Chapter 127. One mess after another
"I say... does that even make sense!?"
[*Giggle* Annoying, right?](Helen)
"Annoying? That's overpowered!"
Not only did the last High Priestess use range attacks to annoy him without even bothering with his minions, but her Multishot also applied to the Mortar modifier.
Ultimately, to make matters even more disgusting, all the damage he had dealt was healed through the damage inflicted on Michael because of Vampiric.
"Fifteen! Fifteen damned fireballs! I didn't see that even in Bosses up to this point. It's ridiculous..."
[Remember how we found her?](Helen)
"You mean when we arrived?"
When they walked into the room, they noticed the High Priestess Chesna surrounded by multiple Chosen and Disciples.
Michael used his minions to attack the group as he saw a strange barrier covering the Unique Elite, but as it turned out, they were already dead.
Or rather, sacrificed.
[It's a ritual. It strengthens the Elite or Boss considerably by sacrificing many minions. Not very commonly used, but when it is... well, you saw the result.](Helen)
"That's still ridiculous."
[*Giggle* But with that, we completed the Dungeon. Let's go back. We need to stop at the old church and deliver the coffins.](Helen)
"Mhm. Let's go back home after. I've had enough for one day..."
Helen agreed but couldn't help but pity Michael. After all, this was a common occurrence for him. In some instances, it could be even worse than this.
Especially when doing a Main Quest.
The couple dropped off the dead so that their families and loved ones could mourn them properly and then took the Waypoint back to Kyovashad.
As they exited the plaza and toward the Quest marker where Vilek was, Helen rolled her eyes and chastised him.
[Stop grinning like that! You're scaring the people around us...](Helen)
"Can't help it. Hehe! I got so lucky this time around!"
[Item?](Helen)
"Mhm."
[Show me.](Helen)
Taking her hand while still smiling like an idiot, Michael showed her the result of their hard work today.
[ Ramble Torturer
Rare Pants
228 Item Power
-----------------
392 Armor (+164 Armor when compared to the currently equipped item)
* While Injured, your Potion also grants 10% Maximum Life as a Barrier.
-----------------
* +11.5% Minion Maximum Life
* +8% Total Armor
* +2 Rank of Corpse Explosion (Necromancer Only)
Empty Socket
Empty Socket ]
Seeing the attributes, Helen nodded and understood why he was so happy. Not only did the Armor add more than the current one, but every other option on this item worked perfectly with his current build.
Furthermore, the item had two Empty Sockets, meaning he could add two gems.
After looking at his stats page, she couldn't help but shake her head and smile. It was genuinely exaggerated.
[ Class: High Necromancer
Attack Power: 583
Armor: 1,751
Life: 1,020
--------------
Strength: 165
Intelligence: 192
Willpower: 177
Dexterity: 183 ]
Also, except for the almost twenty weapons and offhand items that occupied space in his inventory, there were some rather ridiculous helms and chest armor as well.
His look showed that he was happily pondering if he should switch to the new ones.
[If you use the Champion Sin helm and the Armageddon Plate armor... you'll breach 2,000 total Armor. And that's before getting to Level 50 or being a tank Class. Truly ridiculous.](Helen)
"I know, right!? Thanks to that Resplendent Chest, I got to 440 Obols, besides three really good Rare items. That Frozen Elite was rather generous."
Helen had to punch him twice in the shoulder as they approached Vilek. They couldn't laugh while handing over a necklace made out of the man's eyes.
As soon as they approached the man, he started speaking.
[Oh!? Hey! Is that me in the stockades?](Vilek)
Smiling wryly, the couple approached. They knew that Vilek had made a considerable commotion after losing sight and ended up destroying Zivek's wares.
Seeing the man's condition, the Blacksmith was lenient, but the City Guards still had to punish him to maintain security. Otherwise, it wouldn't be fair to others.
"We have returned with your eyes."
[I can see that! Oh, how pitiful I look. Just give me back my eyes, won't you?](Vilek)
Scratching his head, Michael placed the necklace into his hands, and the Sanctuary considered it a job well done.
[ Quest complete - Sight to Madness
Reward 1: 10,678 experience points
Reward 2: 1,700 gold coins
Reward 3: Salvage Cache. ]
Just as the duo prepared to leave, they saw the man unshackle himself from the stockades, perplexing them.
He wasn't supposed to be able to do that...
[Can I just push them right back in their sockets? Just like...](Vilek)
Seeing the man pluck the eyes and push them back in, they were both appalled. There was no damn way in hell that would work.
Even with the Sanctuary being as magical as it was.
And surely...
[AAAAARHG! That, that pain! The sockets burn! Oh god!](Vielk)
"Shit! I'll give you a Life Potion. Hold on. Fuck! It must've been powder or something on the necklace that caused your sockets to become irritated. Shit! Stop screaming and...What the fuck..."
Just as Michael was trying to force-feed him a vial of healing Potion and Helen was prepared to hold the man down, fine grains of blood splashed both him and Helen from head to toe.
Furthermore, Vilek kept screaming louder and louder as rivers of blood were flowing from his mouth, ears, nose, and eye sockets.
[OHGOD! AHHH, AHHH! MY EYES! AHHHHH!](Vilek)
The duo were so stunned that they couldn't react in time as the man broke into a sprint past them.
It wasn't just them. The surrounding guards and people acted similarly stunned, just watching as the man ran like a maniac toward the gate leading to Menestad.
Fortunately, just as the City Guards were about to use force to stop the man, someone else moved faster.
With a hand on the man's forehead covering his bleeding eye sockets, she spoke softly, as if to calm the man's pain.
[Shh. Calm now. It's alright. The Father is watching over you.](Prava)
[*Sobs* My... eyes...](Vilek)
As the man collapsed, Prava ordered the man to be brought to the infirmary until he recovered.
Then, she started walking toward the couple, making them wince.
[Helen. Sir Michael. I see that no day passes without you creating some sort of commotion. I can say confidently that Kyovashad became more... 'active' ever since your arrival.](Prava)
[...](Helen)
"Well... can't do much about it, I'm afraid."
[*Sigh* I know... You recovered the man's eyes well, but you should've brought them to the Cathedral first to be purged of demonic corruption. Fortunately, no major damage was done. Either to the eyes or that man.](Prava)
The couple sighed in relief, feeling a bit bad about their oversight.
[You can both feel free to visit me tomorrow at the Cathedral. I've heard the recent report from Yelesna. We need to have a proper talk.](Prava)
"Tomorrow?"
[Mhm. I would say today, but judging from your... outfits, you would be better served by going home and bathing. I will see you both tomorrow.](Prava)
They both inspected themselves and groaned upon seeing how covered in blood they were. Not only from the splattering event with Vilek but also from the Dungeon and the Stronghold.
Using a Cleaning Marble each so as not to disgust the people they met to death, they quickly made their way back to the Pink Palace.
After all, even the marble wasn't enough to get all the blood stains out.
[ Main Quest issued - Light's guidance
Objective: Speak with Reverend Mother Prava at the Cathedral of Light. ]
Muttering 'tomorrow' under his breath, he shook Helen's hand. She was also muttering about how bossy Prava was.
Laughing inwardly at how she was only saying that now, behind her back, they entered the residence. The sisters who returned about an hour ago after clearing three Nightmare Dungeons were stupefied upon seeing the bloodied duo.
After panicking briefly but relaxing when they realized that it wasn't their blood, the interrogation started.
Fortunately, they were given a thirty-minute reprieve to clean themselves, after which they had to report back to the pavilion.
[Wow! And here I thought we went crazy...](Tia)
[How was the Nightmare Dungeon experience?](Helen)
[Meh. About normal. We got lucky and found some excellent items. Evelyn leveled up quite nicely as well.](Hella)
"Nightmare Dungeons?"
[Mhm. After you reach Level 50, they will start dropping. Or you can craft them at my father's. They turn the dial up in terms of difficulty, and it's the only place where you gain experience for the Glyphs in your Paragon Board.](Helen)
"Wait, wait! So that's Level 50 restricted area?"
[Yes.](Helen)
"Then... all of you are over 50!? Evelyn included? Wasn't she around 37 two weeks ago?"
[Three weeks ago! And I worked hard!](Evelyn)
[You stinky brat! We carried you through the Dungeons and Events in the wilderness, and you dare say you worked hard?](Hella)
[Hehe! But I did, didn't I?](Evelyn)
Seeing Helen's inquisitive gaze, Mina smiled and nodded.
[She got accustomed to her new skills fast. And she was incredibly helpful during fights. Both crowd control and damage. It's just...](Mina)
"Just?"
[She's reckless... Where did you ever see a girl her age transform into a werewolf and pounce on the Boss!? Especially when all her skills are ranged. She's a menace!](Mei)
[I... I just got caught up in the moment.](Evelyn)
[And got smacked away into the Dungeon wall.](Tia)
Michael nodded imperceptibly at the painful experience he well remembered.
[But I had my Invulnerability skill activated. I didn't take any damage...](Evelyn)
Seeing how embarrassed the girl was, the group turned boisterous and started poking fun and teasing the poor lass.
In the end, it turned out that they cleared three of these Nightmare Dungeons, and Evelyn even completed her Second Class Awakening Quest in the process.
'I thought I was making rapid progress, but it looks like I'm not the only one working hard. I need to step on the gas, or I won't be able to catch up to them anytime soon...'
The conversation continued, and Michael learned more about the Paragon Board and how it works.
As the name implies, it was a virtual board where they would add points as they tried to make their way to Nodes. These Nodes gave specified attributes or increases for specific skills.
Through them, one's damage would jump at least four to five times compared to the expected value.
[It's still far from your current self, but you have an advantage over us.](Helen)
"The Renown interface."
[The what? What's that?](Tia)
After explaining what it was, the girls immediately started clamoring about how unfair it was. And it was indeed the case.
[Oh my! Extra potion slots, higher Obols capacity, more skill points, more Paragon points... even I'm getting a bit jealous.](Mina)
[Though, it's not a particularly unfair trade if you think about it.](Mei)
[Hmm?](Tia)
[He probably got that in exchange for the 'Preferential Treatment.' After hearing every mess he gets dragged into, I'm good without those extra skill or Paragon points.](Mei)
"..."
Seeing the pitiful looks thrown his way, Michael decided there wouldn't be any new deserts for at least a week.
[Oh, right! Big sis Aylin sent a letter. They should be back tomorrow if all goes well.](Tia)
[Oh? And you're this excited about it? Even after spilling the beans on how you were planning to party with Connie to clear a Stronghold? I'm sure she'll be delighted to hear your confession.](Helen)
[I sincerely apologize! Please don't rat me out!](Tia)
As the group was laughing and Evelyn decided to get payback on Tia, who teased her earlier, Michael realized that all these girls, including Aylin, were above level 50.
Helen and Aylin had already gone through their Third Class Awakening, Mei, Mina, and Hella were approaching the same standard. After much grinding, Tia reached level 69, and the only 'newbie' passed her Second Class Awakening just recently.
'Tsk! It's a club for elites. Not only are they all smoking hot beauties that most of Kyovashad and nearby cities droll over, but they are incredibly strong also. It's really unbelievable.'
Looking forward to seeing the trio again after such a long time, Michael realized that he also had to meet with Prava tomorrow.
Fortunately, not only did Helen decide to join, but all the other girls were also curious and wanted to follow.
Thinking of how annoyed Prava would be, Helen approved of this initiative under the guise of 'teaching them about how Main Quests work.'
Hoping that Prava wouldn't kick him out since he only had four days left to get the necessary 'blessing' and return to Neyrelle, Michael stuffed his face with the sandwiches made by the servant girls whom he decided to properly train even more into the future.
'Weren't the trio and I talking about chefs being needed at the new restaurants? These girls... I could get them up to par for sure. Then, the sisters can recruit more girls in need of a proper job like this and continue the virtuous circle. It's the perfect plan!'
Seeing how Michael's eyes were shining while looking at them and then back at the servant girls, and then back at them, the sisters were confused.
They had no idea what a certain capitalist had in mind for them.