Start of the Exploration
At the appointed time, all of the adventurer's present in Border Town gathered at the Eastern gate. This is the first time I've seen so much equipment in this life. There's carriages full of food, people who look like they've just been mugged, and people who look like they've just mugged someone.
Right now, I'm wearing my modified armor. The helmet is shaped like a sallet but with a full face and neck cover.
(A/N: Imagine King Peter's helmet from Prince Caspian)
I no longer have a cape, and my armor is now red in colour. It looks like a basic knight armor from the medieval ages. I have a replica of my Mithril Longsword on my waist, but it's disguised to look like an Uncommon Noxia sword.
With this, not even my dog can recognize me. I also change the way I talk, turning into a subservient adventurer that no-one would link with betraying a noble.
Finally, the group is starting to move. There's about 400 people, adventurers and soldiers together.
I stay by myself, not wanting to slip up in front of Arin and her party. My usual perverted self would probably override any sense of disguise.
'Hmph! So you know you're perverted!' (Ed)
For some reason, Ed is now scolding me.
I've already been on this route before, and I have Ed's map. I can just space out and automatically walk.
We reached the first oasis in a couple of hours. The buildings could only fit around 200 people, so the other 200 had to set up tents and sleep in the wilderness.
Luckily, I was one of the people who got a room. I can create Skeleton Warriors as I like without any noticing me now.
I idled around for another couple of hours and started to move when it was night time.
Switching into some black coloured Common clothes I bought last time, I snuck around the lord's room, expecting someone or something to happen.
They're finally here. The one who showed up was a knight from Khardin's retinue.
His status read:
[Name: Olaf
Class: Holy Knight
Level: 115]
Ha! You can try to disguise as a knight, but I know your true identity! Go, Sherlock Holmes! I choose you!
But this is really bad. I didn't expect them to be so high level. Khardin himself was only level 90, yet this holy knight is also here. I'll be in big trouble if I get caught.
"Khardin, are you fulfilling your end of the deal?" (Olaf)
"Of course! You'll have all the Holy Spring Water you want when we're finished. But make sure you get me what I want, okay?" (Khardin)
"Naturally." (Olaf)
Uh-oh. I'm guessing Khardin doesn't know Olaf's real level, and thinks he's weak. The way I see this happening, is Khardin hands over the water and the oases, while Olaf kills him. I'm fine with Khardin dying, but I need to know why the Church needs this water.
I can't kill either of them since my level is so low. My Skeleton Warriors can at best stall them for some time, but Olaf's Light element magic and equipment will make short work of them. I'll probably have to change their bones to have Light resistance.
So annoying!
[Quest unlocked!
Quest info: Stop the Church's schemes and save Border Town.
Quest reward: 3 x Necromancy level up and Bone Manipulation evolution.]
'Ed, what's this evolution thing?' (Daniel)
'It happens when skills reach the maximum level. Under certain conditions, they can evolve into a higher form of skill or magic. In Bone Manipulation's case, it will become Bone Control, and you'll have innate control over all bones, including those in live bodies. Naturally, the amount you can control depends on the level. You'll also still be able to keep whatever Bone Manipulation's functions are after the evolution.' (Ed)
That sounds nice, but why is after the quest? I really need it right now!
'I can give it to you now, but the quest will have additional requirements.' (Ed)
'Really? What requirements?' (Daniel)
'You need to kill both Olaf and Khardin while not exposing your identity.' (Ed)
'That's easy enough! I need to kill the two anyway to stop the Church. Are you sure you aren't just sneakily helping me but afraid to admit it?' (Daniel)
'No way! My quests are straight from the main system. I can't control them at all.' (Ed)
'Sure…' (Daniel)
Anyway, now my status looks like this.
[Status:
Name: Daniel
Age: 14
Class: Magic Swordsman
Secondary Class: Thief
Available Classes: Swordsman (Common), Mage (Common), Magic Swordsman (Rare), Thief (Uncommon)
Level: 34
HP: 334/334
MP: 950/950
STR: 83
VIT: 84
AGI: 91
DEX: 89
INT: 76
Skills: Bone Control LV1, Utility Magic LV7, Swordsmanship LVMAX, Dismantling LV6, Tanning LV6, Mana Regeneration LVMAX, Tailoring LV7, Dagger Arts LV6, Necromancy LVMAX, Fire Magic LV6, Ice Magic LV3
Inventory: 4 x Health Potions (Rare), Flammable Bones (Uncommon), Bench Press (Uncommon), Squat Rack (Uncommon), Purple Death Scorpion Corpse (Rare), 23 x LV10 Skeleton Warriors (Rare), 14 x LV30 Skeleton Warriors (Rare), Mithril Longsword (Unique), Orichalcum Dagger (Rare), Purple Death Cuirass (Rare+), Purple Death Leggings (Rare+), Purple Death Boots (Rare+), Purple Death Gauntlets (Rare+), Purple Death Pauldrons (Rare+), Purple Death Helmet (Rare+), Tri-Horned Tiger Cape (Uncommon)
Equipment: Orichalcum Dagger (Rare), Black Silk T-Shirt (Common, Black Silk Pants (Common), Leather Boots (Common)]
Bone Control lets me shape and change bones with minimal mana. Truly the ideal skill to synergize with Necromancy. I can also conjure ghosts, ghouls, zombies, etc. with Necromancy, but I'm focusing on the bone and skeleton parts of it for now.
I can now make about 4 LV30 Skeleton Warriors in an hour now. At the current rate, I bet I'll only have 5 hours to myself every day. That's a total of 140 Warriors by the end of the exploration.
However, Khardin will begin to move after arriving at each oasis. I can't let Olaf get his hands on any Holy Spring Water at all. Who knows if he has special weapons or buffs that run off the water?
Oops, this is bad. I stayed in front of his room for too long. Olaf will probably be coming out soon.
I sneak away and return back to my own room. I start making the Warriors while thinking about how to save the water.
'Ed, can I put all the water in your storage?' (Daniel)
'You can. Time stops in my storage, so none of your items will get soaked and the water also won't get contaminated.' (Ed)
'Sweet! I have a plan now.' (Daniel)