Furies are creatures of the wind.
That was written in one of the scrolls in Nils library, as Gen had found out. It wasnt much, but it described the nature of the beings perfectly quite well. Why wasnt there more, though? According to Nil, the library was well stocked with all important books on humanitys past and present, yet sohow lacked nearly everything beyond that. There were hundreds of scrolls on etiquette, poetry, and awakened philosophy, but nothing relating to sanitation work, full item nding, cooking, or non-human races for that matter. Nil himself had said that it was through accounts of human wars, personal moirs, and epic poems that most of the information had survived. All additional details regarding the other races, for whatever reason, could only be found in the records of the Order of the Seven Moons.
The fury glided through the air, dragging along Dallion, creating the sensation they were sliding on water. Keeping their distance from the city guard forts, the pair made their way to one of the affluent neighborhoods on the northern side of the city, landing in a rather creepy looking mansion.
The creepiness ca from the fact that while in perfect condition, it seed uninhabited, unlike all other buildings in the neighborhood.
Nothing like a city hopper to give us a temp base, the fury said as they waited at the front door.
City hoppers?
Nobles or trade rchants with houses in several cities, Nil explained. They have the money to keep all of them maintained, but also the stinginess to hire people to live and work there full ti. Usually, they co to visit a few tis per year to make so important deal or just to rest, then move to the next. Always annoying, if you ask .
Put your blocker on, the fury said. The fun ends here.
Dallion did as he was asked.
After a while, the door opened, revealing a short muscular figure. Giving Dallion and the fury a nasty glance, he stepped to the side, arms crossed.
Youre late again, the creature grumbled, then turned around, leading the way further in.
Minor complications, the fury replied with a slight hiss. There was no love lost between those two, it seed.
Dallion closed the door behind him, since no one else bothered to, and followed along. Passing through the finely decorated foyer, the group went through the salon, then along a short corridor that led them to a small study. Three people were already waiting for them there. One of them Dallion recognized as the tattooed barkeeper hed seen in Gray Haven. The other two he had never seen before in his life, although he knew what one of them representedthe attire she wore had the distinct symbol of the Order of the Seven Moons embroidered on it, along with the corresponding emblem hanging from her neck.
Nice to see you alive and well, kid, the tattooed man said with a blank expression.
He must have had so trinket to counter Dallions music skills, for there were no emotions coming from him. Investigating the others, the fury scread annoyance, the muscular mandisgust. As for the cleric, Dallion could only get a vague sense of duty mixed with extre boredom, like a clerk five minutes before the end of a night shift.
The last person had a defocus artefact on. As much as Dallion tried, he could see the persons face, or clothes, for that matter. It was like looking at a silhouette.
You know the details? the tattooed asked.
One level item killing awakened, Dallion replied. Im to go inside and find out whats going on without getting killed.
And level up the item, the fury added.
And level up the item, Dallion repeated. Will I be getting any help from the Order?
Your emblems should be enough, the tattooed man said. The Order is only here to observe. With the number of accidents on the rise, one can never be too careful.
Comforting if Dallion wasnt the one risking his neck. If anything, it was more likely that the cleric was here in case he turned into a chainling.
Wheres the item?
The people looked at one another. Finally, the silhouette was given a nod and placed a ring on the small study table. The ring was unlike most Dallion had seen, made of seven separate pieces wrapped around each other, similar to those annoying trick puzzles that were popular in gimmick shops back on Earth. No gems were visible, but the tal was pure sky silver. Looking at it through his music and forging skills, Dallion could see that while the pieces managed to make a whole, they werent in fact touching.
The awakened before Dallion approached the table. How did they enter the ring?
The usual way, the tattooed man replied. They put a finger on it and then faint.
At least they didnt stop breathing, Dallion muttered. Focusing as much as possible, he created three instances. The instance that tried to awaken the item through one part imdiately vanished. The one in which he put it on the palm of his hand before awakening, managed to enter inside.
Here goes
SPHERE ITEM AWAKENING
Dallion found himself in a world of islands in an endless sea. Colorful, lush vegetation was everywhere, transforming the surroundings into a fantasy painting. Birds ranging from small to large flew about, chirping in exotic fashion, completing the illusion that Dallion was on so tropical retreat. All that was missing was a five-star hotel and a shack selling surfboards to turn it into a tourist trap. Even so this was the sa realm that had caused at least half of dozen people to enter a coma, possibly more.
You are in the realm of VERMILIONS TEARS
Clear the level to fulfil VERMILIONS destiny.
Dallion had no idea who or what Vermilion was, but it definitely was more than a simple ring. The only certainty at this point was that he would have to find and defeat the items guardian. It was just like improving a normal item and that was what worried him.
More often than not, when sothing appeared easy, it was difficult. So far, the realm had proved to be unique in many ways, especially considering the creatures within. They werent blockers, so of them didnt even have anything but a white rectangle with a na and health percentage. There were no weak spots to be seen, and no attack skills.
If youre so peaceful, why do you bring so many problems? Dallion wondered. Lux, lift up.
There was no response. The ring he was wearing in the real world was still in effect. Fortunately, there was a way around it. After a few seconds, the firebird appeared on his shoulder.
Thanks, Gen, Dallion thought. This was one of the huge advantages of having your own echoit knew Dallions thought even without the need of a link.
Lux, lift up a bit. I want to see whats out there.
The firebird chirped and shot up like a space rocket, carrying Dallion along. In less than a second, the entire chain of islands was visible. As Dallion suspected, there were seven in total, each a slightly different color. Initially, he wondered if there was so connection with the Seven Moons, but the colors didnt match in the least. Rather, the creator of the realm had wanted to make the perfect resort and focused on a specific color of plants for each island. From what Dallion could see, there were three shades of green, one red, one orange, one purple, and one white. Two of the islands had mountains, three had ponds, and one had a nice patch of beach.
Music, Dallion thought. The mont he did, everything suddenly changed.
The islands no longer looked like separate land masses, but ford one giant circular pattern, like an intricate emblem. Dallion tried to morize the intricate elents, but the fine details ranged into the hundreds. He could still rember the basics: three circles of various sizes intersecting in a small square.
Looking at the point of intersection, two large glowing eyes ford staring back up.
COMBAT INITIATED
Get us higher! Dallion shouted.
Part of Dallions mind had already recognized the guardian, even if the rest of him didnt want to co to terms with that knowledge.
Islands sank and rose as the two eyes erged from the sea, revealing an eighth island, or rather the head of an enormous sea serpent, whose body was composed of the remaining seven islands.
VERMILION
Species: Island Snake
Class: Origin
Statistics: 100% HP
Skills: Unknown
Weak spots: Eyes
Oh crap, Dallion managed to say as Lux thrust him up, just in ti to avoid the jaws of the giant snake.
This was the very first ti he had fought a creature this size. Even the colossus was smaller in comparison.
Summoning his dartbow, Dallion shot a few bolts at the snakes eyes. All projectiles missed their targets, bouncing off scales the size of buildings. Right now, he could really have used a crossbow, or maybe even two.
First chance I get, Im making one, Dallion thought.
The snake extended upwards in another attempt to bite Dallion out of the sky. Failing, it descended back down, splashing into the endless sea.
This definitely presented a challenge. Without solid ground, Dallion could not use his homing dagger attack. Actually, if it werent for Lux, he would have been ejected from the realm by now. Only people with the ability to fly would be able to survive a realm such as this. As to fighting back, Dallion still hadnt figured out that part.
How the heck do I defeat an entire realm? Dallion asked as the fine spray of water reached him. Attacking directly was dangerous, but attacking from a distance was useless. He couldnt let the familiars try to do anything on their own because of the water. Two options remained: music or the unlikely chance that the snake would accept a draw.
Just as Dallion considered making his offer, the snake erged from the water in another attempt to snatch the human from the sky. It was starting to look that things were at an impasse: neither of the two opponents could get close enough to effectively harm the other, and neither was willing to back down.
From experience, Dallion knew he could withstand hunger for over a week, possibly more, if he had sothing like Whites chewing gum button. On its part, the snake had been existing in the realm since the items creation.
Its a draw, Dallion shouted. You cant defeat and neither can I!
Looking down, Dallion thought he saw the snake smile.
Are you so certain? the guardian asked. This wasnt the first ti Dallion had spoken to a creature, but there was sothing disturbing in having a chain of islands respond to him. Sooner or later, youll give in. I can wait.
I can just leave the realm, Dallion said.
Not this realm. There was a glint in the snakes eye.
Is that why you crippled everyone before ?
Those before you were twisted and crippled before they set foot here. And you are no different. You might be unbound, but that doesnt matter.
The snake coiled back down, disappearing entirely in the water.
Get us higher, Lux! Dallion said, fearing that the guardian would try to leap out again.
He was half right. The monster erged from the sea like a released spring, but instead of leaping up, it projected a spray of venom from its fangs.
Shield Dallion shouted, holding it in front of him. The armadil shield ford a semi sphere protecting him from the poisons effect. In doing so, though, it suffered the consequences.
ARMADIL SHIELD CORRUPTED
The Durability of the ARMADIL SHIELD had decreased by 20%
While in this state, the ARMADIL SHIELD will lose 1% durability every second
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