Renegade No More

Cyrus entered the tent with a sigh as the cowl reverted back to normal. While Urik was still unsure of Cyrus' decision to trust them with his identity. But seeing what he could do, the enemy they fought, and the potential enemy that would await them seemed all too good to be true. However, something in Urik told him to trust this man, he offered a silent prayer for answers as Cyrus turned to look at him. The stormy grey eyes seemed to show pain and power deep within.

Urik felt a pressure on his right shoulder, like a warm hand through his armor as he looked at Cyrus. This was the guiding hand of the angels of the Radiant Dawn. Ethereal beings that would help guide their most devoted in their time of need. Urik, was one such individual. As he felt the warm touch move from his shoulder to then see the aspect of the angel glide and hover over Cyrus. He knew it was a sign, a sign to follow a man who could become a savior to mankind.

Urik bowed his head, "Renegade, it would be my honor and privilege to serve under you. My faith guides me to you and I believe it to be a sign of our meeting." Cyrus looked at Urik then looked up at the angel. Urik froze at what he was witnessing. How could a non-believer see the aspects of the angels? But what he didn't know, was the fact Cyrus just felt a presence near him as his senses were sharper than a normal human's. He couldn't actually see it, but he could feel it.

Cyrus then returned his gaze back to Urik and Hilda, who also bowed her head to Cyrus. He felt it was just a little too much for him so he stood and walked over to them both. Placing a hand out to both of them one after another he helped them up. His system popped up the message for them both as each window hovered in front of them.

[Followers able to be recruited: Do you accept?]

Cyrus clicked yes on both and once he did he saw something he didn't expect. A shackle like his own formed on their bodies. Hilda's was around her neck, while Urik's was on his upper right arm. They were surprised as Hilda let out a gasp. At the same time, he got another notification that his other follower also acquired shackle like the two before him.

"What is this?" Urik asked as he pulled on the shackle but felt his body weaker than before. Like his body was being weakened by the shackle on his arm. Hilda felt the same but as she was able to stabilize herself, she felt, normal. Like the effects quickly went away although she felt weaker than before.

Cyrus looked at his "Followers" tab and looked at the skill his followers gained.

[Shackle of Burden: Followers will share the same limitation the user's power does. However, their power is only weakened until they are in a desperate situation. They will become stronger like the user with double the power. They will now procure levels that they can see on the shackle when tapped.]

Cyrus walked over and instructed Urik to touch his shackle and Hilda to do the same. He saw a sigil light up on the shackle before it shifted into a visual number. Urik was level 10, while Hilda was a level 8. When Cyrus dug further into the "Followers" tab, he found that he could award stat points, but found that each individual had specific stats compared to his own.

[Urik Green]

[Str: 28]

[Faith: 40]

[Con: 18]

[Hilda Verglas]

[Dex: 14]

[Int: 62]

[Charm: 20]

Cyrus found it interesting that they had their own individual strengths, but that also meant they had weaknesses. Urik was strong and sturdy, but not very fast meaning his opponents he was best suited for were the large or slow type. But in regard to his Faith stat, he seemed to be protected by a guiding force. For when he was going to be severely hurt, he would somehow make the attack become deflected, missing entirely, or not be as bad as it could of been.

For Hilda, she wasn't strong at all, but her intelligence was off the charts compared to his stats. Though the Charm stat was not something he was familiar with. Maybe it was something that just made her look good or maybe help in diplomacy is what Cyrus thought. Either way, they seemed to now be his followers which meant one thing. His stats slightly increased from this. Cyrus then went to his notifications as he heard the screen ding at him.

[Acquired the title "Inspiring Leader": As long as any of your followers can see or hear you. They gain a 10 point boost in their stats. Can only be triggered once per day and lasts 10 minutes.]

[Vexxitiz gained a new shadow ability: Dark Tendril]

[Acquired the Crystal of the Mutilamposuarus, turn this into a weapon to be given to a forger.]

[You received 3 level ups, 30 SP, and 50,000 coins]

Cyrus was very happy with the major reward spam. But as he continued to look through it, he saw that not just one of his summons had gained a new ability. But two did, as he clicked their abilities he couldn't help but let his excitement show on his face. Hilda and Urik looked at each other and were curious as to why Cyrus was smiling.

[Dark Tendril: Vexxitiz can cause black tendrils to appear from the armor that covers the user's body. Based on your Int stat, the tendrils damage and speed increases. The skill name "Lash" deals shadow damage and cracks like a whip. Useable when a shadow gauntlet is formed.]

[Healing Moss: Having collided with the Mutilamposuarus, it's moss spread to Visne's wooden body. Allowing her to now slowly recover HP when not in immediate danger.]

Visne had gained the boss's ability to regenerate, which was a huge bonus so he didn't have to use his healing spells on her as much unless in desperate emergencies. But the fact she gained something that effects her body meant it was passive skill, not only the fact it didn't cost her any resource. But as he remembered, the fact the Moss was almost alive, meant it could be damaged, but he guessed it wasn't going to be the same as the shadow infused Moss.

With this though he turned and looked at Hilda and Urik, "When it is time to return from this rift you should report to your group. I am sure they would be sad to hear you are leaving, but you shouldn't be forced to leave without warning. Friends and family are going to need to be talked to." He turned and looked at his wrist, the small chain hanging off his shackle clattered and chirped. "In the meantime, I am going to gather enough resources and money to start my own group, no longer will I be known as the Renegade, and no longer assumed to be part of the factions of those who oppose the system of our world." He turned and clenched his fist, "We will be known as the Chained."

Hilda and Urik looked at each other and Urik was the first to stifle a laugh. "Um, I'm sorry but that sounds edgy and childish. Sir, if I may suggest another alternative to this name idea?" Cyrus furled his brow and sighed allowing Urik to speak. "You wanna call us the Chained, but we are not bound to anything or anyone. We only just had our first victory in battle, as well as we just now formed this group. You know we need a few more members to actually make an official group." Cyrus looked at his quests and saw that he now had 3 of 5 followers, meaning he would have to find two more. But he did have one person in mind, someone who most likely wouldn't refuse to join him. But the only problem then, would be who would be their last member, and his fifth follower?

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Back on Earth, the sound of hammering metal, the sizzling of metal being fused together, and a machine whirling. Cici was hard at work piecing together the new armor for Cyrus when he would return. She let out a sigh of relief as she leaned back in her chair and set her tools down. She marveled her work and looked it over again. The skull from whatever creature he fought had a very unique look and not only did it shape well with her skills, but it brought out a unique ability buried in its core.

Cici brushed her hands off and looked at the other few projects she had been working on. "Maybe it's about time I put my efforts into that project? For I can't just be a Smith and not have a way to safe guard my works." She stood and grabbed her handy wrench, it was etched with symbols that glowed slightly. This was a unique item she acquired from a rift that was more a puzzle than an actual defeat a boss kind. Her and other smiths had attended this rift in order acquire a special item.

However, there was a catch which led to some amateur smiths to their deaths. As it was being judged by a sentient object. It was like their version of a boss, for not every rift was the same. But she managed to come out on top with creating a unique item she called "The Conduit". An item that was imbued with the provided materials that allowed one to build items within moments as long as the wielder had a complete understanding of the item they wanted to create.

The caveat to using it though, was that if the user failed to provide an accurate description of the item, missing components, or even skipped a step, it would cause the cube to damage the user depending on the amount of missed calculations. She had been rewarded with this wrench that allowed her smithing skills to increase drastically. Combined with the Conduit she was a sought after smith for this very reason. The wrench could shift into various tools and imbue skills or unlock skills more efficiently than an average smith.

Cici, had to study every book on objects, metals, minerals, everything imaginable that she would require to build an item. This only was helped by her photographic memory, allowing her to recall perfectly every detail that she needed for smithing. She is the best smith around and usually helps in commission work rather than work for someone. More money and she asks for payment rather than others paying her a minimal wage to get her quality of work.

But her mind would drift to Cyrus as she was a childhood friend of his. She always was there to pick up the struggling friend of hers. For she knew his life had become a living hell ever since the rifts appeared. But ever since that one mission he went on into the Fenrir Operations building. Cici noticed how different Cyrus had become. Confident, strong, and driven more than he had ever been. It was exciting to see her friend improve, but also scary at how drastic the change was. Looking out towards the city from her garage she wondered how he was doing.

"Ya better not 'ave attracted unwanted attention boy." She said as she got to work on her project.