Chapter 297. Forgotten Depths
The fourth draw was also a Rare trash item, but he got incredibly lucky with his fifth.
[ Exceptional Armor of the Deflecting Barrier ( Requires Level 55 )
Legendary Chest Armor
600 Item Power
-----------------
1,050 Armor (+103 when compared to the currently equipped item)
* +50 Intelligence
* +89 Maximum Life
* +660 Armor
Legendary Aspect: While you have a Barrier active, there is a 6% chance to ignore incoming direct damage from Distant enemies.
Empty Socket ]
While it was still locked due to his experience bar being stuck at 1,727,962/1,964,450, Michael was still incredibly pleased with this lucky draw.
He would soon level up, and he could easily replace it.
Furthermore, he had the idea of replacing the Aspect of this new Chest Armor while also Tempering it to add some new Affixes.
One of the Tempering Manuals he gained as drops recently, even if only Magic in rarity, could offer a nice +[8.0 - 12.5]% Total Armor.
So, even if the current Aspect of his old item were removed, the new Affix would take care of the temporary loss.
Without wasting any more time, the Necromancer opened his three caches, earning three Rare items in exchange, as well as 17 Iron Chunks, 10 Gem Fragments each, and 50 Murmuring Obols.
Now, his Murmuring Obols grew slightly, reaching 348/515.
'Now, time to empty the storage!'
He found the closest shop - the Ring and Amulets stand - and dumped his stash on him, earning 280,060 gold coins.
Alongside his earnings from drops along the way, his purse was 3,331,239 coins fat.
Scratching his chin while looking at the sole remaining item in his inventory - his old Legacy Legendary boots - Michael went to find the Forgemaster of the Oxen Tribe and ask her for help salvaging the item.
Obviously, he intended to scout the general situation between the Oxen, Bear, and Crane Tribes.
Unfortunately, he wasn't lucky, as Gerti was away. If one good thing was to be pointed out, from what he managed to gather from pestering the blacksmith, she went to meet with Ealda.
Getting his 2 Rawhides, 1 Veiled Crystal, and 1 Coiling Ward, Michael summoned his horse and took the southern path to Orbei Monastery.
Moving through the Wayward Plains again, he reached the pass he heard about recently being blocked by bandits, only to see signs of a major battle and corpses everywhere.
'Looks like the mercenaries went wild. It's good for me, though. Less trouble to deal with.'
The entire Khurel Passage was filled with bodies, and once he got to the end of it, he saw mercenaries and other Wanderers clearing the bodies and 'cleaning' the equipment gained after the massacre.
From the looks of it, the Sanctuary didn't treat the bandits like monsters and decomposed them after their deaths, and instead allowed the mercenaries to strip them of all the items they were wearing.
It didn't take a savant to know he wasn't welcomed. Judging from the stern glares he was receiving, he was treated like a hyena skulking around a pride of lions that just hunted, hoping to get some scraps without doing anything.
Rolling his eyes, he hurried his mount forward, leaving them behind.
Exiting the passage and taking the eastern road, he found a flight of stone-sculpted stairs leading to a place called The Sullen Cloister.
Judging by its name, it should be connected to Orbei Monastery.
'Probably the dormitory or something. The monastery is about two kilometers south, so maybe I could check this place first. Who knows what might be hidden here.'
At first, he only found dilapidated buildings and wrecked statues.
But then, he saw a road leading up to a cliff, on top of which stood a familiar-looking construct engulfed in a magical fog.
Climbing the cliff, he found himself attacked by Demonic Wasps which he immediately cleared without bothering to call for his minions, and then moved in front of the statue.
It appeared to be an older man with a bushy beard and a funny-looking pointy hat.
His right hand held a scroll that unfurled all the way to the ground, the words of which the Necromancer couldn't understand. His left held a strange object that looked like a lamp and a scale at the same time, the purpose which Michael couldn't comprehend.
[ Most of the inscription has been lost to time.
A few barely legible words read: ... EMBOLDEN... soul... unrelenting evil... ]
Turning his head to look away from the faded plaque, he ignored the strange purple spiral formed on the ground in front of the statue and instead moved the opposite way to where another beautifully sculpted statue stood.
Curiously gazing at the Altar of Lilith, he wondered if the Sanctuary had chosen to hide them randomly across the continent or if Lilith or it had chosen the places due to a hidden meaning.
"It isn't the first time an altar of yours is this close to an ecclesiastic building. I wonder if you did that to point out the connection I've seen so often in the Dungeons between yourself and Inarius. The same connection the current church is trying to obscure."
While infusing his Essence into the beautiful statue and watching it glow a bright shade of red, the Necromancer wondered what Lilith was currently doing.
With the Cathedral of Light threatening to invade Hell, Michael was certain she would somehow take advantage of the situation to achieve her goals.
It certainly wasn't Inarius she was looking for, though, he was undoubtedly on her naughty list and should expect retaliation.
"4,000-ish experience points, huh? Looks like I need to 'collect' the Altars in the Steppes soon. Tomorrow is a rest/date day with the girls, and on the following day, I'll take Neyrelle, Tia, and Evelyn to activate the Altars of Lilith in Scosglen. The third, I have plans to meet with Natalia, and I have no clue how long advancing my summons would take, so let's set it for four days from now."
Calling Beatrice and asking her if she could prepare a MAP of the altars in her region, Michael thanked and invited her for dinner again tomorrow night.
He was planning to cook some new dishes personally to show his appreciation.
The woman appeared decently satisfied with the 'offerings,' which allowed the Necromancer to make another call and let Helen and Mina know about it.
They could tell the hyper-trio about the planned adventure, which they would most certainly be happy with.
Leaving the cliff behind, he took the small road from Adherent Rise and quickly located the old stone bridge leading to Orbei Monastery.
The inner court hadn't changed much, though the inside of the building did. There were obvious traces of ash on the walls and ceiling that survived the fire, while anything made of wood was either slightly burnt or charred.
"*Sigh* It really looks like a mess. Poor bastards. Elias really fucked them up."
The door leading to the Inner Cloister he followed during his Main Quest was blocked by fallen pieces of the walls and ceiling, prompting the Necromancer to turn around and face the other way.
On the left side of the building, a new entrance glowing a bright orange shade 'waved' excitedly at him.
Entering the Dungeon, Michael found himself underground once more.
Rather than calling it a cellar, the place looked more like a prison or a tomb.
[ Dungeon Quest issued - Forgotten Depths
Objective: Free the Prisoners (0/6). ]
Seeing the area identified by the system as Unearthed Crypt, he had his answer to the previous question.
The Undead were also ready for their evening roll call, which the Necromancer happily assisted them with.
As he killed the usual Skeletons, Shambling Corpses, and Exploding Corpses, he found himself staring in confusion at a strange sight.
Two smaller statues holding spears were standing on the left and right of a much larger one, representing a woman with her hands wide open.
Adding the crown on her head and the fact that all three women looked oddly familiar, Michael immediately connected this spot with the Dungeon he cleared a while back in Nevesk.
He continued killing the undead and freeing the phantom prisoners while checking the architecture of the place.
It was obviously connected to what he found in Nevesk, but even after a quick call to Helen, she hadn't noticed anything.
Furthermore, the crypt was built under Orbei Monastery. This prompted Michael to wonder if they knew about it and, if they did, what connection it had with its counterpart in the Fractured Peaks region.
"Eh!?"
The familiar sound of a booklet dropping to the ground attracted the Wanderer's attention, after which he used his Golem's taunt to draw the Skeletons away while he checked its contents.
[ Monk's journal
Further research confirms my suspicions: Orbei was built atop a pre-existing structure. Based on existing records, this hidden corner of the monastery is somehow connected to the Zakarum Inquisition.
Decades ago, they came to this region and forced the locals into submission. Those who did not embrace the faith were likely tortured and buried. If so, the structure beneath us might be the remnants of the local settlement. Or their tomb.
I will know soon enough. I found a way inside. To embody the Zakarum's true tenants, we cannot hide from this dark chapter in our history. ]
Raising an eyebrow, he sighed deeply and took out his Ring of Communication. Hesitating for a while, he contacted Teckrin.
As soon as the line connected, he heard the woman groan.
[I am NOT answering any more questions of yours! Not for free, at least.](Teckrin)
"That's fine. I can pay this time. How about we meet five days from now? At the Inn in Ked Bardu?"
[I left the Steppes temporarily. I'm in Fractured Peaks now.](Teckrin)
"Even better then! Five days from now, you can meet me and my friends at their villa. I'll cook."
[Hmm... I heard that you're a decent cook.](Teckrin)
"What? Where from!?"
[It's my job to know things, kid. Anyway, what do you want to know about?](Teckrin)
"Everything about the Zakarum. From when they formed to their fall. Also, if you have one of those books about Sanctuary's timeline, it would be immensely helpful."
[Ugh... it's not like I don't. The problem is the cost. That's expensive information I need to borrow and copy from the Horadrim's libraries. I need at least 5 million to cover the cost.](Teckrin)
"WHAT!? That's the cost of a goddamn house! Are you ripping me off?"
[Knowledge is expensive, kid. Especially the type you are looking for.](Teckrin)
"Shit... Would it be worth it, at least?"
[That... I can at least guarantee it. There's a reason why even Horadrim come to me for information, you know?](Teckrin)
"Deal. Let's meet in five days in Kyovashad."
Hanging up, Michael felt the autumn wind pass behind him, chilling his heart and wallet.
Fortunately, Martel and Hoduin reported that the ten restaurant chains they started in every region were finally turning profits, and he should get his share soon enough.
In the meantime...
"5 million for the information, and probably a similar amount, if not higher, for the materials Natalia bought for my Class Awakening. And I barely have 3.3 million right now. Haha..."
With a desolate feeling in his heart and tears glimmering in his eyes, he decided to brutally stomp on his pride as a man and take out a loan from the girls.
They were all wealthy mistresses of Kyovashad, as well as prodigious Wanderers. He once heard the trades between each other and directly ignored the nine-figure sums.
It would have been terrible for his heart if he hadn't!
Finally freeing the last prisoner, the Dungeon Quest updated.
[ Dungeon Quest update - Forgotten Depths
Objective: Travel to the Profane Halls. ]
Once he reached his objective, another search for a Mechanical Box that needed to be returned to the Pedestal began.
Fortunately, the search turned out fruitful, especially after he watched an Elite drop a Legendary item box.
Opening it with high hopes, he saw a two-handed scythe pop up in his view.
[ Conceited Dragon Spine
Legendary Two-Handed Scythe
577 Item Power
-----------------
979 Damage per Second
* [870 - 1,306] Damage per Hit
* 0.90 Attacks per Second
* +47 Life on Kill
------------------
* +151 Maximum Life
* +90 Intelligence
* +30.0% Damage
Legendary Aspect: Deal 36% increased damage while you have a Barrier active.
Empty Socket
Empty Socket ]
He was initially tempted but quickly changed his mind immediately after.
While the scythe's Affixes looked awesome, his weapon and focus item provided much more combined.
If anything, it was the Aspect that looked intriguing.
"Unfortunately, I don't have any skills that grant me a barrier. Oh, wait! There was one for my Bone Storm, wasn't it?"
Checking the second upgrade for his Ultimate, Michael read it expectantly.
[ Supreme Bone Storm
-----------
Your Critical Strike Chance is increased by +20% while Bone Storm is active. ]
Rolling his eyes, he closed his Skill Tree angrily and started pummeling the ghosts that kept being summoned for a 'Save the Ghost that might kill you at the end' Event.
Luckily for him, after dealing with the Elite Banshee that turned on him at the end, Michael gained 40,000-ish experience for completing the Event successfully, and his level finally reached 55.