A voice and a feeling
It has been three days since we left the Tower for the first time. They decided that they would train and get to know their skills better before continuing the challenges. As I had no class or skill, I decided to just train the basics of what I know, although I don't want to get involved in their challenge, I would not want to end up being a deadweight over time. I also hoped that maybe by training and leveling up a bit I would eventually be able to awaken my class. For some reason all this suspense of not being able to define a class for me ended up affecting me a little and now I am curious to know what it could end up being. So I trained a little bit of everything, with sword, bow, magic, combat, everything that was possible for me, but nothing happened.
They, on the other hand, got new skills: Kaule managed to evolve his class and gained a reputation (which would be a division specialization) of the "Arcane" type and with it came the basic skill "Natural Weapon" in which he is able to transform items that are found in nature in combat weapons (like a branch on a short sword); Adrick achieved two basic skills: "Armor Skin" (capable of defending himself from major damage without armor) and "Primal Instinct" (gives an instinct to almost certainly predict the enemy's next attack if he is able to keep up with his movements); and Raild got a rare skill called "Xeng Smoke Bomb" in which he suddenly sparks, in a small area around him, a magical smoke that hides his presence and confuses everyone who was noticing him.
Just watching them train their new skills ended up making me a little sad to see that I am not capable of anything in particular ... By the way, we found that to use the skills there is only a minimum requirement (in addition to the limitations they present in the description of the skills) which is to have to speak the name of the skill (in order to use it) and at least one person must listen. A very strange system, but it certainly has its advantages and disadvantages, besides that with the right strategy it is possible to accomplish great feats, it also prevents sneaky disadvantages in solo duels and several other things that I ended up thinking about, but it is not the important thing at the moment.
We are currently at level 4 after fighting monsters in the forest near the village and during these training exercises we also ended up finding a mini-tower ruin, it consists of a room with some monsters a little more evolved and has a chest reward when all monsters end up dying. I believe it is a kind of imitation of what the real floors of the Tower should really look like, whoever thought of all this did not skimp on the details so that everyone had an equal chance of climbing. The ruin is magical, because as soon as you just leave it and enter again, new monsters appear and with new chests waiting for you, we have completed at least five times the room, but it does not end up being very rewarding for the work you do and the rewards are not the best too. I lost two of my daggers because of a corrosive monster and I had to spend what I got on a new sword… Just remembering it makes me want to sigh again…
On the other hand, having gone to buy a new sword made me meet new people from the village: the baker José, the blacksmith Rick, the merchant Rahsat, the tavern keeper Bolturim, the alchemist Etho. I am happy to be able to get closer to the people of this small village. I think if it all goes wrong, I would be fine to spend the rest of my life here. However, as we got to know more people, the more we realized the influence of the Tower in their lives, they seem to be proud of being called citizens of the Tower. I worry about thinking that they may be being manipulated by her or be part of the system of this game, since they are very convenient to help players with their basic problems ... If this is true, does Ryan? ...
I won't be thinking about it too much, I prefer to focus on the now. We decided that tonight we were going to start the first tutorial challenge. So we finished moving up to the fourth level and distributed the skill points we earned according to our tendencies, in my case it was just distributed equally ... Ah ... I hope that with this first challenge I will end up awaken my class soon.
***
After we got ready, we met in front of the Tower in the light of the full moon, I nodded as if asking if they were ready and everyone responded positively, and then we entered.
During those days I talked to them about what I wanted here in that Tower. When we left the first time here, they told me that I already fulfilled my role and because I was not interested in the Tower I could go on with my life the way I wanted, but I ended up being interested in knowing where this journey is going to be, to be able to get to know better who I am. am and who i was. They did not question and said that I could do whatever I wanted, as long as I didn't stop them from proceeding with the Tower. Our relationship must have improved a little, not that I'm concerned about it, but at least we can do the floors together (although I am more of a spectator because I can't help much ...).
We went back to that same room, but now I could notice better, it is a room that is almost empty, because there is only that small altar with the cube at the end of the room and the torches that light around it, it was not possible to find any stairs around, as it will be that we are going to go up to the other floors? …
We approached the cube again and again I decided to touch it. And then the color of the whole environment changed to orange. It seems that it is no longer the same way as the first time.
[Countion! You will start the floors of the Tower. There are three main types of floors, in addition to the floors that mix these categories, and they are: combat floor - completed with the end of combat, trial floor - completed with the completion of challenges, floor of conquest - completed with obtaining something specific and offering to the Tower.]
[The 0.1 floor of the Tower is a combat floor, do you wish to continue?]
I said yes.
[Warning: once the floor has started, you will not be able to leave until it is completed. Are you aware of this and that this warning is for all floors from now on?]
After being sure with them, I confirmed that we are aware of this warning, as I am sure that our lives are linked to it. This fact that you can only leave the floor after completing it ends up being quite intimidating, because if it is some kind of fatal floor in which you are not prepared for it, then the floor has just become your own grave. The administrator, on the other hand, gives a little warning about the minimum level you need to have in order to have at least a one percent chance of completing. I don't know if this is information that ends up helping, but I believe it at least serves as a floor hazard meter. The floor we are about to enter has as a minimum requirement the first level, as we are in the bedroom, I don't think there will be any problems.
Suddenly, a bright circle appears under everyone's feet and its light begins to intensify until we have been transported magically to another place. Everything is dark and you cannot see anything.
[Tutorial - Floor 0.1]
Then torch lights, like the Tower entrance room, started to turn on and I could see the entire room. When I looked behind me I could see my companions, but there really was no exit door, anywhere in the room there were doors or windows, in fact there was nothing but torches and piles and piles of bones on the floor. A little worrying ...
- I couldn't find any enemy that could be responsible for this floor, stay tuned.
- Stay calm and leave with us to finish this floor
Raild looks confident, but he is right, I am only here as a spectator, I cannot just want to be a leader for them.
- But Lyuinil is right, Raild, we must be careful since it was supposed to be a combat floor, not being able to see the enemy is a little worrying.
- Rest assured that I will go ahead to protect you
Adrick took the lead and walked quietly in the hope that the enemy would appear to attack him. He also seems to be very confident.
- Um ... There is something strange ...
- What is it, Raild?
- These bones are different from those of humans, they seem to be from a giant bull ...
Suddenly, those bones start to fly and connect. A figure was forming.
[Objective: Destroy the skeletal Minotaur]
…
The monster had formed, it was more than two meters high. It's giant! But since it had all this ceremony to appear, it was not at all worrying or careless. I think this is what you would expect from Tutorial monsters.
We gathered in the rear while the monster seemed to be heading towards to pick up a bone ax that had also formed.
Then Raild came up with a plan: Adrick distracted, while he and Kaule would attempt a surprise attack. Very simple for a simple monster. They told me that if I wanted to, I could watch from afar, that in this case I will do it for now. I will analyze the enemy before attempting any careless action.
Time to put the plan into action ...
[ERROR! THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN INVADED! DANGER! THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN INVADED!]
- But what does it mean ?!...
What's happening?
Then, a voice came out of nowhere, full of flaws and not very clear, it seemed that there were several people talking at the same time simultaneously ...
["Well, well, well, whoever we found lost here… I didn't know that fate had a sense of humor ..."]
For some reason, I felt that it was addressing me ...
["Let's see how you will do with that ..."]
[NOTICE! THE ENEMY LEVEL HAS BEEN INCREASED FROM COMMON TO RARE DEGREE]
- What?!...
[NOTICE! THE ENEMY'S LEVEL HAS BEEN INCREASED FROM RARE TO EPIC DEGREE]
- DAMN IT! GUYS, LEAVE NEAR IT...
This is not right!
But for some reason, that voice is familiar to me
[NOTICE! THE ENEMY'S LEVEL HAS BEEN INCREASED FROM EPIC TO MYTHICAL DEGREE]
- Who are you?! Do you happen to know who I am? !!
I shouted for an answer while the others backed away.
["I hope for the next time that we can ..."]
The voice became more and more defined, it seems to be that of a man ... it cannot be ... that voice!
["... see us again!"]
Then I felt a sense of dread reach my heart!
[NOTICE! THE ENEMY'S LEVEL HAS BEEN INCREASED FROM MYTHICAL TO LEGENDARY]
Urgh ... I grab my shirt as if I want to rip that feeling out of me! ...
- Fast! Get out ...
Huh ?!
Where did the monster go?
/ CRUNCH! /
Adrick flew to the wall with such force that the crash resounded throughout the room.
/ PRONCH! /
/ CRANCH! /
Damn it! I can't see your movements!
Kaule and Raild went flying in the blink of an eye! Where is it…
/ Puffing! /
It stopped right in front of me and started breathing heavily! Staring at me with eyes that started to glow red.
…
- Aaahhhh….
Sigh…
I didn't think it would come so fast, but I think the end has come.
At least I don't feel as sorry as before.
It started to raise the ax towards me slowly as if to psychologically torture me hoping for some attempt at resistance ... But all that feeling inside me ... Every threat it tries to provoke ... has no effect on me, because it was for that that I was preparing for today!
- AAAAAAAAAAAHHH !!!
What?
A furious scream? Where is it coming from?
…
When I look behind the monster, I see Adrick running towards the monster with his ax in his hand. But what does he intend to do? !!
- Adrick! Get away from it! It's after me and ...
- Be quiet, kid! Did you forget the deal ?!
- STOP! IT GOES…
But before I could finish the sentence, the monster had beaten him up even harder, without having looked away from me!
Adrick flew across the room until he hit the wall hard! This time it caused quite serious damage, if I leave it as it is it will ...
- Tsc! Why? Why go so far for a stranger? ...
But before I could regret anything else, without my realizing it, Kaule and Raild attempted an onslaught on either side of the monster taking advantage of the chance that Adrick had left and because it was focused on me, but it was still useless ...
The monster managed to dodge both at the same time and they were counterattacked. Raild was thrown away with noises of bones breaking from the impact while Kaule was grabbed by the enemy's free hand.
- Raild! Kaule !! Stop! ... Why? !! Why ?!!! He had no intention of attacking you !!
I started to recline my head. I didn't understand why, but tears were about to fall ... Why did they do that? Why didn't they just let me die and be free of me? Why…
- Lyunil !!!! ...
I looked disoriented at Kaule, dying in the monster's hand.
- Urgh ... can't you even understand it? ... We choose to do this ...
More and more he was crushed while with the other hand it was again raising the ax towards me. Without wavering even a second its gaze fixed on me.
Damn it! They will all die and because of me, and I don't even know why all this happened! Damn it! Damn it!
No! I can't let him die because of me! Neither of them! It is not fair ... it is not fair that I let all this happen without doing anything! They, even though they knew they wouldn't be able to hit a single blow to that monster, faced this ridiculously strong stupid thing.
I take my sword and hold it with all the strength I still had to try to hit it, but only now I realized: my feet don't move! I can't stop my legs from shaking, let alone step forward! Even trying to look strong, even trying to think boldly, my body did not deceive me. I'm really scared!
- Damn it !! Come on! Come on legs !!
- AAAAAAAAAAAA ...
Kaule started to scream even harder in agony, you could hear his body being crushed slowly ...
What should I do?!
I can't…
And now?!
What should I do?!!
Damn it !!!
…
Suddenly I hear another voice ... this time coming from inside me.
When I look around me it seems like time has stopped! What is happening?...
What voice is that ?!
This voice, different from the voice from before, made my heart feel lighter.
All the terror that haunted my soul seems to have been dispelled ...
It was neither a male nor a female voice.
Not so strong and not so weak.
I never heard a voice like that ... In fact, I think there must never have been a voice like that.
In the blink of an eye, time had returned.
But even before I knew it, my sword had become something more radiant and powerful than the sun itself!
I don't know how I knew that, or how she hadn't burned or hurt me.
When I looked ahead, the monster was gone ... when I looked behind me I saw it split in half with signs of burning in the region where it was broken ... its ax had melted ...
...
Ah! Now I understand what happened! My attack was faster than my own conscience! And yet the monster managed to try to defend itself, but as if I had cut a drop of water, it and the ax were broken.
When I look at the sword again, it has evaporated from my hand!
- What?...
Kaule then falls to the ground and is released from the hand. I run towards him and try to think of something to make him survive, I don't have time to think about what happened!
His body was extremely deformed and broken, I didn't have the courage to even touch it. Internal bleeding must be getting worse because of the ribs that pierced your body after they were broken ...
- Go ... chest ...
- But! I can't leave you like this !! None of you !!
- You will understand…
So that he no longer had to spend effort with his breathing compromised, I went towards the chest that was located in the center of the room.
It is big and full of ornaments ... Could it be ...
- Kaule, you idiot ... - I ended up letting a smile of relief escape - ... how can you reason in a condition like this!
[You got a legendary chest]
I let a few small tears of relief fall as I picked up the top-level healing potions and ran towards each one so they could take it.
...
I confess that I ended up getting a little emotional, maybe because I managed to save them ... no, I will not lie ... I am happy to have them as companions ...
…
After a while, when everyone got together, we moved slowly towards the rest of the rewards.
They seem to be safe for now. The potion helped a lot, but it doesn't work miracles, they will still need some time to rest. But I am relieved to see that they are no longer at risk.
- Guys…
They looked at me.
-… t-thanks for…
- Hmm! No need to thank, we chose to have done it for ourselves !! ...
Raild looked a little frustrated by the situation.
- But ... I am also grateful to have saved my life ...
- Puff… HAHAHA !!…
- WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING?!!
- It is nothing, it is nothing ... I was just really glad that you were the ones who found me and accompany me on this journey! ...
- Here, boy, you lost your sword after you defeated that monster, right ?! Take this one, it was on the chest.
Adrick handed me a very beautiful sword, parts of which are red and others in black, with several incredible details ...
- Serious?! Are you sure? But the deal was that the treasures are ...
- Yours too! Without you we would be dead now, it is the least I could do as a thank you.
I looked at them with a twinkle in my eye and then grasped that sword very gratefully.
- Thank you very much!
- But what was that skill you used before ?! You didn't even have to pronounce it!
Raild was curious. It seems that he managed to observe a little of what happened while he was down.
- I ... I honestly don't know ... I heard a voice coming from inside me and I just knew what to do. But I don't remember how it works anymore ...
- That was a very powerful skill! At least legendary, I didn't know you were that powerful!
Kaule made that observation.
- I don't even know if that was me, I can't say I'm powerful ...
- But you commented on some kind of voice, so it may be that your class may be some kind of spellcaster!
- Caster? ...
I was a little more excited to hear that. Will my class wake up soon? ...
In time I will find out, but now we have decided to focus on that legendary level reward! It seems to have a lot of treasures and money here, we can enjoy it!
So we smiled together as we discussed how we were going to share it all. It was certainly a moment that I will keep forever!
***
What I hadn't noticed at that time ...
| Sword - Celestial Treasure |
| Jadi - January of the twelve months of Anualis |
| "The oldest" |
...