer, its head was cut off¡ªfollowed by its entire body being sliced in two. -259,300! Instant Kill! (4x Crystal Violin Blade) <Lurking Horror [Level 110] Killed! Experience: +14,081> <+7,041 Trell Acquired> <Resonant Duelist: +200 Experience> Rael watched as the monster''s body suddenly began deteriorating, melting into the ground. The only thing left was some black ooze, which twitched and merged with the ground. As it did, Rael''s brows furrowed. Don''t tell me that is the same shit I''m standing on... He looked down, checking his boots, before letting out a sigh. Fuck. Rael grumbled, but nonetheless, he picked up the pace and jogged toward the encampment. After a few minutes, he arrived at the encampment''s wall, where a single exhausted-looking guard stood. However, upon noticing Rael, his posture straightened as he aimed a spear right at Rael''s throat. "Don''t come any closer... what is your affiliation?" Chapter 71 71: Reporting To A Vampire? Your mother. Rael cleared his throat. "Roger sent me. I met him when I first arrived here." "You arrived...?" The guard tilted his head, lowering his spear. "Show me your arms." "Sure?" Rael extended his arms forward, and the guard grabbed hold of them, neatly inspecting them. Is he looking for that Hollow Touch infection thingy? Rael thought, as the guard finished his inspection and stepped back. However, that poker face seemed a bit alarming. "Okay, strip." Rael''s expression hardened as he looked the exhausted guard straight in the eyes. "No." "I need to check the other areas, so if you don''t strip, I''m not letting you in." The guard shrugged. "The lurkers become very active during these hours, so for your own safety, I''d get this over and done with." You want to play that game, don''t you...? Rael let out a sigh as he proceeded to buy one neat little product. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Toxic/Alcohol ?¡ªBalance: 6,522,363 Trell¡ª? ? Wine which aged for 1,000 years because the procrastinating magician thought it wasn''t ready yet (Rare): 5,000 Trell Pretty cheap, Rael hummed as a red bottle of wine appeared in his hands, startling the guard. "I believe we can make do with this? It''s pretty tasty from what I''ve heard." Rael tilted the bottle, threatening to drop it. "Of course, if you don''t want it, then¡ª" "Fine!" The guard shot forward, gently grabbing the bottle from Rael''s hands and warily glancing at him. "I''ll get in a lot of trouble if you do something stupid, so please refrain from that. Also, Roger is an important man, so whenever he comes back, he''ll have a word with you." "Roger won''t be coming back." Rael broke the news. "He was infected at the time I met him, and he was on his way... you know where." The guard flinched, then suddenly chucked the wine bottle into his inventory and turned toward the massive open gate behind him. "Follow me¡ªwe''re going to see the chieftain." Immediately, the guard sprinted off, and Rael trailed close behind. The gate seemed simple enough, with a massive plank lowered by a mechanism, while the entire encampment was surrounded by water. And as he ran on the plank, he noticed that the drop would definitely get most people killed¡ªmaybe even him. Nonetheless, after a few short moments of running, they arrived at the inner part of the encampment, and then, the guard ran to the side before flicking a switch. In an instant, the massive plank retracted itself upward, shutting the hole in the gate closed. At the same time, Rael noticed a few shadowy figures falling from the plank and tumbling down into the water below. Rest in pieces, Rael noted, as he took a deep breath and glanced around. Tents, tattered brick buildings, and even a few fancy mansions in the distance. There was everything. Yet the people didn''t look as great, as most seemed malnourished, tired, and literally on the brink of death. Hmm... I''ll give them some bread after I''m done here. Rael thought and continued following the guard until, eventually, they reached one of the mansions he had seen a moment ago. Some windows were broken, but it was still fancy. Though that smell... Rael''s brows furrowed. It''s blood. A lot of blood. But since the guard didn''t seem fazed, Rael followed him inside, passed through the halls, and entered the living room. On a massive couch lay a handsome man with peculiar black hair and red eyes. He was surrounded by two women, who had bite marks on their necks. Rael''s eyes widened as a certain suspicion grew. Don''t tell me... ¡ªThalor, The Vampire Noble (General Class Boss) [Level 198] [102,992,001/298,661,722 HP] I can see his name and level... is it because of the Primordial Sight skill? Rael pondered. His Inspect Monster skill was around level 40 now, and he could definitely not see this many levels above him under normal circumstances. But if the Inspect function was upgraded because of his Primordial Sight, then... "Thalor, I''ve brought a newbie over," the guard stated, earning a disinterested glare from Thalor. "Is that so? Greetings to you, and I hope you can carry out your duties just as well as your human counterparts," Thalor said with a smile as a wave of pressure washed over Rael again. However, like the previous times, he wasn''t affected. The girls, however, ran off, leaving just the three of them here. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Anyways..." The guard broke the awkward atmosphere. "I barged in so suddenly because Roger has died." Upon hearing that, Thalor froze, his red eyes trembling. "My brother is dead...? What...?" The guard nodded. "This person here saw Roger''s last moments, from what I''ve been told. He also said that Roger was infected." A heavy silence ensued, broken by a single sigh from Thalor. "I always had my suspicions that he was infected... but then again, I guess it was my own stupidity for believing everything was going to be fine." Thalor turned to Rael and stood up before approaching him. "Whatever your name may be, I thank you. Roger is my blood brother, so if he''s really dead, then I''ll have to prepare the funeral for tomorrow." "I see... This might not be the right time, but could you answer some questions?" Rael narrowed his eyes. "How do I get out of here?" "You can''t." Thalor shook his head. "I''ve looked far and wide and so have the others. There''s no way out of here." That''s pure bullshit, just like Roger''s rambling. Rael scoffed. "I asked Roger this, but he couldn''t give me a straight answer. But how long have you been in this place?" "I believe you''ve already noticed, but I''m a vampire," Thalor said, showing his fangs. "We live for thousands of years on average, and I arrived here as a baby... so around 417 years ago." No information about an exit in 417 years... Rael simply didn''t buy it. However, he didn''t voice it out loud, as despite this vampire being friendly, at the slightest provocation, Thalor might turn on Rael. Though I could just cover this entire place in garlic¡ªthat might do the trick... if the kid''s books weren''t bullshitting me, of course. Rael thought as he nodded at Thalor. However, just as he was about to ask another question, a siren blared, followed by a deep voice loudly repeating itself. ¡ªINFECTED! INFECTED! INFECTED! "Another one..." Thalor let out a sigh, turning to Rael. "New guy, follow me." Chapter 72 72: Buying A Map I really wonder how I''m supposed to finish this quest though... Rael pondered as he trailed Thalor and the guard closely. They sprinted out of the mansion and arrived in the encampment''s very middle, where a bunch of people seemed to have already gathered. Rael noticed each of them had rocks or pitchforks in their hands, thrusting them at a particular individual who was shriveled up, hiding his face. Thalor calmly approached, and as he did, the people parted, making way as he reached the person on the ground. "Peter, correct?" Thalor asked. The shriveled-up man flinched before looking up at Thalor. Yet as his face became visible, everyone gasped, and Rael''s brows furrowed. It''s the same twitchy black ooze stuff, just not on the hands, but the face. Rael noted. "You''re infected, Peter," Thalor remarked with a sigh. "You know what that means, don''t you?" "P-Please... I think I''ve found the cure, I just need a few more weeks!" Peter begged. However, it was obviously not Thalor''s first time doing this, as he took out a pair of medical gloves from his inventory, put them on, and grabbed Peter by the collar. "W-Wait! Please!" "Peter. Quiet," Thalor said as a cold pressure shot out from him, affecting all the people present. "You know the rules. So I''ll let you make a choice." Giving Peter a moment to think, he continued. "Would you like to be burned at the stake, or do you want to leave the Mirefall encampment of your own free will?" So it''s either die now, or die later. Rael watched on from the sidelines. "I-I..." Tears began streaming down Peter''s face. "I want to leave." "Very well," Thalor nodded, as he turned to look at the crowd. "I need someone strong enough to lead him to the graveyard. Any volunteers?" "I''ll go!" the guard from earlier volunteered. Thalor nodded at the guard. "Elaric, I see... I wish you luck, and please return safely." "Yes, Chieftain!" the guard, Elaric, replied and walked over to Peter before grabbing him by the waist and chucking him over his shoulder. Since he wore full armor, he didn''t need to worry about the infection spreading by touch, so he simply approached the lever from earlier and flicked it. Immediately, the plank dropped down, slightly shaking the ground on impact. Nonetheless, the guard swiftly ran out, Peter in hand, until eventually, Rael couldn''t see them anymore. That was something. So whenever someone is infected, they get killed, or taken to some graveyard, where they''re also killed...? Rael thought, puzzled. He didn''t really understand the purpose behind it, but aside from that, he was going to do something he wanted to do earlier. "Thalor, I have a few extra rations. Can I distribute them here?" Rael asked. "Rations...? Yes, you may do that," he agreed, before clearing his throat and turning to the people. "Everyone! There are some rations my friend here wishes to distribute. Form a single file line!" Immediately, the people did just that, almost as if they were mind-controlled. But he wouldn''t do it that openly, would he? Rael pondered, as he opened the premium shop. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Food/Kits/Cheap ?¡ªBalance: 6,517,363 Trell¡ª? ? Warm Bread and Potato (Common): 150 Trell Rael looked away from the shop for a moment. "How many of them are there?" "143. I''ll also take a ration, so 144," Thalor said with a smile. 21,600 Trell. Rael did some quick math and, without even batting an eye, bought that many batches. Immediately, crate after crate appeared on the ground, surprising the people around. "Is this...?" Thalor''s eyes widened. "While it''s not the best food, it''s something at least," Rael replied. Nonetheless, he expected the people to run rampant at the sight of so much food, but they didn''t even flinch. Which meant... Thalor definitely did something. They got their food one by one, and so did Thalor as he flashed a grin at Rael. "Good job. I appreciate your patronage. How often can you do this, by the way? It would come in handy." "Once a week." Rael shrugged. "I can''t just spawn food out of nowhere every day. That would be a little overpowered." "Hahaha, you''re right," Thalor said, as he turned toward his mansion. "I''m going to head to bed. You, on the other hand, can pick any of the mansions beside me¡ª they''re all empty." With that, Thalor left¡ªand so did the people who, after getting their food, all went back to their housing. As for Rael, he finally had some alone time. That was why he decided to head to the highest point in the entire encampment, which just so happened to be the walls themselves. Rael carefully climbed on top of them, and now, he overlooked the entire encampment, as well as the black land outside the encampment. I need to buy a map or something... Rael thought as he glanced into the premium shop again. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Maps/Map of the World ?¡ªBalance: 6,495,763 Trell¡ª? ? Partial Map of The Depths [Plague Lands] (Epic): 1,000,000 Trell ? Map of The Depths (Legendary): 1,000,000,000 Trell Fucking hell. Rael winced at the prices. However, he had to buy the first one¡ªotherwise, he''d be in the dark. Therefore, he pressed on the first map, and soon, a massive scroll appeared in his hands. Rael unrolled it, and immediately, he could recognize some stuff. At the very bottom to the left was the encampment, surrounded by walls like it should be. However, at the very top, he saw a bit of crimson land, with two cities, Kurozan and Volkrath. Aside from that, Rael could see several stone monuments scattered across the black Plague Lands, bones the size of cities, and mountains that stretched outside the map. There were several settlements all around the Plague Lands, some of which he would have to visit on his way to the monuments. Nonetheless, this alone had put into perspective how massive this world was. And better yet? He had no fucking clue where to even start. But maybe... the first thing I should check out are those monuments... Rael trailed off, his eyes widening as he reopened the map. There were 10 monuments in total, and one was not too far away from the encampment, so he''d go to it first. Rael let out a sigh, as he looked up at the empty sky where only a single massive red moon was present. This is going to be a long nigh¡ª <You''ve been infected!> <Status Ailment: Hollow Touch (Level 1)> S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. <The user will suffer persistent hallucinations!> <Every 96 hours, the level of this ailment increases by 1> Bruh. Chapter 73 73: Minor Disturbance, and Heading Toward the First Monument A/N: Late upload since I was making a map. This is a rough map as I''ve never made one before, but just think of this as what Rael sees: *** So when Roger said one of the rules was to not look at the sky... he wasn''t bullshitting. Rael let out a sigh. Good to know... He instantly opened the premium shop since he didn''t really want to die from going crazy. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Potions/Cure/Hollow Touch ?¡ªBalance: 5,495,763 Trell¡ª? ? The Long Lost Cure (Uncommon): 100,000 Trell ? Special Milk (Uncommon): 169,000 Trell ? Weak Hollow Touch Cure (Rare): 200,000 Trell ? Degraded Penzu Bean (Epic): 1,000,000 Trell <Expand for more> Surprisingly, Special Milk could do the same thing that the Weak Hollow Touch Cure could do. However, in good conscience, he wouldn''t want to drink the so-called special milk. That was why he bought the third option, and a black vial soon materialized in his hand. It was much smaller than the other potions he''d drunk, but nonetheless, he gulped it down in one sip. However, the bitter taste made him think drinking the special milk might''ve been better. Fucking sewage water... Rael grumbled, glancing to the side as a few system pop-ups appeared. <Status Ailment: Hollow Touch (Level 1) has been removed!> <+25 Intelligence> <+25 Constitution> "Oh?" Rael tilted his head. So many stats for a status effect that was active for less than a minute...? He wasn''t a masochist, really. But sometimes... <You''ve been infected!> <Status Ailment: Hollow Touch (Level 1)> <The user will suffer persistent hallucinations!> <Every 96 hours, the level of this ailment increases by 1> The moon was just too bright. Whoops... Rael chuckled, as he took a glance at the map. The first monument was to the right of the Mirefall Encampment, and from the looks of things, he could get to it pretty quickly. There was one more above the encampment, but it was at least twice as far away, and while he would prefer to get everything done in one night, he wanted some shut-eye too. Alright, let''s see... Rael glanced below him. On one side was the encampment, and on the other, a massive drop toward water. Since he wasn''t suicidal, Rael jumped back down into the encampment and made his way over to the bridge contraption. It''s a bit loud from what I heard... So how can I get out without arousing suspicion? he pondered, when all of a sudden, he heard knocking as well as a distant voice. ¡ªI''m done, I came back from the graveyard! Can someone open the gates for me? Elaric? Rael thought, before shaking his head. Not him, voice is too high-pitched. But just as he was about to dismiss it, Rael had an idea. He was just an innocent and naive pay-to-win boss... How was he supposed to know the one he was letting in was actually a monster? Rael whistled as he headed over to the lever and swiftly flicked it. Immediately, the bridge dropped down, loudly landing and likely waking everyone up. Or so he expected, but even after several seconds passed, no one stepped out. Did he turn their brain to mush? Damn, sucks to be them, Rael thought before walking onto the bridge and heading toward the exit. On the other side, he could see a figure, which obviously wasn''t Elaric. It was a slightly larger monster than the one he saw before. And from the level alone, it showed. ¡ªHunting Horror [Level 130] [617,300/617,300 HP] A Hunter? Okay, this might be interesting. Rael grinned and pulled his Violin Blade out, before focusing. The monster tilted its head, then in the very next instant, it appeared right in front of Rael, momentarily startling him. It swung down its black claw at him, however, Rael didn''t panic, as he sidestepped and thrust his rapier right into its heart. -63,358! (1x Crystal Violin Blade) No critical hit? Rael furrowed his brows, when all of a sudden, the black, gooey substance traveled up the rapier and shot toward his neck. Fuck no. Rael immediately cast his defensive skill. [MP -210,000 1,754,600/1,964,600 (1x Prismatic Bastion)] [HP -0 (29,244 Absorbed) 664,000/664,000] -216,459! Critical Hit! (1x Prismatic Bastion) In an instant, the monster''s entire abdomen caved in. Rael took this opportunity to take a step back, and immediately, he thwacked his rapier against the red string. There was no time to think, so he simply imagined the monster burning, and soon, a beautiful-sounding fiery red wave emerged. Like a professional, Rael guided the wave toward the fallen monster''s balls, before splitting them¡ªand the monster¡ªperfectly in two. -337,483! Instant Kill! (1x Crystal Violin Blade) Rael let out a sigh as he put his weapons away and glanced at the pop-ups. <¡ªHunting Horror [Level 130] Killed! Experience: +17,206> sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. <+8,603 Trell Acquired> <Resonant Duelist: +500 Experience> A perfect note, nice, Rael hummed, before turning around and meeting Thalor''s red eyes. "You opened the gate without permission," Thalor said sternly. "I thought it was Elaric, my bad," Rael shrugged. "But I''ve been a bit worried for them, so I''ll go look for them." "Don''t bother, they''re both long dead," Thalor replied with a sigh as his brows furrowed. "The graveyards are places someone so weak can''t come back from. I didn''t stop Elaric since he was sleeping with one of my girls, so it was a long time coming." Deserved. Rael nodded. "I''m going to check anyways... unless you want to stop me?" "Feel free to do as you wish," Thalor said, turning around. "I''ve been here long enough to see many arrogant people die, and here I thought you were an exception. Begone. If you survive, then I''ll personally make you breakfast when you''re back." "I''ll be expecting a ham sandwich then." Rael chuckled and began jogging out of the encampment. Not long after, the gate closed, leaving him stranded on the outside¡ªby choice, of course. Nonetheless, Rael picked up his pace as he ran east. However, not even a minute in, Rael suddenly froze, a small grin forming on his face. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Vehicles/Off-road/Armored ?¡ªBalance: 5,295,763 Trell¡ª? ? Bogcrawler MK. IV (Uncommon): 350,000 Trell ? Reinforced Van (Rare): 400,000 Trell ? A rug that turned magical because the procrastinating wizard meditated for too long (Rare): 750,000 Trell ? Mirestrider (Epic): 1,000,000 Trell <Expand for more> Why don''t I just buy myself a ride? Chapter 74 74: Lighting The First Bonfire "Hahaha! Fuck yeah!" Rael yelled through the open window as he drove through the mushy terrain. He bought the first option, Bogcrawler MK. IV, since the other options only differed in fuel capacity and speed. But since it wasn''t by much, Rael went with the cheap option, and he wasn''t disappointed. Thankfully, I didn''t need to buy any fuel, as this thing already had a full tank. Rael hummed in satisfaction. This sped up his rate of exploration by several times, and after just 12 minutes, he finally arrived at what he assumed to be the first monument. From the outside, it looked like a tall stone obelisk, however, around it, he saw a couple dozen monsters standing by, almost as if they were guarding it. Some were the same monsters he''d killed earlier, and the others were massive green spiders. ¡ªHunting Horror [Level 130] [617,300/617,300 HP] ¡ªCreeping Venomous Spider [Level 150] [1,215,300/1,215,300 HP] There were only two species, and surprisingly, not even a single elite monster. But that worked out in his favor, as now, Rael could kill them more easily. However, just as he was about to step out of his mini truck, he spotted something right in front of the obelisk. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was a small bonfire surrounded by black steel. Yet what was even more surprising was the wood inside it, as it was completely white. I don''t see any trees around, so it must''ve been there for a while. Probably before the ground turned black and the trees wilted away. Rael pondered, letting out a sigh. So Thalor definitely explored this part, and I would guess the other monuments too¡ªthen why did he stop? Rael did see a massive spider beside the last monument at the top left of the map, but that thing could always be killed. I guess I''ll figure it out eventually, Rael thought as he got out of the green-camo Bogcrawler and glanced toward the monsters in front. And of course, he wasn''t giving them a chance to attack first. Holding his Crystal Violin Blade, Rael activated a skill. [MP -450,000 1,514,000/1,964,600 (x1 Frostfire Tempest)] Immediately, a massive tornado appeared just outside of the bonfire''s range, but close enough to suck in all the monsters present. Shit... I think I clipped the bonfire. Rael''s brows furrowed as he tried looking beyond the tornado. However, it was too hard to see, so he had to wait it out. But in the midst of his waiting, a massive green blob shot out of the swirling tornado¡ªsomehow aimed perfectly at him. Rael merely stepped to the side, waiting for the blob to hit the ground. Yet as it hit the ground, it merely passed through it, not even making a splash. "...?" Rael tilted his head in confusion. The fuck was that? Just as he thought he was going crazy, the storm faded¡ªand the moment it did, dozens of monsters fell to the ground, their bodies tangled and their heads torn. -617,300! Instant Kill! [x45] (1x Frostfire Tempest) -1,215,300! Instant Kill! [x21] (1x Frostfire Tempest) <Hunting Horror (x45) [Level 130] Killed! Experience: +774,309> <+387,154 Trell Acquired> <Creeping Venomous Spider (x21) [Level 150] Killed! Experience: +429,041> <+214,520 Trell Acquired> <Level: 86 ¡ú 99> <+11,400 Trell Bonus> Huh? Oh shit. Rael''s eyes widened. He did expect a lot of experience¡ªbut to this degree? Level: 99 Experience: 98,108/98,504 Rael was literally almost there¡ªhe could probably kill a bug and level up, then become a General Class Boss. Leveling is so much easier now. I remember spending half a year to even reach level 100, and yet I did it in just under a month now, Rael thought with a smile as the last of the storm particles faded. As they did, he could now see the obelisk properly. He let out a relieved sigh. Thank fuck I didn''t mess up my chance of escaping. Of course, he could probably buy a return scroll from the premium shop¡ªbut he didn''t even want to check the price, since it was bound to be astronomical. Nonetheless, he took a deep breath and approached the bonfire, which had the white wood neatly placed inside it. So now how do I light this thing? Rael pondered, stepping to the left to inspect the side of the bonfire. Yet as he did, he saw a spear tugged between the black soil¡ªthe same spear Elaric had used to intimidate him. So this is the graveyard they were talking about, Rael deduced, before putting his hands together as if he was about to say a prayer. Elaric, I didn''t know you, but for banging the vampire''s girl, you have balls, so rest in pieces. Anyways... Rael focused on the task at hand, and after pacing around the obelisk a couple of times, he found a torch that had been embedded into the soil. It was made out of the same black steel the bonfire''s frame was, so it was extremely durable. But now another problem arose. With what exactly am I supposed to light this torch? He tried the obvious option, which was... [MP -850 1,513,750/1,964,600 (x1 Fireball)] But the flame merely bounced off, leaving the torch unlit. Dud. Rael shook his head as he decided to tap on the stone obelisk, to perhaps light up the torch. However, it was a dud again. Well shit, what if I just chuck it in¡ªmaybe some magical bullshit will happen, Rael thought, and since he didn''t have any better ideas, he walked back to the bonfire and gently placed the unlit torch inside. To his honest surprise, a few pop-ups appeared. <Monument Detected: Gravefire Ritual - Inactive> <Whitewood Identified: Magic-Infused Ashroot (Extinct)> <Flame Source Required: Soulkindle Torch ¨C Incomplete Ritual> <Would you like to ignite the Gravefire? Yes/No> I guess? Yes, he immediately agreed, and in the very next moment, a pillar of white flames shot up into the sky, blinding him. Better yet, the obelisk, which he thought didn''t have any purpose, suddenly began shaking, sending pulses through the ground below. However, with each passing second, the white flame died down¡ªuntil eventually, it was nothing but a crackling flame, which he could probably grill some food on. But why is the obelisk still shaking? Rael furrowed his brows, when all of a sudden, near the very top of the pointy obelisk, a single golden ball emerged before floating down and hovering right above the white flame. He stared at it for a couple of seconds until clocking the hint that he actually had to pick it up. So that was what he did. It felt warm and squishy¡ªa tad weird¡ªbut he just hoped it wasn''t someone''s balls he was fondling. Thankfully, it wasn''t. <Monument Detected: Gravefire Ritual - Inactive ¡ú Active> <Total Monuments Lit: 1/10> <Flame will remain until all Monuments are lit.> <Received: 1 Ember> <Note: Embers will be used to light the final ritual, so it is advised not to lose them.> So this is an ember, Rael hummed as he glanced at the golden ball, before chucking it inside his inventory. But just as he thought that was all, another pop-up appeared, causing him to freeze. <The Beast has awakened!> Chapter 75 75: Silence, and Buying a Hover Bike <The Beast has awakened!> <The Depths have fallen silent!> Huh...? Shit. Rael''s brows twitched. He had expected there to be some sort of catch. And there it was. The fucking catch. <The Beast is hunting!> S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. <Do not make a sound!> No sound... Well, that might be a problem, Rael thought as he turned toward the Bogcrawler. He hadn''t turned off the ignition, so now it was making loud rumbling sounds. However, instead of panicking, Rael merely took a few steps back and went behind the obelisk. As much as he wanted to run to the mini truck and turn it off, he would much rather listen to the system''s advice of staying silent. After all, dying like an idiot was not on his bucket list. And thankfully, he did as after a few seconds of hiding, the Bogcrawler''s engine cut out¡ªreplaced by total silence. Rael''s curiosity was definitely high, but he wasn''t about to expose himself only to die the next second. So he waited... and waited, until roughly 20 minutes later, he heard the distant sounds of something walking away. But the steps were irregular, each one heavier than the rest, which meant... It''s not real... Those fucking hallucinations are no joke. No wonder that green thing didn''t hit me and passed through the ground, Rael deduced with a grumble. Nonetheless, just as he thought he was going to have to wait even longer, a set of messages appeared. <The Beast has stopped hunting!> <The Beast has successfully devoured 952,112 souls in The Depths> <The Beast is satisfied, and returns to its slumber.> Rael stared at the messages warily. It had been only half an hour since the flame was lit and the Beast began hunting¡ªyet it had managed to kill nearly a million people? Fuck... if I''m ever in a fight and that thing wakes up, I''m dead, Rael thought as he got out of cover. The moment he did, he saw his Bogcrawler flattened on the ground, forming a small crater. If he didn''t know any better, then he''d guess The Beast had stepped on it. Surely not...? Nonetheless, he was left with no transportation, and buying something loud seemed a bit risky now. What if The Beast came back? I''m being too much of a pussy, I feel like¡ª <Warning: Excessive amounts of sound, and the lighting of the Bonfires will awaken The Beast!> <Warning: Each awakening cycle is longer than the first!> He assumed that if it was 30 minutes now, it would likely be an hour next time. That was why, for his own sake, Rael decided on something a bit more... quiet? ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Vehicles/Off-road/Armored/Electric ?¡ªBalance: 5,547,437 Trell¡ª? ? Volt Rover (Uncommon): 250,000 Trell ? Hover Bike (Common): 400,000 Trell ? Dreadcrawler MK-V (Uncommon): 550,000 Trell ? Mirestrider (Uncommon): 800,000 Trell <Expand for more> It was an obvious choice, so Rael immediately purchased the second option. In an instant, a motorcycle with no wheels materialized, slightly hovering off the ground. Battery-powered, and the sound doesn''t wake up the whole neighborhood, nice... though I wonder why it''s so cheap? Rael thought as he got on the bike. But once he started it up and began moving, he realized the problem. It was slow¡ªvery slow. If he had to compare its speed to anything, then it was like riding an old bicycle. However, there was one neat thing about it, and that was the autopilot function. Since the map he had was somehow linked with the Hover Bike, all he had to do was press a few buttons, and it began heading toward the mark automatically. I have a bit of time to kill, so let''s go here... Rael thought as he pressed on the next location that was pretty close to him. It was an abandoned lighthouse, and from the looks of things, the only thing he had to do was either go around the water, or glide directly through. Can I...? Rael pondered as he searched the Hover Bike''s interface, until finally, he found something interesting. <Hover Control> <Static/Floating/Flying> <Note: Due to the manufacturer''s cheaping out, the Flying option is unavailable.> Nothing went right, but it was fine. Static worked similarly, so as long as he could maintain his altitude, Rael could get over to the other side. Having decided that, he got comfortable on the Hover Bike and looked through other stuff while it floated him to the abandoned lighthouse. He opened the friend list, and was prepared to message Zafira, however... <Friend List - Unavailable!> The entire menu was messed up, and he couldn''t even see Zafira''s name. Linlin wasn''t there either. Well... she''s going to give me an earful, Rael thought, resigning to his fate as he decided to get some shuteye. But to no one''s surprise, he wasn''t able to fall asleep. Each time Rael closed his eyes, the only thing he could see was the massive red moon. So if I can''t sleep or message anyone... you know what, fuck it, Rael sat upright as he opened a certain menu. <Would you like to convert 792 Trell into 396 Experience? Yes/No> He should''ve just done this earlier, but even so, Rael swiftly pressed "Yes." Immediately, a few familiar pop-ups appeared. <Long Main Quest¡ª[Find the Beast (Level ???) | Part-3 Locked!]> <Note: The main quest is no longer a memory fragment. The user will be given the option to enter The Depths to continue the main quest upon reaching level 150. When the user reaches level 200, they will be given the option to either abandon the main quest, or enter The Depths.> So it upped in difficulty, didn''t it? Rael''s brows furrowed. Previously, it said this quest was a memory fragment. That meant he was likely playing out a certain moment in time, not the real thing. Or so I hope... Knowing how shit my luck is, I''m likely here for real, Rael thought, before focusing on the more interesting stuff. <Boss Monster Variation Upgraded!> <The Pay-to-Win Boss [Vice-General Class] ¡ú The Pay-to-Win Boss [General Class]> <Stat Calculations Readjusted!> Chapter 76 76: General Class And Fusion? <Boss Monster Variation Upgraded!> <The Pay-to-Win Boss [Vice-General Class] ¡ú The Pay-to-Win Boss [General Class]> <Stat Calculations Readjusted!> <Constitution to HP Ratio: 1 Constitution: 200 HP ¡ú 1 Constitution: 400 HP> <Intelligence to MP Ratio: 1 Intelligence: 200 MP ¡ú 1 Intelligence: 400 MP> <Strength to Attack Power Ratio: 1 Strength: 3 Attack Power ¡ú 1 Strength: 4 Attack Power> <Intelligence to Spell Power Ratio: 1 Intelligence: 3 Spell Power ¡ú 1 Intelligence: 4 Spell Power> Rael hummed in satisfaction as his damage increased significantly¡ªhis HP and MP even more so. But there were still some things left to check. For example... <Boss Monster Passive: Adaptive Body: Each time you take damage from a skill, you build resistance to it. Repeated attacks become less effective.> S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was a rare one, and something he had only heard about from the people who fought level 500 and above boss monsters. Since he was an innocent, pay-to-win boss, it was an amazing thing to have early on. Now there''s only one thing left... Rael''s gaze traveled to a certain set of popups. <You may choose a perk!> Premium Fusion [Special-Unique] ¡ªMerge two skills or two items into a new, unique version¡ªcurrency required increases with rarity. Premium Summon [Special-Unique] ¡ªSummon any previously defeated monster, boss, or NPC by spending currency. Premium Insight [Special-Unique] ¡ªPay currency to reveal detailed information about any enemy, object, or hidden mechanic. Great, Great, Meh, Rael noted. However, he wasn''t blind. Summons were cool and all, but skill fusion? I would be a complete idiot if I didn''t take it. Rael snickered and selected the first perk. And of course, Rael used it straight away. <Choose the skills/items you wish to merge> Thankfully, no skills were off-limits, and his items were fine too. Therefore, he did a simple combo. <Skills Selected: Fractured Prism (Uncommon) + Frostfire Tempest (Epic)> <Cost: 53,853,000 Trell> "..." If an epic skill, as well as an uncommon skill, cost that much, then he was a bit fucked with the higher ranked ones. However, he noticed there was a skill lying around¡ªone that he hadn''t upgraded in a while. And by now, its effects had grown pretty nicely. ¡ªBasic Weapon Mastery: [Level 34 | 907/2700] (Common) Increases attack accuracy by 44% and damage by 83% for all weapons. <Note: The user may purchase the (Rare) rank upgrade scroll> <Cost: 100,000 Trell> Since he hadn''t bought it yet, that also meant he could do something interesting. <Skills Selected: Fireball (Common) + Basic Weapon Mastery (Common)> <Cost: 69,428 Trell> <Confirm? Yes/No> Rael pressed "Yes" in anticipation, and immediately, he saw the skills disappear from his status before seemingly floating into the Fusion screen. He saw two orbs swirling around until finally they fused into one, floating back into his status screen. But not before alerting him of the new skill. <New Skill: Basic Flameforged Arts (Uncommon)> Rael inspected it, excited. ¡ªBasic Flameforged Arts (Uncommon) [Level 1 | 0/100] Increases attack accuracy by 25% and damage by 30% for all weapons. If the weapon is infused with the Fire element, damage increases by 90% instead. <Note: The user may buy an Uncommon ¡ú Rare skill upgrade once the skill reaches level 50.> It removed the long range Fireball completely, as well as reset the level. However, he wasn''t unhappy, as now his Violin Blade attacks, if infused with Fire, would do so much more damage. He was about to check his status screen again when he realized he was nearly falling off the cliff. You son of a bitch... Rael jumped off the Hover Bike and grabbed it by its back end, making sure it didn''t float away into the water. Note to self: if you get a cheap flying bike, expect the fucking autopilot to try to kill you, Rael grumbled, as he tinkered with the bike a little bit. In the midst of his tinkering, Rael glanced toward the other side of the cliff, where, just barely, he could make out a faint golden light through the dense fog. So that''s the lighthouse? I''m surprised it''s still operating, Rael wondered, as he finally set up the navigation correctly and turned on Static mode. Of course, he bought himself a 5-kilometer-long rope, as he assumed that was the rough distance to the other side. Rael found a few sturdy rocks and tied the rope around them. Oh, and for good measure... ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Explosives/Landmine ?¡ªBalance: 5,077,217 Trell¡ª? ? Cute Landmine [Pink-Camo] (Common): 5,000 Trell Rael bought 10 of these cute little landmines and placed them where the monsters could step. Finally, he was finished, so he jumped back onto the Hover Bike and slowly began levitating toward the lighthouse. It left solid ground and steadily levitated off the cliff. Thank fuck for that... Actually, never mind. No jinxing cheap stuff, Rael thought, when all of a sudden, the fog, which had been pretty strong earlier, now grew even stronger, completely obscuring his vision. Nonetheless, the Hover Bike surprisingly kept going forward, and from what he could tell, the rope was still tied tightly. A shiver ran down Rael''s spine. This is a sketchy adrenaline rush... I''m definitely taking the long way back. <Warning: The Serpents can reach this height!> The Serpents? Rael tilted his head before looking down. As he did, two pairs of glowing green eyes, the size of massive boulders, greeted him. Then, he saw a pillar of water shoot up in front of him¡ªand suddenly, a blue serpent shot upward, its body traveling swiftly along the water pillar. Fuck. Rael immediately took matters into his own hands as he grabbed hold of the Hover Bike and manually controlled the steering. He swerved away from the water pillar, while at the same time catching a glimpse of the serpent''s massive body. And of course, he managed to inspect the massive sashimi. But at the same time, he kind of wished he''d stayed in the dark. ¡ªSea Serpent (Commander Class Elite) [Level 268] [3,591,200,000/3,591,200,000] Aha... Yep, I''m its fucking dinner, aren''t I? Chapter 77 77: The Pepper And Cleaning? Rael suddenly stopped the bike in its tracks, causing the Sea Serpent to miss him as it fell back into the water. In the meantime, Rael moved toward the other side, thrusting his body forward to cover more distance with the Hover Bike. However, another pillar of water shot upward alongside the massive blue serpent. "Oh, fuck off." Rael stood on his Hover Bike and pulled out the Violin Blade. He thought of an incredibly hot flame¡ªone which would repulse all enemies. Then, he gently drew the rapier across the red string, and in the next instant, a tranquil note rang out. But it was anything but tranquil, as it swiftly made contact with the massive serpent''s eye, creating a massive burning gash. -693,303! Critical True Note! x1 (Crystal Violin Blade) <Resonant Duelist: +500 Experience> Now that''s a lot of damage, Rael thought, almost forgetting the fact that it had over 3 billion HP. Despite that, the attack did more than just strike its eye¡ªit continued traveling like a jet, carrying the serpent along with it. Rael whistled as he began thrusting his body again, making the slow Hover Bike go just a tad bit faster. But not even a minute later, another pillar of water shot up, with the same serpent flying up. Rael took a deep breath, and since there was no other way around it, he''d just go old school... "Alright sashimi, playtime is over." ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Food/Questionable Things To Put In Your Body/Very Hot Pepper ?¡ªBalance: 5,027,217 Trell¡ª? ? Ass Destroyer (Epic): 150,000 Trell Fuck yeah, Rael swiftly purchased the pepper, and immediately, a small, almost nail-sized red blip appeared in his palm. This is supposed to be the Ass Destroyer? Color me surprised... Rael twirled it around like a pen in his hand. Nonetheless, the timing was just right, as the serpent¡ªwith a slightly damaged eye¡ªlunged at Rael once more. But unlike last time, where he attacked it with the Violin Blade, Rael threw the Ass Destroyer directly into its open mouth before suddenly tilting the hover bike downward, making the serpent fly over him. Good news? The serpent ate the Ass Destroyer. Bad news? He was a few meters below the cliff, which meant the trip to the other side would be uneven. However, it was fine¡ªall he had to do was get some kind of gadget along the way, or use the rope. But when he turned around, he realized the rope was cut. Hmm... This is a bit of a pickle, isn''t it? Rael thought as he proceeded to thrust his way toward the other side of the cliff. And after just a few minutes of no interruptions, he arrived at the cliff''s wall. He wasn''t that low, as all that he needed to do was jump up around 10 meters. With his current stats? It was easy. Rael tied a knot around the Hover Bike''s handlebars with what was left of the rope, and after taking a deep breath, he jumped up. He was slightly surprised by the height he made, but even so, Rael landed on top of the cliff, then simply pulled the Hover Bike up before plopping down on the ground. Well, fuck¡ªthat was way too close for comfort. Rael let out an exhausted sigh as he looked below the cliff. The moment he did, he saw the same serpent from before¡ªand it was just jumping in and out of water. Better yet, the Sea Serpent was now breathing flames. Serves you right. Rael scoffed and turned around. As he did, the sight of the abandoned lighthouse finally greeted him. It''s even bigger than I thought... Rael admired its size, then floated the Hover Bike near the abandoned lighthouse and set it down. However, just as he was about to enter the lighthouse, a notification flashed in front of him. <New title unlocked! [Seafood Saboteur]> S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡ªSeafood Saboteur¡ªAll food you make, no matter how terrible, will taste 5% better! Rael sighed at the system''s shenanigans. By now, he had too many titles, and cooking food? It did sound nice, but he hadn''t cooked himself food even once since waking up in this world. Aside from that, it was finally time to enter the abandoned lighthouse. The door was massive, but from the looks of things, it was already half-open. That was why he slowly pushed it forward while glancing inside. Thankfully, his Primordial Sight skill had something similar to night vision, so he was able to see properly. And it was a good idea to check the entrance¡ªas there was literally one massive wire stretching out from one side to the other. If he stepped on it, the massive guillotine right above the doorframe would cut his head off. Not fun. Rael sighed as he took out his rapier and gently slashed the wire. Then, he slowly opened the door, and upon not seeing anything drastic happen, Rael carefully went inside, before dismantling the guillotine. There was dust scattered all around, which made it a bit hard to breathe. Alright... Let me fix this first, Rael thought as he opened up Crystal Genesis. <Crystal Genesis> <Miscellaneous (Uncommon ~ Epic) 100,000 ~ 10,000,000 MP> Available MP: [2,829,200/2,829,200] He pressed on it before scrolling through his configurations and selecting one in particular. <Would you like to load the Cleaning Construct configuration? Yes/No> Yep. Instead of making a cheap one, however, Rael decided to get something that would get the job done. [MP -1,000,000 1,829,200/2,829,200 (Crystal Genesis)] <Sweepus Prime (Rare) has been crafted!> <Crafting Successful! +10,000 Skill Experience> Soon, a blue crystal construct the size of Rael appeared, its eyes curiously scanning its surroundings. Name: Sweepus Prime Race: Summoned Crystal Construct (Rare) Level: 50 Health Points (HP): [6,000/6,000] (+100%) Mana Points (MP): [4,600/4,600] (+100%) Strength: 55 (+30%) Agility: 350 (+30%) Constitution: 300 (+30%) Intelligence: 230 (+30%) Wisdom: 1 (+30%) Charisma: 130 (+30%) ¡ªSpecial Effect: Roomba (Rare) The construct can turn into a portable roomba! A roomba... Rael facepalmed at the somewhat useless skill as he pointed inside the lighthouse. "Sweepus Prime, be a dear and clean that up, okay?" It gave him a thumbs-up and got to work right away. Its cleaning speed was very fast¡ªexactly what he expected from a Rare-ranked construct. But he had to step out as the dust was just too much to deal with. However, the moment he did, he saw some hooded person inspecting his Hover Bike. "Oi!" Rael called out with a frown. "Hands off my stuff." "Hmm...?" A deep voice rang out, followed by the hooded person turning toward Rael. He was a tall, black-haired man around Rael''s age, with piercing purple eyes that soon locked onto him. "What are you doing inside my home?" Chapter 78 78: Seryn, And Wailing Monster "Your home?" Rael tilted his head. "No offense, man, but you live like shit. I''m cleaning it up." The hooded man''s brows furrowed. "You''re intruding upon my property, so if you don''t back off, I''ll have you removed." What is with that noble talk? Rael chuckled as he tried inspecting the man just in case. However, he wasn''t able to, which likely meant that he was human. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I''ll go in a bit, I just need to get some rest. I had an annoying half hour just now," Rael muttered with a chuckle. "You wouldn''t turn away a guest, would you?" "Cease this foolishness. Take your floating gadget and leave," the hooded man said as he approached Rael. "Or should I make you leave?" "Well, I''ll just camp out. I''m surprised you''re hogging the lighthouse all to yourself, though," Rael remarked as he went inside, grabbed Sweepus Prime, and walked out. Rael didn''t say a word as he passed by the hooded man and placed Sweepus Prime on top of the Hover Bike. But just as he was about to start it, he noticed something. "Motherfucker, you pierced the pipe!" Rael yelled as he realized there was a pebble-sized hole in the part that made the bike levitate. "I apologize. My curiosity was piqued upon seeing that gadget, so I might''ve accidentally tried inspecting it," the hooded man said with a shrug. "But fear not¡ªyou can fix it. The hole doesn''t seem too big." I don''t like this guy at all. Rael took a deep breath and walked up to the hooded man before delivering an uppercut straight to the jaw. -7,736! (Melee) The hooded man flew back, landing beside the lighthouse''s entrance as he brought his hand up to his mouth, wiping away the blood. "I did what you did, just in a more straightforward manner. So, how does it feel?" Rael asked with a scoff. "We''re even now. I''m out of here." Just as he turned around and prepared to leave, he decided to try something out. His Primordial Sight skill had the Foresight option, which let him see a second into the future. So, Rael simply turned it on. And thankfully he did¡ªas in the very next moment, he saw a kick flying from above. But of course, since Rael knew it was coming, he stepped to the side, dodging it. "Oh? You dodged my Lightning and Thunder Qi Gathering Movement Technique?" the hooded man muttered, making Rael flinch. Did he just cast a voodoo spell on me? What the fuck was that? Rael thought, disabling Foresight for the time being. "Lightning and what...?" Rael was speechless, but the hooded man soon continued. "It is my family''s technique," the hooded man huffed as he suddenly took his hood off, revealing a muscular physique, with many scars etched around his abdomen. "My name is Bastian Elowen Arcturus Seryn Thorne. That is my payment to you¡ªa show of respect by giving you my name. Feel honored." "Quite the variety you gave me there. Which one should I use though?" Rael asked, tilting his head. "So, Seryn, can I go now?" "I would prefer you used my full name whenever we are conversing, but I shall let it slide," Seryn replied, turning to his lighthouse. "But I suppose I could offer you a drink." "Pass. I''d rather just get going," Rael said with a sigh. "Nice to meet you though, see you around." With that, Rael walked over to the Hover Bike and began pushing it. But once again, before he could leave, Seryn interrupted him. "Just a second. You seemed pretty strong when you hit me earlier. Would you be interested in helping me with something?" Seryn asked. "Depends on what you want help with, I guess," Rael said plainly. "I don''t want to do anything weird, by the way, so don''t even go there." "It is nothing of the sort." Seryn shook his head. "There is an enemy inside the lighthouse I cannot eliminate by myself. I was wondering if you could help me kill it." An enemy he can''t kill? Rael thought, furrowing his brows. He wasn''t sure how strong Seryn was, but based on what he could feel with his Primordial Sight skill, then he was pretty darn close to Rael. And of course, there was the matter of Seryn not being affected by his Mental Decay option, which emits some fierce Primordial pressure to those who stare into his eyes. What an anomaly. Rael sighed as he let go of the Hover Bike and walked up to Seryn. "Show me what we''re dealing with. If it''s too much, then I''m backing out," Rael stated, and with a nod, Seryn led him inside the lighthouse before going up a flight of stairs. It seemed like they were heading to the top-most floor. Now, there was only a door in front of them. Seryn pointed at his lips¡ªa silent signal for Rael to shut up as he slowly pushed the door open. And the moment he did, a glowing, specter-like monster greeted him. "It''s some wailing monster. It wails to make you dizzy and then it tries to possess your body," Seryn explained in a whisper. Rael took that information to heart before inspecting the monster. ¡ªLurindrel, the Mourning Beacon (General Class Boss) [Level 173] [1,197,160,000/1,197,160,000] Hmm... so the golden light I saw earlier wasn''t the functioning lighthouse, but this thing. Rael thought, furrowing his brows. The HP was definitely no joke, but... Frostfire Tempest: [Level 71 ¡ú 88 | 67,324/82,551] (Epic) ¡ªUnleash a storm, dealing 61,750¨C71,750 ¡ú 66,000¨C76,000 Frostfire Damage per second. Enemies inside the storm are slowed by 15% and take true burning damage equal to 1% of their total HP per second. Storm Radius: 40 meters ¡ú 50 meters Duration: 30 seconds ¡ú 35 seconds Cost: 450,000 MP ¡ú 535,000 MP 35% HP in 35 seconds. It seemed very doable since this skill was overpowered. But there was one slight hiccup. The monster could simply swat away this entire attack, and then Rael would be fucked since the overly noble guy behind him would run away. However, the amount of experience here was simply too much to pass up, so he had to improvise. Rael turned to the observing Seryn as a grin began creeping up on his face. "On a scale from 1 to 10, how attached are you to this lighthouse?" Chapter 79 79: Gently Collapsing the Tower, And Potential Travel Buddy? "I believe this is a very bad idea," Seryn commented, a massive frown on his face. "I did ask how attached you were. A 2 out of 10 isn''t that attached." Rael shrugged with a chuckle. He didn''t have many options when it came to fighting that monster up there. It was a narrow room¡ªone he could get thrown out of at a moment''s notice. The fall wouldn''t kill him, but it would hurt like hell. That was why he took a different approach. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Explosives/Demolition ?¡ªBalance: 4,877,217 Trell¡ª? ? Dynamite (Common): 2,500 Trell Out of respect for whoever built the lighthouse, and definitely not because he was lazy, Rael decided to simply destroy one side. Coincidentally, if it toppled over, the monster inside would fall straight into the sea. A specter couldn''t swim or drown, but the Sea Serpents would likely deal with it. So, Rael bought 20 pieces of dynamite and spread them on the southern part of the lighthouse before stepping away. "Once again, I implore you to reconsider," Seryn suggested plainly. Rael rolled his eyes. "Do you even know what I''m doing?" "You are about to make a loud sound and lure the monster outside, is that correct?" Seryn stated confidently. However, Rael merely shook his head. "You''ll see in just a second." Just in case, Rael found himself some makeshift rock cover¡ªas, despite this being a somewhat safe process, if The Beast were to wake up, he''d be fucked. But alas, no risk, no reward. "Seryn, I want you to stay quiet for a while, alright?" Rael said, earning a nod from Seryn in response. Since he had already moved his Hover Bike and Sweepus Prime, the only thing left to do was... <Would you like to detonate: [x20] Dynamite (Common)? Yes/No> Okay... here goes nothing¡ª ¡ªBOOOOOOOOOOOOM The explosion rang out much louder than he expected. However, when the lighthouse began toppling over, Rael knew he had succeeded. "What in the seven hells..." Seryn muttered. "Is this some sorcery you pulled from the demonic faction?" Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I have no clue what you''re saying, but nope, probably not." Rael shrugged as he brought his attention back to the lighthouse. It leaned more and more, until finally, it completely collapsed at the bottom before suddenly toppling over the cliff and falling into the sea. Rael let out a relieved breath but didn''t get ahead of himself. After all, The Beast could come out at any moment. Therefore, he waited for several minutes¡ªyet no pop-up appeared. It''s not coming? That was a very loud sound though... so why? Rael pondered. He glanced toward Seryn, who seemed a bit out of it as his eyes were unfocused, but Rael put that behind him as there were more pressing matters at hand. Rael walked over to the edge of the cliff and just barely managed to spot the lighthouse, which somehow still hadn''t sunk. However, as he thought that it would stay that way¡ªfor a single moment¡ªhe saw some kind of black outline swimming across the surface of the sea. What the... is it that thing I saw on the map near the Frostpire Bastion? That massive serpent...? Rael thought with widened eyes, and soon... The massive black shape dived deeper before suddenly shooting upward, revealing its entire body for a mere moment as it dove back down, the lighthouse now completely gone from sight. But that moment was enough for Rael to inspect the monster. And as he did, a shiver ran down his spine. ¡ªUmbraleth, Wyrm of the Black Tides (Leader Class Boss) [Level 432] [29,859,840,000/29,859,840,000 HP] No fucking thank you... I''ll probably have to fly to Frostpire Bastion because no way in fuck am I going anywhere near that thing. Rael thought as he turned his gaze toward a new message that had popped up. <Lurindrel, the Mourning Beacon (General Class Boss) [Level 173] Killed! Experience: +1,939,614 (20%)> <+969,807 (20%) Trell Acquired> <Level: 100 ¡ú 117 > <+17,700 Trell Bonus> 20%? Rael''s eyes widened. I didn''t even deal damage to it though. He was expecting 1% or even 5%, as that would''ve been enough to level him up a few times. But 20%? Fucking generous serpent, I might actually go on land. Rael nodded a few times before glancing at what was left of the lighthouse. It was now in ruins, and only the first floor remained somewhat intact. However, as he was about to dismiss that, a particular glowing object caught his interest. It was lying beside the rubble, and to the naked eye, it wouldn''t be visible. I guess I have Primordial Sight to thank for it... but I really should figure out how to better use the skill... Intimidation? Combat? It works everywhere... Rael grumbled before approaching the object and picking it up. Yet as he picked it up and inspected it, Rael''s eyes widened. ¡ªBeacon''s Final Lament (Epic Crafting Material) If fused with an item, the item acquires the following option: 1. Wail of the Drowned: Emit a sound that lowers enemy morale by (5%~15%) or magic defense by (10%~30%) for a short duration. Type: AoE Debuff. <Note: Due to your race, [Celestite Archon (Legendary)], the effects of this Crafting Material would increase by 2 times once slotted into an item.> Holy shit... if I can put this onto my Violin Blade, then I''d have a perfect black string... Rael thought with excitement as he quickly stashed away the item. He would upgrade it a bit later, once he finally had some free time. But until then, there was one more person he had to deal with. "Seryn, are you done spacing out?" Rael called out, earning a nod in response. "I apologize. I do not know what came over me. My eyesight just suddenly left me," Seryn muttered. "But fear not, I am well prepared for anything that might occur." Noble as always... Rael sighed. "So what now? The lighthouse is basically destroyed, so I doubt you''re planning to live in it. Do you want to come with me or something? I can lead you to a settlement," Rael asked as he approached him. "I am not quite sure where I wish to travel yet. My map is a bit out of date," Seryn replied as he pulled out a map, which only displayed the Abandoned Lighthouse''s location. "Yeah..." Rael sighed and decided to be the good guy for once. "I have a normal map, and I could take you to other areas¡ªbut in exchange, I''d like a small monetary compensation. How does that sound?" Chapter 80 80: Free Deal, And a Simple Totally Not Epic Car A/N: What do you think about the pace the story is moving at since the start of this arc? Is it too slow? I don''t want to make it too boring *** Seryn fell into thought for a moment before nodding. "It appears you are a Wayfinder. It is a pleasure to meet someone like you. On the other hand... money? How much do you charge?" Rael raised a brow. "How much do you have?" "According to this glowing interface... 7,993,225 Trell," Seryn replied, nearly making Rael''s poker face break. Bingo. Rael held back a grin as he cleared his throat. "Very well... I can give you a friend discount, which would bring the total down to 4 million Trell if you wished to only travel to a few locations... or, you could buy the long travel service, where I''ll take you around for a week straight for a generous sum of 7,993,225 Trell." "I thought you said you would charge a small fee? This seems like robbery," Seryn said with furrowed brows. "Listen, while I might come off as a pushover, I am quite knowledgeable in the worldly arts. Therefore, I''d like to give you a counteroffer." "Sure." Rael smirked. "Offer away." "1 million Trell per new location you take me to. It must be a city or, as you said, a settlement. I will pay you whenever we arrive," Seryn stated. "Works for me. Do we have ourselves a deal, Seryn?" Rael asked, stretching out his hand. "That is indeed so." Seryn nodded as he accepted the handshake. Well, I was hoping he was an idiot, but sucks for me, I guess, Rael thought with a sigh. The deal had been made. In exchange for Rael would be getting 1 million just to travel where he was already going. Awesome. "Seryn, have you ever heard of the Frostpire Bastion?" Rael asked. However, Seryn simply shook his head. "I have not." Rael tilted his head. "So where were you staying before coming to the Abandoned Lighthouse then?" "I appeared in this exact place several months ago. I have no recollection of anything prior, aside from the scrap of the map that I had shown you earlier," Seryn explained. Yeah... he''s a walking red flag, Rael thought as he pulled out his map again. There were two options right now. One option was to head back to the encampment, rest up, and set out later. Or, he could get a head start now and go to the Frostpire Bastion. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It seemed pretty far away, and from what he estimated, it would take around a day''s worth of travel. However, there were faster alternatives. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Vehicles/Off-road/Fast ?¡ªBalance: 5,781,724 Trell¡ª? ? The Sausage Mobile (Rare): 750,000 Trell ? Stormsilk Drift (Rare): 1,500,000 Trell ? The REwinder (Epic): 2,000,000 Trell ? Phoenix Tail (Epic): 3,000,000 Trell <Expand for more> There were many things he could do with his money, but once again, getting a vehicle was more important. Of course, he would much rather prefer a helicopter or something, but... ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Vehicles/Flight/Helicopter ?¡ªBalance: 5,781,724 Trell¡ª? ? The Bzzzzz (Common): 10,000,000 Trell That''s the cheapest one too. Fucking scammers, Rael sighed, before going back to his earlier options. The first was a dud, and the last definitely wasn''t it either. After careful consideration, he decided to buy The REwinder. 2 million... ouch. Rael''s finger trembled as he glanced at the thing that had materialized. It was a supercar¡ªone that had weird off-road wheels and a comfy-looking interior. Rael excitedly got in, and the moment he did, an interface popped up. <The REwinder> <Temporal Drift Mode: Allows short-range time reversals up to 5 seconds. Perfect for dodging attacks, correcting mistakes.> <Chrono-Core Engine: Fuel is filled with the passage of time, making it run infinitely.> <Increases Top Speed by 250%> He stared at the pop-ups in shock. Literally a car he could take anywhere, dodge any attack¡ªand better yet? It was fucking fast. All for the steep price of 2 million. And to think there are many more expensive cars... fucking hell, Rael thought as he looked around the interior. Like the car itself, it was all white leather, and the back seat seemed more spacious than what appeared on the outside. Then there was the dashboard, which displayed odd numbers that didn''t seem to have anything to do with speed. I hit the jackpot. "Pardon me, but what kind of contraption is this?" Seryn asked, leaning closer to take a look. However, before he could even lay a single hand on the car, Rael grabbed his hand. "Rule number one. No touching any of my so-called contraptions. Understood?" "Very well." Seryn nodded as he backed away. However, it was time they got a move on. "Come to the other side and get in the back," Rael said, pressing one of the buttons on the dashboard, which just so happened to open the back door. "Intriguing..." Seryn muttered, walking over and getting inside. "This is very comfortable. Far more comfortable than the rock I had for a bed, I can tell you that much." "I''m sure it is." Rael chuckled as he recalled Sweepus Prime. Of course, Sweepus Prime was shotgun. Now that everything was in order, there was only one thing left to do. Rael stepped out of the car, approaching the busted-down Hover Bike. And of course... <Would you like to sell [Hover Bike (Common)] to the Premium Shop for 125,000 Trell? Yes/No> Despite the massive dip in cash, he sold it¡ªas the only alternative was simply leaving it here. Therefore, he took the money and the massive loss before heading back inside the car and closing the door. Immediately, the seats adjusted themselves to suit his posture, making it even more comfortable to sit than he imagined. And finally, it was time to move. Rael pressed the acceleration pedal, and in the very next moment, the car shot forward like a bolt¡ªgoing from 0 to 100 in less than a second and continuously accelerating until, eventually, he reached a speed of around 500 kilometers per hour. Obviously, he couldn''t control it, so he spun out. However, as he was about to crash into the mountainside to his right, a few pop-ups appeared. <Emergency detected!> <Automatically using: Temporal Drift Mode!> <Rewinding the car''s time by 5 seconds!> Immediately, he felt a heavy pressure envelop his body as he traveled backward¡ªuntil finally, it stopped. And unlike the fast speed he was going at a moment ago, he was now at a stable 150 kilometers per hour. Nearly became bean paste there, but god damn, this car is fucking nice, Rael thought with a grin as he brought his eyes forward. His destination? The Frostpire Bastion. Chapter 81 81: Little Chat, And Broken Bridge? "So how are you feeling?" Rael asked, not even paying attention to the road. After all, this car was similar to his hover bike as it had an autopilot function. "It seems odd¡ªit''s almost like I''m floating above the ground," Seryn said, slight amusement in his voice. "But is this how you normally travel? It seems a bit too luxurious for such a trip." Rael tilted his head. "Would you prefer we walked?" To his surprise, Seryn nodded. "Walking is good for the body. This feels like something one would get addicted to." "You''re weird, man." Rael chuckled. "Anyways, what did you do before coming to this place?" "I was training," Seryn replied flatly. "No, I can gather that much, but like, what kind of stuff did you do aside from training? Rule a kingdom, have two dogs and a cat? I don''t know," Rael added. It was a silent car ride, and while Rael wasn''t exactly an extrovert, he found the silence a bit awkward. After all, the only thing Seryn had been doing since getting into the car was quietly humming some random hymn. "I suppose you could call me a genius in the martial world," Seryn said matter-of-factly. "I was known for my unparalleled talent and fighting prowess, but one day, I suddenly appeared in this dreary land." "A martial world... you mentioned Qi, right? So do you cultivate or something?" Rael asked. "Cultivation is a part of my daily life, correct." Seryn nodded. "My fianc¨¦e and I practice dual cultivation. Sadly, I can''t cultivate without her, as our dantians have merged into one long ago." "So what happens if she... you know? Moves on?" Rael probed. "She loves me as much as I love her. The only thing that could part us is death, and as we swore already, whenever one of us dies, the other will follow," Seryn replied in a serious tone. "We communicate with our shared Qi pools, and that''s how we know we are safe." "Love, eh?" Rael chuckled. "I''m happy for you. It must be amazing to have such a loving fianc¨¦e. I myself am already married, believe it or not." "In my land, you only get married when a baby is on the way. Is it similar where you are from?" Seryn asked. "You could say our marriage is a bit political. We haven''t even shared a kiss yet," Rael replied, feeling slightly embarrassed. "You do not live forever, and neither does she. Life is unpredictable, so my greatest advice to you is to simply make your move. The worst that can happen is she says no," Seryn said, a faint smile on his face. "Damn..." Rael muttered. "You sound like an old man... are you?" Seryn shook his head. "I am soon to turn 20. I am still young by my world''s standards." And yet you talk like a sage... Rael thought. Out of all the people, I didn''t expect this guy to motivate me. His initial plan was to have some dinner with Zafira, chat about some stuff, and get to know her better. That would still be his plan, however, there was no reason not to make a move. "Oh right, Seryn." Rael facepalmed. "I forgot to introduce myself earlier, didn''t I? You can call me Rael." "I see. It is a pleasure to formally meet you, Rael." Seryn nodded before suddenly raising his hand and pointing out to the other side of the windshield. "I believe we are about to plunge to our deaths." "Huh?" Rael turned around, and the moment he did, his eyes widened as he began aggressively tapping on the dashboard. <Automatically using: Temporal Drift Mode!> <Rewinding the car''s time by 5 seconds!> "Fucking hell," Rael exclaimed, taking a deep breath. He hadn''t been paying much attention, but by now, he had made it through the mountain range and arrived in the inner region where the massive lake was. However, there was one thing his GPS wasn''t ready for, and that was the missing bridge. According to the map, at the very edge of the lake, there should have been a wooden bridge connecting both sides. But as he stared out through the windshield, the only thing he could see was a massive cliff¡ªas well as a few logs to the side. Basically, whoever came through here messed it up. Odds were, it was the black serpent. Hmm... I definitely can''t build a bridge now, that would cost too much money... I''m already bleeding money as is, Rael thought with a sigh, turning to Seryn. "You got any ideas on how we could get to the other side?" "Not quite. I believe we should head back... on second thought, we have guests," Seryn said before crudely opening the car''s door and stepping outside. I swear if this guy scratches my car, I''m buying another Ass Destroyer. Nonetheless, he stepped out of the car, and the moment he did, he understood what Seryn was talking about. There weren''t any monsters, but instead, there were five masked individuals standing near the ledge where the bridge was supposed to be. Rael didn''t panic as he simply pulled out his Violin Blade, ready to attack them at any moment. But just in case, he took Sweepus Prime out of the car before trying something a bit different. Come on... get inside the inventory¡ª <Crystallite Summon Storage Unlocked!> <Stored Summons: 0> Oh shit? Rael''s brow rose as he brought his hand down on top of Sweepus Prime''s head, and soon... <Sweepus Prime (Rare) has entered the Crystallite Summon Storage!> <Stored Summons: 0 ¡ú 1> Nice. Rael hummed in excitement and, just in case, tried to do the same with his car. And to his surprise, it immediately vanished before reappearing inside his inventory. "Pfftt... hahaha," Rael couldn''t help but laugh, earning a weird look from Seryn. "You seem to have been infected. Is your brain okay?" Seryn asked, feigning worry. Rael rolled his eyes as he walked past Seryn and approached the five people beside the ledge. "Since you didn''t attack us straight up, is there something we can help you with?" Rael asked kindly. However, from what little he could see of their eyes, they seemed to be staring at him with scorn. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And of course¡ªhe soon found out why. "Were you the ones responsible for waking up The Beast?" Chapter 82 82: The Actual Bridge, and a Fierce Bastion? "No," Rael flat-out denied. "Were you the ones who did it?" "Of course not," one of the masked men replied, before suddenly taking off his mask, revealing a scar-filled face. "We''ve been searching for the one responsible, because the moment the Beast awakened, our trade supplier was killed on this very bridge, destroying it in the process." "That sucks." Rael whistled. "Anything we can help you with? I really need to get to the other side, you see." "Call me Dreadlock, and do you really want to come to the other side? We can bring you, however, you might have to pay a small fee," Dreadlock said, rubbing his hands together. "5,000 Trell each, one-way trip to the other side." What a scammer, Rael sighed. I respect the hustle though. "I''ll pay," Rael said as he stretched his hand out and Dreadlock accepted it in kind. He didn''t know how to start a transaction, but it seemed he didn''t need to. "You added another zero, mate," Rael pointed out with a frown. "Oh, hahaha, my bad," Dreadlock laughed it off as a new offer came in. Noticing that it wasn''t a total scam anymore, Rael swiftly accepted. <Confirmed.> <Balance Updated: -10,000 Trell | New Balance: 3,896,724 Trell> Neat menu, Rael remarked as he stared Dreadlock in his blue eyes. "Lead the way." S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Of course, follow me, you two. As for the others, wait ahead," Dreadlock instructed, before walking to the right side of the fallen bridge. Rael and Seryn followed until they finally caught up to Dreadlock. However, the sight that greeted Rael made his brow twitch. "Are you fucking serious?" "Pfft... No hard feelings, kid. Everyone''s gotta make a living," Dreadlock chuckled. At first glance, the bridge looked like it had collapsed, but in reality, a massive mirror had been placed there, perfectly reflecting the bottom of the cliff and making it seem like the bridge was simply not there. Rael had no clue how it worked, but one thing was for sure... I''ve been had... "Just proceed forward on your way and don''t tell anyone about this," Dreadlock added, as he pointed toward the perfectly fine bridge. "Have fun now, I hope you two enjoy your stay in the Frostpire Bastion." "Fair play. Good luck with whatever bullshit you''re pulling here," Rael said with a scoff and proceeded forward. The bridge was pretty long¡ªabout 500 or so meters. Despite that, Rael picked up the pace and sprinted to the other side of it, with Seryn right behind him. "That was probably a peddler," Seryn noted. Rael rolled his eyes. "Any detours you want to take, or do you want to head straight into the bastion?" "I do not have anything in mind." Seryn shrugged. "I wish to observe how these people live their lives, and then move on to the next. If there is a worthy training partner, then I would stay." "Fair enough," Rael said, and summoned the REwinder car. "Get in." Seryn did just that, and soon, they were off. Rael''s plan was simple. He would ignore the first monument in front of him and go for the one behind the Frostpire Bastion. Chaos was bound to ensue, however, Rael didn''t want to stay near a possibly bustling bastion for more than an hour. So I''ll simply stay back for around an hour, wait for the Beast to fall asleep again, and then... Yeah, I''ll be fucking them over regardless, Rael sighed as he put the car into autopilot. The moment he did, however, a pop-up appeared. <Congratulations! Your active dungeons have produced: +113,870 Trell> Oh? It''s already been a day? Hmm... Rael thought, leaning back. At the speed they were going, he''d arrive in the Frostpire Bastion in around an hour, so he decided to get some shuteye. "Seryn, if you notice something off then¡ªbruh." Rael facepalmed. Motherfucker fell asleep... What if the GPS messes up again, Rael thought, before suddenly getting a genius idea. <Sweepus Prime (Rare) has exited the Crystallite Summon Storage!> <Stored Summons: 1 ¡ú 0> "Sweepus," Rael called out with a smile. "If you see any bad people, or if you see us about to fly off a cliff, wake me up, okay?" Sweepus Prime immediately saluted, before staring ahead, determination clear in its crystal eyes. Damn... I really should get my crystal summons something nice... candy maybe? Rael pondered as he began growing drowsy. And not even a few seconds later, he was finally knocked out. *** <You have arrived at your destination!> Rael shot awake, his eyes darting around. "...Huh? Fuck." Despite the seats being extremely comfortable, he slept like absolute shit. But as he glanced toward Seryn, whose noble persona had long disappeared with drool running down his mouth, Rael could only let out a sigh. Why is life so cruel... Rael wiped an imaginary tear before stepping out of the car and getting a breath of the somewhat fresh air. However, he was definitely not expecting the sight before him. Massive steel walls stretching several hundred meters above, with cannons, ballistas, and even guards sticking out through the cracks. Some were holding weapons¡ªones that were eerily similar to muskets¡ªwhile others had the ballistas and cannons aimed directly at him. There was an enormous gate up front, which seemed to have two huge handles on it, as if it was meant for giants to open. Better yet, he saw steam and smoke rising into the sky from inside the Frostpire Bastion, followed by the clanging of metal, which meant it had a very strong industrial side. This is no joke... Comparing this with the encampment was a mistake on my end, Rael thought with wonder. They were simply far more advanced than anything he had seen so far in this strange world. But of course, the bigger the fish, the more mone¡ª "Stop." A cold voice rang out behind Rael, prompting him to swiftly turn around. The moment he did, he saw Seryn pinned to the ground by a gray-bearded man wearing sandals. He had a massive grin on his face as he rested a pitch-black katana on his shoulder, staring down at Rael menacingly. "Care for a little chat, lads?" Chapter 83 83: Inside The Frostpire Bastion "A chat?" Rael tilted his head. "Don''t you want to offer us tea first? I think that''d be a good start." The bearded man chuckled. "I don''t believe you deserve such a luxury, my friends. The most I can offer you is a comfortable jail cell." Rael furrowed his brows. "Could I ask why?" "The Beast was awakened earlier, and I don''t exactly trust any outsiders. For all I know, you''re coming here with bad intentions. So, simply enough, I will put you in jail for a week, and after that, I can get you some tea. How does that sound?" the bearded man replied with a smile. "I refuse," Rael stated sternly. "We haven''t come here with bad intentions, and for you to put us in jail for no reason? We aren''t fucking animals." He turned to Seryn, who was leisurely being crushed. "You can stop acting already. Let''s take a detour." "There''s no need for that." The bearded man waved his hands. "I was just teasing you. You may enter. However, I hope you don''t mind if I watch over you during your stay." Seryn let out a sigh before suddenly pushing off the ground, sending the bearded man flying high into the sky. But of course, that wasn''t all, as all of a sudden, Seryn brought his hands together and shot a massive blue beam toward the bearded man. However, despite the surprise attack, the bearded man didn''t panic. He merely grinned, then severed the incoming beam in two with a simple downward slash before finally landing on the ground. "I''d give you some brownie points for that attack, but not today." The bearded man chuckled before pointing off to the side. "Let''s go inside now, the monsters are coming." Rael glanced in that direction, and sure enough, there were monsters¡ªquite a lot of them. As much as he would love to go and kill them all and level up a bunch, Rael merely walked Sweepus Prime forward and stored him, then stored the car as well. I wonder where those monsters are coming from? It''s a bit strange how I didn''t see any earlier, Rael thought as he followed behind the bearded man. The gates to the Frostpire Bastion swung open with a rattling sound, and the soldiers who were on standby now made way for them. It''s almost like a royal welcome. Nonetheless, the gates swiftly closed behind them, and finally, Rael took a good look around the Bastion''s interior. There were more workstations than people, and even worse, he couldn''t see any food stalls. It did make him wonder what these people ate, since agriculture was definitely a no-go in this land. And out of curiosity, he decided to bring it up. "Hey old man, what do you people eat? I''m not seeing any bakeries or farmsteads." "Call me Genzo. And no, we process monsters and then eat them," Genzo replied, making Rael freeze on the spot. "...You eat those disgusting things? Fuck..." Rael muttered. "Why haven''t you tried expanding? Like maybe trying some kind of different produce? Something that doesn''t necessarily require soil to grow?" "Like what? You want us to sprinkle some salt on shit and dig in?" Genzo scoffed. "We''ve tried. Obviously not the shit part, but mushrooms, lab-grown goods, and all of that stuff. They simply wilted away or were infected by the Hollow Touch." So they had contact with the moonlight then, Rael deduced, glancing up. Right now, it wasn''t as red as during the night, however, it still seemed very dreary. And of course, the longer he looked, the more intense his infection grew¡ªto the point where he began seeing flying money beside the moon. Hallucinations... I wish that money was mine though, Rael sighed until finally, they reached some kind of center in this bastion. There were a bunch of people gathered¡ªsome selling their wares, while others simply enjoying the commotion. Rael didn''t even want to think how many had died during the Beast''s awakening. "You''re free to go wherever you''d like. No going into brothels¡ªthey''re reserved for citizens only," Genzo said with a cheeky grin, making a chill run down Rael''s spine. "Don''t worry, I have no intention of doing that," Rael replied, glancing around the place until eventually, his gaze landed on a particular shop. The blacksmithing shop. Rael walked over to it, with Seryn and Genzo not too far behind. "Rael, before I forget¡ªhere," Seryn called out, his hand outstretched. Oh? Money. Rael swiftly accepted his hand, and soon... <Confirmed.> <Balance Updated: +1,000,000 Trell | New Balance: 5,020,594 Trell> Huh? I''m still only at 5 million? God damn it... all these expenses are really starting to get annoying, he grumbled, before continuing inside the smithy. He soon entered, and what greeted his sight was a simple, surprisingly well-dressed man, twirling around a hammer in the air. "What could I help you with?" the blacksmith asked. "Do you have any private rooms? I want to rent one for a day, preferably something isolated," Rael said, earning a confused look from the blacksmith. "You want a room to forge, I assume? Sure, I can get you one. It''ll be 500 Trell for the day¡ª1,000 Trell if I have to provide my equipment," the blacksmith explained. "That''s fine with me. I have my own equipment," Rael replied, stretching his hand out. The blacksmith immediately accepted it, and now, Rael had to figure out how to send a request. Sending a friend request, I just had to think about it... So why don''t I just¡ª <The recipient has 5 minutes to accept or deny your payment.> But not even a second later, the blacksmith accepted. <Confirmed.> <Balance Updated: -500 Trell | New Balance: 5,020,094 Trell> "Here are your keys. Have fun," the blacksmith said with a smile, tossing the keys with the number 3 on them over to Rael. "Pleasure doing business with you," Rael replied and began heading over to the room. However, as he turned around, he noticed Seryn was still following him, and in the distance, Genzo was still watching. Rael sighed. "I appreciate the company, but didn''t you say you were gonna explore? I''m going to be busy, so let''s meet up in the city center in 24 hours, alright?" "Very well. Good luck," Seryn replied with a wave and began heading out. Finally, some peace and quiet, Rael thought with a hum as he finally found the room and went inside. However, he didn''t exactly book this room for peace. Instead... <Crystal Genesis> <Any Armor Piece (Uncommon ~ Epic) 100,000 ~ 10,000,000 MP> <Available MP: 2,829,200/2,829,200> There were a couple of sets he wanted to make. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 84 84: Stat Increase, And Custom Dungeon? <Congratulations! Your active dungeons have produced: +113,870 Trell> "Yawn... fuck." Rael leaned against the wall, practically banging his head on it. He had literally spent the last 23 hours crafting nonstop, and by now, he had achieved pretty nice results. <Crafting Successful! +12,500 Skill Experience> <Crystal Genesis: Prism Set has been created!> <(x221) Prism Set (Uncommon) has been crafted!> <Crafting Successful! +2,762,500 Skill Experience> He had a bunch of those sets now, and thankfully, he had found an interesting way to cheat the storage system. His REwinder car actually had a trunk he could open and use, yet what was even more impressive was the fact that it seemed almost limitless. He placed all the gear inside, only saving a single set for himself to change into¡ªaside from the helmet, of course. Finally, Rael prayed inside his mind as he tried storing the car, and to his relief, it actually worked. "Hahaha... fuck yeah, set storage unlocked." Putting that aside for now, there was the matter of his skill, which had leveled up a fair deal. Crystal Genesis: [Level 94 ¡ú 120 | 596/130,857] (Pseudo-Legendary) ¡ªCombines the mastery of crystal shaping with the creation of gemstones and living, sentient crystalline constructs. Base Cost: 100,000 MP Increases crafted item durability by 1000% ¡ú 1520% Enhances crafted item stats by 396% ¡ú 500% Reduces MP cost for maintaining crystal constructs by 100% MAX Grants a 95% ¡ú 121% chance to enchant each item created with a special effect. Once the threshold passes above 100%, anything extra will contribute to a second special effect. The stats were insane, and his new gear pieces? Even better. All of them were the same, however, on his Chestplate, he managed to get a second special effect which wasn''t that great, but it was something. ¡ªPrism Chestplate (Uncommon) Durability: 2,430/2,430 (+1520%) Special Effect: +4% All Magic Damage Increase Special Effect 2: +50,000 HP +300 Strength (+500%) +300 Agility (+500%) +638 Constitution (+500%) +638 Intelligence (+500%) +638 Wisdom (+500%) Safe to say, he felt strong¡ªin fact, he was too strong for his level. If anything, Rael felt like everyone under level 200 was beatable, though when he remembered Linlin''s stats, he could only sulk. Why are they so high... I need to get money and set everything up as soon as possible so I don''t lag behind, Rael decided, before taking one last glance at his updated status. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ?¡ªStats¡ª? Health Points (HP): [1,328,000/1,328,000] ¡ú [2,076,000/2,076,000] (+50,000) Mana Points (MP): [2,829,200/2,829,200] (+1,100,000) ¡ú [3,429,600/3,429,600] (+1,100,000) Strength: 1,500 (+770) ¡ú 2,382 (+1,652) Agility: 1,470 (+770) ¡ú 2,352 (+1,652) Constitution: 3,320 (+2,099) ¡ú 5,065 (+3,844) Intelligence: 4,323 (+2,368) ¡ú 5,824 (+3,869) Wisdom: 2,045 (+1,730) ¡ú 3,601 (+3,243) Charisma: 2,400 ?¡ªAdvanced Stats¡ª? Spell Power (SP): 19,028 (+1,736) ¡ú 25,032 (+1,736) Attack Power (AP): 7,736 (+1,736) ¡ú 11,264 (+1,736) Movement Speed Increase: 735% ¡ú 1,176% Critical Hit Damage Increase: 107.25 (+5%) ¡ú 180.05 +100% Increased Crystal-based Damage +35% Resistance to all types of Magic Damage -10% Reduced Physical Damage Dealt Armor Effects: +16% All Magic Damage Increase Massive increases all around even after I took off the other gear, but still... Linlin is only 30 or so levels above me, and her lowest stat is strength, at 15,322. Rael sighed as he proceeded out of the room. It was time to do some exploring, and also, he had to make some investments. After all, in order to craft that much, he had to invest in a few potions. So now, his balance was a little tight. ?¡ªBalance: 3,391,094 Trell¡ª? He was ready for the sale event back in Celestara at the very least. But I really do need to find a way to get money fast... I just wish something like that existed¡ª "Oh, are you now?" Rael tilted his head, and out of curiosity, decided to press on it. The moment he did, an interface appeared, making his eyes widen. <Open Dungeon Mode> <Note: Open Dungeon Mode increases Daily Trell gain from all active dungeons by 50%> <Note 2: Open Dungeon Mode spawns a dungeon in the area where you are standing, meaning everyone can enter it and steal your resources.> Wait... so I can just set up a dungeon in a pocket world or something? Rael tapped on the Pocket Dungeon option, and in the very next instant, he vanished. Not even a moment later, he reappeared in some empty room with only a flickering lightbulb above him. Okay, so that looks like shit... what can I do though? Rael pondered as he clicked on the Premium Dungeon perk again, and soon... <Select the type of dungeon you wish to generate!> <Resource Dungeon> <Loot Farm Dungeon> <Monster Dungeon> <Recommended: Resource Dungeon> Yeah... Why not, I can always redo it if needed, Rael thought before selecting the resource dungeon. Immediately, the blank room shifted, expanding into a cave-like pattern, until finally, it was all done. It was pretty spacious for a cave, and thankfully it was lit up by some green crystals sticking out of the walls. <Resource Dungeon Generated!> <Do you wish to view and purchase the recommended resources? Yes/No> Clicking "Yes," he was met with another menu¡ªthis one alone made him realize how shit his low-level dungeons were. <Ores> - Crystalized Milk (Common) [Level 150] (x1): 75,000 Trell (Daily: 37,500 Trell) - Low Quality Stardust Mithril (Uncommon) [Level 200] (x1): 200,000 Trell (Daily: 120,000 Trell) - Low Purity Adamantium (Uncommon) [Level 285] (x1): 285,000 Trell (Daily: 171,000 Trell) Daily... as in one of those ores would earn me as much as both of my other dungeons combined? Well, shit... Rael steadied his breaths as he looked through his options. He was willing to spend 2 million Trell, and within that budget, 10 of the second option seemed the best, as it would give him a stable 1.2 million Trell daily. Fuck... Rael sighed and purchased 10 of them. Immediately, the ground shook as pointy purple crystals began appearing all around the cave, and with that, another pop-up entered his sight. <Choose a name for your custom dungeon!> Chapter 85 85: A Little Bit Richer, And Setting Out For The Monument <Choose a name for your custom dungeon!> Hm... A name, huh? Rael pondered for a moment before writing down something random. <Name Confirmed!> <Custom Dungeon: Tax Evasion Cave> Uncommon Ores - 1,200,000 Trell Daily - Low Quality Stardust Mithril (Uncommon) [Level 200] (x10) [+] Ahh... damn, it feels good to be rich. Rael let out a relieved breath as he proceeded to tap on the Premium Dungeon menu again. <Do you wish to leave the Custom Dungeon: Tax Evasion Cave? Yes/No> "Yep," he hummed, and with that, he was back in the smithy again¡ªjust with much more earning potential than before. In 8 days I can buy an evolution, but I have to wrap everything up by then. There are only 9 days left until the beta ends, Rael thought, passing by the blacksmith and going outside. Basically, in 9 days, he had to figure his shit out and light the remaining 9 bonfires. Therefore, he didn''t waste any time and merely walked around, trying to narrow down where Seryn could be. And after roughly 15 minutes of searching, he found him. He was in some metal courtyard, sparring against Genzo¡ªand losing pretty badly. "Oi!" Rael called out, getting their attention. "As much as I''d love to stay here, we have to get a move on." "So soon?" Genzo asked, kicking Seryn away and sheathing his katana. "Enjoy the scenery, kid. We''re already in hell, so no matter where you go, you''ll face the same dreary atmosphere." "Sorry, but believe it or not, I''m on a bit of a tight timer," Rael shrugged. "Though I could give you an offer that you might like¡ªbut of course, I''d like money in exchange." "Money is no issue. I''m pretty wealthy." Genzo chuckled. "But what could you possibly offer me? I''m pretty positive I''ve covered all bases." A grin appeared on Rael''s face. "I wouldn''t be so sure." ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Miscellaneous/Farming/Magical/Adaptive/Hollow Touch ?¡ªBalance: 1,391,094 Trell¡ª? ? Lunaspike Fruit Seeds [x5] (Rare): 150,000 Trell <Expand for more> It was a gamble, as for all he knew, Genzo wouldn''t care much about this since he enjoyed his good old rotten monster meat. However... ¡ªLunaspike Fruit Seeds [5] (Rare) Sprout a batch of 5 Lunaspikes, which grow under the dazzling red moon of The Depths. Safe for consumption. Water is not needed for growth. The five silver seeds soon appeared in his palm, and he handed one over to the puzzled Genzo. "Inspect it. I''m sure we can come to a wonderful arrangement," Rael said confidently before turning to Seryn. "Yo, you look like shit. Stand up." "I am fine. I just stumbled a moment ago," Seryn replied nonchalantly as he stood up and dusted himself off. "You mentioned we are traveling, yes?" "Yep, I''ll explain more on the way, but I first have to finish my business here," Rael said flatly. However, in the midst of his explanation, he felt a tap on his shoulder. And the moment he turned around, he saw Genzo staring at him, his arm trembling. "H-How much?" he asked. "How much do you value your health and taste buds?" Rael asked, narrowing his eyes. "Before you answer, I want you to really consider this. I''m not going to take a low-ball offer, so I''m only giving you one chance at this deal." "Fine, then¡ª" "Take a minute to decide," Rael cut him off, glancing into Genzo''s eyes with a faint smile. "Irrational decisions lead to unfortunate outcomes." "Hmm..." Seryn hummed from behind, getting Rael''s attention. "What?" Seryn shook his head. "It is nothing. You just remind me of a peddler I had slapped into the palace''s floor. He had tried robbing me¡ªunsuccessfully, of course." "Must''ve been a fun time," Rael snickered and waited patiently. Finally, the one minute was up, and after taking a deep breath, Genzo approached and stretched out his hand. Rael calmly accepted, and soon the offer appeared. 4 million Trell per seed, that''s more than I was expecting. I guess he''s an important figure, just as I expected, Rael thought, maintaining his poker face as he accepted the deal. <Confirmed.> <Balance Updated: +20,000,000 Trell | New Balance: 21,241,094 Trell> "It''s a pleasure doing business with you," Rael said warmly. "Grow them well, and I suggest you don''t lose them, as I highly doubt there are that many more left in this land." "I appreciate this more than you know, thank you," Genzo stated with a smile. "May I know your name?" "It''s Rael. Though I''d appreciate it if you don''t advertise my name around¡ªjust say you got this from elsewhere," Rael replied before turning around. "Anyways, I''m going to head out now. May we meet again some other time." "Of course. If you ever come to the Frostpire Bastion again, you will be welcomed with open arms," Genzo said as he, too, began making his way elsewhere. However, before he could walk too far, Rael couldn''t help but ask one question. "What do you do when The Beast awakens? With everything going on in this bastion, the amount of sound escaping is more than enough for it to home in on you." S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "We have a sound barrier surrounding this city. Whenever the pop-up appears, the barrier activates, and all sound is trapped inside. It works like a charm, as we haven''t had a single incident in years," Genzo replied with a chuckle. "I''m sorry, but I have to hand off the seeds to a potential gardener." With that, Genzo left in a sprint, leaving Rael and the bored Seryn behind. "I see..." Rael muttered. I guess it makes sense that after however many years have passed, they managed to counter it somehow. But it raised a question. Whenever a bonfire was lit, according to the system, it was supposed to hold up until the remaining bonfires were lit as well. So how were they put out in the past? Too many questions... so few answers, Rael grumbled and, alongside Seryn, made his way to the northern part of the city, where another giant gate awaited them. But without even having to ask, it was opened for them, and soon, they walked out. It was an interesting place. Though I can''t say I fit in, I don''t have to put my blood, sweat, and tears into crafting¡ªonly MP, Rael thought with a chuckle before summoning the car and getting in. Seryn did the same as he immediately fell asleep on the comfortable back seat. Bruh... Rael sighed and focused on the road. After all... It was finally time to head toward the second monument. Chapter 86 86: Fighting The Abomination "Dude, wake up," Rael said sternly. "You''re drooling on my seats." Seryn shot awake immediately. "My apologies. I was dreaming about my fianc¨¦e." "I''m sure you were, but could you do me one favor?" Rael asked. "As long as it is within my limits," Seryn replied. "Alright then, can you stop talking so formally with me? The first couple of times were funny and all, but now it''s getting a bit repetitive," Rael complained. "I get that you might''ve been raised in some noble family, but you''re just too stiff to talk to." "I see..." Seryn muttered. "I can try toning it down a notch then. Before joining the Blue Dragon sect, I was actually a beggar." Noticing the change in tone, Rael let out a sigh. "Good to know. Also, I think it''s about time I tell you what we''re doing here." Seryn nodded. "I''m listening." "I''m going to awaken the beast, so I need you to stay deathly silent," Rael explained flatly. "There are certain things I must do in order to get back to my lovely wife, and one of them is to light all the bonfires." "Come back... can I go back too then?" Seryn muttered, meeting Rael''s eyes. "Are you sure this''ll work?" Rael shrugged. "I can go back that way. I''m not sure about you, though. I guess we''ll find out after lighting all 10 of the bonfires." Before Seryn could say another word, Rael stepped out. Like before, a massive obelisk stood¡ªbut this time, there was a single unexpected guest. ¡ªPlague Abomination (Commander Class Elite) [Level 202] [3,448,240,000/3,448,240,000] (+1,000,000,000) It was a massive lump of black goo, with weird rotating eyes sticking out of every part of its ugly body. Safe to say, it looked disgusting. No surprise there, though, but it''s not going to be that hard to kill. His skills were upgraded a fair deal, and his stats had increased even more. So now, all he had to do was keep hitting the elite monster until it died. "Seryn, can you just stand by in the back for the time being? I want to deal with this thing on my own," Rael said, earning a nod from Seryn in response. "Suit yourself." With that, Rael prepared himself and took a few steps forward, until finally, he was around 35 meters away from the abomination. Despite its many eyes, he could tell it was blind, so without even wasting a single moment, he decided to pull out the big guns right from the start. [MP -1,070,000 2,359,600/3,429,600 (x2 Frostfire Tempest)] Two massive storms appeared right on top of the abomination, swirling in opposite directions, and surprisingly not canceling each other out. But of course, the abomination didn''t stand there and wait for the attack to chip away at its health. With its massive body, it began taking steady steps forward, seemingly not affected by the slowness of the storm. However, before it could leave the storm, Rael pulled out his Violin Blade and focused. He had always only thought of one element while hitting the string with his rapier. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fire. But what if he thought outside the box? His Frostfire Tempest skill was able to take chunks of HP out of enemies, so why couldn''t his Violin Blade do the same? Fuck it... doesn''t hurt to try... Rael thought, and in the very next moment, imagined a raging flame. At the same time, he gave the flame an effect to literally shred the HP of anything it hit. And in the very next instant, a completely red note flew out, heading straight for the abomination. However, that effect he was expecting never showed up in the note, and soon, it made contact with the monster. -3,801,739! Critical True Note! (1x Crystal Violin Blade) The damage was amplified by 5 times instead of 3... Rael pondered, watching as the abomination staggered back. Funnily enough, flames worked surprisingly well against its black goo, since it turned out to be highly flammable. But he wouldn''t settle with this. The monster had billions of HP, and he wasn''t about to fight it for hours. Obviously, his Frostfire Tempest was putting in the work, but he wouldn''t be able to see its damage until 25 seconds later. Until then, he had to try again. -3,341,429! Critical True Note! (1x Crystal Violin Blade) And again. -3,922,008! Critical True Note! (1x Crystal Violin Blade) That''s more than 5 times the damage... My skill is definitely increasing, but now, I need to put all of this shit into a good attack. After all... <Resonance: Max Stacks Reached!> <The next basic attack will do 50% more damage!> Here goes nothing... Rael took a deep breath and once again imagined a flame. Just this time, instead of adding something onto it, he decided to merge it together. The innate ability to deal flat % HP damage, as well as the attribute of flames, all in one. And the moment his rapier touched the red string, a sound unlike any other rang out. It was soothing, but if he focused on the sound, it almost felt like he''d be cut. And of course, the note, which was previously red, now had a tinge of silver to it. The note flew into the two storms, and in the very next instant, a vibrant silver flame burst outward, combining itself with the two storms and causing them to rapidly speed up their swirling speed. At the same time, the colors of both the swirling storms and the ice particles turned silver, flying rampantly, until finally, the storms dissipated slightly ahead of schedule. But it wasn''t because they were canceled. Instead... -517,236,000! Critical True Note! [15% HP Damage] (1x Crystal Violin Blade) -12,255,899! Critical True Note! (1x Crystal Violin Blade) -105,763,000! Critical Hit! (2x Frostfire Tempest) -2,413,768,000! True Burning Damage! [70% HP Damage] (2x Frostfire Tempest) Aha... Rael held back a laugh at this crazy amount of damage. He had managed to push the Crystal Violin Blade to its limits, which was a good thing, sure. But there was one issue. ¡ªPlague Abomination (Commander Class Elite) [Level 202] [388,151,935/3,448,240,000] (+1,000,000,000) That thing was still alive, and... <Note: Crystal Violin Blade (Unique-Rare) has less than 5% Durability remaining!> <Would you like to repair: Crystal Violin Blade (Unique-Rare)? Yes/No> <Cost: 1,500,000 MP> So I either cast a few storms and kill this thing or... Rael trailed off, a grin appearing on his face. [MP -1,500,000 759,000/3,429,600 (x1 Crystal Genesis)] <Crystal Violin Blade (Unique-Rare) has been repaired!> I wonder if that abomination has balls? Chapter 87 87: Finishing The Abomination Off And The Vessel Rael gripped his Violin Blade tighter. After all, he''d be fighting that thing fair and square, one-on-one. Therefore, he swiftly began tapping the red string. Notes flew out, each one colliding with the abomination''s massive body. -2,628,723! Critical Perfect Note! (3x Crystal Violin Blade) <Resonance: Max Stacks Reached!> <The next basic attack will do 50% more damage!> He didn''t go for True Notes just yet, since the proximity didn''t give him much time to imagine anything. However, all those attacks were aimed where he presumed the balls would be, and if the critical hit went through, then that meant he hit the bullseye. Rest in pieces, Rael prayed inwardly as the abomination finally closed in. It was massive, but surprisingly fast, and it soon struck down. Nonetheless, Rael stepped out of the way, dodging its giant fist. However, it seemed like the abomination''s intention wasn''t to attack him straight up, but to shatter the ground below. Pieces of black soil flew upward, knocking Rael off balance. However, he didn''t panic as he activated a skill he hadn''t used in a while. [MP -472,500 286,500/3,429,600 (x15 Fractured Prism)] Even though he hadn''t used it in a while, he could still safely say it was one of the more overpowered skills he had. And the damage was way more than he expected, too. -5,317,260! Critical Hit! (x15 Fractured Prism) Every single one of those shards headed for its balls, and obviously hit their mark. Good shit, but it still has an overwhelming amount of HP, Rael thought with a sigh. But of course, it managed to stagger the giant abomination just long enough for Rael to prepare his Violin Blade. Yet just as he was about to strike, the uneven ground shook, and in the very next moment, a tentacle shot out, grabbing hold of Rael''s foot. Strangely enough, he didn''t take damage. Instead... <Status Ailment: Hollow Touch (Level 1 ¡ú 2)> "You cocksucker..." Rael muttered, but the grin hadn''t vanished off his face. How dare you give me free stats? Please... no more¡ª <Status Ailment: Hollow Touch (Level 2 ¡ú 3)> Alright, enough masochist shit, Rael scoffed and used his rapier to separate the tentacles from his feet. The moment he did, the shards finally exploded. -3,548,850! Critical Hit! (x15 Fractured Prism) ¡ªAAAAAAAH Oh? Rael raised a brow. The abomination made a noise... that''s interesting. Despite that, he couldn''t care less about the abomination, or its lack of balls, as Rael focused up. And of course, before the abomination could even begin to approach, he tapped his red string. Rael replicated the sensation of his previous attack, but just slightly more refined, making sure his Violin Blade wouldn''t break. A slightly smaller note flew toward the monster compared to before, however, the moment it made contact with the abomination''s head, it suddenly ignited its entire body in silver flames. And soon... -9,118,747! Critical True Note! (1x Crystal Violin Blade) -367,538,352! Critical True Note! [10.65% HP Damage] (1x Crystal Violin Blade) <+8,760,177 Trell Acquired> <Level: 117 ¡ú 184> <+106,100 Trell Bonus> "What in the absolute fuck?" Rael''s eyes widened. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That was a lot. Like a fucking lot. That''s not even from a boss monster... a monster that level should give me around 29,000 experience, and if it''s an elite, then it increases by 600 times or so... it''s accurate... Rael was in disbelief. But not the bad type of disbelief¡ªif anything, he was really happy right now. However, before he could relish in that happiness, another popup appeared. <ERROR!> <The Depths have forbidden experience gain until you start the third part of the main quest: Find the Beast (Level ???)> <Would you like to start the third part of the quest? Yes/No> <Warning: This quest is a long-term quest, and could take upwards of a month!> He declined it quickly, and a surprising message appeared. <Instead of experience, the user will now receive stat points upon killing monsters!> That''s what I needed... Rael let out a sigh. It was still a little unbelievable, but he didn''t mind. I''m not the one in the loss here. Rael turned toward Seryn, who, instead of paying attention to the fight, was playing with Sweepus Prime. "Yo, I''m done here. I''m going to wake up The Beast now," Rael said, before walking over and storing the car, while also doing the same with Sweepus Prime. "Killjoy," Seryn grumbled. "That was some interesting fighting, and that weapon was also very unique. It reminds me of the zither, but the zither isn''t exactly a weapon¡ªmore of an instrument." "Yep, I''m still new at using the Violin Blade, so everything is a little crude." Rael chuckled, stepped toward the bonfire, and, after a quick glance around, spotted the torch. He picked it up and chucked it into the bonfire. Like last time, the familiar popups appeared. <Monument Detected: Gravefire Ritual - Inactive> <Whitewood Identified: Magic-Infused Ashroot (Extinct)> <Flame Source Required: Soulkindle Torch ¨C Incomplete Ritual> <Would you like to ignite the Gravefire? Yes/No> He accepted immediately, and soon, the giant golden ballsack descended from the obelisk, landing gently in his hands. I can''t get over this weird sensation, but eh, into the inventory you go, Rael hummed. <Monument Detected: Gravefire Ritual - Inactive ¡ú Active> <Total Monuments Lit: 2/10> <Flame will remain until all Monuments are lit.> <Received: 1 Ember> Now then, the most important part... <The Beast has awakened!> <The Depths have fallen silent!> <The Beast is lurking!> Lurking? Rael''s brow twitched as he felt a shiver run down his spine. He swiftly turned around and met Seryn''s eyes. However, instead of the annoying purple eyes he was used to seeing, they were currently pitch black. In fact, they looked nearly identical to the Beast''s eyes he had seen nearly a month ago. But just in case... ¡ªBastian Elowen Arcturus Seryn Thorne, The Vessel of the Beast (King Class Boss) [Level ????] [???/???] ...Gulp. "Human, what is it you are doing?" Despite the voice belonging to Seryn, Rael knew that wasn''t him. "Hands got cold, decided to light a fire, why?" Rael replied innocently. "I can share if you''d like?" "Hmm..." The Beast hummed as it looked at Rael''s body up and down as its eyes suddenly widened. But that was not all, as the pressure pressing down on Rael was a little... <Status Ailment: Hollow Touch (Level 3 ¡ú 6)> Intense. "Human..." The Beast muttered coldly as it began walking closer to him, its eyes radiating malice. "Why do you have Alune''s mark on you?" Chapter 88 88: Eating The Forbidden Nectar Rael tilted his head, puzzled. "...Who?" "Alune," the Beast repeated. "It is she who gave you the mark, correct?" "If you mean the Primordial Mark, then I''m not sure who gave it to me. I didn''t get a name," Rael replied with a shrug. "Hmm..." the Beast nodded. "I see. Thank you for the information. You may die now¡ª" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Just a moment." Rael cut in. "You gave me a quest. I need to find you, it says. That shit popped up out of nowhere, so you must know something about it, right?" "I don''t recall anything of the sort," the Beast replied flatly. "However, upon closer look, I can tell you''re not exactly human, are you? A crystal being of sorts with limited potential¡ªvery amusing. But as you can assume, interrupting my slumber has placed you on the list of people I must devour." The moment the Beast finished speaking, it suddenly lunged forward and grabbed Rael by the throat. He tried his best to resist, but the pressure bearing down on him was simply too much. This motherfucker is sturdy... but as bullshit as this quest may be, there has to be a clearing condition... Rael thought with a frown as he felt his throat being crushed. [HP -1,344,998! 731,002/2,076,000] Fuck... Alune... Alune... She''s either a friend, sister, or mother... Rael pondered before meeting the Beast''s black eyes and flashing a grin. "Alune just contacted me. She said she''d give you a massive scolding after you came back for killing her chosen one." The moment Rael''s words fell, the Beast froze. "Scold...?" the Beast muttered. "Alune would scold me? Is that true?" For some reason, the Beast seemed a bit excited, but Rael didn''t want to get ahead of himself now. "She did, but she also said that if you kill me, then she''s going to hate you forever and ever. That would suck a lot, wouldn''t it?" "You do have a point..." the Beast replied as it began easing up its grip. However, just as Rael thought he had gotten past the hard part, the Beast let out a laugh. "Pfft... Hahaha, you''re a very interesting comedian," the Beast remarked. "My daughter is not very vocal. She doesn''t even leave her room. That''s why Alune would not speak out against me, even if I were to kill you." ...Daughter? [HP -719,000! 12,002/2,076,000] Rael felt pain radiating from his neck throughout his entire body, yet he couldn''t do anything Escaping into his dungeon didn''t work either. <You must leave combat!> Then how about... <Would you like to cancel the opponent''s skill? Cost: 992,552,114,848 Trell> <Would you like to steal the opponent''s skill [??? (Omni)]? Cost: ERROR> Yep... fuck. Rael let out a sigh as he glanced into the Beast''s eyes once again. There was one last gamble he had, but it didn''t feel that relevant. Nonetheless, his desperation was evident, so Rael swiftly pulled out one of the Embers he received from lighting the bonfire, and in the very next moment, the Beast raised a brow. "You''ve received nourishment... interesting," the Beast muttered, its face morphing into a massive smile. "Eat it." "What? Don''t you want to eat it?" Rael asked, tilting his head. "I know it looks stupid, but I assure you, it should probably be nutritious..." "Take a bite. If you can survive, then I shall let you live," the Beast insisted, and as if it knew his exact HP amount, it tightened its grip on his neck. Immediately, a loud crack resounded, followed by... [HP -12,001! 1/2,076,000] <Warning! You''re about to die!> No fucking shit. He honestly expected to be panicking in a situation like this. But it simply felt... unreal? Rael could feel his life literally slipping away from him, but at the same time, he didn''t feel like he was truly dying. What a shit quest. Rael scoffed and tried to speak. However, his neck was fully broken now, and with it, his vocal cords. Once he met the Beast''s eyes, it tilted its chin toward the Ember, meaning he had two choices. Die, or eat the Ember. I''m going to turn this fucking thing into stir-fry once I''m stronger... Nonetheless, since the choice was obvious, Rael opened his mouth and slowly brought the Ember closer before biting into it. Immediately, a sweet sensation spread throughout his mouth, and to his surprise, he felt like he couldn''t resist taking another bite, and then another. After what felt like several minutes, Rael had completely devoured the Ember, and during that time, it seemed like his neck had fully recovered. But from the lack of pop-ups, he was slightly confused. And from the puzzled look on the Beast''s face, it seemed like it was too. "Well... I ate the thing. It was pretty delicious, if I''m being honest. You definitely missed out," Rael snickered, when all of a sudden, the Beast stretched out its hand and sent a flick Rael''s way. He couldn''t see the attack, but he could vaguely hear it. A sound attack, combining the wind element. Undodgeable. It soon hit his abdomen, completely knocking the air from his lungs. [HP -4,000,000! 2,076,000/6,076,000] 6 million? I got 4 million HP from that Ember? Rael thought, surprised. "I suppose a deal is a deal," the Beast commented. "An Ember is something only the monsters at Noble class and above can eat, so I''m truly surprised by your constitution. After all, it contains the souls of all those that had died in the Plague Lands." Rael''s eyes widened in shock. "The what¡ª?" <Ember of Life Consumed!> <+4,000 Strength> <+4,000 Agility> <+10,000 Constitution> <+5,000 Intelligence> <+5,000 Wisdom> "...What the fuck?" Is it because of my Experience being converted into stat points...? "It seems like you''ve received the memo," the Beast chuckled. "Your quest was something along the lines of come find me, correct?" "That''s the name of the main quest, yeah. The objective for this part is to find a way out of the Depths," Rael replied with a nod. "I see..." the Beast nodded. "So since I was supposedly the one who assigned you that quest, I can rightfully change its contents." The Beast coughed, clearing its throat. "Your new objective is to absorb all 10 of the Embers, and once you do, you are free to leave." <Journal Updated!> <Find The Beast - Part 2: Escape the Depths!> <Escape the Depths: Devour all 10 Embers of Life.> <Reward: Premium Perk Selection [Ultimate-Unique]> <Reward 2: Leave the Depths> Chapter 89 89: Chomp, Cure And Evolution <Journal Updated!> <Find The Beast - Part 2: Escape the Depths!> <Escape the Depths: Devour all 10 Embers of Life.> <Reward: Premium Perk Selection [Ultimate-Unique]> <Reward 2: Leave the Depths> "It should''ve updated, yes?" the Beast asked, and Rael nodded in response. "Yes... But weren''t you planning on killing me?" Rael said before waving his hands around. "Not that I want you to kill me, of course, but what''s with the change of heart?" "I''ve found an amusing individual, that is all," the Beast chuckled. "You''re nowhere close to Noble class, and yet you can consume souls without facing backlash. It''s simply extraordinary, and if I nip a talent like yours in the bud, then I''m losing out on a potential ally." For someone so strong, I''d assume it would want to enslave me or some weird shit... but ally? Rael thought with furrowed brows. "What are the conditions?" "Complete your quest, and we can have this talk again in the future," the Beast replied as it suddenly turned around and began walking away. "Wait a second," Rael called out. "This is real, right? Like this place, and me? Is this not a memory fragment?" "What else would it be if not real?" the Beast chuckled. "Let me guess, the quest mentioned time limits and effects? Something along the lines that if you do not do it now, then you will lose out on potential riches, correct?" Rael nodded, causing the Beast to shrug. "I can''t say what the me who had given you the quest had in mind. However, the current timeline is stable, and there have been no interferences, whether fragmented or not, so this is indeed reality." Before Rael could say a word, the Beast raised its hand. "This vessel is coming back, so I have to head out. I do want you to know that most of my graciousness is simply because Alune has taken an interest in you. For the time being, just grow stronger. I''ll be hearing from you very soon, I believe." The moment those words fell, a pop-up appeared, making Rael''s brows twitch. <The Beast has finished lurking!> <The Beast has successfully infected 1,452,112 souls in The Depths> <The Beast is satisfied, and returns to its slumber.> With a final wave, the Beast vanished, and now, Seryn was once again in control of his own body. But of course, since it had nearly been an hour, he fell backward, hitting the ground painfully. Rael didn''t even bother giving him a second glance. After all, the hints were all right there. Bastian Elowen Arcturus Seryn Thorne. Beast. The clue was literally out in the open, and he missed it. He really is a vessel, Rael thought with a sigh. It''s fine... the Beast is neutral for the moment, but now I have to deal with another matter. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Potions/Cure/Hollow Touch ?¡ªBalance: 30,107,371 Trell¡ª? ? Hollow Touch Source Cure (Epic): 5,000,000 Trell ¡ªHollow Touch Source Cure (Epic) Cures the Hollow Touch infection. Doesn''t work on individuals infected with Level 7 Hollow Touch and above. This was the same potion he had thought of buying for Roger, but had decided against it. However, as much of an adrenaline junkie as Rael was, he''d had about enough of that shit for today and didn''t exactly want to die. After all, his hands had the same disgusting black substance. And now, it was finally time to cash in, so Rael bought the potion and immediately drank it. <Status Ailment: Hollow Touch (Level 6) has been removed!> <+429 Strength> <+488 Agility> <+2179 Constitution> <+952 Intelligence> <+733 Wisdom> The stat gains were insane, but he couldn''t help but feel a little disappointed. After all, the Ember literally gave him nearly 10 times the amount. On that note, Rael swiftly pulled out the second Ember and stared at it for a moment. The souls of all the people who had died in the Plague Lands... It''s pretty fucked up, but I can either be a pussy about it, or use this opportunity, Rael thought with a sigh. And of course, Rael did the only logical thing here. He immediately dug in, and like before, he was met with that weird apple, strawberry, and even watermelon flavor. It was pretty much the tastiest fruit he had ever eaten. After he was finished, Rael immediately felt the stat gain as his muscles grew in density, and with that, the pop-ups. <Ember of Life Consumed!> <+3,500 Strength> <+3,500 Agility> <+9,000 Constitution> <+4,500 Intelligence> <+4,500 Wisdom> Less stats than last time, huh? Rael grumbled and took out his car before taking a seat in the back. He had a bit of free time until Seryn woke up, so he''d make the most of it. <Evolve Current Race: 10,000,000 Trell> Rael immediately pressed on it, and soon... <Success!> <Race Evolving! ETA: 1 Minute> 1 minute... I''m honestly not expecting much, maybe a long-range skill? On that note, I really need to max out my other skills too, Rael thought with a sigh, and after a minute had passed, he was greeted with the changes. Prism Sovereign (Mythic) ¡ªYou enter the territory of the highest-ranked crystal beings, receiving a specialized transformation, signifying your crystal authority. - Stat Gains: +500 Strength +500 Agility +1,000 Constitution +1,500 Intelligence - Trait Enhancements: Increased Crystal-based Damage: +100% ¡ú +200% Resistance to all types of Magic Damage: +35% ¡ú +40% Reduced Physical Damage Dealt: -10% ¡ú -5% - New Skills Gained: Radiant Transformation (Mythic) Hm? Rael tilted his head. That''s it? The stats were nice and all, however, for 10 million Trell, it was pretty shit. He could''ve just bought an item or something. But Rael decided to give it the benefit of the doubt and inspected the new skill he gained. And the moment he read through the description, his eyes widened. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Radiant Transformation: [Level 1 | 0/100] (Mythic) ¡ªEvoke your Sovereignty and transform into a Crystal overlord. 1. All stats increase by 100% 2. Crystal-Based Damage increases by 500% 3. Heal 5% of total HP every 3 seconds during transformation 4. All Crystal Constructs within range have their damage increased by 100% Transformation Duration: 60 seconds Cost: 75% MP Cooldown: 12 Hours For a skill that simple, it sure was fucking overpowered. Now, he didn''t even feel like it was a dud anymore. Guess my luck isn''t that shit after all, Rael thought, snickering. Nonetheless, the basic prep was done, and now, the only thing left was to check his status. *** A/N: Minor HP miscalculation in the previous chapter, it has been fixed now. Chapter 90 90: Massive Stat Upgrade, Snow Zone, and Setting off For The Monument ?¡ªStats¡ª? Health Points (HP): [2,076,000/2,076,000] (+50,000) ¡ú [10,947,600/10,947,600] (+50,000) Mana Points (MP): [3,429,600/3,429,600] (+1,100,000) ¡ú [8,210,400/8,210,400] (+1,100,000) Strength: 2,382 (+1,652) ¡ú 10,811 (+1,652) Agility: 2,352 (+1,652) ¡ú 10,840 (+1,652) Constitution: 5,065 (+3,844) ¡ú 27,244 (+3,844) Intelligence: 5,824 (+3,869) ¡ú 17,776 (+3,869) Wisdom: 3,601 (+3,243) ¡ú 13,834 (+3,243) Charisma: 2,400 ?¡ªAdvanced Stats¡ª? Spell Power (SP): 25,032 (+1,736) ¡ú 72,840 (+1,736) Attack Power (AP): 11,264 (+1,736) ¡ú 44,980 (+1,736) Movement Speed Increase: 1,176% ¡ú 5,420% Critical Hit Damage Increase: 185.05% (+5%) ¡ú 696.7% (+5%) +200% Increased Crystal-based Attack Damage +40% Resistance to all types of Magic Damage -5% Reduced Physical Damage Dealt Armor Effects: +16% All Magic Damage Increase ?¡ªSkills¡ª? Crystal Genesis: [Level 120 | 596/130,857] (Pseudo-Legendary) Frostfire Tempest: [Level 100 | MAX] (Epic) Basic Flameforged Arts: [Level 100 | MAX] (Uncommon - Upgrade Available!) Fractured Prism: [Level 100 | MAX] (Uncommon) <Expand [+8 Skills]> ?¡ªOfficial Launch¡ª? Time until V1.0 Release: 129 Days ?¡ª¡ª? His skills had reached their maximum level, simply because each of them played a part in killing the Abomination. Broken ass game, but hey, I don''t mind. I''m curious how things will proceed after Sketa Online actually releases. Rael wondered before dismissing that thought. There were still a bunch of days left until then, and for now, he wanted to focus on the main task at hand. Which, of course, was the main quest and lighting the remaining bonfires. Even with the reductions, my stats should be in the 30,000 range by the time I''m done. That means I''m going to be stronger than Linlin at the very least. Rael hummed as he stepped out of the car and walked over to Seryn. It seemed like he was slowly starting to get up, so Rael sped up the process by taking Sweepus Prime out of storage and throwing it on top of Seryn. Immediately, Sweepus Prime began bonking Seryn over the head with a makeshift broom, until finally, Seryn woke up and pushed Sweepus Prime away. "Good morning," Rael nodded at him. "You slept like a baby. Do you remember anything?" "You killed the monster... and nothing," Seryn replied, rubbing his forehead. "I think I dreamt of my fianc¨¦e again." "I''m sure it was a pleasant dream," Rael added with a smile. But deep down, he was a bit wary. Seryn was the Beast''s vessel, and Rael had begun to doubt the existence of this so-called fianc¨¦e. I''m not going to mention it... the last thing I need is this guy breaking down and killing himself, Rael thought with a sigh as he pointed to the car. "Get in. We''re going to get moving, and from here on out, I''m going to speed up the pace a bit, alright?" Rael said, earning a nod from Seryn. "I don''t mind," Seryn stood up and groggily walked toward the car before taking a seat in the back. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Meanwhile, Rael opened his map and decided to head toward the monument far down south of where he was. However, just as he was about to close the map, he spotted something interesting. To the right of the monument he was currently at, there was another road leading toward a different area. And it''s not that far away... Safe to say, he''d be taking a detour, and his plan of speeding up had already fallen apart. Nonetheless, he stashed Sweepus Prime in the front seat and stepped on the gas pedal. The road seemed much cleaner, and even the black goo that was stuck to the ground began dispersing. Snow-capped mountains surrounded him on either side, and from his current position, he could see far to the east. And it was definitely a surprising sight. Snow extended as far as the eye could see, and in the very middle of the area, a colossal tree rose into the sky. It was so high up that he could just barely see the massive top, which seemed to extend across this entire snowy area. However, just as he was about to check it out further, a surprising pop-up appeared. <Warning!> <Ghastly Lands: Recommended Level - 750> <Recommendation: Turn back.> Say less. Rael immediately turned the car around and fucked right off. Once again, he wasn''t suicidal, and while it was a cool snow area, he''d be swatted away like a bug by any monster and be killed instantly. But despite that, he headed back down toward the Frostpire Bastion, and upon arriving, he was met with a rather lively atmosphere. Rael tilted his head. It''s been only a few hours, are they having a party? "Are we going to check it out?" Seryn asked, and Rael nodded. "We can go around, but I''d much rather pass through the Bastion. So yeah, let''s go." With that, the two stepped out of the car, and Rael stored the car and Sweepus Prime, before approaching the gates. Without him needing to say a word, the gates opened, and in the very next moment, he saw a happy Genzo stride over to him. "...Were you waiting for me or something?" Rael asked, a shiver running down his spine. "Nope, I was just on the right side of the Bastion, and I just so happened to notice your transportation in the distance," Genzo replied innocently. "On the other hand, want to try this?" He stretched out a bowl, which had some weird soup in it. The color was off, and the soup was filled with odd purple spikes, which caused Rael''s expression to darken. "Are you trying to poison me?" Genzo chuckled, shaking his head. "It''s the seed you gave us. It seems to grow nearly instantly when planted in soil and exposed to the moon. I''m really thankful for this, Rael." "I see..." Rael trailed off, giving the soup one last glance. "You can keep it, though. I already ate. You wouldn''t mind if we exit from the other side, would you?" "Of course not, go ahead," Genzo let them pass. However, before they got too far, Genzo suddenly coughed, getting Rael''s attention. "I have a question," Genzo said, his expression serious. "Were you the ones who lit the monument?" Rael''s poker face didn''t budge even a little. "It wasn''t us." Genzo stared him down for a moment before once again chuckling. "That''s good, because if it was you, then I would''ve had to kill you. But thankfully it wasn''t you, right?" Guess he''s repaying that favor by not doing anything drastic... "Yep. Good chat, Genzo, but we''re on a timer," Rael cut the conversation short as he began walking forward. "See you next time, if you''re still alive, that is." "I''m only 27, so I''ll be waiting," Genzo replied with a grin and turned to his guards before walking away alongside them. In the meantime, Rael was shocked. He''s 27? He looks fucking 72. Nonetheless, with Seryn occasionally checking out some wares, the two finally arrived on the other end of the Bastion, where the gates opened once again. Rael immediately took out his car and got in. Then, with Seryn in the backseat, he sped toward the closest monument. My precious stats... I''m coming. Chapter 91 91: Third Monument And Sketa "Huh?" Rael stepped out of the car, his brows furrowed. Sure, he had arrived at the monument, but what was this shit? There were no monsters, and on the ground, he could see a sentence carved out of blood. ''Took care of the nuisances in this area, no need to thank me.'' What bullshit... Rael trailed off, spotting an extremely small text slightly below. ''P.S. Don''t take this for granted, I''m only doing this for Alune.'' Rael facepalmed in annoyance. A tsundere... it''s over... He was a bit disheartened, after all, those monsters would''ve given him quite a few stats if he''d killed them himself. Alas... that future stir-fry killed them all, and now the only thing I get is the Ember, Rael thought with a sigh before walking over to the bonfire. Very conveniently, the torch was already placed right in front of him, almost as if it were begging him to pick it up. Rael''s brows twitched as he turned toward his curious travel companion. "Seryn, I want you to try remembering what''s about to happen, alright?" "And what''s about to happen?" Seryn asked with a tilt of his head. However, instead of answering, Rael simply picked up the torch and tossed it inside the bonfire. <Monument Detected: Gravefire Ritual - Inactive> <Whitewood Identified: Magic-Infused Ashroot (Extinct)> <Flame Source Required: Soulkindle Torch ¨C Incomplete Ritual> <Would you like to ignite the Gravefire? Yes/No> "Yep, and Seryn, remember, stay conscious. Do you remember what I told you in the car?" Rael asked. "Think about my fianc¨¦e and how I will see her soon?" Seryn recalled. "That one. Do your best. I promise you it will be worth it." Soon, the obelisk opened up, and like before, the Ember descended right into Rael''s hands. <Monument Detected: Gravefire Ritual - Inactive ¡ú Active> <Total Monuments Lit: 3/10> <Flame will remain until all Monuments are lit.> <Received: 1 Ember> Nice, Rael hummed, and without wasting a moment, chomped down on the delicious Ember. And after just a few moments of feasting, he was done. <Ember of Life Consumed!> <+3,000 Strength> <+3,000 Agility> <+8,000 Constitution> <+4,000 Intelligence> <+4,000 Wisdom> Following that, however, the Beast once again emerged. <The Beast has awakened!> <The Depths have fallen silent!> <The Beast is Feeding!> Feeding? That''s also a new one... I wonder which one this is, Rael pondered, turning to Seryn, who, like last time, was staring at him with black eyes. "What does feeding mean?" Rael asked, curious. The Beast clicked its tongue, ignoring his question. "Not even a hello? Even after I gave you that freebie?" "I didn''t ask for the freebie. If anything, that freebie of yours made me get less stats," Rael grumbled. "So you want me to leave the monuments alone then?" The Beast tilted its head, earning a nod from Rael. "Hmm... I see. Very well then, I''ll let you do your thing in the next monuments," the Beast said as a sadistic smile formed on its face. "There will be a worthy opponent you''ll face at the end of your current journey. I call her Bertha. She''s very lovely." Rael didn''t need to be a genius to clock who the Beast had in mind. "That massive spider?" The Beast raised a brow. "Oh? I guess you knew Bertha after all. Good, then you won''t have to share any pleasantries with her and can get to killing each other immediately." As the Beast finished its words, it burst into a fit of laughter that was interrupted by Rael''s curiosity. It had been exactly a month since he had arrived in the Sketa Online world, so naturally... "Have you ever heard of such a thing called Sketa Online?" Rael asked. However, the Beast merely tilted its head. "Sketa? Doesn''t it translate to Wanderer? I don''t believe I''ve heard of that before." Hmm...? Rael''s brows furrowed. "It''s something related to world crossing and stuff. They refer to themselves as travelers, I believe. They''ve recently entered the Dralgur Continent, and are mainly roaming around Celestara as well as Yrgon." The Beast nodded a few times before closing its eyes. A short silence ensued, but it was broken by the Beast''s chuckle. "I see. They''re immortals from the distant lands. There was a fuss about them around 400 or so years ago," the Beast stated. "I didn''t pay much attention since it had nothing to do with me, but Alune did tell me they have the capabilities to reach my level, and even kill me, so that sole memory did stick with me." "Is that all you know?" Rael pushed. "Sadly, yes," the Beast replied flatly. "There''s someone very high up in the food chain pulling the strings, that much I''m certain of." Interesting... so Sketa Online could just be a cover-up for something much bigger... Rael trailed off before letting out a sigh. "Thanks for the intel. Even if you didn''t know much, it was pretty helpful," Rael said, earning a chuckle from the Beast. "Alune did mention you being peculiar. I expected you to be afraid of me, considering I nearly killed you last time." "If you wanted to kill me, you would''ve done so earlier." Rael shrugged. "Anyways, one more question if you don''t mind. Seryn''s body¡ªis it real? Or did you implant those loving fianc¨¦e memories into him?" The Beast smiled. "Well, if I had to respond truthfully, then¡ª" <The Beast has finished feeding!> <The Beast has successfully corrupted 302,947,664 souls in The Depths> <The Beast is satisfied, and returns to its slumber.> "Whoops, guess it''s time to go. See ya." The Beast waved, and in the very next moment, its black eyes disappeared, replaced with Seryn''s casual purple eyes. However, unlike last time, he didn''t fall down¡ªjust staggered a little. The fucker left early and cliffhangered me again, Rael sighed, walking up to Seryn and giving him a helping hand. "You alright?" "Dizzy..." Seryn replied as he let out a low groan. "I couldn''t see anything... The moment you threw that torch inside the bonfire, my vision turned dark." Rael raised a brow. "But?" "But... I could still feel my body, even my mouth moving, yet I couldn''t make out the words. It was strange," Seryn said. "I see..." Rael nodded as he brought Seryn back to the car and placed him in the back seat. "We''re going to head out right away. There''s a city called Karnyx. It looks pretty lively from what I can see on the map, so that''s our next destination." "Sure, and don''t worry, I''ll still pay you, just as I promised," Seryn added and closed his eyes. And in the very next moment, he fell asleep. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He really sleeps a lot. Rael chuckled and got into the front seat. His destination? Karnyx, and the Abandoned Magic Tower. Even so, he had one lingering worry since it was so quiet. I just hope the black sea serpent doesn''t come out and jump us... Chapter 92 92: Totally Small Upgrades, And Fourth Monument Rael didn''t believe in jinxing himself. He really didn''t. And of course, his words didn''t come back to bite him in the ass this time. Rael crossed the bridge and slowly made his way up the side of the mountain before finally arriving back where he started. To the south was the abandoned lighthouse, and to the north was the monument as well as Karnyx. Therefore, Rael swiftly made his way there while putting the car on autopilot. Meanwhile, he turned toward Seryn, who had been muttering some gibberish he couldn''t understand. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Man, if you''re hungry, just say so. I''ll get you some food." "It''s not that." Seryn shook his head. "I''m trying to mimic the mouth movements of whoever was controlling my body." Rael raised a brow in interest. "Oh, so you know you were being controlled?" "After I had a good look, I found some irregularities in my mind," Seryn replied. "I''ve lost consciousness four times now, and each time, there was a gap in my memory. This time, it only confirmed my earlier suspicions." "I see..." Rael nodded with a sigh. "It must suck, though, I hope you get through it." "Me too... I''ve felt my Dantian stir much more violently than before, almost as if my fianc¨¦e was in danger... I need to go back... I need to help her," Seryn muttered. Yeah... I''m really not sure if his fianc¨¦e is legit or not now. He hasn''t even mentioned her name once, Rael thought, leaning back in his seat and deciding to check one thing in particular. Resonant Duelist: [Level 40 | 1500/25,298] (Legendary) 1. Symphony: Landing a Perfect ¡ú True Note Attack grants +2% ¡ú 20% Critical Hit Damage for 10 seconds, stacking up to 200% ¡ú 1000%. This effect ends once a note is missed, or no attack is made within 10 seconds. 2. Crescendo: Every third True Note creates an Echo Hit that strikes 0.5s later for 40% of the original damage. Critical True Notes cause Echo Hits to slow the target by 25% for 3 seconds. (Doesn''t stack) 3. ??? 4. ??? 5. ??? <Note: Skill options are locked due to the low level of the skill!> <Note 2: Every 20 levels, you will unlock a skill option!> It was pretty strong, and even Symphony had grown stronger, so now, it actually became viable. And of course, there was one more matter at hand¡ªthe one which had increased his damage significantly. ¡ªBasic Flameforged Arts (Uncommon) [Level 23 ¡ú 100 | MAX] Increases attack accuracy by 69% ¡ú 223% and damage by 118% ¡ú 426% for all weapons. If the weapon is infused with the Fire element, damage increases by 354% ¡ú 1278% instead. <Upgrade to Rare Rank Available!> <Cost: 1,000,000 Trell> Rael didn''t even bat an eye and purchased it. However, to his surprise, another pop-up appeared. <Would you like to retain the level? Cost: 5,000,000 Trell> <Note: If the user chooses this option, the skill''s level cap would increase to 200> Wait... so I''d be getting a maxed-out skill with the potential to have it even more broken? Fuck it... why not. Rael thought, and swiftly accepted. Just a few seconds later, it reappeared, and of course, its upgrades were definitely worth it. Intermediate Flameforged Arts (Rare) [Level 100 | 0/100,000 XP] 1. Increases attack accuracy by 332% and weapon damage by 644%. 2. When using Fire-element weapons or abilities, the damage bonus increases to 3,220%. 3. Critical hits with Fire-infused attacks apply a burn that deals 5% of the attack''s damage per second for 5 seconds. Refreshes with each Critical Hit. <Upgrade to Epic Rank will become available upon reaching Level 200 on this skill.> Well, I''ll be fucking damned, Rael whistled. After a few quick calculations, he estimated that with a True Note, his potential damage could exceed 100 million. That''s definitely a step up, and if I combine that with my other skills and several elements... yeah... Rael leaned back even further. I''m definitely fucking overpowered. However, in the midst of his internal gloating, he saw Sweepus Prime''s hand reach over to the steering wheel before suddenly turning it. The moment it did, Rael''s eyes widened. He had already arrived at the monument below Karnyx, and Sweepus Prime had turned the wheel away from the horde of monsters. ¡ªBlood Sucker (x89) [Level 157] [2,464,900/2,464,900 HP] ¡ªNight Pounder (x32) [Level 208] [4,326,400/4,326,400 HP] The Blood Suckers seemed to be giant mosquitoes, and the Night Pounders were literally some chest-like monsters resembling mimics. Each time a Night Pounder opened its mouth, a loud creak resounded, and since there were so many of them, it was a bit annoying. I fucking hate mosquitoes... Rael sighed, storing Sweepus Prime and signaling for Seryn to get out. Then, he put the car into his inventory and stretched his back. "Karnyx is around five kilometers away or so, we''ll go there right after this is done," Rael said, earning a nod from Seryn. "Let me fight some of them too this time," Seryn insisted, his expression determined. As much as I want to be a dick and hog all the stats, the guy is literally going through a midlife crisis, so I''ll spare him a few... Rael thought, nodding. "Take 20 of those ugly mosquitoes, leave the rest to me." "Of course," Seryn grinned, and in the very next moment, vanished, leaving behind only a single trace of lightning before reappearing right beside a pack of Blood Suckers. And to Rael''s surprise, Seryn sent out a momentum-filled wave of lightning using his fist, obliterating a line of Blood Suckers in an instant. "My bad..." Seryn scratched his head innocently. "I got 40 of them by accident." "..." Rael merely stared at Seryn in silence before stepping up and whipping out his Violin Blade. By now, the monsters were on high alert, but Rael didn''t care as he took a deep breath and thought of something a little different than before. He had always imagined a flame that was hot, but what if he added properties to it? The percentage HP damage was one such application, but he didn''t need that for such weak monsters. Therefore... Ugly fucks, why don''t I just purify you? Chapter 93 93: Very Successful Purification And A Warm Welcome Purify... purify... let''s see... Rael trailed off as he imagined the same scorching flames as before, but added the sub-element of light. Of course, he thought he did, but when he hit the red string with his rapier, a dull sound rang out, followed by a note that resembled raging green flames shooting toward one of the Night Pounders. And of course, it soon hit. -65,553,808! Instant Kill! (1x Crystal Violin Blade) <Night Pounder [Level 208] Killed! Experience: Null> <+30,244 Trell Acquired> <+54 Strength> <+22 Agility> <+77 Constitution> <+9 Intelligence> <+10 Wisdom> <Resonant Duelist: +1,000 Experience> That wasn''t it... all I did was change the color of the flame, Rael thought with a sigh, dismissing all the annoying pop-ups. Sure, he had killed the monster, but what he was really going for was an attack that would purify it without doing damage. Ideally... After all, he had a sneaking suspicion that these monsters were simply people who had reached the final stages of the Hollow Touch ailment. Nonetheless, Rael was about to try again with a slightly different method, but before he could, Seryn spoke up. "I''m not sure what you did just then. However, why not make the attack similar to my lightning?" "What are you on about?" Rael asked, his brows furrowed. Seryn shrugged. "You have some degree of control over that attack, right? So why not make it chain between the monsters?" "Hmm..." Rael fell into thought, and after just a few seconds, nodded. That could work... However, combining fire, chain lightning, and purification seemed to be something he couldn''t do at his current level. But... It doesn''t hurt to try. Therefore, Rael focused, while at the same time dodging an incoming mosquito before slapping it over the head with the hilt of his rapier, making its body explode into bits. "Boop." -9,876,608! Critical Hit! (1x Crystal Violin Blade) <Blood Sucker [Level 157] Killed! Experience: Null> <+21,579 Trell Acquired> <+27 Strength> <+14 Agility> <+52 Constitution> <+18 Intelligence> <+18 Wisdom> Immediately, Rael turned to the rest of the mosquitoes and Night Pounders before swiftly tapping the red string. He had imagined a weak fire, which had the properties of purifying and the arcing of lightning. However... <Warning: The Red String is not meant for purification, only attacking. Prolonged attempts will permanently damage this weapon''s future potential.> S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rael snapped out of the visualization and sent out a sloppy attack, which he didn''t even bother to control, making it fly up into the sky and disperse. God fucking damn it... I knew there was something like that, Rael thought with a grumble. The Green String on the old man''s Violin Blade had healed, so technically, if he were to combine the red and green strings, he could produce a purifying attack. Of course, he only had a single string currently, the Red string, plus a potential black string stashed away in his inventory for later. If only there was one string which could do it all... Though maybe there is, but I still wouldn''t be strong enough to wield it properly. With those thoughts, he decided to change his approach. If he couldn''t purify them without fucking up his weapon, then he wouldn''t purify them at all. Therefore, Rael took a deep breath and went back to the basics before sending out a low note. However, that note soon expanded, turning into a massive flaming soundwave that resembled an actual tidal wave. And before the monsters even knew what hit them, the wave swept through their bodies, making them contort as fire began melting them down at a rapid pace. Not even a second later, all the remaining mosquitoes and Night Pounders were burnt to a crisp, leaving nothing but stats and money. -2,808,750,832! Instant Kill! [x79] (1x Crystal Violin Blade) <Night Pounder (x31) [Level 208] Killed! Experience: Null> <+937,564 Trell Acquired> <Blood Sucker (x48) [Level 157] Killed! Experience: Null> <+1,035,792 Trell Acquired> <+2,970 Strength> <+1,354 Agility> <+4,883 Constitution> <+1,143 Intelligence> <+1,174 Wisdom> <Resonant Duelist: +1,000 Experience> It was a pity Resonant Duelist only gave him experience per note, else he would''ve leveled it up a bunch. Aside from that, the monsters were dead now, with Rael putting in barely any effort. "That was impressive," Seryn remarked, turning to the obelisk. "Are you going to do it again?" "Yep." Rael nodded, storing his Violin Blade and heading toward the bonfire. It took him only a few minutes to spot the torch, which had been hidden behind the obelisk, so he swiftly picked it up and tossed it into the bonfire. He clicked through the same old pop-ups until, finally... <Monument Detected: Gravefire Ritual - Inactive ¡ú Active> <Total Monuments Lit: 4/10> <Flame will remain until all Monuments are lit.> <Received: 1 Ember> The Ember descended from the obelisk, and Rael immediately began munching on it, finding the flavor more delicious than last time. But sadly, despite it being tastier, the stats it gave were lower. <Ember of Life Consumed!> <+2,500 Strength> <+2,500 Agility> <+7,000 Constitution> <+3,500 Intelligence> <+3,500 Wisdom> Still not bad though, Rael nodded to himself as he prepared for the Beast to arrive. However, even after several seconds¡ªwhich had turned to minutes¡ªnothing happened. Did it get bored...? "Guess you''re fine for now. Let''s head straight to Karnyx," Rael said as he took out his car again. "I see, okay," Seryn replied, quickly getting in the back. Rael soon entered as well and began speeding toward the city on autopilot. In the meantime, he wanted to figure something out. "What is the name of your fianc¨¦e, if you don''t mind sharing?" Seryn tilted his head. "Haiyan. Why?" "No reason..." Rael trailed off. "What does she look like?" "Beautiful," Seryn stated flatly, his brows starting to furrow. "Don''t get any funny ideas." Rael sighed. "Dude, I told you I have a wife. Aside from that, think about her features, her voice, and all that stuff in the next monument we visit, alright?" "Sure," Seryn nodded before pointing forward. Rael flicked his head back, scared of falling off a cliff again. But instead of that, several shabby skyscrapers entered his sight. They weren''t advanced by any means, as he couldn''t spot even a hint of technology. However, the fact that they were able to make such towers from wood and stone was pretty impressive. On top of them, he spotted several scouts holding bows, which were aimed toward the car. They''re not going to...? Right? Rael tried to convince himself, but soon, they let go of their bowstrings, sending a barrage of arrows flying toward the car. You''ve got to be fucking kidding me. Chapter 94 94: Bonking The Empress (Not literally) <Emergency detected!> <Automatically using: Temporal Drift Mode!> <Rewinding the car''s time by 5 seconds!> Fuck. Rael turned the wheel, avoiding the row of arrows that were heading his way. It was just his luck to get into a misunderstanding before even meeting a single person. There was also the off-chance that Karnyx just really, really hated new visitors. "Seryn, could you do me a little favor?" Rael asked nicely. "Could you wave this around?" Seryn''s brows twitched as he grabbed hold of the object Rael had given him. "A white flag...?" "Yep. Wave that shit, we surrender," Rael affirmed. Thankfully, flags didn''t cost a fortune, so he purchased one for 100 Trell. Seryn sighed as he rolled down the window and began waving the flag. Meanwhile, Rael got back to focusing on the road. Yet not even a second later, Seryn tapped his shoulder before showing the state the flag was in. "I think they hate white flags," Seryn remarked before tossing the flag out the window and swiftly rolling the window back up. "Haha... just fucking amazing," Rael laughed, annoyed. He could keep going as the car would continuously reverse its time, making it easier to dodge the attacks. However... <Warning!> <The REwinder''s Temporal Functions are being overloaded!> S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. <Further usage will result in self-destruction!> "Seryn, we''re getting out," Rael announced, suddenly storing the car mid-motion. The moment he did, he skidded across the ground, meeting a volley of arrows heading straight for him. However, before they could connect, he used his trusty defensive skill. [MP -225,000 11,453,400/11,678,400 (x1 Prismatic Bastion)] <+300,000 Barrier HP> Soon, the arrows descended on him, however... [HP -0! (274,000 Absorbed) 18,952,400/18,952,400] (x215 Arrows) Hmm? Rael tilted his head. Around 1,300 damage per person...? Just how weak are they? It was a good thing his Prismatic Bastion couldn''t retaliate with the absorbed attacks; otherwise, each one of them would be dead. "Seryn, are you alright¡ªyou''re fine." Rael facepalmed. The fucker was literally dancing around the arrows, even managing to catch a few. "Hm?" Seryn suddenly halted, swatting away an arrow heading for his face. "They''re pretty weak." "Yeah, no shit." Rael snickered as they finally broke through his absorption shield. [HP -120,785! (26,000 Absorbed) 18,831,615/18,952,400] (x98 Arrows) It felt like he was stepping on miniature Legos, just with his entire body. Since it didn''t hurt as much as he expected, he merely recast the skill. [MP -310,000 11,143,400/11,678,400 (x1 Prismatic Bastion)] <+470,000 Barrier HP> Wait, what? Rael''s eyes widened. His skill had leveled up way too much for just this amount of damage, so out of curiosity, he decided to check its current stats. Prismatic Bastion: [Level 33 | 242/18,957] (Legendary) ¡ªSummon an adaptive crystalline barrier that absorbs incoming attacks and retaliates with refracted energy blasts. Absorption: Reduces all incoming damage by 50% as long as the Barrier is still up. Retaliation: Releases an energy burst dealing 33,000 Crystal Damage per absorbed hit. Barrier HP: 470,000 Duration: 45 Seconds. Cost: 310,000 MP I understand it now... Rael sighed. This skill, like some of my other skills, has different ways of leveling up. So this gets more experience the more hits it absorbs... He wasn''t having any funny ideas. Definitely not. But the ground did look a little brighter than before, maybe just a slight speck... or two? [HP -0! (440,000 Absorbed) 18,831,615/18,952,400] (x552 Arrows) "You seem to be enjoying yourself," Seryn remarked. "My fianc¨¦e had said there were some people who liked pain, but it''s my first time seeing it in person." "Good for you, man," Rael scoffed. "I''m not exactly enjoying this or anything. In fact, I''m not even feeling any pain." "Okay." Seryn nodded innocently before turning toward the incoming arrows and gracefully dodging them again. Yep, he doesn''t believe me. What a surprise. Rael thought, when, all of a sudden, the arrows stopped coming. He was a bit disappointed, since this volley managed to bring his Prismatic Bastion skill all the way to level 52. A couple dozen more, and he''d max it out. However, Rael saw a few people exit the city of Karnyx, which surprisingly didn''t have even a single wall surrounding it. But I guess that''s not necessary when they have such a long range defense, Rael whistled as he walked toward the approaching group. And soon, they met face to face. In total, there were four soldiers and a single black-haired woman wearing a crown and a silver suit of armor. She approached before extending her hand, as if asking for a handshake. Rael tilted his head and accepted it. "Nice to meet you?" The woman nodded. "Empress Caedia Ravaryn. That is my name." "King Rael Sutekh," he replied playfully. "But what exactly are you the empress of? This small city?" Caedia''s brows furrowed as she suddenly unsheathed her sword, pointing it straight at his neck. "I''ve come here to end your life since my soldiers could not." "So what''s with the handshake then? Do you always do this before killing someone?" Rael asked, but she ignored him. Immediately, Caedia raised her sword high into the air and swung down, trying to sever Rael in half. However... [MP -405,000 10,738,400/11,678,400 (x1 Prismatic Bastion)] <+660,000 Barrier HP> [HP -0! (589,122 Absorbed) 18,831,615/18,952,400] Her sword bounced off as her eyes widened. But before she could process what had just happened, Rael leaned in and delivered a gentle punch toward her liver. -1,492,363! Critical Hit! (Melee) Caedia''s expression crumbled, turning contorted as she suddenly dropped to one knee, gripping her sword and trying her best not to topple over. "Surprised your liver didn''t explode there." Rael chuckled. "Anyways... these fists don''t discriminate between man and woman, so I''d appreciate it if you don''t go attacking me again." She glared at him for a moment before gesturing some weird hand signal to the four nearby guards. In the very next moment, they lunged toward Rael, their swords drawn. But he didn''t panic as he took out only his rapier and swiftly thrust it, skewering two of the soldiers'' throats straight through their arteries. -21,008,118! Instant Kill! [x2] (x1 Crystal Violin Blade) Meanwhile, Seryn handled the other two, blasting their heads off with a single lightning-infused kick. Rael flicked the blood off his rapier as he approached Caedia, lifting her chin up with the tip of the blade and staring coldly into her brown eyes. "Now then, ''Empress'' Caedia Ravaryn, I believe we need to have a little chat." Chapter 95 95: Keys And Mommy She glared at him fiercely, causing him to let out a sigh. "If you''re going to make this difficult, then you''ll end up just like your soldiers." "You killed them... why...?" Caedia muttered, causing his brows to furrow. "I''m not a Saint, and I was attacked first for no reason." Rael glanced toward the city, noticing a bit of smoke rising. "But my guess is, you''re not exactly from around here, are you?" She had a weird accent, and her skin was slightly more toned than the rest of the people he had seen in this land. Aside from Karnyx and the Frostpire Bastion, there was still Halcyra to the west, Volkrath and Kurozan to the north. They had ships, meaning they could get over to this side, so naturally... "Did you invade this city?" Rael asked flatly. Instead of replying, she looked to the ground, trying her best to hide her expression. "..." Rael was getting tired of her antics, so he turned to Seryn. "If you don''t mind, could you take a look around inside the city? There should be a coast to the left¡ªcheck if there''s a ship." "I''m not your errand boy, but since I did say I would be exploring, I''ll do it," Seryn stated as he shot both the Empress and Rael one final glance. "I''ll be back in a bit." Rael waved him off and crouched down, his face meeting hers. "I want you to take your soldiers and fuck off to where you came from. Can you do that?" Caedia flinched. "I-If I come back empty-handed, I will be killed..." So she is an invader. Thankfully, my edgelord roleplay from good ol'' middle school days still works, Rael thought, relieved. Inwardly, he was shaken. He had just killed two people¡ªnot monsters, but humans. And as much as he wanted to play it off as a joke and this being a game, he couldn''t. There was a bit of guilt, but deep down, he knew something like this was bound to happen eventually, so it was better sooner than later. At the same time... <Emergency! Temporarily dulling all emotions!> <Would you like to turn the emergency setting off? Yes/No> Nope, I''ll keep it on for a bit longer. Rael nodded to himself and put on his fake cold killer persona. Well... a greedy cold killer. "You will not be leaving empty-handed. You can have whatever you want from this city. However, I want all the money you''ve got. Every last bit." Caedia''s eyes beamed. "Is money truly all you wish for?" Rael tilted his head. "Why? Do you have something better to offer?" "N-Not exactly..." Caedia swiftly shook her head. However, he wasn''t convinced. "Tell me, or I''ll kill every single person inside that city, including your soldiers." Caedia''s eyes widened as she glared at him once again. "It''s the key to getting out of this place... there are a few fragments gathered around these lands, and we''re only missing this single one I have in my possession." Rael nodded. "So what you''re basically saying is that if I let you leave here, I lose out on potential profits. What would you do in my situation?" She knew what he meant, so with a frown, she shook her head. "If I give it to you and return home, I''m as good as dead... you should just kill me now." "Where''s home?" he asked. "Kurozan? Volkrath?" "Halcyra..." she muttered. "I''m one of the three Empresses... the other two have already gathered their keys, so if I return empty-handed, I''m going to be burnt at the stake." Halcyra, interesting... Rael grinned. "I have a proposal for you, and no, it''s not marriage." Caedia stiffly nodded, listening. "You see, Halcyra is one of my destinations, so I''d be willing to take you there. However, I want you to tell me everything you know about The Depths and the Beast on our way there¡ªand also act as a guide of sorts." It wasn''t a big ask¡ªhe just wanted another traveling companion. And since she seemed to be the Empress of some city, naturally, she could fill in the gaps of his knowledge. After all, he had been traveling without knowing a thing about this place, or even why the Beast exists and what role it plays. Therefore, he waited for her reply, and soon... "If you let me keep the key, then I agree... not like I have much of a choice anyway," Caedia said plainly. "Good choice." Rael chuckled. "I''m still going to need all your money though~" Caedia clicked her tongue and extended her hand, which he swiftly accepted. And of course, the pop-up he had been waiting for since the start appeared. "I think you forgot a couple zeroes," Rael pointed out innocently, making Caedia grip his arm tighter. Gladly. <Confirmed.> <Balance Updated: +24,890,000 Trell | New Balance: 36,022,450 Trell> "I''m sure you have more, but I''ll get it out of you along the way. For now, it''s enough," Rael remarked as he stored away his rapier. "Now then, Caedia, I hope we can get along. You can stand up now." With that, he dramatically waited, but even after several seconds, she remained kneeling, her hands trembling on the hilt of her sword. "Is something wrong?" he asked, puzzled. "I can barely breathe... let alone move because of that attack of yours," she replied with a poker face. "Give me a few moments..." Rael chuckled, then opened the Premium Shop. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Potions/Healing/Big Heal ?¡ªBalance: 36,022,450 Trell¡ª? ? Mommy''s Healing Smooch (Uncommon): 75,000 Trell He didn''t need to spend 75,000, as a shit potion would''ve been more than enough. But would it really be a proper welcome without a milf to handle the introductions? S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Therefore, he bought it without hesitation, and soon... A humanoid figure manifested, taking the shape of a curvy woman as she glanced around, her gaze staying on him for a few seconds too long. "Lad, you''re not injured again, are you?" Rael shook his head and pointed at Caedia. "Nope, she''s injured though. Could you do the thing?" The curvy woman turned to the trembling Caedia as a warm smile appeared on her motherly face. "Missy, I believe you''re in need of mommy''s smooch~" Chapter 96 96: Some Information About The Depths "I''m back... You two seem to have gotten along?" Seryn remarked, approaching closer. By now, Caedia was fully healed, yet she had still been rubbing her left cheek since earlier. "Pfft..." Rael held back a laugh as he turned to Seryn. "No ships, right?" Seryn shook his head. "None, though the people did seem to be a little aggressive. I''d guess they aren''t actually the residents." "Yeah, you guessed right," Rael nodded. "This empress over here invaded this city for some item, and now that she''s got it, I''m taking her with us." "Why? Just kill her and take the item?" Seryn tilted his head. "She seems like a burden¡ªat least strength-wise, she''s not very useful." "I heard that..." Caedia muttered. "Also, I''m not going to be baggage." "If you say so." Seryn shrugged, turning to Rael. "So what''s the plan now? Are we going to change seating arrangements?" Rael scoffed. "Nice try, but no, Sweepus is still shotgun." Nonetheless, now that they were all here and their banter was over, it was about time they got to more pressing matters. "Karnyx is fucked, right?" "Pretty much," Seryn affirmed. "Most of the food stalls are looted, some houses are destroyed." "A shitshow..." Rael finished. It wasn''t surprising since life in the Depths was much harsher than back in his own world, so he wasn''t even going to bother judging them. After all, being a hypocrite wasn''t on his agenda. Despite that, he summoned the car, and Seryn immediately got inside and within seconds, fell asleep. Caedia seemed a bit confused, so he opened the door for her. "Get in. It''s like a carriage, just a bit faster." Obviously, it was more than a bit faster, but she''d find out in just a moment. "Very well..." Caedia took a seat in the back as a surprised expression appeared on her face. "These cushions are very comfortable." "I know, it''s an expensive car, so don''t tear it¡ªfor my wallet''s sake," Rael added and sat down in the driver''s seat. Sweepus was immediately taken out of storage and placed in the passenger seat, and with that, he put the car into autopilot. The monument was behind Karnyx, and as the car sped through the streets, he actually got a good glimpse of the surroundings. They were bleak because of the invasion, but he was surprised by the number of stalls around. It was a merchant city, clearly. They had wares of all sorts¡ªarmor, clothing, even edible food. They had it all. A valuable city, too bad it fell... Rael turned to Caedia. "Did you kill the ruler?" She shook her head. "I tied him up and hung him upside down near the town hall. The civilians likely already untied him." "Aha..." Rael nodded. "While we''re at it, can you tell me about the Depths?" "Like what?" Caedia asked. "There is a lot of stuff I know, but I doubt I''m even touching the tip of the iceberg for this place." "Let''s start off with the basics then," Rael said. "How many continents are there?" "Eleven that I know of. We''re on the Valheria continent," Caedia replied instantly. Eleven continents that she knows of...? So there could be more? Rael thought. He had expected this place to be massive, but not that massive. "How big is Valheria compared to the other continents?" "Second smallest," Caedia stated. "Gremgor is the smallest continent, which is to the west. None of us have gotten there since the ships have been confiscated by the people living in the Scorched Lands." "Those are the red lands, right?" Rael asked, and she nodded. "Volkrath and Kurozan are the two cities that control all our trade, movement, all of that. We can''t even enter the Scorched Lands because of their pet spider..." "I see..." Rael muttered. "How about rulers? Do the Depths have someone like that?" "You could say that, yes," Caedia replied. "The Depths have strong monsters watching over the continents, and the Beast just so happens to be the one in charge of watching over us." "But why does it kill people and infect them then?" Rael asked. "Nobody knows how people are chosen to arrive in this place, but some consider the Beast''s cruel acts a blessing," Caedia said, shrugging. "No one knows what happens to us after we die in the Depths, so maybe we go back to our previous lives?" "Well, you said the key would bring you back, right?" Rael wondered. However, he was left speechless at her lack of response. "So it''s just some fairy tale you heard? Is that it?" Caedia stared him straight in the eyes for a few moments before slowly nodding. What a fucked perspective... this is borderline religious, Rael thought with a sigh. "So each continent has a monster similar to the Beast then? Is our Beast strong?" She shrugged. "No one knows. From the limited information I have, I do know the other continents have similar pop-ups when their monsters begin their hunt, so I''d wager they''re all about the same strength." So when the Beast mentioned a fuss 400 years ago, it probably meant the other continent-ruling monsters, huh? Rael deduced, then slumped in his seat. This was a lot of stuff to take in, and he knew he was nowhere close to tackling it head-on. After all, in the grand scheme of things, he was still incredibly weak. Nonetheless, as silence once again returned to the car, he glanced toward the road. To his surprise, they had already arrived at the monument, and yet again, there were no monsters. That motherfucker... Rael furrowed his brows and stepped out of the car before approaching a familiar blood engraving on the ground. ''I killed these ones by accident, my bad.'' Fuck you. Rael kicked the ground and began walking toward the monument. Caedia stepped out of the car, startled. "W-What do you think you''re doing?" "I''m going to light this thing," Rael replied, and after a few moments of searching, he found the torch buried in the ground before tossing it into the bonfire. "W-Wait!" Caedia yelled. "Don''t you know what happens when you light th¡ªWait... you two aren''t the ones going around lighting the monuments... right?" Rael didn''t bother denying it. "Mayhaps." And while she was staring at him with a shocked look, Rael lit the fire. <Monument Detected: Gravefire Ritual - Inactive ¡ú Active> <Total Monuments Lit: 5/10> <Flame will remain until all Monuments are lit.> <Received: 1 Ember> Just as Rael was about to dig into the Ember, a certain set of pop-ups made him halt. <The Hollow King has awakened!> <The Depths have fallen silent!> <The Hollow King is observing!> <Ring of the Hollow King (Cursed-Rare) is reacting!> S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 97 97: Becoming A Candidate? <Ring of the Hollow King (Cursed-Rare) is reacting!> The ring is reacting? Rael''s brows furrowed. Besides that... "Didn''t you say that each continent had its own monsters? This doesn''t seem like the Beast." Caedia flinched. "I-I didn''t lie... How was I supposed to know something like that was going to show up? But it''s just observing, right?" "Right." A cold voice rang out from above, startling them. Rael turned toward the voice and saw a curly red-haired man looking down at them, wearing a sadistic smile. "Of course you lot didn''t expect something like this. Measly ants such as you should¡ªhm?" The man tilted his head, glancing at Rael. "Nice ring you''ve got there. I was wondering where it went." S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The moment those words fell, the red-haired man suddenly materialized beside Rael, inspecting him up and down. "It''s a cool ring, yeah. And I assume you''re the Hollow King then?" Rael asked with a poker face. The red-haired man nodded. "You may call me Kareth. Now, could I have a look at that ring?" Since Rael didn''t have much of a choice, he took the ring off and handed it over to Kareth, who began inspecting the ring intensely. "Hmm... it''s definitely my ring, but there''s a curse on it? How strange," Kareth muttered. "Did you put a curse on it?" Rael shook his head. "I didn''t. The curse just says you''d hunt me down if I activated it." "Truly peculiar. I can see why Zarkul has begun paying such an interest in you. Not only can you survive eating the soul fruits, but you can also steal items from the dimensions of higher beings. Color me surprised," Kareth said with a chuckle. This conversation felt way too tame, to the point where Rael began getting an ominous feeling. After all, even the Beast tried to kill him at first. "One other thing..." Kareth trailed off, his grin widening. "Do you think we all follow the same wishes as Zarkul? He''s letting you off scot-free, however, with each monument you light, we lose out on a potential food source." "It''s the quest that the Beast gave me." Rael shrugged. "I don''t have a choice but to do it." Zarkul is the Beast, and he was definitely not in the game, but at least his name is memorable, Rael thought, meeting Kareth''s blue eyes that resembled stars. "Like the Beast, I''m sure you wouldn''t have come here without any hidden intentions, so just tell me what you want. I''m on a timer." "Pfft..." Kareth held back his laugh. "I came here in person, and yet you''re expecting so little." The moment he finished speaking, Kareth put the Hollow King''s ring on his finger. Suddenly, it began glowing with an ominous purple hue. Not even a moment later, the Hollow King smiled and tossed the ring back to Rael. "Put it on. It''s a surprise. Oh, and if you don''t put it on, I''ll kill your friends, then send your limbs over to Zarkul," Kareth added, gesturing for Rael to put it on. But before he did, he gave it one last inspection. ¡ªRing of the Hollow King (Epic+) Durability: Infinite +30 ¡ú 3,250 Strength +30 ¡ú 3,250 Agility +100 ¡ú 25,000 Constitution +50 ¡ú 5,000 Intelligence +50 ¡ú 5,000 Wisdom Special Effect: Each command spoken by the wearer is significantly more effective on lesser beings. A gift? Rael tilted his head. "Thank you?" "Not quite." Kareth chuckled and snapped his fingers. <Warning!> <The Ring of the Hollow King has been reawakened.> <An oath has been embedded.> <Hollow Oath: You are now recognized as a candidate for the Hollow Throne.> <Candidate Selection Timer: 365 Days> <Total Candidate Count: 14,128,992> "...What bullshit is this?" Rael asked, startled. "It''s an opportunity, and a curse of sorts," Kareth stated, his expression serious. "I believe in the potential of those who catch the eyes of my friends, so I''m giving you an opportunity to become a named Sovereign." Rael sighed. "And what is a named Sovereign, exactly?" "It''s a secret. However, just know that if you take off the ring and throw it away, you will squander that opportunity, and I can assure you, you will regret it for the rest of your little life," Kareth added as a wide smile appeared on his face. "Meanwhile, I''m going to cause some mayhem. See you in a year, Rael Sutekh." With that, Kareth vanished, and not even a moment later, a pair of pop-ups appeared, making Rael''s brows furrow. <The Hollow King has begun his rampage!> <Survive for 5 minutes!> <Casualties: 0> Rael sighed and turned to Caedia and Seryn. But then he noticed their fearful, trembling gazes, and when he looked closer, their eyes were pitch black. "Are you here?" Rael called out, but it was to no avail. The Beast wasn''t here, since it would have gladly announced its presence. <Warning!> <Mass Fear has been inflicted in the Plague Lands region!> <All stats -99%> <Debuff Blocked!> "Well... shit," Rael exclaimed and grabbed both of them by their collars, then stuffed them inside the car. And of course, he got in too, then turned on autopilot and headed for the Magic Tower. In the meantime, he decided it was time to eat the Ember, so he did. <Ember of Life Consumed!> <+2,000 Strength> <+2,000 Agility> <+6,000 Constitution> <+3,000 Intelligence> <+3,000 Wisdom> The amount of stats he had gained in a week was simply astronomical. However, Rael had this sinking feeling that he was being prepared for something. And he really fucking hated that feeling. Though... the Hollow Throne, huh? I wonder if I can somehow get a book on that... ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Miscellaneous/Hollow Throne ?¡ªBalance: 35,947,450 Trell¡ª? ? Hollow Crown (Divine): 1,000,000 Premium Coins What...? Rael tilted his head in confusion. However, in the next moment, the pop-up he was looking for appeared. <Would you like to convert all your Trell into Premium Coins?> <35,947,450 Trell ¡ú 0.035 Premium Coins> "...?" "Fucking pardon?" Chapter 98 98: Abandoned Magic Tower Basically... 1,000,000,000 Trell equaled 1 Premium Coin. In the end, he would need around 1 Quadrillion Trell. So in conclusion, I''m not buying that shit. Rael sighed, slouching in his seat. Meanwhile, the same message from earlier was flashing in the corner of his vision¡ªand it was even worse than he expected. <Casualties: 9,599,523> It had only been a minute or two, and he finally arrived at the Abandoned Magic Tower. As one would expect, it was just a tall yet slim tower with a pointy top and many windows spiraling around its entirety. But of course, since it was abandoned, it had many cracks in its walls, so Rael merely glossed over that part and began walking toward it. Those two are still debuffed, so I guess I''ll have to go in alone, Rael thought with a hum as he arrived in front of a wooden door, which he immediately swung open. Dust met his nose, making Rael sneeze multiple times as he looked around the interior. It was much slimmer than he expected, and the only things here were some utensils and, of course, loads of books. He approached them and, just in case, tried selling them. However, his Premium Shop didn''t pick up on it, so he dropped that idea. There was a staircase by the side, which was similar to the lighthouse''s, so Rael began going up. I hope I won''t have to collapse this tower too... Rael thought with a sigh. It would suck. Not for him, but for the tower. Nonetheless, he walked up the spiral staircase, glancing out of the windows and holes in the walls, and only then did he realize how high up he had gotten. But aside from that, after several minutes of climbing, Rael finally arrived at the very top. There was a shabby door with only one thing written on it. ''Take down in 5 minutes'' Seriously? The sign was way too old, and unless the magician responsible was coming back in the next 5 minutes, then this was definitely abandoned. But I guess no shit, after all, the map literally calls it abandoned, Rael thought and pushed open the door. Immediately, a half-painted desk, followed by several bookshelves, greeted him. Oddly enough, there was even a carpet on the wall. Guess the wizard was pretty old-school. Rael approached out of curiosity as it had quite an interesting shade. However, the moment he touched the rug, his eyes widened. ¡ªA rug that turned magical because the procrastinating wizard meditated too long (Rare) It had no description, but he knew exactly what this was. After all... ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Vehicles/Off-road/Armored ?¡ªBalance: 35,947,450 Trell¡ª? ? A rug that turned magical because the procrastinating wizard meditated too long (Rare): 750,000 Trell This was one of the options he had seen back when he first bought a car. Holy shit... is this where the procrastinating wizard lived? Rael wondered, touching everything in the room he could, until eventually... He found nothing. Aside from the rug, nothing else was usable as an item, so he couldn''t sell it. Therefore, Rael merely tossed the rug inside his inventory and glanced at the books. They seemed pretty simple¡ªthough they were mostly books detailing basic magical practices. However, this entire situation confirmed his earlier suspicions. The Premium Shop was literally a scamming station. He could probably buy an opponent''s gear mid-fight. This is definitely going to be interesting... Rael grinned. I''ll have to stock up on inspect skills... I''ll have to test my theory. Of course, since multiple versions of the same gear could exist, he''d need plenty of practice to figure things out. Despite that, the room was pretty bland, and aside from the empty desk, there was nothing of note. And of course, the Hollow King''s timer finally ended. <The Hollow King has ended his rampage!> <Casualties: 489,882,001> <The Hollow King is satisfied, and returns to his slumber!> Half a billion dead in 5 minutes... yikes. Rael approached the empty desk because, after all, in the movies there was usually something hidden inside. But sadly, not this time. There was nothing inside the compartments, and even when he broke open the table itself, he found nothing. Therefore, Rael sat down in the rustic-looking chair and let out a sigh. God, this was a waste of time¡ªhuh? The chair was hard, and despite it seemingly being made out of leather, it felt like he was sitting on a rock. He immediately got up and took out his rapier before piercing holes into the chair and ripping it open. The moment he did, he was met with a surprising sight. It was definitely not a chair, and instead... ¡ªHigh Quality Magic Alloy (Epic) [Level 500] <Would you like to send this ore to your Custom Dungeon: Tax Evasion Cave? Yes/No> He was not a hater of money, so even if this thing wasn''t some legendary skill, it was still better than the damn rug. Therefore, Rael swiftly pressed "Yes," and the entire chair vanished. <Confirmed.> Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. <Custom Dungeon: Tax Evasion Cave> ¡ªUncommon Ores - 1,200,000 Trell Daily Low Quality Stardust Mithril (Uncommon) [Level 200] (x10) [+] ¡ªEpic Ores - 1,000,000 Trell Daily High Quality Magic Alloy (Epic) [Level 500] (x1) [+] <Daily Trell Production: 2,200,000> Fuck yeah, Rael jumped up in excitement and ran around the room, poking holes wherever he could. But sadly, it seemed to be a one-time thing. With that, he made his way down the spiral stairs. Finally, he arrived at the bottom and stepped outside. The moment he did, he saw Seryn standing nearby, doing stretches. On the other hand, Caedia was still in the car, playing around with Sweepus Prime. "Yo, are you ready to leave?" Rael asked, approaching Seryn. "I''ve got all my stuff sorted here." "Sure, but can you talk to that woman? She was insistent on me walking while she sat in the back," Seryn grumbled. "I didn''t punch her out of respect for your wish to bring her with us, but could you keep her in check?" "Pfft... yeah, sure," Rael replied with a chuckle as the two got into the car. He didn''t scold Caedia since just seeing him was enough to make her shut up. Nonetheless, he put the car on autopilot and began heading back down. After all, there were only five monuments left, so he would finish this within a few days. But in the meantime... <Crystal Genesis> <Available MP: 14,858,400/14,858,400> <Item Selected: Crystal Violin Blade (Unique-Rare)> <Would you like to upgrade the selected item''s rarity to (Unique-Epic)? Yes/No> <Cost: 10,000,000 MP> Chapter 99 99: Weapon Upgrade, And the Sixth Monument Rael immediately accepted, and in the very next moment, his Crystal Genesis flashed a few times as his Violin Blade disappeared from his hands. [MP -10,000,000 4,858,400/14,858,400 (Crystal Genesis)] <Upgrading In Progress!> <ETA: 1 Minute> That''s pretty fast, Rael whistled as he pulled out another item. ¡ªBeacon''s Final Lament (Epic Crafting Material) If fused with an item, the item acquires the following option: Wail of the Drowned - Emit a sound that lowers enemy morale by (5%~15%) or magic defense by (10%~30%) for a short duration. Type: AoE Debuff. <Note: Due to your race, [Prism Sovereign (Mythic)], the effects of this Crafting Material will increase by 4 times once slotted into an item.> It increased from 2 times to 4 times... damn. Rael grinned when, all of a sudden, Caedia tapped on his shoulder. He turned toward her, his brows furrowed. "What?" "Are you acquainted with the Hollow King?" she asked flatly. "He mentioned the Beast and listed you as some sort of candidate... I heard that before I passed out." "As much as I''d like to know, I think that''s personal between the two of them," Seryn added. "I wouldn''t want my secrets being aired either." "Yeah, I''m not telling either of you." Rael shook his head. "I don''t trust you enough, if you know what I mean." "I see... that''s only natural." Caedia nodded. "I''m sorry for bringing it up. This was just the closest I''ve ever been to one of those monsters." Right... fuck. Rael facepalmed. Even if the Hollow King looked like any ordinary human, he was a monster. And I didn''t inspect him... Rael grumbled, turning away from the two. This car was a real time-saver. He had long passed through Karnyx, and now he was only five or ten minutes away from the next monument. Though... it was way too quiet. I guess the Hollow King killed a few people there, he thought, turning to Seryn. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Also." Rael extended his palm. "Pay up." "Tsk..." Seryn clicked his tongue. "I thought you forgot." "Not when it comes to money. Now, give it here..." <Confirmed.> <Balance Updated: +1,000,000 Trell | New Balance: 36,947,450 Trell> "Nice. I''ll be doing some stuff, so don''t mind me," Rael said with a smile and turned to the front, where, after a minute had passed, his crafting finished. <Upgrading Successful! +100,000 Skill Experience> <Crystal Violin Blade (Unique-Rare) ¡ú (Unique-Epic)> Of course, he saved himself the shock of looking at the stats until he finished some stuff. And that stuff was... <Would you like to embed [Beacon''s Final Lament (Epic Crafting Material)] into the item: Violin Blade (Unique-Epic)? Yes/No> Since there was no cost, Rael immediately pressed the button, and soon, a gacha-like interface appeared. It displayed the numbers, which kept spinning, highlighting the possible percentage increase he could get. However, after just a few seconds, the numbers began growing and growing, until finally, it stopped on the two biggest numbers he could''ve gotten. <Congratulations!> <You''ve rolled: Morale - 60% Magic Defense Decrease - 120%> <Embedding Successful!> Finally... Rael let out a relieved sigh. It''s time to check the stats of this new freak show I created. ¡ªCrystal Violin Blade (Unique-Epic) Durability: 24,300/24,300 (+1520%) Crystal Damage: 7,044¨C31,890 (+500%) +6,000 Attack Power (AP) (+500%) +6,000 Spell Power (SP) (+500%) +1,200 Strength (+500%) +1,200 Agility (+500%) +3,000 Constitution (+500%) +3,000 Intelligence (+500%) +1,200 Wisdom (+500%) Special Option: Each Red String basic attack adds 2 stacks of [Resonance] instead of 1. ¡ªRed String: Sound Slash Strike the red string, dealing a basic attack and adding 2 stacks of [Resonance]. At 5 stacks, your next basic attack is enhanced with 50% more damage. ¡ªBlack String: Wail of the Drowned Strike the black string and emit a sound that lowers enemy morale by 60% or magic defense by 120% for 5 seconds. Rael stared at the weapon in satisfaction. Now, it was truly overpowered. But whether or not it would be enough for what was to come, he wasn''t sure. Nonetheless, several minutes later, he finally arrived at the monument slightly north of the Mirefall Encampment. It was a surprising sight, as off to the side, he could see large bones extending into the skies, most of which were even larger than the mountains beside the Frostpire Bastion. Nonetheless, he didn''t bother with it much and approached the monument. And of course, he wasn''t left disappointed. ¡ªVincent, The Plague Lord (Commander Class Boss) [Level 316] [7,988,480,000/7,988,480,000] It had a fuck ton of HP, naturally, and it seemed to just be some kind of black robed lich. However, since it didn''t have any summons, he assumed it was just some mage lich, which would be equally as troublesome. "Once again, I''ll handle it from here. Just stay in the back, alright?" Rael said to the two of them, and they soon nodded. However, Caedia looked slightly puzzled. "You''re going up alone against that thing? Not even Halcyra''s strongest fighters can take it down on their own." "I''m just built different." Rael shrugged playfully and held the Violin Blade firmly. Even though it didn''t change much appearance-wise, he knew that what he was about to do was going to be something he could never have dreamt of doing in the past. A very big bonk. He moved closer and focused. Since the lich hadn''t noticed him yet, he decided to give it his all in this one attack. Therefore, Rael imagined an extremely small flame¡ªone that appeared harmless, though in reality, all that heat was being condensed over and over again, enhancing its potential power even further. And finally, Rael was ready. He first hit the Black String, and since there were only two effects, he chose the one that would actually amplify his damage. <Black String: Wail of the Drowned> <The enemy''s magic defense is reduced by 120% for 5 seconds!> Then, he swiftly tapped the Red String, releasing a barely visible note that made no sound. And of course, he had to hit the lich with the Rael Sutekh special. "Boop." -1,552,538,601! Critical True Note! (1x Crystal Violin Blade) Rael grinned as he stared at the burning lich. "Now we''re fucking talking." Chapter 100 100: Chonky Damage And Killing The Lich The lich was set aflame, and it was ticking a good amount of damage, followed by some damage coming from his Flameforged Arts skill. -77,626,930! (x1 Intermediate Flameforged Arts) It did 5% of that hit''s damage, and it was safe to say, that hit was fairly chonky. However, before Rael could perform the same attack twice, a massive fireball was sent his way. He didn''t panic, merely weaving to the side. It was a bit surprising how much faster he had gotten, as by now, his speed was at a staggering 11,889% increase to his base speed. And due to that, Rael avoided each of the fireballs¡ªuntil eventually, the lich began improvising. It slammed its staff onto the ground, and the moment it did, a fierce yet cold wind flew past Rael, turning the ground solid ice. And with it, a surprising pop-up. <Status Ailment: Frostbite (Level 5)> <Lose 500,000 HP every 15 seconds until cured!> <You are not able to passively heal out of combat!> [HP -500,000! 31,615,600/32,115,600 (Frostbite)] Ouch. Rael snickered. His boots were frozen to the ground, to the point where even his toes turned blue. But that wasn''t something a little healing couldn''t fix, so he prepared his Violin Blade and glanced toward the lich. To his surprise, the lich wasn''t standing where it had been mere seconds ago¡ªinstead, its fist was now right in front of his face. Rael tried his best to dodge it; however, the lich still managed to skim his cheek and send him flying toward his car. [HP -4,551,230! 27,064,370/32,115,600] sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Of course, before he damaged his expensive-ass car, Rael stabbed his rapier into the ground, catching himself. It hurt a fair deal, but his HP was still in the safe zone. Yet again, the lich appeared in front of him. However, instead of a fist, it held a fireball inside its palm before swiftly shooting it at Rael''s abdomen. Too bad I was ready, you shitty bag of bones, Rael snickered as he decided to make use of his newest skill. [MP -11,746,200 3,915,400/15,661,600 (x1 Radiant Transformation)] <Ding!> <All stats increase by 100%> <Crystal-Based Damage increases by 500%> <Heal 5% of total HP every 3 seconds during transformation> <All Crystal Constructs within range have their damage increased by 100%> <Duration: 60 Seconds> Rael grinned and sprang into action. By using his superior speed, he grabbed the lich''s shoulders, also deflecting the fireball that had been headed toward his abdomen a mere moment ago. And of course, before the lich could even begin to retaliate, Rael pulled his head back and quickly headbutted the lich. -6,954,986! Critical Hit! [HP -12,009,118! 47,170,852/64,231,200] "You thick-skulled son of a bitch," Rael grimaced before grabbing the lich by its eye holes and throwing it off into the sky. Before it could land or stabilize its momentum, Rael suddenly tapped his Black String. <Black String: Wail of the Drowned> <The enemy''s magic defense is reduced by 120% for 5 seconds!> And at the same time, he decided to do a little something different. Purifying flames didn''t work, but what if he did a crystal flame? It didn''t make sense at a glance, but neither did his HP percentage damage idea. However, it worked, and Rael decided to try it out regardless. Therefore, he focused on a scorching flame while also thinking of the hard crystal-based stuff he was used to crafting. And in the very next moment, he hit the Red String, sending out a melodic and innocent note straight toward the lich. It was a brown flame¡ªlikely a combination between his blue crystals and the orange flames. And of course, with his increased stats and the sheer amount of power he had put into the attack, it very quickly connected with the lich''s torso. -3,653,224,275! Critical True Note! (x1 Crystal Violin Blade) -182,661,213! (x1 Intermediate Flameforged Arts) But he wasn''t finished, as he proceeded to replicate the move, firing yet another note toward its thick fucking skull. -2,132,990,721! Critical True Note! (x1 Crystal Violin Blade) -106,649,536! (x1 Intermediate Flameforged Arts) It was a bit weaker than the previous attack, since he rushed it a fair deal. However, that didn''t matter much now for two reasons. The first: ¡ªVincent, The Plague Lord (Commander Class Boss) [Level 316] [275,833,738/7,988,480,000] And of course, the second: <Resonance: Max Stacks Reached!> Basically, it was one hit away from death, and as much as Rael wanted to kill it in style, he was more interested in getting one final big hit. After all, his True Notes so far were only 4x or 5x increases, and he had once gotten above 5x or 6x. So it would really be interesting to see if he could deal above 5 billion damage. Therefore, Rael leaped off the ground, reaching the lich who had the upper part of its body charred black. Since it was an undead and a boss monster, it was still alive. But not for long, as Rael grabbed its eye holes like a bowling ball and sent it hurtling toward the ground at a rapid speed. -4,528,002! (Terrain) Rael grinned. "Now then, you thick-headed motherfucker, how does it feel?" [HP -500,000! 46,670,852/64,231,200 (Frostbite)] [HP +3,211,560! 49,882,412/64,231,200 (Radiant Transformation)] "Every hit you deal, I heal it back with interest," Rael said with a hum, and almost as though he had imagined it, he saw the lich flinch. "Of course, I don''t like prolonging fights much, so I''ll end it here." With that, he gripped his Violin Blade tightly and executed the same combo again. <Black String: Wail of the Drowned> <The enemy''s magic defense is reduced by 120% for 5 seconds!> It was soon followed by the same imaginative process, just more compact and to the point. All he wanted that attack to do was deal a massive chunk of damage. And as he tapped his red string, he soon got what he wanted. -6,573,074,607! Critical True Note! <Vincent, The Plague Lord (Commander Class Boss) [Level 316] Killed! Experience: Null> <+19,982,715 Trell Acquired> <Experience ¡ú Stats!> <...> Chapter 101 101: Stats, And A Minor Disturbance <Experience ¡ú Stats!> <+4,008 Strength> <+5,838 Agility> <+11,492 Constitution> <+5,219 Intelligence> <+8,182 Wisdom> A good increase, Rael nodded to himself, glancing at the massive pile of ash that had been the lich mere moments ago. You had to die for having a thicker skull than mine. Sorry, bud. Rael prayed inwardly before turning to the amused Seryn and the shocked Caedia. And the moment he did, his skill finally ended. <Skill: Radiant Transformation has ended!> <All Skill Effects Disabled!> <Cooldown started: 12 Hours> It was a really strong skill¡ªespecially since it increased his main stats by 100%. From what he could see, the skill had even leveled up a bit, and it would now increase his stats by 115%. Either way, it was time to get a move on. "I hope you two enjoyed the show. I''m not injured or anything, by the way¡ªthanks for asking," Rael said with a chuckle. "I... I''m a bit surprised," Caedia muttered. "I mean, that monster is very strong... but you tossed it around as though it were a bug...?" "As I said, I''m built different," Rael shrugged and gestured toward the obelisk. "I''m going to light the thing now, give me just a sec." Caedia wanted to say something, but Seryn spoke up instead. "Rael, what level are you, if you don''t mind me asking?" "Hm? 184, why?" Rael replied with a tilt of his head. "My stats are slightly higher than normal, I know." Seryn nodded. "...Slightly." It''s no wonder they''re shocked, even I''m surprised by my own stats, Rael thought with a hum, then found the torch and swiftly tossed it into the bonfire. Like before, he pressed "Yes" on the annoying stuff, and finally, it was done. <Monument Detected: Gravefire Ritual - Inactive ¡ú Active> <Total Monuments Lit: 6/10> <Flame will remain until all Monuments are lit.> <Received: 1 Ember> The moment the Ember landed in his palm, he gobbled it up. <Ember of Life Consumed!> <+1,500 Strength> <+1,500 Agility> <+5,000 Constitution> <+2,500 Intelligence> <+2,500 Wisdom> The stat gain wasn''t as great as before, but even then, his total stats were pretty ridiculous now. ?¡ªStats¡ª? Health Points (HP): [32,115,600/32,115,600] (+50,000) ¡ú [38,712,400/38,712,400] (+50,000) Mana Points (MP): [3,915,400/15,661,600] (+1,100,000) ¡ú [7,661,600/18,749,200] (+1,100,000) Strength: 25,410 (+5,710) ¡ú 30,918 (+5,710) Agility: 23,778 (+5,710) ¡ú 31,116 (+5,710) Constitution: 80,164 (+30,752) ¡ú 96,656 (+30,752) Intelligence: 36,404 (+10,868) ¡ú 44,123 (+10,868) Wisdom: 31,314 (+9,021) ¡ú 41,996 (+9,021) Charisma: 2,400 ?¡ªAdvanced Stats¡ª? Spell Power (SP): 151,616 (+6,000) ¡ú 182,492 (+6,000) Attack Power (AP): 107,640 (+6,000) ¡ú 129,672 (+6,000) Movement Speed Increase: 11,889% ¡ú 15,558% Critical Hit Damage Increase: 1,565.7% (+5%) ¡ú 2,104.8% (+5%) +200% Increased Crystal-based Attack Damage +40% Resistance to all types of Magic Damage -5% Reduced Physical Damage Dealt Armor Effects: +16% All Magic Damage Increase He felt pretty damn strong now, much stronger than Linlin, and likely even stronger than Zafira. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this rate, he could almost leave the beginner continent of Dralgur. Though I guess normal player guides don''t exactly apply to me... Rael grinned. I can leave now if I wanted to... but no, I first need to set some things straight. Some of those things, for example, were politics. He had been fighting so frequently and getting that much stronger that he had nearly forgotten the fact that the moment he came back, he would need to deal with the players, the Faceless One, and even royal duties. Is this what it feels like to have a life...? Nonetheless, he put those thoughts aside and stared ahead, waiting for something to happen. But it was safe. The beast didn''t come, and neither did the Hollow King. Therefore, Rael gestured to the two of them, and they soon entered the car. The next destination on his agenda was naturally the monument beside the Ruins of Saltmere. However, just as he was prepared to blast off toward it, he looked to the side, spotting a trail of smoke rising up into the sky from the south. Exactly where the Mirefall Encampment was. What the... are they under attack? "We''re taking a little detour," Rael announced, and immediately sped south, not even waiting for their answer. "W-Wait! Why are we heading down there!?" Caedia yelled, getting whiplash because of the speed they were moving at. "I-It''s some simple abandoned encampment. Our scouts checked on it a few days ago, and nearly everyone was dead." "Then why is there smoke?" Rael asked. "Clearly, either someone is lighting a fire or there''s a battle going on." "Rael," Seryn called out, his expression serious. "There''s a demon in the direction we''re headed." Rael tilted his head. "A demon? As in those horned fucks? Is that a problem?" He had never seen a demon before, but he''d heard that they were a high-level bunch. And now that he thought about it, the timing was pretty odd. It appeared right as he ate the Ember. Almost like it was orchestrated beforehand. The Beast probably did it... for fuck''s sake. Rael sighed, watching as Seryn suddenly pulled out a wooden tablet and began scribbling some words down before showing it to Rael. Rael''s brows furrowed as he stared at the text, then at Seryn as if he were some sort of idiot. "I can''t read your writing, mate." "Oh, my bad..." Seryn scratched his cheek, turning the wooden tablet around. "Yeah... it''s not any better." Rael sighed. "I guess I can kind of see something though? Big circles in certain areas of their bodies. What do they mean?" "They''re cores," Caedia added nonchalantly. "The higher the demon''s rank, the more demonic cores they have. Demonic cores are like their lifeblood basically¡ªdestroy them all and they''re dead. Leave even one, and they literally can''t die." "So what''s the benchmark then? If it''s a commander class, then will it have four?" Rael asked. "Two. Demons aren''t born weak with locked potential¡ªthey all start at a soft Level 100. If they''re special, they''re granted titles such as Elite or even Boss," Caedia added. "I see..." Rael nodded and glanced toward Seryn, who was glaring at Caedia. "You sure know a lot about demons, don''t you?" Seryn commented. "I''d almost like to believe you''re with them." Caedia''s brow twitched. "I read books, you jackass. Unlike you¡ªyour writing looks like hieroglyphs." "You¡ª" "Don''t start some weird shit, we''ve arrived," Rael cut them off and stopped the car. They were now in front of the gate, which had been lowered. And inside the encampment, he saw a colossal black figure stomping people and even kicking some of them into the water, making them plunge to their deaths. Nonetheless, Rael focused on the figure before inspecting it. And the moment he did, his eyes widened. ¡ªDemonic Imp of Wrath (General Class Elite) [Level 125] [???/???] ...I can''t see its health? Chapter 102 102: The Demonic Family Jewels He only had two ideas on why he couldn''t see the demon''s health, and the most likely culprit was what Caedia had mentioned earlier. It was immortal, so naturally, unless he destroyed all the demonic cores, it would remain alive forever. What a troublesome enemy... Rael thought with a sigh. I wish my Primordial Sight skill could see its core, but sadly that''s not the case. "Rael." Seryn tapped on his shoulder. "It''s a Wrath-type demon. It has a lot of physical power, and it grows stronger the more damage we deal to it. However, it also has pretty poor durability, so all we need to do is cut it apart and find its cores." "What an infodump." Rael whistled. "I understand. I can probably blast its body to bits¡ªyou can deal with the rest." Truthfully, he would prefer killing this thing, but the amount of stats he would get from something like a General Class monster¡ªa level 125 at that¡ªwouldn''t exactly be worth it. Therefore, even an assist was enough. "Caedia, are you going to participate?" Rael asked, staring at her through the windshield. "Or do you at the very least want to warm my seat?" She sighed, and almost as if it were a chore, she stepped out of the car and headed toward the two of them. "I don''t understand why we''re even doing this. Let''s just leave the demon alone¡ªthe Depths will naturally purge it," Caedia said plainly. "So what I''m basically saying is that this is a waste of time." Rael shrugged. "Even if it''s a waste of time, I''ve never actually seen a demon before. So what do you say we go fight it, and if it looks like we''re about to lose, we dip?" "I refuse," Seryn said firmly. "We at the Blue Dragon Sect take care of the demonic forces, whether it is demonic cultivators or even demons incarnate. I will not turn a blind eye to such behavior." "That''s a bit righteous, don''t you think?" Rael commented with a tilt of his head. "But sure man, I''ll scrape your corpse off the ground with a spatula, I promise." Seryn scoffed, then shot a glance at both Rael and Caedia before suddenly dashing off toward the demon. "Mate, I think you''re forgetting we don''t have a plan?" Rael called out, but Seryn didn''t reply and merely kept going. Soon, he leapt into the sky and transformed himself into a beam of lightning. He swiftly struck down on the demon''s colossal body. However, apart from making a truck-sized hole in it, Seryn didn''t do much. In fact, that injury healed in less than a second, and as it did, the demon finally took notice of their presence. "Well shit..." Rael sighed. "Fuck the plan I guess. Caedia, try to cut off its arms¡ªeven if temporarily¡ªI''m going to try a little something." That little something was, of course, his imagination. Seryn proceeded to attack the demon''s legs, and in the meantime, Caedia finally arrived, jumped up, and with a swift slash, cut off the demon''s arms. But once again, they healed up instantly. However, that was fine, as with the short amount of time that the two had bought him, Rael swiftly attempted a new combination. Flames and anti-heal. It was a simple concept but with a more reinforced idea. He would send out a hot flame, and after it connected with the target, it would attempt to gnaw at its injuries¡ªliterally not going out unless the demon were to rip out its entire arm at the shoulder. Therefore, Rael swiftly tapped his black string. <Black String: Wail of the Drowned> <The enemy''s magic defense is reduced by 120% for 5 seconds!> And with that, the red string immediately sent out a glowing blue note. However, Rael didn''t make it land on the demon just yet, as he proceeded to wait¡ªuntil eventually, Seryn had landed a clean blow on its stomach, creating a massive hole. Rael didn''t sleep on the opportunity and quickly guided his blue note toward the open wound, which, upon making contact with the demon''s black skin, expanded into swirling blue flames that enveloped its stomach. -2,428,929,110! Critical True Note! (1x Crystal Violin Blade) -121,446,455 (x1 Intermediate Flameforged Arts) The modifier on the damage was pretty bad. However, it seemed to have worked wonders, as the demon no longer healed. "Seryn, unless you want to crawl up the demon''s ass and get its demonic cores, I suggest you get them now," Rael said plainly, and with an annoyed look, Seryn soon proceeded to gather all his mana into his fists. And then, like a bolt of thunder, he struck with his palm, decimating the demon''s upper body, leaving everything under the hole in the stomach intact. However, what he had just destroyed soon began healing itself. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "The demonic cores aren''t up top¡ªthey''re below," Seryn remarked with a conflicted look. The moment he did, Rael''s brows furrowed. Two demonic cores... below? No way... Rael''s eyes widened, and without even sparing a moment, he sent out a plain Violin Blade note, infusing it with only fire. And as for where it was headed? Well... -1,501,201,159! Instant Kill! (1x Crystal Violin Blade) <Demonic Imp of Wrath (General Class Elite) [Level 125] Killed! Experience: Null> <+1,231,184 Trell Acquired> <Experience ¡ú Stats!> <+128 Strength> <+94 Agility> <+325 Constitution> <+129 Intelligence> <+49 Wisdom> Dogshit... "W-Woah..." Caedia exclaimed, glancing back at him. "How did you know?" "If I had two precious jewels, I''d hide them in my balls too," Rael remarked with a chuckle before freezing. "Not that I''m going to hide anything in my balls¡ªthat seems a little too steep for my comfort." "Right..." Caedia rolled her eyes. "Good job, I guess?" Rael nodded at her with a wide grin and then turned to Seryn. However, it seemed like something was off about him, as he was staring at the demon''s dissolving corpse silently. "Hey Seryn?" Rael called out. "You alright, bud?" However, as Seryn turned around, Rael was greeted by two black eyes, and of course... <The Beast has awakened!> <The Depths have fallen silent!> <The Beast walks freely!> Bruh. Chapter 103 103: Rest In Pieces Bat And Ruins of Saltmere "What a pleasure to see you again, Rael Sutekh," the Beast chuckled. "I hope I''m not intruding or anything, I was just a little bored, you could say." "Then what''s with the grand entrance? ''Walks freely''? Are you serious?" Rael commented. "If you wanted a better catchphrase, why not do something along the lines of: The Beast is about to dominat¡ªnevermind." "Alune did mention you''re pretty bad with names," the Beast said. "On the other hand, may I accompany you for the time being? I know you still have a few monuments left to visit. Four, if I recall?" "Yep, but what do you mean by that? You want to accompany me? Aren''t you already stalking me from above or something?" Rael asked flatly. However, the Beast merely shook its head. "I don''t spend as much time watching over you as you might expect. Alune, on the other hand, watches you daily. She can''t wait to meet you. And yes, I want to travel with you to the next monument. I suppose I just want to experience the thrill?" So I not only have a fan but also an overprotective father who wants to find out my intentions... is that it? Rael thought with a sigh and nodded. "Sure, come along, it''s not like you''ll take no for an answer anyways." "Excellent," the Beast replied with a wide smile. "I''ll shotgun." "Sorry, that spot is already taken, no objections," Rael interjected. "Sweepus Prime watches the road for us and cleans the seats every time we step out. The least I can offer him is a good view." The Beast furrowed its brows, but after just a few short moments, nodded in resignation. "Very well... I''ll sit in the back with the plebeian human woman." "T-The what...? Rael?" Caedia finally snapped out of it. "T-That doesn''t happen to be who I think it is, right?" "Yep, that''s the Beast," Rael replied flatly, causing her eyes to widen. "But don''t worry, he doesn''t bite... I think?" "Very funny..." the Beast muttered. "I shall take the seat on the right. You, woman, stay away from me or else my wife will devour me tonight." With those words, the Beast walked off, crossing the wooden-plank bridge and stepping inside the car. Meanwhile, Caedia remained rooted in place, unable to move from sheer fear. "As I said, he''s not going to hurt either of us for the time being. Just try not to piss him off, though¡ªI''d wager he has a short temper," Rael said, tapping her on the shoulder before walking over to the car. After a few short moments, she began following him, then sped up her pace to match his. "J-Just who are you, anyway? You''re acquainted with the Hollow King and the Beast? This is not something a normal human could accomplish..." she asked, and he merely shrugged. "Look, I didn''t sign up to be their friend, it was just circumstances that led me here. So I''d recommend just keeping quiet and going about your day. I''ll bring you back, and I''ll ask for compensation from the other empresses, so I''d be glad if you backed me when we''re there," Rael said plainly. Finally, he got to the car and stepped inside, with the trembling Caedia doing the same. Of course, he soon turned on autopilot, which began heading toward the monument above the Ruins of Saltmere. However, just as he thought all the surprises were over, something smacked against his windshield, prompting Rael to hit the brakes. But in the very next moment, a bat flew through the open window, landing right on his lap. "Ew, what the fuck¡ªThalor?" Rael''s eyes widened as he inspected the bat on his lap. ¡ªThalor, The Vampire Noble (General Class Boss) [Level 198] [28/298,661,722 HP] "H-Help me..." Thalor muttered, but before Rael could even say a single word, the Beast reached out from the back and grabbed Thalor. And to everyone''s surprise, the Beast''s mouth opened wide¡ªmuch more than should be possible¡ªand in the very next moment, it swallowed Thalor whole. Rael stared at the scene in shock. "Holy fucking shit. You just ate a vampire." "Did I? It looked like a bat to me," the Beast shrugged. "Do bats talk?" Rael pushed. "Because that one definitely did." "The ones that talk are the tastiest," the Beast chuckled. "Anyways, what''s done is done. He''s already been digested. No use crying over spoiled milk is the saying, I believe?" What a fucking maniac... Rael sighed. "We''re moving now, please don''t eat Caedia." "No problem, I shall take a quick nap." Like Seryn, the Beast immediately fell asleep. However, its head soon hit the window and startled it awake. "Who dares to wake me from my slumber!?" "..." Rael didn''t even bother to entertain the conversation as he put his foot on the gas pedal and rode away. The last 10 minutes were pretty quiet, and thankfully, the Beast managed to fall asleep peacefully. However, it seemed like they would need to get out, as the Ruins of Saltmere were right in front of them. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He considered heading straight for the monument, but since he''d likely visit this strange world often, Rael decided to get accustomed to the surroundings. Unlike the rest of the cities, the Ruins of Saltmere were down a hill, to the point where the coast was visible. But Rael didn''t need to be a genius to know that whoever steps foot in the water swiftly becomes serpent food. Still... I can see some shipwrecks in the sea, Rael thought with interest as he stepped out of the car and began heading toward the Ruins of Saltmere. It seemed like Caedia was trailing not too far away from him, likely not wanting to be left alone in a car with the Beast. He paid her no mind, however, and finally reached the ruined city. Of course, there was rubble wherever the eye could see, even the remnants of those who lived here were unrecognizable. Merchants maybe? Why else would they have ships... Rael thought as a wild idea struck his mind. What if everything was fine at some point... but then something came along and brought the monsters here? The Beast, maybe? It was just speculation at this point, and unless he asked the Beast directly, he would never know. Despite that, he walked through what was left of the streets, until he finally arrived in front of a barely standing church. I guess I can pray for good luck. Rael stepped inside and arrived before the pedestal. However, just as he was about to say some bullshit prayer, he spotted an object placed at the very bottom of the pedestal. And the moment he picked it up and inspected it, his eyes widened. What in the fuck...? Chapter 104 104: Traitors And Another Monument Lit Is this a fucking joke? Rael thought with furrowed brows, inspecting the weird, key-shaped item in his hands. ¡ªFragment of the Plague Lands Key (???) Collect all 3 pieces to reveal its effects! Rael cleared his throat and turned to Caedia, who hadn''t noticed the item in his hands. "Hey, you did say the other empresses had gathered their keys, right?" Caedia tilted her head. "Of course? The officials sent me a message a few days ago claiming the empresses gathered everything on their part. I''m the only one left... but didn''t I already tell you that?" "Yeah, don''t worry, my memory isn''t exactly shit," Rael said and pulled out the small key-shaped item. "It doesn''t happen to look like this, does it?" S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The moment Caedia saw it, she froze. "...Where did you get that?" "I found it beside the pedestal. Convenient, right?" Rael chuckled. "But that also means that whoever messaged you lied." "But why would they..." Caedia muttered. "I established a food source, I solved all our money issues... why would they try to betray me?" "My guess is, they''re afraid of what else you can accomplish," Rael remarked, storing the key fragment. "I''d recommend not saying anything, or showing that you know. I''m pretty sure our welcome will be well received." Or not, we might just be bombed before even entering the city, who knows, Rael snickered. "On the other hand, this used to be a beautiful place. I can tell just by the church." Despite his attempts at small talk, Caedia remained rooted in her place, not even uttering a single word. Therefore, he decided to leave her alone for the time being and went outside the church. There weren''t many landmarks here that he could check out, as aside from the church and the signs, everything else had fallen. Still... a water-based merchant city. This world really is interesting. Though I wonder if it fell because of the serpents, or some other factors, Rael pondered as he finally approached the coastline. There weren''t any serpents in sight, when just a few days ago, some flew hundreds of meters into the sky just to get him. Rael walked closer to the water, yet just as he was about to lean in and dip his hand inside, his Primordial Sight skill stopped him. It always acted out, but its passive effect was great. Furthermore, if he could master the Foresight option of being able to see 1 second into the future at all times, then he''d become truly overpowered. Nonetheless, in this scenario, his eyesight suggested he not go anywhere near the water, and that was exactly what he did. I''ll go swim with the fishies some other time, I guess, Rael sighed, and after circling around the Ruins of Saltmere a couple more times, he was ready to leave. Therefore, he went back into the church and found Caedia, who had finally sat down. "You''re not planning on sulking the entire way there, right?" Rael asked with a frown. "I know it''s a lot to take in, and I can''t possibly understand what you''re feeling. However, think of it this way¡ªthey don''t know you know. So when you arrive, you''ll have some leeway over the city, and you can do whatever you want." That seemed to stabilize her mood slightly, as she gazed back at him with her brown eyes. She didn''t say anything. Instead, Caedia stood up and began walking back to the car. Rael trailed not too far behind until eventually, the two arrived at the car and got in. Seryn, or rather, the Beast, was still asleep, and Sweepus Prime had been keeping an eye out this entire time. He didn''t waste much time and began speeding toward the monument that was just slightly above the Ruins of Saltmere. After roughly four minutes, he finally arrived and stepped out of the car. To his surprise, he was met with humans instead of monsters¡ªand better yet, they were tinkering with the bonfire. Soon... <Monument Detected: Gravefire Ritual - Inactive ¡ú Active> <Total Monuments Lit: 7/10> <Flame will remain until all Monuments are lit.> He saw the ember floating down toward some burly man who seemed to be the group''s leader. However, before it could fully land, Rael dashed forward and within seconds, he was right behind the burly man. And with that, he jumped up, grabbed the ember, and perched himself on the side of the obelisk by stabbing his rapier in it. <Received: 1 Ember> "Who in the fuck do you think you are, huh!?" the burly man shouted. "That was rightfully mine, yet you stole it from right under my nose!" "It was above your nose, mate," Rael remarked with a chuckle. "But on a side note, I don''t give a shit." Having said that, to the shock and surprise of everyone present, Rael swiftly stuffed the ember inside his mouth. <Ember of Life Consumed!> <+1,000 Strength> <+1,000 Agility> <+4,000 Constitution> <+2,000 Intelligence> <+2,000 Wisdom> "Yum..." Rael said with a wide smirk. "I solved the problem. Now there''s nothing to fight for, see?" "You fucking maniac!" the burly man exclaimed when all of a sudden, a fierce pressure descended down on Rael, knocking him off the obelisk. [HP -489,585! 39,822,815/40,262,400] (Gravity) "Ouch?" Rael exclaimed, yet as his eyes met the angered man''s, he could only let out a sigh. Ah shit... here we go again. "I don''t suppose we can have a civil talk here?" Rael asked nicely, but was once again met with that strange gravity attack. [HP -998,114! 38,824,701/40,262,400] (Gravity) "Alright, so I''ll put it this way," Rael glanced into the burly man''s eyes before putting on a cold smile. "If you do that one more time, I will kill you." And just as he expected, the man didn''t give up and tried doing it again. However, before his attack could even go through, his head fell to the ground¡ªand right behind him, Caedia stood with her sword drawn. Blood coated her blade, and rightfully so. After all, she was the one responsible for killing this fucker. "Rael," Caedia called out, not meeting his gaze. "These remaining cretins were all a part of my mercenary militia. I have not given them orders to loot this place, so I''d appreciate it if you let me deal with them." Rael raised a brow as a wide smile formed on his face. "Go ahea¡ª" "Did someone say food?" the Beast asked, slowly making its way over to them. "Oooh, humans! Rael, you shouldn''t have!" The moment the Beast finished its words, it disappeared. However, less than a second later, the remaining militia''s bodies fell to the ground with their heads missing. And of course, there was the satisfied Beast, glancing at Rael innocently. "Yum~" Rael''s brow twitched. This motherfucker... Chapter 105 105: Lighting The Monument And Two Milfs? "Do you know what you did wrong?" Rael scolded, keeping his hands on the wheel. However, the Beast merely shook its head. "Nope. I saw food, I ate it. Unless you were hungry?" "That''s not the point," Rael replied with a sigh. "Could you please stop eating everything you see? Those people were Caedia''s to kill, yet you swooped in and ate them." "Ah..." A serious expression appeared on the Beast''s face as it turned toward the sulking Caedia. "I apologize. It was not my intention to get in between you and your revenge." "I-It''s alright," Caedia muttered with a trembling voice. "It''s all in the p-past now. They weren''t my only enemies anyway." "Excellent." The Beast nodded, turning to Rael. "We are lost, in case you didn''t notice." "Hm?" Rael tilted his head, once again paying attention to the road. He had kind of left the autopilot to drive, and he kept his hands on the wheel to look cooler, but now he felt stupid. After all, the car was moving in circles. Rael had noticed something off ever since he entered this weird forest. The trees had no leaves, and the sheer amount of bad vibes he got here was insane. Nonetheless, according to the map, he was basically there already. The monument was in the northern part of the forest, and from the paved path he had been following, it seemed promising. But nope, he was lost. "Caedia, how do you usually get around this place? I mean, are there illusions or something?" Rael asked. However, Caedia merely tilted her head. "We just walk in large groups. There are usually monsters lurking in the shadows. However, they usually just take our backline, and we in the front move on." "That''s a little..." "Evil. I know." Caedia finished with a shrug. "I care about my men, but I simply respect the law of this place, which is to offer sacrifices." "Right..." Rael turned to the Beast. "I know you said you''d be a bystander, but wanna help out? Should I just pick a direction and go?" "I won''t help you," the Beast said with a chuckle. "But I can tell you that they are very... I mean, very sensitive to light." "Aha..." Rael nodded in understanding, and of course... S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Miscellaneous/Light/Very Bright/Super Bright/Extra Bright ?¡ªBalance: 56,930,165 Trell¡ª? ? Flare Gun (Common): 15,000 Trell ? Very Bright Lightbulb (Uncommon): 25,500 Trell ? The Forbidden Porn Magazine (Epic): 100,000 Trell ? The Uncensored Forbidden Porn Magazine (Legendary): 250,000 Trell <Expand for more> Weird-ass filters again, I should be more clear next time, Rael thought, then proceeded to purchase two flare guns. They were red and already had a round loaded into them. For the fun of it, he handed one over to the Beast. "Don''t press this button inside the car. If you do, this entire world will explode," Rael warned with a poker face. "Hardcore..." The Beast nodded several times and proceeded to roll down the window. "This is what the modern humans refer to as a flare gun, correct?" "Yep, aim it in the sky and¡ª" ¡ªBOOOOOOOOOM The trees parted, and it almost seemed as if the entire sky cleared up as a single red beam flew into the sky and finally exploded. "Oooh... I wasn''t supposed to infuse it with mana, was I?" the Beast asked innocently. Rael could practically feel the vein on his forehead forming; however, he decided to ignore it. After all, despite the Beast doing something stupid and nearly blowing them up, it had managed to clear the skies and even the subtle mist Rael had spotted in the forest. And now that his autopilot systems were working again, he continued traveling forward. Finally, several minutes later, he saw the outline of an obelisk. When he finally arrived, he realized it was empty. "Did you clear them out again?" Rael asked, exhausted from the bullshit. "Not this time. Those monsters react very aggressively toward light, so they likely went toward it. But don''t mind me, go on." The Beast gestured forward. Rael sighed, stepped out of the car, and headed over to the bonfire. The torch was pretty simple to find as always, and soon, Rael threw it inside the bonfire and went along with his normal procedure. <Monument Detected: Gravefire Ritual - Inactive ¡ú Active> <Total Monuments Lit: 8/10> <Flame will remain until all Monuments are lit.> <Received: 1 Ember> He caught the ember as it descended, and without wasting a single moment, he swiftly devoured it. <Ember of Life Consumed!> <+500 Strength> <+500 Agility> <+3,000 Constitution> <+1,000 Intelligence> <+1,000 Wisdom> It gives so little now... and there are still two left, Rael thought, his brows furrowed as he walked back inside the car. "I see you''ve nearly reached the limit of those little fruits," the Beast chuckled. "They''re tasty, but once you consume all 10 of them, their effects will completely dissipate. After that, they''ll just be any ordinary fruit." Rael nodded calmly and proceeded to tap his autopilot to head toward Halcyra. In the meantime, he wanted to test his hunch. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: The Depths/Ember ?¡ªBalance: 56,900,165 Trell¡ª? ? Ember of Life (Legendary): 25,000,000 Trell ? Ember of Death (Ancient): 1,000 Premium Coins The Ember of Life is fine, but the other one is a trillion Trell... I can''t even inspect it either since it''s so far out of my budget... Rael sighed, turning the shop off. It pissed him off and even made him slightly anxious. Despite all his stats, that spider thing on the map was still there¡ªbarely moving, and every time it did, a shiver ran down his spine. Even the Beast referred to it as Bertha, so he was either going to face a joke or someone who could potentially kill him. So I''ll just have to light the bonfire and get away... seems simple enough, Rael thought, and not even a few minutes later, a few towers came into view. They were similar to Karnyx, but just slightly more advanced. If anything, he could say it resembled a medieval castle. Better yet, there were already guards waiting for them, and two hot mil¡ªwomen mounted on horses that slowly galloped toward him. "Are these the other empresses?" Rael asked Caedia, who seemed to have dozed off. "Huh? Oh..." She narrowed her eyes before nodding. "Yep, it''s them. The one with pink hair is Esmeralda, and the redhead is Victoria." "I see..." Rael trailed off, trying to mask the smirk that was forming on his face. Well, well, well... how should I extort these two? Chapter 106 106: Escalating The Juicy Drama "Caedia, it is truly a pleasure to have you back safely," Esmeralda said, her gaze firmly locked on Caedia. However, she soon turned to Rael and scowled. "I suppose this is the one responsible for taking you hostage?" There was a moment of silence, so Rael sent a subtle elbow to Caedia''s side to wake her up. "Err... not exactly..." Caedia muttered as she straightened her back. "You see, while I was out collecting my fragment, he just so happened to offer me an escort back, and as you can see, I''ve returned weeks earlier than I should have." "Yes, I can see that." Esmeralda nodded, resting a finger on her chin. "Your envoy sent word claiming you''d been kidnapped. Why exactly would they suggest something so vile?" Rael''s brows twitched as he continued listening to this woman speak. She wasn''t old by any means, likely in her mid-twenties. Still, her sheer fucking attitude made him want to stay far away. And from Caedia''s fake smile, he figured she didn''t want to be near her either. "Rael and I started off on the wrong foot," Caedia explained. "I attacked him, and he defeated our entire army. However, he''s not evil, so he offered to bring me back at a price." "Price?" Victoria, the redhead, chimed in. "You didn''t offer him your body, did you?" sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Before the angered Caedia could say anything, Rael cut her off. "I''m not interested in anyone''s body at the moment. What I am interested in, however, is how much money you''re willing to give me for bringing her back safely and ahead of schedule." "Ha!" Victoria covered her mouth, her eyes narrowing. "Now why should we pay you anything? We accept your service of escorting Empress Caedia back safely and therefore award you with the honor of having this chat with us." Yeah, I hate both of these bitches. Rael sighed. "I''m the king of a soon-to-be country. You could say I know how shit like this works. So we can do this two ways¡ªthough one of them isn''t going to be pretty." Victoria scoffed. "You''re not getting a penn¡ª" "5 million Trell," Esmeralda stated, raising her hand to silence Victoria. "We are willing to offer you 5 million for your services. We will also let you stay in the city for as long as you want. Royalty is to be respected, even if it''s not from these lands." So she holds the most power out of the three empresses, Rael noted with a nod. "5 million is chump change. Even 50 million might not be enough to cut it." Esmeralda narrowed her eyes. "We''re not running a charity here. Army maintenance costs a lot, and we don''t give a quarter of our budget to just some random nobody. I can tolerate this nonsense once, and given the circumstances, I''ll increase the sum to 10 million Trell. This is the final offer, so make up your mind here and now." Caedia tugged at his sleeve, then proceeded to whisper in his ear. "She takes that tone with everyone she''s about to kill. After you leave the city, she''ll likely send a mercenary squad after you." "How lovely..." Rael chuckled and decided to put himself in a slightly more favorable position. He took out the key fragment from his inventory and hid it from the slowly gathering crowd. Instead, he looked at Esmeralda and Victoria with a smile. "May I say a few words before I accept your offer?" Rael asked nicely. And of course, after exchanging a few glances, both of the empresses nodded. "Very well, say your piece. That''s a courtesy I''ll extend to a king. And since you were with Empress Caedia, I trust you''re not lying to me." "I never lie," Rael replied with a hum and walked past the two empresses, arriving in the very middle of the masses. Sure, a lot of people were gathered, but most were just here to gawk at all three empresses. After all, they were beauties. But of course, Rael simply cleared his throat and spoke. "Hello, fellow citizens of Halcyra. I don''t know you, and you don''t know me, however, I am a king back in my land, and I believe loyalty is the highest form of currency that triumphs even above money." No one seemed impressed with this start, however, Caedia seemed to know where he was going with this. "R-Rael..." she called out, puzzling the empresses. "You don''t have to do this now. We have plenty of time, and all this would do is cause commotion. Worst-case scenario, we might even lose our lives." "Are you forgetting who we have with us?" Rael chuckled, pointing toward the Beast in the back lines, standing right beside the car with a bored look. "If they go for us, they will go for him, and when that happens, he might be a little hungry¡ªthat''s all I''m going to say," Rael finished, and then continued his speech. "Anyways, people of Halcyra, I''ve got some drama for you today. Your empresses are lying to you and are planning a coup against each other. How dubious, right?" That seemed to finally perk the people up as loud gasps resounded, followed by them beginning to murmur amongst each other. However, he was more than aware of how this accusation would be received. "Are you accusing us of treason?" Esmeralda asked, getting off her horse and slowly walking toward him. "If we needed to usurp power from one another, we''d do it through a vote." "Right." Rael nodded with a smirk. "Tell me, is it a majority vote? Or do you only agree to something once all three of you empresses are in agreement?" "It''s naturally a majority vote," Victoria spoke up, and the moment she did, Esmeralda''s gaze hardened. But so did Victoria''s, as she finally caught on to what he was trying to do. Damn... Rael grinned even more as he stared at the empresses'' expressions, which were practically screaming, ''don''t you fucking dare bring it up here!'' But, deep down, Rael loved drama. ...And money. Therefore, instead of saying another word, he merely raised his hand in the air, showcasing an item that resembled a key. Most people didn''t react at all, however, the officials¡ªeven the guards¡ªseemed to know what it was. And now, the only thing left was to stir the pot further. Chapter 107 107: The Corrupt Priest, and A Little Unexpected Situation ¡ªThe Empresses would never do that! ¡ªYeah! That has to be a fake! ¡ªIt''s definitely a fake! He must''ve forced Empress Caedia to cooperate with him! A load of bullshit as per usual, Rael thought with a sigh. "It''s the real deal, and I''m sure you also realize what this means, don''t you?" As he finished those words, he glanced at Caedia, who, with an exhausted look, pulled out the same item resembling a key. Two fragments, which meant that there was only one left. However, by now, the crowd had fallen silent. Instead, a fierce-looking man wearing a white robe approached Rael, stopping just in front of him. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "May I take a look?" the man asked, and with slight cautiousness, Rael gently handed him the fragment. The man inspected it for a few moments, his expression changing by the second. And in the end, the man merely handed the fragment back to Rael and glanced toward the crowd. "This is indeed a fragment, and since Lady Caedia has another one, that means either Empress Esmeralda or Empress Victoria is plotting treason." "Michael..." Esmeralda muttered with a frown. "You''re tarnishing our reputation in front of everyone." However, the priest, Michael, merely chuckled. "When all three of you became empresses, I vowed before everyone present that I would not tolerate any infighting. This is the perfect moment to enact my beliefs, and I hope everyone shows cooperation." With that, he turned to Rael. "I appreciate you for bringing this up. Now, could I get the fragment?" "...?" Rael tilted his head. "What do you mean?" "Well, you''ve proved your point. I will find out who was responsible for this incident and punish them accordingly," Michael stated with a warm smile. But instead of reassurance, all Rael felt was disappointment. Here I thought this guy was actually going to follow the normal priest trope and be righteous. Nah, he''s just as rotten as the rest of them, Rael thought, stashing away the key fragment. "I''m willing to consider it if you pay me 100 million Trell. It seems reasonable, considering this is the ticket out, right?" Rael suggested with an equally warm smile. Yet, Michael flinched. "We''ve been investing our funds into¡ª" "Bullshit." Rael cut him off. "You''ve been investing your funds into bullshit. Or more like, nothing at all." He turned toward Esmeralda, who was now staring at him with a death glare. "You in particular. You don''t have the last key fragment at all, do you? This was just some elaborate and stupid ruse." "No, it wasn''t." Victoria stepped in, her eyes narrowed. "You don''t understand anything, so I suggest you leave us alone." "So I was right, and from the gazes of everyone around us, I bet they''re not exactly fond of hearing this news," Rael said, and before things could escalate further, he walked toward Caedia and stood beside her. After all, if his calculations were right, this was about the moment one of the two would lash out. However, even after several minutes, they did nothing of the sort. Hmm... guess I underestimated Victoria. She seemed very easy to antagonize, but I guess she''s an empress for a reason, Rael thought. Nonetheless, he tapped Caedia on the shoulder, and the moment he did, she reluctantly handed him her fragment. They had agreed to a Plan B scenario if things didn''t go according to plan, and this was exactly that. After all, if he let the situation escalate at the same pace, they would be overwhelmed due to the sheer number of supporters these two empresses had. So for the time being, the only thing these people could do was gawk at the fact that he had this many key fragments in his possession. Naturally, the aggro would leave Caedia and fall onto him. So in the meantime, she established her stance. "Everyone, I apologize for his sudden outburst. However, every word he said was the truth," Caedia stated. "I was skeptical at first. After all, we had the rough locations of each and every single fragment, and yet we managed to find another one in the Ruins of Saltmere." "But what if it''s fake!" one of the officials yelled. "That darned priest doesn''t know anything! Show it to me¡ªI''ll tell you if it''s real or not!" Fanboy spotted, Rael noted, and flashed him the middle finger. "Fuck off, fatso. The big guys are speaking." "W-Wha¡ª" "He''s right, Rigar. You should remain quiet," Michael added, carrying a priest-like tone. "You''re in possession of two things we are in need of. I assume you''re not going to accept anything short of 200 million Trell." "You assume well. And while I don''t exactly love to do this, every single minute you keep me waiting, the price increases by 5 million Trell. And it starts now," Rael replied, and the moment he did, Michael and the two empresses began murmuring amongst one another. Truthfully, he held no empathy for these people, as at a single glance, they seemed like a bunch of rats. Esmeralda was the smart rat, Michael was the traitorous rat, and lastly, Victoria was a bit of a mystery. She seemed blunt and sometimes spoke her feelings without understanding the circumstances. But aside from that, he couldn''t quite get a read on her. Maybe she''s just a puppet empress...? Rael''s eyes widened as he turned to Caedia. "Tell me, how many times has Victoria backed Esmeralda?" Caedia''s brows furrowed. "Too many..." However, just as Rael was about to put out another accusation, Caedia spoke up with a conflicted look. "She''s not who you think she is. Like me, she was adopted by the same noble family. We go by the Ravaryn surname, so technically, she''s my younger sister." "So wait... you two ended up in the Depths together?" Rael asked, his eyes wide. Caedia nodded slowly. "I came here first, then she arrived two years later. I already had a pretty high position in this city at the time, so with my recommendation, she got a similar position, and together, we rose up to become empresses of this city." "But you two aren''t getting along so well from the looks of things..." Rael sighed. "I understand, though. I''ll just wait for their answer. If anything, I have a few other tricks up my slee¡ª" "Pfftt... Hahaha!" A laugh resounded from the back, and as the puzzled Rael turned toward it, he noticed the Beast''s wide grin. But once their eyes met, the Beast''s grin widened further as it pointed toward its black eyes. Rael froze as he clocked the hint. It wants me to use Primordial Sight? Rael turned to the empresses and the priest. Just in time, they also turned toward him, and soon, Michael spoke up. "I believe we''ve come to a..." Rael completely spaced out, not paying attention to a single word the priest was saying. After all, the sight in front of him was a little... alarming. ¡ªMichael Esor, the Vessel of the Spider Monarch (Commander Class Elite) [Level 204] [2,496,960,000/2,496,960,000 HP] ¡ªVictoria Ravaryn, the Incomplete Vessel of the Spider Monarch (Commander Class Elite) [Level 284] [4,839,360,000/4,839,360,000 HP] ¡ªEsmeralda Avarice, the Apostle of the Spider Monarch (Leader Class Boss) [Level 402] [25,856,640,000/25,856,640,000 HP] ...Fuck. Chapter 108 108: Actual Intentions And Time To Get Serious Note to future fucking self, always, and I mean always, try to inspect someone before you go ahead and piss them off... Rael grumbled. This situation wasn''t ideal in the slightest. Two Commander Class Elites, plus a Leader Class Boss. If they all ganged up on him, he would be in pretty big trouble. But an apostle being Leader Class? I''m fucked if I go against the spider. After Leader Class came Noble Class, and if he had to put his chips on the table, that was the spider''s current rank. I''m definitely not fighting it, I''m running away the first chance I get. Nonetheless, he finally snapped out of it, glancing back at Michael. "Sorry, what did you say?" "Hm?" Michael tilted his head. "I said we''d like to offer you a counteroffer. We will give you 200 million Trell if you choose to join us. You will be given a royal status, and anything else you can ever wish fo¡ª" "Pass." Rael shrugged. "This is a horrible deal and you know it." While he was busy pissing these three off, he had to buy a little something in the meantime. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Miscellaneous/Pest Patrol/Strong ?¡ªBalance: 56,900,165 Trell¡ª? ? Railgun (Epic): 1,500,000 Trell ? Mithril-Dust Bug Spray (Common): 4,000,000 Trell ? Spider-Killer Glue Trap (Uncommon): 8,000,000 Trell ? Acid Manipulation [Skill] (Epic): 22,690,000 Trell <Expand for more> Ehh... A railgun is cool, the bug spray won''t work, but the skill seems pretty nice, Rael pondered. His earlier goal was to simply steal the spider''s skill. However, if it was Noble ranked, then he''d be screwed either way. And despite wanting to avoid it, he had this creeping suspicion the spider would come to find him on its own. And in this case, Acid Manipulation might be the only skill he could actually use to fight back. After all, the acid could melt its thick exoskeleton¡ªand if it seeped into its body, it would do some real damage. Therefore, Rael was ready to purchase it. However, before he could, Michael suddenly began walking toward him. "Oh?" Rael tilted his head, preparing to pull out his Violin Blade and attack. But instead of any fights happening, Michael merely performed a bow. "I apologize for our discourtesy. We should take this conversation inside. And as for the monetary demands increasing per minute, could you please waive those? We can come to a normal arrangement in better quarters that both parties will like," Michael said plainly. Closed quarters aren''t good. However, with every moment that passes, the crowd turns in their favor, Rael thought with a sigh and nodded. "Alright, lead the way." Michael bowed once again, then returned to the two empresses. In the meantime, Rael turned to Caedia. "I''m not sure how the inner part of the city works, but let''s be careful," Rael said, then nonchalantly brought up the big topic. "Also, have you ever heard of the Spider Monarch?" The moment his words fell, Caedia froze, staring back into his eyes in shock. "T-The Spider Monarch? I-It''s also a fairy tale that''s been going around in this world... The only thing I know about it is that it''s supposedly a strong monster that affects the mind. It even takes people''s bodies for itself and nurtures them... but then again, it''s just a fairy tale." "Right..." Rael narrowed his eyes and leaned in close to her ear. "Your sister is the vessel of the Spider Monarch... her transformation isn''t complete from what I see, but it''s likely not too far away from completion." "...?" Caedia turned to him, then a few seconds later, she finally processed what he had just said. However, as she was about to yell out to her sister, he covered her mouth. "Shh..." Rael gestured with a sigh. "Don''t blow our cover. I know we don''t have a lot of trust between each other, but I would never lie about these things." With that, he tapped her on the shoulder and proceeded to the car. He quickly stored it alongside Sweepus Prime, and then flashed a small glance at the Beast. "Were they already turned from the start?" Rael asked. "Yep." The Beast nodded with a smirk. "Bertha was likely watching that entire conversation play out through her eyes, so I''m really going to enjoy your fight..." Rael furrowed his brows. "And what makes you so sure I''m going to fight the spider?" "That''s simple," the Beast''s smirk grew. "Bertha is guarding the last monument on my orders, and she won''t move from there unless someone just so happens to pass by and move her by force." "You..." Rael trailed off with a frown. "So from the very start, you only wanted me to grow strong enough to face that spider?" "If it makes you feel any better, Alune agreed to my idea," the Beast shrugged. "No one leaves the Depths, so naturally, I can''t make any exceptions." "So the key...?" "That fairy tale is bullshit. The key does do something interesting though," the Beast finished with a grin. "On the other hand..." <Journal Updated!> <Find The Beast - Part 2: Escape the Depths!> S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. <Escape the Depths: Devour all 10 Embers of Life. (NEW) Light all 10 monuments in the Plague Lands.> <(NEW) Timer: 96 Hours> <(NEW) Once the timer reaches 0, you will automatically fail the quest.> <Reward: Premium Perk Selection [Ultimate-Unique]> <Reward 2: New Title: ??? (Mythic)> <Reward 3: Leave the Depths> "I''m sure I don''t have to tell you what will happen once you fail the quest," the Beast added and began walking toward the city. But before it could get too far, Rael asked a simple question. "And if I manage to complete this quest?" The Beast halted, turning around to face him with a confused expression. "It''s impossible... but sure, entertain that idea. I''d love to see just how far your desperation will take you." With that, the Beast continued its walk, leaving the frowning Rael behind. I had a feeling it would go like this, Rael sighed. I''m surrounded by maniacs, but I''m definitely not going down like some pawn. Therefore, he opened the premium shop and selected two skills in particular. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? ?¡ªBalance: 56,900,165 Trell¡ª? Shopping Cart: ? Mind Anchor [Skill] (Epic+): 20,000,000 Trell ? Acid Manipulation [Skill] (Epic): 22,690,000 Trell It''s time to do some spending... Chapter 109 109: Skills, And A One-Sided Beatdown Acid Manipulation [Level 1 | 0/100] (Epic) ¡ªA basic Acid Manipulation skill. It encompasses the necessities and has room for evolution once the max level is reached. 1. Acid Lash: Form a high-pressure whip of acid that deals 450,000 Acid Damage and leaves behind a lingering burn for 2 seconds that disables all healing. Cost: 1,000,000 MP 2. Catalytic Snap: Condense all surrounding acid into a single volatile orb. Throwing it causes a chain reaction explosion that deals 1~10,000,000 (+500% Intelligence) Acid Damage. Cost: 5,000,000 MP 3. Acid Infusion: Infuse weapons with the [Acid] property. [Acid]-infused weapons deal +100% extra damage and penetrate through all defenses. Duration: 24 Hours Cost: 250,000 MP 4. Passive Corrosive Mastery: All Acid Damage is increased by 300%. Grants immunity to the [Corrosion] status ailment. It was a good starter skill, and honestly, he saw a lot of room for improvement. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rael only had four days to get his shit together, so he needed to level the skill up as much as possible. After all, his Plan A was simple. Gather an army of constructs, give them armor, and of course, make one of them light the bonfire while another attempts to get the ember to him. As foolish as it was¡ªand he knew his chances of coming out alive in this scenario were slim¡ªthey were definitely not zero. On that note, he went ahead and checked out the other skill he''d bought. Mind Anchor [Level 1 | 0/100] (Epic+) 1. Unshakable Will: Grants immunity to possession, illusions, and mind control for 60 seconds. Cost: 500,000 MP Cooldown: 10 minutes 2. Mind Barrier: All mental-based attacks are 15% less effective on you. 3. Reflective Anchor: Every single mental-based attack inflicted on you has a 1% chance to be reflected onto the attacker. Despite this skill being of a little higher rank, its effects were simple and definitely ordinary at a glance. However, it was the most important skill he could get at the current moment. After all, if his body got jacked during a fight, then it wouldn''t be so great. Hmm... but how should I train these skills? Rael pondered as he jogged up to the Beast. "Hey, I have a question." Rael tapped his shoulder. "Hm? You still have the will to talk to me? How amusing..." the Beast chuckled. "What is it?" "Since you''re convinced my life''s going to end in four days, train me," Rael suggested, causing the Beast to halt. "You... what?" the Beast muttered. "Why do you think I''d accept an offer like that?" Rael scoffed. "Be my guest. Do nothing for the next couple of days in this city while I''m out training and doing political shit. But of course, what else could I have expected from you, Zarkul?" The moment his words finished, the Beast emitted a subjugating presence and turned toward Rael with a cold glare. "Do not use my name casually. This is your first and final warning," the Beast stated, taking a few steps forward and once again halting. "I don''t mind helping you since Alune did say you might ask for something like this. But be warned, I will try to actively kill you." "That''s all I could ask for," Rael replied with a smirk. "Should we get started now?" "Don''t you have some politics to attend to?" the Beast asked, puzzled. However, Rael merely shook his head. "Caedia is safe while I have the fragments. Also, the longer I make them wait, the more anxious they''ll become. Which in turn, will get me a better deal." With those words, Rael suddenly dashed toward the Beast, and under its nonchalant gaze, he delivered an uppercut to the chin. -264,899! (Melee) Damn, my damage without crits is pretty shit, Rael thought with a frown. Nonetheless, the Beast didn''t stagger back. In fact, it felt like punching a brick wall. And of course, before the Beast began its attacks, Rael used his new skill, Acid Manipulation. [MP -1,000,000 18,549,200/19,549,200 (x1 Acid Lash)] Immediately, a green whip appeared and traveled toward the Beast. It didn''t even attempt to dodge the attack, and of course, the whip soon connected. -67,905,474! Critical Hit! (x1 Acid Lash) Clearly a weak skill, however, since it disabled all healing, it was a necessity. Nonetheless, Rael proceeded to coat his Violin Blade in the same acid. [MP -250,000 18,299,200/19,549,200 (x1 Acid Infusion)] It seemed like the Beast finally acknowledged his presence and stretched out its hand. But since Rael knew what was coming, he finished his attack first by swiftly tapping the Red String. To his honest surprise, the additive bonuses from both Flame and Acid made his damage skyrocket like crazy. -5,152,756,233! Critical True Note! (x1 [Acid-Infused] Crystal Violin Blade) -257,637,811! (x1 Intermediate Flameforged Arts) He didn''t use the Black String, instead, he added an explosive property to his flames in order to use his Explosive Maniac title, which increased his explosive damage by 15%. But still... Is this enough? I mean... I''m doing decent damage, but the minimum amount of HP that spider is going to have is 200 billion... Rael thought with a conflicted expression. However, as he was lost in his thoughts, the Beast had seemingly vanished from its initial position. Rael didn''t waste any time and activated his Primordial Sight''s Foresight option. Now, he could see one second in the future, but despite that, the Beast was nowhere to be seen. Or so he thought. But in the very next moment, several afterimages began appearing in front of him, each displaying a different sight. Instead of helping him, Foresight acted as a sort of flashbang, and because of that, the Beast appeared in front of him¡ªits fist already extended as it flew straight toward Rael''s abdomen. And since he didn''t have any time to dodge, he took it like a champ. [HP -37,693,912! 2,618,488/40,312,400] "Kugh..." Rael grasped his abdomen. It felt like a truck hit him, ran him over, then backed up and hit him again. To make matters worse, the Beast let out a disappointed sigh. "I held back so much... but you do know you won''t survive a single hit from Bertha, right? Your billion-damage attacks are slick and all, but you''re not the only one who can do them," the Beast remarked, walking over to Rael and staring him straight in the eyes. "I''ve changed my mind," the Beast stated, taking a deep breath. "I''m going to train you for the next three days. But it''s not because I''m worried about you or anything. In fact, watching a fight where the contender gets killed in a single hit is quite boring." A massive smirk appeared on the Beast''s face. "Well then, Rael Sutekh. Prepare yourself. We shall start in a minute." ...Gulp. Chapter 110 110: Somewhat Ready And Before The Talk 3 days later... *** "Rael Sutekh," the Beast muttered with a sigh. "You''re not ready." "No shit." Rael nodded. "The only thing you''ve been doing for the last couple of days is beating me up. And wow, you''re surprised I haven''t made any progress." "It''s not even that." The Beast shook its head. "Most individuals gain a certain amount of stats after completing specific tasks. You lift weights, you gain Strength, you run around a lot, you gain Agility. But in your case, you''re not gaining anything at all. I basically wasted three whole days on you." Well... Rael scratched his cheek. It didn''t exactly go to waste, most of my skills reached a high enough level. But yeah, my stats barely went up. As for money? He was still pretty poor, but due to three days going by, his earnings weren''t too shabby. <Congratulations! Your active dungeons have produced: +6,941,610 Trell> And that wasn''t the only thing that had changed, since during those three days, Rael spent most of his time creating constructs, and by now, he had more than a couple. <(x766) Zoomba (Uncommon) has been crafted!> <Configuration saved automatically!> <Crafting Successful! +1,149,000 Skill Experience> Name: Zoomba Race: Summoned Crystal Construct Level: 35 Health Points (HP): [6/6] (+182%) Mana Points (MP): [6/6] (+182%) Strength: 2 (+71%) Agility: 855 (+71%) Constitution: 2 (+71%) Intelligence: 2 (+71%) Wisdom: 2 (+71%) Charisma: 2 (+71%) ¡ªSpecial Effect: Speedy (Common) Movement Speed increases by 25% when in combat! Every single one of the constructs he had made was the same. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Of course, some had another special effect, but it wasn''t anything revolutionary, and in the end, they would die if even a pebble fell on them. Despite that, he wasn''t feeling overconfident in the slightest. I might have a bunch of constructs, skills, and all that stupid stuff, but I''m still one hit away from dying, Rael thought with a sigh. It was honestly unavoidable, and he knew that. In the end, Rael could only hope his preparations wouldn''t be in vain. Aside from that, it was about time he got the city shenanigans in order. After all, he had made them wait three whole days. "When are you giving control back to Seryn, by the way?" Rael brought up, walking toward the city alongside the Beast. However, the Beast merely shrugged. "I was going to give it back yesterday. However, he didn''t seem very eager to wake up. I bet his fantasies are keeping him steady." "On that note..." Rael trailed off, putting on a serious expression. "Is his fianc¨¦e real?" "She is." The Beast nodded. "Most people here are real, and believe it or not, Seryn''s name was a total coincidence. A funny coincidence though, and I definitely enjoyed watching you warily walk around him like some fool." "Right..." He rolled his eyes. "But he can''t escape, right?" "No one can," the Beast affirmed. "I told you this last time. No one has ever left the Depths, and they never will. It''s a world on the boundary, and if we allow people to leave, then those attempting to find us will get a ping of our location." Rael nodded. "But you do keep your word, right?" "Naturally." The Beast chuckled. "The spider is level 822. If you manage to survive a hit, I will be surprised. If you somehow manage to light the bonfire, then I''ll give you a personal ticket to travel to this world and back, as well as some nice bonuses." The two finally reached the city, passed through the guards, and headed toward the palace where Caedia and the other empresses were. But of course, Rael wasn''t finished. "You know, when you first appeared, you gave me an item." "Hm?" The Beast tilted its head. "Show me." "Sure," Rael replied with a smirk and pulled out a particular eyeball from his inventory before waving it around for the Beast to see. ¡ªFragment of the Beast''s Eye (Rare) (Soulbound) A fragment of the [Supreme Beast Set.] Once all fragments are collected, you shall receive the item: Core of ### (Supreme) (Soulbound). Current Progress: 1/10 Fragments Collected. The moment the Beast saw the item, its eyes widened. "I gave this to you? Is that what you said?" "Yep." Rael nodded. "You told me I was talking to your younger self. Also, you looked quite slick with those white dragon wings, a golden mane, and even some hydra heads." The Beast stared at him speechlessly before trying to reach for the item. But before it could grasp it, Rael stashed it away in his inventory. "Not so fast," Rael waved his finger around at the frowning Beast. "It looks like you want it, but guess what, you can''t have it." "Do you have any idea of the implications behind that item? Do you want to kill us all?" the Beast asked. "You clearly don''t, otherwise you''d have given me the item so I could stash it away." "Nope~" Rael winked and sped up his pace. Finally, he arrived at the palace. But before he went in, he addressed the Beast one last time with a wide grin. "I''ve already sent my constructs toward the spider, and I''ll go there myself in a few hours. I''ll enjoy the look on your face when I defy your expectations." Before the Beast could reply, Rael nodded at the guards and jogged inside. He wasn''t familiar with the courtyard, but thankfully, there was someone here to guide him. Therefore, he followed along and eventually arrived in front of a massive door, which the guards swiftly opened. Inside, he saw Caedia, Esmeralda, and Victoria sitting around a table. Surprisingly, Michael wasn''t present. But that was better for Rael, since he wouldn''t have some idiot whistling in his ear every two seconds. Nonetheless, Rael flashed a smile at the empresses and sat down beside Caedia before taking a glance around. "I hope I didn''t make you wait too long. You see, I got a little lost on the way over," Rael said, sheepishly scratching his cheek. "Like hell you did." Victoria scoffed. "The citizens reported seeing you outside sparring with someone." "Did they now? Wow. That''s news to me," Rael said shamelessly, causing the entire room to fall silent for a moment. However, that silence was soon broken by Esmeralda, who looked at each of them in the eyes and spoke. "Let us begin." Chapter 111 111: Money And A Very Big Yoink "Sure." Rael sat up straight. "So what''s your offer, then?" "We will accept your terms. 200 million Trell, and you give us the two fragments," Esmeralda replied, sipping on some tea. "No strings attached, just a simple exchange." Usually, when people say no strings attached, there are strings attached, Rael thought with a sigh. Caedia spoke up before he could. "I think we should raise the number slightly." "And why would we do that?" Victoria asked, puzzled. "His initial offer was 100 million for a fragment, so it''s only natural to assume he''d want 200 million for two fragments." Rael listened to their conversation with a smile and finally chimed in. "300 million Trell." Caedia''s eyes widened as she turned toward him. "Rael... I think you should go slower... maybe? Why not try lower increments to get¡ª" "Deal." Esmeralda cut her off. "Anything else?" Rael grinned. "A private conversation with you, mayhaps?" "Hmm..." Esmeralda glanced at the two shocked empresses and waved them away. "E-Esmeralda!" Victoria slammed the table. "Y-You do know we''re supposed to negotiate during negotiations, right!?" S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I''m on her side this time..." Caedia muttered, glancing between Rael and Esmeralda. "Even for us, 300 million Trell is a lot of money. It might even destabilize our entire economy for the next year or two." "The key fragments are more important than some lousy money we can get by taking a loan from the Scorched Lands," Esmeralda replied with a small smile. "Even if I went ahead and tried lowering the price, he would''ve gone ahead and increased it, isn''t that right?" Rael chuckled. "Yep. I would''ve increased it to 350 million, and if you tried to go back to 300 million, I would''ve gone to 400 million. Fun, right?" "Ugh..." Victoria grumbled. "I don''t like you..." "Neither do I, so get out now," Rael replied and pointed toward the door. "Caedia, see you later as well, shoo." "Don''t shoo me," Caedia said, and after he didn''t reply, she left the room with a frustrated look and was followed by the mumbling Victoria. Nonetheless, the two were finally alone in a room together, and since Rael wasn''t a pushover, he cut straight to the point. "The money?" Esmeralda stared at him silently for a moment and extended her hand, which he swiftly accepted. <Confirmed.> <Balance Updated: +300,000,000 Trell | New Balance: 321,151,775 Trell> "And the fragments?" Esmeralda asked. However, he didn''t give them up just yet. "Are you enjoying yourself over there, Bertha?" Rael said with a smirk. Esmeralda''s eyes widened, but they soon returned to normal as she let out an exhausted sigh. "When did you find out?" "Couple days ago, doesn''t matter though," Rael replied, readying himself for the worst. "I see..." Esmeralda muttered. "The Spider Monarch would like to have a chat with you. Do you accept?" Rael scoffed. "Do I have a choice?" "No," Esmeralda stated coldly, and in the very next moment, her pink hair turned black, and several spiders began crawling out of her mouth, stationing themselves on the table. And of course, the pressure in the entire room increased drastically, making it hard for him to breathe. Guess that''s her, Bertha, the Spider Monarch, Rael thought with a poker face. "First of all, I''m glad you''ve made it here safely," Bertha said and gestured for the spiders to grab her a glass of wine. "Also, don''t call me Bertha. My name is Beatrice." "Cute name for a spider," Rael remarked, causing her to giggle. "I suppose it is, isn''t it?" Beatrice smiled. "Now, you might be confused, but I assure you, I have no intention of fighting you here." "Is that right?" Rael replied, glancing at the pop-ups that thankfully appeared. <Mind Anchor has detected a mental attack!> <Reducing Load...> "Tell me, are you overly reliant on skills?" Rael brought up, kicking his feet up on the table. "Or do you just enjoy watching and tormenting everyone through your underlings'' eyes?" "Now, why would you say that?" Beatrice pouted. "Why would I hurt you before our big fight, dear Rael Sutekh?" Rael tilted his head. "Are you reading my mind?" Beatrice nodded confidently. "Why, of course. You''ve got quite the treasure trove there." "Hmm... how far back do you see?" Rael asked, puzzling her. "Aren''t you supposed to be mad that I''m looking into your mind?" Beatrice said, then closed her eyes for a few short moments before reopening them. However, she was even more confused than he expected, so she closed and reopened her eyes multiple times until she leaned back in the chair, looking at the ceiling. "I can''t see past a month...?" she muttered. "Do you have some kind of mental block? No... no you don''t..." Beatrice seemed to be slowly dropping her normal girl persona, and as she did, her eyes suddenly began glowing, and the pressure he felt moments ago increased severalfold. But that was precisely the moment Rael was waiting for. "Thank you for your patronage," Rael said with a massive grin and tapped on a particular perk. <Would you like to cancel the opponent''s skill? Cost: 24,220,000 Trell> <Would you like to steal the opponent''s skill [Neuroweb (Ancient)]? Cost: 305,999,000 Trell> <Confirmed.> <Entity: Beatrice, The Spider Monarch''s skill has been stolen!> <Skill: Neuroweb (Ancient) has been acquired!> <Ancient-Ranked Skill Stolen! +10,000 to all stats!> "W-What have you done!?" Beatrice yelled, attempting to stand up. However, her body, or rather, Esmeralda''s body, was no longer listening to her, so she began spazzing out in her seat. "Nothing special, to be honest." Rael shrugged. "I just gave myself a little head start, you could say. Little spidey." She suddenly raised her hand, commanding all of the miniature spiders to attack him. But before they could even approach, Rael simply used a single Acid Lash. [MP -6,900,000 16,649,200/23,549,200 (x1 Acid Lash)] Immediately, Beatrice tried to call her spiders back, but it was no use. A massive green whip came crashing down, sweeping through the spider swarm and hitting all of them¡ªeveryone except her. -359,432,553! Critical Hit! (x1 Acid Lash) <Regular Spider Summon (x4,383) [Level 1] Killed! Experience: Null> <+4,383 Trell Acquired> <Experience ¡ú Stats!> <Stats: None> "AAAAAAAH!" Beatrice screamed, her body twitching in agony as she sent him a hatred-filled glare. "You will regret this!" "Probably." Rael nodded. "But yeah, as a final fuck you, I''ll make sure to use your own skill on you later." Her expression twisted, and just as he prepared himself to cut off her head, her hair suddenly lost its black luster and instead returned to the bright pink. Rael stared at the body, puzzled. She was still breathing, and when he inspected her, he didn''t see the apostle status like last time, which meant Beatrice no longer had control over Esmeralda''s body. He was relieved, but at the same time, there was a more pressing situation he had to deal with. The guards were approaching incredibly fast, and by total accident, he had turned the entire room into a dissolved mess. And the room wasn''t the only thing that dissolved, because, well, Esmeralda''s clothes did too. Soon, the door swung open, but instead of the guards, he saw a shocked Caedia staring at him, and then at Esmeralda. "Y-Y-You!" "I can explain..." Rael shook his head. "You see, while I did accidentally strip her, it wasn''t with the intention to gaze at her flat chest... I mean massive che¡ªI''m not guilty." Caedia''s brows twitched, and he knew his explanation didn''t slide. Therefore, he decided to tell her what happened from the beginning¡ªleaving out some important bits, of course. Chapter 112 112: Skill, Stats, And Setting Out Early Rael finished the talk with Caedia, and thankfully, she wasn''t that stupid, so after explaining everything to her, she actually listened, at least a little. On a good note, it seemed like her sister, Victoria, had also been freed from Beatrice''s control. But I guess that''s normal... I did literally steal her skill, and if I had to guess, it was likely one of her main skills, Rael pondered, walking through the palace hallways. Frankly, he wasn''t sure how the negotiations would proceed after Esmeralda regained consciousness. After all, everything went well up until the part where he brought up Beatrice. And now, it was a total shitshow. Guards were running around; most stared at him as though he was a criminal. But Rael merely ignored those gazes as he strolled out of the palace and into some nearby inn. It wasn''t as grandiose as one would expect, so he simply walked up to the receptionist, purchased a single room for 500 Trell, and went inside. He felt exhausted¡ªmostly from the training, but also from the skill he stole. After all, despite it not being a directly offensive skill, it was quite overpowered. Neuroweb [Level 1 | 0/100] (Ancient) ¡ªA forbidden monarch-tier skill that weaves psychic threads into enemy minds, enabling control, shared pain, and total domination. Effect: Enemies within 100m have a 5% chance per second to become Threaded, reducing Willpower by 2%/sec. Threaded targets form a psychic network, sharing debuffs and damage at 35% efficiency (Max Links: 10). Synaptic Hijack: Control a Threaded target for 5s. Cost: 10,000,000 MP | CD: 60s Neural Collapse: Snap all threads, dealing 10,000,000 + 12,000% Willpower as Mental Damage and stunning for 5s. Cost: 100,000,000 MP Cognitive Override: Mark 1 person to become a Thrall (up to 100 levels higher), and control their mind for 24 hours. Cost: 1,000,000,000 MP Throne of Synapse: Become a neural nexus for 60s, automatically Threading all enemies within 200m. Cost: 250,000,000 MP <New Stat Unlocked: Willpower> <Willpower: Increases Mental Damage with a ratio of 1 Willpower: 4 Mental Damage> <Willpower: Increases Mental Resistance with a ratio of 100,000 Willpower: 1% Mental Resistance> <Mental Damage Has Been Combined With Spell Power!> <Intelligence/Willpower to Spell Power Ratio: 1 Intelligence/Willpower: 4 Spell Power ¡ú 1 Intelligence/Willpower: 6 Spell Power> Sadly, Mental Resistance didn''t combine with his Spell Power or Intelligence, otherwise, it would''ve been great. Nonetheless, that just meant he had to work a little harder. Though it''s still a powerful skill. Sadly, I can''t use half of the fucking skills, but it''s fine... Ancient-ranked skills are way too high for my level anyways, Rael thought and proceeded to relax a little. After finishing his nap, he would go to battle, and he might not even come back alive. Of course, as much as he wanted to finish the politics here, he highly doubted there was anyone capable of talking with him, except Caedia. But of course, since they had a majority vote system, most of his requests would be thrown out the window. Nonetheless, Rael decided to quickly take a glance at his status one last time. Name: Rael Sutekh, The Platinum Overlord [+] Age: 18 Race: Prism Sovereign (Mythic) [+] Boss Monster Variation: The Pay-to-Win Boss [General Class] Level: 184 Experience: 276,181/420,444 ?¡ªBalance: 15,152,275 Trell¡ª? ?¡ªStats¡ª? Health Points (HP): [40,312,400/40,312,400] (+50,000) ¡ú [44,312,400/44,312,400] (+50,000) Mana Points (MP): [19,549,200/19,549,200] (+1,100,000) ¡ú [23,549,200/23,549,200] (+1,100,000) Strength: 25,410 (+5,710) ¡ú 41,918 (+5,710) Agility: 23,778 (+5,710) ¡ú 42,116 (+5,710) Constitution: 80,164 (+30,752) ¡ú 110,656 (+30,752) Intelligence: 36,404 (+10,868) ¡ú 56,123 (+10,868) Wisdom: 31,314 (+9,021) ¡ú 53,996 (+9,021) Willpower: 10,000 Charisma: 2,400 ¡ú 12,400 ?¡ªAdvanced Stats¡ª? Spell Power (SP): 182,492 (+6,000) ¡ú 402,738 (+6,000) Attack Power (AP): 129,672 (+6,000) ¡ú 173,672 (+6,000) Movement Speed Increase: 15,558% ¡ú 21,058% Critical Hit Damage Increase: 2,104.8% (+5%) ¡ú 2,704.8% (+5%) +200% Increased Crystal-based Attack Damage +40% Resistance to all types of Magic Damage -5% Reduced Physical Damage Dealt Mental Resistance: 0.1% Armor Effects: +16% All Magic Damage Increase ?¡ªSkills¡ª? Crystal Genesis: [Level 129] (Pseudo-Legendary) Intermediate Flameforged Arts: [Level 114] (Rare) Frostfire Tempest: [Level 100 | MAX] (Epic) Fractured Prism: [Level 100 | MAX] (Uncommon) <Expand [+9 Skills]> ¡ªOfficial Launch¡ª? Time until V1.0 Release: 126 Days Not enough... Rael frowned. Nowhere near enough. But alas, the amount of money he had currently was equivalent to a handshake with a famous person. Also known as absolutely fucking useless. Immortality skills were off-limits, and the only real defensive skill I have is Void Cloak. Even that has only a 50% chance of making me see tomorrow though... Rael thought, and decided to jump out of bed. He was tired a moment ago, but not anymore. I''m heading out early... I don''t want that piece of shit Beatrice to get a heads-up on me. With that¡ªand 500 Trell down the drain¡ªhe stepped out of the inn, summoned his car, and without informing anyone, sped out of the city. The people barely paid attention to him. Still, it was a bit surprising to see them eating fish. Considering the moon was a massive problem, he expected the fish to naturally be affected. But since every person was so eagerly digging in, he figured it was probably safe. I''d try that, but I feel like I''d throw up on the spot. Rael chuckled and continued going forward. Just as he was about to leave the city, a particular frowning figure appeared in front of him. It was the Beast, and without even saying a word, it walked around the car and sat in the backseat. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A moment of silence ensued, which was broken by none other than the Beast. "What have you done?" Chapter 113 113: The Calm Before The Storm "What do you think?" Rael asked, pressing down on the gas pedal. "She tried playing her games, so I played mine." "You took away her skill," the Beast stated coldly. "Every single follower she had acquired in the last couple of millennia vanished in the blink of an eye." Rael scoffed. "Once again, that''s not my problem. She should''ve expected something like this." "Really?" The Beast leaned in. "Even I didn''t expect you to steal an Ancient-ranked skill, and yet here you are, sitting without even batting an eye at such a feat." "I appreciate the kind words, but I''m more preoccupied thinking about how to deal with Beatrice. I''m sure she''ll be enraged, so I''ll try to strike while the iron''s hot. She might fuck up, after all," Rael added with a smile. "Well, I suppose this makes the fight more fair," the Beast remarked. "I''m giving control back to Seryn. I shall watch your fight from a different plane." Just as the Beast was about to leave, however, it offered some parting words. "Also, the people of the Scorched Lands are sneaking up on Bertha. You can either treat them as convenient allies or as potential enemies. It is all up to you." With that, the Beast''s eyes rolled back, replaced by the blue eyes of Seryn, who immediately fell asleep. Nonetheless, Rael didn''t pay much attention to it. Despite his heart beating violently, he''d already set his mind on going through with this. Therefore, Rael looked at the road ahead, and the moment he did, he saw a beautiful stone arch, which he swiftly passed through. He had stationed his constructs a few kilometers away from the last monument, and as for him, he had finally arrived at the second-to-last monument. To his left was a pile of giant monster bones towering into the sky. And yet again, the monsters were nowhere to be seen. It was a pity, as he could''ve really used those extra stats. However, he couldn''t do much about it, so he simply got out of the car and approached the bonfire. The torch was conveniently placed right beside the bonfire, so he picked it up and tossed it inside before going through the normal procedure. <Monument Detected: Gravefire Ritual - Inactive ¡ú Active> sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. <Total Monuments Lit: 9/10> <Flame will remain until all Monuments are lit.> <Received: 1 Ember> One left... Rael sighed, devouring the fruit in an instant. <Ember of Life Consumed!> <+2,000 Constitution> <+500 Intelligence> <+500 Wisdom> The effects noticeably decreased, but they were still better than nothing, so Rael simply put it aside in his mind and slowly began preparing himself. It felt really strange knowing his life had a very real chance of ending soon¡ªRael couldn''t really believe it. But with the little hope and money he had left, he wouldn''t let that shit bother him. Therefore, he got back into the car and slowly began driving up. "Well, Sweepus, I wonder what kind of advice you''d give me if you could talk?" Rael said with a chuckle. "Seryn is knocked out, and you''ve been with me all this time. It''s just a pity you can''t communicate." Just as he was about to stop talking to himself, Sweepus suddenly tapped his shoulder, causing him to turn. Sweepus Prime began making strange gestures with its surprisingly mobile arms. However... "Mate, if you''ve been with me for so long, you should know by now I don''t understand sign language," Rael said with a sigh. A frown appeared on Sweepus''s face as it suddenly tapped on its own body. In the very next moment, a crystal scribble board appeared. Sweepus began writing, and within a few minutes, it was done. It turned the scribble board toward Rael, revealing a few plain words. "Final Boss is hard, but you can do it with us...?" Rael read it out loud, his eyes widening. "You really understood me all this time and haven''t tried to say anything? I thought I was imagining it..." Sweepus nodded innocently and scribbled down a few more words. "We crystal summons can understand you perfectly, but you have not crafted vocal cords into our bodies... Oh, my bad," Rael replied with a chuckle. "I''ll get you fixed up once we''re back. I promise." And of course, he was met with a thumbs up and a smile from Sweepus. However, it meant a lot more to Rael than Sweepus could ever know. After all, a lighthearted chat like that¡ªeven if brief¡ªwas extremely comforting. Nonetheless, he sped up, passing by dozens of stalagmites that towered into the sky, and after just a few more moments, he finally saw something different. There were half a dozen small blue crystal beings marching in a formation. However, once they noticed him, they all halted and saluted in unison. Rael smiled and half-opened the window before sending them a wave. "I''m sure all of you already know of the plan, but just in case, let me remind you." He cleared his throat and continued. "I''m going to get Beatrice''s ass, and in the meantime, I want all of you to storm the monument, activate it, and then bring me the Ember. There will be sacrifices, and I myself might even die. But do remember¡ªlight the bonfire, and get me the Ember no matter what." As he finished his little speech, every single one of the constructs present saluted in unison. "Good. Move with me," Rael commanded. "Once the monument and the spider are in range, separate into several groups. Whatever happens, I''m glad all of you are here to support me." With that, he kept going forward while staying in the car. The REwinder had an option to turn back the car''s time by a few seconds, and while the usage was limited, he could avoid a few crucial hits. And it was about time he woke Seryn up. "Oi!" Rael yelled, quickly hitting the brakes and sending Seryn flying into the back of the passenger seat. "Ugh..." A groan rang out, followed by Seryn''s gloomy face appearing. "That was one long dream..." "Yeah, yeah, you can knock yourself out later. First¡ª" Rael trailed off as he suddenly saw something far off in the distance. It was a single slim black spider leg. However, it was the size of the tallest mountain he had seen in the entire Plague Lands. In fact, it rivaled the Beast''s colossal size when he had first encountered it. But as quickly as the leg appeared, it soon vanished. However, that meant Beatrice was close, and she was going to attack ahead of schedule. Therefore, he rolled the window down and gave a few simple commands. "Scatter! Keep going north, you can''t miss the massive obelisk!" Immediately, the constructs dashed off without even wasting a second. Then, he turned to the puzzled Seryn and flashed a small yet shaky smirk. "You''ve been asleep for a while... I''ll give you a quick rundown on what''s about to happen." Chapter 114 114: First Interaction With The People Of The Scorched Lands "Fuck..." Seryn muttered, his eyes wide. "Just what did you get me into?" "I''d say my bad, but it''s not really my bad," Rael replied with a shrug, extending his hand. "You''re 3 million in debt, by the way. We visited the Mirefall Encampment, Ruins of Saltmere, and Halcyra. So yeah, 3 million." "Seriously...?" Seryn grumbled. "I''ve been asleep for the last couple of days. How did I... oh right, the one in possession of me likely visited those places." Rael nodded. "Even if it was just spiritually, you still visited those places, so pay up." "You''re unbelievable," Seryn said with a sigh as he accepted Rael''s hand. <Confirmed.> <Balance Updated: +3,000,000 Trell | New Balance: 18,152,275 Trell> "Nice." Rael snickered. "Now that that''s over with, though, you need to make a decision. Do you want to get out of here or not? I''m not waiting for long, so I''ll only give you 10 seconds to decide." Before he could even begin the countdown, Seryn nodded. "I believe that as long as I follow you, I''ll be able to get out. So I''ll come with you." Rael''s brows twitched. "Look, as much as I''d like to lie to you and tell you what you want to hear... there''s no way out of the Depths, and I''m the only one who has a chance of getting out." Despite the bombshell, Seryn seemed calm. "So what?" Seryn shrugged. "If you get out, then that means it''s possible. I''ll just have to find a way to do that by myself." Just as Rael was about to convince him otherwise, Seryn suddenly pointed ahead. Like clockwork, Rael put his hand on the steering wheel and turned around. The moment he did, a man in red, samurai-like armor came into view. He was injured, but it wasn''t a grave injury¡ªjust the loss of an arm. The moment Rael met the man''s eyes, he froze. It wasn''t because he was scared or anything, but... What if Beatrice is controlling him? The thought lingered, but not for long as he took a look around and, without wasting a moment, hit the gas pedal. He drove straight into the armored man, knocking him aside and worsening the wound. But Rael didn''t care and kept going forward. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, a soldier from the Scorched Lands just happening to be exactly where Rael was felt a little too convenient. Nonetheless, Rael checked the map and realized he wasn''t that far away. However... <Your Construct: Zoomba (x219) has died!> 219 of his constructs died in a single attack, which meant that nearly 30% of his forces were wiped out. Fuck... This really is getting my blood pumping, Rael thought with a grin and continued forward. "I feel some orthodox forces on the right," Seryn suddenly stated. Rael raised a brow. "Orthodox? As in good?" "Yes, they don''t seem evil, at least not from their Qi," Seryn replied, taking a glance back at Rael. "Your Qi is evil, but it''s probably just because you''re greedy." "What...? Greedy?" Rael''s eyes widened. "What kind of bullsh¡ª" Rael stopped himself as he suddenly hit the brakes, dodging a staff that had been embedded in the road. He leaned in, looking through his windshield. Immediately, he spotted a woman perched on top of the staff, her black hair flowing down. But it seemed like she wasn''t exactly friendly, since in the very next moment, that woman jumped up, snatched her staff out of the ground, and swung down at him. <Emergency detected!> <Automatically using: Temporal Drift Mode!> <Rewinding the car''s time by 5 seconds!> Rael''s brow twitched as he stuck his head out the window. "You sly bitch! Are you trying to kill us!?" "Calm down... I''m pretty sure she just thinks we''re enemies." Seryn tried defusing the situation. "Oh, of fucking course we''re enemies. Did you see what she just tried to do?" Rael said, pointing at the woman who was slowly walking toward them. "I''m not getting out of the car, but goddamn." "Shall I get out and deal with her then?" Seryn offered. However, Rael simply shook his head. "No need for that, I''ll just go around." With that, Rael turned the wheel, but before he could even press the gas pedal, a few interesting pop-ups appeared before him. <Human [Level 260] has been Threaded!> <Decreasing Willpower by 2%/sec> <Synaptic Hijack: Available!> <Cost: 10,000,000 MP> That''s an interesting one, but I''m not wasting mana. Not yet, anyways... Rael thought, pressing the brakes to avoid the incoming staff, and then storming off. He wasn''t sure where all these people were coming from. However, one thing did stand out about that woman in particular. She had elf ears. Rael recalled the fight where he first met the Beast, and this seemed like a situation nearly identical to that one. War, multiple races, a dreary dead land. The only thing that wasn''t the same was that the Plague Lands didn''t have any clouds. I might just be looking too much into it... the Beast did say it was... Rael sighed. And the Beast is a fucking liar, so I''m not even sure what to believe. Nonetheless, whilst he was in thought, he kept on dodging the staves that the black-haired woman had thrown. Finally, the obelisk came into view, but it seemed like that wasn''t the only thing in view a massive mushroom cloud rose into the air. ¡ªBOOOOOM With a loud explosion, Rael saw multiple bodies fly past him. Blood spurted on his windshield, but, he didn''t stop there. After all, the monument was so close, and his constructs¡ª ¡ªBOOOOOOOOM <Your Construct: Zoomba (x377) has died!> Fuck... Rael grumbled, and after a couple more moments, he saw the one who was behind all the explosions. At first, he thought it was the obelisk. However, it was just one of Beatrice''s legs as she stomped around, crushing the people of the Scorched Lands. ¡ªHAHAHA! Rael Sutekh! Where are you~!? Hearing that, Rael''s brows furrowed, but they furrowed even further when a moment of silence descended on the battlefield. And of course, just as he thought things might''ve calmed down, the same voice as earlier rang out. Only this time, it was much closer. ¡ªFound you~ <Emergency detected!> <Automatically using: Temporal Drift Mode!> <Rewinding the car''s time by 5 seconds!> Chapter 115 115: Trying To Run Away, And Going All Out The car skidded backward in time, revealing the massive spider head. It seemed like she was a different kind of arachnid¡ªsplit between a humanoid upper body and a massive spider abdomen with legs. Nonetheless, the familiar black hair came into view as Beatrice appeared to shrink herself. In the meantime, Rael decided to do a little inspecting. ¡ªBeatrice, The Spider Monarch (Noble Class Boss) [Level 822] [166,218,880,000/216,218,880,000 HP] (Weakened! -50,000,000,000 HP) She had an overwhelming amount of HP, and her stats were bound to be through the roof, likely a few hundred times his own. However, Rael merely stared at her through the windshield and flashed her the middle finger. "Sup Beatrice, I''m really enjoying that skill of yours. Any tips for this disciple?" ¡ªY-You! How dare you take that tone with me! Her voice was thundering since she was still giant, but over time, she shrank down to roughly his height, and only then did her voice become normal. "If I hadn''t taken that stupid quest from the Beast, then I would''ve not gotten involved in this mess in the first place!" Beatrice complained, digging her spider legs into the ground. Rael watched her meltdown. All the while, he knew his constructs should be approaching the monument any moment now. But it seemed like she had noticed that too as she averted her gem-like blue eyes. "Seems like there are a few rats lurking around, be right back¡ª" "I don''t think so," Rael cut her off with a skill. [MP -6,900,000 16,849,200/23,749,200 (x1 Acid Lash)] -404,240,432! Critical Hit! (x1 Acid Lash) <The target''s healing has been disabled for 2 seconds!> "AAAH! How dare you hit me there!" Beatrice turned around with hatred in her eyes. After all, she didn''t exactly have balls, so Rael had to improvise. Nonetheless, he rolled his window back down and flashed her a grin. "You''re pretty strong, but you know what? I can literally kill you from here," Rael said and took out his Violin Blade, then slightly opened the window and hit the black string. <Black String: Wail of the Drowned> <The enemy''s magic defense is reduced by 120% for 5 seconds!> He immediately continued with Acid infusion and added several fiery notes. And of course, he added the % HP damage as a modifier as well. [MP -1,135,000 15,714,200/23,749,200 (x1 Acid Infusion)] Soon, the notes rang out and graciously flew out through his window before heading toward Beatrice who had been complaining since earlier. And soon, they hit. -12,631,413,915! Critical True Note! (x3 [Acid-Infused] Crystal Violin Blade) -631,570,695! (x1 Intermediate Flameforged Arts) <Resonance: Max Stacks Reached!> <The next basic attack will do 50% more damage!> However, Rael furrowed his brows upon noticing one thing in particular. My HP damage modifiers didn''t apply¡ª "That kind of hurt..." Beatrice stated, wiping her bottom spider half with her humanoid hands. "But I think you''re feeling a little too safe in there." In the very next moment, she shot a web out of her... right at his windshield. However, before it hit, the car''s time reset. <Emergency detected!> <Automatically using: Temporal Drift Mode!> <Rewinding the car''s time by 5 seconds!> S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. <ERROR! The REwinder has been stationary for too long!> <Rewinding the car''s time by 42 seconds!> Rael''s brows furrowed at the message that popped up right after. <Warning!> <The REwinder''s Temporal Functions are being overloaded!> <Further usage will result in self-destruction!> "Hahaha!" Beatrice laughed to her heart''s content as she slowly began approaching him. "I''m not sure what kind of beings you''ve been fighting, but not all of us just stand still and let you kill us." The moment she finished those words, she held up her hands, and with a wide smirk, snapped her fingers. [HP -9,142,811! 35,969,589/45,112,400 (Sound)] Blood began dripping down his ears, and with a frown, Rael closed the window and began speeding away. At the same time, he activated a skill that would likely not do much, but it was better than nothing. [MP -2,000,000 13,714,200/23,749,200 (x1 Prismatic Bastion)] <+990,000 Barrier HP> Despite having driven a couple hundred meters away from her, he could still hear the loud snap, and he could definitely see the damage that followed. [HP -6,142,811! (990,000 Absorbed) 29,826,778/45,112,400 (Sound)] "Seryn..." Rael muttered as he clasped his ear. "I''ve got a mission for you." It seemed like Seryn wasn''t holding up any better, as he had stained all the white backseats with his blood. However, since Seryn was still holding eye contact with him, Rael continued. "Go to the monument, light it, and come back with the Ember. That''s the only way we can end this." It took a while for Seryn to react, but once he did, he simply nodded. With that, Rael stopped the car and got out. Of course, he left one final request to none other than Sweepus Prime. "Sweepus, drive him there, the car should still hold. I''m kinda sad I can''t see you drive personally... it''s almost like missing your child''s first steps." Sweepus rolled its eyes and slammed the door in Rael''s face. Then, with a simple thumbs up and a wave, they headed toward the monument. As for Rael, he glanced back to where the smiling Beatrice was. "So you stayed? How foolish..." Beatrice muttered, slowly approaching him. In the meantime, Rael decided to refill his mana. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Potions/Mana Potions/Big Restoration ?¡ªBalance: 18,152,275 Trell¡ª? ? Slurpjuice (Rare): 1,000,000 Trell [MP +10,000,000 23,714,200/23,749,200 (x1 Slurpjuice)] However, that wasn''t all, since if he really was planning on going all out, then he had to use every single trump card he had. [MP -17,811,900 5,902,300/23,749,200 (x1 Radiant Transformation)] <Ding!> <All stats increase by 115%> <Crystal-Based Damage increases by 650%> <Heal 5% of total HP every 3 seconds during transformation> <All Crystal Constructs within range have their damage increased by 175%> <Duration: 60 Seconds> [MP -500,000 12,189,945/51,060,780 (x1 Unshakable Will)] <Immunity to possession, illusions, and mind-control!> <Duration: 60 Seconds> [MP -50,000 12,139,945/51,060,780 (x1 Void Cloak)] <You have a 50% chance to avoid incoming attacks and reduce all damage taken by 25%> <Duration: 10 Seconds> Rael took a deep, shaky breath as he looked straight into Beatrice''s blue eyes. Nonetheless, he didn''t let this situation get to him as his frown was soon replaced by a massive grin. "I wonder...? If I pump your air full of ass, will you explode?" "...?" Rael''s brows twitched. Fuck... I butchered it... Chapter 116 116: Entering The Mind Realm "Are you okay?" Beatrice asked, holding back a laugh. "Not only did you nearly bite your tongue, you also¡ª" Before she could finish speaking, Rael hit the Red String, sending a note right at her. He maneuvered it to the best of his ability. However, she merely raised a single hand and flicked the note away. -601,952,294! True Note! (x1 [Acid-Infused] Crystal Violin Blade) That''s all the damage I did...? Rael frowned. In the midst of his thoughts, Beatrice suddenly transformed into a humanoid form, ditching her spider lower half. "I''ll at least make it somewhat fair for you," Beatrice said with a giggle and narrowed her eyes. "Toying with prey before killing it is what I''m good at. And who knows? If I eat you, I might get my skill back. Wouldn''t that be fun?" "Mhm." Rael nodded at her and cast a few skills to piss her off. [MP -1,800,000 10,339,945/51,060,780 (x3 Frostfire Tempest)] Three storms formed right on top of Beatrice, but instead of being overwhelmed, she simply snapped her fingers. <Skill: Frostfire Tempest (x3) has been canceled!> [HP -9,026,499! 50,800,279/98,136,000 (Sound)] Rael''s ears bled, but he didn''t give up there. Most of his skills were still ongoing, so for the time being, he was somewhat safe. Therefore, he decided to do something he hadn''t done in a while. He gently grasped the crystal rapier and then dragged it through the Red String, forming vibrations which caused multiple fiery notes to fly out. -1,821,952,294! True Note! (x3 [Acid-Infused] Crystal Violin Blade) <Resonance: Max Stacks Reached!> <The next basic attack will do 50% more damage!> -2,621,002,421! True Note! (x4 [Acid-Infused] Crystal Violin Blade) <Resonance: Max Stacks Reached!> <The next basic attack will do 50% more damage!> "Hahaha!" Beatrice let out a hearty laugh, and before he could send out the rest of the notes, she suddenly gazed straight into his eyes, making him lose control of all the notes heading for her. <Warning!> S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. <Your mind is being invaded!> <Threat: Very High> <...> <Resisted!> <Skill: Mind Anchor +1,500,000 Experience> "Oh? Now that''s interesting," Beatrice remarked. "I might not have my previous skill, but this should''ve been more than enough... I suppose not." Given how much she was dragging out this fight, Rael wasn''t sure what to do. He couldn''t engage, as that would just get him killed, and attacking from a distance didn''t work either. But of course, he could always use Acid. [MP -6,900,000 3,439,945/51,060,780 (x1 Acid Lash)] The acid whip shot toward her, but instead of colliding with her and dousing her in acid, the whip was caught. Beatrice literally gripped it with her hands, nullified the damage, and then attempted to yank him toward her. He let go before that happened. However, he was in a really tight situation now. Nonetheless, he swiftly purchased a few mana potions and drank them. [MP +30,000,000 30,439,945/51,060,780 (x3 Slurpjuice)] He was down to his last 14 million Trell, and at this rate, he was really not feeling it. The moment he thought that, a surprising pop-up appeared before him. <Monument: Gravefire Ritual - Inactive ¡ú Active> <Total Monuments Lit: 10/10> <All the Monuments are lit> But that was not all. <Beatrice, The Spider Monarch [Level 822] has been Threaded!> <Decreasing Willpower by 2%/sec> <Synaptic Hijack: Unavailable!> Beatrice froze as a frown appeared on her face. "Hm... that''s definitely an effect from my skill. Since I know how deadly it can be, I''ll have to kill you now, no hard feelings." Immediately, Beatrice vanished from sight. Rael''s brows furrowed as his one-second Foresight showed him a glimpse of what was about to happen. An overhead strike that would decapitate him. Rael swiftly turned his head, barely avoiding her incoming strike. The moment he did, he thrust his rapier at her. But like clockwork, Beatrice caught it. Just as she was about to break it, Rael stored it inside his inventory and proceeded to sweep her legs. She jumped up with a smile, and before his leg could fully cross over, she brought all her weight down onto it. However, instead of crushing his leg, Beatrice''s body went through him entirely. <Void Cloak: Attack Dodged!> "Wow! You never cease to amaze me, Rael Sutekh!" Beatrice grinned, her eyes showing obsession. "What if I made you mine?" "No thanks, charlatan. I''m married," Rael replied sternly and backed away, summoning his Violin Blade again. The moment he did, a certain idea sprung up inside his mind. It seemed crazy¡ªno way it was that convenient. Therefore, like last time, Rael held the rapier firmly. However, instead of bringing it down onto either of his two strings, he waved it in the air, almost as if he was focusing on something. And less than a second later, that little something turned into something much bigger than he expected. <The Crystal Violin Blade is resonating with the skill: Neuroweb> <Threaded Synapse: Exploited!> <Beatrice is Confused for 5 seconds.> She suddenly staggered, making his eyes widen. Yet as he glanced down at his Violin Blade, prepared to strike her, something strange caught his eye. A new string appeared in the very middle. It was completely white, almost glowing. He inspected the Violin Blade, but there didn''t appear to be any new pop-ups, almost like what he was seeing currently was nothing but an illusion. However, when he tapped the white string, his vision went dark. ...Did I just fucking kill myself? Rael thought, slightly panicking. But a moment later, his vision returned. Now there was one very slight problem... Is that me...? Rael frowned as he looked at the sight in front of him. He was staring at himself. Rael Sutekh¡ªtall, obviously handsome, and glaring right back at him. Rael tried to move this strange body, and while he could, it felt stiff, almost like the body wasn''t his. And then, it finally clicked. Rael glanced down at his hands, and he saw they were rather feminine. ...Transmigrated into a gir¡ª "What are you doing inside my body?" an annoyed voice rang out from the side, belonging to none other than Beatrice. He turned toward the voice, but no one was there. However, once he closed his eyes and reopened them, it almost seemed like he entered a completely different world. In front of him was a colorful garden, a small lake with a gazebo right in the middle. And beyond that, mountain peaks of all different colors stretched out into the horizon. But that was not what had truly caught his attention. Instead, it was the frowning Beatrice standing mere meters away from him. And of course, the pair of pop-ups, which spelled bad news. <Forceful Synaptic Hijack In Progress!> <Target: Beatrice, The Spider Monarch is resisting!> Rael gulped audibly as he met her eyes. Well shit. Chapter 117 117: The Welcoming Introduction, And A Name? "So first you steal my skill, then you steal my body..." Beatrice muttered, a vein bulging on her forehead. "You''re going to die here." As her words fell, she suddenly swung her fist. However, it was neither as fast nor as powerful as before, so he simply sidestepped. "Yikes... Did someone lose their power?" Beatrice''s brow twitched, and in the very next moment, he felt the ground beneath him part, revealing a massive sea serpent. His eyes widened as he tried his best to dodge, but even so, the sea serpent rose up and swallowed Rael. However, the sea serpent seemed translucent, yet he still felt as if some kind of damage had been done. And it seemed like he was right. <Mental Integrity: 100% ¡ú 89%> What the... Rael''s brows furrowed as he glanced at Beatrice, who now had a wide smile on her face. "I see... so this is what it feels like when someone fights back against my control... how amusing," Beatrice remarked, and parted the ground again. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But instead of falling for the same trick twice, Rael attempted to use a skill. And yet... <Mind Realm: All skills are disabled!> "Pfftt... hahaha." Beatrice burst out laughing, and just like before, a serpent shot up, swallowed him, and then vanished once again. <Mental Integrity: 89% ¡ú 82%> "Seems like you don''t know how this works. A battle of the mind is not something a mere human your age can win, after all," Beatrice stated, her grin widening. "Surrender, Rael Sutekh. Give me your body." "Pass." Rael flipped her off and decided to try something. Since this was a mind realm, that meant he could do whatever she could. Therefore, Rael imagined a giant nuke dropping on top of her. Sadly, instead of a nuke, a giant inflatable balloon dropped from the sky. Beatrice caught it with a warm smile and then proceeded to dig her nails into it to pop it. "That was a nice try, but just like how you can attack me, I can counterattack you," Beatrice said and pointed her finger upward. The location where it was pointed just so happened to be where his Mental Integrity counter was. And to his surprise, it went down by a lot. <Mental Integrity: 82% ¡ú 69%> Fuck... so taking damage reduces it, but overusing it also does the same? How am I supposed to win this? Rael pondered with a frown. "For someone who whined about a single skill, you sure are confident," Rael remarked with a chuckle, maintaining his composure. Yet that seemed to be the beginning of his surprises, as that one sentence caused another pop-up to appear. <Beatrice, The Spider Monarch''s Mental Integrity: 90% ¡ú 88%> Words work too. Rael grinned, and since he didn''t want to leave the offense, he tried something a little different. Instead of focusing on Beatrice, he imagined all the flowers in the garden wilting. Despite her best efforts to counter it, the inner part of the garden wilted, and it just so happened to be the most beautiful. <Mental Integrity: 69% ¡ú 60%> <Beatrice, The Spider Monarch''s Mental Integrity: 88% ¡ú 77%> "This is not how you play the game, Rael Sutekh," Beatrice said coldly. Rael scoffed. "I''m playing it how I want. On a side note, you''re just angry you can''t see my past, right? Not much to go off of if my mind is a blank slate." <Beatrice, The Spider Monarch''s Mental Integrity: 77% ¡ú 76%> "I admit." Beatrice raised her hands. "I might be at a small disadvantage, but I have centuries of experience, and what do you have? Experience in small negotiations? Pfft... Don''t make me laugh." "Unlike you, I don''t exactly give a shit about that," Rael replied with a shrug as he began walking toward the gazebo. Beatrice frowned and summoned a horde of spiders, which began crawling up his leg. However, without even batting an eye, Rael imagined a layer of spider-killing repellent surrounding him. And surprisingly, he came out on top in this exchange. <Mental Integrity: 60% ¡ú 58%> <Beatrice, The Spider Monarch''s Mental Integrity: 76% ¡ú 72%> "You''re using such ordinary methods. I''m really surprised you somehow manage to toy with prey when this is all you can do." Rael chuckled and finally reached the gazebo. He gently slid the door open and sat down, then made a pot of boiling tea appear, which he swiftly poured into two cups. <Mental Integrity: 58% ¡ú 53%> "Take a seat, just imagine you''re at home," Rael said with a warm smile. Beatrice was speechless. Still, she proceeded into the gazebo, then closed the door behind her. "Just what are you playing at?" Beatrice grumbled as she sat down and picked up a cup of tea before swiftly chugging it. However, halfway through chugging, her eyes widened and she attempted to spit everything out. But the damage was already done. <Beatrice, The Spider Monarch''s Mental Integrity: 72% ¡ú 62%> "This is fun," Rael muttered as he took a single sip and stared straight into her gem-like blue eyes. "It''s funny how you flaunt your experience when all you''ve done is feast on people who couldn''t even defend themselves." <Beatrice, The Spider Monarch''s Mental Integrity: 62% ¡ú 61%> "Do you seriously think that is all?" Beatrice shot back. "I''ve had losing battles before, but do you want to know how I won?" "By being annoying?" <Beatrice, The Spider Monarch''s Mental Integrity: 61% ¡ú 60%> "No." Beatrice glared at him. "By being patient. I''m not a human, so the passage of time feels different for me. And want to know something funny? Time in the mind realm works differently. A year inside is less than a second on the outside." "So you want to drag this out until my mind collapses... how fun." Rael grumbled. <Mental Integrity: 53% ¡ú 52%> He wasn''t keen on staying here for longer than a week, let alone years. However, just as Rael leaned back, his hand caught onto something. There were letters etched on the bottom of the table. Rael brushed his fingers through them, trying to figure out what words were carved out. It seemed like Beatrice caught wind of that, as she flinched and suddenly dematerialized the table, causing their teacups to fall to the ground and shatter. <Beatrice, The Spider Monarch''s Mental Integrity: 60% ¡ú 57%> However, Rael merely stared at his fingertips for a few moments and then looked straight into Beatrice''s shaky eyes. "Who''s Evelyn?" She froze, her breathing halting. However, the pop-up that appeared made a wide grin appear on his face. <Beatrice, The Spider Monarch''s Mental Integrity: 57% ¡ú 37%> Bingo. Chapter 118 118: Her Hot Sister? "Seems like I struck a nerve, little spider." Rael chuckled and approached. She was not breathing, and her hands were shaking. It seemed to be out of anger, and that was exactly what he needed to get out of here alive. After all, in a place where their power was somewhat equal, it was all fair game. "Evelyn, Evelyn... What a beautiful name," Rael muttered. "I wonder? Is she your sister? Or was?" <Beatrice, The Spider Monarch''s Mental Integrity: 37% ¡ú 35%> "Was." Rael nodded. "A spider sister. How interesting... you know, I think I had a sister once. I remember someone looking like me, black hair, green eyes, slightly younger... but who knows? It''s all in the past now." <Mental Integrity: 52% ¡ú 50%> "Or maybe not..." Rael sighed. Nonetheless, that got Beatrice to finally turn to him. "I forgot to get rid of that name," she stated, anger clear in her tone. "I hate her... I want nothing more than to kill her..." Her mental integrity isn''t moving... Rael raised a brow. "It sounds to me like she''s alive?" "Oh, she''s alive alright," Beatrice replied as she stomped the ground, causing the gazebo to blow away into the sky. "She was my everything... and yet, she abandoned me?" She turned to him, her eyes dazed. "Would you abandon someone you love?" As much as Rael wanted to be a shit person and hit her where it hurt, he simply shook his head instead. "I would never abandon those I love." "Right?" Beatrice chuckled. "I guess I was just not worthy to be a big sister, that''s why she left me." "Beatrice..." Rael frowned and reached over to pat her shoulder. However, just as he was about to touch her, he froze. "Wow..." Rael muttered as he took a few steps back. "You''re good... really good." <Mental Integrity: 50% ¡ú 48%> Beatrice glanced at him innocently and tilted her head. "What do you mean...?" "You see, I was a little blind earlier," Rael remarked. "Let''s just say, I have a way of telling when someone''s lying... the reason you''re good is because you believe in the lie you told me." It was strange, and he couldn''t tell at first. But once he paid close attention to her rough breathing, he realized it was forced. "You''re trying to earn my empathy, and then while my guard is down, take over my mind," Rael commented, clapping his hands. "Bravo... truly. I guess your experience is not for show after all if you managed to bypass my lie detection with that bullshit sister story of yours. Tell me, when did you find the time to etch those letters there?" <Beatrice, The Spider Monarch''s Mental Integrity: 35% ¡ú 33%> Beatrice clicked her tongue. "I underestimated you." Her previously broken-down persona disappeared, replaced by her usual cold playfulness. "I honestly expected my gamble to work, but I guess it doesn''t matter now. I''ll just have to wait until you give up," she added and sat down opposite him. "That story was real, by the way. But I didn''t forget to remove that name¡ªI made it up." "Of course you did." Rael nodded. "However, I''m not going to play with you forever, Beatrice." After saying that, he imagined a small figure. It was a girl with similar features to Beatrice. The moment Beatrice saw her, all the details Rael had left out on purpose filled themselves in. White streaks in her black hair, a mole on her cheek, and she was definitely not a child. In fact, she seemed even older than Beatrice herself. <Mental Integrity: 48% ¡ú 44%> <Beatrice, The Spider Monarch''s Mental Integrity: 33% ¡ú 25%> "Hmm...?" The figure''s puzzled hum rang out. "Little Bee, what are you doing here?" "E-Evelyn..." Beatrice muttered. "I-I... wait, you''re not real." Immediately, Beatrice attempted to wave her sister away, but it was to no avail as Evelyn simply extended her arm and gently slapped Beatrice across the face. "Little Bee, don''t do that again," Evelyn stated sternly, shocking both Rael and Beatrice. <Beatrice, The Spider Monarch''s Mental Integrity: 25% ¡ú 20%> <Forceful Synaptic Hijack: Available!> <Cost: 10,000,000 MP> <Mental Integrity: 44% ¡ú 40%> "I assume you''re the one responsible for this mess?" Evelyn asked as she approached Rael. Her appearance was nearly identical to Beatrice''s, but the pressure she was giving off was too intense. "I''m not sure what you''re referring to, but maybe?" Rael replied calmly. Evelyn giggled. "That''s the spirit. Mind games are fun. However, I''m sadly way above your league, dear Rael." The moment she finished her words, he felt a dull pain in his head, and of course, a pop-up soon followed. <Evelyn, Ancient Mindweaver has entered your mind!> <### Is attempting to expel: Evelyn, Ancient Mindweaver> <### is 99% successful in expelling: Evelyn, Ancient Mindweaver> "Hmm... you have some valuable allies, I suppose," Evelyn remarked with a sigh. "Though the information I just got was definitely worthwhile. It really is convenient to have a wanderer on our side¡ªor rather... a former wanderer?" <Mental Integrity: 35% ¡ú 30%> Rael''s brows furrowed. "So you''ve seen further than Beatrice, I assume?" "Much, much further." Evelyn giggled. "Don''t worry, though, I don''t interfere in most affairs, and aside from personal satisfaction, I have no reason to share this information. And on that note, I have to go." She turned toward Beatrice. "Little Bee, you''ve gotten yourself in quite a pickle, and it''s all because of Zarkul... I''ll have a talk with him later." But just as she was seemingly about to fade away, Beatrice stopped her. "W-Wait, Big Sis... he''s about to take over my body." Evelyn tilted her head. "So? How is that my problem? You got yourself in this mess, so get yourself out of it." "If he takes control of my body for 5 seconds, he''s just going to kill me," Beatrice complained, pointing a finger at him. <Beatrice, The Spider Monarch''s Mental Integrity: 20% ¡ú 15%> Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Damn... she was acting so tough right up until she summoned her sister. What an idiot. Rael scoffed and raised his hands. "I need you to back away and let me complete the quest I was given. If you can do that, then I have no reason to kill you." "That seems like a fair trade." Evelyn nodded, turning to Beatrice. "And you, little Bee? Do you agree to his terms?" "I-I was given a quest too, the reward¡ª" Beatrice stopped speaking as even breathing became difficult. "You got what now?" Evelyn asked coldly, sending shivers down Rael''s spine. "You accepted a quest from him?" Beatrice meekly nodded, and the moment she did, Evelyn noticeably became angry as she turned to Rael. "Boy, I have a proposition." Chapter 119 119: Finalizing The Deal And The Rael Sutekh Tax "Before you offer your sister''s hand in marriage, I''d like to politely decline," Rael stated, earning a confused glance from both of the girls. "That''s not what I had in mind at all though?" Evelyn giggled, straightening her not-so-delicate back. "I want you to take over her body and abandon the Zarkul''s quest in her stead." "So I assume we''ll have a problem if I were to kill her?" Rael asked. Evelyn shrugged. "Let''s just say you won''t ever be able to have a peaceful dream in your entire lifetime. The same would go for your lovers, your kids, and the cycle would continue until every single member of your bloodline has perished." "Noted." Rael nodded without wasting even a second. "But you do realize if I don''t kill her, I''m going to lose out on a lot of upgrades." "Mhm." Evelyn hummed absentmindedly, and in the next moment, she simply snapped her fingers. And when she did, a pop-up appeared in front of him, making his eyes widen. <You''ve been blessed by the Ancient Mindweaver!> <Blessing Obtained: Mental Bloom> ¡ªThe Mindweaver''s gift. 1. +100,000 Willpower 2. All Mind-Related skills and abilities have their mana cost reduced by 50% 3. When forcefully taking over the mind of another individual, your Mental Integrity is doubled. 4. Your mind is sealed, and no one can access it without your permission. "Consider this your dowry," Evelyn said, causing him to freeze on the spot. Noticing his reaction, she let out a giggle. "Just kidding~" This is an insane fucking gift, Rael thought, trying to maintain his poker face, but noticeably failing. "One day, I might call on you in return. Just a teensy request. Nothing world-ending¡­ unless it is," Evelyn added with a small smirk. "But that''s only if you spare little Bee''s life." As much as Rael wanted to kill her, this was just too good to pass up. Evelyn seemed like someone who was affiliated with the Beast, likely one of the 11 monsters Caedia had mentioned. Obviously, the amount of stats he''d get from killing Beatrice would probably be much more than what he got just now. However, ignoring the first effect, the remaining 3 effects were simply god-tier. Therefore, as much as it hurt him, Rael nodded. "I accept. However, I want her to back off, and for that I need insurance," Rael stated. "Sure." Evelyn shrugged, turning to Beatrice. "Little Bee, you''re not allowed to touch him or his friends for the next week or so. Can you do that?" Beatrice aggressively nodded. "I can... as long as I don''t die, I don''t care what happens to the quest or this anomaly." "That''s a good perspective to take." Evelyn approved and took a few steps back. "I''m sure I don''t need to tell either of you what will happen if you go back on your words?" "Let me guess, you''ll make us experience nightmares until we die?" Rael said with a chuckle. However, Evelyn simply shook her head. "That''s a little too lenient. Instead, I''ll throw you into an inescapable nightmare that will last until the last embers of the universe die out." Yikes... yeah, no thanks, Rael thought and put on an understanding smile. "Deal it is." Beatrice also agreed to the terms, and soon, with a massive grin, Evelyn dematerialized, leaving the two of them standing there in silence. But that silence was soon broken by another pop-up. <Forceful Synaptic Hijack: Available!> <Cost: 5,000,000 MP> Rael cleared his throat. "I''m going to start. See you in five seconds?" <Beatrice, The Spider Monarch''s Mental Integrity: 15% ¡ú 12%> "Don''t you dare do anything lewd," Beatrice warned with a fierce glare. And with that, Rael pressed the Synaptic Hijack pop-up. Immediately, it felt like his body jolted forward, and he quickly found himself staring through Beatrice''s eyes. <Synaptic Hijack is active!> <Duration: 5 seconds.> He didn''t waste any time and opened Beatrice''s status before scrolling all the way down past her stats, which were in the tens of millions, and pressing on a particular quest. <Kill Rael Sutekh, The Platinum Overlord [Difficulty: Very Easy]: Incomplete> <Do you wish to abandon this quest? Yes/No> Rael swiftly selected "Yes," and in the next moment, the pop-up vanished. Well, I fulfilled my end of the deal, Rael whistled innocently, yet he slowly scrolled back up to the very top of her status screen. After all, something had caught his eye. ?¡ªBalance: 1,252,599,258 Trell¡ª? "Hahaha... I''m sorry Beatrice..." Rael muttered, approaching his own body and gently clasping his right hand. And of course... <The recipient has 5 minutes to accept or deny your payment.> "Once again, Beatrice, nothing personal. This is just the Rael Sutekh tax," he stated with a wide grin, and soon enough, the skill ended. He immediately found himself back in his own body as if nothing just happened. Obviously, the pop-ups were nothing short of pleasantly annoying. <Synaptic Hijack has finished!> <Impressive Feat Achieved!> <Control An Enemy 500+ levels higher than you!> <All Stats +10,000> <Neuroweb: +5,000,000 Experience> Get that shit out of my face, Rael swatted all the pop-ups away and focused on one in particular. His eyes met Beatrice''s, and it seemed like she regained clarity as she reached her finger for the cancel button. However, when money was involved, Rael''s speed was unparalleled. <Confirmed.> <Balance Updated: +1,252,599,258 Trell | New Balance: 1,266,751,533 Trell> "You son of a bitch!" Beatrice yelled with widened eyes. "Do you have any idea how long I''ve been saving that up for!?" "No hard feelings, little Bee," Rael teased as he noticed she was trying her best to hold back from killing him. It seemed like his skill effects had already ended a few moments ago, and even his radiant transformation had worn off. Nonetheless, he couldn''t help grinning at how well things had turned out. After all, he could finish with his evolutions, and of course, most importantly, the quest itself. "I''d say you underestimated me, but that much is obvious," Rael remarked, glancing to the side where a car was swiftly approaching him. Behind it, he saw dozens of people riding on horses, chasing after it, but obviously falling behind. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Scorched Lands... hmm... Rael mused, turning to Beatrice, who was mumbling curse words under her breath. "You know... those people on horses aren''t my friends. If you want, go take your anger out on them," he suggested. "I''m done here..." Beatrice muttered, giving him one final glare. "Deal with this on your own... I need to meet with Evelyn and get my skill back." The moment she finished her words, her humanoid form morphed into a small spider, barely visible to the naked eye. "What''s this? A walk of shame?" Rael commented with a chuckle. Instead of responding, Beatrice simply began walking away, yet despite that, he was sure she flashed him the middle finger. Do spiders even have fingers...? Nonetheless, he put those thoughts aside and focused on the incoming car and the horde of Scorched Lands soldiers. Guess it''s time to finish this fucking quest. Chapter 120 120: Mass Synaptic Hijack, And Asserting Dominance Rael simply stood there, watching as the car finally stopped in front of him. The moment it did, Seryn stepped out, holding the Ember, his expression puzzled. "Did you kill her...?" "Something like that. I killed her confidence," Rael replied with a chuckle, taking the Ember from his hands. However, instead of eating it, Rael stored it inside his inventory for the time being. After all, eating it would end the quest, and if he planned to return in the future, it was best to stay on good terms with the people of this land. Rael smiled, walked to the car, and nodded at Sweepus. "Nice one. First thing I''ll do when I''m back is grant you any request you want. How does that sound?" Rael asked, earning a thumbs-up in response. "Great. Though I''ll have to store you for now... unless you want to be caught in the crossfire?" Rael teased. Of course, Sweepus swiftly shook its head. Rael chuckled and stored Sweepus, then the car right after. He looked ahead, and after a few seconds, the Scorching Lands'' soldiers appeared, circling the two of them with their horses. Surprisingly, the woman who''d tried to fuck him over with the staff rode a fancier horse than the others. Soon, she stepped down from her horse and began walking toward him, twirling her staff around menacingly. But aside from her bouncing jugs, Rael was focused on something else entirely. <(x310) Human [Level 100 ~ 328] has been Threaded!> <Decreasing Willpower by 4%/sec> <Mass Synaptic Hijack: Available!> <Cost: 1,550,000 MP> Rael raised a brow. Mass Synaptic Hijack? And since the skill reached level 100... the cost went down to 5,000 MP per person. Shit... It was a bit overpowered¡ªnot too much, but just enough for him to want to abuse the skill to its limits. That was why... [MP -1,550,000 3,599,877/27,749,200 (x1x Mass Synaptic Hijack)] Immediately, his vision darkened. However, it wasn''t the same as before. There was no mental fight to be had, and as he finally reopened his eyes, he found himself standing on shallow water, likely in the mind realm. But as he looked around, Rael saw hundreds of cocoons strung up on silver threads, hanging from the limitless sky. Some were very high up, while others were practically touching the shallow water. Out of curiosity, Rael approached a random cocoon and placed his hand on it. The moment he did, his vision once again darkened, yet as he reopened his eyes, he noticed he was a little higher up than usual. As he looked down, Rael realized he was sitting on horseback, with the rest of the Scorched Lands'' soldiers staring toward the center. And of course, in the middle was none other than Rael''s real body, Seryn, and the black-haired woman holding a staff. Yet just as he processed what was happening, a pop-up appeared. <Mass Synaptic Hijack is active!> <Duration: 25 seconds.> It only activates when I select a body? I guess the timer is going down now as well, Rael deduced as a smile appeared on his face. Nonetheless, since he wanted to make this a power play, he cleared his throat and spoke. "You, black-haired chick. I''m not sure what you want from me, but I want you to know that at any moment, I can kill each and every single one of you present," Rael stated through the soldier''s body. The woman soon turned to him, puzzled. Yet the moment she did, Rael imagined himself going back into the mind realm. Soon, his vision shifted back, and he found himself in front of the cocoons again. At the same time... <Mass Synaptic Hijack is paused!> <Duration: 19 seconds.> Holy shit... Rael''s eyes widened. So I can just keep doing this for as long as I want? Time doesn''t exactly pass that quickly in here either... Safe to say, he was a little excited. Therefore, with a massive grin, he touched another cocoon, and like last time, he took over another body. <Mass Synaptic Hijack is active!> <Duration: 19 seconds.> This time it was a woman, and she was on the opposite side of where the last soldier was. Nonetheless, Rael continued. "However, we can come to a little arrangement." The moment he finished those words, Rael swapped bodies again. "What do you say to establishing a connection with me? And no, I don''t mean marriage. More like a relationship that benefits both parties." He switched, this time to a soldier who was slightly closer to the black-haired woman, likely one of the captains. "I''m going to be visiting this land again in a few months, maybe even a year. When I do, I want the Scorched Lands to be an ally, not a foe. In exchange, I promise to spare your lives here and now." And as a final show of power, Rael went back to the mind realm and proceeded to summon a pillar, lifting himself up to the very top of the mind realm, where a single cocoon hovered peacefully. The moment he touched it, Rael took over the body of the very person he''d been offering these terms to in the first place. Her heart was beating much faster than he expected, which meant his intimidation worked. "Hmm..." Rael hummed in a feminine voice as he stared at his actual body''s face. Without wasting a moment, he walked forward, stabbed the staff into the ground, and reached for his own hand. And, like the innocent soul he definitely was, Rael taxed her. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. <The recipient has 5 minutes to accept or deny your payment.> He closed his eyes with a smile and reopened them in his own body. <Synaptic Hijack has finished!> <Confirmed.> <Balance Updated: +250,000,000 Trell | New Balance: 1,516,751,533 Trell> Rael flashed a warm smile and glanced straight into her shocked silver eyes. "So, Aria Draconia, what do you say to my offer?" Chapter 121 121: Final Agreement, Send-Off, And Quest Completion The black-haired woman, Aria, flinched, her eyes trembling. "What are you?" "Rael," he replied plainly, dodging her question. "You don''t need to know more at the moment. I just need a yes or no answer. When I come back, will your land be my enemy?" "No...?" Aria replied, tilting her head. "We''ve only come here since the spider was making moves in the area. I thought you were one of the people it had under its control." Seryn scoffed from the side, flashing Rael an ''I told you so'' glance. But of course, Rael ignored it and nodded at Aria. "Well, as you can see, we aren''t," Rael said. "Mhm..." Aria simply hummed as she glanced around. Her soldiers were startled by what had just happened. After all, Rael had literally invaded their bodies with ease. "We aren''t tyrants," Aria said. "People like to think of us that way due to the amount of power we wield. But I can assure you, we don''t recklessly make enemies, and especially not with you." "It''s a wise choice," Rael chuckled. It was a bit simpler than he thought. The way Caedia had painted the Scorched Lands made it seem like they were some tyrant monarchs who were keeping the Plague Lands in check. And while he didn''t have the full story, his Primordial Sight assured him she wasn''t lying. "Say... Rael," Aria muttered. "You mentioned coming back to this land at a later date. What do you mean by that?" Rael grinned. "I obviously mean that I can leave the Depths." The moment his words fell, silence hung in the air, which was quickly interrupted by Aria''s giggle. "You''re funny." "And you think I''m joking," Rael sighed. "Whether you want to believe me or not, I don''t exactly care. Just know that when I''m back, I will be trying to establish some grounds in this world, and I''ll require your support to do so." "Seriously?" Aria''s eyes widened. "You''re going to try playing the political hero? All the spots are already filled in that regard." "Then I''ll simply carve out a new spot," Rael stated firmly. "I have my ways, and those ways bring out the best result in the given situation. If you have your doubts and want to make an enemy out of me, then be my guest." "I doubt I need to tell you how hard it is to take a spot that already belongs to someone," Aria said flatly. Rael shrugged. "Obviously. But I have time to prepare until then." Aria skeptically narrowed her eyes and suddenly tapped the air a few times. Despite his confusion, he let her continue. A few seconds later, she spoke. "I talked to my father. He said he wants to meet you, and then he''ll decide whether he wants to give his support or not." "I''ll visit when I come back then," Rael said flatly, and Aria nodded. At the same time, he got an idea, so he tapped the air several times, and soon... <Friend Request Sent!> Aria tilted her head, puzzled. But she still accepted. <Friend Request Accepted! New Friend: Aria Draconia> <Total Friends: 3> Then, he turned to Seryn, who was dozing off, and did the same. <Friend Request Sent!> He shared the same confusion as Aria, but Rael simply gestured for him to accept, and of course, he did. <Friend Request Accepted! New Friend: Bastian Elowen Arcturus Seryn Thorne> <Total Friends: 4> "Aria, I have a request," Rael said as he walked over to Seryn and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Can you take this guy with you?" Before she could answer, Rael suddenly took out the two key fragments he had and placed them in Seryn''s palm. "Put it in your inventory. You''ll need it." Aria froze. "Is that...?" "It is," Rael replied with a smile and pushed Seryn toward Aria and the rest of the soldiers. "I''ll be going now, and I suggest all of you leave as well," Rael stated and began walking in a random direction. "Rael." Seryn called out. "Since this is the last location, I guess I have to pay up, don''t I?" "Nah," Rael replied, shaking his head. "Keep it. I bet you''re going to need it." Seryn chuckled and turned around. Rael considered him a friend, and Seryn probably felt the same. Nonetheless, he didn''t want to make this emotional since they''d see each other soon enough. As for Aria, she flashed him several small glances, but since he was acting like some rebellious child, she simply ignored him, got on her horse, and began riding off. Since a few soldiers had died earlier, there were several free horses, so Seryn took one for himself. Soon, they were just dots in the distance, and finally, Rael was all alone again. But not for long, as he glanced to the side, where dozens of crystal constructs were lurking. <(x170) Zoomba [Level 35]> There were 766 of them originally... Rael thought with a frown and gestured for all of them to get closer. When they finally gathered around him, he spoke. "You''ve all worked hard, and I''m not sure if this will work... but those of you who wish to stop fighting, step up. I''ll deconstruct you so you may rest." Silence ensued for a few moments, and he honestly thought that this was just some useless passing thought. But to his surprise, a few stepped up, which soon turned to tens, and then nearly 100 constructs. "I see..." Rael smiled as he walked over to each one and placed a hand on their crystal heads, painlessly deconstructing them into mana and back into his body. And after a few minutes, he was done. <(x90) Zoomba [Level 35] has been deconstructed!> "As for the remaining 80 of you, I have a task," Rael said, taking out his map of the Plague Lands and placing it on the ground. "To the right of us, there are the Ruins of Oblivar. I want you all to begin renovations. It''s a big ask, I know. But I''m thinking of setting up my base of operations there." He half-expected the remaining constructs to ask to be deconstructed, but instead, every single one of them saluted, and without even waiting for the go-ahead, dashed toward the Ruins of Oblivar. I''ll definitely need to work on my construct anatomy... Rael thought, and finally, it was time. He took out the fruit and swiftly ate it. <Ember of Life Consumed!> Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. <+1,000 Constitution> Immediately, several dozen popups appeared in front of his eyes. <Journal Updated!> <Find The Beast ¨C Part 2: Escape the Depths!> <Escape the Depths: Devour all 10 Embers of Life. Light all 10 monuments in the Plague Lands> <Status: Complete> <Reward: Premium Perk Selection [Ultimate-Unique]> <Reward 2: New Title: ??? (Mythic)> <Reward 3: Leave the Depths> However, just as he was about to collect his rewards, he heard a few steps to the side, followed by the sound of clapping. As Rael turned toward the sound, he saw a tall man with dark green hair that was nearly as long as his own. His eyes were black, and on his cheek, there was a long thin scar, almost as if it was made by a sword or dagger. Of course, it was none other than the Beast, Zarkul. "Bravo, Rael Sutekh," Zarkul said in a deep voice. "You''ve gone above and beyond my expectations." Zarkul narrowed his eyes and flashed a grin before walking over and tapping Rael on the forehead. "I suppose you deserve a little reward for that?" <Ding!> <You''ve been granted...> Chapter 122 122: Rewards, Rewards And Even more Rewards! [End of Plague Lands Arc] <Ding!> <You''ve been granted: Access to the Depths> <Access to the Depths: Freely open a portal to and from the Depths from any location. Must be out of combat. A maximum of 15 people may enter at a time.> Rael''s eyes widened. "But I thought...?" "You thought well." Zarkul chuckled. "There will be a problem if a bunch of people enter all at once, so I''ve limited it to 15 for the time being." "What if I try taking someone out of the Depths using this?" Rael asked, pointing at the pop-up. "Sadly, you can''t bring them back to their own worlds as they''ll go to where you were," Zarkul replied. "Every time you use the portal, you''ll return to the exact same spot. So if you use the portal to go back now, you''ll reappear in that bathroom, and if you go back through, you''ll appear in the spot you''re standing currently." Rael''s brows twitched. "How do you know I was inside a bathroom?" "Just a guess," Zarkul replied with a shrug. "But aside from that, I managed to connect with the quest you were talking about. I also found out who assigned it." Who assigned it...? Before Rael could speak, Zarkul swiftly snapped his fingers, causing multiple pop-ups to appear in front of Rael. <Long Main Quest¡ª[Find the Beast (Level ???) | Part-3 Unlocked!]> <Note: Entry limit has been removed! You may enter and continue the quest whenever you wish!> <Note 2: Find the Beast (Level ???) | Part-3 Recommended Level: 400> "It should''ve updated, yes?" Zarkul asked, earning a nod from Rael in response. "Good. I''ll give you an actual quest once you come back." "I see... but who assigned the quest to me? It sounds like you weren''t the one who did it," Rael asked. "It''s a very mischievous being," Zarkul remarked with a faint smile. "He''s sadly passed. But don''t worry, his will lingers in this world, and you''ll likely get a chance to meet him again." The moment he finished those words, Zarkul looked to the sky and flashed a frown. "It looks like I''ll have to face the consequences of my actions. Until then, Rael Sutekh." And with those words, the Beast seemingly vanished, not giving him any more information or clarity on the situation. But Rael didn''t mind. Having the approval of such a being, and even a few others, was more than enough for him to feel satisfied. Of course, it was also about damn time he collected his rewards. <Reward: Premium Perk Selection [Ultimate-Unique] - Activated!> <Rolling...> Now why in the fuck is there a gacha interface? Rael''s brows furrowed. There were 5 interfaces with many different symbols flashing all at once. He waited patiently, just as he had done in the past, and soon, every single one of those interfaces halted. And with that, five different perks appeared in front of him. 1. Premium World [Ultimate-Unique]: Create and manage a medium-sized pocket dimension. Rules, enemies, loot, and laws are fully customizable. Free. One-Time Use Perk. 2. Premium Mirror [Ultimate-Unique]: Copy any skill, form, or ability you witness. Duration and cost depend on target''s power. 3. Premium Curse [Ultimate-Unique]: Impose a debuff, restriction, or twisted Premium rule onto others. Cost determines the effectiveness. 4. Premium Awaken [Ultimate-Unique]: Any skill or item that reaches the max level can evolve again, entering a new, unknown rank beyond the system. Cost increases exponentially depending on the rank of the skill. Unpredictable Skill Mutations. 5. Premium Greed [Ultimate-Unique]: You automatically claim 1% of all currency and experience gained by everyone in your controlled areas. Defeated enemies have an extremely low chance to drop a [Greed Fragment], and collecting it grants you ???. Oh boy... Rael sighed. He expected easy choices, yet he was met with this shit. Every single one of these perks was overpowered. However, he could hesitantly rule out a few right away. Premium World and Premium Mirror greatly resembled Premium Dungeon and Premium Override, so they were out. Premium Curse seemed overpowered, but it didn''t seem as special as the rest, so Rael voted it out too. Finally, he was down to two perks, and they were arguably the best ones he had ever seen. Premium Awaken and Premium Greed. One was like his Premium Evolution, but for skills. It was definitely something he wanted, however, the unpredictability factor gave him some doubts. Rael sat down on the ground, grumbling. Premium Awaken is so fucking good and I''d pick it right away... but do I really need it right now? Rael pondered, and decided to check one thing out in particular. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Skills/Rank-up ?¡ªBalance: 1,516,751,533 Trell¡ª? ? Common ¡ú Uncommon Skill Rank-up (Uncommon): 1,000,000 Trell ? Uncommon ¡ú Rare Skill Rank-up (Rare): 10,000,000 Trell ? Rare ¡ú Epic Skill Rank-up (Epic): 100,000,000 Trell ? Epic ¡ú Legendary Skill Rank-up (Legendary): 500,000,000 Trell <Expand for more> Hmm... Rael fell into thought. Some skills had built-in rank-ups, and while most didn''t... From what he could see, these premium shop skill rank-ups bypassed those restrictions, but obviously, their prices were pretty steep. Nonetheless, since he found a slightly worse alternative, there was only one choice remaining. Premium Greed. It was a skill that would be very useful since he would be ruling over multiple areas in the future. But then there was also the second option, which had question marks. It was a gamble, but he always did enjoy gambling every now and then. Therefore, without wasting a second more, he selected the final perk. Premium Greed [Ultimate-Unique]: You automatically claim 1% of all currency and experience gained by everyone in your controlled areas. Defeated enemies have an extremely low chance to drop a [Greed Fragment], and collecting it grants unique Greed-based powers. <Ding!> <Greedy Beginner Bonus!> <x1 Greed Fragment granted!> <Greed Fragments: 1> 1 Fragment: 1% Chance to convert a dropped or crafted item into the [Gold] sub-rarity. 5 Fragments: ??? 10 Fragments: ??? 25 Fragments: ??? <Expand [+Infinity]> Ohhh, Rael shot up to his feet. A perk where I can get insane stuff just by killing enemies... this is perfect. Safe to say, while the Premium Awaken perk was very good, this perk, in particular, had the chance to scale infinitely, which also meant Rael could get that much more power. Nonetheless, he was going to play around with it later. Instead, it was time to check out his new title. <Reward 2: New Title: Crystalline Inheritance (Mythic)> ¡ªCrystalline Inheritance: Constructs you create inherit +5% of your core stats. "..." It just kept getting more and more overpowered. The 5% would turn into nearly 10% of his stats because of the additive bonuses, so Rael could literally create an army of constructs and take over entire countries. Though it almost seems like someone is gearing me up with these perks and effects... Rael pondered for a moment and put it aside. Instead, he focused on a particular message in front of him. <Do you wish to leave the Depths? Yes/No> Rael shot one final glance at his surroundings, yet he felt as if he forgot something... Oh right. Caedia... she''ll be fine. Probably. After that spider control fiasco, he was pretty sure the other empresses lost favor, giving Caedia all the authority. Therefore, Rael merely whistled to himself in anticipation and pressed "Yes." <Confirmed.> S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 123 123: Return, and Zafira A blue portal suddenly appeared in front of Rael. It wasn''t massive by any means, basically the size of a double door. Nonetheless, Rael took a step forward, and in the very next moment, his vision went dark. After just a few minutes, his vision finally returned. He found himself sitting on the familiar toilet seat, which he totally didn''t customize. However, it seemed like someone had painted the walls blue and added a whole shower to this place. Why would you place a shower in a boutique...? Rael thought as he opened the door and stepped out of the bathroom. It was currently nighttime, so the streets were obviously quiet¡ªsame as his boutique. Despite the quiet, he noticed Dirt Vader and Dust Trooper were still mopping the floor, though he could easily tell they were bored. And then there was Xavier, who was sleeping on the desk. Rael''s brows twitched, and he swiftly cleared his throat. "Hey, I''m back." The moment he finished those words, the constructs all shot up and walked to him. Xavier seemed the calmest, while the two cleaning constructs excitedly waved at him, wide smiles on their faces. In turn, a smile also formed on Rael''s face, and he proceeded to do something he should''ve done from the start. <Crystal Genesis> <Do you wish to make some modifications to your selected constructs?> Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. <Modifications Selected: +Speech> [MP -15,000,000 12,749,200/27,749,200 (x3 Crystal Genesis)] The constructs'' bodies glowed for a mere moment as the light traveled to where their lungs were supposed to be, and then to their throats. Finally, the light dissipated, and each of the constructs looked at each other with confusion. "Sir, a voice is not necessary for us to proceed with our duties," Xavier stated. "Come on! Now we don''t need to talk in our minds anymore!" Dust Trooper replied. "But hey, look¡ª" "Silence," Dirt Vader said coldly, raising its crystal arm into the air, and then innocently covering its mouth. "I-I''ve always wanted to say that..." "Yeah, you''re a bit too in character," Rael remarked with a chuckle as he went over and patted Dirt Vader on the head. "Did anything interesting happen while I was gone?" "Hmm... indeed," Xavier muttered. "Queen Zafira Sutekh has been coming over to the boutique daily now. She thinks you''ve died." Rael tilted his head. "And why exactly is she thinking that?" Xavier sighed and tapped in the air a couple of times. In the next moment, a pair of interfaces appeared, which it swiftly showed to Rael. <Rael Sutekh, The Platinum Overlord has reached 25% HP!> <Rael Sutekh, The Platinum Overlord has reached 5% HP!> <Rael Sutekh, The Platinum Overlord has reached 1% HP!> "So yeah..." Xavier scratched its head. "All of us crystal constructs received the same message, but so did all the people who are in your friends list." "Uh-huh..." Rael sighed. Well shit. He had expected to come back and ask Zafira out on a date. But now, he''d have to spend some time convincing her he was alright. "Sir, I believe the time is now," Xavier said as it went behind the counter. "Oh... right," Dust Trooper and Dirt Vader said in unison and began innocently sweeping the floors again. "First of all, just call me Rael," he said, flashing a puzzled look. "And what do you mean by ''it''s time''?" Xavier shrugged and, with its chin, pointed toward the boutique''s door, which suddenly opened. The moment it did, he saw a single person walk in, yet they weren''t even staring in his direction. Instead, they were looking around, inspecting the walls¡ªeven the floor¡ªfor any specks of dust. All the while, Rael was stunned. It was Zafira, and while she seemed the same as usual, there was something a little off about her. She seemed paranoid, and the smile she usually had on her face was nowhere to be seen. Her hair seemed slightly disheveled¡ªher casual clothes even more so. Yet as her lost gaze traveled toward Xavier, she was met with Rael''s flustered face. And just like him, she froze. Well... this is a little awkward... Rael thought, almost forgetting to breathe. To his surprise, his two cleaning constructs began circling him and sneakily poking him with their brooms. And of course, he understood what they wanted him to do, so Rael simply took a deep, shaky breath and stepped forward. Zafira was still looking at him as though she had seen a ghost. However, once he finally arrived in front of her, without even a single word, Rael embraced her, resting her head on his chest. She brought her trembling hands up and around his body, and the moment she did, Rael leaned into her ear and whispered. "I missed you, Zafira." Immediately, she flinched, gripping the back of his shirt tightly, while also burrowing her face deeper into his chest. "I''m sorry for worrying you," Rael whispered, gently passing his fingers through her hair and wiping a few dark smudges off her face. "I''m back now, and I''ll be staying for a while." Zafira silently sniffled, and then slowly eased her grip on his shirt, finally separating from him. Her eyes had been a bright crimson when he first met her, but now, they were a dark crimson. But the previous paranoid gaze he had seen vanished, replaced with a cute pout as she began tidying her hair up. Soon, her white hair once again straightened out, and she finally met his gaze. Rael had a warm smile on his face, and he wanted her to see it. After all, now that he was back, he''d make sure Zafira''s life had no more worries. He reached his hand out and gently interlaced his fingers with hers. Then, he brought her hand up to his face and planted a kiss on the finger where she wore her wedding ring. "I know no amount of words can make up for all the worry I put you through..." Rael trailed off as he stepped back, yet continued holding Zafira''s hand and glancing into her eyes, which were slightly trembling. "But what do you say I make it up to you with a date?" Chapter 124 124: Date Prep Despite the anger that she must have felt, her mouth opened wide. "A date...?" Zafira muttered. "You understand we don''t need to uphold such formalities unless necessary, right?" Rael nodded confidently. "I''m asking you, Zafira Sutekh, out on a date. Not Queen Zafira Sutekh." Zafira continued staring at him for a moment before looking down. "...But why?" "Why what?" Rael tilted his head. "Why I asked you out on a date?" She swiftly nodded, causing him to sigh. "Well, I''m interested in you," Rael said bluntly. "And I want to get to know you better. Not as the queen, but just as you." "Hold on..." Zafira waved her hands in the air, flustered. "I don''t think I heard you right, you said¡ª" "That I was interested in you? Yeah, you didn''t mishear," Rael replied with a chuckle. It seemed like the more he spoke, the less she could believe the situation she found herself in. However, he could understand her shock. After all, the person whom she thought had died just asked her out on a date. Still, he didn''t exactly expect her to be so flustered about something like this. Nonetheless, she finally finished murmuring incoherent words and simply nodded. "Okay. I don''t mind going out on a date... but where? Even if half the city is asleep, the other half will recognize us in an instant," Zafira asked. "Why not go to the star room?" Rael suggested. "It should be romantic enough, and it''ll only be the two of us." Zafira tilted her head. "The star room? What''s that?" "...The room under your throne?" Rael replied, raising his brow. "So you don''t know the ins and outs of your palace... uh-huh..." He grabbed her hand with a smile. "I''ll show you something worthwhile, so could you wait a second? I need to fix myself up real quick." "Why don''t I just meet you at the palace?" Zafira suggested, pointing to her hair and then at his clothes. "My hair''s a mess, and your clothes... I don''t even know what that white stuff on your clothes is." "...?" Rael looked down and noticed there were several white stains beside his collar. Beatrice... you motherfucker. Rael sighed and nodded. "Yep, meeting in the palace sounds good." Zafira giggled and waved at him before stepping outside, getting into her carriage, and driving away. In the meantime, he had to purchase some new clothes, since apparently, Beatrice''s way of revenge was webbing his clothes. But it didn''t even look like webs, it was more like a liquid. Did she...? Rael''s mind wandered as a shiver ran down his spine. He swiftly ran into the bathroom and threw his clothes into the trash can. But of course, that wasn''t the only thing he saw when he entered the bathroom, since there was the portal he hadn''t closed in the very middle of the bathroom. <Do you wish to close the portal to the Depths? Yes/No> <Confirmed.> Rael swiftly closed it and jumped in the shower, getting a good scrub. When he was finally finished, he bought himself a set of black clothes and then a random jacket, which cost only 1,900 Trell in total. Nonetheless, his hair was fine, his clothes were more than fine, and it felt like he wasn''t forgetting anything. Therefore, he stepped out of the bathroom and headed to the front of the boutique. But there was still one last thing he had to do¡ªor rather, assign for the others to do. "Can you three take out a few armor sets? They should be compact and lightweight, fitted into boxes, so it should only take a little while." "Sir... Rael, by a few sets, do you mean a few hundred?" Xavier asked, and Rael simply nodded in response. "221 to be exact. Also, if you can, set the prices to 1 million Trell per set. I''ll reward all three of you with some cool stuff once I''m back," Rael said, stepped outside of the boutique, and summoned his car. He showed his constructs how to take the sets out of the trunk, and once he was done with that, he began jogging toward the palace. It felt weird breathing fresh air again, since he was a little used to the smell of death that lingered in the Depths. But now it was all fine, and he only had roughly a week of stuff to catch up on. I mean, how hard can that be? Rael thought with a chuckle. Soon, he arrived at the palace, introduced himself to the shocked guards, and was escorted to the throne room. The moment he arrived, he was met with Zafira, who was leisurely sitting on her throne, sipping on some wine and looking badass as per usual. She wore a casual white top with a basic skirt and low heels, and once she noticed him, Zafira put the wine down and waved. Rael swiftly excused the guards and approached her with a stunned look on his face. "You look beautiful," he said plainly. Zafira''s smile widened. "And you tidied up. But what did you mean by that star room earlier? I checked the palace''s architecture logs, and there wasn''t anything extra in the throne room." S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Well, that''s the beauty of secret rooms, isn''t it?" Rael chuckled as he walked up to her and around her throne. There were five buttons; however, to outsiders, they just looked like some simple ornaments that had no relevance. But Rael wasn''t an outsider. The amount of lore he had uncovered while playing Sketa Online was simply insane. Obviously, he''d pick up on some stupid stuff like this. Therefore, he leaned down and tapped the buttons in a particular 10-digit order. By now, Zafira had walked up to him, and the moment Rael was finished tapping all the buttons in the right order, the ground suddenly shook. Zafira seemed startled, and out of instinct, Rael shot up to his feet and held her by the waist, causing her eyes to widen. But that surprise only lasted for a few seconds, as the throne itself suddenly began descending downward, revealing a dark spiral staircase. Rael smiled as he let go of her waist and held her by the hand. "Shall we?" Chapter 125 125: Inside The Star Room "So where are we going again?" Zafira asked, taking careful steps down the spiral staircase. Rael gently held her hand as he took the lead. "I told you, we''re heading to the star room." "Mhm..." Zafira nodded skeptically. "But don''t you think a star room is supposed to... I don''t know, overlook the stars?" S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Yep, and that''s what we''ll be doing," Rael replied flatly. "It''s an area that''s not exactly conventional, but you''ll see when we get there." She had a point. Honestly, he was a bit surprised that Zafira didn''t call him out for trying to kidnap her or something. After all, they were already in a crater, but now he was going even deeper. The developers, or I guess the creators of this world, added a secret room, and it''s directly linked to the blue star that only those in Celestara can see, Rael thought as he suddenly halted. "Why did you stop?" Zafira asked, puzzled. "It looks like there''s some light down there¡ªwe''re pretty close to whatever dungeon you''re taking me to." Rael raised a brow. "You seem pretty eager about that?" Zafira''s smile twitched. "W-Well... not like that. But I''m still confused about how you knew this existed in the first place." "I''ll tell you when we finally arrive, so let''s see..." Rael trailed off, scanning the dark wall in front of him. He had climbed down 239 steps, and the 240th step was a trap that would send him barreling toward his death. Rael found out the hard way, and it made him lose a few levels. But in the end, it was worth it. To access that room, he had to find a certain brick in the wall that was looser than the others. And after just a few seconds, he found it, pulled it out, and proceeded to place it on the 240th step. This time, the trap didn''t activate, and with a smirk, Rael began leading the puzzled Zafira further down. That was the only hurdle he had to overcome. Items weren''t able to disable the trap, and special trap kits didn''t work either. The only reason he even found that brick in the first place was because he slammed his head against it one time, and it just so happened to fall on that 240th step. Nonetheless, Rael put the nostalgia behind him as he approached the blue light at the very bottom of the staircase. Finally, he took the final step, and the moment he did, his grin grew further. The star room was just as he remembered. It was a giant glass room, and he couldn''t see its end. However, as he took a few steps forward, the sight below him made him let out a satisfied sigh. "T-This is...?" Zafira let go of his hand as she dropped down to the transparent floor and looked down. "Is that Celestara...?" "Yep," Rael replied as he leaned down beside her. "You know the star you''ve been seeing in the sky that is exclusive to Celestara? Yeah. This room is that star." They were really high up, and except for Celestara, everything else starting from the mountainside lifts was blurry and basically invisible. Yet Celestara was perfect, and if he focused, it worked almost like a magnifying glass, so he could see everything that was going on. In fact, he could see his three constructs playing dodgeball with his armor set boxes. Those little bastards... Rael sighed. I can''t even hate them, they''re just too cute. He let Zafira continue indulging in her curiosity. In the meantime, he took a glance around. There was a massive blue LED light strapped to the ceiling of this almost never-ending room, likely what made the others think it was a star in the first place. Despite that, Rael sat down on the ground not too far away from Zafira and bought a few items. A picnic blanket, a grill, some charcoal. Two comfortable chairs and a round table. Some marinated ribs ready to be grilled, and of course, a few pizzas and wine as the appetizer. Since Zafira deserved the best, he made sure to get a freezer as well with a few cold beverages inside. It was definitely a first for him. After all, having a date on a ''star'' wasn''t exactly common in his world¡ªor the last. Since I was the only player who found this area... it was funny watching them speculate that this place is just some future quest-line meteor, when in reality, it was just an unpatched bug, Rael thought as he finished setting everything up. He lit the Applewood charcoal and started the grilling process. The moment he did, Zafira immediately shot up from the ground and approached him. "When did you have time to set all this up...?" she muttered, glancing at the wine and pizzas. "This is amazing." "I know, right?" Rael chuckled and closed the grill, letting it do its own thing. Since it was no ordinary grill, it wouldn''t take hours. Instead, the ribs should be done in just a few minutes. In the meantime, he walked up to the pizza and took a slice before bringing it to Zafira. However, instead of handing it to her, Rael gestured for her to open her mouth, and with slight embarrassment, Zafira did just that. "This is also delicious," Zafira remarked, and just as she was about to wipe her mouth with her sleeve, Rael quickly took out a handkerchief and wiped the pizza sauce. "You''re well prepared," Zafira remarked, flustered. "I said I''d try my best to make it up to you," Rael said plainly as he stared right into her eyes. "I meant it." With that, he gestured for her to sit down, bought two majestic golden chalices, and poured wine into them. "Zafira..." Rael trailed off, swirling the wine in his chalice. "I want to get to know you better... I feel like the only thing I know about you is your last name, and that you like being pampered." "Pampered... really?" Zafira raised a brow as she nearly choked on her wine. "Well... I guess you''re not wrong. My parents used to pamper me quite a lot when I was younger." "Oh?" Rael put the wine-filled chalice down and glanced at her with a warm smile. "Tell me more." Chapter 126 126: Casual Chat "I used to be a royal knight, and I dabbled in a bit of magic too," Zafira said, taking a sip of the wine. "But before all that, I was just some simple girl living here. My parents weren''t really special either." "Not special?" Rael raised a brow. "If they managed to raise someone like you, then they''re more than special." Zafira giggled. "My mother used to be a cook, and my father was a boutique owner. I know it seems a little mundane, but they''re a bit higher up on the food chain now." "Oh yeah?" Rael said. "Even higher than you?" "Yes, much higher than me." Zafira smiled. "My mother became the Sovereign Queen. Basically someone who can control the other queens of this continent however she wishes. My mom''s currently the one who secretly helped me avoid the war. I''m really grateful to her." From a cook to a Sovereign Queen... well damn, Rael whistled. "So is your dad also something similar then? A Sovereign King perhaps?" "Nope, nothing as grand as that," Zafira replied, shaking her head. "He''s a merchant now, and he owns 40% of all trade routes on this entire continent." "Yeah... you''re a big shot," Rael remarked, earning a smile from Zafira. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "What about you?" she asked and grabbed a slice of pizza. "You didn''t just pop up out of nowhere, right?" "Well..." Rael scratched his cheek. "I kind of did. I woke up inside a dungeon a month ago. When I came out, I accidentally stumbled into your city the night before your coronation." "...?" Zafira tilted her head. "What do you mean?" Rael sighed. "Would you believe me if I told you I''m not originally from this world?" "Why not? I''ve seen elves, dwarves, and other races. Some of them came here from their home worlds," Zafira replied plainly. However, Rael merely shook his head. "That''s not what I meant. You remember those immortal wanderers? I''m from their world... but not at the current time, I guess. More like in the future?" "Mhm..." Zafira nodded skeptically. "I can try to believe you... but go easy on me, it doesn''t sound very believable." "Obviously." Rael chuckled. "I''m honestly surprised you didn''t call me an idiot... but yeah. I know about most things that are going to happen in the next 15 years or so. One such thing is your dethronement." Zafira froze, nearly choking on the pizza slice. "When?" "Next month, apparently, though I''m not sure what the cause was. I never found out," Rael replied. "But if I had to guess, the people rebelled because you accepted the deal with Yrgon. They no longer felt safe as the threat of war was constantly looming." "But I didn''t accept it?" Zafira said, puzzled. "Yep, not this time," Rael affirmed with a smile. "If you had accepted, Celestara would''ve just become some regular old city within Yrgon." He didn''t exactly like talking about politics, but if he wanted to tell her everything, he had to let her know certain things in advance. Maybe then he could understand what actually happened in the past. It seemed like Zafira had fallen into thought for a few moments, but soon, she spoke. "What about you then? What were you like in that so-called future world?" "Me? I was..." Rael trailed off with a sigh. "I was a pretty shit person. I gambled my money and got mixed up with loan sharks... it all started back when I was 16, I think?" "What happened when you were 16?" Zafira asked, and before he could answer, leaned in and stuck a pizza slice into his mouth. He ate it with a chuckle, and then gave her a slice as well. Truthfully, it was hard to answer that question, but he''d try anyway. "I remember I was kidnapped. It was for a ransom, and I can''t exactly recall who saved me... but the only things I remember from before I turned 16 are that I was a loner, I apparently had a sister, and that my so-called parents left me with a large debt I couldn''t pay off." It was a lengthy explanation, but that was basically the gist of it. Amnesia, then thrust into shit circumstances, basically made him a piece of shit. He was just glad he could put that life behind him now. "I see..." Zafira muttered, and pointed to the grill behind him. "The ribs are on fire, by the way. Literally." Shit. Rael shot up to his feet and immediately got it taken care of. In the meantime, he heard her giggle to herself, which made him let out a relieved sigh. Nonetheless, he swiftly plated the ribs on golden plates and placed them on the table. He gave Zafira the juicier cut, obviously. Yet just as he was about to dig in, Zafira''s eye contact made him halt. "You know... I feel like despite knowing a bit more about you, I don''t feel like we''ve bridged the distance yet," Zafira said with a small smile. "Oh?" Rael tilted his head. "What makes you say that?" "It just... makes me wonder if you''d still care about someone like me, here and now, without all that knowledge." Zafira said flatly. "Zafira," Rael leaned over and gently placed a hand on her cheek. "I care for you more than you know. Despite my future knowledge, we weren''t exactly friends. Heck, we didn''t share a conversation even once." A slight blush appeared on her cheek as she nodded. "Sorry. I guess I might''ve been overthinking it." "No, I understand what you mean," Rael said as a serious look appeared on his face. "I care about you, and I hope you begin to see that too." A moment of silence ensued as neither of them spoke. However, it was soon broken by Rael clearing his throat. "We should probably get back on track, right? I don''t want to make our date too depressing." "No, it''s fine..." Zafira shook her head. "Getting to know a bit about you and your past was nice... but your sister¡ªwhat happened to her?" "I have no idea," Rael replied with a shrug. "Honestly, I wouldn''t be surprised if she just ditched me." "Come on..." Zafira leaned in and playfully pinched his cheek. "Don''t say such things, okay?" Rael stared at her for a few moments, and instead of answering, he simply tore off a rib and held it in front of Zafira''s mouth. "It''s pretty tasty. I''d know since I used to be a grilling expert." Zafira giggled. "I''ll hold you to your word." Chapter 127 127: Buying A Mansion, And A Home Theater There was another thing Rael had learned in these past few minutes. Whenever Zafira had food in her mouth, she talked up a storm. "So imagine me, right? I was only 12 when I first held a blade, and because I showed potential, the damn king wanted to recruit me to the royal knights!" Zafira complained. "And you accepted," Rael remarked as he held another rib in front of her mouth, which she swiftly devoured. "I did, but you know what that bastard did?" Zafira turned to Rael, glancing straight into his eyes. "He exiled my parents! They''re still exiled as of today, and I can''t un-exile them either." "The fuck?" Rael tilted his head. "That seems like a little much. Did he have a reason for exiling your parents, or was it just to keep you around?" "Oh boy..." Zafira muttered. "He wanted me to become his blade, and I sternly refused. My parents heard about it and spread those rumors to the public. In turn, they were exiled for treason." "Hmm..." Rael fell into thought. "Since it''s a legitimate reason, then that''s why it''s tricky, right?" "Yep..." Zafira sighed. "I''m just glad my parents had some connections in the other countries. In less than a decade, they managed to assert their dominance and climb to their current positions." "It''s admirable," Rael commented. "But regarding the previous king... can''t you put all the king''s rulings into question? That''s within your rights as the queen of Celestara." "Rael." Zafira bit into the rib and washed it down with wine. "That bastard made tens of thousands of rulings... and guess what, they''re all as bad as those from the Yrgon side... so many loopholes... so many clauses." "A headache, but it''s just more paperwork." Rael smiled. "What if I told you I have a way to reduce that load by 99%? Would you consider it then?" "Hmm... do you mean those constructs?" Zafira asked, and he nodded. "Yeah, they work like a charm, and if I have a couple dozen of them, then your problem, which would take years, would be reduced to weeks," Rael replied, and reached for another rib. However, it seemed like they were finished already. Huh? Did I even eat a full rib? Rael thought, remembering the fact that every single one of his pork ribs had somehow ended up inside Zafira''s mouth. "Oh? You ran out of food?" Zafira said with a giggle. "I can get more," Rael added, and just as he was about to, Zafira merely placed a hand on his shoulder. "No need. Any more and I''d feel like I have a baby inside me." Rael''s brows twitched. "Right..." She seemed a little more laid-back than normal, given how she was sitting on the table this whole time. Nonetheless, he stood up, grabbed her by the waist, and set her down on the ground. He put the empty plates and pizza boxes inside his inventory, even managing to fit the grill inside too. And now, their little picnic was over. The view was still as amazing as ever, and Celestara seemed to be bustling even during nighttime. Zafira enjoyed this place a lot as her gaze constantly wandered down, so he made her a little proposal. "Do you want to live here together?" "What...?" Zafira''s eyes widened. "Here? Isn''t it a bit...?" sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rael merely gave her a wink and opened up a certain interface. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Property/Mansion/Massive ?¡ªBalance: 1,499,972,882 Trell¡ª? ? Extra Large Mansion [30 rooms] (Uncommon): 25,000,000 Trell Despite the steep price, Rael didn''t hesitate for even a single moment as he faced away from Zafira and bought the entire mansion. Just as he expected it to poof into existence, it suddenly began building itself¡ªfrom the foundation, to the layering, and then finally to the furniture and everything else one could ever want in a giant ass home. "Uhh..." Zafira recoiled with wide eyes. "D-Did you just...?" "Yep, this is our two-week anniversary... I think?" Rael replied with a chuckle, putting a smile on Zafira''s face. "So you just happened to have a spare house lying around in your inventory?" "Oh yeah, that..." Rael nearly forgot the most important thing. "As long as I have the money, I can buy anything I want." Zafira''s eyes sparkled. "Anything?" He didn''t notice the threat behind those eyes, so he confidently nodded. "Yep. Whether it''s a car, a kingdom, even the basics like makeup or..." Rael finally realized what he had gotten himself into. There was a giant mansion behind him, but she barely even paid any attention to it. Instead... "Could you buy me some salmon?" Of course she''s thinking about food. Rael sighed and bought a whole set of all kinds of salmon he could buy. Zafira leaned in, trying to grab the food. But before she could, Rael pulled it away and then pointed at the mansion. "Let''s go inside first. There should be a kitchen or a living room... plus it''s getting a little chilly here." "Fine..." Zafira replied hesitantly, and with that, the two went inside. The hallways were massive, the rooms even more so. Even the kitchen was as big as the house he had right before he crossed over to this world. Nonetheless, after a bit of searching around, they found quite the interesting room. It was a home theater, with comfy seats scattered all around. To his surprise, when Zafira accidentally hit the light switch, the light actually turned on. There''s electricity? What the fuck? He expected the utilities to be busted, but it seemed like this was some magic house... or it just had a generator hidden somewhere. Despite that, Rael led Zafira to the front seats, while offering her small bites of salmon along the way. It was both cute and funny how she was acting like this. After all, she was the ruler of Celestara¡ªa queen. Yet now, she was simply a woman he wanted to pamper more and more. Once he finally arrived in the front seats, Rael saw a remote and immediately headed towards it. He pressed the button, and the massive screen suddenly lit up, displaying a giant catalog of movies. "What''s this?" Zafira asked as she approached the projection carefully. "I can see the images on my hand..." "It''s like a photo player, but better." Rael simplified it with a chuckle and then patted the seat in front of him. "Come sit down. I have a few movies to show you." "Oh yeah?" Zafira smiled, skipped over to him, and sat down. To his surprise, she immediately leaned her head on his shoulder, causing him to halt for a moment. He liked this warm feeling¡ªthe feeling of having someone like her beside him. Therefore, he would do his best to never make that feeling fade away. Rael swiftly put on a certain cringy vampire movie and gently wrapped his arm around her. Then, he simply began running his fingers through her hair with one hand and feeding her salmon with the other. He definitely didn''t expect his life to take such a drastic turn in the span of a single month, but damn. I can''t say I hate it. Chapter 128 128: Almost An Accident, And Time To Un-Exile "Huaa..." Rael yawned, slowly sitting up. I got knocked the fuck out, damn, he thought, his hangover practically bonking him over the head every second. He realized he was in a massive bed, and beside him was none other than Zafira. She was quietly and peacefully snoring, and he could see her exposed shoulders. It was clear she was without clothes. However, upon realizing that, Rael froze. Did we sleep together...? Rael frowned. This was definitely not how he wanted their first time to be. Drunk and forgotten¡ªit just sucked. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But as he looked down at his own body, he realized that aside from his shirt, he still had pants on. At the same time, the bed was clean. Way too clean for two drunk people to clean up by themselves. Okay. So we didn''t sleep together. Rael let out a relieved sigh as he got out of the bed and bought a random shirt. This looked like the master bedroom since it was the size of nearly half the throne room. Despite that, Rael paced around the room, making sure there wasn''t anything lying around. And thankfully, everything was perfect. Since Zafira looked like she was still going to sleep for a while, Rael bought a note and pen, wrote down where he was going, and left it right on his side of the bed. Obviously, he wasn''t leaving the mansion yet, but given its size, he decided to tell her he was heading to the kitchen. The last thing he remembered was that they watched two movies, then he bought some strong alcohol, chugged a few bottles with Zafira, and... Blank. I woke up next to a half-naked Zafira in bed... Rael sighed as he finally found the kitchen. All utilities worked as they should, and even the fridge was packed to the brim with stuff. Therefore, he cooked some bacon and eggs for himself and Zafira. After all, he could already hear her footsteps in the distance, and from what he could tell, she was running toward him. As he turned around, he was met with a red-faced Zafira who had a black bathrobe on. "R-Rael..." Zafira muttered, approaching him slowly. "W-We didn''t do it... right?" "I don''t think so," Rael replied plainly, handing her a plate of food. "But I think you should... check yourself, just in case." Zafira flinched as she set the food down and ran into a nearby bathroom. Then, not even a minute later, she ran back, relief written all over her face. "We''re safe..." she said, sitting down beside him and devouring her food. "Yeah, remind me not to buy very strong alcohol next time. It seems like both of us are lightweights when it comes to stuff like this," Rael remarked with a smile as he patted her head. "Mhm..." Zafira nodded. "Though I am feeling a little sore..." Rael froze, and the moment he did, Zafira let out a giggle. "I''m just kidding~" "You nearly gave me a heart attack..." Rael replied, rubbing his temples. "What? Is the idea that unthinkable to you?" Zafira asked teasingly. Rael scoffed and stuffed a piece of bacon into her mouth. "Zafira, in case you didn''t notice, I like you. But I wouldn''t want our first time to be meaningless." She smiled. "I guess putting my trust in you wasn''t a mistake after all." "If you say so." Rael shrugged and began eating, while also occasionally giving Zafira a piece of his food. Nonetheless, the two soon finished eating, and now, it was time for the real talk. "I know I might''ve sprung it on you, and I don''t expect you to agree to live here. After all, you have a giant palace," Rael said, scratching his cheek. "But if you ever want to hang out or are feeling tired, feel free to use anything you want in this mansion. It''s all yours." A moment of silence ensued as Zafira stood up and went to the other side of the table. She ran her fingers along the counter, and once she finally arrived, she merely giggled. "I don''t mind living here, but how exactly are we going to get up or down to this place?" Zafira asked. Instead of answering, Rael just motioned for her to follow. He walked back toward the spiral staircase, which was like a simple crack in the middle of this giant translucent room. Nonetheless, Rael extended his hand toward Zafira, who, despite being puzzled, took it. Then, he proceeded to simply walk into the dark spiral staircase. However, instead of having to climb back up, they were immediately teleported to the very top. Zafira''s throne was in perfect shape, and the spiral staircase leading down was nowhere to be seen. However, the back of her throne was glowing, and there was a tiny blue star sigil etched into the back. He let go of her hand and began explaining. "Those who enter that room can come and go whenever they want. If you want to be teleported down, press your finger against the blue star sigil, and if you want to go up, then simply walk inside." "Wow..." Zafira muttered, shocked. "This really is amazing... and to think it was right below... above..." "Yeah, you should save those thoughts for later. I don''t even know how it works myself," Rael finished with a chuckle. They had their fun, but as always, it was time to get back to work. There were around five days left until the players got kicked off the beta test, and during that time, he wanted to set up a few things. With everything settling down, he wanted to kickstart his group, Synthex, with the Faceless One, Zareth. However, as he patted Zafira''s head and was prepared to leave, he suddenly halted. "Right... let''s un-exile your parents, shall we?" "I thought you forgot." Zafira teased and began walking toward a room off to the side. From what he remembered, it was supposed to be the room where all documents were being kept. Yet as she swung the doors open, Rael could only stare in shock. Stacks upon stacks, and tens of towers formed out of documents. "There''s more in the back," Zafira said with a hum. "So you said you had a way to speed things up? Believe me, I''m all ears." Rael focused up and grinned. "Yep, give me just a sec..." <Crystal Genesis> Chapter 129 129: Auto Constructs, And Greeting The Envoy "Wow..." Zafira muttered, staring at the sight in front of her. There were 15 crystal constructs in total, and of course... Name: Autocrat Race: Summoned Crystal Construct (Uncommon) Level: 40 Health Points (HP): [327,621/327,621] (+198%) Mana Points (MP): [180,051/180,051] (+198%) Strength: 4,646 (+79%) Agility: 4,680 (+79%) Constitution: 10,994(+79%) Intelligence: 6,042 (+79%) Wisdom: 5,772(+79%) Charisma: 2,005 (+79%) ¡ªSpecial Effect: Intellect (Uncommon) Mental calculations are done 35% faster ¡ªSpecial Effect 2: God Given Hands (Common) General dexterity is increased by 25% Rael whistled to himself. Damn, I should probably get that second effect too... just in case. He had wasted all of his mana on 15 of these guys, and most of them got the second special effect. Those who didn''t were simply sorting files or handling the less serious rulings. And of course, Rael gave all of them speech. Thankfully, it was cheaper since he was creating them from scratch, not modifying them. Nonetheless, his job here was done. But just as he was about to leave the room, he halted. "Aren''t you going to leave as well?" Rael asked. "You know my constructs can take care of everything here." Zafira smiled and shook her head. "I''d love to, but these are my parents we''re talking about. I''d rather be 100% certain this can work... on the other hand, do you want to meet the Yrgon envoy?" Rael tilted his head. "The what now...? Oh right... is that Aria girl still here?" "Yep." Zafira nodded. "The king of Yrgon has been asking about her quite a lot. I kept dodging questions relating to you, but you should probably meet up with her before you go meet their envoy." "And I take it the negotiations went well?" Rael asked with a smirk. Zafira rolled her eyes. "Yeah yeah... you did a good job. They were a bit desperate from what I could tell, and you could''ve likely extracted more from them. But it''s a good first act, and it definitely works." Rael chuckled. "Thank you. And yeah, good luck, Zafira, I''ll see you later... back at the mansion?" "Sure." Zafira waved. "Bye bye." He smiled and took his leave. One of the things he''d forgotten was the king of Yrgon''s daughter, Aria Virelorn. She''s probably going to have the young mistress syndrome since I haven''t seen her for so long... but it''s fine... I dealt with Seryn, how bad could it be? Rael thought with a confident look. Nonetheless, he approached some of the guards, and they led him to her room. It was on the other side of the palace, but it was well maintained, and there were plenty of maids running around, taking care of the menial tasks. And of course, he soon saw Aria sitting on a bench with her finger outstretched. There was a small butterfly lingering on her finger, almost as if it were dancing. However, when Rael came within several meters of her, the butterfly flew away, and Aria turned to him with a frown. "You haven''t let me shadow you," she stated. "I thought that was what we agreed upon?" "And I told you I had every right to decline your shadowing," Rael replied sternly. "But I''ll have you know, the only reason you didn''t see me was because I wasn''t even in Celestara." "Then where were you?" Aria asked, crossing her arms as her white eyes narrowed. "Perhaps with a lover?" Rael shrugged. "Yep, I was out with my 294 lovers. I had a blast, so it took a while. I''m back though, and yeah, follow me. Your father sent an envoy." She was a little stunned by his words, but she still nodded and followed after him. It seemed like she found it a bit difficult to distinguish between jokes, but that was to be expected from someone as sheltered as she was. Though I wonder why she changed her look? Rael pondered. She used to have long, straight black hair¡ªbut now the back was curly, and she had bangs. Aria definitely seemed gorgeous, but since she was basically older than him, he saw her as nothing but a spoiled brat. However, just as he left the courtyard and saw the rows of carriages in the distance, a particular system pop-up made him¡ªand everyone else¡ªhalt. <Emergency Event!> <Rael Sutekh, The Platinum Overlord, has obtained the key to the Depths!> <Objective: Convince Rael Sutekh, The Platinum Overlord, to allow you to enter the Depths.> <Rewards: Unique Class (Legendary) | +150% EXP booster until level 200> Well, I''ll be fucking damned. Rael frowned. The fucking developers or whatnot decided to mess with me... but how exactly are they... He was a man of many ideas. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And right now, he had a massive fucking idea. "Oi, Xavier. If you can hear me, set the boxes to an auction-style exchange. Make it unlimited so the highest bid wins. And I want you to do that for each and every single one of those boxes, got it?" Rael shouted, startling Aria. "W-Why are you shouting!?" "Don''t worry about it, I''m just trying to get a little richer," Rael replied with a hum. Yet as he returned his gaze to the envoy, he spotted a particular figure to the side. It was a blue crystal construct wearing a cowboy hat and holding an oversized katana. Of course, it was none other than Chop-E. Rael flashed a nod at Chop-E, and it tipped its cowboy hat at him. It''s grown quite a lot. I should probably give Chop-E some upgrades later... Rael thought as he approached some chubby man at the very front of the envoy. "Greetings, everybody. I''ve come out to personally welcome you all to Celestara. I hope you enjoy your stay," Rael said in a magnanimous voice. At the same time, Aria gave a curt bow. "Welcome, Duke Lorox. It''s a wonder you managed to make it out this far." Duke Lorox scoffed as he looked Rael up and down. "Why is the king of Celestara wearing casual clothes to greet me? Do you not think of us as equals?" "First of all, I have no idea who you are. Second of all, you put your pants on the wrong way," Rael replied, causing the Duke to glance down in panic. But he couldn''t see much because his belly blocked the view. Nonetheless, since Rael gave the Duke a little side-quest to figure out whether or not he was bullshitting, it was now time to find out why they were here in the first place. Rael gestured toward the palace with a malevolent smile. "We should take this talk inside, dear envoys. Follow me." Chapter 130 130: Surprise Appearance? As much of a bullshitter as Rael was, he actually didn''t lie about the fact that the Duke''s pants were on the wrong way. Yet he only found out after cussing out half of his own envoy, thinking they were gaslighting him. Still, Rael could only scoff at his behavior. An entitled noble. Why exactly did Halemire send such an idiot? Rael pondered as he led them to some random guest room. There were a few people already inside, but he told them to kindly get out, then seated the Yrgon envoys around a round table, and of course, Aria too. Despite their grand entrance, there were only five of them, with Duke Lorox allegedly being the head of the whole envoy. However, Rael had followed a certain tradition for a long time. And that was to simply sit in silence for a single minute and observe the body language of all the people present. Negotiation authority goes to... Rael''s gaze slowly darted Between everyone present, until eventually, it landed on an ordinary-looking man. He was dressed up as a servant, and he likely was supposed to be the duke''s attendant. However, he was also the only person¡ªaside from Rael¡ªwho was observing the others. Combined with the fact that his Primordial Sight flared up when he looked at him, it was more than enough to make Rael suspicious. The moment the ''servant'' caught onto what Rael was doing, he immediately tried to act normal by attending to the duke''s needs. But Rael simply stood up and clapped his hands before pointing at everyone but the servant. "You four. Out." "What!" the duke stood up. "How dare you show such disrespect!?" "For the love of god..." Rael sighed. He was getting a little tired of all these idiots underestimating him; therefore, he merely smiled and met the duke''s gaze Immediately, the duke''s eyes widened as he suddenly recoiled. "Y-You... what did you do!?" "Pfftt..." Rael held back a chuckle, then shot a glance at the other three people, who quickly scurried to their feet and carried the duke out. I guess my Mental Decay option picked him up as an enemy. How neat, Rael thought as he nonchalantly sat down and glanced toward the servant. "Sit. We need to have a little chat." The servant stared at him for a few moments before letting out a chuckle. "You''re sharp, just as King Halemire mentioned," the servant said, sat down, and put his hand over his face. Immediately, he ripped off the face mask he was wearing, revealing short black hair and familiar white eyes. "Y-You''re..." Aria''s eyes widened. "Vonire Virelorn? I thought you were banished?" "Of course." Vonire nodded, turning to Rael. "I was banished from Yrgon, but not from Celestara. Halemire said you''re an interesting king, so I was wondering if you would be interested in my services?" "First of all..." Rael trailed off. "I need some context. Why were you banished? And who are you to the king, exactly?" "I killed one of the royal consorts. She was a total bitch and wanted to kill my niece, so I infiltrated the palace, poisoned her, and simply left the kingdom. As for who I am to the king? I''m his younger brother," Vonire explained. "Good riddance." Rael chuckled. "I''m surprised there are so many of you. Not only does Halemire have a gazillion children, he also has some family left over. I''m envious." "Don''t be, he''s a scumbag," Aria added as she reached down for the cup of water that was in front of Rael, and without wasting a moment, she threw it straight at the wall. Immediately, the water spilled¡ªyet it swiftly turned green. Then it began melting the palace''s wall, almost like it was acid. Though I''m immune to acid. Rael sighed as he tapped his finger on the table. "You''re an idiot, a wildcard, and someone I can kill with a flick of my finger. Tell me, what kind of power play are you trying to pull here?" "I can kill enemies for you. I doubt a king such as yourself truly wishes to dirty your hands¡ªthen why not let me do it? All I ask in return is a home, some women, and a handsome salary," Vonire offered confidently. Right... Rael rolled his eyes. He was glad he could tell apart lies, and this guy was nothing but a liar. "I appreciate the offer, Vonire. However, you''re of no use to me, so I''d appreciate it if you''d see yourself out," Rael said as he stood up, preparing to leave. Aria seemed satisfied with his decision, so she followed right after. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, just as he was about to step through the door, Rael halted. Something didn''t quite add up. Rael would normally kill guys like these, but he let him be just because he was related to Halemire. And now that he thought about it further, he found it odd. But after taking a few moments to gather his thoughts, Rael''s eyes widened. Vonire purposely sabotaged his image so Rael would decline his proposal. Added to that fact, it was very like he had predicted that Aria was going to throw the cup because of his shit reputation. "Pfft... hahahaha!" Rael burst out laughing, puzzling the two of them. "Is everything alright...?" Aria asked. "You''ve been acting... strange ever since earlier." "No, I''m fine. I just didn''t expect this guy to play such an interesting card," Rael replied and walked back to his seat before curiously glancing at Vonire. "You''re a sly bastard. I hate it, but I also like it. You''re in," Rael stated flatly. "W-What!?" Aria shot up. "What are you saying!? Did you not see what he did!?" "Yeah... I''m afraid your brain might be a little jumbled up, King Sutekh," Vonire said with a sigh. "I''m fine." Rael chuckled. "In fact, I''m more than fine. I accept your services, and I will assign you to a particular division that has yet to be made official. I will give you further instructions a bit later. For now, sit tight." Neither of them could believe what he was saying¡ªand rightfully so. But just as Vonire was about to speak up, Rael interjected. "Your brother sent you, and clearly, you don''t want to be here... However..." Rael leaned in, flashing a smirk. "I wonder... what did Halemire see in you?" Chapter 131 131: Indirectly Recruiting Him, And Getting Ready To Throw The Bait "Rael... I believe you should reconsider," Aria said, clearly against the idea. But in the end, it was Rael''s call. "Aria, I apologize, but I want you to step out for a few minutes. I want to have a little chat with Vonire," Rael said firmly, causing Aria''s brows to twitch. His tone left no room for refusal, so Aria simply grumbled and took her leave. Rael turned back to Vonire with a smirk. "He sent you here with a task. But you didn''t want to do it, so you acted like an idiot on purpose," Rael said casually, tapping his fingers on the armrest. "Am I close?" Vonire let out a tired sigh, leaning back in his chair. "You''re quick to make assumptions... but you''re not wrong." "So why sabotage it?" "Halemire wants me to join you and play both sides," Vonire said bluntly. "He doesn''t think the embassy clause was fair, so I was sent to keep an eye on you and report back to him." Rael''s smile twitched. "And instead of playing the spy, you decided to sabotage your own image," Rael added plainly. "I don''t like being anyone''s pawn. Not even my brother''s," Vonire replied with a shrug as he stood up. "So, if it''s all the same to you, King Sutekh... I''ll be taking my leave." Rael hummed. "I already said you''re in. Those services you offered? I can make use of them." Vonire shook his head. "I''m sorry, King Sutekh, but I''d only be a burden to you in my current state. I wish for nothing more than freedom. Tie me down, and you''ll never have my loyalty." "Let me rephrase then." Rael cleared his throat. "Would you be interested in joining Synthex? It''s a shadow organization. No formal duties, no public allegiance. You wouldn''t be working for me¡ªnot directly, anyway. So you wouldn''t be a pawn for Halemire... or for me." Vonire frowned. "Still sounds like your group. Pardon the bluntness, but it feels like a more indirect way of tying me down." "And you sound like a man who doesn''t know what he wants," Rael scoffed, walking over to him. "I''m not the only one running it. Control is split fifty-fifty with someone I trust." Before Vonire could reply, Rael added with a smirk: "You wouldn''t be Celestara''s shadow. You''d be Synthex''s." Vonire remained quiet for a few moments, seemingly pondering his options. And soon, he slowly nodded. "You make a compelling offer," Vonire muttered. "But if I were to agree, I want conditions. If I feel like Synthex is just some cover-up for your royal operations, then I can leave whenever I want." "Sure." Rael nodded, narrowing his eyes. "However, I want you to know that while you would be an asset, you''re also someone I wouldn''t hesitate to kill. If I find you leaking sensitive information to either Halemire or the outside, then I will personally send Halemire your head." "I wouldn''t have it any other way," Vonire snickered. "I also want a trial period. A month is fine¡ªI just want to figure out whether the organization is worth my time or not." "Suit yourself." Rael shrugged, then extended his hand, grabbing the drink which had been beside Vonire. Obviously, someone who wanted to butcher his chances, would lace both the drinks. Vonire''s eyes widened as he reached for the drink. "Wai¡ª" However, it was too late, since Rael had already chugged it down. <Toxic Substance Detected! Corrosion> <Acid Manipulation has successfully nullified: Corrosion> Rael wiped his mouth with a napkin and flashed a grin toward the wide-eyed Vonire. "Yum. You should put a bit of sugar in there next time though. It tastes a little bland." "P-Pardon?" Vonire stammered. "A-Are you okay? Fucking hell, you just chugged fucking acid!" "I''m fine since I''m immune," Rael replied with a chuckle as he approached Vonire, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I''m glad you''re easing up. However, I have a mission for you." "A mission?" Vonire tilted his head. "Aren''t I supposed to meet the second founder of Synthex first or something?" "Yep." Rael grinned. "That''s exactly what you''re going to do. Your mission is to find Synthex headquarters and join the organization." "But¡ª" "Nope." Rael shook his head. "You said you wanted freedom and whatnot, right? Then I won''t recommend you. Join the organization with your own efforts. If you can do that, then we can have another chat at a later date." With that, Rael walked up to the door and swung it open, revealing a crouching Aria who was totally listening in on the conversation. "R-Rael... It''s not what it looks like," Aria denied, flailing her arms around with a blush. "Zip it." Rael sighed, turning back to Vonire. "You''re free to go now. Good luck, and I hope you''ll take my words seriously." "Right..." Vonire muttered, walking past Rael and nodding at Aria. Neither of them tried to stop him, so he simply walked away, being escorted by the guards to the same place where the other envoys were staying. She let out a loud sigh and facepalmed. "You actually recruited him," Aria said, baffled. "He''s going to betray you, I can assure you." S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Then I''ll kill him," Rael replied nonchalantly. "Trust me, the person I''m sending Vonire to is even more ruthless than I am. If everything goes well, then Vonire won''t even have a single stray thought of betraying us." "Hmm..." Aria trailed off with her thoughts as she suddenly pulled out a notepad and wrote down a few words. Rael was slightly puzzled by her act, so he leaned over, checking what she had written. And to his surprise, there were only three words. Impulsive, cocky, hot. So she does have a taste, huh? The moment she noticed him looking, she scrubbed away the last part nearly in the blink of an eye and acted as though nothing had happened. "Is this like your diary or something?" Rael asked, deciding not to bring it up. "Mhm." Aria nodded, putting the notepad away. "I''m going to evaluate you, and, well, try to learn something from you." Rael chuckled. "Right, yeah... good luck with that." Guess I''m going to accidentally corrupt a royal, Rael thought with a shrug as he looked through the window. Hordes of people were already gathered, and it was obvious why. <Special Event> <Rael Sutekh, The Platinum Overlord, has obtained the key to the Depths!> <Objective: Convince Rael Sutekh, The Platinum Overlord, to allow you to enter the Depths.> <Rewards: Secret Class (Legendary) | +150% EXP booster until level 200> Rael fixed his clothes and gestured for Aria to follow him. After all... It''s time I throw the players a little bait. Chapter 132 132: Rubber Toy Hunt How fucking many of them are there!? Rael''s brow was uncontrollably twitching as he stared at the sight in front of him. He''d seen a bunch of people from the palace before, but the number in front of him now was way larger than he expected. If he had to guess, there were thousands, probably tens of thousands, of people gathered. Besides, all of these people would be paying tolls on the way out. Therefore, Celestara was going to get much richer in the upcoming week. Nonetheless, Rael approached closer, waving at them. "Hey everyone, I''m surprised so many of you showed up. So, what''s the occasion?" ¡ªWe came here to get that fucking invite! ¡ªLook at this guy... he looks like a total fucking edgelord kekeke. ¡ªCome on, start the quest already! We want the invite! These degenerate loot goblins... Rael took in a deep breath, calming down. And of course, he had to calm them down... calmly. "Listen here, you sacks of useless shit. You''ve come to my backyard, so I expect all of you to act modestly," Rael said, causing the nearby Aria to flinch. "H-Hey... you do remember you''re a royal, right?" she whispered. "If you talk like that, people will look down on you." "Not these people," Rael replied with a chuckle. "They''re idiots who''d come running if I even said the words secret location¡ª" ¡ªWOAAAH! Did you hear that!? ¡ªHe said there''s a secret location! Fuck yeah, this NPC is definitely the MVP. "See?" Rael pointed at each one of them, then flashed the middle finger. "They''re idiot junkies who are searching for some enjoyment. By acting like this, I''ll attract their attention and get them to join Celestara." He turned back to Aria as a smirk appeared on his face. "Why don''t you give it a try?" "...Huh?" Aria''s eyes widened as she shook her head. "I could never!" Rael shrugged. "Your loss, it''s fun." Nonetheless, Rael grinned as he realized how he could play this event. He turned his gaze toward a particular flashing screen, and the moment he did, Rael began tinkering with the interface. <Quest type: Toy Hunt> <Objective: Find 3 hidden objects scattered throughout the entirety of Celestara.> <Rewards: 3 invites to the Depths> <Duration: 24 hours> This was the general outline, and his idea was to simply scatter a few stupid objects around Celestara. Thankfully, there was a system for that. <Hidden Object: Tentacle Rubber Toy [Pink] (x3)> Perfect. <Random Scatter: 25 kilometer radius> <Difficulty: Extreme> <Exclusion: Celestara Royal Palace> Finally, he felt like he was done. They''d have a hard time finding it, and in the meantime, Rael could sit back and relax. Some areas in Celestara, such as shops, were only accessible after completing certain quests. And while he himself didn''t know where the tentacle toys would end up, the difficulty setting likely took care of it being too easy. Therefore, Rael finalized the quest, and soon... <Would you like to assign the quest: [Toy Hunt (Level 1)] to all (x24,599) players in front of you? Yes/No> Rael smirked, glancing at the frantic players one last time, and swiftly pressed "Yes." Immediately, every single one of the players froze, massive smirks appearing on their faces. Some began running toward him¡ªor more like, toward the palace. However, he swiftly stopped them. -213,672! x18 Instant Kill (x18 Slap) He gently slapped them across their foreheads, and of course, they exploded into blue particles. Then, Rael proceeded to take a glance toward the startled players. "Don''t go looking inside the palace. It''s off-limits. Just look around Celestara. Those who find it, come see me, and we can discuss whether or not I''ll let you in the Depths." ¡ªWhat!? What do you mean!? ¡ªYeah! What is this bullshit!? Isn''t the reward guaranteed!? "Nope." Rael shook his head. "If the ones who find the objects are idiots, I''ll just take their invite and give it to someone else. Any objections?" The moment his words fell, nearly every single player started shouting, protesting his words. But in the end, what could they do except complain? ¡ªCointosser (Player) [Level 18] [1220/1220 HP] ¡ªMilf_hunter (Player) [Level 21] [1690/1690 HP] They weren''t high-level, and their HP was just sad. Rael''s sneeze would literally be able to wipe out all of them present. Nonetheless, Rael grinned and clapped his hands. "I''d recommend you go about your day, since¡ª" <Quest: Toy Hunt Progress updated!> <Objects found: 1/3> "...?" It''s been less than five minutes, and someone already found the first tentacle toy? He knew some players were luckier than others, but this was just on a whole new level. And it seemed like the rest of the players noticed that too, since they all began scrambling in different directions. In the meantime, there were a couple of dazed people left, and two of them he could recognize. ¡ªSausage Handler (Player) [Level 32] [16,200/16,200 HP] sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡ªCrouching Tiger (Player) [Level 44] [5,520/5,520 HP] "You two, I''m sure you''re not here expecting some freebies?" Rael said, causing both of them to flinch. "So you were... get out." "W-Wait a second," Crouching Tiger pleaded. "Why not give us some other test? I know we might not deserve it, however, I''m sure you have many other slots available, not just three." Rael shrugged. "I''m open to ideas." "How about we bring back some sort of mineral?" Sausage Handler suggested. "I saw a couple of somewhat valuable ores outside of Celestara. I''m sure you''d need it for manufacturing or something." Rael''s interest was piqued. "Ores? What''s their rarity?" "I can answer that..." Crouching Tiger trailed off, taking out a blue ore from his inventory and passing it over to Rael. Without wasting even a second, Rael inspected it. Low Quality Celestite (Uncommon) [Level 50] ¡ªA fragile crystal that breaks easily. Best used for long-range weapons or magic due to its strong energy output. "Oho..." Rael grinned. "And how many such ores did you see?" "Hundreds," Crouching Tiger replied confidently. "...So what do you say?" Free money is always nice... "I won''t be assigning a different quest to you, but if you can bring back 500 of those ores each, then I''ll consider giving you an invite," Rael said, causing their brows to twitch. 500 each definitely wasn''t a small amount, and these two players knew that. Despite that, they nodded, accepting the task and confidently walking away. I wonder if those idiots will realize their inventories are only 50 slots? Rael snickered. Maybe they have brains and buy a bag or two on the way, but probably not. Just as Rael was planning on going back inside the castle and relaxing, he heard footsteps, and once he turned around, he was met with a familiar face. Though... she wasn''t exactly someone he expected to see out of nowhere. "Evelyn Ardent... what brings you here?" Chapter 133 133: Evelyn Ardent Golden hair, blue eyes, a sword strapped to her waist. She had her signature fierce look on her face, yet it felt slightly warmer than last time. She stopped in front of him, looking Rael up and down before nodding. "I apologize for the wait. I had to introduce myself to Celestara''s royal knights," Evelyn said plainly, and fell silent. "Okay? Nice to see you again," Rael said with a tilt of his head. Soon, a look of understanding appeared on his face. "Oh... I understand the formalities, but for future reference, you don''t need to come out and personally greet me." With that, he prepared to leave. However, Evelyn suddenly grabbed his sleeve with her trembling hands. He turned toward her, meeting her conflicted gaze. And of course, she soon spoke. "That offer of yours... is it still valid?" Evelyn asked in a low tone. "The offer where I''ll grant you a wish if you were to join me? Sure, why not," Rael replied with a smirk. "I''m all ears, Evelyn." She seemed hesitant, however, she let go of his sleeve and straightened her posture. "I want you to make me stronger." Silence ensued at her dramatic request; however, Rael couldn''t help but chuckle. "Evelyn... I''m the king, not a genie. I can''t just magically make you stronger," Rael said plainly. And yet, her resolved look didn''t falter in the slightest. In fact, it grew even more determined. "Is there really no way you can grant me strength?" Evelyn asked, practically pleading. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His brows furrowed. "I hate to ask... but where is this all coming from? The last time I saw you, you were still wallowing in denial. And now you suddenly got the urge to become stronger?" Evelyn flinched, looking down. "I want to be the strongest swordswoman¡ª" "Why?" Rael interjected. "If you can give me a genuine reason, then I''ll provide the means to make that possible." It wasn''t a big ask by any means. He just wanted to figure out whether this was her way of coping, or she was actually serious about gaining strength. Then again, he couldn''t directly give her strength. Instead, he could give her a path to gain strength faster. A class, maybe a secret quest. Something like that should do the job. Rael nodded to himself. In the midst of his thoughts, Evelyn finally steadied herself, once again gazing back into his eyes. "I realized how shallow my outlook used to be... I didn''t have a purpose¡ªwell, not a long-term one anyway," Evelyn said. "I didn''t know my parents, but despite that, I tried to become someone they would be proud of." So she was trying to prove her worth to people she didn''t even know existed... that''s sad, Rael thought with a slight frown. Nonetheless, Evelyn continued. "I realized my growth had stalled right around the time I found out how my parents really... died. It''s been a couple of years since then, and this past week made me realize how stupid I was..." Her breath trembled¡ªshe clearly wasn''t comfortable sharing her story. However, her determination kept her going. Even as her voice shook, she continued. "I always loved the sword, but I always swung it for my parents," Evelyn said, unsheathing her sword and holding it up in the air. "But you know what? I''m sick of it." The moment she finished those words, she suddenly infused her sword with mana and swung down, clashing with the ground below. A dull clang resounded, followed by the blade splitting in two and flying off to the side, narrowly missing Rael. Then, she held the hilt and, right before him, used all her strength to embed it into the ground. The ground caved in, forming a small crater where, in the very middle, a small shockwave of her golden mana expanded, sending a warm breeze past his face. "I want to start again¡ªjust with a better starting point," Evelyn stated in a serious tone. "This time, not for my parents, but for myself. I want to wield the sword however I want, and I want to be the best at what I do. So I ask you, can you grant me my foolish wish?" "Hmm..." Rael''s eyes widened as he fell into thought. He could tell she meant it. In fact, he never expected to see the legendary sword saint so emotional. Back then, she wasn''t the strongest¡ªthere were plenty above her. Still, her ambition to fight for her parents never wavered. That was likely the reason why she never went beyond being a sword saint. But now? Not only had Rael given her another path, he also had enough power to make that path the thorniest, most fulfilling path she could ever walk. A small smirk formed on his face as he opened the premium shop and found one path in particular. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Classes/Special/Pathway/Sword ?¡ªBalance: 1,474,972,882 Trell¡ª? ? Path of the Sword Sovereign (Mythic): 250,000,000 Trell Hmm... that''s a bit expensive, Rael thought. There were more expensive variants; however, the Sword Sovereign was basically one tier above the Sword Saint pathway. If she mastered it, her power would be immeasurable. In the future, if she showed promise, then he could always get her something even better. Without wasting even a second more, Rael thought of buying it¡ªnot for himself, but as a gift. But he was immediately met with a pop-up. <Gifting is unavailable!> Fair. Rael nodded at the system and sent Evelyn a friend request. <Friend Request Sent!> She seemed a little puzzled, so he quickly explained. "You want your wish granted, don''t you? Accept, and I''ll give you a path to power." Evelyn''s brows twitched, and she immediately accepted. <Friend Request Accepted! New Friend: Evelyn Ardent> <Total Friends: 5> And of course, Rael bought the Sword Sovereign pathway. <Gift sent!> <Recipient: Evelyn Ardent> <Waiting for the recipient to accept...> "You should''ve gotten something," Rael said. "There''s a glowing message, yes. Am I supposed to click on it?" Evelyn asked, her fingers trembling. She knew the answer, but it seemed like she was only prolonging it. Therefore, instead of answering, Rael merely smiled and continued staring at her. Eventually, she caved and brought her finger toward the gift interface. <Gift Accepted!> Nice... Rael whistled, waiting for some kind of reaction. However, instead of a reaction, Evelyn suddenly fell limp to the ground. He caught her just before she hit the ground, though he remained slightly confused. But his confusion didn''t last long, since in the very next moment, a loud voice resounded, followed by a giant interface appearing in front of him. <World Broadcast!> <An individual has unlocked the Path of the Heavenly Sword (Transcendent)!> <Rare Event!> <Until the end of the Beta Test, all Sword-related skills gain +500% experience boost!> <Individuals who the new Heavenly Sword accepts as disciples have the opportunity to obtain the Heavenly Saint (Mythic) Unique class!> "Uhh..." Rael''s eyes widened as he stared between the messages and the passed-out Evelyn. ...Did I buy the wrong path? Chapter 134 134: Helping Zafira Out Rael was in a bit of a situation. He was sure he had bought Evelyn the right path, but she somehow got the one that was most expensive. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Classes/Special/Pathway/Sword ?¡ªBalance: 1,224,972,882 Trell¡ª? ? Path of the Heavenly Sword (Transcendent): 1,000,000,000 Trell Yeah... I don''t even know anymore. Rael sighed as he picked Evelyn up and brought her back to the palace. She went from a potential subordinate to a VIP in mere minutes, so if he wanted her to remain loyal, he had to not give her a reason to leave him. He walked around the palace for a bit, trying to find someplace suitable. However, guest rooms were either full or not secure enough to leave a vulnerable woman unattended. God knows what happens here, I''d rather not risk it, Rael thought, and arrived in the throne room. Rael went up to the throne, and beside it, he bought a bean bag chair and tossed Evelyn onto it. Since it was comfortable enough and likely the safest place in the entire palace, he left her there for the moment. Leaving Evelyn there, he walked into the room where Zafira was buried in files. Yet the moment he entered, he was met with a document flying straight at him. Rael simply stepped to the side, caught the documents, walked over to Zafira, and placed them on her desk. She had a frustrated look on her face, and even though he was literally right in front of her, it almost seemed like she didn''t notice him. Zafira was focused, and her cheeks were puffed up, almost like a chipmunk''s. It was honestly pretty cute, so he couldn''t resist leaning in and pinching them. "Ow!" Zafira recoiled in surprise. She flicked her eyes toward him, and her expression immediately went from frustration to embarrassment. "Sorry... I didn''t notice when you came in." "It''s alright... rather, is everything going fine? You seem a little..." "Angry? No, I''m not angry," Zafira finished with a cracking smile. "In fact, I''m so happy, I wish I could stick this stack of documents up the king''s a¡ª" "Ahem..." Rael cut her off as he sat down beside her. "Can I help?" Zafira let out a sigh as she leaned back, tossing a document over to him. "Read this, you''ll understand why I''m just a tad bit upset." Rael hummed in amusement and flipped over the document, reading it thoroughly. But not even a few pages in, he realized the reason she was upset. "Even in death... he still found a way to be a thorn in your ass, eh?" Rael chuckled as he continued reading it. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I know, right?" Zafira complained, throwing her hands up dramatically with a look of disbelief. "A billion Trell. Every month. To a fabric boutique that''s been closed since last winter. Clearly, the previous king was a visionary." Rael chuckled. "If I had to guess, then there are plenty of these cases lying around." At his words, Zafira tugged at his sleeve and then pointed to a particular corner where most of the crystal constructs were gathered. His brows twitched. "Those documents..." "Yes... they''re all fraud and embezzlement," Zafira replied flatly. "Every last one just as dumb as this one, if not worse." "I can imagine..." Rael trailed off, putting the document back on the desk. Yet Zafira merely picked it up and chucked it into the corner where the Constructs were gathered. Then, she proceeded to cover her face with her hands, seemingly tired of it all. "How can a king be so incompetent..." she muttered. "It''s really not that hard. Step one, don''t make idiotic decisions. That''s it." She''s also cute when she vents... Rael thought with a smile. "Oh right." Zafira turned toward him. "What was with that broadcast earlier? You have some sort of key?" "Yep, though I''ll only show it to you once I set up a few things, hope you don''t mind," Rael replied softly. Zafira shook her head. "It''s fine, though I could use some help." "Anything," Rael said, and in the next moment, he kind of wished he hadn''t agreed to it in the first place. She leaned down, and to his surprise, there was a construct acting as some sort of paperweight. But despite that, she merely petted the construct, then picked up a ''few'' documents and slammed them down on the table. The ''few'' numbered hundreds, and from her cheeky smile, it was obvious she knew what she was roping him into. "Can I take a rainchec¡ª" "Nope~" Zafira smirked, pushing the documents toward him. "They''re not difficult to sort. Here." She tossed him a red royal seal, matching his eyes. "The rulings that seem fine, leave them. Those that are stupid, mark them and just toss them toward the constructs," Zafira instructed. "If there are any that really stand out, give them to me. I''ll look them over. "Damn... this feels like some royal lesson," Rael remarked, earning a giggle from Zafira. "You can think of it that way," Zafira said, her smirk widening. "Our initial deal was for you to be a king who doesn''t do anything. But clearly, you had other plans. Might as well broaden your horizons, don''t you think?" "You''re not wrong..." Rael trailed off, sighing. Zafira tapped the table with her fingers, timing the tapping with the sound of the ticking clock on the wall. Even in boredom, she gave off a surreal presence that made him remain quiet, only admiring her occasional gestures from a distance. Yet, his gaze was swiftly noticed by Zafira, who merely tilted her head and smiled. "I''ll take a few minutes off. Thanks again." "Don''t worry about it," Rael replied, and dug straight into the cases. They were a bore to read through, since all of them were filled to the brim with incoherent clauses, some of which repeated just to fill space. Yet in the midst of all that, Zafira was resting a hand on her chin, twirling her hair with the other. And of course, her gaze was directed toward him, making it a bit hard to focus. "Focus, Rael," Zafira teased, causing his brows to twitch. Jeez... just what goes on in that pretty little head of hers? Chapter 135 135: Through The Eyes of Zafira [Zafira''s POV] Hmm... he''s marked the wrong one, Zafira thought as she caught the document flying through the air. "What''s that for?" Rael asked with a puzzled look. "That might look like a scam, but it''s not," she replied, flipping it over just to be sure. "Yep, it''s a sex shop. Just leave it." Rael''s brows immediately furrowed in disbelief. "Why would a sex shop need 50 million Trell from the palace...?" he muttered. "I get people have their own kinks, but why do we pay them?" Pfft... he''s so serious about this. Zafira held back a giggle as she maintained her poker face. "Well, it''s not only a sex shop, but also where we keep our shadows. People tend to speak when they''re... you know, distracted," Zafira said with a shrug. It was a bit crude, but it wasn''t necessarily unsafe for the shadows. Before their deed even began, the shadows would lace their targets with a certain poison that would make them spill their secrets. And of course, right after, they''d inject a venom that would give the target short term amnesia. They''d leave happy. The shadows and Zafira would leave informed. It''s a win-win situation, but I don''t need to tell him that... he already has a group of his own, Zafira thought proudly. Synthex. It was an interesting group that was operating within her city. Though she was left a little surprised when her shadows weren''t even able to gather the location of their base of operations. But that only meant Rael chose the right people. Still, she noticed him grumbling as he went back to work. In the meantime, Zafira returned her gaze to him, carefully studying his movements. His fingers traveled over the documents precisely, making sure to straighten a couple of them out in the process. It was a nice gesture, one she could appreciate. But I wonder... why exactly do you care so much about Celestara? He wasn''t power hungry. The first thing he did once he became the king was get to work, and then open the boutique up for business. Her father''s first boutique. What was even more surprising¡ªhe could actually hold his own in a standoff against Yrgon''s ruler. The deal could''ve been a bit better if I went there, but it''s still a huge win for us, Zafira hummed, a smile tugging at her lips. "Hey Rael?" sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Hm?" Rael tilted his head, stopping everything he was doing. "What''s up?" "Nothing~" Zafira giggled. "I thought I was going to sneeze." "Bless you in advance then, my queen," Rael said with a dramatic bow, and got back to work. "..." Zafira stared at him in silence for a few moments and thought back to the past. All the men she had seen over the years saw her as either the potential queen candidate or simply the queen herself. There wasn''t a single point in time where she felt even a single spark with the opposite sex. However, ever since the first time she met Rael in the courtyard, something began to change. She didn''t feel the spark at first and was merely testing him. Zafira even went as far as to show him her pampered persona, and instead of making fun of her for it, he played along and even gave some insight into the Yrgon deal. Because of his position, she was able to narrow down the officials responsible for proposing something like that in the first place. Of course, she lopped their heads off and incinerated their bodies, which made the majority vote fail and the deal be called off. She felt like her guard was being lowered, even if not intentionally. In the end, she made her first impulsive decision¡ªand that was to marry him. She had convinced everyone it was simply because she didn''t want to get married to some fat old noble. But the truth? She didn''t want Rael to leave Celestara. If all it took to keep him was a crown and her last name, then so be it. And to her surprise, he accepted, went through all their public appearances without a hitch, and even brought her back allies, presents, basically everything she could ever want. But one thing did scare her a little¡ªa ''what if'' scenario. What if she hadn''t held her coronation that day? While they were in the weird moving picture room, Rael mentioned he was planning to leave Celestara, but her coronation, and his imprisonment, stopped him. Then there was the incident a few days ago where she was sure she had lost him. Her heart ached. What if I didn''t see him that day...? What if he had died¡ª "Zafira?" Rael''s worried voice startled her out of her thoughts. "Is everything alright? You look a little pale." Pale...? "I''m fine, just a tummy ache." Zafira brushed it off. However, Rael didn''t buy it. He placed the documents on the floor, tapped something in the air, and summoned a red potion. "Here, it''s strawberry flavored. I saw you had a bunch of strawberry based sweets the first time we actually talked," Rael said as he placed the potion on the table and walked back to his stack of documents. Zafira just stared at his back speechlessly. Why...? She was confused. Greatly. He had mentioned being able to tell apart lies, so he must''ve known she was lying. But yet again, he went along with her jokes¡ªeven spending money on a healing potion. However, when she inspected the "healing potion," a warm feeling rose up. ¡ªTasty Strawberry Milk (Common) Homemade Strawberry Milk. Procured from the starlit dream dimension. Rael had a faint smile on his face as his gaze traveled toward her. However, once he realized she was still staring at him, he quickly buried himself back in the documents. In the meantime, Zafira felt stunned. But despite that, she uncorked the Strawberry Milk potion and gulped it down in one sip. Just as the description had said¡ªit was absolutely delicious. Zafira placed the empty potion vial beside the construct and sighed softly. I don''t like feeling vulnerable, but maybe¡ª "Hey Zafira?" Rael''s voice cut in. She tilted her head. "Yeah?" Rael peeked out from behind the documents, a small grin tugging at his lips. "Nothing..." "..." Dummy. Chapter 136 136: Evolution, And Extra Chonky Power-up [Rael''s POV] "I''m done..." Rael muttered. His arms were a little numb since he had been dealing with paperwork for the last three hours. But now that it was all over, he could go out and relax. Surprisingly, aside from the one player that had found the tentacle toy at the start, there hadn''t been any others who had found one. Therefore, he had a bit of time off. He glanced toward Zafira, who, after a bit of teasing back and forth, went back to work and was now fully focused. Rael dealt with the annoying rulings which had given her headaches, and now, only the somewhat normal ones were left. "Zafira, if you need any more help, feel free to message me," Rael said and stood up, approaching the door. "Okay, and don''t worry, you''ve helped me plenty. I can handle the rest on my own," Zafira replied softly, brushing her hair behind her ear. Of course you can... Rael sighed. She always acted like she never needed any help. However, if he insisted, she never backed away. So just in case, he''d come back in a few hours. "See you in a bit." Rael waved, and exited the room. He walked back to the throne, where, to his surprise, Evelyn was still fast asleep. She''s really knocked out, huh? Rael chuckled and bought two sticky notes and a pen. Rael wrote down a few things, such as ''Talk to Zafira'' and ''Explain the situation.'' On the second sticky note, he wrote down the fact that Evelyn was on their side, and stuck it in front of the room Zafira was in. He was finally done with the boring stuff, so he carefully went behind the throne and pressed on the blue star. Immediately, he was teleported down, or rather, up to their secret spot. Rael walked to the mansion, and then found a random room with a comfortable bed. After all, it was about damn time he finished his evolutions. <Evolve Current Race: 100,000,000 Trell> Oof... The next one would be 1 billion, but despite that, his finger traveled toward the evolve race button. However, just as he was about to press it, another pop-up appeared, making him halt. <Sufficient Funds detected!> <Would you like to merge the remaining Race evolutions into one? Yes/No> <Cost 1,100,000,000 Trell> <Note: The user will gain bonus stats.> <Note 2: The user will experience drastic pain due to the body accepting two evolutions at once.> Sorry, you lost me at the bonus stats part. Rael snickered, and in the very next moment, pressed "Yes." <Success!> <Race Evolving! ETA: 5 seconds> 5 seconds? That''s noth¡ª He practically swallowed those words as his entire body tensed, pain coursing through it. It felt like he was thrown into a volcano, scooped back out, and then tossed in again, just letting him simmer longer with each passing second. Safe to say, he was definitely not having a jolly fucking time. Fuckkkkk! Why didn''t I stuff myself inside a fucking freezer! Rael complained, feeling as though he was about to pass out from the pain. However, it seemed like those 5 seconds had passed, since all the pain suddenly vanished. It felt surreal every single time he went through something like that. Even so, he could immediately see the changes. His body felt sturdier, and his muscles were more toned and defined. And of course, the most important part was the evolution itself. Celestine Paragon (Transcendent) ¡ªYou become a beacon of transcendent will, fusing the forces of celestial crystal and pure thought into a vessel of unparalleled power. ¡ªStat Gains: +25,000 to all stats. ¡ªTrait Enhancements: Increased Crystal-based Damage: +200% ¡ú +800% Resistance to all types of Magic Damage: +40% ¡ú +50% Energy Efficiency: All crystal-based skills cost 25% less mana to cast. ¡ªNew Skills Gained: Anti Magic (Ancient) Crystalline Nexus (Transcendent) <Skill Evolved! Crystal Genesis (Pseudo-Legendary) ¡ú Prismatic Genesis (Legendary++)> S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. <Congratulations! You''ve reached the pinnacle of the crystal race!> <Astonishing Achievement!> <New Title: Lord of Crystals (Ancient)> ¡ªLord of Crystals: Your crystal constructs no longer have a level cap, and may freely level up. Woah... Rael''s eyes widened. The boons were as big as he expected, yet that title was definitely the most overpowered thing he had seen so far. That meant his crystal constructs could farm areas, level up, move onto other areas, rinse and repeat. They would become unstoppable. This is just too good... The possibilities are endless. Rael calmed his excitement as he inspected his two new skills. Anti Magic (Ancient) [Level 1 | 0/100 XP] ¡ªDisable the usage of Mana-based skills for everyone no higher than 500 levels above you. Duration: 5s | CD: 12 hours | Cost: 50,000,000 MP Crystalline Nexus (Transcendent) [Level 1 | 0/100 XP] ¡ªForm an eternal bond with the Crystalline Source, unlocking the true potential of crystal royalty. 1. HP & MP increased by +1,000,000,000 | +2,500% Increased Crystal-based Attack Damage 2. ??? 3. ??? 4. ??? 5. ??? <Note: Skill options are locked due to the low level of the skill!> <Note 2: Every 100 levels, you will unlock a skill option!> <Note 3: Each time a new option is unlocked, the existing options get enhanced exponentially.> Hmm... Rael was speechless, but at the same time, kind of disappointed. A transcendent skill would usually set someone up for great success, since back in Sketa Online, the people who managed to get skills of such a high rank practically rocketed to the top of the leaderboards. That was only until level 1000 or so, after that, people began getting better stuff, and the others who weren''t so lucky caught up. But still... the fact that it has so much potential is fine with me, Rael thought, hurtfully accepting the fact he got a little fucked over. But now? At least Beatrice wouldn''t be able to love tap him to death. On the other hand, the Anti Magic skill was overpowered, and he would save it as a trump card. Rael leaned comfortably against the pillow, and now, there was only one thing left to do. It''s time to check my status. Chapter 137 137: Stats, Evolution, Skills, And Quest Name: Rael Sutekh, The Platinum Overlord Age: 18 Race: Celestine Paragon (Transcendent) [+] Boss Monster Variation: The Pay-to-Win Boss [General Class] Level: 184 Experience: 276,181/420,444 ?¡ªBalance: 124,972,882 Trell¡ª? Health Points (HP): [49,112,400/49,112,400] (+50,000) ¡ú [1,059,112,400/1,059,112,400] (+1,000,050,000) Mana Points (MP): [27,749,200/27,749,200] (+1,100,000) ¡ú [1,037,749,200/1,037,749,200] (+1,001,100,000) Strength: 51,918 (+5,710) ¡ú 76,918 (+5,710) Agility: 52,116 (+5,710) ¡ú 77,116 (+5,710) Constitution: 122,656 (+30,752) ¡ú 147,656 (+30,752) Intelligence: 66,623 (+10,868) ¡ú 91,623 (+10,868) Wisdom: 64,496 (+9,021) ¡ú 89,496 (+9,021) Willpower: 120,000 ¡ú 145,000 Charisma: 22,400 ¡ú 47,400 ?¡ªAdvanced Stats¡ª? Spell Power (SP): 1,125,738 (+6,000) ¡ú 1,425,738 (+6,000) Attack Power (AP): 213,672 (+6,000) ¡ú 313,672 (+6,000) Movement Speed Increase: 26,058% ¡ú 38,558% Critical Hit Damage Increase: 3,229.8% (+5%) ¡ú 4,479.8% (+5%) +200% ¡ú 3,300% Increased Crystal-based Attack Damage +40% ¡ú 50% Resistance to all types of Magic Damage All Crystal-based skills cost 25% less mana to cast. All Mind-based skill cost 50% less mana to cast. Mental Resistance: 1.2% ¡ú 1.45% Armor Effects: +16% All Magic Damage Increase Chonky... Rael nodded to himself. His stats were pretty much hundreds of levels above what they should be, and they would continue going up. Nonetheless, now that he was done with all the big stuff, he wanted to check out two things. The first... <Change Race: Cost depends on the race chosen> And the second, Premium Greed [Ultimate-Unique]. Of course, Rael pressed the first pop-up and wrote his childhood chuuni dream. <Change Race Into Unspecified Dragon: 15,000,000 Trell> Just as he was about to press it, another pop-up stopped him. <Warning!> <You must specify the type and rarity!> <If you do not specify, you will be given the lowest/cheapest possible evolution!> Rael tilted his head. So, like a dragon newt or something? S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yet the system seemed to shoot his hopes down in an instant. <Likelihood of obtaining the evolution: Draconic Ballsack (Common) - 99.99%> Okay... how about... <Change Race Into Fire Dragon (Rare): 1,000,000,000 Trell> Motherfucker... Since that didn''t work, then he''d simply resort to gambling instead. <Evolve Into Any Random Race: 100,000 Trell> The initial price increased tenfold, but it was fine. It was still within reasonable limits. Therefore, he pressed it, and in the very next moment, a row of options appeared. Dream Eater (Epic) ¡ªEvolve into a devourer of minds and dreams, growing stronger with each consumed fear. +1,500 Intelligence +1,500 Willpower +50 Mental Integrity Gain Skill: Nightmare Maw (Epic) Vampire Noble (Epic) ¡ªEvolve into a glorious vampire noble who thrives on the blood of foes. +1,000 to All Stats Increase Blood-Based Damage +500% Gain Skill: Blood Manipulation (Common) Silverkin (Uncommon) ¡ªEvolve into a creature with a natural affinity for light and magic. +250 to All Stats Increase Light-Based Damage by +100% +5% Light-Based Damage Resistance Gain Skill: Radiant Lance (Uncommon) Rael''s eyes widened. He wasn''t expecting to get good stuff right off the bat. In fact, he was fully expecting to have to surf around through evolutions for at least a couple more times. But nope, there were already two insane options. First, a Dream Eater. Already a favorite. The second, a Vampire Noble. Objectively, a Vampire Noble would give him insane strength since it would likely synergize with his crystal race. He remembered the fact that he could keep all of his racial effects even after changing the race, but only if he maxed it out first. So maybe...? <Notice: Race Merging is only available once both races can no longer evolve further.> Hmm... Rael fell into thought. Basically, he already had a maxed-out race, and if he were to max out one of the races here, then he would be able to merge them. The cycle would repeat itself with each new race he acquired until eventually, he would be too overpowered. Sad, I kind of wanted to become some kind of crystal vampire, Rael thought with a sigh and got back to the first option. Dream Eater would greatly synergize with his Mindweaver''s gift, giving him 300 Mental Integrity in total. That meant he could literally summon a world-ending nuke in someone''s mind realm and finish the fight then and there. So, Rael stopped hesitating and picked the only race here that greatly synergized with him. <Dream Eater (Epic) Selected!> <Note: Evolution to Dream Eater will not alter your current physical appearance. However, your form in the Dream Realm will undergo stylistic changes.> <Note 2: Once maximum evolutions have been reached, you will be given the option to combine your race with another without losing any racial benefits you have gained.> <Would you like to proceed with changing your race to [Dream Eater (Epic)]?> <Yes/No> Stylistic changes...? Rael''s interest piqued, but he put that aside as he swiftly pressed "Yes." <Success!> <Race Changing! ETA: 1s| Compatibility - MAX> <Race Changed Successfully!> <Race: Dream Eater (Epic)> <Racial Skills Granted!> Nightmare Maw (Epic) ¡ªAllows you to freely enter the dreams of any selected individual. Dream Infiltration: Instantly enter the Dreamscape of any sleeping or mentally vulnerable target within 10,000 meters. Success depends on the targeted individual''s Willpower. Cost: 50,000,000 MP | Duration: 120s Gluttonous Maw: Devour the fears and nightmares of your opponents, permanently increasing your stats. Cost: 75,000,000 MP It seemed a bit plain for a dream infiltration skill, but the permanent stat increase was definitely worthwhile. Also... since I''m on the ''star'' which is both above and below the ground, I fit the within the 10,000 meters requirement... Rael thought with a grin. He could make use of this, but definitely not now. Now then, it was time to move on to his Greed perk. However, he was immediately met with a hitch. <You may only collect your earnings past midnight!> <Time Remaining: 9 hours 52 minutes 11 seconds.> Bruh. Rael facepalmed. Guess I''m back to doing nothing again¡ª <Quest: Toy Hunt Progress updated!> <Objects found: 2/3> <Objects found: 3/3> <Quest: Toy Hunt has concluded!> Rael sighed as he groggily got up, left the mansion, and walked toward the spiral staircase. You lucky bastards... Chapter 138 138: The Three Players What''s this... The Powerpuff Girls? Rael''s brows twitched as he looked at the sight in front of him. It was his first time seeing a woman with the name Milf_GattlingGun. Better yet, the other two were also women. As for their levels? They were much higher than he expected. ¡ªKarina (Player) [Level 49] [6,200/6,200 HP] ¡ªAsimov (Player) [Level 52] [22,520/22,520 HP] ¡ªMilf_GattlingGun (Player) [Level 60] [49,940/49,940 HP] "Well, you three got the toys, right?" Rael asked, and all three girls nodded, taking out the tentacle toys with slight disgust. They tried handing them over to him, but Rael merely shook his head. "You can keep them, throw them out or sell them. I don''t really care¡ªthe quest is done." "Thank god..." Milf_GattlingGun said, tossing the toy into the air and then kicking it toward the crowd of players that had formed. The players attempted to catch it, likely thinking they''d get the quest completion. But sadly, that wasn''t the case. Karina and Asimov did the same, tossing theirs into the crowd of players, and finally, Rael felt like they could have a conversation. "Follow me into the palace," Rael said, and swiftly led the girls inside. However, the moment he entered the palace''s confines, he saw a certain person glaring at him. "You told me to wait... and I waited... but you never came back!" Aria yelled, pouting. Oh right... Rael sighed. "Yeah, you can follow me now. I kind of strayed elsewhere after putting Evelyn away." It was a bit of an oopsie on his part, but it was fine. The only thing she missed was paperwork. "I don''t like you..." Aria muttered, tagging along. "What''s with these girls?" "Baggage, ignore them for the time being," Rael replied, causing the brows of the three players to twitch. Nonetheless, he guided them all to a room and sat each of them down. "So like... are we getting the invite thingy now?" Milf_GattlingGun asked, twirling her red hair with her fingers. "Or do you have some other quest or dialogue to give us?" "I hope not..." Asimov muttered, her eyes trembling. "If not for Karina, then we wouldn''t have found those... things in the first place. I don''t want any luck-based quests." In the meantime, Karina remained quiet, almost like she was observing him with those emerald eyes of hers that were slightly obstructed by her black bangs. Hmm... Rael fell into thought for a moment. Karina seems the smartest, Asimov is the in-between... she''s just antisocial. As for the milf, she''s talkative, like a bridge for the other two girls. Basically, the friend without whom the others wouldn''t talk much. Karina cleared her throat, narrowing her eyes at him. "You seem a little strange for an NPC," she said, then glanced at Aria. "You too. All the others seem more... responsive? You two just do your own things." "Come on, Karina, you know they don''t understand what you''re saying," Milf_GattlingGun said with a grin, turning to Rael. "Ain''t that right? NPC?" "You''re a blabbermouth," Rael said, furrowing his brows. "You players need to fix your attitude if you want to make it in this world." Silence hung in the air the moment he finished speaking. Yet it was obvious that each one of the girls was shocked, especially Karina. "Players...?" Aria muttered, puzzled. "What''s that?" "They''re these travelers," Rael explained, pointing to each one of the girls. "They come from a world that has some kind of remote access to ours. It''s a bit strange, and I don''t really get it. But yeah, that''s the gist of it." "H-Huh...?" Asimov stood up, nearly lunging over the table. "H-Hey, Rael Sutekh, right? Can I take a picture?" Rael''s brows twitched. "Now why would you want that?" "She''s a streamer," Milf_GattlingGun stated, pointing above Asimov''s head. "Do you see this?" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He glanced at what she was pointing at, and for a moment, he wasn''t able to see anything. The more he focused, the stranger the sight became. It seemed like a miniature camera was floating right above Asimov''s head, and if he focused further, he saw a bustling chatroom. They were all spamming weird emojis, and honestly, he felt his head hurting just from staring at those idiots. But the moment he blinked, the camera disappeared, replaced by a surprising pop-up. Oho... Rael smirked. "A camera? You''re actually streaming this?" "Yeah!" Asimov nodded aggressively, a wide smile on her face. "S-So, can I?" Rael stared at her for a moment, then sighed. "Sure, why not." Asimov proceeded to walk over to his side of the table excitedly. She sat on the table in front of him, hit the peace sign, and then scurried back to her seat. "Rael..." Aria whispered, a serious look on her face. "Is she... you know... special?" "Mhm." Rael didn''t deny it as he brushed it off and reassessed the girls. Or rather, only Asimov. Her shy persona was just something she used during her streams. And she wouldn''t hesitate to jump at any opportunity to increase her fame. He could only guess the other girls were just as special; however, he''d get to know them later. First and foremost was the quest. <Quest: [Toy Hunt (Level 1)] Has been finished! Would you like to award the players who participated? Yes/No> Rael pressed ''Yes,'' and selected the highest amount of experience he could simply because it didn''t cost him anything. To his surprise, the limit had increased by a bit since last time. <Rewarding the selected 3 players with: 1,000,000 Experience each!> "Whoa..." Asimov and Milf_GattlingGun muttered in unison. As for Karina, she seemed out of it, almost as if she was focused on what he had said earlier. Rightfully so, he was an anomaly. "Rael Sutekh, do you believe in fate?" Karina asked, causing the nearby girls to sigh. Rael shuddered. "Fate? You''re not going to try selling me an Ouija board, right?" Karina''s brow twitched. "That''s not what I meant. I was thinking you could be our guide. Maybe it was fate that led us here." "It was my quest that led you here, mate," Rael corrected with a scoff and leaned back in his chair. "Now then, shall I give you three those invitations?" Chapter 139 139: Granting Access To The Depths, Giving Her A Goal, and Back In The Throne Room <Access to the Depths> <Would you like to grant the players Karina, Asimov, and Milf_GattlingGun individual access to the Depths? Yes/No> <Note: They will gain their own individual portals, and only they alone will be able to pass through them and back.> Neat. Rael swiftly pressed ''Yes.'' He had 15 slots in total, and so far, he''d given out 3. There were those two idiots who were gathering ores, so he''d likely grant them slots as well. Then there was the upcoming auction he''d host, where he was likely going to give out another three slots. And of course, he''d save the rest for Zafira and maybe some other people who weren''t players. Rael saw a particular burst of mana envelop the three girls, and in the very next moment, his interface lit up. <Access To the Depths> <Slots Remaining: 12> Does it not count me? he wondered before glancing toward the girls. "I believe I should give you a warning or something. That area is pretty high leveled, so all of you will die. Also, don''t stare at the moon or you''ll be killed. That''s all," Rael said as he stood up and approached the door. He gestured for the girls to leave, and the Milf was the first one out. Asimov was second. However, before she left, Rael stopped her for just a moment. "Excuse me... about your stream. Can I ask you for a favor?" "Oh?" A smirk tugged at Asimov''s lips. "If you give me something in return, then I''ll consider it." "Fine, I''ll give you a favor in return then," Rael replied plainly. Her interest was piqued. "Can I cash it in now?" "Nope." Rael swiftly dismissed her, and then focused above her head, looking straight at the camera. "Can you advertise Celestara? I want a lot of players to come here after four months, and with that bustling chat of yours, you can make that happen." "Huh... you know about the release... and you can also see my chat?" Asimov muttered. "You sure you''re not going to get patched by the developers before I can cash in my favor?" Rael sent a glare her way, making her let out a sigh as she caved in. "Fine. I''ll walk around Celestara later and advertise the cool stuff. But yeah, after four months, I expect to cash in a large favor. I hope you won''t disappoint me," Asimov added with a grin, and waved. She''s a little sadistic... Soon she ran after the milf, and the only person left inside the room was Karina, and of course, Aria. But Aria was too puzzled by their conversation, so her brain sort of just shut off. Despite that, Rael approached Karina, sat in front of her, then tilted his head. "Why don''t you go after your friends?" "I was a bit curious about something," Karina said, tapping the table. "You don''t happen to be someone from our world, right?" Rael kept his poker face and stared straight into her curious emerald eyes. Hmm... Primordial Sight isn''t activating, and neither is Neuroweb. I guess we don''t see each other as enemies, Rael thought, and decided to answer her question. "Karina. I''m sure you''ve already made up your mind, so it doesn''t matter what answer I give you," Rael said with a grin. "So, what do you think, Karina? Am I or am I not from your world?" "..." Karina held eye contact for a few seconds. It seemed like she wanted to say something, but it was almost like that certain something was holding her back. In the end, she simply stood up and walked out without saying a word. "Finally, peace at least," Rael exclaimed, turning to Aria and tapping her on the shoulder. "You good?" "Who knows...? I''m feeling stupid," Aria replied, clutching her forehead. "I didn''t understand anything. Players? Streamer? Like, what are you even talking about?" Rael smiled and stood up, gently patting her on the head. "You''ll find out eventually." She flinched and immediately shot up to her feet, glaring at him with trembling eyes. "Don''t do that. I don''t like being treated as though I am a child." "You make it sound like it happens often," Rael remarked with a chuckle, causing her to flinch. "Pfft... it does?" he added. "Hey, if you want advice on how to not be treated like a kid, then don''t act like one." Aria furrowed her brows. "What is that supposed to mean?" "You follow me around like a duckling. Instead of asking normal questions, you murmur under your breath. Honestly, just take initiative. If you want to know something, then try finding out with the best of your ability... or just ask me directly," Rael said flatly. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Those words seemed to have dug deep as she looked down and clenched her fists. "Make that your goal, I guess. Instead of trying to prove your father wrong, try to be your own person," Rael added, and began slowly walking away. He was aware she was likely too spoiled to care about change, especially since she hadn''t strayed away from the path Halemire had paved for her. To his surprise, she began trailing him from behind, and with that, Rael walked to the throne room. After all, midway through the conversation, he had gotten an interesting message. <Zafira Sutekh: I would have hoped you''d given me a bit more information. As it stands, I have no clue what to do with this weird girl. Get over here if you''re not busy.> Rael sighed. <Rael Sutekh: Coming.> With that, he began jogging, until eventually, he arrived right in front of the throne room. Aria was huffing in exhaustion behind him, but he ignored her as he swung the throne room doors open. Immediately, he saw Evelyn practicing sword swings in the air. And as for Zafira, she sat on the bean bag chair which was right beside her throne, lazily staring up at the ceiling. However, only a few seconds later, she noticed him. "Oh, Rael, you''re here. Can you deal with her? She''s a little off... also, do you think you could buy a bigger pillow? This one is comfy..." "Mhm... sure¡ª" Rael froze, a soft smile tugging at his lips. She fell asleep... I guess I''ll need to buy a giant bean bag then, he thought, turning to Evelyn. Even with him entering the room, she remained fully focused on her swordsmanship. In fact, it was a bit creepy how focused she was. Nonetheless... I guess if I want to relax for a bit, I have to deal with her first. Chapter 140 140: Evelyn, And Aria "Can you put that sword down for a moment?" Rael asked as he tapped Evelyn on the shoulder. Yet instead of replying, she twisted her body and swung her makeshift sword at him. In reality, it was just a wooden stick, but then again, Rael felt like he''d take a lot of damage if he were to tank that attack. Therefore, he simply took a step to the side. As the sword flew past, Rael leaned in and, without wasting even a single moment, bonked Evelyn over the head with his palm. -313,672! (x1 Bonk) The damage was pretty high, and it made her grip loosen on the wooden sword, which, in turn, gave Rael enough time to confiscate it and put it inside his inventory. "Alright, missy, what the fuck?" Rael said, holding the dazed Evelyn by her shoulders. After a few seconds, her eyes regained color, and she finally snapped out of it. "Huh? Where''s my sword?" Evelyn muttered, looking around. "The same sword you broke a while ago?" Rael asked. "Or the wooden sword? Because I''m a bit confused why you''d surrender your sword if you had a backup." "Oh right... my bad," Evelyn said, an embarrassed expression appearing on her face. "I think I got immersed in my training. I''m sorry, and I''d accept any punishment you''d impose upon me due to my actions¡ª" "That''s just creepy, stop with that talk," Rael said, a shiver running down his spine. "You''re a part of Celestara now, and I''ll have Zafira assign your role tomorrow. For the time being, you need to calm down and tell me what''s going on." Evelyn stared at him for a few seconds, and then let out a sigh. She swatted his hands off her shoulders, and with that, she began her little explanation. "After you gave me that gift, I had a dream. In that dream, I had to defeat a much stronger clone of myself. It took a few years, but I managed to beat her in the end," Evelyn said, her face contorting to one of ecstasy. "Can you imagine fighting the strongest version of yourself and actually beating them? Yeah..." Evelyn put her hands around her chest, her arms trembling. "That type of feeling... I never knew I could feel something like this." "Right..." Rael scratched his cheek. She really is acting like some masochist right about now, but... "So you''re a battle junkie... look, Evelyn. I''d like it if you could control your urges, at least in public," Rael said with a sigh and took out the wooden sword before tossing it back to her. Evelyn nodded, a slight blush on her face. "I''ll try my best. Again, I swear to wield this... or rather, my future sword for you." Rael nodded. "I''ll make you a weapon later. Do you have any preferences?" She tilted her head. "Uh... sharp?" Bruh. "What type of sword do you most prefer? Do you prefer speed over power?" Rael added. Immediately, her eyes lit up. "Something fast! Oh, but it should still pack a punch. I wanna feel every hit clearly. Maybe a thin blade, razor-sharp, lightweight¡ª" "Alright, alright, I get it," Rael interjected, facepalming. "If you want the best, then I''ll provide the best. However, after I give you the sword, I have fulfilled your wish. Is that clear?" "Crystal clear," Evelyn replied with a smile on her face. "Thank you, Rael. I''ll be sure not to disappoint you or your lovely wife." "She is lovely, isn''t she?" Rael chuckled, glancing toward Zafira who was softly snoring on the bean bag. Evelyn giggled, then swung her wooden sword in the air one last time before stashing it inside her inventory. "So what should I do now?" she asked. And before he could answer, Aria did instead. "The guards will take you to my quarters. As Rael had stated, you will be assigned your role tomorrow. Until then, you may relax," Aria said with a serious look. Oooh... a secretary, Rael thought, his eyes gleaming in excitement. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Evelyn seemed skeptical, but when she glanced toward Rael, he merely nodded, affirming that what Aria had said was true. "Okay... I''ll take my leave then. See you tomorrow." Evelyn waved and slowly made her way out of the throne room. Of course, Aria followed for a moment, then informed the guards, and with that, Evelyn was led to her quarters. As for Aria, she confidently walked back to Rael, stopping right in front of him. "So? How''s that for initiative?" Aria asked with a smug look. "Not bad, though don''t cut me off like that in public," Rael replied, narrowing his eyes. "But yeah, we''ll work on that moving forward." She flinched, her gaze sharpening. But in the end, she gave in. "Yes..." Aria sighed apologetically. "Will you be doing anything else today? Maybe interacting with the travelers, or the envoy?" "Nope. Also, the envoy can go fuck themselves," Rael chuckled, but then halted. "Actually... do you want to handle the envoy? They''re annoying, but since you''re considered something of a princess, then it''ll be easier for you to deal with them, right?" "I''m on it," Aria replied, straightening her posture. "I''m not your servant. However, I''ll take your earlier words to heart. If I see that I''m not actually learning anything useful, I won''t hesitate to go back to Yrgon." "As you should," Rael nodded. "I''m a straightforward person, so I hope you learn to be as straightforward as me. That''s all, you can go now." Aria shot him one final glance and then left, being escorted by whoever was left of the guards. Meanwhile, he walked up to the throne beside Zafira and sat on it. As expected, it was uncomfortable as shit. However, he didn''t sit here to feel some comfort. Instead... "How long are you planning to pretend to be asleep?" Zafira''s soft snoring stopped immediately, followed by her rolling over and glancing straight into his eyes. "When did you realize?" Rael smirked. "Since the start. You don''t usually snore that loud. At least from what I''ve heard earlier." Zafira''s brows twitched as she stood up, then stretched her back. "I''m done with all my paperwork for today. Want to watch another one of those moving pictures... movies? I saw a good one," she asked, excitement clear in her tone. A warm smile appeared on Rael''s face as he stood up and took her hand, gently rubbing it. "Zafira... I think it''s about time I introduce you to popcorn." Chapter 141 141: Before the Auction The following day. *** Rael got up from the bed, stretching his arms as a fuzzy feeling swirled around in his chest. Last night, they had a blast watching a dozen movies, and, of course, the best part was the popcorn. She practically loved popcorn, and each time she was finished, she asked for more. He felt like they had gotten much closer, but still, there was this small barrier blocking their relationship from progressing, he just didn''t know what. Nonetheless, their little unplanned date went by without a hitch, and in the end, they went to sleep in separate rooms. They were husband and wife, but Rael felt like they weren''t on that kind of level yet, so he didn''t rush things. For all he knew, rushing would only make her hate him, and he obviously didn''t want that. Therefore, she was currently sleeping in the room opposite his. On a massive bean bag at that... why did it cost me 50,000 Trell? Rael pondered, then got into the shower, washed up, and put on his clothes. Today would be a busy day, mainly because he wanted to start the auction early. But that wasn''t all, since there were two pop-ups he had yet to fully make out. <Congratulations! Your active dungeons have produced: +2,313,870 Trell> Rael stared at the second pop-up, and without wasting any more time, pressed "Yes." <Ding!> <+42,525,099 Trell> <+3,699,953 Experience> <Level: 184 ¡ú 193> <+19,400 Trell Bonus> Holy fuck? Rael straightened his back. Just like that, he got so much experience and money. However, he knew yesterday was an exception. The players were running around, buying items and completing quests. It was a cashback perk. Literally, if he were to sell items to the players, he''d get a portion of the money back. Clearly, there wasn''t any set limit. The upcoming auction especially... Fuck, I''m going to be super rich after this, aren''t I? Rael snickered as he left his room and headed outside. He didn''t bother waking Zafira since she needed some rest. After all, working on her family''s files for half the day was pretty taxing, even if she had a bunch of help. So he simply headed up to the throne room, and out of it. It was still early morning, so he didn''t need to worry about Evelyn''s duties, as Zafira would deal with them. As for Aria... S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I really hope you didn''t stay here all night," Rael said with a sigh. She was just standing there outside of the throne room, reading a notebook. They were her notes, ones she had taken of him. Unlike last time, the content was a bit different. Still hot, cocky, benevolent (sometimes). She quickly hid the notebook and nodded at him. "I usually arrive here at this hour, so I only had to wait 6 or so minutes. I''m surprised you''re up early. Last time you woke up in the middle of the day," Aria remarked. "Well, last time I was a bit tired, so I slept longer," Rael replied with a shrug. Nonetheless, he decided to change the topic. "Anyways, are you good with numbers?" "Numbers? I suppose. I was trained by a professional squire once," Aria said with a smug look. Rael nodded, sharing an equally smug look. "Excellent, you''ll be the host." Her brows twitched. "A host for what?" "I''ll be opening an auction, and you''re going to be the one responsible for selling the stuff," Rael stated, watching as her expression faltered by the second. "Why¡ª" She took a deep breath, calming herself. "Okay. I''ll be a host, however, I expect a share of the revenue." "How''s 10 million Trell up front? In turn, that''s all you''re getting paid," Rael asked, causing her eyes to widen. Aria seemed hesitant, however, the offer of 10 million was simply too lucrative to pass up. "10 million? Deal." She accepted, and immediately extended her hand, waiting for him to send the offer. And soon, he did. <The recipient has 5 minutes to accept or deny your payment.> <Confirmed.> <Balance Updated: -10,000,000 Trell | New Balance: 159,681,251 Trell> "Pleasure doing business with you, Rael," Aria said confidently. However, Rael simply burst out laughing. "Pfftt... hahaha, yeah, you''re definitely in need of some social guidance," he commented, patting her on the head. "Rule number 1 of bargaining: know what you''re bargaining for." "Huh...?" Aria trailed off, her eyes widening in realization. "Y-You didn''t..." "It''s your own fault for trusting me. For someone who''s supposedly the eldest sibling, you''re pretty bad at stuff having to do with money." Rael shrugged. "You can''t back out of it now though, so come with me, I''ll show you to the venue." Aria''s expression turned lifeless as she slowly trailed behind him. In the meantime, he went outside of the palace and into the streets of Celestara. There were a couple dozen buildings Zafira had owned, and a single one was an abandoned theater. He insisted on taking it off her hands for the time being, and during the night, he stationed a couple of his constructs, and Sweepus Prime to clean it up. And when he finally arrived, he was met face to face with his construct, Xavier. "Rael, I believe I shouldn''t have been driving without a driver''s license." "It''s fine as long as no one saw you," Rael replied teasingly. I guess he inherited some of my memories too somehow? Interesting... "Anyways, is everything here?" he asked, and Xavier nodded. "All 221 boxes are ready and accounted for. All the content inside them has been verified," Xavier said, passing him a document. But Rael merely shook his head. "I trust you. I don''t need to see any documents." Xavier''s crystal brow twitched. "Very well..." "Oh, on that note..." Rael trailed off, opening the premium shop. ?¡ªPremium Shop¡ª? Category: Clothing/Dark Auction ?¡ªBalance: 159,681,251 Trell¡ª? ? Female Host Clothing (Regular-Black+Bunny Ears) (Common): 5,000 Trell "Hmm..." Rael glanced at Aria, looking her up and down. Perfect. He swiftly bought the clothes and handed them over to her. "Put these on. I got a few lines for you to memorize as well," Rael said. She glanced between him and the clothes, puzzled. "...Am I really going to be doing this?" "Yep." Rael nodded and tapped Xavier on the shoulder. "Guide her to a changing room or something. I need to finish preparations on my side." "B-But¡ª" "Very well, Rael, I shall get her ready," Xavier stated with a bow, and began leading the flustered Aria toward the room in the back. In the meantime, he had to make this official. Rael tapped a few settings, selected a dozen different options, and finally, what came out was a quest. Just this time, it was a little unique. <Quest type: Dark Auction> <Objective: Buy Rael Sutekh''s Gacha item sets.> <Rewards: Top 3 spenders receive invites to the Depths> <Duration: 8 hours> <Starts in: 2 hours> <Location: Abandoned Theater #22, Central Celestara> He took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself. I sure hope nothing bad happens... Chapter 142 142: Preparations Finished, And Impending Threat A/N: Map of the Dralgur Continent (Rael''s Continent): *** Fuck... why am I nervous? Rael thought, slightly fidgeting. The theater was massive, and there were dozens of refurbished seats everywhere. Of course, the lights were still a little messed up, which was why he called it a dark auction in the first place. If they can''t see, then they won''t argue. Probably. Rael nodded to himself. Obviously, only a couple of thousand people could come here, and Rael had made a little contingency plan to weed out the poor people. ?¡ªRael''s Dark Auction¡ª? Category: Buy-In ? Basic Buy-In (Common): 25,000 Trell ? VIP Buy-In (Uncommon): 100,000 Trell ? VVIP Buy-In (Rare): 250,000 Trell ? MVP Buy-In + Private Room (Legendary): 1,000,000 Trell Pfft... I wonder how many people will buy the most expensive one? Rael thought with a hum as he found a seat behind the theater''s stage. Since the preparations were done, Sweepus Prime soon approached, sitting down beside him. "I cleaned everything up. Can I get a snack now?" Sweepus asked, his eyes gleaming. "Mhm..." Rael nodded, pulling out some leftover popcorn from yesterday and handing it over to Sweepus. "Though I find it a little weird how your voice is so squeaky," Rael commented. "Nom... so what?" Sweepus replied as he stuffed his mouth full of popcorn. "You can still understand me. It''s my fault anyway. I shouldn''t have moved when you were doing the modifications." "Well, you did try to kick me in the balls for no reason, so I had no choice but to chuck you into a wall," Rael said with a shrug. "That''s that though, you''ll grow out of it eventually." "I wis¡ª" "Rael." A voice rang out from behind the two of them, but Rael wasn''t startled. He was somewhat expecting this little reunion. So he turned around, meeting the eyes of a man whose face clearly didn''t belong to him. "O'' mighty faceless one, Zareth. To what do I owe this visit?" Rael said playfully, but upon noticing Zareth''s expression remained firm, he halted. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A frown appeared on his face. "What happened?" "Aztera is on the move." "What?" Rael stood up, shocked. "Why in the fuck are the fuckers from the desert moving now?" Aztera was one of the more powerful countries of the Dralgur continent. However, they only moved if someone contested their land, never voluntarily. "The Holy Kingdom is putting Aztera''s march on hold. However, they can only do so much. They''re not the targets of Aztera''s pursuit, so aside from reparations, everything is fair game," Zareth added. Rael sighed. "Let me guess, we''re the targets?" "Yes and no. It''s Yrgon," Zareth replied, taking out a piece of parchment and tossing it to Rael. He immediately read through the contents, and he was left in disbelief. "They''re fighting over our fucking forests?" "That does appear to be the case," Zareth nodded. "Aztera is claiming those trees don''t belong to Celestara since it''s only a city, nothing more." "I see... so they''re going to try merging us with a nearby country," Rael deduced, rubbing his temples. Technically, they were right. Celestara was only a city, and at the current moment, there was no way of making it into a full-fledged country. Of course, unless he could get several rulers to vouch for Celestara, which, in the end, would require a dozen sacrifices. But if that''s the only way, then I might as well go through with it, Rael thought, turning his gaze back to Zareth. "Does Zafira know?" "No," Zareth replied with full confidence. "Their forces only began moving twenty minutes ago. They aren''t even close to their borders. It''ll take around a week for them to arrive in Yrgon. As for the scouts, they''ll be there tomorrow." "Hmm..." This guy really knows everything, huh? "Thanks for the heads up, Zareth. I''ll set up some meetings right after this auction is finished," Rael said with appreciation. "Who will you be visiting first? Yrgon or the Holy Kingdom?" Zareth asked. "Personally, I''d say go for Yrgon first since you''re acquainted. Getting their validation early on shouldn''t be too difficult." Zareth took out another piece of parchment and placed it on the seat beside Rael. "This is in regards to the Holy Kingdom. Don''t open it yet since... your mood will turn sour. That''s all I''ll say," Zareth said. "Is it a list of potential demands?" Rael asked, tapping the armrest. "It is indeed..." Zareth trailed off, glancing behind where people slowly began swarming. They were players, and each of them was as loud as he would expect. However, with their appearance, the discussion was over. Zareth sent Rael one last nod and then proceeded to walk out, blending into the crowd of people. Since Rael was sitting somewhere he couldn''t easily be seen, he watched with interest as the players fought for the front-row seats. But in the back of his mind, he was conflicted. He knew his peaceful times wouldn''t last long. However, this was just too fast. I guess nice things are supposed to be earned. That''s what I get for putting off solidifying Celestara''s status... Rael thought as he opened his friend list and messaged Zafira. <Rael Sutekh: You''re going to hear some unsettling news soon. But please, let me handle it. I have a few ways to make this blow over, but you''ll have to trust me.> His mental skills and Dream Eater race would play a huge part in this upcoming fiasco. But I''ll do whatever I have to do. Even if I have to get my hands dirty¡ª <Zafira Sutekh: Rael? Is everything okay? What news are you talking about?> He stared at the message for a few moments, but just as he was about to reply, she continued. <Zafira Sutekh: I''ll trust you since I have a pretty good idea what the news you mentioned are. It was an inevitable outcome, and I knew the risks even when I formally signed the agreement. However, I''ll let you take the lead in the negotiations. Just promise me, if it''s something you can''t handle, tell me.> Rael felt his chest tighten, not only because she was intelligent but also because she said she trusted him. I didn''t expect her to agree at all... <Rael Sutekh: I''ll hold you to that. I''ll talk to you later though, the auction is about to start.> He swiftly closed the message window, and the moment he did, he realized how many players had gotten inside. Thousands upon thousands had entered, while those who bought the special 1 million Trell buy-in were given private rooms on the balconies. Everything was ready, and the only thing left was the approaching beauty who soon stopped in front of him. He raised his brows, amused, as she slowly opened her trembling mouth. "H-How do I look?" Chapter 143 143: The Auction "H-How do I look?" Aria asked, fidgeting from the side. "No need to be so nervous," Rael said, looking her up and down. Aria''s clothes seemed a little tight, but that was the main selling point. Oh, and of course, the bunny ears did their magic as well. Her hair was usually straight, but she''d put in the effort¡ªtied it back, curled the ends, and let some bangs fall over her face. Coupled with that, she had put on professional-looking glasses over her white eyes. Safe to say, she looked like the perfect host. "You''re ready," Rael said with a grin as he stood up, walked over to her, and patted her on the shoulder. "You did memorize the lines, right?" "I''m not an amateur," Aria stated, puffing her chest. "I believe you can do this, Aria. And don''t worry, you can be as vulgar as your innocent heart desires," he added, and before she could voice her concerns, he pushed her onto the stage. While he was pretty cheap, he added a single bright light right above the hostess, Aria. And of course, the moment the players saw her, they all fell silent. Stun locked, pfft... Rael thought with a smile. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, Aria was clearly nervous, much more than she let on. Yet despite that, she collected herself, digging her nails into her palm, and finally, she looked on at the players inside the auction. "Greetings, everyone. I''ll be your host today, Aria Virelorn," she introduced herself with a curt bow. ¡ªForget the auction, I''m bidding my soul. ¡ªWho''s recording!? Who knew there were such beauties in this game! ¡ªThy walk the path of a monk... so why art thou hard... ¡ªSecurity! There''s a perverted bald guy next to me! "It''s as chaotic as I imagined," Rael whispered with a faint smile. Soon, Xavier approached and sat beside Sweepus. It also wanted a bit of the popcorn, but first, it reported the numbers. "There are 6,439 people inside the venue." Xavier cleared its throat. "Of them, 4,204 purchased the Basic Buy-In, 1,294 the VIP Buy-In, 918 the VVIP Buy-In, and lastly, 23 purchased the MVP Buy-In." "That''s..." Rael did some quick calculations in his head. "487,000,000 Trell... shit... this really was a good idea." Rael grinned. "Indeed. You''ve outdone yourself." Xavier nodded and began eating the popcorn alongside Sweepus. As for Rael, he returned his gaze over to Aria, who, after the crowd quieted down, began speaking again. "Our g-gracious benefactor, Rael Sutekh, has graced all of you with 221 armor sets. We will be selling these sets in bulk¡ª20 sets per round¡ªand the starting bid will be 15 million Trell," Aria stated, and walked to the back of the stage. She flashed him a shaky nod and then came back out with a cart which had 20 small boxes on it. All of them had the sets he made, just their effects were slightly different. However, that was the main selling point¡ªthe randomness of gacha. They would either get shit or get slightly better shit. In the end, Rael wasn''t losing out on anything since he could craft dozens of those sets very quickly. The only problem was that he estimated the 100,000 players allowed into the beta test had only accumulated roughly 5-7 billion Trell combined. And if he considered the fact that the top guilds, as well as the richest people, gathered here, then their total sum of money was around 2¨C3 billion Trell. It''s not bad though. Just any more would make me less money since there wouldn''t be any bidding wars, Rael thought. In the meantime, Aria cleared her throat and fixed her bunny ears before nodding at Rael and turning back to the players. That''s the signal... he swiftly tapped the auction interface, and in the very next moment... ?¡ªRael''s Dark Auction¡ª? Category: Auction/Bid ? [x20] Prism Set (Uncommon): 15,000,000 Trell "Let the first round of the auction begin!" Aria said with excitement, and not even a moment later, the first bid came in. <Countdown: 00:30> ¡ªHuh? Aren''t those countdowns usually longer...? ¡ªWhy do I feel like it won''t reset after a new bid... Soon, the next bid came in. <Countdown: 00:27> And of course, the players were right. What better way to add stakes than when the players would be in a rush to buy the item first? Thankfully, his plan didn''t backfire, as the people who previously thought of waiting it out began bidding like crazy. That shot up real fucking fast. Rael whistled in amusement. In the meantime, he watched as Aria''s jaw practically hung on the floor. She must really be regretting taking that 10 million, huh? Rael grinned. He was going to give her a bonus, since the amount of money he would earn from this would simply be crazy. And of course, he was a bit too shy to be up there himself, but he wouldn''t tell her that. Nonetheless, the bids continued coming and going until finally, the countdown hit 0. <Countdown: 00:00> <Round 1 Winner: (Player) RagingFist - 129,000,000 Trell> <Auction Leaderboard Updated!> 1. (Player) RagingFist: 129,000,000 Trell 2. Empty. 3. Empty. "W-Well, round 1 has concluded..." Aria muttered in disbelief. "You may pick up your items after the auction concludes. Until then, we still have 10 more rounds left, and a single sub-round where we''ll be giving away a single armor set for free to a certain s-streamer!" ¡ªStreamer? Shit, should I open up my stream? ¡ªI''m taking my clothes off! ¡ªIdiot... it''s no use, don''t you know Asimov, PinkGirl, and BlackDragon are here? Their viewcount is literally in the millions! Oho... I guess I got my targets then, Rael thought with a smirk as Aria rolled the cart to the opposite side of the stage. After she rolled it away, Dirt Vader and Dust Trooper secured all the boxes in a special container and put it to the side. With that, Aria walked back, approaching the area Rael was in and grabbing one of the many carts before rolling it onto the stage. She looked up at the ceiling, turned toward him, and then back to the players. Rael quickly set up the dark auction interface, and in the very next moment... "Let the second round of the auction begin!" Chapter 144 144: Azteras March [Reinhardt''s POV] "Sir... there''s been an emergency," a soldier muttered as he approached with his horse. "What is it?" Reinhardt asked, whipping his long golden hair back and staring at the frightened soldier with a condescending gaze. "T-The barbarians of Ogarak have intercepted our communications and are asking for a meeting," the soldier explained. "What?" Reinhardt''s brows furrowed. "Do we have a traitor in our midst?" S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I don''t know, sir, but I believe one of the scouts might''ve taken a detour," the soldier said, avoiding his gaze. Filthy rat. Reinhardt scoffed as he jumped off his horse and unsheathed his lustrous golden greatsword. The soldier''s eyes widened in fright. However, before he could gallop away, Reinhardt brought down his greatsword, severing both the horse and the soldier in two. "No¡ª!" -248,228,421! Critical Hit! (x1 Melee) <Human [Level 70] Killed! All skills increase by 1 level!> <Gluttony - Activated!> <+249 Strength> <+882 Agility> <+2,942 Constitution> "Hmm..." Reinhardt stared at the messages, satisfied as he sheathed his greatsword once more. To think that this worthless soldier dared to make such assumptions in my presence. Here I thought I''d trained my soldiers well... he thought with a sigh. Today was a very eventful day. And he, as the prince of Aztera''s royal family, had no choice but to deal with his father''s unruly whims. Of course, he didn''t mind it, since these soldiers were expendable. At any given moment, he could kill them and gain extra stats. He turned to the side, meeting the gazes of a few of his 10,000 soldiers¡ªwell, 9,999 now. And all of them recoiled in fear immediately, unable to even protest the death of their friend. Why? Because his decisions were absolute in this expedition. Yrgon and Celestara... Why is Celestara even on the map when its population is as large as our red light district back in Veltharin, Reinhardt thought with a scoff. Nonetheless, his father''s orders were something he had to comply with, else he''d lose his rights to the throne. That was why he should be hearing back from his scouts soon enough. Just as he thought that, a single soldier approached, one who wasn''t frightened like the others. And rightfully so, since the soldier was his sister. "Azarielle, I take it you bring good news?" Reinhardt asked, earning a nod from her in return. "Brother, you''re still acting on those irrational whims of yours," Azarielle said with a sigh. "The soldier''s concern was right. We have several men tracking the locations of a few of our scouts, and one of them did pass by Ogarak on their way to Celestara." "I see..." Reinhardt nodded, unfazed. "I killed him because¡ª" "I don''t need justification, brother." Azarielle cut him off with a frown on her face. "You''ve been using that skill again, haven''t you?" "So? How does that concern you?" he asked. "Are you going to volunteer as tribute just like our cousin did?" Azarielle flinched. "You know every time you use that skill, you lose a part of yourself permanently. And yet, after all this time, you''ve not realized that you''ve become a monster." Reinhardt halted as he felt his blood boiling in anger. "What did you say?" He reached for his greatsword, attempting to unsheathe it. However, before he could do that, Azarielle summoned a javelin out of nowhere and thrust it directly between his eyebrows. [HP -938,300,290 | 0/938,300,290] Reinhardt''s vision darkened as a single message fell. <HP reached 0!> <You''ve been...> <Gluttony has been activated!> <Exchanging stats for life force!> <-7,449 Strength> <-11,282 Agility> <-22,942 Constitution> <-13,388 Intelligence> <-11,113 Wisdom> <HP has been restored to full!> <Gluttony has been deactivated!> "Azarielle..." Reinhardt muttered, his brows twitching. "Do you realize what you''ve done?" Azarielle shrugged. "I''d hoped to snap you out of it. Did it work?" He reached for his greatsword again. However, Azarielle merely shook her hands in panic. "H-Hold on. You know us fighting each other won''t do much, right?" she said, pointing at her bloodied javelin buried in the sand, covered in his brain matter. "You have so many stats, this was barely a dent... you''re basically unkillable¡ª" "Azarielle." Reinhardt cut her off, his frown deepening. "Get out of my sight. Until this expedition is over, I don''t want to see your face." "Well... your wish is coming true, I suppose," Azarielle said, scratching her cheek. "Father has reassigned you to Celestara. I, on the other hand, will go meet with King Halemire and discuss further business." Before he could protest, she continued. "Ezbeth took a portion of the soldiers and headed for the capital of the Holy Kingdom, Elarin. She''ll deal with King Arthur just as she had done the previous times." Reinhardt sighed. "So she''s manipulating him with her charms again?" "Precisely," Azarielle said, kicking the side of her horse as it sped up. "Ignore the barbarians, brother. We have no use for their negotiations¡ªsimply continue toward Celestara as ordered." "...Yes." Deep down, Reinhardt was angry. His father had gone behind his back again. Yet he couldn''t do anything, since even if he staged a rebellion, his father was simply too powerful for him to beat. That''s why I need to absorb someone powerful... here I thought the people of Yrgon would be enough, but I suppose Celestara will have to do, Reinhardt thought absentmindedly as he got back on his horse. There would be no more Celestara after the negotiations, so the king and queen of that dumpster would be up for absorption with his main skill, Gluttony. Maybe then can I take over... Reinhardt thought, a small but unintentional smile tugging at his lips. He couldn''t hold back his excitement in the slightest. Therefore, he kicked his horse hard, and it sped ahead. The soldiers seemed confused. However, once he gained enough distance, they followed after him. "Soldiers of Aztera!" Reinhardt shouted, gathering the attention of everyone who was following him. "We shall strive to arrive in Celestara within three days! Those who lag behind, either go with Azarielle or be prepared to turn into my stat points!" he finished, causing each of the soldiers present to shiver in fear. Some recoiled and actually left the formation. However... -1,248,228,421! Critical Hit! (x9 Melee) <Human (x9) [Level 70~90] Killed! All skills increase by 5 levels!> <Gluttony - Activated!> <+4,994 Strength> <+5,882 Agility> <+14,242 Constitution> <+490 Intelligence> <+204 Wisdom> Reinhardt wiped the blood off his greatsword as he sheathed it across his back. His gaze slowly darted across each of the soldiers present, making sure they were on the same page as him. And after confirming they were, he simply nodded, put on a warm smile, and pointed ahead. "Let''s move."